Quaint Shops in Naga

Now that I need to hop on a jeep and travel at more than 30 minutes from home to work, I'm now more than familiar with certain landmarks along the Concepcion road I pass by almost everyday. I also realized I haven't talked much about the current city I live in, and other blogs can say something better about the food along Magsaysay Avenue and other great restaurants and the malls sprouting in Naga City (maybe when I when I'm completely raving about a certain delicacy or place, which I have already listed and will probably have to describe later). You can probably count on me for occasionally taking photos of food but that would make you hungry. =)

Instead, I'll be championing less popular shops along Maharlika Highway. If you're tired of seeing predictable items in the mall, here are some places you can check out for interesting stuff from abroad/past/heck, I don't care! As for me, I found these interesting just because 1) they're from Japan, 2) you never know what to find/expect here (Note: Surplus shops aren't quite rare, really, even in the Metro. You just gotta LOOK). Here are some photos from my bidding-adieu iPhone:

Eson Japan Surplus (located at the Rotonda going to Concepcion)

Japan Surplus Shop (Along Concepcion beside Ago Foundation)

 

I loved National Bookstore as a kid, Bookshop in my college days for their cheaper books and later on Fully Booked for funky titles and beautiful knick knacks under its belt. But this warehouse is just unbelievable cheap. That commercial asking you what can you get for P20? Well, more than just some ice cream, I'm sure.

Along with the books are things like VHS, medicines in boxes as well as clothes and shoes I suspect would end up in Ukay-ukay. Proceeds go to charity. Totally supporting that.

On wheels, on ice

When I learned

how to skate

and ride a bike,

one went fast,

one took time.

In childhood days

I yearned to glide

like the mouse at a show

in the city one night.

I have watched my brothers

swivel through streets,

wishing I could join them

instead of sitting at the backseat.

First, I was taught to ride a bike

in which many tried to teach me.

In any case, I was always falling down.

Both of my legs sustained a lot

of bruises and injuries.

From then on, mother forbade me

to mount another bike.

Thinking I would be safe

and would no longer be scarred.

It wasn’t until later

in a broken down bike,

when I was on my own

poised on top of a slope,

I lifted my feet off the ground.

Counted the seconds

‘til I moved forward

without ever falling down.

It wasn’t long before

I could push the pedals

One by one.

Skating, on the other hand,

was taught seasons after I grew.

This time though, I attempted

to try something new.

I tried to teach myself

based on the books and pictures I knew.

Alas! After two lapses groping

on the sides of the rink,

I finally called in a coach to assist.

Holding my hands, she held me towards

the center of the ring

and taught me to march ahead,

find the balance from within.

When I finally took a stance,

only then did she show me

how gliding was done.

With feet not too far apart,

slide in opposite direction

one by one.

The day I learned how to bike

and glide a little bit gracefully on ice,

years have passed in between.

But both speak of the same need

for balance, for continuity.

Our youth may have called for some self-efficacy

but to grow is to need others in this journey.

How we can be dependent on one another

yet at times need to be alone on our own!

Palpitations

The doctor said it was nothing –

I couldn't believe him though.

My heart had squeezed the day before

for reasons unknown.

Tried to steer clear of caffeine,

slept earlier than the owls prescribe.

I even tossed the sheets aside

but nothing made it cease at night.

So he checked my pulse and looked

at me, straight into the eyes.

Calmly, he said –

“Let it love.”

I went out with a smile.

Wami sa Umaga

Wala na ang dating lugar kung saan tayo

sumilong noong nagdilim ang langit.

Bumuhos nang paunti-unti ang mga patak ng tubig

at binura ang mga naiwang yapak sa sahig.

Wala na rin ang mga pagkai't inuming

nagpabusog sa ating mga tiyan

at nagpatamis nang ating mga usapan

sa sulok ng madalas na ka-ina.

Wala na ang hinanap-hanap na sopas

noong malamig ang simoy ng hangin

na siyang nagpainit sa ating mga katawan

nang papalapit na ang taglamig.

Niluma na ang mga pahayagang iniabot

sa atin ng tindera, na nag-udyat basahin

ang kapalaran minsa'y nasa panig natin

ngunit piniling hindi tayo pagpalain.

...

Wala na ang mga magpapaalala ito

tulad lang ng pagtingin ko sa'yo.

Stirrings

We long held this belief

that conclusions can be made

over a cup of coffee or two.

We've seen people come together

and closer through exotic tastes

brought from corners of the world

we can only dare dream we'd reach someday –

or maybe we'd get there sooner than we expect.

With them, the stories of tropical warmth

to the chilling winter of the seasons they've been

felt real to our own skin.

….

But before we say the binding words,

burn crossed bridges, hook little fingers

declare our liberty, swear our oaths

and scrawl our initials –

swirl ever so slowly

this concoction they left

for us to drink.

Dust the froth with a part of you

that confesseses to make a difference.

Who knows if the prophecy for this century

could be fulfilled by our deepest wishes?