Leaving Something Behind

When I decided to finally join my wife in Singapore, I suddenly felt I am beginning to miss the place I used to call home. Leaving behind familiar places, familiar sights and sounds and tastes. You would even leave behind the people to whom you grow up with. And it’s partly difficult.

Well, after finishing law school, in ways I just want to keep to myself, haha. I felt that for whatever the Philippines is, I will just miss the old place. The usual jeepneys I would take whenever I have to go somewhere. Many people think that leaving the country would be the priciest life achievement but, I have realized moving away from home when you have somewhat established yourself in there would be like dying to your old self.

You grew up in a place where everybody knows you. Everybody likes you. You understand every part of them. But, lo and behold, now you are in foreign land, with such little acquaintance and perhaps a handful of friends.

You will miss the hustle and bustle of streets. You will long for clankering of street vendors or their distinct cajoling of their offerings of basketfuls of puto, or pail of silken tofu (taho), many many things come to my mind.

But I like it here, in many aspects. I like the cleanliness, the orderliness and efficiency of public transport, something that my place lacks. But for now, this place will be my refuge. I must learn to love it, as slowly I am.
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Ice-Kachang vs. Halo-Halo

Every true-blue Filipino perhaps will not forget the ubiquitous halo-halo during arid summer days in the Philippines. Every street corner would be a table with jars full of confectioneries for cold halo-halo feast. But, I think Singapore won’t let their hands down with our snow-white halo-halo (which I think colors suits best Christmas) with their Ice-Kachang.

Ice Kachang is similar to our halo-halo with a very different twist. They are the same because Kachang and Halo-halo’s main ingredient is of course, crushed ice. But the original halo-halo ingredients is placed underneath a tall glass, thereafter covered liberally with Ice topped with leche flan and ube dashed with evaporated milk. On the other hand, Kachang would still have some kaong, sweetened beans and gelatins (and more) underneath, covered with not just liberal amounts but heaping, towering ice. The slopes of the ice-tower on your bowl are colored (with natural flavors) green, red, yellow and more. On top of the Kachang would be mango or durian puree, or alternatively, brown sweet beans or mais con hielo. That’s what I call a cold treat!


With no offense meant with my favorite halo-halo. Ice-Kaching is also a winner. I love the tower of ice colored like a mountain with various shades of hues. Plus, mango, durian and coconut are very summer in my taste. The heaping serving of kachang seems to invite you to plunge into a bowl of winter in the hot summer days of Singapore.

I can’t wait until I get to that Kopi Tiam (eatery) and get another bowl of Ice-Kachang or Chendol (description next blog, please), it is so delicious. While I still miss my halo-halo, Ice-Kachang of Singapore provides me the relief and comfort, the welcome perhaps, in this land. Imagining, it’s telling me, “you are very much welcome here…” or at least, I’d like to think it that way. But the bottom line: I just simply love it!

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Back to Blogging!

I promised to be back at blogging and here am I, blogging again, albeit, there are no readers of this blog. Hahaha. Online Journal. May masama ba dun?

But I promise to chronicle every important event of my life in this Lion City. Now, that I am here for this time, or perhaps for a lifetime (that I do not know). I have to capture every experience and every bit and piece of my life here and share it, at least to myself.
I couldn’t stand boredom with just watching YouTube every hour or listen to internet radio back in the Philippines, or worst, watching TFC (though I must admit, these made my stay here much bearable).

Okay, I won’t discredit TFC and tripod.com internet radios. For one, I am an avid, solid fan of them. I watch TV everyday now, as opposed to, not even turning my TV on back home. I would not give time listening to my old AM radio stations (DZRH and DZAS) when I was still in the Philippines because, I always thought, they are always there to stay. But now, the keep me company. They bring back the 7, 107 islands of my native land right before my very eyes and ears. I love it. Okay, I confess…I love TFC and pinoy internet radios. They keep me so much at home.

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Basically Basic Asean Basic Document

Much has been said about ASEAN. The ASEAN charter is now on its way to be ratified by the member states, and series of consultations for the ASEAN basic document are being spearheaded to unite the differences and consolidate the interests of the ASEAN nations.

But there are several problems along the way. ASEAN leaders wanted the organization be a successful regional bloc, not only economically but politically in its faction in the globe. But this fast-tracking of ASEAN Vision 2020 (now ASEAN 2015), would be a dream more than reality if crucial issues of making ASEAN closer to the people of South East Asia will not be realized.

First, the level of awareness of the people in the region in the existence of ASEAN is still somewhat unfelt. The ASEAN has not yet been successful creating an ASEAN regional identity, or awareness that will reach its more than 500 million citizens on ASEAN benefits and gains. The question is, “how can ASEAN be more relevant to the individual citizens of each member nations?” For instance, how will ASEAN be interesting to the people in Myanmar in the present conflict there of Aung San Suu Kyi against the government of Myanmar? How will the ASEAN be more responsive to the pressing need to alleaviate poverty in young people of Cambodia and Laos? How will ASEAN help to improve the economic momentum of the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam?

Simply put, the citizens of the South East Asian states need to be more familiar with the workings and systems of ASEAN. The individual citizens, for instance of Laos, or Cambodia, Philippines and Thailand, among others, need to be acquainted with the notion of ASEAN and its primary objectives for the region and for its people. Meaning, ASEAN needs to be introduced, submerged and saturated within the mindset of every SouthEast Asian. Without, this I believe, no full integration can happen. The integration sought to be achieved by the leaders of this region would be like an elitist organization, perhaps, far from what it was originally conceived.

There must be strong efforts first to introduce ASEAN in its entirety and its importance, role and function in the lives, culture, economic conditions, and religious belief of every South East Asian. A strong campaign must be made in order to make ASEAN closer to its people, so that from the grassroots of the ASEAN society to the high economic perspectives of its leaders, true integration, harmony and cooperation can be fully achieved.
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