Meeting my old flame...

Travelling that is...been about three years but it feels like a decade. Sure, local trips were here and there but the sojourning-alone, in the world's metropolitans, ala-J.R (Jose Rizal...happy independence by the way, June 12, 2011, and we still continue believing we're free!), brazing the new world to see things differently, appreciating your own but dying with envy because you realize what should've been but could not--- was sorely missed. It was a rekindling of an old flame, it was remembering and then enjoying the unexpected, the personal discoveries, hearing yourself more, doing without thinking and holding only yourself responsible.

Because I want to remember everything, here goes:

- At NAIA 1, leaving for Singapore, as almost all feel just a little, I once more was faced with how oppressive the system is to our so-called "modern day heroes". They leave the country with hopes and dreams of a better life, to send money to their motherland, to sustain it, nourish it, keep it at par with its mahjong mates...but how does the beloved parent bid them farewell...without even a wave of a hand or a flying kiss!

- That white immigration card, smaller than the one-fourth sheets of paper you would have quizzes in college and high school in, might as well be an application form in heaven...an obituary for some.

- I kept overhearing from some, should they put "leisure", should they write their Tita's address, who they'll sleep with but doesn't have a "full-contract", what if immigration finds out? What if more papers are asked?

- Whether they travel for leisure or work, the system has created a mentality where those "officers" who stamp and stomp your passport (which you also had to go through the fifth circle of hell for, thank God for that magic wand!) believe they are the chosen ones and that their stinky feet need to be cleaned and kissed before entering the forbidden gates of immigration. They feed on this mentality by acting like they never beat a red light or jaywalked!

- A rebel without a cause, I used a purple pen. Actually I gave my passport first and told them that I was just starting the form when I presented my honorable self. I lavished at their surprise and allowed them to lightly reprimand me.

- After writing what they felt they needed to know, I made sure I put UNIVERSITY LECTURER and proudly said I was from a school most of them cannot even send their kids to! Suddenly they were being friendly and patronizing, if only I could tell all those filing that white card to write UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR WITH TENURE!

- While Filipinos are citizens of the globe and the world is their home, some just continue being unfriendly travel mates. They don't smile, they push their way in embarkation lines, if only they could dive to the door upon touch down, they will.

- Yes, Singapore definitely continues to struggle with its lack of indigenous heritage. But Southeast Asians could only thank this "fine" city for divorcing Malaysia to build an empire of its own because its the only place in the region trusted by Vincent Van Gogh and Salvador Dali to live in. It makes up for its "humble origins" by proudly securing its place in the future...the first place trophy for "future culture" is practically theirs, they even beat the aliens to it, they know it will be theirs in time.

- Singaporean culture and society is a maze of pre-war modernity and 21st century sophisticated sculptures. Its pride and joy is the sincere harmony of various aliens, thanks to its government's mandate of order and the people's unending needs. Much has been written about its attempt to showcase art for the soul while leaving much for the soul to long for.

- On the Dali Exhibition in the ArtScience museum: How I envy its project manager! With Dali, you don't need to put too much thought on the science of curatorship. Dali spaced his life and works knowing it will make people's jobs easier in the future. You simply need to make a space as empty as possible to throw in his creations, nothing much to it. Who can make Dali more interesting than he already is, or who would even attempt to?

- So the elevated hyper-staged ordinary white furnite a top Dali's material culture elements is worth a standing ovation. To the project manager: You spoke to Dali, he replied and you were enlightened!

-Thank you Dali for not leaving the world guessing what your religion is. If there is anything I have which I know you would have given all your talent for, its my child.

- So here is my message to you, sorry Mr. Salvador for not using twitter: I felt your pain instantly with the "manananggal and her unhatched egg" sculpture! In your honor, I made my child a pendant with her birthday in the clock. I will put it in her scrap book and name it, "Dali-dalian mong tumino". You continue to live you and you live through us, thanks for not giving up on lunacy unlike your friend downstairs.

- On the Van Gogh display: I wouldn't want to be the project manager of this. Van Gogh is the most bastardized artist on earth. From do it yourself Van Goghs for all ages, to planners, calendars, coasters, blankets, place mats etc. with those famous sunflowers, how else can Van Gogh be seen beyond that? Thanks to light art, we see Van Gogh stretched beyond our imagination, literally.

- The title should've been "In your Face Van Gogh". It was a judicious use of space and time. From the all too familiar miniature and unjustly cropped familiar images, the hall transformed us into a mere smear in his landscape, we felt his strokes at arm's length and became part of them. Kudos for not only saving an awful lot for installation materials, manpower in the ground, maintenance fee, but for making everybody feel how little they are in Van Gogh's world rather than the other way around. Double kudos for making people realize that Van Gogh is more than just sunflowers, a starry starry night and a mutilated ear.