Plot Wars: Chicken Coop V2

Because yesterday was, again, a HOLIDAY in celebration of EDSA revolution that ended Martial Law, we spent another day upgrading our Chicken Coop as the chicks are no longer babies and are entering chick teen days.

At 9, we went to the hardware store to buy additional materials, We bought 6 pcs of 1in x 2in x14 ft of good lumber, a 4x8 ft of plywood, some nails, and some door hinges.

These are the steps taken for the upgrade of the coop:

1. We sawed the good lumber to 4 5-ft pieces and 4 6-ft pieces. Then we nailed these together to form the frame. 
2. We also sawed the plywood into different smaller pieces to form the roof and the sides plus a roosting/sleeping area for the chicks. Then we nailed the plywood into the frame according to the cut pieces we had. 
3. We also created a door, so that we can get in to bring the chicks food and water. 
4. We removed the chicken wire from one side of the smaller coop to cover the whole side of the bigger coop with chicken wire. 
5. All areas that have no plywood are covered in chicken wire.
6. Then we placed sand and gravel in the new area and let the chicks scatter them.

It took all day, but we are happy with this new playground for our chicks.

Original Coop

New Coop

New Coop extended from our Wall and Backyard Kitchen

For the whole coop, I think it cost us some 2000 pesos because the chicken wire was expensive and it was half of the whole price. But there are some with smaller holes that are cheaper compared to the one we bought.

:D


For the original version, check it here!

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

LaserTag at Funatix

Last night is the first time that I played LaserTag or any War Game for that matter. Need to remedy that. Its the Valentines Day Celebration of the office, so we headed to Funatix Iloilo located at Plazuela de Iloilo to shoot our friends.

We were grouped into 2 groups, there were 6 members in each team and the bloodshed began. We were the Pink Team versus the Ocean Team, that's the color of the lights on the armor and gun so that you can identify your teammates in the dark.

The payment is 150 Php/person and that's for 15 minutes. 

So after learning the basics of how to play, we are made to watch a video that detailed the instructions, and donning on the armor with guns we are sent into the darkness to defeat our enemies, also known as shooting your friend.

Your life is unlimited and if you die will respawn in 6 seconds. your ammo is unlimited at 9999 shots that I never utilized as I am still at 9200 when the game ended. The armor or vest actually tells you if are hit or if you hit someone and other details that I may not notice because they does not seem important when you are running around or trying to trap a target.

We never had a concrete battle plan except to shoot the person with different lights when we see them. So for the next 15 minutes, we were running and hiding around trying not to shoot our teammates and only our enemies.

We had fun and shed good sweat, so it's a great experience. Though my score was -75  in the end. It did not really matter. I was able to hit some people, so that's good enough for me.

So if ever you want to shoot someone, challenge them to a LaserTag game in Funatix and get away with it. No one would know the satisfaction of hitting the enemy as many times as you can except yourself.

Be at Funatix. They have a promo right now. Click here for details.



Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Paraw Regatta Adventures!!!

Paraws reflected in the water

Paraw Regatta Competition held every third Sunday of  February near Tatoy's Manokan and Seafood Restaurant is a yearly tradition in celebration of the use of Paraw when settlers found their way to the shores of Iloilo. It began in 1973 as a half-day event but has now blossomed into a weeklong celebration with different events.

This is actually my first time watching the Paraw Regatta competition. We arrived at about 8:30 in the morning to a shore full of people from every corner of the world it seems. Of course, the majority of the watchers are Ilonggos. We do not want to miss the biggest sailboat competition in Asia now, don't we? Given that it's happening right outside our doors.

Panorama Shot of all Paraws

We walked from one end of the shoreline to the other where the paraws are gathered. We took pictures of every sail design and took pictures with the sail design that caught our attention. There were some familiar ones like Son Goku and Dora, traditional ones like the Anito and Miagao Church, weird ones, very detailed sail designs majority of which depicts the life of a fisherman and life at sea in general. So we have art forms of dolphins, whales, sharks, and lots of turtles. Painting of the sail/sail design is also a different competition as part of the Paraw Regatta events.

Paraws on the beach

At 9, the coast guard started asking the people to leave the beach lines because the race is about to start and they don't want the crowd to press to the racers. Space is needed but some photographers are left to document the start of the race. But it's better to watch the race from far off because you will really appreciate the view of the sail and not mind the hard work put in by the people who make it float. There are 3 categories in all, and all of them will be sailing from Punta Villa to Guimaras Strait and back again. The race will end when the sailboats returns and it won't be until late afternoon.

Category B starting the race

After sending off the racers, we also left the shore to go somewhere else to eat. We ended up in the city because most of the popular restos near the shores are overcrowded with people who witnessed the send-off and will be waiting for the return of the sailors.

Category C starting the race

For my first Paraw, it was quite good. I did not mind the heat much and I acquired a good tan. I also enjoyed critiquing the designs and highly recommend that future Paraw designers use bright colors in their design because the dark ones may look good up close but when the sailboats are in the middle of the ocean, the design cannot be appreciated really. So please make sure that you use bright colors, please!? There were also some Paraws whose design are in the back, it cannot be seen from shore when they went off to race nor it can be seen when the sailboat is ashore. Too bad because they are really good design and would look really good from afar. So I think painters should be mindful of this in the future, or just totally design both sides to make it look like a vinta.

Off to Guimaras

There are also foreigners who are really into this that some of them are really filming the whole thing. I am not quite sure if they are simply vlogging or its really for news purposes because they have a boom mic and everything. So maybe. Others also posed for photos for teens who asked them. They are really into it also because they never failed to smile when asked, and they were asked a couple of times. :D

But the people who enjoyed the event the most were the little kids. they were frolicking in the water all throughout. From the time I arrived until after the send-off.

Kids frolicking before the start of the race

I hope the photographers and videographers had great pictures and videos after all the effort they made just to get the correct angles. So kudos to these persons that made Paraw Regatta event look stunning in print and media and social media.

The things photographers do for their craft

To the drones, as well. Great Flying!!!

One of the many many drones

And to all the Sponsors. Thanks as well for making this event possible. :D

Off to Guimaras as well, Happy Paraw!

If you plan to attend Paraw Regatta next year, please come prepared.

• Wear beach-worthy clothing that is not a bikini or swimwear.
• Wear slippers because you will wade in the water.
• Put on some sunscreen.
• Bring a cap or an umbrella.
• Bring water or money to buy water and food.
• Be prepared to wait because the race waits for the high tide or at least the dignitaries before they begin :D

Photo credits to @maikelsabido @Whereisfrances @elzniv

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!!!

So last night, we had a dinner date with friends, for the day when everyone paints the town red.

But I am not telling you about how the dinner went. Instead, let me tell you what the people I met on the street did.

Our reservation is at 7 PM and I had some errands to do, so from SM City Iloilo I walked to Citi Hardware. I am looking for an incandescent bulb and it's not sold on ACE or anywhere in SM, the guy at ACE recommended Citi Hardware.

I found myself walking, or rather running to the place because of the dinner and because all PUJs and Taxis are full at this time. Everyone is busy getting off from work and going on a date or going home. So no rides for me.

The street near SM, specifically Starbucks, is full of people. You see the usual, dating couples holding on to each other doing to not get separated in this "mob" going in both directions. Then, there's the group of friends planning where to have dinner or where the next photo is to be taken, and the family who are also eating out.

After the mob near Starbucks, comes the street in front of Plazuela and it's kinda freer here: less mob.

There's this guy with a huge stuffed toy. I think it's the one from S&R, though I am not really positive. All the kids gushed at the furry bear and shouted things to their moms: "It's so furry!", "It's so big", things like that.

The guy holding on to some flowers, waiting for his date to arrive.

The girls gushing over some stuffs one of their friends received.

The dating couple, walking sweetly and the teenager who sang "Hanggang Kailan Kaya Kayo?!" (Until When) in a very loud voice that some passers-by actually looked at the group of teens and the couple.

Now, on the road to Citi Hardware, between San Rafael intersection and Smallville.

The family who are going home.

Couples waiting and getting on a taxi.

Girls and boys hurrying to their dates wherever that may be.

The couple who are walking in the moonlight, so slowly that it made me think HHWWPSSP (Holding Hands While Walking Pa-sway Sway Pa).

Then on the walk back, since the PUJs are still full and I did not dare to take a Taxi because its traffic in that direction, a few more to tally.

The couple on the motorcycle going oh so slowly, that a sprinting me actually overtook them.

Friends who spent the day on bike-for-rents.

A guy who jogs and does not seem to care that there are love birds everywhere.

Guys and gals on solo going home, I think, since they are patiently waiting for a ride and does not seem to be in a hurry.

An ate with flowers walking in the same direction as I am obviously on a quest to date.

At the overpass from Injap to SM, now.

Married couples arguing on the time.

Teenagers in groups talking about other couples.

Teenagers gushing over what celebs did for Valentines.

Kids taking pictures while their mother is talking with someone on the phone.

And I am back in Spicy Elements, where the dates are in groups, families, friends and the usual couple who spent time together. And oh, the bear I met is also here sitting on a high chair outside.

It was a good night.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!!!


Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Plot Wars: A Chick Tragedy

Today, a chick died.

We don't really know the cause of death. We only have our speculations.

After housing the chicks on Saturday night, everything was fine. We were happy that we are able to provide shelter and food for our new responsibilities: the 7 chicks.

On Sunday morning, we were greeted with chirps from chicks asking for food, and we obliged.

When I left the house that morning, all 7 of them were eating. When I got back mid-afternoon, one of the chicks have his head tuck under his wing and he was not moving. I thought that he was just asleep. But when I fed them again in the evening, he was still in the same spot.

Thinking now that there is something horribly wrong with it, I tried to force-fed it with water and feeds, to no avail. So I did the next thing worth doing, I added a box inside the coop and layered it with rags, then I placed the chick inside the box thinking that it must have been cold and was not shared with warmth by the other chicks. The other chicks huddled together the night before when they slept, I am not sure if this chick joined the brood since it was an outsider.

Doing all this, I slept and was awaken with the news that the chick did not survive the night.

Because we think that it was the cold weather that killed the chick, we decided to transfer the coop to the back of the house where a more secure protection from elements is provided by the walls of the house for them. So now, they are at the backyard with an additional box and lots of blankets to huddle in the night.

Let's hope that this precaution is effective and that we do not lose another one.


Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Plot Wars: Chicken Coop

Because yesterday was Evelio Javier Day and we did not have class. your truly assisted in the making of a chicken coop.  A friends' mother will be giving us 6 chicks for our coop.

Very early in the morning, we walked to the hardware store to buy chicken wire, lumber, nails, and staples. The lumber was cut into 1x2x6 cubic ft. The chicken wire was 4 ft tall and we bought 6 meters for the ones we made yesterday and its extension once the chicks turned to chickens :D

At the house, the lumber was sawed into 1x2x2, 6 pcs of this, 1x2x3, 4 pcs of this and 1x2x1, 6 pcs of this. then we made a frame from the 3 ft and 1 ft pcs, 2 frames for the floor area and the top area. We nailed this together then add the 2 ft posts for each side. When the box was finished, we wrapped it with the chicken wire minus the floor part because it will just serve as cover for the chicks. For the floor, we placed a carton as big as the box we had and covered it with gravel.



And the most exciting part of the day is getting the chicks from the friends' house. We are also the ones to catch the chicks and separate them from their mother (Huhu). Well, tita is actually disposing of all her chicks, so not so guilty about that. Then we bought some starter feeds, vitracin for immunization and a water container.

Then home sweet home, we placed the chicks inside the coop, then covered the top and one side with tarpaulin. Then we watered them and feed them.

Last night, all 7 of them slept together to keep warm.

For the upgraded version: check it here!!!
Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

S & R Membership Shopping Iloilo

Today is the first time I’ve ever visited S&R Membership Shopping since its store opening in Iloilo late last year.

The visit proved that indeed S&R is for people who wants to buy things in bulk and in big packages. Aside from the appliances and apparel that are sold individually, one cannot really see anything else in small packets or as the Filipino fondly called it ‘tingi-tingi’ (smaller packs).

Let’s start with the place itself. From the parking area which has 8 lanes of parking space to the inside of the store with rows and rows of items, ranging from appliances, household items and tons and tons of aisles dedicated to food.

Upon entering the store, you are met with rows of appliances sorted according to type. So we have the TVs, kitchen items like burner, toaster and microwave, then household items like iron and electric fan. Then apparel, stuffed toys, backyard things like table, chairs are lined up next. Did not really explore this area much so can’t write other details.

The household items like dishwashing liquids, detergent, cleaning agents, lotion, shampoo and the likes comes in big sizes as well. Let’s include the tissue, diaper and many more that really answers to the advertisement One Year Supply Of ITEM NAME. No small packs here sirree. Some packages are even bigger than I am. Did not explore this part as thoroughly as I should but of well, we have limited time.

The largest part of S&R is dedicated to food. At least 75% of the store area is for food displays. Large chocolate packages, Hersheys, Ferrero, Toblerone, M&Ms, chocolate chip cookies, Peppero, Macadamia Nuts, and other brands you usually hear but never really tried. Large bags or containers of chips, from PikNik, Pringles, Lays to Nuts, Bread. Everything that you could never really eat in one sitting. Then, fridge after fridge of Ice Cream, gelatin, and fresh Milk. Also, a whole section dedicated to wine and drinks from Black Label to Budweiser. Then a section for cakes, a section for meat, pork, sausages, and cheese. Lots and lots of cheese types. Makes you want a membership just to explore these cheesy delights.

After this mini tour, the friend paid up and we had dinner at S&R also. We ordered chicken and pizza. The line was long. It took forever just to give the order and eat. But the food is cheap. Like an 18” pizza slice is 99 Php only and the Burger is 120 Php and the Large Fries is for 49 Php and the drink is for 45 Php and I guess its unlimited because I saw a lot of people coming back to the soda stack for more, more than once.

All in all, the experience was fun and I hope to explore it more in the future.

But unless you plan not to shop again for the whole year, I guess shopping at S&R is a no-no for you. Though they did have products not found in our SM and Robinson’s and some imported products are cheaper compared to the usual. I cannot itemize everything. You have to find that out for yourself.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

World Pizza Day!!

We planned to celebrate World Pizza Day at Yellow Cab.  They have a 2-hour Eat-All-You-Can Promo for 299 Php with unlimited pizza and soda. Unfortunately because of the time (after office hours), there were a lot of customers who are queuing to eat. According to the manager, they estimated that it will clear out by 8PM as loads of people came in at 6. If we can wait, we will have a table then.

Since it is a lot later than we thought it would be. We decided to eat somewhere else. In SM City Iloilo, we have 4 options but we decided to flip 2 coins for 3. Both heads, Shakeys; both tails, Pizza Hut; split, Sbarro. We forgot about Greenwich and I just remembered now while writing this piece.

Pizza Hut won. Our order consisted of one Stuffed Crust German Franks Family Pizza and Meal 9 Group Meal. It is good for 6, have 2 regular pizza (we ordered Hawaiian and Bacon Supreme), 3 pasta (2 Bolognese, 1 Mac & Cheese), 3 salad (2 Mango Salad, 1 Caesar Salad), 6 Soups (Mushroom Soup), and 1 pitcher of Lemonade. Our total bill was 1577 Php and each of us paid 263 Php so we have a saving of 36Php. :D

We did not even manage to finish everything off. 

To all, who were able to celebrate with Yellow Cab. Good for you!

To us who didn’t, better luck next time and hopefully you also found a better deal or something for your money.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Tax Time

BIR Income Tax Return 2016 was released today.

Looking at ones yearly income and wondering where did all that money go?

Seriously, where did I spend my money?

I do not shop, not for clothes anyway.

But there are tons of BOOKS, BOOKS and BOOKS somewhere along the way.

Also, there’s FOOD, FOOD, and FOOD every day.

Hahaha…

Housing, internet and mobile load :D

Education.

A bit of savings.

Among other things.

Listing things that I did spent money on, clarifies everything though.

So, it’s not really a wonder that I almost have nil amount of money at the end of the year.

So, how did you fare in 2016?

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Viva Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Candles. She is the patroness of the whole Western Visayas, but its mainly the district of Jaro that celebrates the fiesta on the 2nd day of February.

No matter the day, residents of Jaro always prepare a spread for eating and merry-making on this day. Friends and relatives are invited over for a buffet, socialization and all the other reasons for a celebration.

For the last five years, I have been invited over for the feasting. But I never had the chance to join or attend the procession for the Lady which is held during the afternoon celebration. The Diocese of Jaro houses the Lady, she can be found on the balcony of the Jaro Cathedral.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!

Blog Migration

Today, we decided to retire our http://ideagoodies.com/ website.

The main site is converted to http://totopc.site/ and it will be dedicated to art posts and our comic book project.

So all the posts on that site will be migrated to this blog.

So, please do not wonder if it turned out more formal than the usual one I post from time to time.



Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!