150 YEARS...AND HE'S AGED BETTER THAN WE HAVE

Yep yep, that time of the year again when our batch tries to put together pictures of ourselves. We've long given up getting all posts to take part every year (or even taking part ever; we're looking at YOU, Los Angeles PCG!), so we decided that we would try to make this year's occasion more meaningful instead. Thus, this being Rizal's 150th year, all shots were taken with each mission's resident image of the good doctor. Good dorky, patriotic fun.

150 years from now, Los Angeles will finally join in.

London

If this batch member was cast as a Noli character, he/she would be: The obvious choice would be the smart, handsome and brave Crisostomo Ibarra, but let's go instead with Pilosopong Tasio if only because of this particularly-awesome-at-the-end entry found on ask.com

"Pilosopo Tasio or also known as Don Anastasio, portrayed in the novel as the pessimistic and the cynical. Pilosopo Tasyo was based off Anatasio Carpio who inherited titled lands around the small town of Camiling within Tarlac. Educated in Spanish Law, and born under the Catholic banner, Don Anatasio was a person constantly in struggle between his education and religion. In real life, Don Anatasio continued to practice Spanish Law by day, and an active subversive for the revolution at night. He was also a member of a secret masonic fraternity which provided overseas funding and support to the movement. A well respected figure and legend (akin to Yoda in Star Wars) within the Ilocano community."

San Francisco

If these batch members were cast as Noli characters, he/she would be: For no particular reason, Don Tiburcio and Dona Victorina just feel right.

Hong Kong

If this batch member was cast as a Noli character, he/she would be: For the life of me, I still can't tell if that image of Rizal is a standing tarpaulin poster that's actually there, or if it was just photoshopped into the picture. Either way, well done! Let's just write this off as a Rizal in exile period.

Madrid

If these batch members were cast as Noli characters, he/she would be: Basilio and Crispin (What, it's been a 150 years. Times have changed!)

Singapore

If this batch member was cast as a Noli character, he/she would be: Sisa.

Home Office

If this batch member was cast as a Noli character, he/she would be: Holy Noli! It's Maria Clara with....Rizal!!!!

(well, the Rizal-lookalike DFA Officer known as "Sexy Teng" anyway; he may be 150 years old too =)

SINULOG-UPON-ST. GEORGE'S

The Principal Celebrant at the event said it best -- when you're a traveller, the two most profound things you can bring with you are: (1) your faith; and (2) your culture.

(On behalf of the consulate, I would like to humbly add: (3) your passport. Please don't forget your passports, travellers.)

And so it came to pass that no less than six different Filipino communities in London came together and brought their faith and culture (and passports!) to the UK and successfully staged the first ever Celebration of the Feast of the Sto. Nino in historic St. George's Cathedral. As I had never been to the Sinulog, I thought it would be great if I could attend and bring my own image of a little boy.

The one on the left

The proceedings did not disappoint. The UK version of Sinulog apparently came about when the Principal Celebrant visited the Philippines two years ago and then came back to the UK and challenged the local FilComs to express their faith and culture in Britain as joyously as they did back home. Well then. A challenge to Pinoys to show devotion, dance and lay down some wicked beats? Heaven, yeah!

Challenge, you got Sinulog served. Viva!

IF THIS ISN'T PART OF THE LONDON GAMES IN 2012, THE OLYMPICS HAS TO TAKE A LONG HARD LOOK AT ITSELF

Everyday, we go through piles and piles of mail here at the office. Opening them is a time consuming process, and often what's written inside means more work for everyone. Some of the letters are very important, some are informational, some are outright junk.

And some, quite simply, make your entire day.

So many thoughts raised, I'm actually giddy. Having taken part in my share of college org sportsfest / office team building / village family day egg-related events, I've endlessly pondered: should you throw overhand for distance and accuracy, or do you go underhand for softer arc and less velocity? Should you catch with two hands for greater surface landing area (but increased likelihood of impact breakage), or do you attempt a one-handed snatch (and risk letting your chance run through your fingers, literally)? Finally, a place with goddamm answers!

And, yes, Russian Egg Roulette is as awesome as it sounds:

"Individual challenge against an opponent on a knock out basis.
Players sit opposite each other, across a table.
Each player wears a provided head bandana for protection. Inappropriate bandanas may not be worn.
The toss winner decides whether to go first or second.
A tray containing 6 specially selected eggs will be proffered. 5 hard-boiled, 1 raw.
Each player takes it in turn to select one and then smash the egg onto his or her own fore head until one-player finds the raw one."

(Although I would have allowed "inappropriate bandanas". You bad-ass enough to join egg Russian roulette, you bad-ass enough to rock any damn bandana you please)

It is now my official mission to find Pinoys in the UK who can join this thing and do us proud. Just like the Fil-Brit Azkals.

Egg, yeah.

MULA A PARIS, HANG GARE DU NORD...

Bon jour et bonne annee, Paris! Je suis Lame Avocat / Diplomat Dorque. Enchante. Ca va. You betcha.

Oui, the LLDD-Hyphen-L and I were able to visit the City of Lights to open the new year, and it was incroyable. Paris instantly and effortlessly won us over, one of the few cities that exceeded the hype. We didn't venture far from the touristy path since this was just our first time here, and because I never got past module onze at Alliance Francaise (still, better than most of those yuppies/hipsters/artsy fartsies who quit after two classes when they realize learning French is, you know, hard). Anyway, the city was beautiful enough to speak for itself in pictures, so voila.

(that's French for "for first timers pretty much have to do the following things listed below")

GET DRAWN INTO THE EIFFEL TOWER'S TRACTOR BEAM

There's just no escaping its attraction from anywhere, kinda like the Death Star. The tower zoomed to the top of my all-time favorite landmarks list because not only is it impossible to not take a beautiful picture of it, it's impossible to not take a beautiful picture from it (unlike the Statue of Liberty or the Washington Monument). Plus it sparkles and has a cinema, restaurant and skating rink inside. Again, just like the Death Star.

C'est la vie? When you're up the Eiffel Tower, and you're of my generation, there's really only one thing you have to do, isn't there? That's right, you channel Duran Duran. (God, I thought Roger Taylor's chair was so cool back then)

GO UP THE ARC

The Arc de Triomphe is aussi one of those landmarks that's gorgeous to look at and awesome to view from (my English teacher Mom will have a fit deconstructing that last sentence. eh.) Fun fact I learned: back in the day, stunt pilots use to freakin' fly biplanes through the arc! Again, the parallels with X-wing fighters flying through the Death Star trench are just partout.

C'est la vie? Before ascending the arc, however, I would strongly advise you to check if there is a working elevator. I didn't, and heard about it from the LLDD-Hyphen-L every trois cent plus step of the way.

YOU'VE ONLY GOT ONE CHAMPS

Shops, cafes, lights -- strolling along the Champs Elysees is the quintessential Paris tourist experience, je suppose. And locals will immediately know you're a tourist if, like us, you make the mistake of starting off from the bottom of the boulevard and walk the whole damn thing uphill. Desole about that, LLDD-Hyphen-L. Mon bad.

C'est la vie? If there's one place you can show off to other tourists who ask you to take their "picture picture" that you know how to count "Une, Deux, Trois" before clicking, this would be it.

CHEER CHEER FOR OLD NOTRE DAME

The LLDD-Hyphen-L and I were fortunate enough to hear mass at Notre Dame cathedral. A dramatic a place as any - especially when the bells or the organ are playing - you can't help but gaze up and hum "The Phaaaaaaaantom of the Operaaaaaa is heeeeerrrreee...."

(I've melange'd my literary references again, haven't I?)

C'est la vie? Dudes, if you ever want to earn massive pogi-points with you're waswit, don't forget to bring a padlock to Notre Dame! Trust me on this! Apparently lovers in Paris often latch a lock onto a bridge and throw the key into the Seine as a sign of undying love, and the bridge right behind the cathedral appears to be ground zero for the practice. Je n'ai jamais entendu about these "love padlocks" before and, well, I'm currently down dix mille pogi-points in the LLDD-Hyphen-L's estimation.

FALL IN LOUVRE

Because of long lines and a shortage of time, the LLDD-Hyphen-L and I only got to the outside of the museum. Still, it's a great spot for "picture picture" and arguing whether you "get" that pyramid in the middle.

C'est la vie? What the...? The resting place of the sacred feminine is a mall?!? Then why didn't any of the salons there do anything about Tom Hanks' mullet-perm!?!

CLIMB EVERY MONTMATRE

Montmatre is home to Sacre Coeur basilica and a quaint village-type neighbourhood that had lots of nice artists' shops and French restaurants (where enfin I got to use up my supply of "...or as they call it here, food / fries / toast / onion soup" jokes)

C'est la vie? Montmatre is on top a hill and has I would say a 170-degree panoramic view of Paris. The missing 10 degrees? The view of the Eiffel Tower. Oh well, at least the burlesque places like the Moulin Rouge were right at the bottom of the hill (um, not that I noticed LLDD-Hyphen-L. I was looking for padlocks, I swear!)

GO ON A TOUR BUS, TAKE PICTURES OF THE CITY AT FUNKY ANGLES, CALL YOURSELF AN ARTISTE

Oh non you didn't...Oh oui I did just get pretentious with my photography!

C'est la vi...oh what the heck, let's run wild with the drama and take everything in noir et le blanc

You're damn right I just went all moody and introspective on your derrieres! Frequent Eat Bulaga guest Leah Navarro, play us out!

Je t'aime, te amo, I love you

Watashi wa anata o aistomasu

Ich liebe dich, iniibig kita

a Paris....