Recent Comments

Travis Mullen said of Why I Am Doing It: A Peace Corps Blog, ""What's the point???" The innate question. "

David said of Resolutions 2012, "Thanks Mark. I think I'll have to steal your system. Who knows, I just might actually accomplish some of my resolutions."

Carrie Berkman said of Interview with the Prostitute, "Gorgeous, Mark. I love the use of the second person pov, and I love how you play around with those passive constructions. I am inspired to start writing again...though I'd be thrilled to produce something half this evocative! "

K said of Happiness Calculator, "Ugh 2005"

Magdalena López said of Interview with the Prostitute, "This is a very descriptive narrative of a sad reality with a very empathic, understanding, sensitive and tender touch. I loved it!"

Posh said of 50 Things I Love about the Philippines, "HAHA! relate much! we're both witnesses of the 24th considering we're on same boarding house above palawan pawnshop right? :D and that epic 49... almost everyone else's hobby. :)))"

Lisa said of Adultery, Concubinage, "It's so interesting to read this posting! And it's so terrible to hear about their laws. How awful. Keep writing! Its terrific what you're doing. If it's not just what you do with the Peace Corps, then the education you will giving to your readers! I applaud you!"

faithleadclare said of Thanksgiving in the Philippines, "I'm one of your fan.... I enjoyed reading your blog. keep writing."

sacha said of Precious Hearts Romance, "i want your books...it tells me how a person can love"

Ann Burke said of Thanksgiving in the Philippines, "Please include me on your e-mail updates. Thanks, Ann Burke "

said of Precious Hearts Romance, "Haha! This is fantastic. I'm trying to get into the market. I call these my penny pleasures, as Lucy Maud Montgomery called them. I wrote one. It's formulaic, it's not much nourishment to you literary types, but it's the average Filipina woman's opium. This has a market and I'm gonna exploit it with relish. :) Found this post to be highly entertaining, great insights as well. It's always refreshing to see your culture through an alien's eyes."

Eric (aka Dad) said of Adultery, Concubinage, "Here's a thought: promote faithfulness, respect for one's spouse and appreciation of the significance of the marriage union. This way, such outdated laws would become irrelevant."

Susan Ida said of Adultery, Concubinage, "Hi mark, I'm the sister of your friend, I very much agree with what you have written. I too experienced the double standard of our society.... and for me people have taken lightly the sufferings of the wife and the children who were victims of a husband's infidelity. sincerely... "

English Speaking said of Suicide and Speaking English, "I also scare about to learn English speaking and i am not so good to speak English very well but i want to learn this with simple steps which is possible with this site. "

anonymous said of The Little Orphan Girl (Original), "I first heard this song when I was a little boy. I never heard it again for about 10 years, but the song made such an impact on me I was able to remember and look up the lyrics today. This is the saddest song I have ever heard - it made me cry 10 years ago and it made me cry today."

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Jan 7

Author's Note

The initial idea for this story began awhile ago, well before its direct inspiration (namely, a conversation with an acquaintace on a rather apocalyptic Philippine new year's day).

I'd been wanting to write--had that creative itch every artist feels from time to time--and while I had a few story-worthy vignettes in mind, nothing was quite right. And I needed the right narrative form. For me, neither subject matter nor form follows the other; an interplay between the two determines ... read
Dec 27

Concerning the Pedicab Driver

Does the pedicab driver rub between his fingers the well-worn rosary dangling from the handlebars of his pedicab before every trip? Did the pedicab driver himself paint the word "Amigo" on the rear of the seatback and if so, did he intend it to contain any level of satire?

What is the cost, in U.S. dollars, of the pedicab? What is the relative purchasing power of this amount in America? Could one buy, for instance, a Darth Vader wall clock as might be installed in a doctors' offic ... read


Dec 23

Scholarship for Future Educators

Footage from the December 7, 2011 Commencement and Orientation for scholars in the College of Education, Eastern Visayas State University.

Learn more about the Scholarship for Future Educators ... read


Dec 20

Resolutions 2012

[This image was created using GIMP, a free software. Stop piracy.]

As folks go, I'm not very wise. I've lived 31 years on this green earth and still commit the same shortcomings year after year. Note: this coming from someone who takes New Years' Resolutions a little too seriously.

Every December since 2003, I've sat down and ch ... read


Dec 16

Interview with the Prostitute

On the outskirts of the city at the edge of a subdivision called Bliss, Tacloban City Convention Center pokes into the bay. A big silo of a thing, concrete, stadium seating for a couple three or four thousand, ringed by two levels of commercial units which consist of half a dozen disco-slash-videoke bars, a few pretentious restaurants, a full-function fitness center. They call it the Astrodome. On your jeep ride call out "Astro" for short.

read


Dec 12

Library Book Program

Footage from the Book Acquisition project at Eastern Visayas State University (November 22, 2011). In the past year, over 700 popular fiction books were donated. ... read
Dec 9

Cause and Fall

At the bakeshop I go to most mornings, this morning old senile Lolita turned left, shying a bright white bandage on her cheek. What triggered the bandage is unimportant. It is the turn left--the shy--that I care about. The ancient human instinct, when Eve knew her nakedness. We do not act. Something acts upon us.

That morning there was rain, and a drunk grandson yelling above his lungs at a door for the key. Yelling at a door. Grandson: we all have our old lolitas, even after we ... read


Nov 24

Thanksgiving in the Philippines

... read

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Recent Posts


Jan 7 Author's Note
Dec 27 Concerning the Pedicab Driver
Dec 23 Scholarship for Future Educators
Dec 20 Resolutions 2012
Dec 16 Interview with the Prostitute
Dec 12 Library Book Program
Dec 9 Cause and Fall
Nov 24 Thanksgiving in the Philippines
Nov 19 Mid Service Training
Nov 12 Adultery, Concubinage

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