Myanmar: I hope it stays that way

While shopping for a PSP in Singapore, the salesclerk asked me if I come from Myanmar. How dare them! Not exactly my initial reaction but that was my friend's reaction. "Do those singaporeans know the former name of Myanmar?"

I never took it as a derogatory remark. I have been mistaken for an Indonesian, an Indian, a Malaysian and a native of Myanmar, but never as Filipino. I am beginning to accept that as a people we actually do not have a stereotype. We always conform and eventually do not have an identity.

Going back to the topic. I know it is cruel to hope that the country stay that way, with the military rule and the devastation caused by the recent calamities, only hard hearted persons like me could wish for that. But you see, once Myanmar opens up to the world, eventually the Philippines will be left behind.

Kulelat na talaga and Pilipinas. Once Myanmar gets its act together with a new government and a very active citizenry, Philippines will be the rock bottom of all the growth and economic boom surveys.

Kaya nga sana ganun muna sana ang Myanmar.

Museum of the Filipino Poeple

Although we were allowed to take pictures, I think it is improper to the National Museum if I post the ones I took.

I have been to the National Museum three times before this wonderful tour. The first was on a High School field trip when the Senate was still on the premises. the old musty and cobweb laden displays of stuffed animals were all I can remember plus of course the Spolarium. The second was with a date whom I was trying to impress during college. There I failed miserably. The third was with friends, but it was more for fun looking at the displays and trying to figure out things on our own and debating on facts we have no real knowledge on.

Since I have made a rule that it will not just be shopping that will fill my schedules during my trips to Manila and abroad, I decided that everytime I travel, I will make time for either a play, concert or a museum tour. Luckily, there was a National Museum tour on the dates of my visit to Manila. So it was a big thing on the list of things to do. The meetings and the shoping seemed secondary as I looked forward for that Sunday morning tour.

True enough, the tour was a wonderful and eye opening experience. It made me feel proud to be a Filipino.

Before going into the tour, Rajo Laurel was speaking on the television on why the Filipinos were the first global citizens. It turns out the archipelago 40,000 years ago were parts of Asia and Australia. Elephant remains were excavated in the islands as proof. Early inhabitants of the islands were shellfish eaters. That explained the collumns of clam shells in the exhibit area. There were galleries for archeology site and deep water excavations.

The tour of the national treasure the manungul jar was the highlight of one gallery which included excavated jar covers shaped into human faces. The tribal costumes were excellent, with the Bagobo garbs colors showing shades reminiscent of the colors of Armani and Gucci clothes.

It was amazing that ordinary utensils used by Maranaos were made colorful with ukkil carvings. Even the plows used in rice fileds and fishnets were adorned with these designs.

I like most the story of how a T'boli weaver of ikat cloth gets her designs through self induced fever and dreams. I thought that stuff are only for the movies.

The San Diego galleries were beautiful but I guess it did not interest me much personally. Here John Silva's comments practically made the stop bearable. Seeing an original 16th century astrolab if that is the highlight of the gallery as it is the only one displayed in a museum is worth the stop.

We crossed the street to the old legislative building and passing through the lobby with the whimsical Impy Pilapil chandeliers, we were lead into the hall of two great Filipino Masters. Juan Luna's "Spolarium" and Hidalgo's "The Assasination of Governor Bustamante by the Friars" stood across each other on the great hall. It was Luna's painting though that gives the room energy. On the farthest end of the room, two wounded and lifeless gladiators were being dragged into the darkness while on one side a distraught woman turned on her back was in a pose of grief as onlookers packed and peered on the opposite end. The painting won the first price of a prestigious Spanish competition with Hidalgo's placing second.

All these years, its significance for me was limited to that idea. The "Spolarium" was great because it won a prize. However, as the great John Silva narrated the circumstances and events that followed after its celebrated victory- Jose Rizal's speech, the branding of Rizal as subersive and his eventual writing of the Noli and Fili, changed my perspective. It was not just the beauty of the work and the metaphor behind, but the fuelling of a revolution that made it great. I stood in awe. There were tears bordering on my eyelids. It made me proud.

There were other works on display by national artists and other painters. The contrast between the romanticized version of Francisco's First Mass and Manansala's Planting of the Cross were a striking and impressive way to view art and history and the Filipino society. It helped me realize how flawed our education system is and how it should be salvaged.

If you have time during the dates on the poster, I highly recommend joining the tour. I use to think when I go on tour of museums in other countries that their collections were more impressive than ours. This tour have made it all wrong. We have a wealth of history and art that is waiting for us to discover and eventually make us appreciate and proud of who we are.

Coming of Age: Zamboanga City

It's about time. They are beginning to construct new buldings. They have neglected the progress of this city for so long and people are just relying on miracles to make development happen. With thoughts of a mall in most of everyone's wishlist. It is really still a way long long time before that happens. Meanwhile we just have to content ourselves with small successes.

Two years ago the first coffee shop hit the scene. People thought it will be a flop but since then coffee shops are sprouting slowly like orchids, rare but they are there.

Finally, a place serving gourmet italian and continental dishes. Pizza parlors have come and go. Fine dining restaurants have closed their doors. All because consumers are enslaved to the taste of jollibee and grilled seafood. Let's just say that was the taste of Davao consumers ten years ago. That is how behind the city is.

But bravo, one local restaurant "Country Chicken" have decided to reinvent itself by changing the menu featuring puttanesca, fabada, four cheese pizza. I don't know how long this dream will last. But hopefully it does for a long time.

I Lost Another Rosary

I cannot remember when I started wearing a rosary in my pocket. I cannot even remember how many I have lost. I used to wear black beaded rosaries initially but I eventually loose them and bemoan how expensive they are. Since then I started wearing the brown wooden ones. I love the rosaries I have lost because all of them are the ones I have put my strength and devotion in through the rough times in my life. The prayer have guided me when my thoughts hover all over the place. Before the rosaries were placed in my right hand pocket but since I wanted to make my body symmetrical for the feeling that I have been using the half of my body most, I flipped the orientation of things in my jeans pockets. So there, I lost the rosary I have been using since fellowship. I thought it will suddenly turn up in my clothes or room or the car, but its been five days now. Now i officially declare that it is lost and I opened a plastic case of the rosary given by the Carmelite sisters last year.

I just took up Oil Painting Classes

My teacher called my work emotional. I don't know what is emotional about a green cup with a pink background, but painting class sure makes me focus my anxieties on a piece of canvass. I get frustrated when I cannot work out a figure and get flustered with joy on a piece well done. Each session gives me new insights into different techniques. Just when you though you knew it all, on the next session, the rules gets changed or improved. Ah, the wonders of the medium never ceases. If you happen to be in need of a good destressing hobby, then painting is it. You can get lost while painting in a canvass.

Dumaguete, Apo Island

All I know about Dumaguete used to come from my readings and its fame as the very first city to offer a writing workshop in Silliman University. Images of a tree lined boulevard by the sea and the iconic Silliman Hall are staples of documentaries and picture books on dumaguete. Beyond these, Dumaguete offers a myriad of places and activities to fill up a vacation without being bored. Being groomed as the next tourist itirenary with its neighboring Cebu and Bohol, Dumaguete is on the right tract.

By now the city has a very cosmopolitan air. With tourist flocking the area near the sea and expats with their Filipino wives building beach resort after beach resort along the shore.

I hope it does not suffer the fate of Boracay. At any rate it was good that I have been there first before that happens.

When in Dumaguete:
1. Visit the St. Catherine of Alexandra Church and the famous belfry.
2. Visit the mini-zoo which houses flying foxtrot (the inspiration for dracula turning into bats), the rare Philippine spotted deer and the wild boar.
3. Visit the seaside resorts like Santa Monica
4. Visit the mountain resort Forrest Camp.
5. Visit the Silliman marine life museum.
6. Take a Silliman University tour. See the iconic Silliman Hall. The very old water fountain. The teacher and student dorms. The grounds with old acacia trees. They say although the College of Music has only one student it was not phased out because it was the oldest college in the university.
Walking the grounds, I am reminded of the Ninotchka Rosca's short story of the lady violin teacher having an affair with her student on a southern university town. At last this could be the place of inspiration.
7. Eat at Malatapay. Original home of the Sutukil. Take one fish a make soup from the head, grill the tail and toast the belly in vinegar. That's sugba (grill) tula (make soup) and kilawin. Every wednesday is market day. The place turns into a festive chaotic scene of a fiesta reenacted every week. With rows of stalls selling fresh seafood and livestock and vegetables from the mountains and the nearby islands. Get the feshest seafood and vegetables and ask you favorite cook the prepare them exactly the way you like it.
8. APO ISLAND. If you are into snorkeling and diving, this is the place to be. Not for the faint hearted though. Be ready for a rough boat trip to the island with constant spraying of seawater as the boat splashes against the waves even on calm days. The snorkeing area is fantastic. Although not as good as El Nido. Except for the rough waves and sharp rocks that caused my bruises while maneuvering into the waters, it was a good experience. Take a picture from the rock formation in the island and then buy t-shirts from the lady vendors. Plan to go early in the morning because the waves are really rough in the afternoons or stay the night at one of the resorts and then go back the next day.
9. Sans Rival. Indeed the pastry shops in Manila faces a tough competition when you taste the heavenly-mouth-watering-to-die-for silvanas from this famous restaurant.
10. Take a walk along the Boulevard at night. There are several gourmet restaurants doting the strip. One can get the traditional grilled seafood dinner, or eat italian, japanese and swiss. "Why Not" was our instant favorite with their breads baked fresh daily. Try the cereal bread which is the best bread in town, by the way. Choose from a variety of pates or ham as filling. Get the curious looking cookies shaped like bread with different flavors and wash it down with coffee.
11. Bethel Hotel. Clean, spacious, quiet, by the sea. It is the best place to stay when you are in the area. Eat the bubod. Suman or sticky rice with millet seeds.