Mga Aral Mula sa Magulang - Filipino Parenting

I can almost (I said almost) relate to this forwarded email. I still believe that most children still hear this from their parents. There will be no translations because it is humor that only Filipinos can understand.

But then again, I didn't turn out so bad, did I?

Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga mumunti ngunit ginintuang butil na payo na nakuha ko sa aking mga magulang:

1. Si Inay, tinuruan niya ako HOW TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

"Kung kayong dalawa ay magpapatayan, doon kayo sa labas! Mga leche kayo, kalilinis ko lang ng bahay."

2. Natuto ako ng RELIGION kay Itay.!

"Kapag yang mantsa di natanggal sa carpet, magdasal ka na!"

3.Kay Inay ako natuto ng LOGIC.

"Kaya ganyan, dahil sinabi ko."

4. At kay Inay pa rin ako natuto ng MORE LOGIC.

"Kapag ikaw ay nalaglag diyan sa bubong, ako lang mag-isa ang manonood ng sine."

5. Si Inay din ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng IRONY.

"Sige ngumalngal ka pa at bibigyan talaga kita ng iiyakan mo!"

6. Si Inay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung ano ang CONTORTIONISM.

"Tingnan mo nga yang dumi sa likod ng leeg mo, tingnan mo!!!"

7. Si Itay ang nagpaliwanag sa akin kung anong ibig sabihin ng STAMINA.

"Wag kang tatayo diyan hangga't di mo nauubos lahat ng pagkain mo!"

8. At si Inay ang nagturo sa amin kung ano ang WEATHER.

"Lintek talaga kayo, ano ba itong kuwarto nyong magkapatid, parang dinaanan ng bagyo!"

9. Ganito ang paliwanag sa akin ni Inay tungkol sa CIRCLE OF LIFE:

"Malandi kang bata ka, iniluwal kita sa mundong ito, maari rin kitang alisin sa mundong ito."

10. Kay Itay ako natuto kung ano ang BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

"Tumigil ka nga diyan! Huwag kang mag-aarte na parang Nanay mo!"

11. Si Inay naman ang nagturo kung anong ibig sabihin ng GENETICS.

"Nagmana ka ngang talaga sa ama mong walanghiya!"

12. Si Inay naman ang nagpaliwanag sa amin kung anong ibig sabihin ng

ENVY.

"Maraming mga batang ulila sa magulang, di ba kayo nagpapasalamat at mayroon kayong magulang na tulad namin?"

13. Si Itay naman ang nagturo sa akin ng ANTICIPATION.

"Sige kang bata ka, hintayin mong makarating tayo sa bahay!"

14. At si Itay pa rin ang nagturo kay Kuya kung anong ibig sabihin ng RECEIVING.

"Tatanggap ka sa 'kin ng hinahanap mo pag dating natin sa bahay!"

15. Si Inay naman ang nagturo sa akin kung ano ang HUMOR.

"Kapag naputol yang mga paa mo ng pinaglalaruan mong lawnmower, wag na wag kang tatakbo sa akin at lulumpuhin kita!"

16. At ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat, natutunan ko kina Inay at Itay kung ano ang JUSTICE.

"Isang araw magkakaroon ka rin ng anak, tiyak magiging katulad mo at magiging sakit din sa ulo!"

Halloween in Managua

It's never too early to celebrate anything....specially if it means partying!

Happy Halloween everybody!

When too much rain is too much rain

Rain, rain go away come again another day...

I'm not sure if the rainy season is supposed to be over but I sure know that it's still raining a lot here in Managua.

Quite a few of us has had friends and /or family visiting especially from Europe. As October is Autumn break for the kids, a culture of long distance travel prevails on this month.

I never thought of this last year, but this year, it is apparently not a good time to visit Nicaragua. Things to do and places to see here rely on good weather and little rain if can't be helped.

This is the time of the year when roads get inaccessible, rivers overflow and streets miraculously turn into a cratered surface not unlike the moon - from one day to another (including the highways). Debris (both natural and synthetic) abound in the streets of Managua flushed by heavy rainfall and some roadside even cave-in making it not so prudent to drive at night.

The terrain that makes Nicaragua breathtaking poses a challenge for the physically challenged as well, with or without the rain. It was an adventure in itself having my M-in-L over but equally challenging is where to take her as she suffers from athritis and has recently had her 4th operation - bionic woman, I like to call her - therefore cannot stay on her feet for long periods of time and has a hard time walking in general.

Preferred hotels are constructed high up a hill for the view it commands which doesn't help. Nicaragua in general is a place where one can commune with nature where activities entail a lot of walking, hiking up volcanoes, horse back riding, bicycling, surfing, diving, zip-lining, getting thrown about by the waves (to put it lightly) and other activities that require normal physical conditions...compound the challenge further.

Special arrangements had to be made with regards to places to stay - it has to be one floor as little stairs to climb as possible, nearest the beach, etc. You'd be surprised just how few there are in popular destinations here. Wheel chairs are out of the question as one will have to carry it in most places anyway because of the number of steps, the incline, the flooring or lack thereof, etc, rendering it almost useless.

Couple that with a lot of rain that further limits movements - most floors here are tiled and not the safest to walk on when wet - one slip would have been disastrous.

As is my wont, I digress again.

During the rainy season, it is more normal to have the sun shining albeit interspersed with short showers during the day time and heavy rainfall at night. Heavy would mean to turn up the volume of the television to 40 instead of the usual 12 to 15 in order to hear something, having a shouting match in lieu of a normal conversation and having the constant feeling that your roof is going to fall on you at anytime.

I know that a storm is supposed to be passing by from 3 days ago but is not supposed to linger but it has been 3 days or more now without the sun and unabated rainfall. I am sort of ambivalent about this, alternating between a wanna-be environmentalist, a selfish tourist and a bored observer. Don't get me started on not having seen the sun these past few days.

I don't think it's just me...me thinks that Nicaragua itself feels the same knowing that it needs rain while only being able to take so much of it.

Lottery, Investments, Inheritance (email) Scams

I have been, as of late, receiving an alarming number of hits on the 'Have You Received This' post listed under 'scams'. Googlers (from all over the world) somehow arrive at my blog via search results for the Barrister Mohammed Azim Ali or of the same 3 names in various orders.

There are only 4 reasons I can think of as to why that is:

1. The scamming 'entity' has been very busy spamming these past few weeks.
2. People are verifying if there's any truth to it - why not, $12M is $12M and who would not want it - why I didn't even bother googling it....who the h*ll gives out $12M just like that.
3. There's a real Barrister in Malaysia named 'that' and together with his friends and associates are trying to find out about their sudden rise in popularity (or infamous-ness).
4. Or, or....people are already trying to find out how and where to claim their money.....and I just lost Ms of $s!!!!....which, btw, I highly doubt.

In lieu of this non-event and except for the few that can be found at scopes.com, below is an excerpt of (scam) spams I have received over a period of....(only) 2 months. If any of the following is at all legitimate then I just lost a lot of money - money I did not work hard for with nary a finger lifted except probably to click the mouse on the send button to give some unscupulous individual (or group) my personal and banking details!

Please be warned:

1. HASSAN BILLY
email: h_billy01@voila.fr
Organization: Bank of Burkina
Amount: 35% of $9.5M (from a deceased client)
Requirements: bank name, bank acct#, private tel and fax nos.

2. BARRISTER TERRY THOMPSON
email: barrister.thompchamber@googlemail.com
Organization: Terry thompson and Associates
Amount: $30.1M - typed this way: $30,100.000.00USD (inheritance left to YOU...in this case, ME by the late Engr.Jürge Krügger - which, according to Mr. Thompson I must have met at one of my travels???????? )
Requirements: to contact him at the above email add.

3. CARINA FERNANDEZ
email: mrs_carina_fernandez@yahoo.com.hk
Organization: Hang Seng Bank
Amount: 30% of $19.5M (from a deceased client)
Requirements: full name, current residential address, private tel no.

4. MRS. MARY JONES
email: richard.carpentrer0@btinternet.com (or Tel:+44,7035,9129,03)
Organization: UK Dell Electronics (Awards 2008)
Amount: £1,200,000.00 (winnings)
Requirements: Fullname,Occupation, Nationality,Resedential (sic) Address, Phone.

5. DAVE GILLELAND
email: gilleland.dave32@googlemail.com
Organization: non mentioned
Amount: unspecified (assist in receiving funds for mutual benefit)
Requirements: to contact him at the above email add.

6. SIR THOMAS BRADLEY
email: powerballl_dept@hotmail.com
Organization: UK Online Promo (zaret@optonline.net)
Amount: £500K (winnings)
Requirements: full name, address, age, sex, marital status, occupation, phone and fax nos., country.

7. PAUL JAMES
email: financierventure4@yahoo.com.hk
Organization: Financier Company
Amount: unspecified (winnings)
Requirements: full name, address, country, city, state, zip code, phone no.

8. MISS MARIA SAVIMBI
email: mariagoodday1989@gmail.com
Organization: Bank of Burkina
Amount: 30% of $22M (from deceased (prominent) father) and arrangement for her to go to your country
Requirements: respond to her email add above.

9. STELLA ROBERTS
email: hamiltonreeds.transfermanager@google.com
Organization: Great British Promo
Amount: £1,263,584 (online lottery winnings - YOU, or I, in this case never consciously joined)
Requirements: full name, age, nationality, occupation, sex, country, tel no.

10. DAVID WILLIAMS
email: h_billy01@voila.fr
Organization: UK national Lottery Board
Amount: £500K (lotter winnings)
Requirements: full name, age, nationality, occupation, sex, country, tel no.

11. ADVOCATE LOYEN VAN SMITH
email: barrloysmithesq@aol.com
Organization: Loyens and Smith Law Chambers Netherlands
Amount: 30% of Euro19.7M (from a deceased client - Rachel Harriet Kahn)
Requirements: respond to email add above.

12. RICH ORGARANYA
email: nfah101@atlas.sk
Organization: Sierra Leone Diamond mining co-operation (of deceased father)
Amount: 15% of $15M (from deceased father)
Requirements: respond to email above to transfer full amount to your acct...ergo, requiring your acct details.

13. SANDRA BERNOIT
email: sandrabernoitt1@live.com
Organization: Global Email Promotion
Amount: 38K (in unspecified currency - I'm assuming £) - (lottery winnings)
Requirements: contact eamil add above to provide personal info.

14. PHIL HERALD
email: philclaimsunit@btinternet.com
Organization: UK/Camelot Lottery
Amount: £891, 934 (lottery winnings)
Requirements: Fullname,Occupation, Nationality,Resedential (sic) Address, Phone.

15. DR. DANNY FORSTER
email: dr_dannyforster25@yahoo.com.uk
Organization: UK-Promo
Amount: £1M (winnings)
Requirements: Name,Address,Phone,Sex, Occupation, Age, Country.

,,,,and 30 others with the same theme!

Clicking on links from unknown sources is always ill-advised...in fact, NEVER do it, dog knows what kind of 'robot' you are downloading into your computer - these nasty creatures can either wreak havoc or worse collect information and could even be unwittingly sent out to your email contacts!!!

Why do I bother giving this blog space? Because people bother to research them and if I can prevent one internet fraud from happening...I've done my job. If anyone out there has actually become even a Million dollar richer, good for you - I guess I don't need the money that much (not bad to have, though)!

FYI!!! Better yet, visit this page for fraud reporting and enlightenment!

Around San Juan del Sur

To complete our SJDS tour, below are other places around the town one can visit and enjoy. I will only describe those we have been to but as T and I are (apparently) whether we like it or not, creatures of habit as evidenced by the places we go back to over and over again, it is prudent to read more about others in the links provided.

Beaches in SJDS (20 to 1/2 an hour's drive from town depending on road conditions):

Our favorite, Playa Maderas, for it's soft waves (great for beginner surfing or body boarding) and where T and V take up an hour's surf lessons for $10 including surfboard (last time was 3 months ago, so I'm not sure how much it costs now).

Playa Mathilda - equally interactive (the waves, that is) only less surfers. The waves seemed bigger though, so maybe only experienced surfers go there - don't quote me as I'm not certain about these things. All I know was that we enjoyed being there too as much as we do in Maderas, except that it's an additional mins or so farther after Maderas. We actually discovered it by accident after choosing the wrong road at a forked intersection on the way to our favorite beach. A pleasant surprise.

Playa Maderas is easily recognizable through the smattering of rock formations on both ends of the alcove and the make-shift building that rents out rooms (or hammocks) to avid surfers that doubles as a restaurant (try the sumptuous whole fried fish served with rice and fresh cut-up salad for less than $4). Playa Mathilda on the otherhand has a wider beach. There are a couple of rustic places to rent on Mathilda (beachfront) and something resembling a pulperia where one can buy drinks (water, soda and beer).

Read more about Nicaragua's surfspots in Rivas and the rest of the country here.

Refugio de Vida Silvestre la Flor - A natural reserve known as a favorite nesting place of Olive Ridley turtles where as of this October they are expecting a total 'arrival (arribadas)' of about 60,000 turtles. unfortunately, we just the big arrival of about 4,000 turtles in one night just 2 days prior. Thie weekend wasn't our first time but each time is a great experience.

For the resilient, one can camp on the reserve for $C 500 per person per day. The best way to enjoy the reserve. Do not expect any amenities....at all. This is a place where you're better off doing your business in the bushes, if you know what I mean....and yes, we did. No regrets and we'll do it again. The experience with the turtles alone is already exhilirating but in our opinion, La Flor is hands down one of the most (if not the most - in our opinion, anyway) beautiful beach in Nicaragua, no contest....ask the turtles. Maybe they do know better.

The most awesome moment probably was the time we found ourselves at noontime swimming with the turtles while they were waiting for night fall (darkness) to begin their ardous trek up the sandy beach, space out and continue the cycle of life.

A source of Pride

I am a Filipino. I was born one and will die one regardless of where in the world I am. The Philippines has been known for many things both good and bad. Its 90 million perenially smiling, laid-back, friendly, service-oriented and welcoming populace, its overseas foreign workers (maids, nurses and engineers, technical talent, etc) who prop up the economy, the political and social strife plaguing it and its people, as the most hazardous place to be if you are a journalist, its dictators and corrupt government officials, poverty, its talented musicians, terrorist threats, the over 200 tropical storms it experiences each year, its horrendous traffic, Imelda's 3,000 pairs of shoes and mind-boggling collection of jewelry, having one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (Boracay)....and most importantly, the richness mother nature has bestowed upon its 7,107 islands.

Now as the voting for the New 7 Wonders of Nature continues where as of today, out of 77 contenders, the following places that have been nominated in the Philippines have achieved their current ranking (arranged according to category):

1. Chocolate Hills #4 (landscape)

2. Mayon Volcano #11 (Volcano)

3. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park #1 (Natural Reserve)

4. Tubbataha Reef #5 (Seascape)

All officially supported

Yes, we Filipinos are easily pleased. Amidst all our problems, we do count the small blessing we get out of life. Win or lose, that the beauty nature has so unsparingly shared with us is a source of pride as good as any that I can only hope we learn to nurture and earn to deserve.

Source: New 7 Wonders of the World

San Juan del Sur

Again, recommendations long overdue. When one mentions Nicaragua, 2 places immediately pop into mind....San Juan del Sur and Granada.

San Juan del Sur, a coastal town off the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, 2-2 1/2 hours away South of Managua (Rivas Province) known for its moderate waves and otherwise, is one of the most visited place in Nicaragua. A 'gringo' town to quote the locals. Given its laid back atmosphere - it is a favorite place for foreign retirees to...well, retire. A haven for those with limited income - or savings or just to stretch their dollars...or euro, or those who just wants to downsize and have a quiet beachtown life to surf and fish to their heart's content - to own either beach-front properties or that with a view of the bay and a languid lifestyle to go with it. Read more about the town here and find more photos here.

We used to go to SJDS almost every other week when we first came to Nicaragua, it is after all a pretty, colorful and interesting town, but in time, less and less as we discovered other hidden gems of Nicaragua. SJDS is not a 'been-there-done-that' place either mainly because when we have guests visiting, it is a part of the must-see and experience places still in Nicaragua together with Granada, Leon, Ometepe and Masaya. Inevitably, we had to go back there and go back we did last weekend as you guessed it, we had family visiting.

Although the road has been miraculously fixed (like all beautiful places in Nicaragua getting to them alone is already an adventure in itself), I would still recommend a 4WD if you plan to visit neighboring beaches and the nature reserve, La Flor (Refugio de Vida Silvestre La Flor).

Above, the road to Playa El Coco and La Flor in the rainy season (just after a storm) nearing 1 of the 3 rivers we needed to cross. We have heard of friends being stuck at Playa El Coco when there's heavy downpour, so check weather conditions first or if a novice, use a tour agency or get hotel transport as they will have the proper vehicle to get you there - and most importantly, out of there.

Lodgings in the area can cost anywhere between $5 - $300 depending on how luxurious you want it to be. $5 would mean a hammock (why not?) and the rest, how far or near it is from the bay, size of acommodation, the view from your room, ammenities, at which time of the year, etc. will dictate the price.

The most popular resort in the area is Piedras Y Olas - luxurious and to me, serves the best and the biggest burger (with melted blue cheese is best) in Nicaragua. Whether you stay there or not, don't miss the restaurant (La Cascada) for either lunch or dinner and enjoy your food next to their eternity pool overlooking the bay. If you can stay for sundowners, do so, I guarantee you the best sunset view in town. Just imagine staying in one of their casitas. We unfortunately haven't had any luck in staying there as almost always, they are fully-booked and understandably so. One day for sure we will as friends who have stayed there only have glowing recommendations of the place where half of them are, in fact, repeat customers. Each time we are in SJDS, we always take lunch at Piedras Y Olas as a treat.

The restaurant pool with the view of La Bahia de SJDS. Photos courtesy of DanCesar and Piedras Y Olas.

We have mostly been staying in a place called La Posada Azul when in SJDS, a very quaint, quiet inn right in the middle of town and a block away from the bay. It has a pool and serves very delicious home made cakes (not the sweet kind) together with their american breakfast. The consistently friendly staff and Maria their beautiful and friendly manager makes for a more pleasurable stay than it already is.

Inside the inn, the pool and the view of the bay from the street where La Posada Azul is.

Restaurants in SJDS, except for a few consistent and notable ones like La Cascada, are sometimes hit or miss. One would think that there will be an abundance of reasonably priced seafood dishes (other than the usual fish and shrimps) - but you'd in fact be surprised of the few variety of the bounty of the sea to be had.

If you take the beach-front restaurant El Timon for instance, my $C 300 (about $15 including tax) prawns al ajillo (below) was a blah but still we keep coming back. Why? because it's beach-front and serves seafood (someone please knock my head on a wall...any wall), a cliche, hoping that each time we would encounter something exciting but so far, never have....or maybe, again, it's just me - I have been too spoiled in Asia.

There is one restaurant I would really like to recommend that was under renovation while we were there and therefore was not able to enjoy the great Italian (?) - am not even sure anymore but I do know that they have been consistently good - cuisine they have. Maybe someone can help me:

Someone might recognize the place above. Like most places here in Nicaragua, I sometimes take the name for granted having only the capacity to concentrate on how to get there. Dropping names in Nica won't get you there but getting (long winding) directions would.

Another pleasant addtion to the restaurants in SJDS is a beach-front restaurant called Bambu Beach serving some kind of Asian cuisine....a fusion or melee of Asian and Caribbean, for lack of a better way to describe the taste of their food. All I know is that everything we ordered was good and reasonably priced. You can find it at the opposite end of the beach from where El Timon is. Although not offering lodging, Bambu Beach has beach chairs and a Jacuzzi for guests who like to enjoy their drinks or sundowners, perhaps, the 'kokomo' way. The clear winners for the evening:

Springrolls (fried or fresh), Fajitas de Res with Asian Bambu sauce and the sinfully delicious but mind-boggling Fried Cream.

Last but certainly not the least, you haven't been to SJDS if you haven't had coffee at Kelly Ann's El Gato Negro, my fave english bookstore (in fact the only one I know of in the whole of Nicaragua) and a night cap at Big Wave Dave's, (although not beach-front) the quintessential seaside bar .

New Minimum Wage - October 2008

The unions "Frente Nacional de los Trabajadores" (FNT) and the "Central Sandinista de los Trabajadores" (CST) has for the longest time since after the advent of the economic 'crisis' (for lack of a better word) have been negotiating minimum wage increase, with the union groups demanding 20 - 35% while companies are only willing to compromise up to 11.75%, as that is what the businesses can afford to survive the business climate in the country.

More recently, the government has, in compromise, approved 18% in minimum wage increase and about time, I think. See table below for the new minimum wage in Nicaragua (click to enlarge).

A necessary move, for sure, but a very disconcerting development for companies in the Zona Franca that caters to the US market. The only thing people are waiting to see now is how this is going to affect the export companies in the 'red'. Surely a 'damn if you do and damn if you don't situation". Vamos a ver.

For reference: 1 USD = 19.75 Nicaraguan Cordobas

Sources: La Prensa and The Real Nicaragua.