It's a book fair!

The country’s biggest, prestigious, and most anticipated book event is here once again, the 28th Manila International Book Fair. The event runs from August 29 to September 2 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. It opens from 10 am to 8pm.

It features 300+ local and foreign exhibitors with thousands of book titles, the most number in any book exhibition ever held in the country.

Of course, two of the country's largest bookstore chains-- Powerbooks and National Bookstore (NBS), participated in the event, also the most highlighted with their huge booths which are simply hard to miss. Talking about the colors yellow-blue and red.

Also featured is the ASEAN Book Publishers Association with books from member-countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Bruenei, and Indonesia.

PSICOM Publishing Inc. invited us to attend the book fair for the launching and signing of our book, Sopas Muna (a collection of inspirational stories) along with the other titles which they recently released in the market, including: the best-seller book Wanda Ilusyunada (first gay lingo literature), Haunted Campus (horror), and comic books such--Topak, Torbik and Co., and Chopsticks.

Bebang, one of the authors of Sopas Muna, strikes a pose. And as we say it, a day is never complete without reading a piece of your daily pop lit. Grab a copy now. The book is (so) affordable. I am not advertising here, am I? ;-)

Ang sipit at ang langgam [The clip and the ants]

The clip and the ant. Both have the capabilities of hurting. But we can't blame them. Can we?They were created that way.

I’ve been bitten. Twice, thrice… and for the nth time the pain of being bitten has always been a discovery. Sometimes I cry for letting myself bitten. Self-reproach could be an indulging routine. Most of the time, I cry because I need a vent. Whatever the case, crying is a good thing. Especially when there’s nobody to hear.

My apathy have put me into a lot of troubles. Ignorance is never an excuse. I tend to hurt people nonetheless.

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As cold as ice

I spotted him instantly. He seems to be far removed, like in a trance. I made my presence in plain sight by aiming a shot at him. Just a few feet away from him, he knew I was there. But he barely budged.

He sells dirty ice cream. It’s not actually dirty as the name implies; this ice cream is homemade and sold in pushcart. They are not as creamy as the branded ice cream, but they have this smooth, milky consistency that lingers in the mouth and very flavorful too. My favorite is the cheese flavor.

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I went to see Paris Je t’aime last night with Teresa. Yesterday was the last day of the Cinemanila Film Festival after they’ve extended it, so I tried to catch a few more entries. I was hoping to see Mira Nair’s Namesake but they’ve changed the schedule.

Paris Je t’aime (Paris I love you) is a full length film, chopped into 18 arrondissements (I am not sure about the translation but it’s like the munuicipalities in France, or is it?). So it’s like saying one film, 18 subplots featuring the touristy places in France. Of course Pére Lachaise was featured in the movie, not with Jim Morrison but with Oscar Wilde in it. Surprisingly, Porte de Choisy (Paris’ Chinatown) was also featured in the film, and guess what? Ms. Philippines was there. It was a funny proximity, especially if you knew the context in which such inclusion and reference to the country was made.

I love this movie, only because France is becoming a cliché among Asians and I what I know about this country only came from books and movies and people I knew who've been there. I love this movie because it serves as a guidemap to tourists (and hopefuls) about what to love about this country. I love the movie only because I haven’t been there and I speak awfully in French. The last of the arrondissements (directed by Alexander Payne who I love to death), is a heartbreaker.

"Hi, just call me Rayts!"

I conducted a one-day lecture on Creative Nonfiction at SPi last Saturday. Participants came from Cavite and Tagaytay, consisting of elementary school teachers/journalism advisers, a HS English teacher (who gave up her Master's class for the workshop), and some wacky and quick-witted SPi employees (Mahros, Doc Janet, Dylan, Jaypee) who seem to empathize with every author and book I gave as an example.

I was a bit anxious when Bebang first told me about this lecture. I've been to SPi before during one of the Writers' Guild events (poetry reading, books discussion, book launching, etc.) and I felt estranged by the surroundings and the people (like everyone does when he/she goes to a new place). I've done lecture on this topic before but to high school students. I have long and engaging respects for teachers, and I've got awkward relationship with my English teachers before, so the "anxiety" was to be expected.

So anyway, I was there 15 minutes before the scheduled lecture (9am-4pm), thanks to Jaypee, one of the Writers' Guild officers, who fetched me from my place in Quezon City to Paranaque. I was sittting with the participants, trying to observe without being known. Some of the latecomers were entering, looking around the place, they don't seem to notice me. I sat among a group who has the same age bracket as my mother. Jaypee asked me about the handouts for photocopying. One of the participants, an elementary teacher, took the hint and asked me if I am the lecturer for the day. I gave her a wry smile and instead of affirming her suspicion, I snooped.

When the time to introduce myself came, I stood in front of the 30+ attendees and confirmed their bemusement.

"Hello people! I can only think of two things to say about your expectations, either you're disappointed, because you expected someone older or you guys are simply overwhelmed that I am here." (Note: I was wearing a tweed and in my Chucks).

During the workshop, I asked them to write a one-page personnal essay on any topic they could think of and promised to choose my top 5 before the session ends. I got a bunchful of laugh while reading their essays. One of them came up with an ingenious title, "Voraytscious!" --> a play up word for rayts being a voracious reader. The essay is obviously about the workshop and their unexpected lecturer...

Likewise, reading the essays confirmed my previous anxiety, they never expected someone like me to handle the class. One of them was candid enough to write that she expected for a lecturer "an old guy, wearing a coat and tie, very professor-like". I was laughing at the corner, looking like a fool.

The lecture ended well. I love the honesty of these people. I guess the circumstance sided my way. They'll be conducting a seminar-workshop on personal essay soon, with Jessica Zafra handling the class. I asked to be invited as one of the participants. ;-)

Tending the sari-sari store

I don't need to explain this, do I?

With the popularity of Sidney's My Sari-Sari Store, and the almost (always) featuring it in Mike's The Fiery Scotsman, I have no doubt that most bloggers already know what sari-sari store essentially and culturally means to us, Filipinos.

Sari-sari literally means "various kinds". So, in essence, it is a store that sells various kinds of goods, mostly food items and other basic necessities (sugar, salt, candles, matches, detergent, etc.) and others (cigarettes, alchohol, etc.).

Economic importance: instead of buying the whole pack, you can buy in units (tingi system) therefore it's much cheaper!

Social and cultural importance: a place to socialize and meet people, better than staying inside the house, cheaper than hanging out inside Starbucks (the store sells instant coffee too!).

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Come on baby light my fire...

This is cooking rice the old-fashioned way. Smile and giggle included.

The pole is used to stir up the fire. You blow air from your mouth into the pole. You can always use the fan if you hate blowing some "life" into the fire but it's a bit of a trouble since the air is not directed and concentrated onto one area only unlike using the pole. Also, you're sure to get some free face powder from the ashes, not to mention a stiffing arm. So it's better to use the pole.

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Admiring from afar

Either fallen or grown
The leaves cover secrets
And the pedals are shown
We're like a flower
(-free faller)

Engaging, conspicuous, a real head-turner. These perhaps abridge a complete flower. But most certainly, its sweet scent, almost a faint -- completes its true essence. Exactly like this one.

Don’t pick it if you meant to ruin its beauty. We can always admire from afar. That is what we are, "admirers from afar". As they say, for every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it whether the beauty itself is hidden elsewhere.

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Been raining a lot the past few days. Today, I woke up following the sun streaks.

A beautiful sunset that was mistaken for a dawn

Happiness is a Filipino sunset. It is there for all but most of us look the other way and lose it. Maybe because it’s always within our reach. This one came just at the back of the old house. It always tries to get my attention by bathing my face with its yellow, subtle streaks.

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In the eyes of a child...

In the eyes of a child there is joy, there is laughter. There is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future. For the lessons of life there is no better teacher. Than the look in the eyes of a child...

I reckon you remember that Air Supply song right? It feels fitting that's all. One thing I like about children is that, once you asked, they rarely fail you. Like this child for example. She was happy to give me that smile. In his eyes, I was just a snooping, trying hard photographer. In my eyes, he's my impetus.

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Sidenotes:

The only place I feel truly happy is when I am inside the cinemahouse. I could live there for all I care. As long as I am seeing good films that would bring me to places and offer new perspective—I am there.

Last night, I went to Gateway to see two more entries at the Cinemanila Film Fest: Vietnam’s Chuyen cua Pao (The Story of Pao) and Philippines’ Foster Child (which I’ve been looking forward to see, having seen most of Brilliante's flicks).

Chuyen cua Pao (The Story of Pao)
This is a coming-of-age film about a Hmong tribe girl named Pao who is on the search of her birth mother because her father has fallen ill. She was raised by her stepmother. Along the way the movie flashbacks to the old times and finding secrets about her family. She comes to deal with something she never thought she'd ever face. I got particularly interested in this film because the actress who portrayed Pao is Do Thi Hai Yen, most famous for her role in the movie "The Quiet American" with stars Brendan Fraiser and Michael Cain.

This is the debut film of Vietnamese actor Quang Hai Ngo, whom I believe is also the husband of Do Thi Hai Yen. The primitive landscape in the mountainous provinces of Vietnam is simply breathtaking. It reminds of the1999 Chinese film, Postmen in the Mountains which takes place in the remote mountains of Hunan, China. The landscape and the atmosphere are amazing. I am sucker for these places. Ah, suddenly, I am craving to go to Vietnam!

Foster Child
Like the movie Tribu, this movie reveals the Filipino soul, our sub-culture. It tells the story of foster parents for hire in a third world country like the Philippines. Foster parents work under a Foundation that pays them P1,500 a month as caregiver, on top of providing the baby milk, diapers, vitamins, and other expenses for the taking care of the child. This is in preparation for the adoption of the child.

I got curious and was awed by the whole idea of the film, the first time I heard it. I didn’t even know that there is such thing as "fosteering in the slums" until I saw the whole movie. There’s this question that haunted me: Do these abandoned babies fit to grow in this kind of environment? 1-3 years old are crucial stages in every childhood, why are poor families the ones fostering abandoned babies? Brilliante Mendoza was there last night ready to take some questions. But I was too tired to ask, I was all packed up and ready to go home.

One thing I appreciate about the film though is its focus not merely on poverty and social conditions among many Filipinos, rather, its focus on how we value family and staying together. How amidst, poverty we still manage to smile and continue to have a positive outlook in life. The movie is a tear jerker. I did not cry though, but I was deeply touched.

By the way, Cherry Pie Picache did a stunning, realistic portrayal of her role that she bagged the best actress award in India. Foster Child was shown in the Director’s Forthnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

Should I?

Perhaps she was wondering. Am I taking the photo of the sign or hers? I decided to get them both. The message might not be sent instantly but I guess it will come through.

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Sidenotes:

I went to see two entries at the Cinemanila Film Festival last night. One entry from South Korea, No Regret and our very own entry, Tribu, which incidentally premiered last night so the moviehouse was expectedly jam-packed.

No Regret is gay film drama which tells the story of Su Min, a lad who grew up in the orphanage and went to Seoul to study art design while doing part time jobs at the factory and as cab driver. He lost his job due to layoffs and finds himself working in a gay bar. The director, Leesong Hee-il is said to be a rather well-known indie filmmaker who did several short films mostly dealing with relationships - both gay and straight. It was released in S. Korea last year in limited theaters. The movie reminds of Wong Kar Wai’s Happy Together. I saw some renowned Filipino directors who were there last night. The likes of Gil Portez, Joel Lamangan and other celebrities like Rey Pumaloy. Oh boy, it felt like Pink Festival all over again!

Tribu (Tribe) is a Filipino indie film about the gangland in Tondo, one of the most densely populated districts in Manila. Tondo is notorious for being the poorest, dirtiest, and ugliest underdeveloped place in the country. This film, with an all cast of non-professional actors, won best film during the recently concluded 2007 Cinemalaya Indie Film Festival Competition. The movie gave me goosebumps towards the latter part of film. The movie is grand, explicit and raw. It depicts severe social conditions, conflicting social issues and morals. The movie sears with the pain reality that is both vicious and compassionate. Jim Libiran, the director, is a native of Tondo.

I wonder how the foreign judges will see this film. I believe although the movie deals with the universal issues of social conflicts and poverty, the core values and culture are still contextual. That only Filipinos would truly understand. It’s rare to finally watch quality Filipino films that would really put a hole in your soul. Well, it may sound a bit of an exag, but that’s how I felt after I went out of the cinema. That is how it is with this film. See it if you can.

Aging and Solitude

Some reckon their age by years,
Some measure their life by art;
But some tell their days by the flow of their tears
And their lives by the moans of their hearts.

- Abram Joseph Ryan

Once I had both: money and youth. Who could ask for more? People loved me. I was happy. I got all the attention. My youth was my salvation, my excuse to every mistake and misapprehension. My money was both my steerer and my stirrer. I believe I could almost do anything, except thinking now, I never thought I would be of this age. To sit and think of the past. Solitude is a nice company. It never asks.

I had all the creases on my face to prove such experience. This permanent crooked smile to prove what I have learned... (-excerpt from some blabber I am writing. about aging. being a woman. solitude. and all the existential stuff)

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What I am 20 years from now is already embedded in my head. It's nice to be the sole bearer of this image. No one knows. Sometimes I would smile. But the overcast is simply hard to put aside. I guess it's bound to happen especially when you're adding a year to your age.

A muggle shutdown...

I would have guessed that every muggle afficionado have already read the last installment of JK Rowling's Harry Potter after its release in July 21. I claim to be a fan, but I have only finished the 7th book last weekend. I bought the book on a Friday, before I headed to Cinemanila International Festival to see Thailand’s entry, The Unseeable. My professor dismissed us early after an hour of lecture so I decided to see at least one entry film. It was a Friday after all.

When I got home in LB on a Saturday, I told my parents not to bug me for two days as I was going to lock myself up. My mother was in a weary mood. She sometimes hates the words that are coming out from my mouth. I went up to the old house to read. No one lives there, so no one would dare bother me. (There are of course the 'unseeable creatures' but we've become friends and acquiantance already). My sister who was persistent that I purchase the book immediately wanted to borrow it that same week so I decided to finish it in two days. Besides, I hate bringing it back to QC because my backpack (with my dslr and my laundry clothes and bedsheet) was already heavy to bear.

I spent my hours in this window grill, which practically made my ass sore so I needed to change positions and places from time to time. Like the sofa, rocking chair, stairways, etc. I love this window. It feels old and homey. I never noticed the bougainvillea before. My father was of course responsible for it.

The couch was old and dusty, nonetheless soft and comfortable for a long and enduring reading. It made me sleep for awhile.

The rocking chair of course which was so comfortable it made me feel sleepy also. By noon time, I was already behind my schedule. The first few chapters were drills.

And so alas, I made it through the Epilogue. I hate being a spoiler but the last few paragraphs in the photo are least of a give away since this comes after 19 years already. When Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione have their own children already. The name Albus Severus didn't seem to be a good combination in my opinion. But I love Snape! I never hated him since the first few books...

My niece wanted to read it next but she's too young to even lift the book. Haha! Her mother would have to steal it away from her using an Elder wand. But then again, I've placed some spells in the book so my niece is protected from her mother. Engorgio!

He stares, she stares, I stare at them...

I am a woman, looking and searching
I pry with elegance and inquire through my silent stare
I blink and men would smile, I cry with style.

I was languidly sitting on the bench, trying to rest my aching feet. It felt like I've walked a hundred miles already and the heat was burning my skin. I looked around and found her.

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I went to see one of the entry films in this year's 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival at Gateway Cinema. U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha is a feature film based on Bizet's 19th century opera filmed on location in a modern South African township setting. Obviously, this film is musical but I was too excited to notice that when the movie was starting, I swore I would have walked out the cinema right after I saw a bunch of young soldiers belting behind the iron fence. And oh, I missed Quentin Tarantino during the opening night. He is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. I am a fan. How could I miss him?

My second entry for the day...

"They put the behemoths in the hold along with the rhinos, the hippos and the elephants."

Yesterday, I was whining to Deb about how slowly I am dying out of vim and vigor and how I am gradually losing my sense of humor. She said, “Me too.” It could be a stage especially if one does a routinary task. Or is it?

Anyway, maybe Julian Barnes will bring me back my bland appetite. I haven’t read a serious book for ages. And by serious I mean something that would not only make me think about life but something to keep me going.

Thanks Peter for the book!. ;-)

Of Watermelon and Honeydew

At the corner of a street, I chanced upon this little girl in her yellow and pink dress, accented with her loverly pearl earrings and bracelet. I was at the other side of the street and I believed she saw me with my camera. Her facial expression looked inviting so I dived in for photo op.

She was selling honeydew and watermelon (pakwan) for 35 pesos a kilo. She's also selling shrimp paste (bagoong) sauted in kalamias (I don't know the English translation of this fruit but it's sour and juicy and comes from the Averrhoa family, the likes of Carambola/Starfruit).

At first, I thought the girl was just tending the stall for his mom or whoever she was with but it seemed like, she was really the vendor for the day. I inquired about the prices (with no intention of buying at all) and later asked if I could take her picture. She smiled for the camera.

A closer look at the watermelon she's selling. I haven't seen this variety before. It looks more of a papaya to me than a pakwan. But surprisingly, the flesh is red and succulent, with lesser seeds. One thing I hate about eating watermelon are the seeds, which you have to constantly spit out everytime you eat a munchful of pakwan.

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Fatty pork strikes back!

Vegatarians would probably be appalled by this entry but the issue of food (like any other topic for that matter) is culture-bound and therefore subjective. Like longanisa for example.

Longanisa is the local version of the Spanish chorizo (pork sausage) which is distinctively flavored with indigenous spices. Preparing longanisa has a long tradition in the Philippines with each region having their own specialty. Some famous specialty include: Guagua longanisa (salty and almost sour); Ilocos longanisa (less color, sour, and tasty); and of course, Lucban longanisa (garlicky and tasty). There are other varieties, but these are famous for their distinct taste and export potentials.

This man was selling a bunch (10 pieces) for 75 pesos (around $1.50). The longanisa is a good source of fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, and protein. The descriptive attributes include color and juiciness, garlic flavor, saltiness, meat flavor, spicy flavor, smoothness, and oiliness. These are surely a great "come on" to all meat lovers. Some people just love what is NOT good for them. Tempting as a sin.

How to cook this? First, you boil them to keep off some fats and make the meat leaner (it's optional by the way). Then you fry them until the skin is crispy. It's good with vinegar and chili.

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It's been raining a lot this morning. Looks like there's going to be some heavy downpour for the next few days. Anybody care for some brewed coffee? :-)

Shot to the heart, and you're to blame...

Outside the St. John the Baptist Church in Liliw are various statues of Roman Catholic Saints. Attending a Catholic Church in high school enables me to become utterly familiar with most of them. We have a religion subject specifically for learning faith and catholicism (as if faith can be learned, huh?).

So anway, one of the statues that really caught my eyes was St. Sebastian. His iconic image has always been depicted in literature or photos as the youth tied to a post and shot with arrows in most parts of his body. Exactly like this.

The Roman Emperor ordered his death. Left for dead with these arrows burrowed in his flesh, Sebastian recovered but was later beaten to death on the order of Diocletian.

Such horrid depiction was a favorite subject among Renaissance painters. Even today, such image is still popularly referred to whether in movies, music videos, musical lyrics, theatrical plays, etc.

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St. John the Baptist Parish Church, Liliw, Laguna

Aside from the thriving footwear industry, which is the main economic source of the town, another “must see” in Liliw is the St. John the Baptist Church, with all its grand Baroque architectural design. The church is a more than a century old built using red bricks which makes the design all the more attractive.

The bell tower is amazing. I once went inside and climb through its rickety stairs. It was cold inside. The vicinity of the church is huge, surrounded by statues of saints.

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Oki and I are both nominated for an Outstanding Award at the office. We care less for the tag, what we are aiming for are the prizes. Oki wanted the cash prize, I was gunning for the trip abroad. It's a winner takes all thingie. So, whoever wins get the two prizes. We're fighting for one category. So what we did is to make a bet out of it. Making bets is such an addicting habit we can't outgrow. The bet is: who ever wins, will treat the other to a dinner at Bellini's sort of a consulation to the loser. Okay, fair enough. The thing is, I have a long history of (almost always) losing a bet with Oki. *sigh*. We will see if my fate goes differently this time.

Badong Footwear: Making business for more than 4 decades now

My trip to Liliw would not be complete without visiting Badong Footwear Factory, one of the famous and oldest footwear shops along Gat Tayaw Street. You won't miss it. As soon as you set foot on Liliw, the store will immediately catch your eyes. It's always filled with customers. My mother loves this shop. It's the only store where she bought a pair of sandals and slip-ons among the many stores we've visited that day.

The shop sells an assortment of footwear, from slip-ons to leather shoes, slippers to high heel shoes and sandals. There are also those for men and children. I took a shot of one of the workers at the shop. He was making an inventory.

Salvador “Badong” Monteiro, was the owner of Badong Footwear. He established the shop in 1962, when he was only 16 years old. The man on the right was the brother of Mang Badong. I had a chat with him while my mother was busy looking for shoes to fit. The lady on the left was a customer, buying a bunch of slippers for her business.

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