The Vigan of South Cebu : Carcar's Old Spanish Houses

The very famous Balay na Tisa of the Valencia Family.

They say that almost all of the antiques and valuables were sold by the previous owner and heir but a rich relative recovered it and brought the house to its original setting.
The house is open to the public, a must for every local tourist who wants to experience something Spanish.
Carcar's Caro of the Cruxifixion is placed in the house.

This old house is the lone witness of the ownership feud of the various family who at one time or another resides in this house. Presently, the Marcial Family is living here.

Regis Surgical Clinic now occupies the ground floor.

This is the Old Sato Residence converted into a commercial building, it used to housed the local LTO office and a coffee shop. The coffee shop is now a memory, the LTO transferred far from the center of the town.
Now, this remnant of what used to be a beautiful house is home to two appliance stores and a veterinary clinic.

An abandon old Tisa house owned by a branch of the Valencia Family. It's old wooden planks and posts were ransacked by thieves and everything was stolen .

It now stands as ghost of the past, only the vines are keeping it company.

The Lucero family's old relatives still lives in this house but as Carcar progresses, the first floor is now an office arcade from a pharmacy, photoshop and to some boutiques.
The architectural detail is still evident in the windows and balusters.

The home of Carcar's old banking family, the Cui-Marfori. They managed and owned the oldest rural bank in Carcar. The lady of the house, Tita Pilar bakes the meanest cakes and pastries this side of town.











This is the home of the once powerful Noel Clan, in which a member was accused of killing Leon Kilat to pacify the Spaniards in that time.
Apparent neglect of the fragile coral stone walls and the delicate capiz shells of the windows are like screams of the old house to please FIX ME UP!

But if the stomach is also crying for help, ears are deaf to anything else.

Whenever I passby this house, I can hear the laughter of Kapitan Tiago's party in Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, imagining that Padre Damaso, Maria Clara and Crisostomo Ibarra would come out any time.

This old home is owned by Senyorita Anon Noel, a known frugal spinster. Her descendants are trying to restore the house but the blue screen to protect their orchids are way off.

NASTY LITTLE BROWN AMERICAN

The Philippines is a nation of star struck ignoramuses
by Don Pedero
Philippine Star

Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles, who, while vacationing in Manila, had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.

For me, he was the classic epitome of the "crow perched on a carabao," thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive "know it all" attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang.

Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle. The article is entitled "Little Brown Americans." As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:

The next day, I took them on a little city tour and accompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop. They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar).

"God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark
here)!" screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, "At ang
inet-inet pa (and so warm)!

* * *

All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers "drove like they were late for their funerals"; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose.

He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there
was no toilet paper in public toilets ("God, how do you people do
it?" he bewailed); petrified by street children begging while soaking
wet in the rain ("Where are the parents of these kids?" he nagged).

He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the
superhighways ("There should be underground or overhead walkways for
pedestrians! " he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the
disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying
floods! And all these he observed in just one day!

Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to
mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care
because I was really turned off by his arrogance. The good news is,
Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and
give us his side, loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is,
he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.


Nasty's E-Mail

Dear Dero,

My Zen master says, "Never fight fire with fire." So,
I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool
mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering
back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while
you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and
fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.

I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any
point, even after your readers from all over the world e-mailed
in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and
carnival-like.

I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your
Philippines! If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and
Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there
for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame
those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget
that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a "Little Brown
American." I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an
American citizen carrying an American passport!

What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your
country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf
abductions (que barbaridad!) , the Payatas-like downslide of the peso
(eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the "devoid of
conscience" graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on
for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid "Juetengate" and juicy but enraging "Boracay" mansion gossips.


With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell
you frankly, those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are pass?and
leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart. No Apology If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do any-thing about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America,
you have to tell it like it is or you'll never be taken seriously. I have learned to
drop my "Pinoy sugarcoating" because out here, you get nothing done if
you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!

When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants,
slums,potholes, toilets that don't work, garbage, floods, and most of
all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation.

My Zen master says, "One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye." I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manile?s have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all
symptoms of a failing, falling nation!

Suffering A National Karma?

Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?

What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time. Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic
characters of Dr. Jose Rizal... Stonehill... the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...the killers in your (I hought they'd never end!) massacre movies...those cheap, appalling titles of your
movies...those staged "religious miracles" that your naive masses believed...family
men with pushy queridas (mistresses) ...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors.. .your bribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smiling and crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)

What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, the bad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes.
You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are now crying
all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movies wailed out for years and years!



Your Biggest Fault If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. "Ako muna!" seems to be the national mantra.
The trouble is, very few people think for the common good in a deplorable "to each his own kurakot" festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal. You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody else around the world is thinking global!



Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences
around your nipa huts.

Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship. All of you
are in it and it is sinking! Realize your oneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations, and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the
irretrievable depths of despair.

Star-Struck Nation

You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your movie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline- nosed and light-skinned ******** picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas
illusionadas can get away with. They just flash their capped-tooth smiles and
policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes
and customs officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.

Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking a nosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went into politics. It is, as they say, the next best "racket"-there is more money to be made in the politicking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expect these comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them,politics will just be an "act". No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original scripts to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and
your star-struck nation right!

My Zen master says, "Give unto Caesar what is due to Caesar, but keep
Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen to make us laugh." To survive, you must teach your citizenry to say no to three things - no to
drugs, no to stealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now. (Yours is the only country where Mexican soap stars are received like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God
forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being your next president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)

For those artistas who honestly believe that they can make a positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, they must first study law, business and public administration, and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called "Political cience,"
hello?!

Educate Your Masses

Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an
intelligent vote aside from, of course, intelligent candidates. The
University of San Carlos in Cebu City, founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia, and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia.

Education, education, education-that' s what you need in this age of information, information, information.

If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way, the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial.

Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether. The Ideal President I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know.) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J. E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares,

alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon
sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable "Sa amin na 'to!" hullabaloo all over again.

Take an advice from Aling Epang: "Pumili ng matanda, mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay." Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted -so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing
but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At
iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!

Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with
looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors.The tropical sun can play tricks, you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation. Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call-it is the final alarm!

Save the ship while you still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent my penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way I could help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit on their fat,farting butts and get balatos kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers.Now, tell me, who is really nasty?

I Have Made My Decision; So Should You.

My Zen master says, "Life is all about decisions, not choices." I
have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep-
You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not
even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way
of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only
you can help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would
want to help you.



My Zen master says, "You have to fall to learn to rise again." How much lower do you want to go?

Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination, you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing
on the World Wide Web!)

Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng, pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions he received from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters.


Huling hirit:
defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt, place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry, and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)

I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to
come when I'd have to say, "I told you so!" Good luck! (You need it.)

An ex-Filipino,

J. Anastasio

"Nasty"

P. S. My Zen master says, "Vox populi is not always the voice of God."

P. P. S. Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!

P. P. P. S. Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.

P. P. P. P. S. The new Miss America, Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful).

Wait for the girl to say it- don't put words in her mouth!

P. P. P. P. P. S. Mabuhay kayo (SANA)!

P. P. P. P. P. P. S. Sa totoo lang, MAGDUSA KAYONG
LAHAT! (Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!

- Same

* * *
My Short Reply

Dear Nasty,

Thanks for your e-mail. I swear you sort of stole the
words from right under my tongue. Now, I am utterly speechless.

Send my regards to Randy. Wishing you the best.

(first saw this article in bisaya bloggers, nindot nga i-share para sa tanan.)

My Interns, PGI's and fellow MD's

KYAW-KYAW SA CICC UG NI DODONG LEA

Erectile Malfunction Anyone?

GA 2x10
Uploaded by bala1982

QUOTABLES FROM DR. MEREDITH GREY

On Pain:

Maybe we like the pain. Maybe we're wired that way. Because without it, I don't know; maybe we just wouldn't feel real. What's that saying? Why do I keep hitting myself with a hammer? Because it feels so good when I stop.

On Intimacy:

Intimacy is a four syllable word for, "Here's my heart and soul, please grind them into hamburger, and enjoy." It's both desired, and feared. Difficult to live with, and impossible to live without. Intimacy also comes attached to the three R's... relatives, romance, and roommates. There are some things you can't escape. And other things you just don't want to know.

On Growing Up:

I've heard that it's possible to grow up - I've just never met anyone who's actually done it. Without parents to defy, we break the rules we make for ourselves. We throw tantrums when things don't go our way, we whisper secrets with our best friends in the dark, we look for comfort where we can find it, and we hope - against all logic, against all experience. Like children, we never give up hope.....

On Denial:

Sometimes reality has a way of sneaking up and biting us in the ass. And when the dam bursts, all you can do is swim. The world of pretend is a cage, not a cocoon. We can only lie to ourselves for so long. We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world. Head on, guns blazing. De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean. So how do you keep from drowning in it

On Greed:

I have an aunt who whenever she poured anything for you she would say "Say when". My aunt would say "Say when" and of course, we never did. We don't say when because there's something about the possibility, of more. More tequila, more love, more anything. More is better.

On Happiness:

Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. Maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.

On The Real World:

Surgeons are control freaks. With a scalpel in your hand, you feel unstoppable. There's no fear, there's no pain. You're ten-feet tall and bulletproof. And then you leave the OR. And all that perfection, all that beautiful control, just falls to crap.

On Effective Denial:

The key to surviving a surgical internship is denial. We deny that we're tired, we deny that we're scared, we deny how badly we want to succeed. And most importantly, we deny that we're in denial. We only see what we want to see and believe what we want to believe, and it works. We lie to ourselves so much that after a while the lies start to seem like the truth. We deny so much that we can't recognize the truth right in front of our faces.

On Being Alone:

Four hundred years ago, another well-known English guy had an opinion about being alone. John Donne. He thought we were never alone. Of course, it was fancier when he said it. "No man is an island entire unto himself." Boil down that island talk, and he just meant that all anyone needs is someone to step in and let us know we're not alone. And who's to say that someone can't have four legs. Someone to play with or run around with, or just hang out.

On Excess:

When you were a kid, it was Halloween candy. You hid it from your parents and you ate it until you got sick. In college, it was the heavy combo of youth, tequila and well, you know. As a surgeon, you take as much of the good as you can get because it doesn't come around nearly as often as it should. 'Cause good things aren't always what they seem. Too much of anything, even love, is not always a good thing.

On Communication:

Communication. It's the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need.

.

FYI:

Gray's Anatomy is a bulky 2000+++++ page textbook of anatomy used in First Year Medicine. The book is considered the BIBLE in Anatomy, its articles are considered GOSPEL TRUTHS. It used to cost P1,500 during the late 90's but i think its price has trebled now. I never got to own one due to its prohibitive costs. I used to envy my classmates who lugged their Gray's to class as it's considered a medical student's badge.