Destination: Yangshuo

After two years of waiting...the trip is finally pushing through.

Can't wait to climb new rock!!!!!

Let's take it slow...

Nope, not in reference to the same thing that Freestyle was talking about. I'm talking about -- what else? -- the four-letter word starting with a W and ending with a K.

Just when I was recently promoted, here comes the signs that're telling me that it's not about the destination, it's about a journey.

Sure, I hear it all the time...

Ok wait, I take that back, I do hear that all the time about TRAVELING, but not about careers. Nowadays, everyone is just in a friggin' rush to be someone, to be something, to make an impact, to earn a lot, to be out there and successful. But I can't help but see all the people I look up to -- they didn't do it overnight. They're so good at what the do because they worked their way up. Their years and years of experience is what makes them so good! So why am I pressuring myself to be at their level in a span of three years when it took them ten years to get there?

Then here comes Chris Lindner, professional sport climber, to further impress upon me how the journey matters so much to him. He goes around the world with a personal mission to spread word about rock climbing and the benefits of being a rock climber -- both to oneself and to the world around us. Nevermind if he doesn't always get the mesage across, but at least he learns many things along the way, which builds his character and will likely equip him for future encounters, and eventually lead to the fulfillment of his mission, as slowly as it may take.

Then there's Father Nonette, the parish priest in Mapayapa Village I, last Sunday, touching on one my favorite topics in Stephen Covey's Seven Habits -- blocking time for the "big rocks". He reminds us to not lose sight of what's important in life, like moments spent with family and friends, and to remember that all it takes is a little bit of prioritization.

Not that I'm feeling work is getting in the way. I'm not saying that just yet, because I'm still able to find ways to do the things I love. But I just can't help but wonder, What's all the rush about? What am I running after? Is it all about racing to the finish line? Carpe diem, they say. But even that is subject to one's perspective. You can "seize the day" to advance your career, or "seize the day" to maximize the time you can invest on the things you truly love.

I can't get myself to choose between the two extremes right now. Count on me to position myself in the "safe" in-between zone. The only thing I know now is that I'm not hearing any reasons to rush, and I'm more than happy to take my time, to stop and smell the sampaguitas (roses stink), to let all the sceneries and little learnings sink in.

Maybe my mind will change in a year. Maybe it will change in a week. But this is it for now.

Comedy Break!

Comedy break. Break from doing overtime on a Monday. Break from climbing. See, it was a break in more ways than one. On to the story...

For a different kind of gimik (not that we actually replaced an evening of climbing), my friends and I decided to scoot over to Greenbelt 2 to check out the "observational" comedy scene. Yes, lesson #1 for the night: may ganon palang terminology! They call it observational comedy in contrast with "those you see in Quezon Avenue," i.e., Clownz, Zirkoh where the comedians sometimes interact/put the audience in the spotlight.

Personally I was up for this because I've heard a lot (of good things) about Tim Tayag. Tim was one of the performers of the night – an event called Laugh Man Standing organized by Jack TV and eCircle Entertainment – as part of the group called the Comedy Cartel. I first heard about Tim at around the same time when Rex Navarette hit it big in Manila, but never got around on seeing his act. Meanwhile, I do catch him on his travel show in Living Asia Channel (On-Foot) and, whenever I fly Cebu Pacific, automatically flip to his column on the airline’s Smile magazine.

So I’d like to think I entered Spicy Fingers (the venue) with relatively high expectations (um, but this may be especially true for our companion Mr. Yap). But what I wasn’t aware of is how the show would actually transpire. All the while I thought we’d be watching around 3 comedians only, when the line up was actually made up of around 10! It turned out that this event featured not just Tim but, like I said, different members of the Comedy Cartel + finalists of Jack TV’s Laffapalooza (think Last Comic Standing with Jay Mohr).

I don’t think I’d be able to review each comedian, nor would I want to spoil their acts by describing their most memorable (both positive and neagative, haha!) spiels, but just a rundown of my top picks for the night:
 

    - Tim Tayag
    - Mike Unson
    - Alex Calleja
    - Marlon Olivan

Mike Unson

Alex Calleja

And it made me wonder…what made them stand above the rest? It seems their unifying elements would be their relevant themes – it certainly helped that they all talked about matters which I could identify with. Then there was the great story. Their jokes were not just randomly being thrown at you – they were tied together which made for a great buildup and kaboom! one punchline after the other. Being well-versed in English and Filipino was definitely a hit with me. It helps in relating with them and their anecdotes, because you know they are Filipino, just like you and me.

Sheeesh. I can be such a nerd. Nanonood nga ng pampatawa, ina-analyze naman sa huli!!!

So nevermind! Disregard the post-event analysis if you think it’s going above the line. I just want to say…I recommend that you try to catch the Comedy Cartel one of these days, and when you do, watch out for these men!!!

And may I just note...TIM TAYAG, I am now officially a fan :D













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*For upcoming shows/schedules of the Comedy Cartel, check out the eCircle Entertainment website
**Images from Comedy Cartel feature at Click the City and On Foot Online