Iraya Mangyans of Puerto Galera

When one major project ended in April this year, immediately the following day I found myself in Puerto Galera together with a deployment buddy whom I mapped Pangasinan with. On April 30 we stayed up late until midnight working on deliverables and the next day both of us are just happy to have delivered more than the minimum requirement so off we joined a 3D2N arnis training workshop in Puerto Galera, Mindoro. For the second time, I brought the four seasons tent with me on a trip.

It was my third time in Mindoro and my second visit this year, but after that I am sure I will go back there again since I have established friendship with many people from select towns in the island and am looking forward to meeting more friends there.

our tent

We set up our tents in Talipanan Beach in Puerto Galera. It takes at least 20 minutes of walking to get there from the main touristy beach by foot. That afternoon, my buddy and I just relaxed inside the treehouse while talking about the project, our hopes for it, and how our ideals led us to be heritage volunteers.

pretending to be a Watcher while looking far out in the sea for possible pirate attacks

The following day was the main highlight. We trekked to a falls and did some meditation there. The cool waters seemed like a cure to the summer heat. While waiting for food to be cooked, some of us slept inside s small cave near the falls. The awesome boodle fight lunch that followed was very much appreciated and I was happy that they accommodated my request for grilled squid. YUM!

Then we visited the Iraya Mangyan Community Village, a beneficiary of the Ayala Foundation. The Iraya Mangyans are excellent basket weavers and their works are being entered in the market by the Ayalas. The primary material used is dried nito grass. [In August I attended a weaving demonstration in National Museum and how I loved the smell of the lowly nito!]

nito baskets of various shapes and sizes and other crafts

That afternoon we finally engaged in the arnis training. We did some exercises and then the hands on practice fights which I love doing. The whole thing awakened the warrior in me whereas the the nighttime spent wading through the waters on a full moon reminded me of my role as priestess. At that point, as I was pondering on which road to take, I eventually decided to be a warrior-priestess. [Since I love watching wuxia and samurai films, I find fighting monks to be very cool because of their dual role as protector-defender and spiritual guide so I'd like to follow in their footsteps. :D]

 

Talipanan Beach at night

 On the third day, buddy and I had fun doing a continuation of our photoshoots from the previous days as we took advantage of the sunrise and early morning light which she calls magic light. By the time I got home, I already added another purpose in my life, to help protect our cultural heritage and to help support the local indigenous peoples.

A few weeks later, news of how the NCIP are betraying the indigenous peoples in various parts of the country are in the papers. It's a shame to learn that a government agency tasked to protect the IP's are instead making it easier for mining companies and other greedy corporations to take over the ancestral lands. Apparently this has been going on for many years now but lately the military has stepped in and based on the news articles I read, they even kill tribal leaders who oppose the landgrabbing activities.

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As the world faces climate change and other environmental issues which impact food production and cause sustainability problems, I believe that there is a need to go back to traditional knowledge and reestablish our ancient way of relating to Mother Nature. Western methods may seem superior on the surface but these will ultimately prove to be useless in the long run. I am hoping for a new consciousness to envelop the world, to make people realize their roots and to enable them to listen and uncover the hidden messages of Mother Nature.

Also, please buy local and help support the livelihood of the indigenous peoples, that their traditions and crafts and skills may live on.

Last Pages of "Adapt"

Continuing where I left off last night since it was already past midnight and I wasn't able to finish the last few pages, I am spending this night contemplating on again throwing my life to the winds. I was a bit bothered when I was on page 280 because I thought Harford would be espousing the traditional view of securing your life and protect yourself from risks.

"Pluralism matters becausenlife is not worth living without new experiences- new people, new places, new challenges. But discipline matters too: we cannot simply treat life as a psychedelic trip through a random series of novel sensations. We must sometimes commit to what is working: to decide that the hobby we are pursuing is worth mastering; that it's time to write that novel, or strive for that night-school degree; or maybe to get married. Equally important: sometimes we need to make the opposite kind of commitment, and decide that the toxic job and the toxic boyfriend are simply not worth the amount of life they cost." (p. 280)

Harford goes on to say how much people look up to those few who can take wild leaps in life, but also briefly mentions how habits formed after many years of working toward a goal yield masterpieces, citing important figures in art and literature. He cautions against wandering around "the lower reaches of various mountain ranges" and getting too carried away by novelty that distraction is sure to set you off the the ultimate target path.

And I heaved a sigh of relief as I savor the paragraphs that follow:

"(...) a world of possibilities, of safe experiements- is one we tend to lose. But we need not: the new possibilities are always out there. It's one thing to be committed; it's another to trap ourselves unnecessarily. Perhaps we become more shy of experimenting as we get older because we become more aware of the truth that (...) in a complex world, we're unlikely to get it right the first time. To embrace the idea of adapting in everyday ñife seems to be to accept blundering into a process of unremitting failure. So it's worth remembering again why it is worth experimenting, even though so many experiments will, indeed, end in failure. It's because the process of correcting the mistakes can be more liberating than the mistakes themselves are crushing, even though at the time we so often feel that the reverse is true. (...) A single experiment that succeeds can transform our lives for the better in a way that a failed experiment will not transform them for the worse- as long as we don't engage in denial or chase our losses." (pp. 282-283)

I love how positive Harford is to being open and to being courageous without being overbearing. In fact, he closes the book with the following wise words after sharing an anecdote abput how his three-year old daughter got lost in the center of London without the slightest fear as she explored on her own:

"The ability to adapt requires this sense of security, an inner confidence that the cost of failure is a cost we will be able to bear. Sometimes that takes real courage; at other times all that is needed is the happy self-delusion of a lost three-year-old. Whatever its source, we need that willingness to risk failure. Without it, we will never truly succeed." (p. 284)

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Now on to throwing my life to winds again. I feel so much better reading this book. Sometimes you know what to do but you need some sort of support from a stranger knowing that under the vast heavens there still are individuals who think the same way as you do and you don't feel so alone.

When the Inner Critic is Not Enough

Tonight as I read the last chapters of Adapt (by Tim Harford), I gained more confidence on what I have been doing thus far in ny life. I have never been interested in self-help or inspirational books and I almost ignored this book at Booksale except I got curious and leafed through the book, which was a good decision, and decided it's worth occupying a space in my collection.

How timely that at the moment when I am facing a tough challenge I should be reading this. The universe indeed is a funny place and the fates always have a way of bringing us what we need at the appropriate time. We just need to listen to those little voices from deep within.

For instance, now on page 277, I just have to stop and blog to write about how the critic in us can most of the time, fail us, and how we need to surround ourselves with the right people who have the courage to tell us ugly truths to our face and who trust that we can recover from a bruised ego.

"We need whistleblowers in our own lives to warn us about the 'latent errors' that we have made and which are just waiting to catch us out. In short, we all need a critic, and for most of us the inner critic is not nearly frank enough. We need someone who can help us hold those two jostling thoughts at the same time: I am not a failure- but I have made a mistake."

Because most of the time we think we're all high and mighty, we have a set of ideals and as much as possible we'd like to think we follow these ideals as we navigate through this very complex world. But then again when self-righteousness takes centerstage, you try to justify everything even though deep inside of you you know it's wrong, or a no-win situation. Most times it's easy to get carried away because of a quick apparent happiness but which is doomed from the beginning. The human brain is a marvel, it's something that conjures awesome ideas but it sadly also has the capacity to self-destruct.

Psychologists have what they call cognitive dissonance, that ugly, inconvenient situation in which the mind finds it hard to reconcile two contradictory thoughts simultaneously. When faced with such a challenge, one either engages in denial or chase after losses, or go into "hedonic editing" mode. (The latter term was coined by Richard Thaler, author of Nudge.) Denial occurs when we dismiss outside criticism and attempt to silence it. Chasing after losses contribute to more losses as one tries to erase past mistakes. Hedonic editing is when we convince ourselves that the mistakes do not matter.

So thinking of my recent conversations with friends, I feel thankful to have people who can admonish me and believe in my inner strength. They know that I know when I am having mistakes but they emphasize them not to hurt me but to illustrate a point, that there is room for improvement, that there is something I need to work on lest I regret it later. And I'd rather hear awkward truths than listen to hollow praises. No wonder lately I enjoy the company of people older than me.

Remembering the Light 001

Earlier this month my sisters and I agreed to attend the 5AM mass at Sto. Domingo Church for the Light's 100 days. Since the Light's demise, I could feel that the bond we three share became strong. Even without words, even though I am not comfortable crying in front of them, there seems to be some unspoken understanding that exists among us, that we were lucky to be at the receiving end of her goodness and generosity. And with that comes the unspoken grief and sorrow that each one of us holds in our hearts. 

While having lunch in Binmaley last week, I instinctively took out two pieces of bukayo and kept them in my bag. Out of habit I have been doing this since I was young to have something for the Light. Whenever I could I would bring her simple treats especially those which I enjoyed in my travels.

Those two pieces were left almost forgotten in my bag and in the office while looking for a pen in my messy bag, I chanced upon those two and reflected on how some habits are hard to break.

I think back on the day I came back from Mexico, bringing chocolates and biscuits. But my favorite person in the world was no longer there to greet me. The only person who took joy in listening to my travel stories is now gone. 

Once while on the way to work, I thought of her. I was a mere five minutes from the gate and tears were forming in my eyes. It was painful having to suppress the sadness. I had to force silly thoughts in my mind, it's like gulping down your favorite drink while having alcohol on your wounds.

Rizal Markers in Hong Kong

So the two days I was with fellow Filipinos in Hong Kong, I learned of the Rizal markers. I joined them in their quest and was glad that even though I have only seen them a couple of times before, they welcomed me in their group.

somewhere in D'Aguilar St., Central

the 1913 Fringe Club: I will target that on my next HK trip

at Morrison Hill Skatepark

at Queen Elizabeth Stadium

monorail

beef wanton noodles for lunch: my comfort food :)

Read: My HK Trip in 2015
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We also went to Artland to buy art materials. It's so cool to be with like-minded people who share the same interests. I'm glad to have gone off with them to see the markers. I hope they also enjoyed my company since I became their translator while walking from HKU to Wan Chai. Awesome walking experience. :)

Asia Cosplay Meet 2015

Rushing to Sto. Domingo Church yesterday to meet up with a fellow volunteer-turned close friend after a quick lunch with new friends, I found myself asking why on earth I let myself be invited to attend the Cosplay Meet in Intramuros. Oh well, that in itself is justification enough. It's highly unusual to have such an event take place within the historic walled city and it's enough to pique my curiosity.

But then it's raining. Somewhere in the north and in parts of Southern Luzon, typhoon Lando must be unleashing terror, bringing rains to Metro Manila in the process. And on a weekend. Could have been a perfect time to stay at home and read since JM just lent me a copy of the coffee table book Pasig: River of Life and also a dear professor lent me a book authored by Noam Chomsky, that intellectual giant who's famous for his anti-US policies.

"Hakune Miku" applying makeup on "Light Yagami"

But oh well, I already said yes to R. And I also would like to see the potential of Intramuros to hold such an event. We all know the place to be historic and maybe, just maybe, the event will be an added boost to make it more attractive to the younger generation. And it's been a loooong time since my last cosplay event and that last time, I exited in less than an hour after entering.

It was raining when we got there. R and I were targeting to leave at around 6PM but the event dragged on until 10PM. I should have known. I badly wanted to go home to read books and I'm worried about getting the coffee table book in bad condition in case it gets wet.

Magic Knight Rayearth cosplayers

And there wasn't much food choices around. People get free yakisoba and Mr. Chips and that's it. We had to go to nearby Cioccolata Churros Café at Bayleaf Hotel for some coffee. Not that I am a coffee drinker but I needed the extra energy boost to last me until 10PM. While there we discussed about the usual stuffs--- volunteer projects, government projects, financial problems (yes, this is a recurring issue LOL), and also academic work. I often tell him how frustrated I am that I can't seem to get a decent scholarship that will take care of my expenses so I can focus on my acads and social work/ volunteer work.

I thought they were going to win...

cuties at the event: Fuu was nowhere to be found though :(

Around 7PM we went back to Baluarte de Dilao. There were band performances and they were really good. I did a recording of some of them. I especially love Zenshin Aru Nomi. Yes they cuss and curse while onstage but in a funny way because there's a problem with the sound system. Nevertheless, they were a joy to watch as they rocked the night with songs from Beck.

I couldn't resist, pardon my love for cannons!

Natsuyasumi rocked the night with a favorite song from Hunter X Hunter: Ohayou. Now something that someone from my generation can relate to. LOL Deep inside I was wishing so hard for some band to play Do You Feel Like I Feel, also from HXH.

Observations:

1. The organizers were not able to fully take advantage of Baluarte de Dilao. It was a very good place for open concerts and they should have jumped on that to hold singing contests and/or battle of the bands.

2. Weather forecasts have been very accurate in saying that it will rain almost the whole day. Tents were set up not for the attendees but for the sound system and various booths. Not all attendees are okay with getting wet... and sick later on. And the chairs were all wet so we were all reluctant to sit on them. [In short, organizers failed to consider what attendees need to have an enjoyable time.]

3. Only junk food is served inside. Free Mr. Chips, yet no free drinks. [Maybe I''m a little bit too demanding but normally free drinks are in tandem with free food, right?]

4. The event didn't seem to be marketed enough as I only heard about it a few days ago. There were very few people, and methinks the event is a flop because of the meager attendance. I should be happy with that because it made moving around so much easier but then there were also very few cosplayers. Take note, as Asia Cosplay Meet 2015, this is supposedly a big event.

5. Setting the time fro 2PM to 10PM is not a good idea. We arrived at 3PM and stayed until the end but there was not much going on because of the rain. Methinks four hours would have been sufficient. And I could have gone off around Intramuros and visit my favorite places there.

6. The sound system sucked. It's sad to see such talented bands and singers having had to endure performing with such bad sound system. This got fixed only in the end.

awarding

7. One cosplayer stormed out in rage, claiming that the whole cosplay thing is a big joke. I don't know if there is truth to what he says about the winner being close with the organizers but then again, such attitude should not be tolerated in a public event as it definitely puts people in an awkward situation and ruins the night. [It's my first time to witness something like that and I was shocked beyond words.]

8. Questioning the criteria and asking for an explanation on the judging process, which one cosplayer did, is I think the more sensible move. (In relation to #7.)

Facebook Event Page

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After that, we headed to our favorite bulalohan in Welcome. He paid for my bulalo because he lost in a challenge with me. Yay for free food! :)

FPJ Movies

Lately I have been seeing a lot of Fernando Poe Jr.'s movies. I'm no big fan but I might reconsider.

The past two months, FPJ and Robin Padilla movies have been showing inside public buses. I never had the chance to watch the entire films though but then what I've seen is enough to note that these movies hold great importance especially these days.

Just today, while having lunch, my brother was complaining about how unrealistic Filipino action movies are. In real life, you wouldn't expect a single person to enter enemy's territory with many armed men, he comments. True that.

In my view though, of whatever I caught on TV, these old movies are relevant because of the themes they explore. Most deal with issues on indigenous peoples' ancestral domains, building peace with our Muslim brothers, exploitation of the environment, and corrupt politicians. And then I got into thinking, how come nowadays we don't have these kind of socially relevant films and instead focus on those stupid rom-coms. Lately, too, we see a lot of movies on extramarital affairs, a reflection perhaps of what an urban Filipino family is like today.

Or maybe infidelity has always been the unspoken norm. As my other brother correctly observes when I complained about not having decent local movies to watch with all those infidelity-themed flicks, Filipinos are way too emotional and give in to feelings far too easily. @.@ [I wonder if that is based on his own experiences...]

I just hope, and I would like to shout out to the local movie industry not to waste money on tried and tested formulaic romance movies and instead, create movies on social justice. The media giants must make it their responsibility to instill awareness on the people about very complex and very real issues the Philippines and the world still face today: environmental degradation, abuse of power, human rights violation, food shortage, overconsumerism, etc.

We have seen Heneral Luna. We have spread memes on "Bayan o sarili?" But all those are just paying lip service, a mindless participation in a trending bandwagon. How many of us have voiced out our opposition to landgrabbing activities? How many of us have stopped to listen to what the IP's are saying? How many of us are doing our part, even just a small part, to build peace? How many of us are at least in the know about the latest killings in relation to landgrabbing attempts in several parts of the country?

We don't know. Because we've been dumbed down by the media. We all fall prey to the evils of the world because we don't actively pursue the truth. It's saddening, to have people live in absolute ignorance by means of cheap shallow entertainment which do not add value nor increase the quality of life of the general population. It's frustrating, to see those in power and those in position to do nothing but reap benefits for themselves, forgetting why such posts are created in the first place. It's debilitating, to know you could have done more but you can only do so much. :(

Conti's 09102015

So one evening last month I was in Trinoma for a team dinner with visitors from abroad and I learned that my sisters were also in the mall shopping. We planned to meet to have dinner afterwards, my second dinner for the night with less than 2 hours in between. (So after that night I resolved to do planking religiously.)

blueberry cheesecake: my favorite :)

 Everybody in the family loves Conti's cakes, aside from Estrel's but the latter requires reservations and downpayments so when we are in a rush to buy cake, it would almost always be Conti's. My personal favorite is their peach walnut torte but then in general I love blueberry cheesecake. Yum!

gambas champignon

 For starters, we had gambas with mushrooms. It has loads of garlic and the butter blends well, instantly becoming a favorite for us. The lengua estofada is tender and quite flavorful but I'm not a fan. As for the salmon, usually I love salmon but maybe because I had my dinner already so I was in no mood to eat.

lengua estofada meal

baked salmon meal

 My sisters ordered kiddie lasagna for me knowing that it is my comfort food. Well, for a time it was, and looking back I can't help but laugh at how I would order lasagna any chance I get. Nowadays, Chinese and Japanese noodles have replaced that. The lasagna is good, too.

kiddie lasagna for this growing child

I'll definitely be back and on my next visit, I'll make sure to drop by with an empty stomach.

許士芬地質博物館

Since two days of my recent Hong Kong trip was allotted for a seminar at Hong Kong University, I also took the opportunity to visit the Geological Museum. I came in just in time for the seminar, having run all the way from HKU Station. This is a new MTR station BTW, and the last time I had to take the bus from the Hong Kong Museum of Medicinal Sciences. At least, being familiar with the place helped me a great deal or else I would waste time in trying to find my way around.

busy stores somewhere in Wan Chai

cute kid-friendly double-decked buses

 After the seminar, other Filipino participants and I roamed around the campus and even in Hong Kong side the following day to search for the Jose Rizal markers. We spent some time marveling at the rock collection inside the Stephen Hui Geological Museum. Being fond of rocks, I was overwhelmed and half serious, pleaded to my companions to leave me there to live for sometime so I can study each and every rock and mineral.

the lobby of the museum

some specimens

I wish we had a similar museum here in the Philippines. There could be one in NIGS inside UP Diliman, but I have not yet visited it. Will probably do so VERY soon. :)

Read: My Hong Kong 2015 trip

Bohol 2015

Early this year I was invited to be part of a cultural mapping workshop in Tagbilaran, Bohol. I was with a group of architects and historians. Yes, I felt a bit out of place since most of them were not as friendly no matter how much I tried to strike conversations with them so the whole trip I was stressed out. I would always wake up very early and sleep very late. Just so I can have my me-time and have my whatever-am-I-doing-in-here moment. It helps that we're near the sea which for me is perfect for such moments. And I brought along my mini ocarina and played a few songs for relaxation. That, and constantly playing David Garret's "Air" gave me such comfort in not so good times.

my comfort in my morning solitude

  As this was my second time in Bohol, it was easy for me to talk to the locals about their culture and heritage. I learned a great deal, I made friends with a local teacher and his students, I got friendly with a local pianist Ms. Lilet Sarabien and who prodded me to play but unfortunately I couldn't because all she had are difficult classical pieces. (But she sure inspired me to play again.)

Bored with the workshop on the first day, I declared that I wanted to go mapping with the boys on the second day. I love the outdoors, even though the summer heat in Bohol can be unbearable at times. It's so unfair to confine women indoors while they have all the fun being outside observing the daily life of common people and taking pictures of heritage structures which are scattered all over town. So in the end I got the best of both worlds, Casa Boholana in hand as we explore Antequerra, Alburquerque and Baclayon. I got to see the churches again. This time I was able to see the different heritage houses and public markets.

I love simple rural scenes like this

rice field

 While I learned to know more about the cultural assets of Tagbilaran during the very informative workshop, that knowledge is largely complemented by what I saw while doing field work. At that point in time, I thought, what if I were a researcher? I can do both archival and field research, being quite adept at communicating with locals, not to mention my language capabilities. It is, however, a sad thing, to be in a country that does not put a premium on historical research. Just to get to the point, I need a patron and research funding. That and a team of like-minded passionate and highly skilled individuals. But it's hard to gather such a team, right? 

bahay kubo

 Discovering a Gabaldon building inside Cecilio Putong High School on the day we mapped, I made a mental note to go back there to sketch the building. But alas, I didn't bring a pencil with me and sketching with a ballpen is quite messy but I did it anyway. There's just a certain elegance in those arches that I find quite appealing.

Gabaldon building

 On our last day, I roamed Tagbilaran on my own. I amused myself inside the Bohol Museum even though I've been there before and they didn't have anything new to offer. But it's refreshing to observe with another set of eyes the architecture of this building which is currently under renovation.

eaves details of Bohol museum

That, and I bore witness to yet another wedding in Tagbilaran Church. When they played Canon in D, I couldn't resist and recorded it. File's too big to be uploaded though. There's always this warm fuzzy feeling whenever I hear it being played. And church weddings! How they force me to think about marriage, something I am ambivalent about. T.T

May they have a blissful married life together

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On marriage: Just yesterday I hung out with JM and his colleagues and one of his friends asked me if I have any plans of getting married. @.@ I couldn't answer. In the first place, should every woman enter a married life? Anyway at this point, I still do not know. Yeah, and time is running out.

Also, having been questioned about commitments lately, I just do not understand what we mean by commitment. If one decides to marry, does that mean that that person has a resolve to be committed? If so, why do married people still cheat? Are humans that weak to fall into temptations? Are humans too selfish and insecure to want to have everything even with the knowledge that they hurt other people? 

Biking and Bruce Lee Exhibit @ Hong Kong Heritage Museum 08292015

On the morning we planned to bike, it rained hard and I was afraid the plan will not push through. I've always wanted to bike, to feel the grounds while pedaling instead of walking and running, for a change. In my recent trip to Hong Kong I did just that but with rear bike trainers because I'm just a beginner and I'm not yet used to cycling and yet I biked some 20 km though not a traverse.

By the time we exited Sha Tin Wai Station, the rain had not yet stopped. We spent [read: wasted] time waiting for the rains to let up while engaging in conversation with the boys manning the bike rental shop across the MTR station. That plus a few arguments because they misunderstood us. I was already in a foul mood, mirroring the weather. So we all decided to visit the Hong Kong Heritage Museum first to check out the exhibits but I was sad to say that we didn't go around to see everything. There was a a temporary exhibit on Bruce Lee's life and we only came in for that. [Sad because there was also an exhibit in Chinese paintings but they were in a hurry to bike when the sun was out. #cries]

Photos were not allowed inside the gallery because it contained Bruce Lee's personal items on loan temporarily. While many of us know Bruce Lee as just one of the greatest kung fu artist in films, it should be noted that this man was also instrumental in making kung fu popular in the West. I have seen his academic records and he is pretty much an average student BUT he has an entrepreneurial mind with a clear vision. What I found interesting is that he is also a very insightful person with very little regards for anything shallow. He hates parties, the things that go with fame which separates him from his beloved wife and children many times, but his is a passion unsurpassed for his chosen field. That passion brought him to achieve the status of a legend for which he is known today.

Needless to say, his life provides much inspiration. Born in San Francisco, USA, he grew up and went to school in Hong Kong. He went back to the US to pursue his college studies and he met his wife Linda Emery there. What endears him to me and what I find common in us is that we both love reading, writing, and reflecting on things. He even wrote a poem "Walking along Lake Wash", incorporating many elements like the moon, the water, merging water and sky... common motifs I also use in my poems. Reading it, I felt like I should really read more about him as I might pick up a thing or two on how to also achieve my dreams. His is a philosophy that merges learnings from martial arts to everyday life. Also of note is his notebook, with clear legible handwriting in cursive form. Here he noted down cha-cha steps in a methodical way. 

After that quick museum visit, we proceeded with biking. Fresh air. I made sure to breathe very deeply because I seldom get a chance to have such fresh air. It also helps that we biked after the rain. And so we were treated to awesome city sights as we pedaled on the bike trail overlooking Shing Mun River.

heart-shaped rock art in Ma On Shan beach

stopover at the beach in Ma On Shan

where we had snacks of siomai and fish cakes

 Many times I would find myself almost falling over and I could feel my cousins being worried about me. I told them that I only bike around in circles in a very small area in UP. LOL. I do that without trainer wheels but well, its more manageable because I don't have to worry about cars and people. Here it was different. We crossed streets. We biked with other bikers. We had to be alert lest some overtaking jerks send us flying to the river. One thing I learned is to focus. Biking may just be the very thing  to help me work on getting a focused mind. Another thing is that a relaxed mind creates wonders. It helps that we passed by many picturesque views.

I LOVE reflection photos :)

one more reflection photo

 On the way back to my aunt's house, I could feel my butt hurting. It was my first time to bike that far. It was an awesome experience and one for the books [in my opinion LOL]. But I know that once I go back to Manila I will crave that pain, that I will certainly miss the tiredness, the sweat, the minor panic attacks, the adrenaline rush...

And my aunt, a very good cook, must knew how tired we were. We were treated to a sumptuous dinner of shrimps and  vegetables. YUM!!!

dinner after a tiring yet fun-filled day

Read: My Hong Kong 2015 in a nutshell
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I will have to thank IB for teaching me the basics of bicycling. And I hope that my other friends who promised to teach me how to bike will keep their promise. Except maybe they lose patience because I can be a scaredy cat sometimes. M invited me once to bike along NLEX and I had to decline her invitation because 1.) I don't have a bike 2.) I don't think I can bike that easily with cars moving on my side. @.@

I am so proud of my cousins for being such courageous bikers. I wish I could be like them... except I was so sheltered when I was young. #cries [This brings a resolve to never do the same to my children... But okay, I need a lover first. #criessomemore]

September 2015 Part 3

This is the third and final part of my September 2015.

The most awaited event of September is the birthday celebration of my grandmother with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival dice game since both she and my grandfather were born exactly on August 15 of the lunar calendar but in different years. [Grandpa passed away more than a decade ago.] Theirs is a love story that is worthy of mention because my grandfather who was part of the guerilla resistance against the Japanese during World War 2, fell in love with a lady 10 years his junior, a beauty queen from San Pablo, Laguna. Ever since, he only loved that one woman. Grandma is that lucky woman. [So whenever I tell mom I don't want to marry anyone because men cheat anyway, she would always point out that that is not necessarily true because her father is the very epitome of a true man: loyal, faithful, responsible, resourceful, and very intelligent.]

Every September, since it's my maternal grandparents' month, I am reminded that perhaps true love exists. [Fat chance. I cling to just 1% hope.]

Because this year I am guilty of not spending that much time with grandma due to volunteer work and deployment, I was happy when she looked extra happy to see me on her day. That, although we'd almost always end up arguing because of our different views. Relatives can't stomach my radical views and I cannot accept their conservatism especially with regards to career paths. So I grow up relying much on myself because I cannot get even the slightest moral support from blood and kin. Knowing that I currently work as a regular employee at a well-known company somehow made them heave a sigh of relief. Many times they just shake their heads at me for wasting my potential in non-money-generating endeavors. Oh well. A wild child is always a wild child none can tame.

Grandma's birthday cake from Estrel's [kudos to my sister for taking the initiative to buy]

 So aside from the usual potluck, we had our usual dice game. The prizes range from microwave ovens to chocolates. I was lucky to get the second prize during the first round and picked the pressure cooker. I know mom would love that. As for me, I was eyeing the cookie jar and the ceramic bowl set. Except I didn't get the cookie jar which broke my heart. I was extra curious as to what cookies are inside.

my favorite nephew

Aside from the food [I love an aunt's rendition of spicy Korean wings] and the dice game, the reunion is also a chance to see nephews and nieces. Not that I am close to them but there's a particular boy I liked. I've seen him from the time he was a baby and I know that he is a kindhearted boy. He's naughty yes, but he's got a good heart. I just hope they don't spoil him that much since he's the eldest of grandma's great grandchildren.

On the 29th, we had dinner at Lucky Rainbow Restaurant together with aunts and an uncle on dad's side. It was nice seeing my Ninong and Ninang  again after so many years. I'm happy that even with the distance, we update each other on events via email. And I got what I asked for: CD's of David Garrett and Itzhak Perlman.

Other September happenings:

* I attended the AYJO concert and greatly enjoyed it, reminding me of Joji Hattori, the jovial conductor during the Toyota Classics Concert in 2012.

* Team dinner at Mango Tree Bistro in Trinoma because we had visitors. I was able to eat my favorite tom yum again. I would also recommend the steamed fish.

*  Right after our team dinner, I had round 2 with my sisters. We had late dinner date at Conti's. :)

* Team lunch at our favorite restaurant in Meycauayan, many thanks to our supervisor who is always footing the bill.

* Above was followed by a dinner date at Santouka Ramen with a friend I haven't seen in a long time. It was nice to have a little catch up meeting with a long lost friend. She was  part of the China winter tour I participated in in 2008. One day I received a message on Linkedin from her and we immediately planned to meet up. I love it when I reconnect with old friends. :)

Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra Concert: Meralco Theater

The rest of the year, I have decided, shall be allotted to cultivating appreciation for the arts, both visual and performing. Just as I was looking around for a concert to attend, I chanced upon the AYJO concert to be held in Meralco Theater on Sept. 26. I immediately signed up for free tickets.

Since not many are fond of jazz music especially nowadays when people would rather listen... God knows what people listen to these days. I have given up trying to comprehend the musical zeitgeist of a generation.

It was no surprise that I wasn't able to have company that night. It was a rather welcome opportunity to spend time with myself since the afternoon that day, I hung out with a man who just befriended me recently. He was soft-spoken yet he talked a great deal about himself in our first "getting to know each other" date. [Let it be known that every engagement with humans to me is a date, even my food trips with my sisters!] Happy to finally experience the P200 lunch buffet at Likha Diwa, his treat. That Saturday was British buffet. As expected, the dishes are healthy and not thoroughly bland, thank God for that.

This year I traded yet another dice game activity for music as I did last year. Not my fault when I have identified music as one essential part of my being, a component I cannot live without. Never mind the freebies; when my soul craves, even the tummy is bound to lose. 

I first rushed to Robinsons Galleria for a quick dinner. Since I'm on tight budget [as always], I opted for a Korean bento of beef stew, chap chae, rice, dilis, tamago, and fried whatever. All that for just below P150. Pretty affordable and it's already a complete meal in itself.

dinner before the concert

The AYJO is composed of really talented and fun-loving high-spirited jazz-playing young musicians. No words can express how much I enjoyed the concert. It was a brilliant project to gather outstanding young musicians in Japan and Southeast Asia, musicians who are not afraid to show their funny side onstage in between performances. [Note that five Filipinos took part in this concert.] Where else can you see someone who suddenly breaks out in loud laughter as his fellow musician was making jokes? Where else can you see musicians to wield their instruments as if they were weapons? [I found Japanese tuba player Masahiro Yoshioka quite endearing, posing with his tuba as if it were a cannon.]

before the orchestra members occupied the stage

 In almost all of the performances, I couldn't keep my eyes off Japanese drummer Fumihiro Ibuki. He looks like a nerd [I hope he doesn't chance upon this blog], but when he plays the drums, it's as if he's one with it. He reminds me of the drummer [whoever he was] in Rama Hari in 2012, which unfortunately I wasn't able to dedicate a blog entry to, but just mentioned in passing HERE. Effortless, so natural. Not to mention his high energy, having sustained the momentum for long. [Or I might just suck at playing because I tire easily...] Also an eye-catcher was the beautiful Nagisa Uchida from Japan who plays the vibraphone and whose clear cool voice filled the theater in the latter part. I was speechless! [So now, I'm all the more inspired to level up.]

some metal art inside Meralco Theater

some metal art inside Meralco Theater

Programme:

1. Opening "Wild Man Blues" (composed by Jelly Roll Morton and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

2. Monk's Walking (composed by Mayuko Katakura and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

3. Toshi (Seeing Through) (composed by Jelly Roll Morton and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

4. Milky Way in the Moment (composed and arranged by Yoshihiko Katori)

5. Merlot (composed by Mariko Maeda and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

6. Gone are the Days (composed by Xu Kai Xiang Rit and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

7. Second Country (composed by Yuri Kishimoto and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

8. Tourist Point of View (from Far East Suit) (composed by Duke Ellington and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

9. Isfahan (from Far East Suit) (composed by Duke Ellington and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

10. Blue Pepper (from Far East Suit) (composed by Duke Ellington and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

11. Yesterday Among the Flow of Time (composed and arranged by Osamu Matsumoto)

As special bonus, Filipino and Malaysian percussionists Jacques Dufourt and Muhammad Abdul Karim B. Ahmad Zafiruddin had a percussions showdown. They were such a joy to watch

Sincerity, Banawe

My favorite foodtrip buddy/ sister and I have been extra busy these days so we don't get to hang out as often as we would have wanted. Well she sometimes complain about not having enough savings because of me. Whenever we go out, she's the one who pays most of the time. Just most of the time, not always. :D

Image credit: Sincerity Restaurant Main FB Page

We've been planning to eat at Sincerity since it opened its Banawe branch. My sister only has good things to say about this resto. Since I love fried chicken and knowing that the resto has been in business for more than 50 years (it's a heritage resto! LOL), that says a lot already.

oyster cake

kiampong

duck misua

Sincerity's famous and ultra delicious fried chicken

We had oyster cake, kiampong, duck misua, and of course their famous fried chicken. It's been a long time since I had oyster cake and we excitedly ate it while it's still hot. Yummy!!! I'm not a fan of kiampong but it was also  delicious. Duck misua is LOVE! Mom seldom cooks black chicken soup these days. It's also a great favorite, especially with misua. Sincerity's duck misua is just like that, except they replace chicken with duck. That is instant heaven. The fried chicken was excellent as well. It's very rare that I get to eat really good fried chicken. The flavors have seeped into the meat. Very nicely done. So needless to say, I'm giving this resto a whooping 5/5. On second thought, maybe 4.99/5 because I'm disappointed to know they don't have chili sauce.

On third thought, I greatly enjoyed the food even without chili sauce...

Will I go back? YES! And I'm already thinking of treating friends here for my birthday. Would you believe for all the food we ordered we paid only P500? Talk about getting your money's worth!