A Little More Time

When there comes an opportunity to help your friends even in small things, make sure to act on them for there is no way of saying if there will be next time— spiralcurls

Hardly breathing to survive under the massive schoolwork that had avalanched from my graduate degree, I have decided to lurk in 4amt90 yahoo group except for some birthday greetings.  Hence, amidst the teasing and greetings for Karl Zafra’s dies natalis, I only crack a few in one message and posted an announcement of the latest blog post.  But then by July 20, 2010, a message that was posted somewhat poked me:

Hello, classmates!

DJ Jenny is in town! And she’s hoping to see us! Pls. make urself available on July 30, Friday night 4 a get-together party! Details to follow. Hope pwede tayong lahat!

JOYfully Yours…

Realizing that the day would coincide with my high-school meeting to which am the head of the communication committee, I opted to leave the thought off  until the closer date.  However, Joy had a follow-up message enumerating the names of classmates to whom she had sent the announcement and a request to help in notifying the rest because she does not have their numbers.  To this I gladly comply, thinking that Jenny will be coming from miles away and back in college, I couldn’t remember a thing in which I had helped her.  The chance had open up for me and missing it will later leave me wondering when the next will be.

God’s Time 

We need to be flexible—when it is God’s time, things are easy and when it’s not His time, things are difficult. (Sister Theresina in Mo. Teresa: A Simple Path)

 

Everything seems to be uncooperative lately as regards work:

1)      I was not given a teaching load in Culinary in which I have the passion for

2)      The president of a company disapproved of my consultancy service for a month

3)      I resigned to one laboratory to uphold my ethical principles

4)      Hoping to get a license from TESDA, they had made me go back in forth the road trip of around 70km five times yet it ends to nothing (cancelled class)

5)      Although a drug testing laboratory is requesting me to be a reliever, the drug testing regulatory board’s licensing training program however has all been fully booked until next year.

6)      The new university in lipa to which I applied for seems to prioritize Lipa residents

To sum it all, the circumstances were not with me at that time and so with this get-together.  All the more when on 23 of July 9:26:46 AM while in a jeep going to lipa, I received this message from Joy:

Hi! Medyo namomroblema si Jenny S. re. her planned get-together.  Wala ako iba maisip na makaktulong sa kanya kundi ikaw at si Karl.  Can you please contact her at xxx? Sorry, medyo limited lang kaya ko.  Thanks much Novs J

 To this text, I immediately called Jenny, but the line was choppy, so I decided to leave the calling again for later.  By 1:17:18PM another text message came in:

Hi classmate. Jen segismundo is in town and is ondering if you are free this Sunday night July 25 for a get-together in Makati area.  John Ledesma and **** (di ko na lang mention kasi may miss communication dito e) will be joining us too.  Please text jen.

Since I am still in the middle of interviewing the former CEO of Legenda Hotel of Subic, I set my response for later.  As I was about to reply to this news, a phone call came from a protester of my previous blog (hehehe  blind item).  Nevertheless, after a few funny bickerings, that call has confirmed that the date has been moved and some classmates have already confirmed.  Confident of a much agreeable date that was set and that things were already moving without me, I focused my attention and effort to my school report that has to be delivered the following day.

At the end of the day, I have concluded that God seemed to have planned that I must indeed be in this get-together for everything else made way for it.

Providence 

 “There is freedom in really trusting God’s providence.  We try to live in the present and not to worry about tomorrow… Our approach would be to at least try—and so often it works out” — Sister Kateri in Mother Teresa:A Simple Path

It was only after I presented my report in school that I get to realized I ought to find a place to sleep had I wanted to fully enjoy the get-together.  Otherwise, I would have to leave before 10:00PM so that I would not interrupt the most treasured sleep of my sister-in-law who does not have any help at home.  Joy however, already insinuated that she will not be home then and is still trying to figure out how she could be present due to a conflict in schedule.  I then tried texting Weng whom they said will be attending.  Her answer was “Sure ü.  May venue na ba?”    Apparently, that time, nothing has yet been decided as regards the venue, because the requirements were a place with Karaoke on a particular budget.  Hence, they were still canvassing then.  I however, who is now a fully certified probinsyana could not be of any help, so I simply abandon all the decisions into their hands on the choice between Red Box or Music 21.  To this Weng replied “I think d gaanong mahal ang red box. Nt sure abt music 21. Update me nalang pag mern na.  FF is wating din. Tnx ü” I then forwarded this message to Karl and Joy incase that information could help.  Then, despite the fact that the venue remains unknown I went out of the house to ride the bus that can drop me off Buendia.  I thought perhaps that on the road before I reach Makati, a text will already tell me where the get-together will be.  Indeed by 1:58:25 PM a message came in saying that it is going to be in Red Box Karoake.  When I reached SLEX  however, there came flashing on the TV screen that Makati is flooded.  My mind however, begins to console me that the road that I will be passing through to Red Box would not be flooded.  But upon reaching Makati, along the road beside the railway, I saw a man wading through the flood at waste level.  I took a few photos to record the condition with which the get-together will take place.

  Then when the bus stopped at Buendia, I told the driver am going down.  The driver then replied the already obvious “Ma’am, tubig po yan,” so I responded “OO, tubig nga pero dito ako dapat bumaba.”  The bus driver could not do anything but to open the door and let me out.  The water into which I let my feet sink is nevertheless only around 5 inches deep and not wide.  I immediately walk towards the railroad where there is no water.  The next ordeal is to find a taxi that will drive me to the area.  Taxis however is not easy to find on those conditions because many commuters are chasing them as well.  While, I walk back and forth for a ride, a client phoned me.  To accommodate his inquiries however, I cannot be doing it while am still catching a ride, hence I walked towards the railroad station and find a bench to sit.  For approximately 30 minutes to an hour, I did a consultancy job among the flooding street of Buendia.  After that conversation, I got up again and decided to ride the jeep instead.  Having been a non-Manila resident for six years, I am no longer familiar with the Karaoke establishments.  All I remembered was, that in a phone conversation with Joy, the Bel-air road was mentioned.  Hence, I took a jeep that would pass Bel-air.  Good thing Karl phoned in and so I realized I need to get out of the jeep when I reach Makati Medical Center, then from there get a taxi to go to Greenbelt.  When I got out of the jeep, I decided to check my phone for the text message of the venue.  There it was written:

Hi classmates! See you all tonight at Red Box Karaoke.  3F Greenbelt 3.  Ayala Center, Makati.  Between 7-8PM

It was only then that I realized that everything I need to make it to the get-together has actually been well provided for… it was in my judgment that I erred as regards address.

REDezvous

“♪♫…Give it a time, Just a little more time, Well be together…♪♫”  — from the lyrics of Closer, You and I by Gino Padilla

Prior to reaching the site, I was bothered in recalling the message posted a day ago but which I was able to check only on my way to Manila:

hello creatures!!! !!!

 

im still alive…and confused…. re-jenny segismundo get-2gether.

ayon kay nova, july 30, friday. tanda ko sa text ni karl, july 25, sunday. Si john iba yata calendar, july 26 SATURDAY????

 

Dennis

Leah’s reply via e-mail however also manifests that she got lost in all the messaging that had happened.  As I was about to text them, a message from Leah has arrived.  I then have to apologize in assuming that the news reached them when someone phoned me the list of attendees.  After that text I was left with a guilt that if Leah did not make it today, the fault is in me—again in my judgment.

Soon enough I found myself in front of a well lighted upper class mall.  Garbed in a black Thai inspired blouse matched with a dark earthcolor Indian embroidered red and blue skirt, I would have fit well in that surrounding if not for the big backpack that I carry.  Nevertheless, I could still pass for a backpacker foreigner who just arrived from the airport.  Hence, I asked the concierge with a mixed foreign accent “Where can I find Music Box?”  I received a blank stare perhaps wondering if I am asking where I can buy a music box.  Yet, immediately, I corrected myself “I mean Red Box.”  With a smile they gladly gave me directions.  Upon reaching the third floor, I called on Karl to asked if he is already at the site.  Apparently it turned out that I arrived ahead of him, so I decided to pass by the powder room to freshen up.  Afterwards, I then walked towards Red Box and there I found Karl Zafra already checking the rooms.  After having inquired about the rates of the rooms and the buffet, we decided to occupy the room for 10 for the mean time because he was not sure if all who confirmed will make it due to the flood.  I however could no longer wait for the others to come in order to eat, otherwise my gastric juices will provoke the whooping cough that had been bothering me for a couple of weeks.  With the understanding that the charges for the buffet is per head, I had no hesitation to approach the buffet table to scoop for a quantity that I could finish.  Afew minutes later, Karl also started to take his dinner.  Then  the rest started to arrive.  Among the first ones (if I remembered right) were: Rachel and FF Pantaleon along with Rosalee Eng.  The Karaoke started to play with FF around.  Then came John Ledesma and Dennis Bascon (naku! Hirap na talagang alalahanin kasi masama ang throat ko pa nun).  JJ,  who came from Cambodia and Vietnam trip brought out his “pasalubong, consisting of fans and refrigerator magnets.  With that number of people now cramped in a small cubicle, the atmosphere became so festive, more so, when Jenny Segimundo arrived with her two kids.  I, having been situated next to the door had the pleasure to be greeted first.  With much charm she pinched my cheek and says you haven’t changed (siyempre dapat isulat yun :p).  In the presence of Jenny, the Karaoke started to work full time, the cameras begins to click and some decided to dine.  Then the rest followed: Rowena Lim, Leah Illada and lastly for that room Alvin Matulac.  With a breaking of one glass, it became too obvious that the room is too small for us.  Hence, the management allowed us to move to another room along with an upsetting news that the SOP for the buffet is that all who were in the room must pay for the buffet whether or not had they decided to partake it.  Appalled by the fact that we had been misinformed earlier, Dennis took the lead in the protest while the rest moved on to the new room.  Later, the manager came in to explain.  I however wouldn’t want to put the argument at length so I cut and asked if they are still going to charge even those who did not eat despite their staff was the one at fault.  To this she clearly answered no but the next time we come again, she hopes that we understand them as regards the SOP that it is difficult to monitor those who dine from those who did not.  After that dialogue, Joy Ramos came to complete the group.  Once again the cameras started to be busy.  I however, started to cough a lot that I have to go out of the room.  It took me a quarter of an hour before I realize that warm water could appease  it.  When I felt more relieved, I went back in and caught JJ reminiscing before the group his internship days.  John Joseph, without intending to be funny, had turned the group to roll in laughter.  For once again he insisted that he had his internship at Polymedic.  Puzzled with this claims someone asked where is that Polymedic? He answered “It is the hospital near Trinity.”  Then someone quipped “It couldn’t be St. Luke” and someone concluded “De los Santos.”  The latter solved one mystery that had dwell  in our minds for almost a year now ever since we had a get-together with JJ at Chilli’s.  There is however, one more mystery that he tenaciously upheld to which Leah could not believe she is hearing it.  Although, this mystery remains to be, it was quite an amusement.  After that stand up comedy of JJ, a song in the Karaoke got us all into singing.

“♪♫…The closer I get to touching you, the closer I get to loving you, Give it a time, Just a little more time, Well be together, Every little smile, that special smile,The twinkle in your eyes, In a little while, Give it a time, Just a little more time, So we can get closer…♪♫”  — from the lyrics of Closer, You and I by Gino Padilla

That part of the song must have spoken the spirit behind our presence  that it made our voices one in it.

Take Home Habit

 “Watch your thoughts…they become your words.  Watch your words… they become your actions. Watch your actions… they become you’re your habits.  Watch your habits… they become your character.  Watch your character…it becomes your destiny.” —Frank Outlaw

 In every get-together it has become my habit to always  take home something valuable.  This time it is lesson that could well be expressed in the words taken up from a book compiled by Lucinda Vardey entitled Mother Teresa: A Simple Path…

 “In the West, we have a tendency to be profit oriented, where everything is measured according to the results and we get caught up in being more and more active to generate results.  In the East… I find people (who) just sit around under a banyan tree for half a day chatting to each other.  We Westerners would probably call that wasting time.  But there is a value to it.  Being with someone, listening without a clock and without anticipation of results, teaches us about love.”

for a better view of pictures below you may click on each of them

Happy Fault

(My apologies if this write up has gramatical errors or syntax errors.  My pupose is simply to express freely my views on the event.)

“O happy fault… which gained for us so great…” —St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica

I have been full handed with the preparation for the silver jubilee reunion of my high school batch that I have been begging off organizing a small get-together for my college. While I was preparing the minutes of my high school get-together, a mail came in my facebook inbox. Dated May 12, 2010, bearing no subject and is coming form Albert Ang Ngo Ching. The name immediately made my mind access stored information in my memory cells:
• I haven’t met Albert Ang Ngo Ching personally
• He was suggested to me to add as friend in facebook by Dewit Lim (if my memory still serves me right)
• I saw some pictures of him posted in facebook with Patrick Alix, Ramir Abano and Dewit Lim when they had a small get together the last time Patrick was here.
• When I told Nixon T. Cabo Chanponco about that get-together and if he know Albert because I cannot find him in the year book, he answered he could not recall as well.

Nonetheless, despite that very few acquired information, the fact that he is a mutual friend to many MT90 batchmates of mine, I assumed that a mail might contain a usual “panawagan” item—which some had already did and to which I had willingly circulated to the entire batch mates who are in my lists be it through text messages, through facebook and yahoo group (sorry na lang sa friendster—tamad na ako dun). Upon opening the mail, the following message unfolds:

“Hi Nova, Patrick Alix just came home from the states and we’re planning a small get-together probably on May 21, no venue yet, I’ll update you nalang, hope you could join us, thanks…”

This message had me thinking because my memory presented me a very scant information regarding Patrick:

• I haven’t personally met Patrick Alix
• I knew Patrick Alix only because back in college his presence is something that will never get lost in a crowd

With these few data,  it had me wondered and lead me to reply the following:

“sure… is that get-together open for others? Would you like me to help you spread the news?”

Such was a start of a correspondence from Albert. A little later Dewitt joined. From that e-correspondence with Dewitt and Albert, I came to understand that Albert, has only spent two years in our college and since he could not recall much, thought  I’m a classmate basing on mutual friends from his section. Nevertheless, such mistake will later proved to be providential.

Series of Surprises

“Life is a series of surprises and could not be worth taking or keeping if it were not.”— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Despite a non 8cH, they nevertheless, insist that I attend because they said that the get-together is open to friends of Patrick. These words “friends of Patrick,” however, once again moved me to re-assess my qualification, if it does match… and my neurons transmitted a flashing “NO.” Nonetheless, I knew in one way or another, I could act as adapted 8cH and so I can be of help. Hence, I offered to disseminate this information to the rest of the batch through facebook, yahoo group and text messages. Consequently, tDewitt askED me if I happen to have contact details of some of his classmates. I then with great pleasure opened up my directory folder and texted one by one the names under MT90 lists. To his surprise they were a number and among those I texted the following are his classmates: Ramon Carmona, Ricardo Deang, Fidelis De Leon, Marvin Esguerra, Ramir Abano, Jovy Mamangon, Joseph Chan, Shiela San Pedro, Cleo Trinidad, Tin tin Uy and Fr. June Flores. Addressing June as father is another surprise.  I then have to go into few details of my source of information. The news came from Cleo Joson Trinidad –Cruz posting the following:

“TO ALL MT90 AND SECTION H

MESSAGE OF FR. JUNE FLORES TO US:

“ITS MY 10TH YEAR PRIESTLY ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY ON MAY 31, 2009… ALL OF YOU are INVITED to attend my 2PM MASS AT ST. JOSEPH CATHEDRAL, SAN JOSE CITY NUEVA ECIJA”

This message gave delight because it will fall on my birthday, so I toyed on the idea of attending. Looking for companions, I decided to posts announcements in some net-working sites and send text messages. None however responded that they could attend. I could not however take the courage of going there alone through public transportation because I am totally unfamiliar to the place. Hence, I dropped the plan, got the cell phone number of Fr. June from Cleo and simply greeted him on that day. After which, I could only regularly send some announcements or request for prayers of anything that has to do with MT90 batch.

Going back to phone numbers, it may came as a surprise for some 8cH that I am in possession of their numbers but such was a result of the previous get-togethers where I coincided with some of them… from MT90 get-together in Pampangga which was attended by Ric Deang, and get-togethers in Quezon province where Ramon Carmona is a townsmate.

Seedbed of Friendship

Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.
– Lois L. Kaufman

The story of getting connected to Dewitt is one thing I should not miss writing down, because such was not only the result of wonders of technology, but of keeping a child at heart.

While detained in my brother’s house when my nephew was sent to the hospital, I had no other way to kill time but to go farming. That time, I was still addicted to Farmville, hence I decided to let time pass doing the virtual planting, harvesting and visiting farms of friends when there is nothing left to do in my hacienda. When I went to water the flower garden of  Sheila San Pedro’s farm, I saw a male farmer tending it. I placed my curser on him to flash a name and there it showed Dewitt. I then clicked on it to start a conversation and here is how it goes:

Spiralcurls (that is my user name): Ei, anong ginagawa mo dito?
Dewitt: Sino ka?
Spiralcurls: Nova, MT90 section A.

The conversation follows but the details of which I could no longer remember. But such is one amusing event of meeting a batchmate in a virtual farm of another batchmate.   Although, I have grown tired of Farmville lately, it was once a seedbed of friendship with other batchmates.

Sweetener of Human Life

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.
– Joseph Addison

The start of a friendship with Mon Carmona is something that I consider funny in some ways. After almost a year getting frustrated in finding good friends in Lucena, seeing Mon Carmona walking along the hallway of SM Lucena way back December 2004, was  like seeing the road of hope. I hurriedly followed him to National Bookstore and called him formally as “Dr. Carmona.” He then turned his back, but before he could utter a word, I blurted out “What are you doing here?” To this he replied in a tone implying that the question rightly belongs him “What are you doing here?!?!”

Apparently, Mon has already established his profession for five years in Lucena, while I who although was born and spent the first 8 years in Lucena had long been out of that town and is only back for a year. Hence, that question indeed rightly belongs to him than me. Nevertheless, I decided to answer the question saying that only 9 months had passed since I moved from Manila. He then looked into my hand and found no ring, so I had to reveal that I took over the management of our former residential home in a nearby subdivision. He then updated me of his practice and that I ought to meet another batchmate Nixon Cabo Chanpongco. From then, is a start of getting connected to Nixon then to Belen Garana, Mapi Matias, Aldrin Nadres, Rodel Redor and Madonna Agra. Much later, some time in March 2008, we had our first MT90 Quezon based get-together in Pueblo por la Playa and an island get-away at Cagbalete the following month. Since then with batchmates around life in Lucena has become sweeter and brighter.

Making more Friends

Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them.
– Francesco Guicciardini

Ever since I started organizing small MT90 get-together and writing them in my blog, the task of breaking the ice for new batchmates in contact has been quite easier. It has even taken its speed when facebook successfully got integrated into our lifestyle. Soon, my MT90 group friends’ list has reached 10 groups of 20 and still counting. Then it was at its full speed when I decided to open the long been facebook uploaded yearbook Internos for exclusive viewing of MT90. Although, the yearbook has long been uploaded in MT90 yahoo group, some may not know its existence there or is not yet listed in that site. Hence, I decided to upload it in facebook as well. I however did not open its viewing for a long time because I still have some apprehensions regarding exposing the yearbook through that network. But when Albert and Dewitt sought my help to get to their classmates, I relied on the efficiency of tagging pictures in getting to other MT90 batchmate. It proved to be very effective that I have to add two more MT90 group list to accommodate friends’ request and suggestion.

Among 8cH whom I had acquaintance through e-networking were:

Jode Valero

For a time I had initial conversations with her via YM, perhaps when I was inviting batchmate to Pampangga get-together. Then through facebook. The funny facebook conversation I had with her is that she could not remember she was part of the Yearbook committee, until I finally posted on her wall the picture of the yearbook team.

Judith Gapasin

Initially, I thought I had only met her through facebook. Someone has suggested that I add her, and I gladly complied. From there, I could only have a window view of her posted pictures. There was one picture of her in fb to which I commented “Did someone ever mistake you for Zhang Ziyi?” She replied “Hi Nova, actually it has been mentioned to me before.  I am taking it as a compliment. Thanks.” Later, in the get-together, I realized we met at Mon’s place in Lucban during Pahiyas Festival 2006.

Armando Guevarra

I only had dealings with him through SMS. Ricky Deang gave the number when I was then cooking up the get-together in Pampangga. His schedule however could not accommodate such a long distance travel. From then, I tried to strike up a friendship but I have mistakenly taken his non-dexterity with texting as a snooty response. Later, when I was trying to use my acute gastritis as a way to meet other batchmate, his clinic hours never coincided with my need to see a doctor for my hyper acidity attack. The worse was when he texted back “Sorry but am now in KSA, I left Philippines a week ago.” His being in KSA was somehow something that I already anticipated, because weeks before when I was inquiring about Fortune Care, he already mentioned that he is processing his papers for KSA. Later, I would only give a thumbs up for any positive shout out he would post on facebook. Recently, when I have circulated the news of the upcoming get-together, I was surprised by his response that he would be home by then.

Buzz Time in the Bus

Often we have no time for our friends but all the time in the world for our enemies.
– Leon Uris

The final date and venue was set at May 26, 2010, dinner, Legend Seafood Restaurant. So, when the date arrived, I set out to ride a bus from Tiaong, Quezon bound to LRT station. While on the road, my phone rang with incoming call registry Mon Carmona. I answered and the conversation went (not verbatim):

Nova: Hi Mon! I know why you are calling.
Mon: Why am I calling?
Nova: It is about the get-together tonight…
Mon: (laughed a little) I wonder why Fidee’s number is not working, sabi ni Dewitt he got all the phone numbers from you?
Nova: Huh? As far as I know, she replied before whenever I texts announcements related to the batch.
Mon: Who else’ number do you have there. Do you have number of ***beep***(secret! Pero alam nyo na yun!)
Nova: I have the number of Tin-tin Uy and Shiela San Pedro but not ***beep*** Akala ko nga you have her number, sorry… Are you going to attend the get-together tonight?
Mon: Ok. Kindly forward Tin-tin’s number. I will try to catch up because I still have scheduled surgery later this afternoon and another one early tomorrow.
Nova: Ok. Hope to see you tonight.

Immediately after being disconnected, I tried calling Fidelis and it rang…  a lady answered:

Nova: Hello… is this Fidelis’ number?
Lady: Yes.
Nova: Oh… am just checking coz Mon said your line is not working. Thanks anyway.
Lady: Ok. Bye.

Immediately after that I texted Mon that Fidelis line is working… at the same time thinking that Mon is only finding excuse to indirectly ask for the number of ***beep***. On Fidelis’ side, it was later revealed in the get-together of  her shock as regards the call: “ I was thinking… sino ba yung tumawag. Wife ba nya yun?… Ang sosyal naman ni Mon kung may secretary pa.”

Shortly afterwards, upon reaching Turbina, Laguna, my mobile phone rang again. This time by a batchmate who would like to attend but is hesitant. He was asking who are attending. Then he mentioned the name of a lady (secret ulit… parehong lady rin yun as above). I answered, I heard she is attending. Then I tried convincing him to come, saying that I will be attending anyway. We ended the conversation without a guarantee his presence.

I reached Manila by 4:00PM. Since it is too early to go to Legend Seafood Restaurant, I decided to pass by my brother’s house in Malate, so I could put down my things. Later by 5:45PM, despite getting lost a litte, I arrived The Legend peacefully.

Fun at Legend

We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love.
– Mother Teresa

Arriving at the Legend after I walked from GSIS Building, I was lead to a table where Albert was waiting. Thanks to facebook, it was not at all difficult to recognize each other. Soon, Dewitt arrived, and he took a photo of me and Albert together. Then, from inside through the glass wall, I saw Sheila San Pedro approached a lady who has been waiting outside. She happens to be Khristine Uy.   Soon, they came in and joined us. Then Sonny Guevarra came. Dewitt and Albert, begins to size up the table we are seated to, figured out that it will be too small for the group. Hence, we moved to a bigger round table. Then, the rest started coming (can’t remember who came earlier than the others): Jet Gapasin, Patrick Alix, Marvin Esguera,
Fidelis De Leon, Jhode Valero-Tan, Carol Dy-Lee and Ramon Carmona. Each time one arrives, I felt like they are stepping out of facebook. Yet, when they come to me to greet me, I would introduce myself as Nova Alcantara from section A in order not to mistake me from Nova Asana from section B. Needless to say, but it is fun mentioning that among the ladies, when ***beep*** finally arrived, I immediately texted the two guys whom I knew are interested in seeing her. The other guy says he is already on his way while the other guy simply sent his regards. Later, I made sure that I get ***beep*** number to give to the other guy who was not able to attend (hehehe… may blind item pa).

Throughout that night the conversation was filled with reminiscing, teasing and laughters. I happened to be seated beside Khristine Uy and was so amazed at the serendipity of being in Manila and not in Mindanao. It happened that their Convention coincided with the get-together. Khristine kept me from being out of place.

From time to time, I simply listen and laugh along at the conversations, allowing them to catch up on each other. Likewise, I would take that opportunity to take pictures… those little things I know will give delight not only to section H but to some batchmates as well. These pictures were immediately posted in facebook the following day.

8cH’s Gift

A friend is a present you give to yourself.
– Robert Louis Stevenson

While I was uploading the pictures into my facebook, I could not help but be thankful for the chance to dine with 8cH who has gifted the world with jejemons… lol…Ok, kidding aside. Thanks, to that happy fault, that indeed it gave me so great a gift… A gift of new friends.

Album is posted in facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=172859&id=526157513&l=d58478b109

Teardrops

“The enemy of the good is the better.” So they say, and often times I would be corrected by some perfectionist to say “The enemy of the best is the better.”  But I beg to disagree… they miss the point… and so I dare even say “the enemy of the good is the better and the best…” 

 

What do this saying implies? 

 

Well, I was scrawling through the books trying to find ideas and theme for the almost a year delay of write up regarding my meeting with Myla C. Recinto-Napiza.  Yes, it is almost a year now since we first met and plus two months from the second time we met.  Yet despite having seen her for the second time after a year, it remains that a write up did not come to be, simply because I was seeking the best words, idea and theme.  That is what this saying implies, sometimes we are set to inaction because we wait for the better or the best.  But the truth is, “there are no straight lines in the universe.  Life does not travel in perfect straight lines. It moves more like a winding river.  More often than not, you can only see to the next bend and only when you reach that next turn can you see more.  The idea is to get in the game with whatever you’ve got from wherever you are… then make corrections and adjust the sails along the way.”( derived from Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker) Hence, I dropped down all my books and begin to write.

 

Part 1:  Provoking the Invitation

 

Although, I had already notified Judith Mendoza-Torda that I will be attending the town fiesta, after the consequential get-together during the birthday celebration of Alvin Matulac’s son, I texted Myla Recinto Napiza and Victor Morada with a greeting “Happy Fiesta!”  This is with hopes to get invited to their place had they decided to celebrate.  True enough Myla replied “I’m preparing a little something for the 20^th.  Do come to my place if you find time for lunch.  God Bless.  My heart could not help but beat faster for what follows after this text is the answer to what I have been hoping for… to have another get-together not only with a classmate but with another MT90.  More so, since I haven’t written anything about my first meeting with Myla, this is a chance to renew the timeliness of an article.  Yet still, I also wish to meet other MT90 batch mates who are based in Lipa or is in a town near it.  Hence, I texted RJ David, Nixon Cabo Chanpongco and once again Vic Morada for a possible get-together either in Judith Mendoza-Torda’s house or in Myla Napiza’s place.  Soon enough they all replied: Nixon gave a definite No because of the possible heavy traffic; Vic Morada gave a possible No also due to the traffic; and RJ gave a possible Yes.  With those replies, I put my mobile phone to rest, only to make it active again on the day of the fiesta.

 

Part 2:  Despite the Traffic

 

The day came, I took the jeepney bound to lipa at 10:00AM.  The trip is light but slow.  By 11:15 AM the sky is drizzling, but the Jeep drop us off in front of Mt. Carmel Church because they are no longer allowed to get in the city.  Hence, I started walking from there until I got a tricycle to bring me to the address texted by Judith Mendoza-Torda.  Soon under the searing heat of the sun the tricycle stopped in front of a house with a closed gate.  After paying my fare, I stepped right in front of the gate and found Batanggas folks crowding the garage.  I then flashed my sweet smile and asked for Judith, a few seconds later, they let them in.  I pass through a crowd speaking a thick Batanggas accent, then I was lead to a living room where Judith’s kids who from time to time are my chatmates welcome me.  They had me seated first, so I texted Myla:

 

“Hi! Am here in Lipa now, may I know your address so we can drop by later?”

 

She then gave me a call and gave me direction.  After which I texted RJ if he is coming, he responded that he will give it a try.  By 12:00 PM, Judith suggested that I go in the afternoon instead because she is coming with me.  So I texted Myla that we be going in the afternoon.  Shortly afterwards, Judith called for me for lunch.  I took a very hefty meal while I watch Judith and her kids caressing each other from time to time.  A little later, Judith joined me and had a few chit chats.  After I finished my meals, I went back to the coach where I once sat and watched TV to kill time.  Once in a while Judith’s son would come near and he kept me from dozing off through his mischievous moves of climbing up the furniture.  By three, Judith after wiping of her son’s tears managed to convinced him to be left in the house with their grandparents and aunt while we go to visit Myla.  At 3:30PM we are out in the street hailing a tricycle.  When we have reached the road in front of the hospital where Judith works however, we were jammed in traffic.  After fifteen minutes of waiting for it to move, we decided to get out of the tricycle and walk.  Soon we saw the signage landmark that Myla mentioned.  We then crossed the street and peered through the gate of a house that seems to be the one.  The house looks as if there is no one inside.  Nonetheless, I rang the bell and soon a woman came and let us in.  We then walked in until we reached a living room furnished with paintings, antique furniture and a Baby Grand Piano.  In that room, Myla is still speaking to a guest, so we took a seat on one of the old set.  The aura is resembling one of the resident house of a mentor that I have in common with Myla.  For a time, Judith and I simply scan around the place while I try to recall how I first met Myla.

 

Part 2a:  A different Nova

 

It was an ordinary free day of March 2009 when out of the blue my sister and her kids decided to go to SM lipa.  Bored, I decided to go along hoping to surprise any of my batch-mate around.  Hence, I did not text anyone.  When we arrived SM, I immediately parted with my sister, boarded a tricycle to go to Mediatrix Hospital.  A few meters afterwards, the sky brake into a down pour, crying heavily that had wet my sandals and pants.  I then arrived the hospital partly damped.  But upon inquiring, I was told that neither Myla nor Vic is around, yet was advised to try to catch Myla in another hospital.  I then took another tricycle and rolled through the rain.  But when the concierge called on the medical secretary, I was told that she already left.  Frustrated, I decided to text Myla:

 

“Hoping to surprise you at the hospital but failed to catch you.”

 

In a few seconds while already in the jeep, Myla called and so we arranged to see each other in SM.  At an agreed time and place, I then sat comfortably wondering at how am going to recognize a batch-mate I never met.  Soon enough, I spotted an unfamiliar lean lady in a pink corporate suite scanning the faces of the customer.  I stood up, hoping that she recognize my curly hair like how other batch mates who even if I have not personally met would.  Unluckily, however, my curly hair failed, and she left in a jiff.  I then immediately got hold of my cellphone to call.  While still two meters apart, Myla answered the phone and asked me where I am.  I then answered “ a few steps away, in front of you.”  Then she replied, “is that you? Wait, let me come near you.”  We then walk towards each other but the fazed Myla said “No, it is not you.”  As quick as I could, I uttered “You must be looking for Nova Asana of section B… am Nova Alcantara from section A, MT90.”  Those words dispel the what was thought of impostor and changes the alarmed face of Myla into an accommodating batch mate. 

 

Part2b: Mortification

 

Myla then invited me to a pretzel hub and ordered her favorite flavor.  Generously she offered to foot the bill of my order to which I gladly welcome (hehehe).  Immediately after we seated we started to get to know each other, as well as updates.  As the conversation progresses, she uttered a word in a phrase that caught my attention: “Let that simply serve as a mortification.”  The last words, brings back the memories of my fourteen years of ascetical life… and so I asked her why she knows that vocabulary, and she answered, she read it somewhere.  I then took the initiative to say that I was once receiving and giving spiritual formation in the study centers of Philippine Foundation (which I will later refer to as study center) which uses and applies that word generously.  She then admitted to be presently attending the same.  From hence, we started to talk about the spiritual matters and only then did she realize the reason behind the my zeal for organizing MT90 get-togethers or meeting a batch-mate… it is all is about prayer… specifically encountering God in each one.  That answer seemed to have put a conclusion on our conversation as well, that we bid each other farewell with the hope to meet again.

 

Part 3: Back to the Present

 

Time indeed is fleeting, that a year had already past since the last we met.  Soon enough, Myla’s guest departed, we were then called to the dining table to take some snacks.  As soon as we finished dishing out our share, we sat and talk.  Once again the update topics took the lead of the conversation and some few briefings to Judith on how me and Myla met.  Later, we realized that Myla and me springs from the same Mayo clan.  It is a delight to know that we are kins in someway.  Then, like any other diligent students of a study center, more so that the husband is the same, Myla cannot help but include spiritual practices in the conversation.  From time to time I have to brief Judith of what we are talking about so she won’t be left out.  In a few that I have to explain is the concept of mortification…. some practices like delaying of drinking water for a few minutes, or that of not using a back rest when seated or not using a pillow or sleeping on the floor or anything that will cost you only a teardrop are simple forms of mortification.  It is the practice of denying the body of some comfort to convert it into prayer… in this case it is the prayer of the body.  Hence, with the two latter forms of mortification… we learned to pray  even while sleeping.  When finally we had our “unmortified” tummies filled, I grabbed my favorite mobile phone-camera for a group picture.  Myla called for her daughter then to take our photos in front of the last supper that she painted.  After that lone single shot was made, Myla then elucidated us on how she learned to paint.  That time Judith is the one to brief me a little, because Myla’s painting mentor happens to be one of the owners of the hospital she is working for.  Nevertheless, it is not surprising for me to know that Myla took painting lessons because in the same study center we learn never to stop acquiring new knowledge or skills, because maximizing one’s ability is an act of participation to God’s creative act, which therefore it gives Him glory… and again, it is another form of prayer.

 

With that we bring our get-together to a close… and so I joined Judith back to her house hoping that RJ could still follow.  By 5:45 PM however, RJ called it off because he is not yet finish with another errand.  Hence, I decided to go back to Tiaong.  Judith accompanied me to walk to the street until I boarded a jeep.

 

Part 4:  Angels

 

At the end of  this narration, an hour has already past the midnight.  After that grueling self torture to fight off perfectionism, I feel very tired.   Yet, happiness resurfaced anew because of something I have accomplished despite the imperfection…of having written about an event of that has a tinge of something heavenly… I was with Judith who remains to be an angel catching teardrops but this time of her kids (Judith was in our drama fest who played a role of an angel chasing teardrops)… as well as to have met once again Myla who has a touch of an angel that can turn everything even tears into prayer.

Familial Relations

“In this call to remain cheerful despite the odds, the road has indeed been bumpy and rocky since 1998… yet once in a while God sends some friends who unknowingly turn it into such a delightful joyride… and in those moments it became effortless to smile. It was a fun 2009.”

This is the status I have posted in my facebook as I said goodbye to 2009 as an expression of gratitude to those who unconsciously been God’s instrument for me to totally get out of the nauseating cyclone. Thus, when one time asked, “How did you manage to get out?” I answered, “When we started organizing A-MT90 and MT90 get-togethers.” Yes, A-MT90 and MT90 get-togethers had made it easier for me to smile amidst the strong gravitational pull to frown. So, you can only imagine how my face lighted up when this SMS came:

“Kenneth Anthony ‘Piolo’ Matulac turns 1 on Sunday, January 17, 2010, 11AM, City Best Seafood Garden Restaurant 148 Tomas Morato cor Scout Gandia St., Quezon City. RSVP 0920******* See you there.” — 10/1/2010 09:21:16AM Alvin Matulac

A surge of endorphins went rushing through the synapses, eliciting excitement that innervated my right thumb to tap the I, a, m, c, o, m, i, n, g, ., C, y, a, ! and “send” buttons on my cellphone because I knew that such event will also be an MT90 get-together. Since then, I wake up each morning with a lateral crescent moon above my chin.

Part I: Joy Ride

Following a long tiring Saturday class in Graduate school, is an exciting yet gentle sound of my cellphone alarm at 6:00AM. In a jiff did I push the sound off so as not to awaken my roommates from their most treasured sleep. Moving like a thief, I put on my clothes with a humming of a song in my head. An hour later, I walked out of the house and boarded the bus that is bound to Cubao. After I have paid my fair, I pulled out from my bag a small magazine to read. Among the several words that were written is a line that I find worth noting:

“Good relationships are buffers against the damaging effects of all life’s inevitable letdowns and setbacks.”

“My Secret to Happiness”
Pat Livingston
Catholic Digest

Indeed, in this era where time becomes a most available yet limited commodity, relationships are very much placed in jeopardy. Work which originally is meant to sustain the needs of the family, for many, had posts as competitor that drifts the family apart. More so, for OFWs where time is even far more robbed off by setting them distance apart from their families. Yet humanities are not left helpless, for what lies imprinted in their every fiber is their being social in nature. It is in this social aspect that each individual forms a bound with another to establish a support unit rising into another relationship which seemed to serve as an extended family, we call friendship. In the context of friendship life’s journey becomes a delightful joyride.

By 10:30 AM, my pondering is interrupted by the bus conductor’s call: “Kamias!” Thus, I pulled up my bag to hurriedly set my feet on a busy road of EDSA. Soon enough a taxi was caught in sight and so I wave a lift and hence I ride. I then scooped out my mobile phone to read out the destination to which I will alight. A quarter of an hour after, I reached my goal.

Part 2: Ground Breaking

It was not at all difficult to find the place because the streets of Tomas Morato and Scout Gandia are well installed with sign posts. Besides, a corner is an exact point easily recognizable. I soon spotted the name of the restaurant and hence walked along the entrance hallway. At the end of the hallway is a wide function room divided for three events. So as not to gate crush another event, I approached an usher and she pointed to the middle part that is dominatingly red and fully decorated with balloons. Scanning the place, the empty tables strongly suggests that I came very early. Nevertheless, it only makes it easier to find the host Alvin whom I caught directing the event staffs around. Upon seeing me he immediately introduced me to his mother, who in turn gladly receive and engaged me in a conversation. Subsequent to knowing that I came all the way from Quezon, she immediately tries to strike a common ground through inquiries of her colleagues residing in Sariaya, Quezon. Sadly however, all the names she mentioned did not ring any bell. A generation gap, I would say. Nevertheless, such a conversation became a good ground breaking moment for some of the Matulac’s current and basic info be encapsulated and buried in my gray matters.

 

Part 3: Little Heroes against Killing Time

A few minutes later, relatives of Alvin started coming in. Aware of the duty that Dra. Matulac must welcome them; I cheerfully excuse myself in order to take pictures of Alvin’s two little girls: Charmaine (if I remember right) and Angel, the small and female version of Alvin. Garbed in wonder woman costume, the two little girls looked so adorable; I couldn’t resist taking pictures of them. Then, there came Alvin’s wife with the birthday boy Kenneth. Foreseeing the fact that Kenneth will be too busy later for a photo shoot with me, I ran after the yaya carrying him and begged that I take a close photo with him. Despite elusive, I was quite successful in taking a digital image of a one year old boy wearing a superman suite. Shortly afterwards, the official photographer called on the nanny to bring the boy to the stage for a photo shoot. I tail along for some shots of the little superhero with his doting parents and sisters. That time, the kids became my little heroes that prevented me from killing time.

Part 4: Table Talk

As we approach middle of the day, visitors started to swarm, so are my classmates. If my memory serves me right, it was Joy Ramos-Igarta who was the first among my classmates to arrive, she is accompanied by her husband Hector. Then Rowena Lim, followed by Jacqueline Mariano with two kids arrived. As the food started pouring in, Michael Lui came in with his wife and kids, followed by Judith Mendoza-Torda who incredibly brought along her four kids all the way from Lipa, Batanggas. Much later, Rosalee Eng-Doctor came with her sister, daughter and husband. Rosallee however, had to take the other table because ours were already filled. Judith on the otherhand, was compelled to stay with her son at the kids’ table. At the start of the kid’s game, so are our lunches (Yes, lunches because it is like an unlimited load). Before a “very” lazy susan (turn table), Jacquie gave a “hyper-active” table talk. As the food is endlessly laid on our tables, so did Jacque fill the air with her funny war stories. For a time I felt like a journalist attending a press conference with Annabel Rama. As we reached the popping point of our waist buttons, our eyes got glued to the spell binding performance of the magician’s hand. All the guests, even that of neighboring function room got their gaze hooked in the hope to discover the trick behind the illusions. But the magician proved that he can move faster than our mind can process and so our hands were moved to clap. Later, when the magician bade his goodbye the guests were also beginning to bid adieu. So in haste did I approach another table where Joy said a batch mate is seated. I tapped her at the shoulder, introduced myself and so did she. She happened to be Bejette Mallari of Section B-MT90. Upon getting to know this basic information, I immediately mention two B-MT90 based in Quezon: Mapi Matias and Nixon Cabo Chanpongco. Hearing of them she became more comfortable to consent to having her photo taken with me and so we posed. Unfortunately, I feel I have taken much of her time from her companion that I did not further extend my conversation with her to get her contact details and so I went back to my classmates. Nevertheless, that brief moment of meeting another batch-mate and a picture with her is a bonus enough that may even give delight to other batch-mates. Together with my classmates, we decided to stay longer so that we can have a few time with Alvin. By 3:30 PM, we all bid our farewells.

Part 5: Reflection on Family

It is quite refreshing to see friends bring along their family to take part of the celebration of another family. It is in these gatherings where I see my batch-mate not as how we were back in college but as how they are now… as parents who had gone a long way and has grown wise with it. I have seen how Judith who despite her size amazes me with her dedication for her four kids; Jacquie wonder mom; Rosalee, deity of sweetness to her sister and daughter; Rowena is super in understanding; Michael Lui, a non-exacting father and Alvin a generous one. As for Joy who is not yet a mother, her unity with her spouse is an aura of a harmony.

It is in reflecting a family that I get to understand the image of God as a Family, a communion of Divine Persons: The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. It is in the context of a family that I get to comprehend deeper God’s paternal love, Jesus filial love and the Holy Spirit who is the “spiration” of their Love. It is in the life of the family do I see how the Blessed Trinity shares his intimate joy emanating from the relational love of the Divine Persons. It is in these context did I made a firm decision to go back to my hometown, stay with my family and open my heart and mind to the possibility of forming a family of my own. It is in the framework of a family that I get to encounter God the most.

Contemplating on theis line did I get to understand the relevance of this get-together for me. It is to have a glimpse on the different manners by which the Blessed Trinity dwells in the life of my batch mates’ family.

Part 6:  Picture Gallery (click on photo for better view)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

in this “call” to remain cheerful despite the odds, the road has indeed been bumpy and rocky since 1998…. Once in a while God send some kins and friends to turn it into such a delightful joyride… and in that moment it became effortless to smile…It was a fun 2009!…. Gratias tibi Deus!…. Happy New Year everybody!!!

Passing Unnoticed

***Before you go on reading…kindly take note that SOME  OF THE CONVERSATIONS PARTICULARLY IN SCRIPT FORM are not the exact details that transpired… it is written down based on how far my memory can reconstruct the event***

At the height of bickering over the defective and destructive system of opening of major water dams that had caused extensive flooding in the Philippines, I kept my fingers crossed… not that I am guilty of opening its gateways but like the water in the dam my meetings and working engagements started to swell up and are about to reach its critical level.  For the month of November I am already anticipating the following event to come:

1)      filling in for work in the laboratory seven times a week while the Laboratory Technician is on a maternity leave;

2)      flying to Palawan for a work project (or a blind date?) arranged by Jong (Jesus Ong)    

3)      start of my classes in Master in Management major in Hotel and Restaurant Management

4)      start of printing business with my sister

5)      and a tourguide to the in laws of my brother to Pueblo por la Playa

Hence, Carmen’s announcement of her coming and calling of a get-together brought my crossed fingers to turn blue. 

The Core-respondents

Monday, 19^th of October 2009, I had my thumb set out to do its routine— pressed onto the WAP button that automatically launch my mobile phone to connect to Mini Opera browser—the fastest and most efficient way I can browse the net through cellular phone.  In no time did my 3 x 3 mm screen flashed to my yahoo mail.  Soon, I scrolled down the lists of mails to check for relevant ones.  Among the numerous letters, I found this entry: carmen cordis [4amtust90] get together.  Immediately, I clicked on it and the message box unfolds:

Hi Classmates!

 I am coming home this Nov. 9 to visit my mom for 2 weeks lang.  Sa Nov. 11 Wed. around 7pm, my family will be at Jollibee (Scout Borromeo corner Quezon Ave.) by the National bookstore. Parang belated “birthday party” para sa anak kong bunso. (they like Jollibee so my sister suggested to give him a party there).

Anyway, in case any of you kababayan wanna come and join with your family/kids all are welcome! Hopefully, some of you can come…even the unattached and no kids yet…  and no gifts required just your pretty faces are enough…

Just email me back if you are available guys…would love to catch up face to face (not just by facebook!).

See you soon!!

Carmen aka druggy aka chi

PS…I know so korny naman sa Jollibee…but hey maybe we can plan for Thai food before I leave if you guys prefer that.

As expected, this mail is followed by an acknowledgement reply from the group owner, St. K (Karl Zafra), spiced up with a few teasing:

wow…carmen is coming over. pls no twang…nahirapan na kami kay joyf then (joke joke)….

a children’s party at night sounds different…..anything goes….

jollibee or tabi tabi doesnt really matter….its the company. mas cool nga kung sa UST canteen sa main o kaya sa lopez pa….hahahaha

nova pls remind me on nov 11….memory gap …para group text na rin

joyR pakita ka na by then….tibay ng jatci ang pinaguusapan dito

si doc alvin..lapit lang yun.

catch you then. have a safe trip.

 I shook to loose my crossed fingers for a stress releasing trampoline jump on a silicon rubber keyboard.  Eventually, such bouncing left an imprint that was then  posted:

HANEP!!! Patindi ng patindi ang kaganapan sa buhay ng 4amtust90…
carmen, i will be looking forward to seeing you with jollibee—ala pa akong
picture sa kanya e—hehehe… novmber 11 is fine, wag lang po sana matapat sa
launching nung kay jong, otherwise will i drop the blind date?… hmmm…
mahirap hirap na pala-isipan yun…—nova

To these, Jong reacted “emoticonally”

(Sayang Nov 11 is a wednesday. Kung weekend lang sna attend rin ako. magvolunteer sana ako maging magician  para makatipid si Druggy ng expenses . Tsetse… Can not invite Chi to Puerto Princesa, Palawan yet kc my barongbarong is still under finishing touches by Tribu Taong Bato . Sayang US dollars pa nman ang dala .

Spiralcurls naman, hwag mong idrop ang blind date! set ko ang sched ng mga goons kong kikidnap kay St. K. Sya ang chaperon con date mo! kc parang denidescribe nya ang sarili nya sa mga characteristics na type mo . To save the trouble of finding one to qualify. sya nalang ang pinili ko…. kaso d n nga pala blind date ito kc u knw who he is na… . erase erase erase….)

The rest of the lurking members of 4amtust90 yahoo group simply laugh privately in their own room/offices at their own time (aminin….), leaving us clueless of their attendance to the upcoming event.  Nevertheless, they still have thirty three days to find ways to insert Jollibee date in their schedules.  For the meantime, the e-group had become busy with birthday greetings and new found classmate.

Roll call

The topic of  Jollibee get-together died down for a while until November 9, when Carmen mentioned it again to invite the newly added member RJ (Robert John David) to the upcoming November 11 get-together.  RJ however, seemed to be at a loss still and could no longer go back to previous messages that he begged to be updated regarding the details.  Karl immediately responded with complete roll call of each and a reminder to me of the task of getting the attendance.  In no time did I started sending SMS to all and the following were the responses I got:

Gina Macabadbad, 12:41:43 PM- “HI! Sori I can not come. Am here in cagayan. Pls give my regards 2 all. Tnx!

Emily Carbonell Dy12:42:14 PM – “Pasensya na di ako makago. Tnx”

Jesus Ong 1:15:55 PM – “Sorry cnt come. But thanks 4 d invite. Enjoy”

Leah Ilada-Vasquez 3:37:43 PM— Hi novs bday din ng mother in law ko. Try ko habol. Tnx.

The rest remained silent, except for Rowena Lim, whose message I accidentally deleted.

By 3:07 PM of the same date, prior to receiving Leah and Rowena’s message I then reported the result by posting this message to our yahoo group:

“has sent reminders via mobile phone… so far those who replied are sure not coming… huhuhu”

Karl Zafra who is very much a Kuya replied:

            “have faith my friend”

Although based in USA, Joy F has  following remarks:

Just think this way, more for you to eat.  Good Luck, looks like Druggy (Carmen Cordis) has no acclimation period. Have fun guys.

Two days after, Nov. 11, 9:26 AM Carmen replied:

“it ok… understandable it is middle of the week night pa… anyway I really appreciate whoever can come…”

The Last Call

I could only be so thankful that none of my other engagements overlapped with Carmen’s get-together; the tour-guide project took place two days ahead, my laboratory technician has not given birth yet, Jong has not given the go signal to Palawan, my classes in masteral has not started, and the printing business errands are at a very flexible time.  My schedule however was quite loaded.  Hence, I was still finishing up work in the morning of November 11, 2009.  By 12:00PM, I finally decided to drop everything and took a bus ride to Manila.  I was so tired that I dozed off immediately upon boarding until a message tone woke me up…  upon opening the mail I read:

“Hi friend.  Carmen. Our classmate whom we haven’t seen for so long will be at jollibee quezon ave near national around 7.  Hope you can make it.  Are you in or out?  Hehe tara na.  Daan kayo mamaya pls.  Karl zafra at your service. Tnx”

Then I fell back to slumber.  In a little while at around 3:45 PM, the condoctor barked “LRT!”  As I wait for the bus to park at the terminal, I scoop out for my cellular phone and found two missed call and one message.  Upon flipping open the unit, I read: “Karl here.”  The bus conductor however signaled to the passengers to hurry up, so in a swift, I  text back saying: “I am about to go down the bus, will call you later.”  Upon reaching home, I fulfilled the promised call, to which Karl inquired for any attendees… I on the otherhand have no name to add to his list.  Nevertheless, the few that he has is good enough as welcome committee.

A Date with the Happy Bee

By 6:00 PM, after almost a two hour of rest, I went out of the house and took the LRT, MRT and Taxi ride to Jollibee, Quezon Ave.  Upon reaching the place and as I climb up the stairs to the function room, I could only recall an amusing photo posted in facebook regarding the popularity of a Filipino origin food chain which I now  post below…

To my mind, this get-together indeed attest to that… even the half Moroccans, half Filipino, USA born kids learn to love the happy bee. 

Soon I found myself standing before the entrance of a room filled with people I do not know.  In a few seconds, Karl Zafra popped out from the washroom.  We then entered the party   room.  Quickly did Carmen spotted us and had us seated at the right front table.  As soon as Carmen introduced her sons to us, in no time did Karl showed his prowess with kids.,, and indeed, it did not take much time for Karl to cease to be a stranger to Yousef and Adam.  They got to familiar enough, that Adam gladly accepts the extra piece of chicken joy from Karl, making a total of three pieces for him to devour.  Carmen, cannot but be skeptical of the eating capacity of her son.  Yet, to her surprise, Adam finished it all to the last bone, better than Piolo Pascual’s Max Chicken advertisement.  It only leave me fascinated not at his ability to stuff it all in his belly but at the extent of likeness to such a Filipino prepared food.  Such wonderment however got interrupted with the arrival of Weng (Rowena Lim).  She explained that she needed to wait for the lapse of color coding time for her to hit the road and get to the event.  Fast forward, Jollibee finally came in dancing… kids and adults started to cheer.  I went around to take a snap shot of Jollibee but my camera is not high-tech enough to match up with the fast movement of the buzzing bee giving me blurred output.  So, I stopped and be resigned to simply watch in amazement to his great talent for dancing. After a few showdown, Jollibee started to pull out guest to dance.  Weng and I did not escape his attention,but Jollibee was not able to successfully convince us to dance along.  To my mind however, had the crowd been purely composed of 4amt90, I would gladly dance the “Nobody”.  Good thing Carmen is so game, putting an end to tag-o-war game.  After the dance, Carmen joined us for a sneak conversation.  She explained to us the meaning of the names beyond Yousef and Adam. Both names were biblical in origin: Yousef is an Arabic name for Joseph and Adam for the name of the first created human being.  Looking at the boys, I told  Carmen that I feel like I am watching Kite Runner.  To this Carmen came to realize that she failed to bring along the book (such she promised since 2008 and was a discussion in a message board for two days).  Then she mentioned how she learned to cook Morocan food.  If my memory serves me right, she relayed that for a week she has to live with her sister in law to learn Morocan cuisine.  Then she go on narrating how they go about the shifting in taking care of kids.  Much like most working couples with kids living in USA, husband and wife would meet at the parking lot to pass the kids.  For this reason, Carmen is always late for work.  Then she coolly added, that a classmate of ours who initially had no plan of having a child is now on a family way and is close to giving birth (her identity is a guessing game… you may place your bet through 4amtust90 e-group… the winner will be the ninong or ninang… lol).  At this point of the conversation, Joy Ramos came accompanied by her husband Hector.  Since the couple seemed to arrived at the tail end of the program, Jollibee must have desired to make the most of what is left for them that he quickly pulled Hector to his side for a dance.  Hector was so game enough to joyfully comply with Jollibee’s invitation, while I cheerfully took a video of this few seconds of fun dance with Jollibee.  (Click this link to view the video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajBC9UqpQV8 )

After the dancing, Hector joined Joy for Chicken Joy dinner, while Jollibee signaled to bring the birthday cake forward for blowing of candle. 

When all is set, we all sang the birthday song and so the candle light was blown. 

Fast forward, Jollibee bid his farewell. 

With Jollibee exiting the place, the guests started to pack up.  We however opted to stay for a while because Karl is still in distress over the little girl who took away the Jollibee mini crayon from his hand.  Karl had skillfully hide this crayon within his grasp, but the little girl perhaps saw him doing so, hence she walked towards him and asked if she could take the crayon home.  It would be preposterous for an adult to deny this little girl this tiny treat, hence, despite his unwillingness to let go, he gave in to the girl’s request.  But it didn’t end there, Karl’s eye started to scan around the place hoping to find a set of crayon that was left behind.  Such burning desire within Karl for Jollibee freebees, were very much felt by us that the Jollibee wall clock hanging on the wall did not even escape our taunting until this ribbing extended even to the Jollibee staff.  Joy R. teased the Jollibee personnel that Karl is Korean and would like to bring Jollibee freebees to his country.  Karl’s look maybe was so convincing that the staff did not only gave crayons but two to three more items that slipped my eyes except for the mp3 toy that Karl started to brag about. 

Contented and happy over these, we now concluded our stay in Jollibee to go to another venue.  As we depart, I wonder over extreme fondness of Karl over Jollibee freebees.  These wonderment spark up my Kris Aquino mind to run… like SNN (showbiz news TV program in the Philippines hosted by Kris Aquino and Boy Abunda) I arrived at the following for a poll:

 What would best explain Karl’s extreme fondness over Jollibee freebees:

1. Could it be that Karl is far too advance in terms of rate of maturity that now he is nearly at the border of second childhood? Or
2. Is Karl hiding a Karl Jr.?  (which also runs in congruence to one incident when Karl asked me for contact number of  MT90 batchmate who is now an OB)
3. Being the eldest in the family, Karl must have been pressed to grow too fast that he missed is childhood and now he is trying to catch up.

In regards to this I hereby announce that the poll is now open for voting.  Pick your best bet answer and cast your vote in the comment slot below.  Voting is open to all MT90 batchmate, but for section A it is compulsory and obligatory… those who abstain will host/finance the Christmas get-together…(Peace Karl ;-p).

The Buzz

Upon getting out to the street of Quezon Ave., it was a consensus that we go to Starbucks in a carpool, except for Joy R. and Hector.  For this, Weng’s car was preferred.  When we finally found the right location of Starbucks West Ave., we all get in and waited for Joy and Hector before we place our order.  As soon as Joy and Hector arrived, we ordered our drink and Carmen foot the bill (Was I right? Basta ininum ko na lang yung dumating na drink sa harap ko e…. teeheehee).  Then “The Buzz” (showbiz talkshow in Philippines) set to action…  Karl as Boy Abunda and Joy R. as Kris Aquino, Rowena L. as Ruffa Gutierez, Nova Alacantara  as Pamela Baranda, Carmen Cordiz as the guest celebrity Gretchen Baretto and Hector as the only audience (hehehe)…

 

First Question (di ko ma-alala particular person):  Buti dina sumama son mo… how did you do it?

Carmen:  When my son asked what we are going to do in Starbucks, I answered all we are going to do is talk, talk and talk.

Nova: Smart answer (to my thinking, she is much like my sister who is a psychologist)

Second Question):  How did you and your husband meet?

Carmen:  What do you want to know, the truth version or what I tell my kids?

Everybody: (laughing out laud)

Nova: (jolted to the edge of her seat) ibang klase ah

Joy: (eye popping out) Ay may ganun pa pala.

Karl:  (eye sinking into a tiny slit) So, magkakaiba pa pala

            Rowena: (demurely laughing) teeheehee

            Hector: (smile lang)

            Third Question: So what is the true version?

Carmen:  Together with our other girl batchmates a guy pulled me out for a dance and  then we started dating… thats it… That is why I don’t want to tell my kids the true version because it is a story that is too fantastic.  It normally happens only in the movies and I don’t want them to get the impression that it is a usual thing.

Karl: hmmm… ayaw mo lang tawagin ka ng anak mong bar girl

Everybody: (lol)

Nova:  So what you tell your kids?

Carmen:  We met at the party.

Everybody: Ahhh….

            Fift Question:  You are practicing Med. Tech. right?

Carmen:  Yes, currently am working in blood chemistry department but am now training to move to microbiology.

Then the conversation shifted to the blind date issue.  As a recap, Jong claimed to have arranged a blind date for me on the occasion of the launching of his father’s Hotel.  Such became a hot topic in our e-group for a few days.  Now that we had come face to face I gave a more definitive conclusion to clarify some matters: “the blind date refers not to the person he is matching me to but the ‘date’ (day, month and year) when Jong is going to call me to fly to Palawan to assess their hotel personnel.”  Then the next question was why “sleeptalker” as my e-mail name?  I responded that the answer is very shallow “Bloggers (fyi for non techie, Blog is a short term derived from word Web log) give themselves a pen name to their journals.  For some who write spontaneously without thinking of structure and grammar, they would put a name that would best describe it.  I choose sleeptalker because what normally comes out of sleep talking are dreams that doesn’t make any sense… so if I started writing something that does not make sense… then please excuse me am sleeptalking.”  With these, I guess I have put the curious minds of 4amtust90 to rest.

 Fast forward, we then shifted to taking photo of a group as souvenir.  Thanks to Hector,  once more his dexterity in photography, served as a big help for a printed image of us to share to the rest.  Finally our goodbyes… but the Filipino ways always have pahabol. After getting out of Starbucks door, we hang around a little bit more at the veranda for final chat.  It was the time we started talking about how Ondoy affected Ramos-Igarta residence.  Joy showed us the video of her neighbor swimming along their flooded road to get to the market to buy food.  Then Joy concluded that, the Ondoy phenomenon is a moment when it is hammered down that  all those things we invested on are really merely material and they can perish in a snap.  To that we call it a night.

Locked Out Pondering

One big mistake I did that day is I fail to get the mobile phone number of my brother’s househelp.  So reaching home, the ringing of doorbells got muffled through her closed door.  I tried calling the landline but that too ended up useless.  Hence, I gave up ringing in consideration to my nephew and niece who needed much sleep.  I then opted to pass the time at the computer café to do research for my write up.

As I research through the net, I am guided by this profound Theological truth found in the first part of the Sacred Scripture… that we are created in the image and likeness of God.  This truth has been the soul of my writing… searching for that goodness (image and likeness of  God) in a person and the result gives me much pleasure.  Thus, in every get-together I have taken on the habit of looking for that seed within the very core of our being. 

Writing for Carmen however is not easy… not that she is so bad but that her personality  always escapes the limelight.  Indeed, when I browsed over the database of 4amtust90, I found written that she had to sew the hem and handwash the sotana we used as costumes for angels at the drama fest.  Rewinding the memory reel… it is only now that it dawn on me that while much of her barkada took the spot light as sultry night girls in that play she is behind the stage making sure that our angels goes to the show immaculately white. Twenty years later, hearing the story of her habitual tardiness as a result of switching routine, all the more did it confirm her preference to hide and disappear— hide her heroism and disappear from the list of most punctual employees.  Yet one might think that her telling of her own story seemed to contradict this… but to my thinking, with what she narrated a lot was remained unsaid.  It  only needs a deeper digging to get to realize the heroism that lies beneath the then and now…  Putting on her shoes, I could only imagine the pains she got after several needle pricks while sewing the five huge fabric of the blanket like sotanas that was too big for our little angels in the play.  Then, the scratches she got from handwashing those big sotanas in order to return them to the seminary in very good condition as if they were never worn.  Going to the now, isn’t it embarrassing to be known at work as a frequent late comer?  Yet, all these she bravely accepts in order to make life easier for the others.  I now then take delight in seeing that the seed of the image and likeness of God that was planted within her is that heroism that passes unnoticed.

P  H  O   T  O      G  A  L  E  R  Y

You may click on each photo for  better view

Jong’s Call

Texting has given me different roles to my friends and batchmates: to one I have become a complimentary subscriber to his forwarded messages and jokes, to some am the batchmate directory and event post master…. But to Millie, the wife of Jong (Jesus Ong), I am her prayer warrior. In fact, my friendship with Millie jelled on the fibers of piety. So, frequently I would receive texts messages asking for prayer for her lectures, presentations, her sons and personal concerns. Then once in a while, to celebrate the bonds of friendship, she would send a text invite over dinner either with her alone or with some other friends of hers and of Jong. Last September 8 however, along side with her usual petition for prayer is a question that had stirred my query minds to gyrate like a ping pong ball hit by a paddle in a swift slicing stroke. Although the question is not a matter of life and death rather it is something that insinuates an opportunity of a moment that close friends look forward to. In my animated SGH-E590 the letters came out flashing one by one “I texted you yesterday regarding dinner on Saturday 7PM. Do you have any suggestion?” To this I answered “Sorry I did not receive any message… A___ is a good fine dining restaurant.” Then she replied “Thanks.” Such a very brief exchange of text message left my CPU (Cognitive Processing Unit) to hang and thereby triggering my LED (Life’s Ethic Device) to blink… should I assume that am invited over dinner or am I simply asked for a restaurant venue? So I turned my  eyes to my FAQ (Frequently Asked Quezonbased-batchmate) Nixon Cabochanpongco for his opinion. Him being skeptical on the fact that such a short notice invitation would somewhat impels me to travel for 3 to five hours along 96 km highway, negate my incredulous assumption. His uncluttered mind that appreciates minimalist Japanese art succeeded to pacify the pendulum motion of the volitive fibers of my cerebrum to finally tie itself to the conclusion that I was simply asked for a restaurant venue thereby pacifying my LED. Yet the following day, the fickleness that goes along with the nature of my gender, charged up my LED and loosen the knots to free off a swing that went knocking down the lettered buttons of my cellphones. Nevertheless, LED lead me send an inquiry of concern regarding the asked prayer but enclosed within is the invisible inked text message (“am I invited to the dinner on Saturday?”) seen only by eyes of intuition. Soon enough vivid letters signifying gratitude over my queries of concern came flashing out followed by an outburst of combined letters showing “Cya on Saturday Dinner!” Immediately afterwards my LED logged off.

Letting Go

In an advance level of the college of virtues, a student will eventually find himself immersed in an environment of bountiful good. Yet amidst the world surrounded with goodness there still comes a time where one gets confronted with indecision. Such did not arise from a sneaking evil that penetrated through the thick fortress of faith, for evil in such university is never an item of choice but an obvious object of rejection. Rather it is the kind of irresolution brought by a choice between two seemingly equal good. One may think that since both ends of the scale are good, a preference to one would do no harm.  But the result of which has proven well that it normally ends up in suffering the pain of losing the other. The lesson of life is then learned that we indeed cannot have all the good things in life. But the virtue of wisdom does not settle for a simplistic favoring of one good from the other, and suffer the pain of loss; it further demands that the choice to be made must pick out the right good. In this stage, the second remedy is to be applied… ”Between two seemingly equal good where one cannot be with the other, the wise lets go of the good that will allow a greater good to happen.” This golden rule enables the eye to set its gaze on a greater good and consequently free the mind from such a crisis of indecision. Applying this principle, letting go of my appointment to a Satuday Open House Event in a beautiful rising elite city in Laguna, became such a painless and easy task. For even if it would be wonderful to have a brief taste of the life of the rich, but there is a long lasting wealth of joy that seeks to dwell in the hearts of those friends who will come to meet each other over dinner on Saturday.

The Dawning of a Get-together

In recording the Saturday dinner event in the calendar of my mobile phone have left the venue slot  unfilled for the SMS conversation with Millie failed to provide me with that information. Once again I pulled out from my resourcefulness to find words to ask the name of the place where the event is to take place. Millie answered that she will text me as soon as she figured it out together with Jong. That was the only time I realized it is a dinner date with a couple. Saturday afternoon came; I pulled my backpack’s wheel to roll along the cemented road of city proper of Tiaong, until I reached the waiting shed where buses stop. Ten minutes passed, the bus bounded to LRT Taft finally came in sight. I raised my arms to wave the bus to stop and it did.  So, I darted my way up and had myself seated comfortably. In no time did I start texting Millie to inquire once more for the name of the restaurant but my message tone remained silent. Nonetheless, I love surprises so I had my hand detached from the phone and pull out the bracelet from my wrist. I then filled the entire length of my travel tracing the beads with Ave Maria taking advantage of the whole stretch of the trip to pray for the concerns of Millie that has been spoiling her day. Hours later the bus parked itself to LRT.   From there, I took the jeep to get to my brother’s house for a stop over. I checked out my phone but still found nothing. So I texted Jong instead and in a short while he replied “Café bistro tomas morato 7pm CU. D ko pa na invite sina Karl.”  only then did it became clear that it is going to be section A-MT90 get-together.  S oon enough I received an announcement from Karl “ Hi Campañero, getogether tayo s café bistro 2nyt 7pm if u r free…Thanks = from doc hesus jong ong” Such made me to laugh a little because of a memory of a getogether organized by Jong last year.

Falling Forward

 “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”

-Henry Ford

Although sections are no longer a ranking during our college days, Jong lived up to the image stereotyped to an “A” section. For a span of four years and beyond, Jong has consistently soared the height of flying colors. Hence despite the consideration that Jong is only human; his blunders generates a slight shock wave echoing back with as a tease among classmates that may build up into something quite annoying. Indeed, last year of the same month, the getogether which Jong had been brewing for several months ended up served by her wife in his absence for reasons incongruous to his IQ (for a recap of this event please read the write up in this link http://spiralcurls.blog.friendster.com/2008/05/korean-restaurant-amt90-get-together-enjoyable-as-halo-halo/). This eventually gave rise to a lot of taunting but only for a couple of days, coz Jong who was already tormented for such a preposterous occurrence begged to be relieved of further injury. With fraternal compassion did 4amt90 yahoo shift its attention to Christmas ’08 get together. One year after, Jong who is much of a sport and a man with a successful mind, would have definately  learned from his mistake … hence I laughingly concluded…“perhaps Jong wants to make sure that he has set his foot in Manila before calling out the get together in order to ascertain his presence in his organized dinner party.”   Lucky for me however that am a friend of his wife Millie who in the face of keeping the hidden agenda had booked me for a dinner that Saturday so the announcement came not much as a surprise but like a garnish to a dish…something that enhance the date  I put down the phone thinking Jong has a funny way of showing how to fall forward.

Travel Considerations of Migratory Birds

When my cellphone flashed the single analog clock display at 6:17PM, another text message came from Jong giving the exact information as regards the venue of the organized get together. The message read “Chef bistro tomas morato cor sct gandia. C u.” The correct announcement of the name of the restaurant has finally deleted the slight confusion that rubbed in my culinary s quotient. Café is a concept incorporated in a bistro, hence the name “café bistro” is redundant in nature. Nevertheless, it is an issue that I did not give much of a fuss except that, had it not been corrected prior to the dinner time I will end up looking for a non existing restaurant. So I set out to the street opted for a two ride route: an FX and a taxi instead of taking the LRT , MRT and a taxi. Without getting lost, I arrived just in time that Millie and Jong alight their car. Under a drizzle, we exchanged “hellos” and “how are you.” Shortly afterwards, the waiters had us seated in bright mezzanine that is good for a guests of twenty. In no time did I started with my queries regarding their son and the business that Jong’s father is venturing into. I then felt so much of an advantage for being an early bird because I was able to take picture of the couple and I can converse freely with them in all confidence which would otherwise be deterred by presence of other guests. Taking note of this, we (Jong who came all the way from Palawan and me from Tiaong) ended up concluding that migratory birds usually comes early because they always give allowances for the unexpected and if there is no place for allowances, do it the other way around, like Jong did — announce a gathering at an unexpected time where you are sure you won’t fail your guests expectation. :p

 

 

 

Meeting the coouple prior to the get-together

 

 

Birds Begin to Flock

As time progresses, friends of Jong and Millie started to arrive one at a time (only MT90 batchmates will be mentioned here even if the get-together is not exclusive to the batch). I am extremely happy to see that Michael Lui finaly bring along his wife. It is my first time to see her. Her neon green blouse, exuded out a her refreshing beauty and yet spiced up her otherwise very serene presence.

wife of Michael Lui

Then came Willy Alba by himself who later explained that he cannot bring along her family because together with his kids, the playful child Willy would resurface and dominate the now adult Willy and would require a prodding to wake up the adult Willy.

Jong and Willy Alba... the glass wall reflected on the side of Jong

Then the full of life Edwin Rodriguez of MT90 section E came in. Although I have not coincided with him in any Medtech activity nor internship back in college, he greeted me as if I am more than an acquaintance and engaged me in a conversation that would tire up my zygomatic muscles from smiling and laughing.

Edwin and Millie... notice Millie is somewhat controlling her laughter here... kasi naman nakakangalay na tumawa

 Then Karl arrived joining the Chinese brothers who had flocked together… he blended well with them with his chinky eyes. Eves dropping, I heard him enumerate the trivial tips he has learned from them…from the cheap lunch deal at Lopez Canteen whose mountainous serving of rice has lethargic effect to the not advisable installation of aquarium in a room of study or else you will fall into a trance and will never get to study at all.

Karl Zafra and Willy Alba in Black Or White

 Finally of the last MT90 batchmates who came is Florante Manahan who always bring along his wife or his son or his daughter. His presence always exudes an atmosphere of serenity unperturbed by the rests whose noise sounded like chirping birds.

sorry for the blurred picture... it takes to know the camera well to get a good picture...

 

Boys Talk... di ko na alam ang pinag-uusapan nila dito

Thomasian

As we grow in number, guests subdivided into two: to my left is the group of Jong composed section A MT90 and to my right is Millie’s friends composed of non-MT90 except for Edwin Rodriguez.   At first I belong to Jong’s group which is somewhat a boys talk, the few topics I caught consists of BIR, technology, one event of a naughty adventure during college days. Yet one topic that I find quite impressive is when Michael Lui relayed how his Thomasian trained conscience objected in embarking into contraceptive device business even though it is a guaranteed way of feathering his nest. He said it is indeed a lucrative product but somehow his conscience finds it repulsive due to what he had learned in ethics subject while in UST medicine.

Jong's group

Soon, another ethic topic caught my attention, but this time the story is coming from the group of Millie. Since am seated beside Edwin, his animated narration of ethics in Medicine had my ears shifted towards his direction and nailed there. There he express his belief on the moral stand of UST against artificial method of conception. In those two topics, I begin to see the mark of Thomasian encrypted in our hearts.

Tickled by a Feather

When the night has gone deeper, the conversation grew lighter. Too light it seems that like a nitrogen gas we burst into long laughter.   By that time, Edwin has successfully engaged even Jong’s group into listening to him. Edwin it seems, is very good in class management for he successfully maintain our attention to him for more than an hour. Who will not be glued to a very entertaining and funny adventure of catching medical student cheating during exams. Nope, Edwin is no terror as a professor but as a proctor in Pharmacology exam he is a relentless as a paparrazi. But outside the exam, Edwin goes back to his being lively, accommodating, enjoyable and special preference to handsome students. Well, that did not come from me, he claimed it himself. He in fact confessed that back in his time as medical students that they would push the good looking men right in front of a gay professor to influence a favorable mood, now he feels standing on the shoes of that professor. Then he started speaking about the dilemma of perhaps almost all of professors/teachers to which I and Karl can relate. Whenever he goes out malling, he has to deal with a lot of guessing game…guessing who is this person who greeting me. Apparently in the mall, there is greater chances of  crossing paths with students especially of a big university to which he is teaching for several years now. But it is less likely that a professor will remember all of them, more so when they are not in their uniforms. Hence, most of the time,  he feels embarrassed within when his memory search engine says “no match found.” Yet despite his embarrassment to himself  his wit can turn a case into one enjoyable encounter. Edwin can make you laugh as if tickled by a feather.

Edwin of Section E making us laugh

Everybody’s Birthday

Just in time when I started massaging my zygomatic muscle that started to hurt from a lengthy laughter, the cake brought by a friend were put out of the box. The white snowy frosting looked so enticing that the conversation died down in an instant. Yet, serving the cake was put on a hold because Jong was requested to blow a candle. Although the dinner was organized not for the purpose of celebrating his birthday but rather to sincerely have fun with  friends, Jong acceded to the request. The blowing of candle however was so fast that no photo was taken, so I requested for a repeat performance.  Jong complied kindly. To the re-enactment we sang the Happy Birthday and captured the moment beautifully.

jong blowing his birthday candle... yes isa lang....lol

jong slicing the cake

In no time, the cake was sliced and it  revealed  what lies underneath.  Beneath is a layer of dark chocolate moist cake inter-layered with crunchy sugar caramel. Biting a spoonful is a taste experience of a creamy sweet frosting moistening a bitter sweet chocolate cake with a teasing tacky feeling of sugar caramel crumble. Such a variety of taste and texture compliments very well with the mixture of different personalities brought together by a couple that eventually led to an enjoyable bonding moments . It was like everybody’s birthday.

When we finally call it a night, Jong and Millie gracefully gave me a lift to the gate of my brother’s house.

I Slept Smiling

Despite the frequent get-togethers that section A had, every gathering continues to shed a light into the personality of each one (although this latter affair was not created exclusively for A, and in the presence of one from section E it such a bonus ) It is inspiring to hear that Mike Lui and Edwin Rodriguez despite the passing of years continues to uphold to the ethical foundations established by our alma mater. It is amusing to hear Willy Alba’s playful dealing with his kids and from time to time crack a joke composed of silly logics. It is heartwarming to see a seemingly cold Florante always prefer to enjoy the company of his batchmate together with his wife or kids. I am awed to hear Karl remembers the tips taught to him by fellow classmates even on some trivial matters. Mot specially am deeply moved when Millie and Jong’s gave me a lift from Quezon City to Malate to make sure that I reached home safely, a gesture of their special regard to this friendship. That night I slept smiling.

sayang that the glass reflected the flash... but this is the best group picture we had using my cp camera... nangangamo talaga ang camera... here we asked the waiter to take the photo

 

before Willy left

My Page – Offshore Outsourcing, BPO, Call Center & Contact Center Network

My Page – Offshore Outsourcing, BPO, Call Center & Contact Center Network

Shared via AddThis

Daughter’s Piety

The latter half of my March seemed to be loaded with events of A-MT90 get-togethers. I was already booked for March 18, 2009 with Alvin Matulach together with Judith Mendoza for a product knowledge class with A.R.M products and March 26, 2009 for Rock for Reason concert— a fundraising gig for Franz Pantaleon, son of Rachel and FF, when Joy Fernandez Ramirez posted this message last March 17, 2009:

We have a family get together on my sister’s birthday on March 29 at 11:00 AM luncheon in Max’s Scout Tuazon. You are invited. Hope you can make it. E-mail me before March 26 if you’re coming. Or, Karl or Nova can text the no of classmates coming after the March 26. My cell no in the Phil is 0919*******.
Hope to see you. Come early so that we can chat a little bit. We are going to the province that evening.

This news of her coming back to Philippines brought in great excitement for me for among all get-togethers we had, this is the first time with someone coming from abroad.

Part 1: Joy F’s Breaking News

Three days had passed and I found myself in a bus again going to and from Manila. Tiring as it may seems with the age that we are now getting, yet meeting Joy F. is something I refuse to miss. This is because among all overseas 4amtust90 members, she is the most active member. From the moment she joined last January 8, 2008 she never failed to make her presence felt. Her comments in fact would be an occasion of taunting and teasing, contributing to the life of the e-group. Among the taunting and teasing is her none vegetarian advocacy eighteen years ago. Yes guys! It is not a typographical error… when some women sought slimming salvation in strict vegetarian diet; she was a NONE vegetarian bona fide. So fanatic was she to the point of provoking rebellions from her enemies, making such a nightmare a news item written in the year book Inter Nos.

The next news breaking record made by Joy F. is the performance that rocked MT90 males. During the practices for the Drama Fest, Joy F’s acting lacks an impact that will definitely put her viewers to sleep. But when finally the spot light stared widely at her, she showed off her shoulders eliciting whistles and woos from MT90 male audiences. Such elicited reaction is a success enough to convince us that her role as a whore in a very Catholic theater is well performed. Although not awarded as Best Actress, hers is the Best Acting that A-MT90 will never forget.

Part 2: Enjoying Our Differences

Chime of bells interrupted my recollection of Joy. My text reflexes then made me scoop deep into my bag to fish out the device that kept me connected. Joy F who is not used to Philippine text lifestyle had her sister text me the function room where I am to meet her. I looked out of the bus and saw that it had reached Makati, so I replied with the information of my location. Thirty minutes later, when I have just gotten out of the bus, another message set the chimes to a play again. This time however, coming from Judith:

“Hey nand2 n me ksma ko n sister ko. Me p lng and2. San n u?

So I texted back that am on my way and to proceed to Mercedes Function Room. She the replied that they are already in the site of the event. In a few minutes my taxi, without getting lost finally made it to the site. I was immediately welcomed by Joy F, with a big hug and a wide smile. Her sister likewise greeted me with a great smile and making reference to my unforgettable curly hair. Then I was lead to the table where I saw Judith and her sister seated. Judith immediately revealed that Alvin is sure to come because from there they will be riding with Alvin for another seminar. This started a conversation as regards the write up of our previous get-together with Alvin. Joy F. however was still busy welcoming her guests, so I kept Judith and her sister busy by showing her through the cell phone the website where I posted the write up. This was however interrupted with by an incoming call, yet when I pressed to answer I heard Alvin’s voice from the other end but was immediately cut. Then came in another ring but only once as if the call was canceled, so I thought Alvin might be outside already. When I went in search for Alvin, I saw Karl Zafra in the main dining room of the restaurant, standing behind a glass window, with all smiles stacking money into the wallet while looking onto the function room. I then motioned for him to get in and he simply nodded. I then proceeded to look for Alvin but he was no where in sight. So I went back to Judith and she told me that Alvin called again to say that he is on his way. I then responded that Karl has arrived but have no idea why he is not yet joining us and is taking time in the main dining room. While waiting for the rest, I resume my conversation with Judith and her sister as regards Glinda Masajo, who was a classmate in first year but shifted to dentistry. It was confirmed that the number I have is the correct number of the lady dentist now. Shortly after wards, Karl finally entered the room. He was lead to our place and Joy F. introduced her husband. When Joy F. had left, Karl asked us for the name of the husband to which we could not answer. Later, Karl managed to converse with him despite not knowing his name. When Joy F. and her husband once again got engaged in welcoming the relatives, Karl kidding, commented that he will have Alvin sit between him and Joy F’s husband to be at the forefront of English Communication challenge. Soon enough when Alvin arrived, Karl indeed made him sit beside Joy F’s husband. A little later, lunch is already served and as soon as Joy F. joined us, she was immediately teased about her none vegetable diet. To which she replied that she now eat vegetables. Then another message brings the chimes to life. It was Rowena Lim-Sylato, asking if we are still in Max. I then replied yes and she responded that she will be coming to see us as soon as she finds the place. The soon she arrived and joined us, we had our group picture taken.

At Max Timog, with Joy Fernandez-Ramirez

It was kind of tricky then, because Joy F. has to juggle between attending to her relatives and to us. Nevertheless we managed to mingle a little yet too bad for me since am seated at the farthest end of the table I hardly catch up with what Joy F. and her husband is saying. All I managed to hear is the teasing she gets from her husband as regards chat that “You are not a teen ager anymore…” To this we chuckled. Then I asked Karl why he took much time in the main dining room of Max before he comes over to join us. He then told us that his car broke, but since he has appointment in Bulacan that he cannot cancel, he decided to hail a taxi and hire the driver for the whole day. The man complied willingly and he was surprised at how trustworthy he (Karl) must have looked for the driver let him get down in Max without asking for a down payment. For Karl, it was such a very easy way to escape paying the taxi if he happened to be a bad man. Nevertheless, in consideration of the man he bought lunch for him and that explains his lengthy stay in the main dining room. With such a story I cannot help but be awed with such kind of heroism. Judith and my approximately 96 km travel from the province is no match to Karl’s strong will to get there. Then the conversation shifted back to Joy F. it was quite noticeable that she speaks with the accent most call center agents are now sporting. Karl could not help but blurt out “I used to speak that accent you have now. I am now hearing it from you.” Such comment carries a reality of one factor that raised our eyebrows back in June 1986 when we were just introducing ourselves. His was a Fil-Am accent so crisp that type cast him as a snooty one. This image was further added when he mentioned the high-school he came from. Now, the world seemed to have turned all upside down. Karl now is very much a tagalong speaker with deep tagalong vocabulary while many of our classmates now speak the accent that once intimidated us. Life indeed has a way of changing people and with it we learn to enjoy our differences.

Part 3: Piety to Him Who Nurtured Her

The briefness of the get-together left me shortchanged as we really haven’t got much time to enjoy the company of Joy F. Moreover, that time her attention was on a tag-o-war between us and her relatives. Nevertheless, it was worth attending for such a short time we had a glimpse of her familial love and concern they have with their kin. In that gathering, I get to witness the enormous amount of effort his aging father exerted to get his wobbly knees to dance despite looking so awkward, so as to give joy to his son, daughters and grandchildren. On the other hand Joy F. in her piety responded with eagerness to record such cheerful outward manifestation of her father’s dealing with his old age. A week later, when I have come to meet Joy F. again in University of Sto. Tomas she mentioned that while they were in Nasugbu, they carried the old man down the cliff. From then I know Joy F. as a daughter who will never forget her roots, a manifestation gratitude to him who had nurture her, mark of her deep piety towards her parents… compliance to the word of God:

[Eph 6:2] they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is [1 Tim 2:3] acceptable in the sight of God.

PICTURES:

With Joy Fernandez Ramirez at UST

Joy F. scanning the changes in UST

 

Joy with Husband

The Arc of UST

Arc of the Angelic Doctor