Monday, November 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
As It Goes Down...
When I or they say "One Down!" I mean the things I should be doing like beating the deadline and beating the anxiety I feel when I get all the pressures - results of having a psychological imbalances (my own diagnosis, of course. But seems like "One Down" means I am going down, too! What is this?! Please sponsor my appointment to the psychiatrist! Waha!
Friday, October 9, 2009
haays...
No time for this as of now. Adjustments are hard for me. Still one of my few psychological incapacities. Hayy..
Monday, August 31, 2009
A Barrio Teacher (No! No! Not Really!)
It's been almost a month since I was deployed (If deployed is the right word)as a substitute teacher to a far flung barrio here in our town, Taminla. Taminla is about 30 minutes away from the town proper where I live. With the travel time, it is much nearer compared to going to the city. But, if I were to choose, I still have to choose going to the city because of a simple reason that the road is paved. Haha! What would you expect from a barangay road?
I never thought I would be teaching in this place so far. (Taminla is situated beside Palangguia and Tina, Pototan; Hinalinan, Dingle; and Sariri, Badiangan. The barangay is also near Calinog and Lambunao.) At first, I was hesitant to take it since it's too far and I don't know any person living there. If there is, I have seen them at least ten years ago and may not be living there anymore. But, then, after some advice, I took the offer.
My first day was a little misadventure. Our driver and I didn't know the right way going there so, there are times that we got lost and the best part was when we passed in a puddle and Splash! my khaki pants turned brown. Isn't that nice? That time I was already thinking of quitting. But it never happened.
I soon find out, a few days later that I was actually enjoying it there. The kids are so polite, friendly and though they may not seem to be as smart as the kids in the city, they have a lot more determination to learn compared to the privileged ones. They are also easy to be told and are more obedient.
The teachers were also accommodating that you would feel so welcome and immediately feel comfortable towards the school.
But what's unique to this place and that I find interesting is that it has an ATI Settlement. There are two tribes of Atis here but has only one chieftain. And though Atis are nomadic, the Atis of Taminla are otherwise (a bit). However,no matter how they try not to be nomadic, their way of living are still primitive and seems like time has left them somewhere and never to progress.
There are others also, who has lived like the uta's (non-Ati peopel). And when they are taught, they tend to have a better life, too.
OK. Enough of Ati talk first. I'll discuss it on the next blog.
I learned to love the kids. It was not hard to like them. They're all the same kids like the other kids I know. Only that, of course, the lifestyle are far, far different. I learned also to appreciate more of simper things (but would rather have still the complicated life).
I would love to teach there. But I also have my selfish side. I think I can't live there. Honestly, I am and will not be used to that kind of a very simple community. I am used to a life in a town and the city. But maybe, maybe, I could live in a rural community. As long as there is Cable TV, an internet connection, an easy access to the malls, a branch of Coffee Break, a house very similar to my house, my friends living there (the list goes on and on...)
I never thought I would be teaching in this place so far. (Taminla is situated beside Palangguia and Tina, Pototan; Hinalinan, Dingle; and Sariri, Badiangan. The barangay is also near Calinog and Lambunao.) At first, I was hesitant to take it since it's too far and I don't know any person living there. If there is, I have seen them at least ten years ago and may not be living there anymore. But, then, after some advice, I took the offer.
My first day was a little misadventure. Our driver and I didn't know the right way going there so, there are times that we got lost and the best part was when we passed in a puddle and Splash! my khaki pants turned brown. Isn't that nice? That time I was already thinking of quitting. But it never happened.
I soon find out, a few days later that I was actually enjoying it there. The kids are so polite, friendly and though they may not seem to be as smart as the kids in the city, they have a lot more determination to learn compared to the privileged ones. They are also easy to be told and are more obedient.
The teachers were also accommodating that you would feel so welcome and immediately feel comfortable towards the school.
But what's unique to this place and that I find interesting is that it has an ATI Settlement. There are two tribes of Atis here but has only one chieftain. And though Atis are nomadic, the Atis of Taminla are otherwise (a bit). However,no matter how they try not to be nomadic, their way of living are still primitive and seems like time has left them somewhere and never to progress.
There are others also, who has lived like the uta's (non-Ati peopel). And when they are taught, they tend to have a better life, too.
OK. Enough of Ati talk first. I'll discuss it on the next blog.
I learned to love the kids. It was not hard to like them. They're all the same kids like the other kids I know. Only that, of course, the lifestyle are far, far different. I learned also to appreciate more of simper things (but would rather have still the complicated life).
I would love to teach there. But I also have my selfish side. I think I can't live there. Honestly, I am and will not be used to that kind of a very simple community. I am used to a life in a town and the city. But maybe, maybe, I could live in a rural community. As long as there is Cable TV, an internet connection, an easy access to the malls, a branch of Coffee Break, a house very similar to my house, my friends living there (the list goes on and on...)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
REMEBERING NANA THELMA (WE WILL MISS YOU, NANA)
I am heartbroken.
Nana, our longtime "mayordoma" who served our family longer than I live, has died this morning. I can't describe no longer what I feel except confusion. I feel the saddest at this moment but I also feel regretful and also a little hatred. But among these things I feel, I pity Nana.
Nana has worked hard all her life and for sure had never tasted the comfort of life other people, including us, has experienced. Although we have shared with her some of what we had in our comfort, it was not enough.
We love Nana, for real. Why not? In the absence of our mother when we were studying in the city, Nana was the one taking care of us. She saw us growing up and she saw all the sorrows and joys we had experienced in the family. Although, to some people who have known her, she may seem like a shadow in our family , but to us Nana will have the best part in our lives.
Nana sacrificed a lot for her own family. In order to save her sisters and grandchildren from severe hunger, at her age (70+, she herself don't know her birthday)she still worked and earn money for them. Worse, her nieces and nephew whom she sent to school had not even tried to support her. She could have stayed in her house and waited for the help of these people. But never. I remembered, just this Christmas, when I gave her a gift she was so thankful and even cried because of hurt she felt towards these people. I was almost teary-eyed at that time, too.
Nana and I had sometimes fantasies about the future. We would talk about the time when we (my siblings and I)would become rich and build a bigger house. I told her that I would really reserve a room for her where she could stay and servants would someday serve her. But these would never happen now. Never.
As soon as I knew that Nana has died, I felt lot of regrets. In the past few days that she was feeling all the pain the cancer has given her, we never spared a time to visit her and just even say Thank You to her. Every time I think of this, I feel like exploding. What must Nana be thinking until the time she succumbed to death? Did she feel bad about us when we never even visited her?
Financially, we are down too, right now. But compared to her we are more fortunate. But we never did help her with the money she could have needed. We are all jobless, but these are not reasons not to help her. I feel very very bad right now. If my apologies could be heard by someone who did, I will keep on saying SORRY to Nana. But Nana will never hear it anymore. But still I would say, Nana, I AM VERY SORRY.
Everything I have written here is not enough to tell all about Nana. But in my heart, Nana will always be Nana. And in my heart, I know Nana has done a lot to us. More than a lot.
Nana, we thank you for all the sacrifices you had given to us. Thank you for taking care of us for the past 20 years. Thank you for treating us like we were your children. Thank you for all the laughter you had shared wit us. Thank you for all the things you had done to us. Without you, we could have been different persons. With all honesty, we love you Nana. Nobody could replace you in our hearts.
We will miss you, Nana. We will.
Nana, our longtime "mayordoma" who served our family longer than I live, has died this morning. I can't describe no longer what I feel except confusion. I feel the saddest at this moment but I also feel regretful and also a little hatred. But among these things I feel, I pity Nana.
Nana has worked hard all her life and for sure had never tasted the comfort of life other people, including us, has experienced. Although we have shared with her some of what we had in our comfort, it was not enough.
We love Nana, for real. Why not? In the absence of our mother when we were studying in the city, Nana was the one taking care of us. She saw us growing up and she saw all the sorrows and joys we had experienced in the family. Although, to some people who have known her, she may seem like a shadow in our family , but to us Nana will have the best part in our lives.
Nana sacrificed a lot for her own family. In order to save her sisters and grandchildren from severe hunger, at her age (70+, she herself don't know her birthday)she still worked and earn money for them. Worse, her nieces and nephew whom she sent to school had not even tried to support her. She could have stayed in her house and waited for the help of these people. But never. I remembered, just this Christmas, when I gave her a gift she was so thankful and even cried because of hurt she felt towards these people. I was almost teary-eyed at that time, too.
Nana and I had sometimes fantasies about the future. We would talk about the time when we (my siblings and I)would become rich and build a bigger house. I told her that I would really reserve a room for her where she could stay and servants would someday serve her. But these would never happen now. Never.
As soon as I knew that Nana has died, I felt lot of regrets. In the past few days that she was feeling all the pain the cancer has given her, we never spared a time to visit her and just even say Thank You to her. Every time I think of this, I feel like exploding. What must Nana be thinking until the time she succumbed to death? Did she feel bad about us when we never even visited her?
Financially, we are down too, right now. But compared to her we are more fortunate. But we never did help her with the money she could have needed. We are all jobless, but these are not reasons not to help her. I feel very very bad right now. If my apologies could be heard by someone who did, I will keep on saying SORRY to Nana. But Nana will never hear it anymore. But still I would say, Nana, I AM VERY SORRY.
Everything I have written here is not enough to tell all about Nana. But in my heart, Nana will always be Nana. And in my heart, I know Nana has done a lot to us. More than a lot.
Nana, we thank you for all the sacrifices you had given to us. Thank you for taking care of us for the past 20 years. Thank you for treating us like we were your children. Thank you for all the laughter you had shared wit us. Thank you for all the things you had done to us. Without you, we could have been different persons. With all honesty, we love you Nana. Nobody could replace you in our hearts.
We will miss you, Nana. We will.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
SONA and I
“Every step forward must be taken in the teeth of political pressures and economic constraints that could push you two steps back if you flinch and falter. I have no flinched, I have not faltered.”
It has been over 24 hours since the State of the Nation Address of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was the last SONA of the president (except if she will not step down. Haha! Shiver till you die all you anti-Gloria!) and out of the last eight SONA's, I haven't seen it live almost all of them. Including this last one. But hey! I watched the replay at late night.
To review, the exiting-to-be president talked about the achievements of her administration, most especially the economic success (if you call it a success, if others would criticize), the added jobs, salvation from recession (it's really possible since Philippines is not a wealthy country and if there is we will hardly feel it), all her infrastructure projects made around the country, rebuilding of the damaged cities, the improvements in education including the about hundreds of scholarships given out, the importance of the taxes and how it helped us. She also bragged all the talks to other world leaders and the positive results out of the those talks. And a lot more...
My most favorite part in that speech, however, (even if her critics would say that she showed her arrogance there and that she was not clear on some things and that she is a liar) was when she began attacking people who for long were her archenemies and critics (even some were her allies before). Even if I am not a good follower of the current events, especially about what's going on in the government,but I can sense who are those people. Haha! Hope the people who were attacked are not too Numb And Dumb not too understand! Especially the one who threatened her to send her to jail, which according to Gloria, had also been there!
Anyways, I believe 3/4 of what GMA said. Meaning I'm a believer. If they say she lied, so what? Do you think these critics and antis can do what she has done for eight years. After two administrations who left an economy in turmoil and chaos, she was able to at least improve it a little, even just a little. Imagine what she had to go through after the "ex-convict" left her millions (or maybe billions) of debts? And to add that she is a lady. Gloria has done what she needs to do, though it is maybe not that satisfying. I hope the people who would replace her is better than her because they keep on criticizing her. (Let's wait and see.)
SONA is one proof of her activities. She may have lied on some parts but everything there was not a lie! Crazy are the people to call her a liar in all of what she said.
If I were there present right in front during the SONA, I would have applauded non-stop until the end of her speech. But, tsk tsk! I haven't even seen it live!
It has been over 24 hours since the State of the Nation Address of the President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was the last SONA of the president (except if she will not step down. Haha! Shiver till you die all you anti-Gloria!) and out of the last eight SONA's, I haven't seen it live almost all of them. Including this last one. But hey! I watched the replay at late night.
To review, the exiting-to-be president talked about the achievements of her administration, most especially the economic success (if you call it a success, if others would criticize), the added jobs, salvation from recession (it's really possible since Philippines is not a wealthy country and if there is we will hardly feel it), all her infrastructure projects made around the country, rebuilding of the damaged cities, the improvements in education including the about hundreds of scholarships given out, the importance of the taxes and how it helped us. She also bragged all the talks to other world leaders and the positive results out of the those talks. And a lot more...
My most favorite part in that speech, however, (even if her critics would say that she showed her arrogance there and that she was not clear on some things and that she is a liar) was when she began attacking people who for long were her archenemies and critics (even some were her allies before). Even if I am not a good follower of the current events, especially about what's going on in the government,but I can sense who are those people. Haha! Hope the people who were attacked are not too Numb And Dumb not too understand! Especially the one who threatened her to send her to jail, which according to Gloria, had also been there!
Anyways, I believe 3/4 of what GMA said. Meaning I'm a believer. If they say she lied, so what? Do you think these critics and antis can do what she has done for eight years. After two administrations who left an economy in turmoil and chaos, she was able to at least improve it a little, even just a little. Imagine what she had to go through after the "ex-convict" left her millions (or maybe billions) of debts? And to add that she is a lady. Gloria has done what she needs to do, though it is maybe not that satisfying. I hope the people who would replace her is better than her because they keep on criticizing her. (Let's wait and see.)
SONA is one proof of her activities. She may have lied on some parts but everything there was not a lie! Crazy are the people to call her a liar in all of what she said.
If I were there present right in front during the SONA, I would have applauded non-stop until the end of her speech. But, tsk tsk! I haven't even seen it live!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Trash Bin
I can't write anything. Or I thought so.
I was thinking for a long while what to put right here on my blog but nothing comes into my mind. Everything that pops out of my mind is about my new job, if you call that a job at these moments. It's been three weeks that I go under training, although we were promised it should only be two weeks. Ugh! I don't want to talk about it now. I want to stay positive and I chose this job so I need to treat this better.
Do I need to talk again my daily trips, Dueñas to City (vice versa)? Maybe. I'll try.
Or if I start facing my new students, I could talk about them. We'll try and see.
Just now, I can't come up with anything.
I was thinking for a long while what to put right here on my blog but nothing comes into my mind. Everything that pops out of my mind is about my new job, if you call that a job at these moments. It's been three weeks that I go under training, although we were promised it should only be two weeks. Ugh! I don't want to talk about it now. I want to stay positive and I chose this job so I need to treat this better.
Do I need to talk again my daily trips, Dueñas to City (vice versa)? Maybe. I'll try.
Or if I start facing my new students, I could talk about them. We'll try and see.
Just now, I can't come up with anything.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Just A Thought!
Stop criticizing our President. All our Presidents! If you could not discipline your own ONE self, how much more for the President who looks over 90 million Filipinos! Please be considerate!!
THE GOD OF VOLCANOES
The moment you first step into my town,
The volcano exploded.
It suddenly spewed out
hot, flaming lava -
your hands had crashed it.
The thick smoke came out
of its mouth
when you spoke soft soothing sentences.
The giant embers that flashes out
of the crater sparkling like fireworks
celebrate your coming to my land.
The explosion caused too much trembling
Like you were shaking the volcano;
But I can’t let you stop.
Let’s wait for them to die down
Like we’ve waited for a lifetime
to find each other.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Back to School with 5% Agony
I'm officially enrolled! Yes, I am! After more than two weeks managing my impatience I'm finally relieved to know that I could go back to school, but not as a teacher but as a student.
I am taking up a Master's degree at "some" university here in Iloilo. I enrolled in a major I thought I would enjoy but because of some reasons that I could not openly tell it here, to avoid such embarrassment (chos!). So, last AY 2008-09, I decided to shift to another major. I wrote a letter to the dean, talked to my adviser and asked permission from classmates. Everything was fine, the dean approved the request and I changed major successfully. However, I was absent without a leave (AWOL) for that whole year! Well, it served me not that quite difficult but annoying results a year later.
AY 2009-2010. Even without enough money and happily jobless, I decided to go back study. But since my status is AWOL, they gave a few but patience-testing (that's on my own opinion, I don't know you with you) things to do. First, I have to write a letter requesting for readmission. It might not be that difficult to write a letter but what's difficult is that you can't give any strong reasons except that I got lazy for the enrolment last year plus I was too afraid of frequent absences in my former school. Isn't it difficult. Anyways, I found good reasons and my request was approved - after waiting for one week when the enrolment would be on that week too.
Knowing that my request was approved, I went to school and started my enrolment. They gave me a Physical Exam request slip, had the P.E., (which after this enrolment would be a lot easier), returned to the office and filled up a contact information slip. I was hopeful I could finish the enrolment that day. But, @#$%^!, they forgot to tell me I have to pass another form. A request to credit my advanced subjects in triplicate. But there's nothing I can do but follow or else I'll be left AWOL forever. But the agony was just about to start.
After filling up, I let all the people sign who needs to sign in the request and then they would bring it to the campus far from the city. "Call after two days." They said. Well, I really called two days after then another two days and yet another two days, only to find out they forgot to bring it to the Dean's office. Another *&%$#@! The agony of waiting pumped my impatience to a level where I got nervous every time I think about it. I don't want to wait another year. But luckily before the deadline, the request was back and I continued my enrolment. Whew! After less than 2 hours, my printed RF was stamped with REGISTERED. Yahoo! I mean Google! No, really, Yahoo! Ok! Yehey!
AY 2009-2010. Even without enough money and happily jobless, I decided to go back study. But since my status is AWOL, they gave a few but patience-testing (that's on my own opinion, I don't know you with you) things to do. First, I have to write a letter requesting for readmission. It might not be that difficult to write a letter but what's difficult is that you can't give any strong reasons except that I got lazy for the enrolment last year plus I was too afraid of frequent absences in my former school. Isn't it difficult. Anyways, I found good reasons and my request was approved - after waiting for one week when the enrolment would be on that week too.
Knowing that my request was approved, I went to school and started my enrolment. They gave me a Physical Exam request slip, had the P.E., (which after this enrolment would be a lot easier), returned to the office and filled up a contact information slip. I was hopeful I could finish the enrolment that day. But, @#$%^!, they forgot to tell me I have to pass another form. A request to credit my advanced subjects in triplicate. But there's nothing I can do but follow or else I'll be left AWOL forever. But the agony was just about to start.
After filling up, I let all the people sign who needs to sign in the request and then they would bring it to the campus far from the city. "Call after two days." They said. Well, I really called two days after then another two days and yet another two days, only to find out they forgot to bring it to the Dean's office. Another *&%$#@! The agony of waiting pumped my impatience to a level where I got nervous every time I think about it. I don't want to wait another year. But luckily before the deadline, the request was back and I continued my enrolment. Whew! After less than 2 hours, my printed RF was stamped with REGISTERED. Yahoo! I mean Google! No, really, Yahoo! Ok! Yehey!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Must Be Trapped in the Net or Else...
I had been lazy for a few days opening this blog and thinking what to write. I got bored. Plus, I get tired always because I keep on going back to the city. And the shitty plus is that the broadband was broken and I can't open both the Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Grrrr! I felt like I'm not connected to the rest of the world those times.
I tried to find out what's wrong with both the programs. Every time I open the Firefox, it keeps telling me that "during the operation, Mozilla has crashed and needs to restart". So I kept on restarting it. Sending the error to the net (for Explorer) but to no avail. Waaaaah! What did I do next? I deleted/removed the Firefox hoping I could reinstall it. Then I checked the installer in the Program Files, and, tada! It was nowhere to be found. I panicked for awhile and felt cold. But whew! I remembered Explorer is still there.
Next step, I called the the Internet provider's office. I called the Manila Hotline and they gave me the Visayas number. OK! This could be it. In a day or two, if I get connected to the customer service, the Net would be reconnected ASAP. But darn! I called the whole day but the answers I got are Cebuano-speaking people who are also trying to call the customer service! What's happening? "Hilo? ***** ni? Gatawag man ako sa ****. Operator ini dong? "There even was one who told me she is calling from US. That time I had made a lot of "phone pals" but never reached the real customer service officer. I ended up hot headed.
I kept on checking the Net from time to time but the same thing and information keeps popping out. I did all changes in my Internet and Connection Settings, with all the fear that I will end up destroying the computer. But I'm becoming impatient. I have to check my mail! My blog! My facebook and friendster! (Wahaha!) I felt like my world stopped for five days. But on the other hand, without the Net we'll open the desktop for a few hours only and then we could save energy and our electric bill would at least moderate.
However, I began to wonder when the Yahoo Messenger began to operate and I can download from Limewire. So, I thought maybe, there was really something with both the programs. I kept online in YM and waited for somebody who knew about such things. I kept on asking these people to send me via YM an installer of both FireFox and Explorer. But still the programs they sent won't work.
After all those travails, I gave up and waited for a miracle.
After exactly a week, I tried to open again the Explorer. And wham! It opened with no sweat! Ugh! After that, I forgot all the madness and anger. I was so relieved that now, I'm back and won't be away from the world most people are enjoying. (Serious ba!)
And here am I. Alive and kicking!
I tried to find out what's wrong with both the programs. Every time I open the Firefox, it keeps telling me that "during the operation, Mozilla has crashed and needs to restart". So I kept on restarting it. Sending the error to the net (for Explorer) but to no avail. Waaaaah! What did I do next? I deleted/removed the Firefox hoping I could reinstall it. Then I checked the installer in the Program Files, and, tada! It was nowhere to be found. I panicked for awhile and felt cold. But whew! I remembered Explorer is still there.
Next step, I called the the Internet provider's office. I called the Manila Hotline and they gave me the Visayas number. OK! This could be it. In a day or two, if I get connected to the customer service, the Net would be reconnected ASAP. But darn! I called the whole day but the answers I got are Cebuano-speaking people who are also trying to call the customer service! What's happening? "Hilo? ***** ni? Gatawag man ako sa ****. Operator ini dong? "There even was one who told me she is calling from US. That time I had made a lot of "phone pals" but never reached the real customer service officer. I ended up hot headed.
I kept on checking the Net from time to time but the same thing and information keeps popping out. I did all changes in my Internet and Connection Settings, with all the fear that I will end up destroying the computer. But I'm becoming impatient. I have to check my mail! My blog! My facebook and friendster! (Wahaha!) I felt like my world stopped for five days. But on the other hand, without the Net we'll open the desktop for a few hours only and then we could save energy and our electric bill would at least moderate.
However, I began to wonder when the Yahoo Messenger began to operate and I can download from Limewire. So, I thought maybe, there was really something with both the programs. I kept online in YM and waited for somebody who knew about such things. I kept on asking these people to send me via YM an installer of both FireFox and Explorer. But still the programs they sent won't work.
After all those travails, I gave up and waited for a miracle.
After exactly a week, I tried to open again the Explorer. And wham! It opened with no sweat! Ugh! After that, I forgot all the madness and anger. I was so relieved that now, I'm back and won't be away from the world most people are enjoying. (Serious ba!)
And here am I. Alive and kicking!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
I Don't Know What Title Will I Put Here But It's All About My Trip To Manapla and What I Realized There....
Two days ago, I was in Negros. Specifically, in the famous place of those cheesy and ube-wey, yum yum, putos - Manapla. Yes! The real town of Manapla in Negros Occidental. Not the puto store in Javellan St., Jaro.
It was my second time to go back to this land of delicious kakanin and on two very opposite occasions. The first time I went there was four years ago when I was still teaching in Bacolod City and was Manapla's fiesta. One thing that reminds me of that event when I went there last Saturday (June 6, 2009) was the plaza. It was where we spent the last few hours of the f
iesta. While dancing and oblivious of things happening around, we never realized, and if we did it was too late, that there was already a rumble just 2 meters away at our back. We were so close to danger but since it never was our business we danced and continued the oblivion.Back to last Saturday's event.
I would have not been there also if not because of my bestfriend Gil (who is like a brother to me also). My trip there, together with Merrily, was an all-expense paid trip. Guess who paid for my travel? Of course, Gil Salanio Montinola.
The purpose of the trip was to sympathize with our former co-teacher and housemate whose mother - who was also our housemate - died. Actually, there was no total sorrow since Tita Alma's death was expected - many years ago. Promise. Ms. Grace, our co-teacher, admitted that many years ago she would have hoped that her mother would rest already since she could see the difficulties her mother experiences. So, last Wednesday, Tita Alma went back to her Creator.
The trip had also produced better side effects though basically we were there for mourning. First, though I may sound like a typical Pinoy but I must admit, I spent the longest time staying in their young SM city. (SMILE! May SM na kami!) And yes, becoming again a nonsense opinion maker, I, with my companions, started to compare SM Bacolod and SM Iloilo. Sorry, I can't help but say, it was just like entering SM Delgado twice. And sorry again, I even said it there out loud: "Hala! Masulod naman ta sa SM Delgado?". Senseless.
Second, I started to reminisce thoe days when I spent my one whole year minus five days almost four years ago in the city of Bacolod. Everytime I step in Bacolod, year 2005 begins to pop and play on my mind. The Saturday, Sunday and week night trips we did to the city. The strange tricycle rides in the city (Bacolod, being a Metropolitan, it is really strange to have tricycles moving around like taxicabs). And of course the marvelling at some new things we saw in Bacolod. And yes, the local yet sleek Bob's Cafe.
Third, the entertainment a bus ride would provide. Passing by the cities of Talisay, Silay (Paris of Negros and famous of Balay Negrense), the mini-town of E.B. Magalona and the sugar city of Victorias (where the Angry Christ Church is located), the bus ride has offered more than what you wanted to see. Admittedly, Negros Occidental, especially the North side is a nice place to behold. Negrenses are so much involved in taking care of their history and culture even in the middle of the drive to economically push their province forward. I can contrast Iloilo - which is progress-driven that the people seems to forget to preserve much of their culture - from Negros when I talk about history and culture.
Obsessed about making Iloilo prouder than its sister, I noticed that Negros is far much better than Iloilo when it comes to this matter. Honestly. Even the town of Manapla, which is far from its neighboring cities economically, they are working hard to make Manapla a tourist destination. Two churches, the Manapla town church and the Hacienda Gaston's Church of Cartwheels, both too young to compare to other much older churches, are worth the visit. And, yes, they are promoting their puto that Manapla became a household word for Negrenses and to food lovers and enthusiasts. Almost all towns also have festivals that the province promotes and that they're totally proud of it. They even have the Panaad sa Negros in order to collectively showcase each town for a week.
I hope Iloilo would be much more daring to preserve, promote and improve their culture and history like Negros. Iloilo, if I'm correct, is not that too ahead to Bacolod in terms of progress but of course, much better. But if Iloilo would also focus to attract people because of their culture, Iloilo would be far, far ahead of Negros.
Note: The picture you see is the Church of Manapla. Nice, right? (Though it seems like an imitaton of that famous building down under.)
Monday, June 1, 2009
And I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing... (Regine Velasquez belting out the song)
As I said before, I would enjoy the freedom I'm having right now. And yes, I am still.
However, in spite of this, I also realized that I would also miss a lot of things back in the city. (See, I'm a having a semi-bucolic life nowadays.) Really lots of things.
1. The tricycles in Ledesco. I would miss this because this is the transportation that would bring me to my job. Strange in a city which has a law that prohibits tricycles. But, you see, I'm not working in the city proper. But, strangely also, the subdivision where the school I'm teaching is, is in a semi-exclusive subdivision where upper middle class people are working. Of course, you should expect that most people own cars here.
What I would miss about this, actually, is the feeling of embarrassment ,sometimes, because while us, teachers are riding a tricycle, our students are enjoying their air-conditioned cars (which are changed every few months) but at the same time feeling proud that after all these, they would still envy my freedom while them, locked in their wealthy but sometimes suspicious world.
2. The barbecue. Yes, we have barbecues here at our town but it tastes different from the tocino barbecue sold at the barbecue stands in front of the WVSU hospital. FYI, my sister, Mahal, my cousin Makmak and I eat these 3-peso/stick BBQ's almost every night as a partner to our rice. And we never get tired though, actually, there are a lot of karinderyas around. We would never miss a week that we will not buy these. I don't know what these BBQ vendors put in the BBQ they sell that we crave for it all the time.
3. The West McDo. Every time we feel bored in our room and my roommates (my sister and my cousin) don't have money to go for a night-out (no, I don't go with them!), our last option? Of course, the McDonald's near WVSU. If we're P50 richer! He he! Food options we buy: Sundae, P25; The 50-peso Value McSavers and McFloat. Other than those, we're broke. But if we can't afford McDo, we opted #4 which is..
4. Julie's. This is a 24-hour bakery. And we're very thankful that they decided to do so because sometimes we would feel so hungry at the middle of the night and Julie's would be there for us. Huh! Julie's should be thankful for customers like us.
5. Internet Cafes. If books are not available and Merrily (my other best friend in and out of job) and I got money for SM and Robinson's, the best way to spend our boring nights is the Internet Cafes. Thanks to A&S and Digitizers. They never fail to entertain us and sometimes, for letting us spend our money for unproductive surfing. Sometimes, however, if these places are full, we would do cafe hunting.
These are just few of the things I would surely miss in the city. There are a lot more to enumerate. Find out more in the next few days...
(To be continued...)
However, in spite of this, I also realized that I would also miss a lot of things back in the city. (See, I'm a having a semi-bucolic life nowadays.) Really lots of things.
1. The tricycles in Ledesco. I would miss this because this is the transportation that would bring me to my job. Strange in a city which has a law that prohibits tricycles. But, you see, I'm not working in the city proper. But, strangely also, the subdivision where the school I'm teaching is, is in a semi-exclusive subdivision where upper middle class people are working. Of course, you should expect that most people own cars here.
What I would miss about this, actually, is the feeling of embarrassment ,sometimes, because while us, teachers are riding a tricycle, our students are enjoying their air-conditioned cars (which are changed every few months) but at the same time feeling proud that after all these, they would still envy my freedom while them, locked in their wealthy but sometimes suspicious world.
2. The barbecue. Yes, we have barbecues here at our town but it tastes different from the tocino barbecue sold at the barbecue stands in front of the WVSU hospital. FYI, my sister, Mahal, my cousin Makmak and I eat these 3-peso/stick BBQ's almost every night as a partner to our rice. And we never get tired though, actually, there are a lot of karinderyas around. We would never miss a week that we will not buy these. I don't know what these BBQ vendors put in the BBQ they sell that we crave for it all the time.
3. The West McDo. Every time we feel bored in our room and my roommates (my sister and my cousin) don't have money to go for a night-out (no, I don't go with them!), our last option? Of course, the McDonald's near WVSU. If we're P50 richer! He he! Food options we buy: Sundae, P25; The 50-peso Value McSavers and McFloat. Other than those, we're broke. But if we can't afford McDo, we opted #4 which is..
4. Julie's. This is a 24-hour bakery. And we're very thankful that they decided to do so because sometimes we would feel so hungry at the middle of the night and Julie's would be there for us. Huh! Julie's should be thankful for customers like us.
5. Internet Cafes. If books are not available and Merrily (my other best friend in and out of job) and I got money for SM and Robinson's, the best way to spend our boring nights is the Internet Cafes. Thanks to A&S and Digitizers. They never fail to entertain us and sometimes, for letting us spend our money for unproductive surfing. Sometimes, however, if these places are full, we would do cafe hunting.
These are just few of the things I would surely miss in the city. There are a lot more to enumerate. Find out more in the next few days...
(To be continued...)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Enjoying The Routine (help me not to blaspheme)
Finally, I'm officially unemployed. I just ended my contract with my former employer. And yes! I enjoy my freedom. After three years of devoting my life to them rich kids and rich bosses, I finally freed myself from all the pressures I was feeling. For two years, it seems like I was put back in a virginal female organ and I was struggling to go out because of the muscles that were grinding me and I was longing to breathe the other kind of air rather than that of inside. So finally, I was reborn and freed myself from those contractions that painfully presses me. Now, after all those trying hard imagery you've read and now that I'm free, my life is becoming routinous.
My day starts by waking up at 9 in the morning on our sala floor, roam around the house, open my cellphone, and sit in front of the dining table making myself fatter and even fatter. Later, I would proceed to our bakery (taking a bath would come later), help sell those bread that I never got tired of eating and sit there the whole time until I would decide to take a bath. Then I would go back to our living room again and wait for somebody in the house to put on the TV or the computer (I would not touch them ahead of others or else I"ll be scolded) but no, I am not sitting inside the living room but on one of the chairs lining up in our porch where we position the TV through the door so that my sister who is in-charge of the bakeshop could also watch. It would stay there the whole day unless we put off the TV (usually after that afternoon GMA soap operas) and I will stay with the TV too, if not in front of the computer surfing the net. That would be all I'm doing the whole time the TV is on except maybe sometimes if there are customers buying and I'm the one left alone in the bakeshop. At the end of the day you would see me sitting in our wooden sofa still watching TV, with a dinner break until I will sleep while chatting on my phone.
Those enumerations happen to me everyday! And it started almost two months ago, except maybe for special occasions and when I visit the city and on Sundays where I get lazier but holier as well. But even with these routine I still enjoy it because as what I said I'm finally free and I would rather choose this situation than having experience to drag yourself in the morning, report to the place filled with people who gives you all the headaches and heartaches and go home feeling despair, disappointed and hurt though different things may happen everyday and different people would scrutinize your body and soul. Agree? So if you feel like your life is a routine, try to find ways to make it look good. Find reasons to say that you enjoy those repetitions in your daily life. You'll find glory in it. Promise. I am testifying. And I'm a clear witness of these things happening.
No, Am Not
Please forgive me if you're seeing a You Tube video which is directly related to Twilight here in my blog. No, I am not a fan of Twilight. I just love the song sooooooooooooooo much!!! I never in my life wanted Twilight. I have watched but never will I watch again. I adore vampires but not Meier's. I love Anne Rice's fierce, filthy wealthy, sensuous, attractive and gifted vampires.
Not those mediocre, pretentious vampires being read and watched by wannabe, they-thought-they-know-vampires-so-much fan of Edward and Bella.
Sorry...
The Wedding (Just A Glance)
Finally, my sister is married.
After weeks of preparations, she finally had it. It has been weeks (yes weeks! not months!) that we were busy planning the big event that will happen for the first time in the family. Actually what we really did by ourselves is the invitation. All the others were left to professionals. But at least we saved thousands from it. Right? And mind you that invitation we made was one of the nicest I saw. How come it would not, we're the ones who did it. And basing from the testimonies of the people who received it, it sure was a nice invite.
Another thing we did by ourselves for the wedding is of course to spend money. Surely, having no money to spend means no wedding to attend and celebrate. But in order to save my sister and husband-to-be from the spending part, we needed to find all available cheap stores and shops who could help us follow the tight budget. And yes, we found it. Ara sa Passi ho, damo to. Daw sa siyudad man lang sang Iloilo a! Barato pa!
And yes, of course, we needed also to find the place for the wedding. My sister chose not to put it in a church and in our town or else the wedding reception would look like a town fiesta. Haay!! It's difficult if your family's prominent. Haha! There goes my dreaming again. With a tight budget we rather chose a secret place where only the invited could attend (ala Juday-Ryan ba!). And we chose Casa Fiammetta at Barotac Nuevo. It is a ranch slash resthouse owned by Nonel Gemora, no not Jamora (if you know Audie Gemora, Nonel is his youngest brother.) It was quite a nice place and when you're there you would feel like you've been to some American farm with a ranch but with a Spanish owner. Plus, since the place is far from the town proper, it's peaceful and cool.
Going back to the wedding, well, it started with a strong wind blowing toppling all the flowers along the aisle. So the people at the Casa kept on going back and fixing the stand ,up to the point that they were already carrying big stones to keep the stand standing. We feared that it would rain so hard because my cousin kept on texting that there was a heavyrain at the city. But thank GOD, it never did.
The wedding started at 5:00 pm, meaning my sister wanted the sunset scene. And, of course, since it's done at dusk, we decided to choose tangerine, purple and fuschia as colors. If you've seen the dresses and the invite, I bet you would also say: Perfect! like what Nonel said.
The wedding ended with no rain and everybody's stomach was full except that the lechon was spoiled and everyone enjoyed my song number. Haha!
And the rain poured...
And yes, of course, we needed also to find the place for the wedding. My sister chose not to put it in a church and in our town or else the wedding reception would look like a town fiesta. Haay!! It's difficult if your family's prominent. Haha! There goes my dreaming again. With a tight budget we rather chose a secret place where only the invited could attend (ala Juday-Ryan ba!). And we chose Casa Fiammetta at Barotac Nuevo. It is a ranch slash resthouse owned by Nonel Gemora, no not Jamora (if you know Audie Gemora, Nonel is his youngest brother.) It was quite a nice place and when you're there you would feel like you've been to some American farm with a ranch but with a Spanish owner. Plus, since the place is far from the town proper, it's peaceful and cool.
Going back to the wedding, well, it started with a strong wind blowing toppling all the flowers along the aisle. So the people at the Casa kept on going back and fixing the stand ,up to the point that they were already carrying big stones to keep the stand standing. We feared that it would rain so hard because my cousin kept on texting that there was a heavyrain at the city. But thank GOD, it never did.
The wedding started at 5:00 pm, meaning my sister wanted the sunset scene. And, of course, since it's done at dusk, we decided to choose tangerine, purple and fuschia as colors. If you've seen the dresses and the invite, I bet you would also say: Perfect! like what Nonel said.
The wedding ended with no rain and everybody's stomach was full except that the lechon was spoiled and everyone enjoyed my song number. Haha!
And the rain poured...
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Succumbing to Irony
It's been years that I have heard of people blogging. It became so common that almost anyone I know has their own blog. Well, well I thought it was like a Friendster frenzy again or any fad that eventually would surrender to normalcy and well, easily be forgotten in later years. I even said to myself: No, I'm not going to make one. It makes me look like a trying hard writer (though I'm not really a professional writer) and a wannabe diary maker. And gosh! It's so mediocre. Everyone else is doing it and to I have to follow suit because everyone has? Never would I write one.
I was wrong. Blogs became more successful, more popular and more people are doing it. It even made other people richer by thousands (he he!) and revealed socialites' scandalous lives (remember Gucci gang?) Soon, I heard some of my writer friends have also at least one blog profile and has gone to write numbers of blogs already. And people whom I never thought would be confident enough to write something even have one. Little by little I am becoming skeptical of what I told myself before. Little by little I am thinking to have my own blog.Tada! I ate every word I said! I am doing one now. Hahaha! Well, I have to do a little defense why am I doing this and why will I enjoy doing this.
I have been writing since high school, though I can't say I'm the best one in town but at least I do write (and it would eventually take years or decades to become like my influences (ambitious!) and until now I write for my pleasure. He he! But there came a time that I was so engrossed with my job and busy pleasing my bosses and my colleagues that I never had the time to do what I really want to do (writing) until last February (2009).
At that time, maybe I was so really excited of my freedom in the coming months that I just grabbed a grade one paper and a stolen ball pen and started writing a story. That was after four years of stagnancy and colorless papers. Echos! At this time, since I forgot a little how to write (I thought I'm terrible at it right now) I decided to really go back with what I enjoy.
Of course in order to once again enhance what I forgot I decided to write a blog. Whew! It's not hard to admit that I would really enjoy it. This is what I like - to write. You might say that I'm bragging but no. I even ate my pride to relish my happiness (or joy?). And, expect that I would be writing, if not everyday then once a week. Ha ha!
Now, so you see the irony in me? You' re reading my first blog that I thought I would never write and expect that you'll be reading more.
This is just a start of everything. This wouldn't be a nightmare for you. Promise. But if you think this is a bore to read, it's OK. I just expressed something I want to express.
Forgive me, if this is short. But later you'll read 10 pages.
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