outsider?

Made me wonder why one of the forumers at skyscrapercity.com called me as such. Maybe due the name that I preferred to use, or perhaps by the chopsticks from my impromptu art (those pics were taken at a Davao and Manila foodstall, I like the challenge of chopsticks when there's excuse to use them). Just a little hint, the last word on my 'name' was taken from two Japanese words (I'm not Japanese), inspired by a profound memory recall that I'd prefer to keep to myself because not everyone might be able to comprehend it, yet.

Besides, in an environment where endeavors such as literature and the arts were not as encouraged, why would a surname or a society discourage me from pursuing my Vision? I'd rather make my own name and see myself as an 'Earth Citizen' (don't you mistake it for the bogus NWO of that oil sucker Bush). Maybe it's because of the educational system in this country. The system may have done well at teaching the populace how to be skilled, english speaking, efficient commodities for the global economic machinery, but not much at teaching how to build a deeply rooted, cultured nation. Talk about national stupidity. But who knows maybe things are changing for the better nowadays, unlike before, perhaps.

But I could say I tend to be 'detached.' It is my way of enabling me to grasp the 'staggering scope' [as a fellow blogger put it about my scifi] of the Vision that I perceive. If I must tag myself, I would rather prefer to be called 'Earth Citizen'. I am intimate with my Planet, and if any city or my country or your country mess up with the beauty of my Planet, that will be deserving of contempt. Davao, the city I happen to be in, seems intent at protecting both the environment and the culture though, and hopefully its citizens are not as culturally clueless as any roaming sophisticated semi-'barbarian' that one encounters. Those who wantonly pollute, wage hypocritical wars on the surface of my Planet are aptly called OUTSIDERS.

(Earthquake occurs)

'rocket's philosophies'

Some of my 'Rocket's Philosophies:'

· Visions that approach beyond reason are achieved when there is no reason why not.

· Consciousness is the source of gravity.

· To begin with freedom, and to end with freedom, is to gain freedom.

· Freedom expands the universe, Justice may curve it.

· The limits of one’s universe is not outside one’s self, but within. To limit one’s self is to limit one’s universe; not to limit one’s self is not to limit one’s universe.

· It’s a big universe; stop seeing things like a protozoa who thinks the puddle is the only universe that existed.

· Beware of fundamentalism; its followers make any thing or any one evil except the root of evil in which they are guilty of.

·Beware the tripping over with overused left brain and empty right part.

· There are other sides in every issue and neither side can claim monopoly of truth.

· Reality is both the seen and unseen; to disregard the unseen will render one’s reality an illusion.

· The Illusion of reality and the Reality of illusion.

· Art may create imaginations and fantasies, but it does not create illusions.

· I postulate that the core of planetary bodies, stars, and each and every thing around – are vortices.

· Since matter cannot exceed lightspeed, I postulate that it duplicates instead when subjected beyond lightspeed.

· Some questions are ridiculous, but what if the answers are ridiculous?

· Some questions already have answers. I prefer answers that unfold like questions.

· A blind cannot see what you see, but he may be keen to what you cannot see.

· Einstein said god does not play dice with the universe. I say god uses dice when playing; and life is a game.

I prefer not to limit Providence in 3 letters. I prefer to be continually awed.

· Some are serious about having fun; I’m having fun about being serious.

· It takes one to know everything before he can say he knows nothing. I don’t know everything, so I won’t say I know nothing :)

· Me not into rockets, but sometimes me thinks like one.

- Ric Vil Hori

on davao

I recently discovered that my blog 'waterfall enchantress' was posted at a www.skyscrapercity.com thread about Davao's great outdoors. Thanks for it, but it would also be appreciated if the forumer dropped a short message at the comment section so I would know (it's ok for now).

Actually, I regularly browse at SSC particularly on threads related to Davao. It makes a day how forumers mirror the dynamic and pioneering spirit of being a Dabawenyo and the hopes for the future that soar high like the eagle.

Recently however, I seem to notice friction between some forumers from a 'competing' city from the north in that website. That can be digested, but it seemed that some forumers from that city seem to take nasty pleasure at any sign of 'overthrowing' and 'outshining' what Davao has achieved, probably due to the illusion that being a premiere city in Mindanao, it would behave as 'Imperialist' Manila did. Pastilan, can't these northern forumers with contemptous crustacean mindset (it's an ugly Filipino trait called 'crab mentality') see the difference? Unlike Imperialist Manila that sucked Mindanao's resources and used it solely for its vices (and caused that city to be overdeveloped compared to the rest of the country, overpopulated and over-polluted) where every Mindanaoan may agree in unison, Davao had not done that thing to Mindanao. In fact, it had contributed much like spearheading the BIMP EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) and sought cooperation among peoples in Mindanao and Palawan. The city I'm in had been assisting other cities and regions of Mindanao selflessly, and look at how some of the posters from that city behave (not to mention the stupidity of bragging who's got the best taxicabs).

Here's my few words advice for those who have the interest:

"There are achievements where one needs not compete." -Ric Vil Hori

Don't be bothered much about them bragging at having the strategic advantage, no need to 'compete' for their domestic strategic location. Countries to the north of Davao are China-HK, Korea, Taiwan, Russia and all else. To the south, southwest and southeast are Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Australia, PNG, New Zealand. To the east is the vast Pacific ocean and then the America's. Davao is in the middle of it all. Any individual with keen sense can envision a scenario like this: Davao as an important Center that caters not just to the domestic but to all other countries south of Asia and everywhere strategically located. The highly developed countries from the north and from the east far beyond the Pacific are needed by developing countries to the south (and vice versa), and Davao is in the right strategic place between these nations (the city's infrastructure must be enhanced) because of its strategic convenience. Davao's advantage is not just at domestic level, but rather at the GLOBAL level.

But, does Davao have the Vision? Is it civilized and cultured enough? Or would it just stagnate into a typical, seemingly soul-less city that merely sees its otherwise rich indigenous culture as tourism commodities, with a people naive or not capable of appreciating the importance of a cultural piece or artwork to the building of a nation. Its top learning institutions may probably succeed in creating graduates as highly efficient commodities for the economic machinery, but did it teach them with stengthening the very foundation of a people's cultural heritage both ancient and modern, and its role to Human Civilization? Will Davao become a haven of free, cultured, creative, soulful, Universal citizens foreseeing a brighter future for its city and the Planet, or be merely just like the other manipulated, materialistic, modern-day barbarians roaming, wantonly exploiting and polluting on Earth's surface?

That remains to be seen.

eternal music

I have recently composed this insight after posting it on a discussion forum that stated "the day original music will die"


"Eternal is music in itself, and the music of silence is heard by its listener"

-Ric Vil Hori

chicken - egg

Have you folks been wondering about the age old question of "which came first. the chicken or the egg?"

This is my version of a reply:

It's the egg, by a chicken from another dimension.

Consciousness is source of gravity

I call this my "Rocket's Philosophy:"

This view was conceptualized way back in the year 2000, when, during our lively discussions at a physics chatroom, someone inquired: "what is gravity?"

And so I quipped the conventional answer: gravity is curvature in space. But even that did not satisfy, it's just like going in circles without answering anything. Then I remembered reading a book about Eastern Thought, in which the author stated that among those into Eastern philosophy, Consciousness is said to be in the realm of c^2 in Einstein's E=mc^2. Now, that kept us brainstorming and whacking up until I came up with the radical view that Consciousness may be the source of gravity. The other chatters, definitely with considerable background in the physics field (or else who would bother entering a physics chatroom) bombarded my view with all sorts of technical rebuttals, but it stood adamantly from the storm. Until the storm weathered down and as our minds rested exhaustedly, the latter part of chat sounded something like this (somewhat paraphrased):

rocket: any more discussions about gravity?

(pause)

chatter 1: you answered gravity

(pause)

chatter 2: GRAVITY IS GOD!

rocket: WHAT?

rocket: nope

rocket: god has gravity...


Gravity is said to be caused by the curvature in
space. but it seemed like a chicken-egg dilemma.

In the theory (E=mc^2) it's squared the speed of light in
mass and mass is present in the curvature. Among perceivers of Eastern Philosophy it’s been said that Consciousness is in the realm of C^2. The realm of matter cannot bound it for matter cannot travel beyond lightspeed (I postulate it just duplicates, but that’s another story). It is not even enough to contain it in just a boundary of space-time dimension or by limits of materialist machinations. Consciousness can pierce the barrier beyond it or lightspeed. Consciousness is vital in space and time; the Observer.

There is the core source of Gravity. To
a profound degree Consciousness is within that core,
the source of curvature, mass created by it,
and gravity is the manifestation of the presence of Consciousness.

check it

Check the website for some things we're not supposed to know.

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com

parallel dimension and ideal future...

I call this my "Rocket's Theory:"

Parallel Dimension and Ideal Future

I perceive that to define our existing Present universe (E=mc^2), there is the need to incorporate 3 more dimensional 'realities.' But these must be perceived from the observer's viewpoint within the Singularity, where past, present and future gets blurred. We will follow 4 perceived realities that interlink one with another, and to perceive these other three parts are necessary to define one part (our Present existing physical universe).

The first is what I would term as Ideal Past, wherein it incorporated our classics, myths, legends, glories that we put into our memory. This reality is implosive, centripetal, that’s why I will have it in squareroot. The pattern of Ideal Past will be:

E=mass times square root of c^2


The Ideal Past will constitute the rest mass of the Present E=mc^2 which is expansive, centrifugal by nature. The patterns of the Ideal Past is necessary to create our Present. Our Present is the E=mc^2, where:


E = mass times square of c(rest mass) times c(observer-relative)


Then the third reality, which is a pre-existent pattern (refer here) of what we are about to enter, will be the Ideal Future, and like the Ideal Past, is implosive, centripetal in nature. Here I will assign a third powerful unit, c=Awareness and the observer now becomes aware. The “c” in E=mc^2 relative to the observer is now differentiated. There is an observer who is “unaware”, and an observer who is “aware”. Such makes a big difference and should be considered. The Awareness is acquired after the knowledge from the Ideal Past is revealed, extracted from Present, then transported as quantified knowledge for the Ideal Future. Being implosive, centripetal, the pattern of Ideal Future will be:


E = mass times cuberoot of c(rest mass) times c(Awareness) times c(observer-relative-Aware).


Then, we will proceed to what I term as the Parallel Present, which is the parallel dimension to our Present, and it is also centrifugal, expansive in nature. The equation for Parallel Present will also be E=mc^2, but this time incorporating with it the powerful 3rd force of Awareness and the Ideal Future becoming its rest mass (cuberoot of c^3), and eventually integrated as new data for the Parallel Present:


E=mass times square of c(rest mass from Ideal Future cuberoot c^3) times c(observer-relative-Aware)


The Parallel Present, similarly as the Present, both being centrifugal, expansive dimensions, are like catalysts for the expansion of our Universe.


The new c (Awareness) is powerful enough to transform the Future we are about to enter, into an Ideal one. And when such time comes, the Aware Ones would be highly able to propel such energy into highly advanced technologies as interstellar and interdimensional, or time travel, free energy, with our highly Evolved Consciousness and civilizations by then.


With the 'theoretical' Ideal Future in the realm of imagination, anything can be possible with the profound addition of c=Awareness. However, this realm is yet tangible and may yet be perceived with Pre-Existent Pattern, the Unseen (or rather yet to be seen) of the Reality Vision mentioned at my Pro-Culture post.

The actual Future, as a consequent result of Humanity being Aware, will propel itself to a much higher dimension with the Evolution of Consciousness. Evolution incorporates all the dimensions, and expand these to a higher Dimensional level. Mass will then reflect this, being relative and such Evolution will be physically manifested with ESP, advanced technologies, interstellar travel, etc. This will be the amazing era borne from the Pre-Existent Pattern of Ideal Future, which an 'enlightened' civilization is about to manifest as Reality, that is when we choose to.

a city, era century 23

My vision of a city, in the year 2276...posted at http://maharlika23.blogspot.com

It is my on-going sci fi composition.

a vision on Culture

Here is one of my "rocket's philosophy". It is a vision on Culture.

I call it 'rocket philosophy' from the username that I often use at internet chatrooms and forums when I express ideas over there.

A Vision on Culture

For Vision to be revealed is to reveal it with actions.
Culture is action.
Culture cannot be subjectively defined,
rather it is subjectively approached.
Neither is it limited or defined objectively,
rather objectivity are patterns that follow or guide it.
It is relative with one to another.

I speak of culture not by defining it

But by acknowledging that I am a relative part of it.

I. Relative.

II. Culture is an inevitable endeavor. To deny it will result to culture of denial.
To suppress it will result to culture of suppression.
To deny selflessness in culture will eventually result to culture of selfishness.
Culture based on selfishness will result to culture of greed.

II. Selflessness

I. As culture is inevitable, there is the need is to perceive cultural endeavors
that encourage selflessness, as reaction to concerns when
excessive commercialism becomes prevalent to culture
which may eventually succumb to the pitfalls of selfishness.

II. The dilemma is when societies equate prosperity and progress
with the necessity of selfishness, when these can be
achieved with the alternative approach of Selflessness.

III. However it is contemplated that such dilemma may have
occurred from the manipulation of belief systems
That thrive on selfishness for the survival of such belief systems,
rather than for the survival of society itself.

III. Pro-Culture

I. I may term the perception that the
implications of culture in human endeavors
are of important concern to human existence, as Pro-Culture.

II. In this vision, Pro-Culture is the perception that
Cultural endeavors towards human awareness
(with mention to social, artistic, scientific, and intellectual pursuits)
to the human experience are of
foremost concern to secular human life,

III. And with its inevitable and continuing progress
Pro-Culture is to be identified with Selflessness
as opposed to selfishness.

IV. The struggle to Selflessness
is not to deny one’s self, but rather to free one’s Self
from impartiality of belief systems of a material world,
its pitfalls, and selfishness that it encourages.
It is a rebirth of Self minus selfishness.

V. Pro-Culture is the perspective that the Ideals of Culture are achieved
through Selfless contributions and motives of individuals to society and Humanity.

IV. Selfishness
I. In Pro-Culture, selfishness is differentiated from rational self-interest
for the latter is motivated on introspective examination
with the aspect of Self for the
purpose of being aware with oneself in relation to one’s environment.
Such motivation would eventually manifest the holistic character of
Self relative with one’s fellows and environment
And in general with the intangible aspect of Self.

II. "Awareness of Self results to Selflessness.
Ignorance of Self results to selfishness."

III. Selflessness is an abstract concept as
opposed to the defined motive
and behavior of selfishness that
disregards the intangible aspect of Self;
IV. However the endeavors that Selflessness contributes
may result to tangible benefits, but in contrary
To the consequent effects of selfishness.

V. Selflessness is perceived as
antithesis to selfishness.

VI. Selfishness is not denied from views on reality; rather selfishness is
to be viewed as a primitive aspect of human nature that may be transcended over
with the culture of sincere endeavors among individuals,
in fairness and justice, with the wisdom, creativity and empathy
in overcoming its consequences.

VII. Selfishness is to be identified with certain belief systems
for its supposed benefits as defined by such systems,
and experiential necessities to the understanding of human existence.

VIII. Selfishness in Pro-Culture is every individual's struggle, hence
its endeavors for betterment start at the very basic level,
as it starts with every individual.

V.Seen and Unseen

I. The present attempt at manipulation of culture
to selfishness by certain belief systems for gratification of self
may be based on materialistic belief systems;
Materialism defines the concept of reality
only by what is seen or tangible.

II. In Pro-Culture, Reality is both in the Seen dimension (material, tangible)
and Unseen dimension(nonmaterial, intangible).
To deny the Unseen is an impartial perspective of Reality.

III. Selfishness, as opposed to the abstract and intangible concept of Selflessness,
is a manifestation with definite and defined motives biased to the tangible,
thus it will not be identified with the intangible.

IV. Therefore the attempt of materialism to define Reality
With a bias to the Seen is erroneous,
although the bandwagon where it rides,
logic and rationality, are important tools.

V. Pro-Culture rejects materialism for the limited
characteristics of matter is imposed
on human insights, an attempt to
reduce the Self from its mystery, into a
commodity or tool for the machinery
of materialistic manipulations.

VI. The denial of materialism to the Unseen dimension of Reality
imply that it is an approach that thrives on ignorance to such side,
to the limiting and stifling of the broad purpose of Self

VII. and profoundness of human life that otherwise enable
Consciousness to pursue and realize
the mystery of its Ultimate Vision.

VIII. Systems that thrive on human ignorance to the Unseen
is considered unnecessary to Pro-Culture,
and its ‘comforts’ considered as illusions
due to impartial bias to views on reality.

IX. Selfishness-induced viewpoints should be confronted with
knowledge, inner wisdom and truth, in the spirit of
peaceful contention and quest for awareness.

X. Hence Pro-Culture encourages the pursuit of knowledge and experience
as consequences with both tangible and intangible values rather than on
sole pursuance of material manifestations offered by materialistic belief systems.

VI. Justice and Freedom

I. Pro-Culture acknowledges abstract concepts of Reality,
for Selflessness is in itself abstract, yet its tangible
results designed to benefit humanity identifies with the
Balance perspective of Justice and Freedom.

II. "Freedom expands one’s universe
Justice may curve it."

III. The ultimate purpose of discovery
is not to solely to gain from it,
but eventually to free it.

IV. To seek for Truth, seek for freedom.
To begin with freedom, and end with freedom
is to gain Freedom.

V. Pro-Culture seeks truth, and to seek truth, it seeks Freedom.

VI. Selfishness does not seek truth,
but seeks only for its own profit.
Selfishness and its opposing views are
deleted when Justice is achieved.

VII. True Justice thrives on Freedom.

VIII. Freedom is essential to Pro-Culture;
however with freedom requires responsibility.
Such responsibility is achieved with empirical and moral insights
in an environment that encourages Awareness.

VII. Reality Vision

I. Justice is an essential factor of Pro-Culture,
and such justice is applied with the perspective of Balance
with what will be termed as the Reality Vision.

II. Pro-Culture acknowledges that Reality is both the Seen Reality and the Unseen Reality.

III. Hence Pro-Culture is the Awareness and achievement of its
Balance, and from this Balance Universal Justice is assured.
This is the Reality Vision of Pro-Culture.

IV. The Seen may also imply the tangible, or boundaries of one’s perceived universe,
and the Unseen may imply the wide scope of probabilities of parallel dimensions and multiverses.
With this perspective the views on Self is expanded,
and such is relative to the perspective of Reality Vision.

V. Balance is the key to Justice, not suppression of
a side to the other, sometimes at the guise of Order.

VI. Thus Pro-Culture perceives the importance of Balance over Order.
Awareness to both sides of Seen and Unseen
is the key to Balance.

VII. The Universe is in its order only because of
The order of that which is Seen.
The awareness of Unseen Universe
Will render that the Universe is in Balance with it.

VIII. Nature

I. This Balance is also achieved through
Harmony with Nature.

II. Pro-Culture perceives nature not as mere
dominion to subdue and exploit;
Certain endeavors show proof that such excuses
are perceived by selfishness-based belief systems that
eventually result to unjust exploitation and pollution.

III. Pro-Culture acknowledges the profound significance
of Nature, not just economically but in
cultural and inspirational perspectives as well.

IV. Nature is a manifestation of tangible and eloquent patterns emanating
from the intangible dimensions of Mystery and created in the Balance of it.
Nature contributes on understanding Humanity and its mystery.

V. Nature is a Conscious entity
And not a mere commodity.

VI. To harmonize with Nature
rather than the sole excuse of exploiting it
is a necessary factor for human survival
and understanding what is to be human.

IX. Survival

I. Survival of Self is not to be equated with selfishness.
Selfishness is to be equated with belief systems
that thrive on the primitive side of human nature
for the survival of such systems.

II. However, Pro-Culture considers wanton selfishness
as a threat to humanity’s survival.

III. Survival as perceived in Pro-Culture is the necessary expansion of
Awarenes with both knowledge and the
mysteries of Universe, being in existence with it.

IV. Suppression of such awareness, motivated by the antithesis in selfishness
may be considered a threat to humanity’s survival
in the wider dimensions and perspectives of Reality other than the
biased reality or belief systems that selfishness finds its excuse.

X. Prosperity

I. The consequent prosperity that may result from Pro-Culture is mainly
achieved in its pursuit of wealth in knowledge and Awareness.

II. The material benefits, among other benefits,
is a byproduct of Pro-Culture, rather than its end result.
Prosperity in Pro-Culture is to be defined holistically.

III. Pro-Culture thrives in the wealth of
human experience, and follows the complexity of the
of the Human Phenomenon and
the pursuit of the Evolution of Consciousness;

IV. Pro-Culture may not follow prosperity,
but prosperity follows Pro-Culture.
Pro-Culture follows the Human Phenomenon.

Human Phenomenon is the experience of life itself.

V. Prosperity in Pro-Culture is to be equated with the
holistic perspective of both the tangible and intangible wealth
achieved from selfless contributions.

XII. Endeavors

I. Pro-Culture is contributory to the diverse conglomeration of human endeavors in various fields: Literary and Artistic endeavors, Science and Technology, Entertainment and human experience, ‘enlightened’ Politics and Economics.
II. Every one is an active participant and is encouraged to contribute. Pro-Culture differentiates itself with prevalent endeavors in that it is achieved through Selflessness and yet its contributing factor will benefit humanity in general as such is its purpose.

III. Pro-Culture acknowledges the valuable contributions of
various cultures of humanity preceding it,
finding foothold in its strengths and learning from its lessons.

IV. Endeavors implying selfishness are not considered as contributing factor to,
but rather as remnants of previous belief systems predating Pro-Culture,
as individuals require material ‘survival’ on such yet prevailing cultures.

V. However Pro-Culture will flourish amidst the previous cultures or systems,
holistically fusing itself with it and creating from its interaction transitional
and gradual development, and will be a continuing dynamic force in the
inevitable metamorphosis for Change.

XIII. Pre-existent Patterns

I. Culture is perceived as the patterns of human endeavors identified with
civilization and its development. However with the nature of dynamic movements of culture, Pro-Culture also considers what will be termed as ‘pre-existent patterns’
as part of its cohesive perspective.

II. As Pro-Culture identifies Reality both with the Seen and Unseen,
the abstract and tangible, positive and negative, the Vision Reality
perceived by Pro-Culture implies such personal aspects as
intuition, premonition, symbol patterns such as in dreams, and the like of
complex patterns which may have provided, not surprisingly,
considerable contributions to personal and intimate endeavors
attested among individuals on certain creative and artistic pursuits, compositions,
technological inventions, and other products of such talents,

III. wherein these individuals will attest that such insights are achieved
in the spirit of Selfless contribution, and in the personal awareness of Self.

IV. These considerations to cognitive patterns are part of the dynamic pursuit of
Pro-Culture towards Reality Vision and its holistic perspective of Human Reality.

XIV. Beyond

I. Hence Pro-Culture does not limit itself on established belief systems and its limitations, but rather seeks insights beyond these existing patterns in the foremost of cultural endeavors of human activity. This is the contributing factor of
Pro-Culture to human development.

II. Thus Pro-Culture will incorporate various fields as important factors to the
Reality Vision on the Seen and Unseen phenomenon, the tangible and abstract,
towards the continuing development and quest for awareness.

III. These include metaphysics, quantum mechanics,
Synchronicity (not compromise) of eastern, indigenous, classical and western philosophy,
psychic phenomena, extraterrestrial dimensions,
legends and symbolic mythology, and other abstract or transcending factors, and
properly discerned in just and fair views relative to cultural contributions and to Human Phenomenon.

IV. With the Human Phenomenon, Consciousness is relative with Pro-Culture.

V. Pro-Culture does not limit the capacity of Human Consciousness,
and rejects belief systems that attempt to limit it.

VI. Human limitation is to be seen as the limitation of knowing one’s Self
hence its necessity to limit one’s environment and belief systems.

XV. Mystery

I. Pro-Culture acknowledges the continuance of
Mystery of the Universe surrounding it,
and does not limit the concept of Truth.

II. Endeavors in Science pursue truth from among the tangible,
Endeavors in Art pursue truth from among the intangible, and
Mystery is the catalyst for the pursuit.

III. From such Mystery Life is brought forth.
Life is the "eloquent pattern" of such Mystery.

IV. Pro-Culture perceives that the awareness of the Unseen dimension
broadens the perspectives of Seen dimension and it is
with the awareness of the Essence, the Muse of such Mystery, that
inspires the Self to create from the intangible, Unseen Reality
an endeavor, an invention, an artwork, a composition
And other tangible results to the culture of Seen Reality that are
in acknowledgement and in harmony with both dimensions;

V. and with the dance and Balance of both,
Selflessness and Universal Justice and responsible Freedom are achieved.

VI. "The limits of one’s universe
is not outside one’s self
But within the Self."
To limit one’s Self, is to limit one’s universe;
not to limit one’s Self, is not to limit one’s universe.

"Visions that approach beyond reason are achieved

When there is no reason why not."

RIC VIL HORI

beer chat

I had this interesting chat at a politics room last night. An Iraqi was with us regs and it elicited much curiosity. I did find him to be a courteous, civilized and smart individual, even when he said he recently purchased some guns for protection amid the bleak reality occuring in his city. It gave us a peek into the interior life of his tragically wartorn country. He said Saddam was a pain for his countrymen, but the doings of that Bush was far worse for them. He also cited his analysis on the looming US-Iran war, and had us pondering that such a scenario may indeed be a disaster for America, or rather for Bush & Co., virtually threatening to severe its shaky grip to the whole of Middle East.

However, as our conversation proceeded, a nasty voice chatter with a wacky twang kept butting in whenever the Iraqi guy spoke with his precarious english and threatening to turn what otherwise could have been a sensible conversation, into a highly tense circus. The guy relentlessly pestered the Iraqi's pole-vaulting effort of the english language and trip it over to land down under. The other chatters by now were threatening to pulverize the twangy chatter into smithereens, particularly for his witless contribution.

I decided to silence the nemesis. Hey, since you're an Aussie I wonder how many bottles of beer you could guzzle out. Oi, he could gobble up to 8 glasses of wine. Wine? that's docile, and I was asking for just beer, not those hard drinks. Anyway, I bet you have quality beer in your country, half-expecting he'd mention an excellent Australian variety. Sure, his favorite brand was imported from Mexico. Have you heard about our local (names the brand)? Nah, haven't heard of it, which to his swifty conclusion is definitely not of good quality. But ours is of good quality, I insisted. Nope, it pales to compare with his favorite Mexican import. But hey, our local beer is good such that whenever we drink it, it makes us smarter; I wonder about yours...
Silence...then his last words before sobering back to chat: He's good.

Ahahaha.

waterfall enchantress

Finally, after many years, I returned to the waterfalls located high above Davao city's northern boundary. It was a fog draped, early morning as Yong and I dropped over after hitchhiking with Lloyd who was on his way to CDO with his pretty little daughters. Soothing silence and cool, refreshing air greeted us as we took out our bags from the car trunk as cloudy mists floated hazily with the mystifying background. What a cool welcome, and I'd like to think that the enchanting waterfalls serenely awaited us. Indeed, I am back.

There were changes too, a new sign referred to a new trail down towards our white haired enchantress. However, we opted for the usual route where we had trodded in the past. The hut that guarded the old trail was still there, with the roadside fronting it now profusely littered with colorful rows of blooming ornamental plants displaying their potent prowess for catching travelers' attention.

Down towards the limestone trail we proceeded, nostalgia reminiscing me of a lone beetle that once flew ahead of our excursion group that literally led us along the trail like a self-confessed tour guide. The wayside now teemed with yawning yellow flowerettes nudged by early morning coolness. I expected quaint miracles along the way.

Barbed wires jutted coldly ahead of us, slicing through some man-made boundary in the evergreen thicket where there once was none. Vines futilely attempted to grasp at these sharp metal strings, wanting to reclaim their now bounded territory. I took my attention away from the illusionary scenes that some people call 'reality', knowing that the place would rather remind me of more lasting memory imprints of this certain space-time dimension.

The forest was growing, on a trail that I faintly remembered with the clear sky exposed directly above, now shaded us with the soothing cover of a young rainforest. Shades of ochre greens, deep earth, damp barks and long entwining vines that dared you to mimic Tarzan (or Cheetah, whatever suits) swaying from tree to tree, at your own risk. A really weird looking insect, which I surmised looked like a crooked, yellow-striped hopping hook, landed on my arm and insisted that it gets my gasping attention. There's a brown butterfly fluttering, but it still looked weird, enchantingly weird.

And there's that candy wrapper, and another empty shampoo sachet. Those are not weird, those are contemptuous. Instinctively, Yong and I took the garbage away from view. I embedded mine under root crevices hidden as tangible evidence against loitering jerks for the 'judge and jurors' in here. Grin.

Like awed witnesses we proceeded further down the mystifying trail surrounded by lush deep colors of the forest, with air refreshed by morning dewdrops dangling among drowsy leaves. A large giant fern stood magnificently nearby. Its variety existed since millions of years ago and I could imagine a roaring dinosaur springing out from the dense forest to hug me.

The enchantress whispered into our ears. Her bells of rippling crystalline waters lingered in the cool air, lulling us to tread ever closer. She surprised us, the trail towards her throne was now littered with strings of sparkling brooks and miniature waterfalls; every little nook by the corners pose like picturesque postcards. These weren't here many years ago. Amazing, she could even paint bits of landscape masterpieces, and it's live!

Gradually, her rippling crystalline song reached crescendo as we approached nearer, heaving beyond the scant palmera covering as viewed from the vantage earthy balcony. There she was, eternally washing her crystal white hair in a now widened sparkling emerald pool, more beautiful than ever.

Except for those junk food foil packs and water bottles wildly scattered on the other bank irrevelently left behind by loiterers with ugly habits of disposing their garbage. If their kind multiply too rapidly, it will be tragedy for this planet.

Yong and I decided to tour the vicinity that we so missed before taking the dive for the emerald waters. We crossed a makeshift bridge built above the falls where a scenic landscape waited for us. I took just one strawberry from the nearby field as we proceeded towards the ditch dug by Japanese soldiers during WW2. The vantage view from the ditch was a paradox mixture of beauty and the ugliness of war. There were holes where the Japs drilled to place their rifle nozzles, waiting to ambush allied soldiers. One could imagine those brave liberators emerging from the enchanting waterfalls, only to be straffed by enemy bullets.

Having enough of imaginary war adventures, we had to forcibly proceed towards the cottages strewn with all kinds of garbage before returning to the other riverbank. Too late for the Japs, the new culprits, those garbage throwers already left before they could be punished by firing squad. To cross back to our cottage we tiptoed across the large logs bridging towards the other bank, which also worked as a makeshift dam to create an artificial pool.

Bathing at the pool literally had you swimming with mineral water, for the alluring shape of the waterfalls was sculpted by centuries of mineral deposits. Its cool, rejuvenating waters seep through the skin pores, and the ripple of the falling waters massage like nature's version of jacuzzi, replete with some ergonomic tubs if you're inquisitive enough to find it.

Previously Yong planned to tour the beckoning areas further down the river. Hey, that's a good idea, I could show to him a place that looked like a strange altar. It seemed like a grotto with a cavity by a small cliff, and at the center was a large rock slab with some strange greenish ooze dripping out from the soil around it, probably caused by some mineral deposits. Yeah, and I could even find for him that weird place down the river where I had a strange experience. I once heard someone said PSSSSTT! loud enough for me to get startled, as if the source was just some feet beside me. I surmised it was my other acquaintances who were following behind me. Not until I looked back and discovered they were too far to be heard as audibly. So, let's start the trek!

Yong decreed that the plan will no longer proceed. Wha...

Anyway, there's a cave underneath the caretakers' hut. Shucks, I forgot to bring a flashlight. But not to worry, I inquired with the caretaker's boy if we could borrow flashlight from them, and he replied it was perfectly alright. I remembered that other cave some hundreds of meters from our location. Many years ago Yong and I entered that cave, and he kept ridiculing me for being jittery when a bat chased us away. I defended that unlike me, he did not see those horridly large spiders living along the crevices of the cave's very narrow and dark passageway. From its blackish, hairy tentacles jutting out of the rocks, I estimated the body of the critters could be more than 3 inches long. But this cave, I assured was different, although the last time I went there I had no flashlight. So I just randomly took pictures from a chamber that spouted some strange gurgling noise, with the camera flash. When it was developed, an image of a crystal clear spring spewing out from the stalactites appeared in the pictures. I assured Yong there weren't any spiders lurking in that cave as far as my short stint was concerned. But if there were any, I'd be glad to show it to him so he could understand why I reacted that way. So, let's go spelunkering!

Yong replied with a flat face that read: No Way.
Geez...

I guess it was time to go back to the highway. By now we went to the other trail. It was artificially manicured compared to the previous one, but the benefit was that along the way, one sees massive stonehenge-like limestone boulders that kept jutting the landscape. Then I saw a weird ladybug. Picture it like your ordinary specie (but much larger and yellow in color), except that it seemed to be wearing some kind of plastic raincoat extending over its body. I followed the creature in an attempt to take pictures with my mobile phone. With the way the lilliputan scampered, the bug was obviously irritated and tried to hide among the leaves away from its admiring intruder. That led me to its ridiculous looking neighbor, a very large but fragile looking longleg spider, which I suspect stared at me with a quizzical look.

I will have to leave them, but a dark brown, tiny juvenile snake stoically poised on a large rock by the trail interrupted our hike. Its immobile posture was deceptive, for it was posed to strike at any trekker who dared come too close for its comfort. I threw some pebbles just enough to startle it and go scamper somewhere else, but the creature remained adamant, not moving even a single beat. I had to leave that snake too, but it should be smart enough not to hurt anybody even while protecting its territory. If it really had to, at least may it choose to kiss those garbage throwers.

We're now back at the highway. Fortunately there weren't any buses around yet, so I challenged Yong that we go hike further down, who grudgingly obliged. Only the cool air and soothing silence of the hills played like music to my ears. I tried to look for the exact place where I once witnessed the skeletal remains of a salvage victim. But it seemed vague now, overcome by the insistence that life goes on in this beautiful place. It was that experience that led me to discover the enchanting waterfalls.

The awesome landscape of the wide Arakan Valley ethereally remained with the distinct character of the soothing place. Above it, a magnificent brahminy kite soared over its kingdom. I told Yong I'll make it come nearer, jokingly. Or was I?

Minutes later the magnificent bird hovered very near for our amazement. I could see its healthy brown plumage spread proudly and nobly with the background of sun rays. It looked at me, and our eyes met.