Ninoy with his tricycle on the way to Tamaraw Falls

A Puerto Galera native, one would think that Ninoy is already happy with the island’s calm and simple environment, but the 37-year old father of five thinks otherwise. “Gusto ko din bumalik sa Maynila”, said Ninoy, who’s had a share of experience in the urban area back when he was younger. Money is, as always, the main factor that gives him the urge to dream bigger. Hoping to provide an easier life for the kids, Ninoy said he is willing to leave them in order to feed them.

“Doon na lang muna sila sa inay ko”, said Ninoy, whose mother’s house is located not very far from where he lives. Ninoy’s friendly and talkative attitude helps him in ways that affects his job. According to him, being friendly means having more friends, friends whom he can use in the long run. “Yung mga nakilala ko ako na ang tinatawagan ‘pag nagpupunta sila dito. Ako na nagtu-tour guide, nagmamaneho”, he added. Ninoy can drive a van, operate a tricycle, and even captain a motorboat. “Minsan ‘pag gustong mag snorkling ng mga bisita ko ako na rin nagmamaneho”, Ninoy proudly boasts.

But being good on what he does isn’t always enough for him. After all, this is not his first job. Ninoy used to work in Navotas, Malabon as radio transmitter operator. “Marunong ako ‘nung mores code, ginagawa namin ‘yun sa trabaho. Yung mga kaklase ko noon apat kami silang tatlo bumigay eh”, he said. Ninoy read the text in my shirt which says “New York” using mores code. Ninoy previously worked in Bulacan as well as a family driver. He hopes to do the same eventually. “Siyempre mas regular ang sahod kapag ganoon. Kumpara dito P700 ang singil ko pero may gasolina pa tsaka repair. Kahati ko din yung may-ari nitong tricycle, mauuwi ko dito mga dalawang-daan lang”, Ninoy said. He added that we are his last trip for the day, meaning his half-a-day’s work of 200 pesos is all he is about to bring home for all five of his children. Even tomorrow is an uncertainty, depending if there are customers for that day. During the off-peak season, times are especially harsh for Ninoy and his family. And by family, I mean him and the kids without their mother.

Ninoy’s first wife is a public school teacher, to whom he had two children. “Naghiwalay kami sapagkat siya ay napakamatapobre,” he said with a laugh. The next woman didn’t work out as well, leaving him with three more children in his hands, all young and in need of proper care, which Ninoy is trying to give. All of these information brings us back to why he wants to leave Puerto Galera for Manila.

On our way back, Ninoy kept bringing us to the most amazing land marks, just for the sake of it. Everything that happened to us during that short trip alone, is “an experience worth remembering”, according to Ninoy.

If you want to contact Ninoy Bunquin, text him at 09154929996 and this fellow will be more than willing to accompany you from your transportation to your room accommodation. If you know someone who’s looking for a family driver, he might be your guy as well. During our short trip, he turned out to be ours.

“Oo, naiisip ko ‘yun. Araw-araw ko siya iniisip.” The thought of living independently is common among people her age. At 25 years old, Ala Paredes has crossed many different pages on the book of life’s changes. From a regular student to a commercial model to her stint as MYX VJ and now as a visual arts student living in Australia, it is safe to say that she has made the most out of her youth so far.

But it doesn’t mean that she had done it all. After all, our idea of what we want to do is oftentimes indeed idealistic. At this point in her life, Ala can only think of two immediate goals. “What I want to do in the long run is move out first of all”, she reveals. Ala believes that being off her parents’ hands can have its advantages. She hopes to gain a deeper understanding of what her parents are, and also for them to get to know Ala as an independent adult. “Also, I just want my own space,” she adds.

Ala’s other goal? “To get a definite foothold in the design/ visual arts industry here [in Australia]”, she says. Ala intends to etch her name in the industry, and hold exhibitions and do projects as soon as she gets the chance.

It seems like Ala has had a secure fondness for art. Ever since she was a kid, she has welcomed art as a major influence in her life. Pursuing art as her planned career choice has been considered by Ala as one of the decisions that will probably stick with her.

Not everything, however, happened according to her plans. One of which is the fact that she lives in Australia now. “I thought I’d want to live in the Philippines forever, but now I want to live here”, Ala shares. Though she has found joy with the life she has chosen these days, Ala admits that everything wasn’t as easy as it looked when the Paredes family first got there.

“It was incredibly lonely and isolating”, she says. “I always loved standing out, but for the first time, being different seemed like a hindrance. At the same time, my pride kept me from wanting to conform. It was horrible, feeling so different from everyone else. I never thought it was something I would feel bad about.” Though she believes that she’ll never really fit in, she have learned that being comfortable with being different results with them being comfortable with her in the long run. “I’ve always been an oddball even back home in the Philippines”, so I guess nothing has really changed. I’m just an oddball in a different way now. I like it.”

Living in another country can inevitably affect how a person lives. The same can be said in Ala ’s case. Some of her principles have changed since relocating.

“I moved here thinking I’d be a loyal Filipino forever in a sense that I didn’t want to let this new culture in”, she says. “Now I realize that while you should never forget your roots, there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting your surroundings change you. Why stop it if it comes naturally to me?” Ala believes that being in someone else’s house and not befriend its host is considered rude. That’s when Ala realized that she had to open her mind to new things and stop judging other people. After all, she is the “visitor in their house”. “A lot of what I thought was my ‘national pride’ was really just arrogance, close-mindedness, and also fear of the unknown”, she adds.

Despite Ala’s openness to let the country and the culture change her, she still has certain principle that gets reinforced. She admires the honor and respect men and women have for each other, one of the classic Filipino values she would want in her relationships.

Now, as a working student, Ala admits that she can only spend so much these days. “I only have enough money for gas, art supplies, coffee, and train fare”, says Ala. Even with the simplicity of her lifestyle, she does think of the bigger things life demands of her. She does think of her future. “I dream of being independent. I want my own house. I want kids someday.” But everything comes with a price: taxes, tuition fees, insurance, house and lot, gas, and a lot more. When asked if she has thought about those things as well, she came up with a repetitive “YES”.

When everything is said and done, she is a bit idealistic but Ala is also about taking risks.

Random Thoughts:

On the shenanigans she might have done during her stint at Starbucks:

“No I don’t spit in coffee. And I’ve never made a drink badly on purpose, partly because if it’s Starbucks policy that if the customer doesn’t like the drink, we’re required to make it as many times as we need to till we get it right – for free! So if I make a drink badly, it could backfire. I’ll have to make it again, anyway. Also, I don’t serve food or beverages that I would never serve to a member of my family. It’s just principle I guess.”

On which APO song she likes best and which she hates most:

“There aren’t any songs that tick me off, but I admittedly have a preference for the Tagalog songs more then the English ones. They sound more authentic. That being said, I’m not crazy over “Show Me a Smile” and “Anna” because they sound like they’re trying to be American (funny I never noticed that before I moved here).

But then again, to foreigners, all Pinoys sounds like they’re trying to be American as I’ve learned. Hahaha! I love the oldies like Panalangin, Ewan, Paano, Pag-ibig, American Junk, etc. “

On her first ever blog entry:

“I think it was about my Philosophy oral exams in Ateneo with my scary teacher, Mister Mariano. That guy scared the shit out of me.”

On Australian native Heath Ledger’s death:

“I cried. Steve Irwin’s death was a bigger deal though.”

On why jeepney drivers are more hot headed than ever:

“Because they have shit jobs that don’t pay them enough? Because they’re in traffic all day? Because animosity between the rich and poor keep growing? I don’t know.”

On why she loves blogging:

“I used to love it as an act of creative writing, but now I just do it as a stress reliever. I’m just too busy. Also, since I started art school, I’m attracted more to images than words now.

Still, I keep blogging just because it keeps the creative juices flowing. An artist has to give and give and give if he wants to gain. I don’t know but that’s how I see it.”

On what she really wants:

“I want to be a concept artist/ production designer/ book illustrator who hold the occasional exhibition. I want my own place with a big, sunny studio, and a workshop I can work in with wild abandon. I want to be a sought-out freelancer who gets to travel occasionally. I also want to act and sing on the side (mwahahaha).

In the not-so-near but not-so-distant future, I want the whole kids-and-husband value meal; have a house with a yard, a big, fully equipped kitchen, that sort of thing. I want a wacky, artistic household, and all my kids will have odd haircuts, and weird names, and will love music, and will have all the best art projects in school.

Then I want to get so good at what I do, blaze a trail for others to follow, not for my own ego, but because I seriously want to open others to what the possibilities are. Everyone dreams of being their own hero and helping others, and I see this as the best way to do that. Being the best I can be so that others will know they can make something great out of themselves as well.

Then I want to grow old gracefully, and productively, produce my best works in my old age.

I want life to surprise me with the unexpected. It would be horrible if life went exactly as planned.”

]]> http://iprofileyou.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/ala-paredes/feed/ 8 iprofileyou Ala holding an Australian turtoise.