I am Grateful Because

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18

G

B

G

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

19

B

G

B

G

G

B

B

G

B

B

G

G

20

G

B

G

B

B

B

B

B

B

G

B

B

21

B

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

22

G

B

B

G

B

G

G

B

G

G

G

G

23

B

B

B

G

B

B

G

G

G

B

B

G

24

B

G

G

B

B

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

25

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

B

B

B

26

B

B

B

B

B

G

B

G

G

B

G

G

27

G

G

B

B

G

B

G

G

B

G

B

B

28

B

B

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

G

B

G

29

G

B

G

G

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

G

30

B

B

G

B

G

B

B

B

B

B

B

B

31

B

B

B

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

G

G

32

B

G

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

B

G

B

33

G

B

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

B

B

G

34

B

B

G

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

G

G

35

B

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

36

B

G

B

B

B

G

B

B

G

G

G

G

37

G

G

B

G

G

G

B

G

G

B

B

B

38

B

B

G

G

B

G

G

B

G

G

B

G

39

G

G

B

G

G

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

40

B

B

B

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

G

B

41

G

G

B

G

B

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

42

B

G

G

B

B

B

B

B

G

B

G

B

43

G

B

G

G

B

B

B

G

G

G

B

B

44

B

G

G

G

B

G

B

B

G

B

G

B

45

G

B

G

B

G

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

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!