A Filipino Short Story Written by an Amateur

I was sifting through some documents in my uber messy drawer this morning when I came across a Filipino short story which I wrote during my freshman year in college (if I'm not mistaken). I actually remember writing features, poems and short stories in Filipino as far back as when I was in Grade 4. For some reason, I seemed to have stopped writing in Filipino and honestly, I'm not sure anymore if I could do so. I don't think this short story of mine was one of my best works, but it's nice to bring back writing in one's native language.

Ang Tiyo Andoy Ko

Kay bait talaga sa ‘kin ng Tiyo Andoy ko! Ngayong umaga lang, nang bumisita siya sa amin ay nagdala siya ng pasalubong para sa akin! Pagpasok sa aking kwarto, nakita kong isang napakagandang barbie doll ang hawak-hawak niya.

“Para sa akin, Tiyo Andoy?”

“Siyempre para sa iyo lang ‘yan! Alam mo naming ikaw ang paborito kong pamangkin,” tugon ng Tiyo sabay bigay sa akin ng manika.

Agad kong hinaplos ang manika. Niyakap ko siyang parang sarili kong sanggol at sinuklay ko ang kanyang mahaba at malasutlang buhok.

“Ang kaibahan ng manikang iyan sa iba pang mga manikang ibinigay ko sa iyo ay puwede mo iyang hubaran at palitan ng damit,” dagdag pa ng aking tiyuhin.

Ipinakita niya sa akin ang iba pang magagarang kasuotan ng aking barbie. Tinulungan niya akong hubaran ang aking barbie at bihisan muli ng ibang damit. Sa bawat pagpalit ng kasuotan ay hinahaplos naming dalawa ang kagandahan ng mga kurba sa katawan ni Barbie.

Napadalas na ang pagbisita ni Tiyo Andoy sapagkat kinailangan ni Inay na magtrabaho pati sa gabi at ito naman ay aking ikinatuwa. Tinutulungan ako ni Tiyo na gawin ang aking mga assignment. Nauudyok akong mag-aral nang mabuti dahil sa bawat tama kong sagot ay ginagantimpalaan ako ng kendi o tsokoleyt o di kaya’y isa pang manika kung napakahirap ng tanong.

Isang gabi ay tinutulungan akong mag-aral ni Tiyo Andoy para sa eksam ko kinabukasan. Math pa man din ang aking eksam bukas, e dito ako pinakanahihirapan! Ilang katanungan na ni Tiyo ang hindi ko nasasagot at parang nag-iiba ang hitsura ng mukha niya. Ang dating nakangiti parati ay nakasimangot na ngayon.

“Akala ko ba’y matalino kang bata? Kay simple ng tanong e di mo masagutan?”

“E…gi…gi…ginaga…wa ko naman po ang a…a…king ma…ma…ka…kaya e,” tugon kong takot na takot. Hindi ko napansing ako pala ay lumuluha na.

“Ay siya, siya sige! Tumahan ka na at umupo ka na lang sa aking kandungan at tuturuan pa kita lalo.”

Guminhawa ang aking loob nang napansin kong hindi na siya galit. Kumandong ako kay Tiyo at inulit, “Talaga po? Tuturuan niyo pa ako?”

“Aba siyempre naman!”

At sa kanyang tugon na iyon ay sumikip ang aking paghinga. Unang beses ko pa lang na umupo sa kandungan ng aking Tiyo. “Napakalapit pala n gaming mga katawan kung nakakandong ako sa kanya,” inisip ko sa sarili.

Nagsusulat ako’t nagsasagot ng mga equation sa Math nang hawakan ni Tiyo ang kamay kong may hawak na lapis. Pampaganda pa lalo ng penmanship, ika niya. Kinabahan ako ngunit hindi ko alam ang kadahilanan. Dumilim ang aking paligid at hindi ko na mabasa ang aking sinasagutan. Naramdaman kong lalong nagkadikit an gaming katawan at lalong hindi na ako makahinga. Napansin ko ang mga kurba sa katawan ng aking Barbie. Ngunit hindi na naman kami naglalaro, ‘di ba? Tinuturuan pa ako…

Ang dilim ng kuwarto…wala na akong makita. Wala na akong masagutan sa aking Math…

May kumatok sa pintuan ng aking kuwarto. Nang buksan ni Ina yang pintuan ay biglang lumiwanag ang buong silid. Nakito ko na lang na nahulog ni Inay ang hawak-hawak niyang tasa at nabasag ito.

25 (otherwise known as "Because I have so much time in my hands")

There's this ongoing tagging and getting tagged in Facebook wherein one has to list 25 random things about himself/herself and I somehow got sucked into it (also because of all the free time I have right now). Here's my list and to my amazement, I actually had fun writing these stuff. The list could have actually gone on and on and on...

1.) I was diagnosed with chronic glumerulonephritis, a disease of the kidneys, when I was 19. It was discovered only by chance since I did not manifest any symptoms. Had I not found out about it, I could have had end stage renal disease without my knowing it, and it could have possibly led to death.

2.) I had my kidney transplant at the age of 25, right after graduating from law school and taking the bar. I currently have three kidneys. (No joke.)

3.) It absolutely pains me to see young children with life-threatening diseases. I see a lot whenever I go to the hospital (and that is quite often). I sometimes pray that I could bear their sicknesses so that they can enjoy life as a child.

4.) I have been part of five different varsity teams in my entire lifetime: karate, table tennis, track and field, volleyball and taekwondo. I consider myself as a very physical person – I love physical activities and I love being on the go. I enjoy trying out different sports.

5.) I smile and laugh a lot despite whatever hardships I face. I don’t really like showing people a sad face.

6.) I have the attention span of a ten-year old. I am easily distracted and dyslexic at times. During a lecture that would last hours, I’d normally be spacing out already during the first ten minutes. To be fair to me, I have mastered the art of pretending to be attentive at times when I have already zoned out.

7.) I don’t know why but I love giraffes! I have a collection of different giraffe stuff – from stuffed toys to keychains, stickers and whatnots. I want to have a pet giraffe someday who would greet me in the morning from the window of my room on the second or third floor.

8.) I am an absolute believer in the saying that “Grades are not the absolute measure of one’s ability.” I was never the studious type. However, my children in the future should be.

9.) I am ambidextrous. I write with my right hand. I wear my watch on my right hand. In sports, my left leg is my stronger leg. I can write with my left hand, though not as consistent as my right, but definitely more legible than other peoples’ right handwriting.

10.) I loooove to sleep. I can sleep the whole day and still have normal sleep at night. I can sleep in the most difficult of positions and situations. It is my frustration though, that I could not sleep while sitting down without my head leaning on something.

11.) Contrary to popular belief, I’m not an extremely extroverted person. I don’t know if I’m an introvert or an extrovert. When I was younger, I remember being a very shy kid. I’d hide inside my room whenever there were visitors at home because I didn’t like mingling with people. As I grew up, I learned to be more outgoing and more sociable but I always kept time for myself. Nowadays, I like being alone a lot. I can stay inside a coffee shop alone for hours reading, writing or just pondering. I can eat alone in restaurants and even watch a movie alone. I’d want to travel to another country alone in the future.

12.) I wasn’t an avid reader when I was younger. I think it was because I was such a slow reader and I’d often fall asleep right away while reading. I still am a slow reader (Imagine how hard it was for me to go through law school!) but I’ve become more patient and have managed to read a lot of books despite my snail’s pace. I read just before I go to sleep at night and I have so many unread books at home.

13.) I have a toy collection at home. I collect different toys from Monsters, Inc. and I already have lots of Mike and Sulley toys. I also collect the Little Green Men from Toy Story (those cute three-eyed green aliens!). I also collect other toys from Harry Potter, the Transformers and Marvel.

14.) I’m a very patient and understanding person but people shouldn’t test my limits. When I get mad, I get really mad. And I get really personal.

15.) I have four siblings – two older brothers and two older sisters. It was actually fun growing up with many siblings. We can form Voltes V, Voltron or the Bioman and I’d be Little John, Pidge or Blue 3 (always the youngest in the group). Until now, we still complement each other since we are in different fields – medicine, the academe, computers, psychology and law.

16.) I am very family oriented and family always comes first for me. I’d stand up for all my family members at any given time. We’re not the types who would be very vocal or affectionate about our love for each other but we’re a pretty close-knit bunch.

17.) I love art but art doesn’t love me. I wish I could sketch, draw, sculpt, paint or take good photographs.

18.) Among the jobs I dreamt of doing when I was the kid are the following: priest, businessman, President of the Philippines, toll ticker giver, playwright, psychiatrist, actor and veterinarian. Take note, I never really thought of being a lawyer when I grew up.

19.) I am claustrophobic and acrophobic. My balls get all shaken up when I’m in enclosed spaces and in very high places, especially when I can see the view way down below.

20.) Before I die, I’d want to bungee jump, ski, sky dive and go rappelling on a mountain.

21.) I really, really, really want to join Survivor or Amazing Race. I honestly feel I could win in both. If only I didn’t have problems with my kidneys, I would’ve already joined a long time ago.

22.) Contrary to popular belief, I’m not very comfortable with positions of leadership. I prefer staying away from the limelight and just doing whatever responsibility is given me. However, if the responsibility given to me is that of leading, I would still rise up to challenge and give it my best shot.

23.) I don’t know how to do small talk with older people, most especially persons of authority. I’ve always avoided small talk with professors, my bosses and clients.

24.) If I could, I’d live in Antigua and Barbuda. (No, I’ve never been there, but that’s my dream getaway.)

25.) I am basically a drifter – I run along where life takes me. However, of late, I have decided that I will try to put my foot down on certain things and already make decisions by myself, instead of going with the flow.

Thank you for the struggles

Before partaking of New Year’s Eve’s media noche, mom led the thanksgiving prayer and was saying her usual litany of thanking the Almighty for all the blessings we have received throughout the year, for family, for friends, etc. etc. I was zoning out of the prayer and was already focusing on the scrumptious meal awaiting my eager stomach when mom said I line that struck me and made me re-think my life: “Thank you, Lord, for the struggles we face each day.” Should we really be thankful for all the stress and worries and problems that have haunted us, made us lose sleep, distanced ourselves from others and maybe even endangered our lives and our health?

I’ll be the first to admit that 2008 wasn’t a good year for me.

During the start of the year, I’ve begun to doubt myself vis-à-vis my work – I felt that I was not cut out for my job and this went on for the entire year. I began to think of other possible opportunities but I did not act on them, consistent with my motto of “going with the flow.” I endured all those sleepless nights when all I can think about was a deal I can possibly botch or the consequences of a pleading I may have failed to file.

I experienced death of a really close relative for the first time. My Inay passed away some time in April albeit not unexpectedly. She has been based in the US for the longest time now and I regret not having had the chance to visit her there, not once in about fifteen years. I was the one who received the call from my tita abroad regarding the sad news. It was early morning here and it was the first time I’ve cried so hard in years. I literally cried myself to sleep that night.

Speaking of family, so many changes occurred during the past year. I still maintain a close bond with my family but with the marriage of another sibling of mine during late 2007, I suddenly found myself alone in our house with my parents. Not that I spent much time at home last year, but suddenly the house just felt so empty. Everyone else was moving forward and here I was stuck in a moment. We still managed to have family dinners and my siblings would come visit us at home but it was already different. Also, it was the first time that I spent Christmas Eve dinner with just my parents. From a big family of seven, it was weird to have Christmas dinner with just three people on the table.

Health-wise, my lab results show that I’ve been pretty much stable, although my doctor has been noticing the amount of stress I’ve been going through the entire year, mostly because of work. I myself noticed that I’ve been getting sickly the past year with the perennial cough and heavy colds and the occasional fever. I was already told by my doctor that having a good career isn’t worth it if I’m not in perfect health, especially with my condition. Health has taken a backseat from other “more important” things I attended to in 2008.

I went through some paradigm shift as well as regards the way I look through life the past year. I’ve come to realize that being nice to everyone doesn’t pay; in fact, you’ll even find yourself more in debt. I’ve learned the value of keeping only a few friends, instead of trying to make lots of friends the way I did previously. Despite such perspective, I’ve managed to toy with some relationships and keep some only for convenience. I’ve desperately been longing for “me” time instead of time with others. I’ve explored places where I can just sit down and think about things and life in general; I’ve explored scenes where I thought I would find happiness, only to find out that such is only fleeting. Also, last year was the time that I questioned my faith and I started undoing rituals I’ve been doing my entire lifetime simply because they no longer sat well with me and my innermost beliefs. I no longer wished to do religious things just because they are required but because I deeply felt that these would nourish my soul and enrich my relationship with the Eternal Being.

Perhaps one of the biggest depressions I had for 2008 is that I lost the ability and the urge to write. It wasn’t because I didn’t have time to write and it certainly wasn’t because I didn’t have things to write about. I just lost it. I was so out of it the entire year that I lost every motivation I had to do things with extra vigor and magis, and it pained me that even my writing has taken a toll for it.

With all these and more, should I really be thankful for all these struggles? I don’t want to end this with the cliché that all these problems make me a better person, and that the difficulties in life we face build character, that kind of sh*t. I’ll admit that I still can’t include in my prayers the thanksgiving for all these struggles because I feel I won’t be sincere if I say it. Instead, I end with a note that all these struggles make one hopeful. Well, it makes ME hopeful that something better may and will turn out of my life in the future. I may be unsure of what the future will bring me but, applying the law of averages, all these struggles only increase the possibility of a better and a more struggle-free tomorrow. I remain hopeful for 2009!

You were there

...right when I needed you the most.



Thanks for coming out of my fortune cookie yesterday.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Re Supra Note 11/19/08

I DID IT!!!

Exit Plan

Who would have thought it'd be so hard to draw up an exit plan?

Maybe it's because I've never really had the need to "exit" before. I never really quit. I may not have excelled but I'm definitely no quitter.

And it's completely consistent with me being a drifter - I just run along where the wind takes me, I go with the flow. I don't quit - things just happen and I let them.

But this time, it's different. I have reached a point where I just need to draw up an exit plan.

Maybe it's a sign of maturity. A sign that I am now making my own decisions and not just waiting for things to happen in my life. Or maybe it's as simple as me turning out to be a quitter after all, which, as of now, I don't really mind.

Whatever the case may be, I need to draw up an exit plan. Now.

untitled

"I don't believe that things just fall into place. But I do believe that things happen for a reason. That way, it won't sound too passive."

Must. Do. ASAP.

I stumbled upon a good piece of advice lately while reading a friend's blog who got it from an internet site. It something I must do ASAP.

On how to find one's life purpose, here's what I found from www.eHow.com.

STEP 1. Take some time to reflect on what it is that you love to do both in your personal and professional life. Make a list of all of your passions and note which ones you are actually participating in at this point in your life.

STEP 2. Recognize what makes you unhappy and what areas of your life don't feel right to you. For example, your job may be unfulfilling or you may be in an unhappy relationship. Write these thoughts down, as well.

STEP 3. Think about the type of person that you want to be and make a list of the goals and dreams you'd like to fulfill. Consider all of the possibilities and don't be afraid to dream big.

STEP 4. Read the notes you've made on what you love to do, what you don't like about your present life, what kind of person you hope to be, and what dreams you'd like to fulfill. Your unique life purpose may be a combination of all of the passions and goals that you've listed that go along with the type of person you want to become.

STEP 5. Begin making changes to work toward your life purpose. For example, if you've decided that you're not happy with your current career and that it doesn't fulfill your personal values or dreams, make a plan of action to transition into a new career that you're passionate about.

I was lucky also to find a quote from one of my all-time favorite movies, Under the Tuscan Sun. It's a good quote to reflect on during times I feel lost.

"They say they built the train tracks over the Alps between Vienna and Venice before there was a train that could make a trip. They built it anyway. They knew one day, a train would come." -Frances Mayes, Under The Tuscan Sun

Hopefully, after some "me time," I can get my life back on track and maybe even write again.

I am a Spontaneous Idealist

Because i've got so much time in my hands!

I've got so much work to do but I can't seem to get myself to start working. Thus, i was blog-hopping and found this interesting meme. Try it and enjoy!

1. Go here. The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.


2. Go here. The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.
   
   If you want to do this again, you'll hit refresh to generate new quotes, because clicking the quotes link again will just give you the same quotes over and over again.


3. Go here. Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.


4. Go here. The first ten links you end up in (minus the .coms) are your 10 song titles.

I must say, my album has got so much potential:

"And Get A Slurpee"
by HERMAN TROPHY

1. Clenched Fist
2. Lionel
3. Twisted Monkey
4. Jill Matrix
5. Free Lists
6. MacJams
7. Shout Casts
8. Great Circle
9. Delirious
10. So There

I think our band, Herman Trophy (with its catchy name), is in the running for Band of the Year and New Artist of the Year in this year's Grammy's. The songs in our first album, "And Get A Slurpee," vary from alternative to rock and is nominated for Album of the Year. Our first hit single, "Twisted Monkey" is a shoo-in to win the Song of the Year. Together with the said song, "Clenched Fist" and "So There" are moving up the Billboard Charts.

Watch out for more from Herman Trophy!

Viva La Vida

Coldplay has definitely outdone itself and has progressed to a more mature and distinctive music in their latest album, Viva La Vida.

Analyzing Viva La Vida's lyrics for its meaning would make one come up with endless possibilities. The best I can think of is that the song pertains to Jesus Christ - how He rules the world, His preachings during His time, and His eventual death on the cross. But despite the different interpretations of the song, it appeals to a lot of people because of its inimitable and catchy tune and the general message we all get from it - Live Life!

Viva La Vida (Coldplay)

I used to ruled the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own

I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing,
"Now the old king is dead, long live the king!"

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
Once you'd go there was never,
never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh, who would ever wanna be king

I hear Jerusalem bells were ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs were singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can't explain
I know St. Peter won't call my name
Never honest word
But that was when I ruled the world

Anonymous Lawyer

“I went to law school to make Dad proud of me. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. Senior year of college I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know what was next, and the thought of going out in the world and finding a job – of being an adult – was too frightening to seriously Going to law school seemed easy. Dad pulled some strings and helped get me into Michigan. It made him happy, and it gave me three more years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. He was more than willing to write the checks, so I was more than willing to spend three more years being a student. I knew how to be a student.

Being a student is easy. I have no sympathy for the ones who complain about law school. I’d give anything to be back in school. I didn’t appreciate it at that time. I slept my way through it, doing enough work to get by but not much beyond that. It didn’t feel like it mattered. I wasn’t really going to be a lawyer. Who cared about the rules of evidence or the Uniform Commercial Code?”

"Anonymous Lawyer" by Jeremy Blachman

Taken from an extremely unique, amazing and entertaining book, "Anonymous Lawyer," I can truly relate to the circumstances he went through (except for the "Dad" part). In the book which consisted mainly of his blog entries (anonymouslawyer.blogspot.com) and his exchange of e-mails with his readers and his Anonymous Niece, Anonymous Lawyer eventually finds the passion to work in a law firm and ends up becoming the hiring partner. Now if only I can find the same passion to drive me into doing work that I really love...

moratorium slash wake-up call

TODAY i stop "searching for life's meaning" and start living life and taking it as it is.

I desperately just want it to get back to the way it used to - simple, fun and full of contentment.

"Don't Think I Don't Think About It" Video

Since my first attempt of attaching a video of the song, didn't work, I am attaching another video clip, this time from youtube, with "Don't Think I Don't Think About It" as its background music. The animes are cute (and sexy) (and I'm grateful to whoever posted this clip on youtube), but I'm putting it here on my blog because of the great song. It's very real, very heartfelt and the melody is unique but at the same time very catchy - a mixture of country and rock.

Don't Think I Don't Think About It

Watch Video:

Don't Think I Don't Think About It (Darius Rucker)

Video Code provided by MusicRemedy.Com

Don't Think I Don't Think About It

Darius Rocker

I left out in a cloud of taillights and dust
Swore I wasn’t coming back, said I’d had enough
Saw you in the rear view standing fading from my life
But I wasn’t turning around, no not this time but

Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It
Don’t think I don’t have regrets
Don’t think it don’t get to me
Between the work and the hurt and the whiskey
Don’t think I don’t wonder ’bout
Could’ve been, should’a been all worked out
I know what I felt and I know what i said but
Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It

When we make choices we gotta live with them
Heard you found a real good man and you married him
I wonder if sometimes I cross your mind
Where would we be today if I never drove that car away

Don’t Think I Don’t Think about it

Don’t Think I Don’t
Don’t Think I Don’t

I don't know what's wrong with the video, but for the meantime, to hear this awesome song, click this.

"It's Divine Intermission!"

While browsing through some obscure pages of the net, i came across this and thought that it's divine intermission! Supposedly the second part of my (hilarious) earlier post, I still find it funny although a bit pilit at times. Let's continue to spread Pinoy sablay-isms!

A Love Story… (Part2)

I thought Jay’s ex-girlfriend was really out of our lives. But heaven only goes that I was wrong. Kakakasal pa lang namin nun when Jay received a uninamous text. “Meet me at the clinic.” I had a stinking feeling in my butt. I told him not to go. It might in danger him. Pero sabi niya, ok lang daw because life is what we make. Tumahimik lang ako. Sabi niya, “Penny for you talks.” But I didn’t know what to say. Beggars can’t be losers. Isa pa, worried talaga ako na baka yung girl yun. Jay said, “Can’t got your tongue?” I tried to smile at him. Kahit di ako nagsalita, actions speak louder than works, di ba?

Be that as is may, umalis pa rin siya. I was out of the loophole. After a few hours, I called him on his cellphone. But my calls fell on Jeff’s ears. Lalo akong nag-worry kasi I didn’t even know Jeff. Sabi na nga ba di na dapat umalis si Jay. That’s what I’m talking about it.

So I tried calling some friends who will help me find Jay. That’s what friends are for naman di ba? But I just faced a blank mall. I had to do this alone. Nag-taxi na lang ako. Pero ang mahal na pala ng plug down rate.

When I got to the clinic, the security was really buffed up. Di basta-basta makakapasok. So I said, “I beg your cordon. I’m patient. It’s my favorite virtue nga e.” Nagduda yata yung isang guard. Hinawakan ako sa arm. The nerd! I shouted, “Don’t touch me not!” Buti na lang the other guards were nice and said, “Come on, let’s join us.”

When I went inside, parang I’ve been there, done there. Nung walang nakatingin, nag-explore ako. Nakarating ako sa top floor and I had a bird’s IQ of the clinic. I could not explain it but I was drawn to a room on the floor. Siguro Divine Intermission na yun.

Parang may narinig akong umuungol. I was thorn. Di ko alam kung aalis ba ako o papasukin ko. It made me stick in the stomach to think that Jay and his ex-girlfriend were there. I tried to tell myself to slower my expectations. But to tell with it! I had to strike while the iron is not. I had to hear the truth from the corpse’s mouth. I barraged in. O my gas! Si Jay, naka-strap sa operating table, parang genie pig sa isang nakakatakot na experiment. He was on the cutting edge. He was bleeding. At ang doctor na nagpapahirap sa kanya, ang ex-girlfriend niya at ang bago nitong boyfriend, ang nurse na si Walter. Doon ko napatunayang blood is thicker than Walter.

Guess watch? Di ko alam kung paano ko nagawa pero I was able to search and rescue Jay. Siguro adrenaline brush na yun.

Now, he’s recovering. Nag-sorry siya na hindi siya nakinig sa akin. I know it’s a better pill to swallow your fried so it’s forgive and forget me not. All swell that end swell. I know we should kiss and put on makeup.

Ang ex-girlfriend naman niya at si Walter, nakakulong na. Detention is really better than cure. So the moral of the lesson is: if symptoms persist, insult your doctor.

"You can never can tell"

An extremely funny forwarded e-mail sent to me a long time ago. I was fixing the files and folders in my laptop and I chanced upon this. Enjoy!

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I get your number?" Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya, The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch na rin. Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we have here." What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please, mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.

In Memoriam

IN MEMORIAM

To the best INAY in the world
(1918-2008)

I remember I was still very young, perhaps around 5 or 6 and we attended my eldest sister’s graduation from high school. The whole family was there: us, five siblings; mom and dad; and Inay and Tatay. My sister graduated with honors and my parents were seated beside her. Thus, it was Inay and Tatay who were left with us kids. Being the youngest (and yeah, yeah, the spoiled one), I was the main concern of my parents and grandparents. During that time I felt like the graduation ceremony took forever. Being the brat that I am, I began complaining of how thirsty I was. And when I said complaining – I meant the whining and griping of the worst kid you’ve ever met or seen in this planet. Yup, perhaps that was me. But my grandparents were patient. Tatay just immediately stood up and searched for a water fountain (bottled water still wasn’t invented back then – at least not where my sister had her graduation). I was left with Inay and for some reason, she was able to temper my tantrums. In fact, I remember just being hugged and I immediately grew silent. I felt comforted and soothed. Inay’s warmth and love just immediately flowed and I felt calmed and reassured. Even my parents were amazed at how Inay was able to do it.

Despite being silent already, I remember Inay giving me whatever she had in her purse – it was some Astring-o-sol candy with green and white wrapper which I still recall vividly up to this very day. She gave it to me and hoped that it will help soothe my thirst. Normally, candies would make me thirsty, but this particular one relieved me. Perhaps it was a thirst for love and attention that I was seeking. And Inay was able to supply it overwhelmingly. She’d give whatever she had just to see other people happy.

Growing up, I never got to see much of Inay and Tatay anymore for they had moved to California already. We’d only see each other when they’d come and visit the Philippines or when our family would spend a vacation in the US when we were younger. But despite the distance, Inay was still very thoughtful. Every birthday, graduation, wedding and other momentous occasions (like when I passed the bar) and even in trials (like when I had my kidney transplant operation), she was there – present in body or spirit or through the US dollars she sends!

Inay is perhaps the closest person to me who has passed away. It’s only now that I realize how difficult it is. How emotional it can get. And cliché as it may sound, how you realize that life is short and you must do or say whatever you want before it’s too late.

I am grieving. I didn’t even have the opportunity to say good bye. And thank you. And I love you.

I know you understand because of the time and the distance, but, then again, we live only once.

Good bye, Inay and I’m really gonna miss you. Thank you for that Astring-o-sol candy and that warm hug. And I love you.

Macau Hangover (Part I)

For the life in me, I still can’t go back to work. The office-sponsored trip to Macau was definitely a welcome break for me – for all of us lawyers, actually, partners and associates alike. Three days in a foreign land with no work to think of was definitely what I needed to relax and unwind.

I feel like narrating the events which took place would entail too much thinking on my part. Thus, the best way to encapsulate my memories of Macau would be through the pictures I took of the different beautiful sceneries of the small island of China that’s full of surprises.

On our first day at Macau, we decided to walk around a bit and head towards the Ruins of St. Paul Church. There, we saw the mixture of the old and the new; of the Oriental and the Western. The contrast in the scenery was a splendid sight. It shows development and progress without destroying roots and history. Being a colony of Portugal for quite some time, Macau’s general atmosphere still has traces of Portuguese structure and architecture.

This is actually a favorite shot of mine (see below). It was a narrow alley that reminds me of European alleys which look exactly like this (without the Chinese characters, of course).

This is a signage along the alley which I just really had to take a picture of!

Just near these sights is the market similar to our Divisoria or Greenhills. It was there that we saw instantly the shades of Orientalism in Macau.

I just loooove this shot (see below)! Notice the narrow alley and the structures which are actually the residences of the Chinese vendors. I feel like Jackie Chan or Jet Li can shoot a film along this alley and create fight scenes involving the market stalls and their products, and the windows and terraces on the upper floors. (Plus the ropes which hang from one structure to another. I wonder if they’re used as clotheslines?)

Macau Hangover (Part II)

Lo and behold. The wondrous Ruins of St. Paul. Definitely a sight to see! A historical landmark of Macau.

There’s a flight of stairs at the back of the Ruins which brings you up to the level of the windows of the Church. The stairs and the surface on top, I think, are made of steel, but the important thing to note is that the surface ain’t concrete! Thus, you can see what’s directly beneath you and this definitely is scary for people like me who can’t handle heights very well! Good thing I managed to go up for a second, long enough to take a snapshot of the view from the top. This picture (see above) is the scenery from one of the windows of the St. Paul Church.

And this, my friends, is the sign on your way up the stairs I mentioned earlier. “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” – Haha! Well, not if you die first, right?

Macau is definitely the Las Vegas of Asia with all its bright lights and colorful signs. I honestly believe that this city never sleeps – early in the morning at around 3 or 4, there are still many people not only in the casinos but also along the streets. Furthermore, Macau is the place to be if you are into all kinds of vices. You can do all sorts of vices in just one night – gambling, alcohol, drugs, sex, cigarettes and what-have-you! (Guess which ones I did? Hehehe!) (On a side note, I suddenly appreciated the law here in the Philippines disallowing smokers to smoke inside public places. There, people can smoke just about anywhere – even in the tiniest enclosed and airconditioned restaurant.)

The Casino at the Wynn Hotel was where I won lots of moolah!