Monarchy: Economy?

I didn’t care about Prince William’s arrival in New Zealand yesterday, as well as his scheduled visit here in Australia tomorrow. But it doesn’t mean that I hate the monarchy...

It is The Prince’ first official overseas trip on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II— ...since yesterday my mind has been troubled in finding any direct or indirect effect of this event in the life of a foreigner who's working as a chook-minder in the monarchy of Australia. Perhaps, I care... but this doesn’t mean that I love the monarchy, either.

As an innocent boy being raised in a small village in Southern Philippines, I had the belief that the dominion of kingdoms, if they existed, has already ended many years ago... that those kings, queens, princes and princesses are only fictitious and are only present in the pages of fairytale books. Well, obviously I was wrong because they are factual and still exist until today.

I know that I need to read more to understand more about the British Throne, especially its absolute relevance in the Commonwealth Realm of the present day when every nation has its own government chief executive. A survey in New Zealand—a member of the Commonwealth of Nations has, somehow, surprised me. It says that in the recent years, around 40 per cent of the Kiwis voted to end their royal ties with Her Majesty and support the creation of a republic. Today, Australia’s Channel 7 is inviting the Aussies to participate in the poll tonight asking if this Land Down Under still needs monarchy. I can’t believe that these two developed nations have been considering to gain complete independence from the British Monarchy—whom, I believe, they owe a lot.

For me, there’s a thing called ‘British Magic’, and I believe in this magic... in its power to establish economically-stable nations such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand! Just like the Philippines who bravely fought for independence from the Spanish, Japanese, and American rules, it is worthwhile to think about the ‘what if’s’ had South Africa and India dwelt under the British authority until today.

Singapore and Hong Kong are very fortunate! The two countries’ history was almost the same- while under the British Empire, both islands were occupied by the Japanese during World War II but the British regained their control after the war. These currently-wealthy cities didn’t fight through a bloody battle to achieve their independence from Britain, they waited for ages to gain their stability and used the war of words: Singapore outlined some policies that convinced the British; while Hong Kong, through the People’s Republic of China, initiated diplomatic negotiations. It is not destiny, it is the strategy.

Currently, according to the World Bank, Spain’s economy is the 9^th largest worldwide, Japan is the 2^nd largest (and 3^rd from the United States of America and China when it comes to purchasing power), and USA is on the first place... and the Republic of the Philippines, well, I have no plans to consult Google.



Source: Wikipedia

Pita

Jollie by the River Torrens
Elder Park, Adelaide City, South Australia

Para kay Jollie...

...ang aking pinakamalapit na kaibigan dito sa Australia na binigyan ko ng kopya ng pinakapaborito kong akdang Desiderata- na nakadikit sa isang maliit na pirasong tabla,

...subalit ang nais ay ang Filipino version nito.

Sana'y magustuhan mo ang salin kong ito. Print mo nalang, bro.

Sa gitna ng maingay at matuling takbo ng buhay, maging mahinahon at palaging alalahaning may katiwasayang hatid ang katahimikan. Hangga’t maari, sa abot ng iyong makakaya, makibagay sa lahat ng tao.

Ihayag ng matahimik ngunit malinaw ang iyong mga paninindigan at pananaw, at makinig sa panig ng iba, ang kanilang mga kwento'y iyong igalang, kahit ang mga musmos o di kaya’y mangmang. Iwasan ang mga taong maingay at masalita, magagambala lamang nila ang iyong maayos na diwa.

Huwag ihalintulad o ihambing ang iyong sarili sa iba, maaari mo lamang matuklasan ang iyong mga kahinaan at tuluyang mawalan ng kabuluhan; sapagkat sa mundong ito may mga taong sadyang mas nakaaangat at mas mababa kaysa sa iyo.

Ikalugod ang iyong mga natamong tagumpay, at magalak sa iyong mga hangarin. Mahalin ang iyong hanapbuhay at ipag-imbot ang iyong pinag-aralan nang may kababaang-loob; sapagkat sa patuloy na pag-ikot ng gulong ng buhay ito’y mananatiling iyong pag-aari.

Maging maingat sa lahat ng mga bagay na iyong papasukin sapagkat ang mundo’y nababalot ng paglilinlang. Ngunit patuloy mong buksan ang iyong mga mata sa mga kabanalang nariyan; marami namang mga taong nagsusumikap gumawa ng kabutihan at kahit saan ay may nagpapamalas ng kabayanihan.

Magpakatotoo. At higit sa lahat, huwag magkunwaring kumakalinga o 'di kaya’y nagmamahal. Huwag mapagduda pagdating sa pag-ibig; sapagkat sa gitna ng kalamlaman o samaan ng loob, pilitin mo man itong lipulin ito’y parang damong paulit-ulit na sisibol.

Tanggapin ng maluwag ang mga pangaral ng nakaraan, habang maayos na isinusuko ang mga bagay ng kamusmusan sapagkat kasabay ng pag-inog ng panahon lumilipas din ang kabataan.

Pangalagaan at panatilihin ang kalakasan ng loob upang may panangga sa mga ‘di-inaasahang kasawian. Ngunit huwag pahirapan ang iyong sarili sa pag-iisip ng mga bagay na walang kabuluhan. Maraming mga pangamba ang nag-uugat sa kapagalan at kalungkutan.

Habang isinasagawa ang mga itinakdang panuntunan maging banayad sa iyong sarili. Ikaw ay katangi-tanging nilalang ng sansinukob, katulad ng mga puno sa kabukiran at mga tala sa kalangitan hawak mo rin ang karapatang ipamalas ang angking kagandahan at taglay na kinang. Malinaw man o hindi ang bagay na ito sa iyo- walang pag-aalinlangang ang sandaigdigan ay sadyang likas na puno ng kagilalasan.

Kaya maging malapit sa Maykapal, anoman ang pagkakakilala mo sa Kanya. At habang patuloy na nangangarap at nagsisikap sa gitna ng nakalilitong takbo ng buhay, panatilihin ang kaayusan ng iyong tunay na pagkatao. Sa kabila ng mga kasinungalingan, kapahamakan at kabiguan, siguradong mananatili ang likas na kariktan ng sanlibutan.

Mag-ingat at magalak. Sikaping maging maligaya.

-ni Max Ehrmann, 1920's

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Fely

Ika-8 ng Enero 2010
Port Wakefield, S.A.
Australia


Mahal kong Fely,

Kumusta ka na?

Walong tulog nalang magtatatlong taon na ako rito sa Australia. Subalit pakiramdam ko wala pa ring nangyayari sa akin. Stale and still.

Simula noong taong 2007 pakiramdam ko ako'y naglalakad sa isang patag at baku-bakung kalsada ngunit ang mga pagsisikap na aking ginagawa habang naglalakbay ay tulad naman ng umaakyat sa isang napakatarik na bundok! Mahirap. Career-wise, akala ko noon kapag makarating ako rito, magiging pasulong pero hindi pala... Mali ako, dahil sa ngayon nag-regress na ako!

Kung hindi ako umalis after a year of working sa dati kong trabaho sa isang babuyan sa Queensland malamang naging permanent resident na rin ako ng bansang ito. Pero siguro, hindi talaga para sa akin 'yong trabaho, pati ang makuha ang residency ng ganu'n kabilis.

Very hopeful and positive ako nu'ng nagsimula ako rito sa manukan. Kung hindi ko nakita itong trabahong ito, malamang magkasama na tayo diyan ngayon. Sabi nila, blessing na nandito ako, pero kapag nasa workplace at ini-execute ko na ang mga gawain pakiramdam ko ito ay isang curse!

Nagugulat lang kasi ako kapag nasa trabaho at malalaman kong kailangan kong magpalit o mag-ayos ng tumatagas na water pipe, magtanggal ng sirang motor, at makuryente habang nag-aayos ng naglolokong electrical control board! Hindi ko kasi narinig ang salitang 3/4" PVC TT coupling, thread at teflon sa Anatomy noon... absent siguro ako sa klase noong ini-lecture ang tungkol sa gearbox at ball bearing sa Pathology... bakit kasi wala akong na-encounter na vice grip at wrench noon sa Surgery! Nakakalito, kasi kung sa Microbiology gram negative bacteria stain red in Giemsa, ang wire at terminal na kulay pula ay positive naman sa Electronics!

Nakaya kong manatili ng dalawampu't-apat buwan sa manukang ito dahil sa pag-asang makakamit ko ang katuparan ng aking simpleng pangarap. Kinakaya ko dahil sa pangakong permanent residency (PR) pagkatapos ng dalawang taon. Subalit ngayong nakumpleto ko na ang kinakailangang panahon ng panunungkulan, tila tulog at manhid ang kinauukulan! Apat na araw na ang nakalipas nung ipinadala ko ang liham na nagri-request para sa aking PR nomination at sponsorship sa kumpanya pero hanggang ngayon wala pa ring tugon!

Very frustrating ang patakaran ng Australian Immigration, sa aking kasalukuyang posisyon sa trabaho, hindi maari ang independent PR application sapagkat hindi kasama sa critical occupation list ng bansa ang veterinarian at mga farm workers. Mas kailangan nila ng mga enhinyero, nars, at ang mga mahuhusay at bihasa sa kompyuter!

Very frustrating din dahil takot ang mga employers na maging residente kaagad ang isang banyaga sapagkat maari na itong makahanap ng bagong mapapasukan at tuluyan na silang iwanan! Kaya kahit na nakumpleto na ang dalawang taong serbisyo, ngunit may bisa pa ang working visa at may natirang isa o dalawang taon pa ang kontrata, sorry nalang ang isang kawaning tulad ko- na umaasa ng agarang residency.

Nakakainip ang maghintay... 'di bale sanang maghintay kung talagang may paparating; masamang maghintay kung hindi darating ang hinihintay; at ang 'maghintay sa wala' ay ang pinakamasaklap na paghihintay!

Hangad ko ang Australian residency ngunit hindi ko alam kung kaya kong isagawa at panindigan ang lahat ng mga katungkulan at pananagutang kaakibat nito. Ayaw ko ring maging unfair, sapagkat alam kong ang residency na aking inaasam ay hindi dapat hanggang sa papel lang. Inaamin ko, hanggang ngayon ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko- Bb. Fely Pinas.


Nagmamahal,
RJ

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Knot tying

BABALA: Ang lathalaing ito ay rated R18, kinakailangan ng bukas at malawak na pag-iisip. Nilalayon ng post na itong makapagdagdag ng kaunting kaalaman sa mga mambabasa.

Sa panahon ng pagtatalik ng ating mga alagang aso, nagkakaroon ng tinatawag na 'tie', 'lock', o pagkakabuhol ng kanilang mga ari sa loob ng o mas maiksi sa kalahating oras. Sa mga panahong ito, hindi dapat paglaruan o sapilitang paghiwalayin ang lalake at babaeng aso sapagkat ito'y magdadala ng matinding sakit at parusa sa kanila.

Hanapin ang bulbus glandis at ang prepuce/penile sheath sa larawang ito.
photo from http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/articles.html

Sa paanan ng ari ng lalakeng aso (sire) ay mayroong bahaging bumubukol kapag sila ay naiihi o nasasabik, ito ay tinatawag na bulbus glandis.

Ang os penis o baculum.
Itinuturo ng arrow ang naiwang marka ng urethra (daluyan ang ihi/semilya).
photo from wikipedia

Ang daluyan naman ng ihi at semilya (urethra) sa loob ng ari ng sire ay nababalot ng isang buto (bone) na kung tawagin ay os penis. Sa simula ng pagtatalik, bahagya lamang o hindi buo ang paglaki at paninigas ng ari ng lalaking aso, at ang os penis nila ay tumutulong upang maipasok ito ng tama sa posisyon sa kaloob-looban ng babaeng aso (bitch)...

...unti-unti namang itinutulak ng ari (vagina) ng bitch ang kaloban o prepuce/penile sheath ng lalakeng aso hanggang sa kahubuan ng bulbus glandis. Sa pagkakataong ito pa lamang magiging buo ang laki at tigas ng penis. Ito'y nagaganap sapagkat napupuno ng dugo ang mga ugat na nasa ari, pati na rin sa bulbus glandis ng lalakeng aso na nagiging sanhi o pagkakaroon ng tinatawag na tie o lock.

Ang bulbus glandis at ang ari ng lalakeng aso.
photo from http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/

SOURCES:
1. RJ's Anatomy notes
2. Wikipedia
3. Woodhavens Lab...



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OLD MANILA- SUPER GANDA!

More than ninety-nine per cent of the photos published in this blog are original, and the all the articles that have been posted are orignal...

...but this time I would like to share some photos of old Manila from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries which have been gathered together by Dondi Filarmeo (filads@yahoo.com). I have also included Dondi's remarks on every photo on his email to masigme@yahoogroups.com. His email was forwarded to my inbox by my friend Marc Guiller U. Tan.

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Here are some photos of Manila before it became a Dirty Smoggy City!

Take note, naka sapatos ang mga tao, walang naka-tsinelas kahit sa Avenida... just sharing... sayang di mo to inabutan... super-linis at well-disciplined ang mga tao, wala pang naka-maong.

The first picture was before the '60's Old Manila. The environment was still very clean during that time. Based on the old mobiles, Studebakers, Buicks & Pontiacs, I must have been about 10 years old at that time.

1953 Ford on the street

There were no Metro Aides, Bayani Fernando-cleaners, and store owners were cleaning their areas. Pedestrians were also much disciplined. Very little 'hukays' and manholes were clean and were clearly visible to pedestrians. People were so disciplined. Take a look at the Pedxings. I remember this part of Escolta as my Dad would buy us Boursege’s from Greg Shoes or Ang Tibay. It could be much better looking than Colehaans and Ferragamos. The streets were shiny, much like the streets of Singapore now.

LYRIC Theatre (in the photo below), IDEAL, STATE, ODEON were the best theatres. Environment inside and outside... absolutely clean. There were no double parking allowed and drivers followed. Streets didn’t have 2 policemen and 4 Traffic Aides for each corner. You’d be safe even if you held a clutch bag while shopping. Manholes were covered well and during those days, I remember them.... as clean and polished, much like those you’d see in Champ Elysee’. We could beat Paris. Ang ganda ng bayan natin noon.




Dencia’s was famous for Pansit Mami, much like Mamonluk or Ricebowl. P1.50 ang mami, 10 sentimo ang Coca Cola. 5 centimo ang sarsaparilla. This was very near Villalobos and Carriedo. Look at the jeepneys. They were not overloaded.




Pasig was very clean. The photographer must have taken this photo (below) October to December timeframe. But Pasig, during summer would have beautiful water lilies, tiny Quiapo’s floating amidst white, yellow and purple water lilies that I remember. The water from our rich and abundant rivers was emerald green and blue. Napakalinis and walang amoy. In fact, I know for a fact that a lot of private yachts would pass through our Pasig River from various parts of Rizal, Malabon and Marikina. It was beautiful!




Manila was just a beautiful place.




If you’d take an L5 plane or a Piper Cab and take pictures of Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) from above, you’d be so proud to say, that the place is much better than Cote d'Azur. My Dad would even bring soldiers sick of asthma from the PAF, so that they could do early morning breathing exercises at 5AM. Environment was just so very clean, air was refreshing, and take a look at the sea... wasn’t that a gift given to us during those days?!




1958 Chevy on the street... Sidewalks were not extended to suit the pedestrians. Quiapo Church was a blessed monument. Nagbibigayan ang mga drivers. Bihira ang nag-gigitgitan.




Avenida Rizal was a treat to everyone. There were no prostitutes or body-brokers. Avenida was not a fickle place. It was not a 'now a bistro boulevard, tomorrow a street; now a tiangge or night market and tomorrow a bistro boulevard'. It was a simple Avenida where everyone enjoyed to see what was 'now showing', what movie was 'extended showing', and if Otis or Good Earth had a big sale!!! It was just a big clean place.




1960 Dodge on the street.

Ayala Avenue was just like Wilshire Boulevard. Clean and no pollution. You can walk and enjoy the sun. Napakalinis. Walang masyadong Trash bins pero walang basura sa paligid.




Even Parks like Fort Santiago was much better. No vendors, no cafes. There was not even an ATM machine. Malinis ang paligid.



And then, we had more technocrats, more intelligent people educated here and... stateside.

What did we do to our environment?

For those who have seen it: Sayang. maswerte kami noon. Mas na mas maswerte kami noon. We saw a country that was much cleaner, a much better place to live in and a truly healthy place.


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I was surprised! Old Manila looks like the present-day Adelaide!

The S.A. Art Gallery, North Terrace, Adelaide City, South Australia

Rundle St. tiangge, Adelaide City, S.A.

The South Australia Art Gallery, Adelaide City, S.A.

The Bee Hive, corner King William and Rundle St., Adelaide City, S.A.

Grote St., Adelaide City, S.A.

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...a Tiger by the tail

I’ve been staring at my computer screen for the past 28 minutes, hoping to write something good before the year 2009 ends...

By this time, the two thin slices of pork belly (I purchased from Foodland), the chicken giblets (I collected from our previous grow), and the 280 grams of peeled green prawns (I bought from the local fish shop in town) have already been thawed on my caravan’s countertop.

The defrosting process was so quick due to the relatively hot temperature down south, which is expected to reach the maximum of 43’C in Port Wakefield today. I am hoping that the coldest setting of my out of date air-conditioning unit won’t fail me later especially in the early afternoon.

Right after publishing this post, I will start cooking valenciana so I could go to Aling Nati’s house ahead of time for a New Year’s Eve dinner with other Filipino friends who are living within the Wakefield Region.

Coming early to the said party doesn’t mean that I am very excited... Of course Sydney and Melbourne have prepared lots of pyrotechnic devices for the fireworks display tonight, but those who are living in the outback like us, welcoming the Year of the Tiger is definitely not as colourful and boisterous as in the major Australian cities.

This is my third New Year celebration Down Under, and just like in the two previous years, I am sure that the approaching media noche is another record-breaker—a night with a deafening silence!

A Filipino belief says that firecrackers and its noise drive the malevolent spirits away and make the new year prosperous and bountiful. I don’t know if I will still believe in this ‘belief’ after discovering that despite the muted air between December 31 and January 1 in Australia, this country remains to be wealthy and continuously booming!

I hate to mention something that is very obvious in this post... Does it simply means the Philippines needs to ignite more Rebentador, Super Lolo, Super Pla Pla, Triangulo, Bawang, Sinturon ni Judas, Jumbo Fountain, Whistle Bomb, Kuwitis, Lusis ,Watusi, or Bulalakaw during the New Year celebrations?

Honestly, if a firecracker factory in Bocaue or Sta. Maria, Bulacan could create an explosive device that can drive away dishonest and corrupt elected government officials I will fearlessly volunter to be the first one to detonate it this 2010!

Let us welcome the New Year with a complete set of fingers!

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'...standing small' yet Smart

smart- adjective 1 well-kept and neat. 2 astute. 3 witty. 4 fashionable. 5 brisk. 6 causing a stinging pain.

Collins Dictionary & Thesaurus
Essential
2005
c HarperCollins Publishers 2004
www.collins.co.uk

Taos-puso kong ipinaparating ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng mga bumubuo ng Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards 2009, lalung-lalo na kay Mr. Thoughtskoto at Tito NJ, at sa Smart Communications sa paghirang ng The Chook-minder's Quill bilang Smart Blog Award. Itong parangal at pagkilalang ipinagkaloob niyo sa akin ay iniaalay ko sa ating Poong Maykapal na siyang naghandog ng aking kakayahan at kaalaman sa pagsusulat.

Sa mga tagasubaybay ng The Chook-minder’s Quill na sa lahat ng panahon ay hindi lamang basta nag-titipa ng kanilang mga puna sa aking pahina, kundi nag-iiwan din ng mga salitang naghahayag ng pagmamalasakit at pakikiisa sa akin; maraming, maraming salamat po... Kayo ay aking itinuturing hindi lamang basta mambabasa ng aking blog, kundi bilang mga kaibigan!

Alam kong ang mga salita ng pasasalamat ay hindi sapat sa lahat ng mag naniwala at bumoto sa The Chook-minder’s Quill para sa PEBA 2009... lalung-lalo na kay Reymos at kay Mightydacz na nagbanggit at nagsali ng aking hamak na blog sa kanilang listahan bilang isa sa kanilang mga paborito, sana’y tanggapin ninyo ang aking simple ngunit mataimtim at matapat na thank you!

Sa aking mga malalapit at tunay na kaibigan, lalung-lalo na sa mga dumalo sa PEBA Event 2009 bilang aking mga kinatawan- na kahit abala ay nag-alay ng panahon para sa akin, maraming salamat sa inyong suporta! Sa loob o sa labas man ng blogosperyo, alam kong palagi kayong nandiyan para sa akin.

Sa aking mga kamag-anak sa Pilipinas at sa ibang panig ng mundo... sa aking mga pinsan at mga kapatid, sa aking mga tiyahin, at higit sa lahat sa aking ina na kahit minsa’y hindi pa nakasilip sa aking blog ngunit walang sawang nagmamahal sa akin nang walang hinihinging kapalit simula noon hanggang ngayon, ang pagkilala at parangal na nito ay tinatanaw kong utang na loob sa inyo.

Sa pagbubukas ng bagong kabanata ng The Chook-minder’s Quill sa taong 2010, ang aking pahina'y patuloy na magsisiwalat ng mga lihim at magbabahagi ng mga kwentong maghahatid ng kakaibang karanasan, kahulugan at (higit sa lahat, kahit na hirap akong gawin..) inspirasyon sa mga tagasubaybay nito.

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