Feast for Your Taste Buds

I wasn't able to sleep last night so I had to drag myself earlier in SMX to attend the food expo sponsored by the UP Association of Biology Majors. I'm not really a "food enthusiast" but I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with helping kids - the project is for the benefit of Project Brave Kids.

I had a family lunch to attend after the event so I had to leave by 12pm. This is what my sister and I ate. It's super sulit because those four meals only cost 200 total.

We had cupcakes after from Sassy Delights. We ordered their Red Velvet and Cookie Dough which were just 50 pesos each. I overheard the owner that they were still baking at around 5am in the morning! In fairness, it was really good! Not Sonja's but getting there.

This reminds me of our own stall where we sell soya-based frappes. I think soya will be the next big ingredient. So many stuff can actually be done with this product.

We weren't able to take much photos because I was feeling like a zombie earlier, but for those who also love food gadgets, they also offer them there.

These were super chic popcorn and cotton candy makers. Very vintage chic!

Of course if you are a food lover and your girlfriend isn't, you can still enjoy the fair because there are clothing stalls there as well. They were even selling denim skirts which are among the hottest trends this season for only 100 pesos!

If you're looking for accessories, we found this stall selling homemade rings and necklace bowties! Haven't seen something like that before. The owner of this booth is from La Salle and she's so perky. Sorry I wasn't able to take not of the name of her store.

Before leaving, we bought several of these "ginger beer" from Australia because for some reason, my mom likes ginger when she's sick. I haven't tasted them yet.

The good thing about this event, aside from having its own charity, is that the organizers knew my face so I don't need to present my ID to get in. Haha! If you've got nothing to do, drop by SMX Hall 1. They are open from 11am till 9pm! You may even get the chance to win in their raffles!

Our Inability to Handle Freedom

The gospel today reminds me of one of the novels we tackled in school - Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brother's Karamazov, especially Chapter 5 the Grand Inquisitor. Before I go to discussing it's connection to that Russian novel, let me start by saying that the gospel this Sunday is about the three temptations of Christ after the forty day sacrifice he made.

I won't go into detail but the chapter depicts a confrontation between Jesus returning back to Earth and the Grand Inquisitor during the time of inquisition. The Grand Inquisitor condemns Jesus' return as an interference with the mission of the church today.

"The Inquisitor states that Jesus rejected these three temptations in favor of freedom, but the Inquisitor thinks that Jesus has misjudged human nature. He does not believe that the vast majority of humanity can handle the freedom which Jesus has given them. The Inquisitor thus implies that Jesus, in giving humans freedom to choose, has excluded the majority of humanity from redemption and doomed it to suffer." - Wikipedia

Jesus is said to interfere with the role of the Church because its mission now is to give directions to what the people must follow. Which are morally acceptable and which are not? I'm not saying that this is detrimental, but this may be a proof that religion is the opium of the masses - those who can't think for themselves, those who are weak to handle freedom.

Because if we are indeed free, what's the need to go through a religion if we can discern for ourselves? The fact is, majority of us cannot, and this majority, according to Doestevsky, is being excluded by Jesus by being an example of free will.

For me, what we should be critical about is the role of religion/the Church in our lives. A Bible expert stated that Jesus didn't actually enforce structures or institutions among people - but relationships. It is important for us then to asses what the role of religion is in building our relationship with our families and community.

Our Inability to Handle Freedom

The gospel today reminds me of one of the novels we tackled in school - Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brother's Karamazov, especially Chapter 5 the Grand Inquisitor. Before I go to discussing it's connection to that Russian novel, let me start by saying that the gospel this Sunday is about the three temptations of Christ after the forty day sacrifice he made.

I won't go into detail but the chapter depicts a confrontation between Jesus returning back to Earth and the Grand Inquisitor during the time of inquisition. The Grand Inquisitor condemns Jesus' return as an interference with the mission of the church today.

"The Inquisitor states that Jesus rejected these three temptations in favor of freedom, but the Inquisitor thinks that Jesus has misjudged human nature. He does not believe that the vast majority of humanity can handle the freedom which Jesus has given them. The Inquisitor thus implies that Jesus, in giving humans freedom to choose, has excluded the majority of humanity from redemption and doomed it to suffer." - Wikipedia

Jesus is said to interfere with the role of the Church because its mission now is to give directions to what the people must follow. Which are morally acceptable and which are not? I'm not saying that this is detrimental, but this may be a proof that religion is the opium of the masses - those who can't think for themselves, those who are weak to handle freedom.


Because if we are indeed free, what's the need to go through a religion if we can discern for ourselves? The fact is, majority of us cannot, and this majority, according to Doestevsky, is being excluded by Jesus by being an example of free will.


For me, what we should be critical about is the role of religion/the Church in our lives. A Bible expert stated that Jesus didn't actually enforce structures or institutions among people - but relationships. It is important for us then to asses what the role of religion is in building our relationship with our families and community.

After Ten Years

Tonight was totally unexpected, in a good way. A few days ago, someone in facebook posted that there's a mini get together with some elementary classmates. At first I snubbed this notice because I wasn't really that "social" back in elementary. I was shy and couldn't care less about building connections. But only laziness and doubt were getting in my way - Carpe Diem! - so I went to Shang with Jovic to meet with my past classmates whom some I haven't seen after 10 years.

It's a good thing I did because it turned out to be a great night with old friends. Although it seemed a bit awkward at first and even though I broke my promise to not drink alcohol this Lent (sorry Jesus), everything went relatively smooth as the conversation kept jumping from past experiences to prospective relationships and even touching on organizing a grand batch reunion this December.

A lot of things has changed with the priorities and conversations being shared. Before we used to talk more about the teachers and the lessons learned when reunions like these happen (with my high school classmates) but now, it's all about what to do after graduation, what industry to enter or if what you learned is fir for the job you really want (in my case not).

Somehow I'm not looking forward to those stuff because of these natural disasters and political conflict in the Middle East. I'll probably wait for 2013 before I take job/life seriously. Right now, I'm concentrating on Manila Kid and getting a job on my own to prove to my parents I don't need their connections.

I haven't seen those people after ten years and unexpected changes have definitely happened to each one of us. I just wonder what will become of this world after ten years. I'm praying that the unthinkable won't happen.

Ripple From Japan's Tragedy

One of our ecovillages is located in the Eastern coast of Japan. I've met some of their family members last October and they are some of the kindest people I know. 

After that 8.9 magnitude quake and seeing the devastation it caused to the countryside, I can only imagine what happened to their families - to the children and the old people living there. Will I ever see them again?

It scares me and my hands are trembling and cold right now while typing this. The images from CNN and BBC spell the end of the world. It makes me remember what happened during Ondoy - but this is like 100 times worse!

It was also reported that a tsunami will hit the Philippines around 2-3 hours from now. Suddenly the world felt like a little smaller. Can't help but worry about the fisher folk families in Orion, Bataan where we stayed during our three-day immersion. They are one of the most vulnerable families in there.

Aside from praying, let us remain calm and call our relatives / our helper's relatives who live near the coast to prepare. Times like these remind us that we live in one world. Pray.

The Hooker Experiment

I was looking for something dumb to do after watching Never Let Me Go with Anna and Mike in Glorietta last night. Good thing I bumped into Marion so I instantly knew that this night is going to be hella fun! He wanted to grab some coffee so we went to Greenbelt. And you know what happens in Greenbelt at this time of night (10pm)

There were a lot of "bookings" happening - especially in Cafe Havana. They were in different shapes and sizes. Some invest in good clothes, make up and accessories. But some are just plain sleazy you would think they just went out of the bathroom. After grabbing coffee, we sat in a "panoramic" view and observed.

I won't narrate the many "pedophilic" and disproportionate interracial couples walking around. It's disgusting and I usually pity the woman. Will she be able to wake up without a broken pelvic bone in the morning?

There was this one hooker sitting in front of us. We've been looking at her for the past 45 minutes and it's starting to get painful watching her. She keeps on doing these sleazy poses, fixing her hair in different styles and even dancing to the beat of the music. And when this average looking foreigner started eyeing her, she didn't even make a move! I swear I could have slapped her for her stupidity. (Apektado kami? Haha!)

It's always fun to look at them. They like being objectified as sex objects or at least objects for our entertainment, and who are we to deny this. It actually creates more complication if you try to see them as the humans they truly are.

If you have the balls, try looking at them straight in the eye in the way you look at your family or an old friend. Their fiery stares would shy away because it exposes their vulnerability. In a way, there's a lot to be learned from their aggressiveness and desperation.

How different are we from them? We sometimes create an objectified projected illusion of ourselves and when people started looking at us for who we truly are, we feel more uncomfortable being stared at in this unforgiving world.

A City of Many Colors

There is so much energy perpetuated by clashing ironies and culture in Manila. Within a 500 meter radius, you can see stark contrasts between the Chinese and Spanish cultures, the unending social inequality and different influences that still remain and shape the life of how we live.

I was riding the jeepney earlier trying to really get into what makes this city Manila, and it's damn difficult. It's not like Paris, Tokyo or New York where you have an immediate perception. 

What is Manila for you?

These are the photos of Miguel Aliño, I've known him since nursery.

We All Return to Ashes

The ashes on our foreheads remind us the inevitability that we'll all return to the ground - buried six feet under for the worms to eat. Death is that inescapable reality that no one really wants to talk about because it brings depressing memories from our relatives and friends who passed away, and the idea of us joining them one day is not very welcoming.

I was went to mass earlier in a church located in the middle of the business district. It was 12pm so men and women in business attire flocked the church as it coincided with their lunch breaks. I thought to myself, maybe a month from now, I'll be wearing the same outfit (only more chic) and working my ass to establish a successful career. And then what happens?

If you probe deeper, Ash Wednesday reminds us of what really matters in the end. It's not the money nor the prestige, but I think it's the relationship we have with others that allows us to transcend beyond our limitedness as human beings.

Maybe that's why fasting and abstinence are incorporated in the observance of lent. No one abstains from being with his family or communicating with their friends, right? It teaches us to detach from these worldly desires to help us see and value what's really important. So maybe no matter what religion you're in, you will be able to appreciate and learn something from this 40 day tradition.