top 10 things about sabang, palawan

10. we stayed at daluyon resort which is beautiful
9. super great locals
8. beach front room baby
7. im up at 6am everyday, no time wasted! must be the air (my cough is getting better too)
6. got a massage, better than manila
5. isolated beach with occasional dangerous marine life scare
4. food goooood, pinoy gourmet fusion
3. solar powered/ generator resort (ZCR)
2. underground river, new wonder of the world
1. longest zipline in the phils, woohoo

Did any of you ever hear about certain states banning sticking any device on a windshield a while back? Like GPS units, for example?

I did some research and apparently, California and Minnesota has a windshield law. However, I have on occasion driven with my device on the windshield… since 2005. No problems so far. In 2010, we upgraded our Tomtom and got the beanbag surface to stick the GPS mount on the dash. Earlier this month, we upgraded our car and left the sticky disc that the stand connects to on the old car. We’ve been sticking it on the center of the windshield and so far, we haven’t been reprimanded or whatnot. From this post, it’s possible that Minnesota may have also changed it laws.

“Yes, effective January 1, 2009, California allowed GPS to be affixed to the bottom corners of the windshield. However, I used Garmin’s friction mount with my Garmin 855 and place it in a slot in my car’s center console.”

“I live in CA.and have my GPS affixed to the bottom center of the windshield. Never have any problem. I recently got a ticket for changing lane but the cop never say anything about the mounted GPS”

So it looks like we can use the mount on the windshield.I’m guessing the cops don’t think it is a priority. If you get caught, just nicely ask if you can get off with a warning. Just don’t get caught by the same cop twice

EDIT:

seems like there is a provision on the DMV site saying you may only put the GPS on the lower left corner so as not to obstruct your view : http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

Good to research all this, and while most people still leave the DMV laws open for interpretation (and waste time debating the SHALL vs MAY), I believe I will bring that old beanbag movable mount out of storage

FINAL ANSWER: One can, but MAY only use the lower left or lower right of the windshield and could not be allowed to operate while driving. Deviations from this set up (aside from sticking onto a beanbag or on the console/top of the dash) will be risky, if you get caught, your best bet is to plead to get off with a warning.

This didnt get as bad a reaction (jesus morphed into voldy)…are Pinoys just really OA?

Name blurred for anonymity.

************

Damn. The pre order price of leather bound Beedle the Bard was $100. Today, the collector’s item is selling between $230-$950 worldwide via private collectors.

Why didn’t I have the foresight????

Lately, I’ve been spending my free time virtual DJing on this site called turntable.fm . I don’t claim to be knowledgable about new music or whatnot, and stick to what i know. So I frequent rooms like 90s Alternative and the Breakfast Club (mostly 80s).

One person played a Jocelyn Enriquez song “Do you Miss Me” and I vaguely remembered that she is Filipina. I also heard a rumor somewhere that that is Banig from Bagong Kampeon (the 80s Filipino version of American Idol and Britains Got Talent). Luckily for me, there’s google and wiki to verify if it is one person only. Here we go:

1. wiki’ed jocelyn enriquez : found out she was born and raised in SFo.

2. wiki’ed “Banig Bagong Kampeon” : it gave me results
The show also had a contestant named Josephine Roberto (aka “Banig”), who later defeated Christina Aguillera on the way to become Female Vocalist Champion in the 1989 edition of Star Search in the United States.

3. googled Josephine Roberto. While she made a bit of a ripple when she was younger, seems like she is still trying to make it big.

Still kind of impressed about the part where she beat Christina Aguilera though. If you want to see her performance, i found a video on multiply.

4. youtubed a few more of “BANIG STAR SEARCH 1989″ and “CHRISTINA AGUILERA STAR SEARCH 1989″ and incidentally came upon “BRITNEY SPEARS CAN SING…” with clips of britney in star search ’88.

I remember Banig always did her exaggerated growly voice during Bagong Kampeon (she was 7 and I was 8 – my folks prodded me to join the contest but I knew my shyness would become an issue with performing) — but her vocals then were more sophisticated than Christina’s was at the time. Christina attempted the  runs but was not exactly flawless at executing them (she can do them today , sure). And Britney *snort* well, Britney never really was a serious competitor. And that’s a different story.

I also youtube’d Banig and her US gigs the past few years. She sounds like Lani Misalucha and the other Filipina RnB pop  singers. Pretty good , she even got more control on her singing. No more growling, no more shouting. Sophisticated singing is all about control. I’m glad to know she turned out okay.

You know who reminds me of Banig’s 7 year old self? Haley from American Idol 2010! LOL No wonder Haley never impressed me on the show!

August is the Month for Infamous Pinoy Internet Sensations (aka IPIS) … & Their Virtual Lynch Mobs

Ahh…Manila, Philippines. Where folks are slowly learning that what you  say today could end up on youtube tomorrow and immortalize your carelessness for life. Pinoys , young and old, are all weighing in on the various issues that cropped up this month, faster than you can say the title of this blog entry.

In case you’ve been out of circulation, here is the list of the Pinoys (in Chronological order) who got their virtual lynch mobs, and who got the worst end of it:

1. Christopher “I was not informed” Lao

Discovery point: TV PATROL and FACEBOOK

The gist: Lao plowed through flooded streets, miscalculated the water’s steepness, and got caught on the local news ranting at the government that , well, he should’ve been informed.

Lynch Mob: Mostly attacks came from Pinoy Facebook users, even creating hate pages on FB, and everyone who ever forwarded the sad little video was accused of cyber bullying.

Why the hate: While Mr Lao did have a valid point, (and COULD have miscalculated to due to the rains, blurred vision or whatnot), every Filipino who knows that during rainy season, there will definitely be flood. That’s the government’s fault too for swindling taxpayers money instead of fixing roads and drainage systems. But seriously, while I believe you got too much hate for already looking like an idiot on TV, I just want to say …Mr Lao, if you are reading this, next time save yourself some money and follow MY golden rule: Do NOT push on if water is already halfway up your tires/rims.

2. Mideo Cruz – the not-so-subtle performance artist

Discovery point: every channel on local TV, and every Filipino christian blog , Facebook

The gist: Mideo Cruz was part of the Poleteismo exhibition at the CCP. His installation consisted of overlapping photos of bleeding eyes Jesus, Jesus with a penis ash tray on his face, a crucifix with a condom strewn on it. The controversial images were small compared to the totality of the wall art installation. Nonetheless, it turned off plenty of people, including the former first lady Imelda Marcos, who saw the show, expressed her disgust for Cruz’s work. After that, it was a jungle, a circus: absolute madness. Questions and issues were raised but one remain: Is there a limit to an artist’s freedom of expression?

The Lynch Mob: CBCP (Bishops) got mad. Christian bloggers were outraged. Artists were sympathetic (well, not all of them) Even I’m on the fence about it. Spot.PH’s Lourd De Veyra wrote about it and did an episode on WOTL on it.

Why the Hate + some more thoughts: This is a really tricky issue, because as my friend Tsok mentioned, even my father’s work marries folklore, paganism and Catholicism — and could very well be under attack if we were to follow the maxim of Catholics in denouncing Mideo’s piece. I told him my dad was a wee bit more subtle than penises on Jesus, but I got his point.

Aesthetics aside,…

I have artist friends who believe Mideo Cruz created shock art for art’s sake.

I have agnostic / artist friends who believe that art is art and should never EVER be censored. EVER!

I have Christian friends who believe Cruz’s ideas were personally offensive , saying its just as disrespectful as having a photo of your parents vandalized.

I have lawyer friends who think:  ’Not on taxpayer’s money.’

The saddest part is that the whole show was shut down, the artist was questioned in a forum created to find out why this blew up to epic proportions. It solved nothing. It didn’t stop the CBCP and religious fanatics from crying BLASPHEMY. It did, however, provoke the CCP visual dept head to resign from her post.

And it definitely didn’t stop the politicos who just HAD to get in the middle of it, mostly to grab their own 15 seconds of fame. Damn hypocrites! This is exactly why we shouldn’t vote for actors… instead of looking at it from a practical standpoint, they go for the emotional. However, the longer these actor-turned-senators dwell on Mideo Cruz, the more taxpayers’ money they are wasting away (when they should be talking about fixing drainage systems, etc).

For me, the real bastard villain is Sen. Tito Sotto. Please. You are not the bastion of morality, the epitome of goodness: when you were a famous TV personality, you put out music with irreverent lyrics. And please don’t remind the oldies about your OTHER skeletons in the closet.

3. James Soriano aka “Malansang Isda”

Discovery point: Manila Bulletin online, Facebook

The gist: This young Atenean apparently writes regularly for MB.com. His article explained his not-so-humble beginnings being forced to learn and speak only English, and learning Tagalog only so he can talk to the lower classes. This is a guy who not only prides himself for speaking Tagalog so poorly/speaking English well, he calls English the “language of the learned” and that he is fortunate to be part of the privileged and well-connected group of Filipinos living in luxury today.

The Lynch Mob: this is the one issue I felt most disturbed about. And I daresay a couple of hundred people on the UP Diliman Facebook group page also weighed in, saying this guy is a real douche.

Why the Hate + my 2cents: Yes, there were a few who did point out that his article may have been a satire, and should be sarcastic. That …just maybe…he meant to bring up the taboo issue of classism.

The Manila Bulletin article has been taken down barely 24 hours after it hit facebook (no comments showed up but comments were enabled) [EDIT: It's back up on mb.com] but another website cached Soriano’s article changing the title to ” When Truth Hurts”. Yes, yes, the use of Tagalog is deteriorating in our country. I have friends whose children are living in the Philippines and are speaking English at home, and not learning enough Tagalog to be fluent in it. Just like Soriano.

But in his article, the problem wasn’t in his language preference but stating that he was excessively proud to feel privileged and well-connected in his country because of it. As if his article justifies his poor Tagalog proficiency. As if his article gave him the right to feel superior compared to the jeepney drivers, the maids, and people who spoke some English, but not well enough to be as “learned” as he is.

It would’ve been better if he wrote it like THIS. If he was sarcastic, or trying to be humorous, he could’ve done what this girl DID.

My friends and I have been planning something big to counter ungrateful, unpatriotic little shits like this kid.

You might say WTH and point out that I’ve every bit as guilty as Soriano, placing a preference on English as I type in my blog.

#1 I can speak either language, however, since this blog was started in English a few years ago, I am writing all this in English now. Who knows maybe Soriano will read my blog and feel … enlightened.

#2 However, the Lingua Franca Taglish is my normal mode of speaking and thinking. There is no shame in it. As beautiful as pure Tagalog can sound, parts of it was taken from our Malay, Spanish and Chinese neighbors’ languages. The newer words that refer to science and technology are in English and has no direct translation. Take a look at the following passage that I wrote in another forum that discussed this issue:

“Hindi ako meztiza, hindi ako chinita, kayumangging kayumanggi ako – (kahit na lola ko ay of American jewish descent). its true na dahil sa itsura, madaling madismiss ang kayumangging tao bilang “mahirap” or “working class”. Hence, i learned english and was constantly praised in school for sounding so natural and … American. Yes, I can speak English with an unaffected American slang, thanks to my Fil-am cousins who visit annually, and Hollywood movies. Pagsalita ko, hindi nga naman ako maid, hindi rin ako salesgirl, etc. Naging automatic na ito depende sa lugar o kausap. Siguro mali ako for somewhat reinforcing classism, pero in a way, gusto ko muna mabawasan ang stereotyping. Pero never kong inisip na English is the “language of the learned”, as Soriano thinks. Never kong inisip na mas matalino at privileged/connected ako sa mga ibang kaklase ko sa UP, porket mas magaling ang English ko sa kanila.

The truth is, most filipinos are guilty of classism and stereotyping, kahit mga mahihirap. Pati yung idea natin ng beauty, mejo makitid. Growing up, the only nice kind of hair daw (accdg to shampoo commercials) ay yung “shiny, straight hair”. Buti nga marami nang mga lumabas na artista/model in the past 20 years na HINDI TISAY kase at least lumalawak ang isip ng pinoy na pati chinita at morena ay masarap din sa mata. ”

I posted Soriano’s article on Facebook, and had this on intro: “Sa Amerika, napakasarap makipagbalitaktakan sa kapwa pinoy gamit ang sariling wikang Tagalog. Hindi lang ito nagiging isang sikretong lenguahe — nagiging koneksyon natin ito sa isip at dugo. Bigyan natin ng halaga ang sarili nating wika! Tanggalin ang klassismo. Wag tularan ang gunggung na ‘to.”

**

In the end, Lao got lynched, and though we all thought he was an imbecile, he was a UP summa cum laude and UP law grad. Soriano got lynched (and deservingly so, IMHO) and his roasting isn’t over…but his HS teachers are coming to his defense, stating that he is actually pretty proficient in Tagalog too (which isn’t really the problem LOL). Cruz got lynched way too much in my opinion, and I bet he wasn’t expecting the show to close due to politics nor the CCP official to resign due to the ruckus. But it doesn’t matter what the church says…Cruz got his international grant (possibly due  to his newfound internet fame) and no doubt we’ll be hearing about him again soon.

These Infamous Pinoy Internet Sensations have one common thread linking them together. They are all pretty much conceited. While they’ve all touched raw nerves here and there, they’ve also served their purpose: to incite and encourage our fellow Filipinos into having intelligent & relevant discussions about our country today.