Sunday

I've been using an actual alarm clock these past few months instead of a phone alarm. 

I got the idea from a sleep therapist I met at a powerpoint party. It makes sense. For many years now, the first thing I do upon waking up is look at my phone. Right after turning off the phone alarm, I tend to immediately check my e-mail, personal messages, the news, then before I know it, I am dilly-dallying all over the internet. Nowadays after hitting my alarm clock, I try to make a conscious effort to not reach for my phone. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don't.

This morning, my alarm clock rang at 10am. I had a nice slow Sunday morning with Hibari Misora singing in my living room (secondhand vinyl records I got from a Japanese surplus shop yesterday).

I got this (non-fiction) book today from a small independent bookstore in my neighborhood: Working Women of Manila in the 19th Century (Camagay, UP Press, 1995/2004). I'm so excited to dive into this: "Seven occupations of women were studied, namely the cigarreras (tobacco factory workers), the matronas titulares (licensed midwives), the maestras (teachers), the criadas (female domestic workers), the tenderas and vendedoras (store owners and vendors), the costureras and bordadoras (seamstresses and embroiderers), and the mujeres publicas (prostitutes)." 

Fruit Vendor (Malang, 2001)

Untitled (Larry Alcala)

After lunch, I dropped by an exhibit. Every quarter, this gallery hosts a week-long preview of what's to be auctioned off. I've been going here for about two years now and my favorites include the works of Filipino artists Norma Belleza, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Nena Saguil, Pacita Abad, Mauro Malang Santos, and Juvenal Sanso.

Family (Belleza, 2012)

Seeing Larry Alcala's comic strips made me miss my childhood. Growing up, I watched my parents read the newspaper every day. On weekend mornings, they would hand my brother and I a copy of the Pilipino Funny Komiks (Islas Filipinas Publications, 1978-2004). I remember liking these komiks as a kid, I wish I was able to keep a few. They're now a long-lost relic. I also remember my brother collecting "songbooks" (I don't remember the name, it was some kind of local magazine with cheap paper lol) to learn the lyrics and guitar chords of the latest hits from that era (1990s-early 2000s).

The exhibit also includes antique furniture. I loved these:

"Chinese Qing-style hardwood armchairs"

Forgot to take note of the description,
but I remember that it's made of Narra

In another life, I would have wanted to become a woodworker/furniture maker. Sigh.

Later that day, I watched Sisa (Lana, 2025) at the cinema. The other Hilda Koronel movies I've seen are Insiang (Brocka, 1976), Maynila sa Kuko ng Liwanag (Brocka, 1975), and Kung Mangarap Ka't Magising (De Leon, 1977). 

I had really high expectations here. The story started out very strong, however, it took a bit of an overly melodramatic (and loud) turn halfway through (especially towards the end). But of course, it's an important story to tell, one that will always matter—especially in a country that tends to forget (or deny) its own history. And of course, the story of Sisa reminds us who the real savages are. These savages are still wreaking havoc in lands beyond their own up to this very day. 

Long live women.

Dropped by the grocery store afterwards to pick up some supplies for the week. I decided to make a simple plate of beef curry and rice (well, I actually served adlai) for dinner, which shall be tomorrow's lunch as well lol. Since I don't like carrots in warm meals (I prefer eating carrots raw), I used bell pepper instead. For dessert, I had some grapes and cheese arare (a type of Japanese rice crackers) alongside spearmint tea.

Revisiting this Mary Oliver poem (2008) tonight. The world just keeps getting heavier each week. Human greed knows no bounds. 

Good night.