lights and trees and snows

Oh I was unable to reconnect with the world for five days. Actually December for me starts with December 05 so it's just ok. Finally an article close to New Year's Day.
A season of embrace and wishes. It just feel so right.

Say Hello to December 2011

Ok just as I've said, it is getting cold but no snow here in the Philippines. We wish there is but that would make our region a tundra climate. The last few days were rough I know but with the right disposition and courage I was able to win anxieties and headaches. I few just wait for sometime, everything will get better.

Actually, I am preparing now for my last post to be published this December 29 where in I will look back to all the great things that happened this 2011. Oh that is something I really look forward too. And that would be a longer than usual article.

By the way, December 05 has always been a special date to me for various reasons. Every year, this day has a surprise... only that this year it seem like an ordinary day. Started sunny but at the middle became rainy. I don't know. The usual thing, party and celebration starts every December 05. Being a Monday makes it dragging. But still I am thankful of whatever happened and perhaps unknowingly, there are blessings that got into my life today. Who knows?

Hmmm... what else can I say other than it is getting colder and colder every night? probably none as of now. Things are just being set and preparation is at the height. Some people may come back after long stay abroad and some may just be new acquaintances. You know, life is too short but long enough to make friends. So let's make friends. With the world's population getting 7 billion , as in WOW, I wish there could be more friends and enemies. More buds than haters. We want to live in a world where all people embrace each other like there is no tomorrow. Since it is a time of love, the month of giving, one of the best things we can offer is friendship. I can't wait to reunite with old friends and meet my new friends.

lights beyond flamboyance of styles

So why not write on JS' birthday. As she celebrates it away from where I am. My close friend and sometimes fairy god mother, sometimes my companion and sometimes my critic. Sometimes a monster but most of the time an angel. She savors talking to me but adores me when I only listens. She gives me the brightest of ideas but rejects my unsolicited advices. So she is. The only one who understands me when I feel like I am uncomprehensible. She makes symmetry when I cannot reconcile. Today is her birthday and what can I give her better than a piece of d*** in my blog. A little space it is.

Well I have no plans of torturing myself by the thoughts of her special day. I only want to recount what best things happened this month of November aside from the frenzy of crowd aggregates going gaga over Breaking Dawn or the superstitious beliefs about 11.11.11 which happened some Friday ago. I have no plans on wondering how my future girlfriend if ever there will be one and JS' future boyfriend will ever understand the friendship and fraternity we have before they meet us. Or will they ever understand?

I just want to, as I said earlier, savor the highlights of this month. When I try recalling what November 1 was all about, it gives me a sort of abstract as to what November is for the year 2011. JS broke the news about their upcoming activity for November 16-22. And for the entire month, that's all we've been talking about. Aside from that we made room for other extra activities that we can fill in when I go to Manila for a visit. Succesfully, Daryl and I met again and introduced me to more friends. Sounds really fabolous right?

Oh don't forget my goal and dream to taste a genuine Milk Tea. Lately, my taste buds remained into drinking combined calamansi and green oranges for after lunch. How do you want your liquids to satiate you? Then there's krispy Kreme and the KFC Krushers that contradicts the stigma of in-your-face coldness of teh yuletide holidays. All these to lighten up the thirsty me.

A chnage of place is like breathing fresher air beneficial to ones health. Obviously, November is a month of laziness. It is a month which invites you to travel and traveling makes your eyes and feet util. Staying in a closed compound or in a single house to make it worse, is to rob yourself of freedom to enjoy the world. the world is not confined in a single space. There is a world out there to be enjoyed. I fyou don't travel now, you might miss a place close to paradise for the rest of your life. You know where I am going right?

The person's right to travel became the biggest of all biggest issues this month. From what I have learned, the pyramid of needs introduced by Abraham Maslow has long been forgotten. There are already 8 [not 3] basic needs of man and that includes one's right to travel ; simply put, Transportation. Yes transportation is now a need just as food and clothing and shelter.

So tomorrow is another birthday celebration. This time a hero. This time, not a lady. A man not of words but of actions. A courageous Filipino. What a way to end November without darkness enveloping the abyss of our lazy minds.

betwixter generation upon metropolitan modernization

Everything
as in everything
that has to do
with Sunday
Monday
Tuesday and
Wednesday
only brings me
to one
common denominator
and that is ...

Betwixters of Manila

Betwixters are composed of late teenagers looking forward to graduation dates, yuppies or young professionals at age 22 to 28 and the unemployed post graduates just of the same age. It is a new label of age demographics, the stage neither wholly teenager nor mature working class. Most of them are in the heights of experimentation and friend winning. I belong to this generation. Betwixters are people in an intermediate position, we are between. We are betwixt there and there.

To see those who are like you is a great, great experience. For my entire visit is just about betwixters and our lives and our trips.

Sunday in Gateway
Monday musing in UP Diliman
Career Fest at SM Megamall
Last Page browse at PETA
Boys Night Out at the fourth floor

All these are just some of the happenings being enjoyed by betwixters of this epoch.

Sunday in Gateway

The experience of meeting Isaac and Daryl in Cubao is enormous. We had fun. I arrived earlier and waited for Isaac near the Telus Building since he just got out from work. 3pm is his off. But it was at the MRT Station that we met because JS happened to drop by in there before Isaac came. I was too late to find JS at the ticket booth but Isaac just appeared saying he just arrived.

I toured him around the Araneta Center being his first time to be there. We ate at the corner store enjoying the street foods that are classically favorites like "kalamari" and "tukneneng" with gulaman as our drink. Before that, we had jumbo hotdog burger from a hotdog stand adjacent to the rear. Then to give nice ending to a three o'clock meal commonly known as meryenda, he bought me Strawberry Sundae and he caramel sundae as our dessert.

We saw Fatima outside Ali Mall before we met with Daryl at the Gateway, unfortunately she didn't see us. The joy did not end in Gateway. We walked with Daryl towards the station and that's when we parted.

Monday Career Fest and UP Betwixters

A lot of unemployed betwixters lined up for the job hunting that happened last Monday in SM Megamall. The career fest was sponsored by MVP Group of Companies. LDT, Meralco, Metro Pacific all MVP Businesses were there and a lot of young hopefuls were present including yours truly to try their luck for profession. That was a busy morning.

In the afternoon, I just dropped by in UP hoping I can meet some friends, Nikka Mae and Ronald Rae but my phone is in brink and I can't make a call. How would they know I am there? I walked around the UP campus, filling my lungs with the air mostly combination of jeepney smokes and tree exhaust. That was an afternoon of reflection and betwixter sight seeing. I tried observing the college students from UP and most of them in the kiosks, having their assignments done, talking about all kinds of stuff and airing their sentiments regarding what a hell of life college is.

Last Page Play in PETA

Then we come to one of the highlights of the week,,, the play of Teatro Tomasino entitled as "Sa Huling Pahina" I did for support o my friend JS and to finally meet Chad again. The play was good. I am planning to write a separate opinion page about that next time.

Sleep Time Boys Time

Exuberant young men at the fourth floor

Such a nice title for the six young men I slept with that Tuesday, last night actually, after the stage play. I left PETA at around 11pm and Daryl waited for me near Mini Stop, Welcome Rotonda so he could bring me home for I can't be in any place further. Late night is a little dangerous time of the day. There I met Joey and Ken and the rest of the house mates Daryl is proud to brag about.

We really had enjoyable conversations. The meal was good and Kevin, their dog is "makulit" plus the ambiance of the house really supplements my positive well being.

Now I'm back in Laguna and most of teh rains are here. Sunlights are reserved in Manila for sure. I'm so glad I can tressure enough memories brought by our betwixters.

Happy Birthday Saab!!!!!!!

i want it untitled but it's monday

Spending another long weekend is totally an early gift. I had nothing to do and spent the entire early morning in conversation with JS. Friends really missed each other. We talked about the upcoming events particularly that which will be on November 21. I'll be in Manila to attend. We also talked about her student who has an extra sensory perception.

What would I do if I encounter one? We talked about her belief that somewhere in this world there are persons who has the capacity to control time and stop the clock. What would I do if I have that gift? I still can't believe that there really are phenomenon which cannot be explained by plain reason.

Our conversation ended as my battery surrendered. I needed to recharge. While soothing myself with fresher air outside, I met a lady who is buying old coins and silvers and golds. I have none of those but as she sat close to where I am, I took advantage of the time while she was resting and ask her several questions since I have nothing else to do at the moment.

Their central station is in Santo Tomas, Batangas. They buy old coins, silver, and gold only to convert it into pure silver and gold and then sell it to Pampanga where it will be tried to create new jewelries.

I really like this day. I had enough sleep and foods were just so delicious. Being in the company of my Mom and friends. And oh I remember, November 07, 2003 was the start of our three day retreat in high school. We had so much fun then. I miss my SD classmates.

Happy November!!!!

five more sleeps before halloween 2011

It's this lazy feeling when you just wanna lay in bed all day long because you have hang overs of October 25. It used to be a date to me but not like this year. 2011 is different. It values October 25 like it was no other.

October 25 is the day when we formed our clique six years ago. That was October 25 2005. Friendship is a vital stamina. I am a nostalgic person and I like telling people time and again when I met my friends or when did we did some excursions etc. And yes, that night was fun. I saw Lara Faye earlier that day. That was a Tuesday and then all of a sudden they just dropped by the house. I guess it was Je and Ron who accidentally came by and then we contacted Regine and Isaac to come over. Daryl wasn't there but we knew in our hearts he is a part. Later on the group expanded by adding Daryl, Jophet, and Edison. Now we have all in all 12 members of a close group which transcends all virtual groups we are in.

October 25 is also the birth date of several individuals who have special spot in my heart. First Aljon who applied for apprenticeship April of 2009. Our meeting happened in GMA Cavite and thanks to Mark Anthony Dominguez for hosting us in their place. I had such a nice day. From that day on, we became friends. Sadly though, we lost our touch and never met again yet. Hopefully one day. Another one who was born October 25 is Kristine Dote. I met her first in 2009 during my volunteer work in Batangas City. She was very active as my student and got 100 in participation. I can sense a bit of my personality in her. Her interest and willingness to learn is very much appreciated. Given a chance I would like to share more of my knowledge and skills to her and help her to be the best she can be in her craft.

Photo of Kristine Dote and me together


Another tween who seems to be very happy as of yesterday is Christine. She just came back from Manila, had her vacation there, she narrated to me all the stories she have had in there being her first trip to some malls in Quezon City particularly in Trinoma and SM North Edsa. Truly, semester vacation can do something good to tired and saturated college students. And before I forget, my friend and high school classmate Jejomar Collantes also did celebrate his 24th birthday yesterday. I am very happy for him.

Photo of Christine during her vacation in Quezon City

Photo of Christine with Barney

A photo of birthday boy Jejomar Collantes

All is well yesterday. But today, something positive continues to thrive as my favorite basketball team in NCAA won their peat. San Beda Red Lions were the champions of the recently concluded NCAA Men Basketball competition. Jake Pascual did great in running and maneuvering as well as Rome de la Rosa. Both were quite noticeable in the first game. The game earlier featured a very different Jose Carmelo Lim who was totally fearless and fiery. No amount of words can be said about the Super Twins of San Beda Red Lions. The twin lions, Anthony Paul and David John Semerad exposed their intense passion this afternoon as they jump off the players of San Sebastian. Good job to all of them and let's yell for a congratulations.

Photo of Semerad twins during one of the games

How many days before trick or treat? Well I just hope it will be sunny and free from all worries.

with eyebrows and heart beatings

After a beautiful day yesterday siyempre kasi birthday ni Sir Arwin, I have to enjoy naman a sunny weather brought by October 14. This date is way too special. Kaya nga sinikap ko na proper ang rituals after waking up from bed. Medyo masakit lang sa balikat at sa mga joints kasi nga minsan na lang mangyari ang ganitong workout since hindi naman nagbabago ang physique features ko... ayun payat pa rin, still nothing is wrong with maintaining a body exercise aspart of daily regimen. Kaya lang heto ngayonlang ulit naulit yung talagang complete military exercise with shibashi at vocalization. Nice to do it every morning, pakiramdam ko lahat ng mangyayari sa buong araw tama kapag ganitoang ginawa ko. Siyempre after that,isang masarap na breakfast.

Rivers do not drink the water they carry.

Trees do not eat the fruit they bear.

Clouds do not bath in the rain they reproduce.



Meaning.. WE are meant to GIVE even if we get NOTHING from it.

Measuring life by what others do may disappoint us,

but measuring life by what we do will make life meaningful."

== Ynelle Laureta

Ang ganda no, yan naman ang susunod na mantra na dapat bigkasin after the breakfast hahaha!

Its been one year mula noong bumisita kami ni Genesis sa SM San Pablo. That's my first time to be there at kakaunti palang ang stores noon. Ngayon may movie house na. Ang laki ng improvement mataposang isang taon. I wonder, sa isang taon na lumilipas ang dami mga nagbabago sa isang lugar, henerasyon, tao, at bagay-bagay. We just have to be better.

I am proud of my heart.

It's been played, stabbed, cheated, burned and broken,

but somehow still WORKS. :')



If you'll read all my posts written on my Wall,

you will somehow know how i felt,

how i feel, and how i am feeling now.



And if you'll read all my Notes too,

then you will get to know me BETTER.

We wanna go on ang pursue our lifetime dreams. Ako ganun ako, as I wake up. Yung inspirasyon kasi para magpatuloy, maaalala ko siya tuwing sasapit ang araw na ito. Maaaring maraming nagbabago sa isang taon but somethings never change even if lumipas pa ang pitong taon.

Gaya na nga lang siguro ng pagalala ko sa isang importanteng bagay na naganap noong October 14 2004. Sem break noon, masaya ako kasi hinintay ko yung araw na maibibigay ko yung mga letters na sinulat ko sa mga kaibigan kong 4th year highschool noon. Alam ko dismiss na sila by 4pm kaya pumunta ako noon sa school. Miss na miss ko na noon ang Saint Mary's feeling ko 20 years na akong graduate kahit na seven months pa lang. Siyempre hindi ko lang basta ibibigay yung mga letter. May isang importanteng bagay pa. Oo, gusto kong makita noon si Lara Faye. Ang tanging bagay na puwedeng magpasaya sa akin that time. Siguro hanggang ngayon naman. But I wanna be safe. Ayokong isipin na hanggang ngayon sa kanya pa rin umiikot ang daigdig. I'll do her a favor pag iwinaksi ko na ang thought na yun. Let her be free and let me be free.

Hindi lang talaga maiwasang maalala ko yun ngayon. Iba kasi yung saya. Sa case ko ibang-iba. Siguro kung nagaaral ako noon sa isang ordinaryong pamantasan mabilis ko siyang malilimot in a span of year pero hindi ganun ang nangyari. I was trapped.

At noon ngang naibigay ko na ang mga letters, nakita ko siya kasama ng mga classmates niya sa OLMM. They were rehearsing para sa presentation nila sa Ana Kalang festival which will be on the night of October 21 2004. Pinanood ko yun. Pero noong nakita ko siya, ang laki agad ng pagbabago niya. Una parang umitim siya, tumangkad at humaba yung buhok. Seven months,.yes seven months kong hindi nakita yung unang babae na minahal ko.

Tapos na yun. Wala rin namang nangyari noong araw na yun. Hindi naman kami nag date. Hindi kami nagusap at makalipas ang seven years, unfortunately, hindi rin naging kami. Sabi ng isang wise man na iginagalang ko; kung mahal mo raw ang isang babae pursue her. Ginawa ko yun. Hindi ko siya sinukuan. Pero hanggang doon lang ang kaya ko eh. Hindi ko na kayang maging si Superman. And she finally said yes to another man. Ayoko nang maging complicated ang lahat.

Well kaninang umaga pinuntahan ako ng kapitbahay ko to inform me na may libreng SSS registration sa may palengke. I guess here's one interesting story again. This time it's a different kind.

My SSS Friday and The Girl Whose Name I Do Not Know

Ok sinabi ko na hindi ako makakapunta agad noong umaga kaya sabi ko sa hapon na lang after lunch. Tinotoo ko naman. Kahit tinatamad akong kumuha ng SSS number ngayon kasi Friday at sa hapon ko pa balak maligo, inisip ko na lang na mahalaga yun for the future if I am really thinking of Leuthor, Le' Riz, and Lance. Isa pa, wala kahit kailang masama sa libre. Libre nga eh. Kung kukuha ako nito sa ibang araw kung kelan kailangan, rush! Mahal! Malayo! Sa San Pablo pa eh mamamasahe ako noon at I might have other important things to do by that time. Eh ngayon wala!

Kaya naman sumama na ako noong hapon. Siksikan rin, ang daming nagtatanong. may kumukuha ng form para makapagregister. Hindi ko alam may para sa personal registration at meron ding para employed membership. Ang dami ko pa talagang hindi alam. Hindi pa talaga ako puwedeng maging Daddy. Habang kagulo sa pila at nagpi fill up kami ng mga forms naisip ko lang na sana I have all the insurances I need. If I have a family and a chance to have it all just to secure the future of my kids lalo na education nila pati na sa retirement ko at maging sa kamatayan gagawin ko para sa kanila.

Maya-maya pa guess what kung sino ulit yung nakita ko. Last year, I mentioned about her

"Ang saya ng Thursday na iyon kasi sa pagsakay pa lang jeepney ok na. Sakto yung jeep papunta ng SM San Pablo. Sa jeep na iyon nakasakay ko yung isang dalaga na taga-Bambang. Shit! As in parang premonition siya na on that same day pinapalipat na yung feelings ko sa ibang babae. Pero sana magkita pa kami ulit para maconfirm ko kung siya na nga yung puwede kong ipalit kay Faye. Ni hindi ko nga alam ang pangalan niya."

I never thought na makikita ko pa ulit yung girl. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam ang name niya. Actually, nakita ko na siay ulit prior to today. Pero nalimutan ko yung prayer ko na sana makita ko siya para ma confirm ko kung siya na nga yung puwede kong ipalit. At nangyari yun ulit kanina. Nakita ko ang isang babae na nakita ko rin sa ganitong araw last year. Wala namang imposible doon. Taga dito siya at taga rito rin ako pero isn't that serendipitous? I don't know, hindi ko na alam. Bahala na! Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin kami magkakilala. Ayoko namang umasa ulit sa wala. Sana I can find a way to know her at makausap siya.

As of now I will remain positive. Alam ko there is a right time and a right person. Importante I have my SSS number now. Finally another augmentation to my existence. Next paper please! =)

all because they are winners

To whom success is due,success follows.Most often we think that it is hard work, perseverance and lots of practice that makes one a winner. Most often, it is owning that moment that defines victory as in the case of the recently concluded UAAP Season 74 with Ateneo Blue Eagles rising as the champions. By this time, Ateneo already entitled for their fourth peat after winning four straight years in the championship.

I am not to give all the details of the first and second game between Ateneo and FEU Tamaraws [let's leave that to the more shrewd commentators who can deliver blow-by-blow accounts of those two fantastic yet disappointing [for the part of FEU fans] games. This blog entry is simply a summation of an overflowing personal sentiments that should be aired freely in my OWN corner of this web universe. Being a supporter of the FEU Tamaraws from 2005, the time of Arwind Santos hitherto, I am a bit in hysteria learning that they were defeated by the giant Eagles. Yet on a second thought, their being in that position opposite to Ateneo is a success.

Looking at the early predictions about UAAP standings, nobody could have thought of FEU reaching the finals. It was Adamson whom we thought would make it to the last peak. FEU did quite a good job this year. Only that perhaps they weren't really prepared to defeat Ateneo with the kind of strategies they've shown us. A stronger defense and offense must be maneuvered if they want to bring down Jericho Wall of the Blue Eagles. Let us remember that the powerhouse top five of Ateneo is not a joke. They are tenaciously serious in winning this game. It is evident with the kind of cheerdance they'd deliver in the cheer dance competition. As if telling us it is ok not to have any awards from that contest because their focus is on winning the much coveted title. So there they were, they lost the cheer dance without any awards and UP got it.

Honestly, I cannot be close-eyed with the fact that their Top Players are gifted with impeccable athletic talent. They were the names etched in this years collegiate basketball history and I have this feeling that more is to be written about this guys.

Let me start with the UAAP Season 74 Finals MVP,Nico Salva who just made 13 straight field goals which showcased his surreal ability as an athlete tinted the hue of his blossoming early career. Salva, his surname reminds us of SAVE, salvation, salvage. Accidentally or incidentally, whichever way it is, his surname speaks of his heroic character. If he can save he must be a hero. And a hero he is in the heart of Ateneans.

Second, the man with a funny hair but with a long, long surname; Kirk Long. His arms may be average but we call him long and longer than his family name is the memory that he will leave behind as he will soon leave the UAAP Stardom beng in his senior year. I like how he dribbles and how he do the free throw shots. He has a noticeably vigor stamina which enables him to endure the game up to the 4th quarter if only without a foul. His hair is disgustingly distracting to their foes which for me is an advantage.

We cannot let this discussion pass without talking about the Rookie of the year who is no other than Kiefer Isaac Ravena. His family name reminds me of a breed of eagles which is appropriately melodious to their team's name. But according to research Ravenna is a village in Italy. Either way, he already made a sultry definition to his last name and that is quite an epic in itself. More to come next year with this boy. He is just in his early year as a management communication student in Ateneo so there is nothing to worry.

Lastly, the one who intrigues me the most; the Big Guy. Greg Slaughter, who became the male banner of the Ateneo Blue Eagles this year reminds us of the Philistines behind a jumbo warrior named Goliath. And being the Goliath of Ateno we expect him to be "big but lazy" or "big but maybe" actually, we were proven wrong by his enormous acts that brought goose bumps to several teenage girls regardless of their academic institutions an university affiliations. Greg Slaughter for me is the most promising basketball player of the next generation. He has the skills, the height, the aptitude, and probably... the looks. Being imported from the Vizayas Basketball domain, he wowed us with his vividly spectacular play style and rebound assistance that was never before seen in the game of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, not even during Chris Tiu's time. There is more we can expect from this guy.

Filipinos are fans of basketball. The rivalry flamed even more by the Universities and Colleges made it even more exciting for teenage players and aficionados. Our teens are looking for icons, for somebody they can look up and identify with. Being sporty, they will really search for it in the hard court and this guys are who we have as of today. Let us help them strengthen their template by providing a healthy competition and an environment supportive of athletic and aesthetic endeavor. In this way, we also lessen juvenile dillemas by opening the portals of creative outlets to be busy of. Their future is in the hands of those outside the hard court.