It’s something people living in a foreign place goes through occasionally. I think I’ve got tricks up to my sleeves already in how to overcome this, but one of my best all-time homesickness relief is to just blog about it.

True, I love Phnom Penh now to bits. I consider it home now too. But there are times I long to see relatives, even those I can’t stand! haha funny how being away turns some of us into weirdos. I also miss the familiar places, those haunts that we used to frequent when I was in high school and college.

When I went home last July, I did checked out places I used to go to but there’s some changes. Nothing major major but its like the whole atmosphere has changed. Perhaps because I’ve been away for a while and I had to chide myself, why should I expect things to remain the same? I think I miss being part of those changes…

Another big thing I miss – Food! More specifically food cooked at home. My father is a wonderful cook. It’s quite usual for us to have a big lunch or dinner at home. A lot of my relatives too flock to our house on weekends just to eat, and Pa always rises to the occasion. He could whip up a seven course meal on a short notice and everything always turn out pure yummi-ness. Sure I could cook Pinoy food here or go to a Pinoy restaurant but its not the same.

I think my cousin Dalz, who just came home from Bicol and posted photos on her Facebook was the one who set this off.. Hahaha..

an epic lunch hehe..- ensaladang talong, grilled liempo, grilled fish, pochero and of course fish and pork Bicol Express..

the goodies up close..

I’m happy to see my parents are well, everyone is doing great but I just miss having the food my father cooks.

Hayy, I just miss you guys – Papa, Mama, Coco, Faye, Dalz and Papa Nor, Ate Tess and family, Ate Linda, and I could go on and on.. And of course, I can’t miss out my BFF’s Yese, Tins, Babes, and Khen.

You could probably figure out what I’m going to do next now…..Checking schedules, airlines and ticket prices! Hihi I really hope we could go home next year. I think I have to find some time on the first and second quarter of the year…

I’ll be a little busy tonight. Mostly coz I’m organizing all my papers about my Social Security System (Philippines)  membership. Yes, I have my SSS and I’ve decided to continue on paying my contribution as a voluntary member.

Why? I’m thinking ahead. I know its not much but having some sort of security, a pension to look forward to when I reach the age of 60, medical, disability,calamity, and death benefits and a whole lot of other benefits. You can also avail of loans like business, housing and calamity loans..

When I was working I was a member and had regular contributions. You only need to have at least 120 months of contribution to be eligible for those benefits. But when I stopped working, I was just too negligent to continue but now I’ve decided to pick up where I left off. I was thinking it will be hard to do now that I’m living abroad, but thankfully banking facilities make it much easier. Now I could just pay monthly through BancNet’s Online Banking Facility.

It’s just another form of saving and I’m glad I’m making it..

Are you an OFW or you simply want to become an SSS member? Just checkout their website for more info.

I’ve been trying to tell myself I don’t give a hoot, that I don’t really mind who’s going to be the next Philippine president. In fact, I’ve managed to convince everyone around me that I don’t care, that I’m so ‘sawa na‘ of Philippine politics.

So how come I had been feeling nauseous and anxious since this morning? And no its not an effect of prenatalvitamins or too much caffeine. I guess I had just been deluding myself that I don’t give a damn about who gets to lead my country anymore. The truth is, I am concerned. I am a Filipino, my daughter is a Filipino. No matter how many times I tell myself, I’ve stopped caring already, but I really do care about what happens to my country. So, here I am so tense and anxiously waiting..

I promised myself before I won’t write about politics, because I know next to nothing about it. So I’m not going to talk about personalities here. This is simply about my feelings about the fate of my country.

Today is election day in the Philippines, where Filipinos have the chance to be heard by the ballots that they cast. Do I have faith that this would turn out to be an honest election? I have severe doubts. Politics in the Philippines can be dirty. Automated? I want to believe the voice of the Filipinos will be heard, I want to believe that this will happen. But is that really possible? When everyone wants to be in power, everyone wants a share of the spotlight.

And I think its not just the politicians who are corrupt. Corruption and greed has established a culture of some people waiting for which candidate will give the biggest dole out and selling their votes to them. Of course, those who win the election would want to recoup what they invested, so it turns into a cycle. A vicious cycle of corruption..

Some Pinoys also have this belief that only one person is needed to turn around and give them a better future. Some even have this fanatical faith in some politicians and they go on yakking that they are the only hope of the country. Yes, we need a leader but I think what’s most important is that we do something to help and to do it together.

I think going with what Henry Ford have said will do us a great deal of good..

Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success.

Is there any hope for the Philippines and the Filipinos?  I want to believe that there is indeed hope.

You’ve gotta have hope.  Without hope life is meaningless.  Without hope life is meaning less and less. – author unknown

My very first Wordless Wednesday entry for this blog..

Photo courtesy of my relatives in Bacacay, Albay, Philippines. The sign at the back ‘Pamibi sa Getsemani’ translates to ‘Praying in Gethsemane’

The Philippines has very strong Catholic traditions and the Holy Week is one of the most anticipated events in our country. In most towns there are a lot of religious activities and one of which is the procession. Life-size images statues depicting the last days of Jesus Christ are shown during the week. Our family takes care of the “Agony in the Garden” scene and this image statue has been handed down from several generations of our ancestors already…

You can view more photos of the previous years Holy Week Procession on my photos page.

A few Cambodian friends of my husband have asked me about Filipino culture, particularly about our food, the weather, how to get around the country, how come we speak English fluently, and also how to behave when visiting a Filipino household.

Thinking about it, there is not much difference in visiting a Filipino home from a Khmer home. Here’s some tips on being a proper guest of a Filipino family.

- Always pay your respects to the elders in the family by greeting them. It’s an additional point in your favor if you can do the “mano” where you lift the elder’s hand and touch it to your forehead. For Filipinos, this is a sign of regard and respect to the elder.

- Remove your shoes or slippers before entering a Filipino house. Your host would most probably tell you to keep it on, but at least make a motion of removing them.

- Filipinos are very food-oriented and most visits and gatherings includes food. If you are visiting a Filipino home, expect to be offered something to eat. Don’t decline the invitation to eat otherwise you may be considered impolite.There are times like fiestas where you have already eaten in another house, but its still better to accept or you may just request to eat dessert or light snacks.

- Always offer to help clear the dishes. Your host would probably decline your offer of help but the gesture would be appreciated.

- When your visit is over, give your good wishes to the elders and thank everyone for their hospitality. If you have stayed in the house for a couple of days, a thank you gift would be a nice gesture.

Whatever they are rich or poor, Filipinos would really go out of their way to be welcoming and friendly to their guests, that’s why for most people, visiting a Filipino home is a delightful experience.

Isn’t it frustrating to wait for something for sometime only to forget to be there when that something happens? That’s what happened to me and the Pacquiao-dela Hoya boxing match.

I’ve really been looking forward to watching the match. I had the showtimes on local Cambodian channel as well as the cable timeslot memorized but when the day came I’ve been so busy that it literally slipped my mind. When I was about to sleep last night I just suddenly remembered I was supposed to watch it.

Lol! Memory gap? It was already late but I lost no time texting my sister in the Philippines just to know who actually won. Gladly it was the Filipino champion, Mannny Pacquiao who won. Though I kinda feel sad about De la Hoya (I had a huge crush on him when I was a bit younger ).

So I did my digging on Youtube to see if there are clips of the fight. I got pretty much irritated coz there are piles of videos there promising full fight etc and you get zilch! What is up with those people? Grrr! Anyway,I hope I could find a decent replay to watch. If you have a link, please share..

Manny Pacquiao did a great job and made the Filipinos proud again. I imagine its like fiesta again in the Philippines, too bad I can’t enjoy it in person , Nevertheless, this really made my day. Congrats, Pacman!