TOEIC material 6: Photographs

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TOEIC ex.4

TOEIC exercise 4
Listening part 1: photographs
by: georel ulangkaya

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toeic ex.1

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[3]Top Things To know Before Going To Philippines

Filipino people loves eating. A typical man would usually eat 3 times a day but Filipinos eat more than 3 times. Aside from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Filipinos love to have snacks. Snack in the morning, snack in the afternoon and a midnight snack for those who creep to the refrigerator late at night to fill in some empty space in their stomach.

In the back side of the alley, there are also Filipinos who struggle to find food. It's a sad truth that there are Filipinos who wait for some blessings behind restaurants. Most of them would ask money from passers by. Most of the time, these are kids whose parents also do the same in a different area. It's a sad picture with fading colors. If you look at it closely, It's not just a picture of them pressing their stomach. You are in the picture eating your favorite hamburger while throwing a half eaten spaghetti meal into the trash can.

I believe that this scenario is also true to other third world countries. Third world country indeed but Philippines is in some way a little different. The picture might be similar but when you look at the back, you can see that there are words written: "Oh! A leftover spaghetti. Call the others!"

[EATING HABITS]

It's natural for Filipinos to share. While eating or before starting to eat, it's common for a Filipino to invite the people around him to eat even though some are strangers. He doesn't care whether he have enough food for everybody as long as he didn't forget to share. "Kain tayo!"(Let's eat!) This is the most common phrase you will hear. And the best response to this is, "Sige busog pa'ko!"(Thanks but I'm not yet hungry!), while moving your hand in circle over your stomach to act like you are really full even if you're not. It's up to you to adjust if the person is really capable of sharing or not. If you think that he has a lot of food, then you can say, "Wow mukhang masarap 'yan, patikim"(Wow that looks delicious. May I have some?).

[HANDS]

About one-third of the world's population eat with bare hands. India alone comprises a huge part of it. Even though spoon, fork and chopstick users dominates Asia, countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Philippines consider hands as an eating utensil.

In the Philippines, it's a tradition to use spoon and fork for eating. Chopsticks are only for hair and knives are only for bread. But of course, we also consider other countries' culture, thus, chopsticks and knives are also available in selected restaurants. Even though spoons and forks are already part of our daily meals, it is still delicious to eat with bare hands.

"Masarap kumain kapag nagkakamay!"

Aside from the quoted message above which means, it's delicious to eat with bare hands, there's another thing that makes eating delicious for Filipinos--raising one foot on the chair. I don't know why it's good to eat like that. Filipinos know about table manners but some can't help it if they are in their own homes. It's already a part of eating by hands. Raise one foot on your chair. Support your elbow by your knee. Then move your hand like a crane that moves rice from your plate to your mouth.

[RICE]

When I was a little kid, I asked my mom. "Why do rabbits always eat carrots?" She answered me with another question. "Why do you always eat rice?" The question puzzled me. I said, "Why?" She said, "If you will not eat rice, you might eat all the food in our refrigerator in no time." It makes sense.

Filipinos love to eat as I've said earlier. They are not satisfied with bread alone or with viands alone. Rice is an important part of a Filipino dish. Most of Filipino delicacies were made to be partnered to rice.

[VISITORS]

It's normal for Filipino families to offer food to their visitors. If you arrive in the morning, you should eat lunch with them. If you arrive in the afternoon, they will prepare afternoon snacks and drinks. You don't have a choice but to eat. In the evening, they will ask you, "Did you have dinner already?" If you answer no, the food will be automatically prepared. If you arrived while they're eating, they will get another plate and force you to eat in a kind manner. What ever time you arrive, food will always be available for you even though it's tomorrow's budget or it's a credit from the neighbor's store.

[V.I.P.]

Visitors are really special whether you are a Filipino or not. When Filipinos have visitors, that will be the only time that they will use their most elegant plates and utensils. Also expect that they will ask the children to go to a different part of the house so that you will not be annoyed. They will ask you to eat before everyone together with the one you visited and sometimes with the primary members of the family(the older ones). Kids will eat in a different place or will eat later.

Normally, if the family doesn't expect any visitor, they just cook the amount of food that will fit for them. So if you came a little late and they already started cooking, you will be asked to eat first and they will cook again for them or for the children in the living room. Don't worry, they are not that hungry as you think. For sure they had some snacks. They're Filipinos. Just it normally and enjoy the food they willingly served to you. By the time you finished eating and moved to the living room, little will start digging the kitchen for some carrots.



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[2]Top Things To Know Before Going To Philippines

When you're already here in the Philippines, of course you have to travel a lot to visit all the beautiful spots. To jump from one island to another, you have ride in a ship or a plane. There are 7,107 islands in the country.

Philippines is divided into 3 major group of islands. The largest island in the north with Palawan in the east is called Luzon. The second largest island in the south together with the group of smaller islands southwest of it is called Mindanao. The rest of the islands in the middle is called Visayas.

Each major group of Islands has a large city. Manila(the country's capital) in Luzon, Cebu city in Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao.

In each city are thousands of amazing sites and amazing things to do. To access all of this, you don't need to ride a plain anymore or giant buses. You can choose to ride a taxi if you want a little privacy and comfort. Better yet, Philippines offer you jeepneys...

[WHAT IS A JEEPNEY?]

According to wikipedia, jeepney's ancestors are the military jeeps that the American troops left in the country at the end of the second world war. Thousands of surplus jeeps were sold to local Filipinos by that time. To maximize it's usefulness, the Filipinos tried to improve it such that it can accommodate more passengers and they also added metal roof. Being naturally creative, they also added colorful designs in all sides of the vehicle. In front of the wind shield, you can also see metal poles which until now i don't know what it is for. And of course, the jeepney will not be completed without the small metal horse or horses in front near the metal poles and some trumpet horns. I didn't know the meaning of those horses until i read it from a book by Bob Ong. It is said there that the horses symbolizes kalesa which was being off beaten by the jeepney when it started to become the hari ng kalsada(king of the road).

[RIDING A JEEPNEY]

You can't just ride at any jeepney you see. First, you should consider where you are going. To check if a jeepney is going on your way, look at the signs attached on its windshield or read its route that's written on its side. If you're still not sure, ask the driver or the conductor if they will pass on the place you want to go to.

Expect that there are jeepney drivers who will not proceed in their destinations unless the jeepney is full. Don't believe easily when they say aalis na! aalis na!(ready to go! ready to go!). Most of this pesky drivers and conductors say that just to attract more passengers. (Tip: Choose old drivers or drivers without conductors)

When you are already inside, expect that most of the people will look at you(specially if you are a foreigner) since the seats are facing each other. Also prepare to rub your thighs and shoulders with other passengers you meet for the first time. It's normal specially with the jeepney is more than full. Yes that's right. More than full because some drivers accept passengers more than the seating capacity.

Other jeepneys, specially those that are bound to go to rural areas or beaches, let passengers ride on the roof top. Not only that, there are also passengers we call sabit(hang). These are the ones who hang at the back of the jeep and cover the entrance.

[PAYING]

When paying, just indicate the place where you get in the jeepney and the place where you will get off. It's normal to pass the money to other passengers so that it would reach the driver or the conductor. You don't have to worry about your money. It will reach the right place without decreasing. Same thing about your change when it goes back. Filipinos are honest people. No matter how many hands will touch your money, none of those hands will try to steal it or some of it.

Be sure to pay few distances before you get off or it will cause delay. It is also better to pain coins that to pay large bills. If your destination is near, you can pay by the time you set your butt on the seat. If it's far, it's a wise decision not to pay yet until you think that you're already near. This is to keep your money safe in case of unexpected things. Most of the time, there are no refunds.

[USEFUL PHRASES]

Below are some useful phrases when riding a jeepney. I copied them from wikipedia.org. Please take note that Philippines has 111 different dialects so this phrases might not be common to other places. They still understand it though.

Bayad (po)

Here's the fare (Sir).

Paki-abot lang/Pakisuyo (yung bayad).

Please pass (the fare).

Para (po/lang)

(Please) stop.

Saan (po/ho)?

(Mam/Sir, ) to where?

Saan bababa (po/ho)?

(Mam/Sir,) Where are you getting off?

Papunta saan (po/ho) to?

(Sir,) To where is this bound for?/What is the destination?

Sa _____ (po/ho)

To _____ (Sir/Mam).

May bababa?

Is there anyone getting off?

Mayroon / Meron

(Yes) There is. (In response to the above inquiry.)

Wala

(No) There is no one. (In response to the above inquiry. 'Wala' literally means 'nothing'. or you may not respond at all.)

Sandali lang (po/ho)

One moment (please).

IMPORTANT: If the driver asks if there's anyone getting of, you may answer YES if you do but do not answer NO if you don't. You may not respond instead 'coz there might be someone other than you wants to get off.

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[1]Top Things To Know Before Going To Philippines

If you are not a Filipino or It's your first time to go to the Philippines, you need to know a lot of things about the country first. Here are some of the things I think would let you enjoy your stay in the Philippines. I know that surprises are still the best but it is also good to have something to expect. There are many things we call "only in the Philippines". My only advice is that, don't expect too much but also don't expect very little.

Philippines already has a lot of records about having the most, the least, the tallest, the shortest, the first, the last, the worst and the best. Filipinos are also very creative. Filipinos! That's what WE are. Many said that we have no identity. But i said we have. We are unique. Let's see what's on top of what we can offer.

[BALOT]

We commonly eat egg sunny-side-up or hard boiled. In the Philippines we offer you a very different style of eating egg. And it's not just an ordinary egg. It's called ballot. I don't know the exact English term for this but I think we can call it premature duck egg.

Balot is a 16-21 day old fertilized duck egg boiled in water to cook. An ordinary egg will hatch 21 days after being fertilized. Therefore, balot is an unhatched egg with a premature duck chick inside. In choosing the best balot, it's like playing Black Jack. The nearer the age of the egg to 21 days, the bigger the chick you will have. Of course you don't want to eat a chick with all it's parts completed--the beak, feathers, organs and feet. I suggest you choose 16-18 days.

There's one kind of balot we call penoy. It's the kind that is less than 16 days old. In that case, the chick is not yet formed. If I would try to describe it, it's more like an ordinary boiled egg. The only difference is that the yolk is not anymore to be found. I think it already mixed with the white part. I don't like to eat penoy. It's very much different compared to balot.

[THE ART OF EATING BALOT]

Eating balot is not as easy as you think. First, you have to know which end of the egg you should break and I always forget which one. You should know this or else, you will be force to eat the hard part first, which most people don't usually eat. As you can see, an egg has two ends. One is pointed and the other is round. If I remember correctly, you should break the egg at the pointed part by knocking it on a hard object. Perhaps on the wall or if you want to do the old Filipino style, break it with your forehead. I always do this when I was younger until I realized that I'm hurting myself. At least try it once. =)

After trying to look for the right end of the egg, enjoy your balot by sipping the soup inside. In order to do this, you should make sure that the hole of your balot is not too big. The soup will serve as the first part of your balot experience. The taste is indescribable and I really love it. It's a part of your balot 'cause it's a part of the chick's life that you're going to eat later, so don't waste it.

When you're finish savoring the soup, you can now slowly widen the hole by breaking the shell slowly. Leave some shell for you hold the egg properly. At this moment you should be able to see a grayish and a yellow thing. The grayish thing is the chick. That will be our goal. The yellow part is not that challenging to eat so you can eat it first(save the best for last).

Balot also comes with free salt and spiced vinegar. To eat your balot, first, pour a little vinegar then spread a little salt. Now, munch that little chick like there's no tomorrow. If you will chew it slowly, you will feel the beak and the bones breaking. It's so yummy.

The last part of your balot is what we call bato(tagalog term for rock). You have the option to eat it or not. If you will ask me if I eat it, well yes. I also paid for it. Don't forget to put salt. (Warning: old people with false teeth, don't try it)

[WHERE TO FIND BALOT]

Please take note that balot is only available at night. You can see vendors selling it at the corner of some streets. Some uses bicycle to tour it around. Others just walk and shout. BaloooooOOoot...

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Top Five Malls in Davao City

These are the five shopping malls in Davao City, Philippines. There are many other establishments in Davao but I think these are the top 5.

[5]Victoria Plaza

From Davao City International Airport, this is the nearest mall. I ranked it fifth because it's not anymore appealing to most people in Davao. In the late 90's, Victoria Plaza is the most popular mall in Davao. Now, it is still famous for having cheaper goods and for being accessible since it's right in the middle of the city.

[4]Gaisano South

Also known as JS citymall, G-south is tallest among the five malls in this top list. This 5-story building is the nearest from Davao City Hall. Being in the downtown area, it is also very accessible. Around G-south, you can find a lot of hotels, inns, fast food restaurants, hospital, and a park.

[3]NCCC Mall of Davao

It's the second and bigger NCCC in Davao. NCCC also have branches in different Davao provinces plus Palawan. In NCCC Davao you can enjoy watching movies in four of their cinemas. You can also opt to try their bowling alley if you want. The location of NCCC is not ideal. The atmosphere is upscale. The structure is simple. You won't get lost.

[2]Gaisano Mall of Davao

I think the owner of G-mall and G-south are cousins. Aside from these two Gaisanos, There are also other Gaisano establishments in the entire Davao region.

Gaisano Mall is the mall for the people. It's atmosphere and appearance say so. This 4-story building is located not very far from Victoria Plaza. It is surrounded by five different colleges so you should expect that you will see lots of students. You can also enjoy their cinema. There are six. If you want to buy groceries, you can go to the basement. All in all, there are 5 different floors to check. You can also enjoy the site in the atrium from different floors.

[1]SM City Davao

Also not in an ideal location but SM City Davao is one of the good to go malls I knew. To be honest, I don't enjoy going there but the atmosphere is not that heavy to carry. It's the only mall that makes me lost. It has a left and a right wing plus another wing in the middle, which if you are not familiar with the stores, you will not know which wing you are in. There are 3 cinemas each in both left and right wings. Contrary to the other malls, when you enter SM, the boy's entrance is on the right and not left.