UHM...

1
Yesterday, I went shopping with Rowie in Galleria. It has become my favorite mall, being just the right size and just the right mix of affordability and class. Anyway, it was fun. I just realized I get to buy more stuff when there is someone else with me. For the first time in my life, I bought two pairs of sandals in one go. The "worse" thing about it, one of them was a pair of high heeled black dressy sandals. I have no idea when I will wear the thing, but I figured, I need to look more mature as it is very disturbing at times to be mistaken to be eighteen or twenty when it is your clients telling you that. But still, I have no pants to go with those shoes. We will see. One of these days I'll shock my Davao friends by coming in two inches taller than the usual. Nyaha.

2
The good thing about announcing your birthday is people greet you. The better thing about telling the whole world about it and what your wishlist is, you sometimes get it. Thank you, thank you, thank you Bunns for the Brief LIves (which I shall claim later during our coffee date). Mike and Row, on the other hand, have offered the beach malongs. Yipee! Erik let me choose a skirt of his sister's store for free! I feel special already and it's still a day away from my birthday.

3
My week in Manila has been a blessing that far. The loneliness that lurks over the Davao Anj has turned me myopic. Now that I am here, I have been able to get into the groove of my officemates and bosses. And it is great, great, great to be working with dedicated people. Not just people who work for other people, but people working for the cause of God. It really does feel my birthday because my heart is somehow reborn to the beauty of good souls I am surrounded with.

Our very own Ambassador Dee was saying in the meeting that he is continually amazed with how much work we have done over the past year that he knows it is not possible if not for the grace of God. It is so humbling for me that someone as "big" as our president to feel that way. When he could just be retired and caring for his own self, at 77, he continues to work for others. While I, a robust soon to be 26 year old, whine about how cruel nights can be. But of course, I will still accept the reality of my feelings. But this time I will try me best to be more open and accepting of the world around me.

4
Tomorrow I turn 26. I was telling Mike and Rowie (and Tris a few months back) that I have been lucky so far. For someone who is of mediocre intelligence and ability, whose only asset is her heart... I am surprised I'm still able to support myself. I sometimes laugh that sometimes a good heart and good intentions can actually go so far.

Hopefully my life's new year will bring forth more joy not from good things happening to me but from wisdom and humility to accept the world around me.

THAT SONG FOR ME. Let me indulge as I'm ending my twenty-fifth year in a few days (but unfortunately not my quarter-life crisis).

I was honestly surprised when Mimo told me that the song was written for me. There were times, when he was asked to sing the song, he would give the story behind it, I would have a vague feeling that he was talking about me. But I was never ever sure because he never really told me straight out until yesterday.

It was the first few days of my stay in Calapan. He had barrio masses in the next municipality (Naujan) so I decided to tag along. Mimo explained that he saw me so sad, so down. He thought I was homesick. But it was actually because I was burdened with the idea of doing pastoral work for the diocese, when I do not think myself spiritually mature to handle such a task.

Mimo and Rosing both gave assurance that there is a reason for everything (cliché but oftentimes true). The suggested I use my spiritual weakness to the advantage of my work. Being one that is in need of nourishment myself, I would know best what it is other people would need. Good logic. And one that has served me well for I have fallen hopelessly, madly, passionately in-love with Mindoro.

And so, thus Mimo wrote the song. For that young girl lost and doubting.

That girl isn't so young anymore. But probably is more lost in and more doubtful of the world. And now… she can take comfort in knowing that there will always be a loving embrace waiting for her.

(I do miss my dad. And the Other Dad).

YAKAP NG AMA

Lumapit ka kung ika'y napapagal
Sa paglalakbay na kaytagal
Ang dalahing iyong pinapasan
Ibigay sa 'kin ng mundo mo'y gumaan.

*At sa bisig ko'y masusumpungan mo
Ang isang bagong lakas at isang bagong bukas

**Yakap ko'y naghihintay sa iyong pagbabalik
aking anak.
Nais kong malaman mong
ako'y nasasabik
sa 'yo anak

Ang napapgod mong puso at isip
Ihimlay sa aking dibdib.

Sugatan ka man, Ika'y tatanggapin
At sa yakao ko ikaw ay gagaling. */**

MEETING WITH MIMO

I have previously noted that my friend, Fr. Mimo Perez, has come up with an album. Well, I met with him this afternoon to claim my birthday gift (which is of course a copy of his album). It has been a long time since we last saw each other. We really didn't have much time and weren't able to talk about anything much. Most of the conversation were saying we missed each other and repeated kamustahans. But it was nice to see him again.

Nicer still, to know, that one of the songs was actually WRITTEN FOR ME! Yakap ng Ama was written for me when I just arrived in Mindoro as a Jesuit Volunteer. It was only now that I found out. Everytime he would be forced to sing it to a group, he would give it a segue and talk about he came up with the song. I'd snicker thinking it was parinig. But then it was nice to know that it was actually really really for me and about me.

Wala lang. I guess, it's every girl's dream to have a song written for her. At least I can slash it off my list.

Please, buy the album. It's available in Christian bookstores. It's actually more spiritual than religious. And it is interesting to note that he has songs that talk about needs of priests like him.

One of these days, I will post a song or two.

COUSINS

I had a lot of fun during our commemorative dinner for my dad's death anniversary last night. Most of my cousins were there from the Resurreccion side. I have not see them for a long time and it was all so interesting to see them grow bigger and bigger and bigger (vertically and horizontally).

The boys and I roughed it up. Wrestling and tickling each other till one yells "stop!" Yep, at 26 I still enjoy roughing it up with the boys. It was also great hearing them talk about college and girls and other things. Sigh. They are all so grown up. I love my cousins!

BRIEF NOTES

LARRY FONACIER
It is such a shame that he had to suffer an injury during the pinnacle of his basketball career, wherein "louder" names like Rich Alvarez, Wesley Gonzales and Enrico Villanueava are not there to stifle his own. I do hope that the PBA will still draft him when the time comes. Sayang, sayang, sayang. He would have been an easy contender for the Mythical 5 and even MVP.

IMELDA
Watched it last Sunday. I do not see any point to her theatrics against Ramona Diaz when nothing new was said. And hell, she did most of the talking in the docu anyway. Whatever people think of her, it was a picture she painted of herself.

MANILA TAXIS
I hate most of you, you dickheads.

BORROWED
I am enjoying my bro's 6610 since he has bought a 6230. But this is only temporary as it is only for the duration of my stay in Manila. He will let me take home his old 6210 as a birthday gift (which keys are a headache).

...
The longing can sometimes be so strong, I feel choked with pain. Fate has never been kind to us. I sometimes wonder why feelings like this ever exist when all it can ever bring is deep hurt.

RANDOM FRIDAY STUFF  

UAAP
Ateneo won against UE yesterday.  *yawn*  I wanted to sleep in the middle of the second quarter.  The Eagles just clawed through Red Warriors with little effort.  During the last quarter, Sandy even let the neophytes finish off the murder the veterans started.  Chris Tiu, Jobe Nkemakolam (repeat after me – Nkemakolam), Ken Barracoso (crush!), Chris Quimson and Yuri Escueta (I like him, he’s perky) could very well be the future ADMU superstars.

MANILA
I am not that excited to go anymore.  Maybe because of this cough and cold.  Or maybe because the person I wanted to see is giving me a hard time setting up a schedule.  It just irritates me so.  But well… Manila-Manila…

BIRTHDAY
One week before I turn 26. 
Wishlist

Warning to those who have not read HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX: there will be a lot of spoilers if you read this.
I just finished re-reading HP5 last Wednesday.  The first time I read the book last year, I was quite dissatisfied with much of the book.  Harry seemed to be too angsty and too full of himself and Dumbledore too un-wise.  It was all out of character from the first four. 

But re-reading it again, it was more entertaining the first time.  Maybe because I didn’t re-read the Goblet of Fire beforehand.  During my first read of HP5, I was expecting a lot of the questions left behind in book 4 to be answered.  Unfortunately little was revealed about Voldemort and his Death Eaters.  Most of what was in the book 5 was preparing the whole lot for the return of Voldemort rather than explaining how the people in the Order figured in the past war against the Dark Lord.

I am still unsatisfied with the way one of the lead characters died.  There was no explanation about the nature of the thing that took him.  Even Cedric Diggory’s death had more drama, written as if in tribute.  While THIS death made Frank Bryce seem more important than he was.  This lack of detail makes me hope against hope that it may not really be the end of him.  But then Dumbledore does declare him dead.  And usually Dumbledore rings truth.

Usually Rowling takes pains in explaining the nature of the magical things that she introduces in her book.  Even Neville’s plants takes a few paragraph of description even if it has no vital role to the book except as password.

Rowling does a good narrative of the adventures of her characters, yet she seems to lack the cohesion she had with the first four books in this one.  Before she was able to make obscure things in one of the books turn up to be vital in another.  Just like Hagrid’s using Black’s motorcycle in the first then Sirius Black coming back in the third. 

The un-wisdom of Dumbledore was also disappointing in this one.  The way Rowling explained made the dear old headmaster act of character.  He had trusted Harry with so much information in the previous books, why the sudden hesitation in the fifth?

Oh well.  I was still entertained.  It was still a page-turner.  We could always explain everything with “maybe the Dark Lord has addled the brains of everyone in the book.”  Perhaps.

FROM FOREVER TO HOME

We were presented with three different routes we can use to go home. The old route (the seven to eight hours through mud and rivers). Another route supposedly five to six hours through mud and rivers. The last route supposedly three hours wide road by horse.

I usually would rather walk than ride a horse. My Tagaytay and Baguio experiences have indicated that I am far more comfortable walking. But we decided to try the horse this time. It was after all only three hours!

And so we rode the horse. I, fully expectant, that we will get to find a motorcycle ride by at most eleven in the morning.

THOUGHTS DURING THE RIDE

FIRST MOMENT ON THE HORSE
Naks! Ang galing ko. I can actually balance and steer the wonderful creature.

HOUR 1
This is far more comfortable than having to walk.
Look at the fog! It’s trotting in the clouds. Wonderful.

HOUR 2
I’m Marlboro Man!
Just another hour to our destination.
The cogon grass are too tall, they’re itchy.
Wow. The fog is still all around me. Nice.
Ow. The colt kicked me. My mind flew too far away kasi. My horse got too near. Learning: horses value personal space very much.

HOUR 3
Hmmm… the mud must have made the trip longer. Thank God, I’m on a horse and need not walk through that *points to knee deep mud*!
Wow! The blue sky is so nice. And the mountains are so green
The horsekick is really purple. Ugly.
My back is starting to hurt.
So is my inner thigh.
Oh well, it’s just a few more minutes.

HOUR 4
I thought this ride was only four hours.
I’m getting sleepy. This horse is too slow.
The horse kick isn’t purple anymore. It just hurts like hell.
My back really hurts.
Can I just walk? But that mud is too thick. Sheeeeet.
Who suggested I ride a horse?

HOUR 5
Are we ever going to get there?
I am ready to cry.
Everything in my body hurts.
It’s still far! They said it was only three hours!
F**k!

HOUR 6
I am never ever going to ride a horse that will take more than an hour’s journey. Never.
I want to go home.
I want to sleep.
Can I just walk?
I want to cry.
I hate the world.

HOUR 7
I see paved road!
I see a motorcycle! I never thought I would ever be so happy to see tires again.
I can sniff the city.
Yey!
Ouch. Every joint hurts.
Next time, I will just walk.
Just 5 more hours till I get home.

Is this really my job? Is this really it?
It must be really it.
Oh well.
Think about Jong.
Hmmm… I guess, this is my job.
I will get a bath and massage in the city.
I’m glad this trip is over.
*sigh*

PICTURES
dalagang bukid. reminder: those are not my clothes. borrowed lang okay! that is so not me.

 
marlboro man.


 
riding in the fog.

  

 

BLUE MOON is one of my favorite piano pieces.  But then that is not the point of this entry.  This article says that July is a blue moon.  But then that is on the other side of the globe.  Here in the Philippines, August 31 is a blue moon.  And the first fool moon of the month falls on my birthday.  Yipee!

SECOND DAY OF A LONG WALK TO FOREVER

Woke up. Changed into the previous day's clothes. Pants muddied. Shirt reeking with sweat. Euw. Brushed teeth. Drank coffee. Ate breakfast. Carried sandals. Used slippers to walk.

Our clothes rumored to be in the next sitio (Molmol) where we were supposed to have spent the night instead of Quiapo.

The road to Molmol is TERRIBLE! The mud was f**king shin deep. Ah well. My sense of humor was back in tact as I had a good breakfast and a pleasant sleep. Besides the mud, there were more inclines than there were the day before. The guides and my companion said it was just an hour from Quiapo. Hell, no! It was two hours and a half! Probably an hour and a half on a regular, no mud road day. But I had to keep stopping in every stream to clean my feet and slippers just to have a more comfortable walk. I finally gave up with the slippers and walked barefoot.

MOLMOL! Finally. Took a break. Had some drink. Borrowed boots. Left behind my six-year old sandals on the premise that we shall return for it in the afternoon. Cogon was reportedly an hour away. I seriously doubt that.

The rain boots helped. I walked faster with less stopping hesitation. But I did bury it in mud again. The hour stretched to two. Sweat-drenched and reeking, I just wanted a bath. But there are more important things than hygiene at the moment. After lunch, I observed the grade 1 class while Kuya Nonoy went to take another walk to check the water source.

When he got back, he was planning to go back to Molmol again. I just nod my head at every suggestion but really had a heavy heart thinking of taking another long hike. In the end, it was decided that we stay the night in Cogon.

I was half-relieved, half-anxious! I really wanted to take a bath but there weren't any house with a bathroom. Until the lady of the house said there was a spring to take a bath in. Yey! Good thing I brought river-bathing clothes (short shorts and tank top). This little boy named Jong bursting with hyperactive energy and good will volunteered to come with us and lead the way. He was giggling and laughing the whole way, so excited at the prospect of being guide to the visitors.

After a fifteen minute walk, I could see and hear the stream. I immediately ran to it and bathed. The feel of water and soap on the skin felt sooooo goooood! I soaped three times, shampooed twice and conditioned once. The feeling was so damn great! And it was more fun when Jong shed his clothes and joined in the fun. He was a very happy kid, and he took delight at shampooing his hair with shampoo and not soap (my companion shared his Vaseline with Jong). Pleasant, pleasant feeling. I could still feel the cool water against my skin.


Jong, the happy little kid.

So we went back to the house and chatted away the night. The fog was getting thick and I was feeling cold. Finally, we had a chance to rest. :)

 

B-BALL FRENZY
 
Before the UAAP begin, I was quite skeptical about the team especially with Sandy Arespacochaga at the helm.  Like most alumni, I feel he is still a tad too young and inexperienced despite being assistan coach for the past years.
 
I am so happy he has so far proven me wrong. 
 
Ateneo has been playing well the past two games.  And I did so love that taste of victory against La Salle (another La Salle history broken by the Eagles!).  But Yeo, Tang and Casio can always give me a heart attack with their sharp-shooting treys.  But well... ang sarap ng pakiramdam.  T and I were hooting and tooting all over my house during that game.  Nin was as usual calm and poised.
 
The UST game had a lot of excitement too. Though nothing can match the thrill of ADMU-DLSU game.  The bile and adrenaline in the system pumps everything up.  Anyway... it was another good game last Saturday.
 
The thing I like about Sandy... he rotates his players.  Unlike the past seasons wherein a superstar dominates the court, everyone in the team gets to their share in the games.  For the past years, Magnum, JC, Quimson have been underutilized.  Now, they get enough playing time together with the veterans Larry and LA and Bugia.  I'm happy.  We have to give Sandy credit.
 
Plus I get to see my crushie-wushie Johann Uichico more often now! (Move over Wesley).

Fr. Mimo was my supervisor in Calapan City while I was a Jesuit Volunteer for the church media office there.  He was one the biggest blessings of my volunteer year as he became father, brother, friend and spiritual guide through my year.  This person showed me how beautiful the Church and Catholicism can be when done right.  His words and actions inspired me and many other around him to have faith, to believe, to love.
 
The best times I had with him was when we would jam by the seaside (us listening, him singing, Robert playing the guitar), singing the songs he has composed throughout the years he was in the seminary.  They aren't as grandly arranged as Bukas Palad or Hangad songs.  But its simplicity emphasizes the message he sends out.
 
Finally, after so many years of waiting, he has released his album, "Buntonghininga ng Isang Alagad."  There is an article in the Inquirer about it.  For those thirsting for music for the soul, for those searching... this album may be for you.  They are currently available in St. Paul stores and other Christian bookstores.
 
===
I love the new blogger!  Blogging is much easier now!

A LONG WALK TO FOREVER is one of my favorite stories but this is not what this entry is about.

The trip to Sitio Cogon was my most agonizing, most excruciating travel ever. I have enough scars, rashes, bruises and body aches to prove it. Not to mention some pictures (which will follow soon enough).

Whenever I monitor an school we are sponsoring, I make sure NOT to ask about how far the place is. This is just to avoid any pre-conceived notions and wild imaginings that might ruin my disposition before I even get to place. I feel it best to keep the suspense and just keep walking (ala-Johnny Walker). It would be better to have an open mind and heart about the whole thing thank thinking while walking, “shit, two hours pa.” or “shit, 8 kilometers pa.”

Getting to our take-off point to Langkimit was already adventure enough. My companion and I had to take a bus to General Santos then a van to Glan, Saranggani Province, then a habal-habal to Langkimit. The way to Langkimit was beautiful.

To our left was a quiet stretch of white sand beach where only fishermen and their families lived. No resorts and all coconut. It was beautiful. Nothing spectacular really. Just that sort of tranquil beauty that calms the soul on a turbulent day. The mountain ranges spread out to our right. The harsh sunlight created the illusion of emerald and jade jewels winking at people like me who take time to appreciate their existence.

A bridge destroyed by the previous night’s storm ended my reverie. We had to get down the motor to cross to the other side using a makeshift bamboo bridge. There was this huge basket, which can fit three to four people and probably carry as much as 200 kilos of weight, that could be used to carry sacks of rice and other what-have-yous.

And so after we traversed the bridge, we made our way safely to Langkimit. We waited almost two hours for our companions to Sitio Cogon. Our water technician was talking to our partner that the horses will carry our stuff. Yey!

Finally, at 3 PM, we start the long walk to forever.

HOUR 1
It’s hot. But things are okay. The road is still manageable and I still have some sense of humor. I listen to the conversation of my companions. I didn’t join in as I preferred to save my energy for walking.

HOUR 2
The trail gets muddy. But there are still some dry spots I could place my foot on, strong enough to keep my weight. We catch up with the priest and some workers. The lady that was with them kept taking 5 minute breaks in ten minute intervals. Stopping all the time tires me out more. Good thing Kuya Nonoy was able to go ahead without being offensive. The boy riding the horse gets way ahead. We stop by a house owned by Roland’s friend. There we enjoy fresh buko juice. Yessss, energy!

HOUR 3
The boy with the horse seems to have gone on really ahead. No worry. We discussed that we were to sleep at Sitio Molmol. I don’t know how far that is, but things are fine. Right? Right. *nervous laughter* The sky is getting a bit darker and I still have no idea how far we are to walk. The people with me discuss that Molmol would be the best place to stay for the night because it would be nearer sitio Cogon. I just nod my head because I have no idea what they are talking about. Sense of humor slowly dissipating with the light. Mud is getting worse and I have like two kilos stuck to my sandals.

HOUR 4
$#!=! Did I really leave Manila for this job? Did I pass up the chance to be an events organizer and rub elbows with Jason Mraz just to walk through mud and horse crap? Did I? Yes, I did. The mud up to my shin is quite enough proof. The sandals I’m wearing are too slippery, it makes walking more tedious than it already is. I take it off and just walk barefoot. I walk faster but any semblance of humor is finally lost. No more daylight. The flashlight I carry is a joke and could hardly light anything farther than two feet.

We reach Sitio Quiapo. It is 7 PM. My companions finally decide to spend the night there instead of Molmol. The darkness would be too hard to battle especially with a weary body. My heart rejoices until…

They remember that the kid with the horse with our things is waiting in sitio Molmol. Argh! No change of clothes. No nothing! Aaaaargh! But…

I was still lucky. Since I never part with my belt bag, I still had some stuff with me. My wallet, alcohol, tissue and ta-dah! Toothbrush and toothpaste. Little blessings. Sigh. We were able to buy food for dinner.

The kinds souls in the kumbento also provided us with change of clothes. The only cleaning up I was able to do was wipe myself with alcohol-dabbed tissue. It did help a bit but the stickiness was still there. As for the change of clothes… uh… they gave me red-fushia skirt that mother’s wear. Uh… not exactly fashion model material. But it would do. They also lent me a pillow and thick blanket. God, thank you for kind people. Thank you. Thank you.

There was also this particular coconut tree that attracted fireflies. It looked like the stars were moving. Or maybe it was a faerie home. It was just so amazing. Pinpricks of light dancing in the silhouette of the coconut. Wow. Wow. Wow.

After dinner… I brushed my teeth and plopped down the bench near death. Nobody was telling we where to sleep but I was too tired to care any more. After a very short nap, Kuya Nonoy prodded me to go to the room with the catechists.

And to all a good night. zzzzzzzzz….

(to be continued)

This is by far the most tiring trip I have ever taken in my life. The last three days has been quite an adventure.

I rode a horse for 7 hours. It hurts.
I've been kicked by a colt on the shin. It hurts.
I had to walk a total of eight hours for two days. Through mud and horse crap. It hurts. And it's disgusting.

I'm soooo tired. After I read my mail. I am going to get a massage.

More information when I recuperate. I'm this close to death. This close. Blech.

BUNAGUIT SNAPSHOTS

Instead of telling the next part of the story, I'll let the pictures do it. I'm a bit lazy to construct an entry on the day 2 of my Bunaguit expedition. Hehehe!

This kid seemed to be enjoying his sweetened buko juice. I enjoyed mine for sure!
 

Giov was quite amused with the children of one of the active members of the Bunaguit community. They all have the same faces, looking very much like their father. And true enough, this picture is proof of how strong the same genes run in their veins. The other kids that don’t like the other kids just joined the pic.
 

I always have more fun playing with the children than conversing with the adults. Here, I was trying to get the children to dance their native dance but they wouldn�t because there were no �sounds.� So I tried to make sounds, except they were just looking at me amused and tried to follow suit. Except it was a bit complicated to explain in Bisaya.
 

This is their classroom for now. They seem to have fun doing action songs with their teachers. Mothers were all over the place watching over their children.
 

SIGH

Suddenly everything I enjoyed this week just fizzled out. I do not know what to do to help my mom. Whenever she complains about the dormitory that she started managing, I want to say "bakit mo pa kasi kinuha?" I told her before that it would take a lot of her time and give her a lot of headaches.

I can understand that our finances are barely able to make ends meet. But the ends meet. We have a house, we have a car, we have appliances, we can occasionally go out. What else should we want? Sigh.

Our maid left without telling us. Not because she was having a hard time but because she just wanted to do something else. She said in her letter that if she told us, it might take longer for her to leave. So that would be another thing to complain about.

Right now, I feel guilty about the thought of going out or having fun because my mom isn't. At the same time, I do not know what help I can give her. Whenever she complains, I feel its my fault. She makes me feel I'm in the wrong job because it's not enough to give both of us a comfortable lifestyle.

Fuck.

MAGWAWAKAS NA

Just a day more and it shall be the "historic" finale of Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas. Thank God! I never really paid much attention to the show until the Leo-Ara angle started getting hot. Oh, and the fact we cut our cable subscription. They took place of my nightly dates with That's So Raven and Lizzie Maguire.

Anyways, the past few weeks the show actually had quite interesting twists. From my own take, the show got extended because it got the audiences hooked once more. This time in anticipation of the love triangle. As always, the network have found an additional money-making scheme for themselves. Conducting a poll survey through text on who the audience wants to get together, then basing their ending on popular demand. Text votes cost 2.50 each. For the past two months, they have garnered something like a million votes, which would be equivalent to 2.5M additional earnings! Smart, smart network. Poor, poor Pinoy. But well, it gives the people the illusion of power to control the fates of their nightly companions.

Back to the actual show.

It ends tomorrow except I have been dissatisfied with the direction they are taking the show. Ever since that boat got hijacked and sank, the plot went along with it. I mean, hello! Is there any other way that you can end this without having to resort to deux ex machina? Where it is the circumstances rather than the a personal choice that would get together the triumphant couple? Hello! It's so wrong. I want to slap the entire script to their faces. This week's show just destroyed everything that was so delicious about the show for the past months. Grsh.

But yes, disappointed as I am, tomorrow I will stay home until the show ends just to see how it goes. It's great conversation piece for field work and visits to the parlor.

RANDOM MUSINGS

Guy Sebastian looks like Mufasa.

I have been needing a haircut since last week but will get it two weeks from now. Hmmm... I wonder how I would look in a pompadour?

Almond Clusters is my favorite cereal.

Chips delight have delicious coffee cookies and peanut cookies. Yum, yum!

My lips are chapped.

I'm sleepy.

Ara-Christian! Just because the soap was made for them in the first place.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 here in Davao! Yipee!

Grand Questor Hero Angeles' life story in Maalala mo Kaya on Thursday.

Amazing Race na kanina! But delayed telecast coincide with badminton time. What to do? What to do? When are they coming here in the Philippines? At wow! Manila and Palawan! Thank God they will get to see Palawan.

LUNACY

Back in college, moments would come when my friends and I would just be silly or crazy or spontaneous. Then we would look up to the sky and discover that it was a full moon or close to it.

 


Last Saturday was a full moon. The days before that and the days after, I have been a lunatic. Without any intention of being one. I’ve been giving Je a dose of my cariño brutal. I’ve been shrieking at the mention of this Parokya ni Edgar band member’s name. I’ve been hurling words of contempt at Ara for making a stupid decision that just made Christian, Leo and Mary Ann miserable along with her.

I have been the moon’s slave. She has been looming large over the city over the past few days. The sky here in Davao has been quite clear and the stars glimmer and titter in their little corners. But still Luna rules the night.

Yesterday, she has played a mean trick on me. A devious trick which I gladly went along with. I had a moment of unexplainable joy. A moment when I just wanted to burst out in mischievous laughter. It came after I thought of this person, who - interestingly enough - has been the object of my ire for the past few weeks. It was all so strange. I suddenly felt thankful for him being there. What he has done for me, or am doing for me, or will be doing for me… I do not know. But I just felt the need to thank him for existing. I felt that somehow his very presence have moved the cosmos to work with me.

The moment did not end there. I had a need to inform him about my moment of insanity. Never mind its possible butterfly effect. My instinct and gut tells me to tell him. So I log on to the internet and write him an e-mail. All in stream of consciousness, without pause and little editing. I even told him, after that I know I would tell myself, “anj, what did you just do back there?” but to hell with decorum and pride! Yes, I did ask myself the that, but I just ended up smirking on the outside and laughing hysterically but happily in the inside. At this point, I do not care how he reacts to my defiance of whatever wall we have built up against each other. I have said my piece. Whatever he makes of it is his problem.

Bwahahahahahahaha! I feel so jumpy. If I see him, I’d give him a gigil hug. I’d like to give him a playful punch and a kutos (rapid rubbing on the head that destroys a good hairstyle and takes away any amount of poise. I do that to my seminarian boys a lot, sometimes in front of their crushes. Fun!) just because he’d be uncomfortable with it.

I feel so naughty. Like a child about to put a cherry bomb on the CR. No thinking of the consequences but just doing it because its fun.

Wheeeee! I can’t stop laughing wildly in my head.

It’s all the moon’s fault. I swear. If I end up killing someone (a helpless ant maybe), I plead temporary insanity. May I ask Glenn Foy (James Marsden) to be my lawyer please.

SLEEPYHEAD

Yesterday, the badminton gang had an exhilirating game. With adrenaline pumping through our systems, we extended our court time for another hour. Even I, the badminton mascot, played a somewhat good game. The warm-up palo-palo with Jerry helped me focus and pay more attention. Honestly, I am distracted most of the time. Hep, badminton-mates, it is not because of him. I pay more attention to the songs on the radio than on the ball.

Anyway... the games were exciting but quite tiring. By the last game, my opponents were fuzzy along the ages and my knees were ready to buckle. We have not had dinner and my last food intake was ice cream. Good thing Je brought bananas and chocolate.

So when I got home I thought I'd just lay dying on the bed after I have dinner and cleaning up. Hell, no! I was adjusting to my new room. I have my room back you see. And I took pains the whole day to make it according to my liking. The pink curtains and blinds remained much to my distate. The blinds will stay (why did my cousin have to buy pink ones!) but I'll purchase some beach malongs from Aldivinco and replace the pink curtains soom.

I kept waking up in the middle of the night, needing to go to the bathroom since I gulped down something like a liter of liquids when I got home. It was past midnight and I still couldn't sleep. At 530 I woke up needing to go the the restroom again. Then went back to sleep. My mom woke me up again at 7, before my alarm time. Argh.

And so just like the hazy vision I had last night, I can't seem to concentrate on the proposal I am making as I'd yawn every two minutes and my mind keep repeating sentences over and over. Jah.

I think I need to coffee.

But at least I'm a cute sleepyhead, donning my baby blue eyelet skirt (courtesy of Maita).

FICKLE

I changed something like six or seven times this morning. I started off wearing a skirt and a peasant blouse and found it too manang. So I changed into another shirt and another and another. They all seem to go well together but I couldn’t match it with my groove for the day. Then I had to change uhm, bras (am I allowed to say that?) for a particular shirt. It still wouldn’t match! So I had to change my skirt to pants. Then I changed my shirt to another shirt again. I finally settled for a tie-dye tank top and camouflage green pants. But it doesn’t end there. I tried on my boots, found it too combative and changed into my red Chucks. Ta-dah! I look like I’m ready for a Parokya ni Edgar gig.

These are the days it’s such a bane to be a girl.

BUNAGUIT (PART 1)

Ah yes! Finally, there is a point to calling this blog Biyaheng Mindanao. My first official field work for school year 2004-2005. I was excited especially since this time I had company. Though I have gotten used to traveling alone, it always feels better when somebody is with you especially during long, excruiciating eight hour trips to the middle of nowhere.

Throughout the whole trip to Bayugan, Agusan del Norte I was just under the covers of my malong sleeping with my mouth open (euw!). I woke up with a stiff neck and an aching back. When we were nearing Bayugan, my boss pointed out the skylab (rumored to be a shortened version of sakay na, my love). It was a fascinating sight. The motorcycle had wings! On its sides were platforms where baggages can be placed, or even people who prefer to extend their legs. Cool!

The unfortunate Sonny took the privileged position of sitting on one of the wings of the skylab. It was still a fun ride, with the ricefields extending to either side of the road. Clusters of coconut trees and gmelinas would occasionally break the yellowish-green expanse.

I was informed that there was still a long way to go before we get to our destination. We were dropped off at Esperanza where we were to take a boat ride to the other side of the river. It felt so much like an adventure in the Amazon! I do so love boats. The one we rode though was a canoe type boat, clearly carved from a very large tree. The water was lapping against the sides, threatening to spill into our boat.

 


We reached Hawilian finally. At the habal-habal terminal, people were waiting. Apparently some of the drivers went to the fiesta in Bayugan and abandoned their motors. Sitio Grabahan where we were going to be dropped was quite far and none of the drivers were interested in taking us there. It took us almost an hour before we got to convince anyone. That gave me a chance to see a dead wild boar though as one of the motors arrived with a passenger who had one. It would have been nicer if I saw it alive.

 


Finally, we were able to get a ride. Three of us had to share the habal-habal with the driver. Heidi, one of the parish workers, sat on the tank. Sonny was behind the driver and I took the worst seat at the tail end. With no expectations, I just sat on my place and tried to enjoy the view.

Enjoy I did not! This is probably one of my worst, if not the worst, habal-habal rides ever! Since the bags were on the step knots, I had to keep my feet up. We rode through loose gravel which had the motor slipping and sliding, threatening to falter every minute. My feet were dragged against all sorts of foliage. Exhibition moves of the driver had me lifted off my seat and bumping back into it with the grating of my spinal bones against each other as scoring.

 


Occasionally I’d forget the discomfort whenever I would see bird varieties I have not seen before. Foliage of a different variety lined the roads. Ferns were trees and trees were giants in that place. I started imagining myself in the middle of Jurassic Park. Except I did not have posh BMW 4-wheel drive for a service.

During the trip, I made sure I made friends with God. Just in case, the driver wasn’t. “Heya, Lord. See here… I’m trying to help people. If this guy gets us killed, the school we will help them build might take longer. You’ll make sure I get there alive, won’t you?” He’s probably slapping his thighs while shaking the earth in laughter. Put a little fear in my people, and they suddenly remember I exist. Got that right, Lord!

And alive we got there. But we were just in the middle of the journey. We still had to cross the river four times. This I was not warned about. I was wearing jeans. Baggy ones. Yaaargh. But hey, a girls got to do what a girl’s got to do. I carried my bag and myself with pride. To hell with water, it will dry! Sonny cheered me on with an “Astig! Basa ang jeans.” I don’t know what’s that supposed to mean, but I will take astig as a compliment any day.

Finally, I see a “Madagway ha pag-uma (maligayang pagdating)” sign. The Bunaguit village was surrounded by the river, with an imposing centuries old acacia greeting your arrival. It was beautiful! It definitely wasn’t any Shire, but they greeted visitors like hobbits. Children ran from their games and looked at us with interest, some plodded along with me as my jeans went “squishk, squishk” against each other.

 


We arrived at the house where we were to stay. The children were gathered outside. I talked with them, asking about school and their names. So I met Tisay, Alili, Gaga, Pangga, Idong, Imong, Imbong and a million other permutations of the alphabet you can think off. Nope, no Mikes, no Marks, no Jennys there.

When Giov arrived with magic weapon which got the kids running to him as if he were Santa Claus. He got his camera out, took pictures of some of the children which the other kids saw, whips them up in a frenzy, gets them running to the Giov and had them posing for an impromptu class picture.

 


One observation, the boys were obsessed with guns! Many of them were holding makeshift toy guns made from banana bark. They were pretending to be soldiers, shooting at each other. When I asked them where they got that, they replied, “bita-bita.” My puny bird brain had to process it for a while. They repeated it “sa bita-bita gyud! (sa bita-bita nga!” Until it dawned on me, beta-beta! Betamax! They saw it in the movies! Ayuuuuun. (There was no electricity but they can watch using battery-operated appliances.)

 


It was a tiring day. I was ready for a peaceful slumber to the sounds of cicadas, crickets and hooting owls. When all of a sudden, a sound system blares the woeful tones of Viva Hot Babes “Bulalak.” Wha? Huh? Eh? Apparently, it was the sitio feast and they had a bailehan (dance ball) for the night. Ah well… Lito Camo bubblegum pop can not interfere with my dreams.

But I do wake-up at seven in the morning with, Willie Revillame’s “Pito-Pito.” There is just no escaping Lito Camo. Tsk.

(to be continued)

I'M SUPPOSED TO BLOG ABOUT AGUSAN BUT...

I watched Spiderman 2 just a few moments ago. And you know me, I can't help giving my movie reviews. Especially if it's a pop movie, right? Right.

And so here it goes.

Spiderman has been my favoritest superhero movie ever. Because the movie was able to play on his strengths and weakness. The showing of Spiderman 2 somehow got me excited, hoping for another Sam Raimi success. But at the same time, I was ready for a sophomore slump too.

But *applause* for Sam Raimi! He did it again! I love the way he plays around with his villains. How he makes them oh-so-human. I love the way he puts a lot of visual puns and subtle jokes. I love the constant struggle of Peter Parker to be the normal human against the metahuman. I love the idea that his powers are somewhat connected to his mental state. The movie is so awesome. As all the actors were.

I missed William Dafoe but Alfred Molina did a great job as Doc Ock. The revelation of Peter Parker as Spiderman shocked me a bit thinking there might be no more Spiderman 3 anymore. But well... yes, producers and directors will always find a way to make more big bucks.

Argh. Ang galing. I have a better review on my mind, but my emotions are getting ahead of me. This IS written in the throes of passion. Heeheee!