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.)

3in1

[suitor+siopao+waves]

I’ve heard many love stories and 3in1 is one of them. Unfortunately, like a great number of heart journeys, theirs belong to the cluster of the busted files.

Siopao is Suitor’s one true love. The story of his love for her goes along way back. On his end, it was a story woven from an entwined series of deep emotional involvement, a young man’s golden dream and a clear call to love.

The First Wave
After months of presentation, declaration and actualization, his love was declined. Yet, it was a love that knew no rejection. It survived being hidden and unrecognized. It bloomed, though betrayed and unrequited. It remained strong after many storms. It survived countless encounters with natural death.

The Second Wave (after two years)
Like some love stories, theirs was given a probable second chance (when her first choice failed). After a long period of time, Siopao sought him out. Once more, Suitor came upon her like a gallant knight. He did everything to give her company during her dark moments of brokenness. In the process, he allowed himself to be more vulnerable yet deeply happy. He was more in love with her. Like mighty warrior, he risked again to face the battle of love. This time he was more familiar with what lies in the battlefield. But no greater pain was that of a loss because of betrayal of someone who deemed to be his best ally. There is no greater pierce of sword that of losing the battle without warning because of hidden realities grounded on the unreasonable principle of persons concerned. However, the dagger that wounded him most was the truth concealed by Siopao herself, a relevant reality she kept unknown to him because she feared of hurting him.

Once more, she cannot love him back because her heart beats for another, his bestfriend. The only and hardest option that was left to him was to stop fighting the battle—not because the possibility of winning is impossible but because that will make her happy.

Apologies from Siopao dcannot placate his tears, cannot appease his broken heart, not even soothe the painful betrayal nor alleviate the throbbing rejection. He was defeated again, squared and cheated by an ally and his beloved.

As Suitor drags his feet and walks on his dark tunnel again, my prayer goes to him. May he be able to cry out his frustrations through tears; in every word muttered in agony may he shed the pain of betrayal; in every move made in brokenness may he be able to gather himself again; may he be able to find the strength and the courage to continue walking.
I cannot blame Siopao for her actions, for I believe that there is no easy way to break somebody’s heart. I pray that she may truly be happy in her decision. I hope that she made the right choice.
I pray that both of them may experience true love--whether in happiness or in pain.
[this is the story i promised to suitor while at starbucks one august moonlit night]

Kwentong Starbucks

Starbucks—isang lugar na paborito ko sa buong mundo. 2004 ng mahilig ako sa kape. 2005 ng magsimula akong mag kolekta ng starbucks tumblers. Pero ang pinakagusto ko sa lahat ay ang kwentong starbucks kasalo ang mga pusong nakikibahagi nito. ‘Di mabilang, ‘di makalimutan, yakap ng isipan—ang mga kwentong starbucks na nailatha sa buhay ko--
► Marami at makulay na kwentong starbucks kasama ni summer
► Mga kwentong starbucks  na takas sa dilim at tanghaling puslit kasama si sunshine
► Up to sawa na kwentong starbucks kasama si computer wizard
► Q and A kwentong starbucks kasama si manila girl at tumbelina
► Lovefilled kwentong starbucks kasama ang beloved twins towers at donya
► Makabuluhang kwentong starbucks kasama ang mga kaibigang reserved at may belo.
► Comedy at walang kupas na kwentong starbucks kasama ang very old friends.
►Relaxing at usapang puso, kwentong starbucks kasama si strawberry at mga kaibigan.
► Masaya at walang katulad na kwentong starbucks kasama ang witches.
Inaabangan ko ng buong galak na mahabi ang kwentong starbucks kasama ang anim na napiling mga kaibigan [kung sa tingin mo isa ka dito, sabihin mo lang kung kelan ka pwede at treat ko ang starbucks coffee mo :-)]—-
► Siopao’s Suitor—ganyan talaga pag nagmamahal, may luha at pait, tanggapin kasi dakila at wagas ang iyong pag-ibig. Nandito lang ako kakampi at karamay. Masaya ako bilang ate mo.
► Accidental Angel—Salamat sa mga oras ng pagsama at pagdamay. Sa minsanang mga araw ng luha at gabi ng pagkabalisa salamat at nariyan ka. Sana makatulong rin ako sa proseso ng buhay mo. Panalangin ko na sagutin Niya ang lahat mong dasal.
► Mysterious George—matagal na kitang kakilala pero hanggang ngayon misteryoso pa rin ang iyong buong pagkatao, inaabangan ko ang malalim at seryosong kwentuhan kasama ka. Minsan ka lang tumawa pero lubos mo akong napapasaya.
► Ms. Big-Time Dubai—matagal na tayong ‘di nagkikita at sobrang miss na kita. Sana malapit na ang oras ng pag-uwi mo gusto na kitang makasama.
► Best Marigold—sa panatag at payapang puso at isipan ikaw ang kakwentuhan, isang pagdiriwang para sa biyaya ng magandang pagkakaibigan. Salamat sa lahat, ate ko.
► Mr. Cannon—sa mga taon na hindi tayo nagkasama, nananatiling kaibigan kita. Salamat at malapit ka na, sana madalas na kitang makasama. Hangad ko na lubos kang maging maligaya at dasal ko ang hiling ng iyong puso.

Hangad ko rin na madalas makasama sa kwentong starbucks (pero hindi ko na ito libre, hahaha)ang mga tao na minsan nang naging bahagi ng kwentong kape ng buhay ko.
► Buko juice society (para maiba naman, try natin ang kape, baka malasing din tayo)
► The pigs (tara at magpakalunod tayo sa tawa at saya, patuloy ang baboik life!)
► Dr R at residents of pooh (old and new) kasama si marigold at maya.
► Witches, warlocks and kids (bagong lugar sa ika 14 na taon ng ating pagkakaibigan)
► Lovelines (to the moon and back I held you close to my heart)
► tcb* buddies at mga gintong kaibigan sa ateneo
► Hairbrush, lolas&boylets at mga piling kaibigan na natagpuan sa landas ng buhay.Sana maulit ang kwentong starbucks namin ni summer, sunshine, computer wizard at super B.

Masaya akong nag-aabang na sana ang bawat tasa ng kape ay magbigay daan upang maipanganak ang bagong kwentong starbucks, pwede ring balikan ang mga kwentong matagal nag ‘di napag-usapan at dugtungan ang mga kwentong nalampasan lagyan ng katapusan.H
anda na ako at ang aking puso, makibahagi kasama mo at ang kape..
One choco chip frap for applethea

stop over

Hindi mawawala sa byahe, lalo na yung malalayong paglalakbay. Para saan nga ba ang stop over?
Maka pagpahinga ang sasakyan.
Tugunan ang panawagan ng kalikasan.
Punan ang kumakalam na sikmura.
Ipikit ang inaantok na mata.
Ituwid ang mga paa.
Bumili ng pasalubong.
At kung ano pa man.

Dapithapon, nakaupo sa isang sulok ng McDonalds habang naghihintaysa inorder na cokefloat at fries, naitanong ko sa aking sarili ano nga ba ang stop over sa buhay ko?

Marami nang stop over ang napagdaanan ko.
Stop over para itanong sa sarili, nasa tamang landas ba ako?
Ito ba ang pangarap ko?
Masaya ba ako sa ginagawa ko?
Stop over para pakingggan ang saloobin ano nga ba ang makabubuti?
Alin ang nararapat piliin?
Ano ba ang tamang gawain?
Stop over para manahimik.
Balikan ang nakaraan, matuto ng mga aral sa karanasan.
Mag-alay ng pasasalamat.
Magplano ng kinabukasan.
Manatili, magdasal at magnilay.
Huminto at hayaan ang sariling umiyak sa pagkabigo.
Maging masaya at ipagdiwang ang munting tagumpay.
Mamahinga sandali upang magkaipon ng lakas.Hay… ito marahil ang mga dahilan sa mga stop over ng buhay ko.
Ikaw ano ang kwentong stop-over mo?