February: Pinoy Love

"How is it to be a Greek?" I wondered, as I spotted Ivy, my classmate from Greece, walking past the big picture windows of the VUB caf. I waved at her and she gave the slow languid wave that is so... Greek? I'm not even sure how her name is spelled, but anyway, I met her during the Researching Online seminar we had for school. We shared a computer console, and with her dark (violet-y, actually) hair and olive skin, she listened slouched down on her seat, while I was up and alert, pen poised and ready to strike. I find out that she has been in the program in September and her valuable advise to me was, with the wave of a hand, to have fun and not to worry too much. Life is too short...and Brussels is too pretty to pass by. Greek wisdom, perhaps?

The thought stayed on during the week, when we talked about Philosophy and Acquiring knowledge in Diplomacy class, where the professor asked if anyone knew anything about Plato's Allegory of the Cave. Of course, shy me didn't even raise a hand, even if I knew it was Chapter 7 of The Republic (Thank you, Fr. Louie David). The class gave him a blank stare, like he was speaking...Greek, which he was. And I wanted to scream, it's The Matrix, people!
A lot has happened since my last memoir and that includes the sudden awakening of the Filipina in me. I participated in the Language Fair at school, reluctantly at first, because I had so much to do that week. But it found me wide awake 1 am the night before the fair preparing this Powerpoint Presentation on the Philippines. I made it as funky as I could go, including anecdotes on politics, food and our lovely beaches. It was held during Valentine's week, so our presentation should have a slant toward Local Lovin', so thanks to Chris (this was his V-day gift, along with a gorgeous bunch of roses!), I gave out these sweet little brochures on how we profess undying love. Jessica, my Fil-Am classmate, was so, well, kilig, at learning all these new terms or relearning them. I found myself so proud of the following things, however mundane to us, were fascinating to others: our mangoes, our beaches, our love songs (I played whatever MP3s I had of local love songs), the fact that courtship is still part of our culture, and yes, People Power. Everyone who passed by my booth were genuinely interested in our 7,107 islands; I even had a couple of discussions on the effect of colonialism, if democracy is working, movie star presidentiables. People left the room engrossed in my little handout, complete with their attempts to a heartfelt "Mahal Kita". I failed to go around the other booths, but I caught a glimpse of some. It was an enriching experience, for those who dropped by, as well as those who represented their country. Where in the world will I again see a Bangladeshi teaching a Czech his language and vice versa?

Last Wednesday, after a particularly boring lecture, the whole class trooped to the Sports Bar in school for a drink. I had my trusty Kriek (cherry beer, yum.) and shared a bowlful of hot fries with the group. I met Pascal, a Swiss girl whose mom had several Filipina friends. It was surprising that she knew Quezon City as different from Manila, and some background on our history. After a round of drinks and stories abound, she suddenly asks me, "So, with the Spanish colonization, American education and Japanese occupation, what is it to be Filipino?" Oh God... Good thing, Jorg, a German beside her, asked her in return, what is it to be Swiss, with your 3 official languages?

While I am not having a Filipino identity crisis within myself or with others, I've been doing Belgian things on the side. Last week, we went to a Chocolate, Coffee and Tea fair, and my-oh-my, was it the best. Chocolate fountains abound. Blue Mountain Coffee 50cents a pop. Mounds of mountain fruit teas for sale. Amaretto liquer tastings. And oh, I forgot, there were free tastes every booth! They featured the cottage industry chocolate companies, not the usual stuff you see on the supermarkets nor the cute little boutiques on Avenue Louise or town squares. Illy, the espresso brand from Italy, had a booth featuring all these funky coffee machines in wild colors. C'est tres cool!

It has gone cold again, after around 2 weeks of a taste of spring at 10-12 degrees. It's the bitter biting cold that dries hands and numbs toes. But there are flowers in our backyard already, and the sun comes up at 730 now (not 830am, like a month ago), plus school is becoming busier as the end of the term looms (end of next month!) and the month-long Spring Break arrives soon. I am looking forward to a Holy Week in Rome, where I shall visit my Tita Bonet, and maybe some side trips to Florence, Naples and Pompeii.

Hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's! It was a mighty cold and boring one here (other than my surprise rose), despite the chocolate shops around. I guess, iba talaga ang Pinoy Love.

Til next time and looking forward to hearing from all of you.