Disastrous Weekend

26 September 2009 was quite a nighmare for all of us here in  Metro Manila.  Well for me, the devastating effect of Ondoy did not end there. 

One of my close friends is getting married the day after the typhoon Ondoy.  And yes I am one of the bride's made.  I take this wonderful opportunity to heart.  I see to it that I extend any help I could give to the bride, well, it's the essence of being a friend and a bride's made, right?

Due to unpleasant circumstances, I was not able to arrived at my friend's house on time.  I was in their house 5 minutes before the ceremony starts.  Of course I could not muster to be seen in my shabby clothes and unruly hair.  I honestly do the best I could to be on time.. well these were the ordeals I have to face before I could get on the bus going to Batangas... 

I paid Php120 for this pedicab to get me into the LRT train station.

Discovering my Lineage - Hidden Paradise

My mother has never been the type of person who voluntarily talks about her hometown or her parents and siblings.  Me and my siblings graduated college without meeting any of her kins.  As soon as we had a long vacation in 2007 - here in the Philippines, Holy Week is the most apt time to go on a vacation- we've decided to coerced my mother to spend the whole week in Caramoan Peninsula, Camarines Sur.

We had no idea what a paradise my mother grew up with.  The 45-minute drive from Naga City, the heart of the Bicol Region, was such a joy-ride.  Good thing the bus from Manila has a direct route to Sabang Partido, the port where we took a motor boat to Caramoan islands.  Anyway, transportation from the city did not pose  a problem because there are many public vehicles, like vans and bus, to take you to the port. 

We arrived in Sabang noontime of 1st April 2007.  The sea has already receded that the boat was afar the shore.  Men were waiting for passengers and they carried us from the shore to the boat, now how cool would that be?  Well, for my sister, she felt awkward because two men carried her, she's kinda on a bigger size.

I grew up in the city so our 45-mins boat ride from the port to Caramoan was a new thing for me and my two sisters.  We enjoyed every minute of it, just looking into the blue water, sky and the small islands we could see afar.

On 4 April 2007, after covering ourselves with suntan lotion we went swimming in one of the little islands -- it was actually owned by my mother's auncle.  Here are the pictures of the island...  

This was actually my first time to see a live starfish.  My, you could spot them anywhere.  Too bad we could not get one home...

Bulusan Lake & Mateo Hot Spring

One of the freebies I enjoyed during my audit years was the weekend getaways.  We get to see the local spots of the Philippines at a lower cost, since we are already in the province.  Our colleagues in various provinces were so accommodating that they were more than willing to tour us around.  Of course we grabbed every chance to see the beautiful countryside.

These photos were taken during our stay in Sorsogon City.  We stayed in Fernando's Hotel.  We actually enjoined our stay here becasue the hotel resembles a home, with the warm hotel staff ready to assist us in any way.

Bulusan Lake

The Bulusan Lake.  The surrounding was so surreal, we trekked around the lake with Pam and an officer of the bank, Edith did not join us.  That was the time I've known eerie silence, we were advised not to make a noise so as not to disturb the unseen creatures dwelling around the lake.  I longed to be in a place like that, where you only hear the chirping sound of the birds, the smell of the moist earth and the rotten branches,  the swoosh sound of the trees and the hissing of who-knows creatures lurking in the robust plants around us.  I could remember the richness of the flora and fauna we saw.  We've seen people cooking along the path during the trek and we found out later that those people we saw were actually NPAs (New Peoples Army), the armed guerillas.    

A raft floating in Bulusan Lake

On our way to another destination, Mateo Hot Spring, we got lost.  Amidst the endless road and numeous mountains, we just sang our boredom.  Of course, we were anxious to get to the main road.. the place was NPA-infested area.  Not that we were very afraid of them, we knew better than to fear them, but who knows, we were in unknown countryside.

Mateo Hot Spring

Rizal Beach, a very well-known beach in Gubat, Sorsogon.  This beach is in the center of the cove, white sand, fresh sea breeze, blue waters and the sun, who could ask for more.  The place was still in its God-given form, no establishments around, except for the small resorts surrounding the beach and the cottages.  Aside from that, bare natue...Love it!

My Life as a Nomad

My life after I passed the Accountancy board exams was like unsteady road.  I have to take the road, no matter how hard, winding, wide or long that road was, unless I was willing to accept my fate stuck in such place.  At first I joined my other friends in their job-hunting, but I knew I wanted other things.  So I started rummaging Makati City with my resume.  Nothing deterred me to get a job- not the uncomfortable shoes I had, not the extreme heat and the heavy rain nor the constant "nos" for fresh grads then.

Until I was called by United Coconut Planters Bank human resources personnel...then my life as a nomad started.

As a branch auditor, we were assigned to diiferent branches of the bank to any point of the Philippine archipelago.  A was sharing an apartment with two of my friends from the bank.  We lived in a medium-size apartment with two rooms.  We have the basic equipments-- bed, tv, refrigerator, electric fan but we do not have a sala and dining set.  It was a pity I did not have a photograph of our apartment I shared with Shiela and Sheryl.  We were like starngers living together- Shiela with her strict 9-6 schedule as an auditor in SM, an early-bed person, Sheryl who worked her butt out in Punongbayan, she used our apartment as a changing room only and of course me, who primarily lived in hotels in the provinces. 

Something unpleasant happened, the impact was so big that the united BRAD group crumbled and one by one left the bank....

Random Act of Kindness

I have read this old issue of Reader's Digest, actually this is the 2nd time I've read about this article.  The sudents are required to impart kindness at random in whatever form.  Studies showed that students have felt happiness---pure happiness that they can't possibly describe.  I was trying to correlate this with my personal life, and truly I would want to experience such pure happiness in my heart.

My day actually starts from the time I am waiting for a cab to take me to the train station.  This is actually where my daily ordeal starts.  I have to be assetive to get the cab before someone else does.  People swarm the Metropolitan Railways Transit, or known as MRT, because of its efficiency and most especially its low cost.  The consequence, the major road where the MRT is also located, would be congested with people and vehicles.  Yes, half of the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue in North Avenue station would be occupied by people who would try to squeeze into the narrow staircases and unoperational elevator or escalator leading to the train platform. 

I am so ashamed that after years of using taking public transport, I've no idea how cruel I could be.  I have noticed people with attitude and I sometimes look at them incredulously but never did I realize that I was facing a mirror.  

Now, back to correllating my reading wth my experience, I have once allowed a old man have my chair in the train and I honestly felt ashamed that she thanked me for it.  It was the first and I acted as if I did not heard him.  But deep inside me I felt a strange feeling of elation--like yes! I have been a good model to all yuppies in the MRT.  Should have done this random act of kindness years ago. 

Here's the pic of the lady whom I offered my seat last week, she was with her friends-- oldies too.  Almost all the yuppies that occupied our chair stand up except for this lady......

Getting Ready for College

Deciding on one's future definitely will drain a person to death.  At least that was what I went through.  From the course I have to take, to what school I have to attend.  Not that I have lots of school to choose from, my parents are willing to send us to best schools but they don't have the courage to totally dispense us on our own.  Its like they were saying---Go get your college diploma but be sure that you are within our radar parameters, so farthest would be Baguio (SLU).

I have decided to send out two applications - Ateneo and MMSU.  I only sent out my application with ADMU because of our Guidance Councelor's insistence to take it.  But I have already decided to go to the State U but no definite course to take.  I've just indicated three courses in my application, in order of preference:

1. Civil Engineering
2. Accountancy
3. BS Math

I pursue my 2nd choice.  I got a very good score in the entrance exam that i do not need to worry for the score cut-off.  I was almost enrolled in Engineering then.  I went to College of Engineering just to see the whole course syllabus but I was taken aback that the girls I saw in that big building could be counted using my fingers only.  Many enginnering students were there, gawking at the freshmen and were ready to attack any minute. Uneasiness overwhelmed me that I turned and walked out from that buidling, with Vi in tow.  She was my constant companion in my college days. 

The Beginning - High School Years

My life actually flourished during my highschool years.  This was the time when we tried to break from our parents watchful eyes and nurturing guidance.  We tried to prove to ourselves that we were indeed grown ups and we've came out of our shells so to speak.

I remember during the parties we've attended, we dressed up as hiphop or metal fanatics.  This was the time when the term "hiptal" was coined, combination of hiphop and metal.  Buggy jeans type and t shirts were in fashion, even for young ladies.  Brick games, nintendos and family computers were the top-notched video and portable gamers then, goodbye for game & watch and we've never had any idea that PSP, Wii, Nintendo DSi, Sega are far-most techie and would definitely laugh at our gadgets then.

Life was much more simpler, well, definitely all people coming of age will realize this.  We only have to concentrate on our studies, our parents will take care of our tuition and every subsistence until college.  This has been the practice here in our country, parents taking care of their childrens' responsibility until they could provide for their own---even after college when youngsters are unlucky enough to land a job immediately after school.

I have had a very fulfilling high school life.  I've learned to dance with people outrageously maarte and bitchy.  I am like a loner at first, having snacks with my friend Lotis and other loner girls then (I used to attend all-girl school).  Mind you, we were actually reading books while having our sandwiches, sounds geeky, right.  But I'm definitely not a geek and weirdo (they usually come together, right?).  I'm still getting used to the feeling of highschooler, probably.

Then I came to join this group they call themselves VIRSA girls (Vi, Ivy, Ressie, Sherry Ann and Anna).  The first conversation I recall having was with Sherry Ann.  She actually asked my score in English short test (with not so friendly tone), believe me if I say I created a fuss as I am toping my math exams and my classmates were alarmed that they branded me as competition.  I just joined the class as I was with other school during my freshman year- my parents kinda pulled me out from that school as I have associated myself with-- well- indpendent, free-spirited, strong-willed students.  We've met trouble in my first year in highschool, and I think my parents have decided to lock me up in Holy Spirit Academy, they just have to let me finish my first term with INCAT.

And as the cliche goes, the rest is history.  I've came to know this very eccentric group and loved them as well.  I felt a little alarmed that no week during our school days would end without misunderstanding amongst ourselves.  But still our barkada and friendship stood those tests.

I could say I am a people person.  I do have a lot of friends, aside from my barkada.  I have my group of church-goer friends, we meet after school and proceed to church just beside our school buidling; I have my movie buddy, Lotis, who come to our house anytime, anyday and we would end up watching movie (well, we have a weekly passes to the moviehouse, thanks to my father's friend- the mayor's brother, who lavishly provided us movie passes) ; and I occasionally team up with other group as well.  Some would even advise me to totally ditch my barkada, they think I joined the group that would influence me badly.  Nonono... not that I believe them as bad...but me being influenced?   Duh...I have my encephalon intact.

Of course me and my barkada had a fair share of troubles.  Once when one of my friend's parents were away, we actually sat down for a beer--grande ha.  That's before we parted ways for college.  What's a girl have to do but to join, I am more than willing to try new things anyway. 

Much as we wanted our group to be together even after college, we could not stop the inevitable.  Sherry Ann & Ivy came here in Manila and have to move, me and Visitacion first enrolled in a State U and Anna studied in Divine Word in Laoag.