Road Trip

Lately, the conversations I had with my friends were all about love, err, majority of it. I don’t claim to be a veteran when it comes to love but neither am I an amateur. I believe nobody becomes an expert when it comes to the affairs of the heart no matter how many times one’s heart has been broken or has mended. Everybody remains an amateur never an expert, hence, all is fair in love.

A long-time friend once asked me why I don’t write about my lovelife in my blogs. Actually, there really is nothing to write about, plus, I have trouble wearing my heart out of my sleeves. It feels comfortable to be privy when it comes to the matters of the heart. Emotions is such a complicated word I prefer to do a “spell-check” each time I’m at it. The lesser the mistake the better.

Right now, I am stuck in front of the monitor unable to expound the topic I started. Another way of saying, " I refuse to talk about my heart" Hahahaha!!! I just finished packing my backback for a road trip that would start with a plane bound for Manila. This road trip has been planned long before with a friend whose level of enthusiasm about life and living is the same as mine. Life is too precious to be spending it in stillness and without motion.

At dawn, hours from now, another story will begin.

Freedom In Prison

The first time I was in jail was more than 5 years ago. I was doing a research on youthful offenders that time and the complexity of the subject always brought me back to jail every weekend. Seeing the over-crowded jails always drained me of my reserved energies and weekends started to get blurred. I was only too glad when my research ended and my life went back to normal. That was in Cebu.

At present I still get myself near some jails but not as big as the jails I went in with some 5 years ago. Good thing is I don't smell any odor anymore when I'm with the prisoners. In a sleepy town like ours where everybody knows everybody, it is a common thing to meet inmates outside their cells. Sometimes we'd do our pep talks at a sari-sari store while watching a boxing match on tv. There were times we'd exchange greetings inside a jeepney. Some of them would even go out of jail for weeks and return as soon as they sold out their farms produce. Out of the ordinary situations but its true. Onli in da Pilipins.

Recently, an incredible mass dance by prisoners in Cebu is hitting the internet. I can't help but think if I knew some of the dancers. Perhaps some of them were my former subjects. Hehehe! Specially, I can't help but be proud that I came from a race that is best known for its sunny disposition.

I couldn't start to imagine how the personnel of CPDRC managed to successfully pull out such gigantic activity. But I believe having Filipinos as participants made it possible and more easy.

I don't really want to enumerate the best traits of Filipinos here. At least, not now. I don't have time to do an ego-tripping in behalf of my countrymen. It's just that, the dance performed by the inmates in Cebu made me think a little...

"If the 1,000-something inmates who were allegedly lacking in moral turpitude can dance together as one to the tune of a single song, why can't a president, 23 senators and 237 congressmen unite and pursue a common objective?"

Don't answer my question. Just watch the video and have a good time.

To All My Friends*

To All My Friends Who Are …. SINGLE

Love is like a butterfly.

The more you chase it the more it eludes you.
But if you just let it fly, it will come back to you
when you least expect it.

Love can make you happy but often it hurts,
but love is only special when you give it to
someone who is really worth it.

So take your time and choose only the best.

To All My Friends Who Are …NOT SO SINGLE

Love isn’t about becoming somebody else’s “perfect person”.
It’s about finding someone who helps you become the
best person you can be.




To All My Friends Who Are …. ENGAGED

The true measure of compatibility is not the years spent together,
But how good you are for each other.

To All My Friends Who Are …. MARRIED

Love is not about “it’s your fault” but “I’m sorry.”
Not “where are you?” but “I’m right here with you.”
Not “how could you?” but “I understand.”
Not “I wish you were here” but “I’m thankful you are.”


To All My Friends Who Are …. HEARTBROKEN

Heart breaks hurt as long as you want and
cuts as deep as you allow them to go.
The challenge is not how to survive heartbreaks.
But to learn from them.



To All My Friends Who Are …. NAÏVE

How to be in love:

Be consistent but not too persistent
Share and never be unfair
Understand and try not to demand
And get hurt but never try to keep the pain.

To All My Friends Who Are …. POSSESSIVE

It breaks your heart to see someone you love
Happy with someone else
But it’s more painful to know that the one you love
Is unhappy with you.

To All My Friends Who Are …. AFRAID TO CONFESS

Love hurts when you break up with someone.
It hurts even more when someone breaks up with you.
But love hurts the most:
When the person you love has no idea how you feel about him/her.

To All My Friends Who …. ARE STILL HOLDING ON

A sad thing about life is when you meet someone
and you fall in love, only to find out in the end that
it was never meant to be, and that you have wasted years
for someone who wasn’t worth it
If that person isn’t worth it now,
it’s not going to be worth it
a year or 10 years from now.

TO ALL MY FRIENDS:

My wish for you is a man/woman whose love is: honest, strong, mature,
never-changing, protective, encouraging, rewarding and unselfish.

* All the texts I used in this particular entry came from an e-mail forwarded to me by Sherwin. I presumed they are meant for distribution. All the pictures posted in this entry, I stole them from www.photobucket.com. sorry :-)

The Adventure Island Part 4

I burped before the sun bade its farewell for the day. I just had my first meal of the day from what seemed to be the only eatery in the island. I was so busy thinking how am I going do my “panic” that the food tasted so bland and the eating was almost mechanical. It’s been an hour since I landed and my friend has not yet responded to the announcement I made of my arrival. I sat back under the tree and stared across the now darken horizon.

Reality check:

Are you scared?
- Nope
What do you fear most right now?
- That I’ll get out of this island safe and sound but not having fun.
How are you holding on?
-Holding on well.
How are you?
- Excited to know how this day will end.
You think your friend will come and get you?
- Absolutely. She’ll come running.

Honestly, I never felt so alone and so isolated in my entire life. I was stranded in a strange island with nothing but my backpack and the only living person who knew where I was has but the barest idea of what I have gotten myself into. Another hour has passed and the only single soul who could rescue me has not yet arrived and has shown no indication that she will arrive. This day is going to be a lot of fun, I thought.

I was in my deep reverie when an old woman approached to sell me some steamed peanuts. She said she can tell that I am not an islander because it's the first time she saw me in their place. Although I contained myself to only "Yes", "No" and "Ahhs" it was not long after that the other islanders started swarming around us. I told them the story of my day and how I ended in their island. They were symphatic although they can not hide their amusements at my stupidity.

The people of Socorro impressed me. Their dialect sounds familiar and it took me a while to identify that they sounded like my father's. Their courteous accent made me nostalgic that for a moment I thought I was in my father's farm. They are a proud people. They are proud of what they are and what they have. Like most Filipinos, they smile all the time. Before my friend arrived to pick me up, at least 3 men offered me a place to stay. Ang haba ng hair ko! I think it was made in good faith because they even asked the old woman who was selling peanuts to vouched for their Good Moral Character. Honestly, I never really suspected that they mean me any harm. I am thankful that I was treated like I'm one of their own. They must have been offended when I kept the peanuts they gave me. I wanted to tell them that I am allergic to peanuts and I can't possibly get sick in a strange island. At least not now.

When my friend arrived, I think she was half hysterical. She got my message two hours late and I guess she ran at a speed of 500 kilometer per hour just to get to where I am. Faster than the speed of light. Friends are like that. They'll always come running.

The moon was full and it looked wonderful from the rooftop where I recounted my day to my friend and my new acquiantances. And my long day ended shortly after another has began.

The Friend that made my trip possible:



And the acquaintance that made my trip more fun and informative:



And the beautiful people of Socorro Island, for the breath of fresh air :



Thank you.

The Adventure Island Part 3

I can feel that we are on the “it” place when our battered boat started to shake. The waves hammered angrily at the boat as we ran faster to keep up with the speed of the current. I think no single person is dry inside the boat.

I was trying to assess the situation when it suddenly occurred to me that this could be my D-Day! Fine. So be it. I will go with dignity and I should not chicken out. Bah! I closed my eyes and conversed with myself.

‘Overcome your fears and think of the good times.’ says myself.

‘Which one? There were many.’ says me.

‘Think of a funny one.’

‘The man dressed like a priest carrying a cheap wooden cross asking for money in the pier, I think that was funny.’

‘Yeah, that was. Think more.’

‘I can’t concentrate, the boat is rocking like a maniac.’

‘Sing a song’

‘I see trees of green, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and you. And I think
to myself, what a wonderful world’

‘No, no, not that song. Sing something lively.’

‘You want me to sing My Humps?’

‘No, I don’t think you know its lyrics. How about Buttercup?’

‘I don’t know its lyrics. You really think we are going to sink?’

‘Nope.’

‘Why?’

‘The worst is over. And if you will open your eyes, you will know that I am telling
the truth.’

I felt silly when I opened my eyes. Some of the passengers were talking like nothing happened, others were eating yellow corns reminding me of my lunch-deprived stomach. I think I just missed something beautiful and wonderful when I closed my eyes. It was the waves I came here for and I can’t believe I closed my eyes when the waves were at its best. For the nth time in my life I felt stupid. And, for the first time in my glorious and colorful sailing history, I want to puke.

I went outside and stood by the deck for a time. The waves are calmer now although the splashing continues. I have never seen so many islands surrounding me before. This scene is a classic, I thought. As we were approaching the island destination, I was disturbed by something I couldn’t figure out what. Something is wrong with the island, I observed. ‘What is it? What is it?’ I asked myself. The shores are calm almost dead. There were no movements. I wondered where was the surfing area.

After we docked, I immediately looked for a reloading station to bring back to life my communication with the world. As expected it took me a lifetime to look for a reloading station. I was prepared for that. What I was not prepared was the answer given to me by a local when I asked her where I was.

Unlock keypad. Write Message.

“Bru, I just landed safe and in one piece. But, I boarded the wrong boat and of course I landed on the wrong island. The next boat out of here is tomorrow dawn.”

Sent Message. Lock keypad. Phone vibrates. Unlock keypad. Read Message.

“Its great that you are safe bru but…..Bwahahahahaha!!!! Ahem. Sorry.”

Reread the message. Swear a little. Lock keypad. Contemplates on throwing the cellphone to the waveless f*****g shores.

The local informed me that I am in the island of Socorro. The surfing capital of my beloved country is found in Dapa Island, municipality of Gen. Luna. Dapa is an hour trip from Socorro and the next boat will leave at dawn on the next day.




Great!


The sun is almost done. I sat under a tree with my damp backpack staring at the horizon watching the sun sets. The disappearing sun reminded me of the yellow corn and the yellow corn reminded me of my empty stomach. I need to eat before I’ll press the panic button. Perhaps my chances of survival will be high if I'll panic with a full stomach.

The Adventure Island Part 2

I was smiling excitedly as the pump boat’s engine roared to life. It wouldn’t be long now, I thought. The ride was boring as the boat attempted to slice the blue seas and the mainland turned smaller each time I looked back. I thought I saw me smile as I dozed off trying to forget my stubborn empty stomach.

A splash of seawater forcing itself to enter our boat woke me up. As the engine shouts while making its way against the nasty waves, I smiled. Not bad, not bad at all. I stood up and climbed out of the boat. I want to be where the action is and I want to see it up close and personal, I thought. I was standing on the deck as the boat see-sawed itself against the unruly waves. My clothes are now wet with splashing seawaters and my hair gave in to the charming wind. I think I was in a trance or was perhaps levitating when a deckhand ordered me to get inside the boat. Safety first, he said. That is a construction site’s motto, I thought.

Inside I could tell the waves were angrily hammering our little boat. The windows were all close but I could tell from the darkness that the seawater is slowly invading our floors. My ukay-ukay jacket is now damp from seawater and my socks are wet - my old robertson’s shoes must have holes in it that I know nothing of. I’ll check it out as soon as I survive, I thought. The ceiling started to drip. My, oh my.

I stared at the life vest hanging above my head as soon as I saw a bundle of the day’s issue of Manila Bulletin floating in the floor all bloated and wet. Five sacks of rice lay still and wet under our seats. I was trying to figure out what kind of an enemy I have outside when my phone started to vibrate.

Unlock keypad. Read Message.

S: Hi, Bru! Can I use ur blogs in my clas? Pls? I’ll mek most of ur work samples of paragraph *****ment.

Click Reply. Write Message.

Y: Do whatever u want. Just don’t give out my name. Mine is conversational English. Not a good idea for an English class. I’m on board a boat bound for Siargao. Waters are starting to fill the boat.

Click Send. Message Sent. Lock Keypad. Phone vibrates. One message received. Unlock keypad. Read message

S: D author shld be acknowledge bru. Urs is *******istic dats y I wana use 8 n class. U surfing there? Take care. U can swim ryt?

Click Reply. Write Message.

Y: Make another name. I can’t swim but I might if survival calls for it. Grrrr…

Click Send Message. Check Operator Services. Gasp. Lock keypad.

My last connection to the world has just been unplugged. Great! So much about adventurism! As the waves tossed our boat mercilessly, my stomach vacuumed and I felt the need to pee and fart at the same time. The ocean would have been a great venue if it were not for the waves and wind.

The woman beside me, I presumed is a local islander, grabbed my knees for support as she murmured “this is the IT place”. She said we are approaching the accident-prone area and many boats sunk in that place. I tried to peek from the window and saw a turbulent current running at full speed. This place is good for white water rafting, I thought. But a white water rafting on a boat as big as this is an entirely different story.

As we approached the “IT” place I tried to make a mental inventory of the contents of my bag that will sink with me. Dirty clothes and undies, toiletries and hankies – they all can go right down. My phone, it’s outdated but I love it. We have many memories together. I held on to it when my brother offered to swap it with his N91.My camera, ew, lots of beautiful memories trapped inside. The phone and the camera can't possibly go down with me. There will be no one else to tell where I have been and what I have seen if it these two goes down with me. So, I sealed them both in a ziploc and whispered, "You both tell the world of my story, alright?

I don't know when is the next installment of my story, but right now I badly needed a bath...

The Adventure Island

I boarded a boat that would take me to the Philippines’ surfing capital. Sometimes, I’d catch myself smiling contentedly alone at the thought that finally, anytime soon, I will be in one of my dream destination. The boat is pretty large for an ordinary pump boat. I heard the trip will take about 3 hours and the waves will be playful since a typhoon is coming. But who cares? I don't.

The bus trip I made earlier was uneventful. It was the usual picturesque of rice paddies, highways, downtowns and flea markets. I am beginning to convince myself that each place is as identical as the other, whereever and whatever the place is. After I finished what I have came for, I immediately run, literally run towards the pier to catch the only trip going to the country's surfing capital. I bought my ticket, boarded and forgot that a human being needs to eat lunch every noon time.

I was sitted at the center of the boat congratulating myself for deciding to get on board. This trip was never part of my itinerary. No single soul in the world knows where I am going. A long time friend will meet me as soon as this boat docks in the island-destination but she doesn't know I accepted her invitation to follow her. As I sat on the boat taking mental note of my surroundings, smiling at myself and heard my stomach grumbles all at the same time, I saw something that promised that my trip will be one hell of an adventure!

To be honest and quite frankly, I am through that stage where I insist that I have the right to question every person's intentions. Rigth or wrong, I have come to terms with the fact that a person's life is his own. That I will always be an audience of my surroundings and I have no right whatsoever to judge a man's person. Right now, I am more amused at how a person deals with his life and I am nothing but an expectator.

To be continued....

That's Life

THAT’S LIFE

“When you are a nobody,
you are unnoticed;

When you begin to go up,
you win many friends;

When you go higher,
you win more enemies
and less friends;

When you go even higher,
your friends become
your enemies;

And when you have attained
the highest – as the king
of kings ---

They will crown you
with thorns and crucify you!”

So don’t be surprised that you are now being crucified
This proves that you are among the ‘HIGHEST’
By: Bethlehem Ephratah

Sense of Wonder

I just came from a 2-city tour and island hopping galore. It was both an adventurous and humorous trip that I would have wanted it to last a little longer if it were not for a pressing business that requires my immediate presence back in the mainland. Looking back, I'm glad I made the trip even if it's against all odds.

There was a time in the last quarter of last year when I confided to a travelmate that I felt I am losing my "sense of wonder". That time, I was convinced that nothing and no one impresses me anymore. My travelmate shook her head and said, "Yam, that sounds tragic."

She was right. There is nothing more tragic than when a person is indifferent towards everything. Indifference spells tragedy. The world may continue to go round but it is seen in black and white. The sunsets are without color, the sea lifeless and the wind motionless. Music is played on the same repeated notes and the faces of both strangers and friends become identical. Existence without thrill and excitement is a lonely tragedy.

I didn't know how, when, and why it happened to me. Perhaps I had my hands full too much too soon. Burned out? Perhaps. Fed up? Maybe. But geez...

I'm glad it was short-lived. I maybe losing my "sense of wonder" but who says I completely lost it? The trip I made this week proves I am still capable of exhibiting "amazement" even to the most insignificant things around me. The indifference is slowly exiting out of my system.

Before I will tell you about the trip that was instrumental in bringing back my "sense of wonder", let me thank the following:

Merle and Ellene for providing a roof over my head in Butuan City. I never appreciated Butuan City before the way I appreciate it now after you dragged me into its downtown.

Jenny for being so generous with her time and for talking nonstop while showing me Surigao City.

Amor, Cathy, William, Engr. Dodong -acquaintances I met in Socorro Island (one of the island in Siargao, Surigao City)- specially to a dearest long-time friend, Aldie Mae , for feeding me with meaty informations and for providing a roof over my head.

The beautiful and good-natured people of the Island of Socorro, people I was with in the buses, the boats, piers, terminals, the streets.

I am grateful I made the trip.