Ang Nagliliwaliw na Sakong Buddha

Siya ang sidekick ng walang  luwalhating liwaliw. Minsan tinawag siyang  Lao Tzu, ang kilalang Intsik na pilosopo. Siya ang makapagdala-isip sa salawikain na ang isang biyahe ay nag-uumpisa sa isang hakbang.  Naging Holy Shih Tzu din siya, ang palayaw ay Holy Shit. Banal na Tae sa inang dila pero mas naaakma ang bansag na ito para sa kanyang handler.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Thanks Ged for recommending the book to Lev. It is a brilliant book. I mean, it is my kind of book and I give my highest glorious holy shit ratings, piled higher and deeper. 

The multiple settings of the book is perfect for this inglorious wanderer's random mindfuck blogs: Lahore, Manila, New York, New Jersey and Santorini among others. For me the theme of the story is one/s origin, one's roots. 


I would repeatedly say to anyone who could understand what I am saying that I may be out of my country of origin but the country of my origin could never be taken out of me. I think this is true for most immigrants. There are some who shout it out, some flaunt it because they think they have it and some quietly dwell on it and find strength from it, whatever it is. Americans would always look at my country as an urban poor in the capital and exotic in the islands. And yes, don’t refer to my country of origin as P.I. because P. I . is short for putang ina. Americans would also tend to look at another country as a protectorate. I don’t care if you think I’m an ingrate. I guess, no matter what, I would always be refuting misrepresentations of my country of origin. I know my country of origin better than any foreigner to my country of origin.
Mohsin Hamid is one of those authors I know who writes in English and based their stories with their homelands as main settings. Yiyun Li, author “The Vagrants”; Gita Mehta, author of “River Sutra”; and Khaled Hosseini, author of “A Thousand Splended Suns”, among others. Reading their books is like traveling with them to revisit their country of origins while I revisit my own.

Pride Parade 2016

I was one of the first 100 who replied to Tom's email. Subject: San Diego Pride Parade 2016.

I kept quiet about joining the parade until Juan learned it from Eddie. Eddie got my t-shirt from Tom. Juan thought I was crazy. I looked forward to finally joining a pride parade. Scripps, my  primary employer sounds like a conservative group. They never took part in the socio-political events like the Pride Parade. 

Ahh... the sharp experience for me. And there's Eddie, my boss. I was so surprised he hired me. I thought I was doomed to be with the Vahkkendjaab forever. Eddie used to be a telemetry technician himself until he became a registered nurse. I met his partner at the parade. I think his name was Trevor. 

I have  been a spectator since 2011. It was the time before hash tags #Don'tAskDon'tTell. A rubbernecker more than a supporter, it was all about blogging substance,  if there is such a thing called substance in blogging.

I was wearing the same orange t-shirt. The message is about diversity and inclusion. I am a participant observer, for life.

I am always reminded of the man who came to the parade two years ago. He had a megaphone. He had a message for everyone: being a lesbian, gay or transgendered is a sin. God didn't want his people to be in a place called Sodom and Gomorrah. Everyone must repent. 
https://gloofy.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/san-diego-gay-pride-parade-2014/

The prejudice will always be present.

The Holy Bible bored me early on. If Jesus were alive now, He would have left all these LGBTQ sinners alone. I knew Jesus was too liberal for a conservative.  He could have been more open to accepting people as they are and he loved sinners.

Thank you St. Bartholomew Church for the welcome. The truth is I have been going to their church in Poway. Their thrift shop has a good variety of treasures.

Diversity and inclusion is basic 

The rainbow

 KG's alma mater

They have everything to be proud of.

always around

gender less or gender fair

the community

part of the rainbow

a shot on the sheriff

 spectators

No shame

Coming out too

the former Godzilla graduates

She'd been gearing herself for graduate school. The recently concluded semester she was taking subjects prerequisite to graduate school according to Karlee. She told to RN that she'd been done with college as of this month. Exactly five years at SDSU. 

ILS meet-up in DC

Both Ate Guy and Saul are now with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). Ate Guy is the Assistant  Labor Attaché posted in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Saul heads the POLO in Washington DC as the Labor Attaché. ILS which we referred  to as "the Institute"  making it sound as more than the attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment and the think thank that we considered it was. Before ILS, I was with the now defunct, I mean renamed Bureau of Women and Young Workers. But it was easier to trace back memories to ILS. It was at an ILS  kiddie Christmas party that I first heard KG sang using a microphone trying to reach a note. I wanted to crawl under one of the desks like I was going to sing myself but it turned out that KG was not as disastrous as I had always been when it comes to singing at a Christmas party.  Ate Guy easily became the instant godmother to Karlee while Bern  and Mel have been KG's  godparents.

Being the shithead that I had always been at ILS, I felt kind of undeserving to be holding the ILS bandanna banner in front of the White House with Ate Guy. I thought of that bandanna as a commemorative souvenir for the meet-up with Saul and Ate Guy at DC. But if felt good playing support to  Ate Guy holding on to the ILS bandanna banner while Saul took the picture. Attending to the welfare and labor  concerns of OFWs at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah Saudi Arabia is to me a really heroic job. Ate Guy is attending to the labor and welfare concerns of Overseas Filipino Workers in the vicinities of Jeddah, some gargantuan task. The thought of me being a PRC registered social worker and whining about Ayeddis Vahkkendjaab in the US makes  me feel rather shameless realizing that Ate Guy is doing the job I pledged to doing in a forgotten oath-taking ceremony I attended in my previous life.

The unmanned picket is  for me the most interesting sight in front of the White House grounds. I am sure,  not many visitors have taken notice of the Free Tibet poster. For someone who has been reading into global socio-political issues that veer into humanitarian sentiments, the chance to see the exhibit was priceless.  I  have never been aware that Tibet has been under occupation Chinese all these years.

The glorious Holy Shih Tzu makes it to DC. As I look at the picture, I.G.Y sung by Donald Fagen in another century comes to mind:

Here at home, we'll play in the city powered by the sun

Perfect weather for a streamlined world

There'll be spandex jackets for everyone

Chorus:

What a beautiful world this would be

What a glorious time to be free!

I may have guilt feelings of being in that glorious time while the ancestors of the wandering sack buddha  are imprisoned by their Chinese oppressors in Tibet, but oh well...

I have always thought of a diplomat as a suitcase brand. Being with two diplomats in DC  and not the suitcase types is big time to me.

I hope to garner several dozens likes when I post the photo of Ate Guy and Saul with the obelisk picture at Facebook. When Saul mentioned of the obelisk, I had the oblation in mind. When I think of the oblation, I have Lev in mind. I don't know why. It must be that ILS mark. Reading,  Ading? I'd love to see you in the United Shades of America in the future.

Virgin Islands is not far from the Philippines in the National World War II Museum.  All the pillars in the monument has names of the US states and territories on them. For an instant, I tried to think if Philippines is still a protectorate.

Remembering how hard it was for me then to get a visitor's visa to the US, it is so ironic that I was seeing my motherland's name in the national monument. I may be naturalized but I would still  stick to the history of my country of origin as told by Filipino historians who celebrate June 12th as the country's Independence Day.  Filipinos fought and died for the country to be independent and no longer a mere protectorate by any super power like the US.   I would always be  aware   of the more  100,000 Filipinos who perished as a result of the US forces fight to regain the country from Japanese occupation. If you fellow brown American puppies  think I am just ranting, Google it up!

I had to capture the moment. Saul, the diplomat.  spares a DC visitor  from taking himself a selfie shot. I am reminded of how I got to the Institute from the Bureau. Boss Irma, my then chief at the Bureau told me that ILS was looking for a staff who could write. It was Saul who told Boss Irma about the ILS hiring needs. Boss Irma sort of like and accepted my writing style and sent me to ILS to see Saul.

These idiots could have just asked Saul. 

With the photo, I sum up with the I.G.Y lyrics in mind because I ran out of what to say:

Standing tough under star and stripes, we can tell

This dream's in sight

You've got to admit it

At this point in time, it is clear

The future looks bright...

The Streets of Philadelphia

The jazz fusion beat has been playing sporadically on my mind eversince I came back from Philadelphia. 

And I'm a player from the streets of Philadelphia

And now my sound is round and deep and brown and blue sometimes..

Stanley Clarke is the composer of the song that has been playing in my head. Another song with the same title   is the theme song of Philadelphia, the movie. The movie is where Tom Hanks dies of AIDS. He and Denzel Washington both play lawyers in the movie. Tom Hanks is the aggrieved party, having  been fired by his prestigious law firm when it is discovered that he has AIDS.   Tom Hanks dies in the movie and Denzel Washington has always been a favorite actor.

My fascination on Philadelphia goes back to the time when I first saw the  movie in the mid 90's while working in Saudi Arabia. Part of the fascination must have come from listening to jazz music. The song by Stanley Clarke sort of represent how I envisioned Philadelphia: deep, colorful and distinct like a jazz fusion beat.

“Are you a sister?”

I knew the gentleman street pastor was asking if  I am a Jehovah’s Witness myself.
“I am not sure,” I replied.

I wanted to confess to him that I am a member of an LGBT community in San Diego and Pride Week is the only occasion I celebrate. May Jehovah, peace be unto him, be the witness!
His sisters graciously posed with Ate Guy. I became the witness as well  the photographer.

Black lives matter in Philadelphia. Their friendly disposition seem to add to the pleasant atmosphere of the city. Even Moses, our Über guy is  for me a part of the pleasant experience Ate Guy and I had in Philadelphia. Moses who said he came from West Africa must have been a buffalo soldier in his younger days.
Stolen from Africa
Brought to America
Fighting on arrival
Fighting for survival….

Ate Guy and I may have missed seeing  the famous Liberty Bell,  racing on Rocky Balboa's  steps and being face to face with Rocky Balboa., is that you? But we didn't miss our train for DC at the 30th Street Union Station.

Remember me, Apen?

At Asian Social Institute (ASI), everyone addressed her as Run Pen at first until she told us that calling  her as such was like calling her in her first and last name. At ASI, we  referred to Lolita Dimaano as Lolit and Orlando Buenviaje as Ka Orly and the late Aura Savelano as Au. At one point, she got offended at  by being called Run Pen by Tess O when everyone was already calling her Apen. Apen is originally from Myanmar.

I found her at Facebook with the first and last name she used plus her married name. She is now based in Uppsala, Sweden and works as social worker.

This agnostic

To some people, being agnostic is no different from being an atheist. To me an athiest is no different from a religious fanatic like a born-again Christian. Both groups would grill an agnostic. Born-again Christians like most Muslims, Roman Catholics and any other Christians build churches and mosques and require attendance and loyalty among their faithful. The faithful pledging loyalty to their churches in the name of Jesus look upon on non-church goers like me as lost souls. I do look at them in rhe same ways. They're just a bunch of fanatics. 

The photo is taken from my other work place. I love going into the interfaith chapel and trying to recognize the emblems. 

Watching POTUS in London

In two weeks I will be joining RM in Philly for a trip to Washington DC. There,

we would be meeting Saul de Vries, the new Philippine labor attaché. I am glad I'd be going to the nation's capital while President Obama is still in the White House. President Obama is the only president I voted for. I never really voted for any Philippine president because no one appealed to me. 

I am having the same feelings I had in the Philippine for presidential elections. I am voting for Senator Bernie Sanders in the primaries. He is not going to be the Democratic nominee but vote is an ideological expression. After the California primaries in June, it doesn't matter who is going to be my adopted country's president. And yes I am getting less scared on Donald Trump becoming the next US president. 

As I watched President Obama being asked by a reporter if it is any of his business to tell the British people that UK  is better off staying in the European Union circle, I wondered how Donald Trump would handle such a blunt question. The president simply shrugged off the question as if dealing with a teenager throwing a fit. I also wonder if Donald Trump would even get close to visiting a country in the Gulf Region, much less, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

A Hoarder's house

Even a food stamp benificiary Caucasian would winch at a suggestion to find an apartment in Mira Mesa. Mira Mesa which was once thought of as a flower plateau has been tagged as Mira Manila. Even a mortgage-laden Filipino RN would flaunt a zip code that is not Mira Mesa. Even non-RN Filipinos like me would feel offended for being thought of as a Mira Mesa resident. Mira Mesa is kind of an Filipino ethnic village in San Diego. 

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the house at corner Belgian St and Dewsbury Ave was Tondo or maybe Cavite St near Bluementritt Market. 

'Ika pa sa salawikain, ang di marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay di makakarating sa paroroonan. 

Ay ambot!

Mga Halamang Ligaw

Kapanahunan ng mga ligaw na bulaklak, kapanahunan  din ng aking walang kwentang agiw tala. Inspired nga ba o wala lang magawa?   Ang ipinapanalanging ulan ay dumating din pagkatapos ng tagtuyot. Panahon na naman ng tagsibol at namumulaklak ang mga halamang ligaw. Heto, trying hard din ang  inaagiw kong utak kantó. 

Naglipana ang mga California bush monkey flowers sa mga open space preserve sa kapaligiran. Bawal  silang kolektahin, hugutin, padamihin at palaganapin. Kung hindi  pa ako hinugot, asan kaya ako ngayon? Malamang sa squatter pa rin. Pilit kong hinugot ang ilang sumisibol na mga batang unggoy para itanim sa paso. Nakita ko ang sarili ko sa mga unggoy. Katulad ko puede rin siguro silang maging transplant.  Pula, naranghita at dilaw! Ako ay lubos na natuwa sa mga malalagkit  na bulaklak ng mga unggoy. 

Ito ay ang wild hyacinth na mas kilala sa tawag na blue dicks. Binugbog na patutoy ayon pa sa pagsalin ni Djeline. Kako naman, binugbog na bayag.  Noong una ko silang makilala, natuwa ako sa kanila dahil sa kanilang pagkakapangalang Blue Dicks. Marami na rin akong hinugot na blue dicks. Naalala ko pa ang bugtong na una kong narinig mula sa  aking ina. Siya lang ang puede magtanong noong ako'y musmos pa: impalok ti Igorot di mo mabagrot?  Ang sagot sa Ilocano rin: okinnam, saan ka nga agsasao ti dakes, basol ken Apo Diyos!

Deer weed flowers and tawag sa kanila. 

Dahil sa kanilang pagiging ligaw, bawal din silang kolektahin at palaganapin. Minsan lang ako nakakita ng usa sa open  space preserve na nakakapaligid sa aming tahanan. Mabubusog sila sa dami ng deer weed na ngayon ay namumulaklak rin tulad ng mga unggoy.

Di ko na kailangang kunsultahin ang US Database for Wildflowers para makunpirma na ang bulaklak sa larawan ay isang sunflower. Ito ang bulaklak na laging palamuti sa ball pen ni Tetey Soriano, ang  dati kong boss sa Insttute for Labor Studies. May bubuyog na sumisipsip sa sunflower, ganyan din si Tetey noon, maraming sumisipsip. May mga insekto rin na dumapo sa sunflower. Isa ako sa mga insekto na hindi natutong sumipsip, sapat na yong makadapo man lang sa Institute. 

Morning glory? Ang morning glory sa akin  ay hindi ligaw na bulaklak kundi ligaw na muta sa umaga.

Ito yata ang tinatawag na Chinese houses. Maganda nga naman ang bahay ng mga Instik.

Checker blooms daw ang tawag ng mga iyo. Pilit ko rin silang  pinapalaganap matapos hugutin. 

Last but not the least ay ang Lord's Candle. Kasamahan ng Joshua Tree ang Lord's Candle. Ang Joshua Tree ay naihalintulad sa isang Mormon na nananalangin. Ang Joshua Tree ay isang uri din ng yucca katulad ng Lord's Candle. Pero iba ang sumasagi sa aking isipan tuwing nakikita ko ang ligaw na halaman na ito. 

Blue dicks at ang bugtong ng aking ina noong ako'y musmos pa! Ito ang kandila ng Panginoon noong musmos pa siya. Tatawagin ko ang ligaw na halaman ito bilang Baby Jesus!