Laughter to ease the pain of deaths in Iraq

Watching the war in Iraq on CNN and BBC is a depressing experience, so the whole day yesterday, I didn’t watch, and today, I’m not watching television and seeing people dying. Today, allow me to lift my bench by quoting from a letter sent by Esmela C. David, vice chair of the city women’s council in Marikina. "I never miss reading your column; you are one of the reasons why I subscribe to The Philippine STAR. I like it when you write non-political stories, such as when you wrote about your son as a young boy because he’s about the same age as my son, about your garden, your school in Gingoog City, your mom and dad, your religion, your mother-in-law and the song of Ruth. And of course, your article on women empowerment."

Esmela need not say those kind words although they really boost my morale these days. She would like it announced in my column that the city council is sponsoring a seminar dubbed "Building Women’s Capabilities for Self Transformation and Social Change" which will be held at the end of this month. The first session will be at the Teatro Marikina. Participants will be charged a fee, and donations will be gladly accepted, to buy food, speaker’s stipend, souvenirs and a convention kit. Esmela writes that "at the end of the seminar, I’m sure those who will attend will realize the gains and the challenges that women have been talking about." You may contact Esmela through telephone 941- 2736 and CP 0919 381 7066.

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My neighbor, Rosa Maria Carmela Munda, forwarded to me an e-mail sent by a friend of hers, Carol Mrazek, who lives in Canada. Rose writes that the message will take everyone’s mind – yours and mine, too, for sure – from the savagery taking place in Iraq. Carol writes, "Only in the Philippines will you find such amusing names" as:

Bread Pitt (a bakery), Maruya Carey (a fast-food place selling turon and maruya in Greenbelt, Makati), Caintacky Fried Chicken (an eatery in Cainta, Rizal), Mang Donald’s (a burger joint at the Naga City Plaza), Candies Be Love? (Can anything be sweeter than this?), Doris Day and Night (a 24-hour eatery), Babalik Karinderia, Miki Mao (a noodle house).

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There’s more from Carol Mrazek:

Tapsi Turbi (a tapa house), Goto Heaven, The Fried of Marikina (a fried chicken house), Wrap and Roll (a lumpia outlet in Quad, Makati), Pansit ng taga-Malaboni (a panciteria on Boni Ave., Mandaluiyong), Side-saki (a side street eatery beside Mandarin Oriental in Makati), Let’s Goat-Together (a kambingan-cum-beer garden, Meating Place (a meatshop), Isda best, Pusit to the limit and Hipon coming back (entrees on menu of a seafood restaurant), Pier Carding (a tailoring shop in Pier, Manila), The Way We Wear (a boutique), Curl Up and Dye (a beauty salon), Goldilocks (a barber shop), Bote Nga Sa ’Yo (used bottle shop), Christopher Plumbing (your friendly neighborhood plumber), Memory Drug (a clone of Mercury Drug), Petal Attraction (a flower shop near UP Diliman), Susan’s Roses (a flower shop, but of course!), Maid to Order (maids placement agency), Boy waiter (sign on the window of a restaurant in Baguio).

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Carol notes the signs on some jeepneys and buses:

"Full string to stop driver."

"God knows Hudas not pay"

"Don’t get closed to me, get closed to God.

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Carol asks, how do Filipinos use the following words in a sentence? Here’s how:

•Tenacious – Bepor you go out, put your tenacious on.

• Deposit – Call da plahmer, deposit is leaking!

• Splat – Oh my goodness, my tire is splat!

• Hostess – when da pone rings, I ask hostess?

• Persuading – This month will be my cousin’s persuading anniversary

• Depressed – Da one who leads mass on Sundays.

• Uno, dos, tres – Uno! Dos tres are burning!

• Chicken Nut Bread – My sister can’t swim, when she jahmps in da water chicken nut bread.

Well, all the above show just how creative and funny Filipino entrepreneurs can be. Thanks, Carol, for your note-taking, and Rose, for sharing Carol’s laughs.