Pap Pa Rap Pa Pap...

It's snowing heavily outside today. I checked the Weather Network just moments ago and it said that Toronto is having a heavy snow fall until tonight and will experience a -22 wind chill. Yes, NEGATIVE 22 wind chill. Grrrrr.

If there's one thing that snow reminds me of, it's the Philippines. Every time I look out the window and see the snow outside, it reminds me of the days I spent in the Philippines. It makes me miss the warm weather of my native country and as a result, I long to feel it again. I've just been here in Canada for like 8 months but I'm already thinking that I have enough of this cold weather. I'm really craving to feel the heat of Pinas again...

Along with missing Pinas' heat, I also miss Filipino television, and in general, its commercials and tv advertisements. The one thing I miss the most are the McDo ads. I just think they are so Pinoy that it makes me glad I am one every time I see it. Here are some of my favorites.




A. Karen-Lolo

Ito, para sa paborito kong apo...si Karen.

This one is a classic. I think I was just an elementary student the first time I saw it. This one tells a bond shared between a lolo (grandfather) and his apo (granddaughter). Here in Canada, they have the elderly housing where people can "put" their old ones, and they are assured they will be taken good care of. I have volunteered to "work" in this kind of housing. The first time I stepped into the building, I can already feel the aura of the place. I didn't like it. And while I was walking with the other volunteers, we met some of the elders who live there and I can't help but smile at them. I just had the feeling that I should be kind to these people because one, they are already old and two, I would also like other people to be kind to my own grandparents. Knowing the elders inside that housing, I don't like to think that their families have already abandoned them, because the very reason why they are there is because their families want them to be taken care of. Knowing the people here in Canada, they are working two or three jobs and I think they won't have time to take care of old people anymore. I understand that. Why try to take care of someone if you don't have enough time when there is a place that can take care of them 24/7? In the Philippines, however busy someone is, they find time to take care of their elders. Yes, I think there are some elderly housing in the Philippines, but rarely you will see people putting their elders in there. My family, for example, still lived with my grandparents until the day we left for Canada. I promised myself that even if I marry someone who isn't a Filipino (which I think is unlikely because I swore I'll still marry a Filipino), I won't separate with my parents. maybe I'll live in other house, yes, but I'll still take care of them, cook food for them, etc. because I will be living near their house. You can watch the video here.




B. First Love

At kahit hindi rin naging kami sa huli, siya pa rin ang first love ko.

This one really made me smile and cry at the same time. Would you actually believed that I am crying now while I'm writing this? And to think that I have this watched this commercial for the nth time! I just really think this one tells it all - that everyone has a first love, and that even if he/she is your first, it doesn't mean that he/she will be the one you'll spend your life with. Adding to the dramatic-cute-ecstatic touch of the commercial is Eraserhead's Ang Huling El Bimbo. Need I say more? Watch the video and prepare to be touched.




C. Pamilyang Pinoy

Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon...maibabalik ba ang kahapon?

Mama, Papa, Glenn, Ate Nik, Kuya Pong, MaGing, Andrew, MaNeng, MaSel, PaGar, Yiel, Rogan, Emma, Tatay, MaYo, MaSel, Miguel, Debbie... you have just read my list of the people I love the most. Do I need to mention that they're my family? We are not always okay, we sometimes fight, we sometimes ticked each other off, but at the end of the day, the bottomline will always be the same, that we are family and we will be there for each other. This commercial made me realized that every moment I spend with my family is precious because time already spent is gone, no one can bring it back. I remember when I was still young. Me, my siblings and Kuya Pong, will spend the time playing charades, hide and seek, "name,place,things,", or simply just watch tv. That was the best memories I have of my childhood, when we spent the time together and enjoy it, laughing like there's no more tomorrow. Nowadays, we rarely do this. Kuya Pong has work, Ate Nik spends the time in the basement doing her projects and Glenn and I are engaged in our school works. Noel Cabangon's song (Kanlungan)broke my heart because of this. If only I can turn back time and be a child again, back when every night consists of playing with my siblings and my best cousin, back when every thing was still simple. Nevertheless, I am still thankful that we are together. These people, even if I'm offered a billion, thrillion or zillion dollars, are the ones I won't give up. Watch the commercial and see how lucky we are to have our Pinoy families.



Pap pa rap pa pap...love ko 'to.