On Being Professional

May 31, 2013

Today, we were tasked to attend the (GAD)  Gender and Sensitivity Seminar , held at Ultimart Cinema, San Pablo City. There were two districts joined together  to participate in this seminar, San Francisco District, where I belong and Fule-Almeda District.

The night before the seminar, I prepared schools who will be grouped in every cottages to be used after the seminar, because the district, only San Francisco, decided to have team building after the said seminar at the resort near the city. I was tasked to group the eleven schools that will fit for six cottages. It was late that night when I finished the groupings. Before I went to bed, I texted the eleven school heads for them to inform what cottage number they belong and who will they be then after the seminar.

I was not able to check replied that night because I was so sleepy. Only early morning when I checked my cellphone; there were many messages. Thus, one message struck my attention so much and it stated like this: “WAG mong isasama ang ___________ (I’d rather not to mention the school) sa ______________.” Then another message has been sent by the same individual stating “INUULIT ko WAG mong isasama ang ________________  sa kanila, sa iba na.” I really don’t know why was she texted me that way that night. So, I paused for a while and thought, “Oh I see.” I knew the reason.

Then I went straight to the cinema, where the venue of the seminar is to be held. Luckily, I saw the person who texted me. I arrived a bit early in the venue so I had a chance to talked to her. I told her, “Mam, good morning po. Since, iyong school na ito po ( I mentioned her certain school) ay dalawa ang naka-assigned na cottage, dun ko na lang po kayo isasama.” Then, she replied, something like “Duon mo kami isama sa ____________________ (she mentioned specific school where one of her sister is teaching),” she stated firmly. I told her “Mam, mahirap po hiwa-hiwalyin kayo sa cottage gawa po ng food.” She said, “Hindi,magkasabay kaming uuwi ng kapatid ko.” “Mam, eh di pagkatapos na lang po dun na lang po kayo magkita sa labas,”  I suggest. But, she got mad at me because her request was not granted.I asked her”Mam, ilan po ba kayo?”, she did not answer me. I asked another question and another and suggested something still she didn’t look at me and she never entertained my query. Then, beside her was another administrator, she professionally answered and entertained me when she saw, the person I was talking to did not mind me anymore. So I decided to go and went straight to one of her faculty members to re-grouped the cottage for every school just to satisfy her wants.

My point there was that, be professional. Be sensitive enough, let us grow. What happened yesterday let it be. Past is past. You are the only one who don’t like that certain school, why was it that you wanted your subordinate to include in your personal grudge in other people. If you are mad at them, so be it. You are an administrator, we are all professionals. Whatever personal grudge you had against them, it is your own. Do not include others.

As human being, let us practice what has been stated by our GAD speaker, about human rights, that for every right there is an obligation, and it is not absolute. As professional, we should learn how to deviate our personal feelings from being professional.

Sa Dako Pa Roon

Sa dako pa roon, 

Pusong umiibig,

Naghihintay, dumadalangin,

Sa iyong pagdating.

Kung sakaling pagdating

Hinintay man ding kay tagal

Matagal mang maghihintay

Hihintayin iyong pagbabalik.

Sa araw na ito'y

Tandaan aking giliw

Pagsintang kinikimkim

Pagsuyo sa 'yo'y damhin.

Halika't ramdamin

Pusong nagnanais

Yakap mo'y madama

Upang muli, maging isa.

Angels in other Forms

It was early tonight; my family, my parent, brother and I were watching one of the prime time soap on television when a colorful book struck my attention, resting on a table near the chair where I was seated. It has a bright yellow covered book. I remembered, it was the book given to me as a present by my dear friend last Christmas. It entitled “ Enjoy God’s Best for Your Life” stories of living life to the fullest of Aron Gogna, foreworded by Bro. Bo Sanchez.

I was not able to read the book, since the moment it was seen by my younger brother, he got interested into it so I let him read the book first so I may say he has just finished reading the book that’s why he returned it to me.

At first, I really don’t know what the content of this book was. It was Bro Bo Sanchez’ book so I got an interest reading it. It was my dear friend who gave it, so I knew it must be helpful to me.

Upon reading the introduction, it was about Arun Gogna’s experiences, how God made his dreams come true, how God is so good that if you fervently prayed for what you wanted as long as there is a very deep reason behind it you will have it. Though, very simple experiences yet it made you realized that “Yes, he (Arun Gogna) is correct. ” There are times, God made things possible in an unexpected time, He made your dreams come true in an unexpected way and He made simple and complex things possible without you knowing  that it was His plan to make your cravings be come true, all in due time.

Arun Gogna is not purely Filipino he is an Indian, Arun means “sun”.

Let me share one from Arun.

“One bonus in life is to have friends in the high places. I mean, people you look up to.

 I have a friend priest, one of my confessors, who is now a bishop of Papua New Guinea. His name is Bishop Franceso Panfilo. He is Italian but his heart is for the Filipinos.

I really look up to him, firstly because he is 6’4’’ tall, and more so because of his piety. When you hear him speak, you will know the meaning of holiness.

On one of his visits to our parish, he told us about how he goes around the different churches of his Diocese. Because Papua New Guinea is a country separated by waters, he needs to ride the boat more than a hundred times a year. The funny thing is, his greater fear is water and he doesn’t know how to swim. So he just invented a motto that he told the seafarers to follow: “Men, whatever happens, save the Bishop.!”

Bishop Panfilo is an angel to the people of the islands, but the boatmen are angels to their bishop.”

Who are your angels? Thank them once in a while. And when you are afraid, remember you have friends in high places.

Solitude

Early this morning, I woke up feeling something unusual. I don’t know what was it all about but I felt so lonely and I really don’t know why. May be I missed you so much.

Its been so long, since we had a conversation with each other. Though, anyway, it was just merely more than two weeks I haven’t seen and talked to you, still I missed you this much.

I was checking my blogs and fb messages, when my colleague asked me, “Do you have a new post for your blog?” Hahahaha, “about to post, because I am thinking how will I post it, today,” I replied.

It seems to me that when I am lonely I don’t know how to write well, I don’t know how to type the words for me to post on my blog.

Its just that I really missed you maybe, that’s why I was feeling solitude today. Haist when will we see each other again?  

Mother, Son and the Listener

Iba talaga kapag Ina na ang nagsalita sa anak. Kahit gaano kabigat ang kanyang sabihin, hindi mo ito mararamdaman bilang isang pasakit sa iyong kalooban bagkus, ito ay isang lambing sa pandinig ng isang anak na kanyang sinesermonan.

I was about to start finishing the report which my superior was requested me to do because it was due today, until I received a text message that somebody asked me to accompany them in their monitoring somewhere in our district. So, I stood up and went straight to the meeting place to see them. I wasn’t able to finish the report.

I arrived a bit earlier. After a few minutes, they came and so we left the place to visit some of the schools for Brigada Esakwela monitoring. 

In every school we visited, she made sure she met every teachers and reminded them what to do during Brigada Eskwela and who are the persons involved besides teachers. Another agenda was, to know who will be joining the District Outing after the seminar to be held on May 31.

 About an hour before 12 noon, we arrived in one among the far flung school in the district. There were many people around doing some carpentry works such as arm chairs repair, wall painting, grass cutting and others. She asked if the school administrator was around addressed to one of the faculty members of that school. She replied gladly, “Yes Mam, he’s here.” Madam looks happily and sighed, afterwards she uttered, “Wow!Atlast he’s here!” and both laughed meaningfully.

The school administrator, through the request of his superior requested all members of the faculty to go to the office and they will be having a meeting together with his superior.  The meeting adjourned after the consensus had been made for the said seminar and planned outing for the district. The school administrator and his superior left in the office, while other members of the faculty prepared lunch for us.

The school admin was asked by his superior why he didn’t attend meetings and other gatherings in the district and in the division. The school admin started to explain jokingly the reasons why he didn’t come. His superior accepted the reasons. His superior started her homily, while the school admin for a times butt in and said something that was very informal. Although, they argued for some important matters but still as a mere listener, I can’t feel the embarrassment.

Ang buong usapang narinig ko ay ang pagtatanong ng isang Ina sa kanyang anak na tumalima sa kanyang kagustuhan. Sa pagkakataong, nagkaroon sila ng oras upang mapag-usapan ang mga bagay na ginawa ng anak, tinanggap niya ang kanyang mga dahilan. Oo, may hindi pagkakaunwaan sa simula, subalit kahit siya ay pinagsasabihan hindi ka masasaktan.Sapagkat ang paraan ng usapan ay usapan ng isang Ina at ng isang Anak. Binibigyan ng Ina ng pagkakataon ang anak na ipaliwanag ang ginawa upang ipagtanggol ang sarili habang ang Ina pagkakatapos ng paliwanag ng anak, ay pilit na ipinauunawa ang dapat pa rin niyang ginagawa ng walang nasasaktan sa isa’t isa. Hindi niya pinagagalitan ang anak sa paraang masasaktan nito ang kalooban ng mahal niyang anak subalit sa paraang itinuturo ang maaring gawin kahit na ito ay labag sa kanyang kalooban sapagkat lahat tayo ay napapailalim sa isang sistema. Sa huli, sa aking palagay, naliwanagan ang anak sa isang magandang halimbawang paliwanag ng kanyang Ina.

They ended up their conversation in a very delicious lunch prepared by the faculty members such as, daing, bulanglang, fried pork chop and  ripe mangoes as our dessert.

Ako Iyon

Ako 

Ako ang taong magalit ka man
Basta't kaibigan kita
Basta't may pinagsamahan tayo
Basta't nakilala kita
Kahit awayin mo ako
Magsalita ka man ng masama laban sa akin
Mag-isip ka ng masama laban sa akin
Anuman ang gawin mo
Dahil kaibigan kita
Uunawain kita
Iintindihin kita
Mamahalin kita
Dahil kaibigan kita.

Hindi ko magagawang saktan ka
Hindi ko magagawang sumbatan ka
Hindi ko magagawang resbakan ka
Hindi ko iyon magagawa
Dahil mahal kita

Kung sa maikling panahon,
Makilala mo ako
Kung sa maikling panahon
Magkasama tayo
Tandaan mo, totoo ang ipinakita ko sa iyo
Walang halong biro
Walang halong pagkukunwari
Ako iyon.

Anuman ang gawin mo,
Mananahimik ako
Patuloy kitang uunawain
Dahil minsan isang araw, naging masaya ako
Kasama ka sa panahong iyon.

Mahirap makatagpo ng kaligayahan
Mahirap tagpuin ang kakuntentuhan
Kaya't ang magalit at magsalita ng masama laban sa kapwa
Hindi mo ako maasahan 
Iyon ako.

Anumang ginawa mo
Makakalimutan ko iyon
Sapagkat tanging iniiwan ko
Dito sa puso ko
Ang masayang magkasama tayo
Ang araw na nagkakilala tayo
Ang araw na ibinahagi ko 
Ang buhay at sarili sa iyo.

Salamat

Ok na ako. I'm fine, salamat. Anuman ang nangyare maraming salamat. Nakilala kita ng mas malalim pa.

Sa Aking Kaibigan

Sa aking kaibigan, hindi kita sinorpresa. Kung makikita mo ang mensahe ko, kahit paano nagtanong ako sa iyo. Kasi ang sabi mo nasa bahay ka lang. Nung time na itinext mo sa akin na ikaw ay nasa bahay at may ginagawa nagtanong ako kung pwede tumulong, pupunta ako sa iyo at liligo lamang. Yun nga lang late ka nagreply. 

Sa aking kaibigan, alam ko may kanya kanya tayong buhay, may kanya kanya tayong pinagdadaanan. Ang pinagdadaanan mo malamang ay mas mabigat sa anumang nararamdaman ko, subalit unawa kita. Hindi ko gustong sirain ang araw mo. Sa totoo lang nang araw na iyon akala ko matutuwa ka na marinig na gusto kitang tulungan kahit paano, pero lahat ay isang akala.

Alam ko ayaw mo ng sinosorpresa ka, kaya ayaw ko rin naman na sorpresahin ka.Iginalang ko ang sabi mo, na bigyan kita ng space, ginawa ko iyon.Hindi na ako nagreply sa text message mo kasi sabi mo nga hindi nakakatulong.

Inuulit ko, kaibigan, I have posted it before, "I never expect anything from you".Knowing that you are there, even from afar, I am already happy. Things happened for a reason and purpose, now my silence means that whatever you have done, whatever you are thinking of, I will RESPECT it, I will DEAL with it. 

Uulitin ko, wala akong plano na sa akin lang umikot ang mundo mo, kaibigan. I even told you, "sige hindi na ako tutuloy. Hahayaan ko naman na magkaroon ka ng oras sa iba mong kaibigan ", dahil hindi lamang naman dapat sa akin umiikot mundo mo. 

Kung,... kung nang oras na iyon naghintay ka ng hindi ko alam, sa aking kaibigan, patawad. 

Salamat Kaibigan

Anuman ang nais mo sana sa iyong paglalakbay maging matagumpay ka. 

Ang mga araw na naging bahagi ka ng aking pang araw araw na pamumuhay ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng aking nakaraan. Hindi ko ninanais na baguhin ka anuman ang nais ko. Ang maging ikaw ay malayang maging ikaw at ako man ay ganun din. Nanghihinayang lamang ako subalit mula simula hanggang sa mga oras na ito wala akong niloko, at kahit ikaw ay hindi ko niloko. 

Ang pagbabago ng iyong desisyon ay aking tinatanggap masakit man sa aking kalooban. Alam ko marami kang nakakasalamuha at marami ka ring natututuhan. Ssa totoo lang hanggang sa ngayon, hindi malinaw ang lahat sa akin ng iyong ipinagkakaganyan. Bilang isang kaibigan naging mahalagang bahagi ka ng aking pagkatao. Hindi ko alam bakit ka nagkaganan. O siguro nga anuman ang ipinakita mo sa akin iyon ay ang isang bahagi lamang ng pagkatao mo. Hindi na kita pipilitin pang linawin anuman ang nais ko na maging malinaw. Anuman ang plano mo ay wala akong balak hadlangan. 

Ang sa akin lamang, bakit hindi malinaw ang lahat? Matalino ka, alam ko. Pero ipagpaumanhin mo, sa isang katulad ko na hindi marunong bumasa ng nasa isip ng iba, nalulungkot ako. Dahil ang itinuring ko na matalik na kaibigan ay isang parang bulang naglaho na lamang ng hindi ko nalalaman ano ang mabigat na dahilan ng lahat. Nakakalungkot pero siguro dapat kong tanggapin, ikaw yan, desisyon mo iyan. Hindi kita pinipilit na ako ay unawain. Pero nakilala kitang malawak ang pang-unawa. Nakilala kitang may mahabang pasensya at nakilala kita na may mataas na pag-iisip pagdating sa mga bagay-bagay. Ang nakakalungkot, kahit ako na ganun ang pagkakilala ko, bakit biglang nabago?

Hindi ko alam ano pa ang ibang piangdadaanan mo, pero salamat. Salamat sa oras na ibinigay mo sa akin. Salamat sa iyong naging presensya at salamat dahil kahit paano, nakilala kita.Dasal ko ang iyong pagtatagumpay.

"Ikaw" Lang

Nobody’s perfect.

Hindi ko kailangan ang perpektong buhay, hindi ko kailangan ang perpektong tao, hindi ko kailangan ang perpektong mga kaibigan, kailangan ko ang isang “ikaw”.

Hindi ibig sabihin ng isang “ikaw” nag-iisa kayo. Hindi,marami kayo subalit ang malaman ko na sasabihin mo sa akin na nandito “ako” bilang “ikaw” na handang umunawa sa akin at sa isa’t isa masaya na ako. Ituturing ko ang araw na ito na isa sa napakalungkot na araw. Ang araw na nawalan ako ng isang mahalagang tao, isang kaibigan, isang itinuring na kapamilya, nakakalungkot, subalit hihintayin ko ang araw na muli tayong magkita at magkaharap upang maayos ang mga bagay na hindi natin naayos nang mga nagdaang araw na lumipas.

Hindi ko nanaisin pa ang napakaraming kaibigan kung hindi ka totoo. Hinahabol kita dahil mahalaga ka. Humihingi ako ng labis na patawad anuman ang aking nagawa dahil alam ko hindi ako perpekto at sinabi  mo rin hindi ka perpekto, subalit sa oras na magbalik ka isang mahalagang regalo ito na muli ay aking ipagpapasalamat.

Mahal Kita

Pinili kita hindi lang dahil GUSTO KITA, kundi higit pa don, MAHAL KITA.

Maghihintay Ako Sa Iyo

Hindi kita niloko nang araw na iyon. Hindi ko gustong saktan ang damdamin mo, sa totoo lang hanggang ngayon malungkot ako dahil sa nangyayari. Ayokong matapos tayo ng ganito. Nang araw na iyon, alam mo na gusto kitang makasama, gusto kitang makita pero sabi mo abala ka. Sige,tatanggapin ko ang kamalian ko. Pero, sana naman mapagbigyan mo pa ako ng isang pagkakataon, mahalaga ka sa akin kaya ako ay nagkakaganito. Alam mo iyon. Sana sa lalong madaling panahon, mapanumbalik na ang ngiti sa iyong mga labi. Sana bukas, maramdaman ko nagbalik ka na bilang isang ikaw na aking nakilala at patuloy na pinahahalagahan. Hihintayin ko ang araw na muli, manumbalik ka. Hihintayin ko....

How would I?

How would I be happy, if the person who made me smile is the same person who made me cry?

Again, sorry.

Again, sorry....

What should I do for you to forgive me? Until now malungkot ako kasi nag-aalala ako. As I've said I don't want to lose you, you are important to me. I hope I can make it up with you. I don't know what to say I don't know what to do. But because our world is at both end, I hope while reading this you can still consider my apology. I am texting you since the day you got mad at me but you never replied. I don't know what you're thinking of.

Sana mapagbigyan mo pa ako this time. Take care always.I will be missing you.Sana may hinihintay pa akong isang ikaw sa mga darating na panahon.

Forgive Me

To you…,  I don’t mean to hurt your feelings. I don’t mean making you feel bad today. Its just that I thought you are free so we can get along today, but you are busy. Its fine, I told you but you get upset. I hope I can make it with you soon. If you get mad, let me say sorry.  Take care always.

A College Student Named Rose

I absolutely love this story........ It made me cry. Very touching.

"An 87 Year Old College Student Named Rose.

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn’t already know. 

I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned round to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me 

with a smile that lit up her entire being. 

She said, “Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I’m eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?”

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, “Of course you may!” and she gave me a giant squeeze. 

“Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?” I asked.

She jokingly replied, “I’m here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids…”

“No seriously,” I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

“I always dreamed of having a college education and now I’m getting one!” she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the 

next three months, we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this “time machine” 

as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. 

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. 

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I’ll never forget what she taught us. She was 

introduced and stepped up to the podium.

As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, “I’m sorry I’m so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I’ll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell 

you what I know.”

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, “We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop 

playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. 

You’ve got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don’t even know it!There is a huge difference between growing 

older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don’t do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old.

If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. 

Anybody can grow older. That doesn’t take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. 

Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don’t have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those 

with regrets.”

She concluded her speech by courageously singing “The Rose.”

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year’s end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died 

peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it’s 

never too late to be all you can possibly be .When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they’ll really enjoy it!

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS 

OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give."

-from Angelina Smith's FB

Unselfish

Thank you for making me feels that I am important. I am not expecting anything from you. If you needed me just inform me, and I’ll be there. I will share what I have, and together we will make unselfish moments.

Safe Ito

Tanghalian. Masarap ang inihandang tanghalian ng ina ng isa sa aking co-teacher. Bulanglang na sitaw at pritong dilis na lalong pinasarap ng sukang may lahok na sili, dinikdik na bawang. Nabusog kami sa pagkain sobra, kasabay ko sa pagkain ang dalawa ko pang kapwa guro.

Natapos ang aming pananghalian dakong ika-isa na ng hapon. Iyon ay dahil sa habang kumakain kasabay ang masayang kwentuhan, kaya’t inabot na halos ng isang oras ang pananghaliang iyon.

Iniligpit na namin ang aming pinagkainan nang makadama ako ng biglang kirot ng sakit ng ulo. Hindi ko alam kung ito ba ay dahil sa sobrang kakatawa o dahil lang talaga sa sobrang init ng panahon.

Mabuti na lamang, to the rescue ang aking co-teacher, baon niya sa loob ng kanyang bag ang gamot na ini-indorso ni John Lloyd, ang Biogesic. Pwedeng inumin, kahit walang laman ang tiyan. Pero sa pagkakataong ito, busog na busog ako. Kaya safe na safe talaga. Mabuti na lamang handa lagi si Mam. Ako na halos ang umubos ng Biogesic na laman ng kanyang bag, dahil sa loob ng ilang araw na pagpunta sa paaralan, nagkakataon, kumikirot ang sakit ng ulo ko. Handa naman siyang magbigay ng gamot.

Maraming salamat po sa pagiging mapagbigay lalo na sa baon mong Biogesic.Hehehe.

Memories

Time passed by, but the memories of those didn't fade; it kept our tomorrows soar high, soar more and broaden our horizon.

Time ended the moment when yesterday had gone but it kept on ticking like a clock, and continued to move on,  for tomorrows never stopped, it kept on coming. Doing things for such special person is an experienced you wanted to do always just to make that person feels the importance, the chance that even for a single moment, you will do everything for that someone dear to me. It happened yesterday but those experiences will always be like water watering the plants, it makes them grow.

Not once, not twice, not thrice, but even for so many times I will keep on doing what makes you happy  for you to feel that as someone giving importance to you, I will do it again and again because you mean so much to me.

Memories of yesterday kept rushing back to me. When I am lying on my bed, it’s my prayer and my hope that when tomorrow comes, you will be right by my side and together we will be dreaming of  what might be impossible to happen, again. Although, I know it will be very impossible, I won’t stop, I keep on dreaming, I keep on praying that one day, you and I will be together again, after those special moments, just you and I had.

It’s hard to find the answer, it’s hard to look for the better ideas and words to express but what I know is that acceptance is the best way for us to broaden our horizon. Whatever happens, chances of gaining more experiences on whatever tomorrow may bring  is based on how we perceive the feelings of what that person is showing unto us. We can’t deny the fact that no matter how we show our compassion to one another we should always be ready for whatever circumstances that might happen.

I would like you to know, that I am very thankful to you. I am not expecting anything, but rest assured I will be there for you. I will do everything for you, just for you to feel that even for a ” once in a lifetime” experience, those memories will be worth reminiscing.

Let me be the one to utter this, “you mean so much to me”.    

Summer Escapade

It’s summer time, vacation time, especially in the Philippines, a place where we can enjoy the moment to the fullest.

During vacation, it is the time when family, friends, and colleagues usually go out and relax. Some of the most exciting activities during this time are mountain hiking, swimming, fishing, field trip and others. 

“It’s more fun in the Philippines”, the slogan of the tourism department, to showcase some of the country’s tourists best destinations, for both foreign and local tourists.

We need not to spend so much just to enjoy this summer, just explore the place where you live and the experience will be fun and at the same time, you will be acquainted to your locality, its resources and its hidden treasures.

I for one, experienced a priceless vacation moment.

My family and I decided to go to Manila  to visit some of the churches there and have a trip to some of its tourists attractions. We’ve been to Quaipo Church, Sta Cruz Church, Manila Cathedral ( which is under renovation), San Agustin Church and Baclaran Church. We also visited Luneta Park, otherwise known as Rizal Park, Manila Zoo, because of my nephews and nieces, Museong Pambata and  Intramuros. It was the first time we go out together, complete. We had fun, 'though that’s a tiring experience because we need to travel for more than four hours from Quezon Province to Manila. But the experience and the enjoyment paid off.

The enjoyment continued when after a week, my brother in law invited us to have swimming at the nearest resort in our place. In my almost three decades of existence in our place, I have never been to this resort yet this is the "talked of the town" resort when we hear Tiaong, Quezon. My nephews and nieces had fun, sliding over the slide besides the pool, and the sceneries around were too attractive not just for the young but also for the young at hearts. Giant statues of cartoon superheroes scattered around such as Hulk, SpiderMan, Captain America. I myself can’t resist, so I had a posed with these superheroes, together with my brother and sisters.

Our school administrator planned to go on Visita Iglesia. An excitement came unto me because, this would be my first time experience, going to a Visita Iglesia. Our destination was Tagaytay City. We visited seven churches to complete the fourteen Stations of the Cross, two stations per church. My colleagues at San Antonio I Elementary School, the place where I teach, had a wonderful holy week  because of this. Among these churches are The Pink Sisters, St. Gabriel, the Archangel Parish Church, Redemptorist Church, and others.

The experiences of summer vacation paused when we attended seminar worshops and I helped in organizing one, the journalism seminar workshop. After that very tiring moment, the adventure continues.

My friends and I had a great full packed experienced when we do the mountain hiking, visited old friends, went fishing and dived for a great swimming, just for one day!

It was early in the morning; we woke up early to prepare for planned escapade. We left the house before the sun set too high. Our first destination was the mystic mountain in our locality, where we had mountain hiking. In here, we took photos and relaxed for the beautiful scenes from the mountaintop. We stayed there for almost three hours. Going down, we dropped by the houses of our old friends. Even if we don’t bring with us the food, our stomach became full because every time we dropped by in their houses, we had snacks, and even lunch was served for us.  We came home half past three in the afternoon. We just rest for a while and then go straight to the nearest lake in our place, the Tikob Lake. A soon to be eco park lake in the years to come, where horseback riding, rock climbing, zip line, and others lined up for the project proposal.

Steps going down are too stiff, you have to hold tight to the bamboo alongside so that you won’t slip down. After a very perspiring walk going down, we reached the lake. We set up our fishing rod over the balsa or  raft.While waiting for the fish to catch we do the swimming. The water is very refreshing. I don’t know how to swim so I just stayed near the shore while some of them are busy and enjoy swimming. At once we visit our fishing rod to see if there is a catch. We had one, two, three and almost more than a kilo of tilapia catch for more than two hours stayed in the lake.

The sun was beginning to set, and so we decided to go home. My mother cooked rice earlier because she knew we’re hungry the moment we came home from the lake. My father cleaned the tilapia and put over the charcoal fire and grilled it.  We had a great dinner that night. My friends decided to go home just before midnight. We had some drinking sessions, singing as well and mostly make stories of what had happened that day. I fell asleep too fast may be because of that tiring but very exciting experience. Thank you for these experiences, my friends.

Vacation time is almost over, but the experiences I had this time was unique, wonderful and very exciting, at the same time, I was able to know my locality even better and experienced what is the best of my locality could offer to us.

You Came Along Again

Since the day that you left…, from that day, I   dreamed and hoped that another day, you and I will meet again wherever we are, visit the place where we used to be and take extra time reminiscing memories of the past.

Amazement comes to me when I received a message from you that you want to see me, you want to talk to me, you want to spend some time with me and you want to have some precious moment with me. At first, I was hesitant to go because its been so long we haven’t seen each other. Though, we had conversations through cell phone, chat through facebook, still I don’t know what to do right at that moment. But, I must have enough guts. I want to see you and I want to spend momentous time with you.  I must admit, both of us felt the same feelings, the wants of seeing each other again. You   even  called me to confirm if I will be coming.

I started waiting for you. I arrived at exact time you were told me to come to the place where we should meet. I am excited to see you… your eyes, your face, everything. I felt nervous a bit for what reason I don’t know.  Until you came along, you never change. Your beautiful hair, your twinkling eyes, your pointed  nose and of course you yourself, still the same person I used to admire before ,is still having the same face that I am deeply wanted for. You said, “hello”… and the conversation started the way how I wanted and the rest were history. 

For whatever happened that day, I knew it will always be a part of our life time’s momentous event. I don’t know when it will be happening again, but those memories will always be as fresh as the newly blossoming flowers in the middle of the rainforest where everything keeps fresh and wonderful.

Pambihirang Sandali

Isang pambihirang pagkakataon talaga ang araw na ito.

Labor Day, walang pasok, oras ng pamamahinga. Matapos ang aking panonood ng isa sa mga paborito at inaabangang teleserye sa umaga, kinainipan ko ang mabagal na takbo ng oras, kaya’t matapos ang pananghalian, mainit man ang panahon, pinilit kong maidlip sa aking kwarto.

Bandang hapon na iyon nang marinig ko na maingay sa aming sala, pilit kong inulinig kung sino sino ba ang nagkukwentuhan. Dumating pala ang aking kapatid na panganay. Nakikipagkwentuhan kina Inay at sa   dalawa ko pang kapatid.

Bumangon ako, mga bandang alas singko y media na ng hapon. Kumpleto kami ngayong araw na ito. Dumating din ang aking bayaw, may dalang lulutuing manok at mga hinog na mangga.

Siya na ang nagluto ng dala niyang manok habang tapos ng lutuin ang kanin ng mga oras na iyon. Sabay-sabay na kaming kumain ng hapunan. Magulo, pero halos lahat kami marami ang nakain dahil sa sarap ng pagsasalu-salong iyon.

Pinanood rin namin ang paboritong palabas ng mga bata sa primetime bida, matapos ang panonood ng balita. Pinatay na ni Tito Do, ang bunso kong kapatid ang t.v. matapos ang Juan Dela Cruz at hinayaan na lamang na maglaro ang aking mga pamangkin, samantalang ako, sina Inay at Tatay, at ang aking mga kapatid at bayaw ay masayang nagkukwentuhan sa aming terasa.

Pinangunahan ng aking Ina ang pagbibiro na kanyang narinig minsang isang gabi na sila ng aking ama ay dumalo sa isang miting de avance. Sinundan naman ng biro na naririnig naman ng aking kapatid na panganay sa FM station na paborito niyang pakinggan dahil sa mga patawang bentang benta sa mga nakikinig na tulad niya.

Halos magkaroon ng kabag ang aming tiyan sa katatawa sa mga patawang bentang benta para sa aming lahat nang gabing ito. Siyempre may seryosong usapan rin.

Kaysarap naman ng ganitong pakiramdam, buo ang pamilya at sama-samang nagkukwentuhan mula sa mababaw na biro at nadadagdagan ng seryosong usapan habang lumalalim ang gabi.

Hatinggabi na talaga natapos ang masayang usapang iyon.