7 things

September 13, 2009

No, it’s not “your eyes, your smiles, your old Levi’s”, and “when we kissed I’m hypnotized”.  LOL.These are the 7 things evolving inside my head like celestial bodies. And don’t worry (oh well if you are), Miley Cyrus is not one of them. Haha.

1. For the past few blog entries I seemed to skip, unintentionally though, writing about the matters of the heart. But I realized that it would be more “valuable” if I spew it out into the virtual world. I know I can just be anybody out here who rides the “needless self-promotion” bandwagon, but it would be nice to put that ride to good use. Here I go:

When we’re at the peak of our feelings, we always think that forever is forever, and that healing seems far-fetched. I myself went through that phase and that phase is not all sugar. But for this matter, time is my friend, because time gently and gradually hushed the angry waves  of my heart. “Now” is all that we really have, because tomorrow it will never be the same. We won’t always feel the way we do. Realizing this has both become boon and bane for me. Boon because, of course, there is nowhere else to go but forward. Nothing else to do if you did what you got to. Just as what I have tweeted:

  

And it’s hard to go on when you don’t want to, right?  The most difficult enemy is the self, and the free will that resists. On the other hand, my “artistic” side finds it bane because there are songs which I have yet to write, songs which I feel indebted to write and which I believe will help me free everything. But it’s difficult when you’re not in the same state as when the idea stroke. Creatively you’re there, but emotionally you’re detached. I’m still trying to reconcile both areas. I have to! Sayang naman kasi yung ideas. Hehe.

2. I’ve had some “chance encounters” [insert *evil grin* here] in the past few weeks, and they’ve been renting quite a space in my mind for some time now. Cheesy as it sounds, it makes me wonder what if I got to know more of these people, more than a brief exchange of looks and smiles, or a few hours of non-stop conversation, and not merely be passers-by? Maybe that curiousity, that mystery, is what keeps me into thoughts of it. 

3. On one of our breakfast talks, my Pupi told me (well this is the paraphrased version LOL): “You don’t have to make us proud. Ang importante yung mag-enjoy ka at maging happy ka”. I held a lump in my throat for a long while. These simple words are what I will hold on to.

4.  “Playful banter about pranks or petty crimes committed in school or at work,including youthful escapades, may accidentally be read by the staff of the company you have applied for a job. It is prudent to bear in mind that once a message or photo is uploaded in the Internet, that material can be read, not only by its intended receiver, but by anyone who has access to a computer.”

-  Raul J. Palabrica, “Social Networking Risks”

My eyes grew wide while reading this article. It reminded me of a playful/naughty remark I told my friends on one of our virtual hangout places not long ago, but in no ill intention whatsoever to whom I “attributed” it.  Wahwahwah. Oh please don’t sue me. I have come in peace. *beautiful eyes*

5.  I really really really wish (to the nth power) to the heavens above that in the very near future I’d be able to attend a Songwriting workshop somewhere. I’m more than willing to work my butt off to earn money for it. Oh please, Bro.

6.  These little moments, simple moments I get to spend time with Mu and Pu are just so precious to me. I cherish everything, all the laughter, the jokes, the pranks, the intellectual debates, the heart-to-heart talks, that day when we watched Up. I cherish that day, Pupi’s birthday, when he sang me a song called “Just You” (”with a big brown eyes she came my wayyyyyy…”) and just a while ago when our karaoke-ing (here goes my penchant for inventing words) neighbors sang Michael Buble’s “Sway”, we danced even though we both have left feet. Haha. These sweet moments really mean a lot to me.

7.  A new beginning is coming. I can sniff its aroma like fresh grass and fully-grown flowers in the field. So help me Bro.

The Power Couple

August 24, 2009

 

 

I waited with caffeine-stricken mind and palpitating heart (LOL, I drank coffee around 7 in the evening) for 10:45 PM last night to catch “The Last Journey of Ninoy”. It’s a documentary produced by the Benigno Aquino Jr. Foundation and Unitel Productions. For someone like me who’s a Post-EDSA baby, I needed some outside boost so that I wouldn’t droop while watching such a relevant and historical production that would give me a better insight on how to better appreciate my freedom as a Filipino.

 

 Ninoy Aquino, I believe, was marked with an important mission before he came to Earth (and specifically, to the islands of the Philippines). His character, his passion, and his determination just came serendipitously together in order to make a hero out of him. How intense he was during that speech when he was asserting his convictions about Marcos’ desire to save the democracy but by imposing his iron hand he killed it. 

 

“What can one man do? I have no money, I have no army. I only have my indomitable spirit.”

 

But he wasn’t just one man, he’s THE man. His mind was set to set the country free, and his faith, though tested countless of times, was unwavering. I was especially touched with his incarceration in Nueva Ecija. When he didn’t have anything with him and he shared that during those hard times he would fiddle his fingers, walk from side to side in his 4×5 room, count seconds to minutes to hours until he would fall asleep.  With that he knew what loneliness means. Oh man, the tears in my eyes were just flooding. More so when Cory and her children went there for a visit and they couldn’t really hold each other because a chicken wire stood between them. Wahwahwah. 

 

Watching the whole film reinforced in me the idea that in achieving your heart’s greatest desire, a lot of sacrifices would definitely have to be made, and a lot of hardships will have to be gone through. And I remembered what one of the priests said (I forgot his name, my memory gap bad) during Cory’s necrological service that those who are gifts from God shall suffer. Suffering, then is an essential element in the fulfillment of a particular purpose.

 

Cory and Ninoy’s love for each other is just so amazing it makes me cry. Much more than their love for the country, I can’t help but admire how strong their love for each other was and how they brought the best in each other,  how they kept their faith in God and in each other, as what Cory has shared in her final interview. Amazing Power Couple who became important catalysts for People Power. 

 

Ninoy’s final words in the film, which are actually part of his tear-jerking and riveting love letter for Cory, just tore me, but hopefully in a good way.

 

“I’ll try to call you tonight if the authorities will allow me. Otherwise just remember me in your dreams.”

 

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. True love. True love. True love. Lucky are those who get to know True Love and get to Save the World (or a Country, at least) at the same time.

 

And with all the cheesiness aside, I’m just so proud as a Filipino, sharing this race with two of the greatest Filipinos that ever lived.

 

Photo credit: Tribute to Ninoy

florilegium

August 16, 2009

In my (desperate) attempt to come up with an (original) title which could sum up all the things I want to talk about in this entry (reminiscent of my previous one with an association to a frantic rifle), I scoured my mind for words other than “hodgepodge”, “miscellaneous”, “halo-halo” and “chopsuey”. Unsatisfied, I typed in the Google Search Toolbar “define: miscellany”. That’s where I found an interesting word which became the title of this entry. Geez, such a long story. Haha. Interesting as I’ve said, “florilegium” means:

 

an anthology of short literary pieces and poems and ballads etc.

 

Weee, I learned something today. Albeit it doesn’t exactly mean “miscellaneous” or “various” things. Hehe.

BULILIT, BULILIT

* Yesterday I had another sweet and naughty encounter with a kid. It happened in one of the waiting areas of the hospital Mu, Pu and I went to. To kill time I played Sudoku and I didn’t expect anything “childish” to happen. Haha, Then on our right we saw this little girl holding a piece of biscuit and looking at us. She was smiling. So we smiled back. No I grinned back. She seemed to cheered extra up and began playing around like hiding from behind the seat and went “Bulaga!” on us everytime. We’d laugh and she did too. I don’t know how many kinds of faces I made just by playing with her.  Haha. On several ocassions she would reach her biscuit out to us, as if offering. Then we’d stretch our hands out as if begging for her saliva-filled crackers. Then she retreated and put the entire piece of biscuit on her mouth. The people near us seemed to notice and perhaps made an entertainment out of our scene. Haha. The little girl’s guardians didn’t seem to mind much, they were fine with it and let her play along.

When she went down her seat and walked around, she on many times almost went to where we were but would always retreat back. Maybe she’s shy? Pupi said, “Nagsisiste eh”. He suggested we give her some candies. So Mume took out our candy bag (Friends you know how this looks like *winkadoodle*). I got the last piece of my Sugus strawberry candy, and two Lipps candies - Mango and Tamarind and handed it to Pupi. He stretched his right arm out to her. “Wag niyo siyang tingnan para hindi mahiya.”  She just almost always gave in but always ran back to her guardians. When it was our time to go, Pupi simply gave it to her. Then I said, “Babay” with the biggest grin I could muster.

WAZSOUP?

* Also from yesterday, for lunch we tried this small restaurant near the hospital, called “Country Chicken”. I was craving for Chinese food and it was the nearest answer to my palette and tummy. It was our first time there, so I decided to try their “Chicken Special” with Yang Chow Fried Rice. Pupi ordered that too, except that his is just plain rice. And as for Mu, she simply wanted the regular chicken coz she thought she won’t be able to finish the whole thing. Haha. We also ordered some “Nido Soup” to make our meal more complete and engaging. Yeahbah!

While sipping my soup I realized something. Soup is my comfort food. And I think that Soup is a nurturing food. A Ratatouille moment hit me and I recalled when I was little when I got sick Pupi will make me some soup or some gruel and it never fails to make me feel better.  Sunny days, rainy days, windy days, a soup would make me a happy Wengky.

WAY BACK INTO LOVE… FOR PET SOCIETY

* After my friend Adie convinced me how fun the all-new fishing activity in Pet Society, I decided to visit my pet Wenggoy Jr. after eons of leaving him with 0% happiness, 0% hygiene and 0% health. And then all my love for taking care of a virtual pet in the tradition of Neopets are all coming back to me now. New items woke up the “inner decorator” in me so I get to have a virtual kind of mental exercise through decorating my pet’s house. I still have a long way of earning gold coins to go. Haha. Then last night Wenggoy Jr. entered the Cash Shop only to find the items I kind of “envisioned” to be on the house’s facade:

   The Plate Armour Decor, Magic Stone Decor and Stone Shield Decor are wanteddddddddddd! Reminds me of King Arthur. The orange royal bed would also be love, but there’s a danger that Wenggoy would blend with the color coz he’s yellow/orange! LOL!

This Viking ship would also be an excellent display. Oh man. Can it not be purchased with real moneyyyyyy?

But too bad, I would need real money via credit card to purchase those items. I wonder how and why Playfish came up with that idea. It’s just weird to purchase, in dollars take note, virtual items when you could just buy something else, something tangible and useful in real life! There was a suggestion I read on a Pet Society fan blog site about having instead a conversion system. Like for instance, 1000 gold coins equals 1 Playfish coin! Sounds more applicable to me.

bang bang bang!

August 14, 2009

I’m gonna hit this blog post like a restless rifle and list down these random and not-so random thoughts in my mind recently:

* It’s my first time to buy my own copy of TIME Magazine. I got the August 17, 2009 issue a while ago with Cory Aquino on the cover (Yipee! Yipee!). I can imagine this as an important memorabilia for me, like hanging on my wall or something (huwhattt?). Whoops, I initially thought though that everything in there is about her, but the special report is only composed of three articles. I’m excited to read them as well as the other stuff in it. Wee squeezing some reading.

* Now I’ve realized why I’m still here, and why I didn’t chose the path I was confronted of taking before. I’d rather be here doing my best to realize my dreams day by day even little by little, than be somewhere else just because. And God knows how very much thankful I am being here. The pleasure of doing Nothing, is the pleasure of doing Everything.

* Learning a skill is one of the most challenging (I don’t wanna say “difficult” - my bias for words and how can they impact the person saying them) forms of learning, because it is not just acquiring “technical” knowlege about it but also developing the discipline in order to do it well and long. I am still, very much, a very novice novice. Haha. But I’m working on ittttttttt!

* In connection in above’s last word, another ArchuInfluence (as in Archuleta influence): If you see and/or follow his Twitter page, you’d notice his penchant for repeating letters, like, “Meet me in St. Louiiis Louiis meet me at the faiiir. Haha. That’s where we are today” and “It’s enough, to make kings and vagabonds, believe the very beeeesstt“. Recently I noticed myself doing the same thing. Not just because I love the person who does it, but I have fun doing that toooooooooo. It gives this impression that you really feel strongly for what you are saying or you want to hold it a bit longer. Naks.

* There is something, like a catchy pop song (yes Lady Gaga?) that you can’t and in some way admitedly or not, keeps on playing in your head. You battle it out like a broken record - stop. play. stop. play. You want it to stop because you don’t feel right getting on with it. But another part of you want to keep playing it because it feels good inside, tickles those parts that you thought are numb. Result: a confusing case of LSS.

* That issue involving Willie Revillame and his “uncalled for” comment during the simulcast airing of Wowowee and Cory Aquino’s funeral: I think I understand what he was trying to say, something like “mahirap magpasaya ng mga tao kung nakikita ko na sa labas ay nagluluksa dahil sa pagkamatay ni Cory. Nagluluksa rin ako para sa kanya pero may trabaho akong magpasaya ng tao kahit na may bigat sa loob ko”. But the thing is, the way he said it appeared arrogant. Perhaps the tone of his voice and the rise of his temper were attributed to his staff but then it was heard all over national and global TV. It was bad publicity for him but I think to suspend him indefinitely as a host in the noontime show would be a demerit to the whole program. He is the man of Wowowee. He is sorry and he is forgiven by the Aquinos. That should be a lesson for him to be more responsible in his words and actions from now on.

* Have you seen the latest advertisements of Papa Ketchup? Story 1 is set in a classroom and the teacher is lecturing/writing something on the board, while the students have their books on their desk. Everytime the teacher turns her back and writes, the students put down their books and eat their was-it-chicken-? meal with Papa Ketchup. Story 2 is set in a music rehearsal or class where three students have a practice of do-re-mi with their instructor on piano. The teacher got angry and reprimanded them “From the top!!!!!!!” because the third kid is not singing. Why? Because he is eating his friggin’ chicken with Papa Ketchup! Just my two cents, this is a bad ad. It doesn’t teach kids the proper values they should live by - the value of respect and behaving accordingly in class. I hope something is done regarding this. Or am I the only one noticing? Geez, this reminds me of our thesis and the Lucky Me “Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga” advocacy. Ayiheee, school.

the pilgrimage to Cory Aquino

August 5, 2009

What do I care about EDSA and Ninoy and Cory and the song “Magkaisa” and Martial Law, I was born after it? I say that I believe that if it weren’t for the events that took place more than two decades ago my fellow youth and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the freedom, the movement for individual and expression, and that we can go out the streets with the assurance that we can.

 

When I turned on the television last August 3 and saw the sea of people in Ayala Avenue waiting for Cory Aquno’s convoy, I wanted to go there. I wanted to be part of a crowd made of people from all walks of life who paid respect to an inspirational icon. But it was over before I could reach there. Good thing my Mume told me that government employees were allowed to go to Manila Cathedral during office hours. So I told her, “Mu, punta tayong Manila Cathedral, gusto ko pong makita si Cory”. Later in the afternoon I learned that my Pupi signed up to go there. Hooray, the Sanchez family shall invade the Cathedral the next day. Haha.

 

We arrived in Intramuros at 2 o’clock in the afternoon of August 4, yesterday, together with their other officemates. “Mukhang maikli lang ang pila ah”, Pupi thought. We excitedly joined the bunch of people walking towards the end of the line. If Dory says “Keep swimming, keep swimming” to Nemo, we kept saying, “Keep walking, keep walking”, to ourselves. And we “keep hoping, keep hoping” that we’ll reach the end of the line. But we went pass through San Agustin Church, way pass NCCA, then pass PLM – where I remembered Frenk because he’s studying there and Pupi kidded me to txt him to buy me snacks there LOL, it seemed never-ending like a tunnel except that you’re not looking for the light at the end of it but that person everyone walking/running like you were coveting to follow.

 

Until we reached Fort Santiago… Fort Santiago, man! And there was the last person in line. We let out a big sigh of joyful relief. It took us 30 minutes to reach the end of the line. Wooh.

 

That 30 minutes stretched into a long 8 hours of patiently waiting and standing in line. We didn’t expect to wait that long because we didn’t know that the necrological service would take place at 4PM to be followed by a High Mass. Pero sabi ko, andun na rin naman, bakit ka pa gi-give up? Kung yung pinunta mo dun ay para makita si Cory then you should stick to it. That’s what’s on my mind. And we did. The journey of those 8 long hours was sweet, funny, himalang di masyadong nakakagutom (knowing me and my metabolism) pero nakakauhaw at nakakaihi LOL, nakakainis, at nakakaloka dahil sa bad case of bipolar attack of the weather. That’s why I want to call it a pilgrimage and an adventure. Cory is too kind she’s almost holy. :D

 

HIGHLIGHTS (naks may ganun talaga. Most of this would be written in my vernacular para mas feel):

 

* Yung kuya na nag-o-offer ng CR nila for P3. “Halika na kayo!”, tawag siya ng tawag, lumalabas na yung mga litid niya sige pa rin. Sorry naman at ako na ang na-entertain sa kanyang mga bulging litid. Hehe.

 

* Yung mga kasabayan namin sa pila na mga estudyante (ehemm na-miss ko raw ang school), naulinigan ko yung ilang napag-usapan nila. Yung isang girl, sabi niya, “Pumunta raw sina Kim at Gerald” and she was saying something like too bad she didn’t get to see them. Tapos yung isa naman, nag-survey sa mga kaklase niya, “Pano pag si GMA ang namatay?” (aba’t napaka-futuristic ng batang ito, ano? Hehe) “Ay di ako pipila nang ganito”, her classmate responded.

 

* Nung umabot na kami sa Victoria, yung street kung nasaan yung NYK-Fil, isang shipping management company (o diba inalam ko talaga), nakita namin na may pila na rin dun, which meant na umikot na ulit yung pila at malapit nang magmeet yung gitna at dulo. Kami na ang na-amaze.

 

* Nakalimutan ni Mume na magdala ng tsinelas at siya na ang naka-heels all along, kaya sinabi ko sa kanya na magpalit na lang muna kami habang pinagpapahinga niya ang kanyang mga paa sa aking flat shoes. Those times na suot ko yung sapatos niya, thankfully, dun ko naalalang mag-straight body. Hahaha. Ohwee.

 

* Sa gitna ng pila dumadaan ang mga nagtitinda at namimigay. Nagtitinda included tindero at tindera ng mga Cory pins, Cory shirts, Cory ribbons, Cory bracelets, Cory umbrellas, at kung anu-ano pang in memory of Tita Cory. Siyempre hindi mawawala ang mga nagtitinda ng balot, penoy, kropek, taho, mani, kasoy, at kung anu-ano pang pantawid. Pinagkaguluhan of all ang mga “Absolute Boys” – ako lang nag-coin niyan LOL – mga kuyang namimigay ng libreng Absolute mineral water para sa amin sa pila. Ayihee ang sweet ng Absolute. At dahil nga “the best things in life are freebies”, pinagkaguluhan. Ako nakigulo lang ako para makapagpicture. Photo op much? LOL.

 

* Nung malapit na kami sa may San Agustin Church (which meant nangangalahati na!), niyaya ko si Pupi na mag-drop by sa loob. Hindi pa kasi ako nakakapunta dun. Ako na ang na-amaze sa ceiling na may intricate paintings at dun sa mga antigong retablo ng mga santo na may mga bato-batong napaka-intricate ng pagkakagawa. At gaya ng lahat ng naging first time ko sa mga simbahang napuntahan ko, nag-wish ako. Buti naman this time mas matino na yung wish ko. Haha.

 

* Sa tapat ng San Agustin Church ay may isang “Casa Monja” something (na-memory gap ako sa full name) at may nagbabantay na isang kuya Guardia Civil. Nakakatuwa yung mga ilang nanay na nakapila ay nagpapicture kasama siya! Siya na ang heartthrob. LOL.

 

* Sarado na ang mga restrooms sa mga malalapit na establishments kaya sinamahan ako ni Pupi sa CBCP kasi sabi nung isa sa mga kuya guard ay meron dun. Pagdating naman namin dun sabi sa’min ay “open” daw yung CR nila dun. Hala, eh how open is open? Hehe, kaya ayun nagpunta nalang kami sa WOW ni Pupi upon Kuya Guard’s suggestion. Turned out, yung WOW pala na sinasabi ay ang Clamshell! Clamshell, man! Nostalgic kasi nagperform kaming mga taga-Teatrong Walang Pangalan dun tungkol sa kasaysayan ng Caloocan. Wah. Nadaanan namin yung stage at backstage at naalala ko at sinabi kay Pupi na dun sa side na yun kami nakapuwesto nun bago mag-umpisa yung play. Hayayay. High School Memories. J Dami ring mga tinda, pero kumusta naman di sila nagtitinda ng per kilong kasoy kundi per baso lang tapos whooping P80?! Oh man.

 

* Pagbalik namin galing Clamshell pumasok kami dun sa isa sa mga open space papasok sa pila (lulusot ka lang sa lubid). Tapos biglang may mga nag-react na tao, “Uy walang sisingit!” Sabi ko, “nandun po yung mga kasama namin, dun po kami nakapila (pointing as far as I can), hindi po namin kayo lalamangan, magkakababayan po tayo eh”. Natawa na lang sila.

 

* Nakailang ulan at ambon din ang pinagdaanan namin. Grabe yung pinakamalakas ay yung dun sa may bandang San Agustin Church pa rin. As in bumuhos ng tuluy-tuloy, ang lakas pati nung hangin, naghiwa-hiwalay kami nina Mu at Pu sa pila kasi nagkakabasaan na kami dahil sa mga payong. At dun na nag-umpisang gumulo nang bonggang-bongga yung pila.

 

* Nagdikit-dikit na yung mga tao, yung mga katabi ko kanina lang biglang nag-iba, yung mga nasa likod napunta sa harap tapos yung ibang out-of-nowhere parang kabuteng sumulpot na lang. Kaya sinabihan namin sila na hindi doon ang pila. Hindi sila natitinag. Dun na raw sila kanina pa. Hindi rin sila natinag sa mga “Ayaw ni Cory ng ganyan”, “Magkakababayan tayo”, “Nagtiyaga kaming pumila rito” na parinig. Sa kalye sa gilid namin may mga ilang pulis na nakatayo. So naisip ko, what if lapitan namin sila para magpatulong na ayusin yung pila. Sabi ni Pupi ewan lang daw niya kung respondehan talaga kami, tapos tinanong ko siya, “Hindi po ba yun parte ng trabaho nila? Ano po bang trabaho nila?” “Peace and order”, sabi niya. “Ayun pala eh! We’re so not in order right now!” O ako na ang nag-rant at natawa yung katabi ko. Hehe. Si Mume ang lumapit at kinausap yung mga pulis nang unti-unting gumalaw ang pila. Eventually narinig din ang aming daing at may dumating na mga bagong pulis at unti-unti nang umayos ang pila, mula sa hindi mo mabilang kung ilan dahil para na kaming karayom, naging dalawa na lang. Sa wakas. Sinabihan kami nung mga pulis na, “O, walang magpapasingit ah. Tingnan niyo yang mga katabi niyo”.

 

PILA BLUES

Here I present the different styles of paniningit (LOL):

1. Pasimpleng lalapit/tatabi sa’yo. Kapag medyo nakahalata ka na at tatanungin mo siyang, “Ate saan ka nakapila?”, magpapacute at sasabihing, “Dito na lang ako”. Ay isumbong na.

2. Mage-excuse lang sa’yo, tapos tatabi. Magse-cellphone kuno kala mo may kausap tapos hindi na aalis. Ay isumbong na.

3. Tatabihan ka. Pag tinanong mo, sasabihin sa’yo, “Kanina pa kong alas-dose rito, di ko makita yung mga kasama ko”. Ay isumbong na.

4. May ibang mananamantala pag medyo nagkaron ng commotion dahil may namimigay ng libreng diyaryo, kinausap nalang namin ng maayos.

 

In fairness naman yung iba matinong kausap at naiintindihan naman kami, pero yung iba talaga matigas ang ulo at kailangan pang sabihin sa pulis. Nakakainis lang kasi nagpunta tayo dun para magbigay-galang sa isang mabuti at matapat na tao kaya sana man lang i-embody natin yun sa mga sarili natin. Yun bang wag nating gayahin yung iba na ginagamit yung kapangyarihan o oportunidad para manlamang ng kapwa. On a lighter note, nakakatawa kasi yung mga sumisingit kung hindi nasa grupo namin dun naman sa kabilang side, tapos yung mga taong kalapit namin sa mga ka-officemate nila Mu nagsusumbong. Nadama siguro nila ang DSWD vibes nila.

 

15 SECONDS OF FAME

Eto laughtrip naman. Dumating yung isang reporter na taga-GMA 7. Mume and her officemates kept on guessing and guessing who he is hanggang sa yung isa sa kanila naalala na: si Cesar Apolinar pala yun. Hala tumapat sa’min yung cameraman at inilawan na yung camera at kinuhanan kami. Todo kaway yung mga ka-officemate nina Mu. Ako, kunwari shy LOL, tingin-tingin lang. Tiyaka hindi rin ako makikita kasi tinakpan ako nung mga bigla na lang pumunta sa harap ng camera at kumaway. O sila na ang nag-crave sa kanilang 15 seconds of fame. Mukha ngang inabangan pa nila yung pangalawang beses na magset-up eh. Eh kaso lumipat na. Hehehe. Sabi ni Pupi, “Okey lang yan kahit di ka nakita sa TV”, “Oo naman Pupi okey lang yun, balang araw ako na ang mag-iinvade sa buong frame.” LOL.

 

PEOPLE’S COMMENTS

Sa tagal sa pila di maiiwasang mag-comment yung mga tao na “ang tagal”, “sana naman umandar na yung pila”, “kanina pa kami dito”, “grabe naman ‘to for nationalism!”, ako rin napasabi ako na sana di nalang muna nag-service at mass. Pero na-enlighten ako sa sinabi ni Pupi: It’s still a private affair kahit na public figure si Cory. Siyempre yung mga kapamilya niya gusto siyang makasama for the last time. Hindi rin naman nila kami nirequire na pumunta dun, although siyempre surely naappreciate naman nila yung ginawa namin. Oo nga naman, choice namin yun and it entailed sacrifice on our part. Siguro yun na yung munting magagawa namin para sa lahat ng nagawa niya para sa bansa.

 

THAT FAMILIAR SMILE

Excited ako nung papasok na kami sa loob ng Cathedral. Sinubukan ko nga ring mag-strategize kung pano ako makakapag-picture eh. Kaso nung nasa loob na kami at nilabas ko na camera ko sinaway ako nung isa sa mga guwardiya. Di na rin ako nagpumilit, baka pa makumpiska cam ko. Hehe.

 

Mabilis man ang pacing ng pagsilip feeling ko slow-mo ang naging paglakad ko papunta sa coffin niya. Nang makita ko, hinanap ko agad yung mukhang pamilyar sakin, yung nakikita ko sa TV at diyaryo, pero for some reason nawala yung familiarity sa face, except sa lips, and I can really say na nakangiti siya.

 

SPOTTED

* Mga taga-USTe! Yung UST bus nakita ko, nakita yung kuya na nagdrive sa’min nung Retreat.  Hehe.Sayang wala akong kakilala sa mga students. Si Kuya Pipoy lang sa EdTech, kaso di niya ko nakita, tuloy-tuloy din kasi yung lakad nila eh. May mga students din sa Chowking, kung san kami sumilong at kumain ng aming first decent meal after 8 hours of only Sky Flakes, Quaker Oat Cookies, Lush, Sugus at Absolute Mineral Water.

* Sa Manila Cathedral: sina Ginger Conejero (tama ba spelling ko?) at Cory Vidanes. Sayang mag-o-audition na sana ako. Hehe.

 

FINAL NOTES

Sa totoo lang hindi ako napagod. Tulad din nung mga sinabi ng mga college students (ako na naman ang feeling estudyante pang-ilan na ‘to LOL) kay Kris Aquino, ito, bilang isang Post-EDSA baby, ang magagawa ko para makapagpasalamat sa mga malalaking naiambag ng ina niyang si Cory Aquino para sa bansa at para sa mga Pilipino, at para rin ipahayag yung paghanga namin sa kanya at yung pagbibigay na rin ng assurance na gagawin ko yung best ko para maging mabuti at kapaki-pakinabang akong mamamayan, na kung anuman yung mga talentong binigay sakin ni God gagamitin ko sa mabuti, at yung mga tinuro sa’kin ng mga magulang ko at mga guro ko patuloy kong isasabuhay.

 

Hindi naman mahirap mahalin at hangaan ang gaya ni Cory dahil mabuti siya at matapat. Simple lang din siya mamuhay. Kaya sobrang na-attach sa kanya tayong mga Pilipino kasi she’s very righteous and simple, which is rare these days dahil na rin sa proliferation ng mga taong hindi ginagamit sa kabutihan ang kapangyarihan at mas inuuna ang sarili bago ang bayan, which is wrong dahil opisyal sila eh, tungkulin nila tayong paglingkuran. Now we are hungry for that kind of leader. And hopefully we are hopeful that we will find another one like her.

 

Sana talaga lahat tayo ma-inspire sa kanya na maniwala sa bawat isa, magpahalaga, magbigay ng respeto at maging matapat. Mga Pilipino tayo… MAGKAKABABAYAN.

 

Salamat, President Cory. You Rock!