Running on Empty

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 29, 2024 in Community, impediments, Inner Struggles, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 28, 2024- The van driver called out what was music to my ears: “Who’s getting off at Yavapai College?” I had designated a stop at Hassayampa Inn, downtown, as my debarkation point,but YC is so much closer, so when the student got off there, so did I. It was a seven-minute walk to Home Base, instead of ten-fifteen.

Between the long wait on the tarmac, leaving Manila and a shorter, but still nettlesome wait on the tarmac in Seattle (One, a ‘technical issue’ on our plane; the second, a ‘technical issue’ on a plane that was sitting in our plane’s designated gate), and having to wander a bit at Sea Tac, to find an escalator that worked (All elevators and one escalator were down, this morning) and the general effects of jet lag, I was beat.

I did push myself, once back at Home Base, to plow through the two boxes of mail that greeted me. I managed to fill out my ballot and prepare it for placement in the drop box tomorrow. Landlord came by and lit the pilot on my furnace. I noticed a new ceiling fan had been installed in the living room and a nice hand-made wooden bench now sits in front of HB.

It was, overall, an enjoyable visit to the Philippines and a change in Home Base, around May of next year, is still a strong possibility. For now, I am focused on getting back on track, with several matters that need attention here, and in Carson City and Grapevine (TX), later in November.

I will be back to full, in a few days.

A Tanay Excursion-Part II

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 28, 2024 in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 26, 2024, Manila- With a successful extraction from the muddy road behind us, the five adventurers took to more settled sites-the joys of central Tanay. First off was a fairly new church, Padre Pio Chapel. Here, the ladies indulged in another pose. Kathy could pose forever, and it would not get old.

We got directions from there to a chicken restaurant, Mang Inasal, in Tanay Town Center, where we enjoyed chicken inasal- grilled breast or leg. I covered this part of the meal. K bought us all Halo Halo, a treat that layers shaved us and frozen condensed milk, with bits of fruit.

Following that delectable capstone to today’s journey, we headed over to San Ildfeonso de Toledo Catholic Church, built in 1563. There, we watched a procession of clergy and parishioners, quite common in the Philippines, following Sunday evening Mass.

Procession outside San Ildefonso de Toledo Church, Tanay

Courtyard of San Ildefonso de Toledo Church

After the procession cleared, we made our way over to Tanay Wawa Park, where a small lighthouse stands on the north side of the brackish Laguna de Bay Lake, actually an inlet of Manila Bay. The lake itself is a rich fishing haven, with sea grass and water lilies in abundance, adding a relaxing air to the park.

Wawa, a thriving fishing village, south of Tanay (Above and below)

Tilapia, freshly caught: To buy or not to buy. K and I concluded that lack of a cooler was a problem.

After talking with the fisherfolk, and my climbing the steps up to the top of Tanay Wawa Lighthouse, we headed back towards Manila-but not before stopping at Opus Mall, one of Pasig City’s most *opulent.* There, a “personal need” became the pretext for more photos. You have to know, I am a willing photographer.

Thus ended one of the sweetest days of this journey.

After Effects

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 25, 2024 in Assistance, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 25, 2024, Manila- Today produces a short and sweet note. The lingering effects of Typhoon Kristine have left museums shuttered, due to staff being asked not to travel and parks closed for maintenance, due to debris everywhere and fallen trees. So, I got to hang out and catalogue my photographs from Ayala Museum and Dumaguete.

Kathy has organized one last outing for this visit, to a town northeast of here, in a mountainous region. That will happen tomorrow, and four other ladies will join us. Group outings have long been a Filipino tradition and I have seen only joy and laughter coming from groups that travel in this way. We’ve had some great times together, both last year and this. I will do whatever I can to make sure this continues.

The after effects of love and kindness are more love and kindness. Those of hardness and distancing are either more hardness and distancing, or a mature soul saying “Enough” and showing the way to a kinder, gentler way of dealing with each other. The after effects of a persistent, but humble way of generosity and caring are a gradual softening of the resistance put up by someone who has suffered much in the past.

These are just some of the thoughts that run through my mind, on this lazy day after the latest typhoon.

Sky Way

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 23, 2024 in Assistance, collaborating, Community, impediments, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 23, 2024, Manila- The area between the entrance to Terminal 3 and the taxi stands, at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is rife with touts, every one of whom wants to charge double or triple the fare charged by metered taxis, or even GRAB (Uber-type) vehicles. I have learned to walk straight ahead, saying “Excuse me!”, in a firm tone. The lady who mocked, saying “Get out of way!”, was a GRAB imposter, who still wanted twice the fare. I told her no, and went over to the meter booth.

The driver took me to Ola! Hostel, via the Skyway, for which the passenger (rightfully, in my view) pays the toll of 35 PhP (Philippine pesos) on top of the fare. It is a much nicer drive, with little slow downs and, at lunch time anyway, no gridlock. I arrived at Ola! seventeen minutes after leaving NAIA.

It has just been that sort of day. I was very warmly welcomed back to the hostel, and to the Baha’i Center, in late afternoon. My darling had news of her own: She has landed the job that she had sought, before last week’s loss of a dear Baha’i community member and this past weekend’s art gallery opening ( by K’s good friend), which I missed for the sake of connecting with an old friend from Mesa, AZ, who now lives in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental.

She will be busy for several months, and that’s a good thing. I will also be busy, once I get back to Home Base I. There is a lot going on, just before the election and immediately afterward. November and December promise to pass with lightning speed. Through all of it, I will be encouraging Kathy, every day. I will see her again in February, during a short visit here, that will focus on a few important tasks.

Picking up on the ways to navigate this sometimes chaotic, but vibrant, society is coming to me organically. There are aspects that will also be very useful in the months to come, back in the United States.

Buglasan, and A Mineral Bath

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 23, 2024 in children, collaborating, Community, Entertainment, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 22, 2024, Valencia, Negros- “A” couldn’t get his photo taken, by his Dad, often enough. There were so many colourful and elaborate displays, from various communities in the province of Negros Oriental, that a child of any age could be enthralled for hours-and some of us were.

Buglasan, the Festival of Festivals, is Dumaguete’s celebration of its neighbours in the eastern portion of the island of Negros. Here are some scenes of the displays and other activities.

Negros Oriental Provincial Capitol (above and below)

The colours of Pamplona (Negros, not Espana)

Exhibit from Valencia (also Negros, not Espana)

The bright and shining province, of “gentle people”.

Anis and I also enjoyed a visit to Red Rock Hot Spring, where a happy family danced about, in the midst of the warm pool that we chose to soak away any aches we may have accumulated. No one could ache for long, in the company of these ebullient folks.

Also most enjoyable was a walk up to Sheintan Ridge View, where one may get a close up of Cebu Island, across Tanon Strait.

Finally, here is Anis at his third restaurant’s wood fire oven. Anyone desiring a quality thin crust pizza will not go wrong at Neva’s Place, with three branches: Puerto Princesa (Palawan), Dumaguete and Valencia (pictured above).

This day of relaxation was interrupted, briefly, by a power outage, which made our return from Buglasan quite interesting. The lights came back on, about ten minutes after I arrived back at the Shahidis’ home.

Compressed

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 22, 2024 in children, collaborating, Community, Family, impediments, Inspiration, Personal Values, Service Activities, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 21, 2024, Valencia, Negros- The word came early this morning: What had been a carefully-planned, manageable schedule of product deliveries and shipment, over a four-day period, was now to be done locally today, with the deliveries to the next island over to be done tomorrow.

I was given the choice, by my hosts, who are the company owners, to relax and maybe visit a few natural attractions nearby, or to go along with them for the day’s local deliveries. I chose the latter. I was raised with a work ethic, and spirit of service. If something in front of me needed doing, I was as good as anyone to do it.

We went first to the company’s production center and warehouse, where a bustling crew had packed over 100 boxes of product, and carefully labeled each box. There were six different places to which the product had to be delivered today, so correct labeling was essential. The crew did very well, in all aspects.

There were a few snags, owing to the suddenness of the changes in schedule, and to issues at the receiving venues themselves. By and large, however, it was a successful day. I got in a fine amount of exercise, the delivery man drove like a madman, and everything that was on the list to be done was accomplished. Point of information: This is a company that produces healing drink mix powders, with ginger and turmeric in several of the compounds. It is good for the products to be distributed with dispatch.

I am staying at the home of the owners, one of whom I have known for several years now. They are doing quite well, but I daresay they have earned every bit of good fortune.

Haka master, Ali, and his big family (Above and below)

So, with this nice dinner of chicken and “black” rice (it’s actually red), a very fruitful day came to a close.

Foundation of Gold

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 19, 2024 in Assistance, collaborating, Community, Entertainment, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 19,2024, Manila- Many know that the islands of the Malay Archipelago, from Singapore, south and east to Timor and Halmahera, then north to Batanes, had structured, hierarchical societies, based on a chiefly class, prior to the arrival of European traders and colonialists. Relatively few know that these societies were an outgrowth of the successful use of metallurgy, and that the metal most commonly in demand was gold.

The Spanish, Portuguese, British, French and Dutch all had designs on countries which produced a wealth of spices. It was only when the colonialists settled down a bit, and made friends with some of the indigenous people, that they found there was gold to be had. As was their wont, the traders, adventurers and soldiers took the precious metal for themselves, under the guise of “for King and Country”. The rest is known to most of the world.

The Malay people, from their western outpost, in Madagascar in the far west to Taiwan and the Korean island of Jeju, in the north, are related linguistically and culturally to the Micronesian and Polynesian people of Oceania. Various features of Malay people, especially those indigenous to the Philippines, are outlined in exhibits now showing at Ayala Museum, in the southeast corner of Makati, Metro Manila. The foundation of their culture being the mining, smelting and wearing of gold is a point made most deftly.

The golden nature of the Filipino personality, though, is what has outlasted the mineral reserves, to which the Spanish conquistadors and Chinese pirates helped themselves copiously, over several centuries. Filipinos stand their ground, of course, and do not go about their lives foolishly-though anyone navigating the northeast side of Makati on Friday night would wonder about that, as the taxi driver ferrying me to my hostel, after my day with Kathy, could certainly attest. (There was no one to be found, among the drivers, who was obeying traffic signals.)

I was delighted, though, to rejoin her and two other friends this afternoon, at Ayala Museum, experiencing various sensory performances, from a Shadow Play with romantic songs playing in the background to a delightful performance by Manila Symphony Orchestra, which is Asia’s oldest. It was founded in 1926, by Alexander Lippay, and has not skipped a beat (pun intended) ever since. MSO even served as a vehicle of the Resistance, during Japanese occupation. The military governor, not wanting to look like a rube, reportedly attended classical music performances, but missed the message embedded in the program, that the Filipino spirit was alive and well.

The diorama of Philippine history is an area of the museum that would probably take me several hours to properly take in. I may get back there to do just that, on this visit. Otherwise, it’ll wait until February. (Yes, I am skipping out on chilly Prescott, for two weeks in 2/25. Certain matters will need my attention here, at that time.)

Life has taken me to many places of pure gold. I am especially glad for this latest.

The Arcade and Glorietta

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 18, 2024 in collaborating, Community, Inspiration, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

October 18, 2024, Manila- The message came, at 7:35 a.m. Essentially, ‘these are my plans for today. Can you meet me at the nearby mall, at 12 or later?’ I could, and would, meet her on the other side of Manila, if that’s what she needed. For that matter, I’d meet her on the other side of the planet. I was at Cash and Carry Mall early.

Dating a lady here sometimes doesn’t seem like dating-because it’s not conventional. K and I spent a lovely day wandering through a rabbit warren of a crafts and housewares arcade. It is chock full of Christmas items, none of which interested her much. We were there to find an unbreakable, or at least a durable, flower vase and some long bamboo branches. My love had all the time and the back and forth that she needed. I was only there to stand beside her and carry the heavy vase. That, and just remind myself how lucky I am to have this time with an angel of a woman.

Once we arrived at her condominium building and unloaded the purchases at the guard post, for her son to carry to her place, it was on to the next mission-which took us to Glorietta Mall, on the south side of Makati. Kathy took care of a personal matter and I bought a pair of quality flip flops, for my visit to Dumaguete, Negros, early next week. Then we walked a bit to the Food Court, and settled on Cafe Dulcinea-eating the churros and chocolate first! Tapas and other treats followed the “dessert first” course.

My present visit here is getting short, and all too soon, it’ll be time to take stock of where we are, in our friendship. Everything I’ve wanted to do here, up to this point, has been done. When I get back from Dumaguete, I will get a better sense of what this visit means, going forward. I will say, though, that I am the luckiest man in the world, for having been able to get to know her better.

Apples and Oranges

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 17, 2024 in collaborating, Community, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 17, 2024, Manila- As I consider the whys and wherefores of a move to the Philippines, vs. staying put in the U.S., I sometimes get asked whether my friend is a surrogate for my late wife. This is a rather boorish question, but the people posing it are doing so in good faith-even if their reasoning is off.

Penny was Penny. I will love her forever, and that love will never be transferred to another person. Kathy is Kathy. I will love her forever, and that love is not derived from the feelings I had towards my late wife. The two women share a heritage-both were (are) German, by matrilineal descent. Both are fervent Baha’is- one in the spiritual realm; the other still serving our Lord in this realm, on a daily basis. Both exhibit high intelligence and curiosity. Both were(are) physically comely. Therein, the similarities run out. Penny was tall, musically-inclined and had a peppery personality. Kathy is short, a financial whiz and even-tempered. Neither could possibly be a surrogate for the other.

Penny was fond of saying: “An apple is an apple; it’s NOT an orange”, in response to anyone’s lame attempt at false equivalence. I do not place one love above the other. In the next life, I anticipate that we will all be part of a greater team of spirits, serving God in whatever way He deems fit. (There is, in Baha’i Teachings, no provision for free will, in the spirit realm.)

Thereby, I hold that my attraction to both women was (is) primarily due to their spirituality, which in turn, infuses each of their personalities-and contributes to their outward radiance. This is all I can say on the matter. Love is love.

A Growing Circle

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 16, 2024 in collaborating, Community, Family, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving

October 16, 2024, Manila- I stood at the entrance to Heritage Memorial Garden, after a service for a long-standing member of the Philippine Baha’i community, waiting as directed, for someone who would arrange a ride for me to return to the Regional Baha’i Center. It wasn’t hot, and the breeze was actually quite pleasant.

A vehicle stopped, and out came Kathy and her two sons. K told me that we would all ride together, in a GRAB taxi (the Philippine version of Uber). I assured her that I would pay for the group. We had a pleasant ride back to mid-town Makati, with minimal small talk, as none of us was much for yakking, after the lengthy funeral, in which Kathy and I each had speaking parts. She was also one of the main organizers of the event, having been close to the woman who passed on. I had not met the woman, but am impressed with her vitae. So, I read a message from our Universal House of Justice and a short prayer.

When it came time to pay the driver, K’s eldest son revealed that he already had covered it. This is no big deal to the members of my growing family. The young man had just met me, yet was perfectly glad to make sure of my well-being. Considering who his mother is, I ought not be surprised. It has not taken long for her to be one of the brightest lights in my sky.

A short while earlier, I had been introduced to K’s siblings, who took me to the gate of the Memorial Park, about a kilometer from the burial site. Two brothers and a sister, two pensive men of few words and a chatty lady, they are each nonetheless of pleasant mien. Thus, in a brief period, I came to be introduced to the family members of one of the most important people to enter my life, in the past ten years.

Maybe it had to do with the energy of the person who was being honoured. Martha Taylor was always bringing people together, herself being of Persian descent, married to an African-American and living in five Asian nations and the U.S. Territory of Guam, over the past fifty years. There was scant anonymity left, after any gathering she hosted-and she had friends in the highest and lowest places alike. I would have liked to have met her; yet in Kathy, I feel like I’ve met her mirror image.

At any rate, I have rarely experienced the expansion of my circle, in such a meaningful way and in such short order. I will take every other affirmation that comes, in the next 1 1/2 weeks, in every Facebook chat that she and I have during the next six months and in all that transpires here on out. My circle is not only growing; it’s getting deeper and stronger.