2022 Read Log

With only 12 on my list of completed books in 2022, it is my least read year since I started counting in 2014. But, while it is so, it certainly brings a compelling drive to read and search for more good books. Writings that are unique, thought provoking, relevant, and revolutionary – with in between indulgence of well-written chick literature.

Below is my 2022 Read Log.

12 – [Dec 26] The Courage to be Disliked (The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness) by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga
11 – [Oct 04] My Mess Is a Bit of a Life: Adventures in Anxiety by Georgia Pritchett
10 – [Aug 18] First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami
09 – [Aug 13] An Ugly Truth (Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination) by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang
08 – [Jul 23] The Storyteller (Tales of Life and Music) by Dave Grohl
07 – [Jun 22] Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
06 – [Jun 17] The Art of Gathering (How We Meet and Why It Matters) by Priya Parker
05 – [May 21] The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
04 – [Apr 09] Before the coffee gets cold (Tales from the cafe) by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
03 – [Mar 16] Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Bréne Brown
02 – [Jan 26] Surrounded by Idiots (The Four Types of Human Behavior and How To Effectively Communicate with Each in Business and in Life) by Thomas Erikson
01 – [Jan 03] The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy, and Our Health – and How We Must Adapt by Sinan Aral

*** Indicated dates are completion dates.

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© rooks 2023

2021 Read Log

As uncanny as the past two years have been, even my choices of books has taken the unknown ride. I usually read with intention but, 2021 led me to read courageously. Some of the writings I have read the past year are unorthodox in themes, perspective, norms, style, etc. It is in fact very interesting and refreshing. And, I hope to find more of these reads in 2022.

Below is my 2021 Read Log.

19 – [Dec 23] Love for Imperfect Things (How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection) by Haemin Sunim
18 – [Dec 08] Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
17 – [Oct 10] Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
16 – [Oct 05] effortless (Make It Easier to Do What Matters Most) by Greg McKeown
15 – [Sep 13] The 5AM Club (Own Your Morning, Elevate Your Life) by Robin Sharma
14 – [Aug 18] Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
13 – [Jul 24] Kaizen (The Japanese Method for Transforming Habits One Small Step at a Time) by Sarah Harvey
12 – [Jul 20] How to Lead Smart People (Leadership for Professionals) by Arun Singh & Mike Mister
11 – [Jul 12] Black, White, and The Grey (The Story of an Unexpected Friendship and a Beloved Restaurant) by Mashama Bailey and John O. Morisano
10 – [Jun 08] Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
09 – [May 12] Shipped by Angie Hockman
08 – [Apr 27] Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
07 – [Apr 04] Girl Decoded (A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology) by Rana el Kaliouby with Carol Colman
06 – [Mar 31] Measure What Matters (How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs) by John Doerr
05 – [Mar 22] The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon
04 – [Mar 07] Outlawed by Anna North
03 – [Jan 26] Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
02 – [Jan 18] This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
01 – [Jan 12] Eat a Peach: A Memoir by David Chang

*** Indicated dates are completion dates.

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© rooks 2022

Tagpuan (2020)

The last good Filipino film I felt compelled to write and have written was Sakaling Maging Tayo by Jaime Habac Jr. It was unexpectedly good.

Due to the reality of so many to watch, read, and listen – doing film reviews on my blog has taken a break. I opted to write short film reviews that will fit the finite space of Twitter instead. It was my goal at the beginning of 2020.

Yet, for a film made by Filipinos for which came as a pleasant surprise when I watched it, I feel obliged to write my thoughts on it even if its “unpopularity” brims in Twitter as of my random scroll in its early days of showing.

Written by Ricardo Lee, the script is crisp and at times poetic. It does not convince an ideology. Rather, it asks life questions that may be deeply stirring our hearts and minds or may have been hidden in the recesses of our subconscious. Either way, they are questions grounded in our inherent quest and pursuit for meaning.

Aside from its brilliant scriptwriting, the film’s cinematography is a sight to behold. Its choice of shots is intentional that each frame can be likened to a photographer’s portfolio or a well curated Instagram account. The film’s palette and style has a striking resemblance to Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation.

The artistic style of gradually unfolding the story through an intertwined panache of subtlety brought by shades to denote the past or present is commendable.

While a stress reliever is typical in most films (international or local), Shaina Magdayao’s candor works. She shines in the film. Alfred Vargas reminds me of any rich guy in most Korean series or movies where the expressions are mostly stoic. For my own taste though, he is not as dreamy as Kim Rae-won (Love Story in Harvard). I was hoping to see more of Agnes’ pain through the eyes or facial expressions of Iza Calzado who portrays her, but, it somehow hides behind her pretty face.

Director, MacArthur Alejandre’s skill in storytelling weaved a film that brought the best in the script that is cradled in the beautiful music by Von De Guzman.

Like its literal English translation, Tagpuan brings us to a place which may be pensively uncharted or commonly described as a love story for most. But, it is also a place of finding one’s identity, a pursuit of passions, where even if the journey’s consequences are far more likely to happen than the impossible dream, the chase for it will be undeterred.

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© rooks 2021

2020 Read Log

In a 2015 TED Talk, American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates said, “If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades, it’s most likely to be a highly infectious virus rather than a war — not missiles but microbes. Now, part of the reason for this is that, we have invested a huge amount in nuclear deterrents, but we’ve actually invested very little in a system to stop an epidemic. We’re not ready for the next epidemic.” Indeed, fast forward to 2020, we were not ready. We still are not ready. It is far from over.

Life has changed. The word normal has transformed itself into a definition of resolute adaptation to a reality that is distressing and perplexing. The boisterousness of social media despair is only a tip of the iceberg to the silent lethal pain of depression – unspoken and undisclosed. Little did we know that the vibrant goals of 2020 will be overturned to survival mode.

Aside from the company of family and friends, media has also been our companion as we endured the time loop of 2020. Though I consider 2020 as the year where I have watched and reviewed more movies than the past, my love for reading has a place of its own in my day. It remains to be a respite from the exuberance or gloom of content platforms and social media.

Below is my 2020 Read Log.

17 – [Dec 15] Ties That Tether by Jane Igharo
16 – [Dec 08] The Truths We Hold: An American Journey by Kamala Harris
15 – [Nov 05] Becoming Superman by J. Michael Straczynski
14 – [Oct 04] Good Morning, I Love You (Mindfulness + Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire Your Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy) by Shauna Shapiro, PhD
13 – [Aug 30] Asia’s Cauldron (The South China Sea and the End of a Stable Pacific) by Robert D. Kaplan
12 – [Aug 29] Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
11 – [Aug 07] Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams
10 – [Jul 17] Alibaba (The House that Jack Ma Built) by Duncan Clark
09 – [May 31] Talking to Strangers (What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know) by Malcolm Gladwell
08 – [May 14] One Man’s View of the World by Lee Kuan Yew
07 – [Apr 26] Your Perfect Year by Charlotte Lucas
06 – [Apr 12] Fifty Inventions that Shaped the Modern Economy by Tim Harford
05 – [Mar 29] The Man Without a Face (The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin) by Masha Gessen
04 – [Feb 29] Charlotte’s Web by Elwyn Brooks White
03 – [Feb 26] The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
02 – [Feb 15] The Other Side of Happiness (Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living) by Brock Bastian
01 – [Feb 08] Hit Makers (How To Succeed in an Age of Distraction) by Derek Thompson

*** Indicated dates are completion dates.

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© rooks 2021

The Unconscious Social Media Avatar

Apart from books and movies, podcasts have gained much of my attention these days. Episode 3 in Bill Gates and Rashida Jones Ask Big Questions asked this question towards the end of the conversation, “What will you do when technology begins to know you better than yourself?”

In a world of social media likes, retweets, shares, and comments – technology will most likely know you better than yourself through data analytics and forensics. The social media scroll culture that almost instinctively compels one to like, retweet, share, or comment, stealthily creates your unconscious social media avatar. The more impulsive the reaction to a social media content, the better technology becomes of knowing you better than yourself. Have you noticed that the data on your feed becomes more refined as you engage in social media? The feed knows what you like or you are most likely to engage in – politics, sports, wellness, etc.

So, are you willing to let technology know you better or are you more keen to know yourself better?

Thoughts? Let’s talk.

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© rooks 2020

Music in Isolation

In this time of lockdowns and quarantines, we generally at some point have taken time to clean and rearrange our storage rooms and have likely discovered and remembered forgotten items.

On top of my dresser and encased in its dusty brown carton, Kai, my soprano ukulele, has been sleeping for years – waiting for music. While Taylor Swift created Folklore, I found refuge in playing Kai in this time of isolation.

In my laptop is a random collection of songs I play in ukulele for which I have carefully researched for their easy chords. I kept a copy of them even if they can be searched in the internet as You Tube and Google can be convoluted. It is always nice to have them in handy whenever I feel like playing. As the collection grew, I realized that I can compile them and create an ebook to share especially to beginners who may find it hard to search for simpler chords that sound just as lovely.

Drop by my shop to have a sneak peek. Enjoy playing with your uke.

Kindness in the Time of Covid-19

70 days and counting. Staying home due to Covid-19 is changing us – how we live, how we think, and how we cope. In varying degrees, each one of us feel the impact of the pandemic in our lives – socially, economically, environmentally, spiritually, and mentally.

Technology is helping us grapple with the vicissitudes of the outbreak. But, while it is keeping us entertained, the temporary filler of delight does not eliminate the psychological strain. If one is not mindful, it can even reinforce desperation.

With the virus not sparing anyone to be infected due to the absence of a cure or vaccine, some say that it levels humanity to an equal footing for which I disagree. The strength of one’s immune system alone is a factor of survival and demise. And the list of determinants – financial, political, etc., go on.

So, how do we withstand the absurdity of our time? Be kind to yourself and others. At this time of incomprehensible strangeness and unpredictability, it is common that the reason to be anxious is high and the foresight of hope is low. You may be content and unruffled, but, a percentage of your family members and friends are struggling to make sense.

Again, be kind.

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© rooks 2020

2019 Read Log

In between Netflix, YouTube, movies, to daily life (personal & professional) is reading. Yet, reading needs focus and attention. And, it can always be temptingly set aside for later over pleasure viewing especially after a tough day.

Today’s conversations tend to circulate on what is trending on social media. It is a topsy turvy range of interests from politics, economics, entertainment, sports, etc. – where, feeds are flooded with more opinions and fabricated stories rather than facts. It is a deluge of information and misinformation. It is a circus where one does not want to be left out. With that, there is a tendency to be glued and consumed by the scrolling culture.

Thus, where do books and/or reading position itself from sunrise to sunset?
How does one in between all things place reading in one’s 24 hours?

Below is a simple guide that keeps me reading.
(1) Aim it. Set a reading goal. Give a number. 20 or 50 books a year.
(2) Schedule it. Set a specific reading time and period. 5AM, 1 hour.
(3) Log it. Take note of your reading accomplishment as you finish each book. I indicate completion dates.
(4) Share it. Have meaningful conversations with a friend/s about your readings. It does not matter if you have read the same books. In one way or another, you will find a common ground or will discover the wisdom of other genres.

Most importantly, make reading a lifestyle. It is a calming alternative that boosts brain power.

For 2019, below is my list. I am still aiming for 50 in 2020. Care to share your favourite reads of 2019? I am very interested.

19 – [Dec 24] Born a Crime (Stories from a South African Childhood) by Trevor Noah
18 – [Dec 14] The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
17 – [Nov 16] iGen (Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy – And Completely Unprepared for Adulthood… and What That Means for the Rest of Us) by Jean M. Twenge, PhD
16 – [Nov 02] A Brief History of Japan (Samurai, Shogun, and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun) by Jonathan Clements
15 – [Sep 22] Well Met by Jen DeLuca
14 – [Aug 30] Gaudete et Exsultate (Apostolic Exhortation on the Call to Holiness in Today’s World) by Pope Francis
13 – [Aug 26] Cooking for Picasso by Camille Aubray
12 – [Jul 27] Start With Why (How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action) by Simon Sinek
11 – [Jun 30] Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
10 – [Jun 23] Leading by Alex Ferguson with Michael Moritz
09 – [Jun 15] The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
08 – [Jun 05] Shortest Way Home (One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future) by Pete Buttigieg
07 – [May 12] The Future of the Mind (The Scientific Quest to Understand, Enhance, and Empower the Mind) by Michio Kaku
06 – [Apr 20] Why I am Catholic (And You Should Be Too) by Brandon Vogt
05 – [Apr 07] The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
04 – [Mar 24] Option B (Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy) by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
03 – [Mar 09] Istanbul (City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World) by Thomas F. Madden
02 – [Feb 03] 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do by Amy Morin
01 – [Jan 07] Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch

*** Indicated dates are completion dates.
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© rooks 2020

Singapore River Cruise

In a recent “unplanned with no expectations, but to chill trip” to Singapore, I was delighted to have surprise highlights of the spree – 2 museum visits and an experience of the Singapore River Cruise.

From a very shallow intention of just to “kill time” until the National Museum opens, we were brought to a cruise of discoveries that is reminiscent of the past and a glimpse to a vision of a future. Among the sweet finds while on the cruise are the Asians Civilization Museum for which was only a walk away from our port of embarkation and debarkation, and a short history lesson of Singapore through the educational video on board. My friend (who is also an epistemophile) and I were like kids in awe of the knowledge barrage for which was music to our soul.

The visit to the National Museum made us appreciate the river more as it brought us to its once cataclysmic past. The United Nations once described the Singapore River as an “irreversible environmental disaster”. Today, it freshly flows with pride of ditching its devastating past. In the beginning, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s call to clean up the river fell on deaf ears, but with his boldness and pursuit for greater things, and the participation of local heroes, he led the irreversible disaster to endless possibilities.

As I ponder on Singapore River’s inspiring transformation, I can only hope for our very own Pasig River. It is with sadness as I think of it. For now, I can only continue with my small acts of mindful consumption, disposal, and re-use.

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© rooks 2019

San Vicente, Palawan

In our 4th year of annual vacationing, we did not intend to go to Palawan (again) as we went to El Nido in 2017. But, unavoidable circumstances redirected us to Palawan. And in a span of only 2 weeks preparation of flight and hotel rebookings, we were all set for San Vicente, Palawan. We have bookmarked San Vicente in our bucket list to visit but not this soon. However, the group is excited and happy to venture into San Vicente.

San Vicente is located at the north west of the island of Palawan. It is 186 kilometers away from the capital of Palawan – Puerto Princesa. On June 21, 1969, the municipality of San Vicente was created by virtue of Republic Act 5821. It is politically divided into 10 barangays – Binga, New Canipo, Sto. Nino, Alimanguan, San Isidro, New Agutaya, Poblacion (San Vicente), New Villa Fria (Kemdeng), Port Barton, and Caruray.

We took the Manila to El Nido flight through AirSwift as direct flights to San Vicente are not yet available. Then a van took us to San Vicente. It was previously contacted through the resort where we will be staying. It takes 2-3 hours from El Nido to San Vicente. Direct flights will soon be available in the second half of 2019.

We stayed at Club Agutaya. The resort morphs with nature. It is an environment conscious green resort where they use state of the art Sewage Treatment System (STS) to convert toilet waste to reusable water and solar and LED lights combined with solar and wind power to generate a significant amount of power for the resort. One thing noticeable during our stay is that, the foundation of the resort is built with solid concrete, which makes it ideal for structures constructed near the shoreline.

The room where we stayed gave a lasting impression. The bed runner is newly washed. One could still smell the detergent used. The beddings are crisp and clean – a very delightful sign that every guest gets a first use in their stay. This is important for me to write because of some unfavourable experiences from other starred resort stays.

Another remarkable experience is the menu at Café Lily, the resort’s restaurant. CEO and Chef Propriétaire, Maria, created the menu and personally prepares the food. The menu gave a good selection of Filipino and some international dishes. Homemade bread is freshly baked and served as appetizer during lunch and dinner. Dip them in melted butter – it made my day every time. Dining at the café is always a surprise to the palate. Simple and fresh flavours. On all our meals, we picked personal favourites to reorder on our last meal. Chef Maria would go around the tables to chat with the guests and ask how the food was. One late night, an hour before the café will close, tired but fulfilled with our day’s activities, we were clueless of what to have for dinner, Chef Maria suggested an off the menu dishes – mussels in broth with an aioli dip, and tinapa. It was exquisite. If there is something to improve, it is their breakfast buffet variety and to hire a good barista. Accompanied by friends who know their coffee, we were not as enthralled as compared with the experience of the sumptuous meals we had. But, these 2 things for improvement are minute for us because of the overall excellent service. They make you feel comfortable and at home; and they constantly ask if you are happy every after a trip or experience.

Kuya Mark, the driver, tour guide, and arranger of our trips, was not only all of those but he gave us meaningful trivia of the life around San Vicente and life in general. Aside from his endless jokes that made us laugh (or not), it was the educational experience we had with him that made the trip also memorable. Among those he shared that made an impact to my endless quest for learning are these: (1) Every captain of the boat for island hopping in San Vicente undergoes the yearly 1 mile certification swim. (2) The boatman feels the temperature of the waters first before letting the tourists go for snorkelling or swimming. This is to ensure that there are no deadly jellyfishes lurking around. If the water is hot, they are likely to be present. This is a very important reminder for tourists to always follow the instructions of their boatman as unlikely incidents have already happened.

Previously, San Vicente is most visited by Europeans rather than by Filipinos, but, is now becoming more popular and visited. With the new airport about to open, it will be more accessible. I am not sure if I should be happy or sad or both about it. The dreadful thought of it as becoming the next Boracay terrifies me. The current state of downtown El Nido devastates me. There is an urgent call for responsible tourism. Hopefully, the master plan of Palafox Associates preserves its beauty.

San Vicente is lovely. Beautiful is an understatement.

Vacations give us time to relax and refresh, but it can also be enlightening if we deeply ponder and listen closely to the people and the environment. One of my realization in this trip is that, do not go cheap with your tips, especially if they really give good service. It provides dignity to work. It boosts the morale of the locals. In fact, the experience gained through their good service is priceless. So, be extra generous and kind.

San Vicente, you are love that gets better. Keep being beautiful.

Nota Bene
We had 2 island hopping tours and below are the places we have visited.
Photos with “summer buddies” inscription are from the random shots of my friends in this vacation.

Exotic Island

Maxima Island

Inaladelan Island (lunch and farther in between the islands is swimming with the turtles)

Sandbar

Bigaho Falls

Sunset at Port Barton

Barangay Sto. Nino (overlooking the 14 kilometers long beach of San Vicente)

Bato ni Ningning

Lazuli Kitchen for brick oven pizza

Village Island (lunch and swimming)
Unscathed. Picturesque. With no other tourists, simply perfect. This is where I swam to my heart’s content. What is not to love with our islands?

Kambingan Island

New Agutaya River (Kayaking for 2 kilometers)

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© rooks 2019