Exploiting Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Christmas is my most favorite holiday in the world. I love the lights, the festivities, the reunions, and best of all--it is a time when world peace comes nearest and when people put down their hurts and Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus.

But there is one thing that I abhor come Christmastime. I am all for charity, but I wish the beggar kids would stop pestering for "pamasko" or Christmas alms.

Scene 1:
A few weeks ago, we were searching for parking space in this really crowded area. Obviously there were none available save for the ones which we have to pay a parking fee. One beggar lady somehow did magic and "opened up" a No Parking Zone.

We were grateful of course, but then she eerily crept up my mum.

"Ma'am, don't forget my pamasko."

Actually, it sounded more like a threatening reminder. And when we left, it was crazy that time--the streets were flooded, the cars were honking--she RACED after our car, sloshing shoes and all.

Scene 2:
During this season, there will always be the obligatory tip envelopes to be given to our garbage collectors, newspaper boys, postmen, and all the service crew who passes our house.

No problem with that. They serve us well and a tip is in place.

But when have you heard of missionary ladies appearing and asking for "pamasko?"

Scene 3:
And the obvious--politicians placing an early bid in the campaign trail. They post their banners with Christmas greetings with only their very big faces and names.

Scene 4:
Actually, there's someone else exploiting Christmas. But if I write it here, they might get my head.

This one is not so obvious, but it has a special term already.

Try to guess who I am talking about. Or if you can even guess it.

Merry Christmas again! I hope I didn't ruin your Christmas. *smirks*

Seriously, Merry Christmas!!!

Xiamen Wedding

Xiamen is one of my favorite cities in the world. It's like home but not really home.

During my stay there last time, I became paparazzi-like and took the photos below. Nobody seemed to mind. And they looked really happy anyway.

The wedding car

Check out the Macau wedding too!

How To Say "Grabe" In English

My brother, out-of-the-blue, suddenly asked me--

"What is 'grabe' in English?"

Grabe (pronounced gra-be, like "gra" in "gravity", and "be" in "best") is a Filipino term.

An example usage would be, "Grabe naman ang traffic!" Rough translation--"Oh my god! The traffic is so bad!"

So does that mean "grabe" is "oh my god?"

Not really. But close.

So I answered, "'Grabe' is like 'super' or something extreme."

My brother (always likes to quiz me) said, "Grabe in English is grabe." [Pronounce "grave" but change "v" to "b."]

Right, my brother is very funny.

Seriously, there really are some words in Filipino that don't have a direct translation to English. And I'm sure other languages have the same situation.

For example, in Mandarin, there are a lot of words which are better expressed in the Chinese language. When translated into English, they don't sound as deep.

In Filipino, another case would be the words for love.

It's easy to say "I love you" in English. Case in point--"I love you Danson Tang!" which would just make me sound like some crazy star strucked girl.

But "Mahal kita ___." Now that sounds different.

Anyway, so I retorted back to my brother.

"What is 'pilosopo' in English?" Like "Ang pilosopo mo naman!"

Pilosopo, literally is "philosopher." But in the above context, "pilosopo" is like you're reprimanding someone for being sarcastic.

In Hokkien, it can be "you're so giet siao."

And "giet siao" is like "naughty."

So is pilosopo = naughty? A bit far really.

Language is a funny subject. Like my brother.

The Hurts Of The Chinese People

I got this from Danwei--only one of my favorite China sites in the internet.

Danwei asks, "How many times have the Chinese people's feelings been hurt?"

Chinese blogger Arctosia mapped it out for the whole world to see.

For the countries in black, you're in big trouble; 'coz you've really hurt the Descendants of the Dragon BIG time.

And here's the list!

• Europe (12): Vatican City, UK, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, The Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia, Albania
• North America (2): USA, Canada
• Central America (6): Guatemala, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras, Nicaragua
• South America (1): Chile
• Oceania (4): New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Marshall Islands
• Africa (9): Chad, Malawi, Burkina Faso, Swaziland, São Tomé and Príncipe, Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, South Africa
• Asia (8): Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Jordan, (disputed: Cambodia, Laos)

Quite inspired from the deputy foreign minister's quote:

"The meeting grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, severely undermined China's core interests, GRAVELY HURT THE FEELINGS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE and damaged the political basis of China-France and China-EU relations."

--referring to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's meeting with the Dаlаi Lаmа.

A Very Special Love (John Lloyd Cruz & Sarah Geronimo)

After a marathon of Taiwanese drama, my siblings and I shifted to something local.

"A Very Special Love" is a no-brainer romantic-comedy flick starring Filipino heartthrob John Lloyd Cruz and the very talented singer Sarah Geronimo.

Sarah G. works as an editorial assistant to nightmare of a publisher-boss John Lloyd.

Laida is infatuated with Miggy, so all his shortcomings and evil temper are easily dismissed by her.

In the end, as in all happy romance flicks, the guy gets the girl (or rather the girl gets the guy); and everyone lives happily ever after.

The storyline is cute. But Sarah Geronimo should really just stick to singing. Her high-pitched, ultra optimistic voice is very annoying. It's like she's singing. Maybe director Cathy Garcia Molina should have done a "High School Musical" instead. And the poster does look like it!

Still, Sarah should be commended for venturing out bravely to the movie industry. We need more people like her!

"A Very Special Love" is entertaining. It's truly funny without trying too hard. I love the sun dance! Ok, you do a rain dance to start rain. And if you want to stop it...?

However, the story isn't developed enough. The magazine "Bachelor" headed by Miggy looks fake. John Lloyd isn't convincing as a publisher-boss. And Sarah G.'s voice...ai...let's not go there again.

It's a feel-good movie definitely. Not just something that can compete in an awards night.

Kudos to the scriptwriter for connecting the "We need to be Number 1!!!" to Miggy's secret life. Why is he all worked up for "Bachelor" to beat rival men's magazine "Stag?"

Watch the movie and find out!

"A Very Special Love" is ultra cheese meltdown. My sister kept shouting at the lovey-dovey moments. I just raised my eyebrow. And my brother? Like Sarah G., truly commendable for bearing with his two sisters and for watching a chick-flick.

Pacman Did It Again

Check the Pacman out.

For Pinoys out there, this post basically might be ho-hum already.

In the boxing world, today was a very important championship match between the Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and the Philippines' Mexicutioner Manny Pacquiao.

But I'm very sure Manny doesn't really like the term Mexicutioner.

Anyway, all odds was against Manny Pacquiao. Oscar De La Hoya is taller and not to mention heavier than Manny!

But truth be told, Pacman did it again!

And might I add, Wikipedia users were rather quick in editing Oscar De La Hoya's Wiki entry.

So this is another reason to celebrate for Pinoys around the world! If there is a unifying thing in my country, that would be boxing. Seriously, people here are crazy over the sport. Also with basketball.

As for this Pinoy, I don't feel elated. Just apathetic maybe. Or maybe I just knew for sure that the Pacman will clinch this match like always.

More Manny more honey:
1. Proof I love Manny.
2. Gloria loves her too.

Heartland by Daren V.L. Shiau

I just finished reading Daren Shiau's "Heartland" after many days of putting it off. It's actually an interesting novel--"the definitive Singaporean novel" according to novelist Johann S. Lee--but I had a hard time with the historical names like Sang Nila Utama's.


A brief history of the naming of Singapore (which I learned from visiting Sentosa)--

Sang Nila Utama is a legendary Sumatran prince who, while hunting for a deer, came across a very large rock and decided to climb it. Then he saw this land which his advisers said is Temasek.

The prince set sailed to visit the island but a storm was blocking their path. Their ship started to sink even if they tried making the ship lighter by throwing their things overboard.

Because he is a son of the sea princess, his advisers advised that he offer his crown to the sea. And immediately, the storm stopped; and they landed safely on Temasek. Anyway, he saw this animal and was told that was a lion or a "singa."

Being it a good omen, Sang Nila Utama built his city in the island and called the place "Singapura" meaning "Lion City."

Basically, "Heartland" is a novel filled with nuances to Singapore's early history and culture. It tells of Chinese Singaporean Wing Seng's life in junior college to when he enlisted for the National Service and everything that happens in between and during.

It has themes that attached to it being a nationalistic work. Former PM Goh Chok Tong coined the term "heartland" which describes the poorer and less educated Singaporeans. Wing Seng's first love interest comes from an upper-class family which conflicts with many of his general views.

The novel is easy-to-read (besides Sang Nila Utama and the other names). I appreciated the historical references when I finished the book. They really all come together.

One very interesting note is the reference to the influx of immigrants in Singapore--

‘like migrants, they carved a little niche for themselves like the Chinatowns and little Italys that spring up all over the world.'

Racial and social class differences are spelled out like Wing Seng not being a "tak chek kia" or educated in another sense, because he will be going to a polytechnic instead of the typical universities in Singapore.

A mixture of Bahasa Malaysia and Hokkien are splashed all over the pages. But there's a glossary at the end so that readers not familiar with the vocabularies are not left out.

"Heartland" gives an overall feel to Singapore. You will be familiarized with many Singaporean roads and places and the way people talk and act in the country.

Very stereotypical--but yes, the "lahs" are there.

A lot of school-age and real drama is present. Not too much that it will make the reader cry rather they point out the harsh realities in Wing Seng's life.

Notice that Wing's name is Cantonese. Now that probably gives you an idea of the surprise Wing will discover about himself towards the end.

The novel is sad and very sharp. It makes you wonder what Daren Shiau wanted to point out in his first novel.