Thursday, December 30, 2010

Brand New Day

November 22- There are days where you just can't seem to catch a break. And I just had one of those days. Try as I might to pick myself up. I just can't. Circumstances won't let me.

However I try to be positive about the situation, it seems everything's not going well. I want to scream to the world, why is it being so unfair? I wasn't asking for much.

When there is darkness all around me, a sliver of light is all it takes. God has his reasons for putting me in situations like these.though oftentimes, some reasons are beyond me. Maybe he's trying to sharpen me. And most of the time, I refuse to be sharpened.

As much as this exercise pains me, I told myself what won't kill me can only make me stronger.

Then when all seem lost and I got no one to turn to. I get a message from a friend.  It doesn't really take a lot. A call from an old friend. Then I am reminded that all is not lost and life has been good to me. I know God won't fail me especially during dark days such as this one. Cheer usually comes from people who touch our lives and become channel of blessings. People who don't judge our actions but embrace us and shower us with love and understanding. Some find that in their boyfriend or girlfriend. Some find that in their parents and siblings. Some find it in their closest friends. And always His word gives perfect assurance.


So whenever life slaps me hard and I've got nowhere to turn, I look up and look around me. Life is good. Sometimes there are just minor bumps on the road.

So I'm going to sleep on this hoping that tomorrow is going to be a better day.



And Nov 23, turned out to be a much better day.
P.S. 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Powerful Taglines

Taglines are powerful media to reach people and make them remember the product being endorsed. Here are two taglines that have recently caught my attention and have made me dwell in deep thought. And interestingly they are related to a product I don't really patronize, coffee.

From Nescafe
"Para kanino ka bumabangon?"


Yes we labor day in and day out. But for whom do you wake up for?  For yourself? For your family?
From Starbucks
" Stories are gifts to share" 

Indeed, stories are.

From Ambeth Ocampo

Recently, I have been interested in reading snippets of Philippine history as told by Ambeth Ocampo. 


He has compiled all his articles in one short book (whose title eludes me) that gave me a quick tour of the past. Lighter than Constantino's The Philippines: A Past Revisited yet this collection has kept my attention until the last pages much longer than any paperback has in recent memory. 


Mr Ocampo showed the many sides of our heroes and heroines which I have not learned in school. 


Reading the endearing and not so endearing everyday encounters of our heroes made me realize they can neither fly nor have superpowers. They were just normal regular people who have the strength and courage to step up when their country needed them. Though most may be driven by selfish ambitions, that doesn't take away the fact that some have risked their lives that we might have the freedom that we now enjoy. Most spend their lives fighting for the cause they believed in. And yet here I am, about to complain how toxic life is these days.

However, as if on cue, I chanced upon these lines.


"Sometimes we are too busy, or like to think we are too busy, to rearrange our lives and schedules for what is truly important."-Ambeth Ocampo


There can be a lot of things that occupy our time. Work, school, extra-curricular activities, church, family, friends. And sometimes we spend more time doing what's not really important and ending up regretting it in the end. Life's too short for a lot of "I should have's". 













Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Full Circle

One year ago, Helen brought me to a hainanese chicken rice place in Novena, Wee Nam Kee. I loved their hainanese chicken rice! The place is frequented by locals and visitors alike. Due to the limited seating capacity, we shared the table with a father and son who were surprised with the not so small portions that we ordered. 

It's about time that this popular place in SG has a franchise. And it is right smack in the middle of Makati, Ayala triangle gardens. (This is the first franchise outside SG)

After a very long day going around the city, Helen and I decided to swing by ayala triangle.

I knew then Wee Nam Kee is scheduled to open on Nov 17. To my surprise, when we passed by the place was open a day earlier than the schedule. It turns out it was on soft opening.

And we got the chance to meet Mr Wee.

Helen who frequents the place in Novena has not even bumped into Mr. Wee there. It took going back home to be given the opportunity to meet the owner of one of her favorite comfort food. 
Helen and I with Mr Wee

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Lessons Learned by an Amazing Race Junkie

with Jess of The Amazing Race Asia 4

1. There are express buses that can get you faster as opposed to buses that stop at all the possible places.

(Lesson: There are lots of ways of reaching a goal, you thought you got on the right bus but it turns out there’s the faster express bus. The trip may take so long that it already took the joy of the journey but you got there anyway, jaded and all. But whether you took the fast or slow bus, what is important is that you are aware of all your options of going there and you know which option you took)

2. Read the instruction manual several times. You'll never know what key word you might have missed.
(Lesson: We should know when to read between the lines. Keep in mind that sometimes there is NOTHING between the lines. There are things we should take at face value.)

3. Even the best of friends and sweetest of couples get at each other nerves while traveling
(Lesson: Under intense pressure, you test the strength of relationships. And most wither under extreme stress.)

4. Map reading skills are essential.
(Lesson: In going anywhere, you have to have an idea where you are. Now, if you like where you are, then stay put. But if you want and need to be somewhere else, move)

5. You'll only know if you got a good or bad taxi driver if you are already on the road. Oftentimes, it'll be too late to switch cabs when you realized you got a bad one.
(Lesson: There are no “test trials” in life. And if life throws you a curveball, you can’t hit the pause button and say “Hey can this be just a trial run?”. We have to live with the wrong choices we made, whether these options we handpicked or we were left with no other choice.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I overheard a kid, mumbling to himself in a store. 

"hey Dad, can I buy stickers?", while holding up a bunch of stickers. 

"It feels nice to be a kid again."  (I think he's 10 or 11). 

And he continues by saying "cause when you get old, you get lost".

 I totally agree with him.   

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Watching the Capture of the Green River Killer reacquainted me with this poem I memorized in high school.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.


It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

3.0

Three years after the G2 blast, time flew so fast! Oh well, here’s my customary entry on the blast in Glorietta. Until now, the whole mall is under renovation. It has been under renovation since the blast happened. I wonder when it will be completed. And whatever happened to the case against the mall?


I haven’t been to Glorietta that much recently due to my recent change in work address. I sometimes forget that blast ever happened. And I wonder if that’s good or not. But whenever I pay the mall a visit and my mind wanders, I still remember the sound of that explosion and easily picture the cloud of dust and flying shards of glass. I am reminded of my own forgetfulness and selfishness.

http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest/50397/case-unclosed-glorietta-blast

Friday, October 8, 2010

World Cup for the Homeless

My brother Bob loves football. Because of him, I was able to watch a World Cup match in a sports bar last July. It was a memorable experience with rabid Japanese fans cheering on the only Asian team left at that time. When the World Cup ended and Bob left, so did my affair with football.

But recently, an article caught my eye about this World Cup for the Homeless. According to the rules, the players must be homeless, marginally homeless, or a recovering addict in treatment. I heard about our contingent of “homeless” kids, a few months while reading an article about their win in an international competition. What struck me at that time was the fact that these kids don’t really know how to converse in English but they were able to make lots of friends because of their friendly smiles. And I am thankful to the individuals who supported this worthy cause for a unique team.

The 8 "homeless" boys came home last month after having a respectable showing in the one of kind World Cup. Technically, they were not homeless but they reportedly lived on the streets most of the time. and when most athletes do their weight training in the gym, they carried sand and cement instead. Because during their training, they worked as construction workers so that they still can send money home.  

Though, the cup they were playing for is not as prestigious as the original World Cup..... Though there was no big parade to welcome them when they came home last month. Somehow, I knew their lives were transformed after this experience. Though, a lot of well-meaning people helped and sponsored them throughout their training. What's critical now, is what they will do after without aid from other people. Will this chapter inspire them to achieve more and inspire others? Or is the call of the previous life tug stronger?

Like football, this game of life is relentless struggle to make that precious goal but challenges will deter us from achieving that. Sometimes at the end, it will just be a draw. Sometimes, the whole world is watching but oftentimes it's just a handful few. It all depends what we make of it.

These kids proved that we have the power to rise above our circumstances. May it be in football or in life.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Daddy's Little Girl

5 years ago to this day, I was in a coffee shop in the heart of Makati. I was listening to my youngest sister and mom crying on the other end of the line. Still a vivid memory.


Just a short note to remember my Dad.

My mom said our youngest is really a daddy's girl. As if to prove it, she got news that she passed the nursing board on our dad's supposed 65th birthday. And she took her oath five years since the day he returned home.


Yes Patang, you are daddy's little girl. We are all very proud of you....for what you have achieved despite the many obstacles along the way.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Angas Overheard

Why sunflowers?

Because they're protecting the house where the brains are.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Lupang Hinirang

May mga araw na mababaw ang luha ko. This is one of those days. When we sang Lupang Hinirang at the start of the Department of Tourism-sponsored run, tears welled up my eyes. Suddenly the words of our national anthem took whole new meaning.


With the recent turn of events, my sense of national pride was at a low, if not an all-time low. Who doesn't? But a visit to Quirino, seeing and rediscovering the beauty that is old Manila, or hearing of HK teens hugging Filipinos. The spirit of volunteerism and the positivity I hear in others, somehow uplifted my spirits.

We are a race that prides itself of being resilient amidst adversities. And yet after getting beaten black and blue, you get numb and that resilient spirit you are so proud can easily evolve into indifference.

That incident was a major blow in this already castigated nation. Admittedly, we did a lot of things wrong on August 23, during and even in the aftermath of the tragedy. We failed.

However, I agree with one article, we shouldn't let this one incident define us as a nation. But as we learned in forecasting, most recent history has the greatest weight in projecting the outcome of an event. And that recent event defined us as a people, our system and the climate which we live in.

And we cannot blame anyone who has lost faith in our fellowmen and the system we have put in place. Maybe that was the reason the tears came, because for a moment, I have lost faith.

And yet hearing the words of the national anthem, I was reminded that despite its many imperfections, we live in a country that has been lambasted and yet has the audacity to stand proud and smile. Is it indifference? Callousness? Or is it the capacity to roll with the punches and get up after a knockdown?

No words or new negotation team can bring back the lives lost. What we can do is move on and ensure that we know what to do when (God forbid) this happens again.

Lupang Hinirang, now might not be your proudest moment. But I still believe in the capacity of your people to adjust and move on. After all, a pearl is a product of dirt in the ocean. If only we can the harness the power of an oyster.....

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Kobe

Back in high school, a trip to Kobe, Japan did not push through because of the 1995 earthquake. My classmates and I were supposed to go to Kobe on an educational tour sponsored by the city's local government. Due to the cancellation, they sent us an apology letter and a miniature japanese umbrella.

I forgot all about that near miss until we passed by Kobe. The city where my favorite baskatball player got his name. I didn't get to go around the city, I just caught a glimpse of it from the rapid train to another city in Southern Japan.

Famous for its prime beef, it didn't fit on our hectic 7-day round-about the land of the rising sun. Maybe the next time I'm here, I'll definitely swing by. And after what I've seen, heard and experienced in the land of the rising sun, there'll surely be a next time.

Though, I was not given the opportunity to visit Kobe before, I am thankful to pass by it 15 years later. Sometimes the answer to our prayers is not really "No" it is somtimes "Not Yet".

But sometimes we have to prepare ourselves for the "Not ever" reply.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Aaaargh

Much has been said about the hostage-taking situation last Monday. And this is another attempt to find reason in a senseless horrendous turn of events.


I don’t know what needs to be done exactly on situations like that but watching the proceedings on TV leaves much to be desired. There must be a better way than that.

There are probably hundreds of botched rescues in hostage-taking situations around the world. Nothing came so close to home as this one. Watching it happening with visitors as the hapless victims is heart-breaking. Seeing how the “assault team” struggle in breaking down the windows and door of the bus, was so frustrating. I read one comment from a Hong Kong citizen “Is there only one axe in the Philippines?”

Is there only one axe to grind? A BBC analyst enumerated the 10 things Philippine Bus Siege Police got wrong. So who’s to blame? The hostage-taker? The police? The media?

(There’s an interesting article written by Nelson Poynters entitled Guidelines for Covering Hostage-Taking Crises, Prison Uprisings, Terrorist Actions http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=4640 )

After that Monday night fiasco, the finger-pointing has begun, heads will definitely roll. Our already damaged but recently rejuvenated image in the international community tarnished again. But that is not my major axe to grind.

A citizen’s action is a by-product of his values, his experiences and society. A twisted citizen’s action to do harm should be contained by a set of contingency measures, to be executed and implemented by specially-trained individuals. Even the most perfect systems are still at the mercy of a twisted man’s actions. But at least our system should have been able to mitigate the collateral damage.

Do we even have a specialized team trained to handle situations like this? I know that real life is different than TV. But maybe we can learn a thing or two from one show which I loved, Stand-Off. The main characters are negotiators who know how to neutralize a distressed hostage-taker (on TV anyway). Fancy gadgets are not a requirement but they could help. Heck, maybe even one axe will do. What's critical is….. knowing whose axe is that distressed man is attempting to grind. And what will make him tick or not. And they make sure they don't make him tick.

As we all watch helplessly for grueling minutes after the first shots were fired (What the “assault team” were waiting for at that time, were beyond me but I knew I was praying for help to arrive, mutants, superheroes, anyone), I cannot imagine the horror the hostages felt during that time. It took almost an hour before the team got in the bus. I heard one BBC commentator commenting, “This is a bit strange, no one’s making a move yet.”

10 hours. 8 dead.

The outcome shouldn’t have been like that.

“Manila’s Finest” failed us in the worst of times with the whole world watching.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

All Too Familiar Place

It's nice to reminisce sometimes. Go back to where you"ve been and realize that things are really not as good or as bad as you remember them to be.


I went to an old familiar place last weekend with old friends. We ate at a place where u we couldn't afford to go to as students. It feels good to be able to pay for a decent meal. Oh the simple joys of life.

It has been almost 8 years since I left the university but somehow every time I go back there, it feels like it wasn't that long ago since I left my "comfort zone". It took two years before I finally had the guts to leave UP and face the world. Talk about being a slow adjuster. When all my classmates have already left and never looked back, I was still in my withdrawal phase. The phase that felt the break-up wasn't real, that we were still together. I admit it takes a damn long time for me to adjust. But in time, I learned.

I will always have this special connection to a place which saw me battle homesickness, fall in love, make life-long friends, struggle in my spiritual walk or simply live.

I spent 8 years in the university. And it has been 6 years since I left.

If I would be given a choice, I'd go through that again and probably fall in love more and made more life-long friends.

Apat na Piso

You’re running late for work. You realized you left your wallet at your place. You can actually go home and get your wallet but you needed to submit something before 10am. So you can’t afford to miss any precious minutes. What do you do? Well, this is what I did.


I was contemplating on asking from my roommate whose office I’d pass by en route to the train station. Or from a guard in my old office? Or from a friend? But then, that would take more time.

I scavenged for loose coins in my bag which amounted to P7.00. But that won’t be enough for my train ride of P11.00. (And yes, I wasn’t able to pay P7.00 for my jeepney ride.)

From watching too much Amazing Race, I felt it was “easy” to ask for some money from strangers.

So from whom would I ask 4 pesos? I was eyeing an elderly gentleman on the jeepney. Maybe he can spare me P4.00. But I changed my mind and walked aimlessly towards the train station.

As I rummaged through my bag, I found a bag of candies. I was considering bartering my candies for P4.00. I know they’re worth more than that but who does barter these days?

I was even hoping to find some coins on the sidewalk. I was about to ask the lady selling candies at the MRT steps. But when I saw how “kawawa” she looks, I cannot bare to get her P4.00.

And I remembered the donut store where I usually get my breakfast, on my way to work. I’m sure they won’t recognize me but I’m hoping they’re willing to loan me P4.00.

And they did! But that is after a few seconds of giving me looks of disbelief after hearing me explain my predicament.

So I was able to get to the office, submit the report and attend the meeting.

Lesson for the day: Don’t put all your eggs in one wallet.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Japan on a Shoestring

The land of the rising sun is known to be one of the most expensive places to go to. Japan is expensive, don’t get me wrong. But you can survive in one of the world’s most expensive cities with ample preparation. I don’t usually have the patience to make an itinerary other than my own. But this recent trip inspired me to make one especially for those in a tight budget.

First, I spent eight days in Japan and those aren’t enough. But since most of us who have regular jobs, have these number of days to contend with. Let’s work on a seven-day itinerary.

For the fare, well one of the highest expense in going to Japan is the plane fare. So scout for cheap tickets. I got mine for a very good deal but the catch is we fly in Osaka not Tokyo. Actually with Osaka as our gateway, Japan’s cultural heritage is within our reach with the Kansai region’s Kyoto, Narra, Himeji, among others. So it turned out it was for the better.

Ten Tips for Japan
  1. For accommodations, if you don’t have friends in the area. Try staying in ryokan. These are traditional Japanese inns which serve travelers since the Edo Period. Or you can stay in guest houses which cater to backpackers. In Tokyo, I recommend Koenji guest house. http://kouenji.seesaa.net/
  2. Guides, there are a lot of tour guides that offer free services especially in the Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji, Narra).  Here's a link: http://www.visitkansai.com/
  3. Food, don’t scrimp on food. Splurge on Japanese food. I was surprised since I was prepared for exorbitant food prices. Surprisingly food prices in Japan are comparable to Singapore’s hawker centers, most oftentimes cheaper.  
  4. Transportation, if there’s one thing that makes Japan expensive, it’s the transportation expenses. The minimum cab fare is 710 yen. And the cost from one station to another is 50 to 70 pesos. So good thing, we availed of the Japan Rail Pass which allowed us to ride as many trains, buses, bullet trains (except Nozomi bullet trains) as we want for seven days.
  5. Walk, as they say the best way to explore a place is to walk. So walk and walk and you’ll be in for a treat. This is the best way to encounter Japan’s fashionistas.
  6. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions. The Japanese are more than willing to help you. They may even accompany you if they have time.
  7. Don’t be intimidated by Tokyo or even Osaka’s very complex train system. As I have learned, just divide and conquer. In Tokyo, just take note of the Yamanote and the Chuo Line. The Yamanote Line encircles or makes a loop around the entire city, while the Chuo Line cuts the city "crosswise". The Yamanote Line is where you can find the famous stations of Shibuya, Harajuku, Ebisu and Shinjuku.
  8. There is a website that has become my best friend during this entire trip, www.hyperdia.com. Just input your origin and destination and select possible modes of transport. And Voila, several options are presented to you.
  9. Watch out for a lot of street performers.
  10.  There are not a lot of places with free wifi so if you want internet connection, try a manga kissa. These used to be manga libraries but have evolved to 24/7 internet cafes. Some even have shower rooms. So you can actually spend a night in one of their lounge chairs. And drinks are unlimited in most of them. So if you're in really tight budget, stay in one of those manga kissas

Friday, August 13, 2010

Guest Houses

A home away from home.

To stretch my limited budget when I go to other places, I try to look for those hostels or cheap guesthouses. Thanks to travel forums, blogs and friends, I've had my share of good guest houses. Although it has been several years since I stayed in them, I still remember how each room looked like and the pecularities in the room I've stayed in.

These places offer a much needed rest after a long tiring day of exploration. It's nice to go back to a place where u feel at home.

And I get to meet a lot of interesting people in these guesthouses. People trying to escape their real lives for a short while, others for a much longer time. And thanks to the internet, I'm still able to get in touch with some people I've met.

After chatting with the owners of these guesthouses, I'm convinced theirs is on my list of ideal jobs. Waking up to a house full of colorful, different people trying to run away from something, running to something, or just simply having fun. I'm such a sucker for their stories. Each guest has his own story to tell. And I would lend my ears just to hear their stories.

Shanedel's, Basco, Batanes (awesome view, walls only three-fourths of the floor-to-ceiling height so you can clearly hear the other room)

view from Shanedel's Inn

Two Dragons, Siem Reap (unlimited coffee, best fried rice I ever had, with a weird sign at the door and all toiletries are imported from vietnam)

Two Dragons' lobby cum dining place (http://twodragons-asia.com/)

Tony's guesthouse, Malacca (with colorful handprints and claire bruni as soundtrack)

this place is right in the center of Malacca
(http://www.backpackingmalaysia.com/hostel/tonys-guesthouse/melaka)

Aling Nora's Place, Pundaquit, Zambales (bamboo beds and roof, felt like a dorm)
Aling Nora's lobby

Village Lodge, Coron, Palawan (good food, kid's theme to the room)

in front of Village Lodge (http://www.coronvillagelodge.com/)

St George Inn and St Joseph Guesthouse, Sagada, Mt. Province (shiny floor, awesome backdrop) (boiling water in a kettle)
the new St. Joseph cafe

Hillside Inn, Batad, Banaue (one of the best views at P150 a night)
view from Hillside inn

Blue River 2, Ho Chi Minh city (friendly receptionist, french breakfast, no second floor in this french-inspired building)
this cozy place is a few minutes walk from Saigon's center

Koenji guesthouse (this rare tokyo find very close to a station in the Chuo line has got to be one of my favorites)
Not only is this a rare Tokyo gem, you can also cook here (http://kouenji.seesaa.net/)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Chow Company

I don't mind eating alone in a public place. Now that is. So I smile whenever some of my friends say they won't be caught alive eating alone in the mall or any other public place. I was like that before.

Nowadays, I am fine eating without company in public. I find myself lost to my thoughts during this time. A time of solitude and reflection. I usually write during these times. Like this instance.

I ask myself what changed. Maybe the fear of starving overshadowed my self-consciousness. Maybe I just managed not to mind when people notice my being alone. I stopped being self-conscious in this very basic human activity.

And besides, eating alone in a public place doesn't make any difference with eating in the company of familiar faces who are actually strangers.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Ode to P

Like leaves falling

As a tempest from Olympus blows

The young man we sought

Bore little resemblance

To the infant that was brought forth

With such innocence and purity of heart

Unmatched in a land of illusion

And dreams



Adieu days of glory.

Friday, July 30, 2010

1660

Taking trips usually changes you.


It distorts your concept of reality.

It destroys your preconceived notion of a place and its people.

I haven’t been around that much but I try to see as much as I can with my limited resources.

And the distortion and destruction of my illusions of Japan came at a very good price.

Thanks to 5J, I was able to go to the land of the rising sun for only P1662 pesos for a return ticket.

Heck, my first bullet train which was about 10 minutes, is almost worth that.

Monday, July 19, 2010

a bug's life

What do we get when we are able to step on a pesky bug?
Is it the same feeling of satisfaction we get when we look down on people?  
As the eternal Desiderata says, 
If you compare yourself with others, 
you may become vain or bitter, 
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. 

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 

Those who know they are greater than others, but remain mum about it, my utmost admiration. 

And to those who brandish the flag of pride, woe to you.


And for those who feel they're greater than others, enjoy the attitude that freedom accords you. 

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Barriers

Barriers are set in our minds and distance is relative.



Most of my barriers I realized are only in my mind.

Globetrotting friends showed me borders are not barriers, you can go wherever you want to go. You just have to go!


People who love freely and passionately showed me that life is too short to dwell on what might-have-beens, you have to live in the moment.


People who have encountered barriers in life and love showed me that these barriers are not barriers at all. Rather they are just bumps on the road or a structure that we can catapult over.


Barriers, should there be, shouldn't limit our capacity to explore, imagine and enjoy.


Much has been said of a borderless world, so much has been said of limitless possibilities, and yet barriers bug us down because we let them.


No highways would have been completed if the engineers see mountains as barriers…..rather than structures by which they would carve a path.

So when the road gets rough and unnavigable, I will not fret. There could be a path less traveled by, friendlier to my feet and my butt.


Sunday, July 4, 2010

You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman

My Toy Story fever has not subsided yet. 


You've got a friend in me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
If you've got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and can see it through
Cause you've got a friend in me 

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you
The way I do, it's me and you 

Boy, and as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Epiphany

One Sunday, the pastor talked about things that give us counterfeit security. These may be our material possessions, career, relationships. It could be anything that may offer us a semblance of stability in our most human desire to feel secure about ourselves.

Everyone has his own version and it's only a matter of time before one of these fail our expectations.

So what now? As Christians, we believe that God is our only stable anchor. But some may view it as escapism, like a sinking vessel, do we choose to seek to believe in a higher being to explain everything that cannot be explained or some may deem it is a coward's way out.

Growing up in Sunday school, my brain is wired to believe without question, a fact which is detrimental to my testimony as a Christian. I'll have to spend more time trying to delve deeper into the faith I profess. What do I believe? Why do I believe? So that I can have a better testimony as a believer. Not for my glory but for His alone.  



Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Toy Story 3

It was a simple story of toys getting left behind by their owner who's going away for college.

It was supposed to be one of those brilliant Pixar creations. It was all that and more.

From the very creative minds which brought us A Bug's Life, Up, Wall-e and all those amazing masterpieces, outdid themselves again.

Woody, Buzz and the gang  scared me tonight. They scared me because of the way they were able to manipulate me. As if they know me that well.

They should really do better next time. And if that's impossible, it's their fault. They keep on raising the bar with their every creation.  They own animation now. I have no choice but to expect nothing less.

"No owners, no heartaches." (I just have to insert this)

Blog 2.0

It has been two years since I started this project. Somehow this blog has been a life map for me. Although I don't chronicle everything. (God forbid if i did) This project gives me an idea where I was a few months ago. What was going through my head, what was my emotional state. I could've chosen a less public journal. Instead, I chose to share some of my thoughts with the universe. Even if the universe don't give a hoot.
This month is a slow month for me and my project. I haven't logged for quite some time. Maybe when life happens, there's no need to hit the record button.

It's 1,051,200 minutes to this day.

And in the ebb and flow of words, life always happens, whether we hit record or not.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Lost

Sometimes I’m such a study in contradiction that I shame myself. I just came from a refreshing three-day retreat in Tagaytay which set my course straight again. And I am grateful for this wonderful experience.


Oftentimes, I wander from the path that is set for me. Whether as product of my own selfishness or folly, I fell into the traps set before me.

And yet during the times when the urge to pull away gets stronger, somehow God pulls me back into his loving arms.

And like a prodigal daughter, I welcome His embrace like a wayward child finally reunited with her Abba father.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Heartsick by No Vacancy

Heal me. I'm heartsick. I'm hungry and I'm broken.

I'm haunted, and weeping the blood of heaven flowing
like a river tonight. Tears I can't fight on my own.

I'm hung and barely breathing.
The drowning ocean. Snuff the sun in motion.
There's a pill on my tongue.
A shot from a gun, the bottle's bottom,
I'm lonely as a star

Heal me. I'm heartsick.
Hungry thought I could survive on you.
Hear my heartsick hungry cry.

A child of fury. Lost his way but don't worry I won't stop 'til the dawn.
I've been too long on the run.
I grow strong, and restless as a storm

Slippery When Wet

While I was riding with my friend last Friday after a heavy downpour, she noticed something. As a beginner driver, it was her first time to drive on wet road and she said she immediately felt the difficulty in controlling the wheel on these slippery surfaces.

Have you tried to hold on to something so slippery that you just can't hold on to it for even a few precious moments? Well, in our attempt to hang on, we will have our encounters with these types of slippery surfaces.

But then again, check again, maybe our hands are the ones slipping away not the surface we're hanging on to.


                   

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Disney Fever

When Fran and I were roommates and we didn't have morning classes, we watched Disney's Beauty and the Beast over and over again that we almost memorized every line and song in the movie.


It was the first and only (so far) full-length animated feature to be nominated for Best Picture in the Oscars.

Based on Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont’s La Belle et la BĂȘte, this timeless tale was our happy pill. It was such a refreshing breath of fresh air even if it was just in 2D. (Recently, I haven't seen any animation that is not in 3D, not that I’m complaining, they were all brilliant)

A friend told me that the difference now in animation is the story-telling. The animation think tanks, after probably exhausting the pool of stories that can be made into animation, resorted to their story-telling skills to turn even the simplest plot into an amazing piece of story-telling that can capture your attention from start to end.

So once and in a while, I try to watch Belle and the Beast throw those snow balls at each other because it makes me believe that in this jaded world, some love stories do come true not just in Disneyland.

Note: And it was worth to note that at the end of the Beauty and the Beast, it was dedicated to Howard Ashman who died of AIDS in 1991, with this line-----

To our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice, and a beast his soul. We will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman: 1950–1991.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Halalan 2010

A 234-year old democracy like the US, had two father-son tandems who became presidents. The Bushes and the Adams.

While, the Philippines, a 112-year old democracy (less than half the age of US) would soon have two of such tandems, father-daughter in Diosdado-Gloria and a highly probable mother-son team-up in Cory-Noynoy.

What does that say about our tendency to believe that leadership skills can be inherited? Or are we just suckers for certain family names which have nice rings to them?

Hmm…come to think of it, they could be names for airports. Oh, but wait……they already are.




---------here I am thankful for a generally peaceful and relatively "smooth" first ever automated elections.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Crunch Time

Only two days before the country's first automated elections and I don't think we are ready. The COMELEC has kept reassuring us everything will turn out ok. And I'm praying that it will be.


But after getting an SMS from my mom that the new memory cards haven't arrived yet. I can't help but feel doomed.

My mom always performs her duties (as almost all public school teachers do) as Chairman of in a precinct in our town of Ajuy.

Since she's technologically-challenged (she has a hard time playing solitaire in the PC), she was relegated as supporting staff for the upcoming elections.

Today, they're supposed to test the PCOS with the newly-configured memory cards, but the cards have not arrived yet.

Ajuy, despite its 87 km distance from Iloilo city, is a relatively accessible town. So if the cards haven't arrived yet in Ajuy, how about in Lagawe, Ifugao? I’m hoping the remaining two days will be enough for the final testing.

The recent hiccup must be a logistical nightmare for COMELEC but I'll be praying fervently that they'll be able to manage through this. I don’t want to think of the consequences if they would be unable to.

A successful testing was done in Makati yesterday. I'm thinking how many IT experts were there to ensure the flawless execution. And to replicate that thousands of times in all the precincts…. Maybe not all, but in most of the 76,000 precincts…

So, here I am hoping for the best on May 10. Not because I want that Subway free sandwich (for voters) on Monday, but a failure of elections is the last thing our country needs.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

China Lovin'

Ever since I read Pearl S. Buck's Good Earth in college, I dreamed of going to China. I was smitten by the landscape I imagined while reading the book.


It has been my dream to see a countryside in mainland China. In my imagination, it may just look like the rice field we have here, with certain mysticism typical of a faraway land.

My love affair with China started then.

I tried learning Mandarin but it was in vain since I wasn't able to practice speaking it. Not to mention that it’s quite a difficult language to learn with its four tones and gazillions of characters.

So here I am probably ten years after I read the book, my interest on Chinese countryside was rekindled after seeing Zhang Yimou's the Road Home.

I couldn't stop my tears from falling while watching this movie about a small village girl who fell in love with a young man from the city. The young man ended up teaching in the small village for 40 years. He dedicated his life teaching the children of the village hoping to improve their lives.

There are a lot of elements in the story which struck a chord in my heart, China, the small village setting, the old schoolhouse, teaching and undying love (I wish!). And probably because I’m working in a big city with the road home rarely traversed. However, those rare times I go through that road, I feel the countryside welcoming me with open arms.
a piece of China

But I wonder when I’ll be traversing a country road in China.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Unfriend

From Reader’s Digest, May 2010 Edition

Unfriend is voted as the New Oxford American Dictionary’s word of the year in the US.

Unfriend means to remove someone as a friend from a social networking site.

It also means the detachment in real life from a friend you have fallen out with, or one who’s become dull or annoying.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Of Push Carts and OFWs

Last December 2009, while waiting for my turn in the immigration line in NAIA, a middle-aged lady approached me and asked what she needs to do upon our arrival.

Her name’s Martie. We chatted while on queue and I discovered that she has been working in Singapore for two years.

Tears welled in her eyes when she recalled how hard her life was in the lion city. She gave no details but she swears she won't go back there again. She told me she’d rather deal with the hardships in the Philippines than go back there.

She used to be a teacher, but to be able to feed and send her children to school, she chose to be a domestic helper in a foreign land. This is a common story in a land where OFW remittances are the driving force in a slumping GDP. Oftentimes, I forget that many of our kababayans work abroad not because they want to but because they have to.

I take my hat off to the millions of our fellowmen trying to make a living to make ends meet. She said she regretted her decision.

As F Sionil Jose said in his book, Viajero......”Ah, my countrymen, dislodged from the warmth of their homes, to make a living no matter how perilous and demeaning, to strike out in alien geographies and eke from their swear and their cunning what they can. “

In her two years in SG, Martie hasn't seen the Merlion. Oh yes, because in my limited pretentious tourist mind, that is the ultimate sign that you have been to Singapore.

Typical tourists, who are in town for just a few days, try to have their picture with this city's icon. Merlion. And yet someone who has lived in the city for two years hasn't even glimpsed this icon and she has no idea where it is. They aren't missing much really for not seeing it but still, I can't get over the fact that she hasn't seen it.

This fact made my mind wander for a while. And encountering this lady splashed some reality ripples my way.

The things I take for granted like being able to walk on those streets going where I want to go and trying to look for a colorful bridge is a luxury for most of us. and yet some of my friends working there are living a different kind of life. One friend doesn't take the train to work since it's too crowded. And their concept of "crowded" is nothing compared to the way we maximize the breathable space in the MRT. The contrast is quite surreal that it's hard to believe the two realities exist in the same universe.

I was struck by this realization that I felt like I had to do something. Since she has too many bags and she didn’t get a cart. I decided to get her one, which simply means walking a few more steps but she saw my effort of walking all the way back.

And I saw in her expression that she was so surprised by the simple act.

Ok this entry is not something to make me feel me like a CNN hero because I actually felt shittier after that.

I gave her my number just in case she needs anything. Ok, I just don't give my number to anyone I meet. I really felt the need to help her and told her if she's going to Manila, she just contacts me. I have no idea how I can help her but I was thinking I'll think of something. Or am I one of those who keeps on feeding empty promises to the hapless in an attempt to make us all feel good about ourselves? Such hypocrisy….

And then another "bagong bayani" tagged along with us in the queue and shared another sob story. She's rushing home because she realized all the money she's been sending home is going to her husband and his mistress.

Sigh.

There are thousands of these sob stories and what did I just do? I got a cart.

Martie sent me an SMS in January that she's going to try her luck in Manila in April but she didn't ask if I can help her with anything.

The Filipinos are a resilient bunch. We thrive on pressure. And yet even the most resilient of us give in when the going gets really tough. Someone may try to help us but at the end of the day, we all make our own path. Whether that will take us somewhere else depends on the breaks of the game.

Last March, I got another SMS from Martie, she's planning to go to Manila after the elections.

I wonder what Manila has in store for her.

And when there are no more push carts this time around, what can I do?

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Cassette Tape

The patience of looking for the next track on a cassette tape, a friend told me our generation has this to claim.

We bought cassette tapes and after listening to the entire album. There are some songs that you figured out you liked more than the others. So you decide to make the effort to look for that song by forwarding or rewinding. Taking time to estimate which part of the tape it really is. In a way, my friend told me that exercise taught our generation, patience.

But in the CD and mp3 generation, we got it easy. The tracks have numbers. You just have to skip to the next track.

That maybe in a little way taught me a lesson on how to deal with people around me. It takes time and effort and a lot of gut feel.

Nowadays, we have email, instant messaging, social networking sites. They connect you with people. But then again. these aren't substitutes.

They will only be substitutes if you allow them to be.



Sunday, April 11, 2010

Survivor Caramoan

Caramoan is the top tourist destination in the country in 2009. So when an invitation to an adventure camp in this island off Camarines Sur, was presented, I said yes. Well, the camp was a disaster but that didn't stop our group of 11 to enjoy the beauty of the place frequented by Survivor outfits from all over the world (Israel, France, Serbia, Bulgaria, Sweden).

sunrise in Matukad


We spent the night camping in Matukad Island where I saw the most number of stars I've seen in my entire life. One companion even commented that the sky looked so amazing, it doesn't seem real. It was pure bliss just lying on the beach, looking at the stars, fireflies and shooting stars. Across Matukad is Lahos Island, where contestants of Survivor Israel were stationed. So occasionally, we see a flicker a light from the Survivor island.

At 7am, we were literally booted out of the island since the production crew will already start filming. As much as we want to stay in Matukad, we had to skip to other islands in the area.


the guards who man the fort while filming is going on

Caramoan's islands reminded me of Coron because of limestone formations found in many islands. We only got to go around one cluster of islands. So this gives me another reason to go back to CamSur and of course next time, I'll try to finish one lap in CWC's beginner wake-boarder's lake with my pride intact.



One of this trip's highlight is the confirmation that more and more survivor productions are being shot here in our country. These opportunities provide more livelihood to our fellowmen in the area and at the same time, we are able to showcase the beauty of our country to the world.


And here's the video clip of the latest season.



Saturday, March 27, 2010

The Ride

They say this mode of transportation is not allowed but the business of trolley rides seem to be flourishing in this part of town.
There used to be lots of houses along the railroad tracks but now, konti na lang ang mga home along the riles.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

2,922 MASL

There are some places that blow your mind away. And when words fail and pictures tell a different story, I thought of keeping this story just in my mind for a while and let the experience “simmer” until I’m ready to share about it.


I know that we have a country blessed with natural beauty on land and sea. I thought I’ve seen a lot of the best. But this country has more up its sleeve that I have never ceased to be amazed by its many surprises.

As North Face tagline says, never stop exploring. And I intend to do just that since we’re living in a very beautiful country, our wanderings will be rewarded.

On February 20-21, I tagged along 14 other fun explorers in conquering Luzon’s highest peak, Mt. Pulag or Mt. Pulog via the “easy” Ambangeg Trail. This 7.5 km hike from the Ranger Station is the easiest among the many trails to the mountain’s summit. With a difficulty level of 3/9, the easy trail wasn’t really that easy. But the body pain and the cold (I have never been that cold in my entire life) are all worth it.


view of the summit (covered by clouds) from the base camp


cold despite the layers

forget touch aversion, body heat comes in handy when your fingers are freezing


one of the countless of wildflowers strewn along our path

Shire-like

lonesome tree

This is one of those trips where preparation is key to your enjoyment and ----- survival. Thanks to our very able leader, Josiah, we survived and enjoyed.