Enthralled by San Francisco

Tasting The Best of Pinoy Hospitality

Foreigners normally get amazed with the hospitality of Filipinos. Exposed in environments where each one fends for himself and survives by himself, they wonder why Filipinos could be so generous and accommodating in their efforts to make other people’s lives easier.

They would be told hospitality is engrained in Filipino culture. True. That’s why it is not lost on many of those of who have left the country and have been exposed to contrary influences. Many still embrace the trait and are truly proud of it.

Now, I am experiencing the best of that in this travel I’m having. Truth to tell, to a certain degree, I do feel embarassed being the center of such gracious attention. But that can’t be helped. I know they really want the best for me.

My kababayans and relatives have so far been exerting all possible efforts to make my stay worthwhile.

They would fetch me from the airport, open their homes for days to accommodate me, be absent from work to keep me company, drive long hours to famous destinations, pay for some of my travels and tickets and just about everything else they could think of to make me see and experience how life in America goes.

I feel so blessed having known these people. I hope one day I’ll have the opportunity to pay them or any other guest forward, with the same zeal and warmth as I have received.

Reno, Nevada

Here now.

Las Vegas: Day and Night Shots

(Note: Thanks to Engr. Ted Bascon and Mana Dolor for this wonderful experience.)

Sleepless in Vegas

We're at the Fairfield Marriot in Las Vegas right now. I planned to blog about it later, thinking I could first grab some sleep before I go to Reno tommorow.

But as REM was about to set in, I was jolted from sleep by the unceasing shrieks of the fire alarm.

Actually, I thought it was because of the batteries I was charging. It just came to me that it could have exploded or something, thus the alarm. I was therefore more shattered than the others.

Good thing it wasn't. The Japanese guy at the counter can only say it was false alarm.

Now, the guests have grudgingly gone back to their rooms. I wanted to too. Problem is, I can't seem to regain headway back to dreamland.

That's why I'm now facing the computer. Oh well. I'll just have to finish this post and then try counting sheeps. Or casino chips. Anything.

The Universal Experience of Film

A young Korean seated behind me in the plane to LAX was asked why he was going to the US. He automatically answered, albeit in halting English, that he’ll be there only to visit Universal Studios. He’ll leave as soon as he completes the two-day tour.

Unlike him, I wasn’t as excited in getting there. I have kept my expectations low in this visit, knowing fully-well that this was rushed and most of the people I’m visiting will be working. But my hosts exerted all efforts to make my stay worthwhile, so they did get job passes and brought me to the mother of all film studios.

Then I knew why Universal Studios should always be included in any tourist’s itinerary in the US. It just doesn’t make one part of the movies he once loved, it also instructs him on how the world of movies operate.

Personally, the experience pushed me back in time, when I too dreamed of being in the film industry. The part of the tour where people are shown dubbing and film effects techniques reminded me of the time when the famous Ishmael Bernal brought us to a studio and dubbed his films.

I got too engrossed in the experience that I failed to take as many photos as I could. Here are some just the same. I guess you know to what movies these sets belong.

For other pics, please visit Coldman's post. We may have been there on the same day but we both forgot to bring our name tags. :-)

NBA .... Live!

I think I lost whatever little interest I had with the NBA after Michael Jordan’s first retirement. Not that I was a big fan – it was just the time when I got busy and got diverted towards other concerns.

But when my host-friend, Ryan, asked me if I would like to watch a live NBA game, I surely didn’t have any second thoughts. I knew it would be something I could talk about, spiritedly, when I get home.

So we went to the US Airways Center where the Phoenix Suns played against New York Knicks. Neat, huh.

The game turned out to be a rout. The Knicks looked tired. The Suns didn’t even need to exert much effort to demolish the stunned opposition (we didn't know that Stephon Marbury left the Knicks earlier). Even Steve Nash became goal-shy. He simply orchestrated plays and left the limelight to Grant Hill, Shawn Marion and Amare’ Stoudemire.

But we did have fun. I almost lost my voice begging for the souvenir shirts being thrown out. I had a picture taken with one of the cheerleaders. And most of all, I had beer and tacos while watching the game. Beat that!

From now on I’ll be watching the NBA games again. Need I say I’ll be rooting for the Phoenix Suns?

Wandering... Wondering

I just got back from jogging inside my host family's posh neighborhood here in Surprise, Arizona.

It's past nine in the morning but the place is entirely deserted. Not a wandering soul in the streets. Everyone's at work, I understand.

Now I know this is life in America. Nice and cozy houses, flashy cars, super-sized food - all gotten through hard work. Not a single hour is wasted on making "tambay".

I like how that sounds, but I'm not quite sure if that's the life I'd like to live for the rest of my life. I guess I still treasure the considerably laidback life in the Philippines. The money may not be as much, but I do have more time to smell the roses.

Anyway, the jogging part was good, as I haven't had any decent exercise since I arrived here in the US of A. It was hard to push some sweat. It's cold in here.

While running, I tried dreaming of having any one of the houses I see. My mind drifted, wandered. This life, if brought to the Philippines could be my heaven. Oh well.

When I decided to get back home, I got lost in the maze of like-looking villas, all wearing shades of brown. It took me some time to re-trace my steps and figure out where to go. He he. Tangent, di ba?

Tour of San Diego

The very first stop in my itinerary was Chula Vista, California were my cousin lives. Their place is a few minutes drive from San Diego so she decided to show me the city.

We took the Old Town Trolley Tour and enjoyed the scenery as we listened to the bus drivers-cum-tourist guides recount how the city was created. They also pointed certain spots where scenes from famous movies were shot, like the bar used in Top Gun.

Again, I’d better let the pictures do the talking.

The Eagle Has Landed :-)

I arrived at LAX about noon yesterday.

Luckily, I got past immigration. Now I'm convinced I don't look like a terrorist, he he.

First impressions? Well, what immediately struck me from high up the LA sky was first world pollution. Thick black clouds enveloped the bald and barren landscape. It coudn't be simple fog. From afar, the tips of the mountains can be clearly viewed.

I was expecting LA to be littered with skycrapers, but so far I've seen mostly low-rises (.e.g. Staples Center). Well, I still have to go downtown so I'm reserving my final comments for later.

I tried posting pics, but server error kept pestering me. Paging Blogger!

Perfect Day Gone Pfft!

Taipei City, Taiwan

I was here since Friday. Visiting friends, reliving good memories. So far, so good. Until last night.

I have so far met most of the people who have somehow mattered to me during the years I was here. I was in St. Christopher’s area yesterday (the place where most Pinoys converge) and I was overwhelmed with the cordial welcome of those who knew me.

But some good things are just not about to end unblemished.

As I was going home last night, I lost my Blackberry. I left the damned phone in the taxi. I tried calling the phone (sometimes one gets lucky to find an honest cab driver), but it was later turned off.

Well. Ganun talaga.

One Fine Eyeball

I met one of the more famous residents of Blogville last night. His site has always been one of my favorite reads and I admit to getting excited to finally put a face to the peculiar web pseudonym.

I felt a tinge of apprehension as I approached the meeting place. I knew that many bloggers are of the intellectual, condescending type and my islander upbringing may not jive with their urban chic. Baka biglang magtakbuhan pag nakita ako!

Happily, the eyeball turned out fine. The blogger and his friend were cordial and down-to-earth; the types I get along with. After the initial awkward introductions, our conversations flowed like we were long-time friends.

This, I guess, is one good thing with meeting bloggers. While technically strangers to each other, you already share a lot of prior personal information that could serve as foundations for the establishment of rapport later on. Unless of course, the parties set fancy expectations that could push them back in case the bubble bursts. But that’s another story.

I had very modest expectations last night as I simply wanted to unveil the person behind the blog. And I wasn’t disappointed. Truth be told, I actually pegged my beer consumption to two bottles max, but given the enjoyable discussion that ensued, the limit was breached by so many folds. The hangover notwithstanding, I am happy with the thought that I just started a new network of friends. Masaya to!

Legally Making Him a "She"

“When is a man a man and when is a woman a woman? In particular, does the law recognize the changes made by a physician using scalpel, drugs and counseling with regard to a person’s sex? May a person successfully petition for a change of name and sex appearing in the birth certificate to reflect the result of a sex reassignment surgery?”

This was the question agonized over by the Supreme Court when it decided on the petition filed by Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio, who wanted to be officially named “Mely” and his gender recognized as “female” on account of the physical “re-engineering” that he has undergone.

I remember this case because we discussed this in class at the time when media reported the filing of the original petition in the lower court.

There were those of us who argued that every person has the right to pursue happiness, and in this case, all that the Court should do is to recognize the changes made on the physical attributes of Rommel and provide him complete release from everything associated with the “wrong” gender he was born with. After all, society has already accepted him for who he is now, and it is just his person that is eventually affected.

But when our professor counseled us to browse through the law, we did find no specific basis to grant the wishes of Silverio. Existing laws provide only for correction of clerical or typographical errors or whenever the name is (1) ridiculous, tainted with dishonor or extremely difficult to write or pronounce (2) habitually and continuously used by the petitioner and he has been publicly known by that first name or nickname in the community; or where the change will avoid confusion.

There had been precedents covering allowed changes but not under the premises of Silverio’s circumstances. And as the Court noted, Rommel cited not the above reasons, but his sex-change operation as basis for the petition. Clearly, that ground is not in the books.

But presuming he did, say he claimed that “Mely” is the name he has continually and habitually used, would the petition have prospered? Not even, as he likewise failed to present “proper or reasonable cause or any compelling reason justifying such change”. For in the contrary, it is society that will have to suffer eventually as it will now have flexible or bendable definitions of gender which are supposed to have been determined at birth. It will now affect existing laws on marriage (which is only man-woman) and will confuse the implementation of gender-based legislation.

So, much as it would have wanted to make Silverio happy and complete, the Court, in the end decided not to use, in this instance, its law or rule making powers. It reiterated that it has to be Congress that should lay the ground rules for the recognition of innovations spawned by medical technology, as such indeed could trigger effects on existing laws recognizing specific gender roles.

Rommel may just have to live with the papers he has today. After all happiness is being contented with one has, and since he already possesses the attributes he had dreamed of, he may just as well enjoy them despite the absence of official recognition. To Rommel, Cheers! Just be happy.

P.S.

I have known of many people who had to go to court to correct wrong entries on their birth certificates as regards their gender. Sayang! Sana nagkamali na lang din kaagad yung civil registrar. Ok lang naman sana yung Rommel na “female” di ba? :-)

Unwilling Suspension of Disbelief

I can’t believe some people would think we Filipinos could be so dense we would just bite every moronic idea they ply on TV.

Take these:

Governors, after vehement denials, now claim it’s their organization’s funds that were given out to Among Ed and the other Malacañang guests. Sure! But how about the pious and moralistic Cong. Abante who already admitted receiving advanced Christmas gifts? Congressmen are now members of the Governor’s League? Susmaryopes…

GMA, after hearing a report on the attempted bribery of the not-so-brave Sec. Nery, ordered a secret investigation to verify the allegation. Talaga lang ha. So what should we expect then? A clearance of course. Now, in the light of discovery the largesse distribution in Malacañang, the PAGC has been ordered to investigate. Hohumm..

And the most blatant stupidity of all, who on earth believe that people would kill each other over a chicken recipe? Just how many ways could fowl be cooked talaga ha? If I fry my chicken like McDonald’s, could I get sued for unfair competition? Naknampatatas namang Ysabella yan oo! :-)

I Would Have Been a Politician

Had fate not played a cruel joke on me, I would have been a different person by now; a politician to be exact. But looking at how my contemporaries have metamorphosed into present-day gremlins, I surely would have hated the man I'd turn out to be. Or worse, a thousand others would have hated me even more.

I had my initiation early, plunging into the realm of youth politics when I was 16. No, I did not have rogue trapos for mentors – it was the mainlanders that opened my eye to political dirt.

In my island (that time, at least), elections were still of the ideal kind. I remember getting elected in the barangay youth council without a penny spent. My opponent and I simply personally campaigned at school, in billiard halls and other gambling spots, by the beach or even along the stream where the potential voters do their laundry. We did not even have posters, no grand gatherings. It was purely a test of one’s charm and convincing power. But despite that, voter turn-out was high.

I won by a very slim margin.

The election for the municipal representative went the same way – peaceful like a classroom election. I got elected Municipal Chairman and it was only after the proclamation when I fished out funds for snacks – of Skyflakes and Coke. There were no protests, no bruised egos.

Imagine my surprise when we Municipal Chairmen, were called for the provincial level elections and realized that our more sophisticated counterparts at the kabisera were pursuing different tactics, as they engaged in clever machinations to gain votes. For one, they were not regular guys like me - they were mostly relatives of incumbent local officials. They tell us that even at the barangay level, they already faced fierce competition as the elections already took a highly political color.

We realized that the stakes were high. Since the provincial chairman will sit at the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (Provincial Board), it was made clear to us that the post is critical to maintain party control. Pride was at stake. So to make sure that the provincial chairman will come from the party, the Governor was asked to step in. And since there were many aspirants from within the party, the politicos decided to hold an internal election first.

There I got my baptism of fire, my first brush at vote-buying. People gave-out envelopes at our every turn, instructing us, “barriotic” islanders and the non-aspirants to vote for this or that candidate. We were invited to lavish dinners and were “hatid-sundo” to and from our hosts so as not to allow the other candidates to snatch us.
 
During the mock elections, an influential mayor’s son won, fair and square. We were just supposed to support him the next day during the formal election. Everyone swore to abide by the results of the poll.

On the scheduled day, the youth leaders from the other party boycotted the formal elections, recognizing that they were clearly outnumbered. Our group was supposed to just proceed without a hitch. But instead of just going through the motions, the losers decided to have another election.

Tired of being treated as mere voters, I moved that each person can only run for a single office, so that the others may have the chance at getting elected. They agreed. All that was important anyway was the Chairmanship.

All the big guns were nominated for the position but in the end, the same guy won. But for the Vice Chairman, we, the virtual unknowns were the only ones left. I was nominated and won. Of course, the post meant nothing. Or so we all thought.

Wrong. Three months thereafter, our Provincial Chairman died!
It was there when I got recognized, not only by our town, but the province as well, as a rising political prodigy. During political campaigns, I would speak immediately before our Mayor, ranked higher than the more mature local leaders. I would even conduct a separate campaign run by the youth – of course with a budget separate and distinct from that of the regular politicos.

Going into college, I already had a rolled-out plan. I would enroll in UP Tacloban and just travel home for the Provincial Board sessions. I would of course have regular interactions with my constituents.

But all my dreams were dashed when the OIC Governor (this was the transition government after the EDSA Revolution) adamantly refused to allow me to assume the post. We begged, to no avail. We were even able to secure orders from Malacañang to have me installed, but he would rather have the seat vacant. I would later learn that another politician from our island was fiercely blocking my appointment.

My parents were not seasoned politicians, so we did not know how to play the field. We tried reaching out to connections but nothing happened. The provincial gods probably could not accept the fact that an islander would end up being their youth leader. Exasperated, we decided to give up the fight.

I went to Manila for my studies and forgot about my political dream. It wasn’t meant to be.

It pained me, yes, because I felt then that I had a calling. But years hence, in hindsight I realize, it must have been the devil teasing.