Monday, September 28, 2009

After the Storm

I thought I was prepared to hear the stories and see the images in Ondoy’s aftermath. But nothing could have prepared me for what I’ve seen in the past few days.

Heartbreaking images of dead bodies. Old folks and little children navigating deep waters. Families carried away by a raging river. Amidst everything, throngs of people helping each other in any way they can.

Time and again, moments like these, make me ask why.

At the same time, it makes me appreciate simple basic things in life, water, shelter and food.

It will take some time before things go back to normal. And yet for some who have lost their loved ones, normalcy is far in the horizon.

Help may not have come too soon for those who have waited for several hours in the cold, starving and wet. And all they can do is hope that help is on the way.

Now may not be the time to point fingers on who to blame. And yet, who can blame one who has lost everything? The process of rebuilding is a long, arduous road which requires a concerted effort from the government and the whole community. But where do you start?

I initially believed Bayanihan spirit will carry us through. And so far, it has worked wonders with aid pouring in from all sectors.

While our fellowmen grapple to hang on to something, we can offer our resources to the victims, hoping that the helping hand we lend will serve as anchor that can provide solace in these dark and trying times.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Ondoy's Rage

It's 1am I can't sleep. I've been listening to the AM radio and been online the whole day. I woke up prepared to have a full day ahead, not realizing that Ondoy already made plans for me. Today, Manila was hit by its worst flooding in recent years. Ondoy brought a huge amount of rainfall never seen in 40-plus years. A PAG-ASA report said that the amount of rainfall today is equivalent to a month's worth.

Hundreds were trapped on their roof. I saw people being carried by the strong current of a raging Marikina river. A friend's whole house was submerged. A few of  my friends got stranded on the road. A friend of mine, after spending six hours on the road decided to leave their car and took the train instead. Another friend subsisted on her sports drinks and water for 7 hours while being stranded on the road. An officemate spent the night in the campus where she had a talk that morning. The sidewalk in front of our building caved in and a parked car got "swallowed by the earth.


there used to be a sidewalk, a fence and parked cars here 
 
I heard and read a lot of stories displaying Bayanihan spirit today. Twitter was helpful in giving me updates about what's going on in other parts of the Metro.

In the next few days, I'm going to hear a lot of stories . Some tragic and some would be inspiring stories of survival.


after the storm, Makati seem gloomier and emptier

Moments like these are opportunities for heroes to rise, loopholes in our disaster coordination strategy to be uncovered, politicians to share the limelight and volunteers to shine.

And Ondoy allowed me to see something else the sun has been masking all along.....

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Bombay

I used to think the world is small since I bump into people I know in bizarre circumstances. Those small-world encounters started this blog. Then again, I realized maybe it’s just because I move in very small tight-knit circles. And this classic Bombay story is an illustration of the many intersections of the Venn diagrams I inhabit.
No, this is not related to anything Indian at all.

In our dialect Hiligaynon, the term for onion is Bombay.

Shifting from Hiligaynon to Tagalog is a bit of a challenge for any Ilonggo or Ilongga when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Translating bahay kubo may not be simple after all.

In one of those long road trips where you get to talk about anything, a friend related a story about her search for onions in a sari-sari store somewhere in Project 6.

Fresh from Iloilo, she has only been in Manila for a few days when she decided to buy onions. And in a sari-sari store where you have to say what you want, (just like in life, sorry can’t help inserting this)  to get what you want.

And alas! For a moment, she forgot where she was and asked for BOMBAY! Of course she got a strange and annoyed stare from Aling Nena. Of course Aling Nena’s tindahan doesn’t sell Indians.

We laughed about this to no end. I shared this funny story with my brother in Iloilo.


bawang (I asked Tin for a picture of a bawang when I really meant sibuyas, hay)

Fast forward a few months later, my brother was in a party in Iloilo. And he overheard the same story told in a first person perspective from a stranger. He immediately sent me an SMS and asked how the owner of the Bombay story looked like.

I called him instantly and yes, as soon as he picked up the phone, the high-pitched laughter in the background confirmed that my friend is also in the party where my brother is.

Bombay (Thanks Tin for the picture!)

That’s how I introduced my brother to a stranger over the phone.

And that’s how Bombay got an entry of its own.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

4.0

I was in a coffee shop with a friend somewhere in Salcedo Village when my phone rang.

It was a phone call that will forever be etched on my mind.

It has been four years since that day.


 riding into the sunset


P. S. My youngest sister visited our father's grave today.  

Sunday, September 20, 2009

In Good Food Mood

To say that I ate a lot the past few days is an understatement. Thanks to generous hearts I've been eating to my heart's content lately. Since I've been wanting an excuse to post another set of food pictures, here goes....



Ate Belle's amazing Blitz Torte

    Bag of Beans' Apple Pie ala Mode
 

Poached pear with Vanilla







Rosted Duck Breast Infused with Foie Gras


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Isang Pagpupugay


I have this annual tradition to watch the UAAP cheer dance competition on TV or live (if I can get hold of tickets which are really hard to get).

the stage
Although my school spirit may be dormant the rest of the year, this is the time when I have that spirit re awakened. When I hear the deafening drums and thousands of screaming students and alumni, I can't help but join the revelry.

There are moments when I ask myself shouldn’t have I outgrown this youthful exuberance for the hallways I left seven years ago? But moments like this, I feel the student in me, wants to be a part of it again.

Last September 13, the cheering squads of the eight competing schools of the UAAP slug it out in the country's biggest cheer dance competition.

And this year is supposed to be the year UP is going to bag the crown three years in a row, a grand slam. But that dream didn't materialize. The squad got 2nd runner-up honors.

Unlike the 2006 debacle, I wasn't that devastated. Time and again, the UP PEP squad outdid themselves. Every year they set the benchmark for novelty and innovation in choreography, concept and even costumes.
Back in college, they were the first squad to wear tights instead of the usual skirts. Then almost everybody else followed suit the following year. When everybody started wearing tights (I dunno what they're really called though), they wore cut-offs and then following year, it was shorts and the next year, just body stockings with Alibata characters. This year, they sported skirts, schoolgirl skirts at that. (Note: Their costumes this year aren't that visually appealing though, red+green=brown. But it was unique alright, as one fan in a forum said, it's not layogenic though.)

In 2007, they blew me away with their “rock” theme! That was the year when they regained the crown from UST, they used the "Astig" theme. True to their tradition of bringing something different every year, the 2008 theme was tribal, Tribu Sugod.

But this year, the theme was something unique. It is more like a tribute to the UP community that supported the squad all these years (We always have the biggest contingent during the cheerdance competition). The squad used a lot of symbols only familiar to a member of the UP community. Though, some say that this UP-centric theme backfired. They used an Ikot jeepney, Sablay, blue book and songs like State U by Yano, Hari ng Sablay by Sugarfee. Some say that the use of this theme may not have helped enhance the fluidity of the entire performance. Oh well, maybe.

For me though, the PEP squad had such a unique concept but there was a problem with execution. The UP theme maybe just a sidelight, however, their execution spelled the difference. Just like in any ballgame, the coach may have the perfect strategy, a game plan but come game time, there could be mishaps in the execution.

And yesterday, it happened to the squad. A major pyramid formation wasn't completed and one toss went awry. The UP crowd gasped on those two instances (the other cheered of course), maybe, every supporter feeling the third crown slipping away with each miscue. (Every minor error in this competition gets one-point deduction.) And ironically, these missteps happened to the less difficult part of the routine. They nailed the complicated tosses and lifts with such ease. I appreciated how much effort they must have put to perfect those complicated tosses and dismounts.

And yet I still hoped that the other squads might have lapses too. But unfortunately for us and fortunately for them, FEU and ADMU almost had flawless execution. Kudos to them! In a field where there's a new set of judges whose expertise gymnastics and cheerleading, perfect execution (not just difficulty of movements) is of utmost importance. After UP PEP's performance, the crown was up for the taking.

But in a competition dominated by UST (8) and UP (5) crowns, the bitter rivals were hoping that should they not get the championship, their rival shouldn't get the crown too. So when UP was announced as the 2nd runner-up, the UST crowd cried out shouts of celebration, something that the UP crowd didn't take sitting down. So when Ateneo was called as the first runner-ups (Ateneo’s coach is a former UP PEP Squad), everyone in the coliseum chanted FEU as if to spite UST's premature celebration of regaining the crown after UP was announced.

And at the back of my mind, this mob mentality that “Kahit sino puedeng manalo, wag lang yung mortal kong kaaway”, is human nature. And what happened yesterday highlighted this bitter reality. And sadly, I shared that mentality.

But there was also a redeeming factor, a positive note amidst intense competition. Before, UP had no props when all other schools were waving colorful balloons, ribbons and banners. All we had were our fists. It was a pitiful sight at first but I got used to it, only raw voices shouting support like activists on the streets.


the banner (fine print is on the bottom right-hand corner)

But starting last year, UP banners were handed out to the crowd. (Oh yes, we commercialized this too.) And this year, there were additional paraphernalia handed out to UP supporters. But one particular banner gave me goose bumps, not because of what it “shouted” (UP) but what's on the fine print. The banner was an anonymous donation and the fine print says.....”Narito kami nagpupugay sa unibersidad ng aming buhay. I read in a forum that this was a donation from devoted UP PEP fans (aka alumni) who brought the banners to the coliseum, not even sure whether they can get them in the venue or not. Thanks to their generosity, maroon was visible this time around.

Anyway, time and again, the UP PEP squad made me proud to be part of this community, a community that I have been a part of for 8 years. Oh yes, eight years.

Though, the PEP squad ng bayan may not have defended the crown this year. What they did this year gave me more reason to look forward to this competition next year and the next.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Untitled

When I watched Time Traveler’s Wife, I was prepared to cry my hearts out. It turned out I didn’t cry at all save for a moment when my eyes welled up when Henry was thanking his friend Gomez.

Most of us have bags of hang-ups of varying sizes and styles. I realized I shouldn’t expect the bag to become lighter on its own. I have to let go of excess baggage because eventually I’ll end up paying for it.  
bags I momentarily left in the airport lobby  
 
I realized that I missed laughing my hearts out, that pure mindless laughter about anything or nothing at all.

The drama has to end somewhere and it comes at the moment of our own choosing.
  

Monday, September 7, 2009

Say Cheese

I always thought cheese-flavored ice cream is a universally-accepted concept until Jerry pointed out that they don't have it back home.

Last weekend, how special it is, was highlighted in one cozy guesthouse in Malate. A couple of friends and I finished walking around Quaipo when the conversation turned to unique local delicacy. And something that I didn't think to be unique before, spilled out of my mouth. "Cheese-flavored ice cream", I blurted out. One of them said, "You got to be kidding me."

So we got Quezo Real from the nearest 7-11 and decided to go to a wine and cheese party at the place where one of my companions was staying. Well, actually, I thought it was an open party but it turned out to be an exclusive party for the guesthouse's guests only. But thanks to friendly marshals and our "cheese", we were able to  get in.

As soon as I placed the cheese-flavored ice cream on the table, it was such a huge hit. And people from the northern and southern hemispere gathered around the table, were staring at this strange (for them anyway) flavor of ice cream. I was so amused with the varied expressions on their faces when they saw that this ice cream flavor also has chunks of cheese in it.

Growing up, cheese-flavored ice cream is just an ordinary standard flavor. I always thought this flavor is commonplace. But it turned out it isn't ordinary, outside my world. It took other people to point it out.

What's ordinary for me is extra-ordinary for some and vice versa.