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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