on habal-habals, bangkas and bulldozers

Have you tried crossing a river riding a habal-habal (motorcycle)? I have.

This is a picture of the river that we crossed using a habal-habal.

Are you a moment-specific person?

Are you a moment-specific person? Well, I am.


After 20++ years (uy, ayaw sabihin kung ilan) of living in this planet, would you believe that i just had this realization yesterday? It was a close friend who made me realize this, while we were spending idle time in the mountains.


Do you know what being a moment-specific person means? Well, I think I do.

What's in a name?

While browsing the internet, I came across an application that analyzes your name for you. Here's what I got:

EMILENN KATE-You have a need to communicate and express yourself. You are inclined to over intellectualize, and hate to be misquoted. You are always involved with projects and things to do. You are relatively demonstrative in your affections. You enjoy being stroked verbally and physically. You have a diplomatic flair to your nature. Equality and fairness are important to you. You can be quite inventive and quite curious. You can handle details well. You have a methodical mind. You can go to extremes in all you do. You must learn to give 'wise' service and not be a martyr. You have good recuperative abilities and strong mental determination. You are very private and dislike others prying into your affairs. You have much enthusiasm with a driving attitude toward achievement in life. Your privacy is important to you. You have a rich inner life. You need to learn to be expressive. You are a person who cannot tolerate being misunderstood.

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

I did not grow up listening to Mary Poppins. (I was too young for that.) But today, a line from her song "A Spoonful of Sugar" keeps playing in my head. I don't even know how the whole song goes. I just remember the lyrics..."just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

Meantime Boy / Meantime Girl

This is an article written by my friend, Kd Faustino. Thanks Kd, for letting me share this.

THE MEANTIME GIRL

She`s the one you call when you`re bored because she makes you laugh. She`s the one you talk to when you`re feeling down because she`s willing to lend an ear and be a friend. She`s not the one you call when you need a date to your company`s Christmas party, or to go dancing with on a Saturday night. She`s the one you spend time with between girlfriends, before you find `The One`. You know, the one you keep in the MEANTIME.

The Drama that is Tondo

A few days ago, I tweeted (is that a word?!) about a drunk man who has been shouting in the middle of the night, sarcastically thanking everyone for what happened to his life. He is one of our neighbors here in Tondo.


I have lived in Tondo for about 20 years now. I was never ashamed to tell people that I'm from Tondo. Tondo is one of the poorest communities all over the country. It was the birthplace of my favorite Philippine hero, Andres Bonifacio. And by the way, Erap and Dolphy were also born here. However, Tondo has a bad reputation. It is believed to be a dangerous place, where a lot of crimes happen. It's thought to be a sanctuary for hoodlums. That is why a lot of people are afraid to go to our place.

The Development Set

This is another favorite poem of mine. Learned about this in college.

The Development Set

by Ross Coggins 

"Adult Education and Development" September 1976

Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet 

I'm off to join the Development Set; 

My bags are packed, and I've had all my shots 

I have traveller's checks and pills for the trots!

on expressing our feelings

Habang nakikipag-usap ako sa isa sa malapit kong kaibigan, nasambit ko ang mga katagang ito...


"may kanya-kanya tayong ways ng pag-express ng feelings at pagtanggap ng expression ng feelings ng iba."

Empty Nest Syndrome

This is the first time after several weeks that I just stayed at home on a Sunday. My daddy went inside our room early in the morning and told me if we could go out as a family. However, my younger brother and younger sister had other plans.


I think my parents are having the "Empty Nest Syndrome". According to wikipedia "Empty nest syndrome is a general feeling of loneliness that parents or guardians may feel when one or more of their children leave home."

Mask

This is a poem I have kept since high school. I just wanted to share this with you. Yun na! Pak!

MASK / PLEASE HEAR WHAT I AM NOT SAYING

By: Charles C. Finn

Don’t be fooled by me.

Don’t be fooled by the face I wear.

For I wear a thousand masks, masks that I am afraid to take off and none of them are me.

Pretending is an art that’s second nature with me, but don’t be fooled. For God’s sake don’t be fooled.

I give the impression that I am secure,

that all is sunny and unruffled with me,

within as well as without,

that confidence is my name and coolness my game;

that the waters are calm and I am in command,

and that I need no one.