Stations of the Cross

(It's not quite right that the name of the priest integral to this post, and even the name of the Hermitage, escapes me now, so I apologize in advance.)

So the story goes that an Italian priest touring the country paid a visit to the Hermitage in Kananga, Leyte and fell in love with it. When he went back to Rome, he sent over money to the sisters in the Hermitage to have sculptures built in the forested area next to them chronicling the Stations of the Cross. In local currency, the money totaled a million, and back in Rome, the depletion of his entire life savings. Humbly, he told Mother Tita, the Mother Superior, "Sister, I'm a pauper now."

Last week, pop invited all of us to the Hermitage, for our yearly homage to the walk that Jesus was made to do to His death thousands of years ago. The construction was recently finished. I found that the life-sized structures are not without flaws. They are not works of art. You will likely spend a lot of time studying the curves dulled or overdone by the concrete works.

But the generosity was not made in vain. At the end of the homage, I was slightly reeling from the resonance of the meditation that pop read before each Station. The significance after all is in these meditations. It is after all, in our remembrance of the sacrifices that Jesus walked through, and not in the aesthetics of the commemoration.

Thank you, to the pauper priest from Rome, whoever you are. By giving these gifts so we will never forget, I believe you will always have your mark in this Hermitage, as it had left its mark on you.

The last Station.Each Station is enhanced by a landscape. There's a paved pathway that follows these Stations along the perimeters of the area. In the middle are grown gemelina trees, a collection of which imbue an enchanting atmosphere. It was a long but meaningful homage we did; and visually dramatic with the splendid natural landscape of fields and mountains, and not to mention the glorious sunset that visualtracked our own walk.This collection of gemelina trees is enchanting. I bet at night, it is enchanted.The hills are alive.Last note (by the toilet).

BTW: the Hermitage is very strict now. Ladies in jeans are not allowed, whoever benefactor you are.

~~~
(These photos are not very good. In my next visit, I'll dare to take out my camera more.)

Badmintoning in Ormoc

If there's one thing that makes the sport, badminton a winner, it's its establishment among Ormocanons as a hobby. Every new trend that succeeds in permeating this sleepy town's consciousness has first to see itself through a phase to determine if this sleepy town's inhabitants would want to integrate it in their lifestyle, or simply to dip their toes for a test in its curiously interesting waters. Badminton has long passed this phase and thus, is no longer a trend. Given the Ormocanons' notorious brand as a fickle bunch, that's an accomplishment. Rarely does any trend make it through halfway.

Case in point: the bike shop tito Rex, a biking enthusiast, set up. I think it continues to draw people, but it wasn't it used to be at the peak of the biking craze that hit mostly married men in their 30s and 40s in 2007 & 2008. Even my sister got into it with tio Perok and tita Rina. Group sessions and fun races were scheduled almost every week, to Isabel or to Lake Danao or to where-have-you. During that time, it was regular to see a couple of them hunched on their bikes taking the Ormoc streets on. In the middle of last year, my sister has to quit biking when she moved to Manila for a 6-month course in Fashion Design. Fast forward to the last few months: Tio Perok has no more mention of a bike-a-thon to anywhere. It was cool while it lasted though.

Biking of course is not a lone case. According to cousin Monic, even dancing apparently was just a trend among the Ormocanons. She is one of the trio that owns Ormoc's only happening bar, Dustriya. People who used to hit the dancefloors are either tired of dancing, have gotten married and pregnant and too heavy to do the basic sway, or are convinced they have two left feet and cannot do a decent dance even if it would save their lives (these are not Monic's observations, but my wild guesses :). Of course, it all boils down to that it has ceased to be cool. Her trio, she mentioned, is even considering of turning it to an extension to their more successful venture, the dining haunt, Pardy's.

~~~
So lately (like months ago, with a lot of absences in between), my sister Maica and I got into badminton with friends Ate Vans and tita Baday and cousin Mady. The only place to be seen playing badminton at is Badminton City in Baranggay Linao. I say this with no bias (the owner is my cousin's boyfriend -- now ex -- and a very nice guy at that); Badminton City is the only place in Ormoc that has genuine Taraflex courts. Frankly, I don't know what that is and can't even feel the difference in playing on concrete, but that's what the pros say (so i agree). Even the owner of the only other place that has a badminton court (IS) plays at Badminton City.

Our group-imposed schedule that we successfully followed only once in our entire badminton career (that's only 3 months in the going if you want to be exact) is on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Beginners will be comfortable on Thursdays and Saturdays because the pros don't play these days and generally, these are not badminton days for many. The pros, if I have to define them in Badminton City context, are those who can block a smash, who move in a graceful, speedy gait, who don't notify the entire place of their scores after every update, who you don't want to play next to. So there.

Charge: P160/hour (I need to double check if they still offer the P25/head all-you-can-play on Sundays)
Best time to play: 4-6 pm (especially on Tuesdays, before everybody arrives -- don't ask me about the other days)

Other comforts:
There are comfort rooms and shower rooms to shower and change in.
There's a cafeteria and a Japanese Restaurant (the only one that survived in the city, therefore the best).
There's a small shop where you can buy anything that you will need for play if you left all your equipment at home: fast-dry shirts, shorts, gummy-soled shoes, rockets, shuttlecocks, etc etc. There are pingpong tables.
There are computer games (for the kids).


Badminton City has 8 courts with Taraflex floors. Frankly, I don't know what that is and can't even feel the difference in playing on concrete, but that's what the pros say (so i agree).


Air-conditioned lounging area.
The mini shop where you can buy anything for play if you left your equipment at home (and too lazy to pick it up).
Yummy Japanese! Must-orders (pardon, the Japanese names escape me): tempura (with bread crumbs), chicken teriyaki, salad (with the mangoes, crab meat), California Maki.

A coffee shop will soon open beside this restaurant. Coffee after badminton?

My playmates: Ate Vans, Micachoo, and Mady (plus Bien, my willing model)

Candy Talk at the San Lorenzo Ruiz College

I spent the whole Friday, March 6 at the San Lorenzo Ruiz College upon the invitation of the Vanessa Siloterio-Romero (who if I should sum up in a few, is a walking testimony of God's gifts of love, happiness, courage, and forgiveness). She convinced me at first mention to be one of the mock interviewers in the mock interview activity that was the culmination of her seminar for the graduating students of the Cebu Doctors University-affiliate based in Ormoc. San Lorenzo approached Ate Vans to give the students a sneak into the reality that is the job market.

The point of the mock interview was to give an idea of what happens in a real one. I pulled out my formal khaki pants and somber black blouse from the closet, a bit wrinkly after staying in folded position since I resigned from my former job that required them, so I would look credible. My favorite questions in the list of 50 that Ate Vans gave me and the other mock interviewers as guide were: "How would you define success?," "Why should we hire you?," "What are your strengths and weaknesses?".

I expected that many would have preferred finishing a different course, but due to family pressure and the practicality needed in these dire times, they are graduating with a Nursing degree instead. I was right. One girl originally had her heart set on either the Police Academy or the Philippine Military Academy. Another girl, who even in her crisp white blouse with vertical blue lines and smart trousers failed to hide the fun-loving and happy-go-lucky girl that she is, cannot think of herself in the long haul being in the strict confines of a Nurse's life. She would rather be part of the risks and adventures that fill up a businesswoman's daily grind.

But through time and the graded experiences, they learned to enjoy and to some extent, love the job of a nurse. They all agreed that the most rewarding aspect of the job is to receive confirmation from the patients that they feel better under their care. Majority of the students who were assigned to me have no plans of leaving the country in the near future. If their words were of truth, then our hospitals need not sweat too much. But I do hope they will grant more significance to a Nurse's job. Needles, blood, and all -- it's no joke.

On a self-reflection mode, I saw myself many years ago in many of the ladies I interviewed. A bunch of them, completely with no-how on what to be honest about and what to keep to themselves in a job interview, confess lack of self-confidence that they allow like coffee to hinder their growth. I came clean and told them like Candy (Magazine) would that I was once a big bore with no confidence. Thankfully, I wasn't made of enough dense to not notice I missed a lot of things because of it. Quickly, I grew out of it. It's a state of mind, I told them.

Sigh, when I was in their place in my time, I had nobody to tell me that. Well, except for Candy Magazine (but, duh).

yeah!
far left, that's Ate Vans for you. the graduating students
my desk space (I was so thirsty from all the Candy talk I emptied the Fontana juice and the Coke bottle with not a single thought about calories)

~~~
Good luck to all those I have interviewed. As my father would say, I hope you find your place under the sun.