Philippines Vacation and Long Term Stay

by: Aileen and Marty Our weather in the Philippines is humid. It is refreshing and it can careen to the typical summer weather. Sometimes after a warm sunshine, a strong rain follows. This can be very uncomfortable, you may feel actually sticky with this weather conditions. So how to keep feeling fresh all the time: 1. Make sure you take a bath daily or twice if necessary. 2. Change your clothes daily especially if you come in from work or school. 3. Best to always use new clothes. The weather in the Philippines is warm and cool at the same, and perspiration facilitates body odor bacteria to multiply fast. 4. Wear deodorant every after taking a bath. 5. Always use a powder and slightly scented cologne. 6. Do not hesitate to change foundation garments when necessary. 7. Wash hands and brush 3 x a day.

by: Charles Bolanos This article is for balikbayans and OFWs who had great devotion to our Lady and  will visit the Philippines. Our Lady of Manaoag Photo by: Ian Vicente Holy Week  is also a good time to visit our Lady's shrine. My favorite shrine is Our Lady of Manaoag. Most balikbayans and OFWs have great devotion to Our Lady. Families, students and barkadas (group of friends) visit this shrine. Inside the Basilica, there is a place where you can touch the gown of our Lady.  And imagine yourself to be right beside her telling her anything, including things you would like to ask her help. The same way you ask your mommy when you are in good times or bad. Now, if you haven't experience really having a real Mom because of one reason or another, the Blessed Mother Mary will never fail you. I guarantee. So here I am asking our Lady's help and praying as I knelt and touch her Queenly gown and prayed for the Holy Father's pilgrimage then to the United States and all other t

by: Mary Ann Bolanos The Filipinos have a wide collection of cultures from different nationalities. Museum hopping is one of my favorite past time to understand the culture of my ancestors which hails from the Spanish,the American, the Chinese and  the authentic Filipino. Most Filipinos are now a mixture of several nationalities. One time I saw a young person whom I thought is from the Middle East. I was expecting him to talk in his native country tongue. I was surprise to hear him speak fluently in Tagalog! It turned out that he was brought up in the Philippines since birth. Growing up in the Philippines -  can also open up horizons and wonderment - studying with other nationalities speaking not Tagalog but the Mindanao dialect which ranges from Cebuano to Chabacano. I literally blinked my eyes many times just to make sure that the British looking girl or an Italian Boy talking to me was actually speaking Cebuano, Visayan, Ilonggo, Chabacano and Tagalog. We are in a cosmopoliltan era

by: Mrs. Evie Bolanos Here is what we did after Museum hopping, we went to a native resto in the Philippines. Learning culinary cooking in the Philippines is best done on foot and tasting it on the road. I took some photos of the best seller in this resto along the highway... Boiled Oyster in Coconut Vinaigrette and Green Chili Charles' Favorite Boiled Oyster in Coconut Vinaigrette Ingredients: Fresh Oysters 1/2 K,  Coco Vinaigrette 1/3 C, 1 whole chopped onions and 2 heads garlic minced, 1 big green chili, salt and pepper. Procedure: Boil in 7 minutes. Mixed Native Green Veggetables in Fish Sauce Ingredients: Newly harvested green leafy vegetables: kangkong, saluyot, green chili pepper (this may be hot or not variety), newly tomatoes, onions, garlic, pangasinan shrimp paste and pepper. Procedure: 1. Saute freshly harvested veggies in garlic, onions, tomatoes, pangasinan shrimp paste and pepper. 2. Pour beef broth (please use an authentic one). I prefer the broth from beef's bo

by: Aileen and Marty 1. Umbrella. Do not leave the furnished house in Novaliches without it. 2. Plastic boots or sturdy flip flops. 3. Rain coat, available in all malls. 4. Vitamin C 5. Minerals 6. Virgin Coconut Oil available in 12 dozens order or retail if you are staying at the furnished apartment in novaliches. Super effective in preventing flu. If you feel that you are about to get a flu, just drink 2 T of this, vitamin C, chicken soup or beef soup...then sleep - you will see the effect. Available at: +639228824296 or +639237386723 7. Always eat properly before leaving the house  you are renting or vacation apartment, in case  you get caught in a traffic jam when the rain pours. 

by: N. Lucenario June is the time not only for wedding bells to ring but also  for last-minute vacations. In either case, one thing’s for  sure: it’s time again to meet up with the family. Family  reunions are almost traditional in the Philippines as  it is a country that heavily values its filial bonds.  Unlike other countries wherein even the immediate  families rarely meet, when a family reunion is mentioned  here, it means it’s a gathering not just with your parents  and siblings, but with the rest of your “angkan”. With  so many events like these to go to in the hustle-bustle  of the June weather, it’s a good practice to make sure  you’ve got everything arranged and you’re all  prepared for the events coming in the near future.  Whether it’s a “before-school family gathering”, a  marriage, or even a weekend getaway, you have to  jot it down in your calendar to make sure you don’t  miss out (or god forbid, disappoint your parents!).  When you’re at your family reunion, make sure to

Charles and Charlene Bolanos Charles: I look younger here, because this was taken 5 years back. Dr. Jose Rizal celebrated his birthday recently, so I decided to post our remembrance photo when we visited a Museum in the countryside. Charlene: This time we visited a province in Pangasinan called Binmaley! Here is a Takoko, made of a big dried squash, bamboo, gourd or palm. Typical hat worn while going around the province.  Me, wearing Takoko. I think I look Vietnamese here, but I am not. You see I was born in Novaliches , but grew up in Cavite. Takoko The Takoko is famous among the farmers and their wives. It protects the head from the heat, especially during planting and harvest time. Alo or Pestle.  Charles: The Alo or pestle is used by farmers before cooking rice. The farmers like to eat their rice fresh. So before cooking, they get from their rice harvest, then pound the rice to get rid of the hard husk. Then boil!                                           Me, experiencing how to p