A Dream of Green

It rained today, and I was glad. The city is clouded by a fine smog we're so used to that we scarcely remember it's there, and only remember when we see what we've cleaned out of our noses. The pavements and the glass windows of all the buildings bounce summer's UV rays all over, and that is why, my friends, I insist on arming myself with sunblock even when the clouds are out. We chill out in the malls, and hide behind the tinted glass in airconditioned comfort, not venturing out unless it's absolutely necessary.

Now I know why Greenbelt is named that way. Development and urbanization are everywhere, and we need green areas for balance. Thank goodness Ayala Land has kept this little oasis in Makati well-cared for. I was there, recently, to watch The Reader at Greenbelt 3, on a Sunday afternoon. After the movie Joy, Tristan and I parted ways temporarily to windowshop. On my way to National Bookstore I took my sweet time strolling. The landscaping is wonderful. Variegated bushes, tree ferns, palms, acacias, and best of all - layered groupings of beautiful, breathtaking bamboos. (I love bamboos. The bamboos in Ayala Center are uber special.) And small clean waterways, fountained reflecting pools and goldfish ponds (I wouldn't say koi, the fish are tiny and the ponds are too shallow).

The greenness took my mind off my worries, off the heat, made me forget the time. Joy and Tristan were peeved at me, but cooled their tempers near the Ayala Museum fountains. A little boy was crouching over the lip of a nearby pond, mesmerized, paying no heed to his mother, who was cautioning him not to fall in. He probably understands how I felt that day.

Two Decembers ago TDM and I went for a walk after a romantic dinner in Greenbelt 2, and he was startled to find that the ducks posing on the banks of the stream were real. He thought (he wasn't wearing glasses) they were something like Miami flamingo garden ornaments, until they moved. He then asked me, "Isn't this where the Aviary used to be?" I do think so, I remember having visited there a few times in high school. I wonder what happened to all the wildlife there. At any rate, I am happy that they kept the greenery. Last Christmas I took some balikbayan friends to Greenbelt 3 for coffee. They were astounded that there was a hidden micro-forest inside Makati, just two blocks away from their hotel! "But we couldn't even see the trees from the hotel... if you didn't bring us here we'd have no idea!" Despite the fact that the outdoor tables meant possibly breathing other people's secondhand smoke, we camped under a big acacia decked with fairy lights. They were ecstatic.

It seems too much of a pipe dream to expect Ortigas & Co. to create for the business district a safe and beautiful park. Ayala had a head start in Makati some 50 or so years ago. I might not live long enough to see such a park here, but who knows? One day, perhaps.

Here where I live, at least there are trees and a pool and and the noises of children playing. There are fallen leaves on the sidewalks. Of course it doesn't really compare to growing up in UP, amid the fruit trees, the acacias, and the wildflowers. At least, here, when it rains, I still get to smell that wet earth and bruised grass smell, which I love.

During the Digital Blackout

There are times when I need to stay away from the pc. These are the times when I crave sunlight, and action, and the company of flesh and blood friends, which is basically on weekends.

You know the feeling when someone says calls a certain social networking site "Crackbook". You know that you are tweeting brain farts but can't help yourself, because it's just there. You get to a point when you feel you are just lurking among friends' plurks, and wonder... what are fans for, tools to get karma points? Do I even need fans? A good friend of mine has indicated that his Lenten sacrifice would be to give up social network sites while he meditates on what is really important.

So I tried to give up Plurk one weekend. (Now I like Plurk better than Twitter for functionality and settings options, but that's just my geekiness.) One weekend turned into something like ten days. When I returned and my karma points plummeted, I didn't feel a thing. Ok, maybe mild amusement. Of course my REAL friends missed me, we don't see each other that often, but the feeling that one MUST gain karma points disappeared.

If there's one thing online hard to give up, that would be email. I could stay away from the pc, but not the phone. Email still tells you what happens on Facebook, but you still have to log in to check the details of it. I have had to ignore friend requests many times because I am not really motivated to join Mob Wars or Elven or Vampire whatsits. Ok, once in a while I'll send Ice Cream or Fountain Pen gifts, and Pieces of Flair. But I think it's hard to stay away from the friends you found again, or the family members on the other side of the world. Those are the meaningful connections. "Meaningful" is the operative word.

If one day the unthinkable happened and the world was bereft of real-time digital connections, how would we fare? I have returned to writing real letters to people who appreciate them. It's something that you can open again and again, and enjoy.

Time away from the pc has also allowed me time to read new books. One is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, about a young boy and a mysterious book, in post-Civil War Barcelona. The other is The Rescue Artist, Edward Dolnick's nonfiction account of how an intrepid Scotland Yard art detective recovers Edvard Munch's famous painting The Scream, stolen on the eve of the Lillehammer Winter Olympics.

10 Questions

1) How's the health situation?

Entering second month of daily thyroid medicine. Will have size of cyst checked soon.

2) What's on the needles?

I finished a prototype penholder with flap meant for a single fountain pen. It's in olive green worsted acrylic. Still haven't started the 2-pen holder. Still haven't planned a multi-pen wrap based on a pattern originally meant to hold a set of crochet hooks.

3) Last restaurant you dined at, not in your neighborhood?

Ying Ying tea house on the corner of Yuchengco and Dasmarinas Sts., in Binondo. Recommended: Oyster pancake Hong Kong-style. Flatter and crunchy on the sides. Good for 4, family-style sharing.

4) Last restaurant you dined at, in your neighborhood?

Pancake House Metrowalk, where I had a lovely breakfast date with TDM. Instead of Bacon Waffles I had the Cheese this time. Yummy, but Bacon is still my favorite.

5) Most recent writing activity?

Not counting work and emails, today I wrote 3 snail letters in various fountain pen ink colors, to Cathy, Richard and Lucia. I just realized orange ink is a yummy color, in a broad nib.

6) What are you currently watching?

I downloaded the BBC's gothic and more stylish version of Buffy, Hex, seasons 1 and 2 (2004). I watched it on AXN last year and find it's still enjoyable watching it over again. Alas, the series was not renewed. However it's made me a fan of young British actress Jemima Rooper, who plays the lesbian ghost roommate character who makes off-the-wall fly-on-the-wall comments for the benefit of us viewers. That's where I first saw Michael Fassbender, who plays Nephilim leader Azazeal (isn't it supposed to be spelled Azazael?) who is hell-bent on fathering a hybrid child on his generations of witch lovers, in order to let loose the 200 Nephilim upon the unsuspecting 21st century world. Fassbender was next seen in 300 as Stelios, the Spartan who takes a running leap at Xerxes with his spear. He is The Hotness.

Just before Hex I really enjoyed watching Anna Paquin as vampire lover Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood. In my opinion the show is BETTER than Twilight. Am looking for the Sookie Stackhouse books on which it is based. Too bad the series' second season will not air in the US until June. I rather liked the rednekkidness of the show. Yes, by that I mean lots of rednecks and lots of nekkidness. It gives you an insight into why you can't take Louisiana out of Britney Spears.

7) Where do I want to return?

Binondo, for a longer walking tour that lets me pass by Eng Bee Tin for hopia and machang and have my picture beside the church and the famous ube-colored firetruck.

Bataan, for quality time with TDM.

Bacolod, so I can spend more time with my cousins.

Boracay, to get a bit of happy sun, sand and surf.

Baguio, for nice leather bags from the UK (that's ukay-ukay to you).

Hmmm, those are all B's. Next I should go to Batangas and Bohol...

8) What are you excited about?

I will be attending a bookbinding workshop given by paper artist Loreto Apilado in May. Even though I don't know how much it is yet. That's three Saturdays.

9) What do you think about Octuplet Mom Nadya Suleman?

She is a menace to society, a burden to US taxpayers, and needs psychiatric treatment for being so selfish about wanting to bring children into the world to feed her own ego.

10) What is your advice to Rihanna?

It's a vicious cycle, sister. You think you don't want to throw away the time you invested on an immature insincere no-good bull-headed power-tripping [expletive] [derogatory noun]? You're only 21! You have nothing but time. There is absolutely no reason in the world why you should allow yourself to be treated like crap. Chris Brown does NOT deserve you. Chris Brown deserves to be IN JAIL.

When you work in the entertainment industry don't give me bull about how it's none of my business. If I see you on tv or listen to you or read about you and it's because you are a public figure, so it IS my business. Listen to Oprah.

Listen to Oprah. She's the best umbrella you could have in the business.