Post Planet

Bah. I’ve moved professional/public entries to a new Wordpress.You can keep up with me at PostPlanetPort.Wordpress.com

I will continue using this tumblr for more personal blogs and media posting.

Happy trails to you… until we meet again…

This is to you, who taught me how to dress in coordinated colors and patterns since the times of Osh Kosh B’Gosh.

This is to you, who breastfed me and not my older brother or younger sister.

This is to you, who told me the importance of prayer, and who still tries to make sure I go to Mass on Sunday.

This is to you, who cheered and smiled for me when I showed you I could ride a bike without training wheels in the backyard. It was in the morning when you got home from work, before I went to school. I was in first grade.

This is to you, who hugged me when Barb broke up with me. I was so heartbroken I felt that someone had died. You held me and told me life goes on.

This is to you, who always bought me McDonald’s when I whined that I didn’t like Filipino food.

This is to you, who danced with me at the Aklanons party when I was jealous of Daddy. How come he gets to have all the fun??

This is to you, who drove me out to Riverside when I demanded I get to take my license test so that I could drive myself wherever I wanted. I crossed my arms in anger at you when they didn’t accept the copy of my birth certificate that you brought and I couldn’t take the test. It was not your fault, but I was a selfish boy.

This is to you, who nursed Father when he was in the hospital. Stayed by his side in sickness and in health.

This is to you, who stayed up all night making party favors for this niece’s birthday or that co-worker’s anniversary or your daughter’s debut or you first son’s wedding. Your creativity still impresses me.

This is to you, who packed all my boxes and helped me move in to my dormroom at Cal. I couldn’t wait to start my new independent life away from family.

This is to you, who waved a tearful goodbye as you saw me board a plane to Japan. To be out of your reach for two years. You let me follow my dreams.

This is to you, who waved goodbye again as you saw me board a plane to New York. Once again, you let me follow my dreams.

This is to you, who listened to me when I said I wanted to start my own business and be a writer even if I didn’t make a dime. You thought it not safe, but said whatever makes you happy, Anak.

This is to you, because as sweet as Hallmark is, it doesn’t have a card that captures the story of you and me.

This is to you, who I promise, some day, to take care of the way you took care of me.

I LOVE YOU, MOM.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. <3

[ORIGINALLY POSTED ON December 29, 2010, VIA WORDPRESS]

I kneel down and bow my head at the feet of this film.

I haven’t seen a movie this good, Japanese or otherwise, in a long time.

Sometimes it felt like a Ghibli work, but it definitely distinguishes itself as something else. A unique kind of wondiferous piece of art.

A well-developed cast of characters, slice-of-life humor, and a great story- all in parallel with a visual and visceral ride through the sacred world of cyberspace. It can be argued as the Japanese spiritual successor of Hackers and The Matrix. I will never look at avatars the same way again.

I want has King Kazma now.

The fluid, Paprika-ish cyberkinetic style was merely the icing on the cake. What really hit me, and what you see if you pay close attention- is that it embodies all of the best that Nippon has to offer. To its own people, and the rest of the world. History, honor, family, tradition, unity, strength, change, growth, friendship. They are all present.

“Through good times and bad… the most important things are to eat and never be alone.” -Obachan

[ORIGINALLY POSTED ON April 14, 2009, VIA WordPress]

I got Adrien’s letter in the mail today.  Reading it made me happy, and pensive about my life here.

Inuyama.  I love my little quiet town.  It’s not exploding with neon lights or fashion or anime, all things I love- but it’s beautiful in its simplicity.  I read the mail at dusk next to the park where kids were playing ball.

Afterward, I biked around a little, just a few blocks radius from my house, taking in all the small things.  The changing color of the cherry blossom trees. They were full of pink just a few weeks ago, now they’re almost completely green again.  The dust and lint on the floor of the video rental store.  The sound of cicada returning to life.  The flickering light of an apartment, in front of a window with the silhouette of a person, probably doing the dishes.  A group of three women in business clothes talking outside for a spell.  The wind relieving my slipper-covered feet from the warm weather that came way too suddenly after a freezing winter.

And it made me feel nostalgic.  Nazukashi.  I noticed the scent in the air-it was just like the first time I set foot in this country. Walking aimlessly during a hot summer in Tokyo.  While I couldn’t stand the sun and heat, the temperature only amplified the adventure and excitement of it all.  Then there was living those two weeks at Kanda Shrine in the mountains of Higashi Shirawakamura.  Working hard, first encounters with Japanese children, first matsuri and bon-o-dori…

Back to the present. As the day winded down it struck me that I had lived here almost a full year.   I may only be here one year longer.  All the signs so far pointed to it.

Hmmmm.  Life.  It leads you to some interesting places if you let it…