Pinoy Palamig Survey

Here are the results of the "Favorite Summer Palamig" Survey. Of the 8 people who responded, majority voted in favor halo-halo! On second place is ice cream and sago't gulaman with 3 votes each.

What's in halo-halo that makes it very special? Its the complexity of flavors and the rewarding experience when eating halo-halo. A neighborhood store is probably selling halo-halo during the afternoons so go out and get some!

Sago't Gulaman, Palamig ng Bayan

It is one of the most well known drinks in the Philippines. Probably, it might even be the most recreated drink in the country, as a lot of versions can be found everywhere. All Pinoys are very fond of the cold, sweet taste of "sago't gulaman" and is very much part of the Filipino Culture. No one really knows when this drink was invented, but the sure thing here is when ice became available, people started appreciating it.

No one can really call it a phenomenon. On a hot tropical country where its sunny 70% of the time, anything cold and refreshing other than cold water is a welcome treat, and people would buy it. Make it sweet, fragrant and colorful, its definitely going to be a hit.

Here's a dose of its ingredients and a little something about it.

Beat Heat Filipino Style

From Ludwig

There's not enough words to describe tropical heat. With the ozone layer thinning down and the greenhouse effect increasing the temperature of the world, our warm tropical country becomes hotter. 

A few hundred years ago, maybe it was already this hot. Practices and customs were different during those times. Also, if its around a hundred years ago, no one would complain much about the heat because you would have other things to worry about like war and invaders. Its just now that we aren't really busy of anything "life threatening" that we worry about heat and complain about it.

But we Filipinos know that all along and its one thing about the Philippines that we cannot change, so we adapt. When it gets too hot, here's how we Pinoys beat the heat.

Rizal Visita Iglesia 2012

So last year it was Visita Iglesia in Bulacan, as you have read in my previous posts. I was thinking many people have been doing the same thing ages ago, so what makes this different? The plan was not to stick to one place, but visit many!

Due to budget constraints and logistics, Rizal province seemed the most economical and most accessible, and with heritage churches all over Rizal, there couldn't be a better choice. More so, it seems like a better starting point for those who want to try something different during the Lenten Season.

Being a firm Catholic, I really have to express my disagreement in replacing usual Lenten practices with vacation on a beach or some fun place. But no one can really blame the people taking their time off to relax and enjoy since there's no day of the year that can give a 4 day rest from work. In reality, whatever anyone does during Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, so as long as its done in the mindset of "reflection and penance" and doesn't violate any morals is more or less acceptable. Visita Iglesia is a pilgrimage, and it definitely falls under the recommended practices during Lent.

Bulacan Visita Iglesia 2011 Map

For the adventurous who want to try a Visita Iglesia not in Metro Manila, try going to Bulacan this Holy Week and visit some churches there. If you're not from there or do not have any relatives in Bulacan, go during the day. At least when you get lost, there will still be people you can ask for directions. Or just follow the map I used. :) You will only see maps as images on this article. For photos of the churches visited last year, please click The Bulacan Visita Iglesia.

Things Found in Filipino Homes

The home is the sanctuary of every family in the world. Here you can find all the things that reflect the culture and belongingness of a person. If you want to know more about someone, a trip to the person's house will show you a lot.

A home can tell you a story, how affluent the family is, how tidy and organized they are, and a whole lot more. The house can also reflect the nationality of the family dwelling there. For us Filipinos, sometimes it isn't that easy to spot but if you look closer, there are things that you won't find in houses of other cultures. Here are a few of the things that were usually found in Filipino Homes:

Ander da Saya

Photo from Okinawa Soba

I don't get to hear this phrase often nowadays. Perhaps it is something that is no longer relevant or it has turned into a different form but of the same context. Some use takusa (takot sa asawa) and other terms I didn't bother to search for or try to remember. It all boils down to one point, a man "cowering" to a woman.

Personally, that doesn't seem like an issue. If one can look at it at a perspective we Filipinos used to see, it shouldn't be embarrassing. But apparently, to the people who invented the term, it seems very unacceptable. "Ander da Saya" is the Filipinized term for "under the Saya" or under a woman's dress. Now you see who made a big deal out of this Pinoy attitude?