One thing that I have a lot of right now is time. I should be in a seminar about a new drafting software but my office probably haven't made the necessary arrangements yet. Right now, I'm just passing my time surfing the internet, scanning all my photographs, watching the NBA playoffs and loitering around the city. i am not complaining though. Not yet anyway.
I attended 2 reunions this past Sunday. The first was a get-together-planning session of my HS classmates and the second was my Tita's 50th birthday. Our batch is approaching our 20th jubilee and we shall celebrate it before our school closes shop. It's a sad thought knowing your school has to be closed because of a technicality and that's a story for another time. Our batch met in Pansol, Laguna to get the planning started. Though there were only 12 of us from a batch 0f 90 students, it's still fun seeing them again. Even if we didn't recognize each other instantly, once we got the hang of it's happy hour once again. Most of them brought their spouses and kids yet I was surprised to see some single people there, more than I expected. While we spoke of all our foolishness then, I saw the change in some of my classmates from reckless teens to responsible parents. I felt that I haven't much grown to what I wanted just by staying single. I now realize the joy of having kids early in life, that you'll enjoy watching them grow. back in high school, I knew then that I won't marry early but I didn't expect to still be single today. I have my reasons (nee excuses), some my own others not entirely my fault and I may still regret this in the future.
In my past, there were some events that in my life where I could have gotten hitched, but circumstances prevented it, some unintentional. The hurt it brought only made me cynical to a fault that I may be subconsciously preventing myself to love with all my heart. Time may heal all wounds but it certainly does not remove the scars, nor it makes you whole again. I know that everything happens for a reason and I will just have to keep my eyes and heart open for that person that I''ll spend the rest of my life with.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
hiatus.
It's been almost a week since I came home and I've kept myself busy by renewing all my expired licenses, sorting my wardrobe for old clothes that I can donate and scanning all my photos into my PC, and I have 1 shoe-box full.
A lot has changed in my neighborhood, being away 17 months guaranteed that. One thing that hasn't changed is the heat though It does not bother me as much as before. Settling back in Manila, here's a few things that I'll miss...
1. The traffic in Iloilo isn't as bad here. Everything there is only 30 minutes away. Heck, the beach is just a 15 minute ride.
2. The food. I know there's a lot of places to eat here but everything cheaper there. I've treated 6 of my friends to a hearty dinner and the bill is just 800 pesos. 1 piece of BBQ chicken is just 30 pesos, pork BBQ is just 5 and 1 a kilo of lechon is just 250 pesos.
3. The beach. Panay being an island, there's always time to go to the shore and take a dip. Like I said, Villa beach is just 15 minutes away from my boarding house and Guimaras is only 30 minutes from the city.
4. I'll miss the group of kids that greet me every time I pass by their playground and walk with me all the way home. They don't know who I am but they all call me "Kuya".
5. I'll miss the family who took care of me while I was there. They cooked for me, cleaned my room, washed my clothes and they still thanked me when I left.
Next month, I'll probably will accept the new position that my boss offered me and start this phase in my career. Hopefully, I'll still have the opportunity to come back there.
A lot has changed in my neighborhood, being away 17 months guaranteed that. One thing that hasn't changed is the heat though It does not bother me as much as before. Settling back in Manila, here's a few things that I'll miss...
1. The traffic in Iloilo isn't as bad here. Everything there is only 30 minutes away. Heck, the beach is just a 15 minute ride.
2. The food. I know there's a lot of places to eat here but everything cheaper there. I've treated 6 of my friends to a hearty dinner and the bill is just 800 pesos. 1 piece of BBQ chicken is just 30 pesos, pork BBQ is just 5 and 1 a kilo of lechon is just 250 pesos.
3. The beach. Panay being an island, there's always time to go to the shore and take a dip. Like I said, Villa beach is just 15 minutes away from my boarding house and Guimaras is only 30 minutes from the city.
4. I'll miss the group of kids that greet me every time I pass by their playground and walk with me all the way home. They don't know who I am but they all call me "Kuya".
5. I'll miss the family who took care of me while I was there. They cooked for me, cleaned my room, washed my clothes and they still thanked me when I left.
Next month, I'll probably will accept the new position that my boss offered me and start this phase in my career. Hopefully, I'll still have the opportunity to come back there.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
"puli na 'ko."
After 17 months and 25 days, I am home. I was formally recalled back to Manila. I was waiting for this day for a long time. Now I have to settle back to my old habits, but I'll never forget this experience for the rest of my life.
I've been ranting for a long time about going home, not because I hated the place but professionally speaking, I'm better off being based here. Personally I liked my stay there and I'm kinda sad leaving coz the "Ilonggos" are very warm and friendly. They look after you no matter who you are. The family I've stayed with from the beginning treated me like their own son. They cooked my meals and cleaned my room and even leave me alone so that I could watch TV. My bosses are also very kind and gentle, save for some reprimands that I deserved. They respected me and my suggestions and they did not treated me condescendingly. After they have moved in, they sent food to the offices for lunch or snack. When I informed them that I was being sent back, they treated me to a "despedida" lunch and dinner. They even offered that I use their pool but I declined. They're wealthy in more ways than I can remember but they didn't behave like brats.
I flew back early Sunday morning so as to let me catch the Pacquiao-Solis match. The flight was full but more importantly, it was on time. I checked in 2 hours early and passed time reading "Airframe" by Michael Crichton which is about an accident aboard an airplane. Didn't realized beforehand that I'll be finishing the book cruising at 30,000 fee, which I did. I finally got home just as Pac-Man is walking towards the ring while his song is blaring in the background. He KO'd Jorge Solis after 8 rounds.
Having less than 8 hours sleep the past 2 days, I was quite sleepy but it being the middle of summer I'll just wait till twilight to shut my eyes. I spent the afternoon unpacking my luggage and "pasalubong", weighed together was almost 60 kilos, 200% over the limit. Didn't realize that I brought so much stuff till I was packing up. 24 hours later and I'm still not finished.
I asked my boss for a week off and in the following days, I'll be doing errands and settling back in to my old routine. Looking forward, I know that I'll be going back there because I now have friends to see and places to visit, and someday soon settle down in Iloilo.
I've been ranting for a long time about going home, not because I hated the place but professionally speaking, I'm better off being based here. Personally I liked my stay there and I'm kinda sad leaving coz the "Ilonggos" are very warm and friendly. They look after you no matter who you are. The family I've stayed with from the beginning treated me like their own son. They cooked my meals and cleaned my room and even leave me alone so that I could watch TV. My bosses are also very kind and gentle, save for some reprimands that I deserved. They respected me and my suggestions and they did not treated me condescendingly. After they have moved in, they sent food to the offices for lunch or snack. When I informed them that I was being sent back, they treated me to a "despedida" lunch and dinner. They even offered that I use their pool but I declined. They're wealthy in more ways than I can remember but they didn't behave like brats.
I flew back early Sunday morning so as to let me catch the Pacquiao-Solis match. The flight was full but more importantly, it was on time. I checked in 2 hours early and passed time reading "Airframe" by Michael Crichton which is about an accident aboard an airplane. Didn't realized beforehand that I'll be finishing the book cruising at 30,000 fee, which I did. I finally got home just as Pac-Man is walking towards the ring while his song is blaring in the background. He KO'd Jorge Solis after 8 rounds.
Having less than 8 hours sleep the past 2 days, I was quite sleepy but it being the middle of summer I'll just wait till twilight to shut my eyes. I spent the afternoon unpacking my luggage and "pasalubong", weighed together was almost 60 kilos, 200% over the limit. Didn't realize that I brought so much stuff till I was packing up. 24 hours later and I'm still not finished.
I asked my boss for a week off and in the following days, I'll be doing errands and settling back in to my old routine. Looking forward, I know that I'll be going back there because I now have friends to see and places to visit, and someday soon settle down in Iloilo.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
not-so Good Friday
"Sus Mariano Garapon!" was one of the more creative curses that I heard this past Holy Week. It's not really a new one but it's been awhile since I heard it.
I'm spending the Lenten break here in Ilo-ilo for the first time since I'll be flying home for good next Sunday via Cebu Pacific. I'm quite concerned that I'll be flying home the same day that Pac-man is fighting 'coz I might have some trouble getting a cab. My other concern is my luggage will be overweight coz of the many magazines and books I bought here.
It's been very peaceful here the past 2 days. I can look back to my childhood the last time Holy Week was this quiet. Back then, you're not allowed to do much of anything unlike today when businesses only shutdown on Good Friday. Yestreday, I went on a "minor Visita Iglesia", visiting all the churches that I know how to get to, which is only a handful. Didn't do much praying either but I still mumbled a little prayer. After I ran out of churches to go to I decided to spend the afternoon reading in one of the plazas near my boarding house. The plaza wasn't crowded but there's quite a number of families that's doing the same thins as me. Most are from the vicinity but there's quite a few foreigners (mostly Koreans) taking pictures and strolling. Holy week isn't the same as was when I was young but we all need a break and for most of us this is the time.
I'm spending the Lenten break here in Ilo-ilo for the first time since I'll be flying home for good next Sunday via Cebu Pacific. I'm quite concerned that I'll be flying home the same day that Pac-man is fighting 'coz I might have some trouble getting a cab. My other concern is my luggage will be overweight coz of the many magazines and books I bought here.
It's been very peaceful here the past 2 days. I can look back to my childhood the last time Holy Week was this quiet. Back then, you're not allowed to do much of anything unlike today when businesses only shutdown on Good Friday. Yestreday, I went on a "minor Visita Iglesia", visiting all the churches that I know how to get to, which is only a handful. Didn't do much praying either but I still mumbled a little prayer. After I ran out of churches to go to I decided to spend the afternoon reading in one of the plazas near my boarding house. The plaza wasn't crowded but there's quite a number of families that's doing the same thins as me. Most are from the vicinity but there's quite a few foreigners (mostly Koreans) taking pictures and strolling. Holy week isn't the same as was when I was young but we all need a break and for most of us this is the time.
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