Our neighbors had their occasional street party again last night. They set up a tent that occupied over half of the street in front of our house, and settled down to play cards, eat, and drink.
It's their "advance" party. The real celebration would be sometime today.
Anyway, last night's party was relatively quiet.
At 4am this morning, however, I was awaken by loud voices.
They're at it again, locked in heated discussion over some moral issue that has something to do with freedom to express one's opinion. I heard passionate screams like "Tang#@*! Opinyon ko ito, kaya huwag ninyong masabi-sabing mali ako, mga g@%$!", and "Mga ul*^! Magsama-sama na kayong makikitid ang mga utak!"
Wow. Such passion.
It must have felt wonderful for them to scream their minds out in the middle of the street for all their neighbors to hear.
A very satisfying release.
***
My officemate, Mike, had his envy-worthy, shiny long hair cut after five years.
No wonder he went home early yesterday: he wasn't kidding when he said he was getting a haircut.
And now he's traded his old looks that vary from sleek pony-tail or twisted bun, to a neat semi-kalbo.
After five long years.
What a change. And I can only imagine how light his head must feel right now.
***
Right now I'm blogging and doing a paper here at Burger King, Glorietta 4 in Makati, while waiting for Joan to finish her meeting with a friend.
It's a nice change of scenery for me. Plus I love their new mini-burgers, and the free wi-fi.
November 14, 2009
November 13, 2009
Found
Aside from my own (oops haha), there are a few names that I regularly search over the internet for news and updates.
And even fewer names that I search every now and then, for over five years now, with hopes of somehow getting an idea how these people are doing.
Tonight there's one name off that list, thanks to FB.
The nickname used is different, but the face in the gray photo belongs to a person I used to know so well.
***
Back in high school, every batch's natural enemy/rival would either be the immediate upper batch, or the immediate lower batch, or both.
This rivalry, of course, is just there as it is every batch's struggle to gain prestige. Matters of the heart, however, usually ignore this.
Thanks to a tip at fezbook, I had a glimpse of what went on at the lovefront in the batch below us.
Haha! Memories.
And even fewer names that I search every now and then, for over five years now, with hopes of somehow getting an idea how these people are doing.
Tonight there's one name off that list, thanks to FB.
The nickname used is different, but the face in the gray photo belongs to a person I used to know so well.
***
Back in high school, every batch's natural enemy/rival would either be the immediate upper batch, or the immediate lower batch, or both.
This rivalry, of course, is just there as it is every batch's struggle to gain prestige. Matters of the heart, however, usually ignore this.
Thanks to a tip at fezbook, I had a glimpse of what went on at the lovefront in the batch below us.
Haha! Memories.
November 10, 2009
Disconnected
I opened Facebook this afternoon and found today's "God wants you to know" message as follows:
"You're chasing in the wrong field. What you are looking for is inside of you, not 'out there'. Take a few days off to become quiet and look within, and you will find it."
Usually I am the one giving this sort of advice. Funny how it sounded so right for me at this very moment.
Good heavens... It wasn't like this a year ago.
No questions here, though. I should know that I am exactly where I am by my choice and mine alone -- however bungled up they may be.
Still... sadness.
Sigh. I feel so tired all of a sudden.
I need that quiet time.
***
Our prayers and sincerest condolences to our friend Euge and the rest of the Abitang family on the passing of his father last November 9.
I only have good (and most of the time, funny) memories of Sir Eugenio on the few times I've spent time with them (including the time I spent an extra day at their home in Banga during a flashflood).
God bless, Sir.
"You're chasing in the wrong field. What you are looking for is inside of you, not 'out there'. Take a few days off to become quiet and look within, and you will find it."
Usually I am the one giving this sort of advice. Funny how it sounded so right for me at this very moment.
Good heavens... It wasn't like this a year ago.
No questions here, though. I should know that I am exactly where I am by my choice and mine alone -- however bungled up they may be.
Still... sadness.
Sigh. I feel so tired all of a sudden.
I need that quiet time.
***
Our prayers and sincerest condolences to our friend Euge and the rest of the Abitang family on the passing of his father last November 9.
I only have good (and most of the time, funny) memories of Sir Eugenio on the few times I've spent time with them (including the time I spent an extra day at their home in Banga during a flashflood).
God bless, Sir.
November 06, 2009
For the soul
Feel-good moments are extremely hard to come by these days, and oftentimes it takes too much effort to snatch measly bits and pieces of it.
So much effort that, at times, you end up wondering if it’s worth it at all.
Anyway, the last I remember – the one that didn’t require effort at all – would be the time I turned 34.
Yes, I love it when I get another year older. It means another year overdue of the age I believe my original lifespan would have been. (That would be 30, thanks to a recurring dream I used to have.)
This year wasn’t so different from the last one, and maybe from the three others before that: I was again in the office at the first hour of my birthday.
However, the people surrounding me in those first few hours had always been the ones that define the moment – always different, always wonderful.
The Techies and all who brought the videoke to its breaking point (tsk tsk haha!) never failed to cheer things up. And thanks Anne and Sergey for bringing me to the KMS party –
I had fun, guys. Thank you.
And for the past three years, the best part of the day would always be coming home to Joan. ^^
***
We’re used to calamities. During the early parts of my childhood spent in Metro Manila, I had my share of riding rubber tubes and wading through deep floods in Pandacan. When my family moved to Aklan, I had my taste of mind-blowing super-typhoons and freaky flashfloods.
But I only have good memories in all those experiences – playing with classmates in the floods after classes were suspended, gathering fruits from fallen trees around the town, standing in the beach wearing a crash helmet while waiting for the gust of wind to lift me off the ground (it never happened, though, maybe my body was too streamlined to achieve liftoff), breathing lungfulls of cool, crisp, leaf-scented air after the storm, and spending another day or two at a friend’s house while waiting for the roads to be clear of floods.
Back then, there were no fears of leptospirosis, no mudslides, no murderous floods or mudfloods, and barely are there scenes of people crying on their rooftops, or running or swimming for their lives, or people begging for help and mercy on national TV.
Either I was brain-dead back then, or something is really wrong today.
***
Every morning since typhoons Ondong and Pepeng, I listen to the radio on my way to work, and get snatches of feel-good moments from news of people helping others, sometimes in the most unique way – boxes of condoms and contraceptive pills donated to evacuation centers were the least I expected to hear.
But hey, just keep the help coming.
And everywhere in Facebook, blogs, and online news, there are people reaching out a helping hand.
Cheers to you all!
Of course, one has to endure all the bad in majority of the news to get these bits of feel-good ones. It’s all about being selective.
***
Natural selection.
Here’s a term stuck in my head recently. Life is all about making choices, and from those choices or decisions arise the fate of not just your own but those of others.
If a team of multi-tasking individuals was given one project too many, each one of these individuals will autonomously exercise a selection process determining which among their many tasks they will prioritize.
And which to sacrifice.
Ultimately, the collective choices of these individuals will determine the fate of a project.
I know now how it feels like to lose every spare tire, every lifeboat, and all reserve fuel needed to finish a project within the deadline.
Sigh. First time for everything. But hopefully never again.
***
This is it.
What can I say?
When it comes to what he does, Michael is perfection.
***
I’m finding it so hard to resist these cute and satisfyingly lethal little characters.
Luna Online by Run Up Interactive Corp. is slowly becoming my worst nightmare – an addiction. It’s been feeding my love for “hybrid” characters.
Gaah! Please let this not be the Ragnarok-type of addiction, or it will ruin my life. Haha!
My first duel -- what a rush (especially if you've won haha)!
So much effort that, at times, you end up wondering if it’s worth it at all.
Anyway, the last I remember – the one that didn’t require effort at all – would be the time I turned 34.
Yes, I love it when I get another year older. It means another year overdue of the age I believe my original lifespan would have been. (That would be 30, thanks to a recurring dream I used to have.)
This year wasn’t so different from the last one, and maybe from the three others before that: I was again in the office at the first hour of my birthday.
However, the people surrounding me in those first few hours had always been the ones that define the moment – always different, always wonderful.
The Techies and all who brought the videoke to its breaking point (tsk tsk haha!) never failed to cheer things up. And thanks Anne and Sergey for bringing me to the KMS party –
I had fun, guys. Thank you.
And for the past three years, the best part of the day would always be coming home to Joan. ^^
***
We’re used to calamities. During the early parts of my childhood spent in Metro Manila, I had my share of riding rubber tubes and wading through deep floods in Pandacan. When my family moved to Aklan, I had my taste of mind-blowing super-typhoons and freaky flashfloods.
But I only have good memories in all those experiences – playing with classmates in the floods after classes were suspended, gathering fruits from fallen trees around the town, standing in the beach wearing a crash helmet while waiting for the gust of wind to lift me off the ground (it never happened, though, maybe my body was too streamlined to achieve liftoff), breathing lungfulls of cool, crisp, leaf-scented air after the storm, and spending another day or two at a friend’s house while waiting for the roads to be clear of floods.
Back then, there were no fears of leptospirosis, no mudslides, no murderous floods or mudfloods, and barely are there scenes of people crying on their rooftops, or running or swimming for their lives, or people begging for help and mercy on national TV.
Either I was brain-dead back then, or something is really wrong today.
***
Every morning since typhoons Ondong and Pepeng, I listen to the radio on my way to work, and get snatches of feel-good moments from news of people helping others, sometimes in the most unique way – boxes of condoms and contraceptive pills donated to evacuation centers were the least I expected to hear.
But hey, just keep the help coming.
And everywhere in Facebook, blogs, and online news, there are people reaching out a helping hand.
Cheers to you all!
Of course, one has to endure all the bad in majority of the news to get these bits of feel-good ones. It’s all about being selective.
***
Natural selection.
Here’s a term stuck in my head recently. Life is all about making choices, and from those choices or decisions arise the fate of not just your own but those of others.
If a team of multi-tasking individuals was given one project too many, each one of these individuals will autonomously exercise a selection process determining which among their many tasks they will prioritize.
And which to sacrifice.
Ultimately, the collective choices of these individuals will determine the fate of a project.
I know now how it feels like to lose every spare tire, every lifeboat, and all reserve fuel needed to finish a project within the deadline.
Sigh. First time for everything. But hopefully never again.
***
This is it.What can I say?
When it comes to what he does, Michael is perfection.
***
I’m finding it so hard to resist these cute and satisfyingly lethal little characters.
Luna Online by Run Up Interactive Corp. is slowly becoming my worst nightmare – an addiction. It’s been feeding my love for “hybrid” characters.Gaah! Please let this not be the Ragnarok-type of addiction, or it will ruin my life. Haha!
My first duel -- what a rush (especially if you've won haha)!August 06, 2009
Paalam, Pres. Cory
Joan and I stood under the rain for hours at the South Superhighway yesterday to see President Corazon Aquino's final journey.
Neither of us were personally present at the People Power revolution in 1986 -- we were both in fifth grade in the provinces when it happened.
The sheer crowd of masses yesterday, however, gave me a certain sensation: if this isn't People Power, nothing else could come close.
But there were no angry shouts of protests. There was no trace of violence in the people's faces.
There were only love, gratitude, and admiration.
Farewell, Pres. Cory.
Some more photos of this brief moment here.
August 02, 2009
Happiness and well-being
Salamat, President Cory Aquino.
July 16-23, Florence, Italy. My presentation at the 9th Conference of the International Society of Quality of Life Studies was about satisfaction with democracy and quality of life in the Philippines.
It was scheduled at 8:30 am, and apparently it’s a time that most of the conference participants find difficult to attend. It was hard for me to wake up early too. The Italian summer nights are so short – it’s there where I first wore sunglasses at 8pm, and the sun still rises at 6am.
Few participants made it to my talk. Thanks to four of my colleagues in SWS (the five of us were the only Filipinos out of over 300 participants) and those of my co-presenters’ from mainland China, Singapore, and London, the beautiful, ancient dungeon that was converted into a classroom didn’t look so empty and lonely.
It was a 20-minute talk, which I find too short if one is to discuss over 50 years of Philippine history as a nation. So I breezed through the highlights of the country’s experience with democracy.
I placed special emphasis on 1986 – President Cory, People Power, and restoration of democracy. The regular study of democracy, subjective well-being, and public opinion in the Philippines became possible as certain liberties such as elections and freedom of speech were re-established after 13 years of dictatorship.
So how’s democracy doing so far? Unfortunately, the democracy that President Cory re-established eventually gave birth to a new breed of corruption. But while we are sick of it, the idea of democracy is something we, as a people, are not ready to abandon.
There’s always hope. We’ll see how democracy plays come Elections 2010.
July 16-27, Florence, Pisa, Rome, and the Vatican, Italy. There’s extra happiness everywhere.
It’s in every local beer I occasionally had during lunch and dinner. Nothing compared to my all-time favorite San Mig Pale Pilsen, but their delightfully potent 4.5% to 5% alcohol buzz took away all my pre-presentation jitters.
It’s in the lovely scooters that dominate the narrow, cobbled streets of Florence. Here, these pocket rockets look so pristine and classy, far from the ones we see in the treacherous streets of Manila.
It’s in all those delish pasta, pizza, Mediterranean foods, and gelato! Yum!
It’s in all the beautiful sights, artwork, pieces of history, and symbols of faith that used to be just pictures. To see them, touch them, walk through them, breathe them, climb them, do all sorts of poses next to them, and pray before them was a wonderful experience.
It’s in that very rare chance to run into someone whom you haven’t seen for more than ten years, in a place that you least expect it. In case you’re reading this, Van, it’s good to see you again. Mukhang pinakyaw n’yo yung nasa souvenir shop ng St. Peter’s basilica haha!
It’s in every little chance to see something good. The ice-cold water that comes from every fountain scattered around Rome, the amazed looks from locals and tourists alike every time I deploy my handy-dandy extendable camera monopod, and that nice feeling of not hearing a single car horn during the entire visit.
I had some share of unpleasantries, but not enough to deserve mention in this blog.
Well-being. Happiness. All subjective concepts that can be gauged by equally subjective measures.
July 16-23, Florence, Italy. My presentation at the 9th Conference of the International Society of Quality of Life Studies was about satisfaction with democracy and quality of life in the Philippines.It was scheduled at 8:30 am, and apparently it’s a time that most of the conference participants find difficult to attend. It was hard for me to wake up early too. The Italian summer nights are so short – it’s there where I first wore sunglasses at 8pm, and the sun still rises at 6am.
Few participants made it to my talk. Thanks to four of my colleagues in SWS (the five of us were the only Filipinos out of over 300 participants) and those of my co-presenters’ from mainland China, Singapore, and London, the beautiful, ancient dungeon that was converted into a classroom didn’t look so empty and lonely.
It was a 20-minute talk, which I find too short if one is to discuss over 50 years of Philippine history as a nation. So I breezed through the highlights of the country’s experience with democracy.
I placed special emphasis on 1986 – President Cory, People Power, and restoration of democracy. The regular study of democracy, subjective well-being, and public opinion in the Philippines became possible as certain liberties such as elections and freedom of speech were re-established after 13 years of dictatorship.
So how’s democracy doing so far? Unfortunately, the democracy that President Cory re-established eventually gave birth to a new breed of corruption. But while we are sick of it, the idea of democracy is something we, as a people, are not ready to abandon.
There’s always hope. We’ll see how democracy plays come Elections 2010.
****
July 16-27, Florence, Pisa, Rome, and the Vatican, Italy. There’s extra happiness everywhere.
It’s in every local beer I occasionally had during lunch and dinner. Nothing compared to my all-time favorite San Mig Pale Pilsen, but their delightfully potent 4.5% to 5% alcohol buzz took away all my pre-presentation jitters. It’s in the lovely scooters that dominate the narrow, cobbled streets of Florence. Here, these pocket rockets look so pristine and classy, far from the ones we see in the treacherous streets of Manila.
It’s in all those delish pasta, pizza, Mediterranean foods, and gelato! Yum!
It’s in all the beautiful sights, artwork, pieces of history, and symbols of faith that used to be just pictures. To see them, touch them, walk through them, breathe them, climb them, do all sorts of poses next to them, and pray before them was a wonderful experience.It’s in that very rare chance to run into someone whom you haven’t seen for more than ten years, in a place that you least expect it. In case you’re reading this, Van, it’s good to see you again. Mukhang pinakyaw n’yo yung nasa souvenir shop ng St. Peter’s basilica haha!
It’s in every little chance to see something good. The ice-cold water that comes from every fountain scattered around Rome, the amazed looks from locals and tourists alike every time I deploy my handy-dandy extendable camera monopod, and that nice feeling of not hearing a single car horn during the entire visit.
I had some share of unpleasantries, but not enough to deserve mention in this blog.
****
President Cory ushered in a way of life that has been giving legitimacy to the kind of democracy we know now. This democracy has evolved – it’s crazy, and we’re not afraid to let the democratic institutions know how much we’re dissatisfied with them. But like an old car that has served us through the years, we don't see this particular democracy as something that needs to be replaced.
It just needs fixing.
When I went to Italy, I refused to be a tourist, but instead be a guest. With Joan’s help, I tried to learn some of the basic etiquette in this locality: I kept my voice down when speaking in Filipino or English, I greet shop and restaurant owners and staffs in Italian, never starting a conversation directly in English, and I try to be mindful where I point and shoot my camera.
The returns are subtle but measurable, and worth every bit of the effort --
A lovely smile, or an extra scoop of my favorite nocciola gelato.
You'll find more photos of my visit to Italy here. Ciao!
July 27, 2009
Space and time
… two unforgiving elements that seemed to have overwhelmingly ruled my life over the past two months.
As of blog time, it’s my eleventh and last day in Italy -- the longest and farthest I’ve spent away from home since I got married. Had my heart been a tad weaker, the separation anxiety pains I had before I left would have killed me.
But the good thing is that my travel home will begin two hours from now. Very soon those eleven days won’t mean much except for their wonderful memories.
I’ll be home soon.
Goodness. What have I been doing this July?
So many things to tell, but so little time. Will get back to that later. Right now it’s time to pack up for the long trip home.
Ciao!
Another piece of my generation's history became yet another memory.
Rest in peace, MJ.
The recent days have been so full of him – news, tributes, documentary specials – that it seems he is more alive now than he has ever been before he made his announcement of a comeback concert.
He is defying boundaries, again: neither black nor white, neither man nor woman, neither dead nor alive.
Some weeks ago, Joan and I went out with her Dubai-based relatives to inspect some model condominium units and houses in Makati and in Carmona, Cavite.
These "show units" were supposed to feature the best that the company has to offer when it comes to themes and space usage. If they were meant to dazzle, it worked -- on me, at least.
Looking back, however, there was something different about those model units. Most of them have glass walls.
Thus the illusion of space.
I wonder if these model units would still be as appealing once the glass walls were replaced by “real” walls.
Finding a little piece of nature in Metro Manila is always a treat.
The La Mesa Ecopark has picnic grounds, swimming pools, fitness trails, butterfly farm, boating and biking areas, a mini-jungle, and even facilities for wall-climbing, rappelling, and zip-lining. We tried the last one for a few seconds of thrill.
The place is huge. It’s hard to imagine something like that could be in Quezon City. With the right eye, the La Mesa Ecopark provides endless possibilities for nature photo shoots.
What a nice way to use space.
As of blog time, it’s my eleventh and last day in Italy -- the longest and farthest I’ve spent away from home since I got married. Had my heart been a tad weaker, the separation anxiety pains I had before I left would have killed me.
But the good thing is that my travel home will begin two hours from now. Very soon those eleven days won’t mean much except for their wonderful memories.
I’ll be home soon.
Goodness. What have I been doing this July?
So many things to tell, but so little time. Will get back to that later. Right now it’s time to pack up for the long trip home.
Ciao!
***
Another piece of my generation's history became yet another memory.
Rest in peace, MJ.
The recent days have been so full of him – news, tributes, documentary specials – that it seems he is more alive now than he has ever been before he made his announcement of a comeback concert.
He is defying boundaries, again: neither black nor white, neither man nor woman, neither dead nor alive.
***
Some weeks ago, Joan and I went out with her Dubai-based relatives to inspect some model condominium units and houses in Makati and in Carmona, Cavite.
These "show units" were supposed to feature the best that the company has to offer when it comes to themes and space usage. If they were meant to dazzle, it worked -- on me, at least.
Looking back, however, there was something different about those model units. Most of them have glass walls.
Thus the illusion of space.
I wonder if these model units would still be as appealing once the glass walls were replaced by “real” walls.
***
Finding a little piece of nature in Metro Manila is always a treat.The La Mesa Ecopark has picnic grounds, swimming pools, fitness trails, butterfly farm, boating and biking areas, a mini-jungle, and even facilities for wall-climbing, rappelling, and zip-lining. We tried the last one for a few seconds of thrill.
The place is huge. It’s hard to imagine something like that could be in Quezon City. With the right eye, the La Mesa Ecopark provides endless possibilities for nature photo shoots.
What a nice way to use space.
June 27, 2009
Over-react
As of blog time, I’m still feeling weak after a stressful day.
Writer’s block, inexplicable negative aura in the workplace, and now fluctuating cellphone signal wiped out my already depleted emotional reserves.
I’m used to the first two, they happen on a regular basis. The third one caught me off-guard today.
When you can’t reach someone who was trying to contact you just seconds ago, the mind could conjure the worse possible scenario.
Did the phone lose power? Maybe. Or was it turned off? Is the person okay? Is there an emergency?
When these questions go unanswered in the first sixty seconds, I’ll be a whirlwind in the next three minutes.
Mercifully, the signal came back after several agonizing minutes. Within that time I have dialed five numbers -- three of which did not answer, while the other referred me to the fifth person, who also came up blank.
Panic. It doesn’t happen to me often, but what an unpleasant feeling it is.
I have a tendency to over-react, it seems. In the end, I realize I have too many unfounded worries, leading to unnecessary drama. So sorry about that.
I’m glad everything’s okay.
Writer’s block, inexplicable negative aura in the workplace, and now fluctuating cellphone signal wiped out my already depleted emotional reserves.
I’m used to the first two, they happen on a regular basis. The third one caught me off-guard today.
When you can’t reach someone who was trying to contact you just seconds ago, the mind could conjure the worse possible scenario.
Did the phone lose power? Maybe. Or was it turned off? Is the person okay? Is there an emergency?
When these questions go unanswered in the first sixty seconds, I’ll be a whirlwind in the next three minutes.
Mercifully, the signal came back after several agonizing minutes. Within that time I have dialed five numbers -- three of which did not answer, while the other referred me to the fifth person, who also came up blank.
Panic. It doesn’t happen to me often, but what an unpleasant feeling it is.
I have a tendency to over-react, it seems. In the end, I realize I have too many unfounded worries, leading to unnecessary drama. So sorry about that.
I’m glad everything’s okay.
June 03, 2009
Unfamiliar
What a month May was!
Just when I was giving up on my hopes of getting some summer sun and sand, along came two invitations – one from Joan’s office and one from my mother – that gave me my quota of sunburn for this year.
Last month also felt to me like Life just handed out a generous serving of lessons about myself and others.
Some lessons were old, most were unfamiliar.
All were welcome.
I joined Joan’s office outing to Adventure Beach at Subic last May 16. Having met her officemates only a few times in the past, my initial impression was that this was going to be a small-group affair.
The day before, however, the attendance was confirmed at an impressive forty plus persons, including kids.
With a group this big and without any reservation, the plan had to be simple: get to Subic as early as humanely possible (meaning, without waking up at 4am), and secure a spot.
Driving through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) with the speedometer stuck at 40 kph wasn’t a very relaxing experience, but it did help a bit with our schedule: by sticking with whichever vehicle was going faster, we arrived at Subic early enough to secure two front-beach cottages at Adventure Beach.
The CA people was a crowd so different from any I’ve been with – maybe because the CA people themselves comprise only half of the group, while the rest consist of family, relatives, children, spouses, and friends.
Anyway, it was a fun day. I never realized Joan is such a strong rower at kayak. We could have gotten far off shore had it not been for the rumors among resort staffs earlier that a shark was sighted nearby. *shudder*
We unwittingly made a scene when I dropped off the kayak to dive. From the cottages where Joan’s officemates were watching, they thought we were having a fight, and that Joan threw me off the kayak and left me behind. Haha!
At least they know now that I have an addiction to swimming and skin diving.
We have a few more photos shared here.
When my brother and I arrived at Kalibo airport last May 23, we noticed another plane with an unfamiliar logo. We were told later that it was an international airline.
Wow! Kalibo has international flights na nga pala. I hope they’re screening passengers for Influenza A (H1N1).
Anyway, we went home to Batan to give support to our mother as she turns over leadership of the Batan Youth Circle (BYC) to the next set of officers during its 50th Anniversary.
It was an evening event, so my brother and I had time to visit a nearby beach resort for a swim.
On our way to the beach, I was reminded of how popular my brother is despite his long absence from our hometown. Among us siblings, he had the most years spent in this town, and has earned quite a reputation for himself. Like our mother, he is unmistakably a true-bloodied Batangnon.
The 50th Anniversary of the BYC celebration was a night of many firsts.
For the organization, it saw a fruitful year under the leadership of its first lady President. From what the locals are saying, it was also the first time a BYC anniversary had that much attendance.
The rest are the many things I am learning about my mother and my brother for the first time – the changes in my brother, and still the many stories about my mother that I’m hearing for the first time.
All good stuffs.
Some photos from that weekend are shared here.
I always seek out and embrace the unfamiliar, learning as much as I can about others and myself.
But at times I get reckless, ignoring the warnings in my head as well as from those who know better. At times I end up revealing too much of my self, exposing things that I myself am unfamiliar with.
Emotionally unguarded.
This is what I am.
But hey, you learn something everyday. Cheers!
Just when I was giving up on my hopes of getting some summer sun and sand, along came two invitations – one from Joan’s office and one from my mother – that gave me my quota of sunburn for this year.
Last month also felt to me like Life just handed out a generous serving of lessons about myself and others.
Some lessons were old, most were unfamiliar.
All were welcome.
***
I joined Joan’s office outing to Adventure Beach at Subic last May 16. Having met her officemates only a few times in the past, my initial impression was that this was going to be a small-group affair.The day before, however, the attendance was confirmed at an impressive forty plus persons, including kids.
With a group this big and without any reservation, the plan had to be simple: get to Subic as early as humanely possible (meaning, without waking up at 4am), and secure a spot.
Driving through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) with the speedometer stuck at 40 kph wasn’t a very relaxing experience, but it did help a bit with our schedule: by sticking with whichever vehicle was going faster, we arrived at Subic early enough to secure two front-beach cottages at Adventure Beach.
The CA people was a crowd so different from any I’ve been with – maybe because the CA people themselves comprise only half of the group, while the rest consist of family, relatives, children, spouses, and friends.
Anyway, it was a fun day. I never realized Joan is such a strong rower at kayak. We could have gotten far off shore had it not been for the rumors among resort staffs earlier that a shark was sighted nearby. *shudder*
We unwittingly made a scene when I dropped off the kayak to dive. From the cottages where Joan’s officemates were watching, they thought we were having a fight, and that Joan threw me off the kayak and left me behind. Haha!
At least they know now that I have an addiction to swimming and skin diving.
We have a few more photos shared here.
***
When my brother and I arrived at Kalibo airport last May 23, we noticed another plane with an unfamiliar logo. We were told later that it was an international airline.Wow! Kalibo has international flights na nga pala. I hope they’re screening passengers for Influenza A (H1N1).
Anyway, we went home to Batan to give support to our mother as she turns over leadership of the Batan Youth Circle (BYC) to the next set of officers during its 50th Anniversary.
It was an evening event, so my brother and I had time to visit a nearby beach resort for a swim.
On our way to the beach, I was reminded of how popular my brother is despite his long absence from our hometown. Among us siblings, he had the most years spent in this town, and has earned quite a reputation for himself. Like our mother, he is unmistakably a true-bloodied Batangnon.
The 50th Anniversary of the BYC celebration was a night of many firsts.
For the organization, it saw a fruitful year under the leadership of its first lady President. From what the locals are saying, it was also the first time a BYC anniversary had that much attendance.
The rest are the many things I am learning about my mother and my brother for the first time – the changes in my brother, and still the many stories about my mother that I’m hearing for the first time.
All good stuffs.
Some photos from that weekend are shared here.
***
I always seek out and embrace the unfamiliar, learning as much as I can about others and myself.
But at times I get reckless, ignoring the warnings in my head as well as from those who know better. At times I end up revealing too much of my self, exposing things that I myself am unfamiliar with.
Emotionally unguarded.
This is what I am.
But hey, you learn something everyday. Cheers!
May 02, 2009
Unaware
Had it not for the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)), I wouldn't have noticed I was driving faster than I usually do in EDSA.The reason: the speedometer got stuck at 40 kph.
My peripheral vision of the dashboard was unconsciously telling my brain to tell my foot to push down on the accelerator.
But when you're going faster than the last southbound MRT running full-speed in between stations, you can be sure you're hitting anywhere over 60 kph.
Too fast for my usual pace in the usually crowded EDSA.
The busted speedometer has since been quietly messing with my head, subtly bringing out the monster driver in me.
I better get it fixed before it's too late. Haha!
***
Watching myself in any form of audio-visual recording always creeps me out.
The voice pitch is too high, the posture too... weird, and the person looking so different from the one I see in the mirror.
To some extent, even photos have the same effect. I recently browsed through our pre-nuptial photos, as well as other old photos (oh the memories!) again, and felt that same eerie feeling.
Sometimes it really does take a third person's perspective to know some little known facts about yourself.
It's the same for the way we act. At least once in your life, someone will tell you what you need to know about yourself.
Bless the Simons in all of us.
***
It’s been raining over the past month, but none seem to compare to the one that came late last week.
This one arrived with such refreshing force that it made the air a lot more breathable and a whole lot lighter that I couldn’t help but smile – however toxic the days have been, and will be in the months to come.
It was the rain that I’ve been waiting for. The one I look forward to feeling again.
Please be here soon.
***
I’m again enjoying that delightfully scary feeling of uncertainty in today’s Pacquiao-Hatton fight.
After watching the pre-fight documentary, “Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7” – which was superbly done, by the way – I’m convinced it’s going to be everyone’s fight.
As of blog time, I just heard over the radio the surprising win of Pacquiao. Just two rounds.
Moral lesson?
None for the boxers. They are both great fighters.
Only for their trainors...
Less talk, more work.
Mabuhay!
April 09, 2009
Bubble
Making bubbles is quite simple: just mix a soapy solution, then use a ring or tube to blow nice bubbles of different sizes.
As a kid, for me these bubbles were magic and happiness that live on till the last of them burst into nothingness.
When I learned that by mixing crushed gumamela leaves into the solution will extend the bubbles' lifespan twice or thrice longer than usual, I considered it nothing less than a miracle.
A little more time of happiness. A few more seconds of magic.
Thanks to a simple ingredient.
Not many are born into a life of magic. For most, everyday life can be uneventful, if not plain boring.
But every single one of us has ways of trying to make sense of this existence, to find meaning.
To find magic.
At times, we have to fight for it.
And just like bubbles, all will have to come to an end.
But with some effort and life's simple ingredients, we make it last.
Beyond nothingness.
I am officially saying goodbye to my Nikon Coolpix 2100, which accounts for over 90% of all the photos I've taken since 2004.
Last week I went hunting for my next camera, and thanks to Joan's proficiency with web browsing using her cellphone, she gave me crucial info for my last minute decision.
I now have a Sony Cyber-shot W170 in my bag.
The new camera came in just the right time. If I play my cards right, I'm up for a major travel a few months from now.
Wish me luck.
As a kid, for me these bubbles were magic and happiness that live on till the last of them burst into nothingness.
When I learned that by mixing crushed gumamela leaves into the solution will extend the bubbles' lifespan twice or thrice longer than usual, I considered it nothing less than a miracle.
A little more time of happiness. A few more seconds of magic.
Thanks to a simple ingredient.
***
Not many are born into a life of magic. For most, everyday life can be uneventful, if not plain boring.
But every single one of us has ways of trying to make sense of this existence, to find meaning.
To find magic.
At times, we have to fight for it.
And just like bubbles, all will have to come to an end.
But with some effort and life's simple ingredients, we make it last.
Beyond nothingness.
***
I am officially saying goodbye to my Nikon Coolpix 2100, which accounts for over 90% of all the photos I've taken since 2004.Last week I went hunting for my next camera, and thanks to Joan's proficiency with web browsing using her cellphone, she gave me crucial info for my last minute decision.
I now have a Sony Cyber-shot W170 in my bag.
The new camera came in just the right time. If I play my cards right, I'm up for a major travel a few months from now.
Wish me luck.
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50!
August 28, 8PM. "Knock, knock. "Who's there? "Leo. "Leo who? "I wanna Leeeeeeooooo down in a bed of roses......
