Travel

10 Things I Noticed in Singapore That Caught Me Offguard

Posted on November 23, 2009 by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

I promised myself I wouldn’t go out of the country unless with a diplomatic passport. Not even the World Cup could make me break that vow.

But a FREE trip to Singapore was just too good to refuse. Heck, the keyword there isn’t even Singapore. Even if it was just a free trip to Binondo, I’d still take it. Free is all I need to forget everything else in the world.

So when Nuffnang sent me an email telling me I was a part of the Philippine delegation to the Asia Pacific Blog Awards in Singapore and that they would shoulder the fare, the accommodation and the tour, I was like “Screw the diplomatic dream, I’m going to Singapore!”

And so I went. Together with a bunch of bloggers from the Philippines, Malaysia, and Australia, we joined Singaporean bloggers to celebrate the best in Asia Pacific blogosphere. The next day, they took us on a tour around the city. It was one of the best experiences of my life. And it will surely be not forgotten. Thanks Nuffnang!

I’m sure you’re expecting me to narrate bit by bit what happened in Uniquely Singapore. I won’t be doing that. Not this time.

You might also be hoping I’d bombard this post with hundreds of pictures. Sorry to disappoint, I won’t be doing that, either. At least, not hundreds. Haha.

What I’m writing about in this blog post are the little things I noticed over the three days I spent in Singapore. Here they are:

10. Soap Bars

The first thing I did upon entering my Link Hotel room (along Tiong Bahru Road) was to check the bathroom. And the first thing I noticed was there was no soap bars. I’m not used to liquid body wash so I stormed out of the room to look for some. I first tried Cheers, a convenience store reminiscent of Mini-Stop near the hotel, but they didn’t have any. I walked an entire block to 7-11, where I finally found soap bars. There was only one brand of solid bath soap there and they were on a budget pack.

Later on, I found out that solid soap bars are an endangered species in Singapore. I was told people prefer liquid body wash over bath soap. Interesting.

9. Maya

There was a kind of bird that I see all over Singapore. I don’t know what it’s called but it’s black. It’s cute.

But while having lunch at a hawker center, Ramon Bautista (yes, THE Ramon Bautista. He’s a friend and a former college teacher), noticed something amusing on the floor. It’s a cute little brown bird — a tree sparrow, known in the Philippines as maya. I knew the Philippines and Singapore have so much in common since they both are ASEAN countries and are in the tropics. I expected I’d still see the flora and fauna we have here in Singapore. But seeing a maya was still something that blew me away. I know, I know, the tree sparrow is common in Asia and Europe but still, it felt good seeing a bird I see every day in my country.

It was the only maya I saw in Singapore in the three days I spent there.

8. Paper Table Napkins

Common food establishments don’t serve disposable paper table napkins. I learned about it when I asked for it and they told me it was for sale. At first, I was pissed but then I realized there was a good reason for it.

Why would I need disposable table napkins when I have a hankie handy? Why would I waste paper? I guess that’s the reason for it — they discourage people from using paper napkins for waste management. I appreciated that.

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Farmville Gets Real | Globe Bangon Pinoy Joins Gawad Kalinga for Bayan-Anihan!

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel |

Alright, I admit. There was a period of my life that I was so addicted to Farmville on Facebook. Sometimes, I’d even go an extra mile just to level up. My housemates would invite me to dinner and I’d respond with “Wait lang. Mag-a-ani lang ako.” It was fun. Harvesting my virtual crops was a fulfilling experience. I felt like my efforts paid off and I deserve all my Farmville cash.

But the moment it started to affect my life (I’d get up early in the morning just to harvest lest my super berries should wither), I made the painful decision of quitting. Sayang, I was on Level 28!

Farmville never entered my head again except for a few occasions when a friend would find an ugly duckling or a brown cow and I was being prompted to adopt them. As much as I’d like to collect chocolate milk, I just had much more important things to do, like, let’s say my job and my blogs.

The next time Farmville got alive in me was when Globe invited me and a couple of other blogger friends to join them on Bayan-Anihan! Globe works with Gawad Kalinga to push a food sufficiency program that aims to put food on Filipino’s tables. The end-result that they wanted was obvious in their cheer: “Goodbye Gutom!”

It was an opportunity I did not let pass. “This is it,” I thought. “Farmville in real life!”

We gathered at Globe Telecom Plaza at 4:30am. We were given a shirt, a towel, and a buri hat, which all proved useful. We arrived in Concepcion, Tarlac at around 9am and we were overwhelmed by the warm welcome the community gave us. Old women in their traditional Filipinana attire and children showing their smiles.

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The Drowning in Batangas

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel |

Someone drowned in Matabungkay, Batangas last Sunday. But it seemed like that guy was not the only one that needed saving.

My travel buddy and I spent the long weekend at a beach in my home province. We had grander plans actually — Palaui Island in Cagayan, Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Sagada in Mountain Province, Hundred Islands in Pangasinan — but our weird schedules made the long weekend completely pointless. So we were forced to choose a beach that was close to the city.

Matabungkay in Lian, Batangas is indeed close to me. I’m not just talking about physical proximity but more importantly emotionally. I stayed there for two months when I managed an English camp for Korean grade school and college students in 2006 and we made wonderful memories and bond in that barangay. I was very familiar with the place. Matabungkay was an easy choice. You see, memories, which needed revisiting, were littered on the sands of Matabungkay.

Apparently, it wasn’t just memories that were all over Matabungkay. Trash, too. I wish I’m talking figuratively here.

It had been three years since I last visited the popular Batangas beach but a lot has changed. There was so much garbage lying on the sand and swimming with tourists. Seaweeds are a common sight in the area but what really ruined the place were plastic cups, glass bottles, aluminum foils, Lucky Me Pancit Canton wrappers… (Sorry, the brand got stuck in my head coz it’s my favorite and there were so much of them there.) It was really heartbreaking.

And yeah, someone drowned while we were swimming. I hope he was able to reach the hospital on time.

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Another Weekend in Palawan

Posted on July 14, 2009 by Yoshke in Travel |

The last time I visited Palawan before this trip was with officemates December last year. The destination was Puerto Princesa. Everything was so easy in the province’s capital. Walk, drive, boat, dock and then enjoy. We had a blast. That’s why when our company treated us to another trip to Palawan, I felt like saying “no” was a criminal offense. As if I would refuse an all-expense paid trip. Kahit dyan lang yan sa Malabon, basta libre, bring it on.

This time was a lot different, though. Coron offers not just a place of wonder but a place of wonder which challenges your strength, determination and sanity. Coron offers an adventure — the type that makes you yell “oh shit” in utter exhaustion and worrying while on journey. But once you’re at the destination, you yell a louder “oh shit,” this time your jaws touching the ground involuntarily.

Yes, it was tiring. After so many trekking and snorkelling, I felt like I was raped by 71 Cucumber men. Muscles that I didn’t even know I had suddenly started making its presence felt by aching like hell. But like I said, no muscle aches enough for an experience that is more enjoyable than my first sex. And mind you, my first was so very enjoyable.

Coron is sooo beyond magnificent. When I was there it felt like not admiring the place was against the laws of God.

We climbed Mt. Tapyas, swam across the Twin Lagoons, plunged into Barracuda Lake, pretended to be mermaids in Kayangan Lake, witnessed marine animals feast on my tuna sandwich (haha) and so on. I know we missed a lot, thus I’m planning to come back.

Yoshke taking a break, not taking a poop.

Yoshke trying to avoid the camera on some island.

The hills are alive with Yoshke and the gang on top of Mt. Tapyas

Alright, of the many lakes and lagoons we visited, I don’t remember which one this is. But the water was sooo clear and sooo sea urchin-infested. Haha.

Next stop, El Nido. Hopefully before the year ends.

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Top 15 Philippine Destinations
I Have Yet to Visit (Part 3)

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

Sorry, natagalan. Hahaaay. Heto na. If you missed the first two parts, fret not. It’s here and here.

3. Bohol

image courtesy of www.tourism.gov.ph

Of all the many tourist spots in the Philippines that ranked well on the New7Wonders of Nature‘s first round of nominations, the Chocolate Hills was my favorite. Simple, for strategic reasons.

You see, the nominees are categorized into: islands, rock formations, rivers, seascapes, etc. And there’s a part wherein the finalists will be shortlisted by a “panel of experts.”

I love the Subterranean River in Palawan. Yes, it was oh-so-amazing but how could that beat the Amazon Rainforest? They share one category.

I adore the Tubataha Reef, too. But hey, there’s the Great Barrier Reef to shoo away.

So I wanted Chocolate Hills to be the country’s official nominee. Too bad, it failed to snatch that.

But then again, I might be mistaken. I haven’t seen the hills. And most of my friends who’d been there weren’t that impressed and were all rooting for the underground river. But then again, they’ve never been there. So, I dunno.

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Top 15 Philippine Destinations
I Have Yet to Visit (Part 2)

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

Long overdue, I know, I know. Haha. Anyway, here’s the upper half of the list of destinations in the Philippines that I want to (and I should and I WILL) visit sooner or later! Preferably sooner.

And oh, I added three more and made it Top 15 instead. Ehehe. I’m fickle like that.

9. Taal Volcano, Batangas

I’m a proud Batangueno but sadly conquering the Taal Volcano is still a dream. Naunahan pa ako ng mga college friends ko na mapuntahan ‘to. Gaaaaah. Loser me.

8. Zambales

image courtesy of Philippines 101 Travel

If things would go as planned, I’d be swimming in the waters of Zambales before the third quarter ends… Yipeeeee, I’m excited.

And since Mt. Pinatubo rose from the ashes, it’s starting to become the paradise it used to be — full of color, full of life. It’s crater is filled with rainwater, too. I have no idea how this deadly volcano looked prior to its bonggang bonggang eruption but something tells me it looks a lot better than before.

7. Caramoan, Camarines Sur

I’ve been to Camarines Sur (and other parts of the Bicol region) before but not in Caramoan. CamSur is starting to become the “it” destination in the country, drawing the attention of locals and foreigners alike. Andami na ring sporting events to get… well, more attention. And man, just look at the pictures above. Magnetic.

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Barako No More?

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Yoshke in Public Affairs, Travel, Trivia |

I spent most of my years in Batangas and although my Dad was from Masbate/Palawan, I’ve always considered myself a 100% Batangueno. I’m your typical Batangueno — great and proud of his roots. In Tagalog, magiting at mayabang. Joke lang. Pero half-meant. After all, wala pa akong nakitang Batangueno na hindi proud na taga-Batangas. Gaah, that’s for another story.

Ayun na nga, magiting at mayabang. Sa madaling sabi, barako. Haha.

image courtesy of wowbatangas.com

My mother has a store in Lemery’s New Public Market. Batang palengke ako, ika nga. I used to roam around the market. My eyes, feasting on almost endless colorful arrays of stalls selling toys, clothes, food and other stuff. One of the most noticeable colors also has a very noticeably strong smell. Brown. Coffee. Kapeng barako.

Barako is not a common coffee variety, although it is abundant in Southeast Asia especially in the Philippines. It has the largest beans of all the coffee varieties. Its taste is said to be superior to Robusta, and most Filipino coffee drinkers prefer Barako to Arabica. The Arabica-Barako blend is a popular gourmet coffee. Barako is considered to be the best among Liberica species. (Wiki)

The Lemery Public Market was like a vast coffee pantry. To be honest, even when sleeping, I’d know if we had entered the market premises once that aroma started tickling my nostrils. I used to see at least a couple of “barako stalls” within one block. Parang bigas na may mountain range-type na nakadisplay tapos doon sinasalok yung coffee beans or powder. In one lane, I’d find at least five coffee stores. And God knows how many lanes our market had at the time.

Since I stepped foot on college, I had always asked my mum to buy me packs of kapeng barako. I had not gone back to that market. Until last month. Seven years had gone so fast that I failed to see how much that market changed. At the time, I knew something had changed but I couldn’t quite put a finger on it. I couldn’t figure it out.

Last month, I was approached by someone from Howie Severino’s team from GMA7′s iWitness. She asked me what was worth featuring in or about Batangas. Topics flooded my mind — from the fish pens on the edges of Taal Lake to the soon-to-be-erected Monte Maria Shrine (bigger than Rio de Janeiro’s Jesus Christ the Redeemer) to political dynasties (ahem Ermita ahem Leviste ahem).

As I was thinking of something to suggest, it hit me. What is “wrong” with our local public market today, what’s changed, what’s missing are the barako stalls. They are practically vanishing.

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Top 15 Philippine Destinations
I Have Yet to Visit (Part 1)

Posted on April 20, 2009 by Yoshke in Lists, Travel |

image courtesy of travel.nationalgeographic.com

Hmm, last week was Holy Week. Well I’m not a Christian so the Holy Week must have been a regular week for me. And yeah, it was a pretty ordinary week except no work. And God knows how “no work” makes my ordinary week heavenly. I stayed at my mum’s house in Batangas. I usually go with my entire family on the road for our annual Visita Iglesia but sloth got the better of me; I decided to do nothing. And nothing was FUN! Wahaaha.

Then I remembered what a friend told me last year: “If a tsunami hits Puerto Galera anytime during the Holy Week, it will wipe out 80% of the country’s gay population.” Haha.

Funny, I haven’t set foot on the sands of Puerto Galera when it is just around P300 away from Batangas. And it’s not just Gale, I haven’t experienced Boracay either! Whenever my friends would invite me to join them to Boracay or Gale, I always end up staying with my relatives in Palawan. Not that I’m complaining. It’s cheaper, since food and lodging won’t be a concern. And besides, Palawan is beyond awesome.

I consider myself a well-traveled person if we’re talking about within the Philippine borders. I’ve been to Benguet to Aurora to Sorsogon to Leyte to General Santos. But the Philippines has just too many must-see places that gaaaah, there are also too many I haven’t been to. Here are 15 famous places in the country that I have yet to conquer.

15. Bukidnon

image courtesy of Star Cinema

Even before Piolo Pascual and Angel Locsin made Bukidnon a romantic setting in “Love Me Again,” I had always wanted to experience this pineapple-happy province. I remember when I was in grade school, Bukidnon really grabbed my curiosity. Grade school textbooks then had good things to say about Bukidnon, its terrain, industries and unusual climate. Bukidnon is the first thing that comes to mind whenever our teacher would ask us for an example of a plateau. Haha.

I really don’t know why but I won’t die without visiting Bukidnon.

14. Cebu

image courtesy of Tourism.gov.ph

My sister used to work in Cebu and she always urged me to come visit because there was just too much to see. But time was a bitch then. When I decided to finally pay the Queen City of the South a go-see, my sister was assigned somewhere else — Ilocos Norte. And then she completely forgot about Cebu and pimped Ilocos. Crazy sister.

One thing that makes me wanna see Cebu — history. It’s the oldest city in the country, right? So it should take me to the past and indulge me with things ancient. That’s what I’m expecting — more than the beaches, more than the culture. It’s really history. And dried mangoes.

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Bulleted Blurts

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Yoshke in Blurts, Health, Movies, Music, Travel, TV |

Status: Perfectly functional.
Music: Smack into You | Jon Mclaughlin

Wow, time flies. January has only a few days left.
I still got tonsilitis. Dammit. But it’s aright, I’m completely functional. Just that my breath smells like a slice of durian you trap in a jar for a week and then you open it and voila… welcome to Payatas. Yaaak.
So now I’m in Batangas with my family. Yesterday, I was in Tagaytay. And it was COLD. I know what you’re thinking. “Come on, it’s Tagaytay, of course, it’s cold. Duh?” Well yeah, but not that cold. I’m always there. Thanks to its proximity to our house here. But it was really cold.
And I realized that listening to my dear Jon Mclaughlin‘s album “OK Now” in a freezing weather is therapeutic. I’m starting to think that I’m only getting better coz of it. (Yeah, screw antibiotics! Men are THE cure! It’s always men!)
It’s Sunday! My favorite day. And it’s not because of the church. It’s Philippine showbiz, baby. Sunday means ASAP 09 and The Buzz. Haha. I looove seeing Ruffa Gutierrez and Kris Aquino bickering on POV (Points, Opinions, Violent Reactions). Gaaawd. They really HAVE to replace Boy Abunda. When he sits in between Ruffa and Kris, he’s getting blander and lamer and uglier by the second.
Been hooked to Tayong Dalawa. Ehehe. Fantastic ensemble. Even Gerald Anderson is impressive. Sana may quotable quotes din like Iisa Pa Lamang, haha.
Andre, Dohna, Ayn, and I are planning to go to Thailand. And Cambodia. And Vietnam. Later this year. Yay! Me excited. Eeeeeeeh.
I’ll be posting my Oscar predictions. But I need to watch all the nominated films first. But even though I’ve only seen a few, my heart already belongs to one film — The Reader. I worship Stephen Daldry. I pray to him before and after every meal. (Char!) And as my friend Ayn pointed out, he has made only three movies, but all of them are Oscar-nominated. (The others being Billy Elliot and The Hours.) I might change my mind after I’ve seen all the films, though.
In a bit more than a month from now, I’ll be turning 23. But I can still barely say I’m a grown-up. It hurts to grow. It hurts to grow.

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My Weekend in Still Images

Posted on December 8, 2008 by Yoshke in Euphoria, Travel |

It’s been almost two years since I last visited Palawan. (Most of my dad’s clan have moved to Palawan from Masbate.) I don’t own a digital SLR camera so I just used a simple point-and-shoot cam. I wish I had an SLR one so I could produce richer and better images. (Come on, it’s Christmas! Gimme, gimme! Haha.)

To enlarge, just right-click on the photo and hit View Image (Firefox) or… err… well, I dunno how to do that using Internet Explorer. Haha.

Dee and Don (left), Dee and Yoshke (right)

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About Yoshke

On May 31, 1985, tragedy struck when 41 tornadoes hit Canada and the US, leaving 76 people dead. At the same time, a doomed couple in the Philippines were having the best orgasms of their lives. Nine months (280 days) later, a healthy baby boy was brought into this world by normal delivery. That was exactly a week before Microsoft had its initial public offering.

Today, Yoshke Dimen resides independently in Mandaluyong City. He got a degree in Film from a university in Diliman but is now pursuing a career in Social Media.

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