a christmas story...

Once upon a time, there were four little children, two boys and two girls. Every Christmas time, they make musical instruments out of softdrink caps (tansan) that they patiently flatten, poke a hole in the center and arrange in a loop wire. Sometimes, if resources permit, they use block of woods where to nail the flattened caps.

Written in the instruments were the acronym: ARBOMACA group, and etched in their faces were the excitement of a newly-formed caroling group. As dusks came, they start to roam around Purok Bukang Liwayway streets reaching as far as Purok Masagana and Saranay, knocking at every houses, singing their hearts out. They were oblivious of the crazy dogs howling at them and the irritated house owners. All they wanted was to share the spirit of christmas through the christmas songs they memorized earlier, of course, in exchange of meager coins that they fairly share with each other.

They were a fun bunch of carolers, planning the sequence of the song they sing, cheerfully singing even out of tones. They were also creative. Why, where can you find kids-carolers who light up sparklers and triangle firecrackers after every set of songs? That to the delight of the house owners giving them more than they expect.

One time, when they passed by the police station, they thought to themselves, "Hmm, even tough men like police, enjoys christmas carols". So they tried their luck, and then little cheerful voices filled the air. The police might have pleased with the short entertainment that he gave them a crisp bill of P20.00. Fifteen years ago, that was already a big amount.

Fifteen years later, the caroling group has long been disbanded. The four little children parted ways living their own lives, some already started a family and raising kids of their own. But the memories remain. The flattened tansan, the sparklers, the silent nights they filled with their voices, the delighted policeman, the barking dogs...

Fifteen years later, here they are: the ARBOMACA Group!

AR (khe)

BO (na)

MA (coy)

CA (rol)

And this is their Christmas story.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Enjoy your christmas stories ;)

me basurera

it's been a while...

i was kinda busy these past weeks (will be in the next weeks).

so busy that i cannot even bother to open my emails,

friendster, fave blogs, ym, myportal, facebook, multiply...

i have a new job.

a job that stinks.

yeah, literally.

i am now involved in a project on solid waste management.

so yeah, that stinks.

no, the solid wastes.

whatever.

will update next time.

keep on rocking ;)

(yay, iv written this a month ago, di ko pala na-post!)

True.

We can identify 1,000 corporate logos...

but fewer than a dozen plants and animals native to our home places.

think.

David W. Orr

Professor of Environmental Studies
and Politics

what the?

i am enjoying my course,

       and i am learning a LOT...

                 kewl.

                        

                                brain-wracking,

                                 but kewl.

random thoughts.

i missed the cast of LOST - antagal pa ng Season Five, sa January 2009 pa raw. Babalik kaya sina Jack at Kate sa island? Bakit nadead si John Locke? waah. Andami kong katanungan. I am lost!



Excited na ako sa pagbabalik ng Prison Break. Yehey, Dr. Sarah Tancredi will  resurrect! Kilig-kilig na nman with Michael, haha.



Simulan ko kaya ang Gossip Girl? Un uso ngaun eh. Ay baka after watching, i might also be wearing those big headbands na pinauso ng series na ito, wahaha. Yaiks.



I like Rihanna's "Take a Bow" . The lyrics are cool. And in telligent. Hehe. Gusto ko na si Rihanna haha. I thought after Umbrella ay maglalaos na sya.

Sana pwede ako umattend sa Mindanao Media Summit. Eh pano, wala nman akong access dun. Hindi nman ako media, la rin ako friend sa Asia Foundation na nagsponsor ng activity. Pag-uusapan rw dun ang MOA. Wow, interesado ako, as if may magagawa ako.

Ano kaya mangyayari sa FlyFF Grand EB? Yaiks, ako yata pinakamatandang mag-aatend dun, haha. Bka puro lalaki at puro batang babae ang dadalo, haha. Batang-isip kc. ^^

peace pala ha.

Sa Aug. 5 na pla pipirmahan ang "peace agreement" between our good government and the MILF sa KL, Malaysia.

Heto ang tingin ko:

Magsasayang lng sila ng pamasahe, food at lodging at honorarium ng lahat ng pupunta dun. Magsasayang lng sila ng effort, ng boses, ng venue decors, ng presensya.

Magsasayang lng sila ng papel at photocopies na ipapamudmod sa press/bisita.

Magsasayang lng sila ng rolyo at batteries ng camera para sa photo op at video.

Magsasayang lng sila ng ink ng ballpen/signpen/fountain pen na gagamitin sa pagpirma sa agreement a.k.a "MOA on Ancestral Domain".

What's in a hurry kc? As far as i know, ang MILF ay grupong tumiwalag from MNLF kc hindi nameet ang demands nila during the first peace agreemnt, at ngaun, ano na nman kayang loose command ang mabubuo kpag may demands na hindi mameet. I just watched on TV patrol na umaalma ang MNLF kc may mga provison sa MILF-GRP agreemnt na naapakan ang provision sa MNLF-GRP agreement. Hay naku, ang gobyerno, nagpromise sa MILF ng mga bagay na ibinigay na sa MNLF, hello? at ito pa, nagpromise na nman sila, eh di pa nga natutupad lahat ng prvisions from the previous agreement. Ouch.

When i was at GRP-CCCH (Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities, which directly links with MILF-CCCH), i have read a protion of the MNLF-GRP peace agreement. At nakakalula xa. Ngaun, sa "MOA on Ancestral DOmain", mas nakakalula, at nakakatakot (khit parte pa lng ang nababasa ko). Pwd ba na ang gobyerno ang tumira sa mindanao at ang mga tagaMindanao ang tumira sa Malacañang? Tingnan natin kung gugustuhin nu pang lagdaan agad ang peace agreemnt, huh.

Ito na lng masasabi ko, Lord/Allah/Bathala - kau na ang bahala (sana lumindol sa KL pra ma-postpone ang signing, wahaha, seflish. Joke lng po).

Di po ako well-conversed pagdating sa bagay na ito but my one-month experience in GRP-CCCH opened me to some realities of the conflict in Mindanao and the peace talks/peace process. Alam nman natin na may peace agreement na napirmahan between MNLF at GRP, but what now? where are we now?  Nasan na ang peace na pinag-agree-han? At ngaun, ang MILF-GRP Peace Agreement. COme on, sino niloloko nu? Hilaw pa ang bunga ay pinipitas nu na. Ano, lalagyan nu ng karburo pra mahinog? Anong lasa nyan? Hay, emo ako ngaun. Seyoso pa.

Peace nway.

12 kids at 27

just had my 27th bday (urgh). still single. but with 12 kids, and counting (urgh again). a dozen kids! Kids that are not my own but look at me as their second mom. Echuz! Their moms and dads thought that i'm gonna be a good influence to their sons and daughters, haha. i am the fairest-of-'em-all godmother of 12 cutie, witty, malikot, makulit na mga bata. And this blog entry would be my reminder of who they are. My future reference. Haha. Baka kc makalimutan ko na sila pg mahigit na ako 50 at mahigit na rin sila 50 in numbers. Whew.

Anyway, i'm gonna list their names here with their ages na huhulaan ko lng ang iba hehe. I lost track of the other's bdays too, sorry children.

1. Mairel/Tam-tam, 8, girl (Davao City) - anak ng college classmate ko na si Roy (at Joy). Siya pinakapanganay sa lahat ng inaanak ko.

2. Avril Scott, 6, girl (Kabacan) - sosyal ang name, anak ng barkada ko na si raymund (at Anamarie).

3. Kenisha at si 4. Kaycee, 4 and 5, girls (Kabacan) - mga anak ng barkada kong si mylene (at jerome).

5. John Lloyd, 3, di batid ang gender, haha (South Cotabato) - my aunt's son, pinsan ko na inaanak ko.

6. Gen Rev, 1, girl (Mawab) - the alpha and omega! hehe, grabeng name. anak ng barkada kong si michael (at jasmine).

7. Eurik Andrea, 4, girl (Kabacan) - anak ng echusang si ate Sarrah Jane Corpuz (at Kuya Eurik).

8. Shekinah Jayne, 3, girl (Butuan) - anak ng mga ex-ofcm8s kong sina ate Jane at Boyet.

9. Megan, 3, girl (Davao City) - anak ng ex-ofcm8 kong si Ibyang (at Eric).

10.Kirby Paul, 3, boy (Gen. San) - anak ng ex-ofcm8 kong si Grazie (at Paul).

11. Samantha, 1, girl (Kabacan-Gen. San) - anak ng college classmate kong si Karl (at Noreen).

12. Michael (?), 4, boy (Kabacan) - anak ng dati naming kasambahay na si ate Judith.

Ayun. Sana, sana wala ako nakalimutan. At sana balang-araw pg yumaman mga batang ito ay di nila ako kakalimutan, hehe. Mga inaanak, ako ninang nyo. Meri Krismas. Ano gift ko? Haha, nanghingi.

updates *as of December 2010:

13. Macy, 1, girl (Panabo) - anak ni ernelyn, one of my college best-friends.

14. Franco, 1, boy (Carmen) - anak ng barkada kong si Analou (at Farcon).

15. Gerwil, 7mos (Kabacan) - to be bibinyagan, anak ng barkada kong si Gerlie (at Willie).

mind freeze. writer's block.

my golly, 48 hours na lang pero di pa  ako nakakalahati sa dpat kung tapusin.

mind freeze. writer's block.

or just a plain katamaran.

i wonder ano magiging resulta ng assignments ko lalo na sa article reviews.



writer's block. mind freeze.

very scientific ang aking excuse to my katamaran.

sa loob ng mahigit isang buwang panahon, ay nag-iwan ako ng 2 days pra simulan  at tapusin ang dapat kong simulan at tapusin.

magaling, magaling.

invisible. disappear. sana puwede ko gawin ito dahil ako ay nasa state of cramming na, dam'mit!

wahuhu.



zzzzzzz......

(ay nakatulog...)

10% discount

I paid more or less 10,000 pesos just to have a student pass (SP) when i ride public transportations.

Sa mahal ng pamasahe galing San Franz, Agusan del sur pauwi ng Davao o ng Kabacan, i find ways para makatipid.

One is not going home regularly. Not going home regularly means going home every one month. Huhu.

Anyway the 10,000 pesos i paid is for my online study/distance learning. As a student, i acquire a school ID. Having aschool ID now entitles me to a student pass when a ride busses to and fro my work. Hahaha.

At least may 10% discount sa bus at jeep. Masakit na kasi sa bulsa ang fare increase. Hahaha. Ilang 10% kaya ang kailangan ko para mabawi ko ang 10,000 na tuition ko?

Biro lang po. All i want to say tlaga is - i am back to school! Hahaha. (Applause. Applause.) I am in my first semester pa lang with 6 units (2 subjects). So far, i am excited and still curious. I already have an assignment of 27 essays. Medyo easy pa kc nasa libro nman lahat and i have the internet to help me out in my research for additional info.

Ewan lang sa susunod pa na assignments. Baka pigain ko na lang utak ko para makapag-sip ng tamang isusulat.

Shit. I need to piga my brain talaga (ala Ruffa diction). Kasi sayang ang tution! Mas mahal pa kesa sa bigas at sa gasolina at sa pamasahe.

Again, buti na lang may SP na ako. (Haha, grabeng koneksyon).

my last will and testament

When I die (which by the way, I hope matagal-tagal pa un, Lord), these are the things I want to happen (or else mumultuhin ko kau pag di nu sinunod last wishes ko! Brace yourself, weeh! Not in particular order, though:

1. NEVER take a picture/photo/ snapshot/video, and the likes, of my dead body. Reason: Ayaw ko ngang may remembrance sa akin na patay na. Ayaw kong pagbukas ng album ko ay patay na mukha/katawan ko ang makikita ng tao.

2. Ayaw ko na i-embalsamuhin ako. Siempre, para hindi bumaho ay cremation dapat gawin sa katawan ko (tipid pa ng kabaong). Reason: Ayaw ko na makita na mga tao na ako ay bangkay na at ayaw kong maalala ng mga pamilya at kaibigan ko ang patay kong mukha. I want them to remember ung itsura ko nuong buhay pa. At as a belief na rin. Wala nmang sinabi sa Bibliya/Koran na ang tao ay iniembalsamo.

3. Ung urn ko ang bale ibuburol. Pupunuin ang background ng lahat ng masasayang pictures ko na nakaframe o tarp (magdemand ba?).

4. Dapat normal ang aking burol. Ibig sabihin ay may kape, sugal, the usual scene (sans gulo). It should only last for one week unless may inaantay pa.

5. White balloons should also be placed behind my urn. Reason: Wala lng, paepek lang.

6. Dapat may background music, lahat ng paborito kong kanta. Anything. Mapa-mellow man o rock. Just play them during my wake, wag naman malakas ang volume para solemn kunyari.

7. Maganda cguro if there is a slide show of my pictures, nakaLCD projector, nasa tabi ng urn. Showing starts the time I died. Then unti-unti akong magpapakita... Hehe atik lng uy.

8. Siempre ililibing din ang aking urn. Ayaw ko namang nakadisplay xa sa bahay, baka mabasag pa. Wawa naman ako at mawawalis lng na parang alikabok! ;(

9. During my libing, my mass din. Not necessarily in a church and not necessarily a Catholic. Basta siguradong madadasalan ang aking katawan (abo for that matter) at baka sakaling tanggapin ako sa langit. Hehe.

10. Before my libing, sa sementeryo, I want my friends and family to tell things about me. Bale testimonial ala friendster. Mas maganda if may glittering graphics (Joke lng).

11. Lahat ng personal na gamit ko ay ilalagay sa isang glass na lalagyan at ililibing kasama ng aking urn. Glass para sosyal di agad maaapektuhan ng decomposition.

12. Sa pangkalahatan, ayaw kong maging malungkot ang mga tao sa aking pagkawala. Hayaan nu, magkikita din tau sa kabilang buhay, ahihi.

13. Gusto kong nakaukit sa lapida ko ang mga katagang:

In memoriam, Bona Abigail B. Hilario, 1981-????

– a writer, an artist, a comic, a leader, a worker (etc.)

– who loved us all, blessed us all, inspired us all.

Sobra ba sa pagkafeeling? Wahaha, hayaan nu na, kahit sa lapida man lang.

Heto muna for now. Wala na ako maisip eh. I will just make an update ‘pag may babaguhin ako o idadagdag. Gusto ko rin palang mamatay dahil sa sakit. Ung tipong my family expects that I am dying. At least, makakapaghanda ang pamilya ko. Mas mabilis kasi tanggapin ang death pag ganun. Sana hindi na maulit sa amin/ sa akin iyong nangyari ke mamang. Putchaks, unexpected sa lahat ng unexpected. Deep impact ang sakit which until now ay nanunuot pa rin sa puso ang sakit.

Did you have goosebumps? Because I just did. Hehe, death is really scary. And do you know that I am hoping that death is not masakit. Takot akong mamatay kasi baka masakit. Yung tipong hindi ako makahinga kapag patay na ako. I meant baka may body is just lifeless pero my astral body is trapped in a dark place at barely breathing. Ewan. I want to die in peace so I can rest in peace. Sa ngayon, while I am still alive, I want to celebrate life. Here is my favorite quote nowadays which is also my current shout out:

“I understood that life should be an experience to be lived up to, not survived through”.

Di nman xa gaanong nose bleeding noh? Buti naman. So tsk, relax lang, and be thankful for this gift called LIFE. I am blogging about death not to scare you (and pati na rin sarili ko) but to remind people that death is imminent happens to everyone (alangan). Mabuti na ang handa. Minsan lng ito mangyari noh. (But Lord, inuulit ko i hope matagal-tagal pa un. Salamat po. Amen.)

nice tagalog song...

There is this song that is currently being played on the radio...it's melody is very nice and sweet, parang ang gaan at sarap pakinggan... i'm not really a fan of OPM unless it is of Ogie Alcasid's, Martin Nievera's or that of the Champions'. But this particular song made me an instant fan. Nagustuhan din ng isa kong kaopisin awho told her hubby na if ikakasal daw xa ulit, ay iyon ang gusto niyang tugtog sa kasal. Antagal ko kayang nag- google ng lyrics at kung sino ang artist pero wala ako nakuha. Buti na lng kanina, narinig ko uli sa radyo at tinype ko lahat ng lyrics nito sa Google Search at eureka, nakita ko rin.

The singer is Jos Garcia who is not that sikat pa in the Philippine Music Industry pero sikat na raw sa Japan (accdng to a website).

Here is the song:

Ikaw ang Iibigin Ko ®

Jos Garcia

Sana’y dinggin mo ang awit kong ito
Awit na nagmamahal Sa’yo
Awit na may pag-ibig
Nagmumula sa puso
Ang awit kong ito’y para sa’yo

Langit ang bawat saglit sa piling mo
Ligayang tunay sa puso ko
Hindi ko papayagang
Mawalay ka sa akin
Ang nais ko’y laging kapiling ka

CHORUS:
Ikaw ang tangi kong iniibig
Ikaw ang aking mahal, magpakailanman
Dito sa aking puso
Wala nang papalit sa isang katulad mo
Kahit na magpakailan pa man
Ikaw ang iibigin ko

Ikaw lang ang siyang lahat para sa’kin
Ikaw ang siyang tanging mamahalin
Ikaw ang siyang tanging nagbibigay sigla
Ang buhay ko ngayo’y may halaga

listen to the song...