Easter boot camp in Zambales

Yep, this easter we - the running girls Bettina, Ninfa, Raeanna, moi plus Ricky SB - headed off to Zambales for a boot camp training of sorts. Originally, the trip was intended to check out the course in Subic before joining the triathalon sprint event this May. But with the new Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), we decided to trek Pinatubo, and then the plan expanded to include a bike to Pundaquit and then a swim in the new Anwaya Cove where the water is cleaner than Subic Bay.
First day trek to Pinatubo. We left Subic at 6:30am and drove an hour and a half (only 20 min via SCTEX to Clark) to Pinatubo Spa Town (or known as PST) in Barangay Sta. Juliana, in Capas, Tarlac. There are no signs to PST which is located inside a military facility. We booked our 'skyway' tour, a shorter route to the crater lake, with Jovi Balbiro (contact # 0928 781-3556). Our P1750 per pax included two 4x4 jeeps, a guide, a hearty lunch and all the fees. The 4x4 ride was about an hour drive into lahar country, crossing river beds and up a narrow pathway to the 'skyway' parking. From there, its NOT a 40-min trek to the lake; more like an hour. The path starts with a steep incline, downhill then a trek along the river filled with rocks and boulders. There is a stairway leading up to the summit. The view was awesome. It brought me back to its eruption in June 1991, diving in Anilao where the whole place was covered with 3-5in ash and the water was emerald green, about 1-ft viz underwater.... We headed back down at noon. We were lucky that it was unexpectedly cool. The path was shady with lots of fern foliage. At the PST, we enjoyed a relaxing 1.5 hour shiatsu-swedish massage and facial while Rae tried the volcanic ash treatment where she was buried neck down in ash.
Second day bike and concert in Casa San Miguel. We ran 8km in Binictican (Subic) first. On the way to San Antonio, there were lots of pentinents on the road- either flagellating (whipping their raw backs) or carrying a cross - so the 45-min drive took us more than an hour. Our host, artist Plet Bolipata-Borlongan, who now resides with her husband Emong in Casa, set us up in her art studio and served us a yummy seafood fare - seaweed salad, kilawin, crabs, pinakbet and fresh mangoes from her family's orchard. After lunch, we biked first to Pundaquit (Capones beach) then to San Marcelino or a total of 30.43-kms. We made it back in time to shower and listen to the string concert of Haydn's seven last words by the Pundaquit Virtousi. (Note that Casa has a concert every Saturday at 6pm).
Third day swim in Anwaya Cove, a 45-min drive from Subic to Morong, Bataan. Again, the day started with an 8-km run in Binictican before heading out. Anwaya is the new resort project of Ayala Corp. We swam around the outer permiter of the bay.
Last day bike around Subic. We wanted to try out the sprint's course from the boardwalk to Ocean Adventure. However, after driving thru the hilly slopes, we opted for the easy course from Bettina's house in Binictican to the airport. Unfotunately, we walked half-way uphill back home and Bettina called for her driver. So, I guess this means, we're not yet ready to do the sprint this May or even the Triathalon in Bali this July... maybe do another boot camp next month again in Subic?

Le Maroc

It was a toss up between Brazil and Morocco, the only two countries where Filipinos are not required entry visas (except Southeast Asian nations). So, the French protectorate Le Maroc wins - it was an 8-hour flight to Dubai then another 8-hours to Casablanca for the 8-day trip. Yes, it was all rushed rushed and Bettina and I were lucky to get seats on Emirates and able to book a travel agent during the holiday season in LESS than a week.

Our driver 'Rasheed' met us in the airport which was quite chaotic since it was the end of Eid. We headed first to Casablanca to visit the world's second biggest mosque. I was shocked by its size. Completed in 1993 to commemorate the 60th birthday of King Hassan II, it can accommodate 25,000 worshippers and an additional 80,000 in the courtyard. It has the world's tallest minaret at 210-meters. The zellij (mosaic tiles) are from Fes. After paying our respects, we headed to Rabat to check in La Tour Hassan Hoel in 26 Rue Chellah. We had our our first Tagine meal (lamb shank) and Royal couscous here.

The next day was a quick tour of the capital, Rabat. First stop was the mausoleum amd Le Tour Hassan where the the minaret was built by Almohad Sultan Yacoub-al-Mansour in 1195. (Note that the names of the reigning monarch are either Hassan or Mohammed. The current king is called Mohammed VI, who succeeded his father Hassan II when he died in 1999.) Then proceeded to the ancient roman city of Sala Coloni and the Merenid. The place has roman ruins, gardens and lots of storks and well fed, garfield looking cats! The morocans like the Egptians love cats.

From Rabat we headed to Fes but stopped first at Meknes (for lunch) before heading to another Roman City which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The adminsitrative center of Roman Africa called Mauretania Tingitana or now referred to as Volubilis which dates back to third century BC. The area has great mosaics still intact and some columns. From Volubis, we drove through the white city of Moulay Idris, named after the founder, the grandson of the great prophet of Mohammed.

We arrived in Fes in the evening. It was dark and boy, freezing at less than 10 degrees! We checked in at Riad "Jhouara" and enjoyed another feast of moraccaine salad (about 5 dishes), my fav soup of chick peas and noodles (which I first tried in Meknes) and again, royal couscous. Our room was huge at 58 sq m but brrr... too cold. We had the fireplace fired up with cedar wood, the a/c turned to 30 degress plus borrowed the mini-radiator of the owner. The riad or maison d'hotel, is actually a nobleman's home which has been converted into a high end boutique hotel. It doesn't have central heating like most hotels.

Fes is a medieval 11th century walled city (or medina) that has up to this day kept its look - bustling souks, jellabah-clad folks, prayers heard as early as 6am. Ourguide 'Farida' with deep blue eyes was sporting a pink jellabah and pink head scarf to match her outfit. The souks are arranged accordingly - food stuff, shoes, clothes, etc. I saw two stalls literally selling fresh eggs, the hens were caged at the back of their stall and laying eggs!! The medina can be quite confusing with its maze-like narrow alleyway but extremely organized. Each area has a minaret, mosque, absolution fountain, children's center to learn koran, bakery and a bath. We walked wihtin the medina he whole day checking out the sites: Bab Boujlourd, the tannery (the smell can be very offensive), fondouk, mauseleoum, mosques..etc. For dinner, we went outside the medina and enjoyed french cuisine. The next day, Rasheed drove us around. First stop was around the medina - the King's Palace (mind you, its all the same tourist site in every town, shots of its gate), then the Andalucia quarter and then the Jewish quarter. Moroco had a large jewish population which peacefully co-existed with the arabs. Most have moved to Israel though... Then, the chellah before dirving off to the nearby towns of Bahhia where we actually visited a home of one native which was inside a cave. He approached us and said that his father was listed in Lonely Planet and he can take us to his home for some tea. Very enterprising! then drove to Sefrou to see the falls and view the snowcapped alps of the High Atlas Mountains. The latter can be skipped though. We had lunch back in the medina where Bettina and I decided to have something cheap and cheerful and we ventured around the medina on our own. We didn't go far though. Our 4-course dinner was in a fancy riad. I think this time the coucous permanently expanded in my tummy....

We woke up the next day early and headed to Marakesh at 7am! The drive was more than 10 hours south passing through the Riff mountains, middle atlas and then High Atlas. We did a pit stop first at Tifrane, the 'swiss resort' of Moroco. The place is so modern compared to Fes and Rabat and for a second I thought I was in Switzerland. We had lunched around 2pm at the High Atlas. We got to Marakesh about 6 or 7pm and checked in this huge palatial quite tacky 5-star hotel called Royal Agadir. It is located outside the medina. After checking in, we went straight to the famous square - Djamaa el Fna. It was packed with people - residents, local and foreign tourists. Bettina got a bit claustrophobic so decided to dine and chose Argana which had a good view of the square.

We braved the medina on our own the next day armed with the 'reco' list of Tokie. Although much smaller than Fes, the souks had a fare range of prices - from cheap to expensive (like Beldi) Lunch was at the french quarter's Al Fassir, run by all women. Then back to the souk to shop. We headed back to the hotel around 8pm to get ready for new year dinner at the Hotel. Dinner was an 8-course fare which started with foie gras, fish, lobster, duck, sorbet, cheese, salad, cake . The servings were quite huge and alas, no alcohol - no wine, no bubbly.

On Jan 1, we toured Marakesh with a guide "Norah". He started the tour in the 800 year old, 70-meter Koutoubia minaeret, Palais Bahia, Majorelle Garden (where Yves Saint Laurent retired to), temple, lunched at the hip Keshamra on Rue Liberte at the French quarter. After lunch, ventured into the medina in the carpets, herbal, pottery. We got rid of our guide though so we can shop! We noticed that with a guide, the prices are jacked up higher... So, we were back in the medina for our last mintue buys then dined at La paix for final feast and dropped by Comptoir for a drink.

The last day, we headed off to the airport and stayed overnight at pinoy-country Dubai.

Knowledge Channel in No Man's Land

“No man’s land and where no one dared to tread” is how the school superintendent described Midsayap, North Cotabato last Nov 9 during the turnover ceremony of Knowledge Channel Foundation Inc.’s (KCFI) eTV facilities to San Isidro Elementary School. This is the 150th school or the final installation of KCFI’s 3-year USAID-assisted program called Television Education for the Advancement of Muslim Mindanao or TEAM-Mindanao for short. Some 78,529 students or so located in the most remote and isolated areas of Mindanao are now getting the quality education they rightfully deserve.

I am quite sad thoug that the project has ended. I heard that USAID did not include KCFI in its Phase Two leg.

I’ve been to the remote remotest towns in Mindanao because of TEAM-M; particularly in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which is traditionally known as the most volatile area in the country. ARMM was created in 1990 and covers Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan and Marawi City. It is predominantly Muslim and unfortunately, the most imporverished region in the country, .

Despite its notoriety, I find ARMM quite peaceful its people generous and in fact, I must say ‘corrupton-free’. I braved traversing the region’s end-to-end five times even at night. Compared to Luzon, the roads are well paved and well maintained with concrete bridges connecting the rivers. The drive is quite pleasant although the military checkpoints every few kilometers can be quite intimidating.. But the view is something else - -lush green countryside, rolling mountain range, the colorful garb of the various townsfolk, the fruit stands….


I'm filled with nostalgia with this project ending. My first visit was in the very first installation in Paglas, Maguindanao three years ago, where Datu Toto Paglas and his sister Bai Nora hosted us in their family’s banana plantation (note(called La Frutera Banana Plantation, a 1,100 hectare farm of which Cavendish bananas are exported under the Chiquita, Unifrutti, Consol and Chico brands). Then to the Southernmost tip of the Philipines, Tawi Tawi on November 2005 where we had no choice but to take the navy boat accompanied by the marines to Languyan Island and from there be ferried by the only vehicle on the island (a dump truck) to the site.. And last week to witness the last installation in Cotabato.

Aside from providing 150 schools with ETV (11 of which are high schools), the TEAM-M project produced "Salam" a 10-video peace education module and also "Negosyo Ko, Asenso ko" a 10-video livelihood module for out-of-school youths. It has improved teaching and learning capacities especially in the areas of Math, Science and English. I just hope that USAID's Phase Two can dare go to the other remote areas and cover more schools in the region.

Rosh Hashanah in Israel

"Hagsame!" exclaimed a familiar voice onstage and I realized it was Jamie Green (in photo) of the Living Kabbalah System or referred to as "LKS" Level 1. His voice guided me in my first dip into Kabbalah six months ago.. and now, I find myself in Israel celebrating Rosh Hashanah (New Year) with 3000 students from all over the world.
This is the first of everything for me - my first participation in a Kabbalah event, first time to be face-to-face with its founders - Rav Berg, his wife Karen, their sons Michael and Yehuda; first time to do mikveh; first time to be in Israel and the first time for the Kabbalah Center to have an Asian contingent- this is 12 of us from the Philippines.
I didn't know what to expect. Kabbalah is being touted not as a religion but more of a spiritual technology, as a self help guide towards lasting fulfillment using ancient teachings.
What drew me to attend this event was when David Ghyam, the 23-year old L.A.-based teacher in one of his lectures in the Philippines, said that Rosh Hashana is an opportunity "to wipe the slate clean"; to correct not only the negative actions of the last 12 months but also issues from past lives. He said that this is made possible through the confluence of several powerful forces during this specific period in time and for this year its from Sept 12 to 15.
There was indeed some kind of powerful force present. I was in tears while singing and clapping, I was moved by the lectures, I felt some tingling sensation in my fingers and burning sensation in my ears. I just let go and was open to everything including the blowing of the shofar, the scanning of armaic letters and also in fact going to the ocean every morning (except on Shabbat) to do mikveh. This involves immersing the entire body into the water while doing specific meditations as a form of healing.
The bottomline learning during the event is to treat everyone with human dignity; to put others before ourselves which is actually the basic tenet of any religion which can be referred to as the golden rule “do unto others what you want others to do unto you” or even ‘love thy neighbor’.
The whole process involves changing of consciousness. Michael Berg said in his lecture the last day that “the way we view something changes the way it occurs.” I guess this is what is meant by wiping the slate clean. Berg said that, where consciousness is, is where our history is, and thereby we can transform retroactively today.
Kabbalah is not an easy task. It requires constant study to learn the process to become better. Kabbalah encourages to love without reason (unconditional love), to go beyond conflicts (unity), to find joy and happiness in what has already been given (appreciation), resist the desire to react to instinctive impulses (reaction) and to accept responsibility for own actions (accountability).
The world operates on a cause and effect. Whatever happens may be the result of a negative action that we have done a moment ago, yesterday, a week before, last year or even previous lifetimes. In a nutshell, another familiar voice from LKS Level 2 Michael Moscowitz sums up the best advice to resist reacting “when in doubt, shut up!”