Pinoy Photographers in No Man's Land

The groups needs a little getting used to. They're cool people I'm sure. But then again, it's not the best time to join a group when they're in a party or anything celebratory. I expected to be left out. (Especially that's they're mostly Tagalogs and I didn't notice anyone sporting a Lomo)


GPN celebrated their 1st Anniversary (cum Xmas party) at a hotel in Juffair last 11th December 2008.


The not so little group of GPN in Bahrain. Gulf Photographers Network is a Photographic Network of Enthusiasts in the Gulf (as written in their Flickr Home - http://www.flickr.com/groups/gulfphoto/ ).

My Room

Company accommodation. In a 3-bedroom flat. I was supposed to room with an office mate and saw this one, vacant, and opted for it. Don't laugh, the bedsheets and rug came with the room.

My Zain eZee

My Bahrain mobile number: (+973)36****70.

Apparently I bought it at a much higher price. 5BD at the Seef Mall. 1BD at one's friendly neighborhood cold store.

SMS is charged the same as a call. So people call more often here.

I brought my Phil sim with me. My Globe roaming is supposedly active. But I've received no messages since I got here. Either nobody's texting or the roaming's not working.

Now in Bahrain

I finally arrive in Bahrain.

After the gruelling hours at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (almost 10 hours), watching the coming and going of Pinoy OFWs in the waiting area inside the terminal, most of them headed for the Middle East, most of the ones I talked with, DH, Mindanaoan Muslims, plus the hours of actual air travel via Cathay Pacific, Manila to Hongkong, waited a little more than an hour in Chek Lap Kok (not a long wait because I was able to access free WiFi and spent most of it YMing anyone who's island that I was in HK) with a connecting flight to Bahrain, which had one stop in Dubai, pausing there for not more than an hour, and after 3 sets of full airline meals plus 2 sets of refreshments, and chatting with at least 6 fellow travellers, I finally arrive in Bahrain.

It's about 7 in the morning. Bahrain is cold. Colder than I expected.

But there is barely any time to meander. I had to get to work that same day if I wanted to be oriented with the job. Elsie, my referrer and supposedly direct superior would be leaving for a 2-month vacation back in Pinaz.

I have definitely arrived in Bahrain.

The Cha-Cha Train is Moving (Again)

Big Mike and GMA, and their legions of toadies and bootlickers have yet again greased the tracks for the Cha-Cha train. WTF.

There's always legit reasons for the constitutional amendments but this most definitely smells like Gloria-Forever Complex.

Here's some interesting reads on the latest chachacha crap:

• Designed to fail and failing by design
• Insidious Word Plays and the Rise of a Filipino Ataturk

The Black and White Movement's press statement (below) is like a gubang plaka already. But the people's fight must match and even top the persistence of these power-hungry monsters.

GMA’S CHARTER CHANGE - A BETRAYAL OF THE PUBLIC TRUST

We all have to link and expand our ranks till the entire country is bound together with the strength and the ardor of our resolve. I do not exaggerate when I say this could be our last chance to save democracy in the Philippines. The darkness thickens and we have to move. - Joaquin "Chino" Roces, 1985

"Laws can embody standards; governments can enforce laws--but the final task is not a task for government. It is a task for each and every one of us. Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted--when we tolerate what we know to be wrong--when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened-- when we fail to speak up and speak out--we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice." - Bobby Kennedy

UP I went. DOWN I go. UP I'm going.

Sometimes, I feel that I didn't go to UP. At all.

I have these memories walking down the AS steps, lurking in the Main Lib, falling in line for a ticket at the FC, waking up in my Kalayaan Dorm room, riding the IKOT and all. But were they real? Or sheer dreams, memories from a distant past life. Blurry. Sepia-toned. Imaginings.

But that one year. One mere year. I'm holding on to it.

And the hard work begins...

My faith in the United States of America is renewed. I've always told myself and my friends, before this historic day, that an Obama win, a win for a black man, despite his popularity (and though I rooted for him), is still incredible, and I'd believe it when I see it. And now it's here. It is done. Barack Obama has now been elected the first African American President of the United States of America. Watching his speech earlier, with the thousands in Grant Park, Chicago, I, too, cried in elation with the American people. (Rare, because I didn't with 9/11.) I'm just feeling it. =)

I know that this win'll be good for the rest of the world, too. I think it's more symbolic still, Obama, after all, that's still USA, they're still Americans, but if this guy follows through, if this USA follows through, there is hope for the world, too. I'll sure be watching out for Obama and will follow his leadership especially in his commitments to ending world poverty, and many other global issues that the USA has so much role on.

Gobama. Gomerica. Goworld.

Hire Me!

Anyone, help? Please?

Quantum of Solace

Here's something that I've been writing in the past few days, in lyric form. A study of a lyric my rock-star-wannabe friends have been soliciting from me for their rock band. If I had some musical knowledge (notes, g-clef's and stuff?), I'd probably pen the song myself. That's my excuse.

What's your excuse?

I got car-bombed in Islamabad
Hijacked in the Horn of Africa
Waylaid in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Mugged in the streets of Manhattan

Hey, you!
What's your excuse?
What's your excuse?
I want to hear
Your excuse, your excuse

What happened to whatever?
Saving the world together
Never mind the weather
What happened to forever?

Did you
Strike it rich in Congo?
Hitch a prince in Sao Paolo?
Reach Nirvana in Reno?
Find peace in Kosovo?

Hey, you!
What's your excuse?
What's your excuse?
I want to hear
Your excuse, your excuse

What happened to whatever?
Saving the world together
Never mind the weather
What happened to forever?

What happened to whatever?
Saving the world together
Never mind the weather
What happened to forever?

Bittersweet

Re-reading The God of Small Things. No matter how many times. Still pierces, deep, to the heart, to the spirit, to the soul just the same. As it did, the first time. The pain just clings, stays, lingers. And you become Rahel. Estha. Ammu. Velutha. Those small things. That God.

Why I Write