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.

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.

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. 

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/)

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.

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.