tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89675613001043410122012-01-28T08:45:55.937+08:00MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-73996963022029090302011-06-23T12:39:00.002+08:002011-06-29T11:05:10.210+08:00

Waiting for the darkness.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-44579322477301046302011-06-23T09:46:00.008+08:002011-06-23T10:54:09.636+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-25814192985117641502011-05-15T08:53:00.002+08:002011-05-15T09:12:08.510+08:00

For 15 days starting tomorrow ill be with Nicanor Perlas and other imaginals in the Philippines talking about how we can best develop our "mission" initiatives to contribute to helping make the Philippines a better country. The goal is for all these eco-friendly sustainable initiatives to spawn more initiatives that are good for people, for the environment so that we have a global network of a

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-55712903575243989512011-05-07T17:55:00.001+08:002011-05-07T18:03:44.235+08:00

Loving is forgiving. But not when it’s the last straw. Marriage proposals and baby wishes come too late; sorrys sound empty; forever after are just words.Only pictures, chats, emails, and poems remain - to be easily trashed..For someone who has loved truly, madly, deeply for three years, moving on sucks. Let’s hope the future looks more colorful. Just give me a month. And let me ring my friends

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-75778369777085135662011-05-07T14:42:00.002+08:002011-05-07T14:58:48.482+08:00

In my living room hangs this sign I bought in Bohol: "Live well, Laugh often, Love much." It's become my mantra. Everytime I look at it, my temper disappears.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-66459339387514324822011-05-07T14:11:00.003+08:002011-05-07T14:28:31.231+08:00

On one of our many visits to Belgium, my usual exuberant mother told her mother-in-law, my Lola: “Mama, you haven’t changed! You’re still the same - still very sexy!” Lola smiled shyly, “Normaaa! Thank you…” Papa later opined that only Mama can get away such an outrageous compliment. My reserved grandmother wouldn’t have appreciated it coming from her children. It’s funny to see how these two

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-90127305113762497672011-05-07T13:41:00.002+08:002011-05-07T14:35:56.119+08:00

Out of the blue on my way to the gym, somebody called me and offered a free 3 days and 2 nights hotel stay in Cebu. I grilled him a bit until i was convinced he wasn't fake, and agreed to passby his office the next day to get the gift certificates.When i arrived, somebody got my basic information, and then offered me an early dinner before leading me into a room full of "agents" who were there to

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-23476336099562990862010-09-05T06:50:00.003+08:002010-09-05T06:54:06.594+08:00

hello Christmas!

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-64561637361043437112010-08-14T18:06:00.004+08:002010-08-14T19:50:34.058+08:00

Studying language versus using language.From elementary to high school to college we learn these over and over: subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, dangling modifiers, misplaced modifiers, simple present tense, present progressive tense, past perfect tense, and so on. One sentence at a time. Or one paragraph at a time.Not very useful when outside the classroom we have to write

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-70403653457510484552010-03-17T07:36:00.002+08:002010-03-17T07:49:28.139+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-31446009082563185742010-03-04T07:03:00.008+08:002010-03-16T19:32:08.284+08:00

Stephen O. is a big, black and bubbly VSO volunteer from Ireland. He's originally from Nigeria and speaks English with what I suppose is a Nigerian accent. He's now in Davao City to do volunteer work in Tambayan as soccer coach of the streetkids. We're just his host family for 10 days.On the first day of work, Stephen said he sang and danced for the kids. He also mentioned meeting a tomboy and

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-13738979421857446902010-02-28T23:50:00.006+08:002010-03-18T08:23:26.269+08:00

I was damn frank last week. Bumped into a former colleague who was wondering where I'm working now and why I didn't join the get togethers. Have they offended me in some way she asked? (Nalain ba ko sa ila.) Me: I've been busy with the house construction. But come to think of it, you did offend me in many ways when we were working together. So I gave her the specifics and ended with: In your next

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-6395741394658156122010-02-24T20:02:00.031+08:002010-02-25T00:00:45.342+08:00

"Urgent Requirement Curriculum Development Assistant." That's the ad Mike saw in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last February 7. I grabbed the paper and read the position's with the Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project of a USAID program with headquarters in Davao City.JEEP is an intensive two year course to help improve English proficiency of college students in schools all over

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-52616892690376363212010-02-16T11:49:00.007+08:002010-02-25T09:56:31.354+08:00

After months of canvassing, trips to buy cement, marble, wood, and so on, deliberating with masons, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, architects, engineers, arguing with the family about every little detail, I'm almost ready to move in!Looking forward to being self-sufficient - paying for the water and electricity, going to Bankerohan and haggling with the vendors, experimenting with salads,

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-62405370969017211102010-02-12T20:01:00.008+08:002010-02-12T20:30:49.771+08:00

Several women i know have asked me for an explanation of Marketing. Perhaps the following analogies will help clarify what is Marketing.You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say: "I'm fantastic in bed."- That's DIRECT MARKETING.You're at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says: "She's fantastic in bed."-

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-70279159433926919002010-02-09T21:31:00.015+08:002010-02-12T20:15:18.529+08:00

QUESTION: What is the height of globalization?ANSWER: Princess Diana's death.QUESTION: How come?ANSWER: An English princess with an Egyptian boyfriend crashes in a French tunnel, driving a German car with a Dutch engine, driven by a Belgian who was high on Scottish whiskey, followed closely by Italian paparazzi, on Japanese motorcyles, treated by an American doctor using Brazilian medicines! And

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-16606778356581035392010-02-08T17:27:00.017+08:002010-02-09T19:45:57.674+08:00

YOU ARE VIETNAMESE IF...1. You got have fish sauh wi every meal.2. You spen so mut time in top-leh, bikini coffee shop an in "Qua'n Nha^. u (Vietnamee bar)...!3. If you don get "Pho*~", you die soon or lattah.4. You an you famly care about Educasha an at leat you guy try do something about it.5. Someone in you famly is Nail/ha! ir/Taxi/Fishing businee or in cloth businee.6. You drie bran new Lexu

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-69630481229470080072010-02-06T06:59:00.005+08:002010-03-16T19:35:36.452+08:00

Today, I'm officially starting blogging about my food adventures.Last night was my third attempt at baking with the Breadmaker and I'm so happy with the result that I'm posting pictures for posterity. Here's how to:First, pour some olive oil on the non-stick blades. (To make it easier for the bread to come off when it's done later.)Then, add the following ingredients in the bread pan (in this

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-64592418793159099872010-02-03T10:59:00.015+08:002010-02-05T22:19:38.717+08:00

Ma and pa tried to give my brother and me a real Filipino childhood – starting with giving us Filipino names – Bayani and Maya – and then relocating the family to San Jose, Antique, where we spoke Cebuano, Kiniray-a, Ilonggo and Tagalog all at the same time. We slept on a banig, played sungka, ins-ins, maro-maro, patintero on the unpaved street in front of our house and sat in front of our

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-4469122556579346742010-02-01T15:49:00.015+08:002010-02-03T06:59:49.387+08:00

My LGSPA stint began on April 1, 2008.Lady luck was on my side as I was immediately thrust into work, never having to experience the separation anxiety from my comfort zone - Ateneo. I simply didn't have time to miss teaching.On the very first working day, I joined my bosses for a planning meeting in LGSPA's Cotabato office where I listened and took notes as the women conversed in confusing LGSPA

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-24671849892498553252009-05-01T10:08:00.014+08:002009-05-01T10:37:07.956+08:00

Went out last Saturday. Kay despedida ni Piet. He’s been here for over a year charming everyone with his impeccable Bisaya and amusing us with his insightful observations about the paradoxes of Filipino culture. Last Saturday was time to bid Piet our farewell dance so to speak. Goodbye Philippines hello again Belgium. He said it’ll hit him when he’s gone. Enjoy the frietjes en apples and fresh

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-20823242255396820842009-04-14T06:36:00.005+08:002009-04-17T06:16:20.043+08:00

Was ambivalent about whether to go or not. But I did. The escapade last weekend had me tagging along with the crew of Sports Unlimited taking pictures, jotting notes and chatting up everyone. Dyan Castillejo Garcia and Marc Nelson were exactly how I expected them to be; rippling muscles and cool as a cucumber. She had brought along her husband and son and he had brought along his mom. Gene, the

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-19205262224913849632009-04-09T22:42:00.006+08:002009-04-10T07:11:15.029+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-83974681755737559702009-04-09T21:26:00.008+08:002009-04-10T07:22:16.203+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-86403191906571216282009-03-28T14:02:00.032+08:002009-04-05T07:26:28.385+08:00

...given the increasing diversity of America's population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers. And even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-53045673668553316552009-03-28T09:53:00.017+08:002009-03-29T11:02:54.474+08:00

Ateneo de Manila 4 years ago. Would wake up at 5:30 a.m. to walk to school and be there at 6 a.m. and walk home again before midnight just to sleep and then be off again the next day same time. My boarding house was in Dela Costa Homes, Marikina City some 15 to 30 minutes of walking through the 'woods' in Ateneo and past all the buildings, where people say, the ghosts of the dead still lurk. My

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-55571479819823034082009-03-24T22:17:00.025+08:002009-03-29T11:14:57.256+08:00

How would you feel if you had to get married at 14 to somebody just because your parents made a deal and "promised" you to him for a dowry of lets say 100,000 pesos? Miss B, one of my colleagues who has to confront this problem in the communities she works with in Lanao del Norte has a ready answer. She says that if this is the tradition of your community then perhaps you wouldn't really mind. 

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-48504294837218511932009-03-21T22:17:00.007+08:002009-03-29T13:26:29.614+08:00

I'm helping one of my pilates buddies sell her multicolored pearl rosaries which she makes herself. This, she tells me, has been her source of income ever since she graduated from college last year. Sheryl (not her real name) is a nursing graduate waiting for the right time to work as a nurse in New Zealand. Meanwhile, she's killing time attending nursing trainings and seminars since she doesn't

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-83428400145253324502009-03-14T08:51:00.008+08:002009-03-29T11:21:55.837+08:00

Belgians said: Toilet paperFilipinos said: WaterLast night at De Bonte Koe, hygiene was the topic of discussion.With toilet paper, one doesn't need to touch shit. The downside is that toilet paper can't guarantee all the shit's removed. On the other hand, with water, one has to touch shit. (Eww...) The upside is that the butt is really clean. Especially with soap.The Belgians saw the logic in the

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-64860953907310073002009-03-10T21:29:00.005+08:002009-03-29T13:28:08.414+08:00

Mayapay is a senior citizen. Older than mama in dog years. So says Bayani. When Belen calls Mayapay for breakfast and dinner, he doesn't respond. That's when we learned he's deaf. So deaf that I can creep up behind him unnoticed. Marty, on the other hand, is crazy in love. He spends hours on the window sill staring outside at his lady love. He likes to sleep on top of the TV and the fridge on his

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-16813064180779259682009-02-15T17:32:00.012+08:002009-03-29T13:30:09.748+08:00

I did 6 things on Vday yesterday and came home at around 3:30 am but didn't even feel sleepy yet. 1.) gym 2.) office work 3.) zip line at Outland Adventure with Pam, Robert and Shena 4.) Rachel Alejandro's concert in SM with Ian, Winvic and Jolen 5.) dinner at Iranian resto and 6.) halo-halo and chill in MTS with them gihapon - plus Yeng. The day involved buying expensive but extremely

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-15609085756093975652009-02-14T07:26:00.010+08:002009-03-29T13:36:48.050+08:00

Went to MEDCO yesterday to listen to Seng Awng Mai Nbwi, a peace staff of the Shalom Foundation from Myanmar and Quinton Mtyala, a journalist from South Africa. They're exchange fellows of Environmental Broadcast Circle's PEACECOMM (peace communicators communicating for peace). Interesting discussion we had. Some of the things that came up:In Myanmar it's forbidden to use the name of Aung Aung

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-63049067286336758462009-02-08T16:24:00.005+08:002009-02-08T17:09:19.230+08:00

Alone in the office. Capturing the videos I took in Marilog. In front of me, 7 floors down, lies Victoria Plaza. There are 15 taxis, 15 jeepneys and 10 cars. The sun has sunk. It's going to get dark soon. But it's only 4:30 p.m. I'll put on the lights when I can't see the letters on my keyboard anymore. Kapoy magcapture ug video. I realize my hands are too shaky, the footage too dark, the audio

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-11935722399462604662009-02-07T11:55:00.016+08:002009-02-08T17:31:30.604+08:00

"God gave you a face but instead you want to paint yourself another one." - ShakespeareSomebody recently told me to put powder on my face and be more kikay. Wala daw koy kaarte-arte and that's why I tend to look older than my age and very plain. My friend even told me to wear plunging necklines for a change. He was probably joking but I was incensed. I remember the first day of my teaching career

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-26702379452695160622009-02-04T19:18:00.010+08:002009-02-07T16:40:37.529+08:00

Had Yoga-Pilates yesterday with Philip who learned it in America. All the stretching looks boringly easy but after 10 minutes, I and Manny, the only other exerciser in the room, were panting and sweating and complaining. Philip was relentless. I barely had time to fix my falling hair every time we got up from lying down. No time even to readjust my oversized T-shirt during push-ups so that my bra

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-69819829826684930952009-01-11T17:45:00.005+08:002009-01-11T18:32:11.299+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-27682094831878053982009-01-02T07:22:00.025+08:002009-01-04T21:51:01.694+08:00

THE FOLLOWING IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT BIG TIME DECEIT.The rich (and especially the filthy rich) are the most insecure and gullible. They easily get fooled into spending thousands on improving their physical appearance.Women with unfaithful husbands (or with husbands who are the most likely to become unfaithful) are the most vulnerable according to this former employee of a beauty center. Alex (real

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-4704461956982017982008-12-31T15:45:00.016+08:002009-01-01T17:45:20.558+08:00

It's the last day of December 2008. What a year it has been.Bombing in India, Israel has gone to war with Hamas, the MOA-AD was left hanging, kidnappings in Sulu and Basilan, Obama won the presidential race, financial crisis in the world, oil price hike turning somersaults, etcetera (not necessarily in this order.) Meanwhile, I started a new job with new colleagues, new work routine, new skills,

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-10148850580376057012008-12-21T17:33:00.008+08:002008-12-30T13:40:11.810+08:00

During last week's sessions on mainstreaming cultural integrity and gender equality, I picked up a few interesting thoughts:1. The government legal system of conflict resolution - i.e. filing a court case - does more harm than good in bringing back the "warring" parties into each other's good graces, so to speak. First off, it's not the accuser and accused who are facing each other - but their

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-73943376907710296072008-12-17T06:17:00.008+08:002008-12-17T19:56:36.137+08:00

Love the imagery of this piece by Nino: Sometimes I feel you're taking me for grantedleaving me on your tablelike a cup of cofee you brewed to perfectionAnd after I have satisfied you with a sip or twoyou'd go back to your papers leaving me cold..Now another sip you will have,and with my coldnes you smirk and put me backLeaving me with the sink to welcome my affectionThen you brew another me,and

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-64116919706423339492008-12-16T06:50:00.005+08:002008-12-16T07:21:07.538+08:00

Every Sunday for three hours I've been going to SM for some driving lessons. Clutch, break, gas. Working clutch, full clutch. Soft break, full break. First gear, second gear, third gear, fourth gear, fifth gear, and reverse. Stopping in low gear, stopping in high gear. Parking the car on the left, on the right. Turning around. I'm learning it all! Problem is I get anxious and lose my cool when at

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-65748403881490260152008-12-07T18:04:00.006+08:002008-12-08T07:43:29.127+08:00

When Krishna said she wanted Manny to experience losing, I agreed. But then again, Oscar probably has a bigger ego. So on second thought, I wanted Manny to win. Never imagined though that Oscar would go down that easily. (I didn't see the match because of driving lessons but friends and family informed me Manny was fast and Oscar simply couldn't keep up.) At 35, Oscar de la hoya, boxing's Golden

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-69264849191996515322008-12-06T08:28:00.025+08:002008-12-06T14:04:18.683+08:00

A hamburger to die for.Who's got the most sexy body paint?Please, please, please don't drop me!I couldn't hold it, so what. It's been more than one hour but I still haven't fixed it!When I'm older next year, I'm gonna get my other arm done.Puppies are not supposed to be eaten raw.This one's gonna be a ballerina, a gymnast, or an acrobat for sure.Little baby's still figuring out the difference

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-50194494152435914862008-12-04T18:40:00.016+08:002008-12-05T18:29:46.607+08:00

As the program assistant of the organization I work for, one of my many tasks is helping out with the knowledge products - books, CDs, reports, and so on. I update inventories, proofread, write summaries, work with the layout artist - things like that. Recently I've been busy calling up printing presses and canvassing for prices. This is in preparation for the publication of the Selected Khutba,

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-9867544494829881282008-12-03T06:19:00.012+08:002008-12-04T21:11:45.552+08:00

In the bus on my way to the parish near Bukidnon, the guy in charge of the tickets said i had to pay 100. So i did. The problem was that i had to tell him about 5 times to give me my ticket. Instead he gave me back 20 pesos. "What's this for?" I asked. "80 nalang," he said. Me: "Ah okay, where's my ticket?"   He looked at me. I looked at him. "I need the ticket for reimbursement," I finally

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-65375439961715007442008-11-28T21:34:00.027+08:002008-11-30T15:53:55.824+08:00

Spent two days in a parish near Bukidnon and had the most fulfilling filming adventure to date.Filmed all the animals on the farm - pigs, chickens, geese, goats, and worms. (The worms are kept in a special cage and are fed with all sorts of debris. These are then digested and the excrement used as compost.) When I left kanina, another animal had been added - somebody had dropped off a pregnant

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-75215155123256259922008-11-22T10:13:00.008+08:002008-11-22T16:40:05.764+08:00

Note: Chona, my former colleague at Ateneo de Manila Univ. posted this article below in her Facebook. I decided to click on the link and after reading, here I'm posting the article again. To remind myself not to watch TV when I should be doing other more urgent, important things like transcribing the videos i took several weeks ago. TV has made me such a procrastinator. I want to get out of this

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-64663094001088245392008-11-22T09:06:00.013+08:002008-11-25T08:23:17.507+08:00

This week was pretty intense. Spent 2 whole days just working on the photo exhibit which led me to experiment with elmers glue, mighty bond, double-sided scotch tape (with and without padding), clear liquid glue, masking tape, and even rugby. I used them all. Paper was another preoccupation. Used cartolina paper, illustration board, chip board, art paper and bond paper. Went to the hardware/

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-76964739091592320332008-11-22T08:34:00.005+08:002008-11-22T16:43:08.480+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-54931688449557552832008-11-16T15:45:00.011+08:002008-11-16T17:09:25.320+08:00

Last night was unforgettable. Had dinner in Zakoya, watched James Bond in Gmall, and sipped Margarita in a bar. Agreeing, disagreeing, analyzing, synthesizing, teasing, laughing, crying. I wish I had more nights like that. My heart is full and my mind at peace. :)

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-79940611392107895992008-11-05T06:36:00.014+08:002008-11-22T16:46:17.422+08:00

Obamalabama. I hope he wins! Not because he's black; but because he has the best plans. Better plans for the soldiers, for the environment, for stopping terrorism. Heck, McCain doesn't come close. If you watched the two presidential debates,  Obama kept his cool, and gave short, concise answers that hit the bull's eye. If he wins, I wish him the best. I wish his family the best. Their lives are

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-67157148233634474092008-11-04T06:41:00.013+08:002008-11-11T11:44:43.418+08:00

Yesterday I was in the car when I discovered that some men whom I see almost every week, have not been very honest husbands to their wives. Yesterday my suspicions were confirmed and I feel devastated. (Especially because I have always wanted to prove the pessimists wrong and say with conviction that yes, there are still honest and loyal men. Like my friends.)Why??? Why fool around? In the course

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-57480212589425691322008-11-02T15:13:00.014+08:002008-11-23T06:40:48.201+08:00

On Nov. 1, the dead come alive in the Philippines, so to speak. It's that only time of year when graveyards overflow with candles and flowers and thousands of people set up mats and tens right next to where their beloved departed are lying six feet under. Yesterday, Pa, I and Frits went, despite the drizzle, to see the spectacle of whole families visiting their dead. After an eat-all dinner at

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-47888699528729872982008-10-31T07:05:00.018+08:002010-02-03T07:02:30.277+08:00

For the past days I've been coming home from work at 10 p.m. All for the love of Simunul, Tawi-Tawi. That's where the Sheik Makhdum mosque anniversary celebration's going to be on Nov. 6-7. Sheik Makhdum mosque's  the oldest in the country. Built in the 14th century - out of logs. The four original wooden posts still remain but the rest of the mosque is new. Have already been to Sulu and Basilan.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-78427652310669787432008-10-26T07:02:00.030+08:002008-11-02T21:47:43.268+08:00

Dropped by Ateneo de Davao yesterday to catch the Masters round of the National Debate Championships (NDC). It's the 'fun' round where senior debaters (mostly former college debaters) are tested for their wit and humor as well as their logic.The mini-auditorium was packed with English and Tagalog speaking college debaters from all over the country. Girls in shorts, mini skirts, pants, heels,

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-21152203376487120042008-10-25T07:57:00.026+08:002008-10-26T14:19:52.493+08:00

Last night Bel, Frithjof and I had a massage. Halfway through the session, I started interviewing my masseuse. She's 21, has two kids - 3 years old and 1 year old, and a husband who slaps her once in a while. Me: Is he drunk when he slaps you? She: No, that's just how he is. Whaaaat?! I told her to leave the jerk. She said she can't because she needs him to help out with the kids since she can't

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-55132605642275240542008-10-23T07:05:00.015+08:002008-11-02T21:48:41.251+08:00

I get crazy sometimes. By the noise at work and at home. Am my ears getting more sensitive I often wonder? Or is it because the world is becoming more crowded? The days are getting shorter and the nights longer. I check the clock the moment the sun begins to sink. That's around 5 p.m. By 5:20 p.m. It's dark na and all the street lights are on. The next day, I'm awakened at 5:30 a.m. by loud music

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-26052114296653287142008-10-21T08:32:00.013+08:002008-10-21T10:04:16.463+08:00

Bai Raga Mustapha is 63 years old and has 11 children. She lives with her husband and youngest son, as well as her sister’s children and their children, in one house in Barangay Solon, Sultan Mastura municipality, Shariff Kabunsuan. The 150 families living in Barangay Solon are related to each other in one way or another; the result of Bai Raga’s father having married and divorced more than 10

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-44505668511895798012008-10-17T22:16:00.007+08:002008-10-21T10:11:56.064+08:00

Note: Went to Cotabato City for 5 days and interviewed 10 people. Actually 12. One I interviewed in Davao and the other one I interviewed over the phone. This here below is a result of the interview I had over the phone.In Tagum City, there are about 1,032 hectares planted with durian trees. Famers are motivated to grow durian through a city government scheme that offers them seeds, fertilizers

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-74605377347046941032008-10-17T22:04:00.006+08:002008-11-29T10:10:43.440+08:00

Note: This story I wrote based on the interview with Tony Chi, the owner of Tam's Bakery. It's interesting how his family stayed in Cotabato City and persevered in their business even when many other Chinese gave up and left. As a result, Tam's Bakery is Cotabato City's oldest bakery today. The late Chi Tham was born in Guangzhow, China but moved to the Philippines to work as an apprentice with

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-66536450454386956662008-10-17T20:29:00.027+08:002008-10-21T10:14:18.967+08:00

Note: I speak 6 languages: Dutch, English, Ilonggo, Kiniray-a, Cebuano, and Tagalog. But because I've always felt that I don't really need Tagalog, I've never put much effort in learning how to speak and write well in Tagalog. (Living in Davao City where everybody speaks horrific ungrammatical Tagalog hasn't helped much either.) This explains why my Tagalog is very Bisaya. On the other hand,

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-27584617449721877572008-10-11T23:24:00.014+08:002010-02-03T07:07:23.973+08:00

I want to put this experience on paper before it becomes a vague memory.Last Thursday I was inside the 7th floor of Landco building office interviewing Sir Boy, the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certifying Board, Inc.'s (MMHCBI) adviser. Outside it was raining. Hard. So hard that when Sir Boy and I got down the ground floor of the building, we found some 50 people stranded. The whole street in front of

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-3548348737661157592008-10-11T22:18:00.006+08:002008-10-21T10:16:10.513+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-28823631218812910632008-10-05T08:23:00.022+08:002008-10-11T23:51:41.800+08:00

It's crazy this Troubled Asset Rescue Plan of America. Some $700 billion is going to be used by the American government "to buy up mortage-backed securities whose values are so down that they've become impossible to sell." Checkout New York Times for the complete story, or rather, stories. For Filipinos not quite in the loop of this piece of news, checkout opinion columnist Randy David's "Public

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-63359509176511172882008-10-05T08:11:00.013+08:002008-10-26T14:24:25.095+08:00

Last night i chattedwith Kristine (my friend in Canada), Bruno (my uncle in Belgium),Freija (my cousin in Belgium), Anneke (my childhood playmate and neighbor in Holland), and just a while ago, Cheryl (my college classmate who's in America). I was able to get in touch with people of my long ago past - Vanessa (my college classmate pa rin who's in Germany), Kim (my classmate and childhood best

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-18341547036106673722008-09-17T07:23:00.017+08:002008-10-12T07:38:16.446+08:00

Friends, check out MILOW's fantastic sexy video - Ayo Technology. MILOW, a.k.a Jonathan Vandenbroeck, is my singer-songwriter-musician cousin. :) After seeing this music video of his, you'll understand the title of this blog entry. Just remember, it's all symbolism baby!Description: The official music video of AYO TECHNOLOGY, the acoustic 50 Cent (feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland) cover, by 27

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-49218555367250614232008-09-13T11:32:00.019+08:002008-09-14T20:57:26.225+08:00

I haven't blogged for a while so forgive me for being lazy and just posting pics instead of writing about my family's obsession with Obama and Palin, hurricane Ike, the devastation in Haiti, Georgia, India. What else is happening in the world ba? We watch a lot of CNN obviously. Too much if you ask me. But pa thinks it's better than the Lifestyle channel and AXN. He's right. Now, even when I'm in

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-13679509272417187732008-08-16T16:44:00.010+08:002008-10-06T06:05:33.086+08:00

I had prepared something for this blog entry but I can't find it anymore. Anyway, the story is that former Democrat presidentiable Senator John Edwards had an affair with filmmaker Rielle Hunter during his campaign while his wife was in the hospital recuperating from cancer. When America found out they got angry and talk is now that his political career is over. Compare that to the Philippines

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-41791986031124918702008-08-14T14:20:00.010+08:002008-08-16T10:22:53.602+08:00

The owner of this car must either be very deaf or a big show off. Or both.Rubbing salt in the wound. I wonder how the drivers feel.An innovative way to piss off your neighbors.It's not raining. There's no ice on the road to make it slippery. So how the hell did this happen?If you're a Filipinow, you'd just pee over the wall. Pee problem solved.This guy is obviously trying to hide from his flame's

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-89733118455440313312008-08-14T10:15:00.011+08:002008-08-16T10:22:02.706+08:00

As cozy as a kitten in a cup, that's what we are.I'm a cute and cuddly baby. Yet why do I feel shitty?  Oops, I've got the wrong balls.Soccer Chickens.Puppy love.Malacanang school girls.Mom or babysitter?

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-43363195036619776232008-08-12T19:31:00.007+08:002008-09-13T15:10:40.233+08:00

The other famous cousin in the Vandenbroeck family is Bram. He started out as the Belgian champion in karate. Then he became the European champion. And yes, the World champion. By the way, according to Bram, there are four kinds of karate and he's the world champion of one style of karate. Cool huh.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-33362791118058415032008-08-12T18:54:00.016+08:002008-09-13T15:14:56.097+08:00

I'd like to introduce MILOW a.k.a Jonathan Vandenbroeck - my cousin. This year, Jonathan won 3 awards given by the Belgian Music Industry - Best Music Video, Best Breakthrough Artist, and Best Song. He's captured Belgium and is now about to conquer Europe! Starting with Holland. We're all quite proud of him. The video clips below are  some of my favorites.song's title: YOU DON'T KNOW (This video

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-78266707185111602292008-08-06T20:47:00.011+08:002008-10-05T23:57:47.645+08:00

[The classic t-shirt, made specifically for women. Pre-shrunk, 5.0 ounce 100% super-soft cotton, baby jersey knit. Coverstitched 3/4" bottom hem and sleeve opening. Custom contoured fit. Made by Bella.]Now that I got your attention, let me get to the real focus of this blog:So much hullabaloo going on about signing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on ancestral domain with the Moro Islamic

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-22434251255052536002008-08-03T16:35:00.003+08:002008-08-05T06:19:38.232+08:00

It’s so good to laugh out loud and be myself with people who’ve experienced my most mataray and manang moments but now look back at that time with a chuckle. Friday night was probably the longest night we’ve chatted. Winvic’s got a new car and will go on a rendezvous somewhere in Asia this month. (My lips are sealed.) Ian’s relishing his new role as a tito and is busy making one film after

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-78026561649711449592008-08-03T15:20:00.008+08:002008-08-06T09:28:36.428+08:00

Last week in Jolo, Sulu during the Selected Khutba launching, it was the first time I wore long sleeves and a hijab (head scarf worn by Muslim women). Though the get-up was hot and uncomfortable inside the crowded air-conditioned room, I persevered. At the end of the event I was told by one of my colleagues that the (male) Muslim Religious Leaders were happy with what I wore. That’s nice I

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-35286656474119883192008-07-19T22:36:00.006+08:002008-08-05T06:22:58.797+08:00

Many years ago, in a small Indian village, a FARMER had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village MONEYLENDER.The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful DAUGHTER. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.So the cunning

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-625123934133273772008-07-19T22:26:00.003+08:002008-08-05T06:28:19.097+08:00

Working people frequently ask retired people what they do to make their days interesting.Well, for example, the other day the wife and I went into town and went into a shop. We were only in there for about 5 minutes. When we came out, there was a police officer writing out a parking ticket.We went up to him and I said, 'Come on man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?' He ignored us

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-39080315941774844492008-07-19T08:54:00.058+08:002008-07-19T17:38:14.287+08:00

The airplane is so tiny that it shakes every time a strong gust of wind hits it. The 15 passengers are flying over big islands, small islands, and islands arranged in circles like pancakes floating in the ocean.Moments later, the plane touches down and everyone’s attention focuses on the airport’s entrance where a cement arch proclaims: “Welcome. Jolo. Sulu.”I am thrilled to be here, home of the

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-62004106243036354352008-07-16T20:22:00.006+08:002008-07-19T08:41:13.424+08:00

Ah students! You noisy, noisy students! You can't sit still. Always fidgeting, tsismising, staring into space, groping for the right English words, complaining about your load, your teachers, my requirements, working your assess off, talking about sex, being so self-conscious, boy-crazy, girl-crazy, not doing your assignments, then again surprising me with your well researched papers and well

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-83824882485192911802008-07-12T15:50:00.023+08:002008-07-19T15:29:03.087+08:00

Correction: Ferdinand Magellan did not ‘discover’ the Philippines five hundred years ago. Neither did Portuguese explorer, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos when he first sailed through Sarangani Bay, saw the Philippines, and named it Islas Filipinas–after King Philip of Spain; hence the names Philippines and Filipinos.“BUT WE ARE NOT FILIPINOS, WE ARE BANGSAMORO!”This was the sentiment of the Bangsamoro

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-62232970387893038812008-07-12T15:13:00.013+08:002008-07-14T17:32:39.027+08:00

Six times the electricity has turned off for several hours and then on again. The Bangsamoro sitting in the conference room of the Sulu State College Hostel in Jolo, Sulu have opened the windows and converted folders into fans. But the men in their kupyas and the women in their hijabs don’t really seem to be bothered by the heat. They’ve got more important things on their minds. Like discussing

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-85205617412390622732008-07-10T18:41:00.010+08:002008-07-12T14:21:54.515+08:00

Auntie Lorna, who's from Pikit, is mama's first cousin on her mother's side. Then there's Auntie Sabet, from Saudi Arabia. And the youngest is Auntie Eva from Panabo. They're the three sisters. Mama's their cousin from Davao. An only child. So naturally, every time these cousins meet, it's usually once in a blue moon and there's a lot of updating and laughing and singing and dancing as apparent

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-43474206732994693412008-07-08T21:22:00.007+08:002008-07-12T14:31:46.545+08:00

Auntie Jet is ma's best friend. Uncle Carl too. They were friends during the time when all the buildings in Ateneo de Davao University were still alive. (I mean, Fr. Dott and Fr. Weiman, etc. were not dead yet. When they died, the buildings were named after them.) Auntie Jet's now based in New York City with the love of her life, Fred (he's American but his Cebuano is flawless. Just like papa's

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-47777709962163778742008-06-29T12:05:00.007+08:002010-02-03T07:01:12.818+08:00

June 27 was a big day for the foreign students at the language school of Maryknoll. After two months of learning Cebuano, finally their graduation. Here's a peek into what happened that day: Mass, speeches in Cebuano, lunch, dancing, singing. Yesterday was the first day of work for many of the students from Congo, Zambia, Peru, Mexico, Korea, Belgium and Germany who are here to do volunteer work

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-63395622314419749932008-06-29T11:43:00.006+08:002008-07-19T19:21:47.815+08:00

That's Aroen, one of my shyest cousins. But when he's comfortable, he can't stop talking. We're thirty-one (31) first cousins. Let's see if i can name them all: Saskia, Jonathan, Bram, Lennert, Jakob, Reuben, Laura, Benjamin, Isabel, Mechtilde, Freija, Edith, Domien, Joost, Jolien, Stein, Sanne, Enno, Yutta, Isis, Aroen, Babbete, Dorothe, Tobias, Ewout, Evert, Dries, Martijn, Naomi, Max, and of

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-2564573233321677182008-06-29T10:28:00.005+08:002008-07-09T19:39:26.973+08:00

With Bayani just before the interview that didn't get picked by Amazing Race Asia. Oh well, next time again.With auntie Katelijne, pa's youngest sister. Pa has 19 brothers and sisters. Well, actually 15. In chronological order: Marc, Arnold (Papa), Rita, Ivo, Agnes, Lieva, Bea, Marijke, Veerle, Ludo, Koen, Wim, Katelijne, Bruno, and Raf. I remember Lola saying once that if you compute all the

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-52658368422387625782008-06-28T18:27:00.011+08:002008-07-09T19:41:45.880+08:00

The first batch of facilitators show what they're made of in Zamboanga City.Lilli the German-Filipina gymnast in Talikod.Discussing the Bangsamoro Right to Self-Determination in Jolo, Sulu.A family traveling to unknown destination in Lamitan, Basilan.Good friends make the world go round at home on the rooftop.Celebrating 27 years of existence at Autoshop.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-36476940611040813802008-05-09T09:37:00.005+08:002008-06-26T21:37:39.133+08:00

Last December 9, Angan-Angan (Dreams) won the Mindanao Shorts in the Kontra-Agos film festival known for showing films that “go against the grain.” In an interview, Sheron Dayoc, the director, reveals Angan-Angan (Dreams) is really a story about the Yakan women of Basilan.In the jungles of Basilan a grandmother is weaving. She tells her ten year old granddaughter to learn how to weave in order

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-24181682898079832232008-04-24T15:03:00.021+08:002008-04-24T15:58:21.815+08:00

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-13637906536463107462008-04-23T01:40:00.005+08:002008-07-19T19:26:51.523+08:00

Went to watch the SP session today. Was the picture-taker for the councilors of Lamitan, Basilan. They were impressed by the professionalism of Davao City Councilors Cabling, Dayanghirang, Lavina, Reta, Zozobrado, Lavina, et. al. They couldn’t stop talking about the strictness of Sarah and the wonderful Earth Day speech of Avila. But the highlight for me was when the pregnant Councilor Angging

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-58492608475928097562008-04-23T01:32:00.036+08:002008-06-26T21:40:59.258+08:00

We left Santa Ana Wharf at 3pm, had an early dinner at a resort in Kaputian, took some pictures on the beach, then, as it was beginning to drizzle, we put on our lights and started pedaling into the approaching darkness. One hour later, as we reached Peñaplata, the sky burst but we refused to be cowed by its anger. Afraid we would be left behind by the barge, we raced to Babak, the wind whipping

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-1974084676097380502008-03-02T20:59:00.001+08:002008-03-03T08:49:33.655+08:00

Two days ago, I got caught jaywalking in Claveria but because of sheer bravado (for lack of a better ‘sounding’ word), I was able to walk away with my police record untainted.I could have avoided the confrontation with the cop because I saw him standing near City Triangle. He was looking at the pedestrians and standing there in an arrogant pose that said don’t-you-dare-cross-the-road-or-else! I

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-88809325622583528282008-03-02T20:56:00.003+08:002008-03-04T01:07:27.378+08:00

Bayani arrived two weeks ago from Laguna. We first went mountainbiking and then went tubing in Sibulan river.Never heard of river tubing? The contraption is actually an inflated inner tubing of a truck’s wheel. It looks like a gigantic doughnut with flat rope webs converging in the middle of the hole. You have to sit in the tube with your legs hanging out and let the current drag you downstream.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-71886860295483599192008-02-02T21:05:00.000+08:002008-02-04T15:46:09.243+08:00

Gideon. Obo-bagobo. His frame rippling with muscles. I can tell even through his loose T-shirt. He smiles easily and answers all my questions. Nice guy. But short. He only reaches up to my chin. Is his wife smaller, I wonder? Gideon walks up the trail in front of me, his legs like tree trunks. He is walking barefoot. Where are his shoes? Don't his feet hurt? They are really big. Maybe he doesn't

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-44889747330743493602008-01-25T15:07:00.000+08:002008-02-04T14:36:08.543+08:00

“Apparently, sticking our arms into lots of cow shit has not curbed our appetite.”The Monday after Herbalife’s Spectacular, Che and I stayed the whole day at the English Department of Ateneo de Manila University giving teachers a free health and wellness evaluation that includes a fat analysis. Side tripped to Jesscom and shopped for shoes in Baranka, Marikina. At around 6 p.m., left for Laguna

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-6543505311057140572008-01-25T15:03:00.000+08:002008-01-25T15:26:06.567+08:00

When I was in Manila, I texted some high school classmates to get together: Kristin, Armi May, Maye Ann, Stella, Sheila, Arianne, Amihan, and Dominador. Armi texted back that she’s in Thailand, Stella texted she’s in Antique, Kristin let me know she’d try to make it. The rest, no reply. At the last minute, good old Jerry preferred to leave me in the hands of my girl friends. So that’s how I met

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-76504670486129443582008-01-25T14:56:00.000+08:002008-01-25T15:02:47.355+08:00

Went to Manila last weekend to join Herbalife’s Spectacular gathering. Was impressed by the before and after results of Herbalifers. Especially the man with the nine-month beer belly that just disappeared. (Pregnant-looking males out there – there’s still hope for you!) One woman with a terrific sense of humor said she’s 60, but looked like she’s 35. Her secret? She drinks about 6 shakes a day.

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-22668932543593207682008-01-02T14:47:00.000+08:002008-01-02T15:22:05.318+08:00

Last year was one of the best and worst years. Finished my thesis, graduated with an MA degree and said goodbye to friends in Ateneo de Manila University; visited Bayani in Los Banos, Evohn in Antique, and went snorkeling in Palawan; joined a “peace” meeting in Midsayap; made the first two big investments of my life – talakitok and equities in Philam. Broke up with Ariel (sigh) but rediscovered

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-72255006559622011262007-12-22T18:21:00.000+08:002007-12-22T18:31:33.311+08:00

8:00 a.m. Wake up. 9:00 a.m. Meet Ian at the L300 station in Bankerohan10:00 a.m. Arrive in Calinan.Bought 2 cans of corned beef, 2 cans of sausages, 2 cans of meatloaf, 2 kilos of rice, 2 bottles of mineral water, 2 packs of chips.With our food and bags of clothes and toiletries, plus our camera equipment, we jump on the motorbike and off we go past Malagos and the Philippine Eagle Foundation

MayaFlamindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18362790048442874009noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8967561300104341012.post-44522789880707151272007-12-03T14:56:00.000+08:002007-12-03T14:57:57.325+08:00

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