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As a music columnist, I’m surrounded by music at
all times: while dressing up in the morning, in the car going to
work, at work, and at after-office gigs and events, where music is a
constant presence. Even when I choose to take a break from it, music
still finds a way to reach me, often courtesy of the neighborhood
videoke regulars. This weekend though, I had an escape of sorts. I
was invited to a session on “the art of doing nothing” at
Sonya’s Garden and Bed and Breakfast in Tagaytay. I had my CDs to
keep me company on the drive up, but when I got there, I had to let
go.
I had no idea what to expect at a
workshop about doing nothing, but then again, how hard could it be,
right? As it turned out, it was quite an experience. Sonya Garcia,
who lives in the middle of her garden sanctuary, explained that the
concept of “doing nothing” involved extricating yourself from
the madness of the daily grind and the quagmire of routine and
immersing yourself in things that might be familiar or exciting and
new. It’s an invitation to slow down and to stop, and smell the
roses, and hey, there literally is no place better you can do that
than in her magical garden.
Admittedly, it was a bit
off-putting for me to be suddenly doing stuff like yoga, ikebana or
flower arrangement, sandwich making and hair conditioning using
ingredients you find in the kitchen, but I guess that was the point
of the exercise—to indulge in things you don’t normally do as a
form of rest and relaxation, far away from the hell of real life
back in the city. There was, of course, an exquisite massage
courtesy of Sonya’s Spa, and if doing nothing really is an art,
then that was quite a grand masterpiece. For someone whose only
involvement in the activity was lying face down on the bed, I
thought I did a pretty good job.
In between all those activities,
there was also a writing workshop facilitated by columnist and
former advertising exec Barbara “Tweetums” Gonzalez. It was a
pleasure learning new tricks of the trade, especially for those who
are still hesitant to call themselves writers, despite doing it for
a living (read: me).
That weekend, the only sounds I
heard apart from the idle chatter of fellow “nuthin’ doers”
didn’t come from a stage or a studio, but from Mother Nature
herself—the mooing of the cows, the buzzing of the insects and the
song of the cicadas. They may have been unfamiliar, even strange,
but for someone constantly assaulted by auditory experiences both
revolting and pleasant, they certainly were music to my ears.
(The group behind this unique
experience, Colors Travel Guide, is planning on organizing
successive sessions and workshops bent on promoting tourism in the
Philippines. Check out their website for more information www.colorstravelguide.com)
Shinji Ilabas Mo Na Ang
Helicopter is Pedicab’s much-anticipated sophomore album after
2005s Tugish Takish. First single “Ang Pusa Mo” is already a big
hit, and if you haven’t heard it yet, poor you. Get a copy now.
E-mail the author pjcana@gmail.com
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