More Baguio pictures

Serious ulit, wala 'yung dalawang shoding eh.

Hating kapatid sa mais. Session road.

Margarita Hall. Forum proper. Serious.

Nagpapaulan sa Session Road.

At Hotel Supreme.

Ang halaman na mistulang dugo kasama ang isang bampira, mwehehehe!

Hiking trip with Meia (papunta ng US next year) at Jeff (papunta ng Canada next month). Kung sa PAO iniwan ko ang trono ko, itong dalawa naman ang magpapamana ng trono nila sa akin.

Candid shot taken by Noel. Inside the Tam-awan souvenir/coffee shop.

A sense of purpose

I made myself practically autistic, loosely used to the effect of may sariling mundo, for the entire morning because I wanted to finish all my paperworks. I even came to the office an hour earlier to gain a head start. After lunch, I finished my task and then I started to relax a bit. Anthony approached me and asked, pwede maki-print? I said yes, because I know it was for the school paper. I let him use my computer and I moved to the other table.

Mam Regae was asking Jerwin, one of the Campus Quill staff, if they could stand up for the things they've written in the paper. She just smiled. I asked her what the article was about and so she told me everything about it, some of which I already know since they've been telling me that story whenever I had the time to listen to them. We were discussing libel and slander when she suddenly blurted out that she wanted to learn more about the law. Those who heard her looked at us and God only knows what they were thinking, sabi ko nga mukhang sa akin na naman ang bagsak ng sisi pag nagkataon. Tinuruan ko daw kasing maging radikal ang mga bata.

The discussion went on and on, naririnig ko nga sila na sinasabing dapat daw magkaron na ng political science sa college kasi marami na akong nai-impluwensiyahang bata. My former students were asking if they could shift to political science or if they could pursue a degree in law after graduation. I said yes. Jerwin asked if I am handling educ students this semester. I told her that I'd probably handle Principles of Literary Criticism based on the schedule submitted but that could still change since I've been given 5 sections at the HRM department. Lokong Jerwin, mas kailangan daw ang may utak na instructor sa educ. Isang hirit pa niya, nagulat ako.. bakit ko daw tinanggap 'yung position as HR?

Caught me off-guard but I managed to reply quickly without thinking, mayroon kasi akong gustong baguhin dito sa college. Napakunot-noo siya, after a while she smiled. So I just said, I have to swim with the sharks to be able to learn their style of attack.

Conversations like these make me realize how much potential my students have. If treated as adults they could become responsible individuals, critical thinkers albeit radical, but responsible.

Bakit po kayo nagtitiyaga dito sa Pilipinas? Another question, another quick reply..

It's because of you guys that I am here. I feel that I am responsible for making you realize that you are indeed the hope of this nation. Make me proud.

Ego booster

Got this message from one of my OLFU friends which made me smile even for a while..

prang iba ng itsura mo ngaun sa pic, lalo kang gumugwapo hehe.. buti nmn nkkpgliwaliw kn. basta wag u n ppbayaan sarili u. gudluck sa mga forum ek ek mo, hehe..

Sometimes it pays off to be kind. Can lift up your spirits in times of despair.

On being aware

When the ear hears, observe the mind. Does it get caught up and make a story out of the sound? Is it disturbed? You can know this, stay with it, be aware. At times you may want to escape from the sounds, but that is not the way out. You must escape through awareness.

- Ajahn Chah, "Still Forest Pool"

I have observed that for the past few months I tend to react on things abruptly. This is very unusual of me since I have always tried to give the other party the benefit of the doubt. I really don't know why but lately I've been feeling jealous about people and things. I guess that's really how it is when you love a person that bad.

Kaya pag hindi ako agad nag-react, hindi ibig sabihin na dini-deadma kita. It's just that I am processing my feelings. Kasi ayokong mabigla ka.

Tam-awan snapshots

When facing the end, generally beautiful scenes appear. According to your mental inclinations, the most impressive are experienced first. If you do not do bad things right now, then there will be no unpleasant scenes when you face death. Even if there are some unpleasant scenes, they too will change into pleasant scenes.

- Pai-chang

Art installation

Sige Noel, makisama ka sa Bulol

Teka, yan ba ang aakyatin? Maiiwan na lang ako dito... at nagpa-iwan nga si Joey

At the souvenir shop, si Lemar. Isang OJT.

Kape

Office ng Chaun Foundation

Luccong fertility hut, di namin napasok agad kasi may naka-check in nung dumating kami. Hehehehe!

Dreamcatcher

Moscovado sugar

Syempre, ako.

Pagpasok mo pa lang, ito ang tatambad sa 'yo. Hehehehe.

Me, Jeffy, Meia and Mam Ophen

Bridge, aliw!

Ang bibong-bibo na si Rannie

Meet Bulol

Kapatid mo?

Tam-awan Village: A different Baguio experience

I've been in and out of Baguio several times from 1991-1996 when I was still part of the UP Varsity Volleyball Team. Every summer we would go up and unwind at one of our members' vacation house to kick off the semester. It was also the time for the infamous initiation rites of our freshmen varsity players. During those times we would just go to Mines View, Burnham, Maharlika and of course Session Road to buy stuff for our week long stay there. We've never been to places outside of those sites since we content ourselves with drinking liquor and getting wasted all the time. Pamorningan kami noon. Pati almusal beer at alak pa rin.

In 2001 I celebrated my birthday there, of course with my nurse. Ipinasyal na niya ako nun. On the same year, we went there with Conz. But we never heard of Tam-awan Village. 1998 pala nag-open 'yung place. I was in Baguio again in 2002 on official business but I wasn't aware that there exists such a place. This year, nalaman ko na meron palang ganung lugar sa Baguio. Minsan pa lang kasi ako nakarating sa Banaue and I loved it. Itong Tam-awan Village ay restoration ng mga old CAR architecture. Kung hindi pa dahil sa mga makukulit kong kasama na taga-MQAPC, hindi ako makakapunta dito.

Nakakatuwa ang mga staff nila dun, si Rannie ang sumalubong sa amin. Educ graduate pala siya pero hindi pa nagbo-board exam. He toured us around. Walang sawa niyang ini-explain sa amin lahat ng nakikita namin. If it wasn't raining, we would have toured the entire 2.5 hectare reconstructed village. Hindi na nga sumama si Sir Joey kasi hindi makayanan na umakyat sa trail. Hahahaha! We stayed there for half a day. Dun na nga rin kami nag-dinner.

It was fun. I'm thinking of taking my students there. May blessing naman ni President. Probably this semester. We'll arrange for it.

Thanks to the staff and our new found friends - Rannie, Rose, Jubeile, Jessica, Lemar, Gretchel. Babalik ulit kami sa Tam-awan o tanawan sa Tagalog, vantage point sa Ingles.

LDR na naman?

Long distance relationship? Di rin magtatagal 'yan. Mahirap eh!

I've heard this line again today. Came from my HS classmate. I used to reply to this statement with conviction but today, I just said alam ko. Kaya nga hindi na rin ako masyado nagi-expect. Her reply was the usual, eh bakit alam mo ba kung wala nga talaga siyang boyfriend dun? I just smiled and said, eh di kung meron mabuti para maging masaya siya at hindi miserable.

Gone are the days when I could speak with conviction that no matter what happens, the relationship would work. I guess I've outgrown being idealistic and romantic. What is, is. If it's not meant to be, so be it. At least I gave it a shot, I gave myself a chance.

Mag-anak ka na lang kasi. Ako na magpapaanak sa 'yo. Para may kasama ka sa pagtanda mo. Yeah, yeah. Familiar lines. Heard it a thousand times.

Come to think of it, ganun ba talaga kahirap mag-isa?

Nakaka-miss

you know who you are.

I miss you.

If and when I get there, let's see what happens.

For now, let us be.

;)

Pre-Baguio blues

I've been worried sick for three days. I didn't get any message although I've been sending a lot of messages asking if everything is fine. Got no reply at all. Sure I am bothered but I said to myself, it's probably another of those days that everything is like hell and that work kept her from getting her phone and tell me she's okay. So I just kept silent, I'm used to her style.

But around lunchtime this morning I received a call from her mom asking me for some favor. It was a follow up call from this weekend. We talked and that's when I learned that she was out of town, in Winnipeg.

What the hell? Not even a word from her that she's there? Damn!

It's a good thing that my nurse called me up and brightened my day. Mag-ingat daw ako kasi tuloy pala ako sa Baguio tonight, bumabagyo pa mandin.

Totally made my day. Thanks.

Old friends and acquaintances

We were busy with the parent's orientation this morning and I saw some familiar faces. Before the end of the orientation I was outside of the session hall entertaining questions from anxious parents. One parent approached me and said, kilala kita eh. Hindi ko lang maalala kung saan kita nakita. I smiled and asked her if she was from barangay Libtong. When she answered in the affirmative I told her that I practically grew up there. Another parent then said, anak siya ni Mrs. Oliva. These were my kababata in Libtong and they were about to enroll their 16 year old son in our college. Come to think if it, if I actually joined in the bandwagon I would probably have a teenager by now.

I was busy pondering on this thought when I saw Malou, my HS classmate. She approached me and said, anong ginagawa mo dito? I said I was a member of the faculty. She was surprised. She told me that she's an OB-Gyne and asked me kailan ka naman magpapatingin sa akin? Told her, ayoko nga patingin sa 'yo! After answering few of her questions regarding enrollment, she leaned over and said, single mom ako. Dalawa na anak ko, 11 months 'yung bunso. I just smiled. O ano, kailan ka magpapatingin?

Ah, people.

Of travels, first born and youngest child, and a father

My youngest brother and I were talking to each other last weekend while Cosme and Dindo were lashing north Luzon. Told him that I am going to Baguio this week and the weather was really bothering me. He told me that it was bad in Clark, Pampanga for he's been there a week before he went home. He also said that he's going to Boracay this week and will leave tomorrow, his birthday. We didn't realize that our dad was actually eavesdropping on our conversation. Dad told us not to go since the weather is really that bad. My brother and I just shrugged our shoulders and said that it will pass.

This afternoon when I got home I had this conversation with my dad:

Dad: Tuloy ka pa ba?
Me: Bakit?
Dad: Under state of calamity ang north luzon.
Me: Pangasinan lang 'yun dad, di kasama ang Baguio.
Dad: Wala ka masasakyan. Tuloy ka pa ba?
Me: Wala pa sa kamay ko 'yung pera.
Dad: Si Boy din aalis papuntang Boracay eh.
Me: Trabaho pupuntahan namin dad.

He was still saying something but I paid no attention since I find it unproductive arguing with him. Sabi nga ni Inang, wala kang masasabunot sa kalbo.

I don't know why he likes us so much. He's got this soft spot for Buboy and me that our other siblings notice it. Of course they resent it but they just shrug their shoulders too.

Ang panganay at ang bunso. Talaga naman!

Tiyan

After taking my second bath today I decided to trim my toenails. Sat in my mini-chair, got the nail clipper and bended over. I was surprised to feel discomfort, naiipit kasi ang tiyan ko ang hirap tuloy huminga! Made me smile and frown at the same time.

Made me smile since I've forgotten that for some time somebody called me Tummie kasi nga tumaba ako at lumaki ang tiyan ko. We made up cute names that rhymed with it, thus there was 'yummie' and 'chubbie' back in OLFU. My co-teachers found it cute, gustong-gusto nila pag tumataba ako. I looked like a bear kasi.

Made me frown because I hate getting out of shape. Back in my high school and college years I was obsessed with getting six pack abs. I was able to achieve only two. After that, I quit volleyball and then my body started to react negatively.

But now, I could only laugh at my body. It's not the body that I used to have, hirap na nga ako maggupit ng kuko sa paa eh! But come to think of it, with this body I could still win a best in swim wear award. Not bad. Hahahaha! I guess it all boils down to confidence and how you carry yourself.

Sabi nga sa isang TV ad, kering-keri ko!

Last person

LAST PERSON.

1. Had a beer with?
-- Officemates , co-teachers and former students when we were in Bagac, Bataan
2. Went to the movies with?
-- Lui, last year pa
3. Went to the mall with?
-- Ela, last year din. I prefer to go alone kasi.
4. Talked on the phone with?
-- Mama Jo, for errands
5. Made you laugh?
-- Jeff, lumabas kasi ang pagka-baklita. Hehehehe
6. You hugged?
-- Carl, dumalaw dito sa bahay kasama ni Mark at Joyce
7. You yelled at?
-- Ayel, ang tigas ng ulo eh

WOULD YOU RATHER...?
1. Pierce your nose or tongue? why?
-- Tongue, para may sensation ;)
2. Be serious or be funny?
-- More on the serious side ako.
3. Drink whole or skim milk?
-- Coffee na lang, pwede?
4. Die in a fire or get shot?
-- Get shot. But eventually ike-cremate din ako. So, both.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY...
1. Sun or moon?
-- Moon
2. Winter or Fall
-- Winter
3. Left or right?
-- Left
4. peach or pear?
-- Pear
6. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut
it?
-- Twirl
7. Do You Cook?
-- When the need arises.
8. Current mood?
-- Sleepy.

IN THE LAST WEEK HAVE YOU...
1. Kissed someone?
-- si Yzabelle
2. sang?
-- Nope
3. Been hugged?
-- si Yzabelle ulit
4. Danced Crazy?
-- Nope
5. Cried?
-- Nope

Busy week ahead

Middle of the week pa lang pero andami ko na kailangan i-prepare for next week. I have to work on Saturday for the dry run of the parent's orientation on Monday. So, much as I want to go with Mark, Carl and Joyce to Nueva Ecija this weekend, out na 'yun sa schedule ko. Besides, wala rin ako budget for that. May backlog pa kasi ako sa mga bills ko dahil three months akong walang source of income at naubos na ang savings ko. Hahahahaha!

Tuesday I've got to finalize the documents for CHED and TESDA. Early Wednesday morning I have to travel to Baguio for the national forum on Accreditation and Culture Change sa Hotel Supreme. Haven't checked yet if they have wifi spots there so that I could bring my laptop with me. Most probably I'll be back by Friday night but if asked to stay for a day, I might be back Saturday next week na.

My GSE application is on the way. Have to prepare for the interview before the end of this month.

Have to finalize my admin work schedule this week. Parang mas gusto ko na nga lang mag full-time sa pagtuturo eh, I've been given 9 units teaching load for the HRM Department. The Teacher Education Department wants me to teach Literary Criticism to seniors. Interesting. Gusto ko nga as early as now sabihin na sa akin para makapag-prepare na ako ng materials. First time ko kasi ituturo 'yun if ever.

This is the life. Hehehehe.

Task done

Before midnight last night I was able to finish the proposal. Gave it to my officer this morning, no revision was made. Ambilis ko naman daw gumawa. I like challenges. Bata pa lang ako pabaligtad na ata ang learning process ko dahil mas nauuna kong matutunan 'yung mahihirap na gawain kaysa madadali. I told my dad about it a few nights ago and as always, he told me that I got it from him. Talaga naman!

Good thing I made it last night. May committee hearing pala bukas tungkol dun. I guess my instinct went to work. Hindi nga ako halos nakatulog kagabi, hindi naman pagod ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. Too much coffee in my system probably. Yari na naman ako kay Dok Arli!

HR task, at last

Finally, a task that requires analysis! I've been bored to death doing clerical work that I almost gave myself away this afternoon when I heard the task given to my HR Management Officer. He's being asked to prepare a proposal for the salary scale of instructors. He's got apprehensions because he hasn't done it before. I've got the exact opposite reaction - I got excited. Told him that I could do it. I just need to finish all the documents needed for the accreditation and then I'd gladly take the task.

Sabi nga ng nurse ko, I should be thankful for having a job rather than staying bored to death at home. At least I get paid for doing typing jobs for computer illiterate professionals. Oo nga naman.

Oh well, three weeks to go before the start of classes and I can't wait. Mas masarap pa rin magturo kaysa maupo sa opisina at humarap sa computer maghapon.

Meditation

We meet to part again. I have no words to respond to this double inspiration.

- Wen Chao, The Clouds Should Know Me By Now

The email from Beliefnet says that this is a meditation for the end of suffering. I say, it could be. But I haven't reflected on it thoroughly. It just caught my attention.

Balik-tanaw sa Tutubi

Kanina habang nagsisimba ako, may nakita akong tutubi na dumapo sa mga halaman. Napangiti ako. Naisip ko kasi na nuong bata pa ako isa ako sa maraming kabataan na tumatakbo sa bukid para manghuli ng tutubi. Napagkasunduan pa nga namin noon na bawal sirain ang pakpak ng tutubi. Huhulihin lang namin tapos pagkukumparahin para malaman kung tutubing karayom ba 'yun o tutubing kalabaw o simpleng tutubi lang.

Maraming karanasan ang henerasyon ko na hindi na mararanasan ng mga kabataan ngayon. Wala na kasing bukid na matatakbuhan. Puro kalsada na lang. Hindi na rin uso ang taguan pung, siyato at tumbang preso. May PSP na kasi at Nintendo Wii.

Sayang, hindi na nila mararanasan 'yung kasiyahan na nakukuha sa mga simpleng pagtakbo sa parang. Hindi kayang bayaran 'yun ng pera.

Iba na talaga ang tumatanda. Hehehehe...

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Tito Ugin got cremated this morning, my Mom, Dad and youngest brother was there to witness it. Unlike yesterday's wake, the OWWA disciples were not there. Gov. Jonjon and the former Gov. Josie tried to pay their last visit at Funeraria Nacional this morning but were late, Tito Ugin was taken to the crematorium early on.

Dad gave the eulogy and delivered the message that Tito Ugin would have said to those present "Itapon ninyo ako sa ilog. Huwag kayong mamroblema. I've done what I could in this lifetime. Ngayong patay na ako, hayaan ninyong Diyos ang mamroblema sa akin." Next to Tito Junior, I admire this person a lot for his rock solid principles.

Now that he's gone, my dad's got a big problem. Naging dependent kasi siya kay Tito Ugin when it comes to documentation of their training. Dad just feeds in ideas to Tito Ugin and then Tito Ugin puts it into writing. No training would be complete without proper reporting and documentation. Sabi nga ni Dad, sigurado daw na pinagtatawanan siya ni Tito Ugin ngayon. Aileen (ang anak-anakan ni Tito), gave Dad Tito Ugin's laptop and cellphone. All the training materials are there in the laptop. Andami nga nagkaka interes sa laptop na 'yun pero ibinigay ni Aileen kay dad. Kaya nga ngayon, nagpapaturo ang tatay ko na gumamit ng computer. Ang tigas pa mandin ng ulo nun! Matagal ko na tinuturuan pero ayaw. But now, he's forced to use it.

Just about now, I created an email account for my Dad. But I told my Mom to teach my Dad how to use the computer. Kaya andun sila ngayon sa sala, binubutingting ang laptop. Buti pa nga si Ma, maalam sa computer. Si Dad, zero knowledge talaga.

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Specially if the learner has superiority complex. Whew!

Do not go after the past,
Nor lose yourself in the future.
For the past no longer exists,
And the future is not yet here.
By looking deeply at things just as they are,
In this moment, here and now,
The seeker lives calmly and freely.
You should be attentive today,
For waiting until tomorrow is too late.
Death can come and take us by surprise--
How can we gainsay it?
The one who knows
How to live attentively
Night and day
Is the one who knows
The best way to be independent.

- Bhaddekaratta Sutra

Goodbye Tito Ugin

My Dad was very eager to go to QC this morning to see Tito Ugin. They have a scheduled training at OWWA this May and they haven't talked about the training module yet. The past week Tito Ugin said he couldn't come here because he doesn't have funds to do so. So my Dad decided to come over at his house this morning.

When my Dad went home before lunch we were all shocked by the news - Tito Ugin was found dead in his apartment this morning. His computer was open but he was lying on the floor with vomit in the floor. According to his neighbors they were calling him out last night but he didn't answer. So they thought he was out of the house. He lives alone. His family is in the USA. He's an American but he gave up his citizenship and decided to become a Filipino. He was a very principled man, he lived like a saint. Nobody could ever shake his principles, not even my Dad. What my Dad has become, we owe it all to Tito Ugin.

But he's gone now. His body is still at the crime lab. My Dad's grieving silently.

What will happen next? I don't know. But we have to move on.

Topak

"Life is part positive and part negative. Suppose you went to hear a symphony orchestra and all they played were the little, happy, high notes? Would you leave soon? Let me hear the rumble of the bass, the crash of the cymbals, and the minor keys."
- Jim Rohn