"Ang Kalesa ni Tatay – Isang Pagpugay " a Manila Travel Page by shintarojon

date written - March 22, 2007)

- went to Embassy of the Union of Myanmar and got my tourist visa!
- tourist visa valid for 3 months
- can stay for one month

Embassy of the Union of Myanmar

Tourist Visa
- passport valid for minimum of six months
- two completed application forms
- 3 recent photographs
- visa fees: US $ 20.00 or PhP 1,100
- normal processing - 3 working days

Location:

8th Floor Gervasia Corporate Centre
132 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village
Makati City
Tel. 893-1944
Fax 892-8866

Email - myanila@mydestiny.net
Working Hours - 0930 to 1600 H
Monday to Friday

===============
Happy Father’s Day
Araw ng mga Ama
(Hulyo 11, 2006)

Tigidig tigidig…hiya!!! ang kalesa ni tatay
Sa bawat palo sa kabayo, bakas ay latay
Subalit anong magagawa, kung ito ang ikinabubuhay
Upang makakain, kahit mumurahing gulay

Paslit pa lamang ako, kutsero na si itay
Hanggang sa huling hininga ng kanyang buhay
Tumanda na rin sa maghapong paghihintay
Pasahero sa Binondo, naubos ng tunay

Subalit ako’y nagsikap, kahit kutsero si itay
Di kasi sapat ang perang kay inay ibinibigay
Dalawang-daan piso isang araw, kung minsan walang bigay
Pagkat mga Tsinoy, sa side-car na lang sumasakay

Bagamat wala na nga ang kutsero kong tatay
Alam kong patuloy pa rin siya sa paglalakbay
Maaring sa akin, ay laging nakasubaybay
Kasama si ina, pasahero niyang kaakbay

At sa araw na ito, bilang isang pagpupugay
Sa aking tatay, na sa akin ay nagbigay buhay
Nais ko lang sariwain, ang hirap na kanyang nilakbay
Upang marating ko at malasap ang tagumpay

jse/june 10, 2006

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calesa picture taken from the internet:
With due respect to the photographer, allow me to thank you for using your picture temporarily without getting first your permission...

will remove it after a week...salamat po

====================================
Reunion of Batch 6 - PIJLC
(date written - June 3, 2006)

Batch 6
10 - Month Intensive Course (June 1997 - February 1998)
Philippine Institute of Japanese Language & Culture (PIJLC)

My Japanese language classmates: (from left to right)

Jon - freelance Japanese language teacher (that's me)
Benz - businessman / Ateneo de Manila M.A student
Mau - interpreter/translator (Japanese company)
Cory - housewife presently living in Tokyo, Japan
Tina - freelance interpreter
Juvy - interpreter/translator (Japanese company)
Tintin - UHI travel agent

Absent:
Andy -
Dean - presently working in USA
Danny - presently working in Kyoto, Japan

I went to Dusit Hotel to meet Ate Tintin in her office and Tina was there already. Juvy was late! Met Cory and her son, ate and her kid at the lobby.By taxi, we went to Sango Master Burger located at the Creekside Mall, Legaspi Village, Makati. Benz came late to the burger shop. Andy sent text messages informing us that she cannot join our reunion due to her sickness.

First time for us to eat this japanese burgers but it was really delicious (totemo oishikatta desu).

Of course, we can't stop laughing, cracking jokes, sharing plans, trying new food, taking photos, etc. but one thing that has not changed is that WE CARE, ADVISE AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS REAL FRIENDS!!!

Kokoro no soko kara, hontou ni doumo arigatou gozaimashita!!! Mata chansu ga areba, aimashou ne!!!

jontaro

likha ni Junilo Santos Espiritu
(Mayo 24, 2006)

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Kapag tinaihan…di-nababahuan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Kapag inihian…di-napapanghian

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Walang imik, sukahan mo man ng sukahan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Kapag may “diarrhea” ka, laging naririyan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Mausukan man ng sigarilyo, di-ka uubuhan

*****

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Kahit alang “seat-cover,” nauupuan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Kahit ilang beses, pwedeng buhusan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Pwedeng gamitin ang tubig ng pinaglabhan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Zonrox man or sabon, naliligayahan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Butas ng pwet mo, kayang panggigilan

*****

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Pagsawaan mo man, di nasasaktan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Posonegro ang matalik na kaibigan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Lahat ng baho mo, kayang pagtiisan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Saksi sa iyong kalaswaan

Mabuti pa ang inodoro…
Di-ka niya kailanman pandidirian

*****

Paano kung ikaw naman ang iputan
Nang pinakamamahal mong kasintahan

Paano kung di mo nalalaman
Naihian ka na pala sa kangkungan

Paano kung puso na, ang masukahan
Malilinis mo pa ba ito, kahit ng tubig-ulan

Paano kung pinaghintay ka at nanindigan
Tapos iiwan ka rin pala, ng walang pakundangan

Kaya ko pa ba maging isang nilalang
Sana naging INODORO ako, kaluluway di-nasasaktan

(likhang-tula ni jse habang umuulan at di-dumudumi-05/24/06)

Mabuhay Islands Philippines

(date written: Dec. 13, 2003)

Babalik ka rin!!! (You will return again!!!) No matter wherever you are…babalik ka rin! A Manila-born living for almost 28 years(6 years abroad) in the Islands Philippines cannot argue that there is really no place like home!

Manila---the capital city which is too populated and polluted! Shanties, homeless people, children begging for a piece of cents, crime destination of soul-less criminal, the nest of low-class prostitutes, the center-eye for kidnap-for-ransom and whatever you say, still---this is Manila---my hometown!

Manila is the land of hope and dreams for local people living in the provinces. It is also where business is being transacted with international community partner. Interesting people enriched with Asian and Western cultural values can be seen here not to mention the smile, warm and hospitality of the Filipinos.

If you want to have a short visit in Manila---please contact me and I would love to help you as long as I can. You may also stay in my house before visiting historical places and beaches in the Philippines.