Words of gratitude from the workplace

In transit at SFO airport en route to DC & I get a text message on my phone from one of the coordinators of one of the schools I work at. It reads:

"Thank u 4 all u do 4 kids."

I reply:

"Your welcome. In the end, that's all that really matters."

and he responds:

"Im prayg u dont leave we need u".

I'm smiling as I read this. Friendly words from the workplace, or really, friendly words from the universe. Thank u :)

What a great way to start my spring break. East Coast, here I come! :)

DC bound & Inka One

I'm listening to Inka One's mix right now at work and it's quite nice. So nice, that I wanted to share it with all of you:

Inka One

So click on "Inka One" and enjoy, for all you fellow hip hop heads =)

DC bound tonight. Spring break has begun! One half more of the workday to go & I'm already checked out. Looking forward to my first experience in Washington DC, our nation's capital, especially after the passage of the health care reform bill and all the chaotic wars that our country is still involved in, while the economy still drops, yadda, yadda, you know the deal. What I'm really looking forward to is the Cherry Blossom festival (hopefully I get to see sakura this time in D.C., since I can't be in Japan to witness it), the Smithsonian (all the great museums out there) and all the historical monuments and memorials. Looking forward to the good Ethiopean food and that crab that my friend, Luke, told me to eat, yummy! Thanks to Melvin, my former martial arts teacher, who I'll be staying with, for the accomodations, the hospitality, and the fundraiser party already for me to go to on my first night there! Yeaash! Just how I like it! =D

Then off to NY for a couple days: dinner at a Cuban restaurant with my NY homies, a day at the NY MOMA (finally, after all my visits, I get to enjoy the MOMA!) and an evening of FELA!, the new broadway musical directed by Jay-Z and Will & Jada Pinket-Smith. Ooh, excited just thinking about it! Staying with Gina, the homie from all these years. Met her in Boston, was involved in her wedding, and finally, some good 'ole catchup time for us both!

After that, my week ends in Philly! Yeah! Looking forward to some more public art, murals, the spoken word/poetry scene, neo soul, jazz, and of course, that good 'ole original Philly cheesesteak sandwich! Yummy! My mouth is watering, just thinking about it! Family bonding with my cousin, Mike from SD, whose been doing his thing in Philly for years now and looking forward to meeting his politically conscious girlfriend/fiance, Koyuki!

Wow! Busy week ahead, but loads of fun & adventure in store. You know me, jet setter! Life is too short to just let it pass you by, so DO IT NOW!

...and with that, I'm out! =)

Hindi Sila, Kundi Ikaw (Not They, But You)

It's time! It's time to get my work out there again. I was dormant, but I have returned and have resurrected. So this is the beginning of a series of performances and pieces. I'm back! Enjoy! =)
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Artist Spotlight: Cheryl Samson/ Interpretive dance piece this Saturday at the Pacific Asia MuseumShare

Saturday, 05 December 2009
02:00 - 04:00
Pacific Asia Museum
Pasadena, CA

Interpretive Dance Piece by Cheryl Samson
Title of Piece: Hindi Sila, Kundi Ikaw (Not They, But You)

Interpretive dance piece incorporating traditional Filipino movement and dance to Grace Nono’s song “Hindi Sila, Kundi Ikaw”, taken from her album: Hulagpos: Women’s Poetry and Voices. I chose this song originally from the other songs on this album because of it’s traditional sound, and the layer of female harmony and strength that comes from the singing, but when I read the translation to the lyrics, it moved me even more in a deeper and personal way.

The actual meaning and purpose of the song is even stronger and this is what I wanted to share with all of you: Despite current strides in addressing family violence, some individuals, community agencies and institutions still support a man's "right" to control women through physical violence. This song is a call to support women survivors of family violence, help and empower them to make their own decisions at their own pace.

==

Cheryl Samson is a proud member of the Balagtasan Collective, a family of artists and organizers, where she was able to merge her love for artistic expression, community organizing and involvement, as well as truly express her identity as a Filipina American growing up in the Los Angeles area. 5 foot Pinay, a quarter Chinese, she truly loves the life that she was blessed with, the family that defines her and the friends that save her thru and thru.

==
HINDI SILA KUNDI IKAW
NOT THEY, BUT YOU
Translated by Kristina T. Subido
Poetry by Del B. Quijano/ Music by Bob Aves and Grace Nono/ Arrangement, Kudlong Lute and Dumbek Drum by Bob Aves/ Main and Back-up Vocals by Grace Nono

The beginning was bliss / but beginning was all that it was / Time passed / things changed / the sweetness in the voice /
gone / Bets, booze, buddies / on top of that, another / its you who get the earnings yet / upon the urging, its blows you get as well / "Learn to take it," they say / "such is fate" / "that's your luck" / "that's that", / "its none of our business" / "all those years together, all to waste", / and attorney even said / "maybe you were wanting" / "look within yourself", you're told / The court will not tell / 'til when you must stay / in the situation you find yourself / that you try hard to hide / not godfather / not the church / not mother-in-law / not the parents / neither the little boy nor the little girl / can hold you down / Pick up the pieces / of your self-image / Make it whole and nevermore / allow it to be shattered / by the force of wits and fists / injurious, enslaving / not they, but you / have the right to choose / Be free! Right now!

Masaya nu'ng simula / Hanggang sa simula lamang pala / Nang lumaon ay nag-iba / Lambing ng boses nawala / Sugal, inom, barkada / Nadagdagan pa ng iba / Ikaw na nga ang kumikita / Pag gusto'y bugbog ka pa / "Magtiis ka", sabi nila / "Iginuhit 'yan ng tadhana" / "Iyan daw ang iyong s'werte" / "nandiyan na 'yan", wala kaming paki" / "Sayang ang pagsasama" / Ang sabi pa ni attorney / "Baka naman nagkulang ka" / Tingnan daw ang iyong sarili / Lumaya ka! Ngayon na! / Korte ba ang magsasabi / Hanggang kailan mananatili / Sa sitwasyong kinalalagyan / Na pilit mong ikinukubli / Si ninong ba o ang simbahan / Ang biyenan mo o magulang / Kahit si Totoy o si Nene / Di ka p'wedeng iditine / Ang pira-piraso na salamin / Ng sarili mo'y pulutin / Buuin, H'wag nang muling / Bayaan pang basagin / Ng salita at ng kamaong / Mapanakit, mapang-alipin / Di sila, kundi ikaw / Ang s'yang dapat magpasya / Lumaya ka! Ngayon na!

Wedding shoes

No, not my wedding, silly! My best friend/sister, Mari Nakano's wedding! Next month, it's gonna be awesome! I can't wait. These shoes look better on and all of a sudden made me realize that I have some sexy calves with the right kinda shoes, haha. You know, women and their shoes! I am no exception ;)

My wise Lululemon water tin

We got our layoff notices again this year. But for some odd reason, I'm not trippin' as much as I was last year. Maybe because I've already been thru it, maybe because I don't think it's worth it, maybe because I know that things happen for a reason and when one door closes, another opens. All of the above. Maybe because I'm stronger, I've grown, and am spiritually capable of handling any bad news that comes my way. All of the above.

As my co-workers are panicking along with the other thousands of people that are potentially getting laid off this year, I stand grounded, riding the tide, planting my feet so I can handle the tremble of the earth moving beneath me. My job is on the line, but I won't move until I know the facts, until things are definite and until all the shaking has stopped.

In the meantime, here are two quotes that I shared with my co-workers from my lululemon tin can that I'd like to also post on my blog:

"Life is full of setbacks. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks."

"Your outlook on life is a direct reflection of how much you like yourself".

Thanks for allowing me to share. One day at a time. We can't control the weather, but we can adjust to the climate changes and dress appropriately.

Nickki & Goldie

Yesterday I paid a long overdue visit to Nickki & Goldie. Goldie is so BIG now, literally. I've never seen thighs on a baby that huge...haha. Nevertheless, it was fun & good times, catching up with an old friend and sister, Nickki over some vegan thai food, yummy! Makes me wanna try the local vegan restaurants in my neighborhood and that raw food one that Mari was telling me about. Glad we're both on the healthy tip and coming back to performance once again. Lives in synchronation, this is nothing new when it comes to Nickki and me. Creative inspiration and exchange at it's finest with Goldie in our presence =)

Here's...GOLDIE!

Nickki & Goldie's sumo thighs =)

The sun is shining

The sun is shining bright in LA again and I catch this Michael Jackson song twice this week. I can't help it, I love me some MJ especially on a sunny day in LA =)

Happy 30th Bday Ali!

This year is the year of weddings and 30th bdays. A very transitional year for many of the beautiful people in my life. Ali, just turned 30 this weekend and decided to enjoy her bday in Ojai. It was a great idea! We had a blast! The property was SO beautiful! It was incredible! Our own private property for the weekend. Everyone contributed in the cooking, the cleaning, the entertainment, the music, the dancing, the eating, the extras...I had a great time and was happy to see Ali, most of all, enjoying the entrance into what I term "the sexy years": the dirty 30s!

inside the magic getaway, the journey begins...


night shots

the pool that no one swam in because it was too damn cold, haha...


the bday girl at work in the kitchen

veggie's for the grill

homemade (almost) hummus. On it's way, but we were missing an ingredient. Shoot, I thought it was still good!

I was assigned the fish. Good for display, bad idea to put the loose vegetables on the grill --> bye, bye vegetables =(


In the morning...

The meditation area


The private parking lot

Swiss chocolate

A good friend of mine, Ritchie, just got back from Juste Debout. Sebastien, our other friend, and Ritchie didn't get thru the Paris finals but they had a great time and I'm sure he learned a lot from his experience out there. Ritchie is an amazing artist and dancer. I hope you can witness both from him in your lifetime. You will truly be inspired.

This was my souvenir from Switzerland and trust me, it was the best chocolate I've ever had in my life. I don't even have a sweet tooth but this was unbelievable! Thanks Ritchie =)

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Just thought this title was appropriate since I hit up Club Deluxe twice in one weekend and stumbled upon the cover of what might have been a chocolate box on the sidewalk, on my way home. S.F. is growing on me and has always been a place of annual refuge for more than 10 years now. Hope to explore this place a little more, only time will tell.

Club Deluxe: the perfect place to enjoy live jazz every night on Haight Street

found this on the sidewalk on Haight Street after leaving Club Deluxe. Someone was lucky and loved =)

Sidewalk art: "A day without love, is like a day without art"

S.F. nabe at The Helms

Oishi sake! Thanks Thaomy!

All the necessary ingredients: mushrooms & tofu

tofu & cabbage

chicken & leek

salmon

shitake & leek

daikon & ponzu

Great job ladies! (L-R: Thaomy, Irene, me & Sachi)

Nabe in S.F. at The Helm (fisheye view)

Let the festivities begin!

kampai!

dashi for days (Irene Duller)

chopping away

Cooking with my S.F. girls =)

James preparing the kitchen for an intimate meal

Art Show on Haight Street, S.F.

A homies chess board?! WTF?! Someone buy this for me!



These pics are from an art show I went to last weekend on Haight Street in S.F. Cool music, good vibe, children graffiti artists...I definitely saw the distinction between art show fashion in the bay versus LA. Everyone was chill in the bay, while everyone still flosses in LA. Nevertheless, fun times =)

35 cents a call

I stumbled upon one of these at the elementary school I worked at and was revisited by memories of quarters in my pocket and rushing to find a way to extend the phone calls I made for just a minute longer. 35 cents a call. Back in the days, before cellphones, to think, this is how we used to communicate. The extinction of pay phones came at the arrival of the cellphone.

Back down memory lane...

Mr. Brainwash, I still prefer Banksy

This guy reminds me of Shepard Fairey but in NY. Well, maybe he has a little more originality and enough money to put up his own gallery.

What do you think?

Mr. Brainwash

Generation Wave: Revolutionary Hip Hop in Burma

I've been doing a better job at following news around the world lately. Only in the US, do most Americans do not know what goes on beyond their own backyards. You travel to other countries and people can tell you what is going on in their country, what is going on in the US and how the US impacts their country. I feel it is my responsibility to know the same in how we are affected by the world.

Therefore, this is one article that spoke to me today and inspired me. Just wanted to share it on my blog.

Enjoy and truly know that art can forward a revolution. Free Burma!

Generation Wave