Tuesday, May 12, 2009

MMDA Village

If you take the C-5 road from UP and go towards the Blue Ridge area you will see the same sight that I snapped on my camera – the MMDA village on both sides of the highway.


Before you reach the Quirino Labor Hospital you will see this spectacle of houses sporting the now-familiar MMDA pink and blue and white. These houses, of course, overlook the City of Marikina where the famous Chairman resides.

He is possibly so enamored by these colors to the extent that even urinals, road signs, pedestrian foot bridges and what-have-you sport the same theme. It is no secret that Chairman BF dreams of marching to MalacaƱang in 2010.

My cousin says, “OK lang, wala namang masama sa mangarap.” I am starting to wonder whether the good Chairman will go to great lengths to paint the whole country in pinks and blues, if and when he does get to the Palace.

I cannot help but ask myself – why appear to be in the pink of health when you are really experiencing the blues. Sounds like a paradox – something that I would rather not live with.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Staying In Shape

Here's a few healthy tips (that I picked up from another site) to stay in shape . These are very simple and down-to-earth, but often seen as cumbersome and out-of-this-world when put into practice.

The first is the most difficult - PORTION CONTROL. Just look around when you go to an eat-all-you-can joint. It's really and truly eat-all-you-can-until-you-drop, para hindi lugi ang ibabayad. Instead, you should just take a reasonable amount and don't overeat. Ano kaya ang "reasonable" amount?

Second, you have to EAT SLOWLY. Take your time to chew your food slowly so you are less likely to overeat. Slow down and enjoy the food. Is this possible at Kamay Kainan?

Third, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE FOOD, DON'T EAT IT. Sounds silly? Maybe, but don't we tend to eat whatever is served? So if we only eat what we really like, then this may cut down our food intake, di ba?

Fourth, DON'T PARK CLOSE TO THE FOOD JOINT. Enjoy walking the few hundred meters from the car to Kamayan. See the wonders that this can do to your appetite and to your digestion.

Fifth, SWITCH IT UP. Kung araw-araw Jolibee, saan tayo pupulutin? Di ba variety is the spice of life? Di naman puwedeng caviar araw-araw. Try and eat new types of food - this is good for your digestion.

Sixth, EAT AS MUCH FRESH FOOD AS POSSIBLE. Processed food and packaged food almost always have higher amounts of sodium and other chemical or synthetic ingredients that will do no good for our body.

I notice that many older people tend to do many of these things. I always try to eat in moderation so at least I live with the first item. For me, the most difficult is eating slowly and chewing food thoroughly. But I am learning.