@your SiRVis... Simon Francis Blaise R. Vistro wants to be known as SiRVis (an amalgamation of his name, profession and penchant for service). He is a polymath wannabe in the fields of training and education, civic voluntarism, sports, arts, travel, photography and social networking. Born and raised in Dagupan City, he is a staunch advocate of the preservation of Pangasinan language, arts and culture. Follow me on: Twitter. Facebook, Tumblr, Plurk.
Showing posts with label POC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label POC. Show all posts

Saturday, March 5, 2011

What makes March special?

March is just one month among the 11 other months of the year. For some, March is special; for others it is just but an ordinary month. Read about March and what it means- as seen through my eyes. Here is my Philippine Online Chronicles article


A March to remember

What’s so special about March? What makes the month of March different from the other months? Here’s a trivia: March which was named after the Roman god of war was once the first month of the year during the ancient times. This is because in the Northern hemisphere, spring season (which associated with rebirth, renewal and regrowth) begins in the month of March.
March_discovery_Phil
Philippine history is replete with events that happened in March. Magellan discovered (or rediscovered depending on one’s standpoint) the Philippines on March 16, 1521. Pinoy novelty singer Yoyoy Villame’s song however had it wrong as it is in the uninhabited Homonhon Island, Samar where the Portugese explorer actually first set foot in the Philippines:

On March 16, 1521
When Philippines was discovered by Magellan
They were sailing day and night across the big ocean
Until they saw a small Limasawa island
Magellan landed in Limasawa at noon
The people met him very welcome on the shore
They did not understand the speaking they have done
Because Kastila gid at Waray-Waray man.

It is the first mass in the Philippines that was held at Limasawa, Leyte on March 31, 1521. Several years later, on March 15, 1565, the Sandugo or a blood compact was made between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Bohol as a sign of peace agreement.

The Tejeros Convention was held at Tejeros (now General Trias) in Cavite on 22 March 1897. This is considered as the first Presidential and Vice Presidential election in the history of the Philippines. In March 23, 1901, General Emilio Aguinaldo was captured in Palanan, Isabela. The American colonial government considered this the end of the Revolution. On March 24, 1903, Meralco was granted franchise by the government to supply Manila and its environs with electricity and the electric street-railway system. The Tydings-McDuffie Act, otherwise known as the Philippine Independence Act, was signed into law on March 24, 1934.
march_fidel_ramos
Former President FVR with the author
Speaking of beginnings, March is the birthday month of our three former Presidents: MiongJPL, and mykaluyagan (provincemate and idol) Tabako. Sadly, it is also the month when “My Guy”, arguably the best President we ever had, died. March also marked the publication of two important revolutionary works, Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere in 1887 and KKK’s secret newspaper, Kalayaan in 1896.

Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here. 

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Love at Porsche Sight

So much have been said about a man's love for a car- an expensive super car! It's love at Porsche sight! Who should I choose? Si Portia, si Betty, si Mercy, si Lexie o si Fe?

Read on and enjoy the article


Toys for the big boys: love at Porsche sight


Si Portia, si Betty, si Mercy, si Lexie o si Fe?
Naku hindi ito mga pangalan ng mga babaeng nasa “Black Book ko” o listahan ng mga ex-girlfriends. Eto ay mga pangalan ng mga kotseng inaasam-asam ko. Oo ganyan talaga. Karamihan ng mga lalake ay binibigyan ng pangalan ang mga kotse at inaalagaan na parang babaeng sinisinta. Ngunit yung mga binanggit ko ay hindi lang kotse kundi mga dream cars! Woot, woot!
It’s love at Porsche sight! Si Portia para sa akin ay isang Porsche Carrera GT. Hindi ito yung kay PNoy ha. Puting 2007 Type 997 Porsche 911 yung sa kanya. Hay, buti pa siya meron ng siyang kapiling na Portia. Ayaw nga lang sabihin kung kanino binili ng makaiscore din sana ako (hindi masama ang mangarap). Kung ako siguro ang bibili walang babatikos at makikialam. Sabi ni Angelli Sabillo, marami nang mapupuntahan yung pinambili nya ng Porsche – 12 taon pambuhay ng isang pamilya (tipid pa yun ha), sahod ng pangkaraniwang mangagawa sa loob ng 35 years o pambili ng 200 kompyuter para sa mga estudyante ng pampublikong paaralan. Baka yung matuwid na daan na sinasabi niya, dun dadaan ang Porsche nya. Wow! Sarap nung sa rekta mo patakbuhin yung tsikot ng 200 mph! Nakakainggit, Jake!

porsche_and_other_big_boy_toys_2

Anyway highway, mapunta naman tayo kay Betty Boo. Isa siya Chevrolet Corvette convertible. Pangalan pa lang seksing-seksi. Kasing tunog ng ‘curve’. Mura na to sa price tag na $70,000 kumpara sa Porsche na “3rd hand” na nga 4.5 milyon pa. Si Mercy naman pang front page ng magasin. Hindi yung iniimpeach na Mercy ang sinasabi ko. Ang tinutukoy ko ay si Mercy na mas kilala sa palayaw na Chedeng. Yung type ko ay isang Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster. $ 495,000 lang naman siya. Pero pag may ganito ako dapat may isang battalion akong bodyguards at sangkatutak na anjong pambayad sa BIR. Si Lexie naman ay isang Lexus LS 460. Bagay yung pangalan kasi L is for luxury and lifestyle. Technology queen itong Lexus. Ang dami nyang features and gadgets like radar cruise control that automatically keeps a set distance from the car in front, push-button starting, and even a self-parking feature. Sosyal ito. May extended-wheelbase model with optional reclining rear seats (complete with electric massage) and dual-screen video system siya.

Pinakasikat sa lahat si Fe. Fe as in Ferrari. Controversial din siya parang si Portia. Napagusapan din si Willie Revillame dahil dito nung 2008. Hindi lang pala si Shalani ang common denominator ni Willie at PNoy, pati mamahaling kotse pala. Para sa akin there is no other color for Fe but red. Sarap tuloy kantahin yung kanta ni Chris De Burgh:

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight


Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here.

Monday, February 14, 2011

A love letter from me to Love on Valentine's Day

It's Valentine's Day and I decided to write a letter to Love. Love who drives us crrrazy and who makes us do a lot of things. It is the same Love who U2 sang In the name of, Michael Buble won a 2011 Grammy for and Madonna went Crazy for. It is the same love that launched a thousand wars and made a million peace, moved in mysterious ways, kept us alive, broke our hearts, healed and mended it, fall for once and all over again.   

Read on and Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Dear Love,
Una sa lahat pasensya na kung naistorbo kita. Alam ko busy ka ngayon kasi Valentine’s Day. Big day mo na naman tulad nung Christmas. Naalala ko yung laging mong sinasabi; “every day is a day of love.” Mahirap kaya kung araw araw na kinikilig at baka atakihin yung tao sa puso. Magkakahawig kasi kayong mga L siblings (Lust, Like, at Limerence) kaya madalas kayong napagpapalit ng mga pipol. Akala nila lahat kayo ay love. Pero hindi yan yung dahilan kung bakit ako sumulat. Hindi sentisabado ngayon o di kaya’y nagpapaka-Emo lang ako. Valentine’s kaya medyo nostalgic ako at naaalala ko yung mga “things I did for love.”
chili_hot_love_letter
Naaalala mo yung nanood ako ng sine sa Elisa Cinema? High school ako nun at dalawa yung katabi kong maganda. Sabi ko sa iyo panahin mo yung chinitang kamukha ni Carmina Villaroel ngunit mali yata narinig mo at yung morenang kahawig ni Ara Mina ang tinamaan. Nadoble gastos ko nun sa pagbili ng chichirya. Tapos ako naman sinunod mong pinana na ang bisa ay umabot ng apat na taon. Dahil sa iyo nasubukan kong magtago sa ilalim ng bench ng canteen kasi chineck ni Sir Beloy yung mga lovers na baka naglalampungan habang naghihintay ng sundo. Buti na lang kayang sapawan ng Drakkar ang amoy ng pawis ko. Napaglakbay mo din ako ng kay layo kasi taga ibang bayan siya. Kung sabagay walang panama yun kasi pinaglakbay mo din ako ng Manila-Dagupan-Baguio-Dagupan sa iisang araw lang. Siya rin yung katelebabad ko sa analog cellphone mula boarding house sa Sampaloc hanggang makarating ako sa SM Sta. Mesa. Siya rin yung kausap ko telepono sa bahay ng mahigit isang araw (kain, ihi, ligo lang ng five minutes ang yata ang pahinga). Long distance call yun kaya huwag ka masyadong maingay baka maalala ni Ermats yun kasi umabot ng five digits yun bill. Malamang ganon din sa kanya kasi salitan kami kung tumawag. Oo siya yung mala-Chin-Chin Gutierrez ang beauty.
Dahil sa iyo ang dami kong natutunang tricks sa telephone. Sa payphone, phase-out na yung dalawang bente singkong sabay. Old school na yun. Yung piso napapaabot ko ng ilang oras na parang arcade game lang. Nadiskubre ko rin na pwedeng tawagan yung payphone. Hindi siya magriring pero kung sakto ka sa timing makakausap mo yung tumawag pagpindot mo ng “talk.” Free call at free text nung bago na ang cellphone? Updated ako dyan. 
Trinansform mo din ako na parang Adam Sandler pagdating sa pagjoke at pick-up lines. Madalas corny pero mabenta for how many years. Sari-saring jokes ang aking baon mula knock knock, use in a sentence, isda, superhero at kung anu-ano pa. PinakaClassic yung “Can I Test your IQ?” at “Do you want to see magic?” spiel ko sa lahat ng aking icebreaker repertoire. Alam kong effective ito kung may pakurot kurot at palo sa akin, hagikhik na may patakip-takip ng buong mukha at ngiti ng mga matang nagniningning. 
Hindi ako magaling kumanta pero napaharana mo ako sa cadaver lab sa Medicine Building ng UST at sa bahay nung babae sa QC. Kakuntsaba ko nun ang mga toles ko sa PSG. “Ako’y Sa Iyo at Ika’y Akin” ng I Axe ang aking kinanta at hanggang ngayon, ito lang ang kantang memorized ko. Ito rin ang lagi kong kinakanta sa videoke at mga acoustic bars. Praktisado na kumbaga at kahit papikit-pikit pa. Nakahiligan ko na rin ang makinig sa mga love songs. New Wave at Punk kasi talaga ang trip kong music e. Naging theme song ko ang “Closer You and I”, “Lost in Space” at “It Might Be You.” Di ba nung kasal ko ako din yun pumili ng mga mga kanta mula sa simbahan hanggang sa reception? Yung “Somebody” by Depeche Mode at “Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin” ni Ariel Rivera pinarrange ko pa into acapella/chorale version. 
Natutunan ko ding magbigay ng mga bulaklak. Carnation kapag nagpapacute pa lang, red rose kapag in-love na, white rose kapag girlfriend na. Isang piraso kung ordinaryong araw lang tapos isusulat ko sa card ang “because it’s a Wednesday.” O kaya “Everybody is telling you: “Have a nice day.” Me? I am making it one. Tatlong bulaklak kung may okasyon. Isang dosena pagmay budget o di kaya Holland tulips pag medyo malaki ang kupit kay mader. Pati pag-arrange kinareer ko din noon. Bibili ako saDangwa tapos hihingiin ko yung mga kahon ng bulaklak (sa aking mga babaeng dormmates) na galing Esperanza’s, Anabel’s at Holland Tulips para magmukhang mamahalin ang regalo. May binigyan pa ako ng roses with matching card araw-araw kahit wala ako. Ilang araw ding direcho yun hanggang dumating ako sa “monthsary” namin. Salamat kay ate Imelda na naglalako sa may Dapitan gate ng UST. 
Naging style ko din yung bawasan ang regalong brownies o chocolates bago ibigay lalo na kung nanliligaw pa lang para hindi masyadong obvious na dead na dead ako sa kanya at para hindi isipin na may gayuma. Para kasing suhol ang gift kung nanliligaw ka lang. Mas “cute” kasi kung parang shinishare lang. Pinagluto mo rin ako at through the years na-enhance ko ito. Pogi points ang signature pasta recipe ko. Pinatapang mo din ako sa pagharap sa mga kapatid, magulang, lolo at lola ng iniibig ko. Ewan ko ba may magic ata ako sa mga nanay at mga lola at nakakasundo ko sila kaagad. 
Napasulat mo din ako ng mala-nobelang love letter na more than ten pages- back to back yun ha! Tatlong notebooks din ang aking naisulat na tula ng dahil sa saya at pighati. Sample? Eto yung sinulat ko dati pa isinali ko sa isang online contest:
As one walks along life’s journey, there will always be one who is said to be the one written in the stars… 
That one person who I have met along this journey is not just the one written in the stars, not just "The One", not just a part of the journey (relatively the best part), but the woman who to me is undeniably my Love and my Life… You!
800px-Two_left_hands_forming_a_heart_shape
Dahil din sa iyo kaya naging matakaw ako sa chocolates, pancit canton at kayang lumalaklak ng isang litrong Coke. Pati insomnia ko ikaw din ang dahilan. 
Huy, baka isipin mo na sinisisi kita o kaya nagcocomplain ha. Masaya lang kasing maalala ang mga bloopers at mga mushy stuff na ginawa ko noon. Spontaneous kasi. Masaya nga ako dahil sa aking mga karanasan at escapades na ipinamalas mo. Hinubog mo akong mabuti at ang dami kong natutunan sa iyo. Dahil sa iyo lalo akong naging mapagmahal. Masasabi ko nga that I have found true love at kung hindi dahil sa iyo hindi ko matatapuan si “The One.” 
O siya, sige na alam ko busy ka. Salamat sa pagbasa. Ayun o may dalawang nagpapaka-Ethan Hawke at Julie Delpy ng pelikulang Before Sunrise sa Twitter. Go, go, go, panahin mo na. Happy Valentine’s!

Nagmamahal,
SiRVis

Read the full article here.

Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Pinoy's Love Affair with Basketball

Have you ever wondered why basketball is still the favorite sport of Pinoys? What makes basketball so endearing to us? I asked other people about their insights through facebook and twitter and collated their responses in StorifyI wrote about this at the Buhay Pinoy section of the Philippine Online Chronicles and entitled the article:



The Pinoy and basketball: " it must be love"

Basketball is acknowledged by Wikipilipinas.org as the most beloved and popular entertainment in the Philippines and widely accepted to be the national sport of the Philippines. Its popularity has not waned despite the elusiveness of an Olympic basketball gold and increased spotlight on other sports. Boxing which has our national pride Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao and football with the newest sensation and crowd darling Azkals team still pale in comparison to basketball as the Pinoy everyman's favored sport.  Basketball enjoys the bulk of support much to the consternation of other sports bodies. Our national basketball team "Team Pilipinas" or "Smart Gilas Pilipinas" for example is sponsored by Manny Pangilinan’s Smart Communications and organized by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.


Read the full article here.


Read my other articles at Philippine Online Chronicles here.
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