From a Gov't Employee's Desk!

My whirlwind romance with history working as a researcher at the Historical Commission is now six months. How time flies! How to describe it so far? Uber interesting, just the way I like it. 

And guess what?

I'm Alive!!!

Feeding on finds like these documents below showing exquisite handwriting of a list of residents in Taal, Batangas who died in 1902. I get a kick out of fine handwriting, do you?

Seriously though, I didn't expect this job to be exciting. Since starting last September, I already finished an introductory Spanish language course, visited two historical landmarks for the sole purpose of research, attended an opening of a newly renovated museum of Bonifacio in Cavite, saw the French president François Hollande in the flesh while taking a lunch break walk in the park beside our office. Hollande's visit was somewhat a kick off of the relations between France and the Philippines. I also visited the National Archives office for the first time! and second time, third time... and browse through Spanish documents from the 1800s! 
Hashtag #lifeofahistoricalresearcher #feelnafeel Wreath-laying ceremony during the visit of the French President in Luneta, Manila, where the remains of the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, is at. Our office is about 20 steps away from the monument. It's not rainbows and flowers and strawberryfields forever. Exhausting two-hour one-way commute, check! Lost in historical translation, check! Demotivating compensation, check! But I'm nowhere near complaining. Especially NOT when a very good friend of mine, Sangya, whom I have not seen in ages after leaving The Netherlands in 2011, comes to the Philippines to visit me and we go on a dive trip together to the enchanting Apo Reef in Mindoro Occidental. 

Sangya and myself in her room in Sunneke dormitory, Den Haag, The Netherlands. Circa 2011! Together again in February 2015, Apo Reef Resort, Philippines!

And as if this post is not random enough...

Parle Français avec moi s'il vous plaît

After an introductory course in Spanish at the Instituto de Cervantes in Manila, I am back in the arms of learning French in the farway land of Makati. Oui oui oui oui oui! Je suis in pain (and also because commuting is NOT fun in the Philippines).

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J'ai perdu ma tête
Dans la rue Saint Honoré,
Je cherche ça et là
Je ne l'ai pas trouvé,
Dis-moi... où est ma tête?
J'ai perdu mes bras
Sur la Place de l'Opéra
Je ne les ai pas trouvé
Je cherche ça et là,
Dis-moi... où sont mes bras?
Depuis que je t'ai perdu,
Je suis en pièces sur l'avenue
Et je ne peux pas recoler les morceaux,
Par moi-même.
Répare-moi, mon très cher,
Parce que je ne suis pas entière
J'ai besoin de toi, seulement toi,
Et en plus je t'aime.
J'ai perdu mon nez
Devant le Bon Marché,
Je cherche ça et là
Je ne l'ai pas trouvé,
Dis-moi... où est mon nez?
Revient chéri vers moi,
Mon nez n'importe pas
C'est toi qui peut me compléter
Depuis que je t'ai perdu,
Je suis en pièces sur l'avenue
Et je ne peux pas recoler les morceaux,
Par moi-même.
Répare-moi, mon très cher,
Parce que je ne suis pas entière
J'ai besoin de toi, seulement toi,
Et en plus je t'aime.
J'ai perdu mes pieds
À Saint Germain des Près
Je cherche ça et là,
Je ne les ai pas trouvé
Dis-moi... où sont mes pieds?
Revient chéri vers moi,
Mes pieds n'importent pas
C'est toi qui peut me compléter
I lost my head
In Saint Honoré street
I look for it here and there
I couldn't find it
Tell me... where is my head?
I lost my arms
At Opera Square
I couldn't find them
I'm searching here and there
Tell me... where are my arms?
Since I lost you
I am in pieces on the avenue
And I can't put them back together
By myself
Fix me, my dear,
Because I'm not whole
I need you, only you,
And what's more, I love you.
I lost my nose
In front of the Good Market
I'm searching here and there
I couldn't find them
Tell me... where is my nose?
Come back to me dear
My nose isn't important
It's you that can complete me
Since I lost you
I've been in pieces on the avenue
And I'm not able to put them back together
By myself
Fix me, my dear
Because I am not whole
I need you, only you
And what's more, I love you.
I lost my feet
At Saint Germain des Près
I am looking here and there
I can not find them
Tell me... where are my feet?
Come back to me dear
My feet aren't important
It's you that can complete me

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Becayse Pink Martini makes the agony of learning French bearable, listen to this.

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