the eternal city and a ‘spiritual interview’

This is the second time I write about Baguio on this blog.

Just came back from Baguio with Lydia. We stayed in a house we bought years ago but do not get to use as often as we want or should. It was cold and pleasant with nary a Manila resident occupying parking space with his large SUV or upping the price of strawberries in the market. The meningococcemia scare took care of that. As a saleslady put it, it seems like summer did not happen this year since the Manila crowd which comprises the bulk of the city’s summer revenues stayed away.

Meningococcemia or not, Baguio was/is and will always be the eternal city for me. Many days and nights of my youth were spent there with barkada, girlfriends, family doing all the fun, crazy things that young kids do, like gate-crashing parties, meeting with girlfriends secretly or otherwise, smoking strange plants and flowers, getting crazy on strawberry wine (there was such a thing before) or just hanging around with the barkada talking and laughing your head off till early morning, or just being the bluesy, angsty teen that everyone gets to be at one time in their lives. As an adult now, I just enjoy the quiet, the fog, the dignity of majestic pine trees, and the remaining quaintness of the city.

Baguio, even if old time residents complain of the monstrous mall, the pollution, and the overpopulation was/ is still a pleasant place—still cool in the daytime and c-o-l-d at night, and still pretty in my eyes. There are still more books to read and write, songs to make, long walks and paths to trod, ghosts to meet, memories to remember in time, hearts to pine for, solitude to ponder, conversations to have by the fireplace, visitors to entertain, treasures to discover through the ukay-ukay and the market, new restaurants to try and more of the Benguet quaintness to savor before this old city loses its charms on me.

Must go back soon

*****

‘spiritual interview’

On a roll these days. I had a ‘spiritual interview’ and I’d like to share it with you. Visit this site if you wish to read it. Please leave your comments there.

Thanks coolmel.

18 thoughts on “the eternal city and a ‘spiritual interview’”

  1. “meeting with girlfriends secretly or otherwise, smoking strange plants and flowers.” damn, i forgot to ask about these 🙂

  2. the city of rome is referred to as the “eternal city,” where life is sweet – ” la dolce vita!”

  3. Hi Girlie,

    I meant to ask you about that poem you wrote before where you mentioned my book. Can you send me a copy or tell me where I can access it?

    Thanks,
    Jim

  4. there is something about your blog that makes me go back everyday – i am learning so many things and about you, too. many times, i thought i can relate to some of the things you are saying because i had similar experiences. this time around it has something to do with your experience in the car-while mine was when i was sitting on a cut tree on top of a hill and on my right was Jesus and on my left was my mom….sorry jim about my stories!

  5. Jim Paredes – I don’t know your songs but I do love your prose. I read – The craziest thing I ever did. I loved your gentle philosophy on raising children. Maybe because it so accords with my own. I believe that children are budding adults. You have to fill them with goodies like – love or at least tolerate your neighbour, Don’t smoke, don’t drink to excess and don’t think that there’s ever justifying violence.
    I haven’t been in a record shop in years, but I think I’ll look you up.
    Cheers
    Mary Pearl

  6. I miss my most famous and good looking blog neighbor.. How are you..? Hope you and your family especially your wife Lydia are in good health.

  7. Jim,
    In one word, how would you describe yourself? Do you perceive youself as some kind of a Bohemian?

    Also, how would you like to be remembered? (Aside from being a musical icon.)

    What to you is the most attractive part of a woman’s body?

    Indulge me, if you may.
    Grazie Seniore.

  8. wordup–yes, I know the movie. and yes, Ken Wilber is great.

    ins–salamat sa bisita

    Isay–good to knowthat you’ve gone through something similar. It may be more comon than we think!

    Mary Pearl– Thanks for the visit. If you enjoyed the essay, you’ll probably enjoy my books too. Browse through one in the bookstore, aside from looking for my ecords. Ha ha!

    Sachiko-long time no hear. glad you dropped by again.

    hey jey-the pleasure is mine.

  9. I just came back from Baguio myself, and having been a resident for 4 years, I was shocked with all the changes. The traffic was awful, but I agree with you when you said that Baguio’s still a pleasant place. ^_^

  10. i’ve only been to baguo once. that was backin ’99. i wish i could go back there. hay!

    btw, MSU-marawi is known as “the littlebaguio of the south” because of its cold weather. it’s also a greatplace. my favorite. hehehe:)

  11. as for me, nakarating na ako dito sa dubai but never, never pa sa Baguio and i feel so un-Filipino!!! grabe! why are we excited to reach other country’s hot spots but never our own… and to think yung mga foreigners na yan, they come to our country because they’ve became soo used to theirs… haay…

    I was hoping to buy your book sir jim…but really po, abu dhabi is kinda far… shucks tlga.. maybe i’ll just buy one of your books pag-uwi ko…

    btw, how’s your wife? is she ok?

Leave a Reply to girlie Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *