A taste of home...namit...lasa

It was Victor who told me in our chat earlier today that our an anthology of works of the diaspora Filipinos has just recently came out of Anvil's publishing house, and that among the works included was from our friend Cynthia. It is not anymore a surprise to me to hear that our friend's work is included in this latest offering from Anvil, particularly with such a title for an anthology. Having been out of the Philippines myself for several years now, my mouth cannot but help but water at the memory of a well seasoned sigang (our way of saying sinigang in Legaspi City)with the fresh sourness from the tamarind fruit, or the hotness of the Bicol express, and yes the delicate balance between the creaminess of the natok from a matured coconut milk and that signature consistency of a well-cooked leaves of the gabi plant (natong). When memory tags so deep in my heart, then a quick dash to the nearby Asian store aptly named Asian spices, would at least assuage the longing of one's palate and heart for the familiar taste of home. Still there is nothing that can replace the real experience of preparing the leaves of gabi al dente (oh it even reminds me now of May Trining again) when for just 25 cents she would choose from among her hundreds of thousands of gabi plants those which were best for the purpose of gulay na natong or in the case of sinuwan, those young leaves still "sleeping" as what I used to call them because they were still rolled but not quite nor open but not quite. May Trining would tell me that the best time to collect the leaves was either after a downpour because the rain washes away everything on top of the leaves or at least if it doesn't rain, then early morning when the dew are just starting to condense. Well Victor asked me why I am not anymore contributing to his Kadunong. I would like to but I still lack the discipline of our friend Cynthia to the craft.

In praise of the Filipino public school teachers

1989. That was the year I graduated from Bicol University (www.bicol-u.edu.ph/)and as with other new graduates was faced with the daunting task of getting a job. Four years back, during my graduation from high school, I was wondering if I would be able to go through another four years of college considering that my family was financially not capable of supporting me through. Fortunately, Aquinas University (www.aq.edu.ph/) where I studied the first three years of my high school offered a chance by way of a good working student program. Anyway to cut the long story short I finished my education degree not at Aquinas University but at Bicol University (another story). With my diploma and an eligibility that comes with my graduating as Cum Laude, I started teaching as a volunteer teacher at the Villahermosa National High School in Villahermosa, Rapu-Rapu, the hometown of my mother. On hindsight now I can say that the time I spent at Villahermosa laid down the foundation of my resolve that teaching offers a reward in itself. From Rapu-Rapu I went back to Legaspi City and taught at the high school department of Aquinas University. That period also proved to be a blessing in that during my time at Aquinas University, we got a wonderful and very good principal (Mr. Tuason), equally wonderful teaching staffs and to top it all wonderful and hard working students. I was given for my home room class assignment the first batch of students in the night high school department, one of whom later became a co teacher of mine and what better reward of our efforts during that time in Aquinas than to hear her say that one of the persons who influenced her to persevere and take up education for a course is her former teacher of mathematics who goes by the name of Rafael Buemia.

Schengen Visa

Today is the day for me to file my application for a new Schengen visa. The name Schengen originated from a small town in Luxembourg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen,_Luxembourg) where the first of the two agreements (so-called Schengen Agreements) was signed by representatives from 15 European countries namely: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden which was entitled (quite long)The 1985 Agreement between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders, also known as Schengen I, which provided for simple visual surveillance of private vehicles crossing the common border at reduced speed, without requiring such vehicles to stop. Persons who did not have to meet specific requirements at internal borders, as, for example, visa requirements, could use this fast lane procedure by affixing to the windscreen a green disc measuring at least eight centimetres in diameter.
For a third country national (a foreigner residing from example in Switzerland wishing to vist or travel to any of the countries which signed into the Schengen Agreements), to travel to any country belonging to the so-called Schengen area (the countries which signed the Schengen Agreements) requires a visa for that purpose. In Geneva, the task of issuing the Schengen visa has been given to the Consulat Generale of France. Since 1999, I have been issued around 4 Schengen visas, aside from the Schengen Residence permit which I got when I was studying for my master at the University of Munich. Over the years, I got to learn some lessons on applying for the Schengen visa the least of which is the more documents you submit, the better is the chance of you being issued the visa. Today, before going to the French Consulate here in Geneva which is fortunately for me is just 5 minutes away from our resident, I thought that I got all the documents enumerated by the one who answered the phone when I called for an appointment last October 18 ready. So when I got to the information desk of the French Consulate, I thought that the staff manning this first gate would not asked for any other documents, only to realize that this is not the case: He wanted to see the original passport of my partner which unfortunately is travelling to Copenhagen and will not be back until Friday. I was altogether ready to just say OK then I think I just need to go back, when the staff suddenly realized that indeed how can I have the passport of my partner when he should have it with him. I was then issued a number (035) and was let in the receiving area and have to wait to be called to pay for the visa, after which I was asked to go to another window to submit the application together with the receipt of payment. Again in the second window, the staff asked for the passport of my partner (again I have to repeat the explanation and added that what I got together with the application form is a photocopy of his passport. While going over the photocopy of my partner's passport he told me to come back around the 15th day after today, and to bring with my partner's passport. I have to tell him that I cannot possibly do this since by that time my partner would be in India and will not be back to Geneva until the first week of December. I think he soon realized that since I have been submitting almost the same documents evertime I filed for a new Schengen visa, then they can always checked on my files.

If I am an American voter I would vote for...

The Philippines, beause of her historical affinity to the United States of America follows a Presidential form of government - with the right to choose the president exercised by the citizens. In the case of a Filipino citizen, this right comes when one reaches his/her 18th birthday. Since turning 18 almost 24 years ago I hade the opportunity already of participating in 4 presidential elections. I would like to believe that I have chosen the right Filipinos - those who think of the well-being of the majority of the population than just satisfying the few interests-groups. For the first time also Filipinos who are outside the country can participate and exercise this right now with the Overseas Absentee Voting Law in effect. Two day from now, Americans would be selecting their next president. If I am an American citizen, I would vote for Senator Barack Obama for three reasons:
(1) He is ready for the job
(2) He has the requisite skills and character to do it
(3) and He more than anybody else epitomizes the ideals of America: that of a land of opportunity if one is ready to work for the attainment of that opportunity.
Over and above if he wins the presidency, then it will be a historic moment not only for America but also for the millions of migrants in so many part of the world.