Oh well, I'm now back in Bangkok after a long holiday in Las Islas Filipinas.
I should really make my next visit shorter. I love visiting my family and friends, but not having my own space and getting out of my routine (whatever that is) is a bit exhausting.
For instance, cos I spent two or three nights in Manila and Cebu I was moving around a lot (my gratitude to my kind and welcoming hosts!). And then when I reached Surigao my clothes were just piled in my suitcase. I also missed eating my share of fruits daily, which Surigao sorely lacks (or maybe I just didn't bother searching for them).
This is so typical of me after I go home. I whine and whine like it's nobody's business.
Maybe I should shut up already. LOL.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my visit very much. I was particularly happy to have met my family after seeing them last in 2011. And then I also spent a lot of time with my cousins and the few friends who have stayed in Surigao.
To prove that I had a good time at home, I compiled some video clips of my trip. I was inspired by my cousin's video of her summer holiday in the Philippines. So right from the onset of my trip I was already taking five-second clips of my journey.
I was daunted by the editing because it was my first time to do so. Thank god for iMovie I managed to pull it off through a slow trial-and-error process.
So, amigas, here is the final product.
Showing posts with label philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label philippines. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Caridad Once Again!
I'm on my second week of a three-week holiday in Las Islas Filipinas. While I have quite a bit of things to share on this blog, I'll first tell you about my short trip to Siargao Island (Tuesday to Thursday this week).
My mom's home barrio of Caridad is on Siargao Island, east of Surigao City. My cousins, sister, brother, and I used to spend our summer holidays there, getting sun burned all the time from playing too much on the beach, which faces the Pacific Ocean. We ran around in the rice fields and coconut groves and loved riding on water buffaloes.
Those summer trips in Siargao always meant so much fun although it was far from unbridled because my grandmother always compelled us to take afternoon naps or to go home as soon as the sun set. When I think of my fondest memories of my childhood I think of those summers in Caridad.
For this trip, I wanted to get a slice of the place once again, after all I haven't visited Caridad for maybe 14 years. My grandmother does not live there anymore though and my cousins could hardly fit a trip there.
It's quite amazing how little of my grandmother's house has changed. It has the same old cabinets, although they've been ravaged by termites. They are all beaten too by the harsh ocean breeze. But they have somehow managed to stay intact after few repairs.
I was fascinated to find that they have kept some old kerosene lamps, which have been rendered useless since electricity arrived on the island. I couldn't help my self from taking photos of these various old stuff.
On my first morning there I made it a point to wake up early to catch the sun rise on Caridad's beach. Oh the place of wonder when we were young!
We spent so much time taking a dip in its many pools that are revealed when the tide is low while huge waves crash in the distance. I could still easily find where they are and the rocks from which we dove. In fact, I first learned how to swim in one of the deep tidal pools when I was about 7 years old. I also remember catching tiny, flat, and transparent fish and those spindly and soft starfishes that used to scare the shit out of one of my cousins.
A few kilometres from Caridad is Magpupungko Beach, perhaps the area's main tourist landmark of a huge rock perching on top of what looks like a pedestal.
And then I stumbled into a few relatives who have stayed in the barrio. They told me of their memories of my cousins and me when we used to stage dance programs on boring, electricity-less nights and how we used torches as stand-in for spotlights. It's fascinating how many of them recognised me simply because of my supposed strong resemblance to my mom.
The trip certainly made me feel nostalgic of those carefree days, well, under the careful and loving watch of our grandmother.
While there are many familiar aspects of the island that remain unchanged, I've noticed several improvements. For one, now the barrio has a high school instead of the kids walking 6 kilometres to the nearest one. Also, the highway has been just recently paved with concrete. There are also more water pumps to serve the residents, which it appears is growing like mad!
Needless to say I had an amazing time in Caridad. It was great to reconnect with my childhood memories. And I'm also happy to see that it is moving forward in the right direction (if only they could stop making too many babies though).
My mom's home barrio of Caridad is on Siargao Island, east of Surigao City. My cousins, sister, brother, and I used to spend our summer holidays there, getting sun burned all the time from playing too much on the beach, which faces the Pacific Ocean. We ran around in the rice fields and coconut groves and loved riding on water buffaloes.
Those summer trips in Siargao always meant so much fun although it was far from unbridled because my grandmother always compelled us to take afternoon naps or to go home as soon as the sun set. When I think of my fondest memories of my childhood I think of those summers in Caridad.
For this trip, I wanted to get a slice of the place once again, after all I haven't visited Caridad for maybe 14 years. My grandmother does not live there anymore though and my cousins could hardly fit a trip there.
It's quite amazing how little of my grandmother's house has changed. It has the same old cabinets, although they've been ravaged by termites. They are all beaten too by the harsh ocean breeze. But they have somehow managed to stay intact after few repairs.
I was fascinated to find that they have kept some old kerosene lamps, which have been rendered useless since electricity arrived on the island. I couldn't help my self from taking photos of these various old stuff.
On my first morning there I made it a point to wake up early to catch the sun rise on Caridad's beach. Oh the place of wonder when we were young!
We spent so much time taking a dip in its many pools that are revealed when the tide is low while huge waves crash in the distance. I could still easily find where they are and the rocks from which we dove. In fact, I first learned how to swim in one of the deep tidal pools when I was about 7 years old. I also remember catching tiny, flat, and transparent fish and those spindly and soft starfishes that used to scare the shit out of one of my cousins.
A few kilometres from Caridad is Magpupungko Beach, perhaps the area's main tourist landmark of a huge rock perching on top of what looks like a pedestal.
And then I stumbled into a few relatives who have stayed in the barrio. They told me of their memories of my cousins and me when we used to stage dance programs on boring, electricity-less nights and how we used torches as stand-in for spotlights. It's fascinating how many of them recognised me simply because of my supposed strong resemblance to my mom.
The trip certainly made me feel nostalgic of those carefree days, well, under the careful and loving watch of our grandmother.
While there are many familiar aspects of the island that remain unchanged, I've noticed several improvements. For one, now the barrio has a high school instead of the kids walking 6 kilometres to the nearest one. Also, the highway has been just recently paved with concrete. There are also more water pumps to serve the residents, which it appears is growing like mad!
Needless to say I had an amazing time in Caridad. It was great to reconnect with my childhood memories. And I'm also happy to see that it is moving forward in the right direction (if only they could stop making too many babies though).
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Rediscovery
I was in Manila last week for an official meeting held at the National Museum. Well, it was not a bad idea to be holed up in the museum for a few days, and the farewell dinner was in fact held at a grand marble hall where they also served amazing Pinoy food. During my stay in Manila we also visited the San Augustin Museum and the Bahay ng Tsinoy museum.
I managed to sneak to Greenbelt to meet friends. They are pretty much strangers to each other but I had no choice but to meet them in one go because I hardly had any time to catch up with them. But that was fun.
Also, quite luckily, the Bitch of Bangkok was on holiday in Las Islas Filipinas with his wife. We just had a few hours to hang out (they just arrived in Manila from Vigan and I was leaving for Quezon Province early the next day). We hung out a bit in Malate over some beer, but our meeting was very short. Oh well, I hope there's a next time. I'm very relieved though the couple loved their trip in Las Islas.
As mentioned, the next day the conference participants were off to Tayabas, Quezon, about three hours south of Manila. There we witnessed the official declaration of stone bridges in the city as National Cultural Treasures. In the evening, we had a drinking "ritual" of lambanog, courtesy of the city mayor.
Back in Manila the next day, I headed straight to the Cultural Center of the Philippines to catch Agnes Locsin's "Encantada", a ballet about the clash of animism and Catholicism in the Philippines. It was magnificent because it was very Filipino, from the movement, to the costumes and music (the latter being a pieces of Joey Ayala).
After the ballet, we had a few hours break and then we watched the revival of "Noli Me Tangere: The Musical", also at the CCP. Gosh, it was clear I already forgot most of my "Noli" because I hardly recognized the characters and plot. Mark Bautista played the role of Crisostomo and Cris Villonco was amazing as Maria Clara.
Too bad I did not have time to fly to Surigao to meet my mom. But other than that, the trip, despite its packed schedule, was a very profound experience for me because, cheesy it may sound, it gave me the opportunity to rediscover Pinoy culture.
Monday, March 28, 2011
One Day in Manila
Lara Stone's on his first trip to Las Islas Filipinas. We arrived here early morning of Saturday, slept for less than four hours, and went around Manila.
Our first stop was the Shoe Museum in Marikina. Lara specifically requested to see Imelda's shoes, of all things. The museum was smaller than what we expected, with only 800 pairs of shoes out of the 3,000. Shelves of foot wear - from the dainty to the powerful to the gaudy - line the walls of the museum. Prominent brands I noticed were Charles Jourdan, Chanel, Dior, and Ferragamo as well as brands specially made for Madame by the famed shoemakers of Marikina.
Photos of Madame also adorn the wall, with focus on her encounters with world leaders and celebrities during the halcyon days of the Marcos "empire".
We then took the train to Qiuapo, home of the Black Nazarene. I've always loved Quiapo. For me, it best represents Manila - full of contrasts, rowdy, and mysterious. We were drawn to the macabre religious images sold outside the church and then ended up buying amulets and charms.
Lara seemed to have been captivated by Manila, even the slums, which he called "sturdy". I don't know.
We were lucky to find vegetarian food at the food court of the Megamall. At least he was able to try veggie meat adobo. I also offered him to try halo-halo (a mix of crushed ice and fuits), but he was repulsed by the kaong and gelatin, calling them plastic fruits. What sacrilege to our national dessert!
I also introduced him to a few of my friends from Surigao, Manila, and Davao. It was wonderful to catch up with some friends, but if I had more time I would've wanted to meet more people.
The former Czarina of Penang hosted a dinner/party for La Bayots de Bangkok. Bubbles was also visiting Las Islas for the first time in six years. We had a blast with other blogger friends based in Manila and SFO. Super thanks to the Czarina for the wonderful evening!!!
We ended up hopping to a gay club in Ortigas. It was packed, after all it was a Saturday. For some reason the waiters at the club are way cuter than its patrons. I haven't danced that much since, I don't know... 1999 perhaps? The great company of friends really made a huge difference and I wish we have more opportunities to hang out in Manila or perhaps some other city.
We flew to Surigao yesterday. It has been rainy so far. We'd be lucky if the weather would be nice enough for some time on the beach.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Living la Vida Imelda
Over the years, one of the must-dos when in Manila is to join a tour of famous guide Carlos Celdran. He must be doing the tour for about a decade or so now, and he has thus gained prominence as Manila's premiere tour guide, and has appeared in countless publications worldwide.
I joined one of Carlos' tours more than three years ago. We went around the heritage area of San Nicolas (see previous entry here) and since then I've been dying to join another tour. Finally, I had the chance to do so in my recent trip to Manila.
Along with my BFF from my university days, Meredel, we went to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex for Carlos Celdran's Living la Vida Imelda. It's no secret that I'm a big Imelda fan. Well, I don't approve of what she did as a First Lady and I'm completely disappointed in the Filipino people for voting her in the current Congress.
Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that Imelda has an allure for her crassness and delusion, least of all, to which I could not help being drawn. She's the embodiment of the corrupted soul of the Filipino, desperately yearning for validation but without a deeply-rooted self-confidence to carry her through, hence, she faltered scandalously and with such tragic, and oftentimes comic, repercussions.
The tour is a journey through the life of Imelda Marcos (as well as Ferdinand) with the CCP as a backdrop of the grand myths she perpetuated as a First Lady for more than twenty years. Envisioned as the epicenter of the arts and culture of the Philippines, the CCP is considered as the apex of her and Ferdinand's "edifice complex," a hunger for grand infrastructure projects to proclaim to the world that this scattered islands on the edge of the Pacific Ocean cannot be ignored.
The life of the Marcoses has been well-publicized through the years. Carlos thus relates these facts, personal anecdotes, and wild rumors during the highly entertaining three-hour tour. Carlos' boundless energy and panache in telling the tale of the Marcoses is an attraction in itself - akin to performance art - only overshadowed by the sheer ridiculousness of the erstwhile first couple.
The tour starts at the CCP where we found our way into Box 25, the private box of Imelda and Ferdinand during the halcyon days of their regime. We then snaked through the narrow corridors of the theater, with Carlos leading the way, a cassette player perched on his head, and dancing to the tune of "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" and other OPM songs.
We then found our way to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which surprisingly has retained its glory over the years. The lobby, with its stunning chandelier, never fails to give that sense of grandeur of the building purposely constructed in 1976 for the first IMF-World Bank Meeting.
A humongous painting by Filipino painter Jose Joya also decorates the lobby and its halls are decked with Ang Kiukok and Manuel Baldemor paintings. Well-preserved furniture from the 1970s are still found all over, giving the place a truly retro feel.We were then led to the main plenary hall of the PICC where the tour ended.
I do have tremendous admiration for Carlos' handling of the tour. It is supremely entertaining and informative (at least for those who do not know the Marcoses so well). There are many familiar facts and myths retold during the tour, but he also somewhat dispels some rumors, particularly those relating to the tragic collapse of the Manila Film Center and the assassination of Ninoy Aquino.
I also admire the tour's access to many parts of the CCP and the PICC, especially coz we pretty had these places to ourselves (well, sort of).
Did I change my mind about Imelda after the tour. Absolutely not and neither does the tour aim for us to do so. At the very least, it only reaffirmed our belief that the Marcos regime was one of the most surreal and darkest moments in our recent history. But then, it is also a reminder that Imelda has given the Philippines some international recognition, only for the vilest of reasons.
I joined one of Carlos' tours more than three years ago. We went around the heritage area of San Nicolas (see previous entry here) and since then I've been dying to join another tour. Finally, I had the chance to do so in my recent trip to Manila.
Along with my BFF from my university days, Meredel, we went to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex for Carlos Celdran's Living la Vida Imelda. It's no secret that I'm a big Imelda fan. Well, I don't approve of what she did as a First Lady and I'm completely disappointed in the Filipino people for voting her in the current Congress.
The tour is a journey through the life of Imelda Marcos (as well as Ferdinand) with the CCP as a backdrop of the grand myths she perpetuated as a First Lady for more than twenty years. Envisioned as the epicenter of the arts and culture of the Philippines, the CCP is considered as the apex of her and Ferdinand's "edifice complex," a hunger for grand infrastructure projects to proclaim to the world that this scattered islands on the edge of the Pacific Ocean cannot be ignored.
The life of the Marcoses has been well-publicized through the years. Carlos thus relates these facts, personal anecdotes, and wild rumors during the highly entertaining three-hour tour. Carlos' boundless energy and panache in telling the tale of the Marcoses is an attraction in itself - akin to performance art - only overshadowed by the sheer ridiculousness of the erstwhile first couple.
We then found our way to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which surprisingly has retained its glory over the years. The lobby, with its stunning chandelier, never fails to give that sense of grandeur of the building purposely constructed in 1976 for the first IMF-World Bank Meeting.
I also admire the tour's access to many parts of the CCP and the PICC, especially coz we pretty had these places to ourselves (well, sort of).
Did I change my mind about Imelda after the tour. Absolutely not and neither does the tour aim for us to do so. At the very least, it only reaffirmed our belief that the Marcos regime was one of the most surreal and darkest moments in our recent history. But then, it is also a reminder that Imelda has given the Philippines some international recognition, only for the vilest of reasons.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
I keep coming back to Manila
In Manila for a week starting tomorrow.
Will try not to gain weight while I'm away.
See you soon!
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Threesome
A wonderful addition to the small body of literature by Filipino gay men is the collection of books written by three bloggers, published by Grey Matter Publishing. The publisher, La Czarina, is a close friend. Finally, after a rather protracted process of publishing the books, they successfully launched them few weeks back (congrats, love!). My BKK-based amiga, Norlybelle, brought me and La Bubbles' copies.
The first book I read is The Chronicles of E because I've never read his blog before. I met the author, E, in BKK last April and I sheepishly confessed to him that I don't visit his blog, although two friends are avid readers.
The Chronicles of E tells the story of his crazy relationships ("Me in a relationship meant only one thing: I needed a place to stay and I need money"), drug addiction, and short stint as a boy-for-rent.
The bulk of his entries, however, focus on his journey as an HIV-positive person."I never really believed that there were a lot of people here in Manila or in the Philippines who have HIV or AIDS, so I always thought that the chances of me getting HIV was like winning a Nobel Prize."
From his initial ignorance on the real state of HIV infection in the Philippines (I learned through a friend that between January to May this year around 700 have tested HIV positive in Manila), he gives us a first-hand account of how he had to deal with being poz. He also has to go through the motions of reconciling with his family (his "evil aunt" took care of him as a child) and how he is on a path to fulfilling his dreams, which he feels is now limited because he is HIV positive.
Written as an online journal, E portrays him self as a completely imperfect character, if you may. His tone is far from preachy, nor does he claim to have found any redemption. On the contrary, just like most of us, he is a work in progress and that evolution, along with his flaws, makes the book very poignant and raw.
The second book I read is The Wet Book: Stories from the Bathhouse by McVie. His blog is far from being a stranger to me. I've been reading him for about four years now. Last year I saw McVie in a club in Manila and I was completely starstruck when I introduced my self to him.
Well, obviously I'm a McVie fan and for quite some time now I'm convinced he deserves to be published. Thank God someone finally noticed! While making up only a portion of his blog, his entries on his escapades in the bathhouses of Manila are some of his most hilarious posts. I've actually read on his blog many of the chapters in the book but it's still quite fun to go through them again.
"In the darkness of bathhouses there's a strict feeding hierarchy... [The top-feeders] are the ones who either have The Face or The Body. [The bottom-feeders] are depressing creatures cursed with unprepossessing features...", from an entry titled Animal Kingdom.
As a guy who works in advertising, McVie is definitely gifted with wit. As such, his entries always deliver a good punchline. Add to that the variety of crazy people he meets in the bathhouse, for instance a guy pitched a pyramid scheme to him after having sex.
McVie's book sent me laughing in many chapters. Aside from the entertainment value, however, the book succeeds in giving us a glimpse into the dark and mysterious corners of bathhouses, thanks to McVie who is brave enough to tell us the inside stories.
Completing the threesome is Dear Migs, Letters to the Manila Gay Guy. Migs' blog is definitely one of the most popular gay blogs in the Philippines. But because he writes on a wide array of topics, when I first heard MGG will come out as a book I was curious what part of the blog the publication will focus on.
So apparently they extracted the most popular letters sent to Migs over the years. While Migs sort of gives his advice to the letter-sender, a major percentage of the book is allocated to the comments (in the form of advices) left by MGG readers.
Following such a "democratic" approach, Dear Migs is very insightful on how the current generation of Filipino gay men think. And as I allowed my self to be quite judgmental while reading the book, my eyes were constantly rolling - clockwise and counter-clockwise - as I went through the letters and comments.
Oh the bloody drama! How Pinoy!
Divided in chapters, the book opens with a letter titled "Am I Gay?". The letter-sender, William, asks, "I'm afraid if I do become gay, I'm going to ruin my future. I'm not going to have a son, I will have to marry someone and consummate that marriage even if I'm gay. Plus, I'm Roman Catholic. The Church says homosexuality is wrong. Maybe this is the reason why I don't admit I'm gay even to my self."
That opening letter alone gives you a good glimpse into the ceaseless crisis of guilt and fear that many Filipino gay men go through. (I don't want to trivialize their problems, but those lines in the letter have been repeated way too often to be anything new to me.)
Or how about such dilemmas as "Afraid of growing old and lonely," or "Am I falling in love with him? My girlfriend doesn't mind us going out since he's her cousin," or "I'm a discreet bisexual."
There's something cliched about the letters, but sadly many can relate to the writers' issues as well. If MGG's book can help those who ask the same questions, then it is definitely helping many Filipino gay men come to terms with themselves.
The comments, meanwhile, are sometimes hilarious. To the writer of a letter that detailed his first brush with love that eventually failed, a reader said "Sister, alam mo ansarap mong batukan. Gaga, as in gaga ka talaga sa pag-ibig. Bakit mo sisirain ang buhay mo dahil lang sa isang lalaki?"
There's something sisterly/brotherly in the comments. A lot of the advices commiserated with the letter-writers, while others simply served a strong slap on the faces of the authors of letters who most need them.
Reading the three books is like having a conversation with three gay friends. E is the confused kid, McVie is the witty ate with a hearty laughter, and MGG is the amiga who dispenses advice at the tip of his fingers. The books thus give readers a casual feel, at times revealing, but always insightful. Congrats, La Czarina for a job well done!
The first book I read is The Chronicles of E because I've never read his blog before. I met the author, E, in BKK last April and I sheepishly confessed to him that I don't visit his blog, although two friends are avid readers.
The Chronicles of E tells the story of his crazy relationships ("Me in a relationship meant only one thing: I needed a place to stay and I need money"), drug addiction, and short stint as a boy-for-rent.
From his initial ignorance on the real state of HIV infection in the Philippines (I learned through a friend that between January to May this year around 700 have tested HIV positive in Manila), he gives us a first-hand account of how he had to deal with being poz. He also has to go through the motions of reconciling with his family (his "evil aunt" took care of him as a child) and how he is on a path to fulfilling his dreams, which he feels is now limited because he is HIV positive.
Written as an online journal, E portrays him self as a completely imperfect character, if you may. His tone is far from preachy, nor does he claim to have found any redemption. On the contrary, just like most of us, he is a work in progress and that evolution, along with his flaws, makes the book very poignant and raw.
The second book I read is The Wet Book: Stories from the Bathhouse by McVie. His blog is far from being a stranger to me. I've been reading him for about four years now. Last year I saw McVie in a club in Manila and I was completely starstruck when I introduced my self to him.
Well, obviously I'm a McVie fan and for quite some time now I'm convinced he deserves to be published. Thank God someone finally noticed! While making up only a portion of his blog, his entries on his escapades in the bathhouses of Manila are some of his most hilarious posts. I've actually read on his blog many of the chapters in the book but it's still quite fun to go through them again.
As a guy who works in advertising, McVie is definitely gifted with wit. As such, his entries always deliver a good punchline. Add to that the variety of crazy people he meets in the bathhouse, for instance a guy pitched a pyramid scheme to him after having sex.
McVie's book sent me laughing in many chapters. Aside from the entertainment value, however, the book succeeds in giving us a glimpse into the dark and mysterious corners of bathhouses, thanks to McVie who is brave enough to tell us the inside stories.
Completing the threesome is Dear Migs, Letters to the Manila Gay Guy. Migs' blog is definitely one of the most popular gay blogs in the Philippines. But because he writes on a wide array of topics, when I first heard MGG will come out as a book I was curious what part of the blog the publication will focus on.
So apparently they extracted the most popular letters sent to Migs over the years. While Migs sort of gives his advice to the letter-sender, a major percentage of the book is allocated to the comments (in the form of advices) left by MGG readers.
Oh the bloody drama! How Pinoy!
Divided in chapters, the book opens with a letter titled "Am I Gay?". The letter-sender, William, asks, "I'm afraid if I do become gay, I'm going to ruin my future. I'm not going to have a son, I will have to marry someone and consummate that marriage even if I'm gay. Plus, I'm Roman Catholic. The Church says homosexuality is wrong. Maybe this is the reason why I don't admit I'm gay even to my self."
That opening letter alone gives you a good glimpse into the ceaseless crisis of guilt and fear that many Filipino gay men go through. (I don't want to trivialize their problems, but those lines in the letter have been repeated way too often to be anything new to me.)
Or how about such dilemmas as "Afraid of growing old and lonely," or "Am I falling in love with him? My girlfriend doesn't mind us going out since he's her cousin," or "I'm a discreet bisexual."
There's something cliched about the letters, but sadly many can relate to the writers' issues as well. If MGG's book can help those who ask the same questions, then it is definitely helping many Filipino gay men come to terms with themselves.
The comments, meanwhile, are sometimes hilarious. To the writer of a letter that detailed his first brush with love that eventually failed, a reader said "Sister, alam mo ansarap mong batukan. Gaga, as in gaga ka talaga sa pag-ibig. Bakit mo sisirain ang buhay mo dahil lang sa isang lalaki?"
There's something sisterly/brotherly in the comments. A lot of the advices commiserated with the letter-writers, while others simply served a strong slap on the faces of the authors of letters who most need them.
Reading the three books is like having a conversation with three gay friends. E is the confused kid, McVie is the witty ate with a hearty laughter, and MGG is the amiga who dispenses advice at the tip of his fingers. The books thus give readers a casual feel, at times revealing, but always insightful. Congrats, La Czarina for a job well done!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Shelf Life: Ilustrado
When my sister visited me a couple of months ago, she gave me Ilustrado as a birthday gift. I actually requested it from her after hearing quite a bit about the novel since it won the Man Asian Literary Prize in 2008 for what was then an unpublished work.
Ilustrado finally came out this year. I have the Philippine print, but I've also seen the international edition in Kinokuniya in Bangkok.
I swear it's very rare to see Filipino books in Thailand. One time I saw a used copy of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere at the Sanam Luang night market... translated to Thai no less! That was one quite proud moment for me but other than that Filipino books are hard to come by here. Well, I saw Jessica Hagedorn's Dream Jungle at B2S a little over a year ago, but that's it.
Now back to Ilustrado. The attention Miguel Syjuco's novel has brought to Philippine literature comes in no better time. I could not remember any recent Filipino book that garnered this much international attention. It has received good reviews from the New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian.
But most importantly, it has piqued Filipinos' curiosity and has encouraged us to grab a copy rather than the latest Dan Brown or Paolo Coelho (parang awa, pwede?).
This is no doubt a novel worth reading, especially for Filipinos, because it highlights the corruption of our culture by no one but ourselves. Syjuco zooms in on the alta sociedad, the upper crust of the society, their frivolities and insensitivity to the glaring poverty of the majority.
He also plays on the joke that is Philippine politics wherein a leader of a religious cult, a separatist senator, a security guard, the country's president, and a starlet collide... entertaining (perhaps distracting?) the masses to no end.
While the schizophrenia of the Filipino culture and history serves as a backdrop to this novel, the plot revolves around the main character's, also named Miguel Syjuco, search for the lost manuscript of his mentor, Crispin Salvador, who is one day found floating in the Hudson River.
Miguel flies to Manila in search for the manuscript. While he unearths the many facets of the life of Crispin, he is also pushed into confronting his past as a prodigal grandson and his halcyon days as a member of Manila's nihilistic set.
Soon enough, readers would find a story within a story within a story in a novel that is filled with overlapping narrators and point of views. Syjuco refers to newspaper articles, excerpts from a biography, blog posts replete with comments, popular jokes, and magazine interviews.
As a caveat (and possible spoiler), there's really no reason to try to string all the story lines together. The novel is made up of at once entertaining and at the same time profound parts that might not be worth summing up. The parts are better than the whole in this book's case.
For Filipino readers, many of the criticisms Syjuco fires against Filipino culture is somewhat familiar because many of the characters and events are parodies of actual people and situations. At times his observations come from an outsider's perspective, owing perhaps to the fact that Syjuco has been living away from the Philippines for years now.
If there's anything negative I can say about Ilustrado, there are many lines in the novel that I feel were just overwrought, bordering on the pretentious. I guess the writer is just overeager to show his skills, but that's my assumption.
Otherwise, the novel is an enjoyable read and, while not the best Filipino novel yet, is definitely a good addition to Philippine literature.
Ilustrado finally came out this year. I have the Philippine print, but I've also seen the international edition in Kinokuniya in Bangkok.
I swear it's very rare to see Filipino books in Thailand. One time I saw a used copy of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere at the Sanam Luang night market... translated to Thai no less! That was one quite proud moment for me but other than that Filipino books are hard to come by here. Well, I saw Jessica Hagedorn's Dream Jungle at B2S a little over a year ago, but that's it.
Now back to Ilustrado. The attention Miguel Syjuco's novel has brought to Philippine literature comes in no better time. I could not remember any recent Filipino book that garnered this much international attention. It has received good reviews from the New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian.
This is no doubt a novel worth reading, especially for Filipinos, because it highlights the corruption of our culture by no one but ourselves. Syjuco zooms in on the alta sociedad, the upper crust of the society, their frivolities and insensitivity to the glaring poverty of the majority.
He also plays on the joke that is Philippine politics wherein a leader of a religious cult, a separatist senator, a security guard, the country's president, and a starlet collide... entertaining (perhaps distracting?) the masses to no end.
While the schizophrenia of the Filipino culture and history serves as a backdrop to this novel, the plot revolves around the main character's, also named Miguel Syjuco, search for the lost manuscript of his mentor, Crispin Salvador, who is one day found floating in the Hudson River.
Miguel flies to Manila in search for the manuscript. While he unearths the many facets of the life of Crispin, he is also pushed into confronting his past as a prodigal grandson and his halcyon days as a member of Manila's nihilistic set.
Soon enough, readers would find a story within a story within a story in a novel that is filled with overlapping narrators and point of views. Syjuco refers to newspaper articles, excerpts from a biography, blog posts replete with comments, popular jokes, and magazine interviews.
As a caveat (and possible spoiler), there's really no reason to try to string all the story lines together. The novel is made up of at once entertaining and at the same time profound parts that might not be worth summing up. The parts are better than the whole in this book's case.
For Filipino readers, many of the criticisms Syjuco fires against Filipino culture is somewhat familiar because many of the characters and events are parodies of actual people and situations. At times his observations come from an outsider's perspective, owing perhaps to the fact that Syjuco has been living away from the Philippines for years now.
If there's anything negative I can say about Ilustrado, there are many lines in the novel that I feel were just overwrought, bordering on the pretentious. I guess the writer is just overeager to show his skills, but that's my assumption.
Otherwise, the novel is an enjoyable read and, while not the best Filipino novel yet, is definitely a good addition to Philippine literature.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Shelf Life: The History of the Burgis
I meant to write this entry in time for the 112th Independence Day of Las Islas Filipinas last June 12, but I was caught up in a few things, so I'm making this pahabol entry.
Still it disturbs me that we mark our independence day on the declaration of the first Philippine republic in 1898 when in fact we were sold for a measly 20 million dollars by the Spanish to Uncle Sam, marking the start of fifty years of American colonization until it was formally granted to us in 1945.
Coincidentally, a few weeks before Independence Day, I stumbled upon a book called The History of the Burgis by Maril N. Francisco and Fe Maria Arriola (GCF Books, 1987). Burgis is the Filipino term for bourgeois and was for time used as a pejorative to describe the snootiness and crassness of the rich, nouveau riche, and even the middle class.
According to the authors, burgis as a label is both an economic condition and sensibility. A burgis lifestyle for instance can mean having disposable income for trips abroad or also a Westernized mindset that separates the burgis from the masa (masses).
The book's introduction mentioned that "[t]o understand the role of the burgis in our society, we need to take a good look at our history," after all, the burgis played a major role in the many upheavals in Philippine history. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, was clearly burgis as a member of the ilustrado class (the so-called "enlightened ones" who were educated in Europe). All of the Filipino presidents were burgis. And of course, the People Power movement that toppled Marcos was largely a middle-class revolution.
The History of the Burgis thus traces the evolution of the burgis: how they came about, their many incarnations, and their very profound impact on Philippine society (either as collaborators of the colonial governments or as instigators of change). The book has comics-style illustrations, deftly playing on the events and people that mark history, making it fun and easy to read (it's far from a hard-core history book).
What struck me most about the book is that while it was published in 1987 (fresh on the heels of the People Power revolution), and with the nearly quarter of a century since then, it is still undoubtedly relevant today. The oligarchs still rule Philippine politics and rob our country's coffers. Economic power still rests on the hands of the few. And most of the rich people continue to act blindly in the midst of glaring poverty in the cities and elsewhere.
The authors best say it: "Burgis is being removed from the realities of a developing country. It is being trapped in a First World consciousness while living in the Third World. It is ignorance and disinterest in how a nation's bounty can be shared by all of its citizens" (p. 14).
The Philippines remains essentially feudal and paternalistic and the sad thing about it is such system seems to persist and will continue to persist in the many generations to come. I honestly do not see our country changing for the better soon. Well, that's what a corrupt system breeds: cynicism.
While seriously treading dangerous waters here, it has crossed my mind why the Philippines is not going the direction Thailand's rural class just recently took. In fact, the income gap in the Philippines is much, much, much wider than Thailand. And maybe I can also safely imagine that corruption is way much worse in the Philippines, no?
I wonder if the Filipinos' relative freedom to express their political views help quell such a "revolution". In fact criticizing the government, "the system", and "the culture" has become a national past-time. Perhaps while corruption, injustice, and poverty prevail back home, we can always give a dirty finger to the bitch in Malacanang, hence, still tempering our discontent? I really don't know, but I should give that assumption much better thought.
At least with a culture that encourages criticism against the government and the elites, I still see a little bit of hope among the new generation of burgis. I noticed that there's quite a strong political consciousness among the educated class, especially in these days of easier exchange of information and views.
However, getting an example from the recent elections, the so-called "educated vote" remains right at the top, and their message failed to trickle down to the masses, thus explaining why half of the elected senators in last month's elections are movie actors. A huge gap does still exist in terms of making informed decisions (as an example) and unfortunately our dysfunctional educational system continues to fail the rest of the Filipinos.
So in the midst of all these gaps, there exists the masa and the burgis, the pesante (peasants) and the panginoong maylupa (landords), the uring manggagawa (working class) and the kapitalista (capitalists). What's obvious in the case of the Philippines is that such a system takes generations to change. Perhaps it's time we examine again the burgis in us?
Still it disturbs me that we mark our independence day on the declaration of the first Philippine republic in 1898 when in fact we were sold for a measly 20 million dollars by the Spanish to Uncle Sam, marking the start of fifty years of American colonization until it was formally granted to us in 1945.
According to the authors, burgis as a label is both an economic condition and sensibility. A burgis lifestyle for instance can mean having disposable income for trips abroad or also a Westernized mindset that separates the burgis from the masa (masses).
The book's introduction mentioned that "[t]o understand the role of the burgis in our society, we need to take a good look at our history," after all, the burgis played a major role in the many upheavals in Philippine history. Our national hero, Jose Rizal, was clearly burgis as a member of the ilustrado class (the so-called "enlightened ones" who were educated in Europe). All of the Filipino presidents were burgis. And of course, the People Power movement that toppled Marcos was largely a middle-class revolution.
The History of the Burgis thus traces the evolution of the burgis: how they came about, their many incarnations, and their very profound impact on Philippine society (either as collaborators of the colonial governments or as instigators of change). The book has comics-style illustrations, deftly playing on the events and people that mark history, making it fun and easy to read (it's far from a hard-core history book).
The authors best say it: "Burgis is being removed from the realities of a developing country. It is being trapped in a First World consciousness while living in the Third World. It is ignorance and disinterest in how a nation's bounty can be shared by all of its citizens" (p. 14).
While seriously treading dangerous waters here, it has crossed my mind why the Philippines is not going the direction Thailand's rural class just recently took. In fact, the income gap in the Philippines is much, much, much wider than Thailand. And maybe I can also safely imagine that corruption is way much worse in the Philippines, no?
At least with a culture that encourages criticism against the government and the elites, I still see a little bit of hope among the new generation of burgis. I noticed that there's quite a strong political consciousness among the educated class, especially in these days of easier exchange of information and views.
However, getting an example from the recent elections, the so-called "educated vote" remains right at the top, and their message failed to trickle down to the masses, thus explaining why half of the elected senators in last month's elections are movie actors. A huge gap does still exist in terms of making informed decisions (as an example) and unfortunately our dysfunctional educational system continues to fail the rest of the Filipinos.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Football What?
When I came to Thailand, I realized how crazy the Thais are with football. I don't know where to begin describing their passion for the sports, but a recent global study shows that, only second to the British, Thais spend the most time talking about football.
I was told as well that, although by no means as intense as the Thais, football is a phenomenally huge sport in Asia, which I did not doubt of course but the magnitude of which I did not realize until much later on. I've always associated football only with the Europeans and South Americans. How wrong could I have been! Football is not called the world's religion for nothing.
So it's quite amusing that football did not make a dent in the consciousness of Las Islas Filipinas up to now. We've always been a country of the three Bs: basketball, billiards, and boxing. It's easy to understand why billiards and boxing are popular back home that was brought by the international fame of Efren "Bata" Reyes and Manny Pacqiuao.
But basketball is another matter. We certainly haven't been anywhere near as successful in gaining international recognition for basketball and I doubt if we ever will. In a country with an average male height of perhaps five feet and six inches, it is a fact that we don't have the body frames for basketball.
There's no stopping us from enjoying basketball anyway. We might as well declare it as our national sport rather than sepak takraw, which I believe is only played in the National Games and nowhere else. Basketball, on the other hand, is our national past-time.
To prove our passion for basketball, all over the Philippines there's always a basketball ring in any conceivable space where people can set it up: right in the middle of the street, in the front yard, or on the school grounds. The sizes of those courts are not even decent enough to be called as such but the kanto boys spend all day playing hoops in those cramped spaces nonetheless.
Most politicians know very well that the way to the people's heart (and ballots) is through a basketball court. It's no wonder why basketball courts are perhaps their favorite project. Forget about school buildings or irrigation infrastructure. Put a court in the middle of a slum or in the hinterlands and the voters are constantly thankful of the politician's benevolence, especially with the face of the oh so generous politician painted right on the ring-board as a reminder that the court was "constructed with the efforts of...".
The close relationship between basketball and Philippine politics was firmly established and reached its apex when Robert Jaworski Sr was elected to the Philippine Senate. Jawo notwithstanding, we have lesser basketball superstars, who bag a number of endorsements here and there, or marry the most annoying woman in the Philippines, right James Yap?
So while the Philippines go gaga over James Yap, the rest of the world is possessed with worshiping Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham, or perhaps frantically betting between Brazil and Spain.
Why then did football skip the Philippines? Why is the NBA series championships more compelling to Filipinos than the World Cup?
Ask a Filipino if he watches football and you'd get a scratch on the head for an answer. Or perhaps he'd reply: "Football? You mean soccer?".
Monday, May 10, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Nega
I had an HIV test last Friday evening and I'm happy to report that I'm negative. Are you surprised? Tse! Since coming to BKK, I've had four tests so far. I do it at least twice a year. I always practice safe sex but still I get regular testing, you know, just in case. No matter how many times I've done it, I still get pretty tensed minutes leading to the test and especially when I'm about to hear the result.
I learned last Friday that the HIV infection rate among gay men in BKK is now thirty percent. When I first arrived here, the rate was already a high twenty-four percent, but the current figure is just alarmingly high, making it more imperative that we get ourselves tested as regularly as possible.
Having an HIV test in BKK is made convenient by the Silom Clinic at the Bangkok Christian Hospital. Catering specifically to men, the tests are free and quick (regular HIV test results are out in 30 minutes). I believe they also give counseling and medication to those who test positive.
At the clinic last Friday, the nurse asked me if there are such free clinics in the Philippines, but regrettably I only know one clinic in Malate that does HIV testing and some sort of counseling and information drive. (I hope some readers who know about other similar clinics or organizations to contribute to this post.)
I was quite sad to inform the nurse that there is hardly any serious and long-term effort in spreading information on safe-sex practices in the Philippines. The situation is more dismal for assistance to people who are HIV positive (as far as my limited knowledge is concerned and again, I'm soliciting inputs from the readers). Such an initiative is very crucial at a time when HIV infection among Filipinos is rising.
To focus on the case of men having sex with men (MSM), reports indicate an alarming increase in HIV infection in this sector. In this article for instance (Government warns vs HIV danger in MSM sector, released in December 2008), a government health official notes "that MSM has become the new sexual norm (in HIV transmission)".
The article also reports that since the Philippines started recording HIV cases, "males comprised 69 percent of the total infections through heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual contact, with MSM triggering the bulk". Further, "in the cumulative total of 1,097 infected MSM from 1984 to 2008, 49 percent were reported in the last three years alone; 108 have died when reported, and slightly more MSM were reportedly already with AIDS".
As I do not have in-depth knowledge (nor access to scientific studies) of the prevailing sexual behavior of Filipino gay men, or those who are into MSM in general, I can only speculate on their practices and perceptions. In my generation and those younger at least, there is a more relaxed attitude towards homosexuality, hence, gay men are relatively open to explore and express their sexuality.
Internet dating sites and saunas are widely available, casual sex is common, and consumption of alcohol and drugs is rising. I'm not saying any of the aforementioned is wrong or right, but together with these factors safe sex practices are often neglected. Mis-information and ignorance dominate instead.
Often, I'd hear young people saying only sex workers get infected by HIV. Also, if their sex partners look healthy chances are they are not HIV positive. Some also believe that using a condom is not as pleasurable.
There is definitely a wide chasm between risky behavior versus informed decisions, as backed by a survey among MSM in the Philippines that showed only two out of five men used a condom with their most recent sex partner (more in Filipino MSM and the epidemic of HIV infection).
Further proof of the lack of awareness on and practice of safe sex among MSM is that among the newly infected, most are students and young professionals. It is expected that those who have access to education would be somehow better informed but that is certainly not the case, I'm afraid.
For many years now government policy towards sex education is close to zero. Filipino society is generally conservative, courtesy mainly of our Catholic upbringing, hence the first mention of the birds and the bees in our classrooms would send the clergy breathing fire on the pulpit. Also because of the church's strong influence on politics, the government is adamant to not touch such a sensitive topic should the men in robes campaign against them.
The church is only one of the interest groups advocating against sex education (and please don't get me started on reproductive health and divorce), although they are certainly one of the strongest among the lot. As a whole, however, Filipinos still refuse to speak about sex, much less homosexuality, hence turning a blind eye on what could very well be a ticking time bomb.
I learned last Friday that the HIV infection rate among gay men in BKK is now thirty percent. When I first arrived here, the rate was already a high twenty-four percent, but the current figure is just alarmingly high, making it more imperative that we get ourselves tested as regularly as possible.
Having an HIV test in BKK is made convenient by the Silom Clinic at the Bangkok Christian Hospital. Catering specifically to men, the tests are free and quick (regular HIV test results are out in 30 minutes). I believe they also give counseling and medication to those who test positive.
At the clinic last Friday, the nurse asked me if there are such free clinics in the Philippines, but regrettably I only know one clinic in Malate that does HIV testing and some sort of counseling and information drive. (I hope some readers who know about other similar clinics or organizations to contribute to this post.)I was quite sad to inform the nurse that there is hardly any serious and long-term effort in spreading information on safe-sex practices in the Philippines. The situation is more dismal for assistance to people who are HIV positive (as far as my limited knowledge is concerned and again, I'm soliciting inputs from the readers). Such an initiative is very crucial at a time when HIV infection among Filipinos is rising.
To focus on the case of men having sex with men (MSM), reports indicate an alarming increase in HIV infection in this sector. In this article for instance (Government warns vs HIV danger in MSM sector, released in December 2008), a government health official notes "that MSM has become the new sexual norm (in HIV transmission)".
The article also reports that since the Philippines started recording HIV cases, "males comprised 69 percent of the total infections through heterosexual, homosexual and bisexual contact, with MSM triggering the bulk". Further, "in the cumulative total of 1,097 infected MSM from 1984 to 2008, 49 percent were reported in the last three years alone; 108 have died when reported, and slightly more MSM were reportedly already with AIDS".As I do not have in-depth knowledge (nor access to scientific studies) of the prevailing sexual behavior of Filipino gay men, or those who are into MSM in general, I can only speculate on their practices and perceptions. In my generation and those younger at least, there is a more relaxed attitude towards homosexuality, hence, gay men are relatively open to explore and express their sexuality.
Internet dating sites and saunas are widely available, casual sex is common, and consumption of alcohol and drugs is rising. I'm not saying any of the aforementioned is wrong or right, but together with these factors safe sex practices are often neglected. Mis-information and ignorance dominate instead.Often, I'd hear young people saying only sex workers get infected by HIV. Also, if their sex partners look healthy chances are they are not HIV positive. Some also believe that using a condom is not as pleasurable.
There is definitely a wide chasm between risky behavior versus informed decisions, as backed by a survey among MSM in the Philippines that showed only two out of five men used a condom with their most recent sex partner (more in Filipino MSM and the epidemic of HIV infection).
Further proof of the lack of awareness on and practice of safe sex among MSM is that among the newly infected, most are students and young professionals. It is expected that those who have access to education would be somehow better informed but that is certainly not the case, I'm afraid.For many years now government policy towards sex education is close to zero. Filipino society is generally conservative, courtesy mainly of our Catholic upbringing, hence the first mention of the birds and the bees in our classrooms would send the clergy breathing fire on the pulpit. Also because of the church's strong influence on politics, the government is adamant to not touch such a sensitive topic should the men in robes campaign against them.
The church is only one of the interest groups advocating against sex education (and please don't get me started on reproductive health and divorce), although they are certainly one of the strongest among the lot. As a whole, however, Filipinos still refuse to speak about sex, much less homosexuality, hence turning a blind eye on what could very well be a ticking time bomb.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Kodakan
As I mentioned in a previous post, my family mainly drew our strength in facing the death of my dad from our relatives and friends. They supported us in many ways during such a challenging time. It brought us comfort that we shared our grief with people very close to us. At no point during the funeral and the holidays did we feel alone, both emotionally and physically, which proved to be of value to my mom most of all.
So today I'm sharing the photos taken last December (it had taken me this long to get into the mood of sharing them), in which you'd see some of my cousins, aunts, and friends who were constantly around us.
First, look who I met at the airport on my way home? I was on a stopover in Cebu, and Sarah, my ex-colleague and fag hag extraordinaire, was on her way back to Davao from Cagayan de Oro. I couldn't be more thrilled! Unfortunately we only had like an hour for coffee.
Now in Surigao... I told you that my cousins now have spawns that wreck the house like crazy. Again, it creeps the hell out of me that they look exactly like my cousins when we were younger.
Now look at my baby doll, Isay! She's a darling and a model in the making. She loves it when I put make up on her. I told her mom that at two years old it's the right time for the kid to start dieting.
And then there's Mansing, who has been with the family for more than fifteen years.
And this is Auntie Vikki, my dad's sister who's based in London. We smoke a lot when we're together. Love, love, love her to bits. With her is my cousin Michael (mom's side).
New Year's eve there was a strong thunderstorm that flooded some parts of Surigao. We had no choice but to stay indoors and played mah jong. I learned to play it during the wake and mind you I won quite often. What did I tell you about my Chinese blood? Choz!
Whereas my brother is a big loser in mah jong. Ha!
Well, I also helped in the house a bit. A bit means once I cooked ESPEYSHAL turon for Christmas eve. I forced every visitor to eat the freaking turon and I did not bother to ask for some feedback. On the right side of the photo is Shiela, my cousin (mom's side), cooking some hot-dogs.
My sister celebrated her 22nd birthday (wink wink), which falls on the same day as my parents' wedding anniversary. Two photos down is my sister and her BF of nine years. Don came all the way from Davao (about ten hours from Surigao) to visit my sister on her birthday. Ang haba ng hair ni ate!
And when in Las Islas Filipinas you have to do the karaoke until the place closes and you had to be dragged outside by the security guard.
Of course I also spent some time with my super amigas from high school. Below are Gheleene, Lyn Mei, and Nikki.
And speaking of familiar faces, look which national icon Gheleene daringly molested?
Lastly, I had the opportunity to participate in the annual Crayons for Peace project of UP Maradjaw Karadjaw. UP MK is the student organization of Suriganons in UP. I was one of its founding members ten years ago.
We have also been doing the Crayons for Peace project for a decade now. We mainly distribute coloring books and crayons to kids in Surigao, hoping that their love for different colors would translate to their acceptance of diversity, hence, helping promote peace. The two (colors and peace) are not exactly directly connected, but the coloring books themselves have stories and photos that teach kids the concept of peace.
P.S. The good photos are courtesy of my sister, while the crappy ones are mine. :-)
So today I'm sharing the photos taken last December (it had taken me this long to get into the mood of sharing them), in which you'd see some of my cousins, aunts, and friends who were constantly around us.
First, look who I met at the airport on my way home? I was on a stopover in Cebu, and Sarah, my ex-colleague and fag hag extraordinaire, was on her way back to Davao from Cagayan de Oro. I couldn't be more thrilled! Unfortunately we only had like an hour for coffee.
Now in Surigao... I told you that my cousins now have spawns that wreck the house like crazy. Again, it creeps the hell out of me that they look exactly like my cousins when we were younger.
Now look at my baby doll, Isay! She's a darling and a model in the making. She loves it when I put make up on her. I told her mom that at two years old it's the right time for the kid to start dieting.
And then there's Mansing, who has been with the family for more than fifteen years.
And this is Auntie Vikki, my dad's sister who's based in London. We smoke a lot when we're together. Love, love, love her to bits. With her is my cousin Michael (mom's side).
New Year's eve there was a strong thunderstorm that flooded some parts of Surigao. We had no choice but to stay indoors and played mah jong. I learned to play it during the wake and mind you I won quite often. What did I tell you about my Chinese blood? Choz!
Whereas my brother is a big loser in mah jong. Ha!
Well, I also helped in the house a bit. A bit means once I cooked ESPEYSHAL turon for Christmas eve. I forced every visitor to eat the freaking turon and I did not bother to ask for some feedback. On the right side of the photo is Shiela, my cousin (mom's side), cooking some hot-dogs.
My sister celebrated her 22nd birthday (wink wink), which falls on the same day as my parents' wedding anniversary. Two photos down is my sister and her BF of nine years. Don came all the way from Davao (about ten hours from Surigao) to visit my sister on her birthday. Ang haba ng hair ni ate!
And when in Las Islas Filipinas you have to do the karaoke until the place closes and you had to be dragged outside by the security guard.
Of course I also spent some time with my super amigas from high school. Below are Gheleene, Lyn Mei, and Nikki.
And speaking of familiar faces, look which national icon Gheleene daringly molested?
Lastly, I had the opportunity to participate in the annual Crayons for Peace project of UP Maradjaw Karadjaw. UP MK is the student organization of Suriganons in UP. I was one of its founding members ten years ago.We have also been doing the Crayons for Peace project for a decade now. We mainly distribute coloring books and crayons to kids in Surigao, hoping that their love for different colors would translate to their acceptance of diversity, hence, helping promote peace. The two (colors and peace) are not exactly directly connected, but the coloring books themselves have stories and photos that teach kids the concept of peace.
P.S. The good photos are courtesy of my sister, while the crappy ones are mine. :-)
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