Hi there!
It's been two months since January 29 my day of arrival here last in Morocco. What have I accomplished so far? Where have I been to the past 8 weeks?
Slowly, I'll try to recall and hopefully I get them all "write" here in Pinoy Sa Morocco blog, my 10 in 2:
1st, I have done progress in my essentials here, whatever they are, I 'm sure Alice, Val and Claire knows them... Something to do with my _ _ _ _ _ s.
2ND, my ward has shown improvement in terms of his school/academic life. With hard work and unending prayers to The Queen of Heaven, Novena to The Holy Spirit and St. Jude, I guess it all adds up for his whole-istic development.
3rd, I have slowly and carefully veered away from the very addicting Mafia wars in Facebook, but I still play it ha.
4Th, I went back to Chess Blogging , my pet Philippine Chess Chronicles which at it's highest point had 4 thousand visitors in 1 week. A very good traffic for someone like me who is not a rated chess player nor an Expert caliber chess player from the Philippines. By the way, the blog started it all in Philippine Chess blogging. And yes, the rest followed suit!
5Th, I've been to Marrakesh, Casablanca, Meknes, Ifrane, Rabat. all these are the major cities of Morocco. I have tried both the 1st class and 2nd class Morocco train system, used the petite and grand taxis.
6Th, I now know how to cook Tagine but not Couscous. I can tell now the difference between Standard Arabic and Moroccan Arabic but still could not speak them. I 've learned too that Moroccan arabic is usually spoken but never written. It is the Standard Arabic Script that is used and French is the government's language.
7Th, I've attended 2 activities of the Catholic Church in Meknes and both are spiritually enriching and socially expanding for my existence here in my borrowed Moroccan life.
8Th, I still take photos but not as much. I've discovered the weakness of my point and shoot camera and it made me appreciate it more. I have become bored of what Picasa 3 software can do for my photos and my laptop is starting to piss me off. I have chosen to buy a "blackfruit" thru Alice and Val but not blackberry. I wish to use it till I go for my vacation in Pilipinas and give it to my wife.
9Th, I have loved Hammam at first sight and if I'll be asked to go home tomorrow, hammam would be the first thing I'll request I'd do before leaving.
10th, I still miss my wife, Patricia, Freedom and Miguel. also, I have not shaved my beard since January and have not visited the barber here in Morocco since. Although my beard is boring me now and my curly-natural hair too, I still want to cling onto my goal, NO HAIRCUTS AND NO BEARD SHAVING as long as I have my life here in Morocco. Vacations in our home country the Philippines is not included!
fabph76. Insights maybe but not answers.
Wika Para sa Lahat
Magandang araw! Magandang hapon! Magandang gabi! If you understood any of the words or phrases I used, chances are that you know they come...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Replay?
Hey there!
A replay was ordered by NCFP President for the round 6 match between GM's Wesley So and Joey Antonio Jr.
The question is why.?
We will never know the REAL REASON why!
Remember GM Svidler's dreamy interview I had with him here?
There is always the real reason for the masses and the real reason for the insiders.
A replay was ordered by NCFP President for the round 6 match between GM's Wesley So and Joey Antonio Jr.
The question is why.?
We will never know the REAL REASON why!
Remember GM Svidler's dreamy interview I had with him here?
There is always the real reason for the masses and the real reason for the insiders.
RP's Southern War
Hay naku!
Meron na namang Hostage Beheading na naka-schedule ang Abu Sayyaf at ang pupugutan daw ng mga ulo eh ang mga kaawaawang mga Red cross volunteers!
Ano ba yan? Ano ba ang ipinaglalaban ninyo jan? Kahirapan? Lahat ng tao nahihirapan ngayon mabuhay at kumain at lalo lang ninyong pinpahiran ang mundo dahil sa mga ganyang gawain!
Alam nyo, may mga nagiging kaibigan na akong mga muslim dito and ang sinasabi nila sa akin pag may nababalitaan silang mga ganyang gawain ng mga kapatid nating Muslim:
"And you call yourselves Muslim?"
Tama nga naman! The Quran teaches Peace and promotes peace!
Please lang itigil nyo na yan!
News about Pacman is heating up while the Presidential hopefuls are doing what they love best GET PUBLICITY!
Gutom ang mga tao, yun ang unahin ninyo!
Here in Morocco, I have not heard or encounter any insurgency issues and it sure is a great blessing for any country not to have problems in this area!
And today, my morning was greeted by a hale pour in Meknes, sunshine on the road and snow in Ifrane.
Freeze point!
Meron na namang Hostage Beheading na naka-schedule ang Abu Sayyaf at ang pupugutan daw ng mga ulo eh ang mga kaawaawang mga Red cross volunteers!
Ano ba yan? Ano ba ang ipinaglalaban ninyo jan? Kahirapan? Lahat ng tao nahihirapan ngayon mabuhay at kumain at lalo lang ninyong pinpahiran ang mundo dahil sa mga ganyang gawain!
Alam nyo, may mga nagiging kaibigan na akong mga muslim dito and ang sinasabi nila sa akin pag may nababalitaan silang mga ganyang gawain ng mga kapatid nating Muslim:
"And you call yourselves Muslim?"
Tama nga naman! The Quran teaches Peace and promotes peace!
Please lang itigil nyo na yan!
News about Pacman is heating up while the Presidential hopefuls are doing what they love best GET PUBLICITY!
Gutom ang mga tao, yun ang unahin ninyo!
Here in Morocco, I have not heard or encounter any insurgency issues and it sure is a great blessing for any country not to have problems in this area!
And today, my morning was greeted by a hale pour in Meknes, sunshine on the road and snow in Ifrane.
Freeze point!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Choir Concert
I attended the Prayer Choir Concert yesterday at the Meknes Catholic Church from 3 in the afternoon till 7 in the evening.
There were 4 groups alternating on stage and to my surprise, I found the non-English songs to be more powerful than the English songs I listened to during the concert.
Here's another postcard I did from the event:
For a foreigner like me, it is very important to attend such events because first, I get to participate in some activities within the context of my Faith and secondly, I get to meet "English" speaking people from different nationalities who also are in the same work field as mine: THE ACADEME!
Well, very good concert prayer!
There were 4 groups alternating on stage and to my surprise, I found the non-English songs to be more powerful than the English songs I listened to during the concert.
Here's another postcard I did from the event:
For a foreigner like me, it is very important to attend such events because first, I get to participate in some activities within the context of my Faith and secondly, I get to meet "English" speaking people from different nationalities who also are in the same work field as mine: THE ACADEME!
Well, very good concert prayer!
Draws Galore'
Hey there!
Since Yesterday here in Meknes, Morocco, my internet services is frantically unspectacular! With the chilly winds coupled with wet rains, I guess the server is experiencing what we humans are going thru here: super cold feet!
The first draw of GM Wesley So in the Phoenix Petroleum and Dapitan City Government sponsored Battle of the Grandmasters came in round 6 against GM Rogelio Antonio jr. Hmmm! I thought I'd see a 1-0 score going to either warriors but interestingly, all the matches produced a .5 - .5 scores. Whaaaat?
Going into the 10th round, Wesley is enjoying a point and a half lead against GM's Antonio and Gomez with 5.5 points. On 3rd place are IM Sadorra and GM Torre with 5 points. Visit chess-results DOT COM for the complete details of the Men's category and the Women's.
Bye!
Since Yesterday here in Meknes, Morocco, my internet services is frantically unspectacular! With the chilly winds coupled with wet rains, I guess the server is experiencing what we humans are going thru here: super cold feet!
The first draw of GM Wesley So in the Phoenix Petroleum and Dapitan City Government sponsored Battle of the Grandmasters came in round 6 against GM Rogelio Antonio jr. Hmmm! I thought I'd see a 1-0 score going to either warriors but interestingly, all the matches produced a .5 - .5 scores. Whaaaat?
Going into the 10th round, Wesley is enjoying a point and a half lead against GM's Antonio and Gomez with 5.5 points. On 3rd place are IM Sadorra and GM Torre with 5 points. Visit chess-results DOT COM for the complete details of the Men's category and the Women's.
Bye!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Rainy Ifrane
It's rainy afternoon here in Ifrane and good thing I brought my two winter jackets even though it was sunny this morning. I even had a good time walking from Ifrane's marche' to the house and along the way, the tourist mini train passed me by with school children riding and singing in it.
They were having a field day in the small tourist town of Ifrane.
As for me, I realized that most of the tourists I see here in ifrane are in their twilight of their lives and msotly are whites. It is very easy to spot who's a tourist and who is not. First, they come in groups and second they have these gadgets hanging on their necks which says Nikon, Canon and other brandish labels.
I really find Ifrane so beautiful and in time (savings, savings) I would bring my fam' here for a vacation.
They were having a field day in the small tourist town of Ifrane.
As for me, I realized that most of the tourists I see here in ifrane are in their twilight of their lives and msotly are whites. It is very easy to spot who's a tourist and who is not. First, they come in groups and second they have these gadgets hanging on their necks which says Nikon, Canon and other brandish labels.
I really find Ifrane so beautiful and in time (savings, savings) I would bring my fam' here for a vacation.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Chess, Dramatics and The Sheikh
Here's what the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Sheikh has to say about the theater, chess and photography:
For more, you can visit the kippreport and Gulf News.
Hmm! Throw away those chessboards, forget about your season tickets to Metropolitan Theater Shows and buy the lates D SLR Cameras you can find as soon as possible.
In Namibian Chess, Charles Eichab is awarded the Candidate Master by the World Chess Federation. Congratulations! I wonder if FIDE can also do the same to our untitled Pinoy Chess players. For sure it will be very expensive for FIDE to do that, most chess players we have in the Philippines can and able to play very well against foreign grandmaster calibers.
This is not exaggeration man! If you happen to visit the Philippines, try to play at the Chess at the Luneta Park Chess Garden and you'll see why I'm saying this.
Still on GM Wesley So, check out Ed Andaya's post Now here is a chess player to admire.
Lastly, GM Wesley So, I hope you consider (well this is actually for Mang William, his dad) playing in Europe most of the time. This will surely provide you more playing time with the world's elite. It's for you, it's for our country.
"Theatrical performance, whether it is a cinema or a song, would generally make an impression that is against shariah. People need only those (art forms) that are useful to them to change their way of life (in an Islamic manner)...However, he did say that “Photography is one of the necessities of life. ”
For more, you can visit the kippreport and Gulf News.
Hmm! Throw away those chessboards, forget about your season tickets to Metropolitan Theater Shows and buy the lates D SLR Cameras you can find as soon as possible.
In Namibian Chess, Charles Eichab is awarded the Candidate Master by the World Chess Federation. Congratulations! I wonder if FIDE can also do the same to our untitled Pinoy Chess players. For sure it will be very expensive for FIDE to do that, most chess players we have in the Philippines can and able to play very well against foreign grandmaster calibers.
This is not exaggeration man! If you happen to visit the Philippines, try to play at the Chess at the Luneta Park Chess Garden and you'll see why I'm saying this.
Still on GM Wesley So, check out Ed Andaya's post Now here is a chess player to admire.
Lastly, GM Wesley So, I hope you consider (well this is actually for Mang William, his dad) playing in Europe most of the time. This will surely provide you more playing time with the world's elite. It's for you, it's for our country.
Battle of the Grandmasters
Hello there!
After round 4, GM Wesley So leads the pack with a clean 4 points in as many rounds. When I saw The result of Wesley's round 3 match against Asia's 1st GM Eugene Torre, I had this feeling that the Whiz Kid from Bacoor, Cavite will he the runaway winner of this tournament. Aside from Eugene, I think GM Antonio will be the closest rival in the tourney to give RP's number 1 a tough time. We will have to wait for round 6.
Men's Standings after round 4 and we can see Wesley is up by a full point against current second placer, GM Bong Antonio. GM's Laylo, Gomez and IM Bitoon shares 3rd place with 2.5 points.
In the Women's side, Standings after round 4 shows a tight fight among the players sharing 2.5 points against the lone leader WFM Shercila Cua with 3.5 points. San Juan de Letran's WNM Jan Jodylin Fronda is leading the 2.5 pointers via the tiebreaks.
There is a perceived domination on the part of GM Wesley So in the Men's division but in the women's division, a mix-up is brewing.
First half of the tourney is almost over and from what I've read before, GM Bong Antonio they say is a slow starter. I'd love to watch the match between Wesley and him. I'm not discounting the possibility of GM Gomez gaining momentum in the next 2 rounds though.
After round 4, GM Wesley So leads the pack with a clean 4 points in as many rounds. When I saw The result of Wesley's round 3 match against Asia's 1st GM Eugene Torre, I had this feeling that the Whiz Kid from Bacoor, Cavite will he the runaway winner of this tournament. Aside from Eugene, I think GM Antonio will be the closest rival in the tourney to give RP's number 1 a tough time. We will have to wait for round 6.
Men's Standings after round 4 and we can see Wesley is up by a full point against current second placer, GM Bong Antonio. GM's Laylo, Gomez and IM Bitoon shares 3rd place with 2.5 points.
In the Women's side, Standings after round 4 shows a tight fight among the players sharing 2.5 points against the lone leader WFM Shercila Cua with 3.5 points. San Juan de Letran's WNM Jan Jodylin Fronda is leading the 2.5 pointers via the tiebreaks.
There is a perceived domination on the part of GM Wesley So in the Men's division but in the women's division, a mix-up is brewing.
First half of the tourney is almost over and from what I've read before, GM Bong Antonio they say is a slow starter. I'd love to watch the match between Wesley and him. I'm not discounting the possibility of GM Gomez gaining momentum in the next 2 rounds though.
Year Round Chess Fest
These two first:
I saw the article A Mathematical Chessboard Paradox at ChessBase.com authored by Prof. Christian Hesse and in it he shows us that the 64 squares on our chessboard is actually 65.
Then after some ala-quantum-blah blah explanation, he retracts. It's not really 65 and that we were right after all that 64 is 64 and it's not 65.
And Levon Aronian is up ahead by a full point in the 18th Amber Chess Tournament. With Carlsen losing against Kramnik in 20 moves of their blindfold match and Anand's loss against Morozevich via his 25th move Queen-hanger also in their lindfold match. Both losers are sharing the 2nd spot in the standings.
And on to our main course:
The local scene. School chess now moves in the green compound as the Philippine La Sallian Chess Association's 2009 Rapid Chess Tournament unfold on March 28 and 29 at the 2nd floor of DLSU Sports Center of the Taft Campus.
Remember our post here long time ago about schools staging chess tourneys?
As far as I know, Xavier School has been running an event like this for the past 5 years now. Right Sir John? Then came the Letran Calamba Chess Tournament. Soon enough, the Blue compound residents staged their own chess tourney called something like Leviste Sr. Chess Cup directed by IM Idelfonso.
So we have DLSU, Ateneo, Xavier and Letran sponsoring annual inter-school chess tournaments and this is really good!
One thing though, Xavier is the only one that caters to long game format : 45/G. we all know that longer time control is the best way to train up our younger stars.
Take time to consider this:
What if these four schools sit down and plan together for next year? An inter-school chess circuit? Same rules, same team composition. Since one school year is divided in 4 quarters (local school system) the said four schools will each have their turn to host one weekend of chess tournament. Once in every 3 months is really wonderful! Considering the schedule of the NCAA and UAAP Chess, it will be a Grand Prix for our players!
Hmmm! C'mon take this idea, grab it, use it for the common good of the people of Philippine Chess! NCFP... DepEd... NAPCA... CAAP... Any takers? Angkinin nyo na 'to, ideas are cheap anyways.
We can call it the Philippine National School Chess Championships : Grade School and Secondary.
But wait, do not start big, please don't. Let's be pragmatic about this. Let us think big but start small, that's the way to go!
Pyesta to pag nagkataon!
I saw the article A Mathematical Chessboard Paradox at ChessBase.com authored by Prof. Christian Hesse and in it he shows us that the 64 squares on our chessboard is actually 65.
Then after some ala-quantum-blah blah explanation, he retracts. It's not really 65 and that we were right after all that 64 is 64 and it's not 65.
And Levon Aronian is up ahead by a full point in the 18th Amber Chess Tournament. With Carlsen losing against Kramnik in 20 moves of their blindfold match and Anand's loss against Morozevich via his 25th move Queen-hanger also in their lindfold match. Both losers are sharing the 2nd spot in the standings.
And on to our main course:
The local scene. School chess now moves in the green compound as the Philippine La Sallian Chess Association's 2009 Rapid Chess Tournament unfold on March 28 and 29 at the 2nd floor of DLSU Sports Center of the Taft Campus.
Remember our post here long time ago about schools staging chess tourneys?
As far as I know, Xavier School has been running an event like this for the past 5 years now. Right Sir John? Then came the Letran Calamba Chess Tournament. Soon enough, the Blue compound residents staged their own chess tourney called something like Leviste Sr. Chess Cup directed by IM Idelfonso.
So we have DLSU, Ateneo, Xavier and Letran sponsoring annual inter-school chess tournaments and this is really good!
One thing though, Xavier is the only one that caters to long game format : 45/G. we all know that longer time control is the best way to train up our younger stars.
Take time to consider this:
What if these four schools sit down and plan together for next year? An inter-school chess circuit? Same rules, same team composition. Since one school year is divided in 4 quarters (local school system) the said four schools will each have their turn to host one weekend of chess tournament. Once in every 3 months is really wonderful! Considering the schedule of the NCAA and UAAP Chess, it will be a Grand Prix for our players!
Hmmm! C'mon take this idea, grab it, use it for the common good of the people of Philippine Chess! NCFP... DepEd... NAPCA... CAAP... Any takers? Angkinin nyo na 'to, ideas are cheap anyways.
We can call it the Philippine National School Chess Championships : Grade School and Secondary.
But wait, do not start big, please don't. Let's be pragmatic about this. Let us think big but start small, that's the way to go!
Pyesta to pag nagkataon!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Missing In Action
The results of RP's Battle of the Grandmasters can be found easily on the web since yesterday afternoon, a day ahead before the mainstream media published their well edited, ultra-crisp articles as compared to the raw-flavored, personal stories of chess bloggers.
It's nice to see the results in major chess websites specially in Chess-Results DOTCOM and Chessdom.
But I checked on ChessBase and they don't have it though.
I guess Rusticbull's MCC blog will be our main site to check on for updates of the entire tournament.
Meanwhile, some peeps have chimed in their worries about Cheradee Camacho who was listed to play in the Battle of the GM's but after two rounds, she's nowhere to be found. Hmmm! also, I thought GM Joseph Sanchez will be playing tin his tourney and IM Barcenilla.
Anyways, after 2 rounds, GM Wesley So has 2 points and in solo lead. Here is the standings of RP's Battle of the Grandmasters.
It's nice to see the results in major chess websites specially in Chess-Results DOTCOM and Chessdom.
But I checked on ChessBase and they don't have it though.
I guess Rusticbull's MCC blog will be our main site to check on for updates of the entire tournament.
Meanwhile, some peeps have chimed in their worries about Cheradee Camacho who was listed to play in the Battle of the GM's but after two rounds, she's nowhere to be found. Hmmm! also, I thought GM Joseph Sanchez will be playing tin his tourney and IM Barcenilla.
Anyways, after 2 rounds, GM Wesley So has 2 points and in solo lead. Here is the standings of RP's Battle of the Grandmasters.
Good Things Morocco
Hi again!
I googled the phrase "What people say about Morocco?" and found this 12 Good Things About Morocco to be true for me. Read it! It's super true and I've seen some of them happen right before my very eyes.
The above link provided me and you the positive comments and I guess experience the author of the said article had here in Morocco. Now to balance the equation, check this out : Travelling in Morocco.
Well, thats all for now!
I googled the phrase "What people say about Morocco?" and found this 12 Good Things About Morocco to be true for me. Read it! It's super true and I've seen some of them happen right before my very eyes.
The above link provided me and you the positive comments and I guess experience the author of the said article had here in Morocco. Now to balance the equation, check this out : Travelling in Morocco.
Well, thats all for now!
Foggy Farm
Hi!
I was greeted by a thick fog this morning when I peeped out my window. Man I was scared, really scared! What used to be a scene of a tranquil farm life outside my window was gone.
As I run towards the car because I overslept and everyone was waiting for me, I had to rush back again to my room and pick up my winter jacket and pull out the electrical plugs.
Well things went back to normal for me when Sadik the chauffer cruised in our 120 Km/hr towards Ifrane, the imitation of France as what Mr. Rettino told me.
Bye for now!
I was greeted by a thick fog this morning when I peeped out my window. Man I was scared, really scared! What used to be a scene of a tranquil farm life outside my window was gone.
As I run towards the car because I overslept and everyone was waiting for me, I had to rush back again to my room and pick up my winter jacket and pull out the electrical plugs.
Well things went back to normal for me when Sadik the chauffer cruised in our 120 Km/hr towards Ifrane, the imitation of France as what Mr. Rettino told me.
Bye for now!
New Kids On The Block
Hello there!
Xavier School's chess coach National Master Erwin Carag, sent us the results of the Rapid Chess Training and Tournament held in Ramon Magsaysay High School - Cubao last March 14:
Congratulations to the winners and a pat on the back with a resounding "Pre, tuloy lang ang activities for chess your all helping the scene in small and great ways"
By the way, someone asked me here if I know a place somewhere in the South Alabang and las Pinas) where one can learn chess. hMy thoughts on this:
Try to contact the following:
1. WNM Mila Emperado of Metropolitan Chess Club who happens to reside in Las Pinas City
2. NA Ferdinand Reyes Sr. of Bloomfield. Man, he has been a fixture in Las Pinas Chess scene
3. There is the Alabang Chess Club headed by Councilor Vic Ulanday. Their playing area is much like the Cubao underpass ambience though, noisy, full of people passing-by. At the height of my addiction (yes, show me the 64 squares!) I would make sure I go through the Paranaque-Alabang (Daang Hari)-Cavite route just to play 5 minute games there... To the annoyance of my lovely wife! Hahahaha! Those were the days.
The place is located in an island between the two transportation terminals. You will never miss the place because the Baranggay Alabang hall is there!
Xavier School's chess coach National Master Erwin Carag, sent us the results of the Rapid Chess Training and Tournament held in Ramon Magsaysay High School - Cubao last March 14:
Daryl Unix Samantila, a 9 year old student of Adamson University was the clear winner in the 2009 RMCHS Kiddies (12 years old and under) Rapid Chess Training Tournament held last March 14, 2009 at the Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School (RMCHS) Chess Room. Samantila upset topseed Paolo Bersamina in an exciting chess match and remained with an unscatched record of 5 wins to cap the chess crown.
Tied for 2ND to 4TH places were Jose Carlo Castro of Sta. Quiteria Elementary School , Paulo Bersamina of La Salle Greenhills and Philip Uy of Bloomfield Academy .Three players were given awards for the top 10 years old and under, namely Alexis Anne Oseña, Noel Geronimo and John Vasilly Datu. The top 6 years old and under belong to sole winner Liam Ramos of International School . The chief arbiter of the tournament was NM / IA Erwin Carag.
Congratulations to the winners and a pat on the back with a resounding "Pre, tuloy lang ang activities for chess your all helping the scene in small and great ways"
By the way, someone asked me here if I know a place somewhere in the South Alabang and las Pinas) where one can learn chess. hMy thoughts on this:
Try to contact the following:
1. WNM Mila Emperado of Metropolitan Chess Club who happens to reside in Las Pinas City
2. NA Ferdinand Reyes Sr. of Bloomfield. Man, he has been a fixture in Las Pinas Chess scene
3. There is the Alabang Chess Club headed by Councilor Vic Ulanday. Their playing area is much like the Cubao underpass ambience though, noisy, full of people passing-by. At the height of my addiction (yes, show me the 64 squares!) I would make sure I go through the Paranaque-Alabang (Daang Hari)-Cavite route just to play 5 minute games there... To the annoyance of my lovely wife! Hahahaha! Those were the days.
The place is located in an island between the two transportation terminals. You will never miss the place because the Baranggay Alabang hall is there!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Blitz and Rapids
Hey there!
Our last post GM Wesley So's touch move incident and Amiel's last two posts in his ultra-super-traffic-read The Closet Grandmaster deals with Blitz and Rapid Rules.
Both posts of ours had the "youngest" GM's committing infractions of the rules. Although I didn't follow thru reading on the link in TCG about the incident, and I didn't ask Malibay Chess Club's main blogger Rustic Bull, I believe there are points to be considered in Amiel's points for rules shuffling or redefinition.
I just don't know how those Blitz addicts in Luneta Chess Park react to changes... They're the first ones to break all the chess game rules. Hahahah! From thrash-talking to piece misplacements you've got it!
Our last post GM Wesley So's touch move incident and Amiel's last two posts in his ultra-super-traffic-read The Closet Grandmaster deals with Blitz and Rapid Rules.
Both posts of ours had the "youngest" GM's committing infractions of the rules. Although I didn't follow thru reading on the link in TCG about the incident, and I didn't ask Malibay Chess Club's main blogger Rustic Bull, I believe there are points to be considered in Amiel's points for rules shuffling or redefinition.
I just don't know how those Blitz addicts in Luneta Chess Park react to changes... They're the first ones to break all the chess game rules. Hahahah! From thrash-talking to piece misplacements you've got it!
Internet Life in Morocco
Hi there!
About a week ago, I paid for my internet connection here in Morocco. My server is called WANA and I'm quite satisfied for the services they are giving me. For 200.00 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) I get to use unlimited internet time for 30 days.
Unlike the sky-high rates of internet services in the Philippines (no thanks to the I-don't-want-to-name-telecoms-in-RP), here in Morocco, mobile modems costs 700.00 MADS that gives you free internet connection for 2 months or 7 months depending on the provider you buy. READ: MOBILE Modems. IT means you buy the gadget and you plug it in wherever you are and viola! Your connected to WWW!
In our country, they have this promo that asks you to pay for 999.00 Pesos but it is limited to 20 hours. Crazy right? The one I have in the Philippiness is the IMMOBILE ONLINE CONNECTION provided by _______________ and there's more downtime moments than online moments.
I remember very well when we complained in the office of the provider we have about the slow connections and I wittingly reminded the service desk staff we were talking to about their ad which says " Up to 800 MB/sec..."
Guess what the staff said to me?
"Sir, ang sabi po sa ad and contract ay UP TO 800 MB/sec, so pwede po'ng mas mababa pa yung value nung speed"
Oh di ba gago yung mga telecoms sa Pilipinas?
Well to end this post, MADS to Philippine Peso is 1 MAD = PHP 5.
About a week ago, I paid for my internet connection here in Morocco. My server is called WANA and I'm quite satisfied for the services they are giving me. For 200.00 Moroccan Dirhams (MAD) I get to use unlimited internet time for 30 days.
Unlike the sky-high rates of internet services in the Philippines (no thanks to the I-don't-want-to-name-telecoms-in-RP), here in Morocco, mobile modems costs 700.00 MADS that gives you free internet connection for 2 months or 7 months depending on the provider you buy. READ: MOBILE Modems. IT means you buy the gadget and you plug it in wherever you are and viola! Your connected to WWW!
In our country, they have this promo that asks you to pay for 999.00 Pesos but it is limited to 20 hours. Crazy right? The one I have in the Philippiness is the IMMOBILE ONLINE CONNECTION provided by _______________ and there's more downtime moments than online moments.
I remember very well when we complained in the office of the provider we have about the slow connections and I wittingly reminded the service desk staff we were talking to about their ad which says " Up to 800 MB/sec..."
Guess what the staff said to me?
"Sir, ang sabi po sa ad and contract ay UP TO 800 MB/sec, so pwede po'ng mas mababa pa yung value nung speed"
Oh di ba gago yung mga telecoms sa Pilipinas?
Well to end this post, MADS to Philippine Peso is 1 MAD = PHP 5.
Blair's Speech
Hey there!
Nagpunta pala sa Pilipinas si former UK PM Tony Blair and well, gave speech about our people's battle against our own people. Shit man! If we get to unify our own people, move forward and towards peace and prosperity, I guess no other color can and will take advantage our country, our precious fellow country men and natural resources.
Sabi nga ni Nina V., my friend who has been teaching the children of Uncle Sam in New York for the last 2 years "Filipinos, if given the right environment and resources, will always be successful their field of endeavor".
And news about our fellow Pinoys in Somalia, same continent as my whereabouts is here.
You see, you can leave the country of your birth but you can never escape the memories of it.
And before I finish this post, I'd like you to watch out for Charice Pempengco, the teener whose rise to fame can be credited to YouTube, much like Ariel Pineda's story of The Journey.
Well what did Nina V. say?
Nagpunta pala sa Pilipinas si former UK PM Tony Blair and well, gave speech about our people's battle against our own people. Shit man! If we get to unify our own people, move forward and towards peace and prosperity, I guess no other color can and will take advantage our country, our precious fellow country men and natural resources.
Sabi nga ni Nina V., my friend who has been teaching the children of Uncle Sam in New York for the last 2 years "Filipinos, if given the right environment and resources, will always be successful their field of endeavor".
And news about our fellow Pinoys in Somalia, same continent as my whereabouts is here.
You see, you can leave the country of your birth but you can never escape the memories of it.
And before I finish this post, I'd like you to watch out for Charice Pempengco, the teener whose rise to fame can be credited to YouTube, much like Ariel Pineda's story of The Journey.
Well what did Nina V. say?
Monday, March 23, 2009
DepEd Manila Chess Meet
I found this link worthy of posting here. I have not visited chess.com until now and I guess I still don't intend to visit the site as often as I do before.
I just find it boring to do chess there.
I just find it boring to do chess there.
Touch Move Rule for GM So?
Hey there!
I was surprised to read rustic bull's post regarding Wesley in the recently concluded and won Barley Rapid Chess.
He won the tourney with a score of 8 out of 9 but what caught my attention was the reported game 6 he had. He lost his Queen becuase of a touch move rule. Really? Rapid, rapid rapîd. I wasn't surprised at all that he still drew the game.
C'mon guys, Wesley So is among the top juniors of the world. But the touch move rule? I blame it on time controls!
The Dapitan rendevous is just hours away and we well be seeing the Philippines' best outwit each other and I will not be surprised if GM Wesley so come out of this battle as the winner and in cruising speed and functioning.
Speaking of cruising speed, after almost 2 months of staying here in Morocco, I have become bored of cruising in a Mercedes Benz at 120 Km to Ifrane from Meknes and back (85 KM one way).
Filipino drivers back in the streets of Manila will have their tails hiding if they drive here.
Before I go, congratulations to GM Wesley So! Don't you ever get tired and bored of winning all these tourneys?
I was surprised to read rustic bull's post regarding Wesley in the recently concluded and won Barley Rapid Chess.
He won the tourney with a score of 8 out of 9 but what caught my attention was the reported game 6 he had. He lost his Queen becuase of a touch move rule. Really? Rapid, rapid rapîd. I wasn't surprised at all that he still drew the game.
C'mon guys, Wesley So is among the top juniors of the world. But the touch move rule? I blame it on time controls!
The Dapitan rendevous is just hours away and we well be seeing the Philippines' best outwit each other and I will not be surprised if GM Wesley so come out of this battle as the winner and in cruising speed and functioning.
Speaking of cruising speed, after almost 2 months of staying here in Morocco, I have become bored of cruising in a Mercedes Benz at 120 Km to Ifrane from Meknes and back (85 KM one way).
Filipino drivers back in the streets of Manila will have their tails hiding if they drive here.
Before I go, congratulations to GM Wesley So! Don't you ever get tired and bored of winning all these tourneys?
Pete and his Quotes 2
This is the continuation of my dreamy interview of Peter Svidler based from the chessbase interview.
GM Peter Svidler talks about:
So you mean Pete, if you are pushed against the wall you'll fight back right? That's normal; What is not normal is for someone like you who is one of the best in the world right now, is to feel you're mellow. You're not.
That's motivation enough Pete!
"In April I will be playing 25 days out of thirty. I am going to the Russian Club Championship in Dagomis, and from there I am returning home for one day to see some opera with the kids, and the next day I am off to Nalchik to the Grand Prix."
Great! Now I think you are a man of contradictions; You just said you're mellow and look at your chess schedule, wow! A pat on your back from me for the opera with the kids. Great one indeed!
When asked about Pete's kids playing chess, his reply:
"Very occasionally, and I am very happy about this. If they really push for it I will not stand in their way. If at some stage they say I really want to do it, send me to a chess school, then it is their right. But we are not pushing them in this direction. I feel that one crazy person is enough in a family."
Logical! A lot of frustrated chess players now parents can learn from this! Really!
That ends our 2 part series of our dreamy interview of GM Peter Svidler. Hope we see his name reach the top 5 before 2009 is over.
GM Peter Svidler talks about:
"For me the Corsica/Sofia rules are a godsend. People would not normally think of me as a fan, but I am a fan of the rules, because they give me no choice. If you force me to play I am a decent player"
So you mean Pete, if you are pushed against the wall you'll fight back right? That's normal; What is not normal is for someone like you who is one of the best in the world right now, is to feel you're mellow. You're not.
"I really do want to do well and get back to the level in which I feel I belong. I think that I am a better player than my current results show."
That's motivation enough Pete!
"In April I will be playing 25 days out of thirty. I am going to the Russian Club Championship in Dagomis, and from there I am returning home for one day to see some opera with the kids, and the next day I am off to Nalchik to the Grand Prix."
Great! Now I think you are a man of contradictions; You just said you're mellow and look at your chess schedule, wow! A pat on your back from me for the opera with the kids. Great one indeed!
When asked about Pete's kids playing chess, his reply:
"Very occasionally, and I am very happy about this. If they really push for it I will not stand in their way. If at some stage they say I really want to do it, send me to a chess school, then it is their right. But we are not pushing them in this direction. I feel that one crazy person is enough in a family."
Logical! A lot of frustrated chess players now parents can learn from this! Really!
That ends our 2 part series of our dreamy interview of GM Peter Svidler. Hope we see his name reach the top 5 before 2009 is over.
Science of Hammam
IT's Sunday today and it definitely a Hammam day for me! Yahoo!
Today's Hammam I had is my 4th in my entire lifetime. For me this is the real hammam experience comprared to my first three.
MY first was really as simple as "ahh, this is hammam". The second was, "oh, thats the way they do it". My third was "now I'll try their way" and my fourth? "This is how I'll do it" thing.
Early early in the morning today I made sure I gulped down on plenty of H20's because that's the first thing that will be flushed out of your body once you go thru the hammam process.
The warm room, coupled with hot to warm water and your choice of cold water is a detox for the body. Plus of course our hammam peeps who make their living by scrubbing their clients' skin from head to toe.
Since my 3rd time, I made sure I brought 2 1 liter of water that I drink during the almost one hour of laying naked on the warm ground with your resident skin scraper doing his job to your ultra sensitive kuno skin.
Really a must for anyone visiting Morocco!
Of course there are links that would explain what hamam really is and I found them here, there and everywhere.
YouTube has them too:
Of course, wikipedia here and great photos here focusing on the theme.
Read on and maybe someday, you'll have your turn.
Today's Hammam I had is my 4th in my entire lifetime. For me this is the real hammam experience comprared to my first three.
MY first was really as simple as "ahh, this is hammam". The second was, "oh, thats the way they do it". My third was "now I'll try their way" and my fourth? "This is how I'll do it" thing.
Early early in the morning today I made sure I gulped down on plenty of H20's because that's the first thing that will be flushed out of your body once you go thru the hammam process.
The warm room, coupled with hot to warm water and your choice of cold water is a detox for the body. Plus of course our hammam peeps who make their living by scrubbing their clients' skin from head to toe.
Since my 3rd time, I made sure I brought 2 1 liter of water that I drink during the almost one hour of laying naked on the warm ground with your resident skin scraper doing his job to your ultra sensitive kuno skin.
Really a must for anyone visiting Morocco!
Of course there are links that would explain what hamam really is and I found them here, there and everywhere.
YouTube has them too:
Of course, wikipedia here and great photos here focusing on the theme.
Read on and maybe someday, you'll have your turn.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Morocco IS' Badminton Meet '09
Hi peeps!My wards watched and enjoyed so much this year's edition of the Morocco International School's Badminton meet which was hosted by American School of Ifrane (ASI) yesterday and today.
From what I've gathered, Casablanca American School (CAS)took the over-all champion honor followed by the ASI.
Saturday was tiring but fun-filled as I stayed most of the day with my friend kumare Alice who travelled from Rabat to Meknes then Ifrane to be with her wards. We had a great time chatting with other teachers and parents from ASI and from George Washington Academy (GWA).
Another "where I am from moment" took place and again, the inquirer got it wrong. She asked "Are you an Indonesian?" I said no, Filipino. And she felt bad about herself because she didn't get it right. The lady told us about her "thing" about guessing other people's cultural or country origin and boy oh boy, she's been around the world as an English as a Second Language teacher.
I immediately recalled my friend, the former Ms. Rhea Dario, when she said "You'd like to travel? Teach and you'll see the world". True enough, as the borders of the countries around the world open up and their youth get connected via the internet, there is this very big need for teachers from all over the world offering a "different view, different way" attitude. "International Education" is the way they say, towards international understanding. Be a teacher!
Anyways, I've picked a lot from Mr. Rettino today. From his tutoring times with this "prince" from one of the oil producing countries to his sad experience in Spain when he wanted beer but could not remember the Spanish name for it. The poor guy ordered coffee instead and while he was seeping that cup of coffee, someone he knew cam around and said the magic word "CERVEZA".
Hahahha! Save the best for last!
And I of course told them my sad story about the plate in the restaurant 2 weeks ago. I didn't want to eat the tagine with my local companion in the communal plate served to us so I asked for a "plate". First given to me was a roll of tissue, next was a "cob". I was giving up on the idea of eating my meal on my own plate after almost 10 minutes of using the universal language that never seem to work with the guy I was talking to... "Gestural". I asked for the last time then if I can enter his kitchen... when I found one plate, I grabbed and took it out, the most precious plate ever!
Anyways, more stories popped out during our chat about being a foreigner in a foreign land and I'll be keeping them for now in my tab.
Did you know when Pinoys meet they snap at each other? Enjoy the shots! Pansinin ninyo yung campus ng Al Akhawayn University, very homey, very beautiful! I think the closest resemblance in form of this university in my country Philippines is the De La Salle University-Dasmarinas and the Health and Sciences of DLSU Campuses both in Dasmarinas Cavite.
This university has a very nice swimming pool facility and I get to swim there twice a week with my ward. Really nice! I haven't seen anyone play chess in the campus though and I've been hoping I could play over-the-board chess once again.
Anyways, Alice brought her camera too and am waiting for her to send me the photos so I can filter which ones get to be posted here.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Hilot: RP's Own
Hi there!
I was pleasantly surprised to read online news about our very own HILOT making a comeback courtesy of Mrs. Del Mundo.
As a child in the 80's, I have always liked my trips to the albularyo whenever I get "pilay" and it's a "yehey" day for e each time I visited "Mang" Kung Sino Man in a nearby place.
There I would see people lining up just to get the Hilot that would make their bodies feel better, a lot of time their souls and the unseen are also cured of maladies.
It's a sad and culturally terrible fact that in the years leading up to the present, much has been achieved by western medicine (a big lie!) that our hilot was pushed out to oblivion. Hilot is touch therapy with the Filipino touch.
Yes, let us Filipinize the world, one post at a time. By the way, I cherish the days I spent at Forest Club together with the MGIS 2009 Class together with Mr. Luis VOltaire Formilleza.
Thing is, we didn't have the chance to go thru hilot because of the workload we had with the Grade 10 class.
Here's a link that will direct you to google's search for the word HILOT.
Now back to reality!
I was pleasantly surprised to read online news about our very own HILOT making a comeback courtesy of Mrs. Del Mundo.
As a child in the 80's, I have always liked my trips to the albularyo whenever I get "pilay" and it's a "yehey" day for e each time I visited "Mang" Kung Sino Man in a nearby place.
There I would see people lining up just to get the Hilot that would make their bodies feel better, a lot of time their souls and the unseen are also cured of maladies.
It's a sad and culturally terrible fact that in the years leading up to the present, much has been achieved by western medicine (a big lie!) that our hilot was pushed out to oblivion. Hilot is touch therapy with the Filipino touch.
Yes, let us Filipinize the world, one post at a time. By the way, I cherish the days I spent at Forest Club together with the MGIS 2009 Class together with Mr. Luis VOltaire Formilleza.
Thing is, we didn't have the chance to go thru hilot because of the workload we had with the Grade 10 class.
Here's a link that will direct you to google's search for the word HILOT.
Now back to reality!
Pete and his Quotes
... should I say, I qouted him? Hehehe!
Let me take you to my imagined conversation and interview (based on Chessbase) session with GM Pete Svidler:
Hmmm! I often receive that praise (?) after winning against a much higher rated opponent when I play games on my notebook against Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition. Like min eis 600 and my opponent woul be 601. Hahahaha! These numbers are numbers anyways but they would also spell the difference between playing in world class tournaments by invitation only and watching the same RSVP tournament on the net.
Something the worldwide Diet Industry and it's parishoners can learn from.
Well, from a world class player comes those words... Now what was I thinking when I said that greatness comes from humility? WTF!
Hang in there Pete! There are days and there are better days. But remember always, no matter how much ready we seem we are, if the ball ain't round then it must be square and it won't fit your plan for success.
Youth prevails and slowly taking on the world in all areas or field of endeavors. What can I say Pete? I was born 7 days ahead of you in the same year and month. I guess the confidence or lack of it has a lot to do with our shared Zodiac sign: Gemini!
How I love this part, the dark smokey room, no one has access to it except for the chosen few. very familiar with the feeling man, very!
Never hesitate... hesitation is the number one road killer and number one reason why basketball shots don't go in during crunch time. The difference between a Michael Jordan buzzer beater and an MJ wanna-be! Same in chess, Pete.
(to be continued)
Let me take you to my imagined conversation and interview (based on Chessbase) session with GM Pete Svidler:
Number 1 : "I am a better player than my current results show"
Hmmm! I often receive that praise (?) after winning against a much higher rated opponent when I play games on my notebook against Chessmaster Grandmaster Edition. Like min eis 600 and my opponent woul be 601. Hahahaha! These numbers are numbers anyways but they would also spell the difference between playing in world class tournaments by invitation only and watching the same RSVP tournament on the net.
Number 2: I am in better shape now than I used to be, but I don’t do that much sport. In my case I feel that if I stop myself from eating that much I’m doing okay. I’m sticking with that program for now.
Something the worldwide Diet Industry and it's parishoners can learn from.
Number 3: Number twenty in the world at the age of 32, 33, you are not really so hot anymore in the eyes of the organisers.
Well, from a world class player comes those words... Now what was I thinking when I said that greatness comes from humility? WTF!
Number 4: For me Mexico was a huge disappointment because this was the first time, perhaps in my life, where I felt I was really, really well prepared. You could probably even see it from the games. I got myself into shape, I started working out, and I came there with about three new openings, and with ideas in practically every single critical line. But I just couldn’t play, which was very surprising for me. I just couldn’t understand it. I still don’t really know what happened. Somehow the one time I really felt I could actually do well I did incredibly badly.
Hang in there Pete! There are days and there are better days. But remember always, no matter how much ready we seem we are, if the ball ain't round then it must be square and it won't fit your plan for success.
Number 5: And also I suppose it is an age thing. It seems mildly ridiculous to say this at 32, but I’m now constantly ending up second or third in everything I play, so it becomes obviously harder to compete with younger people.
Youth prevails and slowly taking on the world in all areas or field of endeavors. What can I say Pete? I was born 7 days ahead of you in the same year and month. I guess the confidence or lack of it has a lot to do with our shared Zodiac sign: Gemini!
Number 6: But in general you can’t help but feel that the World Championship is something that – like American politics – happens in a dark smoky room somewhere, and you have no access to this dark room. As long as this is going on I feel I just need to improve, get myself in proper mental shape, and then what happens happens.
How I love this part, the dark smokey room, no one has access to it except for the chosen few. very familiar with the feeling man, very!
Number 7: I think Topalov deserved to win it because he was the more confident player. Plus two in seven games looks like a rout, like a crushing victory, but it was basically a very even match with two games completely ruined by time trouble.
Never hesitate... hesitation is the number one road killer and number one reason why basketball shots don't go in during crunch time. The difference between a Michael Jordan buzzer beater and an MJ wanna-be! Same in chess, Pete.
(to be continued)
News From Home
It's a freaking show I'm seeing and reading, re: Philippines' News links!
Nicole vs Smith Case: Nicole Recants! and Nicole did not Complain... Now tell me, should we believe in everything we read on paper?
Pacman vs Solar Sport: The Betrayal. The world is in a mess because of... ahm... err... the invention of the "dough".
Jalosjos is barred from seeking public office. Now tell me their basis aside form the fact that these issues have such obvious moral and legal reasons. Why allow them to run for public office in the first place? Unless cleared of any cases filed against them, I think no one should be allowed to run for office.
That's all for now.
Nicole vs Smith Case: Nicole Recants! and Nicole did not Complain... Now tell me, should we believe in everything we read on paper?
Pacman vs Solar Sport: The Betrayal. The world is in a mess because of... ahm... err... the invention of the "dough".
Jalosjos is barred from seeking public office. Now tell me their basis aside form the fact that these issues have such obvious moral and legal reasons. Why allow them to run for public office in the first place? Unless cleared of any cases filed against them, I think no one should be allowed to run for office.
That's all for now.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
RP Scholastic Chess
Yep, I think this coming June 2009, we will be seeing chess notebooks and chess assignments from our children's notebooks when they arrive home from school.By now everyone in the chess community there back home knows about the memo signed by President GMA.
Am a bit scared now for I am foreseeing great issues of corruption in this nationwide project. As to how this will happen, if it will happen, will depend mainly on the system to be implemented.
Don't get me wrong now, this is a welcome thingy for our chess trainers, coaches and players, the time has come!
More workshops, more simuls and invitations for our players, more teams and schools to train for our chess coaches. Forget about the global economic ouch-ouch because this means additional income for our chess professionals.
Let's not forget WNM Mila Emperado's pioneering work in this field and Philippine Chess Society's system, quiet, smooth but effective. Does the job without fanfare which only for showbiz! But wait, we need to portray our chess heroes as persons and veer away from those old school potrayal of our chess greats : geeky, boring and physically lame!
Chess is the game of mind and body! Good luck to DepEd and NCFP!
North Africa and Middle East
Hi everyone!
Last night I was surprised to stumble upon the geographic and political classification of Morocco in my student's history class book.
It says there, North Africa (NA) and the Middle East (ME) is the place where 3 continents meet namely Africa, Europe and Asia. It says NA and ME are a separate regions from their continental location.
Whew! No wonder Morocco is applying for a European Union membership. It's interesting to know that these two regions North Africa and Middle East supply the world with crude oil.
Interesting enough, I read on and there were plenty of phrases from the book that would make you realize that much of the regions future depends on peaceful and harmonious understanding between the nations of both regions.
By the way, both regions are considered to be a dessert and that the North Africa is part of the Arab World.
Nice read indeed!
Last night I was surprised to stumble upon the geographic and political classification of Morocco in my student's history class book.
It says there, North Africa (NA) and the Middle East (ME) is the place where 3 continents meet namely Africa, Europe and Asia. It says NA and ME are a separate regions from their continental location.
Whew! No wonder Morocco is applying for a European Union membership. It's interesting to know that these two regions North Africa and Middle East supply the world with crude oil.
Interesting enough, I read on and there were plenty of phrases from the book that would make you realize that much of the regions future depends on peaceful and harmonious understanding between the nations of both regions.
By the way, both regions are considered to be a dessert and that the North Africa is part of the Arab World.
Nice read indeed!
Really Rabat
I owe you a blog post... I know, I know, it's been weeks since I promised you a blog. Blame the sleepless nights. It transforms my days into long dreary hours of just floating, a well-tuned machine with need for minimal brain activity.
I spent another birthday in Morocco! I'm 22, 23, 24, 25, 26... Who the hell cares, right? As a birthday present, I dressed up and played tourist for the day. Complete with the giant orange back pack, Ray-ban Aviators, and oh so comfortable boots. And of course, the love of my Morocco life, my Canon 350D-SLR.
Rabat is my weekend get-away. And for my birthday, I pretended to be a newbie - unfamiliar, lost, amazed, stupefied at times, and willing to walk. The trek started out the doors of Royal Hotel, one of my most stayed-in Rabat hotels. It offers a clean room and a clean bathroom for only 400 dirhams (for those of you who don't know, dirhams are the Moroccan currency. Equivalent to around 8 US Dollars). Rabat offers a wide variety of hotel accommodations. The cheapest ones can be rather dingy, that is, if you don't pick the right ones. Some of these cheap hotels even have communal toilets and no baths! Then there are the high-priced 5-star hotels (or hotel until October when the Hilton Rabat resumes business) which I think can offer some of the most amazing breakfast buffets (the Hilton is the only hotel in Rabat that serves REAL BACON in their buffet). And of course, there's the average hotel Royal. In the words of Goldilocks, "It's just right!" This is the view from my bedroom balcony.
From the Royal Hotel, I had to dodge a couple of male-hollers, which I am surprisingly used to. Yes, I have learned the art of selective hearing. I make my way down the streets of Rabat Ville. This is the old city where the medina is. Never go in the medina (the market) wearing a skirt. You might end up getting stalked by some scary person who would stare you down as if you were naked. There is a huge post office in Rabat Ville, and a Bank Al Maghrib, Maroc Telecom Office, stores, and offices. And of course the Royal Palace.
This is Rabat Ville on an early Sunday afternoon. This is a center street isle where people walk around, trying not to step on pigeon poop, take pictures, sit around, or lounge on the grass. The structure at the end of the road is the Mosque Assouna.
I made my way through, passing the La Gare (train station) which is now under construction. Rabat Ville is filled with grand arches and doorways just like these.
This is a doorway to a museum, which (like most of the other stores) is unfortunately closed on Sundays.
By this time, my travelling feet are starting to ache, and three cars were creepily following me. It was getting scary, and as much I wanted to continue walking and taking snapshots of Rabat Ville, I hailed a cab and made my way to Rabat Hay Riyad.
This is a more posh section of Rabat filled with modern office buildings, apartments, restaurants, and people on a family day out - complete with baby carriages and kids running around. I went to what I think is the center of Hay Riyad, Mahaj Riyad, where I planned to continue with my tourist-for-a-day game. Clicking away on my camera, people were starting to be bothered by the sudden flash, some of them were looking very annoyed too, so I decided to take a breather, and a lunch break!
I met some friends for lunch, just a little notion to remind me it's indeed my birthday. We went to Kiotori, my favorite Japanese restaurant. It was my lucky day in Kiotori. The staff of the restaurant knew us as favored clients (because of the thousands of times we ate there), and asked me to sample the brand new additions to their menu. FOR FREE! Imagine an entire platter filled with sushi, sushi, and more sushi! A very very happy birthday to me!
By this time, I was about done playing tourist and was ready to go back to being a regular part of the crowd. My friends and I went to Megamall (which is not even an inch close to being really MEGA), had ice cream, and surprisingly... WENT ICE SKATING!!!
I called it a day at around 8 pm, and headed back to my friend's house where I stuffed myself with Filipino food that I missed so much, and filled my head with images from TFC!
The week after this, I was back in Rabat. And the week after, and the week after.
What can I say, birthdays have to be special. And playing tourist for a day made it a teeny bit more special than an ordinary day would have been.
by: stillinatrance@multiply.com
I spent another birthday in Morocco! I'm 22, 23, 24, 25, 26... Who the hell cares, right? As a birthday present, I dressed up and played tourist for the day. Complete with the giant orange back pack, Ray-ban Aviators, and oh so comfortable boots. And of course, the love of my Morocco life, my Canon 350D-SLR.
Rabat is my weekend get-away. And for my birthday, I pretended to be a newbie - unfamiliar, lost, amazed, stupefied at times, and willing to walk. The trek started out the doors of Royal Hotel, one of my most stayed-in Rabat hotels. It offers a clean room and a clean bathroom for only 400 dirhams (for those of you who don't know, dirhams are the Moroccan currency. Equivalent to around 8 US Dollars). Rabat offers a wide variety of hotel accommodations. The cheapest ones can be rather dingy, that is, if you don't pick the right ones. Some of these cheap hotels even have communal toilets and no baths! Then there are the high-priced 5-star hotels (or hotel until October when the Hilton Rabat resumes business) which I think can offer some of the most amazing breakfast buffets (the Hilton is the only hotel in Rabat that serves REAL BACON in their buffet). And of course, there's the average hotel Royal. In the words of Goldilocks, "It's just right!" This is the view from my bedroom balcony.
From the Royal Hotel, I had to dodge a couple of male-hollers, which I am surprisingly used to. Yes, I have learned the art of selective hearing. I make my way down the streets of Rabat Ville. This is the old city where the medina is. Never go in the medina (the market) wearing a skirt. You might end up getting stalked by some scary person who would stare you down as if you were naked. There is a huge post office in Rabat Ville, and a Bank Al Maghrib, Maroc Telecom Office, stores, and offices. And of course the Royal Palace.
This is Rabat Ville on an early Sunday afternoon. This is a center street isle where people walk around, trying not to step on pigeon poop, take pictures, sit around, or lounge on the grass. The structure at the end of the road is the Mosque Assouna.
I made my way through, passing the La Gare (train station) which is now under construction. Rabat Ville is filled with grand arches and doorways just like these.
This is a doorway to a museum, which (like most of the other stores) is unfortunately closed on Sundays.
By this time, my travelling feet are starting to ache, and three cars were creepily following me. It was getting scary, and as much I wanted to continue walking and taking snapshots of Rabat Ville, I hailed a cab and made my way to Rabat Hay Riyad.
This is a more posh section of Rabat filled with modern office buildings, apartments, restaurants, and people on a family day out - complete with baby carriages and kids running around. I went to what I think is the center of Hay Riyad, Mahaj Riyad, where I planned to continue with my tourist-for-a-day game. Clicking away on my camera, people were starting to be bothered by the sudden flash, some of them were looking very annoyed too, so I decided to take a breather, and a lunch break!
I met some friends for lunch, just a little notion to remind me it's indeed my birthday. We went to Kiotori, my favorite Japanese restaurant. It was my lucky day in Kiotori. The staff of the restaurant knew us as favored clients (because of the thousands of times we ate there), and asked me to sample the brand new additions to their menu. FOR FREE! Imagine an entire platter filled with sushi, sushi, and more sushi! A very very happy birthday to me!
By this time, I was about done playing tourist and was ready to go back to being a regular part of the crowd. My friends and I went to Megamall (which is not even an inch close to being really MEGA), had ice cream, and surprisingly... WENT ICE SKATING!!!
I called it a day at around 8 pm, and headed back to my friend's house where I stuffed myself with Filipino food that I missed so much, and filled my head with images from TFC!
The week after this, I was back in Rabat. And the week after, and the week after.
What can I say, birthdays have to be special. And playing tourist for a day made it a teeny bit more special than an ordinary day would have been.
by: stillinatrance@multiply.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Japanese?
Hi!
Kanina nasa isang marche ako (grocery) when I was about to pay na, someone asked
"Japanese?"
Sabi ko, no, Filipino!
Then sabi, ahh, "welcome!"
Ano ba yan, basta Asian looking either Chinese or Japanese lang ang kilala nila.
Kanina nasa isang marche ako (grocery) when I was about to pay na, someone asked
"Japanese?"
Sabi ko, no, Filipino!
Then sabi, ahh, "welcome!"
Ano ba yan, basta Asian looking either Chinese or Japanese lang ang kilala nila.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Chess Bloggin' and Lovin!
Hi there!
This post means so much to me...
For alost 2 months now, I've stayed away from Philippine Chess Chronicles blog for some known reasons to all of you and some secret reasons.
Right now, I'm itching to get back into chess again (online playing, news searching, net surfing, posting updates about Philippine Chess) and this time, I wish I could do a better than what I've done before in the previous 3 years of this blog.
Some thoughts of mine I wish you all would know:
1. I got fed up reading and learning about Philippine' Chess system in general, either I see people fight about who the best junior player or best player in the land or what system is best to promote chess further in the grassroots. It felt like hearing and seeing Vilmanians and Noranians over and over again.
2. Got really busy in preparing for my Morocco stint.
3. Yes, I felt that there's not much need for PCC blog because the void which I tried to fill was almost overflowing now with the flourishing of blogs catering to Philippine chess (Malibay Chess Club blog, ChessPhi, Pinoy Chess Portal and other player's blogs). I hope we see more blogs created and sustained by active Filipino chess players.
Add to the fact that my personal hero-chess journalist, Mr. Robert "Bobby" Ang came back from semi-retirement and you know he's got everything Philippine chess needs for the best chronicles we can ever have.
4. I got burned out. In fact, I gave all my chess books to my bro-in-law-chess-student Tristan 2 days before leaving for Morocco.
That's all for now and I wish I can go back here slowly but consistently and post relevant stories that would entice more peeps into chess.
Maraming salamat and Peace to all of you!
By the way, I am not Sugar Dom as what others think.
Thank you!
P.S.
NM Erwin Carag, I'm sorry if I did not reply to your email and helped out in posting the tournament details you sent me. I was at a crossroads that time whether I'll go back here at PCC or not. Next time, please send me anything you need for posting here. It will be an honor to serve Philippine Chess in this manner.
This post means so much to me...
For alost 2 months now, I've stayed away from Philippine Chess Chronicles blog for some known reasons to all of you and some secret reasons.
Right now, I'm itching to get back into chess again (online playing, news searching, net surfing, posting updates about Philippine Chess) and this time, I wish I could do a better than what I've done before in the previous 3 years of this blog.
Some thoughts of mine I wish you all would know:
1. I got fed up reading and learning about Philippine' Chess system in general, either I see people fight about who the best junior player or best player in the land or what system is best to promote chess further in the grassroots. It felt like hearing and seeing Vilmanians and Noranians over and over again.
2. Got really busy in preparing for my Morocco stint.
3. Yes, I felt that there's not much need for PCC blog because the void which I tried to fill was almost overflowing now with the flourishing of blogs catering to Philippine chess (Malibay Chess Club blog, ChessPhi, Pinoy Chess Portal and other player's blogs). I hope we see more blogs created and sustained by active Filipino chess players.
Add to the fact that my personal hero-chess journalist, Mr. Robert "Bobby" Ang came back from semi-retirement and you know he's got everything Philippine chess needs for the best chronicles we can ever have.
4. I got burned out. In fact, I gave all my chess books to my bro-in-law-chess-student Tristan 2 days before leaving for Morocco.
That's all for now and I wish I can go back here slowly but consistently and post relevant stories that would entice more peeps into chess.
Maraming salamat and Peace to all of you!
By the way, I am not Sugar Dom as what others think.
Thank you!
P.S.
NM Erwin Carag, I'm sorry if I did not reply to your email and helped out in posting the tournament details you sent me. I was at a crossroads that time whether I'll go back here at PCC or not. Next time, please send me anything you need for posting here. It will be an honor to serve Philippine Chess in this manner.
Gift Guides For You and Me
Ok now everyone, this is becoming a habit of mine to visit and re-visit this blog called Philippine Chess Chronicles and share some interesting insights about websites that offers a lot of good stuffs.What can I do? It's just too good to ignore what these shops have to offer.
Ever since I've left the Philippine soil and go here in Morocco, I really said that I will, as much as I can, explore this beautiful north African country. Armed with only a point and shoot camera, I began to take shots at the beautiful mosques and ancient walls of each cities I came across with.
And after a month here, I felt I needed a much sophisticated gadget, a better functioning camera, a digital SLR camera. Now here in Morocco, one either speak Arabic or French or your out of the loop. That is my main problem.
Now comes my option, a very good option indeed. At ShopWiki, one need not learn Arabic or French to buy your precious electronic gadget. At Shopwiki Electronics, you have a choice from MP3 players, mobile phones, Digital SLR's, television and cordless phones, you have a wide range of choices to choose from and yes, at the press of buttons you can shop all day long, err 24 hours may I say.
Don't get me wrong here guys, they have more to offer than your mega super, ultra electro, califrajilistic all. Here is ShopWiki's long list of anything and everything for sale on the web:
1. Accessories. From bags, belts, and waht-have-yous, it's here.
2. Arts and crafts. For the artists, for the craftsmen and for whatever you like to create, WikiShop has it.
3. Automotive. Now comes the toys for the big boys. Need the latest in car trends? It's available here.
There's so much more and I will be denying you of that wonderful online shopping experience if I list down all of the links for WikiShop now right?
C'mon, I heard you say yes!
Here is the most important part of this post, the WikiShop's gift buying guides for all types of people and seasons of all types. I know I know... In the Philippines we only have 2 seasons and those are hot season and floody seasons. So what if we look for winter items like boots and jackets with fleece lining that will make you sweat like you in you aerobics class? So what if you try to find for skiing gadgets like you'll use it in Tagaytay or get away in Amanpulo resort?
The good thing is, WikiShop provides you insights and makes sure you get what youare looking for, by recipients or by occasion.
Am almost done here guys but WikiShop's features I just can't stop talking about. Did you know what sets them apart from other online stores?
Give it a little time... C'mon, do you know?
I'd like to quote our friend from WikiShop, James Keating:
Traditional shopping sites will only show you stores that have PAID for placement, and ShopWiki will give a shopper everything. For a shopper, this means they can find anything and everything for sale on the web at ShopWiki.com. More products from more stores means better deals and savings for your readers.
Your used to googling anything you want to look for on the internet right? So for sure you would wish to google what you plan to buy online right? It's WikiShop who will crawl the web for you. Beat that!
So I guess I'll be back here at PCC onc in awhile to blog about chess, products and life in general. For now, enjoy the best online store there is.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Konichiwa in Morocco
Hi there!
2 weeks ago, I went to the bank and other government offices to here. After awhile, I walked (again!) around the Medina (downtown nila) and was surprised to be greeted from behind with "Konichiwa!" by this guy:
I stopped and said, mabuhay! Hahahah! Sa loob loob ko, Maputi ba ko? Singkit ba ko? At sigurado kong hindi ako sakang! Ang malupit pa nun, ang Asia is China and vice versa. Sabi ko, pardon' but Philippines is not inside China and Philippines is a country of it's own.
The guy speaks good English and I was scared because I didn't know what he was up to. I chatted with him for around 5 minutes and said goodbye although I really wanted to go on walking, I felt it was a bit dangerous for me to walk farther from where the car was parked with the driver.
And here are the photos I took during the day:
Nga pala, yung bunso kong anak, si Miguel Tomas "Migs" nag bearer sa kasal ng ninang nya na si Johann Arquerro. SI Johan, naging co intern ko sa National Center for Mental Health during my Occupational Therapy days. We became friends afterwards and found out much commonality in our lives. St. Marys' Academy-PC din pala sya. And classmates sila ni Claire in third year. Small world!
Congratulations nga pala sa newly-wed couple, Mr and Mrs Macabutas.
Miguel officially was a coin bearer but during the walk, bible ang pinadala sa kanya. Anyways, here are the two pictures sent to me just now:
SORRY! Miguel asked me thru his mom to have his photos removed.
For Morocco updates, visit Morocco News Dot Net.
2 weeks ago, I went to the bank and other government offices to here. After awhile, I walked (again!) around the Medina (downtown nila) and was surprised to be greeted from behind with "Konichiwa!" by this guy:
I stopped and said, mabuhay! Hahahah! Sa loob loob ko, Maputi ba ko? Singkit ba ko? At sigurado kong hindi ako sakang! Ang malupit pa nun, ang Asia is China and vice versa. Sabi ko, pardon' but Philippines is not inside China and Philippines is a country of it's own.
The guy speaks good English and I was scared because I didn't know what he was up to. I chatted with him for around 5 minutes and said goodbye although I really wanted to go on walking, I felt it was a bit dangerous for me to walk farther from where the car was parked with the driver.
And here are the photos I took during the day:
Nga pala, yung bunso kong anak, si Miguel Tomas "Migs" nag bearer sa kasal ng ninang nya na si Johann Arquerro. SI Johan, naging co intern ko sa National Center for Mental Health during my Occupational Therapy days. We became friends afterwards and found out much commonality in our lives. St. Marys' Academy-PC din pala sya. And classmates sila ni Claire in third year. Small world!
Congratulations nga pala sa newly-wed couple, Mr and Mrs Macabutas.
Miguel officially was a coin bearer but during the walk, bible ang pinadala sa kanya. Anyways, here are the two pictures sent to me just now:
SORRY! Miguel asked me thru his mom to have his photos removed.
For Morocco updates, visit Morocco News Dot Net.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Chaotic Kitchen Creation
Hi there again!
Cooked chicken adobo today.
Here's some photos I took in the battlefield:
And midway of my writing here, I went to the place "where we eat" area and ate with the other 4.
Here are some of the reviews I got:
"Sarap, para akong nasa Pilipinas" - ate Wilma (Filipina)
"Ahhhhm, ahhh, uuuhhhmmmm" - Sadik (Moroccan)
"Zwina! " - Hakima (moroccan, yung nasa picture)
"Ahhhh, uuuhhhmmm, ahhhhh" Naima (Moroccan)
Ako? excited ako to eat again that reminds me so much of my homeland, my family my identity.
Ang sarap, na remind na naman ako ng plural ng rice... extra rice!
Here is another postcard photo I made out of Picasa 3, the best photo manager for me:
These photos I took last Sunday when I attended my first every Holy Eucharist celebration here in Morroco.
Dami ko na meet na Catholics duon and mostly are immigrant students plus other missionary priests and sis'.
That's all for now peeps... need to check out websites for Filipino dishes now.
Cooked chicken adobo today.
Here's some photos I took in the battlefield:
And midway of my writing here, I went to the place "where we eat" area and ate with the other 4.
Here are some of the reviews I got:
"Sarap, para akong nasa Pilipinas" - ate Wilma (Filipina)
"Ahhhhm, ahhh, uuuhhhmmmm" - Sadik (Moroccan)
"Zwina! " - Hakima (moroccan, yung nasa picture)
"Ahhhh, uuuhhhmmm, ahhhhh" Naima (Moroccan)
Ako? excited ako to eat again that reminds me so much of my homeland, my family my identity.
Ang sarap, na remind na naman ako ng plural ng rice... extra rice!
Here is another postcard photo I made out of Picasa 3, the best photo manager for me:
These photos I took last Sunday when I attended my first every Holy Eucharist celebration here in Morroco.
Dami ko na meet na Catholics duon and mostly are immigrant students plus other missionary priests and sis'.
That's all for now peeps... need to check out websites for Filipino dishes now.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Ifrane Again
After 2 weeks of stay in Meknes because of the school break, here I am again in Ifrane but on a transient mode since the whole fam stays in Meknes until Sunday, when all of us packs our bags and stay again in Ifrane until I dont know when.
I had a good walk this morning in Ifrane.
Sa Pilipinas pa lang, trip na trip ko na mag-lakad to sooth my weary soul, to learn about a certain place... and yes, kapag nagtitipid ako sa pamasahe and pag wala nang pang pamasahe.
Sarap ng lakad ko kanina, around 8-9 am yun so mataas na ang araw pero shady because of the trees. Ang sarap ng early morning sounds plus the scenery dito ok.
Yung kalye dito ranges from cement to asphalt, then lined up on the sides ang mga puno and ay island din sa kalye nila with trees din.
Do you remember what former Manila mayor Lito Atienza did sa Avenida? Yung ginawa nyang bricks and kalye at nag re-route? Which caused the businesses along Rizal avenue, specifically the block from Sta. Cruz church to Recto avenue lose revenues? Gann ang kalye dito sa Ifrane pag dating mo na mismo sa centreville. Wala ding sasakyang dumadaan dun sa mga bricks na yun. Maganda! I hated it when I saw the project of Lito Atienza was dismantled when he Mayor Alfredo Lim took office. Sayang, ang ganda pa naman nun.
Gusto ko uniform ng mga parak dito pero ayoko sila makahalibilo hahahah! Spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e. Hahahh!
I miss my life in the Philippines so much. I think about my family everyday and yung father ko, Alfredo Torre Buenaventura, is battling cancer as of now. He's been undergoing chemotherapy and has to deal with the side effects of the chemo.
Wala ako, wala ate ko at wala si Ferdie. Utol ko din yun nasa Dubai. Si Jay na lang ang nandun at si PK. Salamat na lang at asawa ko laging nakaalalay sa parents namin, ko.
Kaya siguro di ako matigil sa kakaiyak nung binabasa ko mga blogs ni Francis Magalona and his wife, Pia Magalona when they wrote about Francis' fight with his blood cancer.
Peace be with the soul of my namesake, Francis M and may his soul rest in the loving arms of Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven.
I'm still in the honeymoon stage if you ask me about my stay here in Morocco. Yes it's beautiful, still has lots of places for me to go to and see but homesickness can be very depressing.
Thank God I have other things to do aside from whacking other mafias in my facebook account which by the way, is earning 2M per hour. I have "impulse bought" 500 chain guns and 500 machine guns twice. My goal was to finish off my bank account containing 50 M that time. I still felt like a failure because after the buying spree, I still had 1M in my account, facebook Mafia bank account. My batchmate from CSSM, Gracie grasying, I am her ninong sa mafia wars and we can't help but laugh because ang complain nya eh binabalikan sya ng mga mafia after nya pag nanakawan yung mga yun. Hahahah! Sabi ko, kaya make sure she deposit the earnings she get. Hahahah!
While I'm blogging here, I know it's night time in Pinas and my pretty-sexy-singer-fun-to-be-with wife is almost done with her tutorial job at home. Kanina nagchikka text kami and both of us were busy so di kami nakapag chat.
Anyways, random musing for me in this post. Ooooppps! I'm planning to use my real name now here in this blog.
I've had 7 blogs already and all of them I used a different name and thought it's high time to use my name. The one which I have worked in so much was my chess blog, http://philippinechesschronicles.blogspot.com.
I have considered my addiction to chess as a thing of my recent past but I don't see myself going back to it as much as I did before. Truth be told, I want to go back to music, like I did before in high school and college. No, I don't sing and in fact I a tone deaf but aside from photography, I believe I'd want to pursue music again. My dad can play music with the guitar really well effortlessly, my father-in-law plays most of the usical instruments and has played his bass guitar in Japan for 20 years to sustain his family. My wife, she sings... really great! I will never forget the time when she sang "Someone to watch over me" in the reception hall in our wedding almost 5 years ago.
Well, this post is called Ifrane again...
Bye for now and hope you all are safe in your comfort zones called home.
Peace be to all of mankind!
I had a good walk this morning in Ifrane.
Sa Pilipinas pa lang, trip na trip ko na mag-lakad to sooth my weary soul, to learn about a certain place... and yes, kapag nagtitipid ako sa pamasahe and pag wala nang pang pamasahe.
Sarap ng lakad ko kanina, around 8-9 am yun so mataas na ang araw pero shady because of the trees. Ang sarap ng early morning sounds plus the scenery dito ok.
Yung kalye dito ranges from cement to asphalt, then lined up on the sides ang mga puno and ay island din sa kalye nila with trees din.
Do you remember what former Manila mayor Lito Atienza did sa Avenida? Yung ginawa nyang bricks and kalye at nag re-route? Which caused the businesses along Rizal avenue, specifically the block from Sta. Cruz church to Recto avenue lose revenues? Gann ang kalye dito sa Ifrane pag dating mo na mismo sa centreville. Wala ding sasakyang dumadaan dun sa mga bricks na yun. Maganda! I hated it when I saw the project of Lito Atienza was dismantled when he Mayor Alfredo Lim took office. Sayang, ang ganda pa naman nun.
Gusto ko uniform ng mga parak dito pero ayoko sila makahalibilo hahahah! Spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e. Hahahh!
I miss my life in the Philippines so much. I think about my family everyday and yung father ko, Alfredo Torre Buenaventura, is battling cancer as of now. He's been undergoing chemotherapy and has to deal with the side effects of the chemo.
Wala ako, wala ate ko at wala si Ferdie. Utol ko din yun nasa Dubai. Si Jay na lang ang nandun at si PK. Salamat na lang at asawa ko laging nakaalalay sa parents namin, ko.
Kaya siguro di ako matigil sa kakaiyak nung binabasa ko mga blogs ni Francis Magalona and his wife, Pia Magalona when they wrote about Francis' fight with his blood cancer.
Peace be with the soul of my namesake, Francis M and may his soul rest in the loving arms of Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven.
I'm still in the honeymoon stage if you ask me about my stay here in Morocco. Yes it's beautiful, still has lots of places for me to go to and see but homesickness can be very depressing.
Thank God I have other things to do aside from whacking other mafias in my facebook account which by the way, is earning 2M per hour. I have "impulse bought" 500 chain guns and 500 machine guns twice. My goal was to finish off my bank account containing 50 M that time. I still felt like a failure because after the buying spree, I still had 1M in my account, facebook Mafia bank account. My batchmate from CSSM, Gracie grasying, I am her ninong sa mafia wars and we can't help but laugh because ang complain nya eh binabalikan sya ng mga mafia after nya pag nanakawan yung mga yun. Hahahah! Sabi ko, kaya make sure she deposit the earnings she get. Hahahah!
While I'm blogging here, I know it's night time in Pinas and my pretty-sexy-singer-fun-to-be-with wife is almost done with her tutorial job at home. Kanina nagchikka text kami and both of us were busy so di kami nakapag chat.
Anyways, random musing for me in this post. Ooooppps! I'm planning to use my real name now here in this blog.
I've had 7 blogs already and all of them I used a different name and thought it's high time to use my name. The one which I have worked in so much was my chess blog, http://philippinechesschronicles.blogspot.com.
I have considered my addiction to chess as a thing of my recent past but I don't see myself going back to it as much as I did before. Truth be told, I want to go back to music, like I did before in high school and college. No, I don't sing and in fact I a tone deaf but aside from photography, I believe I'd want to pursue music again. My dad can play music with the guitar really well effortlessly, my father-in-law plays most of the usical instruments and has played his bass guitar in Japan for 20 years to sustain his family. My wife, she sings... really great! I will never forget the time when she sang "Someone to watch over me" in the reception hall in our wedding almost 5 years ago.
Well, this post is called Ifrane again...
Bye for now and hope you all are safe in your comfort zones called home.
Peace be to all of mankind!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Saturday Stakeout
Hello!
I went out and snapped some shots:
By Tuesday Morocco and the rest of the Muslim world will be celebrating the birth of prophet Muhammad. Greetings of peace and celebration to all of you.
Her are some of the photos which I find iconic...
Everyday I see women wearing these on their heads... because it's cold!
My next project is to compile photos of people wearing "jeleba".
I went out and snapped some shots:
By Tuesday Morocco and the rest of the Muslim world will be celebrating the birth of prophet Muhammad. Greetings of peace and celebration to all of you.
Her are some of the photos which I find iconic...
Everyday I see women wearing these on their heads... because it's cold!
My next project is to compile photos of people wearing "jeleba".
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Morocco's Image
2 months prior to my flight going to Morocco, close friends of my were super concerned about Morocco's tolerance for Christianity.
Ang mga tanong nila sa akin borders on complete ignorance of the Moroccan culture and beliefs just like mine which I don't really find stupid but rather revealing of how much do I really know African countries, specially the Islamic North African country like Morocco.
I have now stayed here in Morocco for a month and a week and le' me list down some points our readers might be interested to find out about Morocco:
1. Morocco applied for membership in the European Union. Yes, Morocco is 45 minutes away from Spain by barge. Proximity as the reason? Economic stability? Probably.
2. Morocco is a Kingdom, a progressive one. His excellency King Mohammed VI has made reforms and instituted women's force in various key posts in his government and this is one major reason why women here in Morocco is almost on an equal footing with men.
3. Morocco in general is a country up north the equator, and it is cold for someone like me who is "lamigin".
4. Morocco has beautiful city gates that features centuries old architecture with a very Arab taste.
5. Yes, if you'd ask me if I love their food, very much. They are not spicy like the what I've thought would be. Tangine and couscous are great.
6. In Casablanca and Rabat, you'll find Mc Donalds, KFC, Fridays and Pizza hut. A proof that Morocco is in the right track.
Although I've written some of the reasons why I think Morocco projects a modern trending lifestyle, I still believe that this land has so much more catching up to do to meet the standards of an industrialized country.
Here's one more reason why.
By the way, for those of you interested in visiting Morocco, read up on Kingdom of Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Ang mga tanong nila sa akin borders on complete ignorance of the Moroccan culture and beliefs just like mine which I don't really find stupid but rather revealing of how much do I really know African countries, specially the Islamic North African country like Morocco.
I have now stayed here in Morocco for a month and a week and le' me list down some points our readers might be interested to find out about Morocco:
1. Morocco applied for membership in the European Union. Yes, Morocco is 45 minutes away from Spain by barge. Proximity as the reason? Economic stability? Probably.
2. Morocco is a Kingdom, a progressive one. His excellency King Mohammed VI has made reforms and instituted women's force in various key posts in his government and this is one major reason why women here in Morocco is almost on an equal footing with men.
3. Morocco in general is a country up north the equator, and it is cold for someone like me who is "lamigin".
4. Morocco has beautiful city gates that features centuries old architecture with a very Arab taste.
5. Yes, if you'd ask me if I love their food, very much. They are not spicy like the what I've thought would be. Tangine and couscous are great.
6. In Casablanca and Rabat, you'll find Mc Donalds, KFC, Fridays and Pizza hut. A proof that Morocco is in the right track.
Although I've written some of the reasons why I think Morocco projects a modern trending lifestyle, I still believe that this land has so much more catching up to do to meet the standards of an industrialized country.
Here's one more reason why.
By the way, for those of you interested in visiting Morocco, read up on Kingdom of Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Eye floaters?
Hey there!
Am temporarily back here to blog something really important...
Eye floaters, anyone?
I was, as a child, been a victim of these eye floaters and in this adult life of mine, I've had episodes of eye float moments.
I could clearly recall how I would react and adapt to these eye float moments as grade school student while playing chess in school or watching television at home: I would go to the bathroom, wash my face and eyes with water, dry myself with a towel and check if the eye float has gone.
And yes, you guessed it right, I would spend hours in agony just to have those eye floaters removed... to my frustration it just won't go away when I wanted to.Then I would give up on my efforts and come to the conclusion that as it came without my knowledge, it will go without my efforts. Missing my favorite program on tv or my opponent just got fed up waiting for me during chess games.
And so it went on until I came across this product, The eye floaters solution.
I never thought I'd come across a product that would finally deal with this "mysterious" visual flare ups of mine nor would ever read or write something about my eye visions. Never really thought the day would come for me to have these eye floaters of mine be fixed.
Just exactly what are eye floaters?
Le' me give you a rundown, after all, here at Philippine Chess Chronicles, our readers fall under the categories of a genius, a nerd or a super reader and I need not give any super-ultra-electro-magnetic-hiphop explanation for you to understand the basics, an excerpt from the only e-book available about eye floaters and flashers:
Eye floaters, flashers, streaks... all these I thought were a prelude to migrain.
But no they're not. Eye floaters, streaks, flashers, spider webs, moving dots and squiggly lines, they now can be remedied and it's available only here, The Secret cure for eye floaters.
There are ways we can deal with a situation, take note, I don't call it a problem but a situation. For chess players, we call it chess position, for medical professionals, we call it a condition. Call it whatever you want but let me tell you one thing, there is remedy for this thing called eye floaters.
It affects one of the most important sense organ we humans have, our eyes.Don't suffer in silence, err, do not allow yourself to "see" your agonies. Give you self a chance to see the world clearly, eye float-free!
Eliminate eye floaters in only seven days, for life!
Get the world's cure for eye floaters now.
Meanwhile, I hope Philippine's number one chess player and youngest ever Filipino to become a grandmaster (as of now) is resting after 2 consecutive major tourneys he has joined. Although I've read from Malibay Chess Club blog about his participation in the upcoming RP's Battle of the Grandmaster, I really hop he takes time out to rest, enjoy life outside of chess. After all, he has achieved enormous feats for our country. All work and no play makes Sam a dumb boy! Thing is, Wesley sees chess as a game not work.
Am temporarily back here to blog something really important...
Eye floaters, anyone?I was, as a child, been a victim of these eye floaters and in this adult life of mine, I've had episodes of eye float moments.
I could clearly recall how I would react and adapt to these eye float moments as grade school student while playing chess in school or watching television at home: I would go to the bathroom, wash my face and eyes with water, dry myself with a towel and check if the eye float has gone.
And yes, you guessed it right, I would spend hours in agony just to have those eye floaters removed... to my frustration it just won't go away when I wanted to.Then I would give up on my efforts and come to the conclusion that as it came without my knowledge, it will go without my efforts. Missing my favorite program on tv or my opponent just got fed up waiting for me during chess games.
And so it went on until I came across this product, The eye floaters solution.
I never thought I'd come across a product that would finally deal with this "mysterious" visual flare ups of mine nor would ever read or write something about my eye visions. Never really thought the day would come for me to have these eye floaters of mine be fixed.
Just exactly what are eye floaters?
Le' me give you a rundown, after all, here at Philippine Chess Chronicles, our readers fall under the categories of a genius, a nerd or a super reader and I need not give any super-ultra-electro-magnetic-hiphop explanation for you to understand the basics, an excerpt from the only e-book available about eye floaters and flashers:
"The eye is a ball filled with a gel/liquid type substance that is the vitreous humor. It is what maintains the eye’s round shape. Eye Floaters are dead tissue cells that get trapped in the vitreous humor (or the liquid that fills
the eye ball and keeps it a round shape). As with the natural aging process, dead tissue is produced and suspended in this liquid. These dead tissue cells
cannot be removed since the eye is a closed and is sealed off. There is no means for
the natural tissue debris to be removed. This dead tissue that is suspended in the vitreous humor casts a shadow in the retina—which is the part of the eye with photoreceptors that allow for sight. This shadow onto the retina is what causes the Eye Floaters to be seen"
Eye floaters, flashers, streaks... all these I thought were a prelude to migrain. But no they're not. Eye floaters, streaks, flashers, spider webs, moving dots and squiggly lines, they now can be remedied and it's available only here, The Secret cure for eye floaters.
There are ways we can deal with a situation, take note, I don't call it a problem but a situation. For chess players, we call it chess position, for medical professionals, we call it a condition. Call it whatever you want but let me tell you one thing, there is remedy for this thing called eye floaters.
It affects one of the most important sense organ we humans have, our eyes.Don't suffer in silence, err, do not allow yourself to "see" your agonies. Give you self a chance to see the world clearly, eye float-free!
Eliminate eye floaters in only seven days, for life!
Get the world's cure for eye floaters now.
Meanwhile, I hope Philippine's number one chess player and youngest ever Filipino to become a grandmaster (as of now) is resting after 2 consecutive major tourneys he has joined. Although I've read from Malibay Chess Club blog about his participation in the upcoming RP's Battle of the Grandmaster, I really hop he takes time out to rest, enjoy life outside of chess. After all, he has achieved enormous feats for our country. All work and no play makes Sam a dumb boy! Thing is, Wesley sees chess as a game not work.
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