Amidst The Cornfield

Wines Galore!!!

Kainis na Lamok!

          Kainis talaga yung mga lamok. Walang pinipili kapag kumagat. Habang nagta-type ako ngayon, walang tigil naman ang pagdapo ng mga walang awang mga lamok sa aking mga paa. Alam mo na kung kinagat ka kapag dama mo na ang pangangati sa lugar kung saan ka nila tinusok.
          Ano ba ang gustong-gusto nila sa akin? Hindi naman ako dugong bughaw. Siguro gusto nila yung dugo ko dahil matamis ito. May lahi kaming diabetic kaya siguro animo juice yung pakiramdam nila sa nananalaytay sa aking mga kaugatan.
          Kung alam lang ng lamok ang dulot niyang kapahamakan. May narinig akong isang batang dinapuan ng dengue sa aming barangay. Sabi nila, baka nakuha niya ito sa kanilang paaralan. Siguro marami roong mga bagay bagay na sinisidlan ng tubig tuwing umuulan at nagiging tirahan na ito ng mga lamok na dala ay ang  nakamamatay na dengue.
          Narinig ko, hindi lang pala tuwing hapon sumasalanta ang mga lamok na ito. Kahit gabi raw ay naghahasik sila ng lagim. Kainis! Naaawa tuloy ako sa mga kabataang namamatay na walang kalaban-laban dahil lang sa dengue. Marami ng mga pangarap ang tinapos ng karamdaman na ito.
          Kaya naman kailangan na talaga ng bawat barangay ang mag-plano kung paano sugpuin ang nakakapinsalang sakit. Linisin ang kapaligiran lalung-lalo na ang mga nananatiling tubig sa mga gulong, plorera, bote, at iba pa na napupuno tuwing umuulan at napapabayaan na lamang. Magpatingin agad sa doktor kapag pabalik-balik ang lagnat, namumula ang katawan, nananakit ang ulo at tiyan o kapag may kaso ng dengue sa lugar at nararamdaman mong may mga sintomas ka nito. Huwag na nating hintayin pang dumugo ang ating mga kasidlan bago pa tayo pumunta sa ospital.
          Maraming mga mumunting pangarap ang masasalba basta't hindi tayo nagpapatalo sa mga nakakainis na mga lamok na ito.

Finally Home

          Had you ever experienced waiting so long for your flight, doing just about anything at the departure area such as play Angry Birds on your laptop or type nonsensically on your cellphone, then suddenly, the airport personnel would inform you that your trip was cancelled? I had. Just my perfect definition of what they call “epic fail”.

          I was with my college friend, Charlene, whom I  just unexpectedly spotted sitting on a chair a couple inches across from mine. At first, I thought my eyes were only blurry. Maybe, she was just another stranger who looked like my leader in our college thesis project. When I called her name, she stood up with such surprise and we tried so hard for our shrieks to be mellowed down. I came over to chat with her. Oh, how I missed our out-of-this-world, crazy talks!

          She had been waiting here longer than I was. She was very much excited to meet her loved ones who had prepared something for her arrival after 11 months of missionary work abroad. Maybe food and tight hugs. Her best friends and boyfriend had been calling and texting her almost every minute. She told them that she would pass by a store to buy some additional food for the simple celebration back in her home.  

          How about me? Of course, I’m excited to go home too. Honestly, I missed home and I missed my dog, Chubby. It was quite a learning experience travelling in Manila. I didn’t plan to meet a lot of my relatives but I luckily had. I had met and cuddled their own huggable puppies too. I had tasted a lot of food that offered something incredibly new to my almost bored palate. I even tasted a cheap halo-halo with a leche flan on top from my tita’s  humble neighborhood. 

          Of course, my feet wearily trudged the streets of Quiapo, Divisoria, and Baclaran, thinking at the back of my mind that with clothes this cheap, how come there were still some who go naked on streets? I had been from Las Piñas to Bulacan with my sweat damping the butt of my shorts and the back of my shirt every time my cousins and I would rush to get into another jeepney, bus, or trike under the unforgiving sun.  I even thought I had been to all SM branches already in our desperation to cool ourselves down. Funny, but I would surely miss such unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience.  Yet after a month of adventure, Iloilo was still waiting for me, for no matter where life and the wind would lead me, She would always be remembered.

         “The flight going to Iloilo is cancelled”, the crew of NAIA 3 said. “There are no lights in Iloilo Airport right now. It would be dangerous for the plane to land there”, he added. We were told to either rebook our flight or refund our payments for the tickets. 

          As expected, many of the passengers, including us, surrounded the crew, asking for clarity or if contingency measures would be available immediately so we could go home now and embrace our relatives who had been longing for our arrival. Some even shouted at the top of their lungs as they tried to squeeze out a reasonable explanation from the crew. A guy in his 50’s burst out in exasperation because he had a conference to attend. A father was infuriated because his family didn’t anymore have a hotel to stay in. And Charlene, after arriving late on her original flight and after paying 1,500 php to book the next schedule which happened to be my trip, had her shoulders dropped in dismay. She was expecting that she could finally meet her loved ones but here she was, trying to grasp the rationale behind why her trip home couldn’t smoothly push through.

          It was already night-time. We decided to rebook our flight, procuring a 10 am schedule for the next day. Some passengers took the 4 am flight, preferring to spend the night at the airport than cash out for another hotel or for fares that would take them back to the places they stayed in.

          I called my uncle and asked if my friend could come with me at their house since her place was really far from the city. He agreed, so we took a cab on the way to my uncle’s residence where we rested and waited for another day to pass by.  Charlene was thankful because despite the unexpected and unfathomable circumstances, God had found a way for her to stay safe and to bond with a friend she had not met for a long time.

          We heard in the news that the airport’s plant back in Iloilo was hit by a fire due to a short circuit, creating a power outage. This froze the whole operation of the airport, cancelling all the flights going to and from the province.

          I realized that such a crisis could not only hinder the passengers from flying to their respective destinations but it could also put a halt to various important personal and business transactions, resulting to certain losses of investment, may it be money or time.

          Alarmed upon hearing the crippling predicament, the local government instinctively thought of solutions to address such problem. Indeed, what had happened would serve as a great lesson to the province.  The officials should be ready at all times in preparing contingency measures that would prevent the incident to occur again in the future. Indeed, thinking of what might come when a particular dilemma transpires and finding ways to combat it is a critical intervention every organization must not overlook.

          Early morning the next day, Charlene and I prepared ourselves and our baggages for the flight. We thanked my tito and tita for amicably accommodating us. Yesterday had been a rough day but now, the morning was gleaming at us and I knew everything would be okay.

         Obviously, Charlene couldn’t hide her excitement as we entered the plane. It was true that we could definitely reach our destination if our hearts courageously go for it despite the barriers along the way.

        “This is it”, she uttered.  Yes, we may go to different places in the near future but let’s admit it, nothing feels like home.

Cooling It Down at Grotto Vista Resort, Bulacan

         From Manila, my two cousins and I went to Bulacan to meet another cousin and to take a swim in a popular pool situated there. It was scorching hot in Manila that we just wanted to dip our bodies into the cold water and release the accumulated heat that was waiting to burst out from our sweltering systems.

          From Quiapo, we rode an FX that dropped us at SM Fairview. My guy cousin, who is battling mood swings and pimples due to adolescence, decided to buy a board short from the mall’s department store.  We searched by the racks as well as by the tables where a lot of shorts were stacked on. Nothing caught his fancy. If there was, it would either be too big or too small for him.    Luckily, the statue wearing a board short which according to my instinct, would be the perfect fit, caught my attention. We then asked the salesgirl if we could try the one that the dummy was wearing. She did agree, stripping off the short from the mannequin and when my cousin tried it, it was exactly the one he’s looking for.

          What I loved about SM City Fairview was that it closely resembled SM City Iloilo that visiting the former made me feel I’m home again. Plus, Fairview had boutiques I couldn't find from other SM branches.  You’ll just love to drop by Jewels and Chemistry for awesome fashion finds. The mall also offered fun rides and exciting arcades at the top floor.

          Before we could head to our main destination, we first dined at Mang Inasal located at the Robinson’s Mall just right across SM. After we filled our tummies with unlimited rice, yummy chicken inasal, and sizzling sisig, we excitedly rushed outside for a transportation that would drive us to Grotto Vista. We found a jeepney labeled with “Grotto” that brought us directly to the resort.

          For a fare of 17 php each, we had arrived at Grotto Vista Resort,  Bulacan’s Premier Resort and San Jose del  Monte’s Pride. I was awestruck by the numerous people going to and fro the resort. When we get there, a show was going on right in front of what seemed to be their largest pool.  The show  was led by funny hosts who entertained the visitors through cracking a lot of jokes and who facilitated activities audience get to participate into.

          We paid 160 php each for the entrance fee since we decided to do night swimming as it was getting dark anyway. We were also given a key for a locker where we stored our bags and other necessities like our cellphones and wallets.

          The resort comprised of many pools but some only operate through private reservations such as the Covered Pool, Scenic Pool, and the Private Pool which could be rented for 12 hours.  Two pools were opened that day, the Galleon Ship and the Island Kiddie Pool. The first one, I guess, was the widest. Right in its middle, a huge archetypical ship complete with sails was built for swimmers to play into. Long, curvy slides descended from the top of the ship and from the rooftop patio located at the side of the pool. This pool was just right for the whole family to bask into especially for the kids since it only reached about  4-5 feet. Most of the deep pools were only open for reservations.

          We also tried the Island Kiddie Pool.  Just like the Galleon Ship, the height of this pool’s water also just reached to about 4-5 feet. But what’s special about this pool was its showers that fall from the pillars and from the Mushroom-like structures which could be your perfect spot to just sit down under its shade while letting the water pour upon your tired feet.

          A long, winding slide was also situated at the edge of the pool while shorter slides are built in a tree-like structure in the middle where a bridge connected to the foot way.

          We took most of our time swimming in the Island Kiddie Pool because I just loved the downpour of the showers and although smaller than the Galleon Ship,  it wasn’t that crowded compared to the latter. I enjoyed dipping with my cousins and how could we not take pictures, right? Summer with a splash of cool water on your skin has always been this ecstatic!

          There were also a line-up of food stands right at the entrance. Rooms were also available for overnight stay. There were large and small cottages to gather a family or a barkada. Videoke machines were also ready to function for those who love to belt out.

          After my cousins and I felt as if the heat within our bodies had completely vaporized, we then packed up, ready to leave for our next stop- meet another cousin and chat the night away.

The Avengers Paraphernalia at MOA

         I went to SM Mall of Asia yesterday and guess what, I met Thor and Iron Man of The Avengers! Too bad they're not breathing since they're just human-size statues waiting for their fans to take pictures with them. But up close, it seemed as though they're real,  equipped to save someone's life from danger. It was funny how a kid's eyes bulged in surprise when he's head was already close to Iron Man's face the moment he was carried by his father for picture taking.

         There were a lot of  cool Avenger miniature toys and collectibles that were displayed in the glass shelves. Some toys were also for sale. Of course, the children were really awed by all these fictional heroes coming to life. But the adults, especially the big guys, couldn't also take their eyes off from the various Avenger characters that come in different entertaining sizes and shapes.

These miniature toys re-enact a thrilling fight.

I am with the invincible Thor.

Captain America collectibles! Awesome!

You're the man, Iron Man!

Cute Captain America toys on display

Who said The Hulk cannot flash a smile?

Summer at the Mall

          When the heat being emitted by the summer sun just seems to be intolerable, Filipinos have a better , most common way to combat such – malling!

          That’s what my cousins and I exactly did. We strolled  at SM Megamall where people unstoppably swarmed its stores and restaurants. Truly, malling is a surefire way to escape the steamy atmosphere at home and in the streets.

          I have always loved window-shopping.  My eyes are entertained by all these cool stuff that allure me to cash out some moolah from my pocket. When temptation lurks, all I need is a little self-control, buying only the things that are of importance. But just because one doesn’t go home with bags of new clothes and shoes, it doesn't mean he can no longer enjoy malling. In fact, just by cooling oneself as he walks past different stalls is already an entertaining recreation most especially when he’s with family and friends.  

          My cousins and I first filled our hungry tummies with the tasty, superbly meaty Mexican Chicken from El Pollo Locco. Seriously, I just couldn’t get enough of this delicious chicken.

         Then, after being energized with a fulfilling food, we just strolled through shops and department stores.  I bought a transparent spectacle on sale so that I could transform into the nerdy me when the mood arises.

         Afterwhich, we just headed to Papemelroti, a store that sells recycled paraphernalia and keepsakes such as this awesome little notebook and this simple, inspiring organizer (picture below) I purchased for just a cheap price.

         Well, I didn’t spend my summer by the beach but I did happily spend it in a place where families and friends usually come together to chill away from the scorching heat. I spent my summer at the mall and honestly, I liked it.

Cinderella Searches Her Shoes

           My cousin and I went to Glorietta mall because she was planning to buy a new pair of shoes. Before we could start the hunt, we first snack out at McDo. I ordered their new Iced Coffee for an upper.

McDo's gift for coffee lovers.

          Afterwhich, we strolled and strolled, and our feet were getting weary of going from the department stores to boutiques just to find the perfect pair. Whenever we went inside one shop, my eyes would instinctively look for a chair or bench just so my toes could rest for awhile.  "Cinderella" had been searching for what she thought would be the exact fit and style but we had already roamed the neighboring malls, Greenbelt and SM, yet it seemed it wasn't her lucky day after all.
           It wasn't a good day too for my bladder since I kept going to the toilet almost every hour and I didn't know why. Maybe because I was eating a lot of sweets lately that my sugar might have shoot up.
          Our day wasn't that bad, I may say. Though our feet were almost giving up from all the trudging from one mall to another, we still enjoyed laughing and chatting while we visit many cool stores with cool finds. Too bad we just had to stare at them and dream they were all ours...hahaha. We also treated ourselves with a scrumptious lunch at Hen Lin, Greenbelt branch. I liked their fried sharksfin which came with rice for 51 php only. My cousin got herself a lumpia meal which also tasted good.

An affordable yet satisfying meal at Hen Lin.

           Cinderella didn't go home with the shoes she was yearning, but I guess, life's like that. It's the journey that's important, not the destination. We had fun going around Makati and that's the fulfillment a brand new shoes cannot similarly give.