Singapore 2016 (Part I)

With good friends, old and new!

Singapore is the second country I've visited, the last one being Japan way back in 2011. I accompanied my mum to her 40th anniversary reunion with her good friends from SSEAYP (Ship for South East Asian Youth Program). I'm truly grateful to be given the opportunity to act as bodyguard because this was a trip I could never have financed on my own (#teachersalary), and it was a week full of fun and learning!

So we did a lot of this... 

Us being educators, it was only natural that we go museum-hopping instead of the usual touristy things! Which is to say, we DID hit some of the touristy spots like Sentosa, Universal Studios, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, the River Cruise, etc.

But then we made sure to do a lot of bookstore hunting as well as play watching!

Worshipped at Kinokuniya, Takashimaya, Orchard Road

Trekked to Tiong Bahru to spend a lot of S$ in BOOKS ACTUALLY

The set of Singapore Repertory Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park offering: ROMEO AND JULIET

And we also did a lot of this...

Lovely dinner with Daniel, Kesavan and his lovely wife at the National Kitchen by Violet Oon Singapore!

I daresay I ate more than I could possibly walk off! :) There were simply SOOOO MANY GOOOOOD THINGS TO EAT.

High tea at the Raffles Hotel

Where they do Hainanese chicken right! And chicken curry and garlic vegetables and rice!

The cereal prawns were the culinary highlight of the trip!

My mom and I, and the Singapore night sky. Observe the Singapore flag flying in the background. :)

I guess one reason why I felt so at home in Singapore was because it reminded me so much of Manila. Or rather, I believe it is what Manila could be, decades from now. When people are more disciplined and when things work the way they should. Where the citizens take pride in their homeland and show it by doing their jobs as best as they are able, asking not what their country can do for them but rather what they can do to make their country better.

Another important lesson: The backpack is KING of all bags.
Next time... I shall pack everything into a backpack, I KNOW it will save me a great deal of time and shoulder-ache!

Other (deeper) reflections to follow in succeeding blog posts. But for now, let me end by saying THANK YOU SINGAPORE! And I am confident that we can follow in its footsteps, if we but decide to discipline ourselves and work hard for that day.

"Someday" became "today"

My brother and I hiking up Mt. Pinagbandirahan aka Mt. Gulugod Baboy(photo credit goes to my sister, Tata Francisco!)

Yes I'm still alive! And so is this blog! And what better way to celebrate Easter, a day of rebirth and renewal, by posting about an incredible experience we had last Good Friday?

I've always been a square. Predictable. Safe. Consistent. I've always been the type to plan everything out to the last detail. Always prompt for appointments. Always scheduling coffee dates or meet-ups with friends AT LEAST a week ahead. In short... a regular bore.

And then, on Good Friday, I woke up and felt like climbing a mountain!

Well okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration. What happened was, on midnight of Good Friday, I proposed to my siblings the idea of going on an out-of-town hike up a mountain. It's something I've always wanted to do but never did. Somehow, work would always get in the way.

The amazing thing was, my siblings went along with my uncharacteristic, spontaneous idea!

And so it was that we set out for Mt. Gulugod Baboy in Mabini, Batangas, with barely any research, barely any preparations. Just a crazy "let's do this!!!" attitude and the bravado of the ignorant. Oh happy ignorance!

We commuted all the way. Carrying enormous backpacks stuffed with provisions bought from the convenience store at the corner, we left the house at the incredibly late hour of 9:00 am! It was so late that someone told us, "I don't think you'll make it there. You should have left earlier."

After riding a jeep, a bit of bus-chasing and some negotiating, we found ourselves en route to Batangas at 11:00 a.m. Because it was Good Friday, there was NO TRAFFIC! And we got to Batangas City proper at around 12:30 pm. 

From the Diversion Road in Batangas City, we took a jeep to Bauan, then got on another jeepney to take us to Mabini. From Mabini, we took a trike to Anilao and got dropped off at the Registration Center opposite Philpan Resort at 1:30 pm. 

Our simple pre-hike lunch of rice, lumpia and Coke!

After a hasty lunch washed down with Coke, we set off with our guide, Alex, at around 2:00 pm. We wondered at his mountain climbing footwear: tsinelas!

What made the climb difficult was the heat. Most climbers set off as early as 4:00 am, while we had the afternoon sun beating down on us! And being newbies, we hadn't experienced how the weight of a backpack could seemingly increase exponentially, the steeper the climb. 

There's nothing quite like it. My memory of the climb itself is rather a blur of sensations...of the seemingly never-ending push ever forward, with one's heartbeat pounding in one's ears, throwing down one's backpack in exhaustion for every break. One becomes grateful for the littlest things... for a friendly tree's shade where one can rest, for a helpful lady selling iced water in her nipa hut up the mountain, for gentle cows and noisy goats and enormous ravens circling overhead, silent witnesses and cheerleaders for the puffing humans encroaching on their domain... and above all, for siblings whose unflagging optimism cheered me on and made me continue when I know that I would have given up, if I had been on my own.

We reached the top of Peak 1 (there are 3 peaks!!!) at 4:30 pm, only to feel anger at the sight of a parking lot, a paved road, and the crowd that obviously DROVE up the mountain instead of climbing it. I don't think driving up a mountain on your Ford counts as "conquering" it, despite all the selfies one takes at the summit.

Then again, thank goodness for the paved road, because we were able to secure a trike that brought us down the mountain. And at the bottom, which was part of Gasang, Mabini, we were lucky enough to find a jeep that took us all the way to Batangas Diversion, from where we took another jeep to get to Batangas Grand Terminal. We had to stop for several minutes, several times, due to all the processions going on. The longest stop was for 30 minutes! That must have been the longest procession I've ever seen in my life. Catholicism is alive and thriving in Batangas!

Thanks to manong driver's amazing Fast and Furious driving, we got to the Grand Terminal just in time for the last bus going home to Manila for the day! Talk about lucky stars.

Left Batangas at 7:25 pm, and got off at Magallanes MRT station at 8:40 pm.

Got home at 9:00 pm, just in time for a late dinner. That's right, we commuted all the way to Batangas to climb a mountain and got back to Manila, all in 12 hours! Whew! What a memorable day!

LESSONS LEARNED:

1) It's better to go all the way to Cubao and ride a bus from there, because by the time the provincial buses get to Alabang, they're full!

2) Don't believe the ratings on the internet. They gave Mt. Gulugod Baboy a 2/9 rating, saying it was an easy hike. Trust me. IT. WASN'T.

3) Physical fitness is everything. I was in awe of the mountain's residents, looking so wry and sprightly even at 70 - 80 years of age. They climb to the summit almost every day, apparently! And if I lived there, so would I. Who wouldn't want their daily dose of that beautiful view? Blue ocean, a canopy of lush vegetation, and the fresh mountain breeze?

4) The best-tasting Sprite in my life was the one I drank on top of the mountain, after the climb.

5) I need to change who I am. I need to take more risks, to have more faith in my own abilities. The confidence boost is amazing, post-climb! 

6) At the end of the day, there's no place like home. It's just like what G.K. Chesterton said: "The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” Only a mere 12 hours elapsed from the time we stepped out our front door, and yet it seemed as if it had been years. I was sooooo happy to see that blessed gate, which had seemed like an obstacle but now seemed so welcoming!

In summary, you don't need weeks of preparation, nor a car to go out and have an out-of-town adventure. You just need to COMMIT to it, and have trusted people to go along with you for safety.

Here's to more exciting adventures with the Tres Muchachos!
But perhaps, a little less spontaneous next time. Ahihi. :)

2015 in Books and Lessons

"Das lesende Madchen" by Johann Georg Meyer von Bremen

Goodreads makes it easy!
Please click here to see my 2015 in books, courtesy of the awesome Goodreads site.

The stats are depressing, though. 29 books read, out of my goal of 52. *sigh* It's worth noting, however, that the 29 books do NOT include the romance novels I read, or what my mother calls "those trashy novels." Hehe. They're like chocolates for the soul. As I grow older and more cynical, I find that these romance novels give me hope for mankind, that there IS love and passion and joy that I have yet to experience but no doubt exists for others and hopefully, in the future, for myself.

29 books out of my goal of 52 books for a year. Ugh. Then again, I'd like to think that I did more living than reading.

And as for lessons, a student of mine asked me to answer three questions for his article for the school newsletter. Here they are:

1) What did you learn about yourself from this past year?

I learned that I need to rest and take time to recharge, instead of saying "yes" to everything. Productivity is good but rest is important, both for the body and the soul. I also learned that I am capable of commuting all by myself, even in "dangerous" places and at night!

2) Explain a valuable life lesson you learned in 2015.

I learned how to cook! Haha, I also learned how to commute to unfamiliar and far-away places, clean the toilet, do the dishes, and buy groceries. Hopefully 2016 will have more opportunities for me to hone my domestic/explorer skills!

3) Given all your experiences, insights, and lessons learned from last year, what's the best advice you could give yourself for next year?

*sings a la Elsa* "Let it go....."

We should let go of the things we cannot control. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I struggle with this, but last year taught me that less is more, that letting go is liberating, and that freedom in all its forms is a future to strive for.

Happy new year to all of us!

Previous Years in Books posts:
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 (a partial list)

Trial by Jury: A Philippine Premiere

It is rare that one gets to watch an almost perfect performance of opera in Manila. The only complaint an audience member could make was that it ended too soon (running time was under an hour)! But everything else was as perfect as perfection could be, a shining testament to what happens when there is proper funding and when all the members of the production are the best in their field (when you get the likes of Floy Quintos to direct, Ohm David for set design, etc.). It was an unforgettable evening!

A few musical snobs (or rather, a few musically discriminating aesthetes --  to be politically correct) might say that operetta is not on the same level as grand and epic opera, but to those people, I say: "Pah!" Having seen my share of Italian verisimo operas, tragic and comic alike, I must say that watching an English opera was a special treat. There is truly no substitute for word-for-word comprehension, and comedy works at its finest with lightning speed wit that had the esteemed  and distinguished audience laughing heartily, just as if they were watching a HIMYM episode. 

It certainly had all the plot ingredients for it! The lecherous old man judge, the suited-up dandy, the plaintiff's counsel (whose character, of course, HAD to be graduate from UP Law ;), "Where else?" ), the innocent-kuno bride-to-be, the closet gays, the judgmental ladies... it was one hour of non-stop frolic and not-so-clean fun!

I was particularly struck by the amount of sheer talent on one stage last night. When one reads the program and the names listed therein, one is struck by the fact that it is a veritable Who's Who of the finest singers and production people in Manila.... the opera equivalent of a movie that's sure to be in the running for an Oscar. Pick any member of the ensemble or "chorus" and there's a distinguished career/background to go with the pretty face and voice, with the likes of Master's degree holder from the Royal College of Music, London, soprano Anna Migallos... top voice teacher and multiple award winning soprano Camille Lopez-Molina... and of course, the highlight of the evening were the performances by the singing lawyers, Dot Ramos-Gancayco and Kay Balajadia-Liggayu! Proof that there are really super women amongst us who can excel in any field of endeavour, be it law or the arts.

Congratulations to the UP Women Lawyers’ Circle (UP WILOCI) and Zonta Club of Manila I for mounting this production! If you have the chance to see their upcoming shows, DO seize the opportunity because shows of this standard don't come along very often!

Revival

There is this lovely painting entitled "Drinking Coffee and Reading in the Garden" by Edward Johnson, and to me, it represents the ultimate luxury in life: leisure time to do just this! Not necessarily in a Philippine garden, with all the ants that might take sips from your coffee. But somewhere nice and peaceful... perhaps a cafe, or a park.

It's the middle of summer, and I'm so happy to have had some chances to read, stroll, have dinner with friends, watch concerts... and everything done leisurely! The older we get, the more frantic the pace of life becomes. And so these oases of calm and quiet are precious moments of renewal. And since this is my first blog entry of the year, it's also my way of reviving my dormant blog.

The revival of spirit, of creative impulses is the first task of any teacher during the summer. We love our jobs but the stress can eat away at one's passion, and so we use the summer to soak in all the art and culture that we can get, so we can pass it on to our students during the school year.

I am struck by how stilted, how forced my "voice" is now. Evidence of a rusty hand at recording one's thoughts. All the more reason for me to continue blogging!

Now tilt your head sideways, so you can read my Summer To-Do List.

Now tilt it back to normal. Isn't it refreshing? A simple change of perspective can make everything so different! And that's what this summer is all about.

I've ticked off quite a few of the items, and am looking forward to doing No. 2 and No. 3 soon! Especially since it's National Heritage Month and the National Museum is open, free of charge, all month! :) Oh Spolarium, it's been a decade since I've last seen you!

Revival of spirit, renewal of passion. That's what summer is all about. Not the beach parties, nor the drinking sessions by the seashore. But a simple breath of fresh air to breathe new life into the beautiful one we already have. (Going out of town would be nice but rather expensive and not very teacher-friendly, budget-wise.)

Have a great summer!

2014 in Books and Blessings

This year, I've tried something different... instead of posting all the individual titles, I merely put the covers in one picture:

What a wonderful year it has been! Close friends will know that 2014 brought unique trials to our family, but we remain confident that, as long as we stick together, and with lots of help from up above, we will be able to overcome these challenges!

I'm especially grateful that I still get to squeeze in reading despite the ever increasing work load (a fact of life: the work load doesn't get any lighter. It keeps getting heavier! haha, which does wonders for one's figure because I end up losing weight even without exercising!)

I'd like to thank Goodreads for the pictures of the 43 books I've read in 2014, not counting the eight "trashy" romance novels I guiltily snacked on, hehe. (OUTLANDER is an exception because it transcends the genre!)

And since I've read too few to come up with a "Top 10" list, here's my humble Top 5 Reads of the year:

1. NORTH AND SOUTH by Elizabeth Gaskell. Best $0.00 purchase on Kindle, ever! And it is now my favorite book OF ALL TIME. It has brought so much joy to my life, and now all I want to be in life is to be like Margaret Hale, the unforgettable and oh-so-admirable heroine in the book.

2. MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Victor E. Frankl. Who better than a Holocaust survivor to write a book about the meaning of life? It's the kind of book that's useless to highlight, because you'll just end up highlighting everything. I will be rereading this book every few years or so, it's THAT important and inspiring.

3. STRINGS ATTACHED by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchynsky. This book made me cry. It is part murder mystery, part tribute to an incredible teacher, and ultimately it is about the redemptive power of music in everyone's life.

4. ABSOLUTELY AMERICAN: FOUR YEARS AT WEST POINT by David Lipsky. I loved it because of the patriotism and idealism that comes out from this wonderful description of a school like no other. It gave me ideas on how to teach patriotism in the context of a Philippine school.

5. I AM MALALA by Malala Yousafzai. She is the Anne Frank of our generation. And with the recent brutal attack of a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, this book has even more significance. Whenever I feel down and start wondering if one person can make a difference, I remember Malala and I am hopeful again. But what struck me the most from this book is the revelation that Malala became what she is because of her incredible father, a hero in his own right. Mr. Yousafzai, thank you for raising a heroine.

The biggest blessing that 2014 brought me is the gift of Friendship. A new friend made, old friendships further deepened... there is no peace like the peace of being one's crazy self amidst people who are as crazy as you!

Here's to another year full of friends, books, food and love!

Previous Years in Books posts:

2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 (a partial list)

Limoncello

                                                                     (Photo credits here)

Limoncello has been one of my great discoveries this sembreak. It is Italian in origin, a beverage made of lemon and other things, but not quite as sour as lemonade and infinitely more refreshing. It is VEEEERY addictive! Apparently it is taken in between or after meals, to cleanse the palate. But in my case I have no problem downing it like a thirsty camel after trekking through the Sahara.

The sembreak is, I suppose, like limoncello. A refreshing taste in between hearty, heavy doses of Life. Come to think of it... limoncello is sweet and sour, like Life itself!

We become what we do, I think. Some might disagree, but it can't be denied that one's profession changes someone, either for the better or for the worse. Mine, I think, has altered me so greatly that sometimes I need to pause and think about who I am, without the apellation "Teacher" before my name.

I've come to that advanced stage in life when the doors that remain open are not as many as the ones that are closed, but now I think it's not necessarily a bad thing to have less options open in life. It teaches one gratitude. Who is happier: the bird with infinite directions to fly towards, or the rabbit with its single hole, surrounded by its loved ones? If happiness be pleasure (which it isn't), then you might think the bird is better off. But a multitude of options can paralyze one into inaction, and the homely rabbit with its conviction and its clear cut direction in life is to be envied.

I am turning into that rabbit. I am becoming *gasp* a mature lady of a certain age, though I certainly don't feel older! And yet I've been described as having an old soul. I suppose the nature of my profession has exposed me to several lives, to the point that I feel as if I've lived (albeit vicariously) several of them. That's why I'm grateful to be surrounded by children every day. Seeing the world through their eyes makes me realize how important it is to NEVER lose our childish sense of wonder, of delighting in the 'shallow' things like toffee nut latte and rainy school days.

And another thing: I've been granted the privilege of seeing how students I taught in the past have turned out, after a year or so in college. It's humbling and immensely gratifying… like seeing a report card in the flesh. And it just makes me grateful for the twists and turns in my life, the unplanned as well as the seemingly inconvenient ones, because they all make sense when you see that your life's thread was entwined with another's for a purpose. And it is a beautiful reminder of how the "chaos" in our life is actually all part of a Master Plan.

The emptiness will be filled up. The momentary sorrow and pain is from the soul forge, turning the dross into gold. And if there is a twinge of sadness at the thought that the sembreak is over far too soon, there is the comforting thought that we can only appreciate the beautiful days if we experience the bad ones. And how lovely that the "worst" days of my life are spent doing meaningful work, and that toffee nut latte will be coming soon!