Superstitions! Superstitions!

Who believes in them? Honestly, I don't believe on these stuffs. For me they are a big hindrance in many ways! They hinder you to explore things, they limit your learning, and most of all they instill unnecessary guilt on people. And for what? Because of baseless crap? Ugh! As long as I know that I am not causing harm to anyone, then my conscience is clean. Bad luck only comes to negative people and to those who do harm to others. Yes, for me, karma is the name of the game.

Here are some superstitions I have heard in the province:

1. Don’t sing when eating, you will marry an older man. My mom tried this too, but the 2 times she got married, she got married to a younger man.
2. Don’t point at the rainbow, you will have a deformed finger. – I was afraid for sometime, I didn’t want to have a crooked finger!finally I got the guts to do it and nothing happened! 
3. Don’t build a house facing the west, your life will always be going down, no success. 
4. Don’t step over a rope when you are pregnant, your child will be born with the umbilical cord round his neck. - as you may have noticed now, I tend to disagree what I am told.
5. If you are sick, chances are the witch must have looked at you or touched you.  Then there was this old lady who claimed to cure all the illness in the village.  All she did was get a pick of ginger, make out a cross on your forehead, and your wrists. Then she puts the ginger on your head and say a sort of prayer in latin.  I knew she didn’t understand what came out of her mouth, This reminds me that during those times, the catholic church said their prayers in latin. Nobody studied latin in my country. The priest can substitute any word that he missed and nobody would even know!
6. Don't walk under a ladder or you'll have bad luck --- yeah, only if the person on top of that ladder happens to drop one of his tools.
7. Don't cut your nails at night or you will see a ghost.

Ridiculous? Definitely!

I remember in high school, my friends and I went at the back of our school building where there was an overgrowth of plants and trees. One of my friends didn't want us to go there because she was afraid that we might accidentally step on some unseen fairies which may take revenge on us. None of us believed her, so off we went and she eventually tagged along. The next day, she was sick with fever. Funny because among the five of us, she was the only one who got sick. She said it was because of the enchanted spirits in the forest, I think it was because she was so nervous the day before and that stressed her system.

Obesity: Not a Laughing Matter

Did you know that the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that obesity may soon replace traditional public health concerns such as undernutrition and infectious diseases as the most significant cause of poor health? In Canada alone, the rates of obesity in children has increased from 11% in the 1980s to over 30% in the 1990s. Factors contributing to this are mainly diet and the decrease in physical activities. Thanks to the technology era which brought about video games, climbing trees and having a run in the park are some activities that some kids are not experiencing anymore. Plus, the modern diet which constitute mostly of saturated fats, such as in junk foods and french fries.

A crude measure of obesity is by the body mass index (BMI) which is a person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his/her height in meters. A BMI of 30 or more is generally considered obese. While a BMI of 25 (and above) is already considered as overweight.

Presently, I can see campaigns promoting healthy diet (look for unsaturated fat in the label) and exercise/working out. However, I think that these campaigns are not aggressive enough to instill these healthy lifestyle on every sector of the community. Most who have became more aware and have started become conscious are those coming from the A-B crowd, and those who need to look good for their professions. And I hate to say these, but I personally know a lot of people who think that being fat is cute and healthy.

Fact: obesity has a serious impact on health. Diseases associated with obesity are type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers. Therefore, it reduces life expectancy. Not to mention the psychological impact it has on the person (self-consciousness, inferiority). 

Just earlier today, I saw a teen-age boy who is overly obese, to the point where his gait is no longer balanced and his body structure is assymetrical/deformed. I was discretely observing the people around and could see almost everyone follow him with stares, and the poor boy knew this too as he shyly looked back to see who were staring at him. It was a very sad sight! I feel for the boy and I really hope that his family will help him overcome obesity. Take note, I wish for this not only because I want that kid to look good physically, but mostly because what I saw in him was a walking time bomb where various diseases could possibly manifest any moment, AND also to lift up his trampled self-esteem. Adolescence is no easy stage, and going through that is an added burden. 

The good news: obesity is preventable.There are only 2 keys to solve this: diet and physical activity. This doesn't even mean that you have to cut down on what you eat, you simply have to watch what you eat. Less saturated fat, less calories, more fruits and vegetable, more whole grains, less sugar. You can even indulge once in a while just make sure that you burn it up too. Alternate cardio exercises with strength training every other day, even for just about 15 minutes. You'll notice that you will feel lighter throughout the day and going about the daily chores becomes easier.

I hope anyone who reads this, could in some way, even in their own circle of influence (family, friends) do something to relay this information and instill and follow a healthy lifestyle. By doing it yourself, you become an example to those around you. There isn't even a need to preach, simply tell them what good this has done to you to inspire them to do the same. Remember, the main goal is to become healthy and avoid diseases. Looking good physically is just an added bonus.

Meeting Nemo - Malaroyroy, Coron, Palawan

After Marlin saved Nemo, they went home to live happily ever after... well, actually Marlin got a little sad (he lost his love Coral, remember?). So, with some persuasion from his friends (the fathers of Nemo's schoolmates), Marlin began dating again. And alas, an equally beautiful clown fish caught his heart. Her name is Samantha, a lovely fish who doesn't mind being Nemo's stepmom (they're both of the adventurous kind so they hit it off well). Marlin's family is whole again. He went to find a new home for them, only this time he chose the shores of Malaroyroy Island in Palawan. An island of raw beauty, away from the danger of the deep sea.

I happen to visit the island and got a chance to meet the very friendly family. Ofcourse, Marlin is his old self, so protective and paranoid hahaha ... relax Marlin! Sam and Nemo are excited to see me. I come in peace so you need not worry :)

They want to say "hi" to you all... see them in this video i got of them...

Enjoy!!!

P.S.

Malaroyroy Island is in Coron, Palawan. It is one of the islands included in the Malcapuya Island loop tour. It is just a tiny island across Banana Island, but it's also a snorkeling area as it offers some coral reefs too, though not so healthy ones. The corals are located near the shore, so tourists ought to be careful when treading the waters here, both for their safety and to avoid stepping on the reefs. Come visit for a first-hand experience! ^_^

My Experiences with Local Banks

I just want to share some of my experiences with the banks I transact with. Recently, one bank has managed to test my patience and I got to blurt out my frustrations in Facebook. That's how I found out that some of my friends are just as frustrated as I am with the said bank. My disappointment is not baseless after all. I would be glad to hear your experiences too, so we know which to avoid next time, hehehe.

Land Bank of the Philippines

- Personally, I will not choose this bank, me transacting with them is a matter of necessity and not of choice. I had to open a dollar account here because my mom finds it easier to send money through this bank from the States. Pros: I do not have to fall in line when I withdraw. I just give my ID for verification and wait for them to call my name, and I am done. Obviously, they prioritize such accounts. Also, they have branches in the rural areas which is why I send money to the province through this bank. Cons: Sometimes they run out of dollars and that's when you really wait until they can finish your request. And I am not allowed to withdraw from my dollar account from other branches, only at the branch where I opened my account. Third, I was once told by a guard to stay outside because, like some box-office hit movie, the inside of the bank is at full capacity - standing room only! How can't it be when their offices are so small? They really should improve on this. Depositors should be accommodated with a decent seat at least. Plus, their clients' safety and security are at risk outside of the establishment.

HSBC

- Having over 10,000 offices in 85 countries, I had high expectations from this bank. But heck, customer service is so poor. Or is this a local problem? If so, they really need to improve on this. I even dared them to give me an evaluation form so that I can give them an assessment for their own good - every organization needs that. There are transactions in other banks which can be done over the phone. This bank requires forms to be filled up and sent through fax/email (talk about banking online, duh). Twice, my fax have gotten lost. And what do they do? They asked me instead to dictate the data needed on the phone and they will process my application/transaction through that. Another, duh! Corresponding with them by email is also a pain. I really wonder what kind of clock or time system they use because even if they have declared that my email will be answered in two banking days, it usually takes five, sometimes I even have to follow it up for them to remember. Actually, I still have one open case with them from last month. What a really messy system! But hey, their collection department isn't going to disappoint you. Be sure to have no less than 5 missed calls in a day. **shakes head**

Bank of the Philippine Island

- This is my first bank, and up to now I have accounts with them. Pros: Sending money to other BPI accounts has no charge. I hope other banks would follow suit. Second, I believe they have the most number of atm machines where deposits are also allowed (although not all machines have this). Third, most transactions can be done online or through the phone. No hassle at all, very convenient. Not to mention that they have express centers that are open on weekends. Cons: Nothing really. I just wish that I can transact with BPI Family bank through them.

Chinabank

- I just opened an account here so there isn't much to say. I did make a withdrawal a couple of months ago which was over-charged but it only took a single call to their office and it was credited back. There wasn't even a need for me to follow it up since they personally called me to inform me of the reversal. Now, that is what I call customer service. 

Of course, no bank is perfect. We just have to choose which one addresses our needs in the most convenient way. But we are depositors, and these banks are actually earning from us. So maybe it isn't much to ask for a good and cordial service. At this day and age, people will always prefer a bank that can offer convenience. Gone are the times when we have to fall in long lines or take a day off from work to be able to make transactions at the bank by 3pm. I see a few banks gearing for those good developments, and these banks do get a number of depositors because of this. Time for the others to follow their lead.

Chilling at Boracay..... Alone!!!

I have been to Boracay twice. The first time was in the mid-90's with the whole family. We live in Iloilo, so land travel was the way to go via Capiz. As I recall, we left early in the morning and arrived Bora at around 3pm, quite a long and dusty trip. We stayed there for a night and left Bora after lunch the following day. Needless to say, it wasn't such an exciting trip, not only because of the short stay, but traveling with the whole bunch (although fun) has it downside too - you cannot make a move unless you have gathered everyone first. Ugh! Plus the long land travel back and forth wasn't exactly relaxing.

With that experience, I have never really made it a priority to travel back there. And knowing that it is the no.1 tourist spot here in the country, when I think of Bora what comes to mind is "way too crowded". Anyway, since I vowed to travel more and since Cebu Pacific did a very good promo, I decided to buy me a ticket to Bora. Yes, only me! My constant travel buddy was not available, so this time I will be traveling alone. Good thing I chose Bora, it's only a few hours away from Iloilo so I felt relatively safe and daring to go there alone. Also, I have a friend who works for one of the hotels there and she was  able to find me an affordable place to stay plus detailed instructions on how to get there in the island. So Bora, here I come!

I arrived there at almost noon time, fairly hungry, so I just ditched my luggages in the room I rented (1k a night coz I travelled on an off-peak season), packed some beach stuff and off I went to feed my grumbling stomach. Now, I really thought I'd be shelling out a lot for food in this trip, but surprise, surprise! There are a lot of fast food resto there that serves good food for reasonable prices. For a glutton like me, this is great, hehehe.

I loved that I travelled on an off-peak season. The beach wasn't crowded at all but still with it's fair share of foreigners. I enjoy meeting them, really. It's fun trading stories with people from another culture, actually had a few laughs with a bunch of Koreans traveling as a group.

Anyway, I stayed there for 4D/3N, and did the following activities:

First day, had a full body massage along the beach, rented a beach chair and spent the whole afternoon by the beach reading a book and dipping in the waters. I wanted an Italian dinner so I ordered a whole pizza in Don Vito. Also had a couple of cocktails in a bar called Mint. Okay, that Tequila Sunrise was strong!

Boracay Island, Philippines

sand castles (Boracay, Philippines)

Second day, I was supposed to join an eco-tour but the agency called me up to inform me that no one else has enlisted to join it. This basically means that I am their only client that day and no way was I gonna pay them the entire tour's cost which was for a minimum of 4 persons. Too bad since I was really looking forward for that. To save the day, I decided to roam around and check out the whole stretch of white beach, from station 1 to 3. I was on my way back when I finally decided to talk to one of those people encouraging tourists to try some water sports. I avoided them before because I thought that their prices are similar to those quoted by the agency I talked to, but alas, to my joy, theirs are about half the price. There are a lot of activities to choose from and I settled for the helmet diving and parasailing. I have been wanting to try out skydiving to deal with my fear of heights, maybe parasailing is the first step, woohoo! So, I gave my camera to my "agent" and gave him instructions to be my photographer (the disadvantage of traveling alone). 

Helmet diving is basically diving with a 30kg pressurized helmet over your head. Don't worry, this feels like 3kgs under water. With the pressure, you keep water from entering into your helmet, thus allowing you to breathe under. You stay submerged for about 30 mins enjoying the (few) coral reefs and feeding the fishes. This costs Php500 which includes a 5min video of you underwater and about 30 still shots, all saved in a CD. Not bad, me thinks.

From underwater, to the sky. I almost backed out when they were gearing me up for the parasailing. My fear of heights was kicking in but I just had to do it. I wanna be tough! And, boy, I'm glad I did that! Such a new and liberating experience for me. I wanted to do it again right after, hehehe. The trick is not to look directly down to avoid getting dizzy. I stayed for about 15mins in the air. And what did I do up there all those time? I did some singing, and I cursed and shouted at all the people who have done me wrong, hahaha! Try it sometime, you'll feel much better when you get back to earth.

Helmet diving  (Boracay, Philippines)

Parasailing (Boracay, Philippines)

 

Third day, I rented a bike and climbed Mt. Luho. From there, you can see the whole of Boracay island, plus they have a mini-zoo, too. Biking around Bora is a breeze since detailed maps are available in the hotels and souvenir shops. I spent most of the afternoon swimming and souvenir shopping. And that night, I chose a bar with good music playing for a drink.

view from Mt. Luho, Boracay Island

enjoying the sun and the beach, Boracay Island

I left early the following day for a long land travel to Iloilo, where I was to spend the remainder of the week before going back to the metro. All in all, I enjoyed my trip to Bora. That was the first time I travelled alone and with that, I am sure I'll have more of it. Traveling enriches me and this one has tested my courage. I am afraid no more!!! :)

The Wonders of Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate or NaHCO3 or most commonly known as baking soda.... i just love this stuff! It practically has way too many uses and it's cheap. Having it at home is really a must, every housewife should know this, and yes, every bachelor and bachelorette, too.

Let's get into the chemistry of it first. According to Webster, baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a white crystalline weakly alkaline salt, used especially in baking powders and fire extinguishers, and in medicine as an antacid. It is an amphoteric compound, which means it can react as an acid as well as a base but aqueous solutions are mildly alkaline due to the formation of carbonic acid and hydroxide ion. Its application ranges from cooking, medicine, laboratories, personal hygiene, cleaning agent, and many more.

Personally, my three main uses for this are as follows:

• face exfoliant/mask - i have an oily, acne-prone skin so I do this twice a week. I simply steam my face first, then, making a baking soda paste by adding water in it, I rub this paste on my face to remove dead skin and leave it on for about 10 minutes before rinsing with warm water. I dries my pimples and keep the oilies at bay :)
• teeth whitener - yep! no need to buy those expensive toothpastes that boast of their whitening effect. Being coffee and tea lover, which stains the teeth, this is very important to me. I usually do this once or twice a week, after brushing my teeth with toothpaste (don't rinse it yet), I dip my toothbrush in a paste of baking soda and brush it on my teeth, then rinse (be sure not to swallow).
• deodorizer in the fridge - it is slightly alkaline so it neutralizes the acidic scent molecules. Viola! Odor-free refrigerator :)

But hey, do not limit yourself, maximize the use of this great product. To site some more:

• first and foremost, it is used in cooking as a leavening agent. Baking powder is basically baking soda mixed with cream of tartar and starch.
• it can also be used to soften peas or dried beans by adding a pinch of baking soda to the water where you soak the beans
• add a pinch to tomato sauce (while cooking) and coffee (while brewing) to reduce acidity
• an effective meat tenderizer
• as first aid to scalding- cover the scald area with baking soda to avoid blistering and scarring
• deodorize carpets and kitty litters
• effective and all-around cleaning agent (clothes, drink containers, pans, table tops, combs, etc.,)
• run a cycle in your coffee maker or dishwasher with baking soda and water for a thorough cleaning
• underarm deodorant
• soften your skin by adding it in your bath water
• deodorize shoes, boots, and socks
• first aid to sunburn, windburns, bug bites and bee stings
• freshen the air by sprinkling baking soda on your carpet. Leave for a while before vacuuming.
• use as a fire extinguisher
• and many more.....

Now you know why I love this... ^_^

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

It's the year of the rabbit, and it's my year! 

It is said that this is the luckiest of all twelve signs, ain't that great? Honestly, whatever luck I am enjoying, I believe is due to my positivity, I am not really a fan of astrology but it is admittedly enjoyable to read at times. Although, I must admit that I filter what I take in - believe in the good predictions, junk the bad ones - only good energy folks! I actually have one true personal story about this. 

Some 6 years ago, my friend urged me to see a fortune teller that she usually visits. The old lady told me then that by this year (2011), I would already have my own house and car. Well, I got my house four years ago, and I am in the process of buying my car. Can you hear twilight zone's theme song in the background now? hehehe.... Honestly, I think what made that prediction come true is because I have set my mind on it. Meaning, I worked hard to have this house and car by this year. I didn't just sit down under the shade of the mango tree and watch it happen. By believing that this is gonna happen, the universe has paved ways for opportunities to present themselves to me, thus, the unfolding of these events. That is the power of positive energy! :)

Going back to the year of the rabbit, I may not be a true-blue believer of astrology, but I am mesmerized by it especially when I see how people go through details just to bring luck in their lives. And the Chinese people's belief and practice of it is amazing. Since, Ongpin is one of my favorite streets here in Manila, I went there to celebrate Chinese year. Merry, colorful, fun!

a very long Dragon

the reason I keep visiting the place, Wanton noodles at Ling Nam

my friend, imitating a rabbit :) :) :)

                             

Some characteristics of people born in the year of the rabbit:

• they are cautious, conservative, bright, and have a good head for business
• affectionate, naturally shy peacemakers
• always inspire deep admiration and trust
• they respond to the power and beauty of nature
• very generous to friends and loved ones
• reserved and very artistic
• good scholars
• they land on their feet and easily leap obstacles in their path
• has exquisite taste in dress and arts
• loves peace and generally avoids any kind of arguments
• can be manipulative --- (uh-oh)