Tumunog ang cellphone…and nanay ko pala ang tumatawag mula sa amin. Medyo matagal-tagal na ring di kami nakapag-usap, siguro text-text lang noong mga nakaraang buwan. And everytime na tumatawag sya, napapa-isip ako na may problema na naman sila sa bahay. Ngunit kanina, masamang balita pala talaga. Kamamamatay lang ng aking lolo; uncle ng nanay ko (lolo ko pa rin, di ba?) Nagsimula akong maglakbay-diwa after na kinausap ako ng aking ina.
Sa natatandaan ko, ito ang lolo ko na nagturo sa akin kung papaano uminom ng “tuba” lasenggero din kasi e. Then, di pa nakuntento, tinuruan na rin akong uminom ng beer sa murang gulang. Grade two pa lang ako noon, nagustuhan ko na ang sumama sa kanya lalo na pag takip-silim doon sa niyugan para kumuha ng tuba, at pagdating sa bahay ay hahaluan ng isang basong beer. Masarap rin naman. ‘Yun nga lang isang baso, tama na. Kaya habang binabalikan ko sa aking alaala ang mga nakaraan, di rin naman kalungkutan ang dumapo sa akin, kundi mga masasayang nakaraan. Namatay s’ya dahil sa katandaan and masasabi ko na masaya rin naman s’ya sa mga nakaraang mga taon ng kanyang pamamalagi sa mundong ito. Nakakalungkot din na ang kanyang mga naulila ay dadanas ng kalungkutan. Malungkot ang mamatay pag nag-iisa sa kabaong, symepre ayaw ko munang samahan sya sa kanyang patutunguhan. Naranasan ko nang maiga sa kabaong, wala akong kasama…ikaw sama ka?
When I was on my way back home from malling, or let’s say, lakwatsa, I took FX and seated in the middle of these women who seemed to be new fellows here in Manila. I was little bit surprised that they speak in Cebuano, while another woman at the backseat started to talk in Ilocano. Three of them know each other obviously, yet another passenger started to talk to them in their dialect; Cebuano and Ilocano. “Guot na man diri sa akong tapad,” says one, and the other one replied, “ditoy ka laeng ngen!” I was fascinated and easily felt at home, and I started asking, “Taga-asa mo, mga inday?” “Hala! naunsa na ni, naa man diay Bisaya diri?” she replied and laughed loudly.She said that she came from Gensan City and working here but going home soon. I asked further and I learned that she lives near where Manny Pacqiao lives. I know very well where he lives in Gensan City. Indeed he became famous because of his fights; little bit proud that I know where he lives, and near to the place where the woman lives. I just smiled and said that we just came from the same place. Then I asked the other lady, “Taga-ayanna ka met, manang?” , and she came from Cabanatuan…
Indeed, Metro Manila is a place where people of different culture meet together and venture for different work. More people are coming from provinces to look for greener pasture, while some go abroad to look for opportunites to help their own families. Pahirap na kasi ang buhay sa Pilipinas kaya di natin masisisi ang mga kababayan nating nagsisiluwas mula sa iba’t-ibang dako para maghanap ng ikakabuhay…yun lang naman gusto ko sabihin, workdays na naman bukas, ano na naman kaya ang naghihintay sa ating lahat… (sigh)…
In response to the invitation of Snow Princess, I would like to answer the questions she tagged. And I hope, I will honestly and accurately answer these questions 
1. How are feeling you now?
Inspired, calm and contented…
2. What are you currently doing?
Blogging ang reading others’ blogs…
3. Describe Politics in two words.
A business and a deception
4. Your most hated celebrity is…
Can I say it here that it’s Kris?
5. Your most admired celebrity is…
What are the critera before we can say that a person is a celebrity?
6. Beauty or Fame?
Beauty, it’s an inner disposition
7. Love or Money?
Love…. yung di nabibili 
8. Is LOVE a feeling or a decision?
It’s a feeling…. hmm, i dont think it’s just totally feeling, it’s life!
9. What have you realized about LIFE lately?
…is short so why not start living today rather than wait for tomorrow and realized, it sunset already.
10. Younger or older women?
Anybody, since age doesn’t matter.
11. Your best qualities.
Independent, observant, silent
12. Your worst qualities.
Yes, impatient, too
What else? I think, I answered these right… How about you? By the way, Thanks to Snow Princess
Happy Weekend!
Second day of swimming lesson, it was painful, my whole body ached after an hour and was feeling sick! It’s true in real life, again, it’s the continuation of “Swimming… Life’s ocean.”
When I took my first plunge and grabbed the kickboard, I got this chest and bicep pain. maybe because I just woke up and in five mutes, I was already there, feeling excited to learn more how to swim. It was so painful that I had to stop and relax myself. The instructor was understanding enough to let me rest a while. That moment, my mind recalled the events in my early life again when I took the first chance to dive alone, yet was not prepared to swim. Here, I had the kickboard to help me to balance my body. Same, that there were people who supported me, acted as mentors and friends. But recognizing that there were pains also, pains that I have realized as useful experiences for me to learn. As the Instructor said that nobody learned how to swim without experiencing drinking water forcefully, on how to exhale and inhale without taking water in. Now I understand….
Tumunog ang cellphone…and nanay ko pala ang tumatawag mula sa amin. Medyo matagal-tagal na ring di kami nakapag-usap, siguro text-text lang noong mga nakaraang buwan. And everytime na tumatawag sya, napapa-isip ako na may problema na naman sila sa bahay. Ngunit kanina, masamang balita pala talaga. Kamamamatay lang ng aking lolo; uncle ng nanay ko (lolo ko pa rin, di ba?) Nagsimula akong maglakbay-diwa after na kinausap ako ng aking ina.
