My past revisited

Let's Go Europe!

2000-12-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

One incentive of being in the GPS EMEAI project is having the chance of visiting European countries easily. The project is based in Paris, France and has been the focal point of our travel within Europe. Crossing the borders of two countries can sometimes be negligible that you won’t even notice it unless you see the sign that announces the new country’s identity.

On the offhand chance that you find yourself in Europe, here are surely enjoyable places that should be included in your itinerary…

Allez, Allez Francais!
Paris has a lot to offer to tourists. There’s the famous Champs-Elysees, dubbed as the most beautiful avenue in the world. La Tour Eiffel in its towering presence. Arc de Triomphe, a work of art that symbolizes triumph even in defeat. Sacre Couer with its glorious overview of the city of Paris and the nearby Painter’s alley. Notre Dame de Paris, famous for its connection with a classic story. Chateau de Versailles, a castle that could be commended for its beautiful garden. And who could miss the Musee Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, both containing timeless and priceless works of art?

Simple buildings in Paris usually have a sense of beauty that make square and unassuming buildings plain beside them. Where else can you consider department stores as tourist attractions? And Paris has an abundance of beautiful churches that could probably put to shame even the most beautiful cathedral in our country. One personal favorite is the Eglise Saint-Germain L’Auxerrois. This is a small Gothic church near Musee Louvre and used to be the parish of the Kings of France. It boasts of exceedingly beautiful 16th century stained glass windows.

Outside of Paris, a world of great culture and interesting places awaits those who are willing to progress out of the famous center of France. Visit Giverny to see Claude Monet’s house. The garden has a big collection of flowers of different kinds, sizes and colors. It is simply magnificent. Once you get to the water ponds, you’ll be surprised by the likeness of the real thing to the artist’s masterpieces.

Etretat is worth visiting for its beautiful cliffs. Imagine walking along really small streets towards the sound of the sea. And then suddenly you have before you the beach and the open sea with two towering cliffs on either sides. The view at the top is spectacular and is worth the long trek up.

Beaches in France is quite a different experience. Do not miss going to the French Riviera : Nice, Antibes and Cannes. During summer, the beaches of the French Riviera are lined with numerous topless women. Do not be surprised to see mothers and daughters lying in the beach topless in front of their whole family. I read that it goes with the French culture. Biarritz is another beach area but on the Basque country of France. This is near Spain. A friend commented that it looked like California.

While visiting the French Riviera, be sure to drop by the relatively near Monte Carlo in Monaco. A lot of people mistake the place as part of France but it is a different country. There is no border formalities. A visit to the Palais du Prince is worth your money. Since the Prince resides within the Palace, it is well maintained and will give you a good idea on how royalty lives. However, since it is a private place, no cameras are allowed.

For the religious pilgrims, Lisieux, Lourdes and Nevers should be part of your itinerary. Lisieux is the town of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. While you are there, visit the cathedral of Lisieux and St. Therese’s house. The food there is commendable. Lourdes is to the south of France and will require a longer time for travel. This is the place where St. Bernadette saw the Virgin Mary through several apparitions. You’ll be amazed by the horde of people who gather there to pray and pay tribute to the Lady of Lourdes. Here you should experience the long walk along the station of the cross, wash your face and drink water in the fountains, light a candle for humanity, hear mass at the Miraculous Cave and feel the faith vibrating from the crowd. After Lourdes, it is worth visiting Nevers to see St. Bernadette’s body. Although she died a long time ago, her body is still fresh. I saw a lot of people cry over this miracle.

Other places that are worth visiting include the Loire valley for its abundance of castles. The fortified city of Saint-Malo in Brittany has an atmosphere of timelessness. Be sure to go to Strasbourg. It is a beautiful city and the cathedral is wonderful. On the way to Strasbourg, be sure to pass by Gerardmer to see the beautiful lake below the mountain. Tours should be considered for its food. Go to any restaurant in the town and you will not regret it.

England
London is very distinct from Paris in that it has more to offer in architectural beauty. I think I say this because simple offices in Paris are very picturesque. Whereas in London, the buildings have modern designs and tend to be more practical than picture-perfect.

During my three weeks stay in London, I had a chance to explore the honey-colored city of Bath, watch The Phantom of the Opera, visit one of the seven wonders of the world : the Stonehenge and stare in awe over the splendor of the Windsor Castle.

Belgium and its chocolates
Bruges is a nice little town which is famous for its chocolates. Here, you’ll get a chance to visit a whole street lined with chocolate shops. Imagine entering a store adorned with different types of chocolates in varying shapes and sizes. The sight and smell can be overwhelming to one’s senses. Besides the chocolates, Bruges has a lot more to offer. The plaza is surrounded by little colored houses that gives the place additional character. The Notre Dame church boast of its Madonna and Child created by Michaelangelo. It was one of the few work of the artist outside of Italy.

Netherland : The land of Windmills
Amsterdam will overwhelm you in a different way. Or maybe it’s because my visit was limited to the red light district and places near it. Visit the red light district at night when blinking lights and music give life to a part of the city that would look so common during daylight. Here you’ll see a horde of people clamoring over glass windows that reveal dancing women in their lingerie. You’ll also stare in wonder at coffee shops that grow marijuana and sell them openly. Talk about getting a real high.

Bella Italia
As a tourist spot, Italy's famous places is at the top of the list of most tourist to Europe. And you can't really blame people for loving beauty and wanting to explore and experience it. The usual and worthwhile places that you can go to in italy are of course Rome, Florence, and Venice. When in Rome, places to visit are the Colloseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps and The Vatican. Be sure to remember to drop a coin in Trevi Fountain and make a wish as the usual tourists do. In Florence, visit the Piazza del Duomo and take the 472 steps up the stairs to the top of the dome to get a breathtaking view of Florence. Then there's the Piazza della Signoria, home to the famous Palazzo Vecchio. For arts lovers, be sure to book for a ticket to the Galleria degli Uffizi or you might be disappointed and be forced to queue for more than 3 hours to get in. Be sure to see in Venice the Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and Ponte dei Sospiri. Visit Scuola Grande di San Rocco and be awed by the painter Tintoretto. Check out the Rialto bridge and compare it against Florence's Ponte Vecchio. When you have enough time, hop on to a ferry and visit the island of Torcello.

Other European features to watch out for
Being in Europe also gives you a chance to explore different types of music from different countries. Sure, most of them are in languages that you probably cannot understand, but sometimes, it seems music can cross language barriers. La Flaca, Sympathique, Onde Sensuelle and Je dis aime are some of the music that I’ve learned to love. La Flaca is a very catchy Spanish song that will have you dancing in a minute. The other three songs are from French artists. In a place where the world of music is ruled over by boy bands and sexy female artists, it is rewarding to discover and explore the music of Europe.

The most important part of going to Europe is the chance to meet all kinds of people with diverse backgrounds. It is a place where people can speak not only one or two languages, but sometimes up to more than five. It is a place where English is not usually the medium of communication and you’d be force to learn their language or be lost in the quandrum of voices going all around. I’ve met a lot of interesting people who one way or another made a mark in my life.

Everything that Europe has to offer
Here in Europe, you can have everything you want and go anywhere you please. The choice is up to you. It can be very expensive but if you plan ahead and research all your possible choices, travelling in Europe can be affordable too.

Tips

Plan your own travel

Use Mappy for driving instructions in Europe

Use the train when you can

Visit the top rated places in the Michelin guide as they are usually accurate and worth your time

Stop being a snob and just enjoy!

Ciao Italia

2000-10-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Italy. It is a country that I have loved even before I saw it. I know it is hard to perceive but I developed a love for the place months before my actual visit. I guess you can say that it is ironic because I started to form a longing for Italy when I visited the Louvre Museum in Paris. There I saw wonderful frescoes by Boticelli who, although I’ve heard of before, was virtually a stranger for me. In my interest, I decided to buy a book and learn more about the artist and his works. And there I learned that most of his works are housed in the Uffizi gallery in Florence. The more I read about him, the more I wanted to see his work in person. Thus, I promised myself that I would one day see Florence and see Boticelli’s splendid creations with my own eyes.

It took me some time, but I was finally able to go to Italy. It was a tour I made on my own. A decision that would have intimidated the faint-hearted but it only strengthened my resolve. I told myself that if I don’t do this now, I will never be able to go. So, I continued my plans knowing that I will be travelling alone.

My first stop was Rome and I guess it’s only fitting that I first see the Colosseum. It is an impressive structure, one that will not fail to excite one’s heart. Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating since a different person might wonder what the fuss is all about for a bloke of stone. But for me, I felt like threading on one of the greatest places of the history of mankind. And I guess you do just that since the Roman Empire was considered as a great one. Once you are inside, you’ll be humbled by the vastness and intricacy of the place. I then moved on to the Church of San Clemente. It is a medieval basilica, full of paintings and has a beautiful gilded ceiling. One level below is an old Christian church from the 4th century and yet below it is a church of Mithraic origin. I visited next the Santa Maria Sopra Minerva church. This church has a very plain façade made distinct only by an elephant sculpture designed by Bernini. Inside the church, the ceiling is designed with blue and gold and it makes a good contrast to the opulent collection of paintings inside. I then head off to the nearby Pantheon. I arrived there at night so a lot of people are gathered at the fountain outside. When you go in, you’d be awed by the great dome that is open at the top. This is a marvelous example of a great Roman architecture. The place was superbly designed and when you get inside, you get a sense of vast space. The focal point of my day was my visit to the Trevi Fountain. If there is one place in Rome that I would love to see again, this would be it. Nothing can prepare me for the beauty of the Trevi Fountain at night. One minute I was walking in a crowded street, then the next minute I saw this beautiful fountain adorned by lights and surrounded by a lot of people. It was breathtaking and totally romantic.

I also visited the Borghese Museum, famous for its collection of Bernini sculptures. To be truthful, I was enticed to this museum for the Boticelli paintings it supposedly contain. However, when I got inside, I only found a single work by Boticelli. I am glad though for the effort I made as I was able to see a lot of Bernini’s sculptures. There was David posed to throw his stone for Goliath, then there was Apollo and Daphne excellently portrayed as lovers. Bernini’s sculptures are remarkable in that their smoothness and intricate attention to detail give them a quality notable of all of the artist’s work. The nearby Piazza del Popolo is also worth a visit. Here, tourists and residents alike spend the afternoon lounging under the sun. The church of Santa Maria del Popolo at the edge of the plaza merits a visit for its Cappella Chigi, decorated by Raphael.

I also saw the Roman Forum. It is consisted of ruins that will inspire awe in everyone. It is hard to imagine how the place looks like before. Too bad I was not able to get hold of those books where it shows you the ruins as they are and there’s this decorated plastic that you can put on top of it that shows how they were in their original form. Tough luck. The Palatine Hills is a good place to rest after a frantic visit of the Forum. It boasts of a good view of the surrounding areas and of the Roman Forum itself.

Acting like a tourist, I also head off to the famous Spanish Steps. I was expecting more grandeur than what I saw but I was sorely disappointed. Although it is a nice place for a meeting or a tryst. I went up the steps and was rewarded by a good aerial view of the surrounding areas. I then head off to Piazza Navona to see Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. The sculptures, supposedly depicting the Danube, Nile, Plate and Ganges, are wonderful and moving. It is located in the center of the very lively Piazza Navona and a good place for rest.

The last place I visited in Rome is the Vatican City. It took me more than a good hour before I got inside the Basilica. However, the wait is worth the splendor of the Basilica’s interior. The first sculpture I saw was Michelangelo’s Pieta and it comes up to its reputation well. The bronze altar canopy, created by Bernini, is simply wonderful. The gilded ceilings, the beautiful chapels within the Basilica, are just a few of the good things to expect within. We visited the Vatican Treasures Museum and it is filled with a lot of souvenirs like golden chalices, rings adorned by different types of precious stones, capes and crowns used by prior popes and a lot more riches of the Vatican. Going out of the museum, we were lucky enough to witness a procession of the Bishop who celebrated the mass inside the Basilica. He blessed our little gathering and after they passed, we were allowed to go on our way. I tried my best to see the Vatican Museum particularly the Sistine Chapel. However, by the time I got there, the place is closed for lunch and if I wait, I will miss my flight. I figured that I will definitely go back to Italy anyway, so, I’ll see it the next time I’m there.

The 2nd city I visited is Florence. It is a more intimate city and walking is a nice past time. I am lucky because my hotel is near the train station and near the city center. Thus, I am able to explore the city at my leisure. The first place I visited is the Piazza del Duomo. I saw the colorful Duomo and its Campanile. The multicolored façade is unique and fantastic, a sentiment that one can attribute to the whole city. Directly in front is the oldest building in Florence, the Baptistry, swarmed by tourists for its eastern door, dubbed by Michelangelo as the Gates of Paradise. And Indeed the door is beautiful. It is composed of ten panels depicting scenes from the Old Testament. I entered the Duomo next to see how the interior comes up to its attractive exterior and was disappointed to see that it is too plain in comparison. However, the frescoes adorning the large dome is a colorful interpretation of the Judgement Day. I then queued for the visit to the dome created by Brunelleschi. It was a rigorous 472 steps and frightening for me. I am afraid of heights and I only tried to climb because it was reputed that the view from the top of the dome is incomparable. I was okay at the start because I am able to see someone in front of me and some people were also walking behind me. However, there was a time when I lost sight of people in front and at the back and I was climbing a spiral stairs when I wanted to stop but I can’t for fear of falling. I almost lost my nerve but I continued on because I was too afraid to stop. Whew, just imagine how relieved I was when I got to the top! I was shaking all over and my heart was beating really fast. But I was so glad that I tried to climb because the view from the top is spectacular. It gives you a view of the city of Florence from all sides, including the mountainous towns nearby. Simply breathtaking. I can just imagine how the city looks like at night. Enchanting and totally romantic.

My next visit led me to San Lorenzo church and the Medici Chapels. Oddly enough, I can’t recall a distinct work from there except for Michelangelo’s tomb for one of the Medicis. Although, located at the side of the chapel is a leather factory where tourists can view wallets, bags, jackets and other products. There is a large collection of items to choose from but I cannot tell if they are fairly priced. Florence is well known for its leather industry because of their affordable price and soft texture. This is also the city where Salvatore Ferragamo base his business in Italy.

I tried to visit the church of Orsanmichelle to see the supposedly miraculous painting of the Madonna and Child. But I was sorely disappointed for it was closed. I tried to visit it for several days but I was not lucky.

The Piazza della Signoria, home to the famous Palazzo Vecchio, is a lively plaza where tourists gather and residents usually meet. It is adjacent to the Uffizi gallery but I didn’t go there yet as I scheduled it on a different day. Instead, I head off to Ponte Vecchio (old bridge), Florence’s most famous bridge. If you traverse the bridge, you’d wonder what the fuss is all about since what you will see throughout are jewelry shops. Although a lot of tourists flock to this site to look at the goods being offered, you must walk away from the place to see how it looks like. It is good to look at from a distance although I must say that the postcards and books made it look more grand than it seems. I walked towards the direction of the Uffizi gallery as I have to pass here also to get to my next stop, the Santa Croce church. This is a beautiful church, tucked away from the most usual tourist spots. My walk towards it brought me through one of the oldest quarters of the city. It was quiet and relieving after the hustle and bustle of the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio. In front of the church is the Piazza Santa Croce, where you’ll find a lot of students busy with trying to capture the church through a drawing, and other residents just sitting at the plaza passing their time away. Of course, not a minute passed before a hoard of tourists come along to enter the church. At that time, I was already anxious because I can’t seem to find a church where one can pray. Most of the churches are tourist spots and not conducive for a short meditative prayer. However, the Santa Croce church was able to fit my need for prayer. The church is visited by tourists because a number of famous personalities are buried there. Some of them are Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Galileo and Rossini. The church is also filled with beautiful frescoes from different Italian painters.

Galleria degli Uffizi. The height of my visit in Florence started the next day with my visit to this famous museum. The queue to get inside is horrendous and I was so glad that I made a reservation. It costs more but it’s worth it because it could take about two or three hours before a person without reservation can enter. For this visit, I did not spare any expense. Like a typical tourist, I rented an audio guide for the history of the paintings I am about to see. Up the stairs, through the hallway, I entered the first room of the Uffizi. Room 3 – 6 are mostly works from the Byzantine period. Since I prefer Renaissance art, I quickly moved to the adjoining room to find most of Fra Angelico’s work. Fra Angelico largely influenced Boticelli in his work. And as depicted in the book I read, his paintings are simply magnificent and moving. The paintings depict religious scenes or figures and hearing some of the explanation can really move a person to strengthen their faith. It was good that video camera was allowed inside the gallery as I was able to capture his work through film. Then I moved to room 9 where part of Boticelli’s work is shown. It was a good introduction to rooms 10 – 14 that hold a large collection of the artist’s work. I excitedly moved to the Boticelli room. And it is hard to put into words the gladness that I felt to see his paintings in person. His paintings are simply wonderful. Most of the tourists crowded over The Birth of Venus and La Primavera. However, I got stuck in his painting of the Madonna and child. The way he painted the face of the virgin is beyond beauty. He gave the virgin’s face an ethereal quality that makes it so wonderful to look at. I returned not less than four times to stare at the painting. I cannot explain how wonderful his paintings are. His Birth of Venus and La Primavera live up to their reputation. It is an understatement to say that I was overwhelmed by all his work. I don’t know how else to explain it. I so loved his work that I didn’t want to leave anymore. I returned several times and I think it was noticed by the employee assigned within that room. She recognized me already after my third return and she smiled at me, probably wondering why I kept on returning. One other artist that I noticed in the museum is Titian. His Venus of Urbino is so real and enticingly feminine. The museum is filled with paintings from other famous artists like da Vinci, Raphael and Michelangelo. However, after seeing Boticelli, my curiosity to see more waned.

I also visited the enchanting church of Santa Maria Novella. The façade is outstanding and colorful. I was hoping to see the Trinity fresco created by Massachio however, the painting is under renovation. It was reputed that this painting was visited by the Florentines in 1427 for the it apparently created a picture of three-dimensional space in a solid wall. It’s a pity that I wasn’t able to see it.

At a time, I found myself at a loss for things to do. I decided to travel out of Florence and visit the beach. I impulsively bought a one-way ticket to Viareggio, a city noted for its beautiful beaches. The travel from Florence to Viareggio took more than an hour. The Italian countryside is breathtaking. There are several towns surrounded by mountains and some are perched on top of hills or at the base of a mountain. They are so beautiful. When I got to Viareggio, I was so unhappy to find that the information center is closed and no one in the station speaks English. Not knowing where to go and how to go to the center, I decided to just go back to Florence instead of subjecting myself to a day of losing direction. However, I so enjoyed the train ride to and from Florence. It was like a rest for me since I’ve been in a sort of a frenzy to see everything at such a limited time.

I then head off to Padua and Venice. I visited Padua for a single reason only : Saint Anthony. He is the patron saint of our family and to see his basilica in Padua was my second reason for travelling to Italy. When I got to the Basilica, I entered with bated breath. I felt a tension within me heightened by the knowledge that I am finally fulfilling a promise I made to Saint Anthony. I can hardly suppress the emotion I felt that day. I walked around the beautiful basilica in awe of the whole place. When I came to Saint Anthony’s chapel, I felt compelled to enter at once and give respect to our patron saint. There I saw the beautiful sculptures depicting the saint’s life. And in the center is the tomb holding his remains. I queued along with the many others who wanted to touch his tomb. When my chance came, I felt an overwhelming emotion of happiness and gratitude. I am not ashamed to admit that I cried while I was praying to Saint Anthony. I felt happy and content.

Venice is a lovely island. I traveled to Venice by train and as we got closer, I saw that the whole city is surrounded by water. The first thing I did was smile. I love Venice already. A friend of mine commented that we seem to enjoy seeing beaches and other body of water more than landscapes or monuments. Which I believe is true. Although I like seeing towns surrounded by the mountains at one side and the sea at the other side. I think that’s the perfect scenery for me. The first thing I did in Venice is to ride their regular ferry and see their Canal Grande. But of course, in my haste to get to the boat, I didn’t check which boat I was going to. Thus, I found myself traversing the Canale Della Guidecca instead. It’s a good thing that the ferry also goes to Piazza San Marco or it would have been a complete disaster.

I liked riding their ferries. And the water does not smell bad as others thought it does. Although the water’s color is mossy green, it is not pungent. It does not smell like the crisp smell of the sea that you get from other beaches but, it’s not really bad.

I first visited Piazza San Marco, Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale and Ponte dei Sospiri. The Palazzo Ducale or Doge’s Palace was not only home for the ruling doges, secret police or legal courts, but also to prisons and torture chambers. I read that Casanova was once held in one of the dungeons inside the palace. The Ponte dei Sospiri or the Bridge of Sighs was reputedly named for the sighs of condemned men being led from the palace to the city’s prisons. The Piazza San Marco or St. Mark’s Square is the most famous plaza in Venice. The plaza is dominated by several cafes, reputedly the most expensive in the city. Be warned though that not only is the plaza filled with tourists, its main occupants are pigeons. And they take up a big part of the plaza. If you walk through them, you might find yourself surrounded by several flying birds, which could be very disconcerting. Although some tourists try to walk to them and get the pigeons to stand on their arms. Other features of the plaza are the two columns near the waterfront. The place in between was once an area of execution and Venetians still consider it an unlucky place to walk. The Basilica di San Marco holds the remains of St. Mark. I am not a fan of mosaic art but the mosaics covering the exterior and interior of the basilica are wonderful. It’s a pity because tourists were not allowed to linger inside due to the numerous people who visit the basilica. I did not venture into the Loggia dei Cavalli, St. Mark’s external balcony, or to the museums for lack of time.

I next visited Santa Maria della Salute. The Salute is a beautiful church inside and out. The story says that this church was built in honor of the Virgin for saving the Venetians from the plague. The high altar inside the church features a sculpture of the Virgin Casting Out the Plague. The sacristy is filled with beautiful paintings from Titian, most of them portraits of saints. Notable also is a large painting by Tintoretto called Feast at Cana.

Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. This is a wonderful Gothic church built for the Franciscans. The church contains a large collection of paintings dominated by three great Italian Renaissance paintings. The most noticeable of these three is the large Assumption painting by Titian located at the high altar. It is a glorious painting that totally dominates the whole church. The second painting is Bellini’s Madonna and Child with Saints. There is a restrained beauty in this painting that will not fail to tug at your heart. The third painting is another work of Titian, the Madonna di Ca’ Pesaro. The portraits in this painting are so real and the Virgin is simply beautiful. One other work in this church that left a good impression on me is the Frari’s choir. It is magnificent and unique. The choir is made of wood and contains three level of seats. The most decorative are the highest seats doubly larger than the first two levels. The wood carvings are exquisite. Each seat is decorated with carvings of religious figures.

My guidebook said that a visit to Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a must. I almost skipped this place but I am glad I didn’t. In visiting this place, I chanced upon a great Venetian artist, Tintoretto. The place contains three rooms : Sala dell’Albergo, Sala Grande and lower hall. A collection of 54 paintings from Tintoretto is distributed within the Scuola. The most notorious painting is located at the ceiling of the Sala dell’Albergo, the Glory of St. Roch. A contest was held in Venice for a commission on paintings to decorate the Scuola. Tintoretto won the commission by bringing a finished painting, when his rivals only brought sketches. He secretly had the painting placed in the ceiling before the judges’ arrival. This work though is overshadowed by his large Crucifixion painting, considered as one of Italy’s best. It is a very moving painting and I got another example on how churches use paintings as a medium to strengthen a person’s faith. The Sala Grande will not fail to amaze. Imagine a whole room whose ceilings and walls are filled with paintings. They are made more beautiful by the gilded frames surrounding each one of them. It was breathtaking. The lower hall is equally impressive. Tintoretto was already in his sixties when he created the paintings in this room.

I like the Rialto Bridge better than Florence’s celebrated Ponte Vecchio. It is more beautiful and more appealing. The bridge was created during the 16th century and is shaped like an inverted V.

Torcello. I was told to move heaven and earth to get to this island. Well, no theatrics was needed as I just had to buy a round trip tickets for the trip. I loved the one hour boat ride. We passed through the San Michele, Venice’s island cemetery. Creepy. Torcello is almost deserted but for a few residential houses and three tourist spots, if you can call them that. The Santa Fosca church is a very simple church and bare of any decoration. Somehow I liked it for its simplicity. Then there’s the Museo dell’ Estuario, Torcello’s art museum. It’s a small museum that’s dedicated to the history of the lagoon. The place that makes visiting Torcello worthwhile is the Santa Maria Assunta church. This small church is filled with fantastic mosaic art. It also has a campanile that gives you a very nice view of Torcello and the nearby Burano. I loved the view from up high. Although I wasn’t able to go out for a better view and my sight was limited to the small windows that are lined with wires, probably placed there to keep out birds.

All in all, the city that most captured my heart is Venice. It is said that this is the city for lovers and I think it is true. As the Austrian guy I talked to said, what could be more romantic than meeting someone at the famous Rialto? Intriguing. There is an old Italian proverb that says, “At Florence, you think; at Rome, you pray; at Venice, you love; at Naples, you look”. I think this proverb says it all.

There are others things to love about Italy. First and foremost are the people. A lot of Italians are so beautiful that you’d wonder if Gods and Goddesses are roaming around the place. I had an experience in Santa Maria del Popolo where I was shocked by the beauty of a gorgeous guy inside the church. There I was innocently looking at the place when suddenly, a guy sitting near a chapel looked up and I was stunned by his angelic face. I probably wouldn’t raise an eyebrow if he announced himself as the Archangel Gabriel. Of course, I would wonder about the man’s sanity but beautiful people are easy to forgive.

Then, there’s the famous gelato. If you go to Italy and never had a taste of their ice cream, then half of the world has been lost to you. Their gelato is the best there is. Never a day passed when I was in Italy that I didn’t treat myself to a gelato. Then there’s their pizza and their pasta. Yummy! They sure know how to make the best pizza and pasta. And of course, the espresso. Someone told me that if a tourist orders a café, he will be given a cappuccino instead of an espresso. I guess I am lucky because I always get the espresso. The Italian coffee is so good. Of course, the serving is so small, you can finish it in one gulp. Which I think is how the locals drink their coffee. But I got used to the French’s way of drinking coffee, slowly savoring the taste. Espresso was always a part of my meal. Just like the gelato, I can’t get enough of it.

My love for Italy extends up to the books that I read. I am now reading Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron, Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose and Carlo Levi’s Christ Stopped at Eboli. Although I have to read the English version of these books, I believe I am able to capture the thoughts of the Italians who wrote them.

Although I traveled alone, I enjoyed my visit in Italy. There were times when I longed for someone to talk to, to share how I feel about each places I visited. And it was disappointing when you have no one to discuss your emotions with right at the moment when you’re feeling it. However, my tour has got me acquainted with a lot of people from different parts of the world. Most of the people I talked to are Filipinos, either traveling there as tourists or are working there and have lived in Italy for a long time. Others came from the U.S., Canada, Austria. I enjoyed talking to strangers because it cultivates my ability to communicate and sustain a conversation. And I’m glad I had that experience. Most of the people I talked to voiced out their opinion and said that they really enjoyed talking to me. Don’t worry, I was not forcing them or paying them to say that. I guess sometimes, you just have to experience travelling alone and see how you’ll fare on your own.

I know that I will be back again to this country. Not just because I want to but because I have a conviction within me that this will happen. Now that I have seen what Italy has to offer, my love for it has grown stronger than before. I want to explore it more and learn about its people and its culture. Someday, I know I will be back again to see my beloved Italy. And then I would be able to say again Ciao Italia!*

* Ciao in Italy is an informal way of saying hello and goodbye

Loire and Brittany

2000-08-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, we went to the Loire area. It was now easier for us because a friend of ours here at the office gave us a website that gives you the path to follow from one place to another. We started off with a visit to Orleans where St. Jean D'Arc won her first (and only?) major battle against the English. The place looks a little bit more modern than what we were expecting. Their Cathedral is beautiful. We saw it from afar and the first word that we uttered was "Wow!". It is a good sample of Gothic Architecture. It somewhat reminds me Notre Dame here in Paris. The only bad thing is that it was being fixed so we can't take a picture of it as a whole. We tried to look for the house of Jean D'Arc but we got lost. It seems that it is not a tourist spot or directions would have given us an idea of its relative location. After several tries, we decided to head off to Chenonceaux for our first castle of the day.

The trip to Chenonceaux took a really long time. We arrived at the Chateau de Chenonceau at around 3pm and we still have to eat out lunch. We ate dinner inside the compound of the castle. The food, although well prepared wasn't as I expected. At least the one I ordered wasn't that good. For the others, I think they enjoyed their lunch well.

We had to walk a long way to get to the castle. There is about two kilometers walk from the gate and the pathway is filled with beautifully manicured green grass and tall pine trees. There were also other big trees as well but the pine trees got our attention because they look so much like Christmas trees.

We walked towards the palace through Catherine de Medici's garden. It's a small garden (compared to Versailles) and it's good that they are able to maintain it well. The flowers in the garden is uniform in color : old rose. Thus, they look so nice when you view them as a whole. And we were able to do this because the garden is small enough. The description given to it was that it's intimate. Very apt.

Chateau de Chenonceau is impressive to behold. It's base is composed of four (or more?) arches and it's covering a small part of a lake. I think that the reason for the arches is for the water to flow continuously. I read that it stand in the exact location of an old mill. Thus, I guess the nearness to a body of water.

We visited a lot of rooms in the castle. This one is in a better state than Versailles. The rooms are well maintained although not as well if someone still lives there. I liked some of the pictures in the room and I had my pictures taken with them. This is the first castle I've been to where cameras are allowed. So, we took advantage of it.

I probably sound like a parrot already because I still prefer Windsor Castle over all the other castles I've seen (i.e. Versailles, Monaco, Chenonceau). For me, it is still the best castle. There's still nothing like it. Of course, my visit of French castles is not yet complete. This weekend, we might have the chance to visit 2 - 4 more castles and maybe I'd change my tune then.

We then head off to Tours to eat dinner. While we were there, we chanced upon another Gothic church. It's very simple but quite nice. The church has three columns and it was funny because the two side columns do not match. Usually, you would expect them to be the same but although they have similarities, closer inspection would produce a lot of differences.

We ate at an Italian restaurant in Tours. I had a Spaghetti Carbonara and it is the best one I ever had in France. I loved the Spaghetti with Salmon in Antibes but nothing compares to the food in Tours. Very, very good!

After dinner, we head off to Paris. Paris is about 3 1/2 - 4 hours drive from Tours. However, we made it in about 2 1/2 hours. Imagine how fast we were.

Then on Sunday, we then head west of Paris to the Brittany area. We were able to visit two places : Le Mont Saint Michel and Saint Malo. Le Mont Saint Michel is a mountain where an abbey for the Archangel Saint Michael is built. The structure is amazing. It is a very striking sight. Part of its attraction is the fact that when the tide is high, the place is totally isolated from neighboring places because it becomes an island. We were able to park quite a far distance from it because the high tide is already over. If not, we would have had to wait until the water subsides before we can go in.

Inside, the place is a disappointment. It's so bare and there's nothing to make up for the FF40 we paid to get in. Even the view from the top is not noteworthy. Well, considering that it was an abbey, I guess we should have expected something really simple. I guess you can't ask for a place like that to be as grand as a castle.

We then head off to Saint Malo. We had to go around several times before we were able to find the centre. They have an Intramuros or a walled city there. Entering the Intramuros is like entering another place in time. It is so beautiful. An officemate recommended that place to us and we are so glad for it. We tried to visit their church but a mass was being held so we didn't have time to visit. We were able to go around the place though and it was nice. The tide at that time was low so we were able to go to a nearby island where a fortress is located.

We had dinner there and although it's already okay, it's not as good as Tours and Lisieux. The drive back to Paris is about 5 hours or more. We made it in about 4 hours or less. We were going as fast as 200 kph. Well, I didn't really know because I was sleeping. Imagine!

Ah well. Anyway, now our weekend visits are going to be neighboring places only so that we won't get tired during the next few days. It should be pretty interesting. Our Saturday will be spent in visiting churches and Sunday will be spent in visiting Castles.

Lourdes & Biarritz

2000-07-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we went to Lourdes (Pyrenees) and to Biarritz (Cote Basque). These areas are near the Spanish border. The Spanish influence was evident on the structure of the houses in that area. The houses were simple but what's so Spanish about them are their window shutters. I have not seen these in the other places we went to in France. These places are so near Spain that the prices of items were in French Francs and in Spanish Peseta.

Lourdes is a pilgrimage area. When we entered the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the first thing we noticed was the chapels. There were a lot of chapels there. In fact in one building, there was the chapel for St. Jean D'Arc and another one for St. Anne. We were at the upper part of the basilica. We looked below and was amazed by the number of people in there. There was a mass going on and at one part of the place, we saw a lot of people taking water.

As we were walking down towards the inner part of the Sanctuary, we heard English mass songs. We looked below and saw a large group of people on wheelchair hearing mass together. As I listen to the songs being sung, I felt so touched and I felt tears well up in my eyes. I felt so happy and I felt God's presence in the place.

We then went to a tour of the place. Our first stop was the station of the cross. There is a special place in Lourdes where life-size figures were created to depict the stations of the cross. It was in a hill near the sanctuary. A little rigorous climb but it was worth it. Of course, we prayed during our visit.

After that, we went back to the sanctuary to visit the Miraculous cave where Virgin Mary appeared before Saint Bernadette. There was a long line but it was worth it. It was really a simple cave. There was a small stream inside the cave where the water that Saint Bernadette drank supposedly came from. The stone walls of the cave was cool to the touch and water was coming from small cracks in the cave. The water is surprisingly cold. It felt good to have touched the cave where a miracle happened years back. It felt like you're partaking the blessings out of that miracle also.

Then, our next stop is the candle stand. You won't believe the candles in that place. They were bigger and fatter than me! The candles are eternally lit and continuously re-used. There was an inscription that says that through those candles, our faith will burn forever.

Near the cave are the water/tap stations. There were a lot of taps in the place. From the sign above the water, it said that Mama Mary instructed Bernadette to wash her face and drink the water. This is what we did. The water is so cold and sweet. We actually filled up our bottles and drank the water during our stay. We just refilled them before we left Lourdes.

Afterwards, we went to Le Pic de Jur. It's a really high place on top of a mountain. We rode a tram (similar to ones used for mining) and ascended the cliff. It was actually frightening to be so high up. There was a grotto (cave) that we have to pass through to get to the highest point. The inside of the cave is really cold, like it was air conditioned. But I guess it was cold because there were water coming from small cracks in the crevices of the caves. A lot of good places to take pictures but we can't understand the notes as they are in French. We then had to climb through a rugged path to get to the highest point. We were in a little bit of a hurry because there is a schedule for the last train coming out of the place. If we miss it, we'll have to spend the whole night at the top. And man, that would be a disaster. When we arrive at the top, we got a good view of the Pyrenees area. The view is very good. Of course, after seeing a lot of places like this, it could become so bland. Well, not for me. I love seeing God's creation in all its splendor. I always wonder how God thought of creating the world when I see beautiful places like this. It's so wonderful.

The other places we visited were disasters. There was nothing to see. Thus, for the next day, we decided to drive to a really far place to see an area in Cote Basque : Biarritz. This is part of the Basque country in France. Typical of the French beach area, the place is charming and more importantly (for the boys!), full of topless girls. :) The place is like the California of Europe. It lives up to this reputation. Jack and Dolly who have been to California, likes the place a lot and said that it really resembles California. There were a lot of natural rock formation near the beach so, they served as good picture places. We had to go back early to Lourdes to buy some more souvenirs and to eat dinner. It was also a long way from Biarritz so we had to leave early.

Our travel back to Paris was uneventful. Just like on our way to Lourdes, we had the cabin to ourselves. Thus, we were able to sleep as late as we want. It was just so tiring because again, we had to report for work afterwards.

Adventures in Cote D’Azur

2000-07-21T02:15:00.000-07:00

We went to Cote D'Azur during the weekend. We took an overnight train from Paris to Nice. There were five in our group : Darwin, Maridol, Jack, Dran and myself. The cabin we were in have couchettes or beds but each cabin has 6 each. Thus, we were forced to sleep early because our companion wanted to sleep early. Ah well. Originally, our companion was a young American guy (cute!) but when he learned that we were all together, he requested someone else to stay with us. This time, we got a middle-aged French guy who was so snobbish. He didn't even say good evening to us.

After spending an hour to get a car (Avis in Nice was so slow!), we went to Mc Donalds for breakfast. Now, I don't know where they get their idea of fast food but they definitely suck at it. It took us about more than 30 minutes to get our meal and the food was worse than expected. I guess the French are just not used to the idea of fast food. Well, I guess that's typical since from my observation, it takes them more than an hour to finish lunch because they follow a set of rules during lunch or dinner.

We then went to the "Le Chateau". A chateau in French, is a castle. However, the place we went to isn't really a castle but a place where an old castle used to stand. It's in a really high place that gives a very good view of Nice. Very breathtaking. I really love seeing panoramas like this. God's creation is so good to the eyes. Of course, the guys noticed the people lying at the beach and when they saw that some of them are topless, whoa! They suddenly have this urge to walk along the beach. This we did. We wandered around the "Promenade des Anglais". Imagine the five of us, wearing non-swimming clothes, walking along the beach ogling at all the people lying there. The culture here is really so different from ours. They are so at ease in lying topless on the beach, something that you'd find so taboo in Manila. What's so amazing is sometimes, a whole family where the mother and the daughters are topless would be there along with the male relatives. Maybe it's our culture or the way we've been brought up, but we just find this idea so different and so not Filipino.

Anyway, we also went to Antibes in Juan Les Pins and ate our lunch there. I had a very good lunch : spaghetti aux saumon fumee. That's spaghetti with smoked salmon. Yummy. After seeing Nice's beach (it was very clean but they have stones instead of sand), the guys just don't like Antibes. Maybe it's because they can't see much of the topless girls in the beach or what, I don't know. We decided to go to Cap d'Antibes. Supposedly, the Eden Roc, famed to be the most beautiful hotel in the world is there and the place was supposed to be filled with a lot of beautiful houses. I don't know. Maybe we were then again busy looking at the people on the beach and we just forgot to look at our surroundings. The Eden Roc was a disappointment though. Or maybe we were just not able to go in to see it. Ah well.

Afterwards, we then head off to Cannes. As expected, we went to the beach again (we never got tired of it!). We stayed for a while at the beach. There was a part of the beach lined up by big rocks. We went near the sea through these rocks and as expected, I got afraid again. It wasn't really high. But, because I can see the cracks in between the rocks, I just got afraid again. At one time, they left me all alone standing in one of the rocks and I shouted! I asked them to come fetch me already because I'm beginning to panic. Ah well. What can I do? I love indoor rock climbing but when I'm faced by a simple task of going over small rocks (well, not so small), I feel afraid again. We went to the Cannes International Film Festival theater and had our pictures taken there. We were also able to go to the Le Suquet, it's an old village high up in the mountain. We got lost on our way there but it was fun. The view is spectacular.

It was a little bit early so we decided to go to another village near that place. However, we got lost so we ended up going to Grasse. We were planning on going to the perfume factories there but since it was already late, they were already closed. We just decided to eat dinner there and head back to Nice. On our way back, we were planning to go to a small village that they said have a medieval theme. However, the place towards the place was so dark that it's so creepy! We decided to turn around and just go back to Nice.

The next day, we visited Place de Massena. It was a very nice Park in the middle of Nice. We then head off to Monte Carlo, Monaco. I love Monaco. We went to the Palais de Prince or to the Prince's Palace. Just like Windsor's castle, the place was well kept. Again, I believe it's because the place is still being lived in. It's the permanent residence of the Prince of Monaco. Well, it was very beautiful, but I still believe that Windsor Castle in England is more beautiful. We then went to the Casino. Ooh la la. The casino is very nice. We went to an observation place there overlooking the sea and it was so wonderful. Ah well. I'm sorry for gushing over the different places we go to but I just love the French Riviera.

On our way back to Nice, we were planning to go to the medieval village of Eze. However, there was no parking space so we had to leave. We tried to go to the Greek village of Kyrelos but we will be late for our train so we had to go back.

And of course, our visit would not be complete unless we got lost along the way. We got lost several times. But unlike in Lisieux, we were not able to find our way back easily. We also got lost trying to return the car. It was so funny one time because we saw the station ahead of us but then we had to go through a street to get to it and then as were crossing the street, we saw the station behind us, everybody was shouting that we're losing the place again! Finally, we made it and were able to get a quick dinner before we catch our ride back to Paris.

Our cabinmate this time is a French lady who speaks good English. She was kind enough to exchange places with one of us so that we can be together. The travel back to Paris was uneventful so there's not much to say. Of course, we were so tired because we had to go back to our apartments and then report for work at once.

Ah well. The consequence is overweighed by the fun we had during the weekend.

Vernon, Giverny, Deauville, Lisieux, Etretat

2000-07-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

Last Friday was a holiday here. Thus, we had a long weekend. For this week, we decided to rent a car (at the project's expense of course) and drive through the French countryside. We went to the Normandy area. It was fun. We went to Vernon where we had a chance to feed swans in the Seine river. Then, we went to Giverny where Claude Monet was born. His garden is amazing. It has a collection of almost every flower you can imagine. It was wonderful. His water lily pond, where he based his famous "water lily" paintings was exactly as it was depicted in his paintings. Amazing. I loved it there.

We got lost on our way to Deauville and we asked some natives how to get there. We were advised to go through Lisieux to get to Deauville. When we arrived at Deauville, we learned that there's no more hotel room available. The place is good but were not able to explore it more. We ate dinner there and then left to go back to Lisieux.

As it turned out, Lisieux is the town of St. Therese of the child Jesus and of the holy face. She's also known as St. Therese of Lisieux. Imagine! I guess, it was through God's guidance that led us to Lisieux. We visited the Basilique and St. Therese's house. They are wonderful. Really amazing, actually. Imagine, we're walking in the same streets where St. Therese walked. We had a very good lunch in one of the restaurants at the town and checked-in into another hotel before heading off to Etretat.

Etretat is a really small but nice town. We didn't tour around the town but went directly to its famous cliffs. The view is spectacular. Beside the beach, there were two cliffs overlooking the sea, one at the left and one at the right. We went up the peak of the right cliff because there's a church there. There was a wedding at the time and it was nice to watch. The view is really, really amazing. It was well worth the climb. We went down a very rugged part of the cliff and I was afraid. Thus, I held on to Lito (one of the people I'm with) and I wasn't looking anywhere else. Going up, I arrogantly said that I will climb on my own because there are handrails that I can hold on to. However, somewhere in between, there was a part where there's no handrail to hold on to and I panicked. I shouted and I was laughing in my nervousness. I was hoping to hold on to Dran but he was way above me and too far from me. It's a good thing that Lito was right behind me or I don't know what I would have done. Well, it was an experience.

After that, we head off back to Lisieux and had a very good dinner. Well, I spent a lot but the meal was really, really good. The next day, Sunday, was spent also in Lisieux. We went to the crypt and to an exposition in the Basilique of St. Therese. We also went to Carmel where a replica of St. Therese is. Afterwards, we watched a diorama of St. Therese's life. It was very moving.

I really think that we were guided to Lisieux. It was not part of our plan but somehow, we spent a lot of our time there.

Windsor Castle

2000-03-12T22:02:00.000-08:00

One of the things I like about the movie “American Beauty” is the poetic lines uttered by one of the supporting actors. He said something about beauty being all around us and that sometimes, it’s hard to keep everything within. Sometimes, it’s too great, he felt like his heart will burst.

I was at Windsor castle this afternoon and got a glimpse of immense splendor. The palace is a living testimony to the English’s appreciation of beauty. Windsor castle from the outside is a great edifice to behold. It bespoke of magnificence, strength, pride and endurance. For a castle that was built 900 years ago, it is well kept and still worthy to be the residence of the Queen of England.

Upon entering the castle, one gets a glimpse of the exquisiteness that is a common sight for the royalty. The entrance is filled with a lot of war memorabilia : swords, guns, lances and suits of armors. Picture taking is strictly prohibited and I felt a great disappointment for not being able to capture the grandeur of the place.

One by one, we visited the many rooms of the castle. One of the most glorious rooms I’ve seen was the St. George’s Hall. Here all of England’s coat of arms are proudly displayed, witness to the awe that people bestow upon the place.

The paintings, china collection, furniture, tapestries, everything within each room bespoke of a fine sense of appreciation for loveliness. Looking at them, I remembered that moment from American Beauty. The exquisiteness of it all felt too much for my poor heart. I wanted to rebel against their rule of not taking pictures but I dared not do something about it for fear of the consequences.

If it were possible for a heart to burst from such magnificence, surely mine would have burst into pieces a long time ago. Of course, what I consider to be grand is a common sight to the royalty. What a pity that they cannot experience the awe that people feel when introduced to such splendor .

I am starting to love England and I feel like it’s taking a hold on me. I could grow old in here and spend the rest of my days praising its beauty. But, one day, I too have to go and all I’ll have of England is the memories of days spent in its glorious company.

London Weekend

2000-03-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

3/4/00

I had a good day today. Expensive but good. I have transferred to a new hotel last night and boy, is my new hotel classy! Cher! (expensive)

Last night, I tried to book for a ticket in the Phantom of the Opera play but I was told to try again on Saturday morning. I was thinking of going to Bath and Stonehenge today but I decided to do that on Sunday. I'm really tired and I need a good night sleep and rest. Thus, I woke up at my leisure, around 8:30am. The breakfast here is free because I got an executive room (at almost the same price as the cheap hotel reserved for me, hah!). I again tried to get a ticket for the Phantom of the Opera but I was told by the concierge that it's sold out. So, I just went out to find the nearest subway and learn my way around. It's a good thing that the line from my hotel to my office is just one so it's easy for me to calculate how long it's going to take me to travel. That's the first thing I did, I went to the stop near my office, got lost and found the place where I’m going to go on Monday. At least, I don't have to worry on Monday because I have already scouted the place.

On my way back, I saw a tourist office and I asked for help. It turned out that there is still some tickets for the Phantom of the Opera but it's a little bit expensive than usual. I was thinking of getting the regular playing time but it's going to end at a really late hour and I’m travelling alone at night so I decided to get the matinee slot. I thought I could get one for today but it was wishful thinking. I got a ticket for the March 11 play. I am so excited already! I was also able to get a ticket for the Bath and Stonehenge tour tomorrow.

I went next to the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. I love the Tower Bridge. The architecture is really good. The Tower of London however did not appeal to me. It doesn't seem to have that much to offer thus I didn't go inside. Since I was alone, it was hard to get my picture taken with the view. It's a good thing that someone offered to do it so I at least have one picture in London that includes me.

Afterwards, I went to the St. Paul's cathedral. I'm surprised because it doesn't seem to be a good place to visit too. However, there's so much hype about it thus a lot of people go there. Didn't enjoy it though because there's just nothing there for me.

I was homeward bound when I noticed that the stop prior to where I'm going is Nothing Hill Gate. Hmmmmm. Got curious and checked it out, just trying to see if it is the place where Nothing Hill was filmed. I saw a blue house similar to the one in the movie but I'm not sure if it was the same one. I tried to look for the book shop but I just didn't find it.

And that is the end of my day today.

It is quite boring hah? But I did enjoy the walk and the sun and the people around me. I like travelling here because it seems safe. Or maybe because I just understand their language. I don't know. So far, I'd say that I would choose Paris over London anytime. Of course, I've been here for only 3 days and I have yet to discover the beauty of the city. Well, of course, Paris overwhelmed me even the first day that I saw it. So, I don't know. The architecture and the culture of the French is really different. Maybe I'm getting biased but for now, it's Paris over London for me.

3/5/00

Surprisingly, today has been a very good and enjoyable day. Our way to the Bath and Stonehenge was filled with a good view of the English countryside. It was a long drive but the view was spectacular especially on certain valleys where you can see the surrounding area. Our first stop was the Stonehenge. It was exciting to see a world renown sight with your own two eyes. It was amazing and mysterious. There's not much to see in the Stonehenge since it's really just that, a group of great big stones skillfully placed for reasons unknown. It just makes me wonder what's behind the whole thing. And I guess that's the beauty of the place, its mysterious quality just keeps on tugging at a person's curiosity.

We then traveled a long way to Bath. This is a city nestled in a low area and approaching from a high level gives one a good perspective of its beauty. I fell in love with the place. It is so beautiful and serene despite the number of visitors it embraces. What's amazingly unique about this city is that all of the houses and buildings, every structure, is made out of limestone. The honey-colored stones are lovely, more so when the sun's morning rays highlights its color. The place is so beautiful, the view breathtaking. I love it so much I wanted to stay or go back again and explore it in detail. We were in the center of the city, near the Bath Abbey. All views around the place is so picturesque that I just wished that I can paint them to capture their beauty forever. I used up a lot of my film taking pictures around the place. Limestone gives the place an ethereal beauty that is so unusual, it just keeps you in awe. It seems that the people from Bath takes care of their environment well. I went to a walk along the bank of their river and its bank was made more beautiful by the blooming flowers and cherry blossoms. One of their tourist spot was the bridge in the middle of the city that was filled with a lot of shops skillfully placed in such a way that you'll not notice the bridge unless you get a glimpse of it in a shop's window. And the Abbey, its view from the outside is spectacular. I was so sorry that I failed to explore its inner area because there was a mass that goes beyond our departure time.

What should have been the main tourist spot of the place is the Roman bath. It was an old bathing area used a long time ago (probably 100 years or more) and it's still working. You can still see the smoke and the bubbles coming out of the spring. However, it wasn't a very good visit. The sculptures and buildings were not maintained well and what should have been a marvelous sight looked so plain and decrepit.

If the Natural History Museum is beautiful in the morning, it is more magnificent in the evening when lights give it a grandeur not present in any other building. I love it and I’ll go visit it next weekend.

Now, between Bath and Paris, the scale is a little bit heavier on the Bath side but not too much. If it comes to a decision, I am not sure if I'd take Bath or Paris because I both love these places.

Paris Connection

2000-02-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

Lost. That’s my first impression of Paris. I hear phrases and words that I do not understand and it’s making my head swim. I could be in twilight zone since my manager looks like an alien but, then I see a lot of beautiful people and I have to change my mind again.

French, to a stranger, is a very melodious language. It’s so beautiful that you just want to hear it over and over again. Of course, this was not my tune on my first week in Paris. I felt like I’m being bombarded by words that’s making me feel smaller and smaller by the minute. When someone talks to me in French, I was literally out of words. I’d give them this blank face that’s probably very funny if I can only see it (yeah, I know, I look funny as it is).

My first attempt of communicating in French was a disaster. I was trying to ask where the toilet is (Où est la toilette?) but I instead said “Thank you for your toilet” (Merci la toilette). Wow! It was so funny that I was laughing at myself so hard. It was a good thing that I tried this phrase on my manager first or I just don’t know how embarrassed I would be. What’s more funny is the fact that I was trying to show off! Hah! Me and my wrong sense of pride.

The Team
Okay, before we go into the details of our exploits in Paris, let’s check out first the GPS EMEAI conversion team. Our group is a mixture of weird and wacky people. I thought that it will be hard for each one of us to adjust with one another, but, it turned out that our team chemistry works out just fine. Our manager is the infamous Darwin “Dar” Soriano. For those who know Darwin, they probably know what to expect. This is one cool guy (ahem, ahem!) to have as a manager. In fact, our best analyst in the team said that this is his best onshore project ever. Now, I don’t know if this is because of Darwin or because of a different “local” interest.

Then there’s Daniel Ang. Anyone who has worked with Daniel will know that after an hour of exposure, there’s just no escaping him. He’s the type of guy who always makes his presence known. Daniel has the ability to converse with anyone anywhere, especially women. This guy believes in himself so much that he’d always find an occasion to say “syempre, magaling ako!”.

Dranreb “Bernard spelled backwards” Pineda always had a hard time when introducing himself. Due to the different pronunciation of the French for the letter R, pronouncing a two-syllabic word with an R on both syllables was really a task. Dran is the best analyst in the group (well, considering that he’s the only analyst, he should be). This is his first onshore assignment (just like me) so life is pretty exciting (I hope!).

Now, let’s talk about Paris
Each Paris sight has an equivalent funny and good memory. For La Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower), the thought that comes to mind is our night trek from my warm and cozy apartment to the breezy and cold streets just to get a picture of the Eiffel Tower at night. Daniel who was trying to get a whole picture of the tower even dared to plaster his back and lie on one of the cold railings surrounding the tower. Trying to be seductive? Heaven forbid!

Then, there’s our visit to the Musee d’Orsay where we got lost several times. What’s monumentally vivid in my mind about this visit is not the paintings from Van Gogh, Renoir or Monet. It’s the funny stuff that we did inside that keeps on popping up when the museum is mentioned. There was one room in there that is full of sculptures. We had our pictures taken where we were shown mimicking each sculpture that we like. And you can just hear the snickering smile of these guys after seeing the painting entitled "The origin of the world”. The painting depicts the lower private part of a woman. Men! I don’t know what they find so amazing about that!

I think that a visit in Paris is not complete if you do not visit the famous Arc de Triomphe. This is a towering structure near the Avenue Champs-Elysees. Daniel again displayed his nonchalant attitude about danger and promptly took pictures practically almost beside the cars passing by. Man, what a person will do just to get good pictures! Of course, this is matched by Dran by his formal, Erap-like stance when having his picture taken. Naks! Serious!

Just recently, we visited the Louvre Museum to check out the Mona Lisa and other paintings. I loved the Boticelli frescoes and the ceiling paintings. The visit to the Mona Lisa isn’t that exciting because once you see it, you’d know that there’s really nothing much to be so excited about. Well, that’s just my opinion. What’s so funny about this visit is Darwin’s penchant for his small stomach (hanep!). He was so happy because his big fat belly does not protrude anymore. The guy practically modeled himself to death trying to show off his profile! Hanep!

How to get around
The most common way of travel in Paris is the metro. Usually, one just have to buy a RATP ticket and this will allow you to ride the metro, RER and buses around Paris. The metro and RER are both underground trains. The only difference is that RER has less frequent stops than the metro.

For a new user of the metro, finding out how to get from one point to another is an ordeal. I would probably have gotten lost several times if Darwin wasn’t there to check where we’re going. After several wrong turns, I’ve finally mastered the correct usage of the metro : follow Darwin’s directions.

Exclusively French
A bath a day keeps the smell away. Well, people here don’t believe in that. Some people would go on for days without taking a bath or washing their hairs. Inside the metro, I sometimes try to guess who among the commuters did not take a bath. This is usually announced by their “makapigil-hiningang amoy”. Pity the person who gets stuck in an over crowded metro with someone who smells like that. Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!

Of course, if you disregard the smell, the Parisians do look good. Here, people don’t just dress up, they put on the style! Imagine seeing Parisians donning their clothes like a print ads model. They are so fashionably chic. One can always try to imitate but what can a copycat do to match a lifetime of fashion sense?

Enough of Paris and more of the team
After several weeks of working together, we are already familiar with each other’s expressions. This is a game that we used to play on each other that brought a lot of laughter and happy tears to us. “Hanep!” is Darwin’s favorite expression. At the start, he thought that he doesn’t have an expression. This idea was negated when Dran suddenly blurted out a good mockery of his “Hanep” phrase. From then on, we use “Hanep” in almost every sentence that we say. Hanep!

A pointed finger (not the middle one) is what you’ll get when Erap is trying to make a point. Sometimes, Dran has a habit of suddenly blurting out a joke in a serious tone (with matching pointed finger) that usually catches each one of us off guard. “Bakit, pangit ba ako?” is another one of his famous quotes. Kind of reminds us of this Mr. Pogi contestants who usually brag about themselves in the same nonsensical way.

Daniel can definitely be annoying once he starts brandishing his favorite expression, ‘Okay lang, wala akong paki!’. And then he’d follow this with his hyena-like laugh that’s not really funny! Even when you warn him of putting himself in danger (like crossing the street without looking on any direction), he’d just say “Okay lang, wala akong paki!”. Well, it does make me wonder if he’d still say the same thing if he suddenly finds himself plastered in front of a bus. Hmmmm. Knowing Daniel, yeah, he’d just say “wala akong paki!”.

“Tantanan ha!” is the usual expression that I use. Being the only female in the group, these guys can really make a simple girl cry because of all their teasing. Well, suffice to say that I’m no simple girl and I don’t easily get annoyed by friendly jokes. Of course, saying “Tantanan ha!” doesn’t really stop these guys from teasing me, it just makes them mimic my expression over and over again.

When ordering for grilled meat, one says bien cuit for well done and á point for medium rare. Typical of Pinoys, we have our own use for these words. When a person has done something good, instead of saying tres bien (very good), we say bien cuit. And for the “medyo-medyo” expression of the Pinoy, we use the equivalent á point-á point. Imagine the kind of looks that we get from people who understands French. It is sometimes hard to explain the joke to them because it’s so ridiculously Pinoy.

Barya-barya Gang
Just like anywhere else in the world, there is something about a place that you will never like. In Paris, one of the things that we hate is the centimes that are given to us as change that proves to be useless and annoying. Besides having to lunge around with these centimes jingling in your pockets, it is so hard to get rid of these coins. During lunch or dinner, it has become a tradition for us to pay as fast as you can and with as much coins as you have. Woe to the person who has no small bills because that person will get all the loose changes that the others have.

In the end…
Living the French way of life is complex. I love to bathe at least two times a day and I know I will never look like a model (well, maybe a witch model). It’s also hard for me to feign the haughty attitude that they display.

Much as I love the place and the company, I still don’t see myself staying here and losing myself in Paris forever. There’s a big difference between being in Paris and staying in our home country. The French do not have the same warmth and gaiety that the Filipinos are famous for. I miss Magandang Gabi Bayan and Parokya ni Edgar. I miss NU107, my family and my friends. And believe it or not, I miss the familiar face of the Pinoys.

Some would say that I am crazy for choosing Manila over Paris. Well, I’ve got something to say to them too : tantanan dahil wala akong paki!

Hooked on Books

1999-08-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

One of the fondest memories of my childhood is the library. I am reluctant to admit that I was a library buff when I was still in elementary, but it's true. I remember how I used to go to the library during recess time. I'd spend those times reading books while my classmates were busy running around and having a lot of fun. Not that reading books wasn't fun for me. It was actually fascinating. I'm not sure how it all started; I just know that I love to read.

We have a whole set of encyclopedia and ten volumes of poetry, prose and stories. The stories range from classics like "Pride and Prejudice" to "Arabian Nights" and "Cinderella". I spent a lot of time reading and re-reading those books. I guess that's the reason why I know a lot of stories that my classmates, friends and family don't know about. I also didn't pass the chance of reading the encyclopedia. I love them so much that I used to browse through them for any topic I was curious about. I had looked at the pictures of different countries and dreamt of going there someday. It is a dream I still hold up to this day. Reading those books in our home library was not enough for me. I used to go through our reference books in school and look for stories to read. I am not sure why I was so captivated by what those books have to tell. I just know that I have this constant urge to immerse myself in the stories they contain.

One of the most interesting books I've read is the Bible. We have this really thick bible that has both the old and new testaments. I was so enthralled by the stories in the bible that I was able to finish reading it in around three weeks. And it's probably not normal for a kid, but I used to read the dictionary too. I remember how I would memorize several new words and write sentences using the new words I've learned just to see if I was able to grasp their meaning. There were times when I'd quiz my family about a new word and I'd feel so proud while explaining its meaning. I used to do this with my twin sister Malou. I would sometimes use those words when I talk to them just because it made me feel intelligent. Hah! False pride eh?

The books I read range from romance (cough, cough), suspense, adventure, sci-fi, comedy and a lot more. A lot of my high school and college days were spent reading romance books. I used to love reading romance stories because I can somehow relate to the story. Sometimes when the author is good enough, I am able to get the exact feeling of the characters in the book. Call me jaded but I seldom read romance books nowadays because I don't find them as entertaining as before. I only read them when I need something light to read or I need to get away from all the heavy stuff I've been reading.

Among my favorite authors is Alistair McLean. I only learned of him when I watched the movie "Guns of Navarone". I saw his name in the credits and checked out the books he has written. From then on, I've collected a lot of his books and I do believe I have a complete collection. He's into adventure and espionage-type of stories. What's so good about him is the way he incorporates humor in his descriptions. Sometimes, a simple line from his book has me laughing so hard because it's so sarcastically funny. It's too bad that he's already dead because I really enjoy reading his books.

Some of my other favorite authors are David Morrell (Brotherhood of the Rose), Erich Segal (Love Story), Jeffrey Archer (Kane and Abel), Robert Ludlum (Bourne Identity), Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe), Mark Lederer (Anguished English), Thomas Harris (Silence of the Lambs), Mark Frost (List of 7), Caleb Carr (Alienist) and a lot more. For romance books, I love Johanna Lindsay (who doesn't?), Elizabeth Lowell, Brenda Joyce, and a lot of unremembered romance authors.

When we started studying in Manila, I see less of my "library". I compensate this with a lot of time I spent reading when I go home to Bulacan. My sisters would usually go out and socialize with other people while I waste the day away reading a book in the living room. I prefer the company of my books and my stories than the company of other people. Weird as it may sound, it's just the way I was.

I guess my constant reading has helped me to grasp the English language easily. I was good at it without knowing why. I remember when I was in grade 4, I was asked to represent our school for an English spelling bee. I can't remember how many contestants there were but I remember that there were a lot. But, alas! I only made it to the 4th place. I used to wonder how I can tell if the grammar of a sentence is correct. I wasn't familiar then with nouns, adverbs, etc. and yet I can tell when a sentence is wrong. It's probably because of all those books I've read. I guess it's not a surprise that I turned to writing. I used to write poems and short stories but I have lost copies of them somehow. My family loved my writing (but, of course!) and they used to go around showing them off to their friends. It is sad because I am no longer able to write poems. I am only able to write essays on topics I feel strongly about.

One thing that I also notice is that I read faster than most people I know. I remember an incident I had at the office when I was asked to read some project materials. I was able to finish reading them in three hours and it surprised everyone. When my supervisor voiced out his surprise, I asked "Bakit, dapat ba ay matagal?" (Why, should it take longer?) My friends fondly told me that they could barely stop themselves from laughing out loud and bashing me in for my comment. It took them several days to read the materials and there I was, already done reading it after only three hours. It is a phrase that my friends gleefully recall every time the occasion calls for it.

I've made a plan a long time ago to set up a library that's not only fully "booked" but also computerized. I've thought of creating a computerized system that will make book search easier because it will keep track of the status of each book. I even have a great name for the library, "Hooked on Books". I don't know if this plan will ever materialize since it requires a lot of money. I fervently hope that I can fulfill my plans. I want to give other book enthusiasts a good place to hang out in.

I still read a lot of books and magazines. I've spent a lot of money collecting books that I love. I would sometimes read a book several times because the story is good and captivating. Lately, I spend a lot of money buying comic books. I have Pugad Baboy, Foxtrot, Calvin & Hobbes, The Far Side, The Book of Zeus, Cathy, Wizard of Id and a lot of other comic books. This time it's not just the story but also the laughter I get from reading the books that got me addicted.

I would probably spend a lot more money buying books I would probably read only once. But that doesn't matter. I think my fascination has me chained forever. No matter how old I get, I do believe that I would always be hooked on books. :)

Zesto, Bading and Sister

1999-07-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

I've met these three women (well, at least two of them undoubtedly are) in Andersen Consulting. We were all part of a new project involving PeopleSoft applications. Okay, before I go on a tirade about these three, let me introduce them first. Zesto is Cez Tolentino, Bading is Sally Librilla and Sister is Noreena Mariano. Reena is well known to me since we were part of the same batch in AC. But the other two were strangers to me. Well, not totally. I did see them every now and then lurking in hallways and in the pantry. But, that's the extent of my knowledge of their existence (which is probably something they can say about me too).

My first meeting with my new teammates only involved Cez and Sally. Reena was on vacation and had no idea that she just became part of a new project. We were all excited because we were told that our training for PeopleSoft would be held in Australia and in New Zealand. Imagine! We'd be able to travel in two countries in two weeks. It was a novelty for all of us and it was really exhilarating. Well, this of course didn't come true. We got our Australia and New Zealand visas but our New Zealand training was cancelled and our two weeks training was moved to Australia.

The two weeks stint in Sydney, Australia proved to be a very good eye opener. I realized that these people are schizophrenics and I really don't understand how they got hired in AC :) We had a lot of hilarious times together and sometimes, we get so noisy even if there's only the four of us. I do not know what contributes to the good relationship we have. Maybe it's my magnetic personality (cough, cough) or maybe because we are just jolly persons who love to kid around and laugh.

Reena has been a friend of mine since I started in AC but I never knew how funny she is until we became part of the same project. I always thought that she's quiet and reserve but her angelic face should not deceive you. Okay, okay. Maybe "angelic face" is stretching the truth too much. But, Reena does look good and looks kind. Well, I always did say that looks are deceiving. He, he, he, he. Anyway, the reason why she's called sister is because of a rumor started by a friend of mine. It was rumored that she used to be an aspiring nun and just decided to go out of the convent. In my opinion, it's probably because the nuns forced her out. Sister is quiet and reserve but not in the company of her friends. She actually puts up a good retort whenever we are bantering around. I guess if I'm asked how to describe her in a phrase, I'd say she's "an angel in disguise". How you decipher the phrase is up to you.

Cez is an altogether different person. I'm not saying she looks like the devil or anything (peace, Cez!) but she has a totally different disposition than Sister. Cez, in my opinion, is "mataray". Okay. Maybe not as "mataray" as myself but she's that and more. Zesto is a popular brand of juice drink in the Philippines. There is no significant reason for my nickname for Cez except for the fact that the first syllable sounds like her name. Just like Sister, she can pack a good retort when the occasion calls for it. She is good at arguments. If she felt disadvantaged, she would usually threaten someone with physical assault :) He, he, he, he. Now that I have placed my physical health in the line, let me soften the blow by saying that I think Cez is a sweet person. (Aacchh! Aacchh!) No. That is not the sound of someone retching in the background. That is I being strangled by Cez for my impetuosity. Help!

Bading is a Filipino slang for homosexual. Wondering how Sally got the nickname? Well, I don't remember anymore the reason why I called her Bading. We used to tease her about it in our ANZ project but the nickname didn't stick then. When Reena, Cez and Sally moved to another project, I used to introduce myself to Sally by calling her Bading. Thus, the nickname stuck and everyone else came to call her Bading. Aacchh! What a boring way to introduce an electric person (naks!). Electric because she looks like a person who has been electrocuted several times? Bwa ha ha ha ha! Nah. Sally is very naughty. She can make anything look funny (especially herself). She has no qualms about anything and would say anything that comes to mind. She can be quiet and reserve also but I really think it's just a ploy for people to think that she does spend some time to muse about things. Her favorite motto is "share your boyfriend and win a friend". With a motto like that, would a sane woman introduce her boyfriend to Sally? Probably. If she's planning on torturing her boyfriend with Sally's personality, yeah, that's feasible. He, he, he, he. One advice I would give to people regarding Sally? Be careful, be very careful.... :)

After being exposed to these three, do you think there's a possibility of retaining my last thread of sanity? Aaarrrggghhh! Too late! Sally has just eaten my last thread of sanity.... Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

Mommy

1999-04-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

"Mommy Ther, Mommy Ther, tingnan mo ang grade ko.", and my three year-old pamangkin proudly showed me her test result. All of my pamangkins call me Mommy Ther. I guess it was a tradition that we got from my mom's family because we call her other two sisters, Mama and Nanay.

I have three nieces and a nephew from my brother and my two sisters. Toni is the oldest and the first apo in my family, then there's C-vic (an abbreviation for Charles Victor). Next in the line is my niece Marian from my youngest sister and then there's Angelica Louise from my twin sister. Toni will be four years old this coming November 19. C-vic is two and a half years old, Marian is two and Louise is barely 7 months old.

I was not very fond of children before. I found them too noisy and too annoying. While other people were going crazy over a child, I used to just look in total indifference. I just don't see what the fuss was all about.

And then, Toni came along. She was the first apo in the family, so we were all excited about her. She turned out to be a very bright girl. Although she can be bossy and demanding, Toni is very bright though naughty. Since she is the oldest among the brood, C-vic and Marian follows her like very obedient subjects of a queen.

C-vic is the only boy among the imps. While Toni can be very talkative and demonstrative, C-vic is the exact opposite. C-vic is a very quiet child although he can be noisy too when he wants to. He is very good with constructions and shapes. When my sister gave Toni a lego set, it was C-vic who played with it and he was able to build a car without anyone's help. After that, I gave him a toy that tested his ability to recognize different shapes. He was able to fit the correct shape in the correct slot. And this without any help from us.

One thing you can say about Marian is that she loves to eat. She is the fattest among the children and she really loves to eat. Marian has that face that always seems to be smiling. She is also intelligent but very naughty also. There were times when she doesn't want to answer a question, she would repetitively say "Ha ?" as if she cannot hear you or something. She also has a habit of smiling like an angel when she knows she did something wrong.

Louise is a special child for us. The whole family got worried when she was born because she has a problem with her bowel movement. Several days have elapsed since her birth and yet, she hasn't had her bowel movement yet. At that time, the whole family was visiting my twin sister at the UST Hospital. When we learned about it, we were all worried. We didn't tell my sister at once because we were worried about her reaction. The doctor said that it's possible that Louise undergo an operation to fix her problem. Since she was a newborn, the operation could be dangerous for her. She was taken away for several hours of observation. All of us prayed so hard that day. After some time, we decided to go back to my Aunt's house in Dimasalang. On our way there, I received a paged message from my brother-in-law, saying that Louise already had her bowel movement. There is no need for an operation anymore. We were all so relieved and thankful. God is definitely merciful !

Louise turned out to be a gem. She is so active and cute. Like Marian, she also smiles like an angel when she did something wrong. She is only seven months old and yet, we all feel like she's so old already. Louise always has a special smile for me. Being an identical twin, she always thought I'm her mother. When I visit them at their home, Louise is so obviously confused why there are two people who look like her mother. She looks at the two of us in confusion, moving her eyes from one to the other.

All of them call me Mommy Ther. And I love all of them equally. I love going home to Bulacan especially when I know that they are waiting for me. Sometimes, they would wait for me even late at night and they would shout excitedly when I do arrive home. Each one of them would always try to catch my attention and get my approval for what they are doing. I feel so proud of all of them.

I still find some children too noisy and too annoying but, most of the time now I find them cute and interesting. I am still single and I still have no child of my own. Whereas before I cannot picture myself having a child, now I can because of my pamangkins.

My So Called Life

1998-08-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

I am 26 turning 27. I have been working for more than seven years now. And what have I got to show for it? Nothing much, I'm afraid. Okay. So, I have some savings in the bank. But for someone who has been working for as long as I am, you would think I'd have so much more to show than that.

I just figured that I should be driving my own car by now. Or, managing my own business already. Well, money has always been a problem. I did not come from a wealthy family. I have been supporting my family ever since I started working. This is one of the reasons why I am not able to save a lot. However, I don't feel bitter about it. It's just something I feel I should do.

What I regret is not learning to seriously save money. I only started to save last 1995 through the urging of a friend. And, although I was able to save a lot, it doesn't seem to be enough. Well, it's not yet enough for me to pursue my MBA. This is the reason why I tried to save money. All the while I'm hoping that something will happen and I'll be able to have the money I need. But that something never happened. So, I started to save money.

There are so many things that I want for myself and for my family. And although I have a plan for myself, I sometimes wonder if I can do it. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm reaching too high. Am I trying to reach an unreachable star? It sounds corny, but I do ask that of myself.

Sometimes, I'd feel so desperate for things to happen that it depresses me. Much as I want the world to move faster and for my life to get better, it's just not the way it's going to be. I just have to learn how to run with the rest of the world, at the world's own pace.

When I feel desperate, I sometimes wonder how parents of poor families feel, when they cannot give their children enough food, when they cannot give them good education. I wonder if they feel the same way I do? It makes me more depressed thinking about them feeling that way. I just hope that they can look at things in a better light.

So, how do I cope with the depression? I just think of all the things I've done for my family and for myself. How much better I am now compared to that time when I just started working. I think of all the things that I may accomplish in the future. I may sound pompous but I believe in myself. There were times in the past when I really had low self-esteem, but I changed through the years. I know what I can do once I set my heart into it.

I know that I will have my MBA degree sometime soon. It might take a long time before I get to where I want to be but I'm sure I will get there somehow.

Confession of an Anorexic

1998-07-21T11:14:00.000-07:00

I am an anorexic. It is not something I am proud of but I know I am one. I am 5'2 and supposedly, the average weight for me is between 110 to 115 pounds. I am only 105 lbs. right now but I feel like I'm so fat already. I'd like to maintain a 98 lbs. weight so, imagine my shock when I learned that I gained seven pounds in three weeks!

I don't know exactly when it started, I just know now that I have anorexia nervosa. I can still remember a time in my life when I don't give a hoot about the type and amount of food I ate. I just took in what I can without any fuss about it. I was not conscious of my figure then.

One day, all of that changed when I saw an attractive and sexy girl and I got envious of how she looked. Since then I have started to watch my food intake and I always try to maintain a 98 lbs. weight.

There are perks and drawbacks in being slim. I can confidently wear clothes that show off my figure and I can fit in a size 20 of kid's clothing with room to spare. People compliment me for looking good and sexy. And I am able to take advantage of Cinderella and Rustan's sales since their clothes usually come in size small.

What bothers me is my constant fear of getting fat. I have a constant paranoia that I am fat already even though I know I am not. I have also developed a habit of constantly inspecting my body in front of a mirror. We don't have a full-length mirror so, I always find it hard to look at my body every night. I always look for telltale signs that I am getting fat. When I do find one, I always bug everybody about it. My litany about being fat makes my friends' ears burn.

I am not trying to insult anyone; I really just can't stand being fat. I get disgusted with myself whenever I lose the figure that I want. Usually, I would stop eating at night and I would eat sparingly during breakfast and lunch. Sometimes, I would skip both breakfast and dinner. I am not doing this to impress anyone. I'm doing this to refrain from detesting myself for being fat.

If you think about it, it really comes down to vanity. Since you have experienced how it was to look and feel good and be praised by people for your figure, you just can't get enough of it.

Some girls might be envious of how good you look when you are slim but staying thin is not easy. The curse of having a good figure is a constant vigil about your weight. I always have to watch my body and constantly adjust my eating habit just to be able to stay thin.

Maybe you are wondering why I haven't given up yet. It is easier to just let go and allow myself to eat all the sumptuous food that I crave for. And yet, just imagining how fat I will be is enough inducement to give me a nightmare. So, I don't really know if there is cure for me. But, then again, do I really need one?

Valentine Madness

1998-02-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

Valentine's day is coming. You'd notice it by all the red heart designs splashed all over. Love cards are out and dozens are being sold everyday. After the busy Christmas season, it's now the day of hearts that people are busy with.

Flower peddlers will be abundant in the street. Motels will be fully booked and restaurants will be filled to their capacity. Men will be spending a lot of money to buy flowers, chocolates and cards for their love ones. Sometimes even women do the same. All these for the so dubbed 'Day of Hearts'.

For an unattached person like me, Valentine's Day doesn't hold any special treat. In fact, you won't catch me dead having a gimmick on this day for fear of being labeled a baduy. Sure, you'd say it's because I have no special someone to celebrate the day with. When someone gives me a retort like that, I usually answer 'Sure, rub it in. Why don't you just take a knife and plunge it in my heart?' I am, of course, just kidding.

I am curious why people think that valentine's day can only be celebrated if you're part of a couple. Have you ever wondered why we even need to celebrate it? I guess when you go out on this day with other friends of the same gender, you'd get suffocated in seeing so many couples being so sweet to each other and it'd make you wonder why there's no special person in your life.

Is there something wrong with that? Time and time again, I have to exercise patience whenever people ask why I don't have a boyfriend. Sure, you want me to have a boyfriend? Maybe I'll go to Mega Mall, hold somebody's hand and declare to the guy that we're already going steady. Imagine the shock and the dismay the guy would feel. Hmmmm. I find the idea amusing. But of course, I will not do something like that. I am not that desperate or lacking.

Good things come to those who wait. What exactly am I waiting for? A guy who'll fulfill all of my dreams? Someone who'll make my life complete? But who says that my life is not complete? The problem with our culture is the idea that people have about marriage and women. Women who are over 25 and not yet married are considered old maid. But why? In other countries, they don't bother about the age and marital status of a woman. How are we different? Why should we care?

People can't seem to help but wonder why a woman is unhitched when you've reached the age of 26. It seems like what's going on in their mind is something like 'Why is this girl not yet married? Hmmm, there must be something wrong with her. And why can't she even find a boyfriend? Must be one of those with a bad attitude'. Sometimes, I just want to wring the neck of whoever inspired this type of thinking in us. Women not only have to wonder why we're in a situation like this, we also have to bear all the pity and patronizing attitude that people give to us.

So, is Valentine’s Day really for lovers only? I don't know. What I do know is that if I have a choice on how I'd celebrate this day, I'd give myself a long hot bubble bath and laze awhile in the bathtub. That is assuming that we have a bathtub. Since we do not have one, the possibility of this happening is nil.

Am I unhappy that I do not have a partner to celebrate Valentine’s Day with? I'll have to take a rain check on that. I'll give you a call when I've had my bubble bath.

Fear of Heights

1998-01-12T01:17:00.000-08:00

Fear gripped my heart. My palms were sweaty and I felt cold all over. I was in Mine's View Park looking over Baguio's losing battle against urbanization. My friend asked me to step up to a rock no higher than one foot. But I was frozen in place. I can't seem to move without my friend's help. He held my hand and helped me overcome my fear. It is funny how something so easy seemed so hard for me to do. I envied the children I saw playing around without a care, without fear.

I am afraid of heights. I cannot look down from tall buildings without feeling dizzy and cold all over. When I saw Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino in Devil's Advocate, daring life itself by standing at the ledge of a high building, boy, did I envy them ! There must be something about some people that makes them fearless in handling what I fear.

When I was in New Jersey, we went to an amusement park there called Six Flags. There was this ride that they aptly call as the 'Dare Devil Dive' or D3. At that time, I was with my friend and several members of his family all fairly younger than myself. I was ashamed to say that it was only I who was afraid and reluctant to try it. Everybody was excited about the ride.

It's a little bit similar to bungee jumping. Only on this ride, you don't fall down straight. The 'flyers' were tied lying down facing the ground. Then they were raised up to a height of 153 feet. When you get there, you get to pull a string that sets you free and flying against the wind ! I was so afraid to try it. But I forced myself to brave it and try it once. When I got my chance to do it, I was telling myself over and over again, 'What are you doing? Are you nuts?' I can't believe I was doing this. I was already freaking out halfway to the top but there's no way for me to stop it. So I just let myself loose and tried to look anywhere but down. It's amazing how small people can be from several feet above the ground. And it's frightening.

When we arrived at the top, we were signaled to get ready to pull the cord. 'Three.' 'Two.' 'One.' 'Fly!' I pulled the cord free and we were screaming our lungs out because we were suddenly falling closer and closer to the ground. Suddenly, several feet above the ground, our rope stopped our fall and we swung to and fro for several times. It was frightening. It was madness. It was fun ! I was so proud of myself.

When I got back to the Philippines, a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to try rock climbing. He had been doing it regularly at Power Up in Tandang Sora. I was curious so I came along. When I saw the wall we were going to climb, fear gripped my heart again. But I said to myself, 'If I can do D3, I can do this !'

There's the familiar signs again. Sweaty hands, cold fingers and thumping heart. Inspite of all these, I still tried it. I climbed. It's amazing how one forgets one's fear of heights once you start climbing. The only thought going through my head then was 'Where am I going to step on next? Where's my next handhold?'. I failed to reach the top twice. But I didn't let it deter me from climbing again. When I finally got to the top, I felt really good about myself. I'm glad I allowed myself to enjoy life inspite of my fear. I go to Power Up whenever I can. And each time I do, I find that I'm conquering my fear over again. I am still afraid of heights. But I'm not letting it control and stop me from having fun.

This article was published in PDI's YoungBlood on December 10, 1998