Of Perfumes and Emotions

I have always been obsessed with scents for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, my dad would always bring home perfumes which my mom and I would wear. I remember being in love with Cool Water by Davidoff, Dune by Christian Dior, Anais Anais by Cacharel and No. 5 by Chanel. Of course, I'd use baby colognes and unknown brands, too. Scents didn't have to be expensive for me to love them, they only had to smell good! I can't really explain why I'm so attracted to them. I think, for some reason, smelling a good scent makes me feel happy.

Back then, I'd use whatever perfume or cologne was available in the house, as long as it didn't give me a headache. Recently, I've been learning about what they are made of. Terms like top notes, middle notes, base notes, accords, and olfactive notes now make sense to me. Perfumes are special and complicated concoctions; and I am amazed at how they are connected with your emotions--something I've read about a lot in the past but never personally experienced until recently.

A few months ago, after using a cheap, deo-cologne that seemed to irritate the noses of my co-workers (no more Bench for me ever again), I went on a search for my "signature scent"--a scent that I could always wear and people would associate with me. After spending much time at PerfumeEmporium.com and visiting a local department store, I found Bvlgari Blv Notte, and it was exactly what I was looking for. It was sexy and sophisticated, with notes of iris, galanga, vodka, and dark chocolate. It was described by Bvlgari as "Sensual and mysterious... an Eau de Parfum of uncommon refinement inspired by the captivating atmosphere of night time. As dark and enchanting as the night... a sensual oriental Eau de Parfum. The mysterious and enveloping aromas of Vodka and dark chocolate awaken an exquisite warmth that enchants and entices the senses." When I smelled it at the store, it was love at first whiff! I had found my scent.

Little did I know that my love affair with Blv Notte would not last. You see, I started using Blv Notte during a really emotional time in my life. Now, three months later, with only a few drops left on my first 75ml bottle, and just as I am recovering from that stage of my life, I smell Blv Notte and for some reason, it's as though fears and insecurities are triggered deep inside me all over again. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely there... and I have a feeling that if I want to move on, I need to stop using Blv Notte. It is a wonderful perfume, mind you. I would recommend it to anyone. But this just proves to me how powerful scents are. They can take you up, or down... forward into the future, or back down memory lane.

I am definitely on a Bvlgari phase now, and I look forward to the future with Omnia Amethyste by my side--a fresh, floral fragrance that makes me happy. To Blv Notte, I'm sorry to have parted with you so soon. But just like the person you are intertwined with in the story of my existence, you will always have a place in my heart. In so many ways, you were a first in my life.

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Farewell, Stephen...

Stephen Gately
17 March 1976 - 10 October 2009

I grew up during the era of the boy bands. Take That, Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Ultra, Caught in the Act... there was a ton of them. But I only had one favorite--Boyzone.

We all know teenage girls have their obsessions. Mine was Boyzone. I literally adored them. I loved their songs even though I knew some of them were really not that special. I'd defend them against the fans of their biggest rival, the Backstreet Boys. I got devastated when some of them got married. And I was an official member of their official fan club. That's how big of a fan I was.

Last week, Stephen Gately, one of the members of Boyzone, passed away while on holiday in Mallorca. He was only 33 years old.

I am no longer a screaming adolescent who obsesses over boybands, but I was still affected by his death. Boyzone will always remind me of my growing-up days, and their songs will always be meaningful to me. They bring back memories of friends and innocent days gone by.

Boyzone was going to have a World Tour next year. There was a very big chance that they would have come to the Philippines considering their fan base here. I wanted to see that; to pay tribute to this boyband who had such an impact in my life. With Steve's death, that tour may never happen--and that, I have to admit, is the saddest part for me.

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Life in the Big City

It's my fifth day in Manila and although it's not home, I can say I'm getting used to it.

Our training starts at 8:30 in the morning and ends at 5:30 in the afternoon. Every day, I wake up at around 6:30, take a shower, leave the hotel at around 7:30 and take the 15-minute walk to the Starbucks branch at the Standard Chartered building in Ayala Avenue, which is in front of the SMART Tower where our training is held. I'm not a coffee person, there are minimal choices for me at Starbucks, so I've had Green Tea Latte every morning since Monday. I love it, though, and I'm starting to like Starbucks, even though they do not have free WiFi access. What's amusing is that the people at Starbucks already recognize me and my companion from Ateneo de Davao University.

Unlike Dumaguete, where you can find Internet Cafes on every street, I'm finding it hard to hook up to the 'Net in Makati. I really don't know where I can find free WiFi (the hotel we're staying at is not posh enough to have it), so I decided to purchase the Smart Bro wireless Internet kit, which will supposedly allow me to access the Internet anywhere there is a Smart signal. It cost me 1,995 pesos. I tried it yesterday inside the Smart building, and it worked extremely well, but when I used it at the hotel, it was almost useless. I thought there was something wrong with the service, but I found out that it worked fine on my roommate's laptop. Hrm. I'll have to double check later and try to figure out what's wrong.

Despite the bling of skyscrapers, humungous malls, and posh restaurants here, I still feel lucky to be based in Dumaguete, where work is only 10 minutes from my house, I can drive around in my car, beaches and resorts are just 20 minutes away from the downtown area, and I don't have to ride a bus or jeepney to go anywhere. It's good to experience the big city life once in a while, but not all the time!

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ADIS Adventure

As I write this entry, I'm sitting at the basement of the SMART Tower in Ayala Avenue in Makati, using a computer that virtually has all entertainment and networking sites blocked. The fact that I can't access Facebook, or even Yahoo! OMG, is somewhat annoying, but I'd like to look at it as a blessing in disguise. After weeks of not being able to blog, I'm practically forced to do so.

What am I doing in Makati, you might ask.

Last week, I was informed by our dean that I was going to be sent here as a representative of Silliman University to SMART's Application Developers' Intro School (ADIS) Trainer's Training. It's a two-week long training of SMART application development practices that I, in turn, have to teach to my students in the upcoming semester. It's my first time to be in the Manila area alone. I was quite apprehensive about coming here, but I was not about to turn down an opportunity such as this. I've always wanted to be sent to trainings, I was not going to let the chance pass.

I arrived yesterday on the morning flight of Philippine Airlines (ticket shouldered by SMART, yay). I told my parents that someone would be picking me up at the airport so they would not worry, but I actually had to take a taxi by myself to the hotel where I was designated to check in. (If you read this, you can't tell them!) I had a couple of Iranian friends on the same flight (one of them was my ex, actually, hahaha) and they helped me find a cab. Fortunately, the taxi driver was a blessing--he was really kind, and I arrived at the Makati YMCA Hostel safe and sound.

I will be here for two weeks, until the 30th of May. I've already met great people, and I'm sure we will be learning a lot of things. Surprisingly though, I already miss Dumaguete, which has never happened to me in past travels. Maybe it's because this is the first time I've actually had to go anywhere NOT for the sake of having fun. I really  feel bad about the events I will miss, such as the Faculty & Staff Retreat that my colleagues will be having on the 28th, my friends Jonas and Lobelle's wedding on the 29th, and the already planned outings that will have to be pushed back into later dates because of my absence. I guess that's life, though. Not everything is about having fun, and despite it all, I am still very much grateful for this experience.

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Apo Island

The Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators (PSITE) held its annual convention for Region 7 last week at Foundation University in Dumaguete. The event was attended by IT administrators and teachers from Cebu, Bohol and Negros Oriental (no participant attended from the 4th province in the region, Siquijor). Not being able to participate in the past, I took the opportunity to join the event, because I really am just a newbie and need to be exposed to more IT trends and topics. The event lasted for 3 days, with the third day allocated for the outing where the participants could explore local sights and interact with each other in a fun atmosphere.

The area for the outing was Apo Island, a volcanic island 7 kilometers off the southeastern tip of Negros Island. I have never been there before, so this was a good chance for me. The island is tiny, with a diameter of only 3 kilometers and an area of 12 hectares. They do not have a steady supply of electricity on the island, their only source of water is rain and deep wells, and there are no vehicles as well, but Apo is a top tourist attraction in this area of the Philippines because of the marine sanctuary that surrounds the island. It's a great place for people who want to dive and snorkel, as it is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 dive sites in the world.

To get to Apo Island, you need to board a pump boat from the fishing/market village of Malatapay in Zamboanguita, located 30 minutes from Dumaguete, or hire a boat from any of the resorts in the area. The boat trip to Apo from the mainland takes 30 minutes as well. As we only had a few hours to spend on the island (you have to make the boat trip back to the mainland before late afternoon as waves get bigger during that time of day), we immediately did the main activity for non-divers in Apo--go snorkeling! And it was wonderful! You can find corals with colorful fishes very near the shore. My only wish was that I had a waterproof case for my camera so I could take underwater pictures! After snorkeling, we went to an area where you could supposedly find turtles, and we did find them! I'm happy to say I finally saw a real turtle, not just a Nat Geo one!

Of course, everywhere I go, my main goal is to take pictures of scenery. Here are some photos of Apo for you:

While it is true that there's not much to do in Apo except swim, snorkel, and laze in the sand, being there evokes a peaceful feeling. This is a place where you can't have Internet, cable TV, or airconditioning. It's a place that brings you back to the basics of life... and that's what makes it extremely special.

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Summer Heat

When it's summer time, there's no other great thing to do but hit the pool or beach! Last week, I went with my parents and cousins to a resort named Bahura. They have the biggest pool area in my province and an over-all great ambience, so I had fun!

Bahura is located in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines. For 500 pesos (around $10), you can enter the resort for the day, get a free lunch, and swim in the pool as much as you want. They have awesome rooms as well, although I have never personally stayed there overnight. A visit for the day, however, is totally worth it.

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Lost and Found

We had visitors for lunch today, so this morning, my mom went to a shop to buy roasted chicken, or lechon manok, as we Filipinos like to call it. Because she did not check her bag, little did she know that she left her wallet at the place! Imagine her shock at around 6pm tonight, when someone called at our gate and said, "I'm here to return your red wallet!"

There are still good people left in the world after all! Who would have imagined that in a third-world country with a lot of people in poverty, you would have a lost wallet returned to you? Her wallet contained IDs, an ATM card, cash worth 2,700 Philippine pesos (around US $56), US bills worth 105 dollars, some loose change, and random foreign bank notes. Nothing was taken. The man who returned the wallet even apologized that the cards got messed up because they had to search for our address.

My mom likes to think of it as God returning a favor to us, because a couple of months ago, my dad had picked up a cellular phone that someone left behind in a comfort room at the Bahrain International Airport. Not wanting to give the cellphone to airport staff who might keep it for themselves, my dad took it home, so that we could try to find the owner using the numbers stored in the phone. When he arrived, we were able to immediately pinpoint that the owner was also a Filipino because the phone had a Globe Telecom SIM card. We had to go through a lot of trouble, however, because the phone was locked with a password. So my parents had to bring the phone to a repair shop to have it unlocked. Fortunately, they were able to unlock it. We found the number of the owner's mom in the address book, thus we were able to contact him and send the phone to him. I don't know how many people would have gone through the same trouble to return a cellphone, but it looks like my parents' efforts were not put to waste. Because when it was our turn to lose something, it was also returned with the same effort.

I'd have to say that there are two lessons to be learned from this story. First, don't lock your SIM/cellphone with a PIN! It really is quite useless, because if someone really wants to unlock it, they will still be able to do so. On the other hand, if you lose your phone and it's password-protected, the person who finds it will not be able to easily return it to you. And of course, don't keep anything if it's not yours, especially if it is of value. There is always someone up there watching your actions, after all!

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Awesome BBC Documentary

I saw this awesome video on the web today about a recently discovered colony of flying penguins. It's amazing! Watch it.

 And since you watched that video, you need to watch the second one as well:

Brilliant, eh? Happy April Fool!

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I Want My Brown Rice

Asians love rice! As you can probably imagine, China consumes the most rice per year. But lo, and behold! The Philippines is not far behind. Even being a teeny-weeny country, it was number 8 in the world from statistics I found for 2003-2004, after China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma. Everyone I know here eats and loves rice--white rice that is. Now, white rice is long and white and pretty and yummy, but did you know that it is much, much inferior to brown rice?

Brown rice is unmilled or partly milled rice, and can be considered as somewhat whole grain. This is a type of rice where only the outer covering of the grain--the husk--is removed. Rice becomes "white" when layers of the rice kernel, not only the husk, but also the bran and endosperm, are removed. During this process, a number of vitamins and minerals are lost. It has been found out that the milling process that turns brown rice into white destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Isn't that a lot you are missing out? Brown rice is also rich in fiber and selenium. We already know how good fiber is for us. It helps us maintain a healthy digestive system, is  supposed to help keep weight in check, and can help prevent colon cancer by reducing the amount of time cancer-causing substances spend in contact with colon cells. Based on what I have read, selenium is a very important mineral that helps in various body functions, and aids in the prevention of not only certain types cancer, but also of heart disease, and for decreasing the symptoms of asthma and the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis. And if you have a problem with cholesterol, the rice bran oil found in brown rice has also been proven to help lower that.

Now, why am I suddenly becoming an advocate of brown rice, you might ask. Well, I've only been eating brown rice for a couple of months. I've known long ago that it's very good for you, but my family and I never switched, until I started reading healthful articles on SparkPeople and all over web earlier this year. I want to make people realize how good it is! And really, when you read something like what I just mentioned in this post, why stay with white rice? I am going to admit that it's a little bit difficult to switch, because when you eat brown rice for the first time, it tastes like cloth. But don't worry, once you get used to it, there's no turning back. Honestly for me now, it's white rice that tastes like cloth. Plus, brown rice makes you feel full faster, and for a longer period of time!

The problem I have right now is that: There. Is. No. Brown. Rice. For. Sale. In. The. Supermarket. There are only two supermarkets where I live (owned by the same company), and they have had no stock of brown rice for over a week. Because not a lot of people eat brown rice, there's very little supply. So uh, that's the ulterior motive for writing this post. I'm going to advertise brown rice so more people will eat, and more people will sell. And I'll be happy! Because I really do want my brown rice!

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BPInoy in Dumaguete

My parents got invited to an event  in Dumaguete hosted by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) for clients receiving remittances from expatriates overseas, as part of their BPInoy program. Since my dad is not yet here, I accompanied my mom to the event which was held last Friday at the Spanish Heritage. They stated in their invitation that they wanted to share some business opportunities with us, so I thought it was going to be one boring day. Fortunately, I was wrong. It was totally fun!

The main thrust of the event was to tell the guests about certain services BPI had available to bring the bank closer to their clients. They had some people tell us about these services, and they showed a video about how money should be managed by families of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). They also presented a business opportunity.

Having an account at BPI myself, I certainly am no stranger to their services, especially what they are heavily promoting right now, BPI 24/7 Banking. I've been using this service for a number of months now and I absolutely love it! With BPI 24/7 Banking, you can do your banking transactions (paying bills, checking account balances, transferring funds) online at http://www.bpiexpressonline.com. Most banks have this service so I'm sure this is not new to you. But what I love about BPI 24/7 are the services they offer using BPI Mobile. Yep, that's banking on your cellular phone! Transferring funds from one account to another and checking balances on your phone are even less hassle-free! I've been using it a lot to pay for purchases I've made on eBay Philippines. Aside from that, I can also use the money from my account to fund my GCash wallet and reload my prepaid cellphone. There's only one catch: you need to be a Globe Telecom subscriber. That's no problem for me though, since I've always been on Globe. Unfortunately, BPI and Globe are not paying me for this plug, although I did win P100 worth of load at the event, and my mom won a cellphone. LOL. But I really do love the service! I would recommend it to every Filipino with a BPI account.

Erik Santos

Oh, did I forget to mention that the Philippines' Prince of Pop, Erik Santos was there? Since his dad is also an OFW, he is the BPInoy endorser.

BPI - the oldest bank in Southeast Asia and consistently the most profitable in the Philippines
GCash - a service of Globe Telecom that allows you to send and receive money using your cellphone

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Online (In)Security

Facebook. Twitter. MySpace. Blogger. Plurk. Friendster. Wordpress. Et cetera, et cetera. All over the web, and on our cellphones, Blackberries and iPhones, sharing is in. We share pictures, videos, all types of files, and we tell people--strangers--about minute details in our daily lives.

I, personally, have networking accounts on Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, Plurk, and MyBlogLog. Anyone wanting to find more information about me can search these networks and see everything I have put up online. It's a scary thought. Do you remember the movie The Net? And the more recent Eagle Eye? Anyone can use my info against me, if they wished to do so. That's why as much as possible, I try to keep my personal information safe online. I keep my full name and home addresses hidden, and restrict my profile to friends only on networking sites.

What about you? Do you have any qualms about how the world shares and communicates nowadays?

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A Beginning

Whoopee! I gave the last of the final exams to my students today. That only means one thing. The semester is finally over! School will officially end tomorrow and the graduating students will don their togas and march to Pomp and Circumstance on Sunday. It gives a bittersweet feeling, the end of a school year. You have friends who will be graduating, people you might never see again. But even though it is technically an ending, it is, in essence, more of a beginning. How apt the graduation term Commencement Exercises is!

This is just one reason why I like teaching. After the end of every semester, you know there is another one coming up right around the corner. You will have new subjects to teach, new lessons to learn, new students to interact with. You will be able to have a fresh start; ponder about whatever mistakes you might have made in the past and correct them.

Personally, I am looking forward to the future. I think I am finally on track. Although I will not be teaching for roughly two months during the Summer term, I have a lot of things to do, such as preparing for the TOEFL and GMAT examinations I am planning to take. By the opening of the new school year in June, I will be back in school again, taking up Masters in Information Systems. I am excited for that. It's been two years since I've been in school, and I miss it. I hope to do better this time around, and not be as lax as I was in college. It is a new beginning indeed, and I hope all goes well!

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Fated to Love You

I thought I'd never ever get hooked on Taiwanese dramas. I was wrong.

I was following Fated to Love You on GMA 7, a local network. However, I got impatient and decided to watch the entire series online over the weekend. And by God, I loved it!

Fated to Love You is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a "sticky note girl" who accidentally has a one-night stand with a somewhat spoiled heir who is deeply in-love with his beautiful girlfriend. The girl gets pregnant, and the two are forced to get married and live together. The story starts out simply, but ends up deep and meaningful, with so many twists and turns. It's both funny and touching on so many levels. I cannot count the number of times it made me laugh and cry!

If you want to know what I'm babbling about, you can catch Fated to Love You every night on GMA 7 (if you are in the Philippines) or you can watch it online (dubbed in Mandarin with English subs). This is the highest rated Taiwanese series to date, and it won Best Drama in the 2008 Golden Bell Awards so try to watch it. You will enjoy it!

sticky note girl - a pushover; a girl who is "used then discarded", like the sticky note or Post-It
Golden Bell Awards - Taiwan's most prestigious radio and television broadcasting awards

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Lipsticks, Black Cats, and Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th has never been a big deal to me and I never paid any attention to it until moments ago, when I saw this post at ShimmerMeBlue, with a spooky image of a black cat included. Then I realized that while having dinner at a restaurant earlier tonight, I had seen a fat and cuddly black kitty dozing off near the entrance to the women's restroom. Aaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Thankfully, I'm not really into superstition. I'd take horoscopes over superstitions any day. I know I'm not a very good Catholic, but I have more than 100% faith in God and firmly believe that everything is His will. Besides, there really is nothing wrong with Friday the 13th. Read this and this if you don't believe me. I'm sure both good and bad things have happened on this day, just like any other day. The only nuisance I need to deal with today are chapped lips, caused by what I thought to be a great lipstick with the perfect color for me--Revlon Colorstay in Sumptuous Sienna. Bah, guess I need to go lipstick hunting again!

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The Personification of the Sea

The title above is the Greek meaning of Thalatta, the name of the resort I visited today together with my mom and a couple of family friends for lunch.

The quaint city where I am located in the Philippines, Dumaguete, is surrounded by a number of beach resorts within its 30-minute vicinity. Thalatta is one that I only recently discovered, and so far, it has become my favorite. The resort is located in the town of Zamboanguita, the third town south of the city. It is owned by a French-Filipino couple. I have been there a number of times but I keep going back--the resort is beautiful, private, and they have a restaurant right by the beach that serves wonderful food! The owner and staff are also very friendly.

I love the beach, and I'm so thankful that I can go to nice beach spots anytime I want to. A resort like Thalatta is truly a place where you can relax and forget about all the stresses in the world. If you want to know more about them, you can visit their website at http://www.thalatta-beach.com.

Apo Island - a small volcanic island off the southeastern tip of Negros Island in the Philippines which is a popular dive site and snorkeling destination

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The Vagina Monologues

The other night, I watched a staging of The Vagina Monologues at the Luce Auditorium in Silliman University. It was my third time to watch the show. I first saw it a few years ago when I was in college and was required by one of my teachers to do so. I did not know anything about the show at that time, and was curious why it was titled as such. After I watched it for the first time, I was hooked.

The Vagina Monologues is a play written by Eve Ensler that is made up of monologues based on interviews she conducted with 200 women. Each monologue tells about the various experiences of women; from sex, to love, rape, menstruation, mutilation, masturbation, and birth--with the vagina being the center of it all. The monologues are bold, sometimes funny, but often heart-wrenching. The title sounds scandalous, I know, and the show is certainly not for the prude, but it's all for a good cause. This play has been staged every year at Silliman for a few years now. I know a lot of people who have seen it, and a lot of people who have actually starred in it. I know that this play has been staged around the world in different languages since 1998, but what surprises me is the fact that a lot of people don't even know what it is!

The Vagina Monologues is the heart of the V-Day campaign, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. Every year from February to March, benefit performances of The Vagina Monologues are staged around the world to support this cause. There is a different focus each year, and the script is also altered based on that. For 2009, the proceeds will go to the women and girls of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been raped and abused because of the ongoing violence in their land. Some organizers of the play also select a local beneficiary for the proceeds. It is for this reason that I tell people about this play, and why I will keep on watching it every chance I get.

If you hear about a staging of The Vagina Monologues in your area, please watch it and tell your friends about it. It's a simple action on your part, but it will go a long way to help women and girls around the world who are victims of violence. This year, it will especially be of great help to the women and girls of the DRC.

Breaking the Silence in Bukavu
A letter from Eve Ensler

I write to you from Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I write living in the midst of the greatest violence and despair and the greatest possibility. I think if we learn anything in the work we do it is that being able to stand in the center of opposites is what eventually makes us free and compassionate. The DRC reminds me of this everyday.

On September 12th and 19th, we had the V-Day/ UNICEF “BREAKING THE SILENCE” events in Goma and Bukavu in alliance with local groups and activists. We had a great victory. Throughout the two days there were probably between 800-1000 people who attended the event including Senior Congolese government officials, key Ambassadors to the DRC, senior UN officials, civil society, survivors of sexual violence, and campaign activists. There were theater performances and school choirs, and excellent singers. This was an historic event. Women survivors publicly told their stories of sexual violence. Each one took the stage with such grace, such confidence, such heart and such courage. The testimonies went on for several hours. The emotion in the audience was so powerful. Activists offered boxes of Kleenex. Many men were crying. In Goma I sat and held a man who was a pastor who openly wept. Afterwards, there were some speeches. But my favorite moment was a when the women were honored at the end with pink scarves (made in Paris) with the words "I am a Survivor. I can do anything” written in French. As they were given their scarves, I saw a sea of pink liberation. Every single survivor reported that after the experience she felt free. So many people came together in the communities. Just about every grassroots NGO group participated in this events (psychosocial, legal, medical). Women For Women made a wonderful meal and displayed their beautiful crafts. Many reported never knowing about the horrific stories and we could see in the reaction of Government officials, (one even wrote a poem) that they were moved, hopefully to action. The activist and survivor community were empowered. There were all kinds of international press, the BBC and local African media. Stories are out on the wires.

And, holding the opposite, our hospital, the Panzi Hospital, was attacked by a mob, shattering windows, cars and spirits. It goes like that here, but we move forward. We move back, we move forward. But what’s important is that we are in this together for the long haul, for the people, for the women of the DRC and for all women across this planet who are being undermined and violated in the global epidemic of femicide. After the attack, as I marched in protest with V-Day staff members and the members of Panzi Hospital, I felt their anger at the insecurity of the hospital but what I also felt was the depth of their dedication to the women, to protecting them and healing them and transforming them and their country. As I marched, I also felt all of you with me. The V-Day movement is alive here, in the DRC.

Our campaign, STOP RAPING OUR GREATEST RESOURCE: POWER TO THE WOMEN AND GIRLS OF THE DRC has already had serious impact throughout the country. 90 forums, run by our partner UNICEF in cooperation with local grassroots groups, have energized people across the countryside in North Kivu, educating many activists who are now bringing the message of ending sexual violence to schools, churches, tribal leaders and religious leaders. In some places, they are even beginning to see a lessening of violence. At the same time the catastrophic war in DRC continues—over 3500 women were raped between January and June of this year in North Kivu alone.

As I write to you, I quote one survivor, Janet, who was raped so violently that the rapist pulled the leg out of her socket (she will be permanently handicapped), who, when I asked her if she was afraid to tell her story, said “I've always been courageous. Always will be courageous. If the military want to kill me for telling my story, I am ready to die.” These words have moved me to be braver, to be more outspoken, to be more strategic, to include more people in making the DRC safe and free for women. For making the world safe and free for women in every corner of this planet.

I urge you to read everything you can about the DRC (please see our resources page). I urge you to fight with all your heart and to find your connection to the women of the DRC as you have found your connection to the women of New Orleans and Iraq and Juarez and Afghanistan, and the other places V-Day brings us. It is in our connection and solidarity that we will find our freedom and power. The Congo is the heart of Africa and Africa is, in many ways, the heart of the world. What happens to the women here affects the flow of life throughout the planet. When we find the way (and we will) to end the violence here we will have created a template and a vision that can be transferred and used everywhere.

I encourage you to break the silence as the women in Goma and Bukavu have done. Remember that the shame of being raped is not ours, but that of the perpetrators. Remember that when we speak the truth, we free everyone to do the same.

You are always with me.

With V-Love,

Eve

September, 2008
Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo

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Pathetic

My friend, Lyn, and I ate dinner at Coco Amigos tonight. This is one of the restaurants by the boulevard in Dumaguete that is frequented by foreigners. It also happened that across the street, in the area known locally as the tempurahan (where vendors sell different kinds of street food), a group of artists from the city were having a show to celebrate National Arts Month. The title of the presentation was Balak Ug Balitaw sa Tempurahan. Balak is the Cebuano term for "poem", and a balitaw is something like a song or an exchange of love verses between a male and a female. The organizers described this show as "a gathering to give a spirited rendition of Cebuano poetry, with a sprinkling of Cebuano love songs". Needless to say, everything was in the local dialect.

The moment the show started, I immediately noticed the manager of the restaurant getting upset. He ridiculed it and complained aloud about how "noisy" it was. (And no, it wasn't noisy--it was a poetry reading!) A group of customers (Filipinos who looked like his friends) from one table joined in with him.

This really pissed me off. I don't know why the manager was upset. It's not like their establishment owns the area. It's certainly their fault for having an open-air restaurant. In my mind, they should have been thankful because something out of the ordinary was there for the tourists to see. They had their in-house entertainment and the sounds clashed, but it's not like the show was an everyday affair. I'm thinking he was probably afraid that their foreign customers would get upset because the show was in Cebuano, not English, and that it was not entertaining enough (no dancing girls dressed in skimpy outfits) for his retired expat regulars. What a perfect example of how pathetic Filipinos act when it comes to foreigners. We try to change everything we are to accommodate all their whims and desires. We no longer have any culture left!

I remembered Japan and how they treat foreigners. If you are a foreigner there, you're the one who has to adjust. You have to learn their language, sit on the floor, leave your shoes by the door, and use chopsticks. Here, meanwhile, we try to hide what we really are just to make them comfortable.

I'm not saying we go back to speaking only Filipino. I'm an advocate for learning correct English. I'm not saying we go back to wearing bahag, either. I just wish the average Filipino, not just the literati, would learn to appreciate, if not preserve,  our culture and share it with other nationalities. Because really, we should be able to offer more to our visitors than just women, sex, and servitude.

bahag - loincloth which was commonly used throughout
the Philippines before the arrival of European colonizers

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Under the Weather

I'm still sick. It's been 4 days already. It's technically just colds, but I have a hard time coping up with it. I feel tired, I can't smell anything, and my nose is clogged up all the time. At night I even feel chills. I'm not sure if this is what everyone feels if they have colds, or if it's just me because of my allergies aggravating everything.

I'm trying to drink lots of water, but what  I'm really finding helpful is taking in a lot of hot, spicy soup. You know how they say chicken soup is good for you when you're sick--it's really true! I'm not taking synthetic medicines, but my mom told me to take a couple of herbal supplements from Forever Living. My mom swears by their products, but they are a little bit expensive. I don't know if they are more or less effective than synthetic cold medicines, but at least I know they are good for me. I'm tempted to take antibiotics, but maybe that's unnecessary.

I tried to look for a fast cure of colds on the world wide web, but that doesn't seem to exist. I did find good advice on one forum, though:

Some of the problems when having colds are the package that it brings. Running Nose is one. Let it drip. In the first two days, its a clear liquid dripping anyway.

Second is headache. This may sometimes due to inflammed sinuses.

Third is malaise or in layman's term, body pains. This thing would really ruin your performance especially at work.

When your immune system is really fighting a tough colds virus, your body has sometimes the tendency to raise its temperature. One of our body's defense procedure against virus and bacterial attacks. When this happen, we end up having some fever.

Sometimes, if not often, colds end up as cough. The later is a different story and more threatening than colds itself. So don't let your colds turn you into much like of your neighbor's dog that barks all night long.

Water therapy. That helps a lot. I usually go for 1 liter every hour. Rest. Sometimes, we acquire colds virus because our immune system is low or weak. Cause of this? Many. But one major catalyst is stress.

Best medicine to relieve you of these... consult your doctor. Over the counter medicine is just fine but better if that would really come from a person who really knows about your health.

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The Art of Ukiyo-e

The other day, someone finally said they liked the appearance of my blog. That comes as a huge relief to me because I literally spent days--like 2 or 3--looking for a blog theme that I liked. I self-hosted my own WordPress blog for the purpose of being able to fully customize its appearance, but when time came for me to pick an actual theme, I was totally confused. I think I browsed more than 500 themes, and tried on more than 30, before I finally decided on the current one. After I made up my mind about it, I further customized it to suit my preferences.

This theme is called Japan-Style. I don't know how fitting a Japanese theme is to me, but I guess it's not so far out, considering Japan is the only foreign country I've lived in. At first, I didn't care about whatever was in this theme. The important thing was that it appealed to me. Upon closer inspection, however, I realized that this was no common Japanese theme with sakura or geisha. It showcased the ancient Japanese art of ukiyo-e (I confirmed this with Annie).

Ukiyo-e, translated as "pictures of the floating world", is a genre of woodblock prints and paintings popularized in Edo (modern day Tokyo) between the 17th and 20th centuries. Woodblock prints were produced when an artist made an original drawing on ink, which would then be traced by an assistant and glued face-down to a block of wood. The wood would then be chiseled to follow the print and later inked, then pressed on to paper, sequentially and often repeatedly, to achieve the desired painting. It was a genre that became popular with the "regular people" of society, because they could be mass-produced and were cheaper than original paintings. The subject of ukiyo-e was originally the city life, especially scenes from the entertainment district. Other popular subjects were sumo wrestlers, courtesans, popular actors, and then later on, landscapes.

One of the most recognizable ukiyo-e is Katsushika Hokusai's The Great Wave Off Kanagawa (Kanagawa Oki Nami Ura).

One of the original types of ukiyo-e, a single-color painting by Hishikawa Moronobu.

A colored print depicting the Eijuan Tea House by Suzuki Harunobu, the artist who developed the technique of multi-color printing.

If you can see, my blog's background depicts a couple of fish--koi, to be exact, also known as carp in English. Another meaning of koi in Japanese is "love or affection", thus the koi is a symbol of love and friendship in Japan. And that, my friends, makes this theme so much more meaningful.

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Top 10 Places to Visit

I love traveling. I love to dream about it, I would recommend it to anyone, and I consider traveled people really lucky. We all know, of course, that traveling needs a lot of time and resources. But imagine having all the money and time in the world, allowing you to travel anywhere you wanted. Where would you go, and why? Here is my Top 10 list:

1) Santorini, Greece 
If someone told me to pack my bags and go anywhere I wanted to, I'd choose Santorini, hands down. It has amazing beaches, quaint white houses on hillsides, and supposedly the world's most beautiful sunset. Add to that its history as the cradle of Minoan civilization, its being volcanic, the unique culture of the Greeks---and you have a wonderful place that gives you the perfect mix of nature's beauty, night life, culture, and history. Santorini just fascinates me. For me, it is the most interesting place on earth. And really, there is a reason why so many movies were set here!

2) Giza Necropolis, Egypt
This place brings out the history buff in me. It makes me drool. I mean, don't the pyramids just bring out the awe in you? To behold them would be an out-of-this-world experience, I'm sure.

3) Sequoia National Park, California, USASequoia National Park has my third spot because of General Sherman, the largest tree on earth. I'd like to pay "homage" to it. Aside from that, I'm sure it has a beautiful view. It's also a great place to imagine Edward leaping among the trees...

4) Taj Mahal, India
It is somewhat sad that only after her death was Emperor Shah Jahan able to "give" this monumental masterpiece to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Still, the Taj Mahal can be considered the most elaborate gift of love, and I'd like to see it.

5) Cliffs of Moher, IrelandAs some of you may know, I had a crazy fascination with the Irish boyband, Boyzone, when I was a teenager. Along with this fascination for the group came the fascination for anything Irish, so I've always wanted to go to Ireland. The Irish countryside is extremely beautiful, and I would love to see all the castles and greenery. But above all, I'd love to see the Cliffs of Moher--the most popular tourist attraction in the country.

6) Tuscany, ItalyEver since I saw the movie Under the Tuscan Sun, I've always wanted to see Tuscany. There are other places in Italy I'd like to see, of course, but Tuscany is so charming and appealing. It seems like a wonderful place. And... the capital of the region is my name!

7) The Maldives Beaches, beaches, and more beautiful, clear, white-sand beaches--that's the Maldives! I know there are thousands of places with beautiful beaches, but there's this image in my mind of those pictures I see in magazines with hotels right in the water; where your private swimming pool is not man-made but a hole in your cottage that takes you right to the sea. That is simply awesome!

8) Uluru (Ayers Rock), AustraliaIt's only a rock, I know, but it's fascinating, it's red, and it's HUGE! There's nothing like it on earth, that's why it's a must-see! I also once read an article on Reader's Digest, about people having to return souvenirs (rocks) they took from the site because they noticed that it gave them bad luck. I don't want to get any kind of bad luck, but stories like these make the spot even more interesting.

9) Machu Picchu, PeruMachu Picchu is referred to as the Lost City of the Incas. I want to see this place because it's so majestic way up in the mountains. It's one of the most remarkable human accomplishments.

10) Petra, JordanIn the past, my dad used to bring magazines with Arabic writing when he came home. Not being able to read the writings, I'd look at the pictures. What stays in mind until now are pictures of Petra in Jordan. Of course, at that time, I didn't know what the place was called or where it was. Nevertheless, that did not diminish its appeal to me.

What about you, what comprises your list? If you have a blog, make your own entry, and send a trackback to me.

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It Pays To Check The Label

Nestle Philippines is obsessed with a line right now: "Make it a habit, it pays to check the label!" They have it on most of their commercials and keep on repeating it at the end of each. And boy, is it rubbing off on me! (See plurk, haha.) But you know what, they are absolutely right.

Very few Filipinos check labels. (And by labels here we--Nestle and I--mean the nutritional information on the package of different types of food and drinks.) I can see that every time I go grocery shopping. Heck, I'm the only person I know who takes too long staring at the back of cans, bottles, and boxes, sometimes even comparing various products side by side. Most people here only look at the front, and that can be very misleading!

I have not been looking at labels for a long time. I only started doing that at the beginning of this year, after I signed up on SparkPeople.com and got encouraged to start living a healthy lifestyle. And does it help! After reading labels, I don't get inclined to buy cookies and junk food anymore. Reading also helps you make the right choices between brands. I once found this enriched cereal that met daily requirements by 100% for different types of vitamins and minerals. Had I not read the label, I would have bought a product of lesser quality!

I'm happy that Nestle is taking the responsibility to nudge Filipinos in the right direction. We do need to be more aware of what we eat. We are a nation with one of the unhealthiest cuisines in the world! Just think--lechon, humba, dinuguan, chorizo, sisig, isaw, et cetera, et cetera! Isn't that scary? Yummy, I know, but way scary!

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Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang

The last soap I followed was Encantadia in 2005. Ever since then, I have not paid much attention to my television except to sporadically watch episodes of CSI, Oprah, or whatever I found interesting on the Hallmark Channel. Two weeks ago, however, instead of pounding away on my laptop keyboard, I sat on my couch and watched the last three episodes of LaLola and got pleasantly surprised--it was good! I thought, maybe these soaps aren't so bad after all. So I decided to watch LaLola's replacement, too.

Ang Babaeng Hinugot sa Aking Tadyang (The Woman Pulled from My Rib) started out with the lead character (Dingdong Dantes) falling in love with a woman (Marian Rivera) whose past he doesn't know anything about. This is my first time to watch this tandem, which can be considered the most popular in the country. I have to say, I'm starting to see what the hype's all about. Dingdong is good, and Marian is perfect for the role. I remember the height of Angel Locsin's popularity in GMA (Darna era), and she was so... mediocre! It's a good thing she's now with ABS-CBN. *insert evil laughter here* I don't know if she has improved because I don't watch that channel, but seriously, Marian is so much better. (Kapuso, much? Peace, kapamilya!)

With all the things I have to do on my computer nowadays, I get bored with TV shows really fast. I don't know how long I'll stick with watching this new soap, but at the moment, I am enjoying it. The script has brilliant moments, and the supporting cast is great. It's worth checking out.

In a strange sort of way, I feel good watching local shows like these. It makes me feel part of the masa, the real people. It brings me back to the reality that I am a Filipino and maybe I shouldn't watch foreign shows 100% of the time.

I should probably be embarrassed for being somewhat baduy, but not right now. I'm feeling patriotic. Or something like that. You know what they always say, "tangkilikin ang sariling atin."

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Love According to the Bible

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. For now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

- 1 Corinthians 13:4-1

Happy Valentines, everyone!

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The Truth About My Japanese Adventure

My dearest friend while I was an exchange student in Japan, Annie, is back in the Land of the Rising Sun. She made a post about her new experiences that made me ponder on things.

I've always been somewhat indifferent, if not negative, about some of my experiences during my stay there. Japan, as a country, has never been an interest of mine. The main reason I applied for the scholarship was because I wanted to study abroad, and it was the only one available. But I'm wondering, if I had given it the chance, would Japan have been more appealing? I've never really pondered that much about my stay there, and I've never told people about the things I loved and hated about the country. Maybe it's time I did.

I loved the trains. I loved how the leaves changed colors in autumn. I loved the food, karaoke, and the grills found in the middle of the table (Korean, I believe). I loved the vending machines, green tea, and the absence of cars on a lot of the roads. I loved the temples, shrines, and the abundance of World Heritage Sites. I loved the not-so-cold winter.

On the other hand, I hated the extremely hot summer, made worse by cemented pathways all around. I hated being the object of racism. I was horrified watching men take seats on trains and on chairs while their wives either stood up or sat on the floor. I didn't like the too hot baths and warm air conditioning. I disliked the fashion, and how their malls were set up. I disliked having to bag my own groceries, and how everything was so expensive. I hated how no one spoke English. Japan is a fun place if you have special people around you, but if you are alone, it's one hell of a lonely place. Most of all, I hated how the Japanese men seemed really sleazy, and how girls were portrayed as sex objects by the society.

Having said that, I realize now that I might have dwelt too much on the bad instead of appreciating the good. I will probably always have a love-hate relationship with Japan; but that's normal, I guess. There are pros and cons to everything in this world. Despite my sentiments, I am still eternally grateful for the experience, and most especially, for the friendships I forged.

I swore to myself that I would never, ever live in Japan again. Now, I find myself wishing I had the resources to visit. Today, thanks to Annie's post, I had an epiphany--and if I did get the chance to visit in the future, I will be more open and will try to embrace the country and culture without any prejudice.

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NDCF Goes Live

Huzzah! The first-ever website I have created for a client is now available on the web!

Norwegian Disabled Care Foundation is a non-profit Norwegian organization helping to fund projects in the Philippines for disabled children. They can now be found on the web at http://www.ndcfoundation.org. Please visit and support them!

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Dumaguete, Battered

What I thought as harmless rain last Saturday was apparently not very harmless after all. For the first time ever, my hometown had a major flood. It was not only felt in some of the areas of the city, but in surrounding towns as well. According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, five people died in my province because of flood and landslides. The situation was caused by a low pressure area in Mindanao.

Something as big as this has never happened in Dumaguete before. In some villages, the water was waist-deep. In areas near rivers, it was supposedly even higher. Nothing bad happened in my area, but we did lose water supply for a few hours yesterday. Some pipes were probably damaged.

A photo taken by a friend of a vehicle in the flood.

Thankfully, the waters have subsided and everything is dry now. Apart from the river banks, you wouldn't see any indication that the city was just hit by a flood, and life goes on.

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Rain, Rain Go Away

We had crazy rain the whole day today! I've never seen so much rain in my life. I also saw the biggest puddle of water ever, right in my front yard!

Fortunately, our house is elevated so we didn't have any problems. But I'm sure the downtown area of Dumaguete got flooded, because it's covered with cement all over. I just don't know how bad it was.

Eight to ten inches of water!

The platform where we place our lawn chairs, which is around 4 inches thick, was completely covered!

It's been raining like crazy here for the past year that I feel like I'm in England (although I've never actually experienced English weather, haha). Could it be an effect of global warming?

My mom was really scared we might have a flash flood today, but honestly, I just wanted to wade in that puddle we had. I've never done that growing up. I should do that sometime...

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