Summer Lovin'

The months of April and May are the summer months in tropical Philippines. Just recently, the country's weather bureau reminded everyone in the country to take necessary caution as the summer temperature heats up to 39 C. People are encouraged to take a bath two or more times daily, avoid exposure to the sun from 9:00-3:00 pm, and drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Despite the raging summer heat in the Philippines, summer is still one of the most awaited time of the year. Children have no school and parents are happy as the giving out of allowance temporarily came to a halt. It seems many have time to unwind and relax. I, for one is looking forward to summer vacation, not for its blazing heat but for the carefree atmosphere it brings.

Every summer I enjoy at least 20 days off from work. Several days of that furlough are spend profitably while the rest are spend aimlessly. At home, I can just sleep and sleep, watch the tv programs that interest me, and stroll at my favorite mall like a true blooded mall rat. This summer, I am looking forward to accomplish the following:

1. Be a volunteer teacher in our church's annual Daily Vacation Bible School ( DVBS ). This year, I decided to spend only 5 days of April contrary to what I have been doing for the past 2 or 3 years. I feel there are many in the church who should experience the joy of volunteerism. If I would always be around to take a slot, I would also be depriving others who could also enjoy the task if I did not take one.

2. See friends like Lyn and Drew whom I haven't seen for a long time. It is true we built a really good friendship 11 years ago and made beutiful memories together but just recently I realized there is a need to reconnect with each other, reassure that there is love, a special place in our hearts exclusively meant for one another. I know I have not been so enthusiastic to see them ( despite Lyn's regular invitation to meet in Manila). This is because I thought our friendship is not dependent on regular get together or frequent exchange of text messages ( the two girls probably think this way too ) to survive. I was secured with our friendship that our last get together happened back in 2006 tsk..tsk.. I was wrong to look at our friendship that way. Now, I see the need to see each other once more, listen to stories about our career, family, and struggles, eat and laugh together, and just be there for each other again not only in words and in thoughts, but in a more " physical " way like we used to back in college.

I will also see other Manila-based friends. One of them is Chloe who I have to see before she leaves for Australia in July. Another friend, I am hoping to meet ( although we really had a marathon conversation before Christmas ) is another friend who just married a Chinese national. This year, I don't know if Marlyn can come to Manila, but I hope she can. I have nothing important to tell her, I just love to see her.

3. Write more blog entries. Believe me, I find blogging therapeutic. Most of my blog entries were written when I was feeling low. I wrote Food!Food!Food! because I miss good food. My first ever blog entry here, Hello World! was written in the midst of boredom. The article In The Mood for Gathering came out from my excitement about the possibility of meeting fellow Tony fanatics. Blogging made it possible for me to express my thoughts freely, without interruptions, without inhibitions. I just love it.

4. Read books on Citizenship Education. Thank God! Finally, I realized this is the field I must explore if I want to be good in my chosen career. I think the Philippines should have more experts on this field. Specialists who can develop and implement policies crucial to the development of responsible and nationalistic Filipinos. If I would be given a chance to study again, this field would top my list.

Wo de Fumu ( My Parents )

I have old parents. My father just turned 70 last February while my mother is turning 61 next month. Their wrinkled faces, slower gait, weakening physical abilities, and their less optimistic views in life constantly tell me, time has definitely passed by. That Marsha has grown up so much, that her parents are much older than when she was still young.

When I was still a child, my only idea of what old person means was based on a story my father told me about her mother. I’ve never seen my paternal grandmother. I just knew her through Papa's stories. According to my father, when he was still a little boy, he would always hold the wrinkled arms of his mother. As a child Papa often touch his mother’s wrinkled arms. It was a texture ( if I may call it such ) unusual to the touch. They were soft, flaky, and saggy. He would ask his mother, “ How did your arms become like that? “ And my father would not understand why no matter how hard his mother explains to him. He just could not figure out how a healthy skin could become like that as time passes. At 31, I do not have to repeat the same question. I know and have accepted that people become old even if he wants it or not. That his healthy skin will soon be ugly, wrinkled, saggy, dry, and even, flaky. My father and mother’s skin have become like that. Another reminder that tells me, my parents are now really old.

As a woman in my early 30s, I still want to do a lot of things that will make me happy and fulfilled. I want to travel, do volunteer work, study abroad, meet people, build new friendship, enjoy life, be a good citizen, and contribute to nation-building by helping the youth. Basically, they are the ones that can make me happy and worthy. My parents know this and they are so kind to support me. My parents have given me so much that whatever and wherever I am right now, I highly attribute all of these to them. More than anything, it is my family ( especially my parents ) that completes me. I may have traveled the whole world, obtained degree from the most prestigious university, helped thousands, forged friendship with the rich and famous but if I failed to become a good daughter to my parents especially in their twilight years, every accomplishment would just be a beautiful icing on top of a hollow cake. A sweet icing that will not satisfy a daughter's hunger.


The painting used above is by Zhang Xiaogang.

Food! Food! Food!

One thing I really miss back in Taiwan is the food Marlyn and I used to eat. Our one year stay in the territory enabled us to enjoy and appreciate Chinese food even more. I have this impression that all Chinese dishes taste delicious. Why? It is because all Chinese food I tasted in Taiwan and in Manila Chinatown taste really good. It seems Chinese food is naturally good. A Filipino friend who lived in Beijing for four years and extensively travelled the Mainland shares similar view as mine. The taste I've got in Taiwan ( although still limited ) has become my standard in determining whether the food claiming to be Chinese is indeed Chinese.

Just like their brothers in the Mainland, the Taiwanese enjoy both meat and vegetables dishes. Almost all dishes have meat and vegetables guiltlessly cooked in heavy oil. Allow me to describe the food culture I tremendously enjoyed during my stay in Taiwan.

I studied in Ming Chuan University ( MCU ), a private institution named after MIng Chuan, the Chinese Governor of Taiwan who ordered the construction of the very first railway in the island. MCU has three branches but the main campus is in Taipei and the much bigger campus is in Taoyuan. I studied in Taoyuan campus.( see picture above ) Taoyuan County is a 45-minute drive from the island's sprawling capital, Taipei.

MCU has a three-storey canteen. A convenient store is in the first floor. In the morning, freshly baked Western bread are brought in to the store. Crossaints, sandwiches, and pastries comprise the school's daily bread supplies. The breads available in the convenience store is very similar to the breads sold at Bread Talk. The breads taste very good. According to my Taiwanese teacher, many Taiwanese bakers perfected their craft in France. They went there just to study the art of baking. My teacher's explanation is probably true. In my experience, the best cake I've tasted in my life were baked in Taiwan's bakeshops.

The second floor of MCU's canten is the " real canteen ". Here you can find a long and wide buffet table containing 10-15 dishes mostly meat. You can choose from any of these dishes. The amount you pay for the food depends on the quantity you put on your food tray. Instead of an adding machine, the cashier's most useful gadget is the electronic weighing scale used to measure the food the customer gets.

The " real canteen " does not sell beverages, students have to get them from convenience store downstairs. How about noodles, we are in Taiwan anyway? What if your taste buds want some hot noodles? No need to worry. The canteen has an area connected to the kitchen where students can order different kinds of noodles including Yidali mian or spaghetti. MCU's spaghetti does not use long and thin noodles. The noodles in its spaghetti are thin and wide. The sauce is not your usual spaghetti sauce. It is still tomato-based but the taste is blander than what McDonald's offers.

The third floor of the canteen is basically a coffee shop or tea shop, whatever you want to call it. The place is cozy and is frequented by a small number of students. The place sells coffee, tea, milk shakes, and cakes. The three-storey canteen seems to be not enough to the whole MCU community. Since the second and third floor of the canteen only opens at 11:00 am, the students buy their breakfast at the canteen located in another building. There, breakfast menu is consist of hamburger ( Taiwanese style ), sandwiches , and other food Taiwanese love to eat for breakfast.

To be continued.......

What Makes Me Smile These Days...

Life can be monotonous. Once you realize it, the feeling can be dragging and difficult. I hate to see life as dragging and difficult because when I see life this way, I will not be able to see its wondrous beauty anymore. The past few weeks were quite uneasy for me. I had to follow-up an important matter in Manila that tested my patience and perseverance. Aside from that, the arrival of the summer season here in the Philippines perfectly triggered my allergic rhinitis.And, finally my father's hospitalization added another blow to my already " toxic life ". I am just thankful, God never fails to provide beautiful things that help me go by... Jai Ho!

1. Nice E-mails from unexpected people. I have been exchanging E-mails with my new found friend whom I met through my favorite website. A busy friend managed to update me with the latest on her life.

2. Churchmates asking my nephew Ponso about my whereabouts when they failed to see me at the church service.

3. My mother's pledge to buy me a nice textile for a formal dress. Thanks Nanay!

4. People reading my blogs especially fellow Tony Leung friends and supporters.

5. New programs on Channel News Asia this month of February that make my Saturdays more enjoyable and relaxing. Please try to catch ....

a. Asian Monarchies

b. Kung Fu Kitchen

c. Sun Tzu: War on Business

d. The Couch

6. Seeing Ponso growing up. Changing from being a skinny child to a nice looking pre-teener.

7. My blog that gives me the opportunity to express myself, share my thoughts, and practice English.

8. My best friend's pregnancy and the inivitation to be one of the Ninangs ( godmother ) of her soon to be born child.

9. Messages from friends telling me the latest in their lives.