my small world

You know you're home

2012-02-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

Home for the holidays means taking a plane to a newly renovated Iloilo airport---an airport of international standards but no international flights---not yet anyway.

Taking a van to Jaro Plaza when upon getting off, you'll be swarmed by eager cab drivers.

Then stopping at a local mall to buy stuff for home.

Then taking a bus in a crazy terminal with no system but is able to move thousands of passengers everyday.

The bus to our small town Ajuy, will pass through scenic landscape of ricefields, mountains, cliffs along the seaside for two hours.

You know you're home...

When people freely laugh together at a joke in a movie being shown on the bus

When you hear someone shout "Hopya, mani, kropek!" when you pass by the regular stopovers.

When you're washing the dishes on a sink which faces a field of bananas and whole lot of other trees and dense grass and weeds.

When you hear the chickens moving about the house trying to ask for food.

When everybody on your street knows when somebody has arrived.

When everybody on your street knows you and what's been happening in your life.

When the main mode of transportation is a pedicab which takes you anywhere in town for only P10 or less.

When your neighbors bring you food they just cooked.

When people go to your house to use the landline.

When your sleep is not disturbed by the busy street.

When videoke sessions start at 8am.

When people hang out in front of their house talking about the latest neighborhood news.

When a mobile bakery, ice cream vendor, and hordes of fishermen regularly pass by selling their goods and wares at really affordable prices.

You know you're home when it feels like home.

Memorable Movie Lines

2012-02-08T17:23:00.000-08:00

Adventure is out there. – Up
Authority must be derived from the consent of the governed not from the threat of force.- Toy Story 3
No owners mean no heartbreaks. - Toy Story 3
There’s always time for a bow. – Arthur Christmas
Assumption is the mother of all f**k-ups. – Under Siege 2

33

2012-01-31T00:50:00.000-08:00

I thank the Lord for this unique birthday experience

12-1am- I welcomed the Chinese new year and my 33rd birthday on top of the Bund overlooking Shanghai's signature skyline. Caught in the middle of a conversation ( I didn't understand unless translated) with a few couchsurfers, two Americans, a Brit, a German and a Chinese guy. where everyone was speaking Chinese except the Chinese guy

1am-130am-Walked the streets of Shanghai, hanging out in convenience stores

130-2am-Ended up sharing a cab with a German guy (working in the aerospace industry-sounds like a rocket scientist) who lived two stations away from our hostel

2am-My heart skipped a beat when the taxi dropped me off in a street corner that was totally unfamiliar (the German guy supposed to have told him where to go), several scary moments later, we managed to figure out where we I need to go with the help of a map on my pocket. The driver turned out to be a nice guy who said ba-bay when I got off in front of my hostel.

2:30am-4am REM

4am-woke up

10am-got up
1030am- Got locked inside a toilet with a broken knob. The door ended up being opened by a guy (after my noisy pounding on the door) with only a towel wrapped around him

11am-spent our coldest day in Shanghai walking around the french concession looking for a park and what-nots

4pm-tasted my best Xiao Long Bao I tasted so far; my travel buddies treat for me

6pm-Went back to the hostel and packed. Said bye to Rock and Wood and the Uighurs in a restaurant down the street

820pm-took the maglev train for 8mins which covered 19 miles (biting pieces of a hard uighur bread I have grown to like)

9pm-Got approached by a bunch of guys to carry a letter to the Philippines (a most bizarre experience which capped this extraordinary day)

11pm-waiting for my flight to Pinas with only three Pinoys and the rest are Chinese in an ongoing diaspora during the Spring festival

Phew!

2012 baby!

2012-01-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Let’s start the year on a very positive note.

1. Jan 1 - Given another opportunity to speak in church

2. Jan 2 – Arriving in the office 30 minutes earlier after coming from Iloilo

3. Jan 3 - Being able to get the last seat on a flight I wanted to be in at 2% of its actual cost

4. Jan 4 – Hitting the pavement

5. Jan 5- Deepest sleep in recent memory after a fun fun night (was not able to wake up on my ringing alarm)

Thank you Lord.

August 6, 1945

2011-12-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

On my last trip, one emotional moment is seeing the A-bomb dome and going around the peace park in Hiroshima. While walking around, we met the son of a Hiroshima survivor. He shared his blog to me which features his mom's memoirs. As a reminder to us all, we should be thankful we live in generally peaceful times.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/mitokosei/26522134.html

Back to the Future

2011-11-25T01:41:00.000-08:00

First and foremost, I thank the Lord for this wonderful blessing of being able to travel again. I was able to go back to a place I have come to love, the land of the rising sun...a land of friendly trendy fashionable people, a land of uber- expensive train rides (220 yen for 15 min 6 station away ride and 2400 yen for a one hour bus ride), a land of a lot of elderly citizens, a land of the shinkansens, a land of the most vending machines, a land of sushi and ramen, Nippon.

man walking his dogs in Mino Park, Osaka

It is also a land recently struck by a horrifying catastrophe that only affirmed the tenacity and dignity of its people.

Landing in KIX again almost brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it is disbelief that I am able to step foot again on this place combined with a feeling of gratefulness for this blessing of being able to go back to Japan again.

Nippon for the second time around is sweeter like a wonderful melody to my heart, with koyo colors to highlight an already beautiful landscape.

This trip has so many highlights but I have to pick the top 10.

1. Staying in a minsyuku in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture

2. Onsen in Fuji-kawaguchiko and Shirakawa-go

3. Seeing the A-dome in Hiroshima almost made me cry

4. Seeing Fuji-san for the first time in Shizouka while riding the shinkansen

5. Hitch-hiking in Lake Kawaguchiko

6. Experiencing couchsurfing hospitality Nagoya and Kanazawa

7. Walking through the streets of traditional merchant houses in the old geisha district of Kanazawa (for me these streets are better than touristy ones in Kyoto and Takayama)

8. Most scenic train ride from Nagoya to Takayama (rivers amid wonderful koyo colors)

9. Walking on the sand dunes of Tottori

10. Enjoying the autumn colors from the top of the main tower of Osaka Castle

Oh, and one additional highlight is my attempt to capture Geishas and Maikos in action. However they walk so fast and try to avoid people as they transfer from one restaurant to another. So, all I got were blurred pictures plus a pocket full of stories to tell of the experience.

Baler: Worth the Wait

2011-10-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

My first trip to a local destination other than home, for this year reacquainted me with how crazy our bus terminals are. It made me realize how hopeless we are as a country in promoting tourism when we can't even follow a simple bus schedule and most of our bus terminals don't have decent queue systems.

Shing, Aileen and I got reserved tickets for 12mn bound for Aurora. We were at the bus terminal at 1045pm.

The queue system was chaotic to say the least. The passengers don't know where to wait since there is no designated waiting lounge. The system works like this, find a vacant space and wait there. The terminal was just one big parking space with buses coming from all directions. After numerous close brushes with huge buses and witnessing several outbursts from irate passengers, finally we got on the "Joy Bus" at 1am.

Well, as they say it is the journey not the destination. And this journey didn't start at a convenient note. So again, I invoked this adage, an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered. And Baler, Aurora is worth all those little inconveniences.

Looking back, despite how we as a nation manage to mangle our sorry excuse for a system, we manage to fall through. For me, the beauty of our countryside is the saving grace each time. As if telling each visitor, hey it doesn't matter how inconvenienced you were going here but aint I worth the hassle?

Though our dear country may be a pain in the butt to navigate through, but it is worth all that once you get to know it better and see it beyond its inefficiencies. After all, who is going to promote it other than us and in order to promote it, we need to explore it first.

Circle of Life

2011-10-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

We watched Lion King back in high school. My dormmates and I trooped to the Allegro Theater along J. M. Basa St. (those were the days when theaters were not in malls). I remember we all teared up when Mufasa died. We all sang with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa in Hakuna Matata. We fell in love with "Can You Feel The Love Tonight?" During our junior year, we (the Vanguards) sang Circle of Life in one contest. It was one of our more respectable finishes (3 of 4 I think).

So yes, Simba was a part of our high school. Lion King, along with Beauty and the Beast and Mulan are my top hand-drawn Disney movies. So when I learned that they were staging Lion King in Singapura. I've been wanting to go. But going there just to see it was impractical. So when an opportunity from my company, of a connecting flight presented itself via SG, I immediately took it. I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch Lion King before its last roar on October 30. It is a wonderful blessing.

The play's production design was astounding but the singing and dancing was not that impressive for me. Overall, it was a nice experience to relive a movie that reminds us of a problem-free philosophy. Hakuna Matata.

Bus Rides Gone Bad

2011-10-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

Every time I go home I take a bus to my hometown of Ajuy, 87 kms from the city, a two-hour journey amidst verdant fields and stretches of hilly terrain overlooking the azure sea separating Panay from Negros island.

Steel and men.

I took my usual bus line home, Ceres. Yes, the goddess of agriculture. We were cruising along the national highway when the bus screeched. Our driver stepped on the brakes but not before the steel rods protruding from the truck in front us pierced our bus' windshield. Our bus windshield had cracks like the sun's rays. The conductor told the driver to chase after the truck driver. But I knew that our bus driver knew he was at fault. The truck with steel rods we was stationary when we hit it. The truck managed to get away.

But what ensued was three police stations visit in three different towns. What was usually a 1 hour and 45 min ride took 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Well, finally I made it home and once I am in the comforts of my home, I just managed a "nakabunggo ang ceres nga nasakyan ko, dugay dugay ang byahe"

Of drunk and unruly busmates

Going back to the city,fresh from my eventful ride two days before, I found myself on a packed bus with no conductor. The driver was also the conductor.

And for a seatmate, I got a drunk, rowdy guy who was talking #@a%$ the whole time saying if he was the conductor, things won't turn out this way. Add to that more passengers are getting on the already cramped bus. It was getting dark and the drunk guy's ramblings and endless taunts of the driver were getting on my nerves.

But a wake-upper in this story is when people started complaining about the bus' numerous stops to pick up passengers, the driver/conductor asked the complainants how would you feel if you were the one on the road trying to hail this "last trip" bus and it doesn't stop? At the point I had to agree with manong conductor, the best way to look at an incovenient situation is to see it from the perspective of the other party. So rather than bitch about it, I might as well just sit back and experience this misadventure.

As G. K. Chesterton said, an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. And an inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.

Tradition...Tradition....Tradition (of winning that is)

2011-09-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

The team launched into full-on assault mode beginning at the 3:26 mark with six scorpions (3:31) to arabesque (3:37) with full-down dismount. Four fliers performed a double back handspring to cradle position (3:44) and then from an extended level, they were tossed to a single-base extension (3:47), dismounting with a bird-front. The craziness continued as they did four rewinds (3:57) finishing with a double full-down dismount. At 4:23, two fliers did a double full twist, the team’s most complicated tosses for this piece.-Jason Doplito (http://www.interaksyon.com/)

Ansabe?

http://youtu.be/efKkIpd0df8

Tea

2011-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

9/10/11

I've talked about a lot of mundane things here. But this should be the at the top of the most mundane things in my small flat world.

I can't sleep when I drink coffee or tea or even iced tea after 6pm. It's almost 2am now, and I have an 8am flight later. I should've been snoozing at 11pm, 12 midnight tops. But instead here I am, wide awake with sleep evading me because I drank Thai Tea at 9pm.

Aaargh, I thought my body can already tolerate milk tea that late. But I guess I was wrong. Oh well, so rather than forcing myself to sleep, I'm writing this entry, hoping that this will lull me to sleep like a senseless mundane lullaby.

500 bucks

2011-09-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

In the commemoration of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr.'s death last August 21, several documentaries/films have been broadcasted. Growing up, I've seen countless retelling of this story. Yet, each time I see images of this portion of Philippine history, I can't help the tears from falling. Maybe it's my acknowledged shame that this generation may have easily forgotten. Or my recognition what the past generation was able to do in four days somehow proved we have hope as a nation. We just have to find it in our hearts to unite and believe in our ability as a nation to rise up against adversity and hopefully sustain that fervor. Time and again, we need to prove that we are a people worth dying for. I hope Ninoy's memory will be more than just a face on the P500 bill. If it would take an image of his lifeless body sprawled on that tarmac to jolt us to our senses, so be it.

Family Terms

2011-08-25T04:31:00.000-07:00

1. Maalaala mo kaya- dramatic/weepy/emotional moments

2. Mapiyong piyong-when you want to take a nap

3. Once there was a love-mushy moments

4. Milliones Transaciones-important transactions usually conducted in Iloilo city

5. Feeling astig-pretentious

6. Cowsurfer-couchsurfer (mom's version of that organization)

7. Wovocela-vuvuzela (mom's version of Bob's imported torotot)
8. Anline-mom's version of being online

9. Baaaaad-Yohan's quick retort when he doesn't like what you did became the common term for discontent

10. Work vista-My sister works in Vista Inn, now when we all say we work in Vista

30 Seconds to Mars

2011-08-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

I heard of this band from a friend last summer. They replaced Motion City Soundtrack in my frequently played playlist. So when I heard Jared and the gang were coming to town, I got excited but when I saw the ticket prices, I was set on not being to see them play. It is a pricey concert for a band with the cheapest ticket at P2000.

So when I found out I was going to be out of town on the night of the concert. I concluded it wasn't meant to be. On the afternoon of the concert, I got a message from my friend, Nadine. She got an extra free ticket. But I was too far away that day. Oh well, some things are not just meant to be.

And the nice thing about it, is you get to practice the gift of acceptance of things that are beyond your control. Hmmm..All that from a concert.........and a myriad of experiences.

Basketball Junkie

2011-08-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

I am a basketball junkie. I devour every available sports page during the NBA playoffs from ESPN to the LA Times. And I live in a country where every plaza has a basketball court. Ask Rafe Boggs, he knows this is a place which loves this game with a passion.

When my fave Laker comes to town, KB24, I don't get to see him in person. It's usually on a weekday and sometimes tickets are hard to come by. You either have to line up for 'em or you have to be one of those kids who ends up at the right team at the right time and gets to be in one of his basketball clinics.

So when I heard a number of NBA players are coming to town, I tried calling Ticketnet as soon as possible.

But the call on that Saturday morning was in vain. I need to go to the mall to buy the ticket. No reservations. So I did.

can't hide my glee

The Smart All Star Weekend felt like a dream. Seeing Kobe and Derek Fisher play on the court live was so surreal. I can't believe it really did happen. I wished there were more than four quarters in a game. I wished I bought the other ticket for the next game.

I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunity to see NBA in action live. I don't need to go to Staples. Not yet anyway.

Strange Small World

2011-08-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was in a line of a dozen people trying to get tickets to the NBA vs PBA game just before the clock strikes nine. (Ticketnet closes at 9pm). I noticed a lean girl with the built of a triathlete. What caught my attention was that her hubby was also fit and fab. I thought this couple can be both models for Men's and Women's Health.

Last Saturday, I was queueing for the security check in Mactan's Airport pre-departure area. And lo and behold, the same fit and fab couple were in front of me in the line. Strange small world.

And the guy ended up sitting beside us on the plane. I wanted to tell him about this strange coincidence but I chickened out. So I thought I won't have the opportunity to talk to them. But when I went to the washroom, there was only one other occupant and it was the girl! So I told her and she remembered me in the NBA line. These small world encounters are getting stranger and stranger.

Seoul

2011-07-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

Before I went to Korea, I was not a fan of the country. With thousands (maybe millions) of them flocking here in the Philippines, going there to see more of them didn’t appeal that much. But a brief visit to Seoul changed that. What was that quote? To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries (Aldous Huxley)

Seoul has no particular landmark that will tell you right away that yes that is Seoul. Not a skyscraper or a mountain or a bridge. But this city has little charms which will surprise especially an unprepared visitor like me.

Incheon airport was impressive, it looked and felt new (to think it’s already 10 years old). My friend quipped it smelled of Germany. I wonder how Germany smelled like. The airport’s information system is as high-tech as one can get. Printed on the carts is this line “Incheon- World’s Best Air Hub”. I haven’t been to that many airports but I think this statement is not far from the truth. (After the trip, I checked some airport stats and indeed Incheon airport ICA has been on the top for the past three years beating its neighbors Changi, HKIA, Nagoya and KLIA in one survey by Geneva-based Airports Council International.) The top airports are all in Asia. Go Asia!

It was supposed to be the start of summer but we were greeted outside the Incheon airport by 12 degrees Celsius temperature. After having my best (and most expensive) Dunkin Donuts meal to date (at 5,200 won=P226 pesos), we took bus 6011 to our hostel in Seoul. The journey took about an hour and a half as we got stuck in morning traffic jam.

We stayed in Inside Backpackers, a hostel rated by Trip Advisor as the top specialty lodging house in Seoul. It was located in a university neighborhood with lots of restaurants, bakeshops and charming shops. If there’s one word I can describe Seoul with, it is charming. The city has little alleys with most shops looking as if they’re from a movie set interspersed with traditional Hanoks.

So here are some of my experiences in a city sometimes referred to as the Seoul of Asia.

• Foggy and very bumpy landing in Incheon (landing and take-off was bumpy)

• 12 degrees Celsius (supposed to be summer already) when we stepped out of the airport

• Uber high-tech Incheon airport
• Ultra modern airport information system (that's why it's the world's best air hub)

• Big new restrooms (uber clean)-smelled like germany according to gracie

• Required seatbelt on the bus

• Excellent Dunkin Donuts variety with misleading prices (discounts reflected on board rather than prices; when everything is in Korean aside from the numbers, how can one figure that out?)

• Singapore-like landscape on the road leading to the airport

• Kia and Hyundai rule in the road

• Tour van driver has been to Singapore (said it as if it's the most normal thing to do)

• Border with guard houses with guards everywhere

• Really young soldiers (20-ish)

• Entered the civilian contoured line

• Took forever to cross the unification bridge

• No pictures allowed on the bus after the first checkpoint

• Watching the border like watching a war movie with no gunfire

• Really cold tunnel (North Koreans dug several tunnels going to the South, we went in the third tunnel)

• Seoul is a city with most number of train university stations I’ve ever seen

• Really young generation who knows how to party

• Cushioned train seats

• More complex train system than Beijing

• Noryangjin wet market has nice lights which made me think it was a furniture store

• Blind beggars walking around train with music

• Train platforms reminded me of Tokyo platforms (already tested by time yet extremely efficient)

• Seoul is less crowded than Tokyo and Beijing

• Seoul has better English than Chinese and Japanese combined

• Naver (play on the word Neighbor)-their version Google with its own street view

• Policeman in a small station used Naver to show us directions

• Changing of guards in Gyongbokgeung palace was made a spectacle for tourists

• I commented on a lady’s nice attire in Filipino thinking she was Korean “ang ganda naman ng suto ni Ate” and she quipped “Ay ako bay un, salamat”

Small World

2011-06-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

What started this are my collection of small world encounters. So almost three years later, here I am paying homage.... In my last trip, I had two experiences which reminded me how small the world really is.

1. My friend Grace was the one who booked our hostel online, Inside Backpackers. When I told my Korean friend, Dong-ic-lee, where we are staying, he was delighted since the hostel turned out to be owned by his college friend, Jeong.

2. A couple of weeks after the trip, I got a message from a CS friend which says “OMG, you stayed in Inside Backpackers?” It turned out she stayed in the same hostel two days after we left Seoul.

Ok, it could be that Inside backpackers is that popular but I’d rather think the world is really small despite its apparent vastness.

3. A college friend Egay, asked me if I want to meet Jessica Z while she’s covering a rugby game between the Phils and SK (I think). Egay who is based in Busan was in Seoul for the weekend to help Jessica in documenting the game. Too bad I wasn’t able to make it to the game. Meeting her would’ve given an interesting “twist” to the small world adage.

Beijing Day 2

2011-06-11T03:44:00.000-07:00

We woke up early to go to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and explore a hutong near our hostel. The previous night, we ended up eating in a place near Happy Dragon which didn’t have a menu in English or doesn’t even have pictures. So I just ordered what the people in the next table are eating. Since it was already 11pm, only guys drinking beer were left in the place. So I just pointed at the guys’ pulutan or sumsuman. I told my companions to just point at anything. So they randomly pointed on an item on the menu. The randomly pointed dishes turned out good ones, representative of Beijing local food, spicy and oily. I liked the extra spicy vegetables served with beef. If only the guy on the other table stopped spitting on the floor, it would’ve been a really nice meal.

In the second morning, we had breakfast at the place near Happy Dragon. It’s a small eatery where old Chinese folks have their breakfast. They were only serving porridge and an assorted array of fried dough plus hardboiled egg. Each of us had porridge, a hardboiled egg and the fried dough and total cost was just P60. A P20 breakfast!

We then took a train in Line 1 and got off Tiananmen West station, one of the two stations (Tiananmen East) adjacent to the famous square. Since this is one of Beijing’s top attractions, I was expecting throngs of tourists and I wasn’t disappointed. Aside from tourists, the place was also sprawling of soldiers doing drills. It was one of the many grand production numbers Beijing has prepared for its visitors.

After walking around the square, we went to the Forbidden City or the Palace Museum which is just at the back of the square. The palace museum is composed of several palace-like (!) structures, which were used by the Emperor and his family. It is called Forbidden City because before only the emperor, his family and his close minions can live in the city.

The entrance to the city was intimidating. I felt like an intruder. The movie “Last Emperor” was filmed in this city. The entire complex is huge and it took almost two hours for us to get to the other side of the city without even lingering too much. After getting our fill of palaces (after a while everything looked the same), we decided to look for the Hutong where we’re going to stay for our third night. The place is called “Sitting on the City Walls”, a courtyard house in the middle of a hutong. It was adjudged as one of the best hostels in Beijing in 2008 and 2009.

But there was one complication; I forgot the map with directions to “City Walls”. Good thing, I was able to study the map before and somehow I had an idea of the general direction of the place coming from the Forbidden City. So we decided to explore the small streets behind the gugong, and fortunately we saw a tourist information center. We asked for directions from the friendly girls in the counter and fortunately they know where it is. The entrance to the hutong is a small alleyway beside a sports center where people play ping pong and some play some sort of checkers (probably Chinese!). The hutong is a maze of traditional Chinese houses. We ended up walking into a dead end with no signs of the City Walls. Then my companion found an arrow with a sign that says City Walls. The sign was so high up (probably two stories high) that you probably cant see it unless you were watching out for something to fall from the sky. I guess part of the place’s charm is getting lost in a hutong and exploring one of Beijing’s fast disappearing gems, the hutong.

It was Rick the owner of City Walls who gave us an orientation of the place and nearby sites. He gave us helpful tips where to go and eat. Since it was already our second day on the city, I was half-listening.

We decided to walk in the direction of Happy Dragon to get our bags. And all around, we saw parts of hutongs being demolished to give way to high-rise buildings. We had our linner (lunch and dinner) of mostly Cantonese cuisine in Nanluoguxiang, a quaint little street (over a kilometer long) is packed with bars, cafes, restaurants. What stood out are the very dusty tables in the restaurant, which turned out to be my first encounter with the dust from Gobi desert. Beijing suffers periodically from dust from the nearby Gobi desert. (And I thought the ladies were just too lazy to wipe the tables)

Upon leaving Nanluoguxiang, the weather turned nasty cold. So it was an afternoon of Gobi dust and Siberian breeze. We rushed to the nearest bus stop to take a bus to Happy Dragon. But alas, the signs were all in Chinese. Even the bus numbers were in Chinese. But a group of friendly non-English locals helped us. At first it was just the elderly traffic aide then a bunch of elderly folks and finally a young couple whose English vocabulary was limited to “Follow” and then several minutes after “Take Bus”. In the span of twenty minutes, only three words were uttered but those were enough.

They even accompanied us to our bus stop even if they were going towards a different direction. Thank God for friendly people randomly scattered in the streets. The couple's small act of kindness was the highlight is this day.

At night, we explored The Egg (National Center for the Performing Arts) and Qianmen St. The walk towards Qianmen also allowed us a night view of Tiananmen Square without the throng of tourists and soldiers.

Day Two was again an affirmation, every place you visit might have the best sights but at the end of the day, it's the people you meet along the way that makes a place more special. Random strangers with their acts of kindness.

Mike and the Mechanics

2011-06-08T00:40:00.000-07:00

Lyrics from the band's song "All I Need is a Miracle"

I said "go if you wanna go,
Stay if you wanna stay"
I didn't care if you hung around me
I didn't care if you went away
And I know you were never right
I'll admit I was never wrong
I could never make up my mind
I made it up as I went along
And though I treated you like a child
I'm gonna miss you for the rest of my life

Bei Jing

2011-05-18T00:40:00.000-07:00

Beijing is about 17,000 sq km (Manila is only about 636 sq km) with 13.9 million people. A couple of travel friends invited me to go with them to one of asia's megacities. I would've wanted to go to China longer but beggars can't be choosers. (We got really cheap tickets!) So three of us, off we went to conquer Beijing for four days.

This is my detailed account of Day One.

First impression, this city is huge, dusty and cold. I was prepared for tolerable cold weather. I saw the weather forecast, temperatures ranged from 10 to 23 degrees Celsius. I asked a friend who was based there and he told me to bring a light jacket. So I did bring one light jacket. (turned out it was not enough to ward off the cold cold spring in Beijing)

We knew it was going to get cold. But it was already spring so I anticipated Baguio-like temperatures. but I didn't expect the windchill that felt like cold cold winds of Siberia blowing. Seriously, it felt like winds coming from melting ice blowing on my entire body.

We were picked up from the airport by our hostel taxi. I reserved accomodations at Happy Dragon Hostel, which had good reviews in Trip Advisor and Pinoy Exchange. When we got out of the airport, there was a guy holding a placard with my name on it. He was standing just outside Terminal 2 so it was hard to miss him. We managed to get to our hostel solely by using sign language with our driver.

My first night at the hostel didn't go well. Despite having made reservations in Happy Dragon but we were informed that we are "temporarily booked" at their sister hotel.

The sister hotel wasn't at all nice. It was old and there were all sorts of clutter in the corridor. I could've given them an earful but it was at 2am and I was too tired to argue and I just wanted to sleep.

So we slept in their sister hotel and got picked up the following day to transfer to Happy Dragon.

Happy Dragon turned out to be quaint backpackers' place with character. There were writings on the wall. And the rooms were tidy and they have clean bathrooms.

So we just dropped our bags in Happy Dragon and zoomed our way to the nearest train station, Dongsi.

We bought train cards which was quite a challenge to look for.

What I discovered and liked about Beijing trains is no matter where or how far your destination is, you'll just pay 2 yuan or around 14 pesos.

So off to yuyuantan park we go, to see the cherry blossoms. People usually flock to Japan to see these elusive flowers but in this small park in Beijing, they were abundant too. The trees were actually a gift from the people of Nihon.

There were only a few tourists in the park. Most were Chinese walking around and hangin out in the park. Once we felt hungry pangs, we ate at the food booth in the middle of the park. We shared fried crabs, dumplings and chicken or something that resembled chicken.

After getting our fill of the rare blosoms, we proceeded to the Summer Palace. We had a hard time figuring out the summer palace's entrance since it was so huge. Once we got in, I borrowed an audio guide which was gps-controlled. It activates once I go near a landmark.

Summer Palace was huge. Most of the big palace structures are overlooking the huge body of water. We also climbed a hill to one of the huge structures. Afterwhich we walked a very long corridor with ceiling and columns filled with paintings with very intricate details. The corridor was almost a kilometer long. (They say this is the longest corridor in the world)

After leaving Summer Palace, we decided not to take a rickshaw with the word Subway on it just outside the exit. Instead, we walked for a half a kilometer in a street where we were the only ones walking. After asking a chestnuts vendor where the nearest train station is (thanks to BB translate), we figured we were walking in the correct direction. Then we transferred train lines several times to get to the Olympic Village (to see the nest and the cube). Despite transferring train lines countless times, we only paid 6 yuan for a journey that lasted for more than an hour.

While we were marvelling at the bubbles of the water cube, we met a photographer from National Geographic. After chatting with John for a bit, we called it a night.

Meeting John was a nice day to cap day one in Beijing.

Capacitance Factor

2011-05-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering."- Ben Okri

Land of the Rising Sun

2011-03-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

After watching dozens of videos, devouring news articles and looking at several pictures, eventually my interest on the devastation of the March 11 quake and tsunami will wane. I’d check out the news every now and then. But for the hundreds of thousands who lost their homes and for the victims’ families, the 9.0 magnitude Tohoku earthquake altered them, altered the course of a nation already badly battered by the recent recession.

In a July 2010 issue of Time magazine’s titled Japan’s Tough Climb, it tells of a country grappling its way through a recession with national debt almost 200% of its GDP. The article showed the many closed shops in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi prefecture. When I saw the Sendai airport being pummel led by the raging waters, I felt that the name Sendai rang a bell. I had to look for my Time issue to confirm. And it is indeed Sendai, the city pictured to be a city in a pitiful state even before the quake.

That Friday night, I was glued to the TV. They say that this is the most well-documented earthquake and tsunami, complete with aerial footages and tons of amateur videos of the rampaging waters swallowing huge buildings, houses, cars, fields, and people.

I have never been to Northeast of the Honshu island. They say there are a lot of retirant communities in this area. I could just imagine elderly folks fighting for their lives as nature’s fury assert its mighty power on these helpless individuals.

This tragedy again is a reality check, it reminds us of our mortality, our vulnerability. In the end, we are at the mercy of Him who brought us here.

P.S. Despite the darkness enveloping it now, I know and believe it is still the land of the rising sun.

Forest for the Trees

2011-03-07T00:49:00.000-08:00

"Can't see the forest for the trees" I remembered this one from school. Was it an engineering subject or a philosophy course? I'm thinking engineering. Anyway, this has taken a new meaning to me.

I have been caught up with work and moving recently that it has overwhelmed me. I didn't realize that work can take so much of anyone's waking time. But silly me, I seem to savoring this moment in the "storm". Too caught up that I didn't have time to update my corner .

Am I not seeing the forest already? I think I need to start cutting some trees soon.

318

2011-03-07T00:20:00.000-08:00

Whenever it's departure time from a place I'm temporarily occupying, I always fancy myself a captain of a ship who's always the last to leave. I remember back in college I stayed until after the dorm has already closed. As a resident assistant, I requested my dorm parent to grant my request to stay even if the dorm is closed officially for the school year. It was eerie walking through the corridor of about forty empty rooms. I ran whenever I go to the bathroom because I was scared.I felt like several eyes were watching me as I go the bathroom at the end of the hall. So much for being the "captain".

And now I'll be leaving the place I called home for six years. Surreal. Call it melodramatic but somehow leaving makes the words to flow freely.

318 and I had our moments. This is where I spent the night when I found out my Dad died. This is where I dumped my bag when I was denied boarding on that first trip outside the country with my brother. This is where I spent several nights listening to my sister while she battles the demons within. This is where I also spent nights wandering in my own self-made abyss.On a lighter note, this is where the water turned green while I was taking a shower. This is where also a lot of wonderful memories have been made.

318 is just a number of a place. It doesn't have life. As I move away from 318 and move to 332... it is a natural progression of things to advance even numerically. Too much attachment to anything takes away that opportunity to try something new or to begin anew.

A captain maybe the last to leave but that doesn't necessarily mean that the ship he's abandoning is sinking. It could be that an island has been sighted.

Akon Eskuwelahan, Akon Bugal

2011-02-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

Rafe Bartholomew on his book Pacific Rims (Beermen Ballin' in Flip-Flops and the Philippine's Unlikely Love Affair with Basketball) had an interesting description of UP that I believe is worth repeating:

"UP Diliman is known for being not only the most prestigious, but also the most grueling academic institution in the country, and much of this reputation comes from its professors, who are infamous for writing tests with the expectation that half of their students will fail. UP diliman's approach to higher education sounded like the complete opposite of the way American universities prepared students. Most of my college professors seemed primarily concerned with transferring knowledge to students, and I imagine they felt a sense of achievement when their students aced exams. UP professors appeared to treat their relationship with students in a more adversarial manner. They were like gatekeepers of intellectual achievement, presenting students with ever more difficult academic trials to ensure that whoever passed the class truly earned it."

morning glory

2011-02-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

I am not a morning person but the rush of endorphins provided by running on an early Sunday morning changes that every once in a while. I am already up and about at around 430 am usually on race day.

And the smell, sight and sound of a city that is asleep is worth all this body ache on a Monday morning.

sunrise as seen from Buendia flyover

Reality Check

2011-02-03T21:59:00.000-08:00

Everytime I go home I see an old man sleeping on one of the sidewalks. He seems to be living on the streets for quite a long time. Ever since I moved to Makati six years ago, he has been a fixture on the sidewalk beside our building. This has been a reality check for me.

Most of our countrymen are living on the streets.

The magic of Patricia Evangelista's pen captured the sad plight of our hapless countrymen in this article which brought tears to my eyes.

http://www.patriciaevangelista.com/the-house-on-panay-avenue/

Amazing writer this girl is.

Moving

2011-01-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

A friend wants to have coffee, he wanted to talk, he felt like he's not moving anywhere.

Moving. A common term. It involves the transfer of location or is it a transfer of consciousness.

If there's a moving on, is there a moving off?

What does moving signify to you? Is it a proof of life? Or is it a manifestation of freedom?

Oftentimes, we get stuck whether by choice or circumstance. The ability to move is within our reach but there

are times when you feel that it's not the right time.

Moving involves uprooting yourself from a comfortable zone to uncharted territories.

We often fail to consider that moving means also disrupting the ecosystem around us. We do not leave in an

island isolated from the rest of the world. Our every action affects people around us especially people that

matter. Because those who don't probably moved a long time ago.

Moving without thought of others but for your own self preservation is sometimes the most logical thing to do

right?

I am comfortable where I am now. Not comfortable easy but comfortable. But it takes an earth-shaking

stimulus to get me moving.

Maybe that's what I just need.

Brand New Day

2010-12-30T18:42:00.001-08:00

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.

Powerful Taglines

2010-12-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-07T07:36:00.000-08:00

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".

Full Circle

2010-12-01T01:17:00.000-08:00

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

Lessons Learned by an Amazing Race Junkie

2010-11-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

2010-11-07T03:29:00.000-08:00

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.

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

2010-10-26T00:56:00.000-07:00

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.

3.0

2010-10-19T01:34:00.000-07:00

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

World Cup for the Homeless

2010-10-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Daddy's Little Girl

2010-09-23T00:15:00.000-07:00

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.

Angas Overheard

2010-09-15T02:31:00.000-07:00

Why sunflowers?

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

Lupang Hinirang

2010-09-07T01:58:00.000-07:00

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.....

Kobe

2010-09-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Aaaargh

2010-08-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-24T23:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-24T22:54:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

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

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/
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/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Watch out for a lot of street performers.
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

2010-08-13T03:57:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-04T02:32:00.001-07:00

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.

1660

2010-07-30T01:30:00.000-07:00

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.

a bug's life

2010-07-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Barriers

2010-07-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

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.

You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman

2010-07-04T02:59:00.000-07:00

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

Epiphany

2010-07-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

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.

Toy Story 3

2010-06-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Lost

2010-06-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Heartsick by No Vacancy

2010-05-30T18:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

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.

Disney Fever

2010-05-26T00:13:00.000-07:00

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 Bête, 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.

Halalan 2010

2010-05-11T02:20:00.000-07:00

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.

Crunch Time

2010-05-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

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.

China Lovin'

2010-05-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

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.

Unfriend

2010-04-29T01:47:00.000-07:00

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.

Of Push Carts and OFWs

2010-04-26T00:41:00.000-07:00

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?

Cassette Tape

2010-04-24T20:41:00.000-07:00

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.

Survivor Caramoan

2010-04-11T20:06:00.000-07:00

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLKZdX7-Ac

The Ride

2010-03-27T00:26:00.000-07:00

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.

2,922 MASL

2010-03-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Emilia Boncodin

2010-03-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

I only saw her once, it was during a Petron stockholders meeting in 2008. I think she has just resigned from PGMA’s cabinet when she assumed the post as Petron’s board member. I only know her as a former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) head.

On her death, I only heard good things about her (don’t we all?). But one thing that struck me is her track record as an exemplary public servant as told by her colleagues and even adversaries.

Here’s Cielito Habito’s article (Remembering Emy) on Inquirer about a lady who dedicated her life to public service.

May there be more like her, so that the flickering hope that we have on our government officials won’t die a quiet death.

http://business.inquirer.net/money/columns/view/20100321-260086/Remembering-Emy

The Heat in Saigon

2010-03-18T01:29:00.000-07:00

I have heard a lot of not so good stories about this place that it lessened my excitement for the whole trip.

With those low expectations came a lot of nice surprises for this friendly city very close to home.

The first thing we did was exchange money, and when we saw the rates our brain cells stopped working at 1am. Should we get the 1 usd=19750 or the 1 usd=19300? We didn't know that one shop has 3% commission and the other doesn't have. Anyway, thank God for pinoy exchange forums and its very helpful tips, we knew where to exchange for Dongs, the second shop from the left (never mind the math).

With PEX tips on my mind, we knew what taxi fleet to avoid in the airport. So we didn't pay attention to the persistent guy who followed us to the water closet (Yes, that’s what they call ‘em there) and ask where we're going. We took Vina Taxi which charged us 130,000 dong.

It should've been 90,000 dong only. Anyway, it was early morning so we didn't mind the additional 40,000 dong or 50 pesos.

After 20 minutes, the cab dropped us off in a dark alley with people sleeping on make-shift beds along the alley. It was a scary sight but then we saw another batch of tourists behind us, so we figured this alley must be the guesthouse lane, Pham Ngu Lao. We rang the doorbell three times before anybody opened the door for us. The "front desk" officer was already asleep so we woke her up.

The place we'll be staying at is called Blue River but the girl at the reception didn't understand at first what we're saying. After a few exchanges, she was able to explain to us that we're at the wrong address, we should be at Blue River 2.

At 2am, we realized we were starving. So Tim, Noe and I decided to eat first before heading for Blue River 2.

Our first pho was at a busy street corner full of locals and a few tourists at 3am. The pho was good and only 30,000 dong or 70 pesos.

Then what followed is an assortment of adventures and mis-adventures with a lot of mini- discoveries. The city had a lot of nice surprises that reaffirmed the mantra; it's the journey not the destination.

Here are a few of my discoveries:

1. The locals prefer speaking French over English

2. Shell and Caltex left, only state-owned company like Petrolimex are the controlling Vietnam's oil industry

3. Catholics from the north moved to the south during the war

4. Two things they know about the Philippines, Abu Sayaff and Ampatuan massacre

5. Guide doesn't have passport because he doesn't want anything to do with the government

6. They like taking babies (yes even infants) for a motorcyle ride and just cover ‘em up with a mini-mosquito net

7. Almost everyone is friendly

8. A driver can clean his ears using an ice-pick looking gadget while driving

9. Lottery numbers are displayed along the road

10. Local channels outnumber foreign ones in cable

11. They put octane number (MOGAS 92) on the pumps, di uso branding, no price board

12 You'll rarely see English signage unless it's a brand

13 Shows and movies are dubbed with only one voice overlaid with the original English dialogue (ang hirap intindihin)

14 Bihira matataba dito

15 10 million people in saigon, 7 million motorbikes

16 They don’t show Oscars (what is that anyway?) here

17 15 people die everyday because of motorcycle accidents

18 there are no one-way streets, everybody can drive whichever direction they want to

19 Despite the seemingly "crazy streets", they actually have traffic rules and driving license tests (but I met a Filipino who has been driving a motorcycle for 4 years with no license)

20 Don’t rely on traffic lights, motorists don’t follow them anyway

21 When you cross, don't stop, just walk and the motorcycles will just avoid you

22 US embargo from 1975 to 1990 (Bill Clinton lifted the embargo in 1990s)

23 China and Viet nam learned their lessons from communist governments which failed

24 Music is a decade behind (imagine Ace of Base and Rick Astley) hillary our busmate said because they didn't have a youth culture then

25 Vietnamese are really friendly to pinoys (halika kayo!)

Amazing Connections

2010-03-12T00:27:00.000-08:00

I thought I have heard enough stories showing how closely people are connected, the six degrees of separation don't look like they're six after all.

But last weekend, in Quan An Ngon, where we ate three times in three days in Saigon; Noe, Tim and I were chatting and the topic came around pets. (Tim and Noe met for the first time. I just introduced them to each other before our flight.)

Yes dinner just for two in Quan An Ngon

Noe started telling this story of her officemates' friend getting a chow chow dog from China. When the pet was delivered, everything seemed normal until a few weeks later, when the pet started walking on its two feet.

The puppy is acually a cub!

Somewhere along the way, the pet request got lost in translation.

When Noe finished her story, Tim said he heard that exact same story before from two of his friends who actually know the person who bought the cub. Two people whom I just introduced to each other know the person who bought a cub.

Talk about overlapping connections.

Packing

2010-03-04T02:25:00.000-08:00

I’ve moped about this way in advance. Now that moving is imminent, so imminent, I have become numb. I’m just going through the motions of cleaning and packing as if it’s one of the most natural things I do.

I have first stepped into these corridors six years ago. And I didn’t know it was going to be the start of a six-year relationship.

As I think about this, I realized this imposing structure is not the company. I didn’t stay that long on this company because of the wonderful view from the 40th floor. I even sometimes forget which floor I am at. Come to think of it, I have only enjoyed the view a few times in one year.

In business, there should be no emotional attachment to anything. Business is business.

If there’s something I dread about moving, it’s having to commute again and having less lunch outs. I would again waste a considerable amount of time commuting and would have different lunch dates.

As much as I want stay in 1200, I have to move to 1550 with the knowledge that a company is defined by its people and its culture, not by its zip code.

But then again, hasn’t the culture been diluted by something bigger, well, that’s another story.

For now, I’ll continue packing and throwing numerous useless things I accumulated over the years.

Hubris

2010-03-01T17:10:00.000-08:00

Good riddance, a phrase not commonplace in my vocabulary. One manifestation, I’m such a pack rat. I refuse to throw away anything even a boarding pass a few years old. That is just a boarding pass with sentimental value. Anyway, I think I threw it away already after debating with myself for a while.

In friendships, I sometimes try so hard to bridge distances even if some gaps may seem too wide. I try. As one friend said, “Ang tyaga mong mag e-mail ah.”

As Gary Chapman said in his book, each person has different love languages. As if on cue, last weekend, a few friends and I try to figure out our own love language using a standard set of questions taken from the book. And it turned out for me; my primary love language is quality time. A strong second would be words of affirmation and acts of service. I don’t know how accurate this 30-questionnaire test is but I tend to agree with it.

Bonds are formed when people’s love language are in synch. But it doesn’t mean that people with different love languages won’t be able to gel, it just takes a little adjustment. As I saw in a bookmark, the ultimate test of a relationship is to disagree but to hold hands.

Walang Nagbago (Eraserheads)

2010-02-12T04:11:00.000-08:00

I heard they're releasing a boxed set collection of all Eraserheads albums, headset. That's probably why this song has been playing on my head.

Nung ikaw ay bata pa
Ang lahat ay masaya
Umiikot ang mundo
At hindi humihinto
Ang lahat ng makita mo ay bago

At ngayon may edad ka na
At lunod sa problema
Nangangarap na ibalik
Ang kahapon hindi mo malaman
Kung bakit kailangang
Magbago ang lahat
Magbago ang lahat sa buhay mo

Umaaraw, umuulan
Noon pa ma'y sadyang ganyan
At kung ngayon lahat ng panaginip mo'y
Biglang naglaho
Pare-pareho lamang tayo
Isipin mong walang nagbago

Kung ano tayo noon
Ay ganon pa rin ngayon
Umiikot ang mundo
At hindi humihinto
Ngunit ang kalagayan mo
Ay hindi nagbabago

Birthday Race

2010-02-10T00:43:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, I only watch TV for news and Amazing Race. I love this show. I even dream of joining one someday. Someday.

On my 31st birthday, a friend came up with a race for me. And I realized I may not that be ready to be in a real amazing race just yet. Although the tasks I had to do were sort of "easy" compared with what they do on the show.

So before I forget the overall experience, here's a narrative designed to bore the reader but excite me.

Task 1
I live behind the Makati fire station. I walk past it every day but I haven't given it a second look.

The first task was going down a fireman's pole without any harness. I always see firemen do this on TV and they make it look easy. But looking down on the elevation from which I'm going to slide, it took a while before I summoned enough courage to slide down the pole. But slid I did.

The fireman tried to convince me to do it again to build up my confidence just in case I need to slide down a pole again. I said “No thanks”, once is enough for me.

After doing this, I ran to the nearest MRT station.

Task 2

Slum dog moment.

Remember when Jamal knew all the answers to the questions because he already had an encounter related to the question? This task sort of felt like this. It involved looking for the biggest Christian bookstore in the country and looking for a manga-inspired bible. Just like how Jamal see his questions, this challenge was a walk in the park. I'm familiar with the bookstore since I do my Christmas shopping here. And finding the book was easy because a friend asked me about this manga before.

Task 3

This task was the most physical of all the tasks, running 10km on the treadmill. I run but just for fun. And the farthest I ran is 5 km. So being asked to run 10km was definitely a challenge for me. But ran I did but it took me almost 1.5 hours. Phew.

Task 4

With my energy spent and not having eaten anything besides a power bar and a banana, I was looking forward to this task, eating in a nice old familiar place, Chocolate Kiss with a good friend. It was a much-needed breather and my favorite beef stroganoff never tasted that good.

Task 5

After eating, I proceeded to the place where I had my first spa experience. The only challenge on this task is looking for the place since it has been seven years since I went here. I had to call a friend for directions.

All these happened from 10am to 7pm. What a good way to spend this day.

Camping 101

2010-02-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

With January as our birth month, my high school friend Jo Anne and I decided to give camping a try. And we chose Nagsasa Cove as the site of our birthday experiment.

Nagsasa Cove

Then, I found out a wonderful coincidence that on that same weekend, a CS group is also going there. So we joined them and what a blast we all had.

Sunset in Nagsasa

The last time I slept on a tent, I was 12 years old. And now 19 years later, in a remote cove in Zambales where the main source of illumination is the blue moon, I was able to relive a fond childhood memory.

the camping ground

Visiting this part of the country for the second time validated my initial observation that this place deserves to be at the top of my list for the most photogenic part of our beautiful country. My point and shoot camera cannot give justice to the different colors of the mountainside.

moonset

At first we thought that pitching the tent would be a difficult task but it turned out to be a walk in the park.

early morning, I was the one of the early birds

The weekend trip was even made more special with the second full moon for January. On a night where the only thing that separates my back from the cold earth is a blanket, sitting in front of a bonfire was a wonderful treat.

blue moonrise

One of the highlights of the full moon party was the lighting of the sky lantern which floated so high into the air. It was the first time I saw one of these fire balloons that I felt like a kid admiring a new toy.

bonfire on the beach

After this birthday trip, I came to two conclusions; I’d definitely go camping again soon. I’ll never get tired saying that we live in a very beautiful country.

sunset

a fallen tree which serves a bridge

Of Cakes and Gifts

2010-01-26T02:58:00.000-08:00

A friend asked me why do you get a cake on your birthday? And why is it that we also get gifts?

They say, birthday cakes started with Greeks. Some say Germans. In the case of Greeks, they were offerings to their Goddess of the Moon, Artemis. For Germans, it was Jesus’ birthday celebration.

While gift-giving has been there since time immemorial. I found this article on gift-giving helpful. http://ezinearticles.com/?Origin-of-Gift-Giving&id=1090115

In an episode of Big Bang Theory, Sheldon gave Penny an earful when he saw her holding what appears to be a gift for him. Why is that so? Because he feels he is now imposed to give her a gift.

That shouldn't be the case.

Gifts come from the heart.

We are not obliged to give if we don't really mean it. Gifts are expressions of appreciation, an acknowledgment. It need not be a material gift; it can be a call, a line or two, your time.

This is may only be true for those needy of affirmation.

Either way, all these small acts are expressions that somehow you have an impact on someone else's life.

But then again, we need not just do that on birthdays, we can do that anytime.

Some are satisfied with telepathy.

But for those who are telepathically-challenged, let them eat cake.

Where The Wild Things Are

2010-01-24T23:40:00.000-08:00

Even in a place where the wild things are, where things are supposed to be simpler, everything is also complicated.

Max felt like everything is falling apart in his home. He wanted to get away from it all. Only to find out that in that faraway place where the wild things are, things can get complicated too just like at home. Things that you want to happen don't also happen in this make-believe world. As Carol said, it's like grown-up teeth, after some time, without you noticing it, all your teeth are quite far apart.

Just when Max thought he has his own kingdom, everything will just fall into place.

In the end, he realized wherever he may be, things may not turn out the way he wants to be. Not even a dirt clod fight can make it better or can make you forget your problems. And what better illustration of our selfishness than seeing it manifested on the people around us.

Sure, the fun can help you forget but it doesn't deal with the root cause which needs to be dealt with first.

Max learned that he needs his home, his mom, even his “evil” sister. Things may not be perfect at home but they're his family.

And that place where the wilds things are, is a good place to visit once in a while. It is for us to be reminded what we have and to appreciate them.

Covers

2010-01-15T06:44:00.000-08:00

(Written on Christmas 2009)

In our attempt to cover up the emptiness seeping in our core, we throw in it people, activities or things that mask this vacuum. And yet upon searching for substance, all these things we use to cover these potholes turn out to be empty cisterns unable to hold any weight at all.

I have done this only to be proven lacking in the end.

In a desire to feel accepted, I managed to collect an assortment of anchors. Blinded by the glitter, I prided myself in an illusion of steadiness.
I told myself I have to stop thinking it's all about me. Because it has never been .

God has paid for the prize, we need not do anything but be still and know that He is God.

Merry Christmas!

Fasting

2010-01-12T01:27:00.000-08:00

I always hear this quote whenever it's fasting week:

"The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.
It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for
heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world. It is not
the X-rated video, but the prime-time dribble of triviality we
drink in every night."-John Piper

2009

2010-01-05T02:50:00.000-08:00

The last few days of 2009 were a blur. But with the blurriness came a sense of clarity that can only come after a bout of blurriness.

It was a year with its share of dramas. Some of my own choosing, some were shoved towards me. Things are meant to happen if they are meant to happen I guess.

When from afar it looked like a wall being erected, when I drew near, it turned out to be a new bridge being built. When doors were shut, windows have been thrown open.

There are a lot of places to be explored, hands to be held, backs to be patted, voices to be heard, ears needing to hear, shoulders to be leaned on and heads to lean on.

Here I am thankful to God for the year that was 2009.

Singapura

2009-12-06T21:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I experienced a different setting, a different taste. And as soon as I got that fix for a few days, I have been recharged.

Taking on the city for a few days showed me the many similarities and differences of Singapore and Manila. Consumerism pervades in every corner. Whether you are in Divisoria or Mustapha, it’s the same old banana. Every market is a collection of people trying to exchange stuff with your money.

Esplanade at night

At the same time, things are so different. SG is my first and only taste of the first world. And coming from this part of the world, I can’t help but stand in awe of its modernity and efficient way of doing things.

Working in the Philippine's central business district didn't make much difference. They mean much more serious business there in terms of efficiency of systems. Maybe that's why people smile less.

red building I saw on my way to 30 Cecil St.

Heck, even the pace of the escalators is much faster than what we have here. If these escalators are any indication of the difference in the pace of life, we have a lot of ground to make up for IF we want to catch on.

This trip was purely an escape. For a few days, I felt like living someone else’s life. It was a collection of missions for me, dog-bonding time, finding Pacita Abad's Alkaff bridge on foot, checking out the LKY school, trekking in Pulau Ubin, reconnecting with old friends and checking out the Platts office. As a throwback, we watched the movie Singapura at the national museum with Helen’s officemates. It was set in World War II’s Singapore.

Pacita Abad's Alkaff bridge

After six days, this SIMS-like place has grown on me. And I feel like I can better take on its smugness and toxicity.

Maybe that's what I need. A fresh perspective on something I've already seen.

The city and dog encounters have been a breath of fresh air.

in a bus stop in Toh Guan Road

I'm glad that whenever I feel like getting out of my daily grind. I have a fortress of solitude I can go to. As the Danish proverb says, the road to a friend's place is never long. Thanks to Bus 183. (I owe you a sling.)

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light

From now on,

our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Make the Yuletide gay,

From now on,

our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,

Happy golden days of yore.

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more.

Through the years

We all will be together,

If the Fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

Defying Gravity

2009-11-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

Something has changed within me

Something is not the same

I'm through with playing by the rules

Of someone else's game

Too late for second-guessing

Too late to go back to sleep

It's time to trust my instincts

Close my eyes: and leap!

I'm through accepting limits
''cause someone says they're so

Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!

Criminal Minds and Glee

2009-11-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

From Criminal Minds to Glee, the shift isn't that obvious actually. And the titles are a bit deceiving too. The former, despite its title, speaks of forgiveness in the end, while the latter speaks of competition and betrayal too. A case of “Don’t judge the show by its title”.

“Criminal Minds” uses quotations to drive home the point. While the Glee cast breaks into a song and dance number …..because they’re in a Glee Club.

I love the quotations in Criminal Minds. I, in the apex of boredom, even memorized some of these lines. And when nobody’s listening or if only a select few are, I sing some lines in the songs showcased in Glee.

And both are my top flavors of the month. Well, do these flavors only follow what’s trending or what’s abuzz? Or do I really like them? Who knows?

For now, they provide a wonderful diversion from the reality of the moment.

Pacman Gobbles 'Em Up

2009-11-18T00:57:00.000-08:00

Pacman eats Mexico + UK + Puerto Rico Artwork by: Ralph Reigner Esquivias

My brother Bob is in the middle of the Indian Ocean but he just had to call me (using a sat phone) to ask me how the fight went. He was not satisfied knowing Manny Pacquiao won. He wanted to know every detail of the 12-round fight.

Bob and I, before the Pacquaio-De La Hoya fight

Manny won again. So what’s new? Well, he did it in a weight division, seven rungs higher than his first belt. From flyweight to welterweight, his feat is simply amazing.

Some call him the best pound for pound boxer in the world. Some tag him as the best fighter of this era.

For all his achievements, one that has greatest impact for me is the unifying and paralyzing effect his fight has on the entire nation. As I was walking the Bonifacio High Street on a sunny Sunday morning, the walkways are devoid of the usual throngs of people. I heard one foreigner quipped, “Where are the people?” And she immediately answered her own question, oh today is the fight! That explains the ghost-town look of Hi-street.

Oh Manny.

With his nakakalokong smile and his ultra-quick punches, Manny united us once again, albeit for a few hours only.

Thanks to the organizers of the TIMEX run who put up a wide screen monitor for those who don’t have access to a live telecast. And watched under a blazing sun, we did.

Once again, the southpaw boxer from Gen San (or is it Sarangani now?) united a nation hungry for something to bind its people together.

The Fall of the Wall

2009-11-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Today is the anniversary of the fall of the wall, a fall that resounded around the world. Today, Germany is commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

For me, the primary purpose of a wall is to protect, not to divide. Is division a consequence of an attempt to protect? Protecting means dividing. This wall divided Germany into East and West. I was still in Grade 2 when this happened. Back then, I didn’t fully comprehend the opposing ideologies represented by this structure and the significance of that event. Maybe until now, I’m still clueless.

During the commemoration, unified Germany will use domino boards as if to mimic the effect of the fall of this wall in the making of the history of the world as we know it.

I haven’t seen the wall yet but Gracie has.

Gracie in Berlin

Brandenburger Tor

Thanks for sharing your pictures Gracie (at kasama ka pa talaga!)

Battered

2009-11-08T22:01:00.001-08:00

It has been more than a month since Manila was ravaged by Ondoy. For most especially in the “dry”areas, it seems like a bad dream. But for others, it is still very much a part of their lives. There are still parts of Manila submerged in water where people use make-shift boats to navigate the streets. One of those areas is Pinagbuhatan, Pasig.

A photographer friend went there and what he captured through his lens, were reminders that Ondoy’s cruelty is still real for many of our fellowmen.

And Patricia Evangelista’s column in Inquirer reminded me that what happened wasn’t just a nightmare, it is as real as it can get.

http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20091025-232111/Yellow-river-red-balloon

Like Jars of Clay

2009-11-08T18:28:00.001-08:00

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
"dull the nails that still remain"

The battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago

BAmmer

2009-11-05T23:39:00.001-08:00

Last month, after seeing another stretch of a nice beach, I told myself I've had enough of sand and beach this year. My next stop would have to be something different. Whether be it mountains or buildings or rice fields, I told myself I've had my fill of beaches this year. But next year of course is a different story.

In anything, we are like that. Too much of something, however palatable to the senses, takes away the fun.

Pag sobra na, nakakasawa, kahit gaano ka ok ang isang bagay.

BAmmer.

Wala Lang

2009-11-03T17:25:00.001-08:00

A friend once told me writing is good for the soul. At times, this corner has been my secret garden. Well, so much for the secrecy, but this space has been a repository of sorts.

At times, the words just flow freely. But there are moments when there’s nothing and yet I just feel the need to click on the keyboard. And this is one of those moments. I feel like randomly typing and who knows where this is headed.

My mind stopped functioning and yet my fingers seem to have a mind of its own. This may be a waste of cyberspace, but who’s policing anyway? Now, that’s abusive. Everyone feels like they can freely say whatever they want here. But not everyone who holds a paintbrush is a Monet.

The freedom that the Internet operates in, has given people like me an outlet. Whether it may be from a lack of a venue…..blogging has been therapeutic for me.

And this concludes one of my sessions.

En Garde

2009-10-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

One of the things I've been wary about are the words I say when I'm pissed. And sad to say, I have my fair share of hurtful words utttered in moments of blur and haziness.

Words have their way of hurting more than physical abuse can. Their effect resound even after bruises have already healed.

And these verses say it all.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. -Ecclesiastes 5:2

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. - Matthew 12:34b

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

How easy it is to say that you'll always be on guard for these things.

And yet when our guard is down and we say hurtful words, things happen and sometimes it's too late to go back.

Like a Drawbridge

2009-10-30T05:27:00.001-07:00

A friend told me yesterday trust is freely given. I agree, you cannot just force it on people.

But can you earn it? What are the different trust levels? How different is it between friends? Between couples? Between family members? Or should there be a difference?

Trust involves the laying down of a drawbridge into your mind. You’ll be allowing another to see your innermost thoughts. Most of us have only a handful of people that we can trust.

And yet how do you get to that point to that level of trust and then lose it in a jiffy?

Like a drawbridge, it is movable I guess.

The Kite Runner

2009-10-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

"For you, a thousand times over."

Whether for emphasis or sheer forgetfulness or maybe stubbornness, I tend to repeat things I’ve said and done.

But what if you can help it? Would you still do it a thousand times over?

My brother asked me what that line from Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner meant? He read the book and watched the movie. I haven’t done either until that time.

I got a copy of the movie from Helen before she left for school in the Lion City. But I didn’t get to see the movie until this year. I should’ve watched it way before.

I gave my brother a piece of my mind on what that line meant to me.

Amir and Hassan are best of friends who love to have “kite fights”. In one scene, Amir tells Hassan to go run the kite, to which Hassan shouts back "For you, a thousand times over".

The line speaks volumes of the relationship between these two friends.

And for me, it has taken a new meaning. Kudos to all the kite runners of this world who can say.....

"For you, a thousand times over." And expect nothing in return.

Casting Crowns

2009-10-28T09:19:00.000-07:00

It is so easy to give in to nonchalance with equal indifference. And just as I was about to give in to apathy and wander in the valley of bitterness, Itunes randomly picked these lyrics (from Casting Crowns' Who Am I?) to spew out in perfect timing as if talking to me.

Who am I?

That the bright and morning star,

Would choose to light the way,

For my ever wondering heart.

Not because of who I am.

But because of what you've done.

Not because of what I've done.

But because of who you are.

I am a flower quickly fading,

Here today and gone tomorrow.

A wave tossed in the ocean,

A vapor in the wind.

Still you hear me when I'm calling,

Lord you catch me when I'm falling,

And you told me who I am.

I am yours.

Who am I?

That the voice that calm the sea,

Would call out through the rain,

And calm the storm in me.

A song that reminds me who I am and reminds me that whatever storm is within me, can be the same (or less intense) turbulence troubling other people around me too. But each person has a different way of processing his or her own struggles. And in moments where I sometimes rely on myself or others, God picks me up and makes realize my true value.

Anonymous

2009-10-27T19:47:00.001-07:00

After a while you learn the subtle difference
between holding a hand and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises.
And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open.
With the grace of maturity, not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.
After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And that you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn and learn....
With every goodbye you learn.

Of Running and Eating

2009-10-25T03:21:00.000-07:00

Adidas King of the Road's tagline this year is "Because every runner is different". So true not only in the race, but in life as well. And yet despite these differences, a motley of personalities manage to get along. It just takes some effort and patience though. And everything in life, not just running, needs that extra effort and patience. (Serious mode stops here.)

Anyway, this year's KOTR wasn't as well-organized as the others, but it offered a lot of interesting sidelights. Not to mention that the singlet is screaming "Look how yellow I am". Some runners had funny lines written on their backs. Some had pretty serious "bumper lines". Everybody seemed to be on high spirits today. I even heard one runner looking for his Yaya to ask for the time. That put a smile in my face which stayed 'til the finish line.

Running today was a wonderful opportunity to bond with running buddies Shing, Sarah and Jufel.

back of famished runners

Running made us all famished. So it was quite a treat when Jufel and I chanced upon a new food choice in Food Choices. Go Greek! just opened last week in Glorietta. And I think today is a a beginning of a beautiful friendship between Go Greek! and I. Here's a sampler of what they have to offer at very reasonable prices.

Gyros Platter at P155

Kebab (what's left of it anyway) at P95

I'm now looking forward to the next fun run and my next Go Greek! visit. And both are definitely going to happen very soon.

How to Save a Life (by The Fray)

2009-10-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Step one you say we need to talk

He walks you say sit down it's just a talk

He smiles politely back at you

You stare politely right on through

Some sort of window to your right

As he goes left and you stay right

Between the lines of fear and blame

And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend

Somewhere along in the bitterness

And would I have stayed up with you all night

Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best

Cause after all you do know best

Try to slip past his defense

Without granting innocence

Lay down a list of what is wrong

The things you've told him all along

And I pray to God he hears you

Hang in There

2009-10-22T00:48:00.001-07:00

I know I had my own share of dealing with changes of late. I'm just thankful that in time, things have become clearer and made more sense.

Now, seeing major changes happen to people who matter a great deal to me and knowing I can't do anything but watch and listen helplessly is disturbing. I know the type of change I've dealt are small-time compared to theirs. So I can't imagine how heart- breaking this may be for them.

But I guess there are some things that are beyond our reach. Even if we stretch our limitations just to grab 'em. Some things just slip through our fingers and it's not because our fingers are slippery. No amount of anti-slip support can make this one stick.

So hang in there, you can weather these aches because I know you as a friend whose quiet strength far outweighs mine.

Note: Published with permission from the recipient.