Living My Life The Way I Wanted To

Since I overslept, I missed 2 calls from a friend and a number of unopened text messages in my phone. I knew the calls were about my delayed trip somewhere in the south. Although, my feet were itching to be back on the road again, some commitment prevented me from leaving my little hometown again. But today is a different day....

My backpack is packed and is ready to go. My heart is ready to venture into another life of uncertain journey. My stomach is unafraid to skip meals again. My restless feet, wiser now, is ready take the unknown paths of the big city and the mountains again.

Living my life the way I wanted to....

Little Hometown Blues

I overslept. For the first time in 300 years I slept until past 10am.

The past weeks there have been talks about supernatural beings roaming around our little sleepy town. When I went to Vengie's place and had one drink too many, she convinced me to sleep over after telling me about Ata. Ata are supernatural beings with missions to collect at least 50 human hearts. According to talks, there are least 3 victims already in different parts of our town. All dead, of course! All unverified, of course!

Recently, a neighbor claimed to have seen a syokoy (merman). She claimed to have seen the creature 2 times already. According to her the syokoy was full of scales from head to toe and has the body of the man but with the head of a fish. Fine!

Also just recently, the dogs around the neighborhood seemed to have gathered for their annual conference and howled together like the devil has barged in uninvited to their meeting. They howled for what seemed like an eternity and then followed by the sound a woman weeping sorrowfully as if somebody so dear left her. The incident became the talk of the neighborhood the following morning.

That very same morning someone claimed to have seen a dog-man. Whether the man looked like a dog or vice versa I didn't inquire anymore. The talks have gone too far already I would have wanted to bite anybody who comes in my way.

Going back to why I overslept. We did have a videoke session. My brother, my cousins and I attacked the microphone without mercy to the silent indignation of our neighbors. At least it was us who howled and not the dogs. Bwahahaha! Purposely, we wanted to sleep late hoping we could see some supernatural beings or happenings. Imagine if we can get an exclusive footage out of it! Bah!

Interestingly, our little hometown was rocked by earthquakes successively this week. The tv reported at least 3 quakes of different magnitude in one week but I think there were more than 3. Whether the talks about supernatural beings and the earthquakes are related, I don't want to guess.

Before we ended our videoke session, someone shouted as he passed by our house. "Melody yabag!" Translation: Melody out of tune!

Of Cars And Qoutes

When Ms. Dominguez (the forever beautiful Ms. Dominguez) parked her new car outside our house, the first question she asked me was "How do you like the color?" I smiled because although red is my favorite color, I prefer the elegance of black when it come to cars. We were admiring her car from a distance when I asked her if the car's insurance papers were in order. She said, no. I told her she should get one and maybe I can help her ask around.

Searching the internet, I was not really suprised when I found Advantage Auto Quotes
an internet company qouting service that enables insurance companies to compete with each other to give the customers the best and the most affordable price on car, truck and SUV insurance policies. By simply filling out a form a customer may receive multiple quotes on all types of automotive insurance policies from competitive insurance agents giving customers a wide variety of choices to suit their needs.

In the world of mouse-clicking, I find it funny when I have trouble looking for a car insurance agent for Ms. Dominguez. Wish I can recommend Advantage Auto Quotes
to Ms. Dominguez that would save her a lot of trouble. But I don't think this kind of online service reaches the Philippines as of yet. Maybe not yet.

The Bum Wants Some Dough

I have been bum for so long now it felt uncomfortable already. It’s not funny anymore. Although, I am available at anyone’s bidding 24/7, my financial dearth sometimes sent me lurking at one corner wondering how it felt to be somewhere else. My recent road trip drained me financially sacrificing my little “piggy and bamboo bank.” No regrets, though.

A couple of friends offered me accommodation and food should I decide to relocate abroad. A close friend offered to open her house and fridge for me in Davao, another in Cebu and Arman promise me company should I lose my mind and decide to live in Manila. Not bad.

Weeks ago, a friend wandered around my blogsite after he heard from the grapevine that I am maintaining one. He called me and said that he “liked” my blogs and I could actually earn from it. Earn? Such a sweet sound to my ears!

He sent me a link to www.blogsvertise.com and said hopefully my earnings from it would help me finance my vices. Hehehhehe! I forgot to click the link.

Recently, Grace, chanced upon my blogsite and left me a message at my chatbox. I went to her blogsite and again I saw www.blogsvertise.com . Curiosity striked me and immediately the dollar signs flashed before my eyes.

If my reading was right www.blogsvertise.com pays you if you write about an internet advertiser in your blog entry. You can write anything to promote, advertise, compliment or even complain about the internet advertiser. Suit me just fine.

So folks, if this blogsite turns from personal to commercial, pity the bum. She needs to eat. And of course, man cannot live by bread alone. He needs to play, too.

The Country Mouse Went To The Big City: Again

I was early the next day for my 8:30am flight. I was surprised to see that there was a 6:30am plane bound for Manila. I specificallly requested that I wanted the flight after 5am the following day. When I told the attendant that I want to be on the 6:30am flight he told me to go back to the check in counter. I almost lost my patience when the lady behind the check in counter told me that they will have to charge me with additional fee if I insist on boarding the 6:30am flight. My foreign tongue was put into action after all when I told her I wanted to talk to her supervisor. I didn't make a lengthy speech. I just told the supervisor that it's their fault why I am still in Cebu. If their airline was on time per their advertisements I would have been in La Salle this very moment cheering for a dear friend. He pacified me by issuing me a boarding pass! Bwahahahaha!

Shortly after I turned my back on the check in counter, the speaker somewhere made an announcement: "Paging passenger I*m*e T*n*o Cebu Pacific Flight 5J560 is now ready to depart from Cebu to Manila please..." I couldn't make out the words anymore. The mere mention of my name sent me half flying and running towards the plane. Two attendants clapped their hands as I boarded. I was panting, running out of breath and feeling silly as I fastened by seatbelt.

The flight was uneventful except that they don't serve coffee or tea unless you pay 50 bucks! I felt my empty stomach and swore I'll never fly Cebu Pacific again... if I can help it.

From the Domestic Airport, I boarded a jeepney for Baclaran. I remember there was a train station somewhere in Baclaran. I don't want to board a taxi because taxi drivers in Manila are worse than leeches. That deserves another blog.

I believe the train station just opened when I lined up to buy a ticket. I was to stop at Vito Cruz Station about 4-5 stations away from Baclaran. And so it goes that my fatigue-ridden body gave in to the calls of slumber that when I woke up the train was already leaving Central Station. Never really knowing where I was and without any maps inside the train, I reached the other end of the rail, about 13 stations away from Vito Cruz!


lrt map


Vito Cruz Station: where I should have unboarded.

My early morning joyride from Baclaran to Monumento was so irritating that I again wondered how my day will end.

This Is How My Day Ended

I was filling my stomach with stuffs as we crossed the old Mactan bridge. We were laughing at my misfortune and at the possibility of me jumping off the bridge had it not been for the help of Josy and Irene. Sunstar's headline could read: "Vagabond jumps off Mactan bridge after losing wallet, mind." Terrible! Terrible! My 15 minutes of fame is way too late!

My mouth was full, my heart light and my hands were busy taking pictures.







I checked in two hours before my scheduled flight. Hurray! I was surprised to see the pre-departure area full of passengers. When I finally settled myself into a vacant chair, I immediately started reading "Night" by Elie Wiesel. I was half-way through reading the preface when a woman started shouting at the airline personnel. Another one stood up and joined the woman. And then another and another until they all looked like lawmakers debating on some legislation. Everyone spoke english sounding stupid with their local accent. I would have wanted to join them and slap them one by one with my book. The abundance of name-dropping was enough to make my stomach turn and sent me back to reading Elie Wiesel.

It turned out that their flight was scheduled at 11am and at 5pm they still don't have any idea whether or not they can fly home to Zamboanga within the day. If I were in their shoes I'm sure I'd be speaking not only English but French, Mandarin, Nippongo and God knows what that comes to me (I don't know any of those languages I enumerated, for the record).

Then, I think I got what I wished for. Soon enough talks started to circulate that our flight was rescheduled to 8:30pm. When a voice from the paging system confirmed the talks I immediately informed my friend who was to meet me at the airport in Manila. I would have wanted to start lambasting the airline personnel with my foreign tongue when free dinner was served to us. I shut up, sat down and ate. The meal was free and was on time. What can I do?

After more than an hour of talking with Elie Wiesel, a now familiar voice from the speaker spoke again: our flight was moved anew to 10:30pm. Great! No amount of food can make me shut up this time. I went to the supervisor and asked (diplomatically) that my trip be rescheduled the following day. In consideration of a friend who was to take the bar examinations the following day, I could not possibly make him meet me at the airport at 11:30 in the evening!

When my travel mate called to check on me, she was surprised to know that I was still in the beautiful island of Cebu. She was all smiles as she stopped by the airport to pick me up.

Back at the Mactan bridge, we were laughing at how my day went and wondered how it's going to end. Actually, it ended late at my travel mate's condo.

When Angels Come, They Come In Pair

Today is Irene's (a.k.a. Wildflower/Gorgeoushoney) birthday. And I want to tell a story.

It was the first day of September and I was feeling nostalgic as I walked alone in the oldest street of the Philippines. I left Cebu ten months earlier and I never planned to be back that fast. Honestly, it never occurred to me I could again set my foot on that very familiar street. Everyday, for the last ten years of my life (minus the latest ten months), I was in Colon Street for one reason or another.


I was there to pick up my mail straight from the forwarder's office. Guess, I was too impatient to wait for it to be delivered directly to where I stayed. Then I stopped by an internet café to make a quick entry on my blog and then went uptown to pick my plane ticket. I was due to leave for Manila late in the afternoon that day. After I got my ticket I went to the police station to drop some documents inadvertently released to me by a careless employee. Since it was a Saturday and I was running out of time, the police station was the best option available to return the obviously very important document to its rightful owner. It's about passing the kindness forward. Bwahahaha!

Before noon, I went back to Brusha’s place to pick up my baggage and took a quick bath. The bath was so refreshing my day would have been perfect until I discovered I was missing something. I unpacked my neatly packed backpacks including my sling bag, retraced my steps and mentally reenacted the last 30 minutes of my life and yet, I failed to find my wallet! Everything was there in my wallet! My lifeblood was there in that wallet!

I tried to control my panic by packing my backpacks again. I dare not count the money inside my coin purse because I know it will never be enough for the airport's terminal fee, no, not even for my taxi. I was in that state when my phone rang. My travel mate called and said she wanted to give me something before I'll leave for Manila. We agreed we'll meet in SM. I was on the bus when the reality started to sinked in: I was penniless. When my travel mate called again and asked if we could meet in Ayala because parking in SM was impossible, I told her my coins will only permit me for as far as SM. Then I told her my story.

We were circling around the South Reclamation Area trying to find a way out of my situation. My travel mate has only 500 bucks enough for her car to bring us whereever it was we were going. It was already 3pm and my plane was due to leave at 5.55pm. My stomach was already used to skipping meals. In the last two weeks, eating meals on time was a luxury I can hardly afford. I texted Josy and Irene about what happened. And for what seemed like an eternity, the silence of my cellphone was nauseating.

We were heading towards the old Mactan Bridge when my phone vibrated bringing in hope in what looked like a hopeless situation. Irene told me to meet her in Ayala while Josy said that I go to her house. When time is of the essence, timing is everything. Before 3pm was over, I already have 2000 pesos in my pocket (1000 bucks each from Irene and Josy), a smile in my lips and chopsticks in my hands chewing dumplings while crossing the old Mactan Bridge.

On how my day ended? I'll save it for my next blog. Right now I want to thank Irene not because it's her birthday today but because she was there.


The Two Angels: Josy and
the Birthday Girl

Thank you for listening to me while I cried my heart out over the phone.

Thank you for the Glutathione soap.

Thank you for putting your name at risk for me.

Thank you for lending me the money without second thoughts.

Thank you for the lunch you and Josy bought for me.

Thank you for the trust.

Thank you for the friendship.

Thank you for all those times prior to September 1.

The Country Mouse Went To The Big City

Also this time last month, I was inside a bank with an empty stomach, 4 pieces of 100-peso bills in my coin purse, and my atm card confiscated by the bank in a place called Manila. Felt like I was stranded in an island with no way out.

Earlier, I was due to meet a high school friend in Robinsons. Before that I dropped by an atm machine for some cash. Then the unexpected happened: my card was captured. While I silently thanked that the day was not a Friday otherwise I'll go hungry for the rest of the weekend, I was devastated when the bank personnel told me they can't possibly release my card because it is a "hot card". A hot card is a card reported as either stolen, lost or missing the bank personnel explained. I never reported it as missing and how in the world could I possibly stole my own card? So it goes that while my stomach shouted "grok! grok!", my cellphone sounded its last beep before its battery became empty. The country mouse is now in the big city with 400 bucks, an empty stomach and a useless cellphone. So much about lightning striking thrice.

It was good that Michelle, the bank personnel, was very helpful. I made a few phone calls at her suggestion and saw glimmer of hopes after each call. My bank explained that they have sent me bank statements to my last known address in Cebu and all were sent back to their office because the occupants have moved out. Hence, they declared my card as hot card. Thank you very much!

It was past 5pm when I finally got my much needed cash. My appointment with a high school friend having been cancelled, I immediately proceeded to Makati to meet my travel mate. While her day went along fine, she laughed symphathetically at my story. She said it was good that I met an angel in Michelle and that it's not everyday that a helping hand comes along when needed. Don't worry, I said, I'll pass the kindness forward.

From Buendia, we boarded a bus for Baclaran. We thought we could squeeze a quick church visit with our remaining time. Little did we know that the bus would pass by the Mall of Asia. As the sight of the giant mall flashed before us, we exchanged glances of agreement and immediately unboarded. Thanking the one who sent the angel earlier in the day and passing the kindness forward could wait. That time, the Mall of Asia was a welcome temptation.

For Friends Are Friends Forever

This time last month I was in the National Kidney Transplant Institute visiting a friend whose husband was due for a kidney transplant. Dada, as we both fondly call each other, was the first to see me when I entered the NKTI. From her smiles, I couldn’t make out what kind of an ordeal she and her family were undergoing. That moment , I was only too glad to be there with her.

As I headed back to the train station, I was trying to recall how we started to become friends. It was the day when I heard a new occupant has moved in to the room across mine. I knew the room has been reserved for someone two months before but when the occupant arrived I was just too busy or lazy (?) to welcome the new neighbor.We met dawn the following day when I was heading towards the bathroom for my bath while she just finished hers. I inquired if she was the one who moved in yesterday and introduced myself. I couldn’t remember anymore what we’ve talked after the introduction but I believe we ended it with me saying:

Y: Pag may kailangan ka katukin mo lang ako. Titingnan ko kung anong magagawa ko. (If you need something just knock. I’ll try to see what I can do.)

M: Sige kakatok lang ako. Salamat, ha. (Ok, I’ll just knock. Thanks.)

Knock she did. Before the day was over she knocked on my door bringing a book asking about something. The conversation was very short but it paved the way for a friendship that is to last even after our stay in that dormitory. With her, I found an instant companion in most everything I do. I guess, my God saw that I was living a not-so-normal life so He sent someone to bring me back to normalcy.

Sometimes, she’d bring my breakfast and hang it by my doorknob after knocking once although never really expecting a reply. After a time if she can’t sense any movement from my room she then would say loud enough for me hear: “Yung ibang tao dyan kung ayaw ma-mental magbreakfast na!(If you don’t want to go to the mental (hospital) you better take your breakfast!”) or “Hay, naku! Sa lahat ng ayaw ko ay ang kaibigan na sira-ulo! (I really don’t like a nut-case for a friend!). She was more friendly than I that before we knew it, our part of the dormitory which was once enveloped with silence buzzed with controlled laughters from "inmates" who would gather to ate meals in her room (eating in rooms was strictly prohibited by the dormitory management). I stayed longer than her in the dormitory but her acquaintances were three times mine and most of my acquaintaces were because of her. She was the one who gave me Papa Bear, too.

One week ago, after a number of postponements, Paolo her husband, finally received a new kidney from his brother. Dada regularly sent updates while Paolo was under knife. Constantly, she'd asked that I'd say a prayer so that the surgery of Paolo will be successful. I would have wanted to tell her, "Dada, this time you don't have to knock. Because I am all too ready to kneel for you, Paolo and Clyde."



For Friends Are Friends Forever.

My Beautiful Cebu

I am halfway through my road trip. I am right now in Cebu, the place I call my second home. This is the last place I wanted to be when I started my road trip. I planned of traversing the whole of the Visayas Island after Luzon but Cebu was not included in my itinerary. Guess, I'm not ready yet to step into this beautiful island I have so much affection with.

My latest stay here in Cebu is one of the best experience I had in my lifetime. I found nothing but friendships and more friendships. Friendship that withstood the test of distance, silence and time. I'll be blogging some more of that as soon as my road trip ends.

I am leaving again later today for Manila to attend some unfinished business and... to cheer for a friend who is about to embark on what he calls "the biggest battle in my life"

Thank you Cebu for making feel special and loved. I will pay it forward.

For my Dude, I'll see you later today. I'll cheer till my voice is hoarse. I'll stay at your back, at your side or wherever you want me to be. Just get in there and do some ass-kicking! Good luck!