Going from Purple to Bald, Part Three

(Read Part Two HERE)

Except for the occasional bandana tugging, Mom was motionless for the most part of the 10-minute trip. I attempted to strike a conversation with her a couple of times, but she just wouldn’t budge. All she could afford was the sporadic Mmm’s and Yeah’s. She wasn’t the bubbly, chatty personality that everyone knew. She loved life and lived life to the fullest. But at that moment, it seemed as if life had completely been drained from her.

The sun finally peered through the clouds when we arrived at our compound. My brother was the first one to alight the vehicle and made his way to where my Mom was seated. Understandably, it took some time before she could get off. And when it was finally empty, I remained inside the car and tried to take everything in.

It was so surreal, like watching your life unravel before your eyes. Before I boarded the plane, Mom was in her usual self, sending me the usual affectionate messages. But the moment I got here, everything changed; like someone switched the mode from colored to black and white.

I tried to stifle my screams, but a few tears still managed to escape from my eyes. I couldn’t shake the feeling how unfair this whole thing was – unfair for her and for us.

Going from Purple to Bald, Part Two

(Read Part One Here)

“Hi, how are you?” The flight attendant greeted me. I gave a reluctant smile without looking at her. But I answered her … in my head.

“Well, let’s see, Miss. I’m going home to see my mother whom I haven’t seen for months. She’s bald now, and she needs me. No, it wasn’t her choice – it just is. And when I asked her want she wanted for pasalubong, she didn’t ask for the usual which includes – but not limited to – bags or shoes. Instead, she wants a bandana … with shiny stones and beads! How cool is that? Oh yeah, she has Cancer. So, does that answer your question?”

I went straight to my seat, put my earphones on, and waited for the announcement to turn all electronic devices off. I took the Jessica Zafra book out from my bag, and although I have read the book one too many times already, I purposely packed it because I know it’s going to be a long flight, and I could use a laugh or two. The flight generally takes about an hour and a half, but due to the bittersweet nature of my trip, I know that it’s going to be a very long one.

When the number of boarding passengers began to thin out, I sent a text again. “Switching my phone off in a bit. Love you!” And right before I could turn it off, my phone beeped. “Can’t wait. We’ll be waiting. Love you, nak!”

How are you, the question from the flight attendant echoed in my mind. How am I? I didn’t know how I could possibly begin to find the answer. I’d like to say that I’m fine, but that’s the most overused lie, second only to I’m on my way. So, I let the question hang in air as the plane taxied on the runway. I’ll check back on it once the plane lands. By the way, it was such a beautiful day, it was ironic.

Going from Purple to Bald

“Do not cry in front of Mama when you see her. She just can’t have that.” I read a text from my sister while I was at the departure area, waiting for my flight home to see my mother. “She doesn’t have hair. And she’s lost a lot of weight. She might try to ignore you at first but just maintain the usual banter you and Mom would do every time she’d fetch you at the airport,” the text briefing from my sister continued.

It would be the first time that I’d see her post chemotherapy,and my family members made sure that I understood the situation. “No crying, please. You need you to be strong. You have to be strong for Mama.”

Amidst the flurry of people, the frenzied pace, and the raucous clatter, I sat there staring blankly onto space not knowing what to do or how to react. With my back pack on one side, I clutched my phone lightly against my chest. I felt my heartbeat racing as tears welled up in both eyes.

I reviewed the message for the nth time – maintain the usual banter. I quickly stashed the phone inside my bag and tried to focus my thoughts on more positive things; like the appreciative look the cab driver gave me when I tipped him for getting me to the airport as fast as he could, like how I remembered to pack all the essentials, and like how I managed to arrive at the airport two hours before my flight.

However, it proved to be of little or no help at all as everything that I could think of would always lead me to thoughts of her.

“How hard is it to give people a little extra something whenever they did a good job?” She always wanted me to tip. And she always wished I’d stop procrastinating, because according to her, cramming would almost always end up with a shoddy and haphazard output. “You could do more if you’re not cramming, you know, like packing the night before the flight.” And she always wanted me to arrive at the airport as soon as the check-in counters open for “good seats and a buffer for unforeseen delays.” I focused on other things but my thoughts were always punctuated with me thinking about her more.

Top 10 Things to Do in Dipolog City

Located on the western part of Mindanao, Dipolog City – dubbed as the Orchid City – is a surprising mix of the antiquated and the contemporary, of the quaint and the urbane, and of the peculiar and the generic. And although it still exudes that charming provincial vibe, Dipolog City is by no means your archetypal provincial capital. (Image: DipologCity.Gov)

Zamboanga del Norte's seat of power may still not be at a stage where I can compete with the heavyweights like Cebu, Davao, or Cagayan de Oro. In fact, people would sometimes frown on Dipolog and depict it as being no more than a ‘transit town’ to other parts of the island; it is, after all, the gateway to Western Mindanao. But the city deserves more than a second look. And with the numerous things that’s brewing up around the city, it wouldn’t be too far before we would see Dipolog battling it out for tourism and economic supremacy with its more affluent neighbors.

More than the uncomplicated lifestyle and the laidback atmosphere, the real jewel of Dipolog is its people – the Dipolognons. And although the Dipolog that we know today is a far cry from the sleepy town that it once was, Dipolognons have managed to preserve the unhurried pace and the unpretentious charisma that endear the city to locals and tourists alike. And coupled with the flexing of its tourism and economic muscles brought about by the influx of visitors and the resurgence of businesses, Dipolog is one of the most attractive places to visit – both for business and for the pleasure.

Here’s my list of the Top 10 Things to Do in Dipolog City. And because I believe that it order to fully appreciate the beauty of a place, every tourist has to experience the many simple things that Dipolog has to offer.

Halloween Trivia and Fun Facts

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! And since I already got my hands full with everything that's gotta do with Halloween, allow me to just re-post an article on Halloween Facts and Trivia that I found very entertaining. Enjoy! And Happy Trick-or-Treating!

Halloween Trivia and Fun Facts

Because of the unknown, Halloween is the one of the most captivating holidays, often celebrated by both adults and children. The element of surprise makes it fun and unpredictable. Enlighten yourself with Halloween trivia and fun facts to enjoy the holiday even more. Take the trivia and make a quiz for your next party!

Halloween Holiday Trivia  

• Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
• Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.
• Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green. Great for unique monster carvings.
• Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.
• Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.
• The ancient Celts thought that spirits and ghosts roamed the countryside on Halloween night. They began wearing masks and costumes to avoid being recognized as human.
• Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.
• Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.
• Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.
• Bobbing for apples is thought to have originated from the roman harvest festival that honors Pamona, the goddess of fruit trees.
• Black cats were once believed to be witch's familiars who protected their powers.

Staring Cancer in the Face

I’m not an expert on Cancer. In fact, I am far from being one. I am just a son who lost his mother to Endometrial Cancer, and I am hoping that less family will have to experience what my mother and my family had gone through in the course of my mom's year-long battle with the big C. Mom was the first cancer patient in the family - and definitely will be the last!

A couple of weeks ago, I posted an entry about my Mom’s battle with Endometrial Cancer. It was just one of those posts that I occasionally churn out in hopes of getting people to notice something. I blogged about how wonderful my mom was and how naïve I was about Endometrial Cancer. Heck, I didn’t know what an ‘endometrium’ was.

As soon as the post went live, I invited some friends to read it and I subsequently decided to go on with my daily routine. A few days after that, someone named Kaz commented on the post and an emotional light bulb exploded. It turns out Kaz is one of the amazing women behind Womb Cancer Support UK. And after a few correspondences with her and her comrade Debbie, I knew that I have to do something myself.

To tell you the truth, like most people (my age) that I talked to, I was clueless. I didn’t know where to begin or where to start. I realized afterwards that I don’t need to be an expert on Endometrial Cancer. Otherwise, I could just go back to school and study Oncology. We don’t need to be experts. We just need to be aware that Endometrial Cancer exists and that it kills people. Awareness drives us to take action, to take the first step, to know the risk factors and symptoms of Endometrial Cancer, and to educate ourselves on how we can cope if one of our family members is at risk or is battling this disease.

Oct 5 is World Teachers' Day!

We are all teachers in one way or the other. But there are a few brave souls who are willing to sacrifice their time, energy, family, convenience, and even security, just to serve the greater good. Hats to all the strong men and women who have been tirelessly nurturing and educating people for generations! You are, indeed, our heroes.

Let’s show our love and appreciation for Ma’am, Sir, Prof, Teacher, Miss, Madam, Misis, Doc, Dean, 'Cher, Dude, Pre, Your Majesty, Mare, Pangga, Binibining, and Ginoong today. It’s World Teachers' Day!


P.S. My Mom and my Grandma were teachers, and I am very proud of them.

No To CyberCrime Law!

I stand against Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 as it is a violation to Article III Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution that says "No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, of the press..." The said Act, which took effect on October 3, 3012, criminalizes online libel and gives the government unnecessary and excessive powers over its citizens as the Act empowers the government in having the blanket authority to shut down websites. This Act curtails free speech and stifles the very essence of democracy. The Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 also clearly and shamelessly ignores the United Nations declaration that internet freedom is a basic human right.

I stand against Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and I stand in congruence with the position taken by my fellow bloggers in their petition to nullify Sections 4(c)4, 5, 6, 7, 12 and 19 of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime law.

Sec 4 criminalizes online libel, while Sec 5 penalizes the abetting of commission of cybercrimes. Sections 6 and 7 include all crimes in the Revised Penal Code under the Cybercrime law and increase the corresponding penalties to one degree.

Sec 12 authorizes state agents to collect real-time traffic data, while Sec 19 grants the DOJ the power to shut down websites that contain harmful data based on prima facie evidence.
(http://www.rappler.com/nation/13633-bloggers-file-petition-against-cybercrime-law)

I am Dan, and I stand against the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

When the Ocean Calls

“The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps. It defies all attempts to capture it with words and rejects all shackles. No matter what you say about it, there is always that which you can't.” ― Christopher Paolini, Eragon

 

©Dan Adriatico Aleta

Guess Who Got a Gold Star!

When Wax was called to the stage to accept his Gold Star award, Joey and I noticed two little girls in ponytails intently watching him as he was climbing up the stage. (We learned afterwards that those girls were his classmates. Anyway.)

When his name was called and was subsequently presented with a Gold Star Award for Outstanding Academic Performance, one of the girls immediately crossed her arms and shot one eyebrow into the orbit. In typical telenovela contrabida panache, she told her friend "Bakit siya Gold Star at tayo Red Star lang?"

Her cohort replied, "Baka nagkamali lang si Teacher."

Girl 1, obviously irritated by the circumstance, said to Girl 2: "Tingnan nga natin sa Bulletin Board. Nagkamali lang ata talaga si Teacher. Hindi pwede yun." So off they went to the bulletin board and gasped when they confirmed that Legaspi, Job Joachim really made it to the list of Gold Star awardees. In fact, he is the only boy in this class to receive such distinction.

When Wacky came down from the stage, he was quickly approached by the mini-contrabidas, "Bakit ka Gold Star?" they chorused. "Ewan ko," the little boy answered, "...baka dahil magaling ako." That shut them up.

I'm all for humility, and we need to teach kids how to be humble. But at that moment, I just said to myself What the heck, let these girls have it for once. So proud of you, Wax.

Espresso Dreams: Dumaguete

Cafe Memento Dumaguete

In daydreams I go back to Negros Oriental – the hum of the waters in Valencia, the beaches of Siaton and Dauin, the sandbar of Manjuyod, the vast sugar cane plantations of Bais and Tanjay, the rustic charm of Dumaguete, and the spectacular marine life of the famed Apo Island.

People come to Dumaguete for a variety of reasons – to go to school, to retire, to marry. Some just want to satiate their curiosity, while others visit the place to reminisce. A mere tourist calls it Dumaguete, but a true habitué knows it as Doomsville – a term of endearment given by those who call the city home, or at least have an intense love affair with Dumaguete.

A pleasant brew of the old and the new, of the quaint and the sophisticated, and of the naive and the urbane; Doomsville is a charming little city that’s a far cry from your typical blah provincial capital. Whether you’re craving for adventure or you just want to laze around, there’s always something for everyone in Dumaguete.

Cafe Memento Dumaguete

One of the many reasons that made people silly about the city is the whole café culture, which can be broken down based on the ages of its patrons. (This may not be true now, but in my time, there's some sort of an age barrier that ran across it.) The high-end coffee shops, like Cafe Mamia and Don Atilano, have the older generation as clientele. Here, you can observe glamorous albeit near-senescent women sitting around chatting about their apo’s, their haciendas and generally, about times past. Restaurants that serve international cuisines, like Coco Amigos and Le Chalet, are the usual hangout joints of expats who just want to lounge around while enjoying the interesting boulevard scene and the beautiful sea views.

The coffee scene for the younger set, on the other hand, paints a more exciting café atmosphere. This can be categorized into three. First, you have the coffee shops for the non-smoking crowd; Lee Cimballi, Dunkin’ Donuts and Cafe Antonio to name a few. Here, you can see students studying hastily for their next-hour exams. Or folks who just want to-see-and-be-seen.

Under the Wild Mindanaoan Sky

Dipolog City, my hometown. Magnificent sunsets, like this one, are not uncommon.

On our way to Dapitan City, at 12 noon. Near Pulauan Wharf.

Graceful Sunset at the Dipolog City Boulevard.

Remembering Ondoy

September 26 2009. It was been three years since Typhoon Ondoy. We will never forget.

Checking one of the cameras that went underwater. This, together with 8 others, has gone to gadget heaven.

Casualties which we were not able to revived. Books, magazines, reading materials, etc. :(

Coco Beach Resort, Puerto Galera

Coco Beach Island Resort, Puerto Galera, Philippines

REVIEW: I’ve already written a review about Coco Beach for one blog; however, in order for me to post the review here, I’d have to get the approval of the website administrator. So let me just give a brief review. (Rating near the bottom of the post)

IDEAL FOR: A quick RnR with the missus. Or with the entire family.

DATE OF VISIT: April, 2012

Joanna

THE RESORT (Source: Coco Beach website)

Coco Beach Island Resort is a sprawling 10-hectare beach resort with facilities made from all-natural materials. Everything is designed to complement each facility and its natural surroundings. Definitely, an idyllic place to recharge frayed nerves, with its cozy ambiance of bamboo and nipa hut in its very Filipino type of hospitality and accommodation.

If you’re thinking of getting away and escaping to a tropical island paradise, then you’ve found the perfect place.

Coco Beach is located at Behiya, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro where the crystal clear water of the sea is full of life; and the hills are full of coconut palms swaying with the breeze. Here in the old days, Spanish galleons passed by the trading routes between Europe, Mexico and the East.

Today, Coco Beach has bungalows and facilities all made in natural materials. No concrete is to be seen anywhere. We have over four restaurants, 110 rooms, tennis court, hanging bridge, sports facilities, 2 swimming pools, spa – everything blends with nature.

A Woman Named Jocelyn

My name is Dan. And I support Endometrial Cancer Awareness.

Why – you might ask – would a guy like me advocate something which he is totally and physiologically exempt from? Yes, Endometrial Cancer is a silent killer of women, and I could support other causes; however, this issue is particularly close to my heart and let me tell you why.

It’s about a woman named Jocelyn.

She was a firecracker, a thunderbolt of sorts. It’s impossible not to notice Jocelyn even if you throw her amid a cacophony of jungle animals. She never failed to light up any dull and dreary room with her burst of energy. Jolly, funny, witty, and happy are among the many things people would often use to describe Jocelyn.  She was a painter of smiles on everyone’s faces and a refreshing ray of warm sunlight on a cold, gloomy day. She once said that perhaps her only mission in this world was to cheer up those who were down. But to those who loved her, she was much more.

photo not author's own

She was only 4’9” (or 5’1” depending on who’s asking), but she could effortlessly tower anyone twice her size with the enormity of her personality. Jocelyn was a brave little warrior against life’s innumerable and oftentimes extravagant tribulations. With nothing but a chill pill and a purple sword in tow, she was always ready to vanquish many of life’s fire-breathing dragons, especially the one that’s called negativity. She’s arguably one of the most positive people anyone could ever meet. Good vibes always and smile, she would always say. Funny, little girl.

A few days after she turned 53, she was diagnosed with cancer. Endometrial Carcinoma. Stage 4. A little over a year after – on June 13, 2011 – she died peacefully in her home in Dipolog City.

She was my mother.

Driving Miriam Defensor Santiago

Miriam Defensor Santiago stole the spotlight. Yet again. With a fierce glint in her eyes and signature fiery rhetoric in tow, Miriam approached the lectern and called some Supreme Court Justices ‘earthworms.’ I resisted the urge to stand up and clap. But I couldn’t. This woman has bigger cojones than all of the Supreme Court Justices combined. (This piece was written in 2006 – author)

As I was vegetating on my couch half-drunk and pounding on the channel button every 5 seconds, something instantly grabbed my attention. A crazy lady with big hair and funny accent. Then it dawned to me. Miriam. I knew I had to put the remote control down and marvel at her Miriam-ness. Miriam yelled. Miriam screamed. Miriam exploded. Miriam went berserk.

The Issue: She's been removed from the official list of candidates for the Chief Justice position, which will be vacated in a week or two. She suspected conspiracy and sabotage to boot her out of the list. She said she wasn’t angry, but “irate, furious, ballistic, fuming, foaming at the mouth, hitting the roof, homicidal” and basically enumerated every word synonymous with ‘angry.’ That’s my girl!

“I am humiliated! Debased! Degraded! And not only that, I feel like throwing up to be living my iddle years in a country of this nature!“

Nathan Goes to the Park

Nathan Goes to the Park. I miss you big boy.

Manny Pacquiao for President

This post first appeared in 2010, a few days before the Presidential election. We all know what happened. Gibo lost. Noynoy won. What the frack, right? But let's move on.

Glancing up at my calendar a few minutes ago, I realized that in 2013 -- that's next year -- the Philippines will, yet again, hold its biggest and most extravagant beauty pageant slash money contest (read: Elections), when the poor rich politicians will have to endure the blistering heat atop their climate-controlled float, while shaking hands with people they'd rather not share the same air with under normal circumstances.

But it's the elections -- Philippines style! So, politicos, brace yourselves!

So I thought of reposting this entry; I hope no one would mind. I doubt if Gibo's joining though. I think he's had enough already.

ANALYZING GIBO

I am going full blast with my campaign to put Gibo Teodoro in Malacanang.

For weeks now, I have been engaging people into verbal combats as to who deserves to win the upcoming presidential elections. Sadly, for most Filipinos, who would get the vote and who deserves to win are two independent concepts. I say – do not place your bet on someone who does not deserve the presidency. Simple.

You don’t vote for someone just because he’s the son of Mr. and Mrs. Whoever – vote for the candidate who has the capability to run this country. So what if he’s not popular? Popularity isn’t everything. Erap was popular – he still is. But he got booted out of Malacanang, right? And what did we do? We installed his family in Senate, for cry out loud! Why – because they’re popular. Haven’t we learned our lesson yet?

Philippine politics is all about guns, goons, and gold. Or so they say. But really, cold hard cash is the name of the game. Deny that statement and I will call you a hypocrite. Wave a few thousand pesos at anyone – or even a few hundred – and you’re the boss. The amount depends on the social status, of course. And it doesn’t have to be in the monetary form. We see it in the movies, “Panalunin mo ko at iaabswelto kita sa lahat ng mga kaso mo.” We see it happening all the time. People compromise their principles for money. Hell, even some prostitutes give in to fifty bucks. (This author cannot corroborate this statement.)

Antulang Beach Resort

I just want to share something I found about Antulang. I would've loved to write about the resort, but 'contract' wouldn't allow it. Haha. So, here it is. Taken from ClicktheCity.com

Antulang Beach Resort by Beatriz Acosta 
posted on Friday, September 04, 2009

Still sleepless from an early flight to Dumaguete, we stumbled along the airport, fumbling with our bags and fixing our messy hair to look more alive. Our shuttle driver held up a sign with my friend's name on it. It was amusingly misspelled and left us all in stitches while boarding the van. An hour's worth of drive is what it took for us to reach our destination. We barely got to catch some shuteye during the drive -- there was a long stretch of bumpy dirtroad before we finally reached our resort. It was not a refreshing way to begin our vacation, but let me tell you this: once the big gates of Antulang opened to welcome us, a love affair began.

Here Comes the Bride

Joey the Bridesmaids, Armie the Bride, and Dan the Groomsman slash host.

Sorry if one of your Bridesmaids and one of your Groomsmen where late for more than half an hour. At least, we made it in time for the veil ceremony. Haha. Best wishes Armie and Ryan!

A Unitary System or a Federal System?

The Philippines’ Road Ahead, Part 2:
A Unitary System or a Federal System? 
Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 7:17pm

The difference between “Presidential or Parliamentary” systems, which we discussed in Part One of this exploration of ways to improve the way the Philippines is governed, and “Unitary or Federal” systems is that the former are systems of government, while the latter are systems of administration. In other words, both a presidential or parliamentary form of government can be organized as a unitary or federal system, and there are examples of all four combinations among the world’s democracies:

Presidential and Unitary: 

Philippines, France

Presidential and Federal: 

United States, Mexico, Brazil 

Parliamentary and Unitary: 

Singapore, Japan, New Zealand

Parliamentary and Federal:

Australia, Canada, Malaysia

In a unitary system, the nation is constitutionally governed as single unit in a “top-down” fashion. Political power of the government might well be delegated to lower levels, as is done here in the Philippines with the country’s arrangement of regions, provinces, municipalities, and barangays, but the central government retains the ultimate authority. The particular arrangement of lower government levels, the geographic areas they cover, and their specific rights and responsibilities are not constitutionally-protected, but are defined, and can be changed by, laws made by the national legislature.

In a federal system, the lower levels of government – usually called states or provinces – have a constitutional existence, and cannot be unilaterally changed by the national government. The nation is effectively governed in a “bottom-up” fashion; whether it is explicitly stated in the nation’s constitution or not (as it is in the U.S. Constitution) the national government has rights and responsibilities delegated to it by the states or provinces, rather than the other way around as in a unitary system.

6-Day Dumaguete and Siquijor Trip

Disclaimer: This post has been getting high traffic according to the site stats. I just want to inform you that this article is not mine as I just copied it from Ambot-ah Travel Blog. Let's give due to the author. I don't want to make a Sotto out of this post. Also, the photos are from PuebloPhilippines.com. I just wanted to post this as I have been planning -- for the longest time -- to do this one day. Only this disclaimer is the author's own, nothing else.

Here’s my itinerary during my recent trip to Dumaguete, Oriental Negros and Siquijor Province for 6 days and 5 nights:

Day 1 – Iloilo to Bacolod, Kabankalan Tour

10:30am – Arrived at Oceanjet Terminal in Muelle Loney, Iloilo City, Iloilo Province
11:20am – “Iloilo – Bacolod” Oceanjet Ferry ride, 10:45am trip (P300 roundtrip promo fare)
12:00nn – Arrived at BREDCO Port, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

Tricycle ride to SM City Bacolod (P10)
“La Salle / Shopping” Jeepney ride to Northbound Ceres Bus Terminal near Libertad Market (P7)
12:30nn – “Kabankalan” economy Ceres bus ride (P79)
4:00pm – Arrived in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental
Kabankalan City Tour

First Birthday Above

It's been a year. I love you, Ma.