In 1997 the City Mayor at that time realized that she had a big problem at the swimming areas of the City as there had been around 30 drowning deaths in the first 7 months of the year and she decided that something had to be done to rectify the situation so she called upon the services of the PNRC, Philippine National Red Cross to organise Lifeguard Training! The training consisted of 2 parts! Part 1 consisted of Standard First Aid with AR,( Artificial Respiration) and CPR, (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) which took 7 days to complete. Part 2 consisted of Water Safety and Rescue which was all in water activities both in the pool and in the … [Read more...]
Crossing madness
October 30, 2009 By 13 Comments
Having had the "controlled" traffic rules in the UK all my life, it thus was a shock and half when I first cam to Asia and experienced the NO RULES system. My first stop in Bangkok made me realize London was a controlled traffic flow, and even though had its traffic lights and horns blowing all the time it just does not even match the rules of engagement here in the Philippines. Now there have been many articles on traffic here, but this time I thought I would write it from the pedestrian of non Pinoy decent, that have to learn to do the Olympic games from pole vaulting over cars that come straight at you, to theb 800m hurdles, where you get … [Read more...]
The Philippines needs a Hero
October 30, 2009 By 31 Comments
Again, this week, I am sharing my Friday column from SunStar Davao Newspaper. I hope you enjoy the article. Every country needs heroes. Every group of people needs heroes of it's own. It's something in the human spirit, having heroes helps us do better ourselves. Somehow we want to emulate the person who has achieved hero status. Politicians, these days, don't make for good heroes, they are too divisive. Half the people revere a certain politician, the other half hate him. It is very rare in this age that there is a politician that is looked up to by a big enough percentage of the populace that they could be considered a hero. … [Read more...]
Dear Feyma: OFW Disappearance
October 29, 2009 By 22 Comments
Just a few days ago I got an interesting email from a person in the Middle East. He had a Filipina employee (Domestic Helper) at his house. Somehow early this month she went missing. He was trying to reach out to the family of the employee here in the Philippines and he couldn't get any response. He also tried to call and emailed the Philippine Embassy in his country and got no reply too. He also emailed the agency where the lady was associated with but got no acknowledgment from them too. Here's the email that I got. I just edited the name of the girl because I just don't want to invade her privacy. Plus, I don't really know the real reasons … [Read more...]
Going Bananas Over Rainy Season (Pt II)
October 29, 2009 By 18 Comments
It's been quite a quest to beat the blues of "Rainy Season," but those blues appear to be on the run. They're being chased by a purplish pod - a banana blossom - and little green hands of banana fingers that, when ripened and yellow, should provide delicious entertainment to our taste buds. Going bananas? Seeing colors? Too much time without direct sunshine and Vitamin D? Just what is going one here? Have patience, dear reader, as we unwrap the pedals of this blossoming tale. Continuing my wordy love affair with a fairer fruit, we resume the log as something afoul approaches: 10/01/2009 - I thought I would get some photos from … [Read more...]
A little surprise
October 28, 2009 By 90 Comments
I got a little surprise on this past Saturday evening. Feyma and I were watching a movie on TV with the kids. While watching, Feyma was also playing with her laptop, surfing the Internet a bit. Suddenly, she told me... "you won an award!" "What," I said... "what kind of award?" She went on to tell me that I had won the "Globe Digital Tribe" award. Hmm... I never heard of it, what is it, and how did I win it? Well, as it turns out, she was right, I indeed was one of the winners of the Globe Digital Tribe award, which was given out by Globe Telecom, at the Philippine Blog Awards over the weekend in Cagayan de Oro City. The Philippine … [Read more...]
They're Only Seven Once
October 27, 2009 By 33 Comments
Why is the seventh birthday so important? I’ll never fully understand the why of it, and I decided to be quite and go along with. It’s Mid September sitting at my kitchen, and those discussing the planned party are, 1 Great Grandmother, 2 Grandmothers, 1 Mother, 1 Grand Daughter (soon to be seven) Plus 1 Father, and not to be left out, me the Grandfather. (In the dining room and living room, were assorted Aunts, Uncles and cousins not involved in the planning, but voting present) I admire you folks, who are taking the time to learn the local language, yet once in awhile it’s a blessing to be ignorant of what’s being said, and believe … [Read more...]
Of Bellies and Shirts
October 27, 2009 By 57 Comments
This short posting is about a serious topic, and everyone reading this should take me absolutely seriously. Well, I am kidding around (So, no offense folks), but this is about something I find most unusual. When you travel around the Philippines, one thing you immediately notice outside of every carinderia, bar, or sari sari store, is the way that the men are dressed. What's that, you might ask? Why should I notice? Well, Filipino men have a most unusual habit of walking around with their shirts pulled up over their bellies. Don't believe me? I've seen at least two guys walking around like this wherever there is a group of more than 4 guys standing … [Read more...]
That's What Friends are For
October 26, 2009 By 8 Comments
That's the words recently sent to me from someone on this web magazine, you see first I have to apologize to the readers of my column here on LIP but last week was a busy one for me and having computer and Internet issues didn't help. That's what brings me to this article this week though, I thought I sent word to the editor of this fine medium, that I had company his week, my mother in law and some family members came from Leyte to stay with us and sell thier farm there in Maragusan. But the message never went out, I don't know why. So a week later our Editor sends me a e-mail asking if I am OK, not saying "hey wheres last weeks article" … [Read more...]
The girl of my dreams
October 26, 2009 By 97 Comments
Some years back I met a girl. She was special, and has never left my heart in those many years. Even today, I cannot get her out of my mind. She changed my life, and certainly changed it for the better. Of course, I'm talking about my wife of 19+ years. Today's a special day here in the Martin household, because it's Feyma's birthday. I'm not going to reveal her age, although I think it's already known here on LiP, but, you know... it's a respect thing - you just don't reveal a woman's age. So, I won't. I met Feyma in Cebu City, in 1990. She was studying at the time, nearly finished with college. We had been corresponding with … [Read more...]
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