A Pinay in Mexico – just after Pacquiao’s victory

LOS ANGELES – I’m on a brief stop here after a week’s visit to Mexico – the land of tequila, tacos and Erik Morales. Well, hardly Erik Morales. Not one Mexican gave me a headbutt after learning I was from the Philippines, even if I trod on Mexican shores while El Terrible’s wounds were still as fresh as the paint on the Nike billboards of Manny Pacquiao. Even one of the waiters assigned to our table on board the luxurious cruise ship Diamond Princess was a Mexican and he conceded that Pacquiao was good. Since the head waiter Lucio Liwanag is a Filipino, and more than half of his crewmates were Pinoys, I’m sure he did not put a dash more of Tabasco on my salmon. At the hospital where my father Frank Mayor works, he strode in the morning after the fight telling his Mexican colleagues, "now no one will dare cross me now!" But my dad’s Mexican amigos knew he was just kidding, but you know the saying – there’s an ounce of truth in every joke. (My father is 74 years old and still works out 90 minutes at the gym almost every day.) On the day my visit to Mexican Riviera ended and I met up with my dad and mom Sonia, my dad was smiling from ear to ear – he just collected all his bets from the Pacquiao-Morales bout from his Mexican amigos and was $200 richer. Viva los Filipinos! Mabuhay ang Pinoy!

* * *

I guess the Mexicans can compartmentalize their lives, and don’t take things personally even if they are very patriotic. At the Mexican Riviera (the Diamond Princess took us to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas), people couldn’t care less about sports or politics during shop hours, the way life goes on in Boracay or Cebu even if tanks are already crawling on EDSA. At the time that we sailed and set foot in Mexico visiting old pueblos, getting a high at a tequila factory, or haggling for silver jewelry and souvenirs – Mexicans were all smiles (the older generation’s front teeth are usually silver-capped, a status symbol). Even if at the time, the new President Felipe Calderon (he succeeds Vicente Fox) took office amid jeers and fistfights in the halls of Congress between his loyalists and those supporting his rival Lopez Obrador, who lost narrowly to him. According to news reports, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who watched the proceedings from the gallery, remarked: "It was good action." Coming from the Terminator himself, it must have been one helluva show. At least in our country, Pacquiao wannabes, so far, have kept their fists to themselves at the Batasang Pambansa.

* * *

I was on the Diamond Princess upon the invitation of Princess Cruises, which has a fleet of luxury cruise liners with a reputation that truly sparkles. Shortly before I was about to board the ship, my sister Mae informed me of the sad news that the STAR’s beloved publisher Max Soliven – my mentor for many years – passed away. I immediately called my editor-in-chief Isaac Belmonte, who, sensing my quandary told me, "We must move on even in our loss. You just go on with your trip." I think typhoon Reming was on my side, for even if I missed Mr. Soliven’s necrological services, I will still be able to attend the interment of his ashes, scheduled in January.

Cathay Pacific (the airline now flies three times daily to the City of Angels) flew me to Los Angeles, which is twice the size of Switzerland. Several cruise liners, including the Diamond Princess, sail from LA’s Port San Pedro. To those who think of LA as just Disneyland (in nearby Anaheim) and Universal, there are more attractions you can enjoy such as The Grove (which looks like Main Street in Disneyland, but with more shops like Nordstorm, Victoria’s Secret, Barnes and Noble and lots of quaint restaurants) and Farmer’s Market, which looks like Singapore’s hawkers market but with more stalls. You can stroll through Hollywood Boulevard, and see the Kodak Theater where the Oscars are held. Hollywood, the "spiritual home" of the global movie industry, is in LA. Thirty minutes away from LA is Anaheim, which is home not only to Disneyland but also to Downtown Disney, Disney’s California Adventure and Knott’s Berry Farm. And to think Los Angeles began as a Spanish pueblo, much like the pueblos we visited in Mexico. To most Filipino travellers, LA is the gateway to America. It is also the gateway to many dreams.

(You may e-mail me at [email protected])