Most Outstanding Dissertation Award

I am extremely honored and humbled to share that my Ph.D. research entitled, “Developing a Procedural Model to Determine the Null Curriculum” received the MOST OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION AWARD from UP Diliman College of Education!

Set in curriculum theory, my dissertation explored the epistemology of determining the phenomenon called “null curriculum” - a curriculum that does not exist.

It was a major challenge to put into writing such a paradoxical concept that is “powerful by the virtue of its absence.” I don’t know if it was an ‘imposter syndrome’ at work or a personal desire for growth, but whatever kind of challenge it was, I’m glad that it pushed me to better myself.

I was not alone though, I constantly had God, and all the "most outstanding" people by my side - my adviser, expert panel members, participants across my five research phases, instrument reviewers, MSU General Santos, DepEd schools, my friends, and beloved family - who carried me through all the stages of my dissertation writing.

I used to view the world in terms of its presence, but then I wrote my dissertation on the null curriculum which turned my eyes to the absence. Retrospectively, this award inspires me to work on creating egalitarian spaces for the absence whether it’s some excluded elements of the curriculum or marginalized persons and groups.

Para sa edukasyon at bayan,

MICHAEL B. CAHAPAY
Ph.D. in Education Major in Curriculum Studies
University of the Philippines Diliman

#MostOutstandingDissertationAward 🏅🏅🏅

Officially Dr. Michael B. Cahapay

 Mark 5:36 – Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

MICHAEL B. CAHAPAY 
Ph.D. in Education Major in Curriculum Studies 
University of the Philippines Diliman

#Sablay2022 🌻🌻🌻

Of Null Curriculum, Political Indecision, and Others

Just a quick self-reflection on my 2021 today. I thought nothing much has happened and to say, but I realized that many choices have been chosen by not choosing or happenings have happened by not happening. Paradox, isn't it? Lemme tell you.

When people ask me what I'm up to, I always tell them that I'm currently doing my research project. Then, I realize that it's been two years now since I've been engrossed about the null curriculum. I've tried out the procedure to determine the null curriculum with participants from different disciplines and they'd always ask me: If null curriculum is not taught and not learned, then why do we need to determine it? Alright. It can be a lengthy, philosophical lecture if I explain the answer, but let's just say that null curriculum is powerful by the virtue of its absence; ignorance is not a neutral void and it has consequences for the kind of students we produce in schools.

Political-wise, let's get it to the current issue on who should lead the Philippines next. Leni Robredo, for me, is not a strong leader. I hate to say this but she's been a victim of the hypocrisy that people see in her political stratagem. That speaks volume against her true intentions. Bongbong Marcos, I have not felt your mighty accomplishments as a politician in the last decades. So, other than your name, what else can you offer? Or, if anyone of you wants to educate me about him, you are welcome. Isko Moreno, on the other hand, is too millennial in his approach. I appreciate his performance as a mayor of Manila, but the changes he has done are superficial. The rest of presidential candidates are forgettable. Bet I might end up not voting any one.

In the love department, I've always reminded myself to play it cool; whatever comes is fine. I'd be down for anything in between deeply falling in love and never loving at all. In religion, I've claimed to be more spiritual than religious; I live as I am and that's my religion. So, why do I need to label it or explain myself? In social life, I've overcome that FOMO syndrome. I've learned to appreciate just to be happy, contented, and serene as an absent person.

One might think I'm on the verge of being so fed up having to make myself up in every aspect of life. But, hell no. I think I have rather grown more introspective. I've always considered myself as an introspective person and this time I can say I've seen farther than I would have with my younger self. I try to critically discern. Then, when it seems I do not, I make choice. After all, keeping interest in a curriculum that does not exist or being politically indifferent, fence-sitter in the love department, spiritual rather than religious, and socially absent are still choices.

A Simple, Quiet, and Intimate Holidays to All!

Despite the natural disasters and human catastrophes and their debilitating financial, moral and social fallout, we emerge tall, strong, and resilient. The holidays this year are giving us a simple, quiet, and intimate time with our families. A tradition that is stripped of the frills of rowdy celebrations, opulent ornaments, lavish foods, and expensive clothes leaves us with the real reason for the season - a time to renew.

May we have a 2021 that is filled with rainbow skies and starry nights, simple joys and pure happiness. I wish you travel to places and hug people that you love. May you earn teachers of life, invest in wonderful memories, and your greatest desires come to fruition.

Happy holidays to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Michael B. Cahapay

Lock and Unlock

Photo credit: Erin Schroeder

After being stranded in Manila since March because of the COVID-19 lockdown, I finally flew home. This period has brought my mind into sorting out some things in my emotional ship and - in a good way - without abandoning it. One thing I realised is that I have been trapped into this kind of personal gridlocks.

First, I think that I have been trying too much to be the independent person I wanted to be - stable, happy, and fine. I have always wanted to live by my own and so I have lived by my own in the last years. Little did I know that in the process I was locking myself into my selfish world and away from the persons that matter in my life - family, friends, and colleagues.

I have successfully reduced my world into a smaller circle of people that matters most but what I missed all these years is to have a bigger heart. I want to rediscover my simple, kind, and generous self. I want to stay more understandingly with my family, talk more empathetically with my friends, and connect more meaningfully with my colleagues.

Moreover, I have always kept unworthy emotions against people I had different perspectives and for things that went off my way. I guess I have been too much passionate about what my own perspectives to the point that I take people and things personally. I burned bridges and denied paving some roads. I locked myself into the grease traps of contempt, hatred and disdain.

I have decided to unlock myself by releasing such bad personal sentiments and accepting circumstances as they are than as what I think they are. The important thing is I have forgiven people and most importantly myself. I now just want to live with no emotional baggages, just a grateful heart and peaceful mind. I want to be a calm and graceful lake than a swelling and chaotic sea.

Lastly, while I graduated from too much showing off, I was mad to some extent at being proud of myself. I have tamed myself from brandishing my gains around like accessories around my neck. However, I seemed to have missed one thing in the process: to not get things through my head. Yes, it is such a shame but I admit I lost my feet on the ground.

I realised that achievements are only footnotes to the barometer of life fulfilment. I need to learn to get off my high horse because at the end of the day it is not the medals that count but the kind of my heart. One of my mantras should be to always be sincerely humble. Continue to celebrate in private but always keep the humility in place. Keep some pride when it matters but exercise with caution.

God, thank you for the continual guidance. “Human strength plus intelligence cannot unlock the door that God is hiding its key” -Bamigboye Olurotimi. I believe this.

How To Pay BDO Bill in Credit Card Using Debit Card

Photo Credit: https://business.mb.com.ph

Hey, I do not want to sound like a commercial model in this post.... though sometimes I dreamily think of myself so!

Yes, for beginners who might not know, you do not have to fall in line as it is possible to pay your bill in your credit card through your debit card - and right at the comfort of your phone screen!

To pay your BDO bill in your credit card through your debit card, you must meet these two conditions: First, aside from the credit card, you must have debit card with sufficient amount. Second, you must have registered both cards in either BDO website or mobile application.

If you meet the above two conditions, you are ready for the initial procedure to enrol your credit card as biller. Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your BDO account. 

2. Go to Enrolment Services. 

3. Click Enrol Company or Biller.

4. Provide the following details:

     4.1. Company or Biller: BDO Credit Card Peso Payment to Peso Card

     4.2. Product Type: Choose appropriate type of credit card you are using

     4.3. Payment Channels: IB for Online or Mobile Banking 

     4.4. Subscriber Number: Your credit card number as it appears

     4.5. Subscriber Name: The customer name as it appears

     4.6. Nickname: Give your short code to the selected company or biller

5. Click CONTINUE. 

Once you have successfully enrolled your credit card as biller, you may immediately begin paying your credit card bill through your debit card. Follow these steps:

1. Go to PAY BILLS. 

2. Fill out the following:

     2.1. Pay from: Any of your enrolled debit card you wish to charge

     2.2. Pay this Biller: Any of your enrolled credit card you wish to pay

     2.3. Payment Schedule: Immediate if you want the payment posted soonest

     2.4. Amount: The amount of bill you wish to pay

3. Click CONTINUE. 

And you are done! 

With the steps above, it is now more convenient to pay your bill in your credit card using your debit card! And oh, happy banking! 

Disclaimer: This is not an official post. I just happen to be a BDO patron who wants to help others who may want to upgrade their banking practice by making it efficient to pay their bills in their credit card using their debit card based on my personal experience.

COVID-19: Staying Sane

As a result of the COVID-19 crisis and the inevitable Metro Manila lockdown, I am currently stranded here in UP campus and social isolation just hit a toll on many aspects. I fear about going outside. I feel guilty unable to accomplish something in a day. I worry this situation might get worse.

Photo Credit: Shradha Hegde

It is really depressing but we do not have other way to handle this situation than to handle it lighter way, do we? As someone stuck in the middle of this apparent nowhere, I have been keeping my sanity by dealing this social isolation in my own ways. I suggest you these too:

1. FILTER UNNECCESARY INFORMATION. It pays to always keep ourselves informed about the current situation but we should also filter the information that come into our minds. The crisis itself is really miserable enough but political dramas and feuds just increase our miseries. Others propagate misleading news that lead to social anxiety. Cut your self some slack off.

2. HARNESS PHYSICAL ENERGY. Why not sweat this plenty of time out? It is time to revisit wardrobes, arrange furnitures to a new look, sort items in the cabinets, make the necessary repairs or clean the entire house! 

3. ENGAGE IN RELAXING ACTIVITIES. Maybe it is time to watch that movie that we have always wanted when we were always busy, read good books, write short poems, play musical instruments or listen to favorite songs. Get your hair down from time to time. 

4. GO GREEN, GREEN, GREEN. The past days have seen a clearer sky because of minimal pollution. Why not make Mother Earth happier? Whether we are in the rural space or urban jungle, we can plant vegetables. Make your environment also more vibrant by arranging your ornamental plants around.

5. LEARN SOMETHING NEW. There is always something new to learn without going out. Given the limitations of the current situation, we can learn a new alternative to cook our favorite recipe, a new free course online or anything that interests us most! 

6. RECONNECT WITH ONLINE CIRCLES. We may have not visited our favorite online pages, groups and communities whether they are personal or professional. Many things must have happened in the past few months or years. Well, this is the best time to reconnect with them!  

7. ASSESS HEALTH HABITS. Take this opportunity to assess our health habits with our family. Does every one get reminded, with or without a virus crisis, how to wash hands properly? Does the entire family have access, for example, to medicine in the house?

8. BOND WITH FAMILY. Make use of this time to bond with family in simple ways. Engage them in doing our chores, our hobbies, our conversations. 

9. PRAY TO GOD. We are battling against an unseen enemy and we have the most powerful weapon: prayer. Despite the misery this global crisis has caused the humanity, we firmly believe that heavens must have a greater purpose for all of this. We are not alone. Keep our faith strong.

I wish everyone, especially our frontliners who are risking limbs out there, to keep safe. Humanity will make it. We will make it. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

A Million Different States

Pardon the silence from my end. The year 2019 had my heart in a million different states and ultimately in a devastating pain. 

But, like the color theory, there is always that lighter shade of black. I would want to think that while I walked through the darkness with my heart in those million different states, I have decided to stand at the lighter portion at the moment the least.

I Passed the Compre!!!!

There are lows in life but they are certainly not always.

I promised ten years ago to never punish myself again by burning the midnight candle and taking another dreadful examination in my life. But I realised this bitter and painful reality that if we want to sharpen our pencil, we must go through the sharpener. Okay.

For the last quarter of the year, I had to maintain a low visibility whether in social media or in real world. I did not tell anyone, especially my colleagues back in my work, that I am taking the Comprehensive Examination. I did not want to entertain the cookie cutter pressure while preparing for the day I thought was my "fall from grace". Besides, I was not sure really and nobody knows how harsh UP could be.

I faithfully did my homework for three months. It was never fun, of course. There were times when my brain got lost in ideas. There were times when I the thought of just quitting was tempting. There were times when I doubted if this journey is still worth pursuing. But at the end of the day, I am thankful because I always found that consolation of a "greater purpose" amidst all struggles and sacrifices.

Today I received the most anticipated result. I am extremely but humbly delighted to share my joy at the moment as months of tears and prayers finally paid off. And what made it extra special is: I got a HIGH PASS rating! As I said, I was honestly okay with "pass" and even "low pass" as long as it would mean continuing the journey. But no "best" is impossible with hardwork coupled with prayers. I just need to remind myself to have faith always.

High Pass!

There are also highs like this moment though certainly not always. But I am firmly resolved that I have reached this stage of the journey fiercely and there are no harder terrains this time that I cannot tackle boldly.

#RoadToDissertation

Not Giving a Fuck

First, I am warning you for my French in this post amidst your Holy Week reflections.

I think I have reached the point of my life when I realised that I need not to give a fuck to every thing in this world. I do not give a damn if it is my birthday today. I do not give a cuss if you treated me like invisible when we bumped each other somewhere. I do not give a hell if you never thanked me for a favor. I do not give a shit if you were not there when I needed you. 

All people just grow up and learn not to care about petty things. I mean we all have to let go and move on. Life taught me through the years not to give this world a fuck anymore and to just fuck my own. If you happen to read this post, I cow you not to give a fuck, too.

On Any Day Even on 14th February

This is the usual "bed scene" in my room for the past few weeks. I have no date especially last 14th February like it has been. On the other side, I had great time falling in love with the enduring wisdom of Franklin Bobbitt, Ralph Tyler, Elliot Eisner, Murray Print and many other key curriculum people. Besides, of all falls from grace, not acing one of the "biggest" tests of my life lurking just around the corner is something I cannot afford.

I Want My Deschooled, Reluctant and Unassuming Self

First stop of this journey: Hanoi, Vietnam

I found this unfinished blog entry I wrote last December entitled "All I Want for Christmas is My Deschooled, Reluctant and Unassuming Self" which I was supposed to publish as my official year ender post. It is new year now but I believe this musing is never too late to translate into actions.

Wishing to be deschooled, reluctant and unassuming, I am NOT the type of person who is about to give up at any rate now. As a matter of fact, I am still in the ball games. Perhaps I just want to lie low a bit and live life simply as it comes.

I want to deschool my self, just learning things out of natural curiosities rather than being pressured to the usual "learn something new" piece of advice. I want to just explore and discover any thing that piques my curiosity most at the moment.

I want to play reluctant. There is nothing wrong with being self assured as a person, but I would rather want now to just observe people and things rather than join the the bandwagons and their hooplas. I want to reserve to my self my thoughts about them and learn out of observing them. 

I want to remain unassuming. I want to deal people and mean things just the way they are. I want to be objective with situations and emotions. No assumptions and judgements. Just pure and simple thoughts.

We all have fair share of being deschooled, reluctant and unassuming once in our lives. I am bringing back mine this time for good.

Faith in Humanity Restored

What I love most about traveling is there is just so much to learn, not only about different cultures, but also about humanity.

One time I was on my way back to Singapore from an all day island hop. I was in the waiting lounge of the ferry terminal and looking confused about which gate for which shipping company. An old Singaporean woman, after probably observing my confusion, came close and asked to check my ticket. She said we would be on the same ferry and assured me. I wanted to stay with her but the seats beside her were occupied, so I sat a few chairs away. When it was time to get aboard to the ferry, passengers stood up in unison and I saw her come my way to ensure that I would go with her.

On my other trips, I have experienced such simple but wonderful acts of kindness many times either that Thai who does not speak the international language but gestured to take me picture after seeing I was alone; a Macanese who translated what I wanted to say to the vendor in the market; a Malaysian who helped me book a bus ticket during a peak day; a Chinese who was off to work but took time to accompany just to ensure that I reach my destination; a group of Japanese teens who offered free hugs in the street; an old Indonesian couple who were too kind to treat me like their grandchild; or any body who made the world a little brighter by just giving a smile.

Strange but these experiences made me feel inspired that there is still hope in humanity... that we are never too old, too poor, too stranger to be good to others.

I will definitely love more of you, world!

Falling in Love with George Town, Malaysia

I feel brave and creative after my recent side trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site of George Town, Penang, Malaysia. It is not popular for many travellers to hop to this underrated colonial village. Maybe also because I am just one of those few weird culture junkies who love old structures and is willing to endure long, long distance travels and searches just to see an old grandeur! 

It was morning of the next day when I arrived in George Town after twelve hours of bus ride crossing the borders between Singapore and Malaysia. I did not catch some good sleep while seated in the bus the whole time but I felt my adrenaline rushed as I saw and heard the bustle of the old town coming near! I just heard my inner self scream: I am finally in George Town!

I have read about the famous street arts scattered around the old city, but my original interest really was exploring the old structures that wonderfully make up the city. However, after some strolls, I did not expect that these old structures are not as old as I expected. They sure are every where but most of them were built only as recent as 1930s, much like those old buildings in Singapore.

I know that comparing Vigan and George Town is useless like comparing apple and orange because each of them is uniquely beautiful by the virtue of their own cultures and histories. But since I have been both to these quaint colonial cities, I am indulging myself to placing them side by side for some good reasons.

I can say that Vigan gives that wonderful vibe of a classical colonial charm. The horse drawn carriages, cobbled stone paths and gleaming street lamps simply add elegance and vibrance to Vigan. George Town, on the other hand, is a colourful blend. One can see Bhuddism, Hinduism, Muslim and Christian influences in the style of its houses and other structures. 

I must agree though that what makes both charming is its people. Everyone I rubbed elbows in George Town was just welcoming. The moment I arrived in George Town, the lady who drove me to my hotel was very helpful. She even helped me buy ticket back to KL. The man I asked in the street was also very informative. He guided me which museum to go. I saw sunshine in every nook I go as people were just smiling.

Meet my new Malaysian friends!

But perhaps the most exciting activity indeed in George Town is art hunting. And mind you these art pieces adorning the streets and alleys of the city are no ordinary paintings. These murals were installed in 2012 by a Lithuanian artist with the help of Penang government council. What makes the paintings unconventional for pretty amazing reason is the fact that selected parts of the art pieces are real objects – some props set up against the wooden door, window or wall!

Some of my favorite art pieces aside from the Brother and Sister on a Swing featured in the picture above are: Little Children on a Bicycle, The Real Bruce Lee Would Never Do This, Boy in the Bike, Reaching Up, Children Playing Basketball, I Want Pau, Skippy Comes to Penang, and a lot more! If you are interested to check my own trail of musings to these artistic objects, kindly visit my album here.

I must confess that, after side tripping to George Town, I fell deeply in love not only with its rich culture, but also with the creativity and tenacity of its people. There are a few cities in the word that maintains its old character as much as George Town does. It continues to reinvent itself but without altering its old self. On a more retrospective thought, I can only hope that George Town is much like we to our old selves.

Terima kasih for the wonderful experience, George Town! This is not the last visit surely, I vow!

There is Something about Sunset that He Likes

A beautiful sunset taken in Central Java, Indonesia.

Papers are waiting for him - journal critiques, desk reviews, annotated bibliographies, research proposals, and data analyses. No dramas.

A Twist in My Indonesian Trip: Tracing the Malay Roots of Philippines

How can I thank "words" for giving our minds and hearts the expression of thoughts and emotions? And for reconnecting our heritage?

I must confess though that I am a Hispanist. I have leaning on associating Filipino towards Spanish - architecture, language, music, fashion, cuisine. When it comes to language, just think about Filipino words related to kitchen items, clothing articles, school materials, family names, technical jargons, and even curses! Chance would be they are mostly Spanish loan words. 

But my recent trip mainly to Indonesia with side stop in Malaysia and another sojourn in Brunei illuminated my cultural understanding. It was a trip not only to the ancient Borobudur Temple or the majestic Sultan Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque but to the distant and almost forgotten connection between Philippines and the Malay world.

A Malay commoner :)

I disclaim to be a linguist as I have long abandoned my undergraduate discipline, but my personal observations of languages - Filipino and Bahasa Indonesia - led this reflection that Spanish may have clothed us or named us, but the Filipino soul will always be Malay in core.

One would feel at least at home in Indonesia reading and hearing familiar words virtually in every nook and cranny of Indonesia. A friend later informed me that a study did identify at least 300 related Filipino and Indonesian words. This statistics, I believe, could be higher. Based on my personal encounters, here are some of those words I amusingly discovered.

Filipino and Indonesian words with the same words and meanings:

right - Fil. kanan; Indo. kanan    child - Fil. anak; Indo. anak
sky - Fil. langit; Indo. langit        white - Fil. puti; Indo. puti
cheap - Fil. mura; Indo. mura    sickness - Fil. sakit; Indo. sakit
eye - Fil. mata; Indo. mata

Filipino and Indonesian words with slight variations but with the same meanings:

push - Fil. tulak; Indo. tolak        open - Fil. bukas; Indo. buka
stone - Fil. bato; Indo. batu        kitten - Fil. kuting; Indo. kuching
year - Fil. taon; Indo. tahun        enter - Fil. pasok; Indo. masuk
door - Fil. pinto; Indo. pintu

Filipino and Indonesian words that are false friends, the same words but different meanings:

bunga - Fil. fruit; Indo. flower
manok - Fil. chicken; Indo. bird
halaman - Fil. plants; Indo. park

Because I also speak Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Ilocano, I discovered these some interesting words same or similar to Indonesian:

street - Ceb. dalan; Indo. jalan
wall - Hil. dingding; Indo. dingding
food - Iloc. makan; Indo. makan

I recall there were instances when we proudly counted in Filipino much to the delight of our Indonesian friends! They told us that we could learn Indonesian in a month and survive in Indonesia!

On a more retrospective side, I wonder how Philippines has grown apart and differently in many aspects with its cousins from the rest of Malay archipelago. But thanks to these wonderful words as they serve as immortal evidences to our Malay heritage connection.

Terima kasih, Indonesia!

The Law of Chaos and Order

I am usually the type of bloke who can juggle things between work and study. Within our clique of graduate students, I am usually the tough heart who can endure pressure and loneliness typically experienced. So, when somebody in the group commented that I seemed to be behaving uncharacteristically withdrawn lately, I was hit big time. 

I must admit that, after trying to be strong for quite some time, I am slowly being consumed by some chaos inside that I cannot pinpoint. I wonder if I am guilty telling a friend about a sensitive secret, stressed by my organizational responsibilities, worried about the heavy courses I will take next semester, or just missing my family and friends back home.

Whatever causes this inner chaos, I am consoling my self with this law of nature: Chaos leads to order. If things are in chaos right now, then order is yet to come.

What do you see? Puddles or flowers?

Okay, maybe I just needed to take time noticing the flowers around.

Goodbye, Turbulent Twenties! Hello, Tumultuous Thirties!

I am celebrating my birthday today for two more special reasons:

For one, it's time to kiss goodbye to the twenties, the so called turbulent period of life. As I look back, I can't help but smile in contentment with what has been my journey for the past ten years. It should be very significant for many events. 

It was when I graduated in college and passed the LET - all with flying colors! I immediately got my first teaching work and went to pursue graduate studies. I further went to serve public school, and finally MSU, my ultimate goal.

Of course, it is not without bitter experiences. As I went between the transition periods of my career exploration, I experienced pressures socially, emotionally and mentally. It was when I thought my credentials were useless and I was left behind by my peers in many personal and professional aspects.

The twenties was also the time when I had my first taste of a romantic relationship. I also became "Tito Mike" to my pretty nieces! I started finding my niche in the field of education as a curriculum enthusiast and a budding researcher.

But it was also the stage when life tore my heart into smithereens. So, I experienced the first cut, a real break up. I had to balance work commitments and bigger roles for a maturing person.

With that rollercoaster experience, destiny plucked me from the comforts of home and sent me away to UP where now I am serenely growing up... in the tested standards of this premier institution... in the balancing struggle between theory and practice... in the sacrifice of personal love for a greater passion.

For another reason to that effect, I am also entering today to a new chapter of my life - the tumultuous period of thirties! I don't know what life holds ahead for my future but two things are I am sure for my self: I trust for the best and I just want to savor things as they come...

My birthday wishes - for every one.

Living Like A Shadow: An Inward Journey

The Shadow at Manila Bay :)

I have been experimenting myself how to travel differently. This May break, instead of heading outside my comforts, I wanted to have more of an inward journey. At the last minute right after I aced all my school requirements, I decided to go back home in Mindanao, but this time I wanted a more low key vacation. It was not I was hiding for someone or something; I just wanted to take rest from all "mandatory calls" of friendships and works.

Some insightful thoughts at this point:

• It is not always about my journey. The world cannot care less about my own joy, success, worries or frustrations, so I just watch it go on its own course.
• Some best moments are best shared with closest people. Having "unannounced" vacation gave myself a slack to spend more meaningful conversations and moments with my intimate circle.
• While I was assuredly feeling that I am home, I felt more than happy to be just a shadow amidst the busy crowd and the pulse of this city. I window shopped any where I wanted or sipped coffee alone in a corner.

Japan Spring: A Celebration of Things Old and New

A celebration of things old and new - this is the insight that made a significant mark to my mind soon after my Japan trip for eleven days. I think that it is an appropriate phrase for a sojourn to heritage places -  a symbol for things old; for a journey on spring time - a symbol for things new.

One of the most exciting part of our trip was seeing the famous cherry blossoms or sakura, especially when we are about two weeks late from the blooming season. Luckily and delightfully, we found some last cherry trees that bore flowers abundantly - pink, white and green. Every time we found one, our company swarmed around these natural beauties and take many photographs. 

I have not lived in Japan long enough, but I think that when cherry trees bloom, they are the most beautiful on earth. And when they do, they only bloom so for a certain short period. As what some romantic poets have celebrated on spring, cherry blossom is the best reminder that life is wonderful but only momentary.

Celebration of spring!

I also appreciate how Japanese people are passionate about for their culture. Japan is a testament that a country can go forward to progress without disregarding culture. Going to some of their cities, we found their ancient castles, temples and other historical landmarks exceptionally well preserved. One could see how love is written all over these old structures.

One time, we visited the quaint Kintai Bridge. I was touched about the past story behind the old bridge. I learned that locals once built protective structure around the bridge to save it from the raging typhoon one time. However, the bridge did not survive; locals tearfully watched the it get washed away by the great flood. But in a short span of time, the locals amazingly rebuilt the bridge piece by piece as a remembrance to the old heritage.

Japanese culture is also famous for the origami, the ancient art of paper folding. Japanese children learn origami early at the lap of their mothers. While some people may think it is just a plain paper folding, it actually reflects the ingenuity and aesthetics of Japanese culture. This is a unique art of living – a reminder of patience, resilience and discipline - values which are written and reflected all over Japan. 

This art forms a part of Japanese curriculum. Aside from integrating a uniquely Japanese trademark to their education, I am amazed how actually paper folding does cognitive advantages for learners. Aside from developing fine motor skills, origami is a pictorial learning through repeatable actions, and by transforming a flat piece of paper into a three dimensional crane, it is also a cognitive stimulation of spatial reasoning. Now, I wonder not why Japanese are very good in mathematics and science!

While they have proved their world leadership when it comes to technology and economy, I am amazed as well to know that they have maintained their communion with nature. I think that Japanese people are one of the few most passionate people about living with nature as we all are from nature and forever interconnected to nature.

Visiting some cities, I marveled at how organized are the spaces. Just a few kilometers from the urban center, one would feel like being transported to a completely different place because the outer villages still maintain their rural vibes. Trees are well taken cared and animals, like deer, turtle and bird, live in harmony with people.

This article is not enough to vicariously contain all the wonderful memories I gained but personally, Japan will always be a special place in the world being a perfect blend of heritage and progress... of environment and culture... of old and new....

Sayonara, Japan! Until I see you again!