Cloud 9

We had one-and-a-half hour to board our charter plane. Accompanied by my own entourage: my husband, my two sons and an arsenal of surfboards and we were ’stoked’! We were in Philippines and we’re heading to Cloud 9. One of the world’s best surf spot. Only one caveat – supposedly it’s not safe for ‘foreigners’ I looked at my American husband and two light-haired son then me ,the only one who fits in, and suddenly I’m not so stoked.

Our plane touched down and I caught a glimpse of my husband’s wonderment of the land. Endless rows of coconut trees, from a distance a man was walking on a rice patty path while his machete swings on his waist. My children laughed at at the sight of the water buffalo chewing on his cud. This was their airport. No concrete runway instead it was green grass, no security just a table, two attendants equipped with rubber stamps, an old fashion baggage scale and roosters running wild. I felt uncertain in a country where I was born. A tricycle driver yells, “Welcome Surfista!” and for a second I anticipated for him to blindfold everyone from the plane and ask for ransom money instead he smiled his toothless smile and says “Over der es where Abu-Walang-Bayag is hiding…” Lucky for me I understood his pun of joke and I laughed along with him but still I couldn’t help but looked at the forest of coconut trees. His joke was a way to reassure us that he’s on my team and not the one who was in hiding.

The next few days, I mastered the art of doing nothing. My husband happily surfed and hung out with ex-pat Aussies and my kids endlessly played on the beach under the hot-hot tropical sun. They found ‘Nemo’ amongst other sea life and they were particularly fond of chasing coconut crabs huge ones especially at night for which they came in drones. My children wore their headlamps and watched them ate and clicked-clacked their claws. We toured the island on a motorcycle with no helmets with my oldest sitting right on the gas tank. Was I worried that we did not meet U.S transportation standard? Perhaps a little thankfully we got back to our cottage safe and sound. The irony of the trip was as travelers we have all kinds of assumptions of people and places out of our comfort zone. We tend to feel worried and think of the negative and even judge. During my stay, I learned the true meaning of a Spanish saying “Via con Dios!” and I left all my worries behind and learned to live in the moment.

Can this prisoners get amnesty?

A few years ago, this prisoners did a Michael Jackson rendition of “Thriller” now they’ve done it again with “Dangerous”.  Should American justice system  add it on our agenda ‘Dance Rehabilitation’?  Shouldn’t these guys make shanks out of toothbrushes? ( Shawshank Redemption, remember?) Couldn’t some of them fly here in U.S (just like the 15-year old pirate from Somalia) and have the best day ever?  Someone behind the bars is somebody’s Tito Boy and he’s missing his Ate Baby.  Enjoy this video.  Hope your week is off to a good start.

Thriller!

 

One last Halloween post.

Hope you think it’s funny as much as I do.

My fellow Pinoys

My fellow pinoys…in five days it’s election time.  Please do not forget, as an American citizen or a Naturalized American Citizen, your right to cast your ballot.  Take note I said ballot and not balut!  Big difference. A balut is a food we test the loyalty of our not-pinoy friends.  My fellow white friends, in case you did not know or your pinoy (Filipino) friend(s) has not let you in on this type of food it is because this type of food just ups the ante on culinary nastiness.

Psssst!  Hoy!

Please do not put “Manny Pacquiao” for president.  Even if  he’s been to Vegas and you’ve seen him box and win countless times on pay-per-view.  He is not an American citizen.

Please do not treat this election like “Dancing With The Stars” just because Cheryl ain’t dancing with either candidate, you still have to vote.  Text messaging is not a form of electoral voting.

No you cannot wish for either candidate to go in the octagon with UFC Brandon Vera and see who outlast- to much liability involve.

And no, no, no, Sarah Palin will never be in any of our beauty pageant.  

  Oh,sige! see you at the polls.