Life's A Trip...

photo courtesy of Dino Orbeta Christmas is indeed just around the corner.  Realized it when I found out that I still have a lot of gifts to buy with so little time. Christmas.  And I thought that time wouldn't be able to change it's meaning and the way people view it.  But it has, in fact, many people nowadays are mostly pre-occupied to even care.  Christmas to most people today, it seems to me, is just the Christmas songs playing inside the malls and other public places, expensive Christmas trees displayed in said places, and bonuses.  No longer is it about the enjoyment one feels while fixing the Christmas tree with other members of the family, and then sharing countless nights sitting under it just watching its lights dance.  No longer is it about Santa Claus and the rewards he give to good boys and girls.  No longer is it giving unused clothings, toys, and other basic necessities to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.  No longer is it about the birth of Jesus and t

May 25, 2007.  It was past office hours, but me and a few officemates were still at our pantry watching the last episode of Maging Sino Ka Man .  While the others had already left from the office to wait at the Motorpool garage, we stayed behind pretending that we were not that excited of the events that would unfold in the next few hours.  It had only been a few months after the rationalization process that formed our new office, and though most of us have been around for many years, this was actually the first time that we'd all be together on a trip out of town for our so-called "team building".  So obviously, nobody had any idea how the trip would turn out, which made it more exciting.  But what really excited us most, was our destination - Vigan. Here goes the story of our journey.  Shiela, Ella, Ate Mhay and Lui passing time at the Motorpool garage me and my seatmate, Ate Lenny In Vigan . lagoon inside the University of Northern Philippines (UNP), as viewed

Dark skies and thunder...A band is doing its rendition of Bob Marley's "Waiting in Vain".  R ain and sweet music...seems like it's going to be a good day. Rain and sweet music...always have been a great pair.  Days spent with friends while sipping coffee and chatting.  Miserable days spent alone by the window counting every trickle of rain dropping - drinking beer?  Maybe. Rain and sweet music - at times when you just want to relax...and times when you're thinking of blowing a hole in your head.  No time could be more ideal. Dance, soak, enjoy... Dark skies and thunder...s eems like it's going to be a good day...  Come over, let's talk and sip coffee.

Listening to Side A's "Only You", I can't help but wander back to a place where dreams were free and the spirit of youth still roams freely within me - my teenage years of course. Funny how time flies so fast, and with the way we live our lives today, it's almost next to impossible to take even just a few minutes off of our busy schedules to take time to reminisce or look back to our forever lost childhoods.  That's why for me, it's always a breather to go someplace where beautiful memories took place, paired of course with the music of the time, and with the friends you've shared those beautiful memories with, memories that will forever be etched in your mind.  It may be of the teenage love you thought you'd be with for the rest of your life and the memories of her and all the things you did - the talks from night 'till dawn, the sunsets you've watched together, the gifts, the petty quarrels, the way you miss her, the l

It was sometime in the late 80s.  I remember riding a jeep to Calbiga, one of the municipalities in Western Samar, together with my Uncle Leo a few days before its fiesta .  Yearly attendance in the said occassion had been a family tradition, and me and Uncle Leo went ahead to help with the preparations.  Being a kid at that time, I found the trip long and boring.  But even then, I already knew how to appreciate the beauty of the natural scenery unfolding before me, and I still remember how the countryside looked like to this day. The next day (or later that day), my mom arrived together with my siblings and some of my cousins, and treated us to  a snack at a nearby eatery.  After the treat, Mom toured us around town before going back to my grandmother's house for dinner.  The ambiance of the place had been one common of fiestas - busy hosts rushing last minute preparations, mobile stores selling toys and balloons scattered everywhere, students returning from the cities disembark

It had been a busy day and while inside a bus on my way home, all I could think about was reaching our house, eating a delicious meal, watching TV, and sleeping comfortably.  Then, as the bus made a turn on a bend, I glanced towards the window and saw this little girl.  Still clad in her worned-down elementary school uniform, the girl was sitting right in front of a KIA Motors display center, sipping what appears to be a plastic of "sago", and staring at all the vehicles passing her way, probably wondering what it feels like to be sitting inside one.  Looking at her, I can't help but feel pity for the girl - innocent and still unaware of the hardships of the real world.  True, she may be studying today, but for how long?  With the current situation of this country, the government being oblivious to the plight of its less fortunate citizens, and with the prevalence of greed and selfishness among most of those with money and power, it would be a miracle if the little girl w

Ps Isang hapong walang pasok, muli, hindi ko na naman napigilang maglakad-lakad sa loob ng main campus ng PUP, at kasabay noon, ang alalahanin ang nagdaang mga araw na masaya ko pang nakakasama ang barkada - mga kaklaseng sa loob ng apat na taon ay napalapit at naging bahagi na ng buhay ko.  Matagal-tagal na din mula ng huli kaming magkasama-sama, maliban sa ilan na kasama ko sa trabaho at kasabay kong binubuno ang pang-limang taon sa kolehiyo, at siyempre ang girlfriend ko na madalas kong nadadalaw sa Cavite.  Bukod sa kanila wala na. Ilang buwan pa lang ang nakakaraan mula ng magsipagtapos sila.  Sa kasamaang palad, naiwan ako at dalawa pa sa barkada.  Pero di tulad ng mga kasama kong naiwan, ako lang ang may klase sa main, at araw-araw, kahit saan mapadaan, kahit saan tumingin, di ko maiwasang may maalala sa mga lugar na tinambayan ng tropa - sa registrar, sa hallway, 1st hanggang 6th floors ng main building, sa oval, sa may flagpole, sa lagoon.  Parang kailan lang.  Ang hirap pala