First Encounter

December 28, 2018. I met my love for the first time after forever. Its been 1 year and 3 months since I  confirmed my heart beating. Its been 4 months since the last hello. And he has landed 4 weeks already before our eyes met.

I felt the attraction. But I did not see his eyes gaze of love and affection. The interest is missing. The hunger and thirst, there was nothing but physical infatuation.

January 25, 2019 this love left me forever in oblivion.

Saklolo

ang lungkot. pero kasalanan ko to kaya wala ko magawa. nasasaktan ako. pero wala naman ako mapagsabihan. pinili ko kasi to. kaya kasalanan ko to. lahat ng nangyayaring to ako ang may gawa. kaya nagsusulat na naman ako. dito ko na lng ibububos ang lahat.

di ko kasi sya kaya ipaglaban. mas pinipili ko kasi magtago kesa harapin ang laban. kaya siguro ganito ang nangyayari.

ramdam ko na unti-unting di na sya nagiging akin. di ko na kasi sya mahawakan o kaya makausap ng matino. ayaw na nya makipagkita saken. pakiramdam ko tuloy isa lng syang ilusyon o kathang isip ko. mag uusap lng kami dahil obligasyon namin magtawagan sa umaga para gisingin sya, sa tanghali para ipaalala na kumain na kami at sa gabi para ipaalam na matutulog na kami.

nararamdaman ko na unti-unti na sya lumalayo at nawawala saken. parang hindi na sya masaya saken. di na nya ko kinakausap ng gaya ng dati. naglilihim at nagtatago na sya. nagmamadali na sya kausap ako.. at palaging pinapatayan ng telepono. di na sya interesado sa mga kwento ko. at madalas na sya magdahilan o magsinungaling saken.

pero kasalanan ko to. hindi ko masunod ang gusto nya. di ko sya maipakilala sa mga magulang ko. kaya siguro ganito na ang ihip ng hangin. ako ang may gawa nito. kaya bakit ako nagre-reklamo?

kaya hinahanda ko ang puso ko sa kung ano ang mga susunod na estado ng buhay pag ibig ko. nakipapaglaban naman ako at kunakapit. pero hanggang kelan ko ba kakayanin to?

magiging napakahirap to. pero sana maisalba ko pa to. pano ba humingi ng saklolo?

Sad Realization

I guess, we never really loved each other. At one point, I thought that it was just me who gave the most. Thinking back I now know that we both made a fair fault.

We never had the chance to sit down and chat about our pains. Not once did I remember talking about my dark heart with you. I never remember having a chance confiding with you as comfortable as I am with my other friends. I guess I never really want a piece of my darkness shared with you. I never heard you talk about your life plans with me either. You were too hidden to me as much as I am with you.

Every thing is about happiness when I am with you. No dramas. No flicks. Just all smiles.

So you took me lightly even when I bid my  goodbye. Until you realize it was really the end. 

The first sad story is our last.

Let's not meet again. 

Sagurong at Castilla, Sorsogon

I was born and raised in Manila. Having said that, I have always been deprived of seeing the wonders of nature. That is why, whenever I see beautiful mountains, deep oceans, wide rivers, etc. I am always amazed and my heart is always filled with unexplainable sensation.

Just recently, I went to Bicol to enjoy the beautiful mountain. Little did I know that aside from the perfectly coned mountain, also lies a much more fascinating view of the province. In my visit to Bicol, I went to see some relatives in Sorsogon.

Sorsogon is widely surrounded by waters except in some areas linked to Albay where it is known to be surrounded by mountains. In fact, Sorsogon is known to be the home of the "butanding." In my big adoration to bodies of water, I was introduced to visit a very beautiful spring called "Sagurong."

Sagurong (literal translation Alulod) is located in La Union, Castilla, Sorsogon. It is situated at the heart of the mountain, in an area where you least expect to see a body of water. Before you even get to see the cold spring, you need to take a 300-400m walk to the foot of the mountain. Vehicles (except Motorcycles) are unlikely to enter the area. The bathing area is small that you can compare it to a regular sized swimming pool. The pool area is surrounded by big rocks formed naturally by the mountains with water being filled directly from the heart of the mountain whose temparature is similar to an ice being defrosted from a refrigerator. This is a perfect place to bathe after drenching yourself under the hot sun. The water is very clean and very refreshing.

The area is not commercialized. For Php5 entrance fee, you can use the cottages for free as long as you bring your trash back home. It is an amazing place to swim. And although it is cold, it keeps you from wanting to swim more.

Garfield Nail Art

Kung meron mang isang bagay na katangi-tanging patunay na, ako'y isang pusong bata (child at heart) ay iyon ang walang hanggang pagmamahal ko kay Garfield. Bata pa lang ako nango-ngolekta na ako ng mga Garfield items. Mula sa lapis, pambura, papel, komiks, poster, towel, coin purse, frame, stuff toy, atbp tinatago ko basta orihinal na likha ni Jim Davis (PAWS).

Bagamat wala akong pagkagiliw na nararamdaman sa mga hayop na pusa (hindi cartoons), may kakaibang pakiramdam na makita si Garfield. Siya lang kasi ang karakter na alam kong hindi nagkukunwari. Gutom na kung gutom. Tamad na kung tamad. Pero alam ko na totoo ang pusong ipinapakita nya sa manonood nya. Samahan mo pa na kagaya ko ay napakatakaw nya.

Kaya napakasaya ko talaga ng sa wakas ay may Garfield Nail Art na din ako. Hindi ko man ito maitatago o maku-kulekta, maipagmamalaki kong tatak Garfield na ang kuko ko.

 

 

Salamat kay Elaine Joy Ramos (on FB, tips 'n hues) pagkatapos ng isang taon na paghihintay, ayan success story na ang Garfield Nail Art ko.

 

Sa susunod ibang Garfield design naman ha.

Matthew 18:20

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."

When we pray, we have to be clear with our intentions. While the Lord knows our heart, he needs our desire spoken and heard. When we pray, we have to make sure that the prayer is intended for Him. Sometimes we find our prayers unanswered because we are not clear with what we want. We always think the Lord will understand even if we don't speak. Yes it is true that the Lord knows the desires of our heart, but the Lord answers those who asks.

When we pray, we also have to ask someone to pray for our prayers. For when a prayer is asked by many, He is there to answer it. Just the same when you go to church and you pray for your personal intentions, ask the Lord to grant the prayers of your seatmates (those seated at your front, your sides and your back).

Remember the Lord listens to our prayers. But we also have to take part in our praise and worship in Him. Amen.

SM Ayala: At Your Service???!

 

At around 6PM today, December 19, 2012 I went to SM Makati to buy toiletries. I paid my groceries/toiletries to the cashier worth Php166.25. Since I have no change, I gave my Php1000 bill to her in payment. She checked the bill to see its authenticity. Having used to that kind of attitude to all of SM cashiers, I let her do her routine and even smirked at it. After all she is just doing the right thing.

She checked it about three times before finally deciding to sensor it via the counterfit detector machine. I saw it through my eyes that the serial number was found in the bill. However, the cashier was left unsatisified and re-checked it three times. In my irritation, I asked her (in polite way): "Wala bang serial number?" She answered politely and said: "Meron naman po." She re-checked it one more time (or I guess three more times). I am getting irritated already but of course I kept my calm because it is her job to protect your business.

I thought this ended her doubt. But to my surprise, she opened the cashiers' box and compared the bill to the other Php1000 bill inside the drawer. Still not enough, she raised the money on air checking to see if the bill is a counterfeit. To validate her findings, she caught her nearby cashier's attention and voiced out her doubt on the authenticity of the bill. The nearby cashier even asked very loudly: "Bakit, hindi ba ano?" That's when I started freaking out because the other customers were staring at me as if checking if I was a fraud. I then told her she is insulting me and directed her to get a supervisor to check my bill. Upon arrival, the supervisor advised it was authentic and directed her to close the counterfeit detector machine and that resolved the issue on my Php1000 bill.

However resolved, I still felt that the insult to my pride was greatly damaged. Just imagine the humiliation I felt at that time when people were staring at me simply because that cashier doubted a Php1000 bill. I wonder if this is the kind of training SM produces and provides with their employees. Working in the same customer service field, I learned that you don't humiliate a customer simply because you are doubting something. Instead, you do your investigation quietly and if still in doubt, you immediately seek your superior's expert opinion. However, the cashier was fearless to humiliate me and maliciously treat my money as a counterfeit. I wonder if it was because I wasn't wearing fancy clothes that she doubted whether I have the capacity to pay with a Php1000 bill. Last I check, people shouldn't be judged the way they look.

Let me just clarify however that I wasn't complaining because she did her routine in inspecting my money. After all, I understand that fraud is present anywhere. Plus I wasn't too scared about it as I know my money isn't a counterfeit. What I cannot accept is that she had to be so loud catching other people's attention and thereby compromising my reputation.

Allow me to remind SM supermarket that as they instruct their employees to protect their business, they also have to remind them that they also have the duty to protect us -- customers. After all, we are also part of their business. It is okay to perform your job but please don't overdo it. I certainly hope this will not happen to other customers like me.

To be honest with you, I highly doubt I will ever consider SM again as my one stop shopping place. The neighboring stores may be able to protect my interests more. They may be offering more expensive products but I think it is worth their customer service.