mot juste

Videoke nation

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Topher

What’s a cultural tradition from your country that you love?

Previously, I mentioned pasalubong, fiestas, and churchgoing as Filipino traits that I admire. This time I’ll focus on another: videoke. In Mandarin, the latter is spelled as卡拉OK (pronounced Ka’la-okay). While not peculiar to Pinoys, it has been adopted as a gathering staple and a springboard for entertainment. In the Philippines, wooing a local chick means singing lots of 卡拉OK with her family. They have strong family ties. To win her over, you first have to court the family.

Off-key

I remember our ex-neighbour. Singing Pinoy songs, he was quite sintonado (off-key). One time, na-piok pa siya (he choked). No offence but his singing was so bad. I half-expected the nearby buildings to crumble. I heard him watching Pinoy DVDs, el cheapo disks from the Filo shop.

It’s like Buwan ng Wika (Language Month)…on steroids. The latter champions our heritage. Performing tableaus and original poetry. Crafting artwork. Remembering the People Power revolution. Buying regional products for history class. Wearing filipiniana attire. These typify the Pinoy condition. Videoke takes it a step further, being more intimate and vulnerable. It asserts individuality, affinity, and humour.

In Sydney

I don’t seek out karaoke, which isn’t as popular in Sydney. It’s pretty straightforward: you pick a familiar song. The lyrics come up on the screen. You sing along. At the end of the song, you get a score out of 100. You feel like a gymnast aiming for a perfect ten. Or an Australian Idol contestant waiting for a touchdown.

There’s a big song catalogue, from recent releases to older tunes. Knowing the song helps. Like a quiz where you’re prepared. With singing, Pinoys relish the challenge. Especially in front of friends and family, the fighting spirit gets amplified.

Karaoke: a history

In case you’re wondering, a Filo didn’t devise karaoke. In 1971, a Japanese quick thinker invented the first coin-operated model. However, a Pinoy patented the addition of the sing-along. Since then, it has become a deeply engrained Filo tradition.

Karaoke is paired with food and drink. The timing may differ: before, during, or after a meal. However, the camaraderie and warmth remains.

Consider the aficionados. Young and old. Pretty and plain. Students and burdens. Writers and biters. Sports fans and kitchen hands. Readers and breeders. Betters and sinners. Cooks and crooks. Techies and teddies. Pilots and zealots. Players and flayers. Dog walkers and pig breeders. Teachers and creatures.

Uniquity

While there are soundproof rooms, karaoke isn’t contained to bars, restos, and malls. They’re synonymous with Filipinos, at home and abroad. Adding to the Pinoy flavour are Filo songs or OPM (Original Pilipino Music). Belting out in English is one thing, but showcasing OPM songs is another. It affirms your love for country.

A word of caution: do not sing ‘My Way’ in the Philippines. There has been media attention of killings. The Sinatra song carries a certain arrogance and entitlement, which can be problematic if you’re with drinkers.

In Oz, this primetime programme featured the so-called karaoke king. He sang ‘Play Me’ by Neil Diamond. While he can sing, he was an unideal neighbour.

Sing-along

I tried karaoke with my cuz ages ago. She was doing her HSC. We sang through the night in their lounge room. I did a good job with Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’, norming 98 of 100. It was a soft song that was easy to emulate. The tune, sung in Madarin, was featured in Crazy Rich Asians.

I also sang ‘High’ by Lighthouse Family. Cuz was far better with her singing, as she had more practice. Her voice on the phone is pleasing. She’s a Leo with a strong personality.

Karaoke isn’t about a good time. You warm up to your friends, family, and even your partner’s family. Music gives us an avenue to express our feelings and connect with others. It shows our range and picks. Mastering many songs is impressive; getting high scores even more so.

New ambitions

This Airbnb ad highlighted a chick singing karaoke with new friends. 卡拉OK creates memories and competition. You want to land perfect scores while savouring company. You don’t need to sound like Bruno Mars. Give it your best shot, sing in tune with the lyrics, and have fun.

Karaoke reminds me of the jukebox. Both have survived decades of wizard technology and progress. CDs, DVDs, and the payphone might be disappearing acts. Videoke is no anachronism. Into the 21st century, karaoke has remained relevant whether in the Philippines or Oz. Based on what I’ve seen, it is here to stay.

Posted in culture and politics | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2861 | Leave a comment

Eater’s Pet

Posted on August 15, 2026 by Topher

Which is the best restaurant in your city?

Ben was a pogi (handsome) neighbour, according to mum

Four-eyed, tall, with healthy dark brown hair, resembled Harry Potter wham

His network, Ben’s WiFi, wasn’t generic like Vodafone pocket wifi

Others were more creative, see also: Haus of Otto, The Jedi Temple, or I Believe Wi can Fi

Sometimes, Ben took the same train home at Redfern

He was white and taciturn

His housemate strummed the guitar a wannabe heavyweight they split the rent

One Saturday, Ben pretended to ascend he did not relent

Two goes later, he headed up

Held a container yup

I related this to Dad overseas

‘May ataman yan’: he has a pet worm jeez

He often brings home takeaway

Exactly, Dad said, pogi’s pets can’t resist the gastronomy

Mum ate at this local Thai

Got tom yum friend rice very spicy needed iced chai

While waiting, Ben appeared and considered the Siamese faves

Mum recognised him he beamed didn’t order but waved

The owner was decent

Seeing mum’s plate undiminished she refunded her dinner wasn’t complacent

Ben left when I lived with auntie

Probably letting a new room though not in Bronte

Still buying takeaway? Has a family?

I can but wonder, one thing’s for sure: he’s gotta address that insatiable tummy.

Posted in Literary, Past edited work, Previous published work | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2854 | Leave a comment

‘The Spanish acquisition’

Posted on August 9, 2026 by Topher

What’s a thing you wish schools actually taught?

I had hoped to study Spanish in school. Decades ago, Spanish was a mandatory college class, since abolished. The country was under Spanish rule for 333 years. Many Filipino words are loaned from the motherland. The school system should’ve embraced our past.

Espanol 101

Spanish 101 must be mandatory for high school students. It will add a bit of spice to the teener’s life. Spanish is easy to learn given our background. Some olden Pinoy writers penned their books in Spanish. Jose Rizal and Claro M. Recto, to name a couple. English is my second language just as Spanish was Rizal’s. He wrote two novels in Castillan. I’ve published three books in three literary forms in English. Plus about 500 blog posts. He did pen hundreds of letters.

By the way

My latest book, a poetry collection, has some Spanish. Among the titles are ‘Mi Primer Adios’ (My first farewell). ‘The Metaphysician por favor’ (The Metaphysician please). ‘Macho Pobre’ (Poor Macho). Adios begins with ‘para los todos exiliados en ‘Dapitan’ (for all those exiled in ‘Dapitan’). ‘Todos Los Santos’ (All Saints’ Day).

Aside from Spanish, the collection also features Filo subheadings. ‘Makamasa’ (for the masses). ‘Siraniko’ (Broken Mechanic). ‘Ang Huling El Gringo’ (The Last El Gringo)

Lingua Franca

Spanish was the nineteenth century’s dominant tongue. Used in all of South America bar Brazil. In Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Central America from Mexico to Costa Rica. By the early 1800s these territories became independent. Cuba and the Philippines were the outliers. Speaking of Cuba, Rizal was all set to depart for the island until the Spanish rulers nixed the plan. He was exiled to Dapitan for three years.

Aside from the language, Pinoys have adopted other traditions like fiestas and siestas. The former celebrates feast days of Saints. Lechon (roast pork), stir fried noodles, spring rolls, fried chicken, fruit salads, pork chops, and other items are prepared for everyone to enjoy. Meanwhile, Filipinos have embraced siestas or afternoon naps. This is quite common, just like in the motherland.

Legacy

Two centuries later, the Spanish legacy lives on. The Incas speak it. So does Matt Damon, who married a Mexican. He showed off his Spanish in Bourne Ultimatum while evading baddies in Madrid. He also had Spanish lines in Elysium. Actress Ana de Armas is Hollywood’s in girl. Starring in the latest Bond film, she was born in Cuba. Singer Shakira is Colombian. Spanish is her first language. Another acclaimed singer, Gloria Estefan, is from Cuba. Floridians speak it, as do many Californians.

Speaking of music, the Cuban folk song, ‘Guantanamera’, is widely covered across the world. I first heard it in a Sydney RSL club. ‘Corazon Espinado’ likewise struck a chord with me.

In the literary world, Ernest Hemingway lived in Spain during the civil war. He made Cuba his home. His novel, For Whom the Bells Toll, was set in Spain. Colombian Gael Garcia Marquez was a Nobel Laureate. He was a standout at magical realism.

Filmmakers

Spanish language directors have had a renaissance. Alfonso Cuaron produced Gravity. I saw that many moons ago with a friend at the cinema. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney gave memorable performances. He also helmed Netflix’s Roma. This semi-autobiographical project was favoured to win Best Picture. It was the people’s pick. Guillermo del Toro won Oscars for The Shape of Water. Ajelandro Inarritu directed the gritty adaptation of The Revenant. He won Best Picture for Birdman. Among these films, only Roma has Spanish dialogue. They are all Mexicans.

I watched Pedro Almodovar in the past. Penelope Cruz was a recurring collaborator, as was Javier Bardem. My favourite was Hable con Ella (Talk to her). I also viewed Carne Tremula.

Accented

While commuting for uni, this Spanish-speaking chick told her friend in English that people have different Spanish accents. In her opinion, the Madrid intonation was best.

Filipinos have different accents. Visayans have a strong inflection that’s difficult to offload even with years in Manila. For instance, this ex-basketball high flier studied uni in Manila and has lived there for two decades. Regardless, he still retains traces of his Visayan patois though his Tagalog is very fluent.

Sporting world

In sports, Rafa Nadal is from Spain. He holds the record of 14 grand slam wins at Roland Garros, the most in any single slam. He honed his skills in the Mallorcan clay courts. Probably the toughest tennis player. He battled through persistent injuries and the grind. One of the best returners ever, alongside Andre Agassi and Novak Djokovic. He never gave away cheap points.

Madrid and Barcelona host ATP tour events. They’re part of the year’s clay court season. They also have two marquee La Liga clubs: Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Madrid has featured icons as David Beckham and Ronaldo. Meanwhile, Barcelona employed Maradona, Messi, Neimar, and Ronadinho.

More recently, Carlos Alcaraz has flied the Spanish flag on the tennis tour. He’s the youngest player to complete the career grand slam. Consistently world number one, he has beaten the best, including Djokovic. Like Nadal, a great competitor. Auto racer Fernando Alonso was F1 champion. He also hails from Spain. In the NBA, Pau Gasol is regarded as the finest Spanish export. He won two chips with the LA Lakers. Ricky Rubio was a top point guard before injuries derailed his promising career.

The islands need a Spanish revival. We should reimagine our identity and flaunt our rich and vibrant history. Why not begin at grassroots level?

Posted in cooking, Sport | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2848 | Leave a comment

Mad Skillz

Posted on August 1, 2026 by Topher

What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?

I can name a few, but we’ll focus on taking care of woollens. Firstly, you can’t just chuck wool garments in the washing machine. Being tricky fabrics, they won’t survive a gentle wash and the dryer. Whether lambswool, merino, wool-blend, or cashmere, hand washing is the way to go.

The method

A cursory online search would reveal the proper technique. I’ll save you the trouble. Fill a basin with lukewarm water. Add wool detergent or baby shampoo. Turn the jumper inside out and soak it for 10-15 minutes.

Remove the item and rinse it in the sink. Ball up the piece and press the woollen; don’t wring it. The sweat should be damp but not soaking wet. Reshape, gently tugging at the sides and hem. Ensure it doesn’t shrink. Wool is fickle. Washed improperly, it tends to warp. I’ve ruined a few sweaters in the past. If between sizes, sizing up is best. That way, you’ll still have a decent sweater even if it shrinks.

Roll it in a towel to remove excess water. This is called the burrito method. Repeat the process on the towel’s dry side. Upon finishing, hang the piece on a clothes airer. Never place it in the dryer, even on low heat. This would damage the fibres. Give it a few days and it’s ready for your next jaunt. You also can’t use fabric softeners.

Buyer’s remorse

Last year, I exchanged a black Levi’s sweater at David Jones from medium to small. I recall the care instruction saying ‘do not wash’. It was a wool/polyamide blend. I didn’t make an allowance for shrinkage. I should’ve stuck with the medium even if it were somewhat roomier. Disregarding the ominous label, I washed the jumper and it downsized.

Try this at home

If you haven’t got the time, leave it to the dry cleaners. This was my go-to. However, with initiative and resourcefulness, you’ll save dollars by doing your wool laundry at home.

Washing is half the story. Many fashionistas hang woollens on their robes. Wool sweaters must never be stored on hangers. This causes them to stretch and lose shape. Folding is the proper method.

The collection

I have four wool sweaters. One red lambswool Tommy. Size medium and with long sleeves, I use it as a pullover. It has subtle Tommy branding and is made with Italian yarn.The chunkiest of my winter sweaters, I always layer it over a deep green YD mock neck.

One dark green wool/poly Ben Sherman from The Iconic. Offering the least wool content of my winter tops, though 49% polyester makes it dry quicker. A Reserve blue merino polo from Myer. More of a smart casual option with the collar. A Uniqlo striped charcoal merino crew neck. Aside from these, I have a pure cashmere sweat and an 85/15 cotton-cashmere jumper from H&M.

I used five of those sweats this year. The pure cash was the outlier. These delicates don’t need regular washing unlike cotton and synthetics. Wool is odour-resistant. Rainy conditions are their weakness, absorbing water more than polyester and nylon. Not water-resistant, a rain jacket is better in adverse conditions.

Thermal Boy

Merino is great at temperature regulation. It adapts to the conditions. When it’s warm, you’ll feel cool. When it’s chilly, merino will warm you up. Merino fibres are shorter than lambswool. Most of it comes from Oz and NZ. In contrast, lambswool hair is coarser.

Merino has different grades. Fine and extra fine are top of the class. Unlike lambswool sweats, merino jumpers are noticeably thinner and lightweight. Lambswool is better as a mid or top layer. Merino v-necks are perfect layered over a shirt. They’re like a featherweight boxer who punches above his weight. In wool parlance, heft and grams are not a definitive determinant of heat.

While I only have two merino casual sweaters, I’ve got heaps of merino thermals. I bought them in pairs. Two black thermal tops and matching long johns from DJ. Two more black sets from Aldi. A grey LS top from Baselayers. I have 2 wool blend tops from the latter and a blue cotton poly set from Kmart. I’m battle ready for the cold months. You can machine wash the thermals but be prepared for some shrinkage.

Sensitive

Aside from merino, cashmere is a wondrous insulator. A premium fabric, it’s famously pricier than wool garments. It provides much more warmth while being much lighter than lambswool. Keeps you cool in humid weather, too. My pure cashmere is in dark brown. I noticed that my jumper’s shoulder width is rather short. Hence, it won’t work as a pullover.

It must be layered under zip hoods. Regardless, cashmere drapes well and gives you a fuller appearance. Being breathable, cashmere – like merino – is an all-rounder. You can use it in blustery winter weather. Likewise in summer Blue Mountain treks.

A very sensitive fabric, tread carefully. Due to its price point, most people would regard cashmere as an investment. It feels luxurious and very soft ‘like Charmin’. Years ago, Uniqlo would clear their stock for $79. Good luck finding your size.

This blog may not be a fashion site. However, I’ll gladly share my knowledge. Muchas gracias for taking part in Wool Care 101.

Posted in fashion, reviews | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2840 | Leave a comment

Reming

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Topher

What’s the funniest misunderstanding you’ve ever been part of?

The following is from my first book. It’s based on a true story.

Once she bought a 10kg bag of white rice from Woolies. Having seen a cheaper match at the Coles catalogue a few days later, she would return said item. Her friend had also given her movie passes, so we decided to watch Fracture as well. I snacked at her place before we saw the movie, but I was seriously famished after the session.

‘Do you want to have dinner?’

‘Yes, I’m starving,’ I told her.

‘We’ll be having supper soon anyway. I’ll just refund the rice and we’ll go home.’

As we left the carpark, she realised that she was over the four-hour free parking limit. She must pay the excess usage fee to the attendant at the gate. While driving the car towards our suburb, she couldn’t let it go.

‘Anak ng pating (crap),’ she said. ‘The savings from the rice just went to the parking fees. Oh gosh.’

I turned towards the window, unable to stifle my giggling. Here was a woman who would enter and exit the carpark, intent on avoiding charges.

Once at home, she commanded me, ‘Eat slowly’.

If it weren’t for your penny-pinching, then I wouldn’t be eating like this, would I?

Adding to the comedy: she talked with a baker for fifteen minutes. Those on the queue gave up, saying ‘She’ll take all day.’

Had she not wasted those minutes, she wouldn’t get slugged with the parking fee. She liked to ask me, ‘Whatcha gonna do?’

She also told me to remove my DVD as it was acting up.

‘That is-tee-you-peed (read: stupid) asshole!’

‘Get that off my player before it ruins it.’

I decided against joining her at the supermarket another time, opting to stay in her cute car. That was when she got into an argument with the checkout chick. She was next in line when the lass ignored her and entertained someone else.

‘HEY, I’m next!’ said pint-sized aunt Jess. ‘I came before the couple you’re serving now.’

Avoiding a scene, the pair stood aside and allowed her items to be scanned first.

‘You’re a racist,’ she told the chick. When she came back to her Beatle-like wheels, passengers from other cars gawked at her. I only shook my head as she retold the vignette. The other white customers must be thinking, ‘This Thai-looking senior is small but terrible.’

Posted in Books, Past edited work, Previous published work | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2830 | 1 Comment

The task: Topher Wins

Posted on July 13, 2026 by Topher

Which book have you read more than any other?

I’ve read my 300 page memoir/self-help, cover to cover, a dozen times. I saw it evolve from 151 pages to 224 and finally 300 pages. I did most of the proofing, with a little help from Laura, my editor. I picked up proof copies from the print shop, fine-tuning. I felt confident upon the book’s release. Creating and finishing the project was epic. My most substantial book, Topher Wins is also my only nonfiction work.

A dozen

Divided into twelve chapters, Topher covers my early childhood in Oz, my years growing up overseas, and later studies in Sydney. I unpack my IELTS results and dissect each Test component. My memoir has humour, nostalgia, and references. You will encounter Bret Ellis, Veronica Roth, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jose Rizal. I compare the length of Topher with other notable books.

Each chapter begins with a quote. There are laughter and jeers. Basketball and books. Movies and lectures. Tutorials and mentors. The release likewise includes three appendices. Two of my finest poems, first published on this website. A post about this anime show, which my whole high school followed. Desiderata by Max Ehrmann. For a change, the acknowledgements was at the front.

Laura described my Author’s Note as ‘word-perfect. Topher Wins is an invaluable resource for students and IELTS examinees, a ray of hope for those doing it tough.’

Above the norm

Publishing multiple books, let alone a 300-page manuscript, is no mean feat. Many people dream of writing books, but few finish them. So far, I’ve released a 64-page story collection, 300-page memoir, 112-page poetry collection, and 482 blog posts. That’s a prolific resume spanning a decade.

For Musings, my poetry collection, I made five drafts. Each one was revamped with mostly new poems. Being much shorter than Topher, it was easier to edit and proof. Both of them have plus covers. My memoir has the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Musings has three animals with autumn leaves and the sun.

Rare Air

My high school class has produced many physicians, lawyers, educators, accountants, registered nurses, and other professionals. No one else has published three books and counting, let alone one.

A family doctor has told us that he couldn’t score 7.0 in the IELTS. A manager from a government agency also told my mum that she can’t attain an 8.5 overall band score.

Most peeps balk at proofing. You must spot inconsistency, awkward phrasing, word choice, spacing, proper font, punctuation, spelling, fact checking, readability, and usability. Each sentence is important, every vignette matters. Clarity is crucial. You don’t want readers guessing. I likewise utilise my unique voice, which isn’t as accessible as Mitch Albom.

As my maths teacher wrote, ‘There are no shortcuts to success.’

‘Trust the process’

It took me four years to actualise this project. Four years, on and off, of writing, reminiscing, editing, and proofing. I got the ISBN, printing many copies. Altogether, I wrote 77,000 words. A trade paperback, it has coloured matte covers and the interior pages are printed on thick 90gsm paper. I sent copies to my dad overseas and others as well. They have my life story and memories of our high school journey together.

‘Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight and his punishment is he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.’ – Walt Whittman

P.S.You could purchase my memoir/self-help ebook via this link. It’s discounted by almost sixty percent.

Topher Wins: How I notched up an 8.5 Overall Band Score in the IELTS Academic

Posted in Books, Past edited work, Previous published work, reviews | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2821 | Leave a comment

The Poltergeist

Posted on July 3, 2026 by Topher

What do you do to improve your sleep?

Recently, I’ve been battling insomnia. Here’s a snapshot of my experience.

Note: This poem was published as part of my poetry collection last year. For this piece, alternate rhyming is utilised.

Awake in the dark hours, unable to shut down

The vicious minutes go by his mind an F1 driver

Looks at his Mac, a wayward pawn

Hot and cold for ages, he requires a breather

At first the morning coffee made him jittery

Slept three hours and no more

Changed countries but the theme had consistency

Tossing and turning, he’d trade his long day for a snore

Many evenings passed before relief

He’d wake up early and walk in the park

Met furry critters he admired their cheery owners’ self-belief

Others had the same idea, jogging on their mark

In time’ he’d know the regulars, the bona fide from fake

Couples were outliers, often twas the pet and owner

Brits and Aussies, old and young, thin and overweight

Dogs did tricks with the odd Labrador retriever

The world wound down as his insomnia carried on

No cure but healthy sleep hygiene

Lasted a week or two the battle was not won

A regular bedtime, milk, a warm shower, avoiding naps, alcohol, and caffeine

Slumber is a necessity that became a luxury

We get bombarded with sleeping aids

From white noise to warm milk, whale sounds to worry dolls, melatonin to astrology

If you’re facing a loaded mind, what’s the difference? Your restless noggin won’t surrender to fits of rage

He saw a retro film, The Machinist

Starred Christian Bale and Jennifer Jason Leigh

Bale is a skeleton, fifty pounds under his usual weight though no catastrophist

Works in a car factory and dates Leigh

She jokes that ‘Nobody ever died from not sleeping’

The movie was well-received imagine if it wasn’t

Bale shed his kilos for nothing might’ve quit acting

Months later, he bulked up for Batman couldn’t look like a peasant

A muted voice, an irrepressible night owl

His thoughts wander, as do his steps

Sees them from afar, drunk women, a battered car, even, he swears, a coyote howl

Try as he might, his brains could not settle, not after many exercise reps

Dwells on the past, as the present he cannot decipher

He glimpses the future, when he’s writing manuscripts, a dream roaming free

Tomorrow is an irascible vulture

Counts his eggs before they hatch though it’s silly

There is no escape; ‘When it rains it pours’

Tip your hat and hope it’s better

The insomnia resolves on its own goodbye, insufficient hours

When the swell has ran its course his conking out is back together

This stingy shuteye hovers, a bleak shadow

Doesn’t really go away

Is it the change in seasons? Stress? Lack of exercise? No beef bone marrow?

Who are we to judge? With his next release, he’s never astray.

Posted in Books, pets, Previous published work | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2811 | Leave a comment

The city and its uncertain walls (2023) reviewed

Posted on June 25, 2026 by Topher

If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?

I’ve finished reading this Murakami novel, the year’s first physical book. I’ve crested only one other read, Robert Parish’s bio. My last hard copy was John Grisham’s latest in December. I’ve offloaded my iPad A16, hence the lack of reading. I used the tablet to write, edit, and proof my poetry collection’s fifth draft. It’s served its purpose. Three Apple devices were overkill. Regardless, eBooks are better devoured on iPads than on my m4 mba.

Here are my fave quotes from Uncertain:

‘The essay contest was held every fall… The theme that year was ‘My Friend’. We had to write five pages by hand, and sadly I didn’t have a single friend I could write that much about, so I wrote about our family cat…how our old female cat and I got along, our life together, how we expressed our feelings to each other….My cat was clever…and I had a lot of things to say…there must have been a few cat lovers among the judges. People who love cats naturally love other cat lovers.’

***

“By the way, have you ever worried about your shadow?”

“My shadow? You’re talking about the dark shadow I cast?” On the other end of the phone Oki thought this over for a while. “No, I can’t say I ever have.”

“I can’t help worrying about mine. Especially these days. I feel a sort of sense of responsibility, as a person, toward my shadow. Like whether I’ve been treating him right, or fairly.”

‘Oki felt silent again, and the said, “I understand…Well, honestly, I’m not sure I totally get it, but I’ll think a bit more about my shadow. About what’s right, and fair.”

***

‘As I listened to the music, I thought about being forgotten for two hundred years. Two hundred years was a long time. Two hundred years in which he was ‘completely ignored, a forgotten figure from the past.’ No one knows, of course, what will happen in two hundred years. Or even in two days, for that matter.’

***

“To go back to the town surrounded by a wall,’ the younger brother interjected. ‘What aspect of your town do you think he was most drawn to?”

‘I was stuck for a reply. How should I respond to that?’

“I’m afraid I don’t know, since he never told me. He was just caught up in drawing a map…He was drawn to a town where the social skills you mentioned weren’t necessary. All he needs to do in that town is to go the library and read some special books. Basically, the same process he’s been doing in this town, in this library. Nothing else is required. And in that town reading these books is extremely significant.”

“What do you mean by special books?’ the older brother, the lawyer, asked. An obvious question to ask. ‘Why is reading those so important for the town?”

I sighed. For some reason the image of the skinny female cat slowly cutting across the library garden came to mind. And the picture of Yellow Submarine Boy gazing, never tiring of it, at the cat and her five kittens. It all felt, though, like something from the far-off past.’

***

‘There’s a description in the book that goes like this. The village chief spoke to the assembled villagers and said, “Anyone can climb up coconut trees using their legs, but no one’s ever climbed up higher than a coconut tree.” It’s a very specific, easy to grasp expression. An allegory anyone can understand. And full of many implications.’

***

Near the end, I skipped pages of unnecessary description. A very focused effort by Murakami, I’m surprised it sits below 80% on Goodreads. He takes us to a special place and dissects teenage heartbreak. The protagonist carries this angst into his forties. His future relationships cannot steady the unrest of his past. He sees his adolescent girlfriend, forever preserved at sixteen in a parallel universe.

Style guide

The book has many of the author’s hallmarks. Having read a lot of his work, I’m accustomed to them. From Kafka on the Shore to three books of 1Q84. From Sputnik Sweetheart to Elephant Vanishes and Norwegian Wood. References to Beatles songs: Yellow submarine boy. Magical realism in the shadows, dream town, unicorns, and a librarian’s ghost. Furthermore, the separation of shadow and body aligns with his narratives. The jazz element as Murakami owned a jazz shop. The use of felines (one character was allergic to dogs). The subconscious narrative, as pages were allotted to dreams. The cooking routine as his protagonists are often independent males who know their way around the kitchen and housework. Likewise, the telephone element, adding a bit of spice to the plot.

Having feasted on his prose, I look forward to more of his oeuvre. Walls is divided into three books. The first one alternates between past and present. The protagonist is in love with a private school lass. They send long letters and meet in the park. Talking about this dream town, she feels like her body is a shadow. Her real self resides in that other place. He never sees her again.

My ending

Murakami introduces a young love interest, a fellow outlier and coffee shop owner. There, our protagonist buys blueberry muffins and gets his cuppa. While this storyline was explored, it felt truncated. The ending shouldn’t have been darkness but a definitive reunion with this high-value partner. He returns to the real world, reunites with his shadow, and the couple live happily ever after.

He works in Tokyo’s publishing industry for decades before quitting his job. Settles on a library by the mountains. The winter is snowy, shops are scant, and the townsfolk keep to themselves. Outsiders are rare.

He also meets this ghost of Koyasu, the former head librarian who passed away a year ago. Their conversations are productive. You wouldn’t infer that he was talking to a phantasm. Koyasu even unveils this subterranean room in the repository’s bowels. While they share long chats, the ghost’s final disappearance was abrupt. Despite their interaction, it seemed like he ghosted him in the end (pun intended). The book has a few vanishing acts: the teenage damsel, the former head librarian, and Yellow submarine boy.

Verdict

In the afterword, Murakami admits that he wrote the title forty years ago, in 1980. At the time, he was an unknown author working on his first novel. Sheep became his debut but it wasn’t until Norwegian Wood that he became a world beater. Initially, Uncertain was a 150-page novella. Expanded in 2020, as the world coped with the coronavirus. While editing, he rarely ventured out. Forty years later made a world of difference. He was quite pleased with the end result. So was I.

Rating: 4.5/5

Posted in Books, reviews | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2803 | Leave a comment

Rizal in miniature

Posted on June 22, 2026 by Topher

Who are you most inspired by?

I’ve been under the weather, so I did some web-based research on Jose Rizal, the ‘first Filipino’. Though we studied him, I had assumed that he was mere pen pals with Leonor Rivera. She has been described as his ‘lover by correspondence.’

Turns out they had an intense, real world relationship and were secretly engaged. I admire Rizal’s immense intellect (he was a noted polymath, novelist, and linguist). However, I find his amour problematic on two counts. Rivera, his cousin, made the relationship incestuous. Secondly, she was merely thirteen when they met (he was a 19yo medical student).

Resembling a modern day textlationship, they wrote letters for 8 years and never saw each other in the flesh again. Rivera, sickly, often had insomnia, secretly longing for Rizal. Meanwhile, Jose studied medicine in Europe, always thinking of Rivera. Her mother was aware that Rizal was Spain’s mortal enemy. To protect her daughter, she kept Rizal’s letters away from her. Leonor moved on, wedding a Pom and had two kids, before dying in childbirth. Leonor’s marriage devastated Rizal. Still, he immortalised her as Maria Clara in his debut novel, Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not).

Portrait of José Rizal with the title 'Rizal in Europe, 1882-1885' and a world map in the background, featuring various locations marked.

A close-up of a young woman with long, dark hair and a white traditional dress, smiling at a young man. The background features a soft, blurred interior setting.

I’ll mostly quote the rest of this post from chapter eleven of my 300-page memoir, Topher Wins (2022).

Ballpen

‘As an adolescent, I fell in love with Jose Rizal’s virtuosity. We studied his two immortal novels in class, satires and commentaries that displayed how “The pen is mightier than the sword”.

Rizal proved the potency of words, that you could make a difference without lifting a weapon. He looked tyranny in the eye and put an empire on its knees. A hundred years since his passing, his two texts remain as pertinent as ever.

Boys and men

He wrote this all in his second language, Spanish. Given, it was the lingua franca of his time, but this exhibits his genius. Not many people, even his fellow intellectuals at the time, had the dedication to pull this off. Indeed, Rizal contended with associates who cared more about women and vices than saving the motherland. In the Philippines, Rizal’s initial idea of collaborating with his scholarly peers is common knowledge. Like many things in life, he did so alone.’

Let me pause this for a moment. Rizal’s brilliance directly prompted my poetry collection. I singled him out, together with Jose Garcia Villa as my school heroes. They planted my early artistic seeds. In a separate post, I depicted Villa already. He was known as ‘the pope of Greenwich Village.’

A historical black and white photograph featuring a group of men dressed in formal attire, including suits and top hats, gathered together for a portrait. — Rizal with his fellow intellectuals

The road to publication

‘In all his glory, the hurdles that Rizal faced is easy to forget. He started writing the Noli in 1882 while studying in Europe. In 1887, aged twenty-five, his debut was published. The road to fruition was far from simple. As a young expat in Madrid, financial constraints tied up Rizal. He got so disillusioned that he hurled precious pages of his debut novel into the fire. He had thought that his first book would never see the light of day. However, as his dream began to fade, he was given a lifeline. His friend, Maximo Viola, was a generous donor. The latter loaned him 300 pesos, which equated to 2,000 copies. The first edition was published in Berlin in early 1887.

The text became a thorn in the Spanish side, resulting in their burning. Rizal became the public enemy. I wonder how it feels to produce a book so powerful that people will ignite them.

Illustration featuring the title 'Martyrdom at Bagumbayan, Chapter 25' with a background of historical documents and figures, emphasizing themes of nationalism and sacrifice.

‘The good die young’

Rizal lived a full life. He was killed by firing squad at Bagumbayan aged thirty-five. By then, he had already published two novels, crafted four plays, two nonfiction reads, loads of articles, and heaps of poetry. My works will not be required texts for Filipino students, but I haven’t done bad either. If it was only a matter of quantity, I’ve finished this nonfiction read, published one anthology, one poetry collection and maintain a blog with over four hundred posts. My current project is a return to fiction.

…Being born in Laguna, he seems just like anyone among us, and yet was so much more. Rizal has become a mythical figure on a pedestal. All of us have heard about him but no one has met him. The martial artist, Bruce Lee, carries a similar mystique: he died too soon. Already an accomplished actor, he pioneered eastern success in Hollywood. Bo Jackson, the former football and baseball all-star, would be his modern-day equivalent. We are left with stories, eye-popping accounts of a great Filipino, if not the greatest. In time, further generations would ennoble him.

A sports-themed image featuring a player wearing a football helmet with intense facial expressions. The text 'TECMO BOWL' is displayed prominently at the top, with 'Bo Jackson BATTLE ARENA TECMO BOWL EDITION' at the bottom. — Bo Jackson

Genius

Watching Jose Rizal with the whole Chinese school at the cinemas was a high point. In grade four, I vividly recall the actor Cesar Montano as Rizal in his tour de force. Elias was brought to life as a hardened defeatist. The firing squad at Bagumbayan may lack suspense, but not the mercy shot.

‘They did that to clinch his death,’ was Jimmy’s response to my question. A senior at the time, he was a presidential candidate at the student organisation. My achi later told me that he moved his teachers to tears by giving his valedictory speech in flawless Chinese. He won the most medals during the ceremony.

The Rizal movie opened my eyes about our national hero’s life. I’ve heard bits about him, but seeing his story played out on the big screen blew me away. The production topped the box office and swept the awards. Montano won most Best actor statuettes. The picture provided great detail from his childhood, when he idolised the martyr Filo priests, to his world beater days as an ophthalmologist…his surreal exile in Dapitan moved me. He had a stillborn baby with his partner, Josephine Bracken.

Yet even though the movie is three hours, this still seems insufficient in plotting out Rizal’s genius. No runtime would ever suffice when profiling Rizal’s greatness.

A black and white photograph of J.D. Salinger, a male author with dark hair, alongside the cover of his famous novel 'The Catcher in the Rye', which features a red and white design with a horse. — **J.D. Salinger**

A young man in a red cap and scarf stands against a wall, holding a cup while gazing thoughtfully into the distance. The scene captures a chilly, urban environment with outlines of buildings and flying birds in the background. — **J.D. Salinger**

We live in fiction

Both Rizal and I have written in literary fiction, timeless works of art that resonate with all walks of life. Filipinos and expats who wrote in the language of their time. Both studied overseas, although he plied his trade in the medical profession. Like him, I nurtured my flair for writing in my formative years. Much more than a writer, he was a master of tongues who succeeded in everything he touched…except Leonor Rivera.

In this regard, gauging my progress against Salinger makes more sense. The famous recluse retreated from public life for fifty years, never publishing anything new. He would surface to block others from capitalising on his fame. He was the inspiration behind William Forrester. His body of work includes one immortal novel and three collections. This, I think, is closer to what I’ve amassed thus far. His trio of compilations were all released fifty to sixty years ago but are much critiqued and loved. Catcher is de riguer reading among some American high schools. Remember that scene in Forrester? Jamal loses a bet against William, seeing that all of the latter’s books were checked out. People do read older books.’

See? Rizal might be long asleep but his legacy lives on in present-day authors like me. Even though I’m in Sydney, his lessons reverberate. We can learn from his star-crossed love affair with Leonor. To paraphrase a fictional English professor, ‘A polymath who offered everything and an astute disciple who yearns to offer more…’

Posted in Books, culture and politics, Past edited work, Previous published work | Tagged dailyprompt, dailyprompt-2800 | Leave a comment

Money and Happiness

Posted on June 19, 2026 by Topher

What’s a common misconception people have about happiness?

Equating dineros with happiness is a widespread notion but that doesn’t make it true. I say it’s simplistic. Money is a medium, a means to an end. We use it for groceries and branded items, on expensive toys, to pay for tuition and travel, dining out and utilities. While giving clout and capital, worshipping dollars is unwise. We are passing through and shouldn’t hoard funds. Robust health, peace of mind, and utilising time thoughtfully are far more important and fulfilling. All the world’s money can’t buy genuine happiness or contentment.

A serene beach scene at sunset with calm ocean waves, featuring the text of Proverbs 10:2 emphasized above.

Promotional artwork for the video game 'Narcos: Rise of the Cartels', featuring key characters from the series in a dramatic collage.

Heaven’s tax

People who adore wealth dumbfound me. Your billions won’t get you closer to heaven. I believe in the afterlife and golden rule. Evildoers will be held accountable, before as tomorrow. There is no hiding in the future and they will cower in fear.

The Bible says wise things about ill-gotten wealth.

‘Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him. He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.”

Take for instance Pablo Escobar. He ruined countless life for his billions. When he perished, did he bring his fortune to the next world?

Another two quotes, this time both from Proverbs: ‘Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.’

‘Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.’

Three people sitting on a couch in a modern living room, looking serious and engaged in conversation. Two adults, a woman in a sweater and a man in a leather jacket, are seated next to a teenage boy wearing a hoodie. — Nemesis

The Truth

In Rush Hour 2, the villain avers that ‘Greed will imprison us all’.

Being a thief himself, he is sent to kingdom come after uttering those words.

Sound advice. Another useful remark from Jesus: ‘And you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free’.

mot juste

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