GRAVITY

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......A force of nature,
pull of heavenly bodies
in one energy.......
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Travelogue: Tara! Go na! Part I

I finally bid my farewell to the second semester of school year 2008-2009! How devastated I was! The farewell reminded me that I'll now be spending my last year in college, not just goodbye to my dear alma mater despite my frequent complaints about tuition fee increases, terror teachers, and loads of requirements only to be passed on the same deadlines (But we always pass them an hour or several or a day or a week after the said deadline...hehehe), I'll also be kissing my dearest friends adieu later on!

Now here comes the Holy Week! Me and the people at home always anticipate this date! hahah! Not because of it's religious history, but because we see this a good chance to bond and welcome with enjoyment the incoming summer. For some consecutive summers already, we've been having a trip to places, like the beaches and resorts, parks, restaurants, farms and other amazing places.

Our destination this Summer of 2009 is Tarragona, Davao Oriental! It's actually a small town by the coast in the south-east part of mindanao (Philippines). Together with my kuya Toto, his wife ate Isay, their three kids Issa, Dani, and Gian, my nephews ate Kat, Aron, Joshua, my another sis-in-law ate Mylene and her kids JV, Levy, Yat-yat, and Lenard we travelled from my beloved hometown Tupi, South Cotabato to Davao City. We left just after the sunrise and took us four hous before reaching Davao City; we stayed for lunch at Mapayo's residence, ate Isay's home sweet home. We reached Tarragona in about four hours from Davao City proper. We were welcomed by delicious and excellent foods prepared by ate Isay's Tiya, where we will stay until easter sunday.

So here I am! The beach was actually privately owned by some of ate Isay's close relatives so we're free to bathe there anytime! hehehehe...And the beach was pretty cool and exciting! some kilometers away from the main house was a rocky beach with huge corals that looked like outgrown rocks creating tiny and larger pools within the ocean. The sea don't even smell of brine! I really loved the view, the sound of the waves, and the fresh wind blowing from the open pacific.

Lost, staring at the horizon, I shall return! And a drawing of my mama on the sand...wahahahaha!

The kids really enjoyed the Holy Week at Tarragona. None of them really showed hesitance in bathing in the wild beach, even if the waves were a feet or more bigger than them!

Kiddies up-close, Lenard and Jat-jat, eyes red and bulged because of the salty sea...

Ate Mylene attacked by the waves! Cover with coconut leaves!

We also had nightlife though we're in some kind of a remote area in the peaceful community of Davao Oriental. See below, we also made bonfires for two nights and had fun by the seashore. there was even a time when we decided to walk miles along the shore under a dark starless night sky! We passed by a nearby public cemetery which gave us goosebumps, wrapping us in icy cold fear and shivers. After reaching the other side of the island, we went back still intact and hurried when raindrops started to fall from the sable sky. Each one ran, leaving deep footprints before me. I didn't bother to hurry since I have with me a towel to cover my head. It was an unforgettable experience, walking alone under the night sky along the seashore. Waves crashing loud and roaring, the rain pouring heavy and the wind so strong pushing me against the way. For a moment, it felt dark and scary, I thought maybe it was just because of the heavy rain that blurred my eyesight as tiny figures vanish one by one from my view. Then, I realized I wasn't seeing anything else now but my own feet sinking deeply into the soft black carpet. There was no light in sight, the town had a black out! Creepy things started to appear in my mind, like a ghost or a monster would come dragging me to his lair and rip my skin and crunch my head, devouring my whole body. Or maybe a beautiful and sexy man would abduct me, put me in his bangka and bring me to his nice little hut in another island and he would make love to me throughout the night...nahhh...maybe that would be an alien or a syokoy disguised as a handsome human male specie...hahahaha...

There! I saw something flicker from a distant. The sight of it relieved me, as if hope was then taken from me and now coming back like it heard me calling it's name.thank God we made a bonfire! Finally, it helped me find the correct place, or I may be truly lost in that unfamiliar area, wandering aimlessly in the darkness! Whew..so I'm finally back home...that simple experience strengthen my hope to survive and believe in life. Just continue walking, even in darkness, just believe and don't lose your trust.

Bonfire at night by the beach. From left to right: Aaron Byrne, Maria Isabella, Kinjie, and Ate Mylene.

Me and ate Kat...

I'll be posting for the Part 2 of this travelogue "Tara! Go na!" soon...hehehe..

Ciao for now!..........

Isang Piso, Isang Libo

Nakakapagod magsulat at tinatamad na akong gamitin and salitang ingles. Wala akong balak maging isang manunulat at ni minsan hindi ko binalak na maging isa. Pero may isa akong pangarap na kahit anong daan man ang nilakad ko, saan man ako dalhin ng buhay, sino man ang makilala ko, at anu man ang mangyari sa 'kin, iisa at natatangi ang patutunguhan ng alin man sa mga desisyon ko. Ayun ay ang pangarap kong maging pinakamagaling na cartoonist sa buong mundo, na kung isalin ko sa ingles, na madalas mong makikita na nakasulat o nakadikit sa aking mga gamit: "The Greatest Cartoonist in The World". Masasabi mong ang taas-taas ng aking pinapangarap, kung iyong iisipin, maaaring imposible ring mangyari. Malakas man ang loob ko, tawagin mo man akong makapal ang mukha at walang hiyang magsabi na magaling ako, wala kang pakialam. Ano ba ang alam mo sa akin? Ang pangalan ko? Ang tirahan ko? Ang edad ko? Ano ngayon? Wala ka paring pakialam dahil hindi mo ako lubusang kilala. Siguro kailangan mo pa akong paembistigahan, pwede mo ring lapitan ang isang manghuhula, pero baka naman ikaw'y lolokohin din lang. Kaya mas makakabuti siguro ay hayaan mo nalang akong managinip nang nakapikit o nakadilat, kahit madalas eh gising na gising na nakatunganga sa ulap. Alam mo ba, ipinagmamalaki ko na puno ako ng pangarap, kahit ang laki at mukhang imposible, klaro naman at matayog. Eh ikaw, may pangarap ka ba sa buhay? Hindi mo ba alam na ang dami din diyan na walang kamalay-malay kung ano ba talaga ang papel nila sa mundo. Walang ka ideya-ideya sa kung ano man ang talagang gusto nilang mangyari sa kanilang buhay. Sa madaling salita, mga taong hindi alam ano ba ang pangarap nila. Nakakalungkot ang sitwasyong ito:

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A: "Alam mo B, may pangarap ako!"

B: "Ano yon A?"

A: "Pangarap kong maging isang sikat na ballerina balang araw!"

B: "Wow...Talaga A? Ang ganda naman ng pangarap mo..Sigurado akon makakamit mo yan, magaling ka naman kasi eh.."

A: "Hehehe...hindi naman sa ganoon. Eh ikaw?"

B: "Ha? Ako?"

A: "Oo..Anong pangarap mo?"

B: "Pangarap ko? Uhhmm....Teka, iisipin ko pa.."

A: "Madami ka bang pangarap? At napapaisip ka pa?"

B: "Hindi. Ang totoo niyan, wala akong maisip na talagang pangarap ko. Ang ibig kong sabihin parang hindi ko alam kung ano talagang gusto ko. Oo, madami akong gusto pero hindi katulad ng sa iyo. Nakakainggit ka nga eh at mayroon ka talagang natatanging pangarap, yung talagang gustong gusto mo. Sana ako rin."

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Kung lahat tayo ay may sariling pangarap, bakit merong iba na napapaisip pa pagtinanong kung ano ang pangarap nila? Hindi ba mahalaga ang ating mga ninanais? Kung nag-aalala ka na baka hindi matutupad o sa tingin mo'y hindi mo makakayang abutin ang mga ambisyon mo sa buhay, nagkakamali ka! Ang lahat ng nagtatagumpay ay hindi aksidente, hindi produkto ng kapalaran at ng sitwasyon. Sila ay produkto ng hinubog nilang imahe sa kanilang sarili. Ang tagumpay ay nagsisimula sa isang munting pangarap, sinundan ng positibong aksyon, ginawa ng matinding pagpupursige at pasensya, at pinatibay ng malakas na paniniwala at dedikasyon.
At tandaan mo, HINDI MABUBUO ANG ISANG LIBO KUNG WALA NI ISANG PISO.
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Tao din sila, katulad mo, katulad ko. Anong pinagkaiba? Nasa unahan sila, ikaw'y nasa hulihan pa..
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Kung tingin mo'y kaya mo, gawin mo...