Inday Vinas

I know people use the words "wealth disparity" to describe the difference beween rich and poor in the Philippines. This is something I know about. Back in the province, many people have no money at all, not even one peso. Now I live in Pampanga, close to Manila, and things are different. Life is not easy here, but some people do have work and there are many stores. There are trikes and jeeps for transportation, and there are shopping malls! Then the other day I went to visit a government agency in Makati. So I took a bus to the Araneta/Cubao station, then a taxi to Makati. The driver wanted 400 pesos. I said "no way, dude" to him in tagalog, and we finally agreed to a price of 250. After the meeting a friend and I decided to visit Glorietta Mall, which is advertised on T... (more)

Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) and Floods Hit the Philippines

I was lucky that Typhoon Ondoy did not affect my apartment. We are out in Pampanga two hours from Manila but we did not have a flood in my little neighborhood. But so many people died in this typhoon, and now the world knows what can happen in the Philippines. We get more than 20 typhoons each year and they cause many problems. Typhoon Feria back there in June damaged many houses in Sama... (more)

Sailing the Sea of Samar, Philippines

I traveled to my home village in the province of Samar to celebrate the Fiesta San Juan. I was lucky to fly from Manila to Tacloban, Leyte. The next day I took a private boat with friends and family. The trip takes four hours and goes under the famous San Jacinto bridge into the Sea of Samar. The boat is a normal "banca" boat, but bigger than most of the boats in my village. We are loadi... (more)

When I Was 14

So I was still crazy even after I had my first period, until I was 14 years old. Then I was shy about playing games, and I stayed at home to clean house and start cooking food. I am now a little helpful, and now I realize all. When I am child I don’t get any problems and I don’t care about anything. If you have a problem how can you “gimik” to your friends? But I stopped to plan for myse... (more)

Going to the Boondocks

When I was a child, I liked to go to the mountain (we call it “bundok”) because I don’t want to get bored staying at home.  So if I am finished cleaning house and eating I decide to go to the mountain with my friends. I had so much fun walking, talking, and grabbing the fruit on the mountain. Masaya talaga pag kasama ang mga kaibigan  sa gimik..heheheh (It feels good to goof around with a... (more)