Rice

     I always thought Vietnam and Thailand are the top two producers of rice in the world. I didn't know of India. Rice, a staple food among Asians, is produced predominantly in Asia, looking at four of the top five exporters are Asian. I am also surprised to know that the US is the fifth world exporter of rice, thinking they don't produce rice that much.

Christmas 2022

     This will be my fourth Christmas in the Philippines ever since I have stopped working oversea, all in my native hometown. It's a joy to remember the many Christmases I have been away, how I celebrate Christmas in Singapore. I attended Simbang Gabi in Singapore and it is worth remembering especially when some churches provide snacks or food to the churchgoers, all Filipinos.

Merry Christmas 2022!

Amazing Dawn

     I woke up without electricity, good thing it's relatively cold here. When I wanted to do my morning walk, I saw a beautiful heaven.

Colorful hues of the early morning

     There's a little bit of clouds but the sunlight dispersed within them gave this magnificent sight like an artist's canvas. Watching this the moment you wake up somehow transport you far away from the hardships of the life in the rural village.

Jackfruit

     I remember growing up with our hut surrounded by many fruit trees. There were avocados, lanzones, jackfruit, lime,  santol, and many others.  We had lots of them with many other vegetable plants then they've all been swept by typhoon Haiyan in 2013, leaving us a barren field.

     My good friend at the Department of Agriculture gave me ripe jackfruit that after eating, I decided to plant the seeds. Three have grown and the biggest of them is twice my height. It is a simple pleasure seeing the growth of the plant the seed of which I sowed.

The growing jackfruit

    I am looking forward for it to grow. This reminds me that if people are not lazy, they have many things they can sow, and reap the fruits of their labor.

Final Four in World Cup

     It's down to the final four in the World Cup 2022 in Qatar - Argentina, Croatia, France, Morocco. Two are previous champions, one is last edition's runner up and a newbie representing Africa-Arab Islamic groups. What a final four!

Into the semifinals

   I am excited to choose a team to win. I think it's Argentina's year. I am not sure of France winning back-to-back World Cup but they could be in the final. 

Whitewater Rafting

     I love adventure and the outdoors. I did white-water rafting with friends in Malaysia before for fun, pumping up my adrenaline. The experience was worth remembering in maneuvering through the rapids as we went downstream. It's definitely funny how I tried to step on the foot  of my friends so they won't fall off the raft when the current was swift.

Adrenaline-pumping white-water rafting

Walking

     Ever since I had the stroke, walking has been part of my daily regimen. The moment I wake up, after some warm-up stretches, I go on for a walk.

The village road I walk each morning

     Walking here brings back a lot of memories when I was growing up and schooling as a pupil in the next village, the bigger school. It was unpaved still and every day I would walk to school to attend my classes, in slippers. Today I met students walking in their shoes, I think they are students of the village high school which started years after my young days. 

     Imagine this rough road, unpaved, not that today's paving is excellent (I can just guess how much the politician kicked back for this project) and I walked through it morning, noon and afternoon. It thus brings back a lot of childhood memories.

Purple Hearts

     I cried watching this movie on Netflix which I learned is a 2022 release. It's not a huge movie with superb stars. Out of curiosity I watched it on Netflix and it made me cry.

The marriage for convenience became real

     She, Cassie, was an aspiring singer, but with diabetic sickness. He, Luke, was a reformed addict, with the marines about to be shipped to a foreign military mission when his debt, due to his drug addiction days, came running after him. He had no choice but to get married in order to pay his debt and Cassie to have money for her insulin demand. Unfortunately, he had a terrible accident in the war so he had to return, recovering and learning to walk. 

     There were complications in their make-believe relationship when the military authorities found out of their marriage for convenience. He valiantly took full responsibility, cleared Cassie's role in their make-believe. In the end, Cassie realized she had learned to love Luke, and ran to the military prison to let him know.

World Cup 2022

     I miss football World Cup which happens every four years. The 2022 edition is not shown on live TV, unlike when I was in Malaysia and Singapore where football has massive following. The opening yesterday in Qatar and the first match was not shown on TV. I found out the results only online. 

2022 World Cup

     It is not shown in the Philippines where basketball reigns. All I can do is shake my head in disbelief when the whole world is agog over World Cup. I first learned of the World Cup in Malaysia, the 1996 World Cup, when Brazil won its fifth title. Malaysian friends are crazy on the World Cup so I had to get involve in order to join their revelry.  I learned to bet on my favorite teams although I don't remember winning.

 

Coffee

     I grew up not learning to drink any hot beverage because I sweat a lot. I didn't drink coffee when I was young, which I got used to until I worked in the Philippines. When I worked abroad in Malaysia, I noticed they seldom drink cold drinks. They have coffee and tea both with milk for their standard beverage. Thus when I went out with them, I learned to consume hot coffee or tea and that initiated me to learn drinking hot beverages. They had awesome coffees and teas from the neighborhood coffee shops to posh restaurants.

     Thus when I saw in the grocery here in Leyte a coffee with Malay words, my first thought was that it must be from Malaysia, only to discover later that it is actually from Indonesia. It is sweetened with gula Melaka. I drink coffee without sugar but since I have no stock of my sugar-less coffee, I have to drink this.

Coffee from Indonesia 

Things That Made me Love Singapore

     I was watching Somebody Feed Phil in Netflix when one of its episode was about Singapore. It showed the foods that make Singapore. This prompted me to write about things I love in Singapore, my home for almost ten years prior to my stroke that sent me back home.

Somebody Feed Phil episode on Singapore

     Cleanliness makes Singapore Singapore. It is very clean, throwing rubbish anywhere but in the designated bin is fined. Chewing gum is banned in this country. Everything is in order, pedestrians follow the street rules religiously.

     Hawker food is very common in Singapore. It is prevalent in Malaysia too but in Singapore they are huge, organized and very systematic. Lau Pa Sat and Newton Food Center are two of the biggest and most popular places to find hawker foods. Newton Food Center featured in the Crazy Rich Asian movie.

     Orderliness is something I have never seen any other place more organized than Singapore. People cross the streets at designated places, buses stop and pick-up passengers at the right places, and overhead and underground passes are available for convenience. The mass of people live in high rise housing estates that are very organized and mostly complete with the needs of the residents.

     Honest taxi drivers is hard to find in other countries. In Singapore, they are honest and reliable. They will give you your change up to the last cent, very uncommon in other Asian countries.

     It is a small country that everywhere seems near. You can walk around the island in half a day.  There is no massive traffic jams to cause unnecessary delay. It is very easy to get a taxi to go to the airport and back. The government planned well in constructing the MRT's and LRT's to cover the island well.

The iconic Marina Bay Sands

      

Schipol Airport

     I believe I've been to Schipol International Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands the most in my entire life.

A gateway to Europe

    When I was working with Jotun Paints, a Norwegian company, I had to pass through this airport to get a flight to Sandejord, Norway. I had several meetings in Norway at the time I was working with Jotun from 2001 to 2010.

     In 2011, I joined a US company but my division was headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands and our global laboratory was based in Belgium. I had to go there frequently for meetings and training. Thus I went to Schipol Airport very often that I will never forget this hub.

Change of Heart

     When I was still an OFW in Singapore, I was very vocal of my support for Leni in 2015. That was then when I was not in the Philippines, far from the grassroots, far from seeing the realities. Now that I am back to ground zero, I can see the true realities in the rural areas, the conditions of the poor farmers mainly in the countryside. It is far from what I thought the country has become all through these years. 

I was a victim of the yellow propaganda

     I without doubt changed my political color. I have reached to a point I became "Anyone But Leni" although I certainly voted someone to ensure the yellow wagon doesn't come into power again. I have come to my senses after seeing the conditions of the poor. 

      Unfortunately, no one among the politicians is fighting for the poor, no one is looking at the root causes of the economic disparity of the society. A new leadership has been installed, not the yellow power, but as I see it, they are not offering a real alternative that will fight on behalf of the oppressed poor. The status quo remains.

Dreams

     I have this app on my phone called Holy Bible. Everyday it gives me Bible passage to read. Before going to the app, they always have this statement, one for each day. This one penetrates deep in my heart.

Today's note

     It touches me because I am a dreamer. Growing up, I was dreaming always. Doing the tedious farm work at an early age, at the rice fields, at the coconut farm, my mind was dreaming of many things that most came true to my life. I think they drove me to strive to reach them. They sort of became my goals in life.

     I used to dream of having my own house, my own car, I got them. I used to dream of traveling around the world, I kind of reached them when I was working, Europe, the US and around Asia and Middle East. I've never been to Africa though, only seeing it on TV, on Netflix. I never expected to get sick and stop working for good.

Monasterio de Tarlac

     Last time, I brought my family to Monasterio de Tarlac, a pilgrimage site for Catholics, housing a relic of the true cross which Jesus was crucified. It was moved here from Germany, probably because of the many huge number of Catholics in this country. It is a sacred place, especially among the devoted. The relic is kept in this monastery in Tarlac. This place is such a holy place for Catholics, for the believers. 

Monasterio de Tarlac

The shrine where the relic is housed

Huge statue of Jesus Christ 

The Adventurer in Me

     I am an outdoor and adventurous person. I lived that life when I was in Malaysia. I tried all types of challenges to test my limits.i loved going to this waterfall in Malaysia,. To go to the falls is an adventure in itself. Before reaching it, we had to trek and cross the river seven times before finding this hidden gem in the forest.

Chiling Waterfalls  

     Trekking for half an hour before reaching the falls is like finding the jewel. When you reach it, all exhaustion is wiped out. I used to bring friends of mine there during weekends. 

Money Heist

     I have completed watching Money Heist up to Season 5 not because I love it but because I wanted to know the end of the story.

Momey Heist on Netflix

     I am not sure if it's only me who feels this way but this show shouldn't be promoted nor watched by the public. Now there is a Korean version.

     The distorted outlook promoted by the film shouldn't be emulated, shouldn't be followed. The proverbial triumph of evil over good, shouldn't be widely adored because it's affecting the psyché of the audience, a wrong notion that evil is a means to brighter future.

My High School Batchmates

     After my stroke in February 2019 in Singapore, I came back to the Philippines for good, unable to continue working. When I was in Manila before I returned to my hometown, some batchmates visited me some time in October. They brought some food. It was great for them to visit me.

My batchmates Alvin, Gil and Ana Marie

     I am close to my high school batchmates. We have reunions every five years except in 2020 when Covid was at its peak.

Snakes in China

     I grew up in the rural village where snakes are killed because they are dangerous to humans. But in China, they eat them.

     In one of my business trips in the past to Guangzhou, we had to eat as prodded by our Chinese colleagues. It is a simple delicacy to them. 

Live snakes ready in the restaurant

     I didn't like the idea of eating it but I had to so as not to offend my Chinese colleagues. It was hard for me to stomach but I had to bite two pieces of the cooked snake dish and pretended it passed my standard.

Bowling

     I grew up not engaged in any sport being a poor kid in the Philippine countryside. We were more focused on how to survive. When I went to high school in Tacloban City, I focused more in leading my team during intramurals, the organizer of players for whatever sports.

     When I had the chance to work in Malaysia, probably when times got better, I started to see the benefits in engaging in sports. I learned to jog after work. I swam at the public pools after work. I am an outdoor person and I learned to climb and camp in mountains with friends.

     I played badminton for the first time in Malaysia, one of the leading countries in the sports. I learned the basics when I was working with Revertex Malaysia. I learned to play tenpin bowling too. My former company Jotun Paints had annual tournaments among the departments. 

     Bowling came when Oil and Colour Chemists Association(OCCA), my professional organization, held annual tournaments among the member companies. I learned to play for the team. I even had my own bowling ball. I was not the best but my skill was honed as I constantly practiced. It is such a sport that requires peace of mind, calmness and focus. I have loved this sport.

Bowling for fun in Hexion

     I used to play with my colleagues in Hexion after hectic meetings in China. It was an avenue for us to release the tension and pressure.

My Hexion colleagues having fun

The Fall

     In my previous job, we had a regional meeting in Korea when it was the season for the fall. The colorful leaves were falling down and the roads were littered with the colorful stuff. It was such a beauty to behold.

    It was the season for autumn. It was the season for shedding the old to allow the new.

Aren't they colorful?

Indeed an awesome experience 

Marchè Singapore

     When I was still working in Singapore, my friends from the Philippines would come to see me and the good-natured in me would bring them around, or have dinner with them. I had one time a dinner with high school friend Arnel in October 2018 in one of the best restaurants in Singapore. Marchè has a unique concept so special such that I brought my friend to have dinner there.

Dinner with Arnel at Marche

Olive, Rotterdam, Netherlands

        Something hard to forget when we had global marketing meeting was the dinners. One such is a very unique dinner we had in Rotterdam after our meeting. In this restaurant called Olive, we had to prepare and cook our dinner based on the instruction of the chef. It  was like a test of our ability to follow instructions. I don't remember what we cooked and ate but it was a very interesting concept. I wouldn't forget the experience.

Badminton

     The Philippines is crazy over basketball, a sport which is very American. Such that it was so diffeent when I worked in Malaysia, they don't care of basketball. They are crazy over two sports, football and badminton. They are leaders in the world for badminton. They used to have Lee Chong Wei then world no. 1 for a number of years. Thus I learned to play badminton when I worked in Malaysia. 

     When I moved to Singspore, it was the same. They also love badminton and they have badminton halls all over the city. Me and my Filipino friends played on weekends for fun. 

Badminton with my Filipino gang in Singapore

My playmates: Jansci, Larry, Wilmer & Chris

     There was even a time when I was in Shanghai, my Chinese colleagues invited me to play with them. China is a force to reckon in badminton.

Rotterdam, The Ship Cum Hotel

     We had a global marketing meeting in Rottterdam, Netherlands and our hotel was once a luxury ship turned into a hotel, Rotterdam.  It definitely was an experience. It's like Titanic but is not sailing. I surely wouldn't forget the experience. I was told by a friend in high school he was once a sailor before in this ship when it was still sailing all over the world. The idea to use it for our marketing meeting was awesome.

Rotterdam, the luxury liner turned into a hotel

Paris

     I went to Paris in 2013, a side trip I had before our meetings in Antwerp and Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium. It was my first travel alone to Europe, to a place I read in novels and see in movies. Paris is so expensive now I know, travelling there is probably only for the rich. 

The perennial photo with the Eiffel Tower

      I spent an overnight stay in Paris, I walked around most of the time. I walked Rue La Fayette, a street I have read in many novels before. I searched for Hard Rock Cafe Paris to buy a cap for an American friend who is collecting HRC caps.

     I have seen the many attractions of Paris such as the Louvre Museum, and of course, Champ Elysee.

The Champ Elysee

    In on the morning I was walking the city, a Korean young tourist, alone too, had his iPhone snatched by a teenager, black Parisian, I assume. I can't believe it can happen in a first world city as Paris. Thanks God it was retrieved moments later with the quick action of the police.

Mort Subite(Belgian beer)

     One time I went to Belgium, and I found out that there are two things they are known for in the world, chocolates and beer. For such a tiny country, they have hundreds of brands in their market.

     I tried beer in one of their pubs and I was so surprised with the brand name of the beer. 

Instant Death(name in English)

     The brand name means Instant Death in English. I don't know the story behind the brand name, I don't have explanation as to how they can name a beer like that. Had I known what it means, I probably won't have ordered one.

Dollhouse

     I seldom watch Filipino films on Netflix always going for the English flicks simply because I have always felt Filipino films' standard are so-so. Then this week I saw the no. 1 hit in Netflix Philippines is a film led by Baron Geisler. He is one of the greatest Filipino actor but he was an addict, I believe he is recovering since he is now with a family.

Dollhouse on Netflix

     Curious as to the no. 1 tag, I watched it. I didn't know it would make me cry. I don't know if the film is really that good or I am easy to cry. It has a simple plot but the ending where Baron Geisler's character in the rehab recuperating from stroke, unable to recognize his daughter who is now teen is tearjerking. My tears rolled out from my eyes without me knowing it. 

Lorenzo's Way, BGC

     I used to travel for work, especially around Asia when I was still working, being the regional marketing manager for Asia for the chemical company I worked with. I have a few customers in Manila so being home was something I look forward to.

     I would visit customers with the technical people who would help me with the technical stuff while I managed the marketing aspect. Once successful, it's up to the sales team to follow up and maintain.

Dinner with technical colleague Susan, from China, together with Danny 

      In one Manila trip, I had dinner at Lorenzo's Way in Bonifacio Global City(BGC) with Susan and I invited a local friend Danny who is working in BGC, a couple of buildings away from my hotel F1 Hotel.

Hong Kong

     Some years back I went to Hong Kong, my first trip to the city, for a job interview. I was not really hunting for job but this company called me up for the interview and it's worth the try to test my market value, as they say. Although I didn't get the job, maybe my asking price was too high, it was an experience I won't forget. My first time to go to HK, although I have been travelling to so many other places, so I need to rely on myself to move around.

At the HK airport train terminal bound to the city

Azkals

       Some years ago, Azkals went to Singapore to play against, I think, Indonesia or Singapore. That time, it seemed Azkals was darling of the Philippines, they ignited interest in football in the country hooked in basketball. I was a fan boy of football especially that their manager is a fellow Waray, someone coming from my province, my junior in high school.

     We followed them all the way to their hotel after the match since my friendship with their manager and staff helped got me informed where they were billeted. With my Singapore gang we  took photos with them.

Pic with them, I can only remember Etheridge, their goalkeeper

The Hague

    While Amsterdam is officially the capital of Netherlands, The Hague is the de facto capital, or the administrative capital. Here they also house the UN's International Court of Justice(ICJ). In one of my meetings in 2018 when I was working, my former company was based in Netherlands, I visited The Hague with a colleague from China, Steven Mao, last time our  Regional Technical Manager while I was the Regional Marketing Manager.

Breakfast with Stephen at a cafe in The Hague

     I happened to be in The Hague when the Philippines was at the height fighting diplomatically with China at the ICJ over control in South China Sea, and remains unresolved up to today. It is an issue which is highly political. It's not just about who owns these islands but who controls the sea for power. The US definitely will not give up as this sea is commercially strategic thus the world's super powers are fighting control over it, and the Philippines is caught in between.

Arriving at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam 

 

     From Schipol Airport, we took the train to The Hague since our meeting would only be the day after. Unfortunately it was a Sunday, so most of the offices were closed so I joked the ICJ couldn't entertain our dialogue with my Chinese colleague.

Around The Hague 

    We explored the whole city since our meeting starts only the next day. It was a pleasure walking around in their climate which was cool and not humid. I do miss my old job and those meetings, totally detached from realities of the Philippine poor society.

Tioman Island in Malaysia

     Part of the perks of being in Jotun Malaysia was the annual trip. In October 2010 we went to Tioman Island, a serene island in the eastern side of Pahang state. It was my last trip with the company before I resigned at the end of the year. That time, I was contemplating of leaving because I was not happy with my immediate superior. I had no idea by December I would have made up my mind.

The Regional Lab team in the boat

     We were, and still remains, very close in the regional lab, like brothers and sisters. Some of them visited the Philippines some years back, I think 2012. We went to Sagada in the Mountain Province. I really miss them. I think they were my colleagues who were my friends too in the personal level. I won't forget these guys even if we've gone separate ways, we're far away from each other. Some remains in Jotun while others have embarked other journeys in their lives like me.

Snorkeling was one of the must-do in Tioman

He Should Be in the Government

     I seem to be pleased with this guy that I feel he should be in the government. He should be part of the government. He ran for Senator in the last election but did not make it beaten by the traditional politicians.

Yesterday he posted this

   I think he is doing some good things in Mindanao in his farm. If many in the government have his thinking, the lives of the poor farmers would be better I believe.

     Yesterday, I watched David Rocco's Dolce Southeast Asia and his talk with a Thai who went back to his rural hometown in the northeast Thailand instead of Bangkok. He didn't like the commercial life in Bangkok. Instead, he talked about he opted to go organic farming to answer his basic needs. His mind shift was crucial, from commercial city lifestyle to rural way of life. I must imbibe this way of thinking in my new life.

Nasi Lemak

     Nasi lemak is the national dish of Malaysia, it seems. All the races enjoy it especially for breakfast. It started from the basic but now there are many versions with different add-ons. I have learned to love it, even the spicy versions. I used to take it for breakfast in Malaysia. They are peddling it on the streets in the morning wrapped in banana leaf.

     I searched the internet on how to make the basic nasi lemak and found this simple menu  which I assume seemed to be the basic. If time allows me, I want to try it here and see how my family finds it. This is the very basic recipe. In Malaysia, I tasted those with fried chicken, fried fish, beef/mutton curry or stew.

The ingredients to make the rice

The ingredients to make the sambal (something like sauce)

Autumn in Korea

      I was in Korea at the right time it seemed. We had our company regional meeting in Gyeoungju, South Korea, when I was still working, then on the last day, it was pleasure time. We had the chance to see the blooming trees of fall. It was an experience I won't forget.

The colorful leaves of trees

This is maple I believe

Wonderful trip