January 2012

Media Noche:  Happy New Year!

Pinoy Christmas

What I did this December:

Attended Lex and Tintin's wonderful wedding.

1.  Nagbantay ng Tindahan

2.  attended Misa De Gallo, VERY EARLY!!! (Guindulman Church)

3.  Went around Tagbilaran, its Christmas time! (Provincial Capitol Bldg)

4. The Plaza at Tagbilaran is well-lit (though not expertly done). 

5.  Nag-walking every morning, to keep fit...

6. Bought pasalubong. Daing, Nukos.etc. Freshly delivered. (Ubay Market)

7. Ate at newly-renovated MacDo Tagbilaran.  Naubusan ng ketchup.  Mortal Sin!!!!  But lots of people!

8.Went aroung Tagbilaran.  St Joseph Cathedral has a Christmas Tree out front.

9. Went to overcrowded Tagbilaran airport.  Going home to Manila.  Good performers, though.

10.  Got some gifts.  Thanks sisters Cruz!

11. Bought more giveaways.  LOVE this candy! (kasi pangalan ko)

12.  Attended mass on Christmas Eve at Holy Family Parish, Kapitolyo.

13.  Attended mass with this cute couple....

14.  Noche Buena at Tita's house...

15.  More Noche Buena food at Tita's house....

16.  More FOOOOOOD at Tita's house.

17.  Gift Giving...still at Tita's house, Noche Buena.

18. After last night's Noche Buena, Christmas Day lunch,  (di pa ata ako natunawan from last night...)

19.  Drank Civet Coffee! 

20.  More food.

21.  ...and sweets!

22. Cruz Kringle 2011!!!

23.  Karaoke.  I am sooo gonna lose at the TLS singing contest....

24.  Played Pinoy Henyo.  Im sorry Yonni, pero di makatarungan itong pinapahula sa iyo na ito. #bewilderment

25.  Poucharoo Meeting. 

Poucharoo Meeting

26. Poucharoo Meeting.  The girls were checking out something on Facebook.  Ano kaya?

27.  Aha!  Sat beside this table.  Mitch, I LOOOOVE your Wonder Woman shirt.  Do they have those in my size?

28.  Attended wedding.

29. Helped out at the wedding.  (I did not sing though).  Dialing....

30. Attended first Evaaaar Tsampion Lig of Singers (photo courtesy of Bryan Ocampo).

31.  YES, the TSAMPIONS of the first evaaaar Tsampion Lig Of Singers!  THE Rony Fortich relied on Talent, I relied on liquid confidence (photo courtesy of Rony Fortich)

Few days more to go before we hit January 2012.  Yahoooo!

DRAGONBOAT PADDLING: Breast Cancer Survivors Paddling Event

Ang sagwan....Bow!

Masaya mag-dragonboat paddling.

After weeks in Metro Manila, I couldn't get myself to wake up early in the morning for paddling practice.  Sad.

So after one night of some drinking, creative old me decided to just bring along my stuff and spend the night at the Greenbelt 1 parking lot.  (well, it was more like 2 hours light sleep). 

Then off I went to the CCP grounds and a morning of dragonboat.

I couldn't have chosen a better time as my team, the Manila Dragons was hosting a BCS (Breast Cancer Survivors) Paddling event that morning.

As we all know, napaka-serious na sakit ang cancer.  At mas lalo natin dapat bigyan ng suporta ang mga kaibigan nating naka-survive sa ganitong sakit. 

I guess part of the advocacy of the team is to help out in some small ways, tulad ng pagtuturo ng sport na ito.

Of course it helps that the team also has its share of BCS members.  Actually, sila pa nga ang mga pinaka-active at pinaka magagaling sa aming koponan.  Truly, surviving from cancer should not hinder you from living a full life.

Anyway, what did our guests do?

They put on some name tags first...

Tita E, busy with those tags.

Nag-lecture ang MD....

Joy Arcinue and Booboy Batac explain the basics of paddling.  Sagwan lang ng sagwan!!

 Nag stretching...

Alright Booboy!

Pumila papunta sa bangka....

May pila.

...at sumakay na sila!

Loading...whew, 2 boat loads.

Afterward, they went back to the parking lot....

Listening.

 ...and we ate (sayang mga taba-taba natin na na-burn ko with paddling practice...pero minsan lang ito...puede naman ako mag-jogging).

My meal.  Later on, Ate Sandy (or was it Doc Tina?) will add another bangus piece to this masterpiece.

Nice spread.  KFC courtesy of Master Joyce.  Naunang naubos yan.

Masarap lahat, pati rhum cake ni Steph.  Puede na magbukas ng bakery.

After eating, usap-usap lang lahat.

BTW, here is a shot of the team's 2 boats.  Ganda. 

It was definitely a good day to be MD.

Gelo Cimagala
mobile:  (0908) 862 1469
email: tccimagala@yahoo.com

Around Manila - UN Avenue, LRT, La Salle

The Acer Service Center at Paco, Manila (front of Robinson's Otis)

So, I had to hussle my ass to Manila this fine Friday morning, as I wanted to get my Acer laptop from the service center.

I didn't know there was a mall at Otis.  Then again, I dont really pass by this part of Manila often.

Its got a flickering LCD and my worst fears have been realized -- kailangan ko raw palitan ang LCD to the tune of Php 7,100 ++.  Ayos. 

Seeing as this was an old laptop, and probably needed replacing, I decided against their advise to replace the LCD.  Besides, these service centers have the habit of doing replacements when a little tinkering will do.  We can't blame them though, they gotta make money, ya know?

Inspired by my recent repair of the AC Adapter for the Acer (I paid Php300 instead of replacing it with a new one worth P1,000 to 1,500), I've decided to have somebody else take a look under the hood.  I'm also scouring the internet for 2nd hand LCD's that should work fine.

Anyway, going down the LRT at the UN Avenue station, I had myself a bit of a walk towards the service center (actually, medyo malayo na pala yun.  But great exercise, though).

 Besides, the best way to see a city (or to see a new side of it), is to walk through it.  That's what I did on my trips to Singapore.  Its really different when you take a taxi or the train or bus.  Walking is the way to go.  Walking is the only way to really appreciate a place.  Puede rin siguro bisikleta.  Ang importante malanghap ang hangin, kahit polluted pa yan.  :-)

I think the local govt or NGO's are cleaning up the esteros and the river.  I saw one near a school in Paco.  Good Job.

Sikh Temple along UN Avenue

Still the Sikh temple.  Beside the temple, I see some stalls selling what seems to be Indian snacks.  Must try those next time.

Multinational Unilever's offices and plant is along UN Avenue. 

 After I got my laptop, matalino na ako.  I took a tricycle to the LRT Station.  I got there in no time, and paid just Php20.00.

View of the other side of UN Avenue, as seen from the LRT-1

 The trains were packed.  I had to wait for the 2nd train before I got in.

UN Ave station, taken as the LRT was coming in.  From this picture di halatang maraming tao. 

 This reminds me of a video from Singapore, about citizens complaining about the packed MRT during rush hour.  Of course blame goes to the FT's (Foreign Talents) who they fear, are cramping their style and their jobs.  Maluwag pa ang MRT nila compared to ours.  haha.

Up in Arms:  This is a packed LRT on mid-day.  Iba pa pag rush hour sa hapon.

In fairness, malamig ang aircon and organized na rin, I guess.  The government should not have any trouble maintaining steady ridership even if they increase fares.  Sana nga lang, huwag biglaan kasi kawawa din naman talaga ang regular Juans and Pedros, riding this traffic-less mode of transport. 

The trains were so packed, nakasandal na itong lalaking ito sa may pintuan.

Also, a ride on the LRT wont be complete without a view of the De La Salle University.

To some its a monstrosity, to others,a renewal of our beloved DLSU Main/ Taft/ Manila campus

The construction of the Henry Sy Hall is in full swing, the building being named after the patriarch of the SM Group.  This is part of the centennial campus renewal/ development plan.  Unfortunately, we had to give up our beloved football field for this edifice.  I guess, we just need to trust our school leaders that they made the right decision.  Problema kasi dito, yun na nga lang ang malaking open space sa campus, nawala pa.

More on the renewal plan, here, and here.

Getting on the LRT at the Vito Cruz Station, is this kid.   Itong batang ito, hindi maliligaw, kasi alam nating lahat sa DLSU siya galing.  Jacket, baller, ID, Lanyard.  Brip at medyas siguro neto, La Salle din.

The MRT wasn't any different, puno rin.

ugh.  Long lines at the MRT.

Queues kopo!

Despite the long queues at both the MRT and LRT, both remain efficient modes of transport.  Its good to hear that the DOTC under Mar Roxas has set up a plan to extend them and make them better.