Philippine Travel Notes

This is at the Gaisano Grand Mall in the middle of Mandaue City! Another newly opened store of the Gaisano chain in Metro Cebu. I was passing by for a few things before another night-trip when I chanced upon these “entertainers”. Quite unique eh! Unmistakably the employees themselves of the supermarket area. I asked the guard what was the celebration about and I was told “nothing really”. Turns out this is a nightly activity in the mall to entertain weary shoppers who might have had a hectic day at home or at work. After the dancing, they just return to their respective roles at the supermarket! Nice one!

Did you know there is something like that? Yes there is, and if you are a Cebuano Catholic or a frequent visitor of the city who likes going to the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, you will probably have heard this announcement just every after communion even on English masses… “sila si Monsignor Boy Alesna…” and that goes on to the lector announcing how much was the budget needed for which the “second collection” was being done and what was the status of that chapel, etc etc, right?! Well, when the announcement later became something like the chapel is done sometime in January, I did get curious what it is and what it is being used for! So in one of my walks, I asked around where and how could I go there. A lay officer told me to approach the guard over at the sacristy so he could lead me to said chapel. Hmm, so I did! Guard enthusiastically led me through a nice door behind which is a wooden stairway leading to the second floor chapel that has been dedicated in honor of Saint Joseph. Yes...

Well, look at the things I find when I roam hehe. Here is another one you might call really really lost in translation! It is probably a typo that did not get noticed by the whole company. Its a big factory by the way! Maybe their English teacher did not emphasize enough that ‘wrong spelling is wrong’ hehehe! Especially funny since the first 3 letters of that misspelled word means something really dirty for Filipinos Whatever they mean by ‘clear taest’ or ‘clear taste’, if you haven’t yet, you should try Soju sometimes. Its good! But wait, refreshing as it may look with the "fresh morning" sign, it is not a morning drink nor a softdrink! The "fresh morning" is probably meant to tell that you won't have a heavy head or hangover when you wake up. I can tell its way stronger than Red Horse! So its probably a gin or a vodka or something like that! Ah, the imported signs of our times!

Coming from the Mactan Airport this afternoon, I told myself I cannot let this pass. So I opened the window, readied the camera and took aim – driver silently wondered what on earth was I to shoot at! Yeah, I could read his facial expression. He did not ask, so I did not tell! Peace driver! I have spotted this joint sometime ago but could not get a shot, either because I would forget or the car, cab or multicab would be moving too fast. This time, I took real aim, though still not happy enough with my 2 photos! its located at the very corner where your vehicle veers right from the road ascending towards the new Mactan Bridge (Marcelo Fernan Bridge). In fact the best vantage is when you are already at the foot of the bridge. However, its dangerous to stop or even go slow at this portion as all vehicles are supposed to be revving up to be able to climb that bridge – and its a curve. TEYOTA is a store, and a “disco fence” – whatever that one means – though you can be sure its a girly bar!...

In many a blog, you will have noticed my contempt for the “jaguar”, right?! Yes, the gwardya, the sekyu, the blue-guard and whatever name else they are called in this our beautiful country! But not this one! He is helpful and takes the petty things to his hands, SINCE, he knows he can be of help anyway. The case: I was already on the way to the airport and forgot to print my e-ticket. Argh! But it was not as if a real total bummer. I know my way around. Options: pop into an internet shop or pop into the AirPhil Express ticket office and wait it out. I chose the latter since there was still time. Ample in fact. On entry, I stood a bit in front of this guard who I expected would issue me a number so I can wait for my turn with the ticket agents. But, after greeting me a “good afternoon, sir”, guard who seemed to have guessed my purpose asked “print lang ng ticket sir”? Surprised I smiled and said “yes”! Guess what… He proceeded to the middle PC in that counter, checked for my ID a...

As said in part 2 , let us leave the brandy for the mean time and go to the rhum! Of course that world-class drink figures here – Tanduay – which many a sosyal or pa-sosyal Pinoy consider as “cheap” in the figurative sense. While I am no fan of Tanduay, I do know though, that in almost all countries I have been to, that thing is considered one of the best and expensive rhums! Aha, lest I forget, let me put on record that Tanduay was the very first alcoholic drink I have tasted willfully! Shhh, wag maingay, some kids are listening! That was way way long ago, and of course it was mixed with coke! But, your eyes will pop to know who I drank with and at what age hehehe. So am not telling! Unless you coerce me of course hahaha! Nulang-dulang! Okay, there it is, if ever I forget, I will just come back to this article hehe heheeeee! Anyway… the merry mixes! Oh, yes the mixes! Tanduay, Water, Red Horse, Milo  That is some mix for a start, aight? Well, at least for me - especially so...

Since we last mentioned Emperador in the previous list , let’s go on with that thing being mixed with other things else. But by the way, some of these folks I encountered and asked also go for Gran Matador, though most of them say they prefer Emperador since the former tastes like plastic. Hmm, don't they all?! Anyway, here are more of the mixes… Emperador and Sprite I think this is not that unfamiliar. Is this? Just the same, since I am not a fan of mixes, I find this concoction odd though simple. And yes, it is also on the rocks. To be exact, there are I think no alcoholic drinks that are not mixed with ice – at least in the Philippines. Even tuba and lambanog! Ah, we’ll get to those two later. There are variations to this brandy mix. I have seen folks do Emperador and 7-up while yet others more did/do Emperador and Royal (tru orange)! Oh, since I mentioned that… did you know that this “Royal Tru-Orange” is a Philippine original? Yeah, am not even sure if this is being marketed ...

My travels do not only expose me to the many sights and sounds around this country! They also, sometimes necessarily, lead me to encounter what people drink to celebrate or while time away (a.k.a. inuman, laklakan, tunggahan, 2 for the road, nightcap and, whatever else)! I noticed though, majority of the younger “social drinkers” – I mean those who drink with a group of other people like friends or officemates have the propensity to opt for mixed drinks. It probably is due to cost? Or probably too, so they won’t be too drunk when they reach home? Well, different people have different reasons and different tastes. But most of the time I see or hear dizzying mixes. I mean I do not even have to sample many of those drinks. The ingredients used alone, already make me dizzy! At times I even want to already puke just by seeing them carry those things they are about to mix hehe! What and which drink? Ah, too many! Some are cute, some are worth a sip, some seem upfront outrageous and s...