Category Archives: Philippines

Pasko Na!

litratongpinoy

Muling nagbabalik ang Litratong Pinoy.

Tamang-tama ang pagbabalik na ito, kasabay sa hudyat na tema ng pagpasok ng buwan ng Pasko. Alam naman natin na dito sa Pilipinas, napaka-espesyal ng Pasko.

Narito ang  isang hudyat sa aming tahanan na wala nang makapipigil pa sa pagdating ng Pasko:

Christmas paper tree

Isang simpleng paper tree, gawa ng mga anak ko noong isang taon. Isa yan sa mga ginawa nilang tree ornaments.

Nawa ay maging maayos ang pagdating ng Pasko sa ating tahanan at puso. Tandaan, si Hesus ang dahilan kaya tayo meron nito.

Happy LP!

How Much is Your Life Worth?

How much is your life worth? No, I am not talking about life insurance rates but something else.

One time while I was listening to news on the radio, the topic was about people who are paid to end the life of other people. To my astonishment, I learned that it takes not much to pay for someone to do such thing.

As with the recent massacre that happened the other day, it is not surprising if money changed hands. How much for the lives of 40+ people?

I don’t know and I probably don’t want to know.

Whoever said politics is dirty is probably right although dirty is not the name of the game anymore. In this case, it is gruesome. Or perhaps indescribable is more apt.

In Philippine politics, is it “if you can’t beat them, k!ll them?” or “if someone wants to beat you, cut short his/her life?”

I hope not.

Goons and Guns Amidst the Poverty

The grim scene that happened last Monday down southern part of  the country is considered by a lot of people as barbaric, savage and dastardly act.

This happened after Efren Penaflorida was awarded as CNN Hero of the Year for 2009.

What a shame, the massacre that is.

No wonder some people who live there have moved to different parts of the country.

No wonder a lot of professionals have opted to work and live overseas than stay here.

In this impoverished country of close to a hundred million people, poverty is very much apparent that even the basic needs of the people are not given due attention.

Health care? Can not be compared with Blue Cross North Carolina because even the “Cheaper Medicines Bill” took a while to be passed. Nurses, good ones are almost extinct because they are overseas earning greenbucks. Doctors are going that way too, as well as other health care practitioners. And teachers. And engineers. And everybody.

Sure basic education is free but that doesn’t mean children go to school. No, they can’t go to school because it takes money to pay for transportation, food, uniform and school supplies. Money that their families do not have and if they have, these would rather be spent buying food for sustenance.

Politicians are so visible these days because elections are nearing.

Bah, I don’t believe in promises anymore than I believe in dilly-dallied alliances.

God help this country.

White Sand Beaches

I miss going to the beach.

Panglao, Bohol

Sure, it is icky sticky and hot out there but at least, it is a natural body of water and does not need any chemicals nor spa filters to make the water clean.

Sunset views are a sight to behold too as soft winds blow to cool the remnants of heat from the sun.

This photo was taken at Panglao, Bohol by my then 13yo daughter while they spent summer vacation in Bohol.

Urban Jungle

If only I have the power to travel back in time, I would do so.

I would like to see how these familiar places where we usually go looked like decades ago sans the metal buildings and artificial natural environment.

The other day, hubby and I talked about how the place where we live looked like when they first lived there in the early 80s.

He said the river was clear and there are so  many open spaces where they can frolic.

Now the river is full of floating trash that people fish for trash and not trout. The river banks are lined up with informal settlers‘ homes and yes, there have been reports of accidents where small children fall into the river.

Their children too have made the streets their playground. Heh.

I’m not exaggerating.