Enjoying LIFE in Rural Philippines

Saturday, February 10, 2007

My Tennis Player

Maria Sharapova, originally uploaded by Camuss.

should i still name her? if u dont know her... pity you hehehe

February 7, 2007 TV Ratings

SiS 13.8% vs Homeboy 13.5%;

Yellow Handkerchief 18.9% vs. Game Ka Na Ba 18.7%;

Eat Bulaga 21% vs. Wowowee 22.2%;

Daisy Siete 16.2%, Makita Ka Lang Muli 14.6% at Princess Charming 14% vs. Kapamilya Cinema 13.9%;

Full House 16.4% vs. Inocente De Ti 14%;

Jewel in the Palace 18.3% vs. Pangako sa 'Yo 12%;

24 Oras 26.1% vs. TV Patrol 23.1%;

Asian Treasures 32.9% vs. Deal or No Deal 25.5%;

Atlantika 28.5% vs. Super Inggo 24.7%;

Bakekang 32% vs. Sana Maulit Muli 24.8%;

Jumong 29.3% vs. Maging Sino Ka Man 25.6%;

Starstruck 18.5% vs. Princess Hours 17.3%;

Nuts Entertainment 16.1% vs. Bandila 9.9%.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Sent away... from YOUNGBLOOD of INQUIRER.net

YOUNGBLOOD
Sent away
By Grace Ann Arce
Inquirer
Last updated 00:45am (Mla time) 02/06/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- I have a very strict father. He has one inflexible rule (which I think no teenager can follow): No boyfriend until graduation from college and even then, he must be earning at least a six-figure salary monthly.

His strictness has really affected my social life. I can't answer a phone call from a guy without being subjected to a 10-minute interrogation by him afterward. I cannot go out with my friends without a chaperon, or attend a party alone.

However, it didn't stop me from having a boyfriend -- until one day my sister found out and told my father about it.

Because of this forbidden love, I was sent all the way to Europe. I didn't want to go, I didn't want to leave my guy, but who do you think will win in a battle between a father and his 18-year-old daughter?

My first stop was Vienna, Austria, where three of my father's sisters live. I stayed with an aunt who was running an art gallery and she urged me to discover the world of artists. I enjoyed her company because she brought me to some places in Europe where her painters' works were being exhibited. We also went shopping for branded clothes at lower prices in different places like Brussels, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and Austria. Because of the language barrier, I had a very hard time communicating with people in the malls, fast-food outlets or parks. Even my cousins could barely speak English.

In Manila, my dad let me drive a car and so I had no experience commuting. The first train ride I took was in Vienna. I felt physically and mentally comfortable riding on the train, knowing I was not in Manila. I told myself this was rich Europe, where there would be only a few snatchers, kidnappers, murderers or rapists.

I was wrong. On my very first trip on train, I was robbed. And I didn't notice it because I was wearing a very thick trench coat. I lost my perfume, my makeup kit and my wallet with my license, IDs, credit cards and pocket money. That led me to the conclusion that there could always be a bad man in every room in this world and it made me very cautious.

When my Schengen visa was about to expire, my aunts convinced me to stay on as a TNT, or "tago nang tago" (an illegal alien) and try to find and marry a very rich guy who was about to die. They didn't want me to go back to Manila because they were also my father's victims as regards this boyfriend thing. But I told them marriage was not yet in my vocabulary. I also wanted to stay in London for some months to ponder my future.

I won the battle this time. So off I went to London, but I was still under my father's shadow: I had to stay with another aunt and her diplomat-husband.

Their family was completely different from what I had thought a diplomat's family would be. With my uncle going to office every day and my aunt keeping house and raising their son who was in first grade. They didn't have any house help. Everyone helped with the everyday chores. And since I was living with them, I was assigned to do the dishes, the one thing I've always hated doing in our own house.

Since I was already in the city, my father insisted that I enroll in a short course in a college in Central London. So on weekends, my aunt and I toured around the country, and on weekdays I attended classes.

I got very depressed, perhaps because of the season or the different culture. All I wanted was to go home, but father wouldn't hear of it.

One night, as I was surfing the Net, I came across the website of a Filipino community in London. I learned that they had scheduled a gathering.

For the first time, I rode on a bus with another Filipina (Filipinos have a certain aura you can easily notice when they are abroad) and when we got off at the same station, I knew she was going to the same gathering.

When I arrived, all eyes were on me. Someone asked me to go on stage and introduce myself. Later I got to meet the heroes of our country, most of them nurses or house help. I learned that they would meet about twice a month just for "kumustahan" [saying hello]. They were like best friends, and they helped you all the way.

In one of our meetings, they found out that I sang rather well. They immediately asked me to help organize a choral group for teenagers so they would become more active in community affairs instead of drinking like their peers did. Although I am not a musician, I drew on my experience as a member of our church choir back home and shared with them everything I knew about music.

The months went so fast and before winter was over I had to decide whether to stay or go home. I began asking myself what was God's real purpose in putting me there. Once I glanced at the organ and looked at the choir and concluded that they were the reason. But I had finished the things I had to do, and it was time to go.

I booked a flight home without telling my family. I wanted my return to be a surprise. I told the travel agent not to tell anyone about my trip home.

But as soon as our plane landed, I heard my phone beeping (I had forgotten to turn it off). There was a text message from my sister welcoming me home. A cousin had told my sister I was going home? So much for a surprise homecoming.

When I got out of the airport, the first familiar face I saw was that of a guy with a great smile on his face, the love of my life. I thought he was taking me home, until I saw my sister.

Back in our house, I kissed and hugged my parents. My father tried to hold back his tears even as he held me close to him.

I had barely started opening my bags of "pasalubong" [arrival tokens] while recounting my experiences when I noticed that they were not even listening. They were watching their favorite "telenovela" [TV soap]. Hello! I had just arrived from abroad!

In this chapter of my life, I really hated my father. But I realize he only wanted the best for me, even if what he thought to be best for me cost him a lot of money as well as my long absence. Still my trip gave me the opportunity to experience a little more freedom, to meet real people and learn from their stories. I learned how to travel alone, deal with people of different cultures, appreciate nature, wash dishes and share the talent that was given to me. And for all that, I thank him.

Grace Ann Arce, 20, is a second year AB Mass Communication student at Our Lord's Grace Montessori School and Colleges.

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TV RATINGS - 2/5/2007

From PEX

Research by Jun Jun aska26ph2001@...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABS-CBNKapamilyaPEXers2
Posted by cybermyx

AGB OVERNIGHT RATINGS
Monday - February 5, 2007

Sis 11.8
Homeboy 11.9

Yellow Handkerchief 18.9
Pilipinas Game KNB? 16.6

Eat Bulaga! 23.3
WoWoWee 21.8

Daisy Siete 17.1
Inocente De Ti 9.1

Makita Ka Lang Muli 14.8
Princess Charming 14.4
Full House 16.3
Kapamilya Cinema 14.5

Jewel In The Palace 18.7
Pangako Sa 'Yo 11.8

24 Oras 31.9
TV Patrol World 23.5

Asian Treasures 36.3
Kapamilya Deal or No Deal 26.2

Atlantika 32.3
Super Inggo 27.3

Bakekang 33.0
Sana Maulit Muli 30.7

Jumong 28.8
Maging Sino Ka Man 27.0

Starstruck 18.3
Princess Hours 19.0

Lagot Ka! Isusumbong Kita! 14.7
Bandila 8.4

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TV RATINGS - 2/4/2007

From PEX

Research by Jun Jun aska26ph2001@...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABS-CBNKapamilyaPEXers2
Posted by cybermyx

Sunday - February 4, 2007

SOP 17.4
ASAP 13.6

Magic Kamison 18.5
Your Song (Someday) 11.4
Love Spell (Click na Click) 11.7

S-Files 14.4
The Buzz 12.2

Mga Kuwento Ni Lola Basyang 23.7
TV Patrol Linggo 13.1

Starstruck 25.6
Goin' Bulilit 16.6

Mel and Joey 23.5
Rated K 18.6

All Star K! 20.6
Sharon 14.5

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TV RATINGS - 2/3/2007

From PEX

Research by Jun Jun aska26ph2001@...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABS-CBNKapamilyaPEXers2
Posted by cybermyx

Saturday - February 3, 2007

Eat Bulaga 31.2
WoWoWee 21.2

Startalk 17.5
Nagmamahal Kapamilya 13.8
Let's Go 12.4

Wish Ko Lang! 18.6
Star Magic Presents 11.4

Starstruck 15.3
TV Patrol Sabado 15.1

Bitoy's Funniest Videos 25.1
Komiks: Pedro Penduko 20.1

Pinoy Pop Superstar 28.4
John En Shirley 17.5

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho 30.4
XXX 19.7

Imbestigador 30.7
Aalog-Alog 12.4

HP: Ibang Level Na 'To! 14.3
Sabado Movie Greats (Now That I Have You) 11.8

Showbiz Stripped 10.0
Sports Unlimited 3.7

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TV RATINGS - 2/2/2007

From PEX

Research by Jun Jun aska26ph2001@...
http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABS-CBNKapamilyaPEXers2
Posted by cybermyx

TV RATINGS

Friday - February 2, 2007

Jewel In The Palace 14.2
Pangako Sa 'Yo 10.1

24 Oras 23.9
TV Patrol World 22.2

Asian Treasures 31.8
Kapamilya Deal or No Deal 22.1

Atlantika 27.1
Super Inggo 22.4

Bakekang 33.4
Sana Maulit Muli 23.9

Jumong 30.4
Maging Sino Ka Man 23.5

Starstruck 21.7
Maalaala Mo Kaya 22.4
Bubble Gang 18.3

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