"Bro"

Yes, it's true. When God closes a door, He opens another window. Lose a friend, win another one.

Since June of this year, I have reconnected with a few friends and batch mates in high school who have become my online buddies through Facebook. They have proven to be trustworthy, funny, dependable, and caring. I am really overwhelmed by our constant exchange of banters, messages, and comments that I now usually start and end my day facebooking.

I want to devote this entry, however, for someone who has been so "nice and accommodating" since Day One. In fact, I find him very unassuming because he openly tells me things that I am not quite comfortable with at first. We were never close friends before, to begin with, that this entry might earn some unsolicited remarks, raised eyebrows, or probing questions from people who might misinterpret what's going on. But my real friends know me well. I really give credit where credit is due. Not for anything else, the time that this person spends almost every day to listen to my woes is something that I really really appreciate. It's not everyday that you find someone who will be there just to listen and give his two cents' worth of advice if you need it. Sweet.

You know who you are. You may be an older brother that I never had but whatever role you may be playing now in my world, my sincerest gratitude. Thanks for trusting me and for being someone that I could trust in return.

Status: In Love

OMG, it's exactly a month since I posted my last entry! You see, I deeply fell in love with Facebook and Windows Moviemaker that facebooking and making short videos have become my preoccupations lately.

I've done a few videos for my batchmates in high school and how they love them! The responses I got were so touching and overwhelming that I myself vowed to keep the batch spirit alive by compiling our old and new pictures which I painstakingly grab from their Friendster and Facebook accounts every now and then.

There is really no substitute for genuine joy than being surrounded with love, care, and appreciation from people you grew up with for four years in high school. I am so damn proud of my batch because after all these years, we are still the same persons who are so much in love with one another. Our brotherly and sisterly bonds are renewed every time we chat, poke, send messages, and exchange banters in Facebook almost every day.

Yes, I am currently in love. In love with every thing "high school."

My "World" after a Year

Exactly a year ago today, I posted my first entry in this blog. I have never looked back since then. It saw me through all my triumphs, rants, senti modes, joys, and pains. As I was reading again all my past entries, I couldn't help but reminisce and laugh about my booboos, stupidity, crazy ideas, and childlike zeal.

It was a nice ride despite the bumps and sharp curves along the way. Though I have chosen to let go of some important things and persons, it wasn't that bad after all. My world is still a better place to be because I have full liberty to explore life each day, give out my say, and do things my way.

Happy!

My "Girl"friend

I want to blog about this person who is one of my closest friends in high school, particularly during our sophomore days. "Vince" is not your kind of ordinary girl because she has embraced a sexuality not literally hers. But what the heck! Whether Vince is a he or a she or both, she is my friend and I totally respect her choices and orientations in life. After all, I believe that all people are equal regardless of race, status, gender, or creed.

During my early experiences of having puppy loves or crushes, she was there to help, advise, comfort, and more importantly, to cheer me up. She is very fun to be with because she can be very spontaneous, frank, brutally honest, ma-drama in a funny way, and sooo gay (read: carefree, pleasant, lively, animated, jolly and er.. okey, pun intended)! She knows almost all my highschool love stories and she has proven to be really trustworthy. She has kept my secrets through all these years and treated them as her own.

Now, I am really thankful that we are in touch again and what a coincidence, Vince is again playing her Cupid role to the hilt! Haaay, what would I do without her?! Her presence seems to enter my life whenever I need it most. Hanggang ngayon, gano'n pa rin ang drama namin: carrying out some love-related secret missions. Anyway, I just want her to know that I really appreciate the things that she has done and still doing for me and for other people.

Thanks a lot, Girl. Our friendship means so much to me. Happy birthday in advance!

The (Right) One

We often refer to the person whom we hope to spend the rest of our life with as "the one". I don't know how people discern who should be that special someone deserving to wear such tag but in this present world of cruel intentions, nobody can really tell the difference between what's real and what's not.

Last week, I became aware of a series of events which happened in a span of twenty years that really sent me to senti mode. The right person came at the right time yet the girl chose to let go of a love that would have been worth keeping from the very start. The guy has been there for her all along but she just ignored him in favor of others she thought were "the ones" (who turned out to be all jerks, by the way).

Lesson learned: Don't take some people for granted just because they seem not to fit your standards. You'll never know. In spite of their initial ordinariness, they'll turn out to be the right persons for us.

"Vintaged" Chevy

When all you've got is a point-and-shoot camera, you get frustrated everytime you cannot afford to make those artistic shots you've been wanting to create. Thank heavens for Adobe Photoshop! Finally, I have started to explore its wonderful features and tools. And I won't settle for anything less for my first ever photoshopped pic, so I went for the Chevy photo which I took last week!

Incriminating Evidence

"Paki-delete na please," he pleaded. I wonder why he is still hellbent on being "clean and clear of any evidence that may incriminate him." Incriminate him for whaaaaaat??! I don't get it. Ngayon pa?? Anyway sige, delete kung delete.

However, I know he will hate me again for this but I think he still values other people's unsolicited comments on how he conducts his life, his affairs, his business. It seems he's still infatuated with this baka-kung-ano-na-naman-ang-sasabihin-nila thing. Eh ano ngayon kung may masabi sila? Ikamamatay ba niya? I hope he finally realizes that opinions that really matter are those of his family, good friends, and people who have stood by him through thick and thin.

You see, another good friend learned this lesson much later in life. On the day he threw all his cares away, he started to feel happier and more at peace. And if I may add, he now looks younger and more good-looking.

So to you my dear, I hope you get the point why I am blogging about this. This may also incriminate me but then again, so whaaaat?!

Unwelcome

For the last five years, I have my share of "stalkers" who barrage me with nonsense and trivial text messages, trying really hard to get my attention for me to react at least. Some are direct to the point with their intentions but not with their identities, some employ matagal-nang-kumitang style na bulok, some are plain dumb and stupid.

Whenever I receive messages from people whose mobile numbers are not registered on my phone, I ask right away who they are out of courtesy. If they do not give me a name the first time I ask, sorry but I classify them as pranksters for good. I do not have the time to exchange messages with strangers whose intentions are to destroy another person, piss me off, delude me into believing something which is none of my business anymore, or more often than not simply make pa-cute.

So, to these people who own the following numbers--09219872034, 09202538753, 09102798234, 09194520915: huwag na kayong magsayang ng load. Unless you have the guts to tell me your complete names and true intentions, your messages will remain unwelcome and unanswered. Sorry.

Serendipity

Thank God for very kind souls!

Everything is going fine as planned and scheduled. A good friend told me once that there is no such thing as coincidence in this world, and that every single event happening to us is in accordance to a grand master plan. But this time, I think I have to agree with someone that yes, sometimes it's sheer serendipity.

My "journey" which started last Friday is not yet over. I have always believed that if one wanted to achieve something, it's 99% hard work and 1% luck. Now, I am almost through with the 99%. Whatever is the outcome of this endeavor, I will be forever grateful to the following people for their kindness, concern, and support:

"Anonymous" -- for starting it all. He/she rightfully deserves a separate entry but I cannot talk about him/her that much yet because believe it or not, he/she still chooses to remain anonymous. Whoever you are, my heartfelt gratitude.

Ms. Cherie and Ms. Flor of the UP Office of the University Registrar -- for accommodating my urgent request and for bearing with my kakulitan. I salute you, people!

Mr. M and Ms. M -- for agreeing to "back my claims" on short notice. Thankie, thankies!

P.B. -- for lending me a scanner and for giving me words of encouragement. Oi, bayad na ako ha. Joke. :)

On second thought, I think the universe has conspired to give me a taste of this great opportunity. Whether or not I get lucky, I will never forget that at one point in my life, these people's acts of kindness have helped me in trying to turn a serendipitous event into a truly life-changing destiny.

Growing Up

After weeks of contemplation, I have finally decided to:

1) Give up a little in order to gain more life.
2) Return to the basics because less is more.
3) Overspend time doing things that matter most.
4) Walk away with the lessons, not the mistakes.

5) Underemphasize the bad and focus on what's good .
6) Pray and give thanks more, ask less.

In short, grow up!

Afternoon Delight

A very close friend came hours ago and invited me to accompany him to Manaoag. Since I've been feeling bored at home for seven hot afternoons already, I grabbed the chance to see the outside world, away from the computer screen that screams "Facebook"!

On our way to the famous Manaoag Shrine, the scorching heat still found its way to my friend's air-conditioned ride (thus we had halo-halo first at Chowking before going to the church). Throughout the trip, we were having conversations about Bubble Gang spoofs, 2010 presidentiables, Yari Ka episodes, Van Halen, Imbestigador, dead relatives, profile pictures, food, family matters, earth's revolution and rotation, etc. It was a fun ride (read: no traffic jam) that I felt it only took us 20 minutes to reach the place. Inside, my friend and I parted ways to do our own things. Then, we feasted on isaw, stalls of which are located beside the town hall in front of the church.

Worried that he might have forced me to go with him, my friend--who likewise thought that I've already turned into an atheist due to my not-so-conventional religious views--remarked, "Hindi ka naman yata talaga pumupunta sa simbahan eh." Of course, I still do. But I chose to answer him instead with, "It's not the destination, it's the journey po."

Ooops, They Did It Again!

After nine days of waiting in agony, I finally got my copy of the Top Gear Philippines May 2009 issue. I was very excited because it's The Rock 'n' Roll Issue! And boy, was I not disappointed!

Aside from The Pop Issue in November 2008, this is my favorite issue so far due to the following:

1. Great cover! (Galing! Nice colors, layout, theme, etc!)

2. Eraserheads (Road Trip)

3. Parokya ni Edgar (A Day in the Life)

4. Rockin' Triumvirate (The Big Test)

5. Jett Pangan (Car-Struck)

Just when I thought that I could already be damn satisfied and happier with those items, I didn't know that I was in for a much bigger surprise--I won a 1GB thumb drive in the Caption-this-Photo Contest! Neat.

Thanks Top Gear for continuously rocking my world!!!

The Ring

Nope, this is not a post about that Japanese horror film. It's about "the ring"-- a graduation gift I got from someone I didn't expect to receive it from. This person doesn't have to do that but as they say, a gift is a gift. I should graciously accept it.

I was hesitant at first to wear it, thinking that I might be sending a wrong signal to the giver. After getting an assurance that it was just a graduation gift, however, I wore the little pretty thing on my finger. In fact, it was meant to be a surprise. And yes, I was very much surprised because it looked like a wedding band.

I do appreciate the gesture, even without the "usual question or litany" that goes with every giving of such a thing. To make it more memorable, I just took it as a symbol of our lifetime friendship--to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for best, for richer and not for poorer, in wealth and in health, 'til death do us part.