Steve Adams

Photo courtesy of TVNZ.co.nz

Steven Funaki Adams from Rotorua, New Zealand and playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder is 213 cm (7 ft) tall.  This 21-year-old Kiwi is slowly making his huge presence felt in the NBA. I've been watching Steve on YouTube, and I've noticed that he gets the brunt of elbows, knees, and all other physical contacts thrown his way.  He is a marked man on the court. Maybe it is his height or his being a Kiwi or a combination of both, that he gets tested to the extreme.  What I admire most about him is his coolness and composure under pressure.  I do hope he will be given the opportunity to play for the Tall Blacks at the World Basketball Championship in Barcelona, Spain, this coming August.

This is just my observation, from a small guy like me, who truly loves basketball---playing, watching and coaching.

First of May

Today is May 1.  How time flies!  We've used four months of 2014 already.  How is it so fast for you?  Everything alright?  You're still in the doldrums?  Or you're slowly getting there?  I'm a bit ambivalent about this but I would like to believe that I'm slowly getting there, not quite there yet but taking one step at a time.

This day is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures, specially in the Northern Hemisphere.  It also coincides with the celebration of International Workers Day.  I can recall back home in the Philippines, when this day was the official start of a month-long celebration of feasts in honour of patron saints.  This was also the month when young girls would come up to the alter of the church and also approach the pedestal of the Blessed Mother Mary, to lay flowers at her feet.  At the end of the month was the grand celebration of Flores de Mayo (the Flowers of May).

For me, I was a young lad then singing along to the song by the Bee Gees First of May (1969) made more memorable when it became one of the songs in the movie Melody Fair (1971).  That's how I always remember May 1 because it resonated with my "puppy love."  Ah, to be young and free, and hopelessly in love.  But that is another story.

Miss World New Zealand

Arielle Garciano, the former Miss Lyttelton has been crowned in Auckland as Miss World New Zealand 2014.  This 22-year-old from Lyttelton, former Cashmere High School student, and branch sales coordinator for Plumbing World is a proud daughter of an English mother and a Filipino father.

When she joined this pageant, her supporters came from all parts of New Zealand, specially the Filipino communities from the North and South Islands.  Every year the Filipinos in New Zealand celebrate during Labour Weekend the Miss Philippines New Zealand.  I'm very sure the organisers are now making a beeline to her handlers for her participation. The future looks very bright for this young lady.  I can proudly say she's my friend on Facebook way before she became a beauty pageant winner. Congratulations and all the best Arielle!

Time travel on Google Maps

I wish I was born earlier.  I'm fascinated by history.  It is a favourite subject of mine in school.  And when I found out about this Time Travel article, wow it felt so good.  Its just travelling back a few years (I would have liked it to be longer), but hey this is better than nothing.  At least it is a start of sorts.  I'm eagerly awaiting the moment when we can travel through time longer and safer.  Click and read the link.

ANZAC Day

Today is ANZAC Day.  It is the acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.  It commemorates all New Zealanders killed in war and also honours returned servicemen and women.   It was created early in the Great War of 1914-1918. They first saw action at Gallipoli, Turkey on 25 April 1915.  Thousands lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign: Turks, French, British, including 8,500 Australians and 2,721 New Zealanders.  It may have been a military defeat for our forces but for many Kiwis from then on it was the wake up call for us to feel as an equal among nations.  At present, the dawn ceremonies held at war memorials all over New Zealand or overseas has become a symbol, a rallying call for us, to continue the fight for justice and peace.

A few days ago, just before the end of Term One, I had the rare privilege of attending Cambridge High School's commemoration of ANZAC Day.  There was a slide presentation of the 35 Old Boys who did not return, the youngest at 16 and the oldest just over 40.  These were ordinary farm boys just like the rest all over New Zealand who were at the prime of their youth.  In total 100,000 volunteered (10% of New Zealand's 1-million population) to go to the Great War or also known as World War One. It was supposed to be the war to end all wars.  Of this number 58,000 were either killed or injured.

As the slide presentation went on, I could feel the awe and admiration coming from the students and staff of the sacrifices made by these young boys.  I also felt the collective Mana of these youth who laid down their future and some their lives, for us and for me to enjoy the freedom that New Zealand is now experiencing.

I was not able to attend the dawn ceremonies today but I will definitely make it in 2015 when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of ANZAC Day.  I thank these young boys who has made it possible for me to be in New Zealand, who has been instrumental for making New Zealand a truly great nation to live in, and who continue to serve as an inspiration for us all to give our best without counting the cost.

Q&A - Jacinda Ardern MP

Jacinda is your Labour List MP based in Auckland Central.  Young, dynamic, positive and may I say very pretty, although I haven't met her personally, Jacinda is what the future of New Zealand should be.  Her current parliamentary roles are:
Member, Law & Order Committee
Spokesperson for Arts, Culture & Heritage
Spokesperson Children
Spokesperson Corrections
Spokesperson Police.

Jacinda took time from her busy schedule to kindly answer my Q&A.  She is one of the shining lights in Parliament.  New Zealand's future is in safe hands with Jacinda in the House.

Q: What is your proudest achievement up to this moment?
A: I am proud to be a member of the Labour Party, but being elected to Parliament represent a movement with such a long proud history was a real honour.  I do still wish my Nana was alive to share the moment.  She was a staunch Labour lady!

Q: Name 3 people, dead or alive, you'll like to have dinner with, and why?
A: Earnest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer and one of my heroes!  His story of survival during the Endurance expedition is amazing and I would love to hear it in person.  Nelson Mandela.  I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago.  What an amazing man.  And finally, Wislawa Szymborska.  She is a Polish poet.  She lived through World War Two, and went  on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.  Her writing is amazing, but I would love to hear her stories in person!

Q: Are you a cat or dog person, and why?
A: I have always loved dogs but was never allowed one, so I grew up with cats and love them too.  Can I be both?  Right now, I would be a better cat owner than a dog owner.  I am never home!

Q: Where in NZ is the place you can call as your sanctuary, and why?
A: Morrinsville.  It's where I grew up and my mum and dad still have a home there.  It's a lovely quiet place to go and recharge, and see my mum!

Q: Something not many people know about you.
A: The first thing I ever learned to drive was a bright red Massey Ferguson tractor.  Which I crashed.

Q: If you could travel back in time, where and when would it be, and why?
A: Can I have two?  The 60s and 70s to witness Beatle mania, and the era of the first Labour government.  Savage is every Labour MPs hero, and I love the legacy that government left behind.

Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: To be a good MP, daughter and friend.

There you have have it ladies and gentlemen, our very own Jacinda Ardern MP "Standing up not only for Auckland Central but more for New Zealand."

Tamahere Country Market

It's a rainy morning, the 3rd Saturday of April, and the Tamahere Country Market is on from 8.30 am to 1.00pm.  The inclement weather didn't dampen the spirits of people who've flocked to sample the food and wares abounding.  I've heard of this place from many colleagues but just didn't have the chance to come and visit.  My daughter finally convinced me to come to this marketplace.

I've noticed lots of smiles and laughter from the people who didn't mind the rainy weather and biting cold.  Just a few minutes south of Hamilton, this place offers a bounty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, arts and crafts, all kinds of food, and even my favourite venison burger.  This is also a gourmet paradise with foods from Hungarian, Italian, Chinese, Spanish, Indian, Cornish, Dutch and the traditional Kiwi food fare.  Sampling the food was quite heavenly!

Tucked in a corner is a quaint bookshop selling hard to find books at bargain prices!  And right behind is the St. Stephen's cemetery.  EFTPOS is available but cash is better.  BYO bags is better to lessen your plastic footprint.  I've also noticed a lot of homemade food products.  It was a joy to discover that most of the arts and crafts on display and for sale were handmade with the proprietor-creators also present to talk about their arts and crafts.

As I walked to my car, I couldn't help but notice that this is not just a country market of food and wares, but also one of ideas!  I couldn't get enough of this experience.  I'm afraid I'll be coming to this place as often as I can.