serenade

Lying here with you,Listening to the rain,
Smiling just to see, The smile upon your face,
These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive,
These are the moments, I'll remember all my life,
I found all I've waited for,
And I could not ask for more.
Looking in your eyes,
Seeing all I need,
Everything you are, Is everything to me,
These are the moments, I know heaven must exist,
These are the moments, I know all I need is this,
I have all I've waited for,
And I could not ask for more.
I could not ask for more than this time together,
I could not ask for more than this time with you,
Every prayer has been answered,
Every dream I have's come true,
And right here in this moment, Is right where I meant to be,
Here with you, Here with me. . .
These are the moments, I thank God that I'm alive,
These are the moments, I'll remember all my life,
I've got all I've waited for,
And I could not ask for more. . .
I could not ask for more than this time together,
I could not ask for more than this time with you,
Every prayer has been answered,
Every dream I have's come true,
And right here in this moment, Is right where I meant to be,
Here with you, Here with me. . .

I could not ask for more than the love you gave me,
'Coz it's all I've waited for . . .
And I could not ask for more,
I could not ask for more.


[it is very difficult to put together words to convey what i want to say to you. your light shines as bright as the sun. indeed, i could not ask for more for you
give me the best always. thank you for staying and beyond, moonlight. *teardrops*]

the big day*

After a night of elusive sleep due to overwhelming excitement, here we are at 230am, traveling to the starting lines.

The big day is here.
The long wait is over.
The clock is counting.
The sky is beautiful.
The moon is smiling.
Sunshine is waiting.
Let’s go and run.
Have fun under the sun.
Fireworks had been lighted up.
Gun had been fired.
Go on run.
See you at the finish line.

Eyes on the finish line. I finished with a happy heart. Touched down. Home run. I had beaten my own time.

Dong and MyLoves, thank you for waiting along the sidelines with the cameras and bags of foods and water. Your moral support moved me deeply, your presence really made run extra special, because I know that at the finish line the two of you will cheer and celebrate our home runs. Thank you also to Padre and Long.

Long Runner, Yohooo! Congratulations! The training had paid off. You made it to your first full marathon finish! During the training I’m already a fan and on this big day you amazed me again, though you were unable to beat your own time. I’m proud to say, that I was there to witness the metamorphosis of you as a runner. Thank you for the encouragement and the tips. Go on my friend the road is long, run along. Be free and be happy.

Mr. Kua, Yohhoo! You made it with flying colors. It was good to see you touched the finish line with a smile on your face. I tell you, with sweat and all, Mr. Ben really looks like a foreigner and a celebrity but you’re my friend, so my vote is on you. Thank you for your presence during the training days. Solitary runs maybe good but your company made the practices better. Go on, see on the 21km race next year!


Achi Maya, you were the first one to register on this race and that prompted me to join also. At the starting line, we both agreed that 10km would have been a greater challenge but nevertheless we will give the 5km run our best shot. It really feels good having you near. I’m happy you are here. Though during the run we lost each other amidst the throngs of people; I’m glad that we both reached the finish line beating our individual running time. I hope we can run together again and beyond. I’m glad to know that today you are happy, that makes me happier. If marathon day can make you happy I hope we can have it every Sunday hahaha. In the coming days I’ll be missing you again, but I hold to now, when you are here. Under the beautiful moonlight we run towards the beautiful sunshine, thank you achi.

Congratulations dear friends, let us continue the practice/training until the next marathon.:-)

Whowebliss 2

Espesyal na hapon
[16th.ix.2010y]

Ay naku! simula pa lang parang may habulan. Bakit ang bilis ng sasakyan?

Nang aking nasilayan ang lugar na pupuntahan ako ay natuwa—parang na miss ko ang ganitong lugar. Parang minsan sa buhay ko nasanay ako sa tanawing ganito. Naalala ko ang mga makulay at masayang baguio days.

Espesyal nga talaga ang araw na ito kasi sa aming pagdating may kasama kami—ang Mahal na Ina.

May ligaya sa aking puso na makita ang mga naka uniform, tahimik na nakikinig sa programa habang ang kanilang mga pamilya ay nasa isang bahagi ng malaking kubo na kung tawagin nila ay palasyo. Ang buong lugar ay nabalot ng panalangin, pagbabahagi, pagninilay at taimtim na pagdarasal.

Pagkatapos ay namahagi na ng munting regalo sa mga tatay na cafgu ay nagpalaro sa mga bata. Ang saganang merienda aynaghihintay sa hapag kainan upang pagsaluhan.
Muli ang lahat ay nagtipon para sa isang prusisyon. Habang nasa daan, taimtim na dalagin ang sumabay sa aming mga hakbang. Ang sabayang paghawak sa bawat butil ng rosaryo ang hudyat ng bawat pagbigkas ng mga kataga ng panalangin. Ang awit na akapela ang nagduyan sa aming mga dasal patungo sa langit, salat man sa himig ng musika alam ko na narinig yun ng Maykapal.

Namangha ako sa mga nakahilerang magigiting na kawal na nagbabatay sa daan. Ang lahat ng tao kung hindi man kasama ay may kasiyahang nag aabang sa tabi ng daan. Ang lahat ay nagtitipon at nagsasaya sa maraming biyaya.

Sa Santa Misa ay ipagdiwang, ipagpasalamat ang espesyal na araw. Matapos pagsahulan ang sakramentong banal,muling nag imbita ang mga opisyal-- kasalo ang Obispo, mga general at ang lahat ng magigiting na kawal. Sa saliw ng masayang tugtog ng banda pinagsaluhan ang handa. Oo nga pala, ito ay fiesta ng ating Mahal na Ina.
Viva la Virgen!

[words woven from the stirrings within after a heart-warming outreach activity.
AdNU Tercentenary Outreach Program, September 2010]

Whowebliss 1

Umagang kay ganda
16th.ix.2010y

Wala na sigurong tatamis pa sa regalong ngiti na mula sa isang paslit.
Wala nang iinit pa sa yakap ng isang bata.

Nang pumunta ako sa isang espesyal tahanan handa ako na magbahagi ng oras at sarili.
...Sa pakikipag laro at pakikipag kwentuhan.
...Sa pakikipag usap at pakikinig.
...Sa pagbibigay at pakikibahagi.

Ngunit ang biyaya ng Maykapal ay hindi lamang para sa hangaring magbukas ng sarili sa pagbibigay ngunit mas lalo pa sa pagpapakumbaba ng pagtanggap.

Salamat mumunting anghel,
...sa mga ngiti na walang katulad.
...sa paghawak sa aking kamay habang kayo ay kasabay maglakad.
...sa pagyakap ng walang kasing higpit ng hawak ko kayo sa aking bisig.

Dalangin ko na sana sa bawat pagsikat ng araw ay lalo ninyong maramdaman ang pagmamahal ng Maylikha, ng inyong mga taga pag-alaga, mga kasama, mga bisita at higit sa lahat ng inyong pamilya.

[a reflection after spending the whole morning at Queen of Peace Orphanage,
AdNU Peñafrancia Tercentenary Outreach Activities, September 2010]

MERRYercoolest

[15th.IX.2010y]

3:00am Travel time to Lago del Rey,CWC. Sabi nga “talo ng maagap ang masipag.” Ganoon din kaya sa marathon? Masaya pala ang pakiramdam na pagmasdan ang tahimik na mundo dahil tulog pa ang mga tao.

3:30am Rain at dawn. Sumilong sa kubo at simulan ang kwento. Kakatuwa naman kahit magdamag ang duty si kuya guard ay bibung-bibo, dami ng kwento.

5:00am Wala na ang ulan, stretching stunts exhibition na. Stretching doon stretching dito.

5:30am Simulan na ang takbuhan. Huminga ng malalim langhapin ang sariwang hangin. Ihakbang ang mga paa sa finish line ang punta. Maraming overtakes na ba? Hayaan mo sila. Ilang hakbang na lang kumpleto na ang required rounds. Home run! This is really fun!

6:15am Yohoo! Lakad na, pang relax ng paa. Muling daanan ang tinakbong daan.

6;30am Retouch. Banana festival-pampalakas, pampalusog. Pang-iwas sa cramps. Happy fruit. Gana kid gana grow. Busugin ang sarili at magpakalunod sa kwento. Kung may bloopers ang buhay pagtawanan lang at sikaping maging snappy kung medyo lg, talagang lugi.

7:30am Uwian na. Practice lang pala akala ko marathon na ito. Tara na at may trabaho pa tayo.

Maaga pa pero sulit na ang araw—maligayang MERRYercoolest. Good morning sunshine!

rain pain

Another moonless night,
I wonder why heaven can’t stop crying?
The pain must be too heavy
for the raindrops are really heartbreaking.

----

I question why heaven must suffer
if his love is true, no matter how unconventional
should bring joy and happiness even unrecognized.
Amidst the pain, I hope he will continue to persevere-
after all true love endures.

----

After going through series of in depth experiences
only then he can say that nothing is left.
He should mourn for what he lost
but must allow himself to get up and transcend.
If the moon can't be his true love,
then he must be brave to search again.

----

True, because the only way things can become what they meant to be
is to be open to all opportunities and possibilities.


Made while watching the raindrops, during one September moonless night, in a corner seat of Starbucks Naga. With unpublished stanzas in between(----), words woven by a friend- whose company made me see some light on that dark night. With heartfelt gratitude and beyond.

roadruns

Imulat ang mata.
Ihanda ang sarili.
Pumunta sa tagpuan.
Tara! simulan na ang takbuhan.

Good morning sunshine!
Smile naman dyan.
Maganda ang umaga
at lalo ka na!

Sa bawat hakbang tingnan ang dinadaanan,
pagmasdan ang nangyayari sa kapaligiran.
Sa tuwing paghinga ng sariwang hangin,
dampi ng biyaya ay langhapin.
Sa pagtahak ng daan sa paroroonan
buksan ang kaisipan
pakiramdaman ang damdamin
ang puso ay palayain.

itaas ang mga bisig
biyaya ng bagong araw
tanggapin
yakapin.

Masaya ang buhay
ipagdiwang--
tuloy ang takbuhan
hanggang finish line!

(Nahabi matapos ang napakalayo at masayang jogging. Para sa mga kaibigan at mga anghel na nakasabay, nakakasama at makakakapiling sa roadruns. Cheers to you—SunshineOriginal, Suitor, Strawberry fields, Forever jam, Angel Gabriel and more.)