The Art of Looking the Same

People always tell me I never change. Be they former teachers or classmates or friends, whenever we meet, I am usually greeted with the "Hey, you haven't changed at all!" line. In the last 10 years or so, I have significantly gained weight and unusually grew my hair into a ponytail, and these 2, I guess are proof enough of having physically evolved yet people still tell me I haven't changed at all, all the time. ?. My teacher Raymund once told me (with some friends around) - "You are one person who doesn’t change at all, you just grow or cut your hair short but still manage to look the same." Thank you, I was at a loss for a response.

And it’s totally the same case with old friends. They keep telling me I’m still the same old Leslie and it puzzles me no end what makes them say so. I may be clever at times but I’m rather clueless on taking it as a compliment or just plain butter up. A person may look unchanged in a span of 5 years maximum but after 2 decades, and still you get a positive reception, then it must be art. I better keep it going.

Wave Back

Have you ever been waved at by somebody unfamiliar or somebody you don't know at all? And suddenly you get into this uncomfortable feeling or confusion if it's really you they're waving at? Tendencies are: 1) you immediately look at your back to make sure if such greeting is really meant for you, or, 2) you simply wave back and go on with your own business. Last Thursday, on my way up to my hotel room here in Tawi-Tawi, and running away from a slight drizzle, I had to take a second look at the woman a few meters upfront, waving at me coupled with a gracious smile. I noticed it was Ma'am Rachel, the hotel owner. Although we've already been introduced exactly a year ago, I don't think she'll specifically remember me, along with all their other numerous guests all year round. And since I was a bit in a hurry, I ended up waving back at her and she excitedly waved back, again. Hmmm... Was it really meant for me? Does she really remember me? All these questions and more have somehow stirred my mind as I walked down the hallway. The following day, I was invited by the Vice Governor to help set up their boardroom for a local project launching. I happened to see Ma'am Rachel there too. Recalling the day before, I waited for her to greet me but she didn't, not until Nur, our site manager introduced us again. Only then did she smile and shook my hand as if it was the first time we've met, which only confirmed that it really wasn't me she greeted the other day after all. Okay. Going back to earlier yesterday, during the launching of our exhibit for the Tawi-Tawi Information Center, I stationed myself at the back of the stage to take some pictures and to check out the lights just before the guests got in. From afar, I saw the newly-arrived Sir Nygiel, my officemate, seated at the back row and automatically, I waved at him to say hi. He himself smiled and waved back at me as well. To my amusement, the Bongao Mayor, who was seated at the front row smiled at me and waved back too! Haha! Gotcha Mayor!

Thank You

I take back my earlier claim of working alone on the Tawi-Tawi Exhibit and thus would like to thank all these people for easing out my paranoia and making my job a whole lot easier. My apologies. Thank you to: Aileen - for taking care of all textile matters; Angie - for the colorful Yakan weaved cloth from Zamboanga; Ardale - for closely coordinating with LBC & for dealing with Radical Ads; Ms. Becky - for giving me the authority to decide; Benie & Benly - for helping out their father Nardo thus making their work faster; Choy - for giving depth & texture on my 2D model; Ms. Diana - for transforming the plain ribbons into a bouquet; Ferdz - for letting me use his Tawi-Tawi stock photos at a discounted rate; Gladish - for completing my posters a halfday late but still made it; Glocel - for processing my cash advances really quick & for sending me the double adhesives to the rescue; Godo - for collating & packing my stuff for shipment; Greg - for allowing me to use his Balangay Expedition stock photos for free; Ian - for providing technical answers to all my simple questions; Jen - for taking my room service orders & bringing them in with a smile; Jessie - for separating the MPA maps by municipality; John - for driving me to & from the exhibit center & for being my official translator; Jun - for installing the electric wires & lights even without connection; Kookie - for laminating my translations & for arranging my plane tickets; Lando + - for constructing the realistic miniatures (may he rest in peace); Lemuel - for printing the panaflex posters & for giving us a well-deserved discount; Nardo - for building the makeshift fence & boardwalk the way I imagined it to be; Nur - for convincing the Vice Governor to allow us to use her TWAC building for the exhibit; Ralph - for helping me purchase all lighting fixtures; Roger - for having the unexpected extra creative eye; Rudy - for driving me to my suppliers; & lastly, Uzi Guy - for being the plain usisero at first & who later on volunteered to help install some posters. I love you all guys! And even if you don't love me back, it's totally fine! Again, thank you so much for helping me in every way you can. Karapat dapat kayong i-clap-clap!

Sinulog Weekend

Today, January 17, I'm a Cebuano at large. It's Sinulog or the feast day of the Child Jesus, better known locally as Senor Sto. Nino. And as everyone else is down the streets of Cebu for the grand celebration, I am also down the Philippine map - Tawi-Tawi to be exact. I have 6 official days to complete a 13'x28' setup. Much smaller compared to my 2 previous FISH exhibits but having worked on this project practically alone, the almost 1 year preparation still seemed not enough for me. (Or am I just overacting?) Initially my boss was a bit excited on this project and even committed for 2 simultaneous exhibits for the province of Tawi-Tawi and the municipality of Panglima Sugala. But somehow later on, her excitement was abruptly set aside when the so-called Ecological Evangelization activity suddenly came into the picture. (No offense meant to You Senor Sto. Nino.) So going back, we were scheduled to open 1 exhibit in August and the other in September 2009. But sometime in June, the municipal mayor of PS begged off for the earlier planned August opening. And having just finished a month-long preparation for a 3-day national event, I felt so relieved with the postponement. It was decided then to go on with our September schedule but as faith would have it, it was finally agreed to do the launching in January 2010. Whew! And so here I am today, working with Muslim friends on a Sinulog weekend. I'm pretty sure the little Guy up there wouldn't mind at all. Viva Pit Senor Sto. Nino!

Unfriending Nonfriends

Since Facebook recently modified its privacy settings, I checked out my friends’ list again and unearthed a few names which I actually do not know at all. While it’s already odd to see other people’s shoutouts every now and then, I guess seeing unfamiliar names on your list is even worse! And worst, they never update their selves. They just let their names sit there on your profile and rot. I wonder why. Obviously, I never asked them to add me up. I am certain they were the ones who invited me. Thing is, I add them up too, which undoubtedly makes me even more rotten myself!

Well, it’s a brand new year and perhaps an ideal time to do a little clean-up as well. From 322 links, I was able to trim down my “social friends” to 311. Hmmm... only 11 non-friends eliminated? I think I better check out my list again.