Grandpa Talk

Balanan

I came up the mountains not just to visit Grandpa, but also to listen to him talk in a public gathering. He was running for Barangay Captain. Up in the stage he spoke for 5 minutes. That was his political speech. And nobody else spoke the entire time. Nothing stirred. I can almost hear a pin drop, so to speak. I thought, if I never live to see somebody shown such undiluted respect, it was the time my Grandpa delivered that talk. It was a defining moment of my enduring respect for the old man.

First Trip Out

Incheon Airport, Korea

At Incheon airport, I fell in line for immigration. It was beautiful and huge, and full of travelers speaking in different languages. I saw white skinned, dark skinned, yellow skinned, but not a single brown skinned soul. I was homesick! I never felt such intense longing and love for country and family than that moment. I realized that there is no other country for me more beautiful than the Philippines, and that there are no other people better for me than the Filipinos. And that wherever I go, I will always look to the direction where my heart belongs – HOME!

Football

Hanoi

I crossed a little island. I walked to the other side facing an arm of the Red River. Interestingly, in cold Hanoi, nude local footballers play here in the afternoon, unmindful of the dark history surrounding the area. Right in front were concrete columns rising thirty feet in the air. I learned that these sturdy pillars were mute witnesses to the atrocities of the past during the French colonization of the country, where thousands of Vietnamese POWs were tied to the posts, and shot.

Jaw-Dropping!

Grand Canyon

Finally, after several hours of driving from Long Beach in California through arid desert landscapes across state borders to Arizona, we have come face to face with that jaw-dropping Grand Canyon! Whoooah! The drive was such a bore until you reach the Grand Canyon. And it will be worth the trip even if you came as far away as Timbuktu! 

Eruption!

Bonifacio

There were 8 of us knocking at her door. Miss Bacus was pleasantly surprised with the visit. She hurriedly prepared food and drinks for us. We talked about old times and funny situations in class. The laughing started here. I was just sipping a mouthful when Shane made a hilarious punch line. My mouth erupted a shower of cola. It directly hit Shane and Miss Bacus! Cola dripped from the shirts and hair of at least 4 people. Though embarrassed, I could not contain my laughter. Then we burst into a laughing frenzy like no other.

Desert Wastes

Arizona

The desert has a distinct smell. It’s salty and pungent. For miles on end, you will not see anything but cacti and rocks. This lunar landscape made the term desert wastes come into perspective. Along the way were distant mountains looking like huge clay sculptures. They were eerily treeless casting grotesque silhouettes against the setting sun. Except us, the only other things moving are rolling tumbleweeds.

Taxi Chat

Inside the taxi

After you, I will buy lotto, the taxi driver said. I don’t believe in such luck, I answered. He turned wistful, You’ll never know, it’s better to hope to win than not at all. I cautioned, If you win, you get rich. Thieves will come. You need security around your house. Your kids are not safe anymore. He shook his head. I will not buy lotto anymore. I never thought being rich is going to be this risky! With this comment we burst out laughing like crazy. He said, I will never forget the conversation we had. Neither do I.

Route 66

Route 66

Maybe not as important as the Silk Road or the Trans-Siberian Express, this storied route of 2448 miles connects Chicago to Los Angeles since 1926. Often celebrated in song and literature, Route 66 spans 8 states from the Midwest United States climbing up the Rocky Mountains eastward to the Pacific Ocean. We turned the CD player on and sang our heart’s out at Nat King Cole’s cool classic, and got our kicks, on Route 66!

Sublock

Bogo

Manuel and I looked like father and son. We both have very dark skin. Today we were in Bogo for one of those errands, which usually end up in the ocean. It burned me the last time. At the mall, I trooped towards the cosmetics section for sunscreen lotion. The sales lady looked at me as if to say, I’m not in the mood for jokes ok? Then Manuel approached from the opposite side to ask for sun block. The lady turned around. With widened eyes her hand covered her face. And we burst out laughing like retards!

Folded Sheets

Tokyo

We were billeted at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Tokyo. It’s the actual facility where athletes of the Tokyo Olympics stayed for the duration of the games.  On arrival we were shown our room assignments with specific instructions to carefully fold the sheets 6 times for laundry service. We did as told, but to our surprise laundrywomen undid the folded sheets to do it again!

For each fold, we were supposed to make the ends meet at the edges, until the sixth fold, when the sheets were reduced to downsized perfect squares! How fastidious!