Perplexed~

Im getting restless... Am I really going back next week? Im counting the days--8 more days and I will be on that long flight back to Manila. Syet-I hate those long flights. I like being in the airport and stuff (packing my luggage, scouting some pretty lady that will be onboard the same flight)

But it's those 12 hours while crossing this planets larget ocean that really sucks - sometimes...

12 hours of sittin on the same chair that allows very little movement and blood circulation.

12 hours of sitting beside the same people.

(Once I sat beside two elderly Filipina Lolas. As teh plain started Taxi-ing on the runway, one started doing the rosary, the other lola started reading those sacred heart pamphlets... I felt out of place - I took the next best thing from my backpack - Niccolo Machiaveli's the Prince, and other writings).

12 hours of trying to figure out a comfortable position for my not so small body.

12 hours of checking if we're getting nearer. As we come closer to our destination, the clocks suddenly and oddly slows down - (read.Stephen Kings "Langoliers"

12 hours of waiting to get off the plain and try japanese food in Kansai, Osaka or Narita.

12 hours of trying to look for a young attractive girl I can hook up with.

12 hours of trying to get the flight attendants number.

After 12 hours - we arrive at Osaka Int'l airport.

Then another 4 hours to Manila -

12 hours, 4 hours - whats the friggin difference!?

                   

 

 

yesterday was quite an eventful day by far -

Not really...

I went to go see a movie... Robots! yeah - it was a fun movie, but I aint into a movie critique right now.

After the movie I went walking around Old Town Pasadena. I loved how everything was so "americana". So many kinds of people, different size shapes and colors. I'm used to having people my age walking around town, you know "LB". Pero this time, it was different. I was a blade of grass against the giant sun.

This is where I hang now . . .  http://pictures.bluepenguin.us/gallery/album46?page=1

I'm beginning to like this town. I'm friends with the servers in the restaurants, the mexican dishwashers and parking attendants, the artists, the musicians, the bouncers in the bars and clubs,  the managers of the different shops and our coffee shop regulars. It is fun being able to walk around town again and get to see someone you know and smile and say "hello".

Everyone loves Old Town.

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I went to the ART store yesterday and picked up a bunch of graphite and charcoal pencils. I held the soft tip of the charcoal and it was like seeing an Ex-Girlfriend. I remember having fun sketching... So here I am again, sketching, drawing...making my Art again...

I cant get over the fact that I got pulled over. I cant believe it... Oh well, there's a first time for everything...

 It was like in the movies. The squad car tailing me, then when I was going towards teh freeway, her lights went on and a bright bean was reflecting on my sideview mirror blinding my view.

It was an illegal right tun into Colorado from Pasadena blvd.. I knew I  made the mistake, but I didnt think I'd get a ticket for it... paksyet.

It was a lady cop - - - hehehe 

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In no time I'll be singing Hotdog's

"Manila, Manila, I keep coming back to Manila, simply no place like Manila, Manila I'm coming home..." 

Next song would be Chochay Magno's

"I want my LB life!!!"

I need to get their CD... bago sila sumikat... I need to make them famous...hmmm...

In no time I will be having Coffee with friends. Be spinning music at IC's bar, driving on Manila streets and speeding on the South expressway.

 The important things I will be doing in the next 7 weeks.

- Attend my brods wedding

- See the Badgers and the PhotoS

- Make chika with my adviser, the only person to have a doctorate in speech and rhetoric in the Philippines from Cornel University, Professor Emeritus, Edelwina P. Legaspi Ph.D.

- have endless intelligent conversations and mindless banter with my friends...

- Go to the beach on a moments notice

- Proceed to Puerto

- Go to my friends club in Makati (newly opened - highly exclusive - can you say "guestlist"?)

- Attempt to swing by Bora

- Watch the Lb graduation and hope that my name gets called

- Sing "UP naming Mahal" and break in tears while my left fist is raised

-  Train the triathlete way

- Climb Maquiling and another new mountain

- Go to the virgin beaches (hehe virgin beaches...) of Zambales, survive for 3 days ala survivor - look for that mystical waterfalls

- Lifeguard in Batangas for a weekend (wink! wink!)

- see old friends: Arden, Nix, Fatty, Bam, Caccie, Cox, JP (if he's still alive), Cathy(when she gets back), Pat, Abi, Tita Lors, Bam, Kishin, Peter, Omar and all of those I can get a hold of.

- Elem reunion

- HS Reunion

- Surf with Nix - if not hang out sa Xymaca - I owe her - and Cox

- take lots of pics 

Oh - and all of those come 2nd to

drumroll please.... 

- getting my degree and proceed to becoming a millionaire (wink!wink!) 

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I've been having a hard time sleeping. This may be due to my trip or the ticket. Eitherway, I'll be on Niquil for the next two nights to get enough sleep... droga na to...

 

 

Here's a list (in no particular order) of the things that I want to do before I face my last sunset...

- Climb mountians (done)

- Be a liscensed Scuba Diver

- Rock climb (done)

- Stay in an uninhabitted island (done)

- Act on stage (done)

- fire a gun (done)

- B.A.S.E. Jump

- Sky dive

- Bunjee jump

- Surf

- Race in a circuit

- watch Formula 1

- Live in New York (done, have the T-shirt)

- Live in Los Angeles (Done- doing it) 

- One night stand ( ;P)

- Meet the president (done, but she was a senator back then, I was young boy, she spoke Spanish to her husband, Kapampangan to my Lola, Cebuano to my Uncle, Tagalog to me)

- Back pack through Europe and take tons of pictures

- Have my own show-my painting, sketches and photos, sculptures after I learn how

- wrangle a wild Anaconda

- wrestle an alligator

- Feed a shark (not with my own limb)

- go to palawan

- go to Bohol (done)

- go to Sagada 

- Be on TV, this is lame (but it's done)

- Own my own boat

- Do a Thomas Crown Affair or Oceans Eleven

- Name my first daughter Andrea Franchesca

- Name my first son John Paul or John Lennin 

- Build my children a tree house/their first crib

- Propose to my future wife over and over again (and marry her again as well)

- Take photographs of sunsets 365 times in a year

- Make my own short film

- Write a book

- Publish some writings 

- become a decent writer (done)

- Live in Italy

- Live in Africa

- ride a hot air baloon accross the Serengeti

- See the Lions, Rhinos, Elephants, and wildebeasts of Africa

- Visit the arctic

- visit all the islands of the Philippines

- Meet the Dalai Lama, the Pope, El Presidente Fidel Castro and see Mecca

- Ride a train in India

- Learn Spanish, French, Italian and German

- Meet a real life Hannibal Lecter, James Bond and Indiana Jones

-  Attempt to scale either K-2 or Everest

- invent something

- Learn to play Golf (working on it), Tennis(done), Cricket, Snooker, Poker

- Own a beach house, a hotel suite, an adobe house with a vespa scooter in the meditterainian, over looking the channel

- visit the Great Wall of China, Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Piza, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Panama Canal, Mt. Fuji, The Taj Mahal, Disneyland (Done), Liberty Island (done), World Trade Center (done), The Kremlin, Pyramids of Giza, Phuket, Singapore, Hawaii, Ireland, see the British Monarchy

- Fly a plane

 

 

 

 

The plane flight was tiring... as expected.

I told myself, I will not slepe the night before my flight because I wanted to sleep the flight to Japan. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

On the flight, the lady seated beside me, uhm, bout 40 ish was reading Angels and Demons. Upon closer inspetion (smalltalk) she told me that she got interested in reading about it becuase of what has been happenning with the Vatican and the Pope's death. 

We discussed parts of the book during the flight. Everytime she would ask me something about the book and it's parts, I would gladly enlighten her with whatever I know... I read a book explaining the different things discussed in the Book so I basically know some other things about it.

She finished the book 2 hours before we landed in Tokyo. While deplaining, I heard her talkin the the FA. It turned out that she was an international Math Teacher and she is now teaching in Japan and just came back from a seminar in LA... go figure... One of God's humorous projects...

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In other news... Here are people's reactions upon seeing me.

- "Jaaaab! syet, tumaba ka..."(talk about tactless...)

- "Tumanda itsura mo..."(because of my glasses)

- "lumalaki ka ha..." (being polite)

- "Gwapo..." (I made that up)

- "I'm distracted by that bulge on your midsection" (anodaw?)

- "pasalubong ko?" (expected...)

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Back in LB... It's so Hott... very very hott... I like it!

I went to my class, as usual, I sat as far as I can from the front row. I figured I will be able to concentrate more without thinking if half of the class is not without me.

The instructor, well, was trying to make ain impression on us. It won't work on me, I've been in countless situations like these. Pitty, poor youngans (my classmates) they're in for a summer.

Kris want's me to be her partner in Ballroom dancing in the afternoon. It would be either that or me taking pictures and running.

Taking pictures/running vs. Ballroom dancing in the afternoon.

You decide.

Rockwell, tomorrow... Hope it pulls through...

For those who have yet to greet me - you bitches...

For those who have - Gratzie

OK, a recap. Friday (april 22nd) I went to class, dressed up nicely (no board shorts or old white T-shirts) had tocino for lunch sa apt. with brods (courtesy of Jack), tapos I had the car washed, tapos went to Bean hub had a chocolate overload waffle, coffee and several chapters of The Bourne Legacy Novel Im currently reading, tapos had  chat with Senior Bill - Ace photographer. I also went to St. Therese to attend mass.

After which, Mads, my ever sweet friend gave me a cake! with candles! A surprise for my part coz I cant remember the last time I had a cake for my birthday and with candles to blow.

Good thing we were in Vega inside Bean Hub so it wasnt hard for me to get friends and acquaintances to sing me a happy birthday. I demanded to be treated like the birthday boy, my lovely friends obliged.

"Blow Jab! Blow Jab!" they chanted. and laughed. And chanted again... they kinda liked chanting that... hmmm?

"Whoopie", says myself.

That night, I had several tables for my friends ready. They had free beer and pulutan, free coffee and H20 and a host of other freebies they can squeeze out of myself. It was fun, I had fun. Seeing old friends and orgmates and talking to all of them. Thanking them and Hugging them for giving me such a good time. It was so fun, I dont remember the last time I had fun like this on my birthday... Wish the Kinkies were there.

Then, with my own personal will and strength, I told myself at around 2a.m. it's time to go home. Reasons being:

1. Kadyo was really drunk; the more he got drunk, the more he got inlove. As much as we enjoyed watching him making a fool out of himself - It's not his birthday. It was mine.

2. We've been there since 8:30pm (this is actually an excuse)

3. I have class the next morning at 8:30am (saturday) may angal?

One more thing I enjoyed. I took the cake, lit the candles ang went around the tables in the cafe and asked the people to sing me a happy birthday. If only I had birthday hats for everyone.

------ The next morning, after an exodus to Manila and trying to get a grip telling myself "I dont want to watch the graduation." - With Joan, Ate ting and their friends with me, we capped off the night with several orders of amazing Max Brenner creations... phew!

.

You know when there's this place that you've always wanted to go to and always planned it this way and that?

Well, due to a certain duty I needed to perform coupled with my impulsive nature when it comes to adventures, I finally was able to go to Paete, Laguna (50 kms due east of UPLB) and spend the whole day walking around town.

It wouldn't be complete without good company. DG Leo and Jack went with me. With the tape (yes, casette) of E-head's Circus album blaring on the background, it was like how I imagined it.

Upon arrival in Paete, we were amazed how the town was uber small. The roads were very narrow and the shops were tiny as well. Looking at everything, the town had everything anyone could ever need. There was a hardware store, and upon entering the town we passed by a cemetery, they had a local restaurant, pharmacy, hospital, buger joints, several churches, although, as would in any other Southern Luzon town, the Catholic Cathedral is always a nice structure to take pictures of.

I always imagined walking around town, with my trusty camera in hand, taking pictures of people and buildings and trying the local food. WE talked to alot of people and they were all so friendly enough to give time telling us about thair quaint town.

Paete is known for it's master craftsmans and artisans. The craft they are known worldwide of is of their woodcarvers and creations. One famous work that came our of Paete, as one woodcarver gleefully told us was the statue of Machete. "Actually, kumpare ko yung gumawa nung Machete na yun eh, yung talagang ginamit sa palikula ha..."

Another craft that the Paetenos are famous for are their paper mache' works. From masks, to imitation statues, busts and pedestals, the Paetenos proved to me that there is no limit to what Filipinos can muster and master.

Along a small street (Kalye Kesada) in the middle of town is a small builing made up of old pieces of torn down houses, boulders and church structures that took around 2 years to construct. It was Cafe Kesada, an Art Gallery. The small, one room gallery displays works of local artists who already have moved into the worldwide scene. Their group, The Filipintura group boasts of contemprary and modern styled painters who's genre can only bi limited by ones imagination. The hardwood floors creaks and croaks with every step. The whole building adorned with capiz windows and bricks! Outside ware chars and tables designed to suit the area. They also had flora native to Laguna adorning the small garden. The twist in this artsy fartsy area of town is an actual BigMak store. It's like Burger Machine, Southern Tagalog style. (Although i personaly think Migmak is better not just becuase of teh taste of their burgers but also of their wide selection of grub).

Beneath all the fanfare of being in Paeteno, my friends and I also discovered some sad stories about Paete and it's history. Wood carvers live off, well wood. And due to the Log ban, the woodcarvers are seeing an end to their livelihood. You see, these woodcarvers have been doing their crafts for hundreds of years and they have learned to live and work with nature. They know not to abuse nature and that in return, nature will be good to them.

Another thing is their paper Mache' industry. It was said that before Germany became the center of the paper mache export world, Paete already started booming with this craft. Businessmen from Germany came to Paete and paid the local artisans to teach them how to make the crafts. Being in a small industry and earning just enough to get by, the artisans oblidged, being paid say 60,000Php for a 6 month job teaching the Germans to amke the same works of art.

Now, Paete is left behind. Stuck with the irony of things. Even with this sad reality, Paete is still a beautiful town with beautiful and friendly people. Hardworking, Hospitable and happy with what they already have, the Paetenos epitomizes the already lost "provincial" culture of Filipinos. Here, everybody knows everybody else. They know where they come from and they certainly know that whatever happens in the next 100 years, they will still be there. For 500 years, Paete grew in the middle of the shores of Laguna Bay and the foothills of the mountain ranges of Laguna and Quezon. Their respect for nature, history and people brough them this far, and they are happy with it.

The drive home, with our pasalubongs consuming have the seat space beside jack was amazingly refreshing. This time, we had james taylor playing on the background. Upon arrival in LB, we had alot of stories for our friends who were waiting for us at the Coffee shop.

What's next? I dont know, but there's another thing lingering in my mind. A road trip around the great province of Batangas... Beach hopping!!!

Till next time!