Southeast Asia: Cambodia

Part 1 of my seven-day Southeast Asia backpacking tour featuring Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I spent several days travelling alone last year. Finally I was able to backpack in other countries--something that I've always wanted to do. 

I started with two cities in Cambodia and one in Vietnam from June 2-9 (a total of 7 days). 

Why these countries, you may ask. First, because they don't require Visa for Filipinos since we are neighbors (Southeast Asia represent!). Second, most of my friends have been there and they promised that the cost of living is cheap. Lastly, Buddhism is largely practiced in these parts of the world.

Here is my itinerary for those of you who also plan to go :)


SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
(June 2-4; 8-9)

Mode of transportation: Two-hour plane ride from NAIA to Siem Reap International Airport.

Currency: US Dollar (USD) is widely accepted. You can also use Cambodian Riel (KHR) but it's more complicated to compute. I just used it to secure souvenir bills.

Other travelling tips to Cambodia can be found HERE and HERE.


June 2

Midnight: 

• Airport arrival
• Bought a local SIM with 1-mo. unlimited surfing data for only USD5.
• Picked up at the airport by the Tuk Tuk driver of my customer intuitive hostel, the Siem Reap Hostel (highly recommended for backpackers, btw).

• For late dinner, I had a traditional Khmer Fish Amok (presented inside a coconut shell) for USD6 at Triangle Restaurant Lounge Bar, where, coincidentally, the singers are Pinoys too. It's one of the countless restaurants and bars found along Pub Street, arguably Siem Reap's liveliest area for partying, dining, shopping, and night life.

June 3

Early morning until early afternoon

• Woke up early for the Small Circuit Temple Tour for a standard rate of USD 15 (you may ask your hostel staff to book you one). We started off with Angkor Wat, the lovely religious temple built during the 12th century.
• Unable to hide my excitement, I literally shouted when I approached it. For me, going to places is always better than reading about them in history books.
• Note: Entrance fee to Angkor Wat is USD20. It's best to visit before sunrise so you can witness the magical color transformation of the sky from red-orange, orange, yellow, to shades of blue. It's a visual treat!

• Next stop: Bayon Temple, located north of Angkor Wat, is best known for having multiple massive stone faces of bodhisattva Avalokitshvara. You can find locals dressed in traditional costumes who accommodate paid photo opportunities.

 

• Third temple: Ta Phrom Temple, made more famous by the tress that grew out of the ruins and the jungle-like surroundings. Sadly, most of the mini temples were being renovated when we visited so we didn't see much.

• Last stop: Bapun Temple, a quadrangular temple with steep staircases leading to the highest point where a seemingly open door stands.

• For lunch, I had a Chicken Lok Lak for about USD8. It is a popular local dish which I favored over Amok since it's more visually appealing and flavorful (with meat, eggs, veggies, tasty sauce, and fried rice).
• Fortunately, I met some of the most adventurous one-woman backpackers Eloise (from UK) and Nurul (from Malaysia) in Angkor Wat and we all happened to stay in the same hostel. We spent the entire trip together while sharing thoughts about our countries, travels, religions, and some personal matters. Truly an experience worth more than any passport stamp!

Afternoon

• We took a break from the overwhelming temple tour and went back to our hostel to swim at the pool then take a nap :)
• I met my new roommate, Orlaith (pronounced Orla) from Ireland, and I invited her to join us for our planned trip that evening.

Evening

• To my overwhelming delight, we watched Phare, the Cambodian Circus for USD18 inside, no less than, a circus tent! The best thing about Phare is that it's circus with theater (acrobatics complete with acting, miming, and audience interaction). More than being a performing arts group, Phare is also a social enterprise that uplifts the lives of underprivileged youth by exposing them into artistic endeavors (which made me even happier!)
• After the show, we had dinner at Pub Street. Eloise invited her classmate back in UK, James and his girlfriend Ester, to join us.

• I had a Shrimp Pad Thai (yap, in Cambodia) for about USD6. It tasted authentic, to say the least.

Me, James, Nurul, Orlaith, Ester, and Eloise

Orlaith, Ester, and Eloise

• After dinner, we had some drinks at a rooftop in one of Pub Street bars. We played an entertaining Yes-No asking game (3 rounds) where we identified the secret names on our foreheads featuring Personalities, Musicians, and Cartoon Characters as categories. Picture this, six strangers on one table with some cigarettes (for them) and lots of beers and alcohols (also for them; I just had one) having fun without prejudice! Now that's why I went solo backpacking in the first place: to be an anonymous personality amid a crowd whom I can learn from and be inspired of.
• We head on our separate ways the following day. I woke up early to go to Phnom Penh; Nurul headed to another province in Cambodia; Eloise went to Lao PDR; while Orlaith, James, and Ester, continued their Siem Reap adventure.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

(June 4-6)

Mode of transportation: Bus. Sleeper buses are more expensive than public buses but preferable when you're seeking comfort and the assurance that more tourists are also on board. Six-hour ride along agricultural fields and underdeveloped highways (Siem Reap is a province after all, remember?)

Best time to travel: Early morning so you can arrive at Phnom Penh by early afternoon and still have a lot of time to stroll.

June 4

Morning until early afternoon

• My breakfast consisted of bread-and-butter-and-jam; milk, and fruit slices available at our hostel for only USD2.

• I took on a six-hour bus ride to Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. I only took a public bus which meant that there were more locals than tourists. Luckily, I sat beside Kamsan, a local who knows how to speak English and is a fan of Manny Pacquiao so I didn't have a hard time during the trip! He was also generous in accompanying me throughout all our bus stops. He even gave me a rice cake; their local version of our "suman."
• I also met a Cambodian Theravada Buddhism student who was travelling with his 'best friend,' a Chinese Mahayana Buddhism student. I thought then that they were having an affair!
• When I arrived in Phnom Penh, I hired a motorcycle driver to take me to Sundance Riverside Guest House. Unfortunately, he doesn't speak good English so we got lost for about 15 minutes locating my place. To keep it brief, I would say that my choice of Sundance was wrong because it is frequented by old Caucasian expats, hence, I didn't earn a new traveler friend :(
• Because I got tired of that morning's travel, I just spent the afternoon lazying off in my bed and watching "That Awkward Moment" and the French Open on TV. 

Evening

• I had dinner at Phnom Penh Night Market, their version of our Divisoria. Like the locals, I ate a Miche (fried noodles with leafy veggie in beef sauce) while sitting on a mat. I engaged with two school teachers who were genuinely nice! They even gave me a star keychain as a souvenir :)

June 5

Morning until afternoon

• I visited the infamous Cheoung Ek Genocidal Center (Killing Fields) and learned a lot about Cambodia's genocide history from '75-'79. It was a sad and depressing experience (imagine, Cambodians killing Cambodians). The multilingual audio tour was a great idea though (if the intention was to scare tourists more than educate them of what really happened in various areas of the Fields). I also saw the Killing Tree where executioners beat children to death :(

• Next stop: Toul Seng Genocide Museum (S21). The torture rooms and equipment, prison cells, and victims' photos did little to ease my sadness. Besides being more haunting than the Killing Fields, it is an indispensable part of any Phnom Penh tour.
• I canvassed for souvenirs at Phnom Penh Central Market but only managed to buy ref magnets because 1) I was concerned with my budget since I was just in the middle of the trip and 2) some vendors were impatient.

• Before heading back to Sundance, I strolled around Royal Palace, the official residence of the Royal Family. It was closed during that time so I wasn't able to see the Silver Pagoda. I had to be contented with the facade. Interesting enough, the park in front of the Palace is open to the public. It's like bringing Luneta Park in front of Malacanang Palace! You can sum up an ordinary Phnom Penh weekend by spending some time in the park: families having picnik, children running, monks walking, tourists taking pictures, and vendors occupying sidewalks. All of these happen with the river at the background, amid an endless cycle of sunrise and sunset, and regular passing of cruise boats.
• My Tuk Tuk driver (who was not that good in English) and I had a misunderstanding regarding the tour fee. He thought that his lunch (which I paid for) was excluded from the fee, although I made the opposite clear before we ate. We just met halfway. If I remember correctly, I paid him about USD18.

Evening

• I found a local bookstore near the Royale Palace that sells cheap locally printed books (i.e. Haruki Murakami novels for about PHP200 only). It broke my heart to leave the store without any purchase because my bag is already filled with a couple of books :(
• I was craving for company on my last evening in Phnom Penh so I contacted the two Buddhism students who I met on the bus earlier. We met at a park between their amusement center and resort-casino area. I walked for about twenty minutes, thinking that the area was just near my place!
• Fact: Maps, while generally helpful to get you from point A to point B, are not always transparent with the actual distance of getting there.

• For dinner, I had ordinary noodles for USD1.5 while literally sitting on the sidewalk! When the two Buddhism students found out about my dinner, they ordered for them too. The Theravata student had a vow of fasting after 11 A.M. so he insisted that his friend eat his part. It was crazy seeing him fighting his desire to eat and it was confusing to see them argue (L.Q.?). I was like an uninvited guest, tbh.
• The same student gave me a plastic bag filled with huge plates of dried mangoes. It didn't taste as good as our Cebu dried mangoes but I thought that was generous of him. I gave the bag to a (seemingly) homeless man.

June 6

Morning

• While having breakfast downstairs, I saw a group of monks who were doing their daily routine of collecting alms (or donations) from locals. I hurried to my room, grabbed my camera, and got near them to get a good shot. I've been waiting to personally witness such sense of altruism that is only found in Buddhism.
• Before I left for Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, I accidentally destroyed the door knob of my restroom. I didn't notify the owner because I was afraid he would charge me for it. Haha!

(AFTER HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM) BACK TO SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

June 8

Evening

• I was picked up at the bus station by the Tuk Tuk driver of Siem Reap Hostel (an awesome customer service offered by not all hostels, btw).
• I survived an exhausting 13-hour public bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Phnom Penh, and then back to Siem Reap. Had I taken a private bus, that trip would have been shorter.

June 9

Morning

• Last day of my tour. I woke up early to buy souvenirs for my family among the few opened stores at Siem Reap Old Market. I spent more than USD50! 
• Tip: You have to bargain when buying souvenirs. To win one, pretend that you're uninterested with the product because the price is high and you can only pay for a certain amount.Take a few steps out of the store, and 90% of the time, they will call you back and settle for your price :)

Afternoon

• I fixed my stuff and prepared for departure. Good thing that The Siem Reap Hostel let me stay within the building despite checking out early. While waiting for the proper time to travel to the airport, I watched "Fight Club" and a local documentary in the movie room for free. 

The free pick-up service and movie room are just two of the great customer services that one can get from Siem Reap Hostel. They also offer a food crawl, reception area with local tour and inter-city/cross-country packages, bar, buffet breakfast, swimming pool, billiard table, book swap shelf, and yoga and spa sessions at reasonable prices.

It's true what people say about Cambodia - that it is affordable and has an interesting history. Cambodians are generally warm to tourists although vendors have the tendency to be irrationally aggressive.

For me, Siem Reap is a better destination because it gives you the beauty of Cambodia's ancient temples that have stood the test of time (even archaeologists wonder how they were built that strong). Also, more people there can speak and understand English. 

Phnom Pehn, despite being the capital, lacks modernity. Some say that the only thing that matters there is the country's genocide history, and I totally agree. I would say though that it should be a non-negotiable place to visit so tourists can truly understand how Cambodia came to be the county that we now know--beyond the corners of Angkor Wat alone.

That's it! Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of my Cambodian adventure.

Introspection

It's hard to write when you don't know what to write about. You wanna finish another (or your first) masterpiece but you can't even write a sentence. Maybe you can but you don't what is it about. Maybe you do but you have no clue how to continue.

All you wanted is to be good. When you have one or two good stories, you wanna be better. You want to reach that line that promises greatness and welcomes fearlessness. You know you want to write but then you don't know what is it about. 

This consuming passion to write, to share stories, to be a narrator, a comic, a dramatist, a romantic, a priest, a nun--a person who others pay attention to not because you seek attention, only because you have something to share.

What do you want to be? A playwright? A novelist? A poet? An essayist? Do you want an extensive work of literature or do you want to save up space and time? You don't know which path you wanna take. No business, no bullshit--you want to pursue your love for writing, literature, and the arts.

Hard to find inspiration, right? What about your successes? Your failures? Your wicked ways? Your wild dreams? First sex? With whom? First love? Who? World Peace? No, it's probably corny. You? Too egotistical.

Ricky Lee said as a writer, you don't wait for the moment, you make that moment.

Write as if it's the last day.
Write because you want to.
Write because you must.

#WayBackWednesday

I was going through my now defunct Tumblr account and I saw a photo of my first (and last) clay sculpture - a Dragon (or Bird).

It was a product of one of those moments when I had ample time and extra supply of clay from a previous school project. I know it's not much but let me know what you think!

Personalizing 2016

Did you notice that our local bookstores have seemingly forgotten what they should sell more of?

It used to be that when you enter one, you will be greeted with books only -- bestsellers printed in hardbound, mass paperback, and trade paperback. Nowadays, it's not primarily books that entice you to stroll inside a bookshop but other countless paper products and their 'accessories.'

I'm referring to endless rows of customized notebooks, planners, personal/work memo pads, and coloring books -- the last clearly suffering from mainstream fatigue (read: something nice, cute and interesting when only few people do/know about it). Additionally, there are sketch/drawing pads and packs of color pencils, watercolors, fine liners, and other amateur and professional coloring materials easily found near or around the counters.

Take a look at these:

Notebooks and notepads for every mood (or the lack of it)

'Fake it 'til you make it' checklists for work and school

Busy? Not an excuse not to try these custom-design coloring pads

50 Shades of 'Kaartehan' with these coloring/drawing/sketching materials

There's surely no harm in planning 2016 with your favorite cartoon/fictional character as a companion

While they may serve well for bookshops to entice more customers, they can also serve as distractions to bookworms who go to bookstores for its namesake -- books.

Perhaps bookshop owners think, "Let's entice young consumers with something cute, colorful, and reflective of their personality from the windows and entrance of our store. Maybe once they're in, they will realize that they also need a book for academic or leisurely purposes."

Meanwhile, it dawned on me that labeling one's self has truly evolved as a need these days. It's not just enough that you show people your identity and personality through your choice of clothing and mannerisms (that people usually judge you by) but also for the things that just stay inside your bag and through thoughts that remain mostly inside your head.

Nowadays, we have coloring book for adults (who have no time and have probably forgotten how it feels to be children again); customized notebooks and pads for one's moods, observations, positive reinforcement, and scribbles; and planners for travelers, cartoon addicts, posh college students, and the free-spirited, just to name a few. 

I'm not saying that patronizing these products are bad. I just hope I can see more books in bookshops and more of the ones above inside specialty stores. 

While these products bring the "never thought I needed you 'til I saw you" moment, they steal the show from books which are the real time-tested instruments for searching, defining, and reinforcing one's self.

It Was Nice Knowing You

NOTE: This essay was published in Philippine Daily Inquirer's "Young Blood" column in January 21, 2016. You may see the article on this LINK.

Bidding 2015 farewell...

My 2015 #bestnine photos according to Instagram

Your presence was marked with pleasant surprises, unexpected visitors, failed attempts, and difficult experiences.

You made yourself clear right from the start: you entered my life to fill it with so much passion and adventure.

You were the essay that voiced out its disappointment about the short-lived visit of Pope Francis in Leyte. You knew that you were not pleasing but you insisted. Your honesty was antagonized by readers who told you to just be grateful, at the least.

You were the amateur one-act plays submitted to a local theater festival. You delivered my Easter Sunday surprise when you accepted my play “The Wedding Planners” in the stage reading category of Virgin Labfest 11. You allowed me to work with theater artists that I admire and you introduced us on my 24^th birthday. Clearly, you could not have chosen a better timing!

You frequently caused traffic jams to inspire me with additional scenes and dialogues to satisfy my director’s request for more depth to the characters. You were the joke that I added a few hours before the show and I thank God because the audience laughed out loud at you.

You were my loyal travel buddy when I went backpacking in four Southeast Asian countries. You proved that indeed one knows thyself, and others, from travelling alone.

You were the extremely hot Cambodia, affordable and busy Vietnam, culturally intact Thailand, and laid-back Malaysia.

You walked with me through Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia as the atheist British student who believed that your parents’ divorce was the best thing that happened to your family. You were the female Malaysian Muslim who told your parents you were just staying at a friend’s house, not backpacking abroad, to secure their permission. You were the New York banker who resigned from your job and travelled around Southeast Asia for months. You were the Theravada Buddhism student who travelled with your best friend from China who studies Mahayana Buddhism. I did not tell you this but I think you two were having an affair because of your intimacy and by the looks of your smartphone theme (pink and flowery).

You were the Taiwanese businessman who gave me a drink as we waited for the rain to stop in the busy tourist district of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It made me sad to know that your girlfriend left you because she cannot help you take care of your sick mother. I sincerely wish you happiness and good luck. You were also the tour operator who I kissed under the influence of alcohol, with no regrets. Putting aside my emotions, that move guaranteed me cheaper tour fees and higher exchange rates. Rest assured that I admired your sweetness and care.

You accommodated my short trip in Bangkok, Thailand as the tour guide who aggressively sold us tamarind. You left me and my colleagues divided with regard to your gender identity. Let me tell you that you were not the only one who confused us during our stay. You were also the Red Light District performers who inserted and pulled out every (un)imaginable prop to your genitals. You were nonetheless entertaining.

You patiently stayed with me in a weeklong retreat in Sabah, Malaysia. You were the British engineer who thought that everyone cares about the Royal Family in England except its own people. You also pitied Queen Elizabeth for “not having a normal, casual conversation throughout her reign so she must have been bored for more than 60 years now.” You were the Muslim engineer who will get married in May to your high school girlfriend because your parents are pressuring you. I hope that unlike what you think, your fiancée will allow you to travel alone.

 

You were the Filipina raised as a Catholic but converted to Islam because you saw the inherent beauty of the religion. You were also the undocumented Filipina Muslim whose life is confined between selling merchandise in the City Mosque and staying inside your safe house. I seek Allah’s guidance to give you wisdom in creating a new life in Sabah, given that you are eager to marry a local. I hope that things get better from there.

You also taught me valuable lessons by not taking the human form. You were the strong rain that made descending Mt. Ayaas’ dangerous. You inspired me to see beauty through countless art works and forms within eight local and foreign museums. You allowed me to surprise myself, my classmates and mentor during my writing boot camp with Jessica Zafra. You convinced me that if I were to have my first formal training in writing, it had better be under her. You reminded me that my talent needs constant practice and if I want to be an effective writer, I need to write more, observe often, and speak less.

While you gave me a lot reasons to be thankful for, you were also a pain in the ass in some occasions. You were the all-knowing client that I wish I never met; the boring account that I wish was more open to risks; the bus driver who injured my wrist when you suddenly closed the door as I stepped inside; and the unexplainable occasional pain in my stomach and chest.

You were the fear that crippled me from submitting entries to two writing competitions because you told me I lack the experience and drive. You were the work tasks that I cowardly executed because you demanded a lot. You were the recurring anxiety that caused me to eat late, sleep for few hours, and exercise less.

You were countless of Facebook ‘friends’ that I deleted because you were negative, cynical, or plainly unfamiliar.

You were the person I regretted calling because you were no longer interested to talk to me. After some time I redeemed myself and seen-zoned you on Messenger because I already lost my interest too.

Looking back, I just want to focus on the bright side of knowing you.

You fuelled my imagination, creativity and passion through 47 movies and 11 full-length theater plays that I watched, and 15 books and three screenplays that I read. You also gave me much pleasure from drawing portraits.

You were the countless punch lines that made me laugh out loud while hanging out with my high school and college friends and officemates.

Being with you gave me a lot of ups and downs. I’m sure I will encounter you again this year perhaps in another person, place or situation. I hope that when that day comes, we can reconnect like old friends. I will probably tell you how I noticed that “times have changed” and hope you can end with, “so have you.” 

My 2015 in Movies, Theater and Literature

Here we go with my annual round-up of the books (15) and screenplays (3) I read, and movies (47) and theater plays (10) I watched, in the year that was.

 BOOKS

The last book I read this year, 'You Better Not Cry."

• And The Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini's third novel about long-lost siblings and their undying love and concern for each other. 
• The Sherlockian - First novel of Graham Moore, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of 'The Imitation Game' featuring Benedict Cumberbatch, who also plays Mr. Holmes in the popular BBC One series 'Sherlock'.
• Norwegian Wood - A coming-of-age novel by Japanese literary luminary Haruki Murakami.
• The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency - An african novel by Alexander McCall Smith. It bored me to death; I guess the timing was not proper.
• How Starbucks Saved My Life - Memoir that shares how Michael Gates Gill, a former Advertising executive lost his job and everything else, and how his humble employment in one of the world's greatest brands redeemed him.
• Fast Food Fiction Delivery - an anthology of short short stories by various Filipino writers. Edited by Noelle de Jesus and Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta.
• Dekada '70 - A period novel by Filipino literary luminary Lualhati Bautista. It was later on adapted into an award-winning film.
• The Best of Young Blood 5 - Anthology of the best essays from Philippine Daily Inquirer's Young Blood column from 2012-2013. Edited by Inquirer writers including Pam Pastor.
• Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Short story by Richard Bach made more visually appealing with photos of seagulls in flight. Some calls the story a 'homily about self perfection.'
• The Beach - A novel by Alex Garland which caused the tourist ("backpackers") boom in Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand. It was poorly adapted into a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Contrary to the location cited in the book, some say that the actual inspiration for the novel is a hidden paradise in Palawan, Philippines. It also helps to note that the author spent a couple of years living in the Philippines, not in Thailand. In fact, his second novel, 'The Tesseract,' tells the stories of 'Manila gangsters, mothers and children' inspired by his local encounters.
• The Little Prince - The classic novel written by Antoine Saint de Exupery about growing up and remembering the inner child within us.
• Manananggal Terrorizes Manila and Other Stories - Short story collection by renowned Filipino writer and columnist Jessica Zafra.
• Puppy Love and Thirteen Short Stories - Short story collection by National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose.
• Amy, Amy, Amy - The unauthorized biography of the rise and fall of British music icon Amy Winehouse who died at a tender age of 27. Written by Nick Johnstone.
• You Better Not Cry - An anthology of holiday-themed essays of my favorite memoirist and one of the funniest writers in the US, Augusten Burroughs.

SCREENPLAYS

Movie poster of Before Midnight

• Before Midnight - The Academy Award-nominated screenplay by Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy (also the director and lead actors of the film). The third installment of the 'Before' franchise that follows the life of Jesse and Celine as a married couple with twins, and the marital issues that they face as they grow together longer. 
• Enough Said - A rom-com by Nicole Holofcener starring funny actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini.
• Jesse and Celeste Forever - Another rom-com written by Rashida Jones (who starred in the movie alongside funny man Andy Samberg) and Will McCormack (who also had a supporting role in it).

MOVIES

Local

• English Only, Please -  rom-com
• The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin -  comedy
• That Thing Called Tadhana (3x) - rom-com
• Ang Sayaw ng Dalawang Kaliwang Paa - drama, romance
• Barber's Tales - drama
• Ang Huling Cha-Cha ni Anita - drama/comedy, romance
• ABNKKBSNPLAko? - romance, comedy
• Heneral Luna - drama, biopic, action
• Turkey Man ay Pabo Rin - comedy, rom-com
• DAGITAB - drama
• Honor Thy Father - drama

Foreign

• The Dark Knight - action
• The Interview - comedy
• Birdman - comedy/drama
• Into the Woods - musical
• Big Eyes - drama
• Whiplash - drama
• Gone Girl - drama, suspense
• Drinking Buddies - rom-com
• God's Not Dead - drama
• Theory of Everything - drama, biopic
• 50 Shades of Grey - romance
• Monument's Men - action, comedy, biopic
• American Sniper - biopic, drama
• Comet - romance
• The Imitation Game - drama, biopic
• RENT The Movie - musical
• Are We Officially Dating? (aka That Awkward Moment) (Watched inside my hostel room in Phnom Penh, Cambodia) - rom-com
• Mad Max: Road Fury (Watched during a bus ride from Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia) - action
• Avengers: Age of Ultron - action
• The Normal Heart - drama
• Welcome to Me - drama/comedy
• American Beauty - drama
• Pitch Perfect 2 - musical
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - drama/comedy
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - drama/comedy
• Celeste and Jesse Forever - romance
• This is Where I Leave You - drama
• Trainwreck - comedy
• Mr. Holmes - drama
• Inside Out - animation, drama/comedy
• Hateship, Loveship - romance
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - action, dystopian
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 - action, dystopian
• Misery - suspense, thriller
• Capote - drama, biopic
• The Little Prince - animation, drama

THEATER

The minimalist stage of Prinsipe Munti.

• Defending the Caveman - Broadway's longest-running one man comedy show brought to the Philippines by Repertory Philippines feat. Joel Trinidad.
• Arbol de Fuego - PETA's version of Anton Chekhov's “The Cherry Orchard” starring Cherrie Gil (in her stage comeback). Adapted by Rody Vera and directed by Loy Arcenas.
• Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady - Musical adaptation of Carlo Vergara's comic book which was first produced as a one-act play in Virgin Labfest 9 and 10.
• RENT Live on Broadway - The 2008 revival of the hit Broadway musical by Jonathan Larson.
• Virgin Labfest 11 - The theater festival for one-act plays that is gaining more solid following annually. I completed Sets A, B, D and E (Revisited), and also watched the stage reading of Carlo Vergara's "Mula sa Kulimliman." My play, "The Wedding Planners" was also fortunate to have been included in the same category.
• The Normal Heart - Adaptation by Actors Actor Inc. and directed and starred by Bart Guingona. It is written by Larry Kramer and tells the story of a gay activist's (Ned Weeks) attempts to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the USA during the early 1980s.
• Mabining Mandirigma - Nicanor Tiongson's original Filipino musical that pays tribute to the life of Apolinario Mabini, a local hero. Brought to the stage by Tanghalang Pilipino. 
• 33 Variations - Red Turnip’s third season opener and also their first show to incorporate live music. It 'tells the story of mothers and daughters and the legacies we long to leave behind' (from PDI).
• Noli & Fili: Dekada Dos Mil - The PETA revival of Nicanor Tiongson's original Filipino drama that showcases present-day scenarios that echo the themes of Jose Rizal's two classic novels.
• Mga Buhay na Apoy - Kanakan Balintagos' (formerly Aureus Solito) narrative on discovery of his true identity and cultural background. It is a one-act play that he developed into a full-length play produced by Tanghalang Pilipino. It also won the 2015 Palanca award for Dulang May Ganap na Haba.
• Prinsipe Munti - shadow play and puppetry meet live acting on this adaptation of the beloved children's tale, "The Little Prince" by Tanghalang Pilipino. Adapted by Layeta Bucoy and directed by Tuxqs Rutaqio. 

#CommuterProblems

Last Wednesday I saw this photo circulating online featuring a guy seated inside the LRT. The Facebook user who posted this is a girl who was utterly disappointed that he did not offer her a seat despite being, well, tired too.

She said, "One of the reasons why ladies keep on saying that Chivalry is dead. Unattractive na nga di pa gentleman. Sorry but I'm just being honest. At hindi ako grabe. I don't mean to offend anyone of you boys, I have friends na gentleman. This is just my opinion, respect it. Mind your own business." ("One of the reasons why ladies keep on saying that Chivalry is dead. [This guy] is unattractive and worse, not a gentleman. Sorry but I'm just being honest. And I'm not exaggerating. I don't mean to offend anyone of you boys [because] I have friends who are [gentlemen.] This is just my opinion, respect it. Mind your own business.")

I chose to simply share the post on my wall and ignore the girl's claim that "chivalry is dead". Besides, "Should a guy offer his seat to a girl?" remains one of the most argued (and brought up) propositions about gender equality. At some point, one just gets tired of answering "yes" or "no" while the truth is "it depends on the situation".

I also did not contribute to the discussion because I thought that the guy defended himself well when he saw his photo online. He said, "Wag lang magpakita 'tong Paola Kristal Shane Gardon na 'to sakin a. Hindi na nga attractive, ang taba pa ng utak. May pwesto naman na puro babae lang e bat nakikipagsiksikan ka para sa lahat? Aba hindi lang ikaw ang pagod na kelangan umupo!" ("I wish my path wouldn't cross with Paola Kristal Shane Gardon, an unattractive and ill-informed [woman.] There are available [seats] in the girl's [trains], why did you get inside the shared genders' trains? You are not the only tired [commuter] who wants to have a seat!")

Until...a friend from the ministry commented on my post. She said, "Gusto ko magcomment pero wag na lang. Hahaha! Anong opinion mo, Ross?" (I would have wanted to comment but I would rather not do so. What do you think, Ross?)

This made me rethink the situation, put my self in the guy's position, and write what I've always wanted to. I said, "I don't think women should feel automatically entitled to have a seat inside the men's (or shared genders') designated trains unless they are old, pregnant, disabled, with a child or someone who physically carries a heavy load.

As a society, we have high respect for women (especially compared with other countries) but this does not give women the right to embarrass men if they didn't get what they think is rightfully theirs - well in fact, they are inside our (or the shared genders') assigned trains.

Besides, people, like this guy, get tired and gender has nothing to do with it. At the end of the day we all just want to feel comfortable when commuting. If the girl really thinks she can get that feeling from our public transport system, she should've reached the station earlier - or just hired a cab."

I honestly felt relieved to share my thoughts on this sensitive issue (Yes, any issue where gender equality, or the lack of it, is involved, is sensitive).

I also want to tell the lady who posted in Facebook that the worse thing that can ever happen to chivalry being dead is feminism stepping back a million miles because of overly self-righteous and entitled girls. Like her. 

Restroom Warrior

Last Thursday I had an event for my new client in a fast food restaurant in Quezon City.

Before the program started, I went inside the restroom to pee then got out of the toilet to check my shirt and hair. There was a guy standing in front of the mirror washing his hands. I tried looking at myself in the mirror but I got conscious after just two seconds because he was obviously occupying the view.

Suddenly the guy asked, "Naggi-GA ka ba?"

"Huh?" I was confused.

"GA Tower?" He said, smiling.

"Ano po yun?" I replied.

While he continued talking to me through the mirror, "GA Tower. Condominium."

I remained speechless as he turned around and stepped closer.

"You look familiar," he continued as he closed the door.

I was starting to shake at this point.

"Ahm, no sorry," I said while twisting my hands.

Then he moved my bangs sideways as if trying to fix it as he closed, "You're cute."

I didn't know what to say except, "Thanks...ahm, I'm sorry, I actually don't know the place."

I got out of the restroom and he followed.

I was hoping that he was just one of the customers downstairs and not among the event personnel. Surprisingly, he was our client's make-up artist!

My body was still shaking so I quickly went downstairs to get water. Between the time that this guy asked me through the mirror and when I was holding my cup of water, I was only thinking of one thing: "So that's how it feels like to be picked up by a stranger?!"

Huh! Thank God I survived the challenge!

P.S. I found out later on that G.A. Tower is located in Sierra Madre, Mandaluyong. Hmm...learning new things every day right?

Like him

Note: This short story is a product of our 10 minute writing exercise in Writing Boot Camp with Jessica Zafra. We were asked to write about our childhood best friend and since I don't have one, I invented him.

My surname is Manicad and his is Manlapas. We were seatmates since first grade and we remained as close as our armchairs until second grade.

Ian was okay; not good nor bad. He was not the best student in the class but he consistently passed our exams.

I remember that our first talk was about his crush Jaina who happened to be my close friend. At first I thought he was really keen on being friends with me but then I found out that he was more interested in Jaina. It's okay, I told myself. Come second grade, Ian's infatuation for Jaina faded and we started to bond like brothers.

He would bring cards to school and we would play them during recess. Sometimes he would ask me to go with him to the rest room but we will just end up in the hallways - walking to the museum, canteen, and rows of classrooms.

Ian was definitely fun to be around with. It was nice knowing him for two years.

Two years only because in third grade, his parents transferred him to a better school in the district. If Facebook and Twitter were available then, or if we had mobile phones, I wouldn't be writing about him today.

I didn't get to say goodbye to Ian formally because he was gone before the school year 1999-2000 opened. I had Ian's pencil from Grade 2 until I graduated in grade school.

I didn't know how I lost it.

Perhaps because Ian owned it.

Victory Party

Note to readers: This short story is a product of a 10-minute writing exercise for our Writing Boot Camp with Jessica Zafra. We were asked to write a back story/history of this strangely looking creature from the movie "Donnie Darko."

Ines was known as the best seamstress in her town. She was the Captain's most trusted and longest-serving dressmaker.

The town Captain asked Ines to come to his house at least once a month for a new order - a polo barong, slacks, semi-casual ensemble, and sometimes even handkerchiefs given to the devotees of their Parish. 

It was an open secret among townspeople that the Captain and Ines were having an affair. Every time Ines walked out of the Captain's house, people stared at her with judgement. 

This affair went on for more than a year. It stopped - or it had to stop - when Ines revealed to the Captain that she was pregnant. 

The Captain, anxious of a potential scandal and its grave effects on his reelection bid, forcefully convinced Ines to discontinue the pregnancy.  

Helpless Ines was assisted by the Captain's men to the 'clinic' where the 'medical check-up' was done - or so what her family and neighbors believed it to be. 

A week after, Ines went back to her house in a debilitated state. She did not have the energy to greet, much so socialize, with her closest kin. 

Ines locked herself in the sewing room and no one could talk to her for months. Her isolation forced customers to place orders in lesser known seamstresses in and around town.

Election time has come and the votes have been tallied. The Captain was reelected as the town leader for another three years, an announcement which only a few considered news.  

Ines found out about it through the tarpaulins on electrical posts which were hanged as prelude to a free-for-all party.

That moment, Ines figured she had to share in the celebration but in her own special way - in a way that will capture the Captain's attention. 

Feeling so much energy she never thought she could regain, Ines turned on her sewing machine, sat on her three-generation chair, and held a needle and a thread. 

It took a while before Ines familiarized herself again with the process. She stitched a huge amount of rags and ended up with a doll akin to a bunny. The difference was that this bunny had a sinister smile and plenty of loose stitches in its arms, legs, and mouth. 

There was no room for improvements, Ines thought. The bunny was as perfect as any memorable present should be.

On a night when everyone gathered in the town hall for the Captain's oath-taking, Ines walked straight to the Captain's house hugging the bunny on her chest. 

She hung the bunny at the gate and tied it with a sash that said: "Congratulations, Captain." It easily overshadowed election posters bearing the Captain's face, name and slogan "Tapat Dapat."

Ines walked back to her house without an effort to conceal her identity from passersby who saw her climbing the gate.  

She did not care whether people found out about what she did. She raised her head, angled it properly to see the Captain through the cheering crowd and smiled.

"I knew the Captain would love it," she thought as she walked away. 

The shot that gained 21 likes

The story behind my profile picture

Day 1 of Pam Pastor's 30-Day "Writing My Life" Challenge

I went to BenCab Museum in Baguio City last April and took some interesting shots in and around the galleries.

I saw this painting of five children seemingly hiding or peeking inside what appears to be a cloth and I thought it would make a good shot.  

The painting is entitled "The Bemused," a word that isn't typically part of my vocabulary. I was pleasantly surprised to see my shadow through the glass frame so I took the shot regardless. Like any other millennial, I found the shot as artistic, hip, and pa-deep.

I searched for the meaning of "bemuse" after taking the shot and to my surprise, it is a verb that means "puzzle, confuse, or bewilder (somebody)." No wonder I found the painting interesting enough - most of the time, I am a puzzled, confused, and bewildered individual.

That time, I was bemused with the painting, at myself, and in my environment.

Perhaps I'm not the only one who feels instant connection with a particular artwork. I've been to a number of museums and there were pieces that stood out from my peripheral and invited me to their direction - like Juan Luna's bust and the "Spolarium" in the National Museum and "Republika ng Pilipinas" in Pinto Art Museum. 

"The Bemused" attracted me with its subtle colors, placement in the gallery, and the five children who were, again, either hiding inside or peeking through the cloth. I couldn't decide if I want them to do the former or the latter.

In a way, I felt that they wanted to show me something but at the same time they couldn't do so; they wanted to lead me somewhere but they were confined within the cloth; and they wanted to reveal a secret - perhaps my secret - but they remained silent because I was in front of them.

Meanwhile, take a look at the red line at the center going down on the children. Doesn't it make the painting all the more bemusing?