Two Years

Another year to be thankful for...




...the gift of family,
...the gift of friends,
...of earth-bound angels,
...of prayers and encouragement
...and most especially...for the gift of life.

Someone Else's Angel

Twenty years ago I lost a friend.

I remember how we used to spend afternoon weekdays doing our homework together, with lengthy discussions on the recent episodes of Carebears, Smurfs, Daimos, and Transformers. Weekends would mean lots of time outside: playing patintero, tumbang-preso, taguan-base, Chinese garter, and monkey-monkey with the other kids in our vicinity. Whenever we feel lazy going outside, we would play scrabble, snakes & ladders, doctor-doctor, pick-up-sticks, and yes, even jackstone.

June 30, 1987…no classes due to the feast day of our Lady of the Rose, our town’s -secondary patroness. We were playing taguan-base when he was asked to run an errand for his mom. Being a good son that he was, he obediently did as he was told. He profusely bade goodbye and promised that he’ll come back and he’ll bring pandesal for our merienda.

But he never came back.

Later on, it was my dad who told me about the bad news. My friend was hit by a speeding vehicle along Ayala Avenue, near Insular Life building. He died on the spot.

That was how I lost him.

That was the very first time that I experienced grieving over the death of a friend. I never saw him as he lay lifeless on his coffin because I wanted to remember him as someone who’s full of life and candid as ever. It took me years before I finally had the courage to watch the movie My Girl (part 1) because it reminded so much of what happened and what we used to be.

Two decades after that fateful day, I now ask myself: “What’s it like if he’s still alive today?” “How would he look like?” “Are we still the best of friends?” Probably, he could’ve enjoyed watching the Transformers movie as much as I did (he was an avid fan of the cartoon TV series, you know).

He could have been 32 years old now. But I know God had better plans for him.

Now I know why good people die young: to be someone else’s angel.

My Eccentric Family

Meet my three wonderful kids:

My Love…ang panganay kong si Leo…sya ang nagmana ng pagkahilig ko sa computer…Promil Kid…very touchy and thoughtful.

My Honey…ang sumunod kong anak na si Borgie…sya ang nagmana ng aking best physical asset…may phobia sa English…sweet ang caring pero hindi halata.

My Sweet…ang bunso kong si Patrick…sya ang nagmana ng artistic side ko (pero mukhang sumobra naman yata? hehehe)…ang pinaka-bibo sa lahat…cheerful and outspoken.

Syempre, kanino pa sila magmamana ng ganda kundi sa akin :p



Sila ang aking eccentric family…masarap silang maging anak…maloloka kang panoorin silang sama-sama…gugulong ka sa saya...at sasakit ang tiyan mo sa katatawa…

These Are The Moments

3:45AM…early birds, este, love birds: Borgie & Joel...5:00 AM...2 flat tires...option 1: gamitin si FatBoy para sa mga gamit then commute ang lahat then magpasundo kay Floryc ng Sunday afternoon...option 2: maghanap ng pampasaherong jeep na pwedeng arkilahin – NOW NA!...6:00 AM...ang jeep na biyaheng IBABAW...ang late bloomer na si Fatima (kumusta naman ang palda?)...8:30 AM...TeakWood Resort...ang malaking aso na si Betsy...9:30 AM…RED, BLUE, GREEN, YELLOW...group color band... Carl's Trust Activity Game...handkerchief..."listen and trust your leader"...obstacles...lunch...pinaputok na tilapia...pritong talong...inihaw na baboy...hotdogs...ensaladang mangga...happy siesta!...teng, teng, teng!...group cheer...best cheer: "Dida & the pussy cats!" with matching kakaibang pose ni Mikey…four-way-tug-of-war...fill-me-in relay gamit ang kutsara! San ka pa?!...karaoke session...commencement exercise: inuman to the max!...dinner preparation...same menu...Patrick's high-blood attack...mathematical equation...dida & the pasaway cats..."ayokong maglaro, masama pakiramdam ko" (naku, ayaw mo lang mag-compute!)..."eh, ako nga ang lider dito eh!"...bullseye!..."exactly what I wanted to happen!"...effective processing...ang kakulangan sa kama..."good morning, sunshine!"...ultra-amazing race...ang ABCD song ni Fatima na 99 lang ang score sa videoke...slightly magulong order ng mga stations...ang itlog..."sisirin mo, baby!"...three-leg race...Borgie & Patrick's English phobia attack...ang kodakan...Ma. Elisa Redubla (kelan pa?)...Chocolate...Buttercup...Leo, Borgie & Patrick's Choopeta dance number by the pool...awarding ceremony...Over-all Champion: B-L-U-E, Blue Tigers Team!...Leadership Award: Patrick...Sportsmanship Award: Ate Minda...Best Helpful: Dida...lampoon awards...OA sa PDA award: Borgie & Joel...Late bloomer award: Fatima…Falling Star award: Leo... ang masikip na jeep...sleep in heavenly peace...kodakan ng mga gising at tulog...isang napakasayang outing..."sana maulit muli!"

Surprise! Surprise!

"WELCOME TO ATE JHIE BIRTHDAY PARTY!"

(di po yan wrong grammar, yan ay sinabi mismo ng party host ng McDonald's!)

(please click the link below to read further details)

http://didagonzales.blogspot.com/2007/04/ate-jhies-surprise-mcdo-party.html

Reality Check

Glorify God.

Sanctify the faithful.

Am I living my mission to the fullest?

How does change affect my mission?

How do I cope up with these changes?

What is common?

What are norms?

How do you distinguish a “sing-able” song?



You may be going round in circles, or beating around the bush, but one thing is certain:

I WON’T GIVE UP.

Thanks for the “one-of-a-kind” encouragement.

I really appreciate it hearing from you and not from anyone else.

Makabagong Salawikain

Kapag maaga ang uwian...tiyak may dahilan.

Ang tunay na anyaya...sinasamahan ng hila.

Ang di makuha sa santong dasalan...isakay mo sa taxi bago pa man maka-angal.

Sa hinaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon...sa Bel-Air pa rin ang bagsak.

Ang taong walang kibo...malamang nag-iisip ng sasabihin.

Ang pagsasabi ng tapat...di lang sa text dinadaan.

Ang damdaming nasugatan..."sorry" lang ang katapat.

Aanhin pa ang damo...kung lahat ito'y nabunot na.

Pagkatapos ng sigalot...magkatabi na ulit sila kay Fatboy.


Moral lesson:
Don't let a little dispute ruin a great friendship.

Ano daw? Basta, yun na yon!



It's to see that the symphonic triumvirate is back to normal.

Goodbye...Hello

Two months ago, we were informed by my boss that she will be filing her final and irrevocable resignation. Well, honestly, I already knew this was coming. After Rachel resigned a couple of months ago, I couldn’t help but think that Ma’am Cris would eventually follow. It has become a trend in the office. I guess, it’s a good thing for those who have left RCBC for the so-called “career growth”.

Hay, I can’t wait for my turn….

Anyway, my incoming boss came in a few days after Ma’am Cris’ public announcement of her resignation. He was told about the situation during the very first day he reported for work. Tsk, tsk, tsk…a very warm welcome indeed.



To Ma’am Cris, I wish you all the best as you end your 11-year career at RCBC and start another chapter of your profession at …ngek, saan nga ba?

And to my new boss, welcome to the wonderful world of Disney,este, RCBC pala! Hindi lang good luck ang hangad ko sa iyo kundi “over-to-the-max good luckers to the nth power”! Ayan, with matching crossed-fingers pa yan, huh?

puzzled

I passed by an office supply store at Dela Costa St., and I saw a wooden thingy similar to the rubix cube. Dahil na rin siguro sa gusto kong makagawa naman ng bago paminsan-minsan, hindi na ako nagdalawang isip na bilhin yung cube. Sa sobrang excitement, sa office pa lang, sinubukan ko na syang gawin. To my surprise, na-dismantle ang cube nang i-twist ko sya! Hindi pala sya rubix cube kundi isang mahabang pinagdugtog-dugtong na maliliit na cubes na gagawin mong malaking cube na 3x3x3 ang size...kumusta naman? Anyway, natuwa na rin naman ako dahil first time ko nga itong gagawin kaya pinagsikapan ko pa rin syang i-solve...

Maya-maya pa, nakita ng boss ko, nag-try din syang i-solve...pero di sya nagwagi.

Tapos sa simbahan naman, habang hinihintay si Fr. Joseph, si Ate Minda naman ang nag-attempt na i-solve sya...hindi pa rin successful.

Nakauwi na rin ako ng bahay. Picture-picture muna ng wooden puzzle para may BEFORE photo:


Napuyat ako, huh! Nakatulugan ko na sya. Paggising ko kaninang umaga, sya ang una kong ginawa...habang nagpe-pray na sana mabuo ko na sya.

Maya-maya pa, heto na ang AFTER photo:


Kakatuwa di ba? Sa susunod, ibang wooden puzzle naman...

...pero gusto ko pa rin ng rubix cube.

After the storm...

Buti na lang nakinig ako sa payo ng aking butihing ama...kundi, malamang naranasan ko ang matinding hagupit ni Milenio sa daan...eto ang masaya: nag-text ako sa boss ko, sabi ko di na ako pinayagang pumasok ng tatay ko, sabay tanong kung papasok sya...akalain mong nag-text back: "D2 na ako sa ofc"...hehehe...kumusta naman ang pag-uwi mo mamaya, ate?

Ok na sana at nasa bahay ako...malungkot lang dahil biglang nag-brownout...birthday pa naman ni Dida...yun tuloy, di ko sya natugtugan sa Mass (sorry!)...

Later that night, when the entire Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon were in total darkness, sinundo ako nina Elay, Leo, Thina, Carl at ni birthday girl Dida dahil sa mga sumusunod na kadahilanan:

1. i-celebrate ang birthday ni Dida
2. mag-ice cream trip sa Mcdo
3. mag-occular inspection at umusyoso sa mga kaganapan sa daan matapos ang bagyo (kumusta naman ang mga babaeng naka-tube at turtle-neck sa Burgos?!)

Nakalulunos ang tanawin nung gabing yun...parang dead city ang Makati: maraming na-uproot na puno na nakahambalang sa daan, madilim, maraming kalat, nagbagsakan ang mga naglalakihang billboards sa Edsa...i really couldn't help but utter a silent prayer, I thanked God dahil sandali lang nanatili si Milenio...iisipin mo tuloy, ano pa kaya kung nagtagal sya ng 1 araw, di ba?

Dahil sa matinding depression, at dahil na rin sa walang bukas na McDonald's, napunta kami sa Powerplant...sa daan palang papunta dun, nalungkot na naman kami...pati pala Powerplant ay nakayang gupuin ni Milenio...tsk, tsk, tsk...

...buti na lang I'm was in the company of good friends



...buti na lang masarap ang McFloat, McDip, at Chocolate Sundae sa Mcdo
...buti na lang maraming nagkalat na mga guwapong hombre sa Powerplant
...buti na lang na-piktyuran ko 'tong message na naka-post sa isang store sa Powerplant:



Hay! Sabi nga ni birthday girl Dida, siguro nga kaya sobrang lakas ni Milenio kasi kinuha na nya lahat ng pain at misery para pagkatapos nun "good morning, sunshine!" na...



At kinabukasan, isang magandang umaga nga ang sumalubong sa amin...without any trace of what happened the night before...

...except for the brownout and uprooted trees along the way.

Nice To Have You Back

All's well that ends well...



"I'm coming out..and i want the world to know...i've got to let it show!"

Go, friend! Nasa likod mo kaming lahat...

..hindi na 'to "to the highest level", promise!

The Power of Two

Today is Rachel's last day at work.

I'm having mixed emotions.

I may have lost a constant companion...a programming buddy...a singing partner...a laughing cohort...a tough-but-sweet ally...



We may have gone our separate ways...

...but I know in our hearts, we will always be the Power of Two.

I will surely miss you, little sis!

Times Two

My SPPYC family feasted on 2 huge servings of PenPals Polka at Manila Peninsula.



The reason for the celebration?

Carol's birthday treat and my thanksgiving treat for my recent promotion.

Double the treat, double the fun!



Ngayon, isang long table na kami...a wish come true.

Autograph, please!

I prepared an activity for the choir last night...an autograph signing session. I gave each member a list of characteristics and opposite each item, kailangang papirmahin nila yung member ng choir na feel nila ay swak sa nasabing characteristic. Kaya lang, ang catch dun...kailangan pipirma lang yung person concerned...bawal magtanong, bawal umapela.

Eto nga pala yung autograph na naipon ko kagabi:



Responsible -> Dida...sobra ito, proven and time-tested
Mababaw ang kaligayahan -> Badet...ngitian mo lang, buo na araw nya
Maingay -> Badet...kahit on-going ang misa, hay!
Emotional -> Jingjing...di ba't umiyak pa nga sya kagabi?
Laging inaalaska -> Badet...medyo kakaiba kasi talaga sya...
Maganda ang mata -> Marvin...mala-Angel Locsin ba...
Mahiyain -> Carlito...ay sus! minsan gusto ko na nga sya i-mental telepathy
Madalas late sa Mass -> Jingjing...ikaw ba naman magkaroon ng maraming sideline!
Smiling face -> Jingjing...chinita kasi...uy, marami rin nagka-crush sa kanya!
Palaging "hyper" -> Dida...di na kailangan ng ecstasy!
Patient -> Elay...hats off ako sa kanya, over!
Mabagal kumilos -> Tina...matagal kasi sya tumawid mula McDonald's hanggang Petron
Sensitive -> Marvin...very motherly and caring
Hanep kumanta -> Tina...pwede nya kabugin si lola Regine!
Punctual -> Mike...mula noon, hanggang ngayon...mapa-practice, gig, o gimik
Prangka -> Tina...out-spoken
Madalas absent sa practice -> Dennis...pwede ko na rin sya gawan ng libro ng alibi...
Observant -> Elay...silent water runs deep
Sexy -> Marvin...pati bading nabibighani sa kanya...
Pasaway -> Jhrqx...the one, and the only!
Di mo malapitan (intimidating) -> Mike...katakot pag nakasimangot!
Matalino -> Leo...sensible at may logic na tao...
Mainitin ang ulo -> Jan...pag naiinitan o naiinip
Thoughtful -> Elay...di nakakalimot tuwing pasko...lagi syang may pasalubong...
Magaling pumorma -> Jan...napaka-banidosong tao!
Laging aburido -> Mike...kasi...kasi...no comment...basta, June 1!
Masarap kausap -> Carol...meron kaming intellectual intercourse...
Walang pakialam -> Jhrqx...wala rin akong pakialam!
Maraming nagkaka-crush -> Leo...ilan pa bang tao ang magiging maaburido ng dahil sa kanya? haba ng hair mo, ate!

Sa tingin ko, mukhang nag-enjoy naman sila dun sa activity. They were able to validate kung tama nga yung impressions nila sa isa't-isa. They were able to acknowledge the affirmation, if not express themselves openly regarding some issues concerning preconceived notions about themselves. Somehow, na-meet ko yung objective ko (sigh!). Though I have to admit na medyo kulang pa yung processing kasi medyo late na rin kasi kami nagstart.

Some other time, perhaps.

Thanks for the affirmation, guys! Ganun pala ang feeling ng artista...hehehe!

I Love Fridays

For me, Friday means:

... Joe D' Mango's Lovenotes
... Food shop/restaurant hunting
... Carl's Day
..."laugh & trip-till-you-drop"


Had lunch with four of my bossom office buddies: Rachel, Gima, and Alaine, and had another discovery today: Amici. It's a cafeteria beside Don Bosco church which specializes in Italian cuisine. The food is superb! Their pasta is at par with that of Spaghetti Factory and Old Spaghetti House but a little less cheaper. What I like most is the gellato (ice cream) which comes in very exciting and intriguing flavors! Yummy!


Ladies-in-waiting...picture muna!


Amici's thin-crust Hawaiian Pizza


Seafood Pasta


Where did the Pasta Montenara go?

Can't wait for another food trip, this time with my choirmates...

Later that night was the usual Carl's Day (or night?). We had fun at Coco Cobanna with our guest, my good friend Rachel.


Legal ito!!! Hehehe...

Afterwards, we proceeded at the Providence Videoke Bar along Leon Guinto St., Manila. Too bad I had to go home a bit earlier than everyone else. Arrgh! My lower back is killing me! Thanks to Tina for covering the rest of the fun and laughter in video. Ahh...wonders of technology!


I LOVE FRIDAYS...

...AND THE FRIDAY PEOPLE, of course!

Penpals' Polka

Isang malamig at maulan na sabado ng hapon, kami'y nagka-ayaan.

Ang trip: kumain ng ice cream sa Manila Peninsula
(oo, tama ang pagkakabasa mo!)

Merong ice cream na pang-tropa dun...ang tawag sa kanya ay PenPals Polka. Meron syang iba't-ibang flavors ng ice cream at sherbet, marshmallows, fruits, at wafer sticks na nakalagay sa isang malaki at malalim na kopita...



Sa halagang Php 700.00, kasama na ang mga kung anik-anik na tax, solve kaming lahat...may bonus pang kodakan at chika (how's the business?) at muy guwapitong hombre (how's my booger?...ang panget...hehehe)

At maya-maya pa, eto na ang kinalabasan ng ice cream:




Hmmm...mas masarap pala ang ice cream kapag pinag-aagawan sa isang sosyal na lugar.

Sana sa susunod na ice cream trip, isang long table na tayo...woohooo!

Constructive Criticism

I'm open to criticisms

I believe that it's part and parcel of anything you do. Sure, you can't please everybody but you simply cannot stop them from criticizing you either.

As humans, we tend to react by impulse. However, reactions may vary depending on one's nature. Others simply ignore the criticism by flaunting their "for-all-I-care" attitude. Others accept the criticisms and take it on a positive note. They either make the necessary steps to correct it or they come up with solutions to prove that their critics are wrong. Worst case scenario would be engaging one's self to a fiery debate, blatantly defending himself from the verbal assaults of his critic/s.

Last Thursday evening, July 20, just before my choir rehearsals, I was confronted by one of our parish's highly respected laity leader. Here's an excerpt from our discussion:

Her : Ayan, nandito ka! Uy, sabihan mo naman na gandahan yung pagkanta ng mga umaawit sa misa.
Me : Sino pong kumakanta?
Her : Yung kumakanta sa misa.
Me : Saang mass po specifically?
Her : Yung alas sais ng gabi pag linggo.
Me : Teka po, kami yun ah!
Her : Oo nga, gandahan nyo naman yung pagkanta nyo.
(starts to walk away)
Me : Kailan po yung pangit naming kanta? Kailan pong specific na linggo? (beginning to sound defensive)
Her : Basta linggo, alas sais ng gabi.
(walking towards the brown gate of the parish)
Me : Ganun?! Ok ah! Parang wala kaming kinantang tama. Ang sama naman nun!
(in a sarcastic tone)
Her : Basta linggo yun. Yun na yun. Uy, constructive criticism yun ha?
(now outside the gate)

Yeah, right. Constructive criticism.

In as much as I don't want get affected, I just found her words reverberating in my ears. What I couldn't understand was the fact that how could somebody regarded as an excellent leader and a good motivator be so careless in expressing her opinion. It could have been done in a proper venue. We could have discussed it privately, leader to leader. But definitely not in the presence of some of the members of the youth choir who were with me during that time.

I just thought of what they felt at that particular moment.

Sigh.

A Year After

Today is July 18.

Exactly a year after the vehicular accident I had gotten into.

In as much as I don't want to remember all the details of that traumatic experience, they just kept flashing into my mind:

..the thought that I have forgotten to kiss mom but totally ignored it...the keen intuition I was feeling back then...the jeepney ride to Ayala...the Petron gasoline station at Makati Avenue...my leisure walking...the white taxi cab...the spot where I had lain after I was bumped by a passenger jeepney...waking up inside a car...the blood stains on the seat cover and printed documents...my swelling forehead...tita Evelyn, my earth-bound angel...the jeepney driver...the questions that raced through my mind...the series of tests I went through at the trauma unit of Ospital Ng Makati...my bruises and contusions... mom's look when she finally saw me lying at the hospital bed...dad's surprisingly calm nature...the insensitive nurse...Rachel's assistance...the ambulance ride from Ospital Ng Makati to Makati Medical Center...the hospital room...the anti-tetanus allergy...the negative CT Scan results...the people who visited me...the prayers and mass intentions for my speedy recovery...

Today could've been my first death anniversary.

Thanked God, it's not.

Rather, it's a day of thanksgiving:

...for the not-so-pleasant experience that made me who I am now

...for my parents who were always there for me

...for Tita Evelyn, my earth-bound angel

...for my friends, choir mates and relatives who have given me their love and encouragement

...for the realizations I had after the accident

...FOR MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

The Tissue Trick

The SPP Youth Choir had a fellowship-cum-team building at Gerry's Grill Jupiter.

After we had dinner and surprised Jing with a chocolate birthday cake, we proceeded with the night's agenda: Getting To Know You (background music, please...)

I passed a roll of bathroom tissue around and asked each one of them to get as many tissues as they can. Later on, I revealed that they are to say something about themselves based on the number of tissues they got from the roll.

Some got 3, others got 7 or 8. Others got 12 or 14.

We had a night filled with laughter, sensible talks, and wonderful discoveries. It's pretty amazing how a new comer can easily open up with the group. But it's equally interesting to find out how one can know another person for quite sometime yet still has a lot to discover from that person.

Later on that night, after everyone had gone home, someone went to a self-discovery journey...and he has two weeks to prove me that he's no loser.

guilt feelings

I hate myself.

Sometimes, I just can seem to balance myself in certain situations. Whenever I
get to focus on something, chances are, I fail to see the other side of things
which also require my immediate attention. In the process, there are things,
and most of the time, people that I hurt.

Had an extremely busy weekend. Then, a particular scenario came. It's something
that i don't want to happen. I was too immersed with the situation. Primarily
because of the possible implications that it might bring. Charge it to the fact
that that I've been in this kind of situation before...and i just don't want it
to happen again...ever!

Then it happened. As I was busy resolving the issue, I failed to see that someone
needed my attention and understanding. I know I've caused her pain...and it took
me a small fraction of time to realize it...and when i finally did, it was already
too late...

Later on that evening, my group and I decided to unwind near the Breakwaters.
It was a breather for me.

We had dinner at Teriyaki Boy...

had picture taking...



had ice cream and fondue at Iceberg's...



The desserts were delectable...

...but it failed to help me soothe that one unpleasant feeling...GUILT.