Life Cycle

THEME SONGS NG MAG-ASAWA

1-10 years Araw-araw, Gabi-gabi
11-20 years Saan Ka Man Naroroon
21-50 years Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan
50-above Maala Ala mo Kaya

THE MORE THE MANIER

3-8 years old Paramihan ng Toys
9-18 Pataasan ng Grades
19-25 Padamihan ng Syota
26-35 Pagandahan ng Asawa
36-45 Palakihan ng Income
46-55 Padamihan, Pagandahan at Pabataan ng Kabit
56-70 Padamihan ng Sakit
71 and above PABONGGAHAN NG LIBING!

ESSENCE OF SMELL IN LIFE

Lotion for Babies
Cologne for the 20′s
Efficascent Oil for the 40′s
Bawang and Luya for the 60′s
Beyond 60′s … FORMALIN NA.

STAGES OF PRAYERS OF SINGLE WOMEN

At 15: Lord, give me Superman
At 18: Lord, give me a Cute Man
At 20: Lord, give me the Best Man
At 30: Lord, give me a Good Man
At 40: Lord, give me a Man
At 50: Lord, give me Sino Man
At 60: Lord, maawa ka naMan
At 70: Lord, kaya ko pa naMan
At 80: LORD, KAHIT MAHIPO MAN LANG!

Moving on to P-NOY’s sisters…

The refusal of the sisters Ballsy Cruz and Pinky Abellada, sisters of PNoy, to get VIP Treatment in NAIA Terminal 3 on their way to a flight to Hong Kong was commended by the staff and other passengers who witnessed the sisters’ humility.

According to the report by Philstar, the sisters were spotted falling in line together with other relatives at the departure area when they were approached by the immigration officials to be assisted. The sisters refused and insisted to be treated equally like the rest of the passengers. It was also reported that they even took out their shoes in the final security check even if the officers were insisting for them to pass ahead. To explain why they refuse the VIP treatment, Ballsy said: “We created the rules and we must obey the rules.”

This act of humility however only highlighted the primadonna attitude of their youngest sister Kris who, to avoid the awaiting-press, was whisked to the VIP lounge of NAIA 2 while immigration officers had their documents stamped and processed.

Of course, with the current Kris -James news, it’s only more convenient for her children to be shielded from the media, but in a Kris-jaded society, one can’t help but compare and note the difference of values.

A Salute to Brotherhood

Our quest for the best way to commemorate Filipino-American Friendship led us to the unbreakable bond of brotherhood born behind enemy lines of many wars past, and seeing its true meaning from the eyes of a war hero and de-facto Filipino ambassador to the world himself, Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos.

HEROISM knows no color or race. Whenever there is talk of Filipino-American Friendship Day, the first picture that enters my head is an image of uniformed men of two different races bound together in a newfound peace, rejoicing in victory over the Japanese. Add this to the feeling of pride that at many a time in our country’s history, our forefathers have given all they could, even their own lives, just so we can enjoy the freedom we do today.

After researching for this special feature and having had the privilege of connecting with one of the most active advocates of Filipino veterans’ heroism and their rights, Former President Fidel V. Ramos, I finally see why this picture makes perfect sense. That it goes beyond the usual facets of American tutelage that witnessed many changes in Filipino life and culture – public education and democratic institutions being two of their most enduring contributions – is not exactly something new, but something that needs to be shed more light on especially for younger generations, Filipinos and Americans alike.

Let us together take a look at the deeper meaning of this celebration carrying much significance that, regardless of various views across peoples and ages, deserves a proud military hand salute and more.

Multiple meanings

The Philippines celebrates Filipino-American Friendship Day on July 4th for the 47th year since 1963. It’s interesting to note that before this year, July 4 since 1946 was celebrated as Philippine Independence Day. This was the day in 1946 when United States President Harry S. Truman proclaimed United States withdrawal, surrendering all rights of possession, supervision, jurisdiction, and control of sovereignty, and recognizing the independence of the Philippines.

It was in 1964 that President Diosdado Macapagal moved the celebration of Philippine Independence Day from July 4 to June 12, the date in 1898 when President Emilio Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence; at the same time, President Macapagal proclaimed July 4 as Filipino-American Friendship Day.

Whether or not the date July 4 was meant to end up being a reminder of Philippine Independence, US Independence and the Filipino-American Friendship all at the same time, the coincidence makes it clear now how we should rightfully commemorate this date.

While the numerous benefits generated by mutual trust and friendship among nations is in itself worth celebrating, we found it more timely this time around to look at it from the point of view of the Filipino veterans: bastions of courage and valor, those who from the start bravely fought side by side the American soldiers and faced the same bullets from Japanese oppressors during World War II, and in fact persisted in raising resistance movements of their own, from 1941 to 1942, and then again in mid-1945 to claim the Philippine liberation that was long fought for.

From the Veteran’s point of view

Having witnessed and personally experienced the hardships and travails of a soldier, even as a teenager serving as courier of the guerilla movement in eastern Pangasinan during the Japanese occupation, war veterans hold a special place in former President Fidel V. Ramos’ heart.

This view was also instilled in him by his father, the late Philippine Ambassador Narciso Ramos, himself a guerilla leader and champion of Filipino veterans’ rights. For his part, FVR has spurred the participation of Philippine presidents, ambassadors, defense secretaries, veterans’ delegations and other leaders to tenaciously lobby for a “Filipino Veteran’s Equity Law.” This move was what began what FVR himself called “the long march to the Veterans Equity Law.”

Knowing these about the former President was enough motivation for us to ask permission from his kind office to grant us an exclusive interview on the topic. Still ever busy even as a civilian as he continues to chair his very own non-profit, non-partisan Ramos Peace and Development Foundation (RPDEV), we were overjoyed to have gotten the privilege to impart to Talk Talk Tilaok readers former President FVR’s words of wisdom.
FVR shares, “After Bataan-Corregidor fell, the liberation of the Philippines took more than three years of bloody combat against Japanese forces through General Douglas MacArthur’s epic island-hopping campaign and nationwide guerilla resistance movement.

But the salvation of the Philippines did take place in mid-1945, and we eventually won our independence from the United States on 4 July 1946…which would have not been made possible had it not been for the valiant spirit of Bataan – the force of unconquerable faith, a courageous fight that has led to a glorious victory.”

Such was and continues to be the passion of FVR for the cause of the Filipino veterans of World War II that during the his presidency and until today as RPDEV Chairman, whenever FVR visits the US, he meets with veterans’ groups and US policymakers and legislators to continue upholding the cause of the veterans and their families.

Likewise, in his capacity as Honorary Director of the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation (GDMF), an organization dedicated to education, veterans’ welfare and historical research, FVR serves as the country’s link to the efforts of the US to preserve the legacy of General Douglas MacArthur who led the Allied Liberation Forces in the Philippines during World War II.

FVR appealed to leaders, particularly former US President George W. Bush to pass two Legislative bills, the Filipino Veterans’ Equity Act of 2005 and 2006, which were promoted by US Senator Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye, to give equal rights and benefits to at least 24,000 Filipino war veterans for their service and heroism alongside US troops.

The fruit of the combined efforts of many Filipino leaders and other staunch veteran supporters came on February 17, 2009, when US President Obama finally signed the $787 billion economic stimulus bill into law, which also included in its provisions the giving of a lump sum of payment for qualified World War II Filipino veterans. Obama, when he was still a Senator, was a staunch supporter of the Equity Bill.

Better Late Than Never/Too Little, Too Late

The passage into law of the Equity Bill granted the Filipino veterans of World War II lump sum amounts of $15,000, and $9,000 are to be received by those residing in the United States and the Philippines respectively. Former president FVR however has something to say about this. “Depending on one’s perspective, that package was either ‘Too Little, Too Late’ for the veterans themselves and the widows/orphans they left behind, or ‘Better Late than Never’ for those who labored hard and long to get the equity bill enacted by US Congress.”

FVR elaborated, “Unlike under Philippine laws, widows are not entitled to any benefits under said 2009 US Federal Act if their husband-veterans died before its effective date or failed to apply before for benefits before a specific time frame. On the other hand, the door has been kept open for private and official groups to follow up on entitlements that may still be due the widows and descendants, and recognized guerillas not included in the official list of the US Army.”

This clearly shows, FVR said, that the US legislators have at least left open a window for Filipino veterans and their descendants to campaign for and obtain other non-cash benefits in the near future. It also means that official government and private lobby work can continue to gain more benefits.

While not exactly the expected outcome of the Filipino veterans and even FVR himself, this positive development of the law affecting both Filipino veterans residing in the Philippines and the US, we believe, is worth lauding and saluting. At the end of the day, all this would not have been possible if it was not for the ties of friendship that our country’s leadership over the years have strengthened with the Americans.

Hence, I must say, that this breakthrough for our very own World War II heroes is in fact one of the most significant, relevant gains the Philippines have ever been bestowed through the Filipino-American Friendship we celebrate yearly in this month of July.

To end, former President FVR granted us permission to publish his message to his fellow veterans last November 11, 2009 during the US Veterans Day commemoration at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial. In his own words, FVR defines what this “brotherhood” forged many years ago between the Filipinos and Americans truly stands for.

Renewing Our Bonds of Brotherhood
Remarks of Former Pres. Fidel Valdez Ramos
Chairman, Ramos Peace and Development (RPDEV) Foundation and Boao Forum for ASIA (BFA)

Madame Ambassador, fellow veterans – 17,202 of your country’s soldiers, sailors and airmen lie here – in the largest concentration of America’s war dead in World War II, among them many of Filipino blood and origin. This Manila American Memorial Cemetery reveals and highlights the bonds of brotherhood that have long existed between the Philippines and the United States.

The Spirit of Bataan

To emphasize today’s importance, allow me to recall the stirring tribute to the Filipino-American defenders of Bataan composed by then Captain Salvador Lopez – later UP President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs – which was broadcast over The Voice of Freedom, by Lieutenant Norman Reyes on the 9th of April 1942:

“Bataan has fallen
With heads bloody but unbowed, we yield to the enemy.
The world will long remember the epic struggle.
We have stood up uncomplaining.
Besieged on land and blockaded by sea,
We have done all that human endurance could bear.
What sustained us was a force more than merely physical.
It was the force of an unconquerable faith,
Something in the soul that is immortal.
It is the thought of native land.
All the world will testify, Men fighting with unshakable faith,
Are made of something more than flesh.
But we are not made of impervious steel. The flesh must yield at last,
Endurance melts away, And the end of the battle must come.
Bataan has fallen, But the spirit that made it stand –
A Beacon to all the world, cannot fall…
Our defeat is our victory.

Liberty Exacts A Price

Here, where we are, it is essential – nay, a patriotic duty – to realize that Liberty exacts a high price from those who value it.

Our two peoples have paid dearly for the freedom we both enjoy.

But – as the late Pope John Paul II once reminded the young people of his native Poland – “It is what costs that constitutes value, and we do not want liberty which costs us nothing.”

For us veterans, the world has turned over many times since we were young warriors in the service of God, country and people.

Those of us who have survived have earned their honorable retirement.

But old soldiers cannot just fade away.

For there are battles that we still must fight – against injustice, against bad governance, against poverty and corruption.

In international relations, the standards of justice still mainly depend on the authority of power to compel – so that the strong still do all they can; and the weak still accept what they must. This norm is no longer acceptable.

To honor our heroic dead, we who are their heirs must try to live for some useful purpose in our remaining years.

A nation exemplifies itself not only by the citizens it produces, but also by those it honors and those it remembers.

These rituals we observe here will be meaningful only if we depart from this sacred memorial resolved to dedicate the rest of our days to the ideals for which those who lie here and in unknown graves elsewhere gave their lives in the defense of freedom.

Mabuhay and best wishes to all!

Former President Fidel V. Ramos holds up the Talk Talk Tilaok May 2010 issue. In photo are Creative Director Michelle Ramos-Casal and coopywriter Joan Lopez-Flores (Photo by June Gerard Maralit)

Dr. Connie Mariano

Navigating from Navy to White House

Reading through the pages of Filipino-American history, I have learned that as early as 1898, the U.S. Navy began recruiting young Filipinos as stewards and mess boys. Indeed in 1901, President William McKinley issued General Order No. 40 allowing the U.S. Navy to recruit up to 500 Filipinos for the Naval Insular Force. Fast forward to the 21st Century, the remarkable journey of Dr. Eleanor Concepcion “Connie” Mariano is one of the most inspiring stories to emerge out of this alliance.

Dr. Connie is dubbed as the “Filipina with many firsts,” including the 1st military woman to become the White House Physician to the President, the 1st woman Director of the White House Medical Unit, the 1st Filipino American in US history to become a Navy Rear Admiral and the long list of impressive “firsts” continues. Read more

Washington Watch

In summertime, the population of D.C. doubles. Tourists here. Tourists there. Tourists everywhere.

We almost always become tourist guides to folks and friends from out of state or from the Philippines showing off local attractions like the Washington Monument, the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Jefferson, Lincoln and the war memorials, the Arlington National Cemetery and the Smithsonian museums. There are also other tourist spots on a less beaten path that offer the tourist an equally historical and educational experience, often taken for granted because they are outside of D.C. but they are just a short drive away.

MOUNT VERNON

One such sight is Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, America’s first commander-in-chief and considered to be one of the greatest U.S. presidents. Sitting above the Potomac River, the estate includes a 14-room mansion and a breathtaking view of the Maryland shore.

An avid farmer, Washington planned the landscape of his home. To this day, visitors can see plants known to have been in Mount Vernon in the late 1700s. Forty-five acres of the estate are open to the public. Visitors can tour more than a dozen outbuildings including the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, a four-acre working farm that includes a re-creation of the 16-sided treading barn.

Every July 4th, Mount Vernon salutes George Washington with a spectacular smoke fireworks in patriotic colors over the Potomac River, a wreath-laying ceremony and military re-enactments.

STEVEN F. UDVAR-HAZY CENTER

Another sight to visit is the companion facility to the Smithsonian Institute, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles International Airport which opened in December 2003. It houses the largest collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. Most notably, the B29 superfortress bomber Enola Gay that was used in the mission that dropped the atomic bomb destroying Hiroshima, Japan piloted by Colonel Paul Tibbets is on display there.

In November 2004, the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, which boasts of a total of 113 large space artifacts including two Mercury capsules, an Apollo Command Module, an array of cruise missiles, satellites and space telescopes, was opened.

The centerpiece of the hangar is the space shuttle Enterprise, the first space shuttle orbiter.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL

Being a predominantly Catholic people, we usually bring guests to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. But a more historical place worth visiting is the imposing Washington National Cathedral, the sixth largest cathedral in the world. The cathedral’s English Gothic architecture is complemented by wood carvings, gargoyles, mosaics and more than 200 stained glass windows. Yet, though it pays homage to centuries-old ecclesiastical design traditions, the cathedral’s stately silhouette is leavened by some slyly humorous touches, including an occasional poke at the pompous nature of Washington officialdom. Visitors who focus their binoculars on the cathedral’s roofline will see carvings of a corrupt politician with a wad of $100 bills emerging from his coat pocket, a businessman carrying a briefcase, and even Darth Vader, the arch villain from the Star Wars movies. Many of these figures were created by talented immigrants, most of them Italian-born stone carvers whose skills were honed by years of rigorous training in their native country.

The Cathedral has also been the location of many historic events, including a burial for a U.S. president (Woodraw Wilson), three state funerals (Eisenhower, Reagan and Ford) and seven memorial services for presidents of the United States. More recently, the funeral service of NBA basketball player Manute Bol was held here on June 29, 2010.

Come and visit with us in D.C. and we’ll do D.C. together.

Tips on Cooking Trips

By Lutchie Anne C. Coral

The urge to put up a business came to me that one night, when I felt so old and poor at the age of 26. After all, the guy who invented facebook became a billionaire at the age of 25 and many of the Chinese business tycoons in the Philippines have stories of rags to riches.

That night I realized, there has to be way to get rich. I just have to find my niche and think like a Chinese businessman.

I am forever inspired by two persons when they delivered their messages at the 20th Advertising Congress: John Gokongwei Jr. and Neil Gaiman. Aside from realizing that listening to speeches can actually change lives, I also learned from them that there are three things that which can make a person successful: ideas, guts, and perseverance. Read more

Manny BOXiao

The MisAdventures of Manny Boxiao

Adobo Burger

by Edwina Gadsby (allrecipes.com)
A taste of the adobo history

Though no historical record about Adobo’s beginnings, many trace its origins to Spanish colonization. Early cooking of this Filipino favorite includes stewing the meat with vinegar and salt that later on referred to as “adobo,” the Spanish word for sauce, seasoning or marinade. However, it is absolutely Pinoy because of its boundless regional renditions wherein the basic recipe is enhanced through local produces that grow abundantly ranging from sugar cane to coconuts. This national dish of the Philippines, whether the main ingredient is pork, fowl, seafood or even vegetables, has truly become a culinary masterpiece among Filipinos. Over the course of time, more and more food lovers from different countries around the world are now becoming converts of this diverse dish.

Hamburger – the crowd pleaser

Hamburger translates from the German as “of Hamburg” in reference to a citizen from Hamburg. Rooted deeply in their culture, Americans consume hamburgers more than any other food. Like adobo, the meat used for the patty may vary – from the classic beef to pork, chicken, veal, fish or if you want to veer away from these “sinful” meats, you may go vegan. As hamburger travels across the four corners of the world, its ingredients range from common garnishes to the extremely wild herbs and spices of different culture. Hamburger has truly conquered the world and even down to the depths of the Bikini Bottom (of the cartoon series SpongeBob SquarePants), Mr. Eugene Krabs has his own much coveted version of the burger.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 1/4 teaspoons adobo sauce
• 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
• Juice and grated peel of 1 lime
• 1 ear of fresh corn, shucked and kernels scraped from
cop, or 3/4 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 4 kaiser rolls, split
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup queso fresco (Mexican fresh cheese),
crumbled
• 1 Hass avocado—peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
• lengthwise

PROCEDURE
1. Preheat a griddle or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. In a medium bowl, mix together the ground beef, 2 teaspoons adobo seasoning, onion and lime peel and set aside. Spread the corn kernels in a single layer on the griddle and allow them to cook, undisturbed, until charred, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

2. Meanwhile, reduce the heat under the griddle to medium. Form the meat mixture into 4 patties and cook for 4 minutes per side for medium.

3. During the last minute of cooking, toast the rolls, cut side down, on the grill.

4. Once the corn kernels have cooled, stir in the mayonnaise, cheese, lime juice and remaining 1/4 teaspoon adobo seasoning. Spread the corn-queso mayonnaise on the toasted side of each roll. Top each roll bottom with the avocado slices and a patty, then set the roll tops into place.

Gadget in Review: HTC Desire

It is no secret that the HTC Desire was patterned from the Google Nexus One which it was also commissioned to do (it’s more like a co-branded partnership) early this year. As such, the Desire looks like a fraternal twin of the Nexus One with some minor cosmetic changes and a few added features.

The rounded corners, the brown and dark gray tones and the optical trackpad are all signature designs of HTC. The Desire has all that with an anodized aluminum front and (rubber-like) polymer back panel. The power button is on top, just across the 3.5mm headphone jack. The micro-USB port is at the bottom and the volume rocker is placed at the left side. The handset lacks a dedicated camera button normally found in most other smartphones. At the back is the 5MP camera and LED flash.
Read more

I Left My Heart in Manila (Chapter 4)

Mabuti na lang sa Makati lang nakatira si Mike. In only 20 minutes since after calling him to pick me up – since after “the horror” – I saw his red car turn the corner from where I stood, in front of Jon’s office building in Alabang.

I still couldn’t shake off the image of Jon and that woman kissing! And when he was supposed to be waiting for me, of all nights – we planned a date, for goodness’ sakes! And I thought those things happened only in the movies!

Mike’s passenger door opened right before me. From where I stood I saw him peering at me from his seat, wearing an old pair of denim shorts tattered at the hem, his favorite Rolling Stones shirt and a concerned look on his face. “Sakay na, ano ba. Let’s get you home.”

He sounded calm but I heard a silent rage in his voice. All he kept saying on the phone a while ago when I called him was “Gago talaga yon. Walang’ya siya. Ba’t niya gagawin sayo ‘yon?” over and over.

I quietly stepped inside his car and shut the door. When I looked back at Jon’s office building I thought I saw someone walking with a wobble trying to wave at me. I squinted to see if it was Jon but Mike was driving too fast and we already turned left at the next corner.
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