Unexpected Find in Manila and Unknown Philippine History

Baguio
me (8 years old), Ig (3 years old, Ray (6), Tom (who died when he was 9)

My trip to the Philippines in February will be more of a pilgrimage, than a vacation.  It will be a time where I will see a country and my extended family without my mother’s enforced bias.  So much of my perceptions were bound in experiences shackled from a troubled and a very confused adolescent, whose younger brother had just died, and had to continue to be under the guardianship of a grieving and resentful mother.  Thirty years later the desire to return without the burden of her emotional disquietude will complete a personal journey.  Despite the chaos, despite the deep psychological upheaval, underneath her ravaged soul she was able to impart to me her longing for her country — an unresolved affection for what is Filipino.

My mother, Paz and me.

This affinity was further strengthened with the conversations I heard as a child between my aunts and grandparents, making me long for old Tagalog expressions that have no translation in any other language in the world.

The Ganzon Family

My daughter will be joining my husband and I on this trip.  This will be an adventure and an opportunity to explore facets of a country that eluded me previously.

My favorite childhood photo of Frances when she was 6 years old.

http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/synagogue-beth-yaacov-the-jewish-heart-of-manila/15412

As I traipse through the web I discovered some unknown information about Manila.  Because Frances, my younger daughter is Jewish, I was particularly curious to know if there was a Jewish community in the Philippines.  There is in fact a Jewish Synagogue in Makati called Beth Yaacov.  I didn’t expect to find this.

Apparently there have been Spanish Jews in the country since the 1590’s.  The first documented individuals were two brothers, Jorge and Domingo Rodriguez.  Read the history here.  The brothers came as refugees from the Spanish Inquisition.  I don’t think this is common knowledge.

Frances had been on her own personal quest, seeking guidance from her father’s ancestral tradition that dates back more than a thousand years.  Spiritual journeys take different forms.  And Frances has chosen her path.

Bat Mitzvah

The Kaplan family

I hope to visit Beth Yaacov Synagogue with Frances, as a part of a memorable moment as we travel my ancestral home.

Coming Full Circle — 2014 Retrospective

I have been flipping through old pictures.  I would have to say, all in all, life has been good.  The photographs foretell a challenging and interesting future.  The one thing I wish for all the people I know (and will know) is good health and many friends.  Nothing is more important in life — love and a strong constitution.

The one thing I wish I could do though is to be able to travel back in time and tell my younger self to not worry so much; not to be so down on what hasn’t been done, and what cannot be done at that very moment.  In time it all works out.

Dmitry and I survived 26 years of parenting.  Our duties are somewhat over whether we want them to, or not.  A strong willed father begets strong willed daughters.  Remnants of their childhood are all over the house: their Polly Pockets in Dmitry’s desk drawer, along with Tomagatchis and tiny infant socks.  In the kitchen cabinets sippy cups and toddler spoons and bowls still linger.

Julie June 23, 1987

When Julie, our first, was born, I remember Dmitry sitting in the hospital room rocking chair, waiting for me to wake up.  The second I opened my eyes, he asked, “What have we done, Joy?”  We could only look at the baby’s scrunched up face, contorting to each corner of her mouth following her body’s rooting instinct.  So I nursed her, and found the courage to carry on with her father.

And she grew…

and grew…

USC graduation 2009

Shopping Has Become a Chore

http://www.afar.com/highlights/thrift-mecca-the-bellevue-goodwill

I shop at thrift stores for sport, just to see if I can find a well-made piece of clothing for a deal.  Sometimes I score.  I have found the most amazing vintage stuff — I’m talking custom made alligator bags and shoes from Cuba and Argentina.  The morbid side to these finds though, usually indicate that somebody has died and the family just want to get rid of the possessions.  Another downside to frequenting thrift stores is that one gets tired of hunting in an uninspiring environment.  The oldness and the cheapness of most of the items can induce you to overdose on anti-depressants.  Another laughable fact is that the Goodwill in my neighborhood has the gall to price used designer items higher than the Nordstrom Rack.

To ward off this tendency I have to browse through sections of designers I cannot afford just to be able to inhale quality, and finely tailored creations.  I have had luck at the Las Vegas Herve Leger store at the Miracle Mile Mall.  Their sales can be afford-ably divine.

http://www.herveleger.com/ALINE/dresses-aline,default,sc.html

http://www.herveleger.com/ALINE/dresses-aline,default,sc.html

The truth is shopping is not fun anymore.  You don’t have to go to the thrift stores to become disillusioned with disarmingly low quality clothing for the middle-of-the-road shopper like moi.  Enter a Macy’s, or the great Nordy’s (Nordstrom for the locals).  Unless you venture in to the exclusive name brand areas, you aren’t going to hit fine tailoring.  And then, after reveling in the likes of Alexander Wang, or Missoni or whatever, the price tag escalates your blood pressure and commits you to undergo a triple bypass.

So, what to do?  Not go shopping?  That would be tantamount to not breathing.  I googled the question: Why are clothes in the department stores so poorly made?  I got the following:

In Trendy World Of Fast Fashion, Styles Aren’t Made To Last : NPR

The decline of mid-range clothing | Coletterie

The High Cost Of Cheap Fashion | On Point with Tom Ashbrook

Toxic dyes. Lethal logos. Cotton drenched in formaldehyde… How …

It appears I am not the only one noticing the changes in the shopping experience,

Bring It On 2014

Beginning of a new year calls for a self evaluation.  I will try not to talk about dieting.  I will not express regret the minute I open my mouth when I wake up.  I will conk the head of anyone in my family who takes a cell phone shot of me before I have had my cup of coffee, or washed my face and then post it on Facebook.  I am talking about you Everett, future son-in-law. I still need to take that Cheerios pic out. I will try to get over my dysfunctional childhood — and ignore the freak show and drama.  After all, I am over 50; I should be over it.  I am — but when I still have to deal with the insanity of the people who gave birth to me, I become nuts all over again.  So therapy, better yet — meditation.  No, even better — shopping for shoes.  Yes, I am Imelda.  The one annoying thing I will not stop — looking at the baby videos of my adult children. Sorry Dmitry.  Now I am on to preparing for my trip to the Philippines in February,