This One's For You.

AND I LOVE YOU SO

Sung by Perry Como

And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived 'til now
I tell them I don't know

I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand

And yes I know, how lonely life can be
The shadows follow me 
And the night won't set me free
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me

And you love me too
Your thoughts are just for me
You set my spirit free
I'm happy that you do

The book of life is brief
And once a page is read
All but life is dead
That is my belief

And yes I know, how lonely life can be
The shadows follow me 
And the night won't set me free
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me

My oldest sister and brother in law are in town for a series of medical missions to different parts of the country. They're with several groups of Fil-Am doctors from Chicago and Seatlle.

And when siblings get together, a natural topic of conversation are those days long gone and years of growing up.  Sis was hilarious when she related to us about young crushes and suitors; how one guy used to send her "song hits" with pages marked to indicate specific songs dedicated to her.

For those not in the know, "song hits" were small booklets, the size of today's TV Guide,  containing lyrics of popular songs.  These were sold in magazine stands, and were popular with teens.  Filipinos even in ancient times already loved to sing; a Filipino invented "karaoke," remember?

I remember some radio shows back then with "dedication portions."  Listeners would call in and ask the DJ to play a particular song and dedicate it to his/her boy/girlfriend or spouse. 

This strategy of dedicating a love song to a love interest to gain her/his attention dates back to the Pinoy old custom of "harana."  In a harana, a boy summons his courage, his own voice or friends to declare his love for a girl through songs.

So on one not so late evening, the lover would don his best attire (barong tagalog or kamiset' chino) and pluck his guitar and sing "Maalala Mo Kaya or Bakya Mo Neneng" in front of the girl's house.  I suppose the boy would choose a particular night when the "moon"  would be full and shining brightly, especially if he lived in a town with no electricity yet. 

The only harana I witnessed personally (most were seen in old Tagalog movies), was the one performed by my now uncle in law Tio Rocky when he was courting my Tia Sol.  Tio Rocky actually commissioned another uncle in law, Tio Peping, to sing for him. It was a scene straight out of a Rogelio De La Rosa-Carmen Rosales movie. And this one, I guess, was back in the early 60's and took place in Manila. 

Nowadays, lovers exchange and share play lists.  

Songs are powerful tools to express one's feelings and emotions.  But poetry is the precursor of songs. Lovers proclaim their deep seated love and passion through emotion-filled lines, octaves,haiku.

For the non-poets, it would be through popular songs.  "This one's for you," a man or a woman would say.

Fried Green Tomatoes.

There's no week that passes by that I don't eat tomatoes.  I would say I eat tomatoes five days a week, sometimes seven days a week. 

I got it from my father.  My father was a voracious eater.  

For breakfast, my mother used to prepare a table full of fried rice, pritong isda or meat, fried eggs, pan de sal and the "palamans", coffee and of course, "sawsawan," consisting of tomatoes with bagoong, and on the side, steamed "talbos ng kamote."

When an older sister developed low blood pressure,  my father recommended boiling the "talbos ng kamote" and my sister had to drink the juice. Yuck.

But tomato was everpresent in our dining table.  It was always used as "sawsawan." And then there were the dishes prepared with tomatoes, like "sinigang, ginisa, mechado, pakbet, sarsiado,"  omelets, even menudo always had tomatoes. 

My father always crushed the tomatoes with his hand; my mother used to cut them in small slices.  I prefer my tomatoes sliced thinly with all the juice and seeds.  Of course I want Kikkoman with it. 

When I prepare "bruschetta," I want the medium-ripe big tomatoes which I could not find in Manila groceries.  They only have one variety of tomatoes in Manila, medium size.

We dined at Kenny Roger's the other day and ordered grilled chicken with corn and salad, and to my dismay, the tomato was small, and the corn, grilled not steamed nor boiled.  I was looking forward to the juicy Canadian yellow corn.

When I eat breakfast and there's rice and fish or meat, I must have tomatoes and if they're small, I have to have at least five of them.  Even when I was working in Makati and had to bring lunch somedays, tomato was always packed with the rice and dish.

When you order salad in restaurants and it is the garden or green type, there's always a slice of tomato.  But goodness, why only one?

I am reminded of the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes, a nostalgic movie about a Southern family.

"Evelyn Couch (Kathy Bates), a timid and unhappy housewife in her forties, meets elderly Ninny Threadgoode (Jessica Tandy) in a nursing home waiting room, who passes the time by telling Evelyn the story of the now-abandoned town of Whistle Stop, Alabama, and the people that lived there.

Ninny's story begins with unrepentant tomboy Imogen "Idgie" Threadgoode (Mary Stuart Masterson), the youngest of the Threadgoode children, whose happy relationship with her charming older brother Buddy is tragically cut short when Buddy is hit by a train and killed. Devastated, Idgie recedes from formal society for much of her adolescent years, until straight-laced Ruth Jamison (Mary-Louise Parker), Buddy's former love interest, intervenes on behalf of the concerned Threadgoode family."

Idgie, the "Bee charmer," took care of friend Ruth until the very end.  The "Bee charmer" even offered fresh flowers at Ruth's grave up until when Ninny (Jessica Tandy) and Evelyn (Kathy Bates) were about to leave the nursing home.  Could it be that Idgie is really Ninny Threadgoode?  

As always, Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy gave magnificent performances. 

Paco by Day.

I had been meaning to visit my alma mater, Paco Catholic School, for a very long time so when I passed by President Osmena Highway last Tuesday, I just had to make a small detour.

It was close to noon so the parking lot was already packed with vehicles for the noon break.  The main church was closed too; fortunately the small chapel was open.

I wanted to see the old pipe organ and the pews and the icons, and of course, the aisle where we marched on graduation day.

Street-wise, nothing much has changed.   Sto. Sepulchro, the road leading to Plaza Dilao is still a narrow street while Pedro Gil is now a one way street.  Mercury Drug still stands at the corner of Paz and Pedro Gil.  I didn't get to see the Paco Market nor the Estero nor the area where there used to be a cinema called Gay. 

When I was studying there, I used to have daily lunch packed by my Mother but some lunch hours, I would sneak out together with some classmates to buy "lumpiang shanghai" at the back of the school. 

After high school graduation, I lost touch with my classmates.  So the trip to Paco last Tuesday was one way to get in touch with my lost youth.  Nice.

Few Steps from Luneta.

I was at the area around the U.S. Embassy early one morning this week and was amazed how the vicinity near Luneta has been transformed from "classic" to "trash-ic."  Sad.

But my heart was gladdened by the enthusiasm from the early morning walkers and hawkers.

After consuming a glass of "taho, " my stomach yearned for a mug of hot coffee, so we went to Starbuck's across the U.S. Embassy where a continuous flow of visa applicants could be seen.  

Point of View. Life is a Miracle.

"Just a few days earlier Republican Scott Brown won the reliably Democratic Senate seat in the special election in Massachusetts, a stunning rejection of the legacy of pro-choice nemesis Ted Kennedy and an apparent stake in the heart of health care reform, Obama's chief domestic priority." From Politics Daily by columnist David Gibson.

While I'm happy that a pro-lifer won in the Massachusetts's election, I am saddened by the fact that the fight of the Americans to have a more universal health care could be jeopardized with the loss of a Democrat.

I personally believe that a health care similar to the Canadian health care system would be good to our North American neighbour. Certain people very close to me do not think so.

As a Canadian, I am quite happy with the our health care system which pays for almost every medical intervention. Some Fil-Am relatives dwell on and attack issues like "long waiting time to see specialists, or to have chemotherapy."  But based on my personal experience and from friends' experiences, we never encountered such problems. 

True, we pay an annual premium unlike in the past, but overall the Canadian (Ontario) health care system is still one of the best and most compassionate in the world.

Back to the pro life vs. pro choice issue south of the border. 

"The huge crowd of abortion opponents that gathered on the Mall in Washington on Friday for the annual March for Life had good reason to be celebrating on the 37th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. 

Recent polls have shown broad declines in public support for abortion, to the point that the country is almost evenly divided between supporters of abortion rights (47 percent) and opponents (44 percent). Moreover, the election of a pro-choice president after two terms of George W. Bush has galvanized rather than discouraged the pro-life movement, to the point that abortion rights groups are facing more challenges than they ever expected."  From Politics Daily by columnist David Gibson, 01/24/10.

As I write this post, three women (nieces) in our extended family are having babies. To me, a baby born into the world is proof positive that miracles do happen! 

In the olden days, when a woman fails to conceive after many attempts, she and husband would offer gifts and dance at the Shrine of Santa Clara.  Nowadays, they'd pay a fertility clinic to have an invitro-baby. 

Which ever way it is , it's still a miracle in my book. 

The View.

LEFT, Yogi Dominguez - third from right, second runner up in the 1972 Ms. International Beuaty Pageant, was one of the hosts of  Ms. Ellaneous.

I never liked  ABC's television show "The View."  Even the presence of the controversial Star Jones, then Rosie O'Donell nor that of Barbara Walters could prevent me from switching channel. The few times I actually watched it, I was only enamored of the host Elizabeth Hasselback.  

I like Whoopi Goldberg who replaced the hustler Rosie O'Donnel better as an actor not as a host. Same with Sherri Shepherd; I like her better when she was acting as the cop-partner of Robert, Raymond's brother in the show Everybody Loves Raymond. 

I don't like the View because I find it noisy; everyone seems to be speaking all at the same time. I am reminded of committee or general meetings where staff out voice each other to get the attention of the Big Boss.

Elizabeth Hasselback is a Republican.  In the last U.S. Presidential elections, all except Elizabeth rooted for the Big O.  She also campaigned with Mrs. McCain. 

There was a Philippine TV talk-magazine show in the late 70's to mid-80's which also had an all-female panel like The View.   It was called Ms. Ellaneous and had Ma-An Hontiveros, Tina Revilla and Yogi Domingues as hosts. I used to watch this show over at GMA but I don't recall any "sapawan," (camera hugging) among the three female hosts.

Back in the early 2000's, there was another show with the word view in its title - Points of View  which writer Jessica Zafra hosted.  I never got to see any episode of this show but I heard some of her interviews over at her blog.

Meanwhile, an American talk-show that I prefer over Conan O'Brien's Late Show (he was booted out by NBC from the eleven o'clock late night show spot and replaced by /handed back to Jay Leno) is Jimmy Kimmel Live at ABC.  I adore Jimmy Kimmel's sidekicks - Beatrice, Uncle Frank and Guillermo (Giyermo).

Giyermo reminds me of our office handyman Luis who hails from Chile and is a soccer fanatic and a hardworking family man who maintains two jobs and still could work on weekends doing renovation and repair jobs ( I used to call him to work at the condo). This guy drives a rust-colored SUV. 

Point of View.  Hardwork and persistence always pay off.  

Blame it on Rio.

Dancing is such a fun activity.  Last night, after a long absence, we went to Conway at the Shagri La, to test the dance floor once more. I was hoping to shrug off the effect of the ague.

Even with a terrible sore throat I managed a few numbers but made a big mistake by drinking beer which aggravated my cough upon hitting the hay.

The band Spirit of '67 didn't disappoint the crowd.  Our group which was bigger this time, with the addition of another sis and niece and more friends, got going until almost 1 a.m. 

When I came home last September, I  was looking to replace my original dancing shoes with a new exciting pair I found on the Net.  But I was not able to claim it.  It got lost. 

Having a good pair of dancing shoes is essential to good dancing.  I remember one contestant in the show Dancing with the Stars who refused to wear dancing shoes and who got booted out early on.

A good pair of dancing shoes makes body movement easier and prevents pain. The pair I was dreaming to own is somewhere out there; I just hope no one else is wearing it.

Blame it on something - the loss.  In my case, it was an unclaimed item.  If it had been claimed, the story would have been something else. 

Which reminds me of the Mardi Gras in Rio.  It is an event replete with wild dancing. Blame it on the sultry Brazilians who are the inventors of samba and tango. 

"Also known as "Fat Tuesday," this pre-Lenten festival is celebrated in Roman Catholic countries and communities. In a strict sense, Mardi Gras, or Shrove Tuesday, is celebrated by the French as the last of the three days of Shrovetide and is a time of preparation immediately before Ash Wednesday and the start of the fast of Lent. Mardi Gras is thus the last opportunity for merrymaking and indulgence in food and drink. In practice, the festival is generally celebrated for one full week before Lent. Mardi Gras is marked by spectacular parades featuring floats, pageants, elaborate costumes, masked balls, and people dancing in the streets.

Mardi Gras originated as one of the series of carnival days held in all Roman Catholic countries between Twelfth Night, or Epiphany, and Ash Wednesday; these carnivals had their origin in pre-Christian spring fertility rites. The most famous modern Mardi Gras festivities are those held in New Orleans, La.; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nice, France; and Cologne, Germany.

The first American Mardi Gras was celebrated near modern-day New Orleans on March 3, 1699. It wasn't until the mid-1800s did official parade organizations start to form with the Mystick Krewe of Comus in 1856 and the Krewe of Rex in 1872. The tradition is still carried on in New Orleans with many other krewes represented on floats in a myriad of parades. The official colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold (representing justice, faith and power).

Mardi Gras celebrations can start as early as January 6, on the feast of Epiphany. The festivities end at midnight on Tuesday--the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. Mardi Gras day falls on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9.

Like Ash Wednesday, the date Mardi Gras falls on depends on the date of Easter--always occurring 46 days before Easter. "

In the Philippines, the closest thing to Mardi Gras is the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan.

Even for people who don't like dancing, I'm sure they'd catch the fever once they gyrate to the soothing and eclectic sound of the brass and jazz.

Then maybe, they'd claim and treasure their own dancing shoes. 

Panic.

First, the throat became sore, then eyes, itchy, nose became runny.  Next, voice became throaty and whispe-ry due to cough. Then, fever. Not again!  I have the ague once more. 

Before I flew to Manila in mid-December, I had a bout with the common flu which the flu shot was not able to battle.  Now on my second month here, I am having it again.

Having read a local article on "dengue fever" made the condition worse.  So I called my doc sister who recommended I take antibiotics already. 

Yesterday at the supermarket, I bought the product OFF and inspected various mosquito repellent products. In the house, we are already using a rechargeable insect swatter which works effectively against mosquitoes.  I even bought another repellent which can be plugged and becomes lighted and attracts mosquitoes to zap them. But this one doesn't seem to attract any of the blood sucking creatures.

So I kept thinking that my condition is due to the mosquitoes.  I'm already being Iabelled germ-free fanatic.  When I wash the dishes, I have to rinse these thoroughly and even tomatoes cannot escape my washing wrath.

I blame the sudden drop in my immune system on everything; dust, the smell of "katol," and citronella , uncollected garbage, un-lit parts of the house, the "bodega," the backyard, even the cat of the neighbour. And stress from uncertainty.

During such times, I cannot avoid thinking of dust and mosquito-free Toronto.  And my health insurance which pays for doctor visits. 

I know lots of people who become sick, too, when they come to visit Manila.  There are tons of reasons - pollution, physical stress, over indulgence in food or alcohol, cramming many activities in a short span of time are just some of the culprits.

Reminder to self: Don't forget to bring basic medicines: anti-allergens, Tylenol, even Ben Gay. 

UPDATE at 12:15 P.M. Dengue Fever: America's Next Health Crisis? - Sphere News

Heaven and Earth.

Last Sunday I fetched my bro -in -law and sister from a Hotel and dropped them off  at Rockwell so they could join a group of Fil-Am doctors going on a medical mission. 

That was the second time I've been to Rockwell and the first time to go during the day.

Driving from EDSA and exiting at J.P. Rizal, we passed by the Pasig River, across from Mandaluyong.  The street was narrow and the view was not so pleasant.  I almost missed the entrance to Rockwell and had to make a U turn.

Rockwell is impressive.  Clean and orderly.  There were crossing guards even in the early morning.

Yesterday we went back to Rockwell.  Choosing the restaurant where to eat was not easy since there were lots of them.  I even saw the Wild Ginger which I kept reading about and hoped to see an interesting personality. 

But there were lots of other interesting people around.  But the most interesting of all was the spotless stores, outdoor-sy ambiance and proliferation of foreigners.  Whenever I visit the Philippines, I want to avoid seeing expats and the like because I want to feel the Pinoy-ness of the country, and I abhor establishments and individuals who give preferential treatment to non-Pinoys.

We chose to dine at Cafe Mediterranean and picked a table outside.  For two, the tab came to almost 700 pesos, which is roughly about  $16 CAD. Not bad considering I ordered a glass of red wine. 

Food was in small portions; we ordered  chicken kebab with basmati rice and Mediterranean salad, and pita bread with falafel, olives, hummus and couscous.

While eating there was a pictorial going on in front of the restaurant - an elderly mestizo gentleman being photographed. 

For dessert, we went to Figaro's for coffee and tiramisu. 

Rockwell is a place where one can really feel comfortable but the scenery outside kept coming back  - narrow street, noisy jeepneys, the view of the murky river and the un-attractive houses across. 

Oh, yes there was the Fully Booked bookstore which was really well stacked. 

Our Love Affair.

Our Love Affair 
Performed by Vic Damone 

Our love affair is a wondrous thing 

That we'll rejoice in remembering 
Our love was born with our first embrace 
And a page was torn out of time and space 

Our love affair may it always be 
A flame to burn through eternity 
So take my hand with a fervent prayer 
That we may live and we may share 
A love affair to remember 

One could always catch a screening of the movie An Affair to Remember if one stays up late at nights; usually it is shown at the TMC cable channel. 

I've seen the movie a few times, and like my father and mother who adore classics, I never fail to be captivated by it over and over.

First, I love the song - the lyrics and the tune.  Then, there's Deborah Kerr.  Third is the location - Manhattan which I love so much and reminds me of beautiful memories. 

In Affair to Remember, "Nickie Ferrante (Grant), a well-known playboy and dilettante in the arts, meets Terry McKay (Kerr) aboard the SS Constitution. After a series of chance meetings they establish a friendship and gradually fall in love despite each being engaged to someone else. After a brief visit to Ferrante's grandmother at her villa, followed by a return trip to New York, and much troubled with guilt about their liaison, they agree to reunite at the top of the Empire State Building in six months' time if they have succeeded in ending their relationships and starting new careers.

On the day of their rendezvous, Terry, in her haste to reach the Empire State Building, is struck down by a car. Gravely injured, she is rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile Nickie, waiting for her at the top, is unaware of the accident and, after many hours, finally concedes at midnight that she will not arrive, believing she has rejected him."

Some affairs end before they can even start.  Others have ended when they have just begun. Some end after agonizing days and nights. Still,  a lot of affairs go on and on until death do partners part. 

In the end, just like in the Grant/Kerr movie, an affair could have a happy ending. 

Papa Don't Preach.

Madonna Ciccone is fifty years old and going strong.  Her newest lover is called Jesus, who's twenty something.

When I was still living in Steubenville, Ohio, my youngest nephew Rog asked, "do you like Madonna?"  I said, why not?  He smirked. 

Looking back, I think I only thought I liked Madonna of twenty years ago because she was the first to wear those "underwear" publicly. 

One of Madonna's hit songs is the "Papa Don't Preach."   The lyrics could have gone directly from her heart since it was rumoured she didn't see eye to eye with her Pop.

Usually when we get into trouble, we run to our mothers for succor; it's normal to utter "Ma or Nay" when we accidentally bump our head or stumble into something. Why?  Because Ma is always around and Pa only comes home at night.

Parents commonly hear their children say,  "I'm old enough so don't meddle in my life."  But my eldest sis said even if her eldest is already in his late thirties, she still admonishes or reminds him when he gets off line.

Parents are natural born lovers of their children; no matter how old the daughter/son is, s/he remains a child in the eyes of the parents - to be cared for and adored.  But nowadays, many have become natural killers - those who abort their unwanted child. 

"Papa, don't preach.  I am in trouble now," Madonna sings.  The problems today could be all sorts: man-made, disasters, unrequited love, obscurity, harried decisions, etc. 

Prima facie.

We watched I Love You, Goodbye.  I did because I trusted Laurice Guillen, the film's director, to deliver a good movie.

It's an all right movie; meaning there's no hysterics, there were some good acting (mainly from Matet de Leon), it was predictable and it was subdued compared to other Filipino films.

In short, I went to see the movie based on prima facie evidence - as in, Laurice Guillen being a well known and award winning director, directed it; so from the looks of it, it must be a good movie.  

In the movie,  two men asked the same woman to marry them.  The lucky guy dies; the loser wins. Both men were bold in building their cases. There was no "tyope" type.

In most reality, if a man asked a woman to marry him, and got ignored and written off, he would either swear not to be fooled again, or make himself free again or simply let fate take him along.

Prima facies. So many, the case stands on its own.

Project.

Just can't shrug off the handyman (kuno) in me, so I am tinkering and doing small projects around the house - painting walls and shelves,  fixing doorknobs, installing screen windows. 

In my mother's house last September, me and my two sisters who were also visiting got the itch and started to paint, re-arrange furniture and decorate and I found myself fixing broken electric fans. 

The locals didn't and do not mind the extra lavish attention given their houses. 

I can't stop.  I want to learn how to mix and apply cement.  The only thing that I don't consider is electrical.  There are floor tiles lying around and I intend to lay them in a narrow pathway leading to a lanai. 

Who needs skilled people?  I discovered through horror stories that many who call themselves skilled workers left clients' homes with shoddy projects.

I want to fix a tiled counter top and went shopping for a granite-like material at Home Depot but what the salesperson recommended was to put wood over the tile and install a thin vinyl-like material with granite-like designs.  It was like 1k plus for a metre of the material.

So I considered putting soft vinyl instead of the granite-looking counter top. I went to ACE Hardware but what they have is the regular vinyl tile - the type where glue is needed.

I was looking at the type where you peel off the back paper and stick it on the floor or wall and presto - tile-look!

The house dog named Yabi needs fixing, too.  She's on a heat and has taken to chewing anything she sees - rubber hose, discarded boxes, paint brush, etc.  Yabi is elusive and doesn't like me but she reminds me of my mini-pinscher Shadow whom I left back in the States, and who I miss terribly.  

How about getting a cat to fill the void?  Cats are territorial, so I heard, and are really for keeps.