SCAREading

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


This day is no ordinary day, it's different from the usual. I went to Production area first thing in the morning to check the line's condition. Though, I am not required to do this, I think it is somewhat a default in my job description. I greeted everyone I knew with a merry-some morning and somewhat hoping that I might dictate a good mood for the day.

On I went from one line to the next then to the other sometimes exchanging glances and laughter with some familiar faces per area. After confirming that there were no major troubles, I started to dart my way out of the Production floor, when suddenly I heard a voice coming from the back of my ears - a trembling voice that I believed I have never heard before. It's kinda scary, it's hollow.

"Come, come with me...", the voice whispered.

I felt a sudden thrust from within me, my hair raised to its end as a quick shiver runs through my bone. I turned back, hoping that the voice came from a person, but no one is behind me. I looked around frenziedly figuring where the hell did the voice came from. I stopped for a while gathering all the courage I could get then without hesitation, I speed my way out of the Production area without looking back.

This is the first time that I have experienced this kind of eerie situation. I did not notice anyone as a walked hurriedly to the restroom. My face was as pale as white. I splattered cold water on it to bring back the color, as I slowly gasped for breath.

My head sunk in the lavatory as if picking up the pieces of my shattered self. As I gradually raised my head to see what has left of me in the mirror, the farthest cubicle door of the comfort room swung open, creating a loud thud. Normally these doors are closed regardless of whether there is an occupant or none. So I assumed that somebody must be in there and that he opened it forcefully.

Still looking at that frantic cubicle I waited for someone to come out. After about ten seconds or so, I wondered what was wrong with him, I unhurriedly crept my way to that cubicle, walking like a phantom, which is about to lurk his prey. Then suddenly a black cat came out with his piercing eyes staring right at me. I was astonished more than ever.

A cat (?), I thought for a moment, what does a cat doing here? I suddenly stomped my feet in front of him and immediately he scatted away towards the door. Sensing that he has nowhere to run because of the closed door, he stopped for a moment and sat like much a tamed tiger. He gave a look at me as if asking me to open the door. I turned my back at him and ignored him. How I wish that somebody would enter the comfort room and see the black cat sitting beside the door.

I got hold of some tissue paper to wipe off my wet face when suddenly a flushing sound of the toilet bowl echoed within the doors of the comfort room. My goodness! It cannot pick a more appropriate time than now. My bones are still shaking from that Production area experience. But on the other hand, it made me feel good knowing that there is also somebody in there with me.

I just can’t wait to see what will be his reaction when he sees this cat behind me. I smiled teasingly for a while.

After fixing myself up, I slowly opened the door making sure that the cat will not be able to get out, so that when somebody enters on it, he will be shocked upon the mere sight of this feline.

As I was passing the area of Tool & Die, I noticed that I forgot my handkerchief. I went back straight to the restroom to get what I have left. I opened the door slowly so that the cat will not be able to get out quickly. To my amazement, the cat was nowhere in sight. Perplexed, I search for the cat, looked in, in each cubicle and the cat was nowhere to be found. Beneath the toilet seats, behind the doors, around the corner, he's gone! As well as my handkerchief and the guy who flushed the toilet. This is gonna be a creepy day ahead, I suppose.

I immediately went outside to see if there was anyone around who might have been the culprit or the witness, whatsoever. But there was nobody around, nor a single soul. I was just out for about five seconds but look what had happened within that timeframe. I'm beginning to feel goosebumps all around my body, this can't be happening, not to me, not now. I can feel my body shake as a cold breeze kissed me on my cheeks.

I strode down steadily towards the office, head bent, eyes squinted, arms stiffed. I cannot make any possible logical explanation to the incident. I pinched my left arm to determine whether I would hurt myself. It created a small red itchy patch on my skin. Back then I realized that I wasn't dreaming after all.

I walked slowly towards my table, making sure that nobody would notice my trembling hand, I tucked it inside my side pockets. All seems to be normal here, I uttered.

As you can see, since that Production area incident a while ago, I'm starting to feel a bit more alert and aware of small things that have been happening around me. Suddenly, I remembered the lyrics of Linkin Park's PaperCut... I'm paranoid, looking over my back. It's like a whirlwind inside of my head. It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within, it's like the face inside is right beneath my skin...

The hours went on and I haven't experienced some extraordinary situation so far, until.

I heard that gloomy voice again. "Come, come with me...!"

What the hell has been happening to me? What is this silly voice all about? I wanted to freak out and shout but I got hold of myself. I wanted to bang my head onto something hard hoping that it would eliminate that creepy voice that I'm hearing, but I can't. The guys around me would think that I have lost my sanity, which is now hanging by a thread.

It was about ten minutes before five in the afternoon that I decided that I would not render overtime. At the bus, I kept on thinking about the incident. I prayed hard that He would give my much strength to face my fears. Then silence fell. Silence that was ear-splitting. I did not heard the sound of the bus that passed by my window nor the chatters of my co-passengers, all that I can hear is a monotonous tingling sound which I cannot explain. Then, I heard the most melancholic voice I could think of.

"Come, Eddie, come with me..." I froze that I thought I am already dead.

The voice was so sad, it weeps. I closed my eyes somewhat hoping that I could talk to him. Fighting the eerie feeling, I relaxed for a while, inhaled and exhaled for about five times. Then after the shiver, I felt a little more at ease, but I noticed that the voice sounded somewhat familiar.

Hundreds of questions keep on lingering in my mind. How does he know my name? What does he want? Will I ever escape this nightmare of mine? What will my friends tell me if I consult this to them? Will I be my normal self after all of these? Who is he? Why me? Why did he call me by my name and not my nickname?

I slowly looked all around me wandering if anybody noticed my strange behavior. Good enough, they were all preoccupied as well. I have developed quite a number of theories on my head before I reached my get-off point.

As I was walking hurriedly towards the jeepney terminal, I happened to pass across a fast food joint. Naturally, there are a lot of jesters standing and waiting outside the area, when one little girl pointed her finger at me. I overheard her saying something about my shirt. I slowly looked at my white shirt and guess what I have found. Bloodstains!

Yes, about four round splats right into my heart area. I don't have any idea if it is fresh, but one is obviously in the act of dripping before it clotted. I carefully examined my shirt to confirm if it is indeed blood. It created maybe a diameter of 1 to 1.5 centimeters. It wasn't smelly and it wasn't shiny either. But when I tasted it, it was blood.

If I have hundreds of questions in the afternoon, now I've got thousands and still climbing. I didn't tell anything to my wife about my horrifying experience. I know she would freaked out when she hears my story so I decided to seal the matter of, until.

One night, around thirty minutes past midnight, while I was fixing myself for bed, my cellphone rang. I checked the caller ID and it was a new number, ____-4093724. At first, I hesitated to answer it thinking that it might be a wrong number but then again, I thought, it might be an important one, so I nervously answered it.

It was a long-time friend of mine. He told me how glad he was when he got hold of my number. He expressed how much he wanted to see me. I just noticed that his voice seems to be trembling a bit, maybe because he's been awake for the past 30 hours according to him. We exchanged a couple of minutes or so telling stories that were long overdue and then suddenly he hanged up. I tried calling him again but the mobile phone was out of coverage area. He will call again; I said to myself, I'm sure he will call again. After waiting for about ten minutes, I discarded the thought.

The next morning, I told my wife about the unexpected call last night. Upon hearing the name of my friend, she turned pale as if she had seen a ghost. It took her a little while to catch herself and then she broke out with a scream.

She said that the person whom I talked over the phone last night had a fatal car accident two days ago and is now already dead.

I almost fainted. This can’t be real, I thought. Suddenly, I remembered the trembling voice of my friend and the shocking whispers I'm hearing. There is a big resemblance between the two. Or is it just pure coincidence? I don't know what's been happening to me because I am shocked and paralyzed as of the moment. I am not me. I have a body but I don't have a soul this time. I'm at a lost.

I was slumped at the corner of our room. My hands were shaking uncontrollably. My eyes suddenly stopped winking. My heart pounding vigorously as my mind suddenly forgets its purpose. I really have no idea what has got into me.

After some time, I have recovered from that frightful revelation; my wife told me the whole story. She learned this from another friend of mine that my best friend was on the way to our house to visit me and my family when he met death at the wheels. He was very anxious to see me for we haven't seen each other for five years now. My wife noticed a couple of teardrops fell from my eye. She even told me that his heart was pounded to bits because of the incident. I recalled the bloodstains on my shirt suddenly.

During the weekend, we made it a point to visit his family. His mom told me everything about the accident. I felt so sorry knowing that it's me whom he badly wants to meet. Before we left their house, his mother gave me a box wrapped in glaring blue, attached to the box is a small envelope that contains my name. Somewhat puzzled, I accepted the offer. We dropped by at his sepulcher later in the afternoon.

I lost a friend but I gained an angel. It feels very disheartening to lost a buddy whom you shared most of your secrets and always very supportive. I really felt very sad.

After the incident, my routine life came to normal once again. Every now and then, we include my best friend's name in our prayers and offerings for his soul to be at rest. I did have my communication with my other friends again as well as his family. Everything turns out well and normal again, until…

One day, I opened the box and revealed what's inside. It was my long lost handkerchief. And everything wasn't normal again.

Scrambled

Aconrdcig to a rserecah at an Egslnih uiersivnty, it doenst mttaer in waht oderr the lteerts in a wrod are, the olny prminonet tnhig is taht the frist and lsat lteter is at the rihgt pacle. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sltil raed it wiohutt prlbeom. Tihs is bceusae we do not raed eervy lteter by iseltf but the wrod as a wohle.*

Preo mhaairp na pag tlaagog na! Gsuto mnog skbuaun?

Nsaaabsi din sa rrseeach na yon, na isa sa iadanansg tao ang nhraihiapnag bmasua sa gnaiontg stlye. Ppyaaag ka bnag iakw yon? Kyaat gnaao man khaairp iontg pnaig ggaawgaa mo ay pliit mo pa rnig bniaasba ng twuid ksai aayw mnog mataawg na scepial cilhd ka di ba? o ano kyaa mo pa ba?

Sicne nbkaaaot ka na hagnngag dtio, tgniin ko yaankg ykaa mo na, so tluoy tyao.

Ang plombrea lnag sa reaesrch na yon ay ynug lirbo na na-puslibh nlia ay pruo gniato rin ang sluat. Praa daw ksai yon sa ooginng sudty nlia sa sbuecjt na ito. Kaapg ksai bmuili ka ng lirbo ay kmsaaa ka na sa kailanng sudty kyaat btaanbayan ka nlia hnabag baniabsa mo ynug lirbo nlia.

Luabams din sa knaailng mga stduy na ang mga Pnlipiio daw ang piaaagalinmkng bsumaa sa gtnaiong stlye ng slaut preo di nlia malmaan knug bkait. Knug kyaat ngaayto slia sa Pliiiapns ng iansg rsreeach isniuttte praa pag-aalarn ito.

At bsae sa knaianlg mga fgidinns, kyaa plaa maaligng bsmuaa ang mga Pnioy sa slcamberd lteerts in a wrod ay dhail mlhiiag snilag mag-sbramcle ng mga lertets kaapg slia ay nag-txeett, hhheee...

*copied from an email

Mathematically Yours

I attended a seminar this day in a hotel in Makati. There were many participants from different industries, both foreigners and locals. One thing that captured my attention during the early part of the program was the speech of the Japanese guest who delivered the opening remarks. He said that Filipinos and Japanese have very different cultures and are very different individuals. He added that Filipinos are good in English but poor in Math while Japanese are good in Math but very poor in English.

During the course of the seminar, I kept on thinking about what he said and as a result I composed a short poem for my wife.

Mahal na Mahal Kita (5254)

We were born on the same month, I was on the 11th and you were on the 29th

If you add these numbers together, it is the same as 5 gallons to pints

Our wedding anniversary on the 12th of every 12th month, we do always swear

That their product is not a triangle but always a perfect square

Check the two numbers above then get their corresponding sum

Be sure to deduct the age gap of our daughters, Nicole and Sam

Multiply it by the lucky number we have, our bf-gf anniversary date

Then subtract 'XX', the Roman numeral symbol for partner or mate.

4125 is our house address, try to subtract your birthdate from this number

Then get the corresponding fourth root of your particular answer.

Multiply it to the year that we've met the first time in school

Then subtract the previous answer above to get a number so cool

If you get it right and I'm pretty sure you will

It will spell out numerically the way that I feel

I always tell this to you, from then and until forever more

The romantic meaning behind the numbers 14344.

After the seminar, I approached the particular Japanese speaker. I said that his speech was very entertaining and humorous, but added that I beg to disagree on one thing. Filipinos are poor on some aspects in the society but definitely not Math. It even makes us more romantic than Japanese.

I smiled and thanked him and then I gave him a copy of my poem.

The Kiss

(Disclaimer: Ang susunod na kwento ay pawang nangangailangan ng patnubay ng magulang. Hindi po ako nakahingi ng pahintulot sa mga taong kasama sa kuwentong ito para banggitin ang mga pangalan nila, kung may nasabi man akong masama para sa kanila o para sa pananaw ng mga kaibigan nila, humihingi po ako ng paumanhin.)

Busog at halos bundat na kaming lahat nang lumabas kami sa isang pizza chain sa may bandang Ortigas. Nagkita-kita na naman kasi kaming magkakaibigan for our weekly night-out. Kahit may halong konting alak ang mga ininom, tila bitin pa rin ang barkadahan at para sa karamihan ang ala-una ng madaling-araw ay sadyang maaga pa para maguwian.

Mag-aapat na buwan pa lang kami ni Thess noon na magkasintahan, kasama naming lumabas yung mga katropa namin, mga magkakaklase noong college. Si Willie na numero unong taga-usig ng mga kumakanta sa stage ang tumatayong lider ng grupo. Siya ang magsasabi kung uuwi na kami o kung iinom pa o kung walang papasok sa amin kinabukasan. Hinahayaan namin siya kapag ganito dahil mahirap siyang kontrahin lalo na kapag siya ang nagbayad sa mga kinain namin.

Si Thelma na hindi kasama ang kanyang boyfriend na si Kirk (na asawa na nya ngayon) ang walang kupas na taga-tagay namin. Hindi halatang malakas uminom si Thelma dahil sa hitsura niya, mayumi at tila hindi pa nakakahawak ng bote ng beer. Pero ang bilang ng sumubok na pataubin siya sa inuman ay siya ring bilang ng mga nabigong magawa ito. Hindi ko na sasabihin kung paano niya tinatalo sila, baka hindi kasi kayo maniwala.

Si Joyce na walang ibang kilalang brand ng alak kundi Smirnoff, ang laughing-trip noong gabing yon. Kahit napaka corny nung joke na sabihin mo, tatawa at tatawa talaga siya. Feeling mo ang ganda-ganda ng joke mo at ang galing-galing mong magdeliver ng mga jokes. Kaya siguro Joyce ang pinangalan sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang.

Siyempre, si Thess ang reyna ng kwentuhan namin at ako naman yung pinakamalakas sa pulutan. Hindi ko na dadagdagan pa ang description sa amin kasi kami naman ang bida dito, hehe.

Pagkatapos ng mahabang talakayan, napagdesisyunan na lang ng tropa na sa apartment na nirerentahan nila Joyce sa Cubao na lang kami tumuloy at ipagpatuloy ang nabitin na inuman. Pabor na pabor ito para sa akin, maliban kasi sa bonding naming magkakabarkada, mas makakasama ko pa si Thess ng mas matagal.

Sa gitna ng aming kwentuhan at kulitan, nagyayang bumili ng alak si Willie. May karamihan na rin ang nainom ko doon sa kinainan namin pero hindi pa ako lasing, kaya pumayag pa ako. Iginiit ko na konti na lang ang bilhin namin tutal kami lang dalawa ang iinom. Nagulat na lang ako nang bumili siya ng isang bote ng Gilbey's Gin. Tila nahilo na ako di pa man ako nakakatikim. Sa isip-isip ko, mas mahaba ang gabi ngayon.

Ilang tagay lang ako, sumuko na ako. Inaalalayan ko ang sarili ko na hindi ako malasing dahil wala ako sa bahay namin. Wala man akong baong damit noon, madami naman akong dalang kontrol sa sarili. Maya-maya bigla namang tumayo si Thelma at hinamon si Willie ng inuman. Nagulat ang lahat, lalo na si Willie na walang kagatol-gatol na tinanggap ang hamon. Tanging kwento na lang ang ipinang-sabay ko sa inuman nila.

Lumalalim na ang gabi, gising pa rin kaming lima. Si Thess at si Joyce ay nag-uusap ng kung ano-ano, samantalang sina Willie at Thelma ay patuloy pa ring nakikipagbuno sa ispiritu ng Gilbey's. Ako, antok na, pero kwento pa rin ang nakatoka sa akin. Hanggang sa... tuluyan nang bumigay si Willie at makatulog doon sa inuupuan niya. Nagulat na lang kami nang biglang humilik sa kinalalagyan niya.

Nagkayayaan na tuloy na matulog na lahat. Magkakatabing humiga sa kama sila Thess, Joyce at Thelma samantalang si Willie ay iniayos ko sa may sofa. Ako ay sa baba lang ng sofa pumuwesto. Wala pang sampung minuto, bumangon ng dahan-dahan si Willie, umiikot daw ang mundo niya at bago niya pa masabi ang dapat niyang sabihin, bigla na siyang sumuka. Makalat na suka. Nawindang ang lahat.

Puno ako ng suka, pati si Willie, na nahihirapang ilabas yung alak sa sikmura niya. Naging instinct ko na tulungan kaagad si Willie. Dinukot ko ang kanyang lalamunan upang maisuka niya na ito ng tuluyan. Gusto man akong tulungan nila Joyce, Thess at Thelma, hindi nila magawa dahil baka maligo din sila sa suka. Nang makapahinga si Willie, iniayos ko ang kanyang kalagayan, nilinis at binihisan gamit yung damit ng kapatid ni Joyce na lalake. Pagkatapos, sinubukan kong linisin ang lahat ng kalat kasama na ang mga unan na nasukahan. Maya-maya inayos ko na rin ang sarili ko.

Lingid sa kaalaman ko, masusi pala akong binabantayan ni Thess. Mula sa pagtulong sa kaibigan kong nalasing at paglinis ng kalat hanggang sa pagbanlaw ng mga damit na nasukahan, pinapanood niya pala ako. Nawala ata yung hilo ko dahil sa mga inayos ko. Nung tuluyan na akong humiga para makapagpahinga, dahan-dahang lumapit sa akin si Thess. Nagulat ako at napabalikwas. Humawak siya sa kamay ko at sinabing pinahanga ko daw siya sa kanyang mga nakita. Napangiti ako. Bago pa man ako makasagot sa kanyang sinabi, inilagay niya ang kanyang hintuturo sa aking bibig. Parang sinasabi niya na hindi ko na kailangang mag-explain sa kanya. At nang kanyang tanggalin ang kanyang daliri, lumapat sa labi ko ang kanyang mainit na mga labi.

Pakiramdam ko, pansamantalang tumigil ang ikot ng mundo ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko, magugulat ba ako at biglang tatayo o hahayaan ko ang tunay na sinasabi ng aking damdamin. Bago pa man ako makakuha ng reaksyon, bumitaw na siya sa pagkalapat ng aming mga labi. Natuwa daw siya sa kanyang mga nakita sa akin at higit sa lahat, natuwa siya dahil hindi daw siya nagkamali sa pagpili sa akin.

Ito ang unang pagkakataong hinagkan ako ni Thess sa aking mga labi. Wala na akong pakialam kung lasing ba sya o hindi o kung nakita man kami ng mga kaibigan namin o hindi, basta ang alam ko lang, ibang klase ang pakiramdam. Bumaon sa isipan ko ang mga eksenang iyon.

Kung pwedeng umabot sa batok ang ngiti, malamang lumagpas pa yung sa akin. Kahit medyo nakainom ako noon, pakiramdam ko, ang gwapo-gwapo ko. Wala daw siyang pakialam kahit amoy suka daw ako. Sabi ko nga, wala man akong baong damit noon, madami naman akong dalang kontrol sa sarili. Napatingin ako sa oras, malapit nang mag-umaga. Lumapit akong muli sa kanya, ngumiti, humalik sa kanyang pisngi at sinabing, 'Thank you for loving me."

Pinatay ko agad ang ilaw.

JB

If you want to talk about talent, then talk to me. I will tell you how talented my kids are. But right now, I will just tell you one of the many talents they have. Aside from eating only fried chicken for the most number of consecutive days, my kids can also sing. That's right, for me, they are natural-born singers.

 

Nicole can memorize a song she just heard within the next hour. Although it will not be the exact lyrics, it will have the exact number of syllables on it. Of course, this will only happen if she loves the song so much that she will put it in a loop itself. Her lyrics might be different and her notes might be off-key but her passion when singing is incomparable. Believe me.

 

Sam is the Sarah Geronimo of the family. When she was in pre-school, we noticed her ability to sing in correct tune, hence, we enrolled her in a voice-lesson a year after that. Now, she has developed her singing talent and has been an avid music lover. Sometimes, she will let Nicole sing with her and their output would oftentimes catch our attention.

 

Well, the title of this post has nothing to do with their singing talent. It has something to do with their influencers.

 

Sam started liking music because of High School Musical then she fell in love when Disney started airing Camp Rock. The Jonas Brothers were her early idols in music. It was because of them that she started memorizing songs and humming melodies. The Jonas Brothers were indeed The Beatles for her.

 

 

 

Now came this Canadian-born pop star with the same initials as the Jonas Brothers. The Bieber fever had arrived in our small home, and all I can say is that it was very contagious.

 

 

 

Justin Bieber and his famous bangs came with a bang. I was caught dumbfounded. I never knew him but my kids knew all about there is to know about him. Is he always in the news currently? Who is this baby, baby...? Boy, am I that old? I felt like I was like blasted from the past.

 

Anyway, the Bieber fever is currently circling around the Facebook pages of Sam's friends and into Sam's notebooks. Pictures, magazines of JB can be seen in the four corners of our house. I was protesting in silence, it should have been Ely Buendia.

 

When Nicole asked me why I dislike JB, I said, I never did dislike JB. In fact, I am comfortable with the way he sings and I just can't believed how talented this little guy is. Although of course, I am not referring to Justin Bieber. My idol JB stands for Jovit Baldivino instead. Rock on!

 

 

My Wallet --> Mini Me

For months, I've always wanted to check and clean my wallet. Check, to see if all those inside my wallet can still be used or still have some value in it. Clean, to remove those expired bills, show tickets, ATM transaction records, raffle tickets and all those nonsense doodles I've been carrying. But, I never had a chance to do it. I always had a good reason not to check and clean it.


Last night, when a friend asked me, what one thing will you not leave home without? Like many, the first thing that entered my mind was my cellphone. It will be a difficult day for me without it but I think… I guess, I can make it through the day without the company of a cellphone on my pocket. So, I held the thought for a while, then I answered my friend, 'my wallet'.


Before I went to bed, I had the courage to check and clean my wallet. Every time I remove an item from the inside, I would check on it, scrutinize it and oftentimes it would put a smile on my face. A formal family picture that went wacky, when I cracked a joke before the cameraman pressed the button; my wife's black and white college graduation picture, which she looks very stunning until now; a pocket rosary from a seminarian brother; colorful credit cards and expired IDs; my Lord of Pardon devotional card, which is a gift from my dad and tons of ATM withdrawal slips, receipts, warranty cards and raffle tickets, which sometimes carry a small note on it, that sometimes I hardly cannot recall why did I wrote it.


After removing the contents of my wallet, I again checked each item before putting it back again. Remembering the story behind each one of it, makes me feel contented with what I answered with my friend. I simply cannot leave home without my wallet.
 
You see, my wallet is a small representation of me. It contains evidences of my simple treasures. It reflects the life that I am living and the things that once gave the meaning of life to me. If you will notice, my wallet is already deformed, tattered and some part of it torn due to the various activities of my life, it deformed itself for me and everyday it slowly molds itself to fit right into my pocket.


Just like us, everyday we try to distort our comfort zone even if it is painful for us. We try to adjust into the changing times, even if it is not what we wanted. We try to change ourselves for the betterment of us as an individual and as a group, simply emulating a wallet… to fit in the pocket of our Creator.


After checking and cleaning my wallet, I noticed that I have returned all those stuffs back again into it, but now, it is properly arranged and coded. If it goes inside my wallet, it probably has a good story behind it. Now I know, that I am carrying not only a wallet, nor a book, but a lifetime of treasure. It fits right for me.

To be or not Tutubi

Lumaki akong maraming nakilalang kulisap. Doon sa may 'Garden' sa tapat ng aming looban, puno ng mga punong-kahoy at halamanan. Dito namin, kasama ng mga kalaro ko, nakilala ang iba't-ibang klaseng kulisap na makikita sa mga ilog at halamanan.

Ang higad mula sa puno ng atis ni Mang George ay walang laban sa higad mula sa puno ng santol ni Aling Belen. Sa laki at haba pa lang, wala na itong binatbat. At yung gagambang sapot mula sa sa puno ng Aratiles sa may tabing-ilog ay pinag-aagawan namin kaysa sa gagambang-talon mula sa mga santan sa harap ng 'Garden'.

Ngunit ang pinakapaborito ko sa lahat na kulisap doon ay ang mga tutubing-kalabaw. Kahit matataba ang mga ito, sobrang liksi naman sila kung magsilipad. Marahil naiisip nila na sa bawat paglipad nila ay para sa ikagaganda ng kalikasan iyon, kaya kinakaya talaga nilang gawin kahit mahirap.

Mas maganda at maayang tingnan ang mga tutubing-kalabaw kumpara sa pinsan nilang si tutubing-karayom. Mukha kasing hindi maintindihan si tutubing-karayom kung on-diet ba o sadyang anemic lang siya talaga.

Masigla daw ang ilog o lawa kung maraming tutubi sa paligid niya. At dahil napaka active nung ilog sa amin, sangkatutak na tutubi ang malimit mong makitang paikot-ikot doon. Mahirap silang hulihin kumpara sa higad at gagamba pero kapag nakahuli ka, tiyak pagkakaguluhan ka ng barkada.

Minsan sa aking kapilyuhan, ikinabit ko mula sa isang tutubing kalabaw ang isang maliit na eroplanong papel gamit ang dalawang manipis na hair clip. Maliit lang yung papel na tama lang para makaya itong bitbitin ng tutubi. Kapag naikabit ko na ito, dahan dahan kong bibitawan ang buntot nung tutubi at masigla kong papanoorin kung ano-ano pa ang mga pwedeng mangyari. Ito ang bersyon namin ng remote control na laruang eroplano, yun nga lang talaga, hindi mo sya talaga kontrol. (mga bata, wag na akong gayahin...)

Sa darating na Linggo (10-10-10), sumali ako sampu ng aking mga kasama sa trabaho sa isang takbuhan para sa kalikasan. May karampatang papremyo kung sino man ang pinakamabilis na tumakbo.

Medyo may kalakihan na ako ngayon, kaya hindi malayong mabilis akong pagurin sa pagtakbo. Gusto ko mang umayaw pero huli na ang lahat. Sasabak na kung sasabak.

Sa ganitong sitwasyon ng pag-iisip ko naalala ang mga tungkol sa tutubi. Kung kaya ng mga tutubing-kalabaw ang laki ng katawan nila habang sila ay lumilipad, ako pa kaya ang aayaw sa hamon ng pagtakbo?

Gaya ng mga tutubi, basta para sa kalikasan, kakayanin ko ang bawat hamon.

Isla ng Camiguin

Malayo pa lang, matatanaw mo na

Mga bundok na tila humihinga

Buhay na buhay, puno ng pag-asa

Kaibigan, nasa Camiguin ka na

Pagdaong ng sinasakyang barko

Mga kabataang lumalangoy ang nagisnan ko

Pag hinagisan mo kahit tig-iisang piso

Buong tapang na sisisirin ang mga ito

 Syempre pa, masarap simulan ang araw

Kung sa umaga ikaw ay dadalaw

Sa pinagmulan ng Pastel sa Mindanao

Vjandep sa bandang Mambajao

Sa isang maliit na apartelle, doon nanuluyan

Maganda, maayos, may kalinisan

Pero ang higit na tumatak sa aking isipan

Ang kanilang pagkamagalang at kabaitan

 Kung tutuusin, ako pati si Thess

Di pa nakakakita ng puno ng lansones

Sana bago ako makauwi sa Lunes

Masulyapan ko man lang ang puno ng lansones

Sa Camiguin, madaming spring

Merong nakakapaso, yung Ardent Hot Spring

At kahit hindi ka marunong mag-sing

Mapapakanta ka sa Sto Nino Cold Spring

Sa White Island, iba ang pakiramdam

Isang puting isla na walang masisilungan

Walang ibang makikita kundi buhangin lang

At mga parang sea urchin na ginagawang ulam

At gaya ng aking naunang hiling

Hindi makukumpleto ang byahe sa Camiguin

Kung di ko man lang makakapiling

Puno ng lansones na aking panalangin

Oh Camiguin, sa maikling panahong ika'y nakilala

Ipinakita mo sa akin ang iyong natatagong ganda

Nais ko pa sanang ikaw ay makasama

Ngunit kulang na ang dalang damit at pera

Hayaan mo sa aking muling pagbabalik

Nais kong yakapin kita ng mahigpit

Ngayon pa lang, lubos na akong nananabik

Sa lupain mo, balak kong humalik

I Second the Motion

Nicole is in Advance Casa (Prep), her schedule is in trimester, different from the normal term of quarters. Yesterday, we received her report card. The lowest grade was 89 and the highest was 94. 

Of the 30 more so students, our Nicole bagged the Top 2 spot. This was more than what we expected.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful and smart kids. I really could not ask for more.

Daddy, Mommy and Ate Sam are proud of you my little baby. We love you so much.