Staying IN...

Staying IN…


So I decided to stay in today and reflect on what’s been going on the past few days. A lot of things have changed in so many ways. So here is the recap.

PJ Mansion:

I moved into this place called PJ mansion and my first night was a disaster from the word go. The place was noisy all night long. Even though the place was huge with four closets I am glad I moved to another room. Smaller, especially the closets (damn I sound like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City. Damn if I just didn’t put an exclamation mark on my manhood.) but it’s quieter by like a factor of a million and I get better internet connection on the 6th floor.

But the week I moved out here the drama with the family began.

The Fam:

So for the past one and half months that I’ve been here, I was living with Royd’s house. All the while I thought he and I were good. But he was weaving this tale to his parents about how I treated him. Now I know I am not perfect, and especially since my way of thinking is different from his or anyone here in the Philippines for that matter. But I thought that as long as we communicate our differences then we should be able to work things out. But their lies the problem, they don’t communicate, Mannang Tess and Royd. I talked to them one on one, and in groups, as well as in front of Auntie Sol, and even she concurred that they should just talk to me about their feelings or misgivings about me. Yet they choose to not say anything directly to me and instead talk about me.

FMA:

So Joemar has been awesome, he’s been taking me to see different schools of FMA. Yesterday we went to this place called CAMP CRAME. It is the HQ for the Police, and hey had all these foreigners training different style of FMA. It was fun took a lot of pictures and met interesting people, and saw their styles. I also met some guys from Cacoy Doce Pares, which was cool, especially when they did some ESKRIDO techniques. That was awesome. Met this guy Albert and his instructor GM Bert or Mang Bert, he’s cool. Looking at him you would never guess he is an FMA Grand Master, but he does know what he’s talking about. Their style is more Largo based but he has great footwork. Most largo based system usually do.

Oh I met this one guy who teaches Modern Arnis, forgot his name. Well it was hot at the gym but they told me it was cool in the locker room. I went inside and this guy was there. The basic intrusive questions were asked, like how much I weigh, and how well do I get around. Then he said, “What about sex?” So not the locker room talk, especially with this old man. I didn’t know how to react, I answered honestly and when he asked what I was doing in the Philippines, I said I am here to become a minister. Then he goes, ALLELUIA!!! Didn’t see that one coming huh?

I also have a student as well. Her name is Jonna, she is the Manager of the building I am living in. She is taking 2 classes a week and she seems committed. And she picks up the stuff quickly. We first started with class once a week but she can handle more. I need to advertise myself more; I would get some curious inquiries but no bites yet. I know it will change soon but still. But I do have to find some place to work out. My room is just way too small especially if I get more students. I need to talk to someone at PCU or maybe the other schools around me. That’s it I have to make some new contacts in this building. I am sure they can help.

What’s next….

PJ Mansion

PJ Mansion
June 29, 2008

I know it has been a while since my last post but not much has changed. But that’s not actually true. Now that I reflect on my life, a lot has changed.

I made a new friend named Joemar Obejas. A fellow eskrimador who I met through a distant brother of Doce Pares from Norway, a nice enough fellow with an old soul feeling. Although my friendship with him did stir up some family drama, I let him sleep over without anyone’s permission. But my reasoning is it was late and it was raining hard. I couldn’t let the guy walk home that late in a middle of a storm. It was my call and I knew that it might ruffle some feathers but I still maintain I did the right thing. But I knew that he was a decent guy, I could just tell. But what’s cool he sold me iPod touch for only 7k. It don’t get cheaper than that. But he has also taken the time to orient me to my new surroundings. And train with me and show me some Rapido Realismo Kali. I am actually planning on going to CEBU with him this July.

Last weekend there was a typhoon and a ferry was overturned and over 800 people are reported dead and or missing. It brought havoc to the region, and not to sound petty, I couldn’t access my bank account. So for two days Royd and I were hungry and couldn’t get any money. I had to save the money I have for my new place.

Speaking of a new place, I now moved into my new “temporary” digs. The place is perfect except that I can’t keep it. This is the ladies floor, and this is only a temp place until I move to my permanent room. I started growing into the place, as well as I love the closet. The room was set up for four occupants, thus four closets. Oh well, but the noise, oh my. The place is on TAFT avenue and even as I write this at 11:47 PM it is still noisy and traffic. I was hoping as the night goes on it would calm down a bit, but not. Still loud as ever, I kind of feel like I moved into a cheap ass apartment in New York, wait, I sort of did. I mean there literally is a train next to us on what might be the busiest road in all of manila and also one of the smallest. Thus it pleases me to know that I am moving somewhere on the 6th floor instead of living here on the 3rd. Marlisa the girl that works here was so worried since things kinda got screwed up. But alas all is well. I even found a lady to do my laundry for 300 a month. Not bad.

So as I go to school tomorrow as I cross the street, my new life begins. Till next time, what’s next?

My new Digs

Another chapter in my life has started. I knew that this day was coming and I'm just glad that it's here now.

I now live on my own here in the home country as a stranger. I am new here, don't know where to go nor do I know that many people. But I'm here, no more relatives talking ish about me, no more people having to take care of. Don't get me wrong, Royd was awesome but I am ready to start living my life.

Here are some pictures...

Keeper of Eve

Keeper of Eve
by: Francis Thomas B. Serrano

eyes so piercing
floods my soul

lips so plump
drunkens my heart

heart so pure
dared not break
the chandelier

love so pure
undeserved by me
worthy for none

so my worth
is protector
archangel of
beuty, love, temptation,
sworn knight of virtue, honor and strenght

keeper of eve

Master Joe Napial aka CHIEF

The Chief that I knew....

I still remember the first time I met Chief Joe Napial it was some Kenpo Hawaiin invitational that featured Filipino Martial Arts. He took me automatically as his student. Calling him Chief was an honor that at the time I didn't realize. After training with him you knew right away that this guys is for real. His extensive knowledge in Bandalan Doce Pares eminated from him. The only other thing that he was better at was his kind heart. Always ready to help, always there with an ear to hear and a hand to help you up. But he also taught you to stand up for yourself and let no one take advantage of you. My most treasured memory was when I was accused of abuse. What I thought was my closest friends turned on me and threw our friendship away with one false accusations. With an investigation on my behaviour looming, I knew that it would only be a matter of time that someone will ask Chief. So I decided to tell him first before the social work could. Then he asked me what I thought was a weird question. He wanted to know if I killed or beaten the person I supposedly hit to a pulp? I said no, and he said, "Then I know you didn't do it, cause I taught you how to hit and if that person isn't in a hospital bed or dead then you didn't do it." I could help but bring a tear to my eye every time I think of that. He threw is unconditional support of me, and I was just a student. But at that point he was more than a teacher and to him I was more than a student... We definately were family and I will always miss him. ALOHA CHIEF JOE thanks for the OHANA..

And here is a poem I wrote for his funeral. Which I shared...


Through the Eyes of One Student

Through the eyes of one student,
I saw determination
Through the eyes of one student,
I felt strenght
Through the eyes of one student,
I experienced compassion
Through the eyes of one student,
I witnessed humility
Through the eyes of one student,
I long for hope
Through the eyes of one student,
I counted inteligence
Through the eyes of one student,
I understood faith
Through the eyes of one student,
I long to see in myself and long to see again.

Papa... Today & Forever

Papa...Today & Everyday
By: Francis Thomas B. Serrano

The memory of your face
will never fade
The sound of your laughter
will always be familiar
The smell of your cologne
will always be comforting.

As the days turn into months,
and the months turn into years.
I still weep as if were
Today and Everyday.

poverty

So Mom wanted me to get more than just conventional education here in the Philippines. But actually learn the struggles of my fellow Filipinos.

As I get to live here and observe the things around me. I noticed that a lot of Filipinos are so proud of the place called Mall of Asia. Which I was told the 3rd Largest Mall in the world the the Largest in all of Asia. As you can see the picture above that it's a huge mall. But what surprises me isn't at the mall it's what's across the highway.

People living in shacks, kids begging for money just to give to there so called parents. It's nuts, such an impoverished nation with it's huge bulk of it's population poverty stricken could house a huge mall like that. I don't want to judge but I know there are benefits to having a mall that huge. It creates jobs for more people and these malls are packed w/people. But how much could this be a of a positive impact on the economy. I think there should be more efforts in educating the masses and maybe we can pull ourselves out of poverty and be able to afford the things across the highway.