Is Philippines Safer Now Under Duterte?

Manila Yacht Club

I kept getting emails from my foreign readers about safety tips when traveling around the Philippines. Their questions revolve around our new President Duterte who is known for his war against drugs. They are afraid they would get in a crossfire while visiting our tourist spots in the Metro. Since this is a touchy subject, I don't really want to voice out my personal opinion about this whole thing. The local news has been too toxic and I don't even feel like discussing politics. 

Is it Safer Now for Tourists?

It all depends on what you do here or where you go. If I were you, I'd stay in hotels around Makati City or Taguig while staying in Metro Manila. These areas are considered safer than other cities in the Metro. Here are some tips:

• Do not ever associate yourself or even be seen in public with shady characters (known drug users or someone who looks like a druggie). 
• Do not go to the red light district if you can help it. Too many shady characters there who will try to scam tourists.
• Stick to places like malls, museums, etc. Avoid the slum areas.
• Do not walk out in the street alone at night, or if you have to, don't let your guard down.
• Do not get in a fight with a local (they might hold a grudge and try to frame you up as a druggie)

Some people say that only druggies get killed. That is not true. There are also innocent people who got mistaken for someone else. Or people who got in the wrong place at the wrong time. So be extra careful.

We have lots of nice tourist spots to choose from outside the Metro. Touristy areas are generally safer since they have added security.

Check out Boracay beaches, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, and etc.

Boracay 

Philippines is such a beautiful place. We have lots to offer to tourists when it comes to beaches and fun activities. Have fun and stay safe! 

Irregular Period at Iba pa

I have been suffering from irregular periods for some time now. I was being so paranoid and was imagining all kinds of scenarios. What if I have cancer? My mom died from cervical cancer so my paranoia wasn't so far fetched.
I decided to end this emotional torture so I went to the clinic near me.

Waiting area; The Medical City @ Makati

The Medical City is actually nice and very organized. Dra. Elsa Dionisio was only available from 1pm to 2 pm and it's on a first come first served basis. She only accepts a maximum of 6 patients that day so you better be there early.

I was there around 11:30am, got a number and waited till they called my name. I filled up some paperwork and was told to wait until the doctor comes in. Luckily Dra. Dionisio came in early and my waiting time was cut short.

I have prepared a list of my symptoms and she ordered a transvaginal ultrasound immediately. 

Photo from rawstory.com

Dra. Dionisio was very nice and friendly. She explained to me some possible causes of my irregular period and told me that an ultrasound is needed to determine the root cause.

It turns out I have a cyst on my right ovary but she assured me that it's nothing serious. With proper medication, it should be gone in a few weeks. I'm sooo glad I wasn't diagnosed with PCOS or worse ~ a malignant tumor! 

I should have gotten my checkup months before! Procastination has real consequences when it comes to going to the doctor. Do not prolong your suffering..just go to the doctor and get your much needed checkup!

In case you are wondering about the cost of transvaginal ultrasound, it is Php 2,025 and the consultation fee is Php 500. With my medication included, the total is around Php3,875. It's actually cheap! 😄

Are you having irregular periods? Don't wait any longer! Go to your nearest OB Gyne now!

How to Set an Appointment at DFA

Photo source: blog.citizenservices.com.ph/

Are you itching to travel outside the country? If you don't have a passport, don't plan your trip just yet! When I renewed my passport a few years ago, it was quite easy. I just paid a travel agency and I got an appointment in a week. Then I paid for the expedited service and I got my passport within 7 working days after my DFA appointment.

Now that I need to renew it, I was shocked to find out that all the DFA satellite offices near me are booked up till second week of September! So if you need to travel in the next month or so and you still haven't gotten an appointment, well..good luck!

Here's how to get an appointment at DFA:

1. Go to www.passport.gov.ph and click schedule an appointment

2. If you are booking an appointment for yourself, click start an individual appointment. If you are booking an appointment for you and others, click start a group appointment.

3. Specify the site where you want to set an appointment then click next. 

4. Select an available date. 

July and August is booked up on all Metro Manila satellite offices. I just checked the DFA Manila (Aseana) and the only available date in September is from Sept. 22 onwards.

5. Select a timeslot. Please be advised that your chosen time slot is reserved for 10 minutes. So don't screw it up! Get there at least 30 minutes early.

6. Type in all your information. Make sure everything is correct before you click next.

7. After that you will get an email from DFA and you will have to click on the link provided to confirm your appointment. 

8. Print the application form and don't forget to bring it with you on the date of your appointment.

NOTE: If you do not confirm within a few hours, your provisional appointment will be automatically cancelled to give way to other applications.

That's it! Good luck :)

How Should We Live Our Lives?

A friend from highschool just died and it left me wondering, how should we live our lives?

If you do not have any lasting significance, then the life you've lived is meaningless. What makes life meaningful anyway? Is it the goals you achieved? The places you've been?

When my friend died, dozens of people came to bid her goodbye. They were not just people she knew, they were people who loved her and cared about her. It suddenly hit me..it's really the people you've touched that makes life meaningful. You know you did something right when people not related to you by blood sheds a tear on your funeral.

The thought of dying sends me into panic mode. Not because I'm afraid to die. It's the fear of "oblivion" that gives me shivers down my spine. I've been a hermit for so long. My only friends are my cat and dog.

My dog will surely cry but my cat will just move on to another household who can feed him tuna and kibbles.

Maybe it's not too late. Maybe I should start reaching out more to people, make new friends, help out a stranger, and do one good deed a day.

Maybe death won't be so bad when you know you've lived your life to the fullest and that you will be missed by people whose lives you've touched.

What's Keeping Pinoys From Chasing Their Dreams?

No one is coming to save you. Only "you" can save you. Take full responsibility for your life. Plan on how you intend to achieve success. Some Filipinos "play victim" all the time. Most of the time blaming the government for their situation in life.

Having kids you can't afford

Guess what? The government is not responsible for your choices in life. Is it the government's fault that you got 5 or more kids to feed? If you were thinking clearly, you won't even consider having kids when you have no stable job or no job at all. If you can't feed yourself, how can you feed your kids?

It's hard to focus on your dreams when you have kids to feed. That's the reality. How about take time for yourself before having kids? Work hard and dream big.

Bahala Na Attitude

Bahala na or whatever will be will be. This phrase is commonly heard among Filipinos. It is more than just a phrase. It is a way of life for some and is deeply ingrained in their attitude. How about change that way of thinking and start planning ahead? 

Taking a Shortcut

Dreams cannot be achieved that easy. Many of you have probably been a victim of "pyramiding scam" because you were lured into the thought of "easy money". Well guess what? If it's too good to be true, then it probably isn't.

Afraid to Grow Up 

You can only become an "authentic" adult if you start taking responsibility for your own life. Get out of your comfort zone and start planning your future. So many pinoys operate as children emotionally and refuse to grow up. How many of you still lives with your parents even after graduating college? I understand it may be more convenient for you to stay home, but are you saving up for your future home? 

We can all achieve our dreams if we practice the right attitude. Find what motivates you and get rid of people around you that are constantly dragging you down. Surround yourself with successful people so that you can emulate their habits and way of life. 

Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.

Ginataang Kalabasa with Hipon (Veggies and Shrimp in Coco Cream)

It's now 3:00 in the morning and I couldn't sleep. I was watching some cooking show and suddenly had this craving for anything with "gata" or coconut cream. The problem is I only have veggies in the fridge. I need some freshly grated coconut for the gata but it's quite early to go to the wet market.
So I headed down to the 24/7 Mart and looked for canned coconut cream and some garlic. Lucky I found these!

Kalabasa, sitaw, talong, coconut cream, and peeled shrimp make a yummy combination. Add in some grated ginger too. Season with salt and pepper. You can also add some chili if you want this dish spicy. Yum! 

Best served with steamed rice and of course fried bangus belly marinated in vinegar and garlic!

Kain na tayo!😀

P.S. On a side note; nothing beats the coconut cream from freshly grated coconut.

Why Some Filipinos End Up With No Savings

Photo source: Graphicstock.com

Retired and no savings? We're all too familiar with this scenario, it could be a relative, a neighbor, or a family friend. Why does it happen all the time? Here are some of my observations:

Ginawang Palabigasan ng Pamilya (Family Cash Cow)

Some Filipino parents are good at investing. They use their child/children as an investment! The more the merrier! How so? They use their kids to support them. Just look at the kids begging out there in the streets of the Metro. You think they are orphans? Nope. Their parents are busy gambling or drinking at home (or worse making more babies!) 

Here's a typical story you'll hear from an average Filipino:

Sabrina (Call Center Agent)

Sabrina is the eldest in the family of 6 kids. She worked two jobs to go to college. She was also helping her 5 siblings with some expenses. As soon as she graduated, she got a job at a call center. Her starting salary is 14,000 (around 12,000 after taxes). 

Her mother asked her to contribute around 6,000 pesos for their household expenses (50% of her salary). Since Sabrina's job is far from home, she really didn't have to contribute because she is living at a dorm near her workplace. But what can she do? Her mother will get really mad if she doesn't do it. Not wanting to ruin her relationship with her mom, she gave in to her demands. Sabrina is left with 6,000 a month to budget for her own expenses. With 2,000 pesos for the rent, there's only 4,000 pesos left for food, transportation, and other extra expenses. This amount made it quite impossible to save some money. 

10 years later, her siblings are all married with kids. Sabrina is now a team leader and with a higher income bracket, but this cycle of giving is still going on. It even extended to her nieces and nephews. It even became impossible for Sabrina to get married and start her own family. 

Supporting the Whole Clan

Arthur (OFW in Saudi Arabia)

Arthur is an only child. He worked as an engineer for 30 years. All throughout his stint in Saudi, he was helping his parents and his cousin's family. Arthur never married and has no kids. 

Aside from the monetary help he gives them, he also spoils them with the latest gadgets and clothes. Ever since he got a Facebook account, he got bombarded with sob stories from distant relatives asking him for handouts. 

"Kesyo may sakit ang anak ko, magka-college na si ano, etc."

Arthur being generous and kind, never think twice about sending money to members of his clan. Now that he is nearing 65, he is worried about retiring. With no savings in hand, no properties back home, he is seriously concerned about his future. With his help, his relatives got a very comfortable life. Some even managed to have a decent house of their own. Will these same relatives help him in case he needs it? Arthur doubts it. They don't even greet him on his birthday.

Advice to Filipino Parents

Let us stop this vicious cycle. Parents are supposed to help guide their kids towards a better future and not use them as cash cows. Here are some things you should remember:

1. Gumawa ka ng bata dahil gusto mo at hindi para gamitin mo sa sariling kapakanan.

2. I-base mo ang bilang ng anak mo sa kakayanan mong buhayin sila. Tanungin mo ang sarili mo; kaya ko ba silang pag-aralin hanggang kolehiyo? Ilang anak ba ang kaya kong bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan?

3. Bago ka mag-anak, siguraduhin mo na may ipon ka para sa mga emergency para naman di ka na umutang sa kamag-anak mo. 

4. Mag-ipon ka para sa retirement mo para naman di ka umasa sa tulong ng anak mo. Tandaan mo, ang anak mo ay magkakaroon din ng sariling pamilya. Para mapaghandaan nya ang kinabukasan ng pamilya nya, kelangan nya mag-ipon. Kung aasa ka sa sweldo nya, wala na sya maiipon para sa kinabukasan nya.

5. Life is supposed to be fun. Make sound decisions in life and you and the people around you will never suffer. At the end of the day, use common sense.

This is a timeline that I teach my Nephew (Only 6 yrs old). Better start them young.

Photo source: www.graphicstock.com

Age 16 -21 ~ Get a part time job (summer job whatever). Save 50% of your earnings (If your parents are helping you with college). The rest you can spend on whatever you want. Kids, you should never be ashamed of working part time. Don't copy your pa-cool friends who ask their parents for money. Working part time will also teach you things that will prepare you for your life ahead.

If you don't want to work at a fast food company, you can always start a small business. You can also look out for certain niches that you can do (blogging, vlogging, creating Youtube content, etc.) 

Age 21-23 ~ By this time, you are already done with college (depends on the course you took). My advice is, start looking for a full time job the minute you graduated. This is the fun age, so while allotting some money for savings, you should also spare some money for fun and travel. You're young, have fun! (But do not overspend and go beyond your budget. Borrowing money should never ever be an option)

Age 23-25 ~ Start taking life a bit more serious. Do not get contented with your current life situation. Start grinding and climb that corporate ladder or dream higher! It is also about time to look for a house/condo to buy. Since you've been saving since you are 16, you can probably already afford the downpayment.

Age 25-30 ~ Save for your future family (If ever you want one). How awesome would it be if you won't have to worry about hospital bills (for your firstborn). Let's say you've saved like 250,000 pesos, and you/your wife are also covered by your insurance for maternity expenses, then your savings would be more than enough to buy baby clothes, vaccines, baby formulas, crib, and other baby accessories.

Age 30-31 ~ Settle down. Who says you have to get married early? It's plain idiotic to get married at an early age. You have to be mentally and financially prepared for family life. At this age, you've already traveled, had fun, saved money, experienced a lot, and the only thing missing is a family of your own!

Some advice: You don't have to spend a ton of money on your wedding. Why waste over a hundred thousand pesos just to show people you got married? Fancy wedding is just a scam to get people to spend their money for one freaking day. Go to the city hall and get married. If you want you can have a simple reception at a local restaurant with people that matters most to you (Ex. your siblings, parents, grandparents, and close friends).

Age 31 and beyond ~ Save and invest. Never ever stop saving. Get an advice from financial experts on how to invest your money wisely. Do not fall for a scam. Avoid pyramiding or if the ROI is too good to be true, then it's a scam. 

Disclaimer: My advice may or may not work for you. I'm just sharing what I teach my nephew. Let's change our bad habits for a better Philippines. Change should start within us.Teach our youth how to be responsible and prepare them for adulthood. We can have "Superman" as president but even his superpowers won't be enough to make a better Philippines.

Why Filipinos Eat With a Spoon and Fork

Before the Spaniards came to conquer the Philippines, the natives used their hands to eat. The natives scoop up food using the fingers of their right hand. When Spaniards came, they brought their culinary traditions and our dishes evolved. Using hands to eat were then frowned upon since they introduced the use of utensils. The spoon and fork became the primary choice. 

(Nah, who are we kidding? We still love to use our hands from time to time!)

How to Use It

The spoon is held with the right hand and the fork in the left. Use the fork to spear and hold down a piece of food while the spoon is used to cut or tear off small pieces. The spoon also comes handy when eating rice and soup. 

As a typical Pinay, I love to eat sinigang together with the rice. Can you imagine eating this with fork and knife? Spoon and chopsticks? Or just the spoon? It would be weird wouldn't it? Filipinos love to combine pieces of meat, veggie, rice, and the "sabaw" together in one subo (spoonful). Using spoon and fork together makes perfect sense.

Photo source: http://www.goonswithspoons.com/

It's All About the Rice

Filipino food (just like any Asian country) is never complete without the rice. Can you imagine eating plain Adobo? Afritada? Sisig? Que horror! Spoon and fork compliments our way of eating. It's very practical. It's just weird to use knife and fork when eating our rice meals. 

#1. It's hard to scoop up rice with just fork. It just keeps falling (unless it's a very sticky rice). 

#2. Imagine using knife and fork when eating Afritada and rice:

     You cut the meat with the knife then you spear it with the fork sabay subo, then you scoop up rice using the fork, rice kept falling, so you do it again. Not fun for me! I love eating a spoonful of rice, meat, Afritada sauce, and some potato cubes. 

When Eating Western Food 

Not all foods can be eaten with spoon and fork. When I'm eating steak and mashed potatoes, I use steak knife and fork, it makes more sense this way. Using spoon to cut the steak isn't practical. And using the fork to scoop up mashed potatoes are totally fine. 

Photo source: recipeshubs.com

Living Abroad

When you are outside the Philippines, it is advisable to practice the customs of your host country. You don't wanna stick out like a sore thumb. Would you eat with spoon and fork when dining at a fine dining restaurant? Eat lobster thermidor with spoon and fork? I know you'll say "kanya kanyang trip lang yan", but it wouldn't hurt to practice dining etiquette of the place you are currently in. Learning to use the proper utensils of your host country can be beneficial for your social life.

"When in Rome, live as the Romans do; when elsewhere, live as they live elsewhere."

~Saint Ambrose

Unspoiled Beaches in Luzon, Philippines

Regional Filipino Food from My Childhood

Growing up down South, I was exposed to several regional cuisines namely from Bicol, Quezon, and Batangas. I was born and raised in Quezon province but my dad was originally from Batangas and my mom's parents were from Bicol.
Food was great and I certainly miss them. Here are the not so common regional Filipino cuisines from my childhood:

1. Sinaing na dulong sa Gata

Dulong. Photo source: Flickr

It is basically stewed silverfish wrapped in banana leaves. The trick is to slowly stew it with "dried kamias", salt, pepper, and coconut cream. My dad used to cook it in a "Palayok" (clay pot) for a better taste. Yum!

2. Ginataang Santol

Photo source: gutomna.com

This dish is unforgettable! My grandma used to cook this all the time! Grated santol meat cooked in coconut cream and siling labuyo!

3. Adobo sa Dilaw

Photo source: kawalingpinoy.com

My dad's favorite! Batangas version of Adobo. Turmeric is used in this dish. It is also advisable to use palayok and cook it in firewood.

4. Pinangat na Gabi

Photo source: spoonfulrecipe.wordpress.com

Another specialty of my grandma! Just thinking of it makes me drool! She would wrap lechon and shrimp in gabi leaves, tie it up and then stew it in coconut cream. Yummmm!

5. Pancit Hab-hab

Pancit hab-hab/Lucban

This is a Quezon Province original dish. Pancit Lucban/hab-hab may look like Pancit Canton but it has a totally different taste. Pancit Lucban uses dried flour noodles. It is best served on a piece of banana leaf and sprinkled with vinegar as a condiment.

What regional food did you grow up with? Please share in the comments section!😀