Mindoro Excavation

Last February, I was lucky to have been invited to the on-going archaeological excavation in Mindoro. I've been wanting to go but I'm a bit shy in asserting that to the project director even though he had helped me before in my lithics paper and in return I arranged his books and created a digital inventory of his collection.

a statue of the tamaraw outside the airport

The moment I stepped out of the airport feeling a bit sick because I just had my period early in the morning before my flight, I was greeted by a statue of a tamaraw and I was excited. I was thinking that I should see a tamaraw during my ten-day stay in Mindoro but that didn't happen, unfortunately.

Ilin Island where Bubog I and II are located

Right on my first day, I was tasked to carry excavation tools aside from my personal belongings up to the site in Belat Cave. It hurt a little and I curse at my girlhood for being such a nuisance to activities I love best. Still I carried on and never whined about my condition until we were safely in the resort because I had need of sanitary napkins!

The trench in Bubog I where we got sediment samples per layer

On the second day, I was glad that I was assigned in Bubog II in Ilin Island. After working there, we were treated to beach time! Yay! So glad I brought my swimwear with me.

Ah the ship... I mean banca

Photo of a volunteer by yours truly: super proud to have done this :)

We have the freshest seafood and other food for lunch prepared by our local boys. Sometimes we have grilled fish, sometimes ensalada which was awesome (to think I don't normally eat ensalada in Manila), sometimes we have grilled pork... And the sauce that the locals make are soooo good! I never have any want in energy because we ate healthily. We even had crabs on my first day there. It was such a pleasant surprise.

sea urchins, gecko?, various shells recovered from Bubog II

sunset at a nameless sandbar: stopover before returning to the resort

a dramatic shot of sunset

What I will certainly miss about the Mindoro excavation is... Okay scrap that. I miss so many things in Mindoro. The weather, the sunsets, the funny and witty German director, the visiting archaeologist from Germany who also speaks Spanish and French so we got to practice those languages together (and I visited her in Mexico), the food (fresh seafood!!!), the beaches (who doesn't love the beach?),  oh and simply being able to wield the trowel and be an archaeologist again! I love doing permatraces. I would love to really master the total station.

local kiddoes who greet us everytime we return to the resort

a view from my hidden sanctuary in Inasakan Beach also in Ilin Island but on the other side of the Bubog sites

Hoping to be able to participate in next year's excavations. I was again invited this July but I chose to attend the conference in Mexico and promised the director that I will definitely join next time. Beautiful Mindoro will always be special in my heart. Also, did I mention that what I love about the project is that it's got not many volunteers so I'm not stressed with people that much.

sunset at Inasakan Beach

2015 at a Glance

So finally I can relax and spend more time with my books.

It feels as if I were a student again this year as I managed several things at once. January to April, four months in all, were spent traveling on weekends to different provinces for heritage documentation. As an Iska, this is my way of offering my skills and services to my country without sacrificing my happiness. I almost resigned from my current job but quickly retracted at the last minute after achieving enlightenment. That stint in the US was very tempting, especially since it involved historical documents, but I had to let it go. My life is too full of regrets to add another bad decision.

I was also able to participate in an excavation in February. It was one of my dream sites and I would love to explore every place in Mindoro. I finally visited Singapore and got to stay at Four Seasons Hotel for three nights thanks to my cousin. I returned to Bohol this time as a volunteer in a mapping workshop. It was my first time to be a workshop facilitator.

(Many of my friends are pushing me to work in the public sector seeing how my skills can be put to good use. Then again, I would refuse without second thought. I don't trust the government and I don't want to be put in a situation wherein it would seem like I were working under the government when in fact I am working FOR the government. Ugh! If ever, there is only one project I'd like to be part of but I think I have to level up fast first.)

This year also marks the start of my active participation in the volunteering community. I signed up to distribute goods to schoolchildren in the Mountain Province and participated in painting a school in Botolan, Zambales. For the first, I am thankful to my team mates who donated milk for the kids. 

In June, the Light of my life disappeared, leaving me hurting everytime I think of her. (Just earlier today while at mass in UP, I thought of her and uncontrollable tears rolled down ny cheeks. It must be because the day after my birthday, my sisters asked me if I dreamed of her and I told them I have been dreamless for a long time and they wouldn't believe me yet unfortunately, it's true.)

Another childhood dream was achieved when I went to Mexico this year to attend a conference. Even though it was just for 10 days, it will remain as my most unforgettable trip. I never thought I had that courage to go that far on my own. After that, I felt like I could go anywhere in the world. (Okay I exaggerate. I will certainly have second thoughts about going to India on my own.)

A trip to HongKong was just what I needed in August to give in to wanderlust without killing the wallet that much. It was good to be with my cousins again and I will very fondly cherish my first bike adventure because they were with me. Also, I am surprised to find myself booking a flight just to attend a seminar abroad. While in HK, I made sure to finish my powerpoint presentations and scripts for my paper reader since the trip coincided with a conference where I was to present two papers, both on heritage documentation, a big leap from my 2014 paper which was on archaeology and animé.

September to November passed by with me too focused on work. Those months were uneventful except I finally found the time to attend concerts and plays. The whole month of November, I participated in the Asian Month and I submitted a few articles, mainly writing about extraordinary Thais who contributed to positive changes in Thailand. It was also during this time that I went out with friends again since prior to this, it was always hard to ask me out. I also assisted a friend archaeologist in touring his class around Binondo for two days and one day in the National Museum where I gave a short lecture on glass artifacts.

Today marks the end of a personal project. Plus I attended a seminar. It coincided with our company Christmas party in Pampanga but I chose to attend the seminar seeing it as more important. Walking inside UP Campus on a drizzling night, I took in the smell of wet earth, mushrooms, and frogs which I so miss. UP has been and will always be my sanctuary.

The remaining days this month will see me reading history books and writing papers in preparation for next year.

One Direction

So this month I finally decided to quit being a drifter. The years following my highschool graduation have been spent in fantasyland, with me not owning up to my shortcomings, thinking I would be okay and that I would do well in any field. The message from my peers and teachers in highschool about me being able to excel in anything has, despite the good intentions, drove me to be complacent and mediocre. While I found myself being good in the fields I entered, I knew deep inside that I could have done better.

Just that I got distracted a lot. Just that I loved too many things too much. The humanities--- the arts, literature, music; mathematics, science and technology, the outdoors. People often comment about how well-rounded I was. But they do not know how this has impeded me from achieving my true potential.

Take math and logic for instance. Those were my favorite subjects (alongside English) but come college I would choose foreign languages although many times I thought of shifting to Math or ComSci had my parents not been too strict with me when it comes to financial matters. Back then all I thought about was finishing my course to land a job, earn money, then travel the world.

But such linearity does not suit me because right after graduation as I was taking up Trigonometry, I chanced upon the announcement at ASP about grad school application. Without thinking, without even a plan, I submitted the requirements and found myself toiling hard with coursework while joining fieldworks and making sure I work hard to earn money on the side. Those were difficult times because I literally came to know what "hand to mouth existence" means. Sometimes I would feel as though I were wasting my time attending classes where I leave the class not even a bit wiser, or wasting my youth getting sun burns and insect bites which, according to my mom, is a ridiculous thing to do when I should be taking care of my fair skin thanks to her genes.

In hindsight, I guess what I truly got from those two years was not archaeological knowledge and knowhow but the construction of character. Had I not delved into archaeology and met different kinds of people, I would have remained the world's most naive person. My friends still think I need to work something out to balance my naivete but they often remark that at least I am learning. If there is one thing I learned it's that people will use you as much as they can if you let them. It took a while before I learned to say no. I was just too naive and stupid to think so nobly of others, that they won't ask for help unless they reached their limits. Apparently I was too locked in my own thoughts that my ideas I project unto others. Until concerned people noticed. Until I felt the unsettling feeling of carrying too much burden, burning myself out in the process.

For a change I decided to finish my diploma course and quit. I have to see what the corporate world has to offer, to see for myself if it's really a jungle out there with all the nasty gossips and ugly politics. I entered in all my naiveté. A whole new world full of pretentious and insincere people. But I also consider myself lucky finding friends in the corporate jungle. I used to think that everybody could be my friend, until I learned about people with two faces. I was aghast. I became cautious, and now I learned how to filter people that enter my life. I wouldn't have been forced to learn that had I not experienced what the corporate world is like.

Even with all its negativity, I would have to say that my experience in the corporate world has been invaluable. There I learned to tap into my erstwhile unknown pool of knowledge. The things I never thought I could do, I did there, forced by circumstances. Because in my mind, I am getting paid to do my job, but deep inside of me, exceeding expectations has been the default. Because I always think that there's a better way to do things, that we can all grow and learn even though on the surface everything already looks perfect.

Stretching myself further from the apparent limits I used to set on myself has been a double-edged sword. I got immersed in many things and my desire for continuous excellence drove me to explore more at the expense of the things I have loved doing. Many times I wish I could do kagebunshin no juutsu to do many things but at the end of the day is the realization that I am no Superwoman, that I am a mere mortal who must prioritize or perish in an overwhelming ocean of possibilities.

Today receiving two emails from a university I applied for, I am more determined to complete the requirements to make myself eligible for the program. This month I resolve to have one direction: work on my deficiencies and leave all unrelated things in the backseat.

I will not be young forever so I must hurry to achieve my childhood dreams before it is too late. Recently I have just turned down many travel offers because I need to focus more on building skills and competencies for my future self. This with the consolation that I have traveled a lot anyway the past 3 years. Not that I am quitting my backpacking adventures, just that there will less of them in the coming months.

For now, my objectives include working on my huge backlog: 2014 (HK and South Korea) and 2015 travels (SG, MX, numerous local trips), practicing the violin and keyboard, and continue studying Japanese.

Mexico Misadventures Part 2

When I finally arrived in Constitucion to reunite with my German friend, I was happy to be introduced to a local archaeologist there who is from Merida. I gave them a pack of chicharron and chocnut.

Since they haven't had lunch yet, I cooked for them. It was a simple meal of rice and mixed veggies in spicy salsa, pretty much like what I often cook at home. Later on, I would help them clean bone remains. I still cannot see myself learning how to identify bones but at least I learned there how to clean bones. Basically you mix 1 part water with 1 part 96% alcohol (which I initially mistook as sonething they drink LOL) and use a swab of cotton and a toothpick to eliminate the sediments covering the bones. It was a boring task but I had nothing better to do plus it's a good training for when I go back to school.

At 6PM we drove to the rolling pastures to catch the sunset. We were toured by a man who partly owns the land and were directed to where post holes are located. Awesome! The whole field is a potential archaeological site! We savored the breeze and waited until dark to gaze for some time at the stars. Beautiful!

At night we slept on hammocks, my second night to do so. It was comfortable. In fact I was thinking then of installing one at home.

The next day we went to the reserva de la biósfera Calakmul to see the pyramids and other ruins. There were 5 major pyramids which we climbed and minor ones. It was a tiring activity considering the heat.

Calakmul ruins

part of a pyramid in Calakmul

Now Calakmul is difficult to get to. I am just lucky that my friend knows how to drive. Problem is she underestimated it and refused to load gas. So we were stuck for some time there. Since I had to go to the bus terminal to be able to take the night bus back to the Federal District, I gambled my life again and asked a group of four burly men to take me to Xpujil since they were going to that direction, too.

each pyramid has varying number of steps and we climbed each and every one of them!

Isn´t it beautiful? A silent witness to a magnificent past

While in the car, I was surprised to find myself calm despite being with four male strangers. They were a fun bunch and the friendliest of them talked to me and made sure I was comfortable. I even fell asleep out of exhaustion. Upon arriving at Xpujil, they even dropped me right at ADO bus terminal. I was so embarrassed not to have anything with me to give them but they said it was okay and bid me good luck.

I have to note how awed I was at the sight of the sky so blue. It was just so beautiful. I never liked summer because of the heat but while on the road looking at the sky, I felt the urge to draw and paint but of course I didn't do that because I did not have any materials with me.

In Xpujil I had a hard time with the lady selling bus tickets there. She doesn't seem to care about bus passengers much and was not helpful when I was inquiring about routes and fares. Since I had 4 hours to go before bus departure, I looked for a place with free wifi and found it in a hotel. The lady attendant was nice and gave me the password. Then I went to church to attend mass.

While inside the church I became aware of how hot it was in the area. I realized I badly needed a bath and yet I didn't want to spend for a hotel room just to bathe. So after mass I approached a woman to ask if I could bathe at her home and she directed me to the doctor who gladly accepted me. She was delighted to hear I was from the Philippines because she studied in a school named República de Filipinas in the Federal District.

So I was able to take a bath and converse with the good doctor who told me a lot about food in Mexico. When I left her house, she told me never ever to tell anyone I was traveling alone and wished me good luck.

The world still has hope. I can continue praying for a world to be inhabited by conscious, sensitive, sensible, and kindhearted souls.

Mexico Misadventures Part 1

So the past few days saw me living on the road since Monday night when I took the night bus from Mexico DF TAPO to Villahermosa in the South. It was a 12-hour bus ride by ADO bus and I was tired from spending time climbing pyramids in Teotihuacan.

From thereon, I have had many misadventures. I had a hard time in Villahermosa because people were not so good at giving directions. I did find my way to La Venta, backpack with me and all. It weighed around 10kg but anyway all I thought of was that I survived Pulag twice and I could certainly survive backpacking for a few days in Mexico.

this friendly fellow has grown accustomed to human presence!

La Venta is a lovely place where one can see the famous Olmec sculptures, in particular the giant heads. There is an aviary and a small zoo, plus you get to see squirrel-like animals with long snouts and they seem to have grown accustomed to humans.

Just one of the many Olmec sculptures

After La Venta, I visited the Museum of Natural History which is just beside the park. It's actually for kids but I enjoyed the place. I hope we have something like that in the Philippines to get more kids to like the natural sciences.

the view from outside La Venta

This is my favorite in the Museum of Natural History

Taking the combi, a local public transport vehicle, I ended up in the historic town, the equivalent of Vigan. Here I visited the Casa de Azulejos which is an eclectic style mansion. The museum shows the history of Tabasco.

neoclassical Palacio de Gobierno in Plaza de Armas, Villahermosa

I traveled at night again to save time and accommodation. My target was to arrive in Escarcega on the morrow but bad luck seemed to be with me. When I bought a ticket to Constitucion, I never thought there were two towns of that name, one in Tabasco, one in Campeche. My target was Campeche, but at 10:30 PM I was dropped off at Constitucion, Tabasco, much to my horror upon my discovery. There were consecutive lightning flashes and anytime it might rain so I decided to walk despite the darkness. A car passed by but it probably did not see me waving.

So the hiker in me won and I walked all the way to town. Good thing I had flashlight with me. I was nervous of course because I had been hearing stories about crimes in Mexico but I had no choice. I felt it was more dangerous to stay near the highway. Plus I badly needed a bath to freshen up myself.

Imagine how I almost panicked when I realized I was still in Tabasco! This must be the result of my love affair with hot sauce!

The small town had many dogs which began their consecutive barking when I finally arrived. For a while I was looking around for a house that could accommodate me but people seemed to have slept already. Fortunately I saw a young man about to go home and I asked if I could temporarily stay in his house, explaining my situation to him. He woke up the entire family and they adopted me for a night. And I got my bath, too. It was my first time to sleep in a hammock, which is a BIG bonus.

The following day they offered me coffee and crackers for breakfast. The young man even walked with me to the highway. A car passed by and we got on. Jose made sure I hopped on the right bus going to Candelaria.

Then transfer to El Sur bus going to Escarcega. The conductor of that bus seemed to have taken a liking for me and seemed bent on seducing me. I told him I have a boyfriend back home but he still persisted though a bit politely, acknowledging my "commitnent". I was glad when we finally reached Escarcega. From there I took the combi to Constitucion where a friend was waiting (and who was very much worried for me when I told her about the misadventures the night before).

I cooked lunch for them! :)

But anyway, I arrived safely and cooked late lunch for her and for her friend. There were cucumbers, carrots, onions, and garlic so I cooked them all up together with salsa picante. Good thing it's exactly what I usually cook for my packed lunch. There were only two of them in the cabin, which was good because I can only socialize with very few people.

enjoying the sunset after an afternoon's work cleaning bone artifacts

Anyway, the reason why I would risk everything to get there was because my friend is an archaeologist who volunteered to excavate in a site there. She was telling me we'd visit archaeological sites together and we did. But that is another story of misadventures... We did get to Calakmul to see the pyramids.

To be continued...

Reminders

It's been a looooong time since I wrote something here in my blog. Just that for the last couple of months I had been too busy with a lot of things. Not that I am complaining; we all know getting busy is the best cure to a single heart. But because I was suddenly flooded with chores and there were just too many events I could not say no to (thus most times I would just end up in bed as soon as I arrive home), I have unfortunately neglected writing altogether. In fact even my non-digital diary is suffering from blank pages so I guess I'll have to find a way to spend time alone to rethink the recent past and to put them on paper.

Just why the obsession to accumulate records, you might ask. This is actually a project I have taken, a personal project supposedly, but which I don't mind sharing with strangers on the net. The reason being there is a huge chance that I'll end up a single woman and I hope that if that happens I can look back and see what I've done here on earth. It's just to somehow cushion the harsh blows of reality and see in my old age that at the very least, I tried to live a fruitful life despite the immanent chaos and the lack of meaning. It's a record of struggles and happy times, of different experiences which helped make life bearable, which somehow pushes me to live again tomorrow, and the day after....

In short, this blog is a reminder of things done and of things yet to be done.

For instance, some of the things I should have written about are:
1. My first ever time to join a group of strangers in a trek to a waterfalls in Laguna. At first, I was scared alright but before the day ended, I felt as if I have known some of them for a long time already.

2. My trip to HK where I got to hang out with my cousins whom I haven't seen for soooo long. I think it's been almost 20 years! And I got to know our other relatives there. Big plus includes getting to hike twice in that place known for shopping and Disneyland. And how can I forget the four museums that I visited??? Never mind the fact that my itinerary was ruined because of visits to relatives but oh well, we never see each other that often. I just wished I was able to prepare something really uniquely Filipino like for example cloth from Ilocos and the like as gifts for them.

View of Hong Kong from the Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsui

3. Chino's violin recital last month where I was left utterly impressed. There just is something in him now that is sooo attractive. Well it helps that he decided to do away with the moustache hehe. I also discovered that he's soft-spoken. (I wonder if he'll be annoyed at me if he were to know me better since I'm too boyish and too well, too unladylike, in a word.)

4. The books I have finished reading but which I did not have time to write reviews. Oh well, it's not as if I was able to read many books these days given my ultra hectic schedule.

5. The conference I attended last month where I presented my paper. On second thought I might not write about it since there really wasn't much to say except that I was extra happy to have received free books for being a presentor. The books are in Filipino and are composed of essays on Philippine literature. Welcome addition to my already gigantic book collection. (reminder to suggest to the parents that I NEED big bookshelves in our room. I hope the sisters do not mind.)

6. The advanced Christmas wishlist. Doesn't matter if year after year I do not get the things I truly wish for but what the heck, making one is fun JUST BECAUSE. (never mind that nobody reads it or takes note of it. LOL!)

So there. Backlogs again so I'm not writing about my recent food trips except of course Ganeeza in Fisher Mall since I think I knew what 'love at first sight'... I mean, BITE. I now know where I can find some comfort when depression kicks in. And oh yeah, I prefer to shop there than say SM. SM is just too damn crowded I'm always eager to get out the moment I enter.

So anyway, this post just ended up with a few reminders (or things my readers can expect in the days to come).

Note: I can't believe I just blogged using my tablet. Maybe I ought to do this more often so I can blog anytime anywhere.

Busy September

Every year, whenever August is about to end, I would always condition myself for the following month. September has always been a busy month for me. It's also my favorite month of the year, not because it is the beginning of the BER months (and I would always create my wishlist this early only to modify it in the succeeding months), but mainly because of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This special day actually falls on the 15th of the eighth month of the lunar calendar and the equivalent date in the solar calendar is almost always within the month of September.

Because of the festival, two weekends would be reserved for family and friends. I love the dice games that accompany this special day. These dice games are played after a meal at some Chinese restaurant. I also look forward to raffle games where prizes may include flaky hopia (the ones I love most) and cash prizes. Add to that the fact that during the whole 19 years of my schooling I have been a consistent honor student so I would get additional cash prize, (which I would later partially surrender to my parents. Boo!) which they call as scholarship award. Of course it's not enough to cover even a semester's tuition fees but at least I got motivated to do well in school because I was always after the money to buy books.

This year is different. September 13 just had so many events that I wanted to attend. (Enough reason for me to write a separate entry on what I did yesterday.) I was invited to two gatherings cum dice games but since it's an annual event anyway, I chose to decline so I could attend the Wikimedia-sponsored Santa Ana walk where I got to meet really interesting people with LOTS of stories to tell. I had to leave early though to rush to Makati for Chino Gutierrez's concert where I think I was the only female adult in casual clothes because I didn't bother to bring a dress with me as my bag was already full of stuffs required for the whole day walking activity and also of freebies we got from SMART Communications.

I got home really late last night and commuting was such a pain because it rained. Somewhere in the Philippines, typhoon Luis must have landed. However I couldn't help but smile at the thought that at least I finally had the courage to talk to a former prof in UP and to my erstwhile classmate who do not even knew of my existence until last night. That said, I don't expect him to remember me if ever we get to meet again should he have a concert here in the future. My only wish is that he keeps on getting better and better at violin because he now serves as an inspiration to me especially now that I'm learning how to play the instrument he mastered at a young age.

So now I think I'll stay at home the whole day and try to at least get substantial work done for my paper presentation next week. I'll just have to build on and update one archaeology-related paper I submitted as class requirement two years ago and I'm good to go.

Busy September indeed. Sometimes I just want to sleep through it all and have someone wake me up when September ends. #Greenday

Catanauan 013102032014

I joined a trip to Catanauan last February to visit an archaeological site but because of a dilemma on whether to write about it or not, I didn't do so until now, for some reasons even I could not comprehend. (Yeah, that happens, believe it or not.)

On the way to Catanauan, we passed by a stone bridge made during Colonial times. Malagonlong Bridge took 20 years to complete with construction starting in 1840 by the Cura Parroco Antonio Mateos of Tayabas. It is one of the few remaining colonial bridges in the country and I consider myself lucky to have seen this, thanks mainly to two professors who were with me and a friend. That time I told myself, okay, I'll include old bridges as part of my itinerary whenever I go on a domestic trip.

In fact, what made the whole trip enjoyable was that I learned a lot about many things along the way and when we got to our destination. The geologist, Sir J was very generous in sharing his knowledge to us about the formation of volcanoes. Sir D, on the other hand, was ever the best person in the whole ASP to converse with when it comes to food and recipes. Both men are also into the outdoors so it was a whole lot of fun to be with them despite their age. I was more than inspired to travel again. Hearing stories of their buwis-buhay adventures made me want to follow in their footsteps. Oh what fun they had in their younger days! I wish I could live such a fruitful life so that when I am old and gray I will have a lot of stories to tell my grandchildren. (Okay... I think I will have to consider marriage as part of my personal goals in life...)

some of the cute creatures I saw: two burrowing creatures and a hermit crab
And the one in the lower right is one of the cooks who helped me cook spaghetti for the team

In the site, the dig was not difficult because of the sandy sediments which are easily to excavate. And after a day of digging everyone goes to the beach to enjoy the sunset amidst beer and laughter and lots of storytelling.

At night we slept inside tents. Some 15-20 meters from the shore was the tent city. A friend and I shared one tent where we often chatted until we fell asleep. 

If there is anything new I learned onsite, it's how to do proper flotation under the guidance of a professor who's studied in the UK. She was such a good talker and for a while I thought of going back to school if only to learn more about botanical remains and ways on how to analyze them. Her passion was something and I think she could be one of the loveliest persons to work with, always smiling, friendly, chatty, and eager to share knowledge.

One memorable night was walking a long stretch of the shore at night with a friend whom I haven't seen for long. She was with a new-found friend, a boy from Australia who I think is very friendly and smart. I even used his belly as pillow while the three of us lay down on the sands to just enjoy the beach at night, with the sound of cicadas, the stars spread out in the clear sky, the occasional flicker of light from one or two fireflies in the mangroves.

But on the fourth day we had to go. It had been fun, the trip providing me a glimpse of that much talked about Catanauan excavation where, everyone who's been there says, is a paradise. A paradise it truly is especially on nights when you lay on the sands and just listen to the waves crashing to the shore.

Bulacan Adventures Part 1 07192014

One fine Sunday, my parents and I went to Baliwag to visit distant relatives to inquire about their health and also to inspect the area. I jumped at the opportunity to have a look at what Bulacan has to offer in terms of land. I wanted to see for myself if the soil is suitable for farming since one personal goal in life is to buy a large piece of land to develop as a farm where I would like to retire, away from the bustling metro. Though a city-bred idiot, my training in archaeology exposed me to province life, a life I presume to be ideal after I have witnessed the possibility of living in utmost simplicity.

On the road, I wondered what if I could drive, then maybe I will be able to go on a road trip anytime I want and stop wherever I want to be able to fully explore a place. Commuting limits one's mobility and eats up a substantial portion of one's time so for the first time in my life, I considered saving up for a car with very good engine built for rough roads. Of course, I don't know if that dream is achievable since I have a number of reasons (not excuses, mind you) not to own a vehicle, apart from not having the financial means.

A week later, I woke up some 30 minutes earlier than usual on a Saturday morning and suddenly thought of walking in an unfamiliar place. A couple of years back, whenever I feel this itch to roam on foot, I would always go to Quiapo, Sta. Cruz, and Binondo, never missing Escolta since the area still has remnants of bygone years. This time though, I felt a strange urge to explore Bulacan, something I have been putting off for a long time now. So I did a quick research on the internet on how to commute to Bulacan. My first chosen destination was Malolos.

But whatever small plan I had was ripped into shreds when, waiting for a bus along EDSA, I eyed a bus bound for Baliwag and without second thoughts, hopped inside. The next thing I knew, I was questioning my actions and at the same time, assuring myself that I will be fine. I have roamed Ilocos all on my own last year and I can certainly do the same in Bulacan. Besides it would also allow me to do my part for the Wikipedia Cultural Heritage Mapping Project even though I am already having doubts as to whether I can contribute anything at all given my ultra hectic schedule.

While in the bus, I tried to recall how the roads we passed by a week ago look like, together with commercial establishments as landmarks. Good thing the bus stops in the marketplace which is just a few steps to the church. The moment I set eyes on that massive church, I immediately knew it was Augustinian. For some reason it reminds me of Paoay Church in Ilocos because of the red bricks used. Then I learned its name was actually St. Augustine Parish Church. The side of the church used to be a convent which was described by Fray Joaquin Martinez de Zuniga as having a peerless beauty in all of the Philippines. (He was a historian and the author of "Historia de las islas Filipinas".)

Unfortunately I wasn't able to go inside and check the interiors of the church. They only open the church when there is a mass because according to one caretaker, students from nearby St. Mary's School would make the sacred grounds as dating place. Children nowadays... Sigh!

I did enter the small chapel on the side of the church. It was dimly lit, the place very small and very quiet where one enters only to pray. I said a quick prayer and left.

Since it was close to lunch time, I looked for a nearby restaurant, ready to sample what Bulacan has to offer in terms of food. I picked Lin Mer's Bakeshop and Restaurant where I had a plate of pancit malabon. It doesn't disappoint but I sure could appreciate having a bigger serving, plus chicharon bits since the province is famous for its chicharon with backfat. (YUM!!!)

Off to my journey. I had the option to ride a tricycle to Bustos but I chose to walk, since it involves crossing a bridge. Little did I know that my legs would tremble at the slightest vibrations I felt as I took my first few steps. I remembered how, during my freshman year in college, a classmate had to hold my hand as we crossed a hanging bridge in Tagaytay because I suddenly found myself unable to move. That was kind of him. And then I thought of how my sisters also held my hand when we were in the mangroves in Aklan. So again I contemplated for a while about my nonexistent love life. (yuck! Now is not the time for self-pity. LOL)

In Bustos, I saw Sto. Niño Church which was under renovation. According to a construction worker whose sleep was disturbed by my sudden appearance, the church was set to expand. Wow! Unfortunately I wasn't able to speak to the parish priest and shortly after endured the loooong walk back to Baliwag to take a jeep bound for Plaridel. On the way, I passed by the Old Municipal Building in Baliwag which is now converted into a museum but unfortunately is closed on weekends. (Just what kind of tourists are they expecting if they close on weekends???)

So anyway on the way to Plaridel I saw Sto. Rosario Parish Church which is not really old but I wanted to take a good photo since it looks neat. Again I was met with closed doors and the lady in the parish office told me they only open the church during mass. This surprised me a lot since in all my travels, at least the side entrance to the church is always open. At the back of the church is a cemetery, which i did not enter because the gates were also locked. Sigh.

Off I went on my way, determined to finally visit the famed St. James the Apostle Church (aka Quingua Church) in Plaridel. I failed to drop by in 2012 when I first became familiar with the town for my 3-day visit to the Lumang Bayan archaeological site. The archaeo peeps told me the church was one of a kind and I had made a mental note that time only to act on it this year. (Talk about procrastination. Hohoho!) When I finally saw the mosque-like façade, I felt the same feeling of awe that swept over me when I laid eyes on St. Augustine Church earlier. It was just so unbelievable that a Christian church would incorporate a Muslim architectural design but I really found it really really cool!

The church has its own museum but unfortunately, they only open it when there are special exhibits. Wanting to spend more time with this church complex, I stayed on and bore witness to a wedding. (*bitter mode haha) By the time the wedding ended, it was raining a bit already and the dark skies seemed to tell me to go home since I promised to cook dinner that night. However, I wanted to have one last stop, Malolos, my initial target destination.

Still another wedding greeted me when I entered the magnificent, historical Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, more famously known as Barasoain Church in Malolos. I would learn later on that it was the wedding of an officemate! Since it was getting late that time, I decided to just take a look inside really quickly and then get materials from the office regarding the history of the church though since the church is very famous, mainly because of the Malolos Congress. 

It rained hard when I was about to go home but I still managed to buy a liter of blueberry yoghurt with carabao milk and quesong puti in a small shop near the church. I was already on my way home when I realized I forgot to buy packs of chicharon! Fail!!!

Well, I'm definitely going back.

Siem Reap, Cambodia 0112172014

We arrived at Siem Reap around 5AM, still sleepy despite the comfortable bus ride we had with Giant Ibis. We went straight to Hak's House where we had booked 5 nights. The hotel was small and there were mosquitoes about due to the place's proximity to an almost dried up canal, but we had a pleasant stay there. The owner Hak was accommodating and very approachable. Did I say that I love their version of French bread with tomatoes and cheese? And to think I'm not even a sandwich person.

That same day, we headed to Apsara Angkor Hotel to register. There were already a lot of people. Due to lack of sleep, I dozed off a number of times during the plenary, which was sad because the speakers talked of the development of Cambodian archaeology. From the explorations by Westerners (French mostly) to the abrupt halt in archaeological endeavors in the Pol Pot regime, to the revisions in curriculum in archaeology, the plenary session was very informative for me since I don't remember including Cambodian archaeology in our class discussions.

The next four days saw us attending different sessions based on our research interests. There are of course boring lectures but I was lucky to have attended really really interesting lectures on archaeometry and cultural heritage management. I especially loved the presentations by Japanese and Chinese scholars and I realized that their contributions in archaeology are largely overshadowed by Western achievements primarily because of language barriers. Most of the presenters couldn't speak English very well, but looking at the flow of their research methodology, one can say that they are at par, if not better than most Westerners.

I was also fortunate to have conversed with some Chinese professors. When I asked them if they were going to present a paper, they said yes and invited me to their session. I was elated to hear that their session focused on scientific analyses of artifacts, something I have taken a liking to. The use of the latest technology to analyze artifacts is just appealing to me who loves doing lab work so much. (At that point, I wondered again why I didn't pursue a science course... Sigh! I could have dabbled in many experiments!)

Wednesday was reserved for a whole day tour in the Angkor Wat Complex. The intricately detailed carvings are just super awesome that they left me speechless.Many questions formed in my mind, like how many people built the magnificent structures, how they knew which material to use, which technology was available at that time, what led the rulers to commission the construction of such a massive temple complex. I also wonder how the laborers fared in the whole project. Were they slaves subjected to cruel whips or were they highly skilled craftsmen who join together under a ruler, or a mixture of both?

It was in Angkor Wat where a friend and I met a Chinese American girl who was travelling Mainland Southeast Asia all alone. We chatted a bit and afterwards, decided to meet up for dinner somewhere in Pub Street. We had a five-meat dinner composed of chicken, pork, beef, squid, and crocodile. I didn't know they also eat crocodile meat here. The first time I heard of crocodile meat was last year when I went to Palawan, and boy do I love the sisig version!

The last day of the conference was for me the best. It was when I saw the presentations of Chinese scholars and they were really brilliant! While at the session, all I thought about was how to grab a scholarship and be under the tutelage of expert scientists in China.

The last day I also got to chat with an Australian professor who remembered me. She was ever a lovely woman, very chatty and very nice. She lectured of geochemical characterization last year at ASP and she remembered me as the girl who "was good with computers" because I ran xPRF tests in rapid succession hoping to get the most of their visit because we don't have that ultra cool portable machine. She asked me if I also did GIS and I answered no. GIS is something I'd really love to learn given the opportunity to go back to school since I am fond of maps and mapping. Then again, it sucks not to have much funds for schooling. Tsk... SIGH!

Our last night in Siem Reap saw me and my friend having a relaxing time with fish spa (2 USD each). It was a bit surprising at first to feel the fish pecking at your feet but eventually it was fun and very relaxing.

I wish to go back to Siem Reap and explore more of their food. Also, we didn't get to explore other places due to lack of time. Of course we wanted to attend as many sessions as we could since we paid 75 USD for it. The price may be too high but it was all worth it. I was more than inspired.

On Friday night, we boarded the night bus to Ho Chih Minh.

Read about our Phnom Penh trip here.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia 0110112014

The 20th Congress of the Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association (IPPA), held last January 12-18 in Siem Reap, Cambodia, was attended by yours truly with her friends in archaeology. Since late 2013, we had been dutifully saving up for this conference, and had been chatting almost everyday to talk about our itinerary. Of course, listing down places we like to see was easy because of our similar background. We all love museums, old buildings, local architecture designs, and we all have one goal aside from learning from on-going archaeological projects--- see Angkor Wat.

We chose the route Saigon- Phnom Penh- Siem Reap- Saigon because one of our friends who booked earlier, bought round trip tickets from Manila to Saigon, justifying that it's cheaper that way. I told her too late (the booking had been done) that she failed to consider land travel which could eat up one whole day. Because of this, I was hesitant to go, seeing that the trip would cause tempers to fly (mine included). So I told them that if I encounter a cheaper plane ticket, I would go; if not, then the trip was not meant for me. But it's a good thing Cebu Pacific had a promo later on so I got cheaper plane tickets. I initially wanted to do Manila- Saigon then SR-Manila but my friend pleaded that I go back home with her. So there... Though on the brighter side I did get to buy Vietnamese coffee and milk tea right before we went back to Manila.

We stayed at Tan Son Nhat Airport for some hours, resting and trying to sleep. Before 6AM we boarded a taxi to Pham Ngu Lao, had breakfast of their famous pho in a narrow alley, and bought bus tickets to Phnom Penh via PP Sorya Bus (10USD). We slept all the way to Phnom Penh, waking up only when we arrived at the immigration office. It was my first time to cross a national border by bus and it was very inconvenient but since we were on tight budget, we really couldn't complain much.

We arrived at Phnom Penh mid-afternoon and met up with a friend who had just finished her conservation workshop there. She stayed at a flat with two bedrooms for free as part of her scholarship so we also got free accommodation there for one night because her flatmate had already returned to her country. After resting for some time and taking quick baths to freshen up, we went out and visited the National Museum and strolled near the baywalk which reminded me of Roxas Boulevard and Ermita because of the presence of many tourists there. We also spent some time outside the Royal Palace, marveling at the architecture and taking photos as pigeons flew to the plaza grounds.

Royal Palace, facing the baywalk

inside the National Musuem

An unfortunate thing happened as we were in a tuktuk on the way to the National Museum. The Samsung Galaxy tablet of a friend was snatched by two men on a motorbike. It happened so fast and we were all shocked at what happened. So always be mindful and alert. As much as possible, never bring out flashy gadgets and wear simple clothes.

The following day was spent at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a depressing place, to say the least. During Pol Pot's regime, the school was converted into a prison house and was code named "S-21", was where those suspected of resisting Pol Pot were tortured until they die. What is interesting is that prisoners were documented. Each had his photograph taken and basic information was also recorded.

prison rules in Tuol Sleng

The visit to the genocide museum drained all energy I had. It was unthinkable how the human mind is creative at designing torture techniques aimed at fellow humans. Even more baffling is the cruelty and oppression inflicted on civilians just for the political elite to establish and maintain power, and just for a twisted ideology! It should be noted that despite the evil caused by the Khmer Rouge, it still aimed for the nation to be self-sufficient and to develop fervent nationalism, but at the expense of education. Still, the nationalism it promoted was to the extent that it mirrored Hitler's desire for a pure race, thus resulting in ethnic cleansing and genocide.

After a quick, cheap lunch at an eatery, we headed for Choeung Ek Genocidal Center, also known as The Killing Fields. It is where the Khmer Rouge executed more than one million people during Pol Pot's regime. It is a serene place, perfect for contemplating on the nature of man, as one navigates through the site accompanied by an audio system which details key historical events that happened there. 

One of the touching stories was about a survivor who recounts that as a child he met a fellow prisoner, an adult, who kept on pleading the guards to let the child go for he is innocent. Later, the boy learned of the death of the adult prisoner who was killed because the guards got annoyed at his constant pleas, and recalls how he was touched at the concern shown to him by a stranger.

I love the ending track where it was commented that the Buddhist stupa, having sacred Hindu and Buddhist symbols, have both garudas and nagas in it. The nagas are said to have fathered the Khmer people and are the enemies of garudas, but when they come together, they are a symbol of peace.

Before we went back to the apartment, we bought some vegetables. That night, I cooked chopsuey, making do with what is readily available in the kitchen. Still turned out to be delicious. After dinner, we proceeded to Giant Ibis bus for our night trip to Siem Reap. It was my first time to experience such a comfortable sleeper bus. Fare from PP to SR was 15USD.

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There is a whole lot more to learn about Cambodia. When we talk of crimes against humanity, genocide, and ethnic cleansing, we often discuss Hitler's Nazi regime. In highschool, Asian History was all about memorizing dynasties and names of rulers. I can hardly recall anything from that class. I think maybe if we discussed key important events that contributed to how a nation is shaped at present, students would be more receptive and more appreciative of history and culture. It was only during this trip when I learned of the Cambodian civil war so I made sure to buy at least one book: Ben Kiernan's The Pol Pot Regime: Race, Power, and Genocide in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge, 1975-79 (2nd edition). I always wonder what makes an ideology so powerful that it can influence a large number of people, and how people are persuaded to accept an ideology as it is, without questioning the morality and underlying interests it may hold. I have been reading the book since we were in Cambodia and have yet to read it from cover to cover. It did, nevertheless, make me understand the circumstances Cambodia was in prior to Pol Pot's regime.

January

January is coming to an end and I have yet to add anything other than what I did in December last year. 2014 started with a personal vow not to wish for the usual things I ask for, so I can give my heart a rest and stop expecting things to get better. 2013 ended with a promise to focus on the self and continue to reconnect with people whom I care for.

Reading my diary entries in highschool and early college years made me aware of how much I changed. I didn't realize the big change in me all these years, always thinking that I remained the same. But comparing my erstwhile angry, furious, self-centered writings to those at present, I can say that I have definitely become more compassionate and more tolerant of other people.

Perhaps, reading more about Buddhism and visiting Buddhist temples struck something in me. That life is illusory and empty used to be only a theory, but now a principle I hold, so I try to create meaning for myself in this world of constant change, to help me cope with my daily existential grievances. Pain is a passing illusion and relief is always just around the corner. Just be patient, I always tell myself. Perhaps my daily engagement with the very inefficient transportation system here somehow changed me a great deal. To escape great discomfort, I allowed my mind to wander aimlessly and come to myself when I am about to get off the train. No-mind practicing at its best.

Back from my first IPPA (Indo-Pacific Prehistory Association) Congress, held this year in Siem Reap, Cambodia from January 12-18, I was left utterly stunned and restless from all the amazing things I learned about archaeology in different parts of the world, more so about methods in archaeological science, a field I want to specialize in because however it is difficult to admit, I realized I love lab work more than the field.

I wanted to write so badly about Cambodia, but I didn't know where to begin. On cold nights when you feel too lazy to do things, I couldn't even look at the pictures I took for fear that I might just stare for hours on end hoping for muses to visit me so I could begin to write. It seemed like a dream. Yesterday's dream. I used to think that I would certainly cry when I walk on the grounds of Angkor Wat and touch the ancient temples' walls. When I was there, I only stood, overwhelmed, breathless, aiming to breathe in all the memories, wishing for time to stop so I could spend more time recording, touching, investigating. Now back in Manila, it felt surreal, like a beautiful dream you didn't want to wake up from.

Just four days after my return, my sisters and I flew to Boracay for that much-needed getaway. Boracay was never on my bucket list of places to go to, because of my perceived notion that the island is already very much commercialized. Indeed it is, but it was there where I found the finest white beach sand yet. My feet happily tread on the beach, sometimes deliberately burrowing deep to wallow in the creamy sand-saltwater mixture. And the winds! How they blew! The sunset blocked by hundreds of paraws... The lights at night, the blue sky... There is more than one reason to go back.

Just got back from Boracay this Monday and headed straight to work despite feeling extra sleepy and tired. But it's all so worth it.

Now if only I can start writing about my recent travels....