zen

Let me introduce you to my good friend Anna. We first met in the Bamboo Telegraph, ISM's high school paper, of which I was features editor. Even after she got upset when I edited her profile of Bea Lucero- the article had already been published in her regular column in Manila Times- we still became close after I listened to her share a personal problem. She was actually a good listener herself and most of the time she would be the one entrusted by friends to keep secrets. We became inseparable when we entered UP, joining the Collegian and AIESEC together. In retrospect, it was probably because in the very political circles to which we gravitated, we were kindred spirits: liberal, idealistic, and a bit iconoclastic. I believe we brought out the best in each other and gave each other strength: it was Anna who sparked my interest in the environment and Zen and helped modernize my views on lesbians and gays. When I became Editor of Kule, I asked Anna to be my Associate Editor. Anna herself was a campus leader, having been elected President of AIESEC-UP.

Anna's undergraduate major was film, while mine was economics- this picture was taken during a shoot for her thesis. Interestingly, it seems like we've switched roles: she studied developmental economics in graduate school, while I've begun my forays into film production.

When I visited D.C. last year, Anna took me to her favorite spot, the Vietnam War Memorial, designed by Maya Lin. As I prepare for a trip to Hanoi, I remember Anna and the abiding influence of friends, both old and new, in my life.

saranghae

During the time that we lived in Korea, the changing seasons were, for me, a constant source of wonder and delight. -Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo, Love Song

I finally caught the Korean wave when I watched all 16 episodes of 백만장자와 결혼하기 (Baek-man-jang-ja-wa Gyeol-hoon-ha-gi), which was a challenge since some members of my family preferred 커피프린스 1호점 which aired simultaneously in another channel. Before, I couldn't understand why some of my relatives seemed addicted to this kind of soaps. I've heard them described as having relatively short plots and hardly any kissing scenes, which confounded me even more. But now I see them as a fun escape: in the case of my favorite show, the visuals and some lines of the script stirred my imagination so much that I even called a friend in Daegu.

Above is my favorite scene from 백만장자와 결혼하기 (thanks to ABS-CBN). I love the optimism expressed by the lines that begin with "So will you imagine that today is the most difficult day?" They express the spirit of the new Korea, which before was said to be less developed than the Philippines but is now an Asian powerhouse. I understand the feelings conveyed because I make an effort to be a better person, a better lover, everyday. And while I try to give of myself truthfully and completely in every moment and in each relationship, tomorrow, it will be an even better me who will love and be loved.

paru-paro

Ang Kapsula ng Kalinangan (Culture Capsule) ay isang proyekto ng ASEFUAN na naglalayong patibayin ang pagkakaibigan ng mga kabataan ng Asya at Europa. Pinapakita nitong video ang kapsula ng Saint Rose of Lima School ng Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija at Gymnazium J. Chalupku ng Brezno, Slovakia. Ang kantang "Mariposa Bella" (Paru-parong Bukid) sa video ay mula sa Nostalgia Filipina, isang antolohiyang CD ng mga kantang Pilipino mula siglo XVIII hangang XIX na gawa ng Instituto Cervantes de Manila.

pagsubok

Ilang linggo na ang lumipas, habang binabasa niya ang bagong labas na libro ng Kataastaasang Hukuman tungkol sa karapatang pantao, nang maalala niya ang hapong sumakay sa kanyang kotse ang isang pulis.

Nagmamaneho siya sa Quezon Avenue, papuntang Intramuros, nang siya'y pahintuin ng dalawang pulis sa intersection ng Araneta Avenue. Sumenyas ang dalawa mula sa ilalim ng overpass na ihinto ang sasakyan. Isa sa kanila'y medjo may edad na- may suot itong itim na cap- ang isa nama'y tila binata pa lamang.

Bago pa man niya malaman kung ano ang nangyayari, binuksan ang pinto sa kanyang kanan at sumakay ang mas batang pulis.

"Ano po ba ang problema?" nakangiti niyang itinanong. Medjo nag-alala siya dahil isang araw pa lang ang nakakaraan nang i-lift ng Presidente ang curfew.

"Magandang hapon po," magalang na sinabi ng opisyal sa kanyang tabi. "Maaari po bang magpatuloy na lang kayong mag-drive? Pupunta lang po tayo sa kampo."