and the words keep on coming.

At tulad ng isang balon na napupuno tuwing tag-ulan, ako ay malapit nang umapaw.

***

Written in an air-conditioned room on a very sunny day. 

Grab your coat, get your hat.

Leave your worries on the doorstep...

If you're stuck in a situation that closely resembles a fat, dark cloud -- being in the limelight when you want to be helping out backstage (or vice versa), accepting a job you’ve soon realized you're not suited for, experiencing a rocky relationship, losing touch with someone you've known almost your entire life, not getting any calls from the companies you've sent copies of your resume to, doing something that seems to be taking so long, being away from people who matter to you, (add another one here) -- I know where you're coming from.  Believe me, I do.  And I'd like to share with you a piece of advice a college friend gave me a long time ago:  Relax.  Don't fret.  I know, it's easier said than done.  But why not give it a shot? 

Life can be so sweet 

On the sunny side of the street...

Relax.  You are where you're supposed to be at the moment, and there's a good reason you're in that spot.  Give it time.  There's something to gain from being in murky waters; unfavorable conditions are some of the best teachers.  Stop hurrying to get someplace else when you still have your hands full where you are.  The things that are happening to you now form the bigger picture.  And what you do now greatly influences how the bigger picture will look (it's like applying sunscreen while you're young so you won't look 50 when you're 40.) 

Gold dust at my feet

On the sunny side of the street.

If you're no longer supposed to be where you currently are, someone's going to pull you out and help you get to your next destination.  Goodness is always nearby.  That's something I've always believed in.  In the interim, play well the cards you've been dealt.  You never know when the next shuffle's going to be. 

***

Lyrics are from the song "On the Sunny Side of the Street."

There are forwarded quotations, humorous lines, and words of wisdom that merit time for reflection and laughter (and longer storage time in your inbox.)  But there are those that are just plain annoying; pressing 'delete' without even reading the entire thing is forgivable. 

By annoying, I mean pointless and incoherent messages (like verses that make no sense, clichés, or morning and evening greetings that take forever to read) and/or grammatically incorrect ones with errors so obvious, it makes you wonder if the person who forwarded it to you actually read it upon receiving it. 

For instance, take the forwarded line I received this morning, which was sent to me by a person who is fond of forwarding messages to many people.  A simple "good morning" would have sufficed.  I wonder, does that person send out such messages because he/she thinks they are worth sharing?  Or does he/she send out such messages just for the heck of it? 

There is much spamming in the world already.  Can't we at least be more discerning when it comes to the messages we forward to other people?  A little sincerity helps.

On our way to a bus stop in Nakhon Pathom last Sunday, Shay Anne told us a story about a girl she knew in high school. This girl, she said, was a very pretty and (supposedly) intelligent student; however, she was a bit arrogant. One day, little miss beauty and brains made an itsy bitsy mistake.

Student: Dito ba ang pila?

Miss Beauty and Brains: Conscious ba?

(Yikes.)

It's not even 7:00 pm yet and I'm already home. Here in Ratchaburi, home for me is Room 411 of a ladies' dormitory with a name I still don't know. 

Today is my eighth day in Thailand (tomorrow is pay day!), fifth day at work (believe it or not, I now wake up before 7:00 am every day), and fourth day of teaching (four days, and I've already lost my voice.)  I've been lying on my bed dressed in my pajamas, waiting for sleep to knock on my door, since I came home at 6:30 pm.  The only knock I've had so far was from a college student staying in the dorm, who knocked at around 7:30 pm to say that Albert was downstairs looking for Shay Anne.  The student was speaking in Thai and she was gesturing for me to look outside my balcony.  The only English word she said was, "Teacher."  I figured that someone might be looking for me or Shay Anne (who stays in the room below mine), and there's a huge possibility that it's Albert.  When I said, "Teacher Albert?"  The student smiled and said, "Yes, yes."  Non-verbal communication saved the day (and shortened Albert's waiting time.)  

The college girls playing badminton in front of the dorm have already finished their game, and the dorm has now entered the silent zone.  It's always quiet in my room though, save for the whirring sound the huge air conditioner makes whenever I switch it on.  Right now the cold from the massive unit is almost negligible, while the discomfort brought about by my sore throat is just the opposite.  At 10:00 am tomorrow, I'll be doing a voice-over for an AVP that the school principal will bring to the Netherlands next week.  I hope my throat would cooperate!  I badly need some anti-histamine.  This might be another allergic reaction to something I inhaled or ate.

The digital clock in my laptop now reads 8:36 pm, while the time in my mobile is 8:44 pm.  Neither my laptop nor my phone gives the correct time, and not knowing the actual time motivates me to get up early in the morning (most of the time.)

I've just had my day's serving of soy milk, and there's only one pack left in the fridge I share with Shay Anne.  I'm now on my last Strepsils lozenge and I'm about to run out of drinking water.  My next target: the citrus fruits on top of my stack of drawers.  They've started to yellow, but I ate one earlier and the taste is fine.  This coming Saturday will be grocery-shopping day (let's pretend I'm not in Tesco daily.)  It's time to replenish my supplies.

The room is cooler now.  The dorm has become even more quiet.

And my throat?  It has changed from bad to worse.

Now how do I say "anti-histamine" in Thai?

I know a lot of people who have plenty of brilliant plans but don't know where to start or how to put them to action; a truckload of amazing skills but are not sure how to put them to good use; the desire to pursue higher education or learn something new but are stopped in their tracks by exorbitant fees; and what it takes to be the next big thing but are too complacent, too lazy, to get the show on the road.  

While obstacles are everywhere, so are ways of going around them. Many of us often miss opportunities because we fail to recognize them for what they are, probably because we are busy counting chickens before they've hatched or are simply blinded by distractions, like worrying about things we would have to give up, thinking about doing what we'd like to do some other time, and fretting over risks and that looming cloud of uncertainty. Distractions will always try to get our attention.

It's never easy giving something up, but bidding farewell isn't always a bad thing. There was a time when I had to make a choice between staying where I was and leaving to do volunteer work. It was a tough time for me. I was so comfortable where I was that I was afraid of leaving behind the things, places and people I've become very familiar with. I felt like a dual weighing scale because I had to choose between something I knew so well and something that was still unclear. The latter was heavier.

As it turned out, the "unclear" was the clarity I was looking for. But it wasn't all peaches and cream when I came back. Some bits and pieces from my pre-departure life had dissolved, changed, and gone into hiding. But a million beautiful pieces came into my line of sight. Many of these pieces have been part of the bigger picture all along, but I was too focused on just a few that I didn't see what I was missing out on.  

When we give something up, we're making room for something even better. It's when we take risks and dive into the unknown that we discover more of who we are. Uncertainty has a certain beauty that many fail to see. 

Several opportunities have flown past me before because I was too lazy to actually get up and catch them. Many times I've used prioritizing as an excuse to not do something because I just wasn't in the mood to do it. Procrastination kills many good opportunities, and this killer can be very difficult to evade. A certain forwarded text message just came to mind. I can't remember the exact words, but it went like this: Would you rather be the one who just sleeps and dreams, or the one who wipes the sleep from his eyes, gets up from bed, and does something about his dream?  In any situation, we always have a choice. 

Opportunities are everywhere. We all just need to know where to look, how to spot them, and who to ask help from. (I will always be grateful to the people who have shown and continue to show me the hangouts and caves of opportunities and beautiful chances.) And once we shake the hands of an opportunity, we should do what it takes to be its friend.

For people who have a lot of brilliant plans but don't know where to begin; many amazing skills but are not sure how to put them to good use; the desire to study but are hindered by financial concerns; and what it takes to be the next big thing but are not yet in their element – may  this help and inspire you to start an adventure or two.

It truly is admirable, when people are very passionate about what they do and are willing to swim in unfamiliar waters instead of just dipping their feet. Adventures begin the moment we decide to do something about the thoughts floating in our heads. It's never too late to try something new.

What better time to start than now?

...
Thanks to the creators of the Young Global Pinoys blog. Thanks also to Patrick of GX. It was through him that I learned about the website.

This one is for Chely, from whom I have learned much about being proactive and finding ways. Belated happy birthday. Mahal kita, mami. :)

Waiting for a break in the rain.

Gaano pa
karaming liko
ang kailangan mo
para lang makita mong
nakarating ka na
sa destinasyong
ninanais mo?

Ilang ikot
pa ba sa ferris wheel
ang kailangan
para lang masabi mong
hilo ka na
sa paulit-ulit na
takbo ng kasalukuyan?

Ilang sugat pa ba
na dulot man ng salita
bagay
o ng iyong kapwa
ang kailangang
maukit sa iyong
katawan
isip
pagkatao
bago mo
maisip na ayaw mo
na ng itsura mong
palaging nababalutan
na lamang
ng band-aid?

Hanggang kailan ka
magpapaalipin sa kahapon
at sa mga pangako
ng bukas
na maaaring
hindi mangyari
sa sadya mong hindi
pagkilos?

Ilang tasa pa
ng kape
tsaa
o kung anuman
ang kailangan
para lang manatili
kang gising
sa mundong unti
unti kang hinehele
hanggang sa ika'y
matuwa na lamang
at makuntento
sa kung anong
puwede
pa sanang
mabago?
...
Kumakatok ang pagkakataon.
Naririnig mo ba?
Gising na.
(2008 Copyright Cddyqa Rogel)

Forget yourself.

- Henry Miller

Not now, she knows.
Someday, maybe.
Hopefully.
Just ask.
The gypsy
Would know what to say
In a heartbeat.

But whispering into painted bottles,
Constantly chasing the ghost of a good thing,
And leaving tin cans in the sea
Won't keep a kite from flying,
And could breathe the life
Out of a wandering soul.

But bask in the moon's presence
With the gypsy's hand in yours,
Paint a photograph neither blurred by the wind
Nor marred by the rain,
And the gypsy will lay her cards
And offer you her bandana.

Even gypsies
Need to rest.
Even the kindest gypsies
Know when to dance their last.

This gypsy knows not
Where her feet would take her.
Even the smartest gypsies
Could lose track of things
That previously made sense,
Once they turn around-- mid-sway --
And see not the crowd
But this one face
That the faceless crowd surrounds.

This gypsy?
It's your face she saw.
It's your face she sees.
But there's no need
To worry.
For she honors
Your request
For silence.

...
This was written ages ago.
(2007 Copyright Cddyqa Rogel)

Yesterday, I woke up at around 10:00 am and this was the first text message I received:

Summer Job Opportunities

Package 1
- P5,000/hour
- Enchanted Kingdom
- Taga-tulak ng Anchor's Away

Package 2
- P7,000/day
- Palengke
- Taga-lista ng noisy

Package 3
- P800/min
- Star City
- Taga-hila ng roller coaster

Package 4
- 900/min
- Quezon Ave
- Ikaw yung humps

Package 5
- P5,000/hr
- PLDT
- Ikaw yung dial tone

Package 6
- P10,000/hr
- Mall of Asia
- Taga-ikot ng globo

I would go for Package 2. Hahaha. What would you choose?

Then one day she spoke to herself:

It's not about skill.
It's about sincerity.

It's not about experience.
It's the willingness to start on a fresh page.

It's not about looking hot.
It's about keeping your cool.

It's not about the "then" and "could be."
It's the "now" that keeps your boat afloat.

It's not about always getting your way.
It's the ability to yield.

It's not about brewing doubts
Or spewing strong, hurtful words.

It's about keeping the faith
And listening to the unspoken.

It's not about letting familiarity breed contempt
But rather enjoying the prolonged getting-to-know.

It's not about popularity
especially when fame falls short of the truth.

It's not about intelligence
achievement
or titles.
It's about being loved in the absence of those.

It's not about alterations.
It's about just being.

It's not just about taking.
It's about giving and taking, and giving some more.

It's not about making that person an option.
It's about staying with that person 
Despite having a hundred options.

It's not being about the center of attention.
It's nice to take the backseat once in a while.

It's not just about being there during the best of times.
It's being there during the worst of times.

It's not about comparing the now to the past.
It's about embracing the present
And believing that it's going to be great.

It's about being able to bend
And see that the changing tides
The chance moments
Betoken something beautiful.

It's not about losing your identity.
It's about sharing yourself and respecting your differences.

It's not about wanting it to be storm-free.
It's about working together to keep it storm-proof.

It's not about passing fancies.
It's about blushing when the one you fancy passes by.

It's not about the dislikes
The petty fights
The apprehensions
The shortcomings
And instances of annoyance.

It's about liking the dissimilarities
Talking calmly about things
Being comfortable with each other
Appreciating the person's efforts.

The funny, senseless conversations.

The songs you throw at each other.

The stolen glances.

The overflowing kisses.

The sweet surrender.

And knowing that you're in it together.

...
It could work, you know. 
(2008 Copyright Cddyqa Rogel)

A friend sent me the details of the Bfukhay Tour through email and I'm very glad she did! I would not have known about the Pochon Group or the Bfukhay Ad Majawjaw had it not been for that forwarded email! I believe the tour is a wonderful opportunity for us to see more of the Philippines and learn about the Mayoyao Rice Terraces and the Mayoyao Community. 

This eco-tourism activity will help the Mayoyao Community because it will bring in tourism income and encourage the Community to participate in conserving and restoring their ancestral domain. Let's support this tour and in the process increase our cultural and environmental awareness!

BFUKHAY AD MAJAWJAW 2008
(Rice Planting in Mayoyao, Ifugao)

The Bfukhay 2008 Tour will allow participants to experience rice planting with the Mayoyao Community; witness a demonstration of Native House Construction and a showcase of the Mayoyao Native dances (tajaw) and Ethnic Ensemble during the Cultural Night; and shop at the Banaue Town Center.

TOUR DATE
February 8-10, 2008

PACKAGE COST
Php 3,700.00

INCLUSIONS
Transportation within the Province Tour Guide Fee
Meals (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, 1 snack on day 2 only)
Cultural Night
Entrance Fees
Lodging Environmental Fee

EXCLUSIONS
Transportation from Manila to Ifugao (and back)
Travel Insurance

ITINERARY                                                                 
Day 1                                                                             
6:00 am - Arrival of visitors in Santiago City + Travel to Mayoyao, Ifugao
7:30 am - Breakfast in Ubao, Aguinaldo, Ifugao
10:00 am - Arrival in Mayoyao
11:00 am - Early lunch
12:00 nn - Start trek to Chaya Rice Terraces
5:00-6:00 pm - Free time
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00-10:00 pm - Demo on native house construction                                                                                         

Day 2
7:00 am - Breakfast
8 a.m. - Trek to planting site + Participation in the Bfukhay + Snacks
12:00 nn - Lunch with the community
1:00 pm - Interaction with the community on cultures and traditions
3:00 pm - Trek down Mayoyao Proper Rice Terraces
5:00-6:00 pm - Free time
7:00 pm - Dinner
8:00-10:00 pm - Cultural night

Day 3                                                                             
7:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Travel to Chu'it Viewpoint
10:00 am - Travel to Banaue + Lunch
3:00 pm - Arrival at Banaue + Shopping for souvenirs
5:00-6:00 pm - Departure of visitors                                                                           

FOR RESERVATIONS AND INQUIRIES
Pochon Group
Poblacion, Mayoyao
3602 Ifugao                                                                       
Mobile: +639064826300 (Josh Nalliw)    
Email: pochon.group@gmail.com, josh21020@gmail.com

Deadline for reservations: February 1, 2008