A Call to Action: Magtaking Elementary School Needs Your Help

Dear Magtaking Residents/ Alumni of Magtaking Elementary School, As you all know, Pangasinan was hit by typhoon Cosme last May 17, 2008. The province was badly affected. But ‘badly’ is just a subtle way of describing how Cosme left our many kababayans roofless and the whole province without electricity. ‘Badly’ is simply classifying the tears of the Pangasinenses who lost their homes to the whirling winds of Cosme and schoolchildren anticipating for classes to resume. Literally and figuratively speaking, the province was groping in the dark immediately after the storm. The provincial government’s efforts, through the leadership of Gov. Amado Espino, Jr. (no politicking, just appreciation) are commendable for inspiring the Pangasinenses to stand on their feet again. Electricity, which was said to be reinstalled/reactivated after 2 months, took only a matter of 3 weeks to light up the streets and homes of Pangasinan again. Funds were distributed to schools for roofing and reconstruction of buildings so that children can go to school again. The sad fate, however, is that the aid coming from the government is not sufficient to at least fund the roofing of the schools including the Magtaking Elementary School (MES). Pupils of MES whose classrooms were roofless squeeze themselves in the school’s Social Hall. What’s worse, there are more than 2 classes simultaneously conducting their lessons in the hall. Imagine the scenario, 3 to 4 classes overhearing each other’s lessons – if they can still manage to learn given that condition. And when it rains, pupils get wet and soaked because the hall is without walls. Add the inconvenience of mosquitoes prowling about the hall and feasting on the arms and legs of our poor pupils. Imagine that, and get disheartened, if you have the heart. One of these pupils may be your sister/brother, niece/nephew, godson/goddaughter or your neighbor. In this regard, we wish to request for cash donations from Brgy. Magtaking residents and/or alumni of Magtaking Elementary School for the roofing or reconstruction (should it be necessary) of the school classrooms. (The photos are posted below.) Your donation, in whichever amount, will be highly appreciated, especially by these young men and women of our barangay. You may keep in touch with me thru my mobile number +639196177414 or thru email charine82@yahoo.com for your acts of generosity. I will dutifully relay your intentions or donations to my cousin (and the only female Brgy. Kagawad of Magtaking), Mely Valencia-Fernandez for your donation’s receipt. Please forward this to a fellow resident of Magtaking or an alumnus you might know of. Let’s not look farther to find someone we could help. Charity begins at home, they said, and then maybe next in your barangay, our own barangay. Anggapoy makatulong ed sarili tayon barangay no aga sikatayo lan lamang. God bless you a hundredfold! Best regards, (Sgd.) Cristine Charisse V. Fernando Brgy. Magtaking Resident

Reunions and My Foodrama: Part 1

July twelfth. I SMSed my brother early morning to greet him a happy birthday using my mother's mobile phone. It was an effort dragging my carcass out of my bed because I was having that wonderful rainy morning perfect for dawdling. I decided to prepare for my cousin's birthday celebration anyway. The outdoor games I listed will be fun only if a sun dance is performed beforehand. It was raining heavily that morning and there is no way I could tell it would stop if I say so. Hooray! A ruined birthday party is starting to form a picture before my eyes. And I don't think I can bear to see crying kids over spoiled fun. God have mercy.

The rain stopped for a while. Maybe I was not praying really hard because dark, heavy clouds are still lingering lazily above us. We (my mother, my niece and I) arrived just in time for lunch. I, particularly, was given a warm welcome. It has been ages since I last saw those familiar and similar faces (but of course I could still name them). I could not pass through the queue of my not-so-few aunts and uncles without giving them that Filipino gesture of respect (which we grew up doing everytime we see them), the undying mano. And while doing that, I could not help but hear them say things on how I have grown into a lovely (ehem) lady, that I have lost much weight (wagi!), and that I must have been busy with trivial things but visit them (apologies).

My little cousins are so adorable! I could not stop myself from taking photos of them and with them. Well, it runs in the genes, I guess. Being with them makes me feel kid at heart but old in age. Hahaha. I was like a day care teacher in one of the photos I took. Crap.

Just as I thought (and prayed, hehehe), the rains ruined the outdoor games I prepared. I was thinking of storytelling as an alternative but I do not think the kids were in the mood to hear any of my stories. The thought of rotten tomatoes thrown at me is not really a pretty sight so I dismissed that idea and pleased myself watching them open CJ's (the birthday celebrant) gifts while I was munching on my second serving of hotdog-on-stick with marsh mallows. This is one remarkable moment I would not forget. Though a number of my cousins (the older-than-me blokes) were not present, I sigh with satisfaction (and digestion) that I was able to spend a delightful afternoon with my little loved ones. Awwwww. I love you all!



(To be continued)

Gone for the Weekend

I am off to the province again for the weekend. I received a call from my uncle whose son is celebrating his 7th birthday on the 12th. Fantastic. Three people close to my heart will be celebrating their birthday on that day: my cousin CJ, my brother Cleo, and my Uncle Dr. Cres. Here's my take on this: It may be an unwelcomed coincidence but it sure is strategic -- economical celebration altogether. I was tasked to be the party host for CJ's fete. I did not hesitate to accept the assignment. My mind is bubbling F-U-N and I'm missing my cousins so sorely already.

*****

Ask me who I saw at the bus terminal? Let me hear you say "Who?" now, please. It's Ryan! (Do I have to mention who he is?) Jhia will be thrilled to read this.

Flashback. Ryan Vir Estrada Pagdanganan (that is how much I know him) was my highschool classmate slash then-persistent suitor slash almost-BF-but-not-quite slash friend (charing!). What happened between us? It's a long story. Besides, his version of the story might be diffferent from mine. What really matters is we ended up being friends in spite of the fact that he waited all too long and was very disappointed of my decisions. I think there's too much information about him now here.

Since the bus heading to Alaminos/Bolinao is scheduled to leave at 9:00 pm and I do not want to wait that long, I decided to take the bus bound to Lingayen and jump off Tarlac instead. And before I knew it, Ryan is riding the same bus (because he is from Lingayen, idiot me) and I overheard him requesting the ticket lady to place his seat number beside mine. For friendship's sake, I did not object.

It was a casual encounter. Of course, being the gentleman that I knew him to be, he gestured that I sit ahead. And while we shared pep talks initially, I actually asked his permission if I could sleep because I am so tired. I still managed to say that tactfully, same old approach. (Style mo Tinao, bulok!) But I'm sure he understands. I even borrowed his cap because I cannot sleep with the lights on above my head. He lent me his cap selflessly. Still the same old Ryan, I thought, without the mutual feeling though.

In the course of our pep talks, I had to manipulate some of our discussions that I know will bring us to where we were before. Here's a factoid (fact to avoid): he broke up with his girlfriend already. He knew about my status too but I did not bother to bring it up. But he did. We both laughed for a while, but most likely because he thought I committed a more stupid mistake than him. I dismissed the mistake. I treated it like a lesson for me now - never to rush into love. He agreed to what I said, which is odd because we apparently disagree on so many things. It must be another factoid, but I brushed the idea off. In my most courteous way, I told him that I think I need to rest. He obliged.

It was a peaceful trip for me (and I supposed for him too). Beside me, soundly sleeping or half-sleep, is Ryan, who I am at peace with despite the 'past'. We never officially talked about us. It just came to that point when he must have realized that 'friendship' is everything I have to offer. Most of my highschool friends would find this hard to believe because they must have seen the special bond we shared through out the years, and maybe until now. But, yes, we will remain friends as far as I am concerned. (Jhia, claro?)

Funny how fate (if there is such a thing) brought us together like this. I am off to the province for the weekend and we might bump into each other again, I cannot say. Whenever and wherever, I could head-high say that it would no longer be an awkward encounter. We said our byes and I heard him say 'Ingat!' with sincerity, like I gained back the friend he once was to me. And he will still be.

When I Exclaimed OMG

I was overexcited last night that I could only exclaim Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! over and over. Not with the rising price of petroleum, although I am still not over it and the feeling for that is hibernating somewhere in the nook of my heart. I was thrilled over a few interesting things that I saw on TV last night that made me sound like a kolehiyala in an instant.

While my niece was browsing for a good watch on TV and I was reading this LBD book that is like a poo, she spotted Oprah featuring a best-selling novel turned movie entitled "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. (I read one of his books in college. Thanks to Prof. Galan's adoration for him.) Oprah showed the teaser of the movie that I have to put the book I was reading down. It was really an eye catcher (or maybe the narration is). It is a love story of Florentino and Fermina who fell in love with each other after 5 decades of Florentino's waiting. Fermina had a doctor-husband whose death opened the doors for Florentino to woo her again. Florentino, on the other hand, have had several affairs in his efforts to forget about Fermina. Only after 50 years (or so) did they decide to be together, like they were meant to be together after everything that went through their lives. OMG.

(Note: I have not read the book yet. I just based the summary I wrote above from the episode of Oprah. But the book is dead-catching my interest this moment, it can hardly subside. So if anyone would care to sponsor the book for me at PhP245.00 or PhP589.00 -- I'd love to receive the one priced higher. Available in National Bookstore or Powerbooks. Or if I could summon the gods thru my OMGs and let Mhel Tandoc hear this appeal, hahaha, I might fortunately have a copy, hardbound. Mhel, where are you? Teehee.)

*****

Another Oh-My-Godly matter that I am so excited about: The Dark Knight! OMG, I am delirious about this shown on the big screen. Must, must, must see sequel! I have seen Batman movies before and the thrill would not quench at the end of each film. So I WILL SEE THIS MOVIE with or without company. (Ehem, sponsor ulit.) But I know a lot of you blokes would share this same interest with me. Block your calendars now!

And, oh, let's pay Heath Ledger some tribute by watching The Dark Knight onscreen. Bless his soul.

So Bruce Wayne, July 17, it's a date. Here's my card. See you. Hahaha.

*****

Aiza Seguerra won for the second time in the 1-million-peso challenge of The Singing Bee. Oh.My.God. That makes her 2 million pesos ++ richer. I think she deserves it. She has a lovely heart. And though her winning would give her another chance to win more millions, she humbly let go of it to give others the same chance. A champion less the greed. Bow!

*****

OMG for the behavior of James Yap in the last game the other night. A kid in the court! Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

*****

One last thing. This was not shown on TV last night but it's OMG-ly just the same. I wounded myself just this morning. Yeah, my clumsy behavior will kill me. It did not hurt so badly but the bleeding would not stop. Good thing I always have these band-aid strips with me in my wallet so I got to apply first aid on my damaged fingers. See that bloodspot? Hehehe. Tough girl!

An Economist's Rant

I took up Economics in college because I want to appreciate the science and art of it. How? I cannot be too sure. I enjoyed attending my subjects. I learned the kinks and skews of graphs, calculated for the saturation points, analyzed theories (I love the sound of Malthusian), and endlessly crossed my brows over my Econometrics professor whose industry of writing numbers in the whiteboard gives him the liberty to overwrite until you cant identify the figures. Very creative. By the way, I took up the same course because I fantasize landing in a research job after graduation. It did not materialize. So I contented myself blogging instead. Funny though, because I do not blog about the economy or some economic-bound issues affecting the world and more considerably, MOI. I am not exempted from the adverse effects of inflation, peso-dollar exchange, coming in and pulling out of investors, my taxes (the hell!), or simply working my ass everyday (because I am a member of the country's labor force).

*****

Hear ye, hear ye! It was on the news today. Fare hike effective Friday (July 11, 2008 -- a happy birthday present for Mark my colleague, I guess). What with the unstoppable rising price of petroleum, I think I can no longer afford to bear a child (huh?!). I was just thinking how expensive it would be to bear and rear one no matter how I consider it a blessing, really. Or only if I would have Bill Gates and his likes as godfathers of my child.

And what about a wage hike? When will the common tao's pocket thicken a few bills or coins more? How many less can you buy with your grocery budget of PhP500 than before? (to be continued...)

End of June, Start of July

End of June (June 30, that is) I received an email from a colleague with the subject: "Fw: Snooky Serna in love? Hahahaha!" Not another scandalous behavior of celebrities like Snooky, I thought. But wait, the sender included a message saying 'Tin may kaagaw ka na...hehehe! ' and then capping it off with a link of a news article. Ok, so here it is too http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=123448 . Who must she be referring to? I was intrigued. I checked on the link. Crap. It was Marc ( so I spelled his name right this time) the German! He was being linked to crung-crung (I am so judgemental) Snooky Serna. Hmp! Who cares?! (I can see my ears smoking now. Teehee.) Hindi ko na sya crush. Kasi mahirap ispell ang last name nya - Daubenbuechel. Hay. Turn off. :p Start of July (July 1, for crying out loud) Marc came to the office and I blurted out, "So Marc, you were in the news!" I saw his face flushed scarlet (and he was sooooo cute!!!). He said, "Yeah." I furthered, "So you're a celebrity now, huh?" And he said, "No. I just came to watch her movie. She's very pretty anyway." And he laughed like a kid infatuated with the likes of Pilar Pilapil (murder!). By the way, Marc came to the office to borrow a Nokia phone charger. I so wanna buy a Nokia phone asap. Ms. Ga said that it was my fault my phone is something else but Nokia. Suicide!!! Isn't it nice to have something to open up a conversation with Marc? Ay, di ko na pala sya crush. Well, if I don't remember his last name right, maybe there will be an excuse. End note: Where is Mav? Bakit hindi nag-oonline?