Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Mexico

Early in the morning of July 19, Sunday, R, C, and I decided to wake up extra early to be able to attend the first mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, an important National Shrine due to an alleged appearance of the Virgin Mary in 16th century to an Aztec named Juan Diego to instruct him to build a church at the site.

The lights were the first thing that caught my eye... and I jaw dropped in awe of its beauty.

Find the Philippine flag! :)

According to the story, the then Bishop first doubted the report but when presented with roses in winter and when the image of the Virgin Mary was miraculously imprinted on a cloth, he immediately ordered the construction of the church. This church became one of the most important tool to convert the Aztecs to Christianity. Two centuries later, Our Lady of Guadalupe became the patron saint of Mexico which continues to this day. Veneration of the Lady strengthened in 1921 when a bomb explosion caused parts of the church including the marble steps to be destroyed but the glass case of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe remained intact.

new church where mass is celebrated

Maybe because we went there too early but we didn't get to enter the old church. Would have wanted to see its interiors. With the significance of the church to the Mexicans, I am sure that the interiors would be VERY beautiful. We were also in a hurry because we wanted to catch the breakfast spread at the hotel and attend some sessions since Sunday would be the last day.

old church preserved (the sun was just about to rise)

 Outside the church complex, there is a building that sells religious items. The merchandise are on the pricey side since it's a touristy place. In fact, that's the reason why we went there early, to avoid the crowds that are sure to flood the church. (Except the downside to this was that we were not able to take beautiful photos because of lack of natural light... Ah well I'm a fan of silhouettes anyway so no prob with me. Though if I were to study the details through pics, that wouldn't help.)

religious merchandise being sold outside the church complex grounds

So going back to the hotel we were in luck to still be able to eat decent breakfast and to attend the last day of the conference.

The following day, we went to Teotihuacan. It would be the last day for most of the participants including C. That night also started my solo travel towards Yucatán Peninsula. It was full of misadventures but I put my faith in God and in humanity so I still can say that I had the best adventure of my life... so far. :)

Also read:

Misadventures Part 1

Misadventures Part 2

Tabasco History Museum/ House of Blue Tiles

and more updates in the coming weeks

Note: I am just taking a break from writing two papers for a conference which will be held at the end of this month... WISH ME LUCK and please... PRAY FOR ME.

Jeju Stone Park Museum

To get to Jeju Stone Park Museum, one has to walk through mini forested area where I enjoyed the fresh air and again being with nature.

Inside the museum are scientific discoveries mainly bordering on the geology of the island. Such a museum, with a huge collection of different rock types, is where I can definitely spend an entire day in, being a lover of lithics. Of particular interest is the suiseki, natural rock formations which can be viewed and admired in an aesthetic way. This art was originated in Japan and is again, one aspect which Koreans borrowed.

volcanic rocks of different sizes and forms inside the musem

Because Jeju is a volcanic island, its inhabitants made use of the rocks to fashion stone crafts and implements for use in farming, fishing, stock raising, construction of fortresses, and transportation. Indeed the stone culture is very much prevalent in this part of South Korea, that even stone objects are worshiped by the people as guardians. 

Interplayed with the natural surroundings which has been wonderfully preserved despite the construction of a museum in 2001 is the mythology that tells the beginning of Jeju Island. It tells of how Grandmother Seolmundae created Jeju Island. In fact, many myths portray old women as primary divine beings, which reflect the matriarchal culture where women toil hard and men just relax.

500 Generals expressing love for their mother who sacrificed herself for them, Mt. Halla in the background

Grandma Seolmundae and the 500 Generals lithic monuments

Dolores, Quezon

It was in highschool when I started to delve into the occult. Back then my life revolved around religions because at some point, the Catholic beliefs I grew up with suddenly could not keep up with all the questions sprouting in my head. Questions about life and death, questions about the paranormal, questions about the powers of the mind, questions about God. I read anything and became familiar with Jaime Licauco and Tony Perez, wishing to one day meet them and have long conversations with them. I pursued my research until my sophomore year in college, the abrupt stop I owe to the shift in interest to Asian literature.

This year, just when I thought that Mt. Arayat would be my last climb, I said yes to a last-minute invitation to Dolores, Quezon. I've been wanting to explore Banahaw since my college years when I heard many stories of it being a mystical place so receiving an invite would only mean drop everything and go! Also, it's a chance to explore more the Southern part of Luzon since I am not that familiar with that region.

Buddha altar where we had our spiritual meeting

Mt. Calvary where pilgrims flock to during the Holy Week

A shrine, symbol of the deification of our national hero Jose Rizal

 Waking up early in the morning at 3:50am was expected. I got to JAM Liner in Kamias and boarded the bus at 4:30 but the bus left at 5:20am! While on the road, Maybe This Time was showing and I watched the first part until I fell asleep. I got off at San Pablo Medical Center at 7:20am and joined the other participants.

We joined the organizers and I was awed at the number of equipment they have. Big ropes and lots of carabiners! I have a thing for carabiners so just imagine my joy! Needless to say, I was reminded of my military science days when I was considered to be the best in knots. It was an honor I would never forget because I sucked big time at rappelling due to my fear of heights. I did redeem myself because I thoroughly enjoyed my last rappel which was done in a natural setting, in Mt. Makiling no less and I was commended for my swift movements. (Sometimes I wonder maybe I really just thrive when surrounded by nature... I've always thought I am one wild girl.)

Our camp was Kuya Kristy's rest house. While resting we introduced ourselves and I was delighted because the leader was also a very spiritual person. I met people whose third eye is open and I totally enjoyed the conversations I had with some of them especially about supernatural creatures. (I think I'll have to write about the stories in a separate blog entry...)

captured kukri snake

After lunch, we had lectures on basic life saving, rescue, and a discussion on poisonous animals but focusing on venomous snakes. I've always thought that we should only be wary of colorful ones like the ever famous coralsnakes but more venomous species are being discovered like a species of coral snake bearing strong semblance to the nonvenomous kukri (Oligodon) snakes. I had to ask if there is any creature immune to snake venom and they said the honey badger is. So I blurted out, okay, time for genetic engineering! (But of course I'm not at all supportive of that since I respect the natural flow.)

While hiking to a nearby rappelling practice area, I got to know more about the flora of Banahaw. Being naturally curious and feeling like a herbalist out on a mission to get plant medicine everytime I go hiking, I asked a lot of questions about local plants. I was told to beware lipang kalabaw (Dendrocnide meyeniana) and lipang aso, both from the nettle plant. These two cause skin irritation upon contact and this may last for a very long time. One of the organizers told me that even months after touching one, he could still feel the itchiness coupled with pain. 

I was also glad to see familiar plants. One is a mushroom growing on branches which I often see in my hikes. Another is the wandering jew, a medicinal plant used by Chinese herbalists. I recognized it from my recent trip to Hong Kong when I visited the Museum of Medicinal Sciences.

bark mushroom (don't know if that's what it really is but I call it bark mushroom...)

We stopped all rappelling activities when night fell. After dinner we had more lectures on rescue and first aid. Then we went out to do night caving at Husgado (Cave of Judgment). It's a good thing we were informed beforehand to bring headlamp so I quickly bought one the day before, a welcome addition to my hiking items. (I still don't feel worthy to be called a mountaineer...)

wandering Jew (I forgot the local name...) growing near the entrance to Husgado

I've heard stories of Husgado from classmates who were lucky to go on a field trip to Banahaw for their classes. They say that only good people can pass through the narrow paths inside the cave, that no matter the size of a person, he or she will fit in just right if he/ she is good. Indeed it was enigmatic for me and I still cannot believe that the big guys who were with us were able to pass through when I myself had great difficulty doing so.

After the caving experience, we did a simulation of night rescue. It was a humbling experience to know how truly difficult it is to carry a person on a spine board while treading rough terrain. Not to mention the cooperation and teamwork required to successfully transport an injured victim to a safe place. I'm glad though because after the exercise, many of the organizers commended me for a job well done in "leading" us participants. I think it comes naturally for me to be at the helm when everybody is confused as to what to do. I calmly gave out instructions and made sure everybody is ready for coordination. They said they saw how strong my will was and even persuaded me to take up EMT (Emergency Medical Training) and join rescue efforts. Of course there was a happy feeling but I know my shortcomings so I declined saying I still have a lot of things to learn about mountaineering. That and truth be told, I'm a lousy mountain climber. I tend to be on all fours when in the mountains (thus earning a nickname "Planet of the Apes" LOL!) so how can I rescue a victim? But it sure opened my eyes to the fact that I need to be stronger because when I am with people I always feel responsible for them and what they say in animé is true, get strength from your desire to protect and at the same time, exert effort to be strong to be able to protect.

That night, while my fellow participants washed themselves and slept early, I decided to participate in the spiritual meeting. The full moon was such a beauty that night but due to the trees overhead I wasn't able to take a decent picture. What I experienced was something weird. I closed my eyes and saw a blurred vision of an altar with bright colored lights. The following morning the others told me they saw the same thing, which is weird because I never told anyone about the vision. Though theirs was not blurred but rather clear and one even saw the Virgin Mary.

the waters at the Bakas (Footprint) are believed to have healing properties

The next morning we woke up late so we missed the sunrise at Mt. Calvary. We still proceeded though even without breakfast. I was able to eat one slice of my wheat bread though but after more than three hours of trekking I was super hungry by the time we got to Barangay Kinabuhayan and we had to walk some 1.5 km to get to Sta. Lucia. Whew!

an altar at the foot of Mt Calvary just before Cristalino waterfalls

the magnificent body of water from the falls

Brgy. Kinabuhayan at the foot of Mt. Calvary

Once we got to Kuya Kristy's, I washed up and finally took a long refreshing bath. It felt good to be fresh and clean again. We packed up after lunch and before I hopped inside the jeepney, I made sure I bought 1.5 liters of sukang kaong, a specialty in Dolores. Sadly there was no sukang kurat there. (I miss Tayabas!!!)

The other participants went ahead to the lake but I was so sleepy I doubt I'd be able to last another hour on the road so I got down at the highway and took a bus to Manila with one of the participants. We had to stand inside the bus for an hour though before we finally got seated and of course, the sleepyhead instantly fell asleep and woke up just as the bus was nearing the terminal in Pasay.

It was tiring, having a packed schedule like that but my heart would burst from too much happiness because I got to rappel again and because, well, I love the mountain air. Truly a wild girl's escape from the crazy urban life!

Baguio 0606072014

Last Christmas, an office friend won an overnight stay for two persons at Azalea Residences in Baguio. The last days of May we talked about a lot of things and she invited me to go with her. (Lucky me!) Because I didn't have to spend on accommodation for this trip, I was able to shell out extra money for food so in a way, our trip to Baguio was somewhat of a food trip.

We met at Victory Liner Cubao on the eve of June 5, which is a Friday, and had a quick dinner at Fry Me, located a few steps from the bus terminal. The food is so-so but what really attracted me to the place was the bright colors and the price of the food. A meal of tofu sisig with rice and [sugary] iced tea cost P57.

We slept in the bus, waking up only when K needed to go to the toilet. I was sitting near the aisle and I had to stand for her to get out of the window seat. Other than that, I could have slept straight the entire time. 

We saw the sun rise as the bus was just entering Baguio. If only we were able to leave Manila an hour earlier... I totally forgot to consider catching the sunrise!!! My bad. :( Other than that, we arrived at 6AM as expected.

Even with our bags, we walked all the way from the terminal to Azalea Residences. We noted restaurants we passed by and took lots of photos. Oh, we got lost a lot but we just laughed it off. Baguio is a bit tricky and difficult to navigate through because it does not form a neat grid. We had a short photo session outside the White Laperal House and in Teacher's Camp. [In my first Baguio trip with my family, we didn't go there because according to my parents, there's nothing special there.]

After depositing our things at Azalea, we hit the road and started with breakfast at Backyard Baguio. I enjoyed their tuyonesca pasta. Just the very thing I want since I've been craving for anything with tuyo in it. Saturday breakfast at home is almost always tuyo with garlic rice, my favorite type of breakfast. And since it was Saturday morning when we arrived, I naturally looked for tuyo.

 

We then took a cab to Bencab Museum. The museum if quite far from the centro but it was all worth it. It houses a lot of bulol statues, as well as artworks by different contemporary artists, aside from Bencab's own works. I especially loved the erotica collection in one gallery. [Not just because of the theme, but also because I love how the curves of the female body is emphasized in art.] We shared an order of Bencab's chicken paprika pasta (P250) for brunch at Café Isabel inside the museum after going around the galleries. And, we got to have our picture take with Bencab!

 We went back to centro by jeep and got off at Burnham Park. K told me she'd teach me how to ride a bicycle but that didn't push through because it rained all afternoon. We stopped by Baguio Museum to have a peek inside. I was surprised to find a coffin with bone remains as part of the exhibit. The upper floor of the museum contains dioramas of city plans. One can see the evolution of the city's history there, as well as the politicians who led the city to what it is today.

It was still raining when we stepped out of the museum so we headed to nearby SM hoping for the rain to stop but we found ourselves spending much time in the mall because the rain wouldn't let up. In the end, we decided to just go and take a jeepney ride to Pink Sisters Convent. We had dinner at Zio Pizzeria later on.

Giddy like teenage girls, K and I had loads of fun inside our hotel room. Needless to say, we took lots of photos. I only get to check in at hotels occasionally so pardon my excitement.

The following day we woke up late and immediately headed to the dining room for our buffet breakfast. (Lucky me again!!!) The fare was not as impressive as  had expected but I love the crispy daing. I also appreciate the courtesy and attentiveness of the waiters. 

We headed to Baguio Cathedral for the Sunday mass. We were a bit late but we did catch the sermon part. The priest talked of the controversies surrounding the church, the corruption and the luxurious lifestyle of the clergy.This in contrast to the poor old man named Dobri Dobrev of Russia who, I had read days ago in PDI, is the church's biggest donor as he begs for the church. Inside me, I commended the priest for admitting and acknowledging that there is indeed corruption in the church. I was expecting him to tell people to donate more to the church to follow Dobri's example but instead, his focus was on how we, including the church, should focus more on spirituality and retaining values instead of on material things. 

After the mass, we hired a cab to take us to Strawberry Farm and we were unfortunate to have a narrow-minded driver who was forcing his beliefs on us. That was a big turn off for me. Religious people often fall in the trap of self-righteousness as they do not see how other beliefs can also be true. He quoted a lot from the Bible, verses which I am thoroughly familiar with having read the Bible many times as a child. But I was silent the whole time, not wanting to engage in a further discussion since I knew it would be pointless anyway. We might end up in an actual fight if I countered his views and I did not want to ruin my trip over a fight on beliefs. It just makes me sad to see how people can think they are way above others because they believe that what they believe in is true. I hope we can one day be united as human beings regardless of faith, beliefs, and ideology. I don't know if that is even possible given that ideology is very powerful.

I bought three bags of lettuce (instead of strawberries)

After buying pasalubong at Strawberry Farm, we went back to the hotel for our lunch. We had leftover pizza from the night before. Then we went to Casa Vallejo to watch free movies at Cinematheque Baguio and also to browse books at Mt Cloud Bookshop. I was able to find a lot of interesting books on Philippine history but in the end I was able to buy only one book, a translated book by Padre Chirino. I find it very useful since it has firsthand accounts of early Spaniards about their observations of the local cultures. It rained the whole afternoon again so we spent time at The Hillstation, a posh restaurant inside Casa Vallejo. I had lamb in balsamic vinegar (P380). Meat was tender and very flavorful. I also love the atchara which has a nice blend of sour and sweet taste. 

yummy lamb adobo (P380)

will note to stay here the next time I'm in Baguio

We hung out at the hotel lobby for some time before heading to the bus terminal to travel back to Manila. Happy to have my first travel with K.

龍華寺 (Longhua Temple), Shanghai 04072013

After Qibao, we went to Longhua Temple. J said that she has not been here so it was included in our list of important places to visit. Longhua means "luster of the dragon". The temple is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha, a Messianic entity in Buddhist cosmology who is said to come to teach enlightenment when dharma (right way) is forgotten in the human world. This belief runs somewhat parallel to the eschatological beliefs in the Judeo-Christian tradition. (While this is an interesting study to pursue, I will have to stick to my present goals lest I be led astray again, but this will be a cool project if ever I have the time.)

this pagoda has been around since the 10th century and can be seen from far away

two of the four Heavenly Kings. I think these four are a mainstay in all temples...

The entrance fee of Longhua Temple is only CNY 10 and yet one can see many things. The area occupied by the temple is very big and Jade Temple pales in comparison. And since we went there in the afternoon, I couldn't remember how many times I asked myself if I had come to the end already. There's just way too many entrances and one courtyard to the other takes you to different praying stations.

Buddha with swastika.

 While looking at the Buddha sculptures, I chanced upon one with a swastika sign on his chest. While I know that swastika was originally associated with Buddhism before it became a Nazi symbol of tyranny and oppression, I don't think I have ever seen the sign in any Buddhist temple I have been to. The swastika actually symbolizes being with the higher self, a main thought in Buddhism.

Guanyin... I can tell by the number of hands!

Another familiar deity is the Guanyin Pusa, or more popularly known in the West as the Goddess of Mercy. The many hands of this deity signifies her willingness to uplift the lives of many people.

Read more about my 2013 Shanghai Adventure

The Body and the Blood: The Middle East's Vanishing Christianity and the Possibility for Peace (Charles M. Sennott)

Having read Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World earlier this month, I am all the more interested in the Middle Eastern conflict. These days we often hear news of the Syrian conflict which now resulted to the loss of approximately 100,000 lives (see link to be in the know as to how the civil war erupted in Syria). Living in a third-world country with its own problems and crises to pay attention to, we are not much concerned about the chaos happening in the Middle East. One thing is certain though, sooner or later, we will feel its impact since other countries (US, Iran, Russia, etc) have stepped in and have taken sides.

A few years back, I bought the book The Body and the Blood with the goal of educating myself on what lies in the Middle East. As we all know, world history is mostly centered on Western Europe which undoubtedly produced great advances in both the sciences and the arts. But I wouldn't want to believe that other nations are mere consumers of Western-led culture, I adhere to the belief that all cultures have their own strengths and weaknesses, and that their respective peoples are interesting in their own way. Also, I'd like to see through other people's eyes how Muslims are since more often than not, they are equated to terrorists, a very unfair idea since I hold the belief that there are both evil and good in every culture.

Going back to the book, Sennet, the bureau chief of the Boston Globe in the Middle East, attempts to investigate the dwindling population of Christians in the Middle East, that region in the world where the three great faiths originated and which now are in conflict with each other--- Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. The Israel-Palestinian conflict over land territories bore a huge impact on the lives of not only Muslims and Jews, but also of the Christian minority who, as Sennet finds, is caught in the middle and suffers from the hands of the clashing giants.

What started as a pilgrimage to trace the path Jesus followed during his life turned into a mission to record the lives of the already diminishing Christians. In that respect, Sennet vividly describes the build up of tensions between the Israeli military and the Muslims, as well as the gradually growing aggression and persecution against the Christians. The Body and the Blood records cases of injustice and inhumanity and one particular chapter stands out which makes one question how other people see other people's life.

In chapter VII titled "Egypt: The Flight", Sennet describes Egypt as the place "where people, especially the lower classes, love in fear of the police force" (p.175). And they have cause to fear, especially when the police is known to grab any family and torture them for the alleged crimes they know nothing of. Also in the same chapter, the author narrates how a riot resulted in the death of 20 Christians and 1 Muslim and yet half of the arrested were Christians. This grave injustice caused many Christians to flee.

In this book, Sennet does a wonderful research on the current conditions of life in the Middle East and traces  it to history and the current economy. He speculates on the impact of low employment rate and the correlation between financial success and aggression. Ultimately, he sees the ruling elite and religious leaders, their greed for power and wealth, as the factors that play a major role in the destiny of the region. 

Broca's Brain: Reflections on the Romance of Science (Carl Sagan)

I find it weird that I have suddenly become interested in science books when I got out of school. I guess my brain craves something other than the usual literary forms I grew up with. Lately, fiction has taken the backseat after dominating 15 years of my life.

Since I became engrossed with chaos theory, I would often find myself buying science books from Booksale. For some reason, my lack of science courses in college gave me this thirst, this feeling that my education lacks something essential for me to have a clearer grasp of the natural world. One of the books I bought is Carl Sagan's Broca's Brain, which struck me at first as a sci-fi novel. (I didn't know any scientist named Broca, that's why!)

One thing I like about the book is that it is written for the lay reader, for those like me who are not science majors. The book on the whole is very engaging as Sagan not only focuses on scientific findings and discoveries but also touch on myths and pseudoscience. Reading the introduction part, one is already tempted to read the book from cover to cover in just one sitting. There's just this excitement that I felt when I read the following words:

"We live in an extraordinary age. These are times of stunning changes in social organization, economic well-being, moral and ethical precepts, philosophical and religious perspectives, and human self-knowledge, as well as in our understanding of that vast universe in which we are embedded like a grain of sand in this cosmic ocean. As long as there have been human beings, we have posed the deep and fundamental questions, which evoke wonder and stir us into at least a tentative and trembling awareness, questions on the origins of consciousness; life on our planet; the beginnings of the Earth; the formation of the Sun; the possibility of intelligent beings somewhere up there in the depths of the sky; as well as, the grandest inquiry of all--- on the advent, nature and ultimate destiny of the universe. For all but the last instant of human history these issues have been the exclusive province of philosophers and poets, shamans and theologians. The diverse and mutually contradictory answers offered demonstrate that few of the proposed solutions have been correct. But today, as a result of knowledge painfully extracted from nature, through generations of careful thinking, observing and experimenting, we are on the verge of glimpsing at least preliminary answers to many of these questions."

In Broca's Brain, Carl Sagan successfully captures the attention of readers to hear the side of science as he tackles major claims made by pseudoscientists. In particular, he debunks Immanuel Velikovsky's Worlds in Collisions which explains why catastrophes were experienced by ancient cultures, as reflected in their myths and religions. After a detailed critique, Sagan suggests that science should not be kept in an ivory tower and should be demystified so that technological initiatives can be supported by the people since scientific research is expensive and more often than not, funds are sourced from the taxes that dutiful citizens pay.

Sagan also offers a personal snippet of his life as he traces his early interests in science through science fiction, though he has come to think that science is way cooler than fiction. While sci-fi is too romantic and too full of speculations, he notes one benefit of sci-fi is that it becomes an avenue through which readers can learn bits and pieces of scientific knowledge. He is quick to point out though that one downside to science students having been exposed to sci-fi would have prejudices which would be difficult to detach from when they do their own experiments.

Another point of interest in the book is how the celestial objects got their names, as well as the widely debated extraterrestrial life. At the end of the book, Sagan juxtaposes sciences to religion, touching on the question of origins and which inevitably would lead to the question of whether God exists or not. To this question, Sagan plays it safe by saying that "we simply do not know" (p. 337) quoting the passage below from the Rig Veda:

"Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?

Whence was it born, whence came creation?

The gods are later than this world's formation;

Who then can know the origins of the world?

None knows whence creation arose;

And whether he has or has not made it;

He who surveys it from the lofty skies,

Only he knows--- or perhaps he knows not."

Some Basic Buddhist Doctrines

Last Holy Week while cleaning our room, I chanced upon my old college readings in Philo 10 (Approaches to Philosophy). I didn't get to read everything at that time because I was still a freshman when I took it and reading the materials caused severe headache and I couldn't comprehend what I was reading anyway. And also because at that time I was still to engrossed with animé to get serious with my college education.

Since I feel the need to review Buddhist materials mainly because most of what I am watching (i.e. My Date with a Vampire) contain Buddhist principles, and in relation to my personal life, I have to relearn the art of meditating and detachment. Moreover, I need inspiration to make it easier for me to accept the harsh realities of life.

The heart of Buddhism lies in the four noble truths:

1. Existence is unhappiness.
- Life is subject to the inevitable evils of illness, old age, and death, as well as the sadness caused when loved ones are stricken by these ills.

2. Unhappiness is caused by desires.
- Asking the universe more than what it is ready to give causes us sorrow when our demands are not met.

3. Desires can be destroyed.
- The knowledge of this helps us control our desires.

4. Desires can be destroyed by the eightfold path:
   a. right understanding
   b. right purpose (aspiration)
   c. right speech
   d. right conduct
   e. right vocation
   f. right effort
   g. right alertness
   h. right concentration
- When all stages are achieved, one is said to enter Nirvana, a state marked by a sense of liberation, inward peace and strength, insight into truth, the joy of complete oneness with reality, and love toward all creatures.

Buddhism focuses more on the cessation of misery rather than on metaphysics since the latter does not help in attaining wisdom (or Nirvana). Buddhism focuses more on the spiritual edification, the discipline of the mind.

What I appreciate most from Buddhism is the view that no doctrine is the final truth. Any theory may be countered by another and so instead of harmonious peace, there are unresolved hostilities. This deviates from humble soul-searching and understanding. Compromise, understanding, respect, and tolerance are necessary in order to build a community.

Other teachings of Buddhism:
1. Hatred can only be appeased by non-hatred.
2. Everything is in a flux, nothing is permanent, and one must accept the changes to be able to adjust to reality.
3. Compassion comes from seeing others in the same tragic situation, which makes one realize that life is impartial and favors no one.
4. Love is defined not as a dependent attachment but as an unlimited self-giving compassion flowing freely to all living creatures.

"-an all-embracing love

for all the universe

in all its heights and depths

and breadth, unstinted love,

unmarred by hate within,

not rousing enmity."

5. Nirvana can be attained without external help. It can be attained by one's own discipline and mindfulness.

X/1999

One of the first animé series I have watched is Magic Knight Rayearth, about three teenage girls sent to a different world as saviours. The series, which combines various genres such as mecha, fantasy, action, adventure, and romance, was, though not necessarily a favorite, something that piqued my interest in animé in my early years.

In high school, I met my first fellow otakus and they were all crazy about CLAMP. I would learn from them that CLAMP is the maker of some of the most popular animé and manga series like Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits, CLAMP School Detectives, Angelic Layer, XXXHolic, X/1999, Tsubasa Chronicles, and yes, including Magic Knight Rayearth. Later on, I would find myself watching the first three and not liking the stories mainly because I find them mainly catered to girls with their magical dreams and too much fan service, though to be fair I love the concepts and the art, I became a CLAMP-basher.

In highschool, my friends and I watched X The Movie together and seeing its many allusions to Christian eschatology, I made a mental note to one day watch the series since I could not entirely comprehend the movie due to its compressed narrative. My friends also advised me to watch the series and to give CLAMP another chance. It will only be years later, this Holy Week vacation to be precise, that I heeded their advise, and I am without regrets.

The very gist of the series is fate of the world as decided upon by Kamui, the main protagonist who started off as a cold-hearted, confused character who would fight anyone trying to meddle in his affairs. He must decide if he wants to protect the present as a Dragon of Heaven or to wish for a change by destroying the world and creating a new one as Dragon of Earth. But the fates can be cruel, because no matter which side he chooses, he must fight against his twin star, his best friend Fuma, who is destined to fill the empty seat, the role rejected by Kamui in choosing the other.

In preparation for the final battle between the two dragons, each must gather his comrades. The fourteen dragons, seven on each side, have their own stories, their wishes and decisions controlled by the circumstances they were put in in their younger years.

 Kamui’s cheerful and thoughtful personality changed when he saw his mother die before his very eyes as a shadow sacrifice, to ensure that Kamui chooses the right path. Sorata, the friendliest of the Dragons of Earth, was taken away from his mother to live in Mout Kouya as a monk (episode 6). Arashi, the swordswoman and priestess of Ise, did not care if she lived or not as a child but the reason behind this was not fully explained (episode 23). The onmyouji Subaru suffered the most similar tragedy with Kamui; his sister Hokuto was killed by Seishiro the Sakrazukamori whom he loved as well (episode 9), whereas Kamui bore the pain of seeing his childhood sweethear Kotori killed by his best friend Fuma (episode 12). The youngest of the team, Yuzuriha, was often teased as a liar as a child because no one can see her best friend Inuki, a spirit dog visible only to people with supernatural powers (episode 10).The fire master Karen, was regarded as a devil by her own Catholic mother because of her power to control fire (episode 19). Only the wind master Aoki’s back story is not revealed though repeatedly in the series, it is reiterated that he is a loving husband and father.

The Dragons of Earth, on the other hand, are composed of characters who are mostly social deviants with the exception perhaps of Kusanagi and Yuto. Aside from this, they are characterized by their obvious contempt for humans who for them, are an abusive lot deserving death. Fuma used to be a kind-hearted man prior to his awakening as Kamui’s twin star. Satsuki the computer genius orchestrated the death of her own father with the help of her computer “friends” (episode 7). Seishiro is a cold-hearted assassin, figuring in both Subaru and his sister Hokuto’s lives as the latter’s killer. Kakyou the dreamseer is tortured by the fact that he was not able to save the most important person for him, Hokuto, when the girl is killed. The clone Nataku, a lost child with “needy personality”, is a soulless body created by Tojo Pharmaceuticals (episode 15). Kusanagi is a gentle guy whom Yuzuriha falls for, being the first person in Tokyo to “see” Inuki, which brought the young girl great joy.

All dragons knew of their fates beforehand, with the exception of Fuma whose role is dependent on which side Kamui will choose. Each character then prepares himself for the Great Battle and has learned to yield to fate. However, with Kotori’s message that all hope is not lost and that the future still is undecided, Kamui goes on to fight even though Fuma tells him of the inevitability of the Dragon of Heaven’s loss. Indeed, Kamui dies in the end, but his final wish is granted--- to protect Fuma and the world he lives in. This is after he made a sudden realization--- that people die but then their wishes do not die with them, that their wishes continue to live on in the hearts of their loved ones they left behind and whom they want to protect.

All throughout the dramatic events in the series, impressive music plays in the background thus setting the mood. Saccharinely tragic and heart-wrenching, the series boasts of one of the most commendable soundtrack in animédom, and this is also one more reason to watch X/1999 over and over again. 

  

And as a last note, if there is one word that describes the series other than darkly compelling, it would have to be that X/1999  is, in a word, FEATHERY, as all 24 episodes have scenes of scattered feathers. This can be said as pretty much a trademark of CLAMP to portray dreaminess and mysticism.