Touching Naman!

On an afternoon break, nilapitan ako ng isa sa mga co-trainees ko. Naglalakad ako sa likod ng PBCom tower ng may humawak sa balikat ko.

"Boone, alam mo, bilib ako sa iyo."

"Oy, ikaw pala yan." Napalingon ako sa kanya. "O bakit naman?"

Marahil nagtataka ka nagtatagalog kami. Haller! Labas to ng office no.

"Ikaw kasi yung type ng tao na may sense."

"Ganun? Ndi naman siguro." Pahumble efek amputah.

"Oo, ganun ka nga, tapos malakas ka rin magpatawa."

"Ganun? Hindi ba nakakainis na sa iba na masyado tayong masahayin?"

"Hindi no. Nabubuhay nga ang klase eh. Kung wala ka nga siguro, amboring ng training namin."

Awwwwww.....

"Napapatawa mo kaming lahat. Tapos may sense ka rin kapag seryoso ang usapan. Yan ang maganda sa iyo. May sense. Tapos may humor din. Alam mo yun..."

Tigil kami ng usapan. Mukhang nag-iisip ng sunod na term na sasabihin.

"...meron kang SENSE OF HUMOR!!!"

Feeling Inspired...

Before a shattering announcement that we won't be continuing for the next level of training, we have this activity wherein the trainer calls an employee number and the owner of the number are asked to stand in front of the class and pick a piece of paper from a plastic cup. The piece of papers have questions in it. Read the question aloud and try (as in try lang 'ne) to answer (Mga Bakla, akala ko ba pageant to? Eh quiz bee to eh ahihihihi.)

Maloloka ka naman talaga sa mga tanong.

"How would you like the world to remember you?" (Emotelya ituh!)
"What is your idea of slurging?" (Dugo ilong ko dyan pwamis. Ndi ko alam meaning eh hahahahaha)
"If you will be given an one-year supply of a food, what would it be?" (Ndi ko alam sagutin yan patay tayo dyan.)
"Do you consider yourself as an honest person?" (Gumaganon talaga amputah hahahaha!)
"If you are single, why should someone marry you? If you are married or committed, why do you think that person chose you?" (Oh, taray sa tanong!)
"What is the weirdest thing you've eaten?" (Lesbian friend ko ang tinanong. Wala pa syang sagot hagalpak na kami lahat ng tawa. Kepyas daw. Pero lalo kaming tumawa sa sagot nya. "Mahilig ako sa saging na may gatas!")

Eto na ang moment ng lolo nyo. Tinawag ang numerong "two two seven six four!!"
"That would be me." Tumayo ako at pumunta sa harap.
"Go Boone!!" Cheer and buong class. Star lang ang eksena ahehehehe.
"Pick a question here." Inabot ng trainor ang plastic cup at dumukot ako ng papel.
"Here it goes."
Binasa ng tahimik ang tanong. Sumimangot
"I hate this question!"
"Hahahaha. Say the question!" nangungulit ang mga classmates ko.
I cleared my throat and started reading.
"If I could be a person other than myself, I would be dot dot dot."
Buntong-hininga ulit. Prepare lang sa answer. Isang hinga ulit.
"Sadly, I wouldn't want to be anyone else. First, I am a creation of God, and I'm unique.."
"Panalo ka bakla!!!!!!!!!" Sigawan ang mga puta. Keber na sa English Only Zone sign sa harap. With the matching palakpakan. Imbyerna...
"...secondly, I would know the people who made person I am today if I'm not myself..."
"Bakla, hindi Miss Universe to! Klase lang 'te, klase... hahahaha." Parang parlor ang training room.
"...lastly, the world will never be the same without me. I thank you. With a schwa and a twang."
"Korona, bakla, sa iyo na ang korona! Hahahahaha." Palakpakan ulit. Kaloka. Kakatawa.

Pero in fairness, ganun naman talaga no. Kung ibang tao ako, sino ang magiging Editor-in-Chief ng Aeroscope nung 2003-2004 sa PATTS? Sino ang magiging first Chieftain ng PULSE? Sino ang magiging alibughang anak ni Pidot? At higit sa lahat, sino ang magiging butihing maybahay (Ano daaaawwww???) ni Juan???

Huwag na kumontra. At wag na magmaganda. Hindi ka perpekto. Period

Firsts

Last March 10, 2008, I had a chance to be at the Manila Cathedral to sing for a relic presentation. First time na makapunta ako sa Manila Cathedral at makita ang loob nito. A lot has been said regarding the cathedral; kesyo naghihiwalay ang mga mag-asawa na kinakasal doon and everything. But nevertheless, the sanctity of the place is genuine. Seated at the heart of Intramuros, the Manila Cathedral stands as a pillar of faith of most Filipinos. Being the seat of the Manila Archdiocese, its not unusual to find the place holy though old-fashioned. The structure is age-old, but still sturdy; fortified.

What the heart is meant and loves to do. It's my first time to sing with my new choir, The Singing Christians. I was invited for this special occasion. Since I have no previous appointments, I joined them. And indeed, it was a heavenly experience. Unlike the previous choirs that I am with, TSC has survived 28 years. The bonding between the members and the harmony of the voices is distinctly resonant. We have this certain piece, "I Give You Praise" sung at the recessional where both the arrangement and the message captured my soul and rekindled my singing prowess. Added with the majesctic bamboo organ accompaniment by Sir AJ (and he's really good, with the pedals and the keys and the buttons of the bamboo organ at his command!!!), singing at the Manila Cathedral is an ever-memorable experience.

The relic of a saint. Though I'm not as religious as the others, but seeing a box bearing a part of a beatified person would be a great experience. On this same day, I was able to see the crate that carries a part to St. Therese of the Child Jesus' skull. The line that leads to the relic is too long that it took 15 minutes before we can touch the glass that covers the crate. Most Christians regard that crate as something so powerful that anything they wish is bound to come true. But I would conclude its not the power of the relic that sets their wishes into reality; its their faith.

Weirdest of the weird. I was able to have a peek of the taping of my favorite Mexican-turned telenovela Marimar. While at the car, we passed by San Agustin church where Marimar's last episode was taped. I saw the really gorgeous and petite Marian Rivera and the hunkylicious Dingdong Dantes while taping the wedding scene of the most celebrated primetime show. I was at first starstruck, due to the reason that the two of them are crushes of mine. (Alam na!) But then I realized that I cannot get off the car to take their autographs, so I just have to feast on a few moments seeing them. And sadly, I can't scream inside the car (MARRRRIIIIIAAAAAANNNNN!!!! DDDDDIIIIINNNNGGGGGDDDDDOOOOOONNNNNGGGGG!!!!! EEEEEKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!)And the saddest part is that I wasn't able to watch the last 5 episodes of Marimar. Sigh...
First time to blog at the office!! Since the computer at home isn't working, I have to create my entries here at the office. Right now, I'm writing this entry while looking at the outskrits of the skyscrapers of Makati. So emotional for a scene. Kayo na bahalang umalam kung saan sa Makati ahihihi..