hot off the grill

For the longest time, I've been contemplating to have a food blog. I believe I've written several entries that talked about some of our treks, travels and food. A few other blogs like Market Manila and Sassy Lawyer's inspired me to start one of my own. Since I love the great outdoors and enjoy good food, I decided to finally have my own take at the culinary joys of outdoor cooking.

Visit my new blog Pinay Mountain Chef.

playdate

Yes, tatay na po sila. From left to right are Louis and Baby Toni, Amats and Baby Isay, Rodney and little girl Hannah. This was taken by Nina during our playdate last Sunday afternoon at UP at the back of Quezon Hall. No need to explain the close resemblance of the girls to their tatays. "Tatay Karga" one of the reasons for that well defined biceps to Rodney. Isang sakong bigas na daw si Hannah now 3 years old. Last time I saw her was at a Lakay cookout of batch 16 without those long locks yet. Toni is one year and 2 months old, she was wearing this nice squeeky shoes. She enjoyed walking around without anyone holding her in a happy feet kind of way. Isay is 7 months old. She doesn't know how to walk yet and kept kicking her shoes away. This shot is a rare gatheirng of Lakay fathers proud to be holding there baby girls.

We've been planning for the longest time to get together and finally this one pushed through-- a playdate with the babies. We've been spending the Sunday afternoons enjoying bonding time with friends and family. When Nina and I had a chance to catch up, we talked about how we all want to bring our kids to the enjoy the outdoors and climb mountains in the future. What best way to start introducing them to the outdoors, than to regularly play with them in place where there are green grass, lots of trees, open space to run around, tumble on the ground and sometimes just lay there staring at the clouds. We decided to make this a picnic-playdate a regular Sunday afternoon for all of our families. Rolyn, Hannah's mom kept saying lets to this again, lets do this again. She was a bit late to arrive. Thus she is not here in this photo of the Nanay's and the babies. Another wonderful thing that happened is that we saw the Zabala family and invited them to join us for the rest of the afternoon.

Buddy here is the biggest baby of them all with his mom who just arrived from Zamboanga that afternoon. Sobra ngiti namin lahat when we realized this.

butanding up close

Up close and personal with the whalesharks of Donsol, Sorsogon. These are the spots of the whalesharks locally known as "butanding". A bonus in this image is the remora eel. This was not planned but such a wonderful addition to the composition. I took this photo with a Canon A70 with an underwater housing. This was taken a couple of years ago when I went to interact with these gentle giant fish. I was with Elnora and Aimee at that time.

It is almost whaleshark watching season again. We were so lucky to have about at least 12 sightings when I last went there. The first time with Melo, Melo's father, Jas and Mirac we saw more than 15, I guess mostly full grown and some juvenile. We also went firefly watching the night before. We had each individual small boats as we paddle down a river at 9 in the evening. Magical to see those fireflies. I wish I can experience this again soon.

I will never forget the first time I saw the huge tail in the murky dark brown waters. It just rained that time. Also we were behind the team and it was so fast the first interaction I got was that I almost got hit by this caudal fin which seems longer than my own body. Like an image from Jaws-- but in reality these are really very gentle creatures. Although there seems to be a moment that I hesistate but the feeling after each interaction is awesome!

toast

I was watching Oprah last week and chanced upon that the guest was former Bond girl Teri Hatcher. I knew it was a replay but the first time I saw it I click the "off" button early on the show. But good thing this time, I was able to watch the whole segment and about her book Burnt Toast.

What really got my attention is the concept of why many mothers like she and her mom eat burnt toast. Why do they have this self-sacrifice syndrome. I saw myself at a time when I just scrape the burnt area and continue to have breakfast. I didn't realize that this will be feature in a book. Why do we do what we do?

I haven't read the book yet but I read some excepts on the website. It was also recommended by Oprah giving very generous compliments which she doesn't do to other book writers.

This is one of my "to read" books. I hope I can find a copy somewhere.

food and what nots

When I was a young girl, when at the end of the meal I still have food on my plate, my lola would say "mabubusong ka". This means that I will have sort of bad luck, that I will not be able to receive food in the future because I did not respect the food that was provided for me, by not showing respect to the food and eating it all. In my mind, I silently thought, I really cannot finish all of the food, otherwise I will throw up. But I cannot say this out loud or I will be scolded for not respecting my elders. The lesson is "do not get more than you can eat". But if I remember it right, I know it was someone else who put all these food on my plate in the first place. I think these days I've learned my lesson not to take more than I can chew. Para hindi masayang. But there are days that the actual person is not the one who put things in one's own plate.

hallows

"to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate, to venerate"-Wikipedia

I looked up the meaning of hallows because I am really excited for the last book of J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter. It was announced Feb 1 that the release would be on July 21st.

Recently, I've been thinking about our past lives. How sometimes these memories though in the past, seem to be still alive in us when we remember them. This morning I was struck again by the idea. As if some part of our lives are there in a horcrux. A poem, a song or a place seems to still hold those memories. These tangible and intangible object represents some sentimental value. Why do certain waterfalls and mountains remind us certain part of our lives?

Anyway, I really cannot wait for the last book in the series.

frost in the cordi

News Central on 23 last night reported about the thick frost in Benguet province. They said that the temperature in Baguio in the past week remained below 10 degree celcius and in Benguet at 6 degrees. This eventually caused the frost in the vegetable farms. We can expect that the cost of carrots, cabbage and other veggies from the north will increase due to low supply. The crops were spotted sort of frostbite for veggies. There has been talks that a calamity in Benguet will be announced soon.

In an unrelated event(or is it?), a week ago I was going to write about the ice storm in Texas, I was chatting with Bay who said that she didn't go to work due to the thick ice and the roads closed. This is in Mission, Texas. She said this thing hasn't happened there in the past 10 years. We had a day-after-tomorrow chat that early morning.

For those who climbed the Cordillera this time of the year, you can imagine how cold it would be in Sagada or in Mt. Pulag. Tagirgir.

her little red shoes

The past weekends we spent our Sunday afternoons at UP carless oval. We just walked and played and played and walked around. For Tatay and Nanay it is time to get that much needed exercise. For Isay it was time to start enjoying the outdoors, see the grass and trees, stare at the clouds. Interact with cousins. See different kinds of dogs. Living in our small cubby hole, there is not much room to move around. We look forward to seeing friends and family during the weekends.

In this picture she looks really big. Thanks to Myka for the outfit and Tita Tess for the red shoes. I love these red shoes. It has a small snowflake on the side.

Isay have a Cinderella story but will post it in a separate entry.

What is your heartsong?

A week or two ago, I watched Happy Feet. Well actually, two of us did. Isay and I, until she fell asleep. I love the film. Love Mumble Happy Feet. I love to listen to good music and this one is really fun to watch. It is about loving our home and about the environment. Happy Feet is about finding your heart song, but it is also about the way we treat our environment, human encroachment, alien abduction and more. I never thought of myself as an alien but you know what I mean when you see it.

One very interesting concept in it is about the "heartsong". In the movie it is said that each penguin have a heartsong. I believe that each one of us have this "song" in our hearts. We just express it in many different ways. I can really really relate to Mumble. I wasn't born with a good voice and cannot really sing that well. Terror music teachers come to mind as I watch the un-encouraging way Mumble was being taught.

I particularly remember an incident when a friend of mine and I was pulled aside to "practice on our own not with the group" that part in the carol that we were supposed to sing. After that incident, my friend did not join the group anymore. She didn't say anything, just didn't join anymore, sad. But I was kapalmuks and what the heck I persisted despite my sore throat hahaha to the eternal dismay of some ahahaha.

Worth mentioning is Mumble's Mom who was really supportive of her fledgling. Now that I am a Nanay, I can relate more to her. Encouraging despite the stark difference of her little one.

Anyway, back to heartsong. Penguins have a heart song. This helps them find a mate (if it was only that easy), keep warm in the dark cold winter ( I wonder how the song keeps them warm), and express their individuality. Sadly, Mumble is born without a heart song. But he can dance-- a mean combination of tiptaptiptaptap.

I love this idea of having a heartsong. It also shows that there are talents other than singing. We are blessed with other gifts that some may not appreciate. But eventually, when we stay true to ourselves, pursue our dreams and persevere, we will have that heartsong moment.

A chickenetarian aspiring to be vegetarian

Sunday Inquirer Magazine last week issue "Do or Diet" was really a great issue. I loved all the articles posted there. I guess this inspired me to finally write that entry about this way of life. I don't eat pork or beef since 1997. Come to think of it, this year will be ten years. There was also a time when I attempted to taste sinigang baboy, the soup first, so as to gradually put me back as a carnivore. But surprisingly, my taste buds would not cooperate anymore. This was about 5 years ago.

When people ask me if I am a vegetarian, I usually reply, "chickenetarian" because I don't really know what you call people who are non-red-meat-eaters. There was also a time that I tried to go vegan. But it is really hard. More often than not, I do not explain I do not eat this or that. I just eat what I can eat on the table or what is served. If there is pork in the pancit, I just set it aside.

When I was younger I loved barbeque, hotdogs, giniling na menudo and many more Pinoy foods that my Lola cooks so well. I barely eat vegetables when I was young. I had to teach myself in high school to eat ampalaya.

Well, what inspired me to go this way? In 1997, I was climbing mountains a lot. Every weekend we will go hiking. Two good friends were vegetarians who inspired me as well. But what got me to shift is the notion that when you eat meat (red meat) a lot, your sweat will be mabaho. Thus, you have to change clothes more often. Lazy me, I want to travel light and still smell good even with all the sweat from the trek, I tried this one out. But speaking from experience, yes indeed, when I changed my diet, I smelled better than before. I think there is some truth to this just observe what happens when you eat curry. hehehehe.

Yes, it was all for vanity and for a light load for the trek. Eventually, it became a way of life. Most of my family have hypertension and was prescribed with a similar diet. It was good in a way that we eat the same foods. But my father still loves crispy pata despite... Sigh.

When I started 10 years ago, my weight was 87 lbs only and it went up to my ideal weight of about 110 lbs to 115 lbs and stayed there well until 2002. When I stopped hiking, then I started gaining more. I guess because I ate lots of carbs and salty foods maybe to compensate. This I read last week that we need to be careful of.

I remember a time when some people learn about me not eating pork or beef, they have this look that says I am deprived. Well, I just usually laugh about it. I even barbeque pork during Christmas at home while we also grill veggies. Even in climbs, I still prepare pork dishes for my team even if I dont eat, because that was what we planned, I guess that is why some still forget that I dont eat red meat.

In another post I would like to share more about why this way of life is also good for the environment and maybe my aspirations of having a compassionate diet.

Hala Bira! Puera pasma

Last week was the celebration of the Ati Atihan. This is one of the Philippine festivals that I really want to participate in and take lots of pictures. This still remains a dream. It was the feast day of the Sto.Nino last Sunday.

In the papers I saw the colorful costumes and again wished I was there to take pictures. Anyway, I just went to look up where the tradition began. Now I know that Datu Puti is not just a brand of suka or toyo (hehehe) he had a particular participation to this famous tradition in Panay Island.

While we were enjoying the carless oval in UP. I was chanting "hala bira! puera pasma!" while I carry Isay lifting her up as we pretend to join the Sinulog in spirit.

earthquake caused idle blogging

It has been a while since I blogged. I attempted several times the past days but it seems to be too slow. I guess the culprit is the damaged telecom backbone caused by the earthquake in Taiwan late December. The internet service providers are getting a beating from users due to slow service. According to the primetime news regular service will be back pa by Feb 21.

At a birthday party

A good friend celebrated her birthday last Friday. There was an impromtu pot luck dinner sponsored by her 5 yr old. The little girl prepared all the trimmings a hand written banner and drawings of flowers pasted on the wall. Yaya prepared that to-die for pasta with walnuts and smoked cheese plus homemade eggplant parmigiana (tama ba spelling?) While the friends brought other good stuff. We brought homemade chicken-tofu-carrot siomai. These group of friends have in one way or the other opted for a good lifestyle change going organic and being vegetarians. Well some are still chickenetarians.

Of course as the night went on the conversation went about our concerns when we were in college or high school. It seems that during that time concerns were very different. We had a great laugh thinking about our worst concerns. One is "nalaman ng crush mo na crush mo siya" hahaha as if the whole world fell apart at that time parang pinasukluban ka na ng langit at lupa. Hahahaha. Our tummies ache.

Oh well, things does change and our perspective of things are turned around that sometimes what was relevant then is really irrelevant. It was a good memory to recall because we had a good laugh. Now with our own families the world seems different that the concern is not more of the self but of family and our children.

We brought Isay to her most late night party. I guess she really enjoyed the super friends company. Of course the pahabol Christmas gifts.

ideals of a child

Every time I watch "Wish Ko Lang" I cry. I knew that whenever I let myself be immersed on these true stories I would really feel for these people. It was the story of a young girl Jamaica that really brought back memories. I realized that children are really idealistic. I remembered that I think more like an adult when I was before my teens and then became a child when I was in my teens and early twenties then now become an adult.

I recalled that when I was really young, my foremost concern is to get our family out of poverty. I would do anything that would help my family. I will vow to finish my education and help. In a way I saw myself in that little girl. There was a time in my youth that I would just walk alone the 4km to the central public school. I was told not to go because we have no money for a jeepney ride or my lunch. I still went to school even without lunch money. I walked and then played during lunch time. I can still remember that day. They said that the old memories are the last to go when you eventually start to not remember.

It is good to be reminded that we are very blessed. To be reminded that there are people in this world that experience poverty in a level that others just read about in the papers. There are people and children that works just to have that next meal.
I guess it is a reminder of how we should look at our own situations in life right now. I am inspired by the ideals of a child.

Thanksgiving

Whenever I feel restless, without direction and slightly paranoid, I recall the reminder that Judith J. mentioned to me once. The single memory was clear and crisp that I can still draw inspiration from that particular conversation.

"Look at the birds, they neither sow nor reap." The friend who reminded me of this one is not even a friend in community but a friend whom I lost touch for many years now. I cannot even remember the year when I had this conversation with her. I am amazed how God speaks to us. Now, I am once again reminded:

Matthew 6:26"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? (NASB ©1995)

After recalling that conversation with a friend, a prayer of thanksgiving simply and quietly flows naturally. A feeling of security that indeed all my needs (and wants!) have always been provided for. Indeed God has always been a great Father all the time. He is especially comforting during the days that I seem to have forgotten er neglected my spiritual nurturing.

I feel that a "Thank You" is not enough. But that is the prayer that springs from my heart everytime. "Thank You".

Salamat po!

resolutions

A bit of history:

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new.
-Wikipedia

Looking back in time to examine one's life. And looking ahead what the future hold. Everything in between is our present. At this time of the year reflections of this kind in one form or another passes our thoughts. Different people have many ways of doing this exercise. I for one never write down my resolutions. Most of the 3 decades past, I would just keep a thought, a resolve to heart, more often than not, I will not even mention what that resolve is. Until some of these are fulfilled. And sometimes maybe not. Sometimes these are not even printable as they are private and personal.

It seems that we are at the brink of great possibilities at the begining of each year. Even if we do not know what the future holds, a sense of hope lingers. A thought that one can start anew. A hope for better things to come.

Now is also a time of being in the middle. A time to stop, reflect and examine the year that was and a time to get our bearings ready for the new year.

2006 milestones

There are many things that highlight 2006. Many blessings to be thankful for. It is indeed a full year. Many first as new parents. When I look back to the past year, I cannot even know where to start as this whole year seem to stand out. I learned a lot and experienced new things. I faced my fears and overcame challenges both physical and emotional. No event to small that creates an indelible impact in my life. Each experience is a milestone in itself. Let me share to you some of the most unforgetable moments of 2006.

1) Giving birth. The miracle of life and to be able to be an active part of it. This is one of my personal fears and yet it is one of the best experience I ever had. A real first in one of my life changing events. Nothing compares to the joy of seeing our newborn. The physical challenges and pains are nothing in comparison to the happiness that this little person brings to our life. Now I think I know why they call them bundles of joy.

2) Pregnancy. Hormones played an active part to the up and downs for most part of the year. It was my first time to fly to 3 different countries during different stages of my pregnancy. Australia during my first trimester (even got to snorkel in GBR), then Singapore and Bali, Indonesia on my 6th month. In my Bali trip, first time I got really delayed and had to stop over another country.

3) Defending my thesis on my 7th month. Unforgetable indeed as I was writing my Special Problem for my Post Grad studies during 2006. It was a happy memory presenting and defending my paper while 7th months pregnant at UP Los Banos.

4) Earning my Masters in Environment and Natural Resource Management. Wearing the UP Sablay. It was so much more of an achivement compared to my undergrad because I had to pay for my own studies, overcome challenges to balance work, school and family. Most of all, earning this degree using the distance learning mode. It was a different level of satisfaction for me to be able to truly learn something that I am passionate about.

5) Being new parents. I can write every single day of the many things I discover and learn because of Isay. It is both humbling and gratifying. Our lives have taken a new direction when we became parents. The reality is sometimes scary and yet hopeful for the future. One of our greatest challenges indeed and yet the greatest source of our joy.

There are many more moments. We thank for each experiece. Our cup overflows.

Maligayang Pasko

Maligayang Pasko at Pinagpalang Bagong Taon.

Ang saya talaga mag balot ng regalo. Kahit maraming niluluto at medyo mag mamadali sa dami ng inaasikaso ngayong Pasko masaya talaga ang pakiramdam. Kasama ang mga mahal sa buhay at mga mabuting kaibigan.

Panahon para alalahanin natin na kaya may Pasko may sobrang nagmahal sa atin mga 2007 years ago.

Ang Pasko talaga ay nasa puso trimmings na lang ang lahat ng mga kasayahan sa paligid. Haay sarap ng amihan na hangin.

Si Tatay pa rin

Maligayang Pasko Tatay syemps ikaw pa rin the best kahit wala kang six pack abs at there is something in the horizon sabi nga ni Paulus. Pinaka gwapo of them all.

Yul Kwon

I am pleasantly surprised that Yul won as the sole survivor. I really like Yul and have been rooting for him to win. I thought that Ozzy would win the votes of the Jury because he is equally deserving. I was a bit sad that he did not. He is an epitome of a true jungle boy. It just shows how Yul was able to play this game to outwit, outplay and outlast without that bad after taste like the past seasons.

I am really really happy that the Aitu four became the final four. Yehey! I voted for Sundra as my favorite survivor early on the season. It was really funny with the fire making thing but I still like her. I love the way she answered Jenna Morasca today. True, it is a game and that Survivor is not real life but what the cast did in the show will affect them in their real life after. One thing that Becky should be proud of is that she had the option to get the idol but she did not. What would happen to Yul if she did?

This brings me to Candice, I think she is the one who lost the most in this. Jonathan made this season truly a fantastic season to watch. The way he played at the auction, we enjoyed it and had a good laugh. Despite him being called many "fantastic" names at the finale he said to his kids "we don't do that". and indeed in the show he played a rational game that in hindsight made this season really great to watch.

Thanks to www.palmbeachpost.com for the image

Simbang Gabi

I still remember the first time I ever completed the Simbang Gabi. I was in 4th Grade. I believe I was ten going on eleven. That was the one and only time that I ever completed the nine consecutive early morning mass just before Christmas. It was a happy memory. It was really an adventure for me at that age.

I grew up on a barrio San Agustin and our ancestral house beside the Maharlika highway. We were about 3 to 4 km away from Alaminos town proper where the church is. This church survived the war save for the belfry. Like any other church or chapel it is well lit up during this time of the year. The mass starts at 4 am in the morning. I had to wake up at 2am and ask my Lola Abeng or my Tita Ching Inay to come with me to Simbang Gabi.

Such determination was fueled by a wish. I was really determined to finish those nine consecutive mornings because I learned that year in 1982 that if ever I complete this, I will be granted whatever I prayed for.

So there, every morning at 2am I will wake up ready and eager to walk (as we do not have a car and there is no jeep at that hour) the 3 kilometers to town in the cold dark morning. The lamp post along the highway is few and far between in minds eye at that age. It was cold and I kept warm with all the layers of clothing my small body can carry fashionably hehehe bata pa lang fashionista na. One thing I will never forget is that rag doll that Inay made for me. I always brought her with me during those long walks.

We need to wake up at 2am if we want to have a seat. If we start walking any later than that we will have to endure the standing-room-only condition for an hour or more. Our early morning walks was marked by blinking lights from the houses we passed by.

Looking back I was thrilled every morning. I love the festive atmosphere. It was cold outside but it was really warm inside the church. There was the puto bumbong and bibingka but I look forward to the pandesal more at that time. It was a celebration unique to us that now I am really happy to look back at my childhood.

And yes, the wish. My Mama and Daddy and sisters we just live with my Lola and relatives. We were really poor. We have been living in different places begging relatives to take us in for a while. An experience that marked my young mind of how hard it is to have no roof above your head. I never told anybody what I wished for. But my Lola knew that I was praying hard for something really important to me. Yes, that Simbang Gabi season in 1982 in my deepest prayers, I prayed that God please let us have a house of our own.

In less than a year, despite financial challenges, my wish was granted.

Thank you Lord for that blessing.

Celine

God bless you today with His graces Celine on the day of your binyag. Congratulations to Ryan and Cherrie. It is always always so good to share memorable moments with good friends. We were really happy to share this day with you all. We shared stories with Ding and Chi and Cassie who blew a flying kiss to Isay. When we got home I was thinking it would have been a great picture the 3 second generation QTs: Cassie (who looks like Ding), Isay (looking like tatay Amats) and Celine (in Ian's words looks like Cherrie but with Ryan's hair). Parang Adobe Photoshop pero you do not need the software at all :O)

And not to forget Cindy and Mike's two little boys Miguel and Gabriel.

Happy Birthday Jane!

We spent some really good time at dinner today at San Francisco (Del Monte) hehehe. It was Jane Allison's 2nd birthday. The usual fare of crispy pata, rellenong bangus, pancit, etc etc and of course birthday cake. Jane loves playing with Isay. It is really good to spend time with family.

truth

"here is the truth about the truth, it hurts, so we lie"-Dr. Meredith Grey

Just watched Grey's Anatomy.

Super Typhoons and Styrofoams

When you buy anything "to go" the person at the counter, waiter in the resto or even the ordinary carinderia will put your food in a styrofoam.

I get tired telling people-- please do not put my food in styrofoam. I do not use styrofoam. I get these stares as if I am an alien from Mars or whatever. Then I slowly explain about the growing Payatas trash that I do not want that because that is the easiest way for them to recognize why I opt not to use styrofoam.

Well in fact as I hope most people know that styrofoam contributes to greenhouse gas, that contributes to global warming and thus might be causing all these super typhoons.

For more expert opinion please click The Green Office.

just to quote from that website:

Styrofoam, or polystyrene, engenders a host of environmental and health detriments. It’s made from non-renewable fossil fuels, and its production releases the harmful greenhouse gas HCFC-22 into the atmosphere. Heavy exposure to polystyrene is linked to headaches, fatigue, and depression. After use, polystyrene does not biodegrade and is known to choke and clog the digestive systems of animals when improperly disposed of. When burned, polystyrene releases 57 chemical byproducts. Some of these same chemicals can be transferred to food that is stored in Styrofoam containers, especially during microwaving.

It is scary to think noh??? That small styrofoam from which we drink our coffee and put our left overs or take aways can cause these super typhoons.

This just shows that everything on Earth is connected. What we do to our environment goes back to us.

Super Typhoons 3 in a row

After Typhoon Milenyo, Paeng, Reming and now Seniang. I am really alarmed at how our old house in Alaminos will stay in tact. The roof is almost falling down crumbling to be exact the last time I saw it.

Then this leads me to recall climate change and global warming.

I visited some blogs to look up on this issue and I was led to Grist Blog Environmental News and Commentary discussing about Al Gore.

Then I remembered Elnora raving about the film An Inconvenient Truth.

So guys what do you think about all these Super Typhoons in relation to Climate Change?

Let us help Bicol

In the wake of typhoon Reming codename: Durian...

AGAP BIKOL and Tabang sa Kabikolan (UP-Diliman) extended.

Reports from Civil Defense Officials as of December 6, 2006
- 526 dead mostly around Mayon volcano and another 740 missing
- 1.54 million people affected nearly 83,000 of whom sought refuge at evacuation centers
- More than 250,000 damaged houses and damage to buildings, infrastructure and agriculture placed at P1.6 billion
- Power facilities in Albay valued at about P200 million destroyed and power restoration may take more than six (6) months (Albay Electric Coop)

Those who want to donate via the Jesuit Society and Ateneo de Naga please see Fr. Jboy's blog and if you are in the UP Diliman area you can also donate thru UPSCA contact information please click here.

You can also help through the Philippine National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society please click here.

I also heard that if you donate through HSBC they will make a match donation peso by peso.

There are many avenues we can extend our love to our brothers in the Bicol Region.

Elephants can not climb trees

I really wanted to write something about elephants. Anyway I was influenced to do some research about them before. At that time, I noted from reading NGS that the main difference between Asian and African elephants are their ears. Asian elephants have smaller ears. So there you go. My small bit on elephants. For the record I am really facinated by elephants. I can't wait until we can all go on safari to Africa to see them in their natural habitat.

Never been to Africa but I made friends with Sybille from Zanzibar. We met in Dumaguete there we rode on a tricyle that konked out in the middle of a dirt road and I remember telling her no worries and added "hakuna matata". She was so surprised and said "Oh! you speak Swahili". And then I said "No. I don't I just watched Lion King...you know Lion King?" The she said looking very confused "No I don't". My smile was up to my ears back then. Well it pays to watch cartoons.

Anyway back to my original story. Another thing that made me interested in elephants and look them up again is the remark in Survivor Cook Islands by Yul about why elephants can't climb trees. Oh well, then my research led me to this Elephant Orphanage.

Awww these are Asian elephants.

Pasko na naman

Whenever Christmas is approaching one cannot help but be nostalgic. Many childhood memories both happy and unhappy are formed and fashioned during the season past. Pasko is always associated with home-- of coming back home. Wherever we are, however old we are, at this time of the year, we long to go back home. Traditions and family are highlighted and sometimes unintentionally creating a space for longing if we do not have these in our lives. Sometimes the emptiness is palpable because of the contrast.

All my memories of Pasko was in Alaminos. I've always celebrated this day with beloved ones at our old ancestral home. We've never had extravagant celebrations only some portion of good food and blessings of family is enough to keep everyone happy. Except for the past two years. Since Inay died two years ago, each Christmas seemed to be different. Only this year that I realized that my home during Christmas is Inay herself. And the emptiness that fills my heart is part of longing for Inay.

Now, as we build our own family, I realized that I am in the process of creating our own memories. Building new ones and remembering the old ones. And the cycle goes on.

But then again, Christmas is not really about memories, it is about God's love for us. Preparing our hearts to receive the blessing of the coming of the Child. And the message of hope that He brings, that heaven is our home.

Sabi ni Lola

I remember my grandmother repeating this verse like a broken record: "Nasa Diyos and awa, nasa tao ang gawa" (I cannot fully translate this as the intensity seem to wane as it is translated it is much better said in Filipino). My grandmother was a sagrado catholico, she claims that she is a religious person and it is reflected in the way she led her life. But always she is a very down to earth woman. She was blessed with six children and 8 grandchildren. She held on to her beliefs but she was very practical. She always made us understand that we are responsible for our own life and our own future.

Yes, there is God but it is still up to us to do our part. Devout as she is, she never told us to be resigned individuals to whatever fate has to offer. In her few select words, in a traditional provincial setting, she still made us understand that we are individuals who makes choices in own our lives. And more importantly that we should get in to action so to speak to get our lives going.

Haay. It is so hard sometimes to express oneself in another language.

Basta, sabi nga ni Lola: "Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa."

IPR

Intellectual Property Rights. I attended a gathering in a university recently and I presented something on the work I do. During my presentation, I mentioned and underlined IPR. In a university where they say: "You either have to publish or perish", I think I got some interesting stares.

Ideas and non verbal, unwritten ways of life, environmental conservation of traditional people among others are some of the things that are not patented but need to be protected by IPR.

It is sad that some who reside in the most beautiful and remote places rarely get the chance to claim the ownership of such ideas and way of life. It is like having land titles. Traditional people lost their ancestral lands due to a piece of paper. But I hope that IPR will help traditional people claim their own stories, folklore, traditions before anyone else.

The politics of weddings

Before weddings are open to the public mostly in the provinces. I just do not know exactly how the evolution of wedding guest came to be. Now, there are problems where to sit who, what table should this and that person be. Haay such a hassle. But I guess it is also economics. Because life these days are much harder. But there it is the whole politics of who to invite and where to sit that person. If given the choice I would opt not to go through this exercise.

Thanks to www.latourelle.com/weddings.htm for the image

Today actually it made me think: "Why people spend so much just for show?".

Take for example wedding A of Pepe and Pilar (not their real names but they are real people--to protect me more than them haha) they have this grand wedding in a grand cathedral they they have this huge reception in a prominent hotel in the metro where more than 300 guest arrive most of them visitors of their visitors. Then when all is over the newly weds are submerged in loans here and there. And to think this couple really do not have much. Some years later let us look at what happened to their relationship?

Then there is wedding B itago natin sila sa pangalang Juan at Maria. This couple is really rich and could really afford to have a grand wedding but they chose to have a simple ceremony. They have few friends to grace to occasion and afterwards they ate out together in a nice restaurant. And that was it.

Then wedding C mountaineer friends got engaged on the summit of their favorite mountain peak, next few days they got married with only selected significant people in both their lives as guest. This couple also is well loved and had the blessings of their family, they are both of age, been together for more than 5 years. Their families are also well off. Now they both live in the US.

I just cannot understand why some people opt to have grand weddings when they cannot afford it and second thing, years later looking at their relationship well...

And then there are those that have simple ones and yet have a more meaningful ceremony and years later their relationship still going stronger.

What does really matter anyway? It really is simple.

No rains at signal #2

For the past two days, we were bracing ourselves for the supertyphoon Reming to hit Metro Manila. But it was interesting to note that there was barely any rain as Reming codename:Durian passed by. But you can just sense something is coming.

On Nov 30th evening the lights went out. Oh no, here we go again. Something like a blast, some shouts then darkness. Hehehe there were no rains yet that night, only slightly gusty winds blowing. Apparently, we learned that a transformer was busted in Matalino St. Haaay.

The good news is that Quezon City in particular is spared from the super typhoon, but when I saw the path of the storm passing by Verde Island passage and the whole of Batangas. I was really worried for Ka Rosie and the people of Lobo and Bigang Munti. I remember when Typhoon Caloy hit Batangas, houses were taken by the sea, boats were wrecked and some fishermen died. It was really sad. I remembered all the permanent transect blocks we painstakingly laid out at Biga, most of them were washed out by Caloy and I don't know what happened now. I texted Ka Rosie to send them some comforting messages.

As I watched the wreck in Naga City, now declared in state of calamity, I saw familiar road in Naga. We have a friend there we visited a few years back when we went to see the whalesaharks of Donsol. It is really sad to see those images. The reports said it would be lucky if the electricity is back on by Dec 15th.

It was a bit eerie that there was not much rain in the metro while all these are going on and signal number 2 at that.

Not another Milenyo

Oh no. I just called up my sister and learned that there is another super typhoon coming. Reming is said to be stonger than Milenyo. I did not have time to visit the daily newspaper online until this morning. We did not watch TV for the past 3 days that is why I was surprised to hear that another typhoon stronger than Milenyo is coming.

Oh well, I asked Amats to maybe another pail to store water. Now we're thinking to just fill Isay's new large tub with water. For candles maybe we can use the remaining ones unused from the binyag last Sunday. Anyway, it is a good thing that I was able to buy some grocery yesterday. I remember before during Milenyo we had to cook our one week supply of chicken. We cooked it our favorite way, fried with a bit of chili powder. It was good during that day that one of our friends passed by to help us eat those fried chickens. She was so harassed with the lines formed in Eunilane and Kowloon. It is hard for those who have no kitchens because they cannot even cook their own food when all the fast foods are closed. While, it is a worry for those who stored poultry, fish and veggies because we need to cook them ASAP when the electricity is turned off. Haay.

I was thinking of visiting friends and family this weekend but with this storm in the horizon we might just have to keep warm for the weekend here in our little cubby hole.

Life and Love

Life is too short to be spent in worry, doubt, anxiety and drama. I realized more clearly now that in whatever situation you are in, you can always, always choose to make better the situation you are in. You can always make the decision to make happy memories. This is not to say that we gloss over our other emotions. I believe it is still valid for us to experience a certain level of worry or be sad due to some unfortunate event. But, we can opt not to dwell in these. The many complex emotions that go through us in a day, one can not ever capture all of these in words alone. I believe that we as human beings are given the power to decide for ourselves. To make that decision on how to react to the things around us. In the end we often ask "what does really matter?" for me it would be to love and cherish people who are significant to us. As life is indeed also full of ugly stuff but despite these, we can opt to make happy memories to fill our days and eventually our lives. When I look back I hope that I will have more of the happy ones instead of the drama ones haha!

It is such a beautiful thing that God gave us free will to decide to love Him or not. With all of His powers He could have just made robots that will follow him and love him. But this is not His way. God with all His omnipotence have put in our hands the decision. It is not what people tell us to do. It is not what our religion tells us to do. It is not even what our family tells us to believe. It is for our own free will to decide to love Him, worship Him.

Love in all its forms is always a decision.

Happy Anniversary Tatay

Ang bilis ng panahon, dalawang taon na pala tayong kasal Tatay. Nais kong magpasalamat sa Panginoon dahil sa pagpapala mo sa buhay natin.

Thank you for the blessing that is you.

In Him your joy will be full

Come let us sing for joy to the Lord
Let us shout to the Rock of salvation
Let us come before Him giving thanks
and extol Him with music and song

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Hope in God, O my soul
in Him your joy will be full.

For the Lord is the great God
And the King above kings
In His hands are the depths of the earth
The mountains are His and the sea is His,
He formed all living things

Come let us bow down and worship Him
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker
For He is our God and His people are we,
The flock under His care.

Dear Isay this was the gathering song we sung as your family, ninongs and ninangs, lolo and lolas, relatives, cousins, uncle and aunts come together to celebrate and welcome you into God's family.

There is a small box of prayers that contains the written prayers of your Ninong and Ninang, there are also drawings and prayers from Therese and Jerome, Laya and Lib. When you can read, Nanay and Tatay will show these to you to remember this day.

Nanay and Tatay hope and pray that you will always remember that your life, your joy will be full in Him to Whom we have dedicated you to today.

Isusulat ko dito ito para maalala natin sa darating na panahon kung pumuti man ang buhok ni Nanay at Tatay. Pagpalain ka lagi Isay. Alalahanin mo na yan ang dasal namin lagi para sa iyo.

Father of MPAs

Yesterday I had the opportunity to talk, listen and be with Dr. Angel Alcala. He is the father of MPA or marine protected areas. His pioneering work in Apo Island has inspired the work of the recent decade in using the the MPA as a tool for fisheries, biodiversity and protection to the marine environment.

It was a happy bunch of people at the UP Marine Science Institute where there was a gathering of marine resource scientist, practitioners, NGO workers, LGU representatives and conservationist. Since the event was for only two days including today, presentations were timed and the open forum limited. But always Dr. Alcala will always be allowed to comment and share his view(of course). He has this funny way of challenging ideas. It was heart warming to see the kind of respect this special group of people give to our Lolo. Like a true professor he would ask you questions that would make you re-think the presentation you just made. His light and gentle manner in the discussion showed his deep knowledge of the topic at hand. This kind of opportunity is rare.

I just want to share that I was inspired once again in the things that I do right now.

Don't talk to strangers

The past two days I re-learned a very important lesson. Do not talk to strangers. My favorite author Robert Fulghum emphasized this one in his book "All I need to learn, I learned at Kindergarten".

I will not go into details about what happened. After coordinating simultaneous activities within a week, I also realized that one can not control things that will happen. It is a jungle out there and the only way we can make sure that our children will be safe is to teach them basic truths that will help them survive. Do not talk to strangers. Do not accept candies from people you do not know.

Things could be very basic but sometimes we forget as we grow old. But this basic truth is still applicable even if you are 7 years old or 70 years old.

So when do we learn how to trust people? Trust and good judgement come hand in hand. At the end of the day, I learned that I can not always be with my child but I hope and pray that she will remember the words that Nanay told her. Basic truth-- do not talk to strangers.

Cagayan de Oro

This past week was full of activities that I cannot blog about it in just a couple of entries--many insights will be reserved for another time. I will let it marinate first in my memory bank and let the learnings take in its flavor before anything else.

The major activity of last week was the Cagayan de Oro 1st PLMMA convention on data management. It was really great to see the Phil. LMMA network evolve into this group of people who has nurtured the friendships from accross the nation and then bringing in new friends from communities. I was inspired by the work they are doing on the ground. The sharings about learning to monitor their marine resources.

I feel for Daday and Jessica sharing that they had a very diffucult time learning to snorkel just to gather data. Another is Jun who shared about his first time to talk to a national audience and to international friends from Fiji --Tawake and Ron.

Solidarity night was karaoke night. For the past years that there were sing-along and Karaoke this one night was a class of its own. Its was a major rock and roll night with everyone from the group singing. It was like Pinoy Dream Academy performance night. Even the most quiet of the bunch from the far flung islands of Hinatuan were belting songs that could kick the behind of anyone from the tv shows going on. Ron said "I've never seen any group have so much fun with karaoke". There was no dead air--Nada. They were dancing and digital cameras were a dime a dozen clicking away. I heard Kagawad Ronel said "Ay wag nyo po ipadala yaan sa amin kami'y iginagalang sa amin". You can imagine that how this folks partied hard that night.

The next morning, we all went back with a smile and while doing our data management and analysis, remembering that we really had a great time the night before inspired us to go on with our more serious work. A clear example of work hard, party hard people.

It was always a core value of the network to have fun. Rakenrol!

Pacific Islanders arrive

After several months of preparation finally next week our national convention will push through. Just this past month tons of information exchange, data follow up in-country work, lots coordination going on, logistics work etc etc. But I love what I do and I work from home which is a plus because I can be with my baby most of the time. Sometimes I feel my plate is always full but because I love what I do, it always seems to be really manageable--of course with lots of help from local partners and friends.

Tonight my friends from Fiji arrive and one from Canada. At least now I am confident that this culminating activity for the year will be unfolding soon. In the rush of things early this evening upon arrival, ticket, rooms, meeting time, shopping, data etc. Then they ask what time is it now in London, at 8pm Manila it is 1am in London if not mistaken because--the one important thing that these guys asked me--"Ok now, where can we watch Rugby?". Wales vs Pacific Islanders tomorrow-- the workshop will not push through if these guys can't watch it they said in jest.

The lady in the front desk said they have cable and ESPN and you can just see them smile.

Beautiful Old Soul

Sometimes in our lives we meet people that will make an impact in our life unexpectantly, one who will inspire you to live your life to the fullest.

I first met Mr Jim Reynolds at Antipolo in 2005 when we had our workshop at MMLDC. Then in Suva, Fiji through LMMA network. He was a peace corps volunteer at 60 plus golden years. He volunteered under the University of South Pacific working with villages help manage their marine resources. I was really amazed at his spirit of generosity. While spending time at a welcome celebration in Navakavu village I got to spend more time to get to know our professor. We danced with him in his Bula shirt of bright red and I learned that he was an aerobic inctructor before in his younger years.

He is professor emeritus of the University of Alaksa in Fairbanks. But to us, in our small circle, he is professor X of the X-men and we are his legions of mutants hahaha from all over the Asia Pacific. After his service with peace corps at USP he went back to the US. Then, last Feb we were In Bali for yet again another series of workshops for data management of the x-men. Anyway, kidding aside we are truly inspired by the way he unselfishly shared himself to us all. And Bali was the last time I saw him.

The other day we received a care package from the US. We were happily surprised that the small box is a gift for Isay from Lolo Jim. It was a warm nice Nemo blankie. Also enclosed is a card with Indians and early Christmas present for Isay--her first ever Christmas card and it was not from Nanay and Tatay--it was from Lolo Jim. In my thank you email I explained to him that "lolo" means grandfather. Truth be told I was really moved and cried tears of joy to be at the receiving end. A gift from such as beautiful soul.

He wrote us back that he was happy that we received the gift then he signed it--Lolo Jim.

Survivor

I just love to see the now small tribe of Aitu Cook Islands win back to back in their reward and immunity challenges. At this time of the season when they get the "love" reward receiving letters from home and pictures of family--it was one of the best group hug I've seen on all of Survivor 13 seasons-- I really hope they make the final 4. I am really a fan of survivor, mostly because of the challenges. I really do not like the part when they talk behind each other. But the amazing thing is that this game can be played with honor and integrity.

Thanks to broadband I was able to watch almost all of the previous 12 seasons of survivor online. My favorite Survivor season was held in another Pacific Island is the Survivor Marquesas when Vee won as sole survivor. Marquesas was an example that survivor can be played with your honor intact. I like Cirie of Survivor Exile Island in Panama. In her final words she said do not listen to the underestimators of this world, go out, leave the couch and don't listen to your own self doubt. Cirie made it to the final four in a season when the tribes were segregated by gender and age. Stepahnie from Palau is an amazing woman she was the lastone standing in her tribe Ulong before the merge. Then her reincarnation in Guatemala where she was in the final 2.

Surviving is not just providing nourishment to oneself. More importantly is how you interact with the people around you. It could be heaven or hell-- it all depends on how you react at the situations that is presented to you. Despite hunger and exhaustion there is always a choice.

I just like the productions of Mark Burnett. I should make a mental note to watch all the other eco-challenges next.

Thanks to survivorfever.net for the images

Uphold Civil Liberties

We were reading the online Inquirer and I was appalled at what I read today:

THE Sisters of the Good Shepherd yesterday filed a complaint at the Commission on Human Rights against the PNP officers who barged into the Contemplative Sisters’ convent in Butuan City on All Saints’ Day.

complete story here.

I have an aunt who is a member of this congregation under the RGS. The sisters in Butuan are the SGS. The SGS is the contemplative branch of the RGS and is devoted mainly to prayer and contemplation. The RGS is the active counterpart involved in various ministries. Founded in France, it is one of the largest religious congregations in the world and has been in the Philippines since 1912.

Growing up my aunt was a mentor to my humanitarian views. The way she is living her life as a servant for others within the different ministries of the RGS. The news today made my blood boil literally and made my muscles involuntarily shake containing the anger I am feeling.

The blatant disregard of civil liberties in Butuan's SGS convent made me realize that there is a small group of individuals who are behind this and can only point to the commander-in-chief. Command responsibility doesn't end to the immediate superiors of the soldiers.

I lived in Tawi-tawi for almost a year in, I lived among Muslim community and it has broadened my perspective how peace loving these people are. I also have friends in the military service. Many of my preconceived notions I was able to re-think during those months living on the field working for conservation.

How we all are in search of peace.

Naiiyak ako sa nangyayari sa ating bayan ngayon.

Water Baby

Welcome to Baby Kailani. Congratulations to my friend Toni for another happy underwater delivery of her second baby. She gave birth at home. This is the second time that she had this very natural way of giving birth.

Our close friends Ryan and Cherrie De Pedro were also blessed with a beautiful baby girl Celine.

There is just a deep joy that goes around when a newborn is in our midst. Before I thought all those Hallmark qoutes were just that but it is true. Little babies are a bundle of joy. The initial difficulties of adjustment is temporary and more often than not it is easily forgotten when you hold that small human being in your arms.

The greatest miracle of all. The miracle of life. (kesong keso hehehe)

Sagada on Fire

Years ago, my friend Elnora visited Sagada during November 1. I was amazed to see her pictures of a hill on fire. She said the hill appears to be on fire because the local highlanders use firewood to light the grave of their ancestors instead of using candles. An image that got me interested in visiting Sagada during this time of the year. On Nov 1, 2002, I visited Sagada. I think it was my 5th time to this wonderfully peaceful town hidden in the mountains. But it was the first time that I visited during the rainy season at this time of the year. At dusk coming from a trek in Bomod-ok falls we literally saw smoke rising from a hillside.

Thank you to aiel of multiply for the image

Visiting Our Ancestors

November 1 and 2 are holidays here in the Philippines. All Saint's Day and All Souls' day. Commonly known as "Undas". The whole country is on the move to go back to their provinces, to their families, to their ancestors. It is a time for most people to have family reunions at their ancestral houses. Families together with children bring flowers and light candles at the cemetery. All over the country the landscape of these desolate places become pulsing with activity come rain or shine.

When I was a child in Alaminos in Laguna, I remember my lola and aunt will teach me how to arrange the flowers we bought a day earlier (so that the price is still lower). We arrange the flowers usually white calla lillies and gladiolas in old empty cans filled with fleshy banana trunks or gabi (taro) stems to keep them fresh the whole day in the usually scorching heat. Some relatives arrive. After lunch we take a short jeepney ride to town and walk with the masses and masses of people flooding the small eskinita to the "sementeryo". We get to see relatives that we rarely see. I am told that this is my great grand lolo and that my grand aunt. I can do our family tree just this time of the year. It is like reconnecting with our ancestors.

Upon arriving at our small lot where my lolo and sister and other relatives are buried, we offer up our prayers for their souls. Even at a young age every year I am reminded of our humanity. About life and death. One cannot comprehend the pain that goes with the passing of a loved one. But there is hope as we are continually reminded.

The memories of my youngest sister Vicky, Mama, Lola Abeng and Inay Tita Ching. Women very very close to my heart. I am happy now that they do not hurt anymore. Their lives are an inspiration and their love molded me to who I am today. I offer my prayer to their souls. God bless my dear ones!

my photo of the underwater sementeryo in Camiguin Island in 2005.

a wish come true

Today, I realized that small joys can indeed be big joys as well. However simple your wish when it comes true, the feeling of elation is almost palpable. I have an Amazon wish list that is basically a wish list for my baby. It is a short list of simple everyday things. I remember when I was making the list and uploading it in the web. Ask and you shall receive. Well who knows someone might send me one of those. I made the wish in this www universe and received in return. Thank you Father!

It is not a big deal but I feel that it is to have one of my wishes come true. Today, lo and behold, we received one of the items in that Amazon wish list-- A hand-puppet that you can use while bathing the baby. Simple pleasure.

Thank you very much Abbie Tomas-Mendez. Hugs to my inaanak Buhay! Salamat Earl for sending it to Amats!

God is good all the time.

Bakuna

Nitong isang araw nagpabakuna kami ni Isay. Kasama rin namin si Tatay dahil siya lagi ang humahawak kay beybi kung tuturukan na ng bakuna. Naalala ko pa noong una kaming napadpad sa may health center. Noong una hindi pa namin alam kaya't bumili kami ng isang pang bakuna at dinala namin siya sa kaibigang doktor sa may Pag asa QC. Medyo mahirap dahil kahit libre ang labor ng pagturok ang kaso lang gabi na ang clinic ni doc. Nabalitaan ko sa kapatid ko na sa center libre ang mga basic na turok, bcg, hepa, dpt, polio. Sa halagang 10. Opo sampung pisong donasyon sa iyong lokal na health center.

At ayun na nga napadpad na kami sa center na siyang hinanap pa ni Amats dito sa baranggay central. Mga isang buwan pa lamang halos noon si Isay ng dalhin namin siya sa center sa may pinyahan. Ang sabi ng tao sa center maaga daw pumunta dun para mauna makakuha ng number. Mga alas 8 ang bukas nila kaya dapat daw ay bago mag alad 7 ng umaga kami. Karay namin si beybi at dumating kami bago mag alas 8.

Hay! kay dami ng mga beybi. Andun na ang iba ng 6 ng umaga. Ang gaganda at gwapo gid! iba't-iba ang laki at hugis na totoo namang nakakagigil. Natuwa kami na makakita ng ganun kadaming beybi. Si Amats ay ilan lang sa mga 3 tatay doon at puro nanay na. Kwentuhan sa loob ng maliit na kwarto ang dami ng tao ay humigit kumulang mga 80 katao kasama na mga nanay, beybi at ilang yaya, lola, kapitbahay at iba pa. Medyo tumagal kami dun dahil ang tagal bago dumating ni lola nurse na siyang nagtuturok.

Habang nag iintay at pinapawisan sa alinsangan ng umaga, halo-halong istorya ang maririnig mo sa paligid. nakakatuwang makipag huntahan sa mga nanay. Mga kwento sa pag kabinat matapos manganak. Paglalaba kahit wala pang isang buwan ng panganganak. At eto pa, may namatay daw na nanay dahil sa binat kakilala ni manang. Tuloy ang mga kwento wala pa rin si lola nurse. Sa paligid yugyugan dibdib ng mga nanay na nagpapatulog sa kanilang beybi, ilang nanay naman walang pakundangan ang pagtataas ng t-shirt at bigay agad ang suso para kay beybi niya na umiiyak na habang tuloy naman ang pikikipag kwentuhan kay katabing nanay na parang walang ibang tao. Nakakatuwa parang nasa umpukan kami ng mga katutubong nanay.

Habang minamasdan ko itong eksena na ito, dama ko ang hirap ng maraming pinoy na nanay na gustong makatipid. Pero habang tumatagal ako sa pakikinig sa kanila nalaman ko na ito ay isang paraan din para makihalobilo sa iba pang nanay sa baranggay. Isang paraan ng pakikipagkapwa. Natuwa ako ng maiisip ko ito. Masaya na mahirap. Punong puno ng kwento at kulay. Sobrang lumaki ang puso ko na isa na rin pala akong nanay tulad nila.

Ang lahat ng ito dahil sa bakuna ni Isay.

naisip ko rin ang mga katutubong nanay at beybi.


salamat sa www.alibata.org para sa litrato na ito

Isipin mong siya’y may puso rin katulad mo

Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan
Asin

Ako’y isinilang sa isang bayan ng cotabato
Kasing gulo ng tao, kasing gulo ng mundo
Dahil di magkasundo sa relihiyon at prinsipyo, nagkagulo.
Ang bayan ko sa cotabato, kasing gulo ng isip ko
Di alam kung saan nanggaling, di alam kung saan patungo
Kapatid sa kapatid, laman sa laman
Sila-sila ang naglalaban, di ko alam ang dahilan ng gulo.
Bakit nagkaganon, ang sagot sa tanong ko
Bakit kayo nagkagulo, bakit kayo nag-away
Prinsipyo mo’y igagalang ko kung ako’y iyong nirespeto
Kung nagtulungan kayo, di sana magulo ang bayan ko.
Sa bayan kong sinilangan, sa timog cotabato
Ako ay namulat sa napakalaking gulo
Dahil walang respeto sa prinsipyo ng kapwa tao
Kapwa pilipino ay pinapahirapan mo, ang gulo.
Ako’y nananawagan, humihingi ng tulong n’yo
Kapayapaa’y bigyan ng daan, kapayapaan sa bayan ko
Bakit kailangan pang maglaban, magkapatid kayo sa dugo
Kailan kayo magkakasundo, kapayapaa’y kailan matatamo ng bayan ko?
Kung ako’y may maitutulong, tutulong nang buong puso
Gitara ko’y aking inaalay, kung magkagulo’y gamitin mo
Kung ang kalaba’y walang puso, puso na rin ang gamitin mo
Ituring mong isang kaibigan
Isipin mong siya’y may puso rin katulad mo.
Coda:
Sa bayan kong sinilangan (bakit may gulo…)
Sa timog cotabato (sa timog cotabato)
Ako ay namulat (kailan matatapos…)
Sa napakalaking gulo (ang gulo)
Dahil walang respeto (kailan magkakasundo…)
Sa prinsipyo ng kapwa tao (ang tao)
Kapwa pilipino (kapwa pilipino…)
Ay kinakalaban mo (bakit kinalaban mo)
Ang gulo

Ang kilay lolo

Ay naku minsan talaga mapapataas ka talaga ng kilay. May mga panahon talaga na susubukan ka talaga kung gaano kahaba ang iyong pasensya. Panalo ka pag hindi ka naiinis. Wagi ka sister!

Words

“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”.
-Robert Fulghum

It is really sad to be mis-interpreted. I read words today that almost broke my sense of h-humor. Even with the best intention and honestly saying how you feel, I guess things have that probability of being mis-interpreted. People will read differently what you wrote. For the record, I have always believed in the goodness of people and will never try to break their spirit. But the words today that I have received were unexpected to say the least.

I should take my own counsel. Again it is better to be kind than correct. I realized as we grow older, we mellow out a little bit at a time. Today is another learning experience to be more sensitive with my choice of words.

About things

There were some insights that I learned today. I guess I already knew these before but I was reminded once again

About winning games: strength of spirit and character over physical strength. You can be strong even if you are weak physically.

About beauty: for my own definition, I believe that the measure of beauty comes from within. Inner beauty as compared to skin-deep beauty is what really matters. The disposition of your heart when you talk about friends and family.

About respect: respect for other people's privacy. We all are entitled to our own. Thus, we must be really carefull in drawing the line between wanting to help someone who might not be ready to accept any that is unsolicited which can be interpreted as intruding into another person's privacy. Even if you are intimate friends for the longest time. And yes even if it is your brother or sister.

About correction: criticize in private and praise in public. When correcting people, do it in the most loving manner. It is better to be kind than correct.

A birth and a wedding

Congratulations to Ryan and Cherrie for having a baby girl. We hope that baby girl De Pedro be showered with blessings of good health. We send our love from Amats and Isay your batchmate.

Congratulations too to Bruce and Therese our friend from Lakay Kalikasan Mountaineers Rommel Monjandrin a.k.a. Brutz recently tied the knot in Pagadian City. We wish you the best bro!!! May your journey as a couple be blessed indeed. Their wedding pictures were taken by my batchmate Wigwam (Go! batch 3)on his Oct 2 blog post you can view them here.

Storms in our lives

Wow the past week was a roller coaster of events moving in the universe. There was typhoon Milenyo that humbled metro manila residents and got the people to seriously think of getting those billboards down. We were actually expecting Neneng the back to back storm of Milenyo but there is greater power in the universe amazingly if you look into the path of the storm it was a direct hit again but Neneng turned towards the direction of Japan in a most unusual storm path I saw.

I remembered a time when we were out in the open sea on Minerva (the research vessel of WWF Phil for Tubbataha) we were caught in the storm and we were with Dr. T. I will not mention the name but he is a known seagrass expert in the field he is actually already a great grand father (you can imagine his age) well, most of us is not worried but we realized na praning na pala kasama namin as he had his snorkel and mask beside him while he slept in one of the bunk beds. It was really funny at that time. Funny but serious Kung meron ba nun.

This was one of those times that the passage came to me when Jesus and the apostles were in a storm out at sea and Jesus said "Be, still".

Eh kasi walang kuryente!

It was because of typhoon Milenyo last Thursday that hit Metro Manila that damaged most of Southern Luzon and caused the 3 day blackout. We got our power back just last night. When there is no power, there is no pump ergo we also didn't have water. The only good thing is that we didn't have shortage of food and that most of Isay's clothes were clean already when the blackout hit us. A friend said it was crazy in Eunilane and then all of the resto on Matalino St. were closed KFC, McDo, 7Eleven, Bacolod Chicken and others except for Kowloon House which looked like a soup kitchen serving a very long line of people waiting to grab a siopao or a wanton noodle soup.

It was just 3 days without power and yet it really seemed more like a week. It brings back memories of life in the islands and how I really appreciated having piped in water here in the metropolis. The novelty of island living like fetching water from a well didn't really bother me at all compared to the tiresome hauling of pails of water 3 floors up the last few days. Well it's a good thing that Tatay Amats did all the pagiigib ng tubig hehehe.

Without electricity life seems to stop still in the metro. I remember in the islands we really only have electricity from 5 pm until 10 pm from a communal generator. During those days I learned to operate a generator if I needed to do some computer work while working during those months in the field. In the Islands, the laid-back life goes on even without power I guess it's the different way of life and energy of the people living along the coastal areas.

For entertainment we had long conversations on the beach. Our staff house is literally on the beach and every night I am lulled to sleep by the waves coming onto shore. I miss those times when the kids will teach me how to speak survival Tausug under the moonlight until their parents called them in for dinner. We had a guitar and we'll sing till dawn. Haaay...many good memories are un-tucked during these days na walang kuryente.

What would you do if you were Bruce?

We had a good discussion about Bruce Almighty. It just brings to perspective that when God allows you to have all the power in the world, what would you do? You have power over everything except for one thing. Can you remember what it was? hehehe

Everytime I remember this movie it makes me smile that God indeed has a sense of humor.

3 months na si Isay 30 naman si Tatay

Piliin kung alin.

Godspeed AG

This is to send off our very good friend AG Sano to his "sailing" adventure. All I can do last night was to send him an sms just before his flight at 10:30pm with safe travel and reassurance that we will always be here for him. I want to honor this friend of ours who was there for us when we really needed help. Godspeed AG. Bring us back stories of great places and exotic cultures you will discover in this new journey. Send our regards to Captain Jack!

Whoopsie doo my blog turns 2

In a few minutes my blog will be exactly two years old. It was Sept 21st 2004 when I started er discovered the joys and woes of blogging. It has been a great 2 years but still in my toddler years as a writer. I hope someday when I get to practice more I will be a better writer for there is no other lesson how to learn to write but just write and write like what Judith Juntilla says to me when I told her I want to be a good writer. And of course to learn good writing is to read good writers thats why I have my blog roll of friends(wink!)

Last year to celebrate I had this mini-contest of sort with 3 participants who all won prizes (yehey!) but this year I don't know how to celebrate. Well lets celebrate for a week or two until the month ends. You can email me your suggestions :O)

si Hinata

Ay ang dami ko dapat isulat. Ilan sa mga kailangan sa lalong madaling panahon ay mga technical writing na kailangan talaga mag sunog ng kilay. Dahil sa kababasa ko lang sa mga true stories ng mga taong nanalo sa Palanca Awards, na-inspire ako na sumulat ng sumulat. Basta sumulat lang dito sa blog. Sobra lang akong natuwa sa kanilang mga kwento kung papano nila nilikha ang kanilang mga "award winning" na mga katha.

May isa nga sa kanila na si Andrada na tinanong kung ano nararamdaman nya sa pagkapanalo nya. Natuwa ako sa sagot nya, "tulad ng nararamdaman ni Hinata kapag nakikita nya si Naruto." Kakatuwa na lubog din sila sa pop culture, malalim mag-isip sa kanilang mga alegorya pero nakaka relate sa mga anime.


Sa mga nakakakilala sa amin ni Amats alam nila na fan kami ni Hinata at Naruto hehehe minsan nga noong wala pang pangalan si Isay nang tinanong ako ni Ian ano pangalan ni baby at biniro ko na Hinata. Bilib kasi ako sa karakter nito.

Isa lang si Hinata sa madaming anime characters. Syempre andyan ang mga Hayao Miyazaki na si Princess Mononoke at Nausicaä (pero sa ibang pagakakataon ko na sila isusulat).

Tama nga si Torres Yu, ang pag journal ay gamot sa pagkati ng mga daliri at isipan. Hindi ka mapakali hangga't hindi mo nasusulat.

Moms

Recently I've been watching "Moms" on Qtv 11. The time slot is good because it is at the end of the day. I find myself really watching specially when the discussion of the talk show is about the many complex issues and challenges of being a mom. I guess I find myself looking for answers in books, through fellow moms and the like because all of my Nanay figures and role models that I look up to regarding motherhood in my immediate family have gone to heaven. I was moved by the experience of the mothers who bared their souls and shared their stories.

I realized that God sent the answers to some of my innermost self-questions of motherhood through the sharings of these moms. I was amazed that my own (for my own time pondering) questions were being answered. My sense of inadequacy for my little one slowly disappear as I learn that many moms are going through the same similar struggles emotionally and physically.

These are some of the messages of the moms to their children:

"Pray. Take risk. Don't be afraid to take risk and make mistakes because we learn a lot by making mistakes"--Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

"Be the best that you can be in life, by doing so, you will not only honor your parents but you will also honor God"--Tetchie Agbayani

While reading the week-old newspaper last Sunday, I stumbled upon the stories about the winners of the 56th Palanca Awards. I found this qoute in an article about Rosario Torres Yu sharing that her panganay cried when she read the essay that she wrote that won the Palanca Award "Batang Tundo".
"Tama nga si Lualhati Bautista, hindi nga nakakapagpakilala ang mga ina sa kanilang mga anak"

Naisipan ko rin na magsulat para balang araw ay makapagpakilala naman ako sa aking anak sa pamamagitan ng pagsulat.

At the UPLB Forestry

Today I traveled 7 hours back and forth to UPLB for an important meeting which lasted only an hour. It breaks my heart every time I leave my little baby behind. But today, I told myself that it would only be for a few hours and I'll be back.

The long bus ride left me with a nausea and a throbbing headache all the while thinking why I have to do this thing. Then I am back there again in LB, as always going back to the campus and seeing the old familiar campus is a trip down memory lane. Almost everything reminds me of something whenever I come back to UPLB. This morning, I realized I miss the mountain air and the trees--- those wonderful, tall and gracious trees. While I was standing waiting for the jeep at the upper campus outside the Forest Science Building, I caught myself yearning to stay longer and be with the trees. I was a bit sad that I can't stay long. It was a reminder why I was led to where I am now, why I am into conservation work and why I love being in the mountains.

I can't wait till we can bring Isay up the mountains.

Mamangka sa luha

In the past month, particularly in the recent weeks, the walls of our small abode has been witness to the flow of tears that some close friends shed. There was one particular morning, a good thing that the three of us are already awake, there was a knock on our door and a very dear friend speechless, shaking, shamelessly shed his tears. My hands were shaking as well as I prepared toast and tea for Amats and our dear friend. It was a different experience to share and actually feel a broken heart.

Amats and I have been a witness and listened in at least three different occasions among very different individual friends ( 3 very different individuals from different circle of friends) who are going through heart aches or recovering from one.

Para din lang kasing mabibiyak ang puso ko pag nakakaranas kami ng mga lumuluha na kaibigan lalo na kung ang "image" nila sa akin ay matitipunong mga lalaki. Nakapagtataka rin lang na karamihan sa kanila ay lalaki at hindi ang mga dalaga namin kaibigan.

Para sa iyo kaibigan. Mahal ka namin. Matagal ko inisip bago ko ito isulat dito pero makaraan ang ilang linggo hindi kasi maalis sa isip ko kaya minarapat ko na na isulat dito.

Nakapagtataka
(J. Paredes)

Walang tigil ang gulo sa aking
pag-iisip
Mula nang tayo'y nagpasyang
maghiwalay
Nagpaalam pagkat hindi tayobagay
Nakapagtataka,oh.


Kung bakit ganito ang a-king
kapalaran
Di ba't ilang ulit ka nang
nagpaalam
At bawat paalam ay puno ng iyakan
Nakapagtataka, nakapagtataka

Chorus:
Hindi ka ba napapagod,
o di kaya'y nagsasawa
Sa ating mga tampuhang
walang hanggang katapusan
Napahid na ang mga luha,
damdamin at puso'y tigang
Wala nang maibubuga,
wala na 'kong maramdaman.

Bridge:
Kung tunay tayong
nagmamahalan
Ba't di tayo magkasunduan
Oh, oh.

Walang tigil ang ulan
at nasaan ka, araw
Napano na'ng pag-ibig sa isa't
isa
Wala na bang nananatiling pag-asa
Nakapagtataka, saan ka napunta?

Hindi ka ba napapagod,
o di kaya'y nagsasawa
Sa ating mga tampuhang
walang hanggang katapusan

Napahid na ang mga luha,
damdamin at puso'y tigang
Wala nang maibubuga,
wala na 'kong maramdaman.oohh

Napahid na ang mga luha,
damdamin at puso'y tigang
Wala nang maibubuga,
wala na 'kong maramdaman.

Kung tunay tayong
nagmamahalan
Ba't di tayo magkasunduan
Oh, oh.

30 na si Tatay Amats

Maligayang Bati aming mahal!!!
Tatay Amats Happy Happy Birthday to you.

The wooden frame of Isay's bassinet is hand-made by Tatay Amats. He is not really a carpenter but I was amazed that he was able to put this frame together a few days just before Isay arrived. It was indeed a labor of love. What made it very special is the love, time and effort that Amats spent making this this frame -- measuring the dimensions, canvassing, buying and cutting the wood, borrowing carpentry tools from the grandfather of Joy (of He cares).

I want to honor you today Tatay Amats by sharing it here that you bring much happiness in our lives by loving us simply in your most unique way. You help me see that the most important things in life are not success or being wealthy or the number of things you have accomplished in life or doing what others expect you to be. We may not be rich, but we never lack in anything.

You made me appreciate the most mundane of things can bring us joy. The butterflies we see or the way the dog of our neighbor barks, greeting us on our way or how the small maya birds in our back terrace ate our left over rice. Simple things that otherwise I would have missed, but you helped me appreciate these and much more.

There are many lessons you have taught me about loving unconditionally, trusting and relying on His grace. I am still learning my lessons I guess. Thank you for being understanding of my complex mood swings and other what-nots. There are many more things I want to share but there are also some things that cannot be described.

Today on your 30th birthday, I pray that He shower His grace and blessings on you.

I thank God for you.

Happy na Birthday pa

Double Celebration. Today August 26th is my sister Jinky's birthday. I want to honor my sister today on her birthday for being the loving and maalaga na sister that she is. She took care of baby Isay while I was in UPLB today. We had a small family celebration at home. We had this torta de los reyes from Aristocrat bakeshop our shared birthday and graduation cake. Salamat Tatay Amats for the cake.

It has been a long (starting at 3am)and memorable day. I thank God for the messages He sent me today, for the beautiful people and my loving family. Thank You Lord for that wonderful embrace this morning. My cup overflows.

ang sablay

U.P. Naming Mahal

U.P. naming mahal
Pamantasang hirang
Ang tinig namin
Sana'y iyong dinggin.

Malayong lupain
Amin mang marating
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin
Di rin magbabago ang damdamin

Luntian at pula
Sagisag magpakailan man
Ating ipagdiwang
Bulwagan ng dangal

Humayo't itanghal
Giting at tapang
Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan
Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan

Ika-Sampung Palatuntunan ng Pagtatapos

Today is indeed a blessing. The last time I have a similar picture was 14 years ago.
Assembly at the Student Union Building then a memorable march towards Umali Hall and Freedom park in UPLB. It wasn't raining this early morning, clouds hung low from the foothills of Mt. Makiling, a cool clime that complements our warm anticipation. Today I was able to wear for the first time the University of the Philippines' Sablay which replaced the traditional graduation gown. I felt proud to be Filipino wearing the Sablay more especially because it contains the alibata. I was even excited to match it with my beaded heeled slippers. Pakiramdam ko Pinoy na Pinoy itong graduation na ito dahil ako ay naka tsinelas. Ang saya lang talaga!!!

Seeing fellow classmates who've become good friends over the 5 years I stayed in UPOU, my heart overflowed with a calm gladness and then some.