im thinking of quitting facebook. if im going to deactivate my account, this would be the shortest-lived account i have online. i just started in 2009 or 2010 i think.
being on facebook everyday, i think i've reached that point when i think im getting too much information from people already. information that i am not even sure i want to know.
from a medium of connecting with friends and family members, im afraid it is turning out to be the biggest vanity project there is on earth. and im an accomplice.
i think i want to go back to sending an email or a text to someone when i want to know how s/he is doing. or maybe writing a longer entry to express my thoughts instead of typing a 2-liner status that is meant to elicit likes and comments from people. i think i want to go through the ordeal of choosing the best picture to post and thinking of good captions instead of carelessly posting all pictures just to brag that "hey, i have been to this or that place for x number of days".
i dont know. maybe im just getting too old for it.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
threshing out
what do you when your most important folder is lost?
im currently looking for a job. and to organize my files, i have created a folder solely dedicated to my job hunting documents. in that folder are my CVs customized according to the position I have applied for, summaries of job descriptions needed for my accounts in various job search portals, scanned ID pics, etc.
but when I checked my mobile disk just a few minutes ago, i can no longer find my folder! i felt like crying. it was just there yesterday. yes, i have printed copies of my CVs. and yes, I haven't deleted the emails I sent to various companies. in fact, with my printed CV and application letters sent through email still in my possession, that folder is pretty much disposable. but i guess its essence is not just because of the files it houses. in my month-long job-hunting expedition, that folder has become my security blanket. everything that i need for my current job-hunting project is there.
it brings me back memories of our house transfer last year. when we moved to my brother's place, we had to dispose a lot of our belongings from our tiny apartment. at first, it was hard to let them go. but when you make sense of it, it became easier. what would you need old notebooks, outdated textbooks, unused clothes, spare blankets and pillowcases, empty canisters, etc etc for? nothing. they were just kept because they were cute. or because of the idea that one day, they may be needed. or maybe because of the sentimental value. but are they really important? no. will life stop if they are disposed of? no.
as such, the purging exercise became a trigger point for reflection. what does one need in life? do i really need a lot of possessions? what will i do with them if i die? they may have been important before but they will inevitably become disposables at some point. so what is really important in life?
is the lost of my folder a nudge to make me realize what is important at this point?
or should i look at it as a foreboding occurrence? maybe i have to delete it soon anyway. now that thought is more inspiring.
it's funny how a trivial thing can spark my crazy thoughts.
im currently looking for a job. and to organize my files, i have created a folder solely dedicated to my job hunting documents. in that folder are my CVs customized according to the position I have applied for, summaries of job descriptions needed for my accounts in various job search portals, scanned ID pics, etc.
but when I checked my mobile disk just a few minutes ago, i can no longer find my folder! i felt like crying. it was just there yesterday. yes, i have printed copies of my CVs. and yes, I haven't deleted the emails I sent to various companies. in fact, with my printed CV and application letters sent through email still in my possession, that folder is pretty much disposable. but i guess its essence is not just because of the files it houses. in my month-long job-hunting expedition, that folder has become my security blanket. everything that i need for my current job-hunting project is there.
it brings me back memories of our house transfer last year. when we moved to my brother's place, we had to dispose a lot of our belongings from our tiny apartment. at first, it was hard to let them go. but when you make sense of it, it became easier. what would you need old notebooks, outdated textbooks, unused clothes, spare blankets and pillowcases, empty canisters, etc etc for? nothing. they were just kept because they were cute. or because of the idea that one day, they may be needed. or maybe because of the sentimental value. but are they really important? no. will life stop if they are disposed of? no.
as such, the purging exercise became a trigger point for reflection. what does one need in life? do i really need a lot of possessions? what will i do with them if i die? they may have been important before but they will inevitably become disposables at some point. so what is really important in life?
is the lost of my folder a nudge to make me realize what is important at this point?
or should i look at it as a foreboding occurrence? maybe i have to delete it soon anyway. now that thought is more inspiring.
it's funny how a trivial thing can spark my crazy thoughts.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
dose of inspiration
"Dear Gi,
Thanks for your letter. I'm always happy to hear from my students about how my teaching has affected their lives. I will probably never receive another letter like that from a student since I am finally retiring from forty years of teaching in June this year.
You are a very talented person and I can sense that you will have a bright future. But wherever you may end up living and working, do not forget to give something back to the Inang Bayan that nurtured you."
For all teachers, students and Filipinos abroad, may this inspire you as well.
Thanks for your letter. I'm always happy to hear from my students about how my teaching has affected their lives. I will probably never receive another letter like that from a student since I am finally retiring from forty years of teaching in June this year.
You are a very talented person and I can sense that you will have a bright future. But wherever you may end up living and working, do not forget to give something back to the Inang Bayan that nurtured you."
For all teachers, students and Filipinos abroad, may this inspire you as well.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
cultural exchanges
note: the dialogues are based on what i remember and may not be 100% accurate
ang alamat ng pagkaing kung tawagin ay "krep"(of crepes and crabs)
uncle: so what do you feel like eating?
me: im not very hungry. hmm...how about some "krep"?
uncle: "krep"? i dont know. it's so troublesome to eat.
me: huh? you just use your fork and knife to eat it. it's easier than eating with chopsticks!
uncle: of course not! eating with chopsticks is easier.
me: that's because it's natural for you to eat using chopsticks.
(after a few more minutes of discussion and looking around for a place to eat)
uncle: there are no good "krep" places here. the best ones are far from the city.
me: oh its ok. im sure we can find it in dessert places or french restaurants here.
uncle: no you wont!
me: huh? back home, i can find it in those places.
uncle: are you sure?
me: yes.
(after walking some more)
me: ok. what's the nearest thing to "krep". hmm...waffles?
uncle: waffle? how is that near to "krep"?
me: wait, what kind of "krep" are you talking about?
uncle: what kind of "krep" are you talking about?
me: the one that looks like a thin pancake with some fruit fillings and ice cream on top?
uncle: oh you mean crepe? i was referring to crab!
me: oh, we pronounce it as krep. how do you pronounce it?
uncle: kreyp.
laughter ensued...
buko as dessert
kim invited anne and i to a pre-christmas dinner at her home and i brought some buko pandan for dessert. glad kim and her husband loved it!
it was interesting to learn that having fresh young coconut as a dessert ingredient is foreign to them. yes, they used it for coconut cream/milk-based dishes but not for dessert.
itlog na maalat
in one of our dinners, we had salted egg frog legs. based from its taste, it seems like the frog legs were dipped in salted egg-based batter before it was deep-fried.
i blurted out that we usually have salted egg with tomatoes for breakfast.
classmate: so how do you cook the salted egg?
me: hard-boiled, and then we mix it with tomatoes
classmate: how do you cook the tomatoes?
me: oh, we eat it fresh. we boil the egg first, remove it from the shell and slice it into small pieces. then we mix it with sliced fresh tomatoes, and voila, breakfast! it goes well with fried rice.
classmate: oh nice. i have to try that.
and more exchanges
one classmate shared that she usually scoops peanut butter and coats it with milk powder
another said that she usually mixes milo with condensed milk
and i brought classic polvoron from house of polvoron and they liked it
if benetton has united colors, we have united taste buds :)
ang alamat ng pagkaing kung tawagin ay "krep"(of crepes and crabs)
uncle: so what do you feel like eating?
me: im not very hungry. hmm...how about some "krep"?
uncle: "krep"? i dont know. it's so troublesome to eat.
me: huh? you just use your fork and knife to eat it. it's easier than eating with chopsticks!
uncle: of course not! eating with chopsticks is easier.
me: that's because it's natural for you to eat using chopsticks.
(after a few more minutes of discussion and looking around for a place to eat)
uncle: there are no good "krep" places here. the best ones are far from the city.
me: oh its ok. im sure we can find it in dessert places or french restaurants here.
uncle: no you wont!
me: huh? back home, i can find it in those places.
uncle: are you sure?
me: yes.
(after walking some more)
me: ok. what's the nearest thing to "krep". hmm...waffles?
uncle: waffle? how is that near to "krep"?
me: wait, what kind of "krep" are you talking about?
uncle: what kind of "krep" are you talking about?
me: the one that looks like a thin pancake with some fruit fillings and ice cream on top?
uncle: oh you mean crepe? i was referring to crab!
me: oh, we pronounce it as krep. how do you pronounce it?
uncle: kreyp.
laughter ensued...
buko as dessert
kim invited anne and i to a pre-christmas dinner at her home and i brought some buko pandan for dessert. glad kim and her husband loved it!
it was interesting to learn that having fresh young coconut as a dessert ingredient is foreign to them. yes, they used it for coconut cream/milk-based dishes but not for dessert.
itlog na maalat
in one of our dinners, we had salted egg frog legs. based from its taste, it seems like the frog legs were dipped in salted egg-based batter before it was deep-fried.
i blurted out that we usually have salted egg with tomatoes for breakfast.
classmate: so how do you cook the salted egg?
me: hard-boiled, and then we mix it with tomatoes
classmate: how do you cook the tomatoes?
me: oh, we eat it fresh. we boil the egg first, remove it from the shell and slice it into small pieces. then we mix it with sliced fresh tomatoes, and voila, breakfast! it goes well with fried rice.
classmate: oh nice. i have to try that.
and more exchanges
one classmate shared that she usually scoops peanut butter and coats it with milk powder
another said that she usually mixes milo with condensed milk
and i brought classic polvoron from house of polvoron and they liked it
if benetton has united colors, we have united taste buds :)
Sunday, January 01, 2012
claiming 2012
before the world ends as what some prophesy says, i would like to claim it first! besides, if they're correct, i still have until dec 20, 2012. not bad! (crazy, really crazy!)
2011 was my year of transition. i placed a lot of periods in my book.
i left my job.
we left our long-time place in cubao.
i finished my program.
i dont know how 2012 will unfold. but come to think of it, no one knows anyway. and ive always had the same thought every jan. the only difference is that now, most of the uncertainties are due to my choices. and i could only hope for the best. yes, im welcoming 2012 with nothing but hope.
happy 2012 everyone!
2011 was my year of transition. i placed a lot of periods in my book.
i left my job.
we left our long-time place in cubao.
i finished my program.
i dont know how 2012 will unfold. but come to think of it, no one knows anyway. and ive always had the same thought every jan. the only difference is that now, most of the uncertainties are due to my choices. and i could only hope for the best. yes, im welcoming 2012 with nothing but hope.
happy 2012 everyone!
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