adventure - Cerebral Insights

Week #1: Exploring the Mind Museum

I’m still at Week 1 and already I’ve written about 3 adventures. This series is definitely motivating me to write more and explore more. Science does comes alive at the Mind Museum. I’ve always wanted to explore this place even before it opened. The science geek in me knew I had so much to learn and enjoy in this place. And true enough I was not disappointed. Armed with a Metro Deal coupon, I tagged my marine biologist friend along to explore. It was a fun coincidence that the travelling exhibit was about the coral triangle in the country. What I loved about the Mind Museum is how science is creatively presented. For instance, viewing the newly discovered marine species involved placing wooden blocks in a panel that will detect the embeded digital media and flash it on a screen. It was like placing slides under a microscope. The area I wanted to explore was the giant display of the brain. It was fun how you have to step on a description of the brain part located on the floor to have the appropriate part light up. Equally fascinating for me was to see replicas of things I observed only under the microscope.

Top and Bottom Left: Bacteria culture in agar. Both of whom I also studied in Microbio. | Bottom Right: Mitosis phases which I observed for onion cells under a microscope

Another fun display in the Life Section was the Pockets of Life which shows how large certain groups are due to the number of species belonging to them. I am not a huge physics nor chemistry fan but I find it surreal being reminded of the names of famous scientists who have become household names to me growing up.

The exhibit asks you to pair a scientist with his famous work.

It was also wonderful seeing their famous experiments depicted artistically.

Left: Erathosthenes who measured the Earth’s circumference | Right: Thomas Young who established the wave theory of light contradicting Newton’s light particle theory

A visit would not be complete without marvelling at the giant TRex replica but it was not what fascinated me in the Earth section. I was more fascinated with the trilobite fossile replica. Trilobites are extinct arthropods considered to be the most successful animal having survived for 270 million years – from the Cambrian to the Permian era. I have always loved drawing them back in my Bio days. I love how the Mind Museum infuses fun with science. To me, science is fun as it is but to many I know they find it a difficult subject. Even for me, not all Science is fun such as Math but the slides in the playground gives Math a whole new perspective. Though honestly, I don’t know the Math equation for these shapes. The Mind Museum is a fun place to be. And I would love to go there again – and even buy a year-round pass. I might even volunteer to be a mind mover. I just hope they keep up the high quality of the displays. Already some areas are showing signs of wear. It was encouraging seeing some displays closed for improvement but there are many more due for repair. The interactive nature of the displays do call for regular maintenance. The Mind Museum at Taguig Opens from Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 6pm Visit mindmuseum.org for ticket rates and exhibit schedules

Week #1: Visiting an Art Museum on Phil. History

It was an unexpected trip. Cultivating an exploratory spirit in tune to the recent Pluto discoveries, I decided to add some spice to my usual monthly routine.

Arriving earlier than usual for my monthly empowerment sessions in Cubao, I decided to explore the advertised art musuem in Gateway Mall.

Apparently it’s been around for more than a year already but not being one from Cubao, it was all new to me.

The paintings were all brilliant works of art as each mural depicted a moment in the history of the country. It was also enchanting how each scene was painted in a way that closely resembled that moment in history. For example this painting depicting how religion flourished in the Philippines is made to look like stained glass reminiscent of many Catholic churches.

This painting, which was the first in the series depicted the prehistoric era of the Philippinrs. I love how it’s made to resemble a cave painting.

This painting depicting the darkest moment in Philippine history – the Martial Law years captivates the harsh reality of that time. Beside it is a painting of the EDSA revolution.

There were many other paintings lined up in a long hall. Each one arranged in chronological order of the event in history. Every historic milestone from the famous revolutions to the formation of the Philippine Republic and government were depicted in art form. Even not so famous but important historic events like the formation of barangays in pre-colonial times to the establishment of work unions in the early 1900s were depicted.

The paintings culminated in a portrayal of current history done in vivid colors reminiscent of hi-res photographs. It even has the PCOS machine in it.

The exhibit is an initiative of UP Alumni Association together with several distinct artists.

It has a coffee book table for those who wish to keep a copy of the paintings and how they were conceptualized by the artists.

According to the guard on duty, the exhibit will run for two years. It’s open from 10am to 7pm.

Admission is free.

History buffs and non-history buffs alike would find value visiting this museum. I don’t think it has attracted a lot of attention given the few people milling by when I was there. But every Filipino deserves to see such artistic portrayal of our country’s history especially when it’s made so easily accessible for everyone.

Perhaps every mall goer should decide to drop by even if just for a few minutes in this gallery and appreciate art and history together.

Sidetrip:

Outside the musuem, on the same level is a topiary garden. It was windy and the breeze was a welcome respite from the heat. However, I was saddened to see that the topiary was plastic. Even the grass was felt. A far cry from the real gardens I’m used to in BGC and Makati. Or even the rooftop gardens I saw in Changi Airport. But for the effort, it’s worth an A.

Note: This post is part of my 52 weeks of adventure blog series. You can read about it here: 52 Weeks of Adventure

52 Weeks of Adventure

In a bid to be more grateful for the world around me and in an effort to get out more and enjoy life I have decided to begin a 52 weeks of adventure blog series.

This is also inspired by the 52 Weeks of Adventure of Lily Dunn who blogs at Such Small Hands.

To begin with I’ve already lined up several adventures – none too grand yet – which I hope to be blogging about in the upcoming weeks.

So hooray to adventure and to a life well-lived!

something scientific

The recent articles I have been working on were science articles and I can say that I was able to immensely relate to each of the topic covered. I have, after all, been bred and trained to be a scientist. It just so happened that the blood is thicker and writing is what pulses in my veins.

But then again, I cannot help but share the two most interesting scientific articles I’ve written about. Of course, they are on the branch of Biology. A repost would be located in my bio blog, which unfortunately I am unable to update.

Just a note: These are not the original articles I have submitted. I would never infringe copyright laws.

In this article are the following posts reposted from Practical Biology:

Menopausal Women Maybe at a Higher Risk for Obesity

D4DR Gene To Blame For Adventurous Spirit

Continue reading “something scientific”

jumping buses

Have you ever tried jumping inside a moving bus? Well. I did. Today.

It all started when I didn’t sleep during the time I was supposed to be sleeping in order to prepare myself for my 9pm-6am shift. I knew at that time that something was definitely wrong in my system. I am never this irresponsible when it comes to work. But then I found myself sleeping during the time I was suppose to be preparing for work already – another big NO-NO.

Apparently, it seems I was pushing myself to some unknown limit. And sure enough, I found myself not wanting to show up for work anymore. The desire to be absent was so strong, I even moved slowly despite the fact that the time clearly shows I was almost late. By the time I was supposed to be leaving the house, I was just eating dinner. I was bound to be late, that’s for sure. But surprisingly enough, I was not the least bit concerned, nor was I irate when the jeepney I rode on moved like a snail.

By 8pm, when the shuttle bus was suppose to leave from the pick-up point, I was still several kilometers away from the pick-up point. By that time, I had already concocted schemes in my head as to what I’ll do if the bus leaves without me. I was debating between option 1: wait for the next bus and be 1 hour late for my shift or option 2: commute to the work site and risk getting raped.

To my surprise, when I arrived at the pick-up point, I saw the bus was still there but just as I was briskly walking towards it, the glorious bus started moving – it was leaving without me! I begun running towards it but halted midway – not wanting to look like ShanCai running after some bus with oranges spilling around her.

So instead, I ran a different route in the hope that I’ll meet the bus at one point. I must have looked odd – running past drugstores, banks and bakeries pass loitering people but then I have always been odd. I’ve always wanted to be odd and obscure though I must admit I fail at both endeavors. Either I appear plain and thus obscure or I appear odd and immensely noticed.

Thankfully, I managed to catch the bus and I flagged it down though I think the aged driver didn’t see me even though I was wearing a bright yellow shirt. Mercifully, the bus was running at a snail’s pace and I managed to jump inside it.

And with my heart thumping loudly, as if it would explode out of my chest, I gracefully flopped down to the next available seat. So much for excitement. So much for adventure. At least I’ll be entering work slightly invigorated.

Have you ever tried jumping inside a moving bus? Well. I did. Today.

Braindead

Some people ask for promotion to gain more power or more influence. Some ask for promotion to get paid a higher salary. Still some ask for promotion to gain more popularity, credit or prestige. Not me.

I want to be promoted to ask for more workload; more assignments; more responsibility.

Call me work alcoholic, or insane or addicted. Call me whatever you like but deep down, the reason I want promotion so much is not so I could earn more, or be powerful or prestigious in the company but because I am so dead panned bored in what I am doing now.

I can say that I am a very adventurous person – well of course to a certain limit. But I like adventure none the less and I like feeling challenged most of the time. My life as a student was not a tad boring – I went out of my way to try various things to spice up my academic life. I was not content to just study my lessons and pass my exams (or even ace them). For me student life is to be defined by the number of activities you got to try; the number of places you got to visit in the name of academic exposure; the number of people you get to meet in various settings brought about by your extracurricular activities.

No wonder I exposed myself to student bodies and organizing committees; to school papers and school productions. No wonder when I was in college, I applied for 7 organizations in my first semester! Imagine seven! Each organization in UP has a set standard for how you will become a member – tambay hours, service hours, sig sheets, talent nights, costume weeks, etc. And to top all this I still have my acads to attend too. That was how busy I made my life as a student be.

There was never a dull moment as far as I’m concerned because I was always busy with something. My social network expanded like rapid fire due to the various and different natures of the orgs I was part of.

There were times when I became tired of all the hectic-ness (?) I turned my life into. There were times when I wished I could have been just a simple person, with simple wants, and living a very laid back and simple student life. But then right after wishing and dreaming of those things, and perhaps spending a day or two in quiet isolation, I would be back on the hectic midst of it all. I revel in the busyness of my life back then.

Imagine, my chagrin, when after merely 4 months into this job, I was already bored out of my mind. To think I even defended my line of job from my other friends who were also BPO agents, telling them that being a TSR is the most challenging of all accounts in the BPO industry since the TS issues are never same. Well, look at where I am at now. Yes, I am not handling account issues of customers (which I believe I won’t last a month of) but the technical issues they have are also pretty much the same. There are even times when I would already preempt the customer for the exact error or the exact issue since admittedly different individuals have different ways of describing the same issue.

And the very occasional, once-in-a-blue moon, unique issue – a question perhaps on how a less common feature of the product works – is like an oasis in a parched desert – bringing refreshment to my otherwise dead neurons.

I do not mean to brag. One might think I have perfect metrics to be claiming that I am bored with what I am doing – I don’t. My metrics are not perfect. There is still room for improvement, I know. And I still have a lot to learn – there is in fact a promotional post that I deem unworthy to aspire for due to lack of technical knowledge and skill. Yet the fact remains that with where I am at now, I am already bored.

And without my blog and the books I’m reading, or at least trying to, my neurons might be rotting away from lack of exercise; my soul from lack of challenge. And it doesn’t help a bit that I am without any extra-work activities (a parallel of my extracurricular activities) at this point in time. The culprit: my schedule which my body, I believe, is still adjusting to.

This, I guess, is part of the real world I have longed so much for when I was a student. Well, then, I guess all I could say to myself is: Welcome to the REAL world.

My Bravest Moment – So Far

I remember all the slumbooks I used to answer when I was in elementary – they all asked for your most embarrassing moment. I believe another category should be added – your bravest moment. But this would be I know quite vague – so many moment call for bravery and one can get lost and confused as to which tale or event would be the bravest.

But I must say that I found myself very, very brave when I went to Binondo – the Philippines’ Chinatown, last Saturday. I went there alone and without any idea where I was going. Oh I had a general picture of what Binondo was like based on internet sites and the instructions of friends. I knew I had to go to Ongpin St. to find the things I needed. But I had no actual experience of what the place would be like.

My planner entry for that day was Binondo adventure. It was an adventure because I was going there exploring. And explore was what I did.

From LRT2 Recto Station I began walking to the general direction I knew would take me to the streets of Binondo. I did not bother riding any jeepneys or other public transport because I had been informed that I place I’d like to go to was near. So I just walked my way around – a walk that had to be masked. I had to pretend I knew where I was going (which was true) and I knew how to get there (which was only half true). I had to project an aura of confidence and urgency – to deflect any malicious individuals.

Oh I was not exempt from maliciousness. Every once in a while I would pass some guy who would have some snide comment about me. But I paid no heed to them and continued on walking amidst the light drizzle. I finally saw the street I was supposed to turn left to and I turned – only to get lost. I wasn’t really lost I reasoned to myself – I knew the general direction – where south and north was, where the Recto station which I cam from was. I had a general idea of my location. But I cannot find Ongpin St. and I keep turning up in streets which I knew where not where I was suppose to go.

But still bravely, I walked on. Never daring to stop for directions or show any signs of being lost. I just walked and followed my instincts. And lo and behold I found myself in Ongpin St. and a few more blocks I found myself right at the smack of Binondo – in front of the famous Binondo Church.

I walked towards the church – a haven where I could sit down and collect my thoughts. Along the way I had passed several shops which supposedly contained what I needed but unfortunately didn’t. I used to sanctuary of the church to collect my thoughts, calm my emotions, and let my adrenalin levels stabilize.

After some time, off I went again for further exploring. I pursued street corners, walking the whole length of Ongpin in pursuit of what I needed. I even tried entering side streets and I even managed to get lost in them – ending up in the same streets I had already passed and thought of as way behind me. Eventually I found myself going in circles around the many streets – they were after all interconnected. But this has served to give me a more concrete idea of where I was.

Eventually I found myself back at CM Recto St. – along the sidewalks that would lead me to the Recto Station. I recognized this as the end of my adventure – a signal that I had already combed the streets and seen as much as I could. And though I had wanted to go back and make sure, I felt a resignation that for now my adventure is over. Adrenalin could only flow in your body for a limited time. I had to stop at two quiet shops – a cozy bakery and a busy mami house just to collect my thoughts and get some quiet atmosphere.

I relented to my body and mind’s whim. I was not infinitely brave. If I tried a second time that day to enter the crisscross of streets in Binondo I knew my courage would falter me. So I mustered up the last bits of courage I had as I made my way to the Recto Station. I had to walk a couple of blocks still – blocks filled with both kind and malicious people. I know I still drew stares and snide remarks – all of which I noticed but ignored. I guess the sight of a strange lovely young lady walking the streets of Recto and Binondo was an unfamiliar one. I guess they expect me to at least be with someone.

But I managed alone – and I must admit quite excellently. I didn’t exactly found what I was looking for – maybe I was supposed to look for it in Quiapo. But I did have quite an adventure, a good grip of Binondo, and a tale to tell.