An Untypical Day

I don't like waking up early for work. But today, I had to show up in uptown Chicago because the government needs to take my fingerprints. Having recently gotten hooked to CSI:Miami on Netflix, I knew what the government was up to. If you consider me your friend, please remind me to not leave fingerprints in a crime scene. And please remind me not to kill anyone. I took the slow city train that makes every possible stop. It may even stop when a squirrel hails for it. But it was nice to take it slow and easy for a change. I got off the train station and walked by a vintage movie house. It looked perfect to upload to my Instragram account, but I did not bring any of my two phones (1 for work, 1 personal) today because I was told it was not allowed in the government office I was going to. No problem, for a change, I'd love to temporarily detach myself from any gadgetry. So instead of using Yelp to find the closest place for me to have a meal, I could use my legs and my own eyes and my natural human instinct! Just as I was about to cross the street, three thin, bald monks crossed the same street. They each carried a gold-tinted jar, and they walked barefoot, with their heads down. I already forgot to cross the street because I realize this doesn't happen to me everyday. Part of me wished I could walk with them and make conversation about life, compassion and humanity. I decided to trace where they must have come from till I found a Buddhist temple around the corner. I almost stepped in, inside the temple, until I saw two old ladies in it, and not monks. Unsure of my next move, I turned away to address one of humanity's greatest need -- hunger. I was hungry so I walked back to an old and ugly diner I passed by earlier. There was a Starbucks nearby but the dilapidated signs of this diner and its many customers was more enticing to me. I expected to see a typical, rundown American mom-and-pop diner, but it was now run by Latino immigrants. I took one of the red cushioned seats that match the red-stained lamps above each booth. A middle-aged woman comes in, in her short red dress, laced red gloves, and striking red hair. She sat next to my booth and may have looked like a furniture along with the diner artifacts. "One day, I'll take all my things into my car and drive down to anywhere. Maybe Tennesee!", I heard a lady say to her friends. Deep inside, I cheer for her. You go girl! Claim your freedom! I look down to my omelet, and take a sip of my bad coffee. But I relax and savor this short few hours of not having to sit in a cubicle all day. I notice my hand trying to find my phone in my purse, my - it has become an automatic movement - que horror! I asked for my check and they refused my credit card. They only take cash. They gave me my change in coins, and one of them was a Canadian coin. What an untypical day for me, and I like it.

Seeing My Philippines

I consider myself relatively well-traveled until I got a C- in this app.  I will travel again in July to see Palawan for the first time.  I know I will get a better grade after that.


My Lakbayan grade is C-!
How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!
Created by Eugene Villar.

My Map of the USA

Unexpected circumstances encouraged me to do some self-reflection.  If I ever have to move out of the US, am I satisfied with what I have seen and explored so far?

I have visited 17 of 50 states

Ahh, yes.  I am satisfied.  I can say that the US is no longer a mystery to me.  But, ofcourse, I still have a short list of the last few places I want to see:

1. Aurora Borealis in Alaska
2. Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington

History In Movies

I used to hate history.  In school, my report cards confirm that I had very little interest in the past.  I guess the only one that stuck in my head was about the Sumerians who invented the sundial.  But since I moved here in the US, I happen to become curious about where all these races in the US came from.  It is no question that in the US, everyone are immigrants, except of course, from the native American Indians.  My museum trips out of state has slowly piqued my curiosity and slight interest in basic history not just for the Americas but mostly the world.  Fortunately, I have seen these movies that, I think, everyone should see:

• Invictus - I knew nothing about South Africa and Nelson Mandela until I saw this movie.  It's amazing how recent they have embraced democracy.  I am most amazed by how Mandela charmed the Afrikaners to let go of apartheid to the native black Africans through rugby.
• Schindler's List - A heart wrenching movie that depicts the dark side of the human race.  This is about Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who took big risks to save the lives of Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
• The King's Speech - Old World royalties do not really interest me but this is more about a person's own struggle with himself.  
• Hotel Rwanda - Oh, gosh, this is another heart wrenching movie.  A friend recommended this to me and it reminded me of Schindler's List.  It saddens me how cruel we humans can become to one another.  
• The Motorcycle Diaries - Che Guevara's roadtrip around South America.  This describes the very trip that changed him into the revolutionary that he was.  Very inspiring.
• Evita
• Iron Lady

Brown Rabbit

It was nice to see this little brown rabbit munching on some grass in the park. Seeing him made me happy!

15,747 emails

My BlackBerry died on me one morning when I got 15,747 emails. Unbelievable.

A Flight of Stairs

This is the flight of stairs I take to get to the train for work everyday. But that morning, the stairs was buried in snow. Haaay, I hate snow.

Pinoy Sweaters in the Mall

I saw this in the mall during the weekend. At the back are big letters that spell out my home country: PHILIPPINES

Could this have been inspired by Manny Pacquiao's multiple boxing titles? Most likely.

Go Pinoy!

Dreaming Bora Bora

Ahhhhh, Bora Bora... This is as close as I can get to my dream islands... Someday... Someday I will snorkel in your prestine waters... Someday I will dive in your luscious deep waters.... For now, I need to swim in my codes and dive into my defect list... Ngarsh!

A Bus Stop for Royalty

I saw this one morning while walking along Madison St, right next to the Civic Opera.