Dogs

     We have three dogs and two puppies in the hut. They're our guards alarming us with their barks. They're endearing really. I am not into petting but when I get close to these pets, I started to like them. When you see them like this as I do my morning walk, I felt my love for them.

They're adorable bathing in the morning sunshine

Chili Garlic Oil

     When given lemons, make lemonade as the saying goes. There were plenty of chili in the yard, so I experimented making chili garlic oil.

I miss the chili garlic oil in Malaysia where it's like a staple part of their diet. 

The raw chili from the yard

     I ground them as I don't have blender in the house.

Ground chili with garlic

     Adding some olive oil, I cooked it until thickened and added salt, sugar, and black pepper.

Cooking the paste

     It tasted good for me. Since it is so spicy, I think next time can add more garlic.

The finished product

PBBM's First SONA

     I watched President Bongbong Marcos' first State of the Nation Address(SONA) although I didn't religiously follow from beginning to end. At a glance I watched and listened to the highlights as I was busy playing online. I am surprised at the reaction of some people who used to criticize BBM during the campaign period.

The new President is his first SONA

     While I hear praises for his SONA, I didn't hear a new pronouncement that will address the economic imbalance in the country, how to eliminate poverty in the countryside so the gap between the rich and the poor will be minimized.

 

  One example is the Oversea Filipino Worker (OFW) situation. He lauded their contribution to the country and his creation as proposed by the previous administration of the Ministry of Migrant Workers. But he never went into the roots of their migration, and focus on how to bring them back to the country because they are mainly talented and skilled.

Sound of Magic

     I got the chance to watch this Korean Netflix series, dubbed in English, as prodded by a close friend. I started it so I had no reason not to finish even if after the first episode, I feel that this is really a trash to be blunt. 

Sound of Magic

     If I only my friend won't ask me again "have you watched it?" I probably won't have spent my time on this childish series. 

     I am no fan of magic in the first place. I know they have perfected their art so I am amazed by their tricks. For me, it is a skill that can be developed not inborn or innate. This really was a waste of my time.

The Philippines is 2022 AFF Women's Champion

     I am ecstatic, the country's women's football team is this year's champion of the Asian Football Federation Cup. I didn't know the country has a formidable women's football team. I have always known football is relegated to a lowly sport in the country where basketball is the main event. I am impressed with the women's team style of play and the commitment to win. 

The Philippines beat Thailand 3-0 in this year's final

     I have learned to watch football in Malaysia where the following of the sport is massive. When I saw that this year's championship is in Manila, I followed the entire tournament until today's final of the Philippines versus Thailand. At the sound of the game's end, the celebration of the team was felt not only by the live audience at the stadium but even with people like me watching on TV.

Congratulating and hugging each other to celebrate their win

     It is interesting to see the love for football emerging in the Philippines. World Cup, men's world football championship which happens every four years, will take place in November in Qatar and I hope there will be coverage on  TV. Seeing the crowd in today's match is kind of inspiring.

The live audience at Rizal Stadium in Manila

     Days later, I saw some of the players being interviewed on local TV for winning, and to my surprise, they all speak with that twang clearly showing they're not homegrown talents. All of them come outside of the country, mostly US, and came back only months before this tournament.

Singapore, Fastest in the World for Internet Speed

     I know Singapore has high internet speed at 247mbps, I experienced it while working in that country for almost 10 years. When I saw the official list published on the internet, I was surprised at how good Singapore is. Truly first class in internet speed quality.

Singapore leads the speed clearly

     I remember when I was still working there when a family friend came to visit with their children. After experiencing, this internet in my house, they told their parents "to not go sightseeing, stay in my house as the speed is superb and they experience no buffering". Now that I am back here in rural Philippines, I understand where they were coming from.

     I am surprised Singapore beats first world countries from the west including the USA. It is an achievement in the modern world, in the internet age. I am surprised too Norway is not in the top ten.

     There is still a long way to go for a third world country like the Philippines to be in this list especially in the rural areas. I have been monitoring the speed here and it is sad to admit we are below 10mbps.

Djokovic's 21st Grand Slam at Wimbledon

     Novak Djokovic renewed his supremacy in tennis and cemented his no. 1 world ranking after winning his 7th Wimbledon, his 4th in a row beating tennis bad boy Nick Kyrgios. 

Djokovic vs Kyrgios in Wimbledon 2022

     He is now 2nd to Nadal in the most grand slam wins with 21, Nadal at 22 and leads Federer, now at 20. I have the feeling he is going to beat Nadal winning more Grands Slam in the near future.

     I used to be the Federer fanatic but with Djokovic winning slams the last 10 years, I seemed to have drifted my loyalty to him. I wish him to reach more Grand Slams and win them all. I don't think Nadal and Federer still have it, they're too old from my point of view.

I look forward to Djokovic making that record which I hope will be really hard to beat for many generations.

World No. 1 Djokovic 

Rybakina Wins Wimbledon Women's 2022

     Elena Rybakina, a Russian, who has migrated to Kazakhstan, is the Wimbledon 2022 Women's Champion, a first time grand slam finalist. When I slept last night she lost the first set to another first timer, Ons Jabeur, but when I woke up this morning to see the result, a new champion is born. She deserves to win anyway as far as I am concerned having beaten Simona Halep, the one I was expecting to win, in the semi-finals.

Rybakina with her prized plate 

     John McEnroe made a statement Russians and Ukrainian have been banned from Wimbledon due to their war but Rybakina was Russian who migrated to Kazakhstan. I am not sure of his intent but it can be both ways. She is Russian who won, why not the others allowed to play or she doesn't deserve to take the  plate being Russian. For me, sports should be out of politics.