Thoughts and Non Thoughts

If you have one day to spare while in Manila, one of the best things to do is head south to Villa Escudero. It’s about 150 km or a good two-hour drive. Villa Escudero is different things to different people – it’s a getaway from the hustle and bustle of Manila, it’s a change of scenery for city slickers, and – with swimming pools for kids as the latest concession, a picnic place for the family to cool down during the summer. To me it is a theme park. Instead of Disneyland trams that bring you to Main Street, you get carabao-drawn buses that bring you to the pavilion. Like Disneyland, where you can get lost in a fantasy world, Villa Escudero is a place for you to immerse in an era gone by, when life was simpler and Filipino culture was the mainstream culture. One of the major attractions is the museum, which holds quite a variety of historical pieces collected by the Escudero family, dating back to the Spanish period. The whole place in fact is a throw back to the hacienda days when t...

This downloading business brought to mind the “stickiness factor” mentioned in the book “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. Gladwell explained how simple things move people from “knowing” to “acting”; for example, increasing the number of students who got vaccination shots by simply including a map to the clinic and vaccination hours in the handouts. In the Canon site, it was the very clear and step-by-step instructions (illustrated with photos) of the downloading process that made me think “I can do this.” And so I did. It was really a piece of cake. You download the file, save it to a formatted CF card (using a card reader), then put this CF card into the 10D. You don’t need to be a geek to feel like one. Maybe the Canon guys read the book?

Last night I downloaded two files from Canon’s download site. The first one is a firmware upgrade for my Canon EOS 10D. I was an early adopter of the 10D so it came with firmware v1.0.0. The latest firmware v2.0.1 added pictbridge compatibility and, more importantly, shorter “microdrive release time lag”. I don't really know what that means but I tried it anyway since I am using a 4 GB microdrive extracted from a Muvo2 . I found that with firmware v2.0.1 the waiting time to shift from shooting mode to view mode on the 10D is significantly shorter. There are other subtle improvements as well, such as the battery power indicating “full charge” on newly charged batteries (BP 511); before the upgrade it indicated “partial charge” on the same batteries. The other download was a free software called Digital Photo Professional (DPP), useful for converting RAW files taken with a Canon EOS camera. I played a little bit with it but still have to learn all the features. Shooting RAW is suppo...

I got a rare opportunity to wander into Quezon City due to an errand. It was also an opportunity to have lunch at the Banawe area. Many have discovered that Banawe Street is not just a place for getting reasonably-priced car parts (new or “replacement”). This place now rivals Ongpin and Chinatown for authentic Chinese food, owing to the large number of businesses in the area owned by Chinese Filipinos. I chose a place called Mr. Poon since the parking slot had some space (it was quite early). It was clean, and, besides, looked like a place where you can order food for just one person. What intrigued me was its menu proudly claiming their Beef Mami (noodles) as “probably the best in the country.” How can you pass up an opportunity like that? So of course that’s what I ordered! The place soon filled up. The table next to me had a family with a “balikbayan” who was making a special journey to this restaurant; apparently part of his homecoming. Behind me, a couple was having a lauriat. ...

I had my haircut at Bruno’s Barber Shop. Behind me (hence in front of me in the mirror) also having his haircut was a man with very little hair. In fact, one can say he was bald on top. The barber was shaving his whole head. I was actually minding my own business (reading a newspaper) but couldn’t help overhearing him asking the barber to cut it shorter. I glanced and realized that he was talking about his moustache (which in contrast to his hair was quite bushy). That’s when I noticed his son beside him. He was about twelve and had a really thick and spiky hairstyle (reminiscent of Mel Gibson in the first Mad Max movie). I couldn’t help but think that genetics are against this boy and, not for long, he is going to be a skinhead too. And the nonthoughts followed: When does a boy become a man? (not in a “rite of passage” way but physically, in the eyes of others). When does a young man become a middle-aged man? When does a middle-aged man become an old man? I wonder what nonthoughts my ...

April 8, 2005 For the first time in a long while, something's right at the NAIA (Manila's International Airport). The floor of the baggage claim area has been newly painted green. It was really clean. The men's room was also a pleasant surprise -- fixtures were new -- and no janitors hanging around for tips. Then there's a "Wow! Philippines" booth for tourists, complete with brochures in different languages with welcoming ladies in local costume. Somebody or some group got its act right. It's not that much but it's not usual to be greeted with positive signs at this airport so, hey, I'll take this one. Of course, in ten minutes I went right smack into Manila's Friday night traffic, but then one bit of good news at a time is good enough... Wow! Philippines booth (this was taken outside the arrival hall with my cell phone).

Pope John Paul II passed away today. Upon hearing this news, many people around the world shed tears. On CNN and BBC, we see people talk about a person who loomed large on the world stage. His historical contributions, such as his role in the fall of communism in Poland and Europe and in bridging the Catholic Church with other faiths are mentioned as part of his legacy. He is likened to other great leaders who have helped shape world events. There is no doubt that Pope John Paul II is a historical figure, having been Pope for twenty-six years. Even comments about his perceived conservatism and some omissions of the church only show the immense expectations and demands placed upon this man. But greatness can only be judged by history, and his place in it will only become clearer with time. But the millions who wept upon hearing of his death are not concerned about historical greatness. If there is one defining image of John Paul II, it is of him holding his staff and smiling. They wept ...

Student: Does this blog exist? Master: By asking, you confirm its existence. Student: Where does it reside? On my screen or in the server? Master: It belongs to neither, it belongs to everything. It is. Student: It only exists in my mind? How come I can read it. Master: Your eyes can see it, but your mind doesn't.