Lion's Den

White Water Rafting in Cagayan de Oro!

2014-01-12T05:45:00.000-08:00

"BUGSAY"

(Auggie the Lion)

Brave the waters

Never mind effortless water striders

Forward, back, stop

Ride, maneuver or you drop!

Paddle hard, harder, hardest

Make yourself, your momma proudest

Sit at the side, stay inside

Balance, sway, go with the flow, they say.

Rapids are rough

Raft is tough

Rocks, boulders bump and grind

Scream Wohoo!, Yeah!, no one will mind.

Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines

SPLASH

Some say we should start the year with a bang! I say, start it with a splash! White water rafting has long been on my bucket list and finally this year, my time and resources (Thanks to my sister, who arranged the adventure for me and my cousin.) have conspired and left me with no reason to say "maybe next time".

Start-off point

BEGINNER'S COURSE

We started our journey at exactly 8 AM when we were picked up by CDO BUGSAY guides at Gran Europa village's entrance. There were three guides, a driver and two other guests with us inside their jeepney/saraw service. The weather was exactly what we wanted it to be - not sunny and not rainy (although halfway in our course it did rain and made the water cooler). My cousin and I would have wanted to go for the Advanced Course but the two other guests from Manila weren't up for the added challenge so we had no choice but to settle with the Beginner's Course. We arrived at the start-off point and I could barely contain my excitement when I saw the river that I wanted to grab the raft myself and start the adventure right away.

With my cousin Dianna from NZ

BRIEF ORIENTATION

We suited up with life vests and helmets as soon as we arrived in the site. One of the guides warmly welcomed us and gave a short introduction about himself, the other guides and the company they were representing. A brief orientation about water rafting including proper handling of the paddle, conduct inside the raft and some important safety reminders followed thereafter. After we were told that when one of the guides shout, "High five!" we bring our paddles up and yell, "Bugsay!", we immediately jumped into the raft and started the three-hour journey downstream.

Brief orientation with our Bugsay guide before the ride

Our first of many encounters with the rapids

FORWARD, BACK, STOP!

Our first encounter with the rapids happened as soon we took off. We paddled according to the guides' instructions whether to paddle forward, back or stop. My cousin and I were seated at the front part of the raft which was perfect! Our feet were planted firmly on built-in feet anchors so we wouldn't be thrown out easily when the going gets tough. The two other guests were seated in the middle and the two guides at the back. It was exhilarating! I learned how to paddle at a very young age because I grew up in a coastal town but paddling and, at the same time, maneuvering the raft with unpredictable river current and obstacles of rocks and boulders ahead, is totally different. Good thing the guides obviously knew what they were doing so I never had an ounce of doubt regarding our safety. Besides, I was looking for an adventure so I was expecting that I'd get thrown out or at least get eaten by a hungry crocodile for snack. (Haha! Just kidding on the crocodile part.)

"Wohoo! Yeah!"

Paddle hard, harder, hardest!

RIO, FLORA AND FAUNA

As we headed further downstream, more challenging rapids awaited us and to add more thrill to our already thrilling ride, the guides modified our 'roles' and positions inside the raft. They made us stand in front or sit at the front bumper part while our feet hang or shifted the raft's position backward as we approached the rapids. The most exciting part was when we braved the rapids very fast before we intentionally collided with a boulder in the middle of the river (see video below). I expected our raft to topple over but it didn't and I was a bit disappointed (but was thankful after because I couldn't imagine the scene if we did). There were times when the waters were calm and we were allowed to dive off the raft and swim. The water was almost ice-cold so we had to keep our muscles active all the time. Flora and fauna were abundant in the vast stretch of greenery along the river. There were wild ferns, orchids and wild animals such as colorful birds, lizards and snakes.

This snake, probably a red-tailed green ratsnake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum), was hanging by the cliff, motionless and resting comfortably.

One of the Philippine sailfin lizards (Hydrosaurus amboinensis) we spotted along the riverbank.

MORE THAN SATISFIED

The last portion of our ride consisted mostly of swimming and more chit-chats with our guides and other guests. We also had a chance to climb up a volcanic rock formation in the middle of the river and each one of us was 'required' to dive or jump off before we advance downstream. One of the guides dived first and I followed right away. It took a long time for the three female guests, including my cousin, to gather enough courage to jump although it was only about 10 feet high. After the jump, we braved our last encounter with the rapids before we reached the end of our roller coaster river ride few minutes past 11 AM. It was definitely the best way for me to start the year. Water nourishes life and having said that, I hope I will be as aggressive as the rapids and come out stronger and tougher than any obstacles that will come my way this year! Cheers to more adventures, lots of blessings and a year-round full of love and success for me and everyone! ;)

The diver in me. Haha!

Water's rough but we're tough!

Start your own adventure now! Contact CDO BUGSAY RIVER RAFTING at: 09177035558 or 09228377646.

Here are the videos:

First Encounter

We stand strong!

Head-on collision

Man (women actually) overboard!

American Idol Season 11 Twist: The 13th Guy

2012-02-26T02:06:00.005-08:00

We all know 13 is not considered a lucky number (e.g. Friday the 13th) but this season on American Idol, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steve Tyler were compelled to select the 'lucky' guy among the immensely talented pack of contestants to complete this year's top contenders (from top 24 to top 25) for the most coveted singing competition title in the world. So who will be the lucky 13th guy?

Vocal Calisthenics Pro

1. Johnny Keyser, who wowed the judges most notably Jennifer Lopez, was surprisingly eliminated in Las Vegas. Was it due to lack of enthusiasm, poor group choice of song, singing uninterruptedly while his group mate collapsed on the floor (Hollywood group rounds) or taking a swim with fellow contestants while others were ultra busy perfecting their Vegas routines? He was definitely not eliminated for lack of talent, that I'm sure about, after JLo told him, "You know you're gonna be a star, right?". Did JLo remember what he told Johnny, then?

The Gentle Giant

2. Jermaine Jones, the big but definitely not bad bass singer who sang "I Believe In Love" for the final 24 spot, was among the last to be eliminated. His deep voice would have given variety to this season's range of vocal talents but his last performance didn't seem to impress the judges. Or have they reconsidered his previous performances that brought him far in the competition?

The Michael Jackson Prodigy

3. David Leathers Jr., the only contestant carrying the I've-Beaten-Out-Scotty-McCreery-In-A-School-Competition title, was the last one to be denied a spot in the top 24. This young but promising performer greatly reminds us of Michael Jackson in his younger years. Before he got eliminated, he expressed his deep desire to become a singer as it's the only thing he sees himself doing in the future. Can the judges bear to break this young dreamer's heart?

The Cowboy/ The Law

4. Richie Law, who became infamous for his cockiness and being "above the law" among his group mates, also met the ax when the top 24 contenders were chosen. His McCreery-like deep voice made him popular early and later in the competition but it's either the presence of more talented singers in this year's pack or his arrogant behavior, which Hee Jun would surely agree with, made the judges cut his chance to advance further. Or maybe the judges need him back for more drama in the show?

There you go folks! This year's American Idol will not be chosen without a bit of a twist and suspense. So who do you think it will be? My two cents worth? I'd go for talent so it's Johnny Keyser for me but Jermaine or David won't hurt, either. Just keep Richie Law out, please. I can't wait 'til Tuesday.

Supernatural Season 7 Episode 11: Adventures in Babysitting

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

Supernatural Season 7 did not open 2012 on a festive mood but with something depressing, heartbreaking especially for the Winchester brothers. Another major character bid farewell from our favorite series.

http://www.cwtv.com

RIP Bobby

Bobby Singer, Sam and Dean’s second dad, died after their last encounter with the Leviathans. While the brothers buried themselves with grief and beer, a teenage girl named Chrissy called in to look for Bobby. Turned out she’s a daughter of a fellow hunter, who went missing for five days.

Dying Note

Before Bobby’s last breath, he left a 5-digit code that greatly puzzled Sam and Dean. From lottery to voicemail, they singled out one possibility after another but only when Dean found Frank did the numbers make sense.

45489 + 3 = Coordinates

Frank ran the 5-digit code into the computer adding another digit in it and matched a location in Wisconsin owned by Dick Roman, the Senator-Leviathan who shot Bobby in the head. Both Frank and Dean went to the area and set up surveillance.

Sam and Vetalas

Sam found a lead on Chrissy’s missing hunter-dad and went straight to a town where a pair of Vetalas, monster-vixens disguised as hooker and waitress, greeted him with a bloody kiss on the neck. Sam was held captive along with Chrissy’s dad and both of them satisfied the vixens’ daily blood thirst.

Dean the Babysitter

After Sam failed to call back, Chrissy called Dean. Dean decided to follow Sam’s lead then. He didn’t want Chrissy around but since she burned all the info her dad kept in his closet and put everything to memory instead, Dean’s left with no choice but to tag her along.

Baby is now a Lady

Dean cuffed Chrissy inside the car and went on to face the monsters alone. He wasn’t able to single handedly bring down the monster pair but his babysitting paid off. Chrissy was able to pick her handcuffs but got caught by one of the monsters when she tried to rescue her dad. But it was part of her plan, actually. She acted helpless until she stabbed one of the Vetalas when her dad was about to get devoured. Eventually, she saved them all from the bloodsuckers.

Playing Tough

Dean continued to play tough and projected his big brother image to Sam as they went on the road with a collective quest to bring down Dick Roman. He got teary eyed when Sam dozed off, though. The memory of Bobby Singer couldn’t sustain the act.

Catch Supernatural Season 7’s next episode Time After Time After Time tonight!

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (7 of 7)

2011-09-19T04:25:00.001-07:00

continuation...

“Why did you tell me she’s your cousin? Did you really think I wasn't going to find out?” He looked straight into her eyes.

“Do you love me?” she asked him.

“You know I do from the very start. How long have you been together?”

“We’re not together anymore. We’re just good friends now.”

“So do you feel the same way like I do for you? Do you love me?” He held her tightly and brought her closer to him so he could hear her words clearly. She pushed him back a little and she tried to look at the direction of the other woman who wasn't her cousin after all.

“Yes, I do.” But her eyes rolled to the left when she said that and Bong understood. He didn't want any more lies. He thought he had enough of it. He kissed her in the cheek. It should have been placed on her pouty red lips but thought against it. Truth hurts but the lies that cloak the truth hurt even more.

Leo (July 23 to Aug.22) – You will finally have a chance to come clean and unleash the flame that’s burning up inside you. Be careful, though. It might burn you in the end.

***

- END -

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (6 of 7)

2011-09-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

continuation...

She left Bong in a state of wanting to deny what he had just heard and confront Ellen about it at the same time. Is this a confirmation of what he had feared of knowing before? Was he really blind or did he see it coming and just ignored it? He thought of the many times they were together and something or someone – phone calls here and there which she had to take out of his earshot, tons of text messages, a car waiting for her outside the school and lots of alibis for all occasions - would suddenly come and mess up his plans for the day. He began to connect the pieces of the puzzle he’d been trying build up before but never had the will to finish. He just nodded after every piece fitted. He knew the moment he saw the picture. He knew but hoped he was wrong, that he was just imagining things.

Ellen saw him in a pensive mood while holding his bottle of beer so she approached him. “What’s wrong? Is the beer cold? It’s supposed to be cold, right?” She knew something was disturbing him. Her attempt at humor didn’t make him laugh or smile. Bong finished his beer hoping it would knock him out of this situation and wishing maybe, just maybe, it was all a dream and that he would wake up in the library staring at the picture without the other woman in it. But everything was real. How stupid of me to think of this as a dream! Besides, he needed a dozen bottles of beer or even more to overcome his tolerance level. Then Toto’s I Won’t Hold You Back played in the background after a series of upbeat tempos filled the airwaves after dinner so he asked her to dance with him without saying anything more. Eyes were on them as they headed toward the center of the dance floor, right under the rotating ball of glass. The chitchat around grew louder and Bong didn’t care nor did Ellen. She always didn’t. She was the kind of woman who could take any word said against her. Is this the reason she doesn’t care if I find out she wasn’t telling the truth about herself and the other woman? Why is she very confident that I wouldn’t mind? He decided he would finally ask her.

(to be continued...)

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (5 of 7)

2011-09-16T21:01:00.000-07:00

continuation...

The other woman continued to bother him after that. Something was wrong in that picture but he couldn't downright prove it. Then he thought she wasn't important. She shouldn't be. He knew what his goal was and he shouldn't be distracted by anything or anyone so he brushed her off his mind. He continued to woo Ellen’s heart by spending more time with her in and outside school. They ate out and watched movies together whenever time and money permit them. They felt something special for each other. Their friends thought they looked perfect together and they just smiled about it. Everything started to fall into place as he hoped it would – or so he thought.

“Happy birthday to you…” Everybody prolonged the last line of the song pretending they didn't want to finish it right away so dinner would be served. It was the birthday party of their common friend Teresa. Bong knew a lot of people present in the party – classmates, friends and some teachers. Then he noticed someone he had not wanted to see in person – the other woman in the picture. He didn’t know she was Teresa’s friend, too. Small world.

Ellen sat beside her cousin and looked uneasy. She didn’t look happy nor did she have that party spirit in her that night. Bong just stared at her and the other woman, who had a masculine built, and was taller and bigger than the rest of the female species around. He didn’t notice that almost everybody in the party was talking about Ellen and her cousin. Then they would look at Bong right after they glanced at the two women sitting in the opposite table.

“So how is it Bong?” Janna, one his classmates, approached him and asked.

With a quizzical look, Bong asked her back, “How is what?”

“C’mon, you can’t be that naïve. I mean, what does it feel when you see her?” her eyes pointed to the direction of the other woman.

“Oh, you mean Ellen’s cousin? Yeah, what about her?”

“Cousin, huh? That’s funny ‘cause everybody thought you knew she’s no cousin of Ellen at all. Wake up, man!”, then she left to chat with her friends in her table, probably spreading the latest tittle-tattle she had about Bong.

(to be continued...)

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (4 of 7)

2011-09-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

...continuation

Bong actually planned on telling her about his feelings for her on that very day and the horoscope just reinforced his plan so he did tell her. She was surprised, indeed. She didn’t know what else to say except that she feels comfortable and happy being with him. From then on, Bong couldn’t stop thinking about her day and night. In fact, he made sure he greeted her every morning and wished her a good night's sleep through late night calls and text messages. He missed her presence though he would see her in school five or six times a week. Ellen was beginning to play a major role in Bong’s life of drama and comedy where Cupid has gone MIA. This was it, he thought. If things fall in their right places at the right time, maybe Cupid could finally pay him a visit.

“You look sexy in that picture.” he commented as he browsed Ellen’s Facebook account and saw her in spaghetti top and skimpy shorts. She quickly put her hands on the monitor to cover the primary picture.

“Skip that, will you? That’s so embarrassing!”

“Then you shouldn’t have displayed that picture there in the first place,” Bong answered.

The library was packed with students and the noise was close to that of a market. The student assistant in-charge of controlling silence seemed to have conceded defeat after she realized that her constant banging of the little bell in her table would only add up to the deafening noise around. Everybody has his or her own business apart from studying and observing silence. While some were living up to their nerdy habits, others reading magazines and newspapers, Bong was glued on to his laptop surfing the net with her at his side. A picture of her with another woman appeared on the screen. It was taken at a white sand beach but Bong wasn’t interested of the place. He got curious of the other woman.

“Who is she?” he asked

“Oh, that’s my cousin. We went to this sand bar near Tree Bird Island and we spent the night there. It was amazing. The water was so clear and the sand powder white. The place is perfect!” she described the place with utter excitement. “We should go there some time.” Her use of the word “we” was something new to him and it was music to his ears. But he couldn’t stop staring at the other woman in the picture.

“Yeah, we’ll think about it. It looks really tempting”.

(to be continued...)

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (3 of 7)

2011-09-11T03:04:00.000-07:00

...continuation

One time he got tired of studying his Anatomy book in the library. He was reading the same lines in the first page of the chapter on cardiovascular system over and over again and nothing was penetrating his head. He glanced at her who was sitting across him. She was reading a newspaper, concentrating on the horoscope section. The world suddenly fell into silence, his gaze fixed upon her. He wanted to tell her right there and then. He wanted to rush things as if he’s running out of time like a starving lion out to devour its gentle prey one hungry night.

“You will receive a news today that will surprise you…,” she was reading her horoscope aloud. “Hmmm…What could that news be?” she added right after finishing the last sentence.

Bong came out of his trance. He heard what she said but he had to grab the newspaper from her to read it himself. He just smiled and was almost speechless. “I never believe in horoscopes but you know what, I might have to reconsider that starting today.”

“Really? Why today? Wait a minute, let me read yours!” She grabbed the paper back. Bong was now staring at her full lips as she started reading the entry before Virgo. She went on and on and Bong carefully listened to the reading of his own fate of the day. “You heard that?” she asked.

“Loud and clear! I wonder what it means though,” he said although the message was very clear to him. The last line she read troubled him. He thought if he had to believe in horoscopes then he should remember that line.

“Well, I think it means you have to get past that same page you have been reading for the last two hours and move on to the next”, she said as she went on browsing the rest of the entertainment section.

“I think you are right!”

(to be continued...)

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (2 of 7)

2011-09-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

...continuation

Ellen concentrated as she listened to his heartbeat, “lub dub…lub dub…lub dub…” Bong was caught off guarded when she suddenly shoved her hand into his uniform. “Where can we hear the heart beat clearly and distinctly?” he asked her for the lack of anything to say as they sat on the bench waiting for their next class. He didn’t expect what had happened next but he didn’t want to complain either. He enjoyed it. He knew he did. He felt his temperature rose, ears got redder and hotter as her soft fingers made their way down his chest.

Why is she doing this in front of my classmates like it’s no big deal?, Bong wondered. Still he didn’t verbally complain. Suddenly, she giggled as she watched her own hand buried inside Bong’s undershirt. “I hope it's okay,” she said with a sheepish smile. “You’re already doing it. What can I do?” Bong responded.

Days, weeks have passed and they seemed to have known each other for a long time already. They could talk about anything they want.

“I feel like my entrails are about to come out and I don’t think I can hold it anymore,” she complained as she pushed her stomach as if it would kill the pain.

“What did you eat? You shouldn't attempt to fart if you don’t want it to come out wet and wild.”

“Wow, that’s very helpful and comforting, Bong!”

Bong realized he’s feeling something different, different than how he feels for his friends or any other woman for that matter. He hasn’t felt like this in a long time, maybe five, six years or so. He knew he was falling for her.

For him, it wasn't just her silky long hair and her lovely face or her soft white skin wrapping her well-sculpted body that attracted him. There was something in her. Something he couldn't quite figure out. Was it the way she talks? The way she sashays her hips as she walks? Or the way she stares at Bong when words are nowhere to be found from her pouty red lips? He wasn’t sure.

(to be continued...)

THE OTHER WOMAN: A Short Story (1 of 7)

2011-09-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

Virgo (Aug.23 to Sept.22) – You will receive a news today that will surprise you. Something you will consider as a challenge to your current way of life. This will cause a dilemma in your life but if you’re willing to sacrifice and go with the truth, then the truth will set you free.

Her hand carefully moved along Bong’s left midclavicular line, slowly caressing down the length of his ribs, palpating each intercostal space and slightly stopping at his nipple, probably to mark that she was about to reach the fifth space, which is directly below it. She was locating his apical pulse and she did it, from putting her hand into his uniform to slipping it under his undershirt, without any permission or malice at all.

Bong didn’t know her until recently when she approached him during one of their return demonstrations in the skills laboratory. It was their third day of knowing each other. On their first acquaintance, she came out of nowhere, asking Bong about the procedure of their demo and from then on, they became fast friends.

“We’re going to be friends from now on, okay? I’m Ellen. What’s your name?” she asked before Bong could utter a single word.

(to be continued...)

The ABC and D of Adventure! (Part 4)

2011-09-07T00:14:00.000-07:00

(continuation)

D - DETOXIFICATION, DIFFERENTIATION & DEPARTURE

We all woke up earlier than expected but the sun was already up and shining in all its glory. While contemplating about where to eat, we suddenly got a text message informing us to go back to Sam & Von's place for our breakfast. "Yes!" We were thankful the Maglentes' hospitality did not stop after our overstay status at their place the night before. The thought of another mouthwatering meal jump-started our day as we rushed to take a shower and don fresh clothes for the day.

True to our stomach's desire, our eyes and taste buds feasted on an appetizing breakfast of rice and homemade lumpia-like dish (I don't know what it was but it was surely tasteful) with an array of fresh fruits and fruit shakes that made our Sunday morning a truly detoxifying moment. We thanked the Maglentes again and again then headed for the butterfly sanctuary, which was only a few meters away from their beautiful home.

Sam and Von took us inside where we met Tarsie, the gregarious tarsier mascot of the butterfly center, and the bubbly and energetic tour guide, Jobert. "How do you differentiate a butterfly from a moth?", was Jobert's first question. We just smiled and mumbled a bit but weren't really sure of the answer so he continued, "Well, a moth's antenna is hairy while that of a butterfly isn't." Then we all nodded in agreement and continued to marvel at the sight of various kinds of butterflies and learned about their amazing transformation through their life cycle. It was like going back to our elementary science. It was also interesting to know that those with noticeable and colorful pupae do not necessarily produce beautiful and equally colorful butterflies. In fact, the opposite thing happens because the prettier the pupa is, the uglier the butterfly gets - something like that.

Before Sam and Von or Noralre and her dad Melchor could invite us over again for another meal (not that we were really expecting), we had to bid farewell to them and to the place where we had spent one of our best times while waiting for something good to happen in our lives. We only bid farewell, not goodbye, because we will return to this place for sure. Maybe not in the near future but in God's perfect time.

The ABC and D of Adventure! (Part 3)

2011-08-11T11:46:00.000-07:00

(continuation)

C - CHERRY SNAPPER, COLD LOGARITA SPRING with CUERVO & CREEPY BUT COMFY HOSTEL

When we arrived at the farm where Noralre was waiting, she immediately asked who among us has a birthmark on the buttocks which signals misfortune on virtually anything a person would do or be a part of according to Filipino superstitions. I was quick to say, "Not me!" while my eyes automatically scanned the area for the table where our food would be served. Noralre's father Melchor greeted and accommodated us well in the farm. With a warm reception like we had, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who felt every inch of a tourist. Shortly after we bid goodbye to Dewdew the good Samaritan in red, two plates full of grilled Tilapia (aka Cherry Snapper) caught our eyes. My stomach growled for the nth time and as soon as chairs were set up and the saucer with soy sauce, vinegar and chili were stationed on both ends of the table, we posed for a two-second pictorial then hastily began eating. And what best way to do it Filipino style? Eat with our bare hands (though spoon and fork were provided)! It was past noon time so one could imagine how we attacked the food with much gusto, even licking our fingers to savor the mixed taste of salt, vinegar, chili, soy sauce and the fish oil that the Tilapia was soaked into. The aromatic pink rice was an added bonus that heightened our olfactory senses and made our meal more delectable. One of us mentioned about carcinogens and all I could manage to respond was, "Screw carcinogens!" while I happily munched those black and crispy fish skin.

Our late lunch was well-received by our stomachs and after glasses of cold soda and some shots of rum on the rocks to emulsify the oils and everything we had eaten, we went to Logarita Spring to cool off after what seemed to have been a long morning for us. To say that the water in Logarita is cool is an understatement. It's actually ice cold that you have to keep on stretching all parts of your body to avoid stiffening of your muscles and bones. The place was packed with many locals and tourists because it was a Saturday and we even met some relatives who were also there to cool off and pass around a glass of their favorite liquor. We had tequila, which generated body heat and somehow countered the cold water we were swimming into. Our afternoon ended with a splash of cold shower and a marked excitement of going to the house of our next hosts, Von and Sam Maglente, for dinner.

If you are a nature lover, the Maglente property is the place to be in Bilar. When we arrived there, we were ushered into their beautiful garden of flowers, trees, vegetables and bermuda grass. Tables with lit candles were prepared and the silhouette of the moon on a moderately cool and cloudy night coupled with occasional howls of domestic canines made a chillingly comfortable ambiance that we all longed to experience. More than the scrumptious dinner served to us was the hospitality of Von and Sam's parents. Our hats off to them and to the rest of the Bilarnons who never showed anything that would keep us from wanting to go back. After a long tequila-inspired chitchat, we had to retire for the night so we thanked the Maglente family and headed to our home away from home - the creepy yet comfy hostel, which reminded us of the horror movie of the same name. It wasn't really a scary place for me even if one of Noralre's sister mentioned about some supernatural phenomenon going on there. I've experienced worse in my college dormitory before so what could possibly be more scary?, I thought. I was just happy to have something to tell to my friends especially the most scaredy cat of all, Mayette, whose fears still tend to overcome her even in broad daylight. This is good.

When we entered the dark hallway of the first building going to the hostel, Mayette could barely keep her calm composure. Her visual field resembled that of a horse with blinders, which kept her from seeing whatever she thought she would see in her peripheral vision. When I started to say something she expected to be scary, she attempted to retreat and shifted her pace towards the center of the pack. After we registered at the front desk, we went straight to our room Sunflower and Mayette conveniently chose to stay at the center of the bed where she felt guarded from all angles of the room. We were all tired so the thought of ghosts and anything supernatural hardly scratched our imagination. I don't know with Mayette, though. She insisted to leave the lights on.

TO BE CONTINUED...

The ABC and D of Adventure! (Part 2)

2011-08-09T06:56:00.000-07:00

(continuation)

So we got out of the car to check what really happened. With a wild imagination like mine, I initially thought the car would explode and we'd be blown into pieces of red meat with shattered beige-colored teeth (there you go, not white I told you). The car had to be parked to the side of the road so Justin (not Bieber) started the engine. For five seconds, the engine roared and it gave him enough time to move the car and avoid collision with any vehicle from opposite directions. When the hood was opened, it looked like an oven and the smoke was coming from the radiator. We found out it actually overheated. The solution's simple, we thought. Get some water, fill up the empty tank, let the car cool off a bit then off to our destination where a scrumptious lunch is waiting. I think we all had this same thought. Though we were almost in the middle of nowhere, there were farmers nearby who were kind enough to lend us their pail full of water.

While we noticed Justin's effort to fill up the radiator did not stop and the pail of water became almost empty, we looked under the car and found out water leaking from the radiator. Great! The radiator's leaking so now what? Our hope of eating lunch dwindled and the thought of grilled fish being prepared by our host Noralre (repeat the word 99 times and see if you don't get tongue-tied) aggravated our unfortunate situation.

B - BELIEVE IN PRAYERS FOR A GOOD SAMARITAN TO PASS BY

We sent an SOS message to Noralre and told her to bring a mechanic, some water, detergent and the food she prepared for us. The detergent was suggested by the farmer to be used as a sealant but I couldn't picture out how until now. Anyway, Justin called our common friend Al Ganas who's from the same town as Noralre and asked for help. He wasn't available but the good thing was, his brother was on his way home and he would pass by our starving faces in a few minutes. Thank God a good samaritan is on his way to lend a helping hand! After a mouthful of Cadbury chocolate bar courtesy of Keren/Itik Balon and some left over macaroons I bought earlier, a red 4x4 pick up pulled over in front of us. The driver, in red shirt, stepped out and Justin, who was also in red, came to him and greeted him. "They're all in red!", we chorused. Now I know why red is considered lucky for Chinese culture (I'm not Chinese but my grandfather has a Chinese-sounding middle name and I don''t know... I'm just sayin'.).

Dewdew, the good samaritan in red, offered to take us to our destination so we could finally satisfy our growling stomach (maybe our gastric parasites were in protest). But the car had to be brought to a repair shop first so we filled up the radiator and hoped it would give us ample time to reach the shop that was around two or three kilometers away. The rest of my friends went with Dewdew while Justin drove the car to the shop with me in the passenger seat (moral support was all I could offer at this point). After leaving the car in the shop with a trustworthy mechanic, we jumped into the back of Dewdew's red pick up and off we went to our lunch date with Cherry. Wait, who's Cherry?

TO BE CONTINUED...

The ABC and D of Adventure! (Part 1)

2011-08-08T01:14:00.000-07:00

A - A CAR'S TALE

While my cup of coffee was still hot, I prepared the things that I needed for a one-day adventure with friends. I'm an experienced traveler, I believe so, and I only need 30 minutes tops for a short trip like this before I can say, "I'm all set." I posted a "Bilar, here we come" status on my Facebook, finished my cup of lukewarm coffee and bid farewell to my blog with a self promise of writing about the said trip when I get back. So here I am.

I was excited for this trip after being on a self-imposed house arrest for a week so I didn't mind waiting for almost an hour for my friends in the next town where I will catch a ride with them going to our destination - BILAR. I ordered macaroons and mango juice in a bakeshop near the junction of Loay and the interior national highway. I sat down and waited for my friends who were still 20 kilometers away looking for calamansi to go with the tequila. The thought of calamansi triggered a slight hypersecretion of my salivary glands and the tequila brought tachycardia secondary to moderate excitement.

After several jeepneys passing by and passengers looking at me like I'm actually a tourist from another place (yeah, just bear with me okay?), a green Toyota Corolla parked in front of me. My friends were smiling, their white (or beige maybe, I'm not sure) teeth still managed to glow behind tinted glass windows. I smiled back at them, stood up and got inside the car in a flash. And so our road trip began...

Our hostess from Bilar could hardly wait for our arrival that she flooded our SMS inbox asking for our location. As we coursed along the steep and winding road going to the man made forest, I smelled something. I didn't mind it at first until I saw smoke coming out from the front hood. "I think I'm seeing smoke", I said in a not-so-sure tone. Then the car stopped. "Uh-oh"...

TO BE CONTINUED...

I PROTEST CCP's tolerance to BLASPHEMOUS works of art.

2011-08-05T19:43:00.000-07:00

Expression of art may be limitless but mutilating or associating phallic symbols with the image of Jesus Christ for the sake of art is NEVER amusing for anyone who KNOWS the meaning of HOLY & SACRED. And the Cultural Center of the Philippines is tolerating what they call as 'works of art'? Religion is part of culture and it seems that the institution fails to show any respect to the very culture it is suppose to uphold.

MONEY, fuel me - sincerely, ADDICTION

2011-08-05T14:44:00.000-07:00

There are too many films I'd like to watch on the big screen or on DVD that the list I made for the past 4 months is frustrating to look at as time and, of course, budget are considerable reasons I won't be able to put checks beside all the movie titles on the list.

I'm a movie addict; a sucker for anything scifi, thriller/suspense, espionage, Marvel and DC Comics superheroes and all genius Disney & Pixar collaborations (remember Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, etc?). Yeah yeah, call me a kid or tell me to "grow up" but I can't help it and you gotta admit to yourself, too - you're a kid like me!

The last movie I saw was the final installment of J.K. Rowling's legendary series about Harry Potter - the final half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I watched it on 3D and it was one cinematic ride as me and my nephew savored each scene of what would be our last big screen encounter with the boy wonder and all of Hogwarts, King's Cross Station, Diagon Alley, Ministry of Magic, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and the list goes on. Right now I want to tell Rowling to keep on writing maybe about Harry's descendants this time or a spin off series about Albus Percival Wulfrick Brian Dumbledore when he was still a young wizard. There are countless of stories that the entire Potterworld wouldn't mind following just to keep the magical fire burning ("Incendio!"). I wonder what's on her mind right now. I hope she won't waste her talent by bidding goodbye to the magical world she created and just rest on her laurels being the billionaire that she is now (even richer than Queen Elizabeth according to reports).

Moving on, Kung Fu Panda 2, Green Lantern, Captain America and Cars 2, among others are just some of the movies I missed or haven't seen yet. The last two are still being shown in cinemas today and I'm dying to go to the city to watch them. But my car, Lightning McQueen, is on tour right now so I'm left with no transportation at all. Darn. Well, it won't hurt to make excuses like this when the truth is I don't really have the green (not the lantern) to pay for my cinema tickets, will it? ;)

The Man Who Can't Be Moved cover

2011-08-04T02:01:00.000-07:00

My cover of The Script's The Man Who Can't Be Moved.

My father makes a cameo in this video. He wasn't aware I was recording it. ;)

You're Still You cover

2011-08-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

This video is the result of boredom a few days ago. Here's my cover of You're Still You popularized by Josh Groban. ;)

Baby Out!

2011-08-03T07:49:00.001-07:00

Remember the status I posted on my FB before? The one about the Yakult bottle that got stuck in our toilet bowl because my nephew wanted to test the bowl's flushing power? Well, after a series of unsuccessful attempts of pulling it out manually or pushing it further, we figured we needed help from someone whose expertise is on toilet bowls and toilet bowls. :) So the expert plumber from the neighborhood came to the house yesterday. He had to destroy portions of the floor tiles in order to remove the bowl and pull out the bottle and when he finally succeeded in doing so, he showed me the culprit that has made great inconveniences to the bowel patterns of the entire family. "The baby's out, finally!", I said.

Janssen, my clever nephew who "accidentally" dropped the bottle, managed to flash his signature grin upon learning that his not-so-admirable act of testing his curiosity has now been corrected.

And finally, I can now resume my daily morning ritual. ;)

Hangover Part I

2011-08-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

The birthday party of my cousin last night turned out to be more than just eating the scrumptious food prepared but also enjoying the karaoke over bottles of wine. I haven't been drunk for a long time and last night's drinking spree almost went over the top for me. Sometimes, you just want to push yourself to the limits for the effect of alcohol to sink in - less inhibitions, more laughs, interesting topics to talk about - and before you know it, the struggle of trying to contain everything in your stomach turns out to be a challenge and vomiting eventually becomes inevitable. Good thing I was aware enough that I already reached the maximum point before my gag reflex could not hold it any longer. It was like I knew an impending doom is going to happen so I had to raise my hands in surrender as my cousin handed me a half-full glass of brandy on the rocks.

When I woke up this morning, my world slightly revolved around me so I had to go back to sleep. Then my dream prompted me to get my a** up and fill my empty stomach with something. Whenever I'm asleep and my tummy feels hungry, I always dream about food, salivating foods at that! So I got up, went to the kitchen, scavenged whatever I could find as edible and found a hot pork soup to which I exclaimed, "Perfect for Hangover Part 1!"

Dear AUGUST...

2011-08-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

I dunno if i'll be happy or not having you around. The result of the boards is a few sleeps away from now and my birthday's just around the corner. I'm having mixed emotions, really. You better have good things in store for me. After all, I was named after you so please cooperate will 'ya? ;)

Movie Review: MATCH POINT

2011-07-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

by THIRDIE PALMA

It’s very rare for me to see a movie where the story revolves around how an antagonist (in this case, a murderer) gets very lucky in getting away with a crime or several crimes committed against unsuspecting and innocent people and where the ending ironically celebrates a somewhat successful and blissful life over a toast of champagne. The story is about a guy who married a woman from an upper class English family; lived a posh life watching plays, musicals and operas from an exclusive opera box; maintained a very active sexual affair with a stunning albeit a struggling actress; and had a baby boy in the end with his wife who once had fertility problems. All these he got as if getting away from killing his mistress, his unborn child and an innocent old lady - weren’t enough luck for him. This is the case of the movie Match Point starring Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, and Brian Cox, among others.

Chris Wilton (Rhys-Meyers), a poor Irish lad, was a tennis pro player before settling in London. He had to quit due to his career that has already reached a stagnant point. Although his peers who believed in him said he just needed a little more patience so he could give the top seeds a run for their money, he decided he would give up playing and become a tennis instructor, instead, for an elite club in London. He got along very well with his first student, Tom, who immediately invited him to join a family gathering, where he met his soon-to-be wife Chloe, Tom’s younger sister.

Chris had made a very good impression on Chloe’s parents so he was offered a position in one of her dad’s companies. He was groomed to be the perfect son-in-law, who would eventually hold a major position of the company in the future. In yet another family occasion, Chris came across a beautiful woman whom he later knew as Nola Rice (Johansson), Tom’s fiancée. Chris learned that she was a struggling American actress trying her luck in England. He was instantly attracted to Nola’s come hither look as what Tom called it but out of respect to Tom, he kept his distance. Besides, he was already very intimate with Chloe and the family was expecting them to announce their wedding plans.

Eventually, Chris and Chloe got married and everyone was happy, even Chris, who still had lustful fantasies for Nola. Nola, on the other hand, couldn’t get the thumbs up from Tom’s mother, Eleanor, who thinks that Nola isn’t good enough for her son. During one of Eleanor’s innuendo-inspired speech in front of Nola and Tom, she once again offended her son’s fiancée, who became upset and walked out of the house. Chris saw Nola and followed her to the wheat fields, where he took advantage of her emotional fragility and kissed her. One thing led to another and Chris finally got what he wanted.

Because of what happened, Chris became more sexually attracted to Nola than he had ever been before but Nola tried to do the right thing by not giving any meaning to what happened between them. She told Chris they were both engaged to different people and that she was soon to become his sister-in-law.

In a surprising turn of events, Tom suddenly announced his break up with Nola because he fell in love with another woman. That gave Chris more reason to pursue Nola but she was nowhere to be found so for the time being, he contented himself with his work and wife, who was still trying hard to conceive a baby with him by going to fertility clinics. After a few years, Chris saw Nola in an art gallery where he was going to meet with his wife one day. He desperately wanted to see Nola after missing her presence for a long time and even in the presence of his wife, he quietly asked for Nola’s phone number. Their sexual affair began again and this time, it was more passionate or obsessive for both of them.

To cut the long story short, Chris succeeded in his plot to kill Nola. He also killed his own unborn child and an innocent old lady in the process. He said, sometimes the innocent are killed to give way to a grander scheme or something to that effect. The police initially concluded it was a drug and money-related murder of the old woman, who was killed first and that Nola, who lived next door, came home and was shot next – a case that according to the police was a classic example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. What they didn’t know was the murder was all planned by Chris to make it look like a robbery case - that the old woman was the primary victim and Nola, a coincidental victim. There was one detective, however, who theorized that Chris was actually the culprit. His theory was very accurate in all sense of Chris’s involvement of the murders. The only problem he encountered in the end was that a certain ring owned by the old woman that was stolen by Chris was found in the possession of a drug addict who was apprehended the day or two after the murders. That made the police more convinced that it was, indeed, a drug-related murder. But the truth was, Chris threw all the jewelries owned by the old woman into the river simply to get rid of evidence and the ring missed a few inches from the river and was picked up by the drug addict. In other words, Chris had been ultra lucky from the very start until the end of the movie.

What I admire about this movie is its bold and bodaciously daring approach to its theme of injustice, of committing several crimes and getting away with them and of depicting the triumph of bad over good. Not that I approve of or appreciate the wrongful acts committed by Chris or the immorality of everything he did but the film makers were brave enough to go beyond the usual or ordinary. In terms of acting, the lead actors displayed their adeptness in representing their characters especially Rhys-Meyers and Johansson, who both gave very convincing portrayals to Chris and Nola, respectively. The supporting actors could also hold their own although they only had limited screen times compared to the leads.

My appreciation, however, ends in the movie’s approach and technicalities. The theme itself disturbs my moral principles and foundations that I couldn’t almost believe they make movies like this one where the bad guy gets exonerated and favored by luck and virtually by everything in the end. I was taken aback when the ending depicted a happy family (Chris and Chloe, Tom and his wife, and their parents) wherein everybody welcomed a future member inside Chloe’s womb. I was expecting that justice would be served, that Chris would be apprehended or be held responsible for Nola’s, his unborn child’s and the old woman’s murders, that there was a major twist just right before the credits start rolling, that somehow I would see a handcuff or a prison cell where Chris would be paying the price of everything for the rest of his life. But they all had a cheerful celebration by opening a bottle of expensive champagne – a very ironic celebration of life at the expense of three innocent lives sacrificed by Chris for his own good. Of course, they all didn’t know about the truth except Chris but how the movie ended bothered me a lot. I would say, though, that Nola’s (Scarlett Johansson) come hither look and her seductive appeal, in general, were very compelling and that she gave me many sleepless nights after watching the movie (winks).

Call Boy

2008-05-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

by Thirdie Palma

LifestyleBohol Section
Bohol Chronicle
Published: May 25, 2008

Working as a customer service representative or associate (CSR/CSA) or more popularly known as call center agent for a well-known and one of the biggest outsourcing firms may be a glamorous job for those who want to be part of the call center industry in the country. One may think highly of a CSR as someone who has a kind of job that’s totally simple yet financially rewarding. But those who are and have been part of it may not share the same thought. It is true that the pay is way better than what a bank teller or a regular government employee receives. True that four or five-digit bonuses and other perks like free movie tickets, cell phone loads, DVD player, iPod, Starbucks gift certificates, Sony PSPs and even all-you-can-eat buffet from expensive restaurants may be given at least on a weekly basis. Even more true that if you get promoted, a bank manager’s salary is only a quarter of what you would earn plus your overtime pay and night differential. That’s even a generous estimate. There are so many things one can get in this kind of job that enumerating them all would be time and space-consuming. But did I really enjoy being a call boy? Did I take pleasure in being scolded or worse, screamed at on a per call basis because of something I didn’t personally do? Did I like the constant nagging for services not working as if they were all my fault? And did I benefit from the emotional, physical and mental stresses this kind of job put me through? The answer is a resounding no.

Sure, many call boys and girls I know say they don’t take the harsh and more often than not profane words personally. Of course, they don’t. I don’t, either. The customers are on the other line, anyway. There’s no way they can grab my collar through the mouthpiece of my headset and they’re on the other side of the planet so why worry? But here’s the thing about how sharp words can get. Several times I wake up from a nightmare (which happens during the day when I sleep after work) wherein a customer screams at the top of his lungs after saying so many F and S words at me because a sales agent signed him up for an internet phone even though he has no internet connection. Yeah as if that’s my fault but since I was from the account management department, it was my job to provide the best solutions possible before painfully deciding to disconnect or close the account as a last resort, which would then greatly affect my performance. One time my sister called from overseas and because I was dreaming that I was at work, I answered her call with my opening spiel, “Thank you for calling (Company)…How may I help you?” She answered back, “What’s happening to you? Are you crazy?” then she went on laughing.

It was then I realized that money’s not everything. Money can buy you a lot of things, yes. But how about your physical and mental health? At some point, maybe. Not when you lose your sanity or when you literally drop dead on the floor at work because of stress, like what happened to a poor guy in one of the call centers in Manila. Before, I didn’t believe much in the effects of stress but I have seen so many colleagues being brought to our clinic because of several health conditions they never thought would afflict them. Personally, I had to quit due to my osteochondroma (a benign tumor in my left femur), which didn’t bother or cause me pain ever until after I was in my fourth month as a call boy. Later on, I learned that stress is actually more sinister than what most people think of it. Some studies say stress is linked with serious conditions like cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. And here I was thinking that my daily supply of A-Z vitamins and a full glass of fresh milk was enough in dealing with the taxing work I was into.

I am not badmouthing any call center or any employee nor am I instilling fear among those who aspire to take the challenge of taming wild beasts pretending to be English-speaking customers (pun intended). I am only presenting the facts I knew and have seen as someone who used to be in the business even for a relatively short period of time. I am not even sour graping, not after getting huge bonuses twice a month, free movie tickets and cell phone loads almost every week or receiving a thousand bucks right after a quality assurance evaluation for getting a hundred percent rating of my recorded call. My point is, if you want this kind of job primarily because you want to be identified with the English-speaking Filipino population and enjoy the apparent luxury and glamour and glitz of it, then forget it. Usually, you won’t get nor enjoy the luxury part because stress will deprive you of it. Sitting pretty in an office all day preparing coffee for your boss albeit having a meager pay might be a better one for you. However, if you’re not only aiming for the trend but for the money itself, which I admit is very tempting and materially rewarding, all for the sake of your family’s subsistence and your own without having to fly to Dubai or anywhere else in the world, then take the job. Don’t be scared. Not all customers are beasts, by the way. There are still nice people out there who would need your help and who would go as far as commending you through your supervisors or even the President of the company for a job well done, that is of course, if you’re able to help solve the problem for them. But think about it ninety-nine times before diving into it.

Have you ever heard of jobs that are not for the faint-hearted? This is one of them. You think that just by engaging in a phone conversation with customers isn’t a tough job and an easy way of earning money? Think again because what you get from this job is hard-earned cash. Hard-earned in the sense that most of the time, you try your best to be resilient and unaffected by the insults or stupidity of some customers who are determined to bring you down emotionally or prove you wrong no matter how right you believe you are. Some customers do it just for the fun of seeing you crashing down. Then there’s racial discrimination, too. I could still recall the times when I had to deny my roots whenever I sense that the customer’s heading towards color coding scheme just to avoid an argument and finish the call the way I suppose to. As a result of these and some other things mentioned earlier, I always get exhausted and felt empty at the end of the day. I may have been a quitter but I was brave enough to make a choice from what’s good for me and what’s not. That was a personal choice. Like anybody else, I needed the money, too. I also enjoyed all the perks that went with the job but even with all the pampering stuffs the company was showering us, the excitement died down eventually. Money can only take me somewhere but not to a place where I can fully taste the sweetness of contentment.

Where's Nemo?

2008-04-27T07:36:00.000-07:00

by Thirdie Palma
LifestyleBohol Section
Bohol Chronicle
Published: April 27, 2008

Going, going, and gone...As I followed the gray-colored bird beat its wings and off to the air after a mouthful of fish, I couldn’t help but be amazed at this very same sight I see almost every day ever since a bird of this kind had appeared in the beach at the back of our house. Sometimes, there are two of them, probably a couple, hunting for food during low tide and since they are bigger than the usual birds I see around, I call them big birds.

Much has improved in our little town of Lila, just 28 kilometers from the city, especially in the area of coastal resource management. When I was a kid, I was always fond of the sea – swimming, fishing, gathering food like lukot, shells, sea urchins and the likes with my lola. I accidentally learned how to swim at a very young age of seven after my sister grabbed the one and only buoy (a tight-capped empty water container) I was holding on to keep afloat. I remember seeing sea horses, plenty of shells, mollusks and other sea creatures, that are now have all become very rare, if not, extinct in the local area. People, then, were unwary of the consequences of over fishing by the use of very fine fish nets, over collection of marine creatures that are not even edible, water pollution caused by garbage-dumping, and even the use of cyanide and other fish poisons. Upon reaching high school, I noticed the major change not towards the better but the worst. Sea horses, sea urchins and many types of shells disappeared, corals became lifeless, and fish population and fish catch had significantly dropped to a point where buying fish in the market would mean spending much more than buying pork or beef. Snorkeling was never enjoyable anymore as the once beautifully-colored reefs with tropical fishes of different sizes swarming here and there had become an unmoving and dull reflection of the blue sky above. Even sea anemones, which were abundant before, appeared to have been abandoned by their resident Nemos leading to their own demise, as well. I had this fantasy that if I were Captain Planet, one of my favorite superheroes then, I would definitely save our sea and turn its life back where it rightfully was. But fantasies were no more than wishful thinking and false escape of reality. Reality still bites and, sadly, the most I can do that time was to clean our own side of the beach.

When I went to UP Los Baños in Laguna to pursue my undergraduate studies, I had to leave the town that I loved since childhood with the hope that someday its vibrant marine life will be back, waiting for me to explore its beauty again. I remained hopeful. True enough, hope didn’t fail me as I continued to cling on it. While I was in school, I heard there were vital improvements in coastal management in our town. Several no-fishing-zone marine sanctuaries were established and the use of fish nets of all sorts were prohibited within the municipal waters with corresponding penalties for those found guilty of violating such rules. In addition, some species of fish were forbidden during their mating and gestation period, with some other prohibitions concerning the collection of marine organisms. These regulations were to be imposed within a definite period of time, 10 years if I remembered it right. Well, I say it should stay until such time when all or even most of the past dwellers of this part of the sea have been revived and when people are no longer ignorant and irresponsible of their acts. At first, I thought these ordinances were just among those that have made it in print or paper but not in action like most of our national laws but, surprisingly, I was wrong. Since their inception, many have been apprehended for using fish nets and for fishing within the sanctuary even until now and I give credit to the law enforcement people and the locals, as well, for that. I used to be so cynical when it comes to laws of our land because of the fact that we are a country known to have so many bills passed and enacted but not as much implementation. Yes, many laws that we have are just as deep as the fiber of paper they are written in. But this doesn’t mean that we just have to leave them all like that. They were written and enacted obviously with purpose and it is our responsibility to do the action part.

We have so many things to be grateful and thankful for as inhabitants and stewards of a beautiful island called Bohol and I think we all have an idea why. The government and private sectors and some individuals are all aiming for the best eco-cultural tourism this side of the planet can offer, which will hopefully bring a well-balanced socioeconomic and environmental growth and development that will benefit us all. Let us take part in this vision. As ordinary citizens as we are, we can become extraordinary even in our own simple ways of protecting our forests, rivers, seas, endangered species of plants and animals, heritage and cultural sites and other resources that add beauty and value to our land and our future.

When I took a swim one time, I saw several sea anemones and their loyal resident Nemos which were apparently back in each others’ fins and tails after several years of absence. I didn’t see any sea horse, though, but who knows? I’ll keep my fingers crossed on that. After all, they say hope is gone only when we doubt it and time runs out only when we give up.

Youngblood: The old house

2008-04-19T07:17:00.000-07:00

By Thirdie Palma

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Posted date: April 19, 2008

It was one ordinary summer afternoon and the sense of temporary freedom from strenuous exams, term papers and everything about school seemed liked a permanent liberation from Azkaban for me. I just came back from school, miles away from home, and surprisingly, I didn’t feel like diving straight into the welcoming deep blue sea just a few paces from my sister’s place where I was staying. Instead, I went to visit an old house.

While standing outside the house, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had to muster all my courage to enter the house again after several months. I knew the door was closed from the inside, so I opened the window and reached for the lock to open it. The door swung open with a familiar creak.

Right after I closed it, a little boy with curly brown hair came running into the living room. He climbed up on the sofa and started singing while positioning his right arm like he was holding a microphone. He was making-believe that the chair was his stage, I thought.

I glanced at the dining table where an old woman was sitting at its far end. She was busy forming some brown round stuff and putting them on top of a long banana leaf. She was making “tableya,” ground cacao used to make “tsokolate” [chocolate]. The scent of the hot tableya smelled so good.

I shut my eyes and imagined everything I could recall. I got nostalgic.

A girl’s voice suddenly called out and the boy went to the kitchen. I followed him and saw three girls who had just come from the beach, with all the sand on their hands and feet. The boy was told to get something from the cabinet and though he obeyed, there was a trace of resistance in his eyes. He tiptoed to the cabinet, careful not to draw attention from his “lola” [grandmother], who was busy this time making “ube” [purple yam] flavored ice candies. Then he returned to the kitchen and handed over piles of baking tins to his sisters.

The girls hurried back to the beach. I followed. They were playing a game, simulating their lola baking “torta.” What was interesting was they didn’t use flour nor did they use an oven for baking. I laughed when I saw smoke coming from a fire between some stones formed into a triangle.

I went back to the house and waited until my eyes could adjust to the semi-darkness inside. The boy was now carrying a tray full of ice candies. After putting them all in the freezer, his lola whistled, calling someone upstairs. When nobody answered, she asked the boy to rouse his “lolo” [grandfather] from his afternoon siesta so they could have snacks together.

The boy scratched his head, but went straight upstairs and I followed him again. Upon reaching the door, he pushed it carefully, mindful not to make the slightest noise. He walked slowly like a cat and paused for a while, probably wondering if he should back off or not. When he came to a decision, he touched his lolo and said, “Wake up!” Then he ran toward the door as fast as he could.

His lolo did wake up but his expression said, “Don’t tickle me or else I’m gonna hunt you down.” He stood up quickly, bent on chasing his “attacker.” The old man was smiling, unable to sustain his fake show of anger as he ran after his grandson, who was now going down the stairs two steps at a time.

While enjoying the moment, I overheard the old woman say, “Stop it, you’re scaring the little boy!” It was then that I realized that this house was more than just some dull structure, as it would seem from the outside.

I went downstairs and saw another boy holding a water gun in his right hand while munching junk food he was holding with his left. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that their lolo was playing mad again. He even pointed to where the little boy was hiding, prompting the latter to dash outside and into the beach.

All four of us burst into laughter. One of the sisters came in to ask what happened.

“This is not just a house,” I exclaimed. “This is a happy home!” However, nobody seemed to have the slightest idea that I was there with them so I stood up and headed for the living room.

As I was standing in front of a large portrait of colorful birds hanging on the wall, a collage of family pictures at the center of the table caught my eye. I knew all the five families in it very well. Mine was one of them. As I scanned the pictures one by one, the entire house fell into a deafening silence.

After a while, the front door opened and a man spoke, “When did you arrive?” It was my uncle.

“Just this morning,” I answered, without looking away from the collage.

“Have you visited papa in the cemetery?” he asked.

“Not yet but tomorrow I will.”

It felt odd that my lolo wasn’t around sitting on his chair, offering his right hand for me to touch to my forehead like he did every time I came home. Odd that seconds ago, I felt like both my lolo and lola were there with all those memories of a happy home.

Yes, this was home to me. Yes, I was that little boy and those were my elder sisters and brother. Our parents were working in the city, so they left us in the care of our grandparents.

When my lolo died in 2004, I couldn’t go home due to my studies. Going home three months after he died was one of the saddest things I did in my life. When my lola died of cancer in 1998, it was also one huge blow to our entire extended family. They were the reason we would gather in the same home every fiesta and Christmas Day, and to celebrate such occasions without them just feels different and less fun.

When we moved back to our own house a few years after my lola’s death, only my unmarried uncle was left with my lolo. We visited them frequently.

A house for me remains as it is, in the physical sense, if the people who give life to it are either gone or live negative or very boring lives. Only people who live happy and content lives can transform a house into a home.

I am certainly looking forward to a time when the old house becomes a home again. That would be the time when I won’t need to summon my courage just to enter the place. That would be the time when happiness isn’t a thing of the past or a figment of the imagination anymore but something real and living.

Thirdie Palma, 24, finished BS Human Ecology at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, and is now studying nursing at the Holy Name University in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.