Category Archives: The Good Life
The (other) Lady at the Capitol
Matilda Ricardo Mandac, 63, is a truly powerful woman, and it’s not because she has stayed and worked at the Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol, and has seen 5 governors in a span of over three decades. Nana Gretchen, as Mandac … Continue reading
Filed under Ilocos, Sociology, The Good Life
Hear! Shame!
OKAY, I AM swamped with a lot of work this week so I do not have much time to write the usual full-blown essay. Allow me though to share tidbits of my rikna and nakem in previous days. Under “Hear! … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Happiness, Marcos, Media, The Good Life
Tina, Helen, Christian, and Mary
FOUR human beings pervade my consciousness these days, and they happen to be all mothers. First is Tina Tan, whose recent appointment as Tourism Officer of Ilocos Norte made me so happy, I almost had permanent cramps on my facial … Continue reading
Filed under Family, Filipino, Filipino Youth, Government/Politics, Heroes, Ilocos, The Good Life, Tourism
Why beer is better than religion
MY FRIEND Rommel, a highly regarded scholar from Cagayan, observes that going to church is no different from frequenting a videoke bar. You go to these places to find relief from life’s cruelties. The great American statesman Benjamin Franklin posited … Continue reading
Notes on the Mall
IF YOU’VE NOT BEEN to Robinsons Ilocos Norte, the province’s first mall which opened Dec. 3, you’re probably 1) too busy, 2) too poor, or 3) too spiritual to care about material things and other ephemeral joys. But I doubt … Continue reading
Filed under Ilocos, The Good Life
Siyete-Tres
(For those who can’t understand Iluko, you may proceed to the second part, an essay in Filipino. I write in the vernacular once every year on a day in August.) “Umabot sa 7.3% ang GDP growth rate ng Pilipinas” 7-3 … Continue reading
Filed under Food, Ilocos, Iluko, The Good Life
Empanada Festival awe-inspiring but untruthful
As promised, I am featuring in this column a critique written by Ianree Raquel on the Empanada Festival held recently in Batac City. Raquel, who teaches Arts and Society at the Mariano Marcos State University, is cultural coordinator of the … Continue reading
Filed under Festivals, Ilocos, Sociology, The Good Life, Tourism
Hail the Marunggay Fairy and her green leafy wand
TRC Director General Tony Ortiz and MMSU President Miriam Pascua enjoy malunggay ice cream Everyone who enters Laoag City via the Gilbert Bridge is welcomed by a humungous “M” sign. The golden arch is trademark of a global food chain … Continue reading
Filed under Economy, Health, Ilocos, PinoyPride, The Good Life
Romantic first pot
Reacting to the article ‘Legalize Marijuana’, my friend Mars of Kalinga Province, sent me this piece detailing about his first encounter with marijuana. ***kilig mode*** The summer vacation before school began for our fourth year in high school… Hector (a … Continue reading
Filed under Gayhood, Gender, Happiness, The Good Life
Kapag masungkit ko ang jackpot
Ang ‘IN’ na pag-usapan ngayon ay kung ano ang gagawin mo kapag nanalo ka ng jackpot sa lotto. Tinatayang mahigit 340 million ang maaaring tamaan sa 6/49 Super Lotto jackpot mamayang gabi. Hayyy, ang sarap nga namang mangarap. Ang mahalaga … Continue reading
Filed under Personals, The Good Life
Hitler’s visit, unbearable speeches, amazing Miss Laoag tilt …and other notes on Pamulinawen Festival 2009
Let me begin by saying ‘Congratulations’ to everyone behind the festival. I know they put in a lot of hard work in the fiesta preparations. By now, I hope they have managed to catch up on sleep, and that their … Continue reading
Filed under Government/Politics, Ilocos, Religion, The Good Life, Traditions
NO to beauty pageants… and political invocations
Not once, but twice! As with the past years, at least two beauty pageants are touted as highlights of the 2009 Pamulinawen Festival. The Search for Ms. ABC (Association of Barangay Councils) was held on February 4 at the Centennial … Continue reading
Filed under Festivals, Government/Politics, Ilocos, Religion, Sociology, The Good Life, Tourism, Traditions
Kampay!
I may have been too busy drinking gulping SanMig Light the past years that I failed to notice one good alak manufactured right here in Sunshine City Laoag. Discovered it lately through a blog entry detailing a tambay at tagay … Continue reading
Filed under Personals, PinoyPride, Rural, The Good Life, Tourism
Beery Good
Whenever I see this picture, I long for beer. Viva il Papa! Kampay! (photo from Time Magazine)
Filed under Church, Personals, The Good Life
