Happy Birthday, Daddy!

When I was a baby, my Daddy would dance me to this song. :) I'll look for that picture of the two of us dancing. He was wearing the red USA shirt :)

Around the world, I've searched for you
I traveled on when hope was gone
To keep a rendezvous
I... know somewhere, sometime, somehow
You'd look at me
And I would see the smile you're smiling now

It might have been in County Down
Or in New York
In Gay Paree or even London

Of Death and Life

We are here in Sorsogon now, my parents are resting while I’m typing this up in my laptop. There’s no Sun broadband signal here, so I’ll just publish this as soon as I have access to the internet.

We’re here because a grand uncle, Lolo Aug, died. He passed away yesterday because of heart attack. My parents are helping arrange matters as of course the bereaved family is handling other matters. Since my own grandparents have already passed away years ago, Lolo Aug and Lola Cris served as our Lolo and Lola. I remember that we always went to their house and spend time with them. My Dad also took care of them whenever they needed anything (I’ll have another blog entry about my Dad soon).

If you’ve been updated on my life, you’d know that this is the second death in our family in about less than a month. Just a number of weeks back, Lolo Aug’s sister, Lola Liling, also passed away. I don’t really know the exact reason, but I heard this afternoon that it was aneurysm. I’m not really sure. It was a surprise for all of us as we just received a text message that Lola Liling was comatose, and then a few hours after we received another message about her passing on.

Just last May, I tagged along with my parents to a trip here in Sorsogon. They were fixing tax, land, et al, matters and since I didn’t have anything better to do, I just joined the trip. Vacation. We spent five days here, just being bum, eating, sleeping, and occasionally going out to look around. We didn’t even get to visit all the relatives. We just went to Lolo Berting, and then to Fernando Hotel to visit Lolo Jun and Lola Cecilia (and hear their views on the government haha. That’s another entry, too!). With that trip just last May, I was really surprised with the deaths of Lolo Aug and Lola Liling. We went to Legazpi to bring Lola Cristy shopping, as she was just always in the house tending to the chores and looking after her husband and mother. We figured we should take her to Legazpi, for her to take a break. When we arrived there, we dropped by Lola Liling’s house (just behind Divine Word), and then she decided to go to Sorsogon with us. We just rode the bus going back. It was a nice experience. Then we just spent quality time with my Lolo and Lolas (haha, three of them--Lola Cris, Lola Liling, and Mama Dahlen [great-grand!]), eating and talking with them. I really had a great time then, I remember even that my quote for the day was about listening to the stories of the old. Their experiences were really quite something to hear.

Lola Liling hoped to live for 20 years more, as she was the one looking after her five grandchildren (these kids have no father already as Tito died I think about six years ago). She was the one supporting those children, and she always worried about them. It was really a surprise that she died, as she looked very strong (even traveling alone from Legazpi to Sorsogon, or even Legazpi to Manila BY BUS). Same goes for Lolo Aug. He even wanted to adopt one of the grandchildren of Lola Liling when Lola died. He wanted to take in the youngest, send her to school and give her a good life.

But I guess, life is really like that (cliché). As the priest said in his homily this evening, “una-unahan lamang ‘yan”. When your time comes, then it comes and you go. I could say that they have lived a full life. They have accomplished a lot, and I’m glad that they are now in a happy place. I know that with everything that they’ve done, they are with our Master now. Peace to them.

Another point that struck me during the priest’s homily was “ang kamatayan ay hindi dapat kinakatakutan, ngunit ito’y dapat pinaghahandaan”. I think this is the first time that I’ve heard this point, and I loved it very much. It made so much sense. Yes, I admit that I am really scared about death. I am scared of losing my loved ones. Yesterday, I really couldn’t stop thinking about facing the time when I had to lose any of my closest loved ones. It’s a reality that we have to face. Anyone could die at any given time. Young or old, sick or healthy. It happens. Death happens. We can’t stop it, but indeed, we can prepare for it. How? We can prepare for death by living a full life. When death comes, we’re prepared when we know that we’ve done everything that we have to, and everything that we could. Live without regrets. Just love fully. That’s how we prepare for death. Of course it’s not easy to do, but that’s the beauty of it. We know that we’re given a chance to prepare.

Sigh. This is a hard topic, but I’m glad I was able to write. Now it’s time to rest.









Requiescat In Pace.

Bookshelves and Parents

I'm so excited! My parents bought me that bookshelf that I've been dreaming of for a long time already. I promised myself that I'd buy that bookshelf when I get a full time job, but I think my parents felt how I really really really wanted to have it na so they bought it this afternoon. It will be delivered to our house on Friday. It feels like Christmas :)

Finally I'll be able to fix all my books! Maybe if my books are organized I'd be more encouraged to read more. My books are just piled on my desk, and I don't want them to be that way actually. Nagugusot! I also have some piles in the other room, but I couldn't really put it in my room yet as I don't have anywhere to put it in yet. So yun. Nakatambak lang lahat! Time to fix my life--starting with my room! Whoo.

I love my parents. Not just because they give me material things (e.g. that bookshelf, and the new lens of my glasses which cost PhP1k, et al), but because of the deeper reason behind why they give me these things. Just this evening, I was struck with what JenTan told me. I was telling her about how my parents have spent a lot of money for me (especially for those weeks in "Antartica" haha). I felt guilty that they had to spend that amount. She just said "Someday when you have your daughter, you will do the same for her because you love her."

"...Because you love her." That's just it. They love me. No amount of money could equal that. Even a year in "Antartica" would not come close.

That's love. :)











♥

Bayang Tinawag

Vision Statement of the Archdiocese of Manila

Music: Fr. Carlo Magno Marcelo

Bayang tinawag ng Ama kay Hesukristo
Upang maging sambayanan
Ng mga taong may Kaganapan ng Buhay
Sumasaksi sa Paghahari ng D'yos
Nagsasabuhay ng Misteryo Paskwal
Sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu Santo
Kasama ang Mahal na Ina
Ang Birheng Maria.

On Jeeps, DVDs, and Other Things I Forget

I need to write! But I haven't written here nor in my journal in a long time. Boo. Let's try today.

I've wanted to write about jeep rides and insights for a long time. When I ride the jeep there are always interesting experiences that I think would be nice to expound more on. I wish I could write better in order to do justice to the experiences, but oh well. Here goes.

First experience: "Bayad ho, pakisuyo"
I love it when people pass the money for the fare to the driver or pass the change to the rider. I love the chains of "Manong, bayad ho, pakisuyo" and then, "Bayad daw ho", "Bayad daw.." and so on, til the coins reach the driver. It's really a sight to see. Two more observations: firstly, people rarely say "Salamat ho" when they ask the other passengers to pass their fare. I really make it a point to listen the past months, and really, it's very rare. The next is that there are those who really don't care. Haha. The money is already on their face, yet they won't give a damn to hand it over to the next passenger. It's sometimes irritating, but oh well, ganun eh. :P

Second experience: "Sandali lang ho, may bata (matanda)!"
There are two kinds of passengers that draw special attention, (1) children, and (2) senior citizens (but let me add a third, but I seldom encounter them: differently-abled). I appreciate how passengers show their concern for the said people when they are boarding or alighting from a jeep. They would even sometimes even get mad at the driver if he doesn't listen and moves the vehicle. The sight of passengers guiding a child or an elderly until s/he reaches her/his seat is really heartwarming. It gives me reassurance that people do still care.


For the DVD.

When I got home from my breakfast date with Ate Judy, there was a man in our living room who was selling pirated DVDs. I then sat next to him to choose among the piles what I wanted. During that time, he started to tell us that his wife was afraid to sell pirated DVDs because she's scared that they might get caught and sent to jail. Then he further said that he was confident in selling pirated DVDs (even if it's really against the law) because if The President could get away with spending millions for eating dinner, then how could he be sent to jail by "just" selling pirated DVDs?

It was so sad to hear that. So that's his mentality for the current issues. It just saddens me because there is also a big possibility that other people also hold the same principle. They think that they could get off with their petty crimes because someone in the highest position was not even questioned much for the millions people said she stole from the People of this country. If that is the kind of example we get from someone we elected (even that phrase is questionable, I think), then what exactly are the values that we uphold? I am scared for our people who might just be like that man selling DVDs.

I guess all I can do now is work hard and continue investing in the goodness of Man. Continue with Formation. This is the most concrete thing that I could do.







Sige lang.

Ateneo Graphed

This is a cool site:

ATENEO GRAPHED




Enjoy!

Sessions

My schedule, just so I won't forget:

August

13 JEEP, 430-6 @ CTC302
15 Th131, 845 @ FAVR
15 Seniors', 230 @ Gesu
17 JEEP, 930-1030 @ SS Conf Rm 1&2
18 JEEP, 12-130 @ Comm D
19 Th131, 845 @ Chapel
20 JEEP, 9-1030 @ Bel208
21 Th131, 845 @ Chapel
22 Th131, 845 @ FAVR

Happy!

Happy birthday, Bubbles! :)

Yey. I love you, girl! Mag-aral kang mabuti, dahil sa iyo nakasalalay ang future legal matters ko. Hahaha.




Big hug!

Denied and Discerning

Okay, first official blog entry on this topic.

So I got the results of my Canadian Tourist Visa application, and I was denied. And because of that, it got me to start discerning on the next steps.

When the courier got my application form, I stopped thinking of what I should do. Haha. I just thought about the things I could do in Canada--write, read books, hang out with Ate, go on a food trip with TJ and Jam, be all sabaw with Inca, meet with other relatives, experience my first winter, walk all over town, ride trains to anywhere, and whatever else. Everybody said that the visa was a sure shot. It was so easy to get one since it's just a tourist visa. Everybody said that I'll get the visa, and I should because I needed that break.

But I didn't get it. I was denied.

Then it dawned on me. What do I do next? I can't bum around for the next six months (I was supposed to stay in Canada for six months).

While I was waiting for the results of the application, Allan told me that there was an opening at CLCP, and I felt that I liked it. I felt that it was for me. But I was unsure because I was waiting for the embassy. It was frustrating. Haha, it was like "Bakit ngayon ka lang dumating sa buhay ko?"

When I got the news that I was denied, I told Allan about it, and his immediate answer was "Interested ka pa ba sa CLC?" Haha. That was so reassuring. I'm beginning to think that I was denied because I have things to do here.

But still, I am discerning. There are still fears within me. Am I now ready for a full time job? Will I do better this time? Is this work for me? Or even, am I for this work?


I'm still discerning.








Pray with me.

OC Blues

(in no particular order)

- Fix my room. The two beds, the books, buy a bookshelf, put up my OT projects, frame and put up drawings, etc.
- Fix my Yahoo! Mail account. Sort them into folders. Goal: ZERO Mail in Main inbox.
- Finish my drawing projects. May utang pa ako kay Mara and teRina.
- Do that Disaster Management research paper.


Hmmm, I just remembered, I have a to-do blog for 2009, why am I posting this here? Hahaha. :) Anyway, I'm publishing this and then writing a long entry.

R.I.P.: GAWAD PAMBANSANG ALAGAD NG SINING, 1972 - 2009

[Nakuha ko sa email, magandang ibahagi.. Hanggang Sining ba naman eh nababahiran na ng kanyang nakakairitang pulitika??]


Requiescat In Pace

GAWAD PAMBANSANG ALAGAD NG SINING
(NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDS)
1972 - 2009

PAGDADALAMHATI NG BAYAN PARA SA GAWAD PAMBANSANG ALAGAD NG SINING
(NECROLOGICAL SERVICE FOR THE NATIONAL ARTIST AWARDS)

2pm - 5pm
Lamay: CCP Front Ramp
Prusisyon: Plaza Roma hanggang NCCA
Libing: NCCA

P R O G R A M A
(P R O G R A M)

PAGTITIPON

Kung saan magtitipon ang mga nagluluksang Pambansang Alagad ng Sining, mga artista, pangkulturang manggagawa at ang mga nakikiramay sa CCP Ramp

PROSESYONAL

Ng nga Kababaihang Nakaitim Na May Lulang Korona ng Bulaklak

LUPANG HINIRANG

Pangungunahan ni Bituin Escalante ang pag-awit ng "Lupang Hinirang"

PAMBUNGAD

Pagpapahalaga ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Salvador Bernal sa layunin ng pagtitipon

PARANGAL

Pagpapahalaga ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining BenCab tungkol sa birtud ng Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining

PAG-ALAY NG BULAKLAK AT HIMIG

Pag-alay ng bulaklak ng mga dumalong Pambansang Alagad ng Sining habang tumutugtog ang musikerong si Renato Lucas sa cello

BALAC

Balagtasan ng mga makata ukol sa usaping "Paano Kumatay ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining"

PAYASO

Ihahayag ni Juana Change ang kanyang panig na pinamagatang "National Artist na Ako! - Have Mercy on Us!"

DALIT

Ipagdadasal ng lahat ang Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining at mananalangin na iadya sa mga budhing masasama. Pamumunuan ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Virgilio Almario habang sumasagot ang Lahat ng sabay sabay.

MANIPESTO

Babasahin ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining Bienvenido Lumbera ang Panawagan at Paninindigan ng mga Artista, Pangkulturang Manggagawa at ng Nakikiramay na Bayan.

RESESYONAL

Isasakay ang Korona ng Bulaklak sa auto-punebre at hahanay ang mga sasakyan para sa motorcade patungong Intramuros

PRUSISYON NG TAUMBAYAN

Magtitipon ang lahat sa Plaza Roma at magpuprisyon patungo sa Tanggapan ng National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

LIBING

Ililibing ang Gawad Pambansang Alagad ng Sining sa paanan ng Tanggapan, iiwan ang Korona ng Bulaklak at magtitirik ng mga kandila.

Pinapayuhan ang lahat na magsisidalo na:

Magsuot ng panluksa
Magdala ng itim na payong
Magdala ng kandila
Ipaalam kung maaring magsama ng mga kabayan sa sasakyan papuntang Intramuros (car pool)

Ito ay nagsisilbing imbitasyon at maaring ipalaganap sa lahat ng mga nagmamahal sa Sining, Kultura at Katotohanan.

Vis-a-vis-a

Denied.