Your age by chocolate math

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute ....
Work this out as you read ...
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!

This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like
to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1755 .... If
you haven't, add 1754.

6. Now, subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should
have a three digit number . The first digit of this was your original
number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).
The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!) THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2005) IT WILL
EVER WORK, SO SPREAD IT AROUND WHILE IT LASTS.

====================
From: spindroid@yahoo.com

100 Best Things About Being Pinoy

FROM the 1896 Revolution to the first Philippine Republic, the
Commonwealth period, the EDSA Revolt, and the tiger cub economy,
history marches on. Thankfully, however, some things never change.
Like the classics, things irresistibly Pinoy mark us for life. They're
the indelible
stamp of our identity, the undeniable affinity that binds us like twins.
They celebrate the good in us, the best of our culture and the infinite
possibilities we are all capable of. Some are so self-explanatory you
only need mention them for fellow Pinoys to swoon or drool. Here, from
all over this Centennial-crazed country and in no particular order, are
a hundred of the best things that make us unmistakably Pinoy.

Merienda. Where else is it normal to eat five times a day?
Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough
room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes.
Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis.
Kuwan, ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys
understand exactly what you want.
Pinoy humor and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a
joke. Nothing personal, really.
Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy
cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable
amounts?
Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had
their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong
relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be.
Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference,
filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times.
Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of
a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt.
Beaches! With 7,000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of
shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled
by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald
isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach.
Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste
typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic,
unbearably stinky and simply irresistible.
Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also
this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have
that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops.
The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter
if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot every time we head home from
anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than
not, the contents are carted home to be distributed.
Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog
Classics," "Liwayway" and"Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us
Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters
of a time both innocent and worldly.
Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second
language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing
jeepney or tricycle.
Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day,
shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this
sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious
and riotous best.
Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower
mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before
political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our
storytelling.
Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy
ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting
ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to
your seat.
Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with
puto. Best when mined with jalape¤o peppers. Messy but delicious.
Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious
overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the
Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the
perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful
gowns.
Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to
outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt
and suck out that soup, with gusto.
Pakidala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system
for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and
who expect a family update from the courier, as well.
Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood
ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's.
Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and
table manners--ah, heaven.
Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a
hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with
vinegar, sublime with beer.
Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!"
invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how
skimpy or austere it is.
Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked
meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who
swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes.
Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio,
before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up
tastes.
Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes
do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort.
Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at
your doorstep for as little as PHPesos3.00, with a complimentary
dusting of polluted air.
Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk:
munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart
that recalls jeepney art.
Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a
major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost
like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the
predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars.
Sarsi. Pinoy rootbeer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our
grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in.
Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian,
langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the
possibilities!
Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens,
public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal
Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo,
the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L.
Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Pitoy
Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta,
Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V.
World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng
Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado,
Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia
Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori.
Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too
fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo,
kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon,
longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos.
Remember, we're the guys who put sugar (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce.
Yum!
The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills,
Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pi?s
Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land
of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes.
Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the
socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes.
Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the
verticaly-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that
reduces fans to tears and fistfights.
People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed
Philippine history overnight.
San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most
popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa,
chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and
cholesterol-rich chasers.
Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases,
Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and
Tamagochi. We'll survive Erap.
Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and
merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock
the baby," using just a piece of string.
Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic
rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a
good time for all.
Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,''
and proving it.
Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and
passion on a public stage.
Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to
scoop water out of a bucket _ and help the true Pinoy answer nature's
call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits.
Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well
with any filling, best when hot.
Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon
that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle
East, as well?
The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed
waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks
would just stop turning them into daing.
Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have
another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and
still make it home.
Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it
well!
Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully
healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the
sun.
Handwoven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly
alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich
indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to
the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are.
Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you
watch the same movie several times.
Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus
enabled to play life by ear.
Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired
taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for
almost anything.
English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our
chances in the global marketplace.
The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still
the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV.
Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get
anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a
bonus.
Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without
having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any
ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig.
Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, wives. Too bad they
can't say the same for Filipinos.
Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional
streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like
one.
Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is
firmly planted on Philippine soil.
Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered
Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag.
Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino
claims it as a birthright.
Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa,
posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, overaccessorized jeepneys
and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it.
Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of
family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package.
Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale.
Street food: Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken
entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's
cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience.
The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy.
Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng,
totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these
words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship.
Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu
started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego
Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini,
Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar,
Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio
Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes
of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando
Malay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women who
spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers
who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape.
Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer,
bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the
creatures that make our archipelago unique.
Pilipino songs, OPM and composers: "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang,"
"Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi
Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George
Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and
Florante--living examples of our musical gift.
Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have
gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove
that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially now that those darned
candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila!
Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything
from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya.
Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help
us help each other.
Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and
Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public
Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the age of inane
variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television.
Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in:
"Bababa ba?" "Bababa!"
"Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that
defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy.
Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives
(sometimes).
Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius,
athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover,
samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime,
anywhere.
Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid
concept of how leading ladies should look.
Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy
Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many
Filipino fans.
Filipino Christmas. The world's longest holiday season. A perfect
excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up
with a touch of religion.
Relatives and kababayan abroad. The best refuge against loneliness,
discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and
fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a
phone introduction or referral.
Festivals: Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan
frenzy and Christian overtones.
Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, kari?sa, kuratsa,
itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm.
Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot,
bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress.
Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get
severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000
relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and
it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money,
and moral support materialize during a wake?
Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate
narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions.
Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a
stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest
fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market?
All Saints' Day. In honoring our dead, we also prove that we know
how to live.
Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings,
banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable memories of
home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang-balikbayan pa!
Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili.
Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will
never be the same without them.
OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our
family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy.
The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spoliarium" and
Amorsolo's sun-kissed ricefields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and
Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a
Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best.
Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to
today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives,
and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding.
Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's
retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and
human deluge to find a bargain.

ivan velarde manalansan

"LIFE is what happens

when you're busy making plans."

====================
From: ivan_manalansan@yahoo.com.sg

Weighty Matters

Weighty Matters
Our columnists examine when, and where, extra pounds can hurt you—and
how to keep them off after the holidays pass.
From: URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10039210/site/newsweek/?rf=nwnewsletter

WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Barbara Kantrowitz and Pat Wingert
Newsweek
Updated: 8:37 a.m. ET Nov. 15, 2005

Nov. 15, 2005 - It's the start of the holiday season and lots of
parties, big family dinners and tempting leftovers beckoning from the
fridge, which means that in January you might be stuck with an
unwanted souvenir: extra pounds. That's especially unwelcome if—like
many of us—you're already struggling to lose some weight. So this
seems like a good time of year to talk about the risks of carrying
around just a little bit of excess weight and how to maintain healthy
habits through the holidays. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of weight gain," says Dr. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for
Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine in St.
Louis. "Preventing the increase in weight is a lot easier and better
than actually gaining weight and trying to get it off again."

With all the emphasis that the media puts on being movie-star thin,
most women think they're too fat—even if they're not. How can you tell
how much you really need to lose? Doctors usually measure obesity by
calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). That's basically a ratio of
weight to height. To see yours, check out this site at the Centers for
Disease Control. You're considered normal weight if your BMI is 18.4
to 24.9, overweight if you're 25.0 to 29.9 and obese at 30.0 and
above. Even being moderately overweight, with a BMI of 28, puts you at
much higher risk for Type 2 diabetes, says Klein. The risk of other
obesity-related conditions, such as high blood pressure and heart
disease, increases with extra weight as well.

But BMI doesn't tell the whole story. A muscular athlete, like a
female body builder, might have a relatively high BMI but won't really
be overweight because she doesn't have extra body fat. Studies have
shown that women are at higher risk of obesity-related diseases if
their waist is 35 inches or wider (and don't cheat by pulling the
measuring tape tighter). That's true even if your weight is close to
normal. "Having weight in the middle is associated with cardiovascular
diseases and increased risk for cancers within the body," says Dr.
Jana Klauer, an obesity researcher at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in
New York and author of the upcoming book "How the Rich Get Thin" (to
be published by St. Martin's Press on Dec. 27).

Being moderately overweight can threaten your health at any age, but
doctors say it's especially troublesome when you're a young adult.
Even a 10-pound weight gain between the ages of 18 and 20 (remember
the "Freshman 15?") is associated with later heart disease, high blood
pressure, diabetes and gall-bladder disease, says Klein. Even those
women who manage to stay slim through their 20s often find they gain
weight during pregnancy and have trouble taking it off afterwards.
Over the years, those pounds add up. Many women just shrug that off,
accepting the gain as an inevitable byproduct of aging. But Klauer
says that even though our metabolism slows somewhat as we age, that's
not the main reason so many women gain weight as they get older.
"What's more of a problem to women in our society is overconsumption
and underactivation," says Klauer. "The latter increases with age.
When your kids are younger, you spend more time running around after
them. As people get older, they tend to become more sedentary."

The solution is simple to explain—eat less and exercise more—but hard
to put into practice, especially at this time of year. But there are
some simple steps you can take to help keep the pounds off from
calorie-rich parties. Klein recommends staying as far away from the
food as possible so you have to walk across the room to get to the
buffet table, sticking with non-alcoholic drinks like water or diet
soda (alcohol not only adds empty calories, but it stimulates the
appetite and lowers willpower), munching on a salad (with low-calorie
dressing) or raw vegetables before a dinner or party so you don't
arrive starving, and keeping portion sizes extra small (if you're
really tempted by high-calorie treats, have just a bite—that may be
enough to satisfy your craving). And don't forget to exercise.

Studies of people who've lost weight and kept it off show that
successful dieters keep track of their weight and food intake,
exercise regularly and eat breakfast every day. When you're dieting,
you should weigh yourself weekly because daily fluctuations (sometimes
caused by fluid retention) can be discouraging. But after reaching
your goal weight, a daily weigh-in seems to work best to keep the
extra pounds off. A food diary often helps pinpoint trouble spots such
as that mid-morning or late afternoon snack. An extra 150 or so
calories a day, the amount in a single chocolate chip cookie, adds up
to a pound of extra weight in just about three weeks. Regular exercise
means real activity, not just sauntering from the car to the front
door. You need 90 minutes a day of a moderate activity like walking,
says Klein, or 30 minutes a day of more vigorous exercise like running
or jogging. For more information on how to balance food intake and
exercise, go to this Department of Agriculture Web site. Finally,
there's breakfast, the meal many women skip in the mistaken belief
that it's a good way to cut calories. "There is something magical
about breakfast," says Klauer. "Breakfast, as the first meal of the
day, kind of resets the body for a new day." If you start out not
hungry, by eating something with protein, you're much less likely to
overeat later on. And here's a little incentive from Klauer. "There's
about eight pounds between dress sizes," she says. Being able to fit
into a smaller size is the best holiday gift to yourself!

(c) 2005 Newsweek, Inc.

(c) 2005 MSNBC.com

Why The Filipino Is SPECIAL.

by Ed Lapiz

Filipinos are Brown. Their color is in the center of
human racial strains.

This point is not an attempt at racism, but just for
many Filipinos to realize that our color should not be
a source of or reason for inferiority complex. While
we pine for a fair complexion, the white people are
religiously tanning themselves, whenever they could,
under the sun or some artificial light, just to
approximate the Filipino complexion.

Filipinos are a touching people. We have lots of love
and are not afraid to show it. We almost inevitably
create human chains with our perennial akbay (putting
an arm around another shoulder), hawak (hold), yakap
(embrace), himas (caressing stroke), kalabit (touch
with the tip of the finger), kalong (sitting on
someone else's lap), etc.
We are always reaching out, always seeking
interconnection.

Filipinos are linguists. Put a Filipino in any city,
any town around the world. Give him a few months or
even weeks and he will speak the local language there.
Filipinos are adept at learning and speaking
languages. In fact, it is not uncommon for Filipinos
to speak at least three: his dialect, Filipino, and
English. Of course, a lot speak an added language, be
it Chinese, Spanish or, if he works abroad, the
language of his host country.

In addition, Tagalog is not 'sexist.' While many
"conscious" and "enlightened" people of today are just
by now striving to be "politically correct" with their
language and, in the process, bend to absurd depths in
coining "gender sensitive" words, Tagalog has, since
time immemorial, evolved gender-neutral words like
asawa (husband or wife), anak (son or daughter),
magulang (father or mother), kapatid (brother or
sister), biyanan (father-in-law or mother-in-law),
manugang (son or daughter-in-law), bayani, bayani
(hero or heroine), etc.

Our languages and dialects are advanced and, indeed,
sophisticated! It is no small wonder that Jose Rizal,
the quintessential Filipino, spoke some twenty-two
languages!
Filipinos are groupists. We love human interaction and
company. We always surround ourselves with people and
we hover over them, too. According to Dr. Patricia
Licuanan, a psychologist from Ateneo and Miriam
College, an average Filipino would have and know at
least 300 relatives.

At work, we live bayanihan (mutual help); at play, we
want a kalaro (playmate) more than laruan (toy).At
socials, our invitations are open and it is more
common even for guests to invite and bring in other
guests. In transit, we do not want to be separated
from our group. So what do we do when there is no more
space in a vehicle? Kalung-kalong! (Sit on one
another). No one would ever suggest splitting a group
and waiting for another vehicle with more space!

Filipinos are weavers. One look at our baskets, mats,
clothes, and other crafts will reveal the skill of the
Filipino weaver and his inclination to weaving. This
art is a metaphor of the Filipino trait. We are social
weavers. We weave theirs into ours that we all become
parts of one another. We place a lot of premium on
pakikisama (getting along) and pakikipagkapwa
(relating). Two of the worst labels, walang
pakikipagkapwa (inability to relate), will be avoided
by the Filipino at almost any cost.

We love to blend and harmonize with people, we like to
include them in our "tribe," in our family"-and we
like to be included in other people's families, too.

Therefore we call our friend's mother nanay or mommy;
we call a friend's sister ate (eldest sister), and so
on. We even call strangers Tia (aunt) or Tio (uncle),
Tatang (grandfather), etc.

So extensive is our social openness and interrelations
that we have specific title for extended relations
like bilas (brother-in-law's or
sister-in-law's spouse), balae (child -in-law's
parents), inaanak (godchild), ninong/ninang
(godparents), kinakapatid (godparent's child), etc.

In addition, we have the profound 'ka' institution,
loosely translated as "equal to the same kind" as in
kasama (of the same company), kaisa (of the same
cause), kapanalig (of the same belief), etc. ABS-CBN's
"kapamilya" and GMA 7's "kapuso" taglines resonate in
the consciousness of their viewers. In our social
fiber, we treat other people as co-equals.

Filipinos, because of their social "weaving"
traditions, make for excellent team workers.

Filipinos are adventurers. We have a tradition of
separation. Our myths and legends speak of heroes and
heroines who almost always get separated from their
families and loved ones and are taken by circumstances
to far-away lands where they find wealth or power.

Our Spanish colonial history is filled with
separations caused by the reduccion (hamleting), and
the forced migration to build towns, churches,
fortresses or galleons. American occupation enlarged
the space of Filipino wandering, including America,
and there are documented evidences of Filipino
presence in America as far back as 1587.

Now, Filipinos compose the world's largest population
of overseas workers, populating and sometimes
"threshing" major capitals, minor towns and even
remote villages around the world. Filipino adventurism
has made us today's citizens of the world, bringing
the bagoong (salty shrimp paste), pansit (sautÈed
noodles), siopao (meat-filled dough), kare-kare
(peanut-flavored dish), dinuguan (innards cooked in
pork blood), balut
(unhatched duck egg), and adobo (meat vinaigrette),
including the tabo (ladle) and tsinelas (slippers) all
over the world. (How about the tabo na plastic and
panghilud na bato?)

Filipinos are excellent at adjustments and
improvisation, managing to recreate their home, or to
feel at home anywhere.

Filipinos have Pakiramdam (deep feeling/discernment) .
We know how to feel what others feel, sometimes even
anticipate what they will feel. Being manhid (dense)
is one of the worst labels anyone could get and will
therefore, avoid at all cost. We know when a guest is
hungry though the insistence on being full is assured.

We can tell if people are lovers even if they are
miles apart. We know if a person is offended though he
may purposely smile. We know because we feel. In our
pakikipagkapwa(relating), we get not only to wear
another man's shoe but also his heart.

We have a superbly developed and honored gift of
discernment, making us excellent leaders, counselors,
and go-betweens.

Filipinos are very spiritual. We are transcendent. We
transcend the physical world, see the unseen and hear
the unheard. We have a deep sense of kaba^
(premonition) and kutob (hunch). A Filipino wife will
instinctively feel her husband or child is going
astray, whether or not telltale signs present
themselves.

Filipino spirituality makes him invoke divine presence
or intervention at nearly every bend of his journey .
Rightly or wrongly, Filipinos are
almost always acknowledging, invoking or driving away
spirits into and from their lives. Seemingly trivial
or even incoherent events can take on
spiritual significance and will be given such space or
consideration.

The Filipino has a sophisticated, developed
pakiramdam. The Filipino, though becoming more and
more modern (hence, materialistic) is still very
spiritual in essence. This inherent and deep
spirituality makes the Filipino, once correctly
Christianized, a major exponent of the faith.

Filipinos are timeless. Despite the nearly
half-a-millennium encroachment of the western clock
into our lives, Filipinos - unless on very formal or
official functions - still measure time not with hours
and minutes but with feeling. This style is ingrained
deep in our psyche. Our time is diffused, not framed.
Our appointments are refined by umaga (morning),
tanghali (noon ), hapon afternoon), or gabi (evening).

Our most exact time reference is probably
katanghaliang-tapat (high noon), which still allows
many minutes of leeway. That is how Filipino trysts
and occasions are timed: there is really no definite
time.

A Filipino event has no clear-cut beginning nor
ending. We have a fiesta , but there is bisperas
(eve), a day after the fiesta is still considered a
good time to visit. The Filipino Christmas is not
confined to December 25th; it somehow begins months
before December and extends up to the first days of
January.

Filipino's say good-bye to guests first at the head of
the stairs, then down to the descamo (landing), to the
entresuelo (mezzanine), to the pintuan (doorway), to
the tarangkahan (gate), and if the departing persons
are to take public transportation, up to the bus stop
or bus station.

In a way, other people's tardiness and extended stays
can really be annoying, but this peculiarity is the
same charm of Filipinos who, being governed by
timelessness, can show how to find more time to be
nice, kind, and accommodating than his prompt and
exact brothers elsewhere.

Filipinos are spaceless. As in the concept of time,
the Filipino concept of space is not numerical. We
will not usually express expanse of space with miles
or kilometers but with feelings in how we say malayo
(far) or malapit (near).

Alongside with numberlessness, Filipino space is also
boundless. Indigenous culture did not divide land into
private lots but kept it open for all to partake of
its abundance. The Filipino has avidly remained
"spaceless" in many ways.

The interior of the bahay-kubo (hut) can easily become
receiving room, sleeping room, kitchen, dining room,
chapel, wake parlor, etc. Depending on the time of the
day or the needs of the moment. The same is true withthe bahay na bato
(stone
house). Space just flows into
the next space that the divisions between the sala,
caida, comedor, or vilada may only be faintly
suggested by overhead arches of filigree.

In much the same way, Filipino concept of space can be
so diffused that one 's party may creep into and
actually expropriate the street! A family business
like a sari-sari store or talyer may extend to the
sidewalk and street. Provincial folks dry palayan
(rice grain) on the highways! Religious groups of
various persuasions habitually and matter-of-factly
commandeer the streets for processions and parades.

It is not uncommon to close a street to accommodate
private functions, Filipinos eat. sleep, chat,
socialize, quarrel, even urinate, nearly everywhere or
just anywhere!

"Spacelessness," in the face of modern, especially
urban life, can be unlawful and may really be
counter-productive. On the other hand, Filipino
spacelessness, when viewed from his context, is just
another manifestation of his spiritually and communal
values. Adapted well to today's context, which may
mean unstoppable urbanization, Filipino spacelessness
may even be the answer and counter balance to
humanity's greed, selfishness and
isolation.

So what makes the Filipino special? We are brown,
spiritual, timeless, spaceless, linguists, groupists,
weavers, adventurers. Seldom do all these profound
qualities find personification in a people. Filipinos
should allow - and should be allowed to contribute
their special traits to the
world-wide community of men- but first, we should know
and like ourselves.

====================
From: hazelvee@yahoo.com.au

for Nov. 12 and 13 - Creeps, Theater Play

Goethe-Institut Manila invites you to the performance of

Creeps

Theater Play
To be performed on November 12 and 13, 2005 at the Sinag Arts Studio,
Mandaluyong

Free admission. For inquiries, call Paula Guevara at (+632) 7224671 ;
goethepr@pldtdsl.net

Performances:
November 12 (Saturday), 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm
November 13 (Sunday), 10:00 am and 4:00 pm
Venue: Sinag Arts Studio, 664 San Ignacio St., Barangay Plainview,
Mandaluyong City

Lito Casaje directs the Philippine production of Lutz Hübner's play
"Creeps". When a hip new TV show called announces that it is looking
for a host, everyone, naturally, wants the job. Maren, Lily and Petra
are three finalists who meet an audition and find out how their trial
by fire changes them forever. though initially enemies, the three
become friends when they realize that the TV producers are out to
exploit them.

"Creeps" is an interesting look at what goes on behind the cameras and
what people are willing to do to become "TV stars".

Free Admission. School and group bookings are welcome. Please call
Sinag Arts at 531 3491 for reservations.