Call it what you want: resignation lethargy, quarter-life crisis, or plain old sloth. The fact remains that I feel like I'm in limbo. I've got no energy to go to work but at the same time, I'm feeling the itch of not doing anything worthwhile these days.
I want to start over again, do something more meaningful. But before I can do that, I have to go through the motions of going to the office every day like a zombie, without accomplishing anything at all.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to rush my inevitable return. There are still too many things in Manila that I'm not ready to let go of. For instance, I've got my colleagues in work, many of whom have become close friends in the past few months. I've got my so-called independence and my favorite places in Manila which I haven't visited yet (paradoxical huh?).
The truth is, deep inside me, I wish I could stay here longer, not only for the people I'll be leaving behind but also for the sights and the scenery I have yet to see. But I also know that I won't start "living" again if I don't return home soon (Plus, I'll be living off my emergency funds for the next two weeks. Going home is my only option for survival).
So here I am: a spent force, lifeless, removed of all passion and any inner striving for excellence.
But here I am as well: giddy, excited, hands itching, mind's thumping, heart beating. All for the many opportunities and possibilities around the corner.
Despite the uneasiness this period is giving me, I feel happy that I'm at last heading somewhere better. My only remaining wish for now is that this episode ends as it should.
Finally, after weeks of delay, we went to Zambales for a much-needed summer outing. After the company outing the previous week, we were again anticipating another weekend getaway.
It was all in large part to the efforts of Tala, Clinton, and Uael that this trip even materialized. Uael found Gerwin/Jerwin, our tour guide, who offered what seemed to be a rock-bottom, dirt-cheap, too-good-to-be-true package proposal. And when another company declined to join us, they, especially Tala, invited others to join the trip so we could muster ten warm bodies for the package.
So on the midnight of May 15, I was in a van with nine other eager souls: Tala, Clinton, Uael, Ronron, April, Glenda, Bles, Heva and Ciara. Along with us were Cai and Jerwin, our two tour guides, and Sir Ramon, the driver. Ms. Malou and Lugay also tagged along since their rides home were along the route of our ride to Zambales.
Then we were off to Zambales. For midnight munches, we had a stopover somewhere, where we saw the Parokya Ni Edgar band eating dinner/breakfast in a wayside restaurant. We had another stopover in Olongapo city so we could order our own breakfast. During the ride, there was the singing, the laughter and Bles' version of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" ("Guys, maniwala kayo sa akin. Andito na tayo etc. ").
Finally, we arrived at San Antonio, Zambales where we waited for the market to open so we could buy fresh cuts of meat. As for me, I managed to sleep in a waiting shed. The next thing I knew, the sun was already up, the groceries were already bought, and we were headed to Pundaquit for the boat ride to our first stop of the day, Capones Island.
Our bangkero/boatman was Kuya Paul, a bespectacled man with graying hair under his ball cap. His eyes were forever smiling and he was probably amused at us. He would be our boatman for the duration of our stay.
The trip to Capones Island was nothing short of mesmerizing: the gentle waves, the deafening din of the boat's engine, the cool sea breeze (unfortunately punctured time and again by the odor of rotting sea matter), the rising sun, and that imposing landmass in the middle of the sea, Capones Island.
We landed on one of the several beaches of the island where we were greeted by millions upon millions of footwear, mostly slippers, strewn across the beach. Theories arose that could possibly explain the phenomenon: from a local ritual requiring the island's visitors to shed off their footwear to the assumption that these are actually slippers of long-dead stranded victims.
Our first stop was the island's lighthouse. It wasn't exactly well-maintained (in fact, the building was slowly falling apart) but the lighthouse featured a PVC solar system for its energy supply as well as brand-new lights. The view above the lighthouse was fantastic as we got to see the whole coastline of Zambales as well as the huge expanse of the South China Sea.
After the lighthouse ( and the mandatory photo ops), we went down to the other side of the island to take a dip. After which, we again trekked back to the other side to meet up with our boatman. This time, we landed on another beach and met some fellow tourists camping in the place. We had another dip (why do I keep using dip?) and proceeded to our next destination, Anawangin Cove.
The pictures were indeed true! Hugging the beach line of Anawangin were rows and rows of pine trees reminiscent of Baguio. And although Jerwin had explained earlier that the beach was actually made of volcanic ash, the white lahar still made us feel like we were in Boracay. Add to that vista are the majestic tree-less mountains in the background which made it look like we were in the Alps.
Sad to say, the only thing that spoiled our view were the other people in the area. Far from my daydreams of a secluded place visited only by die-hard nature fans, Anawangin was in fact a popular getaway. After setting up camp, everybody dozed off the day, trying to make up for the lost sleep.
After lunch (grilled pork meat and rice, courtesy of Jerwin and Cai), our group explored the place. There was the lake, the river, the estuary leading to the coastline. I also had the privilege of watching a huge branch of a pine tree accidentally fall on a guy (don't worry, he didn't appear hurt).
Now, was that it? No, it wasn't. We now went off to our third destination, Talisayin Cove. Imagine my surprise to see that it was more or less similar to Anawangin! It had pine trees, the beachfront, a river, waterfalls, and the vista to match its more famous counterpart. Plus, it had more established facilities, a generator, a hillside grotto and good, clean water plus ice.
Before we reached the shore, some fishermen managed to literally "catch" us; our boat got entangled in their nets. But apart from that incident, there was nothing else that distracted us from thoroughly enjoying the place. I have to credit our guides for this because they really took care of us. Plus, the people were also very hospitable and accommodating, especially Kuya Paul (Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!)
After we located our shed, and after the swimming too, we spent the rest of the afternoon looking for the cove's waterfalls. But due to a change in plans, we didn't find the waterfalls. That's because we ended up trekking one of the cove's mountains to look at the view from the top (remind me to climb Mount Apo once and for all when I come back to Davao). There I discovered that cows really can climb mountains, as evidenced by the many cow dung detritus that continued to greet us while we were climbing up. Add to that was Clinton and Tala's rendition of a horror movie ("Oh no! It's him!") as we worked our way up.
When we were done climbing up and down the mountain, Cai unwittingly led us through barbed wire fences on our way to the shed. Then, we had our dinner (grilled bangus, fresh from the afternoon's catch and rice, of course) and proceeded to a round of night swimming.
That night was magical, if you ask me. Unimpeded by surrounding artificial light, the sky was full of stars. The water also "sparkled" every time we disturbed the waters. Uael kept mentioning bioluminescence, citing the assumption that hundreds of microorganisms are emitting light every time we moved in the water. As for me, I also had my own theory: that the water "sparkles" because our movements produce bubbles in the water, bubbles that concentrate ambient light from our surroundings (But, really, I don't know what the reason was).
Later that evening, I went stargazing with April, Ron, and Glenda. I felt like a kid again.
The next morning, we were off to another spot, the Nagsasa cove. It would be the last destination and it was quite similar to the two coves we previously visited. There was again the majestic vista, the pine trees, the river, plus the sand bars down in the estuary. It was a lazy Sunday morning and after about an hour of enjoying the river's knee-deep waters, it was time to go back to Talisayin cove once again.
The boat we rode on to and from Nagsasa didn't have a tarp roof. So by the time we were about to reach Talisayin's beach, skins were now becoming stingy because of the sun's rays. Kuya Paul allowed the boat to first stop in the middle of the cove so we could go coral-sighting. Although I didn't see any fishes and I had a pretty good hunch that all the corals we saw were now dead, I still enjoyed looking through the water with goggles, wriggling my feet and diving while trying to reach the sea floor. Pretty soon, the engine was again started and we hanged on to the boat's outrigger hulls as it headed for shore.
That afternoon, we started packing our things up. The group reached the consensus to have lunch on the trip back. And while we snucked up on the shed to catch a nap, some of us went to Kuya Paul's abode to pick up some mangoes as pasalubong and meet some cows. Then, we were off to Pundaquit.
On the journey back to Manila, we passed through Subic and stopped by KFC for our 6 pm "lunch". Then the rest of the trip was filled with Clinton, Tala and Ronron belting out songs one after the other. Pretty soon, the trip was over and as we hunched back to our room in the Casibang compound, we were completely drained from the trip. "A feast for the eyes", that's what Tala said, and it suited the whole escapade quite nicely. Soon after, Kuya Vhong, Pansit and the rest of our colleagues returned from their own escapade from Baguio.
Good thing I didn't ask them the one question Clinton kept asking over the weekend: "May ganito ba sa Baguio?"
What do you get when you have three cum laude graduates in one place and they are all related?
The answer? Actually, I don't have an answer. I just can't think of a better opening line of how my cousins and I finally met in Manila last May 9.
If I were to ask myself, a healthy amount of coincidence was involved in this. Ate Aiai was in Manila to process some papers (She is a nurse going straight to Dubai). Kuya Elloi, who works and lives in Cavite, figured out how to travel to imperial Manila. Tita Quellan was now in Manila after her long vacation in the South. The time was ripe for a mini-reunion.
The plan was to meet in MOA at 10pm so we could still tour the biggest mall in town (Nothing special with MOA actually. But it's still a tourist spot. What gives?). Unfortunately, I, being the nearest to MOA, was the last to arrive since I had to take care of some business related to an ad (SAP scholarship yada yada).
So there we were. We met eventually in IMAX at past 12 (Susno also had a championship game in Ynares gym that afternoon but we decided not to go and watch. First, we didn't know how to get there although we know it's somewhere in Antipolo. Second, we were already late. The game was about to start at 1:30 PM).
As we pondered on where we're going to eat, Ate Aiai gave us a pleasant surprise. As it turned out, Tita Quellan prepared 500 pesos for each of us to spend on this "escapade". Considering that payday was still several days away, I could only smile at this small fortune (Thanks Tita!).
We ate at World Chicken, partly because it's the most sought-after franchise in Glorietta and Trinoma and more because I want to eat there again. The first time I ate in World Chicken, I was so full so I had to try it out one more time.
At lunch, we tried to catch up on what we've been doing the past few months. Kuya Elloi was still working four days a week due to cost-cutting in his company. Ate Aiai was inquiring about how to get to a government office in Manila. Conversation dragged on to future plans, love lives and anything under the sun.
After lunch, we went on a lookout for a cellphone battery to replace Tita Quellan's defective one (which was unsuccessful since we didn't really intend to buy any using our limited budget). We also window-shopped for Shey's new nokia phone, to no avail.
So, after a brief stroll in MOA, we headed out for Greenhills since Ate Aiai wanted to buy a "shoe bag" for a significant other. Turned out again that we just window-shopped since the prices at Greenhills were still too "cheap" for our taste.
Later, we, no, I had an encounter with the third kind: after almost a year in Manila, I finally got to ride a Dollar Taxi. It started awkardly enough. We went to a taxi stop to ride a cab going to Trinoma, our last destination. We were rebuffed by the first driver and the next in line was the Dollar Taxi. I didn't want us to ride there because I had assumptions about the Dollar Taxi (which will eventually turn out to be misconceptions). That irked the driver, causing him to angrily request us to ride his vehicle. As for me, I was declining the offer since, based on what I've heard, meters in these taxis sported sky-high rates. I didn't want to take a chance.
The security guard finally intervened and politely offered us to get inside. I was still skeptical until the driver began explaining his company and reasoned out that their rates were similar to the rates of ordinary taxis. It's just that many assume them to be high-class taxis because of their name. Naturally, I was pleased that I had to pay only P120.00 for our trip from Greenhills to Trinoma. It turned out my fears were a product of bad publicity and a bad name ( I mean, if I were fresh in Manila, would I want to ride in a taxi named "Dollar Taxi"? Go figure).
In Trinoma, Ate Aiai and Kuya Elloi again searched vainly for the elusive bag and phone, respectively. Then we headed out to Dairy Queen to try their sundaes. After a brief mall stroll, we waited for a text message from Tita Quellan to check if we should have dinner in the mall or in the house (she did not reply back). We also bought a cake for Tita Quellan for Mother's Day, a luscious Black Forest cake from Goldlilocks ( We used Tita Quellan's money to buy that cake. Hehehe).
Going to Tita Quellan, we rode another taxi (whose driver insisted on reaching Baesa road going through Project 8 instead of the faster route through Royal. Tsktsktsk). We had a nice dinner with Tita, complete with frozen durian and mangoes. I also discovered that all three of us were the silent types; after the chitchat about our present circumstances, Ate Aiai, Kuya Elloi and I could now muster only a few words to each other. Was it because we've grown to be strangers to one another or was it because we were simply exhausted from our excursions? Either way, Tita Quellan probably sported the biggest voice that night.
I got to meet Dagul once more, the ugliest dog in the universe, and also my cute cousin, Lexie. I also got to meet Tita Pining who was about to leave for Bohol the following morning for a much-needed vacation.
We spent the night in Tita Quellan's home and attended mass the next day. Tita Quellan pretty much indulged us again come lunchtime (Who knew Jollibee had a chicken bucket meal package?). After that, it was a lackadaisical afternoon as we resorted to just lounging around the sala, taking pictures every now and then, and tinkering with the computer, which lost its internet connection weeks ago.
Finally, it was time to say goodbye. Kuya Elloi and I packed our things and bade our Tita farewell. Arriving at Taft, we were in for a long walk as we tried to locate the exact terminal of an airconditioned bus fleet bound for Cavite. We ended up walking through the huge crowd in Baclaran to reach Roxas Boulevard, where Kuya Elloi would hitch a bus ride home.
So the day ended.
Oh well, that was very anti-climactic for a mini-reunion but I'm still glad I got to meet my cousins. In the end, I had to wonder what will become of us after five years. Will we still be able to meet in Manila by then? Maybe not. Chances are, my extended family would resemble the UN, with members stationed all over the world. Who knows where we'll be?
Thoughts like that make this experience more precious. Until then!
We had our company summer outing in Club East Manila last May 8. Sure, it wasn't Palawan or any other exotic getaway in the Philippines but it was still fun. I had a great time.
In the morning, we had the now customary team building activities. Employees were divided into groups and we competed in a cheerleading competition and a Challenges race. But I'm not going to talk about that ( We won. Let me make that clear in case someone accuses me of avoiding the issue) or the food (which was not that good anyway). That's because I'm going to talk about the place itself.
What about it? As you all know, Club East Manila is a haven in Rizal for all those people who love to take a dip in chlorinated water. It boasts of several swimming pools, each suited for different interests. Apart from the usual cottages, villas and multi-purpose halls, the place itself is already furbished with ample vegetation and sparse shade (to indulge those who want to get tanned skin by walking all day under the sun).
Kiddie Pool. For kids, obviously. Depth is, I think, 2 feet only. Boring, except for the fake miniature waterfalls. The pool itself is a necessary feature nonetheless, especially for families.
Kayak Pool. This is where kayaking happens. All can try the kayak for free (unlike in Paradise back in Davao). But if you're planning to kayak the whole day away, think again. I tried it out with Kit and Ron and we did it only for approximately 15 minutes because the sun was bearing down on us intensely.
Pool-With-The-Better-Than-Nothing-Shade. There is also a pool with a screen shade on top. I'm not actually sure if it's as effective as sunblock but it's still protection. It also sports two poolside basketball rings (one is missing the backboard and, of course, the ring) for those who want to play basketball, water polo style.
Pool and The Big Slide. I like this pool because not only is it big but it has this huge waterslide to top it all off. It's like Water World in Davao once again. I tried it several times during our brief stay and I was probably grinning like a wide-eyed 8-year old kid after every slide. Others had not been so lucky; either they got stuck in the middle of their descent or they simply refused to do another attempt (appealing to fear of heights and other fears). In the far corner of the pool, there are also waterfalls (that was an afterthought).
Racing Pool. We tried this out during the morning games in one of the challenges. It pretty much resembles a rectangular pool for swimming competition purposes. Nothing special here.
Canal? There was also a pool snaking through some concrete pavement adorned with palm tress and shrubs.
Diving Pool. This I tried with gusto. It's a deep pool of a depth of about 14 feet. Along its side is a wall with diving platforms of varying heights.
Big Waves Pool. Now, this is the main attraction of Club East Manila. Artificially generated waves rushing to a sloping concrete "shore". Some people say you could surf in this pool but I doubt that. There are too many people in the area and the depth of the pool isn't that conducive for surfing either (too shallow). The pool is actually divided into two segments: one features criscrossing waves and the other only features parallel waves (am I using the right terminology?). The fun lies in meeting the waves headlong and reenacting scenes straight from the movie "The Perfect Storm".
To sum it all up, Club East Manila was a great experience. One factor which makes it a winner is that there are a lot of things you could do in the place. If swimming is what you're really after, it beats out the beach any time.
After weeks of vacillating and procrastination (pareho lang ba yung dalawa?), I finally did it: I changed the template of my blog.
Since I started blogging, I've been itching to make this change. Sure, the old template was fine. It was clean, neat and nice but it was also boring and was really too minimalist for my taste.
So I decided to search for a new blog template that would suit me better. I finally settled on this one, which I got from btemplates. It's blue and still neat, with a flash of green on the side. It had 3 columns, which was also great.
Unfortunately, I realized I wasn't quite adept at changing templates after all. My widgets got erased in the process and I had to put them back in again in my new template. Still, I'm happy with what I've accomplished.
Maybe, next time, I'll make my own template rather than downloading one from the net. Now that would be neat.
May 3, 2008. That’s the day I arrived here in Manila.
May 5, 2008. That’s my first day of work.
Let’s walk along memory lane. Let’s talk about the first date, May 3.
The day started early. I woke up at 4 in the morning because I was excited. I also had only a few hours left in Davao and I tried vainly not to miss anything. Unfortunately, I missed breakfast because I only drank milk and sleep was becoming an issue because I’d been an involuntary insomniac the past few days.
Ate Bating and Rayray accompanied me to the airport because Mama and Papa weren’t around. They were in Bohol for a trip. They left earlier that week, on Wednesday. That day, I didn’t get to see them off properly, wasn’t able to say goodbye.
That’s because I acted stupid. They were leaving in the morning and I decided to go buy an eye drop because my eyes were red. When I came back, they were gone. Later that day, Mama would call, crying, asking where did I go. I regretted that decision till I returned to Davao last August.
I was in the airport, with Kit and Sir Rayo. That was the first time I stepped foot inside an airport and it was pretty cool. Sir Rayo was going to Cebu and Kit was going to Manila with me because we’re going to be working in the same company.
I was experiencing my first plane ride. Window seat. That was the first time I saw Davao and Samal up in the air and both appeared so fragile. Everything was new and my neck hurt from staring at the window. It was magic and it was good for only one time. Every plane ride since had all the wonder of a bus ride.
I just picked up my luggage at the Manila Domestic Airport. Hideous place. Then I saw Ms. Claire, and Saree and Rey. Ms. Claire didn’t seem too friendly. Saree was conyo. But I guess I read Rey pretty well. He already had that air of arrogance (or self-confidence if I choose to be tactful) and he looked like 35 (should have taken that observation seriously). Plus, he kept talking about Ms. Grace, the employee/model, whose commercials are all over the place (except in Davao, probably).
We just arrived at Bonifacio Global City. Had my first look at Francis aka Pansit. He was a school mate but I never met him in Davao. Pansit was interesting because he carried a big fan from Cebu (a fan that would later be destroyed by ungodly forces several months after). He was also a debater and a PhilSci graduate. He was the one who debunked my assumption that PhilSci graduates aren’t well-adjusted simply by acting normal.
We just strolled down Bonifacio Global City. Cute place, with the manicured hedges and lawns and the unabashed show of dreadful price tags and chic shops. We dropped by the office, saw Ate Glenda leaving (who could wear high heel boots every day with a laptop in tow. Very excruciating, I know, but I was amazed just the same). We stopped by Fully Booked and that was the first time I saw a real bookstore that looked like a library.
We just ate lunch at Trellis. I cannot remember what we ate but it was delicious (for someone who hadn’t had breakfast). I got to meet the Xavier people and Glen. Glen was a shy Siliman boy (with a heavy emphasis on was). I asked him if he could help me build a website and until now, hasn’t given me an answer yet. April looked like a snob out on a field trip with a videocam. Lea, my “soulmate” and the only other English major, already sported the perennially lifted eyebrow. If she was nervous or anxious, I guess she was successful in hiding it. Clinton appeared like the regular straight guy (never expected he was gay) and so did Vhong. Alfie also looked like 35.
We waited at the Metrodorm lounge to be led to our rooms. In the taxi to Metrodorm, I rode with Kit, Glen, Velia and Saree. All three boys were silent while the two girls who apparently know each other kept talking and talking some more. Velia also kept prodding us questions (and I only got to realize she was pretty when Gian and Ejie kept telling her that later on.).
I was there, sprawled on the upper bunk, in a room I’d share with five other strangers for a month. Finally, the situation finally began sinking in. I’m in Manila and this is not a dream. Oh my gosh, this is for real. And all sorts of questions came to me and I began to doubt if I really made the right decision. In the end, it was me who wasn’t confident enough that I could handle this on my own.
I was chatting away a Saturday afternoon with Clinton and Kit in the dining area. I still can remember I was vehemently annoyed by cigarette smoke. We talked about proceeding to further studies, to Law, in this brave new world. That afternoon, we searched for dinner and ended up walking two kilometers to SM Megamall. That was the first time I saw Ciara and Maricor, who could have probably been raised in a convent since they weren’t talking too much.
I was awake in bed. I missed my family, my friends, I missed Davao. It was so easy to think that I’ll stay for five years here and so hard when I’m actually here. I didn’t like change but there I was experiencing probably one of the biggest changes in my life. I had to sleep and exhaustion slowly drifted me away.
May 3, 2009. It’s my anniversary here in Manila. Just as I expected, many things have changed. I think I’ve grown but I know I still have a lot of rice to eat. Nevertheless, I haven’t regretted anything I’ve gone through, thank goodness. I’ve experienced anger, resentment, happiness, joy, frustrations, sadness, tears, in a span of one year. Yes, it has been a tough year but it has been a fruitful one.
I’ve learned to value people. I’ve started coming out of my shell. I’ve come to deeply appreciate my colleagues, which my first impressions could never do justice in describing. I’m a new person now, perhaps slightly scarred but more happy to be alive.
This year has done wonders to me and I am deeply thankful for everyone who has been with me throughout this year. Now it’s time to move on.
Hubog 1: Bay, hubog na kayo ko mura nag gadagan ang mga balay. Hubog 2: Aw, bay, dili na lang ta manlakaw, huwaton na lang nato mu-agi ang imong balay. Ato na lang parahon. Edwin Gutierrez May 2, 2009
If the liar declares that he lied, is he telling the truth? April 30, 2009 Mary Ann Andicoy
3 morning messages: 1.) In God’s eyes, Love is always present. 2.) In God’s heart, Forgiveness is always there. 3.) In God’s embrace, no one is ever alone. April 30, 2009 Mama
Girl: Kahibalo ba ka na mura kag drugs? Boy: (gikilig) Kay pangitaon jud ko nimo? Hehe. Girl: Duh?! Dili uy! Makaguba kag kaugmaon! April 29, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Teacher: Class, draw me a fish. Class: Yes maám. Teacher: Pedro, why is your drawing very dirty? Pedro: Relax, maám, sinugba ni. April 29, 2009 Mary Ann Andicoy
A newborn baby was laughing real hard with his tiny fist closed. The doctor unfolded his tiny fingers and found…the Birth Control Pill. April 28, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
It’s really nice to wake up in the morning and then…sleep again! April 28, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Juan: Bai, nakahimo kag assignment? Tiago: La jud. Papel ra ako gi-pass kay lisod. Kaw? Juan: Na, papel ra pud akong gi-pass. Tiago: Patay, ingnon na pud tag nagkinupyahanay ani! April 27, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Ma, akong uyab ba kay dili mutuo ug langit ug impiyerno. Mama: Pakasli nak, patilawa ug langit. Ako nay bahala sa impiyerno! April 27, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Guard: Hoy, bawal mamingwit diri! Wa ka kabasa sa babala? “No Fishing Please!” Juan: Char! Ligoon ra gain nako akong pet worm. April 27, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
To hear what is unspoken. To see what is unseen. To feel what is unreal. It is a gift called…schizophrenia. April 27, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
I see your face when I am dreaming… That’s why I woke up screaming! April 24, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Frog: What does my future hold? Fairy: You will meet someone who wants to know everything about you. Frog: Great! Will I meet her in a party? Fairy: No. In a biology class. April 25, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Wala daw kuryente ugma, 6pm to 5am, whole Mindanao, e-charge daan inyo cellphone ug pag-andam daghan kandila, paypay katol ug…Bunal sa nag-text ani kay nagbuot-buot. Hehe! I challenge you Pikachu! April 23, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
A bus full of ugly people met an accident, all of them died. Before entering heaven, God gave them one wish. The first said: “Make me gorgeous.” And God did. The rest followed with the same wish. When it came to the last person, he was laughing. God asked him for his wish, the man said, “Make them all ugly again!” April 21, 2009 Rogelyn Donor
Juan: Pre, pangarap kong sumweldo ng kalahating milyon kada buwan, gaya ng tatay ko. Pedro: Wow! Pre, ganun kalaki sweldo ng tatay mo? Juan: Hindi. Ganun din kasi pangarap niya. April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Confession Man: Padre, nangawat ko og mga sapatos na reebok og nike. Padre: Shhh…nay size 7 dira? April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Minsan sa ating buhay ay dumarating ang walang kwentang text. April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Teacher: Ok class! Drawing mo maski unsa klaseng isda. Pupil: Yes maám! Teacher: Pedro! Nganong gubot kaayo imong drawing? Pupil: Ayaw pagbuot maám! Ginamos na! April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Siguro, minsan kailangan madapa. Bakit? Wala lang, char-char para cute! Sunod ligid-ligid na pud para igat! April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Lord hides Great Things in nothing. He hides a tree in a seed. He hides a savior in a baby. Aren’t you excited to see what He’s hiding in you? Be prepared for the big blessings April 18, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Happy people are those who continuously evaluate and improve themselves. Unhappy people are those who continuously evaluate others. Stay happy. April 16, 2009 Shiela Mandaguay
To those I have wronged, I ask forgiveness. To those I may have helped, I wish I did more. To those who helped me, I sincerely thank you. A Blessed Holy Week. April 10, 2009 Rogelyn Donor
Let this Lent remind us that our life and material possessions are just Lent to us. We are all passers-by, pilgrims on the road. We bring nothing when we die, but leave behind the Love we have shared, the Hope we have given and the Goodness we have done. Have a Blessed Holy Week. April 10, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
A Lenten message: Understand when others won’t Forgive when others can’t Care when others don’t Love despite hardships and pain April 10, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
Anak: (Grade 2)Nay, kuyaw among test ganina. Murag katong sa advertisement sa Colgate. Nanay: Ngano man diay nak? Anak: I got ZERO! April 9, 2009 Edwin Gutierrez
You’ve probably read a lot of blogs featuring this kind of discussion where the person is talking to himself or herself. And you’ve probably answered those many tags (Is that what you call them?) in Facebook where a friend of yours invites you to answer a series of dumb, stupid or thought-provoking questions for the whole world to see. I’m going to do one right now. So sit back and relax while I explain this blog away.
Scene: In the dark recesses of Paolo’s mind. A table by the sunlit window. X and Y are having a chat over cups of sweet-smelling, steaming tsokolate and puto maya.
X: Having a good time? Y: Yup. The food tastes great. So, what are your questions again? X: No time for pleasantries, am I correct? Y: Yes. I’m running out of time and writing a blog is no piece of cake. Fire away. X: Why “Ang Evangelio ni Paolo”? It’s weird. Y: Yes. It’s weird. But that’s my mother’s family name you’re talking about so bug off. Plus, if you translate that to English, it would say “The Gospel of Paolo”. Gospel can be loosely defined as the narrative of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. So if I say “The Gospel of Paolo”, it simply means my story, the story of Paolo Bataller. It’s corny, yes, but I’ve observed that’s a necessary requirement for every blog title. X: Why do call yourself “Ang Ignoy” or “The Ignoramus” in English? Y: Because it best defines who I am and I take it as a challenge. I’m ignorant about a lot of things and I am owning this as a result. Being a self-described ignoramus inspires me to learn some more. Life is too short to learn everything, so why stop learning? X: Hmmm. This is not fun anymore. Actually, those are the only questions I have in mind right now. Y: Oh really? You won’t ask about my plans for this blog? How I see it in the next five years? X: Well, ok. How do you see it down the road? Y: I actually don’t know. X: In that case, nice talking with you, Paolo. Next time then? Y: Next time. And I know what you’re thinking. This experiment sucked. X: It sure did. Big time.
I was never part of the SK or the Sangguniang Kabataan. That's because my family was never into politics anyway and my interests lay somewhere during my high school and college years. But over the years, I've heard a lot of opinions regarding SK and they have not been, shall we say, very encouraging.
But before I go into that, what is the purpose of SK? The standard answer would be that it is an organization which aims to nurture and develop youth leaders into future public servants through their active collaboration in the duties of government. That's the ideal, anyway.
Next question, why am I tackling SK? I said to myself once that I would remain silent and suspend my judgement on political issues for as long as possible. The reasoning was that there is already too much talk, too many opinions, too much philandering and garbage surrounding these issues that to talk about them risk moving away from the truth. And the truth in political issues can never be found in the first instance but in the many occasions where the parties involved have to divulge them out of fear or necessity. Hence, that explains the need to suspend judgement, pending for more information.
But SK is different. It is different because almost everybody already knows what's happening inside it. For most municipalities, it is a breeding ground for corruption, where higher powers treat these youth leaders as minions to be taught the exquisite trade of cheating the masses. Sure, the SK still develops leaders but the quality of leaders it produces is highly questionable.
