Death Anniversary

Today is the death anniversary of my father who was killed in a bomb accident at the Davao International Airport last 2003 (may his soul rest in peace). He was dead on the spot when bis body was brought to the Davao Medical Center (DMC), When I heard the news my bestfriend Cai and me hurriedly went to DMC and I saw my aunt and siblings outside... I thank God that they were safe, I'm praying that my PapaLolo, MamaLola, and my Mama Inday are safe too... They were at the Davao Doctors Hospital (Mama inday & Lola) and so we went there, it was then that I heard one of our relative said that Lolo's ----... and I don't want to believe her, I keep on praying and my mind's telling me 'NO! this can't be happening...' I call at home and ask our maid if he was there in the house but our maid said no, he wasn't... and a few minutes after that I hear him loud and clear shouting my name... 'Che!' and I quickly turned around my left side but I saw nothing, I asked my sister who's sitting beside me if she heard someone call my name, but she said she didn't... I know it was him, I recognize his voice, but I can't see him... I really don't know what to do and what I was feeling at that moment... then I knew what happened to him yet I still don't want to accept the fact... Was absent for days at school... I was thankful for our family friends and my bestfriends (Cai & Rhon) who were there to support and keep me and my family company during those days... I won't forget you for that, 'Thank You!'

Five years had passed and still the memory of the event still linger in my mind... I wish that the one's who were responsible for that incident would pay...

I miss you PapaLolo... I wasn't able to visit his grave since All Souls Day and before I leave Davao, butI know wherever he is right now he'll understand and my prayers will always be there for him...

The News

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Take Time...

TO THINK - it is the source of power.
TO READ - it is the foundation of wisdom.
TO PLAY - it is the secret of staying young.
TO BE QUIET - it is the moment to seek God.
TO BE AWARE - it is the opportunity to help others.
TO LOVE AND BE LOVED - it is God's greatest gift.
TO LAUGH - it is the music to the soul.
TO BE FRIENDLY - it is the road to happiness.
TO DREAM - it is what the future is made of.
TO PRAY - it is the greatest power on earth.

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Fly High

February 21, 2008

And today is the day... the day of my departure to Hong Kong and I really don't know what I was feeling that day... I woke up, had breakfast, had a shower and get dressed... Went to Gateway and bought some donuts at Go Nuts Donuts for Papa Manny and Lapid's Chicharon for my mom then I went back to tita Alice's house... Pack up all my stuffs and went to visit Papa Manny at Malate before going to the Airport with tita Alice... I was all by myself when I entered the entrance at NAIA... Whew! then I thought 'THIS IS, THIS IS REALLY IS IT!' Ai-Ai delas Alas line hehehehe... Paid the Airport tax, checked my baggage in and next to the immigration... I was so early, exactly two hours before the flight (hahaha) but I was hungry so I looked for something to eat and I was shocked to see the prices of the foods there..... (wwaahhh.. sooo expensive! hahahaha..) and so I just had Ham & Cheese worth 85 php! with just three slices of it, imagine that and a small bottle of Mineral water worth 35 php... waahhh... and I just have enough money on my pocket... hahahaha... but it's okay it filled my half-empty stomach anyways... hehehe... It's a good thing I've brought lots of chocolates...

Our flight was delayed, departed at 19:43... I wanted to sleep but I can't, so many things were running on my mind at that time... I looked at the window but the sky is dark and so I just keep on closing my my eyes hoping that I would fall asleep, but I didn't... After two hours we landed at the Hong Kong International Airport, their Airport is really huge and pretty cool... After we landed we had a short minute ride to their MRT. I don't know what they call it here, and after that we went to the Immigration and then find my baggage... Their Airport is really beautiful and clean... After picking up my baggages I walked outside to meet my mom it was really cold that night, my jacket's not enough for me, good thing my mom brought a spare jacket in case I needed one... Now I've got the chance to see and ride those double decker bus of theirs that I just saw in the photos... Their bus are really cool, the seats were pretty comfortable plus the view was really really nice... I can't stop my amazement hahahaha... Well, I was really sleepy but can't sleep, just keep on looking on those tall buildings, and then I heard an old man coughing and I looked at him and caught him spitting inside the bus... uurrgghhh... yuckie... He just looked at me at me and then I glanced away... thinking 'ka-damak ba sa mga tao diri.' Ka-nindot na sa ilahang bus, hugaw-hugawan lang?

Then I was so hungry so we stopped at a restaurant near their flat and had a good meal... I was having a hard time using the chopsticks hahahaha. I used the spoon and fork na lang... After eating we headed to their flat in Hung Hom, Kowloon... When we arrived Aison is already sleeping and I'm so tired and sleepy too so I clean up first and get ready to sleep.... good night everyone... ooppppss... it's dawn already... hahaha...

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Culture Shock nga ba?

February 13, 2008 when I arrived at the Manila Domestic Airport, our flight was delayed and but still we were able to land safely...

Paglabas ko ay hinanap ko na si Tita ALice, sya ang susundo sa akin at nakita ko sya sa may waiting shed, patingin-tingin sa mga taong lumalabas sa may pinto. Tinawag ko sya at nilapitan, may mga bitbit syang cakes... Nagkabatian at kamustahan kami at umalis na papunta sa bahay nila… Paglabas namin ay may nagbanggaan motorcycle at van at natraffic tuloy… Nag-abang na kami ng taxi na masasakyan, pero ang mga driver eh nangongontrata na hindi naman dapat, ilang minuto ang nkalipas at nakasakay din kami papuntang Pasay, pagbaba, ay umakyat na kami sa overpass para sumakay ng MRT papuntang Cubao… Maraming tao ang aking nasasalubong, lahat ay nagmamadali, nakatungo ako at nakita ko ang mga basurang nagkalat sa bawat baitang ng hagdan, madumi, makalat ngunit ni isa man ay walang nag-abalang pansinin ito.. Nang mkarating sa taas ay pumila kaagad si Tita Alice para para bumili ng ticket at pagkatapos ay pumila ulit kami para makapasok, nauna kong isinalang ang card at kasunod ko si tita Alice, sa dami ng dala niya ay nahirapan syang isalang ito at bigla na lang may isang babae na biglang isinalang ang kanyang card at inunahan si tita sa pila... Ayun, nagkagulo na at nagtaasan ng boses at nagkasagutan sila... Hindi ako sanay na makakita o mkarinig nang mga taong nag-aaway at nagmumurahan lalo na at nasa pampublikong lugar... May mali din naman kasi ang babaeng iyon kaya nagalit si tita, alam na nyang may nauna sa kanya sumingit pa, ano na nga lang ba ang silbi ng pila kung magkakaganon lang?

Maraming tao pagkasakay namin sa MRT, siksikan... Unang sakay ko pa lang nun first time ika nga hahaha... Pagkalabas, Maraming tao ang nkakasalubong, nagmamadali at nakakabangga, ngunit ni isa man sa kanila ay walang nagsabi ng 'sorry' o paumanhin man lang... Pagkawalang respeto sa kapwa lalo na sa mas nakakatanda, polusyon, traffic, mga basurang nagkalat sa pampublikong lugar... Iilang oras pa lang akong nakarating dito sa Manila at ito na kaagad ang aking natunghayan... Ganito ba talaga dito? Magulo dito at hindi ko yata gugustuhing manirahan dito... Naisip ko tuloy ang Lugar na aking pinaglakhan, ibang-iba talaga, hinding-hindi ko ipagpapalit ang 'Davao' hahaha... Malinis ang tubig at naiinom ang tubig na galing sa gripo, wala masyadong polusyon at hindi masyadong ma-traffic. Sa kabilang banda may mga magaganda din naman akong nakita dito at baka sabihin ninyo na puro negatibo na lang ang aking nilalathala sa 'blog' kong ito... Maraming buildings, malawak at magaganda ang mga Malls, moderno na dito may MRT at LRT, magulo nga lang at mukhang wala ng gentleman sa panahon ngayon at kung meron man bihira na lang makita, sana ay may pagkakataon pa akong makakaita ng ganoong klaseng tao ngayon, kung meron pa man... hehehe...

Sa paglalakad namin sa daan ng Cubao, may mga naririnig akong nag-uusap.. nagmumura... nilingon ko ito at nakita ko ang isang bata na sampung taong gulang pa yata... mas nakakatanda pa sa kanya ang mga kausap niya... hhmm... ganito na ba ang mga kabataan dito? na-cuculture shock na ko dito hahaha.. HIndi nman ito ang unang pagkakataon na nakapunta ako dito sa Manila, nakailang beses na rin ngunit sandali lang kaming nag-stay dito at hindi ko naranasan na magcommute kami nun, bahay, malls, restaurants at simbahan lang ang aming pinuntahan, kaya wala akong pagkakataong masaksihan ang mga nasaksihan ko ngayon...

Hanggang sa muli... =)

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Heart's Day

Spent a week at Cubao, Quezon City to process my visa... It was Heart's day and everyone's busy... lots of vendors selling flowers on the streets, guys were carrying roses or teddybears... lots of couples holding hands in the streets, malls and everywhere I look... indeed love is in the air today with the cool breeze of the wind... Hhhmmm.. too bad I can't be with the one I love... huhuhu... Anyways, I had a date with Tita Alice and kuya Engel at Starbucks late in the afternoon and at night I had a dinner date with Tita Alice at Floring's BBQ House...

Belated Happy Heart's Day to everyone...

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On a Sunday....

Started my day with my Mom walking inside the room, freaking out bout my Lola's being stubborn. I quickly woke up heading directly to my Lola's bed with my hair straight up (could you imagine how I looked like? lol) then, I saw her in the act of going back to her bed and started sitting. I was relieved to see her smiling at me, I don't know if she's smiling because of how I looked like or she's just happy to see me, nevertheless I'm thankful that she's alright... I Think I just misheard what my mom was saying; 'that's the reason she got her right hip broken because she stand up walk all by herself.' We were glad that she's not suffering any pain anymore because of that incident. I was sitting beside her for a while then I headed to the kitchen and had breakfast with my mom and aunt, after eating I stayed near my Lola and keep her company while watching t.v...

I was just sitting and writing when I heard her crying, I turned around and saw her wiping her tears... I asked her why she's crying but she just said 'wala lang' (nothing)... after a few seconds of asking her she said: 'palangga kaayo sila sa ilang Papa (Their father Loved them very much), si Inday, Beth, Rolly... hasta sad ikaw, ug tanan mga apo nya (and also you and the rest of his grandchildren.)' I told her not to cry anymore but just the thought of him would make my eyes teary... Well, I guess she just missed Lolo (may his soul rest in peace) it's been years since he passed away... I missed him too, there were times when I remember him, He used to scold me because I often went home late at night (usahay laagan lagi kaayo hehehe...) I'm scared of him sometimes especially when he gets mad coz he would really shout at you but after that he would remain calm and would talk as if nothing happened. He used to buy me a card (cellphone load) , chocolates (kay favorite man nako) and other stuffs, not just to me but also to his other grandchildren... I haven't visited his grave since I arrived here in Davao, I think I should visit before leaving... Three weeks and it would be the 5th year anniversary for all the victims of Davao Airport bombing... Too bad I wouldn't be in Davao on that day but my prayers will always be there for you (may your soul be at peace and for all that had passed away that day...)

I just wished that the one's who were responsible for the Davao Airport bombing would pay the price for their actions, but until now those terrorists were still out there... How could they sleep at night not thinking of the people that had died and was injured during the incident? Can't they hear the cries of all those who had suffered because of them? I just hope that their conscience would kill them...

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Unfinished Battle...

I tried to fight the battles in life.
A battle not easy to win.
A fatal strike came one day,
Loosen my hope as I fall hard to the ground.
Alone, I'm hurting, but much from the inside.
Still, I struggle... Fought hard 'til the end.
Trying to act brave in this lonely mission
Yearning to surpass the pain no one could ever bear.
But as each blow I took, broke my very urge to move on...
The child in me awakened from the burdens my heart cannot conquer.
Confusion, Anxiety, Agony...
In the depths of the child's soul you'll see.
The journey to find oneself has been set in mind.
Wounded heart it carries on an unknown expedition.
Each foe was overthrown as time passed.
Wounds were healed...
but it's memory forever dwells in it's young mind...



-JereMIAH "JM"

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Far Away from Home...

I asked for it and I got it… this has been my first time to be away from my family and my hometown for a long time… and I was so excited and at the same time nervous… thinking ‘hey, I’ll be on my own now…’ I am now responsible for every action that I’ll take hence, I’m really really grateful for this opportunity.

I’ve been waiting for this for so long coz I want to be independent, to grow as an individual and try to learn more about myself and life… but I won’t be able to do it if I won’t go away… away from them (my family)… far from them who sustains all my needs… I just hoped that this experience would help me to be matured enough to make my own decisions and be a responsible individual….

FIRST WEEK away from Home..

I was somewhat surprised as I arrived at this City... seeing a bunch of noisy tricycles on the main road (like they were on a race track or something like that…) later on I figured out that this is their way of transportation here… No traffic lights and no route to be followed…

I've been to this City for a few times but never stayed for more than one day... I love to travel and I've been into different places already eversince I was a kid... Sometimes we just passed at this City and never thought of staying or living here but now here I am trying to fit in... trying to make each day a memorable one...

I thought that the brown-out that happened in our office one night was just an accident, but when it happened almost everyday (men! What a city!) I dunno but it’s really irritating when you were so busy working and all of a sudden ----------- brown-out! ggrrr… do you agree with me? Anyways, the city’s clean though and my officemates were nice… but my problem is…. *secret* hahahaha….

SECOND WEEK…

Everything’s going smoothly for this week though the brown-out’s killing me, plus our staff house sooooo quite... no television, no radio *sigh* (can you live with that?) It's a good thing that I brought my mp3 with me this week or else I'll be going crazy over by the silence of the night...

THIRD WEEK…

Men! I got LOST!!! All the tricycles that I had stopped don’t know where DC TECH is… and there’s this one tricycle driver who just get me going on circles around the city… I thought he know where it is… grrr…. So I went off to his cab and try to walk for a few minutes, trying my luck that maybe… somehow… I could find it but then I didn’t… felt hopeless so I go on to my next destination until I reached our office… I was really pissed off that day that I wished I was just in Davao… but too bad I had to face the reality that I am actually here… On my way back, I kept on thinking about what I really wanted before I was here and now that I had it, it’s seemed like I want to back out… but then I thought ‘what the heck .. I’m already here then so be it!’ Fight.. fight.. fight.. hahaha...

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Learning Experience....

I think I have to let go of my introvert side and be more outspoken… I know I’ve failed the expectation of others and even to myself. I was hurt by the way my evaluation goes but then I have to consider that maybe I really needed to improve more, to work hard on my weaker side and try to enhance it more. It may not be my line of expertise but then I think I still have to exert more effort and improve what is it to be improved. I know I did my part but that’s just what I can do for the moment, it may not be that good to others but for me it was like something that I never thought that I could really do.

I already know from the start that the field I would be entering to would really be a big challenge for me, even though I failed and get hurt by how the result goes, in the end I am still grateful for that experience. It may not be that fulfilling to others but for me it is… I’ve learned a lot from it, learn some things from the tasks that they’ve assigned to me and I've learned a lot more about myself... The experience made me realized and reflect that I needed to improve my character, to be matured and grow in a positive way not for others but for myself. It's not that easy to change yourself but maybe little by little I can manage to do so...

I know I needed to experience those things in order to learn more about myself and life... to learn more for my own growth, so I can be a better person. It hurts but I know I can surpass this and I needed to... I have to... There's more to life than that, what matter is that I've learned to accept those things... God may have other plans for me and He might just be busy planning and working it out. I don't blame anyone on what happened, I know I have my shortcomings too... I just need to let it go but I just can't control my feelings... I'm not taking it on the negative side and I'm not blaming them, they too just did their part... I won't let my emotions drown me into the darkness but I want to think that it helped bring out the best out of me if this is the way for me to become stronger...

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Food for thought....

Photo Link

I was having breakfast alone when my sister came into our dining room and sit beside me. While eating, we were talking about her upcoming acquaintance party and other stuff regarding her studies. I was about to finish eating when she remembered an incident that happened yesterday and started telling me her story. Anne said: “Ate Che, Kagahapon ba sa village nila Leah, naay mga bata na nagakolekta ug lamaw.” (Ate {appellation for elder sister} Che, Yesterday at Leah’s village there was a group of kids who are collecting leftovers.) I, on the other hand, was about to laugh as I had my last piece of food on my plate thinking ‘what’s she’s talking about? I’m still eating’, but then I just disregard it and still continue listening to her. Anne: “Kada balay sila nagakolekta ug lamaw, nagdala-dala sila ug dako na balde, pagkahuman nihunong sila gi-abrihan nila ang balde ug gitan-aw ang mga sulod. Tpos nakakita man na sila ug pizza ilang gikuha ug gikaon. Grabe noh? Luoy kaayo sila”. (They were collecting leftovers in every house holding a big bucket of it and after that, they stopped and open it and take a glimpse of what’s inside, They then saw a pizza... took it and started eating it. They're so pitiful.)

With our population rising up and the economy's down, it’s the children who are suffering the most. I feel so sorry for those children; a lot of us are still lucky to have fine foods at our dining table while the others out there are busy looking for anything everywhere just to fill their empty stomachs... :(

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