Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Summer and graduation

Image hosted by TinyPic.com March and April usually equate with graduation and summer vacation in the Philippines. During these months, the sun is always shining which means that the mercury will constantly be on the 30 mark or above. People will rest, refresh and relax in beautiful, white sand beaches that stretch from one resort to another, forming miles of tropical, world-class paradise.

How I wish I could be there now to bask under the sun while sipping my favorite cocktail. I love to be in the beach, wade through the crystal blue water and watch as the setting sun overwhelms the western horizon with striking bright orange hue. Sometimes when I look at the sky, I try to form images with the clouds above. I see different faces and forms, from Santa Claus to a samurai sword. But here I am now, in a cold and gloomy city. Well, I do not feel that blue because spring has come and soon, cherry blossoms will appear and birds will be singing again.

I'd like to say congratulations to some beloved people who are graduating this April. My sister Jek (Nursing - MCU), my cousin Mckay (P.T. - UERM) and my sister-in-law Selca (Law - San Beda). My cousin Tintin is also graduating from HS (San Agustin) and going to college (UP) in June. Congratulations too to the elemetary graduates! Sean, J-Anne and Maj who is the class valedictorian. I am proud of you! Keep up the good work. I miss you all.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

My real name means something?

Image hosted by TinyPic.com Since my first day in school, and I mean my very first day in school when I was maybe 5 years old, I always feel a little regretful when people express amazement over my given name. I try to read their minds if the amazement is simply because of my name's unique spelling or if they think it is weird.

To overcome this "little regret", I started to introduce myself using my nickname which has very good meanings in other languages. Dondon means money in Korean and fast, sudden or abrupt in Japanese. My feng-shui expert, shake your bonbon dancer Chinese friend even told me that if I used my nickname, I would have a strong predilection for good fortune. Not bad, huh! He further stressed that my nickname would bring passion and strength and my real name could act as an antithesis to the inflow of negative energies. I am not that superstitious so I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

My nickname by the way was dubbed by my late grandmother, a big fan of the defunct "Apat na sikat" celebrity group which included Dondon Nakar.

My unique name was coined by my loving mother who was too excited about her first-born son and at the same time, so much in love with her husband. So, she thought of a unique name that would remind her constantly of my father. Hence, came forth the name which I learned to love but I'd rather leave you guessing.

Last night, I found this
website that analyzes the meaning of names. Curious, I typed my name and voila! the meaning came out. I was more surprised than amused because I thought my name was unique, and I tried before to search for its meaning if there was any but I found nothing. Anyways, here is what my name stands for:

"Although the name creates an interest in the deeper aspects of life, we emphasize that it causes procrastination, lack of confidence, and the inability to realize your goals and ambitions. This name, when combined with the last name, can frustrate happiness, contentment, and success, as well as cause health weaknesses in the heart, lungs, bronchial area, and fluid systems.

Your first name has made you a sociable person who appreciates the beauties of nature and the refinements of life, and is moved by music and the arts. You are very idealistic and romantic within yourself and may have tried to express your beautiful thoughts through poetry or writing. Crudeness and vulgarity are very repulsive to you and you are very particular about little things. You suffer greatly with lack of confidence and self-consciousness. You crave affection and understanding, yet because you can be so easily and deeply hurt, you have learned to keep your true nature hidden; therefore people do not really know you. You always wonder if you are doing the right thing, desiring to express yourself but afraid to."

Hmmmm... beats me.

Monday, March 21, 2005

Bloody but unbowed

Manny Pacquiao exemplified the literal meaning of the infamous saying, "my head is bloody but unbowed". In a fierce fight with Mexico's Eric Morales, Pacquaio struggled to bag the World's Junior Lightweight champion with a bleeding cut from a head bat that greatly marred his vision. Unable to clearly see the moves and to retaliate to the killer punches of his physically superior opponent, the hero from the Philippines bowed down to the Mexican champion in a unanimous 113-115 decision by the three-man panel of judges.

The match was definitely for the action-hungry audience as both boxers ended the 12 rounds with a display of never-say-die battle. The audience was enthralled, the boxers' families were begging for God's mercy and the promoters were grinning with the million dollar sign flashing in their heads. What a world!

I was heartbroken when I saw "the Pacman" bleeding but still raging like a bull, but I have prepared myself for his defeat. Yes, he did not win this time but I still remain his avid fan and supporter. He never surrendered amid the pain, loss of blood and impaired vision. This is what made him even more admired by the Filipinos, myself included. Manny is still recuperating from the injuries but offers for a rematch are flowing in. Winning is important but in the end, people will judge you on how you played the game.

Thursday, March 17, 2005

US trip concluded

I am back in Japan! I wasn't able to add more updates to my blog when I was in the US last week because I spent most of my free time there going around sight-seeing, doing a little shopping or visiting famous spots and museums. I moved around a bit from the northeast (Maryland and DC) to the northcentral (Kentucky and Ohio) in just 7 days! Including the international flights, I boarded the plane six times! That was so far the most airborne week of my life. Good thing, I was born to travel having crossed the rugged sea separating Manila and my hometown a million times since I was a kid, so I didn't have any problems with air sickness or jet lag.

Baltimore was freezing! The temperature dipped to around -10 degrees centigrade. It was there that I had to relearn how to convert fahrenheit to centigrade. The city was nice with a relatively mixed population of several ethnicities. I dropped by the dental school which is historically the first dental school ever in the world. The school boasts of the Samuel Harris National Dental Museum which is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute.

Kentucky was definitely more that just the fried chicken that it is famous about. Louisville, one of its major cities near the Indiana border was a lovely place. Lots of exquisite architecture, museums, nice people and good food. I and my friends went to a traditonal southwestern steakhouse where we feasted on pounds of eat-all-you-can delicious grilled steaks. Yum! I had three hefty servings, baked potatoes and side dishes included.

We also visited the dental school and the research lab of Dr. Kinane, a prominent figure in the dental field. The set-up was very inspiring so that I am now contemplating on pursuing post-doc studies there in the future, if given the chance of course.

My trip to the US was definitely memorable and fun. I had to get used to the humongous servings of food or drinks even if I was asking for the smallest size. I had to share my food or just leave it unfinished to prevent my belly from bulging any further. The Americans were kind to me, most of them would readily spark up a friendly conversation about anything under the sun. I also met some Filipino residents there who were very helpful and nice. I'd like to go back there in the future, either to work or to visit the other cities.

You can see some pics of my trip there by clicking
this.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Presentation day

In a few minutes, I will be presenting my paper.

Last night, I went to the Reception Party organized by the Periodontal/Immunology/Microbiology group of international dentists. I could not believe that I was actually talking with such big names like Denis Kinane, Greg Seymour, Steven Diehl. T. Hart, Thomas Van Dyke and others. I have seen the presentations of Anne Haffajee, Ken Kornman and others but to actually talk to some of the greatest names in the contemporary dental world was very inspiring.

I was also with my profs and classmates in the Japan Reception Night that was attended by most of the dental big-wigs. I saw the influence of the Japanese academe in the profession that I am in. They rub elbows with only the few and selected names in the dental field. Good thing, my prof was a friend to most of them so I was introduced as a Filipino student in Japan. Of course, an impoverished postgrad student like me would always feel shy but I just carried myself the best way I could and talked with them the usual way.

This conference is concluding tonigt and I must say that it was a great learning experience for me.

Friday, March 11, 2005

Lectures and liason

The conference is going on smoothly. I went to some really interesting symposia about genetics and oral diseases, and there, met some students too from different countries. It's an eye-opener for me because I have realized that there are indeed a lot of opportunities for dentist/researchers.

Tommorrow, it's my chance to show what I got in my research. I do not feel nervous at all. Maybe it's the desensethizing that I had from listening to the presentation of other researchers whose topics were a little similar to mine. I even had answers to some of the bugging questions that I had in my mind about the background of my research.

On the lighter side, I really enjoyed my trip to Washington DC yesterday. It was a very nice city but you cannot escape the smell of power and intrigue that envelope the entire place. I mean, you have almost all the agencies that run this superpower country in one city.

For dinner, I and my Japanese friends went to a Japanese restaurant because we really missed the food. The price bore a hole in my pocket but it was worth it. I was impressed by the great people that have gone to the restaurant and left their impressions and greetings on the restaurant's "hall of fame". Talk about President Clinton and his wife Hillary, Madeleine Albright and others. I finished my food with a smile of real satisfaction.

I have 2 more days left here in Baltimore then I'll be on my way to Louisville, Kentucky via Cincinnati. I am sure I will miss this place!

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Baltimore, Baltimore!

Hello everybody! I am safe and sound here in Baltimore, Maryland. The city is just fantastic with all the great sights and the sumptuous food! I and my Japanese friends here have toured the city a bit yesterday before coming to the opening ceremonies of the international conference. There was a lot of European influence on the architecture fused with the modern and swanky
designs.

We will visit Washington DC today.

See you soon!

Monday, March 07, 2005

Narita Airport

I arrived here one and a half hours before the boarding time, so I have all the time to chill out and check the duty free items. I bought two nigiri rolls for luch. I'm planning to pair them with cold green tea just like how wine goes with steak (I'm hungry!). But from where I am sitting now, I could smell the inviting aroma of brewed coffee from a nearby cafe so I'd probably take a sip of hot coffee with cream in between bites of salmon-filled nigiri.

I am a bit worried about my checked-in baggage because it's not locked due to security concerns and I have to pick it up in my first port of entry in the US then go through the check-in procedure all over again before boarding the next plane for my final destination in the east coast. This is a bit different from the usual flights that I have taken,but I undevstand the reason behind it.

I'm taking my lunch in a few then maybe doze off a bit before boarding.

May God bless our trip. I totally rest my safety in his arms.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Off to the US

Tonight, I'll be on my way to the United States. This is my first time to set foot on the land that has given so much opportunities to immigrants. For a lot of Filipinos, the US has always been a dream destination. To date, more than three million Filipinos live there. Most of them are professionals who contribute to the eternal pursuit of the US for freedom and progress. They are also known to be independent, caring and religious.

In one of the recent reports by the University of Hawaii, Filipinos were praised for being industrious and optimistic and recognized as the least poor of all the major ethnic groups in the US. I feel proud that in spite of the odds that Filipinos face when they migrate to another land, they could still very well adapt to all the hardships and emerge successfully in their chosen endeavors. There are successful Filipinos in the field of politics, entertainment, business, sports, beauty and etc. not only in the US but also in other countries where they reside. Of course, other bigger countries like China and India have greater things to talk about but I personally feel that the University of Hawaii report is more important than gaining waves in the international scene.

It is a little ironic that I have known the US since I was a kid but it is only now that I finally get to visit the country. I was planning to cross the Atlantic from Paris to New York five years ago to have a look of the apple state but it did not materialize. Well, I did not have any close friend or family there until two years ago when my aunt-in-law remarried and migrated there with my first cousins. And getting a US visa is a tedious task that does not only require money but time, effort and giving up your privacy.

My main purpose this time is to attend an international conference as a presenter so I finally decided to get a visa and visit the country. I am really looking forward to being there and experiencing its diverse culture. This is a good break to a rather homogenous environment that I am in now. I'll be visiting three states. I have already prepared for the trip. I love traveling and meeting people except when my baggage goes to another destination or when I feel sick because of jet-lag. Otherwise, I am always in awe and mirth during the entire trip.

Friday, March 04, 2005

Do you like kinky kids?

Flashback, April 2002. I was in a party as a DJ when one Japanese schoolgirl approached me and asked, "do you like kinky kids?". Terribly shocked by the question, I wasn't able to answer back rightaway. After gathering my thoughts and getting ready to clarify what she meant by the maliciously-sounding question, she grilled me with another one. "Do you like to play kinky kids?" she innocently asked with her sparkling eyes gazing on my obviously bewildered face. "What? kinky kids? the ones with curly hair?" I curiously asked. "No, no, the boys. Cute Japanese boys!" she exclaimed. "Do you think I am that kind of a sick person?" I annoyingly replied while she reached for my CDs and browsed through them.

One of my friends who was beside me that time told me to take it easy. He explained that the girl didn't mean to say "kinky", the slang word for a bizarre or deviant taste of a sexual or erotic nature but "Kinki", a region in Japan which includes Osaka. And "Kinki kids" was the name of a popular boy duet from Osaka. Relieved, I humbly apologized to the girl who brought a CD of Kinki kids for me to include in the playlist. I tried to play the CD but was not that impressed with their singing nor with their songs.

Since then, I take every weird-sounding english expression here with a pinch of salt. The Japanese try very hard to learn English and I appreciate their effort and dedication to use the language correctly. You will be surprised that some of them could define difficult english words and eloquently use them in a sentence. Of course, there are times when I find humour in their english but I try very hard not to offend them. Last February though, during the Chinese New Year, a Japanese friend greeted me "happy year of the cock (rooster)". I forgot being polite and laughed to death.
photo credit: www.loonyverse.com

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Great time, great friends, great gifts

I have a lot of great things to spill out today! First, I had a meeting with my prof. I was so surprised by the kind words that he uttered to me. He cheerfully said his thanks for the efforts that I have shown in doing my research. He was so content with the two peer-reviewed international scientific papers that I have contributed to our department during the first two years of my stay. To top it all, he unfurled his plans for my postdoc studies, gave me the liberty to choose my desired path and generously offered all his support and recommendation if ever I would need them in the future. He also asked me to meet one of the better US professors who wanted to talk to me about my paper. This was really a humbling moment so that I whispered a prayer of thanks to God right after the meeting. I was just doing what I was expected to do. All these good words and kind offers from my prof are definitely showers of blessings that are overflowing in my cup. Sometimes, I feel that I do not deserve to be blessed by God because I oftentimes neglect His kindness and love. But He is a just and loving God who have plans that are beyond our comprehension. I am sure that He will always be there for me no matter what.

Before noon, I received a package from France. Wow, a birthday present from Mag! I was extremely excited to see what was inside the lovely, shiny, maroon wrap with ribbons of the same color. I smiled when I saw that it was a DVD of the movie "L'auberge espanogle".I was aching to watch it since the time I read a wonderful review about it. The gift really made my day! Merci bien, Mag! Tu me manques ma chere amie.

Gifts, cards and well wishes for my birthday this year were just great! Anna sent me a CD from Germany, not to mention her sweet and delicious gifts last Christmas :) Phiphi gave me a bath set, Ma'am Edith of IIT took time out of her busy schedule to write a wonderful e-card for me, Thida was so thoughtful to buy some nice gifts too, Lotlot never forgot to send me a lovely card just like last year and the years before, and the list goes on. Thanks also to all Filipinos and international students who came to my party! You made my birthday a real blast!

I just came home from the annual President's Night and Dinner Party. My friends and some Japanese professors were at the party too. It was so very nice to see them after a brief winter hiatus. Damian and Sandy were so energetic as ever, Stefan was still very well-mannered and full of intelligent things to say and Jabbar was with his beautiful better half Sharmin. There were songs and dances performed by the student groups from Russia, China, Brazil, Cuba and Panama. Juan, Phi, Ruth, Anna, Ari, Paulo, Flavio, Katya, Thida, Leo, Sergio and Hyun Hee were all in the mood for a good time and entertainment, to exchange news and plans for the coming year and to enjoy the good food. It was such a great party indeed!

Excuse me for repetititively using the word, but everything today was just great, great and great!