Am not a big fan of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal but I respect him as among the greatest our nation has ever produced. 

1 Bahrain Dinar. Approx. 145 Philippine Pesos. Around 3.75 US Dollar. 

Managers for Christ. More than just a Toastmasters Club. This is one group that has tremendously help me grow out of my pains. Contrary to popular belief, Managers for Christ are your typical neighbors who can enjoy a hearty laugh, meal and perspiration. 

Christians remember the passion of Christ for one reason: man's complete redemption from sins. Jesus Christ is the truth, the way and the life. 

FCT event. Vicky Cacayan is in the apple green blouse. Albert Gayo is in red tie. Elpi Quitevis is in shades. Ramon Angel is in yellow shirt. The Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain is holding the certificate. The others, I still have to meet.  

I will always have the highest respect for Said Al-Hejri. Not only because he is also a Toastmaster but because he is a great man! Initiative. Courage. Friendship. I am proud to be associated with him. 

Voyages.

On March 15, 2005, I served as Toastmaster of the Evening (TME) at the Filipino Club Toastmasters 3029-79 (FCT). At FCT, the TME is responsible for coming up with the meeting's theme. I selected "Voyages" because the following day, March 16, is the day when Ferdinand Magellan alledgedly "discovered" the Philippines and claimed the islands for Spain. And the rest, as they say, is history... written in blood of many Filipinos who realized that we can be a nation on our own. Alright, he can be the greatest voyager of them all and thanks to him, we are now a Christian nation. Had Magellan not "arrived" in the Philippines, we would have been a tiny Muslim country in Southeast Asia. So, we should be thankful and turn a blind eye on our history? Anyway, let us talk about that later. Let's go back to the FCT meeting.

So, it was one of them meetings of FCT except that I was the TME. I was able to prove how supportive the members of the Club are since I have not even officially joined them, yet, they offer all the help to organize the meeting. Cristy Benedicto helped me print the program and the literature. She also helped confirm meeting participants. The same is true with Vicky Cacayan who is a fellow regular at the National Evangelical Church although she is with the Bahrain Christian Fellowship, the Filipino congregation. Club President Tina Romulo also was a big help.

We had two prepared speakers: Ethel Varona who delivered her sixth basic speech project entitled "Massage: The Healing Touch" and Mohammad Ashfaq Tahir, an ATMB who recently joined FCT and introduced himself before the Club with a speech "Myself" using the Icebreak project. Ethel was evaluated by Ed Pascual, a charter member and a past President while Ashfaq was evaluated by Hamza Ali, a Bahraini whom I believe is already an accomplished speaker.

Our General Evaluator was Cristy Benedicto. Jassim Al-Sherafi was the Table Topic Master. Stella Paul, an impressively intelligent lady was the Grammarian/Ah Counter. Stella is also the Club's Secretary. Nestor Ballano, the only Filipino member of the oldest Toastmaster Club in the Middle East, Manama Toastmasters Club, was the Joke Master. Salman Ali was the Timekeeper.

I would have loved to introduce sweeping changes in my program but have decided against the wisdom of that choice since I am still trying to familiarize myself with the idiosyncracies of FCT. I did introduce some little things. I just can't help myself from doing little naughty things to rock the boat. Besides, the theme was about "voyages."

So, the night ended without fireworks. My only redemption was to sit beside the magnetic Cindy Briggs who kept me thinking the whole meeting about classifications of men according to their personalities. We had a good laugh everytime we try to classify the meeting's participants especially when we agree on who should be in the embarrasing corner of the of the spectrum.

I remembered to write about this meeting for posterity's sake. I will be joing the Club soon despite the discouragement of many. I always love to take losing causes and help turn the tide. Such is the passion of a meandering shawarma. ;)

Voyages. This was the theme I selected for the Toastmaster meeting where I was asked to be Toastmaster of the Evening. 

Cris is in love too!

Canoodle. I am an active member of Toastmasters. One time, I was asked to be Word Master and I was asked to introduce a new word to the Club. Canoodle. That was the word. I guess many of us would not bother to use it since "embrace" would be sufficient. However, I believe that canoodle would encompass the passionate side of an embrace. It can even refer to something divine. Ask Cris. I never thought this friend of mine will ever have time for love - one that is for him. He loves his work. He loves his mother. He loves his freedom. He loves a lot of things but he never had loved before. I mean, this fellow has been with some girls before but he is just too preoccupied with a lot of things not entirely for himself. But now, just now, we are wasting our internet time talking about love, courtship and marriage! My friend is in love! Cris is in love! And if the lucky girl would only know; she is luckier than luckiest. I could never be happier for my friend. Cris has been through so much; all of his toys would amount to nothing. Now, Cris is in love. He moves on a higher plane. I am sure, the darkness that pervades him, his being and his creations would start to become extrinsically bright for all the world to realize how creative and intelligent Cris is.

The truth is, love is in vogue among our circle of friends. But this does not mean we do not take relationships seriously. We do, in fact, to a fault. It is just we were taken by the world too much we forget we have our lives to attend to. I have found my destiny. Cris has. Toto has been tied for so long he thought he's dead. ;) Hurry has also found a higher calling of love. Who else? The world is in love. Why shouldn't we be?

Stern. Meandering. Shawarma. A Filipino in the Middle East. Pinoy sa Middle East. Middle East Pinoy. ME Pinoy. There is a Filipino. A Meandering Shawarma. 

Sabado Gloria (Glorious Saturday)

Among Filipino Catholics, the Saturday after Good Friday is called Sabado Gloria. I have forgotten why and I never really bothered. I feel the next day, Sunday, is more important, if not most important since it is Easter.

Here, in Bahrain, so much activities related to Easter are being promoted by many businesses. Alosra Hypermart (formerly Spenneys) even has an Easter Egg Hunt. All the Christian churches will have their dawn worship services tomorrow.

Yesterday, Good Friday, three Filipino entertainers did what they're expected to do - entertain. Funny but no one seemed to have bothered that the concert was on Good Friday! In fairness to the three - Frenchie Dy, Sheryn Regis and Troy Montero - they have nothing to do with the schedule. Friday is the weekend in most of the Middle Eastern states. I am not sure how many came to the show but if you are to believe the press release, it was sold out. However, one reporter actually quipped that it was a sell out. ;)

While the rest of the Christians in Bahrain were, hopefully, busy with Good Friday rituals, most of Bahrain were glued to the World Cup Qualifying match between Bahrain and North Korea. Of course, I am rooting for Bahrain!

Yesterday, I decided to go on another walking tour of the souqs of Manama. Sadly, I did not see new things other than more hustling form various nationals who are not used to seeing Filipinos walk the inner streets of Manama. Still, I would say it was a great walk if only for the health benefits it has afforded me.

I also dropped by the Yateem Centre in downtown Manama to check on the Bahrain Scrabble League. I arrived very late and I am not able to talk to any of the members. I di not bother to watch since I believe Scrabble is not an audience game. I don't want to pity myself for merely watching from the sides.

It was windy and cold yesterday so I decided not to walk to the corniche. Instead, I took a public transport to Budaiya, part of the northern governorate where I bought two pieces of falafels sandwiches. From the bus terminal, I watch with excitement as a very huge yellowish full moon started to rise in the horizon. I feel bad that I don't have a camera with me. It was a dramatic image. I have seen so many pictures about the subject but I never tried taking one myself.

Indeed, it was another day of meandering. I missed a shawarma though. The falafel is not a bad substitute. ;) But, all them would have been marvelous if I was with Jenn. ;)

I have a love.

Today is Good Friday. I missed the "7 Last Words" service at the National Evangelical Church although I was at the Tennebrae service last night though.

However, everything is very normal and ordinary here in Bahrain. The spirit of the Lent can only be felt in the churches and in homes of practicing Christians. But, I have no qualms. Bahrain is an Islamic kingdom. I am already thankful that Bahrain is a cradle of toleration in the Middle East and non-Muslims are respected and are allowed to practice and profess their faith.

Anyway, I will definitely be talking about Christian love in another blog but this time it is about the great partner God has given me. I have have been praying that she is the one God has promised to grow old with me. I have been sending her love letters online for weeks now. And I love doing that. There are other means of communicating with her but all of them are non-functional at the moment.

This love of mine is a very sweet creature. No, she is a perfect woman. She has not only brighten my life with her presence but she has provided me an anchor to keep steady in our tumultous lives. She is now part of the journey of this meandering shawarma.

She is Jennifer Capati. And I love her very much. Unconditionally.

The Meandering Shawarma signs on.

We are all nomads, bedouins and gypsies --- always on our feet in quest for glory, fortune, love, happiness and fulfillment. Whatever our reasons are, we will never stop from moving --- change is inevitable.

I am Filipino yet the best part of my life has been spent in the vast deserts of the Middle East. My culture clashed with a lot of things. Sometimes, I see a different person in the mirror. I can be famous. I can be rich. I can be loved. I can be happy. But am I fulfilled?

I am a shawarma. You only see me at certain times. I am popular. I am sought after. Yet, I am despised.

I am a meandering shawarma. My quest is to be home soon. How soon? Only this blog will eventually tell.