Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 9 (8 June 20110
Today, I am thankful that I was able to finish my enrollment in one whole day. That would have been an impossible feat during my college days. Although the schedule for this semester is suicidal, I would gladly embrace the challenge since I already made that decision when I entered law school.
Day 8 (7 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful to be back to my usual routine. Breakfast with my siblings is enough to jumpstart my day. ;p
Day 7 (6 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful for the safe flight from Batanes to Manila. I still had a vacation hangover because I really missed Batanes but I know I had to get back to work. I am simply grateful for the whole experience. I hope I can re-live the dream again. For now, I'll have to content myself with photos and stories. ;p
I am also grateful for the gift of dance which I got the chance to share with a good friend who's getting married on Friday. She requested me to do the choreography for their couple dance and I willingly obliged. Its always a pleasure to help people learn a new skill and see them sharing this skill with other people.
I am also grateful for the gift of dance which I got the chance to share with a good friend who's getting married on Friday. She requested me to do the choreography for their couple dance and I willingly obliged. Its always a pleasure to help people learn a new skill and see them sharing this skill with other people.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Living Dream No. 6 in Batanes
As promised, I'll be giving you a blow by blow account of our Batanes escapade. ;)
Warning: This will be a VERY lengthy post!
The Travel
I have always wanted to go to Batanes that's why I included it in my 30 Things to do Before I Turn 30 List. One thing that's hindering me from doing so was the steep airfare price. A regular roundtrip ticket to Basco would cost around P15,000 pesos. So last February, when Seair announced a promo that they'll be selling these tickets for half the price, hindi na kami nagpatumpik-tumpik pa, we immediately grabbed that opportunity even if our scheduled flight is still in June. With a roundtrip ticket worth P7k, we were all set to fly to Basco on June 2 - 5.
However, two days before our scheduled flight, I received an email informing me that I was bumped off from the June 2 flight and they're moving me to a June 3 flight and that would mean that my stay in my dream destination would be cut short. So I requested the personnel to move my return flight to June 6 so that I can still spend 3 full days there. He informed me that I would have to pay P1,000 for the re-booking. That's when I blew my top off. In the first place, it was not my fault that my flight from Manila was re-booked and now, they're charging me if I wanted to change my return flight. The personnel told me to calm down and said that he has to consult with the boss. Well, to make the long story short, he consented to my request for a free re-booking. So, I still got to spend 3 full days and 3 nights in Batanes.
The (Perfect) Company
Well, we call ourselves the Philcoa hotties. We're blockmates in law school who share one thing in common: passion for travel. During sembreaks, or even mini-breaks within the sem, we usually plan out-of-town trips just to get away from the crazy world of lost school. We looked forward for finals week to be over because that would mean that June is just around the corner. I could say that they're the perfect company for this journey because we were always open to any adventure and we never backed down from any challenge, from climbing mountains, jump shots, buwis-buhay shots, crawling through the hills littered with cow and goat dung, even riding on top of a jeepney. You can't get more adventurous than that. ;)
The Destination
Batanes is everything that the travel books have described and more! It was truly breathtaking. Every view is better than the previous one. Even if one is not a good photographer, its easy to capture an award winning photograph due to the sheer beauty of the place. I just couldn't help but sing at the top of my lungs - the hills are alive with the sound of music! When we were on top of a mountain enveloped by the clouds, I also wanted to belt out Hiraya Manawari's theme song:
Gusto kong abutin ang tayog ng ulap
Gusto kong sisirin ang lalim ng dagat
Gusto kong akyatin ang tuktok ng bundok
Tuklasin ang hiwaga sa puso ko'y, bumabalot ;p
I can go on and on and on about this beautiful place but it would never do justice to the beauty of Batanes.
To a certain extent, it has been touched by time and civilization since most of the houses in Basco were already of modern design. I just love the simplicity of it all. The main street is just one lane and you can see different people from different walks of life riding bicycles everywhere.
God must have spent a little more time in Batanes because it is truly magnificent.
The Dialect
The Ivatan dialect sounds very different to my ears. Its not quite like any dialect that I've heard. But one thing I noticed about their dialect is that it seems to be infused with the word God. Here are sample phrases:
Dios mamajes - Thank you. Literal translation: God will repay you.
Kapian ka pan Dios - Good Morning. Kumusta ka? Literal translation: Nasa atin ang Dios
Dios machivan - Goodbye. Literal translation: God be with you.
Did you notice the beautiful translation of these ordinary phrases? For me, it was purely a linguistic bliss. It tells a lot about the simple faith of these ordinary folks and their unshaking belief in the Divine Being.
I had a eureka moment when I went to mass last Sunday. I did not understand any word since the mass was in the local dialect. Fortunately, the priest spoke in Tagalog for the homily. But during the singing of the Our Father which was in Ivatan, I sang along with them using the English version. I noticed that even if I did not understand their dialect, they put the same emphasis on the same words so I still understood them. It amazed me to realize how universal our faith is. We might come from different geographical backgrounds and worship with different dialects but we still share one faith and worship one God and that is enough to unite us in this journey.
The Ivatan People
Another thing which I observed in Batanes was that everybody was working! During mornings, I didn't see anybody just loitering around doing nothing. They're a bunch of hardworking people who needs to use their muscles (read: magbanat ng buto) in order to earn a living and provide for their families. But they also know how to have fun and relax in the afternoon. I was surprised to note that they had a huge baseball field and they were actually playing baseball, not basketball. Pretty sophisticated for a small town like Basco.
The Ivatans are also goodnatured and to prove that point, Basco has zero crime rate. Sarap siguro ng buhay ng mga pulis dun! ;) We actually met a police officer who was tasked to accompany one tourist as he goes around Basco. See, wala na talaga silang magawa.
The Delicacies
'Tis for a fact that I gained several pounds during my 3-day stay in Batanes. Thanks to the gastronomic Ivatan meal that our guide usually prepares for us. A traditional Ivatan meal usually consists of ovod balls (meatballs made of ground pork and banana heart or even trunk), lungis (pork adobo) and pako salad (fern). Of course, our Batanes food trip experience would not be complete without a taste of their famous coconut crabs. Where can I get the courage to resist that? ;p
Warning: This will be a VERY lengthy post!
The Travel
I have always wanted to go to Batanes that's why I included it in my 30 Things to do Before I Turn 30 List. One thing that's hindering me from doing so was the steep airfare price. A regular roundtrip ticket to Basco would cost around P15,000 pesos. So last February, when Seair announced a promo that they'll be selling these tickets for half the price, hindi na kami nagpatumpik-tumpik pa, we immediately grabbed that opportunity even if our scheduled flight is still in June. With a roundtrip ticket worth P7k, we were all set to fly to Basco on June 2 - 5.
However, two days before our scheduled flight, I received an email informing me that I was bumped off from the June 2 flight and they're moving me to a June 3 flight and that would mean that my stay in my dream destination would be cut short. So I requested the personnel to move my return flight to June 6 so that I can still spend 3 full days there. He informed me that I would have to pay P1,000 for the re-booking. That's when I blew my top off. In the first place, it was not my fault that my flight from Manila was re-booked and now, they're charging me if I wanted to change my return flight. The personnel told me to calm down and said that he has to consult with the boss. Well, to make the long story short, he consented to my request for a free re-booking. So, I still got to spend 3 full days and 3 nights in Batanes.
The (Perfect) Company
Well, we call ourselves the Philcoa hotties. We're blockmates in law school who share one thing in common: passion for travel. During sembreaks, or even mini-breaks within the sem, we usually plan out-of-town trips just to get away from the crazy world of lost school. We looked forward for finals week to be over because that would mean that June is just around the corner. I could say that they're the perfect company for this journey because we were always open to any adventure and we never backed down from any challenge, from climbing mountains, jump shots, buwis-buhay shots, crawling through the hills littered with cow and goat dung, even riding on top of a jeepney. You can't get more adventurous than that. ;)
The Destination
Batanes is everything that the travel books have described and more! It was truly breathtaking. Every view is better than the previous one. Even if one is not a good photographer, its easy to capture an award winning photograph due to the sheer beauty of the place. I just couldn't help but sing at the top of my lungs - the hills are alive with the sound of music! When we were on top of a mountain enveloped by the clouds, I also wanted to belt out Hiraya Manawari's theme song:
Gusto kong abutin ang tayog ng ulap
Gusto kong sisirin ang lalim ng dagat
Gusto kong akyatin ang tuktok ng bundok
Tuklasin ang hiwaga sa puso ko'y, bumabalot ;p
I can go on and on and on about this beautiful place but it would never do justice to the beauty of Batanes.
To a certain extent, it has been touched by time and civilization since most of the houses in Basco were already of modern design. I just love the simplicity of it all. The main street is just one lane and you can see different people from different walks of life riding bicycles everywhere.
God must have spent a little more time in Batanes because it is truly magnificent.
The Dialect
The Ivatan dialect sounds very different to my ears. Its not quite like any dialect that I've heard. But one thing I noticed about their dialect is that it seems to be infused with the word God. Here are sample phrases:
Dios mamajes - Thank you. Literal translation: God will repay you.
Kapian ka pan Dios - Good Morning. Kumusta ka? Literal translation: Nasa atin ang Dios
Dios machivan - Goodbye. Literal translation: God be with you.
Did you notice the beautiful translation of these ordinary phrases? For me, it was purely a linguistic bliss. It tells a lot about the simple faith of these ordinary folks and their unshaking belief in the Divine Being.
I had a eureka moment when I went to mass last Sunday. I did not understand any word since the mass was in the local dialect. Fortunately, the priest spoke in Tagalog for the homily. But during the singing of the Our Father which was in Ivatan, I sang along with them using the English version. I noticed that even if I did not understand their dialect, they put the same emphasis on the same words so I still understood them. It amazed me to realize how universal our faith is. We might come from different geographical backgrounds and worship with different dialects but we still share one faith and worship one God and that is enough to unite us in this journey.
The Ivatan People
Another thing which I observed in Batanes was that everybody was working! During mornings, I didn't see anybody just loitering around doing nothing. They're a bunch of hardworking people who needs to use their muscles (read: magbanat ng buto) in order to earn a living and provide for their families. But they also know how to have fun and relax in the afternoon. I was surprised to note that they had a huge baseball field and they were actually playing baseball, not basketball. Pretty sophisticated for a small town like Basco.
The Ivatans are also goodnatured and to prove that point, Basco has zero crime rate. Sarap siguro ng buhay ng mga pulis dun! ;) We actually met a police officer who was tasked to accompany one tourist as he goes around Basco. See, wala na talaga silang magawa.
The Delicacies
'Tis for a fact that I gained several pounds during my 3-day stay in Batanes. Thanks to the gastronomic Ivatan meal that our guide usually prepares for us. A traditional Ivatan meal usually consists of ovod balls (meatballs made of ground pork and banana heart or even trunk), lungis (pork adobo) and pako salad (fern). Of course, our Batanes food trip experience would not be complete without a taste of their famous coconut crabs. Where can I get the courage to resist that? ;p
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Day 6 (5 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful for the free dinner and the chance to touch a family's life by sharing my firedancing talent.
Day 5 (4 June 2011)
Today, I feel so alive! Every cell of my body is a-buzz. Atop a mountain which is several thousands of feet above sea level, I felt closer to heaven and free. This majestic scenery will remain etched in my memory for eternity. Even if I was hammered by a gigantic wave which gave me scratches and bruises, I'm just grateful to be alive!
Day 4 (3 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful for the safe flight to Batanes. I can't believe I'm finally here and it was worth every peso. God must have spent more time in creating this place because its truly breathtaking.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Preparing for Dream No. 6: Batanes Escapade
This will be a quick post since I'm making good on my promise to update you on my journey towards accomplishing the 30 Things to Do Before I Turn 30 list. Tomorrow, I'm finally going to Batanes. I just realized how much I wanted to reach this place since I've mentioned it three times in this blog - here, here and here.
I'll tell you more about it after I've explored my dream destination. Gotta go!
Day 3 (2 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful for the gift of family. We may not be a perfect family but this is the only family I've got and its perfect enough for me. Being the eldest, the responsibilities may sometimes get the best of me. But if that's what it takes to keep this unit intact, then I'd gladly embrace it with all my heart.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Day 2 (1 June 2011)
Today, I am grateful for my mother's wake up call every morning. She ensures that I get out of my bed so that I wouldn't oversleep (which I usually tend to do). I realize that not everybody has this chance so I might as well enjoy the love and attention.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Day 1 (31 May 2011)
I am grateful for friends who are willing to listen to my stories no matter how trivial. ;p
Friday, May 20, 2011
End of the World.
Today, 21 May 2011, marks the end of the world according to various religious groups. So, I might as well blog about my world-ender thoughts before I get blown out of this planet. There's an old saying that goes, "There are only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes." Well, I know I've paid my fair share of taxes but confronting the possibility of death is something that I have not fully embraced. The idea has crossed my mind several times but I have not reached the point where I can declare with full conviction that I've accomplished my purpose and my lease contract here on Earth maybe terminated.
Am I ready to meet my Creator? Not yet, but who am I to disagree with His infinite wisdom. But if my only purpose in life was to support my younger siblings through their college education - then I would say that I've accomplished that and more. I've taught them how to fish and even teach other people how to fish. I guess that's one of the lessons that I needed to learn during this lifetime - being grateful for the blessings that I've received and sharing these blessings with other people. If only everybody can do that, then I don't think we need to fear the end of the world. It would only mean the ending of one chapter and the beginning of an even more exciting journey. ;)
Am I ready to meet my Creator? Not yet, but who am I to disagree with His infinite wisdom. But if my only purpose in life was to support my younger siblings through their college education - then I would say that I've accomplished that and more. I've taught them how to fish and even teach other people how to fish. I guess that's one of the lessons that I needed to learn during this lifetime - being grateful for the blessings that I've received and sharing these blessings with other people. If only everybody can do that, then I don't think we need to fear the end of the world. It would only mean the ending of one chapter and the beginning of an even more exciting journey. ;)
Tara na, Biyahe Tayo!
Nope, this is not an original idea. I got this from Anna Oposa's blog. We're not really friends but her posts are inspiring so I already linked her to my blog. I don't think she knows but I'm giving her the credit for this one. I'd also like to cross out every place or activity here so that nobody would doubt me when I exclaim - ANG GANDA NG PILIPINAS! And I've got this song as proof because I've visited all of the places listed here. That's what methinks ;)
Ikaw ba'y nalulungkot
Naiinip, nababagot?
Ikaw ba'y napapagod
Araw gabi'y puro kayod?
Buhay mo ba'y walang saysay
Walang sigla, walang kulay?
Bawa't araw ba'y pareho
Parang walang pagbabago?
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Kasama ang pamilya
Barkada at buong grupo
Para mag-enjoy nang todo.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
Napasyal ka na ba
SaIntramuros at Luneta
Palawan, Vigan at Batanes
Subic, Baguio at Rice Terraces?
Namasdan mo na ba
Ang mga vinta ng Zamboanga
Bulkang Taal,Bulkang Mayon
Beach ng Boracay at La Union?
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Mula Basco hanggang Jolo
Nang makilala ng husto
Ang ating kapwa-Pilipino.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
From city to city,
Seven thousand and a hundred plus islas
Sa mahal kong Pilipinas
Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao ating puntahan.
Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!
Nasubukan mo na bang
Mag-rapids sa Pagsanjan
Mag-diving sa Anilao
Mag-surfing sa Siargao?
Natikman mo na ba
Angsisig ng Pampanga
Duriang Davao, Bangus Dagupan
Bicol Express at Lechong Balayan?
Tara na, biyahe tayo,
Nang makatulong kahit pano
Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan
Ng ating mga kababayan.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
Nakisaya ka na ba
Sa Pahiyas at Masskara
Moriones at Ati-Atihan
Sinulog at Kadayawan?
Namiesta ka na ba
Sa Peñafrancia sa Naga
Umakyat sa Antipolo
Nagsayaw sa Obando?
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
Ikaw ba'y nalulungkot
Naiinip, nababagot?
Ikaw ba'y napapagod
Araw gabi'y puro kayod?
Buhay mo ba'y walang saysay
Walang sigla, walang kulay?
Bawa't araw ba'y pareho
Parang walang pagbabago?
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Kasama ang pamilya
Barkada at buong grupo
Para mag-enjoy nang todo.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
Napasyal ka na ba
Sa
Namasdan mo na ba
Ang mga vinta ng Zamboanga
Bulkang Taal,
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Mula Basco hanggang Jolo
Nang makilala ng husto
Ang ating kapwa-Pilipino.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
From city to city,
Seven thousand and a hundred plus islas
Sa mahal kong Pilipinas
Huwag maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan!
Nasubukan mo na bang
Mag-rapids sa Pagsanjan
Mag-diving sa Anilao
Mag-surfing sa Siargao?
Natikman mo na ba
Ang
Tara na, biyahe tayo,
Nang makatulong kahit pano
Sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan
Ng ating mga kababayan.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
Nakisaya ka na ba
Sa Pahiyas at Masskara
Moriones at Ati-Atihan
Sinulog at Kadayawan?
Namiesta ka na ba
Sa Peñafrancia sa Naga
Nagsayaw sa Obando?
Tara na, biyahe tayo
Upang ating matamo
Ligaya at pagkakaibigan
Kaunlaran, kapayapaan.
Halika, biyahe tayo,
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino.
30 Things to Do before I turn 30
I've been toying with this idea in my head for several months and I've started compiling this list since 13 October 2010. Now, I decided to post it here to remind me of my goals for the next two years (more or less) Some are mundane, others are sumkinda philantrophic while the rest are surefire ways to die before I turn 30. haha!
1. Celebrate a birthday with the orphans
2. Deliver a commencement speech
3. DIVE!
4. Bungee jump (head first)
5. Go to El Nido and see a pawikan and even an eagle
6. Go to Batanes and sleep in the "bahay na bato"
7. Have my photo taken with the donsols of Sorsogon
8. Put up a new business (probably the tutorial school)
9. Climb Mt. Kinabalu
10. Learn ow to take underwater photographs (relate to No. 3)
11. Take up bellydancing lessons
12. Celebrate a birthday with the elderly
13. Run a full marathon (42k)
14. Travel abroad - alone
15. Learn how to drive
16. Learn poledancing
17. Kiteboarding!
18. Ride a hot air balloon
19. Graduate from lost school
20. Take and pass the BAR!
21. Manage the landscaping business
22. Surf in Bali
23. Get myself a decent boyfriend ;)
24. Buy a car
25. Visit all ASEAN member countries
26. Bring the whole family to Hongkong
27. Climb Mt. Pulag
28. Skydive!
29. Watch a movie alone
30. Embark on a personal retreat on my 30th birthday to do some real soul searching ;)
Yay! Now, I have 30 great reasons to look forward to my 30th year on this planet. I hope that by then I would have accomplished all these things and more! Wish me luck! ;p
P.S.
After I finish doing one task, I promise to devote an entire entry about it as proof that I really did it and as the cliche goes, lived to tell the tale, or rather, blog about the tale. :D
1. Celebrate a birthday with the orphans
2. Deliver a commencement speech
3. DIVE!
4. Bungee jump (head first)
5. Go to El Nido and see a pawikan and even an eagle
6. Go to Batanes and sleep in the "bahay na bato"
7. Have my photo taken with the donsols of Sorsogon
8. Put up a new business (probably the tutorial school)
9. Climb Mt. Kinabalu
10. Learn ow to take underwater photographs (relate to No. 3)
11. Take up bellydancing lessons
12. Celebrate a birthday with the elderly
13. Run a full marathon (42k)
14. Travel abroad - alone
15. Learn how to drive
16. Learn poledancing
17. Kiteboarding!
18. Ride a hot air balloon
19. Graduate from lost school
20. Take and pass the BAR!
21. Manage the landscaping business
22. Surf in Bali
23. Get myself a decent boyfriend ;)
24. Buy a car
25. Visit all ASEAN member countries
26. Bring the whole family to Hongkong
27. Climb Mt. Pulag
28. Skydive!
29. Watch a movie alone
30. Embark on a personal retreat on my 30th birthday to do some real soul searching ;)
Yay! Now, I have 30 great reasons to look forward to my 30th year on this planet. I hope that by then I would have accomplished all these things and more! Wish me luck! ;p
P.S.
After I finish doing one task, I promise to devote an entire entry about it as proof that I really did it and as the cliche goes, lived to tell the tale, or rather, blog about the tale. :D
speechless. thoughtless. meaningless.
Here I am again, feeling the urge to write but I could not jot down even a decent sentence. I don't know what has gotten to me these days. I guess I'm just getting bored with all this free time. Hey, I'm not complaining. I just wish I could do something more productive during this short break. But the perennial bout of procrastination is crippling me. If you must know, I've got more or less ten pending articles in my drafts box. I can't even finish a single one. Haay. I gotta get the drive back before the summer break is over.
Friday, December 3, 2010
My Amnesia Girl meets Malcolm Madness
According to Wikipedia, Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is a state of confusion that occurs immediately following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in which the injured person is disoriented and unable to remember events that occur after the injury.
Inspired by the mushy quotable quotes from Amnesia Girl last night, I came up with my own list of pick-up lines to say to the apple of your eye.
Mahal Kita Kasi (The Lost School Version)
1. Supreme Court ka ba? Gusto ko kasing umapela sayo eh.
2. CA ka ba? May appeal ka kasi sa akin.
3. Rules of Court ka ba? Gusto ko kasing i-memorize ang features mo kaso di ko magawa.
4. Empleyado ka, empleyado din ako kaya we have the right to unionize!
5. Writ of habeas corpus ka ba? Kasi I want you to show me your body.
6. Alam mo, gusto kong magfile ng forcible entry laban sayo kasi gumamit ka ng FISTS para ma-possess ang puso ko.
7. Jus cogens ba tayo? Kasi tanggap na tayo ng lahat ng tao.
8. Alam mo, gusto kong magfile ng unlawful detainer laban sayo. Kasi dati may karapatan ka sa akin pero ngayon wala na. WALA!
9. May original jurisdiction ka ba? Kasi may notice ang appeal mo sa akin.
10. Civil procedure ka ba? Ginugulo mo kasi ang utak ko.
Inspired by the mushy quotable quotes from Amnesia Girl last night, I came up with my own list of pick-up lines to say to the apple of your eye.
Mahal Kita Kasi (The Lost School Version)
1. Supreme Court ka ba? Gusto ko kasing umapela sayo eh.
2. CA ka ba? May appeal ka kasi sa akin.
3. Rules of Court ka ba? Gusto ko kasing i-memorize ang features mo kaso di ko magawa.
4. Empleyado ka, empleyado din ako kaya we have the right to unionize!
5. Writ of habeas corpus ka ba? Kasi I want you to show me your body.
6. Alam mo, gusto kong magfile ng forcible entry laban sayo kasi gumamit ka ng FISTS para ma-possess ang puso ko.
7. Jus cogens ba tayo? Kasi tanggap na tayo ng lahat ng tao.
8. Alam mo, gusto kong magfile ng unlawful detainer laban sayo. Kasi dati may karapatan ka sa akin pero ngayon wala na. WALA!
9. May original jurisdiction ka ba? Kasi may notice ang appeal mo sa akin.
10. Civil procedure ka ba? Ginugulo mo kasi ang utak ko.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Moving out... Moving in
Yep, I'm finally moving out of my comfort zone. I'm taking a giant leap towards full independence by renting my own house and living all by my lonesome self. Sounds scary, yeah, but I'm pretty excited about this big move. Its about time to spread my wings and deal with all those things that grown-ups usually deal with like paying the monthly rent, managing the bills, cleaning the house, etc.
Throughout my adult life, I've been surrounded by people. Roommates, housemates, siblings. I actually enjoy it because I'm a sociable person. ;p But lately, I've been having some space issues. I feel like I needed something or someplace to call my own and not co-owned. Thus, the search for the new apartment began. It was a move which earned the support of my siblings since they were also going through those issues. Although they won't be staying with me for awhile since they still have to finish the academic year at the dorm, at least they'll have someplace to go to during weekends.
And tonight is my last night in this house in Maginhawa which has been my home for more than four years. I've had a lot of good times here with my housemates and I'm definitely gonna miss this place. But I know I have to do this. I have to be proactive about this quest for independence. ;)
Tomorrow is a new day, in a new house, with new neighbors and new experiences.
Let's get it ON!!!
Throughout my adult life, I've been surrounded by people. Roommates, housemates, siblings. I actually enjoy it because I'm a sociable person. ;p But lately, I've been having some space issues. I feel like I needed something or someplace to call my own and not co-owned. Thus, the search for the new apartment began. It was a move which earned the support of my siblings since they were also going through those issues. Although they won't be staying with me for awhile since they still have to finish the academic year at the dorm, at least they'll have someplace to go to during weekends.
And tonight is my last night in this house in Maginhawa which has been my home for more than four years. I've had a lot of good times here with my housemates and I'm definitely gonna miss this place. But I know I have to do this. I have to be proactive about this quest for independence. ;)
Tomorrow is a new day, in a new house, with new neighbors and new experiences.
Let's get it ON!!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Eager for December
Flash Report: 80 days before Christmas! (that was the stats when I started writing this entry)
I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with the whole extended Manlangit family. Its becoming quite a tradition which everyone looks forward to. And this December, we have scheduled several trips. We'll celebrate our Mama's birthday in Cebu then move on to Bohol the day after so that we can try the E.A.T. Danao Adventure. I can't wait to try The Plunge. This has gotten me uberly excited for the holidays.
However, there has been a recent fiasco in the family. My nanay (lola) suffered a mild stroke and she had to be rushed to the hospital. This was the second time that she had to be admitted. Before her, it was my tatay (lolo) who was hospitalized. I can't bear the thought of spending Christmas without my Nanay and Tatay or any family member for that matter. That's why I always include them in my prayers and I hope you do too.
For me, Christmas will always be about the love for family and spending quality time with each other. We always make it a point to gather during holidays because that's the only time that we'll see the rest of the clan. And I'm telling you, the party can get very rowdy and boisterous. To give you a glimpse of how our gathering looks like, here are some photos from last year's party.
As the famous jingle goes, give love on Christmas day! But it would be quite disastrous on our pockets if we'll give a gift to every family member so me and my cousin started a tradition of giving gifts to each family instead of individually. We started with a basin, then a pail. This year, we might just be able to fill up a drum. Of course, generous sponsors are always welcome.(",)
We begin our Christmas celebration with the traditional mass since we must not lose sight of the real reason for this joyous occasion - the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. As one family, we gather and give thanks to God for granting us another year to celebrate life and love.
And now, let the games begin!
Excited na ba kayo? :)
However, there has been a recent fiasco in the family. My nanay (lola) suffered a mild stroke and she had to be rushed to the hospital. This was the second time that she had to be admitted. Before her, it was my tatay (lolo) who was hospitalized. I can't bear the thought of spending Christmas without my Nanay and Tatay or any family member for that matter. That's why I always include them in my prayers and I hope you do too.
For me, Christmas will always be about the love for family and spending quality time with each other. We always make it a point to gather during holidays because that's the only time that we'll see the rest of the clan. And I'm telling you, the party can get very rowdy and boisterous. To give you a glimpse of how our gathering looks like, here are some photos from last year's party.
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| Overjoyed recipient of our pail-ful of Christmas goodies. |
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| Manlangit family |
And now, let the games begin!
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| Onion dance by my beloved parents |
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| 'Parent and son/daughter' newspaper dance |
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| Catch the dragon's tail |
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| Candle blowing - Tita v. Mama edition |
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| Showing Off No. 1 |
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| family peekchur |
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| The day after Christmas outing in our very own secluded waterfalls |
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| Showing Off No. 2 (you know I could never resist heights |
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| family peekchur again ;) |
Excited na ba kayo? :)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The Balut Effect
Wanna have enough balls to ace an exam? Eat BALUT!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Deafening Silence
Last week, I attended a forum lobbying for the signing of the Convention on the Enforced Disappearances. I saw a poster in Malcolm advertising the event and the it was supposed to be the launching of a documentary entitled Unsilenced by Mr. King Marc Baco. I was amazed because King was may dormmate in Molave and back then, he was already into filming short films which was the beginning of a tradition in the dorm. Anyway, to show my unwavering support, I promised him that I would attend the event. Little did I know that the issue about enforced disappearances was closer to home than I originally thought. The documentary featured six workers of PICOP who were randomly picked up by agents of the state and summarily executed without any semblance of due process. However, no trace of their whereabouts can be found. The documentary also depicted the grief and anguish felt by the family members who just wanted to see the corpses their loved ones so that they can bury them properly.
The case of enforced disappearances is a different animal altogether from the usual crimes punished by the Revised Penal Code since there's an element of the unknown. The family members will have to deal with the uncertainty of the plight of the desaparecidos. There will never be any closure on their part and thus prolonging their agony. According to a human rights lawyer who delivered a speech during the forum, humans are usually born, they live, and then they die but they don't just disappear from the face of the earth. To add insult to the injury, the agents of the state even deny the existence of the person. There is therefore a need to define this crime in order to address the lacuna in the law.
Now, how did this experience impact my present disposition? It strengthened my resolve to continue running this race and finish it so that I'll be able to help these people in a more concrete way. For now, all I can do is to heed their advocacy and participate in their awareness campaign by drafting a Senate resolution urging the President to sign and ratify the Convention on Enforced Disappearances. One baby step at a time and we'll eventually put an end to this deafening silence.
Here's the documentary.
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