Meatless Monday

I used to be 2/7 vegetarian, but alas, it was short-lived.  It is a challenge being a straight vegetarian once a day; I remember those times I was forcing myself not to eat anything, else I'd start consuming tons of canned meat.  Or normally I would mostly gobble bread and butter the entire day.  Not healthy at all.

To be honest I am currently struggling with my weight.  I am not overweight at all, in fact I have come to terms with the fact that I am finally in my adult body.  This means I have more curves, and hell yeah, for some reason my chest has become more defined.  I hope it's not because I got fat but because I do have a chest, you know?

This "weight struggle" is due to the fact I used to be quite lean because for a few years, until about a couple of years ago, I used to go to the gym.  As I have stopped going, I have formed a bit of padding and to the eyes of my friends I have gotten fat.  But anyway, the fitness regimen I have been trying to design for myself is for the sake of --- yes --- fitness, and I have to admit I want to lose about five pounds or more.  I hope the Hip-Hop Abs-ing I have been doing in the past month is working!

But anyway, to kick off a nice habit, I have decided to try a meatless Monday approach.  Suddenly I have no idea what to eat... being a Filipino I am used to eating all sorts of meat most of the time.  Vegetables have been mostly a side dish or maybe a garnish, the supporting cast in most meals.  Okay, there are a few dishes that highlight those leafy greens, but really, can you imagine eating kare-kare without the tender, off-the bones beef and that oh-so yummy tripe?  Laing without the essence of meat, ie pork?  Kamown.  I love Corner Tree Cafe, but I can't eat there all the time, can I?  And where have all the Mother Siachi's gone to?

To kick off (again) this once-a-week "meatless" thing, I have decided to come up with a simple meal plan for the day that I can pull off based on my resources.

Breakfast:  Pancakes and coffee
Lunch:  Kangkong and tofu from Chowking
Dinner:  Grilled cheese sandwich and salad
Snacks: Bananas and yoghurt and a few Visayan sweets that are currently being distributed around the office today (yema, pastillas)

Aurgh, looking at today's potential meals is already making me hungrier.  I better go down and get those pancakes otherwise I'll start eating my head.

Good luck and have a happy Monday/August!

Wet and Wild in Manila

A lot of people probably imagine the Philippines bathed in constant sunlight, throbbing under clear blue skies.  Well, it's true.  But the wet season here can get too wet, and even though many people merely complain of the rains, this shift in the seasons can bring forth tremendous tragedies.

The wet season has set in the Philippines and since June the country has been experiencing torrential rains. I've talked with a few people that even though this is "normal", the past years have definitely reflected some drastic changes especially as there was a time when June and July still seemed like summer.  The Philippines fall under two main seasons, the wet and the dry; June marks the wet season and the best weather normally kicks in around October until early May.  Of course, in the past years rains have been pouring in November and even in January, with the worst typhoon in the past three years, Ondoy, taking place in November of 2009.  The rains in the past weeks probably signify that the climate has re-calibrated, but frankly, I can't help but be amazed that the rains have been too much.  It's like the Philippines has been bombarded with typhoons almost every week.

We have to admit that these downpours are incredible spoilers to a lot of people's plans.  And seriously, it's hard to make plans if it's hard to predict what's going to happen.  Everybody's looking forward to the long weekend by the end of August and I myself want to do something nice for four days.  I actually thought of taking the "new" PNR train that heads straight to Bicolandia, but should a typhoon come, Bicol is normally hit first.  Anyways, who wants to take a wet weekend holiday?

A screen shot of the MMDA traffic navigator

Seriously, we cannot argue with nature but with all the flooding that's been happening, I hope that the Philippines will be more proactive when it comes to responding.  I have to at least say kudos to PAGASA for doing the best they can in weather forecasts, and I am currently a fan of the MMDA's interactive traffic navigator.  It is also helpful to be aware of the flood prone areas in the city, and post-Ondoy, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau released a map of flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.

Surviving the rains in the Philippines require common sense, of course.  Here are some things to remember to survive the rains in the country, with more notes on getting about in Metro Manila.

1. Be informed.  In this day and age, you know where to get your news.  There's the internet and there's television.  The radio, especially the AM stations, are very much active in feeding everyone with the latest news.  Twitter has been helpful as well as Filipino netizens are constantly online.  It is also very helpful to tune in to those morning shows to keep updated.

Make a wet fashion statement!

2. Be in fashion: bring your raingear.  Sure, a lot of people do not like bringing umbrellas but it will suck more ending up and smelling like a wet sock.  There are portables to store in your bag so you better make room or get wet (and sick).  What I particularly love are these "disposable" raincoats you can buy in hardware stores (esp Ace Hardware).  It is made of thin plastic and when folded right you can squeeze it in a 3 in x 5 in purse.  Maximize this raincoat by using it a number of times --- just be disciplined enough to dry it after use.

Another important note is to bring spare rubber thongs or sandals.  But if you do not want to risk leptospirosis --- or you just do not want to get your feet wet --- fashionable rain boots are apparently the trend these days.

3. Be strategic.  Arm yourself with practical information such as being aware of the flood-prone areas.  This way you can always run to alternatives if you get stuck.  For instance, if you work in Makati, the Pasong Tamo-Buendia area is very flood prone, especially the Pasong Tamo extension in the south; with this information in hand, going west of the city gives you the EDSA option or other possible side streets in the southern Manila City area.  Should there are huge problems, it always helps to ask a friend if you can crash in their place.

Stocking up on water, food and batteries is also another good measure, but please, don't go panic buying!

4. Be smart.  If it rains too hard, postpone your plans.  Life goes on; there are other days to have fun!

And speaking of fun, let's think of fun things to do during the rainy season.

Block Rocking and Slide

Jam 88.3 has been my radio station of choice since 2002, 2003.  No offense to NU --- I don't know if it's age, but at that time I was not liking what I was hearing.  Too many Linkin Park- and The Creed- rip-offs, and I am not even a fan of those music.  Anyway, Jam was new around that time, and it was actually my sister who suggested I start listening to that radio station.  I guess I was pretty impressed that the station would be a great company, especially those nights when I would just want to take the car for a ride whilst Dashboard Confessional's cover of "Nightswimming" was playing in the background.

I was quite glad when Jam introduced its "Block Rocking Thursday" as part of their programming.  This means tons of music along the orbits of Korn, Chemical Brothers and Prodigy.  It's usually kick-ass music that makes you want to bang your head, and it is a truly great wake-upper as you deal with the building Thursday traffic that is portentous of the weekend jam ahead.

"Slide" is the "oldies" program every Friday and one can expect the great hits of the 90s and earlier.  From The Beatles to Nirvana, your ears will be treated to rock, alternative and grunge.

I kinda thought that Jam was looking for an excuse to play more 90s music.... which is a really, really good excuse!  Admit it, the 90s and earlier years have been the greatest --- so far --- music-wise.  I admit I am biased because these are my favorite genres.  The thing is, even though we have new bands to appreciate like Bloc Party, MGMT, the Shout Out Louds, and those amazing indie rock groups from Canada like Stars, Broken Social Scene and Metric, the 90s remain to be a definitive music era.  At the moment I am not even sure how to define music these days.  The "alternative" musicians do not have the same clout as their counterparts a decade ago.  Sure, they Grammys awarded Arcade Fire with one of the most coveted awards, but Arcade Fire does not have the same influence as, say, Alanis Morisette, if you know what I mean.  I have to say I was expecting Eminem would win and I would think that Eminem deserved that award as well.

In film, productions are defined as either "commercial/mainstream" or "indie" (though "indie" is also associated with "art house", but an indie can be mainstream as well, of course).  The difference is not really in the substance (as opposed to the spectacle, which can be a huge difference), but the main influencing factor, in my opinion, is economic-political.  It's creative control equals who provides the money.  The general understanding is that as an independent you can do whatever you want.  Is it the same in music?

The line among genres are getting blurred these days, and I think it's because artistic sensibilities are changing. It's all about reaching more audiences.  For instance, RX 93, which is more "pop" or "mainstream", has been apparently playing Death Cab for Cutie sometimes.  I guess this is because even though DCC is "indie" or even "emo", the music is accessible to the ears.  I have to say the same for some Stars music, but Broken Social Scene and Metric are still enveloped in this membrane that requires an acquired taste.

I sort of like the idea of being a "snob" when it comes to tastes, from movies to music.  But as sensibilities are changing, so does the art.  Or is this how art evolves?  You know how it is --- from the elitist "high art" perception which is very Victorian to the liberalization that is exemplified by Andy Warhol.  But even though Andy Warhol is "commercial", that doesn't make him a "lesser" artist, right?

So there was the 90s and here is today.  We look back to the glory days mainly because they are worth glorifying.  We just have to figure out what is about today that we will glorify in the future.

(Professional) Maturity

On the way to work today I noticed that the drizzle picked up and for a few minutes the rain poured.  However, as I carefully cruised on Buendia southbound, conscious of the slippery pavement and the occasional commuter on bicycle and motorcycles, the view ahead of me shifted to what seemed like a symbolic snapshot in most movies --- where the clouds part and the bright sun streams through.

Of course I am sounding chirpy today as I got to work quite early.

For the past, say, five months I have been clocking in and out.  I have a desk, made my accomplishment reports, and tried to look busy on not-so-busy days.  I did my own version of knowledge management --- I actually read on industry-related articles and write-ups when there is nothing to do.  I complemented these readings with other materials which I think is relevant to my industry, in general.  Yes, even though I have given up on my freelance lifestyle, for the first time in my life I feel that this is the discipline I am looking for: it's called a routine.

But of course whilst freelancing I had this same routine of being a couch potato if I am not working on something.  See, sometimes too much freedom is not exactly freeing, if you know what I mean.

Then again, work is not always rosy, which is what it is, really.

Previously I wrote about investing in experiences and this is making me think more of what I want to experience.  I am not going to jump into the major ones, but I want those little things I get to do, get to experience, which I can integrate with my routine.  Like volunteering.  Or maybe taking up a language course although I already did that with French.  Or take up a class.  Something.  Something.

To be perfectly honest, I want to teach scriptwriting.

Doing than Owning

This article from the online Time magazine caught my sensibilities today:

Want Happiness? Don't Buy More Stuff --- Go on Vacation

As an adult in my early 30s, I have always wondered what to do with what I "have".  I know of people my age who have started investing in many ways: real estate, stocks, blue chips, whatever.  I am currently renting and although I have an idea how stock works, I do not really care much for them.  Alright, I am not going to delve into the state of my personal finance, but the article got me thinking, "What is money for, really?"

I do think we define money based on our life choices.  When people learn of some of the things I do --- travel, dine out, do the occasional shopping and spa afternoons --- I tell them, well, I only have myself to take care of.  But then again, I don't "own" a lot of stuff.  During the time I was freelancing I traveled a lot. If people saved up for iPods, I saved up for the next great adventure.  These days my travels have been so far due to work.  My experiences have been tied up to my professional direction.

Frankly, I feel that I need to do more.  I can't believe that once the clock strikes six I just want to go home.  It's not because of the traffic really, but I guess I do not really want to spend my post working hours inside the shopping mall.  I think this is a huge challenge, living in Manila.  Recreation has been unfortunately tied to consumption, and if you want to go somewhere, the mall is the most convenient place to go to.  It does suck that one of the major activities one inescapably has to do in Manila is to shop... because the activity is dangling right before our eyes.

I think to be able to have more meaning in this existence is to redefine the experiences you want and not the the things.  So I throw this question to this small galaxy that is Manila... what else is there?