Category: Uncategorized

Let life roll

Next month, I will be a real writer — journalist actually. And I’m begging people I know to tell me that I can do it because I can’t convince myself that I can.

You know, my insecure self is eating my entirety. At 22, I’m nobody, no dreams and aspirations. No directions and plans. I don’t even know why asked to be a journalist. Hasty decision but what else can be done? Life happens.

Uncertain self making huge steps, that’s very me in every inch. I haven’t started yet but the fear of being surrounded by real intelligent people is consuming me.
Ang labo na ng post na to, parang ako. Di alam kung pano magsisimula, di alam kung paano magpapatuloy, at higit sa kung ano pa man, di alam kung pano tatapusin.

I’ll be okay soon. For the mean time, let life roll!

#Lost

Yearender

2015 — it wasn’t the year I hope it would be. It was bannered by failure, rejection, lost and heartbreaks. It was year my faith was tested, but guess what, I’m still thriving. I was challenged but never gave up.

Sure, I always thought of quitting but I never did. I lost every positive DNA that lies on my body. I loved and was left. Lost a friend and a buddy.

It was also the year we found out lola has a cancer. She underwent medical treatment despite her bird-like frame. I wasn’t the only one who was tested but my entire family as well.

I almost lost my brother due to a motor accident. I had experienced crying while walking along Taft under a broad daylight. I cried on the MRT and jeep. Oh boy, 2015 was a bomb!!

Battling between my own self was one tough agenda. I convinced myself, I fought with my own thoughts and I had to win over myself. One crazy year.

2015 was a year of love and heartbreaks. The memories are still pulling me back to past.

Although it wasn’t the year I expected, It was the year where I learned the most out of life. Some lessons were given the hard way but It made me stronger, man enough and responsible.

But it goes on. Tears dry, smiles wry.

For 2016, I don’t expect you to become easy so expect me to be tough! Give me more tears — brought by joy or by pain. Give me reasons to laugh — upon myself or others. Give me more lessons — let’s do it the hard way! And above anything else, give me more stories to tell!

Bring it on.

#01012016

Life’s reality

Stuck in the same place while others go get their dreams. Glued on my seat while others chase their goals. Welcome to my life — dull, boring and pointless.

I am always been the “okay” kid, always adjusting, always conforming. I’m always okay with everything until I’ve totally forgotten want I really want.

I wear masks of joy, happiness, positivity where in fact I am loser, desperate and lonely. I unmasked myself to few people but I guess my story is not something they need to concern with.

Life reveals reality to me one day at a time. Reality that I’m not good enough. Reality that I’m not good and reality that I’m not enough. Reality is making me hate the future. It doesn’t look bright.

Dreary, damn and dreaded life had become. It’s painful to admit that I am not the person others think I am and what’s more painful is admitting to myself that I am not the person I think I am. I am a failure.

If each failure means one step backward in achieving your purpose in life, I guess it’s safe to say that I am out of the race for all the mistakes I’ve done.

This is my life. A story of seething, self-loathing and defeat.

#12052015

Lost in Cebu

I did for the first time in my life something I have ever dreamt of: To travel alone in a place where I am an alien, doing something outside my (boring) life routine. Queen City of the South, Cebu City, is the place.

Home of the first Christians, brought by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, Cebu positions itself as an emerging economic power with the advent of modernization and progress without sacrificing its history and culture.
Home of the Sto. Niño, Cebu is a place where one would want to get lost because of its warm people who are very assitive and willingly answering queries.

I went to Cebu last month without itenerary. I strolled around the city the way I randomly want to. Turn left and Turn right without directions. Yup, You are right, I went to Cebu primarily to get lost — that’s where the thrill is.

Transport system in Cebu is very tricky because jeepneys have transport codes — or I assume they are codes — like 01K,   02C, etc. You really need to talk to the locals what and where to ride if you don’t want to get lost. And for my case since I want challenge, I experienced I getting off to the jeep way far to my destinations thrice because I did not tell the driver where I’m heading until it’s too late. I just acted as if I know where I’m headed. I also experienced walking to nowhere while raining, wearing a shorts, plain white shirt and my backpack.

But please imagine the grind on my face, the deep breath I took, and the success I felt when I finally reach all my destinations. It was tiring but all worth it.

I went to renowned tourist destinations like Basilica del Santo Niño, Metropolitan Cathedral, and Magellan’s Cross. Took some photos, eat and do whatever I want to do. I drank alone smoke cigars and while listening to other people’s conversation trying to understand their native tongue. It’s amusing and liberating at the same time.

Nothing beats the feeling of being in charge of your own life. Your life is yours to enjoy while listening to yourself for a while. You discover your own self. You got to love the freedom when you get when you travel alone.

Whoever reads this, I encourage you to do the same once in your life. Be free and be liberated and you’ll never regret it.

#11092015
image

I write

I was a kid released into a labyrinth after my college graduation. I started my quest without knowing what thy heavens may bring — or what direction to take.

I met people on their own quests, some whom I envy because they as if know what road to take and what they want in their lives, while here I stopped for a moment and just watch them pass me by.

Standing still on the same place where I stayed waiting for a something that may happen about my life did not actually do any good at all — I must move, be it left or right, run or maybe roll. I gotta move it.

Time came when quitting seems like the only option but I did something otherwise — I took one more step. Then step after step, day after day while thinking that shit happens. Fuck it because I don’t know where to go but it doesn’t mean I have to stop. Rolled, stumbled, and enjoy the process. Live by the pain and feel it. Life is too short cry, why fill it with tears when you can fill it with laughter? Then suddenly I felt something.

I want to write. I don’t know when did the urge start or how it started. All I know is that I want to work with words. Play with it, sew it and make a threads out of it and then make cloth from it. Cloth that one day one will wear expressing my thoughts that reflect his.
I still on the labyrinth finding my way out of success, it may take a while or not be easy, but I gotta move it!

One day, I’ll write my own story — and yours and everyone else. But for now I have to start it with one letter — “I”.

#100915

Like those of movies

Why can’t we be like those of movies, where every twist and turns of the character leads him to perfect ending — where every tears that fall will be rewarded by a smile that’ll show. Why?

Why can’t we be like Eternal Sunshine where the two lead stars decided to erase each other from their minds and still ended meeting each other — and they compromise in the end. They know what will happen next — the girl will get bored and fucked up then she’ll leave here him anew — but a smile, a hug and “okay” capped the entire movie. Why can’t we be like that?

Or check this: Why can’t I be like that in 500 Days of Summer, when the guy woke up one morning not knowing why he got dumped by the girl he loved the most — and worst is that the girl got married suddenly. He spent a time of his life finding for answers and almost lost his mind. Then when he decided to fix his life, he met someone and the movie ended the guy asking the girl for a coffee — signifying a new season. An autumn. Will I ever experience that?

Why can’t we be like the epic One More Chance, where the two of them spent five years together and got separated, met new people in their lives, grew separately and then they met again where their hearts are good as brand new and they are ready to fall in love for one more time. And then they look at each other’s eyes and gone are the pain.

I got more whys and what ifs as the days move forward. I have now regret every opportunity that I could have been with you but chose not to. I now miss every attention you gave me but wasn’t able to seize it.

Stories like those I mentioned above ended in hopeful way but you ended ours in three words: “Ayoko na, Sorry.”

Concise, clear and with brevity — short enough to cut me off from saying any more lines.

And unlike those movies, our story ends here.

0823


Bargaining

You really can’t go out with pain without getting through it. Each blades has to wound you. Each thorns has to cause you scar. It needs to be felt as they say.

I’m just ranting why I get easily replaced. Why am I left behind. Why I feel more pain than the other side of this game. Why so sudden. Why?

I’ve got more questions than answers. Each passing day leaves me with wild array of possibilities why — number one on the list is I am not enough. I have the same posts all over and over again because I have the same sentiments everyday.

One quote reads: “You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward.”
I can’t move forward, yet, because I’m still stuck with the idea that somewhere deep in you lies me and it needs a little, uhm, awakening. (One day I’ll move on and read this then I will surely laugh my ass off with this.)

Everyday is a bargaining. I bargain myself.
(Basha peram ng linya)
“Sana ako nalang, Sana ako pa rin, Sana ako nalang ulit.”

#Entry081415

The End

Sisimulan natin kung saan nagtapos ang lahat. Hindi pala ako handa sa paglisan mo. Kung iisa-isahin ko ang lahat ng pangyayari, alam kong hahantong tayo sa puntong ito — iniwan mo ako — o maaring hindi sapagkat hindi ka naman nagpaalam.

Ideya ko lahat nang ito, una kitang niyaya, nasundan nang nasundan at nasundan pa. Masyadong mabilis pero nagpaagos lamang ako dahil gusto ko rin naman.

Sa sandaling panahon na nagpaagos tayo, marami narin pala tayong napagusapan, mula sa pelikulang gusto mo hanggang sa mga pangarap mo. Nakikinig lang ako. Sa lahat nang musikang pinakikinggan mo pati narin ang pagkasawi mo sa pag-ibig mo.

Sa ‘yo nanggaling ang unang yosing hinithit ko. Ang unang bagnet na natikman ko. Ang unang bulalong hinigop ko. Marami rin pala akong alaala sa ‘yo.

Kung iisa-isahin ko ang mga alaalang tumatak sa akin, marahil ay uunahin ko siguro ‘yung gabing tumingin ka sa akin habang sinabing imposibleng may magmahal pa sa ‘yo kasi ang “pangit pangit” mo. Tumingin ako sa mga mata mo at doon ko nakita ang sarili ko. Gusto kong sabihin sa ‘yo na hindi imposibleng may magmahal sa ‘yo sapagkat ako’y nahulog na sa iyo.

Ikalawang paboritong alaala ko sa ‘yo ay yung pag-upo natin sa isang sulok sa may bangketa habang nakikinig ng musika ni Jeff Bucley, ng Up Darma Down o ‘di kaya’y Urbandub dahil doon mo nahuli ang kiliti ko — na gustong gusto ko. Sa bawat beat ng musika ay nahahawakan mo ang tuhod ko. You got me on my knees.

Itong pangatlong paboritong alaala ko sa ‘yo ay masasabi kong may pinakanatutunan ako, gustong gusto ko ang pagka-random mo. Hinding hindi ko malilimutan ang umagang niyaya mo akong sumakay sa isang taxi at bahala na kung saan man mapadpad. Sumakay ng bus at nagpunta sa isang bayan na ‘di kalayuan sa Maynila. At dun ko unang nahawakan ang kamay mo habang nakahiga ka sa balikat ko. At ang pinaka natutunan ko sa karanasang ito — ikaw man ay “anti-Dead Poets Society” sapagkat big fan ka ng “Whiplash” gaya ng sinabi mo — ay “Carpe Diem”, I can seize the day when I’m with you.

Marami pa akong alaala sa ‘yo. Habang inaalala ko ay nasasaktan ako pero ganito naman talaga lahat ng nagmamahal — nasasaktan. Hindi lang ako handa sa paglisan mo. Masyado mo akong binigyan ng maraming alaala na dapat kalimutan. Ngunit huwag kang mag-alala sapagkat lahat ng natutunan ko sa ‘yo ay nakatatak sa isip ko.

Hindi ako nagagalit sa ‘yo, naiinis lang ako sa sarili ko dahil alam kong wala kana pero umaasa pa rin ako na p’wede pang ibalik ang dati. Siguro nga ay na sa in denial stage pa ako at kung susundin ko ang isa sa pinaka paborito kong mga tula mula kay Linda Pastan na “Five Stages of Grief”, ang kasunod ng kabanatang ito ay anger at depression — pero pipilitin kong huwag nang dumaan doon kung maari.

Nahihirapan man ako ngayon sapagkat pilit pa rin akong hinihigop ng nakaraan — pipilitin kong ituon na lamang sa hinaharap ang atensyon ko. Nakasisiguro ako sa doon ko mahahanap ang pagtanggap at pagpapalaya. Hindi madali pero kakayanin.

Hindi man nagtapos ang kwentong ito na magkahawak ang ating mga kamay, sinisiguro ko na pag dating ng panahon at ako’y lumingon masasabi kong minsan sa buhay ko, nagmahal ako.

#Entry080215

Pain

I talk with pain
I made friends with pain
I laugh with pain
I listen to pain

I fell for pain
I made a deal with pain
I travel with pain
I held hands with pain

I sleep with pain
I hug pain
I kiss pain
I undress pain

Now I can feel pain
Hurt caused by pain
But still I choose pain
Because I love pain.

Please help, I’ve been consumed by pain.

#Entry071915

Lost myself in the process

It hit me when a friend told me last time we saw each other that she has a workmate who resembles me, one who’s “intelligent”, “knows a lot of thing” and “well-read”. In her words “Ikaw na ikaw talaga.” I laughed at it and played jokes but the truth is, no I am not the person they thought I am.

Upon reaching one year in my job, it was one of my realization — I am not intelligent and well-read. I am far from it. I am no longer the person they used to know. I gained insecurities and frustrations. I am surrounded by real, legit “intelligence.” It’s hard to admit but yes, I think I am a failure. I failed.

I got good grades in college. I got awards and shit like that since elementary. I’ve been in journalism class and won up to regional competition. I was a student council president. I nailed reports, quizzes and exams. I was able to answer hard professors’ questions — consistently. But these are all in the past. Sometimes I can’t help but ask myself: “Am I a fluke?”

Almost one year in my job and I lost myself. I lost “me” in the process. It hurts because in reality, I am not the person all along I believed I was.

I know my friends look up to me and think that I one of the intelligent people they know and I feel ashamed of myseld because I can’t live by it. I don’t want to ask what happened to me because I think it is clear: I am now the “S” word.

I was called “brilliant mind” in high school and “wanggig” (slang for one gigabyte) — for having sharp memory — in college. I also got “Very Superior” or 132 in my IQ test. I hope I did not believe this shits because it tripled the pain.

One year and more years ahead. Can I still redeem myself? Can I still bounce back from this set back? Just breathing it in… I don’t know. But I want to.

#Entry062715