¡Hola Barcelona!

Currently in Barcelona, my first pit stop before going back home. I feel oddly at home here. The words aren´t alien to me, and I can understand the people here. I get to practice my broken Spanish, and I am using the chance to look for an ancestor, a century removed.

My great-great-great grandfather was Catalan, born and raised here. He and his two brothers were sent to the Philippines, members of the military service. Here´s hoping that his grave is where they say it is!

Pakistani's Bhutto Killed in Attack

When I read today's Yahoo Newsreport on Benazir Bhutto's death, I knew that it was an inevitable conclusion to a very long and storied life.

When she returned to Pakistan, narrowly escaping death a few hours after arriving, I already had an ominous feeling that she was living on borrowed time. How sad that my intuition was proven correct.

I had interviewed her before, and she struck me as a very strong person, yet she was not arrogant at all. She took time for little old me, a 21 year old cowering in fear of this world-renowed woman, at the corridor of the Manila Hotel.

Will Pakistan do an EDSA? They have their Ninoy. But the problems in Pakistan are a many-headed beast. Musharaf is not the main problem. People there can't help but abet Islamic-fundamentalist terrorists, after glorifying it's existence for 30-odd years.

She loved her country. She was a wonderful woman. I wish her a good journey into the afterlife.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays from us!

We're having fun with the parentals, split Christmases (You have the 25th, I'll have them the 26th) catching up with family gossip (they broke up? what?) and preparing for the long, sweet journey home.

See you pinas! Can't wait!

Amazing Race Asia Makes Me Sick!

What's the point of a reality show when almost every contestant is in showbiz?! Dammit I'm not downloading you!

P.S. Terri is the best thing on that show

Sa Aking Mga Kabata--Jose Rizal

Sa Aking Mga Kabata

Kapagka ang baya'y sadyang umiibig
Sa kanyang salitang kaloob ng langit,
Sanglang kalayaan nasa ring masapit
Katulad ng ibong nasa himpapawid.

Pagka't ang salita'y isang kahatulan
Sa bayan, sa nayo't mga kaharian,
At ang isang tao'y katulad, kabagay
Ng alin mang likha noong kalayaan.

Ang hindi magmahal sa kanyang salita
Mahigit sa hayop at malansang isda,
Kaya ang marapat pagyamaning kusa
Na tulad sa inang tunay na nagpala.

Ang wikang Tagalog tulad din sa Latin
Sa Ingles, Kastila at salitang anghel,
Sapagka't ang Poong maalam tumingin
Ang siyang naggawad, nagbigay sa atin.

Ang salita nati'y huwad din sa iba
Na may alfabeto at sariling letra,
Na kaya nawala'y dinatnan ng sigwa
Ang lunday sa lawa noong dakong una.


Nakakalungkot isipin na sa mata ng aking mga kababayan, mas nakahihigit ang Ingles kaysa sa Tagalog. Ako ma'y pinalaki sa wikang Ingles, hindi ko masusuklian ang mga guro , mapa-Ingles o Tagalog, na nagturo sa amin ng baybaying wika. Isang taos-pusong salamat lamang ang aking masasabi.

Kahit pa noong nasa Pilipinas pa ako, hindi ako mag-iingles kung hindi naman ako kinakausap ng ingles. Kung Tagalog ang usapan, matatas din naman akong mag-Tagalog, hindi naman ako mag-Ingles hangga't hindi sa akin ikinusa.

Nakakatawang isipin na nuong ako'y bata, pinagtawanan ako ng aking mga ka-klase dahil sa tatas kong mag-Ingles. Ngayon, dahil sa mga call center, pilit nilang ginagaya kung ano ang dati nilang pinagtatawanan. Pilit nilang ginagaya ang salita ng mga dayuhan nguni't katawatawa minsan ang resulta nito.

Dahil sa aking trabaho bilang guro, naiintindihan ko na mayroong mga taong hirap sa ibang lengguahe. May kanya-kanya tayong mga talento. May mga taong pinalaki lamang sa iisang wika, at kung minsan hanggang doon lang talaga ang kaya nila. Pero nakakalungkot isipin na may mga taong nagsasabing hindi nila kayang sabihin ang kanilang saloobin sa kanilang inang wika, at pilit na pinipilipit nila ang kanilang mga dila sa isang wikang dayuhan. Isang biyaya ang pagkakaroon ng isang bansang may dalawang wika. Bawat wika ay isang pintuan sa isang mundo, at posibilidad. Kaya't hirap man, pilit kong inusisa ang wikang Aleman. Ang salitang Ingles ay hindi nakahihigit sa salita natin, ang wika ng ating mga ninuno.

Kung magsusulat o magsasalita rin lamang kayo sa dalawang wika, pag-igihan ninyo ang baybayin sa dalawa. Alam niyo ba na ang wikang Tagalog ang isa pinaka-mahirap na matutunan sa Indo-Malayan group of Languages?

Total Eclipse of the Mind

When was the last time that you did something that you wanted to do for a really, really long time, but never had the guts to do it because you were afraid people would make fun of you?

I look so straight-laced, but I am actually naturally insane. Really. I don't need no drugs to make an ass out of myself.

I've always wanted to do an interpretative dance in public ever since I saw Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion.



And I actually got the chance to do it!

I was at a friend's farewell party last Saturday, and it was a blast! They had karaoke and dancing, and somebody sang Total Eclipse of the Heart, by Bonnie Tyler. I realized that this was a perfect song to do interpretative dance, and I actually went for it! Thomas just stood at the corner, shaking his head in embarassment, but it was so much fun, I didn't care! I couldn't dance for shit, but hey, this is MY moment, fucker.

Marcus, Adam's co-worker was the only one who actually "got" what I did and congratulated me by saying that my dance touched his heart *sniff*.