Libreng Food sa Fire Drill!

Last Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at past 8 in the morning, our solemnity in pursuing our early morning rituals towards our goals was broken and interrupted (Copy-Paste-Book!). Our Manager announced that there's gonna be a Fire Drill. "Aksaya lang ng oras, wala namang libreng lunch!" (It's a waste of time since there'll be no free lunch!). But Sir Jess (the Manager) broke our lost of interest and said "merong free lunch!" (there's a free lunch!) while pointing a finger on the announcement letter. We were flabbergasted! Then out of the blue an office mate, Marlon, played a gag and said "gan'to dapat kapag may sunog...", (this is what we should do in case of  fire). Then as he segue and run through the hallway shouting, exaggeratedly, "DON'T PANIC! DON'T PANIC!", we all laughed as he completely looses his mind.

Click image to enlarge photo.

On our way out, we've noticed that we were not the only ones who were advised for the Fire Drill. It was all of Barangay San Lorenzo Makati.

The instruction was to head straight to Legazpi Park and we'll be met by other participants. 

We arrived at the event and the crowd was overwhelming. It was like a political up-rise is about to spark. There were banners, some students, foreigners, GMA-7 Network, some Firemen, the MACEA (Makati Commercial Estate Association), the MAPSA (Makati Public Safety Assistance Group), Hon. Barangay Captain Ernesto Moya, and Hon. Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, who unfortunately wasn't able to attend.

 

 

 

But what do we do in case of fire or earthquake? The first important thing is to stay focus. If your office is like a labyrinth, well, focus on that! Second, always carry a pocket knife, led flash-light and a cellphone. Nowadays, carrying or possessing a gadget shouldn't be hard to do since they're not that costly anymore. And most important of all, always bring along an I.D. When you have these stuffs, you couldn't be prepared more, right? I mean if your face should accidentally burn or crush, at least they can still identify you and know who to inform! (Eeeew, gruesome!). Run towards the nearest fire exit and avoid panicking (Easy right? As if! But you have to!).

And so once again the day was done, and it's time for my off.  I'll strike again next time. So I say adieu, until then, adios! (But wait..."NASA'N ANG FREE LUNCH?! GRRRRR!",)

I Love the 80's (Langit, Lupa, Imferno?! Im-im-imferno!)

Many of us were born in the 60's, 70's and the 80's. But admit it, there's nothing more like it than to relive every nostalgic moments of the 80's. Why?  For each decade from the 60's, to 80's, can you name one or two events, band names, icons. If you'll try to "wiki" it, there are dozens of lists. But to enlighten you while I try to make a point, I'll give you an honest answer. I can name one or two! In the 60's we got the first man on the moon. Jimi Hendrix set an iconic performance during the 1969 Woodstock. Then in the 70's, there's Juan dela Cruz Band, and the oil crisis in the U.S.. Fin'lly in the 80's, I can name plenty. There was Marcos' regime, the Mendiola massacre, and its government's downfall. Speaking of Marcos, there was Voltes V, Daimos and Bioman. Gandhi was assassinated in India. The Rubik's Cube. Nintendo was born. First Macintosh computer was introduced. The Cure, Fra Lippo Lippi, Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, and of course, Madonna. There's more...MTV, music videos, and New Wave. What else? MOVIES! I love Movies! Who would forget Alien, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future and E.T.? Now, do you see what I'm trying to insist? 



I was born in 1980. Life back then was simpler. Everyday I would wake up early for school. Eat Hot Pandesal with Lady's Choice stuffings (Ham Spread). My mom was the one who would always accompany me to school. My baon (allowance) back then was P5 ... a week! And if I'm lucky enough, mom would add some coins to it. I'll be contended with a lugaw (rice porridge) or sopas (pasta soup) for meryenda (snack) that would cost a peso for a bowl. Magnolia Chocolait drinks were used to be delivered in glass bottles. Toothpaste tubes were made of metal aluminum I think "at sobrang anghang sa dila!" (the burning sensation on your tongue was overwhelming). I was fond of playing  Fying Tee (a plastic propeller with a stick that would be rubbed, slide and let-go to witnessed its flying action). The Plastic Balloon (with the aroma of a strong chemical ingredients). And who would've thought that Sundot Kulangot ("Booger Picker") was a delicious delicacy from our childhood?

Back home, after a satisfying lunch, my brother, Meg and I will be forced to take a siyesta (nap). Then after that, we would find a way to sneak outside our yard. We were rarely seen to be playing with other children. Sometimes, our only companion during long hours in the afternoon was a Martinez bird. That bird will completely mimic a two to five syllable word. Too bad it committed suicide and died. They all did.



Pong Pagong, Ate Sienna,

and Kiko Matsing (image from

inquirer.net)

Meg and I would watch Voltes V, Daimos and Bioman. We would argue most of the time if who got the best and most number of weapons between Voltes V and Daimos. We would watch Batibot, Pen-Pen de Sarapen, Uncle Bob's Lucky Seven Club (we love the toys that will be shown at each segment), Kulit-Bulilit and Pin-Pin (a Chinese children-oriented program), Eat Bulaga and Kwarta o Kahon on RPN-9

If we were nowhere to be found watching T.V., we would be out playing. Games back then were much simpler. We'll play Siyato, Monkey-monkey, Langit-Lupa (yes, with the mispronounced syllable "imferno"), Tayaan, Agawan-base, Teks, Tagu-taguan, Luksong-Baka and Luksong-Tinik. Kids nowadays are delighted on playing with their gadgets, cellphones, digital cameras, PC games, PS3, Wii, and Xbox-360. Oh, and don't forget PSP and DS!

One late afternoon, while I was playing Flying Tee outside the basketball court, just across our house, my playmates noticed a squadron of helicopters hovering lower than a normal altitude (we're living just outside Fort Bonifacio). The feeling was indescribable, I thought they were going to land on the ground! Our kapitbahay (neighbors) or should I say usiserong kapitbahay (nosy neighbors), swamped around. Soon they were all over the place while their heads tilted up!

I was just 6 years old back then. I really don't have an idea of what's really goin' on. Then people over the news swarmed just outside Camp Crame. There were tanks, priests and nuns, human barricades, and with little kids too. I just sat and watched the T.V. with my Lola Coring (Grandmother Coring). I still remember her cursing Cory Aquino. My late Lola was a loyalist.

Just late last night, I watched a documentary about Ninoy Aquino entitled "Ninoy, sa Puso ng Pinoy". The documentary wishes to impart knowledge how he continued and struggled for truth. And despite of his courage, he was shot at the back of his head by an assassin named Rolando Galman. Until now, a mastermind behind the crime has never floated yet. They said it was too obvious who plotted the idea.

Sometime in 1989, our dad, who was on the Saudi that time, came home and brought a stunning 250 games-in-one Family Computer. Both controllers have A+B Turbo. He replaced our old console, Atari. Meg and I were fond of playing Super Mario Brothers and Tetris. I always got the player one 'coz it always got to chose the game. Then later that month, dad had to go back to the Saudi. We were saddened to see dad went away again. After we got home from the airport, our mom felt bad on seeing how Meg cried. Me on the other hand managed to held it back (hehe). So mom grabbed the Family Com and played Tetris with us.



Meg and I inside karnabal (carnival), Cubao

During weekends, mom would take us to the carnival at Cubao. But I could sill remember when dad took me for a ride on a Bump Car. He never let me drove so I just bit his forearm the whole moment.

Then our mom would let us ride the tyubibo (carousel) and the train. That was all I could remember. She would not let us ride the katerpilar and rodilyo (caterpillar and roller-coaster). She said it was too dangerous for us. Well I said "Kulang lang ang pampayad n'ya nu'n." (Her money was just not enough for the fare). Then after we got exhausted, we would head straight somewhere between Araneta Colosseum and EDSA to buy waffle hotdogs. Meg and I will totally dig the taste and aroma of the steaming waffle. It was a real haven!

On some occasions, Lola would cook suman (rice cake). Mom would do a pansit canton (canton noodles) and buko salad. I remembered complaining, "mommy, bakit hindi ka gumawa ng spaghetti?" (mommy, why won't you make a spaghetti?). "Kulang siguro pera ni mommy noon kaya ganon." (Mom could've  had a short-budget). But we would eat it anyway. And with Lola's suman, it would go on for days!

I can still remember how they put the suman and glass of water in front of the altar together with my late Lolo Delfin's portrait at the top of the shelves. My Lola said the dead would feast on that food. So I would leave it. And from time to time, I would examine if the suman will be consumed. I will be taken aback whenever I noticed that it would somehow diminish. But then I've found out that it was just a saying and our way of culture. And mom was the one who "devoured" the suman.

There are many nostalgic and sentimental moments inside the very capsule of our memories. I've asked some other friends to share one of their childhood memories. 

Guinah Espartero (The Magnolia Kid)

80’s or shall I say my childhood days.  Looking back, I miss all my day to day activities; playing on the streets every afternoon makes me thrilled and become miserable every time my  nanay would call me to go home. Every morning you would hear outside the house the taho and puto vendor yell on the streets encouraging people to buy while in the afternoon there’s the fishball, scramble, cotton candy vendors roam around the streets and many others. But there’s this one I’ve really miss it’s the Magnolia Chocolait inside the glass bottle that taste so good it was  being delivered to every household even Yakult drink .  The way of life back then is so plain. Simple needs less demand that can easily convene.  Youngsters, are not into gadgets, as far as I can recall kids that time are active that they focus more into outdoor activities even if there are battery operated games introduced. Kids loved riding a bike that BMX bicycle is one of the famous in every community.

Im not into Television but most likely in locals always has been a fan of Eat Bulaga. Their show is well loved by every household. Though some dialogues are quite offending at times but it’s entertaining. Another is Kulit Bulilit all kids show that I can relate well and Ang Mga Kuwento ni Lola Basyang, a Filipino version of fairy tales and before I forget That’s Entertainment who came well-known during the late eighties is one of the show everybody watch even if they don’t admit it. I myself become a fan and also how can I overlook Lotlot and friends every Saturday at channel 9 4:30 in the afternoon. In foreign it’s of course Sesame Streets, Knight Rider the talking car and among others but I loved The Karate Kid Ralph Macho is one of the famous among the young people that many even tried to be a copy-cat. With music new wave is still one of the best that up to now I still listen and I think the music of the eighties is really the greatest, it’s all original made by creative people.   

Childhood memories brings happiness and joy, sometimes tears and sadness, but sometimes they could be both. Some memories draws out our hidden strength, while some memories are meant to be kept forever. Some are meant to be proud of, others meant to be left behind. In our lives where our present dwells from the past, and where one should not mistook it  for honing the future, memories from our childhood are truly treasured moments. Forgetting our past is like dimming the future. By learning from it, we will always be prepared for whatever may come ahead.

And it's time for my off. I'll strike again next time. So I say adieu, until then, adios! (Back to present)

Jollijeeps (The Giant Aluminum Cubes!)

Every morning for breakfast, I would always have a half cup of rice, an egg, a hotdog, or whatever dish we've had last night and a glass of soy milk. I would kiss goodbye to my son, drive my wife to the office, me on the other hand head through the opposite way. Punch-in my time-card at 8am, and prepare my day for long hours of staring and typing the keyboard while I sit between the chair and monitor, a pair of speakers, phone, some books and ... a cup of ... of ... something's missing! "Nasa'n ang kape ko?" (Where's my coffee?). Good thing there's always "Manang's" (or "Manong's", a Filipino term for an elderly woman or man, but usually uses its term for somebody we don't know by name) jeep without the wheels , the Jolli-Jeep!



A styro-cup with stirrer used for
filling-up coffees.

Before, these so called Jolli-Jeeps do not looked like giant aluminum cubes. They were actually ... well ... jeepneys! Sometimes push carts, others are van. Obviously, it was named after a fast food chain that imitate its fast service. These vehicles were modified to mimic a karinderya (a mini-restaurant or cafe) that would look like kiosk of different variants where people can nimbly enjoy their breakfast, lunch, meryenda and even dinner. The Jolli-Jeep business grew and profited little entrepreneurs. Soon they were all over on almost every streets of Makati CBD (Central Business District). 

To control these booming Jolli-Jeep business and to make them presentable to the frequenters, former Mayor Jejomar Binay put them on stalls on what seems like giant aluminum cube. It wasn't so bad, though now a registered  Jolli-Jeep, they have to go through hardships by paying the fee of Php575 from their stalls every single day. And since they do not have wheels anymore, I would rather call them Jolli-cubee than their usual name. --- And that was just half of the story.

The true story behind the evolution of these Jolli-Jeeps or Mobile Canteens can be seen here. To give you a brief story, these Jolli-Jeeps evolved to giant aluminum cubes to prevent health problems due to the "unsanitary vehicle" and of course, to keep "corrupt enforcers" abusing these little businessmen. 

The variants inside the Jolli-Jeep / Jolli-cubee
along Aguirre St., in front of CJV Bldg., Legaspi.


Our building is located near Greenbelt Malls and Makati Cinema Square. Aside from these malls, there are 7-11's, Mini Stops and some other  fine dining restaurants and bars. To overcome our flopping economy with its highly anticipated over-pricing "value meals" in the fast food chains, Jolli-Jeep or Jolli-cubee is the solution. From coffee to sandwich to puto (rice dough) and kakanin (rice cake), from fried eggs to tortang talong (eggplant omelette) to mexican adobo, to bananaque, palabok and sabaw (soup) or most commonly known as tubig dagat (salt water) or sabaw na lasang medyas (soup that tastes like sock), you'll never be hungry again. You name it, they got it (except sometimes, you have to "jolli-jeep-hopping").

Condements perfectly placed.

These Jolli-Jeeps are haven to all the mang-sekyus (security guards), taxi drivers who're always on the go, construction workers and of course, for tambays (by-standers) who yosi (smoke cigarettes) to kill time (but since an ordinace had been passed recently for banning smokers on public areas, they can be discreetly seen behind buildings).

And speaking of tambays, the Jolli-Jeep facade has always been a great setting for mag-babarkadas (group of friends). Even for a little while, these mag-babarkadas would set aside and get away from the hassle of hash office environment to talk about anything and everything about how life has been, new gossips, their accomplishments, personal burdens to open up to each other, personal vendettas regarding some complaints of a co-employee, secrets that are never meant to be shared, about movies we've seen, the boxing event and the UFC aired last night, PGT, the current situation and episode of Naruto, the decaying economy and the people involved on the matter, or just simply stand and pose while puffing the smoke of the cigarette they tucked between their fingers while enjoying a softdrink, coffee or candy.

Now, no matter how many times the Jolli-Jeep evolved to Jolli-cubee or with the soon-to-rise Jolli-trike (rumored stall) or to whatever Jolli's they are, I know they're here to stay. Whenever you left your baon (food for the day), economize your allowance, too indolent to walk to the nearest fast food chain, or just simply wants to feel the warmth of a home dish, you know where to go. Just make sure they're sanitized and not undercooked or overcooked.

And it's time for my off. I'll strike again next time. So I say adieu, until then, adios! (Time for a coffee break)