Hello All,

To the right and to the left are rows of junk food… Chocopies, Mexicorn Crunches, shrimp puff crackers, Pringles, Cup of Noodles, Cup O’ Noodles, Instant Noodle Cup, etc. The air is full of the noise of shopping carts, crunching wrappers and people speaking Tagalog. High up on the ceiling is a fluorescent light and a speaker. The singer’s voice says, “I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart. Feliz Navidad…Feliz Navidad…Feliz Navidad…”

It seems to me that four cultures comprise the Filipino heritage and they have suddenly decided to show themselves simultaneously in the Super Market. In the beginning it was thousands of islands with varied tribal cultures and languages living primitively, Tagalog has emerged the dominant language in recent history. Spain colonized the region and left their indelible mark. Later the country was occupied by America. Today, a culture of mass consumerism fueled by overseas workers rules the day. Continue reading Live from Manila

 In my hand is a news clipping from the Filipino Island of Mindoro.  It is hot and muggy and there is a view nearby of the colorful waters and a reef filled coastline but my mind keeps drifting off to a certain range of mountains on the mainland of Asia.  I do not read the horoscope columns of local newspapers, let alone their Asian counterparts with the title “You born today:”  But it is my birthday and a new acquaintance read it to me for laughs.
You born today: Oct. 11th You have a marvelous imagination.  Personally you’re charming and unusually tolerant of others.  You’re definitely easy going.  Because of these positive qualities, people like and respect you.  You often are involved in group activities, many of which might be humanitarian causes.  You like working with others.  A major choice will present itself to you in the year ahead.  Choose wisely.
     It seems that enough flattery can make anyone think that you are talking about them, hence the success of such columns.  But the last two lines haunt me.  Even if just by coincidence they lead my mind back towards my last few weeks in the Himalayas.  The last several months have been consumed with the question, ‘after Daragaon where next?’  Continue reading Choose Wisely