Tapos/End

Sa wakas, tapos na ang aming paghihintay nang makita ko ang paglapag ng eroplanong ito ng Cebu Pacific sa Busuanga airport.  Dalawang araw kaming stranded dito noong Setyembre nang hindi makalapag ang Cebu Pacific dahil daw sa sama ng panahon.  Samantala ang mga eroplano ng Air Philippines at Zest Air, pati na ang mga maliliit na Cesna planes ay nakalapag naman.  Hindi maipaliwanag ng maayos ng mga ground crew ng Cebu Pacific sa mga galit na pasahero kung bakit ang eroplano lang nila ang hindi makalapag.  Ang masama pa, hindi sinagot ng Cebu Pacific ang gastos sa hotel, pagkain at pamasahe ng mga stranded na pasahero sa unang araw.  Dinadahilan nila ang masamang panahon, hindi daw nila sagot ang gastos ng pasahero kapag masama ang panahon at nakansela ang flight.  Sa pangalawang araw, hindi na namin sila tinigilan at binayaran nila ang aming gastos sa hotel at pagkain.

Marami ang naperwisyo ng Cebu Pacific sa mga nakanselang flight.  May mga dayuhang turista na napilitan bumili ng napakamahal na tiket sa Air Philippines para umabot lang sa connecting flight nila sa Manila papuntang ibang bansa.  May mga balikbayan na may connecting flight din papuntang ibang probinsya.  May mga budget travelers na wala ng pera.  At nasayang ang dalawang araw na sana na-enjoy pa namin kaysa naghihintay lang sa airport.

Takot pala sa ambon ang mga piloto ng Cebu Pacific.  Dapat kalesa lang ang minamaneho nila!  Dahil sa walang kwentang serbisyo ng Cebu Pacific, nabahiran ng inis ang aming alaala ng bakasyon sa Coron.  Ang hindi maasahan na serbisyo ay makakasira din sa turismo ng Calamianes.

Pinangako ko sa sarili ko na yon na ang huli kong pagsakay sa Cebu Pacific, kahit mura pa ang pamasahe nila!

Linking to Litratong Pinoy

Sour [Maasim]

Ang kamias ay maasim na prutas na madalas ginagamit na pampaasim sa mga nilutong pagkain.  Ginagamit ito sa halip ng sampalok o kamatis.  Ginagawa rin itong atchara at pampagana.  Ang hilaw na kamias ay kinakain din...madalas, ito ay sinasawsaw sa bagoong (ginamos) o asin.

Kamias (Iba, Averrhoa bilimbi, Cucumber Tree or Tree Sorrel) is a sour fruit commonly used as souring agent for various dishes to substitute tamarind or tomato.  It is also preserved for pickling and prepared as relish.  Uncooked kamias can be eaten raw or dipped in rock salt or shrimp paste.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Medicinal uses (source): 

• Skin diseases, especially with pruritus: Reduce the leaves to a paste and apply tolerably warm to areas of affected skin. 

• Post-partum and rectal inflammation: Infusion of leaves.

• Mumps, acne, and localized rheumatic complaints: Paste of leaves applied to affected areas.

• Warm paste of leaves also used for pruritus.

• Cough and thrush: Infusion of flowers, 40 grams to a pint of boiling water, 4 glasses of tea daily.

• Fever: Fruit as a cooling drink.

• The fruit has been used for a variety of maladies: beriberi, cough, prevention of scurvy.

• Infusion of leaves also drank as a protective tonic after childbirth.

You are also invited to join Amanda at Self Sagacity and answer our Thursday 2 Questions.

1.  What are your strange food cravings?

2.  What is your "mood food" right now?

Liwanag [Bright, Light]

@ mirandablue

Ang liwanag sa bintana ng simbahan ay nagpahiwatig sa akin ng umaga.

Natural light through the church window made me realize it was morning.

Join us at Litratong Pinoy

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars." ~ Og Mandino

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:


1.  What is your favorite time of day, are you a morning or a night person?


2.  What is the most important thing you have learned this past week??

Hanging [Nakasabit]

@ mirandablue

Napansin ko ang nakasabit na lantern habang naghihintay ng mapwestuhan sa isang restaurant.  Nakakainis ang maghintay lalo na kung gutom na.  Kaya inaliw ko na lamang ang aking sarili sa pagkuha ng litrato sa mga bagay na napansin ko sa paligid.

Ang nasa ibaba naman ay mga capiz lanterns na nakasabit sa mga sanga ng isang puno sa Greenbelt 5.

My contribution to Litratong Pinoy

I noticed the hanging lantern while waiting to be seated in  a restaurant.  Waiting can be annoying especially when you're hungry.  So I entertained myself by taking photos of whatever caught my attention.

Below are capiz lanterns hanging from the branches of a tree at Greenbelt 5.

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1.  Most people find it hard to be patient.  How do you manage it?


2.  Can you recall a situation that really tested your patience?

@ mirandablue

Melancholic [Mapanglaw]

@ mirandablue

"One loves the sunset when one is sad..." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Isang madramang tagpo sa dalampasigan habang papalubog ang araw. Mapanglaw ang paligid, malalim ang iniisip habang nakatingin sa kawalan.  Sana naintindihan nya na kahit ang masayang buhay ay may kaakibat na kadiliman, at ang salitang "ligaya" ay mawawalang saysay kung walang kalungkutan.

Join us at Litratong Pinoy

A dramatic scene on the beach at sunset.  A melancholic air, a dejected mood as he stares blankly into space.  I hope he realized that even a joyful life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word "happy" would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1)  What comforts you when you're sad and lonely?

2)  Who is the bravest person you know personally?

Bright, clear/Maliwanag [LP and T2Q]

@ mirandablue

Ngayong panahon na ng tag-ulan, di ko maiwasang magbalik-tanaw sa nagdaang summer.  Nakaka-miss ang matingkad na sikat ng araw, maliwanag na kalangitan at ang masarap na bakasyon.  Kahit maalinsangan, sana laging summer na lang.  Ayoko ng walang katapusang ulan!

Join us at Litratong Pinoy

Now that the monsoon rains have started, I can't help but look back at the joys of summer.  I miss the bright and delicious sunshine, clear blue skies and delightful vacation.  Even when it's hot and humid, I wish it's always summer.  Rain sniveling endlessly is not my favorite thing.

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join the fun.

1)  Why spring/summer/autumn/winter is your favorite season?

2)  What do you normally do on a rainy weekend?

Fallen/Tumba

@ mirandablue

Mga natumbang puno ng niyog sa dalampasigan ng Punta Bulata.

Join us at Litratong Pinoy

Fallen coconut trees along the shores of Punta Bulata.

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1.  What are the green initiatives you do at home?

We recycle--water from the washing machine and plastics, reuse glass bottles, aluminum foil, plastic cutlery;  consolidate daily errands to avoid unnecessary driving, switched to paperless bills, save electricity by air-drying clothes, limited use of AC, turn off unneeded lights; we are also trying to reduce food waste.

2.  What are some of the most damaging things we do to the environment?

Irresponsible disposal of garbage, illegal logging, wasting water and energy, over-fishing, dumping of motor oil, paints, pesticides and other toxic chemicals down the drain, air pollution, indifference.

Brake/Preno [LP]

@ mirandablue

Ang ilaw ng preno ay ang pinaka mahalagang mga nakasinding-babala sa iyong sasakyan. Ito ay babala sa iba pang mga driver ng iyong layunin sa pagbagal o paghinto.  Ang sirang ilaw ng preno ay mapanganib at maaaring maging sanhi ng aksidente.

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

The brake lights are the most important lighted warning system on your vehicle. It warns other drivers of  your intention to slow down or stop.  Defective or malfunctioning brake lights are dangerous and could cause accidents.  

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1.  How often do you check your vehicle's lighting system?

• I have to admit that I don't check my lighting system regularly.  But once I notice a malfunction, I'm having it fixed it right away.

2.  What are the road irritants that annoy you?

• I have a long list of annoying road irritants---last-minute braking tops my list.  This is the most common habit of jeepney drivers.  Tailgaiting makes me nervous, lane-hogging and failing to use signal lights are definitely annoying.

Pet [Alagang hayop]

@ mirandablue

Natural, bida ngayon ang alaga ko, si Fritz. Para sa akin, si Fritz ang pinaka-poging aso sa balat ng lupa.  Malambing sya, mabait, mabango at kasalukuyang naghihilik sa tabi ko.  Medyo spoiled itong alaga ko...kadalasan, nagpapasubo pa.  Biro ng mga kaibigan ko, sayang lang daw ag binubuhos kong pagmamahal at atensyon kay Fritz.  Buti pa daw ang kalabaw, napapakinabangan.  Hindi ko minamaliit ang halaga at pakinabang ng kalabaw [lalo na sa mga magsasaka], pero pwede ko bang yakapin at halikan ito?

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Naturally, Fritz is the star of today's post.  For me, he is the handsomest dog in the planet.  He's sweet, gentle, smells good and right now, snoring beside me.  I admit, Fritz is a bit spoiled...more often than not, he nibbles on his food but eats heartily when spoon-fed.  Friends love to tease me that I have a bad case of misplaced love for a pet, after all, Fritz couldn't do things for me.  While I don't underestimate the value and usefulness of a water buffalo [especially to farmers], I don't think I could hug or kiss this animal.

Trivia:  In 2004, the first test-tube hybrid carabao [water buffalo] was born in the Philippine Carabao Center in Nueva Ecija, and was named "Glory" after the former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer these questions and join us:


1)  If you have a pet, do you think he or she understands you?

• yes, I believe Fritz understands me.  certain words prompt him, he responds to my [tone of] voice.

2)  What is the most endearing trait of our pet?

• Fritz is most endearing when he lays his head on my leg and waits to be scratched; my heart melts every time he runs to the door to welcome me home, or licks my nose when I tell him I love him.

Punta Bulata: Poignant in its simplicity

@ mirandablue

Una sa lahat, congratulations sa mga bumubuo sa Litratong Pinoy---tatlong taon na tayo, mga kapatid!  Tinataas ko ng tasa ng aking kape para sa ating lahat. Cheers!

At dahil freestyle tayo ngayong Huwebes, pagpapatuloy ko ang mga silhouettes na kuha ko sa dalampasigan ng Punta Bulata.  Makulimlim ang langit at akala ko babagsak ang malakas na ulan.  Pero nakisama naman ang panahon, umambon lang ng konti at nanatiling nakatago ang araw.  Nagpakita lang ng kanyang ginintuang kinang nang ito'y palubog na.  

Halata bang mahilig ako sa silhouettes?  Sinasabi natin o naririnig, "ang ganda, simple lang pero maganda."  Ganyan ang palagay ko sa silhouettes---nakikita ako ang kagandahan ng mga simpleng bagay. Walang maraming kulay na gumugulo sa paningin.  Isa itong malikhaing paraan para maisalarawan ang drama, misteryo at iba't ibang lawak ng ating damdamin. Ano sa tingin mo?:p

@ mirandablue

First of all, my congratulations to the Litratong Pinoy team---it's been a wonderful and interesting three years!  I'm raising my coffee cup to all participants of this weekly photo challenge.  Cheers!

To celebrate the 3rd anniversary, we're free to post whatever we like.  So I continue with the series of silhouettes I took at the shores of Punta Bulata. It was a cloudy afternoon, and  I was expecting a downpour. But nature was kind...it drizzled and the sun stayed hidden behind the clouds all afternoon.  It showed its golden brilliance at sunset.

Obviously, I love silhouettes. Our eyes are used to the colors of everyday life that when we see light and darkness, it evokes a whole range of emotions, drama and mystery.  I believe that silhouette photography is a creative way to convey the beauty of simplicity. What do you think?

@ mirandablue

For Thursday 2 Questions - you are invited to answer and join:


1)  How do you deal with new ideas?

• I embrace new ideas, have fun playing with ideas, and enjoy the controversial ones.  Everything is possible.:p

2)  What stresses you out?

• Expectations, deadlines, doctor consultations, early morning flight, sickness in the family, slow internet connection, bumper-to-bumper traffic, waiting

Salamin [sa mata]/ Eyeglasses

@ mirandablue

Nakaka-inggit ang mga taong malinaw ang paningin.  Sa totoo lang, pinagwalang-halaga ko ng aking 20/20 vision hanggang isang araw sinabihan ako ng doktor na kailangan ko na mag salamin.  Meron daw akong hyperopia o farsightedness---malinaw kapag malayo, malabo kapag malapit. Karaniwang problema ito ng mga nagkaka-edad...kaso trentaydos lang ako noon, at mas malabo pa ang mata ko sa aking nanay.  Sa tulad kong mahilig magbasa, malaking ginhawa ang reading glasses.  At kapag wala akong salamin, kahit menu di ko mabasa kaya ipapabasa ko na lang sa waiter.  At kalimutan na natin ang texting, di kaya ng powers pag walang salamin.:p

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

Lucky are those who have good eyesight.  Truth be told, I took for granted my 20/20 vision until the day the doctor told me I need to be fitted with prescription glasses.  My vision defect is called hyperopia, also known as farsightedness---this causes difficulty  focusing on near objects, a clearer vision on distant objects.  It's a common problem that comes with aging but I was only 32, and my mom had better eyesight.  For somebody who loves to read, reading glasses really improved my life---it reduced my headaches and squinting.  And when I forget my glasses?  I couldn't even read the menu, I had to ask the waiter to read it for me.  And forget texting!  If I don't text back, it means my reading glasses are somewhere else!:p

@ mirandablue

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to answer and join:


1.  When was the last time you had your eyes checked?

• My last eye check-up was in November last year. I usually have my eyes checked a few weeks after my birthday.  The doctor suggested progressive lenses but I'm not ready for it, psychologically.:p  So he prescribed another pair of glasses for driving.

2.  Do you think eyeglasses affect your looks, your lifestyle?

• Yes and yes.  I think I look "older" with glasses...people started calling me "ma'am", it used to be "miss".:p  A girlfriend gets excited while we're in a restaurant and I couldn't even see clearly what or who she's excited about!  Imagine all those sexy, good-looking guys walking by and I missed them!  My sister just told me that I look like an old woman when texting without my glasses on.  Who would want to read at the beach wearing a pair of reading glasses? *LOL*

Itim [Black]

@ mirandablue

Isa sa walong aso sa resort sa Punta Bulata si Magic.  Masaya lahat ang mga aso na sumalubong sa amin pero itong si Magic ang napansin ko.  Panay ang lapit sa akin, parang friends na kami.  Makinis ang itim nitong balahibo at tulad ng alaga ko, enjoy din si Magic habang kinakamot sa ulo. Malambing si Magic at di ko man lang narinig kumahol.  Sabi pa ng caretaker ng resort, mahilig daw itong maligo sa dagat.  Nakabantay s'ya lagi sa dining area, pero pagkatapos ng tanghalian, di ko na s'ya napansin.  At alam mo ba kung nasaan si Magic?

Heto...nagpa-power nap.  Ang sarap ng buhay!

Sali na sa Litratong Pinoy

@ mirandablue

Magic is one of the 8 dogs at the resort in Punta Bulata.  All 8 dogs happily greeted us when we arrived but it was Magic who caught my eye.  He was very friendly, constantly rubbing his nose on my leg as if we were long-time friends.  I loved his smooth black fur and he loved being scratched---just like my baby.  The resort caretaker told me that Magic loves to take a swim at the sea.  He's usually lounging at the dining area but after lunch, I didn't see him again.  I wondered where he was.  Well, I found him napping at this recliner, facing the sea.  What a great life he has!

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to answer and join.

• What do you think of dogs?

A dog is indeed (wo)man's best-friend.  Dogs love unconditionally. You tell your dog the nastiest things about you, and he loves you anyway.  They're uncomplicated, warm and sweet and would do anything for a little affection.

• If you have a dog(s), tell me about him/her.

This is Fritz, a 4-year old Japanese spitz half-breed.  My nephew calls him half spitz, half bisaya, to which he answers with a roar.  Fritz is gentle and good-natured, he loves kids and very popular in the neighborhood, in the mall, and everywhere we go. He has a crush on our neighbor's dog, Kimchu. When I'm home, he wants me to sit beside him at feeding time, and sometimes prefers to be spoon-feed by nobody else but me.  He loves to drink water straight from the fridge--he would wait for cold water being poured into his bowl before drinking.  He walks straight to the bathroom when you tell him it's bath time.  Fritz "talks" with his paws when he needs to pee or poop--he always does his business outside.  He waits for me to come home every night, restless until I arrive.  And seems to understand when I leave the house with luggage---he doesn't wait up and sleeps early.  Oh, I can go on and on and on...I guess you can never really understand the love between a (wo)man and a dog unless you have one.

@ mirandablue

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.  

Kulay rosas [Pink]

@ mirandablue

Sa mga kulay sa color chart, pink ang hindi ko masyadong gusto.  Nagkakaroon lang ako ng kulay rosas na damit kung ito'y ireregalo sa akin.  Sa kalikasan ko lang nagugustuhan ang pink---sa mga bulaklak at halaman, prutas, ibon at kulay ng langit.  Pero ako'y nabighani sa nag-aagaw na kulay rosas, lila at ginto sa dingding ng gusaling ito sa Seattle.  Ito ang Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum na dinesenyo ni Frank O. Gehry.  Gawa sa fabricated steel frame na binalot ng shotcrete at sheet metal panels, ang gusali ay inihandog sa ala-ala ng music icon na si Jimi Hendrix.

@ mirandablue

From all the colors in the color chart, pink is my least favorite color.  I usually enjoy the pink colors in nature---the flowers and fruits, birds and pink skies.  But I was mesmerized at the walls of this unique building in Seattle, with its varying shades of pink, purple and gold.  This is the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum designed by architect Frank O. Gehry.  Built from fabricated steel frame and clad with shotcrete and shell metal panels, this structure is dedicated to the music icon, Jimi Hendrix.

"In 1969 a screaming, reverberating rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix seemed to herald an end to innocence. His resonant lyric "Are you experienced?" is now recalled in the name of software billionaire Paul G. Allen's Experience Music Project. Hendrix would have appreciated the design approach to Seattle's new museum of pop music.

"Architect Frank O. Gehry has made a career out of bending vertical and horizontal lines of building construction into something defiant and sometimes poetic. With Seattle's EMP, opened just over a week before the Fourth of July, he has met his perfect client in Allen and his metaphorical match in rock-'n'-roll. The resulting architecture is a unique performance and a new landmark on the edge of the Seattle Center." Source:  GreatBuildings Page

Posted for Litratong Pinoy

@ mirandablue

For Thursday Two Questions - you are invited to answer and join:

1)  What kind of music moves you?

•  Music moves me in ways I seldom realize.  It can be an opera, jazz, classic rock, blues. I remember listening to Andrea Boccelli's Romanza cd for the first time...I didn't understand a word but I had goosebumps and almost cried in front of a sales clerk.   Pink Floyd takes me to another place.  Flamenco music, Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton bring out the rhythm in me.  Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, Nora Jones for my moody soul.

2)  How does color affect your mood?

• More often than not, I am unaware that a certain color affects my mood.  But in many ways, I use colors to show my feelings. I wear bright red lipstick when I'm feeling crappy.  I prefer black when I don't want to get noticed.  Red and orange boost my confidence, yellow when I need a favor.:p  I love waking up to clear blue skies, green growing things make me happy.  Grey mornings get me down, i'm a bit intimidated and curious at anything purple. Sunsets, full moons and fireworks make me emotional---I think it has something to do with colors, too.