My chronicles

New kid in town

2007-06-29T11:32:00.000-04:00

My blog needs to be updated. A lot of the personal info here are already passé. To start with, I am no longer in Japan (Darn, I terribly miss a lot of things there). I have already finished my PhD there and I am currently doing my postdoc in the US. Still in the period of adjustment, but I am doing fine.

Besides putting aside my profession as a dentist, I am also going a little off-track with the lifestyle that I am used to. Here in the place where I live now, life is a little boring. In Japan, I worked hard but I could also unwind in a café or in a fine restaurant with my friends after a day's work . Shopping was also great and it was easier, I think, to fly to some of the hottest beaches in the Philippines or in Thailand. Public services were also fast, efficient and relatively safer.

But in fairness to the place where I live now, many things here are new to me and I find them amusing. There are a few dining or entertainment places that I like, but hey, the scenery is beautiful. Talk about picturesque farms, endless white picket fences along roads lined with the canopy of towering trees, horses, nice rivers and lakes.

Just like in Japan, I also work my butt off here and I am learning a lot of new stuff like closely looking into individual cells using confocal microscope. How cool can that be? Now I can take pictures of cells, not just of macroscopic things. This morning, a cool and very smart-looking associate from Olympus microscopes came to recommend some upgrades for the scope, so I am more excited about the microscopic things I could look into in the future.

Wish me luck!

Welcome back, ENTOURAGE!

2007-06-19T08:58:00.000-04:00

It was such a warm (35 degrees) and boring day yesterday. Good thing, I upgraded my cable TV subscription to premium, so I can now watch HBO-On Demand and other great channels. Now don't be thinking that I have to cough out big bucks for the premium channels. It's just an additional $12.00 per month, which actually will add an extra buck to my pocket money because when I upgraded, I also gave up all the cartoon and music video channels, giving me $13.00 bonus a month. Isn't that a good move? More movies for the big boys, less of those precocious caricatures yelling out nasty stuff for every child to absorb, or those dumb chicks gyrating to the sarcasm of the sound they call rap.

What I am most excited about is my being able to watch Entourage again, an HBO original series about an up and coming Hollywood actor and his entourage of three from Queens, NY. I have never missed an episode of this great series since it first aired two years ago. It gives me a glimpse of the colorful life in Tinseltown, with so many twists and turns.

Entourage is different from Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewises. The two latter shows may have different plots, but ultimately, they have one common dilemma: how to fornicate with each and every character in the series. This is why I have lost interest in both of these shows. McDreamy bangs Meredith, who at one point, bones George who shags both Isobel and Callie who pumps McSteamy who screws Addison, the former legal sexmate of McDreamy. What a sickening circus! And don’t get me started with Desperate Housewives!

With Entourage, you can see how Vincent Chase, a talented young man chases his dreams in a cruel yet rewarding world. Yes, he sleeps around with most of the willing bitches, but he also turns down a $6-million sex-first-before-movie offer because it is not his thing to sell his talent to the swine. I also like a lot Ari’s (the talent manager) quotable quote which goes, “Yes, we have a lot of whores in this agency but we ain’t pimps here!”, referring to a disgusting pig who will not sign a multimillion project unless Ari’s assistant jumps into bed with him (the pig) first.

Watch the episodes from the beginning if you have time. It is currently in its fourth season on HBO.

Famous guests appearing as themselves on the show include James Cameron (Titanic director), U2, Jessica Alba, Stephen Gaghan (wrote Traffic and Syriana), Scarlett Johansson, Brooke Shields, Ralph Macchio (it was good to see him again, now matured and less famous years after the Karate Kid), Sarah Silverman and others.

Trivia: Do you know that the producer of Entourage is Mark Wahlberg? The former rapper known as Marky Mark (Good Vibrations). I really admire him for coming up with a great series in a big network like HBO!

funny teenagers

2006-06-27T05:14:00.000-04:00

I was a little awkward when I was a teenager. I lacked self-confidence, I was skinny and I sucked at clothes. I hated my body and my facial profile that I thought was like that of a horse. Looking back, however, I think that I had a happy childhood and teenage life. I was very well loved and protected by all the members of my large clan. It's natural for teenagers to undergo a phase that is ever dynamic. It's a physiological response to all those hormones pumping altogether at all-time highs.

I am amazed at how teens could really be so creative and funny these days. Maybe it's the amount of information they could get from endless sources that are so accessible anytime, anywhere. One of my all-time favorite home-made funny videos on the internet was created by a group of Asian-american teens. Their video is crude and amateurish, but their creativity and sense of humor are just outstanding. I laughed my heart out until the end of the video, so I thought of sharing it with you.

Here is the link to the video by Eric Liang. Enjoy!

what lies ahead?

2006-05-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

to reflect is to purify the soul
Originally uploaded by don2g.

Everyone around is congratulating me. I see their honest smiles, feel their gentle tap on my shoulders, and hear their well wishes for a foreigner who has tried so hard to blend in and has strived patiently to come up with a successful four years of postgraduate studies. I am moved, my heart is consumed with joy . There is nothing I could utter but my gratitude to God, my family and friends as my ears are filled by the clapping of their hands. I am blessed, truly blessed.

It has been a long day. The meeting is now over and I am heading home. I walk down the stairs, staring blankly at the steps leading to the back exit door. It's almost half past six. My back aches and my eyes are sore. I realize that I am not wearing my eyeglasses. Yes, my eyes have gone bad. Maybe I have abused them over the years of working with minute materials or with hours of staring at the computer, bleeding for words to write on my paper. I wish I took better care of the windows to my soul.

I step out of the building and the cool early summer wind greets me. What a relief! I close my eyes and raise my face up to take a deep breath, and as I slowly open them as I breath out, I see the deep orange hue overwhelming the sky. I remember my little hometown of San Andres where I would stare at the setting sun until it disappeared behind the island of MIna de Oro, right across the rugged sea. Life was simple yet much happier then.

Now, another chapter of my life is closing soon. I have mixed emotions about everything. My studies here in Japan has been successful, yet the my future in my own country is so full of uncertainties. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night just to ponder and to pray for the right decisions. There will truly be much more opportunities on the other side of the fence, but I am thinking about my family, especially my parents.

My Papa is already past 60, and my Mama is soon to retire. God knows how much I miss them since I left my hometown many years ago to study in Manila. I was so occupied with my studies and with other things so that when I looked back, I saw how things have changed. My sisters have bloomed into young ladies and my brother has grown into a principled man. The years that have ticked away became obvious on my parents faces. I became what they wanted me to be, but the time that I have spent away from them will never be recovered back. I always went home during school breaks, but I knew it would have been a lot different if we spent more years living together as a family every single day.

It surely will be a tough decision to make, but I am certain that whatever the future holds for me, it is God's will. My parents and siblings will always be there for me no matter what, so I am not afraid to take steps and dip my toes in the water. What's the use of my reputation as the most aggressive member of the family if I won't have the guts to zealously move forward? So, I have to brush my cares off and just do my best, one day at a time.

It is Monday tommorrow so maybe that is why I am a little depressed tonight and started writing about reminiscences and reflection. Do not worry, I am as resilient as can be. After I have posted this in my blog, I'll watch the latest episode of "Grey's Anatomy" and be mesmerized again by the great story and cast. It's a damn good show, isn't it?

bye dentistry, hello medicine.

2006-04-07T04:43:00.000-04:00

dna2

I could still vividly remember how I would deeply think why I had no control over my heartbeat, or why my father snored all night. My mind was full of questions and I always tried to look for answers. One time, I tried not to breath for minutes to see what would happen to me. But after less than thirty seconds, I found myself gasping for air, with my intercostal muscles automatically going back to work. This happened many years ago, when life was much simpler and my mother was wrinkle-free. Well, mama is still the most beautiful woman in my eyes in spite of the years that have passed.

Now, I am back exploring a wide range of possibilities. Last year, I was offered to work in the Molecular Genetics department of my university here in Japan. Of course, I said "Yes!" with a big, gummy smile knowing that It would be all to my advantage. In these times of stiff competition, learning has never been more important.

From this month, I am affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine. My research will now include animals, mostly mouse, as models of gene damage and carcinogenesis. I myself is an advocate of animal rights and welfare, but after our orientation, I knew that a lot of strict protocols and meticulous checks are followed before, during and after the use of these animals. They are not sacrificed for nothing.

I do wish that this new chapter in my career would rake in more opportunities for me in the future. I also hope that I could very well share everything that I would learn here to all who also strive hard to prosper in their careers. Good luck ang God bless to me and thank you to all who pray for me.

I heart you

2006-02-14T03:48:00.000-05:00

yousuck
Originally uploaded by unstuckpilgrim.

No, don't get me wrong! I did not post this "You suck" picture because I dread Valentine's day. I just found it cute.

It's February and I am so looking forward to spring. I had lots of snowy experience already this winter and I feel that I had enough! Today, the sun appeared and it was a bit warmer than usual, so I was upbeat the whole day.

My studies here in Japan is ending soon. More than four years here! Darn, where did time go? I am still in the crossroads of my postdoctoral plans but I hope that I'd be on the rigth track. I'll just do my best and as what most people say, "God will do the rest".

I welcome opportunities to do postdoctoral fellowship in the US or Europe, but I am also looking forward to going home to the Philippines. I miss my life there already! After work, there are a lot of fun things to do with family and friends. Manila is booming with excitement, and the provinces are teeming with world-class natural beauty where one could spend a quiet and pleasant vacation. Add to that the manangs and manongs in the house who make life easier for us.

September is still seven months to go so I still have time to finish my work and requirements for graduation, and visit the rest of the marvelous places here in Japan especially Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura.

australian holiday

2005-12-06T01:17:00.000-05:00

flinders street
Originally uploaded by don2g.

"No worries, mate!" the customs officer replied when I said thanks. I realized I was not dreaming anymore. I have set my feet in the land down under! I was just so excited.

I had a very nice trip by Qantas from Tokyo. The seats were wider and more comfortable than Japan Airlines, and the food was much better. There was no personal TV on each seat, but I didn't care. I just wanted to sleep during the entire 10 hour flight. I was so tired because that day, I flew from Manila to Tokyo then to Melbourne. I had to make a side trip to Manila before going to Australia. While waiting for the Qantas flight at Narita, I took the chance to take naps.

It was almost summer in Melbourne. Federation square was booming with life, but a short walk from there would take you to various parks where you can unwind, or where you can hop on to one of the ferry cruises to see the great sights of the city from the Yarra river. I also went with some friends to see the 12 apostles. It was a long drive from Melbourne, so we would stop along the way to refresh with a cup of coffee or take pictures. It was fantastic.

There were plenty of immigrants too. A lot of times, I could not hear English in the train or bus. Surprisingly, I never heard anybody talk in Filipino. In my trips to other big cities like London, Munich, Rome, Washington DC or even in Tokyo and Nagoya, I would hear some people talk in Filipino. Maybe, Filipinos in Australia are concentrated in Sydney.

The food was to die for too. So may choices! Delicious choices. Meat, cheese, wine, salads, desserts - all pleasant to the eyes and to the palate. It was also there that I saw different kinds of milk! Skinny milk, rev milk, regular milk, condensed milk, name it!

I really enjoyed my trip there. I'd like to return in the near future but that time, maybe I'd stay longer, like 2 months to be able to explore more places like Sydney, Cairns and Brisbane.

It's autumn again!

2005-10-29T09:19:00.000-04:00

Fall at the Kyungbok palace, Seoul-14
Originally uploaded by Deokhun Yun.

Leaves are turning yellow, red, orange or purple. It's getting colder everyday. In the next seven months, I'll have to be wrapped in several layers of clothes again.

Today is sooooo rainy. I wanted to go outside to take pictures, but I didn't want my camera to get wet and besides, I'm such a lazy dog when it's cold, gloomy and stormy.

Tommorrow, it's still going to be rainy; but I have to get out of my crib, or else I'll go crazy! Hmmmm.. where am I gonna go? For sure, I'll try to take pictures and check-out some of the latest electronic gadgets.

Right now, I'm so sleepy. Goodnight!

Pinay beauty

2005-10-29T05:35:00.000-04:00

pinay_0212
Originally uploaded by zchendevlemh.

Bumming like a pig one day, I stumbled over a collection of pictures of pinays that were posted by a mysterious flickr babe. The pictures were ripped from different sources, but who cares? They are a joy to look at.

The beauty of Pinays; a mix of several races that define their sophistication. I've been to many places around the world, but nothing could ever rival their caring touch and loving heart for the family. Their weapon is not only their beauty, but most of all their heart and their courage.

Credit card fraud

2005-09-16T20:19:00.000-04:00

I frantically called the bank last week to immediately terminate my credit card transactions because fraudulent purchases totaling to around USD500.00 were recorded on the online card statement. Thanks to Japanese technology, I could detect my credit card activity almost real-time, online.

It was certainly a Japanese language calisthenics for me trying to explain that I never purchased those items except if I had quantum power to exist in several continents at the same time. I am still waiting if the bank would credit the money back to my account. There are so many things that one could buy with 500 US dollars, including a round-trip airfare from Tokyo to Manila.

Thanks "Pacman"

2005-09-11T21:54:00.000-04:00

I am so ecstatic today! After months of political turmoil back home, Filipinos' spirits were once again lifted up when Manny Pacquaio edged Mexican Hector Velsquez by a TKO in the 6th round of their much-awaited boxing match. What a pleasant news!

A full news article on "The Pacman's" victory can be read here.

Third world stereotypes - Second Part

2005-08-14T07:45:00.000-04:00

"Real poverty is the loss of imagination."
- Denyce Graves -

Homesick and wanting to take a breather, I plunged into a one-day marathon review of past Filipino television programs available via the internet. The news and current affairs programs sizzled and dazzled, my hats off to the brilliant team. But of course, Filipino television would not be complete without the glitzy variety shows with actors and actresses, almost impervious to shame and disgrace dance or lipsynch their way to mediocrity. Add to that the melodramatic soap operas where talents do nothing but lacrimate, the showbiz gossip mongers and the ever polemical Miss Kris Aquino. What a colourful and eclectic mix of fact and fantasy, something that a lot of Filipinos are not able to discriminate.

In a popular current affairs program, Madam Tita Reverente, one of the Philippine’s foremost protectors of rights, morality and values education was invited as a guest . Faithful to the meaning of her surname, she was warning the parents to be more vigilant about the dangerous liaison of their chidren and challenging the women to battle poverty, sexual abuse and discrimination. Several other guests were also present to defend or scrutinize the efforts of the government in protecting the rights and welfare of women and children, and its drive against terrorism and corruption. These issues are critical in building the image of a strong republic that greatly rests its back on foreign investors. But in spite of all the debates and the friendly banters, there was one issue that brought the guest speakers in unison to object yet another blackguard publicity about the Philippines.

The expostulation was brought about by the caustic and malicious description that one UK magazine wrote about the Philippines . The magazine branded the country as "rubbish" because of its "crap food, rampant terrorism and being not in the world cup" and having only "beautiful women for sex". As a nationalistic person, I was furious at first but then I realized that this magazine was fronting a dog and pony show, using intrigue to sell and gain waves in Asia especially in English-speaking Philippines. So, why the tempest in a teapot?

Tailored for men with minds embedded in their groins, the magazine's writers do not care about facts and figures, let alone use their brains for good purposes. They deliberately targeted a third world country lacking in international appeal to retaliate and flatten their faces with an equally irresponsible whack. I have been to the UK several times and I am damn sure that the magazine's staff do not reflect the general opinion and the intellect of the majority. They might have created a stir but they appeared extremely callous, ignorant and indifferent about the same burning issues in their own backyard. Totally unaffected by the cheap propaganda, tourists are still flocking to experience the bounties of nature and the richness of the Filipino culture that is a unique fusion of the east and the west.

It is very unfortunate that poor countries like the Philippines always serve as an easy sitting duck for unscrupulous characters. Some rich countries are notorious for portraying developing countries as backward and uncivilized with people using nothing but stones to make fire or voodoo to cure illness. One time, I was surprised to be asked by a supposedly educated person if houses back home had colored television. I retorted by saying that I came to his magnificent country by steam boat so it was so futuristic of him to say that we already had the luxury of enjoying the box with moving paintings. At the back of my mind, I thought that millions of people go to school, but indeed, very few are educated.

Busy as a bee

2005-07-21T01:48:00.000-04:00

It's summer and people are supposed to have fun under the sun or just spend the whole day lazily, wake up before noon, watch DVDs or surf the net until dinner time. How I wish I could do these things right now. I am packed with so much work to do! Lab and paper works have piled up until the ceiling. Maybe you'll wonder why on earth did I decide to overload myself with humongous work. Well, I have a little more than one year to stay here in Japan, so I thought that I'd better make use of the time and technology here to add more prospects to my career in the future. And besides, I want to spend my remaining months here relaxed. I also want to travel to other parts of Japan in next year's summer, so right now, I am like a bee but preparing not for the rain, but for the better days. I intend to publish two more first author papers before I graduate although right now, I have five papers to my credit, first authorship included.

Another achievement in the family.

2005-06-23T23:08:00.000-04:00

I browsed the news late last night and I was delighted to see my youngest sister's name in the list of new nurses. She is the youngest in the brood of four, and with her passing the licensure exam, we are all professionals now . A dentist, two CPA's and a nurse. We surely have the reason to rejoice, celebrate and to endlessly praise and thank God for the overflowing blessings all these years. I hope that I am not being boastful here, but I think that after more than 30 years of toiling hard for our future, I have the slightest right to be proud of my parents and my family as a whole.

Congratulations palangga! Our baby in the family. I am so proud of you. It's not easy to be included in the 12,000 board passers out of the 26,000 exam takers, but you did it. Thank you for not failing our parents and for growing up with positive values and love for God, our family and all the people around you. Good luck to the life and career ahead of you. Don't get married yet, ha? Hehehe.. just kidding. She's single (as far as the tsismis is concerned).

The sun is high and I'm loving it.

2005-06-20T06:27:00.000-04:00

I am back after a brief hiatus! The past weeks were a mosaic of events that mellowed down my passion for writing. And why not? Summer has come and I just felt that I needed to enjoy the warm weather after more than eight long months of cold. No, I did not bum around in my shorts, sunglasses and sneakers all the time because I have tons of work to do, but during those precious breaks from school work, I’d rather hit the road and take pictures than sit down and bleed for words. And besides, I have just submitted a scientific paper for peer review and writing a new one now. Silly me, huh! Masochistic freak. Sometimes, I do feel sick of investigating people’s genes and writing a report about it but you know, better take advantage of the technology here before I go back and preach the gospel of science in the Philippines.

Speaking about the Philippines, I just wish there were good news over there to be excited about. But apparently (sigh) things happen in my country like a vicious cycle. I want to be numb about it and just be indifferent. But I just can’t. The news back home is more than an action flick. It’s like “All the President’s Men”, “Italian Job” and “Lord of the Rings” combined altogether in a 30-minute episode. Highly political and action-packed with a sprinkling of fantasy. A lot different from the news here in Japan that takes fifteen minutes for weather report and sometimes the whole news hour about the Japanese soccer team or about the origin of the cherry blossoms.

In spite of all the drama that is the Philippines, I still ache to go back soon. Truly, home is where the heart is.

An inescapable nightmare

2005-05-14T09:32:00.000-04:00

when will this end?

Tonight, NHK featured a special documentary about the life of a Filipino girl, who at a young age of 12, was heavily laden with domestic responsibilities of caring and providing food for her sick mother Nora and two younger brothers, Ambo and Armando. The dramatic story started with Manika rushing to the mountain of garbage to scavenge, battle and squabble with older and stronger men and women, exerting all the energy she has left of her frail arms and tiny frame. She had to be tough and clever or else, their daily meal of porridge and salt will be reduced to a glass of water. The Japanese host shed a bucketful of tears when Manika, in spite of her being buried in a dismal situation, showed too much longing to be in school, reading refuse english books during her self-declared break from scavenging or before sleeping when her body almost gave up from hauling ten kilos of junk.

It was a truly heartbreaking story with all the Japanese audience crying, running out of words to express their disbelief as they watched Nora give away Armando to a neighbor so that the he could be fed everyday. The family lived in a shanty, no toilet, no electricity, no nothing. They were the poorest among the urban poor in Manila. But if there was one thing that I could positively tell about the family, it would be the sparkle in Manika, Ambo and Armando's eyes when they had small, free pleasures like a thought of eating hotdogs or a hug from their mother. They still had hope, love and caring in the middle of the bleak situation.

The documentary was an accurate representation of the current economic and social predicament that the Philippines is in to. The number of poor people swells every year and the price of food and services steadily increase. The rich become richer and the poor are pushed further into the bottom. The government on the other hand, is still plagued with devils and scoundrels who suck the very blood that should have fed and educated our children like Manika, Ambo and Armando. I wonder where these corrupt officials keep their conscience or whether they could sleep peacefully at night.

I am sorry, Manika. I cried when you slept without eating, or when your heavy trade fell from your tired arms. But do not worry for you have nothing to answer to God. Our country was great once but our fathers in the government whom we trusted even before we were born have thrown everything away, failed us and willingly pushed us into the pit of poverty and hardship. They have more to answer to God and to the people. I just hope that the Philippines will see the light again during our lifetime.

Goodbye Gian, our little angel.

2005-05-07T00:47:00.000-04:00

My little nephew Gian, the son of my first cousin Noreen, passed away yesterday. He was two years old. I was shocked and deeply sorrowed by his passing. I last saw him on Christmas day last year when I gave him his present. He was jolly and smart, running all over the house, seemingly excited that it was Christmas day. Sadly, it was his last.

The whole family is grieving but we have to let him go.

Goodbye Gian, spread your wings little angel. Go home to Jesus and rest on His loving arms where there is no pain and suffering. We love you and we will surely miss you. Goodnight.

photo credit

The month of May

2005-05-06T02:23:00.000-04:00

May, Mayo, Mai, Go-getsu - this month brings a lot of happy childhood memories to me and I guess to a lot of Filipinos too. May is the peak of summer vacation in the Philippines. During this scorching month, every kid in my little hometown is out somewhere playing in the rice field, along the beach or in the mountainside with all of his close friends. Everybody is loud and happy, braving the torrid summer sun, telling tall tales about fictitious characters like dwarves, elves or witches while hiking and munching those ripe guavas freshly picked along the way.

Since it was vacation, my parents would send me to my Lola's (grandmother) place. I'd be very excited to see her and to hear her stories about ghosts, magic, fairies and her experiences during the war. At night when the moon is rotund, my cousins and I would organize a ghost hunting trip, play "taguan" (hide and seek) or just tell stories under a big mango tree. We would scare each other until we run frantically, laughing and teasing each other. We also built straw huts where we would cook rootcrops or fish from the nearby pond. In the afternoon, our Lola would bring us to the church for the "Flores de Mayo" prayer that she organized every year. Of course we went! The snack was delicious - banana-que, bilo-bilo, halo-halo, ice-scramble or pansit.

During this month too, my aunts and uncles in Manila would invite me to come over and spend my vacation with my cousins there. I always loved to travel by ship. I wouldn't sleep during to entire 12-hour trip and just go around to see my friends, or gaze upon the stars or the sea, wondering what was deep beneath its blue waters.

I miss being a kid but I had a happy childhood so no regrets at all. If all of us would be kids at heart - happy, forgiving and honest, this world would be a better place.

Kyushu and my new hobby

2005-04-29T21:43:00.000-04:00

Kyushu left a lasting impression on my mind. Nagasaki was a magnificent city with wonderful sights and a long, important history that is globally significant. I'd like to go back there sometime in the future.

I also developed a new hobby that pleases me a lot. I have been trying to find a hobby where I could express my artistic side. I have given up on physically straining and dangerous hobbies do I decided to stick up with photography. I hope that you find time to look at my amateur photos. Thanks.

Kyushu conference

2005-04-20T06:09:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is another travel experience for me. I was granted an all-expense paid trip to the Kyushu island in western Japan to attend the Japanese Society for Periodontology's annual convention. The first stop is Fukuoka International Airport and from there, I am taking the train to Nagasaki where the conference will be held for two days.

Since I learned about world history, I have hoped to one day visit the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These cities have carved their bitter past on the walls of history to forever echo the horrors of war and to never again let the two cities and the rest of the world suffer the same fate. I have been to Hiroshima more than two years ago, so I was pleased to learn that I'd be going to Nagasaki this time.

I love Hiroshima. It was replanned after WW II so the city has transformed into a modern, romantic and spacious metropolis with the remains of the old days carefully preserved. I heard that Nagazaki could rival any other cities in Japan. It was there that some parts of the film "The Last Samurai" were shot. The city has a considerable Christian population and is famous for mimicking European buildings especially the gothic architecture of Amsterdam. I was also advised to have a taste of their local delicacy called "Champon".

After the conference, I'll stay in Fukuoka for one day to have a look around. I like to visit Hakata port, the gateway of Japan to the Korean peninsula. I can't wait to be there!

Spring picnic

2005-04-16T05:03:00.000-04:00

hanami pics and others

Spring in Japan will never be complete without having a picnic under the blossoming cherry trees. The Japanese call this practice hanami which literally means "see the flowers". Of course, I was again carrying my camera around and taking pictures of beautiful things and people. I included some previous pics that I took this week. I hope that you'd like them.

Spring is here

2005-04-14T21:08:00.000-04:00

my little photo exhibit

Yesterday was such a fine day and the flowers were inspiring. With my new digital camera, I took some snaps of the lovely flowers that the bible described as "more beautiful that the most expensive robes of King Solomon". I uploaded some of my debut shots here or you can click the image above.

Diploma from the Philippines.

2005-04-13T00:40:00.000-04:00

The speech delivered by DepEd secretary E. de Jesus to the graduating students of the Ateneo should be enough to awaken the aestivating senses of our government officials and to stretch their indolent muscles to do some action to alleviate the current state of education in the Philippines. It is alarming that every year, the number of unemployed fresh graduates is increasing and Filipinos shamefully eat the dust of their asian counterparts that have zoomed thousands of miles ahead, leaving the Philippine educational system wretched and bleeding to death. This is not an exaggeration.

Having lived abroad for quite some time now, I have realized how poor and obsolete our educational system is. While other countries increase or modify the academic requirements for their students every year to cope with the challenges and to deal with the changes brought by modernization and globalization, the Philippines seems to do exactly the opposite. Everytime I go back for vacation, I notice that there are fewer facilities, more dilapidated classrooms, and less teachers around. This must have an impact on the quality of graduates that our schools produce.

As Sec. de Jesus has said, a diploma from the Ateneo will not ensure a place for graduate education abroad. I also know that a graduate from a regular university is not guaranteed of a minimum wage job in the Philippines. What about those from small colleges in remote provinces? Philosophers have lectured time and again that education is the ultimate weapon against poverty. But if you are already educated and still cannot escape from the clutches of poverty, what else could you do?

The government always boasts of our high literacy rate. But in these times of stiff competition, knowing how to read and write only is not enough to keep our head above the water. Before it's too late, our government has to do something or we could be content seeing our smart young graduates settle for a call center job or our professionals leaving the country to work as unskilled workers abroad.

My favorite japanese song

2005-04-11T08:13:00.000-04:00

"Uji no mori de Chiyo ni sayoonara"

My favorite Japanese singers are from Okinawa - Rimi Natsukawa, Kiroro and The Boom to name a few. All of them have wonderful singing voices and great hits that have springboarded them to stardom. They have also brought Okinawan folk music to foreign shores like China, Korea and Russia.

I love to listen to Japanese traditional music, especially the genre that the Okinawans are famous for. They combine the soothing sound of the shamisen with contemporary music. Their songs though are mostly about heartaches and goodbyes and the lyrics are just bluer than midnight blue. But nevertheless, the songs have helped me understand and embrace the Japanese culture.

The song that will definitely ring in my ears forever and bring so many happy memories of my stay here is Shima Uta or "Song of the Islands" by the hitmaker duo The Boom. It tells of a pure and enduring friendship between two people who were separated from each other. But even if the rugged seas physically separate them, their songs are carried by the wind and by the fallen petals travelling across the ocean waves to touch each other's heart. This song is usually the last song that we play everytime there is a farewell party for a friend who is leaving Japan for good.

You can hear the song by choosing it from the "What's Playing" list at the right sidebar of this blog. The lyrics are here.I hope you would love the song too. Enjoy!

Genes reveal secrets

2005-04-07T07:20:00.001-04:00

Anna Anderson insisted that she was Princess Anastasia Romanov until her own DNA told the truth.

A struggling geneticist - that's me and I am happy about it. I may not have a diploma in genetics but I have proven to the scientific community that I could contribute something to the continuously advancing and competitive world of genetics research. To my friends, I might sound like I have turned into a creepy scientist in a smoky lab but I really do love to discover things and to understand the intricacies of the human body.

I was so tired today trying to do a new research. It is still about genetics, but a single step further from what I was doing before. With the help of my colleagues, I was able to operate some new machines and to broaden my lab skills a little more. Of course, I know that I have a lot of catching-up to do on the theoretical aspect, but I am doing my best to sharpen my knowledge on molecular biology. Thanks to the unlimited books, journals and materials here in Japan, I could do self-studies anytime I want to.

Genetics became my passion since I learned how complex yet marvelous the workings of the genes are. These tiny molecules control and manage everything that functions inside our body. From the color of our eyes to how we manage stress, genes play indispensable, repetitive and precise roles. They have been very useful in a myriad of things like proving innocence in a crime, establishing paternity and even managing a disease before it even occurs. These things have sparked my interest and I intend to remain in the field until God knows when.

Summer and graduation

2005-03-30T03:10:00.000-05:00

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.

My real name means something?

2005-03-24T19:58:00.000-05:00

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.

Bloody but unbowed

2005-03-21T21:23:00.000-05:00

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.

US trip concluded

2005-03-17T19:56:00.000-05:00

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.

Presentation day

2005-03-12T13:52:00.000-05:00

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.

Lectures and liason

2005-03-11T14:49:00.000-05:00

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!

Baltimore, Baltimore!

2005-03-10T11:07:00.000-05:00

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!

Narita Airport

2005-03-07T23:39:00.000-05:00

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.

Off to the US

2005-03-06T10:36:00.000-05:00

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.

Do you like kinky kids?

2005-03-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

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

Great time, great friends, great gifts

2005-03-02T08:10:00.000-05:00

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!

My Life

Snowy days and Mondays

2005-02-28T07:13:00.000-05:00

The alarm clock is screaming in Japanese. "Ohayoo gozaimasu, ohayoo gozaimasu!". God, is it morning already? What was I dreaming about? I still don't want to wake up! In fetal position near the edge of the bed, eyes half-closed, body under the thick sheets and still floating in limbo, I struggle to blindly reach for my slippers . I feel the morning chill slowly creeping in my arm. Must be cold outside. Where are those damn slippers? I don't want to step on the cold tatami mats. The heater is working all night but I don't want to put it in full blast or I'll sweat. I can't sleep without burying myself under layers of soft and comfortable sheets. I consider them as gifts from Hypnos, the god of sleep. As soon as I am under their vicious spell, I am worlds away.

My mind is protesting but I have to haul myself and take a bath before running out of time. It's 8:00 am. I tip-toe going to the window to have a peek of the outside world. It's snowing and the thermometer reads zero degrees! Brrrrrrr! it must be like -5 outside with the wind the chill blowing from every direction. It's a cold, snowy and gloomy Monday. I have to be warm and sunny inside to keep my spirits up. Wish me luck!

My english did not work.

2005-02-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Phides, Juan and I went to see a Scottish film entitled "Ratcatcher". The film portrays the life of James, a young boy in Glasgow during the garbage strike in the early 70's. He lacks communication with his family, thus making him search for other sources of comfort and affection. He finds solace in the company of Kenny and Margaret who also live in the government housing project that is greatly affected by the strike. The pile of garbage is not only a sore to the eyes but a great danger to the health of the dwellers too because of rat infestation. The tragic film ends with James drowning in the same canal where he pushed another boy to his death.

It was a nice film or else it could not have been featured in an International Film Festival here in Japan. The only drawback was that my decades of English education became useless. I hardly understood anything that the characters were talking about. I even doubted if they were speaking in English. I have watched other films about Scotland like "Trainspotting" and I very well understood the conversation. Must be the difference between Glasgow and Edinburgh english pronunciation? Nevertheless, I was very interested to understand the film so I followed the story by reading the Japanese subtitles. Good nihonggo practice for me.

This afternoon, I went to buy a digital camera but had second thoughts about my budget so I decided to think more before shelling out 40,000 yen (USD 400) for a new gadget. I need a camera to document my trips here and abroad. Right now, I only have my cellular phone camera (1.32 megapixels, not bad at all) to bring along whenever there are events and sometimes, I regret for not freezing that precious moment in a bigger and clearer picture. I love to look at pictures of the happy moments and reminisce the good times that I spent with my loved ones. Makes me smile and love life more. So, to buy or not to buy? that is the question that I have to answer before I leave for the States. Big problem, yeah? LOL.

Movies

Old post rekindled

2005-02-25T11:09:00.000-05:00

This blog started on Feb. 2, 2005 and since then, I got more than 1,500 unique visitors . Modest number I must say but I am glad that some people stop by and read.

Today, one of my first posts resurfaced. Maybe you'd be interested in reading or re-reading it. Just click this and there you will go.

Venezuelans and Filipinos - Happy people

2005-02-24T20:36:00.000-05:00

In the midst of a busy week overflowing with tension, I wonder why I could still face things with equanimity, smile, keep in touch with my family and laugh about my clumsiness. Maybe it's genetic because my father is a very convivial and festive human being, maybe cultural because Filipinos take challenges with a good laugh or maybe a mix of both. Though this week's tension is high, I still find it pleasant. It snowed from Monday to Wednesday. I was even thinking of building a snowman this weekend in a nearby park but unfortunately, the rain melted and washed the snow away. Today, the sun is proudly shining. Makes me feel that the cherry trees will blossom very soon to welcome spring with a blast of soft pink petals highlighting the blue horizon. What a happy sight indeed.

Speaking about happiness, the November 2004 issue of the University of Michigan's World Values Survey revealed that Filipinos are among the happiest people in Asia. An article about this is published in Times magazine for Asia. And in one of its latest surveys on 50 countries, Venezuelans were the happiest, followed by the Nigerians. The Filipinos ranked sixth overall and first in Asia. Most of the wealthy nations were not in the top 10. This only goes to show that although money is power, it is not always the source of happiness.

Until then, "Don't worry be happy".

Life

What's in a name?

2005-02-23T06:47:00.000-05:00

My travel agent sent my round-trip ticket to the US today. I waited for it since Monday but I was preoccupied with more urgent things so didn't pay enough attention to the information written on it. At the back of my mind, I was urging myself to at least give it a quick look as I had so many troubles before with my name being misspelt. But then I thought that I didn't have to worry in the slightest because Japanese employees make sure that everything goes without flaws or delay. Besides, I already clearly informed them that my name was unique so they should be very careful not to misspell it. Later in the morning, somebody from the accounting department rang me for the receipts to be handed over to them right away for reimbursement later on so I took time to look at the tickets. Mmmmm... ok... ok.. good job, my name perfectly spelled. Great! I am going down to the accounting department. But then again, I felt that something was not in the proper order. I checked again and great heavens, if only I could loudly swear in school, I should have shocked eveybody. My name and surname were interchanged! I suddenly became another person.

Frustrated, I called my travel agent and my original flight schedule ended up being cancelled. Another learning experience, huh. The result? I am taking a separate flight from my classmates who are going to the same convention. I'll be traveling across the Pacific with my guardian angel and my shadow. Well, I am used to getting around alone so this is a piece of cake. I will just drown the suffocating boredom of long haul flights by listening to my favorite songs. I endured the 13 hour direct flight from Paris to Bangkok and arrived as strong as a horse, so the 12 hour journey from Tokyo to Chicago must not be that tedious. Anyways, please pray for my safe trip.

Third world stereotypes - First Part

2005-02-21T00:56:00.000-05:00

"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey."
- Babs Hoffman -

During a vacation in Italy, my feet got really tired of walking on cobblestones. It was also way past my usual dinner time so my eyes hungrily searched for a ristorante where I could feast on a plateful of pasta and get my strength back. I needed enough energy for another episode of cultural discovery and reflection on the next day. As I gazed upon the endless lines of shops, my eyes were locked to a simple yet eye-catching restaurant claiming to be traditionally Tuscan. I suddenly felt terribly hungry when I thought about Tuscan bistecchi. Perfect for a carnivorous person like me. Curious to the bones, I stepped inside and I was led to a tiny table beside the clear glass window. The waitress handed the menu to me and ooopss, she looked exotic! I just shrugged my shoulders and thought that maybe she was a second generation asian-italian because she spoke good italian, at least to my ears. I browsed through the menu and there it was, bistecchi - tempting, luscious, humongous, charcoal-grilled T-bone steak served with equally mouth-watering insalati and other side dishes cooked in olive oil with herbs and spices. What could be better than that? I felt I was in alimentary utopia until the price brought me back to my senses. Almost fifty euros including the antipasto, dessert and coffee at the end of the meal! My Trenitalia ticket to Milano was a lot cheaper but what the heck, I thought. It could only happen once in a blue moon.

So I ordered a complete dinner set and while impatiently waiting for it to be served, the exotic waitress came to me and discreetly asked me "Pinoy ka ba?"(You're Filipino?). I was a bit speechless for a second then I said "Oo, matagal ka na rito sa Italy?" (Yes, you've been in Italy for years?). She nodded and hurriedly went to serve the other customers but gesturing that she would talk to me later. While she strided away, I was wondering if Filipinos had a peculiar guise or mannerism that distinguishes them from other ethnicities. Physically, Filipinos have mixed appearances so that people would always mistake me for a Japanese, Chinese, Thai or even Singaporean. This time, the guess was right because maybe she was Filipino who felt the connection that would be arcane to non-Filipinos.

Anyways, my dinner came and I adored every bite of it. After sipping the last drop of cafe americano which you have to specifically tell the waiter or else you'll be given a cappuccino, the Filipina waitress came back and introduced herself but unfortunately, I have short-term memory loss so I forgot her name - Myra, Maura or Marianne. She told me that she was a student in Rome and she was just on a working vacation in Florence, taking advantage of the chance to work and stay in another Italian city during her sojourn. I asked her about her life in Italy and she responded "Mabuti naman, awa ng Diyos" (I'm fine, thanks God) in the usual very Filipino way. I further asked about the Italians' impressions on Filipinos and she said that since most Filipinos work there as house helpers, most people, not necessarily Italians would readily think that she made ends meet by scrubbing the floor or pruning grape vines. But what shocked her during her first days there was when some of the Filipinos and other foreigners would ask who her domestic employer was. "It was frustrating!" she lamented while taking away the china and fixing the table for the waiting customers. "How can some people label you just like that? I am proud of the Filipino nannies and helpers here who are honest, hard-working and caring. What frustates me is the damn stereotyping. They label you without asking!". Maybe her pride was hurt but she was right. I glorify labor and pay my fullest respects to all Filipino workers too, but life is not fair sometimes. There are indeed millions of well-respected Filipino professionals, scholars, talents and workers worldwide and indiscriminately stamping them as a single group is really moronic.

We parted ways by her asking "So, what brought you to Italy?". I told her that I was a student in Japan and I wanted to have a look of the country. "Japan?!" she exclaimed. "You must be in a tougher situation then!" she added as I gently pushed the stained glass door to exit the restaurant. On my way to the nearby bus station, I reflected on her last words and I whispered "Yes, she was right again".

Culture

Advice for a sibling

2005-02-17T21:38:00.000-05:00

My sister was giggling with excitement when she told me that she was about to start her new job in one of Philippines' most respected accounting firms. My heart leaped with joy as I pictured her in her business outfit, bustling the busy streets of the financial district in her usual graceful and stylish gait. New to the money-making world, she will be facing tough times and memorable challenges ahead but knowing how strong-willed, intelligent and courageous she is, I know she will survive the sometimes unforgiving environment in the workplace. I could still vividly remember how people would praise her charm and beauty when she was a little girl and now, as fast as the snow melts in the sunshine, she is already a certified public accountant, ready to face the world and design her own career path.

Of course as an older brother, I have some pieces of advice for her. Read on.

Dear sis,

In your journey as an adult, you will meet people from all walks of life. Some just silently go, some stay and others leave a mark that could forever change your perspective about life and career. People will sometimes hate you and throw stones at you because you are exactly what they would pay for a million dollars. They wish they were you but even if the sun sets in the east, that could never happen. So their only resort is to assassinate your character and be bitter about their defeat. There is nothing you could do about it. Nasty and acerbic people are all over the place. Always remember to carefully choose your battles but never surrender from one. Do not waste your time minding crap. Just do your best, never impinge on the rights of the others and think first before doing things that could put yourself, your family and your country in a compromising and shameful situation. When you are caught in a quagmire, your family, friends and God are just a call away. Learn to harmonize with the situation but never give up your own faith, beliefs and principles. By doing this, people will respect your individuality and will never plan on including you to their dubious deeds.

Keep in mind that respect is a virtue and everybody craves for it regardless of who they are and where they come from. Almost all things including honesty, patience and trust are borne out of respect. If you exercise it, then you are in the right track. Also, people who have helped you climb your way up will appreciate a word of thanks from time to time.

Life is a beach and it really is. Teeming with sand of troubles and waves of endless tests. But beyond all of these, a new horizon sprawling with life and hope awaits those who brave the seas and are not afraid to lose sight of the shore. Tough, huh?! Your kuya (older brother) might sound super idealistic by saying all of these things but it is always better to set some rules and guides for us to preserve what is right and acceptable than just act according to our emotions. Nobody is perfect. I am full of flaws and what-if's, but imperfection is basically a human thing which makes us strive to be better.

Bon courage my dear sister! Do not forget that a good name and a good reputation can never be substituted with material possessions. The best things in life are free, you know :)

Love,

Kuya

Life

Miss Asia and her western man

2005-02-17T00:37:00.000-05:00

The male audience roared in awe or maybe in repugnance as Ms. Asia Agcaoili, a controversial drop-dead gorgeous bisexual Filipina sex guru replied to a talkshow host's question about her reasons for choosing a caucasian boyfriend. Besides leading the audience to believe that white men are more anatomically blessed with a satisfying phallus, she also wittingly admitted that western men gave her more self-confidence to express her innermost desires and that she has never experienced freedom and contentment in a relationship until she met this guy from the other side of the world. Now this is a big blow to all those drooling Filipino men who wish to jump into bed with her and have uninhibited, animalistic and liberating all-night sex. Well, with the highly carnal and unconventional image that Ms. Asia painted to herself, nobody could blame if most Filipino men see her as a sex object to find, fuck and forget. But on the other hand, she also boasts of her academic background, being a student of the country's premier institution of learning, able to fluently and intelligently express her thoughts and feelings and having a talent in writing sensible articles about love and of course, sex.

This deliberate choice of Ms. Asia to eventually end up with a western partner is not an isolated, sporadic nor endemic case particular to her or to the Philippines only. Here in Japan, the rise in marriages with western men has become a hot issue lately and has been serving as a rich and continuous watering hole for commercial couple-matching agencies that have sprouted like mushrooms in and around Tokyo. The main reason that Japanese women gave in searching for a western husband was for them to escape the traditional, difficult and multi-faceted roles that they assume once they get married to a Japanese man. A western husband is seen as a knight in shining armor, valiantly coming to rescue her from the clutches of a strict society where women always take the backseat and are expected to silently and willingly obey the dictates of a predominantly masculine social hierachy. In the Philippines, destiny was the first reason, followed by the desire to pursue a life outside the country where opportunities to alleviate the economic condition of their family back home are better. Miss Asia's reason for choosing a western partner is valid and could represent a significant number of Filipinas in the same situation as her.

There are obvioulsy a lot of tangible differences between asian and western men that women seem to discuss and consider more today as global interaction become limitless. These differences however, merit to be discussed in another time and under another title.

Culture

Valentines a la Japanese

2005-02-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

"Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one". - Japanese proverb.

Japan is unique in a lot of ways including how Valentine's day is celebrated. One month before the 14th of February, shopping malls start to brighten up the gloomy winter season with striking red ribbons and hearts superimposed with valentine's day greetings. The short phrases in English, though sometimes misspelled and absurd try to convey that valentine's day is just around the corner. Japanese couples who are too shy to express their love in public quietly browse the wide array of valentine goodies as the polite store clerks tirelessly reiterate their valentine's day promo, mostly on chocolates of every kind and form. Everything tries to connect with the celebration. There are valentine's day sale of things from vacuum cleaners to take away sushi. But wait, while the men just simply shrug and look indifferent, the women spend considerable time scrutinizing the visual and the gustatory appeal of the presents. This is because in Japan, it is the women who give presents to the men during valentine's day. Now, this may sound strange (or unique) to other countries, but it is the practice here. The women, on the other hand, get their sweet revenge after a month when "White Day" comes. This day is peculiar to Japan and it is the men who give gifts to the women this time. The origin of these practices is still unknown to me so my researcher instincts dictate me to search for the answers as soon as possible.

I received some presents today, one from Phiphi and the others from my Japanese friends. I have a sweet tooth so I am sure that I will love munching these chocolates which have a melting point slightly below human body temperature so it melts in your mouth, releasing the endorphins which make it so pleasant regardless of the taste. So, Happy Valentine's Day to all! It is good to celebrate the occasion here because you get a lot of chocolates.

Culture

Besoin de parler francais?

2005-02-11T23:48:00.000-05:00

"Quoi?! Je n'ai pas compris! Il parait que tu as perdu ton francais!" that was what my Vietnamese-French friend told me when I called him to ask for the new address of one of our common friends. "Desole, hein" was all I could say while acrobatically reaching for the dictionary to desperately look for some words that were slipping out of my head. Mon Dieu! I have to brush up my french. I managed to get the message across but I was totally disgusted at how I was losing grip of the language that I promised myself not to ever forget as long as the Eiffel tower proudly displays its splendor. The cause? disuse atrophy! that is what's eating my french away. And who would expect me to keep my French language ability intact after almost five years since I left the country that has left a very special and indelible place in my heart. Five years! and it seems like it was just yesterday when I bade "Adieu" to my friends who made my studies in France a chapter to be read over and over again. Last year, I went back to France to repolish friendships that were tarnished by time and distance and to walk down the memory lane. Nothing much has changed except that the familiar voices of my friends that echoed outside my room, calling for me to join their crepe and cider dinner have vanished. I terribly miss them but life has to go on. C'est la vie!

To preserve the language inside my aging head, I downloaded some French refreshers from the internet. This way, I could resurrect the grammar and vocabulary that have been slowly but surely slipping into coma inside the less active part of my brain. I hope that I could cope with the deterioration since I intend to work in France someday if opportunities knock and I was there to answer the door. I'd like also to bring my family to the magnificient and breath-taking parts of the country especially in Brittany, Loire valley and of course the Parisian region. Well, who knows? Life is a like a box of chocolates (Forrest Gump).

I have no solid plans today. Maybe later I'll go to Bandai to have a haircut and look for a luggage bag that could carry things for a ten-day trip. I have two suitcases but they are meant for very short or very long trips. After that, then maybe eat somewhere. Right now, I feel like dozing off again after eating a lot and that is bad for the health :) So, where to go today? I'll see when I wake up. (photo coutesy of: www.french.dotjp.com/ ecole/)

My Life

Blizzards are for winter, parties are for all seasons.

2005-02-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday after school, I went to a Valentine's party. Too bad, I didn't bring my camera so the picture here is from a previous party with my friends who are mostly out of Japan now. But anyways, in yesterday's party, I had a great time with all the other foreign students who were celebrating not only the month of love but also the end of the final exams, the graduation of some of the students and the beginning of the spring break next month. Many people came in spite of the blizzard and the temperature dropping to three degrees below freezing. There was a lot of dancing but I particularly enjoyed the passionate beat of the latin songs. With Sandy leading the party animals to hit those tricky steps, who would not learn how to dance? The party ended with some of my favorite French songs and a shot of tequila to warm myself before going out of the venue and brave the biting cold again. Thanks Jim and Elena for driving me home. I was with Flavio at the backseat of the car and we talked about life and our studies here. He is leaving Japan soon to reunite with his family in Brazil and to get back to his former life again. I could see the sparkle in his eyes when he was talking about his daughter and how excited he was to take her to his arms again. Flavio is one of the nicest people around and I am sure that all of us here will miss his presence. Good luck to you Flavio! Au revoir!

My Life

Nippon vs. Kita-chousen

2005-02-09T08:47:00.000-05:00

Everyone was rushing to go home early today. It felt a little weird because usually, my department mates would spend half of the evening in school working. It was always me who would stealthily pack my things and go home before 8:00 PM, a bit early for a Japanese worker but relatively late for a foreigner who used to wrestle a steady 9:00 to 5:00 job. But anyways, I learned later that tonight is one of the most-awaited nights of the year. The much idolized (by the Japanese) Japanese soccer team would be facing North Korea in a football match that should advance the winner to the world cup by one step. My senior even reminded me to watch the game and cheer for Japan.

Out of curiousity, I turned the TV on and I was surprised by the overwhelming number of people present in the stadium. Everybody was in high-spirits, chanting, shouting, screaming, and jumping like Japan was clinching for the gold in the olympics. Some people were so carried away, almost delirious, unceasingly waving the Japanese imperial flag against the blue backdrop formed by the jersey of the same color worn by almost all of the fans. Japan won (2-1) but I must say that North Korea, in spite of its financial and social predicament gave Japan a big itch to scratch. It was a tight and breath-stopping match with Japan advancing first but almost losing the game to its rival. I was deeply impressed by the skill and the moves of the Korean players though I must confess that I am a big fan of Nakata and Inamoto.

The excessive show of emotion by the Japanese in this game could be explained by the intrigue and the unhealed wounds that were brought by the series of abductions of Japanese nationals who were later on incompletely repatriated. These events were highly sensationalized by the local and partly by the international media, and involved a massive cry for protest by the Japanese. Until now, the diplomatic and political strains between the two countries continue although efforts to resolve the issue through bilateral talks are highly visible. Tonight's soccer match gave the Japanese the chance to voice out and openly show support for their country, and they succeeded in bringing home the bacon.

I hope that the issues between the two countries will be amicably settled soon, giving peace and understanding another chance in these days of turmoil.

Culture

Pump up the bass!

2005-02-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

If "Mondays always get you down", what about Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays? Tuesdays make you more down, Wednesdays drain you out, Thursdays perk you up a bit because tommorrow, thanks God it's Friday!

It's Tuesday today and my adrenalin just keeps pumping like crazy. Meetings here and there, deadlines to beat, new research protocols to make, presentation preparations..... Darn! when can I ever have a slow and laid-back weekday? Everybody has to work really hard for the money, and I do not have the luxury to complain. I am thankful that I get paid to study because I am sure, a lot of people are willing to take my place.

This morning, I was virtually imprisoned inside my office. Had a meeting with my prof about in-vitro experiments, then another meeting about our new scientific paper for peer-review. I had my bento (packed japanese style lunch) at around 1 pm then headed to the library to look for some books about biostatistics. Met Damian on my way back to the office. He was tame today, pestered by colds just like me. I was expecting him to wave from a distance and yell "DoNdON!!!!!!!" just like any warm and animated latino.

I had a very academic day. I am so tired now, my eyelids drooping, and my brain malfunctioning. I need a glass of milk! Until then, buh-bye!

My Life

2005-02-06T11:32:00.000-05:00

seen anything like this?!

Marquees and the big weird fish

2005-02-06T09:34:00.000-05:00

Sunday mornings revitalize me like a power drink. After five days of toxic school work comes Saturday where I renew my personal relationship with people and even with God. Then yahoo! it's Sunday! time to just bum around, pig-out, fix broken things in the house, watch films, shop, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In other words, release all the stress, negative vibes and frustrations that accumulated like cholesterol in the veins during the past week. Refresh, rejuvenate, relax!

Today was rather slow, woke up before 12:00 noon and just reheated the left-over chinese dinner I had last night. Spent 15 minutes brushing my teeth then I dipped in the tub for a hot bath. My friend Cecille called me up to meet her and Allister at McDonald's for a chat, so there I went. It was nice to see them on a Sunday where we could just talk and talk about everything, even gibberish stuff . I just ate so I did not order a burger but I picked some fries from Cecille's Happy Meal that she wanted to have because of the toy (^-^). After the chitchat, the three of us went to meet Juan, Phiphi and Adam at the local food festival. The aroma of good food filled the winter air so that I suddenly felt hungry! My sensitive olfactory sense led me to this meat stand where I had two servings of tender and delicious beef barbeque!!!! What a treat indeed. As we were walking back to my apartment, I saw this weird creature that I thought was a giant blowfish - a Japanese delicacy that is a choice between life and death! I have no plans whatsoever of tasting it. I asked the name of the fish and as expected, I never understood what the graceful Japanese lady was telling me.

I spent most of my time tonight trying to figure out how to add a marquee in my blogspot. I had to try a hundred times before I haphazardly did it. Whew! amateurs with no formal training suck! Look at William Hung! Hehehehe, no offense meant. It's almost midnight and I need to hit the sack. Gotta prepare for another busy week ahead. Can't wait for the next Sunday! Good night! Bonne nuit mes amis francais.

My Life

Insights about life

2005-02-05T09:03:00.000-05:00

"Don't take life too seriously. You'll never escape it alive anyway."
- Elbert Hubbard (1856-1915) -

Life is probably one of most quoted subjects but I find this one particularly special. It made me rethink about how I deal with life and existence and the reason for everything that I am pursuing now. Living away from family and close friends in a country that seems to be so enigmatic and ironic in a lot of ways could be lonely and frustrating sometimes. This oftentimes traps me in difficult crossroads that drain my optimism and makes me regret on some decisions that I have made in the past. Maybe it's a case of premature mid-life crisis, but if you were in my shoes, then you would probably understand why.

I grew up in a large, tightly-knit family that has remained together despite the countless economic, political and natural crises that ravaged the Philippines. Just like any other families, the older generation has deliberately and inadvertently instilled so many values to the younger ones. But my family, both sides being strongly matriarchal because of the early demise of my grandfathers, has grown to be home and family oriented so that no matter how attractive the opportunities were in the past, nobody migrated to greener pastures. In fact, among the family members of almost one hundred loveable individuals from both sides, I am the only one who has decided to live abroad for a number of years. So you could just imagine how homesick I could get when I call them and they are all together celebrating every imaginable occasion. Sometimes my friends ask me if I have plans to permanently settle outside the Philippines after my studies, considering that I only need to work for myself and life back home has abundant support. I find it difficult to answer and it leaves me with so much questions in my mind.

Life in a progressive country has good things to offer to me, most especially to the career path that I intend to tread. Here, I experience doing research projects that could have just remained pure figments of the imagination if I have chosen to pursue a career in the Philippines . Also, the opportunity to travel, earn, improve and to immerse myself to another culture is boundless if I work honestly for it. The situation in the Philippines is very unpredictable, the return of investment is uncertain and the fruit of labor can be very elusive.

So, what will it be for me in the future? In my homeland or somewhere else? The answer, as repeatedly uttered by people around me is very simple - go where my heart is. But where my heart leads me in the future remains a riddle at the present. After reading the quotation that has been around for more than a hundred years, my outlook became less complicated. I will just make the most of what I have now, enjoy life one day at a time but wisely preparing for the future and having feasible plans that come from the heart. Thanks, Mr. Hubbard! You just saved my forehead from more wrinkles due to worries and stress. Words are really more powerful than the sword.

My Life

Confidence interval

2005-02-04T08:40:00.000-05:00

I was gasping as I sprinted from the library to the university dental clinic. Crikey! I never knew I could dash like roadrunner trying to elude wile e. coyote's evil plans. My endurance against the frigid wind and the slippery, icy road was tested to its limits. I had to hurry because tardiness is one of the greatest taboos in Japan. Two minutes more and I would be late for my dental appointment. I was not treating anybody's dental dilemma this time. It was going to be my mouth that would be subjected to the scrutiny and the holy mercy of the infamous tooth drill (whiiiiiizzzzzzzz!!!! remember the brain whacking sound that made your eyes feel like popping out?). The doctor became the patient this time...... and who says it is not possible?

While in the library, I did not notice the time until I heared one Japanese student say "Ima nanji? (what time is it?)". I was so preoccupied with trying to analyze the "confidence interval" of the research data that I need to present in the US this March. I asked for the help of my sempai (senior) who had difficulty in explaining because obviously, dentists are basically not statisticians. So, I had to rush to the library to study it myself. Well, I still do not fully understand it but I am getting there - hopefully.

I went to the seventh floor of the hospital right after the dental treatment to ask my pretty friend Phiphi about her plans tonight. We agreed to have dinner in a good restaurant with our prim and proper friend, Juan from Argentina . Well, I went once to this traditional yet cozy Japanese restaurant with mouth-watering dishes to satisfy one's craving for authentic asian cuisine. So, there we went and the food was just great! We had mixed japanese herb salad for starters, then aromatic beef soup mixed with tiny slices of selected boiled local root crops followed. Before enjoying the main dish called "taimeshi" or flavored rice topped with steamed fish, we had, well, fish with daikon (giant raddish) marinated in sweet soy sauce stock. It was lovely but we still felt like eating more so we ordered vegetable tempura and chicken barbeque. Yum! really satisfying.

After the hefty dinner, we dropped by my place for a sip of hot chocolate, to chat and to watch a bilingual film in one of the national TV channels. "The mask of Zorro" is showing now and we're having fun watching the antics of Antonio Banderas over and over again. And oh! I will call my cousin Tintin later to greet her a very happy 17th birthday.

Passionate love in a cold winter

2005-02-02T19:44:00.000-05:00

"But why?! " my doctor friend exclaimed. He was not flabbergasted over something stupid that I did, but for me getting a flu shot last December. He was right in explaining that flu virus strains are numerous and nobody knows which one would eventually bring a person down, so a single flu shot could be futile. Well, I still had the shot if only to calm down my intermittent bouts of hypochondria. You see, during winter, people tend to be gregarious in order to warm themselves and in the process, air-borne diseases like flu could easily pass from one person to another. And for a person like me who is very susceptible to having respiratory problems, an ounce of prevention is always the better alternative. Good if I catch the virus by kissing (hehehe)! At least, I got it the pleasant way.

Winter in Japan could be bitter, especially in the areas along the sea of Japan. It has been snowing here for the past few days and in some areas, snow has accumulated to as high as one meter, causing the collapse of a motel's public bath, killing two people. But on the other hand, the snow really makes a wonderful sight especially if it blankets the whole city - something that is impossible to happen in Manila. One thing that could make one's winter in Japan warm and exciting is to have somebody to share a hot potage with, while your feet are entangled together under the kotatsu (japanese traditional table with built-in heater) while watching TV. But for most foreign students here who are happily living alone (not necessarily single), you can just hop into your bed, warm yourself under the thick cotton sheets and sing "Ue wo miite, arukou, namida ga koborenai you ni" (sniff..sniff) or, you can haul yourself and watch one of the featured movies in the Niigata International Film Festival, especially the film "Love Me" from Japan that was shot in Niigata city's Bandai and Furumachi districts. It will be a great alternative to spending your time alone in your six tatami room and just dream about passionate love in a cold winter.

Love

Blog neophyte

2005-02-01T20:04:00.000-05:00

Today, I finished designing my posters for the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). It was really exhausting trying to doll up a scientific presentation so that it would appear interesting and informative at the same time. I tried to switch from one design to another, starting with the most academic ones (all the stressful earth colors), until I ended up choosing the light, perky, "springish" colors to at least diminish the stress that my topic (genetics...ummphhh!) would give to the readers. I needed to revitalize my worn-out and lethargic senses so I surfed the net for some "refreshing ideas" (euphemism for gossip? hahahaha!) and I stumbled over this article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer about blogging. Hmmmmm.... I found it interesting so before I knew it, I was initiating myself into the world of blogging! Well, this is just an experiment (something I do everyday), and the results will tell if this will push through until God knows when. To all my friends and my family, I hope I could connect with you through this no borders, no frontiers way of reaching out - blogging. So everybody, "Retsu Burogu!" (Let's blog in Japanese! hahahaha!).