ME ME ME or All About Me.

I am (mildly) claustrophobic. My fear of enclosures, rooms with no windows, or caves and undergrounds. A long drive under a tunnel/ed road also quietly freaks me out as well. However, when around people, I am good at “hiding” my abnormal fear. The reason why I fantasize living in a ranch or in an apartment with high ceilings, or the size of a basketball court. Wide, open space. Anyhow, I don’t recall any childhood backstory for my claustrophobia. 😧😮😲

I was initiated to Ananda Marga in the early 1990s via the invitation of my close friends Arnel (Ajiir) and Duwi (Subrata). My Sanskrit name is Devabrata, and my dada/guru is Dada Satyananda. Ananda Marga is a global socio-spiritual organization founded in India in 1955 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, which provides a spiritual philosophy and practices, including meditation and yoga, for achieving self-realization and promoting universal welfare. 🧘☮️🧘‍♂️

I enjoy conversations about politics, literature, sports, music, culture etcetera. I grew up listening to discussions in the barbershop, park gatherings, and after-farm bonfires. Or conversations of adult relatives in the house when I was a little boy. In school, in vacant hours before the next class. I was part of political think-tanks in my mid-20s; listened to thoughts and insights from those who were much older than me. Listening is an integral part of conversation. 🗣👥📲

I am kind of iffy with hugging or my skin touching another person’s skin, unless of course she’s a romantic partner. I feel awkward when hugged by friends, especially those who hug really tight and long. And during long bus rides, I wear a long-sleeved shirt or jacket so my (bare) shoulder doesn’t touch my seatmate’s. I don’t know how this “weirdness” developed or evolved in me. I’ve always been like this since I was a little boy. Of course, my mom held me as a child. ✋🫂🖐

I don’t ride ferris wheels, rollercoasters, or engage in any x-treme sport. Or activities characterized by high speeds, height, natural challenges, and a high dosage of physical risk. Also known as "action sports" or "alternative sports," they often operate outside traditional mainstream sports. But it doesn’t mean I lack courage or something. As a journalist, I’d rather cover a war or coup d’etat (which I did) and pursue fugitives and guerrillas for an interview (which I did). 🥹✍🥹

Extreme phobia of snakes. “Extreme phobia.” I’d like to reiterate that. No other wild animals terrify me other than a snake, all sorts of snakes. Non-poisonous, poisonous–I don’t care. I haven’t actually touched one although I encountered quite a few in the backyard when I do my usual spring/summer gardening. But most of these snakes are the black rat-hunting snakes that they say are “harmless.” I can probably hang with lions, crocodiles, or dragons. But no snake! 🐍😱🐍

I am non-social, not anti-social. My life’s contradiction. I formed and led organizations, organized community events, and worked for NGOs most of my life, but I am not into socializing. I mean, parties and similar “meet strangers” gatherings. I was born into a culture that converges as a reflex and raised by a family with obligatory weekend barbecues so I am exposed to a lot of people around me. But still, I prefer aloneness and peace and quiet. 🏕😌🏝

Hankies. Or bandannas. Always been a personal clothing accessory. I was “worse” when I was in the Philippines, when I used to "ornament" my body with colorful bandannas or “tubaw,” a traditionally handwoven headscarf–though I don’t mostly wear them in my head. And since there’s a lot of dust and pollution in Manila, I carried hankies on a daily basis. Then it is a habit. Now hankies are a regular thing in my pocket, 24/7. So I have a collection, all colors. 🧣😎🧣

Socks all day, everyday, almost 24/7. Not when I was still in the Philippines when 6 months of “dry” season meant 100+ degrees temp, but the moment I landed in America, my feet automatically were “clothed” in socks. And that’s it. My feet have never gotten naked since then. Winter, spring, summer, or fall. Only moment that I am without socks is when I am in the shower. I don’t know why, really. I feel so exposed when my tiny feet are bare and all. Just the way I am. 🧦🧦🧦

No spicy foods. I used to love spicy foods, especially “kinilaw” or the Filipino ceviche. Another favorite was the Bicol Express and “sinilihan,” which feature flaming chilis on coconut milk. Of course, with white rice! Spicy foods are a family dinner staple. My dad used to cook a lot of those. No entree (“ulam”) is without a tiny saucer for soy, vinegar, and “siling labuyo” or hot chili pepper. But as I get older and older, my stomach starts to resist those peppery dishes. 🌶🥹🌶