On Why I Love Caviar - A Repost

I posted this entry in my multiply account exactly one year ago. Today I reposted it to honor a man I call my "personal myth".


A friend sent me the following text message: "Hey, I'm Having coffee by the bay. I remember how you love Che. He's with me now."

I first met Che through my brother. He never really talked much about Che but I often saw them in deep conversation. I was never interested about who he was that time but I always found myself asking my Kuya about Che and his life. My brother's admiration and reverence on Che was beyond my understanding. I was high school then.

I was in college when I saw him again. This time he talked to me as if he was talking to my brother. He just traveled through one continent with a friend and in a motorcycle! "Wow!", I silently exclaimed. He is now a doctor he said. We talked all through out the movie never minding the big screen in front of us. That night, I had a glimpse of his soul and Che became my personal myth.

It was six months ago when that text message was sent to me by my friend. By now, I have gone to that place by the bay where she was with Che. I sat there for a while and think about Che. I realized how vast was his influence in my life and I didn't even know about it.

I guess it would surprise him to know that in every major decision I made he was the foremost consideration. And I was not even aware of it. I remember one time driving through my lola's farm and to the next barangay on a motorbike! Perhaps he will roll down laughing on my idea on what a continent is! Well, Che, it's the closest I can get from where you have been.

It's October 10 today. The day when Che became a myth forever. It was a privilege knowing him and I will never regret on how I permitted him to influence my life. I am proud of what I am today.

I'd give up forever just to be with Che. And I will always grieve on the fact that I was never given that chance.

I didn't really answered the question on why I love caviar, did I? It is simple, really.

Che loved caviar. I love Che. Therefore, I love caviar. Logic 101.

Yesterday, October 09, 2007, the same friend sent me a message while I was attending the premier of Australian Film Festival. She reminded me to pray for Che and for his soul.

I did. I already did.

Teri Hatcher, Cory Aquino and the Filipinos

My friend's mother handed me a copy of Cebu Sunstar as soon as I put my backpack on the floor. I just came from an uneventful 12-hour boat trip that crossed the seas that divided the islands of the Visayas and Mindanao. Oh, Cebu! I never expected I'd come again in your arms this early. That was a week ago.

I was reading the newspaper when I almost spilt my coffee. A non-favorite american sitcom just insulted doctors produced by Philippine schools. I remembered my last blog entry ignoring (and I was even amused!) the statements of David Lettermen. The latest insult against the Philippines stunned me. As far as I know Filipino medical practitioners is one of the best in the world! I heard America prefered Philippine educated doctors, nurses and medical technologists over other foreign medical practitioners. The "joke" as many would want it to appear was so irresponsible and uncalled for. I'll never watch Desperate Housewives in my lifetime. I never finished an episode anyway...



And to add insult to injury, The Daily Show With John Stewart (another American TV Show) labeled former president Cory Aquino's picture as SLUT . My admiration for Cory has waned when she called on to President Gloria to make a supreme sacrifice by resigning from the presidency. But that does not changed history that she was instrumental in restoring democracy in the Philippines. My friend and I was so absorbed at our indignation that she turned to a different road not within our itinerary!

Diplomatic protests and apologies - would they be enough to restore a wounded national pride? When will we ever learn that for other country to respect us we need to respect our country first? How? Stop beating the redlight for Pete's sake. Stop the irresponsible disposal of garbage, etcetera, etcetera. We should stop making a fool out of ourselves as a people. We can compete side by side with those idiots! Manny Pacquiao just did it. Pacquiao did it without kissing any ass. He did it with discipline, courage and nationalism.

Someday, if we want, a Philippines widely respected the universewide is not impossible. Someday soon...if we want.

The Filipinos In The Eyes Of The Beholder

Before it was Jay Leno. Before that there was Murphy Brown. And then Larry King. And who can forget Claire Danes? And now we have David Letterman. They all have one thing in common. Either they ridicule the Philippines or they spoke so low about the Filipinos.

Nah. I'm not going to defend the Filipinos here. Aside from the fact that they were entitled to their own opinion, I believe there were grains of truth about their statements. So, whether or not the statements below came from David Letterman or not, I don't give a damn. I find it funny and somehow... true.

Top 10 Reasons Why There Couldn't Be a
Filipino-American US President

10. The White House is not big enough
for in-laws and extended relatives.

9. There are not enough parking spaces
at the White House
for 2 Honda Civics, 2 Toyota Land
Cruisers, 3 Toyota Corollas, a Mercedes
Benz, a BMW (Big Mean Wife), and an MPV
(My Pinoy Van).

8. Dignitaries generally are intimidated
by eating with their fingers at State
dinners.

7. There are too many dining rooms in
the White House - where will they put
the picture of the Last Supper?

6. The White House walls are not big
enough to hold a pair of giant wooden
spoon and fork.


5. Secret Service staff won't respond to
"psst... psst".

4. Secret Service staff will not be
comfortable driving the
presidential car with a Holy Rosary
hanging on the rear view mirror or the
statue of the Santo Nino on the dashboard.

3. No budget allocation to purchase a
karaoke machine for every room in the
White House.

2. State dinners do not allow "Take Home".

AND THE NUMBER 1 REASON WHY THERE
COULDN'T BE A FILIPINO-AMERICAN US
PRESIDENT IS...

1. Air Force One does not allow
overweight Balikbayan boxes!