I didn’t always blog. I did it the old-fashioned way: I kept a diary. I started as early as high school. I don’t know what happened to that first diary, but I managed to maintain my diary-writing throughout the succeeding years. The earliest intact diary I still have with me was started in 1990, around the time when I was just starting my nightmare sophomore year as a Physics student at UPD. Here is an excerpt, quoted word for word and unedited, from an entry dated June 22, 1990:

“Classes in Manila are suspended! Though there is no storm signal raised for the area, the “damages” incurred due to the insistent downpour of rain – particularly the perennial flooding of most parts of Mmla (Metro Manila – my note) – forced DECS to to reconsider its earlier announcement/decision of holding classes today…

 

“…Again, as I look around the vicinity, I can’t help but wonder what those officials concerned are doing to help ameliorate this present situation. As far as I know, this flooding problem has always existed for the last 15 years. After such a long period of existence and bringing of damage and inconvenience to the Filipino people, they are still here, threatening to bring more. Whatever happened to those funds given by foreign countries, especially Japan, intending to aid us in solving this flood problem? Every year Metro Manila sinks in obscurity and disgust. The Filipino people stand helpless and unable to do something to make their habitat a place fit for human beings to thrive. Worse, those people in the higher seats who have all the power and authority to bring about change are the ones who don’t do anything at all.”

Amen to that! Even if that entry was written 17 years ago, the issue has remained unsolved. I used to live in a place near Malabon, the flood capital of Metro Manila, before transferring to Tondo. In both areas I experienced wading through dark, murky waters during the worst floods of the rainy season. To those who are still living in those areas, tell me, has anything changed since then? I seriously doubt it.

Anyway, this post isn’t really about the floods of Metro Manila. 🙂 Sure, I’ve changed medium, but one thing has essentially remained the same: I love writing down my thoughts. Diary-writing, blogging, even in whatever form it may evolve into in the future, I will always write.

Sonnie of Sonnie’s Porch once commented that he couldn’t really reconcile my work (doing science) to my love of blogging. I do think that there is a common misconception about scientists being a serious bunch of people – something that SexyMom hinted at when she interviewed me. That scientists don’t concern themselves with other things aside from what they do inside the lab. But scientists can be writers, too, can’t they? Chuck out the stats, traffic, monetizing and other networking frills and gimmicks, and you’re left with the essential core that justifies blogging’s existence: self-expression through writing. I particularly admire AnnaManila’s style of writing; as a true writer, she confesses to editing and reviewing her entry before posting it online. I do think we owe it to our readers to 1) check for misspellings and grammatical errors, 2) make a coherent post – otherwise, whatever it is that we’re trying to say becomes lost, and 3) avoid parroting what someone else has already said or written about the matter, without even bothering to put in what we really thought of it.

It’s a big, growing universe out there, this place we call the blogosphere. We would want to stake out a place that is truly our own, something that reflects our identities, aspirations, thoughts, dreams, and yes, ambitions. We would want to connect with real people, and communicate to them our thoughts.

Some people who lived before our time arrived and left with nary a ripple on the lives of other people living on the other side of the planet. But now – you and I are now in the realm of infinite possibilities. The blogosphere is exploding like a humongous universe that knows no bounds.

This blog – this is my voice in the blogosphere fugue. Not everyone will hear me, and not everyone will be interested in what I have to say (and certainly not even care what I had for lunch). I will not be the “greatest blogger” who ever lived. But years down the road, even when I am gone and all, people will still stumble upon this niche and hear the stories of one named “Kathy” and how she aspired to be heard.

And to those who care to listen now – I just want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Time flies. And as for growing children, time flies even faster. How could it have been five years already since we took home this sleeping jewel in our arms?

The day after Aya was born, Baggy and I just stared at this tiny breathing, wailing, demanding (don’t you dare take your eyes off me), red and toothless thing – you mean we really have to take this home with us? As first-time parents, we were fraught with anxiety and fear.

Sleepless, countless nights followed. We lost track of time; day and night blurred into each other. Food became something we just shoved into our mouths to keep ourselves going and going and going like the Energizer rabbit. We were pushed beyond the limits we previously thought we would never dare cross.

All because of her.

I almost couldn’t believe that it has been five years. Five challenging, but glorious years. Aya has become such an amazing, talented kid. Maybe I’m just saying that because she’s my daughter. But how else can you describe someone who:

• At age 1 can already speak comprehensible words
• At age 2 can sing Ang Bayan Ko
• At age 3 can speak Japanese and Filipino (Tagalog) fluently
• At age 4 can speak a third language, English (with slang pa hehe)
• Can now play the piano with both hands
• Can write her name, and all the letters of the alphabet
• Can play the game “Mahjong” on the computer – and finish it, too!
• Can read phonetically simple words such as “can,” “bat,” and “dog”

Perhaps some of those things are not out the ordinary, but are completely normal for someone her age. But for me those are amazing. Equally amazing is the opportunity to watch her develop and grow into a unique individual. Not like me, not like her Tatay. Different, and uniquely her own.

So on this day, I count the years, and I count the blessings. Happy birthday to you, my dear girl. May you grow up to be the best person you can be. Your Tatay, Titas, Titos and the rest of the family will be here to cheer you on.

Gifts? Oh, she got some lovely presents. Our gift for her would be a little later – I’ll blog about it when the time comes. But for now, special mention goes to Tita Karen and family for these wonderful things:

Aya’s first-ever t-shirt that has her picture on it! 🙂 The other one (with the bigger picture) is a mousepad (do you think I can make money selling mousepads with her face on it? Heh.). Anyway, thanks a lot to the Sacdalan family! Of course, thanks a lot, too, to Tito Ricky and Tita Jeanet, and Tita Lai and Lola Genny for their gifts. Lovely. Just lovely. You made this day special for her.

Question: What do we and former Japan Prime Minister Koizumi have in common?

Answer: Except for the obvious observation that we held the same the “Mental Commitment Robot” named “Paro,” none. 😀

Of course, there are dozens of these babies, and it’s quite unlikely that we held exactly the same Paro unit as PM Koizumi did, but can you tell the difference? 😛

Who or what is Paro, actually?

As I already mentioned, Paro, which is actually a nickname for “Pa-sonaru Robotto” (Personal Robot), is a “Mental Commitment Robot.” Paro, designed after a baby harp seal, is a stuffed animal robot and was developed by Dr. Takanori Shibata of AIST. According to the information found in the AIST website:

Since ancient times, animals have always played a role in man’s life. Although the merits of animal therapy are positively recognized in the areas of medical care and welfare, there are difficulties to introduce this form of therapy at hospitals and nursing homes for fear of the associated problems such as allergy, zoonotic infections, biting, scratching etc. Additionally, it is also difficult for those who live alone to take care of pets. It is often forbidden to raise animals in housing complexes. Under such circumstances, Paro was developed in order to meet the demands for a robot pet which can coexist with humans.

 

This white-haired “Paro” is modeled after a baby harp seal. Seals are not so common in daily life and thus the robot would not draw upon too much of a comparison with real life seals. Paro is the world’s first “Mental Commitment Robot” and gives pleasure and comfort to humans through interaction.

 

Since 2000, Paro has been a great success in a series of demonstration experiments concerning robot therapy which have been implemented at the pediatric ward of Tsukuba University Hospital, adult day-care centers and nursing care facilities. Moreover, with the aim of improving robot-assisted therapy, further improvements have been made to Paro, leading to the completion of the 7^th generation Paro.

 

Paro has received widespread acclaim not only in Japan but also in Britain, Norway, Italy, UAE, Korea, Australia and the U.S., among others. The exhibit of “Paro and Robot Therapy” has started at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Sweden in May 2003 and is attracting increasing attention. The exhibit will continue for the next three years.

This furry robot has already claimed a Guiness World Record. I’ve already seen pictures of Paro in newspapers and magazines, but I didn’t realize how cute and cuddly it was until I held it in my arms. 😉 It opened and closed its eyes and “cried” out with a sound that was a cross between a puppy crying and a cat meowing. Okay, I made that up. Feel free to make your own conclusion if you get the chance. Apparently, Paro imitates the voice of a real baby harp seal.

Here are some more interesting information about Paro:

Paro has a diurnal rhythm of morning, daytime, and night. For example, Paro is active during the daytime, but gets sleepy at night. Paro has five kinds of sensors: tactile, light, audition, temperature, and posture sensors, with which it can perceive people and its environment. With the light sensor, Paro can recognize light and dark. He feels being stroked and beaten by tactile sensor, or being held by the posture sensor. Paro can also recognize the direction of voice and words such as its name, greetings, and praise with its audio sensor. Paro can learn to behave in a way that the user prefers, and to respond to its new name. For example, if you stroke it every time you touch it, Paro will remember your previous action and try to repeat that action to be stroked. If you hit it, Paro remembers its previous action and tries not to do that action. By interaction with people, Paro responds as if it is alive, moving its head and legs, making sounds, and showing your preferred behavior.

According to the CNN article, Paro is expected to cost between $2,500 and $3,000. That’s some expensive pet therapy. But considering how much more expensive high-breed pets like dogs or cats are here in Japan, that amount would be pretty reasonable, given the therapeutic benefits for patients. Paro robots are made by hand, and no two robots look alike!

Want to see Paro? Drop by Science Square Tsukuba. Open from 9:30 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays and holidays. Admission is free! And get the chance to view other AIST-related scientific exhibits as well. 🙂

***All photos are original photos by the author except for the one with PM Koizumi (source: AIST website).

Happy Father’s Day to all dads out there. I lost my Dad three years ago, but his memory is alive and well in my heart and mind. I especially remember him this day, Father’s Day, as he was one of the most significant persons in my life.

In his very last letter to me, dated on my 31st birthday, he wrote:

My daughter, Katherine,

Your birthday always fills my soul with floods of unspeakable joy – HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY CHILD!

Don’t know where all these therapies may lead, but I’ll hold on till the end. There is always limitation to the knowledge of medical science so everything is before God’s will – that I go or not go. But until then:

My heart will go on singing
Until then, with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day my eyes behold the city
Until the day God calls me home.

That was the chorus of one of his favorite songs. I thought about sharing this song with you. It is a powerful song. May you find inspiration in the lyrics of this song. 🙂

Until Then
Words and music by Stuart Hamblen
© 1958

My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a trail that’s winding always upward,
This troubled world is not my final home.

Chorus
But until then my heart will go on singing,
Until then with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day my eyes behold the city,
Until the day God calls me home.
The things of earth will dim and lose their value
If we recall they’re borrowed for awhile;
And things of earth that cause the heart to tremble,
Remembered there will only bring a smile.

Chorus
But until then my heart will go on singing,
Until then with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day my eyes behold the city,
Until the day God calls me home.
This weary world with all its toil and struggle
May take its toll of misery and strife;
The soul of man is like a waiting falcon;
When it’s released, it’s destined for the skies.

Chorus
But until then my heart will go on singing,
Until then with joy I’ll carry on,
Until the day my eyes behold the city,
Until the day God calls me home.

Listen to the midi here.

Want to know how much of the Philippines you have visited so far? Found this cool application created by Eugene Alvin Villar, called Lakbayan.

Here’s my score:

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Pretty cool, huh? I was able to visit several places in Luzon, way back in high school, by attending press conferences (nyehehe, those were the days; I really thought I’d end up as a journalist.) and other extra-curricular activities. I’ve been to some places in the Visayas region – hey, I was born in Antique!!! My dad brought my mom to Antique in time for my birth, but we moved back to Manila when I was about three months old. However, in the Mindanao region, I was only able to visit one place: Iligan. And that was 12 years ago. 🙁 I really loved that place. I saw Maria Cristina Falls for the first time. Tinago Falls was so beautiful, it so rightly deserved its name – the hidden beauty. And the lechon was to die for.

Baggy and I have always talked about how wonderful it would be to see more of the Philippines – but sadly, we always seem to run out of time whenever we go home for vacations. There’s always next time. Sigh.

Anyway, here’s hoping that I get to improve my pathetically low score of C- somehow, someday.

So how’s your score? 😀

I was getting pretty tired of seeing Billy’s Boot Camp tele-ad on TV. Day in, day out, I would see Billy and his little band of six-pack-abs girls and boys crunching on TV. Showing off their bodies is more like it. Just order and pay 14,700 yen for the videos and the greatest product ever to grace the world of TV, the “Billy band” – touted as the elasti-wonder that is supposed to help you work out and lose weight in the process. I wondered why that ad was strategically aired on primetime on Cartoon Network. Why the heck is it even on Cartoon Network, anyway? It’s not like kids would drool over six-pack abs. I don’t get it.

Why am I even blogging about it? Because I really hate that commercial. And the rest of similarly-themed commercials that are targetted towards the “unfit,” “unhealthy,” and “fat” individuals like me. Excuse me, but don’t you think that being fit is an option, not a commodity? People are getting rich out of suckers who think that buying a product would be the solution to their problems. Change your mindset and lifestyle, people! You are what you eat, and you are what you do.
I want to lose weight, too, but damn if I would spend a single yen on any product. I want to be fit, too, but I wouldn’t be duped into shelling any money just to achieve that.

So starting last week, with much encouragement from Baggy, I began riding the bicycle to work again. Lose the wheels, lose the weight – this is my mantra. I won’t drive to work unless it rains, hails…or I get a broken leg. I make sure that I take in a lot of greens, and cut down on the carbs. It seems to work for now.

I don’t want to boast here, but since I have resumed biking last week, I’ve already lost one kilo. Hurray! And by not using the car, I’m even saving up on gasoline (it’s now 132 yen to 1 L! About 50 pesos!). Maybe I’m even doing the environment a favor by not contributing to gas emissions due to vehicular use. Hmm.

I’ll keep this up, and who knows, maybe come summer time I can finally wear that spaghetti-strap blouses again. “Don’t embarrass yourself,” my wicked sister promptly warned me. I have to thank her for the reality check, but I also found myself quite challenged. The more people mock me, the stronger my resolve will be. To quote from King Leonidus (of the 300 movie fame): What is YOUR profession?!!!!!!!

OH-HOH!

You are probably familiar with the “interview meme” that has been doing the rounds of many blogs lately. Anyway, I had the opportune time to visit SexyMom’s blog where she posted her own interview, and I promptly left an “Interview me!” request.

My heartfelt thanks to SexyMom for obligingly granting my request for an interview! I think there were about half a dozen people there who requested for interviews, so I really appreciate her taking the time to formulate these personalized questions for me. I had fun answering them, thank you very much! Without further ado, here are her five questions and my answers:(1) 40 is still far off, but seriously, does it bother you?

Seriously? Not really. I would consider it to be a real blessing. I’d probably get my hackles up over the extra wrinkles that would inevitably line my face, but hey, looks aren’t exactly my best asset, hehe. When I turn 40, my daughter would be about 11 or so, so she’d be big enough to be my “barkada.” That should be interesting. 🙂

(2) scientists have been stereotyped as SERIOUS. what does a scientist like you consider as fun? what is the wildest thing you have ever done?

I used to think that way, too, until I’ve met several scientists who are nowhere near that kind of description. Some of them are fun, cool, hippy guys and gals – sometimes it’s hard to guess that they’re serious people working on extremely difficult scientific disciplines. Some of them are serious athletes, even health-conscious persons.

I have always been classified as the “nerd” in the family, lol. Most people would actually think of me as the serious, quiet type – that’s the usual first impression. And I just happen to be in the scientific field – so it’s not like I was turned into like this because of what I chose for my profession. As for fun, you should hear me belt it out at the karaoke. That’s one of the things that help me unwind.

As for the wildest thing I’ve ever done – hmm, I guess one “safe” answer would be the time when I was at a youth camp for high school students. I forgot what the event was, but we were required to cross-dress. So I exchanged clothes with one of my male friends – he used my dress, I used his. 🙂 Okay, maybe that wasn’t too wild enough, hehe. No, we didn’t exchange underwears. I wasn’t too adventurous enough. lol.

(3) how much of you have been japan-ized? would you rather stay in japan the next 20 years, or have you considered coming home for good?

Whew, tough question. After having stayed here for more than a decade, I think I’ve assimilated several habits (like bowing even when I’m just talking to the other person on the phone, making sure that I stay “out of the way” of other people, etc., etc.). But I would like to believe that most of it is just on the surface – a way of getting along with the culture and adapting the behavioral traits of the people in order to not feel so “alien.” Deep inside, I still feel and think like 100% Filipino!

As for staying here for the next 20 years or so: that, as they say, is the 100 million yen question. To go or not to go? There are many things to consider before we can make a final decision on this. What else can I say? We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. 🙂

(4) fusion–can a scientist be an artist at the same time? and what kind of artist will you be? will it be traditional? bizarre? what?

Once an artist, always an artist. I may not always have the opportunity to express myself through “works of art” such as in the recent competition. But I believe that there are really several avenues to express one’s artistic side. I do get to tinker around with my technical presentations and posters to make them more aesthetically pleasing, not just informative. Furthermore, I also get to express myself through several websites which I personally manage with my husband. Just check out first four links in the FAVORITE SITES on the sidebar. That’s just some of them. We’re forever thinking of what to create next. So there’s still a way for the creative side to be expressed. 🙂

(5) if your life were a song, what would it be?

This has got to be the toughest question of all five! It had me thinking for the past few days, seriously! Ehhhh???? Wala ata akong life-song? 🙁

I guess the best song that I could think of is Nat King Cole’s “Smile.” It doesn’t exactly represent my life, but my attitude towards life. You see, that’s what people easily notice about me when they see me. Always smiling, all dimples out in full force. 🙂 I follow this simple rule in my life: I can’t always control what happens to me, but I can control how I react to situations. So, even in the worst, lowest point of my life, I smile.

Here’s a nice video I found on YouTube. The cats do seem to need a little cheering up, don’t they?

So, now it’s your turn. Want to be interviewed next?

Here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone
else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them
five questions.

Oh sheez, this video is soo wickedly funny. I just had to put it in my blog so I could easily access it and watch it again. *lol*

For me, listening to the voiceover is even funnier (I guess that only works if you do understand Japanese). There are some practices that I am already familiar with (like you shouldn’t pour your own drink; somebody should do that for you), but I think most of it is just satire. But then again, for someone who does not know Japanese culture, would it be just as funny? I wonder.Two phrases to watch out for: “Maa maa…” “Oh toh toh toh.” Enjoy. 😉

In Japan, summer season is BUG season. I can handle the occasional fruit flies and the blood-sucking mosquitoes, even the centipede-looking hairy thing that turns up every now and then. But one thing that definitely gets my hackles up is the La Cucaracha, the bane of every household, the vermin that appears out of nowhere, and that can make unsightly appearances in the most unexpected places.

Baggy not only hates them; he also fears them. A cockroachaphobia, if you will, although no such term exists. According to him, when he was a child, he was “attacked” by a flying cockroach while he was alone in the house one day. Yeah, and I bet the cockroach also wore a helmet and brandished a sword, and was excessively menacing. 🙂 So if he chances upon a roach anywhere in the house, he could never bring himself to kill it. He always calls on me to do that grim job.
Sorry to destroy your image of Japan being all clean and antiseptic, with no traces of bugs anywhere. Bugs will always be there, surprise. Most especially in rundown, old buildings. In fairness, one can be amazed at the variety of pest control gizmos that can be bought at the local drugstore. Looks like they take their bug control seriously.

Fortunately for us, save for summer, the vermins are nowhere to be seen during the other seasons. We suppose that they are somewhere under the ground, recouping their losses, happily mating for all we know, and planning their strategic attacks to be carried out next bug season.

I, on the other hand, have my attack weapons ready. I don’t like the idea of fumigating the whole house just to get rid of these pests. It’s not like they would be found crawling in broad daylight across our room, you know? But they’re most definitely around, always hiding in places seldom used or opened, locked up in shoe boxes or other containers, just waiting to surprise unsuspecting people.

Once I bought a pest-control chemical which you only have to pour water on in order to emit smoke. But the instructions also indicated that all furnitures must be covered or removed from the room in order not to be contaminated with the chemicals. After giving it some thought, I decided not to use it anyway — too tedious. I don’t want chemicals settling on any part of our furniture or clothes because we have a young toddler in the house.

Anyway, my two tried-and-tested weapons are these:

1. Cleaning sprays – my so-called “active” weapon. Any cleaning spray will do, as long as it produces a lot of foam. Spray on sight. The マジッククリン (Magic Clean) sprays work marvelously. The foam can effectively contain the enemy, and reduce its mobility to zero with succeding sprays. It’s actually more effective than the usual “pamalo” or bug whipper (is this the right term for it?). Watch in grim satisfaction as the bug dies a slow death while trapped in this deathly foam. Wipe clean with a tissue afterwards. (Ok, I’m really taking this bug business way too seriously, haha.)

2. Gokiburi Hoihoi – my so-called “passive” weapon. “Gokiburi” – this tongue-twister is actually the Japanese word for cockroach. Try saying this ten times, haha. “Hoihoi” on the other hand, is a trap. I don’t know when this contraption was first invented, but it appears that this was a registered, maybe original product of A-su Seiyaku, the same company that sells household pest controls. Basically it is just your usual sticky paper with bait. It is extremely easy to setup. Its slim body can be inserted especially in those narrow areas they usually crawl in.

Once they’re stuck, there’s no escaping, har har har.

Ok, I’ve yet to see a roach playing baseball or wearing a backpack. But you really have to wonder what they do with their spare time, eh? 😛

Open wide! Here’s the inside of the hoihoi. The brown paper must be removed to uncover the sticky surface.

Ashifuki matto = mat to wipe feet. Yeah, wipe those essential oils for more efficient sticking! I think of them as “welcome mats.”

Here’s the bait, placed at the center. The corrugated pattern, apparently, makes it more difficult for the roaches to “slide” their way out of their sticky doom.

Join the flaps at the top, and you’re done!

Well, do come in, won’t you? 😉

I’ve set out the traps today. It’s a buggy bug world, after all. (And I write this to end this post, for lack of anything more creative or witty to quip, heheh.)

Got back to Nippon a few days ago. It is so much more tiring on the trip back, and in the days following. Our bodies have to adjust to the local time again. Aya didn’t seem to have any difficulties getting back into the rhythm of things. Well, she wasn’t the one doing all the walking and lugging of luggages, now, was she? And if there’s one thing I absolutely abhor most of all, it is reporting back to work after a long-haul trip. For the last few nights since coming back, I kept waking up in the wee hours of the morning (how does 2 am or 4 am sound?), and thus felt like a zombie while at work. What can you do, eh?

Germany was great, but after a week or so of dining on cheese and bread, Baggy and I just craved for good ol’ Filipino food (Sinigang! Nilaga! Adobo!) served with hot, steaming rice. Talk about eating but not feeling full nor satisfied. How could they eat bread all their lives? Beats me. Even potato couldn’t do the trick for me. While there we ocassionally dined at some Chinese restaurants in order to eat rice, but it just wasn’t the same. Aside from the familiar tastes of homemade cooking, we still missed the round, sticky and soft rice that Japan is famous for.

Speaking of food, lemme just share these mouth-watering pictures for your drooling pleasure:

Currywurst – fried sausages served with sauce and topped with curry powder. A local specialty, so I heard. It was quite yummy for me (although my German friend disagreed).

Fried sausages, again. German size din yung sausages, grabe di ko maubos ha! Served the “Berlin style.” Whatever that means.

I actually liked the beer. Too bad I missed Oktoberfest! The black one was a bit bitter, according to Baggy.

Just give me a few more days to finally adjust and get back to full-time blogging again! In the meantime, regards to everyone – faithful readers and lurkers alike. 🙂