Luneta Trivia!

Luneta is where the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal was shot by the Spanish authorities.  It is located near the historic fort Intramuros which was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century.  Intramuros literally means "within the walls".  It is vibrant and full of history.  But most of the people have already forgotten its storied past.  In front of the guarded Rizal statue (referred to as kilometer zero), traffic snarls. Across Roxas Boulevard is the Quirino grandstand where most of the monstrous rallies and protest marches originate.  Beyond is Manila Bay with its legendary sunset.

People from different parts of the country and the world come to Luneta to rest and admire, and reminisce the great courage and struggles for the country’s independence against colonial domination.  People mill around, engrossed with themselves and with the many different mini parks within Luneta in the midst of a bustling Manila metropolis.  Not far from where we are is a group of animated strangers.  We came closer to investigate, hoping to take a piece of the action.  What we discovered came out to be a truly unique and fascinating experience.

We gathered in a circle, and in turns, each one asks a trivia question.  Whoever gets the correct answer gets a reward from the one who asked the question - a one-peso coin.  It is not much and it might be unintentional, but the coin has Jose Rizal in it.  You will not believe the kind of questions asked.  They range from ancient civilization to modern gadgetry, from sports to bird migration.

A street sweeper was able to answer a question about a computer terminology.  A carpenter knew about a vanishing tribe in South America.  And who knows Maun?  It is a quiet town that sits where the Okavango River Delta meet the Kalahari Desert.  I didn’t know that!  And who asked the trivia question?  A vendor selling candies and cigarettes who happened to be nearby.  Wow!

After a while, not content with just listening, I tried asking a trick question:  Who are the three presidents carved on Mount Rushmore?  But it came out too easy, all of them knew it, and it’s not three there were four: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.  I felt like a novice!

Time flew.  We didn’t realize we were there for three hours already.  We had such a wonderful time in the company of total strangers.  But it seems that a strong bond of friendship was forged that night.  We said our goodbyes.  But I will be back again, armed with fascinating trivia….

Coincidence

This afternoon I was in a shop buying ink cartridges for my printer when I received a text message from my brother.  He excitedly told me that the Sequoia seeds already sprouted.  It almost sounded like a miracle considering that Giant Sequoias grow in the very cold Northern California.  But I was so impressed with the huge Sequoias I saw in the Avenue of the Giants, that I took my chances and brought the seeds here in warm Philippines.

On New Year’s Day, we placed the seeds in a mini greenhouse inside the refrigerator following instructions from the kit that goes with the seeds.  And that after 20 days, it should be removed and placed in a sunny area.  Refrigerating supposedly gives the impression of winter, and that sunshine after 20 days signals spring, which is the time for new growth and budding.  And that is exactly what happened! And we were thrilled!  However, there were 6 six seeds in the mini greenhouse, but only one sprouted?  A few minutes ago, my brother text again and he said that there is another sprout, and probably another in the morning.  This is truly fascinating!

But here’s more  - The shop where I bought the ink cartridges is called Great Sequoia Enterprise.  I was inside the shop when my brother text me about the sprouting Sequoia seeds. . . .

Vietnam

Tomorrow I am flying to Vietnam via Philippine Airlines.  But first I have to hop in for an early flight in Cebu Airport to Manila then on to Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh in southern Vietnam.  Finally a Pacific Airlines flight will take me north to Hanoi which means “the city on the bend of a river”.  I never knew such 5-letters could have an 8-word meaning.    

Wondrous Sight

As we were driving along the expressway by the side of one tributary of the Great Han River, I noticed several little houses like miniature communities in little valleys sandwiched beneath gentle slopes by the river. What a wondrous sight! That scene is forever etched in my memory.

Highway Lunch

By this time, I have perfected my Korean greeting and passed off many times as a Korean. I thought I got away with it till the lady was skeptical about the way I hold my chopsticks and asked my host. She smiled at me, and I said Oh shit! I thought I fooled her by keeping silent after the flawless annyung haseyo greeting and the respectful bow. The chopsticks gave me away. I returned her smile in surrender….