Un-disciplining our kids

PARENTS, DO YOU ALLOW THIS?

Do you allow your kids to laze in public seats playing angry birds on your or their iPhones?

I see a growing number of young children who have not a care in the world but the game they play. I was in DFA last week and there were a lot of kids waiting, being literally dragged by their parents because their are so engrossed in whatever consul their eyes were glued on. This picture of a girl is in a church lobby. The man besid her is trying to talk to her but she is non-responsive. (I heard her other siblings are not so respectful to elders)

What are the parents allowing their children to become?

When I was young, my parents will not allow any of us to be unproductive. Oh, we can play. We are encouraged to have sport, music or some hobby. We can make a mess but they want us to learn and have an output. My siblings and I played a lot and made a mess of the living room a lot. My mother was fine by that as long as we moved our bodies and build our creativity. I spend countless hours in my room scrap booking or beading but that was ok as long as I home my creativity.

These games on consul are fine. They're fun too but they keep oneself isolated in the midst of a crowd. Besides, it's lack of social etiquette. When they grow up, they'll still be glued to a gadget and not much on socialization and manners. And these kids will think it's ok because their parents allowed them to in the first place.

For the parents, they are spoiling their children this way because they can't baby sit them well. True or false? Giving them your iPhone or android to play with until all hours is not love. It's opposite. It's like hating to deal with the problem so you let the gadget handle them. Well, newsflash. These gadgets will handle them to social decline.

So, parental tip. Give them time to play with the iPhone/cellphone/android. Let them play but not in public and certainly not for too long. An hour or two tops at home. Oh, and don't forget to teach them social etiquette and manners. Discipline them if need be.

If you can't handle your child, parent, you need therapy.

Donsol: Our Vacation in a World of Giants

Hi, Maita ere to share my travel experiences to Donsol. It's a Worth-it trip. If you have a Bucket list, this you must add. We swam with Giants and viewed some and became some!
I'm adding costs and tips to help you all out there what to expect. I know it helped me to read other people's experiences before travelling to places.

So at 5 am, we went to NAIA3 to board Cebu Pacific bound for Donsol. Got a good package. Make sure to eat a heavy meal in the terminal. Prices on board's a rip-off. c2 350ml is 50 pesos each. It only takes 45 mins so read the inflgiht magazine. By the time you're half way, it's time to land.


Day 1!
Giant 1- Mayon Volcano

We arrive at Legazpi Airport. Of course, we had to picture, picture right away. Mayon was getting cloudy on the spot.


Giant 2- Bell Tower

What was 4 tourists to do at 8am in the morning? See the sights!
We had to have more memories and we had to have it stored. With one trusty camera, we haggled the tricycle driver to drive us to the Cagsawa Ruins (Bell Tower) to view Mayon Volcano. We ended up with Super shooting galore with Kuya Rolly.


Trivia: Mayon Volcano has the most perfect cone in the world. It is still active. The most recent eruption was 1998. The Bell Tower still stand.
Giant 3- US! Take not: not photoshop! This picture is raw!
My tower! I'm not letting go!

Tips:

• Don't be afraid to haggle. These people are nice but they do want to make a profit. Haggle. They can understand Tagalog and bits of English. Trike ride from Airport-Cagasawa (30 mins)-Legazpi Terminal= 50/person.
• There is a mall, Banks, and lots of restaurants in Legazpi. Try outunique restos and withdrw money here.
• When in Cagsawa ruins, look for Kuya Rolly.(that's him, the thin guy) Give him your camera and ask him for a tour and take artistic shots. Give him tip= 100.00 It's worth it!
• Wear sunblock!
  

Dayo: The Wanderer

Can you truly be a foreigner in your own home?

Sadly, yes. There are times when we Filipinos loose the sense of being Filipino. So, what is Filipinoness? Three of my professors in college posed this question to our class. What is Filipino in elements.

One even elaborated that is it because gawa-pinoy that already make it proudly Philippine made?

Sadly, we are losing the sense of Filipinoness. We are losing our identities. We are loosing what made the foreigners wish to come to us in the first place. Media has eaten away our being loyal, friendly, warm and hospitable traits. Now, Dayo is using the media to revive it.

Last Friday, me and my sister were invited to the viewing of Dayo. Haha, we did our hair and fussed over what to wear when they told us red carpet event. When we got there, oh dear, we were over dressed. Everyone was in jeans and t-shirt. So much for Red carpet. At least we got to walk on it.

The movie is rated G for all audience. Yes, it's a family movie. Don't worry, adults can relate. The story is pretty much straight forward. Simple but good. I'm glad they didn't sacrifice the story just for the sake of having a digital animated movie.

Story: **** 1/2 (0ut of 5)

Dialogue: ***1/3

(would have been great except the yaya-nangals repeat themselves)

Music: *****

(Great sound effect! Perfect timing! Love the Theme! Love Joey Ayala!)

Effects: ***

Cinematography: ****

2d: ****

3d: **

Sadly, the pasting of 2d and 3d did not mesh well. Buboy's childhood nearly looks like one big donut add. My critique is that the school needs work. The school itself is boring, there is not much details except the TJ hotdog booth which looked pasted on. Everywhere else was cool.

So, what makes it Filipino? Aside from 100% gawa-Pinoy factor, the story, the set and the elements.

The story is set in modern day Pilipinas. Probably Antipolo or near since that's what is says in the jeepney. Then, it shifts to Elementalia, the world beyond/under/within the one Buboy is living in. Buboy, the star is your supposedly typical boy. Maybe I should say he's not the typical boy. What is typical today do shift and the creators of Dayo probably wants to bring back what a typical Pinoy boy should be: magalang, matulungin and malambing sa pamilya. He is raised by his grandparents and is struggling from bullies in school. Meet Ana, your never-typical mananang-girl! Who would have thought to use one as a star? She's slang, hip (not literally) and very helpful trait we should revive.

Lolo Nano may not be Lola Bashyang but he is wise and has lots of word of wisdom to share. There is Narsi, the narcisitic tikbalang who is oh-so-cool. Because Buboy was able to subdue him and get a hair, he is bound to Buboy until the next rainfall. An old lore which is not widely circulated. He then forms a friendship with Buboy and Ana and helps them in their task. There are so many creatures of lore in Elementalia, I'll leave the audience to find out.

So, what makes it believable? Yeah, it's a world beyond ours. But details are details. Look at Buboy's world for example. There's the jeep with controls resembling airplanes. There's the telephone poles na parang bulati hanging. He's got a picture of the last supper and those big wooden utensils in the dining area. His room has lots of posters. There are pictures of his achievements int he sala for all the world to see. We can see that Filipinos have a deep sense of religiosity. He makes the sign of the cross before jumping into the water and he prays before going to bed.

Ever heard of a capre who talks bisaya? You'll have to hear it! Bobuy can't understand but you should if you are really Filipino. Why? Because 90% of Pinoys speak it or even understands bits of it.

Do you have a protective parent? That's another Filipino trait. Although this parent is very workaholic, he does it to protect Ana and his world. The Yaya-nangals are not Ana's parents but they treat her like a daughter. Lolo Nano too treats her like family.

What may have been Typical Filipino culture is slowly dying because of foreign media. I'm glad Dayo is trying to revive it. A part 2 should be in order. Elementalia offers a setting where the younger children can unleash their creativity.

I'll let you get your own details on the production at:

www.dayomovie.com

Thanks to everyone at Dayo! We had a wonderful time at the studio and at the red carpet event! More power to you and to everyone involved in creating a wonderful masterpiece!

A Day of Plays

Day 6 in Hanoi
Water Puppet Show, shopping and Spring Ballet