An Interesting Afternoon at the Pinoy Grocery Store

Every other Sunday after mass at about noon time, Macrine,(my spouse of 57 years) and I drive to a Filipino grocery store about 10 miles from our residence. In the store we purchase Filipino goods, groceries, cakes and delicacies. We have been doing this for the last 10 years, thus the owner of the store, a pretty Pinay about 45 years old knows us very well. In the store while shopping, the owner and I would talk on subjects about life in the Philippines versus life here in the US.

Yesterday, our topic of conversation touched on the Pinoy TV drama, My Husband's Lover- which is now very popular not only in the Philippines but also all over the world. The show can be seen if you subscribed to cable television(GMA) or via the Internet.

The last two episodes of this drama last week portrayed the subject of military training and the cure of homosexuality. When this episode was broadcasted last week, I immediately wrote a comment that this episode is very unrealistic and as far as I know no one was ever cured of homosexuality no matter how rigorous the mental and physical training in the military. I was however very surprised when the owner of the Pinoy store asked me if homosexuality can be cured by military training as portrayed in the TV drama.

Our friend question aroused my curiosity about the origin, biology and genetic influences of homosexuality, lesbianism and bisexuality. I did some Internet searched and here is a statement from the American Psychological Association website.

“There is no consensus among scientists about the exact reasons that an individual develops a heterosexual, bisexual, gay, or lesbian orientation. Although much research has examined the possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural influences on sexual orientation, no findings have emerged that permit scientists to conclude that sexual orientation is determined by any particular factor or factors. Many think that nature and nurture both play complex roles; most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.”

The factors which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual orientation, include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure.

For more detail discussions on biology and sexual orientation, visit the website as follows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_and_sexual_orientation

Have You Heard of Manila, California, USA?

The suburb of Manila, Philippines ( UP, Diliman, Q.C.) is the place where I spent my college years and my first teaching job after my Bachelor's degree graduation. So, I was interested in finding out if there are other places in the world call Manila. I hope the following other places will not be known also as the GATES OF HELL!( according to Dan's Brown novel-Inferno). Manila is currently in the Internet with this video from the Blakes- a singing trio from London, UK.

British Trio singing Manila in London

I was surprised that there are actually 11 cities/towns that are named Manila in the US, two of them in Alabama. There is one city in Paraguay, South America also named Manila. Here is the lists for your information. For details and map of the various US cities look in Goggles. Is there a city or town named Manila in Europe or Canada?

1. Manila, Alabama ( Clarke County)

2. Manila, Alabama (Dallas County)

3. Manila, Arizona

4. Manila, Arkansas

5. Manila, California -Manila is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located 3.25 miles (5.2 km) north of downtown Eureka, at an elevation of 13 feet (4 m). The ZIP Code is 95521. The town was founded at the end of World War II, and named after Manila in the Philippines. I have been to Eureka on a business trip, but not in Manila, California.

6. Manila, Colorado

7. Manila, Kentucky

8. Manila, Missouri

9. Manila, Tennessee

10. Manila, Utah

11. Manila, West Virginia

12. Manila, Paraguay, South America

13. Manila, Philipines

Personal Note: Like New York City, Manila is a nice place to visit ( not during the rainy season), But I will not live there even if you gave me a million dollars!

The Cup Song

This video is getting a lot of viewers in the Web! Cool and awesome version of the cup song!
Ditas and Carenna had their own version, that I hope they will post in Facebook soon!

I need a Break from the Depressing News this Week

I am so tired of reading depressing news in the Philippines( pork barrel scandal) as well as here in the US ( The Syrian gassing of its own people and the US involvement) and the projected solar flare( emission of electromagnetic particles) in November that can fry all computers ( if this happens it will be a catastrophic event in the whole world). Today, I decided to post another joke that was sent to me by a friend from the Philippines. Smile!

WHAT IS POLITICS? A little boy goes to his dad and asks, "What is politics?"

Dad says, "Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I'm the breadwinner of the family, so let's call me capitalism. Your Mom, she's the administrator of the money, so we'll call her the Government. We're here to take care of your needs, so we'll call you the people. The nanny, we'll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we'll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense,"

So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parents' room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny's room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, "Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now."

The father says, "Good son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about."

The little boy replies, "Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep poo.

Carenna Katague Thompson Favorite Song

Every time I hear the song Mulan-Reflection, it reminds me of my grand daughter, Carenna Katague Thompson.

This was the first song she had memorized when she was only five years old. That was about 5 years ago. How time flies!

( Sang by Lea Salonga-Philippines International Broadway Star and Actress)-one of my favorite Pinay singer. Currently, Salonga is one of the judges and mentor in a TV singing competition program called the Voice of the Philippines.

Update on the Pork Barrel Scandal in the Philippines

Here's the latest update on the pork barrel scandal that has awaken the ire of millions of Filipinos all over the world including myself. There are three names in the list that are familiar to me. They are the representatives from my hometown in Iloilo, former House of Congress members from Marinduque and Batangas.

With this scandal, my respect and admiration for the three representatives have gone done from 100% to zero. I agree with the suggestion of the media to call the Pinoy legislators Senatongs and Representathieves and The House of Congress-The House of Corruption.

Again as in the past three years, I am advocating the elimination of the pork barrel, now! My Filipino Countrymen, this is the time to act and let your voice be heard. Please like this post if you agree!

marinduque rising: COA list on massive misuse of pork barrel: With P 10-Billion in Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) embezzled and lost to "shameless politicians", the alleged pork

Christmas Season Began in the Philippines, Yesterday

Do you know that September 1(yesterday)was the beginning of Christmas Season in the Philippines? It not only starts on the first day of September, but also ends 5 months later on January 31 of the next year. If you do not believe me, try reading some blogs about life in the Philippines from American and European expatriate nationals who are now living in the Philippines with their Filipina wives or read any Philippine newspaper in the Internet. The Philippines has the longest, lavish and most festive Christmas season in the whole world.

Speaking of Christmas songs my favorite Filipino Christmas song is Pasko Na Sinta Ko( Its Christmas, My Love) sang by world famous singer Lea Salonga. Here's a short video of the song plus another Filipino Christmas ballad( Sana Ngayon Pasko Na). If you are an OFW ( Overseas Filipino Worker) you will enjoy these two songs with background of the Philippine scenery, Filipino food and delicacies. I hope it will make you feel nostalgic about the Philippines and forget just for one day the corruption and scandal regarding the pork barrel that has angered millions of Filipinos not only in the Philippines but also in other parts of the world.



Here in US, the Christmas Season starts after Thanksgiving and ends the day after New Year or sometimes after the Feast of Three Kings on January 6.

I believe the Philippines is the only country in the world that celebrate Christmas 5 months every year.

Am I right? Are there any other countries in the world that celebrates Christmas longer than 5 months? My advance Christmas greetings to you all my beloved readers from 174 countries all over the world.

I hope this posting is a good break from all the depressing news about the pork barrel scandal that has angered millions of Filipinos all over the world including my self.

The Sound of Silence

Let me start the month of September with my favorite ballad from the mid 1960's. Enjoy!

This is one of my favorite song of the mid 1960's. The other one is Bridge over troubled Waters also by Simon and Garfunkel.


Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools," said I, "You do not know –
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence.