Birthday what’s in it for me?

All done and we are good to celebrate the 2nd birthday of my god son Rob Ethan Velez Lariosa. There’s a lot of good food for the children’s party and of course nothing beats the hotdogs with marshmallows on sticks, spaghetti and the unbeatable chicken drumstick for kids and for adults eyes only.

The theme of the kid’s party is “Barney” with all the colorful balloons and no less than the "Barney cake" that is not only good for the eyes but for its taste as well. And the last but not the least is the main guest of the party, no less than “Barney” mascot himself who not only dance but sings as well.

But guess what excites me most are the games specifically the “Pabitin” game, where small toys, snacks, candies and all sorts were strung in a lattice of bamboo sticks and suspended in the air with a string. Yes, I enjoyed watching those tiny little hands trying to get the goodies strung around the bamboo as the goodies were lowered down. And not only that I could sense all their excitement that at last they got something from it and the achievements they get even if it’s just goodies.

On a serious note, I have read that this game is traditionally played during Santa Cruz de Mayo however it is now played during birthdays and during town fiestas. The game will end when nothing is left in the lattice bamboo.

The game is a direct influence of the Catholicism brought by Spain to the Philippines. It is sometimes called "paagaw" (anything for grabs) and is a special game during Santa Cruz de Mayo, a commemoration of the search for Christ's cross by Saint Helen and her son, Constantine the Great.

Source: http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Pabitin

Personal Photos of piaipipiay

feel the music!

Last year when I went home to my hometown, I heard my sister was talking about a dance fitness program which was introduced by a common friend. I am talking about the “Zumba” dance fitness which is a Latin-inspired-dance-fitness with cool music and dance steps that will make your body sweat at the same time you will enjoy while exercising. What I like about the Zumba is that it will only take you twenty minutes to sweat your body off and is still a very effective means of burning calories. You only need 20 minute of your time a day (that’s five days a week) to just dance your body and feel the music.

For those people who have heart problem like me, you only need 20-30 minute exercise not because you want to loose weight but you will definitely do good to your heart and cardiovascular health. According to my readings, more than 40 studies in the scientific literature document that cardiac risk can be reduced by 30 - 50% by regular, moderate exercise - averaging far less than one hour per day. As for me, this dance-fitness do me good.

Sources: http://www.zumba.com/us/about/
http://heartdisease.about.com/cs/exercise/a/enoughexercise.htm

Old as time

Custom made antique furniture made my eyes brighter especially when we speak of antique crafts. And as I travel around places there is something in that place that caught my attention and furniture’s are one of them. It really tickle my senses when people starts to talk about the history of that particular furniture, where it came from and how it was made. More importantly, how these furniture became a witness of the changing generations and if only they can talk they will surely tell a good story.

With the furniture in the house, antique decorations does fit in it.

In Awe!

When I travel, part of my breaktime is to tour around the place whether it may be a park, market, and some tourist spot in a particular place. However, this one made my night completely in awe while I visit my sister’s best friend’s home. As we reached their house, I could certainly say that this one is a very old house, it was confirmed when my sister’s best friend told me that the house is actually an 18^th Century old house but was renovated during 1920’s. If only I could clap and jump for joy upon seeing their beautiful decorations and antique one at that. Some of their decorations where used as cooking wares for native hot chocolate (called “sikwate”), the pink ceramic vase (16^th century old vase), old teapot, lamp and the manual planer. I could really hear myself screaming seeing these beautiful decors worth saving and keeping for. These are just few of their antique collection that suits the family’s home.

Tiny House

When I went to Malaybalay City to witness the “Kaamulan Festival”one of the places I visited were the various booth surrounding the Capitol Grounds. I was amazed at how all these products were brought into one place to showcase the pride of Bukidnon. And guess what caught my attention is this decoration showing a miniature tree house made of bamboo and a branch of wood. The artistry and the work of art seemed to show the craftsmanship of this piece of work. Indeed, I love Filipinos for their love of art.

This might be used as birds nest and/ or house decor for those who love native products.

veggie on the go

When I get busy with all the stuff in the computer I do not have time to cook for myself or to anyone at all. But if the going gets tough and tough gets going, somehow and somewhere inside me felt the urge to prepare a light and nutritious meal. Guess what I prepare? Yes, I prepare fresh vegetable salad, you need not sweat in preparing this. But all you’ve got to do is to check your refrigerator and picked the vegetables, sliced it and pour out either a mayo or vinaigrette to complete the meal. And this is how my fresh veggie salad on the go looks like. It taste better than just by looking at it. It is good to pair it with apple juice or orange juice too!

This one is good for the heart!

FESTIVITY GALORE

For over nine (9) years of my stay here in Cagayan de Oro City, I have never been able to fully enjoy one of the famous festivity here in the Province of Bukidnon. If you are from Mindanao or at least from the Philippines I am pretty sure you have heard of “Kaamulan Festival”. This festival happens once every year (start during half of February and until March 10 of the same year) in the Province of Bukidnon particularly in Malaybalay City (where the Provincial Capitol is located). As I understand, “Kaamulan” comes from the word “Amul” a local dialect which means to gather, that is a gathering of all the seven (7) tribes in Bukidnon for a purpose, like celebrating a wedding feast, good harvest and a peace pact mixed into one. The tribal people of Bukidnon comprised of the following; Bukidnon, Higaonon, Talaandig, Manobo, Matigsalug, Tigwahanon and Umayamnon.

This year, I had witnessed the celebration with friends and cousins starting off with the street dancing coupled with beautiful float from eight contingents who will be competing with each other. The street dancing showdown was held in the capitol grounds where it was surrounded with thousands of spectator, visitors and guests from all over the Philippines. While watching the street dance we had to stand for several hours just

to see it and Malaybalay City was declared winner of this year’s “s

treet dancing competition”

Part of the yearly activity of the Province is the participation of all the municipalities of Bukidnon and business establishments through the showcasing of all the products and harvests within a particular areas. Booths were arranged all over the capitol grounds where visitors could see and visit, and mostly I enjoyed touring around the areas to look for souvenir and I for one bought some fresh vegetables for salad.

I enjoyed my whole stay in Malaybalay with a warm welcome of Ret. Major Valcaroza and family. And as for me, KAAMULAN is a celebration that I wish to be part of every year.

Bye Bye Cramps!

It was an early dawn that I heard a shout, a shout begging for help to at least ease the pain in her muscles. Admittedly, I heard my own shout in the middle of the night, and sick worried with the indescribable pain in my legs. I was completely awakened in the middle of my happy dream (I mean dreams) to a painful truth that I have muscle cramps not only once but on numerous occasions. I said to myself I had to find means to settle this nightmare (if this was just a nightmare).

Working with the indigenous people in Mindanao had a great effect of my life as a development worker. I get a chance to talk to them in a more personal manner and eventually I made a lot of friends. And while we go to our community, I noticed that one of my colleagues wore something just below his knee and was amazed how it all got there. So I asked him, what it was and where did he get it, he smiled and was glad I asked him. He told me it was called “tikos or leg band” and it is used to at least prevent muscle cramps. I said to myself, this I might try not only because it looks nice when it is worn but also it prevents my nightmares.

Not contented with my colleague’s explanation I search through the internet and I came across a study of the Higaonon Culture and its tribal attires, arts and crafts. The Tikos is an anklet (technically not used for ankle but for the legs) made of beads and “Kulong-kulong” for male Higaonon, placed just below the knee to prevent cramps. And I have seen a lot of variations of tikos made from tikos vine or with the use of beads or made of other wild plants.

I had a chance to talk with my Higaonon friends to make one for me and choose a color for my leg band. I enjoyed wearing it and had a “nightmare free sleep” until it got reaped off my legs for reasons I do not know. So I did try to look for other alternatives and found another one until I have several kinds of leg band in my legs. For several years since I discovered that wearing the tikos, i am cramps free. And now I could no longer hear my own screams because I am still wearing one up until now.

Window to One’s Soul

The night is so late or shall I say it is dawn already and I am still looking through the screen of my laptop checking my blogs and my Facebook account but still I cannot sleep even if I wanted to. So, I browse through the bookmarked site of my computer and clicked ANC live streaming. And it was indeed timely because one of my favorite travel shows is on air. Yes! it is “Travel Time” hosted by Susan Calo-Medina, a renowned Filipina TV Host up until today. I’ve watched several episodes of the show and just this early dawn via ANC live streaming I was able to watch the episode “Gardens in the Metro”. It featured several gardens from the Philippine Horticulture Society of the Philippines, a garden in Tagaytay whose owner experimented on the hybrid of plants and one garden in Cavite featuring rare species of plants and herbs.

Watching the episodes brings back good memories where I had to retrieve and/or rescue some plants in the house that suffered and died because I left home for two (2) months. Planting and finding new species and varieties of plants became a hobby of mine and yes, admittedly I have a “green thumb”. I could see the joy in my eyes as I water them every day and even talked to them. While watering my imagination travels to another dimension where I could see myself owning a small farm where I could raise my plants and be able to indulge with backyard gardening and eventually engaged with landscaping. While watching the episodes a lot of ideas came rushing through my head that made me say I am going to pursue this dream of mine in no time. I was brought back to the show where Susan gave a line that strikes me that “having some garden is a window to your soul”. Indeed, it is a soothing hobby to raise plants as it will replenish all the bad energy in our own little world. Until, she said her famous line “Huwag Maging Dayuhan sa Sariling Bayan” (Don’t be a stranger to your own Country). The show did leave me something to think about up to this time.

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