Eat, Pray, Love, Too.

I am watching the Julia Robert movie, Eat, Pray, Love, and she is in Italy and the Italians told her to do nothing and just enjoy the moment.  And then, she's off to India where she attends Yoga classes and gets the message that God dwells inside each person.

Julia's character, Liz, then travelled to Bali where she found another shot at love. 

If Liz included Philippines in her itinerary, she'd start her day at a Charismatic Prayer and Healing to find her peace and joy. The Elder in the community gives her a word of spiritual advice: Accept the Holy Spirit and let It be her guide in life.

Then she'd be whisked off to a street food mall or carinderia to have a taste of authentic Philippine food.

Typical Carinderia or mobile food stall in Manila

There, she'd eat rice and kare kare or binagoongan, perhaps with her bare hands, and also tries to swallow the undeveloped chick in the balut, and succeeds and enjoys the new experience and taste.

Liz' trip was to find joy again in her life, after a happy-gone-sad relationship with an aspiring and un-inspiring New York actor, David.

In Manila, Liz would discover the street beggars and the Navotas harbor where she'd marvel at the tons of fresh fish, and maybe, buy some.  Then, she'd realize how lucky she is being from a First World country, and having great work as a writer.

Balut or duck egg, a Philippine delicacy

She'd be invited to a Church wedding where bride and groom dance to lively rural music while relatives pin money to the wedding gowns and shirt. Liz' Filipino friend tells her that it symbolizes a  wish for a prosperous married union replete with children.

Liz goes to a  barrio fiesta, takes a weekend and enjoy the Boracay sun and sand. She mingles at the wet market, tasting yellow mangoes, duhat or black berries, and rambutan.

Her Philippine trip ends with a walk down the Quiapo church aisle, where she looks adoringly at the Senor Padre Nazareno, and feels an answer to her quest.

The Black Nazarene of the Quiapo Church,  during a January 9 procession

She goes out of the Church and takes a jeepney ride back to her Manila Hotel suite, getting off at the Luneta Park, hopping in and sliding at the skater's rink, and being helped to her feet by a muscled skating instructor. He smiles, she smiles back.

Always, our Pinoy message to ourselves and to others,  is hope.