Giselle’s Blog

I definitely can relate to this when it comes to the racism of other nationalities.

When Racism Strikes you, STRIKE BACK!

by: Giselle Sanchez

Filed under: Features — admin at 2:13 pm on Wednesday, September 9, 2009

My Louis Vuitton blog entry has virally spread over the internet. Thank you, bloggers, for spreading it like fire. Hopefully this one does too:

I just watched Bruno, the funniest movie in my life written and starred by comic genius Sacha Baron Cohen, creator of Borat.

After being the  7,148,170th viewer of this trailer, I knew I was going to laugh sooo hard that I brought my entire gang of amorous laughers (that will be my brothers and sister-in-law who are not ashamed to laugh out loud) and chose a relatively new mall (the new Eastwood mall) so that we could laugh to our heart’s content.

I was so afraid that my “Power Plant movie experience” was going to have a sequel because I was discriminated by the elitist moviegoers in Rockwell for laughing so loud. You see, it’s very difficult to live in the Philippines when you don’t go with the norm. You will be looked down and be ostracized. In short, if you don’t go with the norm, you will be a victim of  discrimination.

You have to follow certain rules like: In an elitist atmosphere, BAWAL ANG MALAKAS TUMAWA. HINDI KA SOSYAL KUNG MALAKAS KA TUMAWA. MAY MASAMANG MANGYAYARI SA IYO KUNG MALAKAS KANG TUMAWA.

Matthew Estabillo, a “YS” writer for Philippine Star would agree with me because he wrote a  similar experience while watching the same film I watched two weeks ago in Power Plant mall.

Two weeks ago, I watched a very funny flick Hangover in the said mall’s cinema. It was very appalling because the movie was full of people watching yet I was the only one laughing so hard. The movie contained so may punchlines, I was laughing almost every five seconds.

Komedyante ako, e, masaya akong tao. Mababaw ang kaligayahan ko. The bad thing was that when the lights opened, everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of freak who was bothering their “serious viewing” of the film.

I looked back at everyone and said, “What? It’s a comedy. You’re supposed to laugh!”

What was worse was the Caucasian guy behind me kicked my chair three times every time I would laugh so hard. This pissed me off. To kick me once could be an accident. Caucasian men do have long legs, he was probably stretching. The second time was a harder kick but I thought, maybe he was just irritated with my loud laugh. But on the third time, he made me get up from my seat, turn to him, and point directly at his face.

I said: “Please stop kicking my chair. You did it thrice already. I’m warning you!”

He stared back. The “Burgos chic” wrapped around him like an accessory stared at me as well. (Burgos chics are dark, exotic Filipinas picked up by foreigners on Burgos Street near the Power Plant mall).

My 5’9″ tall husband aided me and joined the staring game, so did his six foot tall brother and my sister in law. Caucasian guy and Burgos chic were outnumbered. Add the fact that he’s in the Philippines!  Ipa-deport ko kaya siya?

This was not the first time I stood up and defended myself from Caucasians who think that they are above you just because you’re Asian.

My husband Emil, Tifanny (a friend), and I were leaving from our holiday in Malaga. We were in line to board  the plane to Guangzhou, China,  when suddenly an elderly posh French couple, who were both wearing white with matching hats, cut the line. Being schooled in U.P. (University of Pila), I usually don’t have the patience for people cutting lines and tell them to fall in line. But I was also brought up to respect elders. So, I gave the French seniors the benefit of cutting the line even if Mrs. Sosyal looked at me condescendingly from head to foot before rudely cutting in.

I could read her thought bubble, “I’m French, youre Asian. I can cut your line.” If she could only  read my thought bubble, “Kung di ka lang matanda, di kita pasisingitin.”

To my amusement, she was in economy just like us and was seated directly behind me. Akala ko pa naman sa First class siya kung makabihis at makatingin sa akin, pweh. I was into deep sleep when the attendants began serving meals. Mrs. Sosyal probably wanted me to pull up my seat because her meal was being served, but being a  bigot, Mrs. Sosyal slammed the back of my seat instead of asking me nicely.

She slammed it so hard I thought our plane crashed and I stood up from my deep slumber shouting, “Haaa!” Then I realized that the plane didn’t crash.

It was Mrs. Sosyal who crashed after my speech. I turned my back and pointed my finger in her face. “You! Apologize to me now or have your guts stabbed when you’re out in the streets of China. You don’t know who my parents are. Apologize!”

The husband and wife started to panic and started talking in French in a very apologetic way. Hanggang French 100 lang ako sa U.P. at sampung taon na ang nakaraan kaya di umubra. “In English! Aplogize in English!” I shouted. By this time, two flight attendants were already trying to calm me down. I didn’t stop until they said the word “sorry.” Wala ako pakialam kahit mag-desolee (sorry in French) sila ng 100 times! When I sat down, I thanked my husband for not stopping me.

Emil:  “Okay sa script, ha, ano dating mo, anak ng Chinese mafia?”

Giselle: “Mukha naman ako Chinese, di ba? Malay ba nilang Pinoy ako. Para matakot ‘yang mga lecheng ‘yan paglabas ng Guanzhou airport. Tignan mo ngayon, sorry sila ng sorry. Natakot masaksak. Akala talaga nila Chinese mobster magulang ko. Kung alam lang nila na Bisaya magulang ko at anak lang ako ng pobreng ut*n. Hahaha!”

Tifanny: “Bilib talaga ako sa ‘yo, girl. Hindi ko magagawa ‘yan. Kung sa akin nangyari ‘yan, mananahimik na lang ako.”

I told Tifanny what Korean-American Margaret Cho said in her stand-up comedy DVD Notorious:

“If you are a woman, a person of color, if you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, if you’re a person of size, a person of intelligence, a person of integrity, then you are considered a minority in this world……When you don’t have self esteem, you will hesitate to do anything in your life. You will hesitate to ask for a raise, you will hesitate to report a rape, you will hesitate to defend yourself when you are discriminated against…For us, self-esteem is truly an act of revolution, and our revolution is long overdue. I urge you all today to be yourselves without reservation and to love each other without restraint. Unless you’re into leather….”

I was lucky to be brought up by parents who raised my self-esteem to the highest level despite the fact that we were poor. So parents, I urge you, love your children, never put them down, always praise and build their confidence. So that when your children go out in the real world, they can defend themselves from being ostracized. Because no matter how rich you are or how powerful you are, you have no right to belittle anyone.

Ang mamatay nang dahil sa…OFWs!

by: Giselle Sanchez

Filed under: Features — admin at 6:29 pm on Wednesday, May 21, 2008

As promised, I will update my blogs every three days, with weekends as exception of course. (Bigyan niyo naman ako ng day-off, yaya ng anak ko nga, eh, may day-off!).

I am leaving on June 14 for a concert with Miss Judy Ann Santos in Ireland and on June 15 in Milan. Mapapaligaya ko na naman ang mga bagong bayani ng Pilipinas—ang ating mga Overseas Filipino Workers. Sobra talaga ang respeto ko sa mga taong ito. Matok mo, kaya nilang i-sakripisyo ang sarili nilang kaligayahan at mahiwalay sa pamilya para lamang mamuhay ng maayos ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Talk about self-sacrifice! Kaya naman nang laitin ng manager ng Louis Vuitton ang OFWs sa Italia ay talaga namang nakipagpatayan ako, kahit malaki ang mawala sa akin, maibalik lang ang dangal!

Ito ang picture ko last year sa Piazza Espana or Spanish Steps sa Roma nang mag-concert kami ni Piolo Pascual sa Roma.

Fourteen years ago, I was also in the same place, but I was not smiling like this. The Spanish Steps is a very popular place, especially to tourists and Europe’s Rich and Famous, because this is where all the designer shops are located.

Fourteen years ago, I was also invited to hold a comedy concert for the Filipinos in Rome through a group of Batangeño producers. Pagkatapos ng concert ko, sumama ang sosyalita kong kaibigan na si Cutie del Mar sa akin para mag-bakpak at libutin ang buong Italya.

Palibhasa, hindi ako sanay na isang bakpak lang ang dadalhin ko para sa isang linggong paglilibot. ‘Di ko yata kayang magsuot ng parehong Tshirt sa loob ng tatlong araw. YUCK! Ang baho na nun ng over! Kaya dinala ko ang isang Louis Vuitton na hand carry. Pero, ito ay isang Louis Vuitton na peke, japeyks, class triple-A, galing Greenhills. Alam ko na mali ang bumili at gumamit ng peke pero sana maintindihan ninyo ako. Fourteen years ago, nag-uumpisa pa lang ang career ko. Kapiranggot lang ang kinikita ko at nagandahan lang ako dun sa maleta kaya binili ko. Wala pa akong malay sa brands noon. Kaya ganito na lang ang pagkukutya ng kaibigan ko sa akin.

Cutie: Oh my god! Is that a fake I see!

Giselle: Sorry, hindi ako anak ng Congressman tulad mo!

Cutie: Giselle, ano ka ba! Giselle Sanchez ka na! You can’t be seen with a fake! You already perform for the rich and famous not only in the Philippines but all over the world! When In Rome, do as the Romans do! Halika, punta tayo sa Louis Vuitton diyan sa Spanish Steps and buy yourself an original!

Ang bilis lumakad ng sosyalera, wala ako choice kundi sumunod kahit wala akong planong bumili. Plano ko lang tumingin at bilhin yung usong model sa Greenhills uli. O.A. kaya ang presyo ng Louis Vuitton bags. The cheapest, smallest bag will cost you P25, 000. Regular bags range from P35, 000-90, 0000. And the big and real nice ones cost P125, 000-P180, 000. Sa pinakamurang bag, mapapakain ko na ang pamilya ko nang limang linggo. At sa pinakamahal na bag ay mapapa-aral ko na ang kapatid ko ng college! Ako pa naman ang breadwinner ng pamilya. Why would I waste my money with such over priced bags?

Eto na, pumasok na kami sa napakarangyang Louis Vuitton Shop. Siyempre, hindi ko naman maiwan yung peke kong maleta sa labas, so sama si japeyks sa loob. At pagkakita ng mahaderang manager sa bag ko, bigla akong nilapitan, inikutan at tinignan mula ulo hanggang paa.

LV manager: Excuse me, but what is your Nationality?

Giselle: I’m Fil…(hindi pa nga tapos)

LV manager: (whispering but loud enough for me and Cutie to hear) I knew it! You Filipina maids come in here to copy our designs. Get out of my store!

Giselle: Excuse me! I am not a maid! I am an actress and I came here in Italy to perform for these “maids” you were referring to. And don’t you ever call them that!
They are called Overseas Filipino Workers. Do not look down on our OFWs because they have dignity in labor. Do you work on commission, what’s your most expensive here?

LV Manager: (Points to this type of a cabinet where the bags are displayed).

This one! It cost ___ million lira. (Nakalimutan ko na yung value, basta million-million kasi lira yung currency. Basta halaga ng tatlong buhay ko.)

Giselle: Ganun! What’s your second most expensive?

LV Manager: (Points to a luggage na kapalit ang dalawang buhay ko)

Giselle: Forget it! You! (pointing to a cute salesman in the counter) I will not buy from you, Mr. Manager. I will buy from him so he can take the commission! I’ll buy this, that, this, that, and this! It’s too bad I’m not an overseas Filipino worker because they can buy more than what I can!

So what is the price of dignity? P500, 000.00—maxed on my credit card; paid slowly for three years; with my mom screaming on my ears every now and then.

In fairness to these overpriced bags, they are very durable. I started using them fourteen years ago and I still use them up to now! People think I’m so classy using coordinated Louis Vuitton handbags, make-up kit, and shoe bags. Little do they know that Giselle became classy because of her being crassy. Moral of the story, kung di niyo kaya, huwag manggaya at baka mapahiya. I never realized that paying for your sins can be quite expensive! Di bale, basta mapagtanggol ang dangal ng minamahal kong Overseas Filipino Workers! Mabuhay kayo…kahit mamatay na ako sa utang!

Note: I don’t own these articles, credit goes to Ms. Giselle Sanchez and PEP.

Seafood Garden Salad in Thousand Island Dressing

Last night I was craving for Papa John’s Garden Salad and since I have some ingredients, I made one of my own version. It didn’t taste like the one at Papa John’s but my daughter said it’s delicious. Here’s my version of the salad with seafood in thousand island dressing and without olive oil.

Seafood Garden Salad in Thousand Island Dressing

Seafood Garden Salad in Thousand Island Dressing

 Ingredients

1 small head of onion, minced

2 medium size tomatoes cut into small cubes

2 pcs medium cucumber, thinly sliced

5 pcs crush bacon

2 slices cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes (or any cheese that you like to add)

3 iceberg lettuce

1/4 kilo shrimp, cooked, shelled and deveined

1 can tuna in brine,drained

1 200 ml McCormick brand thousand island dressing

2 tbsp lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

How to make

Wash the lettuce and dry then tear into pieces. Sprinkle with 2 tbsp lemon juice and set aside. In a bowl put the tomatoes, minced onions and sliced cucumber. Seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. Add the lettuce, cheese, shrimps, tuna and enough salad dressing, then toss. Sprinkle with crush bacon. Makes 3-4 servings.

The Future of the Philippines is in Our Hands

Before anything else, I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy for the familes who loss their loved ones in the current flood caused by typhoon “Ondoy”  that hit Metro Manila and nearby Luzon provinces just recently.

As the election in the Philippines is fast approaching, I would like to express my views about it. I am not really a believer of politics, since it really sucks! Sure, we have a few good politicians (who are not corrupt, not power hungry, not plastics) and they can be counted in fingers. Actually, I have given up a long time ago about the Philippines rising from a third world country. Isn’t it pretty obvious why we are living in another country and struggling to fit in here even if we wanted to go back there? That view somehow change a bit when I heard that Noynoy Aquino is running for President. Somehow, there is a ray of hope and it made me think that, maybe, just maybe he will be the answer to our prayers.

Anyway, it’s people like him that we need. Why? I can see he is not power hungry. Much like his late Mom who we knew served the country as the first female (with a good reputation) President. People who are not power hungry can serve the nation well since they make sure that their duty is for the country and not for themselves. He has no track record of being a corrupt politician and he is not plastic (when he is angry, he really is. Remember the cold shoulder he gave Kris before?).

So come voting time, I hope that our fellow countrymen will be smart, wise and intelligent enough  to vote the right person to sit on the throne. Remember, as our National hero Dr. Jose Rizal once said: “The pen is mightier than the sword”. True!  It means that it is through our power (of voting) that these persons will also have power. Layman’s term in our mother tongue “Piliin ang tamang iluloklok dahil kung wala tayo, wala din yan sila sa pwesto. Kaya maging matalino sa pagboto. At kung babayaran ka, isipin mo na lang ang pera nauubos at panandalian lamang at yung nagbabayad, kung mananalo ay magiging daan ng maraming taon mong kahirapan.” Learn from experienced. We have enough already of the M’s, R’s and A’s.

One politician whom I admire up to now is Mayor Duterte. Even if some people don’t like the way he handles some of the matters in our hometown still he kept Davao City clean and peaceful. I also like some of his principles.

Duterte receives traffic ticket 
By Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star) Updated September 26, 2009 12:00 AM

He said the mayor, known as a toughie in his bailiwick, did not resist when his driver’s license was taken from him.

Ten other motorcycle drivers who were also apprehended erupted into wild applause when Duterte and his bodyguard were issued their respective Temporary Operator’s Permits. Fermin said he forwarded the mayor’s license and TOP to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday morning.

LTO said Duterte would pay a total of P1,777.63 as fine and will be required to attend a driver’s seminar before his license will be released.

The mayor said he admitted his mistake and is ready to face the consequences.

Christopher Go, Duterte’s executive assistant, said the mayor has always abided by traffic rules, security checks and body frisks in airports and hotels.

“The mayor would always insist that he would be checked and frisked. He would even take off his shoes if required in airports. He does not want to be exempted even if some airport personnel would usually say he could proceed without being checked,” Go said.

Fermin said Duterte never pulled rank over the traffic officers.

“He did not scold us or ask us not to apprehend him. He was even the one who insisted that he be ticketed. He wanted to be treated just like any other traffic violator,” he said.

Source: News Feature by The Philippine Star

Empty words endangers the Nation while practical work brings prosperity-Shenzhen billboard

I Gotta Feeling

I’m listening to the latest single from Black Eyed Peas entitled “I Gotta Feeling”. Suits my mood today because I’m feeling something’s good in store for me today, or this week, or this month. The song’s melody is good, It’s like techno, I can’t relate to some of the lyrics though but it’s good to perk up my day. Listen to it.

I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas

Euphoria

I was euphoric when I found out yesterday that my account in helium got two stars. I couldn’t believe I got two stars just for almost a month of writing, and they said you can acquire a star if you have written a total  of 4 to 29 articles, which rank on average in the top quarter. I would be happy to get just one star because I know I’m still not a good writer, but two? I felt elated! What surprised me the most was, I was approved to become a marketplace writer just for 5 articles I’ve written. I will not elaborate anymore what a marketplace writer is because it’s for you to find out. I just updated my total earnings and I’m so happy to learn that I had a total earning of $5.00. Not bad for a beginner eh! My husband even joked that he has to cut back on my allowance now since I’m earning already, and I told him that I’m doing this to learn and improve my writing skills. I’m having so much fun now! Got to go, I still have some articles to write. 

What to Expect at Hong Kong Disneyland

It’s the start of the ‘ber’ months which only mean the holidays are coming. Since I am staying in China, I am looking forward not only to two holidays, but three. Unfortunately, they don’t celebrate Christmas here, that’s why I am not done yet with my gift list because there is no holiday shopping rush to beat, and even though they have a one day vacation to celebrate New Year, it’s not enough rest since after the celebration you’ll have to work the next day. So what I’m looking forward the most is the Chinese National Holiday or otherwise known as the Mooncake Festival, and usually they have a week’s vacation or even more during this season.

The Mooncake Festival is the third major festival of the Chinese calendar and celebrated by the Chinese every 15th day of the eight month on the lunar calendar which happens to be in the 3rd day of October this year, and because it’s a long vacation, we always plan to go somewhere.

My daughter Raine wants to spend next month’s holiday at Hong Kong Disneyland, but since we celebrated her 7th birthday there last August, I told her that we should go somewhere else. My kids just can’t get enough of the place especially my little boy RL because it’s his first Disneyland adventure.

Entrance going to the park

We’ve been to Hong Kong Disneyland  twice already. The first, during New Year of 2006 and I was still pregnant that time with RL, my youngest child. The second, as I’ve said, was just recently during my daughter’s 7th birthday. The theme park is the smallest among the other Disneyland theme parks around the world that it is possible to stroll around the park just for one day, and if you’re looking for a thrill ride and adventure, this is not the place for you because the rides are mostly designed for kids and the kids at heart.

If you are planning to go to Hong Kong Disneyland, then plan your trip ahead. You could buy your tickets online through the official Hong Kong Disneyland site. Just remember to bring a printed copy of your payment confirmation and the credit card used in purchasing the tickets or you will not be able to retrieve it. (Tip: Be guided about the theme park tickets, they are usually expensive during holidays like Christmas, and weekends because they are considered as PEAK SEASONS. Refer to the official website of HK Disneyland and browse the tickets and reservation for this)

There are many hotels near the resort that you could book in, but if you don’t want the hassle, you could also book at one of the Hong Kong Disneyland hotels so that a shuttle from the hotel will just take you to the theme park and after exploring will take you back to your hotel. This service is for free.

HK Disneyland shuttle bus

They have two hotels to choose from. One is the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel which is somewhat pricey and the Hong Kong Disneyland Hollywood Hotel which is quite affordable. We experienced staying at Hollywood Hotel and we chose Garden view because it’s the cheapest. That time it cost around 1,700 HKD (roughly 200 USD) and this rate is subject to change and availability. The good news if you’re going to stay in one of these hotels is you can use your theme park tickets for two days, so you could use your tickets first day of your arrival (check in time in the hotel is 3 pm and the park closes at 7-8 pm; last attraction is the fireworks) and you could still use it the following day (park opens at 10 AM). The hotels also offer a lot of activities just ask for a guide from the cast members or staffs.

Hong Kong Disneyland Hollywood Hotel at night

Take note that the foods in the hotels are expensive, so if you’re in a budget you could eat in the park where the food is much cheaper. Cost around 40-75 HKD. We get to eat cheap at this restaurant called the Royal Banquet Hall just in front of Cinderella’s carousel at Fantasyland. We pick ours at this stall called Kettle (bake foods and pasta) where the meals for kids cost around 32 HKD each. We adults, on the other hand, chose the seafood bake rice (it’s like risotto with crab meat, shrimps and muscles bake with cheese) for 48 HKD. Bottled water inside the park cost 16 HKD while other beverages cost around 20-25 HKD. They also have snacks in carts like ice cream pops (12-20 HKD), chips (15 HKD), pop corns (30+ HKD), etc.

The park is divided into four themes, Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland. The first near the main entrance is called Main Street USA and it’s where the train going to Fantasyland (the first stop) is located. If you want to go on foot and not take the train, get a map at City Hall (guest relations) at Main Street USA. 

Main Street USA

I advice on your first day to watch all the theater attractions like The Golden Mickeys (This is located at Fantasyland. NOTE: This is in Potonghua or Chinese language but there is an English translation at the right side of the stage), Mickey’s Philharmagic (also in Fantasyland) and Festival of the Lion King (Adventureland) so you could have time to enjoy all the rides (waiting time 20 min) and picture taking the next day. Usually theater show runs 45 min except for Mickey’s Philharmagic which runs for 20 min only.

The Golden Mickeys

Mickey’s Philharmagic Theater at Fantasyland

If you’re bringing along kids there are height requirements in certain rides at Tomorrowland so take note of this. Refer to the map for your guide.

my son RL playing interactive at Buzz Lightyear’s place

My kids carrying the planet at Tomorrowland

With Stitch in Adventureland

The theme park also has novelty stores for keepsakes and shopping. You could buy four items at the price of 100 HKD. As I’ve said, the park is small comparing to other Disneyland theme parks but it sure can make a kid happy.

TIP:  Best months to go:

         -November to early April because it’s cold and you’ll enjoy walking around not feeling the heat of the sun.

         Worst months for me :

         - June to August even up to mid September because it’s very hot since it’s summer time here. If you happen to go on these months be sure to bring with you umbrellas, caps and sun block lotion with a higher SPF. Bring also an extra shirt because you’ll surely get wet from your sweat if it’s crowded.

Wish I May, Wish I Might

If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for? I bet many would wish for money, success and a good love life because those are what people wish for the most. Others believe that wishing on something can make their wishes come true, like wishing on a falling star.

Just for fun, I’ve compiled a guide for wishing from various places. I thought I’d share them with you, but as the saying goes:

“Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it.“– Anonymous *

The Wishing Guide

When you see a bathtub you’ve never seen before, you can make a wish if it points north/south. When entering a room you’ve never been in before, you can make a wish if the floorboards run north/south.

If you’re walking with a friend and you each take a different path around a bush, tree, pole, rock, puddle, box, or anything else, hook little fingers with each other and make a wish. Finger wrestle. The one who makes the other let go will get his or her wish.

If you find a frog when the moon is full, make an ‘X’ on the frog’s head with a wet finger. Look at the moon and make three wishes.
(Wales)

If you hear a frog at the midnight hour, immediately make a cross with your finger, first on the back of one hand and then on the back of the other; then make a wish.

If a buckeye (also called a horse chestnut or, in England, a conker) falls from a tree you are under, pick it up and hold it as you make a wish. Buckeyes are supposed to be particularly effective if the wish is to relieve a headache or other pain. Some people carry buckeyes for good luck.
(Ohio and Pennsylvania)

If you see an obelisk (a monument such as the Washington Monument that tapers up into a point), you should make a wish on it. If you are close enough to touch the obelisk as you make your wish, there’s a stronger chance of its coming true.

If the first lamb of spring looks at you, you are entitled to make a wish.

If a black lamb looks at you, you should make a wish. (A wish on a black lamb is considered more powerful than a wish on a white lamb.)

The person at the table who gets a dish with a flaw or chip may make a wish when taking the first bite of food. (Switching dishes so you will get the ‘wish dish’ invalidates your wish.)

If you are served a beverage in a cup or mug with a manufacturing flaw (a burr, off-center border or design, etc.), you should take your first three swallows from the reverse side of the cup, holding it with your left hand, and make a wish.

Another wishing custom regarding a flawed dish, mug, or cup is that the person receiving it must stroke the flaw three times while making his or her wish.

If there is one piece of cutlery from a set that has a manufacturing flaw (offset design, burr, etc.), the set should be placed in a large mug so the flawed portion is hidden; the person who draws the ‘lucky spoon’ (or knife or fork) should tap it on the table three times while making a wish.

If you accidentally drop a knife, fork, or spoon, make a wish before you pick it up.

A rabbit’s foot has long been prized as a good luck charm. The most powerful magic of all is said to be a left foot obtained from a rabbit captured in a cemetery. If you have a rabbit’s foot, you should stroke it as you silently wish and then say, ‘Good luck, good luck, good luck.’

Swing a rabbit’s foot over your head three times and say the following before making your wish:

‘Up in the air, swish, swish.

Rabbit or hare, grant my wish.’

 If you’re walking with someone, and you see a man with a beard, the first person to say ‘Padoodle’ gets to make a wish.
(Michigan)

*The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs

Only in the Philippines

Yesterday, I blog about the amusing translated words from Chinese to English found  in billboards and signs in China by the use of translating tools, and I have no intention of offending or mocking the Chinese about it. Today, I am going to blog about the Philippine version of those funny billboards and signs, but only a bit different because we learn to speak, read, write and understand  English at an early age. It means our version of this wrong spelling and grammar signs are caused by human error.

Hey, nobody’s perfect, not even me. I know I have my share of those grammatical errors, misspelled words, incorrect sentence construction and use of punctuation marks, etc. in my blog, but who cares? I want to call my work as freestyle blogging, wherein I can write anything whether it’s in the correct form or not, as long as I can express myself. That is the reason I’m blogging in the first place, but I am also open for any constructive criticism. So feel free to post your comments because it will help me improve my writing skills as I’m still a work in progress.

Below are some pictures of funny billboards and signs taken in the Philippines, can you spot the errors?

NOTE: I don’t own these pictures; credit goes to the owners of these photos.

             More pictures of these funny signs in my Gallery

Lost in Translation

I have lived in Shenzhen, China for almost four years now, but I wasn’t ever quite able to get used to the Chinese manners and mores. I find it difficult also to understand their language, aside from the fact that up to now, I still don’t know how to speak Mandarin.
 
The Chinese language for me is like reciting a tongue twister. The pinyin*  words should be pronounced correctly with the proper tone because when you put a different tone on the same pinyin word, you will get completely a different meaning, and you will be misunderstood. (Example:   1.dàdāo     2.dádào <pronounced as ta-taw> which means 1. broad sword    2. arrive )
 
It’s the same thing with the Chinese. Even if English is considered the universal language, most of them here in mainland China cannot speak nor understand it. They have to rely upon translation tools (mostly found in the internet) to express their message. However, these tools are not that conscientious because these words when translated give different interpretation. Take a look at these pictures of Signage and billboards.

Only in China

 Okay, keep your cool!

 Oh really?

  Looks creepy!

Chicks, please exit here

 Caesars or Greek?

Where?

Self-service

 and claim your prize at the bottom

Source: Engrish.com

*Pin·yin or pin·yin (pnyn, -yn)

[Chinese (Mandarin) pn yn, to combine sounds into syllables : pn, to combine + yn, sound.]

Crowning Glory

A woman’s hair is her crowning glory and it will look  its best without the dryness and split ends. There are too many choices if you just want to buy some shampoo, but there is a shampoo and conditioner product made in Japan that can give you the kind of effect to make you look and feel good without breaking the bank. It was introduced to me by a friend here in Shenzhen. She’s been using it for sometime now and, lo and behold, it really did make her hair more lustrous and shiny! I haven’t  tried it yet,  but I’m planning to buy one when we’ll have our monthly trip to Hong Kong this month. Until then, have a peek on the product and its review from Sasa.

 ASIENCE

ASIENCE
SHINE THERAPY
Shampoo

Size: 220 ml

ASIENCE
SHINE THERAPY
Conditioner

Size: 220 ml

Homeschooling Raine

Raine and her brother RL in our mini classroom at home

They say: The best wealth that you can pass on to your children is a good education. Living in another country makes me realize that it’s not easy to give your children the quality of education that they deserve. I am not saying that China has a poor system of education; there are just some factors to consider.

One of these is my daughter Raine was traumatized by the bullying of her former classmates, when she attended kindergarten at a bilingual school here in China. Another reason is, she also has difficulty understanding the Chinese language and has no interest learning it as a result of that experience. So I have no option, but to go back to the Philippines and enroll her to a school at our place, so that she could have a basic education with a Philippine based curriculum. After a year, my husband and I decided that we (me and my two kids) should go back to China because it’s more convenient for him to have us here, instead of him going home to the Philippines every three months. I have also learned from a friend that homeschooling is a very efficient method of education, as she shares with me the homeschooling experience of her son, so I decided to give it a try.

There are many homeschooling programs that are accredited in the Philippines. One is CFA or Catholic Filipino Academy (where my friend Menchie Santos‘ son Zek is enrolled) founded by Bo Sanchez  a preacher and writer of the inspirational magazine Kerygma. Another school that provides homeschooling program is the Christian school, School of Tomorrow Philippines. Still there are some that can be found through research in the net.

Aside from the textbooks provided by the school, I also purchase some English skill books and Math exercise workbooks like Harcourt Family Learning, Kumon and Calvert  Math to enrich her knowledge.

As a mother who is homeschooling her child for the first time, I found out that it’s hard since I do not have any units in education, but there are many advantages to it and the 10 Principles of Schooling  according to Bo Sanchez pretty much sums up my feelings about homeschooling. Even though this is a difficult task for me, it’s okay as long as we’re together as a family.

Stiff Neck Remedy

The other day, my daughter Raine woke up from an afternoon nap with a stiff neck. This is due to her sleeping position. Being a PT without experience (I didn’t get a chance to practice my profession) I just told her to do some neck exercises to relieve the pain. I told her it would be very painful, but she must tolerate it.

Yesterday, she still has the stiff neck so we miss going to church. She was already complaining about it because her motions are limited. Being the internet savvy Mom that I am, I Google for remedies of stiff neck and read what I found below. I followed some of the advice like putting hot compress and  the Tai Chi Ginger Rub ointment (Raine cried when I put this because she said the ointment is so hot) on the affected area and fortunately, it paid off. She’s all better now.

Neck Stiffness

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR

* You feel a grating sensation when you turn your head.

* You were in an accident that snapped your head back and forth, and your neck is still stiff after two days.

* If you also have swollen glands, fever, a headache or feel nauseated, see your doctor immediately.

* Your stiff neck is accompanied by tingling or sharp pain that shoots down to your fingers.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

You woke up with a stiff neck. Consider the experience a wake-up call for you to pay more attention to your sleeping habits.

Of course, car accidents, falls, arthritis and even a cold draft can cause a stiff neck. But it’s far more likely that you fell asleep in a position that strained the joints of the neck, resulting in inflammation and stiffness.

“If you take any joint, put it at an odd angle and leave it that way, you’ll have stiffness,” says Tab Blackburn, a physical therapist and vice president of the Human Performance and Rehabilitation Centers in Columbus, Georgia.

Other possible causes for stiff neck—like influenza, polio and meningitis—are far more serious. These conditions, however, announce themselves with other unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, headache and swollen glands.

Symptom Relief

It helps to have a stiff upper lip to survive a stiff neck. In addition, here’s what you can do to help ease the pain.

Some like it hot. Applying heat directly to the neck for 20 to 30 minutes two or three times a day will often alleviate the discomfort, says Blackburn. If you don’t have a heating pad, try this: Run hot water over a towel, wring it out, roll it up and wrap it around your neck. Another method: Take a long, hot shower and allow the water to strike the back of your neck, says Blackburn. Do not use heat if the stiffness is the result of an injury that happened in the past two days. Heat will only aggravate the injury, making the pain worse.

Make motion your lotion. Gentle stretching and movement can help restore flexibility to a stiff neck, says Blackburn. “If you can move the neck gently four or five times a day, it’s literally like pouring lotion on it,” he says. He recommends carefully turning the head from side to side. Look over your right shoulder for a count of five, then look over your left shoulder for a count of five. Repeat the movement three times.

Try a topical. Rubbing ointments on a stiff neck doesn’t treat the cause of the problem, but it can help relieve pain, says Blackburn. Over-the-counter topical ointments like Icy Hot and Tiger Balm contain ingredients that make the area feel warm. Other ointments are made with salicylic acid, the pain-relieving ingredient in aspirin. (Those who are aspirin-sensitive should check with their doctors before using these ointments.) But no matter which kind you choose, nothing beats the therapeutic value of having someone rub on a topical ointment for you. “There’s something about the laying on of hands that’s soothing and relaxing,” says Karl B. Fields, M.D., associate professor of family practice and director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Shut that bedroom window. A cold breeze blowing on you may force you to snuggle in an awkward position just to stay warm, resulting in a stiff neck, says Dr. Fields.

Get a proper pillow. Propping yourself up on two or three pillows may be comfortable, but your neck doesn’t appreciate all that padding. A single soft feather pillow or one made with barley hulls is easily manipulated to provide gentle support for the neck—rather than pushing your head forward. Also helpful: orthopedic pillows. Most have their centers hollowed out so your neck is supported and your head lies flatter, says Blackburn. You can buy an orthopedic pillow at some pharmacies and medical supply stores.

Reserve the couch for sitting. Nothing beats a Sunday nap, but next time, steer clear of the couch. Couches usually don’t provide enough room or support for sleeping, says Blackburn. If you can’t bring yourself to go to bed for 20 minutes in the middle of the afternoon, try stretching out on the floor to catch those Zs.

See your doctor. If stiffness persists for more than two days and these gentle home remedies don’t help, your doctor may be able to help you find relief. He might recommend wearing a neck brace or send you to a physical therapist for a massage or an ultrasound treatment.

Source:   

Trendspotting

 Bloomingdale’s Fall Trend

Outerwear  and Jackets

Shoes

  Knockout Party Dresses

NOTE: I do not own these pictures. Credit goes to Bloomingdale’s , Fashion Wire Daily and some fashion sites that I forgot to list.

A Little Housekeeping

Ryan (my husband) is recently having a dinner with his office mates. So I took the liberty to browse the net and I stumbled upon this blog site, which is a good site to release my boredom. Actually I am missing Facebook and since it’s blocked here in China I searched for some site to release my pent up emotions. I cannot even access Friendster’s blog because they also block it. I miss writing notes about my everyday life in FB. Just my luck I found this site where I could make my own domain name for free. Anyway, laziness is eating me up again, so today I did just a little housekeeping. I did a little washing and some house cleaning which I know will not pass in my mother’s meticulous eyes. Of course I still have to cook, who else will do that? Well, if Ryan is in the mood he will sometimes do the cooking, but oftentimes I am the cook. I am not complaining it’s just that I need some drive and motivation and I don’t know where to get it. Lackaday!