And after a month ...

From a time "when I was small and Christmas trees were tall" to "it's something unpredictable but in the end it's right; I hope you had the time of your life", I just realized that much of the things I knew I had forgotten. Either my hearing has become impaired or I didn't realize how much feelings I haven't felt.

I am writing this in this blog because I don't want to embarrass someone. She's quiet and insecure enough to even add this to her heavy load of psychological burdens. I will just call her "Lyn" but it is not her real name.

She was around my apartment last night and we were putting a video together. She was always quiet and I really had no idea why so when I had the chance to talk to her, I gave her the advice to take up courage in anything she does. Then I bombarded her with questions and realized that she has a severe personal problems that makes her withdraw from a lot of things, even making friends. I still haven't found out what is causing her recluse.

Today, she came around and she told me she felt sad reading my post on another blog. So I asked her why she felt sad. She said it was just a feeling. Then she cried and she was quiet until she left. I did hear her faintly say something that I won't repeat here. She was naturally embarrassed in saying it but I told her I heard her and to repeat what she said ... you know, COURAGE. But she didn't and the silence ensued.

I was writing something on a paper for her but she stood up and headed for the door. She just smiled and left. This was the strangest situation for meet lately, and I really don't know what to make of it. One thing for sure, I meant to guide her, and hopefully be the spark that lights up her courage.

Peace out!

My OS is splitting up

I envy Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Puppy, etc. for keeping it whole. The developers of my Linux distribution of choice - PCLinuxOS - had split up, and I am remaining a PCLinuxOS user. The other half went and formed Unity Linux. How it will be, I don't know but I am waiting to find out.

So what have I learned? Split ups are a mess. I am moderating the PCLinuxOS forum and hell went loose. The mailing lists were plagued with accusations and drama. It is early to know who are the villains and the heroes. What will I do? It is PCLinuxOS and the good hands of Texstar that got me into the Linux world so I'm sticking with my OS ... whether it continues or ceases to survive. That is just me, I am loyal. People often make mistakes about foolishness and loyalty.

PCLinuxOS is still a good OS. The repositories were left in a big mess and Texstar has been cleaning everything up. He is a good man. He has cancer but he is a good man. I am praying that his cancer will be contained and minimized. I am praying that he'll get well soon. His sacrifices are worthy of that of a legend. And that is exactly what he'll be. Texstar will be a legend in the Linux world.

In the meantime, I will get on and move forward, fulfill my obligations and responsibilities in my community, and keep advocating the use of Linux, especially PCLinuxOS to my friends and other computer users.

Can't Go To YouTube

It's been several days now, and I remembered reading somewhere that China had blocked YouTube.com for contents that are inappropriate. Why am I not surprised?

Does anyone remember when it did Wikipedia and BBC?

Having lived in China for quite sometime now, I can start to understand why there is a need for such a blockade. It is not to totally eradicate a content but to minimize the ripple of bad effects to both its citizens and the nation.

Sure, say what you want about China, and the Chinese will die loving their country.

I don't expect myself to follow their patriotism, I just try to understand it. It truly is amazing how much heart there is still left in this part of the world.

But I miss watching shorts on YouTube.

Gotta lighten up

A couple of weeks later ...

There isn't really much to write about. I've been really busy with work in school, and hardly have the time to do much of anything else.

Last Friday, we did have a small, quiet party on the first floor. My wife joined us for a bit but she had to leave because she promised to take her mother to see Slumdog Millionaire. Martin and his wife, Jane came. Art was also there. Well, we had some food and wine and beer and we had some space cake.

It was OK and I got to be so talkative that night.

Two days later, I found a few note sequences on the guitar and it sounds nice. I hope to make something out of it.

Will I be going to Martin and Jane's tonight with Michael and Mignon? Frankly, I just don't feel well enough. My cold seem to just hang about ... I just wish if I was to get sick, I should just get sick. Right now, I am and I'm not. Do you know what I mean?

I also almost messed my OS again. I should remaster.

Shower? I really wanted to but I just know that if I do, I'm gonna end up with the bad end of the stick. Perhaps I should wait a while ... perhaps I should take some medicine.

A night at Sol Latino

Well, it's done. Vincent Poisson and I as the Ten Thousand Beers had our night at the Sol Latino last night. I felt that I didn't do all that well. I felt that a lot of my friends weren't able to come and see us play.

However, one high point of the night was my seriously deep conversation with a pretty Chinese girl, Amanda. It seemed that we talked for the whole night about a whole lot of different topics from love to cheating.

I hope there will be a repeat of that.

Vincent performed really well singing a variety of songs. I think my highlight was singing one of my compositions, Waiting For You, and a number with Vinz, With Or Without You.

Changing of seasons

Last night, as I went to the canteen to buy some "bao zhu", I stared hypnotized at how beautiful the moon was. It was a clear, cloudless, chilly night and I sensed a difference in how the evening felt from other nights. There were still several ice patches on the pathways but most have cleared as if preparation for the coming of youth draped in all its innocence and beauty.

The cold isn't as harsh as it had been for the last several months. Soon, we can expect the changes in colors ... reds, yellows, whites, blues, and greens. Spring will once again be a mixing palette of life's hues.

But like the caterpillar which would soon be a butterfly, we will all be shedding our heavy winter garments, and loosen our body movements in light apparels. There'll be more outdoor activities ... and most importantly, cold beers to quench the thirst on a hot summer day.

I am really looking forward to one of the plans Michael and I have been talking about. A barbecue party outside out building, where we'd have the drums and guitars tempting passing students to dance to the rhythm and melodies, lounges, chairs and sofas where we could sit and enjoy the campus outdoor in style, and of course friends will be there to catch up on events that went on during our hibernation.

I like these ideas.

News Flash! Mark Leavitt impressed me

I was just at Sol Latino in Mudan Rd., and heard a not-often-heard Celtic, folk-rock music at The Great Talents of Changchun. It was fabulous.

Mark Leavitt, who I'm hoping is gonna call me up for a cup of espresso, played a swears-not-permitted-here evening to the delight of fans and new friends alike. But what I like most about him is he's a teacher like myself. Changchun Teacher's College but what he's teaching, ahhh ... perhaps he can answer you that himself. SoulIISoul, I asked Mark about a song (whose title is still a mystery right now) which he said was inspired by his sister. I added to this question, "I hope your sister isn't dead." That was the silliest "who said that?" of the night.

Mark is a friendly chap and I hope he has forgiven me for not wanting to continue the story about his sister's experience. Perhaps, when we're more of what we can call friends. We have similarities in style and playing the guitar, and there's (no) religion too. Sermon on the Mount, Mark. If I know more of your heart, I'd hug you openly, like I do with Alex, whose first friend we had in common is Pino Monorchi.

And just this very night ... it's two o'clock by my clock so I'll leave it to you at what time it is you want it to be ... Vincent invited me to be a Ten Thousand Beers (I wonder if he's already trademarked the name?), and I also found out that Ten Thousand Beers is Vincent and Vincent's friend (notice how it is with me and first names?). Still feeling privileged. Vincent is a fantastic entertainer. Well, maybe a musician ... and I must openly admit that he knows more songs to play than I do. Oh, yeah ... where was I invited?

We were doing a sound check at Sol Latino late this afternoon ... met Marjorie Jacobs (and Sergio) for the first time. Nice place Sol Latino; Marjorie gave us students' discount on the beers tonight. After the soundcheck (is that suppose to be two words or one?), Vincent said "let's drop over at Ah Fei's so we trod along Mudan Rd. (I decided to leave the car by Sol Latino). I can scratch at Ah Fei's but nope, the gates to his studio were closed. So what's next? ATM (another story, perhaps), Corner Cafe, wait for the wife then back to Sol Latino. Before I forget, Michael and Mignon were good company, and Alter is his usual self. Talisha is becoming quite a budding beauty, gotta take good care of yourself, girl. Gosh, I am so boring! Why don't I just go to bed and maybe I could get some good dreams from it.

Ohh, I had some nice rhythm and melody to go with the Chinese chants "Wo xiang ...", "Nie gei wo", "Wo bu zhi dao" and "Zi mo". I hope I'll be able to remember it tomorrow so I can "capture" it. Or, it's gonna be just another one-of-those-things that fade away in the ticks that tocks.

Here's what I feel. Though I may never play those that I had not put into notes, I'm OK with the idea that it came and it passed. Of course I feel bad about it. How could I share much this way? My wife's calling. Hang up the phone ... hanging up.

Can the law protect us?

It had become so normal that Filipinos coming to China to work are subjected to conditions that are unconstitutional and at times even inhuman. This has nothing to do with the Chinese government's human rights record. That, I believe, is too subjective a topic even for the long-timers. What I am suggesting is the Filipinos' unawareness of the Contract Labor Law.

I received an email with a document attachment from the Honorable Second Secretary and Consul of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing applauding my mention in an earlier post suggesting that we "keep our passports in our persons and any company does not have the right to keep it". Surely, any institutions employing Filipinos play on our ignorance and unawareness, or just plain exhibit their distrusts on our employment. What? Are we really ready to bolt and leave them hanging? In some instances, yes. I've heard of such stories, so it affects every single one of us.

I've sent this email to the Pinoys sa China mailing list in Yahoo!Groups with the hopes that our subscribers would be more aware that the law can protect us.

In another development, Mr. Ronaldo dela Cruz Pertez had indeed violated the law through his company's deceit. It is so sad to hear stories like this but until we can mature to a point that we have responsibilities and obligations to fulfil, and we must fulfil them, there are people around seeking to take advantage of our naivety. Can his company be held responsible? Maybe, maybe not. I am not in the position to hand down a judgment, but I feel strongly that Mr. Pertez should write a testimonial and send it to the Philippine Embassy. Perhaps, nothing much can be done but at least, other Filipinos will hear about this company and maybe, even stir away from any involvement.

I am just glad that another group of Filipinos are working on Mr. Pertez's hasty deportation. That may sound bad but it is the better solution between the rock and the hard place.

Insanely creative on technology

I must really be out of my mind to be maintaining three separate blogs here at Blogspot. Life in the ... chun is not my first. Actually, I've started blogging about four or five years ago on a small application called, DidiWiki on a Puppy Linux installation on a really old laptop that I still keep. Back then were mostly notes, personall thoughts, and an assortment of works ... pretty much what I am doing right now. But with time constraints and the invisibility of the compositions, I kept stalling. I even keep some of the old stuff in my ever-ready-to-use Sony Vaio VGN FZ-25 that I purchase at the beginning of last year.

There were even a few that went on the net but are now defunct as the Dodo. And now, I am grasping for air trying to keep three updated. I enjoy doing it. Life in the ... chun is about the general things in my life here in Changchun. Family, friends, school, and anything that I could write about. PCLinuxOS USer's Memoirs is about my involvement with PCLinuxOS, an excellent operating system that rivals Windows Vista (or 7) and Mac OSX. And the last is Diary of the CHI Preacher and it is about my work as a teacher at the College of Humanities and Information.

Three separate blogs, each for a different purpose. Perhaps I might even start one about my daughter, who is truly and ultimately the center of my universe.

Caring Gus

It's one more day till the new semester commences, and like the other foreign teachers here in my campus, I am deep in last minute preparations. After all, I would like to give a good first impression on my students.

My friend, Vincent Poisson telephoned at around 9:00 AM to ask if I would look after his son, Agustin Vincent Marlo. Well, he'll soon be my godson and I really like the little fellow so I agreed. Vinz and his girlfriend, Leah were out to look at an apartment closer to Gus' soon-to-be nanny and Leah's place of work ... according to Vinz, it's near the Changchun Zoo.

At around 10:30, I got Michael van Duijn, a co-teacher to go with me to Hua Qiao Foreign Language School, where Vinz will be teaching. It was not until an hour later that we got back to our campus.

Gus is a quiet little guy, and gave very little trouble so I was able to complete at least a week's lesson plan.

It's just Kasey and me at home, and Yoyo will be going to Jilin City for a week with Lao Yi. I'll be missing my baby a lot but at least her short absence will give me enough time to put my act together.

Vinz and Leah just informed me that they decided to take the apartment. so they'll be moving much of their stuff. He says it'll take the whole afternoon, and they probably won't get back until after 5:00 PM. That's OK. It's really been quiet around here and I could concentrate on the matters at hand.

A Day for Him

I may be one whom you might label as a Christian with a twist. Let me explain what I mean.

I am someone whose faith in Jesus Christ is without remiss. I am capable of defending my belief in wisdom that comes from Him. Needless to say, the rest that don't fit His overwhelming love and forgiveness are most likely interpretations of other people, myself included.

Anyway, today with had a Bible study with brothers Marvin, joel and Art together with our auspicious Kathy Mueller. We were at Matthew 15:21-28, and the topic was recognition as well as acceptance is indeed the ticket to the promised paradise. I agree as I agree with Acts 16: 30-31. Then our discussion.

Christ is the epiphany of love and forgiveness. He sacrificed his human form so humanity would be saved; He had forgiven all of our sins. I was thinking of the Muslims, the Chinese and everyone else would had not had the privilege of knowing Him. My heart tells me He would not abandon them. Let me give you a couple of examples I had put forward on our discussion.

Would a brother from Islam who has a good and forgiving heart, and might have even saved a handful of Christians from persecution go to hell because he is not Christian? History tells us that the war between our religions had been going on, even until today, for as long as we could remember? It probably started for a very good reason. But then is then and now is now, and we should really listen to what history tells us. Nothing ... absolutely nothing good can ever come out of war. It is plain and simple the instrument of the Fallen Angel, The Morning Star.

How about the young couple in a rural countryside in some backwater settlement in a hard-to-reach place in China? They've always lived in their community and have learned valuable skills which were used to help the other members of their community. They were good people with such love for humanity ... even those who had taken advantage of their goodness. Unfortunately, the wife gave a still birth. No baptism, no last sacrament ... the soul of this child is doomed in hell forever. I don't think so.

His magnanimous consideration will assure these people their places in paradise. But this is only how I think. In the end, it is really He who would sit in judgment of our souls. Although, I do His bidding and say my prayers of thanks and forgiveness, I cannot assure myself of the glory he so long promised us. I leave my life in His hands.

And a while before our discussion came to a finish, I had to share with them a much taken-for-granted miracle right before our very eyes. Brother Marvin was, at that moment, explaining a true story about a man with a large family who called on God and pray what he should do to believe in Him. The miracle was the wonderous flight of a flock of doves circling the immediate vicinity with their aerial acrobat and perfect synchronicity. I couldn't hide a smile of admiration, and if I would look at myself away from where I was staring out of the window, I would say that I looked childish and naive. I'm sure that given enough time to explain, ornithologist would be able to articulate the complex process of communication and tilt of tail feathers, etc. But in the end, the definite truth is God made them fly the way they were flying at that moment. Our unrelentless quest for reasons and knowledge is but a wave of His hand. In short, it's His will.

another day, another ordeal

not really a nice, inviting title for the first post. it was just that it's the last weekend of the winter holidays, and i start work on monday. i wasn't able to go to the corner cafe (again) and on top of that, i received a really disturbing phone call. all of which happened last night.

i even sent an email to the pinoys sa china mailing list, quoted as follow:

Earlier tonight, I received a phone call from one of our kabayans here in Changchun informing me of another Pinoy in trouble. He asked me if he could give my number to the Russian girlfriend of our kapatid stating that she should be able to explain more in details of what happened.

Well, I've already talked to Lisa, the Russian girl and student, but it was hard to get much of what went on with much of "do you understand?" after every event. I asked her to email me her account of what happened, and while waiting for that particular email to arrive, perhaps someone on this mailing list knew about this.

What I understood was:

Ronald used to work for Tiansu but moved away to another company while moonlighting as a DJ in San Marco. This company he hooked up with promised him a visa. The company apparently haven't paid him for two months, and he asked for his passport. The company said that he needed to pay 10,000 Renminbi and since he didn't have enough money, he paid by working.

When the company called him to get his passport, there were the police waiting to arrest him. He was working illegally, without a visa for a year. He needed to be deported, and as far as I know, he is locked in a cell.

I have no idea what I can do to help. I can forward this incident to our embassy in Beijing, and hope that they are able to extend any help to this poor guy.

So, this is another reminder to everyone. If it is possible, keep your passports in your persons and the company does not have the right to keep it. We all understand that it is a form of guarantee for them, but that is so unprofessional for both - an unwanted element of distrust. In some ways, I do not blame these companies, but we need to look after our welfare as well. And
on top of everything, we need to build our reputation as Filipinos who can be trusted ... to do professional work, to behave in a civil way, to cooperate for mutual benefit, etc.

and just before eleven p.m., lisa called again instructing me not to call the embassy if i don't get another phone call from her, obviously signaling that everything will be alright. and nothing. so it makes me wonder ...