new pics

get your september eye sips!

there and back again

Just got back from Cebu where I was supposed to attend a conference for BEC (Basic Ecclesial Communities), however, on the way there I fell ill with some kind of flu (bird?). It was an overnight voyage by sea to Cebu and in the middle of the night I awoke thinking I got on the wrong boat for surely this one was bound for hell. The galley full of sweaty slumbering bodies, the growling engine, the stench of diesel. Thrice I wretched overboard into the stormy sea, with each wretching followed by a peace of equal magnitude to the torture that preceded it. With peace comes sleep, only to wake up an hour later to engage in the bitter struggle again. Up and down, toss and turn, spin round and round. Have to get up and move. Get some fresh air. I’m tired, but no place to sit. Can’t lie down or I’ll hurl. Why have You forsaken me? Gotta think of something else besides my agony. 4AM. Everyone else is sleeping, except for the few other lost souls like me who haunt this boat like scepters. A woman paces back and forth. An old man sitting on the bottom bunk crosses himself repeatedly. Oh here we go again... Run, run, run. BLEEEGGHHHHH!!! Thank you Jesus.

So no conference for me. Spent three days at Lola’s sleeping and watching Filipino TV, which is normally crappy but under such circumstances it was bliss. When I got better I spent another day looking for the restroom in the local “Mega Mall” which is mega indeed. At least twice I worked myself into such a seething rage at getting myself so lost that I wanted to freak out (i.e. tear at my clothes, thrash around, and belabor the people and things around me with my blows). But instead I just bit my lip.

After a harrowing many-legged jouney back to the island, I found myself far away from the the stress of a Third World city and once again at home in the Shire, greeted by warm smiles and salutations.

me-day

Thanks everyone for the b-day greetings! I bought a lechon (whole roast pig) and we ate it on the beach with all the youths. We also had another celebration with all the church staff at the swimming pool and we drank a lot of "tuba," coconut wine, which tastes nasty at first until you drink enough and realize it's really a sweet nectar from above.

BTW, I'm sorry this experiment in blog hasn't been much of a dialogue, but know that I appreciate all your comments even if they're left hangin...nahhh meeeeeean!

Postal Service

eh hem.. After several hours of html tinkering, I've managed to add my mailing address to the sidebar.

Just sayin.

No news, good news?

There are no newspapers even here in Naval, the bustling commercial center of the this island. I don't seem to mind so much since the absence of news sources expiates my guilt for not being up on current events. Still, soundbytes have reached mine ear regarding Katrina and her destruction, as well as the impeding impeachement Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (current president of Philippines). But I know few details concering both.

***

I stepped over a dead puppy covered with flies lying on the sidewalk on the way to the internet cafe. Last week a nineteen year old girl, an active member of the parish, died in a motorcylce accident. It caused little commotion. And couple of weeks ago the cousin (30 years old) of Apo, one of the "convent boys" died of some disease or other. I went to Apo's house for the wake, putting on a face of respectful mourning as I entered. Inside his relatives were drinking and playing cards next to the dead man's body.

I don't know, but sometimes it seems that life has a lesser value here than at home. Maybe it comes with the package of being poor. Maybe people here don't know how to "hold their feelings." Or perhaps death, with its hand that grasps every mother's son/daughter, is more easily accepted. I know not.

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Weekly update:

Although the piggies have been distributed, most families don't have the money to buy the feeds to make them fat. I'm currently writing a budget proposal to borrow money from the Social Action Center for the pigs feeds. Wish us luck!

We finished painting the convent last week. The upstairs is filled with bright 70's tones. Retro-trend. I fell off a table and covered myself in green (leaded?) enamel paint. It was awesome.

Our new task is transferring several years worth of garbage/waste to the front yard. About 50% is now a rich, dark, fertile loam while the other half is plastics and assorted junk. I've been sorting through this stuff for a couple days now, relishing for some reason the look of disgust of the high school girls passing by. Ah, the humble work of the stewards of the Earth!