Eric, our gift

Today is Eric’s 7th birthday. Some of you probably remember him from some of my posts. He is my cousin, who when he was 4, was diagnosed with leukemia, not to mention he already has Down syndrome. I could no longer recount the first few months he was confined in the hospital because it was really painful to see a child suffering. It’s even worse when you love the child so much. Anyway, that is all behind us now, and I am very happy that he had already finished all his chemo sessions and he only goes to the hospital for tests, no longer for treatment!

They said that children with Down syndrome are a gift to the family because they bring luck to business. Well, that isn’t the case for us. But we are definitely blessed because of him. He made his father a great man, bringing out all the patience, and perseverance, and selflessness in him. He brought the family closer — all of us supported in every way he can during the time when he was really sick. I don’t know a time when we were that supportive of each other. Best efforts.

He brings joy to my heart. He is very sweet to me. Whenever we see each other, he never leaves my side. He sleeps in my room whenever he can. He kisses the phone whenever he talks to me. And there was genuine excitement eveytime he sees me. He runs toward me while saying over and over “tete” (meaning ate) then hugs me.

Like all kids, he also has a naughty side. I say, his naughtier than most kids his age I know. But I couldn’t bring myself to be mad at him. When all the adults are angry when he did some naughty stuff, I couldn’t help but laugh. I always wonder where he gets his ideas.

He loves one pose—the Mr. Pogi pose. He likes having pictures.  Most of them aren’t developed yet, whereas some were just printed from a tm-t88iv. I’ll try to post new pictures here when the two of us get to celebrate his birthday.

Happy birthday, Eric! We love you!

who NOT to vote

Interesting how this election has turned out for me and my friend to be on who not to vote. The surveys and the ads all made us think that there are only two candidates fighting for the presidency. Though there are good reasons to believe that it may be true. I am thinking of voting the lesser evil (and lesser experience) of the two. If the VP candidates were the ones running for the chief executive, I would have voted on the basis of who to vote, not on who not to vote.

Last election, I voted for all the candidates to the Senate from the Kapatiran party. I believed in them, though I knew there’s a tiny chance they would win. Relatively, they got a higher number of votes than expected, but of course not enough. Most of the time, I vote according to competency and good reputation. I voted for Flavier, though not really a politician. He was a physician who knew a lot about rheumatoid arthritis information and heart attack prevention, but also knew how to manage and provide good services in the DOH. I wouldn’t forget his encouraging, Let’s DOH It! I voted for Yasay and for Monsod. I knew them to be good in their fields and to be good in their dealings. Last election, I voted for Villanueva.

But I guess we are too cautious now. We’ve had too much difficulties in the government during Erap’s time. GMA’s time was so much worse and seemed too long. This is realigning our perspective, becoming very careful not only on who to vote, but on who would become president by reason of our vote.

leaders by example

I asked a taxi driver last month who he would vote for president, he started a whole litany on why it is not good to have an intelligent president (i think he meant cunning). He said that what happens in the Big League (i.e., Malacanang) also happens in the Little League (barangay levels). He said that when a fund is coming, the barangay captains already know what to do and how to misappropriate the funds, which cannot be imputed to them. In short, they already know how to steal the money, spend it for themselves alone, and still stay in power — and get re-elected.

Look at Arroyo, he said. They said she’s intelligent, an economist, etc. Look at where we are now. (All the time, I was just asking questions to let him know I want him to continue.) He went on to describe poverty in his eyes. Then, I asked him, “Who would you vote for president?” Well, the one I voted last time. The one who really is for the masa.

What the driver said about what’s happening in the national is also happening in the local levels, I believe, is true. As the Obama administration was speaking of grassroots democracy, manong was talking about grassroots corruption. Leaders are effective only if they lead by example.

The next election, I hope we would have better leaders (or none at all). Not a senator whose always on ski vacations in North America, always part of the entourage. Or not a representative who’s always absent. Or a representative whose only bill is to change the name of a street. Or a senator who repeatedly refuses to attend investigations in the House. Or a president who just says “sorry”.

cheers to the new nurse!

Last year, speaking of missing celebrations, I recounted the story of my kinakapatid who took 10 long years before finishing college, starting from engineering and ending with nursing. Well, this year, I am just so proud of him! He is now finally a registered nurse! Yey! He used to be (and still kinda is) so preoccupied with barkada, alcohol and women that education didn’t seem to fit in his list. Now, he is a certified nurse! I asked him if he’d work right away, as I thought he’d want to try working since most of us his age are already working and supporting ourselves. But he told me that he’d study for NCLEX first and for the English tests or maybe take some other medical coding training courses. Tuloy tuloy na kumbaga.

I just admired him for his perseverance. This he did even after he seemed to have “lost” his way. He found his way back, when he decided to look for it. This is what makes him special among other graduates. I find inspiration in him. No matter how long he had been out of track, he was still able to find his path.

a decade over a cup of coffee

Last night, I met up with an old friend. We hadn’t seen each other for almost a decade already. She has been going back and forth to the States since she she became a citizen in high school and started studying there. Our meeting wasn’t really planned; she just found out that I am here in our hometown, so she contacted me right away (When she’s here, most of the time, she stays in their house in Cubao). We couldn’t have Branson vacation packages or other trips together because of physical and time constraints, so this was the only opportunity to meet her again, especially when she informed she’d be leaving again for the States on Wednesday.

She was 4 years younger than I am. When we first met, she was still in grade 6 and I was in my first year in UP. Although she was so young then, she was really matured for her age. It  was like we were of the same age. Her activities were already for girls of my age, plus she’s really beautiful. She already looked like a full-grown woman, whereas I still looked like nene (hahaha).

Anyway, as I’ve mentioned earlier, it has been almost 10 years since we last met. We only know bits and pieces of news about each other, and we seldom chat because of different time zones, not to mention I seldom log in to networking sites. But when we saw each other last night, it’s as if there weren’t any years that passed. We were like when we were before. She was that matured high school kid, and I was the naive college girl. There were no awkward moments. Immediately, we tried to catch up on each other’s life, telling stories of 5 years ago. She shared me her pregnancy experience and how it was a miracle that she got pregnant. I was truly excited to see the kid she’s carrying in her belly. The coffee cups were already long empty, but we were still long before we could finish the night.

She had to go home because she and her mom would be leaving for Manila early morning the next day. We kissed each other goodbye and embraced each other tight. I sure am gonna miss her again. She told me that, even if it’s gonna be years more before we see each other again, it would still seem like the way we were before.

But of course, I hope it wouldn’t take 10 more years again. hehe.

rise and shine…and sleep again

I am trying to devise a way to get up as soon as my alarm clock rings. Ironic I have these problems waking up when at present, I really need to wake up early. I rarely study at night, so the little study time I have is in the morning–before I go to work–and the 1-hour FX ride to school.

I’ve tried ways of staying wake up the first time my eyes open. I’ve tried sleeping early. Not working. I’ve tried setting the clock 30 minutes earlier so I could finally stand up at the intended time. Not working. I’ve tried walking out of my room and standing outside the house. Not working. What would work?

Recently, I’ve tried exercising. I don’t need the best fat burning exercise, just that exercise that can make my blood circulate and get me moving. I do this for about 10 minutes. Sometimes, it’s working. Sometimes, it’s not. After the routine (which is composed of anything-I-can-think-of exercise and anytime-I-want-to-stop period), I graciously lay down to bed again and set my alarm for another 15 minutes.

:-)

Road Closed

I am a self-confessed ignoramus when it comes to direction. For example, I’ve been to MOA for about a hundred times, and up to now, I don’t know how to get from one place to another. Several times I’d been to Glorietta, and as of yet, I still hadn’t memorized all the roads that lead there. I have always been dependent on other peope and stable routes and directory submission.

Consequently, I only take roads that I was able to memorize. In Makati, I only take Ayala. And when last Sunday night, surprised that it was closed, I had to take roads I am not familiar with, or looked familiar but I cannot remember why. For a time, I was just driving, not knowing where to go. I was led back to where I started. With my friend’s help through “phone patch,” I was able to reach EDSA, only after anxiety and panic.

The day before, I also encountered another closed road going to school. Though I had already learned to take the alternate route, as I had done several times, I was still unsure if I could find my way. There was still fear that I might get lost and miss important stuff. When not in EDSA, I do not know where South or North is.

I think my problem lies in my fear of getting lost. I am unwilling to try new directions, and I stick to the only route I know. I realized, whenever there are closed roads, there are always alternate routes to take you where you want to be.

just got lucky

This is a message of gratitude to my very good friend, although this is only for a particular instance. Words and actions can never suffice to express my gratitude for the genuine friendship that he has given me. Even this simple message of thanks isn’t enough to express my appreciation for my dear friend’s hospitality.

His support for this whole week was indispensable. During the first half, he helped me kept awake, going out of his way to accompany me while I study. Starting 630 a.m. this Thursday, we agreed that I should just stay in his home so that he could “guard” me while I study. From the very beginning, he and his family are very supportive of my law school dream. And his mother was very confident and proud that I’d become a lawyer in the “family”, considering me as her own child. If only for her trust, I’m trying to pursue harder.

Starting Thursday, my friend had been very hospitable in their home, including her brother and sister. In my whole stay in Makati, I need not do anything. Everything was taken cared for, from breakfast super early in the morning until dinner. He cooked delicious foods, and I felt like I’ve gained several pounds (though no need for the best diet pills yet). He ensured I wake up when it’s time and that I stay awake until I have to. He even allows me to have naps, very careful that I do not oversleep. His usually quiet  siblings also made me feel taken cared for, always asking if I want this or that. I was, in all sense, a freeloader–and they didn’t mind.

I don’t know what I did to deserve a very good friend (and his family) in my life. He makes life a little less harder.

Thanks so much, eks!

the sad puppy look

Finally, this very long week had come to an end. I had just finished the deadliest subject this semester around 3 pm. It feels good to know that I managed to survive each day of the week one day at a time. The only immediate concern now is getting rid of blackheads and getting enough rest, though I’m sure the latter is harder to accomplish than the former.

Because the examinations started Monday this week, I haven’t had time to be “sad” because my lovable niece already went back to Qatar. I admit though that the week before their departure, I had already been feeling the sadness of the prospect that it’s gonna be a year or two before she comes back.

Here’s a photo of her when she looks sad:

With or without biases, we really feel that she is a very good girl. There was a time when she lost grip of my Magic Sing and it hit the floor. It looked like she knows that what she did was wrong and that she was very sorry for it. You know what she did? After a 1-second shock, she immediately run toward me and embraced me, leaning her head on my left shoulder. Who could get mad at such a child? She does that when her father raises his voice whenever she gets makulit, and she’d have that sad puppy look, and your heart just melts.

I miss you, keng! Au revoir!

midterms day 2: keeping me awake

Today was the second day of the midterms exams. Looking at it on the bright side, I only have 4 days left until the last, and the most dreaded, midterm exam. Like most regular student, I have this feeling of regret that I should have prepared earlier or, better, kept my lessons up-to-date. Well, there is no sense now of justifying myself (though probably I could =)). My problem now is the limited hours and how to stay up late. I fall asleep fast, and I crave sleep. Ironic that when I wasn’t schooling yet, I need a  natural sleep aid because of trouble sleeping. But now, when I look at my bed, I feel sleepy already. Count 10 minutes, and you’ll see me lying in bed. Last night, I tried an energy drink. It kinda worked. Though, what worked well last night was the company of the best person who kept me awake. Thanks so much!