The Filipino Channel - Connect to the Culture and News of the Motherland

I always thought that the only way to access Filipino channels was through satellite but
I stumbled on Time Warner Channel 594 TFC . Within 5 minutes was connected instantly to the world of cheesy telenovelas, real time news and over zealous game shows like Wowowee.

I am hooked and even if I understand 2% of what is said, I will slowly pick up Filipino words here and there.

Little Master's Art - Bringing out the artist in your child.

I enrolled Noah in LMA classes this past spring and was so impressed with the art classes that I signed him up for the summer session as well. Living in the UWS and formerly UES, I found that the programs/activities for the younger kids was so competitive, in terms of enrollment, fees and limited physical space but LMA is truly the best kept secret in the UWS!!

I was fortunate to learn about LMA in its inaugural year and has since found a permanent host site at El Taller Latino Americano. The two co-founders have put so much thought and detail into the programming and have focused on providing a welcoming and creative space for all. Amanda is a graduate of NYU in Art History and Studio Art while Narges (a mother of a toddler) has a Master's in Design and Technology with a background

Classes are available for children between the ages of 16mo-18 years with an emphasis on enriching the children with the understanding of the art culture by introducing hands on projects that reflects artists of the day and reinforcing the idea that although art can be messy, it should also be fun! LMA has expanded to include music classes taught in both english and spanish.

If you can't committ to the 12 week courses be sure to check for their monthy, Saturday Workshops!

Information on registration and classes DEADLINE: Aug 15th

Honoring and Evoking the Babaylan Spirit

Truthfully, when I told my dear friend I was interested in organizing the Babaylan Conference April of 2010 I failed to realize that it much more than planning a phenomenal event. I have walked into a the epicenter of understanding the role of self in the community and the world at large but how to embrace the essence of babaylan and its spirit.

Babaylan Conference of 2010
April 17 – 18, 2010 at the
Sonoma State University, CA

What is Babaylan?

Babaylan is a term identifying an indigenous Filipino religious leader, who functions as a healer, a shaman, a seer and a community "miracle-worker" (or a combination of any of those). Although the role and function of a babaylan is open to both sexes, most babaylans from the pre-hispanic era are female.

"The babaylan in Filipino indigenous tradition is a person who is gifted to heal the spirit and the body; a woman who serves the community through her role as a folk therapist, wisdom-keeper and philosopher; a woman who provides stability to the community’s social structure; a woman who can access the spirit realm and other states of consciousness and traffic easily in and out of these worlds; a woman who has vast knowledge of healing therapies".^[1] In addition to this, a babaylan is someone who "intercedes for the community and individuals" and is also someone who "serves." Any study of the babaylan must take into consideration the suppression of the babaylan's practices since the onset of European and American colonialism in the Philippines.

Prior to, during and after the Philippine Revolution of 1896-1898, the babaylans of Dios Buhawi and Papa Isio of Negros Occidental participated in the struggle to throw off the Spanish yoke. Their primary agenda was religious freedom and agrarian reform; most followers of the babaylan tradition were dispossessed land owners thrown off their property by the Spanish hacienderos and in some cases by Spanish friars bent on acquiring land.

More to come.......

My Little Master Artist

I wanted to find any type of class for Noah and to my surprise came across Little Masters Art
for kids between 2-12 years; the best kept secret in NY. Each one hour class begins with a snack, story time and an activity inspired by a chosen artist of the day. Although Noah would rather toy around with the play dough it seems like he has enjoyed experimenting with different tools and materials. Little Master's also hosts a monthly Saturday Workshop that is reasonably priced; $15 a child.

April - In like a Lamb......

The Peace Fountain statue is quite impressive, which is next to The Cathedral Church of Saint John in the Upper West Side. I discovered that Saint John's is the largest cathedral in the world and to think it is a few blocks away from our apartment! I still need to go inside the the cathedral and would like to bring Noah to the free organ performance every Monday at 1pm.


Noah's Ark plaque, I like to bring Noah to see all the small bronze figures of animals and mamals that were designed by youth and adults. Another attraction are the two peacocks that roam the church grounds. One is white while the other has the iridescent green. You will most likely hear their unique bird cries. I was puzzled when I first heard them.

I turns out that the Bronx Zoo has been donating the peacocks since 1973.

A few weeks ago as I was walking along Broadway I noticed a new store that immediately caught my attention. From the window my eyes widened with exuberance as I peered at the displays of sticker letters, embellishments of all sorts, cute cartoon creatures, pens, card stock and other paper; used specifically to scrap book and for someone like me, to make cards, note pads, and photo albums....(for now.)

I have had to briskly walk passed Portrait Bug a couple times knowing I would not be able to hold back from buying the array of colorful everything. Needless to say, I succumbed to my weakness and painstakingly kept my purchases to a limit.. There were a few projects crafted by some of the employees that were on display and I could not help but admire.

I found out about the Inaugural Crop Party at PB and honestly did not know what I was getting myself into. I brought along a file organizer filled with designed and plain paper, stickers and other items from my collection of craft material. It did not compare to the supplies other women brought to this event. I walked into the world of scrap booking that I did not know existed!

Some ladies had totes for their materials while others rolled in travel size luggage with decorative hole punchers, rubber stamps, glitter, contraptions, which I had no clue what their function was and it was quite a distraction from my purpose of making some Valentine cards.

After three hours of chatting it up with scrap book novices, a professional calligrapher/rubber stamper, a gal who has gone to paper crafting conventions and a working mom looking to find an outlet, I did make a couple decent looking cards and more inspired to craft cards when I can find the time!

Reusable Produce Bags - Etsy


Why didn't I think of this?! A reusable produce bag, instead of those darn plastic bags. Ok, so the thought crossed my mind but I did not jump on the idea fast enough.......

Free Tibet.....

What will it take for the Chinese Government to allow religious freedom to Tibetans?
On one of our many jaunts through the city we passed by this window front of a statue adorned with the symbolic Olympic crown and medals around his neck. The eye catcher was the message written outside of the window.......

Journalistic instinct -
Always armed with my camera.


After an extremely satisfying dim sum meal with my brother, John and Noah we wandered downtown. We did not expect to witness a 25 ton construction crane leaning on the side of a condo. We later learned that the neck of the crane crushed a five story townhouse.

Being a thrill seeker, my eyes and ears are always wide open. I have always made it a point to also have my camera with me in hopes to get that winning photo.

Living in a city like NYC, hearing deafening sirens and helicopters hover above the sky scrapers is a common occurrence. But when you see more than two helicopters it typically is a sign of headline making news. We saw the emergency response vehicles along Second Avenue and 50th Street and a small group of people congregating behind the yellow tape were looking up. We overheard a man implying that a crane had collapsed from a construction site.

We were told the accident occurred twenty minutes before our arrival and a steady stream of on lookers began to flow towards us. My curiosity wanted to get a better picture so we walked to the next street that was closed off to traffic except to pedestrians who were using their cellphones and cameras to take shots of the crane.

At one point in my life I aspired to be a (photo) journalist; to follow in the footsteps of my oldest brother. It was wishful thinking but may explain why I have yet to object to writing articles for a couple websites like Newfilipina, Asians in America and presently FAN.

As a resident of NYC there will always be something to report whether it makes the news or not.

The best peeler ever!

The first time John and I came across this guy was in the winter of 2006. He had the same set up as you see in the picture although he was sitting in the Time's Square station along the wall of the tiled hallway. The man and a faint accent although we quickly learned that he was from Switzerland. Maybe it was his kind face, or European accent that convinced us to buy one of his vegetable peelers, or that his product sold itself.


By the mounds of potato and carrot peelings filled in the plastic boxes he had been there a while. A small group of walker byers were curious and surrounded him as he was giving a live demonstration. He was finishing up with a potato and onto a carrot.

What sold me was that there was a side knife to gouge out potato eyes and also used to carve out lines to make star shaped cucumber or carrot chips. It also helped that the cost of this peeler was a mere $5. I immediately shuffled through my bag to find my wallet. Once in hand I could not wait to put it to use. Known as the Rex-Swiss-Peeler, ' The Original Swiss Peeler', the handle works best for me as someone with smaller hands.

I was happy to run into the peeler man only this time in Union Square. I could not help but buy 5 for $20 - a great steal!

BIRTHDAY! A great way to get old and new friends together!

I was never one for wanting to having a 'huge' birthday bash. If people were around I would ring them and figure out something fun to do. Actually, I barely remember what I have done for past birthdays! From 03-05' I was in the Philippines.

Last year, I had the surprise party of my life and have to give a HUGE kudos to John for setting it up with the help of Kebin. Sadly, the Frying Pan restaurant that we ate at at the pier. It was demolished last fall but the feast we had will forever be in our memories.

After looking through the New York magazine, I read about a new Filipino restaurant near Union Square. Pistahan restaurant specializes in dishes called 'Bicol Express', which is best known for using coconut milk or cream in many of their dishes - other wise known as gata in Filipino.

The food turned out to be delicious and thank gosh for family style eating though generally I prefer to have my own dish!. We ate Chicharron Bulaklak (literally "crispy flowers" or fried chicken intestine), Lumpiang Shanghai (very thin and short spring rolls), Lumpiang Sariwa (vegetables in crepe), Pancit Canton (chinese egg noodles with sprouts, chicken, garlic), Ginataang Sari Sari (mixed Filipino vegetables with coconut milk), Daing Na Bangus (boneless deep fried milkfish servced with vinegar and soy sauce), Chicken Adobo (chicken slow cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, garlich and pepper corn), ube (purple yam) and mango ice cream.

Pistahan ($$) 229 1st Ave, New York 10003 Btwn 13th & 14th street Phone: 212-228-9000

Of course, the unexpected gifts were also just as good! I received the most spectacular rainbow obsidian rock I have ever seen by my girl Rudy. Boy Rudy gave me a children's book in Filipino and English while I turned down his offer to give me the movie - The Piano and I am also looking forward to going to a Broadway show thanks to John!!

Here is a toast to finally reaching my 30's!

From a very young age, as early as 3 weeks Noah would place his thumb between his index and middle finger (just like, 'got your nose'). I happened to stumble across a boutique called Buzz Brazil on Lexington while I was strolling him.

I was admiring some jewelery and noticed the pendant pictured to the left. Not knowing what it was I asked the sales person and she told me it was a figa. The figa comes from age old African myth that the clenched fist brings good luck to those who wear it. It is said to have arrived to Brazil in the 27th century during the slave trade though was believed to be a fertility symbol. It has since been embraced by both men and women but no longer with the significance of fertility. In order for it to bring luck it must be given as a gift.

I guess I will have to wait until Noah is old enough to wear it so I can give it to him!