Filipina Soul

A tribute to your origins: "Taga-saan ka sa atin?"

Whenever I get acquainted with another Filipino, I often get asked the question, “What province are you from?” (Taga-saan ka sa atin?). If they are Tagalog, I would tell them my hometown about in Los Banos, Laguna. If they are Bisaya, I would mention my tiny seaside birthplace in Negros Occidental.

It’s important for a Filipino to connect in this way with another fellowman. Filipinos immediately connect to someone from their own province, and especially so if they can speak the same dialect. Maybe because we’re both so far away from home, from the Philippines, and we’re both hoping that some degree of connection exist between us. Really, I have become good friends with someone because we learned we were one year apart in the same university. We might actually know the same people too. I discovered a distant cousin of my mother’s through these acquaintances.

It’s good to connect. Who have you connected with in the past year? Did you gain a new friend or acquaintance?

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By Grace -- 0 comments

New Year’s Resolutions 2009

Resolutions are a dime a dozen this time of year. But it’s part of the fun of being at the very beginning of a new year. We have a new set of 12 months ahead of us. Time to do whatever it was that we set to do last year, but didn’t get to do.

I decided to have only 2 New Year’s resolutions, and I will share only one with you:

* Read more books.

My goal is to read more books that I did in 2008. It’s not such a lofty goal, in truth. My reading list for 2008 was pitifully short. I used to read a ton of books and regularly scoured the bargain bins and library shelves. I miss that. Of course I don’t have as much free time as I did before, but I still have the occasional few minutes every day to read a few pages at a time. So, instead of reading old magazines, or going back over books I’ve already read (yeah, it’s a bad habit of mine), I’m going to find new ones to read and enjoy. I will make very good use of my library card this year.

How about you? What is your New Year’s resolution? If you’d like something new that you have not done before, here are some suggestions to consider:

• * Speak more Tagalog (or whatever your native Pilipino language is). Don’t let it die. Learn a few new (old) words. If you have children, encourage them to speak/learn it.

Read More - New Year’s Resolutions 2009

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By Maricar -- 0 comments

Thanks for Your Company in 2008

You guys have been pretty quiet the past few days. I hope it’s because you’ve been spending good, quality time with your family. I certainly have.

It’s been a week of relaxing, enjoying and lots and lots of eating! Cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends gathered to enjoy a feast of both American and Filipino food.

We had ham, pansit, embutido, turkey, and roast duck, plus maja and pitsi-pitsi for dessert. I think that New Year’s weight-loss resolutions were invented because of the sheer amount of good food in family celebrations this time of year.

As another year ended, we thank you for keeping us company. We’re looking forward to more fun, more learning, and more community in 2009!

image from personal collection, M.Macalincag 2008

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By Maricar -- 3 comments

Merry Holidays and Happy New Year!

      Welcome to 2009!

Did you bring out your pots and pans? Did you jump up and down on the stroke of 12? Did you fill your pockets with coins, and your bins with rice? Did you have 12 round fruits on your table? AND… did you wear your polkadots?

YOU BETTER HAVE!

May your new year bring hope, prosperity and love! MANIGONG BAGONG TAON!

(And my apologies for not blogging enough this month. Family called my attention… but that’s under the bridge, so let’s start the new year rolling!)

Image credit: Newscom

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Maligayang Pasko sa Lahat!

Merry Christmas to all Filipina Soul readers!!!

We wish you love and warmth

and the blessings of the Christmas season!

Maligayang Pasko sa inyo!

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By Maricar -- 1 comment

Join the Carnival of Filipino Christmas Tables

I know that this year, as with the previous years, our Christmas table will be laden with a mix of Filipino and western food. My mother-in-law will serve embutido as part of our Christmas dinner. I will cook some ribs and maja blanca. There will be a pot of rice, of course, jostling elbows with a platter of dinner rolls.

What will be on your Christmas table this year? Will roast turkey make an appearance? Maybe ham? Queso de bola?

Don’t forget to take photos of  your Christmas feast and then share your celebrations with us, as we host the first Carnival of Filipino Christmas Tables. You can share your Christmas Eve feast or the lunch/dinner on Christmas Day. Once your post is up on your blog, send me the link via email (maricar-at-b5media-dot-com). I will round up the carnival entries on Saturday, December 27, 2008 Sunday, December 28, 2008.

Have fun this Christmas and enjoy your feast with your loved ones!

image: sxc.hu

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Happy Slip on "More Processed Meat"

Every year around Christmas, Filipinos all over the world send balikbayan boxes to their relatives in the Philippines. Either they send the boxes via door-to-door cargo delivery or send it with someone going home. The infamous balikbayan box takes center stage in the latest video courtesy of impersonation mistress Christine Gambito singing “More Processed Meat” to the tune of “12 Days of Christmas“.

What’s in your balikbayan box?

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By Grace -- 1 comment

Withdrawal Symptoms from Survivor Philippines

After weeks of anticipating each episode of Survivor Philippines, it seems that I’ve had withdrawal symptoms after the show ended.

JC had a well-deserved win. Majority of you picked him to be the winner too. Out of 255 votes cast, JC got 243 (95%) and Rob had 12 (5%). Having won so many challenges, including 2 getaways and a car, JC had proven that he had what it takes to outwit, outplay and outlast the other castaways. Congratulations again, JC!

The show may be over but Survivor fever has not left the Philippines. Do I hear cries of “Season 2! Season 2!”?

I’m sure we’ll all gather again to watch a new season if it materializes. Meanwhile, here’s the latest articles about some of the castaways:

• Competitiveness helps taekwondo jin Vern Domingo adjust to Survivor Philippines (source)
• Survivor JC unfazed by ‘leakage’ controversy (source)
• Survivor Philippines ends with a bang! (source)
• Marlon Carmen says his family is proud of what he did in Survivor (source)

And, it’s time for a new poll! Let your voice be heard about Survivor Philippines Season 2!

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By Maricar -- 1 comment

Philippine Folk Dance: Singkil

The Singkil dance is the most difficult of the Philippine traditional dances. It requires skill to navigate the bamboo poles while gracefully dancing with a fan, an umbrella or ones bare hands. The dance is native to the Maguindanao people, and is performed alone by a woman of royal blood who is advertising herself to suitors. With the modernized steps of folk dance companies, singkil now includes an entourage of dancers. Tinikling is nothing compared to Singkil, although both use bamboo poles.

A group of my friends attempted to perform the Singkil and I can’t tell you how many times our feet got caught in the bamboo poles, so instead of showing my version of the dance, here is the Leyte Dance Theatre to mesmerize you with the SINGKIL -

Part two is even more complicated, especially as you watch the dance up close. And yes, feel free to clap your hands!

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By Grace -- 1 comment

JC Wins Survivor Philippines!!!!

Before leaving the island of Koh Tarutao on Survivor Philippines, the 8 members of the Jury cast their votes about who they thought deserved the title of Pinoy Sole Survivor.

Jace voted first. Vern was next, and she voted for Rob. She congratulated him, and said that regardless of what the others said about him, she agreed with Marlon that there was something in him that the others haven’t seen. Zita was next to vote, followed by Charisse. Kiko then voted for JC, addin an exclamation point to his vote. Kiko told JC that he made him proud and that he did his best. Though Kiko didn’t agree with JC’s bringing Rob, who was full of illusions and thought that he deserved to win, it wasn’t about Rob but JC. Kaye cast her vote next, then Cris and Marlon.

Paolo said that the Jury had cast their votes, but it was not enough. In 39 days, 15 Tribal Councils and 26 challenges, the Filipino nation had been witnesses to what had happened in the island. Paolo said that the viewers were the 9th member of the Jury. He bid JC, Rob and the Jury goodbye, saying he’ll see them in the Philippines.

Paolo was shown in a helicopter and carrying the urn full of votes. He welcomed the viewers and fans to the studio to watch the live counting of votes. He then presented the Final Two: the hardcourt heart throb JC and the loverboy Rob.

Highlights of the previous episode with the Jury’s statements and questions were shown.

Read More - JC Wins Survivor Philippines!!!!

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By Maricar -- 3 comments