The Jacob Black

Edward Cullen leaves, broken hearted Bella Swan goes to her childhood friend Jake to patch (at least, patch) the hole in her chest. Jacob would warmly welcome his childhood friend/longtime secret love. The two will share those -ahem- cheesy moments, cool times and all, but in the end...

"Its always been him, Jake..."

That was so far, the most heartbreaking part for such a guy like him. I have to hold back my own tears just by looking at Jacob's face because its sooooo bad!!!

Its not the thought that "after all I've done, sya pa rin pala..." but its the thought of "kinailangan mo lang ba ako para matakasan sya?"

Well, anyway, there are still a lot to thank for other than maginarte, tutal eh naappreciate naman ng ginawa mo diba? Paano pa kaya kung hinde?

It's been two relationships na na parang si Jacob Black ang role ko. Worst, while in the relationship, talagang ikukwento pa ng current partner ang mga memories niya with the ex. Hindi naman sa masama ang loob ko for that, pero for pete's sake naman, wag naman everytime nagkikita tayo, huhu.

Nagkaroon din ako ng mga Bella Swan sa buhay, pero dahil may Edward Cullen, dun at dun parin mauuwi si Bella. Sad man para sa mga Jacob na katulad ko, pero sila talaga ang tinadhana. Wala na tayo magawa kung masaktan sa huli.

Ang silbi natin, maging panakip-butas, taga puno ng kakulangan, tagahilom ng mga sugat, tagapagtanggol ng mga pinendeho pero mahal pa rin ang namendeho (tsk tsk...)

Kaya ang dapat, mangagat na lang tayo. NGAWWWWRRRRRR!!!!!!

The Calling....?

Three weeks has passed since I attended the mass and sang with The Singing Christians. After three, long gruesome weeks of work at school, finally, I'm free to sing on the mass and serve the Lord.

The mass starts at 6 pm but I intended to come an hour earlier to catch the rehearsals. Upon being dropped off infront of the EDSA Shrine, I immediately went to the rehearsal studios (studios talaga?? hahaha). Unfortunately, the rooms are full of relief goods for the victims of the typhoons so I have to wait someplace.

I went to the sacristi to drink a glass of water, hydrating my day-long dry throat.

I sat on one of the sofas in the area as I vocalize my low notes (I do sing Bass), not noticing an old lady with one of the lay ministers on our mass sitted across the room. The lady was 80-ish, judging from the way I see her, with the lay minister probably assisting her on her walks. The lady sweetly smiled and to my surprise or what, I smiled back.

A number of parishioners came in and upon seeing the old lady, paid respects by doing 'Mano po'. Now I'm wondering who this lady is.

A choirmember, JP, came inside and greeted me.

"Kamusta na? Tagal mo nawala ah." JP tapped my shoulder as he greets me.

"Daming trabaho sa school, 'pre. Ngayon lang naging free eh."

"Ah, ganun? O, andito pala si Lola." He approached the old lady and did 'Mano po'.

In an instant, I felt the urge to approach the old lady and do 'Mano po'. I stood up, walked a few steps and...

"Good afternoon po." I greeted her as I reached her hand and place it in my forehead. Never I did relaize something before doing that. I'm wearing a cap. Stupid.

Hastly, I removed my cap and did it again.

Suddenly, after doing my 'Mano po'. She reached out for my head and stroked my hair and saying with her shining eyes...

"Iho, bakit hindi ka magpari?"

The question hit me like a bomb. I took a few seconds before the question sink in.

"Ah... Eh... Hehehe," that was all that came from my lips. F^%K$#!t!!

"Iho, may nakakatawa ba sa sinabi ko?"

"Ah... Eh... Wala naman po. Bakit nyo naman po naitanong?"

"Aba'y bagay ka magpari. Unang kita ko pa lang sa iyo, alam ko na. Ilang taon ka na ba?"

"Twenty-four po." saying it with my callcenter accent. Bastos na bata.

"Oh, bata ka pa pala eh. Hindi masamang magpari ka, may itsura ka pa, maamo ang mukha."

"Naku, mahirap pong sagutin ang tanong nyo eh hehehe." I'm stupidly scratching my head.

"Naku, iho, mahirap tanggihan ang tawag ng Panginoon ha."

"Alam ko po, kaya nga po ako nagtuturo sa isang College eh."

"Ay ganun, tamang-tama pala, marunong ka rin maturo, marami siguradong nakikinig sa iyo."

Hindi ko alam kay lola kung binobola ako or pinipilit lang ako magpari. Pero mukhang pareho ata. Ilang segundo ring nakatitig si lola at maya-maya pa...

"May girlfriend ka na ba, iho?"

"Ahhh, meron po." Wala sa sariling sinagot ko ang tanong ni lola, sa pag-asang titigilan na nya ako.

"Hahaha, kaya naman pala. Pero kung alam mong may calling ka, wag nang tatanggi ha? Kukulit-kulitin ka ni Lord hangga't pumayag ka."

"Sige po, titingnan po natin."

Tumagilid nang bahagya ang lay minister na katabi nya at bumulong. "Nay, andyan na ata sundo natin."

"O sige, sige." sabi ni lola. Tumingin uli ang matanda sa akin at nagtanong. "Ano ang pangalan mo iho?"

"Phillippe po."

"Ano, Philipo?"

May pagkabingi na rin pala si lola. "Ay hindi po. Phillippe... ho."

"Ah, Phillippe, sige ha, magkikita pa tayo ulit. Kukulitin kita. Hala't aalis na ako."

"Sige po, ingat po kayo. Marami pong salamat."

Inakay ko ang matanda hanggang makalabas ng sacristi. Pagtalikod ko'y napakamot nanaman ako ng ulo. At dahil si JP ang unang taong nakita ko, tinanong ko agad siya.

"Pre, sino ba yun?"

"Ano ka ba? Hindi mo kilala yun? Nanay ni Bishop yun!"

It was then I realized how persuasive a mom is. I just don't get how did she realized that potential of me being a priest. Mukha namang akong sanggano pagpasok ko kanina, nakacap pa kahit nasa loob ng simbahan. Her words were like ice piercing ito my burning soul. Sa dami ng mga tao kanina sa sacristi eh ako ang nakita (or perhaps napagtripan) nya. There is a reason she asked me that question, and that's what I'm trying to guess...

-mukha akong pari?
-kailangan ko ng change of profession/career?
-nagwapuhan si lola saken? (cheesy!)
-kamukha ko ang anak nyang bishop na ngayon? (possibly!)

Buong misa akong balisa. Habang nagmimisa, parang bigla kong nakita ang sarili ko sa pari. Nagmimisa, may hawak na ostia, naghohomily, nakasutana at apitong, at habang nakataas ang dalawang daliri, nagsasabi ng "The Lord be with you..."

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Minsan.. Ako'y Tumikim

"Sir, kain tayo..."

Kapag sumenyas na ang mga teacher ng HRM ng ganyan, ipagdarasal mong hindi ka pa nakakain ng dinner or lunch...

Sisigaw ako ng... Congratulations!!!

Pinatatawag na ako ni Ma'am para magevaluate ng mga luto ng mga students ng HRM. Yehey! Makakatikim nanaman ako...

Appetizer...
Main Course...
Dessert...
Beverage...

Ayos! Hindi na kailangan bumili ng pagkain sa kantin. Libre na, masarap pa...

"Tikim tayo pre..."

Ondoy and Pepeng Changed Me...

While on my Facebook page, I happen to stumble on a video showing how Manila was battered by typhoon Ondoy.

Cars suddenly floating on rushing muddy waters, piling up like toys left unattended, people struggling to free themselves from the rampaging river to safety but to no avail and people walking on neck-deep floodwaters are a few to mention.

It was so terrifying that I wonder if everything happened. What happened and what I saw from the internet is what disaster movies are made of, and the past few weeks seems to be a sequence of non-ending episodes of a destruction movie saga. One may never measure how powerful nature can be with its destructive hand.

Luckily, I wasn't in Pasig when the floods emerged. But a week after Ondoy's wrath, one can still see the marks of the maximum level of the flood inside the home (judging, should be 1 m deep). Every furniture was brought upstairs save for the cabinets. Everyone home was safe.

It was depressing to know that most of our brothers and sisters have suffered and lost a lot that most were not prepared to face the cataclysmic events of the past week. Millions worth of property damaged, thousands were evacuated, lives were lost in the most horrifying fashion imaginable.

Sadly, some are taking the the situation to create further panic and hysteria. Erroneous SMS, multiple relief good gathering, and yes, expired relief goods. (My Gaaaaaad!!)

But then, the spirit of Pinoy humor still emanates despite the calamities. A number of text message made me laugh the whole day (literally!) are as follows...

Wala na si Ondoy... pero umuulan pa rin... dala lang siguro ni Pepeng Basa...

PAGASA states that Pepeng's could area is too large that's why storm was renamed Pepeng Malaki (I SOOO laughed at this!)

But then, the best thing about what happened was that old relationships came to bond again. Lives gapped for years by anger and resentment are finally reinstated. Relatives came calling us thru landline, (yes, after a week!) checking on the status of the Pasig homes.

And with all the horror that I witnessed thru the videos I see, all I can do is pause and say a silent prayer for all who perished and lost. It is as if life somehow was more precious and worthwhile that I submit myself to those who I care and cherish...

My Gaaad!!!

Kadarating ko lang ng bahay. Pagud na pagud na ako galing sa biyahe galing ng skul. Dagli kong binaba ang lahat ng mga gamit ko at nahiga sa sofa ng sala. Hindi pa lumalapat ang likod ko sa sofa ay pumipila na sa isip ko ang mga dapat kong gawin...

Magchecheck ng mga test papers?
Magrerecord ng mga nacheck na assignments at projects at exams?
Magkokompuyt ba ako ng grades?
Magpeprepare ng lesson for the next week?

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Parang mga surot sa kama ang mga gagawin ko. Kapag lalong pinabayaan, lalong dadami. At sa huli ako din ang pahihirapan. Pero kahit anong dami ng gagawin, basta walang energy, walang hapi. Lintek.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan na sa dami ng dala ko ay may isang supot ng punung-puno ng tsokolate na muntik ko pang madaganan ng ibang gamit. May lamang Hershey's, Toblerone, Fererro, Goya, Cadbury pati Choknat. Pero hindi sa akin ang mga yan. Para sa mga estudyanteng nagsumikap makaperfect ng mga exam na binigay ko. Sosyal diba, chololates galore ang mga studyante ni Sir Boone...

Ang sweet no? Hindi ako tinatawag sa apelyido ko. First name basis. Affectionate pakinggan, hindi ba? O dahil pangit ang tunog ng apelyido ko, wahahaha adik.

Bubuksan ko ang tv nang malibang naman. Aba, matagal na rin akong walang entertainment dahil sa trabaho. Wala nang time gumimik, walang time makipagtextmate, walang time sa lovelife, (brrrrrr). Time naman siguro to reward myself kahit minsan lang...

Anak ng... bakit puro patalastas ng mga pulitiko to? Nakakainit ng ulo... At si Erap, may Arthro commercial na, wahahahah, my gad talaga!!! Makapagnews na nga lang...

Kamamatay lang ni Cory, at in fairness naman, she is a icon of history that every Filipino will surely remember. From the EDSA people power revolution 1 to the yellow fashion statement, she made her mark. Thank you po!!

Naku, puro telenovela ang palabas after ng mga balita. Masyadong cheesy ang mga lines, ang corny!!!

Patayin na ang tv at makinig na lang sa radyo habang nagsusulat sa blog...

Matagal na pala akong hindi nakapagsulat sa blog, at kung gaano kadisorganized ang pinagsususulat ko, ganun din kadisorganized ang utak ko ngayon. Patalon-talon ng topic, ndi naman makakuha ng topic sentence. Puro thoughts, wala namang coherence, pakshet...

Buti pa si Papa Jack, may...

Wild Confessions...

AWWWW!!!

Tama na nga to, makagawa muna ng grades...

Facebook... A Centennial Ago

The Orchid Backbulb

Sitting alone on my lowly pot
Most of my roots coming to rot
I, once a lush plant, in full bloom
Now waiting for my incoming doom

With me in this desolate place
Silent as the night's moon ablaze
Rocks that are chipped with algae growing in valor.
Which my once healthy roots anchor

The season changes, like a wonder
Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer
Time has passed for me in a blink
I served my master well, I think

I grew leaves and bloom my flower
Looking pleasant to my grower
When the time has come to wither
Never thought the leaves will still linger

I bore shoots and helped them cope
They didn't flower, but there was hope
It took time and like me they grow old
Another shoot they were to unfold

Now the pot looks too crowded
For us to survive we have to be divided
From our sanctuary we were uprooted
To my surprise, I alone was separated

My master put me in a new container
Placed with the last pot's remaider
Cold and alone am I now
To thrive here I cannot vow

Months had come and go
And to my biggest surprise, what I saw
Another shoot was born underneath
It sprouted from my last leaf sheath

But this time, as the new shoot progress
My own body seems to be in distress
My once plump body began to shrivel
The mystery of my depart I finally unravel

To grow this budding little green
My own life it will redeeem
The story of the backbulb I cannot disguise
Another life will be my demise

Two in Bloom

Imagine waking one morning and see these beauties on your garden...

What could be better???

Thru a book, I came to know these beauties...

Its Laeliocattleya Angel's Treasure

Turning Green

Two months and no writings?

Hey, that's too much...

I'm back and alive!!

I suddenly got this green feeling... Well, I'd like to grow greens, that is. Once I had this dream that a part of our home will be filled with flowers and fragrance. I woke up and realized, "Hey, I can do that!". The first thing that came into my mind that morning was to renovate our back terrace into a small garden.

The choice of plants to grow was too diverse. With an indirect sunlight and windy conditions, I could grow shrubs, bulbs, anything that flowers. But I wanted something flowering that lasts longer and smells great at the same time. And whoa! Like a big lightbulb in my head flashing wildly, the choice was made: I'll grow orchids!!!

With the variety of colors and fragrance and species, orhcids will be my best bet to decorate my garden. Since April, I've studied orchids: their favorable growing conditions, propagation, caring and maintenance. And with the help of a handful orchid hobbyists around me, there are lot to learn and it will be so much fun and exciting!! Every payday is a sure visit to orchid shops, from Cubao to Baclaran, Cavite, and even Tagaytay!! I'll be growing dendrobiums, oncidiums and cattleyas for a starter. Pictured below are a few of the species I found interesting.

A few plants not pictured above are as follows (most of which are cuttings):

Brassia Rex, Blc White Bow Bells, Blc Almakee, Blc Pink Pamela Hetherington, Dendrobium Sharry Starbright, Dendrobium Yellow Chai Ling;

The growing of orchids was a real challenge; I have to know which type would live on shady and well lit areas of the terrance. I have to know how to feed them for superior growth and flowering. Since orchids doesn't want noon sun, it would be best to cover the area with a double black net. In the long run, I will need to put steel fence with cyclone wire around the terrace to allow aeration for the orchids.

24 Random Things About Me, Written on My 24th Birthday

What the...

24th birthday??!!

Tempus Fugit eh...

Oh, by the way, to celebrate my 24th *Sigh* birthday, I wrote 24 things that you may (or may not) know about me...

1. I suck my thumb since birth... and unknowingly and unconsciously, until NOW...

2. My first pet dog was named Baleleng, way back when I was a toddler, and I cannot remember how that dog looked like...

3. I can stand 36 hours without sleeping, thanks to my job...

4. The first time I saw a choir performed was way back nineteen years ago, and I didn't know it was the Philippine Madrigal Singers. It took me almost two decades to know that, and yes, I'm a great fan of them.

5. I had numerous dreams of flying since I was a child, perhaps it helped me choose my course in college hehehe...

6. I discovered I have a talent for singing when I sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in front of the class in Grade 3. Also, my mom would get angry because I'm not singing the mass songs correctly; it took me years to realize I'm singing the voiced part or the second voice.

7. When I'm so happy, I cry; When I'm so sad, I cry;

8. I would love to have a piano at home and arrange songs with it.

9. To eat fishballs with thick sauce is my simplest form of pleasure.

10. I tend to be SOOOOO forgetful. I would put something somewhere are forget it in a matter of minutes.

11. I have a tremendous attraction with people with names starting in J. Might be coincidental, but most of my parters have names starting with J. Hmmm...

12. I'm always fascinated with time travel, but will never attempt to do so.

13. My favorite getaway should always be nature tripping. Snorkling, hiking, I'm definitely in!!

14. My parents argued for my name before I was born; should my father won, my name would be Timotheo Joshue Grava; sounds holy huh... I still like my true name though

15. I have 5 kittens on frame. Cross-stitched kittens, that is. I started stitching them March 2003 ended May 2003, framed December 2008.

16. I spend 5 hours a day for land travel, and I have a phobia for vehicle-related accidents.

17. I danced half-naked... once.

18. The most vulnerable part of my wardrobe would always be the front zipper of my pants, I would go to diff places in a day and realize my fly was open the whole day.

19. I never see colors the way most people do. Others may see it as light blue, it looks pinkish to me. You will say its green, It looks yellow to my eye... huhuhu

20. I don't believe in love at sight, but I do in love at first listening. There are a couple of music that I liked the first time I heard them, and until now, timeless personal favorites. A few would be Laging Ikaw by Jed Maddela, With These Eyes by Roch Voisine and Pachelbel's Canon in D.

21. I did an egg roll in the middle of EDSA Buendia. The bus I am supposed to ride on suddenly sped off while I'm on the bus door. Stupid driver.

22. I am easily distracted.

23. When I was young, I was so afraid of the Our Lady of Peace statue in the EDSA Shrine. I thought it was a monster, ready to eat anyone who comes close to it.

24. I despise eating pork liver in any food; but I love liver spreads...

The Year of the Ox

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!!

PSP Mania!!

Ayan, dream come true nanaman!!
After months of desire... (desire talaga?)
Finally, I have my own PSP!!!
May kasama nang MADDEN 09..
And the color...
Tananan!!!

BLUE!!!


Pero shempre, at first, ka toxic mode muna.. akala ko kase basta may unit na, ayus na. Naku, by package na nga pala ang bentahan. May casing, headset, hard case, silicon covers, memory card holder, car charger (parang may kotse ako diba?) at katakot-takot na adaptors.



Goodness, PSP lang binili ko eh para na akong nagshopping sa dami ng bitbit paguwi. Buti na lang may kasama ako na bihasa sa mga PSP's nung matripan kong bumili... Salamat po!!! Muah!!

Competitive naman ang price, kesa mamili ako sa iba, may mga bawas nga, ndi ka naman sure sa quality.

Eto ang masaya...

"Hindi ba ito nangagain ng tanga?"
"Andami namang chenes nito.. kakalito.. wait lang.. para saan to..."
"Yaaaahhh!! Wag mo buksan yan!!" (Pinipilit ko tanggalin sa case yung UMD) "Ipapasok lang yan dito..."
"Bakit ayaw nito gumalaw??" (Pindot sa hold) "Uhhmmm naka hold pala..."
"Paano makadownload ng laro dito??"
"Bakit ayaw magbukas ng game nito.."
"Bakit walang screen?? BAKIT WALANG SCREEEEEN!!!" (naka hold pala)

At talaga naman, very true, nakakaadik sya. I'm currently playing Avatar; the Last Airbender at nag-lilimang oras ako kakalaro sa kanya.

Kung may katanungan, tingin na lang ako sa sandamakmak na manual...

At dahil mahal ko na ang PSP ko... aalagaan ko sya at papagandahin pa...

More more download ako ng mga themes...
Hanap ng magagandang games...

Yun nga lang, medyo magastos din pala...

Hindi na bale... paisa-isa lang...

Happy New Year!! Same Old Faces

Hmmm photoblog muna ako... wala pa ako maisulat eh...

Oi, by the way highway, HAPPY New Year sa lahat!!!

St. John 2002 Reunion @ Kabisera ng Dencios, Bonifacio High St., Taguig City

Shit I look so straight beside this girl... Whuteva...

After six years, so much has changed...
Tempus fugit...