To LIVE is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.

My 3rd Sagada Trip

JUNE 9, 2006  FRIDAY
KFC, MORAYTA, MANILA

8:30pm
Two rice bowls, two one-piece chicken and a Go-Go sandwich. Mac busily eating his chicken breast, Micah was texting, I think Gina. Rene, as usual was listening to his mp3 player. But it was Ermin who really captured my attention ever since we left the office. His eyes were almost red-shot, his hair slightly disheveled, and he was awfully quiet that night.

Haggard, tired, fatigued. I can use up all these synonyms in my vocabulary and they all describe what Popoy looked that night.

“Kanina pa akong alas-siyete, pareng MJ,” he said while forking a chicken-piece. I was wondering if he would ever finish his meal. We were almost through and he wasn’t even half-way eating.

“Ingress kami sa Rockwell tapos sa Glorietta naman. Kapagod!”

He did finish his bowl, but it took him more than 20 minutes. So unlike him.

 

AUTOBUS TERMINAL, SAMPALOC, MANILA

9:20pm

I was the only one standing; they were all slouched on the wooden benches. Rene was in front the giant industrial fan, sitting a few inches to a couple of Caucasian women. Mac was fidgeting his green backpack. Micah was talking to me about his boyfriend. Ermin was dozing off on the farthest end of the bench, oblivious to the noise of all the waiting passengers.

A bus slowly parked inside the terminal. I walked in front of it and checked with the conductor.

“Mac, ayan na bus mo. Sumakay ka na. Kelangan kasi 20 minutes before departure eh naka-upo ka na,” I told him.

He grabbed his bags and I escorted him to the bus. At exactly 10pm, the bus eased out the terminal.

10:10pm

“Musta ‘pre? Ok ka lang ba?” I texted Mac. He replied saying he’s sitting right next to a British woman.

Lucky bastard.  : )

10:45pm

Our bus left the terminal and started on its journey to Banaue. I was sitting right next to Micah. I tried to sleep but I could hear her restlessness.

“Problem?” I asked.

“Eto kasing kurtina hindi ko maitali. Nakaka-ilang,” she replied.

I looked for a rope or a string but instead found an unused plastic bag and so I offered to tie the curtain with it. She laughed at my silly ingenuity.

“Wag na. Eto na lang,” she said as she took out a hairclip from her bag. She held the curtain together and clipped the curtain tight.

Great idea, I thought. She would later forget to remove that clip when we later reach Banaue.

NORTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY TOLLGATE

11:30pm
Rene was sitting by the window and I guess he was already asleep. Or was it just that he was his usually quiet self.

Ermin kept on squirming in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep on.

“Ok ka lang?” I asked.

He just smiled and gave me a thumbs-up; maybe too tired to even utter a word. I looked over at their side and noticed a considerable distance between him and Rene.

Hmmm. I guess there won’t be any Brokeback Mountain action after all.

NORTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY

11:45pm
Carlo texted reminding me to check on Mac. That’s so sweet, I thought. Brokeback anyone?

JUNE 10, 2006  SATURDAY
LAGAWE, IFUGAO

7:30am
I woke to the warmth of sunlight breaking through the window as we were about to cross a steel bridge.

“Ang ganda ng view!” I heard Micah say as I looked at the mountains and lush greens.

Everyone was already awake and staring outside their windows. I prided myself with choosing to seat on the left side of the bus knowing that the view from that side would be better.

I could see Ermin had a good-night sleep. His eyes all lit-up, his cheeks rosy red and his Oakley shades hanging on his head.

AUTOBUS TERMINAL, BANAUE, IFUGAO

8:30am
“Ayun si Mac,” Micah said as she pointed to a waiting shed.

“Good morning! Welcome to Banaue,” a portly woman boarded as soon as the bus stopped. “You have to reserve your return ticket if you intend to go home this way. Sa mga papuntang Sagada, may mga jeep na pong naghihintay.”

As soon as I alighted, I searched for Jun but he was nowhere in sight. Perhaps he had already left loaded with passengers from Mac’s batch.

“Sagada?” a man wearing a white sando asked me. Sando on this cold morning?

He pointed me to his jeep while I called the guys to quickly board it.

“Dali baka maubusan tayo ng upuan. Kung sakali magbo-Bontoc muna tayo bago Sagada,” I said.

BANAUE, IFUGAO

9am
I was disappointed when we didn’t stop by the first viewpoint where Elena met her favorite wooden anito. Perhaps it was already late and the driver wanted the trip to be a quick one.

We stopped at Mexicali for breakfast. It was just a namesake of the more famous Mexican joint here in Metro Manila. It was near the second viewpoint where rows and rows of souvenir shops abound. We had our first picture-taking there with the magnificent Banaue Rice Terraces for our background.

Then we decided we were still not that hungry to have a heavy breakfast. All we ate then were chocolate chip cookies, Clover chips, and Ermin’s ever reliable big bag of Boy Bawang.

ROUGH ROAD TO BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE

10:30am
You can tell the first-timers from the veterans during this trip. They were uncomfortable, easily complaining and fidgety. 

“Malayo pa ba? Masakit na pwet ko,” almost everyone was complaining.

I just smiled and thought, “You’ll get used to it on your second or third trip, that is should you decide to come back.”

I was confident they would. Sagada’s all worth the sore-assess and dusty hair.

BONTOC, MT. PROVINCE

11:30am
“Ay, para ka lang nasa Manila,” I heard someone say.

I was right then, with my observation during my second trip to this place.

 

SAGADA, MT. PROVINCE

12:30pm
“Pa-Banaue ho ba ang way n’yo pauwi? Pwede ko kasi kayong pick-up-in na lang dito,” the driver offered.

“Thank you na lang, sir, pero pa-Baguio kami,” I replied as I handed him our fares.

We then went straight to the Ganduyan Inn and saw the owner talking to an Italian-looking guy. You know that type. A Don Vito Corleone look-alike who anytime could say to me, “I will make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

The guy was deciding whether to take the rooms being offered to him when I butted in and asked the owner if she has a room for five persons. As soon as he heard me, he said to the owner, “I’ll take the rooms.”

Then he smiled at me. But it looked more like a smirk. I felt defeated.

“Ano Mj, wala na daw kwarto?” Ermin asked as I walked out the inn.

“Naunahan tayo, eh,” I replied. “Tara, try natin sa iba.”

I led them to the next nearest inn, the Sagada Guesthouse.

I approached the lady behind the counter. “May room ho ba kayo for five persons?”

She said yes, P150 per person, per night. I asked her if I could see the room. She led the way to a dormitory-type room. It was perfect!

SAGADA GUESTHOUSE

1:00pm
“Alam n’yo, blessing na rin na puno na sa Ganduyan. Di hamak naman na mas maganda kasi dito,” I told the group as we were unpacking our bags.

Single-beds, adequately spaced from each other; lightly varnished wooden walls and floors. It was definitely better than Ganduyan.

“Kain muna tayo,” they said.

So I led them to my favorite Sagada eating place.

YOGURT HOUSE

1:30pm
After registering at the municipal hall and hiring a guide for our 4pm-caving adventure and setting up a Big Falls-date with another group so we could share expenses, we were all comfortably seated at the Yogurt House.

Everyone ordered rice meals while I had my favorite ham-and-egg sandwich.

“Naks, di talaga nagra-rice!” Ermin kidded me.

After having our lunch we went back to our rooms and had a siesta.

Bakasyon talaga to the max!

SAGADA MUNICIPAL HALL

4:15pm
PJ, our guide, told us to walk fast as visitors are no longer allowed in the Sumaging Cave past 5pm. So we were all in a hurry. Mac and I even ran, just for fun, when we were nearing the cave’s entrance.

SUMAGING CAVE

5:00pm
Fear. Excitement. Fear. Anticipation. Fear.

It’s all I saw on their faces. I told them a week earlier to wear old shirts and shorts, but no, there they were in their new clothes.

“J, di ba pwedeng huwag ko nang hubarin itong sandals ko?” Mac asked when PJ told us to remove them.

I told him it was better to go barefooted as the feet provide more traction on the cave’s floor.

We slid. We climbed. We crawled. We had fun. They were all shouting in joy, especially Ermin and Mac.

Then we stopped at the big pool were a group of people were already crowding. They were watching a couple of guys taking a dip in its ice-cold waters.

“PJ, gaano kalalim yun?” Ermin asked.

“20 feet siguro,” he replied.

Ermin thought for a second then said, “Ano, MJ, try natin?”

I acquiesced and Rene joined us. We slowly climbed down the banks of the pool while Mac was left at the top filming us through his camera phone.

“Ermin, talon! One, two, three!” Mac shouted as Ermin jumped into the pool.

“Yahoo! Ang lamig!” Ermin shouted. “Aahon na ako, ang lamig!”

Ermin’s swim didn’t even last more than a minute. I got scared. I’m not that good a swimmer plus the water’s icy-cold. I opted not to dive.

Looking back, I really regret not diving into that pool. It would have been one great experience that would have lasted me a lifetime.

6:30pm
The climb back to the entrance of the cave was much easier. We were out of the cave in a jiffy.

“7 o’clock nasa munisipyo na tayo,” PJ estimated.

I wasn’t in a rush to go back to the inn. Although it was already dark outside, it was very peaceful in Sagada. For the first time in my life I wasn’t frightened of being in the dark while on the road. Plus, being high up in the mountains, there were far many stars visible.

It seemed the rest of the guys weren’t in a hurry either. They were busy sharing excitedly their thoughts on our cave adventure.

SAGADA GUESTHOUSE

8:00pm
That night we opted to eat inside our room. Dinner was a few pieces of monay, instant noodles, corned beef, and pork and beans.

“Hindi ko ine-expect na ganun pala ang gagawin natin sa cave,” Mac said between sips of his noodles. “Akala ko parang ordinaryong tour lang. Nag-enjoy talaga ako. Sulit!”

Nothing’s ordinary in Sagada.

9:00pm
Micah and Ermin entered the room laughing after smoking cigarettes in the veranda. We asked them why.

“Napagkamalang artista si Kuya Ermin,” Micah said.

Then we heard a knock. “Baka ayan na naman si Papiyo,” she said. The two decided to call the guy that.

And she was right. A drunken middle-aged man eased his head through the half-opened door and started talking to Ermin. I couldn’t hear their conversation because everyone was laughing hard.

After 15 minutes, Ermin bid Papiyo good night then closed the door. Then we were startled by someone knocking on the window. It was Papiyo again!

“Umuwi na ho kayo. Baka madampot pa kayo ng pulis, may curfew pa naman,” Ermin said.

9:30pm
Micah chose to sleep on the bed nearest the windows.

“Alam mo, pag gabi, bigla na lang bumubukas yang bintana.” We tried to frighten her. I guess we scared ourselves instead for we slept with the lights on.

8:00am
Mel, the girl I coordinated with for our Big Falls-shared trip, texted me saying she and her group will fetch us in front of our inn. I told her we’ll wait for them instead in front of the municipal hall so it would be less of a hassle for them.

When they arrived, Ermin and Mac climbed on the roof of the jeep. They coaxed me to follow but I opted to sit inside with the rest.

But minutes into the trip, I could hear their excitement on the roof so when the driver stopped to fill up gas, I joined Ermin and Mac on the roof. Micah and Rene quickly followed suit.

That ride on top was the most exhilarating thing I ever dared. I have a fear of heights so each time we passed by a deep ravine or steep cliff, I would close my eyes and hang my head low so I wouldn’t see it.

10:00am
I was surprised when the jeep sped past the drop-off point to Fidelisan. After ten more minutes, we stopped and parked inside a covered basketball court.

“Mas madali saka mabilis yung daan dito,” the driver said.

He was right. We found ourselves straight into the rice terraces. Unlike the usual route, we didn’t walk down seemingly endless steps on the mountainside.

10:30am
It took us almost an hour to reach Bomod-ok Falls. Not because the route was longer, but more because of the beautiful sight. The rice terraces were teeming in gold and tawny colors. It must be nearing harvest time.

The magnificent surroundings we found ourselves into invited much desire for photo-op. That’s why it took us an hour to reach the falls.

I barely touched my digital camera because Ermin had a grand time taking shots.

“Dito maganda view. Picture-taking tayo,” he would always say.

After about a dozen of posing for photo shots, Mac finally said, “Nakakasawa din palang magpose.”

BOMOD-OK FALLS

11am
As soon as we reached the Big Falls we quickly removed our shirts and waded in. It was so cold! Mac lasted only a few minutes and decided he couldn’t take the cold anymore. He contented himself shooting pictures and videos while perched atop a huge boulder.

The wind was incredibly fierce that day, sending sprays of water to our faces from the rushing falls.

Ermin wanted to go nearer the falls but I told him it’s too dangerous. He just swam as far as he could and later jumped from a big rock while Mac was filming him.

An hour later and we decided to leave.

MASFERRE RESTAURANT

1pm
We were barely talking as we sat on our table waiting for our order. We were so tired and hungry after the long hike from the falls to the jeepney that all we could think was lunch.

“Sorry po sir, pero wala na rin pa lang pork adobo,” the woman said. We had ordered three dishes with the same result.

“Sa Yogurt House na lang tayo,” Micah suggested.

We walked down the road only to find the Yogurt House jam-packed.

“Pano na ‘yan?” Rene asked.

“Subukan natin sa Ganduyan,” I said. But when we reached it we were told they only serve breakfast.

We just kept on walking trying to find a place to eat when I remembered that there’s a restaurant inside the St. Joseph Resthouse. So I told them to just wait for me as I walked up the stairs of the establishment to check first. To my satisfaction, there really was a restaurant and that there were no other diners at that time and that they do serve lunch.

We all ordered their Chicken Meal Combo. It’s a two-piece chicken meal served with sautéed vegetables and generous serving of Sagada mountain rice.

We had lunch while gazing at the bright flowers of the garden outside the restaurant and while listening to the background music of Ifugao songs.

ECHO VALLEY

5:00pm
After a good lunch and a couple of hours of rest, I led them to the Echo Valley where I first tried to reach on my second trip to Sagada, but failed.

We passed through the hilltop cemetery where we noticed that the moment we entered it, the temperature quickly turned warm. I removed the sweater hanging over my shoulders and opted to just carry it.

The footpath at the end of the cemetery that leads to Echo Valley turned out that if we walked farther, there’s a part where the path becomes so narrow that your feet are just a few inches away from the ravine. If ever, the trees down there would help break our fall. I realized this wasn’t a comforting thought.

I asked them if they wanted to go on and they said yes. They were eager to see the hanging coffins placed on the mountainsides. Everyone was a bit scared, especially Micah. We had to assist her as she slowly walked down the path.

What made the path even more dangerous was that it was made of loose soil. It was so easy to slip so one should walk really carefully. Mac and I actually slipped once. I walked ahead of them and when I found a ledge that commands a great view of the hanging coffins across the side of the mountain, I called everyone over for them to see it.

The view was great but I don’t think I would want to walk that path again.

SOUVENIR SHOPS

6:00pm
As soon as we reached the town proper, the rain started to fall. We went back to our room and got our umbrellas. We then walked down the streets to the souvenir shops since it would be our last chance to shop. Everyone bought a shirt. I was then choosing between a large or an extra-large sized t-shirt. I decided on the smaller size between the two and I was surprised (and delighted) when I tried the shirt and it fitted perfectly.

Meanwhile, Ermin accidentally dropped my digicam on the street and the latch that covers the batteries broke. Maybe it’s time for me to buy a new one.

SAGADA RESTHOUSE

8:00pm
Dinner once again was a simple fare: monay, corned beef, pork and beans and a liter of Coke.

JUNE 12, 2006  MONDAY

BUS STOP

6:00am
We decided the night before to take the 5am bus to Baguio but we overslept a bit. We ended with the 6am ride.

HALSEMA HIGHWAY

7:00am
It was a six-hour trip to Baguio over long and dizzyingly zig-zagging roads. But we didn’t really mind because the Halsema Highway provided us with a breathtaking view of the mountains of Mt. Province and Benguet all covered in clouds.

Me, Ermin and Rene sat at the back of the bus. I wanted to sleep but couldn’t do so for a long period because my head kept on bumping either to the low ceiling or the window.

BAGUIO CITY

12pm
We went to the Victory Liner terminal and reserved tickets for our 4:00pm trip back to Manila. We then had lunch at Maxim’s Tea House at SM then had a photo-op on every view deck on every floor of that mall. We really looked like tourists.

CITY MARKET

3pm
Rene bought a small basket of strawberries and some peanut butter. Mac made sure he had a jar of honey for his mom. Ermin and Micah bought lots of jars of peanut brittle and lengua.

BURNHAM PARK

3:30pm
This was our last stop in Baguio so we had lots of photo-ops: beside bright red flowers and along the small man-made lake.

Mac and Micah bought native key chains from the street hawkers.

Twenty minutes till the bus’ departure time and we were still at Burnham Park. So we walked very, very briskly, sometimes even running, back to SM to get our bags. After that we hailed an FX and reached the bus terminal with three minutes to spare.

VICTORY BUS

5:00pm

I was happy, sad and tired while sitting on the bus. It had been a great weekend adventure and the most fun I had in years. It was great fun traveling with friends. But I also had fun when I went to Sagada alone My second and third trips to Sagada, although it involved the same place, was done with different goals in mind. The first was time spent alone for myself, the second for my friends. And third, if I may add, would be to introduce Sagada to every soul who needed a short but eventful rest. I would gladly accompany anyone who would want to experience Sagada.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at June 25, 2006 03:32 | link | comments (1)

I'm going back (again) to Sagada on June 10 upon the request of some of my officemates. They asked if I could be their tour guide.

I said yes.

I love Sagada.

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For those who would like to know how much it would cost to go there, here's a breakdown:

P 462 - bus fare to Banaue
250 - jeepney / auv fare to Sagada
200 - room rate / single bed / per night
600 to 800 - guide fee should you decide to hire one
(it's a must if you plan to go caving)

--------------------

I've now lost 30 lbs. I don't know what to do with all the clothes in my closet as theyare already too big for me. I've gone from wearing XXL t-shirts to now just medium size.

The best thing about this losing weight thing is how light I now feel. I played basketball last week and I can't believe that I can RUN after all. I've lasted three hours of running up and down the court. I no longer get tired easily. I felt so light that I even ran after the smaller guys and got to steal the ball from them once in a while.

Though I'm still not a good basketball player, but at least now I get to enjoy it even more.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at June 04, 2006 04:37 | link | comments (2)
basketball run

On my way to Sagada, I took an AUV ride from Banaue. It stopped on a restaurant there for breakfast. As I had taken an earlier breakfast on the bus, I opted to wait for my fellow passengers to finish their meal.

The video file has been deleted from user's Mediablog.

On my journey down to Bomod-ok Falls, I took a short rest at a waiting shed. When I reached the Bomod-ok Falls, a bunch of local kids were already there having a great time! I went on a solo trip to Sagada about two weeks ago. Its rice terraces, though smaller, are just as magnificent as those of Banaue. It's always a breathtaking experience to hike on its mountain trails. On my way to Bomod-ok Falls. I stopped for a photo-op but since I was alone, I just propped my camera on a huge boulder. I walked a total of 9 hours (back and forth from the hotel) just to once again see the great Bomod-ok Falls. Both the locals and the foreigners I met along the way were very courteous. I never really felt like an outsider. Taking a rest while walking around the town. Most of the roads are peaceful, free of any litter, and at times even of people. It may not be obvious from this photo, but I took this shot while sitting on one of the rice terraces. I chanced upon this cemetery on a hilltop while finding my way to the Echo Valley, which I ultimately failed to reach. On my last day there, I awoke to a cold and misty morning. This is a view of the town proper as taken from my room's balcony. Before I went home, I went back to the opening of the Sumaguing Cave. As I didn't hire a guide and since I've already been there before, I just contented myself at looking at all the tired people emerging from the bowels of the cave.

The video file has been deleted from user's Mediablog.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at May 05, 2006 05:39 | link | comments (3)
sagada alone

It's expensive to lose weight. Clothes-wise. A handful of people started noticing when I've shed 10 pounds. Now that I've lost 19 pounds all-in-all, people are already asking how am I doing it. My only answer is: More is Better. I make sure that I eat a helluva of a breakfast everyday. That's when I go bottomless-rice till I feel like popping. That way, it makes me feel full the rest of the day, allowing me to eat 5 small meals. And never forget snack. It is very important. I've also started to walk more. I no longer take the tricycle or a pedicab. Even if I'm tired, I just walk. It was really hard the first month, but now, even my usual 30-minute walk is too easy already. I said losing weight is expensive and it's true. Now I need to buy new pants (they fall straight to the ground if I don't wear a belt), new belts, new shirts, even underwear. It's very uncomfortable when your underwear starts to fall down while you're walking. My goal is 175 pounds, which is my ideal weight. If I can keep this up, I'd be able to reach it by September. _____________________________________________________________ If all goes well, Sterling will be publishing 2 of my children's short stories. Also a collection of bedtime stories which Ramil and I are starting to write. If not for these wonderful developments, I would have continued with my resignation. I hope my transferring to the publishing department would do me really good. I know we're not the best, heck, we're not even that good, but we will try our best. ----------------------------------------------------- On the last day of my class at the UST Graduate School, I passed by the Santissimo Rosario after I submitted my finals paper. I saw this poster inviting all singles to join the Singles for Christ's Christian Life Program. I signed up and a few weeks later, I'm still enjoying it. SFC makes me feel welcome, makes me feel at home every Monday night that I attend its programs. Participating in group sharings and letting out, letting others know your thoughts, your feelings, your happiness and hurts give me an uncomparable sense of freedom and contentment. I'm starting to know Jesus more and more.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at April 09, 2006 02:27 | link | comments (2)

COLD MIST

The sun had already hidden behind the mountains of Sagada and the cold mist of the night was starting to embrace all souls. An hour of rolling and crawling in the bowels of the Sumaging Cave left me soppy and dirty, but far from cold. I have been keeping malicious thoughts of a friend, deeply affected of her actions, surprised knowing she is not even close to the malice I have given her. Concern made me feel not the cold.

The heart at work gives warmth to the temple.

I walked and walked with my eyes fixed up high looking as the stars appeared slowly in the sky. Then I realized I have walked past the hotel I was staying.

I didn’t turn back, I didn’t know why but I kept on walking and found myself in front of an Anglican church. Its lights were on but its doors were shut.

So I turned around and noticed the two shadows emanating from me, both seemed to face each other as if engaged in dialogue. Is it wrong that I think of my friend this way? Is she really acting in the manner I told her would be the only way to lose my respect of her?

 

 

As I stared at my shadows I felt a rush of emotions; of guilt and disappointment of myself. I sat in front of the church and prayed like I never prayed before for another soul. I asked for forgiveness, for my weakness of spirit to have known better. I prayed that I was wrong, that everything she’s doing could be reasonably explained.

But I asked the Lord never to change me; to allow me to keep on feeling concerned and affected of a friend’s welfare. And I think that last wish He immediately granted.

I still didn’t want to go back to our room, even though I knew they must be worried sick about me. The night was young, the cold wind was just right for a little meeting of my heart and mind. I walked to the basketball court, sat on the carved out bleachers surrounding it. I closed my eyes and felt the elements around me.

Then I heard the rustling of paper being turned. A girl had sat a few meters from me and by the almond-shape of her eyes and pale skin, I could see she was a foreigner. She fingered through the pages of her hardbound book and when she found the page she was looking for, she pulled out a pen and stared into the sky. Every now and then she would write something then stare at the stars again. It was like poetry just watching her.

I just sat there looking at her and for the first time that day, I felt at peace. This stranger, who may be oblivious of my existence, never realized she had reached out to another human being.

Reach out. Have I ever done that to another before? To a complete stranger, that is.

“Pre, nandiyan ka lang pala,” I heard Richard’s voice from behind. “Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap.”

I instinctively stood up and walked toward him.

“May problema ka ba?” he asked.

I said no and started walking with him to the hotel. We were nearing the building when I realized I should have done something before I called it a night.

“Pre, mauna ka na. Just give me five minutes,” I told him and I went back to the basketball court.

She was still there. I took one deep breath and approached her.

“Hi, I hope you don’t mind, but I was looking at you for a few minutes now and I was just wondering what is it you’re reading or writing that is worth hurting your eyes in this dimly lighted place.”

She looked at me, smiled and said, “Can you please speak slowly? My English is not that good.”

I repeated my question. “I’m writing on my diary,” she said as she showed me a red hardbound book.

“My name’s Mj,” I said as I extended my hand. She took it and gave it a tender shake.

“I’m Mei.”

“How do you spell that? Is it M-a-y?”

“No. It’s M-e-i. I’m Korean.”

“North or South?” I asked.

She laughed and I realized it might have seemed like a joke to her.

“I’m from South Korea. Do you live here?”

“No. I’m from Manila. How about you, do you live here?”

“I’m staying there,” she said as she pointed to a building beside the church. “I’m a volunteer and I’m really staying in Panawi.”

I’ve never heard of such a place so I asked her where Panawi is, thinking it’s a city in Korea. She tried to describe it, with mountains and rice terraces till I realized she was referring to Banawe.

“Yes. Banawe. Sorry,” she apologized.

“It’s ok,” I said.

From that day on, Banawe would sound better as Panawi to me.

I went to that court thinking of a friend without realizing I’d gain another one in return.

 

 

 

I reached out to another human being. I may or may not be accepted but since our lives are intertwined, somewhere along the line there are intersections, and it would never hurt to once in a while make a connection.

 

 

You’ll never know till you try.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at February 28, 2006 06:08 | link | comments (5)

A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.

Hey, Will, sorry but I beg to disagree.

Ever since I came back to UST I’ve been used to being called tsong, ‘pre (or bayaw, as Angelo Suarez preferred to call me every time I call him ‘pre), or that dreadful kuya by people I didn’t  or  just slightly knew.

I was fingering the pages of Umberto Eco’s How to Travel with a Salmon when my turn came at the librarian’s reception booth in the lobby of the Central Library. I didn’t notice I was next, not until the librarian on duty surprised me with my name.

“Ces, paki-swipe na yung ID mo sa scanner,” she said.

She knew my name! I ran my hand over my chest, reaching for the ID I thought I was wearing, but realized it was in my pocket. I pulled it out and swiped it over the terminal.

“2005-0834. Ba’t 2005 ang start ng student number mo? Matagal ka nang graduate di ba?” she asked while reading the entry that flashed on her monitor.

“Nakalimutan ko kasi yung student number ko nung college kaya binigyan na lang nila ako ng panibago.”

Slowly, I was able to place her in my memory. She used to man the Humanities section, my favorite haunt back in college and also still up to now. And she remembered me. That means the world to somebody whose a nobody.

She smiled and said, “Balik Uste ka,” as she took Eco from my hand.

 

--------------------------

 

I’m a Squib. Someone who’s aware of magic, knows how it is done, but can’t do it himself. In Harry Potter’s world, there’d be only a bunch of us who’d exist.

 

My artist officemates have decided to turn me into their guinea pig. No, they did not transfigure me into one—that’s not the kind of magic they do, not even a simple Wingardium Leviosa—but every time they see me, they’ll pull out their deck of cards and say, “Magic? Magic!”

 

Cards. Those red or white Bicycle deck of cards you can buy in the bookstore and convenience stores are the staple of their obsession in wizardry. And I must admit, they’re getting pretty darn good at it.

 

They would show me a card, an ace of diamond for example, then hand it to me face-down. Then they would take another card and rub it against the card I’m holding and when they ask me to turn my card over, I’d be holding a different one and my ace of diamond would be back in their deck.

 

But their magic doesn’t always involve cards. I have two favorite non-card tricks.

 

The first one is the coin-in-the-mineral-bottle trick. They’d hold an empty bottle and wave it to my face, then they’d tap the bottle’s closed cap and down to the base a one-peso coin would fall.

 

The other is the famous David Blaine levitation trick. First time they showed it to me, I was really amazed then they showed me how it is done. It’s all in the way you stand in a certain angle to the audience and the shadow your body effectively casts to hide the still one foot that’s touching the ground.

 

But just like a guinea pig, once you’ve tested something on it, eventually the trick turns bland and trite. Now, you as the tester/magician are now left with the daunting task of churning out new ways to keep me running round and round my boring little wheel in my lab cage.

 

--------------------------

 

I have been wearing polo shirts for as long as I can remember. Then my mom bought me one that was too long for me. I decided to just tuck it in instead of having it sent to the tailor and repaired. That’s when my own magic occurred.

 

The moment I stepped in the office people started looking and staring at me as if I did something too radical—too out-of-this-world enough to change the normalcy of my very humble existence.

 

“Good morning, sir!” one greeted, a bit sarcastically I thought.

 

“Tanggap ka na? Kelan ka magre-resign?” another jokingly asked.

 

“Medical pa lang,” I replied.

 

“Naks! May ka-date ka mamaya, ano?”

 

It was nonstop. But I decided to go on with it and for one whole week I wore polo shirts sweetly tucked-in down my slacks or denim pants.

 

Then one day I just let it hang out again and seemed to it that people just wouldn’t accept the slightest change, no matter what, even if it’s a change back to the norm.

 

“Ba’t di ka na naka-tuck-in?”

 

“Anong nangyari?”

 

“’Lika rito, i-ta-tuck-in ko para sa ‘yo.”

 

So I just re-stuffed my polo shirt back into my pants along with my sanity.

 

------------------

 

Those who have more, eat less. Those who have less, eat more.

 

Posted by: thedatakeeper at November 29, 2005 07:03 | link | comments (2)

I went out with Theresa again. This time, I made sure that we didn't go to an internet shop. Just to make sure that that Hazel-mishap doesn't happen again.

I've already been to their house and already met her mom.

====================

20 random things about myself as taken from Switchbitch.

1. For no reason, I bought coffee from our office's vending machine. It's just the second cup of coffee since that dreadful tall glass I had at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, courtesy of Fhebie. I still don't like coffee.

2. The sem's almost over. I don't know if I will pass my subjects in grad school.

3. For the first time in my life, I sang at a videoke. Theresa made me, choosing "Simply Jessie" for my debut performance. I'll never do it ever again.

4.  Even though I swore before that I would never get a credit card, but still I did and got approved by BDO.

5. I was extremely bored three days ago and just for kicks, I thought of doing something I thought would never do. So I went to Dermstrata and got myself a facial.

6. The facial was very relaxing. No wait, it wasn't. The attendant's boobs kept on bumping my head while she was cleansing my face.

7. The attendant suggested that I use a sunblock for my face. What the heck, I did.

8. Two dates within a week. Bought three books within 5 days. Went to Netopia for 3 consecutive days. Now I'm broke.

9. The Pentel manager has been bugging me with the same question all over again: "Bakla ka ba? Ba't wala ka pang gf?" To which I would reply to her, "Alam mo, siguro nga!"

10. Celia asked me yesterday, "Sir Mj, wala ka pang girlfriend?" I said, "Wala pa. Eh boyfriend, di mo ba itatanong kung meron ako?"

11. My boss told me write a speech for our CEO. I just finished it though I think it's not that good.

12. It's my sister's 18th birthday this Saturday and I still don't know what to give her.

13. The Netopia crew where I frequent already know me by my first name. Kabubukas ko pa lang ng pinto nila ang bati nila agad sa kin: "Sa no. 5 na lang po Sir Mj."

14. They always give me the no. 5 cubicle knowing I love the corner.

15. I ate at KFC yesterday and I was pretty much disappointed with their potato chips.

16. I rented "A Beautiful Mind" last week and my God! It must be one of the best films I ever watched. Now I love Russel Crowe.

17. Adeth and JM would kiddingly call me Sis or Mama. I'm ok with that but I sternly told them to never call me that in case my mom drops by at the office.

18. I put a big Christmas stocking on my wall and everybody started greeting me Merry Christmas.

19. 128mb for an mp3 player suddenly wasn't enough. Maybe I should buy a jukebox.

20. I don't feel like going to work today. What's in the movies?

Posted by: thedatakeeper at September 29, 2005 05:55 | link | comments (2)

I've asked Theresa if she would like to go out with me. She said yes and when I asked her where she would like to go she replied, "Pwede ba sa Linggo? Punta ka sa amin sabay na tayo magsimba."

It's not everyday that I meet someone like her. She's definitely something. 

======================

Someone very close to me just got her heart broken.

The guy's one big son of a bitch.

==================

The recently held International Book Fair was a blast.

We were able to sell a great number of children's books, the Playstreet--the playground we set up for the fair's organizer in which we used Little Tikes playsets was a big hit for all the little kids who were deposited there by their parents for safekeeping.

I saw Sir Lito Zulueta. He invited me and JM for coffee but we were working then, couldn't leave the playground and the booth.

I saw Angelo Suarez and Sir Tots, my classmates in the graduate school. I happened to have bought that day Angelo's first book of poetry, "the Nymph of MTV" the one that won in a European poetry contest and also placed 2nd in the 2003 Palanca. I'm thinking of asking him to sign my copy.

I saw Heidi, a high school classmate. She was with her son. She looked her thinnest, ever.

======================

People in the office have been complaining ever since JM arrived.

"Kami ba'y pinagloloko n'yong dalawa?" they would usually say.

"MJ and JM. Nalilito kami sa inyo," they would add. 

===================

 MJ CES

I love my name. It's short. It's very memorable. But people have a hard time remembering that "MJ CES" is one and the same person.

I would often get email in our office SAP network or transmittal and request forms addressed to: Mj and/or Ces.

Then they would call to follow up on their transmittal or request: 

"Good morning. Can I talk to Mj? Or kung wala siya kahit kay Ces na lang."

"This is Mj Ces. Iisang tao lang po yun. Ako yun," I would reply.

Or sometimes I would get this call:

"Good morning. Pwedeng maka-usap si Ces?"

"Speaking. Tungkol po saan?" I would reply. It would then be followed by a few seconds of silence.

"Ikaw si Ces? Lalaki ka pala?" the caller would say.

 

 

Posted by: thedatakeeper at September 09, 2005 20:31 | link | comments (3)

It was my first time--in all of the eight years of my stay in UST--to be stranded by rain and flood.

7:30 in the evening. I stood by the Espana gate looking at the great sea that the historic road had transmuted into. "Manong," I said to the booted guard, "ga'no na kataas ang tubig sa labas?"

"Hanggang dito na nga eh," he said as he pointed to his waist. And as if to prove him, a white taxi cab was easing its way through the flood. The water almost reaching the hood.

I would have stayed by the small guardhouse had I not heard the noises coming from the pedestrian overpass. There were shouting--not in a panicky, angry way--but more of voices trying to go beyond the smashing wind and the crackling thunder that occured once every three minutes. And there were laughter too, as if the people above were not troubled of the violent weather.

It was very cold by the guardhouse, and lonely too as I found out that the guard was more taciturn than I am in my most restive mood. The overpass then became very inviting for me. I was sure it was also cold up there, but the warm bodies of the people and even the warmer voices they made made the pass seemed more comfortable.

And I went up. Students, vendors, commuters of all kinds--all were stranded and yet appeared to be okay. The vendors were already clearing their wares, packing their stuff in boxes and huge plastic bags. There were still those walking around offering everyone umbrellas and raincoats.

The road below was full. Not of traffic but of water. I leaned over the concrete wall and looked pitifuly at a man struggling to pedal his trike across the street. But at least he was on his way home, I just thought.

"Mabilis na ang dalawang oras," said a voice to my left. It was an old man, beggar-looking, sweeping the trash left behind by the vendors.

"Dalawang oras?" I asked.

He pointed his walis tingting to the flooded street. "Sinasabi ko sa 'yo dalawang oras pa bago humupa ang tubig," he said weakly.

I just acquisced.

 Two hours? I can't stay here for two hours, I thought. I looked around. To my far left, a couple of lovebirds, I guessed from their uniforms that they were from Ramon Magsaysay, were busy whispering sweet nothings on each other's ears. A man was glaring down at a small child, scolding him for running around the slippery pass while the mother was rummaging through her shoulder bag. Three college guys were singing "Picha Pie."

I then realized that although I was stranded with these people, I was all alone. Panick started to crawl all over me. I then prayed and prayed for the rains to stop so I could go on my way. Normally I could stand being alone, I'm used to it, but not in the middle of a devilish weather.

But the rain did eventually stop. The people then started to go down.

I walked behind a group of noisy girls. They were beautiful, model-like Chinese mestizas in their pure white uniforms. I realized they were also going to walk through the partly flooded sidewalks.

"Hindi ata bagay ang ganda nila dito," I thought. "Masisira ang sapatos nila, de-takong pa naman."

But as soon as we reached the last steps, one of them said, "Paano ba 'yan, it's time to change na," she smiled. And all of them opened their bags and pulled out their sandals. And they were not the fashionable sandals you'd normaly expect, but could be more appropriately called tsinelas.

With their leather shoes up in the air and over their shoulders, these pretty lasses crossed A. H. Lacson.

I couldn't get that scene out of my mind, each time bringing a smile to my face. They were indeed female Thomasians: beautiful and smart and always ready for any great flood.

======================

I met Leslie yesterday as I was waiting for my classes to start. He was coming down the covered walk in front of the graduate school, holding a thick pile of paper. I recognized him immediately, with his trademark eyeglasses and curly hair.

He was taking up Public Administration. It was nice to meet an old friend.

==============

Ateneo sent me a letter asking why I didn't enroll there and should I change my mind, I can still enroll next semester, even next year's summer classes.

I appreciated their sending me a letter, making me feel that they really would like to have me there.

Posted by: thedatakeeper at July 03, 2005 01:25 | link | comments

As I expected, graduate school is more serious and more straight to the point, with less of the "let's get to know each other, shall we?" banality.

For my MA in Communication program, I only took up six units; to test the waters, and in regards to my work, they're the only number of subjects I can accomodate in my sched. And of course, six units are all I can afford with the little cash-on-hand I've saved.

I chose two subjects: St. Thomas Aquinas on Critical Thinking, which is a prerequisite, and Introduction to Semiotics, a major subject.

On the St. Thomas subject, we are more than 30 students in the class, majority are old students of different graduate programs taking the subject late in their studies. I sat on the far end of the room, next to the windows overlooking the Central Library. My seatmate, a very soft-spoken fellow in his thirties, Joseph. I think he's a priest, though I didn't get around to asking him. And he has an accent though I can't place if it's foreign or local. More foreign, I think, because he doesn't seem to be well-versed in Filipino.

Last Saturday, when I felt the urge to visit the library and as I was walking the covered walk beside the Botanical Garden, I was surprised when somebody tapped me hard on the shoulder. I was lost in thought, or rather daydreaming as usual so I didn't notice the guy approaching. It was Joseph. "Very nice to see you!" he greeted. He was in a hurry and I'm not sure he heard my "Hi". But at least I'm pretty sure he saw my appreciative smile.

In the Semiotics class under Mr. Oscar Campomanes, we are considerably less; not more than 20 I think. And we are a mixture of Communication and Literature students, with some already taking their PhD. Of all the people I met there, only one is a familiar face. Mariz, the bubbly Journalism junior (at the time when I was a senior) who was a Varsitarian.

I only noticed one thing about my Semiotics class classmates that really bother me. Although most of them are of my age, which means nothing, but the fact that they are full students, most of them haven't worked a single day since they graduated. I'm not sure if I'm wrong here but how can anyone master a field they have yet to experience in the real world? Maybe it may not mean much to the course I'm taking since anyone can argue that people communicate all the time, but the program is more work-related. I'll let it go if it's an MA in Literature or History.

But all-in-all, I'm glad I'm back in school. I appreciate studying now more than ever especially since I'm already the one paying for my tuition and baon.

===============

I love the UST Central Library!

It hasn't changed much although the new additions are prominent: Windows-interfaced catalog searches compared to the old DOS-based, the cafe beside the photocopiers although coffee is restricted only to the lobby...and that's it, I suppose.

There was this book I've been enviously eyeing in the bookstores' shelves. The marketing book classic "Positioning" by Al Ries and Jack Trout. It's hardbound and costs more than a thousand pesos so I couldn't bring myself to buy it. Everytime I'm thinking of doing so, a voice in my head is saying, "A thousand bucks? You can buy Gaiman pocketbook and a series of Pugad Baboys with that."

So imagine my excitement when I typed the title on the online search of the library and told me that there's one copy in the Social Sciences section that's waiting for me. That's another neat feature of the online search. It shows how many copies of that particular book is, if it's available, or if somebody had taken it home, when will it be due.

Nice, really nice. 

Posted by: thedatakeeper at June 21, 2005 19:16 | link | comments (4)