The United States of America

For me, the US is a double-edged sword. I love movies, so seeing the US first hand is like a dream come true, like a kid finally seeing Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory and knowing where his favorite chocolates came from. I am aware of the allure and the power of the US. I am also aware that there are times that this great big nation acts like a great big bully.

THE BAD

This one is from Anton San Diego's lifestyle column in the Inquirer. He was writing about his application for a US Visa. The lines were long and it was jampacked, he said.

It was still a long wait till my number lit up on the electronic board. I had forgotten that so many of Pinoys were applying for a US visa are professionals. Some were really desperate for a better life. The security guard told me they interview about 1,000 people a day.

All of a sudden there was a loud scream. The whole room literally woke up and tried to find out what happened. We thought that a visa officer was shouting at an applicant.

It turns out this young boy and his mom had to demonstrate taekwondo techniques to the visa officer: the child needed a visa to be able to compete for a taekwondo tournament.

Now how did I know that? My seat mate told me. She said, "Ganyan talaga dito!" I could hear the mom desperately cajole her young son, 'Sige pa anak, haya!'

....

As I was leaving, there was a lovely girl being interviewed in one window. She suddenly began singing..... As I left the embassy ..... I could also not help but think of the lure of the US in our lives. It is still the land of milk and honey, where dreams are made possible. I only wished that one day we could see our country the way we see the US

For some reason, the article left a bitter taste in my mouth. Why do we need to demean ourselves to get a US visa? I find showcasing taekwondo skills and singing in front of a grumpy visa officer demeaning and insulting. But we do all that. For a chance to go to the US. To see what the big Hollywood fuss is about. To see how a better life feels like. To be in the land of milk and money. I wish someday our country can be enough. Sigh.


THE GOOD

Well, the upside to being rich and powerful is, they have money to burn and the conscience to do it. Help them decide. Affix your signature to The One Campaign to end poverty. (Thanks to Simon and Sheila for the link)

Giving Up

I know, the picture isn't even remotely about giving up. Well, it's really subject to interpretation. I saw this pic while surfing for things to do at Kota Kinabalu. Somehow it grabbed my attention.

Current mood: tired, frustrated, about to pack up, give up, and go on a vacation.

The next thing to the next best thing

If the next best thing to winning is losing, what's the best thing? Hmm. Duh. =)

Pyros Chicks! June 5, 2005 -- Manila Bay, 1st Leg Regatta 3rd Place, Women's Division

Toda -- The Ooltimeyt Disk Athletes June 12, 2005 -- ACC, PUA Summer Love League We won! Now, we're only the third worst team in the league!

And Mike Tyson retires (again)

On a hectic Sunday morning, I turned on the TV and caught Mike Tyson's boxing match. It was his fight with Irishman Kevin McBride, billed as Tyson's "comeback" after many turbulent years of boxing semi-retirement. Astoundingly, by round 7, Tyson just sat on his corner and decided not to continue the fight. As in, he just sat there, and the referee made the decision to call the fight. McBride won by technical knockout.

What struck me was the after-game interview that Tyson gave. Why did you sit in the corner, the interviewer asked. "I just didn't find it in my heart to continue the fight," Tyson said. He had no more passion, no more heart for the sport. If he could, he would have wanted to return the money to the people who paid to watch the fight. "Was this lack of heart present when you started the fight?", he was asked. Yes, he said. So why'd you do it?, the reporter persisted. "Because I had to pay my bills."

Hahaha. That drew a loud guffaw from me. So honest. No bullsh*t. (Either that, or he just knew he was going to lose). Hmm.

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Find of the week: Salcedo Saturday Market at Velasquez Park, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

Every Saturday morning, vendors gather at the parking area of Velasquez Park to sell organic food, veggies, and plants. Lots of yummy food! There are affordable regional dishes (like laing, pancit habhab, etc), gourmet food (there's a stall named "weekend gourmet", being managed by a former chef of Mandarin Oriental Hotel's Tivoli resto. The food looked yummy -- pasta, roast lamb chop -- but a bit pricey for the area), the requisite baked goodies and bottled sauces (cream cheese, pesto, tomato sauce), flowers and plants for sale. (Imagine, a dozen roses for 150 pesos. In Makati!). This is of course, aside from the fresh organic produce you can find here -- mountain rice, organic veggies, live seafood, etc. If you've nothing to do, you can visit the area and eat your lunch/breakfast/morning merienda there. There's a certain charm in the outdoor market, and the place isn't normally overcrowded.

**Jaime C. Velasquez Park is located at Salcedo Village, Makati. It is across the street from Starbucks Leviste. The Salcedo Market is open every Saturday, 7AM - 2PM.

Hanggang Kailan

HANGGANG KAILAN
Orange and Lemons

labis na naiinip
nayayamot sa bawat saglit

kapag naaalala ka
wala naman akong magawa


umuwi ka na baby
di na ako sanay nang wala ka
mahirap ang mag-isa
at sa gabi hinahanap-hanap kita...


hanggang kailan ako maghihintay
na makasama kang muli sa buhay kong
puno ng paghihirap

at tanging ikaw lang ang pumapawi
sa mga luha, at naglalagay ng ngiti sa mga labi


di mapigilang mag-isip
na baka sa tagal, mahulog ang loob mo sa iba
nakakabalisa, knock on wood, huwag naman sana...


umuwi ka na baby
di na ako sanay nang wala ka
mahirap ang mag-isa
at sa gabi hinahanap-hanp kita...

hanggang kailan ako maghihintay
na makasama kang muli sa buhay kong
puno ng paghihirap

at tanging ikaw lang ang pumapawi
sa mga luha, at naglalagay ng ngiti sa mga labi


umuwi ka na baby...