Favorites and Influences.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

FAVORITES. Middle distance running or 21-k marathons. Those years, me and my friends Duwi and Benjo would run a dozen times around the Quezon Memorial Circle in Manila 10 to 12 times an afternoon. That’d be an 1.23 mile/s elliptical road. So 12 miles each time. Then we decided to prolong the run towards the next district and back. Running “shorter” marathons is all about finishing, not winning. A sense of accomplishment, a pleasure of adrenaline high. 🤸🏃🤸‍♂️

INFLUENCES. The 1971 movie “Bless the Beasts and Children,” Stanley Kramer’s adaptation of the eponymous novel written by Glendon Swarthout. Six teenaged boys, each a misfit in one way or another, are ostracized by the other boys. After seeing a herd of bison selected for culling by hunters, they resolve to sneak away from the camp and set the penned bison free. I formed a similar group with high school classmates Arnel and Duwi, which we called Bredspays, later Harpy. 🧒🐂👦

FAVORITES. Blues Rock. A fusion genre that relies on the chords/scales and instrumental improvisation of blues. Mostly an electric ensemble-style music with instrumentation similar to electric blues and rock (electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and drums, sometimes with keyboards and harmonica). From its beginnings in the early to mid-1960s, blues rock has gone through several stylistic shifts and along the way it inspired and influenced hard rock and Southern rock. 🎸🎼🎸

INFLUENCES. James Clavell’s “Asian Saga,” a series of six novels written between 1962 and 1993. The novels all center on Europeans in Asia. The purpose of the series, according to Mr Clavell—descendant of a family long in service to the British Empire, and who was a prisoner of war of the Japanese during the Second World War—was to tell "the story of the Anglo-Saxon in Asia.” The novels: King Rat, Tai-Pan, Shōgun, Noble House, Whirlwind, and Gai-Jin. 📚🍎🎼

FAVORITES. Ramens and noodles. For some reason, noodles are different from spaghetti or pasta. Though some people debate where “noodles” or spaghetti came from: China or Italy. I don’t care since such an argument graduates to a Conservative versus Liberal caterwaul. No kidding. Silly, isn’t it. Just eat, guys! For me, “noodles” are the Filipino pansit, which is prepared in so many different ways. With broth, I prefer the dish that is bihon/canton mix. With broth, ma mon luk mami. 🍜🍜😋

INFLUENCES. The Nordic Model is described as a system of competitive capitalism combined with a large percentage of the population employed by the public sector. Some economists have referred to the Nordic economic model as a form of "cuddly capitalism,” with low levels of inequality, generous welfare states, and reduced concentration of top incomes, contrasting it with the more "cut-throat capitalism" of the United States, which has high levels of inequality. ⚒💴🛠

FAVORITES. Rice. Cultural conditioning. If I was born into corn, pasta or potatoes, I’d be regularly eating those instead. Anyhow, many people consider white rice an “empty” or “bad” carb since it loses nutrients when the bran and germ are removed. However, white rice is typically enriched with added nutrients such as iron and B vitamins. So while brown rice does have more nutrients than white rice, white rice is still considered nutritious. And I eat `em. Got a problem with that? LOL! 🥡🥄🍚

INFLUENCES. Grameen Bank is a microfinance specialized community development bank founded in Bangladesh. Small loans also known as microcredit to the impoverished without requiring collateral. Founded in 1976 by Muhammad Yunus and operated as an independent in 1983, Grameen Bank is jointly operated by borrower members and the government. The bank grew significantly between 2003 and 2007. Bank borrowers total nearly 9.5 million; 97 percent are women. 👩‍🦰💶👩‍🦳

FAVORITES. Hats. I never liked hats when I was in the Philippines. Too hot for the hat! And I always had long hair that I didn’t prefer “hidden.” These days, I have a collection of hats, mostly the inexpensive kinds. I don’t dig baseball hats though. My hats are either scored at Goodwill and thrift stores or gifts from BFFs, usually Cindyrella. I like old hats. Derby, wool felt, Peaky Gatsby, fedora, Panama, trilby, newsboy, Homburg, old Stetsons, and bowler. 🎩🧢🎩

INFLUENCES. Higher Education. A family imperative. Many downplay a university diploma. Yet a college experience ushers better financial opportunities via employment. The most educated ethnic grouping in America are Asians, hence they also earn the most per household income. For me, education is no brainer. The best that we could “leave” as “inheritance” to children is education. Then they carry on as individual initiatives, and gain their own “wealth.” (Art: 21K School.) 📚🧑‍🎓📚

Photo credit: Cartwright. Vintage North.