15 Things I like about the movie Heneral Luna

1. The laughter of John Arcilla
2. The musical score of Jerrog Tarog
3. Production design and costume. Authentic but unobtrusive
4. Assassination scene in Cabanatuan
5. Binondo family flashback
6. Jose Rizal encounter
7. Drinking dance of Heneral and Isabel
8. Cabinet meetings
9. Support groups: their capability, dedication and loyalty to HAL
10. Guitar solo and poetry of HAL
11. Stoic, calculating but scheming Emilio Aguinaldo
12. Seeded thought that brilliance comes with eccentricity
13. Inferred message that we deserve what we get
14. Mascardo and HAL and Felipe Buencamino and HAL showdowns
15. Implied humanization of Goyong as a sequel by the same production team

https://www.facebook.com/Heneral.Luna
http://henerallunathemovie.com/

A Band of pickpockets in Naples Italy and in Rizal Avenue Manila Phil

Sometime this year, I caught on National Geography channel a video on pick pocketing in Naples, Italy. American Bob Arno, a pickpocket himself immersed himself in the pickpocket capital of the world to witness the techniques of professional pickpockets. Pros operate as a group (in twos or threes) and are well coordinated. They use diversionary and distracting techniques. Person assigned to pick the bag or picket is skillful.

From a video I suddenly was a witness to a band of pickpockets operating. Live from Rizal Avenue while seated on a bench facing the sidewalk, I saw how they victimized the unaware Filipino. Like the band in Naples, they operate as a group. They prey on their potential victim from a vantage point.  Upon spotting an easy and a loaded target, action begins.

Detailed is my account.

There is a band of pickpockets operating at the strip between Soler and Katubusan streets (before Gonzalo Puyat st.) along Rizal Avenue. This is between National Bookstore and Save More Supermarket. Numbering about 20, they come in all ages, sexes and forms. The men are typical of the profile you spot in Recto dressed in shirts and shorts. A number of women are toothless, some fully made up. Youngest must be about in early twenties and the eldest in their forties. From about 11AM to 1PM in broad daylight, I witnessed them pick the backpacks of more than 20 passerbys. Seated at the steps just below Padi’s Point spotting from National Bookstore at the North to Save More Supermarket at the South, they pry on their prospects and quickly mount their operations. They target only those with backpacks slung at their back with protruding zippers and with handbags loosely hanging. It did not matter if one was walking solo, with someone or a group, a student, a middle aged foreigner, a shopper or an elderly. The more inattentive with a bag at the back, the better a prospect they are.  Once candidates are spotted, action begins. Sometimes, only 1 would go at times 2 and even 3 depending on what they see. It is team work seamlessly done. Some come from the stairs; others suddenly show up from the side street or another corner. Done quickly, it starts with spotting their victim, walking with him or her, groping the bag with their hands for the object, opening the zipper, picking the item and pocketing it or relaying it to the next pickpocket walking with them. In seconds, it is done.

 

Most of the time, they are successful. But there were a handful (about 3) who noticed just at the nick of time looked behind. Fortunately, both parties casually walked away. Those who were aware they were being robbed did not confront the pickpocket.

Be conscious and vigilant. Some tips:

1. Men should keep their wallet in tightest pocket.  Better if placed in a corded pouch and tucked under the pants. Carry your bags in front and tightly hold on to them. Bags slung from the back are easy targets as you will not notice a groping hand especially if you are in motion.
2. Do not expose phones, wallets, expensive jewelry.
3. Be suspicious of persons who tail you. Divert immediately.
4. When you catch them stealing, it is best not to confront. Just walk away. A band operating has backers and protection.
5. Walk briskly.

Young lovers walking hand in hand are easy preys as they are unmindful of their surroundings while leisurely strolling.

Ingat lang palagi.

Before travelling, view this video.  http://www.documentarytube.com/videos/pickpocket-king-bob-arno

View on the past from the current

Transitioning from Gov Gen to Uncle Sam at Fort Santiago

Carlos Celdran of Walk this Way tours says, "there are no grand edifices in Manila unlike other sites in Asia as the most solid foundation sourced from earth prior to the Spanish rule is adobe." Prior to the colonization of Spain and with a scarce population, the most solid structure is made of bamboo.

The landed's house greeting visitors at Las Casas

Mt. Samat honors the men who fought the war. It remembers the atrocities of world war two fought by the gallant Filipinos, Americans and the Japanese. The commemorative site attempts to heal the wounds reminding today's
generations of the pain and sacrifices our forefathers went through to earn our freedom. The historical landmark at 555 feet above sea level in Pilar Bataan is marked by a cross designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and Napoleon Abueva.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is place and life in the colonial Philippine era, “a place where we can trace our heritage, re-live our past, and partake of our culture.” Through viewing and appreciating the structure of ancestral homes from different parts of Luzon and from the distant and recent past, Filipinos take “pride in the past and hope for the future.”

A bahay na bato.  Starting with moving houses of wood,
they have not progressed to moving houses of stone
and lately even churches

Pinto is a sanctuary in the city to experience the fullness of life and to recover.  Dr. Joven Cuanang, a neuroscientist, art collector, owner of Pinto Art Museum says in creating the Antipolo museum “every part of our body should be stimulated.” The experience of a 4-hour immersion in Pinto opens doors. And in appreciating the landscape, the works, architecture and collection, in the collector’s words, “you sort of heal yourself.

A restored church at the coast of Bagac, Bataan

Healing the mind, body and spirit at the Pinto Museum

Four tours provide us a perspective on the past from the current. Carlos’ tour starts at Fort Santiago in Manila and ends at San Agustin Church and at Plaza San Luis. Mt. Samat is at Pilar Bataan, three hours away from Manila via the Olongapo Road or the NLEX/ SCTEX (North Luzon Expressway/ Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway). Las Casas is a creation of Architect Jerry Acuzar buying heritage houses, disassembling the parts, reconstructing and restoring them back in this site along the coast of Bagac, Bataan.

Pinto is in Grand Heights, 1870 Antipolo City.

Texture of greens and natural wood

Cordillera in Antipolo

Where every part of the site is an attraction and a visual feast

Sites visited were appreciated better the places because of the personalized annotations of Leo Gregorio at Acuzar and Andy Orencio at Pinto. Both were knowledgeable and authentic advocates of the works of their masters and passionate in imparting the messages. The tours took about 3 hours each to complete which was leisurely paced.

Entrance at Pinto with artists' names engraved

Alternative mobility between SM North EDSA and Katipunan/Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City

To get from one point to the other covering about 11 kilometers one:

1. Drives taking either Xavierville Avene to Quezon Elliptical Circle or Katipunan to Tandang Sora. About P 75.0 in gas estimated at 40 minutes in 1 ride.
2. Rides the LRT2 from Katipunan station, disembarks at Araneta Center Cubao, transfers to MRT to North Avenue. Roughly 30 minutes for about P 30.0 in 2 transfers with several meters of walk. .
3. Commutes in a jeep from (1) Katipunan to (2) Aurora to (3) EDSA to North Avenue. About P 25.00 in an hour in 3 transfers.

Map lifted from Rappler

Now with COMET (City Organized Managed Electric Transport), it takes just 1 ride to cover SM North EDSA via North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, Luzon Avenue, Tandang Sora crossing over Commonwealth Avenue to Katipunan. Ride is about 45 minutes for P 20.00. You need a card bought at P 20.0 with a pre-loaded value of P 20.0 tapped  upon entry to ride this 20-seater electric powered jeepney. Interval per ride for now is 30 minutes. Ride is smooth, ventilation breezy. It doesn't emit carbon dioxide but you are exposed to other vehicles' emission. End-to-end is one loop in areas not covered by mass transport. There is a GPS which tracks the transports' movement, a CCTV for security, an electronically inputted passenger head count and movement and a wifi.

1st trip is at 6 AM, last at P 9:30 PM.  Terminal at the SM North EDSA is at North Avenue. There is no stopping terminal under the Katipunan flyover. You need to catch it on the road for your trip to North EDSA.

This alternative public transport in a new route is one way of beating the Katipunan traffic. One just sits down safely assured and charged fairly whichi is measured accurately. Like the jeepney fare, minimum charge is P 7.50.

Map
Rappler article

The Suffering Man

Cross at the Manila Cathedral

As humans, we experience joy in living as well as pain.

When we are in pain and sense helplessness, remember compassion, with passion. We are assured that Christ understands. That is the mystery of redemption when Christ became man to experience the passion.

Cross at the grandstand

Suffering to us is symbolized by the poor, elderly handicapped, individuals separated from family, the helpless, victims of natural calamities and the lonely whose human dignity is compromised.

Burdens are further made more difficult in general by society due to social inequality and the denial of support from fellowmen, institutions like church, bodies, communities and the government.

Like the challenged, all of us as ordinary mortals face through struggles as well. There are times we face difficulties and go through moments when there are no answers. Faith tells us to look up to Christ as he understands. Allow Him to surprise us.

Cross at the Cathedral altar

Faith opens us up to hope. As Filipinos, it is our deep faith that gives us a profound dignity. Most of the time we recover. When we overcome, it validates the promise of redemption.

Continue to commune with God in prayer and to the communities through action.

Pope Francis State and Pastoral Visit Post Mortem Reflection 20 Jan 2015

In silence

 In total silence, all you hear is the splatter of the rain when a moment of silence was asked against the backdrop of the native mat and the statue of the Mother and Child.

Not comfortable of giving dole outs to the marginalized, the poor and to the disadvantaged or those denied of human dignity?

The poor, the elderly people, the over seas worker, people with disability are handicapped in living their life to the fullest. They are the focused target of the Papal's visit advocating to extend mercy and compassion to them. Are we comfortable in extending help to them?

Michael Tan in his Inquirer.net column on Translating Mercy quotes Fr. Soc Villegas on the 4 levels of helping people. 1st is to pray for them, 2nd is charity which includes the dole outs. 3rd is developmental or self-help which I interpret as enabling and lastly is liberational tackling structures that affect poverty. In words that we can relate to, it still translates to "Nasa Diyos ang awa, na tao ang gawa."

When a young boy selling rags lining up to see Pope Francis at Roxas Boulevard upon arrival was interviewed by reported Sandra Aguinaldo of GMA News’ State of the Nation, he said why he wanted to see the Pope, “Para gumanda ang buhay naming dahil pagod na po akong naghahanap ng makakain para sa amin.” His sincere view depicts 3 levels of the model; he is already doing a remarkable task by selling which is self-help and has asked for prayers to liberate them. I will pray for this young boy and wish he goes to school, enjoy his childhood, finish school.

While waiting for the Pope to return back to the Nunciature from Tacloban at the corner of Taft and Quirino Avenue, I was in a company of strangers with diverse backgrounds: There was an aggressive party of a mother, grandmother with a daughter who managed their way to a good vantage view of the pope’s entourage by climbing on the steel railing at the expense of the crowd behind them. There was another exploitative teenager girl who denied a senior citizen her seat and her vantage who lined up two hours earlier than her. On the other hand, there was a young family of three from Palawan who flew in the day before, traveled from Cavite bringing their luggage with them patiently waiting at the road for whatever view is offered to them. One needs praying, the other party needing assistance and a structure to enable them. Two apparently are enabled but lack the compassion.

Helping is a journey that passes through levels until one becomes self sufficient. To help others is a challenge. But when we realize what compassion is, which is acknowledging and emphatizing with one's suffering, why withhold help when we can?

Not to forget that we too also go through moments wanting for help. Pray for us too!

http://opinion.inquirer.net/81702/translating-mercy

Advent prepares us for Christmas. 9 days of Simbang Gabi make us better understand the significance. Day by day, we deepen our faith. May this season transform our hardened heart into a heart of flesh

Simbang Gabi Webcasting at the Gesu 2014

1st Gabi celebrated by Fr. Jose Quilongquilong SJ, president of the Loyola School of Theology.  Choir: Bukas Palad. Prepares us for the main intention of the Simbang Gabi which is the perseverance of the nation in faith. How to persevere faith: Giftedness, Gratitude and Generosity. Faith is a gift and a blessing. Faith is a perseverance of gratitude of God’s gift, to remember the goodness and the kindness of God. Christmas is a celebration of the covenant. Faith is an expressed work of generosity, an open mindedness. Through the Simbang Gabi, deepen our Christian faith to a life of giftedness, gratitude and generosity.
Homily starts at 16:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucl7U9EpcAw

2nd Gabi with Fr. Jose Mario C Francisco. Featured choir was the Dorm Ministry. Are you ready for the coming of the Lord? Against the backdrop of the plight of the Israelites, who were not prepared because they did not listen to message and their heart has hardened they were not saved. How do we prepare? Those in the know will be saved. Hurt, disappointment, betrayal hardened our heart. When it does we do not hear the message of Christ. To soften, God took on a heart of flesh. This Christmas, look into our hearts. Look for signs of the hardening heart. Try to soften to turn into a heart of flesh. When it does, we are ready and our noche buena will be a feast.
Homily starts at 16:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3KOErGgDaI

3rd Gabi Fr Aristotle C Dy. Featured choir is Aleron. Fr. Dy expounds on the lineage of Christ, the significance of 14 generations and the diversity of composition leading to the importance of family, memories and the linkage between God and humanity. This Christmas, we value family, its memory and its diversity and imperfection and how it set the foundation to where we are now. Christmas gives us time to reflect on memories with our families with hope for the future.

Homily starts at 15:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajwt-kXoLSg

4th Gabi Presider is Fr Emmanuel L Alfonso. Singing led by the Ateneo College Glee Club. Life interrupted. When dreams and projects are derailed, life is interrupted. Relating to St. Joseph’s predicament that he is to have a family. But his expectation of the family is not what is given to him. Yet with God’s graces, whenever life is interrupted, open ourselves to the possibilities of greater plans for us. Life on earth is indeed an unfinished symphony. Pope Francis’ plan to retire was interrupted with a greater plan for him after being elected Pope.
Homily starts at 14:20 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIwKrIu6Rd4

5th Gabi with Fr Peter O Pojol as presider and music singing led by Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation Music Ministry. Homily details further the Jesus story about the consecration and the significance of grape and growing the hair long highlighting the importance of several people to fulfill the promise of salvation. “Jesus story is the quickening and fulfillment of God’s plan for salvation for all humanity. Plan involves people who are heralds of God’s benevolence by being consecrated to God . . . “. It is His story where we have a role to play.
Homily starts at 16:35 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiB38jy3hos

6th Gabi presider is Fr. Xavier Alpasa with the Barangka choir leading the singing. Mary said “Yes!” That was the staging thought dramatized further in various anecdotes, paradigms and mindsets to convey the message of faith in God, the paschal mystery and the joy of Christmas. When we are on low bat, how do we cope? When resources are low and we are struggling, who do we turn to?  How do we encounter Christ goes through steps. Saying yes entails going through a cycle guided by the acronym P.A.S.K.O where P is permanent, A for alab, Sagrado, Kristo and OO for O. Christmas reminds us how Christ redeems us. Our life goes through two halves where the 1st is the coping part with our needs. When needs are challenged, we face a crisis. We doubt, we fear. Crisis presents to us a path with 2 options, either go back to the 1st half facing our needs or move on to trust and to accept God’s graces. Saying yes is the acceptance of the great “I am.” The feeling of accepting God’s grace is described in the gathering of a family together after several decades of separation as narrated based on a personal experience.
Homily ends with Christmas Bells, a poem by Henry Wadsworth “And in despair I bowed my head;
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said; ‘For hate is strong,  And mocks the song Of peace on earth, good-will to men!’ Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!’"
Faith is a permanent call centered on Christ.  Say Yes.
The final intention of prayer of the faithful "For each one of us, that we may hear the permanent call, that we may be brought to the deep desires, that we may make everything sacred, that we may find Christ and that we may say Yes."
Homily starts at 15:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfKe-9jlOEs

7th Gabi with Fr. Antonio Moreno as presider. Be not afraid. The message of the angel to Mary was to accept in the midst of uncertainty and fear. Relating to the desire of a parish priest in Sierra Leone not to leave the ebola stricken community in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainly, he stayed to be with his parish. Not to cure, not to raise the death but to be with his people, provide a sense of solidarity and to  give hope. We face many fears one of them is fear of being poor. We face fear with courage. Not being afraid and accepting is to trust in Emmanuel. God is Emmanuel. God is love. He says to us “I am here!”
Homily starts at 16:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g31p4nbbQDM

8th Gabi with Fr. Raymund Benedict Hizon as presider and singing led by Hangad. We pray for various reasons, the fundamental and the genuine. We ask and yet eventually submit ourselves to His will. All prayers though with doubts are answered, the more specific, the better. Asking doesn’t make Him change how he looks at us but changes us on how we look at Him. Prayers follow a format. ACTS. Adoration Contrition.Thanksgiving. Say or Ask. Sharing a personal testimony experienced before Christmas 2013, prayer directed to Ina on the homesickness of a son and the comfort of a mother who suffered a stroke, demonstrated the power of prayer. Mary is an intercessor to our supplication. Let us approach the Lord. Prayer opens our eyes to giftedness. Be not afraid to ask.
Homily starts at 14:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVn0OEarNCc

9th Gabi with presider Fr Norberto Ma L Bautista and Ateneo Chamber Singers singing. What's in a name? How the angel Gabriel influenced Elizabeth and Zacharias to name their son John contrary to tradition. How John lived an ordinary life contrary to expectation. The heroic deeds of a Tacloban military man and a boy during the storm surge, the cafe manager in the Sidney siege and the school teacher of the Pakistan massacre. How it shows God's mercy and compassion. What the theme of the pope's visit means.
Homily starts at 16:36 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLZf41me2R4

Webcast courtesy of Inquirer.net

The ritual with incense as explained to me by Bien Cruz. In all the masses, the presider is accompanied by altar boys who carry the cross, candles and incense. Scattering incense scent is a ritual practice practiced when masses were celebrated at the catacomb to sanitize the stench. Now is it used to cast away evil.  It is done at the altar, on the bible and on the presider.

Clmbing Mount Maculot in 1997

http://www.cyber-adventures.com/maculot.html

Linking with people, nature through a club

The 35^th PALMC anniversary cum Christmas party organized by the current leadership headed by Chairperson Shirryl Goduco drew a sizeable turn out at the Escalades Tower function room in Barangay Murphy Cubao last 29 November 2014.

It generated even more attention online both pre and post event from members and friends all over the continent, thanks to the Facebook posting.

The gathering had the elements of a conventional Christmas party: registration with a modest fee, pre-prepared and pot luck food, program hosted by special friends, games participated in by member couples, gifts and prizes, musical numbers, Christmas decors among others.

Touches of artifacts of a typical mountaineering club gathering which defined the club were in place: a photo exhibit, awarding tenured members present with at least a decade and a half years logged as members, accomplishments for 2014, sampling of the program in 2015 to come, food and booze, LCD projector and audio system for the slide and video showing and most importantly, booze.

Important must-haves defined the event: an opening remark of founder John Fortes highlighting the message that membership is driven not by events and activities but by relationship which explains why linkages transcend time; club’s social responsibility tapping its affinity with nature through the organization of rescue operations shown in video by VP Francis Davantes entitled Flight of Hope https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spmq51XcKRo ; a 20-minute slide showing of some climbing highlights from 2000-2014 created by Dom, projected with his son and the presence of members.

The President Russel Aguinaldo admitted that the club is facing some membership and activity situations partly contributed by the transitions or the corporate restructuring and other reasons. Sad, that a pioneering mountaineering club still has to overcome these challenges.

But towards the end, with more senior and illustrious members catching up with the gathering and the showing of the highlights of half a decade of PALMC, memories of ecstatic moments with club members, climbs, travels, camp site socials, assaults, land, boat and air transfers quickly triggered a flashback.  Strong memories of a past event that comes suddenly flashed into most members’ minds. This validated John’s message that the club built and nurtured relationship with people, co-climbers, community and with nature.

And if just a sight of a single photo in the past is enough to trigger those ecstatic memories, the club must really seeded a special linkage with its membership.

Happy Anniversary. Merry Christmas and Congratulations!

Some notes:
-John, typical of his colleagues was among the 1st to arrive and of course the 1st to leave. Know more about John and MFPI at this site: http://mfpi.wordpress.com/about
-After the showing, it took some time for the guests to leave as stories were still narrated. The activity was followed up eventually with a post gathering at an undisclosed place.
-Credits to the organizers whose names escape me as of the moment.
-For an idea on the attendance, refer to the fotos posted by other members.

A hot welcome to visiting club members

On short notice, people came to a venue geographically at the center of the city. Not asking who would be there but by simple deduction from the invitation of ex President Banny Hermanos that ex President Jazz Aquino and wife  Xenia are in town, familiar PALMCERs would show up. True enough, call and people will be there and were there. Never mind if there was a suicide drama happening at the Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA on the appointed time and the zipper truck lane at C5 has been unzipped (lane dedicated to plying big trucks). Yet people showed up and stayed way past midnight at Silly Labuyo along Shaw Boulevard.

To the Buriwisan aficionados of the 90’s, the location was a familiar place as this was the area where weekend trekkers would hang around to wait for group mates before boarding a public jeep headed for Siniloan in Laguna. To the urban workers of the 21^st century, this area called Greenfield is now one of the choices for night outs along the boulevard (among them are the Pioneer Center and the Capitol Commons developed by the Ayala and the Ortigas Group located at the Pasig Provincial Ground.) But the PALMCERS of the 90’s (or late 80’s), this was the venue where members from different continents of the world gathered just to be socially within reach for an enjoyable drink, eat and talk.

There were not much stories about climbs but about current events and other personalities particularly those not present that evening. Center of the talk about the recreation common to the attendees was the value of a club, the group and the associations with the climb. 

At the background are Tim Toledo, Jun Feliciano,
 Ding Cailipan, Tere Collado, Carol B. , Xenia A.

People gather on short notice because a shared experience on climbing mostly pleasant is forever remembered. The experience is memorable because it is a group activity which solo or individual climbing cannot replicate. Even if the club at current situation faces issues on membership as narrated by current President Russell Aguinaldo, it can always look back at its heritage and history as the very foundation why it is still here even with the changing climbing landscape and the shifting corporate structure.

Perhaps it is true that friendships built on climbs are the ones that endure. To think, there was even no discussion on when the next climb will be. Thanks to those who sponsored the drinks and for the guests from other continents.

Memories of Himalayas-Celebrating and Going Home

How does one reward himself for a successful feat?  Enjoy the moment.

Stealing socials. Drinking. At the Namche Bazaar lodge going down, deprived of socials on the way up, it was natural to crave for beer. Beer drinking was made more enjoyable with singing and dancing accompanied by a live guitar plucking. While conducted only a several minutes, it was memorable nevertheless as there was a true cause to celebrate. (View Banny Hermanos’ May2007 Filipino climbers jamming at Namche Bazaar Nepal).

Food trip. Every chance to try out a menu different from the Nepal staple food is looked forward to. When we bumped into successful Everest peak trekker Regie Pablo, we indulged in a food trip in a newly discovered outlet. KKB of course.

Shopping. No denial to a craving for a technical stuff. After all, who else deserves the finest equipment but those who survived the unknown. One must discern which is genuine or an imitation.

Partying. Thanks to the Filipino community based in Katmandu and the recognition earned by the successful summiteers, we too were accorded the same hospitality and courtesy. We are grateful for their extraordinary hosting.

Saying thanks and appreciating  the company, sponsors and fellow trekkers from Manila and Katmandu. Like any other completed tropical climb, an interaction with fellow trekker opens up a discussion on anything about the climb. It can be serious, comical and most of the time simply trivial. No talk was seen as off topic.

Communicating and documenting. This extends a 15-day trek to an open-ended period for as long as we talk about the trek. This expands the coverage from a motley group to a wider community especially with the advent of social network. Instantly triggering memories are photos from our colleagues both amateurs and professionals (Banny, Dom, Cesar, Larry, Rico among others).

Like a cycle, it starts with a plan and ends with a completion. Celebrating the completion opens up new opportunities to eventually provide reason to celebrate again. But before the glory was the humbling start.

 Fotos from the collections of Rico C. and Larry H.

Buo ng Loob article on Baga.  Sikmura,  Tuhod,  Bulsa at Gamit.

Memories of Himalayas-End of Day and Quarters

We were slowly walking, puffing, huffing and panting looking down at the trail so there is no perspective on the distance still to be trekked.

Priceless.  Kuha ni Banny H.  Ako ba ang nakaupo?

All of a sudden when we looked up, there was a formidable illuminated structure that blocked our sight 
signalling "that's it for the day." Panning to our right, the range was framed with a live person validating to us that we 
too can make it. Suddenly, the fatigue and loss of breath were transformed to ecstasy and recharged energy.

Medyo relax pa

At the end of the day, a place to stay, eat, clean, sleep and rest awaits us. It's a simple concrete enclosure with a table, a window, a small dark box that serves as a rest room and a sleeping room walled by wood with an elevated platform to sleep on.

At the far end of the lodge is a corner that serves as a kitchen. Power supply is minimal generated by solar panel. While arrangements have been pre planned, arriving at the lodge is met with anxiety triggered by thoughts whether the body can live with the temperature, pessimism for unappetizing food and doubts of insufficient energy to chew and to clean the plates. 

Wala yatang heater dito

In the deep of the night when nature calls, will the flesh have the inertia to move and to be erected? But the more difficult dilemma to face comes on the morning after.  Upon waking up, this question is repeatedly asked to the self, "Should I stay or should I go?" We did go and proceeded.

Si Rizal, Mabini o Bonifacio ba ang nasa isip ko?

The base camp is a tent camp. No more lodges, no more inns.  Shelter is contained within the fabrics of the structure framed by poles. Temperature is managed by the technical properties of the fabric and the sleeping bag. Between your back and the floor are thin layers of sheets that absorb the low temperature. What added warmth was the company and camaraderie.

Kampo kasama sina Rico, Cesar, Banny

Life at the base camp is living exposed to the elements.

Way back was a breeze. From Lukla airport to base camp took us 9 days. Going back was in 6 days. Less anxiety and with more confidence.

Ang ganda ewan ko kung sino ang may kuha

Stay at the lodges was more relaxed. No more concerns on the unpredictability of Acute Mountain Sickness. Destination was known, pacing can now be predicted.  

Somewhat the lodges were more homey. Windows with a view can be better appreciated.

Mga tambay sa labas

But has the relationship among us deepened? Not yet as the feat we have succeeded to accomplish has to still sink in.

Months and years later, what have I realized? Borrowing from Edwin Berbaum, writer of "Sacred Mountains of the World", "At Everest, we feel ourselves at the center of the world, not just Asia, not just the Philippines but the WORLD."

-Memories of a journey May 2007 recalled Sept 2014.

Oda alas gracias - Pablo Neruda

Oda alas gracias - Pablo Neruda
Gracias a la palabra que agradece, gracias a gracias por cuanto esta palabra derrite nieve o hierro
Gracias, gracias, que viajes y que vuelvas,que subas y que bajes. Está entendido, no lo llenas todo, palabra gracias, pero donde aparece tu pétalo pequeño se esconden los puñales del orgullo, y aparece un centavo de sonrisa.

Ode to gratitude
Thanks to the word that gives thanks. Thanks to the gratitude for how excellently the word melts snow or iron.  Thanks, gracias, you travel and return, you rise and descend. It is understood, you don't permeate everything, but where the word of thanksgiving appears like a tiny petal, proud fists hide and a penny's worth of a smile appears

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Oda a las gracias Gracias a la palabra que agradece, gracias a gracias por cuanto esta palabra derrite nieve o hierro. El mundo paecía amenazante hasta que suave como pluma clara, o dulce como pétalo de azúcar, de labio en labio pasa gracias, grandes a plena boca o susurrantes, apenas murmulladas, y el ser volvió a ser hombre y no ventana, alguna claridad entró en el bosque. fue posible cantar bajo las hojas. Gracias, eres la píldora contra los óxidos cortantes del desprecio, la luz contra el altar de la dureza. Tal vez también tapiz entre los más distantes hombres fuiste. Los pasajeros se diseminaron en la naturaleza y entonces en la selva de los desconocidos, merci, mientras el tren frénetico cambia de patria, borra las fronteras, spasivo, junto a los puntiagudos volcanes, frío y fuego, thanks, sí, gracias, y entonces se transforma la tierra en una mesa. una palabra la limió, brillan platos y copas, suenan los tenedores y parecen manteles las llanuras. Gracias, gracias, que viajes y que vuelvas, que subas y que bajes. Está entendido, no lo llenas todo, palabra gracias, pero donde aparece tu pétalo pequeño se esconden los puñales del orgullo, y aparece un centavo de sonrisa.

Ode to gratitude

• Thanks to the word that gives thanks.
• Thanks to the gratitude for how excellently the word melts snow or iron. The planet seemed full of threats until soft as a translucent feather, or sweet as a sugary petal, from lip to lip, it passed,thank you, magnificent, filling the mouth,or whispered, hardly voiced, and the soul became human again, not a window, soome clear shine penetrated the forest: it was possible again to sing beneath the leaves.
• Gratitude, you are medicine opposing scorn's bitter oxides, light melting the cruel altar. Perhaps you are also the carpet uniting the most distant men, passengers spread out through nature and the jungle of unknown men, merci, as the delirious train penetrates a new country, eradicating frontiers, spasibo, joined with the sharp-cusped volcanoes, frost and fire, thanks, yes, gracias, and the Earth turns into a table, a single word swept it clean, plates and cups glisten, forks jingle, and the flatlands seem like tablecloths.
• Thanks, gracias, you travel and return, you rise and descend. It is understood, you don't permeate everything, but where the word of thanksgiving appears like a tiny petal, proud fists hide and a penny's worth of a smile appears.

Lines, translation, visual all grabbed from the net.