Pusong Gala

Sabi ko dati, kahit marami ang pwedeng pasyalan dito sa Dubai, hindi rin nakaka-inspired ang gumala kung wala ka naman kasama o kung wala kang pera. Mas nakakalulungkot ang walang makakasama kasi ang pera pwede mong utangin o hiramin pero ang makakayag ay hindi katulad ng damit sa sampayan ng pwede mong hablutin kahit anong oras o softdrinks sa ref na pwede mong laklakin kung ikaw eh nauuhaw. Pinakamalungkot, yun mawalan ka ng pareho.

Kahapon, nawalan kami ng internet connection, pati tubig na pampaligo. Ewan kung sinadya kaya nawalan ako ng choice kung hindi ang lumabas ng bahay para magpalipas ng oras kahit na hindi pa nagshoshower. Tamang opening din pala ng Dubai Mall, kaya hayun, kinain ko ang mga sinabi ko ng hindi ako maglilibot nang mag-isa. Nakisabay ako sa pagbubukas ng pinakamalaking mall sa buong mundo. As usual, naglakad na naman ko ng pagkahaba haba para lang mapuntahan ang nasabing mall. Along the way, marami pa akong ibang namasdan. Heto nga pala ang mga pictures kuha ko sa mall, pati na rin yung iba ko pang nakunan habang naglalakad:

Ito ang Central Business District ng Dubai, ang Sheik Zayed Road. ____________________________________________________________________________

Ito naman ang Dubai World Trade Center Building. ____________________________________________________________________________
Ito ang twin buildings ng Emirates Tower, the right tower is currently the 16th tallest in the world. ____________________________________________________________________________
Ito ang pinakamataas na istruktura sa buong mundo, ang Burj Dubai. ____________________________________________________________________________
The entrance to and the Dubai Mall's Grand Atrium. ____________________________________________________________________________

Shopping paradise, over 70 luxury shops and 500 other retailers. ____________________________________________________________________________

The world's biggest indoor gold market with over 200 gold and jewellery retailers. ____________________________________________________________________________
An Olympic size Ice Skating Rink with stadium seats, the first in Dubai. ____________________________________________________________________________
The world's largest aquarium with over 22,000 aquatic species of marine animals. ____________________________________________________________________________

The Dubai Mall views, by night. ____________________________________________________________________________

Kagat Dila

Kahapon, habang pinag-pipiyestahan ko nung tanghalian ang bahaw mula sa kagabing sinaing, kasabay ang dalawang piraso ng pritong porkchop, NAKAGAT KO ANG DILA KO!!

SUGATANG DILA
Aray! Dangan kasi ay makunat ang lintik na porkchop (matanda siguro yung baboy) kaya naman di pa man ako nakakarami ng subo ay tumigil na ako sa pagngata dahil na rin sa laki at hapdi ng sugat ng aking tinamo mula sa pagkakakagat. Malaki ang sugat at madugo. Kung itutuloy ko pa ang pagkain, malamang eh dinuguan na ang aking malalasahan dahil sa di maampat na pagdurugo. Kumuha ako ng panyo at binasa ko ng malamig na tubig saka ko inipit ang sugat sa aking dila, ilan minuto pa ay tumigil na ang pagdurugo nito at wala na rin akong malasahan malansa sa aking bibig.

MADUGONG USAPAN

Malansa kasi ang dugo ng tao. Ewan, nakakasuka! Alam ko kasi pag ang dugo ay galing sa tao, iba ang amoy at lasa. Nakakain na ako ng dugo ng manok at baboy sa mga lutuing bahay. At nung bata naman ako, di yata matatapos ang isang araw na hindi dumudugo ang ilong ko lalo sa mga panahon na tag-init. Hindi ko alam kung bakit palaging nangyayari yun sa akin nung bata pa ako, hindi ko na nakuhang magpatingin pa sa doktor dahil na rin sa kawalan ng pera. Bangungot ang araw araw na dumudugo ang ilong ko, daig ko pa ang nireregla, kasi ang regla hindi mo nalalasahan, pero pag galing sa ilong, nalululon mo pa siya. Sabi kasi dati, pag dumudugo ang ilong mo, itatas mo daw ang ulo mo para tumigil. Kaso ang dugo ay napupunta sa lalamunan kaya naman at doon siya naiipon. Pag tumigil na ang pagdugo, malalasahan ko ang dugo na naipon sa aking lalamunan. Malansa at nakakasuka. Pilit ko siyang ilalabas sa pamamagitan ng pagdahak. Bangungot talaga yun para sa akin, ang ilabas ang sarili mong dugo na buo buo na para bang yung dugo ng manok na itinitinda sa tabi tabi. Salamat na lang at nawala na ang ganun pangyayari mula ng mag high school ako.

MISSING ME?

Balik tayo sa nakagat kong dila, ang sabi ng kaibigan ko, baka raw may NAKAALALA sa akin. Hmmm. oks naman pala eh, sa isip ko, at least may nakaalala sa akin kahit pa muntik lang naman na matanggal ang piraso ng aking dila. Pero sino? Yung pamilya ko kaya sa Pinas na naaalala ako tuwing katapusan ng buwan? Yung mga kaibigan ko kaya sa Maynila na nagtext sa akin kahapon na gumimik daw sila sa videoke bilang holloween gimmick? Yun kayang mga nalungkot dahil nakabasa ng blogs ko at nalaman na wala na akong trabaho? Baka naman yung mga natuwa sa galak at nalaman na wala na akong trabaho? Yun kayang mga taong iniwan at kinalimutan ko? Wala ang akong ideya kung sino pero marami. Marami kasi dati ang nagmamahal sa akin pero binalewala ko at pinili kong mamuhay ng malayo sa kanilang paningin, pagkalinga at pagmamahal.

Kung nakagat ko man ang dila ko dahil nga may nakaalala sa akin, pinapatunayan ba nito na kahit ako ay tumalikod at lumimot, sila ay nandiyan pa rin handang dumamay kahit sa diwa at panaginip lamang. Pwede ko naman makagat ang dila ko ng hindi gaanong masakit at malalim, siguro kaya ay sabay sabay silang nakaalala sa akin. Masakit pero kung totoo ang kasabihan na yan, nakakatuwa na rin isipin. May nagmamahal pa pala sa akin.

Such a Lovely Place, Such a Lonely Place

A lot of Filipinos are still dying to get to Dubai, despite government's implementation of a more costly and strict visa and labor rules. Some would even sell their properties or mortgage their lands back home for a chance to work in Dubai. And why not? Dubai is probably one of the few places in the world where the global financial crunch is hardly felt. The lucrative construction and property business is making the night day and transforming the once all-sand city into an ultra modern oasis of soaring skyscrapers, magnificent artificial islands and center of entertainment, cultural, shopping and business activities.

Dubai is fast becoming a tourist's haven, just as what the government has wanted. Ten million arrivals in two years time, ambitious! But very achievable considering Dubai's current attractions and superlative offerings. Guiness should place an ofice here. Dubai is moving the earth to the seas and the seas inside the sprawling desert lands. Handsomely insane and ridiculously genius! That what makes Dubai different and lovely.

As development, at its grandest scale and scope, continue to shape and transform Dubai, thousand of jobs is also something that will not cease to continue. And that is what attracts thousand of Filipinos to leave their homes and their hearts for a piece of gold in the desert. The truth just hurts that what a Sales Manager can earn in the Philippines, can be received just as much by an ordinary salesman/saleslady here in Dubai.

But aside from sources of living, Dubai indeed has gone a long way from being a creek-based trading mecca twenty years ago. Now, it stands in the forefront of sustainable and landscaped engineering never to be found elsewhere. It is a newly built city founded on a resilient conservative culture. An amazing feat considering that modernity usually contradict the very source of Dubai's existence. But here it blends well and the result is an amazing kaleidoscope of people, buildings, nature and life.

But while a lot of people back home wishes to set their feet to Dubai with high hopes of landing a better job, one soul in this enticing land of sands, seas and sun is searching for purpose. While everyone else is pretty contended and basking their efforts in their highly prized jobs, he quit without reasons. Despite the immeasurable joys he could find with what surrounds him, he chose to see the minute details of what would make him uncomfortable and incomplete.

The thrilling sights that Dubai has to offer has passed before his eyes. In two days, the world's biggest shopping mall, the Dubai Mall, is opening to public. It would have been exciting to be there when it happens. But what will he do there? Buy clothes? If he does, who will tell him that he has chosen the right clothes. Take a picture of himself? Watch group of people passes by? He had enough of desolation and loneliness. The lovely place that is Dubai, with all its opportunities and wonders, isn't enough to brighten up his cold heart that has long longs for company.

Nakaka Miss..

Kahapon to..

Lumipas na naman ang maghapon, tumanda na naman ako nang isang araw. Pero parang wala akong pinagkatandaan at walang nangyari sa akin.

Habang ang araw ay masigasig na nanununog ng balat ng mga construction workers na kasalukuyang gumagawa ng MRT dito sa Dubai. Sa kakarampot na kita, sila ay nagtitiis para makaipon ng perang pampadala sa pamilya. Akong isang mapalad na nilalang na binabayaran dati para lang tumanghod sa harap ng computer eh heto nakahiga sa loob ng isang malamig na silid nagmumuni muni kung ano ang susunod na hakbang na aking gagawin. Nakakamiss ang opisina sa Pilipinas, minsan magulo, minsan tahimik, minsan may pakain, madalas KKB sa canteen, minsan matrabaho, minsan naman chikahan lang ang inaatupag.

Alas siyete na nang gabi, dinner time na sana, pero wala na naman akong makakasabay na kakain, mas malala, wala rin akong ibang makakain kasi tinamad na akong magluto. Kung nasa Pinas sana ako, wala na akong gagawin at tatawagin na lang ng Nanay ko ang pangalan ko para sabihing, "Anak, luto ang paborito mong saluyot at labong, kumain ka hanggat mainit pa..". Namiss ko naman ang Nanay ko at mga mga luto niya. Pero higit don, yun makasabay ang mga kapatid kong makukulit at maiingay habang kumakain. Dati asar na asar akong kumain na kasabay sila kasi sobrang iingay, kahit puno ang mga bibig, dakdakan nang dakdakan. Pero ngayun narealize ko, mas ok na yun may maingay na kasabay kumain kesa naman kumain ka nang mag-isa sa isang nakakabinging katahimikan.

Lumabas ako ng bahay, gusto kong maaliw kasi maghapon na akong nakakulong sa sarili kong mundo. Naglakad lakad na naman ako sa mga kalye ng Dubai. Pumasok ako sa isang department store para tumingin ng damit pang-winter (as if naman tatagal pa ako hanggang winter). Habang nagsusukat ako ng isang turtle neck na sweatshirt , may kumalabit sa aking likuran. Dati ko palang ka-housemate noong una pa akong pumunta dito sa Dubai. Kumustahan. Kwentuhan. Sabi ko sa kausap ko nagbago na siya. "Oo naman!", wika niya, "siya nga pala kasama ko partner ko.." dagdag niya. Napaisip ako don, partner? Lawyer na ba siya? Lumapit ang kanyang kasama, isang babae halos

kasukat niya. Okay. Bumati naman ako. Nabago na nga siya. Babae dati, tomboy na ngayun. Pero nainggit ako. Hindi dahil gusto ko rin ng tomboy. Nainggit ako kasi masaya sila. Samantalang ako na "Dude of Distraction" nga pero wala namang pumapansin. Walang nagmamahal. Walang gustong makipag-usap. Namiss ko tuloy yung kaunti kong frieds sa Pinas. Kahit papaano, may nakakaintindi rin sa akin, nakakasakay sa mga trip ko, nakakaunawa sa mga gusto ko. Dito kasi wala.

Mahaba haba na rina ng aking nalakad. Higit isang oras na rin akong nag walkathon sa maalikabok na kalsada ng Dubai. Sa dinami damin ng mga bagong gusaling kasalukuyang itinatayo ngayun dito, napatingin ako sa isang apartment unit ng isang lumang gusali sa tapat ng aking binabaybay na eskinita. Syet! Bakit ka nagpakita sa akin. Hindi ka na naawa. Sobrang dami na ng kalungkutan sa puso ko, dumagdag ka pa. Bakit. Ang dami kong tanong na walang question mark.

Marahil Pinoy ang nakatira sa naturang apartment unit. Kasi sa hinaba haba ang nilakad ko at sa dinami dami ng gusaling nadaanan ko, ngayun lang ako ng nakikita ng mga kumukutitap at bumubusilak na Christmas lights. Opo ang Christmas light. Senyales na malapit na ang Pasko. Nakakalungkot nga lang isipin na hindi gaanong binibigyang saya ang araw na yan dito kasi ito ay isang Muslim country. Nang makita ko ang mga Christmas lights, lalo akong nalungkot. Hindi ko na sasabihin kung bakit, sobra na, tama na, sariwa pa. Sana kung sa Ayala ako naglalakad ngayun eh nakikita ko sana ang kalsadang punong puno na makukulay na parol at christmas lights. Sana kung nagbus ako eh nakarinig sana ako ng awiting pamasko. Kung nagpunta sana ako sa Megamall eh nakahabol sana ako sa kanilang pre-christmas sale. Linsyak na Christmas light yan, kung hindi sana kita nakita eh hindi ko sana maaalala lahat ng mga pinaggagawa ng tao sa Pinas pag ganitong panahon. Hay,,nakaka miss...

Pagdating ko na bahay, as usual, wala pa rin tao, tinodo ko na ang drama, nagpatugtog ako ng isang Christmas song na tamang mood para sa aking pagdradrama at emo. Heto ang pakinggan niyo.

Tara..Kain Tayo

Kahapon to..

Hapon na naman, hapunan na naman! Hmmm. Hano na naman kaya ang makain? Huwat?! Prito na naman? Kahapon prito, nung isang araw prito din! Lord, purgang purga na ko sa kakain ng prito! Puro cholesterol na ang katawan ko! At nagmamantikta na rin ang mukha ko! Mainit na nga dito sa Dubai, pati sa pagkain, tagtuyot pa rin! Tatapusin ko na ang drama, hindi ako magpriprito ngayun. Pero tinatamad din naman akong magluto. Hay..alam ko na! Bibili ako ng lechon manok!

Lumabas ako ng bahay, naglakad nang kaunti to the right to the right. Ito ang Al Mallah Restaurant, diyan ako bumubili ng lechon manok kapag tinatamad na akong magluto.


At ito ang kanilang kakaibang grill! Sa halip na uling eh, LPG na rin ang gamit! O di ba totyal! Yan ang manok nasa loob, kaunti pa lang ang nakasalang kasi alas singko pa lang nang hapon at kakabukas pa nila. Umorder ako ng isang buo sa halagang higit 300 pesos.

At heto naman ako, nakikinig sa mga kwento mong paulit ulit lang, este sa paghihintay ng aking biniling lechong manok.

Pabalik na ko sa bahay. Nag-aapura kasi tomjones na talaga ko.

Pagdating ko, sandok agad ng rice at binuksan ko ang laman ng mahiwagang supot. Ang daming dararkads ng manok! May kung ano ano pang kasama: May french fries, may tinapay, may garlic sause, may salad? at may pickles pa

So tara! kain tayo! At least ngayun kakain ako nang hindi prito! Pero naisip ko parang prito rin kaya to, wala lang mantika pero tuyot pa rin! Di bale, at least hindi ako nabwisit sa kakaprito na kadalasan ay mahirap gawin kasi tumitilamsik ang mantika, ang sakit kayang tamaan nun!

Pagkatapos kong lantakan ang kawawang manok, parang nasobrahan yata ako nang kain! Pumunta ako ng banyo, tsinek ko ang katawan ko kung tumataba na ba ko talaga sa kakakain at sa kakakain ng prito. Hmmmm, ok pa naman. Ganahan ka pa kayang kumain? Hahaha.

Maagang Halloween

Kagabi, mag-aalas otso na pero wala pa rin akong kasama sa bahay. Pauwi pa lang marahil ang aking mga kasambahay buhat sa kanilang mga trabaho. Dangan kasi'y wala akong pasok kaya maghapon lang akong nakakulong sa bahay. Nakakainip. Nakakasorya. Naubos na lang ang oras ko sa kung anu anong bagay: kakalaro kay teddy bear; kakapiris ng nakakabwisit na surot; kakakulangot; kakatambay sa aming veranda habang nakatingin sa malayo, nag-iisip kung ano kaya ang aking ginagawa sana kung ako eh nasa Pinas kasama ang aking pamilya.

Buong maghapon ang lumipas nang hindi ko man lang naiyapak ang aking paa sa labas ng aming paraisong kurtina. Isang maliit na ilaw lang ang nakasindi sa aming kwarto na para bang nagsasabing "patayin mo na ako nang wala ka nang makita.." Makulimlim ang paligid ng silid. Malamig. Tahimik. Ako'y nag-iisa dahil wala akong kasama. Pero ramdam ko sa aking puso ang higit na kalungkutan dahil alam kong kahil lumabas ako ng aming bahay eh wala rin naman ako maaaring makasama dahil wala naman akong kaibigan dito sa Dubai.

Alam kong malapit na akong magMMK moment na naman kaya nagpasya akong magliwaliw at maglakad lakad sa pinakamalapit na mall. Madalang din ang tao sa mall, siguro kasi ay unang araw ng linggo at kakatapos lang ng weekend. Mahaba pa ang gabi. Wala akong maisip na matatambayan o mapaglilibangan man lang nang mag-isa. Nagpasya akong manuod na lang ng sine, tutal matagal tagal na rin naman akong hindi nakakapanuod. Hindi kagandahan ang mga palabas pero wala akong choice tutal nandon na rin lang ako. Bumili ako ng tiket para sa pelikulang Boogeyman 2 (2007 pa ito pero ngayun ipinalabas sa Dubai). Alam kong horror movie 'to kasi parang napanuod ko yata ang part 1 nire sa Megamall. Anyway eh malapit naman na ang Holloween so okey lang na takutin ko ang sarili ko paminsan minsan.

Limang minuto na ang itinatakbo ng pelikula nang ako ay pumasok. Maliit lang ang sinehan pero sobrang dilim. Matagal akong nakatayo sa likurang bahagi habang nag-aantay ako ng maliwanag na eksena para makahanap ng mauupuan. Nang lumiwanag ang paligid, tumambas sa akin ang halos bakanteng upuan. Walang tao sa loob! At manunuod ako ng horror film nang mag-isa! Nalungkot ako at natakot. Hindi dahil nakakatakot ang palabas kundi dahil wala man lang akong kasamang matatakot sa tuwing may eksenang papatayin ng Boogeyman ang mga bida sa pelikula. Umupo ako sa gitna ng sinehan. Habang nanonood akong mag-isa, balot ako ng lamig at kaba, kasi baka kako may taong nanunuod sa akin sa aking kaliwa, sa kanan pati na sa aking likuran. Baka kaso bigla na lang akong saksakin at iwanang duguan sa loob ng sinehan. Walang kamalay malay at wala nang buhay.

Balisa akong nanuod, naramdahan ko talaga ang takot sa puso ko. Gusto ko na agad matapos ang palabas para ako'y makasulyap ng liwanag at konting init dahil talaga naman malamig sa loob. Pagkatapos ng pelikula, derecho akong umuwi ng bahay, humiga at muling tumingala sa makulimlim na ilaw, gustong pumatak ng aking mga luha. Kulang dalawang oras din akong nawala sa bahay pero wala pa rin ni isa ang dumating. Wala man lang makausap. Walang mapagbidahan ng aking panunuod ng sineng mag-isa. Malalim ang aking mga buntong hininga pero hungkag ang aking diwa. Bigla kong namiss ang pamilya at mga kaibigan ko sa Pinas.

Ilang linggo pa bago ang halloween pero parang ngayun pa lang eh ramdam ko na ang lungkot at takot. Takot na palaging mag-isa. Takot na masiraan ng ulo dahil sa kawalan ng makakausap.

This Proud, Annoying Yet Admirable Race

They represent the world's second most populous country, the world's biggest movie industry and the world's second fastest growing economy. Who would have thought that I am actually talking of India? Yes, believe it! It's India, the nation whose people have not known to us aside from being opportunist lenders of whatever and whose smell stinks like a spicy curry.

Indian peeople stinks because of all the spices

they eat like onions and curry.

in fact they're really clean people.

Just bear with it and the smell will go away.

TRIVIA OF DOMINION

Of UAE's 3.6 millions expatriates in 2007, which comprises 81% of its total population, Indians account for nearly 42% of the total foreign labor force, proudly outnumbering the presence of our Kababayans. If Pinoys are said to be found everywhere in Dubai like Date Palms standing elegantly along its tree-lined boulevards, the Indians are found anywhere like sweeping desert sands to which Dubai's mighty structures are built.

TALES OF SLAVERY
But here's where the difference is coming, 65% of Indians in the UAE are blue collar wokers. They mostly serve as household helpers, construction workers, street cleaners and all other unimaginable jobs that a Pinoy will not be willing to do. They are the foot soldies of Dubai's globalization who toil in the hope their labor will benefit their family from the money they send back home. Theirs are stories of faceless men and women who receive minimal wage, who are forced to work round the clock and who live in labor camps and seedy apartments. The remittances which the government uses to build homes and schools across the country while helping to reduce poverty in villages, fall into their slaved hands and come at a high price.

THEIR LUCK MY MISFORTUNE
Here's the good news. A third of them are now engaged in the growing service sectors and knowledged based industry. Educated Indian professionals in Dubai are now filling up positions in the office from entry level staffs up to middle management. That is when they become so annoying. Indians are quite different from us Filipinos. They are hostile not hospitable. They exude too much confidence. When they know about something, though very little of it, they pretend and act as if they know everything. They are opportunist, big deal insecured and selfish.

I am not trying to be racist here, but two of the most unwanted and unfavorable decisions that I had to make in my entire life were courtesy of these people. I'm talking about the two jobs that I have lost here in Dubai. Never mind the foul odor that serves their perfume, there are just something in them that is difficult to deal with. They are hard to please. They think they are the best and they view us not as allies but as competitors who would steal their positions. It's their attitude that seems to contradict mine. They might just as well feel the same way for me but nonetheless their reputations would speak for my reasons.

THE OTHER SIDE
But one thing that I admire of Indian people is how they value their culture and traditions. They bring it with them where ever their feet takes them. In Dubai where most of our female Kababayans almost bare their flesh in their skimpy shorts and tight sandos, rarely you can see an Indian women dress in such kind of way. They feel no shame wearing their traditional dresses in the office, in church, in malls and when they are eating outside with the rest of the family. That is truly something commendable of them. Well, it's not really that I am asking our female Kabayans to sport their baro at saya or kimonas, just some decency in as far as dress code is concerned. Convinience and comfortability is good, in your home yes, but not in someone else.

AMBIVALENCE

For the final stretch of this post, I will not be rude and unfair enough to suggest that Indians should go to hell. India, like all other nations in the world including our beloved Philipines are full of contradictions. Here you can meet the most polite and the most rude of them. Here you can witness how big is the gap between the standard of living of the educated ones and the people who only have their hearts and hand to depend on. Short to say, every country has its ups and downs, strengths and flaws. Diversity makes us unique. And that uniqueness is something for us to appreciate and learn from.

Pinoy sa Likod ng Kurtina

Over a thousand Filipinos arrive in Dubai every month.

And why not? Literally, the sun shines here all year round; prosperity is in the air; and it's a place where people have reasons to dream of waking up in the morning as millionaires or with kilos of gold on their lap!

Yun nga lang, habang hindi pa nangyayari yun, iba ang nakikita ng maraming Pinoy pagdilat nila sa umaga --- kurtina!

Betcha by golly wow! Paano ko ie-explain to fascinated Pinoys back home our living condition here!

Noong una akala ko isolated cases. But with the skyrocketing apartment rents in this City of Gold , such conditions are becoming the norm.

Sideways...sidesteps
Hindi yan dance step. That's the latest move ngayon sa mga sharing flats. Sa sobrang liit ng space, patagilid ang galaw. Kaya minsan, mga ka-flatmates, hindi na magkakitaan. "Hoy, where have you been, ba? Hindi ka na umuuwi sa flat!" Kasi nga lagi silang naka-sideview!

Warning: Smoking is dangerous to your room.
Hindi health reasons ang dahilan bakit bawal magyosi, no! Ang styrofoam kuya!

Yes, naunahan ng Pinoy ang IKEA sa innovation na yan --- Yes, styrofoam walls, styrofoam doors, styrofoam room. Di ba nga naman, styrofoam keeps you fresh! Para kang gulay, o kaya ice candy. Pero siguro mas feel mo minsan na 'tuna' ka, o di kaya 'sirena' kung feel mong si Marian ka.

"Ate, di ba fire hazard yan?" "Anong fire ka dyan? Rent ang mas nakakamatay dito!"
"Illegal ang partions sa Dubai . At least ang styrofoam, pag nagkahulihan, mabilis sa baklasan. Gets mo?!!!" "Yes, Ate."

Therefore, 'no smoking': ang sirena baka maging daing!

Burj Al 'Cupboards'
Hindi lang Emaar Properties ang may 'K' na magtayo ng skyscrapers? Haven't we heard, the Philippines is a major supplier of architects in Dubai ? In other words, nasa dugo natin yan! Kaya ba ng Arabong gumawa ng rooms out of cupboards, luggages and shoe boxes?

Dati sa airport lang bida ang mga luggages, ngayon multi-purpose na: dividers na rin sila --- para ang isang kwarto maging lima !

Pampataas sila sa mga cupboards kasama ng mga shoe boxes na pinaka-antenna. Siyempre, the taller the better --- you keep your neighbor's eyes away.

Now Showing
Pagpasok ko ng flat, akala ko sinehan, ang daming kurtina. Mga kuarto pala. Pero ang cute, cinematic!!! Parang barangay, complete with eskinitas. Kada bukas ng telon, parang movie --- sari-saring life. May natutulog, may nag-eemote, may nka-curlers, may nakasimangot. Sa panlimang kurtina, may nag-totong-its, sa pang-anim, may naggugupit.

Ang gandang movie, di ba? "Ang Pinoy sa Likod ng Kurtina!" Paraisong Kurtina Ayyy! Our Paraisong Kurtina. It can make you laugh, it can make you cry.

Be proud of our Paraisong Kurtina.
It exists because we'd rather send our money home than spend more for our comfort. Within its walls, lies our desire for a little privacy, our groans, our tears, our dreams, our struggle for some little savings. My curtain says a lot. It says, "I have saved again, inay; I'll be able to send money next month."

O ano? Dream mo pa bang pumunta ng Dubai ????

Fried of Dubai

Where else in the world can you get a job that pays you bigtime yet you won’t do anything but sit your ass from sunup to sundown? Well, I am one less lucky to get one here in Dubai, the city of gold and of golden opportunities. Sadly, Dubai is not a place you can call home, it is bare of any warmth and hospitality, a salient antithesis to its soul- grabbing and fun-stealing summer temperature. It Is not where you can dress up anyway you want or stay in the comforts of the bathroom for as long as you want. It is not where you can watch TV until your eyes get sore or afford to eat the food that you have come to love back home. Time and resources in Dubai are not boundless. Convenience is a necessity. Life revolves almost in an instant. Life circles usually, in a frying pan!

Aside from time which is mostly pooped commuting and battling out relentless road congestion, the impracticality to rent your own room or cook your favorite traditional dishes makes life here partly communal, restricted in some sense and rather dry and droning. Just enough to leave you musing about life back home. How sweet it is to be penniless yet happy and close to your loved ones. How nice it is to eat your favorite foods at its freshest state and at its cheapest cost. Fried food is making me sick here, canned goods and instant noodles too. If only I have more time and the tolerance to stand besides the burner while crooning my heart’s anthem, then maybe, I would find something else better on our dining table instead of just fried egg, fried hotdog, fried fish, friend pork, fried chicken, friend meatloaf, etc. Name it, we have almost fried everything!

For many Filipinos, culinary activities aren’t that much of priority here in Dubai. Said before, though food is a necessity, it also equates to practicality and convenience. In simple language, we cook and eat not because it’s a passion, but because we need to make it through. Save for weekends where we get the chance to cook our choice, normally the weekdays menu are those quick and instant.

But last night, damned all the odds and literally against time and space, I cooked my favorite sinigang na baboy for a change. It took me more than two hours to have it all prepared and ready for dinner. At past ten in the evening, I was all alone in our flat’s veranda snubbing all the sweat coming out of my pores. I was having a steamy diner of rice soaked in sour soup of pork and vegetables. Sinigang na baboy with a twist, instead of tamarind powder, I used calamansi powder and instead of kangkong, I topped it with green lettuce. Gabi made the soup a little viscous and the string beans added some tender bites to chew. I was full in minutes and was ready to be knocked off. Suddenly. I remembered my mother, she cooks the best sinigang in our house. If only she’s here, then probably I won’t have to deal with fried foods more often.

Dubai is rich with oil, petrol that is. it is where Dubai is getting all the money to built all those superlatives infrastructure, it runs the economy. But for us ordinary residents, cooking oil matters more. It aids cooking our usual food that runs our stomach. If I will compare Dubai and the Philippines to a food, obviously I will say Dubai is a fried stuff, quick, dry, hot, oily and less tasting. The Philippines, of course, smells like kare-kare, “syet ang daming sangkap, masarap, malaman, malasa, magulay, masarsa, may sawsawan pa”. However, “mas makakaipon ka kung prito lang prito, hindi ganung magastos at mas malaki ang savings”. So for now, tiis muna sa pagpriprito, tiis muna sa Dubai.

Nothing Beats Dubai (P-1)

If you think that the architectural and engineering expansion in Dubai is over, oh well think again. A slew of new projects are on the table and in the works as we speak, and this time, the projects have gone bigger, better, bolder and weirder. Take a look:

The "cloud' is a speculative design for a resort city elevated 300 metres in the air above dubai and supported on slanting legs resembling rain. it is designed by nadim karam of lebanese architect atelier hapsitus. it is a horizontal presence on an elevated platform, an antithesis to the sum of skyscrapers spreading over the entire region.

ha hadid' "dancing towers" are planned to be located in dubai's business bay development area. the plan consists of three buildings which rise up from the ground bending and intertwining with each other to create fluid animation of the forms.


The "pixel tower" by light architecture is on the palm jebel ali overlooking the lagoon and bay. the building's twisted core gives it a light and flexible appearance. the 45 degree twist allows the uppermost apartments to have optimal views, despite the buildings footprint.

The "infinity tower" is designed by skidmore owings and merrill and is located directly on dubai's waterfront. when complete it will be the world's tallest tower to feature a 90-degree twist. it will be used for luxury apartments and services, with all sides of the building featuring optimal views. the building's interior structure will feature a a concrete column, shaped like a helix. each floor has a slight 1.2 degree twist to compose the full 90 degrees.

madrid's a-cero architects led by joaquin torres has designed a new tower for the city of dubai. "the wave tower" is a high-rise proposed to be installed on the city's waterfront, the first skyscraper to do so. the tall tower, which appears to float in the sea, is connected to land by a gently curved bridge which mimics the waves ofthe gulf sea. the building is under development and will be in the madiant al arab district. it will stand at 370 meters and have 92 floors wrapped in a double skin glass facade.


real estate mogul donald trump is also part of the architectural plans of dubai, along with nakheel hotels he plans to build a 255 meter "trump hotel" on a man-made island in dubai. with 60 stories, the 5 star hotel will also house some luxury apartments. the building has been designed by atkins architects.


" Opus" is another dubai building designed by british architect zaha hadid. the 235 million GBP development was designed for the business bay for omniyat properties. it stands at 20 stories located next to the towering burj dubai. hadid's concept was to have the building open onto the city, framing the views. it is currently underdevelopment and is planned to be completed by 2010.


"0-14 tower" was designed by resier and umemoto and rur architecture pc along with dubai developer, shahab lutfi. the building was designed for dubai's business bay and features 22 floors covered in a double skin facade that's outermost skin is constructed from 40c, thick perforated concrete. the one meter space between the skins creates a chimney effect, cooling the building.

"'dubai pearl" was originally conceived by the omnix grop in 2002 but has since been taken over by a consortium of investors led by the al fahim group. the 3 billion USD project overlooks the pal jumeriah and covers 1.4 million square metres of the dubai media and technology free zone.


currently awaiting completion, this art deco inspired building will house a hotel and residences. "the burj dubai lake hotel" stands at 306 meters next to the duabi mall and the burj dubai lake.


"dubai towers" is the centerpiece for the large 'lagoons' development. the buildings and the development were all conceived of by TVS. the four towers range in size from 54 to 97 floorsand were inspired by the flames and movement of candlelight.


The "da vinci rotating tower", is one of the most innovative an unique buildings to be built in dubai. the 250 meter tower will allow each floor to rotate freely allowing the building to shift its shape. in between each floor horizontal wind turbines will allow the building to produce energy.