Marcus Can Blog

The irony of it all is that as we celebrate Christmas, someone has to die as part of it – the pigs (and the chickens, and the cows…)

It’s harsh to think that we’re never that far from those barbaric tribes’ sacrifices which involves killing during festivities. And although this time it may only involve the livestock meant to be eaten anyhow, for me I find it still a disturbing thing to do even until now (especially if you’ve seen it alive prior). It helps a lot, of course, to be reminded that they belong to the food chain for me to have guilt-less Christmas meals. Sorry Babe…

Mood: 3/10 Honks! (Had a better sleep last night. Gladly, no nightmares about revenge of the pigs. I’m cold, huh?)

Christmas season is probably the only season in the whole year where one’s true test of character is tested. During this time, our appreciation of it and how we prepare and celebrate it shows how how we really understand and how willing we are to share the true essence brought about by this festive holiday. So 10 days before Christmas, I was thankful and happy that we experienced several aspects of it most especially its spiritual part. 

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Family portrait. Last year, my wife and I decided it’s best if we shoot our own. This year we opted to have it taken in the studio after realizing that we are running out of time before those Christmas cards for abroad gets super delayed.

"Is this a toy, Dad?" (Yes, a costly toy)

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Meeting a long lost friend. While my kid and I were about to claim our pictures from the photo store, I saw a very familiar face. She’s a long lost family friend who for some unfortunate turn of events we got disconnected from her. After years which seemed like an eternity, which I learned was just barely 3 years, I’m very glad that we finally met and had quite a long fulfilling chat no matter how sad the topic was. After we parted ways, hopefully not long enough this time, it struck me that after all the advent masses and recollection where I tried to imbibe myself to the values of forgiving and sharing, it was during yesterday’s encounter that I unconsciously applied those; and yes, it does feel good doing so. That’s Christmas without a hefty price tag – simple in form, overly gratifying in effect.

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Food. It cannot be denied that this season is very well related to the palate. The holiday feeling isn’t complete without the thought of food and that the word diet is the most unpopular. And so yesterday, my calorie counter I’m sure lost track again and had gone bonkers. Lunch was pizza, dinner was a lot of chicken and a couple of beers.

No, the chicken isn’t a teaser for our Bacolod vacation, but rather was part of the process my wife and her two other ex-colleagues are doing in preparation for a small business that we all hope will rival the now famous Chooks to Go. Well, not yet, but that’s the goal…or dream. Whatever. Anyway, the first time I tasted their chicken, without bias, I’d say it is a promising venture. Next time though, I promise I’ll just have a teeny-weeny bit of the taste test. Promise. So, with all fingers crossed, we all hope that the yuletide season will prove to be a good way to start this business.

It's been a while since our little kitchen got pretty occupied.

Watch out for these chickens...and letters.

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Still about food, my wife and I agreed that the Christmas package we got from our cooperative will be shared to two of our neighbors. One goes to our enduring baby sitter who at a very short notice willingly looks after our active baby. The other one will be given to our neighbor who recently lost their home during a fire. Yes, I’d say the noche buena package was tempting, but sharing it to those who need and deserve it most is what Christmas is all about. Bye cheese, bye macaroni…

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Lastly, however we avoid it, as we all feel the Christmas rush, it will bring out one way or another, the grinches in all of us. Yesterday, mine manifested itself. We were in a photo studio and excitedly waiting for our turn to have our pictures taken when the photographer showed us the background options and none of those presented were “christmassy” despite making it clear what we want. I tried negotiating if we can have a white background instead and that if he can edit it thru the computer to add the background we’re looking for. He agreed. Then he didn’t. Moments after I listened to and tolerated lame excuses, the bad grinch smiled and laughed. We were out of that store in no time with our payment refunded. My bad. He’s “badder”. Okay, that’s my Grinch speaking.

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (a couple more classes this week and we’ll be on our way to Bacolod)

The entry of our kid into our lives however, changed me a bit. So last year was supposed to be the first time we had one, but the work schedule back then didn’t permit me to do so – to build one out of my collected used badminton shuttlecocks, that is. But this year, I have no more reasons not to do it. And so, it has begun…

Smashed shuttlecocks recycled as a Christmas tree. I Started stacking it last Thursday, and now it is almost done.

I think I've already convinced her that shuttlecocks can become one good Christmas tree. She's doing the Belen characters, also coming out of these badminton victims.

 

In the next few days, this art creation, if I may call it, will be painted – which luckily, majority of the green paint was recovered on the floor, after Marcus broke the container and spilled almost half of it probably thinking that it’s how things should get done.

 

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Looks good, tastes good.

Wifey, as always, prepared a very healthy green salad for our snack this afternoon. Now, this is what I call green, good and real…not like the fake plastic Christmas tree. I can say, she’s loving the tree I made. I haven’t check though if there were worms hidden under those lovely and delicious veggies.

 

By the way, those are leftover Jollibee chickens. She's a creative cook just as I'm a creative Christmas tree designer...hahahaha.

 

 

 

Mood: 2/10 Honks! (lots of things get me excited nowadays.)

Just as Christmas brings a lot of emotions , activities, gifts, spiritual enlightenment and almost all other sort of things that the past eleven months failed to have, I realized that it would be a pity if one just looks at one aspect of this yuletide season. Of course, when you look at everything there’s always the chance to see both the good and bad side of it, that’s whether we like it or not.

The lyrics from the song Santa Claus is coming to town, “He sees you when you’re sleepin’, he knows when your awake, he knows if you been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake…” is a good reminder that December is the perfect time to check if we’ve been good or bad alright. Sadly, while some of us are reflecting if we have been good or bad, the latter still continues to be just around during this time of the year; and sadder than that, it may even occur in the midst of our holiday preparations despite our good intentions.

Like some doctors say, “I have a bad news and a good news…which one would you like to hear first?” I’d say, give me the bad news first.

Bad news

Road traffic. Everyone has experienced this I’m sure. Whether you’re in a public transport or in the comfort of your air-conditioned car this scenario is inescapable – unless you’re one of those shameless politicians (you know what I mean). It’s during this traffic jams that each driver’s (and some passengers) temperament and courtesy is tested. Often times this is when all yuletide cheers seem to just vanish into thin air. And more alarming lately are the incidents related to drunk driving. These drivers for sure won’t get any more Jack Daniels from Santa; not even flying reindeers – that is, if they’ll survive those car crashes. Ouch.

Long queues. As if after driving from a long tiring trip to the mall isn’t enough, there are more jams waiting inside the shopping areas. Once again, this is when and where temperaments, courtesies and patience are put to the test. Observing any long queue, one will most likely chance upon someone with Christmas gifts seen smiling at the end of the line but ends up like grinches (for whatever reasons) when they reach the cashier.

Trashes. I was so glad when I read from the Philippine Star about a reminder coming from Greenpeace (if I’m not mistaken) for everyone to put the environment in mind when planning for their respective Christmas parties. Always remember to reuse and recycle. It also won’t hurt to use some common sense when disposing your garbage properly. Let’s not piss Santa Claus so much that we’ll soon find our own trashes stuffed inside our yuletide socks instead of gifts.

Recession season. As the rest of the people are anticipating a merry Christmas and a happy new year, others are bracing for the impact of the economic slump which has affected the U.S. Its effect has rippled through the rest of the world already and one of the unavoidable outcomes is the number of layoffs by corporations from all industries. One of the giant employers affected by such is Intel and as a matter of fact several of my colleagues and friends will be jobless by next year (I myself almost lost my own but thankfully I made a U-turn after I applied and got hired for a vacant position). There’s nothing more I can do now but hope that their transition and recovery will be quick.

Whew! The list can go on. Does this mean Santa will have lots of checking to do and will have lesser recipients this year? Anyway, I’m not wasting more precious time…so this time let me tell the good news.

Time to give. This is I guess is the key to enjoy the Christmas season. Actually it’s the main reason why there’s Christmas to be celebrated after all. Remember the bible verse, “For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son”? And do you still remember the three kings who had to endure a long and dangerous trip to pay baby Jesus a visit in the manger? These all show that the essence of this season is all about giving. It’s all about sharing. No more no less.

On my part, especially for this year’s holiday season, the presence of our baby boy must have an effect on how I give gifts. My long standing plan to go green by reusing what I have at home and to put some creativity to good use finally came true. Last year, I started saving the comic sections of the dailies as I see it as a good alternative for Christmas wrappers. I also pay extra attention to tips (on TV, newspapers, magazines) that may put some personal touch to the way we give. And so this year, I have already given a couple that I’m quietly so proud of.

The first one was when I was cramming for gift ideas for my father’s 75^th birthday. After combing SM Bacolod, back and forth, I bought a small cheap plastic tool box (Ace Hardware), a silver ribbon and then a birthday card (National Bookstore). At home, I wrote in the card and placed some “Ninoy” bills inside the tool box and sealed it off with a lovely ribbon – with the help of my wife – presto, a unique gift indeed. Goodbye boring red envelope.

The second one was when I was preparing a gift for a colleague for our team’s Christmas party. Wondering how I’d hide any hint that it is a book, I arrived at the idea of putting it inside an empty 6-liter PET bottle. Then I stuffed shredded newspapers and wrapped the clear bottle with another newspaper. In the end it appeared more like a bomb than a harmless gift. Well, at least she got what she put in her wish list.

A thick message in a bottle - tranformation from book to crap.

Tonight, we’ll have our own simple exchange gift giving at home. It will be just my wife, our 8-month old boy and myself. I don’t know if they’ll like what I did, but then again as the cliché goes, “it’s the thought that counts”. Hahaha. Looks like a good excuse for having crappy gifts and wraps.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Mood: 3/10 Honks!

“Don’t be afraid to be weak
Don’t be too proud to be strong
Just look into your heart my friend
That will be the return to yourself” – Enigma. Return to Innocence

The ‘ber’ months must have some effect on everyone if not to the Filipinos alone. Once the very 1st day of September sets it everything seems to intensify or gets exaggerated. As if some switch gets turned on right after the midnight of August 31.

Different ages react differently to this transition. For most adult this is the start of expenses pouring in. Everything seems gets listed in the “needs” section of the budget list. The “wants” list more often becomes empty – blame it on consumerism? For most children however, this is the season to be Jolly, period.

I can still remember my excitement – when l was kid – every time when the calendar reaches September. As if the calendar page between August and September is a musical card that plays a song when opened, “…Santa Claus is coming to town…” And unknown to me then, this Santa Claus are those adult that gets weary and anxious when these ‘ber’ months sets it. They are either our parents or our “unlucky” ninongs and ninangs (godparents). After 20 years, I’m now one of them.

It was as if just a couple days ago when someone reminded me to start buying gifts to avoid the shopping rush. In fact that was months ago. Just like any broken vinyl record this irritatingly skips and repeats. Sadly the holiday rush doesn’t skip. It just repeats. The farthest I can remember panicking at this level is since I started having my own pay check. (Now I’m confused if having a paycheck should either get celebrated or cursed.) My wife and I normally kid each other usually around every January to start buying Christmas trees and gifts by this time. But before I know it, the ‘ber’ months are in, again. Now I’m behind 2 months already. It’s now November.

The mall sales now get more frequent than before. The bonuses are coming in (or shall I say passing through). The yuletide songs are as common as jeepney noise. The dreaded traffic gets worst. The horrifying thought of the inaanaks (godchildren) knocking at the front door getting realized as December nears. It’s funny but when someone says now “Christmas is just around the corner”, this is now like a windtalker’s code that someone is out to get you.

Hey, did I just realize I’m now a Grinch? During this season most adults are, I guess. Well it must be the cycle of life I guess. Some call it karma. The act gets repeated but the recipients change. If before I was thankfully receiving crisp bills, now I’m…I’m not giving one. Beside, the crisp bills now are of less value. Now that’s justified (miser smile).

Every time I’m in this situation I think of an old Filipino song (by Asin) with the following lyrics:

Itanong mo sa mga bata (Ask the children)
Ano ang kanilang nakikita (What they see)
Sa buhay na hawak nila (At the life they have)
Masdan mo ang mga bata (Observe the children)
Sila ang tunay na pinagpala (They are the lucky ones)
Kaya dapat nating pahalagahan (We should appreciate them)
Dapat din kayang kainggitan? (Shouldn’t we envy them)

Although this is not a Christmas song, this clearly describes and shows how having the innocence just like the small ones becomes a very big deal. More often, taking the simple meaning of an event or season is what matters most. Children love summer for the vacation. Children love Christmas for Santa Claus. If they love it for Christ’s birth, the better of course. But that’s where our adult explanation comes into play (and it’s another long story or blog).

So if only most adults, including me, can see this significance just as it is (even just during December), then I think this is when we can wholeheartedly join the children in saying, “Tis the season to be jolly”.

This year’s Christmas vacation, we’re introducing (if not intimidating) our parents to the modern world of computers. It has been a week already and most of it were spent on buying a new pc, setting it up for internet use and an almost never ending tutorial for our mother on how it will be used to connect to the internet.

I can still remember that more than a couple of years ago, my wife and I gave my mother a cellphone for her to join the SMS generation. I can still picture her laughing out loud upon discovering that she had just sent a text message to herself. Luckily after some patient sessions with my wife (with the unnecessary texting even when they are a couple of feet apart) she learned the basics slowly and was able to send us messages while we are at the airport on our way back by the end of our holiday vacation.

Now is her time to transition to the more complex world wide web.

Fortunately with some organizational and training skills I acquired from work, I got to somehow manage and make the sessions less stressful by labeling almost every wires on the back panel, capturing actual hardware pictures and screenshots. All of which were then transferred to a Word document as a training material, printed and had it available for her to refer from it while doing the start-up from the very beginning – from plugging the AC cord, powering up the UPS, powering the CPU, logging into Windows XP and then connecting to the internet via dial up.

And it doesn’t stop there yet. Once connected, more questions poured in. “What is an icon? What’s a double click? Why double click on some and single click on the others? What’s a domain? Why’s there an @ character? What’s a shortcut? Why’s the Window’s Start button got the Turn Off computer option? Why did the message turned to Read (status) when she hasn’t even finished reading it?”. And these, are just a few of the long list of “WH” and “How” questions that I never knew would come.

Despite all that, I think my patience is paying off. She’s already sent a couple of emails to my sister abroad and some to a family friend. She’s already started surfing the web and had already filed some of her Favorites which she checked a couple of times if it is still there. Just to make sure, I guess. I think my “relocating building” analogy is a bad one.

Though seeing the progress happening, today I checked some books in our local bookstore expecting to see some computer self-help book applicable for people like my mother. Well I saw Basic C++, How to Upgrade your PC, Do-It-Yourself: Fixing a PC and other books with Fundamentals written on it which when I opened contained a lot of computer jargons that would only reassure me that the new PC at home will never be opened again once we leave home back to work.

I come near a book from local authors “Internet Fundamentals” but lacked the basics on the PC’s operation. If I would have expanded my self-authored material, I could have made some bucks out of it. It’s so frustrating, but so far I haven’t seen a book with a direct approach to Internet for Oldies. Hopefully, I’ll chance upon on it at Powerbooks once I get back to Manila.

I’ve got few more days here in Bacolod. Tomorrow I’ll be teaching my father. Fingers crossed.

After spending our Christmas Eve in Batangas with my wife’s family, we woke up by 4am the next morning and had to go straight to Park and Fly to leave our car while we are in Bacolod. From there we were whisked to the Manila Domestic Airport through their shuttle service.

We were on queue earlier than our 2-hour check-in time. Even then, the lines of travelers going to different destinations were already jam packed. Some lines even crisscrossed each other to the frustration of most people including myself. One of the noticeable things is the number of foreign visitors (British, Americans, and other Asians) going to places such as Kalibo, Cebu and Palawan. When I checked there’s no one in Bacolod’s queue. I’m wondering why.

The 845am flight was delayed for more than an hour. If not for the Delifrance’s Christmas Ham Clubhouse sandwich (surprisingly, it’s one of the best sandwich I had tasted) that I was eating for breakfast, I would have been grouchy as I always am given the situation.

Boarding time came. To my wife’s dismay we had to walk from the departure area to our designated plane. It used to be a short one. Now it’s some 300 meters walk and longer exposure (this is what she actually hates) to the glaring morning sun as the plane themselves (also to other domestic places) were also on parallel queue. One can just imagine how many people are traveling even on this Christmas day.

Except for being not on the window seat, the flight was smooth as usual. The on board “bring me” games was held just like every Cebu Pacific flight. This time though my wife was too tired to actively participate. The addition of tokens and corporate items for sale (nice gifts for those you realized you forgot), made it even more interesting. And of course, the beautiful flight stewardesses are still there.

Landing wasn’t bad either. I was at this point thinking that we can leave the airport in a jiffy after alighting from the plane. But that just isn’t going to happen. The “new and improved” arrival area and baggage claim answered (just maybe one of the reasons why) the question why we haven’t got any foreigners on board. In these times of high-tech, innovative and “whatever-you-call-it” technology, one would be shocked to see how the bags are handled. After manually unloading the bags from the cart, these were just either dragged or tossed on a metal barricaded floor where you can easily claim it if you’re lucky to get the attention of porters handling it. Damn, I should stop watching the Discovery channel.

After some frustrating time, I was able to claim our bags. These is one of the times I’ll recite in my mind “Good things come those who wait” as a mantra.

As it has been our practice to avoid the taxis right outside the airport terminal as they would normally overcharge, we walked out of the airport vicinity to flag down an empty taxi just along the road. Unfortunately, two consecutive cabs I got were Grinches (or they could have thought of me just the same). I find it so shameful when I am being swindled by someone who’s a kababayan (town-mate for this matter) just because I got bags (obviously coming from the airport). I can just imagine if it were especially Caucasians. It’s now reason # 2 why the foreigners aren’t queuing for Bacolod?

I gave up hailing a cab right in front of the airport. We decided to board a jeepney instead that would take us to downtown. Along the way though I couldn’t help but notice the scattered garbage, uncut grasses in the city plaza & the stagnant sidewalk canals. This is not the Bacolod I used to know for years. What an un-welcoming sight. Reason # 3.

From downtown, we were lucky enough to get an honest taxi driver as I’ve observed that there were only a few of them (pun intended) on duty on this Christmas day as the streets are somewhat empty than usual. Well, at least my resolution (for some years already) of not generalizing anything or anyone will still work. At least just SOME of them are bad. NOT ALL.

Eventually, we got home. My tatay and nanay were there with some of my siblings. It was almost 11am. And as expected a good lunch of seafoods were served. Tatay cooked sweet and sour fish, tanigue kinilaw (both which are his specialty) and with some fruits for dessert. It was another hearty lunch.

Thankfully we are home. Home sweet Home. And it’s still Christmas day.