SIYENTO... MAGKANO KA NALANG BA NGAYON?

Magkano para sa iyo ang halaga ng isang -daan? Para sa akin, hindi na kasing tulad nung bata ako, ngayon si isang daan ay pang gasulina, pang load, pamasahe papuntang opis, 4 na oras ng pang DOTA at kung iba-iba pa.
Kung tutuusin kung ikukumpara date, napaka small time nalang nya ngayon.

Kahapon, pagtapos kong magbayad ng bill namen sa tubig sa may Galleria, napadaan ako sa may McDo sa foodcourt, bigla akong napaisip, hindi naman ako gutom, pero sinilip ang oras, alas 4 ng hapon, sakto, MIRIENDA TIME!!! pumila, tumingala, pumili ng natitipuhan.

Ayus, turn ko na sa counter, I made up my mind, QUARTER POUNDER MEAL tos Upsize ang fries and drinks. Saktong-sakto to, para tuloy-tuloy na ako sa biyahe wala ng hintuan kumbaga, pag uwi ko sa mag-ina ko sa Gapo.
Sir 155 po, bayad ako 200, tos sabay about ni ms. cashier ang sukli, 45 pesos, ayus meron pang konting pang chicharon sa biyahe, sakto lang para hindi mainip.

Sabi ni ms. cashier, sir, prepare lang po, sa gilid muna kayo, sabay tawag nung asa likuran ko, OK, sige sa gilid muna. Sakto namang daanan ang asa gilid ko ng mga papasok at palabas na emplyeyado ng McDo, may lumabas na may karay-karay na malaking lalagyan, so ang siste, napa usog ako ng bahagya sa bandang likuran. Ok lang, masarap naman ang mimiriendahin ko, sabe ko sa isip ko.

Habang nag aantay sa bandang likuran, merong isang mejo matandang babae, siguro mga around 50++ to 60 ang edad, kase halata sa mga kunot sa nuo at muka nya tsaka ang mga uban sa ulo. Maayos naman ang suot nya at hindi naman sya yung mga karaniwang mga nanglilimos, pero syempre dahil, mejo prejudicial tayo, yun agad ang nagrehistro sa ating utak, masisisi nyo ba ako, e kahit san ka ata mag punta sa maynila e naparaming mga ganito.

Bumulong sya sa aken, nung una hindi ko naintindihan, O SADYANG HINDI KO ININTINDI KASE, ANG SA ISIP KO, MALAMANG ANG MODUS NYA ITO KESYO HINDI PA KUMAKAIN PENGE NAMAN NG KONTING BARYA, Eklat. habang bumubulong sya sa akin, otomatic naman ang kanang kamay ko sa pag dukot sa barya sa bulsa ko, para mabilisang pag bigay ng barya, lima lang ok na, may 40 pa akong pang chicharon.

Pero duon sa pagbulong nya sa aken, wala akong narinig na pag hingi ng pera, TAMA BA ANG NADINIG KO? TUBIG ANG HINIHINGI? so ang sabi ko, NAY ANO PO IYON? sabe ng pobreng NANAY, "IHO PWEDE MO BA AKONG HINGAN NG TUBIG SA KANILA? HINDI PA KASE AKO KUMAKAIN, GALING LANG AKONG OSPITAL, WALA AKONG PAMBILI DITO, TUBIG LANG, PANG TULONG KO SA BISKWIT NA DALA KO." at habang binabanggit nya itong mga ito ay nakangiti sya sa aken na merong konting hiya.

Tumingin ako sa itaas, sa mga pagpipilian ng mga pagkain, mga value meals, ang pinaka mababa ay ang burger MCDO, 58 pesos, sabay tingin sa sukli ko sa aking kakainin. 45 pesos, kulang.
Pero naalala ko, 300 pala yung pera ko, meron pa akong isang daan, dinukot ko ang wallet ko at sabay kuha sa isang daan, inabot ko sa pobreng NANAY, sabe ko, O NAY BILI NA PO KAYO NG KAKAININ NYO, pag abot ko sa kanya ay tumulo ang mga luha sa gutom nyang mga mata, at sabing, "SALAMAT IHO, SALAMAT IHO" habang humihikbi, tapos himas ko sa likod nya, ok lang po, sige bili na kayo ng pagkain.

Sa sandali iyong, nawala sa isip ko ang binili ko, ang gusto ko lang e, kumain ang pobreng matanda, hindi ko namalayan na ok na pala yung nabile, ko. Sabe ko sa pobreng Nanay, Sige po anjan na yung binili ko, pero hindi pa rin natapos ang ang kanyang pagsasalamat, hanggang sa paglakad kong papalayo sa pilahan.

Habang ako ang kumakain, syay naupo sa hindi kalayuan, minamasid ko ang pobreng Nanay, bumili sya ng isang burger at may tangan-tangan sa kanyang isang kamay ang isang plastic cup ng tubig, inilapag ang mga bit-bit sa lamesa sabay kuha sa humberger nya, pumilas ng bahagya, tapos sinilid ang natira sa kanyang bag.

Nakita ko sa expresyon ng muka nya nung una nyang pag kagat, tila batang sabik na sabik sa kendi at ang fulfillment ng pagkain nya pagtapos ng gutom sa maghapon, pagtapos nyang kumagat ay tumalikod na sya papalabas ng mcdo, habang nagpupunas ng mga natirang luha ta pawis sa muka, habang ako ay ninamnam ang aking quarter pounder.
Makailang beses na din akong nakahangos ng QUARTER POUNDER, pero sa pagkakataong ito,
tila sa ibang paraan ang pag luto nila sa aking burger, pagsubo ko nito at tila napaka sarap at napaka linamnam.

From here on, hindi ko na UUNDERIN si ONE HUNDRED PESOS, pinamalas nya sa akin ang kakayahan nyang magpaiyak dahil sa tuwa sa NABIBIGYAN at NAGBIBIGAY.

What's GOOD IN FAILING???

I can say that I did very-very well in school, when I was in the preparatory stage of it, in fact I had a lot of recognitions and medals, which i bragged about, until I was in grade 1, after which, a big fat ZERO.

I guess, the competition is too much for me when I entered the second grade in a big school called, ST. JAMES SCHOOL of QC, way back in the late 80s.
It's a Hero to Zero, I was a fluke basically. Year in year out, I had to do better on the last grading to make it to the next level, it was a struggle for me on a yearly basis.

It was tough, from the boo-boos of your friends, from the scolding of my Family (my entire family, mind you, from Mama to ate to kuya, Paps is not around most of the time because of his work), to the stigma of being a not-so-good-in-school, in vernacular, BOBO.


My first share of failure is way back in grade 3, it was a make or break situation for me, for lack of a better term, let's call it a LOSE-LOSE solution, I have to pass my last exams, for me to have a summer class and go the next stage, or if I won't, I will have to a grade 3 again, REPEATER!!!
Luckily, I was never a repeater in my entire Elementary and High school life, am just a big fan of summer classes.

I went to summer classes twice, 1 in grade 3 and the other when I was in 3rd high school.
Again, I have to endure the LOSE-LOSE solution, I have to choose, remedial or REPEAT, but again, I managed to have the other side of the LOSE-LOSE solution. 
I finished high school in time, but with my stint in that school, I never made it at least on the top 30 students in each of my class, darn it.

Tertiary education is the next step, there's a lot of expectations from me since my predecessors made it big time, my ate went to UST and my kuya went to MAPUA.
 So here we go again, another taste of failure, I tried getting in to SAN BEDA, UST, and UE. out of the 3, I only passed 1 exam, UE. I recalled when my Lolo asked me about the entrance exams, he said without batting an eyelash, ANG BOBO MO NAMAN, ISA LANG PINASA MO, but he said it very lightly and played it really cool.

Since all mothers only want what's best for their kids, she waved her magic wand, and POOF, I became a student of UST, taking up Political Science, class 1A7 (if i remembered it correctly).
I guess, 1 of my phobias, aside from RODENTS, are the dreaded 4 cornered room, called CLASS-ROOM, I just can't find the reason for me to sit and listen to some stupid lectures of my professors, at that time. Don't get me wrong, am not saying that they are stupid, I have the highest respect for them, to begin with, but I just can't find the urge of having my full attention to them, let's just say, I traveled a lot, during their classes, while inside the classroom.
Could have been classes are held outside that 4 cornered room, like in the soccer field, on the GAZEBOS outside our class rooms, inside the CINEMA, billiard halls, HOLE IN A WALL DRINKING BARS, I could have finished college in 3 years and with HONORS, I bet you that.

The moment of truth, I have to get my class-cards, how I wished that day never came at all, I received a PINK form, which means, I was debarded, in a nutshell, UST will no longer allow me to move forward from 1st year to next, I just have to finish my first year and I need to find another school, whom I guess, will live up to my standards (KAPAL).

That day, I feel really-really guilty, most specially when I handed the form to my Mom, I will never forget the the disappointment in her face, I failed her again, not just her, but myself as well.
But being cool, she said, ANO PA MAGAGAWA NATEN ANJAN NA YAN, so here we go again, I have to look for another school, which will live up to my standards (UBOD).

Being so mabarkada and all that shit, I went to a computer university in QC, not to go to school, but to be with my home friends, and hopefully find more friends along the way, and it never failed me, if FACEBOOK is a degree, I could have again, graduated shorter than the rest and with HONORS.
For a year, I think I only saw my class rooms 5 or less times.
I became, sorry, WE became a regular students of BILLIARDS HALL, CINEMAS, and WHOLE IN A WALL DRINKING BARS, and it was such a success because our group of 5 grew up into a barangay.
We were such low-lying-scum-selfish-sonsofbitches-assholes at that time, because of what we did, am not saying that we are not now, we just became more sophisticated low-lying-scum-selfish-sonsofbitches-assholes.

Suddenly, it dawned on me, I had a recollection, after seeing PALABHISA LALAKE (with gwapings), I think it was Joey Marquez, he said KAYA HINDI KAYO SUMISIKAT E, MAGHIWA-HIWALAY NA KAYO!!! To cut the chase, once a again, FAILURE.

So, I decided to fix everything, I bailed out from that school and went to FERN in Don Antonio, to once and for all, clean up my acts, which I thought I will, but I WAS WRONG.
It was never different from my ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL, UST, AMA days from FERN, I was again a complete FAILURE.
Most of my drinking and tambay buddies in FERN finished their courses, except for a few, which includes myself.
Like the PACQUIAO-DELA HOYA fight,  my folks decided to finally thrown in the towel, after a long grueling battle with their course of giving me a bright future, since I helped them realize that I was indeed a FAILURE.
But not a bad batting average, 2 out 3, my folks are at 90%++ success rate in raising a kid that can and will finish their studies. (wink... wink...)

Don't get me wrong, I WAS NEVER PROUD OF ME FAILING MY FOLKS, OR ME AS A FAILURE AT THAT TIME, GIVEN A CHANCE TO HAVE ANOTHER SHOT AT IT, I WILL DEFINITELY NAIL IT THIS TIME, I LEARNED MY LESSON, THE HARD AND PAINFUL WAY.

Now here we go, finally my folks gave me the go signal to be the captain of my FUTURE SHIP, they said don't blame us, you brought that to yourself, which I couldn't agree more.
So the painful journey of looking for a decent job begins, I thought, WHAT AM I DOING IN THIS JUNGLE, WHAT ARE MY FREAKIN CHANCES?
Luckily, during that time, CALL CENTERS are on the rise, and you can get in, regardless of your educational background, so long as you're advance in the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, yes THE DREADED ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
Thing is, how will get in? to begin with AM ZERO WHEN IT COMES TO THE LANGUAGE (well obviously, that was before). What do you expect, after all the shit that I did during my school days, only a MIRACLE will do it for me.
But what the heck, am bound to fail and it won't kill me if I will try, so I had my buddy as my Batman (since he's so damn good in the language) and am the ROBIN, his KARAY-KARAY.

Let the fight begin, Call Centers after Call Centers after Rejections after Rejections after Failure after Failure after Failure, BUT I NEVER LOOSE HOPE, I SAID THIS IS THE POINT OF MY LIFE THAT IF I WILL GIVE UP AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT I CAN'T GET ANY JOB EVEN IF THE DOORS ARE WIDE OPEN FOR ANYBODY, INCLUDING MYSELF, I WILL BE GOOD AS DEAD, AND THIS IS A GOOD AVENUE TO REDEEM MYSELF.
One good thing is that I HAD A VERY VERY GOOD TRAINING IN FAILING, so I never gave up, I tried and tried and tried and tried until I finally made it.
How? I learned from my mistakes (FINALLY AFTER LONG YEARS OF IT), whenever am being rejected, I will look back at it and identify what are the things that I did wrong, or the answers that I gave that ticked them off, and correct it or at least polish it on the next.

So I started my call center career as an agent, OUTBOUND, I had my share of GO FUCK YOU MOTHER to SUCK YOUR DICK to DIE TELEMARKETERS stuff, stayed as a TELEMARKETER for 2 years, and it honed my ability to have a full grasp of the language and build confidence in carrying it.
To sum it up, I work my way up, I ALWAYS SHARPENED MY SAW, to be at par and to out smart the other dogs in a DOG EAT DOG WORLD.
From AGENT to a QUALITY SPECIALISTS to a QUALITY SUPERVISOR and currently a QUALITY MANAGER ( am very confident that it will not stop there, I don't mind to take a crack at the next level, if the time comes), INDEED A SWEET REVENGE AT LIFE AND A VERY GOOD REDEEMER, FOR MYSELF AND MY FOLKS.

God designed my program perfectly, everything! from failure after failure, to my ever supporting family, most especially Paps and Mama, to the haters and non-believers who helped me fuel my urge to succeed in order to prove them wrong, and of course to my wife who made me stick to it since she made it clear to me that if I can't give her and our family a good life, then it's good as FAILED RELATIONSHIP, I guess I failed a lot in my life and this is the only thing that I don't want to fail.
(TRIVIA, ONLY IN LOVE I DID NOT FAIL, BECAUSE I ONLY HAD 1 GIRLFRIEND AND SHE IS NOW THE MOTHER OF MY BEAUTIFUL ANGEL) 

But with all my peaks and valleys, in life, most especially my EDUCATION LIFE, I never had regrets on it, DAMN I ENJOYED IT, every single minute of it, and it gave me the most valuable lesson in life. FAILURE.

As what the GREAT MICHAEL JORDAN said, and i quote (not sure if that is acceptable to say in writing) "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

Like him, I dared to fail and did not chickened out to try, go ahead and take a shot at it, who knows, you might get it in 1 try, at least you tried.

I guess, to some it up, am bound to fail early on my life for me to succeed in the later part of it, the most important part, that is.

So for me, that's the "GOOD" in failing.

PS. I HOPE GOD WILL DESIGN MY KID'S PROGRAM JUST LIKE THEIR MOM'S, AND NEVER BE LIKE MINE, NOT EVEN IN A SLIGHTEST CHANCE.

28 days in PHC... THE LIGHTER SIDE EDITION...

A few months ago, kami (ako at si kumander) ay nag-stay ng 28 days sa loob ng Philippine Heart Center, dahil sa aming unica hija.
Sya ay nag undergo ng VP shunting, para sa kanyang Hydrocephalus.
Agree po ako, ang labo, Heart center tapos sa Ulo, kaya nga po, nakalagay sa profile ko, isa akong malabong tao.

Going back, Dahil sya ay kinailangang ma ilagay sa ICU, dahil sa ibat-ibang complikasyon, kinailangan nameng mag asawa na manatili sa waiting area, ng ICU, na asa parang walkway ng ng PAY at CHARITY ward, sa may 3rd floor. Gabi-gabi, ang misis ko, sa bangkong malapad natutulog habang ako ay sa lapag.
Gabi-gabi din, bukod sa pag intindi sa kalagayan ng anak ko, at gastusin, kailangan din nameng, iendure and mga kaganapan sa waiting area ng ICU, Charity Ward, at Pay Ward, ng nasabing ospital.

Anjan kang, halos isang barangay ang nagbabantay sa iisang pasyente, at ginawang bakasyunan ang PHC, ang NAPAKALAMIG na AC  na sagad to the bones ang lamig, ang maiingay na taga bantay na kahit alas dose na ng gabi ay sige parin sa pakikinig ng radyo o music (parang asa bahay lang), hanggang sa maiingay na pasyente at mga doktor. Well, you can't complain, you just have to endure it, sabe ko nga.

Nung unang gabi nameng matulog ni misis sa waiting area, ang tinulugan ko sa lapag ay kapirasong karton ng wilkins mineral water, at ubod ng nipis na kumot, Diyos ko po! napalamig, ako ay punong puno ng taba sa katawan, at hindi kaagad nalalamigan, pero iba ito. Para kang natulog sa labas ng bahay, ng naka brief lang, ng walang kumot, tos nakatutok ang electic fan na asa number 3, sa BAGUIO CITY, ganun po ang feeling ko nung unang gabi namen.

Siyempre, second day, alam ko na ang mga kailangan ko, bumili na ko ng dalawang broadsheet na dyaryo, double purpose ika nga, newspaper by day, bed by night, pero wa epek padin, napakalamig padin, Panginoong habag.
Eventually, nakapag puslit na kame ng banig, at yung mga iniwang mga karton ng mga nauna sa amen ay napakinabangan ko na din, nakita ko na din kung saan nagmumula ang tindi ng lamig na nagawan ko naman ng konting paraan para mabawasan ang lamig, pero malamig parin.

Meron ding mga bagong pumasok, at nakihalo, pero sabe ko nga sa isip ko, like what we went thru, you should endure it as well, so no more mister nice guy muna, kesehodang babae o matanda ka, pasensyahan nalang muna tayo.

Isa pang eksena na kakaaliw ay ang mga long term borders nila duon, meaning, yung mga matatagal na sa ospital na animoy kanila na ang bangkong tulugan.
May isang pangyayare, kung saan umaksyon ang nurse ng ICU, kase wala ng tutulugan o pupwestuhan ang isang bagong dating na mag-asawa. ang siste, yung long time border na nabanggit ko, naagawan ng tulugang mejo maayos.
Naku po, kung nakakamatay lang ang matatalim na tingin at titig, malamang nagkaroon na ng mass murder sa waiting area ng ICU sa PHC.
Animoy, binabaril at sinasaksak nya ang pobreng magasawa, ng kanyang umaatikabong tinign, dahil sa kapirasong tulugang inagaw sa kanya, para syang isquatter na pilit na pinaalis sa kanyang munting lungga (no pun intended). Pero rules are rules, ang ending, parehas kame ng tulugan, sa lapag.

Mahirap din ang palikuran, first come first serve, kaya ang gawain ko, maaga ko naliligo, 6am andun nako, kase kailangan kong pumasok sa opis, pag tinanghali ka na, patay ka, lalo na pag ang gagamit ng banyo ay yung mga pasyente, naku po!
Ganon din sa pag dumi, pag minalas-malas ka, sa ground floor ka pa mag CCR, not to mention na ang kanilang elevator e lintik sa bagal, parang manual, may naghahatak kung aakyat at may rumerenda pag bababa, kung talagang hindi mo na mapigil, no choice ka, hagdan pababa, mag pray ka nalang na walang PREMATURE DELIVERY na magaganap.

Ang PHC din ay isang malaking MAZE, merong isang pangyayare nung kakatapos lang operahan yung baby ko at si misis ay asa loob ng ICU, merong mag asawa na pabalik-balik, na tilay nawawalan na ng pag-asa na makita ang hinahanap nila, lingon dito, silip duon, liko sa kanan, liko sa kaliwa, ayun pala, pauwi na sila, nag pailang beses silang ikot ng ikot para hanapin kung saan sila nag mula, ang problema, dahil sa kakahanap, mula 4th floor napadpad sila sa 2nd at umakyat sila sa 3rd, at ayun, lost in PHC MAZE na sila. buti nalang after siguro mga ilang oras, narealize nila na kailangan na nilang magtanong, kaya ayun, nakalabas din sila. Now they know, next time, hindi na sila mawawala.

Napaka higpit din ang seguridad ng PHC, lalo na pagdating sa KUMOTat BLANKET!!! ang anak ko kase may espesyal na blanket, balak ko sanang ipasok, parang you play it cool when you pass them by, yun bang parang wala kang tinatago. Pero sadya atang dumaan sa matinding training ang mga hinayupak sa pag kilatis ng kumot at blanket, ang siste ko, finold ko ang blanket ng pabilog na parang bimpo, maliit lang sya kasya sa likod na bulsa, mejo bulky lang, pero if your a normal human being, you would just mistake it for a bimpo, pero gaya nga ng nasabe ko, napaka expert and advanced nila pag dating sa pag detect kung meron kang dalang bawal, specifically blankets. ang eding, hindi nakalusot, walang blanket ang baby ko. so lesson learned, when you thought you have to play it cool to make it look normal, your wrong, lalo ka lang mapapansin at wag magdala ng bawal sa PHC, lalo na kung blanket o kumot.

Naging parking space ko din ang kahabaan ng matalino street, Jollibee-Chowking-Greenwich parking spaces, at quezon city hall, for 28 days. Paano mo naman hindi gagawin yun, sa PHC, kesehodang 50 milyon na ang bill mo sa ospital, kailangan mo paring mag bayad ng parking fee, na pagkamahal-mahal, kase daw kay AYALA yun, e ano naman ngayon kung sa kanya? kaya jan ko nilalagak ang aming namanang sasakyan, mula sa aking utol, sa mga nabanggit ko. Isa o dalawang beses lang ata ako nag park sa loob, di ko na inulit, kase nung magpark ako ng magdamag sa loob, pwede mo ng pang Jolibee yung ininayad ko. Nagawa ko ring pagrambulin ang mga parking attendants/boys sa kakarampot na barya, paano? ganito, galing akong opis, parking ako ng gabi, sabe ng isang lalake, considerasyon naman jan sir, gabi-gabi kayo nag papark jan e, sabe ko, kakabigay ko lang ng 50 duon sa kasamahan nyo kaninang paalis ako e, akala ko naman hati kayo. Ayun nga, kinabukasan paalis ako, yung pobreng mama saben saken, sir sinisingil ako kanina nung mga kasamahan ko, tapwe (50) daw binigay mo saken, bente lang sir yung inabot mo kagabe, ako naman patay malisya, tapos sabe ko, hindi ko sinabe yun, sabe ko 20 binigay ko araw-araw, tska hindi ko kaya yung 50 masyadong mahal, ngayon nga 40 naibigay ko, bente kagabe, tos bente ulit nagyon sayo, sabay alis.

Pero kinalaunan, marahil sa pagiging regular kong nagpapark duon, naging kachokaran ko na din sila, may sarili na akong slot, sa may tapat ng chowking sa ilalim ng punong accacia, tuwing gabe.
Nakwento ko din kase sa kanila yung pinagdadaanan namen sa loob, siguro naawa, kaya nung pauwi na kame, nung kinuha ko yung oto, ayaw ng abutin yung binibigay ko, pero pinilit ko pa din, pa consuelo na din kase, for 28 days binantayan talaga nila yung oto namen, walang nasira, nawala, nabingkong, nabaloktot, kung gaano yung mga dent at gasgas nya, yun padin mula nung simula, at may slot pa ko, diba san ka pa?

Hindi ko din makakalimutan, ang kapitbahay namen sa waiting area at ICU, na si Ralf Sy (paseyente), nakalimutan ko na yung name nung Nanay nya, pero gaya din ni Kumander, TALAGANG ULIRANG INA, NI HINDI KO NAKINGGAN NG REKLAMO SA PAGOD O KUNG ANU MANG REKLAMO, BAGKOS MINU-MINUTO SILANG NAG MOMONITOR SA KANILANG MGA ANGEL, SO KAY KUMANDER TSAKA KAY NEIGHBOR, I SALUTE YOU!!! KAYO ANG KONGKRETONG HALIMBAWA NG UNCONDITIONAL LOVE!!!

Halos kasabay namen silang dumating sa waiting area ng ICU, umaga kame, hapon sila, halos parehas din kame ng itinagal sa ICU at sa ospital, nauna lang silang lumabas sa ICU ng ilang araw tapos nauna rin lang siguro kame sa pag labas sa ospital, sana, kase I happen to bump into her sa loob ng ospital, nung papalabas na kame, konting kamustahan, chikahan, ayon sa kanya, palabas na din sila, sabe ko nga, sana magkita-kita ulit kame, pero sa labas na ng ospital. Kung san man si Neighbor, I hope SOCHI (tawag nila sa bata) is doing fine na, which am confident he is, we also included him in our prayers, which we knew you included din Mikay in yours. Godbless!

In totality, sobrang humbling ang experience na yun sa akin, ipinadanas sa akin ang matulog sa kongkretong higaan, na ang tanging pananggalang mo lang ay kapirasong karton at manipis na kumot, sa napakatinding lamig. Magtiis at magtimpi sa mga taong nakakainis lalo na sa mga taong walang kunsiderasyon, mga taong sarili lang ang iniintindi. Napakaagang pagpila sa banyo na bawal babaran, dahil maraming mag aantay at gagamit, na kakatukin ka pag mejo tumagal-tagal ka sa loob o pag gamit. Gumising ng napaka aga para lang pumila ng walang katapusang linya, umupo sa gilid ng basurahan at sa mapanghing palikuran, habang nag aantay na matawag ang iyong pangalan, mababad sa napakatinding sikat ng araw, na hindi mo naman maalisan kase sisingitan ka sa pila ng mga taong nagbabakasakale sa konting tulong na maiaabot ni MADAM CHAIRPERSON ng PCSO. Mairapan, masigawan, at masungitan ng mga social workers, hindi naman kame mayaman pero sobrang kabaliktaran ito sa nakagisnan kong pamumuhay.

Lumaki akong merong maayos at malambot na tulugan, sapat at sobrang pananggalang sa malamig o mainit na gabi, binubulyawan ang maingay kapag natutulog, kahit nanay ko ang nag iingay (pera lang sa tatay ko, hindi ko ginawa, baka palayasin ako), Gumising sa anong oras na gusto at maligo sa sariling banyo, hindi makapag antay kung may hiling, gusto agad-agad ora mismo, ika nga, magsisimangot pa kung hindi mabigyan o mapagbigyan sa hinihiling, Nagiinarte pag natapat sa basurahan o mapanghing banyo, Nagtatatakbo pag sobrang init ng araw, nagrereklamo pag sobrang init sa loob ng kwartong merong electric fan at SUNGITAN ANG MGA TAONG NANG HIHINGI NG KONTING TULONG, lahat iyon ay bumalik sa akin, ng kame'y manirahan sa ospital ng 28 na araw.

Ngayon, sobrang natatak sa akin ang kasabihang "MATUTUNG MAMALUKTOT SA MAIKLING KUMOT" both figuratively and literary.

Salamat sa Dyos at maayos na ang lahat, kaya naman akoy nagkaroon na ng lakas ng loob na ipamahagi ang nakakaaliw at nakakatuwang side ng aming pinagdaanan.
Marami kaming napulot na aral experience na ito, yun lang, mejo ayaw ko ng alalahanin yung hindi maganda, kaya naman etong lighter side nalang ang kinuwento ko. Naway naaliw ko kayo.
Hanggang sa muli!

UrbanDictionary = kickass!!!

While browsing the NET (during my freetime in the office of course, wink... wink...), I come across this asskicking site, it's called URBANDICTIONARY.
Here are some words that I find, dumpfuck kickass shit, feast on it. (kickass, is my word of the day).

my phone's about to die - This is an expression commonly used to signal to another party that either a) you no longer want to text them, or b) you intend on hanging up. This is a smooth way to avoid answering or hearing things from other people.

carbon soldiers (personal fav) - Slang term for children, kids, offspring and rugrats.

Braggadouche - noun. A braggart, but one without the credibility to back up his or her claims. A braggadocio. Lame boasting.

cold finger - Similar to cold shoulder, except a cold finger is done by ignoring someone's text or facebook message--usually when said person's comment is pointless or uncalled for.


screen saver (i got a lot of this) - the blank expression that comes across a persons face when day dreaming.

Backseat Browser - Anyone who sits behind a someone who is browsing the Internet while continuously instructing them on what to click on or what to type into the address/search bar. Most appropriately applied when the advice or commands are unsolicited and/or unwarranted.

computer-face - v. to squint and kind of frown as you look at your computer to give the illusion that you are in fact very busy analyzing something vital to your work.

Googleheimer's - The condition where you think of something you want to Google, but by the time you get to your computer, you have forgotten what it was.

 fomo - "fear of missing out". The fear that if you miss a party or event you will miss out on something great

office quarterback - a manager that is infamously known for handing off their work and other useless assignments to you that they could and should be doing themselves

wikiot - A fool who believes all information found on Wikipedia is accurate and true.

brain boner - Something that strikes a chord in someone's thinking, creating a spur of "enlightenment" and stimulation in knowledge, especially in subjects like philosophy & logic.

Defensive Eating - Strategically consuming food for the sole purpose of preventing others from getting it.

workout impostor - One who walks around in workout or gym-like clothing to give the effect that they have worked out or gone to the gym today or are planning to work out or go to the gym today when in reality they have not or are not going to. One usually does this to make oneself feel better about their physique or to seem like they are physically fit when in reality they have done nothing today.

fappable - Something that is sexually desirable, or deemed high enough quality that it can be used for masturbation purposes.

microwave mentality - Having the attitude that if something can't be done in 5 minutes or less, it's not worth doing.

Russian Toilette - After sitting on the toilet to poop, you notice that there is less than one-quarter of a roll of toilet paper, and no spare in the bathroom. You decide to poop anyway, gambling on the fact you will have enough toilet paper to have a satifying wipe.

 Am tired, just visit the goddamn site. (here's the link http://www.urbandictionary.com/)

Manang Diday at Manong Momoy

Sino si Manang Diday at Manong Momoy sa buhay ng mga taga St. James QC, nung dekada 90?
Marahil sa iba, silay simpleng service driver at helper lang, pero sa amin (alam nyo na kung sino kayo) sila ang tumayong pangalawang nanay at tatay sa amin ng mahabang panahon.
Tipikal na Nanay at Tatay, disiplinaryong nanay at laid back na tatay.

Ang setting sa aming maliit na bahay (service) ay ganito, ang mga ate at kuya ay katabi ni Manong sa harapan, tos yung mga middle child (kami) ay sa normal na upuan ng jeep, tos yung mga bunso ay sa mahabang bangko-ng asa gitna.

Si Manong Momoy ang bahala sa aming seguridad, he always made sure that were home safely, like a typical tatay, tos si Manang Diday naman ang taga saway sa mga makukulit na bata at sa mga hindi masyadong bata.

Kapag ikaw ay sagad sa kakulitan, pingot ang abot mo kay Manang, kesehodang babae ka o lalake, yari ka kay Manang. halos lahat ata kame ay nakaranas ng pingot ni Manang, lalo na yung mga kalalakihan.

Marami ring kaganapan sa service, isa sa mga hindi ko makalimutan ay ang suntukan ni Reginald Arzadon at Allan Destreza. Half-day kame noon, grade 4 ata ako, kasama ko sa service yung naunang dalawa, tos si Jr Lazarte, Gerry Viloria, at yung batang malusog na taga Don Antonio.
Nagsimula sa asaran at kantyawan, nauwi sa buyuan at hamunan, hanggang humantong sa umaatikabong bakbakan.
Nagkataon na si Manang ay tumabi kay Manong sa harapan, kaya namen nagawang pagrambulin ang dalawa, ang ending, kawawa kame sa pingot kay Manang.

Isa pa sa hindi ko makalimutan ay ang suntukan nila Fritz "Dami" Frontilla (tama ba ko? puta nakalimutan ko apelyido di Dami, sorry naman) tska ni Dr. Paolo De Jesus. ganon din ang sistema, Nagsimula sa asaran at kantiyawan, eto kaseng si Ervon Pulido ay sobra kung mang asar at mang good time. Umaatikabong aksyon nanaman, ending, umaatikabong pingot, ano pa.

Pero ang maganda sa mga pangyayaring iyon ay parang sa bahay din, tipikal na magkakapatid, after ng bugbugan, bati-bati nanaman, parang walang nangyare.

Meron din isang kaganapan ang tumatak sa akin, yun ay nung masaga
saan si Reginald Arzadon ng service namen, lahat ay namutla at natulala, nung magulungan ang paa nya, buti nalang wala namang seryosong nangyare, nacast lang yung paa nya ng ilang linggo.

Kung pikunan lang ang paguusapan, si Gerry na ata ang taong nakilala kong napaka pikon, yung malakas mag asar pero pag pinikon mo galit na galit, sya din ata yung pinakamaraming nasuntok sa service dahil sa asar, si Melvin na taga Don Antonio Heights, si Jr ata hindi rin nakalusot sa kanya. Hindi lang sa service yan pikon pati sa F2, sya din ang pinaka maraming nakaaway dahil sa pagiging pikon nyan. lalake o man o babae, walang ligtas sa pagkapikon ni Pura, ang kaibahan lang, pag lalaki ka sasapakin ka nya. Klasik na Klasik.

Isa din sa kaganapan sa service ay ang walang hangganang love story ni Gery Viloria tska ni Katherine Kang, parang telenovela, lahat umaasa na sila, bagay na bagay ika nga, saktong sakto, pero ang ending, sa iba napunta ang isat-isa, ewan lang namen kung naging sila, nahihiya lang umamen, malay nyo, hahaha.
 Pero, were happy din sa kanilang married life ngayon, kung baga lang, what might have been?

Kami na din ata yung service na merong pinaka magandang mga chicks, sisimulan ko sa ate ko, si ate Bianca, si Edralin Pulido na ate ni Ervon, na ubod ng ganda, sina Kambal, Katherin at Kristine Kang, ika nga dobol sa kagandahan, si Haydee (sorry naman nakalimutan ko apelyido ulit), na very regal and sophisticated ang kagandahan, si Freah Eduarte (sana tama), na crush ng buong kaservisan, lahat ata ng boys ay naging crush sya, bugod lang kay Gerry, well you know why,  (na nambasted kay utol hahaha), si Nikki dela Cruz (one heluva exotic beauty) at yung  kapatid nya (sorry naman nakalimutan ko) na naging GF ni Gregory "gigo" de Jesus (utol ni Paolo), at marami pang iba (sorry naman sa mga hindi ko nabanggit, your all beautiful in your own way).

Siyempre hindi rin mawawala ang mga pogi't makukulit na lalake, na sa aking opinyon, ay mga taong napakalakas mang asar, simulan naten sa utol ko, si Bendix, ang magpinsang Gerry Viloria at Jr Lazarte, si Ervon Pulido, ang magkakapatid na Paolo, Gigo, tska yung pinaka batang nagpapahid ng kulangot kung saan-san (sorry naman pre) De Jesus, anjan din si Brian ( ganun ulit) na taga F1, na ubot ng "ahem" sa katawan, hehehe. Si Fritz "Dami" Frantilla, na ubod din ng "ahem" na nagturo sa mga boys ng mga diskarte, sa amin nalang yun.

Syempre hindi rin mawawala ang mga bata nuon, na malamang mga mama na ngayon, na nakalimutan ko na ang mga tunay na pangalan, pero kilala ko parin sa bansag nila. si ROBINSON na taga northview, tska si WHAMOS na taga vista real, na ubod ng laki ng bahay.
 Si ROBINSON ay nabansagan nyan dahil ang labi ay parang si DAVID ROBINSON, tos si WHAMOS ay nabansagan nyan dahil sa inaraw araw na ginawa ng Diyos, ang baon nya ay WHAMOS, pero sya lang ang batang naka whamos nuon dahil sya lang ang can afford, hahaha.

Well you know, every good thing must come to an end, ika nga, isa-isa na ngang nagkawalaan ang magkakaservice nung grumadweyt  sa JAMES, minsan na lang magkakita-kita, sa iba talagang wala ng kontak.

Napakasarap balikan ng mga panahon na yun, nakakapanghinayang din dahil halos wala ka ng balita sa mga taong halos kasabayan mo ng lumaki, itinuring mong mga tunay na kapatid.

Sanay magkaroon tayo ng munting reunion this coming days, masarap bumalik lalo na kung merong kang kasama sa pag gunita.

Hindi nga nabiyayaan sina manong at manang ng kanilang sariling anak, pero binigyan naman sila ng mga chikiting na pagkarami-rami at makukulit, na minahal at inalagaan nila na parang sa kanila.

Kaya sa mga bata na alaga nila ngayon, magpasalamat kayo dahil nasa mabuting kamay kayo, at mahalin nyo din sila na parang sariling inyo, gaya ng ginawa namen.


Kaya Kay Manang at Manong, MARAMING-MARAMING SALAMAT SA PAG ALAGA AT PAGMAMAHAL NA IBINIGAY NYO SA AMEN. GODBLESS!!!

A letter from Mikay's heart...

To All,

I want to tell you a story and it begun last July 16, 2009 at exactly 2:45am, I said hello to this world, 1 month earlier, as to my expected welcome.
My doctors, didn't want me to say hello yet, but what the heck, I know that I can, so I didn't wait for the exact date.
Downside, I went straight, to the incubator, without even a kiss or a hug from my MAMA, i guess that's what i get for not sticking with the plan.
But am not complaining, I said, MAMA, please wait, let's just do what the doctors tell us what to do, for everyone's sake.
Don't worry, I can make it, I had Jesus with me, so don't worry. but of course, being a PAPA, it kills to see my MAMA and PAPA cry in vain, while seeing me in tube and all that jazz
After a couple of weeks, finally, MAMA kissed and hugged me, and boy i tell you, that's the sweetest day of my life, priceless.
Day's go by, when i start to gain weight and height, i was feed wrongly, of course, with my MAMA banking on a stupid recommendation from a doctor, again, i came from where we started, the dreaded HOSPITAL, i guess that's the little price i had to pay from being stubborn.
I just can't stand to see my MAMA and PAPA, shed a tear to see me go through some stupid procedure that the doctors need to do, like inserting a tube up my throat and nose to get some mucus out of it, to help me breath easily.
A couple of days went by, and i am A-OK again, my MAMA and PAPA decided to have me taken to a specialist, because of my fragile condition, and to make the proper administration of my health, to avoid guess works, hello, we're playing with lives here, so MAMA and PAPA made the right decision to seek assistance and help from the specialist.
I was like Stallone, I had my own, Pulmo, Neuro, and Gastro specialists, to make sure that am allright.
Years passed and my parents thought that everything is OK, since i improved, in a lot of ways, when i say in so many ways, i say in many ways, i talked in advance of my age, i was an active kid, so NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
Not so recently, i think a couple of months back, i was again, back in this dreaded place, this time in MANILA, because of my stupid asthma, that's what we thought, STUPID ASTHMA, whom really haunted me for a long time (until now, darn it, but i know it will be gone before i will reach my 7th birthday)
On 5th of March,  Tuesday, at 12 in the midnight, i felt it, my body went numb and i started to freeze/
It was really painful, so painful, it made me stiff, and made my MAMA and PAPA cried so hard. i feel really guilty for bringing this to my parents, but what can i do, even i didn't know where it came from.
To give you an idea how painful it was, it made me half-conscious for a couple of days. we didn't know that i had excess water in my head, where did it came from? who knows, i could have drank all of them, if i only knew.
But i know, i will make it, i had my savior beside me 24/7, so am not worried at all, am just waiting for a go signal from him, to have the water taken out, and to relieve the painful pressure in my head.
So the day came, and i went under the knife to have this SHUNT put on my head through my ear, to my neck, down to my stomach, but it's all good, no matter irritating it is, i know i need it, so what the heck.
During the operation, MAMA and PAPA, with all my LOLAS, LOLOS, TITAS, TITOS, ATES and KUYAS, even person whom we didn't know,  didn't stop praying to keep everything in place, and it paid very very well.
I spent a total of 28 days inside the dreaded place, until we were cleared and out of it for good.
And am not planning to return soon, not even in my lifetime, i just can't stand to see MAMA and PAPA go through it again. it always made me cry to see them in pain.
Like my savior whispered in me everytime i call it a day, be thankful at all times to all who prayed for you. and give it back to them every day.
So every day, with my MAMA and PAPA, we always say our thanks and praises to our creator and savior, and praying for all who helped me get through with my ordeal.
Now am OK, thanks to all who helped US, I ALWAYS HEAR IT FROM MAMA AND PAPA, LORD GIVE IT BACK TO THEM 10 FOLDS, AND AM DOING THE SAME, EVERY NIGHT.

SALAMAT!!! GODBLESS!!!

Mikaela "MIKAY" RAMOS

Bakit ako nagbloblog...

Meron bang karapatan ang isang tulad kong simpleng mamamayan na ang buhay ay walang pinagiba sa milyong milyong tao sa Pinas na mag blog? kung tutuusin, hindi naman ako magaling magsulat, hindi din naman ako makata, wala naman akong ginagawa na interesante na dapat kong isulat o ipamahagi, isa rin lang ako sa milyong milyong ordinary opis boy, kung tutuusin na ang buhay sa isang linggo ay opis-bahay lamang. malayo din ang ginagawa ko sa opisina sa pagsusulat, pero BAKIT AKO NAG BLOBLOG?

Ewan ko nga ba, we'll, mahilig din naman akong mag daydream at mag imagine ng mga bagay-bagay, tulad ng paggawa ng isang documentary, storyline ng MTV sa mga kantang natitipuhan ko, mga maiikling kwento na gusto kong maisa teatro, pero hanggang duon lang yun, bakit, simple I DON'T HAVE TO MEANS TO HAVE THESE IDEAS IN PLACE, at ang pinaka malaking problema kung bakit puro pag iimagine nalang sila, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

Inggit? parang, siguro, malamang. mahilig akong magbasa ng blog, lalo na yung kay MOTWISTER at sa bayaw ng asawa ko na si Pareng Edong (eto ang blog nya, inverse tutuldok), at kung ano-ano pang blog na nakakakuha ng atensyon ko. etong mga taong to e may K na mag blog, bakit? yung mga nabanggit ko nung unang wala ako, sila naguumapaw nuon, kaya patok na patok ang mga blog nila.
pero bakit kailangan pa akong mag blog kung pwede nalang magbasa ako ng mga blog nila. siguro nga pinanganak akong inggetero, kung ano meron sila, dapat meron din ako, yun nga alang, sablay yung akin, ang tumitingin lang e ako, pati asawa ko, e walang dating ang blog ko.

Pero sigurado ako, pag kinuwento ko ang isa mga dine-daydream ko sa pagka haba-haba ng panahon, malamang makakakuha ito ng atensiyon.
Bigyan ko kayo ng konting idea, trip kong mag tour of Luzon gamit ang isang diesel na sasakyan (para tipid) at video cam. mag dadala ako ng 2 kaibigan na sakay ang trip ko at marunong mag drive. lahat ivivideo ko mula sa pag alis hanggang sa pagdating. magmumula kame sa Bahay namen sa QC, tatahakin namen ang buong bulacan, hanggang pampanga, tagos ng bataan, papuntang Zambales, to pangasinan, la union, ilocos, cagayan, apari, isabela, nueva vizcaya, nueva ecija, bulacan (ulit) at pagbalik sa bahay namen sa QC. idodocument at ishoshocase namen unang una ang ganda ng pilipinas dagat, bundok, bahay, tao, pagkain, tradisyon, at kung ano-ano pa. siyempre mahirap sya gawin dahil sa iisang dahilan BUDGET at sa malamang hindi ko sya magagawa dahil pa sa ibang kadahilanan. pero am not closing my doors, i will include it on my bucket list. basta magagawa ko sya.

Pero, hanggang duon lang ang interesante kong IDEA, pag tapos nun, anu na susunod na ibloblog ko? balik ulit sa dati, alaws nanaman. 

Pwede ring nakikiuso, kaliwat kanan ang blog na binabasa, ibat ibang putahe at samutsaring tampok, nakakapanghikayat na magsulat, kaya, I feel the urge to create one for my own consumption. pero nung nagsimula na, patay, wala akong masulat. boink, teng-ga ang blog ng ilang linggo, wala kaseng maisulat.

Malamang, magpapatuloy parin ako sa paghahanap ng kasagutan sa aking simpleng tanong, naway matulungan nyo din ako sa aking katanungan... BAKIT AKO NAGBLOBLOG...