Spring Buzz

Highland Park scenes

'I think I shall never see a man as handsome as a cherry tree . . .'

'. . . unless the tree falls, you get bruises and all...'

Visitors follow the trail.

A beautiful day to be with beautiful things.

Making beautiful art out of natural things.

Tulips in Bloom

Highland Park scenes

Imagine God's wonderful hands nurturing these beautiful flowers. I want to be a flower, too. Touch me God, touch me.

What a scene!

Tulips and Cherry Trees

Highland Park scenes

Who says cherry trees only grow in Japan?

They're beautiful . . .

and fragrant, too.

'The tulips are excitable . . . ,' Poet Sylvia Plath once wrote. They are more than that. They burn, burn, burn!

Yellow is David's favorite color, but tulip isn't his favorite flower.

He likes violets better.

After our historic garage sale hopping last Saturday, David and I went to Highland Park to see the tulips and cherry trees. Ooooh, they're so beautiful. And fragrant, too. Too bad we didn't have enough time to walk around the park.

'Conquering' the City

Yesterday, David's friend, Mark, called. David didn't answer the phone. Rather, he just let him leave a message on his answering machine. Mark said my name is on page 7 of City Newspaper. I of course got a little bit shaky as I was thinking I might have done something bad. U-oh, I thought, the FBI must have caught me feeding rice grains to birds in David's backyard. Other than that I cannot think of anything that would get me into trouble with the authorities. Well, then David and I scanned the paper and there was my name! Yikes, the little box mentioned my name and the article I wrote for Sun.Star Bacolod. Oh, yeah baby.

Sometime ago an anonymous person sent me an email telling me that he or she read about my article in the Web. He/She also attached a link to their Web site. Oh my God to the maximum level.

I have to get back to work.

The Great American Heritage

Location: Browncroft, downtown Rochester, NY

One of the many houses we visited. Look at that old furnitue.

Hey, David, you should be looking for pots and pans not hotdogs. Follow that gray road! Hey, Dorothy, you brought a stroller? Where's toto?

Every street was packed with cars, cars and more cars.

David and I spent a great deal of time hopping from one house to another in search for valuable items today. It s a wonderful day. It is hot, but it is cold. Now dig that. The sun is bright, but the breeze is cold. Now, what am I talking about? It's the garage sale at Browncroft, downtown Rochester! Boy, our legs got sore after visiting 10 of the 20 streets of the neighborhood which participated. It is projected that at least 300 houses opened up for the event.

There is no equivalent event or activity in the Philippines for this. "Ukay-ukay" is not a garage sale. Surely, the clothes in the American garage sales were dry cleaned and placed in hangers. I hope our kababayans will learn from this experience - clean and press the clothes you sell at the ukay-ukay.

Goodbye, spring semester !

I will surely miss the agony of beating time between classes and work while opening and taking out my working clothes in my locker. I'll surely miss the noisy commuter lobby, the lounge chairs, the carpet, the microwave oven, the vending machines, the computer lounge, etc. etc.

On Golden Pond

C'mon baby, dig it!

Look closely, it's funny how these birds need to plunge into the water, their butts sticking out.

It was one Saturday morning when David and I went to Tinker Homestead and Farm near Pittsford. It was nice to commune with nature. At last, spring is here. We attended a nice lecture about hawks and owls. David and I toured the vast swamp of the farm after the lecture on the birds of prey.

Then we went to the other side of the farm and watched geese wade in the pond while we had a bit to eat.

Waiting for my Muse

I am now struggling with the first few pages of my adaptation of King Lear for my Introduction to Literary Analysis class.

Haaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!! My muse, where art thou when I need you most!

Trying to connect the Jigsaw puzzle

Some weeks ago I received an e-mail from the Editor in Chief of Jigsaw, Brockport's English Club's sort-of magazine, telling me that my poem/s is included in their magazine's 2007 issue. I inquired what were the poems that are to be published as I submitted five poems under one title "Certain Moments and other poems." The lady chief has attached a list of "stories" that will come out in the new edition. "Certain Moments" is one of them. However, I am not sure whether it is just the only poem that is included. I waited for a note. Up until now I never received a response.

It is sad as I want to read my poem/s in the program sponsored by the English Dept. on May 1st. I cannot say that the editor in chief is incompetent, but a simple "shit-you-just-come-to-the-program-and-read-your-bloody-poem-if-you-want-to... shit" reply is enough. At least there would be some courtesy.

Sigh.

Splash!

David and I can never thank Pam enough. She gives us just what we need: a good splash and bubbles.

Today we went to her apartment to use her pool and jacuzzi! And my my my, the waters' so good. I am totally beaten. I need to take a rest.

O, I need to finish the movie "The Color Purple" being featured on TV. I've watched the movie about 10 times now, but it is still GREAT!

Should I finish the video "Born Into Brothels?" I don't know. Without the subtitles it is very hard to keep track of the story. I need to understand what the children were saying. It won the Academy Awards for Best Documentary.

Waiting for the Bus

It was Friday and the beginning of Spring Break at Brockport. I was the only student left in the campus (so I assume). I was waiting for the bus! It was about 5:30 p.m. The wind was chilly and it was an agony standing at the bus stop, so I toyed with my camera.

Winter season has passed, but Spring brings chill as cold as witches kiss.

Hey, that's a pair of Prada eyeglasses, but I am not the devil.

Ellis Island

Check out http://www.ellisisland.com/ for its history.

At Liberty Park

People migrating? No, they're waiting for us to get off the boat so they could get a ride back to Manhattan.

Just assume they're auditioning for the American Idol.

Give me Liberty or give me milk

In the Philippines, Liberty is a brand for a milk drink. In the US, she's the pride of the people who live in the land milk and honey.

But of course you know the brand of deodrant she uses, right?

Liberty: "America, I won't let you down."

Now, people should learn from Liberty, she has been holding that torch for a long time, but she never complained.

On the way to Liberty Park

David, on board the Miss Ellis vessel, making sure we get enough exposure.

The City of Manhattan! Pa-kodakan moments. Day! Ari ko di sa atubangan mo. Sin-o gina kodakan mo man?

More buildings!

Here are the people!

More pa-Kodakan moments!

Battery Park (the long journey)

Imagine standing in line for about an hour and a half just to get a ride on the boat that will take you to Liberty Park. Good thing I was trained to wait like a faithful puppy.

Mr. Smith goes to New York! Pam conquers Battery Park.

Hey, Sanjaya! Is that you?

Well, of course, the hunk is part of the package, but I am more interested of the crowd.

A sculpture at Battery Park honoring the emigrants who landed on Ellis Island.

David in one of the monuments at Battery Park honoring the brave soldiers of America.

Bryant Park

David and Pam feeling fashionistas at Bryant Park.

"I'll make it to the next Project Runway edition," Pam says.

"Make it work!" David replies.

"Okay," Pam says. "But I need my Starbucks coffee first."

"Carry on!" David says.

Taking Manhattan before the storm (picture edition)

Trying to fit in at 5th Avenue.

At the lobby of the Empire State Building.

A scene at Time's Square.

A New Perception on Asian Students

The incident that happened on Virginia Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia is awfully disturbing. A 23-year-old student of Korean descent massacred 33 people in the school. An English major, Cho Seung-Hui was reported to have entered the US in 1992 and was raised in Washington, DC.

The length of time he had stayed in the US, I believe, is reflective of his experience in the American society. On the other hand, we may not know what prompted the teen to cause a rampage, eventhough investigation showed that he had written "sensitive" remarks on his notepad in his dormitory about "rich kids". He had also written short stories and plays that are disturbing. We do not know if Seung-Hui suffered oppression or racial discrimation from his peers.

But this incident will put a dent on the image of Asian students in the US. Weren't students from the Middle East put under pressure when the 9/11 occured?

Let us pray that nothing worse will come out in the coming days. It is relative that the families of the victims will issue remarks on the incident. Now that there are stricter immigration laws, and crackdown on illegal immigrants are undertaken, we can only pray that no harse treatment will be applied on other Asians, especially Asian students.

Taking Manhattan before the storm

The Statue of Liberty in all her grandeur.

Something happened to me on Friday the 13th. I was waiting for the bus to head back home to Rochester. I was sitting in the back portion of the bus, as usual, and had reclined my seat to read my book. It was as if the passengers have assigned seats. People of color filled the bus with their voices. I was engrossed in reading the book when there appeared David. Unexpectedly I frowned. I was confused. I thought he had thought of picking me up to eat at a restaurant near the school. Friday fish fry, I thought.

I was wrong. David drove toward Rochester. Along the way I was chattering about the day’s happenings when he told me to pack my things when we arrive home. Uh-oh, I thought. Don’t ask any questions, just do as I say, he said and enumerated what I should pack.

At 5:15 p.m. I was running from room to room in David’s house looking for things to bring with me. We were going on a trip, but I didn’t know where. A few minutes later, David’s friend, Pam, formerly Mrs. Rodriguez, came knocking on our door. When David didn’t give her a hug I suspected something must be going on which I don’t know. But what? However, my own obedient self persisted.

David had packed food and whatever’s important. Pam said we will be taking her car. She was smiling, asking me if I knew where we were going. When she opened her trunk I saw her fishing rod. I thought we were going fishing, staying overnight at a log cabin somewhere along a lake. But I realized I don’t have a license to fish.

At about 6:30 p.m. we’re off on the road. Two hours later were in Syracuse. David and Pam were debating on the route they should take. David, who is at the wheel, kept asking Pam, who was armed with the route downloaded from the Internet, for directions. Good thing David knew I could not be trusted with directions, especially with using a map. So, I just sat in the back seat and looked at the beautiful scenery.

While traversing the mountain-side I saw a sign that indicate the distance to New York. Aha, a thought popped in my mind, we’re going to New York City! This was later confirmed by David.
Another hour passed and we were in the State of Pennsylvania. Later we are crossing the New Jersey State. The weather was gorgeous, as David would say. No fluffs of clouds present though there was still snow on top of the mountains we passed by. We arrived in Manhattan at midnight. We checked into our hotel at 1 a.m. They said that all rooms in the city were occupied or reserved. We were lucky to find accommodations at a Holiday Inn Hotel just 10 minutes outside the main city of Manhattan. I was amazed that both David and Pam barely looked tired. I was worn-out from sitting. They were discussing their plans for the morning when I dosed off into a deep sleep.

At 9 a.m., after surviving the heavy traffic (and going through the Lincoln Tunnel) and finding a spot to park the car we took Manhattan by storm. Or, perhaps, I should say I raved over the sights. David and Pam have been regular visitors to “the city that never sleeps.”
One has to have strong legs as roaming around the blocks is annihilating to the soles. My concern was for David who has plantar fasciatis. Even though he has his $300 foot inserts, he was complaining of the pain on his heels. My feet ache at the end of the day, too.

It was sad enough that we decided not to pursue the trip on top of the Empire State Building even if we had waited in line for two hours on the second floor of the building to get a ticket. However, we decided to visit other places in the city and come back the next day. We took the subway and headed to Battery Park. Flocks of young people have gathered at one side of the park to call on a cleaner environment. We soon purchased tickets to board a ferry for a visit to the Statue of Liberty Park and Ellis Island, the gateway through which more than 12 million immigrants passed between 1892 and 1954. There was a long line waiting for the ferry. It was humid, almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit. But we waited for our turn. The almost two-hour wait was worth it. We took many pictures of the welcoming Miss Liberty. Returning to Manhattan at 5:30 p.m. we headed for Bryant Park, the site for the annual Project Runway finals.

Sunday was not a good day. The rain was pouring hard and we just toured around the city in Pam’s car. David and Pam acted as my guides. However, we decided to visit Grand Central Station at 11 a.m. before we headed for home. By noontime we hit the road, crossing the Hudson River at the George Washington Bridge and traverse New Jersey. By 9 p.m. we were home. We were exhausted and went straight to bed.

The next day, when I got my copy of The New York Times (given by the president of SUNY Brockport for students for free), I was shocked to see the picture on the front page. A “spring northeaster” has hit NYC, causing floods and intense winds. It also caused power interruption and several businesses had to close. Thank God we decided to come back home early.

Porn in the Library Reaction

Two days after my column ("Porn in the Library") appeared on-line an anonymous person sent me an e-mail. He or she is probably a representative of an organization which is campaigning to protect children from sex offenders. Attached with the e-mail is a website: www.SafeLibraries.org.

The "headline" on the page says, "Are Children Safe in Public Libraries?" The sub-head says, "Children Are Not Safe in Public Libraries." And then a lot of issues about porn in the library are linked.

This is scary. I thought it was just a small thing.

Porn in the library

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK - A forum among Monroe County residents was recently held for them to speak out their view on whether patrons of the Central Library of Rochester should be allowed to view inappropriate or pornographic Web sites.

The issue has been the buzz in Rochester after Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks threatened to pull funding from the Central Library after a television report showed library patrons viewing pornography in the Central library. Patrons can request librarians to allow them access to Web sites that are being blocked by the library's filtering system. The filtering system sometimes blocks topics like breast cancer and sexual assault. Some patrons, on the other hand, are not browsing thru reference sites, but porn.

Brooks' warning prompted the library officials to temporarily prohibit patrons from unblocking inappropriate or pornographic Web sites until the issue is resolved. There is after all a US$6.6 million funding at stake and without sufficient funds there is the possibility of closing the library.

It would be a sorry loss to have the library closed; especially in that it is a nice place. The library is divided into two sections - the old and new building, separated by a road. However, an underground passageway links the two buildings. It is what I like most about the place, aside from the huge collection they have.

The debate however deals with the legality of viewing pornographic materials in a public place. From what I've heard from Americans discussing this issue they are citing the First Amendment rights, giving them the privilege to gain access to Web sites and to information. Others say, on the other hand, that it is okay to view explicit materials on the Net as long as children are not involved. However, other residents have also spoken out that it is inappropriate to view this kind of material, especially as it is in a public place and there is the risk of exposing children to these sites.

We had a debate on this issue in one of my classes. Some of my classmates argued that it is just okay and that there are many other issues that need to be addressed. Others wondered what kind of people have the guts to view such porn sites in a public area. They should view such materials in their homes. Oops, I haven't said that there is no Internet café in Rochester.

I asked my professor if viewing of porn sites in the library is not illegal then why aren't there any porn videos on the shelves. He said porn videos are more of personal materials rather than resources, though it is not illegal to distribute such materials in the US. That is why there are stores exclusive for their distribution. I again asked, if I am a collector of adult materials will I be allowed to donate these materials to the public library if it's not illegal? He said, this is a matter of Constitutional debate and needs further review by the court.

When I had the opportunity to watch several documentary videos on cable TV about human sexuality, a topic that is still controversial when discussed on Philippine TV, I understood the psychology of man's need to be exposed to materials and events that are considered "explicit". One of the videos featured a store that sells sex aids. The amazing thing is customers can try the equipments being sold, with the assistance of the store clerks! The clerks would ask the patrons if they were satisfied the products or if they would want to try another. Now, how good is that? Another feature showed men and women attending strip shows. Of course, those who are involved in the features were interviewed. They were no non-sense topics appropriate for adults! Imagination is the key element here. After all, sex is part of human life.

The libraries in the schools I go to, postings on computers remind students that browsing thru porn sites is inappropriate, read "inappropriate" not illegal. However, who has the backbone to view these explicit materials while other students are around? They'd rather have "fun" during Spring Break.

The issue got me into thinking - if this happened in the Philippines, how would people react? I was imagining those in the church issuing statements, condemning such acts. I never heard any church authorities in Rochester issuing remarks on this controversy. The issue is the state's problem not the churches. I haven't seen a more religious people than these Americans. The Church is a big thing here. However, they also believe in the separation of church and state. And they make it sure that it is imposed. That is why a forum was called (I heard another set of consultation are being planned) so that the people can decide on it.

One of my favorite shows is "Birthday" which is being aired on Discovery Health Channel. Women giving birth are featured. On how labor and delivery take place are shown. The women's parts are usually exposed, but I find it inoffensive. There is beauty and delight watching family members reduced to tears after the delivery of a new member of the family. However, it got me wondering how "moralists" in the Philippines would view this show. They'll probably troop to the Congress and demand that the show be cancelled or edited. It was as if they were ashamed of how they were born. I wonder if computers were installed in Bacolod City Public Library will patrons be allowed to view adult material? Will they be considered resource materials? After ll, sex is seldom discussed at home. Can we say that it is immoral to view adult materials? Are "sexy" materials inappropriate? What is the dimension of morality? Who should decide as to what materials we should view?

(Published in Sun.Star Bacolod April 04, 2007 under my column The Mango Generation. Cited in City Newspaper)

Scholars Day

It was fun being at school today (April 11th). It's Scholars Day! No classes, but we were given assignments to write a paper on one of the presentations.

I am glad that I was able to attend two sessions, with three presenters in the morning session and four in the afternoon session. All at Hartwell Hall. There is no use in running from one building to another. I'd die if I did.

Good thing there were no scheduled presentation at Drake Library! I'd complain if they did.

Now, at SUNY Geneseo their version is called "GREAT Day":

G - Geneseo

R - Recognizes

E - Excellent

A - Achievement and

T -Talent

I hope Brockport can come up with a cutesy title.

Now what is this SUNY Brockport's Scholars Day? The brochures given to students and the school website (www.brockport.edu) say:

SUNY College at Brockport's Scholars Day was instituted in 1984 through the efforts of the College Senate. Scholars Day has continued as a celebration of scholarly pursuits by the campus community.

Scholars Day has several purposes:

To publicize research, including methodologies and conclusions;

To share new ideas and concepts;

To expand knowledge;

To provide an opportunity to socialize with members of the campus community outside of one's own department.

This year there are over 200 presentations/poster sessions with over 400 presenters/session chairs from the campus community (several of whom will present at multiple sessions). This includes 349 presenters (comprised of 300 students and 49 faculty/staff) and an additional 55 faculty/staff chairs for sessions.

Now you know how I feel when I complain about the venues. They're far away from each other.Anyway, I had to choose from the multitude of presentations listed by our professor that we should attend. I ended up choosing the presentation from the History and Anthropology Dept. (I would have watched the Reader's Presentation on J.R.R Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," but I realized that my professor is an expert in Tolkien. There is no way I could "sway" my arguments.

The morning session I attended were (with explanations provided and lifted from from SUNY Brockport website):

History and Anthropology Dept.

"The Plight of Women in Pre-Islamic Arabia, as Contrasted with the Feminine Ideal in Classical Arabic Poetry"

by Michael Fickess

Classical Arabic poetry is a complex literary form which began with the oral traditions of Bedouin tribes in pre-Islamic Arabia and evolved into more diverse genres during subsequent centuries of Islamic influence. As a primary source for historical or anthropological inquiry, Classical Arabic poetry is invaluable because it provides a rich portrait of Arabia before and during Islamic rule, recording the sensual and social mores of a nomadic people who were closely connected to nature and each other. The portrayal of women in Classical Arabic poetry is idealized and contrasts with some other evidence available regarding the status of women in pre-Islamic Arabia.

"She Has My Sin, If I'm a Sinner..."

by Carl Davila

A fascinating feature of elite society in the medieval Islamic world was the institution of "artiste slavery" in which wealthy aristocrats, princes and caliphs enjoyed the entertainments of highly-trained female musicians, singers and composers. These women, though slaves, enjoyed signficant social status and prestige in elite circles, carving out a niche for themselves collectively in the era's gender discourses. This paper explores the history of this phenomenon, in the process illustrating the problems artiste slavery represented for the feminine ideal of the day.

"Religion and Hegemony"

by Richard Lovelace

The three Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, share numerous features of both theology and moral outlook. And it is their differences that usually are highlighted. This extended meditation on the connections among these faiths, and how and why they differ, looks to the concept of "hegemony" for insights into how the misunderstandings among their respective communities might be reconciled.

In the afternoon, I attended the presentation of the Film Studies Department:

"Instruments of Desire: How the Monomyth and Sexual Behavior Eliminate the Gender Differential in Jane Campion’s 'The Piano'"

by Emily Wilkins

This paper focuses on Jane Campion’s 1992 film "The Piano." Drawing on Joseph Campbell’s theory of the monomyth, it argues that by portraying a female protagonist in a male-dominated society, Campion creates a world in which gender has no boundaries. Campbell’s monomyth theory states that all protagonists or heroes undergo a series of events in what is known as the hero’s journey. Evidence in Campbell’s "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" suggests the theory is predominantly patriarchal. In Campion’s film, however, the female protagonist follows Campbell’s theory of the hero’s journey, proving it is not only applicable to male protagonists. Moreover, through his physical acts and manner of communication with the protagonist, her lover indicates that he does not follow the conventions of the patriarchal society. These elements combine to prove that Campion’s film is feminist in its gender representation and universal in its approach through mythology.

"Mesh of Images: An exploration of Maya Deren’s 'Meshes of the Afternoon'"

by Jennifer LaMarsh

Maya Deren’s "Meshes of the Afternoon" (1943) rejects the influence of traditional Hollywood film structure by abandoning the literary origin of film as well as the visual form our collective socialized mind has come to assume. Deren’s medium re-presents expected images and leaves the viewer with a deposit of feelings to develop rather than a packaged meaning that may be taken to its logical end. Accomplished through her Imagist ethos, Deren rearranges conventional verbal and non-verbal language, refusing the one-to-one correspondence between images and their meanings. In the process of interpretation, the spectator recognizes and assembles the elements to reconstruct his or her visual experience. In creating a new transactional pattern between the message and its translation, a social reality which includes a female voice evolves. This paper examines Deren’s use of the Imagist aesthetic and its implicit meaning for female representation inside and outside of the film form.

"The Duplicity of Humanity in 'Night of the Living Dead'"

by Brian Boger

George A. Romero’s "Night of the Living Dead" (1968) is more than a low budget horror movie meant to shock 1960s era Americans. It is a scathing critique of that society. Fear of communism and the war in Vietnam consumed American culture, and this is reflected in Romero’s work. The audience is able to accept the presence of zombies in the film because the world they inhabit is a reflection of the country at the time. The walking dead remind the American public of the threat of communism. One sees the potential inherent in humankind juxtaposed against all its flaws. The audience bears witness to an impossible situation and is forced to acknowledge their own triumphs and failings. Ultimately, the film argues that if there can ever be hope for a society where race, gender, and social status do not matter, people need to transcend their selfish and violent natures.

"We Read the Same Gossip Columns"

by Jonathan Mannhaupt

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 thriller "The Birds" is about a well-known heiress, Melanie Daniels, who secretly follows her new love interest, Mitch Brenner, to the seaside town of Bodega Bay. While she is there, the birds begin their attack. Historically, film scholars have interpreted the birds psychoanalytically, as a manifestation of Mitch’s mother’s dislike of Melanie. But after the death of Princess Diana at the hands of the paparazzi, we can see the birds as a metaphor for paparazzi and Melanie as the stalked celebrity. While in the city, she is safe from the birds because she goes about her daily routine. By leaving San Francisco to follow Mitch, Melanie sparks the attention of the paparazzi/birds because she becomes involved in a relationship. This paper argues that the birds represent a critique of the paparazzi, who will go to any lengths for a great shot of a celebrity.

Aren't they interesting? The pictures I took will be posted later.

Good job guys!

Well, I need to make a report about them. But I need to take a rest first as I arrived home at 7 p.m.

Now, back to watching American Idol. I can't believe Sanjaya Malakar's safe again. The people who are in the bottom three are: Phil, Haley and Chris. Chris Richardson! O my God, even David can't believe it.

Oh well.

A Poet's Remorse

I received an e-mail today telling me that one or two of my poems are being considered for publication. Not in a commercial magazine though, but in a school magazine.

My poetry writing days are over. I hope I can write some more. But you will never know.

On May 1st, the publication or the English Dept. will hold a reading session. I may attend it for the heck of it. I haven't attended a poetry workshop for years. It would be nice to hear poets read their stuff.

I am yet to know what poems of mine were selected.

The Sad Art of Shoveling Snow

Rochester, New York – I thought winter season is over, I was wrong. Snow flurries dropped for the past few days and the winter chill has prompted me to wear four layers of clothes again. A week ago the climate was like summer. The snows have melted; red-breasted robins, red cardinals and blue jays were out. Even the squirrels have started to forage for the nuts they buried in the fall. Most people have staring wearing their spring clothes, only to be disappointed when meteorologists reported that the temperature would drop twenty to thirty degrees for two weeks. That means back to the closet and rummage for sweaters, mittens and scarves. I was lucky enough to purchase a few scarves and bonnets during the Masskara Festival two years ago, before my departure to the US.

It was in November last year when the first snow shower came. But it was only for a day. Winter didn’t arrive here until January. I was ecstatic on my first experience with snow. Now, it has just become a daily occurrence.

Most Filipinos think winter is cool. No, it is cold! I think of Christmastime in the Philippines where malls and malls are decorated with fake snow, snowflakes made of Styrofoam adorn Christmas trees. It wasn’t always fun being under an environment colder than the refrigerator. Filipinos think it’s sissy for men to put on lip balm. But it is a necessity here, least you want to end up with cracked, bleeding lips because of the cold weather.

Winter limits one’s mobility. Unless you are physically fit to walk around the city under piercing chill, layers of clothes and the possibility of nosebleed, then good luck. I would have sworn if I didn’t have the patience and perseverance, like waking up at 5:30 in the morning to shovel the snow in the driveway to prepare a way for the car. I take the bus to school and Mr. Smith was kind enough to drop me off the bus stop. It is sad as I travel four hours to and from school three times a week. I don’t mind that, but with the weight brought about by the clothes I wear and baggage I carry, I get backaches all the time. Especially that my textbooks are so thick and I have to carry with me a portable DVD player to watch the films that were required in one of my courses on the way to school. It has been a habit of David to wait for me to board the bus before going home. One day he has to depart early and left me standing in the snow. The bus driver, while I was dropping the bills in the machine for an all day pass, asked me with a surprised look, “Where’s your car?” And we both laughed. I am also glad that he’d let the bus kneel when I step on board. Drivers would let the right front side of the bus deflate to help passengers who have special needs or those who are weight-challenged get off safely.

Walking under the wintry spell isn’t a pleasant experience, especially for students at school. I basically hate walking from one building to another to get to another class when it snows. Cold weather restricts me from visiting the school library. It is so far away that you need to have a car to get to it. Unless if you are brave enough to walk across the field or walk thru the overpass leading to the library. The distance from the student union, where I stay most of the time because it is like a hotel, to the library is like from Bacolod cathedral to the city hall. I was thinking of starting a trisikad business at school, but thought of the predicament I’m facing. There is no way I could pedal away with passengers weighing 200 to 300 pounds.

Families are compelled to stay at home than step outside in the cold. David’s 102-year-old lady friend has once said she misses the time when children would come out in the yard and build snowmen or put on the sleigh to have some fun. Now children and youth, she said, are too busy with the home entertainment system. Though with the coldness, American couples to have only one or two kids, and probably a dog and a cat. One Sunday, even if it was cold, David and I visited a lady from church in her home. She invited us for lunch. Her daughter has a big Great Dane that kept on leaning on me and I had to hold on to my feet or I’d fall. I have never seen a huge dog such as that before. It could tower me if it stood on its feet. But it proved to be a great companion in the winter as its body can be used like a hot compress.

Winter, however, didn’t stop us from watching movies and meet interesting people. It was nice to know that the director of “The Painted Veil” lives somewhere in our village. We’ll scout for the location in the summer. It was also revealed to me that one of the persons I know at church is a former speech writer of the late President Gerald Ford. Another person earlier approached me and introduced himself as a former navy officer who saw action in Leyte during the World War II. “We were bombing the shore to clear the way for Gen. Douglas MacArthur,” he said. I was amazed!

To keep me busy while staying inside the house, I’ve been watching reruns of a documentary over Discovery Health about a Rochester woman who underwent six-organ transplant. She has not eaten for 14 years because of a rare intestinal disease. She weighed about 70 lbs at the time of her operation. Surgeons had to take out her stomach, large and small intestines, pancreas, liver and gall bladder and replace them with new ones. The surgeons had to leave her belly empty for about half hour while waiting for the organs to arrive as they were being shipped from the another state. Now, she’s able to eat real food and live normally. I am yet to watch the documentary I taped of Carl and Clarence Aguirre about their famous separation. It was a detailed explanation of how the operation was done and interviews with prominent people.

(Published in Sun.Star Bacolod April 09, 2007 under my column, The Mango Generation)

Memories of my Melancholy Chores (Pic Edition Part 2)

Aside from being the sports writer I was also the photographer. It's a one-man army.

Now where is the ball?

This is what you get when you are in a rush to capture the action. I have more quality pictures taken during my stint as a sportswriter, but I haven't saved them in my persona file.

Students strut their stuff in their intramurals. Now, where is that ball?

Being inducted as one of the board members of our local sportswriters group, SCOOP-Negros.