Politicians vs People under the bridge

I've been reading some stuff of Anonymous whistle blowers regarding the "mother" of Pork Barrel, Janet Lim-Napoles.  I cannot help but also state my opinion that I myself am an employee wanting to spend my hard-earned money on a shopping spree without thinking of my other obligations like utility bills and daily expenses.  Find a job that compensates me better just to be able to swipe a bag from Lacoste maybe or a flight to HK or TW to be able to watch some concert where I find my inner happiness, but these still cost me several months of paycheck.  These, I earned through professional skills and overtimes, to which, the government also takes part on 30% of every penny that I earned.  I expect something in return of course, let's say like I'll be able to commute in a manner that I won't be hassled by traffic, overloading of passengers. That's why I paid 30% of my salary for the government to fix the country's problems and not me doing an alternative because the government cannot fix the thing that hassles me most.  It seems for the past 10 years that I'm working, my taxes don't work for me already.  Now I know why. 

Right now, the only alternative I use for commuting is the taxi.  It's still a hassle and also expensive, but after going to China for a year for work, these filthy buses and passenger jeepneys don't work for me anymore.  It disgusts me, I'm sorry.  I've changed my standard, and so should my country, right?  Instead, my country now is filthier, poverty-stricken and people are getting lazier than before.  People in power are now comparable to people sleeping under the bridge, waiting for the working class to give them money because for the politicians, they "serve" us, for the people living under the bridge, we're better off than them. Or are we?  

I always hail taxi at McDonald's Binondo Church because that's where most of the taxis stand-by.  Everyday there are lots of barkers shouting "Ma'm Taxi!" I always refuse to let them help me hail a cab because it's not hard to hail a cab, right? Flip your arms, wave 'em and the taxi stops.  Problem is, these people are like Juan Tamad waiting for the fruit to drop instead of picking it from the tree.  If they can't get any cent from me, they harass the driver.  There was once that the cab driver refused to accept a passenger but the barker guy still demanded for a coin, telling him that the next time he comes by, he won't ask him for any coin.  Anyway, these past few days, the familiar barker (he's old and looks like he's on drugs) hailed a taxi for me continuously even if I refused to get help and once I even didn't ride on the taxi he hailed for me.  But I was afraid he would do something in the future if  I continued to oppose him.  Two days ago, I gave in and put a 5 peso coin on his hand.  Yesterday, I had no coin and so did the taxi driver, so he won't let us off.  I told him that tomorrow morning I'll give it to him.  Today, I totally forgot and I have no 5 peso coin in my wallet.  I told him "next time". He said: "Ma'm naka dalawa na kayo sakin ha." 

Yesterday, I spent a lot of time reading about the pork barrel, though we're talking about a multi-billion peso scandal, I cannot help but compare these people in power with the people living under the bridge.  If you bribe them once, they'd go on forever, and it gets worst.  This barker guy who harasses cab drivers and passengers running here and there asking for alms faking the act of kindness (hailing a taxi), he and his elected politicians have nothing different from each other.  That's why they support each other.  It doesn't matter if it's a multi-million scam or a 5-peso coin, they're all the same in my eyes.  I felt that people love to do the things the easy way, loves shortcut to the point that they end up scamming those people who are hard workers.

I refuse to give bribes to policemen, Airport Customs Officers, including the now famous barkers (it just became popular and uso nowadays). Also, let's add giving alms to street children/family.  It's a form of bribery to the government officials and a support to gangsters for the street children.  I live with principle as a citizen of the Philippines, I pay my taxes religiously and it just goes somewhere else.  Looking at my taxes and knowing what the government is capable of, I always say to myself that the government has no right to flip my things and tax me on the things I bring in as pasalubongs when I go out of the country.  I don't have the obligation as well to bribe Customs officers not to flip my bag.  This is just one situation, but on many situation, I shouldn't be told off by government officials whenever I need something urgent.  They should always be on their desk, ready to serve me!  I should also have a choice not to ride a hailed taxi and give the 5 peso coin to the barker.  But the point is, if you oppose these people,  they'll HARASS you, is there any way out? None!  There is nothing good in Manila nowadays.  Now, I'm contemplating if I should start thinking of migrating to other countries.  I think the working class of the Philippines should start thinking about it too.  The Philippines will not progress anymore with this Pork Barrel still on-going and as long as there are people under the bridge, the politicians won't go their way to send these people back to the provinces, so that when election campaign starts, they can give their promises (bribery) to them and in return, those people will vote for these politicians.  It's a cycle that will never end.  Those two classes Politicians and Class D people co-exist!!!

Anyway, you guys should read the blog, it's mind boggling! If the working class are out of the country, politicians and people living under the bridge will have no source of income.  They'll die eventually, then we can come back! :)

Just a thought.

Support the Anonymous, read them!
"98% of your taxes goes to Pork Barrel, 2% goes to road repairs, potholes and small but visible projects." -Anonymous

Janet Napoles- Pork Barrel: Theft to a Nation

Anonymous Speaks: Pork Barrel Scams

Disclaimer: I don't know these people, but I believe in what they wrote.  It's high time someone takes responsibility for the cause that gave birth to this caption: 

"Manila: The gates to hell" - Dan Brown

Sailing...

I've been busy going here and there, it's a year filled with travel & adventure.  It's all unplanned, unexpected and on budget, but I managed to squeeze them all this year.  

Few months back while on my way to work, Christopher Cross' Sailing was played on the radio.  When I arrived at work, I quickly searched for the song and had it played on repeat twice.  Then, eventually, this song kept singing in my head during our 5-day stay in HK.  It kept singing in my head when I'm idle.  Up until today, I kept playing the song once or twice at work, just to get it out of my system.  This afternoon, I looked for the lyrics of the song and understood why this song kept singing in my head for months.

Sailing

Well, it's not far down to paradise, at least it's not for me
And if the wind is right you can sail away and find tranquility

Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.

Believe me.

It's not far to never-never land, no reason to pretend

And if the wind is right you can find the joy of innocence again

Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.

Believe me.

[Chorus]Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be

Just a dream and the wind to carry me

And soon I will be free
Fantasy, it gets the best of me

When I'm sailing

All caught up in the reverie, every word is a symphony

Won't you believe me?

[Chorus]
Well it's not far back to sanity, at least it's not for me

And if the wind is right you can sail away and find serenity

Oh, the canvas can do miracles, just you wait and see.

Believe me.

photo credit to: amothersseason.blogspot.com

I always love the movie Peter Pan..
I'm also finding my inner peace.
Too much complaints and hatred in my head, I really need to keep calm.

Maybe that's why this song has been haunting me for weeks.  I can only find inner peace when I'm on the plane, in the Airport, ready to to go another land where it's not Metro Manila!

feeling meh.

APRIL: My Birthmonth

APRIL

It's time to remind myself again that I'm not getting any younger.  April and I have a love and hate relationship.

Love-- I love summer.  Reminds me of my cousins coming over for sleepovers, night swimmings and beach hoppings!

Hate-- I'm getting older :(

Anyways, since this is my birth month, I'll start posting one picture a day until my birthday arrives.  Kinda like a daily mood picture which will remind me that these are the things that caught my attention before my birthday arrives.  :)

3-day Concert of Jay Chou-- All sold out!

Yes! It's a sold-out concert for Mr. Jay Chou which is happening on September 6-8, 2013. I'm watching 3 nights myself. Here's something to do before you reach a certain age wherein you can't fangirl anymore. x)

Tata~ tomorrow then.

Bona for fangirls

I love comedy.  I simply adore actors who can make other people laugh.  Laughter is the best medicine.  The whole world is filled with anger and hatred, I felt that these people are very important nowadays to balance the anger + hatred to a laughter, right?  Some of my faves are: Leslie Nielsen, Steve Martins, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Sandler, Mr. Bean, the Friends Cast, Stephen Chow of course who wouldn't know Stephen Chow! I'm starting to like Jackie Chan movies now 'coz I found out its always filled with humor not just action. Filipino comedians include Vic Sotto, Joey De Leon, Rene Requiestas (RIP), Vice Ganda, Eugene Domingo, Aiai Delas Alas, Ogie Alcasid, Bitoy, Janno Gibbs (yeah he was once Pedro Penduko) and the late Redford White, Panchito and Dolphy maybe.

I didn't look up the summary of Bona before watching it last Friday (Aug. 24, 2012) at PETA.  I just knew it's a play that Ms. Eugene Domingo is starring at and it's a must for me to watch.  I almost gave up on watching it because of the Friday night rush and the crazy drizzle outside.  7:00p.m. and I'm still stuck in the office waiting for a cab.  I was able to hail a cab 30 minutes later.

When I entered the theater, I was quite disappointed with its stage as it was a bit smaller than the usual ones I see (Carlos P. Romulo Theater at RCBC).  The props were ordinary, typical household setting, the big screen on top and the weirdest thing I saw was a Black Nazarene.

First set, Ms. Domingo entered and lighten up the candle and prayed in front of the Black Nazarene.  The screen showed shots of the original Black Nazarene in Quiapo where devotees rub their towels on the image.  We can see in the footage Ms. Domingo, in the role of Bona.  Back to the scene where she's praying, she thanked the Black Nazarene for the blessings and hoping that some boy called Joshua would call her.  Apparently her phone rang but it was not her phone, it was a call from her messenger.  She's a part time Call Center Agent and online psychic reader.  She has a nephew called Bingo and a younger sister Binky, who is out of job and easily falls in love with guys.  She is a bread winner to her family and to her beki friend as well.  Kind-hearted woman she is, she started to idolize a matinee idol less the talent.  His name is Gino Sanchez.

Second set. She spends all of her savings to pamper and keep Gino's career ongoing.  She gives everything to Gino forgetting her family and friends, forgetting to live her life and thinking for her future.  She declined her landlord's attempt of wooing her and her landlord ended up with the lady guard downstairs.  In the end, Gino's childhood sweetheart was pregnant with his child and he had to admit everything to Bona.  Since I was never a fan of Nora Aunor's movies, the most-awaited scene that night was the famous spilling of boiling water unto Gino's body.  The play ended with a cliffhanger and me in an "Ask for more" kind of look.  I never wanted the play to end.

Never did I expect that this movie was about Fangirling at its worst case.  I am a fangirl, I'm maintaining two blogs as I wanted to separate my blabbers and trips from my fantasy.  I am a fanatic, yes.  I started this fanaticism some circa 1990 when I was introduced to Cantopop and HK artists.  It eventually evolved and now I'm hooked to 3 guys.  Anyhow, I can relate to the mamons, but not the way Bona did.  Mamons, especially red ribbon mamons are a delicacy in the Philippines.  I believe they don't have these in HK or Taiwan.  I somehow brought those rare food and gave it as a gift whenever I watch concerts of my idols.  I buy their CDs, watch their movies, buy the products they endorse--as long as I can use it.  Practically everything Bona does, I've somehow experienced a bit of it.  The difference is that I won't get so hooked that I'll mortgage any of my property, which I have none or even just jeopardize my job which is the main source of fulfilling my needs as a fangirl.  Other people who are not fanatics will never understand the feelings of a fanatic.  We are not rich, we are not wasting money on nobody, we are not stupid.  We do it because we are happy.  We are challenged as we try to get these artists' attention.  It's a matter of strategic thinking to be able to chance upon these artists, even to the point that their PAs hide them under their skirts!  It's mind boggling I should say.  Fangirling is hitting two birds in one stone.  You get to see your idol and explore the country or place where he's at.  So most of these fangirls I know are also jet setters.  The cheapskate-st jet setters you will ever know.  You see, these gals pay for concert/entrance ticket to some event they're attending, it sometimes costs a lot, so eventually they turn out to be the most tried and tested budget travelers you'll ever find!  haha! Fangirling is not bad, it's a form of therapy, a challenge for your brain cells and also, stamina.  After watching Bona, I reminded myself to keep it light and easy on travels and my so-called other "career".

Had some pics taken during the end of the show but Ms. Domingo never came out during the pictorial after the show.  Sad and not wanting to leave, I was hoping she'd show up again so I can take a picture of her.  I was even planning to stay later than anybody else in case the Jett Pangan incident might have a take 2.  I had a pic taken with Mr. Pangan after waiting for him when we watched Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at Greenbelt 1.

Here are some pics I've taken after the show

I brushed off my disappointment of the stage, the whole play was just so superb I wanted to watch it all over again.  Seated at the 2nd row, a few meters away from the casts, I just wanted to give them all a big hug for a JOB WELL DONE! :0)

Bona is still showing until September 23! Click here for more info and schedule!

Kaohsiung Day 2 (Aug. 17, 2012)

Went to the Dome of Lights.

Then to Ikea Kaohsiung where we ate these scrumptious meat balls! :) My colleagues insist we try them! haha!  Carrefour is beside Ikea by the way.

Then off to Dream Mall where we splurged on books, Muji and just those... haha! We didn't get the chance to ride the Duck Bus, but if you guys happen to go there earlier, try the Duck Bus! It's a bus just like the Dick Gordon's Red Cross Amphibian.  It can go by land and splurge on the water! I remember it being advertised on Taiwan TV.  Too bad we went there in the afternoon, the buses were fully booked. :(

At the topmost of Dream Mall's building, you can ride the big Hello Kitty Ferris Wheel.  It was raining that night so I was not able to take good pictures of it.  But Kaohsiung is very famous for having lots of Hello Kitty stuff that Sanrio can sue them anytime they want.  haha! Kidding aside, Kaohsiung is very much connected to Hello Kitty as they use these characters practically everywhere.  It's amazing how they can use Hello Kitty in their hotels (Grand Hi-Lai Hotel), Jay Chou singing, wearing and showing Hello Kitty during his concert last December 2011, that big Hello Kitty Ferris Wheel and almost every stuff with Hello Kitty in it.  Sanrio should be making a fortune in Kaohsiung.  I know that Taiwan itself loves Hello Kitty but I had this feeling of Kaohsiung being more attached and associated to Hello Kitty.  Anyway, correct me if I'm wrong :).

After our Dream Mall tour, we ended our day waiting for our train back to Taipei.  We're on the 9:54p.m. train 'coz we bought it for 30% off! :)

Next: The Jiu Fen- Dan Shui trip

Kaohsiung Day 1 (Aug. 16, 2012)

Just came back from a wonderful, feet-sore trip from Taiwan.  My love for Taiwan goes beyond fangirling as I began to tour its lovely places outside the capital.  Since Cebu Pacific's flight is rarely convenient and its usage of the tarmac is just perfectly not usable by anyone, our ungodly hour arrival at Taoyuan Airport started the best hour since I boarded that budget airline.

My officemates and I were supposed to book the HSR to Zuoying (Kaohsiung Station) at 6:30am, first ride out. Unfortunately, the early bird discount of 30% was already sold out then so we decided to take the 9:36am train and stayed at Yi An Ju (益安居) for the night.  In case you want to stay in a cheap clean hostel, this is a good place. I'm not so sure if Mr. Huang speaks English, but you can try e-mailing him here: (hcs1205@yahoo.com.tw ). Actually, as of August 16, 2012 the Taoyuan Airport Terminal 1 is half reconstructed and there are benches where you can sleep, but paying 400 NTD /pax for an overnight stay with pick-up ride from the Airport is not bad than sleeping on the benches.  You'll get a good night's rest and a bath in the morning, then continue your journey with fresh snaps and unoily T-zone.  Also, an additional 400NTD for a taxi ride to Taoyuan HSR is much more convenient, so don't forget to tell Mr. Huang if you need one the next day!

Taoyuan HSR is 30 minutes away from Yi An Ju, while Yi An Ju is about 20 mins away from Taoyuan Airport. We left at 8:30AM and arrived around 9:00AM. I retrieved our prepaid tickets from the vending machine and bought breakfast from 7-11.
How to buy HSR tickets online to avail the 30% early bird promo?
Go to: HSR Online Ticket Purchase
Some tips on booking the online tickets:
-Book as early as 2-3 weeks before your trip to avail of the 30% discount, there are also discounts upto 10% so you need to book earlier.  July-August are vacation months and September is start of school for Taiwan so the chance of getting an early bird discount of 30% is slimmer.

-If you're not yet familiar with the vending machine thing, go to the HSR an hour earlier so you can buy time figuring out the system. Do not forget to print out your confirmation email as you will need your passport no. and your confirmation no. to retrieve the tickets from the vending machine.

-If you're coming from Taipei Main Station, make sure you have ample time to walk and retrieve your tickets as TMS is a big station.  The walk from the MRT to the HSR is quite far, but nearer if you are coming from the front lobby. :)

The Seven (Say-ven as the locals pronounce it)
Do not underestimate their 7-11.  7-11 is like a National Treasure.  There you'll see lots of food of all kinds.  There's the Mapo Tofu which I love (Rice meals), the Onigiri's (Get the 泡菜one- it's delicious), the Tea Eggs, the soup wherein you'll see lots of shrimp balls, pig's blood, wintermelon, tofu, etc (Just look at the pics below it and you'll know the price of each, there are two kinds of soup, the clear soup and the ma-la soup which is spicy), don't forget to buy the Xiao Long Bao in seal (湯包) It's just so wonderful you won't need to go to Din Tai Fung to eat them! Also, don't forget to try the dried squid with the label "Bento". By the way, you can always take these Onigiri's and Xiao Long Bao's home, just hand carry them. :)

Going back to our Kaohsiung trip, we took the 9:36am train and arrived at the station around 11:18. Perfect! We took the taxi because we had lots of luggage and it did cost us 230NTD split 4 ways.  Before you take the MRT, check the fare table coz you might end up spending the same amount if you took the taxi instead.  We stayed at Icon Hotel, a very cozy and artistic hotel which was where I stayed at last December 2011.
Icon hotel: http://www.iconhotel.com.tw/
Icon hotel is what they call a Boutique Hotel, you can choose from their unique selection of rooms.  If you come in at 12:00p.m. they will just let you choose what's available, but if you waited until 3pm, you can choose whichever room is available.  I've been wanting to see that 4-pax bedroom with slide 'coz I thought it'll be cool to have my pic taken there, I guess I expected too much lor~! haha~

We checked-in at around 12pm but the rooms are not yet ready so we went for lunch.  There's a small resto just 2 blocks away from Icon Hotel (from the hotel's door, turn right then walk straight ahead until you see a 7-11). It's quite visible 'coz a lot of people are lining up.  Tips in Taiwan, when there's a line, it should be good stuff!  Ate that bento box by the right and it's just about 65NTD (It's a ricebox containing adobo egg, mapo tofu, fish fillet and vegetables). The one at the left was from 7-11, the oh so yummy Xiao Long Bao!

Went back to the hotel to check-in and ate our lunch there.  Afterwards, we headed for the shuttle to E-Da Themepark. 

Later on that night, I took a shot of the theme from from every floor but I think I missed out 1 floor... and I think it was our floor's theme. xD

During our check-out time, I went for more rooms~!

E-Da Themepark
http://www.edathemepark.com.tw/Website/index.aspx

The official website's all written in Chinese.  Apparently it's not yet accessible to foreigners so if you can speak and read Chinese, well, then... let's go!  We'll try it the bahala na way and enjoy the Themepark while it's still new. :)

At the HSR, you will see a line of tables with staffs behind it.  Find the one for E-Da Themepark (you will see a Little Twin Star look-a-like doll on the table).  You can purchase your tickets there, it's ride all you can.
For adults it's 899NTD for the whole day, but if you plan to go in after 2:00pm, it's only 650NTD (limited until 9/2/2012). Since it's not Disneyland, I would suggest you guys to buy the 2:00pm tix only.  It's a Themepark but it is NOT Disneyland.  Don't expect too much out of it.  Children below 110cm are free, for those with kids 120-150cm it's 599NTD.

Shuttle: When you buy your tickets, the staff will give you a ticket for free shuttle ride, just a friendly reminder that the ticket for free shuttle ride is only applicable when you ride from Zuoying Station (HSR).  We weren't informed of this so we went to the nearest drop-off and waited for almost an hour because we were given the wrong direction, and when we gave our free ticket ride, the bus driver said that the tickets are valid if we ride from Zuoying.  The bus driver was quite considerate and didn't charge us for full, instead, he just asked us to add 19NTD each.  If you didn't alight from Zuoying Station's shuttle, one way bus ride for 30-45mins to E-da Theme Park is 58NTD.

The theme park has more activities for children, most especially their indoor rides.  The outdoor rides are quite nerve-wrecking and not for the faint hearted ones, so beware! :)

After our E-da Theme Park Trip ended at 8:00pm, we strolled the Night Market at Liu He.  Just get off at Formosa Boulevard Station and look for the Exit to Liu He Market. It's very accessible!

Alright, I'll be posting again my next few adventures in Kaohsiung in a separate blog.  Didn't realize that just creating this blog post has lasted me for 4 hours. whew~

Next: Formosa Boulevard's Dome of Lights, Ikea and Dream Mall tour.

What: First Puerto Princesa, Palawan Trip
When: Feb. 18-20, 2012
With: Nichie, Eric, Pochi, Joy, Michelle, Mai & Me



Flight Booking:
Booked our flight last September, 2011 for only PHP 1,515/pax, roundtrip MNL-PPC-MNL

Land Arrangement:
Package of 5,000PHP/pax
Includes:
3D2N Hotel accommodation w/ breakfast
Day Tour (lunch own pax) to Iwahig Prison, Crocodile Farm, Weaving Factory, Baker's Hill, Mitra's Ranch, Gift shop, Butterfly Museum
Firefly watching (dinner package)
Underground River (lunch package), dinner own pax
Island Hopping (lunch package) starting at Honda Bay, Pandan Island, etc (there were 3 Islands)

What to bring:
Snorkeling gears, Underwater Cameras or cases, sunblock, extra shirt for both Underground river and Island Hopping.

Didn't get much pics on our day tour due to inadequacy of my camera.

Took much picture during our Day 2 adventure at the Underground River

Had fun with our Island hopping and snorkeling in Pandan Island, Honda Bay etc. Better bring your own gadgets 'coz it costs a lot to rent these things. It's like buying a new one. Really~

Ending my long overdue post as there is lesser memories left for me to blog about. I remembered enjoying the whole trip with my siblings. It was a special getaway trip, would just like to say... hisashiburi desu! (It's been a long while).