Noong isang araw, ako ay lumabas para maghehersisyo. Makulimlim at mahamog ang umaga. At habang ako ay tumatakbo, ang gunita ko naman ay nagliliwaliw at tumatakbo rin. Ito ay napadpad sa isang nakaraan. Sa isa ring makulimlim na umaga………

Sariwa pa sa aking isip ang araw na iyon. Bagama’t tanghali na ay binabalot pa rin ng dilim ang umaga. Makapal at maiitim ang ulap na tumatabing sa sikat ng araw. Bumubuhos din ang napakalakas na ulan. Para bagang tumataghoy at tumatangis ang langit. Nakikiramay kaya ito sa aking nadarama?

Dahil sa kailangan naming dumalo sa isang tinakdang pagtitipon at dapat makarating sa tamang oras, ay napasabak kami sa napakalakas na ulan. Aming sinuong ang bumubuhos na delubyo. Nakarating naman kami sa aming paroroonan.

Matapos kaming makarating sa gusali ng pagtitipon, ay aking pinagmasdan ang mga taong pumapasok sa bulwagang iyon. Lahat sila ay pawang mga basang sisiw na nilublob sa tubig. Kulang na lang ay magsabon na rin sila. Pormal at magagara pa naman ang bihis nila. Buti na lamang at may dala kaming payong. Ngunit gayon pa man ay basang-basa pa rin ang aking sapatos at pantalon.

Kahit na makulimlim at bumabagyo noong araw na iyon, at kahit pa basang-basa ang karamihan dahil sa sinugod nilang lakas ng ulan, ay maaliwalas at maligaya ang napupulsong damdaming sa loob ng bulwagang iyon.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko piniling magsuot ng itim noong araw na iyon. Ako ba’y nagluluksa? Ako ba’y dadalo sa libing?

Sabi nila ang araw na iyon ay isang kaganapang tinatanaw.  Sabi nila ito raw ay kasagutan sa isang inaasam na pangarap. Pangarap na maraming tao sa iba’t-ibang lupalop ng mundo ang nagkakandarapa na makamit. Sabi nila ito raw ang katapusan ng mahabang paghihintay. Para sa akin, mahigit dalawampung taon ang inabot.

Sabi pa nila ito raw ay masayang okasyon. Ito raw ay araw ng pagdiriwang. Araw na dapat ipagbunyi. Ngunit bakit may kurot ng lungkot akong nararamdaman? Oo nga’t may tuwa sa aking puso ngunit bakit may bahid rin ito ng lumbay?

Matapos makapasok sa malaking bulwagang iyon ang lahat ng kinaukulan at maupo kami sa tinalagang upuan para sa amin, ay nagsimula na rin ang hinihintay naming seremonya. Tumahimik ang lahat, at kulog at ugong na lang ng malakas na ulan ang aming naririnig.

Pumasok na ang hukom. Ito’y nagbigay ng isang masayang pagbati.

Hindi na nagtagal kaming lahat ay pinatayo. Ako, kasama ng maraming tao, mula sa iba’t-ibang lahi at bansa. Ipinataas sa amin ang aming kanang kamay, at kami’y pinabigkas.

At habang ako’y nanunumpa sa harap ng dayuhang bandila, habang umiiyak ang mga alapaap, ay nangingilid naman sa aking mga mata ang luha………

Halos isang taon na rin pala ang lumipas mula nang aking ipagluksa ang aking inang bayan. Mag-iisang taon na pala ang nagdaan nang aking isuko ang aking pagkamamamayan sa lupa kong sinilangan.

Namatay at nalibing na nga ba ang aking pagiging isang Pilipino? Huwag naman sanang mangyari.

*******

(*isinulat para sa pagunita ng buwan ng wika)

(**Photos taken with an iPhone, one foggy morning)

My alma mater have seen renovation and updates in its structures and facilities over the years. After all, a more than 400-year-old establishment needs to keep up with the changes of time.

Earlier this year, when I revisted my school, I have noted some changes in the campus that were not present when I left its portals 25 years ago.

If you enter the campus through the España entrance, the first structure that will welcome you is the Arch of the Century.  Somehow adding this low wall bearing the university’s name (photo above) at the side of the arch, gives this archaic landmark a fresh look.

In front of the Main Building, which is arguably the most recognizable building on the campus, there is now the huge “UST” letters, as well as a growling tiger (above photo) prowling on the university’s grounds.

Even the plaza where the statue of Father Benavidez stands, got some modern framework around it giving it a contemporary look (photo below).

I believe many of the makeover and updates in the campus were constructed right before the 400th year celebration 5 years ago.

Below is the landmark commemorating that event.

Even the walkway that I passed everyday during my time in the university, has a different look. I don’t even remember that it was named Burgos Lane (photo below). I also like the “No Smoking” sign, which I hope is being followed and enforced.

Besides the changes inside the campus, there are also noticeable changes around and outside the campus. For sure the skyscrapers towering around the university campus were not there during my time.

Then a couple of days ago, somebody posted a photo of my alma mater. I would say that this is the most ambitious and spectacular update to date that I have ever seen.

They added an ocean to the campus!

Now it can claim to be called the University by the Bay.

*******

P.S. On a serious note, I pray for the safety of all who are affected by the heavy rains and flooding in the Philippines.

(*Photos I took and processed with an iPhone, except for the last picture which was taken by Michael Angelo Reyes and I grabbed from the internet.)

Umaakyat ka ba sa bubong ng inyong bahay upang doon tumambay? Sabi nila pusa at mga kalapati lang daw ang umuupo at lumalagi sa bubong. Pero bakit si Spiderman o si Batman, laging tumatambay sa bubong?

 *******

Hunyo, 1987.

Mahigit isang linggo pa lang nagsimula ang pasukan. Unang semestre at unang taon kong tumapak sa medical school. Masasabing punong-puno ng pag-asa ang aking hinaharap. At ako rin nama’y punong-puno ng pangarap.

Ngunit isang gabi, nang ako’y umuwi, ay mayroon kumosyon sa amin. Hindi lamang sa aming bahay, kundi sa aming magkakapit-bahay sa lugar namin sa Maynila.

Akin napag-alaman na may sunog daw sa malapit sa amin. Ngunit kahit sa kabilang kalye pa ang sunog, dahil sa dikit-dikit na parang mga posporo ang mga bahay doon sa amin sa Sampalok, ay madaling kumalat ang apoy.

Hindi ito ang unang sunog na aming naranasan. Mahigit isang taon lang ang lumipas bago ang sunog na ito, nang magkaroon ng sunog sa mismong kalye namin. Dalawang bahay lang ang layo mula sa amin. Lumikas na nga kami sa aming bahay. Buti na lamang at naagapan ng mga bumbero at hindi masyadong kumalat ang apoy. Gayon pa ma’y isang bata ang namatay noon, dahil hindi ito naitakas.

Kaya nang magkaroon ulit ng sunog sa aming lugar nang gabing iyon, hindi maiaalis ang takot sa aming puso. Ako’y inutusan ng aking nanay na tanawin kung gaanong kalayo ang sunog, upang malaman kung kailangan naming mag-alsa balutan.

Paano ko tatanawin ang sunog? Wala namang tore doon sa amin. Hindi rin naman pwedeng akyatin ang poste ng Meralco. Kaya’t walang pinakamagandang lugar para makita kundi sa bubong ng aming bahay. Kahit pa ba dalawang palapag lang ang aming bahay, kapag nasa bubong na, ay malayo na rin ang matatanaw.

Maraming beses na rin naman akong umakyat sa bubong ng aming bahay. Nariyan ‘nung mag-palipad ako ng saranggola kasama ng aking tiyuhin sa aming bubong. At minsan din ay tinulungan ko ang aking tatay na magpahid ng vulcaseal sa aming mga yero dahil tumutulo ito kapag umuulan.

Ngunit lahat ng pagkakataon noon ay sa araw ako umaakayat sa bubong. Ngayon lang ako umakyat nang gabi. Pero hindi ako miyembro ng “akyat-bahay.”

Matapos kong tanawin ang sunog, ay aking natanto na malayu-layo naman pala ito sa amin. Siguro, tatlong kalye ang layo. Akin ding naobserbahan na ang ningas ng malalaking dila ng apoy ay dahan-dahan nang humuhupa. Siguro dahil na rin sa pagsisikap ng mga bumbero.

Pagkatapos kong isigaw at ipaalam sa aking pamilya na malayo naman pala ang sunog at hindi naming kailangang lumikas, ay nanatili at tumambay pa muna ako sa bubong ng aming bahay. Habang ako’y nakatanaw sa nagliliyab na apoy, ay akin ding tinangkang tanawin kung ano ang bukas para sa amin.

Sa katunayan, galing lang ako sa ospital ng gabing iyon. Sa ospital kung saan nakaratay ang aking ama. Aking kinuha ang mga plaka ng kanyang CAT scan mula sa isang lugar kung saan ito isinagawa, at inihatid ito sa ospital kung saan siya ooperahan.

Isang malaking tumor sa utak ang hatol sa aking ama.

Mapanganib daw ang gagawing operasyon. Hindi rin kayang isiguro ng duktor kung magiging tagumpay ito. Ngunit operasyon lang ang tsansang meron kami, kung gusto pa naming madagdagan ang buhay ng aking tatay. Siya ay singkwenta anyos lamang.

Totoo, hindi ang tinatanaw na sunog ang pinakamalaking nagbabadyang panganib sa aming buhay noong gabing iyon. Hindi apoy na maaring tumupok sa aming bahay ang aking kinakatakutan, kundi isang sakuna na papatay sa apoy ng aming buhay at aming mga pangarap.

Paano kung hindi kayang lunasan ang sakit ng aking ama? Paano kung hindi magtagumpay ang operasyon? Buhay niya ang nakasalalay dito. At buhay rin naming pamilya ang magdudusa.

Ngunit habang ako’y nakamasid sa apoy na tumutupok sa mga bahay, ay isang katahimikan ang sa aki’y sumukob. Ang aking takot at pangangamba ay pawang inalis at isang kasiguraduhan ang aking nadama.

Hindi ko man batid kung ano ang hatid ng bukas, ay batid ko naman kung sino ang may hawak ng bukas. At ipinangako ko rin sa aking sarili, na anuman ang mangyari, ay hindi ako bibitaw sa aking mga pangarap.

Pagkalipas ng tatlong buwan matapos kong magmuni-muni sa bubong ng aming bahay, ay pumanaw ang aking ama.

*******

Enero, 2016.

Ako ay muling nakatanaw mula sa isang mataas na lugar sa Maynila. Sasabihin kong mas mataas pa sa bubong ng aming bahay noon ang aking kinalalagyan. Muli akong tumanaw sa lugar ng Sampalok kung saan minsan isang gabi, maraming taon na ang nakaraan, ako ay tumanaw at nagmuni-muni.

overlooking Manila area and the Sampaloc PLDT tower

Ngunit walang nagliliyab na sunog akong tinatanaw. Wala ring nagbabadyang panganib akong binabantayan.

Kahit pumanaw ang aking ama, sa gabay naman ng Maykapal, at dahil na rin sa pagsusumikap, ay nakaraos din ang aming pamilya. Ako’y napagkalooban ng scholarship na siyang nagtuguyod na magtuloy ako sa aking pag-aaral. At kahit pa laging maliit at minsan ay kulang ang aking baon, ay naigapang naman at nakatapos rin.

Ngayon, ako’y  nanumbalik sa aking unibersidad doon sa Maynila, upang dumalo sa aming 25th graduation anniversary mula sa medical school.

Mula sa mataas na lugar na iyon, muling nagmuni-muni at nagpasalamat. Wala mang sunog akong tinatanaw, ang apoy naman ng mga pangarap ko’y patuloy pa ring nagliliyab.

*******

(*Photo taken during my last visit to Manila, January 2016)

Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo,
Ako’y may dala dalang balita galing sa bayan ko,
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento at,
Ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap sa lupang ipinangako. 

(lyrics from the song Balita by Asin)

Kasama ako sa mga milyon-milyong Pilipino na wala sa ating bansa, ngunit lagi pa ring nakatutok sa mga balitang nanggagaling sa bayan ko. Masasabi ko rin na ang mga balita mula sa ating bayan ay umaalingawngaw hanggang sa iba’t ibang sulok ng mundo.

Hindi lang mga Pilipino ang mga nagdadala ng balita. Kahit ibang tao sa ibang bansa ay pawang interesado sa mga pangyayari sa ating bayan. Marami rin namang mga kritiko. Maging ibang lahi na wala naman mismo sa ating bansa. Pero ito lang ang masasabi ko sa kanila, hindi ba mga Pilipino rin ang mas nakakaalam kung ano ang mas makabubuti sa bansang Pilipinas?

Ako ay lumaki sa panahon ng Martial Law. Tuwing flag ceremony noong ako’y nag-aaral pa sa elementarya ay inaawit namin ang Bagong Lipunan. Sa katunayan, saulado ko pa rin ang kantang ito:

May bagong silang,

May bago nang buhay,

Bagong bansa,

Bagong galaw,

Sa Bagong Lipunan.

Magbabago ang lahat,

Tungo sa pag-unlad,

at ating itanghal,

Bagong lipunan!

Ngunit matapos ang maraming taon, hinangad din ng mga mamamayan ang tunay na pagbabago, hindi lamang sa isang kanta. Hindi napakali ang mamamayan, kaya’t sa isang pag-aalsa, ang pamunuan na nasa likod ng awit ng Bagong Lipunan ay napalitan.

Saksi ako sa mga laksa-laksang tao na nagtungo at nagkampo sa EDSA, na nagsusumamo sa isang pagbabago. Nakigulo rin ako kasama ng aking mga kaklase doon sa EDSA, ngunit pumunta kami noong umalis na ang mga tangke. Ang tanong ko, nagkamali ba ang laksa-laksang mga Pilipino?

Aaminin ko, hindi ako kasama sa mga bumoto kay Cory, hindi sa dahil sa ayaw ko sa Aquino, o dahil sa ako’y maka-Marcos. Hindi ako nakaboto dahil, kulang ako sa edad na bumoto, noong panahon ng rehistro.

Sa katunayan kung may sasama ang loob na napaalis si Marcos ay dapat ang aming sambayanan. Ang aking nanay ay tubong Sarrat, Ilocos Norte. Ilang bahay lang mula sa bahay nila, ang bahay kung saan ipinanganak ang dating Presidente Marcos. Ang bahay na iyon ay naging museo na, at amin itong pinupuntahan kapag kami’y bumibisita sa Sarrat noon.

Ilokano nak met.

Taga Ilocos Norte din si General Fabian Ver na dating kanang-kamay ni Marcos. At ang nanay ni General Ver at ang aking lola ay naging magkaibigan. Madalas ko pa itong nakikita na bumibisita sa bahay ng aking lola kapag kami’y nagbabakasyon sa Ilocos.

Pero dahil sa ngalan ng pagbabago, ay aming tinanggap at yinakap ang naging bagong pamunuan. Kasama ako sa mga nangarap at umasa sa isang pagbabago at mas maunlad na Pilipinas.

Lumipas pa ang mga taon, nang panahon uli ng botohan ng bagong presidente, ay nagkaroon na rin ako ng pagkakataong bumoto. Si Fidel Ramos ang aking napusuan at siya rin ang sumunod na pangulo ng ating bansa. Siya na rin ang huling presidente na aking nagisnan, dahil ako’y tumulak na at lumabas ng Pilipinas matapos niyang manungkulan.

Mula noon, ay naging tahimik na lang akong saksi sa mga kaganapan sa ating bansa. Isa na lang akong tagamasid sa labas ng bansa. Ngunit parati pa ring akong sabik sa mga balita sa ating bayan. At bilang isang Pilipino, ay lagi pa ring nag-aasam para sa kabutihan ng lupang sinilangan.

Ilang mga administrasyon pa ang lumutang at lumubog. Ngunit ang aking bayan ay parang nalulunod at naghihikahos pa rin sa paglangoy laban sa alon ng progreso. Lagi pa ring uhaw ang mga Pilipino sa mga pinangakong pagbabago. Ngunit hanggang sa ngayo’y hindi pa rin maisakatuparan.

May isa akong obserbasyon: bakit yata ang mga dating namumuno sa ating bansa, ay dinadakip at pinapakulong pagkatapos ng kanilang termino?

Ngayon, may bagong upo na namang pamunuan sa ating bansa. Bagong kulay. Bagong pangalan.

Sasabihin ko na may mga pangalan na tila mabango noong nakaraan, ay naging masangsang na sa opinion ng bayan. At mayroon din naman na ang dating dangal ay nabuwal, ngunit ngayo’y  unti-unting ibinabangon muli.

Kahit ako’y nasa labas na ng ating bansa, ay mayroon pa akong isang naobserbahan: ang katapatan ng mga mamamayan ay wala sa pangalan o apelyido ng isang pulitiko. Hindi rin ito nakasalalay sa kulay ng partido. Ang katapatan ng mga Pilipino ay sa ngalan ng tunay na pagbabago. Hanggat hindi ito nakakamit, mananatiling ligalig ang sambayanang Pilipino.

Sa lahat ng mga nag-aalinlangan sa bagong pamunuan, bigyan po naman sana natin sila ng panahon at pagkakataon upang patunayan ang pagbabagong kanilang gustong ihatid. Siguro naman, bawat mamamayan, ang hangad lamang ay para sa kabutihan ng ating bayan.

Patuloy po akong mag-aabang sa mga bali-balita galing sa bayan ko.

P.S. Nakikiramay po ako sa lahat ng naapektuhan ng pagsabog sa Davao.

(*image from here)

News from my country have been hugging the headlines lately and has been reverberating even to foreign and distant shores. Are you amused how interesting our nation is? Or you’re bemused and shaking your head that we’re just a bunch of clowns.

But perhaps if I present some of the old Filipino sayings or proverbs that are unique to our culture, and explain their meaning, hopefully this can help demystify us as a people.

For my non-Filipino readers out there, these proverbs may let you sneak at the Filipino psyche and understand our people better. For Filipinos like me, this will affirm what you already know and perhaps make more sense with regards to the current happenings in our country, especially in our political circus arena.

1.  Matalino man ang matsing, ay naiisahan din.

Loosely translated, “cunning may be the monkey, but it still can be tricked.”

This may give you an idea, why we fight cunning with cunning. Some even resort to trickery.  We even praise people with their “abilidad” of getting things done even if this does not follow the prevailing rules.

But there’s also a popular saying taken from the above proverb: Matalino man ang matsing, unggoy pa rin. Meaning, cunning or wise may be the monkey, it is still a monkey.

2.  Ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.

“A person in desperate need, will cling to the knife/sword.”

I understand that there are lots of circumstances that may be beyond our control that placed us in desperate situations. And desperate situations may need desperate measures. Even resorting to dangerous liaisons and means.

Though there are also circumstances that we are in, that is due to our own doing. Take the instance of the huge drug problem in our country, that no one can deny. People hooked on these illegal substances will do whatever means, even how dangerous they are, to feed their addiction. Sadly to say, those who live by the sword, die by the sword.

3. Walang naninira sa bakal kundi sariling kalawang.

“Nothing destroys iron but its own corrosion.”

We may have been colonized by other nations before, but we cannot blame all our ills to them. Hard to admit, it is our own fraudulence and corruption that send us where we are now. It is deeply ingrained in our systems and government, that it will be very hard to purge them out.

Though I still believe that we are a strong and resilient people. Yes, as strong as iron. But I guess we are not stainless or rust-proof.

4. Sa lahat ng gubat, may ahas.

“In every forest, there’s snake.”

This again reflects our long history and past experiences of being abused and betrayed. It is then understandable that it is hard for us to trust so easily, nor give our confidence freely. Because we believe, somewhere a snake is lurking.

5.  Ang punong maraming bunga, binabato.

A tree with many fruits, is being stoned.

Maybe this is peculiar to our culture. That is we have many tall fruit-bearing trees that are difficult to climb. So to get the fruit, we try to throw stones to it, so the fruits would fall.

So when people criticize or try to put you down, maybe because you have something that they don’t have. Maybe you should console yourself that when people try to throw stones at you, figuratively, it is because you have lots of fruits.

6.  Kung sinong unang pumutak, siya ang nangitlog.

“The one who cackle first, is the one who laid egg.”

If you go to a poultry house, you would observe that the chicken that cackles and is noisy, is the one who laid egg. This means that people who usually are complaining and accusing, are the ones who are guilty.

But there are also instances that people who are loud and noisy are the ones who don’t accomplish much.  They are sometimes the ones that have no guts to do things. So I believe the opposite can also be true:

“Ang putak nang putak, walang itlog.”

That I’ll leave for you to figure out.

7.  Ang araw bago sumikat nakikita muna’y banaag.

Loosely translated, “early dawn precedes sunrise.”

Meaning that before we see the light, we may experience some darkness first. Yet even with the faintest of light, this still promises that surely the sun will rise.

The Filipinos are very patient people. We have experienced centuries of subjugation and oppression from other countries, and also decades upon decades of exploitation and injustice even from own people. Yet the Filipinos are still hopeful, that soon the sun will rise.

Now that we are seeing a little light, please give us the time and the opportunity, as well as the benefit of the doubt, that we can rise from our darkest nights.

Last week, when news from my country is making the rounds on the news networks, I even saw Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show, made some digs at the Philippines. Of course he also made fun of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, but that’s already old news.

In one of Colbert’s monologue, he questioned why is it that the Philippines is spelled with a Ph, while the word Filipinos, is spelled with an F? He then added, it is so Ph-up!

I have to admit, I also laughed at the joke. For I agree it does not make sense.

However, I would like to try to give an explanation for something that is totally not our own doing.

The Philippines was named after King Phillip II of Spain. The Spanish explorer Ruy Lopez Villalobos named our archipelago Los Islas Filipinas in 1543. After all, Phillip is Felipe in Spanish.

So the original name of our country is Filipinas. And that’s spelled with an F. So it makes more sense that we are Filipinos, at least by what we are called by our first colonizers, the Spaniards.

Thus it is the English language and the translation of our country’s name that made the confusion of why Ph is use in one, and F in the other. Blame it on the English-speaking people.

I think we can blame other things to the English language.

For instance, why is it that the French drinks a lot more alcohol, but their incidence of stroke is not as bad as the English people and the Americans. Also, why is it that the Japanese works much harder, but their rate of heart attack is not as high as the English and the Americans. And why is that the Filipinos eat more salty foods but again the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is not as high as the English and the Americans. Therefore, speaking English is the one that can kill you.

Sorry I digress. Back to the Ph and F.

To make it more confusing, in our native language, Tagalog or also now known as Pilipino, we spell our country’s name or the name of our people with neither Ph or F. Now that’s really Ph-up!

In our original alphabet, which has only 20 letters, we don’t even have the letter F, as it not needed in the phonology of our language. Though recently F has been added in the modern Filipino alphabet, with other letters, like C, J, Q, V, X and Z. We also have the letters Ñ and Ng in our alphabet, making for a 28-letter alphabet.

Therefore, when we speak in our native tongue, the name of our country is Pilipinas. And we the people are known as Pilipino. And both of them is spelled with a P!

Many times we confuse and interchange the use as well as the pronunciation of F and P. This has been a butt of jokes for us Filipinos. It hurt our peelings. We should not peel inferior just because we don’t speak ferpect English.

By the way, “Put@ng-ina,” our beloved president’s favorite battle cry, is also spelled with a P.

I would say in advance that this post has nothing to do with the defunct youth-oriented variety TV show with that title, that was hosted by the late German Moreno, aired in the 80’s – 90’s.

But that’s entertainment!

No, not that show. I was pertaining to the current best entertainment in the Philippines.

Who could guess that this will be more fun that any TV show, tele-serye, or even kalye-serye? I can say that we Filipinos can only provide this level of showmanship.

There’s drama, action, and fiction – all rolled into one. Maybe next time they will add some musical as well. Oh I forgot, there’s already that. Remember, may “kumakanta,” di ba?

But before you surf crazy the entire TV channels searching for it, or go into expedition to the movie theaters or broadways, I was just alluding to the Philippine senate proceedings.

Best entertainment ever. And this is “real” life.

Witness: Pinagbabaril na po naming yung lalaki, pero buhay pa.

Senator: Ilan kayong  bumaril?

Witness: Marami po kami, nasa 30.

Senator: 30 kayong bumaril, pero buhay pa? Ano nga ulit pangalan ng pinagbabaril ninyo?

Witness: Si Neo po, your honor. (*Matrix movie soundtrack plays in the background*)

Ghost of FPJ interrupts: Pinuno mo na ang salop. Isang bala ka lang!

I’m looking forward for more of this entertainment. Though I think it will become more fascinating, when the House will soon have their own “show.”

As our slogan says, “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

I would like to end with a Filipino proverb:

Batobato sa langit, tamaan huwag magalit.

Or the new version:

Matobato sa langit, hindi matamaan kaya nagalit.

This morning I went for a long run, in preparation for the half-marathon that I would be participating in. The event would be in 2 weeks.

My long runs have been getting longer, and sometimes it can be tedious and boring. Maybe I should play Pokemon Go while I run to make it more exciting, and capture those fleeting critters.

I did not capture a Pokemon, but I captured these photos while I was running:

Yes, it is harvest time in this part of the world I’m living in. The fields are golden brown, the days are getting shorter, and the wind is getting colder.

In this particular field, they were harvesting corn.

Why are they harvesting corn? Because they sow corn! Shouldn’t it be that way, we harvest what we sow?

Maybe some cynics out there may disagree with me, for I know we are living in a world where so much injustice abound. People seems to reap what they did not sow, or have been harvesting in fields that are not theirs.

In my home country, we even have a proverb for that: Ako ang nagtanim, ako ang nagbayo, ako ang nagsaing, pero iba ang kumain.

Loosely translated, it says, I was the one who planted, I pounded, and I cooked, but somebody else ate it.

Yet I still believe in justice.

Lady Justice may seems to be blindfolded (I don’t know why it is portrayed that way) to the unjustness and repression happening all around us. And I’m not blind to that. But I know it as a fact that in the end, justice will be served.

That day of reckoning will come to all of us, when we will harvest what we sow.

(*photos taken with an iPhone)

What’s with this epidemic of clown sightings all over the United States?

Most of the sightings are deemed non-threatening, like a clown holding some balloons in a poorly lit street corner. Though there was a report of a knife-wielding clown that attacked a boy in Michigan, and clowns with baseball bats spotted also near that same area. There have been other reports of violently threatening clowns.

I think this is more than just clowning around.

It started in late August, when an unsubstantiated report of clowns sighted near the woods in South Carolina. Apparently these clowns were luring children to come into the woods. Since then several incidents of clown sighting were reported in other states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Texas, Phoenix and Idaho.

Nobody is sure if this mass frenzy are just pranks or hoaxes, or are unusual marketing tricks or something (related to a movie that will be soon released?), or a mad social fad. Whatever it is, it is startling and at the same time creepy. But it’s definitely not funny.

In fairness, the studio who recently wrapped up the production of the film, “It”, which is a remake of the film based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel, denies any involvement in this rash of clown sightings. The novel/movie is about a nightmarish clown who hunts children.

The White House have already weighed in on these clown threats, though deferring the matter to the FBI and Homeland Security. Even the master of horror, Stephen King himself, called for calm and to cool down on this clown hysteria.

There is a specific phobia of clowns. It is called Coulrophobia. It is not hard to understand why a person can be afraid of someone with an aberrant-looking face. It is disturbing, to say the least. I don’t understand it as well, why we have this creepy looking character graze our children’s birthday parties.

I myself, am spooked by clowns. Though I like the song “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the 1973 musical A Little Night Music. The song became popular after Frank Sinatra recorded it, and Judy Collins’ version made the charts.

Anyway, back with this hysteria of creepy clown sightings, it is said that it is hurting the real clown business. And there was a news report that concerned professional clowns were forming a movement named Clown Lives Matter. They will hold a peaceful march in Tucson Arizona next week.

I am not sure if Ronald McDonald will join the march.

Then this week, there have been sightings of clowns in several universities here in Iowa, where I live. There were also sightings in some high schools here in Des Moines. Police have even accosted a high school student in Des Moines who was dressed as a clown. Apparently the student did it for a prank.

I am afraid that somebody will get seriously hurt with this craziness. It could be that more violent clowns would attack, or who knows, people will get so spooked that they will start shooting all these clowns.

In other news, there were sightings of clowns in the Philippines too. It may be startling, but definitely not funny.

They reportedly appeared in the senate.

I read in the news that President Duterte is planning to sign a law that will ban smoking in all public places nationwide. My response to this is that: it’s about time!

I don’t think in this day and age, that anybody in this world have not heard or read the damning facts that smoking is harmful to our health. As a lung specialist, and an advocate of no-smoking, I laud this plan to ban smoking in public places.

I am a witness to all the grim and devastating effects of smoking. I see them everyday.

Though quite honestly, I partly owe it to the smokers, of why I have work today. But in the same token, I don’t want people to continue to smoke.

According to World Health Organization, lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. It is also the leading cause of all cancer deaths in the world, accounting to 1.37 million deaths annually. The number of deaths every year from lung cancer alone is more than the number of deaths from breast, colorectal and prostate cancer (other leading cancers) all combined.

In the Philippines, lung cancer is also the most common type of cancer, and is the leading cause of cancer deaths. And we have 17.3 million tobacco consumers, which makes the Philippines the number one in most number of smokers in Southeast Asia. I am not sure if we should be proud of being number one in that category.

More than 90% of lung cancers are linked to smoking. Other causes are occupational carcinogen exposure, radon and pollution. Though lung cancer can arise from people who never smoke, like the late Senator Miriam Santiago, but this is relatively rare.

Besides lung cancer, smoking also causes other diseases. COPD, heart disease, mouth and throat cancer, esophageal cancer, and vascular diseases to name a few.

I know there will be some that will complain and protest that this plan is unlawful. And surely some would say that this is unfair for the smokers. For definitely people should have the right of choice. Even the right to do stupid thing, like smoking.

But the ordinance is to ban smoking in public places only. This is not taking away your right to kill yourself by smoking. You are just not allowed to kill others too that can inhale your toxic fumes.

I remember my jeepney-riding days, where someone would be blowing cigarrette smoke in my face. So between the secondhand cigarrete smoke and the diesel fumes from the buses and jeepneys, no wonder I cannot breathe after sitting for some time in traffic.

Studies have shown that second hand smoke (exposure to others who are smoking) is almost as harmful as firsthand smoke. I pity the children who have parents who smoke in their presence. Where is their right for non-toxic air?

Several places in the world have already this smoking ban in public places being enforced for quite some time now. And I’m glad that the Philippines is catching up with the current times.

I am not denying the fact that it is very hard to quit smoking. There’s even reports that tobacco companies are making cigarrettes nowadays that have higher nicotine content, making it more addictive and making it more difficult to quit.

When I was doing my subspecialty training in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, we have patients who were already dying of lung cancer but still cannot quit smoking. They would go outside the hospital building and smoke. This was almost two decades ago when smokers can still smoke in designated areas in the hospital grounds. I even saw a patient with tracheostomy (a hole in his throat) due to throat cancer, and he was smoking through his tracheostomy! How sad is that?

Nowadays, most hospitals have a total ban of smoking in their entire premises. In the hospital where I work now, smokers would go across the street from the hospital entrance and smoke there. Even when it’s in the middle of winter or even when snowing, where they are exposed to the elements, they would still go outside in the subfreezing temperature and smoke. Why? Because they cannot help it. How really sad is that?

So I get it, it’s hard to quit smoking. But I still support the smoking ban.

Even the cockroaches will be in favor of this.

(*images from the internet)

Recently a friend of ours has been posting article links in his Facebook about expressions that we grew up with. I find it quite interesting.

Our vernacular is rich with idiomatic expressions that would confuse the uninitiated to our native language. Or maybe even us who grew up speaking Pilipino, have no idea where these expressions came from.

Here are some of them.

1. Pahanon pa ni Limahong. Or pahanon pa ni Mahoma. Or since Nineteen Kopong-kopong.

All those expressions mean that they are from such a long time ago. Example: Iyong mga damit mo, old-style na, panahon pa ‘yan ni Mahoma. 

But who is Limahong? Or Mahoma? Or who or what is Kopong-kopong?

Limahong or Lim Ah Hong is a Chinese pirate who invaded the northern part of the Philippines and tried to seize the city of Manila from the Spaniard in 1574. So he was a real person from such a long time ago. Definitely before our time.

While Mahoma is actually Masaharu Homma, a Japanese Imperial Army general.  He was well-remembered for his role in the invasion and occupation of the Philippines during World War II. What may endeared General Homma to our people is that he ordered his troops to treat the Filipinos not as enemies but as friends, and respect their customs and religion. Thus we still say his name in our idioms.

What about Kopong-kopong? Is that a person?

Kopong is actually an old Tagalog word and also an Indonesian word that means empty, or nothing, or zero. So kopong-kopong is coined from the year 1900 which has two zero (00), thus Nineteen kopong-kopong.

2. Pagputi ng uwak

Literal translation means “when the crow turns white.” This just expresses something that will never happen. The idiom is similar to English expressions like “when pigs fly,” or “when hell freezes over.”

To use this expression in a sentence: Babayaran ko ang utang ko sa iyo pagputi ng uwak.

By the way, there’s a film that was entitled, “Pagputi ng uwak, pag-itim ng tagak” release in 1978, starring now governor of Batangas, Vilma Santos, and Bembol Roco. I did not see that film nor do I know the story plot of the movie. But during that time who knew that Vilma Santos will someday be a governor? So can we say “pumuti ang uwak?”

3. Aabutin ng siyam-siyam

Siyam-siyam or (literally nine-nine) is a term used for the annual prolonged rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” weather system in the Philippines during the months of May to September.

The old folks believe that this rain system takes nine days and nine nights and is what they are waiting for. Especially farmers, as it makes the fields soft, and therefore easier to plow and to plant rice.

It also used to mean a long wait.

To use this idiom in a sentence: Inabot ako ng siyam-siyam sa kakahintay para makasakay ng jeep.

4. Mabilis pa sa alas quatro

This means to leave in a mad rush.

In the old Manila, in Lawton at the foot of Quezon bridge, there was a huge factory, the Insular Ice Plant. It had an imposing 10-storey chimney. It also had a loud siren. The siren goes off at 7 AM to indicate start of work, at 12 noon to indicate lunch break, and at 4 PM to indicate end of work.

Insular Ice Plant

So at the sound of the siren at 4 PM, you can just imagine the dash of the workers too eager to leave work.

To use in a sentence: Nang dumating ‘yung naniningil ng utang, umalis siyang mabilis pa sa alas quatro.

5. Wala kahit sinkong duling

This has something to do with the 5-centavo coin, which is the lowest value coin besides the 1-centavo. The 5-centavo coin back in the days was much larger (20 mm in diameter in the 1960’s) and can buy you something, unlike today, it is much smaller (15.5 mm) and practically has no value.

Singkong duling literally means a “cross-eyed 5-centavo.” A person who is cross-eyed sees a double image of the 5-centavo coin. One image is real, but the other image is not. Thus sinkong duling is a non-existent 5-centavo coin. It’s a mirage.

So if a 5-centavo has very little value, how much less is an imaginary image of it.

Use in a sentence: Hindi man lang ako binigyan ng balato, kahit sinkong duling.

6. Magsunog ng kilay

This means to study hard or staying late up night studying.

This idiom came from the fact that during the olden times, when there’s no electricity yet, people use only gas lamp (gasera), oil lamps, or candles to read when it is dark. It is then understandable that when a person is reading for a long time near an open flame, there’s a possibility that his/her eyebrows will be singed or get burned. Thus “nagsusunog ng kilay.”

I can just envision that the most studious students during those times have no eyebrows left. Whoever invented the eyebrow pencil must be a very good student!

7. Kalapating mababa ang lipad

The term is a euphemism for a prostitute.

During the American occupation, there is a place in Tondo Manila, which is a red-light district called Palomar. So before Malate, Ermita, P. Burgos, and EDSA of today came about, there was Palomar in Tondo.

The word paloma means dove or pigeon in Spanish, while Palomar means a pigeon-house. So the women offering their leisure service were called palomas de bajo vuelo or low-class birds. Thus the expression “kalapating mababa ang lipad.”

*******

So there you have it folks. I hope you have learned something, as I did, looking up these interesting history and facts of our colorful language.

(*photo from Pinterest.com)

The Pilipino language has a rich vocabulary that has evolved like a cauldron of mix words borrowed from different languages including Spanish, Chinese, Malay, Indonesian, English, Indian, Arabic, Japanese and more.

I highlighted some interesting words in this post. You may be surprised where these words originated.

1. Jack en Poy

I’m sure you have played Jack en Poy when you were a kid. Also known as “rock, paper, scissors” or “bato bato pick.” Or maybe you still play it today. You even know the chant that goes with it:

Jack en poy, hale hale hoy! Sinong matalo, s’yang unggoy!

But where does the word Jack en Poy came from? Who is Jack? And who is Poy? Are they the ones who invented the game? Well, no.

The game originated in China likely around the first century, according to some articles. But when the game was brought to Japan around 1700’s, it became very popular and was a hit there.

In Japanese, jan means a sort of start, ken means first, and pon means stone. So when the Japanese play rock, paper, scissors, they call it Janken Pon.

Now it is not far from imagination how we Filipinos call it Jack en Poy. So if you’re in Japan, and challenge someone to play Jack en Poy, they probably know exactly what you’re asking them to do.

2. Karaoke

Filipinos like karaoke. All of us know what karaoke is, I suppose. We use the word as a noun and as a verb.

Example: Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi, kasi nag-karaoke magdamag ‘yung aming kapitbahay.

Have you wonder where the word karaoke came from? If you said from Japan, then you are absolutely right! But is Karaoke the name of the inventor of this system? Not quite.

In Japanese, kara means empty, and okesutra means orchestra. Shortening the word for orchestra, and combining it with the word empty (since no real orchestra), then we have kara + oke = karaoke.

3. Tansan

As a kid, I used to collect metal crown caps, also called in our language as tansan. Street children go caroling during the Christmas season using tansan tambourines. But have you wonder where the word tansan came from?

In 1892, US inventor William Painter patented the crown cap, forever revolutionizing the sealing of the carbonated soda pop bottles or more known to Filipinos as soft drinks.

While in Kobe, Japan, an Englishman John Clifford Wilkinson established a company  at the end of 19th century, producing carbonated mineral water. While he was hunting near the mountains, he stumbled upon the Tansan Springs, which became the source of his mineral water. He then named his sparkling water as “Tansan” brand, and registered it as a trademark in Washington in 1896. Of course he sealed his water bottles with metal crown caps.

When the Americans came to the newly colonized Philippine Islands in 1902, the branded Tansan sparkling water sealed with the metal crown cap was brought to our shores. I guess we were enamored with the crown cap and wondered what to call them. So we called them tansan!

4. Alaska

You know this word right? It means to annoy or pester.

Example: Ang lakas mang-alaska ng kaklase ko, kaya sinapak ko.

Where did we borrow this word from?

If you think it is borrowed from an English word, then you’re right. But perhaps not from the English word that you’re thinking of. For it has nothing to do with the word Alaska, which is a state in the United States, nor is it related to the milk brand with the name Alaska.

When someone is making fun of another person we say that he is harassing him. You might tell that person “nanghaharass ka,” which is just one mispronunciation away from being “nang-aalaska.”

5. Sirit

Even though this word sounds from a Hindu or a Chinese word, it is not. It came from a common phrase from a more common language than you think. Sirit na?

If someone gives you a puzzle and you have no idea what the answer is, you plead with him to share the answer. You may say “share it.” Or in Tagalog, “Sirit!”

We must have bad ears or bad tongue, corrupting a perfect English phrase. But this is just another prime example of how we Tagalize (tinatagalog) a foreign word and make it our own.

6. Buwisit

Maybe you’re having a bad day, and feeling irritated. One Pilipino word can aptly described what you feel. Buwisit!

Example: Talo na naman ang manok ko, buwisit na buhay ito!

Do have any idea what’s the origin of the word buwisit?

If you say it sounds Chinese like the pansit, then you’re close. It actually came from the Fukien phrase bo ui sit, meaning no food or clothes. If you have no food to eat nor clothes to wear, that means bad luck. Buwisit!

I’m not sure if our word for tax, which is buwis, is related to this. Maybe our opinion towards taxes is similar to that feeling of bad luck.

7. Jeproks

This word is a slang for someone cool or laid back. It may also mean someone with loose morals or like a hippie.

The word was introduced by a Filipino rocker, Mike Hanopol in the 1970’s. He had a hit song with this word on it. He even explained the meaning of it in the song:

Laki sa layaw, laki sa layaw, Jeproks!

The word is actually a reverse of the word “projects.” I’m not sure why Filipinos like to speak backwards like Noy-pi, dehins, ermat, amats, and other more.

Anyway, young people hailing from government housing developments, also known as housing projects, like Project 6 or Project 8, are stereotype with shady character like those from the ghettos (thus, Jeproks!). Though this may not be true. When I was a kid, I used to stay and visit my lola, who lives in Project 7. Would I call my grandma as from “the hoods?”

Jeproks or jeprox is also used to mean the crispy dried salted fish. Now, that kind of jeproks, I really really like.

(*photo from the internet)

This is not a film review.

I know anybody can be a critic. Everybody has an opinion and everybody is entitled to one. You don’t have to be an expert to critique a movie. There are movies that we watched and discerned that they are good movies. Then there are those that we watched, and we felt duped and wanted our money back.

But there are films that we remember or even cherished, not because of the film itself, but because of the memories tied into them.

Maybe it was that animated movie that your whole family saw when you were young. Or maybe that romantic comedy that you saw with your crush on a date. Or perhaps that stupid action movie that you and your classmates cut class just to see it. Or maybe it was that boring drama that you watched after your girlfriend/boyfriend dumped you.

The film that I fondly remember as of recent is the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” (Spoiler alert, if you have not seen it yet.) I know a sequel is in the works and will be out by the middle of next year.

The reason I like the “Guardians of the Galaxy” was the personal events surrounding it.

It was August 2014. I went home to the Philippines emergently to see my mother who got sick and was hospitalized. My sister sent me a message and told me that mom was gravely ill, and to come immediately if I want to see her alive.

Three days after I got the message, and after more than 24 hours of traveling, and about 8000 miles of airflight, and a ton of apprehension and jet lag, I got home.

When I came to the hospital, UERM university hospital in Quezon City, my mom came out of coma and actually was doing better. Maybe because she learned that I was coming home to see her. At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.

However, after few more days and more tests were done, it was found that her cancer from the colon, which was removed through surgery five years earlier, had come back. Now it had spread to her lungs and perhaps to other organs as well.

After evaluating all our options, we discussed with my mother asking her what she wanted to do. She firmly stated that she does not want to do any more therapy – no more surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. She decided to just wait for the inevitable to come, and she wanted to go home. “Home,” has different meanings in so many levels.

So that day we decided that as soon as she is stronger, hopefully in a couple of days, we will take her home and set up a kind of hospice-like arrangement until her days here on earth is through. It was a sad day of reckoning.

I was the bantay (watcher or guardian) that day of my mother. I know in the Philippines, it is a common practice that patients in the hospital have a bantay, to assist in every need, may it be a glass of water or help with the bedpan. Unlike in the US, a patient is mostly left alone in his/her room with just a call light to summon for help.

When my older sister came that evening to relieve me as the bantay, I really don’t want to go home, but I don’t want to stay in the hospital either, for I need to clear my head.

So I went to SM Sta. Mesa (Centerpoint) which was just a block away from UERM, to pass the time. I just want to escape from the sad reality that was happening right before my eyes.

After wandering for a while, I decided to watch a movie. The movie I watched was the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” If there would be a movie about the hospital bantays would they entitle it “Guardians of the Bedpan?”

I like sci-fi movies. So its not a surpirse that I chose to see the “Guardians.” Besides I don’t remember the other movies that were showing that time. Definitely I would not watch a drama or a depressing movie given the circumstances I was in.

I thought the concept and setting of the “Guardians” was so out of this world, that it was hardly believable. But then again, at that time and what I was going through, the farther from the reality, the better for me.

I like the featured songs of the 1970’s in that movie, music that I grew up with. I also like some of the characters of the movie. Especially Groot, the man-tree who has very unique powers, even though he can only say one line: “I am Groot!” And of course the star of the movie, Peter Quill, an unorthodox hero, who calls himself Star Lord.

But maybe it was background of the story that has a soft spot in my heart. Peter Quill lost his mother, and what remained was only her loving memory and the old songs her mother left him.

On the last scene, Peter reads an old letter from his mother, and then unwraps a gift from his mom, a cassette tape of oldies songs. As he listens to the nostalgic music, it puts him on a kind of trance. It placed me on a kind of trance as well, realizing the similarity to my own state of affairs.

I thought I was escaping, but somehow the painful reality sneaked in.

Last week was my mother’s death 2nd anniversary. It so happen that the movie the “Guardians of the Galaxy” was being shown on TV that night. I couldn’t help it. I had to watch it again.

Sure enough, it brought back memories.

(*photo taken from the web)

(Last week was the 3rd year anniversary of the super typhoon Yolanda hitting the Visayas. With the town of Albuera, Leyte sharing some headline news, though for the wrong reasons, that I wrote this article.)

Unless you’re hiding under the rock, you probably have heard that the mayor of Albuera Leyte, Rolando Espinosa, who was linked to illegal drug trade, was gunned down while he was in prison.

After learning the news, and after tracing back my memory and confirming where Albuera is, I ascertained that I visited this town three years ago.

A week after Yolanda ravished Tacloban, I volunteered to join a medical team headed by ACTS World Relief Team (see previous post) and a group of Harvard doctors specializing in Disaster Medicine. I was the lone Filipino doctor from the US in that group that came.

When we landed in Tacloban my heart sank after seeing in person the utter devastation of the place.

In one of our medical missions, a small team was sent from Tacloban to fly to Albuera. Two small helicopters loaded us up – 4 doctors (2 Americans, 1 local doctor-in-training from Romualdez hospital, and me), 1 military personnel who was our security detail, and several boxes of medicines and medical supplies.

After 40 minutes of flight time, we arrived in Albuera. The mayor of the town, Ramon dela Cerna Jr., (the mayor before Espinosa) was waiting for us there. After brief greetings, we were taken to the nearby health center where hundreds of people were already in line, waiting for the medical team.

We worked furiously for about four hours before our medications and medical supplies ran out. We decided then to close the clinic, though it was kind of sad as there were still people waiting in line. However we have triage and screened those in line and we have seen those that needed immediate care.

The municipal office even provided us simple meal, if I remember it right, chicken and rice. I’m sure food was in short supply at that time after the devastating storm, but they were still able to offer us what they have. That’s Filipino hospitality in action, offering the best for the visitors even if we have nothing left for us.

When we finsihed eating we were taken near the beach, not for a swim, though that would be nice, but because there was a clearing  there for the helicopters to land. While waiting for our ride, Mayor dela Cerna kept us company telling us stories of the storm’s tenacity, but even more of his people’s tenacity to rise to this challenge of life.

When our ride finally came, it was a lone helicopter, instead of two. It was a small one too, and can only fit three passengers.  There were five of us.

The pilot said that the other helicopter was sent on another important trip. He also said that he was not sure if he could  make a second trip as he might be sent for a more pressing mission, or maybe it would be too late in the day as the afternoon sun was quickly going down the horizon.

We knew that the roads were in bad shape, mostly blocked with debris from the typhoon. So most likely we cannot travel by ground back to Tacloban even if we wanted to.

I know we cannot leave the two American doctors behind. Too much liability for their safety. I also know that if we leave the local doctor-in-training and the soldier, the headquarters may not be too obligated to send back the helicopter for them, and they just have to find a way to travel back by ground the next day or so.

That was when I decided, that I will be the one to stay. The soldier volunteered to stay with me too. Since the headquarters knew that I was a member of the US group, maybe they will be compelled to come back for me. Besides I feel safe among my people.

After the helicopter departed, the mayor took me to the municipal hall, and told me that I can hang out there while I waited for my ride home. The mayor also promised me that if for some reason they were not able to come back for me,  he would find a way to send me back to Tacloban the next day. That’s a 120 km trip which usually takes 3 hours, though could be much longer with the uncertainty of the road conditions.

The mayor then went back to work, while I found a comfortable seat inside the municipal hall.

Not too long after, someone approached me making sure I was doing fine. She introduced herself as the mayor’s sister. I told her to not to worry about me, for I can keep myself entertained. Or since it was a long day for me, I could also catch some cat naps while waiting.

While I sat there, a group of the mayoral staff held their meeting near where I was. I was too sleepy to eavesdrop to what they were discussing. Maybe they were planning on how to take over the world. Before long, I faded into Lala land.

After more than an hour or so, I was informed that the helicopter was coming, and it would be landing in about 15 minutes or so. I said goodbye to my host, including Mayor dela Cerna. The soldier and I were taken back near the beach for the helicopter pick up.

On our flight back to Tacloban, the soldier who was with me, was thankful that I decided to stay and thought it was brave of me to stay behind in a strange place with uncertain circumstances. He was sure that if it was him and the other local doctor who were left behind, the helicopter would not come back for them.

I just thought that it would just be another adventure if in case they didn’t come back for me. Or perhaps I’ll have the people of Albuera adopt me for a time.

The advantage for being left behind? The trip back to Tacloban was beautiful, as we flew into the sunset.

*********

 PS. A shout out to the people of Albuera: damo nga salamat!

My head is light and the walls spinning,

Too much of the “happy hours” again,

Staggering down Manila’s dark alley,

My steps and dignity are both shaky.

I know I have passed this way before,

Promising a change, I will go for,

But my will is weak to the intoxicating spirit,

I am but a spineless fool! Damn it!

My family have long gave up on me,

I’m at the point I’m giving up on me,

Am I beyond redemption? Can’t get free

From the quatro cantos that enslaves me.

Heeding the call, fumbling in the night,

I am desperate to seek the light,

Then the writings on the wall, I saw

It reads: Hoy, Bawal Umihi Dito!

(*dedicated to all who struggle with the bottle; photo from the web)

After almost half a century on this earth, I can say that I have been a witness to many milestone events. Spending half of my life in the Philippines and the rest in America, I would say that both of these places are seeing current events that history experts probably never imagined would happen.

This I can say for sure, as I have seen it happened: people who hated you today, will embrace you tomorrow. And people who revered you today, will curse you tomorrow.

As the saying goes, “the only constant in this world is change.”

Take for example the changing political landscape in America, where I reside now.

Who would have predicted that someone like “the Donald” who many considered as a joke, and many would not take him seriously as a presidential candidate, even in his own party, would end up taking the highest office of this country. And he won it in a convincing fashion too.

If you listen to all the hurled insults during the campaign period, you would think this world is out of its mind. Or maybe it is. A circus act? Racist? Sexist? Fascist? True or not, it does not seem to matter.

The people have spoken. He is the elected 45th president of the United States of America.

Politicians, especially from his own party, who have tried to distance themselves from Trump before the election, are now backpedaling trying to align with the new elected leader.

How would America be under President Trump? Let’s just wait for the history to write itself.

Then let’s go to the current events in my homeland.

As good students of history know, the former President Ferdinand Marcos was deposed and expelled by “People Power” revolution in 1986. I was in college at that time, and been an eyewitness and even a part of that historic event.

Who would have imagined that after three decades, he will be embraced again by the same nation that derided him as a dictator, and would consider him now as a great president and a hero, finding his final resting place in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

And who would have thought that a name that has been synonymous before to a hero, or a name even toyed to be considered as a saint, would be the same name that many people would find now as unfavorable.

What changed?

But to be candid, people are restless and are always craving for a change. Unless that change that they clamor for is brought in, their loyalties would change. And that’s very understandable.

Whatever happened have happened. The events of the past did not change. It is the perception of the people that have changed. Whether it is right or wrong, I don’t know. Nor am I in a position to pass judgment.

Perhaps let’s just wait for the history to rewrite itself as the years go by.

I grew up in Manila in a time where trust is hard to get by. We were indoctrinated never to trust a stranger. But this perhaps is true in many parts of the world.

It was inculcated in our young minds that when a stranger talk to us in the streets, to make sure that we hold our bags more tightly, or check if we still have our wallets. When we are in a public or crowded places, we were told to be sure that we have our valuables close to us and never ever leave them.

When I was commuting to school, I always carry my backpack on my chest (should it be called a chestpack?), since the pickpocket can easily access my bag without me knowing if it is on my back.

We have even been instructed on the so many modus operandi of the mandurukot and snatchers. They usually have accomplices that would distract your attention, while somebody else go for your valuables. But sometimes they just seize your valuables right in front of your face.

Though on a good note, I have heard from my friends and relatives that Manila is much safer now, under the administration of President Duterte. I hope this continues.

I have personally witnessed snatching a few times in the past. I may have been a victim also, as I lost my money once while I was riding in the jeepney. Though I may have just dropped it, as I was a little burara when I was younger.

Once in college, while we were crossing the overpass in España Blvd in front of UST, a snatcher grabbed my classmate’s necklace. He was about to run after the snatcher, but I held him back, knowing that these people were armed and always have accomplices. It was better for him to just lose his necklace than his life.

In another instance when I was in high school, I was in Harrison Plaza when I was approached by somebody asking for the time. Then he stared at my watch suspiciously. It was a Citizen automatic watch, that was given to me by my father on my birthday. I suddenly sensed a bad feeling – like a “spider sense,” that I quickly ran away from him and entered a store where there was a security guard standing by.

One time we were in a food court of a mall, when a distraught lady ask around if anybody saw her bag. I was sure it was stolen perhaps when she was not paying attention.

In recent times cellphones have been the favorite object of snatchers. I even heard of horror stories that people got hurt because they won’t give their cellphones to a holdupper.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my homeland. But these things I don’t miss. For foreigners who are planning to visit Manila, I am not scaring you away, for it really is worth a visit. Just take proper precautions.

Then, I moved to Iowa.

Somehow all the years of my upbringing looking suspiciously to any stranger that comes near me, have to change. I don’t have to be hyper-vigilant all the time. I learned to trust people again.

Few days ago, I had a day off and my wife and I had a breakfast in a restaurant in Des Moines. The place was fairly busy with lots of people coming and going.

A family came and pick a table near us. When they went to the counter to get their order, they left their belongings unattended on the table. Cellphone, car keys, wallet and all!

It was so unnatural for me to see this, that I have to take a photo.

You may call it naive, but people here are still so trusting. I hope it never change.

It may take me a while to fully let my guard down and leave my cellphone and valuables unattended. Or perhaps I never will.

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Pabili nga ng Marlboro,

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Pahiram din ng posporo.

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Butas na ang bulsa ko,

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Butas na pati baga ko.

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Hirap na hirap na ‘ko,

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Tang’n@ng yosi ito!

Hithit ubo, hithit ubo,

Adios! Malupit na mundo,

Hingal ubo, hingal ubo,

Hingal……hingal……aaagghh.

(*image from the web)

Christmas is around the corner. And once again, I’m missing home.

Home where the street carolers are singing “Sa may bahay ang aming bati, merry Christmas na malualhati.” Or “Ang Pasko ay sumapit, tayo ay magsiawit.” Or if by chance you ignore them, you’ll hear “Thank you, thank you, ang babarat ninyo, thank you!”

One song that I have not heard for a long time is this song: “Payapang Daigdig.” It is perhaps our Filipino equivalent of Silent Night.

It was written by Felipe de Leon. The song has been inspired as they said, by the turmoil brought by World War II. It was first sang during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. De Leon penned the lyrics of this hauntingly beautiful song, after seeing his hometown, Manila (my hometown too), in ruins.

If you listen to the song, it is quite amazing that its message is in stark opposite of the reality of that time.

To all the OFWs, expats, and all Filipinos who are missing home this Christmas, may you find peace, despite of all the unrest, on this holiday season.

(*video taken from YouTube, posted by Analyn Solano)

(I delivered this speech during our 25th high school reunion. Though it seems like it was just last night, but that was already 7 years ago this month. That nostalgic event is one of the reasons I was inspired to start this blog. I am posting this here for the sake of the memories.)

Dear classmates, beloved teachers, special guests, family and friends.

It was 25 years ago when we left the portals of this academy, but somehow it seems, our hearts have never left. And today, that love for this school, brought us all back here.

It does not matter whether you crossed the Pacific to be here, or you crossed seven mountains or seven rivers, or you crossed seven traffic lights or even just crossed the street to get here. It does not matter where you came from to get here today, because the only thing that mattered tonight is where you came from 25 years ago.

Some of you have added titles to their names, some have even changed their names, and yet some may even lost their name. All that is not important, for the only name and title that matters tonight is we are all alumni of PCA*.

I know there are many new stories to tell. Stories that stem from the different paths we chose to follow, or stories from taking the paths laid before us not by choice but by the consequences of life. But the best stories to tell are the same old stories we shared together more than 25 years ago.

Twenty five long years.

To some of us the ravages of time is evident. We lost some, we gained some. Some have lost hair (ouch!), and some have gained silver hair. We may have lost our model-like stature, and in exchange we gained wrinkles, and extra pounds. Though I can still see in all of you, your inner beauty beaming through. Yes, we may have lost our innocence, our youthful vigor and glamour, but we have gained wisdom, experience and respect in the college of hard knocks, we called life.

The flood of memories may be overwhelming. When you look around this hall, you may even remember the exact spot where you sat, while Ma’am S* was teaching Florante at Laura, while you look out of the window and your mind was wandering to Harrison Plaza. These walls were witnesses when we were sweating and struggling in our Algebra exam, or when we made an errant glance at our seatmate’s answer during the test, but Ma’am F* did not catch us, or maybe she did, but she just have a forgiving heart.

You may have retraced your steps as you climb the stairs and walked down the corridors, for those stairs and corridors remembers the bounce and the echoes of your feet, even though your pace may be slower now. When you wandered in the basketball court, did you have the urge to pick up the litter, as you remember Sir B* made you pick up the litter, as punishment for being late?

When you entered the gate, do you remember familiar figures standing there? Kuya Ely our guard asking you to pin your ID, and Mang Isko, who sells the best sorbetes in the world. I hope they did not ask for your ID when you entered the gate today.

My dear classmates, as I look into you faces, the memories are rushing in. The mischievous escapades we did together, like when we cut classes during sir P*’s class. The secrets we kept together, like your first crush, but you don’t want others to know. The joys and laughter we celebrated, like when we beat Sir T*’s team in volleyball. The heartaches and tears we shared, like when you got rejected by your first love. I can still picture in my mind the way we look – ala Bagets. I can still hear our favorite songs that we sing. I can still remember the jokes that you and I have told, that even up to this day makes me smile.

It was just like yesterday.

I know that not all memories are sweet. In fact, there are few that are downright painful. And perhaps time have partially healed those wounds. Maybe tonight, we can bring closure to those bitter chapter of our lives.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody that helped in organizing, or have contributed time and effort, and or donated financially, to make this event possible. I may not be able to thank you one by one but you know who you are. Please accept my sincerest gratitude.

And now, I would like to personally thank each one of you, for just being here.

I would also like to acknowledge some of our classmates who are not able to join us tonight for some reason or another, but they did send their warmest regards. Let us remember them too.

As we spend time with each other tonight, may we share the wonderful memories we have and make new ones that we will share for the next 25 years or even the next 125 years.

Mabuhay tayong lahat!