witnesses to royal love affair

We are counting hours closing April. Sa ilang sandali may na. Ngayon ginanap ang isa sa pinakapinaguusapang kasalan na tinaguriang Wedding of the Century. A fairy tale in reality ika nga ng iba. Sinasalamin kasi nito ang mga pangarap ng bawat isa mula noong kabataan. Ang maging isang prinsipe na makakatagpo ng isang magandang prinsesa para sa kalalakihan at isang ordinaryong dalaga na makapagpapaibig ng isang prinsipe para sa mag kababaihan.

Kung iisipin nga naman. Wala naman talagang kinalaman sa buhay ng mga Pilipino ang kasalang naganap kanina. Hindi naman sinubaybayan ng mga tao ang pagiibigan ng mga ito prior sa kasalan. Gumawa ang media ng isang project. Isang pagkakakitaan. Ginawa nilang big deal sa mga tao ang kasalan upang mapagusapan hanggang sa ang mamamayang Pilipino na mismo ang humingi ng mga detalye patungkol rito. Sa totoo lang naman, hindi isang pulubi o alila si Kate. Isa siyang commoner ng Inglatera pero galling rin siya sa nakaririwasang pamilya. Binabasag natin dito ang stereotypical na pagunawa natin sa animo’y magical love story nila ni Prince William. Hindi rin si prince William ang inaakala nating prinsipe mula sa sinauang mga kuwentong pambata. Di gaya ng dati isa lamang silang traditional figures na pinepreserba ng konstitusyon. Isang bahagi ng makasaysayang pagkakakilanlan. Ang lahat ng kapangyarihang pulitikal ay nasa taumbayan na, parlyamento, at sa punong ministro. Ang royal family ay symbolic lamang sa anyo ng pamahalaang mayroon sila ngayon.

Gayunpaman, ang mga bahagi ng buwis ay napupunta pa rin sa kanila. May kortisiya ring ipinararangal ang mga pinuno ng mga dayuhang bansa sa kanila. Sa tuwing bibisita ang mga pinunong pulitikal ay magpupugay sila sa reyna. Nasa itaas pa rin ang luklukan ng reyna at kung papalarin si William ang papalit sa kanyang ama. Isa pa, dahil sa katayuang ito hindi maiiwasang pagkaguluhan ng media at taong-bayan ang anumang may kinalaman sa personal nilang buhay at isa nga rito ang pagpapakasal, dahil at the end of the day isa pa rin siyang prinsipe.

Sa totoo lang maaari ngang, politically, nagagamit ang kasalang ito upang pahupain ang mga protesta sa Inglatera dahil na rin sa pagbaba ng ekonomiya at mga problema sa overspending. Sa Sociology, isa sa mga usaping pangkabuhayan na pinagtatantuang suliranin ng UK ang underemployment at job insecurity. Isnag article tungkol doon ang ginawa ko para sa isang tamad na istudyante ng Sociology sa UK. Sa research, lumabas na marami ang nale-layoff sa trabaho at marami ang hindi nabibigyan ng tamang benepisyo sa mga pinagtatrabahuhan kahit na medyo risky ang mga gawain nila.

Ganito nga kahirap ang buhay ngayon sa buong mundo. Even Anglo Saxons have problems after the economic morass of 2008 when Lehman Brothers melted in credits. Karamihan ng mga negosyante before 2008 ang nahumaling sa sugal kung kayat hanggang ngayon bumabawi pa rin financially ang United Kingdom. Pero siyempre marami pa ring Pinoy ang napunta roon dahil compared sa atin ang laki pa rin ng kita doon. Kung naghihirap ang UK ano pa kaya ang tawag sa sitwasyon dito sa Pinas?

Ang mga bagay na ito ang pansamantalang nalimutan ng mga Anglo-Saxon sa pagdaraos nila ng isang en grandeng kasalan kanina. Game na game naman ang magasawa sa lahat ng magaganap. Parang hindi na sila camera conscious even yung brother ni Kate na bumasa samismong kasal. Expected na nila ang mga magaganap at may balita pa akong narinig na bumisita sila sa mga nagkakampong spectators kagabi bago ang kasalan. Isang halimbawa ang kailangan nilang simulan. Marunong si William dahil mukhang nakakuha nga siya ng isang princess/ or even a queen/ material. Paano ba naman bukod s aisang edukada at magandang babae si Kate, mayroon siyang proper decorum na naaninag mo na agad ang pagka prinsesa sa kanya. Is anga siyang kamahalan kung sususmahin. Sa paraan ng pagtindig, paglakad, pagharap sa media, pagtulong sa causes ng royal family hanggang sa pinakamaliit na detalye ng choice niya sa pananamit, parang “She was born that way”.

Lalong sexy ang tingin ko sa isang babaeng kagalang galang. That’s the way I felt noong nakita kong nagbu bloom na ang career ni Maricar Reyes. Noong una hindi ko feel ang ganda niya at kahit nabalitaan ko na may video siya with a pervy doctor hindi ako nagging interesado. Pero ngayon, should I say na interesado na ako. In the same way, I perceive Kate to be sexy also. Let’s define sexy here ha. Somebody who expresses fully ones gender with confidence at truthfulness. Yung walang pagpapanggap at buong katotohanan na isang babae. I guess that is sexy. In that way she is sexy di ba?

This photo proves what I am saying


Wala man silang authoritarian control over the state, malaki ang impluwensiyang ii-impress nila sa kultura ng mga Ingles. Sa isang monarkiyang konstitusyonal na gaya ng Inglatera, hanggang ngayo’y may hang over pa rin sa sinauang paraan ng pamumuno, aasahang magiging salamin ng modern subalit konserbatibong magasawa sila William at Kate. At aaminin ng mga tao na wala sinumang nagnanais na hindi tumagal ang pagsasama nila. Sana’y ito na iyon. Sa gitna ng isang mundo kung saan talamak ang hiwalayan ng mga mag asawa. Kailangang tumayo ng royal couple upang patunayan hindi lamang ang tradisyunal na seremonya ng pagaasawa kung hindi pati na ang pagpapahalaga na kaakibat ng pagpapakasal. Kailangang sa pagsasama nila ay lumutang ang mga paninindigan na iniingatan ng sinaunang mga dugong bughaw. I don’t want to go into details about the extents and peripheries of constitutional monarchy [pls lang, not now]. Ang alam ko lang nabola nanaman ng panandalian ang mga tao ng media at ng politics. Somehow, it will explain to the Filipinos why there are avid followers who stalks their idol royalties in showbiz. Ito ang origin ng mga tradisyong iyon.

Ano ang naghihintay sa Pilipinas matapos ang kasal? Wala. Sincerely wala talaga. Kahit ang England walang magbabago. Ang mahalaga lang nakiisa ang mundo at maging ang panahon sa pagiisang dibdib ng dalawang tao rin naman na nagmamahalan. For the first time yata sa buhay ko nakapanuod ako ng isang kasal na televised all over the world. At may isang Filipino na nakaattend doon. Again [the sad truth] dahil isa siyang katulong.

Ngayong huling biyernes and week ng April, marami ring matatapos na palabas. Ang Baker King at Imortal, magkatapatang magtatapos ngayon. As I’ve said, April being one of the most awaited month of the year. Ilang days na lang May na. Sa May ano naman kaya ang aabangan ng mga tao? Now we remain dreaming … will we be princes or princesses who will hold the same kind of wedding in the future? NaKakatawang isipin ang mga ganito. Let us congratulate the newly weds, prince and princess that they are. !

no gates closed and papers folded

Naitala ngayong araw ang pinakaminit na temperatura sa taong ito [so far], hindi pa naman tapos ang taon kaya asahang mas maiinit pa ang mga susunod na araw. Another momentous date ito ng April as I recall that today 12 years na akong circumcised. Monday morning of April 26 1999. And now is the 12th year.

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang init na yan ng panahon dahil kanina kasi pumunta kami sa San Pablo ni Tare para mag inquire sa mga colleges na puwedeng niyang pasukan. May university nga ba sa San Pablo? Yung LSPU qualifies to be a university ba? Karamihan talaga nasa level pa lang ng colleges. Una naming pinuntahan ang LC. Actually walang nag entertain sa amin dun. Nakapost na kasi lahat ng information na dapat malaman kaya pinitsyuran na lang niya sa cellphone. Mahal pala talaga ang college ngayon kahit hindi ka sa Manila pumasok. Entrance exam pa lang sa LC ay 250 Php na. Paano kung hindi ka puamasa sa exam?

Sumunod naming pinuntahan ang STI. Ang sarap kasi sa office na pinuntahan namin aircon kaya seating pretty kami. Mahal rin at babayaran pa ang uniform at mga libro pero mukhang class talaga ang STI at ramdam na ramdam mo ang pagka private. Napakaayos ng facilities. Ok talaga! Pinuntahan rin namin ang ACLC. Mas mur anag matrikula na aabutin lamang ng mahigit 12 mil. After naming maka inquire sa tatlong colleges na iyon, bumili kami ng ice cream kasi ang init nga talaga. naglakad kami na parang pasyal mode at nakarating kami sa Ultimart kasi alangan namang marating namin ang SM.

So sa Ultimart muna kami nagkuwentuhan para [you know already] magpalamig. Ang ganda na ngayon ng Ultimart parang isnag mini trinoma. Kung aakyat ka, naka escalator ka. Kung bababa ka, hagdan siyempre... akala mo elevator? Sa may sinehan sa third floor may mga benches sa labas na puwedeng upuan ng mga hindi manonood ng sine sa loob. At doon kami naup overlooking the San Pablo streets.

Noong pauwi na kami, dumaan kami sa SPC. Naginquire rin siya doon at kinausap ang secretary ng dean ng computer science. Ok naman doon pero parang hindi yun ang college kung saan niya trip magaral.

Let's not forget to hydrate ourselves. Talagang magsusunod sunod na ang maiinit na araw. Tomorrow is the birthday of Sir Ronald Tubana and the next day after that is Ronron's birthday.

never thought summer would be this fun

Matatapos na ang April. Napakainit na. Hindi na umuulan pero malamig pa rin sa gabi. Sumapit na yung week ng April na sunud-sunod ang mga important events.

Ngayon ang birthday ni Dan. Naulit ang pagkatapat nito sa Linggo just like noong 2005. Sunday after noong makita ko si Faye sa Liliw. Kasama ko naman si Dan noong umaga ng birthday niya noon. Girlfriend pa niya si Babylyn.

Ngayon, nagkaroon ng mumunting swimming sa may malapit since Linggo. Niyaya rin ako ni Je para sa swimming kasama ang pamilya niya pero hindi na ako nakasama. Definitely a good day. Parang kagaya rin noong 2005.

Naulit naman noong Biyernes ang mga pangyayari noong April 22, 2007. Nakita ko muling personal si Faye although I didn't had the chanc epara ma-greet siya ng congratulations para sa nakaraan niyang graduation. Ang saya noong Biyernes. Yun rin kasi yung celebration ng birthday ni Arvin kaya nandun kami nagkitakita kami nila Avyn at nila Renz. Nakauwi rin si Je kaya medyo nilubos namin yung pagkakataon para sulit naman. Wala nang hihigit pa sa makita ulit si Faye sa kaparehong oras noong 2007. Mga pass 5pm.

Paao nga ba nangyari yun? After naming magkainan kila Arvin, nag decide kami ni Je na puntahan naman si Ronron sa Liliw para makita niya yung computer shop nila. Hindi pa kasi nakikita ni Je ang computer shop na yun mula nang maitayo. Pagdating namin dun namasyal pa kami kasi nga maraming tao, turista at malapit na ang festival doon which will be two days from now.

Sa paglalakad namin nakita ko si Faye sa isang Hotdog stand. Nabili sila kasama niya sila Mey Mey gaya noong 2007. Kaya naman ang April 22 which also happens to be Earth Day ay may espesyal na lugar sa puso ko. Susundan iyon ng April 24 which is today na birthday naman ni Dan at ni AA.

Bukas ang birthday ni Nikki Robas. A very good friend na nakilala ko noong highschool. Classmate ko siya noong summer class, noong second year, at noong fourh year. Napakagaling niyang kumanta at napakabait. Hope one day makapag celebrat ekami ng birthday niya. Wherever she is I can only wish all the best for her.

back to sunday after six years

What else is so wonderful about life. It let's you go back on the same day of the same date after quite some years. It makes the memories fresher, the scenery greener, and the feelings lighter.

I can't believe it's been six years after that chance. Should I call it chance? How much do I believe in chance? Do I resign in chance more than I do for fate? Was it all a parcel of a perfect plan of a Mighty reality? or should I cling to those memories which leaves the memoirs of life incomplete and shallow when it comes to the tales of romance?

In a lazy Sunday while on vacation, all I could think of is to watch the time flies until it is my best friend's birthday. Well, the next Sunday after that Sunday is already his birthday. That's all I have in my life then. Plus a tiny hope that too soon I will be able to behold the face of the woman I love the most.

Nothing else in that day plays important. I went to the house of a friend and happened to be in company of both that friend and my cousin who was first to arrived there. You don't want to know what film they were watching when I arrived. So for their security and avoidance from shame, I'll not be mentioning their names. That was 4 in the afternoon. We had some chats and laughters and after a while I remembered I have to attend to my Sunday obligation which I almost forgot. I went to Liliw instead of hearing the mass in Nagcarlan.

So that's it. That was a Sunday and it is also a Sunday today. I know you already have an idea what happened in the Church that afternoon. Just when I'm contented that nothing extraordinary will happen for that Sunday, the goddess fell from heaven and she was right exactly before my eyes. The empress was wearing an orange sleeveless shirt with her hair still undried by the sun or by her blower. That is tantamount to saying she's fresh from bathing. Her jeans compliments her rubber shoes that fits her elegant feet. And there she stayed, as I stand in the simplest corner of that building. She was with her sisters. She was there so divine. And next week after that is Dan's birthday.

It is on this day that I am celebrating those memories of her in my head and heart. It is on this very lovely Sunday that the thermal intensity of the sun shines so bright and ready to ignite the feelings I had back then. Those were precious days carved in the heart that chooses not to forget. After six years, here I am waiting for her again to be seen by my naked eyes.

_________________________________

A sad news shocked the entire showbiz industry this morning as Antonello Perez also known as AJ Perez of ABS-CBN Star Magic died due to a road accident last midnight. Aj was on his way home asleep inside his truck when they collided with a passenger vehicle larger than theirs. So long to AJ. He was an inspiration to most teens of this day and a potential actor for tomorrow. A celebrity loved by Nagcarlenos; being here for quite some time as they taped the TV Series "Sabel" co-staring Jessie Mendiola. Let us all pray for the soul of AJ and may there be no more accidents to happen while on the road.

"AJ may you rest in peace" we really do not know life at all. Please do not waste a single moment of it.

stories of first birthday and friendship

Dalawang tao na malapit sa akin ang nagse-celebrate ng birthdays nila ngayon. Si Gilbert [24] at si Lester na pamangkin ko [09]. Grabe, April 16 na agad, parang kelan lang eh New Year's Day pa.

Una kong nakaklase si Gilbert noong grade 3 sa elementary. First time kong maging section 2. Masasabi kong yun ang start ng pagiging stable ng social life ko. Permanente ko na kasing naging kaklase ang mga classmates ko noong year na yun. Isa si Gilbert sa pinakamagaling sa classroom lalo na noog grade 6 kami. Alam ko honor namin siya eh. Noong grade 3 lagi kaming naglolokohan habang naghahas kami ng sahig. Minsan yung mga kandila ang ginagamit naming pamapakintab ng sahig. Minsan nagiigib kami sa labas ng mga tubig pandilig ng mga halaman sa harapan ng classroom. Minsan nagaaway kami kasi mapangasar din siya. Hindi ko masasabing best of friend kami noong Grade 3. Wala ako noong pinakamatalik na kaibigan.

Noong grade 4 ako, naging sobrang malapit ako kila Rodrigo at Rufino. Kami ang laging magkakasama noon. Kaklase ko pa rin noon si Gilbert pero mas madalas silang magkasama ni Dan. Hindi ko a noon kaibigan si Dan. Si Dan kasi ang isa sa mapangbully kong ka-klase noong grade 3 kaya medyo hindi kami magka-close noong Grade 4. Bukod pa roon eh malayo sila sa inuupuan ko. Row 1 ako at si Rod. Si Rufino ay Row 2. Sila yata ay Row 3. Pero hindi yun according sa talino. Noong grade 5, nagsimulang maging maganda ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Dan at yun nga dahil best of friends sila ni Gilbert/betong eh naging lagi na kaming magkakasamang tatlo. Hindi ko masasabing sobrang kaibigan ko siya. Kapag kasi wala si Dan hindi kami magkasama ni Betong. Magkasama lang kami kapag kasama rin namin si Dan. Pero just the same, noong Grade 6 isang clique na kami and identified na with one another.

Parehong mahilig sa Sepak Takraw sila Dan at Betong. Pareho silang player nito noong grade 6 kami. Mas mataas kami ni Dan kay Betong. Sa ngayon medyo parang kalbo ang taas ng noo niya kaya lalo itong malaking tingnan pero hindi maitatanggi ang laking gandang lalaki niya sa aming dalawa. May pagkapango ang ilong nito pero hindi pa rin nakababawas sa ganda ng panga niya. Ngayon ay matigyawat rin siya pero noong elementary kami ay napakinis ng maamo niyang mukha. Maagang namatay ang ama ni Betong. Elementary pa lang kami. Magisa silang itinaguyod ng kanilang ina na mayroong pwesto sa palengke ng Nagcarlan. Kahangahanga ang maganda nilang pamilya. May tatak na iniwan ang kuya niya sa Standard. Actually nagkahiwalay nga kami noong matapos ang graduation dahil sa Standard nga siya at ako ay SMA. Masaya akong maging kaklase at kaibigan niya.

Samantala, hindi ko malilimutang birthday celebration ni Lester ang handaan noong first birthday niya na ginanap sa Liliw noong 2003. Yun yung araw ng pagkuha namin ng card sa Saint Mary's noon. Third year ako at in coming fourth year. Hindi ko pa nakikilala si Faye. Wala akong alam na ilang lakad na lang mula sa bahay na yun nila Ate Anna ay ang magiging bahay ng babaeng minamahal ko. Suot ko noon ang bagong T-shirt ko na hard rock cafe kulay apple green. Nakamaong pants ako nang umalis sa bahay at suot ko rin ang piston belt ko. Yun ang ginamit kong belt. Semi kalbo ako noon. May shades din ako na bago kasi nga alam kong mainit pagdating ng tanghali. Natagalan rin ako sa school noon. Siyempre nagkuwentuhan kaming magkakaklase. Miyerkules Santo noon. Kinabukasan Maundy Thursday na. Pero may inuman noon at masaya kami. Maliit pa noon si Tutoy pero ngayon kuya na siya ni Baby Lianne.

I believe this is also a lucky day to me kahit sobrang init. Hindi ko man makasama yung dalawa on their special day eh ok lang naman. I feel good. Sa araw na ito kasi eh climax na ng Festival in here. How many days to go before our annual bonding swimming. Sana mag decide sila na out of town kami. Sana may magagasaos rin para mas masaya.

>/ Happy Saturday.

thought life would be easier without

As usual, wala pa ring nakaka get over sa event last Tuesday. Being one of the most important date na naganap ngayong taon pero di ko nasaksihan, andun pa rin yung panghihinayang ko. Hindi ko alam kung nasa happy mode pa rin si Lara as she post celebrates her graduation or nasa gitna na siya ng pagkakandaugaga sa paghahanap ng trabaho at pagiging isang tunay na professional.

I thought thrice before posting the letter. Inisip ko na baka di na mahalagang narito pa ito dahil may nagawa na akong entry last Tuesday that will remind me every year of what had happened. Pero on the second thoght, alam ko masarap makita na may letter akong ginawa bilang personal address ko sa kanya. Kahit alam ko na hindi niya mababasa kahit kelan.

My Letter to LFVC on Her Graduation

To My Dearest F_ _ _,

How many time I have dreamt of watching you walk on stage of PICC to receive your awaited diploma? How many times I ever requested heaven to send me to you on that very day. But that didn't happen.

Sa isang sulok ng daigdig hinihintay ko kung ano ang sasabihin mo about your graduation day. Noong high school graduation mo, pinalad ako na makita ka at makadalo kahit alam ng lahat na imposible. Araw rin yun ng Martes. Umiiyak ka habang umaawit ng Alma Mater, tine-treasure yung mga sandali na makaka extend ka ng stay sa Saint Mary's kahit alam mong yun na yun.

Hindi ako nagkamali at sa FEU ka nga nag aral. Naging isang ganap na kolehiyala. Matapos ang apat na taon, heto ka, graduate na. Nagulat nga si Keshia noong makita niya yung graduation photo mo. Sabi niya nakikita ka lang daw niya sa Saint Mary's dati naglalakad as a freshmen sa high school. Yun yung time na binago mo yung buhay ko. Yun yung time na na-in love ako sa iyo. At alam ko ikaw pa rin naman yun. Nagbago lang ang pangangatawan. Nadagdagan lang ang alam. Dumami lang ang karanasan. Dumami lang rin ang nagmamahal. Pero ikaw pa rin yun. Yung little girl na minahal ko. Pareho pa rin ang mga values mo at taong minamahal. Yung batang babae na kasama nila Anika, Chona at Rizzel. Ngayon isa nang alumni ng Tamaraw.

Magtatapos ka sa isnag araw na mahalaga sa akin. April 12 is the day I always cherish. Funny how you added something I will remember when that day comes again next year. Iniisip ko nga noon pa na parang mahalaga talaga ang date na yun pero I don't have a reason. Yun pala sa future yun yung magiging graduation day mo sa college just as March 20 is your high school graduation.

Noong April 12, 2004, magkakasama kami ng mga kaibigan ko na pumunta sa Taytay Falls sa Majayjay. Ang saya saya ko noong araw na yun. Kasama ko sila Kevin, si Ambo, si Bryan, si Pitchie, si Paula at si Macoy. Nag outing kami. Isang mainit na araw. Puno ng alaala sa pagitan naming magkakaibigan. Ikaw lang ang kulang. Kasi sana, noon pa man ay kasama na kita. Yun ang unang pagpunta ko sa lugar na iyon. At ang mga larawan ang nagpapaalala kung gaano kami kasaya noong. Gaano kainit noon. At kung gaano ang lamig ng tubig sa lugar. Wala akong kaalam alam noon na after several years ikaw naman ang magdaragdag ng alaala sa araw na yun. Kaso ako ang kulang sa araw ng pagtatapos mo.

Wala pa sigurong tao na makakaunawa ng nararamdaman ko ngayon. Ang patuloy kong pangangarap ng lahat ng ikabubuti mo sa kabila nang hindi natin pagiging isa. Palaging magkakaroon ng puwang sa puso ko ang mga nagtapos ngayon. Sila Isaac, Daryl, Gizelle, Lee Ann, at Rizzel. Lahat sila ituturing mo na ring ka-batch habang buhay. Sabay-sabay kasi kayong gumradweyt eh. Lahat ng maganda para s abukas ninyong hinihintay ang dalangin ko. Lagi ninyong sinasabi kapag nagtapos kayo na offcially unemployed na kayo. Ayokong tingnan sa ganoon lagos ang buhay. Siguro mas mabuting isipin na sa wakas, ganap na ang karangalan ninyo bilang professionals. Hindi biro ang pinagdaraanan sa kolehiyo kaya naman mas marapat na buuin ang loob para sa diwa ng pagasa at pagsusumigasig.

Nanatili kang pinakamahalagang tao para sa akin. Ayokong mawala ang pagasa mo sa iyong sarili at naniniwala akong malayo rin ang iyong mararating. Ikaw pa rin kahit anong mangyari. Ajko pa rin ito para sa iyo. Matapos man ang lahat... walang magbabago.

Sa iyo ako,
Paul

more today than everyday in the past

There is no place I ever want to be right now but adjacent to Lara. Kaninang umaga ginanap ang isa sa pinakamahalagang yugto ng buhay niya. And as usual, wala ako dun! Nakakapagtaka. Hindi ko maintindihan kung paano ko iiwasan o haharapin ang araw na ito na malayo sa kanya. Ayaw ng sarili ko. Ang pangit kasi. Ordinaryo? I know this is going to be just an ordinary day for me. Pero sa sarili ko, gusto ko man lang sanang may magawa para maging espesyal.

Ganito pala talaga ang feeling na malayo sa kanya sa isang importanteng araw. Mas lalo ko tuloy na-appreciate at higit akong naging grateful sa araw na naging mapalad ako na masaksihan yung graduation niya noong 2007. Kung sana ganoon rin ngayon. Ano nga kaya kung ako yung kasama niya? Ako yung nangunguna sa pagiging abala sa celebration. Ano kaya kung ako yung unang makakakita nung report cards niya, graduation photos niya, at iba pang importanteng bagay para sa kanya sa araw na ito? Ano nga kaya kung ako?

Sana ako na lang. Kasi ang hirap nang wala akong lugar sa buhay niya. Hindi ko kasi makita ang sarili na malayo sa kanya. Puro kasama siya. Sana ngayon ako ang may hawak ng camera at kukuha ng mga pictures habang kinukuha niya ang diploma niya or yung pagakyat niya sa stage para kamayan ang mga tao dun. Parang kagaya nung high school graduation niya. Sana ako na lang. Sana ako ang lalaki na nagpapasaya sa kanya.

Had I known na ito ang date para sa event na ito, sana nagawan ko ng paraan habang maaga. Pero kung iisipin, alam ko naman na ngayong taon ang graduation niya, whether I know the date or not, dapat naghanda ako. Bakit naging lax ako? Hindi ko masabing masaya ako. Ang alam ko masaya ako na graduate na siya dahil isa rin yun sa pangarap ko. Ang makita siyang fulfilled. Pero partially, hinid natupad ang buo kong pangarap. Dapat kasi she will enjoy that fulfillment of life with me. Ako yung kulang.

Bakit laging pag kay Lara Faye na, nagpe-fail ako? Bakit hindi ko ma perfect lahat? Bakit hindi kami? Puro bakit na lang. Ganito naman lagi. Mas humahapdi ngayon ang sugat na naiwan ng kahapon. Lalo ko kasing nararamdaman na wala siya at hindi siya akin at may mahal siyang iba. Mas lalong tumitindi ang latay ng pagkakamaling hindi ko sinadya. Alam ko kahit kailan na hindi mali ang magmahal. Lalong hindi mali na mahalin si Faye. Ang mali lang ay ang hindi ko pagiging handa para mahalin siya at ang pagkakataon na humadlang sa aming dalawa para maging isa.

Ang hirap sabihing hinhintay kong malimutan ko siya. Mahal ko siya eh. Paano magiging madali. Ang sarap sanang sabihin na ini-let go ko na siya pero hindi yun ang totoo. Sa tingin mo paano magiging madali lang ang kalimutan yung babae na sa lahat ng alaala ko ay isinama ko na. Nakabaon siya sa puso at damadamin ko. Ang sarap ring sabihin na hindi na ako umaasa. Pero paano mo tatanggalin kahit yung katiting na pagasa na natitira sa akin na baka isang araw, hindi na sila ni Ronel at mauuntog siya at mare-realize na ako lang ang tanging lalaki sa daigdig na mamahalin siya ng ganito? Paano? Kahit gaano kaliit ang pagasa, aasa rin ang puso. HIndi yan mapipigilan ng isip ko gaano man ako katalino. Ang daling sabihin na "Congratulations! Graduate ka na ngayon" pero paano ko ipagdirirwang yun kung hindi man lang ako kasama sa memorya ng buhay niya?

Ganyan kami ni Lara Faye. Isang love team na kapag nanaginip ka lang saka mo makikita. Sa pangarap ka lang puwedeng kiligin. Sa imagination lang kami puwedeng ikasal, mag date, maging couple. Ganyan ang kinahinatnan ng pagmamahal ko na umabot na sa walong taon. Ang malamang pa niyan, kapag nabasa niya ito, ang sasabihin niya, Boring!

about next life and beyond

Sometimes I want to ask why am I living for. What is the sense of living a life as a Filipino, as a man, and as a Christian? Am I destined to accomplish something or am I a life traveler in search of my own mission? Too many questions. Only one concern and that is life itself. Life is a vague concept [just like love] and so is death. This came to mind because I took sometime to ponder on the three liturgical readings for the fifth Sunday of Lent.

First Reading>> Ezekiel 37: 12-14

12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel.
13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.
14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD."

Second Reading>> Romans 8:8-11

8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.


Gospel Reading>> John 11:1-45

1 Now a certain man was ill, Laz'arus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Laz'arus was ill.
3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
4 But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it."
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus.
6 So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again."
8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?"
9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10 But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
11 Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep."
12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead;
15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16 Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the tomb four days.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,
19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.
20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."
23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world."
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."
29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.
30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.
31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
32 Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled;
34 and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."
35 Jesus wept.
36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me."
43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out."
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him;

Commentary

Ezekiel is one of the most prolific writers of the Old Testament. His visions and prophecies sounds very futuristic as if he is born earlier his time. For the first reading, Holy Mother Church quoted a little of his writing; the one pertaining to life. Life is given by God. Building an image of a mighty God in his book, Ezekiel literally and figuratively talked about God's capacity to give life to a nation, a race of people. he also has the right to take it. He is the source of life and He can raise even the dead back to life if He wants to. I began to think of God's ability to take my life away. I am reminded that it is not me who holds control of my life. Figuratively, Ezekiel is pertaining to the life, not of a single individual, but to the life of a nation. During that time, Israel is a dying nation. they were captives similar to a corpse buried in a grave. God is telling Israel through Ezekiel that He will restore the nation in grace and godly prosperity. God will bring their life back.

The foremost theologian of the New Testament, Saint Paul the Apostle also gave a noteworthy discussion about Christian life. It is a new life with a zest. A life of ignition which Saint Paul himself experienced when he met the Lord in Damascus, the instance that brought him to life by being born again. Everyone who is in Christ is a born again in the Spirit. Even if the body dies, the spirit continues to live. It is the same Spirit that will be with us in resurrection. Lent tells us that our body is from ash [symbolized in Ash Wednesday]. It will go back to its original state after death. That body is only "Lent" by God. Meanwhile, we have spirit and the spirit is aeveternal. The source of life is so rich that He can sustain the life of all human spirits.

The Gospel Reading completes thought for the Fifth Week of Lent Mass. In the previous Gospel Readings for the Third and Fourth Sundays of Lent, the Holy Mother Church introduced Jesus as the Way and the Truth. This Sunday, Jesus revealed to all of us that he is the Resurrection and the Life. I am always stunned by the conversation that took place between Martha and Jesus. How Jesus surprised Martha that he is the resurrection and life and by raising Lazarus before the crowd. One thing that I also want to take note is the drama of Jesus' friendship with the family. Lazarus is a friend of Jesus but never an apostle. Jesus, by his friendly love to Lazarus, raised the dead man to life again. Now Jesus told his disciples that he considers them friends and he wants to share with them his eternal life. Are we friends of Jesus? Friends of Jesus will surely live in eternity with him. Jesus is also ready to die for his friends. Jesus died for his friends. Are we friends of Jesus? If yes, then Jesus died for us.

Christ offered the Samaritan Woman a way to conversion [Jn.4:5-42]. He also offered sight to a blind man to expose the Truth [Jn 9:1-41]. Jesus, finally, is offering all of us the life, the eternal life. To live with Jesus. To live for Jesus. And to live like Jesus. We are called and invited to fulfill all those three. Jesus is not only a reconciler to the Father. He not only is a multiplier of bread. Jesus is not just a healer of the sick. He is not just a teacher of the crowd. Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life. Because of Jesus, everything was brought to life during creation. Because of Jesus it is possible to anew in the Spirit. Because of Jesus, a dead person was resuscitated. Lastly, it is also because of Jesus that death can be overcome; when he rose after three days in the grave.

Jesus over stresses here today that the purpose of his incarnation is not to die but to defeat death through life. In closing, I would like the readers to muse about their/our own lives. We have to take care of our lives and live it to the full as Christians. We have to make the most of our lives so we can extend the Kingdom of God on earth. To win as many souls as possible. To live and have friends to love like Jesus did. As my last Sunday Reflection this year, I hope that I did well in using my blog for evangelization.

let five counts year rounds

Right after the celebration in Gregoria ng birthday ni Je noong 2006, siyempre mga tumba. Naginuman ba naman at nagswimming magdamag, idagdag mo pa ang mga kumanta sa videoke all night long. Kila Isaac muna kami dumeretso para sa pagpapahinga kasi magpa-5 pa lang ng umaga noon. Alam ko tulog kami nila Dacles noon. Sa luma pa nilang bahay yun. Nagmadali rin akong makauwi noon, kasi nga kukuhanin ang card sa SaintMary's at yun lang ang chance na maaari kong makita si Faye for that summer bago ako lumuwas ng Manila.

I've waited until 10 sa may patyo na baka dumaan si Faye. And just the same, kung kelan malapit na akong mawalan ng pag asa na darating siya at makikita eh saka naman siya sumulpot sa harapan ko. Pauwi na ako noon. Nakaputi siya at antalong maong, kasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya sa OLL at si Ley-Ley!!!!

Yun ang isa sa pinakamasayang April 7 ng buhay ko. Although laging maganda ang nagagana sa akin kapag April 7. April 7 kasi ang birthday ng tita ko. Ito rin ang araw na namatay daw ang Lolo ko na Daddy ng Mama ko. Ngayon, ang graduation sa CGMES, at pumunta ako dun kanina para lang sariwai yung ties na kami yung naroon. Halos walang ipinagbago ang school. Ganoon pa rin, pati ang rituals ng graduation. Ngayon ko lang napansin, nakakatamad pala. Pero kung ikaw ang nagraduate, feeling mo yun ang pinaka importanteng event sa history of mankind. Hapon kasi ginawa ang graduation. Ang ilan dun mga anak anak na lang ng dating mga haiskul noong bata pa ako.

After sneaking sa gradaution, tumuloy ako sa ilaya para sana tumambay kila Vcoy. And just as luck would have it on me sa isang masuwerteng April 07, nakasalubong ko sila ALger at Kevin na wala namang pupuntahan kaya inaya ko na lang kila Vcoy. Isinama din namin si Paul Andrew para mas masaya. Wala naman si Vcoy nung pumunta kami kaya tambay na lang muna sa tapat ng bahay nila. Lampas 5 na nang dumating si Vcoy at sa amin na siya naghapunan kasi madami rin kami pinagkuwentuhan. So from sa kanila, nilakad namin hanggang sa amin. Para gutom di ba?

Hindi irn natuloy ang inuman, may ginawa rin kasi sila Alger at sila Paul. In some time, I'll be back working. Hay... siyempre tiring pero sulit. Hope I can still land safely sa job na gusto ko talaga. But for the mean time, I'll stick to what I do best. In 9 days pala, Myx is arriving. Sana we will have a chance to meet each other and catch up for the time na nawala sa amin while we were away from each other.

April 07... you'll always be precious!

for the sake of summer

April is a month I am eagerly waiting every year. Maraming taong mahalga ang nagdiriwang ng birthday nila ngayong April. Una na sa mg ayan si Je. Birthday ngayon ni Je. Ang sarap alalahanin na noong 2006, limang taon na ang nakalilipas ay grabe ang sayang na-experience namin sa Gregoria as we celebrated his 19th birthday. Suwerte nga ni Je na dahil tapat na summer vacation ang birthday niya ay laging mayroong outing. Actually, halos lahat naman yung apat nila Dacles, Daryl, at Edison ay puro summer ang birthday. Si Edison ay magse-celebrate ng 24th birthday niya sa 9. Bukod pa dun siola Betong, si AA, si Nikki, si Sir Toby, si Ron-Ron, at siyempre si Dan Carlo.

Sa bahay nila Vcoy kami nagluto ng adobo hapon. Mga six ng dapithapon kami dumating Gregoria. Sumunod si Regine dala anmg sound system. may Crema gawa ni Dacles. Dumating ang barkada ng kapatid ni Je. Ang saya. Pati si Ota, dala ang tricycle niya. Swimming, kain, inom, bonding, videoke. Speaking of videoke. Doon ko nakausap ng malaliman si Blaze. Oo nga pala ano. Si Blaze ang dating kakalse ni Faye na parang kamukha niya. Ang saya namin noon. Kumanta kami ni Blaze sa videoke. Suwerte nga at nakasabay namin sila doon. Hindi siya hesitant na kausapin ako. Buong magdamag yata eh si Faye ang pinagusapan namin. Hindi ko maintindihan na parang si Faye na rin ang kausap ko. Basta alam ko masaya ako. Tapos nag one on one kaming magkakaibigan. Seryosong usapan tungkol sa buhay. Parang sharing nga eh. Ang galing.

Noong 2009, isang swimming ulit ang naganap para sa birthday celebration ni Je. Sa Sabang naman kami pumunta. Kumpleto. Si Isaac, si Jophet, si Regine, si Daryl, si Edison, ako. Lahat kami naroon para kay Je. Alam kasi namin na matatagalan na ulit bago maulit ang ganoong eksena na kumpleto kami.

Ngayon birthday nanaman ni Je. Ordinaryong araw para sa mga nagtatrabaho. Sa mga nasa malayo. Ang magagawa na lang namin ay sariwain yung mga panahon na napagbigyan kami. Hindi naman kasi puwedeng magkakakapit na lang kami araw araw at di na maghihiwalay. Kailangan naming lumipad na kami lang. Para yung mga sarili naming mga pangarap ay mabigyang katuparan.

Heto lang naman yun eh. Lilipas rin. Hoping na may panibagong taon para mabawi namin lahat yun. Andyan pa naman kami. Alam ko meron at merong magandang pagkakataon para sa lahat ng kasiyahan. As for now, kailngan hintayin muna ang mga yun. May birthdays pa na darating gaya ng sa mga nabanggit kong tao. Mas mapapasaya pa sa mga susunod na panahon. Alam ko magkakaroon ng vindication sa huli. Malay mo maging masaya ang mismong graduation ni Faye nagaganapin sa 12. Everything, just for the sake of this summer.

when men become blind

In my reflection Last Sunday, I mentioned and I quote;

“…the remaining three Sundays of Lent are all about the encounter of Jesus with a sinner, with a ailing person and to the grieving poor loved ones of a dead person. Jesus will bring the Good News to all of them. For these three Sundays, Jesus will stand out as the Way, the Truth, and the Life of humanity waiting for redemption. “

Jesus had proven that he is the Way as narrated by the Evangelist John. Jesus extended his ministry from his friends [as in the Second Sunday of Lent] to the sinners. This Sunday, we will continue to look up close and personal to Jesus and his journey to Mount Calvary after the glorious transfiguration.

Jesus and the Man Born Blind

Most of us already experienced waking up in the middle of the night with no electricity and all lights turned off. There is total darkness. We almost thought we were blinds. Most of us may have experienced walking blindfolded and have no idea where direction we are going. Because of these, we are scared to be blind. We know that blindness is a form of separation to the world. Almost half of me will die if I become blind.

It is hard to imagine how a man who was born blind lived his life. Jesus clarified that it is not the fault of the man that caused his blindness but it so happened that the plan designed by God might be realized. Absence of sight is evil. Jesus explains that evil is not intended by God from the beginning. And again, the Gospel presents Jesus’ victory over evil. To annihilate evil, something good must replace it. Jesus gave sight to the man. The man was healed through the use of Jesus’ saliva. It taught me that we need a part of Jesus to truly recover. An interesting story of Jesus winning against evil that is physical blindness.

Meanwhile, another form of blindness appears before us--the religious blindness. The sanhedrin members so caught up of themselves that they weren't able to see the light that the blind man saw. They question the process of healing and even the veracity of the miracle. The laws so blinded the religious leaders that instead of being compassionate and understanding to the poor blind man, they turned into stony hearted regulators of social status quo. they were OCs of the torah.

How many times do we become blinded by our good intentions to the point that we neglect others in the process? How many times do we close our eyes to Jesus who is in our needy neighbors? Many times we are no different from the high priests of Jesus' time. When we are busy doing good to become too good, we forget to be good to others. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man and also the heart that sees the goodness in the world but the religious leaders were so stiffed that they cannot even see a reason to rejoice and praise God in that very situation.

The stories of Lent are stories of winning souls back to God; of presenting Jesus as redeemer of mankind not only from sin but from the day-to-day evils of life; of resisting the temptations of the world and think closely of heavenly kingdom; of repentance and conversion. Jesus won the Samaritan woman and now the blind man who was given sight. How heartbreaking to see that there are also calloused persons who never wanted to receive Jesus in their hearts. They are hopeless situations because Christ's forgiveness is always available but they chose to harden their hearts. Better is the case of the blind man who, though blind physically, was able to see the truth but the other side were not able to see the truth because of their blindness. At the end they asked "Are you telling us we are blind?" because they were confused.

"Who is he Lord? That I may believe in him." is the response of the man to Jesus when asked if he believe in him. He is looking for the truth. The newly healed man yearns for certainty. Jesus offered him the truth. We want to see first to say something is true. Jesus came so tat those who do not see might see. Jesus offered us light. Jesus takes us away from darkness because he is light. The second reading teaches us, through Saint Paul, that we are children of light. Everything exposed by light becomes visible. We can see because there is light and light exposes the truth. Jesus is not only the cure to blindness. He not only is the giver of light and sight. Jesus is, above all, the truth. Without his light, we will be like Samuel in the first reading who only sees the appearance and not the heart. Jesus by healing the blind man exposed to the world who really are blinds. Like the cured blind man let us say to Jesus, "I do believe Lord" and let us worship him.

ides of march and graduation march

Isa sa pinakainaabangan kong buwan ang March. This year, 2011, sobrang naging napaka memorable ng March. In as much as I want to remember the good and cheerful happenings alone, hinid maiiwasang matandaan rin ang mga bagay na di maganda.


Me with Joel and Jayson at work


March happen to be a lucky month for me. Personally wise, naging masaya akong simulan ang March sa pagkakaroon ng isang trabaho. Hindi ko alam kung talgang magiging pangmatagalan ang trabahong ito, pero ang sigurado ko ay may bagong experiences at bagong mga aral na matututunan.Nagkaroon ng mga bagong tao sa buhay ngayon. Ang mga nakatatas na administrators at mga kapwa katrabaho o employees.


March 15, naganap ang pinakahinihintay kong araw sa buong taon. Ang birthday ni Lara Faye. Ito ang tinatawag nilang Ides of March kasi nga naman sa araw na iyon ay namatay si Julius Cesar. Naging ordinaryong araw nanaman ang March 15 para s aakin, pero sinikap kong maging espesyal sa paraang alam ko. Natutuwa akong alalahanin na wala namang pangit na nagyari sa araw na iyon, sa akin man o sa ibang taong kakilala ko.

Subalit hindi na mawawaglit sa isipan ng lahat ang naganap sa Japan noong March 11. Nagdulot ang lindol ng takot at pangamba sa lahat ng tao sa buong mundo. Awa para sa mga nakakasaksi sa telebisyon ng naging resulta ng tsunaming tumama sa bansang nabanggit.

Sino rin ang makakalimot sa kabikabilang graduation ceremonies na naganap ngayong taon na ito. Napakaraming kakilala ko at kaibigan mula sa iba't ibang dako ang nagsipagtapos ngayong buwan at ang pinamatunog na pangalan ay sila Benj at Gizelle mula sa UST; sila Daryl at Isaac mula sa mga matatlik kong kaibigan sa Nagcarlan; at ang nakahihigit sa lahat, walang iba kung hindi si Rizzel, ang kapatid ko sa turing.






Photos of the baccalaureate graduates for 2011. From the top; Rizzel, Avengel, Isaac, Daryl and Gizzelle


Nagcelebrate din ng birthday niya noong araw ng graduation ni Rizzel, si Stacy. Ang saya talaga ng March 29, ganoon rin ang March 18...yun ang araw na nakapanood ako muli sa CCP at nakita ko si Ginoong Olivier Ochanine sa unang pagkakataon. Masaya ako sa buwang nagdaan. Halos lahat naging maayos at masaya sa akin.

Kaya nga lang, isang malungkot na pagtatapos para sa sambayanang Pilipino ang iniwan ng buwan ng Marso. Ika tatlumpu ng Marso nang isailalim sa pagbitay ang tatlong kabbayang Pilipino sa China. Sa pamamgitan ng lethal injection, binawi ang buhay ng tatlong nakasuhang Pilipino sa China. Sinubaybayan rin ang laban ng Philippine Azkals na isa sa naging highlight ng buwang ito para sa mga sports enthusiasts.

Noong March 28, dalawang TV series sa Philippine primetime ang nagsimula. Ang "Mula sa Puso" ni Wenn Deramas sa ABS-CBN at ang Captain Barbell ni Richard Gutierrez sa GMA. Pareho ko sanang gustong subaybayan pero dahil sa schedule ng work, wala akong time manood kung minsan. Para sa akin, magandang buwan din ito kila Lauren Young, JM de Guzman, at Enrique Gil na matatagal ring naghintay para sa break na ito. Sa tingin ko karapatdapat naman talaga na bigyan ng break ang tatlo dahil sa kalidad ng acting na pinapakita nila. Ito na ang pagkakataon nila.Kagaya ng naging success ng Mara Clara kahit pa puro baguhan ang mga naging bida, ganoon rin ang mangyayari sa programa ng tatlo. Hindi lang acting ang meron ang tatlong promising artists kung hindi pa ti na rin looks at X factor. Si Richard, mukhang mananatiling stagnant ang rating ng show niya. Hindi na ganoon kaappealing ang superhero stories sa mga Pinoy at mukhang gigibain ng "Mutya" at "Minsan Lang Kita..." back-to-back ang timeslot niya. Very sorry to say that pero kailangan matutunan ni Richard mag reinvent. For the pass 4 years puro ganyan ang ginagawa niya. Yung tipong magliligtas sa mundo. Kialangan niyang mag take ng risk as an actor. Gumanap ng papel na komplikado at hindi isteryotipikal. Kung tutuusin mas kaya ni Richard gampanan ang role ni Jerome sa Green Rose kaya nga lang, nasa maling lugar siya. Mahihina ang directors ng GMA. Ayaw nilang lagyan ng experimental features si Richard. Sayang kasi hindi maipakit aang versatility niya bilang actor. Ang mangyayari niyan, darating ang time na sa environmental documentaries na lang natin siya mapapanuod. Kailangan ng something na iba sa mga magiging palabas ni Richard. Something that people do not expect. Kailangan niyang tandaan na hindi lang mga Grade 1 pupils ang nanonood sa kanya. Kung ayaw niya, thyen mag host na nga lang siya ng "Survivor" at ng "Full Force Nature" sa Sunday primetime.

Nakatutuwang isipin na tapos na agad ang March. Isang maganda at meaningful na buwan na naman ang dumaan. Ngayon April na! Sobrang bilib na ako sa mga Math major at sa mga mabbait na jeepney drivers na marunong magsukli at magbaba sa tamang babaan. Nagiging malinaw na ang mga plano ko lalo na sa pagiipon ng budget. Nagiging matatag ang mga values na pinanghahawakan ko, mga bagay na di ko mai-compromise sa anumang sitwasyon. Sana tuloy tuloy lang ang pagunlad ng sarili ko. Alam ko mas magiging maganda pa ang salubong ng Abril sa akin. Isang summer na huhugot ng pinaka-the-best sa akin. Sa buwang ito rin, magtatapos si Lara Faye sa kolehiyo.

sa lahat ng nagtapos at magtatapos pa lang...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!