oh gad oh gad oh gad, reality has hit, must now join the working force again, oh gad oh gad oh gad...
Hay, salamat, may internet access na ako. Since I tried to avoid spending time in Manila, I was without internet access the majority of my stay in the Philippines. Anyways, remember the list I did of things I wanted to do while I was in the Philippines? Here's an updated list:
What I did do:
+ Present at the Sangandaan Conference.
I been dying to type up my updated version to post my paper here. Abangan! Syempre must balance my rants from previous posts with the positives about the conference:)
+ Visit an orphanage in Bulacan
Only spent a few hours there, was so hard to leave. Next time, I really need to at least stay overnight.
+ Go to two different spas recommeneded by 2 different people
Actually got 3 massages from 3 different places and one facial at another place. Sarap!
+Spend as much time as the Looney's will allow on their Organic Farm
Spent about a week at
the land as an actual paid facilitator! Expert na ako sa paggawa nang gugo shampoo. I made some with B and P this morning! I kiss commerically made shampoo goodbye!
+ Find out what so hot about Fort Santiago and Libis these days
Didn't quite make it to Fort Santiago and only had lunch in Libis, so I still don't know what's so hot about Libis either.
+ Go to Joel Torre's new restaurant Bacolod Manukan
Inasal! This place is on a street corner in Greenhills near Lasalle, next to Ferino's Bibingka and across from a Max Restaurant. Galeng nang directions no!?
+ Go to 70s Bistro
Not just once, but twice! :) First time we went, saw Ely Bundia's new band, the Mongols. (okay lang, parang eheads just more songs in english) Second time was great: Pan and Sandwich. Galeng talaga!
+ Go to Vestiges of War Book Party
Saya. This was held at CCP. Met a lot of visual artists, indie filmmakers, and
Dong Abay from Pan! Also, first time I got a press pass so I was all over the place taking photos of the speakers. Then na low-bat. Anobayan!?!
+ Buy books at National Bookstore and The Filipino Bookstore
Went to National Bookstore ONCE. I can't bilib it either. Bought a coupla Bob Ong books:) (wink wink, Ibalik)
+ Meet the folks from Kasibulan
These kick-ass women artists were so inspiring. N and I attended a general meeting held at visual artist Paz Abad Santos' house, which was a canvas of its own. Can't wait to share the pics with you.
What I didn't do:
+ Buy some shoes in Liliw
+ Buy whatever I can get my hands on at Divisoria
+ Go to Sanctum
To Be Continued...
I'm back with a stuffy nose and ubo. Wahwahwah...
Previously attempted post on the Reading blog on July 25:
Finished Goodbye Tsugumi on the plane. I tried to start Umbrella Country, but can't seem to sink my teeth into it. Started God of Small Things, but have been distracted lately by my current vacation in the Philippines. What I have been reading is a piece I wrote a while back called Tsismis. Its in the Nuyorasian Anthology edited by Bino Realuyo and I forgot that he had included, in his introduction, an email he had sent to me during the submission process. Pretty cool, if you ask me. I recently read it again, because, my friend Bing, who has performed (really!) Tsismis with me is here in the Philippines, and asked me to bring it so they could perform it for the 35 college-age Filipino Americans they are teaching Tagalog to at UPLB for the program of my former mentor, and (one of the original) brains behind Arkipelago, Susan Quimpo. The program is called Tagalog On Site. They used to be based in Palawan, but because of the recent events here, they had to transfer to Laguna due to parental concerns. Anyways, they have a "No Talent" night so Bing (who by the way played the psychic neighbor in last night's episode of Maaalala Mo Kaya) wanted to perform it with one of the other teacher/facilitators. I wish I was there to see it. I've never watched it performed, for some reason I've always been part of every reading of it. Watching someone perform what you wrote would be so cool, di ba? Anyways, yun lang for now. Too much to kwento. Keep checking back for more on what I've been reading:)
