By Abigail Kwok
INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—A controversial bar at the upmarket Bonifacio Global City got a stern warning from the city government of Taguig: be decent or face permanent closure.
Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga ordered Friday the owners of Embassy Club to "come up with a new and better business concept, from a high-end and known to be wild party place to a more wholesome hang-out."
Two of its bars and restaurants—the Embassy Super Club and Embassy Cuisine—remain temporarily padlocked on orders of the city government.
This after a businessman patron of the Embassy Cuisine, Dennis Navarro II, was hurt after being stabbed by another customer, Kilikan Jimenez, who allegedly escaped with the help of the Embassy’s employees last August 18.
Police have filed charges of obstruction of justice against Cuisine restaurant manager Constante Parayno, bouncers Gilbert Battung, Gilbert Rempis, Felimon De Leon, Gilbert Demos and Joven Bantique before the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office, Tinga said.
The club’s management denied their employees helped the suspect to escape, even as they said they “did not and will not tolerate the evasion by any party of legal liability.”
The management appealed to the city government to reconsider its “simultaneous closure” order.
They argued that the incident “occurred in Cuisine, which is a distinct and separate establishment from the Club."
But the city's Business Permits and Licenses Office said the club would remain shut.
“The city government has decided not to reopen the Club until management could show that they are able to handle the crowd that comes in and devise a plan that would prevent incidents of violence," said BPLO head Jeffe Minglana said.
Tiñga also said that this was not the first time violent incidents occurred near and inside the club's premises that has "put the city in a bad light."
“We’re not the type that closes down an establishment for minor or first infractions. This has become a vicious cycle for Embassy, which has gained notoriety because of the series of incidents of fights that occurred there. We cannot let these happen again,” he added.
In June, the club, located at The Strip in Bonifacio Global City, was also ordered closed following the alleged mauling of a balikbayan patron, Alexandrew Vargas, by a freelance emcee, DJ Pauly Mac (Paul Montemayor in real life).
The club’s vicinity was also the scene of another mauling incident last year involving its patrons, commercial model Borgy Manotoc and Carlo Brown, grandson of former Social Welfare secretary Mita Pardo de Tavera. The same year, a commercial pilot was also mauled to death near the establishment.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
True wealth
By R. Valencia, S. Bismark
Philippine Daily Inquirer
A PERSON enamored with the false prestige of opulence doesn’t care for moral instruction. Instead, he squanders precious resources on wasteful luxuries that cause misery and anxiety.
A poor man is often in a better situation than a wealthy person, because he understands the difficulties of life. He doesn’t want others to feel his hunger, thirst and pain.
Compassion
We admire men who rise from the pits of poverty and dedicate part of their wealth to ease people’s suffering. Their wealth consists not only of money, but also of compassion and empathy.
Simplicity and honesty despite wealth denote sacrifice and austerity.
A poor man cannot become abnormally fat by overeating. And, because he doesn’t overeat, his senses don’t become overtly disturbed and agitated.
False pride due to wealth and power is a huge stumbling block for spiritual liberation and freedom.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
A PERSON enamored with the false prestige of opulence doesn’t care for moral instruction. Instead, he squanders precious resources on wasteful luxuries that cause misery and anxiety.
A poor man is often in a better situation than a wealthy person, because he understands the difficulties of life. He doesn’t want others to feel his hunger, thirst and pain.
Compassion
We admire men who rise from the pits of poverty and dedicate part of their wealth to ease people’s suffering. Their wealth consists not only of money, but also of compassion and empathy.
Simplicity and honesty despite wealth denote sacrifice and austerity.
A poor man cannot become abnormally fat by overeating. And, because he doesn’t overeat, his senses don’t become overtly disturbed and agitated.
False pride due to wealth and power is a huge stumbling block for spiritual liberation and freedom.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sira-sira store: On the wings of a buffalo
Ober Khok
LIKE Puss In Boots from the movie Shrek, my nephew Pannon looked at me with the cat’s moist and soulful eyes. I know that look and it spells a series of unfortunate questions.
I was hunched over my computer and seriously typing “nsnsnsns” and “kdkdkdk” and “jfjfjfjfj,” and making real paragraphs, too. I call that my panic mode, a time when I
have nothing to write about. Pannon observed me for a few minutes and then asked a question. When he asks, I shiver.
“Uncle, are writers crazy people?”
I weighed my answer as a seasoned baker would weigh precious flour. “Well, there are crazy people who are not writers and there are writers who are crazy.”
“So there are two kinds of humans: writers and ordinary ones?”
“Yes, all writers are special, highly skilled and very intelligent” I lied to him.
“Is that why you can write Chinese words on your computer? I can’t read what you’re writing.”
I ruffled his hair. “Silly, this is Greek.” As I was saying this, I heard my Tita Blitte warning me: “Ober, stop teasing the boy. Don’t you notice that he’s writing notes?”
Indeed he was. The kid was writing down everything I had said.
“I was just joking. Why are you writing down what I said?” I asked him.
“I want to be like you, a ‘journeyist’.” He mispronounced the word, but I liked it better than “a journalist,” who strikes you as a bloke who does a lot of writing and very little journeying.
“Uncle, I have a question,” he paused. “Can buffalos fly? Tita Krystal’s magazine had pictures of Buffalo wings, but they were made of chicken.”
Yesterday, I had Buffalo wings in an uptown pizza house, but never once did I ponder about flying buffalos. I invited Pannon to look up the word with me. I told him that a good “jouneyist” must have the patience to do his homework.
“I can do that. I always have homework.”
This piece of chicken is a storied appetizer. The Wikipedia said that Buffalo wings got its name from Buffalo, New York, where it originated. Ironically, residents there refer to them as wings or chicken wings rather than Buffalo wings.
Many restaurants today have deviated from the original wings. They have taken the liberty of calling other chicken parts as Buffalo-something.
I don’t know if Buffalo-wing originator, Teresa Belissimo, is turning in her grave over what has become to her recipe. By the way, she was the co-owner of the Anchor Bar, in Buffalo, New York, where the first Buffalo wings were made.
“So buffalos can’t fly, Pannon, except in fairy tales and in art. I have to be honest with you. A good ‘journeyist’ must be honest, too.”
He looked sad. “Well, maybe it’s like utan Bisaya. It can’t talk but because it comes from the Visayas, it’s called Bisaya, right, uncle?
“You make me proud, Pannon. A good ‘journeyist’ must see the common thread in what he sees and hears.”
I thought we were through, but he gave me that cat look again. “So how did the doughnut get its name?”
Tita Blitte shot me with her index finger and laughed. “You met your match, Ober.”
“I know. I promise to share my answer to that one next week, which should save me from writing nothing but nsnsnsns and kdkdkdkd.”
Go to bed with a smile.
By Toni Platon-Tiu
START the day with a smile, you’ve heard that before. It sets the mood for your day. How about going to bed with a smile? It’s comforting to drift off to sleep in calm, happy mood. It’d make getting up with a smile easier too.
How does one go to bed smiling? That will depend on what activities happen right before your bedtime. It’ll differ from person to person, but here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Don’t watch the news before bedtime. Keeping updated on current events is good, but I’ve found that all the bad news I watch keep me up late at night. I end up talking about what I watch, share my worries and think about the awful realities lurking in the city. Not all news are bad, but when the bedroom light is turned off, my imagination works overtime. And so I avoid watching the news and…
Avoid watching movies or reading books that are too heavy or too scary. The degree of a movie’s heaviness or scariness varies from person to person. The thing is they can keep the wheels in your head turning and turning… again, your imagination works overtime. That’s what happens to me anyway. Or maybe I’m just a scaredy cat.
Resolve fights. Don’t go to bed angry with anyone, even yourself. Perhaps you can make up before the day ends. If it seems impossible, park your emotions for tomorrow and recharge for the night. Who knows, the night may cool your heads and tomorrow will be a better time to patch things up. Go to bed knowing everything will work out tomorrow.
Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Make a mental list of the good things that happened to you today. Say “thank you” for each one of them. Remembering the day’s happy times will definitely put you in a happier, calmer mood.
Do some light exercise. Do some light stretches and lunges before going to bed. Rotate those shoulders, move your head from side to side, take deep breaths. Release your body of the day’s tensions, and you’ll feel much lighter and happier as you climb into bed.
START the day with a smile, you’ve heard that before. It sets the mood for your day. How about going to bed with a smile? It’s comforting to drift off to sleep in calm, happy mood. It’d make getting up with a smile easier too.
How does one go to bed smiling? That will depend on what activities happen right before your bedtime. It’ll differ from person to person, but here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Don’t watch the news before bedtime. Keeping updated on current events is good, but I’ve found that all the bad news I watch keep me up late at night. I end up talking about what I watch, share my worries and think about the awful realities lurking in the city. Not all news are bad, but when the bedroom light is turned off, my imagination works overtime. And so I avoid watching the news and…
Avoid watching movies or reading books that are too heavy or too scary. The degree of a movie’s heaviness or scariness varies from person to person. The thing is they can keep the wheels in your head turning and turning… again, your imagination works overtime. That’s what happens to me anyway. Or maybe I’m just a scaredy cat.
Resolve fights. Don’t go to bed angry with anyone, even yourself. Perhaps you can make up before the day ends. If it seems impossible, park your emotions for tomorrow and recharge for the night. Who knows, the night may cool your heads and tomorrow will be a better time to patch things up. Go to bed knowing everything will work out tomorrow.
Say a prayer of thanksgiving. Make a mental list of the good things that happened to you today. Say “thank you” for each one of them. Remembering the day’s happy times will definitely put you in a happier, calmer mood.
Do some light exercise. Do some light stretches and lunges before going to bed. Rotate those shoulders, move your head from side to side, take deep breaths. Release your body of the day’s tensions, and you’ll feel much lighter and happier as you climb into bed.
Power of natural forces
Power of natural forces
By R. Valencia, S. Bismark
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – There’s a Chinese saying that goes, “Gaze at the ocean and sigh.”
The story that goes along with it is simple: One day, the rivers flooded and the god of the rivers instantly became proud of his expanded territories. But when he arrived at the ocean side, he realized how small his dominion actually was, and he sighed and left feeling humbled.
Another story: Five friends decided to take a walk along the beach despite being told that a storm was coming. Suddenly, a huge wave hit them, and they were immediately thrown off their feet and injured. However, a person lagging behind suffered no injuries, because the wave didn’t hit her. Later, they shared their realizations.
Glimpse
They had a glimpse of how situations could change in a matter of seconds, and how they could wash away our sense of security. Material comfort and defenses are fleeting, so we must be ready to let go and take shelter in the spiritual realm.
Their experience reminds us of another story related by Puring Tamayo, who has a house by the beach. An avid gardener, she worked hard to transform her sandy backyard into a lush tropical garden.
During a typhoon, the rocks she put in her garden disappeared back into the ocean. Tamayo later mused, “The ocean owned them and merely got them back.” She understood the nature of the great forces and had respect for them.
By R. Valencia, S. Bismark
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines – There’s a Chinese saying that goes, “Gaze at the ocean and sigh.”
The story that goes along with it is simple: One day, the rivers flooded and the god of the rivers instantly became proud of his expanded territories. But when he arrived at the ocean side, he realized how small his dominion actually was, and he sighed and left feeling humbled.
Another story: Five friends decided to take a walk along the beach despite being told that a storm was coming. Suddenly, a huge wave hit them, and they were immediately thrown off their feet and injured. However, a person lagging behind suffered no injuries, because the wave didn’t hit her. Later, they shared their realizations.
Glimpse
They had a glimpse of how situations could change in a matter of seconds, and how they could wash away our sense of security. Material comfort and defenses are fleeting, so we must be ready to let go and take shelter in the spiritual realm.
Their experience reminds us of another story related by Puring Tamayo, who has a house by the beach. An avid gardener, she worked hard to transform her sandy backyard into a lush tropical garden.
During a typhoon, the rocks she put in her garden disappeared back into the ocean. Tamayo later mused, “The ocean owned them and merely got them back.” She understood the nature of the great forces and had respect for them.
Sira-Sira store: Measuring time olementoftime,
Ober Khok
TIME is often spoken of as an element, such as “the element of time is vital when transacting business” or “the element of time is crucial when responding to emergencies.”
Time is mysterious. We neither see shadow nor substance of it, yet we can verify its existence through what it does to us.
This is what makes a schoolboy so confused he curses anything to do with grade school math (and later in life, college physics).
We know time exists because night turns into morning, babies grow into men, and dark hair eventually becomes white — all through the passing of what we call time.
Time preoccupies us so much we follow it with almanacs, wristwatches and calendars. However, we can’t touch it and we can’t dissect it like a frog. What’s more, even when the clock is busted, time goes on. Nothing can stop it.
This unseen universal element hooks up with change. As long as there is time, change will follow. Rainy days are followed by sunny ones and in western countries, winter melts into spring and spring blooms into summer and summer fades into fall.
Even outer space is aware of time. The moon circles around the earth and earth circles around the sun — all keeping time with a galactic melody that is beyond human perception.
Indeed, the concept of time is closely knitted to what we call space, the great universe that man wants to explore.
Brilliant minds have studied time. Physicist Albert Einstein did so with his theory of relativity, which one schoolboy used to think had to do with relatives who unexpectedly dropped by the house near lunchtime.
Even after Einstein explains that the universe is expanding, the schoolboy still does not understand time although he feels it when he is late for school and the teacher scolds him, and motions him to stand in the corner of the classroom, and to face to the wall.
One good thing about time, scientists say, is that it can be measured by motion. We can prove its existence through motion.
The humble kitchen has evidences of time because a lot of motion happens there. But even when presented with these explanations, the schoolboy still does not understand why there’s a fuss over time.
One morning, his mother takes out a couple of eggs from the egg tray to make the breakfast omelette.
She beats the eggs, cooks it and presents it on a serving dish.
Those are four motions and one change: The liquid eggs have solidified into something pleasing to the palate.
Her tiny trip from the refrigerator where she stores the eggs and her tiny journey to the dining table all prove that time has gone by. But who really cares about the passing of a mundane day in a domestic kitchen?
Only a schoolboy can measure that passing by the width of his smile. He tells his mother, “You’re the best omelette maker, nanay.”
His concept of time is not bound by clocks or theories but is based on what his stomach tells him and how fast the hunger can be quelled.
The boy’s motion, a kiss on his mother’s cheek, causes change in his mother’s weary heart. Her joy makes the heat in the kitchen worth all the theories about time and the expanding universe.
TIME is often spoken of as an element, such as “the element of time is vital when transacting business” or “the element of time is crucial when responding to emergencies.”
Time is mysterious. We neither see shadow nor substance of it, yet we can verify its existence through what it does to us.
This is what makes a schoolboy so confused he curses anything to do with grade school math (and later in life, college physics).
We know time exists because night turns into morning, babies grow into men, and dark hair eventually becomes white — all through the passing of what we call time.
Time preoccupies us so much we follow it with almanacs, wristwatches and calendars. However, we can’t touch it and we can’t dissect it like a frog. What’s more, even when the clock is busted, time goes on. Nothing can stop it.
This unseen universal element hooks up with change. As long as there is time, change will follow. Rainy days are followed by sunny ones and in western countries, winter melts into spring and spring blooms into summer and summer fades into fall.
Even outer space is aware of time. The moon circles around the earth and earth circles around the sun — all keeping time with a galactic melody that is beyond human perception.
Indeed, the concept of time is closely knitted to what we call space, the great universe that man wants to explore.
Brilliant minds have studied time. Physicist Albert Einstein did so with his theory of relativity, which one schoolboy used to think had to do with relatives who unexpectedly dropped by the house near lunchtime.
Even after Einstein explains that the universe is expanding, the schoolboy still does not understand time although he feels it when he is late for school and the teacher scolds him, and motions him to stand in the corner of the classroom, and to face to the wall.
One good thing about time, scientists say, is that it can be measured by motion. We can prove its existence through motion.
The humble kitchen has evidences of time because a lot of motion happens there. But even when presented with these explanations, the schoolboy still does not understand why there’s a fuss over time.
One morning, his mother takes out a couple of eggs from the egg tray to make the breakfast omelette.
She beats the eggs, cooks it and presents it on a serving dish.
Those are four motions and one change: The liquid eggs have solidified into something pleasing to the palate.
Her tiny trip from the refrigerator where she stores the eggs and her tiny journey to the dining table all prove that time has gone by. But who really cares about the passing of a mundane day in a domestic kitchen?
Only a schoolboy can measure that passing by the width of his smile. He tells his mother, “You’re the best omelette maker, nanay.”
His concept of time is not bound by clocks or theories but is based on what his stomach tells him and how fast the hunger can be quelled.
The boy’s motion, a kiss on his mother’s cheek, causes change in his mother’s weary heart. Her joy makes the heat in the kitchen worth all the theories about time and the expanding universe.
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