story of friendship

this is nice.  got this forwarded email from rudney. 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from.

Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his, “Magandang umaga po” in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the morning,

“Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?”

“Opo padre … ” he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy.

“From school…”, he advised “Do not cross the highway, you can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road…that way I can see that you are home safe….”

“Thank you father … “

“Why don’t you go home … why do you stay in this church right after school?”

“I just want to say ‘Hi’ to my friend, God,” and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.

“You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes… I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him … funny but I am not that hungry.  Look, this is my last pair of slippers …I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken… but it is okay….at least I am still going to school…. Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school …. please help them get to school again, please God? …Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother…. God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them…. Here… here and …. oh …blood …I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don’t be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us….Oh, I think I am in love … there’s this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita … do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don’t have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren’t you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you . but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go …” then he stood up and calls out, “Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend …. you can accompany me to the other side of the road now”

an unknown soldier

An Unknown Soldier

By Terry Paulson

One day, while changing flights in Chicago, I called my wife to let her know that I would be home shortly.

As we were talking, I overheard a young soldier on the phone next to me leaving a message, “Mom, I don’t know.  They just told me that they won’t change the ticket without more money . . . and I don’t have it.”  He paused for a moment before continuing, “Okay, I’ll try to stay here by the phone.  Please call back soon.  The number is . . .”

The soldier hung up, and with a worried look on his face, he stood next to the phone bank, nervously waiting for the phone to ring.

I said good-bye to my wife and then turned to the anxious young man.  “How much do you need, soldier?” I asked.

“Sir, I’m twenty dollars short of getting home.”

I reached into my pocket and took out my wallet.  “For giving to our country, I am honored to give you this twenty dollars.”

A big smile of relief came over him as he took the money and said, “Thank you, sir.”

“Now, go home,” I smiled back.

And with that, he shook my hand, grabbed his duffel bag and dashed off to the gate and on to his waiting family.

You can’t get much more than that for any amount of money.

low fares

hay naku!

kainis tong mga airline low fares na to ha.

i checked the fares yesterday sa cebu pacific for nov9-14 to singapore.  it was php19,034 for 2 pax.  i checked pal and its only php17,860 for 2 pax na rin.  so i decided to book pal na lang kse cheaper.  i was having difficulty booking yesterday kaya today ako nag-book.  after ko mag-book kay pal ewan ko ba kung bakit ko naisipan, i checked again sa cebu pacific.  php16,068 na lang for 2 pax.  grrr!!! almost 2k din yun.

hay naku talaga!!!

okay na rin mas maganda naman flight sched ni pal tsaka may meals pa.

hindi nga pala akin ito.  pinapa-book lang.

yun lang.

crocs… unsafe

want to share this email i got from yoly.  every parent should be aware of the dangers involving crocs and escalators.  world wide na pala yung incident.  katakot.  i let johann wear it pa naman all the time.  may it be going to the mall, to my in-laws, or lalabas lang ng bahay.  hay naku, pambahay na lang nya yun.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 

if youre toddler owns a pair of crocs… read this… madami na pala accident concerning crocs and escalator..

http://for-jograd.livejournal.com/31433.html?view=117449

batangas… sana

went home early nung july 13 to pack our things.  the morning girls planned an outing at blue coral in san juan batangas.  7 or 8am daw kmi meet sa may boni caltex.  gamitin namin sasakyan nila icel since sakto kmi dun.  ako & johann, lhen, abby, jimelle, and icel, jojo, kids and yaya.  kaso around 10pm ng july 13 tumawag si lhen.  lunch na lang daw sa megamall kse baka malakas ang ulan.  sayang naman yung na-pack ko na gamit so i immediately called linden suite para magpa-book ng executive room.  dami pa kse akong voucher though hindi na free unlike yung unang stay namin.  swerte naman at may available pa.  so i called tajhing na dun na sya mag-sleep sa hotel ng saturday night since kming mag-ina lang naman ang sleep dun. 

the next day 12pm daw meet sa dencio’s.  eh kaso past 12pm na kmi nakaalis ng bahay kse nakatulog si johann around 11am.  since ako ang nag-drive eh di mas mabagal tapos sobrang traffic pa ang edsa and walang parking sa megamall eh since past 2pm na yun so nag-check-in muna kami sa linden tapos hinatid kmi sa megamall, pinauwi ko na uncle and tita ko.  so mga 3pm na kami nakarating ng megamall.  eh hungry na ang anak ko so we went na lang sa mannang to have a very early dinner.  i texted na lang icel, abby and lhen na dun na lang pumunta.  low batt na pala phone ni lhen kaya ayun 12pm nasa dencios daw sya more than an hour nag-hintay sa amin.  di na pala nya na-receive yung text ko na late kmi makakarating.  unang dumating si abby galing daw sya sa dentist.  sila icel nasa jollibee kumakain, sunod daw sila.  sa mannang na lang kami nag-kwentuhan and nagpa-picture ang mga kids.  may pasalubong na chocolates si abby.  tumawag si lhen nasa bahay na daw sya.  so past 5pm nag-hiwa-hiwalay na kami.  mag-grocery pa si abby sa makati while sila icel attend ng 6pm mass sa galleria.  i bought water and umbrella tapos nag-walk na kmi papuntang linden.  ala kasi kami makuha taxi.  all the time nakatali right hand ko sa left hand ni johann. tatakasan kse ako eh.  behave naman sya nung nag-walk kami.  may mga narinig pa nga ako na nag-comment na nakatali ang anak ko na parang aso.  hello!!! di naman sa leeg nakalagay ang tali nya noh sa kamay.  tsaka wala ako pakialam sa kanila.  mas importante sa akin na hindi ako matakasan ng anak ko.  pag dating sa hotel, picture-picture muna habang explore ni johann yung room.  hay naku ang likot talaga.  lahat ng cabinets binubuksan.  tsaka panay ang sayaw sa harap ng salamin.  nagdala na lang si tajhing ng jollibee para dinner namin.  then sleep na.

the next day before 8am na sa swimming pool na kami.  na-prove ko na pwede nga underwater ang camera ko. 

after swimming, buffet breakfast then check out na.  diretso kami sa shaft kse may pa-lunch si papa dun. 

nga pala.  di man lang umulan that weekend.  haay… sayang.

basketball star, rockstar or priest

future basketball star?

the big 60!

60 na si papa.  we planned a not quite a surprise party for him.  kse alam na nya before pa.  i gave him an invitation. iniisip kse namin na kapag totally surprise eh baka hindi sumipot eh.  no program or anything.  just dinner.  tajhing just prepared a simple avp for him.  yun lang.

btw, the party was held in patio ibarra.  i got apple of yan-ple’s party shop to decorate the place.  mukha kseng convention nung una namin nakita.  may kiddie party pa nung time na yun ha.  i also got her chocolate fountain.  we also ordered a lechon baka from ben baka in bulacan.

view nyo na lang yung pics.

driving

*~this is the one “i’m into something right now”~* 

after 4 student permits and 2 A1 classes (10 hrs manual and 5 hrs automatic) i’m finally driving.  major accomplishment to.  i always wanted to drive but fear gets in the way.  ang mali ko kse nung first time ako nag-A1 hindi ako nagpa-assist para sa license kaya di ako nakakuha agad.  hay naku, i tried practising pa nga sa garage namin, ayun nabangga ko yung pader gamit ko yung corolla na bagong pintura. hay naku talaga.  after nun natakot na ko.  lagi lang ako kumukuha ng student permit hoping na makapag-drive ako.  nakakapag-practice naman ako with my uncle.  na-drive ko na nga rin yung L300 namin nung manual pa sya.  hirap ako sobra sa manual.  lagi ko nakakalimutan mag-change ng gear.  yun din yung comment ng instructor ko nun sa A1.  so nung nagkaroon kmi ng car pina-convert to automatic para di na daw ako mahirapan.  kso nung gusto ko na mag-practice ulit umalis naman si rudney so walang magtuturo sa akin.  so yung car namin di masyado nagagamit.  twice ako sinamahan ni papa ng sunday ikot lang kmi.  then nung dumating si rudney walang time kse lagi kaming umaalis ng weekend.  once lang nya ko nasamahan.  so after nun ala na ulit.  so i decided to enroll na lang ulit sa A1 pero this time automatic na kinuha ko.  then nagpa-assist na rin ako sa license para wala ng practical exam.  nakapasa naman ako 36/40, 30 ang passing.   para ma-pratice ko ang driving ko eh gumigising ako ng maaga.  as in 5:30 paalis na kmi.  sunduin kse ng uncle ko si mama sa ministop.  7am ang out nya.  ayaw kse ng uncle ko na maipit sa edsa kya ganun kmi kaaga umaalis.  so nasa ministop na kmi before 6:30 pa lang.  buti na lang lately kse busy ako sa office so advantage rin ang pag-pasok ko ng maaga.  pag di kse ako sumasabay 9-9:30 na ako nakakarating ng ofc.  oks naman daw ang driving ko though may times daw malikot yung manibela ko.  tsaka i still have a problem with parking.  di pa kse ako sanay. 

1st time i drove alone was when i went to sm fairview.  since nag-mature na yung time deposit namin,  we decided to withdraw it na.  eh may inaayos kse uncle ko eh kailangan ko habulin yung 7pm na closing di ko sya mahintay.  so i decided to bring the car.  since nakapag-drive naman ako from bahay to mandaluyong, ano ba naman yung bahay to sm fairview na 10-20 mins away.  so grabe ang kabog ng dibdib ko nun.  ang bagal ko sobra.  pagdating ko ng sm hanap ako ng parking space na walang katabi.  ang tagal ko bago na park ng maayos.  so i went na inside sm then went out past 7pm na.  since madilim na nun naiwan ko pala na bukas ang park lights.  ay sus.   so start ko agad kse baka na-discharge ang battery.  buti na lang hindi.  so uwi na ako.  as usual ang bagal ko na naman.  nakarating naman ako ng safe.  pagkakita sa akin ni mama ay naku sermon ang inabot ko.  bakit ko daw tinakas yung sasakyan, tapos gabi na daw may dala pa akong pera.  eh di ko naman tinakas yun eh.

2nd time i drove alone to sm fairview ulit.  buy kse ako pillows.  mas malakas na ang loob ko ngayon compared nung first time.  kso nung pauwi na ko parking pa lang nag-loko na yung sasakyan.  namamatay pag lipat ko yung paa ko sa brakes.  ang tagal ko sa parking.  may time pa na tinulak ng guards kse nakaharang ako sa exit.  eventually nag-okay naman sya.  di na ako nag-aircon pauwi.  hindi rin pala ako nakabili ng pillows, ala ako nagustuhan.

3rd time i drove alone kanina papuntang malabon para sa binyag ni marie therese, baby ni james & tina, barkada ni rudney.  layo noh.  ang sikip pala ng kalsada dun, sira-sira pa.  ala pa akong map.  so i called james for instructions.  nakarating naman ako and may parking space pa kaya oks.  sa tropa ni rudney si henry lang nandun.  so kasabay ko sya pauwi.  binaba ko sya sa mrt quezon ave then uwi na ako.  di na ako masyado kinakabahan.  mas okay na ako ngayon. 

4th time baka tomrw di pa ako sure.  sa alabang kse yun eh.  binyag naman ni julianna phoebe, baby ni phabs and rose, tropa pa rin ni rudney.  ang layo kse so hindi pa ako decided.  bahala na.

basta happy lang ako.  malapit na ako mag-goodbye kay abc, mge, emp and other taxis na nakasanayan kong sakyan araw-araw.  hehehe 

edited:  natuloy ako kahapon sa alabang.  i fetched henry sa estrella and james and tina sa may pasay.  o di ba school bus.   we took the coastal road since mas malapit kse dun.  ang galing, umabot speed ko ng 80, hindi naman ako kinabahan.  sobrang luwag kse since its sunday. 

hmm… kailangan ko na maghanap ng parking dito sa office.  :P

gymboree trial class

since kaka-open pa lang ng gymboree sa trinoma they have a promo na free trial class.  so i scheduled johann for june 30, gym play lang.  ang daming kids that day.  okay naman yung program nila though i was not satisfied lang with how johann participated.  lagi syang tumatakas.  when they were asked to return the toy na ginamit ayun na tatakas na.  pupunta na sa ibang play area so hahabulin ko na naman at carry pabalik.  ganun parati. twice or thrice nya ko tinakasan.  so hindi muna ako nag sign-up.  baka kse masayang lang ang bayad ko.  i scheduled him again for a trial class for music naman kaso this time may bayad na daw.  yung payment eh after ng class na lang daw.  sad to say we weren’t able to make it kse i was not feeling well that time.  hindi ko pa sya napa-schedule ulit.  naging busy kse ako eh.

pictures are here. 

parent’s day

*~overdue post din~*

mother’s day.  after namin hatid si rudney sa airport ng early morning, nag-drive thru lang kmi ng breakfast then went home na.  around 5pm hinatid kmi ni uncle sa house ni tajhing para meet namin cla mama, papa and others kse dinner kmi sa kamayan sa market!market!.  as usual since buffet yun busog to the max.  after dinner we walked papunta sa bonifacio high street since pa-change ko ng ibang color yung jibbitz na binili ko sa crocs.  hindi na sya high street nung sunday na yun sa sobrang dami ng tao.  as usual pa rin, ang daming tao sa crocs.  after ko pa-change iniwan ko na si tajhing and momi sa loob.  si johann naman nag-enjoy kakatakbo sa labas.  ang dami naming nakabantay sa kanya.  ang bilis kse tumakbo so hinaharangan na lang sya para di makatakas.  so after buy nila momi ng crocs we went back na sa market!market! kse late na rin nun and bedtime na ni johann.  sa byahe pa lang pauwi tulog na agad sya.

father’s day.  breakfast naman to sa somethin’ fishy.  as usual buffet na naman so di na kmi nag lunch since around 9:30am na ata kmi natapos.  we went sa robinson’s sta. lucia to attend the 11am mass.  eh since close pa nung dumating kmi we stayed lang sa sasakyan.  when johann heard the “taktak mo” aba nag-sayaw.  nung nag-open na yung mall pasyal muna since 11 pa yung mass.  after the mass i bought vcd for johann then went sa shaft para mag rest/sleep. around 5pm naman we went to flavor’s of china in makati ave to have an early dinner.  after dinner went home na rin.

pictures are here and here.