Fiesta na pud sa Bula! Viva Senor!

Breaking Dawn @Sarangani Bay

Taga Bula, gyud ko. Ang akong ginikanan dinhi na nagpuyo sa Bula tong gipanganak ko. Dinhi na ko nagdako, ug nag eskwela sa akong elementary. I have lived here until the age of 16. When I entered college, I left Gen. Santos City. For about 6 years I missed the fiesta. After I graduated and work elsewhere, I always make sure that I am always present during fiesta time.

 the "amphibian" which transports the Sto. Nino from land to water

the "official" ride

Sa tibuok Gen. Santos, South Cotabao og Sarangani, well known kaayo ang fiesta sa Bula. Pag fiesta sa BULA, HABHAB na pud! Siguro kini na lang lugar ang gacelebrate og fiesta as a community. Meaning tanan gyud may handa. Even big industries cooperate, especially ang fishing, it seems that all fish boats come home to participate in the fluvial procession. Kaya today, super expensive ang isda. If you'd like to makifiesta, but do not know anyone in Bula, go to the Church. Open house doon. Kahit sino, ok lang. If you have the guts, you can also just enter any one's house, especially the big ones owned by fishing magnates :)
 

For us, this is thanksgiving. It is a time to give back the blessings our family received in previous year. Si madir, toxic kaayo, making sure that everything is ready for countless people who will drop by to have a meal. Everyone is welcome. No invitation is needed. Ang uban dili man makuntento sa kaon, harapharapan pa gyud mamutos. From 10 am to about 8 pm sunod sunod and abot sa tawo. Malipay man pud ta kay kahinumdum sila. And grabe pud ang ilang hardship just to get to our place. Streets are filled with people, kaya hirap ang tricycle sa pagsulod. At the end of the day, we are very tired. Sakit sa tiil ug ulo. But we are always thankful that people came. We are glad that we were able to feed a lot and we are hoping for another year full of blessings. And always looking forward for the next year's fiesta.


quick tip:

The Bula Patronal Fiesta in honor of Senor Sto. Nino is celebrated every 15th of January. A day before, there is a procession in the barangay at dusk. The fluvial procession is on the 15th after the 5am mass. If you want to join the fluvial procession, you have to know someone who owns or at least works for a fishing vessel. Or you can just line up very very early at zone 5 or lions beach and hitch a boat ride. Or you can rent a boat :) (there are caucasians I saw doing this). Or you can contact me, and let's see what I can do haha...no promises though...If all fail, join the mass and dancing all day long at the Church....I tell you it is a different experience....

all pictures are circa 2010

updating 2013

If I have to enumerate the reasons of not updating this blog, probably it would be a long list .To summarize, take a look below:

I was too caught up with the season, including the drama that went with it....Happily, as we are celebrating the Chinese New Year, I get inspired to go on.....new year...new beginning....Good Luck to Meeeeee!

the weekend i decided to go healthy!

Nyaks! What a nice title, but in reality, it was difficult. And I am not so sure if I can keep doing this.

Saturdays and Sundays are the only time I got to prepare my own food <especially if budget is dwindling and I am stuck at home>.

Two weekends ago, I was in such situation, so I did the cooking......this time, nag effort.....

First thing in order, as much as I want to go organic all the way, my vege choices are seldom grown organic in this part of the PH. And besides, organic food are pricey.

I got my veges from Robinsons Galleria. They have great choices of vegetables, both organic and regular ones. They carry several suppliers of organic vegetables, but I like the one from the Organicus. My next go-to for my vege needs is the "talipapa" near my place.It does not run out of local vegetables too and I can buy there in small quantities or "tingi"...

 Saturday Menu:

ampalaya, tomatoes and onions

no meat this weekend also,but eggs is in my recipe/menu, so spare me....

a quick kitchen art...before the real stuff......

and this is the ending.....ginisang amplaya....

this is for the merienda..the yellow variety of camote is really the best,,,,

Sunday Menu

 

spinach....don't  fret about the price....a friend gave it to me...

steamed spinach topped with onions and tomatoes...how I wish I know the Korean way of doing this. Theirs taste a lot better....cheaper alternatives are kamote tops/ampalaya leaves.

I am a vege lover (more than fruit), but I just wish I got the drive to do all the slicing....hehehe....I am  sooo lazy doing prep.....anyhow...wish me a whole lotta luck....

one lazy afternoon @ ayala techno

When we girls talk, we talk a lot....and we extended our talk one afternoon here at ayala techno hub.....

Coffee time @ The Coffee Bean!!!

must try = = = triple decker!!!!!

sneakers galore!!

The spirit is willing but the body, mind and heart are not cooperating!

This is the current state of my "active life".:)  Yesterday, I joined a fun run. Not because I am into it, but there were perks I cannot pass up ( and which I will not bother detailing here). I was supposed to do 3K RUN. Instead, I had so much FUN doing .5km (point 5 km, ini emphasize lang po!) and taking shots of fancy and not so fancy sneakers/rubber shoes/running shoes.

 "ASTIG"...... fresh from Singapore!....not mine though....

another cute sneakers from nike

 

look cha! almost the same as yours!

i hope this couple has a colorful life as their shoes!

willing friends posed for a fun shot! clearly NIKE is the dominant brand....

Seriously, I need to lose weight.....a lot of it in fact.....I had several attempts to be more active, but never really had success in any of it.

I am thinking of an inspiration to help me in this goal....a new sneakers perhaps......tsk...tsk...stk.....wish me a never ending luck.... both... to getting a new pair and to losing weight.....

ONDOY? not again.....

To me, it was an ordinary rainy Saturday morning.  As usual, I did my Saturday morning ritual: laundry and brunch. I had no definite plan for the day, so I thought of going to The Medical City to have a routine check up. I was really in no hurry to go because it was raining. At about past 10 am, I heard people shouting that street was flooded and the water was rising quickly. I went out to check, and indeed water was approaching the gate. I took stuff  that I could carry to the second floor. I was fast, in less than an hour I was done.  Later, some of my neighbors helped me getting the heavier ones upstairs.

I am not so sure what made me decide to leave my place. I left when the stuff I could save had all been placed in the 2nd floor. The water level then was above my knees. My landlady took me in. That Saturday until Tuesday, I was with them. 

 Ondoy was an experience that I will never forget. I was scared and I felt so alone.  I was with my very nice and generous landlady (and I am forever grateful to her),  but I had no one to cling to. As the rain keeps  pounding NOW,  the feeling returns....scared and again sleepless....

This is not about London

As I watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics early this morning, I can ' t   help  but remember my travel to London in 2001. That trip was a realization, that indeed, nearly impossible things do happen. 

Ours is not a rich family. What we had then was just enough for a decent living . My folks would rather  spend  on our education than on pleasure trips. I am not an OFW, though at some point, I aspired to be one. <These bunch are just so fortunate to have the resources and the opportunities to see the world. > Neither I am a highly paid professional here in Manila. I am just an ordinary employee who happens to know how to balance leisure and the practical things in life.

 As a finance major, I dreamed of going to New York and set foot in Wall Street. <<how I wish this one will come true!!!>>. When I got a job, dreams became more realistic. I wanted to have my own place, go to Hong Kong (because local celebs go there) and buy a car. The first one is done, though a little bit late. The third one seems not interesting anymore. And the thing about travelling. God gave me a blast.

I won a round trip ticket to Europe. It was so unbelievable at first. But it was there, it was announced and everyone was congratulating me. And eventually, I realized that it was just the first step. Visa was the next task,  but boy, it was a walk in the park. No sweat!!! Travel allowance was not problem too. My sistah, gave me the money. The travel itself was smooth sailing. No glitch whatsoever. It was as if everything was laid out for me. All I have to do was to take the steps.

When the entire universe conspires to give you an experience of a lifetime, I guess, you just have to open your arms and embrace what is there for the taking. When you are ready to give back, open your arms and extend to others the learnings of your experience.

Here are some pics of that UK trip. I have no digital cam at that time. These are pics of pics :)

 never miss this!

Back then, I was  so enamored  with Notting Hill (the movie). I was hoping to find my "Hugh Grant" who will sit and read with me in a park. The "Hugh Grant" part didn't happen but at least I got to sit in a bench. :)

  

where Julia stayed

the Parliament House????