marching march

There are people who have special fondness to a certain month, or in some cases, months. December is well celebrated because at Christmas day, families gather all over the world to celebrate. In fact it is the busiest month of the year for many of us. June and May is proven to be the best months for a wedding. The time is caught between dry and wet season so it is perfect for the honeymooners to stop the world and let it melt in envy of their sweetness. And of course not to mention, the beautiful blossoms that summer brings. What would a wedding be without the hues and colours of flowers?



But luckily for me, the month I deem very significant is the month of March.



Except that it is the month exactly next after February, where most budding love and love relationships come into full bloom, and could be used to evaluate whether the previous month’s hullabaloo about St. Valentine lasted another month long, March for me has become my hint to a year-end ever since I was a school kiddo: no more exams after this month, no more late night studying, no more terror teachers and irritating bully classmates. March, instead, inculcated that mantra in my young mind that it is the month to prelude summer! March is synonymous to fun and frolic in the beach, partying, countless sleep-over at a friend’s house, outdoor outback adventure, camping and simply the only legal alibi to wake up slow in the morning and to couch-potato in a lazy afternoon.


-----



March is also the summary of a student’s quest for knowledge and education all throughout the school year. In fact, it is the month normally when graduations are commenced. Just a few days ago, I covered the graduation exercises of the only night high school in the Eastern Visayas. Most of the graduates were working in different blue-collared jobs by day and went to class by night. Most of them were even older than I am while some, based on a person’s age, should have already been in college.



I felt goose bumps while I was listening to the speech of the class valedictorian who returned sincere gratitude to his teachers and to his Alma Mater, who, according to him accepted the rejects of the society. I felt shame for myself as he went on delivering his proud oration because I do not exactly remember the last time I was so thankful to my university.



The outpour of emotions went on when all the graduates went up the stage to render their graduation song. From where I stood, I saw clearly the pregnant 16 year-old girl whose toga gown could not help hide the mishap she got from her step-father. The next row behind her is where the 47 year-old woman, in a burgundy bob-cut, held hands with her closest classmate in class; I took photo of earlier in the ceremony where she received Class Service Award.



Some students were already crying, some just held their tears. But all of them nonetheless, looked righteously radiant in their white toga gowns, faceless before us and holding nothing for their future but pocketfuls of hope and unabashed willpower.



“I never dreamed that I will be here today. But today is my now and thank you for believing”, echoed in the air.
Right then I stopped taking photos. I just listened to their singing and marvelled to a real life spectacle happening before my eyes.



------


This month I also turned another year older! (confetti and fireworks, included!)Perhaps that will explain why I am biased with March.(rofl!) No, I do not really celebrate my birthday. I mean, yeah I recognize it as the day for what it is, and of course I self-proclaim it that I get an all-access pass with anything and everything that day, devil may care! But its just that I think I am not a kid anymore to embellish some fancy on my birthday.



However, I am still thankful to the people who surprised me with a birthday cake, in the bedroom, just a minute after midnight, eve of my birthday,that is! I was in boxers already when they barged in, Mama Mia! Good thing I was not watching porn (bluff!) online that night! Que horror!



And then when I woke up the same morning, they prepared a sumptuous potluck of lechon, shrimp, kinilaw, grilled fish, BBQ…another birthday cake, black forest this time and a set of delectable flavors of ice cream. So sweet of these people. But I thought I just did not deserve the warm attention.



Anyhow, the day finished with a bang! And I found myself busily replying to all the birthday SMS’ I received since last night. Thank you pips!



-------


Collectively, March has been pretty blissful for me. I have had so many realizations, chance encounters, inadequacies and failures and happy thoughts in my pockets in this month alone. And I guess, it will suffice for now to keep me grounded and going.

faces ( mga hulagway)

Three days ago, through constant prodding of a friend, i joined a local photo contest hosted by a college here in the metro. it was so 'last minute' that i just browsed through my chest of old snapshots i took last year without any single idea what to submit for entry. truth is, i do not memorize by heart all the photos i took though i could easily identify what is mine, without batting an eyelash, that is.



anyhow, i submitted three entries that were supposed to convey a photo story relevant to the theme : technology and society. i had high-hopes about my entries. no, i was not focused on winning. i am still a newbie, and learning still, though i already won 3rd Place in a local amateur photo contest during the Oktubafest in Tacloban.hehe.


instead, i was more excited about being able to join a photo contest again and get the chance to tell people stories i chanced on the streets and captured them in pictures.


these were the entries i submitted.



In His Eyes.



Mother and Child.



A Taste Of Life.




i was elated when my friend told me about the results this morning. i thought it was a good kick-off to make my day. and it did.



pardon my boyish pride but i just could not contain my inner joy about winning the photo contest. i know this is so silly! but hey, let me own this.


this is my Grammy, my Tony and my Oscars or could be my Olympic gold.


p.s. thanks diane.

ikaw

Dumating ka sa buhay ko ng hindi mo sinasadya. Maging ako. At alam ko yun. Wala sa plano ang pagtatagpo natin noon sa ilalim ng sungit ng panahon at manaka nakang ambon. Nakakatuwa yun. At dahil matagal akong dumating sapul sa ating pinag-usapan na oras, pumasok ka ng simbahan upang makinig sa misa. Sana hindi mo ipinanalangin ang pagdating ko. Sana hindi mo ipinanalangin ang araw na yun.

Sinabi kong malapit na’kong dumating kung kaya’t lumabas ka ng simbahan at hindi mo na tinapos ang misa, upang muling maghintay pa dahil ang totoo’y hindi pa ko umaalis ng bahay nun. Hati ang isip ko nun kung magpapakita nga ako sayo.

Matapos ang palitan ng text at tawaran kung tuloy ba ang pagkikita o hindi, nauwi ang usapan sa pagkain ng fishball at malutong na tuksuhan sa bagong bili mong wrist watch sa Everthing 100. Ang cute naman, sabi ko. Sana tama ang hinala kong sinadya mong dumaan na lang sa shop na yun at sinadyang bumili ng relo, kahit wala sa plano, dahil nagbabakasakali kang dumating pa din ako. Sana naghinala ka nun na dadating pa din ako at hindi ako nang-gugudtaym lang.


Masaya ang hapon na yun. Sabi mo pa nga perstaym mo tumambay sa park kasi hindi mo trip. Salamat naman at una yun. At ako ang kasama mo. Pilit kong isinaulo ang mukha mo kasabay ng pagdilim. Nakakaaliw ang mga mata mo. Nakakabaliw ang mga mensahe sa iyong balintataw. Malalim. Malungkot.


Bago ako nakatulog nang gabing yun nagtext ka pa ng “ happy ako knina. Enjoy ako. Astig.” Napangiti lang ako. At sabay yakap sa unan na naghintay sa akin buong araw.


Muling naulit ang mga pagtatagpo. Lunch out. Tambay sa park (ulit!) at laro sa swing. Hanap sa ukay-ukay at bumili ng mga kahit anung kapwa natin gusto. Nood ng sine. Ikot ng downtown at bunuin lang ang maghapon ng walang kapararakang mga bagay-bagay.

Nakakatuwa dahil parang matagal na tayong magkakilala. Parang matalik na magkaibigan na muling nagkita paglipas ng may kung ilang mahabang taon.

Patlang.

At nagkwento ka ng mga karanasan mo at sa mga bagay na mahalaga sa’yo – pamilya, trabaho, kaibigan pati mga bagay na natutunan mo nung mga panahong akala mo kaya mo na ang lahat. Lahat yun.


O kaya’y lahat lamang ng mga bagay-bagay na kaya mong ibahagi at ikwento sa’kin sa ngayon.

Madami yun. Samu’t-sari. May kakatwa. May nakakamangha. May ilan na hindi ko akalaing pinagdaanan mo.

Patlang.


Sini-sino ko ang bawat ngiti mo. Ang mga sulyap mo. O ang mga miminsan mong maiiksi ngunit malulutong na mga tawa. Pinipilit kong namnamin ang mga pagkakataong yun kasi alam ko sa likod nun malungkot ka. At ang mga tawa mo’y baka hindi na maulit pang muli.

Alam kong simbilis ng pagtatagpo natin ay simbilis din ng pag-alis mo.

Kahit ayaw ko.

Alam ko namang hindi kita mapipigilan. Dahil may natural na yabang ka sa katawan. At armas mo yan sa biyahe mo at sa walang katapusan mong paghahanap ng mga sagot sa tanong mo.

Alam kong ang mga bagahe mong dala-dala ay simbigat ng mga karanasan mong pilit mong kinakalimutan. Ngunit hindi mo kayang bitiwan. At iwanan sa nakaraan.

Matapang ka, alam ko. Matalino at maabilidad. Para kang damong ligaw na kahit saang sulok man mapadpad – sa batuhan, sa parang, sa makipot na daan, sa may malapit sa tubigan, sa siwang ng punong tood o sa mga bahagi ng kalupaan na aakalain ng iba’y wala nang pupwede pang mabuhay pa – andun ka. Kasi nga magaling ka. At singlakas ng isip mo ang loob mo.


Patlang.


Pero sana habang nandito ka pa sa tabi ko – nakakaulayaw at nakakalaro. Bayaan mong hilutin ko ang mga bali mo sa pakpak. Hayaan mong paghilumin ko ang mga sugat mo puso at gamutin ang mga pasa sa iyong pagkatao.

Bayaan mong umiyak ako kasama mo at sabay tayong magalit sa kanila.

Umiyak tayo buong araw. Kahit hanggang gabi. Kahit hanggang muling magparaya ang buwan sa muling pagsibol ng bagong araw.

Hanggang wala na tayong iluha pa.

Hanggang ang lahat ay wala nang saysay.


Patlang.


Andito lang ako.

Hihintayin kita.

Hihintayin ko ang pag- uwi mo. Kahit saan ka pa man dalhin ng mga pangarap mo.






The Firefly

I thought I caught a fragile firely
When it beckoned to me with its light last night.
But no, it was the elusive dream that fled when I closed my eyes.

Until it stops burning its little torch,
I shall keep imagining it in my hands
That the world ain’t dark
After all it has done to our innocence.


-cte

waray taytol

akon pagbabataktasan an lima ka-tuig
naton tipakadto ha Magsaysay
pagpapahanginan ha Balyuan,
pagpapahungawan ha may haruhagdanan.
iyawat la bisan lima ka-oras
mahingalimtan ka kadaliay.