Best gift ideas for Filipinos when visiting the Philippines

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Best gift ideas for Filipinos when visiting the Philippines – http://ow.ly/42UgJ

 

Some thoughts:

When gifting a Filipino, just keep in mind that ‘it’s the thought that matters, and not the gift.’ You may define it as you wish; it’s also just saying that Filipinos generally appreciate it much when visitors have gone out of their way to bring gifts from the places they’ve come from. This shows your mindfulness about people you’re meeting soon, which is an admirable trait (needless to say!).

Some may think the practice, the main object is called ‘pasalubong‘ back in the Philippines, to be somewhat ridiculous. But it’s also being practiced in many countries; I remember being in Japan where people would always go out of their way to bring token gifts to people they’re visiting.

You can consider bringing even just a bag of candies or chocolates, trinkets, ballpens, electronic stuff, matches, small decorative items, small bottles of perfume, fruits, or anything of a mix (just like the ‘halo-halo‘ that’s pictured in this blog posting, which is a great way to manage away the humidity while you are in the Philippines). Or just simply bring your luggage with your own clothes that you are ready to give away to anybody who is interested — of course, as long as they’re gently used and washed!

Or if your schedule will allow it, you may just start collecting your gifts in ‘pasalubong boxes,’ which most Filipinos abroad would purchase from typical Filipino stores when they like to send box-full of stuffs back to the Philippines. When fully packed, secure the boxes and have them sent via the nearest cargo servicing company that covers the Philippine islands.  It does not matter how heavy your boxes are; what matters is that you’ve stuffed it completely with your gifts. Send them at least 45 days before your expected arrival to the address where you are staying during your visit (don’t do this if you’re staying mostly in hotels). You can open the boxes and start giving away these gifts right away to those you’re planning to give them to.  Your heart will certainly be pleased for doing so.

 

blog: Quirino (Philippines) as a travel destination

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blog: Quirino (Philippines) as a travel destination – http://ow.ly/3ZYEj

blog: The Philippines’ top travel destinations

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blog: The Philippines‘ top travel destinations – http://ow.ly/3ZYE9

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Travel destinations: The Philippines

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Travel destinations: The Philippines – http://ow.ly/3ZvkE

* the ancient San Agustin Church (see what’s pictured somewhere here in this article. It’s a must-see cultural destination if you find yourself in Intramuros, Manila (which enclosed walls included what was officially ‘Manila’ during the long Spanish period that ended by the turn of the 20th century when the US came). It’s also included in the list of Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.

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My article on ‘A look at Imelda Marcos’ political comeback’

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My article on ‘A look at Imelda Marcos‘ political comeback’ – http://ow.ly/3YuIP

The former first lady of the Philippines has always fascinated me because she’s part of the conjugal dictatorship that was in power during the first 30 years of my life in the Philippines. Read my take on her latest successful effort to get back into having real political power (again!). More than anything, she is actually a real person despite media depictions of her.

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A history of the Bagobo people of Mindanao

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A history of the Bagobo people of Mindanao in the Philippines http://ow.ly/2ngK6

Notes on the link above:

I’ve met some who are from the Bagobo people of Mindanao; I met some of them during a trek to Mt. Apo in Davao, Mindanao. They are just like ordinary people like everyone else you meet on the street. Some of them are based here in New York City. They’re working and earning hard to get that much desired amount of US dollars to remit back to the Philippines for their families. I’m surprised they won’t tell me outright or maybe because I didn’t ask. On second thought, “Does it matter anyway?”

But I was able to know about the fact only when someone mentioned it indirectly, i.e., “he’s a Bagobo from Davao.” And the one who’s telling me about it delivered it in a derisive tone, as if people who are from the tribes are of lesser class, which is a tone that you will understand if you’re from the Philippines (or from other similar countries). I experienced that myself when I mentioned before a class in MBA school at the Ateneo that my paternal side’s from the Isneg tribe in northern Luzon in the Philippines [my paternal grandmother had very light skin, which is a surprise as that’s not the stereotype. She’s from the same tribe as that of the sexy 70s actress Alma Moreno who herself is very proud of her heritage]. Some classmates were amused for one unclear reason or another. I knew something was off, but I just ignored it though I particularly remember the smiles of amusement from some people who simply don’t know much about ethnic people. It’s as if it’s not cool to say these things.  Maybe it’s something similar to some people’s reactions when one introduces oneself as from one of those Indian tribes somewhere here in the US [which case has been similarly told me, when I’ve experienced receiving remarks that “I look like  an American Indian”].

But nowadays, you will seldom meet a full-blooded tribal person in the Philippines. A lot have intermarried with peoples of different races. It’s even strange writing about these issues here, as it’s seldom you’ll encounter a tribe back in the Philippines that has been barely exposed to cultural influences of other groups of people. The Bagobos themselves in Mindanao have intermarried with lots of Japanese people before World War II, the descendants of whom you may have the chance to meet even in Japan or in Davao these days.  You’ll see semblances of their lifestyle during street parades that take place during commemoration days that are officially sanctioned by the local government. You’ll see them in their traditional attire and being engaged in traditional dances. You wonder how much ethnic culture have been gone forever – much of what you’ll know about them are available when you research about them in libraries. Here’s hoping that these material sources will be readily made available in accessible forms soon (so you won’t wonder anymore about matters on ethnicity in the present imperfect society like we have now).

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Ang Ibong Adarna: The E-Book on a Mythical, Operatic-like Singing Bird

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Ibong Adarna (large Print Edition): Corrido at Buhay na Pinagdaanan nang tatlong Principeng Magcacapatid na Anac nang Haring Fernando at nang Reina Valeriana sa Cahariang Berbania by Anonymous

ADDITIONAL NOTES ON THIS POSTING

This was written originally for my Goodreads.com account, which I posted here, too, for those who may be  curious about Philippine literature in Tagalog. Actually, the book’s a textbok, i.e, we used it in elementary school to gain ideas by reading it together and about what makes old Philippine literature tick; expect my review to be slanting toward being more positive than usual. I personally like this book as it reminds me of a funny movie by Dolphy, a Philippine ‘legendary’ comic and great actor who’s still very much around as of this writing. And after doing proofreading works with this book on Project Gutenberg, I realized there IS more to be appreciated about the book,  including its wonderful lines of lyrical poetry that I seldom get to hear nowadays.  Of course, you have to be able to speak and understand Tagalog to appreciate this book, and that’s a different endeavor altogether. Get hold of the book even on its e-book version and start reading and giving feedback about it to others. It’s really high time to get into serious reading these days when a lot of bad things are happening in our midst, of which we generally don’t have control.

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
You can actually download a copy of this book from Project Gutenberg. Here’s the link if you’d like to start reading the book online: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16157/161…

The title translates to: The Adarna Bird: Songs and the Entangled Lives of the Three Princes and Sons of King Fernando and Queen Valeriana in the Kingdom of Berbania

I got to read this book while doing volunteer proofreading works for Project Gutenberg’s Distributed Proofreaders (PGDP). Written in lyrical poetical metered tradition, it easily reads like a very florid, ancient text of a manuscript that contains formulaic passages denoting magic, charms, and of old kingdoms that we see in movies and in our dreams. Its authorship is primarily unknown, as with the case with old stories that have been passed through many generations. It can be a difficult read, even, because of its use of old Tagalog words that are usually not much in use these days. But it can be very helpful to prop up one’s Tagalog vocabulary.

Those who have seen the movie made in the 70s by the great comedian Dolphy, which included his side-kicks (but who are esteemed comedian-artists in their own right) Panchito and Babalu as well as the sexy star Rosanna Ortiz from the Philippines would be surprised that the movie veered away from the storyline of the book. This e-book is all about morals, primarily about giving respect to one’s parents even in their old age when they’re sick and out of their wits, of the value of good friendships especially during bad times, of having sustained courage as one goes to life’s challenges, of being loyal to one’s life purpose amidst all imaginable hardships, among other themes. It can very well be a good tome for a children’s book to be done in several volumes, if only drawings and other pictures have been included in many of its pages.

Ironically, I’m sharing my thoughts on this Tagalog e-book in English,as I have a feeling that only those who read primarily in English and who understand Tagalog will read this book. Plus, I have a feeling that those who will read this are those who are required to read the text as part of their curriculum in school, as well as those interested in Philippine literature and culture. Unless I get some feedback from this posting from readers who read primarily in Tagalog, then I will continue believing that Tagalog e-books, like this one, will be just be awaiting for at least 50 more years of time for more and wider readership to set in place, to take hold. It takes a lot for a culture of reading to take place, considering the presence of all kinds of distractions (internet, TV, movies, music, dance, food, shopping, etc). But I’m delighted that books like this one has been made available again, and easily accessible to all interested, curious readers out there.

View all my reviews.

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