Charlie Chaplin

Pain is not synonymous to sadness. This is like watching my favourite movie while doing other chores. I know the scenes by heart. I recall all the lines. I stop and look at the screen sometimes. Then, I go back to what I have to do. Other times, I find myself getting up and switching off the player. I like quiet. I prefer black and white.

 

Nam It

Amazing loads on bikes.
A series of ‘Not a problem’ quips.
Mr. Hyp’s nods and headless photos.
No. 1 Vietnamese Iced Coffee.
A pot of Pho with a ton of leaves.
Ms. Suong’s bundle of Dong.
Floating markets at Mekong River.
A cup of soy milk from a little boy.
All the 4AM wake-up calls.
Swads of facial tissue.
Bottles of mosquito repellant.
Downpours in the afternoon.
Bridges at night.
All the run, run, run.
Three girls under the Vietnam sun.

 

indios bravos polymath

The regalia of historians like Ambeth Ocampo would include seeing Rizal’s library card, reading the same Morga manuscript read by our national hero, and even sitting on Carl Marx’s corner in the British Library.

I attended a lecture on ” Rizal, The First Overseas Filipino” at the Singapore Art Museum yesterday. What struck me most about Ocampo’s lecture was how our national heroes exhibited the familiar Pinoy sense of humor.

Rizal, Pardo de Tavera, and Hidalgo in ridiculous costumes would sit for Luna. One scene depicted the death of Cleopatra. Another would use Rizal’s arm to represent Datu Sikatuna. The tres mosqueteiros pose would include Valentin Ventura. These heroes were young students in Europe then. They had foolish brawls over women. Amats would be common at mid-day. Rizal did not take a shower for a month because Kuya Pacio was unable to send money on time. Belo and Calayan could applaud Rizal. The national hero strategically faced the firing squad after feeling the bullet pass through his back. It is quite logical not to want a damaged face when falling to the ground. This piece of information makes me prouder of the man. Rizal did not just want to see the morning sun.

Zaide and Agoncillo could have been influential on how I learned my country’s history. But, Ocampo does make more sense in explaining why Rizal is the national hero and why Magellan did not discover nor re-discovered the Philippines.

Thinking aloud: The Portuguese should have worn the wrong side of his breastplate before circumnavigating the earth.

 

Random thoughts about Tita Kit

I shall come to terms with the truth that you’ve joined the rest of the clan in the other room. I am a harbor away from crying and missing you. In absentia, I flip the pages of my youth and recount how I intend to embrace my memory of you.

Collection of Angel Figurines: The inspiration for the Angel’s Well, no doubt.

Artificial Flower-Making: Violet and Green Orchids to be exact.

Burger Connection at the abandoned police outpost in Kubo: Where Harry met Reina Joyce?

Stretch pants and embroidered shirt for one Christmas bazaar in Greenhills: I wore my pink piece every week.

Synchopated rendition of Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts”: We sang it so badly in one of the carole nights that we had to skip singing one full stanza. Even the guitar strings snapped!

My brown Tupperware: I even recall the installment scheme. I think I was in 2nd grade then.

Marlboro and Stork: I was barely five years old. You and the gang were illegally smoking! You asked Rona and me to buy these from Nanay Enza’s sari-sari store.

Green Luminous Rosary: I frequently asked you to turn off the lights so that I could see the beads. One incident made me cry. You tricked me into believing that Tita Corrie left me inside your room. Lights were on and off. The first time, she was gone. The second time, she was back. Then, you told me it was magic. Was I a stupid little girl or what?

Rico and Rabbits: Your suitor, I believe, gave you a pair of bunnies. Rona and I were lookouts when the poor guy would visit and you would deliberately hide.

Apples and Celery: Oh, how I loved your macaroni salad

Manpower Cosmetology: You recruited Rona and me to be models for haircuts, rollers, and make-up. We couldn’t contain our giggles when one of your classmates said this, “Kets, Kets, pahingi naman ng sitting lushun mu.” Then, you handed her your bottle of setting lotion. “Tenks Kets!”, she added.

22nd Street: You were wearing a very BIG ROUND GOLD pendant. Typical for any comedy bar scene, you got the following hilarious comments:

“First Honor”
Announced with a booming voice like that of a real commencement exercise.

“Ang bait naman ni Ma’am. Kasama sila Inday sa gimik.”
Addressed to all of us wearing drab clothes that night.

And as your curtains fall, I stand and join the hundreds of spectators watching you dive into that debutant’s cake when you played that cameo role in one of Aga Muhlach’s earlier teen acts, “HOTSHOTS”.

 

swivels

swinging yet again
closer to the dreams
of wishing and wanting
to walk
to run
towards something
more lucid
more concrete
more real
heading towards
home

 

she’s only in the next room

My favorite aunt died at the age of 25. I was barely eight years old then. It has been 24 years now. I still miss her.

 

not another marshmallow test

Here you go again. Can’t afford to get any wrong signals about the elsewhere list. The first round was not for you. Do you think the Universe will give you the second? Please GOD, spare me from false hopes this time.

 

This year’s Passover

Why is this night so different from all the other nights? All empty themselves of food for one and a half days to stay awake.

from darkness comes light…from death comes life…

 

beautifully imperfect

I never recall the grandest things that people do. What I do miss are the little deeds, the imperfections, the oddities, the things that annoy and irritate.

The “Left Foot” keeps me going…

 

exercising the gift of 90/10

I accept the task of exercising my freewill. True enough, the 90/10 Principle summarizes what has been and what will be in my life. That is, 10% is what happens to me, and 90% is how I react to this 10%. Stay or Leave. Play, Win, Lose. Whatever is at stake—all a matter of choice.