MOVING ON

My friend's mother asked: "Why are there so many blacks here?" as we were taking the subway ride to one of our destinations during their most recent, first time tour here in New York city with someone they knew back from the Philippines. Well, I'm far from being baffled actually why there are so many dark skinned people here in NYC. I myself is colored skinned, being lovely browned skinned and getting always noticed, and positively remarked for it. Perhaps, it's just the way some people look down at some people who look differently than they are. My friend, with his Mom, being Filipino Chinese themselves just couldn't helped themselves getting overwhelmed with the diversity, the richness of the experience of seeing, actually seeing ordinarily looking, yet magnificently attired people (by virtue of their attitude) of different skin colors here in NYC, most especially in the subway. They actually refused to take the subway initially, as they have heard bad thing...

I'm glad I took the trip back to New York city on an early Monday morning trip. I was the first passenger to show up that morning, somewhere in L Street between 15th & 16th Streets in Washington, D.C.(am not sure though if this is the correct address), in a bus, aptly called "Dragon." These enterprising short distance transport services have made sure we consumers get the services we need at the least prices for us to pay. What struck me immediately was the Driver, a Chinese guy, who could very well be a relative of mine back in the Philippines. Yes, Filipinos typically share the same, strange, oriental looks some foreigners rave about Asian looks these days. Now, this Driver, spoke Chinese, in Mandarin, actually to me. I knew it, as I've studied Mandarin myself for nearly 3 years on a tutorial basis with an old, gentle fellow who spoke Tagalog, English, Mandarin, Fookien fluently (Mainland Chinese themselves are amazed at his abilities to speak better Mandar...

We thought it would be raining harshly last night, but we took the risk and went on our way to wait and watch "Psycho," Alfred Hitchcock's (as remade by Gus Van Sant in 1998) disturbingly well crafted black and white movie made in 1960. Bryant Park's 15th year Summer Film Festival, as spearheaded by HBO, ended last night with the screening of this pre-eminent film among a tradition of suspense movies that try to catch our fancy and hidden fears that lie deep within ourselves. The park last night was not crowded, as many might have thought the screening would be canceled due to bad weather. However, those brave souls who persisted got rewarded with another fascinating experience of a free screening of a well-dissected film known for bringing out primal fears out in the open. All in all, the weather seemed to have joined in making the screening experience more scary than usual. We even had to open the umbrella from time to time as the rains continuously threatened to s...

Now, this is really something new for me. I've not done this falling-in-line activity to get a celebrity's authograph, ever yet. My friend [who has been so kind & generous, has been treating me to Broadway shows and plays everytime he's in town....he says, i could very well not afford these shows, as I'd definitely just go watch only when I'm with tourist-friends/acquaintances, since tickets are REALLY that expensive, & still get to live and lead a purposeful life in New York city] thought it was a good idea to get Lea Salonga's signature, after we watched a different play, Journey's End (a well crafted World War I-based play by R.C. Sherriff, and being staged at the Belasco Theatre), on our way out after the show to meet up with other friends who were also watching another show. Actually, we waited for the next 20 minutes or so, if I still recall it correctly. But it was kinda long wait, and I was ready to tell my friend what I got in mind then that...

From St Barts' monthly Gay and Lesbian Fellowship, I decided I should go home right away. I soon found myself in the subway station. I saw that it was empty, dank smelling as usual, & except for myself and a homeless fellow who was standing towards the front of the station, waiting for things to happen, the station looked scary. The homeless fellow's body looked bent, given his tall, large frame, and I thought he must have not taken a bath for over a month. Looking for some signs of company, and with no train arriving or departing whatsoever, I realized how this empty station can bring about images of getting violently struck somewhere in the city, for no apparent reason. But reason crept in fast, and I kept myself from being anxious. The homeless fellow looked surprised as well, as we were alone for over 7 minutes in the station. I figured out that I can easily outrun him, in case he turns violent against me, as I walked and got myself seated in the benches in the middle o...

Thanks God, I'm able to look and apply for jobs, mainly through Craigslist in its NY site. I have been out of full time work for over a week now. Yesterday, I got to talk with another friend who's based in LA, California. He's been out of full time work along the banking industry for over a month now. He's got reasons why he's decided to give up his work, and get to doing some other things he'd preferred to work on. I figured I can learn from what he's undergone so far. He himself had notable managerial experience in banking, and recruiters are in disbelief why he'd give up the perks of being in a managerial position, and get to start again at the bottom in some other jobs which he thought he could do better. I've figured out that I'd like to have parttime jobs now. This has been the route that I've thought I can pursue even before I got full time jobs here in NYC. Thankfully, I got a response from an employer, and I'm working later today...

I'm writing this to share my thoughts and feelings over what happened early this morning. I finally gave up this new job in a new flower and gift shop in Chelsea, Manhattan. [Mind you, I like the job, but I've learned to hate the ones working with me, particularly in this case, the Boss / Business Owner]. My boss and I have been working on the weekly arrangement for a corporate account that happens to be a restaurant blocks away from the Flower Market District and the Empire State Building. Earlier, the parttime Designer had to leave work right away for an emergency. Then, as usual started a miserable hour with my boss who's also the other half of a couple of owners of this new shop. She was already behaving like she was really pissed off of something really unclear to me (as much as I'd like to figure out, I just prayed & hoped things will turn out well according to God's plan). She asked about what we've done so far. I told her I was just waiting for the p...