Leo P. Olobia

 


Home
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Journal
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Pinoys in the High Seas
Hauntings By the Polish Spirit
Classical Music in Your Being
Searching For My Own Theater Group 1 and 2
A Traveler's Diarrhea
Coming Home, Indeed
Philosophical Lessons in Life
My Romance In Miami
High School Memoirs 1 and 2
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About the CD:
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I have un upcoming CD eintitled "Piano Potpourri", a selection of my favorite classical, broadway and standard music. It is currently being edited and mastered in Vancouver, Canada. As soon as the final product is released it will be posted here for your listening enjoyment.
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My Romance in Miami

Miami is one place you cannot forget to visit. Aside from its tropical atmosphere which attracts millions of tourists each year, it has a
vibrant aura of Cuban, Caribbean, Caucasian mix. You will be greeted with various accents even if the Latino flavor dominates.

I have been staying in Miami for a number of years now. This is because our cruise ship docks in the world's cruise capital, where else but Miami. My routine would start with a crew van taking us to the downtown area where internet cafes, phone stations, electronics stores proliferate.

Because there is not enough time, we have to run like crazy doing our errands not even affording to dine quietly in the picturesque Bayside.  Not me. I always savor each moment of my stay. My favorite is the public library which houses a great collection of literature with music as my favorite. I can spend the entire day browsing over classical sheet music and yes, you can borrow them for up to 50 items to be returned after a month.

Renewal is accepted. Also, cd's of great variety and volume captivates me. Even more surprising is the free internet you can enjoy. These are
things that our libraries in the Philippines never offer. In UP Diliman, for instance, books are meant to be returned the next day if they are reference materials, otherwise, they are good for the week only. And pay attention to the fines, they can drain your allowance. If you think of free internet, there is no such thing.

There is a long stretch of electronics stores in Flagler street which are mainly occupied by Cuban, Jewish owners who can trick you with their manipulative style of costumer dealings. Never sound ignorant about items you like to buy because they can jack up prices or give you broken items at the flick of the finger. And when they start to bombard you with endless chats, leave right away if you're not interested because they will reprimand you for "wasting their time".

But these are normal instances you encounter in a highly capitalized world. On the other side of the congested downtown is a very popular beach called South Beach, a tourist favorite. The water is so pristine and the white sand is mushroomed with "tanners", and oh, you cannot simply miss the occasional nudity. Restos and specialty boutiques will surely increase your appetite for spending. Nightlife is so vibrant. If you have been to Malate, triple the fun and you experience South Beach delirium.

There are so many things that can bring joy to someone and for me, Miami's theater performances are impeccable. Seasonal concerts with special guests from Europe and Asia are among my favorites. I like to watch piano concerts as well as Broadway productions even if they are dire expensive.  Sometimes I think that I should produce my own show and charge them the same amount. My wish.

Last but not least is the cultural diversity in Miami. I used to enjoy a long chat with a Cuban person but after awhile I got burnt out with
their heavy Spanish accent which destroys the sanctity of the English language. If you think Pinoys are known for distorted pronunciations, Cubans or Spanish in general can be worse and demeaning. Their heavy "r" accents are just so obnoxious and backward.

However, this communication problem is repressed when you begin to notice the similarity that Pinoys share with them. Just like the "sari-sari" stores in the Philippines, there is an abundance of them in the suburban streets of Miami; or our sense of romanticism evoked in songs, ballades are just as indulgent as in the Cuban culture in Miami. I can enumerate a lot if I have to.

I enjoy each day that I spend time here because it reflects a culture that represents me. I see myself in the vending peddlers or in the songs played in restos and radios. I see that Philippine culture is widespread. We are a people of abundant influence. Good or bad, we certainly affect other cultures. Not because there are Filipinos in Miami but because the Spanish culture has been in our blood ever since we learned to say the alphabet or uttered our local dialects with heavy Spanish influence. It is alive and wanting to live.

Posted at BQR 11/16/04.