Mobility

The rainy week of 2 August even with the threat of Typhoon Domeng did not deter mobility as I swung from South to West in Metro Manila in several days in extreme weather conditions.

Ongpin Store

Available personal and mass transport made movement easier. Sedan drives one long distance, Light Rail Transport moves mass commuters to popular destination in a breeze; jeepney, calesa and tricycles transport groups to unfamiliar corners.

Walking is still the most convenient way to cross short distances.

Base is a newly constructed premiere hotel in an industrial park in the South providing a panoramic view of the Laguna province.

When in the city, the LRT moving platform is the most efficient means to Chinatown and Malate.

Jeepney, calesa and tricycle are readily available to navigate hard to enter alleys and flooded areas in short distances.

If mountaineering by The Mountaineering Books is “freedom of the hills,” urban travel is “freedom of mobility.” I work because I have to live. I travel because I need to live. It is this freedom that I relish as I derive pleasure from the travel.

(Photos taken while on of field test of a compact Nikon OLED camera.)

JV's Car Wash

Several months ago this 2010, a fellow climber sent me an email message inquiring about the status of geocities’ delisted tropics shores domain with a leading query“What happened to our Majayjay article and photos at the PALMC site?”

Months ago, I received a text message stating,“I set up the front lawn of our house in Don Antonio into a car wash with a request, "will you be able to help me with an electric cooler?”

A week ago, a FB friend flags in his home page, water and floods everywhere due to the storm and heavy rain fall, “JV Duque: Raining hard . . . Water rising! Please pray rain stops.”

My visit at 27 Holy Spirit Drive along Don Antonio Heights in Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City turned out to be a discussion on all including a reason why motorist should consider JV’s car wash if one resides near the vicinity.

JV has several passions: sports like badminton, cycling and climbing, design and photography, showbiz talents and training and cars and maintenance.  While looking for a sideline to augment his income, he was considering any one of his interests.

His set up of the car wash project in July 2006 was an “invention of necessity” borne out of his shift in career. It was also a result of an accident when a parking attendant in ABS-CBN who JV acknowledged as meticulous in detailing and car washing reminded him several months after their encounter when he is setting up his own business. When work was taking a toll on his health, he was in search for a practical solution for pay for operating expenses. From his several passions, he finally decided to go into car detailing.

Even since, JV has stringent standards when it comes to car care. He would look under the hood and car, inside the car, under the seats, in the overlooked corners when he had his car cleaned. It frustrates him whenever he surrenders his car to a professional, he would end up teaching the staff how to wash and yet still pay.

His decision to start a car wash project aside from the fact that it entailed a relatively low capital expense was his desire to share the expertise of quality cleaning. It was not really for the revenue but for the extended service.

Starting his operations at the garage, his first few days with the ABS-CBN attendant did not draw any customer. It was only on the 2nd week when a paying customer tried him out and was satisfied. His 1st customer though turned out to be his sister. From then on, car owners from BF Homes, Don Enrique and Don Antonio Heights started patronizing the shop.

They valued the attention to details under the hood and inside the car, the quality work and the dedication of the car wash staff and the use of premium cleaning equipment. Never mind if the extended garage did not have a comfortable seating area nor the slots limited to only 6 at time. The limitations did not matter for as long as the dedicated and engaged staff would transform their vehicle to a spotless exhibit in over 20 minutes.

Car owners, trusting their staff would leave the cars, go out for a walk then come back to collect them hours later.  He is proud that his staff shared the same passion for a clean and good job in cleaning and detailing cars which JV claimed is modeled after the top detailing shops in Ortigas but priced right for a cottage neighborhood shop. Materials and thorough cleaning are not compromised. 

Their added value of a neighborhood store is the homey atmosphere as it is Mommy who minds the business. Having come from the Talent Center, JV uses his service orientation when dealing with difficult customers.

How does success look like for JVD car wash in the future?

• Constrained by the frequent flooding, the worst experienced in September 2009 when Ondoy dumped record breaking rains in a short span of time, he sees the car wash operating even during the rainy season.
• He looks forward to a better roofing facility to expand more slots.
• For the idle waiting time, he in envisioning a coffee shop where car owners can go online, or listen to his colorful showbiz stories or merely wander around.
• He expects his satisfied customers promoting his car wash not because it offers good value for money but because they are good at car washing and detailing that rivals the more professional shops in Makati, Ortigas or Banaue.
• He is still not convinced to earn money from this advocacy.

In his multiply account, JV defines his mission. JVD Car Wash Services came to life in July 2006. Our goal is to provide car lovers and owners in the community with the best quality services we could offer. We aim to give our customers the comfort of having their cars pampered at the most reasonable yet competitive prices. We use Meguiar's Professional detailing products in all our detailing services.

Hearing his stories for over an hour, I wonder if it needed updating to level up to the next phase.

Related story on writing a Vision Mission

Bakers with a natural passion to create
Majayjay

"Follow what you are genuinely passionate about and let that guide you to your destination." -Diane Sawyer

Hiroshima courtesy of JICA

While Channel News Asia was repeatedly broadcasting the 65th year anniversary of the dreadful 6 August 1945 Hiroshima bombing, I too recalled 6 August 1985 when I visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. I was in Japan appreciating the Japanese culture for a month as a participant to the program of the Philippine-ASEAN-Japan Friendship Association for the 21st Century (PAJAFA).

This leadership program sponsored by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was initiated by then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone extending invitation to qualified Philippine and Asian youth leaders. Intent was to foster friendship between leaders of the two and other countries. Participants travel to Japan as a group, attend forums, learn Nihonggo, get immersed in a typical Japanese family in prefectures via home stay and see the popular tourist attractions.

How I was accepted in the 2nd batch is a tale of resourcefulness, confidence and even luck considering the civil servants have the priority. Qualification, education and professional background can truly bring one to places.

I remember fondly this travel. Not only because of the long stay but mainly due to the rich culture we as a Philippine and Asian team were exposed to. 25 years ago, I still see the image of the leaning Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in my mind. Memorable indeed.

Happier Japan

Road Warrior

Evolving from a weekend warrior to a road warrior.

From doing unusually physically strenuous  activity part time or in weekends to a frequent traveler mainly on business.

Images of travel in 3 different cities over the last few days.

Combing Work with Play

Pancit Canton and Lumpia

While doing field work assessing execution in the market place, I was led to a tiangge in Makati similar to that of a Sunday bazaar.

Not only were a variety of noodle based native food offered, they were affordably priced. Unlike the weekend tiangge’s, the Makati City Hall is open on working days.

Pancit Malabon and Dimsum

Palabok @ P30.0

Business with pleasure? Not exactly as I was on a tight schedule, there was hardly any time to sit down.




Wikipedia lists the following variants of Pansit.
Pancit Alanganin, Pancit Batchoy, Pancit Bato is indigenuous to the Bicol Region; especially the town of Bato in Camarines Sur, Pancit Bihon Guisado, Pancit Bihongundoy, Pancit Cabagan, Pancit Canton, Pancit Estacion (Tanza, Cavite), Pancit Habhab (Lucban, Quezon), Pancit Kilawin is also a variety of pancit found only in Tanza, Cavite. Just an ordinary pancit bihon eaten together with a kilawing papaya (shredded raw papaya fruit cooked with vinegar and fish, Pancit Lomi, Pancit Luglug, Pancit Malabon, Pancit Mami (round egg noodles), Pancit Miki (round egg noodles), Pancit Míki-Bíhon Guisado (round egg noodles + bihon), Pancit Molo (a bit of a misnomer, it is Filipino wanton soup without noodles contrary to what the name might suggest), Pancit Moròng, Pancit Palabok, Pancit Pula (variation of Pancit Miki from Batangas City), Pancit Sotanghon, Pansit Sabaw (Pansit Miki with soup), Pansit Tuguegarao or Batil Patong, Pansit Sinanta (also from Tuguegarao, consists of flat egg noodles, bihon, clams and chicken, with broth colored with annatto)

The City CDO has not changed

In 1960, we stayed in a house built of wood at Chavez st. in Cagayan de Oro clustered near the City Hall, Lourdes Hospital and within walking distance to important establishments and institutions. School, the Xavier University was several blocks away. So were the park and the city plaza.

In the mid 90’s, enroute to our Mindanao mountaineering sojourn, we stayed in an old downtown hotel along Capistrano st. also made of light building materials.

In the 21st century, these structures are still around, preserved notwithstanding the pressure of progress happening at the turn of the decades. They stand side by side with the concrete buildings of newly emerging global fast food icons.

Coming back to the city decades after seeing these structures again evokes nostalgia and introspection. With limited recollection on these places and friends and experiences, it has forced me to think back and visualize how my early days were. The revisit validated that indeed; we have been mobile family early on, laying the foundation to the itchy feet popularized by the Discovery Channel of “exploring your world.”

Written in flight (PR 084) while hovering around Luzon waiting for clearance to land caused by the rains and poor visibility in Metro Manila 25 July 2010

Priceless

Priceless
Main Entry: price•less
Pronunciation: \ˈprīs-ləs\
Function: adjective

Date: 1594

1 a : having a value beyond any price : INVALUABLE b : costly because of rarity or quality : PRECIOUS
2: having worth in terms of other than market value
3: delightfully amusing, odd, or absurd
From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary

A popular buzz world in Manila in the last decade is the adjective “world class.”Initially tagged to the performing artist and sports, now it s application has extended to services, technical expertise, managerial competency and leadership. Some loosely associate it with global standard.

What are the attributes of a world class output? A tall order as it has to have a high level of competitive performance or being of the highest caliber in the world.

To progress from a starting point to the next level however needs a change of mindset first. Embrace excellence and abundance where good is not enough, better still unacceptable and consistently exemplary is the only known way.

Priceless and world class. Path to world class starts from performing the basics. Results of an astounding performance leave a priceless mark.

Family Day Sunday

Sunday is a family day when members of the immediate and extended families gather for a big lunch. Frequency of the gathering can range from monthly to bi-weekly depending on the availability of the members. Meal is usually a time when the must have dishes from a well kept and proven recipe are served to all across generations.

The digital world has partially changed that. The favorite dish is still there. Traditional food fare is supplemented by new preferences discovered through the years. Metro Manila’s Sunday markets have become the new source of gastronomic specialties. 

Sourced from the market and served at home, the time long tradition of a filling and fulfilling banquet in the company of family members is enhanced further. Join us in this feast from my preferred source, Sidcor (Strategic Investment Development Corporation)  at the Lung Center in Quezon Circle. Everything is here just for a song (compared to eating out).

Mango from Guimaras at P 85/kilo. Watermelon from Iloilo. Carabao's Milk from Bulacan at P 40 per 300 mL. Half a gallon of Buko Sherbet from Pampanga at P 200. A pack of crabs from Bulacan at P 320.

Mango from Guimaras at P 85/kilo. Watermelon from Iloilo. Carabao's Milk from Bulacan at P 40 per 350 mL. Half a gallon of Buko Sherbet from Pampanga at P 200. A pack of crabs from Bulacan at P 320.  Tapang Usa at P 250/half a kilo.   Deadly lechon kawali from Marikina and Ilocos.  Lettuce from Baguio at P 35 per pack.  Native corn.  Dried fish from Palawan.  Grilled Tilapia, Dalag.  Palabok from Bulacan at P 40/pack.  Sukang Paombong, Quesong Puti, Bayabas, Longanisa from Laoag, Tuguegarao.  Lumpia from Binondo at P50.

Roaming Singapore

One of the most popular destinations in Asia is a relatively small island with a land area of 704 square kilometers and still expanding. It has a population of about 5 million (a variable depending on the taxi driver) inhabited by a mixed Asian race primarily Chinese. Landlocked, its main land is dominantly urban with a large forest reserve.

This country is modern with a heritage.

While strict and quite authoritarian, it is a bit tolerant these days.

-Taxi driver says to his next passenger by cell phone, “There is a major jam, allow at  least a 20 minute delay, ok?”

-“Next time you file for a GSF refund, do it before entering the Changi immigration so I can see the items, OK? This time I will refund,” says the internal revenue officer at the airport.

-20 seconds before the pedestrian traffic sign turns from Red to Green, construction workers cross the street.

It is walking and disable friendly with exclusive pedestrian lanes from end to end, foliage from maintained trees protecting promenaders from the harsh sunlight. The air is refreshingly clean.

Mobility is easy from North to South. Board the bus, call a center for a taxi or van, hop in the North South, North East and Circle lines to move around anytime of the day. It is a shoppers’paradise which is a secondary in my interest for this trip. You feel at home and think like work when in the central business district.

The city is a food trippers’ ecstasy. As diverse as street food to formal dining, Asian to Continental, visualize it, you will see it cooking.

View with me the documentary of the “Roamer,” the intrepid traveler in Singapore. While a part of a compact group, every opportunity to see the other way is grabbed. Appreciate with me the images as captured by a point and shoot camera.

Thanks to our (family) sponsors. While a stay in the city is relatively still affordable, their generosity upgraded me several levels higher making this memorable extended weekend quite a luxurious one.

Place plus family brings one to an ultimate high. "Everyone's presence upgraded our family bonding experience several levels higher, making this memorable extended weekend quite a priceless one."

An escapade in Singapore with my family, figuratively is a great way to fly! Welcome.

Chito 7 July 2010

Mitch, a visiting immigrant

A climbing colleague Mitch, in town billeted at the premier hotel at the corner of EDSA and Shaw was available for a night out on the 26th May arriving from the U.S, the day before. So was a climbing buddy, Bernard working in Pasay.

As I am the resident of Metro Manila, where to go that night was at my discretion. Fortunately, on the way to EDSA Shang-rila via C5, I spotted at the Tiendesitas the Juan De la Cruz concert for the night. The 2 did not object to the proposition.

Mitch Soria was in our expedition to Halcon last 1999 along with TJ Gonzalez and Jo Ramos. That was our final major climb before he immigrated to California as an IT specialist. He  married a Filipina resident and has returned back to Manila several times for a visit. It was my 1st time to see Bernard again who has raised a family as well but was in the U.S. several times as part of his IT advanced education.

In a comfortable section far from the Tiendesitas main stage where the Juan de la Cruz Band was performing, talk was neither about climbs nor the music of the performers. It was about life in the U.S. While lifestyle there is more down to earth and not as rewarding, the message I picked up was “We are happier here given the economy in the U.S., the mortgages on devalued properties, loneliness . . . ” Given a choice, given the limitation, settling in the Philippines is still the preference.

Mitch then declared, he valued my point of view then when he was weighing his option to migrate to the U.S. or not. He decided to try his luck in the U.S., short of saying, he wished he didn’t.

Ako’y nag-iisa at walang kasama di ko Makita ang ating pag-asa
Ang himig natin ang inyong awitin upang tayo’y magsama-sama sa langit ng pag-asa
Ako’y may kaibigan at s’ya’y nahihirapan handa na ba kayong lahat upang s’ya’y tulungan
Ang himig natin ang inyong awitin upang tayo’y magsama-sama sa langit ng pag-asa
Ang himig natin inyong awitin ang himig natin inyong awitin ang himig natin inyong awitin . . .

Listening to the lyrics to Ang Himig Natin sang live by Pepe Smith, I could not relate to the message of the song, “I do not see hope. Let us help our associates.” Because while working here and have been living comfortably I sensed I could not help. The circumstances are beyond control.

At that point, I wished I was listening to another Pinoy folk singer Florante siniging Handog, “Tatanda at lilipas din ako Nguni't mayroong awiting Iiwanan sa inyong ala-ala Dahil, minsan, tayo'y nagkasama.”

5 June 2010

Voting 2010

Voting for the Presidential, National, and local elections using automation in Miriam is chaotic and exhausting.

1. First you must know your cluster and precinct number.
2. Fill in a small form for sequence and verification.
3. Fall in line to get the form signed.
4. Move to the next line to enter the voting precinct.
5. Enter the hall, proceed to your cluster and fall in line.
6. Secure your ballot:
1. Present your slip
2. Locate Cluster, Precinct, Seguence at the Master List
3. Sign
4. Secure your ballot
5. Wait for a vacant table
7. Fill in your ballot
1. Present ballot for PCOS scanning.  Wait for verification.
2. Have your finger marked
3. Thumbmark beside your name in the master list
8. Thank the staff

We were further delayed as the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) in my cluster malfunctioned. So line did not move for about 2 hours. In the afternoon, the voters now have a better knowledge on the steps to follow. With less people in the center and the staff better familiar with the operations, the lines moved faster.

Bring hydration, sunblock, cell and pen and lots of patience. Reference card issued by candidates on cluster and precinct number is helpful. So are the volunteers from the nearby schools. Do not take for granted process management. It is the career of the future.

To cast my vote for 15 national candidates, 9 local candidates, I filled in my ballot in less than 4 minutes but lined up for about 7 hours. May my candidates appreciate what I have to go through to earn the people's mandate. The least that I expect from them, serve the greater interest of the public.

Posted while in line for 5 hours to enter the precinct 10 May 2010

Joy in a Calesa Ride

Joy ride is a favorite past time in my hometown in the 70’s where the calesa is the main mode of transport to go around town in Tuguegarao. The kutsero steers us to the four corners of the town, Horno and the Cathedral in the East, St Louis in the South, St Paul and Ermita in the West and Cagayan High School in the far North. In between, we pass through Kalye Komersyo and the Town Hall. 30 minutes and a few centavos (25 or 50 centavos) in a slow calesa are all it takes to swing around town. There is no definite destination except to experience the joy of riding of seeing landmarks in a company of friends passing time in a relatively small town.

The same joy evoked in this calesa ride decades ago was my intention in riding the LRT from Balintawak to Monumento in EDSA. The metro train segment was launched this Holy Week as part of the 360 degree government project to close in Metro Manila loop connecting Monumento to Quiapo to EDSA via Taft and to West Avenue via EDSA. For P 15.0 I viewed in an elevated platform for the 1st time North Luzon Expressway, Caloocan, Malabon and to certain extent the skyscrapers in Roxas Boulevard at the extreme East. The joy was short lived as it was only a 5 minute ride for a 3-4 kilometer stretch. But the thrill that lingered was excitement of seeing familiar objects in a new light and being one of the 1st to do so. The pleasure of a ride whether in a small town or in a highly populated city was pretty much the same.

Photos lifted from the web.

Joy in a Calesa Ride

Joy ride is a favorite past time in my hometown in the 70’s where the calesa is the main mode of transport to go around town in Tuguegarao. The kutsero steers us to the four corners of the town, Horno and the Cathedral in the East, St Louis in the South, St Paul and Ermita in the West and Cagayan High School in the far North. In between, we pass through Kalye Komersyo and the Town Hall. 30 minutes and a few centavos (25 or 50 centavos) in a slow calesa are all it takes to swing around town. There is no definite destination except to experience the joy of riding of seeing landmarks in a company of friends passing time in a relatively small town.

The same joy evoked in this calesa ride decades ago was my intention in riding the LRT from Balintawak to Monumento in EDSA. The metro train segment was launched this Holy Week as part of the 360 degree government project to close in Metro Manila loop connecting Monumento to Quiapo to EDSA via Taft and to West Avenue via EDSA. For P 15.0 I viewed in an elevated platform for the 1st time North Luzon Expressway, Caloocan, Malabon and to certain extent the skyscrapers in Roxas Boulevard at the extreme East. The joy was short lived as it was only a 5 minute ride for a 3-4 kilometer stretch. But the thrill that lingered was excitement of seeing familiar objects in a new light and being one of the 1st to do so. The pleasure of a ride whether in a small town or in a highly populated city was pretty much the same.

Photos lifted from the web.

Election Fever

We are an abundant nation if you notice the Zero Operational Excellence prevalent in Metro Manila's postering and streamer placement activities for the 10 May election. Resources are not scarce if you equate it at the rate materials and labor are wasted wantonly.

• Manpower posts and pastes materials on the walls. Minutes later authorities scrape and tear them down. Later on more manpower plasters in another batch of posters, then authorities tear them down.
• Today, blue streamers hang across two electric posts. In the evening the colors change to red.
• On 10 May, thousands of sample ballots will litter the polling places. Not considering still the thousands of ballots in jumbo format wasted for wrong shading and incorrect number of entries.

Being kind to mother earth also means optimum use of limited resources. Makes one wonder, whose resources are drained during this election period.