Legend of the Seas Cruising 101- What I Learned From My First Cruise / Day 1: Leaving Singapore

Now that I am on the other side of fifty, I told myself that I would keep on trying new things. Research shows that engaging in new activities helps prevent the onset of Alzheimers and helps keep our brains healthy. I have ridden on camels and eaten frogs. I have climbed a few hills –Petra and the Foothills of the Purple Mountains.  I have even gone on a Mac Tutorial! But all these years, I have not gone on a cruise. Well, an honest to goodness cruise, anyway, not the river cruises that take only a couple of hours. 

I blame my cruise aversion to Hollywood, with its blockbusters such as “Poseidon Adventure” which was the “Titanic” of my generation, and recently, “Life of Pi”. 

But because of my newly minted attitude of trying out new things, my daughter and I went on a South East Asian cruise. It was going to be an adventure for the two of us--- okay, mainly me, because I don’t swim and am prone to motion sickness.  After four nights and five days of bliss both on water and land, we are so glad that we went.

Day 1- Leaving Singapore

Two good omens blessed the trip from the get-go: For one, our ship, Royal Caribbean Cruise’s Legend of the Seas had just been refurbished a few months earlier, and secondly, it would set sail from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Center,  which opened only late last year.

Legend of the Seas  waiting for us at Marina Bay Cruise Center

 The check-in procedure was smooth as silken tofu.  A porter took our bags the minute we stepped into the airconditioned coolness of the Cruise Center.  In a few minutes, we had our set sail passes and were ushered into the ship. The set sail pass is like an ATM card that serves as a key card for our cabin as well as electronic wallet.

We had lunch at the Windjammer Café, the ship’s casual dining outlet which serves buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  The cabins are usually not yet ready when you check in early, so it was good that we carried the bare minimum with us when we boarded the ship. That was Learning No. 1, and so, we were able to roam the ship at leisure.

Windjammer Cafe: Eat red meat and fried food guilt-free! 

Beyond being on a floating hotel with a rock climbing wall, cruising gave us a choice of activities. We could just lounge around at the pools, gazing at the gently lapping waves and the vast, tranquil sky, or actively participate in ship activities.  These activities came in an endless stream. To name a few, there were themed parties, dancing, yoga, and craft classes, trivia games, movies on the humongous outdoor screen, karaoke nights, and for those who are feeling extraordinarily lucky, gaming at Casino Royale. Excited as we were, it was physically impossible for us to join in all of them  we  had to pick our favorites. That’s Learning No. 2- You’ll never get bored on a cruise. You may have an activity overload, so it makes sense to prioritize.

Open Deck with Giant TV Screen, the site of many activities

 We attended the Sail-Away Party at the Poolside where we line- danced amidst the backdrop of the Singapore skyline slowly receding in the horizon.

Sailing away from Singapore. Cranes and the Singapore Flyer

 All that dancing whetted our appetites for dinner at the Romeo and Juliet. A pair of curving staircases  dominated the dining area. Beside the stairs, a pianist played soothing music on a grand piano, while a huge chandelier rained lights on the guests. Nothing could compete though, with the view of the sea at dusk as seen through the wrap- around glass walls.

Romeo and Juliet: Like having a buffet served at your table

 The Miso Pesto Brushed Atlantic Salmon I ordered melted in my mouth in a burst of fresh flavor.  My daughter said that the Slow Roasted Prime Rib she had was succulent and tasty.  Learning No. 3 You can order as many entrees, salads, etc. as you want at R and J. It was like having a buffet served at your table. The variety would not be as wide as the buffet, but the dishes were well chosen.

My dinner- Yummy but too large!

 Cruises are quite well known for the abundance of food. My travel agent told me , “Ma’am, you won’t get hungry on a cruise.” She was right.  Aside from the Windjammer and Romeo and Juliet, there is the Park Café in the Solarium (covered pool) which served snacks round the clock. (There are three specialty restaurants that charge a fee for dining- Chops Grille, Izumi, and Chef’s Table). The Poolside was the place to go for soft serve ice cream. My daughter had a lot of fun not just eating the ice cream but serving it up herself.  For a minute, I was afraid she was going to take orders from the other passengers. This brings me to Learning No. 4- There is nothing more enjoyable than eating red meat, fried food, and decadent sweets without feeling guilty. We  simply said, “We’re on vacation!”

A Carnivore's delight: Slow Roasted Prime Rib

 After dinner, we watched a show at the “That’s Entertainment Theater” which was billed as “Transforming People”. It featured dancers performing high-octane dances while changing costumes at lightning speed.  We had a light snack of cheese pizza at the Solarium before going to bed.

That's Entertainment Theater

 At the end of Day 1, I had one of the best learnings. Learning No. 5- the ship is rock solid. I just took a Bonamine before embarking, and I felt fine throughout the day. Just to illustrate how stable it was: there was not even a hint of movement on the water in my goblet whenever we ate. If someone prone to motion sickness like me could enjoy a cruise, anybody can.

Night night, towel elephant of white

 We went to bed eagerly anticipating our shore excursion to KL. My daughter and I have fond memories of KL.

 Next entry will be on Day 2, with KL Shore Excursion.

An article on the  entire cruise was published in the Lifestyle section of the Business Mirror, May 30, 2013 edition.

Falling In Love Again

Early this year, my beloved Mac died. I mean my Macbook died. It was barely three years old, mostly unused. It was such a sad thing because I loved my Mac. On it, I started wrting personal pieces. I also wrote my first blog on it. And for it to die on me so soon, made me feel betrayed. What had happened? Did I get a lemon? Where is the much vaunted durability of the Mac, which is said to be self-healing? My daughter said it might have been because of the times I forgot to unplug it after charging. Anyway, after grieving, I knew that I had to buy a new one.  I bought a Macbook Air, which is smaller, a lot lighter, but with smaller memory than my old Macbook Pro. I did not know if I would love new Mac as much as old Mac. 

Earlier this week, I went for the free OS X tutorial at Powermac Trinoma. My daughter said it would be good for me to go since it is free, after all.

Three years on a Mac and still you go on a tutorial? You might ask. But the thing is, I just mainly used the Word application on my Mac, and till my retirement last year, I hardly used it. After retirement, my daughter assisted me whenever needed.

My daughter and I usually tell each other that "Papa Steve" has thought of everything, because the features of the Mac and other Apple products like the iPad and iPhone are so cool. This was reinforced during my tutorial when I learned to navigate the desktop , the panel, and the dock for sure. So elementary, you might say, but when it comes to gadgets, I am so easy to impress and please. Joyfully, I discovered that I can have access to a dictionary without being on the internet. Also, that I can transfer pictures and documents wirelessly even from a Blackberry. A lot of you must be laughing at how ignorant I am. My daughter is a bit peeved, because she said she had previously taught me all those things. I guess I paid more attention during the tutorial, because I might be tested afterwards.  

Seriously though, the tutor, Sheila Flores was a very nice young lady. By showing me all the capabilities of the Mac, I found myself falling in love again. And this time, I promise to be vigilant about charging.

Picture with my tutor using photo booth effects

Me and The Actor Who Stepped Into The Fisherman’s Shoes

            Today marks the eighth death anniversary of Blessed John Paul II,  one of the most beloved popes in history. I’d like to think of him as Actor, Playwright, Soldier, Pope. Sounds like the title of a John Le Carre novel, but Pope John Paul II played all those roles so well and with such sincerity as to be worthy of admiration.

JP II Retreat House, Tagaytay

            JP II has a special spot in our hearts because he visited the Philippines thrice, two of those visits as a Pope. He also canonized the first Filipino saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz. The World Youth Day held in Luneta on January 15, 1995 will always be remembered as the largest single Papal gathering  in the world. Estimates vary from four million to seven million attendees, but the thing is that the Filipinos turned out in full force to welcome the Pope.

            I had the privilege of seeing Pope John Paul II up close, or about as close as an ordinary twenty-something government employee could, during his first visit to the country as Pope in 1981 (he first visited in 1973 as a Cardinal). Vito Cruz in Malate seemed to be an unplanned route, because we at  our office learned about it just a few minutes before it took place. We were all so surprised and excited! With the permission of our bosses, I and some other co-workers walked down to Vito Cruz. Incredibly, there were very few people lining the street, in stark contrast to the mobs that usually welcomed the Pope. So, I was able to stand at the very edge of the sidewalk, giddy with anticipation.

The Pope in Manila 1981 (Photo from Sarao Facebook Page)

           The Pope arrived aboard a Sarao-built Popemobile.  Since the assassination attempt on him had yet to take place later that year, the Popemobile was open. He was waving at us, no more than three meters away! I could see him clearly, smiling beatifically, but still with a hint of pleasure.  I had never seen anybody look so holy and so joyfully alive at the same time.  My companions and I waved back wildly, chanting, Mabuhay ang Papa! (Long live the Pope!) The photo above was not taken in Vito Cruz as  back then, I was not yet in the habit of toting a camera around.

            He would continue to visit many other countries even well into his twilight years.  Now that I have crossed the golden line myself, I find it this even more admirable. How physically taxing it must have been for someone who has become frail to continue visiting his flock, to emphasize his universal call to holiness.  Remember, he was all of 75 years old when he came over for the World Youth Day in 1995. This sojourning was also key to his wish to “place his church at the heart of a new religious alliance that would bring together Jews, Muslims, and Christians in a great (religious) armada”.

            I hold JP II as an example of someone who takes on new things even at an advanced age. Okay, so he is one of the youngest popes, but he was already pushing 60 (58, to be exact) when he was elected Pope. So my take away is that for us golden girls (and boys), it is never too late to start a new project.

            Even pushing 60, he was an innovator.  His papacy is one of the most memorable in modern times for ground breaking activities such as visiting Egypt and meeting with the Coptic pope; visiting and praying in a Muslim Mosque in Damascus; and calling on Muslims, Christians and Jews to live together.  His first visit to Poland is also credited as sparking the formation of the Solidarity Movement which in turn precipitated the fall of communism in Poland and elsewhere. I noticed that the churches I visited in Warsaw and Krakow displayed JP II's image either outside or inside their premises.

St. John's Archcathedral,  Warsaw

            Above all, he evangelized by example. One of the most difficult things I find doing is to forgive those who have hurt me.  But JP II showed that he lived the gospel by forgiving his would- be assassin Mehmet Ali Agca, who inflicted nearly fatal wounds on him.  The Pope even requested for Agca’s pardon. This was the real deal, not some figment of a playwright’s imagination, being acted out by a good looking actor. He embodied his apostolic motto, “Totus Tuus”  (Totally Yours).

          Though well on the way to sainthood, JP II is said to occasionally  succumb to the sinful  ...chestnut gelato of Giolitti. My daughter  and I searched for this shop in Rome to have a taste of the papal favorite. We found the Chestnut gelato a bit too sweet yet strangely delicious, the way flirting with diabetes would be.  So comforting to know that the holy man had a sweet tooth as well.

Chestnut gelato at Giolitti

            John Paul II, the erstwhile actor who stepped into the shoes of the fisherman in 1978 had journeyed far and wide, showing how it is to live like a true Catholic, thus truly becoming a fisher of men.  To paraphrase him, wherever he went, he saw the world through the eyes of Jesus Christ.

Photo from www.evangelicaloutreach.org

            And for me, the Actor, Playwright, Soldier, Pope, will always be a shining example of seizing life and making a difference even after one has crossed the golden line.

            

St. Joseph, Pope Francis, and my Mother

What do the foster father of Christ, a ground-breaking Vicar of Christ and an 83-year-old lady  have in common? Well, for one, today, March 19 marks a milestone for each of them. 

Internet photo

Today is the Feast of St. Joseph. 

Internet photo

It is also the Inauguration day of Pope Francis, the first Jesuit and the first Latin American elected to fill the fisherman’s shoes and lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.  

Photo by Katzi

And today is the birthday of that very special lady, my Mother.

Beyond this, they share an unflagging faith in God. St. Joseph, Mary’s betrothed must have been in crisis when he found out that his teen-age bride-to-be was pregnant, when they had not had intimate relations. Yet, on the strength of a message from an angel in a dream saying that Mary was carrying in her womb the Savior conceived the Holy Spirit, he kept quiet and married her. I would also like to believe that Joseph was an honorable man, and that he had not wanted Mary to be stoned to death, if her condition was found out.

Internet photo

The newly elected Pope Francis now widely known as champion of the poor, also displayed remarkable faith early on. Of course, we all know that that faith with a capital F is one of the minimum qualification requirements for his job. But he underscored this by saying during his first mass that, “The Lord never tires of forgiving us.” Added to that is the fact that he accepted such a big job at a late stage in his life, and at a tumultuous period in the Catholic church. Imagine being past retirement age and taking over an organization reeling from sexual abuse scandals and rumors of corruption and infighting. Pope Francis must have an unshakeable faith that God will help him and the Church.

Internet photo

My Mother, who we call Mamang retired at age 65 from a male-dominated organization where she managed to rise to the upper level. Now, she devotes her time to the going to church, taking care of Papang who is a triple bypass survivor, and participating in Church activities. She is someone that any child would be proud of. One of my earliest recollections is of her going to Sunday mass in a green dress belted with a cord of golden yellow and green. Mamang always wore the same outfit, like a Sunday Mass uniform of sorts. She explained that she did this because she was a devotee of St. Joseph, as she was born on his feast day. Mamang also said that she prayed to him so that our Papang will continue to be a good father like himself.  She also prayed that my sisters and I will have good husbands. I am not sure if she was just making up the devotion for a good husband. J  St. Joseph is more widely known as the Patron Saint of Workers. That is why I myself pray to him for career related matters.  But back to my mother, who, to me is the epitome of faith in God. Though all of life’s tribulations, my mother kept steadfast in her faith that God knows what is best for us. She would say in Ilocano, “Ni Apo Dios ti maka ammon” 

Photo by Dada

Even when confronted with situations that are too complex and depressing to think about, Mamang firmly believes that God will pull her through. She is no Pollyanna, though. She believes that all prayers are answered, sometimes not in the way that we anticipated, and that prayers will help us accept things as they come.  As she journeys through life, she finds time to stop and smell the flowers,  always focusing on the blooms instead of the thorns.

Photo by Katzi

When I was a child, I thought that being a Mom meant being invincible. Even when all of us had the measles and had to be quarantined, she tended to us and never got sick!  Even when we had the mumps and other assorted illnesses, she stayed healthy. Adding to her larger-than-life aura was that she was fearless. She talked with dignity to Mother Superiors and Principals, when she thought school rules were unfair to her children. She even contradicted her superiors at work when she knew she was right. She remains as fearless as ever. But now, I think her fearlessness is based on the knowledge that God is with her. She has aged gracefully and I am sure that one of her secrets is her unwavering faith in God. It is this faith that is seeing her through the vagaries of failing eyesight, weakened bones, and all the other weaknesses brought on by age, such as no longer being able to wear high heels. 

Photo by Katzi

Happy Birthday, Mamang. May you have many more blessed birthdays to come.  We love you.

Mexico City: Miracles, Mysteries, and Laughing Skeletons

Mexico City pulsates with the throbbing energy of a modern megalopolis. Yet at the same time, it is home to numerous ancient sites of miracles and mysteries.

The Miracle at Tepeyac Hill

For most of us Filipinos, a trip to Mexico would not be complete without a visit to the sacred Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The olive-skinned Lady of Guadalupe is the city’s Patron Saint. It is also the Secondary Patroness of the Philippines. 

Basilica Complex. New Basilica on the left, Old Basilica, center.

The Basilica Complex sits atop Tepeyac Hill in the city’s La Villa District, and is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world.

As the now- familiar story goes, the Blessed Mother appeared to the native peasant Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in 1531 and instructed him to tell the Bishop to build a church in her name. The Bishop was skeptical. Then one day, Juan Diego brought him unseasonal Castillian roses that were not even native to Mexico. Juan Diego carried the roses in his apron-like cloak called a Tilma. When he spread it out, the Bishop saw the miraculously imprinted image of the Blessed Mother on the Tilma, olive skinned and radiant, just as Juan Diego had described her. The Bishop relented and ordered the construction of a chapel, the Capilla del Cerrito, on the apparition site. Numerous healings have been credited to the Tilma.

I went to the Basilica Complex at midday, and although it teemed with people, I felt a certain spiritual serenity there. Aside from the Capilla del Cerrito, the Complex contains two basilicas, a visitor’s center, and a garden. The original Basilica which dates back to the 16^th Century is now a museum of religious art, notably paintings of Marian miracles. 

Religious painting inside the Old Basilica

I heard mass at the stadium-like Basilica Nuevo which was built between 1974 and 1976 to accommodate a growing congregation. There, Juan Diego’s indestructible Tilma hung above the altar for everybody in the circular church to see. I am not a particularly religious person, but I felt a soothing calm as I gazed at the image of the Blessed Mother.  Even the oppressive afternoon heat was not bothersome anymore.

View of Tilma from walkalator

For a closer look, I went down one of the ramps on either side of the altar to the viewing area. A pair of walkalators like the ones in airports transported visitors, preventing bottlenecks in front of the relic. Like other visitors, I cued up several times to go back and forth, somewhat addicted to gazing up the miraculous tilma. It is now enclosed in bullet-proof glass, after a bomb attack in 1920. Prior to that, it was exposed to the elements for a long time. What a marvel that it remained well preserved even after almost 500 year.

A framed replica of the Tilma stands at the door of a religious articles store located near the walkalators, where visitors like me pose for pictures. After every mass, a priest blesses religious items right outside the Basilica Nuevo.

Priest Blessing religious items

The Mystery of Teotihuacan

Some 40 kilometers northeast of Mexico City lies the abandoned city of Teotihuacan, a UNESCO Heritage Site with a history shrouded in mystery. It was established around 100 BC and was the largest city in Pre Columbian Americas. But then it suddenly and violently collapsed for reasons that remain enigmatic. Even the identity of the builders is still under debate.

Pyramid of the Sun

The Aztecs who arrived in Mexico in the 13^th Century long after Teotihuacan’s collapse, perhaps struck by its grandeur, believed it to be the site where the gods created the universe. So, they called the city the Birthplace of the Gods ("Teotihuacan" in their native language).

The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon loom large over the ruins of Teotihuacan. The Pyramid of the Sun measures 210 feet high, as tall as the 55-storey One Rockwell West Tower. Shorter but no less impressive, the Pyramid of the Moon stands at 150 feet, roughly as tall as a 45-storey building. I was awed by the skill of the ancient builders. How could those ancient craftsmen have constructed those humongous monuments hundreds of years before the invention of modern tools? We asked our guide if perhaps there were extra terrestials who helped. She gave us an enigmatic smile in reply.

Unlike Egyptian Pyramids with pointed tops, the pyramids of Teotihuacan have flat tops. Our guide said that the ancient inhabitants performed human sacrifice there. Recent excavations found evidence of such rituals.

An actual archeological dig at Teotihuacan.

Spanning the city is the Calzada delos Muertos (Avenue of the Dead), so called because of the tomb-like mounds lining both sides. On the afternoon of our visit, the sun soaked the avenue with a reddish tinge.  Our guide told us that people who were offered as human sacrifice walked that path on the way to their deaths. Even in the warm air, the hair on my arms prickled.

Avenue of the Dead: is the red tinge from ancient blood?

Laughing Skeletons

All around the city, I saw bejeweled, merry-making skeletons. I was not hallucinating. These stylized skeletons called La Calavera Catrina (the Elegant Skull) are displayed all year-round, some dressed in gowns and suits embellished with bursts of aqua, fuschia, and green.

Skeletons displayed all year round

Catrina Dolls form part of the collection of the Museum of Popular Arts. They smile from vignettes such as a wedding party, a singing trio, and a cavalry. Even in the Plaza San Jacinto, an art district south of the City, those dolls were everywhere.

How do you beat a cavalry of skeletons?

My Mexican friend told me that during the day of the Dead (November 1-2), the dolls really come out in full force, appearing not only in shop windows but also in private altars. Sugar candies and cakes  shaped like skulls and skeletons are handed out to children during the Holiday. Larger-than-life Catrinas dominate Day of the Dead Parades.

The Holiday is a joyous one, held to celebrate family members who have passed away. In homes, they erect shrines with offerings of gifts and favorite food of the departed, not to appease them, but to lure them to visit!

The Mayan Calendar and Others

Other interesting places abound in the City. Foremost is the famed National Museum of Anthropology with its wide collection of artifacts notably the Mayan Calendar, which has lost none of its grandeur despite some miscalculations regarding the end of the world. Perhaps the error lay in modern man’s interpretation of the calendar.

Local Artists sell their work in Plaza San Jacinto at the  San Angelo District south of the city

The Zona Rosa boasts of shops and bars, including gay bars. It ends at the Monument to Independence, known for the statue of the winged Goddess of Liberty. The San Angelo district where the air is suffused with the scent of corn tortillas and the beat of marimba, is a pleasant place to dine and shop in the old countryside way.

Street Music- Dying art of the organ grinder

Indeed, Mexico is more than just drug cartels, sunswept beaches and Marimar.  Hasta luego, Mexico!

Note: This article was published in the Lifestyle Section of the Business Mirror, March 7, 2013.