More from Manila

Just wanted to share a little bit more before the end of the year about what we've been up to here...

DARE DRIVING

I have been enjoying being able to drive around the streets of Manila once again. It's been so much fun! The traffic around here hasn't been as bad because of all the holidays (a nine-day holiday had been declared so there is no usual rush hour), but there's still a feel of the manic driving that no other country can beat. I've been to a good amount of countries and I have yet to see another country that can turn 2 lanes into 4, with no straight row of cars. Everybody just seems to be in their own little lane, following their own set of rules. It amazes me how many streets I actually remember. I start to take off not having a clear picture in my mind as to where I'm going or what the streets in the vicinity look like anymore, but as I get closer it all seems to fall back into place. So I haven't gotten lost yet! My dad mentioned that I still had the groove down even after four years of peaceful streets. Driving around parking lots here is more challenging than navigating the streets of Corvallis. I love it!!!

BEACH

We recently visited my grandparent's beach house to see what condition it is in now. My family has been going to this beach ever since the 70's and this is where I have the fondest childhood memories. We would spend long breaks here with everyone in my dad's side of the family, sometimes even including my grandmother's brother's family as well. This is where I learned how to hunt for hermit crabs, collect shells (which I still love to do), how a pig is killed to be roasted (long-time family tradition -- we have a pig killed on our last day so we could feast on it for the most spectacular lunch), how fishermen caught fish and octopus at night, and play card games. Best of all... This is where I learned how to love gazing up at the stars. We would spend hours just staring at the skies for shooting stars and trying to count as many stars as we possibly could. Growing up in the city, we never got to see that many stars. This is where we got to make up for lost time. To this day I think of this beach whenever I look up at a sky full of stars. The house is uninhabitable now. We no longer have family gatherings there. Walking around the area brought back so many vivd memories. It almost felt as if I would see myself with my siblings and cousins any minute now running up the stairs after collecting a pocket full of hermit crabs and dumping it all in our sandbox. I am thankful for these memories, yet saddened that we will never have anything like this again.

BRIEF REFLECTION

I've been away for four years. I will never stay away again for that long. Something about being back in Manila, even if I don't like the city, has made me realize how much I love being back home. There's a feeling of belonging here that I can't fully explain. I have friends here, but not many. I am overwhelmed by the number of people and the constant noise outside, but also know that this is the pulse of the city. I don't feel as if I fit in with the society we seem to be a part of, but I am still one of them. Yet this is and always will be home. I don't feel like I stepped into another world. I feel like I've come back to my world. I wish I could say that this is the most suitable environment to raise a son with special needs, but I honestly can't.

For now I am enjoying the willingness that people have to make time to get together -- to leave their routines behind to catch up with friends. I find myself turning down invitations from people who just want to spend some time catching up because our schedules have been so full. This is not just something that happens when one comes to visit. This is probably what I miss the most when I'm in Corvallis. When I was still living here I would get phone calls and text messages from friends just to see how I'm doing. It was easy to invite people to just get together to "make kwentohan" (to tell stories or to catch up), have dinner, and watch a movie. There was just more time to be with people.

We are now heading into the New Year, which means tons of fireworks shows around us and another family gathering. There's going to be a huge party in front of our building and another grand fireworks display. We will most likely go to my grandparents house (a 10-minute walk from our condominium) for Mass and noche buena (a late evening meal that we eat as we wait for midnight to strike) and then walk over to the street party.

I pray that you all have a festive and Happy New Year!!!

Manila Mania

Mabuhay! We've been in Manila for over a week now and it feels like I've been home all this time. Corvallis feels like a distant, snowy dream. Manila oddly feels like home. Vincent and I left Corvallis in a hurry because of all the ice on the roads. I can drive through madness and typhoons, but I cannot drive on ice. Must be the Filipino blood in me. Don't get me wrong... I loved the beauty of the snow and can tolerate the freezing weather -- I am just not very mobile on ice.

The adventure of making it to Portland was worth it. We've been enjoying our stay here. Vincent has been loving the food, being with family, and the f

ood. He hasn't even taken his handheld videogame out from his carry-on luggage. For those that know Vincent, they know that this is quite an accomplishment and very out of character for Vincent. He has enjoyed walking to the mall to get to stores and restaurants, swimming, and hanging out with his two-year cousin, Malina. He's been caught feeding Malina cereal, setting up the video player so that they can watch a movie together, and holding her hand. I love it! He has also had lengthy conversations with other family members and relatives, which they all enjoy.

The weather has been perfect. We're definitely not missing any of the snow that has covered Oregon these past couple of weeks. The clouds have been with us most of the time, but we've only seen rain once since we've been here. Most of the time the weather is within the 80's -- we're not complaining!

The places we've been to have been quite diverse. We go to the mall across the street from time to time. When I say "across the street", it's not like crossing the street in Corvallis. We have to go down to the underground walkway to avoid having to cross eight lanes of traffic. The mall alone is bigger than the Corvallis downtown; a series of buildings all connected with bridges for your shopping and dining convenience. The stores range from groceries to mid-level department stores to high-end department stores to small stores to boutiques to all kinds of restaurants to food courts... It's quite a dizzying experience that I don't miss when we're in Corvallis. For now, it's a slight distraction that can be tolerated since we're only on vacation.

One of our adventures was to a trip to Quiapo (kiyapo). It's the Old Manila and is located right next to Chinatown. We walked from Chinatown to a great restaurant and then over to Quiapo. Quiapo has an old Church that I am assuming has been there since the Spanish times. Behind it are streets lined with shops. Along the streets there are vendors selling all sorts of items -- food, clothing, pirated DVDs, housewares, knick-knacks, etc. Initially it looks like the streets are blocked off because of the amount of people and stalls. Then you see the sea parting to make way for a tricycle or a car trying to make its way down the street. People yell on megaphones to get you to buy some of their China-made products, vendors try to convince you that you're getting the best deal from them, and some even have demonstrations on how to use their gadget that you can't live without. This market is not where your typical Makati resident would go to because of the mass of people, the dirty streets, the inconvenience of getting there, and they don't carry department store items. I was quite happy, though, to buy my guitar there.

In contrast... We had gone to a "market" located in Makati (the city we are living in, which is considered the Central Business District and the city where all the posh villages of the Philippines are located). The stalls consisted mostly of cooked food that ranged from your typical Filipino fare to American food (one of which was a hamburger stand that challenges one to eat their biggest burger under 20 minutes and you win a prize!) to Spanish dishes and more. Plants, herbal concoctions, snacks, and more were among the other items sold here. This market is held every Saturdays in a park that sits in the middle of condominium buildings. Lots of space, everyone around you is speaking English, and a good place to spot acquaintances of the same caliber. I'm being a bit facetious, because in my mind this is NOT the Philippines. It's a nice place to visit, but it gives me this feeling of being in a fabricated environment. Sort of to make you feel you are in solidarity with the Filipinos, but really it isn't. There are quite a bit of very Filipino items and it's a fun place to visit, but just not what I would declare as a Filipino experience.

We've had plenty of family gatherings and it's been fun spending so much time with my own family. Today we are off to visit my grandparent's beach property, but just for the day. I am still hoping to get to spend some time at the beach, but will have to wait and see when.

I was hoping to post pictures, but our DSL connection is too slow for me to efficiently upload pictures onto a site. As soon as I have this up, I will let you all know. I apologize if this update is quite limited still, but the activities never stop and we'll be taking off in a few minutes. I will post again when I'm able to!

Joy To The World...

Well, it's freezing outside.  Signs of Christmas are present everywhere -- lights strewn all over people's homes, inflatable Santas waving with the wind, sale signs on all stores, and the non-stop Christmas music.  I, personally, am singing shamelessly even more nowadays AND wearing outfits with the colors red and green.  Now there's the Christmas spirit!  I haven't quite gotten myself to wear the sweatshirts with the rubberized Santa and earrings shaped like Christmas lights.  Maybe another two or three...hundred years from now.  My new thing this year is playing Christmas songs on the guitar.  I love it!  My favorites:  The Happy Christmas Song by John Lennon, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Silent Night.  I sometimes have to stop singing though because I lose my rhythm when I get too involved with the singing (my guitar teacher has told me not to play the guitar like I'm singing -- I wonder if he just wants me to stop singing?).

We leave for Manila next week and I am so looking forward to the warmer weather.  I'm also looking forward to going to a warm beach and eating yummy food with family.  Of course, I'm also looking forward to seeing relatives -- particularly my grandparents.  I am a bit anxious about the head-to-foot looks and the know-it-all comments about Vincent.  I want Vincent to enjoy himself because six months ago Vincent wouldn't dare think of going back to Manila (too traumatized by the extra-disciplinary actions taken by other people).  Our attempt at a camping trip last year left a very memorable experience for all those involved.  I am hoping that this is the start of being able to travel with him some more.

This year, though, Christmas isn't quite as Christmas-y as it has been.  Times are just tough.  Almost everyday I talk to people who are struggling to pay their rent, looking for work, worried about losing their current job, and just plain worried.  I've met more people who have told me that they have never had to go look for financial help before.  I had somebody in my office who was telling me how she used to be the one adopting families to take care of during Christmas.  Now she's needing help to pay rent and finding out sources for free food.  As we see this need grow it's hard not to take on some of the stress and anxiety that these people are feeling.  I know I've been more sensitive to things people say and do around me, but it almost feels like a way to protect myself.  I take it out on others so that I am able to sit down and listen to those who really need the help.  

Almost every week, sometimes less, major corporations announce layoffs.  Hewlett-Packard has been doing it for quite some time now.  AT&T announced cutting 40,000 jobs last week... Sony announced 8,000 today...  533,000 jobs lost last month alone.  I've heard of one person being the only one left in his department, which is a mixed blessing.  He's happy to have a job, but he's now left with more work and wondering what will happen to his co-workers.  It makes me wonder when I'll be next.  I've been told that I probably don't have to worry because more and more people will be needing help.  But where will this help come from?  My friend who runs a non-profit in town is struggling to get enough food to fill Christmas baskets for needy families.  Our emergency financial assistance funds come from donations -- where will this money come from if our parishioners are losing their jobs?  I always say that those who work for alcohol companies are the only ones with job security right now -- watch those sales go up.

As I worry about losing my job, I am thankful for a few things.  I've never had the need for more and more money, so I make do with little.  I have never felt any attachments to material goods, so not having the latest gadgets is just fine with me and everything I own fits in one bedroom.  Most importantly, I have a very supportive family.  When it was announced that AIG (American Insurance Group) was getting federal help to keep itself afloat, I was initially worried because that's where I have my retirement fund.  This was quickly replaced by relief when I remembered that I had only placed about $100 at that time.  Phew!  

My thoughts then go to other countries in the world.  If Americans are struggling, what happens to all those countries who rely on the almighty dollar?  What happens to all those people who rely on the dollars that are sent to them every month by a family member who works overseas?  What happens to industries that rely on the Americans' consumerism?  What happens to those who were already hungry before this whole mess got even worse?

I often feel the need for quick fixes, but this is just too huge for me to even come up with anything sane sounding.  My latest is...  What if we were all just considered citizens of the world and forced to spread everything equally?  I mentioned this to Aki and he said that he also valued the unique identities of each country.  Well, we would all still have our own identities -- just like those who are from the west coast are different from those from the east, or the north and the south.  We would all share resources -- natural and man-made.  It makes me wonder if we have been citizens of the world all this time, would we be as quick to go to war with each other?  Would we allow such inequality of resources?  Would we let somebody just thousands of miles away -- no body of water even separating us -- go to bed hungry each night?  Would we see each other a little more equal than we do now and not consider ourselves more superior than somebody with a different skin color?  Would we dump harmful products (such as selling cigarettes) on another country for the sake of profit?  Would we be in a mess this big at all?

I do have tips for making this holiday brighter for others around us...

1.  Donate to your favorite charity.  Choose one within your own community and one outside of your community.

2.  Live and give simply.

3.  When you go grocery shopping, buy two extra canned goods for your local food bank.

4.  Donate blankets, socks, sleeping bags, and tents for the homeless (I had a mountain of these in my office -- it was glorious!).

5.  Give to your Church; especially if they provide assistance to the needy (like St. Mary's!).

6.  Volunteer your time at your local soup kitchen, food pantry, or other non-profit organization that help the needy.

7.  If you're able to, volunteer for organizations that help the poor in other countries (can be short term, too).

8.  Be a support to someone who is feeling the stress of these economic times.

9.  Be an advocate for policies that protect those weakest in our society.   

10. Remember the true meaning of the season -- to prepare the way for the coming of our Lord, Jesus.  Think of Mary's example of humility, acceptance, simplicity, and her call for justice (Magnificat).  If we truly believe that Jesus lives in each of us, we learn to value those around us and even those we don't see.    

For now...  Let's try to bring glad tidings and joy to the world!  (I can come up with more, if you want!)