What's Da Buzz?

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Thanks to a few people who attended the Celine Dion concert we have the videos of Charice with Celine Dion. Now technically Oprah wasn’t the one on the USA side to have Charice on first but it was Ms. DeGeneres but who cares about those minor details.

Here is when Celine Dion introduced Charice to the Madison Square Garden crowd. There are a few minor details about Charice’s life. The issues with her father are unfortunately all too common. But I won’t blame Celine for not knowing the details as that is life in the Philippines which she wouldn’t know.

One other detail is Charice and Arnel are not the only exceptional musical talents. Even though they have the greatest popularity right now, there are many more high quality singers in the Philippines. After all, we are a nation obsessed with the karaoke machine, singing and dancing contests.

I like to think of Charice and Arnel as international musical trailblazers for their country of Philippines. We can export nurses, musicians and dancers along with the standard exported products and produce.

But let me get back to Charice and Celine. Here is their performance together. When Charice is about to do the high note, look behind her at the backup singers in the lower right corner. Their reaction is humorous.

For being nervous, Charice did the Philippines proud on such a massive stage.

Thank you,

Anah

The shopping list I am speaking of is one many of us are fully aware of. It is the Pinoy Pasalubong which usually ends up in the need for a balikbayan box.

For the English only crowd, pasalubong is a wish list given to the Filipino who is living abroad and about to return home for a visit. That wish list contains the requests of items to be purchased and brought back on the return trip. Often the amount of stuff requested is so great that a balikbayan or a large shipping box that can hold about 90 lbs is needed. Sometimes, a few of them are needed.

The Pasalubong is very short list for me as my immediate family only has a few minor requests ranging from t-shirts with Wisconsin on them, some mp3 players and Twix. It is also quite common that chocolate is requested as that is a very rare treat for many. (Ahhh I look forward to Swiss Tsokolate! hehe)

However, a false assumption is made or we can call it an assumption based on incomplete knowledge. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find something that is “Made in the USA.” So purchasing items here loses much of their meaning and value especially since the label usually says “made in China.” I feel I am much better off purchasing things in the Philippines for them at the significantly reduced rates.

Since travel home takes me through Manila, the chocolate can be purchased free of duty charges at the Duty Free store in Manila. Then the yummy stuff can be taken to your destination at a much lower cost than buying it here. With how the economy is spinning out of control, I have no idea how much that will cost by the time of my trip.

Outside of a few USA only things, I am more than happy to purchase the quality items that are made in the Philippines. May kasabihah o there is a saying …. “Mahalin ang sarilin atin!” (Love or support your own product made in Phils)

Thank you,

Anah

photo credits from http://www.pasalubong.com

When I was in the Philippines, I decided to mind my own business and go back and forth to school or work or whatever my day called for. My focus was on myself and what I wanted to get done. All those who were protesting this or that topic just annoyed me as they slowed down traffic o nakakagulo lang and my ability to get to where I needed to be.

A few years later and a lot of wisdom gained, I must submit my humble apologies to all who I thought were annoying because they blocked my path to doing the things I wanted to do in my life. I was focused on myself and I was very selfish. What triggered the change? Living in the USA is what triggered the change.

Here in the USA, in the land of the free and the brave, the majority of the citizens sit on their rear and expect someone else to confront a problem made by politicians or other large interest group. With so much provided to them to excesses, many Americans have become lazy expecting government to fix this or that and all will be fine. They surrendered their rights by not remaining engaged in their civic duty of keeping the government accountable. Instead, the focus is on what was on TV, who dated who, some sports issue, or any of a large number of topics not related to what their elected officials were doing to sell them out.

From reading the history books of the first 150 years of the USA and watching what is going on now, I have developed a great appreciation for those in the Philippines who voice their opinion and take an active role in their government. They are determined to keep their freedoms and let wisdom reign in the government and not corruption and bad ideas take hold. Yes, it is an uphill struggle but the Philippine people are still in the struggle.

Maybe the USA citizens will learn from the (other- o ibang) Philippine people and wake up to take control of a nation that once was great and return it back to its position of being a beacon of hope not an object of scorn in discussions across the oceans. It will take the people to stand up and fight for what is right just as my countrymen and women did when I thought they were just a bother.

So to my countrymen and women who continue to peacefully press for their freedoms, I am sorry. I am sorry I was so selfish. I promise to do better both there and here. I promise to make a difference.

Thank you o Maraming Salamat po,

Anah

Photo credits from freedomfromdebt.wordpress.com