March 23rd, 2008
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03.23.08The Bigis Guys Strike Again
Note: If Youtube tells you that the video is “no longer available”, you can actually play it by clicking at the title of the post and then playing the video. There must be a bug somewhere causing this problem.****
Wow. The Bigis guys keep on producing great songs and great videos. Our personal favorite would still be their Bigis song or “Ay Bigis Ka a.k.a. Are You a Worm?” but this one is really good too. For non-Kankanaey speakers, the song is mostly an advice to vegetable farmers to bring their products ASAP to the vegetable trading post so they can get a good price for their produce.This is what happens when we have a system where middlemen dictate the buying price of vegetables and where the President allows uncontrolled vegetable importation because it personally benefits her.
So a farmer’s income depends not on hard work but on whether or not he reaches the vegetable trading post at a favorable time. And we wonder why farmers tend to be fatalists?
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03.23.08Home Improvement
So, California-based readers, are you like, “Ahh, spring is coming again. The birds will be back, the snow will thaw, I will soon plant tomatoes and zuchini, and I will finally, yes finally, have my kitchen remodeled. But should I do the remodeling myself? Maybe I should call some company to do it? But who should I call?”
My friend, if you can do it yourself, then go ahead and do it. It saves you money. But if you can’t do the remodeling because you lack skills in that department, then ask others to do it. It will save your kitchen.
Having said that, maybe you should check out American Home Craft, California’s Premier Home Improvement Company. They actually do more than remodel kitchens but if it’s kitchen remodeling you’d like to do, then visit this section to see examples of their before and after kitchen remodeling jobs.
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03.23.08Gloria Kamaptengan?
Because I am a Gloria hater, oops maybe hate is not the right word, I just dislike her because she cheated her way to the Presidency. So let’s change the H word to something else; besides hating someone is not good for our mental health. Now, because I dislike Gloria, I’m irritated to read this news that a sweet potato variety is being named after her cheating ass.
From GMA News:
A new blight-resistant variety of potato has been named after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Benguet University, Malacañang disclosed Saturday.The variety, sourced from the Centro Internalionale de la Papa (International Potato Center) in Lima, Peru, was named “Gloria Kamaptengan,” after “mapteng” meaning “good” in Ibaloi and Pangasinan dialects.
“‘Kamaptengan’ means ‘the best of all,’” Rogelio Colting, president of the Benguet State University (BSU) after more than two years of research from 2005-2007, told Mrs Arroyo during her visit to a vegetable trading post in Betag district.
Arroyo was in Betag to see off trucks laden with local vegetable produce bound for the metropolis.
Colting showed her the first-generation tubers of the potato variety, initially codenamed 13.1.1, and said the BSU “would like to name it in your honor.”
A Palace statement said the BSU chose the name “Gloria” because of “her commitment in the development of the agriculture industry in the country.”
The best of all? Huh, Rogelio. I guess the BSU President’s got to do what he’s got to do but I’m kinda hoping that members of the academic community don’t go about acting like politicians trying to please Gloria. You are intellectuals, for Christ’s sakes.
But then again, they are naming a camote variety after Gloria so maybe there’s an inside joke there somewhere. After all, we all know that the song most famously associated with camote goes something like:
“Eat camote, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot.”Come on, Rogelio, fess up! What’s the real deal in naming this camote after Gloria? To honor her? Or to remind us that Gloria smells like something?
We’re just asking,you know. No offense meant. No offense intended.
UPDATE: My bad, we didn’t read the news carefully or our dislike for Gloria has clouded our vision such that we misread the story. They’re actually naming a potato, not a sweet potato, after Gloria. So maybe there’s no inside joke as we hoped there was. My apologies, folks.
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03.23.08Travel Time
Are any of you looking for conveniently located Disneyland hotels? In case you are, you might want to check out TravelHero.com a web site which helps you find and book hotels in different U.S. and international destinations. The site will help you find flights too.
You are not yet sure of where to go? Then maybe this vacation destinations page can help you come up with some ideas: historical sites, beaches, or maybe honeymoon spots would be some of your possible picks.
What? You are wondering if they have special rates or packages? Of course they do. So if you are looking for discounts, special deals, et cetera, be sure to check out this section.
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03.23.08Happy Easter From the Boondocks
Bayyo. Bontoc. Mt. Province. Photo: Gloria Tuazon.
What do you do during Easter? I used to attend an ecumenical Easter sunrise service but my lazy bones are cranky and are not willing to be hauled early in the morning to attend the service held in the other edge of town. But I should be going to church to fellowship with other Igorots in the city. Happy Easter to all of us. Have fun hunting those Easter eggs. Thanks for all your support.
