Ztirfmanic

A Little Summer Break

2009-06-14T15:50:00.000+08:00

its been a while since my last post. been a busy month for me this past month, a lot of activities that keeps me away from the pc for a long time.

its the month of june and back to school again (for students and teachers). actually for me, its back to everything. being bantay sa shop, back to hatid sundo sa school and back from vacation. yes, kahit na hampas lupa itong inyong lingkod, i can still afford pa naman to have a decent vacation together with the whole family.

i am happy to say that this is the vacation that the whole family really enjoyed (pwera lang siguro ako, lalo na pag na iimagine ko ang damage it will do to my pocket!). this time we really planned several months earlier.

we left Antique May 22 for Manila. Our itinerary will be May 25-29 Manila and May 29-June 2 Cebu. The company includes me, my wife, the two kids FP and ZY, Joy-joy ( our all-around assistant/scholar and Pebbles, my wife's 7-year old niece who is on a reward-vacation (she was allowed to go with us as a reward for passing the entrance exam of Antique SPED Center's Grade 1-FL (Fast Learner). It also happened that our FP nearly topped (no. 2) in the Qualifying Exam of the same school in Preparatory-FL. So its another reason for us to pursue the planned vacation plus we have to fulfill our panaad (a thanksgiving celebration and a fulfillment of a promise and vow)to Sto. Niño de Cebu for the safe and normal delivery of our second son ZY.

we booked our ticket via PAL a month before so walang hassle sa transpo namin back and forth. i know some of you nakataas na ang kilay thinking that booking 2 rountrip tickets for 5 pax on a peak season means loads of money. Mayaman si Fafa! hehehe! actually we are using the reward points we earned from mabuhay miles and the points from Mama Nene and Toto Eric(wife's aunt and cousin in U.S.). We have to pay for the taxes though, ( which is almost the same as the ticket price on regular season! wadapak!). Akala namin napamura na but, parang ganun pa rin pala! hehehe! (yan kasi, hindi muna nagtanong tanong kung may tubig bago tumalon sa balon! hehehe)

Though nabutas nang husto ang bulsa, i think its worth naman since doon ko lang nakitang Dondon really enjoyed his vacation (everytime kasi na magbabakasyon kami ay laging nagkakasakit kaya hindi gaanong makapag enjoy sa mga gala) lalong lalo na sa Manila Ocean Park and Snow Town in Star City plus other places we visited including Flying Kite at Luneta and even on the Mall's Playground!

Here are some of the pics from our vacation.

Welcome to the Christian World, ZY

2009-05-17T20:08:00.004+08:00

May 17, 2009 marked another important day in our son's young life. For this day, he received the Holy Sacrament of Baptism.

I would like to present to the whole Christian World our son,
ZY O. Sangilan

Welcome, precious little child,
So fresh from God above,
Baptised today in Jesus’ name,
Held in His arms of love.
May angels guide your tiny feet
And bring you smiles to wear,
And may our Heavenly Father
Always keep you in His care.

Here are some pics of the said event

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-10T20:22:00.005+08:00

Look at me mom.....
You're my No. 1!!

To the Best Nanay in the World,
Happy Mother's Day!

HOT Comments Graphics Happy Mothers Day Images Need NEW Comment Codes?

Saan ka man ngayon, i hope na masaya ka sa kinaroroonan mo, dont worry too much sa aming mga naiwan mo. Kahit na nagkakagulo ay maaayos din yan pagdating ng araw....

Miss na kita Nay, I love you!

Iyong bunsong si Hapon

P.S. Kumusta mo na lang ako kay San Pedro.

I would also like to greet the equally Great Mom in the World, my lovely wife a Wonderful Mother's Day! Thank you for giving me two adorable kids. I Love you MOM!

Probinsyana Gwapa

2009-05-09T18:23:00.007+08:00

I want to share this OKM video by Noel Alamis. Actually this is one of the first (and undeniably a hit)OKM (Original Kinaray-a Music) and had gained its popularity with its upbeat and danceable tune. It has been aired not just in Antique but also heard in the airwaves and a much requested song in every baylehan of Panay, parts of Negros and even in Mindanao with Karay-a speaking population.

Probinsyana Gwapa
by: Noel Alamis

Nakita ko ron ang akon mangin amiga
Mayad nga ugali kang bukot suplada
Simple mag pamayo pero may pambato
Mahugnay mag yuhom manami kung turukon

Sa andang balay ako nag pamasyar
Ginpanilagan ko panimalay may respeto
Rugto ko nakita ang andang pag palangga
Amo dyang babaye ang akon gina pangita

Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Manaya naya
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Mapinalanggaon pa
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Masaringan pa ahhhhh

Akon gin pangayo ang anang pag higugma
Gin kun-an na ako nga wara't pagduha duha
Abaw untoy noel imo pasensyaha
Hulat hulat kaw lang kay ako bata pa

Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Manaya naya
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Mapinalanggaon pa
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Masaringan pa ahhhh

Ako ang nag hulat mga pito ka tuig
Nga ako paga sabton kang ulay nga taga bukid
Ginpamangkot na ako kang kami nagkita
Andot kadya kaw lang ay may bana ron ako

Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Manaya naya
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Mapinalanggaon pa
Ang Probinsyana Gwapa
Masaringan pa ahhhh

Repeat Chorus

Spending Town Fiesta Without Torturing The Pocket

2009-05-04T19:11:00.006+08:00

Today is our Town Fiesta... the Feast of Sta Monica. Whats interesting about it?.. nothing!

Aside from the poor preparations by our municipality, its been raining like hell for several days already. Thanks to Typhoon Dante. The yearly Hantikan Festival seemed to look like a festival for frogs. The Banig Band's performance of OKM (Original Kinaray-a Music) on the night of Festival's kick off was witnessed by less than a hundred or so (mostly teenagers who didnt bother the sky urinating at them and the flooded town plaza). They were good... thinking that the vocalists are two of the province's known OKM artists and my favorite (Sammy Rubido and Mark Quintela), it should be witnessed and appreciated by more. Thanks to the rain (again) and most people prefer to lay their Banig (sleeping mat) and snore the rainy night off.

The vespera night is also celebrated with a band with matching tables for drinking fronting the stage. Bagay na bagay ang setting since the vocalists' voice are just like singing in the karaoke bar. This time the rain stopped for a while.

The sky poured all the rain early in the morning. I was happy for it since we will not be preparing any food nor accepting any visitors. We agreed that this year we will be practical. Instead of spending a lot for feeding mostly people we don't know and leave us with mountain of dishes to wash afterwards, we would just save it for other activities where the whole family will benefit and enjoy. you might call us stingy but i will call it being paractical. heheh. with the world in crisis, we cant afford to be extravagant!

So the rain continue and i am smiling. With this rain, nobody would dare to visit us at the end of Poblacion (Outside the civilization) and brave the moon-like craters of water and mud just to have free lunch. But alas! Sta Monica seemed to hear all the prayers cause at 11 am the skies cleared and people started to emerge on street like ants after the storm.

Then there's a knock at our door. Its my sister and her 3 kids! she was informed earlier that we are not preparing anything but she insisted. She just wanted to get out of their house away from her mother-in-law for a while (i don't know why there's always an issue when it comes to mother-in-laws?).

So my mother-in-law(whom i love) was forced to rummage our freezer and cook menudo for our insisting guest and she manage to have it served at exactly 12 noon! that was quick! and delicious!

We are busy at the dining table when another knock at the door brought us to a pause. There's a heavy-built 40 something man and a kid with plastic bags of rice and fried fih outside with a letter saying that the kids father was killed by the rebels (i don't know which rebel) and needs some help. I gave them 20 pesos, the only amount left in my wallet. They then asked if we can give them food. So i asked our help to put menudo on a plastic bag and hand it to the visitors.

While our helper hands the menudo, the man suddenly asked "Baboy ba ito, Muslim kami... hindi kami kumakain ng baboy".

Watdahek! nanghihingi na nga, namimili pa! sorry na lang sila since that's the only food we prepared. So the guys went away with only 20 pesos from my dying wallet.

Ten minutes later, we heard another knock and it was these two ladies(Aborigine Aetas) who happened to be the helpers of my wife before when they were still kids and living with their grandparents. They frequent us every fiesta and new year asking for aginaldo and old clothes. I can still remember the last new year that they almost fight over a carton of used clothes, shoes and toys that we prepared for them. We were lucky that its just the two of them today cause in the past they used to be almost a barrio. They just asked for a take-home food since they had already eaten at our cousin's house. So we handed the plastic bag which the Muslim visitor recently rejected and the other lady managed to empty the bowl of menudo that was left at the table and filled her plastic bag. They then asked for jeepney fare for their way home. Life nga naman! i am just thankful i am not in their position to beg for jeepney fare. So, its my wife's purse turn to be drained this time.

Sa awa ng Maykapal, no more visitors disturbed us after that since we ignore text messages of friends who asks if there's extra food left for them.

What a way to spend town fiesta without spending too much! Wag lang sana kaming gabaan ni Sta. Monica for ignoring her Feast.

This is a video of the Banig Band performing in another town's fiesta.

PacMan Hits the HitMan

2009-05-03T16:42:00.008+08:00

Its the first time i watch Pacquiao's fight live via pay per view. I am not really a big fan of Manny Pacquiao but i cant help myself from cheering especially when Manny Pacquiao TKOs Ricky Hatton on the second round of their fight.

Pacquiao knocked down Hatton twice in the first round then hit Hatton with a left in the second that sent Hatton flat on his back on the canvass of the MGM Grand Arena.

Pacquiao snatched Hatton’s International Boxing Organization junior welterweight title and his sixth title in different weight divisions.

Congratulations Manny! and to all Filipinos around the world cheering for the People's Champ.... Mabuhay! Medyo sayang nga lang ang mga bumili ng ticket sa mga cinemas. Hindi man lang uminit ang mga puwet, Knock out na kaagad.
To those who have not watched the fight, click this.

*Photos courtesy of Yahoo!images

Doggy Doggy Baw Waw!

2009-04-27T12:31:00.009+08:00

They say that dog is man's best friend and i can say yes to that. They are the most effective guards especially at night. However, sometimes instead of being helpful, nakakairita din ang ingay nila pag gabi.

We have 2 dogs at home. We call them Marky (Red) and Pula (White). They were with us for almost four years and they can be trusted when it comes to taking charge of home security at night and even at daytime.

Since the birth of our second child Bos, i felt the obligation to attend to his night time necessities such as changing diapers, bottle feeding, and even singing him to sleep (and its where i really excel! really!). Those who had experienced having to nurse a newborn at night knows that you will really need cups and cups and cups of coffee to be awake.

I've been up till morning for two weeks already. I took the initiative to look for Bos at night so that my wife will have the time to recuperate well from a delicate pregnancy. She needs to be relieved from stress and strenuous movement after pregnancy. Mahirap na baka mabinat, she still have to go back to work in two months time.(I bet she's very lucky to have found a husband like me di ba? o, kokontra ka pa eh!)

So, after i close my shop (around 10-11 pm) i then report to my next duty.Minsan pag hindi na makayanan ang antok, nakakakatulog na lang ako habang pinapadede ang bata. So imbes na makatulog ng mahimbing, magigising ako bigla sa iyak ng bata dahil nag lungad na dahil hindi ko pala napa burp!

Nakaka adjust na sana ako sa ganung routine but lately, nabubuwisit ako dahil maya't maya ang ingay ng mga aso.Nag aaway pa dun mismo sa tapat ng kuwarto namin.

Ang kuwarto namin is on the back portion of the house. Aba! anong ginagawa nila sa gabi at dun sila nagbabantay sa likod-bahay na dapat ay dun sila sa gate or sa harap nng main na pinto or dili kaya ay rumuronda! (Naranasan po ng inyong lingkod na mag guwardiya noong ~~madatung~~ nagbabarko pa ito kaya alam nito ang dapat at hindi dapat kapag nagbabantay!) maya't maya ang away nila at sa wari ko ay may ibang aso silang kaaway. Everytime na magrarambol sila, ganun din ang iyak ng bata dahil nagitla at naabala sa pagkahimbing.

Kinaumagahan, habang ~~may muta pa~~ papungas pungas ay hinanap ko ang dalawa para mabigyan ng leksiyon sa panggugulo nung gabi. Tamang tama naman paglabas ko ay may kaaway na naman sila. Actually itong si Marky lang ang nang aaway ng mga lalaking aso na pumapasok sa bakuran namin habang si Pula ay nasa sulok at waring nanonood lang. Nung araw na yun, panay ang pakikipag away ni Marky at napansin ko na lahat ng aso na pumapasok ay puro lalaki at puro aso sa neighborhood. Syempre matapang si Marky ~~tulad ng amo (misis ko)~~ winner siya palagi. Kung hindi duguan ay papilay pilay na tumatakbo palayo ang mga intruders. It seems that meron siyang pinuprotektahan at ala-Knight in the Shining Armor and role niya.

Napansin ko din sa Marky na to, laging nakabuntot kay Pula kung saan man ito pumunta. This curious mind of mine started to took notice of this peculiar behavior and i started observing (hima sa umaga and the Bos is sleeping kaya i have the luxury of time). Maya maya pa nakita ko sa likod ng bahay itong si Marky ay akmang papatong sa likod ni Pula and started to make his way behind Pula. Itong Pula naman ay parang pabaya lang na parang sinasabi na "O ayan na ang reward mo sa pagiging macho gwapito na bodyguard ko. Go on.. reap the fruits of you labor.." Kaso napansin nila akong ~~namboboso~~ nakatingin kaya hindi natuloy ang action. Nahiya siguro o baka hindi lang makapag concentrate kung may nanonood.

Biglang may bumbilyang nagbukas sa ulo ko.(Kung mahina pik-ap nyo, ibig sabihin nun i was enlightened!). Ito palang si Pula ay in heat. And according sa Animal Science class ko nung ~~nagbubulakbol~~ nag-aaral pa ako sa YUPI ELBI, kapag in heat ang isang hayop, mayroon silang hormones (sort of) na kinakalat sa hangin sending a message na "I am in heat... you are invited to join me in a party!" parang ganun... so ito namang mga male eh tulo laway pagkaamoy ng invitation kaya sugod agad. "Yes! libre kain na naman to!"

Eh ito namang Marky, dahil nga partner niya si Pula, ang lahat ng lalaking aso na lumapit ay inaaway. Siyempre kahit sino ba namang lalaki, pag partner na niya ang kinatalo... aba patayan na! Iningat ingatan mo ng matagal tapos ang iba pa ang makikinabang!

Naalala ko nung nakaraan na mag in-heat itong si Pula ay kawawa ang sinapit sa kamay ng kung sino sinong barakong aso na lumapit sa bahay. Dahil ang lahat ng pumupunta ay nakakatikim ng libre at take note... pinipilahan siya. Pagkatapos ng isa ay may mga nakaabang na waring nag aaway kung sino ang susunod. Ang kawawang Pula ay walang magawa kundi pagbigyan ang kahayukan ng mga tampalasan! At that time itong si Marky ay hindi pa na eestablished ang pagiging dominant male sa neighborhood at walang magawa para ma i rescue ang kanyang damsel in distress. Ang kahayupang iyon ay nagbunga ng apat na cutecute na mga tuta at hindi ko na maalala kung sino sino ang mga pinagbigyan namin nun.

Kaya pala siguro this time ay ganun na lang ang pagtatanggol niya sa partner. Imbes na paghahambalusin ko naghanap na lang ako ng kaning lamig sa kusina at pinakain ng almusal para naman magkaroon pa ng extrang lakas para mas maipagtanggol niya ang kanyang beloved Pula and at the same time ay makapagbantay ng maayos sa bahay.

Doon ko napagtanto na hayop mang ituring ang aso, may mga behavior din na katulad ng isang tao. At meron din naman na tao kung tinuringan pero masahol pa sa aso ang pag-uugali.

Adobong Kokak ala Ztirfps

2009-04-23T17:01:00.007+08:00

Do you have an appetite for exotic foods? or are you adventurous enough to try one? I have prepared something for you.

Hah! ala WOK WITH YAN naman ngayon ang drama ng inyong lingkod!

Since its been raining here for almost a week now, hindi ako makatulog sa gabi dahil sa ingay ng mga creatures na to. Kaya to make my revenge, i will be preparing something special using them para naman maging kapaki-pakinabang sila aside from being scandalous at night.

Let me show you how to prepare
Adobong Kokak ala Ztirfps

Ingredients:

500 grams Pangka Bugungan meat (Palakang Bukid) skinned and cleaned
1 cup vinegar
1-2 medium sized onions sliced
3 bulbs garlic crushed
1 pinch pamintang buo/durog (black pepper whole/crushed)
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp atsuwete seeds soaked in 1/4 cup hot water(you can also use food coloring) optional
1 tbsp. cooking oil

Procedures:

1. Make sure to wash the Kokak Meat thoroughly with warm water. Add salt and mix.
2. In medium heat, saute onions, tomato and garlic.
3. Add Kokak meat.
4. Add vinegar and cover. you can also add atsuwete (be sure to strain the seeds)
5. Simmer till the sauce is almost dry. Add black pepper.
6. Serve ad enjoy!

Bangag sa Abril, Where Art Thou?

2009-04-21T16:35:00.004+08:00

Rain had been pouring straight on its third day now. To think that its the month of April, what happened to the local term "Bangag sa Abril" and it seems to nowhere to be found?

Maybe this is what they call Global Warming.

Abnormal as it may seem,yet some are happy for its occurrence this summer; Our newborn son that is saved from the scorching summer heat inside a ceiling less room, and Joy that is saved from her daily obligations of watering the garden.

The New Juan dela Cruz

2009-04-15T22:31:00.003+08:00

Been busy lately with house-and-work routines that i cant think of something to write so i just grabbed a post from someone. This really made me laugh!

The New Juan dela Cruz

Bill Gates organized an enormous session to recruit a new chairman for Microsoft Europe.
5000 candidates assembled in a large room.

One candidate was MARIO DIMAYUGA.

Bill Gates: "Thank you for coming. We'll do this by process of elimination to speed up the process. Those who do not know JAVA may leave."

2,000 people left the room.

MARIO said to himself, "Naku! I do not know JAVA but I have nothing to lose if I stay. I'll give it a try."

Bill Gates: "Candidates with no experience managing more than 1000 employees may leave."

2000 people left the room.

Mario said to himself, "Lagot! I never managed anybody but myself but I'm staying. What could happen to me?"

Bill Gates: "Candidates without management diplomas may leave."

500 people left the room.

Mario said to himself, "Asus! I never even graduated, but what have I got to lose?"
So he stayed.

Lastly, Bill Gates asked candidates who did not speak Serbo-Croat to leave.

498 people left the room.

Mario says to himself, "Patay! Ano yon??? But I've gotten this far, I have to stay on."

So he stayed and found himself standing with only one other candidate in the room. Everyone else had eliminated themselves.

Bill Gates joined both candidates and said: "Apparently you two are the only candidates with terrific management skills speaking Serbo-Croat, so I'd now like to hear you converse in that language."

Calmly, Mario turned to the other candidate and said, "Kumusta ka, pare ko"
Without batting an eyelash, the other candidate replied, "Mabuti naman. Ikaw?

Friendship Award

2009-04-14T11:53:00.005+08:00

Its nice thinking that there are people who considers you as friend even though you haven't met each other. Especially in this wide world of Blogging.

This morning i was glad to receive an award. A Friendship Award.

this award from Carnation who is one of my blogger friends. Thanks, Carnation for this.

The rules are so easy:
1. Place the logo / banner on your blog.
2. Add a link to the blog who gave the award.
3. Nominate other bogs if you want.
4. Add links to the blogs that you have nominated.
5. Let them know by leaving a message (shout) on their blogs.

I am giving this award to these people whom i sincerely considered as friends. Whether i had already met them or not, this award is for you guys!

1. Pareng Gong - the one who inspired me to start blogging.
2. Frances - though i am sure shes got this award also.
3. Tinay - for her ~~seductive~~ cute smile.
4. Utakmunggo - kahit na she don't know me and i don't know her either. I'm just enjoying her blog.
5. Anne - who is silent for a long time (like me)
6. Riva - the ~~model~~ former English teacher who is silent nowadays.
7. Sendo - the nurse wannabe who thinks he is a ninja from burma..

Bliss of Waiting

2009-04-12T21:15:00.009+08:00

After almost 9 months (8 mos. and 1 week to be exact) of waiting, finally he came.

I would like to introduce the newest member of the
Onanad-Sangilan Family:

ZY "Bos" Onanad Sangilan
Baby Boy
April 9,2009 10:27 am
5.7 lbs.
Angel Salazar Mem. Gen. Hospital

"Lord, we thank you for this another bundle of joy that you entrusted on us. We pray that we will be able to give him all the love, care, understanding, guidance and upbringing that we can in order for him to be the best in whatever he can and wants to be.
We know that this is not an easy task but we are so much grateful for this gift.
Thank you so much Lord and we pray for your guidance, wisdom and strength for us to be able to provide well our responsibilities and duties as parents."

Some trivias about the name:

ZY - last letters of our (me and my wife) name.We decided to give him this name since his older brother's name, FP came from the first letters of our name (Fritz and Pearl Joy)

Bos - as nickname. The name his Lola wrote in all his things. actually we just noticed when the baby is already wearing it. Baby Onanad Sangilan According to my m-i-l (mother-in-law).

Its funny thinking that our eldest is DON and the newborn is BOS. Mga Bigtime!

Ang mag kuyang Bigtime

For more pics of our newborn and the family visit this.

Sweet Revenge

2009-04-08T12:54:00.013+08:00

Two days ago, dinala ng bayaw ko at ng girlfriend nya ang aming unico hijo sa iloilo and they spent 2 days there para naman daw maigala gala nila ang bata tutal bakasyon naman. Matagal na kaming inaawitan ng mga yun at binibiro na sa kanila na lang daw ang anak namin tutal fertile naman daw kaming mag asawa. Aba, gawin ba kaming pabrika ng bata! kung alam lang nila ang hirap ng pagbubuntis. Kahit na hindi ako ang nagbubuntis, parang suko na rin ako sa hirap lalo na pag ako ang pinagbubuntunan ng mood swings ng misis ko. Walang magawa kundi ang magkamot na lang ng ulo.

So hayun nga mga 2 nights ding kami na lang ni misis ang magkatabi sa gabi. Sabi nga ng iba mapagbiro minsan ang tadhana. Tuwang tuwa sana ako dahil pag ganyang pagkakataon na kami lang 2 sa kwarto, happy hour na namin. kaso sori na lang si pareng manoy, walang happy hour na mangyayari dahil pag ipipilit, baka biglang pumutok na ang tyan ni misis at lumabas na ang aming pangalawang bulinggit. Hayun nakuntento na lang ako sa himas himas sa ga-pakwan niyang tiyan at ang siste, sinisipa sipa pa ako ng bata mula sa loob!

Naalala ko tuloy noong bagong dating pa lang ako galing japan. Nawala din ako ng mga 3 years kaya normal lang na naiilang pa ang junakis ko na noon ay 4 years old pa lang. Unang gabi ko, hindi ako pinatulog katabi sila. Doon daw ako sa kama ng lola niya (iisa lang ang kwarto sa bahay noon dahil hindi pa nga totally natatapos ang bahay namin)at ang byenan ko naman ay pinapatulog nya sa sala. Mga 3 days din sigurong ganun kami pag gabi. Hindi naman makaiskor sa umaga dahil si misis may pasok sa trabaho at ako naman ay nagbabantay sa shop. Kaya parang kwaresma na nagpipinitensya ang inyong lingkod. Dagdagan pa ng byenan ko na after a week ay doon na rin natulog sa loob ng kwarto, tuloy tuloy ang pinitensya ko. Makarinig lang ng konting kaluskos sa kama namin ay agad naman babalikwas sa higaan para iparamdam na gising pa sya.

Totoo nga siguro ang sabi ng iba na byenan ang pinaka kontrabida sa buhay ng isang taong may asawa.Kaya laki ng tawa ko sa reaksiyon niya nung malaman niyang buntis na naman ang anak niya. Narinig ko minsan habang kausap ang pinsan ni misis. "Paano kaya nakalusot yung mga yon eh mas mahigpit pa nga kay Jawo ang pagbabantay ko sa gabi!" Sabi nga, matalino man daw ang matsing, nalulusutan din. Ang sintensya, napilitan kami ni misis na hatiin ang sala at magpagawa ng isa pang kwarto para sa aming gwardiya sibil de noche.

Balik tao sa nauna kong kwento.

E di after 2 nights na puro hilik ang maririnig sa kwarto namin, umaga pa lang pabulong bulong na si misis dahil wala pa rin daw reply ang anak namin sa mga text nya (Yep, marunong nang magtext ang anak naming 5 taon. Ikaw nga lang ang bahalang manghula kung saan mo ilalagay ang mga spaces dahil dirediretso kung mag type). Hindi na nakatiis at tinawagan nga. Habang ako naman, nakahiga pa rin sa kama at nakikinig sa usapan nila sa speaker phone.

heto ang usapan nila:
M: aba! anong ginagawa mo at kanina pa ako nagtitext sa iyo ni isang reply wala akong natanggap!
D: alam mo kasi mommy baka tulog pa ako kanina nung magtext ka
M: anong tulog e tanghali na, anong oras ka ba gumising?
D: may araw na kanina
M: ano, umihi ka na naman ba? umihi ka daw sa higaan nung isang araw sabi ni tito mo.
D: hindi ah! baka umulan lang siguro at nabasa ang higaan (iniba ang usapan) pero alam mo, marami akong toys. nanalo kami ni tito toto kahapon. 2 na ang snakes and ladders ko tapos may bubbles bubbles pa ako. tapos may boat boat pa, digimon at eraser!
M: galing naman! saan ba kayo nagpunta kahapon?
D: sa SM city naglaro kami ni tito toto. dami kami na shoot! sandali kakausapin ko si daddy.
A: hello, kumusta na ano ginagawa mo ngayon?
M: daddy marami akong pinanalunan kahpon! may 2 snakes and ladders, e di 3 na lahat lahat pati yung snakes ang ladders ko diyan sa bahay tapos may bubbles ako. dapat plastic balloons kaso wala eh.
A: wag na yung plastic balloons nak, dahil alam mo naman na poison yun pag nalunok mo.
D: nag shootshoot kasi kami kahapon dapat 21 ang iskor mo para manalo hindi pwede ang 20 o kaya 23. dapat 21.
A: bakit ilan ba ang score nyo?
D: nakakuha kami ng 8,9 at 7.
A: Bakit magkano ba ang 9+8+7?
D: (nag-isip) 21!
A: (natatawa) dapat ka nang mag Best in Math!
D: oo nga daddy. magaling ako sa Math diba?

biglang pasok ang byenan ko sa kwarto. miss na miss na ang apo at hindi mapigilang sumali sa usapan.

B: Don, kailan ka uuwi? miss na kita (naluluha)
D: mamaya daw after lunch
B: ano ba ang after lunch?
D: pagkatapos kumain.
B: e di kumain ka na ngayon para makauwi na kayo kaagad.
D: hindi ah! mamaya pa yon. ang lunch tanghalian! lola matanda ka na, hindi mo pa alam ang lunch?
bwahahahaha! (tawanan ang lahat)
B: e anong pasalubong mo?
D: kay mommy, pizza, kay daddy at sa kapatid ko donut at ice cream.
B: e sa akin ano?
D: wala!
B: bakit wala ako?!
D: e hayblad ka diba? may baboy sa pizza, bawal ka nun. hindi ka naman kumakain ng donut at ice cream dahil may dayabetes ka diba?
B: kuuuu! ikaw talaga bata ka! kahit kelan inaaway mo ako!
D: eto na lang bubbles bubbles ko lola ibigay ko sa yo. hindi pa naman makapaglaro ang kapatid ko. tsaka pambabae naman kulay nito. pink.
B: salbahe ka!

*M: Misis
**D: Don (Unico Hijo sa ngayon)
***A: Ako
****B: Byenan ko

kahit paano nakakaganti ako sa pamamagitan ng anak ko. har!har!har!

Disclaimer: Talagang ganyan ang anak ko at ang lola niya, laging nagkukulitan pero sweet yan sa lola niya. Hinahanap din lagi ang lola niya para magpa timpla ng gatas at magpahugas ng pwet. My Byenan and I are in good terms. Wala naman kaming away or whatsoever.
Napagtripan ko lang isulat. Dahil siguro sa grabeng init at ang utak ko ay natunaw na lahat para makapag isip ng matinong maisusulat.

Ang Sahi Sang Bunga Nga Nagapadayon

2009-04-06T17:32:00.006+08:00

This post is dedicated to Rev. Fr. Gregorio "Boy Greg" dela Cruz Soldevilla who celebrated his 10th Sacerdotal (Ordination) Anniversary last March 24,2009 here in our beloved Sta. Monica Parish of Hamtic, Antique.

Fr. Boy Greg is our Assistant Parish Priest and a close family friend. He is well known for his sermons that will keep you awake the whole duration of the mass. He is also known for his distinctive "contagious" laugh. During my years in Japan, he is one of those few who always lifts up my spirit and gives me courage even only through chats, instant messages and prayers.

Congratulations Fr. Boy! and we pray that you continue on your noble service in spreading God's Love to all!

"Ang sahi sang bunga nga nagapadayon" - Juan 15:16b

Happy Bertday ka ba Tyan?

2009-04-06T00:08:00.008+08:00

its already past 12 midnight pero andito pa rin ako sa shop nakaupo habang nananakit na ang mga mata sa kakatutok sa monitor habang ~~nanonood ng porno~~ naghihintay na matapos ang mga naglalaro ng Dota. ganito ako halos araw araw, pasado alas dose na kung makauwi ng bahay.

habang nakaupo sa aking swivel chair at feeling ~~prisedente ng kumpanya~~ manedyer ang drama ko, napansin ko na naman ang aking bilbil na sa wari ko ay lumalaki araw araw. feeling ko bundat na bundat na ako.

nito kasing mga nakaraang araw, panay ang panginginain ko kahit na anong pagpipigil ko parang useless lang din ang mga ilang buwan kong pag i-istar gazing kahit tanghaling tapat dahil nga tinitiis ang gutom para lang magbawas ng timbang at laki ng baby ~~farts~~ fats(o baka naman wala ka nang makain? paepek ka pa!) kaya pala siguro lagi akong nahihilo noon. kala ko pa naman ako ang naglilihi dahil nga buntis si kumander (hayan lumabas din ang kulay! feel na feel magbuntis!). meron daw kasi ganoong instances lalo na kapag hinakbangan ka ng isang buntis habang natutulog ka.

paano ba naman kasi, nag leave si misis sa trabaho for 2 weeks dahil schedule na niya ng forced leave. obligado akong umuwi ng bahay every eating time and also, nakakauwi ako pag hapon at nakakapagluto ng kung ano anong ~~leftover~~ meryendang available sa loob ng ref at ibabaw ng lababo. we also have free time para makapag gala gala dahil bakasyon na rin at ang estudyante namin ang siyang nagbabantay ng shop habang wala kami. sabayan din ng bulinggit namin na na adik na yata sa Smokey's Hotdog at lagi na lang nagyayaya or kung minsan naman sa Jollibee o kaya sa Chowking. sa ganitong mga pagkakataon, parang nagsisisi ako kung bakit pa nagpatayo ng ganitong mga establisyimento sa lugar namin. kawawa na naman kasi ang bulsa ko at laspag na laspag na.

timing din ang birthday ni misis kahapon. para makaiwas gastos, nagluto na lang kami ng mga babaunin sa beach para doon mag celebrate. since summer na, timing din para makapag enjoy naman kami with nature and sun. Kaso mas napagastos pa yata kami dahil sa nirentahang sasakyan at dagdagan pa ng anak namin at mga pinsan niya na nagsipaghiritang kumanta sa de hulog ne bidyoke doon sa resort. hayun at namayat ang coin ~~furs~~ ~~fours~~ ~~force~~ purse ni misis. ok din naman kahit paano dahil proud na proud kami habang ang ibang nandoon ay nakanganga na lang habang nakikinig sa mga bata na kung maka iskor ay 99 kada kanta. palibhasa may pinagmanahan (at siguradong hindi sa akin, malas lang nila kung nagkataon!). tapos kanina naman, galing kami sa bahay ng younger sister ni misis dahil birthday celebration din niya. as usual, nagsipaglamunan na naman. tuwang tuwa ang mga bulate ko sa tyan, nabusog ng libre.

Speaking of birthdays, alam nyo ba na sina misis ay very intriguing ang mga birthdays? silang magkakapatid ay halos 1 year and 1 day lang agwat sa isat isa. yes. ang eldest sister nila misis (died several days after delivery) ay April 3, 1978 pinanganak, my wife's birthday is April 4, 1979 then sinundan ng younger sister niya na April 5,1980 tapos ang youngest and only brother nila is May 7,1981(pero according sa aking ina-sa-batas/mother-in-law, dapat ay April 7 talaga ang due date niya kaso nagkaroon ng complications kaya umabot ng 1 buwan ang labor niya na labaspasok sa hospital.

kung magkataon, etong ipinagbubuntis ni misis ay maihilera din sa mga birthdays nila since due na rin ng upcoming bulinggit namin na lumabas anytime from now.

hanep no? magkasunod sunod in every year! hands down ako sa aking ama-sa-batas dahil talaga namang napaka! as in timing pa! may kasabihan nga "Pagbubuntis lang ang pahinga" hehehe! kung buhay lang sana siya(sumalangit nawa!) magpapaturo ako ng tekniks. pero okay na rin sigurong namayapa na siya dahil baka na experience ko pang habulin ng itak noong nililigawan ko pa ang anak niya. dad, wag mo akong multuhin ha, labs na labs ko naman ang bebe mo eh. peksman!

walang wenta na tong pinagsusulat ko! ~~bangag~~ antok lang siguro ako kaya hindi makapag isip ng matino.

o sha! sa nagsipaglayasan a rin sa wakas ang aking mga loyal kustumer. sa sunod na lang ulit. magku close na ako ng shop at tumitilaok na ang mga manok! alas dos y medya na ng madaling araw.

eto nga pala mga kuha namin nung birthday ni misis.

Don FP at 1

2009-04-03T16:32:00.018+08:00

March 28, 2009 marked as the 1st year Anniversary of our humble Internet Cafe that also coincides with our 6th Wedding Anniversary.

This internet shop was the product of my three-year blood-and-sweat-draining stint as ~~macho dancer~~ ~~hosto~~ ~~basurero~~ ~~demolitionist~~ ~~TNT~~ OFW in The Land of the Rising Sun. In short, "Japayuki".

As a sign of gratitude to all our "Loyal Parokyanos", we arranged a small Dota (Defense of the Ancients) Tournament exclusive only to Don FP(name of our cafe. DON for Dondon, our son's nickname and FP his real name)loyal customers. The tournament was held a day after the anniversary due to some conflicts with the participating team's schedules and also to give us the couple time to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Here are some of the photos of the said event including the awarding of prizes and certificates.

Congratulations to the teams KIKOY and CUATRO for emerging as Champion and 1st- Runner-up respectively.

I thank all those kids who are wise enough to keep a portion of their "allowance" to be able to play DOTA or Counterstrike, for always being present in my shop even if this means being absent from school. For those who still keep on coming even if competitions are offering much less charges for time.

These are the people who helped me put food on our table. Thank you and I am hoping to see more of your faces everyday and in the years to come kahit na pa miron miron lang kayo. Basta wag lang magulo at lalong lalo na ang umutot sa loob ng shop dahil baka pagsasapakin ko pa kayo. Intiendes?!

Lastly, I am most thankful to the One up there who always provides for us. Thank you Bro, for guiding us in every step of the way.

To Don FP, Happy Anniversary!

In Fairness

2009-04-01T23:30:00.010+08:00

its graduation time once again and i would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the graduates for making it till the end. sa lahat naman ng naiwan dahil sa kakabulakbol, belat nyo! hehehe! magsasayang na naman kayo ng tuition and allowance next school year.

speaking of graduation, though my son is not graduating ,we (my wife and i and my byenan) are excited for his commencement exercises. we are expecting that our son will take home most of the awards basing on his performace.

all of us attended the closing program (my wife took a leave from work just to attend) and very happy watching him perform on stage.

when the giving of honors and academic awards came, our son took two awards. "Best in Recitation" and "Most Active".

Punyemas! Wala man lang syang academic award! buti pa yung classmate nya na pamangkin ng isang duktor naka Best in Math kahit na hindi naman nakakakuha ng perfect score sa mga exams nila. at eto pang napansin ko, lahat ng bata may awards! dahil kaya they want to please all of the parents?

We expected him to bag the Best in Math and Best in Language since he's the only one who had perfect scores in all the quarterly exams in his class and high scores if not perfect scores in their daily tests. hindi sa pagmamayabang ha.

we really felt that our son was robbed with honors that is supposed to be his. as a parent, mas nararamdaman namin ang hurt since our son was treated unfairly. we witnessed how much effort he gave in reviewing for his exams and assignments and hindi man lang pala marerecognize. kahit sino ba namang parent willing makipagpatayan for the sake of their kid lalo na pag naaagrabyado ang kanilang anak.

but instead of being hysterical, we just kept our cool. its not wise na magkalat sa okasyon kung saan lahat ng parents nadoon. may breeding din kaya kami kahit na hindi kami dog. we will just wait for the proper timing na makausap namin ang teacher and ask the big question mark.

we planned earlier (even before the last quarter examinations) that we will be transferring our son to a different school next school year. with what happened there's no more reason for us to let him stay in that school where fairness and equality is supposed to be taught.

you might think that i'm over (as in over kung maka react).ikaw pag naaagrabyado ang anak mo, what would you do?

Back With Vengeance

2009-04-01T21:36:00.003+08:00

after four months of silence, im here agian and back with vengeance!.. heheh! vengeance daw...

eniwies, i was silent for for months and i can say that i spent those four long months wisely by contemplating and meditating on what to do with my life now that its another year for me and another life. and im happy to say that i am already enlightened. (*Notice the bulb lighted on my head)**chuckle**

so to those who frequent(kung meron man) my blog, dont be worried if you notice the change in my estilos. kasama yan sa ~~pagka luwag ng turnilyo~~ enlightenment ko.

So where do I start? I have a lot of ~~tsismis~~ stories to share and medyo nalilito ako kung alin ang uunahin ko. Since its April Fool’s Day, then I have no choice but to give you this gruesome story (oops sorry, naipagpalit ko ang Halloween sa April Fool’s Day). Since its fresh na fresh as in sariwang story, ito na lang ang uunahin ko.

Several hours ago, kagagaling ko lang ng house to relieve my assistant sa pagbabantay ng aming internet shop. Fresh na fresh pa ako dahil bagong ~~tanggal ng libag~~ ligo. Kakapasok ko pa lang ng shop nang biglang may sumigaw sa labas na.

“may nadisgrasya!”

E di takbo agad ako sa labas para ~~makitsismis~~ macheck kung ano nga ang nangyari. Oh my gulay! Kapamilya (GMA 7 sana ako kaso ang byenan ko maka Dos, ang anak ko maka cartoon network) ko pala nag na disgrace. Sumemplang ang motor dahil nga nag head to head collision sila ng asong nakikipaghabulan sa pusa sa gitna ng highway. Ayung semplang to da max sila mga ilang meters away from our shop.

I phoned home to ask my wife to inform the kid’s mother (happened to be our neighbor) about what happened. I rushed home to fetch her since nasa liblib na kanayunan nag bahay namin and mahihirapan silang makahanap ng ~~kalabaw~~ masasakyan at this time (8 pm). Pagdating ko, there’s this poor mother nakayapak and nakapambahay, hindi alam ang gagawin sa shock at iyak nang iyak. Ikaw ba naman I inform na naaksidente ang bunsong anak mo sa gitna ng masarap na hapunan kung hindi ka magsisigaw nga "Basilio! Crispin! mga anak ko!!

Pagdating naming sa ~~crime scene~~ accident area, wala na ang mga bata at dinala na daw sa hospital sakay ng tricycle.

“tricycle? Kala ko ba pinapuntahan na sa police station para magamit ang patrol car?” I asked ~~the usisero~~ .
“E kumakain pa daw ng ~~huling~~ hapunan ang driver, kung pwede daw hintayin na lang makatapos.”

Putingenengeneng na yan! Life and death situation na nga inuna pa ang ~~paglamon~~ hapunan! Mabilaukan sana ang mga hinayupak na yun nang sila naman ang malagay sa alanganin ang buhay.

Actually ilang beses nang na relieve sa pwesto ang chief of police sa bayan namin dahil sa inefficiency at palaging huli sa crime scene. Kung minsan nga ay di na nga dumadating. Like for example several months ago nung may naaksidente na motorista. Wala man lang rumispondeng pulis samantalang 200 meters away lang from the police station ang accident area. Hanggang sa mamatay na lang ang kawawang mama dahil naubusan ng dugo. Ang dahilan, tulog ang mga pulis on duty at walang gasolina ang patrol car naubos sa kakapasyal sa mga kabit kapag gabi ~~para tsumuktsak chenes~~.

Ito ba ang sinasabi nilang To Protect and Serve? E hindi naman nakikita ang anino nila kapag may nagyayari, andaming kaso na ang nagkakanda patong patong na wala namang resulta ang ~~pakikipagduding sa mga kabit~~ imbestigasyon kunyari.

Sayang lang ang binabayad nating taxes na pinapasweldo sa kanila kung hindi man lang nila magampanan nang maayos ang kanilang trabaho! Hay naku na hayblad tuloy ako! Parang may nag babarbecue na sa ilong ko sa usok.

I will never wonder kung bukas binabanatan na sila ng batikos sa radio station dahil sa kawalang kwentang serbisyo nila.

I am Grateful Because

2008-12-09T12:59:00.007+08:00

I got a tag from Carnation today asking what I am grateful for. Thank you so much Carnation for sharing this to me. There are lots of things that I am very much grateful for in this life.

1. i am able to wake up each day and witness HIS miracles and kindess.
2. i have wonderful and loving family who are the source of my strength.
3. we are expecting another bundle of joy arriving next year.
4. He always keeps us healthy and safe.
5. of trials and adverisities that makes us (me and my wife)strong and love each other more and more.

Let me know what are the things you are grateful for. I am sharing this tag with the following: The Pharaoh and The Gaijin, patadyong, Sendorero : Taong Ninja, am running around like a headless chicken, and sigbin.com.

How This Works:
1. Re-post the picture on your blog and pls. acknowledge where it came from. Kindly leave a comment on this post so I would know you’ve posted it.
2. Write down 5 things you are grateful for and the 5 bloggers you are tagging.
3. You may copy this or write your own quote regarding gratitude:

“The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings..” –Eric Hoffer

Reasons Why We Need to Sleep Early

2008-12-04T17:25:00.009+08:00

Many of us loves to call ourselves as a "Night Creature", "Hooter", "Night Owl" or other terminologies that depicts a person who is awake at night especially for those who lives in the city where life start when darkness fall. I also consider myself as a "Night Person" especially when i was still a bachelor and living in the city. Even now that im already married and lives in the countryside, my internet shop requires me to sleep late(around 11 pm)and in effect, to wake up late.

Several days ago, i received a forwarded email from a friend about reasons why we need to sleep early and wake up early. I want to share it with you hoping that it might somehow help convince us to do so.

Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health.

Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.

Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.

Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.

Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.

Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood.

For a person like me who have liver problems, i need to hit the haysack atleast before 10 pm to help with liver detoxification. I'm thinking of ways how can i follow this routine without compromising my bread and butter.

How about you, are you a "Night Person"?

Collecting Stars

2008-12-03T13:49:00.004+08:00

my son seems to love collecting stars.

here's another 2 for a perfect score in math and language on the 2nd quarter exam!

mom and dad are proud of you son!

The Culprit

2008-12-02T21:48:00.008+08:00

This is the culprit i am talking about on my last post. i am asking apology if it is written in my native language(Kinaray-a)since it is for posting in our local websit (Kinaray-a.com) though it has mixed tagalog and english. if you're an ilonggo or visayan speaker then you can somewhat understand what i am telling here.

BASTED

“I don’t want to give you false hope. Indi ako gusto nga mag sarig ikaw. Man an mo man bay ang sitwasyon ko? Indi pa ako ready para sa sangka relasyon.”

Those words seemed to crush my whole world. My vision went dark while stream of tears start flowing from my eyes. That was the first time I felt sooooo painful. It feels like a strong fist suddenly grabbed my heart and crushed it till it ceased to beat. Draining all the happiness, hope and will to live. Sakit gid man gali ang ma basted! (I mix ko na lang ang karay-a, english kag tagalong… budlay mag sulat nga straight English!)

All of us experienced what they call love. Whether ikaw ang na inlove or may na in love kanimo. And I know, duro ang maka relate sa kaja nga istorya kay almost all of us experienced first love! Amo lang ra ugaling, first love means first heartache…. and it is more painful if your first love doesn’t feel the same way towards you…. sa aton pa basted!

Sa mga kapareho ko nga medyo gamay lang ang nasalo kang nagsabwag kang “swerte sa paghigugma” ang langit, hope this will inspire you and give you hope nga indi hasta san o masagap kita kang person nga magapalangga kanaton. Maabot gid ang ginatawag ta nga true love. It may come early or late, maabot gid ra

I have this classmate in high school, sikat sa school, athlete, gwapahon, sangka prominent figure sa school during our high school days. I had this crush on her, that was in our 2nd year guro. Ako, sangka simple nga estudyante, low profile, quiet type lang….. Danay bala, daw pelikula no?????

Sa kagustuhan ko nga maparapit ka na, I tried to befriend her. It was easy hay mag classmate kami. Amo ra nga pati ang sports kon sa diin regional player tana, gin intrahan ko man. Maskin pira ka beses ako magka dislocated shoulder, semplang sa lagas kang bola, gasgas kag lanog sa mga parte kang kalawasan kag iban pa nga kasakitan sa lawas, okay lang to tanan…. Ang importante pirme kami imaw kon mag practice. Lipay ron ko maistorya lang tana kag bonus pa nga bahul kon mag sipal ron tana hay makita ko ang puti puti na nga batiis nga kitaon ang berde kag pula nga linya kang mga ugat. Pero sumpa ko.... wara ko gid maskin kaisa natugruan to kang malisya ukon malain nga imagination! Promise! Heheheheh!

Nangin close kami kag nangin mag best friend (ambay lang kon best friend gid man to, ukon imagination ko lang. Basta! Close kami! magpati ron kamo kay ako ang naga istorya! Okay?.. Good!). Wara gid ko kaisog sadto nga mangaluyag kay I have nothing to offer her. Maskin gani pang date wara wara gid ako. Imaway lang kami adlaw adlaw, solb run ko! Siyempre gina try ko man tanan para ma impress tana eh! Gapa pogi points lang ko sa academics!Gina pakopya ko assignments ilabi na gid sa Math, Trigo, Physics (indi lang sa Advanced Chemistry kay kulelat ako.)kag kon kaisa sa mga test. Pero indi all the time ha? kon kaisa lang lalo na kung may na miss tana nga klase hay naga practice tana para sa Provincial kag Regional Meet. Syempre, may utok man ang bestfriend – slash- crush ko no! Beauty and brains! Kon kaisa gani, ako man naga pangopya kana! Hehehe!

Napilas ang kalendaryo kag nagbaylo ang mga tinuig, wara ko guid mangisog mangaluyag kana. Hasta mag graduate kami. Gin isip ko na lang nga ibutang sa baul ang akon nga baratyagon. Pero gintago ko man ang yabi eh. Malay mo maabot ang adlaw nga magkitaay kami kag pwede ron ako mangaluyag. Dream come true ron guro! Indi ron ko kinahanglan mag entra pa sa Pinoy Dream Academy!

Nag college ron kami. Ako medyo wara gid ginswerte kay nakasulod ako sa UPLB pero hasta 1 lang katuig kay wara ron inug gastos ang akon mga ginikanan. Poor lang nga daan kami (pang Maala ala Mo Kaya ruman ang story!). Pero hambal gani nanda…..”when a door closes, a window is opened” (indi lang ko sure kon amo gid man ra ang exact words. Basta may close kag open… ok run ra guro!).

Nag apply ako for scholarship sa isa ka shipping company and by God’s grace, nakapasa ako with flying colors. So, nag training ako, and after 10 months, im already working abroad! At the age of 18, im already earning my own money! (Take note, dollars pa!) Swerte gid man nga matawag guro hay by that time most of my classmates are still studying and begging for allowance from their parents. God is Good! Amen!

Since I am earning my own money, my self confidence started to build up. The first thing nga gin plano ko is how to make a contact again sa akon nga long lost crush. Because of the technology, madali lang ma trace kon sa diin tana kag makuha ang anang phone number. Sa duro ba naman kang contacts eh!

I started calling her, wara lang ko pag email kay wara man pagsabat. Busy gid guro sa studies. So tawag tawag lang pero indi man gid pirmi. Medyo ga kinuripot pa ko.

Until my first vacation, several years since I left Antique, I started contacting friends and former classmates, attending class reunions and even set up a party for my birthday. Pero daw medyo ginamalas kay maskin kaisa, wara gid mag attend ang bestfriend-slash-crush ko. Busy gid sa studies. Tawag tawag lang kon kaisa. Kon kaisa, indi man ma contact.

“Luck strikes when less expected.” Amo ra ang mahambal ko sang one time naisipan ko magpa Iloilo. Wara lang, lagaw lagaw lang. Naga libot libot ako sa SM City kang may nagtawag kang ngaran ko. Pag balikid ko…. Abaw!.... daw nag slow motion ang tanan. Nakita ko ang sangka babayi nga nami gid ang ana nga yuhum. Ang akon bestfriend-slash-crush gali!

Feeling ko nagalupad ako sa kahawaan! Nagayuhum tana samtang namangkot ko ano gina obra ko. Hambal ko “im just checking nice stuffs!” (wow! Pa impress!) nami yuhum yuhum na.. Abi ko ako gid ginayuhuman na pero nakita ko nga daw nayugit tana. Naglantaw ako sa palibot, namula man pungyahon ko kay by that time rudyan ako sa lingerie section! Sa atubang mismo kang mga bra kag panty! Wow naman! Mapagbiro talaga ang tadhana!

II

namula gid ako kay daw tama ka awkward ang eksena. imagine, makita kaw kang woman of your dreams nga naga libot libot sa lingerie section!my gosh!ano pa ayhan kon sa Victoria's Secret nga boutique to! ano mahambal mo nong DOK? mas ok pa guro ang eksena nga kita na ako nga daw si Super Inggo ang buhok ko minus da kapa! at least pwde ako ka kanta nga ".... ikaw ang aking super hero!"

well, it happened na. diskartehan na lang.

imaw na ang barkada na kag ginpakilala na ako as her classmate in high school. pinamangkot na ako kon may imaw ako . syempre lonely boy ako, gala gala sa mall alone. amo ra ang opisyo ko everytime nga na bored ako especially kon sa manila. budlay sa antique hay wara it mall. kon gusto mo magpa ramig ramig, tambay lang sa Royalty kag mag tsika stika sa mga salelady.

i was surprised when she asked me kon gusto ko magtawas kananda, overnite sa Pototan kay mamiyesta sa friends nanda! Praise GOD! Lord ang bait bait mo! syempre huod dayon ako eh! chance ko na to!

ginhimo ko, nag saylo lang ko kang mga 2 ka aisle sa men's section kag namitbit kang brief kag sangka Hanes nga shirt. then off we go to Pototan!

sa duro kang pasahero nga mamiyesta, i have no choice kundi magkabit na lang sa jeep. okay lang... ang importante maimaw ko tana kag for overnite pa!! grabeee na to! kilig na kilig gid ako pero wara ko lang ginapahalata kag todo gid kapot ko kay nali mahulog ako sa jeep!

pag abot sa balay kang friend nanda, nagyapon kami then istoryahanay gamay kag nanghimos mapa plaza malantaw koronasyon. there she intoduced me to all her friends. i dont know lang kon ang pakilala na friend ako or suitor. nahangyos lang ko when one of her friend told me in whisper nga boto kuno tana kanakon! dugang lapad kang talinga ko ba! nguri nguri lang ko.

i think that was the start kang medyo amat amat nga pagbalik kang amon closeness. every now and then naga text ako kag kon kaisa tawag man. that time medyo busy tana kay naga duty ron.

daw gindrowing ron sa akon bibig ang yuhum kada magbugtaw sa kaagahon. syempre inspired! kon makauli gani tana sa antique, set dayon ako kang date! aba date!

ang mabudlay lang kay indi basta basta makagwa sa balay. medyo strict si mother. ti kon kaisa, matakas lang tana or mapaimaw kay younger sister na. hagadon ko lang magkaon sa Cindy's ukon sa ibabaw Royalty.

ako syempre super excited everytime mag meet kami. pati ang akon kabaranggay naga muno nga rayo pa lang kuno naga pang imyon ron ang akon nga Polo Sport nga cologne! dapat lang nga mahamot, may date mong!

sa super excited ko, maskin ang na set nga time is 3pm, 1 pm pa lang rudyan run ako naga tambay sa meeting place! as in super excited gid! pero sa tuod tuod lang, ang amon nga pag guwa guwa ay as friends lang. wara pa gid ako makahambal ka na! haaaaay! maan lang dyan! sa tama gid abi ka pagka torpe sa akon! san-o ko pa ayhan maipabutyag ka na ang nagabagtik nga balatyagon sa akon kasing kasing!

since medyo ma PR man ako, on that night sa Pototan pa lang medyo nakuha ko na ang bu ot kang ana nga mga barkada. amo to nga ginhagad uman nanda ako nga matawas mamiyesta sa isa pa nila ka kabarkada sa Leganes naman in the next 2 weeks.

as usual, overnight naman. pero this time wala na koronasyon kundi baylehan! medyo nag boost gawa ang spirit ko kay this time, i will really make the move para maka first dance ko tana!

haay, sa pagka torpe ko, kada mag tukar ang sweet music naga duha duha ako kon parapitan ko tana kag sagdahon nga mag bayle. at last! naka tipon ako kang kusog nga magpalapit kana kag agdahon nga mag saot. naga kudog-kudog mga tuhod ko kag pwerte kuba-kuba kang dughan ko!

naga tukar ang sweet music kag public may dance pa! sa kabuhayon ko magpalapit ka na kay naga duha duha pa ko, nagpalapit ako kana sang malapit na lang matapos ang sonata. hambal ko.."may i have this dance?". grabe kulba ko sang mga tiyempo nga to! nagsabat tana... "sige, ang sa sunod na lang nga sonata kay manugtapos ron man."

yeeeesss! daw malumpat ako sa kasadya!

manugtukar ang sunod nga sonata, naparapit dayon ako kag tana man nagtindog dayon kag nagpatunga kami.

ay lintii! daw mahibi ako! kay ang sunod nga sonata... CHA CHA! waaaaaah!

wara ti mahimo, sa tunga ron kami kang nagatinap-ok na ang baylehan.daw may nakita pa gani ako nga tsinelas nga nagtabog!

daw mabuang akoooo!

III

daw mabuang ako sa natabo. ano gid nga swerte akon nga sang nakakuha ako kang kaisog nga magpalapit ka na para magsaot, nagsugot man siya. handot nga sa duro duro kang sonata, amo pa tong CHA CHA ang natabuan nga ipatukar ni Mr. Operator?! are they palying with my emotions???? grrrrr!!!

maskin paano, enjoy man ko sa bayle. mas ok na to guro nga CHA CHA ang ginpatukar, kesa naman sa LIMBO ROCK! gin enjoy ko na lang ang moment kag ginpa guwa ko ang tanan nga gin tuldo kanakon ni Lolo Puroy. ang CHA CHA nga may iwol iwol kang buli na daw pato! pinamalhas man ko ba!

the next day, maaga pa kami nagpanaw. nakaabot kami sa city tama lang nga bag ong bukas ang mall. medyo maaga pa mo ra nga nag decide kami nga malantaw na lang anay sine tutal dominggo man.

wow! sine! ano gid nga swerte akon man! una, nagsabay kami sa baylehan, tapos kadja, lantaw kang sine! pag sinuswerte nga naman! lab-ot hasta talinga ang ngirit ko!

kang sa sulod na kami kang mall kag namili kon ano nga pelikula ang lantawon,ambay kon bwenas gid man ako ukon malas? (wara man ko it karaha sa buli) syempre puro bayi imaw ko, nag agree tanan(wara ako it mahimo! majority wins!) nga ang box office hit nga pelikula ang lantawon namon. starring Vilma Santos and Claudine Barretto..... ANAK.

bag-o pa lang kami ka pungko kag wara pa mag umpisa ang pelikula pero daw mahibi ron ako. indi bangud sa masubu ang pelikula kundi ang pwesto ko sa purungkuan... ako sa pinaka punta tapos tana mga 3 pa ka purungkuan ang amon ba-ot! waaahh! daw matangso sip-on ko sa frustration!

so, we had our first dance, our first movie together, we even played billiards sa babaw kang royalty (wara gid ko mag daug ka na maskin isa lang ka set! kahuruya!).... ano pa pwede ko mapangayo sa langit?

i would like to remind you nga i am on vacation. that means limited lang ang time ko. may sayings ruman nga naga ku-on... "time flies when you're having fun!" (pasalamat ko kay Mrs. Altar ang adviser ko kang Grade 6, duro naman an ko nga sayings halin ka na! next time ko na lang isugid kaninyo ang iban pa nga sayings nga naman an ko ah! concentrate ta lang anay sa love story ko.)

since i am having the time of my life, madasig lang nga nag agi ang inadlaw. rapit na lang matapos ang bakasyon ko. i have to make a move na! kinahanglan mag double time.

hay estudyante ang akon dreamgirl, busy gid katama. ang time na lang maka uli sa antique is during week ends.

i was scheduled to go back to Manila on Sunday, nagka emergency kag nagtawag ang office nga kinahanglan ko magreport dayon on monday of the next week.

friday pa lang gintawagan ko tana and swerte man nga wara tana it duty. pinamangkot ko kon pwede kami mag meet on saturday kay may ihambal lang ko nga importante. she agreed that we meet in Cindy's on saturday afternoon around 3:00. as usual, matakas na lang ruman kay Mader na.

12:30 pa lang, sa guwa na ako kang Cindy's nagahulat. indi ko ma man an kon excitement or nerbiyos ang akon nabatyagan. i'll have to do it this time.. or i will never have the chance again!

she arrived 10 minutes past 3. okay lang, ang importante, nag abot tana. nagsaka kami kag nangita kang pwesto.medyo patay nga oras kag pila lang kabilog nga lamesa ang okupado. pwede kami kaistoryahanay ka mayad.

naga kuba kuba ang dughan ko, indi ko maman an kon paano umpisahan. nagapangamuyo ako nga tugruan ako kang kaisog nga mahambal kana ang buhay ko nga nga gina tago sa akon kasing kasing. Lord, please give me courage!

nag order anay kami,. anang gin order.. club house sandwhich kag mango juice. ang akon... crispy bihon (what a great choice for that moment! paano ko makaon ang matigdas nga bihon nga naga hining hining sa mantika sa sobra ko nga nerbiyos?!) kag tubig pampadura nerbiyos.

makapira ka beses gawa ako nag ginhawa kang madalom antes makakuha kang buwelo. gin hambal ko kana nga manugpanaw na ako the next day. she was surprised kag nakita ko nga medyo nagsubu ang anang uyahon. "good sign!" hambal ko sa kaugalingon ko. daw may tsansa!

ginderesto ko na, tutal nakabuwelo ron... "i love you!"(staight to the point di bla?!). amo lang to ang nahambal ko ka na.

gamayan lang madunlan kang sandwhich nga bag o na lang ginduhol sa bibig na. nag inom dayon siya juice. nagturok kanakon kag nag seryoso ang anang itsura.

"best friend, man an mo man siguro nga kadya busy ako sa akon pag eskuwela. gusto ko nga makatapos dayon kag mag obra. gusto ko ron nga papahuwayon si Tatay sa pag abroad. naluoy ron ako ka na." ang sabat na kanakon.

"best friend, indi man ako mangin hindrance sa pag eskwela mo! just make me an inspiration para makabulig sa pagtu on mo. i promise you, i will be supportive!" ang nasabat ko ka na nga gulpi na lang naluyahan. nag abot ron ang oras nga gina kahadlukan ko....

"im so sorry gid best friend, man an ko nga may sala man ako kanimo. ang pag imaw ko kanimo kon manghagad kaw maglagaw siguro ang nagtugro kanimo kang impression nga okay lang kanakon mangaluyag kaw. i did it because we were friends, may pinagsamahan kita kang high school kag enjoy ako sa company mo.kag isa pa wara man ikaw paghambal before nga may tinutuyo ikaw. maybe i gave you the wrong impression. im sorry! hindi pa talaga ako ready for a relationship."

"best friend, okay lang kanakon kon indi pa kaw ready this time, i am willing to wait pa naman. im not in a hurry. i am giving you all the time you need. just give it a chance!"

"i dont want to give you a false hope. im telling you, indi pa ako ready for a relationship. kag isa pa naka promise ako sa parents ko nga mentras naga skwela ako, indi ako anay mag nobyo nobyo. i hope maintindihan mo."

"naintindihan ko best friend, but i hope nga you will give me a chance. man an mo nga high school pa lang kita, may crush ron ako kanimo, ginatago tago ko lang. till now bestfriend, nangisog lang ako nga mahambal sa imo ang buhay ko na nga ginatago tago"

"man an ko man ria tanan. espesyal ikaw kanakon, amo ria nga indi ako gusto nga masayang lang ang aton paging mag bestfriend bangod indi nag work out kita bilang magnobyo. indi ako gusto matabo rian. indi ako gusto maguba ang friendship naton.i cant afford losing you! indi ako gusto magsugal."

"paano ta bay ma man an best friend kon mag work out ukon hindi kon indi naton pag i-try? please, just give it a chance and i promise you. you will never regret!"

"best friend, nahambal ko ron bay kanimo nga right now i am not yet ready for a relationship? i hope maintindihan mo. kag siguro, kon mag decide ako, ikaw ang pili-on ko nga mangin nobyo ko. pero right now,i am not yet ready talaga. im sorry! i dont know kon san o ako mangin ready. indi ko gusto nga paasahon ka."

gulpi nag ring ang anang cellphone. nanawag ang nanay na, ginapangita kon sa diin ron tana. ang lisensya na mabakal lang kang bulong sa mercury.

nag lisensya tana nga mauna ron kag nagtindog.

daw gin sakluban ako kang langit. naga irinit ang akon pungyahon nga daw ginaramigan ako. i was silent, blangko ang utuk ko. i tried to stand but it seems that theres no bone to support my weight. i decided to stay seated for a while. i take a gulp of water to moisten my throat nga namarhan kag ginpahidan ko kang tissue ang balhas ko nga maramig nga daw mala munggo ka bahol.

i paid the bill and exitted.

indi ko ma man an kon sa diin ako maagto. daw nagalupad ako sa kahawaan, blangko ang utok. im still replaying our conversations in my mind. remembering every word she says that seems to be a bullet shot straight into my heart.... ano na ang gagawin ko ngayon??

IV

bangud kay gahol ron sa oras, napiritan ako nga makipag kita sa akon bestfriend-slash-crush. maskin tama ka nerbiyos, nahambal ko ka na ang baratyagon ko nabuhay ko na nga ginahuptan. hoping that it will be the key to a deeper and more romantic relationship.

pero natabo ang akon nga ginakahadlukan, she rejected my proposal. indi ko maman an kon ano na ang himuon ko.

ang kasugpon:

wara ko naman an kon paano ako nakauli sa balay. pag abot ko sirum ron kag medyo indi na gawa maaninag ang pungyahon kang akon nga mga nakasug alaw. it is good so that they wont notice my troubled countenance.

nag hapit anay ako sa tiyangge kag nagbakal anum ka botelya nga Pilsen. daw nagalupad lang ako sa kahawaan. nagapanaw ako nga daw wara sa wisyo.

sa gate pa lang ako pero bation ron ang music nga ginapatukar kang gurang ko... FOOL AGAIN kang Westlife. abaw.... ginasunlog gid ako kang kapalaran! kulang pa bala ang inagyan ko sa amo to nga adlaw nga pati sa music ipahanumdom pa sa akon ang sakit?

"...cant believe that im a fool again
thought this love would never end...."

wara ron ako mag ilis. nag plastar na lang ako sa balkonahe kag gin umpisahan ang pag inom kang serbesa. ginhagda ko si tatay nga mag inom pero wara pag inom kang serbesa si tatay. mayad pa kon kape... sabayan na gid kaw ka tungga!

lunudon ko na lang sa serbesa ang kasakit nga akon ginabatyag. kabay pa nga sa pagtungga ko kang urihi nga turo, amo man ang pagpanas kang akon nga memorya, nga pagbugtaw ko sa aga wara ako it madumduman sa nagkatabo kang nagligad nga adlaw.

sa kada pag lab ok ko sa botelya, amo man ang pag agas kang mga luha nga indi ko mapunggan. tubtob subong, daw ginakumos ang akon nga tagipuso-on. ginapamangkot ang akon kaugalingon kon tama ayhan ang nangin desisyon ko nga magpabutyag kang akon baratyagon? tama ayhan nga nagsugal ako kag napiyerdi? tama ayhan nga ang premyo kang akon pagsugal amo ang pagkadula kang akon nga bestfriend?... ang babayi nga sa sulod sang pila ka tinuig nangin sentro kang akon paghimakas nga mag ugwad sa pangabuhi para indi ron ako maalangan nga ipabutyag ang akon baratyagon? kaduro lang kang mga pamangkot kag paghinulsol. daad wara ko na lang ginhambal ka na. daad....

wara ko natalupangdan nga nakaturog ako nga nagapungko sa siya sa balkonahe. nakabugtaw na lang ako kang gin tapik ako kang akon nga magurang. alas diyes ron sa kagab-ihon.

ginapasulod ako kag ginapapanyapon pero wara ako it gana. naglisensya ako nga maagto sa ubus sa amon uma kay may tawagan ako.(medyo indi mayad ang signal sa balay kag sa uma lang gid ako makasagap kang signal nga mayad kag wara pag utod utod. mga 300 metros lang man ang karayu-on kang uma sa amon balay.) tawagan ko tana for the last time, nali pa lang gid magbag-o ang anang desisyon. indi ako basta basta lang mag give up!

antes ako mag guwa, gin tugro kanakon kang akon nga magurang ang sangka belt bag. pag lantaw ko, .38 nga rebolber! "darha dya kay basi may makasug alaw ikaw kar-on nga adik dyan kag mapag tripan kaw. gabii ron nga daan. pangaman lang." (wara tana kamaan kang nagakatabo kanakon, wara pa ako sang may nasugidan maskin isa).

normal ron ang pag agto ko sa uma kon gabii para manawag. rudto ako sa uma libre nga makaistorya sa akon bestfriend nga wara it may nagapamati. rudto ko gina ubos ang load ko.

bag o pa lang naga mura ang bulan sa bukid kag ang langit buta kang bitoon. daw naga kasadya ang palibot kay maskin isa ka gal-um war ako it makita. ang tanan nagakasadya sa akon nga kasubu.

mga pira gawa ka ring antes na sabton.

"hello!"
"musta ron?"
"sori lang gid kaina, na shock lang ako sa ginhambal mo."
"naga ugot kaw?"
"wara ah. ikaw ang ginapaminsar ko, nali nag ugot kaw kay ginreject ko ang proposal mo."
"wara ta man ikaw ginamadali, willing ako maghulat!"
"ginhambal ko ron bay kanimo ang sitwasyon ko?"
"please, give me a chance!"
"i dont want to give you false hope. man an mo man bay sitwasyon ko? hindi pa ako handa para sa sangka relasyon."
"please! indi ko maman an kon paano ko i handle ang rejection mo!"
"dont make it hard for me, it is hard for me to say these words, i dont want to say it cause i know it will hurt you but it will hurt you more kon paasahon ta lang ikaw sa bagay nga maskin ako mismo indi sigurado!"
"please!"
"man an mo, nali na challenge lang kaw. hambal mo kabay, since high school pa ikaw may gusto. nali na challenge lang ikaw kadya kay nga daan before you dont have the chance para mamasyar?"

i can feel the cold steel nga naglapat sa akon ulo.

"right now, may pusil nga nagataya sa akon ulo, kag ang tudlo ko sa gatilyo.... please! ihambal nga you will give me a chance!please!"

i was trembling and at the same time tears continuously flowing almost blurring my vision.

"indi ako pag pahuga!"
"wara ako pag binutig kag wara ko ikaw ginapahug, i dont know how to handle your rejection! i might rather die! please tell me you're giving me a chance!"
"please, dont do it! dont make me feel guilty! im telling you the truth, im not ready yet!"
"please!"
"please throw away that gun! i wont talk to you unless you throw that away! istoryahan ta dya sa mayad nga paagi!"

...toooot....tooooot....toooot.....

"you have insufficient fund to make this call....."

ay linti!! naubos ron load ko!

i was like crazy pacing back and forth trying to dial again and again hoping that it will reconnect.

i was trembling, my shirt is drenched with sweat. gasping for breath, i paced back and forth with gun still pointing in my head. my vision went black and stars were in my head....

BANG!!!!!!

complete silence.......

V

ginapirit ko nga i enjoy ang kaugalingon ko sa paglantaw kang mga puti nga linya kang dagat nga gin agyan kang elisi kang barko. sa indi marayu kita o ang binukid kang Antique. indi ako sigurado kon san-o ruman ako makabalik sa probinsya nga akon gintubu-an. kon sa diin ginpanday ang akon nga pagkatao, sa diin ko una nabatyagan ang ginatawag nga paghigugma. sa amo man nga lugar nabuong ang damgo nga kon pila ka tuig ko gintipigan. o Antique.... kalipay kag kasubu ang imong gindulot sa akon!

samtang naga lantaw ako sa tubig, nag flash back ang sangka eksena kang Titanic sa akon isipan.... si Rose may plano maglumpat sa dagat.....

nagyuhum lang ako, nope... im not going to do what she's doing. i've had enough in the past night.

amat amat nga nagabaskug ang dapya sang hangin. gintrapuhan ko ang ginasuksuk nga itom nga RayBan kay may asik kang tubig dagat, ang RayBan nga nagatabon sa akon nagapalamarok nga mata. ang mata nga sa akon huna huna nag surrender na sa pagpagwa kang luha. indi lang ako sigurado kon naubos na ang tanan ko nga luha ka tubod, ukon sa sobra ka pagbanog kang akon mata, nagkipot na ang mga buho nga daad aragyan kang mga luha...

nagdesisyon ako nga mgasulod na kay naga umpisa na ka basya ang balud. kag isa pa nakapoy ron ako, mabalik na lang ako sa akon kabina.

naga ingkag ingkang ako sa kada paglapak kang akon tu-o nga kahig. nagangutngot ang pilas nga ginsuyak kang siit kang aroma sang nagligad nga gabii. pilit ko nga gina recall kon ano gid man ang natabo?.....

....pagkatapos ako maubusan kang load, daw buang ako nga nagaparik parik paagto kag pabalik nga gina try kon may load pa ukon wara.

i was so upset! pacing back and forth, i suddenly felt pain in my right foot. i can literary see stars in my head! na out balanced ako kag napitik ko ang gatilyo kang rebolber. mayad na lang kay ang barrel was pointed away from me.

i was shocked! immobilized for several moment, trying to absorb what happened. i was brought back to senses by the pain in my foot. indi ko makita kay madulom kag ang bag-ong mura nga bulan lang ang nagatugro kang kasanag. kinapkap ko ang akon tsinelas. rudto pa gyapon nagatabid ang malabog kag pino nga siit kang aroma.

pinamalhas ako kang ramig, ang akon nga kasubu nabayluhan kang nerbios. nagdugang kuba kuba kang akon dughan. ginakapos ako kang hangin, sunod sunod ang ginhawa ko sang madalom nga daw gina atake sang hapo.

that was near!!... may nag sulod sa akon isipan... hadlok pa man gali ako mapatay! kaina lang daw si sin o ako nga nagtaya kang pusil sa akon ulo... kadya, daw haros mapatay sa nerbiyos sang nakabati kang lupok!

nagahagunos nga nag abot ang akon magurang imaw si tatay. nabatian nanda ang lupok. they were worried kon ano ang natabo.

ginhambalan ko na lang nga nasuyak ako kang aroma amo to nga na out balance ako kag aksidente ko nga napitik ang gatilyo. pasalamat sanda kay wara ti may malain nga natabo. pati ang mga marapit nga balay nagsipagbukasan kang andang mga sulo kag mag usyoso......

medyo gina kapoy ron ako. nabatyagan ko na ang katuyo. wara nga daan ako makaturog kang bilog nga gabii. im still in shock sa natabo.

nagsulod ako sa ginbuol ko nga private nga kabina. mayad lang kay gamay lang ang pasahero kag solo ko ang bilog nga kwarto. ipahuway ko anay ang akon nga mga mata. nali pa lang makapahuway man ang akon tagipuso-on kag maskin pila lang ka oras malipatan ang sakit nga tubtob sa amo nga mga tini-on ginabatyag man gyapon.

nagbalik ako sa manila and after several days, nagpanaw na man ako for assignment sa guwa kang pungsod. hoping that eventually i will be able to forget what happened and nurse my wounded heart. indi lang guro taguipusoon ko ang nabu-ong, kundi bilog ko nga pagkatao.

sala ko man tanan. i had given everything and didn't left anything for my self. amo guid man ako ka rian... if i love, i give everything, even my soul! its all or nothing! when i gamble, i bet everything.

i believe that love should be given with passion, or never give at all.... maybe because im romantic? or maybe i have more love to offer but cant find anyone to share with.

wara ron ako it iban nga mahimo kundi ang mag move on, ipadayon ang pangabuhi and pick up one by one all the shattered pieces of my broken dreams, to build another dream.... a dream nga ako ang sentro, ako ang bida!

they say that "time heal all wounds" and i hold on to that. i focused my mind on work, my family and my self. amat amat nga nagbalik ang dati nga ako. pero indi gid malikawan nga magsagi sa isip ko ang mga nagligad and be depressed.

then i tried to venture into a relationship. and happy to say that my previous fate was never repeated. wara ron ako mabasted! but eventually those relationships didnt last long. maybe im not yet ready. i havent recovered fully.

years passed and im back to normal life again. bar hopping kon weekends, tawag kang mga barkada kag mag gimik!

since mga kabarkada ko ay mga elementary classmates, we planned to have a reunion that is actually an overnight sa Villavert. that was fun... meeting former classmates whom some i havent seen for more than five years!

na meet ko ruman ang classmate ko nga if i remember kang elementary, best enemy ko! heheheh! daw subra pa guro kami sa mga ayam nga pirmi lang nagasantikanay kon mag imaway. na guilty gani ko kay pirmi lang tana gasgas kag lanog kay pirmi nagakadagpa sa paglagas kanakon kon gina bwisit ko!

that night i think started the new course of my life.

this lady right now is very different from the one i am always fighting in elementary!

to make the story short, nangin close kami and eventually after several months i started courting her. at first her reaction was the same with my bestfriend-slash-crush in highschool. afraid to venture into a more complex relation ship in fear of ruining the friendship. but then, she was brave enough to gamble.

right now, we are already married for almost four years and blessed with a smart and adorable 3 year-old son.

(may na notice lang ako... daw may pattern ah! puro former classmate? ang kinalain lang ang una bestfriend, ang sunod best enemy! okay no? at least best enemy nga nangin bestfriend nga nangin asawa. wara ron siguro it may mas manami pa nga development kang realtionship kaysa dyan ka ria.)

nag abot ang time i realized i should not be mad about what happened in my early venture in relationship. okay lang guro nga natabo to. kon wara to siguro, indi ko gid gaano maapreciate ang kalipay nga dulot kang lubos kag putli nga paghigugma. pareho kang kalipay kag pagkakuntento nga akon kadya ginabatyag.

sa natabo before, wara ako nagtanom kang ugot sa akon best friend. naintiyendihan ko ang anang desisyon kag gin respeto ko. isa lang ang akon ginhinulsulan, ang nagsugal ako kag napiyerdi. ang pusta... ang amon nga paging mag bestfriend.

"time heal all wounds" hambal nanda, can time turn back a ruined friendship?

i have my new life now, and working hard to make it even better. one day my fromer highschool classmate (friend man ni bestfriend) invited me to join Kinaray-a.com. ginbisita ko ang site kag nagustuhan ko. i enjoyed reading forums and chatting with fellow antiquenos. nag pa member ako.

nangin habit ko run nga kon mag abot gani sa balay from work, after checking my mails,i visit the site. one day, pag open ko nakita ko sa new members list ang familiar name. it happened nga online tana kag sa chatroom.

nag join ako and i confirmed kon tana gid man. possitive! nagpakilala ako kag nag reply man tana. nag chat kami and mayad man kay daw kami na lang darwa ang active sa room, medyo nangin relax kami sa conversation.

i apologized for what happened before. for scaring her to death during our last conversation sa phone. nangayo man sya pasensya for the rejection, explaining her situation at that time. as what ive said, i never kept any grudge or anger on her maskin amo pa to ang natabo. what's important is we both moved on and happy with our own lives. we agreed to put the past behind and reassured ourselves that the friendship we feared nga naguba was in fact remained intact.

all of our conversation was witnessed by the admin himself. heheheheh! mayad lang kay wara na gin post sa forum.

for everyone's info gali, my bestfriend-slash-former crush (hehehe!) graduated on time and is now working in the U.S. her dreams had finally come true and i'm happy for her.

i realized that there are things in life nga maskin ano ta ka pirit mangin atun, indi gid pwede. Kon sa tagalong pa, “kung hindi ukol, hindi bubukol”.

i believe in fate, nga may sangka persona gid nga nakaplano para kanaton. pwede mahambal nga soulmate kon sa mga tawo nga nagapati sa amo kara. nga ma complement sa kon ano nga personalidad may jan kita and will help bring out the best in us.

i learned the value of patience, learned that being positive even in adversities can make a misfortune into a learning opportunity.

i learned to accept defeat and failure, i learned to move on, i learned to love myself and never lose hope. now, i am happy, contented and thankful for all that I have and what I don’t have.

-fin-

Messed Up

2008-12-02T17:40:00.004+08:00

sometimes we do things with the aim of sharing our personal experiences to somehow inspire other people but end up hurting the persons who are dear to us while others praise you for what we have done.

several years ago, i wrote this short story about my experience (actually its about my first love) due to the request from the web administrator for posting in the literature section of our newly launched local website. this is for the purpose of persuading other members to write and post their works in the site.

i was challenged by this request and started writing and posted my works in installment. the members accepted and loved my work. i received heartwarming comments and somewhat give a boost in my somewhat challenged life as an illegal immigrant in japan at that time.

with all those comments in my mailbox everyday theres someone who is silently hurting with my writings. i was focused with the writing to kick out the stress of my situation and diverting my attention that i overlooked one thing. i never considered what will my wife's reaction will be once the story is out.

this became the topic in most of our recent aguments. i tried explaining my side that i have no other intention about the writing but to inspire other people. i tried asking her to read the whole story but shes too hurt to continue reading. she's questioning my sincerity to her.

i know i made a mistake in disregarding what might be her feelings once she read my writings. but i am too proud to admit my mistake since never i had any other intention aside from inspiring and persuading other people to write.

with her present situation of being in second trimester of her delicate pregnancy, her OB advised her to stay away from stress due to her condition of Marginal Placenta Previa. its really hard to explain things to her since shes having unpredictable mood swings.

yesterday, we just ended 2 days of cold war and had a long talk. we made up and i am hoping this will be the last argumet regarding this topic.

i would like to share the culprit with you in my next post and please let me know if i really need to make a lot of explanations to my wife.

Fatherhood 101

2008-11-23T20:21:00.010+08:00

More than 20 years ago, I was a small skinny and charcoal skinned kid who enjoys the sand and blue waters of the sea in a bright sunny day and under the star filled night together with my cousins and friends. Actually one of my happiest childhood memory is enjoying the beach with my cousins every summer (even on rainy seasons) playing lantay lantay (patintero), ayam - kuti (cat and dog), building sand castles, pukol (sand balls tournament), catching dyukoy (beach crabs), punaw (seashells) and even milkfish hatchlings.

Lately, I had the chance of sharing with my son some of the things we enjoyed when i was a kid of his age and showed him that enjoyment and fun is not just limited to watching cartoon channels and playing PSP.

Discipline Without Shouting and Spanking

2008-11-07T13:15:00.003+08:00

Several months ago, my son did something that made me lose my temper and gave him the spanking he deserved (in my opinion). Several minutes after crying almost silently in our room, he approached me and handed me this book without saying anything.

I was surprised upon seeing the book since it is familiar and had seen it laying our bed or in the table most of the time. I don't know if i should feel insulted or be ashamed of my self.

My wife and I had been arguing about what method are we going to impose in the upbringing of our kid. She believes in diplomatic kind of discipline (without shouting and hitting) while i want to be more strict (since i grew up with a disciplinarian father).

As a parent, I actually don't feel good either after laying a hand or raising my voice on my kid. Its like you are also hitting yourself and feels three times more of the pain.

I took the time to read and give the philosophies of this book a chance to settle in my mind and analyze if whether it is reasonable and attainable enough to be followed.

The book covered a lot of topics and problems usually encountered by parents with preschool kids and gives most practical and simple advices on how to deal with such problem. It also helped me have some understanding in child psychology.

Now, my wife is happy seeing me slowly putting the book's ideas into action and i find it also very interesting since i am required to spend more time with the kid and at the same time be more patient. This way, I am given the chance to know the child more and more each day and make our bond stronger. Maybe its a way of catching up of the 3 years that we had lost.

Kalag Kalag

2008-11-02T11:43:00.010+08:00

All Saints Day/All Souls Day is not just for us to commemorate and visit our departed beloved and and spend the day bringing flowers, lighting candles and offer prayers for them. It is also a chance for our family and distant relatives to have a mini reunion and show this Filipino trait of close family ties and good sense of enjoyment.

We spent the day with preparing foods (Suman, Valenciana, Egg Pie and Mango Float) for visitors who might come for Kalag kalag at night.

Since its very humid and hot, i decided to open my internet shop (where i earlier decided to close for holiday) and visit the cemetery in the afternoon when the heat is already bearable for us since my wife's having a sensitive pregnancy. By that time the volume of crowd is expected to have decreased.We reached the cemetery around five pm and the crowd still come and goes. Some of them are familiar faces and we just exchanged smiles and hellos while some commented on my son in his Superman costume. We lighted candles and offered prayers and the rain started to pour. We managed to reach my wife's grandparent's mausoleum before it poured heavily and where some cousins are already there. We happily chatted while waiting for the rain to stop.

We went home around 7 pm and my father, sister and nieces are waiting. We still have time to set the table for some more visitors. 10 minutes after, a bunch of kids (happens to be nephews and neices) noisily knocking at our door while chanting "trick or treat! trick or treat!" in their halloween costumes.
Our house soon became a carnival for kids where they all displayed their antics. There's the Hunchback, Red EyedFairy, Dead Black Eyed Queen, The Ripper, The Vampire in Stripes and the Rock Artist who Hanged Himself. I am impressed to learn that these kids at really the ones who planned and conceptualized their characters and even did their own make up.

We then have our dinner and some more cousins arrive. The noise of kids were replaced with teenager's giggles and laughter as the kids went on to the next house for more trick or treats.

The last visitors left around 10 pm and by that time i am already snoring in our room.

The Armor

2008-10-31T14:05:00.007+08:00

To the person who had been my constant supporter, my real best friend, my soul mate, my partner, my wife.

I know the five years that we had together since we got married is a roller coaster of events and emotions. I admit that most of it is my fault.

We started our life together believing that we will be able to survive any adversities that will come as long as we are there for each other. And we did. We want to show the world that we can build our own home without much help and supervision from our parents. And we did. Its just like only you and me braving the world.

We were happy living our new found life with with our son.

A big storm came and shook us from our quiet life. I feel the burden of the responsibility i know i am not supposed to carry. I made the decision that will change the course of our life. I made it without consulting you knowing that you will never agree.

I know you were hurt, felt neglected. But that was the best decision i could make at that time. You supported me anyway, you never complained though i know there's doubt in you. As a wife to her husband, you had given me your trust.

The three long years had proven me how much you love me and showed importance even to my family. You cared more than i care for them. We made sacrifices. You never complained.

Our prayers had been answered. The three long trying years ended and we were back together. But then there's something wrong. We were supposed to be happy as the way we are three years ago.

At first i haven't noticed. Until you were overwhelmed and can no longer keep it. You burst it out straight in my face.

I wont admit that I changed. That I am not the same husband that left three years ago.

I know how much it hurt you that after years of separation, years of longing, years of uncertainty of when will we be together again, a husband who is silent, lost in thoughts, moody and insensitive came back instead.

I pondered on these words for days searching for the light to shed on the questions WHY?

God knows how happy I am being with you right now. That the time I was away was spent with sleepless nights and longing for you and our son. That every Sunday when kids at church march at the end of the mass for blessing, I'm holding back my tears while envisioning that our son is marching with them. That on every couples blessing, how I wish we are with them holding our hands walking to the altar. That every night when I hug my tear drenched pillow i am dreaming that it was you i am hugging instead.

I promised you fidelity and i kept it.

Being back with you again is priceless. Yet the happiness and love i feel seemed cannot pass through this thick armor i am wearing.

The armor i built on our trying times. The armor that helped and protected me not to be vulnerable, the armor that hid my weaknesses, the armor that taught me not to trust and expect anything on anybody so as not to be disappointed. The armor that made me trust only three persons in my three years of being away from you ( my self and two other very good persons who earned my trust and respect). The armor that helped me hide whatever i feel since showing of emotion is a sign of weakness in my battlefield of temptations, anxiety, paranoia and uncertainty.

I think i made a pretty strong and thick armor for it really served its purpose. It protected and hid the weak and scared warrior inside.

Now that I'm back with you, this armor is no longer needed.

I need to take it off for its already suffocating me. It suffocates and I'm afraid that it will eventually kill our relationship.

I'm asking for your help. Please help me break this armor. Help me for I alone cannot do it.

If hurting and breaking me is necessary in the process, lets do it anyway. I just wanted to be back to the same sweet, sensitive and dependable husband that you were once proud of having.

Joy of a Parent

2008-10-30T14:24:00.004+08:00

As parents, we are always proud of whatever achievement our kids get. Whether from being good in applying colors in their coloring book, memorizing their ABC's at an early age to their performances in school.

We can say that it is one of the prizes of our hardships, sacrifices and perseverance to give them a better life. Better than what we had.

As a father, i am more ecstatic and proud whenever my son gets a star in school or hear him sing with Magic Sing Karaoke Machine. I can say that it is one of the innumerable bonuses of being a parent.As what the credit card commercial says: " its priceless!"

Live and Let Liver Live

2008-10-23T18:19:00.012+08:00

Being young and financially independent means freedom! Freedom from all stress and worries brought by being financially dependent from your parents or other person. Free to do whatever you want whenever you want it as long as you have the money to fund it.

At the age of 18, i already had a high earning job as a Seaman. I had my (Financial) Independence at a prime state. Stage wherein hormones surge, stage of being rebellious and always yearns for adventure. The stage where i want to try and learn everything and search for my self.

I am young and i want to enjoy it! Enjoyment means time with friends in bars or at home with cold glass of beer or whiskey and the all time favorite "Joe Curves a.k.a. Jose Cuervo". I even illegally stock my cabin (when on ship) with whiskey, brandy and other alcoholic drinks and have a private party just with close friends almost every other day and doesnt bother even if theres work on the next morning.

I had lots of friends. And we are drunk almost every day.....

Life really has its own way of getting back into you. And i had mine the soonest.

At the age of 24, I am a married man with a newborn kid. I am now threading a new path. Being a family man means a lot to me and providing for my family is my number one priority.

Change is the only constant thing in this world as what they say, and so is my work. The pre-employment medical check-up had changed into a more strict examination and covers more scope than the regular examination. That was the first time I encountered the medical term SGPT.

Transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic (SGPT): An enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells, and is released into blood when the liver or heart is damaged. Blood SGPT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or with an insult to the heart (for example, from a heart attack). Some medications can also raise SGPT levels. Interpretation of elevated SGPT levels depends on the context, and can necessitate additional clinical and laboratory information.

The medical examination shows that i surpassed the limit for SGPT level and is considered unfit for employment.

Desperate to go back to work and earn money, I sought other peoples help and manipulated the test results when I was reffered to other physician for rehabilitation of my liver. Thanks to those Medtech friends who helped me pass the tests in exchange for a dinner at Mario's.

I was then cleared and resumed my work. Then another mishap in my family led me to sign off with unfinished contract. My brother died and left four kids who are still schooling. My wife and I took the responsibility of helping the two eldest kids finish their last year in college.

I resumed my work on ship without the medical exam since my previous exam is still valid.

Brought by pressure of the burden i am carrying, i found this chance of searching my chance of a better future together with a friend when we landed in Japan one chilly spring afternoon in May 2005.

These events explains my spoils and adventures in Japan as an illegal immigrant for 3 years.

After all the adventures, sweats, tears and roller coaster of events and emotions, now i'm happily back with my family managing a small business.

As if adventure is really chasing me (or the other way around?), my recent motorcycle accident made me visit my doctor. I was asked to have a series of examination and one of these is my Blood Chemistry.

The test shows that my SGPT level is now almost four times above the normal.
I'm back to where I left three years ago.

I am sober for a month now and promising not to let the sweating bottle of cold beer seduce me and touch my lips......

......not....... while i'm on medication??>"<

Lesson Learned: You can never get away with life.

The Chinese Pregnancy Calendar

2008-10-17T12:17:00.014+08:00

With my wife being pregnant with our second baby, we had this same feeling of excitement and joy like when we had our first baby. Its been five years since we had Dondon and expecting for the arrival of our second baby brings a mixed feeling of happiness, excitement and hope that this will just be an easy and smooth delivery like the previous one.

Lately, my wife asked me if i can check on the internet about this Chinese Pregnancy Calendar that her friends are telling her to predict the gender of our upcoming child. Since we are all excited to know what would be the baby's gender and another three months waiting for the ultrasound to detect the baby's gender seems too long, this morning i searched.

The Story Behind Chinese Pregnancy Calendar

One of the most exciting things about being pregnant is finding out what gender your baby is. Whether you ask your ultra sound technician to give the secret away or if you decide to wait until your eventual meeting, the moment that you learn if you're having a son or a daughter is very special. In the meantime, a lot of women and their partners pass the time amusing themselves with online quizzes or tests to help determine their baby's sex. Most of these are based on old wives tales such as how particular cravings or weight gain can determine gender. Obviously these test are almost always incorrect. However, one of these amusements is eerily accurate and has been used by many couples throughout centuries: the Chinese Gender Prediction Calendar.

Discovered in a royal tomb near Peking, the calendar was inscribed on a tablet that is dated as being over seven hundred years old. This means that centuries of women and their husbands relied on it to give them some sort of idea what to expect on the delivery date. By finding the woman's age and then following the column to the month of conception, you can easily determine what gender your child will be. In many cultures there has always been a lot of pressure throughout history to have a first-born son in order to secure an heir. This can lead one to wonder how many couples through the years have chosen the right month and copulated intently in order to get a boy. There is a very good chance that this was the reason for the development of this calendar in the first place! Of course, there is no need to secure property in the same way these days and many couples are simply overjoyed to welcome their child into the world no matter what gender it is.

The original calendar is on display at the institute of science in Peking and many curious tourists visit it daily. Its popularity on the Internet seems to grow daily and a quick search will reveal many different versions. No doubt this popularity is due to the fact that many excited couples simply can't wait to pick out clothes and toys for their new arrival.

To use the Chinese pregnancy calendar, simply find the month the baby was conceived on the chart below and then follow across to the age of the mother at the time of conception to find the predicted gender. Although this chart is said to have a success rate of over 90 percent, keep in mind that this is solely for entertainment purposes.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

The chart predicted correctly Dondon's gender, our first child who was conceived on January with my wife at the age of 23. The chart shows that we will be expecting a baby boy since my wife conceived on August at the age of 29.

It is maybe exciting and somewhat dismaying since we really wanted to have a baby girl this time but as what the reminder says, it is not by any means scientifically sound and while enjoying its novelty, we should not take it seriously.

Whether boy or girl, our child is more than welcome into this world!

A Quick Stop at the Japanese Imperial Palace East Garden

2008-10-13T10:06:00.016+08:00

The three years i spent working in Japan involved mostly in travelling. Though almost everyday we travel from our okiba (storage house) to different jobsites in Tokyo, I can barely enjoy the pleasure of travelling since my situation as an undocumented illegal alien requires me to be extra careful and avoid being sighted by officers in uniform and other civilian-clothed nyuukan agents.

One fine day after my second visit to the Japanese Regional Immigration Bureau in Shinagawa, Tokyo for the processing my travel documents, i decided to take my chance to explore places that before, i'm just contented viewing from the window of our service vans and trucks. Now im free to go wherever i want without any fear of being caught or apprehended since i was already issued a travel certificate by the Bureau of Immigration.

I was scheduled to report at the Immigration Office before 8 a.m. so i finished my interview early and had the whole day for my self since i asked a one-day leave from work. From Shinagawa Yamanote Line Station, i boarded the train and got off at Tokyo Station. I still dont have definite place to go but Tokyo Station is in the heart of Metropolitan Tokyo so i am sure theres a lot of interesting places to go.

I decided to just walk around, find my way and take pictures.

I then saw this area map and i found my self in the vicinity of Hibiya Park and the Imperial Palace so i decided to see the Imperial Palace first.

I am near the Otemon Entrance so i decided to cross the traffic congested Hibiya Dori (Hibiya St.) and then this park with well maintained lawn beautifully lined with semi bonzaid pine trees met my eyes. I cant help noticing people sleeping under the trees. I wonder if they are allowed to stay and sleep there since it is a park. Later i learned that it is a Center for the Homeless and they allow people to stay and sleep there as long as the cleanliness of the area is maintained.

The Imperial Palace with its grounds is located on the site of former residential palace of the successive Tokugawa Shoguns in the Edo Period. Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Emperor Meiji moved here from Kyoto which had been the imperial capital for more than a thousand years.

The main Imperial Palace gardens and buildings are off limits to public and only opens on January 2 and December 23 (Emperor's Birthday) where the Imperial Family makes a public appearance but the Imperial Palace East Gardens is open to public daily except on Mondays and Friday.
The Imperial Palace East Gardens (Kyoko Higashi Gyoen) are part of the inner palace and are former site of Edo Castle's innermost circles of defense. None of the main bulidings remain today, but moats, walls, entrance gates and several guardhouses still exist.

It is tuesday and the East Gardens is open to the public. Tourists (mostly Koreans and Chinese) flock the area. As usual, my handy camera is in my hands ready to take photos and hoping that the battery and memory card will last until evening.

From Kyoko Gaien, the large plaza in front of the Imperial Palace, i can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganibashi (Eyeglass Bridge) for its looks.

The bridge in the back was formerly a wooden bridge with two levels, from which the name Nijubashi (Double Bridge) is derived.

I am alone so i just contented my self from taking photos and other tourists since i am shy enough to ask for someone to take my pictures.

This Meganibashi Bridge is the Main Entrance to the Inner Palace and is resticted to the public. Tourists stopped to pose and take pictures.

Even guards are not spared from the flashes of cameras.

After several minutes of walking and taking pictures, i finally found a good place to put my camera and select the self timer mode and pose in front of the palace moat, walls and tower.

It was already almost 12 noon and i decided to end the tour even though i was still not able to visit the other sights. I also cancelled the plan of going to the nearby Hibiya Park.

I am hoping i still have enough time to eat my lunch and get to my next destination... GINZA.

My Prayer

2008-10-04T17:30:00.004+08:00

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over.
And It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits.
I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak... Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe.

But I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.
I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.

Don Don's BIG Day

2008-10-02T21:40:00.010+08:00

Saturday, September 27 came and it is marked as a red date in a BIG Calendar hanging in our wall. This date marks the 5th birthday of our Unico Hijo Dondon who had been excited of this date from several weeks earlier.

We had plans earlier to have the celebration held in Iloilo City together with just few very close relatives. Due to bad weather and almost weekly visit of typhoons that we cancelled the plan at the last minute and we settled to have it instead in our house with the same visitors invited.

My motorcycle accident the day before had me almost bed ridden and dont have any much use especially in food preparation. I just helped my nephews with hanging candies and lollipops in the pabitin and pukpok palayok and other goodies for the parlor games. So again, my Superwoman/Wifey had to do all the shopping in the morning of the celebration (since my accident made her rush home after her work and was not able to do the shopping) and the cooking by our househelps and some relatives who managed to do it in given a short time. We are preparing foods for afternoon Merienda and Dinner so there's not much cooking to do and to think that only few visitors are invited and mostly are kids.
Afternoon came and people in the kitchen are still busy with frying while i am with Tay Julio our manghihilot giving me a massage and realigning my dislocated ribcage and hips. I almost fainted with pain even with just a little pressure applied. Finally after almost 15 minutes of pressing and rubbing, kernels of sweat came out of my body. And i felt better. The rain outside is pouring tirelessly. Looks like the kids will never have the chance to play their games on our bermuda covered lawn.

Its almost 4:00 pm when our visitors came just after the rain stopped. We started the party and Dondon blowed his candles and the kids are singing "Happy Birthday". I can see excitement in my son's eyes while the kids are singing. Maybe beacuse this time it is his own candle he's going to blow and not someone else's. Its his birthday and he's been looking forward to this and is getting excited as the days came closer. He even forgot to make a wish and blew the candle right after the song!

The kids then rushed out to the lawn for their games.

The sky can no longer hold the rain and starts to pour again just in time the Pabitin were already wrestled by the kids to the ground and we again went inside for the foods and more games!

The party finally ended around 8:00 pm and the kids were all tired but with big smiles on their faces. This might not be the grandest birthday for our son but this is the happiest one because for the first time, we celebrated it as a whole family.

Me and my Yamaha Sniper One Rainy Afternoon

2008-09-28T16:47:00.010+08:00

Motorcycle riding is considered as the most dangerous form of transportation in the world. Motorbike accidents have been the leading cause of road accident and fatalities in the country in recent years.

Based on January to December 2006 records from the Metro Manila Development Authority [MMDA] alone, motorcycle accidents have the highest fatality rate with 122 bikes involved, or 23.60 per cent of the total road accidents. Cars were next on the list, with 113 or 21.86 per cent.

Just 3 days ago, i was one of the unlucky ones who luckily escaped death in a motorcycle accident.

It was friday afternoon just after rain stopped. I was supposed to go to San Jose (provincial capital) riding my Yamaha Sniper 135cc to help my wife with shopping for the groceries we needed for our son's 5th birthday party for the next day. Due to the unfavorable weather brought by typhoon Ofel, we changed our previous plan of celebrating it in Iloilo and have it instead in our house. So there we are doing our last minute shopping. Im glad that we will just be preparing for a small number of visitors since we decided earlier to have this birthday party just for the closest family members (brothers,sisters, cousins and nephews).

I am running 60kph and about to cross this uphill bridge when these deep moonlike craters lying in my path surprised me and staying away from it is already futile since it covers the whole lane and a multicab going the opposite direction is on the other lane. My motorcycle swerved and 3 meters after, another deep crater surprised me that pinned my motorcycle to the gutter. I went blank after that.

The first thing i remembered after i regained consciousness is that im already sitting in my motor cycle with helmet on and these people i dont recognize (maybe motorists who stopped by to help) asking me if im okay or if i want them to bring me to the hospital. After examining my face with detached side mirror on my hand, i told them im fine since theres only slight scratch and bruises on my face. I was thankful that i had my helmet on. It has a crack on the side due may be to the impact. It should have been my head splitting had i not put it on. my arms were scratch free since this hard padded riding jacket absorbed all the scratches and abrasions. I only had this 3 inch scrape on my right knee, a very small one on my right shoulder and light scratch and bruises on my face.

I still managed to drive 4 kilometers on the way home soaked in water and mud and there i finally felt the pain and throbbing of my head.My Sniper suffered cracked and scratched cowlink, scratched headlight, bent telescopic bars, dent on muffler guard bent footrest and detached side mirror.

I am very grateful i am wearing complete safety protective gear that afternoon. I might probably be dead in that instant and will not be able to celebrate my son's birthday alive.

Habal Habal

2008-09-19T10:09:00.010+08:00

"Habal" is a Bisaya term which means “the sexual (act) intercourse of animals” wherein the male animal enters the female animal by striding at the female’s back. However, in some areas in Visayas and Mindanao, the term “habal” is not only applicable to animals but to human also. In other words, “habal” literally means “sex”.

Now, “habal-habal” is the term used to call the motorcycle taxi because the driver and the passengers are in “habal” (animal) position.

Habal Habal is a single motorcycle without sidecar carrying two, three, sometimes four passengers on its pillion seat used as a form of public transportation especially in places that jeepneys or tricycles cannot reach and where roads are mostly narrow and unpaved.

This form of public transportation is already present all over the Philippines for decades and had gained its popularity in our place in the recent years. This is maybe due to a lot of motorcycle distributors who opened their business in our place and their affordable leasing programs that a lot of people were able to avail and use it to generate extra income. And that is by transforming this simple motorcycle into a Habal Habal.

Though this is illegal, a lot of passengers prefer riding these Habal Habals than the conventional tricycles and padyak/trisikad for speed and convenience.

The only sad thing is that these Habal habals are prone to accident. Just yesterday, a Habal Habal with 2 passengers collided with a delivery truck after it turned on a blind curve. The passengers were in critical condition and is needed to be transfered to Iloilo City for treatment and observation. The sad thing is that it turned out that the driver of Habal Habal has no driver's licence and the motorcycle he is driving has no registration and not covered with accident insurance.

With these kind of incidents happening frequently, the government seems cannot regulate the operations of these Habal Habal since there"s no franchising and regulation for this kind of transport, safety of passengers and drivers is really compromised.

The local LTO (Land Transportation Office) is strengthening their operations and become even stricter in implementing the No Helmet/Plate, No Drive Campaign especially for motorcycles but it is not enough monitor every municipality regularly.

On the other hand, the restriction and regulation of these Habal Habals means lesser opportunity to generate income and food for the family. In these times of job scarcity and continuos soaring of prices of prime commodities, more and more people tend to ignore their personal safety and of their passengers just to have something to put on the table. At least, they can consider this job honorable.

Rain or shine, safe or not, these Habal Habal drivers will continue on riding and thread the narrow and unpaved road towards their dreams.

Hubert and Joy

2008-09-18T21:01:00.005+08:00

What’s in a wedding? Everything. That is, just about every single happening that fabricates the couple’s story of love that’s about to share the very first day of the rest of their lives bound as one.

Last August 2, 2008 at San Agustin Church in Iloilo City, two hearts that endured the test of time and distance finally tied their knots.

I want to share with you the SDE that the newly wed showed on their reception with the help of their Wedding Videographer, Mayad Studios.

This video really left me and all of us jaw dropped and wanting some more! Very good job Mayad Studios!

To Hubert and Joy...... Best Wishes!

Joy and Hubert from Mayad Studios on Vimeo.

Rebels on the Bridge?

2008-09-10T22:26:00.018+08:00

A week before my scheduled departure from japan, i decided to treat myself and visit places i longed to see while i still have the time and chance.

One of the must-see places in my list is Harajuku...

Harajuku had been popularly known worldwide with its out of this world and extra ordinary teenagers flocking its bridge on sundays. Even Gwen Stefani had this in one of her song.

Armed with my Point and Shoot camera, i marked Harajuku as one of my destination that sunday afternoon.

It was almost 2pm when i got out of Harajuku JR Station and the crowd is overwhelming.The famous Takeshita-Dori on the adjacent street is teeming with teens and not so young people in its narrow quarter mile long (400 meter) strip lined with shops, cafes and fast food outlets catering to the young and hip in Tokyo. This ‘back alley’ in the Harajuku neighborhood has a distinctive entrance and is one of the symbols of the Harajuku area and has been known to spawn many fashion trends in Japan.
About 300m to the south of Takeshita Dori is Omotesando a street lined with international brand shops such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and other expensive fashion stores. The avenue is sometimes referred to as "Tokyo's Cham-Elysees". I just contented myself with watching from the outside since i know that my one month salary will only get me only an item in one of the stores and the money in my pocket is just enough to buy me a takuyaki meal and my train ticket on the way home."w

The most interesting part of my trip is found on the brigde Above the JR Yamanote Line Track leading to the Meiji Shrine entrance and Yoyogi Park.

The world known "Harajuku Bridge".

The bridge is teeming with people both local and foreign and seems to be enjoying with the scene. I was excited to see the main purpose of my trip...... the "Girls of Harajuku Bridge".

Joining the crowd (of mostly foreigners and Ojisans), i took out my camera and tried my best to get the best shot i can even without asking permission from my subjects. Some willingly poses while some are quite alloof seems not minding the flashes fired upon their faces while busily chatting with friends.

For decades, teens in Cosplay (costume playing their favorite anime, movie or manga character), Lolita, Gothic, Ganguro flock this bridge on sundays and become a Japanese subculture over time. Most of the girls are middle or high school students, aged between twelve and nineteen. Many seems to make their own costumes, although some ot the more ornate designs are maybe bought in specialty boutiques around Harajuku. Their hai colorings come in brilliant hues, anywhere from fiery red to canary yellow.
Not far from the bridge i can hear rock and roll music. i went further and it directs me to the nearby Yoyogi Park entrance.

I was surprised with what i saw. It looks like a Sunday Carnival cum rock concert cum comedy show by Elvis wannabes strutting their stuff, twisting their sole-less electrical tape bound shoes, tight leather jeans, quiff flying and grease dripping hair. Most of them seemed to be drunk and dance with gusto with eardrum breaking rock and roll music from portable boomboxes. Their audience looks with awe and amusement.
I even witnessed one guy attacking a member of the other group fro reasons i dont know. Maybe because of drunkenness and group rivalry.
With all these displays and drama, i cant help myself from asking WHY? What on earth they are doing in this place on a Sunday afternoon dressed up like some sort of punk-retro-elvis-anime carnival act? Some will say the are "Just Hanging out."

Is this just a normal way of "just hanging out?" Surely when two fifteen year old girls feel the need to dress up like dolls and put on black make up and these long past puberty males do the Elvis and strut in deafening rock and roll sounds till they drop with drunkennes on a weekly basis, one should not hesitate to ask why and probe deeper. Along with crazy TV, rampant drunkenness and karaoke, Nintendo and PSP addiction even with youngsters, is it an escape from the Japanese routine of work, or study, and no sleep?

Is it a cry of individuality in a society which doesnt encourage difference?

In truth, this is just another area of life in Japan where it is futile to ask questions. It just happens. Someone starts something and someone follows. This is Tokyo and ours is not to reason why. Anyhow, if they just want to be different, they are certainly succeeding. And if nothing else, they certainly brighten up their day and certainly mine!

The Realization of Dreams

2008-09-09T14:24:00.008+08:00

"Sa hinaba-haba man daw ng prosisyon, sa simbahan pa rin ang tuloy".

Last week i witnessed my good friends exchange their vows and sealed their commitment to each other.

I had given the opportunity to live with them for several years and witnessed how they grow as a couple and a family. They stood as my foster parents, best friends and counselors.

After ten years.... the long awaited day has finally come.

To LOLO NESTY and LOLA MAYU....

CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES!

End of Blogging Life?

2008-08-27T21:14:00.003+08:00

Will this be the end of my blogging life?.... question that enters my mind everytime i visit this page and my Pareng Pharaoh's blog.

Its been four months since i posted my last article. Four significant months that marked another transition in my life. A drastic but anticipated change.

Pareng Gong will say "..its because you are already happy....you no longer need an outlet for your stress and loneliness...."

He's right...... but i think this blogging ekek is not only intended as outlet for my stress and loneliness... this can also be a medium to express my happiness.....

...... i think this is not the end of my BLOG EKEK LIFE........

Weird Fashion

2008-04-26T21:42:00.008+08:00

A lot of strange things can be seen here in Japan and one of them is in fashion.

Take for example these young girls wearing costumes straight from page of the famous Japanese Manga (comic book) or Anime and the other two girls wearing a doll's dress with matching stuffed bear?!

I asked one of my Japanese friend about this trend and he told me that it is called the the Manga Look and the Roriita (Lolita) Look Fashion.

I consulted Mr Wiki and this is what he says:

(ロリータ・ファッション^? roriita fasshon) is a fashion subculture in Japan that is primarily influenced by Victorian children’s clothing as well as costumes from the Rococo period. Lolita has made this into a unique fashion by adding gothic and original design elements to the look. From this, Lolita fashion has evolved into several different sub styles and has created a devoted subculture in Japan. The Lolita look consists primarily of a knee length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee length socks or stockings and rocking horse or high heel/platform shoes. Often to emphasize the childlike look, teddy bears and dolls such as Super Dollfies may be carried.

All i can say is ...... Kawaii ne!

Kapritso ni Furitsu

2008-03-16T21:09:00.006+08:00

Presenting my new Bamboo Graphics Tablet by WACOM.

As i said on my last post that i was addicted to Photoshop recently that made me decide to buy this sleek and minimalistic piece of black pastic and a pen with no ink (!) to help me with my future Photoshop projects. Since i had a hard time using the mouse, this tablet helps a lot especially in putting even effects on the work with efficiency.

Actually this is the cheapest of the Bamboo Series (around 8,980 yen) i found in the Electronics Shop and it actually just serves right the functions i needed.

Up to this moment, i am still in the stage of exploring on what other things i can do with this tablet since the manual included in the packaging is all in Japanese so i think its up to me to discover for my self.

I know this is just one of my "kapritso" but it really gives me happiness to get what i want even if its just a whim. Its one of the things i don't like with myself, that i really have to get what i want. But sometimes it do me good since i really work hard in order to get it but sometimes i sacrificed some important things just to get what i want and that is the part i am down with.

But anyway, lets just hope and pray that i will find this hobby a productive one and will be transformed into money! hehehe! lets just keep our fingers crossed.

Photoshop

2008-03-15T22:16:00.004+08:00

Lately, i had been hooked with Photoshop tutorials on YouTube that i spent until midnight everyday learning some basic techniques.

and i guess it paid off since i was able to learn techniques such as putting an Acryllic/Oil Painting Effect to some of my favorite shots of the kids of KCIC.

The Balloon Boy

Super Jin-Kun

Little Boy Blue

The photos should be viewed in zoomed mode　to be able to appreciate more of the Acryllic/Oil Painting effect.

My Super Woman

2008-03-15T21:34:00.006+08:00

hi there! whew! its been a loooong time since i made my last post. you might be wondering why it took me almost a month to make another post.

as always, (gasgas na alibi) been very busy with work. hehehe!seriously, i was preoccupied with lots of things lately that keeps me from clicking my blog site and update my posts.

one is my upcoming business venture in the Philippines (and i pray it would be a success or
else i will end up planting kamote when i go home! hehehehe!) that kept me always on chatrooom with my wife talking and planning for the preparations since she will be single handedly doing all the things from looking for the space to rent, contacting the persons needed to do the paintings, electrical wirings, carpentry, canvassing for materials, acquiring business permit, etc.etc.

these are just extra loads to her already loaded schedule of monday- friday work atthe bank, being the both father and mother to our four-year old son, and keeping her garden watered and always in bloom everyday!

whew! thinking about these loads, i dont think i can even handle it all by myself! but my wife really keeps me amazed on how she fits these on her schedule and be able to accomplish all on time.

she's my Superwoman!

NONOY

2008-02-17T20:51:00.006+08:00

*I had posted this article in Kinaray-a.com a year ago (that explains the mixed Karay-a, tagalog and english in its texts) to commemorate the 2nd Death Anniversary of my Brother Nonoy. Since i had been very busy lately and never had tha chance to write a new article for his anniversary, i decided to recycle this article and post it in my blog. This is my way of remembering the best brother in the world.

i grew up nga kilala ko lang ikaw by name. 9 kita nga magbururugto and you were 3rd from the eldest and ako naman the youngest. 18 years ang aton age gap.

nagbahul ako nga indi ko ikaw imaw since you are based in manila and kami naman sa Antique. but i always hear your name from our parents and siblings. i only have the chance to meet you everytime we go to manila for vacation, especially during summer vacations.

according sa mga bugto ta, you were the favorite kang mga parents. but they will say nga prehas lang ang treatment kanaton tanan. but i can tell that you are the pet since our parents will always say, amo ja si nonoy, si nonoy, si nonoy, si nonoy....

one time i asked them ano ang ugali ni nonoy nga nagustuhan gid nanda. and they will say, "si nonoy, gamay lang nga bagay ang itugro mo ka na, he will really appreciate it. one time ginbaklan namon kang pantalon, he was so ecstatic and even jumped with joy. suksukon na ang pantalon kag maglibot libot nga daw naga saot kag maghambal... nami nami ba tana ang pantalon ko!.... amo rian si nonoy mo, he knows how to appreciate even small things. and you can really tell when he's happy."

one time, i was in the bank waiting for my wife to log out when a woman come to me and ask me kon ka ano ano ko si Wilmar. and i would smile and say nga brother ko. and she will say, "ti kuon ko gid mong.... pareho kamo mata." i found out that barkada gali to ni Nonoy. and she will tell me things about nonoy.

"man an mo, si nonoy mo grabe ra sa chicks! (i hope may amo man ko karian, hambal ko sa kaugalingon ko) pwerte ang karisma. one time gani kato, may darwa ka daraga nga nagdumuganay sa plaza bangud lang kana! haay! si Ima! ( Ima ang tawag kang barkada na)".
mayuhum lang ako.

i only have the chance to know you better when i was about to enroll in UPLB as college freshman. you are the one who opposes my enrollment in the university with grounds that where will i get my weekly allowance? and instead persuades tatay to put me in a vocational school where you are employed and you will shoulder my allowance. but then, thanks to toto Ver's intervention (my older brother next to you) that i was enrolled in LB. it was toto Ver and kuya Jun who provided my weekly allowance though kulang talaga but pwede man ma stretch till saturday.

that meeting with you, toto Ver, tatay and me ended up in argument between you and Toto Ver. Toto Ver prevailed and i ended up enrolling in university. na isip ko nga saksakan gali kang yabang si Nonoy!

THE DECISION

our path crossed again after the 2nd semester of my first year in university. one night you came at Inday fely's house in Sta. Ana where i am staying for vacation.
most of our brothers and sisters were there including Nanay who's on vacation also. you had a short meeting and then they called me and Becbec(older sister).

you informed us that due to financial reasons, you decided that one of us will stop from schooling since kinahanglan na matugruan kang attention ang pang maintenance nga bulong ni nanay. nanay had suffered mild stroke twice already.

we have to choose whether who will give way. i will be second year in the next enrollment and my older sister is 3rd year engineering.

it ended up me, giving way for my sister. and you happily informed that you will have me enrolled in Don Bosco, the vocational school where oyu are employed. and you will shoulder my daily allowance.
that night, i cried a lot! i dont know what will gonna happen to me. leaving the university for a vocational school!? but then it is a noble thing to do.... to give way for my sister.

THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

i enrolled in Don Bosco half heaterdly. maybe napiritan lang ako cause i have no choice. its either i enroll or tambay.

the reason why you are very eager to have me enrolled is because an international shipping company is offering a scholarship grant and is putting up a pilot course in that school. and you believe that i will be able to get the scholarship easily. and he was right....i topped the exam. syempre! what will you expect? mga kasabayan ko mga out of school youth.

that was the start where i knew the real Nonoy.

every lunch break we will talk. about our family, your family, my future. etc. mostly sermon. but i never took it negatively. i know gusto mo lang mangin mayad ang para abuton ko.
one of the main thing nga gintudlo mo kanakon is to have the sense of responsibility sa kaugalingon kag sa pamilya. that i have to be responsible in everything that i do, every decisions that i make.

i can still vividly recall the time you pulled me out in the middle of the class para lang murahin sa corridor. mayad lang hay wara it may nakabati.

you were fuming when you entered the room and asked my instructor to excuse me for a while. pag guwa ko sa room. grabe nga mura inabot ko. you were upset because nanay called you for nth time telling that i still havent delivered the money you asked me to bring since nanay will be leaving for Antique in the next two days. i told you that i was just busy doing my attendance report that the Student Affairs Coordinator is asking me to do since i am the class monitor. and you wont listen to any bullshit alibis i make. that was the first time i saw you fuming with anger.

the truth is, i spent the last night in classmates house doing the report and at the same time drinking gin beside my 14 year- old girlfriend who is a neighbor.

LAST WORDS WITH NANAY

that afternoon i went straight to Sta. Ana and i was so furious. that was the first time i had been scolded by anyone aside by my parents. i was furious with nanay because i think that she dont trust me. she even thought nga gin pahilabutan ko ang kwarta. i am so mad and saddened to know that my own mother doesnt trust me. that was the last thing siguro that i would do, ang pahilabutan ang kwarta kang iba. they raised me to be an honest individual. and i am!

well, not really! hehehe! nagapangupit man ko kang piso piso kon kaisa sa bulsa ni tatay kag wallet ni nanay! barakal kang ice candy.....

pag abot ko sa balay, i went straight to nanay and sitting on the sofa and threw the money on her face while saying. "ja kwarta mo hu! daw indi kaw kahulat! ahaw nga pira lang kalibo!" and i told him what her son had done to me earlier that day while holding back my tears for so much anger.

she was shocked with my actions. that was the first time she saw me mad at her. the only answer she gave was, "nakakaon kaw ron? kaon anay..." and i left without answering. that time i was living with Toto Ver in Taguig.

while riding the bus home, i thought of what i said to nanay earlier and i felt guilty. i shouldnt have done that. thinking of her situation, shes had suffered mild stroke twice and have difficulty speaking and moving. i know my actions earlier will have big impact on her. but who cares! i am mad! mad for letting go my chance of of garaduating in one of the best Universities in the country, mad for being stuck in a vocational school where the faculty treats the students like untamed animals! mad for having someone control my life!

i was 17 then, my hormones are still surging. still in the stage of confusion and rebellion. rebellion from poverty.

TASTE OF HARSH LIFE

as the days passed, we still continue to talk almost every lunch break. the same sermon about life, my future, how i should take responsibility of my self. and of course giving me my daily allowance ( tamang tama lang pamasahe kag pang lunch sa carinderia sa gwa kang campus).

our daily talk was interrupted when i applied for night job in Kenny Rogers. at first i asked you if you would let me work at night cause nahuya na ako mangayo adlaw adlaw kang allowance. knowing that you are also sending your 4 kids to school. i think it will help us both. saving money on your side and having to experience how harsh life as self-supporting student is to help me prepare for the future on my side.

you only asked me if kaya ko? knowing that my school starts at 7 in the morning ( indi pwede ma late hay malibot gid sa track oval 4 times kon late and additional 4 for every succeeding lates, but then i am the class monitor and kaya ko ma duktor ang attendance without the OSA knpwing that i am late. paano, you are the Chief Security Officer kang school. so waslik pudir ko gamay eh!) and ends at 4 pm. my work at KR Jupiter is from 5pm till 11 or 12 mn. and i said kakayanin ko.

you just shook your head and said,"ikaw ang bahala... basta sabihin mo lang kung di mo na kaya. wala namang problema sa akin. basta dont make me lose face for doing poorly in your class and losing the scholarship. remember, you are carrying my name."

then i had my first chance of experiencing what work really is. i can say its not that easy and not that hard. especially kon sa lima mo ron ang imong sweldo. it feels like heaven thinking that you are already earning for your self.

but then theres also sacrifice. most of the time i reach home around 12:30am. (by that time, i already moved to Inday Fely's house in Santa Ana para madali lang ang pag commute ko from home to school) and wake up 5:30 am to be able to reach school in Makati before 7am. indi ma iwasan nga maka doze off ako sa klase sa sobra nga tuyo kag kapoy.

but then, i was ok. we only talked seldom cause i spent the rest of the lunchbreak sleeping. if theres a chance i got and meet you and we have a talk. you told me that you always informed by my instructor that nagakaturog ako sa klase na and will make fun of it telling that nagaturo laway ko.

that made you furious. not at me, but at my instructor. you said that he is just taking this chance to mock you cause buhay ron nga may sabit sa imong pwesto. but then years later, you had the chance to get back on him by making his 2 front teeth fell with your punch one time you crossed path in one of the drinking houses near the school. and i was joyed with your report. hehehehe!

everytime we meet, you will only ask kon kaya ko pa. and i will surely say yes. until several months passed that my load is getting heavier and im starting to fall from ranking that i decided to quit. you just said, ok.
it was years later that i had the chance to talk to your wife and she told me about how proud you are of me, having sense of responsibility and eagerness to stand on my own. you never told me that personally, but instead you always do the sermon. and i took it by heart.

SUN AFTER THE RAIN

months passed and my 10-months training was over. i was then busy with my trainings and procuring my passport and seamans book. i never imagined that it will be easy for me to land a job afterwards. i never had the chance to march in the graduation cause i was sent immediately to ship by my sponsor company. an american oil shipping company.

life seems so fast afterwards, i was 18 then and earning my own money. i was able to send money to nanay and tatay and start fulfilling my promise to them when i was 4 years old. that i will be the one to take cae of them when i grow up. and i thank God for helping me fulfill this promise. i thank God for having you as my brother.

NANAY IS FOREVER LOST

it was midnight of december 31 on my first contract that i had this news. nanay died on dec. 17 and was buried dec 26. you never informed me for fearing that i will be affected since it was my first time to be away and feared that my record will be affected f i go home with unfinished contract. i was so mad at you then. you are still controlling my life. you are still the one deciding on what is to do with my life.

the night of confrontation with nanay was our last conversation together. we never talked after that. hay the naxt day kato she went home to antique. i was there nag imaw maghatod kana sa pier but i refused to go near her and talk to her. im still mad. i can see that she was crying when she walked up the ships gangway. looking at me with her eyes telling to forgive her. and i wont even look at her direction. i know how hard it is for a mother to know that her son is having bad feelings about her. but i think this would make us even.

that was the last time i saw nanay. i never had the chance to ask forgiveness from her for treating her that way. though i sent letter months before stating that i am doing fine on ship, i never mentioned about saying sorry. but tatay said nanay had forgiven me.that her last words was asking tatay to make sure Becbec and I are always in good state. i cant help my tears from falling whenever this come to my mind. until now, i still feel guilty.

i understand why you made the decision of not informing me about nanay's death. and i thought i could never done anything anyway cause at that time we were crossing the Indian Ocean from Singapore to Iraq. and there will never be a chance for me to sign off.

THE PROMISE

i know i owe you a lot. whatever i am now, it all because of the talkings/sermon that we had before. napasalamatan ko bala ikaw? yes. and i can still remember that scene.

i had just signed off at that time and i went to your office to ask you if you are free to have a drink. its my treat! and you wered delighted cause of all things in life, you cannot live without alcohol touching your throat.
drinking had been your favorite pastime whenever you are bonding with your friends and closing deals. and i like it when you are drunk. i can see the different side of you. the more relaxed Wilmar. its the chance i can talk to you about anything.

after that drinking session, we went back to your office. its there where i told you how grateful i am for all you help. how much you had been a part of makin me what i am now. and i cant thank you much enough for all of this. i never expected how your reacted on what i have said. you turned sentimental. you cried and thanked me in return. thanked me for aprreciating all you had done. for listening to your sermons and never took it negatively.

you never expected me to thank you. but instead you only asked me one thing. "wag mo lang sanang kalimutan ang mga pamangkin mo pag kailangan nila ng tulong mo". and i promised you i would do everything i could when time arises that they will need my help.

DOWNHILL

i got married and the time i spent talking with you was lessened.i had been busy with my new life, my new family. at that time you were on your downhill.

the savings i had earned in my two years working and your savings which is intended for the tuition of your two kids who are now in college (which amounted all in all to almost half million pesos), daw nangin upa nga ginhuyup kang hangin when we invested it in an institution nga nadalahig sa infamous pyramiding scam. maskin isa ka kusing wara git it may nagbalik kanaton.

to add load to the heavy problem, you were facing retrenchment on job when the new school administration opted to hire security officers from agency instead of maintaining the former security guards.

i know those were times you needed me most... not really financially cause i too am starting from scratch. i should have been near you to give you support. but i am very sorry i was never there. i sometimes call you. you are not the same person i used to talk to. i can no longer hear those hearty laughs. i missed those laugh. you said you are ok. managing to survive driving your truck.

the separation pay you got from the company you worked for more than 20 years were used to procure a second hand truck you are using to buy vegetables and fruits from provinces in northern luzon kag ibagsak sa Divisoria.

i can feel your pain, its not the pain of being broke. its the pain inside. the pain of downfall. for more than decades you were living life with success, love and respect from other people. a lot of people comes to you for help. but now, seems that theres nobody to hold your hand. i am guilty for not being there in your rough times.

but still you are fighting. the buy and sell of vegetables did not fare well. you then entered your truck in a steel company fabricating made to order roofings as delivery truck. and there medyo nag ok gawa ang sulog kang kwarta kanimo. naluoy gid ko kanimo, i know you are doing everything para sa pamilya mo. but it seems that they do not appreciate what you are doing.

your wife is still fuming with the scam issue and blame everything to you. she will often complain about you going home drunk. she doesnt even talk to you and even brainwashing the kids. the kids started to keep distance from you. it hurts me to learn that on your last birthday, only your youngest daughter greeted you.
i dont know kon ano nagakatabo sa sulod kang panimalay mo... i know you are having difficulties financially but their studies were not affected. 3 of your kids are still enrolled in Assumption and two of them are in college. it pains me that they still do not appreciate what you have done, for all your efforts. kon kaisa ikaw na ang driver, kaw pa ang pahinante just to save extra money. nonoy, my heart bleeds for you!

THE MESSAGE

February 17, 2005, Long Beach Ca. anchorage area (approx 25 nautical miles from shore), 10:30 a.m. local time.
nabatyagan ko nga may nagdapo sa akon talinga. gulpi ko nga gintapi kag ginlantaw kon ano to. a yellow beetle nga may back dot sa pareho nga pakpak.
"siguro ginlupad lang kang hangin" hambal ko sa kaugalingon ko.

after dropping the anchor, nagdiretso ako sa akon kabina to change clothes and get ready for lunch. nakita ko sa ibabaw kang lamesa ang akon nga cellphone blinking, indicating that i have an unread text message. it was a text message from my sister Inday Fely (our eldest). mayad lang hay may roaming ako, any place i go basta may signal lang kang network madali lang ang communication.
ginbasa ko.

and the message says: " to, wag kang mabibigla, si nonoy naaksidente ang sasakyan. on the way kami ngayon sa hospital."

i was stunned.... i dont know kon ano ang himuon ko. i prayed nga ok lang, siguro it was just a minor accident. i went down to the ship's office to call my sister and check what happened.
may naga gamit pa kang sattelite phone so i decided to take my lunch first. then suddenly my phone rings again. another message. maybe from my sister again.
"to, wala na si nonoy."

i was paralyzed for some moment. trying to absorb what the text message says.

his truck hit the delivery truck of San Miguel parked in the darkness of the highway without signal. wala man sya galos but he suffered multiple stroke and internal injury. napipi ang front kang truck due to the impact. he was drunk, halin sa celebration kang anang birthday the day before. if only he wears his seatbelt it should have protected him from hitting the steering wheel that causes his stroke and internal injury.later i learned that the seatbelt is not functioning since the time you bought the truck.

it was only yesterday that i talked to you over the phone and greeted you cause it was your birthday. nami pa ang aton istoryahanay and i happily informed ou nga nabakal ko ron ang buhay mo nga gina request nga mechanical tool set para sa imong truck. you were glad.

it was my birthday present for you. naghirit pa gani ikaw nga kon pwede amanan ko kang Jack lifter. ti nagasabat ako jokingly nga lantawon ko sa dalom sa makina kon may available nga spare hay jekwaton ko! and you laughed a typical Nonoy laugh nga mabatian ko lang, it warms my heart.

my brother, you are very special to me. so special beacuse whatever i am today, i owe it to you (kag sa mga bugto ta). you even stood as my father and willingly did its functions.

i got off the ship that same afternon and took the evening flight of PAL in L.A. International Airport. mayad lang hay bu ot ang amon kapitan and he immediately called the Manila office and the agent to book me a flight that same night.

i was in shocked. i dont know what happend next. the soon i know is that inday Fely and Gary met me at the arrival section of the new cetennial airport. and we stopped for a while in her house then we went to Pampanga where you are living with your family. bitbit ko ang box kang mechanical set nga regalo ko daad sa birthday mo.

sayang noy, you were not able to attend the graduation of your youngest daughter mga darwa na lang daad kabulan. nag promisa pa ikaw nga ikaw ang matugro kang medal ka na. kanugon hay wara mo mabatian ang anang valedictory speech. but i know, that you are there.

i can still hear your request. your request nga indi ko pagpabayaan ang akon mga hinablos when time comes that they need my help.

your 2 kids are on their last year of nursing in the next school year. sayang man kon one of them will stop or both of them will stop. sanda lang ang makabulig sa andang mga bugto.

i made a promise... and i dont know what or how am i able to fulfill it. my salary as seaman is just enough for my family. i have a kid and we are just starting to build our house.

i can hear my answer to his request before..."i would do everything i could when time arises that they will need my help."

FULFILLED

its been 3 years since your death. i am here in japan for almost 3 years now. how the hell i am here in japan and what happened to my being a seaman is another story to tell.
noy, you have 2 kids who already registered nurses and the other 2 are in high school and college. i hope that you are happy right now wherever you are. i fulfilled my promise.

had i thanked you well enough? in my recent dream, you were talking to me. you are smiling and telling me to stop living in the past, that you are happy right now together with nanay. that its time for me to move on. face the future, love my family and be responsible for everything i do.

Noy, thank you so much! i will remember all your sermons...... its all here in my heart.

Footprints in the Snow

2008-02-16T22:23:00.005+08:00

A snow storm had passed into my life and covered my path that lead me to wander almost without direction.

Then came from nowhere, people passed by me. Some stopped for a while and lend their hand and offered to guide me along the way. Some walked beside me and together we tread the dark and thickly covered path. Some even willingly carried me on their back when i slipped and fell on the ground.

These are the people who left a deep mark in my life.

Now, the sun is beginning to shine in my life again. The snow is starting to melt and footprints may fade together with the snow, here in my heart these prints will remain forever.

To those people, you know who you are. I cant really find the exact words to convey the deepest gratitude I want to extend.

Thank you so much!

Best Buddies

2008-02-03T23:43:00.001+08:00

For a person like me that has a lot of ideas to share but is not really gifted with vast knowledge of words, the old cliche "A picture paints a thousand words" is a good booster. It had given me the idea on how to effectively convey my thoughts and be understood.

Thanks to these two buddies that always come in handy whenever there's a perfect moment i need to capture.

1. 910SH Cellular Phone by Sharp

This is my 5th phone in 3 years! thanks to the excellent Mobile Communication Services (or lets say Bloody Battle between Mobile phone companies) that i can have a new unit whenever i want and have it paid in monthly installment for 1 or 2 years! isnt it great? heres some of the features:

* 2.4" VGA Screen (menus and fonts have never been so good before)

*measures 106mm x 50mm x 24mm (4.17" x 1.97" x 0.94")

* 5 Mega-pixel CCD with 3x Optical zoom

* VGA movie recording function with maximum frame rate of 30fps

i only wish that this model is hackable and can be made open line (like its predecessor the 904SH and the 905SH) so that i can be able to use it in the Philippines. Pareng Gong, tasukitte kudasai!

2. DSC-H3 by Sony Cyber-shot

This one is my baby! I had a pretty memorable experience in acquiring this camera (check my previous post, Omarisan and I). Here are some of the features:

* 246 grams in Wieght

*measuring 106mm (w) x 68.5mm (h) x 47.5mm (d)

*2.5 inch LCD Viewing Screen

* 8.1 Mega Pixel with 10x Optical Z00m

*Powerful Versatile Flash (illuminates subject up to 23 ft. away)

*High Sensitivity Mode (ISO3200)

*Face detection (recognizes up to 8 faces in a photo)

*HD Output

and more!

the only CON is that the Menu is in Japanese Language Only! anyway i can just find my way through this mind boggling characters!

Say Cheese!

Antique...Where the Mountains Meets the Sea

2008-01-29T18:07:00.000+08:00

A lot of people upon hearing where i came from would usually ask.... "Where is Antique?"

It is saddening to hear that still a lot of people are unaware of the province where i came from and its rich history and culture. A lot still think that Antique is a part of Iloilo and Ilonggo/Hiligaynon is the dialect we use.

Antique is situated in the western part of Panay Island bordering Aklan, Capiz and Iloilo to the East and faces Sulu Sea to the West. We have our own dialect called "Kinaray-a" (is of Austronesian origins characterized by the predominancy of r’s and schwa sounds spoken with a lilting gentle intonation) in contrast to other people's perception that we use Hiligaynon as a major dialect.

Some Historians consider Antique as the "Cradle of Philippine Civilization" (I will explain Antique's history in my future posts).

Its not until lately that the provincial Government started to promote Antique not only to the whole country but to the entire world via its tourism programs and one of these is this Music Video in our Original Kinaray-a Language. This video showcases what Antique has to offer in terms of tourism.

Satisfied Cravings

2008-01-25T20:35:00.000+08:00

In my not so long stay here in Japan, one of the few things that help me cope with homesickness is the food. Yes, the food! Though I'm thousand of miles away fron Pinas, i can still satisfy my cravings for authentic pinoy delicacies.

Ingredients for Pinoy cuisine abound here in Japan. Thanks to those Pinoy Stores that can be found almost anywhere especially in areas with large population of pinoys. You can find almost anything from tuyo, miswa,bagoong alamang, sarsa ni Mang Tomas to pinoy na pinoy chichiria like Chippy and even Boy Bawang!

If you want to cook for large number of people, you can order ingredients online or by phone and it will be delivered within 2 to 3 days. From pigs blood (for dinuguan), pigs ear, buto buto, laman loob (intestines and the like), daing na bangus etc. you can even order for the whole pigs head! There are also stores (like Hanamasa, Gigamart and the local Nikuyasan or Meat Stores) where you can buy large blocks of meat ideal if you intend to prepare several "putahe" that require different meat cuts and sizes. There's also a liquor store nearby my place that sells imported beer and the Philippine's No.1 Beer, the San Miguel Beer and is one of their items and can be bought for 248 yen/bottle (approx. 90 PhP).

Not to mention the parties being thrown by friends every now and then where Pinoy delicacies are surely present. Especially that my apartment is just a minute away from the Kouminkan (Community Hall) where most of the parties are held, you will forget you're outside the Pilippines.

To add toppings to the icing(or something like that hehehe!), my housemates are genius in the kitchen and every now and then prepares mouth watering foods like palabok, pancit bihon, dinuguan (Pig's Blood Stew)pancit luglog,bopis (in the picture above), kare kare, kaldereta and menudo to name a few.

No wonder why everytime i step on the weighing scale, its always several points higher than my previous measurement! Anyway, my wife told me once before that i look cute with bigger tummy.... i dont know if she will like my tummy now that it looks like i swallowed a whole melon!

Wish I May, Wish I Might

2008-01-23T21:18:00.000+08:00

This is Kenji-kun. The Son of Lolo Nesty and Lola Mayu (my housemates) and my Inaanak whom i enjoyed playing with and teasing every night. Whenever we (Lolo Nesty) arrive every evening from work, this kid would always greet us with warm smile and usually bows his head, maybe a way of saying "Okairinasai!" or "welcome home!"

He would frequent my room (knows how to open the sliding door) and climb my bed, mess with my keyboard and mouse, bang the heater and wrestle with Munchichi (my stuffed Gorilla).

He reminds me of my son Dondon. He was about the same age when i left almost three years ago.

God knows how much i missed my son, how many nights i wish i could play and hug and tease him the way i do with Kenji-kun. Lolo would always say, "Buti pa si Kenji, lagi mong napapangko. Samantalang si Dondon hanggang webcam lang."Yes, i know how hard it is to do things to some other person's kid and hoping you are able to do it to your own son.

Dont worry Don, we will be together again soon! And i will give you the Horseback ride, story telling, basketball games, karaoke singing, morning hugs and butterfly kisses that i owe you for three long years.

Dont worry, daddy will be home soon!

Daddy loves you!

Lets Sweat it Out!

2008-01-23T19:54:00.000+08:00

This cold season, one of my favorite place to stay in the house after work (aside from facing my computer and watch Marimar and other Tv Series from YouTube) is the OFURO.

An Ofuro (according to Wikipedia), also known as furo is a traditional Japanese bath, normally associated with a steep-sided wooden bathtub. Baths of this type may be found in traditional Japanese inns, or Ryokan.

An ofuro differs from a conventional western bathtub by being of a deeper construction, typically in the region of 0.8 m (33 inches). The sides are generally square rather than being sloped. Traditionally, ofuro were heated by a wood-burning stove below. Ofuro are sometimes left filled with water for several days, although this practice has largely disappeared because of the requirement for disinfecting the water. This type of ofuro was the precursor of the modern western-style hot tub.

Ofuro are part of the Japanese ritual of bathing and are not used for washing but for relaxing. Washing is carried out separately outside the ofuro, and only when completely clean does the bather enter the water. The water is hot: usually approximately 100 to 108 degrees F (38 to 42 degrees Celsius).
Modern ofuro may be made of acrylic, and are generally electrically heated.

I just fill the tub halfway and heat it until 40 to 45*C. and VOILA! Time to relax and sweat out all the stress and worries of the day even for just an hour!

YUKI! YUKI! YUKI!

2008-01-23T13:01:00.000+08:00

For the first time in two years.... snow has once again fall in our place here in Saitama. And thanks that its considerably thick enough to let me enjoy, monkey around and have fun.

I remembered Frances telling me one time about her adventures and misadventures in her journey to China to fulfill her dreams.

"Nong, daw kasurumpa ang inagyan ko para lang maka kita kag makasipal kang snow nga rian..... wara man lang hingan nga ang nalab utan ko nga lugar wara gina uranan kang snow!" (Big Bro, i dealt with a lot of struggles in my journey just to be able to finally see and play with snow.... in the end i end up stucked in a place where snow never fall!)

Ces, life is sometimes teasing and playing with us. Just enjoy the weather and you will be lucky enough one day you wake up the surroundings is covered with snow.

Yuki no Hana (Snow Flowers)

2008-01-18T21:32:00.000+08:00

Let me share with you my most favorite Japanese song. I fell in love with this song from the very first time i heard it without even having any idea what this song means.

Mika Nakashima's voice soothes my inner soul and her words perfectly paints my longing for my wife especially this cold season.

"This year, the first snowflowers bloom

as we draw closer

As I look upon this time

the hapiness overflows in me

If we depend on each other’s love, we’re not weak

It’s simple, I just want to be

with you like this forever

So I can feel your gentleness"

Mr. Sun

2008-01-14T03:17:00.000+08:00

When i was a kid, my parents always tell me not to look directly into the sun for i will get blind. For years i really thought and believed that its true. thats the reason why i always cover my eyes with my hands to shade it from the blinding gold ball in the sky.

Then this time comes that i was tempted to see whether this belief embedded in my brain is true.

One sunny day, i mustered my courage and opened my eyes into the bright round light in the sky. instantly my brain seems to be blank and all i can see is a golden ring with the core of the whitest white i had ever seen.

Whats outside the golden ring, i cannot remember. All my attention is focused at the center. My vision went blank. I thought id be blind after that. But my parents were wrong. After several seconds, my vision went back to normal.

Now that i am older, the same thing happened. I was tempted to take a look at the sun of success. Hoping that even for a second i will feel the warm bright light and promise of heaven in its core. I was too much focused that i never took notice of the things outside the gold ring. I never took notice of my family, my health, my relations with other people.

My vision went blank. I asked myself, "am i going to be blind?"

I shut my eyes and look away from the light. It hurts so much and my tears flow that gradually cools off my burnt eyes.

I know i need to cry. I know i need to close my eyes for a little longer. And when it cools off, i will be able to see again and appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and once again look at the sweet smile of my wife and son.

Omari-san and I

2008-01-14T01:44:00.001+08:00

There's one thing i feared the most here in Japan.....the blue-uniformed, white capped Omari-sans. Just the sight of them and their red flashing light-patrol car makes me shiver to the bones and makes my heart jump off my chest. Actually i had several encounter with them face-to-face. First was two years ago in our gemba (job site) in Koenji, Tokyo. There's this two guys in black civilian clothing stepped out of the van and cornered me and my Turkish colleague and asked for identification and alien card. Since i have none (an illegal alien) i started to worry cause i know that i will be picked up and locked in cell while waiting for deportation. Thinking that its December 24, i might end up celebrating Christmas in jail.

I just remained calm and managed to look directly into this officer and talk to him in english pretending that i dont uderstand Nihonggo. He's looking for my passport and i gave him my wallet with all the ID cards that i have. Luckily a friend made me a scanned passport and visa (i dont know how he made it appear that i have a valid one) and i just showed it to the officer in a calm manner.

Luckily this officer bought it and then dismissed me and joined his mate interrogating the Turkish youngster. it turned out that this friend of mine is an asylum seeker and by Japanese law, they are not allowed to work. then how can these asylum seekers feed themselves andpay the rent if they are not allowed to work and earn a living? Another aspect in Japanese system that i cannot fathom. After a lengthy negotiation with another person on the phone( i took it as the Turkish lawyer) they decided to leave this boy alone and told him that if ever he will be caught working again, they will never hesitate to lock him up and send back to Turkey.

Its only after they had left that i felt cold sweat dripping from my forehead and my heart's beat can be heard meters away! Thank God! its a miracle for me!

I call it my Miracle Before Christmas.

The second was a month ago while riding my bicycle on the way to an Electronic Shop to buy the digital camera that i've been eyeing and saving for for the past months.

I was enjoying the view of vegetable plots at the roadside when suddenly out of nowhere this young twenty something officer in blue uniform riding a scooter hailed me. Oh shit! not again!

Ii am starting to panic. he stepped out of the bike and told me that he noticed that my bike's lock is missing. i answered him taht the key was lost so i decided to take away the lock. I did it while looking into his eyes and put a smile on my face. I am not sure if i am really good in lying epecially with a trained law enforcer face-to-face.

He called the police station and reported the bike's serial number to check if there's a report of theft on my bike. after several seconds the serial number was cleared and he asked for apology for the incovenience and told me to be careful while riding.

I just answered him with a smile and rushed out of the scene as fast as i could fearing that he might change his mind and ask me for an identification and alien card which is a routine practice especially when dealing with gaijins (foreigners).

Whew! That was close! Another miracle for me!

I am really thankful for HIM and for all HIS guidance and protection. There's a reason for all of this. A reason for me to stay a little longer and serve my purpose.

Until when will it be? I will know when it comes.

MANIC

2008-01-14T00:55:00.001+08:00

had you ever felt like you're alone and lonely even when you're in the middle of a crazy party? felt like nobody understands or even care about what you are trying to say or what you feel? that even if you try everything just to smile or make your heart beat just a notch louder just to feel you're alive, it seems that a dark cloud permanently hangs over your head?

yes i do. and i had it more frequent especially in the past months.

maybe the three years of pressure, loneliness, homesickness and being away from my loved ones is already taking its toll. i dont know how long i can be able to live with this condition. until when i can be able to hang on and go for another extra mile or two?

i dont know.

maybe as long as the fire is burning. as long as my body still feels the warmth. maybe........

the season is getting colder. snow will start to fall soon.

is the fire strong enough to keep me warm?

Ztirfmanic's Day Off

2008-01-13T10:24:00.000+08:00

In my almost three years of stay here in Japan, one thing i really dreamt of doing is to ride a densha (train) in the heart of Metropolitan Tokyo. It really sounds funny but thats the truth!

Though i had this train ride for innumerable account, but just in a local train and the farthest are Asakadai and Kawagoe in Tobu-Toju Line. Aside from that, i never ventured of going any farther. Just the thought of Omari-san and Civilian-clothed Nyoukan Officers scattered around Metropolitan Tokyo train stations gives me shiver to take a chance in riding.

But a week ago, this dream had somewhat been heard and answered through Tito Nathan, his wife Tita Phoebe and their son and my close friend Gong. They picked me up from my apartment around lunch time with their SUV and off we go to Akihabara - best-known as one of the largest shopping areas on Earth for electronic, computer, anime, and otaku goods, including new and used items!

That was my second visit to Akihabara and the first one was courtesy (again) of Gong and Junjun when i bought my Desktop and monitor. I took the chance of canvassing desktop units i am planning to use in my future plans in the Philippines when i go home and was overwhelmed by the vast choices of new and used desktop at a very surprisingly low price!

After that, we had a 10-minute walk to the next train station the Okachimachi. I smiled on what i had seen. A large crowd of people occupying the street and literally bumping into each other and variety of stores lined up on the side which reminds me of flea martkets of Hongkong and China and can be compared to our very own Divisoria and Tutuban in Manila.

Gong told me that he frequent this place cause theres a lot of goood stuffs you can find at an incredibly low low price! Just like this pair of Reebok Sneaker that i got for 1,380 yen! (equivalent to 500 Php). I promised my self to visit this place once more before i fly home to the Philippines. With these price, i can easily fill a box or two of LBC without hurting much of my pocket! The truth is, I am a Bargain addict! lols!

We then decided to take a train on the way to the building in Akihabara where the car is parked since its geting cold and were all tired to walk. At first i was hesistant but Gong assured me that this station is safe!

At last, a dream came true for me! Riding a densha in the heart of metro Tokyo! Yatta! I even managed to take a shot of Gong and Tito Nathan inside the train.

Thanks to the Trinidad Family for being my Santa Claus!

Tanjoubi Omedetto Gozaimasu Kenji-kun!

2008-01-07T16:16:00.000+08:00

"Ang bilis ng panahon! Hindi mo mamalayan isang taon na pala ang lumipas!"

We always hear these expressions especially during the year's ending.

Just recently, a person that is very close to me celebrated his first birthday and i cant help my self from uttering the expression:

"Ang bilis ng panahon! parang kelan lang...."

As a God father to this kid, i had witnessed everything from the pregnancy, giving birth, first steps, baptism and now, his First Birthday!

Kenji-kun, i wish you good health always. As your Tito-Ninong I'll be here to guide you and be your second father. I pray that you grow strong and healthy!

Happy Birthday Kenji -kun!

Shogatsu

2008-01-07T13:17:00.000+08:00

Akimaste Omedetto Gozaimasu!

So the one- week holiday is over and back again to home-work, work-home routine. But the long holiday had given me enough time to shake away those negative vibes and pressures accumulated in the past year. it had given me enough time to once again enjoy the coldness of a mug of beer, sing (or shout) till my voice get hoarse in the karaoke bar and enjoy the company of friends who had already been my family here.

Shogatsu (Japanese New Year) had not only given me the chance to enjoy, it had given me the time to reflect on my self and recognize what my heart really wants and were my happiness lies. Most of all, it had given me enough time to meditate and thank Him for all the blessings and miracles he had showered me and my family in the past year.

Now, im ready to face another year and im positive that whatever adversary lies ahead, i will be able to surpass it. With my family and friends on my side and Him guiding me, " kayang kaya ko to!"

Happy new Year to all!

Thank you KCIC Family!

Happy Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T21:10:00.000+08:00

Foods were eaten, wines were drank..... slice of cake lay silent on top of Pokemon characters greeting a Happy Merry Christmas! whats next?

Christmas is over.

Better sleep early and get a very good rest for tomorrow, the freezing early chill will greet us on our way to work.

Yup! WORK....... Christmas is not considered as an Official Holiday here...

Really sucks!

But looking forward to a 1-week non-working holiday. The bad thing is no work- no pay. Life is really unfair.....

The Fallen

2007-12-19T21:30:00.000+08:00

like autumn leaves....... if we dont hold on tight to the branch, cold wind will sweep us away joining the icy water running smoothly in the gutter and eventually meet other fallen leaves on the journey down the drain.

Looking into a Stranger's Eyes

2007-12-19T19:31:00.000+08:00

having the time to peruse the stack of pictures collected in my drawer (the pictures that was collected in the past 4 years), i stumbled upon the oldest ones. these are the ones taken before i set foot here in Japan.
i saw the smiling face, the carefree spirit.

i looked my self in the mirror. theres something that had changed, something in my eyes tells me that a lot had changed. as i look deeper, it seems that i am looking into a stranger's eyes.

Bestfriend JS

2007-12-18T22:11:00.000+08:00

Do you remember the first time I saw you? It was a chilly November afternoon in 1998 in a sporting good store in Ulsan, South Korea. I was there checking out shoes and bags when I saw you together with other bags hanging in one corner of the store. I know instantly that I want to have you. I really have to have you. Was it love at first sight? I really don’t know.

After haggling with the saleslady, I walked out of the store feeling happy and satisfied with you strapped on my back. We spent our first day together strolling around downtown Ulsan and stuffed you with a lot of things that fancies me. I had given you your name JS (for JanSport), the two letters embossed in your zipper’s tag.

In my 6 years of roaming around the world, my only constant companion is you. You were there strapped on my back while we strolled the malls of Biloxi, Mississippi and Alabama, screaming with glee while riding the roller coaster and cyclone loop of Jazzland Theme park of Louisiana years before hurricane Katrina, strolling around Universal Studios in Hollywood, riding BART and blending with a lot of other nationalities in Downtown San Francisco, marvel in the huge cathedrals of Barcelona and Tarragona in Spain, haggling with salesladies in the flea markets of Singapore, Mexico, Argentina and even in the hot Arabian climate of Dubai, sipping cold beer in the humid afternoon at the aplaya of Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela while watching lovely Venezuelan ladies in very short shorts playing in the beach. Almost everywhere I go, you’re always there with me.

I’ve been so attached to you that whenever I ride a car, I always have you there on my lap, hugging you. You seem to give me comfort, assuring me that wherever I go, whatever happens, you will always be there for me. Like when I had my emergency repatriation after I had the news about Nonoy’s death. By just hugging you, I feel consoled.

How can I forget the day that I decided to leave the ship and find new adventures in Japan? You were with me stuffed with 3 shirts, underwear, emergency medicines and toiletries. I can still remember that day. The day that I experienced fear, excitement, worry, nervousness and paranoia like I never had before. In that 4 hours of ride with the bullet train from Osaka to Tokyo, my heart never ceased to pound like it was going to burst. But then again, you were there on my lap, giving me the silent comfort and assurance that everything would be alright.

It's not only adventures and emotions that we share, you have proven yourself not just a constant companion but a very good and never complaining friend. You always hold important things for me, my bento box, my cigarettes, my mp3 player, my passport and documents and my working clothes. You never ever complain even if I let you soak in the rain, leave you under the heat of the sun, spill you with beer and wash you seldom.

I was never aware of your importance until I saw the signs of deterioration; maybe I call it aging (?). Your fiber starts to fall out, your zipper won’t close anymore, the color of your leather bottom starts to fade. And I think I have to replace you with a new bag.

I know it’s hard to let you go. With all those things that we’ve been through, it’s just hard to be separated from you. You served me in any way that you could, my constant companion, my comforter and my best friend. Even if I replaced you with a new one, you will always be my best friend like no other bag can be.

For now, I will let you have your retirement. And I promise that when I go back home, I will give you the reward that you deserve. I’m going to put you in a frame and hang you where everyone can see you. Showing them how grateful I am for having you and being a part of my life for 7 short years.

Thank you for everything. Thank you for being my best friend.

Lure of The Rising Sun

2007-12-18T21:35:00.000+08:00

Japan..

Land Of the Rising Sun... the name given to the country shining so bright, tagged as one of the World's Economic Powerhouse. This country and its people had been looked up by the rest of the world in terms of technology, economy and its peoples' hardwork and discipline that is the main factor why the country is in its status now.

Like a lot of fellow pinoys, i too was enchanted and lured by the bright rays of its rising sun...... leaving the comfort and security of my current job, my family and my loved ones, i took the step towards the emerging light in my life's horizon.

Packed with ambition and geared with courage, i embarked to a journey that will change the course of my life. The journey that will help me discover not only the new world, but also to discover who i really am.

This blog site is dedicated to all those who are doing their best to reach their dream and have theri place "in the sun"...... sail on with me and lets discover the New World!