Turning Point!

Last January 16, 2008, I celebrated my 21st birthday. It was a happy moment even if i wasn't abe to celebrate it much with my family. Cause you see, we were preparing for our contest for the university week in my school. The deadline was very near so we struggled a lot. I was pretty tired after the night but the day was pretty worth it. I cried a lot that day because it was my first birthday that i wasn't able to spend it with my family. But my classmates made it the best birthday ever. they surprised me with a cake and balloons. i was so happy because i could not believe it.

Here's the turning point. It taught me that in my future endeavros, most of the time i won't be able to be with family and that i need to stand alone. another thing would be the fact that i need to surround myself with good people that they call friends. corny? but its true. it may be jsut a short while but they last forever in our hearts. Friends are the best people in the world. They may break you but the experience helps you grow. So i say thank you to all my friends because of you i survived my 21 years in this world. Love ya!

What they call as FRIENDS!

Appreciation and recognition are the hardest things you could find now a days. With the busy world we have, I am not wondering anymore that people tend to mislook the small things that other people do for them. And I receive a slap on the face just to make me realize this.

You see, for four years in my college life, I have terrific friends that I could say I would never replace. Cool classmates that will always be there when you need them. But recently our friendships are crumbling down. Maybe because of pressure in school, family, etc...but others see it as the lack of recognition and appreciation that we each deserve. There were different activities that happened this year that we forgot to say thanks to each other. To be honest, I'm one of those wo neglects and forgets to say thanks to these people.

It made me think how life would be without this bunch of people and this is I guess my way to thank them and that I appreciate everything that they did for me and for the entire class. For michel, the mother figure and the ever care-giver of the class that stands up to anyone who hurts us. I appreciate her so much that despite her difficulties back home, she makes sure that everyone of us is intact. Thanks mommy mich. For Rhea, the ever happy and jolly "anak" that taught me that we should appreciate what we have in our life and that this little things are treasures worth keeping. You're the best duaghter a father can have. For the ever brave Hazel G., for one of the best 'amegas' of mine that takes life though serious it can be with those perfect smiles that brights up a room. And skinny as she maybe, she's as healthy as a whale and with a heart as big as a bear. Thanks for the trips. hehehe! For the beauty queen Kristin D., no room could ever shine and ever be happy without her. Honesty mixed with'kiningkoy' is what makes this lady unique that even in desperate times and everybody is down, she never forgets to beautify herself and make everyone pretty. For beautification mega, you'll be forever remembered. For Cathy, the ever "karay-a" with brains and beauty, she deserves the life of a millionaire for having a heart of gold. Even if your in a downfall, with her embrace one forgets that life is bad as it is. Thanks for hugs and kisses cathy. Teresa D, the brainy and the sexy lady that I met having the bravery that one would appreciate so much. She taught me the word responsibility and slap it to my face. Hey! Don't take this literally. She just showed me how. Thanks Tere. For my honey, Maybelline M. the best care giver in my life. Hehehe...Joke! Well you see everyone, Maybelline is tha hardest worker in the group with high expectations from everyone surroundign her. I appreciate so much what she had done for me: in our projects, in activities and even as a friend. Thanks honey for always being there but guys lets not take this the wrong way okay. She's my close friend not my girlfriend. Thats the end for the ladies. Now comes the gents.

Dannuel Uy, the chinese in the bunch. Don't underestimate him though for this dude is very efficient. He can finish a task given just in a day though as many as it comes. One thing I learned from him is efficiency can take you places and that when one receives a task he should not take it lightly. Thanks Danny. Philip G., one of the cool buddies in the room. Though he may not know this, but he taught me to be brave in taking all the obstacles in my path with head held high. He is not just strong but a witty man too. Good luck to your future endeavors Phil. Jerome G, the sleepy awake dude. You see in first glance you would assume that he's sleeping but in fact he's wide awake. But don't be fooled because this dude is a very down to earth person with added techno geniue in him. Thanks for the happy moments tol. Last but never the LEAST, Francis Lloyd, my other brother in the class. Firsly i asked apology for all the wrong things i did to you. I know this might be too late but I will take that risk. Forgive me! You see everyone, Francis is a genius. His capacity to store vocabulary in himself is remarkable. One might consider him as a walking dictionary. With bright ideas that shines through the night. Thank you so much bro for all the things you did for me and the class. You deserve a round of applause or better yet a standing ovation.

These are my classmates. A funny bunch but nonetheless the best classmates i ever had. So when people ask me who my friends are, well i just tell them that they are the LES HERAUTS DE L'AMOUR ET JUSTICE 2008. I love you guys.

POLITICS!

Beyond the facade and infrastructures of iloilo city are its people that makes this city a place to stay. Hahaha! That is so pathetic. Because behind the people are the mischievous events that happens to the city...especially that its election time again.

Well you see, the baranggay where i live in, the infamous Bo. Obrero, is in a world of deception. There are two political parties that are against each other in my baranggay. one of the parties, headed by the recent baranggay has a platform to make our baranggay to move forward just like iloilo making it the next BEST thing in the philippines. on the other side of the bracket, are the people in the opposition having the platform to make change the old system because they saw that what the old system does to its people is not right. to be specific, leaving the people in despair while the KAPITAN goes cruising to some other parts of the world.

the motiff of the two parties are incoherent as well. the other is green and the other is yellow. they believe that green can push through change and they believe that its tcolor signifize hope to the people of the baranggay. the other party run by the captain speaks that yellow shows triumph to the future of bo. obrero. being the color of strength(one of his constituents said), it would cater to all the people in the baranggay.

everyday when i wake up, different voices coming from the external factors that goes beyond my house are shattering my humble sleep. you see, my grandfather is running as a councilor under the recent baranggay captain. most of the time he influences me to vote for the his captain. on the other side, most of my friends in the baranggay are voting the opposition's captain. with disbelief and a memory confused, i'm in crisis right now.

monday is the election and i am still in distress. with what i learned from my university, i believe that everything should be given though several times before having your decision. but only one thing is sure, i won't be having a good night sleep tonight. God help me!

Keep Love Real

"Keep love real, it endures time no matter how long..."
This is a line from a song I heard just few days back. It was actually sung by two Ilonggo artists. but what caught my attention was the lyrics and the message that the song sents out. It is really a touching song. What amaze me even more is how this song reflects of what happened that day. To tell you the details, be prepared. Its a long story.

You see it was a Monday. I had a lot of requirements to submit. My day started the same doing the usual routine: taking a bath, changing my clothes, eating breakfast, brush my teeth and went to school. But i know that specific day would be something special. When i arrive at school, i saw the usual faces of te usual people i see everyday. Damn it! What a disappoinment it was. But nonetheless i pursue my day. And as the day went on, i was getting weary of waiting of what could happen in that special day. During lunch break, i heard the song. it touch the entirety of the populace eating at Pandora's, a small carinderia beside the Atrium Mall. I was awed with the song. then it hit me, today was my special someone's birthday. you see folks, besides the face that i put on everyday is the reality that i am somewhat feminine (just to put it nicely). and yes i am into a relationship. i called my special someone and said my apology for not being the first to greet him.

Keeping love real for me is withstanding any obstacles and waiting for that right person. Fortunately, i found mine already. I know that the person i care for so much knows it too. though we are far apart from each other and seemed to be busy always, our love is REAL. Cool right!

an understatement...

It was 8:00 in the evening. I read a message from my dad just awhile ago. I am fucking furious. He left me and my mom when i was two (2) years old. The message announces the arrival of my new half-sister. i'm quite happy with that fact but what fueled me up was the website he wanted me to open where he left a message that left me out of the picture. that freaking dad of mine seemed to have forgotten that his eldest son is HERE!!!! Well if thats the case, it was a good decision that he left me for now i know he never wanted me anyway.

Silent Walk: The Mystery of the Promenade

It was late in the evening when I went home from school. We had to arrange some things for the upcoming activity the following day. It is my thing to go to a place to relax myself and to relieve from stress. So I decided to walk along the path walk at the side of the Provincial Capitol. It was the so-called “Promenade.” If my mind serves me right, everyday that I see this path walk in broad daylight, I felt the sense of calm in me. But that night when I went there, an irritation kept bothering me about the area.

It seems that night a lot of Ilonggos where relieving there stress just like me. But to my surprise, I was wrong. I ventured into a place that I never expected and imagine that could exist in my beloved city. Different sets of men from all ages were there. At first, I thought they were having a party. But who was I kidding. They were doing things that only man and woman in relationship and are married should be doing. Explicit stuffs that one could not imagine were just fleeting in my eyes.

After the shock and awe, a man approached me and said that if I was there to relax it wasn’t the appropriate time. He told me that beyond the great scenic views the “Promenade” gives is the operations of different people in male prostitution. In short, what I saw within my reach were young lads who consider themselves as “call boys.”

As I continued walking on, side glances from the different lads, smirking and smiling, disrupts my relaxation. Instead of having the time to relieve off from stress, the existing reality of the area destroys my time to be in touch with myself and with nature. Every time I turn right and left, different sexual actions were seen. It was exploitation.

Where had their dignity gone? Don’t they believe in their own catholic faith anymore to be doing such heinous acts? It is a sad thing to know that my beloved fellowmen would stoop down to the level of a maggot just to survive in the world. Is this what is to be learned beyond the four walls of school? Is this the picture perfect reality that you want to live in? If so, then you must be part of those maggots who filth the world. This is just my opinion. I am okay with the fact that such things exists but if there could be a better way, the good way, then why not take the leap of faith. I went home reminiscing the things that went through there and I kept thinking what reasons they would have besides finance problems. Who knows? Maybe next time when I passed by there again, I could ask them. But for now, what I learn was enough to taunt me.

Traveling the History

One summer, my cousins decided to visit their father’s home town in Antique. They decided to tag me along. Packed with my personal necessities and belongings, we left Iloilo at the cracked of dawn. Beyond the excitement that I was feeling was the irritation of drowsiness and boredom of the trip to our destination. We passed through the different municipalities in Iloilo. To my amazement, I was brought back to the past. We passed through Tigbauan where the infamous landing of the American Forces, led by General Douglas McArthur, during the Japanese revolution occurred. Then Guimbal came. An insignia of power is what can describe Guimbal. the existing totem of the area is the Guimbal watchtower that was used as a tool to watch out for Moro Pirates. Beyond the fact is that Guimbal’s history originated from a guitar that was called then by the Panayanons as “gimba.”

Rushing through a heavy rain that poured in after passing by the Guimbal Bridge, we decided to stop over a restaurant near Miag-ao. From what the town folks were saying, Miag-ao was a place of treasures. One of its greatest gems is the Miag-ao church. It attests the people’s history. It stands as a living legacy of the culture and way of life of the people of Miagao centuries ago, anchored in a strong foundation of Christian faith. Another fact of this municipality is the seat of education under the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, a premier institution symbolizing academic and scientific excellence in the region.

Then our little journey went on. The next stop I was told was San Joaquin. Taken from a saint’s name, this area has enriching Catholic faith. Being close to the sea, the gushing water ripples even in the band telling me their great history. History tells us that this area was the place where the 10 Bornean Datus and their family landed in the island that was known then as “Irong-irong.” Thirty minutes after San Joaquin was already the mountainous region of Panay. While going up the steep mountain, I took a nap that sent me back to those ancient times passing through each history of the places that we went through.

When I woke up, we were near Lipata, Antique. Realizing that we were near, I was filled with sadness that I missed another part of history waiting to be told. Who knows? When I go back there, a new journey in history would unfold itself. It was an amazing trip but for now, I’ll just stay here in my bed and go visit history in slumber land.