Travel as Paulo Coelho writes in “The Pilgrimage” makes us see the world in a new light, “ . . . since all things are new, you see only the beauty in things and feel happy to be alive.”
Ernesto “Che/Fuser” Guevara narrates a similar experience in “The Motorcycle Diaries.” Traveling with his biochemist friend Alfredo Granado in a motorcycle from Buenos Aires Argentina to the San Pablo leper colony in Peruvian Amazon starting in December 1951, he asked himself towards the end of his journey, “Was my vision too narrow? … wandering around America has changed me more than I thought. I am not myself anymore. At least, I’m not the same me I was.”
This is a turnaround from his earlier viewpoint on why he and his buddy are traveling. Asked by marginalized miners why they travel, he answered, “We travel just to travel.”
As a result of this experience that spanned over 12,000 kilometers in Latin America for seven months, he saw a different world full of oppression and injustice and acted on changing it by founding a revolutionary communist and latino movement. (Years after his violent death in 1967, Che Guevara gained a mythical stature symbolizing rebellion and zeal.)
This 4 day Holy Week respite allowed us the chance to move out of our base for whatever our purpose. It could either be of these two extremes: a spiritual renewal or as simple as a travel vacation. We looked forward to this extended break to get away from it all and breathe in a sniff of fresh air expelling the old. It is the time of the year when we usually trace back our roots and keep the tradition of pasyon still going in spite of the fast moving borderless world.
As we come back to the real world this week, we brace ourselves for the next cycle of life. Those of us who got the most were likely daring and adventurous. In the case of the two young motorcycle travelers who had limited logistics, they were armed only with restlessness, impassioned spirit and an open route. Big words. But these are not exclusive to the club adventurers, the mountaineers and intrepid travelers. It is in anyone who has a zest for life. So compelling, it is enough to make the common man more alive even if he simply stayed behind in the stillness of the city. What about you? Any interesting story this Holy Week? Happy Easter!
CBR 28March2005
Monday, March 28, 2005
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Impierno Man ay Langit
My Holy Week climb in 1996 in Mt. Talinis
Ang climb na walang sinundan: hindi lang isa kungdi tatlong pre-climb meeting, tatlong listahan din ng participants, itineraring nabaligtad, via Dumaguete daw ang flight pero by Cebu ang ending. Muntik pang hindi makabalik sa Cebu by Aboitiz Ferry.
Talinis. Pati ang mga aswuang ng Siquijor Island binulabog pagbaba na pagbaba pa lang ng tropa. Ginawang ballroom ang bilyaran ng Lighthouse, higaan at aerobics floor ang Dumaguete runway, waiting shed ang Aboitiz Super Ferry. Sa pagkadeny ng boarding ng aming confirmed ticket, hinawakan ang plank nang hindi makaalis. Super dramatic talaga! Taob ang Titanic.
Sa tindi ng tama ng Mt. Talinis, nagpadating ng isa pang ferry mula sa Cebu para pumick-up ng stranded passengers. Pati ang nahostage na Senador John Osmena ay tumulong na lang sa amin para happy lahat. Iyan ang influensya ng Mt.Talinis.
Hanggang sa matapos ang climb, akala ng EL Elmer 19 pa rin ang participants from PAL pero 17 lang pala.
Bumabagyo ang weather forecast pero hindi naman maramadaman sa ere at sa lawat. Ganoon pa man napakasaya ng experience. At napakaganda ng Mt.Talinis. Mayroon bang impiernong langit?
Talinis. Kakaibang bundok. Moss at fern ang tinatapakan. Ang sarap sa paa. Punong malalaki at lumang-luma. Parang walang nang-aabala. Berdeng kay lamig tingnan. Campsite by the lake na puno ng berdeng halaman at ulap. Langit talaga! Ilog na kumukulo. May langit din pala ang imperyno.
Talinis. Kakaibang bundok. Moss at fern ang tinatapakan. Ang sarap sa paa. Punong malalaki at lumang-luma. Parang walang nang-aabala. Berdeng kay lamig tingnan. Campsite by the lake na puno ng berdeng halaman at ulap. Langit talaga! Ilog na kumukulo. May langit din pala ang imperyno.
Negros Oriental. This province occupies 5,402 square kilometers in the southeast portion of Negros. Separated from the more developed sister province bu the central mountain range. Negros Orienta is culturally oriented towards Cebu, just across the narrow Tanon Strait. Most of the 998,000 people who inhabit the coastal plains and valleys speak Cebuano. Corn is their staple though rice (especially in the southwest), & vegetables, and root crops like cassava are grown too. Cash crops include coconuts, abaca, kapok. Sugar is grown around Bais City. The province also has cattle ranches and fishponds while in the highly settled interior, existing timberlands support an important logging industry that supplies sawmills. Cottage industry include woodcraft, shellcraft, mat-weaving and ceramics. Apart from the narrow coastal strip, the topography is almost entirely mountain and plateau, rugged country to which few roads give access.
Dumaguete City. Dumaguete City (pop. 80,000), provincial capital, port and commercial center lies on a fertile plain at the base of Cuernos de Negros Mountains. It attracts a large student population to the prestigious Silliman University whose facilities are spread through the city and its suburbs. Other sights include the market and a Spanish watchtower, built in 1800 and since restored. Pottery is made at Daro. You'll find beach resorts at Bantayan on the north side of the city and Banila on the south side, but better beaches are farther afield.
Article by Chito Razon. English text picked up from the itinerary of EL
Elmer Cabotage. Climbed 3-7 April 1996, Holy Week
Highlights ng activity sa bulkan ng Dumaguete: - lighter fluid na hindi buo ang liyab, salamat Dumaguete supermarket.
- ang catering services ni Joshua Vizcarra, magkano nga ba talaga?
- ang transformation ni Juno Moncada from a humbled climber sa umpisa to a confident dancer sa huli.
- ang improvement sa stamina ni Manolet Ramos compared to his Pico ordeal. Bumigay na lang nang nakakita ng limatic.
- pagbura ng traumatic experience ni Herman Ontohan climbing Pulag via Kabayan.
- breakthrough learning ni Joey Doval Santos na kailangan bombahan ng tubig ang katawan para sa climb. natutunan daw niya ito kay Joshua na nagdideny na itituro niya ito sa initiation ni Joey.
- pagsasasama-sama muli ng mga tatlong itlog na sina Joey Verzo, Troy at Aldo Velasco. nangunguna sa umpisa, hanggang sa umpisa.
- kasama ba natin si Jojoy o maling flight ang sinakyan niya?
- si Mayan ba talagang naliligaw o nahuli naman sa eroplano?
- si Jun B., taga PAL na friend ni Timmy, ang bagong kilabot ng mga dalaga at ng mga dala na!
- expressive these eyes ni Arlyn Anabeza. Kumikutitap tuwing pinapansin ng EL at tuwing naaalala niya na wala siya sa advertising office niya.
- Timmy Toledo, ang pinakasenior na PAL member. First time ko lang marinig na may bundok pa siyang hindi nakikita. First timer na bisita sa Talinis.
- siyempre sinong hindi makakakarinig nang bold lines ni Joey na "Bomba, bomba!" kay Malou Cabrera. Sa sobrang thrill ni Malou naiwanan tuloy si Joey. Tanungin na lang kina Arlene at Malou kung anong "Bomba, bomba" muli ang ginawa ni Joey sa Cebu.
- mga tropang "J" sa trail. Joseph ang masayang sweeper natin from Palawan na nag-aaral sa Silliman U., ang Jofer na galit daw sa babae tulad ni Doc Jonathan Yrad. Pero aliw naman si Grace Taburico.
- si Jojoy, mabigat ba ang backpack niya o ang kalooban niya?
- Joey V., retirement climb na raw niya ang Mt. Talinis, iyan din ang sinabi niya ng pumunta siya sa Mt. Kanlaon.
- ang aerobics queen na si RinaTiangco. Mabuti na lang hindi na excite ang bulkan sa sobrang hyper niya
- si Joshua at ang magic tungkod niya. Idagdag mo na rin ang small backpack niya.
- si Jun B. and his mesmerizing bigote. Sino ba talaga Jun?
- si Juno, sa umpisa pa lang gusto nang bumalik sa Colgate Warehouse.
- Of course, sinong hindi makakakilala kay Doc Junjun also known as Jonathan. Halos binigay niya lahat sa amin pati ang nanay niya. Hanggang sa kahulihulihan, pati na rin ang syota niya. Kung umaandar lang ang kinokonstruk niyang sail boat, malamang nasakyan na namin.
- Hindi rin naman pahuhuli ang pa-kyut naming EL na naging Jelmer ang pangalan para lang sa series na ito.
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
The bloggers are taking a break.
The bloggers are taking a break.
http://www.chinito.net. chinito.net is currently undegoing changes. Please bear with me. Hopefully I'd get the site up and running in a few days. For messages, email me at chinito.factor@gmail.com. – chinito
http://www.ironwulf.net. This blog is moving quite slow lately, not because I am “busy” but because I chose not to write anything at the moment. I have been very careful to write lately as I may divulge information that may compromise me or other people as well. Let’s keep some things a mystery as the world should be, driven by the unknown. Don’t worry, I am not about to abandon this blog as it has been very helpful to me in some way but I’ll be in an indefinite hiatus for a while. The ronin has to master some secret sword techniques and do some grueling mental training as well. Will be living in a cave for a while. But you may catch me meditating under a waterfall once in a while.
http://gutterboy.blogdrive.com. Magpapalam muna si roni_blog sa pagb-blog. Marami siyang iniisip. At sa pagkakataoong ito, nahihirapan siyang magisipt habang nagsusulat (One of my favorite young writers transferred to http://ronnie-md.blogspot.com).
http://www.chinito.net. chinito.net is currently undegoing changes. Please bear with me. Hopefully I'd get the site up and running in a few days. For messages, email me at chinito.factor@gmail.com. – chinito
http://www.ironwulf.net. This blog is moving quite slow lately, not because I am “busy” but because I chose not to write anything at the moment. I have been very careful to write lately as I may divulge information that may compromise me or other people as well. Let’s keep some things a mystery as the world should be, driven by the unknown. Don’t worry, I am not about to abandon this blog as it has been very helpful to me in some way but I’ll be in an indefinite hiatus for a while. The ronin has to master some secret sword techniques and do some grueling mental training as well. Will be living in a cave for a while. But you may catch me meditating under a waterfall once in a while.
http://gutterboy.blogdrive.com. Magpapalam muna si roni_blog sa pagb-blog. Marami siyang iniisip. At sa pagkakataoong ito, nahihirapan siyang magisipt habang nagsusulat (One of my favorite young writers transferred to http://ronnie-md.blogspot.com).
Ten extraordinary leaders, One book
Ten extraordinary leaders, One book
Last Christmas, the homilies on hope at the simbang gabi moved to me write a short essay and publish it in my web log. Today 3 months later, I read at the Manila Bulletin that it inspired Pathways to publish a book.
-cbr 5 March 2005
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Inspiring Living
A personal essay dedicated to the egroup readers on the 2004 ChristmasHoliday against the backdrop of tragedies that have struck Quezon, Aurora and the islands surrounding Indian Ocean and the sudden death of the icon of the underdogs, FPJ. Influenced by the homilies of the Simbang Gabi novena at the Gesu in Loyola and the volunteer work done by mountaineers in Infanta (MFPI) and Gabaldon (Loyola Mountaineers).
==============
Amidst the difficulties and the tragedies we faced this December 2004,there is hope. It may not be the best period to celebrate Christmas but it is during these moments when we need to hear again the reason for the Christmas season, which is the fulfillment of the promise of redemption. We commiserate with the residents of Quezon and Aurora who survived the flash flood that hit their provinces, to the families of the over 63,000 who died in the tsunami that hit the Asian countries along the coastline of the Indian Ocean and to the legion of fans of FPJ who lost their symbol of the underdog. Experiencing tragedies in this magnitude, sympathy is not enough. Thus we hear about more responsible citizens rendering services and donating relief goods heeding cries for assistance.
Those of us in the pleasant company of our family connected online and read emails should go beyond sympathizing and donating. We must inspire those who survived the tragedies to keep on living and to continue dreaming. Let us spot that window where we can implant a reason for them to continue to live. Spread that light of hope this Christmas. Not to forget that it starts with us. May pasko pa rin!
-29Dec04
Ten Extraordinary Leaders, One Book
By RONALD S. LIM
http://www.mb.com.ph/YNCP2005030529978.html
When you’re faced with a government that has a debt that runs into the trillions, a constant threat of being bombed to bits hovering about you, and the very dour possibility of not being able to find a decent job after you graduate, it’s very easy to just hang your head in resignation, throw in the towel, and start applying at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for a job in a country so far, far away. But for the people at Pathways to Higher Education, a group of Ateneo students pushing for education development, hope is always just around the bend. And with the announcement of plans for Leaders of Hope, a book project meant to gather the stories of 10 extraordinary people, Pathways hopes that everyone will find someone who’ll take them down that curve.
ROLE MODELS The idea for "Leaders of Hope" came about one December morning, during a simbang gabi where Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. was delivering a homily. In it, Nebres cited a study done on children’s stories in different countries. The study found out that the children’s stories in progressive countries always underlined hope, achievement, courage in the face of difficulties, and stories of heroism.
Last Christmas, the homilies on hope at the simbang gabi moved to me write a short essay and publish it in my web log. Today 3 months later, I read at the Manila Bulletin that it inspired Pathways to publish a book.
-cbr 5 March 2005
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Inspiring Living
A personal essay dedicated to the egroup readers on the 2004 ChristmasHoliday against the backdrop of tragedies that have struck Quezon, Aurora and the islands surrounding Indian Ocean and the sudden death of the icon of the underdogs, FPJ. Influenced by the homilies of the Simbang Gabi novena at the Gesu in Loyola and the volunteer work done by mountaineers in Infanta (MFPI) and Gabaldon (Loyola Mountaineers).
==============
Amidst the difficulties and the tragedies we faced this December 2004,there is hope. It may not be the best period to celebrate Christmas but it is during these moments when we need to hear again the reason for the Christmas season, which is the fulfillment of the promise of redemption. We commiserate with the residents of Quezon and Aurora who survived the flash flood that hit their provinces, to the families of the over 63,000 who died in the tsunami that hit the Asian countries along the coastline of the Indian Ocean and to the legion of fans of FPJ who lost their symbol of the underdog. Experiencing tragedies in this magnitude, sympathy is not enough. Thus we hear about more responsible citizens rendering services and donating relief goods heeding cries for assistance.
Those of us in the pleasant company of our family connected online and read emails should go beyond sympathizing and donating. We must inspire those who survived the tragedies to keep on living and to continue dreaming. Let us spot that window where we can implant a reason for them to continue to live. Spread that light of hope this Christmas. Not to forget that it starts with us. May pasko pa rin!
-29Dec04
Ten Extraordinary Leaders, One Book
By RONALD S. LIM
http://www.mb.com.ph/YNCP2005030529978.html
When you’re faced with a government that has a debt that runs into the trillions, a constant threat of being bombed to bits hovering about you, and the very dour possibility of not being able to find a decent job after you graduate, it’s very easy to just hang your head in resignation, throw in the towel, and start applying at the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency for a job in a country so far, far away. But for the people at Pathways to Higher Education, a group of Ateneo students pushing for education development, hope is always just around the bend. And with the announcement of plans for Leaders of Hope, a book project meant to gather the stories of 10 extraordinary people, Pathways hopes that everyone will find someone who’ll take them down that curve.
ROLE MODELS The idea for "Leaders of Hope" came about one December morning, during a simbang gabi where Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, S.J. was delivering a homily. In it, Nebres cited a study done on children’s stories in different countries. The study found out that the children’s stories in progressive countries always underlined hope, achievement, courage in the face of difficulties, and stories of heroism.
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