Feel Good Feast Day

This was written last night while recolecting thoughts of last three days celebration.

Three Days of Smile

I am the happiest. I'd like to think I am even if just for the last three days. I would like to express this sound gratitude I have for God. First, for bringing Rene Dacles to my life. I'd like to thank Rene Dacles for bringing the new set of friends to my life. I intent to name them here; towering above them all, Aizee Castro followed by Dexter Abuso, Louie Castilla, Royce Abiva, Bogie Tazo, Chester Benedict Arevalo, and Jonard Dollosa. As of today, they are the souls who vivify me. The souls who edify me. The souls who magnify me.

How I wish tonight, the town fiesta never ends. Yes they were here to celebrate the feast with us Nagcarleños. They were a little late arriving at the last minute of August 24, the night after their class. I was already down drunk because of the party at my former neighborhood. The joyful August 24 after 2010. I never enjoyed it this much for the last two years.

Grateful of what happened early that day, attending the pontifical mass presided fir the first time by Bishop Buenaventura Famadico; the amusement brought by teh community in our compound; and the sunny day of August 24, I thanked God for all that. But the greatest surprise of the day is when they came and made the celebration last for three days.

It was Aizee's first visit in Laguna for a town fiesta without his parents' company. I was deeply touched by that gesture. His coming was a surprise. So is Dexter's. They made me believe that they can't make it and almost turned my invitation to a failure. And so this is one occasion which stands historical. It is the first time my neighborhood experienced my friends' presence here in Laguna.

While we were having playful times for Dota games, picture takings in Liliw's parochial vicinity, and swimming along the cold river, the rest of the Filipinos in Luneta gathered to protest and practice their rights of assemblage. Expressing their disappointment for the government's mysterious spending and anomalous allocations of funds, activists and civil rights groups showed the power of the masses in stunning number of participants.

The busy-ness of the days disabled us to watch the VMA Awards which is another talk of the town. We are conscious that there is a typhoon but it is far from us and we can do the swimming activity with confidence in natures protection. All in all it is a 3 days of smile to remember.

I would like to greet Dianne a happy birthday and to my friends who were here to make me happy at least for the town fiesta, thank you all.

Systematic Flood Control

The Philippines is a tropical country. Filipinos are used to sunny days as well as rainy ones. Some may enjoy the rain but most of us don't. F or those who enjoy it, rain is the source of life; filling dams and nurturing agricultural lands. However, when torrential rains cause flooding, it is a great reason to dislike it.

What the Philippines experienced this week is a nightmare specially to Manileños and Caviteños whose lives were pestered by excessive rainfall. National Capital Region, Cavite and some parts of Laguna became instant water pool after Monsoon rain struck the Western portion of Luzon. Somehow, I can't help but think that the tropical climate contributes, if not the cause, to the ugliness of the country. Just the other night, I was watching "That Winter The Wind Blows" and saw how houses in South Korea are all built in bricks while in the Philippines people can settle in a "barong barong" without any architectural design and practically made simply as a shelter.

In the same way, urban planning in Metro Manila lacks systematic discipline. Structures are built practically just to have establishments to boast. Contractors disregard other requisites for beautification and usefulness of edifices. We cannot go on every year repacking donations for flood victims. There has to be an action from the government and urban planning community to prevent the clogging of our drainage structures. In a democratic government, the safety of the citizens more than anything else is paramount.

This circumstance only vindicated my perpetual stance on charter change. There is a clamor for the reformation of our government; from polity-presidential to a federal form of government. Now I am certain that a federal from of government will address this issue. Strengthening all regions of the nation so as to de-congest Metro Manila. There might be a huge chance that those who migrated to NCR will return to the provinces when job opportunities in rural areas are plenty.When Metro Manila becomes underpopulated, renovations can take place immediately.

It breaks our hearts to see celebrities on rooftop of the houses or stars riding the MRT because roads are turned into pools. For two days I've been texting and calling friends in manila just to know if they are safe. And it is not good. While it really is savory to spend time talking to relatives and friends on the phone, the situation is not conducive to a reunion. You rather have overtime classes than stay at home for a holiday knowing that your countrymen are suffering.

The Lord has been truly thoughtful when He sent me home last Saturday sparing me from the horror of deep city. Still, there are people whose only home is in Manila and Cavite, now they are calling evacuation centers as temporary homes...

And all these should never again happen in the future.

Heavy Rains Again From Monsoon

Ang lakas ng ulan ngayong gabi. Ilang gabi bago mag piyesta. Sa piyesta muli akong babalik dito sa Laguna upang ipagdiwang ang matimyas na araw. Buong Linggo kasi akong mamamalagi sa Las Pinas para makumpleto ang mga requirements na kailangang i-submit. Mabuti na lang kamo pwedeng "to follow" na lang ang form 137 at ang birth certificate.

pero dahil jam pack ang schedule dito sa weekdays, hindi ko mapigilan na maging mas excited para sa Sabado. Kung matutuloy ang buong tropa sa pag uwi sa piyesta, sobrang saya nun! Sila Aizee, Kyle, at Lou pa lang solve na ang ingay eh. Ano pa kaya kung kasama sila TonTon, Chester, at si Jonard? Syempre hindi mawawala ang mga kasama sa bahay.

Hindi ko lang alam kung magiging katulad nung nakaraang Biyernes ng madaling araw ang inuman sa piyesta. Noon kasing Biyernes, naginuman sa bahay. Hindi ako kasali, kailangan ko kasi ng kumpletong tulog para sa medical ko noong araw na iyon. Hindi rin puwedeng may alkohol ako sa katawan. Nanood sila ng The Vow sa laptop. Si Aizee kasi nagpapagawa ng reaction paper kay Ron kaya in-upload yung movie sa laptop. Iyon marahil ang dahilan kaya naging sentimental ang mga lasing. Ang topic tungkol sa love ang pu***. Hindi na nga ako nakatulog. Nakisali na lang ako sa usapan. Nag share ng konsepto namin about love.

Kung iisipin mo, tama naman si Royce; hindi ka maaaring pumili ng isang "the best" sa mga naging love mo. Lahat sila the best in their own special ways.

Napakahalaga ng PREP. Ang problema sa inuman, hindi natatapos ang discussion kasi hindi nasusunod ang PREP method. Kapag naihain na lahat ng tindig, dapat mag wrap up na sa pamamagitan ng paglalagom. Sa inuman, walang tagapagbuod. Free flowing ang ideya. Puwede kayong magsolo ng kwentuhan ng katabi mo o puwedeng may magbangka. Asahan mong may sasabat sa'yo. Matatapos lang ang discussion kapag lugapay na ang mga nagtotoma. o kaya'y naubos na ang Empi Lights.

How I wish ako ang naatasang magbuod. Ipapaliwanang ko yung hindi nila pinansin na explanation ko about love. Na ang pagibig ang nagpapakatao sa tao. Kung hindi siya magmamahal, nagwawala siya. Samakatwid, para bagang, ang pagibig ang paraan upang makapagmeron ang isang tao.

At dahil nga sobrang bigat ng nakaraang usapan kaya naging light ang tanghali ng August 16. Duamting si Seph at Tita Edna sa Aventus sa kalagitnaan ng araw habang hinihintay ko ang physical exam ko. At totoong pinagaan ni Tita Edna ang araw ko. Tawa lang kami ng tawa pagkatapos mai-submit ang B.I.R. form at medical.

Si Mei? Ayun, miss ko na siya. Ang teacher ko na mas bata pa sa akin. Hay... tama talaga si Steve Jobs. Darating ang panahon, isa isang masasagot ang tanong mo na parang linya sa mga dots na pinagdudugtongdugtong mo. Ngayon, nagsisimula na ngang masagot ang mga tanong kung bakit ang haba ng paghihintay ko bago ako nakalunsad. Kailangan ko pala talga maghintay dahil kung napaaga, hindi ko makikilala sila Aizee, Elaine, Seph, at Kyle. At hindi ko matatagpo si Mei na napakalaki ng naitulong sa aking pagunlad. Binuksan ang isip ko sa mga pagbabago at hinikayat ako na tumapang. Oo katulad kay Ma'am Nikki mahapdi ang ilang tagpo sa paghulma niya sa akin. Rough days ika nga. Pero mas nangibabaw yung respeto ko s akanya bilang tao at guro. At pangarap ko na mahigitan yun sa sandaling magkita kami ng scion ko.

Na-realize ko sa nagdaang buwan na ang sarap pa ring mag aral. At nakakatuwa na may clause sa contract na maaaring magpatuloy sa pagaaral ang mga empleyado. Oo, mag aaral pa ako. Hindi pa tapos ang hangarin kong matuto. Ang dami pang dapat makita at matutunan upang maging buo ako para sa mga anak ko, sa taong sasanayin ko, sa Pilipinas at sa sangkatauhan. Alam ko na tinawag akong maging bahagi ng kasaysayan. Pinanghahawakan ko iyon. At ang lahat ng ito, paghahanda patungo roon.

Always Your Lucky Guy

Happiest day? Yes it is. I signed my contract yesterday. I am now officially a working class citizen. Not as prestigious as one may expect of a guy like me but there is a right time for everything. Definitely, a right time to be somebody. As of now, let's begin our way going to the top from here, from the bottom. There is nothing wrong with this. Vectors are always from one point to a better point. And I am not someone ignorant of vectors.

August 15. The day that I will forever love. We had our feast day celebration when we were in third year being part of the OLA class of 2002. That happened eleven years ago in Bukid Garden---a wonderful experience. Ma'am Jem and the rest of my classmates, ooh I can't forget. It happened exactly the same day as today---Thursday. The music of 2002 brought a lot of spice to the August memory. I'd Rather by Luther Vandross; Shoulda Woulda Coulda by Beverly Knight; I Need A Girl by Usher and P. Diddy; No Such Thing by John Mayer; Are You In by Incubus; Stigmatized by The Calling; Hero by Chad Kroeger; Rainy Days by Ja Rule and Mary J Blidge; Best of Me by Blue; Goodbye To You by Michelle Branch and It's Gonna Be Love by Mandy Moore... what else can be as exclaiming?

Last year, my August 15 was highlighted by the movie of Quen and friends---The Reunion. One of the best movies of that year. That Wednesday was rainy. Rainne made in Rainny. I just can't believe it is now one year after that. That evening, after spending an hour in a computer shop, I watched the finale of Glee Project where Blake Jenner was crowned winner. Then the phone call which lasted for the entire night and welcomed the dawn of Aug 16.

Better days ahead? We'll see. I can't say that it is not. I have a lucrative income now. That's a source of great joy and yes today is Our Lady of Assumption. However the quality of life that I will have to face starting September 16 is kind of rough. I will have to bear the sleepless nights and days without being a couch fanatic, where I can just eat pizza before the TV set. I am so happy that supportive friends came along and why do they all have to be younger. I do not know. Kyle, Aizee, Joseph, Kieth and even Elaine all ranges from 21-23. And I am not that young anymore. Fritz will join their club as he comes August 24. Are these all a sign?

Whatever it is. I am grateful for them coming into my life. A new zest perhaps and a new frame of mind to cultivate. Don't worry. God will be extremely generous to give the expected abundance.

That August When She Dreamed About Me

Hi August!!!!!

Finally, momentous and arduous July is over, leaving plenty of realizations behind. Now we want August to be nice to us. AUGUST seems to be my favorite month of the year in spite of the negative preconceptions about it. They say it's ghost month or the month of storms but I have a lot to be thankful about this/ every August.

It's the 14th day of the training. Technically, last day of classes. Next MONDAY is evaluation day. I am so glad 09 is declared a holiday because of eid'l. I am now at home, enjoying the breeze of the province. Just yesterday, Aizee surprised us about his birthday. And there is a plan of celebrating it next Saturday. That would be tomorrow. Aizee is a lover of music. We are currently enjoying almost all types of music together. What particularly links to him is the song Sa Langit which he introduced to me. Though I still can't get over the death of Dra. Andrea Veneracion or simply Ma'am OA.[ tomorrow will be one month after she died] I cannot write a tribute for her up to now because August became busier than July. So is actor turned singer Cory Monteith who also died days after Ma'am OA. Musicians and artist can say goodbye when it's July but the memory lives on. More festivals for music are now being done in honor of Ma'am OA. And tomorrow I'll be attending one which will be facilitated by Ryan Cayabyab.

I am excited to go out with either Wind or Vien one of these days. Even drink coffee with Jus after a meeting. Or simply celebrate with my wavemates after graduating from the training and before facing the working season.

There's a lot to do this week. A lot which happened last week. More to come by next month. There seem to be no space for me to play "TREASURE" or True Love by Pink. Robin Thicke is not yet part of the plan. Blurred Lines has never covered the entire world yet. But it never stops playing in my head. Good thing that I never really liked We Can't Stop because it may not stop also in my mind had I liked it. How can you love somebody when you are so in love with Maroon 5's "Love Somebody"? And how can you imagine the future if you keep on imagining Imagine Dragons? When you hear Icona Pop singing I Love It or Ciara with her Body Party, how do you feel?

No, I haven't mentioned that tonight is the concert of Fall Out Boys here in Manila. The front act would be Gabby Alipe's band Urbandub. FOB will be singing their latest hit which is really a wonder, My Song Knows What you Did in the Dark. I use to play this song after playing Rihanna's Stay. We are waiting for Mumford and Sons to do a concert here, singing their song Hopeless Wanderer. So also with Before YOU Exit who sings A Little More. Did I say that there is a new one from Kings of Leon called Super Soaker? They are great.

IT' AUGUST and it's music month. WE ALL NEED TO HEAR IT. As mush as we heard the music of long ago during this month.

By the way I am playing Over the Love by Florence and the Machine. [there is no way we can honor Ma'am OA than do as many musical acts as she wants us to when she was alive].