Reasons Why Pau Gasol Should Visit the Philippines

I was just touched by the news of Pau Gasol raising $24K for the Yolanda typhoon victims. Although Senior Gasol has always showed support of the Philippines in times of calamities, this is the first time (correct me if I'm wrong) he has personally raised funds for his Pinoy brethren in need,

This got me thinking, wouldn't it be wonderful of Senior Pau Gasol would visit the Philippines? As far I could see, the following would be exciting reasons for Gasol's visit:

• Gasol's tweets have shown care for the Philippines. Not only, during times of calamities. After the last FIBA-Asis, Gasol tweeted congratulatory message to the top three winners. Although we came in second place. Gasol mentioned Smart Gilas ahead of the other winners.
• Gasol's country Spain and the Philippines will always be culturally bonded. So much of Spain's influence is still visible. Maybe Gasol's visit can further strengthen ties and maybe friendship between Spain and the Philipinnes.
• The Lakers enjoy a  solid fan base in the Philippines. Past and present Lakers who have visited the country- Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryan, have been more than well received. Pau Gasol will surely enjoy the same Pinoy welcome given to any Lakers.

If Pau Gasol does take time out to visit our country, expect to see me lined up for his autograph :-)

End of an Era

News of Donaire yielding his crown left me disappointed. The big 3 of Philippine boxing- Pacquiao, Villoria and Donaire have lost in the past year.

But then again, the big three are now in their 30's, which means that their boxing skills are now in the decline. I suppose the loss of Donaire marks the end of a Pinoy glory boxing era.

At this point, its up to the next generation of Pinoy boxers to bring back the glory to the country. With proper training, discipline and focus, who knows, not only can they match what the big three have accomplished but surpass it.

Aplaya Beach in the morning

On my last day in sweetie love's homwtown, I decided to get up little earlier and enjoy Amplaya beach. I got to see things I wouldn't see in the beach in the afternoon, like starfish and sea-snakes!

Tree show below not yet submerged by the beach

 Orange rock objects which Tatay Frank call as buhay na bato (living rock). According to Tatay Frank, these rocks eventually grow. I wonder they have a life span to stop growing.

 Starfish...

Aplaya beach in her morning pictorial

Just before leaving the beach, I chanced upon a sea-snake. Since I only had a smartphone camera, I could not zoom in.

Tatay Frank heads for home after accompanying me on a morning beach walk

Aplaya Beach

While in sweetie love's hometown, I sure did not waste any moment in enjoying their beach, known as Aplaya. Local folks have told me that there are plans to develop it as a tourist destination.

The pics I have posted here shows Aplaya beach in her unspoiled and uncommercialized beauty. Enjoy them as I did :-)

Home Sweetie Love Home

House where Sweetie Love's family call home is just near the beach and surrounded by a very scenic mountain spot. Folks just enjoy a laid back and relaxed lifestyle.

Pic below shows yours truly enjoying a cup of coffee outside the house, inside the family compound.

House where sweetie love's family call home

Just outside the family compound is a hut where people just hang around for a drink or two...

Yours truly enjoying the company of local folks over some drinks at the hut

Suman and Ube New Year Prepration

One of my memorable experience during my stay in Sweetie Love's Mindoro hometown was seeing how suman and ube are prepared. I've always enjoyed these local sweets but never really cared how they were prepared.

Pics below shows Ube being prepared

Ube now ready for new years celebration consumption.

Suman preparation starts with cooking of the kakanin (a rice variety). Cooking was done outdoors.

Cooked kakanin is wrapped into banana leaves by Mama Basyon

Last stage is boiling the wrapped kakanin. Final stage is of course, consuming them :-)

New Year in Mindoro

To welcome new year 2013, sweetie love and I decided to spend it at her hometown in Mindoro. Quite a memorable experience for me. Got to experience nature at her best, meet new friends, and finally ask for her parents blessings to marry her.

On my next post, I'll be placing pics I took from my smartphone camera. As an appetizer, here's a pic of the beach I took from sweetie love's hometown.

Curse of the crapping bird

Because of your concern...I no longer can drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains. I no longer drink anything out of a can because I will get sick from the rat feces and urine.

I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.

I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day

I no longer use margarine because it's one molecule away from being plastic.

I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.

I no longer receive packages from UPS or FedEx since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.

I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a stupid number for which I will get the phone bill from hell with calls to Jamaica, Uganda, Singapore, and Uzbekistan.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.

I no longer date the opposite sex because they will take my kidneys and leave me taking a nap in a bathtub full of ice.

I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me and St. Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.

Thanks to you, I have learned that God only answers my prayers if I forward an email to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes. (Geez, the BIBLE did not mention it works that way!)

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl who is about to die in the hospital (for the 1,387,258th time).

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

Yes, I want to thank all of you soooooooo much for looking out for me!

I will now return the favor.

If you don't send this e-mail to at least 1200 people in the next 60 seconds, a large bird with diarrhea will crap on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas of a thousand camels will infest your armpits. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's 8th husband's 2nd cousin's 3rd husband's ex-wife's mother's beautician!

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Farewell Jacko

I'm taking time out from my usual Web-development posts in this blog to express my sadness over Michael Jackson's passing away. I grew up in the 70's and 80's listening to MJ's songs and watching his music videos.

Among my favorite MJ's hits were Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Billie Jean and I'm Bad.

MJ's passing away came as a shock to me. MJ was so full of life and energy.

MJ visited the Philippines twice, the first time with the Jackson 5 back in '74, and the second, as a solo artist in '96. I never got the chance to see him live but from the interviews conducted with him, he seemed like a sincere and nice person.

I remember one reported asking MJ if he had any message to the Filipino people. His answer was simple, "heal the world". I just hope that us Pinoy fans will take his message at heart.

Thank you Michael for the memories you gave to us. We will all miss you.