A Conversation with Karen

'hate you.

'hate you, back at you.

'hate you, back at you, also!

'hate you, back at you, also, but even more!

'hate you like the smell of rotten fish and stinky old socks.

'hate you like the taste of blended squid gut and mashed stink bugs.

'hate you with the yuckiness of osterized pigs' eyes.

'hate you so much -- talk to the hand.

'hate you so much -- I puke when I see your face.

'hate you to the f(x).

'hate you to the undefined value of 1 over 0.

'hate you to the value of x raised to the power of infinity!

'hate you to the the hidden mysteries of the universe!

'hate you to the inner depths of Being!

...sige na nga, I don't hate you anymore.

Zhu Ni Sheng Ri Kuai Le

Happy Birthday Yan Mei!

For those who don't know, our friend Yan Mei Zheng was featured in this month's edition of Chinoy, the publication of Celadon. The article talks about her experiences adjusting to life in the Philippines after migrating here from China. It also talks about some challenges she had growing up. Check it out if you haven't read it yet!

Yan Mei, you've truly come a long way! We are so proud of you!

Badminton: My Muscles Hurt

The last time I played badminton was over a year ago. And so it was to be expected, I guess, that my muscles would hurt after playing last night... Well, they do now.

I'm quite the novice when it comes to this game. What I like about it, though, is that I have to run around trying to hit the shuttlecock--which pretty much leads to a very good cardiovascular workout. Hehehehe. But really, it's fun when you're playing with your friends.

Next week again?

On Exercise

What I'm proud of: I'm happy to say that I've been able to consistently have my physical exercise virtually everyday these past three weeks. Yehey! Kahit hindi lang nga obvious--sabi ng iba--exercise pa rin 'yon! Half an hour on the cross-trainer. Then I lift weights. Whew!

Pero kahit papaano naman, sana mapansin-pansin ko rin na I'm losing weight! Hehehehe. It's good for my heart, right? According to the scale, I've lost two kilos since I started. Someone told me that what I've lost is just water. Hahahahaha. Oh well, so I guess it gets harder after that...

On a more quiet note, things have also been moving forward in the realm of my spiritual exercise. I've changed my formal prayer period to the middle of the day. Why? Well, I'm just too groggy in the mornings and too tired at day's end. It just doesn't work for me at these times! Hmm... But won't I get sleepy praying after lunch? Perhaps. Kahit itong lumipas na dalawang linggo, since I've changed my prayer schedule, I find myself nodding off every so often. Oh well, ganyan talaga. Sanayan lang siguro. But on that note, I guess it's a matter of discipline, too, to just keep at it. Sabi nga ng SD ko, ipagpatuloy ko lang kahit inaantok-antok ako minsan, kasi may nangyayari pa rin sa akin sa dasal kahit hindi ko man ito napapansin. Amen to that!

Para Kay Padre Roque Ferriols

Maligayang bati, Padre, sa iyong walumpu't-isang taong pagmemeron!

Today, Roque Ferriols, SJ, father of Philosophy in Filipino, celebrates his 81st birthday. With great warmth, I thank Fr. Roque in a special way for being a mentor and companion on this journey of wonder and insight. It was he who first initiated me to the intellectual rigor that philosophy demanded, back when I was an undergrad in college.

At our simple birthday lunch at the Philosophy Department, Dr. Leovino Garcia, dean of the School of Humanities, recounted a story that took place around 40 years ago. Doc Leo was graduating from college then. As a gift, Fr. Roque and his companions arranged for Doc Leo's parents to be present for the commencement exercises. Doc Leo's parents came from Northern Luzon. But it was not just this kindness that was etched in Doc Leo's memory. Back then, people who traveled often had to take the bus. There was no such thing as reservations for tickets or air-conditioning in the buses. If you wanted to take the bus to go to the province, you went to the bus terminal and tried your luck. As soon as a bus was available, all those wanted to ride on it had to literally rush in and elbow their way to available seats. Such were the conditions that Frs. Roque Ferriols and Joe Cruz found themselves in as they tried to assist Doc Leo's parents on the return trip home. The two priests ran alongside a bus that was coming into the terminal to make sure they would be among the first to get seats. Quite a tall order, it seems.


Doc Leo adds how Fr. Roque, apart from trying to run as fast as the moving bus, also managed to jump in through the window head first. After getting seats, the Jesuit tandem were seen on the roof of the bus, securing boxes and baggages for Doc Leo's parents. They were both wearing their white soutanes, unconcerned that these may be soiled by what they were doing. An image worth remembering! What Jesuits these were, utterly without hesitation to be of service! Such cura personalis!

After his little story and with the rapt attention of those around, Doc Leo turns to Fr. Roque and asks, "Do you remember, Father?" His response: "In a way." We all laughed so hard. So did Fr. Roque.

Salmon Belly Sinigang

Unprecedented--at least in my life... I've heard of stories similar to what I'm going through now, but this is the first time this has happened to me... Funny, actually. It reminds me of drinking too much beer...

Hilong-hilo ako ngayon. As in! Bakit? Dahil sa Salmon Belly Sinigang. Pero ang sarap niya talaga! I think that was the first time it was served for merienda after the departmental meeting. Pero ang sakit ng bantok ko ngayon! Nyek. Padugo-dugo pa ang ilong ko. Tila high-blood pressure. Teka, ganito ba iyon? Hahahahaha.

Oh, what yummy fish fat that was. Hahaha! Gluttony. Tsk, tsk, tsk...

I left class early. 'Needed to just rest a bit. I'm brewing some tea now. 'Hope that helps... I'll spend this little quiet time preparing for my class tomorrow morning. I think I might give a quiz...

Post-Breakfast Nap

Haaaaaaaay... Ang sarap matulog pagkatapos mag-almusal...

Tapos 'yung tipong magigising ka na lang uli 'pag manananghalian na! Ayun! Tumpak!

Buhay baboy talaga...

Sayang. Hindi ganyan ang umaga ko ngayon... Hmph.

My Brother: A Rocker

This is my dear brother. Lawrence has always been good with the guitar. He has often outdone himself in this area. I think it all started one summer when he was still in high school. Was it just boredom? Who knows... Anyway, beyond the few formal sessions of guitar lessons he took, he would practice for several hours each day just to get himself more familiarized with what he was playing. Such dedciation! Well, what can I say? I really hope I can follow in his footsteps and learn the guitar myself.

Lawrence plays guitar for SIMIAN CREASE. Where did their band get their name? Beats me. Maybe he can tell me someday. They play hard rock. Is that the same as heavy metal? Whatever.

Anyhow, they played at El Pueblo, Ortigas Center, last Friday. He should have told me. I would've watched. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Parang ayaw mo namang manood ako ng performance mo eh! Hehehe. Joke only, bro! But really, I will make it a point to watch at least one of your shows. Then let's have one of those eat-all-you-can adventures after... Oh, we're sure to enjoy that! Hahahahahaha!

So far they've recorded three songs for an upcoming release by October. October? Ba't ang tagal pa? Lawrence! Gusto ko 'yung sa akin, autographed copy, ah! At siyempre, libre din. Hehehehehe.

So when's your next gig? Sabihan mo naman ako!