i haven't updated in ages. in due time, i will update, for those that still read this. as for now, my uncle on my father's side just passed away. i'm going to be in Cebu for the weekend, leaving this thursday and returning to manila monday morning. i can't remember the last funeral i've been to, i've been to death anniversaries and wakes, pero this will be the first funeral since my lolo passed away in 2003.

met congressman Edcel C. Lagman today. He's a big proponent in PLCPDs policies and is part of its board of trustees I believe. Here's how our conversation went.

Are you Filipino or American citizen?
-American po.
Are you a democrat or republican?
-democrat po.
Are you voting for Clinton or Obama?
-Obama po.
Welcome to PLCPD.

I just arrived at 3am, I didn't even get to tell you all where I went. I planted rice in the Ifugao. More on this, once I've recovered from this spontaneous adventure.

I just had a karage chicken wrap for dinner and this yummy green tea dessert thingy, forgot what it's called. sooo good.

calm after the storm

after Monday's dramatic scene in Congress, session on Tuesday resumed as if nothing happened. The crowd was subdued, there was hardly any spectators watching and the security seemed relaxed.

We had a meeting today, a briefing on alternative energy, free lunch and drinks. Everyone was either drinking a regular coke or a coke light (aka diet coke). Should I feel guilty?

Currently sipping medium brewed Indonesian coffee at our office in Congress. I can't remember the last time I had coffee, been on a green tea binge lately, I forgot how good this teeth staining liquid is.

I got my temporary i.d. issued today, should be able to pick it up tomorrow, I'm excited :) Morning commute wasn't too bad, rode the Welcome/Delta jeepney from Tomas Morato, got off at Delta, then I waited for an FX (a shared aircon taxi) to Sandigan/Batasan. After that, I got on a tricycle to Congress. It took less than an hour, but my cough always starts up again after the commute and I thought I had gotten rid of it already---oh the Manila pollution.

Nothing eventful has happened, sessions in Congress is always a bore. Congress was the last place I thought I would be assigned, but so far it's been a great experience. Lobby work is hard, but I'm enjoying how PLCPD as an NGO is so close to making policies become a reality. Oh crap! Session is starting, the bell has gone off and Bayang Magiliw just started. later.


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Actually I spoke too soon, this session is exciting. The whole session hall is packed, parang SONA daw says my co-workers. Read this, it's the most up to date breaking news as of this point and time.

My friend Isa and I decided to go see the first komedya last Friday held at the University of the Philippines-Diliman campus. It was not really what I expected, or it may just be that I just couldn't understand most of it, and that's why it wasn't what I expected. It was as if I didn't take two years of Tagalog. Good thing there's context clues and Isa, my handy translator :) Basic story line, Muslim converts to Christianity at the end of the story and lives happily ever after. The best part of the night for me was the amazing firework display, it was seriously one of the best I'd ever seen.

photo taken at Ortigas MRT stop

"A roaring economy: Growth hits a 31 year high in the Philippines"---just got a message about this article. What does it mean?

For the first time today, I saw a taxi drive on a pedestrian side walk. I mean it was literally tilted to about a 40degree angle, probably less, but you get the picture. I've seen motorcycles do this to avoid traffic but never a taxi until today.

komedya

I'm craving a green tea latte from Kozui Green Tea cafe on Tomas Morato, the drinks there are not too badly priced and there's free wifi, can't beat that. Although I haven't been back for a while, ever since I discovered free wifi access from my boarding house :)

I've been sick lately, a combination of a cold from the heat (currently 90F outside) to AC, plus the pollution while commuting to and from work, but I'm hoping to make it out to at least one of the komedya performances put on by the University of the Philippines for the whole month of February in celebration of their centennial year. I'm super excited! :)

Pilipinas 2007-2008

So, this is my first post for what I have called my "extended" vacation in the Philippines. Instead of creating a new blog, I thought it would be fitting to continue the thread from where I had left this old blog back in 2006, or maybe I'm just being lazy.

I've been away from "home" for almost two months now. Two weeks were spent in Indonesia and the other month and a half have been a combination of Manila, Cebu, and the Visayas trip that Myra, Zara, my cousin Theresa, and I embarked upon before I left to start my internship in Quezon City. So far this trip has been a bit more, actually.... A LOT more relaxed than previous trips. It's not so much as figuring out my identity, my role in this society nor do I feel like people expect something out of this when i get back etc. The focus as I've come to realize it has been more on trying to see and experience as much of the Philippines as I can because I have this gut feeling that I won't be coming back for a while. It's like I have to get the Philippines out of my system and move on or something. I don't know if this is actually possible for a person like me...this trip would be my fourth consecutive return to the homeland. How long does it take? Well maybe it does take four trips with a combination of a family burial and reunion, partying til 4am in Timog, island hopping, interviews, rallies, internships, Red Horse and San Mig Lights, and getting a bit disillusioned and creating a student org. in the process.