Repost Mula kay Ape Daga

Got this post from April's site. Tsk tsk, di pa rin kumukupas ang mga linya ni April, bitter but sweet. Ah, para to sa mga masukista. At sa mga mahilig sa espontanyong ligaya:

Bakit hinayaang umusbong ang di napapanahong interes sa isang ispiritung ilang beses mo lang nakasalamuha? Ndi kailngan ng salita. O ng pang-unawa. Ipakita ang nararamdaman, bigla na lang naintindihan. Ligaya. . aspetong mahirap iexplika. Basta andun na lang. Kumapit ka lang. At mararamdaman. Ang kakaibang tamis. Likha man ng alak na nakalalasing ng katawan at isipan, ndi maikakailangang my namuong unawaan. Saksi ang paligid, manalamin ka.

City of Angels - Memorable Lines

I was in love with this film the first time I saw it. And I fell in love again last Sunday. The ending was tragic, and yes, Seth was too late. But who knows? =P

Susan: What good would wings be if you couldn't feel the wind on your face?

Maggie Rice: I'm not afraid. When they ask me what I liked best, I'll tell them, it was you.

Maggie Rice: Those eyes. The way he looked... right down into me.

Cassiel: To smell the air.
Seth: Taste water.
Cassiel: Read a newspaper.
Seth: To lie.
Cassiel: Through your teeth.
Cassiel: To feed the dog.
Seth: Touch her hair.
Cassiel: What are you waiting for?

Maggie Rice: I wait all day, just hoping for one more minute with you, and I don't even know you.

Seth: I came to take Mr. Balford... and I saw you. I couldn't take my eyes off you. How you fought for him. And you looked right at me... like I was a man.

Seth: I was there in the stairwell... when you cried for your patient. And I touched you. Why are you doing this? Because I'm in love with you.

Maggie Rice: I don't understand a God who would let us meet, if we could never be together.

Seth: I fell.
Ann: Evidently. Off a train?
Seth: I fell in love. Please help me find her.

Maggie Rice: Do you feel that?
Seth: Yes.
Maggie Rice: And that? How's it feel? Tell me what it feels like.
Seth: I can't.
Maggie Rice: Try.
Seth: Warm. Aching.
Maggie Rice: It's okay. We fit together.
Seth: I know.
Maggie Rice: We were made to fit together.

Seth: Am I too late?
Maggie Rice: Too late?
Seth: Jordan?
Maggie Rice: I couldn't marry Jordan. I'm in love with you.

Seth: I always asked the dying what they liked best about living. Wrote it down in my book. This is it. This is what I like best.

Maggie Rice: We have our whole lives together. You and me. Mr. and Mrs. Plate.

Seth: To touch you... and to feel you. To be able to hold your hand right now. You know what that means? Do you know how much I love you?

Seth: You're a good doctor.
Maggie: How do you know?
Seth: I have a feeling.
Maggie: Yeah, well that's pretty flimsy evidence.
Seth: Close your eyes. Just for a second... what am I doing?
Maggie: You're... touching me.
Seth: How do you know?
Maggie: Because, I feel it.
Seth: You should trust that. You don't trust it enough.

Seth: Hello Maggie! It's nice to see you again.
Maggie Rice: It's weird to see you again.
Seth: Weird is nice.

Ann: Never date a guy who knows more about your vagina than you do.

Seth: Let's go.
Maggie: Where?
Seth: Anywhere.
Maggie: What'll we do?
Seth: Anything.

Maggie: Something happened in that room. I got this jolt that... something bigger is out there. Something bigger than me, bigger than you. Does that sound crazy?

Maggie: Why do you wear the same clothes all the time? Why won't you give me your phone number? Are you married?
Seth: No.
Maggie: Are you homeless?
Seth: No.
Maggie: Are you a drummer?

Seth: What's that like? What's it taste like? Describe it like Hemingway.
Maggie Rice: Well, it tastes like a pear. You don't know what a pear tastes like?
Seth: I don't know what a pear tastes like to you.
Maggie Rice: Sweet, juicy, soft on your tongue, grainy like a sugary sand that dissolves in your mouth. How's that?
Seth: It's perfect.

Seth: I would rather have had one breath of her hair, one kiss from her mouth, one touch of her hand, than eternity without it. One.

Seth: Some things are true whether you believe in them or not.

Maggie: What happened?
Seth: Free will.

Seth: The little girl asked if she could be an angel.
Cassiel: They all want wings.
Seth: I never know what to say.
Cassiel: Tell them the truth. Angels aren't human. We were never human.
Seth: What if I just make her a little pair of wings out of paper?

Seth: Why do people cry?
Maggie: What do you mean?
Seth: I mean... what happens physically?
Maggie: Well... Umm... Tear ducts operate on a normal basis to lubricate and protect the eye and when you have an emotion they overreact and create tears.
Seth: Why? Why do they overreact?
Maggie: [pause] I don't know.
Seth: Maybe... maybe emotion becomes so intense your body just can't contain it. Your mind and your feelings become too powerful... and your body weeps.

Nathaniel Messinger: Seth knows no fear, no pain, no hunger, he hears music in the sunrise. But he'd give it all up, he loves you that much
Maggie Rice: I don't understand
Nathaniel Messinger: He can fall, he can give up eternity and become... one of us, human

Mack Truck driver: Where are you headed?
Seth: Tahoe!
Mack Truck driver: Reno.
Seth: Tahoe!
Mack Truck driver: I'm going to Reno!
Seth: I'm going to Tahoe!
Mack Truck driver: Well, hop in, we'll figure it out when we get there.

Maggie: Are you a visitor? Who are you visiting?
Seth: You.

Nathaniel Messinger: Listen, kid: he gave these bozos the greatest gift in the universe - you think he didn't give it to us, too?
Seth: Which gift?
Nathaniel Messinger: Free will, brother. Free will.

Maggie Rice: We fight for people’s lives, right?
Maggie Rice: Do you ever wonder who it is we're fighting with?

Company Outing 2008 Subic SweetWater Resort

Chronicles of a Love Untold

Zizek on Love

Sometime during college, a friend of mine made me read Zizek's opinion on Love; and today, while browsing, I came across those texts again, here they are:

"For me there is one measure of true love: you can insult the other. Like in that horrible German comedy film from 1943 where Marika Röck treats her fiancé very brutally. This fiancé is a rich, important person, so her father asks her why are you treating him like that. And she gives the right answer. She says: 'But I love him, and since I love him, I can do with him whatever I want.' That's the truth of it. If there is true love, you can say horrible things and anything goes."

Then here's the comment of the blogger who quoted the above texts ~~~

"Possibly Slavoj Žižek is a silly old bachelor like myself."

And now, that friend of mine who showed me those texts remains to be single.

Heres another link about Zizek on Love: https://loganfidler.wordpress.com/

What Zizek said makes sense to me now. Unlike before.

Pagdalaw sa Site ni Teo

Ilang mga partial repost mula sa Blog ni Teo Marasigan nang minsang mapadaan ako:

Header ng Entry na Ramdam ang Kaunlaran?:

“Progress” affects few. Only revolution can affect many. ~~~ Alice Walker

+++++ for a change? Hehe. :-D

Mula sa entry na Krisis the Moment:

[Maganda ang tawag ni Prop. Margarita “Maita” Gomez ng Action for Economic Reforms sa neo-liberal na ekonomiks na itinuturo sa UPSE: autistic. Sa isang banda, insulto ito sa mga may autism, dahil hindi naman sila nakakapinsala sa isang buong sambayanan. Pero tinutukoy nito kung paanong may sariling mundo ang ekonomiks na ito, na kaiba sa mundo ng nakakaraming tao. May sarili itong mga pamantayan ng kaunlaran at pagbuti ng ekonomiya. May sarili itong pag-unawa sa mga suliranin ng bansa, gayundin sa mga solusyon sa mga ito.]

+++++ Nakakatawa dahil madalas naming gamiting magkakaibigan ang salitang AUTISTIC bilang paglalarawan sa mga katrabahong pumapalya sa pakikisama at mga gawi sa loob ng opisina (mean girls!)

Mula sa entry na Ang Birong Bastos ni Borat:

[Hindi ko pa napapanood ang pelikulang “Borat”. Pero ayon sa isang kaibigan, tungkol ito kay Borat, isang Kazakh o mamamayan ng Kazakhstan – isang bansa sa Gitnang Asya – na naglilibot at gumagawa ng mga kalokohan sa Amerika. Naikuwento sa akin ang isang eksena rito, na bukod sa nakakatawa, o dahil nga nakakatawa, ay mainam na pag-isipan dahil may sinasabing makabuluhan hinggil sa gera ng US sa Iraq. Sa isang banda, may mahahalaw ring pagsusuri sa todong gera ng rehimeng Arroyo sa Kaliwa.

Nagpunta si Borat sa Texas, ang estado sa US na pinagmulan ni Pangulong George W. Bush at kilalang balwarte ng konserbatibong patriyotismo ng mga Amerikanong puti. Pumasok siya sa rodeo stadium – kung saan nagpapakitang-gilas sa baril at kabayo ang mga cowboy, na laging puti, na napapanood sa lumang mga pelikula. Sa isip nating mga Pilipino, at marahil ng mga mamamayan ng US at ibang bansa, katumbas ng cowboy sa US ang ninja sa Japan – simbolo ng sinaunang tapang at dangal ng kanilang bansa.

Doon, pumunta siya sa mikropono kung saan kinakanta ang pambansang awit ng US, at binibigkas ang mga anunsiyo para sa mga naroon. Emosyonal si Borat. Sigaw niya: “Ako ay isang Kazakh, pero mahal ko ang Amerika!” Palakpakan ang mga tao. “Mahal ko si George W. Bush!” Palakpakan ang mga tao. “Sinusuportahan ko ang gera ng US sa Iraq!” Palakpakan ang mga tao. “Nawa’y laklakin ni George W. Bush ang dugo ng lahat ng bata, babae at lalakeng Iraqi!” Katahimikan. Natigilan ang mga tao, natigalgal.]

+++++ Clap! Clap! Clap! Mukhang magandang panuorin ang peilkulang Borat. Pangit kase ng title kaya kahit madalas ko makita sa video rentals, kinikeber lang...

Disorder

There are things that I can't explain I chose to feel. And it's scary & risky for you wont know where this feeling is leading you.

Leche. Bwisit. I'm trapped in this shit I prepared for my self.

Afraid + + +

Clocks 'Only Time Will Tell'

Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
You've put me down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead, singing
Come out of things unsaid, shoot an apple off my head and a
Trouble that can't be named, tigers waiting to be tamed, singing
You are, you are

Confusion never stops, closing walls and ticking clocks, gonna
Come back and take you home, I could not stop, that you now know, singing
Come out upon my seas, curse missed opportunities, am I
A part of the cure, or am I part of the disease, singing

You are, you are, you are, you are
You are, you are
And nothing else compares
Oh no nothing else compares
And nothing else compares

You are
Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go,
Home, home, where I wanted to go...

Ang Pagsundo sa Balikbayan

Last April 2 ~ 10:30 pm, Ateng Laraine arrived at the airport. Three years in Dubai is such a very long time for us to miss her so much. She's my only girl cousin on my Father side, that's why we are almost like sisters. :-D

Enchanted Kingdom Gala

March 30, 2008 ~ ending the month with fun at Enchanted Kingdom! Kapagod but it's worth it, loved the Anchor's Away ride. Gaby's sooooooo kulet, refused to watch the 4D show. Haha! And Willy riding the carousel 5 times!

Banaue Escape

From Feb22-24, I was in paradise, away from everything, except Ate Joan, Szaby & nature around us. :-D Realy unforgettable experience, can't wait to go back there.

Dear Life

Inherently, I know I have to accept the responsibilities.
Staying would mean mourning till I can say you're really mine.
We can actually let ourselves grow with this experience, let each day count.
But here 'he' comes, a sudden thought cripples me.
And everything will never be the same again.
I'm waiting for an absolution, save me or prolong my pain?

"Love can tear you apart... It can kill you.
But if you’re lucky, it can put you back together."

Everything Is Shit

Blogismo.. Kung anu-anu na lang.. Ayan, bahala na kayo maghusga sa mga remark sa ibaba. Para lang di maborlog, at sa lahat ng stress na dumating at dadating pa in the next days.. Lenten na daw, ayan, timely ang post ko na ito. Wahahahah! :-D

Moses: Everything is law
Jesus: Everything is love
Marx: Everything is money
Freud: Everything is sex
Einstein: Everything is relative

Nakita ko ang remark na ito mula sa blog ni KC Conception. For me, you cannot reduce the achievements of these great men into simple words like sex, money, etc. Siguro pwede icategorize into kung sino ang materialist at sino ang mystical. Pero papayag ba si Jesus na mystical ang mga sinabi niya? Or si Marx, na plain truth ang sinabi niya sa mga sinulat niya? What a wanderpul layp [as per Irisk].

The Gypsy Queen

"The Left did not create the troubles of the world, the troubles of the world creates the Left!"

Dati, may propesor kame sa UP na sabi, kapag Marksista ka, dapat intelektwal ka. Sa dinami-dami ng argumento na pinagdidskusyonan sa unibersidad, kanya kanyang opinion, iba't ibang teorya, anu pa rin ba ang dominanteng kaisipan?

Nitong nakaraang Miyerkules, biglang pumunta sa bahay ang isang kasama, may business kase kame.. Kumustahan, kwentuhan, chikahan ng mga nagaganap at ang ikinagulat ko, ang "Balbalan". Hindi literal ang ibig sabihin ng term, ginagamit namin ito as tagalog for "Intellectual Masturbation". Wish ko lang walang mahalayan.

Do we have the right to say something with regards to the state of the Movement when we're not there to participate? - tanong namin sa sarili namin. Then this Gypsy Queen said - kung sinasabi ng propesor mo na dapat intelektwal ka para may 'say' ka sa mga bagay, di ako naniniwala jan. Sa karanasan ko sa Movement, masasabi kong ito ang pinaka-HUMBLE na org, willing to listen kahit pa sangkatutak na lait ang ibigay mo. Dahil doon nila ibabase ang analysis. Well, hardcore kase si Gypsy Queen. At tama naman siya.

Bakit, may krisis ba? Krisis ng bansa, obvious ba? Tinanong lang ako kamakailan ng Boss ko kung sasama ba ako sa rali, at may sinabi rin siya tungkol sa paglaki ng middle class -  na base sa study ng isang Govt Agency. Hay, di nako updated. Pero lumalaki nga ang service sector ng Pinas. Hindi ko matanggap na sinabi ni Gypsy Queen na isa na pala akong Worker. Mula sa pagiging peti-b. Pero sandali, hindi naman ako CSR ah, Accounts Receivables Staff ako. Anu bang klaseng kontradiksiyon ito? Pati iba't ibang uri may iba't ibang kontradiksyon di ba? At sa dinami dami ng mga tanong namin, hindi namin matanggap, totoong nakakatigang ng utak pag wala sa Loob.

We can't have everything in this world. You are not what you are. The choices you will make will not end as is..

Pero natapos ang usapan na hindi resolbado ang mga usapin. Balik sa realidad. May anak siya. Mag-aaral pako. At magpapatuloy ang kontradiksyon.

Kinagabihan, napabalita - may natagpuang dalawang bangkay ng babae.

Dinner with Vyvx Team

Thanks to Vicki Carter for this night. Bonding moment with my teammates together with Sir Dino, our OpsMan.

Moments of Fun

Pictures with friends at Incoho Phils. Inc. - first company I joined right after graduation.

Apocalypto

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

Watched this film way back in December - as what the critics say, it's "an adrenaline-drenched chase movie" and "a visceral visual experience."

I can also relate it to the politically shaken administration of GMA. Her rule is oppressive, unjust and anti-poor and its doom is near. See quote below from the website - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypto:

“The corrosive forces of corruption are illustrated in specific scenes throughout the movie. Excessive consumption can be seen in the extravagant lifestyle of the upper-class Maya, their vast wealth contrasted with the sickly, the extremely poor, and the enslaved. Environmental degradation is portrayed both in the exploitation of natural resources such as the over-mining and farming of the land, but also through the treatment of people, families and entire tribes as resources to be harvested and sold to slavery. Political corruption is seen in the leaders' manipulation, the human sacrifice on a large scale, and the mass slave trade. These themes are prevalent throughout the movie and often overlap and blend together, creating an overall sense of sadness, devastation and destruction.

The Ancient Greek verb αποκαλύπτω (apokalýptō) means "I uncover," "disclose," or "reveal." Gibson commented about the movie's title: "[It] just expresses so well what I want to convey. I think it's just a universal word. In order for something to begin, something has to end. All of those elements are involved. But it's not a big doomsday picture or anything like that."

Great film, Mel Gibson is very good. How I wish there's a Part II.

Life for Rent by Dido

I haven't really ever found a place that I call home

I never stick around quite long enough to make it
I apologize that once again I'm not in love
But it's not as if I mind
that your heart ain't exactly breaking

It's just a thought, only a thought

But if my life is for rent and I don't lean to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine

I've always thought
that I would love to live by the sea
To travel the world alone
and live my life more simply
I have no idea what's happened to that dream
Cos there's really nothing left here to stop me

It's just a thought, only a thought

But if my life is for rent and I don't learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
Cos nothing I have is truly mine

While my heart is a shield and I won't let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won't even try
Well how can I say I'm alive

If my life is for rent..

Walang halong spiritual mode ito ha, my life is for the masses.. Dapat!

Paraisong Banaue

Nitong nakaraang Pebrero 23-25, galing ako sa Banue bunsod ng petiburges na mga hangarin – ang magbakasyon, magrelax, makapunta sa ibang lugar at maglibang. Kasama ko sa paggagala na ito si Ate Joan (kaibigan ko sa UP) at si Zsaby – isang Hungarian na estudyante ng Computer Science, gitarista at manganganta.

Biglaan ang desisyong makapaggala, kahit sapat-sapat na lang ang pera ay nagtuloy pa rin ako sa paniniwalang hindi ko dapat palampasin ito dahil baka matagalan bago ulit dumating ang pagkakataon. Kaya lumarga na ng walang alinlangan, at punong puno ako ng excitement.

Walong oras ang biyahe, isang chipaz na Autobus ang nasakyan namin, sobrang punuan at walang CR sa loob pero ayus lang, wala na raw ibang bus na papunta ng Banaue bukod dun. Sa daan pa lang sa Ifugao papuntang Banaue, may nasulyapan na akong mga maliliit na hagdan-hagdang palayan. Nadisillusioned ako nang sabihin sakin ni Hans na hindi talaga kasama sa Eight Wonders of the World ang Banaue Rice Terraces kahit na marami ang naniniwala na ganun nga, ang alm ko lang kasama ito sa UNESCO World Heritage Site. Anupaman, malapit talaga sa langit ang lugar na ito.

Tumuloy kami agad sa Hiwang Native House Inn & Deckview. Kumpara sa mas mahal na hotel sa Poblacion, mas maganda ang view rito, at tunay na Ifugao House ang bahay na tinuluyan namin – mataas ang mga pundasyon, gawa sa kahoy at kugon. Nakakatuwang tingnan ang bilog na nakasakal sa pundasyon, proteksiyon daw ito sa daga – para di sila makaakyat. Naglakad kami ni Zsaby hanggang sa tuktok ng Inn, marami pa kasing Native House doon, pero bukod tangi ang aming bahay dahil dito raw tumuloy sina Judy Ann at Piolo nang i-shoot nila ang pelikulang Sagada. Tinanong ko pa talaga si Imbang (ang batang utusan sa Inn) kung totoo ito at hindi salestalk lang. Sabi niya totoo raw, pero pangit daw si Piolo, malaki daw ang panga.

Primitibo ang impresyon ko sa lugar, maraming estatwa ng Rice God nila, mga inukit na kahoy, hugis tao, at totoong kamangha-mangha ang hagdang palayan. Stairway to Heaven ito, ika nga. Ilang libong taon nang pasalin salin sa henerasyon at naroroon pa rin. Naisip ko, pwede pala talagang tibagin ng tao ang bundok, gaano man kalaki ito (Ang Hangal na Magsasaka).

Mga 11:00 ng umaga nang sunduin kami ng tour guide, kumain muna kame sa Mexicali (di ito franchise ng Mexicali ha), habang kwentuhan at kulitan. Hindi ko halos maialis ang mata ko pag nakatuon ito sa terraces, may animo’y hipnotismo itong taglay. Matapos kameng kumain ay namili ng mga pasalubong at matapos yun ay nagtrek na kami. Binagtas namin ang daan sa gilid ng mga palayan, itatanim pa lamang ang mga punla. Nasabi ni Renzon na minsan lang daw isang taon kung sila ay umani. Kapag wala sa palayan, sa PNB (Palaging Nasa bahay) sila, nagweweave at naguukit. Hindi raw pangkomersiyal ang ani, pansariling gamit ito, ibebenta lamang kung sobra para sa pamilya. Wala rin daw panginoong maylupa rito, bawat pamilya ay may kapirasong lupa. Pero napansin ko, may ilang sobrang magagandang bahay dito kumpara sa karamihan na malapit na sa itsurang iskwater ng Maynila. Mga 3 oras kami naglakad sa maputik, malamig at mataas na palayan. Matagal nakong di nakapag-hiking kaya mabilis akong napagod.

Matapos yun ay namalengke kame at umuwi na. nagluto kame sa kitchen gamit ang kahoy at bakal na kalan. Mahirap magparingas at mausok. Pero napakasarap ng hapunan namin, inihaw na tilapia at kung anung putahe ni Zsaby na patatas na may kamatis.

Tinanong ko ang sarili ko kung kaya ko bang manirahan sa gantong lugar. Naalala ko na pangarap ko pala iyon dati, na may kubo lang sa bundok, solved na.

Tinanong ko si Zsaby kung paano niya nakikita ang Pilipinas – sagot ba naman niya ay “The Philippines is my Honey.”. Tinanong ko siya kung ‘backward’ ba ang tingin niya sa Pinas, sabi niya hindi. ‘Poor’ is a relative term daw. Ang mga tao raw sa Banaue ay mayaman sa kalikasan, sa tradisyon at kultura. Sa tingin ko naman, marami pa ring ipinagkakait sa kanila. Kagaya nang tanungin ko si Imbang kung gusto ba niyang mag-aral sa Maynila, sabi nya, sa Banaue na lang daw siya. Nasasabi niya iyon dahil wala siya o ang pamilya niyang akses na mapag-aral siya sa lunsod – hindi libre ang edukasyon sa bansang ito. Narinig ko rin kay Renzon na may tribal wars pa rin, pero sabi niya, sa Kalinga at Benguet na lang daw.

Nakalimutan ko na lang rin na itanong ang tungkol sa mga higanteng uod dala ng patabang ginagamit sa palayan. At may nakita pa akong nangengealam na kano, pinapagalitan ba naman ang isang PO worker dahil mas marami daw dapat trabahuin sa Manila kesa sa Banaue. Asar, hindi kasi intindi na ang mgsska ang primaryang pwersa ng re*.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong gumising. Mag-isa akong lumabas at minasdan ulit ang paligid, hindi ako makapaniwala na nandun ako, ayaw ko ng isipin ang pagbalik sa lungsod. Maghapon kaming nasa bahay lang buong Linggo dahil paulan-ulan. Para may magawa lang, sinamahan ko si Imbang na bumili ng mga gamit namin. Sa tindahan, maraming local na kalalakihan, binati nila ako – alam na hindi ako taga-doon.

Sumapit na ang hapon at pauwi na kame, pangarap kong bumalik ulit doon.

Sa Hiwang pa rin. Kina Ate Gloria. At Kuya Noel.

O kung hindi man, kahit saan, bawat sulok naman nito ay paraiso.

NGO Worker - Libre Lang Mangarap

Haaaaaaaay, second sa mundo ng *kt*b***o, ito ang gusto kong buhay:

Artikulo mula sa Peyups!

Sa halos isang taon kong pamamalagi sa organisasyong ito, hindi ko na mabilang ang dami ng lugar na aking napuntahan at dami ng tao na aking nakilala. Lahat ng mga ito ay itinuturing kong bahagi ng aking paglago bilang isang indibidwal. Mas maraming bagay na matutunan sa labas ng apat na dingding ng opisina. Noon pa man ay hindi ko nakita ang sarili ko na pumapasok sa isang opisina araw-araw, nakaupo maghapon at paulit-ulit ang ginagawa. Ganunpaman, may mga panahon na napapagod din ako sa mga biyahe at iniisip ko kung bakit ko pinili ang ganitong trabaho.

Masaya ako sa ginagawa ko. May kakaibang kaligayahang hatid ang pagseserbisyo sa kapwa. Higit pa sa hanapbuhay ang lugar ng aking trabaho sa aking buhay. Kahit na sumusweldo rin ako tulad ng ibang empleyado, alam kong bukod sa pagkita ng pera, may iba pa akong layunin kaya ko ginagawa ito. Malinaw sa akin ang mga ipinaglalaban ng organisasyong aking kinabibilangan at alam kong sa maliit kong paraan ay nakakatulong ako sa lipunan.

Naaalala ko noong nagsisimula pa lang ako. Hindi ko pa lubos na nararamdaman sa puso ko ang serbisyo. Bagaman natuwa ako dahil nakahanap ako ng gawain kung saan magagamit ko ang aking propesyon habang nagsisilbi sa kapwa, bahagi pa rin ng motibo ko sa pagpasok sa opisinang ito ay pansarili lamang. Ngunit nang tumagal ay nakita ko kung gaano kahalaga ang aking ginagawa at iilan lang sa aking propesyon ang papayag na gawin ito. Kaya sa kabila ng lahat, ito pa rin ang pinili ko.

Bakit? Simple lang. Maligaya ako.

Kahit na taliwas ito sa normal na daan na tinatahak ng aking mga ka-propesyon. Kahit na maraming bagay na hinihingi ang aking trabaho na hindi ko dating ginagawa. Kahit na kung minsan ay gusto kong languyin ang dagat para lang makauwi at makita ang mga mahal ko sa buhay.

Tuwing umaalis kasi ako, nalulungkot ako dahil iniiwan ko ang pamilya at mga kaibigan ko. Ngunit sa bawat lugar na pinupuntahan ko, nadadagdagan ang aking mga kaibigan at may mga taong itinuturing ko nang pamilya. Pero alam ko na anuman ang mangyari, uuwi at uuwi rin ako. Alam kong babalik at babalik ako sa totoo kong mundo.

Kung minsan iniisip ko, ano kaya kung iba ang pinili ko? Ngunit sa tuwing titingin ako sa mga mata ng mga taong tinutulungan ko, naiisip ko na walang ibang gagawa nito kundi ako. Dito nga siguro ang lugar ko sa mundo. Isa pa, hindi ko lang naman ito ginagawa para sa kanila, ginagawa ko ito para sa kaluwalhatian ng Panginoon. Tinawag niya ako at pinili para sa gawaing ito.

At sa ngayon ay tanggap ko na, ito ang misyon ko sa buhay, ang tumulong sa mga katutubong Pilipino para makamit nila ang kanilang karapatan sa mga lupa nila.

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Ang may-akda ay isang lisensyadong inhinyero na nagtatrabaho sa isang non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization na tumutulong sa mga indigenous peoples. Ito ang naging bunga matapos niyang mag-isip kung ito nga ba ang daang nais niyang tahakin.

Kwentong Kape

I just read an article from a peyups website - it's "Smell the Coffee and Wake Up". It's a good article, even made me look back to my own history and savour how I seem to appreciate coffee until now.

I remembered why coffee is associated with great minds, I have this one comrade who once remarked about another comrade taking coffee instead of milk during his early years. Why is that so? I didn't bother to ask that time. Pero nakakatawa sila, even smoking was then used by a comrade as a defense of his habit. Sabi niya, when you smoke, it slows down the functioning of the brain, so kapag nagbabasa ka while smoking, you can easily comprehend everything. And he really believed it! So much to say about the effects of smoking and too much coffee to our body, when your friends defend their vices, you can't defeat them, you might end up joining them.

And I did, of course it's not just about the coffee and smoking, but even the mindset, hopes and even dreams. You give up your old ways, fire up for new adventures, stretch yourself to the limit up to the point that you forget yourself just to give way for a 'larger than life' prophecy. Those romanticisms, selfless portrayals, all for the sake of the struggle.

There were countless days when I sleep with only coffee on my belly, and smoke to inhale, and I'm full. Coffee was my saviour when no one volunteered to feed me, when I hesitated to ask, when I need to stay awake for an ED, when we need to plan for an event, when we need to wake up early in the morning for an Operation P**ta. Coffee is a culture for us, a chance for us to meet together, a moment of friendship.

There were Kapihans at Teacher's Village, it was more of a poetry session, tibaks flock into the room. And they share letters, words, while we sip coffee and smell the air of reality in their poems.

And I offer Jeff some coffee, just to give him a chance to rest. It was more of a bribe, for he is my friend.

I missed those invitations - when they say "Tara, kape tayo. Kahit tig-sasampung piso lang basta may cream."; when there's something worth to argue about, they would say (esp Loulay), "Punta tayo sa Oz!" (with giggles). And we stay there until the sun goes down.

What's with a cup of coffee? I guess it's the experience that goes with it. The reminisces that you indulge yourself into once you're seated there with that cup and with that someone.

The Count of Monte Cristo

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Action & Adventure

I first watched this film in UP Film Institute for only 40 pesos. And after watching it, I can only describe it in one word - AMAZING. Compared it with The Red Violin but this one exudes more justice and grandeur. This is an ultimate tale of revenge, a story that transcends generations and time frames.

Based on a classic novel by Alexander Dumas, too bad I can't find time to read the book but viewing the movie is itself already a dramatic experience. It was just so powerful (of course setting aside the title of the film - in Jesus' name), hehehe, I was so overwhelmed with too much emotions during and after watching this film. Imagine all the treachery, lies, dark desires, adventure, love and triumph mixed powerfully in this film, with great actors and 'exquisite' characters, historical french base, political struggle and a lot more.

Though, despite all the drama, the director was able to give it a touch of humor - I love the Count's 'kanang kamay' who dedicated his life in serving Edmund.

A must see film, a total entertainment. Don't miss this!

BootCamp Dunamis 2008

Venue: Caliraya Resort