30 Liter Pack

A practical consideration in selecting a day pack for a day tour is size. In Europe where snatchers are said to be common, security feature is a must. When the weather is unpredictable, versatility is an advantage. If you hop from one mode of transport to another, you want one that is durable. Should you lug your pack for over a week, you want comfort too.

Days before leaving, I was scouting around for a day pack at the Habagat and Sadugo stores and even at Hawk shops. But nothing was close to the old Lafuma Yakou III 30 liters I found. Sandugo’styles were too fancy for an urban walk; Habagat did not have the stocks.

This 30 liter pack held my soft shell breathable and waterproof jacket which was handy with the sudden downpour and the sudden drop in temperature, a semi pro camera, Lonely Planet Books, pocket French and Italian dictionaries and train maps, cell phones, extra shirts, portable power supplies, literature and shopped items. At times when the occasion called for formal outfit, dress shirts can be inserted. For hydration, a liter of water in an aluminum bottle was indispensable.

Zippers were tough and had handles with holes that can be inserted with a portable keyless lock.You can zip in and out several times an hour without a snug. Compression straps were added security to me. Material was made of ballistic which was light, durable and waterproof. Lastly, even with weights of miniature replicas of the popular landmarks in stone were packed, the shoulder bag held.

But at the end of the trip, this compact back pack had to be rolled. By airline standard, it was a count so it had to be packed inside a bigger soft back pack. Eventually, the Habagat day pack I have been using in most of my trips still prevailed.

Tropang Rad-yo Septic Tank

Tropang Rad-Yo sa DZUP reviewed Ang Babae sa Septic Tank in their Friday 7-8PM show featuring anchor Jane with guest reviewer Chryl with a qualifier, they do user review where insights of mainstream viewers are expressed (as compared to critics’ review.)

Their one hour review kept me glued at 1602 AM band while driving from Manila to Q as the assessment of the Marlon Rivera and Chris Martinez’ movie was in itself building up to a climax.

First 10 minutes were devoted to warm ups on anything trivial by the two radio personalities. Then they provided backgrounder on the writer, director, Cinemalaya and nature of indie film in general until they narrated the storyline of Chris’ story without revealing and spoiling. Towards the end, the two reviewers expressed their personal experiences as viewers capping it with a short tribute to the actress Eugene Domingo.

Like a professional radio show, they were extro and intro spiels breaking the segments. Intros were devoted to topline summaries of key info about the topic designed to set up currently tuned in on what transpired and tp those newly tuned in to be on board the discussion.

Unlike other Tropang Rad-Yo sa DZUP days where Jane was dominant, aggressive, unstoppable and even rowdy drowning out her male co-anchors, she is cool, intimate and conversational effectively engaging her radio listeners. Whenever her movie expert partner Chryl speaks, she would fade out giving the serious reviewer the air.

Review was informative, engaging because it was substantial and intelligent. It made you appreciate the storyline, twists, intent and effective segments of the movie which was assessed as deserving of the critics’ recognition of the movie.

It was also because the movie selected for review was insightful assessed by two intelligent hosts who saw beyond the seeming mainstream drama to the statement of the artists’, a dig on indie and on the artist themselves.

(By the way, the listener has only seen the movie preview but plans to enjoy watching the film eventually.)

2011 Top Graduates Generation X

Last summer this year, I had the chance to work on recruitment from the top 150 graduates of 3 engineering universities in GMA, UP, Ateneo, La Salle and Mapua.  A simulation was designed by the company head which can draw out critical thinking, ability and leadership in a group exercise in just an hour with fellow graduates grouped at random.

Having been out of touch with the youth segment for decades, I was impressed with the showing of  the participants which can surpass the standards of even the most seasoned professional practitioners.  It showed from their methodology the training and discipline they received at the academe, their skill to problem solve, work together as a team, and formulate a workable solution within the give time.

Over the weekend this rainy July, I watched Dulaang UP's staging of an original play Rizal X.  Interpreted in drama, contemporary song and dance and multi-media, play conceived and directed by young theater genius Dexter M. Santos translated Rizal's disturbing thoughts on the state of Philippine society 150 year ago to its applicability to the Generation X in today's reality.

Through an intense and consistently highly energized actors' performance and dynamic staging, Rizal X conveyed the message which I interpret as "Aspire and dream regardless of the obstacle.  You the youth are better prepared to grasp that dream without compromising."

The 2011 top graduates and production cast and crew of Dulaang UP modeled that doability to us.  In these challenging times these experiences bring a whist of fresh air, hope and a reminder to strive excellence in every way every day.  This is the mindset that will leapfrog us to the next level which Rizal pictured to us a century and a half ago.