Cutting Edge

It happened in a split second. Before I knew it, my dog and I were inches away from a Toyota Previa which madly veered towards our direction in the event of avoiding a fatal mishap with a truck. Then, like a scene from an action packed flick, it screeched to a halt. Casting a deep sigh, I walked away with legs akin to rubber for escaping death unscathed. There I was, with my adrenaline surged, rushed a mental note, the top three of a want-to-do list after a near death experience, which I posed to ten people I know . Surprisingly, answers were poured down to 2 categories: focused towards self and towards loved ones. One Brit, Cheddar Caveman, wrote to propose a smile to all the people he meets (imagine my sardonic grin. No but yeah, he’s kinda cute) . Hindsight, this is the social equivalent of being simply nice (er, then my hard work of sneering will go down to nothing!).

Then one wicked idea toyed in my complex whiny nutshell . It’s about asking the exact same question to politicians who are desperate for votes . As a moot question, I am pretty certain, most Filipinos will agree to the matter . This will be the political equivalent of analyzing what goes in their heads (at least), where their priorities lie ( if it's people oriented or to a rather largely selfish goals) and what economic strategies they come up with if they will eventually win a seat in the government. As incurable optimists Filipinos as can be, it is just right that voters heed their possible answers. Due to learned brainlessness on the part of the electorate, many keep on believing the pathetic lies exemplified by politicians, thus many stay, winning the same seat in a tight grip.

Of course, these buggers may have probably experienced a near kiss of death, perhaps at a rather frightening course. “Had these steely politicians ever purported a change in their governance style after being dealt with a near peep at pearly gates, something which could bring the Philippines to a cutting edge whereby people see change ?” one thinks. Astoundingly, the kinds of political figures we have today are just too happy to impetrate for help from rich countries rather than creating an atmosphere to raise the standard of living of the mundane and to equally share the growth expected . This should largely create a roadblock to extremism and to slow down the mad flow of brain drain, thus hauling the country from the brink. The Rwandan President significantly took the courage to build such change despite him taken to center stage as ruthless, authoritarian and undemocratic. So why can’t we?

Am I too dreamy? The sense of defeatism may prove pervasive but definitely it is not terminal. We need people to govern but let them be the ones who look after the interest of the poor to a larger degree because the poor make up the bigger constituent, the bigger number of the society, whether we like it or not.

As for the haughty question popped up to my mind, Keith asked the same to me. My answer will send the female Filipino population cringing. I’d get a bf with a sexy man rug and shag twice a day . He chuckled relentlessly before agreeing. And yes, I got invites. Bettina Arndt will be too happy to include me as her diarist. Of course I will never make any list. Spontaneity is still genuine and fun. Take life as it comes and make a difference. Viva Cheddar Caveman!!!

Author: Marife Tandoc

Pasaway Na Puso

Puso -- katagang makapangyarihan, nakakakilig, makulay, minsan naman madugo at madalas pasaway. Kapag puso ang pinag-usapan marami ang natutuwa. Marami rin naman ang nalulungkot. At karamihan ay umiiwas sa usapang ito. Iba't iba man ang kuwento at dahilan ng bawat nilalang kung saan sangkot ang puso, it's still a part of our everyday scenario. Boring ang buhay kung wala kang matatawag na love life or sex life na karaniwang pasaway na puso ang siyang nagpapairal.

Hanga na sana ako sa kaibigan kong si Mabeth nang makita ko siyang all-out smile sa bagong pakilala sa aming foreigner guy friend. "Ang cute niya girl, 'di ba't kamukha niya si Ian Veneracion?", 'di niya mapigilang sabi. Sa sobrang tuwa ko, ginagap ko ang kanyang palad and gave her a handshake. "Wow, congrats 'tol! You did have an eye for a perfect creature." "Ano ba, kainis ka!", nakanguso niyang protesta. Natatawa na lang ako na pagmasdan ang reaction niya. Yeah, the guy was one hell of a hunk. Malaki nga lang ang brain damage ng kaibigan ko. Maya-maya pa'y narinig ko siyang tumitili. Hila ang laylayan ng aking damit, sinundan ko ang tingin ng kanyang mata. Sa 'di kalayuan mula sa pwesto ng aming mesa sa pub na aming pinasukan, isang naka-mint green sweater, nakabonnet at mala-anghel na mukha ang kampanteng nakikisabay sa indak ng tugtog. Cool ang porma, cool ang galaw, sobrang cool ang total package.

Mabeth rolled her eyes. "Ang cute niya. Kinikiliiiigggg ako..." Oh no! Kung naging dragon lang ako ako na bumubuga ng apoy, tustado na ang friend ko. "Hoy, 'yang nasa harapan mo ang ulamin mo. Dukutin ko kaya 'yang mata mo." Tumawa lang siya ng nakakaloka. "Basta, 'di tayo aalis dito hangga't hindi mo nakukuha ang number niya." Aba! demanding ang lola. Bakit ba kasi may mga nilalang na gaya niya? Siguro ako na lang ang natitirang abnormal sa mundo. Everything around the place makes me wanna kill myself.

Saan mang sulok dumako ang paningin ko, kakulay nila ang friend ko. Disaster talaga! Ganun pa man, mahal ko ang kaibigan ko kaya 'san man o anuman ang nakapagpapasaya sa kanya, s’yempre doon na rin ako. Pagbigyan ang kabaliwan, inalam ko ang pangalan ni cutie pie. Nice name. "Ice". Bongga! to the coolest level talaga. Bumalik ako sa aming mesa. Hindi pa rin mapakali sa kilig itong kaibigan ko. At nang tanungin niya ako kung nakuha ko ang number, "Your job," ang tanging sinagot ko sa kanya. Diskumpiyado pa rin ang hitsura nito. Kinuha nito ang bote ng beer at inisang lagok. Gawin bang tubig? Pinukol niya ako ng isang pilyang tingin saka nagmartsa palabas. Nahuhulaan ko na ang diskarte niya makuha lang ang numero ng kinakikiligan. Breaking the record. Salamat kay San Mig Lights!

Hindi ko alam kung nasa ayos pa siya ng mga sandaling 'yon. Napapailing na lamang akong sinundan siya. "Hi! 'Pwede ba makuha ang number mo?", walang pasakalyeng sabi nito paglabas ni Ice sa banyo. “Bakit ko naman ibibigay 'sayo, eh 'di ko nga binigay 'dun sa babaeng nangungulit sa akin kanina?”, tinutukoy nito ang medyo may edad ng katabi lamang nila kanina sa mesang inookupa nila. "Eh, kasi nga sa 'kin mo ibibigay," puno ng kumpiyansang tugon ni Mabeth. Tumawa lang ang huli. Naaaliw na lamang akong pagmasdan sila. Ayyy... puso nga naman. Mga Pasaway!

Sa pag-aakala ni Mabeth na 'di ko siya sinundan, agad siyang nagkuwento kung pa'no niya napasakamay ang numero ni Ice ng balikan niya ako. "So you really like that Ice, huh!", panunukso ko sa kanya. "So much!," abot tenga ang ngiti nito. The intense desire in their eyes couldn't be denied. They wanted each other. And in 2 days time simula ng magkakakilala sila, wala ng pakiputan. They were already an item. May magagawa ba ako? Puso nila 'yon. Well, who the hell cares?

Eh, ano ngayon if Ice is a les, as in "lesbian"? Kung kaguwapuhan lang din naman ang pag-uusapan, mas marami nga siyang mailalampaso na mga barako. Besides, it's the character that matters. Mali man sa tingin ng iba, eh ano ngayon? Mamatay na lang kayo sa inggit!

Author: Amy Gunnacao

Year Of The Ox

I call them Tony’s Angels – Tony Bartolome’s bevy of Filipina beauties who provide much of the literary input for True Friends Magazine.

It was my third trip to Hong Kong in almost as many months – I first came out to the region in October after a gap of thirty years and was wonderfully looked after then by Miam (The Boss) Medrano. A little over a month later the Hong Kong Tourist Board brought me over on an all expenses paid trip (along with five other Middle Eastern journalists) as I had been asked to write a number of articles for a travel magazine. Flown over on Cathay First Class, pampered in both the Shangri La hotels, taken to a string of good restaurants and shown some more of the city’s sites (including, I’m sorry to say, the truly awful Disneyland, which was the only down side of the entire trip… but hey, don’t get me started!). I’m sure I could get used to such a luxurious lifestyle!

And being smitten by the city and its people, it didn’t take a lot to tempt me to come on over again for Chinese New Year. Once again M(TB)M pulled out all the stops for me, sharing me around all the other Angels – such an ego boost for a hot blooded male who was made to feel so very welcome by one and all.

Who could forget Amy’s smile which seemed to linger in the air as the rest of her disappeared round a corner, much like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland? Or Annabelle’s business savvy as she rushed around collecting sugar packets from the likes of Mc Donalds for sale on eBay? How about Marie who complained that I was too tall and proceeded to call me daddy as she skipped along the street holding on tightly and trying to flutter her eye lashes at me. “Daddy buy me some ice cream,” she wailed. “Only if you are a good girl,” she was told. (She never got her ice cream!) How about Daisy and Ines and Zyrel and Edenell and Marife and all the other Angels, too numerous to mention here?

I was taken to see the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas which for some inexplicable reason is totally missing from the HKTB’s Visitor’s Kit. This has to be one of the best must-visit places in the whole of HK. We started out by breaking into a picnic lunch by the IFC’s Caribou (much better to carry it around inside us, rather than lug heavy boxes around). The security guards tried to move us on. Not because we were making a nuisance of ourselves, but because they thought there were too many open boxes of food. What might the other visitors to the Caribou think? But Daisy placated them and they left us in peace to munch through the mountains of food.

And then it was off to Sha Tin where we met up with Amy’s friend Mercy who led us to the golden Buddhas… eventually. First we took a wrong turn and found ourselves in a kind of cemetery which was actually next door to the temple, but interesting and noteworthy all the same. And then M(TB)M spotted a path winding up the hillside which indeed proved to be the way to the temple.

I found on a website that there are actually 12,600 Buddha statues, rather than the 10,000 implied by the name. (But then, who can say? Amy lost count after the first two or three hundred anyway, as she mistakenly believed that others in the party would count the ones she had missed.)

We all posed beside our preferred statues – one that I leant against was not anchored down and toppled somewhat precariously until I managed to retrieve it and stop it rolling down the hillside. (Not sure Temple of 9,999 Buddhas would have had quite the same cachet as the original name.) We all posed with our respective zodiac animals. Me beside a tiger; Daisy in front of a dragon; M(TB)M with a rat; Amy with a cockerel; Annabelle with a dog; Mercy with an ox and Marie with her ear pressed perilously close to the backside of a ram.

Other highlights of my trip (not to mention the pizza parties in Tony’s office) included the New Year’s procession (tip for next time – stay in and watch it on TV); and the fireworks display which we watched from the IFC Mall, thereby missing the drama of one of the barges catching alight and wondering why there was so much black smoke that at times one was hard pressed to see the fireworks at all. It will all end with the Chinese character for an Ox, M(TB)M predicted. But from where we were, it was all just obliterated by the smoke. Her prediction was acknowledged by a report in the South China Morning Post, however, which prompted an apology from yours truly who was ashamed that he had had so little faith in her tourist guide capabilities.

We visited some of HK’s beautiful parks – Victoria Park and Hong Kong Park and the Botanical Gardens – where there was so much to see and learn. How do you tell the difference between a turtle and a tortoise, for instance? Throw them both into a pond and see which one crawls out. Oh look, there’s a Burmese Python, said M(TB)M in the reptile house. How do you know it’s a Burmese Python, asked a member of the party, better to remain anonymous. I read the sign, she was told!

And talking of signs, HK is full of wonderful collector’s items. “For your own safety, please do not climb up … the staircases” advised one notice; whilst another by a fountain admonished “No climbing or padding”. “Closed” said another sign on a door which was blocked open and through which visitors walked. But my favourite sign was a massive billboard positioned very close to Tony’s office. “Single unattached billboard looking for love” read the main headline, with accompanying classified ads as diverse as “Have Viagra: Need woman – any woman between 18 and 60” and “For sale: Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica. 45 volumes. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything.”

Aaaahhhh. Hong Kong . Don’t you just love it!

Author: Brian Salter

Kaylupit Mo Pag-ibig

Masarap ang magmahal at mahalin. Ngunit paano kung ang minahal mo ay sasaktan at iiwan ka lang? Ano ang gagawin mo? Gaganti ka ba at gagayahin mo ang ginawa niya sa iyo? Manahimik at magsasawalang kibo? Tanggapin ang pangyayari at magmove-on sa buhay? Alamin po natin.

Pag-ibig! Iyan ang pangunahing suliranin ng mga OFW saang panig man ng mundo.Unahin na natin ang mga nasa Hong Kong. Napakarami sa atin na ganyan ang problema. Nang magpunta ka dito napakaganda ng inyong mga pangarap para sa inyong pamilya at mga
anak. Umalis ka sa atin dahil ninais mo na makaipon at mapag-aral ang mga anak. Ngunit bakit iba ang nangyari, nasira ang pagsasama nyo ng asawa mo. Ano ba ang nangyari? Parang may mali, di ba? Nabalitaan mo na lang na may ginagawang milagro ang asawa mo. Aray ko po! Ah, napakasakit at nakakalungkot.

Minsan ayaw man nating tanggapin na may mga pagkakataon na tayo rin ang may kasalanan. Sa katwiran natin na "okey lang na magluko ang asawa basta ba pagdating ako parin ang asawa nya". At okey lang basta huwag siyang mag-aanak sa iba. Iba ka sa lahat, iba ka kung magmahal! Okey lang sa iyo dahil katwiran mo pa nga na kailangan ng asawa mo ang pangangailangan niya bilang isang lalake at katwiran pa
ng ilang lalake naman walang mawawala sa kanya, bagkus nagpapatingkad pa sa kanyang pagkalalake. Aba, bongga! Eh ikaw ba, tayo, walang pangangailangan? May puso ka, katawan at pakiramdam, di ba? Kaya kung katwiran nyo eh kailangan nya dapat sabihin nyo din kailangan nyo rin pero nagtitiis kayo dahil mahal nyo siya at ayaw nyong masira ang pinagsamahan nyo. Dahil katwiran na okey lang, kinukunsinti mo lang ang pagluluko ng asawa mo. Tingnan mo ha, dahil sa katwiran mo na iyan, ang asawa mong mabait, aba, nawiwili siya kasi nga katwiran mo "okey lang". Paano iyan kung matutuhan na niyang mahalin ang kinalolokohan niya? Ano na ang mangyayari? Eto na, magsisimula na ang away at walang katapusang sumbatan. Kesyo ganyan, kesyo ganito! Kasi ikaw, kasi siya! Ah, buhay pag-ibig, nakakabaliw!

Kailangan kasi natin na palagiang may komunikasyon sa ating mga mahal ng maiwasan kahit papaano ang mga ganitong pangyayari. Kung ang atin pong mga asawa ay nagluko lang noong umalis kayo sa Pilipinas pag-usapan nyong dalawa kung ano ba talaga? Saan na ba papunta ng relasyon nyo? May aasahan ka pa ba? At dapat ka pa bang umasa? Kung sinabi niya na ikaw parin ang mahal nya, okey fine! Bigyan natin ng isa pang pagkakataon. Why not? Coconut? Chestnut di ba? Tanggapin mo, bakit hindi? Kailangan mo tanggapin na tao lang ang asawa mo at natutukso rin. Lalo na kung ang asawa mo ang nilalapitan. Kung may pag-asa pa ang pagsasama nyo gawin nyo ang magagawa para maayos pa ang ang pinag samahan nyo. Sayang naman kung mauuwi sa wala ang sinimulan nyo. Pakialam mo ba sa iniisip ng iba kung iyon naman ang paraan para maging masaya ka. Dapat naman talaga na kayo ang higit na nagkakaintindihan dahil relasyon nyo iyan hindi ninuman. Kung kinakilangan na masakripisyo ka maging maayos lang ang samahan, bakit hindi? Pero kung ginawa mo na lahat, as in nilunok mo ng lahat ng pride mo, wala parin halaga sa kanya at pagkalipas lang ng ilang araw ayan na naman.Aba ba ba! Mag-isip-isip ka na kung okey lang ba sa iyo at kung kakayanin mo na dalawa kayo sa kanya? Over na iyan ha! Kailangan na mamili siya kung sino ba talaga sa inyo ang mahal niya? Hindi puwede iyong katwiran na ikaw ang mahal niya pero may iba pang nakareserba na pag wala ka siya muna proxy ika nga. Dahil kung mahal ka niya, patunayan at panindigan niya.

Oo, mahirap ang malayo sa mahal mo ngunit dahil my pangarap ka kaya kailangan mo na magsakripisyo. Sino ba ang di nahihirapan pag malayo ka sa mga minamahal? Wala di ba? Mahirap iyong umasa ka sa wala at nagmumukha kang tanga! Kailangan din naman nating magtira ng pagmamahal para sa sarili natin. Kapag nagmahal tayo kailangan 50-50 lang. Hindi maaaring lahat lahat dahil pag nabigo tayo baka maloka ka. Eh ang pag-ibig pa naman pag pumasok sa puso, patay, bulag, pipi at bingi. In short, kakaloka!

Ngayon kung ang sagot sa iyo ay mas mahal na niya si SPO2 , ngak, patay! Kailangan mo ng mag-isip at magdesisyon kung ano ang mas makakabuti sa iyo -- ang maging martir ba habang buhay o ang palayain siya? Ah, napakasakit, kuya Eddie! Kaylupit mo pag-ibig! Sinasabi ng iba na bahala na siya sa buhay niya at hahanap na lang ng iba. Madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin lalo na kung itinakda mo na sa isip mo na siya ang asawa mo at magsasama kayo sa hirap at ginhawa. Paano pa nga kayo magsasama kung may mahal na siyang iba? At si SPO2 na ang gusto nyang makasama sa hirap at ginhawa kahit pa mali ang isipin ng iba. Kailangan ba na maghabol ka sa kanya habangbuhay dahil asawa mo siya? Oh come on! Move on. Ang buhay natin ay napakaiksi sasayangin mo pa ba ito sa isang kaluluwang ayaw na sa iyo? Sabi ko nga po kanina kung may pag-asa pa, bakit hindi? Pero kung wala na, hello?! Magising ka sa katotohanan at tanggapin ang kapalaran di ba? Kailangan natin ng lakasan ng loob at harapin ang bukas. Kung ang iisipin nyo lang siya at siya wala ng iba eh maawa naman kayo sa sarili nyo higit sa lahat sa mga anak na umaasa sa inyo. Ipakita nyo sa asawa nyo na kaya nyo na kahit mawala siya makakaya nyo. Sino ba sya para habul-habulin nyo? Lalo na kaya lang pala siya nakakuha ng SPO2 dahil sa padala nyo. Hah! Masaya ka! Kaarawan mo ba araw-araw? Akin naman ang bukas.

Sa mga anumang samahan dito sa Hong Kong pangkaraniwan na natin itong naririnig. Pero alam nyo ba na hindi ibig sabihin na kaya lang nagluko ang asawa nyo eh dahil andito kayo. Ang mga asawa kung nais talagang magluko kahit katabi nyo gabi-gabi sa higaan gagawa at gagawa ng paraan iyan upang magawa ang nais nya. Nagkataon lang na mas may dahilan sila dahil malayo ka sa kanya kaya iyon ang idinadahilan niya. Ika nga ng kasabihan "kung gusto may paraan, kung ayaw may dahilan." Tama naman, hindi ba?

Kaylupit mo pag-ibig to the point na nagmumukha ka nang tanga at sugar mommy. Iyong iba pa nga kay SPO2 nagpapadala ng pera at siya na ang bahalang magbudget para sa mga anak dahil hindi marunong sa pera si general. Sustentado, asensado, abusado ika mo! At pag wala kang maipadala aawayin ka at ibinebenta ang mga naipundar mong gamit. Wow! At kung wala ng gamit babalasin ang bahay dingding man o bubong ng bahay. Mga tinamaan ng magaling! Ikaw kasi eh masyadong mabait. Ang iba naman, sabi bibili daw ng bahay o lupa, pasamahin na natin bahay at lupa, kamukat-mukat wala pala, pinag-pasarap o pinantustos lang pala sa luho ni SPO2. Gusto ko na atang mag-amok, lalaban ka ba? Maraming kuwento, ibat-ibang mukha ng kalokohan. Hay, life!

Sa dami ng nangyari, nangyayari at mangyayari pang ganito sana magkapuwang parin ang pagpapatawad. Pagpapatawad bilang kaibigan man lang at katuwang kahit papaano para sa mga anak. Kung nangyari man ito sa atin sana wag nating ipagkait ang mga anak natin sa kanilang ama o ina man. Dahil pagbabaligtarin man natin ang mundo magulang parin sila ng mga anak mo. Hindi ko sinasabing magkabalikan pa kayo kung wala na iyong respeto at pagmamahal mo sa kanya. Ang ibig kong sabihin ay bilang kaibigan man lang para sa mga bata. Ngunit kung ang mga bata na ang ayaw eh mahirap iyon, ibig sabihin grabe ka, general. At sorry, di ba kailangan ligawan nya ang mga anak nya para mapaamo niya?

Masakit at mahirap man tanggapin ngunit may mga pangyayaring nais man nating iwasan pero iyon pa rin ang nangyayari. Parang aksidente, ingat na ingat ka na eh nababangga ka pa rin. Huwag po nating hayaan na palaging poot ang naiiwan sa ating puso at isipan. Imulat natin ang ating mundo sa panibagong yugto ng buhay. Dahil walang mangyayari sa atin kung palagi tayong nakalingon sa nakaraan, mababangga ka, ikaw rin. Harapin mo ang kasalukuyan at tanawin mo ang kinabukasan. Magsilbi kang sandigan ng iyong mga mahal na anak. Malay mo, may makikilala kang higit pa sa nang-iwan sa iyo at tanggapin ang nakaraan mo. Tuloy ang buhay kahit nag-iisa. Isipin mo na siya ang nawalan ng iwan ka niya at hindi siya kawalan sa buhay mo. Maraming nagmamahal sa iyo. Pangyaw, andito lang kami.

Author: Daisy Vanzuela

Published in True Friends Newsmag September 2009 Issue (vol. 6 no. 2)

The Beauty of New Zealand

Wished nowhere but home. Do I need reasons? Work has to serve its purpose and so does time for every plan. I wasn't entirely excited when Boss asked me to spend a month with them back in their home country.

Twelve hours air travel, five times miles away from family, aches and longings but as I step out from the plane onto the tarmac I was treated to a visual feast so stunning that it took my breath (and pains) away. Scenic view of wide lush fields, feast-like coasts and cosmopolitan areas provide an amphitheater unfolding the unique beauty of New Zealand. First morning I woke up at 5. Well, actually the sun rose before 4. It shone brightly on the window blinds (sunsets at 9 pm). Glorious. I decided to walk around the neighborhood. Anti-clockwise seemed the right way to explore, I don’t know why, just a hunch. But the hunch proved right. My location: Waikanae. It is part of Kapiti Coast situated at the Northern Island.

Strolling is great that it became a ritual. The beach is just 5 minutes walk down from our residence. And I was amazed that no matter how many times I walked around the place, I always spot something new and I did enjoy munching wild berries picked along the roadside on my way.

I visited the world famous Nga Manu Reserve, it's a bird sanctuary protecting endangered animals and birds of rare kinds like the kiwi, it has a body smaller than a native chicken yet it can lay egg bigger than that of ostrich... really amazing. Also I watched a Jousting Show, the settings, music, costumes and games were so medieval. I felt I was classically transported back 200 hundred years ago.

For me, holidays are also about history. I can’t bear to be in a place without knowing how it came about or what makes it tick. So after attending Holy Mass, I spent most of my Sundays exploring museums, bookshelves, and interesting places. Nothing can compare to learning the history of people while you are there.

From Waikanae, Paraparaumu Station, it takes 45 minutes by train to reach NZ's capital city, Wellington. The city's historic Cable Car brought me up to Mt. Victoria summit, a 360-degree views over the top, so magnificent. Botanical garden, flower displays, walking trails are added treat to enjoy. I wandered along its heritage buildings and colonial charm. I stopped at the Wellington Cathedral, the National Library and the nation's political powerhouse-Parliament Building. I even sat at the exact chamber where PM John Key delivers law and order… sorry bawal and kamera. On the central waterfront, Te Papa (NZ's national museum), I had interactive and innovative experience. In Our Space, Earth Quake House, it simulates real shakes and aftershocks, likewise with other adrenalin-filled motion simulators. I came face to face with the infamous Colossal Squid: 4.2 m long, weighing 495 kgs… yap, almost half a ton, (at katumbas ng gulong ng malaking truck ang diameter ng katawan ang isang hiwa) preserved in 3D glass compartment. And oh, more than 300 impressive artworks-both historical and contemporary.

Along with the fascinating stories of this land and its people… bitin ang half day mo sa loob. I had unusual close encounter with the cheetahs, giraffes, and red pandas at the Wellington Zoo and was deeply enchanted at the film location of the Oscar-sweeping trilogy "Lord of the Rings". Along the outskirts of the Shire and the eerie darkness of Buckland Forest, I trailed along the same path where the Hobbits took the ferry, and the famous site "Get off the Road" scene.

Alone wandering? Nope, lots of locals are too eager to entertain and in each destination, fortunately, I was always with someone when it's time to eat, to get lost, to laugh, and to fill in photo memories. So that was 28 days of summer in NZ. Yes, it's one of the most memorable experience of my life. I love this place. Everything is accessible, including the past, and it’s free. Sights and sounds, fresh air, organic foods, 4.2 million friendly people, 17 million sheep, added new friends... I have to tear myself away.

As I climbed the steps of the plane, vowing to return, I have sweet plans in July when the cheese and wines are at their best and the Alps will be covered by snow.

Author: Annabelle Libao

Worthwhile Pursuits

As my BA flight taxied through the tarmac, I made quick recount of the year that was. My clamor for change towards my current disposition about life ceaselessly pounded me all throughout the past year. With a massive amount of courage, I willed to seize every chance there is to initiate that change. Remembering that New Year's eve, I left the year bearing a positive note.

Before I could get up, from my aisle seat (my choice of seating arrangement for long haul flights) to gather my stuff, I rummaged through my neurons of what capacity I have to fulfill this year's aspirations. My limitations will bound to grip me helpless, I'm sure, but to dream, plan and find ways to make these happen will worth any wait. Same ways in the past, when my thirst for something more to fulfill my aspirations was insatiable. The faith that somehow, sometime, these pursuits will bound to happen lingered on.

There was a time when I was searching for a school which offers courses for professional advancement, I sighed in exasperation upon learning that I needed to submit a good number of contact hours of continuing education as an additional requirement for admission. It started there. Someone did actually called me a psycho for endlessly searching and hauling all capabilities to learn and test and garner certificates on accredited sites. Completion is still halfway through but smile is slowly replacing my long time burrowed forehead (of which is good because I'm too young to be a candidate for botox. Ha ha.).

One could blatantly surmise that to pursue educational pursuits is somewhat out of reach given the current situation. Pretty true. Everyone is harping how bleak the economic atmosphere is. It's doom and gloom for most families back home and we, the providers are directly affected. Selflessness resurfaces as a result in order to meet the growing demands of living. Prices soar to an inconceivable heights, sadly speaking. Yet again, to dream of something more on the educational front and hold on to it is perhaps worth doing. Instill a faith of what one can do, unshakable even when then eyes are blinded by tears of frustration. Never settle for less such as ending up undergoing surgical procedures to sell body parts, a misguided concept. (Some people actually resort to such measures as in nephrectomy to sell one of their functioning kidneys for a huge amount. Out of desperation, I believe). The madness of being less empowered is sometimes undaunting, true. But to keep believing and taking charge could keep one on track. After all, the promise of economic revival is always there.

To emulate those who invested on knowledge could have a long term effect. After all, knowledge is unsurprisingly ubiquitous. I suppose, it is worth not letting it sit idly within one's reach and like a macrophage engulfing an invading microorganism, be ready to conquer.

As I got up from my seat, ready to breathe Hong Kong life once again, my smile never left. I clutched my rucksack and strode my way out the plane ready to face the battle of daily life. With me is the promise of achieving my plans.

Author: Marife Tandoc

Winner: Bagong Tuklas na Manunulat of the Month. Published in True Friends Newsmag February 2009 Issue (Vol. 5 no.7)