Pinakbet Pizza!

Care for a Pizza?

With “Pinakbet” toppings?

Wen Kabsat! That’s “Pinakbet Pizza!”

Especially for you . . .

Last weekend, I was watching the evening news over TV Patrol of ABS-CBN and it featured the Pinakbet Pizza of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. Can’t help but to capture (the news) on video and share it with you here.

May Yabang (Din) Ako!

Today, I got an email from Landa of Yabang Pinoy spreading a video of “Yabang Pinoy,” consistent with its campaign “to raise awareness and heighten the Filipino people’s ethos, dignity and pride by advocating the use of a piece of braided abaca band that aims to make a statement. The abaca band aims to signify a Filipino being truly proud to be one.” (excerpt from the email).

I’m proud to say “May Yabang (din) Ako!” Numero 977! I believe in the cause of the organization, hence, I am sharing to you the “Yabang Pinoy” video that Landa forwarded me.

The Message: What Could It Be.

For the past days after recovering my camera, I preoccupied myself with checking if all function buttons are working properly, including external connections. I am satisfied. However, because the thieves may have pushed the buttons to frenzy, my personal settings were reset. I have to reset it to Default and reset it all over again according to my personal settings, by going through all the function buttons, all over again.

I am sharing here with you the first set of shots taken after recovery and according to my personal settings:

Project Recovery: Operation Successful!

This all happened YESTERDAY (01 March 2006): My ante-thoughts before actual recovery:

I’m writing my thoughts approximately about four hours before I am finally reconciled with my Lumix. After six days, there is now a good chance that I can get back my stolen camera (I have forgotten about the mobile phone and the sim card) which I have been wanting to recover since. If ever I finally get it today, it is not without fear, anxiety and drama.

Since it was stolen, I have been negotiating for the return even only of my camera and I offered 5T as “ransom” because I know it would be hard to sell it for more than what I’ve offered because it is without its necessary accessories. The people I’m negotiating with may be the thieves themselves, or innocent purchasers (but not when I told them it was stolen!) but they freely volunteered the info that they got the camera and the sim card only (not the phone; it was not sold to them as they claim) for only 3T. However, they are afraid to give it back personally because of what I may do to them. So, they utilized another person to negotiate but the price have gone up to 6T!

With the advice of the Police, I was told to just agree on the price they wanted with the intention that when all are done, I can get back my camera without giving anything at all to the thieves (even if assuming that they really bought it for 3T) and whoever is negotiating for them. Earlier though, I was willing to replace the money that they have paid for it (whatever!) if they have just held on to that agreement.

I have not received any communication from them the other day, so yesterday, with my mind clear on going for the price they wanted, I called their Negotiator and agreed to their price but I want it before Saturday, in her office, and not anywhere else. She told me that she will talk to her principal (well, that is after several alibi’s which I did not believe anyway!) and good enough, at about 8:00 o’clock P.M. last night, I received a text from my old number (which they have) asking them to call because they are together.

And so I called. Here’s what they want: I will meet them in Cubao and we will go somewhere in Roxas District, Quezon City, to get the camera. I said NO! I stood firm on my demand to have the camera at the Negotiator’s office the next day (that is today!) and I will give her the 6T they are asking upon confirming that my camera is intact. I called them by their names just to let them know that I have an idea who they are and stood my ground that if I do not have my camera the next day, it will be harder for them because I will definitely go after them, legally.

We ended our conversation with a drama from their end. According to the possessor, the camera and the sim card was sold to them by an unknown person (well, unknown as far as I am concerned but not them!) and the “husband” bought it with the intention of selling it for a higher price, for the purpose of having their MERALCO line (electric line) installed because it’s hard for their 2-months old baby without electricity.

I do not want to take chances today. I asked the Police to assist me in a manner appropriate under the circumstances when I get my camera but they told me NOT to give anything. That was good with me. On second thought though, the humanitarian side of me played on the sideline, so I asked the help of my sisters and brod-in-law for some advice. They understand what the Police wanted because I did not do anything at all for me to pay them back. I was in my home and they were the one who violated me and if there’s someone “paying” for what happened, it’s definitely not me! However, they told me that to keep my part of the bargain, I may still pay the price that they have originally paid which is 3T but not their asking price of 6T. In that case, I will consider the 3T and whatever other expenses I had by reason of this event, as a loss.

I have few more hours to think about what I will exactly do today. I may give the 3T but not now, and not after I have known their true identities so that if someone gets back at me because of this, everything will be on record.

I am ending this narrative at about 9:00 oclock A.M, 3 hours before the agreed time of recovery. God, make me safe!!!

Read the narrative on actual recovery on the next page.