Golden Week

We're at the tail-end of what they call the Golden Week here in China. From the 1st of October, we have a week's reprieve from work. We actually only get 3 days off, but the working days are rearranged so that the extra 4 days are compensated by working on weekends.

The long holiday spurs a mass migration of people across China. Migrant workers return to their families, while others travel within the country during this time. Given the stress wrought by an estimated 100 million travelers on public transport, we decided to stay put.

In hindsight, we should have just left, as the city was packed with tourists. As we braved the crowd (think EDSA Dos), I asked hubby this. Had it not been for that first time, did he think we would have met at all? But before he could answer, we got separated in the chaos.

Typical in China, I was constantly pushed by those around me. After a quarter of a lifetime here, I've learned to live with it and go with the flow. I was swept by the crowd a hundred meters and more. And after an eternity, the collective mass of bodies finally spat me out onto the sidewalk.

"Nice to see you here," said a familiar voice.

I rushed to his side and placed an arm around his shoulder, as we walked the rest of the way home together.

photo from here

Chi-Noy

The last time we were in Manila, I dragged my husband to the usual places. I had this mesmerized look on my face and blurted exclamations of wonder the whole time. I didn't even notice, until he said that for someone who grew up in Manila, I was acting too much like a tourist.

I was about to say that it has changed significantly from the last time we visited, which I then remembered was barely a month prior. Fine. I hailed a cab to Greenbelt. Maybe lunch would lift his mood. As we were combing through the line of restos, I kept on snapping our pics among the greenery.

"See? There you go again," he said.

Of all places, we ended up in Max's. Again. He ordered sinigang, crispy pata and extra rice. After the meal, we headed to Levi's, where he meticulously picked only the Philippine-made jeans. We then crossed to Landmark where he hoarded bottles of calamansi, Close Up, Rexona, and Tide.

As I now file the neglected photos from that trip, I find myself browsing through our pictures from years ago. We have aged since then, but that wasn't what caught my attention. The once distinct-looking boys (one Chinese, the other Pinoy) on the screen now look so much alike.

I smiled at one of the photos. Somewhere in between Landmark and Glorietta, the tourist and his local companion stood patiently in line for a cab. As to which one was which, now I couldn't really tell.

photo from here

I Got Mooned

The Mid-Autumn festivities exploded over the long weekend. There were bright lanterns everywhere. Restaurants were full. Shops quickly ran out of fruit baskets. And people were in a celebratory mood.

Since the holiday is also known as the Mooncake Festival, countless boxes of this pastry were going around. It's one of the few Chinese sweets that I enjoy, and I was over the moon when a friend brought me special ones from a recent trip.

Let me share a few of these with you, albeit online. Cheeky, yet fitting, delicacies for the Moon Festival.

photos from boysky.com and the G.O.D. lifestyle store

Chinese New Year Buffet

Happy Chinese New Year sa inyong lahat. I wish everyone a healthy, happy and prosperous Year of the Rabbit.

Xin Nian Kuai Le!
Sin Ni Khòai Lok!
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Kiong Hee Huat Tsai!
Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Eto ang handa nila sa isang resto sa Beijing. Smorgasbord ng mga t*ti.

Appetizer pa lang yan. Gusto mo makisalo?
      
photo credit : tokyohive.com
     

Parada Ng Mga Dancer

Biglang sumabog ang iba't ibang kulay na bumaha sa maitim na aspalto sa harap ko. Ito ang pakiramdam ko nang biglaang lumiko ang napakahabang prusisyon ng mga makukulay na lion dancers sa dulo ng kalsadang binabaybay ko nitong bagong taon. May mga leon na pula, bughaw, itim, ginto, at malamang lahat na ng kulay na nasa Crayola 64.

Ang kasabihan ay naitataboy daw ng mga nilikhang ito ang masasamang elemento na nagdudulot ng hirap at pagdurusa, at sila daw ang nagbibigay suwerte sa bagong taon. Actually, tapos na ang parada nang ito'y aking masalubong, at pauwi na ang mga leon nang kami'y aksidenteng magtagpo. Pero sana'y maambunan pa rin ako sa natapos nang pagbabasbas. Nang dumating naman sa akin ang swerte, at mawala ang malas.

Nanatili akong nakatayo sa gitna ng daan. Humina ang daloy ng parada hanggang sa tuluyang naglaho ang mga mananayaw. Maitim na naman ang aspaltadong daan, ngunit naiwan ang makukulay na bakas sa dating matamlay kong hapon. 

photo credit : flickr.com - elainekatry, others taken with my phone
        

Namaluktot Sa Kumot

Narito ako sa bansang kinalakihan ng aking asawa. Taglamig dito at dahil hindi ako sanay, nagtatago ako sa ilalim ng mga kumot upang mag-hibernate. Dala ng matinding ginaw, pakiramdam ko ay unti-unting... bumabagal ang tibok... ng aking... puso. Blagg!

Biglang bumukas at humampas sa dingding ang pinto ng banyo. Isinuka nito ang nanginginig kong asawa. Bagong ligo at umaaso, gumagapang papalayo sa kaniyang katawan ang nagkukulutang singaw ng init. Pinilipit niya ang twalya at ako'y pinitik. Araaayy!

Bumalik ang kirot sa aking dibdib. Mabilis na gumapang pababa sa aking sikmura. Hanggang sa di na ako makahinga. Na kahit wala nang hangin sa aking baga ay pilit pa rin itong pinupurga. Sa gitna ng aking paghangos, napagtanto ko na sa aking paglayo, di ko pa rin natakasan ang pagpanaw ng isang mahal sa buhay. Nalunod ako sa kalungkutan, at tinakpan ko ng unan ang impit na paghikbi. Mmmmph!

"Huminga ka," bulong ng aking asawa, sabay hagod sa aking likod habang mahigpit niya akong yakap. "Ganito," at huminga siya ng malalim para sa aming dalawa. Paulit-ulit. Unti-unting lumalim ang dating mga singhap, hanggang natuto akong sumabay sa kaniya. Iniahon niya ako mula sa ilalim ng pinagtataguang mga kumot at binihisan upang sabay naming harapin ang dumating na taglamig.

photo credit : flickr.com - mestes76
 

Peklat At Nunal

Maaga siyang nakaidlip. Di alintana ang ingay ng natitirang putukan. Epekto marahil ng aming nainom sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon.

Kanina ay masaya kaming nag-countdown sa pagpapalit ng taon. At siyempre dala ng alak at pagdiriwang, marami ring ipinahayag na mensahe sa isa't isa. Pagmamahal. Pasasalamat. Magkayakap naming mga pangarap.

Pinagmasdan ko siya sa kaniyang pagkakahimbing. Tulad ng ilan niyang puting buhok, marami nang nagbago sa amin sa dumaang ilang taon.

Noon, dalawa kaming mapusok, walang takot na sumabak sa anumang adventure, bawal man o hindi. Dahil sa may sakit niyang ama at sa kapamilya kong pumanaw, napag-usapan namin ang aming pagtanda at pinag-awayan kung sinong mauuna. Kahit na isang araw lamang ang pagitan ay walang gustong bumigay.

Inilapat niya ang kaniyang mga palad sa aking noo. Marahan niya itong hinaplos at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Itinuloy ang paglalakbay ng kaniyang mga kamay sa aking mukha.

"Peklat... nunal..." bulong niya sa sarili.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" ang tanong ko.

"Inaalala ka. Para mahanap kita sa kabilang buhay," sagot ng mokong.

Ngayon, mahimbing ang kaniyang tulog. Gusto ko siyang gisingin. Marami pa akong gustong sabihin. Mga bagay na nakalimutan kong sabihin kanina. Pero hinayaan ko na lang siya sa kaniyang paghihilik. Unang araw ng bagong taon, ng bagong dekada. Maraming panahon para sabihin ang aking saloobin. Hinaplos ko ang kaniyang noo. "Peklat... nunal..."


photo credit : laprogressive.com
  

Pinaputok Ako ni Katy

Today everyone will be busy ringing in the new year with their loved ones. People are scrambling to complete the preparations for the festivities, reminisce the good times in 2010 and list down their new year's resolutions, plan last-minute gimmicks, and exhaust the last chance for hooking up this year. Before things get too hectic, I just wanted to post a brief and final entry for this year.

It is not easy being in the closet. I have dealt with the angst and confusion alone. Walang makausap, walang mapagtanungan, itinatago ang sarili maski sa iilang mga baklang kaibigan. What makes closeted life lonelier is that I had no friends to share the joy with for the few milestones in my gay life.

I have only been exposed to the world of blogging for around two months, and being part of your virtual lives and this online community has been liberating. It is ironic that except for the anonymity, I have never experienced this much honesty. And thank you for sharing and listening.

I just wanted to share this song, not just for its literal application. For me it is a modern and danceable variant of Cyndi Lauper's True Colors. I hope that 2011 is a better year for all of us. Another year closer to when we can all hopefully live outside our closets (and not just the gay kind).

Thanks again for the friendship that transcends space and time(zones). Happy new year to you and your loved ones!!!



photo credit : bighugelabs.com - LucaRam
  

Nang Inipit Si Jose

What exactly is Rizal Day？ All I know is that it is a public holiday between Christmas and the new year. I'm not one to complain about any excuse to not have to work, but who actually celebrates it? I don't see throngs of people buying gifts or noche buena fare in the malls for this auspicious day. Also, there has been nothing on TV of people losing precious digits for lighting firecrackers in his honor. I am equally sure that nobody received any "Merry Christmas and a happy Rizal day and a prosperous new year" greeting over the holidays. He may be our national hero, but how can one compete with Christmas or the new year?

While I don't understand its meaning, I personally like this holiday. The chaos brought about by the Christmas festivities has died down, and it provides a welcome respite just before the new year celebrations start picking up. It is the time when opened Christmas presents are most cherished and new year resolutions are drafted. The traffic is generally not as bad, and spending takes a very brief breather. There is also more time for myself. Whatever it is one does on this day, I don't think it is about good old Jose.

I feel for the guy though, for the importance of this man and his day seem lost on us. It's now more of an ipit holiday between Christmas and the new year. Nevertheless, he is still the face of the peso, the most important driver of the two major holidays that his day brings together.

For everyone that's taking a breather, have a good and hopefully quiet Rizal Day!

photo credit : thedoctorsindyshow.com