FOOD TRIP:

The day was beautiful after Valentines and Grace sent me a message that there was a fair going on at Petone. It was a shame to let the chance pass by. The weather had been horrendous the past days and it was just a clear sunny sky we had today. 

I ran down for shower but the painter was working on the window of the bathroom. I can see his feet and I do not want to put a show for him. His ladder was also blocking the way out for my car. I thought maybe the chance is only helping me to keep my resolution away from unnecessary expenses. 

Then Grace cited that we can actually just explore and have lunch. We were particularly hoping there would be some Filipino food there. Hong was very supportive of our plan. He knew that parking would be a concern and he drove us to the venue. The fair covered a considerable length of the street. And it took us three hours to comb the display. 

The thing reminded me of a Tabo-an. It was relaxing for us to walk around and bringing back memories of the Tabo sa Banay for me and Divisoria and Baclaran for Grace. The smell of food started to stir our appetite.  Our first stop was a Korean BBQ and it was $3 a stick. We had our apprehensions so we took just one each. It was good. We started talking about sisig, shomai, paksiw, cassava and many more so that our desire for Pinoy food heightened. 

Over an hour later, we came across a Chinese dumpling. It was $5 for 6 pieces and we started to drool. Still having doubts on the taste we decided to share and it was good. Much later we came across a Filipino stall and finally we found the shomai. It was $5 for 4 pieces. Although it was a bit costly compared to the other two we felt sure that was what we wanted. We decided we should get one order each. To our dismay, the dish tasted more of the extender rather than its expected ingredients. It was horrible. We could hardly finish it and if it was not of the amount we paid I personally feel like throwing it. 

Not far from the Pinoy stall was another kababayan selling halo-halo. The weather was getting cold but simply because we missed the food we ordered one but this time we decided to share. We sat by the side of the road like street children and dug our plastic spoons into our cup. In all honestly and practicality we knew we could make a better one by crushing ice at home and putting in whatever bottled ingredients we can buy in the Asian shop. It was a frustrating conclusion. 

Late in the night, I lie in bed thinking of my friends cooking which I am happy to pay but did not, Paul's empanada; Michelle's mandunggo; Adrian's roasted beef; Wawa's chicharon; Meur's BBQ sauce; Danny's kinilaw, Jo's pochero, Ron's Sisig and many more. I wondered, if they can why can't we? Shall we change career to business and give NZ a better taste of Filipino food? 

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

The alleged mauling of Navarro has become a big issue in Philippine media for weeks. I am not exactly an avid fan of Philippine entertainers but this incident of mauling has sent minds to think about a few things.

Law in general: In the Philippines, intruders into a private space break-in at their own risk. They put themselves in danger from either an attack by the owner's dogs, get shot or mauled by the residents, get reported, accused and charged for the crime. Apparently in New Zealand, when safety in our own homes are challenged we are to ring the cops. We are not allowed to lay hands on the perpetuator otherwise we get charged ourselves.

Precedence: Navarro went in for a second visit. He was invited and expected. Apparently both were exchanging messages between each other. He came with food and wine for something he must have thought both of them will enjoy. Technology should be able to say what the two were on all the while. 

People Involved: Navarro is an entertainer seen as suave, nice and fun. Cornejo is said to be a young model, had joined a television contest probably to get full access to the limelight. Cedric Lee on the other hand is a businessman who was once figured in a similar incident on his one time business partner David Bunevacz. 

The CCTV Footage: CCTV video showed that 10:38 Navarro entered the lobby of the building where Cornejo's flat was. 10:40 Cornejo was seen on the same lobby leaving the building alone. Time stamp on the elevator camera showed that Cornejo entered the lift a minute after Navarro arrived the flat. ( 1 min rape? ) 10:41 Lee entered the building and headed to the elevator. Minutes more Ferdinand Guerrero and another guy entered the lobby. 10:56 Lee's sister entered the building and both left at 10:59. 11:01 Cornejo and Lee siblings entered the building again and proceeded to the 2nd floor where Cornejo's flat was.  11:13 Navarro, the Lees, Cornejo and 5 other men were in the lobby going out of the building. The last shot showed two other men not seen entering the building after Navarro arrived.

Allegations: Navarro alleged that shortly after his arrival Cornejo left and two men came out from the room and mauled him at gun point. Cornejo said she was about to be raped and called Lee for help. Lee said he was responding to Cornejo's call.  Rape is a crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts.

IFs:  IF Navarro tried to rape Cornejo a minute of time should not be enough chance to free oneself from a forceful act. Footage provided at least a minute of time for Navarro and Cornejo to see and talk inside the flat. IF there was force and coercion, Cornejo would be in a state of panic and upset. Contrary to expectation she was a picture of a well kept, composed, and normal woman who was just like most descendants of Eve kept checking her reflection on the door. IF there was intrusion and threat the condominium itself had security protocols, private guards and cameras installed for the safety of the residents. If Cornejo was in real danger why did she ran for Lee instead of alerting internal security.  IF Lee was only picking up Cornejo and incidentally came upon a rape scene why did Lee have with him other men? 

In the midst of conflicting allegations and the many ifs, people's minds are tickled to figure out not only what really happened but why should it happen. People are guessing but of course this incident is just one of the many cases when a person's credibility counts. Who is most likely to tell the truth?  What are the obstructions in the establishment of the truth? Finally will the TRUTH ever be established? May God bless the Philippines and the many truths that need to come out. May Philippine justice not forget the truth of corruption and the many millions influential and powerful people have cheated. 

SUBCONSCIOUS PLAY:

In earlier times when the Earth and around it was more stable I sleep with just my scriptures at the side of the bed. Times had changed. With advancing technology I realised the least I should keep handy in my sleep is my phone and car keys. That I decided after the shaky capital anniversary.

At 4o'clock this morning I woke up to use the toilet. Going back to bed I saw my work keys with me. My phone's battery was running flat and the car keys was nowhere in sight. Feeling too lazy I forego of the car key but charged my phone. Then my mind set off to play the jigsaw of thoughts in my head. 

My phone has my scriptures, timepiece, music, navigation, reminders, notes, torch, not to mention the basic use of communication, camera and many more. In my car used to be a run-away bag which is due for re-loading.I had the bag down the foot of the bed and these created a monster of a mental story.

The video went to project myself in a situation where I was hungry and wanting to drive out for a meal. It could be because I was thinking of cooking dinner but ended up sleeping without. Then I started to panic when I saw my car was nowhere in the garage. It must be due to the awareness that I slept without making sure where the key was. For a while I was in a state of frustration seeing the people seem to know something but were not willing to help. It was like feeling the need to escape and run fast but you just could not mange to do it. It must be because of my belief that I really should keep the stuff handy for emergency. The weird thing that told me it was only a dream was the setting and the people in it. 

A couple of nights ago I was chatting with my brother and getting too tired I suggested we re-connect this weekend. He was in my dream trying to help me. The other people I saw were already dead who time and again I think about. Then someone came into the picture apparently explaining where and what happen. The episode was most likely to happen if indeed I was in the right place but thankfully I woke up to the reality that I am miles away. I opened my eyes to stop a nightmare. Times in the past when my dreams warned me of things to come. Such occasions did not make sense until the events unfolded itself with time and I look back to realise I saw it in my sleep. Today was obviously just an interplay of unresolved thoughts in the subconscious. It should be a good day!

THINGS DONE WITHOUT:

So it is the 25th day of the month and before we know it one month is off the year's calendar. Time teaches us a lot of things. Things we thought we needed one day turns out to be not utilised and therefore useless with the passing of time. Just by looking at the outcomes of the decisions we have made we learn truths. Realities that prompt us to improve our situations.

Personally I learned that in the past I gave in to my wasteful impulses. I parted with the cross-trainer for nothing. While I decided to keep the Abs Cruncher I should make it a point to get into it for at least a few minutes a day if just to prove that I am not keeping rubbish with me. This item should prove its worth with obvious result otherwise this will become a nagging reminder of the wasteful person that I am. 

For a month now I had survived without Sky. I missed Rafa played the Australian Open. A friend gave me a link to stream the event but Mac is not working on it so I was out of touch. Comes February, Top Gear will start the 21st series and I have no idea how I can access the show. Without Sky is $90 back in the purse.

Sharing a flat may give me limited privacy. I had to part with my kitchen paraphernalia for one. For such loss, it may not be called a total freedom but to compare, the rent before which was a bit more to what I am paying now was exclusive of internet, power and water. Privacy then also needed extra maintenance cost, spare time and effort to keep the space in order. Considering human beings to be naturally social and the fact that we cannot be totally alone and private  it does not matter too much that I have only my rented room in the house to myself. 

It is amazing how circumstances awaken us to the awareness of our very own character and tendencies. So now that my wasteful impulses have come to my senses I may need to live without more of the stuff I have accumulated. There should be less buying then for 2014.

SHAKY AND SQUEAKY CAPITAL ANNIVERSARY:

20th of January, 2014 was Wellington Anniversary. It was a non working holiday in the capital city of New Zealand. The weather was overcast but calm. I was thinking maybe Typhoon Agaton from the Philippines was on its way. The sun started showing and I thought I would drive to Upper Hutt. I ate the croissant I got from the Mediterranean shop earlier. It was fabulous. I scanned my computer for files of old tunes shared by friends.  

I was in the mood for oldie music then and decided to sort the file. Those I particularly like I saved; corrupted and out of my taste I deleted. Earlier I heard banging on my outside wall. A man's head showed out of the window and I am on the second floor. The guy came to wash the walls probably prepared it for painting. Shortly water went blasted on the glass while the frame was half-opened. Water coming in to wet the floor was the least I wanted to happen. I closed the frame and the curtain as well. I did not want the guy to look at me on my bed. It was getting late I have not done my shower as the man was working outside the bathroom.

The room jolted. At first I thought it was from the work done. It went on for several seconds. The TV was shaking it was then that the idea of an earthquake dawned on me. Thoughts raced inside my head, power cord can be ripped off, cause short circuit and fire. I flicked the power point off and went downstairs to join my flatmates. I was locked alone in the house. The phone rang, a foreign speaking guy came on the line but he could not speak English so I hang up. 

I climbed back to my room to get my iphone and keys. In incident as such I learnt my iphone and keys should be handy. I wanted to drive out into an open space but the car was blocked by the guy's ladder. It calmed down again and I went back in and checked the internet; indeed friends in Facebook were posting about the earthquake. I looked around my room. All thoughts of drop-cover and hold were forgotten. Then a friend sent me message wanting to catch up for dinner which we did.

Night came and thinking of work the following day I decided to go to sleep early. I heard the sound of like sheets slipping over each other. I thought it was my flatmates cleaning downstairs but it was too late for them to be doing that. I got up and check the neighbour, they have turned their lights out. I went back to bed and again the sound came. I was sure something was going on inside the room. I opened my closet and the sound was just there. Shortly a small dark thing ran across. It was a mouse. 

It was unbelievable. I cannot imagine a house as clean as it was could shelter such a thing. I felt a bit desperate. The mouse crossed the room one more time but I lost track where it went. It was already 2:00 in the morning and I could not sleep. A thing as small as the mouse robbed me of my sleep worst than the earthquake. I opened my bedroom door hoping the mouse would leave. Morning came and I was not really sure where it went. I can only hope it is not lurking inside my bag or shoes.

FIX OR DISPOSE:

It was 2011 when my niece came to New Zealand and started looking for a job. The need to scan and print documents arose so I got a machine on special price at a local shop. The machine had done its job for quite sometime and had been with my several moves.

One day while based in Auckland a friend asked to print a number of documents. In the middle of the operation a paper jammed. We pulled it out and resumed printing. The result came out blurry and it was indicating a low supply of ink. I replaced the ink but the print did not improve. I was then caught in a dilemna as to whether to have it fixed or just dispose the machine. Here is why.

In New Zealand jobs are charged by the hour. The fact makes labour a big factor in the total cost of repair. Another thing is that spare parts can be costly too. When I achieved my practising certificate in 2009 I gifted myself with a Toshiba laptop. After a few years it went snoring and sounded like gasping for breath. With the prompting of a friend I vacuumed it. Unfortunately I did it the wrong way so the ventilation was broken. With my "saving" mentality I had it fixed and another couple of years the battery went flat and would not store anymore power. My vanity came into play - I backed up my favourite files in the drive and was ready to discard the item but a family wanted it so I googled for a replacement battery which cost over a hundred dollars. Cost of labour for previous repair and new battery together can buy a brand new notebook.

Looking at the storage cupboard I saw an old microwave still undisposed. If I discard the printer that would make 2 items needing to go. I was leaving for Wellington very shortly and I was looking forward to those items becoming an issue when we have moved and rubbish is left in the cupboard. Just by mere gut feeling I drove to the servicing centre. The technician changed the printer head which was over half the price of the machine. With the whole set of ink replaced earlier the cost comes out to around ¾ of the original price of the machine so I could only imagine how worthless the rest of the machine must be then. 

During the move the landlady asked me to sign a wrong form so she emailed the right form which had to be printed,scanned and sent back. Annoyingly the paper jammed with twenty attempts so I rang the technician for instruction as to how to manage the problem. I was told to post the machine back otherwise the sensor will be damaged. Exasperated I told the lady on the phone, no thank you I am not posting the machine. If you cannot give me any advise I will throw the machine. But of course my heart was crying for the cost of the printer head and inks.

Then I reckoned I knew Karl who is an expert on similar equipments even more complicated electronics. It was sort of embarrassing to be calling on someone who is not really that familiar only to ask for help but I did try. I wanted to swear when he found out that there was really nothing wrong with the machine only that the paper holders were quite tight and possibly not letting the paper move. Now everything came back to me, how the first time the issue occur the paper had jammed and the print came bleary and so was the change of part and the successive jamming. I wonder if ever it was worth the trouble at all. If only I had somebody familiar with the job to check it before going to the technician. 

To ease my mind I had to think of something good in a not so very nice experience. I think next time I have problems with my gadgets I'd rather give it to someone who can make use of it and buy a new one. It will save time, stress and complications. The better side was with the printer's issue I got to meet Karl's wife Cheryl and we had a good drive around. I may have lost some money but I gained a set of friends, had fun and enjoyed some beautiful sceneries of the Greater Wellington area. 

SABBATH:

The car seemed to be in a sulking mode early in the morning. It has not been anywhere the whole week. Work was only 10 mins walk and the weather was manageable so Blaki was just sitting in the carport come the sun, rain and Wellington wind. When I pressed on the control, the door locks were released but the door itself won't open. I started to panic, I do not know what I have done but yes after some fiddling the doors just opened one after the other.

Google map indicated that Church was 650 metres away and was only a minute drive. I checked the site and it said the service starts at 3 A.M., of course it does not! I decided to make a live chat with a missionary who clarified that it should be at 9:00 in the morning. Just as I have suspected there were two wards using the chapel. The one that starts at 9:00 is the 2nd ward. Good timing though my residence fell in the area so that was where I belong.

Thirty minutes before the sacrament meeting the area was still quiet. I looked around for the bishop but there seem to be no one. Male voices started to sing which explains the silence, they were on a meeting. I introduced myself and it was a wonder that they do not seem to know the street where I am at. Nevertheless everyone seemed facilitative. 

The bishop introduced me to the RS President and we sat together during the sacrament. Claire was a midwife who worked at the same hospital where my new job was based. Then I was introduced to Naire who worked at the kitchen still of the same hospital. On my other side was a couple, the wife I found out to be from Combodia. After the sacrament I was ready to attend the Gospel Class and a counselour approached me if I was happy to have my records moved. We went to see the clerk and I gave my details. I was directed to attend the Gospel Principle class. 

At Relief Society, I braced myself for the challenge. I knew that I had to struggle with my arrogance and my pride. I had wilfully disobeyed and allowed myself to drift. Many years I wasted and here I am coping with the backlog. Another sister  from Australia who claimed was inactive for many years said what else there was to say. She made things easy for me. Another sister was a plunket nurse and the teacher was a nurse from Malaysia. When all the meetings were done I got introduced to Aimee who had a Filipino companion while on mission and was going to the Philippines for her companion's wedding in Tarlac. Another member said "komusta"and I was not sure whether to respond in Tagalog or Visayan. I also met Jo Aimee's husband.

I looked around. The chapel building was quite old and it was a small one compared to my original ward back in the Philippines. Memories came back to my mind. I started to stray away from the Church when I organised community meetings way back then. I complicated my life, carelessly wasted the time and now I am thirsting for the nourishment of my soul as I am doing the same job. Claire stayed with me for a while and we talked. There is always a reason for things to happen. With many members taking interest in my culture, many on the same field of work I am doing, common experiences to share I feel like I am directed back to a place that feels like home, where I am finding myself again and can pick up the broken pieces of my shattered moments. 

I had a fulfilled Sabbath morning. 

WEEK AFTER:

When we left Auckland a week before the weather was overcast. It is a bright, sunny morning today. The car has not moved anywhere since then as work is only 10 mins walk away. Laundry has been done yesterday so the day is free for unscheduled activities.

Looking out of the window in a calm Wellington weather, I can ask myself. How could I not love it? I was moved to stand up and do a collage of the site.

The last time I was in Wellington I lived up the hill overlooking the bay. Across my place was the city and it was breathtaking at night. Now I am in a valley and surrounding the area are the mountains. The ambiance is soothing and at the same time invigorating. A week from then I can feel the ease in the nerves.

The wind is noticeably cooler here and it feels lighter too. I have not been straightening my hair this week but it is more due to poor time management rather than the winds. The major difference in this endeavour is the prompt to  be more out and about. Work has taken me back into the wheel which has turned into a latent interest that seemed to have died in me. 

Positive highlight could also be that work arena is encouraging yet understanding. I look forward to more catching up with the requirements of the job. It is exciting to realise that this opportunity is leading me to doors I thought I would not be able to come again. Once I felt my life was turning to boredom now I am seeing another side of the field.  I am hearing more laughter from colleagues around. And it feels good. 

STARTING 2014:

Uho! uho! uho! it was the 4th night of January, 2014 and a disturbing yet endless sound of coughing was all that there was from the sore and itchy throat. The voice is 99% gone and whisper is all that is left. This could be the effect of several nights lack of sleep, the irritation from the dust on all those aged documents finally shredded  and disposed. Could also be dehydration  while forgetting the need to drink in the face of the mounting file of sorting to do. In short, the stress and neglect has gone into the nerves and here is the immune compromised body, battered and shattered. 

Julia and I survived the 599 kilometres drive from Auckland. Unpacking is also halfway done. Finally I had a bed for my back. I felt sorry for Julia. We have a totally different sleep habit to deal with. She cannot sleep with any noise and light. I turned the music and light off but I cannot control my coughing any bit. It was a relief to my conscience to hear an off and on snore from the soul beside me. I know she is tired and needed sleep. 


I required rest myself. It was good I am not asthmatic otherwise things could have been complicated. I wanted to have my voice for the start of work on Monday. I cannot afford a delay of that start as I needed to start my financial activities right. All these last minute trials but I am still hoping for the best. I remembered Anafe left a small bottle of Vicks vaporub which was famous in childhood as a cough and cold remedy. Sleepy I dug my hands into the box where I remembered it was and thinking of not disturbing Jules I did not turn the light on. 

The content was creamy and smell was familiar. I hurriedly applied some on my chest and throat. I felt a short relief but still not helpful. When I checked in the daytime it was after all antiflamme. Vicks vaporub is more of gel like. Outside, the sound of like a rolling bin come and go. Surely it could not be the neighbours putting out their rubbish. It was the typical Wellington wind growling. 

Weather forecast is a windy and rainy day for the capital. Apparently it will better by 18:00 hours but funny that Jules will be flying back to Auckland by then. So this is it. It is back to Wellington for 2014. 

NEW YEAR 2014:

Nine hours and thirty-six minutes from the start of 2014 and we were sitting on the floor at our current flat. The mover took our seats, tables, whites and other items we put in storage. I have disposed of some of my major stuff and gave out some. My flatmate and I will be going separate ways in relation to our job setting. The rest of my stuff that cannot fit my car on the drive down to Wellington I asked the mover to transport to my new home. It has been over a week since I was sleeping on the couch. My back started to feel sore and my throat for some reasons has gone itchy and painful. It could be dehydration or the dust from old files and stuff that needed sorting. 

Corazon sent me a message inviting us to dinner at their place in time to meet the New Year. The food there was sumptuous. It was a timely blessing as the mover had removed our microwave, pans and kettles too. Corazon and her family was my first flatmate when I first moved to Auckland. I knew them from way back in Christchurch when I first set foot in New Zealand. So in this rotation of life we do swirl around, in and out of our friends life. Some friends are meant for keeps.

The clock ticked the final seconds of 2013 and finally came 2014. If just to uplift our spirits we decided to jump and shout our lungs out but that we did inside the room. Somehow we were surely in some kind of maturity level that we did it with consideration that we do not shock the neighbours to think that an emergency is going on. Otherwise the police would  check on us. 

We were tuned in to CNN to monitor how the New Year goes around the world. The Sky City Tower spurted out bits of fireworks. We could only wish the show was something more of stunning. We argued among ourselves that New Zealand being the first city to meet the New Year should welcome it competitively with our neighbour Sydney. The display at the Sky City Tower was more of just like a match stick compared to other cities that really put more imagination and energy into it.  It is more fun in the Philippines indeed!

We went home feeling chilly on a summer night. We were tired but I spent a few minutes with Darlene from home. My eyes can only close so I went to sleep. The first day of the New Year was a rainy one. It was as usual a quiet new year in New Zealand compared to the Philippines but yes less fire crackers means less accidents related to that.