Naglalakad ako sa Legarda
Nang maisipan kong sumakay ng jeep
Recto-Divisoria

Umupo ako sa dulo
Sumandal sa malamig na bakal,
Nagnanakaw ng sandaling pahinga.

Habang tinahak ng jeep and kanyang ruta,
Nanood ako sa mundong umiikot —
Mga estudyanteng naglalakad,
Mga magulang na naghahanap buhay,
Mag-syotang naglalampungan,
Si totoy na namamalimos,
Si neneng nagtitinda ng sampagita,
Mga empleyadong papasok sa opisina —

“Bayad po”,
Napaisip ako,
Saan nga ba ako patungo?
–

(English)

Was walking along Legarda

When I decided to ride a jeep
Recto-Divisoria

Sat at the far end,
Leaned against the cold steel,
Seeking respite.

The jeepney went along its route
I watched the world revolve —
students walking,
parents earning a living,
lovers flaunting their fancy,
a little boy asking for alms,
a little girl selling sampagita,
employees rushing to the office –

“here’s my payment”
I thought to myself,
Where am i really going?

—

For directions and life paths.

Culture!

Photo by Amit Jain

It has always been my practice to try and immerse in the local culture whenever I travel, usually avoiding touristy restaurants as dishes are usually modified and sanitized to cater to the palate of the vacationer. I’m very adventurous with food, trying out most interesting-looking things I encounter – and not unfairly judging food by the way they look or smell. Aside from the rare and mild hypersensitivity itching i get (water snake from Cambodia, crocodile meat in Davao), I usually tolerate things fairly well. So, when I finally found myself in Hanoi, Vietnam, I couldn’t wait to eat Viet-style.

Tip: it’s nice to bring antihistamines during trips, just in case you itch or breakout. Check out the upcoming entry on the first aid list for travelling.

Looking around

Unlike the streetside canteens in the Philippines we call turo-turo (literal translation: point point) which offer a myriad of cooked dishes on display for the customer to choose from, the typical local vietnamese food establishment only offers 1 or 2 menu items with optional side orders and drinks. This specialized menu makes the typical vietnamese resto very friendly to those who have little deciding power or to daytrippers who have difficulty communicating. Ordering becomes very easy because everyone is basically eating the same thing and you can actually gauge what is being served right away by observing your surroundings.

Al fresco dining, stools, and sharing tables. Photo by Cindy Pearl Sotalbo

Decided to eat? Tip for ordering: point to what the person in the other table is eating, quantify the order using hand signals and you’re good to go.

Talk the talk

Before moving on, here are some basic terms you need to learn:

In Vietnamese, there are specific notations on the characters that dictate they way you say these but the locals in the cities usually get what you mean.

Navigating

Walking around the busy streets of the old quarter of Hanoi in search for the best vietnamese dishes felt like a treasure hunt. With map in hand, we set out to locate the places our hotel staff recommended.

Here’s a segment of our map. Free maps can be found at the airport and almost all hotels. Photo by Amit Jain

Streets in the Old Quarter are easy to navigate around in but take note that the streets tend to change names after 2-3 blocks. The wonderful thing is, stores have their addresses placed on their signs so if you feel lost, you can confirm instantly where you’re at. Oh yeah, when looking for an address, take note that all odd numbers stay on one side of the street, even on the opposite side.

Chopsticks ready!

Take out your pen and paper, you might want to take the addresses down. Here are my top 5 best meals in the streets of Hanoi:

Pho Bo Chin with Trung Ga
 
Cost: VND 50,000 (+5,000 for egg) | USD 2.50
Address: 49 Bat Dan Street (Name: pho bat dan)

Warm pho on a cold winter night. Photo by Amit Jain

Remember the time when you were young and your mom made you soup that somehow made you feel better? The mere aroma of this pho stirred up those kind of childhood memories. If mere chicken soup can heal, I’m sure this pho can do miracles!

It is a simple dish made of flat rice noodles, beef, spring onions and other greens, egg and broth. The tender, succulent beef with the essence of the greens and the warm broth blended in perfect harmony with flavors dancing in my palate. The egg made the usually thin broth creamy and the herbed chili sauce gave the pho the perfect kick. As dorky as this may sound, this pho made the foodie in me feel warm and fuzzy.

Pho bat dan is open for breakfast and dinner. And this place is always packed. The order line at the front never seems to be short of customers – whether getting pho for dine in or take away. Wait patiently in line, because what you’re waiting for will definitely be worth it.

My Xao

Cost: VND 30,000 (more or less) | USD 1.50
Address: Somewhere in Bat Dan Street, a shop with this sign

look for this at Bat Dan street,at an intersection

This was part of the first meal we had. Upon arrival at Hanoi, we decided to go find this place since the person I was travelling with had been here before. Funny thing was, he had no idea what the dish was called. We just knew the description so we followed what common sense dictated: we waited for someone to order it and then point it out. Since most people were ordering Pho xao (next item), we decided to share one plate of Pho Xao and then point out once the fried –rama-noodles-with-beef-and-vegetables was ordered by someone. Right after finishing our first dish, we finally saw it being served! Oh, how excited we were! Despite being in perpetual eating mode the whole afternoon: lounge food, airplane food, pho xao; we definitely had room for this yummy chow.

My Xao. Photo by Cindy Pearl Sotalbo

We had this dish at other places but this was the best one I had – I absolutely loved the play of different textures: crunchy noodles, tender beef, saucy vegetables.

Pho Xao

Cost: VND 30,000 (more or less) | USD 1.50
Address: Same place where you’ll find #2

Stir-fried Pho. Photo by Cindy Pearl Sotalbo

Stir fried flat rice noodles with the same toppings as My Xao.

Aside from the obvious difference in the type of noodle, the noodles in Pho Xao was sauteed with the veggies and the beef, unlike My Xao. This was also awesome but I like My Xao better because of the contrast in textures.

Cha Ca La Vong

Cost: VND 150,000 | USD 7.50
Address: 14 Cha ca Street

Healthy eating! Photo by Cindy Pearl Sotalbo

This was endorsed as: noodle + grilled fish. When the food was served, the fish fillets in the pan was submerged in some sort of yellow oil. Despite the “grilled fish” description given to us, the way the food was served seemed to imply shabu-shabu style eating – we had to finishing cooking the food ourselves. Actually, we had no idea how to go about eating our meal. The shop helper must’ve figured that out based on the puzzled look in our faces so he approached us and showed us how it was done. Apparently, you saute all the greens and the peanuts with the fish. When the greens are cooked, turn the fire to low and then mix in the fish + vegetable in yellow oil with the rice noodles. Voila! Cha Ca La Vong.

mixing it all in. Photo by Cindy Pearl Sotalbo

Unlike the other places previously mentioned which were dining al fresco, this place was a proper restaurant on the second floor of a residential unit. They actually had a handout in english explaining that the restaurant has only one dish and that the meal cost was on a per person basis.

Beware of the other eatery facing the original restaurant. It has a bigger, flashier (yes, LED lights) sign saying Cha CA La Vong and there’s a member staff that is waiting at the door, super eager to let you in and order. They almost got us.

Bun Bo

Cost: VND 50,000 | USD 2.50
Address: 67 Hang Dieu Street

Saving the best for last! Among the things I tried, this was my favorite. The place serving this is a hole-in-wall resto that one might easily miss walking down the street.

My 2 dollar serving of food heaven. Photo by Amit Jain.

Bun Bo is rice vermicelli topped with beef, fresh bean sprouts, pickled unripe papaya, mint leaves and other green veggies. The bowl was half filled with the broth that had the distinct flavors of chili, garlic, lemongrass, and shrimp paste. I find it really amazing that these contrasting yet complementary flavors can blend together into something so tasteful and awesome.

During the first few minutes into eating, I was filled with an overall sense of happiness that only kickass food can bring. Seriously. Happy tummy= happy me. And Bun Bo is definitely (definitely!) happy food. The dish was so good that we had decided to come back the day before we left for another serving. This was the only food establishment we visited twice.

Now, I’m getting hungry…

The Food Experience: What you're eating, Where you're eating, Who you're eating with

The food is definitely the top reason why I will miss Vietnam. (#2 is the people and #3 is autumn and winter weather). I was telling my travel companion that cravings for these specific dishes will occasionally spring up in the future. It is my quest, therefore, to find the best local substitute. (but I have a feeling the dining experience will not be the same)

Okay, I’ll stop now. It’s 4 AM and my stomach is already mad at me for subjecting it to the torture of reliving my Vietnamese food experiences.

I hope you find this article helpful! To those who are brave enough to venture into the streets of Hanoi to find these places, I wish you a superb travelling experience and happy tummies!

Love,
Dr. Buttercup

—

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff of Hanoi Gecko Hotel (soon to be called San Souci Hotel) for all their help. They were the ones who supplied the information on where to find these wonderful places.

Disclaimer: The establishments mentioned here have not in any way, compensated me for writing about them.

Been through every corner of the earth, searching for you;
Combing each district of your despair for your extrication

I came for you…
I came to fetch you…
Trust that from now on, my love will always be yours

Share your dreams and aspirations, I’ll be your solace
Let go of fear and leap off the edge,
Have faith…

Ready for your light,
Been around the world,
Just to get to you…

–

Song experiment by Dr. Buttercup 02.11.11

Imago
Sundo lyrics

Kay tagal kong sinusuyod
Ang buong mundo
Para hanapin,
Para hanapin ka
Nilibot ang distrito
Ng iyong lumbay
Pupulutin, pupulutin ka

Sinusundo kita,
Sinusundo...

Asahan mo(Asahan mo) mula ngayon
Pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mo (Asahan mo) mula ngayon
Pag-ibig ko’y sayo

Sa akin mo isabit
Ang pangarap mo
Di kukulangin
Ang ibibigay
Isuko ang kaba
Tuluyan kang bumitaw
Ika’y manalig
Manalig ka..

Sinusundo kita
Sinusundo...

Asahan mo (Asahan mo) mula ngayon
Pag-ibig ko’y sayo
Asahan mo (asahan mo) mula ngayon
Pag-ibig ko’y sayo (repeat 2x)

(Asahan mo)
Handa na sa liwanag mo
Sinuyod ang buong mundo
Maghihintay sayo’ng sundo (repeat 3x)

 I told myself that I would never go near you again; that I would try forget you. Before I met you, everything in my life was okay. I considered myself content and happy.

When I met you, and started to get to know you, I began to experience the elation your existence brought. You placed more meaning to my days, accompanied me through my joys and sorrows. You became the faithful ally through the trials and setbacks life threw at me.

I feel more alive when I’m with you.

Time went by and we built more memories. I became obsessed with you. Realizations then came that you might be bad for me. That too much of “us” would not be healthy for me. That my addiction to you can lead to my ruin.

So I figured out it was time to say goodbye.

For a short while, I was able to go through everyday without you. But throughout that time, you never left my mind. My body craved for you. Even in my sleep, you haunted me.

In your absence, my vitality faded slowly. You took my vigor for life. That’s when I realized that I needed you, and that avoiding you would be futile.

I yearn for you. I want you back.

Love,

Coffee junkie

–

written originally in Filipino. My letter to all the the brands that were my companions during the times when I wanted to keep the sandman away.

Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi na kita lalapitang muli. Ipinangako ko na susubukan na kitang limutin. Dati naman, bago kita nakilala, okay naman lahat sa buhay ko – masaya, ayos lang. Pero aaminin ko nang nakilala kita, nabigyan ako ng karagdagang sigla. Napasaya mo ang mga araw ko. Sinamahan mo ako sa oras ng kasiyahan at kalungkutan. Ikaw ang naging karamay sa tuwing dinadambana ako ng mga suliraning ibinabato sa akin ng tadhana.

Sa piling mo’y bumibilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Pakiwari ko’y mas buhay ako. Ngunit sa bawat sandaling kapiling kita, unti-unting nalaman ko na makakasama ka sa akin. Nakita kung gaano kalaki ang pagbabayaran ko kapag ipinagpatuloy ko pa ang kahibangan ko sa iyo.

Sinubok kong magpaalam sa iyo. Sa maikling panahon, nagawa kong ipagpatuloy ang buhay ko nang wala ka. ngunit sa sandaling panahong iyon, hindi ka binitawan ng isip ko. Ang masama pa, hinahanap hanap ka ng aking katawan. Maging sa pagtulog, ikaw ang hinahanap-hanap. Pakiwari ko’y nahigop ng pagkawala mo ang sigla at liwanag ng aking pagkatao.

Kailangan kita. Makalipas ang saglit na pagtitiis, napagtanto kong hindi ko kayang mabuhay nang wala ka.

—

*handog ng coffee junkie sa lahat ng brand ng kape na naging karamay niya sa mga gabing ayaw niyang pabisita kay sandman.

photo from www.500days.com

Ever found that someone who you were so sure the universe sent for you?

I’m talking about THE ONE – that one person who you were destined to meet, the one that fate chose especially for you.

The moment you meet him everything goes perfect just like a fairy tale. Nothing ever goes wrong and you find yourself thanking the stars for giving you the rare chance of finding your soulmate.

Then comes that day he tells you that he’s found the one – and that it wasn’t you. In an instant, the fairy tale you perpetually thanked the heavens for becomes the greatest travesty of your life.

You then question what went wrong because you NEVER saw this coming. The possibility of the feeling of certainty just being one sided was never entertained because seemingly, there was always reciprocation.

You decide to hate him. But during that one time that you bump into him again, you realize you love him too much to hate him. That despite propelling you into that despondent, gut-wrenching hell hole you will find yourself in for the next couple of years, you still can’t detest him. You let go of the anger and the hate but somehow the numbing ache remains.

Eventually, you grow up and find ways to move on. You learn to love again but somehow you are never the same. The concept of love and its promise is changed because the rose-colored glass that you once saw life with shattered that day he walked away to choose another.

It will probably take a billion moments of looking back, drowning in “what ifs”, years of wallowing in the anguish, and a few instances of finding yourself in the exact helpless place you once were in at the end of the tragic love story – each time still hoping the ending would be different.

After you’ve been hurt again (and again, and again, and yet again until you reach the Mt. Everest of hurt), you take an Nth look at the supposed greatest romance you’ve ever had and see things differently. The scenes are the same but this time you see the things you missed during the gazillion times you played this seemingly perfect love story in your mind – like how he wasn’t really listening, or how his being a jerk sometimes isn’t as entertaining, or how his lopsided grin isn’t as charming, or how he seems like a stranger when you were so sure you knew him so well. All of a sudden, the Mr. Perfect you put on a pedestal for the longest time does not seem so perfect after all.

Then comes doubt. You begin to question everything. Were you really the reason behind that twinkle in his eyes whenever you were together? What was actually the message behind that adorable “look” he always gave you? Were you just over-interpreting things when he offered to carry your tiny bag during the gig of a particular band you both liked, when he read to you his favorite book , when you managed to watch a movie together despite being in different zip codes, when he sat beside you under the street lamp at that dark street corner one random night singing to you one of the greatest songs of all time or when he kept you company during the numerous nights you spent together just talking about things you never ever thought you would share with anybody?

You learn to accept the possibility that you just might have been reading into things too much. Subsequently realizing how selective you were with your memories – just storing in your mind the things that you were sure made you so right for each other. All the while, oblivious that you were just feeding your one-sided mirage of fate and destiny.

When your bubble bursts, perfection becomes non-existent, the fantasy ends and the magic disappears. You confront your delusions and ask: after all this time of trying to get over the heartache, am I really still in love with him? Or am I just in love with the idea of him? You try to find the reason why you have been forever strapped to the past, to the memories of the greatest tragic love story you have ever known.

“Maturity” comes. You begin to embrace the rationalization that it was probably just the inherent human addiction to chasing that one thing you know you will never have. Love suddenly becomes intellectual because you come to realize that it’s not a matter of helplessly falling but you can actually choose not to take the first step before the plunge. Feelings are suddenly explained by words such as “chemistry”, “physical attraction”, and “sexual tension”. Romantic becomes practical. Passion gets traded in for compatibility and stability. Fate and destiny just become things you watch in movies.

Ever lost that someone who you were so sure the universe sent for you?

-

This was originally entitled Dristie – which means rose-colored glass. These thoughts were inspired by the movie 500 days of Summer. 041310.

No Other Woman movie poster

(WARNING:SPOILERS AHEAD)

One look at the poster of this movie and I knew it would be a sure hit. At the top of my head, these were the 5 top reasons I came up with:

1. Anne Curtis
2. Derek Ramsay
3. Christine Reyes
4. Hot girls in skimpy bikinis (and dresses too)
5. Half-naked ripped men

These are enumerated in no particular order, of course. They would have to be rearranged based on your gender preference. Based on the statistics of my initial survey — 80% of my straight guy friends would come running to the cinemas upon the information that Anne consistently wears skimpy bikinis and eventually manages to lose a bikini top as the story progresses.

So… because this is my first ever formally-released-in-writing film review, I’ll be O-C about. I’m gonna try to break it down into 4 basic thought categories:

1. Story – script, plots and everything involving the narrative portions of the film
2. People – Character, cast, acting
3. Method – technical stuff like score, cinematography, editing
4. Subjects – issues that are dealt with in the story (since I like interpreting and analyzing things anyway, might as well indulge here)

The Story

Plot-wise, there are no surprises. The title and the movie poster say it all. Seemingly faithful husband gets lured by a free-spirited, sultry temptress into a no-strings attached sexual relationship. The reticent, very domestic housewife senses that something is wrong and gets paranoid.  As husband and other woman gets deeper into the affair and emotions get invested, housewife morphs into this crazy person who then tries to fight for what is legally (okay – and  morally) hers. Then, it all gets messy.

Side stories include parallelisms between generations; familial conflicts between in-laws, father and sons; and family nesting insecurities.

The lines reminded me of  catty and subtextual Filipino 80’s films. I’m sure a lot of  people would come out of the movie houses remembering the lines about Quiapo, Barney, Lucy Torres and Gretchen Barreto. (thanks to Karmi Martin’s character)

Humor was witty. Discomfiture was demonstrated very well. Sexy scenes lacked steam but they were acceptable. I noticed a lack of details on the establishment of the depth of the love affair, how hubby and other woman got to a point of having deep feelings for each other.

Some components of this film were indulgent for my taste. For example, the purple barney outfits were a tad too much to make the apparent point that they were fighting for the same spot in handsome  hubby’s life. Another thing is the reinforcement of the concept of coveting the forbidden – sumptiously eating shrimp despite a history of seafood allergy?! (Hello?! Do you know what your  body does when you’ve been taking something you’re allergic to? It figures out you’ve been a very bad girl, gets even, cuts off your air supply and then it places you in a situation where you could actually DIE. Google: Anaphylaxis)

The People

The picture banks on the popularity of the primary cast to get the moolah. (How? Refer to and digest first paragraphs).

This was a breakthrough role for Anne Curtis. She played the part of the nonchalant, low pitch voiced, carefree seductress well. She still has to work on selling the character with consistency a bit but among the main cast, her performance was the most commendable one. She became the woman you denigrate but sometimes secretly root for. Certainly, the film maximized her assets effectively. (come to think of it, all of their assets were maximized effectively)

Christine Reyes’ performance was decent. She was able to pull off the timid and domestic housewife turning into paranoid neurotic spouse. She could’ve done better with her sarcasm during the heated purple-dress scenes with Anne though. (that sequence series would have made a lot more people cringe with awkwardness)

I have always been a fan of Derek Ramsay ever since he started in showbiz. He is awesome as a model and athlete but I can’t say the same for his acting. The performance he gave in this movie was leap from how he was when he started but he’s not quite in the place where he could work with close-up expression shots just yet. Since the critical, tender scenes used the focused-on-the-face-with-background-blurred technique (somebody help me out here: layman struggling with technical terms), Derek looked, well, stoic — his expressions were within a narrow range. Though I must say, this flaw subtlely helped in escalating the viewer’s curiosity on how the movie would end and who he would pick among the women.

For the supporting cast, I have nothing but praises. Their family members and friends served as the source of high caliber acting in this movie. They provided the comic relief to the potentially heavy drama. Kudos to the supporting cast for pulling off the funny lines.

The Method

Just like bare skin, stereotypes were all over the place. Of course the wife should be timid, soft-spoken and very domesticated. Of course, the other woman should be a worldly, sophisticated, liberated woman (who is a total opposite of the wife). And the husband should be a very attractive, self-proclaimed-ex-playboy alpha male (who should be worth brawling over, right?!?)

In terms of cinematography, the films painted pretty pictures. There was apt use of filters in the beach scenes and the crucial close-up shots. The lingering shots should’ve been utilized during the love-making scenes to make them more passionate instead of just limiting them to facial expressions. (although, the MTRCB would probably have issues then)

The score was perfectly timed. Juris’ “Now that you’re gone” was used during the heavily dramatic portions and it was very effective in deepening experience of the viewer.

As expected, sticking to the custom of mainstream cinema, sponsors were scattered throughout the film. In fairness, there was an evident effort to not be so forthright about advertising.

The Issues

Involvement in the film by the audience would stem from relating to the characters because they have been through similar things or they personally know someone who reminds them of the characters. Anyway, here are the issues that surfaced in the story that a viewer might relate to:

• Infidelity. (dare I explain?!)
• Abandonment of self preservation for love. i.e. kneeling in front of a guy to beg him to take you back at a very public area
• Consequences of jealousy. The climax reminded me of a very similar viral youtube video about a wife attack against a mistress and her husband at the mall. (ooh, ooh, cat fight!)
• Stupid decisions you make as an adult relate to deep-rooted, usually parental, familial issues. (hang on, i think this should be under stereotypes)

The morale I got? ( *deep breath* ) One moment of daft decision-making caused by a lack of blood supply in the brain during a certain physiologic process that requires majority of circulation to make a certain reproductive organ work usually doesn’t end well if you do it again and again and believe you can actually get away with it. The things you take time building usually crumble to the ground in an instant once you’ve been caught. (only applicable to commited people). Oh yeah, and listen to your friends and family who tries to be the voice of reason when you already know you’re being obtuse in the name of love and/or sex.

As the film came near its conclusion (time-wise) and as I sort-of got engrossed in the story, I did wonder how the story would end. Much to my disappointment, this film took a shortcut — there’s nothing like a life-threatening accident to make sure that everything is back to normal again. Too bad we’re in a catholic country – it would have been nice to see a different ending than happily-ever after for everybody.

What’s the score then?I give it 7 misplaced wedding rings over 10

Share your thoughts =)

event poster

2 km swim. 91 km bike. 20 km run.

On October 1, 2011, 150 participants braved the hardest Whiterock triathlon yet. Winds, rain, floods, debris – nothing could stop the endurance athletes that dared to conquer the vestiges of Pedring’s wrath and the threat that is Quiel.

Pre-race

A week before race day, Extribe (race organizer) had been monitoring weather conditions. I arrived 4 days before event day and I was able to pass by some areas in Bataan severely affected by the floods — rice paddies were turned into lakes and roads turned out like rivers.

No, this is not part of a river. these are the rice paddies that pedring converted into a lake.

The race day was sandwiched between typhoons Pedring and Quiel. Contingency plans were made to make sure that the athletes will be safe and, that no matter what happens, they’ll still get a fulfilling multisport experience. Multiple times in the day, comprehensive weather conditions and updates  are checked via several online sources.

On registration day, the sun actually decided to come out for a while. At this time, all segments of the race course was declared passable. Things were actually looking up and the team decided to push through with registration.

Race kits. Photo by: Anina Mendoza

Registration went smoothly. As the day went by, I was able to witness the very endearing camaraderie between athletes. For the veterans, it seemed like they were just checking in for their yearly reunion. For the newbies, it was the first irrevocable step to test out what they have trained for in a long time.

Medical screening desk. Photo by Ana Ravago.

Of course, everybody had to pass by the medical screening area where the participants are interviewed and checked to ensure that they can finish the race with grace and dignity. For most of the newbies, this was the table where they were asked  if they were really ready for something like whiterock.  Most of these newbies will remember Kit, who straightforwardly asks (or as some people refer to it-  terrorize) those who might not be set for a challenge like this. The medical team’s aim is not to scare people but to make them realize that, aside from physical training, there are different aspects to be considered in preparing for endurance events. As part of responsible race organizing, Extribe has incorporated the screening for participants to fortify safety measures for our athletes.

Dr. Kit in action. Photo by Anthony Yu.

Race briefing with special portion for first timers. Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Race Day: Swim

The day started out like an ordinary gloomy habagat day – overcast skies, relatively calm waters, soft winds. The rain from Quiel initially came at around 3 am, but it stopped an hour after – even before body marking and weigh in started.

Before swim started

Darryl (swim/run manager) and Eric (race director) announced a possible slight delay  in th race start due to technical problems in the swim leg but to everybody’s relief, the race started on time.

start arch

Swim start. Photo by Anthony Yu.

All eyes were on the water at the gunstart. The buoy line was slowly displaced by the waves into a curved path – placing part of the course near the shore, forcing the participants to walk in a certain part of the swim leg because the water was too shallow to swim in. As the leg progressed, the waves became stronger. All kayaks, lifeguards and jetski marshalls were on high alert to make sure all participants were safe.

swim leg

To most of the athletes, the swim was the toughest part.  Waves and the strong current stood in the way of everybody. Some confessed that the swim was like a boxing match, each wave seemed like a punch that made the race even more challenging. It was evident in each loop that participants took lots of effort and perseverance to overcome the open water swim.

swim caps. Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Race Day: Bike

Debris, flats, wind – these were the impediments the triathletes encountered during the bike leg. And in true Filipino fashion, the road was half-closed — the same way it was since Whiterock triathlon started 8 years ago. This set-up makes the bike leg a bit of a challenge since each participant had to bike responsibly especially in the busy municipalities. They had to go through busy districts before they could reach the very scenic and low population areas of the bike course.

Hermie, our senior bike mechanic, at work. Photo by Anthony Yu.

The government of Zambales was very enthusiastic in giving their support for the activity — multiple ambulances deployed in every town, local government units were always in the loop during planning, traffic enforcers were assigned to critical points. The Medical support they gave was overwhelming. Most of the medical situations happened in this portion. (I can’t share much –consent and privacy/confidentiality issues). I just thank the powers that be because nothing serious arose and all the involved participants were safe.

bike leg

Race Day: Run

Whiterock triathlon had always been known for the killer run course. You would hear terms such as microwave and dead man’s hill that would refer to very exigent segments of the run course. These segments are notorious for making athletes cramp up and/or get dehydrated.

run leg

Darryl, run manager, guiding the runners. Photo by Anthony Yu.

This year though, the overcast skies and initial drizzle came as a relief for the participants since it wass usually the heat that made the previous’ whiterock triathlons’ run course very hard for them. But come 1:30 that afternoon, the heavy rain and fierce winds came. The A-boards started to fall and an hour after, the finish arch also gave in to the strong wind.

The wrath of Quiel. Photo by Anthony Yu.

Yes, Quiel almost "took" our finish tent. Photo by Anthony Yu.

The managers, due to safety reasons, decided to deploy vehicles to pick up remaining runners in the course. Ambulances were dispatched to pick up participants and bring them back to Whiterock.

It was the last leg of the event, despite the weather conditions and the rising level of flood in some areas; all runners left in the field refused transport assistance, none of the athletes surrendered. All of them were determined to finish what they started.

Finish arch.Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Finish!

This year, more than just an endurance race, the Whiterock triathlon had an adventure race twist to it. Witnessing the race was like watching an episode of Man vs Wild – triathlon style. There were a couple of quirks along the course: a walk segment in the swim, a“swim” segment in the run, domestic pets chasing bikes. If you were one of the last ones in, you’d have experienced the swampy finish path too.

medical tent

Despite the adversities that both racers and organizers encountered, one thing was clear: passion and determination can take you to great lengths.

finisher medal

The participants proved that they were indeed rockstars. Not only did they overcome a difficult course, but they also challenged and triumphed over a typhoon. The 2011 Whiterock triathlon was a race against time, and the elements.

Finishing with pride! Photo by Anthony Yu.

proud finishers

eXtribe, yet again, we prove our resilience.  Despite the setbacks and obstacles; the team proved that trust in each other, passion, love for the sport and faith in the great power that watches over us and all the athletes we do what we do for, will always prevail.

Extribe team at work! Photo by Anina Mendoza.

Extribe timing team. Photo by Anthony Yu.

I would like to congratulate everybody who participated in the race. See you all next year (bring your friends too)!

On a personal note:

This was my first triathlon as Medical Director and the experience has been nothing but enriching. It was different from the other singular races I’ve handled before because at a time, two legs are running simultaneously and you’re forced to multitask,compartmentalize, and be as flexible as you can.

I was very lucky to have  the best people in my team.

>>> >Kit, thanks for the guidance. You’re a very valued mentor to all of us.

>>> >Elaine, kampay! You’ve been my partner in crime since the beginning.

>>>>Cybelle, thanks for sharing your time and efforts with extribe.

>>>> The local team – Dr. Rebultan, zambales PHO, SBMA Dispensary and Red Cross Olongapo,; thank you for your assistance.

As a final sharing, this picture will show you a part of how extribe celebrates a successful event.  I call this pic the makeshift barracks bar.

our post-race event

PPS: oh yeah, here’s another thing, I can’t get over how awesome the Wicked shirt was.

1:18 AM

Dearest Mommy Litz,

Hi. I’m sure you’re happy wherever you are. You’re probably singing Karaoke with Lolo Manding and Lolo Johnny or gossiping with Lola or whatever it is you guys in heaven do.

I miss you, mee.

Bebeng says it’s so weird that I have so many vivid memories of you. It’s probably another reason why I just feel as if you’re just somewhere in the US busy going on duties and not just keeping in touch.

Remember how you’d fuss about my unruly hair and my un-girly manner? I’d play Doom and Mortal Combat with Gian at the computer shop upstairs. You used to call me a tomboy and try to pair me up with the dentist’s son next door (who I eventually developed a crush on). Since you had an only son then, you’d pick at me and Bebeng and would regularly bring us to the salon for haircuts (which always turned out to be a disaster. i.e. grade 6 graduation). You’d choose clothes for us but we’d always say no since they were too “girly”. I’d pass by the clinic every afternoon for a snack and you’d complain that I just pass by for the treat but you’d still buy me stuff anyway. I used to pray that you have a C-section all the time because there was always pizza whenever you had an OR.  I used to be scared when you say, “punyeta!”; now, it’s a fond reminiscence that makes me smile whenever I remember how you said it.

I’ve come a long way from the awkward girl who would visit your clinic every afternoon after class for a snack. You were the one who introduced Pizza Volante to us and now, that’s where manong Chris, Tutong (when he was here) and I would hang out whenever I went home. Now, I don’t let other people bully me into having a haircut, I ruin my hair at my own will. Instead of just playing around with the dolls you gave, I handle people and lives now and there’s hardly any room for play with what I’m doing.

Bebeng and I have occasional talks about our common experiences and you’d eventually surface as  part of the conversation – how you would be the perfect person to understand what we’re going through. I’ve been trying to talk more often to Mama and Papa about how my life is going and what my plans are since I left Baguio. I know I’m very lucky to have such supportive and loving parents but there’s always that thought that they’d never really get it because they’ve never been through the things I’m experiencing. You see, mee, I’m still currently at a crossroads – still at the part of my life where I have yet to choose where I’m going. These are the times when I miss you so much – because it would really be nice to talk to somebody who knows me, who actually “gets it”, and who’s frank enough to say the real deal with things.

Inay misses you dearly – she rarely gets out of the house now. Papa is as stubborn as ever about his medications and Mama is still busy manning the store. Rijel already graduated last year (nurse! Yey!) and Bebeng’s going to graduate soon too. I think Joy wants to be a doctor too. The twins are doing great – they just finished elementary. I’m sorry you missed my graduation and my induction. I know you were meaning to go home during that time. Anyway, I hope we’re making you proud up there.

You’re always cherished and remembered, mee.

you're always missed

Your niece,

Cindy, MD

P.S. I feel OB-GYN’s calling, by the way, but I’m saying no

6/25/07 12:27 am

I discharged my first patient last week. — Stage IV cholangiocarcinoma admitted due to pneumonia and pleural effusion. Due to difficulty of breathing, she’s on O2 ventilation.

I guess for the two days I spent with her, she got attached to me. She called me “anak” and even wanted to see me in the future. Maybe it’s because she shared a lot of personal things with me – family, her health, her aspirations and fears.

Truth be told, it bothered me how much she believed that she was still going to be well despite her sickness. When i asked her how she saw her illness, how she defined it, i was a little taken aback when she said that it was just a normal disease – a common one among peers and family. She wasn’t ready to accept her prognosis despite the fact that she’s jaundiced, was too weak that she couldn’t even stand up and walk, not even capable of caring for herself, and, had trouble at the simple act of breathing.

She was discharged better but her family doesn’t have money for the proper antibiotics to continue treatment.

My patient was dying. At most she has 3 months to live, if the infection can be fought (but considering her financial and physical state, it would be hard).

I discharged my dying patient and what came to my mind is how lame and inept the health system here is. The Filipino people are suffering because they are deprived of a necessity that’s supposed to be given freely – health, as it a right rather than a commodity…

… to be continued… I’m too sleepy….

4 years later, here  I am. Still wanting to continue writing, expressing my thoughts and sharing it to other people. I just wish I had the mojo to actually do it again.

Note to self: finish part 2 of this entry.

It amazed her how far they’ve gone together. During the ups and downs of her turbulent life, he was the constant companion she turned to whenever she felt like crashing down. It was he that had the power to move her and change her mood in a split second, instantly lifting her up from the slums she regularly found herself in. In him, she took respite from the world that kept pulling her into its jadedness. And all it usually takes is her closing her eyes and getting lost in him, in his harmony and magic. With him, there were no pretensions, no judgment, no lies and no hurting.

He spoke to her in different ways and it was through him that the universe communicated with her. Despite his different faces and forms, one thing remains true: he had the power to consume her whole being, making her feel alive and taking her to rides of bittersweet emotions. He was her one great love – her saving grace.

09/04/09

–

Written for Music

amen!