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Travel in the Philippines

Champorado
By:David Poarch

I just had the pleasure of eating my 4th straight meal of champorado, which is a low-cost meal made by mixing rice, water, cocoa powder, and table sugar. It’s not great for the health, but I figure I’d use its mind-stimulating effects to quickly write some of my thoughts down before going back to healthier food. I’m low on money, that’s why I’m eating this sugar and caffeine-powered brown concoction. So, as you all may know, I left the comforts of life in the U.S. along with the potential of my accomplishments detailed in my resume for a simple pastoral life in provincial Philippines. I earn the majority of my survival money via this weblog I maintain known as “Coconuter.” Basically, I document my journey here in the Philippines as I try to find my purpose in life here. I get a few donations every now and then through the weblog, and I sometimes write articles for a magazine. Thus far, if the amount of donations is divided by the number of days I’ve been here in the Philippines, that means I’ve been living on approximately a little more than 3 dollars a day. I am not complaining. I am still in support of this radical route of living on my own despite the advantage of hindsight today.

Three Dollars a Day

If you average it out, that is what I’ve been living on--$3 / day. But in reality, the spending is in spurts and if plotted on a chart you’ll see that the spending rate started out fairly high the first month I was here since I was essentially feeding 8 mouths (including myself), as compared to the 2 mouths (including myself) that I feed today. With peaks there are pits and I’ve hit rock bottom a few times.

Hitting Rock Bottom

There’s nothing wrong with hitting rock bottom (going bankrupt), as long as you know how to handle it. It has happened to me 4 times already since I’ve been here. It’s very important not to whine and wallow in self-pity. It is a rejuvenating process, both mentally and physically if looked at in a positive manner. It’s actually no problem at all if you use your brain and do a little living off the land. You have to look around you and see what can be used. Whether it’d be gathering wood and/or bamboo for making a fire, or utilizing your domesticated animals if you have any, or taking advantage of your skills in order to hunt, fish, and forage, these are some possible options. I have planted some crops and invested in some chickens specifically for the purpose of getting through these situations. I am also fortunate enough to be close to the mountains and jungles where I can forage for fruits and other wild foods that may be found. Always remember that Mother Nature has provided a means of survival that our ancestors have used and that we can use today. Some Aetas and other natives around the world still live off the raw land up to this very day.

Ok, I’m not going to lie. Hitting rock bottom can be frustrating and can be quite upsetting if you don’t handle it right. You might even catch yourself going a little crazy at times. And I don’t blame you. It can get pretty rough and tiring. Losing gas for cooking can be irritating and cumbersome, as you now have to build a fire to cook. Losing electricity will leave you some nights with a lot of time to either do some powerful thinking or crazy talking. Best yet, just go to sleep. Losing water is unsanitary and just plain stinks, so don’t lose that. Fortunately, I have not lost water, and I now get natural mineral drinking water from a nearby mountain. I’ve never run out of soap or toothpaste, but that would be irritating as well if it happened. I think coconuts can save you there. I believe coconut milk and water is good for the teeth and body, being mineral-filled and having antibacterial properties. Some leaves like guava leaves also have antibacterial and antiseptic qualities, just boil the leaves in some water to create a wash. Some flowers can be used for odor issues. And let’s face it, scraping your behind with your fingers because of a lack of toilet paper is not very fun. But it can only go up from there right? I sure hope so, but just remember my advice to live off the land. Mother Nature gave you everything you need to survive if you just use it.

Civilization and Modernization

Civilization and the modernization of it generally brings growth and/or improvement in health, knowledge, and man-made creations.

Survival and maintaining good health is basically the first priority of every living thing. In this day and age, what it takes to survive and maintain good health is, for the most part, known and readily available. Through the years, man and modernization has brought about medicine, new foods, and new habits. When man was physically active before, man in modern civilization is now found sitting at office desks all day and for most of the week, as well as sitting idle in front of computers or the television for hours at a time. Not to mention that through the years, people have been getting hooked on all sorts of degrading man-made addictions. And so we had the healthier regular physical activity of the past replaced by the more comfortable, less active, and less healthy present day routine. Since survival of the fittest is virtually gone for the human race, this caused a decrease in food availability and hence an overall demand for more food to feed the fast-growing human population. And so men created all sorts of new and processed foods. But you see, you can’t cheat Mother Nature. This new less-active lifestyle along with the rising amount of new and processed foods brings about new illnesses, like cancer. And instead of fixing the problem at the root and getting rid of it, man opts to fix it at the surface, despite its reoccurrence, by creating medicines. And so man thinks he’s got it made by making new medicines to battle all the new illnesses. But man can’t seem to realize that he is fighting an endless war because his new medicines only create more new illnesses that are usually stronger and more resistant than they were. You just can’t cheat Mother Nature. Instinctively we already have what it takes to survive. Unfortunately instinct is sometimes over-written by man’s theories and creations. Many of these theories need to be changed because apparently we’re tangled in a web we shouldn’t have been weaving to begin with.

Modernization has brought about more man-made creations as well. Civilization has undergone positive development in many areas. Improved shelter and clothing are a couple. Language was a great development. The taming of fire is another. Agriculture, electricity, light, refrigerators, computers, and the internet are others. The emergence of trade, currency, specializations (jobs), and infrastructure has mad our lives run faster. But modernization has also brought about pollution, global warming, toxic wastes, contamination, extinct species, resource depletion, processed foods, antibiotics, plastics, and weapons of mass destruction, to name a few.

Outer Space and the “Universe”

The space and science programs allow us to understand more about the universe and feed our curiosity. In addition, venturing into outer space seems to be a good idea in the aspect that finding resources and inhabitable planets may be a priority in the future with the ever-growing number of people and the ever-vanishing resources. Furthermore, the universe is an interesting thing. The resemblance of solar systems and planets rotating around stars to atoms and how electrons rotate around proton-neutron nuclei is quite striking. What if Earth was just an electron, the Sun a nucleus, the solar system just an atom, our galaxy just a molecule, and our “universe” a piece of matter (perhaps a drop of water or something)? So that would mean our “universe” is just a spec of something bigger, and we could even go in reverse. This piece of paper could be a “universe,” its molecules could be separate galaxies, its atoms could be separate solar systems, its nuclei separate stars, and its electrons could be separate planets. So that would mean these electrons or planets have their own matter or “universes,” which could be water, trees, rocks, or whatever kind of matter. Thinking this way would mean that “universes” exist within “universes” and these exist within other “universes” and so forth. This would essentially mean a never-ending cycle. And this would also mean that we need to replace the definition of “universe.” According to my theory, “universe” means “matter,” and the actual universe in my theory is the never-ending cycle itself. So, is there a God, and who created all of this? And also, if we are essentially part of a bigger “world,” what happens if humans exist in that “bigger” or “higher” level we are a part of and let’s say they detonate a nuclear weapon? This theory brings about a whole string of questions and topics. I’ll elaborate on some, but I could probably write a short textbook with illustrations on my theory.

“Higher” and “Lower” “Worlds”

First, the less touchy subject, which is the situation I just mentioned. Remember, according to my theory, we are a piece of matter within another piece of matter and so on. So our “universe” could be part of a rock (or water, or a hair, or clouds, or any piece of matter) which could be part of a rain drop in the “bigger” or “higher” world/level which could be part of a plant in the next “bigger” or “higher” world/level and so forth. So, what if in one of these “bigger” or “higher” worlds that we are a part of there exists humans or some other being? And what if these humans or other beings have developed and detonate a nuclear weapon? Detonating a nuclear weapon entails the splitting of a nucleus which essentially creates a chain reaction of destruction. So what if our “world” or “level” was a part of or within that nucleus? What would that mean? That would mean we would be obliterated along with all the levels “below” or “within” us. So, what happens when we detonate a nuclear weapon on Earth? Well, that would mean we would be destroying the worlds or levels “below” or “within” us along with all the living things we would be destroying in that area on Earth. It makes me wonder why we’ve even created such weapons. Then we have nations today who think they are world police that tell other nations not to create such weapons of mass destruction that they themselves have been creating for years and are still creating (quite ironic). All nations should stop creating them, not only a select few.

Is there a God? And who created everything?

On to the more touchy subject—Is there a God? And who created everything? Well, frankly, I don’t have and don’t believe in any religion or religions itself. I’m not saying that others who have or believe in a religion are wrong, because everyone is entitled to their own belief. I believe humans came about via evolution, and I think anthropologists have done a sufficient job in digging up fossils and whatnot to support this theory. I think that many holy scriptures depict exaggerations or tall tales of semi-factual events and also fictional stories for the purpose of giving lessons or advice and also to gain a following (in order to gain power). I actually think religions are very inefficient and destructive creations and the majority of wars in human history are proof of this since most wars in human history were started by religious conflicts. It’s silly and a shame that lives are lost over mere stories. So, if I believe in evolution, then I believe that we evolved from apes, which evolved from other species, which originated from microscopic hydro-organisms in the ocean. So who do I believe created the original organisms that we spawned off of? And who created everything? God? Perhaps, I don’t know. Do I believe in God? Well, I’m not atheist. And I pray to God at night. The creation or emergence of everything as we know it is still a mystery to me and all of us. It is something we do not understand, and I attribute this unknown to a super-power or God.

What is the Meaning of Life?

And so what is the meaning of life? That, too, is a mystery to all of us. Is it something we should be trying to find out? There’s a saying that curiosity killed the cat, but curiosity may be innate in animals and especially in humans. So were we meant to be oblivious of it all? I don’t know, but like Thomas Jefferson said, I believe we should all be entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as long as it doesn’t interfere with another’s rights to life, liberty, and their pursuit of happiness.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Life is probably of the utmost importance, because without life everything would be nothing. And so survival and the maintenance of good health are a living things ongoing priority. Survival of the fittest is how life worked for wild animals in the past and also today. The weak, sickly, and inept did not make it, and the strong, healthy, and clever lived on and reproduced. Today, humans are fortunate enough to have progressed and are now able to ensure life for the majority of the populace. This poses a resource depletion problem, but that’s a long way away and many factors can come into play to alleviate that problem if it ever reaches that point. So civilization has ensured survival for most, but being alive doesn’t necessarily mean having good health. Due to new lifestyles, foods, medicines, and illnesses brought about by modernization, human health has suffered through the years. One could argue that due to the large human population and its very fast growth rate that it necessitates the production of new lifestyles, foods, and medicines and thus the rise of new illnesses. Yes, that’s true. So far, it’s a catch-22. It seems the saying “you can’t cheat Mother Nature” comes into play once more.

I believe everyone should be able to pursue happiness. Do or go for whatever makes you happy, as long as it doesn’t infringe upon another’s life, liberty, and happiness.

After mentioning all the aforementioned topics, I think it is time to address why I gave up life in the U.S. and came over to the Philippines since I have already been discussing it. Well, it can be summed up in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Being healthy should be important for everyone, since a longer life can mean more growth, progress, knowledge, understanding, and time. And I’ve been thinking, if the perfect diet and habits are found (and fatal accidents are avoided of course), is there potential to live forever? Well, anyways, being healthy is important to me. Health suffers in modernized areas, and it’s very expensive and inconvenient to be healthy in such modernized areas. Aside from the fact that I was born in and lived my first 7 years in provincial Philippines, I believe that what it takes to become healthy can be conveniently found in the pastoral setting of provincial Philippines, although other tropical nations or areas may do as I believe an un-modernized tropical environment is man’s natural habitat. I have my developing theory on healthy habits and a healthy diet (that I wish I knew earlier in life), which would probably do everyone more good than what the standard food pyramid and more good than what most medical practitioners would recommend. But I’ll save my theory for another long article or short textbook as it is quite lengthy.

Increased liberty is also something I gained here in provincial Philippines. In the U.S., and other modernized areas you cannot escape the “tracking device” of the government, things like taxes and other bills are always on your tail, and your job eats up the majority of your life. In provincial Philippines, there is no “tracking device” and you only need to pay for your own necessities. It’s also cheaper to live in the Philippines compared in other countries, but wages are also lower in the Philippines. There also exists a lack of job opportunities. But for the lower jobs that are available, there is a work concept that is quite appealing and is commonly found in provincial Philippines. It is the “work when you need money” and “relax when you want to” concept. It is more like doing temporary contract or project-type work and is done in spurts. The pressure of a continuous job is taken away in this concept. Many others of course wish for this continuous money-job and go into the city or abroad to find that opportunity. There are also a few in provincial Philippines that live on self-subsistence or live off the land and are basically self-supporting, which is ideal for some. These people escape modern pressures and expectations to an extent. This simple free living isn’t a bad idea really. Let me share to you a metaphorical example. People who live in modernized areas are like 45-day or caged chickens. They are imprisoned to serve humans (which could represent modern civilization or the government or employers,etc.), and pumped with antibiotics to ensure they live. Sure they don’t have to fear any predators hunting them down and they don’t have to worry about food because they are given plenty to eat and they don’t have to work hard either (which could be perceived as a comfortable and safe environment), but unlike their free-range and wild counterparts, the free-range and wild chickens are healthier, free, and are able to pursue whatever makes them happy. For me, I’m not wholly against the workforce as I find jobs or specializations important in a modernizing civilization, but I find pastoral and simple living quite appealing. Perhaps I will never reach a state where I would able to fully live a pastoral life due to future dependents, but I am making an effort in not giving up all liberty and going back to mainstream modernized urban life. Finding something here in the Philippines that will allow me to hold on to at least a little freedom from the chains of complex civilization and also enjoy the Philippines unique atmosphere would be wonderful for me. And so I dream nightly of some golden coconut to fall to me from the sky. I’m hurriedly looking and hoping for that promising opportunity here in the Philippines. I have gotten invitations to enter Philippine show business (and haven’t declined yet, just placed on hold to act as a last alternative). And of course I could already be performing menial or labor type work or simple office jobs, but I’d rather not be a pawn as I’ve been the most diligent pawn for so long and it gets tiring when you really give it your all and you feel you have the potential to create, maintain, and run a whole business (and plus being a pawn in the Philippines is very cheap because of the low wages). And so whether it’d be a unique export idea, a useful invention, an online business, an opportunity to open and run an internet café (which I could run and maintain solely by myself), an opportunity to open and run a health and wellness center/shop, or any other brilliant idea, offer, or opportunity, I’m hoping and praying for it because I’m running out of time...

http://coconuter.blogspot.com/ The Adventures of David "Coconuter" in his Journey as a Nomad in the Philippines. "A young man (20 yrs old) who had a comfortable and achievement-adorned life in the US, left it all in search of true meaning to "life, freedom, purpose, and happiness" figuratively embodied in a "perfect golden coconut." While in the US, he graduated Valedictorian of his high school class, received a full scholarship to one of the top US colleges (Rice University), interned at NASA for two terms, and is MENSA International qualified, to name a few of his accomplishments. He now lives as a "nomad" in the Philippines and attempts to try and understand various aspects of life and life itself. He maintains a blog to document his thoughts and photographs during his journey. His writings and ideas have good intentions and have potential for overall world improvement, which you will see from reading his blog." http://coconuter.blogspot.com/






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