The Final Phone Call

I've lost count of the number of calls I made. I can no longer figure out how many times I've dialed (and failed) one number after another. Yet, I almost feel the sound of myself like a telemarketer talking to friends or to strangers. I had to carry with me my battery charger to see to it that I could plug in my phone at the moment it goes empty. This day isn't a day to go out of coverage.

For over three weeks, I had been successful with my mobile phone hibernation until I had to defy this rule when my aunt was brought to Cebu City a week ago for her supposed aortic valvular replacement operation. Her family had decided to go on with this operation after Nanay Batik had been in and out of the provincial hospital for her aortic stenosis / congenital valvular heart disease which had been ailing her for several years. She had been confident to undergo the operation despite her condition being unstable along with her doctor's positive feedback of her eligibility for the operation after the coronary angiogram. But today, a day before her supposed schedule of operation, she breathe her last.

Mobile technology has been one of the best things that happen in this life. It lets you connect with people and gets you connected with them. We make calls or receive one even on the go. With various features, mobile technology combines calls, text messages, internet and others in one gadget. It reached a point that I didn't want to use my mobile phone at all in a so-called "mobile phone hibernation" to somehow alienate myself from getting reached through this technology.

However, there's one phone call we cannot pass. That final phone call will always come to each one of us. When the phone of life rings for us, there would be no "reject call" or "call divert" feature, only an "auto-answer". Whether that day fears or excites us, we should be ready to take the call and say "Thank you for calling ________________". 

To Nanay Batik, for a life well-lived here on earth, may you enjoy life in our heavenly home. Happy Trip!

That Summer!

It’s like over a year ago when three of my beautiful friends joined me for a weekend getaway to Canigao Island in Matalom, Leyte and at Kuting Reef Resort in Macrohon, Southern Leyte. I just love remembering that summertime we were together.

As I was archiving the pictures in my computer, I stumbled upon three of heart-warming photos taken while my camera was set on a tripod on a timer mode. 

To Borra, Jewl and Vivian: Happy Summer!

Seeing Him

In the throng of life's complexities, do you see Christ?

They Ask. I Answer (Part 2)

 They Ask. I Answer

You can punch a hole in an apple using a straw. How do you think that makes your milkshake feel?

No hurt felt. The straw isn't too tight to make the shredded ice flow.

Never mind the turtle. Don't you think you're sure to win?

Don't even mind the snail at all. I'm just fast paced and that's some thing I cannot just change overnight.

You have a red jar of cedar chips. Why do moths miss the forest?

That's because they find better sex in there.

You've rented a sky-writer to propose to your significant other, but it's completely overcast. What will you do?

I'll propose manually, anyway. But that moment-breaker skywriter will surely get a dreary future with his career!

They ask: Do you believe that forks are evolved from spoons?

I believe the other way around.

This is a colon : and this is a semi-colon ; - what's a semi-truck?

It's a big truck with a broken right head-light!

When your science teacher smashed a frozen rose with a hammer, did you warm the petals to bring them back to life?

Ooops, sorry. I threw them in the bin!

You get to ride the big roller coaster three times in a row. What will keep your dad from taking a bite out of your candy apple?

I'll let him hold a bottle of beer on the other hand.  

Beats and Faces: Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival

After that sumptuous lunch hosted by my ever gracious friend Richy Fortich Amatong, I scorched myself under the heat of the summer sun taking pictures while the street dancing of the Sugat-Kabanhawan Festival brought the jovial mood in the vibrant Cebu town of Minglanilla as part of its Easter Sunday celebration.

 

 

Enraged and a Lesson Learned

I want to hurl fire balls. I want to wreak havoc. I want to surge waves. I want raise war against the world. I am enraged.

At the start of the day, all I had in mind was to say beautiful about the things that will happen today. At 4:00 AM I had to get myself ready for the trip to South of Cebu that has been a few days overdue. It is the supposed Visita Iglesia that I had been planning since the start of March as part of my personal retreat for the Semana Santa.

Everything turned out well and good. Beautiful and happy while enjoying the scorching heat of the sun – from Oslob to Boljoon, then Dalaguete and Argao, then Sibonga and finally, Carcar where I had to make my final stop when my battery had to surrender from the day’s picture taking activities. I brought neither a spare battery nor a battery charger.

I have taken approximately 460 pictures. And 98% of these were deleted when the SD card suddenly crashed in the middle of the file transfer. It auto-formatted all by itself, and when I tried to recover the data, all were gone. Nothing was left except the picture of Oslob Church. 

That’s all. I could not help myself but cry at the loss of the files. No auto-back-ups. No nothing!

Despite being enraged of what happened, there is still no reason for me to curse a day that made me experienced the solitude of being alone and in commune with God and nature. The beautiful things I have seen could have been shared through the pictures I have taken. Yet, I learned that there are things that are best immortalized not through what the camera has captured, but what the mind has engraved in the heart.

At the end of the day, my heart still sobs for the loss of those pictures but is still grateful of the more blessings that came about this day – valued more than the pictures that were deleted.

The Truth about LARGETS

    Synonymously, Larget is a Maasinhon slang term for Ready Go! As opposed to a contrary term Wap-it meaning wait up.

   A group of Master in Public Administration (MPA) masterands from Southwestern University Graduate School visited in Maasin City in September 2011 as part of the batch’s academic requirement to immerse in Local Government Unit. I happened to be one of the masterands, and being connected with the LGU, it was a privilege for me to bring my classmates to Maasin, a fourth class component capital city of the Province of Southern Leyte. This 11 year old ciudad has been recognized by the Bloomberg Foundation, World Health Organization and the Department of Health as a two-time Red Orchid Awardee for its significant implementation of the No Smoking Program.

    While in this tour, the word larget became a batch-hold term every time picture taking would take place or when the bus would be ready to depart.

    O, Larget, larget…. One, two, three… Click!

    By the time that tour was over, our MPA adviser, Dr. Esmael C. Codilla, asked how we should call the batch, other than being Batch 6. Yet, with no exact term to use, the batch finally decided to adopt the name LARGET, as an abridgement of Leadership Aimed at Resilient Governance, Empowerment and Transparency. The members of the batch shall be called Largets!

   Membership. Francis Escalante of the DENR, who is better known to be the seat-in classmate(although he really isn’t), used to ask about who are the real members of the Largets. But, yeah, who really are the members of the Largets. 

   Other than myself, there’s Senen Catingub, Jr., our class president who works as Division Chief in HDMF Pag-ibig, Cris Teovisio, our Vice President who graduated Meritisimus is the Security Manager of JP Morgan Chase. Maria Carla de Pio, the class secretary and Maria Antonietta Taboada, the class treasurer, both work at HDMF Pag-ibig. Then, there’s Marilou Degula (Social Security System) our class auditor, Joel Datanagan (Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority), our class press relations officer, Rose Canillo (General Manager of Matluster Corp), Hartzel Peter Billedo (Deputy Operations Officer of Negros Oriental Provincial Police) and Glen Facturan (Action PNCO of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Division) are our Peace Officers while Joan Guia Arnoco, the lady chief of WCPD/CCPO of the PNP is the class muse.

   The biggest group in the class comes from the National Statistics Office that includes some of the big wigs in the agency. Edwina Carriaga, the regional statistician, Hera Juarez, statistical coordination officer II, Isabel Hinampas, the NSO Accountant. Then there’s Myrna Trinidad Cataluna, Leslie Marie Zuasula, Irish Bontilao and Margie Elic of the NSO Regional Office while Richy Fortich Amatong, April Aglan Mifil Gocela, Lyndon Gerardo Suico and Roland Largado all come from the NSO Cebu Provincial Office.

    Then there’s Maristel Ortiza (now Mrs. Acusar), Desiree Lagdamen, Audy Almine, Alona Japos of the Home Mutual Development Fund – Pag-IBIG Cebu South Branch.  Sherlyn Royeras of the Government Service Insurance System, Vic Jay Gonzal, Chapter Administrator of the Philippine Red Cross Lapu-lapu Cordova Chapter, Francis Philip Escalante of the DENR, Michelle Canete of Diaz Medical Clinic, the two lady teachers from Sangat San Fernando National High School, Marichu Genargue and Rosemariwen Renes.

Then we have our classmates in the “uniformed agencies”, Raymundo B. Enriquez, Jr., the Station Chief of Pinamungajan Cebu PNP, Eric Ortega, the Camp-de-Aide at Camp Crame, Ariel Arellano, the Company Ex-O of the 2^nd Regional Pulbic Safety Maneuver Company, Julito Tarona, Jr. (a.k.a. Brownie), the Chief Warden at Guihulngan District Jail, Rhoen Mingueto, the Firefighting Crew of Dumanjug BFP and Constancia June Codilla (a.k.a. Puti / JS) of the BFP Regional Office.

   Then there’s our Graduate School Dean, Albim Y. Cabatingan, Prof. Esmael Codilla, and Prof. Marlon Astillero.

   These people are the ones who primarily organized and composed the Largets. There are others still who have been considered members of the family because they have expressed their commitment to make themselves part of it. Such for instance, Dr. Ruby Correa Facturan, the better half of Sir Glen, SPO4 Renes (the hubby of Ma'am Mariwen who only finished two semesters of the course), some officemates of our classmates from Pag-IBIG and NSO and other classmates who did not finish the course, who have been all-supportive with the charitable causes and other activities of the group.

   In a year that LARGET has been together, the batch has shown the best of everything and shared this with everyone else. Contrary to the previous batches’ come-and-go scenarios, the Largets have stuck with each other through thick and thin, filling the shortcomings of others, enhancing the talent of the co-members, and enjoying together the fruits of solidary efforts. Even in the most difficult moment, there is at least a Larget or two who would come to rescue a member in distress. Such that in the end, only those that are beyond the control of the batch’s power can be considered valid reasons to set things aside.

   While words are important to make things understandable, Largets manage to use words to make things controversial (but confined only to Largets, and for Largets use only.) Yet, to decipher these words is another challenging story that will leave someone spellbound while the author of the word and those who already understood it are more likely laughing their fat a**es out loud. The meanings of phrases and words like “eating pasayan (shrimp), bubbles-bubbles, jump-ship and bag-id could surely get you crazy. I'll be posed for censorship if I'll be posting their meanings here.

   There are things in Larget that can’t be found in the non-Larget batches. Yet, I would just like to keep it as how Prof. Astillero put it when he said “Natingala ko ngano ing-ani nalang akong commitment ninyo. Been able to handle 5 Cebu-based batches pero karon ra ko nipangga ug maayo ug group. Ngano kaha?” - FB: March 4, 2012 19:30 (“I was wondering why I am as committed as this with your batch. I have been able to handle 5 Cebu-based batches, but it’s only this time that I have been so concerned with a group”) Thus, whatever is it in LARGET that makes each member valuable is simply capsulized in Ma’am Carla’s statement, “Walang Iwanan. One for All. All for One”.

   Quo Vadis, Largets? The long and winding road after graduation is a more challenging highway for the Largets to traverse. Yet, who’s afraid to cross it when you're not alone? Largets will be there for each other and for those who need the Largets. Largets have committed to live-up by what the batch stands for – Leadership Aimed  for Resilient Governance, Empowerment and Transparency. Largets shall continue to pursue the batch’s commitment of performing excellence in their respective agencies, rendering genuine services to their customers and persevering in its social responsibilities.

They Ask, I Answer

They Ask, I Answer

If you could peer far enough into the night sky, you’d see a star in any direction you looked. When would you sleep?

I wouldn’t. I would enjoy chasing gazes one star after another. I would not want to slumber while I am in this awesome “starry-starry” night experience.

The squish of mud between your toes, how will you live as a frog?

Forget about the squish of mud, just enjoy being dirty sometime and leap-frog from one lily after another.

The hair from your last haircut, what would it say about your new style?

Ahg, same boring hair style. You’ll never get the style you wanted all your life. How can you get those dread locks if you keep going to the barber every other week?

What reason do you have to believe the earth is flat?

That piece of paper containing the map of the world. See, isn’t it flat?

If you were a wrestler, what would be your finishing move?

Is the Wuxi Finger Hold allowed in wrestling? If it is, then my opponent will end up like Tai Lung.

You've been invited to a fancy ball but the only thing you have to wear is an orange wooly jumper. What shoes do you wear?

Neon green sneakers with magenta socks.

 

What's the earliest you've gotten up to watch cartoons and what did you see? 

3 am and I got the rainbow screen on my favorite cartoon channel. I asked, isn’t this channel supposed to be 24/7. I realized we lost our cable TV connection.

Finally, Con-GRAD-ulations*!

    I remember how my Statistics professor in my graduate studies used to ask the class which was the better way of statistically presenting one’s depression – is it quantitatively, like scaling one’s depression from 1 -10, 1 being least depressed and 10 being very depressed or qualitatively by expressing deeply through words how one feels. He further stressed about how absurd it seems when saying at the start of the day that one’s depression is 1, then at midday – 9 and before he goes to bed – 4. The class was silent for a while as he continued with the explanation while some of my female classmates were swoon by his charms. One student at the back, wearing a yellow tee, who just attended the first day of class after thinking over and over about enrolling in this course despite having finished it in his previous university, politely replied, “It depends , sir!”. 

   All of my classmates’ eyes were on me as I made that flagrant comment. Seemed confused, the professor, smiled and asked to deepen my answer. Yet, without hesitation, I said, “It depends kung asa i-post sir! (It depends where it will be posted, sir!) If one’s depression will be posted as a status in Facebook, then one has to express it qualitatively.” I flashed a sheepish grin while the rest of the class and the professor laughed out loud. That was my first encounter of a group who would later become a new family whom I will impart my life with.

    Fast forward, after a year of hurdles in the graduate studies, I finally received the degree that was supposed to be realized earlier than it should have been. (I had to stop when I was supposed to leave for Germany for a course in Regional Economic Development but didn’t pursue it when my mom was diagnosed and died of carcinoma late of2010). But there was no regret of enrolling all the subjects again (including those that I have already taken up in the previous university). It was a fresh start, in a new university, with new people to meet and new challenges to tackle. The year was never easy, not to mention the almost-weekly travel to Cebu, the expenses, the pressure of scholastic responsibilities and my work in the office combined. Yet, the whole process fleeted fast – one tri-sem after another and voila, graduation here I come.

    After being assured of graduating, the question of Prof. Graeme flashed back but this time asking for the better way of presenting how happy I was. To be honest, no word could match how elated and happy I was, yet no number could also equate this feeling. After encountering so many problems with clearances and validation with the school registrar (and had to be facilitated by my ever supportive Largets family), all came out fine. I wasn’t expecting to receive any medal of recognition since the day I found out my grade in Methods of Research at 1.3 during the first semester. Yet, I am grateful to the school for seeing the efforts I had made. We all deserved the awards that day. God is really best at working in mysterious ways. I could not thank God enough for all the amazing graces! God, ikaw na jud!

    My Tatay Tani who had to get to Cebu in the nick of time for the Graduation, told me, “Ingon ug di ka maka-medal” (Thought you won’t get a medal). Then I jokingly told him, Tay, medals ni, kay duha man kabuok (I was stressing out the plurality of the two medals I received). 

With Tatay, moments before the hooding ceremony

    I could not hold back the tears realizing this achievement. I thought of my mom who would have been there to witness this moment. She was my greatest fan and supporter, yet the silent and unassuming cheerleader. This was her moment, too. Despite her absence, I knew she was there – seeing her pinaka-gwapo son received the accolades that day. I knew Tatay was equally proud. He had to back up some of the finances for this coveted education. My brother and his family, as well as my aunt didn’t attend the ceremonies due to some financial constraints. But I know they could never be prouder. 

   My brother Toto’s words reverberated in my mind, “Congrats ter, pero igo na usa nang masteral ha. Kay murag dako na ug gasto ug mag-doctorate pa ka”. He was pressing me not to enroll in doctorate degree considering the expenses it will entail. I could not disagree. He had been shouldering major household expenses while I was in this MPA endeavor.

    My cousin Belsam, who was an awardee herself during her MPA graduation last year was also excited to see me graduate. She was the one who influenced me to enroll in SWU Graduate School and leave my previous university. There was no regret in heeding her advice. She was all the more supportive in this undertaking which made the journey less difficult. Thanks te!

Doing the traditional medal-biting with classmates Joel, Vic Jay and Sheq to test the authenticity of the gold medals

    For the year that passed, another family stood by my side while I reached for my Star. Batch LARGET epitomized the true essence of friendship and family. I was joined by a bunch of brilliant, multi-talented, and good natured people whose selflessness was manifested in an unwavering support for each other during the worst times and in an astounding spirit of togetherness at our best moments. Larget stood the test of time and the adversities that brought each member closer and more supportive with each other. Kudos to Largets!

With Richy Fortich of the NSO

Making faces during the graduation song, with CJ of BFP and Ichu of DepEd

   The question of proceeding for a post-graduate degree has yet to be finally decided. But who’s hurrying who? It can wait for some time but a professorial job in SWU can be a stepping stone. Who knows (in the aparador)?

Post script:

* The title Con-GRAD-ulations is a word borrowed from the message of our brilliant and highly respected Dean Albim Y. Cabatingan, DBA of the Southwestern University Graduate School and at the same time the Vice President for Finance and Administration.

Canigao Island: First Hurrah for Summer!

Craving for those cerulean skies, fluffy clouds, lush greens, powdery white sand while basking under sun? Hatch now your escape plan for summer! Get ready for an escape to Canigao!

Located off the coast of the municipality of Matalom (27 kilometers from Maasin City, Southern Leyte), the island is reachable by a public water transport operating in Barangay Sta. Fe, Matalom (recommended as it is a much closer kick-off point compared to the town's poblacion). The island is pretty small. By foot, a tourist can round the island in less than 30 minutes. But what usually takes longer is how one enjoys each part of the island that is graced with heaven's blessings.

 

Are you ready for your jump-shots?!

How to get there? 

From Maasin City (Southern Leyte's Capital), get a bus or jeepney that takes you to Super Ball Port in Barangay Sta. Fe, Matalom. At the mini-port, get a ticket/pay the fare at their counter and wait for the banca that will take you to the island. Ask as well the banca operator or the ticketing personnel the schedule for the return trip. Usually the last trip going back to the mainland is 5:00 PM (unless you will be spending the night in the island).

What to expect in the island?

The island has a few cottages, a canteen and a mini-market that sells fresh catch and souvenir items. visitors are expected to bring food. The resort's canteen doesn't offer much of the munch stuff. The resort has provided charcoal grills that visitors could use for grilling fresh catch or their brought liempos and the like. To ensure you get a cottage, it is advisable to call the resort in-charge at 053.569.9077 (Office of the Municipal Mayor) and request for reservations.  Cottage cost: P300. However, you can still unfold your picnic blankets at the shady parts of the island. 

The island boasts of its powdery white sand. Tourists could enjoy playing volleyball, frisbee and other beach sports. 

Some parts of the island are restricted for swimming. Swimmers should never swim beyond cordoned areas. Since the island is a marine-protected sanctuary, visitors are reminded of the rule of thumb in travel:

“TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES, LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS,. KILL NOTHING BUT TIME"

Please help!

The island resort management encourages visitors to bring their trash back to the main land as they leave and dispose them appropriately.  

A Hand that Hurts and Restless Feet

The second day of my Comprehensive Exam for my master's degree was double-stressful. Though we only have two more subjects to take, Macroeconomics and Organizational Planning and Control, it seems like I was feeling the need to exert so much effort for these two subjects -- the first one being the subject of the Graduate School Dean and the second one being the subject I have least understood (and studied). 

My biggest problem in the next four hours of the examination would be when my right hand (the one I use to write) hurts. It had been aching since yesterday during the eight-hour thinking-and-writing battle while it continued to sore in the evening that disturbed the soundness of my sleep. I was scared I could not finish the exam as I had to pause writing every now and then to relax it. All the more my concentration was somehow distracted when others had one-by-one passed their booklets.

"That was quick", I said to my self as I gazed a look of frustration at those who were done. But I really didn't mind them finishing early, what I was really worried about was the possibility that I couldn't finish the exam because of the aching hand.  I was likewise trying to control my emotions as some of my classmates were pressing on me to finish the test.

There were only three of us left taking the MPA questionnaires. By the time one of them finished, I was still trying to figure out my composition for the last question. I wanted to have someone write for me the answers I would so gladly dictate. But my gut-feel is telling me not to as it would change my already beaten-up penmanship. Modesty aside, I probably had one of the good handwriting since grade school. But my penmanship for this exam was way the worst I have seen - shaky, uneven, inconsistent. I don't remember a criteria in the booklet that talks about penmanship, but if it had, I would probably fail in that part. God forbid!

"Thank God!" was all I could exclaim as I punctuated my last statement and quickly checked if I already satisfied the number of questions to be answered. I was the last examinee to submit my paper and the last one to get that sigh of relief.

----xxx----

After the exam. some of my classmates agreed to attend a funeral wake in Argao, Cebu. I decided to go with them since my trip back to Maasin is still the following day. Before heading for the long trip, we first had our lunch at Julie's (surely we will miss this place!). We eagerly lined up in a long queue of hungry masterands who will soon receive their diplomas in a graduation gala in less than a month. 

The trip to Argao took us about two hours. It was never a boring trip. Though I felt tipsy because of the kontra-biyahilo medicine I was taking, I still managed to crack jokes and joined in the unending conversation about the recently concluded comprehensive exam. There were eleven of us jam-packed in Rose's SUV ~ Maristel (whose father's wake we were attending), Desiree, Audy, Senen, and Carla (from Pag-IBIG), Rose (of Matluster, who did all the driving, Thank you!), Ritchy and Lyndon (of NSO-Province, Sorry April wasn't able to come), Rosemariwen and Marichu (of DepEd) and myself.

After paying respect to Maristel's dad, we (except Maristel) headed to Argao's famous torta maker to take home some pasalubong. Rose made a quick stop-over at her aunt's home before kicking off the long drive home.

At OJ's Torta in Argao

At OJ's Torta in Argao.

As promised, we visited Simala to say our "thank you's" to the Lord and the Blessed Virgin. This was my second time in Simala, the first one was some years ago when their monastery wasn't as grandiose as how it is now.

A quick pictorial in front of Simala's grandiose monastery facade.

Audy took this picture at the grand staircase of Monastery in Simala

Ma'am Carla, Ma'am Ichu and Sir Boy lighted candles and said prayers at Simala.

It was getting dark when we departed Simala. We dropped off two of our classmates in San Fernando and another in Minglanilla. The rest of us decided to have dinner at SM, but only five of us could make it to the finale. Rose, Desiree, Carla, Audy and myself had that sumptuous dinner at Cafe Laguna. 

As we bid each other good bye, I suddenly felt a rush of nostalgia realizing that our days as masterands are counted. I brushed off that bit of sentimental moment and looked forward to posting this blog when I get home.