A New Look

Since I’m forced to rebuild my website, I’ve decided to give it a new look with a much more robust theme software package  called “Atahualpa” (available from WordPress). The picture at the top shows the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (aka “Pasig Cathedral” or “Pasig Church”) (click here) located in Pasig City. It’s about a 15 minute tricycle ride from my apartment and is considered the major landmark for the area. Alma’s parents were married there over 50 years ago (they’re both deceased, now). It’s near the shopping area known as Kapasigan (click here) - where I catch the FX (or Taxi)  going to work. It’s also close to where my sister-in-law runs a combination convenience store (sari-sari store)\eatery (click here).

Sari-Sari stores

The difference with her establishment (called “Al-Bys” which is short for Alma and “Baby” – Alma helped pay for the store and her sister’s nickname is “Baby”) is that it’s an open eating place inside and in front of the section with various merchandise for sale. “Ate Baby” (”Ate” means “big sister”, in Tagalog) is currently recovering from a mild stroke and is staying two doors down from me at my other sister and brother-in-law’s apartment).  A sari-sari store is interesting in the fact that it sells an amazing variety of items for such a small shop. In it, you can find items such as rice, eggs, cigarettes, shampoo, disposable diapers, kerosene, notepads, ibuprofen, beer, brandy, soda and too many other things to list here. You can also purchase minutes on your cell phone (!!). Most are not actual eateries serving meals like “Al-Bys”, though. Since I’m recovering from a broken leg, I miss traveling to Kapasigan (among other places).

It’s been raining for several days straight due to the influence of a typhoon located near Taiwan. Here, in the Philippines, the weather has been responsible for 29 deaths and leaving thousands homeless. It also makes travel pretty limited for me and I’m unable to accompany Alma to the local stores, since walking on crutches in the rain is ill advised.

I’ll probably start a film reviews page, in the near future. With DVDs containing 15 features each and selling for about 60 pesos (1.00 US = 47.9 Philippine pesos, today), it’s easy to check out the latest features – even before they leave the theaters (!!). I know, I know – but, hey, in this poor country, folks just can’t afford to shell out for the movies or standard DVDs like they do elsewhere. So the local authorities cut everyone a break and allow stalls in the marketplace (and all over, actually) to sell privately made DVDs, out in the open. And trust me – the movie industry isn’t losing out. There would just be no patronage, otherwise. The few with money still take their dates to the movies (Alma and I saw “Wanted”, in the theater when I still had a few dollars left from my initial arrival to this country). Also, the price of an original DVD, here, is in line with the price of a DVD in the U.S. – making it extremely cost prohibitive for the locals.

That’s about all the news for now. It’s a rainy day, Alma’s at the store and Rancel is in school (more on her in some future post)