Violent beauty, familial love, techno-lust, and no combing!


Went out with Lydia and my son Mio with our dear friend Malu Moraza and her son Xavy to Watson Bay. We took the ferry from Paramatta and went to this picturesque little destination with such breathtaking views. It was not just the view of the city that was impressive but also the prehistoric cliffs and rock formations that seem to stand defiantly against the expanse of a big ocean. It was a wonderful site to behold these natural wonders. But at the same time, one can’t help but be totally pulled in by a bigger story about the place, and that is that it has been a dramatic setting for many a suicides committed there. Many teenagers it is said, have jumped to their deaths from the high peaks into the rocky and watery depths below. There is such a violent beauty about the place. I couldn’t help but pay tribute to it by allowing it to take my breath away (without dying).


The most fun part of the day trip was the conversations and exchanges I had with my son Mio. We talked about a lot of things, from mundane jokes to heavy philosophical and spiritual stuff. I learned one thing about Mio today, and it is that he has a very probing mind–more than what I thought I knew. I’d even say that he has the makings of an intellectual since he seems able to grasp difficult concepts and ideas with ease. And he seems generally interested in them too, unless he was just accommodating his father. Ha ha!

What a great day it was.

Actually, we’ve been going out for three days now. The past two nights it was at the Noite Brazil concerts held at the Domain in the city and a park in Paramatta. Mio and I are both musicians and we thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic playing by the Brazillian Bossa players that entertained the crowd on those nights. More than enjoying the music and all that, I was so happy to enjoy Mio’s company. Actually, I do enjoy each and every member of my family and I am so grateful that they are easy to love and I am the kind of father who is crazy about them.



I defintely want an i-phone, Apple’s re-invention of the cellphone that will put any Nokia, Motorolla, Sony Ericson, Blackberry, etc. to shame. And to think I was lusting for a Nokia N-series phone just a month ago. Alas, lust is truly fleeting, and if it isn’t it’s at least transferable. Heh heh. I am definitely gonna hold off buying any other phone and will be among the first to line up for the i-phone this June. I have been an Apple user for many users now and have always enjoyed its cutting-edge technological wonders. Believe me, the i-phone will blow you away.

In two weeks, I am going back to Manila to do concerts with APO. I am quite excited to see Danny and Boboy and our musicians again. At the same time, I am quite lonely at the prospect of again leaving my family. I have been spending a lot of time with them and am so happy to be learning a lot about living abroad and sharing it with my loved ones.

It is also a great feeling to be living in our new house here. For some reason, I had no problem feeling at home in it. It felt like it was ours from the very first night I slept here. Maybe it’s because the furniture is familiar since we brought a lot of them from Manila. Or maybe it’s because Lydia has put her touch into it. But more than that, I just feel it has the ‘Paredes home’ spirit that seems to characterize every house we’ve lived in and owned. It is a friendly house and naturally attracts good people to visit. I know this house will recieve many visitors from Manila, Aus and the US and many other places, and they will be welcome.


I got a new ‘do’. It’s time for a change. I just felt that on this trip I was ready to do something adventurous. When I went to Pinoy hair specialist Bhajune in Rooty Hill to have it done, I was so surprised to find out that, a) the back of my head actually had a good shape (contrary to what Lydia had been saying all along), and b) I was not bald at the back as I suspected all along. What a relief! I feel so liberated having done something so uncharacteristic of me, cuttting it short like this. There was something very zen-like about letting go of a long-held image of what my hair ought to be. No attachmements. No combing. Great! I will still try skinhead one of these days! Rock and roll, as they say!

PS. If you are a regular reader of this blog and your name happens to be Emily, please write me at jim_paredes@yahoo.com. I have a message that may be important to you. I got a letter from someone and it concerns you. Please properly identify yourself in the letter–where you are from, civil status, etc.. to make sure I know I am communicating with the right Emily.