And the camera clicks..

I patiently waited for almost two hours as I queued for my sought after e-card days ago. With snailed-paced movement, all I could hear from the rest of the crowd transacting inside the edifice were words and murmurs of inconveniences. An old-aged lady complaining on her contribution. Another worries on her upcoming retirement due to her outstanding loan balance. Still another lady on wheel-chair waiting for her card to be activated. These scenario routinely happens on this government agency everyday.

The same predicament my co-workers feel towards this office. They collectively complain on how the agency is run. Unposted payments, outstanding loan balances although the account has already been settled. 

"We're updating our program". This abused phrase constantly thrown back to all its members.
 
Sitting on a bench, just in front of the transacting personnel, unminding of the growing heat inside, as throng of people come in and out of a little piece of hell. My nerves got back in proportion as I heard my name called. I rushed to the man of my age and laid down my two identification cards with pictures. He took my fingerprints and ID picture, as he meticulously examined every detail on my application.

The horrible afternoon ended me craving for something to eat. I usually don't take in food during afternoon but this time I will.

I couldn't wait to see my face in an E-card two weeks from now. Do I look good considering the factors that I have gone through? It would be another horror.

Does she love me?

Why did she left me, if she loved me? These words came out from an innocent child longing for a motherly affection. He wished that he would soon join her in heaven. Love is not wanting for him. He is sheltered on a totally safe abode, under the undying embrace of religious priests.His faith tested many times but still he manage to hold on.
 
This story sounds very familiar. Nobody wants to skip every chapter of this inspirational telenovela aired on prime time everyday,"May Bukas Pa"
 
I haven't been an avid telefanatic not until I came across with it. Many times I became teary eyed, although I'm not a sentimental person.
 
The story in itself relates to the real world. Wherein, disparity between the affluent and the marginalized exists. The conflicting stand of the church and the state which started since time immemorial.Unlike any other story plots, it shy away redundancy which makes it more interesting and exciting.
 
Live all your worries to HIM. This is the message that the story wants to tell. 
Don't be afraid of the dark for he is the light. Be not hopeless for He is the source of hope. He fills the vacuum of every human heart.
 
Just as what one of the child's recognized family, the religious priests had said, " Your mother loves you so much the way Bro loves you."

Silence

Does it makes sense?

Silence described as a social interaction in the absence of speech. Communication made without uttering any sound. The most common gesture of silence is by placing the forefinger in front of the closed lips. If that is the instance, how could one communicate in a complete numb environment?

Have you remembered one of your teachers scold you and the whole class because your noisy?How about a class completely silent when the teacher inquired the class about her discussion? I can think of just two valid reasons. 
One, the students fully absorbed what the teacher taught and two, they didn't understood at all.

Silence portray something. It can be a sign of wisdom and of numbness. Agreement or disagreement. It can be of superiority or inferiority. Shyness, hesitation or just being the underdog. But most of the time, it always is equated with negativity, which is not the case.

Silence in a formal discussion could mean gathering the thoughts, composing it carefully to make a good speech and delivery. Silence in a retreat could mean meditation to be at peace with oneself. Silence in a quarrel could represent someone who don't want things to blow out of proportion. A nagging wife to a silent husband could fragment the pieces together of a shattered marital life. How about a young lady courted with an equally handsome guy? 

Girls silence could mean yes to the guy, without being bias.

Introvert persons rather than extrovert persons mostly have this kind of attitude. Persons who prefer to look things first before jumping into conclusion. Who wants to speak less and straight to the point. Contrary of being vocal and talkative.

I just remembered a famous saying and it goes "A river that makes no sound is deep, but a shallow river has."

Celebrating Life

Today marks another milestone in my life. It's my natal day. The day started with a greeting from my parents way back home. Another came from my aunt , then came from my colleagues and so on and so forth.

As years gone by, my outlook of celebrating my birthday has evolved. Its undebatable that its a celebration of life. That despite the many downfalls , there's something more to enjoy and thank for. Yes! it is indeed.

Gone are the days with lavish merriment, which I did not experience in the first place. My birthdays before had always been a family affair. A gathering in a lunch or dinner is more than enough for me.

I will be a year older, but I don't feel I'm getting old. Everybody says age are just numbers. I agree . I still can do what I usually do with the same passion and intensity. Feel the same way I feel a day ago. Nothing really has changed except for the obvious sole external manifestation. The graying of my hair which is a sign of wisdom and maturity. But as long as the heart feels young, the mind and body will also do . Let it be.

I only wish another great year ahead. Good health for me and the people that I love. Nothing more nothing less.

The trip to the city of my dreams

The long wait is over.

This was what I told to myself - in exhilaration -as I packed my things for a dream trip. I am attending a writing workshop in Baguio City. Indeed, it is every one's dream to visit a new place, meet people, and discover anything new. Baguio is new to me and it has been my dream to set foot on this famous city.

When I was a kid, I have heard stories about Baguio, narrated by travelers who have gone there. I could still vividly remember picturesque Baguio from the pages of the books I have read. Then, I had wished I could go there someday. A simple dream of a simple kid is now becoming a reality.

As I boarded the Victory Lines bus that would bring me and 27 other co-workers to Baguio, I could hear my heart beat faster because of excitement. The bus was parked in front of the central office of the NCMB, the government office that employs me, and I was hoping it quickly left. I was in a hurry.

Inside the bus, some of my co-passengers were already loudly exchanging jokes and stories as the bus hummed to life. Me? Inside my head, questions swirled, but I had no worry. I knew these questions would be answered when we got to Baguio.

I became restless when the bus slowly rolled.Rain started to pour. Along the way, I could see people in their umbrellas and raincoats hurrying to their destinations. We passed by towns and cities not known to me. But I was not interested to know their names. I was only interested in knowing if we were already near Baguio. Sometimes, the bus would slow down because of traffic, and as it did so, my excitement grew on. I knew this because the cold already bit my skin as the bus slowly crept along the winding roads of the mountain now under the cold embrace of thick fog. This is Baguio.

When I stepped out of the bus, I realized that at that very moment, the last piece of the puzzle of my Baguio dream has fallen into place. I was in Baguio, and I was already thinking, as I savored the pine-scented Baguio air, that someday, I could proudly say to every one what others have said to me - my face red in envy- many,many times.
 
I have gone there!

(This was featured in the maiden issue of our official newsletter)