Travel: Rome

In preparation for the movie "Angels and Demons," I'm posting some photos I took while I was studying in Rome. I was quite disappointed to know that some parts of the movie were shot at Sony Pictures Studios (Los Angeles) since Roman Catholic officials banned filming inside the churches; this is in lieu to the Catholic officials finding "The Da Vinci Code" offensive.

Rainy day outside the Pantheon

Fontana de Trevi (Trevi Fountain)

Roman Colosseum at sunset

Vittorio Emanuel

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

Swiss Guards at the St. Peter's Square

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

This is the east wall - The Last Judgment by Michaelangelo

Pangilinan's Apology

I was browsing the Dap-ay Forums at Baguio City Online when I came across "Tao po ako, hindi po ako Igorot" (I am a person/human, not an Igorot) as one of the forum topics. Apparently, these words were uttered by Candy Pangilinan during a pre-Mother's Day show at SM Baguio as a joke. According to Jemz, a forum member, Ms. Pangilinan blurted her comments twice, and although she did apologize at the end of the show, the damage has been done. Clearly, her comments have offended some members of the Igorot community, including me. (To read comments on the forum, click here.) In her blog, Ms. Pangilinan issued an apology and explained that what she actually meant was "Igorot statue" but failed to say the word "statue."

As a proud Igorot, I have to admit that some people refer or label us in so many "uncalled for" terms. I am glad that the Igorot community is fighting back and is fully aware that we need to uphold and defend the Igorot identity. If we dont' do it, who will. I am glad Ms. Pangilinan issued an apology. It was very careless and insensitive of her to say such words in a city known for its Igorot origins.
Here is a reprint of Ms. Pangilinan's apology, and click here to read her full blog entry.

**********

MY APOLOGIES:

Last Saturday, May 9, the day after my birthday, I finished my taping at 8:00 a.m. and left Manila to fulfill a commitment in Baguio at 2:00 p.m.

I am truly sorry because I uttered an insensitive statement during the event. I did not mean to hurt anyone, especially, our Igorot brothers and sisters. It was a careless remark and for that, I am truly sorry. The harm was done and regardless of my explanation and whatever my intention was when I uttered such words, any defense would not matter at this point. It was wrong.

I clearly remember that I did apologize for the careless statement I said during the show. Comedians have the tendency to go overboard and deliver lines, which they deem as witty and hilarious punchlines. But, sometimes, they can get reckless.

Truly, I am sorry for my mistake. I have learned a precious lesson, and I am sorry that I had hurt people in the process.

I delivered the lines incorrectly. I had no sleep that day and was very tired. In all of my shows, I try to make it a point that my audience would feel that I am a part of the entire group and that I am one with them, but I made a mistake this time.

If you were there and had finished the show, you would have heard me acknowledge my blunder. I apologized and explained myself. I even went on, uplifting the Benguet/Igorot Community.

I am very proud of their contribution to the society. I, as a person and a Filipino, would never intentionally discriminate nor disrespect my roots, my ancestors, and my fellow Filipinos. In summary, I pray that people would realize that I do not look down on anyone regardless of the race, heritage, or religion.

Again, I am deeply sorry.

I hope that you will find in your hearts to forgive me though I know it may be difficult to understand the context of why I said it. It was one major error, and may the Lord Jesus Christ forgive me, and give all of peace.

**********

Let me post this quote again: "I am an Igorot. Let me be treated as I deserve—with respect if I am good, with contempt if I am no good, irrespective of the name I carry. Let the term, Igorot, remain, and the world will use it with the correct meaning attached to it." ( Jose Dulnuan)

Happy Mother's Day

Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Eight

I snagged this tag from Kero. I like it because it's sort of a TO DO list which I really need to keep things in perspective. Feel free to snag.

Eight Things I'm Looking Forward To

1. vacation at the end of May
2. starting grad school this fall
3. summer weekend road trips
4. trying out that new Filipino restaurant in Gaithersburg
5. going to see "Angels and Demons"
6. baking cassava bibingka one of these weekends
7. going to see the opera Turandot next month
8. going shopping this weekend for a new bag

Eight Things I Did Yesterday

1. picked up prescription at the pharmacy
2. submitted board meeting materials
3. fried marinated bangus for dinner
4. washed dishes
5. watched Shrek 2 and Polar Express DVDs
6. prepared Mother's Day cards and letters
7. took the Metro
8. walked through the rain on my way home

Eights Things I Wish I Could Do

1. go shopping with my sister and brother
2. spend time with Mom and Dad in Hawaii
3. become a home owner
4. get to a healthy weight
5. visit Greece, Turkey, London, Paris et al.
6. become better in adjusting to changes
7. stress less
8. eat green mangoes with salt and vinegar

Eights Movies I Watched Recently

1. Shrek 2
2. Polar Express
3. The Holiday
4. Iron Monkey
5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
6. Get Shorty
7. Be Cool
8. Journey to the West
   

Big Island Postcards

My parents are thinking of going to the Big Island this summer. I am so jealous. I was there in 2002 and 2005, but of course I want to go again. Here are the photos I took in 2005.

Rainbow Falls

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, the site of Hawaiian settlements

Resting on Punalu'u's Black Sand Beach

Mauna Loa stands watch over the steam vents

Walking on lava...destination is where the smoke is

View of Hali na Pali

Exploring Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Waipio Valley

Homesick

I made some fried sweet potatoes this afternoon, and the aroma of the sizzling sweet potatoes reminded me of my favorite childhood snacks. Growing up in a farm, we had all sorts of readily available vegetables, fruits, poultry and root crops. In the afternoons, Dad would tend to our sweet potato patch. He would dig up five to 10 sweet potatoes which he'll either fry or boil. For the fried ones, I love to eat them while they're warm and crispy on the edges, and the boiled ones, I like to mash flat then top it with butter. Dad also loved to make guinitaan. Our house would smell so good as the sweet potatoes, banana, tapioca and other ingredients simmer in coconut milk and sugar. We, the children, would start gathering around the table ready with bowls and spoons as the sweet smell of the coconut milk permeate the entire house. We'd talk about our favorite TV shows and sometimes school as our stomachs rumble in hunger and delight.

Remembering all these has made me a bit homesick. I think it's because of the steady rain that hasn't let up since this morning. As I now eat my crispy fried sweet potatoes, my homesickness eases with every bite.

Walk In The Woods

I couldn't sleep last night. I went to bed at about 2 a.m. and woke up at 7 a.m. I thought it was unfair that I can't get my eight hours. I feel cheated. After my trip to the grocery store, I decided to go for a relaxing walk at Rock Creek Park. It's a huge park covering DC, MD and VA, and I'm lucky because it happens to be a few steps from my front door. So here begins my walk in the woods...

entry to the woods

a white dogwood blooms at a clearing

flowers i can't name...

azaleas?...i think

another white dogwood peers from the woods

cluster of white delight

a tree get's greener

a squirrel pauses from digging for a snap

pink dogwood

i thought these flowers were where they're ought to be...framed perfect

I had a wonderful, relaxing walk. I'm hoping I'll get a good night's sleep tonight. As I write this post, my chicken tinola simmers. I'm so happy I found frozen malunggay leaves at the grocery store. I'm tossing in some slices of sayote too. Dinner's on me tonight. Join me.

When A Tree Poses

I have reiterated more than once how I love spring especially here in Maryland. Although I love the weather and beaches of Hawaii, nothing beats the colors that sprout in Maryland especially during this time of the year. The flowering trees here are just astounding, and they leave me breathless every time I see a tree in full bloom. After the celebrated cherry blossoms shed their petals, other trees steal the limelight.

A poem lovely as a tree...

Poems are made by fools like me
But only God can make a tree

A tree that looks at God all day

And lifts her [flowery] arms to pray

A tree who's hungry mouth is pressed

Against sweet earth's flowing breast

Who doesn't remember Joyce Kilmer's poem, Trees? I remember reciting this in grade school, and I thought it was appropriate to accompany these photos. These were all taken last weekend. Mind you, but I sat and relaxed underneath that tree for hours.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Responsibility

Life is stressful as it is. With the addition of an ailing U.S. economy and the emergence and spread of swine flu, I think my stress level is heightened. And to think that the media loves to sensationalize the news, I am right yet again to avoid reading the newspaper or watching the news. On Monday, I was irritated to see a newspaper with the front cover featuring a woman wearing a mask and on the side is a big chart of how many people were infected in each state, in bold, CAPITAL letters. I was close to snapping like a twig. This type of publicity only encourages hysteria and panic to an already stressed population. I know it is very important to be aware on current events and to be a well informed citizen, but sometimes, the media (some) tend to forget their responsibility - to report and write the exact news - not to sensationalize and exaggerate in order to sell. As a citizen, I demand RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISM. (I needed to get that out of my system.)

Work has been keeping me busy. I'm just glad this week is half way through, and I should be singing "Friday I'm in Love" soon. I hope everyone's having a good week.

A reminder from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Finally Friday

Finally, it's Friday and this is how I feel. I'm not "in love" with someone, but Friday is the culmination of a week's worth of work and it's absolutely worth celebrating with a song. Here are the lyrics from "Friday I'm In Love" by The Cure. This song was used on the movie "50 First Dates."

I don't care if Monday's blue
Tuesday's grey and Wednesday too
Thursday I don't care about you
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...
I don't care if Monday's black
Tuesday Wednesday heart attack
Thursday never looking back
It's Friday I'm in love

Monday you can hold your head
Tuesday Wednesday stay in bed
Or Thursday watch the walls instead
It's Friday I'm in love

Saturday wait
And Sunday always comes too late
But Friday never hesitate...

Dressed up to the eyes
It's a wonderful surprise
To see your shoes and your spirits rise
Throwing out your frown
And just smiling at the sound
And as sleek as a shriek
Spinning round and round

Always take a big bite
It's such a gorgeous sight
To see you in the middle of the night
You can never get enough
Enough of this stuff
It's Friday
I'm in love

A GREAT WEEKEND TO ALL!