Culture Shock

I added a new continent on the list of places I've been to.
It's a wonderful opportunity - not quite expected, and quite beyond my wildest dreams - although it's not actually a dream.
I guess I've traveled enough already that traveling to new places does not really come as a surprise. I'm just glad to be around.

Anyway, somebody flew me in to one of those northern countries that didn't ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but which accounts for almost half of the greenhouse gas emissions that's' causing global climate change....

I'm supposed to be on holiday.

It's funny because I have quite determined that work for me was like attending school. Right now, I feel like I'm missing my classes.. and I'm a little worried on how I would catch up.

So anyway, I'm here. And it's been great.

Except that I can't get over feeling unwell about all the excess and over-consumption that I see around. And frustrated that I can't seem to do anything about it... not even talk - for propriety.

Or I'm probably not supergirl.

See you around.

Going to Market

Despite the chaos that is associated with it, I find it pleasant passing through the Baguio marketplace - or probably any market place.

I guess it presents for me something that is not in other places where I was during the day - a point of human contact with all the complexities that are in the many stories of the people that are either just passing by, like me - or who are there for a purpose.

In Baguio, the market is small enough such that there is a strong chance you would bump into someone you know. And you see other people bumping into other people that they know, it makes you smile somehow - here, the world is indeed small.

But there are also various other dramas in the market. Little and big kid vendors that go around insisting that you need another plastic bag even if you don't. Vendors with competing sing-songy voices calling you out. Buyers of varying character... there is so much life, so much color in the market. And so much evil too -- cheating, stealing... people clutching their bags tight on the lookout for snatchers. Policemen hover. Drunken men pass by causing trouble.... These are also part of life, and part of the colors of the market.

You got to try watching people sometimes when you pass by the market...

Bokawkan Road Traffic and Country Music

I was muttering how I had made the effort to go to the office very early and I was rewarded with a queue for the jeep at the jeepney turning point and very slow traffic at Bokawkan.
The young jeepney driver was playing country music and after a while, I actually found myself having a pleasant ride, if only I cast my eyes away from the front window that showed the long line of cars, trucks and jeepneys.. and just listen to the music.
It was actually nice.
But I still ranted about the traffic when I got to the office. :)

Muslim-Christian Dialogue Summer PRogramme

THE PEACEMAKERS' CIRCLE FOUNDATION, INC.

and the U.P. INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC STUDIES

* *

with the support of the

U.S. EMBASSY Manila



are pleased

to announce the launching of its

INTERFAITH

PEACEBUILDING

INSTITUTE

on

*April-May 2008 *

through its

pilot programs on

* *

MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE

FOR NATION-BUILDING



This is a live-in capacity-building program composed
of three progressive
training modules that will run for five consecutive
days. Each module is
designed to help prepare peace activists and
would-be
practitioners/ promoters of Muslim-Christian Dialogue
for the endeavor of
building mutually respectful and harmonious
collaborative relationships
between Muslims and Christians in grassroots
communities, and helping to
enable them to participate in promoting social
change.

* *

*Module I*:

INTRODUCTION TO MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DALOGUE

(April 20-24, 2008)



*Module II*:

BUILDING BRIDGES OF MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING

(April 27-May 1, 2008)



*Module III:*

GRASSROOTS MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIP- BUILDING

(May 4-8, 2008)

* *

The program is free-of-charge (inclusive of board
and lodging at the
University Hotel in U.P. Diliman for Modules I and
II). Thirty (30) Muslim
and Christian participants will be selected from the
military/police forces,
local government units, non-government
organizations, the academe, the
religious sectors, and the media. Commitment to
attend Modules I and II are
requirements for selection. Invitations to apply for
the program will be
sent out by November 15, 2007.



Anyone interested may send name and contact details
to The Peacemakers'
Circle through: e-mail address:
peacemakerscircle_ uri@yahoo. com; fax number
920-4618; or contact Orlan at telephone number
920-7622. *Thank you!*



Program Secretariat:

THE PEACEMAKERS' CIRCLE FOUNDATION, INC., Rm. 105
PhilDHRRA Partnership Center,
59 C. Salvador St., Varsity Hills 1108, Loyola
Heights, Quezon City, MMla.