changing seasons

This is my second New Year away from home. This is my second New Year that I celebrated by just reliving the many New Years I had with my family in my memory. And this is my second New Year that the familiar noise and happy celebration that I was used to was celebrated only in my mind.

New Year is always a happy occasion in the Philippines. It is celebrated on the 31st of December [which is New Year’s Eve] till passed midnight [which is already January 1st]. It is always celebrated with a big bang, literally and figuratively. New Year will never be complete without 3 important things… family… food… and fireworks. And New Year will always be a noisy, rowdy and dangerous to some extent due to accidents and mishaps associated with fireworks.

New Year in the Philippines is always bright. Houses are well-lit either from the Christmas lights decorations which are usually still intact till the first week of January or the bright lights created by the different fireworks that can be bought almost everywhere. The night sky is always a magnificent canvas for live… dancing… flickering… and brilliant showcase of pyrotechnics.

New Year is about making noises too. Kids of all ages are making noise from cellophane wrapped horns to earsplitting fireworks. This is the only time of the year that mommies are more lenient and tolerant of kids’ noises and messes. This is the only time of the year where kids are allowed to stay up pass their bedtime. And this is the time of the year where some superstitious beliefs [like the 12 fruits collection] are well-played and followed religiously hoping that the year ahead will be a prosperous one.

New Year in the Philippines is always one of the most awaited celebrations by family and loved ones because this is the time fo the year that family members try their best to be together and make it sure that they are complete. This is the time of the year where family greet the start of the year with new hope… new inspiration… new faith for the year ahead.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Additional Information:
New Year Customs in the Philippines

We don’t have fairs that showcased the biggest “thingy” in the Philippines or at least none that I know of. Or maybe there are in some provinces or far-flung barrios, I just don’t know about it. The Philippines if you would look at it in the map is a small archipelago though it is composed of 7,107 islands. There are 3 major big islands, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. I live in the biggest island which is Luzon and yet I have not been to all of the provinces in the entire island. That is why my idea of what is going on in my country is very limited to what I see in TV or magazine.

Rice Farming in the Philippines. [Photo credit: United Nations Photos]

The Philippines is an agricultural country too and rice used to be our major produce before industrialization and commercialization took over the once abundant and verdant countryside. We grow rice in terraced rice paddies. We plant them by traditional method of farming – the farmer and his carabao [water buffalo, Philippines National Animal]. And we harvest them by hand and sickle. We still have some rice paddies in our hometown but produce from those paddies are usually for personal use of the family who owns them. The famous Banaue Rice Terraces of the Mountain Province is now just a famous landmark [and declared as UNESCO World Heritage site] that depicts more of our Filipino Heritage and not a source of livelihood.

Kakanin or Filipino Delicacies made out of rice.

SUMAN… the most famous delicacies made of sticky rice. Usually eaten dipped in hot cocoa or plain sugar.

ESPASOL… made out of sticky rice and grated coconut meat. It is most popularly called in our town as Minukmok.

PALITAW… usually eaten with grated fresh young coconut and sugar with roasted sesame seeds.

BICO… made of steamed sticky rice and cooked in caramelized brown sugar. Most popularly called in our town as Sinukmani.

Rice is the staple of the Filipino table. We eat rice at least 3 times a day and even snack on it. I know we cannot live without rice. But since we are now importing rice from neighboring countries [that used to import rice from us years ago], a lot of Filipino families are affected by the price hike. According to my friend back home, they even have to fall in line just to buy rice because of rice shortage. Being a third-world country, we are not spared to feel the crunch of the economic catastrophe that our more affluent counterparts are experiencing.

Different kinds of Filipino Delicacies called PUTO which is made out of Rice.

Puto Kutsinta

Puto Cupcakes

Puto Alsa

I miss rice though I am not a regular rice-eater back home. I cut down on my rice intake a long time ago for dietary reasons. But now that I am here in Maine, I would usually have a Saturday craving for rice. Good thing I don’t have to wait in line just to get my share. Rice is very much available in the local groceries here and I can get it anytime from my favorite Chinese Restaurants too.

Fried Rice… one of the best way to prepare left-over rice.

But then, maybe the reason why I miss rice now is not the taste but the tradition that I grew up with and the culture that I was brought up. Suffice it to say… I miss the Philippines. And I can only relive those special moments I had in my country by eating rice. It is my comfort food. Now, I am hungry!

Additional Information:
Banaue Rice Terraces
International Rice Research Institute

Credits:
All food photos courtesy of my brother Japol who is a food junkie.

If there is one thing I will miss about my little hometown… it’s the Tsinelas Festival or more popularly known as Gat Tayaw “Tsinelas” Festival [which is named to honor Gat Tayaw - the noble founder of the town according to history]. It’s kinda like a “fair” where we showcase the products that our little town is known for – the tsinelas [which means slippers or footwear]… uraro biscuits [arrow root cookies]… lambanog [coconut liquor] … and other locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Gat Tayaw [the founder of the Liliw town] and his dog Bantay [we baptized the dog’s name ourselves].

Liliw is well-known for our slipper industry. In fact, Liliw is dubbed as the “Slipper Capital of the Philippines” because we make the best slippers in the whole country. Our slippers are known for its high quality footwear because slipper-makers use tis-tis… a material made from coconut palm tree… which is known for it’s strong and durable feature… for making those slippers.

Liliw Park where we [my brothers and I] used to play as kids.

Tsinelas Festival is a week-long town affair celebrated every summer [usually last week of April or 1st week of May]. There are lots of different activities during the festival - from parade to cultural presentation… from concerts to street party… from street dancing to beauty pageant. But what is more important about the festival is that… all slipper products are on sale. That is why; lots of people are coming over to take advantage of the low-priced high-quality footwear.

The new Liliw Trade Fair where Liliw-made Slippers are displayed and sold.

Aside from slippers… we are also proud of our uraro biscuit. It is a kind of cookies made from arrow root flour. “Lambanog” on the other hand, is synonymous to Liliw too. Lambanog is liquor made of coconut water. Coconut water is distilled to make lambanog. It tastes like vodka but it doesn’t give you a hang-over like vodka.

Decorations on one of the Slipper stores during the festival season.

A stall selling Uraro biscuits and other Liliw delicacies.

Lambanog barrels.

The Uraro biscuits.

This year, I missed the Gat Tayaw Tsinelas Festival because I am now based here in Maine. And perhaps, I will miss it for 3 or more years until I get my citizenship and the money to pay for my air fare to go back home [*wink]. And since I missed the festival my brother, sent me these photos to give me an idea how the festival was this year. Good thing I have a nice brother… who sent me photos… to make me jealous and miss home more. Hahahaha.

Additional Information:
Liliw, Laguna
Lambanog Making

Credits:
Sherwin of Abby and Win’s Blog for the You Tube Video
My brother Japol of keep of WANDERing for the photos.

We Filipinos enjoy only 2 seasons in the Philippines… the wet and the dry seasons. Basically, dry season is from October to June and for the rest of the year, that is where the wet season falls. Wet season which is more popularly known as the rainy season is good for the country-side because it is mostly agricultural. But it is a drawback mostly in the bustling cities because of flood. [To view Philippine flood photos… click here and here.]

Normally, the Philippines experience an average of 20 storms a year due to its geographical location in the Pacific Ocean. [Don’t ask me to explain that one because I can’t, I’m not a science teacher. Hahahaha.] Anyways, these storms or hurricanes as what they call it here in the US can cause lots of destructions and natural calamity in the country.

Photo courtesy of Buhay Pinoy

Seasons in the Philippines are also unpredictable like here in Maine. That is why sometimes, we don’t exactly know if it is really dry or wet season because it also rains or worse we experience signal #3 storms during the dry season. While in other parts of the country it never rains at all during wet season. So maybe we can also consider that there is only one season in the Philippines – one crazy season, that is.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Flood

If you live where I live, the seasonal time frame is not applicable. My hometown experiences ”one crazy season”. It never follows what the weatherman says. You can’t count on the weather forecast there. Oh well, maybe you can. Just believe the opposite. When the weatherman said it will be sunny today… that’s your clue… bring umbrella because it will surely rain today. When he says there will be scattered showers and thunderstorm… it’s time to bring out the laundry and hang them in the clothesline.

This time of the year is supposedly dry season now in the Philippines, but my brother is complaining about rains, flood and traffic. Of course when there is flood there will surely be traffic. The rainy season despite its negative undertone is a fun season for me. My brothers and I had fun childhood memories of rainy days. We enjoyed the rain shower in our garden. We loved walking around town in the flood to buy my favorite banana cue [a snack made of deep-fried caramelized banana in a stick]. And we enjoyed staying at home just playing because there was no school.

Rainy season may not be the best season neither it is the worse. But I had to admit I prefer it than dry season because I hate warm weather. It’s so hot, sticky and sweaty. I like rainy season because it sometimes brings unscheduled holidays from work or school. Rainy season gives me valid alibis to play hooky. And rainy season is the best time to sleep all day or worse eat all day.

Additional Information:
Inquirer.net
USA Today

Credits:
Philippine Flood and Buhay Pinoy - Filipino Life in Pictures for the Photos

“Maybe I was just over-confident with my driving skill that’s why I failed.” That thought keeps me awake until now since that DMV disaster last Friday. I still can’t imagine that I failed in that one important test of my life. You see, when you are a teacher, you are used to giving test and not taking it. It’s a different situation when you are the one being tested. But knowing myself, I am also good at exams whether written or oral. The written test that I took last May prior to the road test was a-ok. I didn’t even sweat. Hubby was more nervous for me because he was constantly scolding me that he never saw me open the book [the Driver’s Manual]. Of course, I did. I opened the book. I only opened the book but never really read it. Hahaha. But I was confident that I can pass the written test because I know for a fact that the exam is only a test of common sense. And I did pass it… with flying colors.

The 3-wheel pedicab (Photo courtesy of Chris Gregerson of cgstock.com)

Maybe I was really too confident that’s why I failed in my road test. You see, back in the Philippines, I already have my Driver’s License long before I was able to learn how to drive. Yes, it may sound ridiculous but that is how it was. I did take the test too… but for some reason the guy who handed out the questionnaire also handed out the answers to the questionnaire. I thought he just liked me [*wink] but apparently all those people who took the same written test was also given the answers to the questionnaire. We were just told not to make the test perfect and leave out 2 or 3 wrong answers. Don’t ask me why because I don’t know the answer too.

The carabao-drawn paragos (Photo courtesy of  Coy-Coy of My Firstborn blog)

Maybe I was too confident because I had a different experience back in the Philippines. For one thing, when I filed my application for the driver’s license, I didn’t even have to fall in line while waiting for my turn to be served because it so happened that one of my former students works in that Land Transportation Office and when she saw me she immediately approached me and took my document and went inside to process it. So I didn’t even have to wait in long queue to be served. I was sitting comfortably in the air-conditioned office of my former student while she was doing the paper works for me. And in 10 minutes time I got my driver’s license without lifting a finger. Yes, I got my driver’s license that instant and I didn’t even have to take the road test. It may sounds unreasonable but I just didn’t take the road test. Good thing I didn’t have to because I don’t know how to drive a car that time when I got my driver’s license. I only learned how to drive the car after 5 years of having my driver’s license. My Hubby thinks it’s ridiculous but that is how it is in the Philippines. We only take the written test and that’s it.

The horse-driven kalesa or karitela (Photo courtesy of JEP: Staff Weblog - Melody blog)

Maybe my experience in the Philippines is somewhat different because not all those people who are getting a driver’s license own a car. So maybe that is one of the reasons why they don’t give road test anymore. And those people who are getting the driver’s license just need it to be able to work as public utility vehicle drivers for public transportation operators. You see, car is a luxury from where I came from that is why only the rich people can afford it. And for us who don’t own a car we have lots of choices to get around. We have the buses… the taxis… the jeepneys… the motorcycles… the tricycles… the pedicabs [a 3-wheeled bicycle or pedalled rickshaw]… the kalesa [a horse-driven carriage] and even the kariton[push cart made of wood material] or better yet the paragos [a carabao-drawn sledge made of wood] in some far-flung dirt roads in the barrios. You see, unlike here in Maine not all people in my country need a driver’s license. Only those drivers of buses, taxis, jeepneys, tricycles, motorcycles, and tricycles need them. But for the pedicabs, kalesa, kariton and paragos you don’t need one to drive one. And yes you can drive them in the local road side by side with all those means of transportations that I mentioned earlier.

The motorless Kariton or cart is an effective means of transportation during flood season.(Photo courtesy of John Javellana of Pitikmata blog)

Maybe I was too confident that I will pass the road test because I already know how to drive. I learned to drive in just 5 days. I learned to drive the standard type of car. I was good in driving. Somebody told me… if you learned how to drive in the Philippines… you can drive anywhere. Apparently it’s not true. Well, yes I can drive here but I need to follow traffic rules. It’s not that I don’t need to follow traffic rules in the Philippines. I just need to be careful and never ever under any circumstances get caught. But if you do… you only have to pay the price or the bribe. Hahahaha. The traffic rules in the Philippines are basic and almost the same as anywhere in the world. But we have a little unwritten rule… your own rule. Driving in the Philippines is the survival of the fittest, so to speak. You need a lot of common sense because some motorists don’t. You need to drive both offensively and defensive because you do not know when a tricycle will cut you in the middle of the traffic or if the bus will stop to pick up passengers in the middle of the road or a cigarette/candy/sampaguita [our national flower] vendor will knock on your window. And since Philippine traffic is somewhat legendary you have to expect that the heat of the situation will go straight up to some of the drivers’ head and with that you might find yourself in a bad situation. Bumper-to-bumper means just that. You can experience 3 hours traffic on regular days and don’t ask me about days when we have storms and flooded roads. However, in some busy intersections you can get amused by the dancing policemen while waiting for the green light. And this I know is something unique in our country. At least LTO was able to come up with a good idea to entertain the motorists. [To view video of city traffice… click here and for the dancing policeman… click here.]

A typical rush hour traffic in Manila (Photo courtesy of Getty Images).

Oh well, maybe I was just too edgy about the whole road test thingy. I will mail my request for re-exam today [after I post this] so that I can have the new schedule for the road test by next week. Meantime, I’m brushing up on my backing and practice more on my parallel parking to perfect it. And unlike the first time… I feel more at ease now because somehow I already know what to expect. It helps a lot knowing what to expect because I already have an idea what to do. And I am confident that I will pass the next test. If not, there is a third… a forth… and Nth time for me to take it. But if I will go back to the Philippines in few years time from now, I know I will not be able to drive there anymore because it will surely scare me out of my wits to be out on the road with those Kings of the Road.

Additional Information on Philippines Means of Transportation:
The Jeepney: Automotive Icon of the Philippines
Philippine Transportation
Buhay Pinoy: Filipino Life in Pictures

Photo And Video Credits:
Melody for kalesa
Chris Gregerson for pedicab
John Javellana for kariton
Getty Images for traffic
Coy-Coy for the paragos
Srovets for traffic video
itsrenjithb for the dancing policeman video

We don’t have apple trees in the Philippines and the apples that we buy locally are all imported from other countries like China [which is the most common], Japan [for Fuji apples but I was just guessing I just made the conclusion because Mt. Fuji is in Japan, hahahaha] and USA [for the delicious apples variety. But again I was just guessing… I am not an expert in fruits and have no friends who are into importing apples so I have no idea]. And you can find apples in the markets, groceries and fruit stalls all over the country… all year-round.

Since it is a tropical country, most fruits that are grown locally are tropical fruits, of course. We have lots of fruits that can be found in other countries too, most especially from our neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. And most fruit trees we have in the country originated from these countries or vice versa.

During this time of the year… the most common fruit that you can find in the Philippines and most specifically in our little town in Liliw – is lanzones. It is a kind of fruit which is yellowish to brownish in color when it is ripe. They grow from lanzones trees, of course. They are round and grow in bunches like grapes. When you open it… the fruit’s white flesh is in section. It has seeds in it which is bitter when you bite, so don’t under any circumstances bite on it. It is odorless. It is sweet. And it is an anti-oxidant [that I found out only now when I googled it].

Lazones season in the Philippines is from August to October. But usually there are still some trees that bear the fruits as late as November. And they are only available in the market during those months. But unlike here in the US where you can pick your own fruits from the orchard, in the Philippines… you pick your fruits from the fruit stands or fruit section in the grocery. It is one of the most popular fruits in the Philippines and they can be costly. There are some places in the country where they celebrate Lazones Festival as a way of celebrating its abundance and as a tourist attraction. [To watch the video on the Festivals…click here]

We have lanzones trees in the garden around our house. They were planted by my grandparents so many years ago. According to them, the lanzones trees can only bear fruits when they reached 10 years old. But due to some modern technology and researches in the agriculture, they where able to make the bearing-age of these trees younger or lesser just like all the other fruit trees we have around to get the most benefit out of them.

When we were younger, my brothers and I would climb the trees ourselves and eat the fruits while sitting on its branches. Our mom hated it because we usually threw the fruit skin on the ground and she has to sweep the ground instead of having all the skin in one box so that it will be easier for her to put it out in the sun to dry.

My mom would dry the fruit skin in the sun until it dried up and we used it as insecticide. My mom would burn the dried lanzones skins and the smoke will fill our house to choke the mosquitoes away. And during that session we would be out of the house too because we didn’t want to have the same fate as the mosquitoes. Hahahaha.

Additional Information:
For Lanzones Festivals: Go to…. Cagayan de Oro
Go to… Ana Kalang Festival
Go to… Camiguin: A Tropical Island Paradise
Go to… Lakbay Pilipinas
Go to… Lanzones Production

Credits
For the Photos:
Wikipedia Image Download
Farl on Flickr
Ana Marie Amarga on Travel Blog
For the Video:
Camiguin Lanzones Festival

Honestly speaking, Hunting Season is one of the many culture shocks that I have to endure and get over with since I came here in Maine. The first time I heard about it, I was shocked. I was shocked not because I am a member of the Animal Humane Society or what not. I was shocked because there is not such a thing as “deer hunting” in the Philippines. There could be some hunting activities happening around the country but it is not a real big deal because it is illegal there. And maybe, because there are not much deer around there because there is not much forest left too. Most of the forest and other agricultural lands were turned or converted into residential areas or worse… industrial and commercial zones.

But if deer hunting is to Mainers… cockfighting is to Pinoys. If deer hunting is a big thing in Maine… cockfighting is the biggest thing in the Philippines. And if deer hunting is making big money for the State of Maine through the licensing fees and as one of the State’s tourist attractions… cockfighting is making big money for cockfighting betters, gamblers and cock-owners themselves.

Cockfighting or SABONG as it is popularly known in the Philippines is considered as a sport [a blood sport for that matter]. It is the only sport that no human being is accepted as athletes. Cockfighting is big in the Philippines because it is a popular pastime among men since pre-spanish time. It is big in the Philippines because of betting or gambling. It is big in the Philippines because cock-owners are breeding cocks for cockfighting and this is a big income-generating industry [if you can consider it as that] because high-breed fighting cocks can cost thousands of pesos a piece. And more importantly, cockfighting is a whole-year-round season in the Philippines. It is a sport for both the rich and the poor. It is a sport that don’t entertain discrimination or bounded by social status because you can play it as long as you have money to bet. And it is played mostly in cockfighting arenas or even in the dusty backyards for small-time cockfighting in the far-flung barrios.

Cockfighting and deer hunting share 3 basic and common denominators - animal… men… and the love for the sports. They may both seem inhumane especially for those animal lovers but both are here to stay. I may hate to see a dead deer or a bloody cock but there is not much I can do. And much that I hate seeing them killed, I have to admit… I love venison steak and fried chicken.

Additional Information:
Cockfighting Photos… go to Philippine Cockfighting
Other articles on Cockfighting… go to New America Media and The Philippines
And for Cockfighting Videos… go to Metacafe’s Sabong Rooster Fights and Pilipinas Sabong Sports

There is no such thing as football season in the Philippines. In the Philippines, Football is off-season the whole year round. It’s off-season because football as I have mentioned earlier in my previous post is not as popular as basketball. Basketball is the best thing in the Philippines or perhaps the second best thing after Jollibee. That is why if most young American boys dream to become a football or baseball player when they grow up, most young Filipino boys grew up dreaming and hoping to be either a Basketball or a Movie star… but not a football star.

The Filipinos have different kinds of sports and pastimes that they enjoy. And having a different culture they also have some unique kinds of games that they play. One of them is SIPA which literal meaning is “kick” is the national and traditional native sport of the country. Though Sipa is the national sport of the Philippines not all Filipinos are familiar with the sport. And though it is played professionally the regional sports tournament among Asian countries under Sepak Takraw for the Asian Games, it is not popular enough to be included in the list of sports in the Olympics. However, Sipa and SepakTakraw is gaining popularity abroad now and has reached foreign soil like the Canada.

Sipa like football also uses a special kind of ball made of rattan. And like football, the ball is kicked or played using the foot. But unlike football, there are lots of variations on how to play the game. But like any other sports, both Sipa and Football are sports that can make any young boys dream of becoming big time stars.

[To view more photos and videos of Sipa click here and for Sepak Takraw click here.]

For more Information about SIPA:
Go to… Sports in the Philippines
Go to… The Art of the Matter
Go to… A Century of Challenge and Change:The Filipino American Story

School season in the Philippines usually starts on the first week of June. But for the teachers [like me], we start reporting to work a week earlier to prepare the classrooms, help in the enrolment, start preparing the lesson plans… teaching materials… and what not. The start of the school year just like in any other schools all over the world [perhaps] is the busiest day in the calendar.

School season in the Philippines coincide with the “wet season” in the country. School season is also typhoon season that is why we also cancel lots of school days due to storm, flooding and calamities. And because of these the school days are sometimes extended to make up for those days we lost.

School season in the Philippines is also the season for heavy traffic, especially in the cities. In our small town in Liliw, kids come to school on jeepneys, tricycles or on foot. They also come in uniforms unlike here in the US where kids come in casual clothes except for those who go to private schools. In the Philippines, both the Private and Public schools require their students to come in proper uniform. The public schools are subsidized by the government however; students are still required to pay a minimum fee for other school expenses.

And just like in any countries in the whole world… the teachers are still over-worked and under-paid… hahahaha. I still miss school though.

More Helpful Information

About Jeepneys in the Philippines… go to Jeepney, and Jeepney and other means of transportation in the Philippines
About Tricycles in the Philippines… go to Motorcycles and Tricycles in the Philippines

To an expert shopper and a shopaholic… shopping is therapeutic. Of course, it’s just an alibi. I used to employ it too as a psychological defense to absolve myself from the sin of avarice. Good thing I am now a convert which means I don’t really do much shopping like I used to. Aside from the seasonal yard sale, the only regular shopping that I do now is – the grocery.

Back home… in the Philippines… we have our own version of yard sale. And it is a year-round-all-season activity there. In the Philippines we call it “Ukay-Ukay” and you can find it almost everywhere in the country. Though most of the goods sold at Ukay-Ukays are either surpluses or second hands, they are surprisingly good quality items and some of them are also branded. It is famous among Filipinos because the goods are not just reasonably priced but amazingly low-priced. You can buy a pair of Levi’s denim jeans for only 65 pesos ($1.30)… a Prada purse for 250 pesos ($5.90)… or a pair of boots for 42 pesos ($1).

But just like any yard sale, you should have what it takes to be a smart shopper. Since there are lots of Ukay-Ukays all over the place, prices are somewhat competitive so you can still haggle for a lower price for the already-lowest-priced goods. And just like any yard sale, you should have the right skill to spot the best items among racks-upon-racks and shelves-upon-shelves of merchandise. You should have the patience to dig up among piles-upon-piles of your priced finds. And you should have the endurance to deal with other bargain hunters who, like you are in search of the same items that you victoriously found.

Here is one example of what I am talking about… check this out.

Of course, weather you are in Maine or in the Philippines, shopping is fun when you have enough money to buy all the things you want and a place to put them.

Credits:
Thanks to the following:
My brother Japol for the photos I posted here.
Jwerner
PINOYexpats
Inquirer.net