Thursday, February 28, 2008

Made in Hong Kong

I haven’t blogged for the past few days. I’ve been too focused on a topic that I later on realized has not really matured enough for me to write about and comfortably air to the blogging public. That one underwent more revisions than all Philippine laws combined before I decided to let it simmer for a while.

A friend suggested that I blog about Hong Kong instead. My immediate reaction was “should I blog about how I hate it?”


Fine, hate is such a strong word unless I direct it to GMA, George Bush, and all the other persons and topics
that make my caffeine-nicotine combo addiction rise in direct proportion to my work.

Nine years and I haven’t really
defined how I feel about this place.

Hong Kong. This small former British colony whose name means “fragrant harbor”. Looking at and smelling its harbors now makes me think that history does creates ironies.

For many people, Hong Kong is Giordano, Bossini, U2, and Baleno. It is Gucci, Armani, DKNY, YSL, LV and
the whole alphabet soup. It is Li Ka Shing, Stanley Ho, the Kuoks and other filthy rich names. It is Jackie Chan, Aaron Kwok, Andy Lau, Tony Leung and recently, Edison Chen (sorry, can’t post his winning photos).

It is Disneyland, Ocean Park, Victoria Peak, Ngong Ping, Giant Buddha, Lan Kwai Fong and Night Market. It is the MTR, the Star Ferry, high-rises, Chek Lap Kok, double-decker buses, trams, and the IFC 2 that is considered to be one of the tallest in the world but for me just looks like a giant … sandworm from Dune. (see pic)

Maybe Hong Kong are all of these. Some of these I’ve seen, many I’ve only read about.


But the Hong Kong I’ve really known are the migrant workers I’ve been with for the past years. The “manangs”, “nanays” and “titas” who surprise you with free pancit, halayang ube, or a steaming cup of coffee every now and then. Those women who are more giving than any charity foundation and more courageous than a million GMAs combined.


My Hong Kong are the housemates and colleagues I’ve been with since the start. We have are own pet peeves, eccentricities and orientation but we do manage to live together quite well without scratching each other’s eyes out. Ok, so there was a hair-pulling incidence once.


My Hong Kong is my coming out. No more peeking out of the closet for relief. It’s a life I now fully embrace though still trying to understand.


Then there are the ‘beckies’ that are becoming part of my Hong Kong. They are the newfound friends I am still getting to really know and tremendously enjoy doing so.


My Hong Kong are the people I’ve met and known. My Hong Kong are the experiences – joyful and sad, painful and liberating – I’ve had. The yam chaa in the mornings and evening hot pots with guests. Movies from time to time, eating out, gay nights. The gimiks we had, the rallies we organized, the blunders we committed, and the victories we won.


My Hong Kong is the life I made and now living.


So no, I do not really hate Hong Kong. Maybe just its freakin’ weather.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

9 years sa hk? malapit ka nang magdalaga...sa hk.

i love hk on a sunday. mabagal ang buhay sa ibang lugar pero buhay na buhay ang central dahil sa mga manangs, idagdag ko pa ang amoy ng pakbet, laing, at iba pang lutuing bahay, isama ko na rin ang mga instant beauty parlour sa kalye, ang nagma-manicure sa gilid-gilid. lahat nangangarap na sana nasa pilipinas sila or sana pagkatapos ng sunday ay sunday muli.

ay teka, hindi ko pala ito blog.

Kiks said...

sila ang buhay natin, anez?

ang mga titi, eheheste, ang mga tita (babae man o lalaki.)

cant_u_read said...

naluha naman ako dito, friend. para closing lines ng pelikula.

nice piece, kapateed!

Diablo said...

omg. grabe, sobra akong speechless.

isulong nating ang adbokasiya.

darn, u earned my high respect.

wanderingcommuter said...

okay, its baleno, tony leung, and ocean park. oh, i thought i was a multiple choice questions. hehehe.

but seriously, naluha ako sa dulo nito. because the hong kong for you will be baguio for me... namiss ko tuloy...

Anonymous said...

jeric, galing naman. may pix pa talag ang dune worms, hehehe. tagal mo na pala dyan, parati ka ba nagbakasyon d2 mla? 'beckies" huh, hehehe.

jericho said...

@gibo: nalimutan mo ang tong-its, pagsasayaw sa kalsada pati ng tinikling, at videoke sa Chater Road..;)
@kiks: yeys. trueness to the highest level.
@rye: salamat. ongoing pa rin ang drama. ;)
@carl: speechless din ako
@wandering: ako hindi mo miss?
@josh: sobrang Dune-inspired diba? hindi po madalas.

Anonymous said...

you make hong kong sound a bit unappealing. people like u though color the mukang boring hk.

Anonymous said...

i love nicolas tse hehehehe!

-turismoboi

Coldman said...

I'm glad ur doing good in HK. Hope someday I can visit Ocean Park. =)

chase / chubz said...

you play dune?? hehehe.. uu nga noh. kulang nalang bumuka yung sa taas at magsilabasan ang mga pointed teeth..
hay naku.. i suck at tagalog. hehe

Raiden Shuriken said...

DH si ermats dyan sa Hong Kong for 13 years until 1999 (being migrants runs in the blodd, i guess). pangarap ko nga, dalhin sya dyan ulit, as a tourist... (parang Jollibee). baka isama ko sya sa June...