I was too hungry earlier and was looking for anything to munch just to feed my growling stomach. I saw a cracker and asked my mother if I could have "sky flakes". The brand of the cracker is not sky flakes though but I still called it that way. Before I had my first bite, I laughed at myself because of the term I used to call the cracker. This is one of the examples of Filipino Terms. We sometimes call things by brand names instead of the generic names or we simply have our own term to refer a thing.
Here are other examples of Filipino terms we use daily. I know some of you are using these words in your daily conversation with other people.
Xerox = Photocopy Colgate = Toothpaste Coke = Soda Bachelor (or any known bus company in the area) = Bus Auto = Car Frigeder = Refrigerator
I forgot the other terms. You may add if there's more you can remember.
It is common in a filipino wedding that the couple will be dancing while the guests will be pinning peso bills on the couples' dresses. But wouldn't it be great on that special day when the couple will be having a rare and an astounding production number??? Let me share to you a video clip of a couple dancing tinikling in the tune of "Bebot". I was really amazed how they did it. Enjoy!
The other week, some relatives came all the way from USA to visit their homeland, Philippines. I spent a day with them in Samal Island. My aunt invited me to go with them on an Inland-Tour. There were 3 destinations for the said tour. First was the Moncado Old White House of General Moncada, it was built on top part of Samal Island wherein I was able to see the nice beaches below and as well as the beautiful city of Davao right from where I stood. Second was the Hagimit Falls, a nice place for swimming and even camping. What fascinated me most was the Monfort Bat Coservation Park. I never expected to see bats that day. All I thought there will just be couple of them but never in my thoughts to see millions of them in one cave. There's no enough space for everyone on the wall of the cave and some were fighting to get a space to rest while waiting for the sun to go down. It was past four when we arrived in the area and all the bats were ready for their night flight. It was an extraordinary experience for me since I'm really scared of bats. They look like rats with wings. It's so disgusting to watch them but before the tour ended I realized that that was such a great wonder of the world to see. Bats are part of the nature and play a great role in the eco-system. They help eliminate insects by eating them. They eat some fruits, specifically that of from Talisay and they will drop the seeds just anywhere allowing another Talisay plant to grow. There must be more profound reason why they do exist. Though I was too scared looking at them and hardly breathe when I get near the cave because of their unexplainable smell, I still asked to have a picture taken as a keepsake. I still have to contact my cousin to e-mail me the photo once they get back to the USA. Meantime, you can check the Bat Sanctuary Website.
One fine afternoon after work, I was walking in the street alone. The surrounding was so calm and it seems time went so slow. Suddenly, dark clouds covered the shining sun and the rain started to fall. I passed by a grocery store so, I decided to go inside. There was nothing in my mind on what to buy but I just killed the time and waited for the rain to cease. I started to walk in and came into the section where the cellophanes and paper pouches were placed. After taking few more steps, I stood in front of some nice scented candles in different shapes and colors. I picked one and examined how it was made. I was thinking to create one of those when I will have time. I saw more of the sold items but I did not get anything to buy and continued to walk around. I enjoyed looking around. I did not realized that it took me half an hour looking around and I noticed that the rain outside subsided already. I started my way going to the exit when someone held my right elbow and whispered to my ear, "follow me." My eyebrows met, wondering what that meant. I turned and saw that it was the security guard of the store. I heard my heart beating fast and pounding hard. My palms were sweating though the place was cold. I hardly opened my mouth to ask, "what is happening?” I heard no answer from him. My thoughts were playing on what exactly happened awhile ago but I couldn't think of anything that I have done wrong. My knees were trembling. Tears covered my eyes and were about to fall. As we came into the office on the second floor, there were two other people who were waiting. I saw several monitors for the different parts of the store. One came close and asked me to get something from my pocket. I was like, "what?!" He repeated, "get that thing in your pocket." So I slowly placed my hand to check what he wanted to see. To my surprise on my hand was a box of toothpicks. Oh my! How did it get in there? I cannot remember that I placed something inside my blouse's pocket. I was about to explain but it was as if there was a lump in my throat that I couldn't speak but sob. In my mind I was asking "what must I do?" I was not able do anything but cry so hard. How I wished that I would be swallowed by the ground and that I would just disappear. I kept on mumbling to myself, "God, please spare me from this trouble". I was praying so hard. I was still crying and crying until I realized that......I was actually on my bed and that I was just dreaming. My pillow was wet already with tears and I felt my heart was aching. Hayyyy.... Thank God! It was just a dream. I don't want to be put to jail and be on shame just for toothpicks.
