Blogs from Jupiter

I still have this hangover from my US trip a month ago. I am so looking forward to going back there, hopefully, before the year ends or sometime January or February next year where its not airline peak season so I get to buy cheap tickets. I am saving enough money, and this time, I plan to spend more time with my half sister’s family in California. Only a few people know about my Ate Grace. Not that we are hiding her but it’s primarily because she is in the US since her early teens. This is no family secret.

Ate Grace was my Dad’s love child. According to stories, my lawyer Dad had a mainland Chinese girlfriend, a client I think for Filipino citizenship. The relationship did not work, the girl’s application for Filipino citizenship went kaput, the girl got pregnant and bore my Ate Grace, and she went back to China because she was an illegal immigrant leaving my Ate Grace to my Dad. My Aunt Pat, Dad’s sister, adopted my Ate Grace from my Dad. If I’m not mistaken, Ate Grace is now in her late 30s, married to a Japanese-American, Kuya Wayne, and with two lovely toddler daughters, Kellie and Kaitlyn. 

My Aunt Pat migrated to the US in the late 1970s, and sometime the mid 1980s, Ate Grace followed her. She lived with us in our house in Quezon City for a couple of years before she flew to the US. Since my Dad was starting a family with my Mom, Papa and his siblings decided to have Ate Grace stay in my Uncle July’s place in Novaliches, while she was waiting for her petition. Ate Grace grew up not knowing her real mom but knowing too many parents: her biological late Dad, which was also my Dad; her adoptive parents my Aunt Pat and her late hubby Uncle Mike, and Uncle Art, her second late hubby (passed away just a few weeks ago); my biological Mom, which is somewhat her surrogate mom as well; and my Uncle July and Aunt Cherry, who were her guardians since she was a kid. She had a very complicated childhood and growing up not knowing who you really are, and being passed on from one relative to another, was not okay. Mom would love to have her stay with us and treat her like a real daughter but Mom is the type who doesn’t meddle with Dad’s family affairs. Because of her complicated childhood she developed nervous attacks.

Ate Grace would often visit us here in Manila, at least once every two years. She was also able to bring my late Papa to the US several times. She’s quite established in terms of work, with her family, and financially. She never fails to send us those stateside goodies at least twice a year; our cupboards and kitchen cabinets would be filled year round with corned beef, spam, ham, meatloaf, etc.; most of our toiletries and bath stuff would come from her too. She hasn’t brought Kuya Wayne and her two daughters here in the Philippines because Kellie and Kaitlyn are still small kids. We only get to see them in pictures.

Finally, I was able to see and spend time with Ate Grace’s family especially my lovely nieces when I visited them in Torrance last month. It was just a short visit, a side trip from my US training in Florida. Ate Grace was the happiest seeing me in the US for the first time. I just couldn’t explain her reaction. For the first time, a brother from the Philippines visited her. It’s usually her visiting us here in Manila.

I never got to go around LA County as my trip was really brief. As both Ate Grace and Kuya Wayne were busy with work, it was my Aunt Pat who gave me a running tour of LA, Torrance, Carson City and Long Beach. Just saw the sights and more on bonding with Aunt Pat who is also undergoing treatment for her leukemia. Never had the chance to meet Dad’s other siblings. Met two of my cousins, another niece and a nephew but that was it. Nevertheless, I am overjoyed by the fact that I finally met my nieces.

I am really looking forward to going back to California soon.

A lot were surprised when I posted my high school graduation picture as default photo in my Friendster profile. Also, I changed again my account name from my Christian name to my Chinese name “Xu Chang Mao”. The change generated a lot of profile views, and elicited funny messages, and of course, violent reactions. Who wouldn’t especially if you have a foreign name and a black and white picture of a juvenile delinquent in a bowtie in your friends list? Your natural reaction would be: “I don’t recall approving any friend from China?!”. And then there’s this spooky shoutout: "Youth is a disease from which we all recover.–Dorothy Fuldheim".

Well, it pays to get some attention sometimes. And it’s also nice to shock people sometimes =)

I had my pre-school in a Chinese school. That is why I know my Chinese name. When I was in Shanghai, China some years ago, I told my Chinese acquaintances in a pub that I have a Chinese name; it sounded like “Koh Tiong Bio”. They did not understand what I was saying so I wrote it. They understood my poor Chinese calligraphy and they told me that I was writing the old fashioned way. The bartender, who was an expert in Chinese calligraphy, re-wrote my Chinese name and taught me to pronounce my name the modern mainland China way: “Xu Chang Mao”. I also learned that my name’s literal interpretation has something to do with magnanimity and greatness… Xu Chang Mao.

I was looking at my high school photo. I remembered, of course, my days at UST High School. It wasn’t smooth sailing; it wasn’t really easy growing up in the first place. I don’t consider myself a loner, nor was I the type who would go around getting people’s attention, trying to be popular. I would literally go around because I just enjoy walking. Probably, I was a semi-geek. Thinking about it, I would say that I was the plain normal typical boring high school student.

I don’t really study that much because I love to read what I love to read. Dad has a lot of good reads at home like his books on New Age stuff like astrology, metaphysics, parapsychology, that Greek stuff. We also have a collection of religious and spiritual classics; and those children classics and juvenile coming of age books. Yeah, I was one voracious reader then. Dad taught me the value of reading.

I live in a different world then. I guess I was trying to protect myself from the harshness of the world outside my books. If I was not reading, I would just play ball inside my room, throwing the ball from the other wall to the other wall, imagining stuff and making my mind work. At a young age, I started to tinker with the typewriter and attempted to write my first novel. I had Dad see the first few pages. He just laughed at me and discouraged me to continue. He said I should consider writing “serious” stuff.

I was growing up. I later realized that I was to become a man.

I remember submitting this poem I wrote during Mr. Carpio’s English class when I was in second year:

I do not know what to say for innocence was asked
By the old bearded man
Patting my head
Huffing his pipe
While he whistles on his way.

Eager of my life
My mind astray
I pondered.

I was then a child.

Dear Jesus, Our Lord and Savior,

A lot of things have been happening lately. And, admittedly, I am overwhelmed by the problems left and right. But I thank you Dear Lord for You have given me strength and the heart to deal with these problems. Jesus, I know that God challenges us to become better persons, to become His good children. But we are but human. Dad used to say that such paradigm is what pulls us, the human race, down. We shouldn’t be thinking of ourselves as mere humans but You’re CHILDREN, God’s children of a Godly race.

Teach us Dear Lord to think and feel beyond human. Because it is true that all that we think that exist is not true. The flesh is not true. What we hear, see, taste, smell, touch, think and feel are not true. Because there is only one TRUTH, the truth that is GOD. I cannot fathom You God the Father. The human mind cannot comprehend and measure the vastness that is God. But I know You exist because Your Presence is in the air I breathe, in the stillness of the night, and even in between the space of my fingers, and in the  silence of the dead. I exist because You exist.

Teach us Dear Lord to be still. For You alone knows the beauty and grace of just listening in silence; listening to no words but just the presence of the what is good, and what is God. You, Dear Lord, know what is good for us; command us "be still!"

I apologize Dear Lord as I am but human, sinful; a flesh so weak. I pray for my brothers and sisters, my parents and elders especially those who already left this earthly life, my loved ones, and to everyone I care for that they may free themselves from the bondage of sin, disease and death.

You are the Truth, Dear Father, Dear Lord, as the Son and the Father are One. The Truth that You are, as You promised in the scriptures, shall set us free.

Amen.

Your prodigal son,

Jupiter

I’ll be going home late tonight. I’m still in the office; stranded… more of stuck, actually, because of the heavy rains outside. We just finished our hip hop aerobics class in our office gym. I so enjoyed the class but I feel so so tired because we have a new and a more cardio routine. I was having a hard time following our instructor’s new steps.

I am sure that the streets where my brother and I will pass will be flooded again. In any which route I choose, the long way, short cut, etc., I am so sure that we will be singing Pocahontas’ “Just around the river bend”; with some songs from High School Musical, of course!

Gosh! I feel so sleepy now; so dang tired. I am not sure if I could drive with this drowsy feeling, more so, dive in floodwaters! Instead of keeping me awake, I know my brother will just snooze throughout our trip home. Listening to the radio has no waking effect on us. I might as well take a nap while waiting for the rain to go slow. But I might not wake up.

You see, I still have to fetch my brother who is staying in a friend’s office. He stays there after school, doing his assignments and studying, while waiting for me to knock off from work at around eight in the evening.

This has been our routine for almost a year already: we wake up early to fix ourselves, and then drive my brother to school before seven in the morning. Then I’ll be arriving in the office at around seven, close my room and sleep for an hour and a half, wake up and fix myself again, and open my room before nine to signal the start of work.

My brother’s classes usually end at around three in the afternoon. He tarries for awhile in school, play with his friends, stay in the library or play online games at a nearby internet café. Then if its time to study or do an assignment, he’ll proceed to the office.

We usually don’t go home immediately to avoid the rush hour. And most of the time, especially in my case, bulk of my workload is usually towards the end of the day.

It appears like the rain stopped already. Okay… got to go! 

In September of last year, my Ate Lora, a first degree cousin from my mother side, invited me to accompany her to the United States. She was about to marry her boyfriend of three years, Wilfred a.k.a. Billy. But I wasn’t able to join her because my work schedule won’t allow me to go on leave for a long period, and, of course, because of Papa’s failing health.

My Ate Lora, still single then, is in her 40s, while Billy, in his 60s. Billy is a Vietnam War veteran, and divorced with a daughter who is in her 30s with two kids. My Ate Lora, I think, was already okay with her celibate but fulfilling life until she met Billy. Billy, though looking good and healthy, has multiple sclerosis, which he developed after retiring from the service.

From Florida, I flew to Portland, Maine via La Guardia, New York to stay for four nights at my cousin’s place in Sanford, Maine. Not only was I excited to see both Lora and Billy but for the first time, I had a vacation. Vacation and relaxation are luxuries, non-existent concepts, for us stressed and toxic urbanites. I love the laid back atmosphere and cool dry weather of Maine!

The New England states of Maine and New Hampshire took my breath away. As we drove through the wide tree clad roads, I saw those big wooden houses, the pre-fabricated ones you see in old American movies. They have preserved their old structures, and when they make new ones, they use the same architecture and style.
One nice house I visited was the one of Jewel’s, Billy’s sister. It’s a big salmon-colored log house with a big big lawn. It has a Jacuzzi type swimming pool at the back of the house. It’s the durable type, I think, coz I was wondering how they go about the pool when its winter time.

I also attended the wedding of Jewel’s daughter in New Hampshire. I noticed that Americans like doing their wedding ceremonies outdoors. I was looking for a nearby shed or tree where I could hide myself from the scorching sun; problem was the ceremony was about to start.

Billy and Ate Lora took me to nice places in Maine, of course, in Lora’s Pontiac Solstice! I was so proud of Ate Lora to be first in the clan to own a sports car. It was a beauty! It was Billy’s birthday gift to Lora (how so so sweet!).

Billy and Lora’s relationship started online. Not sure if they met through a Christian singles site but both are pretty much established financially: Billy through his pension and income from their family’s farm lands in Maine; while Lora is a businesswoman, and like Billy, has a steady income from farm lands as well. Our clan is landed in Mindanao; but we all know how hard life is when you just toil the soil.

Lora finally tied the knot with Billy last year. Only a few members of her family attended the wedding, mostly from her mother side. I was supposed to attend, representing her father side, but I backed out. It was only last year that Lora personally and physically met Billy for the first time. It was a long distance relationship but thanks to computer and online technology, distance was no hindrance in keeping the love alive for two far away lovers.

Billy loves the beach. Their late afternoons are mostly spent at Wells Beach, a few miles away from Sanford. Cousin Lora is a popular figure at Wells not only because she drives a sports car but for the past three years, before they got married, Billy shared with regular beachcombers stories on his online relationship with Lora. A lot of them were intrigued because there was no Lora to look at, touch and talk with. Some were even thinking that my cousin was just Billy’s imagination.

When Ate Lora was still here in the Philippines, she would share with me tidbits of her online relationship with Billy. I am not surprised that online relationships do exist. Anything is possible in this day and age of technology. Their relationship is a living testimony that love knows no boundaries.

I understood why Billy spends time at the beach. There is something magical in Wells Beach that I could not explain. I was a bit teary eyed reading the love quotes and names of people in the benches of the beach. And I am looking forward for Lora and Billy’s names and pledge of love immortalized in one of the benches. And same here with me, would love to have my name and that special someone’s name in a bench at Wells Beach =)

It was also the first time I saw a seagull. I saw Jonathan Livingston Seagull in person! That seagull created by Richard Bach. It’s a book about a seagull learning how to fly, learning to live life to the fullest, and living a life of self-perfection and self-sacrifice; a beautiful, feel-good book to read.

I only have kind words for my new “Manong”, Manong Billy. Not only was he a great host for this vacationeer, but he loves my Ate Lora more than himself. I witnessed how he cares for my cousin, and how his life revolved around Ate Lora. But don’t get me wrong, Billy is one good soldier of Christ.

For her part, Lora is not asking for love in return because for her, what matters is she loves Billy. She would gladly, recklessly and with no condition at all, return the same love to Billy.

My thousand thank yous to Manong Billy for loving my dear Ate Lora. And to my Ate Lora, we all know that God is good. He knows all of our hearts’ desires. I know you’ve been a good daughter of the Father that is why He gave you not only a husband, but a soldier to protect you.

I have personally moved on, months after Papa passed away. Life without a father is really different. But that’s how life is. Memories of my Dad flashbacked right after reading my sister’s first blog (http://gobai.blogs.friendster.com/my_blog/2006/11/first_tym.html), which she posted last year. It was just now that I was able to read it after browsing her Friendster account. I was surprised because my sister never writes but nevertheless proud that she was able to write about Dad’s passing.

I would still cry every time I remember Papa. But who wouldn’t?

Papa’s funeral service, according to friends, was one the best services, if not the best service they attended. Three masses were held: two Aglipayan, and one Catholic. But the best service was the one held by Dad’s brothers in his Masonic Fraternity. I wasn’t able to attend because I was in Australia at that time. My siblings forgot to take video but its okay; I’m contented with the accounts of those who attended Dad’s services.

A friend of Dad, a brother Mason, showed to us pictures during the Masonic service. The pictures showed moving lights of yellow, white, violet and some with bluish hues. It may appear like reflections of the fluorescent bulbs in the chapel or bouncing lights off the camera. But all pictures appear blurry, like in a haze. Perhaps there was a problem with the camera itself. I was amazed with what I saw.

“Your Dad is not of this world. He is a highly evolved person. He is a great loss to the Fraternity,” my Dad’s brother Mason said.

One time, I was looking at a picture of Papa in his coffin. I took the photograph using my camera phone. There was nothing extraordinary with the picture until I zoomed in on Papa’s face: there I saw strips of two white lights coming out of his forehead. And you know what my immediate insight was? The biblical Moses coming down of Mount Sinai, bringing with him the tablets of the commandments, and streams of two lights coming out of his head.

I am not saying that Dad is Moses. But all this lights appearing in his photographs is something I really cannot fathom. It might just be my imagination, a camera trick or perhaps a hallucination or probably a psychological something brought about by loss or grief. I was thinking of posting the pictures, but no, I will not out of respect to my Dad. But more than that, posting pictures of a funeral for public consumption (or anything that pertains to death) is bad taste.

I remember having a vision of Dad in broad daylight. Instead of getting scared, I was happy that I saw him. I was cleaning the table in front of our altar where his urn was placed. I picked up the urn but hugged it first before placing it in the sofa. I said “I love and miss you, Papa”, while hugging the urn. I went to the kitchen to get a rag to clean the table. When I went out of the kitchen, I saw Dad standing in the stairs!

Papa was young, in his thirties, good looking, healthy and a bit plump. He was wearing his favorite coat, tie and trousers, the gold colored set. It was perhaps the time when he was at the peak of his law career. Gawd! I almost jumped with joy!

The vision disappeared immediately right after I winked my eye, just for a split second.

I am happy because Papa reassured me that he is all okay.

I enjoyed every minute of my two week stay in the US. I am so thankful to my Company, especially my boss Nana, for allowing me to undergo training in Cape Canaveral, Florida; and to have an extended vacation to visit relatives in the US.

Yeah… Cape Canaveral, popularly known as the “Space Coast” and home to the Kennedy Space Center; I told a friend that I’ll be in Cape Canaveral, and he figured out that I’ll go there for space camp. Yippeee!!! How I wish I’d space camp but I went there to hone my public relations skills (don’t you find that more exciting? He he he). It is a one-of-a-kind training, a seminar-workshop for public relations practitioners working for the ports industry. It make sense right? I, Jupiter Kalambakal, Assistant Public Relations Manager of International Container Terminal Services, Inc., undergo training on public relations for port communicators in Florida, U-S of A! And why not in the US? The office of our regional representative in the Americas is in Florida (Miami), though I wasn’t able to visit as Miami is one long drive from Cocoa Beach (where I stayed, just a few miles away from Canaveral).

The training was organized by the American Association of Port Authorities; and this was the first time that we came across a training program on public relations specifically for the ports industry. I learned lots of new stuff: new and emerging technologies in online marketing and communications; things Greek in global maritime trade like the Suez Canal and Panama Canal are actually competing with each other, and emerging mega economies like the China and India cluster or “Chindia” and its impact to the future of the global economy; and how my PR colleagues strut their stuff in that part of the world (not much of a difference on how we practice public relations here).

As usual, the training had the usual presentations, discussions, workshops, role playing, and meet the press stuff. It was nice to benchmark our PR programs with programs of other organizations, especially in this case as I was comparing our programs and methods with that of the Canaveral Port Authority, Panama Canal Authority, Disney Cruise Lines, and Port of Los Angeles/ Long Beach. Their case studies gave me new insights on how to go about new PR programs I intend to propose in my next planning sessions with my boss.

I wasn’t able to side trip to Orlando to visit the world’s biggest Disneyland. But I still get to experience Disney magic as part of the training was a tour of “Disney Magic”, a cruise ship docked at Port Canaveral. Mickey’s pet Pluto was hovering around the ship’s restaurant while we were having lunch, and yes, I did introduce myself to the wacky canine. I called his attention: “Hey Pluto! We belong to the same galaxy (pointing to my name tag). I’m Jupiter!” A co-participant also shouted: “Pluto! We’re not sure if you’re still a planet!” And all were laughing.   

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Resort at Cocoa Beach. I was supposed to stay at the Radisson’s in Canaveral, the venue of the training, but by the time I got my US visa, the Radisson’s was fully booked. Its tourist peak season in Florida (start of summer), and all the nearby hotels at the Radisson’s were also fully booked. Holiday Inn was an okay hotel, so-so; but the good part was that the hotel was smacked right into the beachfront, though, our beautiful beaches here are incomparable.

Florida introduced me to a lot of firsts: my first American diner experience at Denny’s; my first American sports/ hooter’s bar at Time Out (we were watching the NBA finals); and of course that Disney magic experience at Port Canaveral. I was expecting a scheduled space shuttle launch. The launch area can be seen from the beachfront where I stayed, but it was a dud. Also, there was this cable channel taking live video of the activities of astronauts of a certain space ship or satellite in space.

I exchanged cards with my American colleagues, forged new friendships, and expanded my media network.

This was also the first time I experienced the sun setting late; at around eight to nine in the evening.

Dear Father God,

I pray for the speedy recovery of a good friend and officemate, Rico Cruz, who just underwent an open heart surgery. You know Dear Lord how this son of yours served you, and you know Dear Lord how sorry he was for his sins. Father God, look now with Your merciful eyes at your son Rico. Allow him to continue his work here on earth, to continue to inspire us to do well with our family, work, community, personal and spiritual lives. He has contributed greatly to our Company but more importantly, how he touched our lives. We don’t want to lose him Dear Lord as Rico still has a lot to share to all of us. Continue to use him as your instrument of Your love.

AMEN.

My last overseas business trip was so far the worst in terms of work but it had its saving graces.

A few months ago, our media relations officer and I were sent to Durban, South Africa for an international exhibition-conference. We were particularly in charge of setting up our company’s exhibition and in manning the booth, coverage of the event for our publications, and in assisting our big bosses who were delegates to the event. The head of our Madagascar operations was a speaker in the conference.

A week before the actual event, we sent through courier information materials, which we would distribute during the exhibition. These materials were sent in advance because of the bulk. To cut the long story short, our shipment was put on hold by customs in the capital Johannesburg, which is quite far away from the place we were in. We were expecting the shipment to be in our hotel before our arrival.

We were harassing people of the courier company in Manila, and their offices in Durban and Johannesburg. And we were harassed ourselves as we were panicking— an exhibition would not be complete without brochures and other information materials and most importantly, the giveaways. Our media relations officer, who arranged for the shipment, was so worried for his job. We thought of plans a, b and c just in case customs had no plans of releasing our shipment. We pressured the courier to move heaven and earth just to release our cargo.

Of course, I also asked my angels (Archangel Gabriel in particular) to take charge of the situation While we were going around and about Durban (trying to figure out how to go about the situation), we stumbled upon Durban’s central park (I think), and there she was, Angel Peace, a monument erected in her honor. I asked Peace to give me peace by peacefully turning over to us our shipment the following morning, the opening of the conference. I could feel her grinning as if she was giggling on our panicked stricken selves. We were really down and ugly since the day we arrived in South Africa.

We received good news that very night, while we were working on plan a and b. We would receive our shipment first thing in the morning, a few minutes before the actual opening starts. We were able to arrange the stuffs in our booth, though everyone saw us working double and triple time in packing the brochures, CDs and newsletters in the carton envelopes. The exhibition went well, and our booth was one of the most visited exhibits in the conference.

Like any port city in the world, Durban has its dark alley side. New York has the Bronx and Queens and here in Manila, we have Tondo. In Durban, they have patches of gangster areas. We experienced it first hand when we bought groceries in a 24-hour convenience store at Victoria Embankment around midnight.

We had our cab wait for us outside the store. When we went back, a group of youngsters were outside waiting for us. They requested if they could hitch a ride with us. Fearing impending danger, we told them to just take the cab. I told the cab driver to return to the store as soon as he’s done bringing them to their destination (which was actually just a few blocks away). We went back inside the convenience store where it was safe. I was calling our hotel’s concierge for hotel transport. But there was something wrong with the one who answered:

“Good morning, this is the !@#$%^&*( Hotel and this is @#$% speaking. How may I help you?”

“My name is Jupiter Kalambakal and I am your guest at Room 208. I am here at $%^&*#$@ Store at Victoria Embankment. Can I request for hotel transport to fetch me here?”

“Oh yes Mr. Kalambakal. Your flight to Johannesburg is at 1:30 in the afternoon tomorrow. Airport transport will fetch you at around lunch time.”

“(Huh?!) Yes I know that. But I am at Victoria Embankment and I need hotel transport to fetch me now.”

“Yes Mr. Kalambakal, transport service will be here at 12 o’clock. We will call your room as soon transport service arrives.”

“What I mean is I need a cab now to bring me to the hotel.”

“Yes Sir. A cab will fetch you at the hotel tomorrow to bring you to the airport.”

(AAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!) It was no use talking to him! Good thing the cab went back (of course he’ll come back. We need to pay him).

The weather in Durban at that time was cool— Baguio cool, a welcome break from the hot weather we have here in Manila. I love it when it’s cold, not biting cold, but cool and chilly. We had the chance to go around the nice places in Durban, and its other side. I was able to meet a handful of new good friends who was eager to befriend an Asian. They were not sure if I was Japanese or Chinese but Filipino does not register well with them. I have to remind them that a country called the Philippines exists and that we have buildings and malls all over, and the nice beaches and golf courses.

This guy Sam accompanied me around the commercial district of Durban and in other areas looking for a photocopying shop. He went to the extent of bringing me to obscure places just to get the cheapest price for photocopying stuff. He showed the not so touristy areas of Durban.

Then there’s this exhibition visitor, Alwyn, who I enjoyed talking with. He’s a conference organizer and he was benchmarking with the conference we were attending. He was going around the conference trying to look for fresh ideas. I loved the exchange of ideas, him being an African, and me being an Asian. We belong to the same type of work, and it was interesting to know how they practice the public relations profession in Africa, and a whole lot of caboodle. I learned from Alwyn that there are three races in South Africa; the obvious ones of course are the whites and blacks, and the other one are the people of color, like in Alwyn’s case: he’s mix Indian and bushman.

During the conference, I had a student following, journalism students who would always visit us in our booth. When I bump into them, they would always ask me questions on the media situation in the Philippines and the country itself. And I happily answered their queries. I told them that I was a former journalist who crossed over to public relations. I told them about our democracy, and how we fought for it. How vibrant our democracy is: our English language papers, our TV network wars, etcetera. I told them how Nelson Mandela and Cory Aquino are similar to each other. How South Africans fought apartheid and how Filipinos fought a dictatorship. It was beautiful!

And of course, I impressed them that I know and read Nadine Gordimer of South Africa and Chinua Achebe of Nigeria. I understood Africa very well because Gordimer and Achebe are among my favorite writers. I told them that if they want to know the Philippines some more, they should read Francisco Sionil Jose, and if they’re brave enough, Jessica Hagedorn.

Our last day in South Africa was spent in Stanton. I thought Stanton was part of Johannesburg. I later found out that it’s the nearest city to the airport. Stanton is one uppity place. It’s a bigger version of Ayala Alabang. We were recommended to go to the Moyo Restaurant in Melrose Arch for us to try modern South African cuisine and African reggae music. It was one cool place; great place to chill.

I received a lot of good feedback from this article I wrote for our newsletter last Christmas so I decided to post it here in my blog =) happy reading…

As ICTSI’s frontline in the hosting and entertaining of visiting foreign dignitaries and business partners, the Public Relations Office is tasked to rummage and prepare gifts that would give a good and lasting impression of the Philippines and ICTSI. These gifts are our locally made products that showcase the best and the finest of our 7,100 islands.

Foreign visitors would always bring with them gifts from their respective nations to be presented to ICTSI officers, and being the hospitable Filipinos that we are, ICTSI would do the same by presenting our proudly Philippine-made products. Also, when an ICTSI official visits another country in an official capacity, they would bring our local wares as presents for their hosts.

Gift hunting is no easy task. One has to carefully consider the stature of the recipient, what gift to buy, and the packaging. It is best to buy our foreign visitors wares that are uniquely Filipino. We make sure that the items could only be found in the Philippines, and no where else in the world.

One big challenge in buying our local products is quality. We just don’t buy local handicrafts from souvenir stores; we also carefully scrutinize the item, every minute detail of it. As ICTSI is a world class company, we make sure that our gifts are of world class quality as well. Packaging the item is as important as the gift itself. Presentation of the gift is 50 percent of the whole lot. We make sure that our gifts are beautifully packaged.

Here are our top ten gifts from the Philippines— the “must haves” Christmas gifts for a visiting foreigner:

1. Premium lambanog. Made from the sap of coconut flower, lambanog is the Philippines’ answer to Russia’s vodka, Japan’s sake and Mexico’s tequila. The more popular export quality brands are the Philippine Lambanog of Tayabas, Quezon and Queen of Cavite.

2. Local coffee and herbal tea blends. It is best to give coffee and tea as one set. Our finest beans can be found in Batangas (barako), Benguet and Bukidnon, and for teas, our pito-pito (seven seeds and leaves) and charantiya (bitter melon) blends. To complete the set, we would often add muscovado (raw brown sugar with molasses). We could have added powdered creamer, but we have yet to see high quality powdered milk from domesticated water buffalos (carabao) or soya.

3. Miniature jeepneys. The jeepney, the country’s national mode of passenger transport, is a certified “only in the Philippines.” Its matchbox version is one nice table or cupboard decoration to flank a visiting government official’s office back at home.

4. Mother of pearl. Mother of pearl or nacre is that crystal-like iridescent inner surface of an oyster’s shell abundantly found in warm and tropical waters such as Philippine seas. Nacre is often used in making jewelry and accessories or as inlays in wood furniture. Bestseller items made from mother of pearl are jewelry boxes, picture frames and decorative plates.

5. Old Manila prints. Old Manila prints are water color paintings or ink drawings of sceneries and subjects depicting life in the Philippine capital during the Spanish colonial era. No artwork is alike, and each print is assigned its own serial number. The prints are nicely framed and are available in different sizes.

6. Dried mangoes and other dehydrated tropical fruits. Our dried mangoes and other dehydrated fruit products are also bestsellers. Aside from mangoes, other candied tropical fruits are pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, star fruit, rambutan, lychee, sour sop, honey dew, jackfruit, and a variety of locally grown citrus such as lime and tangerine.

7. Barong tagalog. The national costume for men in the Philippines, the barong tagalong, is one souvenir item that a visiting male foreigner would love to have. Another “only in the Philippines”, this tropical formal wear is sought after for its intricate hand embroidered designs and for its variety of comfortable fabrics. Popular cloths for the barong are jusi, abel iloco, piña, abaca and ramie.

8. Filipiniana coffee table books. Picture books on Philippine history and culture, churches, beaches, architecture and interior design, festivals, arts, etc. are safe presents to give to any foreign visitor. Even if your foreign visitor does not understand the English text, the pictures say it all.

9. Pinatubo ashware. The country hit global headlines when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991— one of the largest and most violent volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. The devastated areas have been re-populated and people had re-built their lives. The volcanic ash and lahar from the debris of the eruption was one source of livelihood: intricate pottery and earthenware. Mugs and coffee and tea sets are favorite items.

10. Ikat weaves. Women in mountain tribes in northern Philippines are known for their skills in ikat weaving, an ancient technique in designing woven cloth by tying and dyeing portions of threads before weaving. Women weave colorful cotton fabrics with ethnic motifs depicting culture of the mountain community. Fabrics are made into shawls, scarves, ponchos, pillow cases, blankets, table runners, placemats, wall tapestries, rugs and bags.

Other souvenir items from the Philippines:

Cebu-made guitar. The province of Cebu is known for producing the finest guitars in the country. In Mactan, the craft of guitar-making is passed on from generation to generation involving many families. Guitars are made from various soft and hard woods such as jackfruit, mahogany, and ebony, and are inlaid and decorated with shells or nacre.

Herbal soaps. Our locally made herbal soaps are a hit with our overseas Filipino workers. With our OFWs bringing loads of these overseas, our herbal soaps were exposed to their foreign employers, and they love it! Popular variants are papaya, coconut milk, aloe vera, kalamansi, seaweed, alum and oatmeal.

Tanduay Rhum. When former President Joseph Estrada ordered for the best rum available in a posh pub in London during an official visit to the United Kingdom, the captain waiter presented to him a bottle of Tanduay— proudly Philippine made.

Ginebra San Miguel. Established in 1834, Ginebra San Miguel is acknowledged as the Philippines’ leading gin and the world’s largest selling gin. Its predominant flavor comes from juniper berries. Another variant, GSM Blue, is a sugarcane alcohol with its signature juniper berry blend. It is considered the "smooth" version of Ginebra San Miguel.

Magic Sing. You buy most of the electronic gadgets in Japan, Taiwan or Korea, but you could only buy Magic Sing in the Philippines. This video-karaoke microphone is the leading brand in its category. Its easy to use features and portability, more than 2,000 songs in its memory, and high resolution images of the country’s tourist spots, make Magic Sing a memorable Philippine souvenir.

Small antique items. Antique religious relics, figurines, amulets and talismans from the Spanish colonial period are available all over the country. More than prized altar pieces and charms, these items are artifacts of Philippine history and spiritual folklore.

Oils. The Philippines has become spa haven for many tourists. Spas and establishments for alternative medicine now abound all over the archipelago. With this, locally available oils used in these spas have been in demand in the international market, virgin coconut oil and the essential oil of ylang-ylang, in particular.

Durian candy. Unlike the sticky durian dodol available in most Southeast Asian countries, the durian candy of Davao is a delectable milk pastille. Those who have a hard time eating the exotic fruit may find its Philippine candy version a subtle and addictive alternative.

Bulul wood carvings. The Ifugao tribe in northern Philippines marks life crises with rituals and ceremonies which invoke the gods and the deities. In these rituals, the bulul, the Ifugao rice god, is the ceremonial sculpture. The bulul is usually made in pairs, and are carved as seated or standing human beings with a height that usually ranges from 30 to 60 centimeters.