A free dinner at Alba

My wife, Veck, is a pediatrician, and every once in a while pharmaceutical companies would like to promote their products to doctors usually by holding seminar talks introducing their brand milk or vitamins. Usually, these events include a free buffet dinner.

Two nights ago, MeadJohnson got together pediatricians from National Children's Hospital (where Veck is taking up her residency training) and Jose Reyes Hospital to promote their new milk brand: Smart10. The chosen venue was Alba, a Spanish restaurant along Tomas Morato.

Veck got me to tag along and the initial plan was that I'll wait for her at Figaro, just across the corner. I have my book to read and she'll give me a ring once the presentation/dinner was over. I was feeling a bit hungry, so I said I might as well wait in Alba and pay for my own meal.

Now if you're thinking that I went in, pretended to be a doctor, mingled with my wife's colleagues, enjoyed myself to the free dinner and actually sat in during the presentation, well, that's exactly what happened. I had my fill of canonigno, paella, mushrooms, enselada.

During the lecture, with nothing much to do, I thought I might as well listen. Dr Gacheco talked about the importance of proper nutrition and nurture. I learned that young children are rapid learners as their brains are developing, especially up to two years old. It is then very important to engage them in play and put them in sensorially stimulating environment. Play Mozart, put colorful mobiles and pictures, have a baby handle a rattle.

I thought a lot about Dana and how I need to expose her to more learning-inducive environments; read books to her; play music and dance with her. The important thing is these activities have to be fun.

I thought artist dates ought to be that way, too. Fun and sensorially stimulating.

Now at the end of the lecture the speaker gave out a Survivors Quiz. The winner takes home Spanish sardines. I got eight out of nine answers right, besting the doctors in the room. Ha! How's that for someone who was just pretending to be a doctor!

What I learned from William

This post ought to be divided in two. The first part would be what I learned from Tj Domingo, or what I learned onstage. The second part is what I learned in William, meaning what I learned backstage.

What I Learned From Tj
"God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble." This is the truth I encountered in Tj's story. God loves boys, and He trains them to become real men. Often, He uses difficult and humbling experiences to cause a young boy to grow into maturity.

I learned that God loves me and I am His boy. That He desires to be my Father. Oh, if only I would let Him!

I also learned to rap and dance. And that popularity is not everything the media say it is. It's not that important. What is important is being genuine and sincere.

What I Learned Through The William Production
I learned not to be naïve. I used to believe that everyone who works in the theater, that great vassal of truth, is genuine. I learned that's not true. I learned that just because a person is a stage actor and pays lip service to playing for truth on stage does not mean he is honest in real life.

There are theater practitioners, I found out the painful way, who are plastic, hypocrite, would never live out whatever education or good values they present on the stage.

But a real artist is always generous, selfless, ego-less, honest, sincere, truthful...on stage and off. This is the kind of person I want to be. No compromises! To work for truth, not for popularity.

I used to say that there is no difference between the church and the theater because I worship God in both. I realize there's a fundamental difference all along. The people in my church are loving. The people in the theater are not always so.