'Near death' experience

What I thought was a perfect day of fun and recreation ended with probably the closest to a near death experience of my life. 

I went to an outing at a swimming resort with my group of friends from my work. It was, as I said, a real fun day in the water. I swam a lot, of course. I do think that in my past life I was a sea creature, a shark, or plankton, maybe. So whenever I'm in water, I'm so happy. Plus I was with the company of people I really like. 

But, having left responsibilities in the office, I have to go to work and close the Lifestyle pages even if it was already late, AND, of course, I was tired. But it's alright, responsibilities are responsibilities. 

Things got bad when I was waiting inside the FX in Echague, Quiapo bound home. I was sleeping, when I heard noises that I thought were regular firecrackers. Three more loud bangs. 

Then the other people inside the FX started clamoring, I was alerted, look outside, and the first thing I saw (with a blurry vision) was the fire on the muzzle of a gun just beside the window of the FX.

The shootout was happening just outside, one or two meters away from me. I stoop down, survival instincts. Two more shots were fired and the shootout ended. 

The guy nearest to the window (then me next to him) recalled, "Naglakad lang paalis 'yong bumaril. Ngumisi pa. (The shooter just walked away with a smirk on his lips.)" 

I took a really quick look and saw the shot man lying helpless and bloody on the ground. 

The FX sped away when the mob started circling the poor man. And after much talked inside the vehicle, we deduced: 1. that the shooter had the intent of killing the man; 2. the victim had no gun; 3. the victim was shot three times, in the chest, one of the arms and one of the legs; 4. the probable reason was money or drugs; and 5. how thankful we were we weren't harmed. 

Really thank goodness, and God, for I was kept safe. Who could have say? At any moment, a bullet could have gone our way, and what? But no. It didn't. 

I was left unharmed. For the people who loves me and wouldn't want anything bad to happen to me. 

The world is like this. It's as bad as it is as beautiful. And we get it both ways. We live. Then we die. So until we're all here, let's live it like there's no tomorrow. 

Corregidor Adventure it is!

Everybody loves "first times," do we not! So I just felt truly excited when I learned that I'll be able to go to Corregidor. Who doesn't know of this land of history that served as a bastion of defense during the war era?


Basta! Anywhere in the Philippines where there is a significant sense of history and culture, I will see!


With the Corregidor Adventure, I was lucky! And even more lucky to have been able to immerse myself in an Amazing Race-type of challenge. Fun! It was a different twist to just seeing the ruins of time! 


Sumout kami sa masikip na tunnel, pumasok at umakyat sa kweba, nag-trail sa gubat, tumakbo, tumakbo pa, hiningal. Hahaha adreline! Bring out your competitive side! 


Here's a taste of Corregidor. 

Bring in the sun! ^^

Somewhere in the bottom of that sea, lies millions of silver coins the American's dropped from the plane when they realized they cannot bring it to their land. 

"These ruins will never be restored, replaced and rebuilt. They were left like that by the war, and they will stay that way." Mr. Armand, tour guide

Guns as big as tanks.

Can't Breathe

This is something I'd better be writing inside my own journal. But nonetheless, I choose to share my angst with the world. Who cares. I'm entitled to this space on the global world. And it's not as if many would actually bother read this. Still I wouldn't care. 

This day is not a good day. I hate waking up early. And early means anything earlier than my normal 10am "rise and shine" clock. 

And so I don't know. I was too cranky in the morning. Anything irritated me easily. It did not help that the event I went to was boring. Though it did made me happy that they served free food and wine. Any free food is always good to me. Well, minus the slow service, everything was OK. The red wine was good. 

Was it the red wine that made my head feel heavy up until now?

Also, I don't know what the cause is but I can't breathe properly. Seriously. My airways in the nose are blocked. The flow of air is not normal. I need more air. Maybe that's the reason why my head feels heavy. Lack of oxygen. 

Then my heart feels tight. My chest feels heavy. Gosh. I can't breathe properly. It feels as if something is binding my heart. And then in some instances, it would palpitate and pump fast. I feel dizzy already. 

This is bad. I feel bad. 

And after all these, in the back of my mind, I feel worried. My father is sick for two days now. I hope he was able to see the doctor today.

I hope all I need is a good sleep. But then I need to get up early again for tomorrow. Will it be a fun day in Corregidor? I pray.

And heart feel normal already.

Let's treasure our Philippines

When it comes to culture, heritage sites, nature adventures, breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches and warm people, the Philippines has all these and more.

But as an archipelagic country—islands divided by sea—many Filipinos find it difficult to explore the land because of the high cost of travel. Often, foreigners have more access to enjoy the Philippines.

Thankfully, as of late, a good number of shipping and airline companies have started offering discounted rates, which should hopefully translate to more Filipinos vacationing this summer.

Where to go?

With affordable fares available, the next question is where to spend a summer holiday in the best possible “local” way?

A travel advocacy launched by Bonamine of Johnson & Johnson Philippines should give families, barkadas, individuals and groups pretty good ideas. Dubbed “Basta Pinas Byahe Tayo,” the project is a private-public partnership with the Department of Tourism’ (DOT) own travel campaign “Pilipinas, Tara Na,” which aims to promote the appreciation of domestic traveling among Filipinos.

Morever, according to Tina Sabarre, Johnson & Johnson senior brand manager, said, “Our partnership with DOT to promote local destinations increases our appreciation of the Philippines, and with that (also comes) conservation awareness.”

At the same event, travelers and bloggers Ivan Henares and Ivan Man Dy shared digital tours of the Philippines the way we most of us have never seen before.

Heritage Luzon

Let us begin with Luzon—the largest mass of land in the Philippines.

Manila alone boasts one of the country’s best heritage sites, which is Intramuros. With its stone walls, Intramuros also houses the San Agustin Church, which in turn is the only Unesco World Heritage Site in Manila.

According to Dy, Manila is actually a very rich city in terms of cultural heritages. And his tours, “Old Manila Walks,” aim to show everyone the cultural value of Philippine’s prime location.

Henares, meanwhile, who has traveled the 79 provinces of the country, talked about the best destinations in Luzon. He said that though the farthest and most detached is Batanes, “it is definitely the place to be.” The scenic views are endless; the Ivatan tribes continue to flourish, with their heritage towns with stone houses well-preserved.

Henares added that there are countless other heritage towns in Luzon, the most popular of which are Vigan, Ilocos Sur, some towns in Bulacan, Cavite, Isabela and Batangas.

Adventure Visayas

Adventure comes with nature and for Filipinos who love these kinds of trips, it is time for them to discover what Visayas has to offer.

Henares shared what is probably the most thrilling adventure of all: A 60-meter plunge down a canyon.  Bohol might be most famous for its Chocolate Hills, but this new adventure is found in Danao town’s Danao Adventure Park. Called “The Plunge,” it is a free fall from the top of a 200-meter high cliff, and is the first of its kind in Asia. 

Meanwhile, in Cebu, the duo suggests a different adventure of the gastronomic kind. At the tip of the province is an island named Bantayan, which had Boracay’s reputation a few decades back. All the same, it still has its beautiful beaches as well as foodie destinations. The Jungle restaurant, to name one, offers a bountiful buffet: 50 dishes of fish, every seafood you can think of from crabs, oysters, shrimps, as well as pork, chicken and beef dishes, all for P300.

Mindanao’s sand

Who doesn’t love the beach? It’s on the top of everyone’s to do list every time summer comes along. And usually, they’re after the white sands of such popular places as Boracay.

But how about pink sand? Yes, pink! Henares said that in Zamboanga City—the Latin City of the Philippines for the Chavacano dialect—there is the Santa Cruz Island with the only pink beach in the country.

Another culturally enriching tour to experience this summer is that of the Agusan Marsh in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. Tourists will get to see a flourishing native community living in floating houses. This wetland has an ecology and wildlife that is unperturbed.

Hidden charms

The domestic tourism campaigns of DOT and Bonamine aims to give people the right information about our country’s hidden charms, according Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.

Truly, we are lucky to be living in a country that has so much to offer the senses.   This summer, let us get to know them because there is so much more to the Philippines than meets the eye.

For more information, like Basta Pinas on Facebook. 


*First published for The Manila Times.

In Pinas it's 'Love ko 'to'

“‘Lo, Karen po,” “Pa-cheeseburger ka naman,” and “Kita-kits sa McDo.” These lines from the TV ads of one of the world’s leading fast food chains have long been a part of Philippine pop culture. And as McDonald’s celebrates its 30th anniversary in the country, there is no denying that the American brand has captured the Filipino taste. 

It was in 1981 when McDonald’s Philippines opened its first store in Morayta, Manila. Back then, it only served a limited menu—the world famous BigMac, French Fries, Cheeseburger and Apple Pie. In no time, Manileños found themselves craving for the western treats.

Still, what truly made McDonald’s a success in the Philippines was its addition of Filipinized food in its menu: the bright red McSpaghetti in 1986, followed by the crispy Chicken McDo in 1987 and the sweet Burger McDo in 1993.

McDonald’s Philippines Vice President for Marketing and Communications Margot Torres told The Manila Times that company founder George Yang faced tough challenges in fighting for the inclusion of Filipinized items in the menu.

Torres said that Yang had to convince the McDonald’s Corp. head office in the United States that the hamburger needs to be sweeter, and that they also needed to make spaghetti and fried chicken meals because they were the dishes that children eat in birthday parties in the Philippines.

After winning the delicious battle, McDonald’s Philippines finally captured that “panlasang Pinoy.”

The first McDonald's store in the Philippines located in Morayta

A trip back the ‘Golden Arch’

It is not only quality food that has made many a Filpino a McDo-lover; as in any food and beverage business, quality service is also key. 

Two years after its first store opened in Metro Manila, the first McDonald’s branch outside the city opened in 1983 in Dau, Pampanga. McDonald’s reached the Visayas in the year 1992 in Cebu City; and it was only in 2000 that McDonald’s opened in Mindanao in Cagayan de Oro.

Today, there are more than 300 McDonald’s stores all over the archipelago, which has strengthened the fast food chain’s commitment to continuously create innovations to make their dining experience as convenient and fun as can be. One Such moves include the single-number delivery hotline 8-MCDO, the online delivery website www.mcdelivery.ph, and way back when, the drive-thru service and 24/7 store hours.

As Kenneth Yang, son of George Yang and now president and chief executive officer of McDonald’s Philippines said, “We have kept to our commitment to serve nothing but the best-tasting and affordable food with excellent service.”

Ronald McDonald and the Gang with new Kid Ambassador Jillian Ward

Summer at McDo

Come April, the fast food chain will open the Kiddie Crew Workshop, its annual five-day summer program for children aged 6 to 12. Activities include on-floor trainings, values formation lessons, creative art workshop, and singing and dancing.

All through the summer as well, there will be children working behind the McDonald’s counters in selected stores. Torres said that the training more importantly aims to teach children the “value of hard work, discipline and camaraderie.”

The Kiddie Crew Workshop’s culminating event will gather some 15,000 children for a grand graduation. They will be joined by child star Jillian Ward who was just named McDonald’s Kid Ambassador.


*First published for The Manila Times.