Flowers at Burnham Park

I have always been fascinated by flowering plants.  To mark the end of the merry month of May, I will share pictures of blooming beauties at the Burnham Park in Baguio City.

Join me in enjoying the sight of these flowers:

Board Exam Application Guidelines: Circa 2002

I took the licensure examination for an engineering course way back in 2002.  Having no idea what to do, I went to the office of the Professional Regulations Commission to seek advice on how to obtain the necessary application forms.  I will like to share with you a leaflet containing the guidelines:

Interesting Notes on "Mistah"

In January 1994, Robin Padilla starred in the action film Mistah: Mga Mandirigma. 

Star Cinema's First Production

Star Cinema, the film production outfit of television network ABS-CBN will be celebrating its nineteenth anniversary with the release of Every Breath U Take on May 16, 2012.  Every Breath U Take stars Piolo Pascual and Angelica Panganiban under the direction of Mae Czarina Cruz.


Nineteen years back on May 13, 1993 the action movie Ronquillo: Tubong Cavite , Laking Tondo was released in theaters. The movie, Star Cinema's first, was produced in collaboration with Regal Films.  It stars Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., Sheryl Cruz, and Miguel Rodriguez, under the direction of Joey del Rosario.


Following is a newspaper clipping of the movie advertisement:

Tagalog-Dubbed Hollywood Movies, Anyone?

Hollywood films aired for free on TV5 are being dubbed in Tagalog.  Instead of dubbing, why not use Tagalog subtitles and maintain the original dialogue?

In my humble opinion, this suggestion might preserve nuances that the filmmaker intended to communicate. Moreover, televiewers' listening and reading skills might be enhanced.

Remembering the May 11, 1992 Elections

Twenty years ago on this day, synchronized elections was held in the Philippines. Thousands of candidates aspired for positions from President to municipal councilor.

I was still not a registered voter during that time, but I will share what I remember about the 1992 elections at the national level.

That was the first time presidential elections were held in the country since the 1986 People Power EDSA Revolution. There were seven aspirants in the presidential race.

Fidel V. Ramos of  Lakas-NUCD, Miriam Defensor-Santiago of PRP, Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr. of NPC, Ramon Mitra, Jr. of LDP, Imelda Marcos of KBL, Jovito Salonga of Liberal Party, and Salvador Laurel of Nacionalista Party.

Then-president Corazon C. Aquino had the chance to run for a second term. She, however, endorsed instead the candidacy of  Ramos, who eventually won the plurality with 23.58% of the vote. Defensor-Santiago placed second with 19.72%.

Actor-turned-mayor-turned-senator Joseph Estrada of PMP won as vice president.

Other contenders were Marcelo Fernan of LDP, Emilio Osmeña of Lakas-NUCD, Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.of  PRP, Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. of PDP-Laban, Vicente Magsaysay , Eva Estrada-Kalaw of Nacionalista Party

Voters also chose 24 senators out of a field of 166: the top twelve having the most number of votes were mandated to serve a six-year term until 1998. The remaining twelve have their three-year terms ending in 1995.

Many celebrities participated and won in this race, led by Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Ramon Revilla, Sr.

Twenty years has passed, and many aspects of Filipino life has changed. It seems that politics hasn't.

B1 and B2: "Bananas in Pajamas" Balloons

Children during the 1990s probably remember B1 and B2 of Bananas in Pajamas (originally aired in Australia's ABC as Bananas in Pyjamas).


ABS-CBN aired the Tagalog-dubbed version of this television show in 1994. The about five minute-long show was aired between the schedules of the tearjerker anime series A Dog of Flanders and the educational program A.T.B.P: Awit, Titik at Bilang na Pambata.


Two Saturdays ago, while walking along a sidewalk in Caloocan's Monumento area, I saw B1 and B2 balloons costing 35 pesos each.


Since I cannot find high-quality videos of Bananas in Pajamas, I just posted the pictures of the inflated B1 and B2 balloons.

Two Tagalog Movies from the '90s

I will be sharing posters of two Tagalog movies - a comedy and an action flick - shown in movie theaters on May 6, 1993.

Barangay Fiesta in Kapitangan

Every last Sunday of April, the barangay of Kapitangan celebrates its fiesta in honor of its patron saint Santo Cristo.  Part of the festivities are processions reminiscent of the Santacruzan during day and night.  The following video shows the daytime edition of the procession in 2012:

"Kung May Tiyaga, May Nilaga."

"Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga."

In English, this Tagalog  quote roughly translates as

"If there's perseverance, there's nilaga."

But what really is nilaga? Well, it is one of my favorite Filipino dishes, and this preference is shared by many.  Nilaga is a soup dish made by boiling meat chunks with an assortment of vegetables, including cabbage, pechay (bok choi), corn slices, kamote (sweet potatoes), potatoes, and leeks.

Nilagang baka and nilagang baboy are the most common variants of the dish having beef and pork as main ingredients, respectively.

Some people enhance the flavor by adding tanglad (lemon grass), luya (ginger) or both.

With these ingredients, nilaga proves to be both a nutrient-loaded comforting food.

Now let's get back to the quote.