moments like these

A few years ago, I was able to capture this view while on board a plane.
The picture is one of my favorite shots. Until now, I haven’t captured a sunrise shot again while airborne.
A copy of this picture is on my desk in the office. It is a reminder of a moment where I was in the “correct” side of the plane at the right moment. These moments are rare, I realized. It’s really up to you to make the most out of every opportunity that comes your way. These rare moments may come as surprises so you just have to be ready.

30

It's my 30th birthday. I’m on a plane headed home. Things didn't turn out the way I planned it. I was supposed to be somewhere up north on my birthday. But God seems to have other plans on my birthday.
A week before my birthday, an airline representative advised my travel companions and I, of the cancellation of our flight on January 23. It turned out they are cancelling all flights to my birthday destination (for my birth month at least) because of an aircraft situation. I have no idea what that exactly means but the message is clear. I won't be northbound on the remembrance of my natal day.
Although I have been planning this for a long time, finding out that the trip wasn't pushing through wasn't as heart-breaking as I expected it to be.
I was supposed to be in Batanes from January 23 to 28. However, my grandmother’s burial was scheduled on January 24. If my trip pushed through, I would’ve missed the burial. However, God had other plans. He wants me to be home for my Lola’s homecoming. Batanes will always be there. Someday, I would set foot on this dream destination. For now, I will be with my family to take my Lola to her final resting place.

My Lola

On my mother's side of the family, my Lolo's name is Nicolas. my Lola's name is Luz. The resemblance to my real name (which was randomly picked from a book of baby names) is a coincidence. My Lolo died a long time ago (I think I was just four years old then). My Lola has been living with my uncle in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.

On December 29, 2008, my mom, siblings and I decided to visit our Lola Luz in Sta. Barbara. It will be the first time she will see her "apo sa tuhod". At first, we were hesitant to push through with the visit because of the distance we would subject 5-month old Yohan to travel. But, visit her, we did....Thank God, we did.

On January 4, 2009, my grandmother passed away. Life is short. And it pains me that I often take for granted its brevity.

Here's an old picture of me, my brother and our Lola in front of our house in Ajuy.

So little time

Try to understand that I'm

Trying to make a move just to stay in the game

I try to stay awake and remember my name

But everybody's changing

And I don't feel the same

You're gone from here

And soon you will disappear

Fading into beautiful light

Cause everybody's changing

And I don't feel right

December in Pictures

December passed by too quickly. It was time well spent with family and old friends back home.

With my brother Jun Jun in a carinderia in Villa, Iloilo (my first Iloilo lunch after nine months)

With my sister Rizza after her dance contest (They were 4th in a contest with four participants)

Spent time with Yohan, my first nephew

With oh so cute Yohan

With mom, Lucel and Yohan

With the Vanguards in our most well-attended Christmas get-together of late

P13 peso/game bowling in SEBA

Vanguards also hit the beach

If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback (NikkiLBaq)

My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?
If today was your last day
Against the grain should be a way of life
What's worth the prize is always worth the fight
Every second counts 'cause there's no second try
So live like you'll never live it twice

Don't take the free ride in your own life
If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday?
Would you live each moment like your last?
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?
Reminisce of memories
Would you forgive your enemies?
Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?
Swear up and down to God above
That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day
If today was your last day
Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?
You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars
Regardless of who you are
So do whatever it takes
'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life
Let nothin' stand in your way
Cause the hands of time are never on your side

Para Po

I like taking jeepney rides. Not only they are cheaper and breezier but also because I get to observe typical Pinoy commuter's behavior and especially humor. For the past 12 years of commuting in Manila, I only got one major bad encounter (my bag with nothing in it got snatched in Cubao and I wasn’t also cautious that time). I consider that a pretty good statistic of commuting in Metro Manila.

Last Saturday, I was on my way to the land of mangoes (Manggahan) for a night of poker with Noe and Jerry. I took my favorite bus to Ortigas then I got off at Robinson’s Galleria. Near EDSA shrine (a place where I should’ve been that morning), I took a jeepney to IPI. From IPI, I needed to cross to take another jeepney to Libis.

Anyway, after getting off at IPI, a young man with a big red bag approached me. My initial reaction in situations like these would be to move away from any suspicious looking stranger but the “lost look” on his face did it for me. He asked where he can get a ride to Libis. Since I was on my way to Libis, I told him to go with me. Just when we are about to cross the street, a girl with a piece of paper approached me and asked how to get to Greenmeadows (the address on her piece of paper). I don’t know how to get there myself so I told her to ask the jeepney driver. At this point I was thinking, this could be a modus operandi, but both of them don’t look like scheming persons. So I took my chances and since I felt really crappy the night before. I thought nothing can make me feel worse, not even innocent-looking muggers. Seriously, they really look lost and they didn’t appear to be conniving kids prying on hapless moi.

So three of us, like classmates on our way to school, crossed the busy and dark stretch of Ortigas Extension. When we got to the other side, I asked the girl to ask the driver how to get to Greenmeadows. It turned out the jeep would pass by the verdant meadows of Greenmeadows. So we all “boarded” the jeepney, this motley crew of "lost individuals". The first to get off was the girl going to Greenmeadows and she thanked me profusely before getting off. After a few meters, I had to get off but the other lost kid, who still looked lost, glanced at me with questioning eyes. So I told him to get off near the very big billboard of noodles and he said “Salamat po”.

I felt the quizzical stares of other people in the jeepney after I said “Para po”.

moms at work

My brother Bob sent me an SMS telling me that my Mom is talking to someone on the phone when she mentioned a word that I’ve used a little too much for the past few entries……..COW SURFER.