Harry Potter Prequel

Every Harry Potter fan surely anticipated the release of a prequel. In fact, I can't really get enough of the HP series. It's one of those stories that you just want to keep coming back for more. Just like chocolate and beer, there will never be enough Harry Potter for a certified avid HP enthusiast like me. Thanks to Khrizz of multiply and my new account, I was given the chance to come across the prequel again. Although the 800-word story is indeed very short but it's certainly worth my while.
The Story:
The speeding motorcycle took the sharp corner so fast in the darkness that both policemen in the pursuing car shouted,"Whoa!" Sergeant Fisher slammed his large foot on the brake, thinking that the boy who was riding pillion was sure to be flung under his wheels; however, the motorbike made the turn without unseating either of its riders, and with a wink of its red tail lights, vanished up the narrow side street.
"We've got 'em now!" cried PC Anderson excitedly. "That's a dead end!"

Leaning hard on the steering wheel and crashing his gears, Fisher scraped half the paint off the flank of the car as he forced it up the alleyway in pursuit.

There in the headlights sat their quarry, stationary at last after a quarter of an hour's chase. The two riders were trapped between a towering brickwall and the police car, which was now crawling towards them like some growling luminous-eyes predator.
There was so little space between the car doors and the walls of the alley that Fisher and Anderson had difficulty extricating themselves from the vehicle. It injured their dignity to have to inch, crab-like, towards the miscreants. Fisher dragged his generous belly along the wall, tearing buttons off his shirt as he went, and finally snapping off the wing mirror with his backside.

"Get off the bike!" he bellowed at the smirking youths, who sat basking in the flashing blue light as though enjoying it.

They did as they were told, finally pulling free from the broken wing mirror, Fisher glared at them. They seemed to be in their late teens. The one who had been driving had long black hair, his insolent good looks reminded Fisher unpleasantly of his daughter's guitar-playing, layabout boyfriend. The second boy also had black hair, though his was short and stuck up in all directions; he wore glasses and a broad grin. Both were dressed in t-shirts emblazoned with a large golden bird; the emblem, no doubt, of some deafening, timeless rock band.

"No helmet!" Fisher yelled, pointing from one uncovered head to the other. "Exceeding the speed limit by-by a considerable amount!" (In fact, the speed registered had been greater than Fisher was prepared to accept that any motorcycle could travel.) "Failure to stop for the police!"
"We'd have loved to stop for a chat," said the boy in glasses,"only we were trying--"
"Don't get smart-you two are in a heap of trouble!" snarled Anderson. "Names!"
"Names?" repeated the long-haired driver."Er-Well, let's see. There's Wilberforce...Bathsheba...Elvendork..."

"And what's nice about that one is, you can use it for a boy OR a girl," said the boy in glasses.
"Oh, our names, did you mean?" asked the first, as Anderson spluttered with rage."You should've said! This here is James Potter, and I'm Sirius Black!"

"Things'll be seriously black for you in a minute, you cheeky little-"

But neither James nor Sirius was paying attention. They were suddenly as alert as gundogs, staring past Fisher and Anderson, over the roof of the police car, at the dark mouth of the alley. Then, with identical, fluid movements, they reached into their back pockets.
For the space of a heartbeat both policemen imagined guns gleaming at them, but a second later they saw that the motorcyclists had drawn nothing more than-
"Drumsticks?" jeered Anderson . "Right pair of jokers, aren't you? Right, we're arresting you on a charge of--"
But Anderson never got to name the charge. James and Sirius had shouted something incomprehensible, and the beams from the headlights had moved.

The policemen wheeled around, then staggered backwards. Three men were flying-actually flying- up the alley on broomsticks-and at the same moment, the police car was rearing up on its back wheels.
Fisher's knee bucked; as he sat down hard; Anderson tripped over Fisher's legs and fell on top of him, as flump-bang-crunch- they heard the mean on brooms slam into the suspended car and fall, apparently insensible, to the ground, while broken bits of broomstick clattered down around them.

The motorbike had roared into life again. His mouth hanging open, Fisher mustered the strength to look back at the two teenagers.
"Thanks very much!" called Sirius over the throb of the engine."We owe you one!"
"Yeah, nice meeting you!" said James. "And don't forget: Elvendork! It's unisex!"

There was an earth-shaking crash, and Fisher and Anderson threw their arms around each other in fright; their car had just fallen back to the ground. Now it was the motorcycle's turn to rear. Before the policemen's disbelieving eyes, it took off into thin air: James and Sirius zoomed away into the night sky, their tail light twinkling behind them like a vanishing ruby.

Ben-Hur

My last days of December 2008 was spent here at Cebu City with my youngest brother. He was given cash as Christmas gift by my mother to buy new shirts and a pair of jeans. So off we went visiting malls and searching for the best “fits” for him. After the hassle and bustle (roaming malls is not really my thing), we hurried to go rest in my room.

We had dinner at a nearby barbecue stall and went to my Ramos barkadas for some drinks of beer. Although my brother is still in high school, I allow him to accompany me with these gatherings because I believe that exposing him to “realities” of life will be better rather than restricting him to have drinks with other people. I think that the more we restrict youngsters with their “new-found vices”, the more it will drive them to be rebellious. I want my brother to discover new things with me and thus be guided on what's really right and wrong. Actually, I am also learning from the process of teaching him the more important aspects of life.

Although I haven't been to Church for a while, I made it a point that we attend the mass that day so that I can impart to my brother that going to church should be part of his Sunday (if not everyday) routine. So off we went to Sto. Rosario Church which I have grown to love back from my College days at USC. The reading that Sunday was about the Holy Family. And the officiating priest during his Homily simply called families who have eleven children with them at the mass. He called it sort of a "Bring Me" game and promised to give a price of P500 from his pocket. Since no one approached him with eleven children, he proceeded on to call: "families with 10 children- nobody came up the pulpit; families with 9 children- still nobody came up; 8 kids- nobody stirred; 7 kids- nobody came yet; 6 kids- still none; at the count of: “5 kids! Bring me five kids, with father and mother...” At last, a throng of kids moved in front of the altar with the youngest carried by the mother. The people clapped their hands and the family received the P500 gift which the priest doubled to P1,000 so that the whole family can go to Jollibee after the mass, as he said. He then continued on to preach that the purpose of his “bring-me game” is to encourage people to hear mass as a family.

“How many of you comes to mass with the whole family?” This question still rang in my ears as the priest gave us his last blessings when the mass ended. What with everyone's busy schedules, it is in fact very rare that my own family goes to Church together. I myself find some excuse every time my Mother asks us to accompany her to Church. I made a resolve then to make it often to mass. And thankfully enough, I haven't skipped Church for three consecutive Sundays now. Not yet, anyway. So the mass we attended that day was really enlightening not only for my brother but for me, as well.

Pollyanna Book Review: Right On!

A good cousin asked me to write a review from any book for her English class. Because she's a good girl- a trait she obviously inherited from me, I gladly agreed despite my busy writing career. Aheem.

Pollyanna Book Review:

It may seem unsuitable to be reviewing a book with children as the main audience in a College Sophomore class. However, upon reading Pollyanna by Elizabeth H. Porter, I decided to feature it because of the universal theme it brings. People from all walks of life can readily relate to the simple game of life called, “The Glad Game” which Pollyanna has managed to infect to the inhabitants of Beldingsville, Vermont- the story's setting and where everything unfolded for the innocent life of our dear heroine, Pollyanna. Thus, this all-time favourite from Elizabeth H. Porter is able to appeal to all audiences, young and old alike. It encompasses a message which is relevant for every one's life all around the world.

With so many challenges these days, one can easily succumb to temptation and choose the easy way out. In fact, based on what I've observed most Filipinos specifically Cebuanos, are becoming shallower by the minute, choosing easy money rather than work hard for it. Young people for one, seems to be caught in the web of happy-go-lucky existence. Late night clubbing, drinking sessions, hanging out in malls and making aimless chatter with Barkadas are becoming a trend. One way or another, this has to stop. And I know each of us can contribute even with just small steps, in imparting values once again to the youth.

Moreover, the onset of the Internet greatly influence the way Filipinos think, act and shop, as well. It seems everybody is in a frenzy to buy the newest model of cellphones, clothing style and the latest accessories available. What every Filipino seems to be forgetting is how to be thankful for what they are given with. Being part of the youth, I know we can make a difference by deviating our interests to other money saving pursuits instead of getting "in" with the trend. Yes, we have our own struggles, what with the recent accumulation of economic crisis, but if we compare our present situation with that of other warring countries, the Philippines is definitely a safer place to live in. As long as we get to exercise our freedom of speech and of choice, indeed we are still lucky citizens. Therefore, the story of Polyanna is just right on time with our present Filipino lifestyle today.

Summary of chapters in order:

The plot mainly opens when Pollyanna arrived to her Aunt Polly's big house on the top of a hill. Nancy, the housekeeper feels guilty that the little girl's assigned room is no more than the attic of the house, as instructed by her mistress. No sooner than the new gal was bouncing with happiness despite the inconvenience of her situation. It is later found out that her life centers around the belief that there is always something to be glad about however hard and futile a situation is. This “Glad Game” was taught by her father when she wished to have dolls but got crutches instead through the missionary barrel. It encourages the players of the game to look for the advantages of a situation, rather than focusing on the negative side. The glad game is all about being contented with what you are given and just be happy with it.

Eventually, Polyanna transforms people around her and the way they see things. Much of it was due to “The Glad Game” which she effortlessly managed to introduce to the uneventful little New England neighbourhood. Although Aunt Polly was the most unyielding one to the Glad Game, she eventually softened up especially when she married her former lover, Dr. Chilton.

Pollyanna's never ending jovial mood was put to the test when she encountered an accident which left her legs paralysed. For days, she felt so down and cannot bring herself to think of things to be glad about. Fortunately, the neighbours she had helped before came steadily, visiting her in Aunt Polly's house. They keep encouraging Pollyanna not to lose hope because she had made a difference in their lives through her relentless optimism. Soon, she found strength to play the Glad Game again by thinking that at least, she used to have legs. ***

This is a story about the advantages of having a positive outlook of life. To always find ways to be glad despite difficult circumstances. Thus, this book should be read to kids the soonest they can understand it and to make young Cebuanos and Filipinos be aware of Polyanna. The lessons, kindness and respect as embodied by the good natured Polyanna should be instilled in children and everybody for that matter. It is just right to say that this book spans the test of time, age, religion and race. So, the next time an accident or drawback happens in your life, think again. Think of Pollyanna and her Glad Game. You might actually become good at playing it.

Later is never late... :=)

The popular past time of everybody when New Year comes is to make resolutions. Since most of my resolutions in the past just bubbled out of thin air, I'm making it short this year. And that is, to write as many entries as I can here in this blog of mine. After all, being an avid thinker ought to have a lot to say about stuff, right? So, please bear with my late “entries" from last year. Here goes:

Moalboal Chrismas Party Outing:
(December 13, 2008)



Although still sleepy, I forced my body out of the bed to make a quick bath. My wristwatch read 7:15am. Assembly time is supposedly from 7:00-7:30am but I know I can still manage it. After all, we are still Filipinos, eh?
However, due to this manana habit, my Christmas party outing started out bad because when I reached the hired bus, all seats were already occupied and left me no choice but to sit near the bus' windshield which is beside the driver. Good for me, huh!
After two hours of a seemingly very long journey (the air conditioned bus was really slow), we finally arrive at HK Beach Resort, which our company rented for the duration of the overnight Christmas party. After settling ourselves at different assigned rooms, we had a sumptuous lunch of hot, crispy lechon which every body really savored especially since we are all hungry by that time. A short program followed with our in-house band and with some FP employees participating in the singing.
Nothing much happened except that I got a bad case of hangover even though I didn't drink beer with my normal dosage. So when night came for the Christmas party, I was just pretty crumpled in the writer's room suffering from headache and other hangover aches. Whew! What a way to celebrate a company Christmas outing. As they say, “Usab pa ka Briyce?” -- “Di na jd. Ka usa na lang!”

Blue Reef Outing:
(Some date on September)

Well, I can roughly summarize this outing into a few lines:

a) This is the day that the Katols manifested themselves into drunks, jealous guys, heart breakers as well as heart broken species in FP.
b) Talented employees really made their presence known during this company get together, too.
c) When this company outing finally ended and the time to go home came, one of my most memorable nights happened. You see, uhmmm... well... I'm running out of words here...
d) So, see you on the next post for our next company outing, a'right?-- *Winks!*

Break-down!

Ahhh... The smell of the holidays is soothing my senses... I'm now excited to spend my Christmas break at my hometown. Hmmmm.. The thought of home cooked meals like Buwad and Utan Bisaya is really making me itch to go home. Right now! The taste of beer is another enticing prospect that I'm looking forward for my vacation. But the most wonderful thing of all is, I don't get to work any more! No more waking up early (9:00 am is way too early for me), no more scratching my head (without the itch), no more researching and writing non-quality articles just because the quota is now 3,500 words in one day! Not to mention those pesky LTV's! My, my... this year's Christmas break will certainly be a breath of fresh air. Whew!

All Saints/Souls Day 2008

October has come and gone and I haven’t really posted a real post. The scratchy feeling of writing something is nagging me again tonight. I kept meaning to really write about the past national holidays (All Saints and Souls day) but it is now mid- month that is why I call this entry some sort of cramming.

Well, let’s start with my homeward journey to Cebu’s northernmost town, Bogo City. Naturally, during these special holidays, the North Terminal is ready to explode with passengers, all in a hurry to get to their respective destinations. A distinctive Filipino tradition is that whenever there's a special holiday being celebrated, it is instinctive and natural to go home to their own provinces. For me, the required travel also means a slight vacation on the side especially since Bogo is haven to wonderful, scenic beaches. In fact, the northward journey which starts from the town of Consolacion is jotted with beach lots and properties all along the coastline. Some towns such as Danao, Carmen and Catmon can really boast of sandy, white beaches located just along the national road. It is because of these roadside attractions that I am able to enjoy the trip despite of the heat and smoke of fuming buses and other vehicles. When we reach Lugo, vendors along the road offer us with Budbod Kabog, a local delicacy made of corn extracts which is really mouth-watering once you get the hang of it. At last, we reach Brgy. Lapaz, passed along the Shrine of Mary Immaculate, and the Municipal Hall of Bogo greets us just located at the left side the road. This is the first landmark which signals that you are approaching the Bogo proper.

Thankfully, the three hour ride to my good, old home town was over and I finally hit home. However, all my folks were already at the cemetery paying respects to our dear departed ones. My brother even texted me to follow them if I can still manage it. But the heat and dust from travel never fails to make me dizzy that is why I choose to go home first. Anyway, my plan is to visit the cemetery and light candles on November 2nd to avoid the bulk of people generally expected to make their visits on the 1st.

I had a good sleep after which a good home made meal (thanks to my Ma's ever homey cooking skills :=)). When night came, I spent some time with friends hanging out in Bogo's Pantalan, it's the ever popular tambayan of Bogohanons. I chose not to make out most of the night since my younger brother is with me. We made our way home at around 12:00 midnight. I was up early the next day. I have to pack my things again for the trip back to Cebu City. But first, I went to my Aunt's burial place, lighted candles and said a prayer, hoping that She's in a safe place with the angels above together with all of my departed folks.

Once again, I sat in a Ceres bus for the ride back to where my work, responsibilities and life are. I'll be missing my family, friends and of course, good old Bogo. But for sure, I'll be back for the next big celebration- Christmas! Definitely, another trip worth looking forward into.


XS: Time, time, time! I realize now that if only I could give up my drinking sessions, I would have access to ample time for writing.

For Ngap2

Usher Separated

Oh no, no, no, no

If love was a bird
Then we wouldn't have wings
If love was a sky
We'd be blue
If love was a choir
You and I could never sing
Cause love isn't for me and you

If love was an Oscar
You and I could never win
Cause we can never act out our parts
If love is the Bible
Then we are lost in sin
Because its not in our hearts

So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated

If love was a fire
Then we have lost the spark
Love never felt so cold
If love was a light
Then we're lost in the dark
Left with no one to hold

If love was a sport
We're not on the same team
You and I are destined to lose
If love was an ocean
Then we are just a stream
Cause love isn't for me and you

So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated

Girl I know we had some good times
It's sad but now we gotta say goodbye
Girl you know I love you, I can't deny
I can't say we didn't try to make it work for you and I
I know it hurts so much but it's best for us
Somewhere along this windy road we lost the trust
So I'll walk away so you don't have to see me cry
It's killing me so, why don't you go

So why don't you go your way
And I'll go mine
Live your life, and I'll live mine
Baby you'll do well, and I'll be fine
Cause we're better off, separated

Let Go of Fear

Too much fear keeps individuals from truly living their lives. How?



Feel this:
Have you ever experienced that unfathomable, gripping fear wrenching your gut without any possible escape wherever you look? How ever you want to be in another place, there simply is no escape. Not another exit route to go. Nowhere to hide.
Then you start to stop trying in finding ways to get out. And despair consumes you.

Picture this:
There's this philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard who fell in love with a woman. But fearing they would end up in vain, he intentionally broke up their engagement. Still, he continued philosophizing about love but unable to really experience and feel it.
The scenario is somewhat pathetic, right?

To love truly is to let go of one's fear. This is aptly put by Gerald G. Jampolsky's book, “Love is Letting Go of Fear.”
When you love without reservations and drawbacks, that is the real time of being in love.

Let me discuss the commonly over abused phrase, “I love you.”
If you really, really dissect it, the letter “I” passes “Love” to the word, “You”. Thus, if “I” is not yet capable or does not contain love, then what can it give to “You”? Surely, before love can pass from I to You, there should be love from the “I” first.

This means, before somebody can really love another, he/she should have sufficient love within him/herself.
Hence, before saying I love you the next time, be certain that you already have enough love for yourself to be able to truly love another being.
And this, requires letting go of your own fears, your own insecurities, your own doubts. If one is finally able to achieve this, then that is the time you can truly love another person.

Exercise Heals Pain of Abandonment

I am posting this in the hope of giving hope to those that have been abandoned. When you suddenly become a pathetic jerk despite of everything you did. Whew... Good luck to us all!

There you are dumped like the proverbial hot potato.

Take Julie. She was devastated. The man she went out for three years dumped her and with it, their engagement was called off.

She believed that they had a great relationship. Suddenly, and out of the blue, he tells her that he wants to take a break. He is unsure of what he wants in a relationship, and he is calling off the wedding.

Julie is devastated and suffering from the worst kind of rejection. The kind of dismissal when there is no siren warning like a tornado ripping through your living room at dawn. She had no idea that her man was going to abandon her.

In order to work through this pain, Julie can either push it away by denying its existence or face it directly.

If she avoids dealing with this pain, she have difficulty ever resolving it, and she also may suffer from physical or emotional problems. So she has to face the situation and deal with it.

Psychotherapist Bob Livingstone says that among other things you can do to heal from the pain is to get some exercise. Simple exercise can ease the pain. Here are seven ways to do it:
1. First of all, realize that feeling traumatized after getting dumped in this manner is normal. However, you need a way to process your feelings and work through them.
2. Write down an emotional pain question such as “How could he do this to me?” or “How do I feel about him now?” The purpose of writing down this question is to prepare you to focus on it once you begin your exercise.
3. Any aerobic exercise for 15 minutes or more will increase your endorphin levels and bring about a feeling of calmness. Walking, running, skating and swimming are some forms of exercise that you can participate in.
4. Focus on your emotional pain question while you are exercising. While you are working out, the brain chemistry changes, and it gives you a sense of self-confidence and inner peace.
5. Listen to music that provokes an emotional response while you are working out and focusing on your emotional pain question.
6. Choose music that you know will bring up intense memories of your former lover or other songs that trigger earlier memories.
7. Sometimes, these earlier memories can help us gather up the strength to deal with heartbreak.
8. After your workout, write down your thoughts and feelings in journal form.
9. You will notice that writing down your experience will further advance your feelings of sadness, anger and betrayal.

Eventually, you will learn to accept this devastating loss and move on with your life. You will no longer feel like a victim, and your heart will be open for positive energy that may come your way.

-AT's Note: Extracted from SunStar Cebu's Lifestyle section.

WHEN LOVE DIES(Melanie T. Lim-SunStar Cebu)

SOMETIMES, love dies. And there is no easy explanation for it.

Some of us see it coming. Some of us don’t. But most of us try not to see it at all. Because it is easier to pretend that all is well rather than admit that your dreams have been shattered and you are left only with the broken pieces of your heart.

It hurts to imagine the person we love with someone else. It hurts to no longer be the object of his affections. It hurts to no longer be the centre of his universe. It hurts to no longer be wanted. It hurts to be discarded, replaced and dumped unceremoniously like an old rag that has outlived its usefulness.

It hurts to no longer be loved.

But it happens everyday to the best among us- to the beautiful, the kind, the talented, the smart, the successful, the multi-awarded. It happens to the perfect wife, sister, friend and mother. It happens to the civic leader, the CEO, the cover girl.

Whether or not it’s something we did or didn’t do, sometimes, love just dies. And over thinking (as my sister would say) would serve no purpose.

To be loved is a blessing. But to no longer be loved is not necessarily a tragedy.

We’ve been raised since childhood to believe that love must last forever. And perhaps it must. But isn’t it possible to simply savour the moment and become richer by it without wanting to possess it forever? Isn’t it possible to love and let go and love again?

Isn’t it possible to love forever but to love different people over time?

It’s all right to no longer be loved. It’s all right to stop loving. It’s all right to mourn for love’s losses but to condemn yourself to a life of misery because your love did not last forever is foolhardy. If love must die, let it go peacefully into the night.

But don’t keep score. Love is not a contest. It is not a competition to see who emerges the prettiest, the craftiest or toughest. Love is what it is- a GIFT. It cannot be forced on anyone. Neither can it be forced out of anyone. So let it be.

When love dies, hold on to the memories. But let go of the one you love.

A Night for Dancers- July 19, 2008

So there I was, doing last minute personal touches. What, exactly is expected from a judge for dance contests? My good friend Anjo (who served as the host and organizer), albeit sought me out of necessity (the assigned judge went missing) told me that he was able to determine that I was the ideal emergency substitute because of credibility. Good for him. So, can I be really a worthy judge? Oh-oh...

Lucky me, two groups backed-out from the competition so that left me judging thirteen dance groups since fifteen groups were originally supposed to compete. Lights were bright as I sat on the judge's table facing the stage. The program started with an opening number featuring all the dance groups. My, Cebu can really boast of its local talent to go international, even. All of them are still young who clearly has a passion for dancing and the potential to make it big.

Uh-uhm.. I better be good at this. These young people probably spent sleepless nights practising their moves and perfecting choreography. Plus, they might have gone to extremes in extorting and breaking arms just so their parents and relatives donate to sponsor their uniforms. My, my... crankiness is slowly crawling my nerves. I willed myself to focus-- on the steps, the coordination, the choreo and the overall impact of every dance number. By and by, I found my head slowly shaking with the rhythm of their dance music. I'm actually starting to enjoy the show. One dancer somersaulted, and plop!-- Great! I admire the originality of each group. To interpret a song and make it into a creation is simply ingenious. I made a mental note: Kudos to the trainers! You know in your own heart you are the winner even if I have to sit here and tally scores.

SK officials from Brgy. Ramos should be commended, they have managed to make a simple Brgy. activity into a pillar for youth development by showcasing their talent in dancing. The previous and present Ramos SK officials, together with the whole SK Ramos Team took invaluable cooperation in organizing the wonderful activity for that night. Next time guys, I won't be that hesitant to pitch in what I can contribute. To all the dance participants, losing is one thing but to be a dancer takes a winner to stand up there in the spotlight and strut your stuff. The night indeed was for you, dancers. A BIG, DEAFENING applause to all!

Random Haunts

There she is again,
Haunting me with her eyes,
Her face...
Her look...

Where did I come short?
Or, have I given too much?
Is that why you still continue to haunt me?
Will you ever stop sweetly torturing me?

Oh, the nights
The nights come and along comes my misery--
Just stop, stop!
Stop this unfair illusion.



Tell me, tell me how to let go of something I did not even have...
Tell me how to move on despite of all the sacrifices...
Teach me how to forget, teach me to let it go unconditionally
Give me something to step on...

Let me swallow my pride without hate
Help me to let go without bitterness
Let me face the shame of failure with grace
Give me the strength to set you free-- calmly

That is the only way,
This constricting feeling inside my ribcage right now--
Will finally stop,
And even this end, I will embrace.

RD Contribution

the story reads:

When my Aunt and Uncle were still newlyweds, after
their honeymoon, they went straight to my Aunt's
place.
Because my Uncle wanted to impress his new in-laws, he
spent much of his time talking to my Aunt's family.
But not long after, he hurriedly called my Aunt.
"Why doesn't anyone believe a thing I say? Even your
mother doesn't believe me!", he asked angrily.
My Aunt, surprised by the question, replied, "Oh,
really?!?"

-Do you get the gist of this? Please post a comment if you do.

:=)

Alone

Alone I trudge along,
Alone I walk the path,
Until alone I reach the-- what?

For me there is no solace in living,
For even in love,
I still find myself alone,
And hurting...

A Second Trip to Masbate

My second trip to Cawayan, Masbate started with getting into the “Lansta”. It is a bigger version of a pump boat to accommodate more passengers. It is the usual sea carrier used to transport passengers from one island to another or to the mainland within the Philippines particularly in the Visayas Region and its neighbors. It is more like a ferryboat but faster.

Cawayan is a coastal town and is a third class municipality in the province of Masbate. It has thirty seven barangays. Our destination is the barangay of Divisoria near the poblacion, the main trading center of that part of town. The main livelihood of the people is fishing. It is known for its cheaper dried fish, shells, crabs and squids and of course, the freshness of the seafood straight from the sea is most notable compared to other places of the Region.

My first trip was decided out of a broken heart, broken dreams and a huge disappointment out of life. So I didn’t get to enjoy any aspect of the trip. I went home feeling more depressed and I never envision I’d go there again. But time is such a healer so, with the prodding of my friends, I decided to go back with no real expectations. I just wanted to enjoy the summer and my free time.

First thing you’ll notice when you arrive is the stillness and dryness of the air. I know it is summer but it certainly is drier there than even when in the city. A close friend’s brother is getting married the next morning so everybody was busy preparing everything from pans, cooking ware and kitchen utensils to the decorating and cleaning of the place. I busied myself with slicing the onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, beans and everything that is needed for the cooking. That way, the cook will have an easier and faster time preparing the party meals.

Early the next morning, I found myself in the church clicking and shooting the wedding ceremonies for I was the one lucky enough to have a video cam. After which, we headed straight back to the house where servers are busy preparing the table. I got a good slice of lechon skin plus all the menus on the buffet. I ate to my stomach’s content. Beer was served. After a while, they ran out of chilled beer so we have to put some home made ice. Nobody wants their beer warm specially me and my friends
.

After the party, when only the family members are drinking and chatting, we headed for a swim in a secluded beach property. Children are playing and milling about the seashore. Although the sand is not so white than I would prefer to like, I felt relaxed and contented. I always have this pristine feeling whenever I’m in the beach. Some of my friends are drinking Rhum this time. I decided to sleep instead under a small coconut tree. Hard drinks are not much to my taste and intestines. When I woke up, I felt this slight pang of pain inside my stomach. Oh! The result of my eating binge with pork oil and cholesterol. I feel I wanted to vomit. I was getting weak. They decided we go home by walking through the beach front. So I summoned all my remaining strength to reach the seawall fronting our host’s house some fifty meters from where we swam. Every step was a little prick inside my tummy. When we finally arrived, I drank some Jazz cola to appease my pain, somehow. By this time, two of my friends also were having stomach aches. Just the result of eating and drinking too much that the body can’t take. I turned in to sleep.

The next day was for packing my things for our trip back to Cebu City. After saying our thanks to our host’s parents, we drop by her Aunt’s place. Their family and some friends bade us goodbye and the husband accompanied us to the beach where the pump boat is waiting to transport us to the waiting Lantsa. Along the way, he bought us some dried fish for “pasalubong” when we get home. We are so touched by the gesture that we had nothing to say but to accept it. Such people are rare and should be commended for their hospitality and generosity. Little though they have (they fish for a living) but they are eager to share what they can. I was finally able to say my thanks to him when we reached the pump boat .

I don’t say I regret this second visit. The trip back home was pleasant enough. I was able to see islets through my scope and fishing boats milling about. I also took pictures of myself with the sea as background. This second visit was much more healing than I expected from the first. I thank God for letting me drift there once again. Indeed, I enjoyed myself for the time spent there was certainly worth it. ***