Finally.. I Make It To The Corregidor Tour!

I guess you can say timing is everything.

" When it feels right, it is right.."

I say this in retrospect because a lot of people have been to Corregidor, and I felt I was missing out on something, and yet, I did not feel the urge to get to this destination until last week. I was finalizing the 4-day trip of Ime with her 3 Malaysian guests, whom we call Aunties-single, thirty something Malaysian Chinese who can't seem to make up their mind as to what they want to do. We choose from Corregidor to Carlos Celdran's Intramuros Tour, Tagaytay vs Boracay, and by Wednesday 10 PM, when Cie and I met up with Ime at the Manila Pen for a late night coffee/ tea session, they were still unable to make up their minds.

We finally decide to go to Corregidor eventhough we needed to meet up at 7 AM-- Ime has not been there as well. It is perfect timing because I just finished a refresher course on pre-colonial, Spanish, American and Japanese occupation history at the Ayala Museum, and I have better appreciation of the past. Not to mention that I just came from Cagayan De Oro, where General Douglas Mac Arthur was sneaked in from Corregidor, before being transferred to Australia, right after he uttered the famous line, " I shall return." Yes, indeed, an appreciation of the past is needed for this tour, which may not be to everyone's liking, but for someone who is interested about knowing their past, about the quaintness of old objects and relics of the war, a day tour is enough to satiate your hidden interest on WWI and the Philippine's involvement in this war.

The Schedule

Confirm Reservation at the CCP Terminal: 7 AM
Boarding time: 7:30 AM
Depart from Manila: 8 AM
Arrive in Corregidor: 9: 15 AM
Guided tour: til 12

Lunch: 12- 1 PM

Continue guided tour up to the Top Hills
Optional Light and Sound Show at the Malinta Tunnel
Tour Ends at 2:30 PM
Arrive Manila at 3:45- 4 PM

How To Tour Guide

Sun Cruises Inc. offer guided tours in English and Japanese that day, and if you can, look for Ramon Alonzo, who at 71, was a WW II boy, and his script recalls not just the Corregidor history, but some engaging stories of his own interspersed with the tour. Ramon showed me how it is to be a proper tour guide. He has passion, humor and at 71, he pretty much can get away with anything- ordering the tram to stop with the stern voice of a grandfather ordering the driver to slow down, and at one point near the end of the tour, an altercation erupted between him and the Japanese tour guide (a Nippongo-speaking Filipino) because the other guy's voice was too loud and his group and our group were near each other-- "He could have lowered his voice, or not used his mic." He later apologized for the outburst, but he is forgiven, after all, he put all his heart out onto his tour, and you can see he loves doing it. He says he will do it til he is 80. " Think positively, and you can do, yes sir!"



Instantly, he builds rapport with 3 American men- young Nick who buys the book on Corregidor (P375), Daniel, a History Professor at the University of Virginia, and Tony. Another guy, an Aussie later on warmed up to Ramon, and would interject comments. It was a lovely interaction between tour guide and tourists. Daniel, would often share facts and additional stories, and Ramon would acknowledge and thank his insights. At one point, Daniel was able to answer Ramon's trivia on the last 3 states to be included in the American flag, and Ramon was ecstatic, for no American has been able to answer this, prior to him. My only moment of contribution came when we went alongside a Japanese delegation, and asked Ramon,

"If you were to do the Japanese tour, how would you do it?"

The Americans all had opinions about this of course, concluding that it was a kinder version, where the Japanese won the battle, and that they had nothing to apologize for. Ramon said the same, that the Japanese would come here thinking they won the war, but they would be in for a surprise at the end of the tour. I know for a fact that the Japanese soldiers involved in the WWII were regarded as heroes in Japan, and they all have a place at the Wakayama Memorial. The 4500 soldiers of the 61st infantry division and other troops were buried in Corregidor, but their remains were dug up and transferred to Wakayama. What is left on this island is a memorial honoring the dead soldiers that were once buried there, and yes, a lot of ghosts.

There were many tunnels and bomb holes dug up by the Japanese, where most of them ended up blowing themselves off in harakiri fashion, saying Banzai, For The Motherland!. The Americans , who led a surprise attack by arriving via paratroops surprised the Japanese who thought they were arriving via ships, which led to the fall of the Japanese. In the end, the Americans were forced to bury all the Japs, because they were all killing themselves(with bombs,guns and bayonets), all 4500 of them, and the stench was overpowering.

The Corregidor Tour is remarkable to me because:

1. It is a well-preserved destination, a one of a kind experience where relics of the war are all located in one island. For war buffs, those interested to see gallant guns - there are four 12-inch mortars that can revolve 360 degrees, compared to the European guns that fire in one direction. Battery Hearn's seacoast gun, the longest gun in the island has a firing range of 17 miles, compared to the guns now used in Iraq which can fire up to 5000 miles! The Americans built a total of 20 batteries in the island.








2. Mile Long Barracks: the most photographed area in Corregidor, which served as quarters for 2000 officials, including Gen. Douglas Mac Arthur. This is a dramatic area, the closest we can have of Rome's ruins. There is quite a different feeling seeing the ruins. It made me imagine what the people were doing at that point in time when bomb after bomb were dropped and shells were gunned down on the area, as they try to kill Mac Arthur, who seemed to have 9 lives.







3. The island in itself is an attraction with the cool wind air (don't go there during summer, I think), the view of the sea (I can see why the Americans loved it there), and Philippine fauna. It was relaxing while riding the tram, which are exactly the same railway cars in the San Francisco area. You see, this island had the best of the American transportation (trams and railways) and technology (underwater reservoir is running using a General Electric generator for its 3 million gallons of water usage) of the 1920s.







4. Their tour guide, Ramon Alonzo (can't say about the others) has a lot of passion,is precisely on time, and is very engaging. He was part of the group that guided Bill Clinton in 1994.

5. Malinta Tunnel: Don't miss this one out (additional P150 as donation for maintenance). It's a 30-minute light and sound show which chronicles the significance of the place as it served as center of American operations during WWII. I recognized Joonie Gamboa's voice as that of Pres. Quezon, who took his oath, along with Vice President Osmena, under this tunnel.

6. Pacific War Memorial: Costing $1.23 Million, this was built by the US government to mark the war, and one of only two in the world- the other is at Pearl Harbor. I had my photo taken here by the Corregidor photog, Slyvia.


" In these surroundings where heroes sleep
May their ashes scatter with the wind and live in the hearts of
Those who were left behind.
They died for freedom's right and in heaven's sight,
Theirs was a noble cause. "


Finally, if you have to go to Corregidor, do it with someone you really really like, it is a whole day, after all, and there are a lot of nice moments. It is remarkable because I did it with my good friend Ime. I plan to send my father, who is a war junkie and my mother, here, on a date, hoping his arthritis won't be much of a hindrance, and yes, I thought about you, with your war books and love of war machinery. But just for a moment.

Day 3: The CDO Travel Diary

We knocked off at 10 PM on our business review the previous day, and while the others head off to play bowling and do a bit of Magic Sing-ing, I head off to The Lodge to resend the weekly report my marketing director failed to receive due to our network issues. By the time I finished working on it and washed up, it was past 12 and I am smiling as I go off to sleep. I am smiling even if I am way past being too tired.
****

I wake up to the birds singing, and I am almost tempted to sing The Sound of Music's opening lines, but ooops, my roomie is already up and about with hair curlers and a fully made up face. I wear white because today it is going to be plantation tour, pineapple picking and a trip to the dairy farm. Let me tell you about breakfast!

sunny side up eggs
bacon
corned beef
fried rice
toast
home made pineapple jam (some of which I get to bring home- now sitting at my table)
freshly brewed coffee
fresh fruits
sampling of fruit flavored tea- kiwi, apple and peach tea
Del Monte's famous steak
ice cream cake



The view at The Lodge includes pine trees, freshly cut grass, lovely ferns, acacia trees and the lake.



How all so decadent!

***
Whilst the cannery tour is impressive due to its heavy machinery that peels, cuts the core, bottom and top of the golden pineapples and a gravity conveyor that overhangs from the tin can plant to the pineapples, I distinctly remember why I did not want to work at a plant after a 2-year stay in a similar facility (manufacturing hard disk drives). I felt my creativity is being stifled, and I belong out there in the world, or in this case, this time, out there in the field.

The Del Monte Farms in Bukidnon spans 5 municipalities, and they are still set to expand to Malay Balay Bukidnon as the new management team aims to double its revenues in 5 years.

The tour starts at the R & D laboratory, a 287 sq. meter facility that proliferates pineapples and papaya by the thousands. Pineapples, apparently are easier to grow- one bud can harvest 1000 pineapple plants, and after an initiation stage, the greenbud is now ready to proliferate. In about 6 months, the nursery is now ready to let go of their babies out onto the field. Now get this, imagine a bed that does a forward and back motion, all day. On the bed are papaya buds. Apparently, they are harder to grow and needed to be stimulated with that forward and back motion incessantly to "disorient the cells, allowing them to grow either ways- top, bottom, sideways". I chuckle.


We then proceed to the local coop souvenir shop where I buy PINAKURAT vinegar, pineapple tarts and cheese sticks. We head for the cows, and get a taste of pasteurized fresh milk and choco milk. Sayang, didn't get to milk the cows, because they were scheduled at 3 PM. The cows are a cross breed of Australian and tropical horse breeds. Within the rest area, Sarah the guide, points to me a bull, which is used to stud the cows. Imagine the life of the cows at the farm: pregnant each year, milked 300 days in a year, and resting for 65 days. Holy cow!




***
The plantation tour is short but sweet, I felt the "malapit lang" is such an irony, for I see nothing but rows and rows of pineapples, and the drive seemed like forever to get to the harvester- a machine that pulls in manually picked pineapples. They have over 2000 workers in the farm, all members of the coop, all with their own housing benefit and a community within the facility. We get to pick pineapples, and have our photo-op.



Later, we went to the fresh fruit packing house and wanted to look for the grand mother packer (ha-ha Rex Navarette, you rock!).


Apparently, all the workers in this old building are grandmothers, or mothers (basta they were old), and one grandma showed us her pineapple cutting skills as she cut, chopped, sliced pineapples for us to taste. It was the Sweet Sixteen variety, and let me tell you all about it: the color is golden yellow, the smell oh so sweet, the texture- parang mestisa, and as it touches your palate, you can not help but utter such admiration for its sweetness. Quite exquisite, really! Walang sayad, walang kati, it was oh so sweet!

And that concludes our Cagayan De Oro adventure. It was more than what I wished for. And that is enough to mark a lasting impression.

Day 2: The CDO Travel Diary

We start the day with a breakfast meeting with the export manager, seated with a lovely view of the open sky and pine trees beating a Tagaytay view anytime. Over a medley of local longganisa, corned beef, two sunny-side up eggs, fresh pineapples, homemade pineapple jam, rice and Monk's blend brewed coffee, it is a good way to prepare seeing Bukidnon.

First stop: at the firing range, with live bullets and an overview about target shooting. Important things to note:




1. The grip: The right hand must be relaxed, because this is the hand that pulls the trigger, while the left hand applies the pressure and steadies the gun, along with the
2. Stance: Lean forward, with the feet in an isosceles triangle position, this is called an aggressive stance, best described as "Parang papatay!"
3. Aim: To aim right, focus eye on the front sight,and level rear with the front, this way even if the target is blurred, you are sure to hit the target.
4. Kasa: A 45 semi-automatic pistol is heavy, I tell you. Maybe next time a 9 mm gun?
5. Release safety: This requires a respiratory pose. Breathing, and relaxing actually helps!
6. Fire:Pull the trigger lightly, with the light lemon-squeeze touch. The sound is startling!

They teach you to shoot in the body mass, but I shoot for the head. Kill! The feeling is powerful.






****

The Del Monte plantation is called Cawayanon, all 19,000 hectares of pineapples. How does this look like? Literally, as far as the eye can see!









Within the compound there is also the famous golf course where Frankie Minoza perfected his swing. We head for the driving range, and I hear follow through, follow through! The address, the stance, the swing and the follow-through! It makes all the difference. I take 2 buckets of 40 balls and each shot has a wrong move or no follow through, a butterfly, a tap instead of a swing. The caddie helps me correct my drive but I wondered aloud, "How can you like golf?!!!?" I asked two of my friends. They say it helps them focus.

"It's a difficult sports. It really is a game of patience, and you are competing with yourself."
















So what to do? Just enjoy the outdoors and have fun shots taken with the picturesque view.











***

The rest of the team arrives,and we head over to the beach house for lunch, then off to a pineapple party where the jargon is chunks, slices, tidbits, crushed. We talk, speak and eat pineapple for the rest of the day.

The CDO Travel Diary

8:18 AM. Am already at the Centennial airport,waiting for my colleagues, and I remember this nice,exciting feeling about airports. It's like being greeted by an old friend, there's familiarity to the place and you know something good will come out of this experience. I don't know what's in store this time, but i mentally noted that the journey has already started.

8:30 People watching: backpackers, well-travelled, well-heeled ones, people just going home to their province, a mix of caucasians and balikbayans, different dialects,different luggages. There's a story from each person passing before me, I imagine a story unfolding right before my eyes..

9:30 I have no idea where Cagayan De Oro is, and what to find in this province, all i know is I packed my bags and am ready to see a pineapple plantation. They laugh at me because they said they were planning to go to SM and I said no way, so we begin to map out our itinerary. I almost jump for joy when I hear about white water rafting, horseback riding, target shooting, and a trip to Macahambus Adventure Park-- a walk in the skybridge, rappeling and a 14-second zipline ride. Our host is excited for us to meet Charlie, a gwaping, single 33 year-old distributor and his family. I can hear the longing in Angge's voice, the way she described him, like she wanted a bite out of a dark moist chocolate cake.



I pace myself because I really didn't have any expectation, and that is the best way to approach adventures, with just the right dose of enthusiasm, enough to get lucky, but not pinning your hope on anything. I wanted to do the zipline, because that's something new, but more than anything, 'twas the bukidon sights I wanted to see. Just being 2000 above sea level, communing with nature, in a lodge once occupied by Gen, Douglas Mc Arthur, surrounded by nature. Maybe I'll get some zzzs this time.

11:08 We land at Northern Mindanao, after just an hour of flight from Paranaque, and get welcome drinks (what else- Del Monte fruit juices) at the airport, also greeted by folk dancers garbed in muslim costume (think singkil).



Lunch at Cafe Laguna for some good old kare-kare, baked tahong, eggplant salada and sinigang na sugpo.



1 pm: We have cake and coffee at Candy's bar and cafe. Charlie walks in, with highlights and a single leftover braided hair from his former long locks. He is very carinoso, has warm brown eyes, pink luscious lips, strong hands, and a Visayan accent. He is an eye candy, and I wonder why I am not attracted to these types. Why do I always fall for the bad boy type?



3pm: We head for the caves,but the rain starts to pour and we make a u-turn because nobody would put us on a harness with the heavy downpour and fog. Oh well, see what I said about expectations? It's a very conducive weather for you know what..sleeping.

4 PM: On the van, we already completed our business review and concluded that we have to shorten our discussion tomorrow so we can do more sight-seeing. The official purpose of the trip is a business review with Del Monte, and a plant audit. My role is to establish our next business opportunities and get them to agree to a win-win situation. I get many inside stories, and eventually I found myself dozing off after our very interesting business building strategies. Do you know that strategies are formed in hallways, smoke exits, and during van rides? Yep. After an hour, we reach the Stoneware Pottery, and I buy stuff for aromatherapy and a perfect potpourri set for my bathroom.



5-7pm: We were making up the itinerary as the day wore on, dynamically changing due to the weather and we decide to hit La Cabana spa for shower, sauna and swedish massage before dinner.

7pm: Dinner with the Lapid family at Kamag-ayonan. crab, sisig, kilawin, pandan chicken, langka shake,

10:30 pm Dessert at Candy's Bar, again with the Lapid family. We spend over 2 hours on dessert, talking, laughing, just like reconnecting with your own family when you go to the province. The family is down to earth, charming, and has good genes, thanks to Mommy. Sam Milby drops by and he looked gorgeous. Mariel and I eat a yummy cake with ice cream and nuts inside the dome-shaped treat.



11:17pm :We reach The Lodge at Bukidnon, and am ready to turn in.

12:02: I hear birds chirping. A new day has already began.

The Lawyers, The Doctors and The Groupie

" Hello po doktora," the ladies at the lobby greet me and DEP, as we enter the corporate center at Roces, in QC. Now that's a first, but who could blame them? We were crashing a private party hosted by Unilab, apparently for doctors. I am kaladkarin these days and after my meeting with Warner Brothers at the Top of the Citi, decided to forego my badminton and accompany my lawyer/singer friend jam with a band.

Why not? DEP used to be our choir president, and pre-law, was part of UPSA. She has perfect pitch and when she posted that blog about jamming with an opposing counsel one rainy night, which turned out quite well, I wanted to listen to see her sing with a live band. The band's called Paradigm Shift, and their regular gig is in Fairview, singing amongst friends and select get togethers. All men in their 40s to 50s, their repertoire is of a bygone era and include songs that our fathers sing- titles by America, Crazy love, Sometime, Blowin in the wind, Don't Think Twice,It's Alright, The Lady Wants to Know,Dreams by fleetwood mac,written by stevie nicks,Tatooed on my Mind, and a sprinkling of contemporary songs (With or Without you, Crazy For You, Especially for You, Smooth, Nightbird),OPM (Next in Line,Harana, Wherever You Will Go), and even a dose of reggae, (which sorely reminded me of somebody).

The gig pays like nothing, and while I sat at the table enjoying a free dinner and San Mig Light, I noticed how these men must love music. Mon, the rat pack's leader is the lawyer by day and band leader by night; he owns the equipment and pays the 6 guys a measly fee because a small fee divided by 7 is nothing, sometimes he himself pays the guys (for probably indulging his band fantasy). But I get it. The other guys are school bus drivers, or musicians who have other gigs, artists who aren't good enough to have record labels, but they are still out there doing what their heart tells, yearns for them to do.

"What's the point of doing something if you can't be so good at it?," we asked, but we can be so judgemental sometimes! Indeed, as I sing along, bobbing my head to the music, I noticed the band play with their hearts on their sleeves, I see the point to this. They are doing something they love, and nothing else matters. At that particular moment, they are in the zone, capturing the essence of probably their existence, when making music is just like breathing: you do it not because you want to, but you need to. How could you not?

I recall that when we entered the lobby and registered, denying that we were doctors, the receptionist told her peers that DEP is not a doctor, but a lawyer, supposedly clarifying things up from the confused look of the ushers and usherettes. But they were even more confused when we said we're with the band. A lawyer in a doctor's affair, and singing? It didn't matter, and we didn't even bother to ask what the group was doing-selling medicine to doctors, tollpackers of
muconase,nutricap,amino vita softgel capsules or med reps entertaining their doctor-clients.

Sometimes it's better not to ask questions, to and just enjoy the moment.

Fritter Away

"So what are we going to do this weekend?"

Cielo and I are seated at this huge orange couch in her condo (think baseball glove shape, enough to seat two, a good makeout couch, except for its color, but we were not alone, and not in any way, making out), and we were asking Sony. Drinking Smirnoff, red wine, Welch's grape sparkling juice, with sisig, crispy hipon and red ribbon's silvanas, we were contemplating our single life, but at this point, talking about the weekend. Diving, golfing, interior designing their homes, dating. Those are their plans. I don't have a plan. I don't like to make plans anymore. I'd like to fritter away time and be spontaneous. I'd like to have coffee. I love coffee. And I want to sleep.

While they spend a huge amount of time debating how to decorate Cie's pad , I went to never neverland since tastes really differ, even with friends, and i'm not going there. Instead, I think it's a good thing I don't fritter away money with the following:
1. Cigarettes-never smoked, and never will
2. Weekday lunches out (i take lean lunches because i am unable to work with a heavy stomach)-in the process, saving money and time
3.Alcohol-i only take wine on certain occasions, so am not really frittering away money here.

However I am guilty here:
1. Coffee- (now i brew my own)
2. Bottled water whenever i play (i should use my own jug and fill it up instead of paying 20 bucks per 500ml)
3. Interest charges on credit cards(guilty! Should pay all of it off)
4. Unused memberships (guilty!)- i should give up my gym membership or decide to use it

I'm still unable to sleep. I need sleeping pills. C'mon guys, agree to disagree. Ok they did. They totally disagreed on everything, from where to place the imaginary flat tv, to the bookshelf/art case. Funny.

My Favorite Book List

Here it is Tetch, in my own special categories:

Light, Entertaining, Easy to Read. Best reco if your job requires a lot of logical thinking and you're stressed and you'd like to reward yourself

-Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella
-All books by Nick Hornby (About A Boy, High fidelity, A Long Way Down, Fever Pitch, How To Be Good)
-Devil Wears Prada (puto, you still have my copy)
-All books by David Sedaris (Naked, Holidays On Ice, Dress Your Family in Denim and Corduroy, Me Talk Pretty One Day)

Contemporary Novels That Made Me Cry (read:can make you love sick)
-Joan Didion: A Year of Magical Thinking (now on broadway)
-P.S. I Love You by Cecilia Ahern

Inspirational: for spiritual growth. Pick this up when you're antsy, when you want introspection, when you need to be still
-all Paulo Coelho books
-The Road Less Traveled by m.d. Scott Peck (and his follow up book about being evil)
-All novels, essays and poems by Maya Angelou
-Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, Teacher Man by Frank Mc court (cie is teacher with you?)
-Five people you meet in heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie by mitch albom (kyrstel the former is with you pa din)
-The Rules of Life by templar
-From Jesus With Love for Troubled Times
-Bo sanchez

Magical Writing
-J.K. Rowling's H potter series
-JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit
-To Kill a Mockingbird
-Unbearable Lightness of Being

Aspirational. Have a dream. Must give it a go, try, believe, survive.
-1000 places to see before you die
- Tropical Houses in the Philippines
- Asian Apartments

OPM
-lualhati bautista
-nick joaquin, Manila , My Manila
-bievenido santos' Postcript to a Saintly Life
-f .sionil jose
-jessica zafra

Practical. Girl, you need some sense
-Rich dad,poor dad

Work Practical
-seth godin
-put your strengths to work
-From good to great
-john maxwell
-48 laws of power

Mainstream Fiction
-john grisham (easy read, action-packed)
-Tom clancy (love him!)
-dan brown (engaging)


Engaging. Special interest.
-sherlock holmes the complete novels and stories vol 1
-george stephanoupoulos ' All Too Human
-banana yoshimoto

Children's Books
-shel silverstein missing piece
-petter rabbit
-C.S.Lewis

Videos That Can Change Your Organization (And Your Life)

Old media is out- video, YouTube is making learning, the sharing of ideas faster and more impact-ful.

Check out this link:
http://www.squidoo.com/videosthatchange/

1. Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005:The text of this I posted in an earlier blogpost, listening to Steve Jobs gives it so much heart. A must. Really.
2. All Marketers are Liars - Seth Godin speaks at Google
3. Guy Kawasaki 10-20-30 Presentation Rule
4. The Art of the Start: Guy Kawasaki's message: if you want to start a business, it should be able to change the world
1. Increase the quality of life
2. Right a wrong
3. Prevent the end of something good

Weird Night Out

On this cold and wet Saturday evening which I didn't want to spend alone in my unit after realizing today's hour of badminton would again be useless in my short-term goal of a dreamless, uninterrupted sleep (I was unable to sleep pa rin after 1.5 hrs of badminton and 1 hr massage yesterday), I texted Sony if he was up to that movie we rainchecked on, and if not, I was hoping to crash at his place so we can also visit Maan who lives next door, and who recently gave birth. Instead he invites me to tag along, to a gathering of strangers. If you know me, this is not my kind of thing, but for reasons stated earlier, I was inclined to go, not knowing whom I'll meet, but I was there for moral support because it was supposedly a set-up, a blind date of some sorts for some of the people there.

So what would we have in common with three American Peace Corps volunteers- Joe from the Midwest (Kansas), John from North Carolina who graduated with distinction with a computer science degree, and Dave, who was wearing a nice short-sleeved shirt that would qualify as a dress shirt, a gimik polo barong, if you will. Joe's girlfriend is Maris, an Atenista who is the recent CineManila best actress (digital lokal) for her indie film Ala Suerte Ala Muerte. We also have 2 lawyers, Rissa (a very pretty vegetarian, a deadringer for Khristine Hermosa) and Marco (a lawyer by day, "pornographer" by night)- they are both into lomography/photography; Dos, who is a fashion model turned entrepreneur and the host for the night's get-together, carefully changing seats, making us switch sides, as he and Maris carefully pan out the couples they'd like to pair. Bunny is Sony's common friend, a niece of Tessie Tomas, she is pretty and sosyal, yet her real friends would call her jologs.

Well of course how could we not talk about being a peace corp in a developing country? Why would a young American go to Asia, to see poverty and what were they hoping to accomplish? I got a very engaging answer from John, who struck me as a very interesting , very witty person. He started off by saying he thinks he may get deported to the US for leaving early from Nueva Vizcaya without notification, a clear violation of their travel policies. He said he usually gets terminated in all of his jobs (but talks his way out of it), starting from his first job at Taco Bell where he used the ketchup and cheese barrel pumps as guns, positioning himself on top of the restaurant and shooting the pumps as if he was a gunslinging westerner shooting at goo goos. (I wonder how he wiggled his way out of that). When asked, "Why become a peace corp volunteer?", he replied "Because of the experience, of meeting new people, of learning a new language, taking myself out of my comfort zone and using my skills to contribute to the poor. It certainly beats my 3-year stay in my cubicle, working as a techie where I became a drone..bo-ring!"

We seemed aghast that Americans would leave the safety and cocoon of their nation, where they can have everything, and go here, where not everything is pretty. To this he replied, " Yes certainly, there are a lot of areas that are quite frankly disturbing, and you'd wonder if your efforts would make a difference..but this is the job I signed up for-an adventure. The plus side is that the people are very warm and readily accept your help.." They each have areas of specialization: they'd help build schools, give developmental and business skills like book-keeping, planning, project management, team building. Joe is assigned in Marinduque, John in Nueva Vizcaya, and it is seldom that they go to Manila,actually and see each other together.

Ultimately, I think what being a peace corp means for these younger men, is a ticket to a far off adventure, which is best taken during youth, like a pill, but would reverberate, have a lasting effect, in your entire life. John, for instance, we think, would go back to IT, maybe once he gets deported (for real), which, he conceded, might actually be something he intentionally did to end his over 1.5 year stay here." I will go back to IT because that's where I'm good at, although i'm trying to transition from being a techie to functional management, but somehow they always pull me back in to the technical side of it.." Joe, who's based in Marinduque is clearly smitten with his morena-skinned Marissa, and we hear he'd love to stay here for good. To this, Marissa said in jest that he ought to have a real job, in Tagalog, which of course he understood. Sobrang kikay this artista, who's a cross between Ciara Sotto and G Toengi.

Not long after, all of us were arguing with Sony. The topic: Singapore's lack of culture. Sony said he liked it there because he was lucky with friends and his job there, and so what if during his stay he just went to bars, ate out and watched movies? Marco, Dos and I were passionate about it, saying there's something amiss when everything's new, spruced up, no dirt and all hyped up in advertising but there's really nothing to see. We just conceded that indeed, there is no place like home, and drank to that, with a cold San Mig Light.

Later on, when forced to sit together, Marco and I talk about our phones (finally someone who understands my infatuation with my E61-he has the E61i!),writing, the real reason I hate Singapore, lawyering and about God. He is passionate about loving God, and his pro-bono work. I told him pro bono would make lawyers better lawyers; he told me to trust that God has His reasons for bringing us to the circumstances we are in today, and not to believe that it's ok what I'm going through, because it's not-- the pain is there, but if people say that it will be ok,I should listen, because God has His ways, which ultimately, will be the best for us. "But remember that whatever He gives you, you must listen, and learn to accept. So in your prayer ask that you be happy, and learn to listen to Him. He may be saying not now, but if you're not listening hard enough, all you'll hear is a no..."

It was weird, that intense conversation about God, while we were out at Fez Bar and Resto in Serendra, surrounded by a lot of people who are showing a lot of flesh,kissing, snuggling, while those who are not are looking around, as if to sight what opportunities the night may bring.

As Marco and I sign off with an approval rating for Sony's set-up, listing the pros and cons, (what's good with his friend vs what's good with my friend), we deliver our verdict, saying, " pwede.pwede!", and exhange numbers. He writes for a men's mag (under a pseudonym), and I promised to check it out. It is a weird night out because resonating everywhere is God's message for me to be still, and to listen. We exchanged numbers because of the personal retreat that Cielo, Sony and I will be undertaking-he is friends with a lot of nuns and priests, and has invited me hear mass at UP with a Fr. Hizon who delivers an excellent sermon.

" God wants what's in our hearts. If he's saying it's not now, it may be in His time."

I'm thinking this while the others head over to Embassy. Sony and I recap, me with my non fat steamed milk , and his drink of choice, a Cafe Mocha, at Starbucks Rockwell.

Black Eyed Peas

Something to look forward to in October. I'm flying to Bangkok for the Black Eyed Peas concert, courtesy of Pepsi and our strategic alliance. (Hah! Remember my blogpost about Bangkok?). Tell you what I'm going to do- I'm going to have my photo taken with them, and my CDs autographed! He-he.

O, that won't make me cry for the night. Because I'm a big girl now. And Big Girls Don't Cry. They just act gracefully, with whatever comes their way.

I want a mini-dress (Fergie's minidress in that video)!

Yada yada yada..

She LOLs

Before I realize it, I was laughing out loud, as the mostly foreigner and rockwell/near rockwell residents crowd thinned out of SOM's Noodle House while the rain poured this Thursday night. Not a while ago, as I waited to be picked up at my house, I found myself crying again, immersed in such deep misery that it was getting harder to control,triggered by something:some bit of news, some trickle of hope, someone, some faint memory that crops up. As I looked around at my sanctuary, I was glad that this time, I'll be seeing a familiar face, instead of starting off on new adventures that make me spread myself out too thin.

I ride in a swanky new Honda Civic, and am mesmerized by the smell of the new car, the leather, the criss-crossing windshield blades, and the dashboard with its huge digital odometers,speedometers and chuva-chenesses. Not long after, I get dissed for being the drama queen, and I heard two messages, which seemed to be part of the agenda for the night, as we waited for tables to be vacated in this carinderia along Rockwell.

2 Lessons:
"You know what's wrong? It's you. Suck it up. Own it. Then deal with it. Learn to deal. So he broke up with you, so it ended awfully. Learn to deal. Don't blame him, don't hurt yourself anymore, and don't hurt others. Especially the ones you love. Let them find themselves,let them grow, but resolve not to hurt each other anymore. There's too little time and too much to do to waste it hurting, demanding. What a terrible way to waste time being lonely and miserable when you can be happy. Look you're laughing now, and even if you're laughing at me, see-that's so much better.."

We reach the second point after our pad thai,bagoong rice, spring rolls and beef; while the sticky rice and ripe mango is being laid onto our table.

"The other point is, who said you can't do it alone? That you can't be alone, in control and happy? Let's practice that, let's try that this time.."

It's Thursday (the day that's getting in the way of our TGIF), and in less than an hour, it's going to be our favorite day, when work is done (it never gets done, but at least our minds tell us it is) for the week. Thank you for the ride, thank you for making me laugh,thank you for continuing to inspire me.

TGIF girl, I get called that today. Said exciting part of my life's about to start. Exciting. That's a good day to start a Friday.

The Other Half Is Dead

"It was over, he knew it, and all that was left was the thing itself:dying."
.......

"Slowly,very slowly he sat up, and as he did so he felt more alive and more aware of his own living body than ever before. Why had he never appreciated what a miracle he was, brain and nerve and bounding heart?..."
........

"Like rain on a cold window, these thoughts pattered against the hard surface ofthe incontrovertible truth, which was that he must die.I must die. It must end."
.......

"The world had ended, so why had the battle not ceased....?"
-J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

.......

Determined to reach the end, I lie awake, dismissing time; I am awake night or day, it doesn't matter what the ending is. The thing we know for sure, is that, it has ended.

Mid-year Curiosities from the Museum Foundation of the Philippines

Lectures � Cuisine � Tour


Aug. 18, Sat � An Intimate Portrait Of Juan Luna by Ambeth Ocampo. This National Hero celebrates his 150th birth anniversary this October. NCCA Chairman, author, and expert, Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, promises an interesting take on this National Hero. The talk will deal with Luna as an artist in the context of the emergence of the Filipino nation as well as his human side.



Spolarium, a Juan Luna painting measuring 4.22 by 7.67 meters. It won the First Medal Award in the Madrid, Spain Exposition of 1884. The painting shows the Spoliarium of the Roman Coliseum where the dead gladiators were taken from the arena above. The Spolarium belongs to the National Museum Collection.

10 am � 12 nn, Ablaza Hall, National Art Gallery (P300 Museum Foundation members, P400 non-members)

Aug. 18, Sat � Stories About Philippine Art: Obra Maestra Mamera by Dr. Roland Tolentino and Prof. Reuben. Dr Tolentino will discuss how art is made original or one-of-a-kind, how it transposes from the aesthetic to the commercial, anthropological, folk, kitsch and touristic. Prof Ca�ete, for his part, will delineate the development of an aesthetics of "mass sacralization" done by museums to address the shift of marketing focus from elite to mass audience

2pm � 4pm, Auditorium of the UP College of Mass Communication. (P50 for students, P100 for MF members, P150 for non-members.)

Aug. 23, Thu � Power, Palace And A Shot Of Beer: A tour of Malaca�ang Palace and San Miguel mansions with Ivan Man Dy. This deluxe walk includes a private tour inside the Malaca�ang Palace Museum as well as an excellent merienda at the Legarda Mansion.

Meeting point: San Sebastian Church steps. 9am � 2pm. (P1000 for members and P1200 for non-members.)

Sept. 1, Sat � Culinary Tour: Pampanga Travelers who pass by Pampanga encounter all sorts of rice cakes, sweets, snacks and delicatessen. To name a few, the turones de casoy and sans rival of Sta Rita; the tamales and puto seco of Bacolor; pastillas de leche of Magalang. Don't miss this cultural and culinary roadtrip to Pampanga, the culinary center of the Philippines!

Meeting point: Santuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati. 6am � 6pm. (P1900 for members, P2200 for non-members.)

Sept. 8, Sat - Stories About Philippine Art: Topic and speaker to be confirmed.


Sept. 29, Sat - Cultural Study Tour: The Lake Towns Of Laguna with Ino Manalo. Itinerary and pricing to be confirmed.

* Schedule and prices are subject to change. In case of bad weather, we may be forced to postpone our events.

For inquiries or reservations, call Museum Foundation of the Philippines at telefax 404.2685 or mobile 0928.503.9392 and look for Elvie Magpayo or Tricia Limon or call 722-9073 and look for Flor.
E-mail: office@museumfoundationph.org
Website: www.museumfoundationph.org

Membership renewals are ongoing. Current members are entitled to enter the National Museum for free upon presentation of their membership cards.

What Is The Ending?

I'm on page 460 and nobody has died, no one important, that is, but I couldn't help ask, what is the ending???!! Where does that leave me? Him? Apart? Forever?

p.s.
If you have to ask what kind of logic is this, it is from venus.

Jollibee

Found this on my pic files. Jollibee having an o_gy here with the Barbies of all race and color. Nice eh?
Reminded me of the happy days in San Francisco when I brought this Jollibee toy for Kayla (who loves Jollibee).

Kayla was then living with her father and mother, Louie and Charry, who are now separated, just a few months after I left San Fo in Feb.

I didn't have a clue they were undergoing a difficult time. Or was I too immersed in my own drowning, barely conscious, just trying to get afloat and survive on my supposed vacation?

There's No Escaping.. Food!

Woke up at 11:30 AM last Saturday with a text from Cielo asking what time we'd meet for the Pink Kitchen food benefit at the Rockwell Tent.






We were both hungry by the time we met up and when we got in (P200 ticket) it was almost too overwhelming being surrounded by the lunch crowd. I bought a P500 food coupon ticket and splurged on the ff:
1. roastbeef with mashed potatoes and ravioli from Cucina Toscana- oh what a delightful lunch. The roastbeef was tender, savory although the food preparation was very simple. This cost me P260 for the plate
2. Coke Light- P20
3. Cheesecake and another pastry from a lovely lady- P160, which Cie and I ate with banana and caramel ice cream
4. Crunchy dinuguan with Laguna puto-P120 from Kanin Club





I know.. how can anyone eat so much right? But we were there practically the whole day, and although it was too tempting to stay til dinner, we got our fill by the time we finished at 4 PM. Before merienda, we went for some cardio by doing shopping. Wee! I didn't get to shop this time, but Cie did, investing on her new sports-" I want to run the marathon!". I fully support her, after all, I'd like to run one too.


******
It's a beautiful Monday morning, and my desk is full of food, greeting me, telling me , this is a wonderful job. And that is why I have to do badminton 5x a week (did this last week) or get in training to run the marathon someday. There is no escaping food!








Photos courtesy of Anton:www.ourawesomeplanet.com. He has now become a celebrity of some sorts for his blog, mostly on food.

"Don't Be Daft": Questions I Answer

Questions I ask myself:

What do you want the most now?
Answer: To fall into a deep, meaningless,dreamless,uninterrupted sleep

Why are you here?
Answer: (silence)

If you could travel again this year where would you go?
Answer: Xian, China or New York

What would you want in your fridge right now, at 4 AM?
Answer: A bar of chocolates (Lindt, Ferrero, Nestle Crunch, Kitkat, or maybe just a Chocnut) instead of nothing.

What do you call the repeat of a mistake?
Answer: Stupidity.

What's keeping you awake?
Answer: The OPA guy from CYMA at the Shang, OUIJA (I am not a Juday fan, and she's not as payat as her billboards and Preview/Mega cover shots huh), oh, and that stupid mistake

Who do you think is thinking of you right now?
Answer: Does it matter? I know maybe one or two.

What do you think the point to this is?
Answer: Err...Count your blessings instead of sheep?

What's happening to you?
Answer: Nothing much. I'm pretty much making decisions with reckless abandon. Choices, choices, each moment in life is filled with choices.

What is your life like, at this point in time?
Answer: In transition.

Where do you want to go?
Answer: I know where.

Why Are You Reading This?

Tell me- what's the point?

Cool Digs

The foyer greets the guests with an oil painting of the lady of the house; she sits with her head tilted to the side, and shows off her slim figure and amiable face. Art and painting are on the walls, on the coffee table, by the window, with its own painting stand, on the side tables, in the restroom.

The vastness of the room seemed too big for a couple, but they are not just your ordinary couple- she works as an expat at ADB, he is a member of the YPO (Young Presidents Organization). They belong to the old rich clans of this country, and I was one of their guests. Everyone points me to the wedding book, it was April 7 in 2006, and I was the only one who has not seen it yet, and they were all chattering, telling me, "Dapat ganyan...", and I heard someone say, " Si Armi susunod..ganyan photos mo dapat..". And I tell everyone, " Shut up!", in that exasperated but funny tone and everyone erupts in laughter. There were follow up questions, if I was dating, who I was dating, and if it was true I had dinner with this guy they know, and if I was really, really seeing him. These were guys asking, guys who were married, and who had kids. I told them I was going to try speed dating on August 25 , and apparently everyone's curiosity got piqued and there were more questions raised. I laughed as everyone gathered around at the coffee table, sat down at the comfy couch, the chaise lounge and stand alone cushions. All eyes were on me- and I was peppered with more questions. How is it like? Where do they do it? What are the rules? Will you get the numbers of only the ones who are matched with you? Is it really true that they only allot 5 minutes per person? I seem to be the life of the party, and I reminded them, "Hello! You are all married, but your eyes are twinkling with excitement!"

Later on, as we partake of Conti's Mango Bravo and a very decadent chocolate cake while having coffee and blueberry tea, engaged in quiet conversations, girls with the girls, men with all the other men, it almost seemed like a soiree for 30s and up. I told them it (speed dating event) is actually similar to this, except the age range ends at 35. They still laugh at the idea, thinking how fun, what fun that would be, for 40s and up- "chicken" and those "left behind". And of course, my 46-year year old boss, who is really very young at heart (and is separated) says that although he'd like this speed dating thing, he saw the Japanese version. It's a speed f_kng thing.
And with that we decided to end the night, a rather good night in spite of the storm, with a welcome dinner at Abe's in Serendra and dessert at our CEO's cool, very pricey, very exclusive digs.

All in A Day's Work

" You tell a good story, " is among the best compliments I've gotten from people today. And it's not about something I made up, for it is all there-bits and pieces of data, headlines that await to be told, figures that get lost because of voluminous information that we face everyday. I see them and I recognize what's important, I read and I know what needs to be communicated, and somehow I have the right words to make them shout out and make a direct emotional connection with the audience.

Sadly, I wish life were that easy. Sorting out my own thoughts, coordinating them with what I'm actually doing and creating a happy ending is beyond my powers. So I surrender. I will just continue to work on my strengths and focus on my goals. Daily.

Happy Birthday Ime!

I imagine we're sipping coffee,lounging on a sofa at some obscure yet cozy cafe, like the one in Fairview (Read and Brew), ok let's aim for something grander- like the coffee shop at St. Regis Hotel in New York. Not that she lives in Fairview, or is anywhere near New York, because right now she is in Kuala Lumpur, newly ensconced in her new apartment, one that she's excited for me to see when I go there to visit.





A: "So.., " I begin to chatter her up, "does the birthday blues get to you too?"
I: " Ewan ko ba..I'm tired of thinking and praying and hoping, and getting excited and being so bored..I don't think it's just a birthday thing.."
A: "But everybody goes through that phase..It's just a phase.. You know, there are so many things to be thankful for. For one, I think you're one of the people I know who has the most number of friends. People are drawn to you.."
I: "Hindi naman. Ikaw din naman you have so many friends.."
A: "No. I only keep a few and that's deliberate. Quality over quantity. But you, I'm surprised because you have so many- and they truly cherish you. But of course I know why- you have a very generous nature and you're so much fun to be with."
I: "Uy, tama na..natatawa ako sa yo eh."
A: "Di bale, I'll send you an e-card on your birthday." (referring to the e-card she sent me on my birthday)
I: (laughs hysterically) "Ang sama mo! "
A: "Duh. It requires clicking on a link!Too much effort for the celebrant."
I: "That's going to be my last e-card. Hahaha."
A:"So, how's The One,after your Europe trip? (God, if she weren't my friend I'll kill her for having realized this dream trip of a lifetime.)


















I:"I don't think he's The One anymore, he's so slow. Just texts, and he tells me he prays for my IT projects to go smoothly and on time.. I mean, hello!, how's that for personal?"
A: (Now it's my time to laugh hysterically). "Really? He is such a geek. But he's cute. But if he's slow, neeeexxxttt!"
I:"Hay..did you know I went on a blind date here in Malaysia? It looks promising but how can anything come out of that- he lives in Manila and I'm based in K.L."

We talk some more about boys, our families, work and our future plans. When I'm with her,time passes by so quickly, and I'm sorry, but my laughter erupts suddenly, unlike C who's so sosyal she laughs with just a smile and nary a sound. Sometimes my belly knots in pain from laughing; I swear it's almost as if I did some crunches, and my eyes well up in tears from laughing so hard.




Yet I remember, vividly recall calling her many times in the middle of the night, crying my heart out, asking her to help me stop crying. But she ends up crying with me, and that tears up my heart all the more. Because I did not want the people closest to me to suffer. But she knew how IT felt, and could only be there for me to tell me "..kaya mo ito. Kakayanin mo ito. You've made so much progress. Take it one day at a time. And we, your friends, we are here for you."

It's not just the words (she's good at sorting your thoughts out), but her whole life- her family are an inspiration. To me and to others. You see Ime, the meaning of success is having the most important people in our lives love and respect us. So many people love and respect you.

I wish I can say that to you personally, instead of imagining we're having this conversation, while really I'm penning this (longhand ha!) while seated at the throne, and you're more than a thousand miles away.

Happy birthday Ime. See you at the end of the month.

This So-Called Single Life

Mmmmnnnn...
Lovely, lazy Sunday afternoon.
Missy Higgins in the background singing ,"Time has changed, I've tried cutting the ropes, of letting go, but you're still the only one that feels like home.."

Lest you get the wrong idea, my thought drifted off to my home, literally. I'm thinking my home is like the tropical Philippines,with banig as carpet, bamboo and kamagong wood furnitures and pina-abaca fibres for soft pillows. I'm still pining for a Runo wall mirror from Lonely Planet, and a picture to hang on my empty wall.

I seem to be drifting asea, wafted by this lullaby; a book on my lap and daydreaming. I know it's going to be all right. I'm no longer afraid to take control of this so-called single life. The secret is in the use of time. It's my most precious asset, and I'm going to use it well. Just like deliberately choosing to vegetate today.

Mmmnnn..

Yesterday Ended Last Night

Some wise man said this.
Last night was good, though.