Matters

I thought I have been strenghtened by all those years in training seeing premature babies die. But each new one becomes my son or daughter and as I guide them through the rough road of the first days of their lives, they become a part of me. And it still hurt seeing some of them go.

Today I lost another one after a long battle with difficult feeding which turned out to be an obstructed bowel, he underwent an exploratory laparotomy. He was doing fine the first two days, but a hospital acquired infection set in quickly and spread like fire burning paper. The medicines could not alter the course and in four hours, he succumbed to death. I admired most his mother who despite two abortions and a neonatal death, she was calm and composed. It was me who wanted to cry. I have lost another one. I have another angel in heaven. I hope my angels would all help me now so I can save the lives of their brothers and sisters to come.

Happy New Year from The Next Big Thing - Bukidnon

It has been a back breaking trip, driving through the roads of Mindanao. One time you are surrounded with paved roads and bustling vehicles the next you are stuck in long stretches of coconut plantations or rice fields as far as your eyes can see. It's amazing now when I think about it how many mountains we traversed during this travel from Zamboanga City to Davao City. There are roads that curve around mountains and there are those that cut through the mountains. The coast line is breath taking much more if seen on top of the mountains. It's like an ancient road trip where you see the view of a city emerging like an oasis from tops of mountains, from a blind curve over the hill, from rolling plains and winding roads of a plateau.

Of course, the best place in Mindanao, hands down is Bukidnon. If I am to be given a choice, I would not think twice. It has the almost perfect weather like Baguio. It has the rich fertile soil. It is quiet. It can be busy if it wants to. Without even trying, it is a piece of paradise cut off by its steep roads from the menacing clutches of modernization. Alas the roads are already built and slowly development and commercialization are threatening to spoil this last peice of paradise.

I suggest a visit as soon as possible and enjoy. Recommendations include:

1. For good coffee and pastries if you are longing for home after a long trip, go to Mint Leaf. Tucked away on the end of a side street in Malaybalay. They serve coffee and lemon squares and a ambiance to match.

2. The best place to stay is the Pines Hotel on the Malaybalay main road. The walls are filled with works of modern Fiilipino artists. The interiors are a blast from the eigthies but a good place to stay with running hot water. Try their restaurant which serves good pork ribs and steaks.

3. The Catholic Church on Malaybalay, built like a huge barn. Dedicated to San Isidro Labrador. Across is the city park.

4. The Monastery of the Transfiguration. Perched on top of a hill. Designed by the National Artist Leandro Locsin, the Church stands as a pyramid amidst the background of green lush fields and mountains. Home to the famous designer turned Benedictine monk, Noli Hans. You will be thankful going there and start believing again. The monks sell organically grown strawberry, coffee and peanuts.

5. The famous Sumilao farms. Home to farmers who walked from Bukidnon to Manila to ask for their rightful ownership of the land they till.

6. Del Monte Clubhouse in Cawayanon. They have a reputation for serving the best steaks. You will forget you are in Mindanao and think you are in Camp John Hay.

7. The roads are the best for a pleasant road trip. Except for the slow moving huge trucks the ride over roads that dip and rise and over tall bridges with fantastic views of gorges, waterfalls and mountains is worth it.

8. The road from Bukidnon to Davao. Not as zigzaggy like Baguio but almost like it. With clouds drifting by the car window as you pass by children lined along the road with one hand outstreched asking for money.

In the next few years, as the politicos are snaring investors into the area, these places will drastically changed. As with Boracay and Bohol, I bet progress will go unchecked and what this beautiful area has now may change forever. So go now and enjoy while it lasts.

The Kite Runner

Just finished reading the novel by Khaled Hosseini. The opening chapters were very good kind of reminiscent of John Knowles "A Seperate Peace." The characterization of the father and son conflict. The friendship between Hassan and Amir. Amir's selfishness. These were amazing and refreshing read.

However somewhere in between I got lost. Maybe because the novelty of tortured people escaping poverty and landing in America is not new to us Filipinos that the hardships of starting over did not pull any emotional string in me.

Coincidences are good. I agree it helped the novel. However the way Shorab's transformation was handled was too erratic for me. One time he is this good boy the next a reckless child getting lost finding a mosque and slashing his wrist. I don't know if his bit was just to make the novel longer in the last part because it made me yawn.

Verdict: Good novel. May read first few chapters at night but definitely read the other half during the day.

The Trillanes Fiasco

I did not see this coming in a million years. And I guess nobdy did, except those who thought they can pull away with another people power. It is so 1980's and like bangs and padded shoulders, napakalaos na.

Trillanes has been in jail for a long time. He was not able to see what is actually going on outside. Rallies and call for support will not stir the people anymore. What we need are real life heroes willing to give their lives up for the cause.

For a while during the coverage somebody said they will take it to the very end "at ito ang magiging bagong Pasong Tirad." Strong words but no balls pala. After an hour, a dose of tear gas and a series of gunshots, suddenly they came out misty eyed surrendering.

Not a good role model. Not that I want to see bloodshed, but what we need is a new Che guevarra or a Ninoy Aquino to capture our minds and imagination. Eh kung ganyan ganyan lang konting sakit give up na, wala talagang mangyayari. Poor planning and execution. Kailangan pa ng practice.

Remember noon 80's its just the radio. And video killed the radio star. Ngayon may cellphones, live coverage and internet na. We have to adjust to the times. Hindi pwedeng bagets pa rin ang tugtog ng boombox.

My Father's Garden

My father was the erstwhile green thumb. Give him a seed or a stem of anything and he will make it grow in a month. He has tried it with bromeliads and orchids and anthuriums, that he created a virtual jungle on our household grounds. But do not look for aesthetics here. Its just mere random planting of whatever he could grab on.

It has been six years since he was gone and the garden was left to tend for itself. No new plants are placed and the old ones seem to have outgrown their pots, vines have climbed to top of trees and seedlings grow together with their mother plants in the same pots.

I took this pictures just to give me something to help me remember before everything changes. Every morning after coffee he would go down and attend to these plants. Either water them, plant new ones or change their pots. Everytime I leave for Manila, I would look for him there to kiss his hands. It was his kingdom and the plants love him like their king. It was where he was most truly happy.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

This is the Belen that was given as a wedding gift to my parents. There is an older nativity scene ceramic set that my father's family bought for fifty pesos fifty years ago, which will be going on display a little bit when people are in the holiday mood already. Merry Christmas.

Insiang at the CCP: a case of great expectations

Was it 5 years ago, when I was jogging along CCP when I saw the poster for Temptation Island the play which starred John Lapus? I was curious enough to buy the tickets and watch that night and had a very pleasant experience watching transvestites do the roles of the candidates for Ms. Manila Sunshine. It was so hilarious, witty and the fact that the script was faithful to the original film that even if I get to see reruns of the film on cinemaone, I still feel the the same exhiliration as before making it truly a classic.

Then came Insiang, the play. I was in Manila over the weekend for nothing in particular. So I looked up the list of shows at the CCP and saw the announcement for Insiang. I was excited to be able to be in town when the show was still running. From the airport the first stop was the box office at the CCP and I was dreaming all night of how wonderful the play would be having seen the original Brocka movie.

But of course, I think that did it. I had my expectations set at par with the movie with Hilda Koronel as my muse that as I was seeing the play I was disappointed with the show.

I understand the whole script was rewritten for the stage. I understand that at this point the writer rather than the director has the creative voice. What I don't understand was half way through the show the play was still busy creating character studies of the lead roles that the drama of the story has to unfold in the last fifteen minutes of the play. I felt I was shortchanged with seeing the plot and the lead role unfold that quick. It was like watching Swan Lake with all the other dances hoarding half of the time and seeing Odile the other half of the time.

The play busied itself with creating atmosphere. There were several moments stolen by the supporting cast members as they make their own different Oscar moments on stage. As I see it, the lead role was Toyang's, which should have been the title. They could have advertised this as a spin off of Isiang instead. Pacing was ineffective as her role was limited to either groaning while having sex and screaming at Insiang. Ricky Davao had pa cute moments like when he was explaining why he was who he is, that I am still trying to understand as part of a stage treatment that was way off character. I ended up not hating him. Insiang was given too long a time to be sweet that I did not feel the transformation to a bitter revengeful bitch that I expected. Perhaps because the girl playing the part was miscast as she was too sweet and played the part like a girl from an exclusive school would or the script was not that powerful and challenging enough.

The production design portraying scenes from the squatters area was terrific. I even commented that the stink of mildew of the theater might actually be part of the design. The acoustics were fine except when Pacing are doing her moments when I actually could not understand what she is saying as she contorts her face to equally incomprehensible emotions. Yes there are breast and butt exposures, which I believe is too juvenile. Parang college plays. But if it helps draw crowds to the show, okay lang. Funding a production is indeed a difficult task these days.

If I was not clouded by the great work of the Brocka, I think i would have doubled my enjoyment on seeing the play. My verdict, see the play before you see the movie.