Oks Na ang Riverside Beach Resort 'Pag may B-day

Hiniwat namin ang ikawalumpu't taong kaarawan ng aking lola sa Riverside Beach Resort sa Trapiche, Oton, Iloilo. Dito sa Oton, matatagpuan ang iilang mga resort na madali lang mapuntahan ng mga tao mula sa lungsod at sa iba pang mga karatig na munisipalidad. Kung nais nilang mag-relax kasama ng malamig na simoy ng hangin at maaliwalas at mapayapang tanawin ng baybayin, marami-rami ng mga beach resorts ang maaaring pagpilian sa lugar alinsunod sa mga serbisyo na gustong matanggap ng mga kustomer.

Magaan sa loob na isiping hindi napapabayaan ang mga baybayin ng Oton. Dahil sa pag-aalaga ng mga residente sa yamang tubig na ito, nagkakaroon ng masagang pagbabago. Maraming nahuhuling mga isda, talaba, pusit, at iba pang pagkaing pandagat na maaaring pagkunan ng pamumuhay. Nagsisitayo rin ang mga seafood restaurants sa lugar kaya't nagkakaroon ng trabaho ang mga tao rito. Basta't napapanatili ang kalinisan ng ating kapaligiran, marami ang maidudulot na positibo nito hindi lamang sa kalikasan ngunit pati na rin sa mga mamamayan nito.

Sa Riverside Beach Resort, bagama't mura ay may mga magaganda at matitibay na mga cottages ito na may iba't-ibang mga sukat - may mga malalaki para sa malaking pamilya na gustong magsalu-salo at may mga maliliit din na silong para sa barkada.

Kung nais niyong mag volleyball, may mga puno ng niyog na maaaring pagsabitan ng net. Sa malaking espasyo sa pagitan ng mga ito ay maaari nang maglaro ng naturang isport. Magaling na ideya rin ang pagpapalipad ng saranggola malapit sa baybayin.

Mahaba-haba din naman ang linya ng buhangin ng baybayin kaya't malayang magtampisaw sa malinis nitong tubig. Huwag lang lumangoy papalayo dahil wala namang life guard ang magmamatyag at magbabantay sa mga lumalangoy bente kwatro oras.

Swak itong puntahan ng mga nagtitipid sapagkat ang presyo ng isang cottage ay nagkakahalaga mula 150 php pataas at maaari pang magdala ng mga pagkain na pagsasalu-saluhan. Sa Oton mismo ay marami ng mga tindahan at mga restwarant na pwedeng pagbilhan ng mga talaba at iba pang pagkaing pandagat kaya't siguradong busog ang tiyan ng lahat.

Kung nais namang magbanlaw pagkatapos ng paglalangoy,  may poso naman na maaaring paliguan. Siyempre, dapat cowboy lang kung nais niyong dito mag-beach sapagkat hindi naman ito tulad ng mga mamahaling mga resort kung saan merong world-class na mga amenities at kung anu-ano pang mga water sports activities. Yung nga lang, hindi masyadong malinis yung mga comfort rooms pero mapagtiya-tiyagaan naman. Saan ka pa sa limang piso na entrance fee, hindi ba?

Kung gusto niyong mag-bonding at mag-chillax sa hindi gaanong ka-bonggang budget, tamang-tama na ang resort na ito. Kung habol lang naman ninyo ay maaliwalas na tanawin, preskong hangin, at malamig at malinis na baybayin, magandang choice na ang Riverside Beach Resort. Enjoy na yun. Maaari pa kayong magpicture-picture sa pang-photoshoot na lokasyong ito.

Hip Vending Machines to Quench Your Thirst

Vending machines are abuzz these days. Why not? You don't have to pay someone to man a store to dispense your products. What the customers have to do is just insert the desired amount of what they want to purchase and voila, a cup of hot coffee or iced tea is on their very hands!

I've been to St. Paul's Hospital Iloilo and found this vending machine that held a variety of drinks one could flexibly choose from. It got iced and hot milo, an iced mocha and a cool cappuccino, an array of cold and hot juices as well as many types of steamy coffee. These will cost you around 10 to 15 pesos wherein you can insert whatever amount of peso coin (except for cents I guess) although it only accepts a 20-peso paper bill.

This particular vending machine is under the management of Innovend Corporation, a fastest growing provider of such thirst-quenching technology in the Philippines. Its catchy tagline is LOVE which means Live Our Vending Experience. 

This is quite a good business opportunity most especially if you place the vending machines on locations where there is huge traffic such as schools, hospitals, offices, and shopping malls. Since people would get thirsty in an unexpected moment, they don't have to look for canteens or shops just to relieve their liquid craving. Passing by a vending machine that caters them with a line of drinks would be the instant solution to their dry throats.

For more information about this awesome vending machines, visit www.innovend.com.ph.

Ang Pneumonia Indi Lahug-Lahog

Ngaa bala gaka pneumonia ang tawo? Ano ang ginahalinan sini?

Sa eksperyensya ko bilang isa ka nars, ang pneumonia pwede makuha sang isa ka tawo nga may mahina nga immune system. Kung ini mahina, ikaw madali malatnan sang mga kagaw ukon bacteria nga maga-resulta sa ini nga sakit. Gani, ang mga tigulang kag mga bata ang pirmi ginahalitan sini. Sila maga-ubo kay maga damu ang plema sa ila nga baga nga budlaw mapagwa. Kung indi nila mauskag ang ila nga plema, ini maga-bara sa mga tubo sang ila lungs. Ang resulta - magabudlayan sila mag-ginhawa.

Makwa mu ang sakit nga ini sa inyo komyunidad, sa ospital, ukon sa diin man nga lugar nga nagatuhaw ang kagaw nga gadulot sang pneumonia. Amu na siguraduhon gid nga indi basa balhas ang likod kung magtulog, matinlo ang palibot, magpalayo sa mga tawo nga naga-ubo, kag magkaon sang mga prutas kag utan.

Ang isa pa ka ginahalinan sang ini nga sakit ang pag-dunlan. Kung ikaw sungak-sungak ukon gadali magkaon, pwede magtalang ang pagkaon ukon tubig sa imo baga. Ina ginatawag nila nga aspiration pneumonia. Gets? Amu na kung magkaon, hinay-hinay lang. Ini labi na gid sa mga tigulang ka yang ila pagdulungdan mahina na gani dapat man sila alalayan kung magkaon.

Ini nga sakit indi lahug-lahog. Kung ang imu nga baga, magkipot, paano ka pa kaginhawa? Amu na kung gaubo-ubo ikaw, nabudlayan mag ginhawa, kag gahilanat, magpakonsulta gilayon sa duktor. Ang pneumonia malikawan kung ikaw maka-inom sang mga insakto nga bulong. Ini malikawan kung ikaw baskug kag ga ehersisyo.

Tandaan: Mahal magpa hospital. Biskan machine sang paaso may sukot. Wala da labot ang bulong. Kag indi lang ini isyu sang galastuhan. Isyu ini sang imu kabuhi nga dapat mo amumahon kag bantayan.

My New Upper: Jollibee Coffee Flip Float

I love coffee. It perks my boring days up and brings a bit of energy to whatever work that I may do. One rainy day in Iloilo, I was urged to look for a cup of hot coffee. I stopped by Jollibee across UP and ordered for the upper. Unfortunately, it was just served during breakfast.

With this problem, I looked over the other menus. I could just order a float, fries, and burger combo but still, my mind was craving for something else. I would really love to drink coffee, hence, an iced coffee would probably satisfy me.

The girl in the counter may had noticed my dilemma. She suggested I order the new flip float. Aside from it being a coffee drink, it had the vanilla ice cream with a chocolate syrup layer right  in the bottom instead of the usual float we purchase where the cold sweet dessert is on top. What made this drink a bit more special was that it was topped with crushed Oreo cookies, making it more delicious. I followed the girl’s suggestion and indeed, It was great. I paired the 50-peso upper with the tasty Jollibee spaghetti.

It was rainy. The feeling was cold and I was alone. But I was smiling since I was delighted with my newfound friend – coffee flip float.

USA Takes "Basura Busters" in SM City Iloilo

Theater. It is a type of art and entertainment that has been practiced way back our ancestors' time and until now, it continues to be performed in schools, big auditoriums, and even in small communities.

Theater plays are not only present for budding actors to have a venue for self-expression and showcasing of talents, but they exist because all the cast and crew behind a stage performance are itching to relay a message of social significance. They yearn to somehow affect and influence its audience to realize and act on the pressing problems that negatively affect the society.

Last time, a play entitled "Basura Busters" by the University of San Agustin (USA) Little Theater was presented in the activity center of SM City Iloilo. It talked about the importance of keeping our environment clean and friendly for its inhabitants. The characters were comprised of students from the said school who acted in a setting where mundane situations in a barangay took place - gossips, fights, and of course, the issue of improper garbage disposal. With the promising talent of these student theater actors,  the play had effectively provided awareness on how one must not take for granted the vitality of a green surrounding.

Coming with a Hiligaynon Script, "Basura Busters" will easily connect with Ilonggo viewers. 

Funny, modern lingoes are incorporated in the actors' lines to keep up with today's  language.

Enthralling Films in Cinematheque Iloilo

Films are usually a reflection of our culture and history. Hence, this modern form of art must be given importance not just because it entertains but also for the reason that it is a tool that can be effectively used to create change and bring forth positive impact in our community.

It was refreshing knowing that Cinematheque Iloilo, located in Iznart St. just across Amigo plaza, provides Ilonggos with free movies coming from the local and international scene. Plus, it also features unique Ilonggo films written and directed by talented Ilonggo filmmakers themselves. Through their endeavor, Panay's culture, practices, and language are preserved be means of  storytelling and motion pictures.

I had watched a full-length film as well as short films in Cinematheque Iloilo once and I must say, the movie experience was so "indie"- all new and fun to me. Isn't it cool that if you don't have any penny to watch expensive commercialized films, you have the option to go downtown and enjoy an interesting film without spending a cent? Well some movies that they screen have fees, but checking out the schedule of their film showings, majority are free or if ever there is a charge, it would be of minimal cost.

They have a small theatre where the films are being projected but when I mean small, I don't say that the place is uncomfortable. In fact, they have really nice seats that allow space for movement and relaxation. The seats are also escalated just like the ones that we see in big movie houses. Plus, the aircon functions well so that one can concentrate on the movie.

Inside the Cinematheque, posters of classic and epic films are hung.

When I went there,  a group of college students were watching a funny yet heart-warming Argentinian film entitled Un Cuento Chino. It is a story about an Argentinian man in his 40-50's who encountered a young Chinese guy who was trying to find his uncle. The man, though was not used to having other persons in his home, decided to help the Chinese guy out of pity, letting the latter stay in his house for a couple of days until they find the uncle. However, time had been passing and still, there was no success on regards to where the uncle lives. This posed conflict and misunderstanding between the two since there was the language barrier that hindered both to relate well with each other.

Aside from the various reels that one can experience, Cinematheque Iloilo also showcases an exhibit of paintings and artwork by several home-grown artists who, through this project, are provided with a venue to share their creative masterpieces.

The interior.

Indeed, films and other art forms, are not just mere materials for leisure, rather, they can be utilized as references for a certain era's culture and lifestyle. Through these media, people can be educated and have a deeper knowledge of their roots from which they can learn significant lessons, passing them on to another generation.

Song list for the week

1. The A Team - Ed Sheeran
2. Jet Lag - Simple Plan
3. Good Time - Owl City feat. Carly Rae Jepsen
4. Angels - David Archuleta
5. Hey Jude - The Beatles
6. Kiss You - One Direction
7. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
8.Without You - David Guetta feat. Usher
9. I'd Rather - Luther Vandross
10. One Last Cry - Brian McKnight

Pop's B-day at Red Corner

It was my pop's birthday last February 3 and to celebrate his special day, we lunched out at Red Corner, a Chinese restaurant situated at Plazuela de Iloilo. Their satiating viands were good for 3-4 persons per plate in    prices that were not rocket-high.  Plus, they had one of the best siomais I had ever tasted in my life.

When still waiting for our order, we were offered free salted nuts to munch on, which was good since I don't have that  much patience to wait for food most especially if I'm hungry. The personnel were also kind and accommodating to our needs. The restaurant also cooks salads and a variety of vegetable meals to the health conscious.

There were a bunch of Koreans eating when we dined there. Maybe, they also liked the food served. It was cool knowing that Iloilo has restaurants that appeal not only to its residents, but also to some foreign customers. Needless to say, my pop used chopsticks the whole time we ate. Not me, spoon and fork were my best friends to quickly and hungrily satisfy my palate and grumbling stomach.

My ever favorite Yang Chao rice.

juicy chicken!

Yummy Chop Seuy

Delectable calamares

Relaxing ambiance for family or friends who want to dine out