Rein Winds

I was on my way to Carmona, Cavite early this morning.

Very early I took a jeepney ride.

From my home, I needed to travel at least two hours, via four different jeepney rides to reach Carmona. On my first ride, I felt needing to pee. I was hesitant to ask the driver to stop, and tried to ignore what I was feeling. I initially chose to control it. But we were passing a  road to no man’s land! (OMG! all rice fields! Waaah!) Then a little later road where only shanties in residential areas  could be seen; there was still no gasoline station in sight!

Anxiously uncomfortable, I took the nerve to self-effacingly ask the driver (great thing, I was seated beside him) to stop by the nearest gasoline station for I couldn’t contain it anymore! Considerately, the driver smiled and asked if I could wait a little bit longer for there was no nearest gasoline station within 10 kms.

Nervous and fretful, I silently clasped my fists and sighed and prayed. (Lord, let me reach the appropriate place to urinate, pleaseeee!) Whew! Read the rest of this entry »

AM now in the days and months of my adult life that I do wish to have a multiple of me.

Only today, I had five different responsibilities that put my grit, my resolve, my patience and passion to test.

I had to meet my student-writers for the elimination for four different writing competitions. I had to prepare writing themes and activities and exercises. I had to edit and coach these young writers how to make their articles interestingly relevant. I had to go to my Geline’s school to meet her class adviser and get her report card, and to pay her tuition fee as well (my enrolment chill is not yet over!) I had to attend the working and planning committee ingress and orientation for the Cavite Division Schools Press Conference - an annual campus journalism event for elementary and high school students.

And not only five people were wanting to see, talk and meet me today! (yeah, meeting people would be great but not if you need to discuss about WORK! ARGH!)

(I think am now making it a habit of counting and listing what I have to accomplish, geesh!…I just hope I do not sound complaining nor whining!…DO I???!!)

It may be a cliche: friends, real ones are the ones who stay by your side when everything turns dim and when almost everyone deserts you. It is a cliche, yes, but it is also indeed true. And I thank God, I got real friends who enlightened me these past weeks when I felt like a garbage dumped nowhere.

I was feeling depressed and stupid. I was getting disoriented and feeling distorted. I was trying to put a happy face so that my family, colleagues and my students would not notice. But there they were; they could read me like a sonnet. They could tell by simply looking at me that I was keeping/carrying something inside. Read the rest of this entry »

Presentation. Chapter Test items. Grades computations. Bulletin board updates. Documentation of the The Clarion/Ang Klaryon exhibit. Maintenance of the classroom and the office. Sorting of the papers piled up on my table. Balancing my own budget. Budgeting monthly salary. Paying bills. Geline’s baro’t saya for her school’s Buwan ng Wika celebration. Read the rest of this entry »

Goosebumps were all over me as I introduced the former editors in chief of our beloved school paper during the launching ceremony of the Grand Exhibit we organized in commemoration of our The Clarion’s 56th year (TNCHS English paper) and Ang Klaryon’s 20th (Filipino community paper). Read the rest of this entry »

It was raining, and it was traffic. Situations like these, roads to and from Manila are thanklessly tiresome.

At about 30 minutes past 8 pm, hunger was starting to strike me. Exhaustion was beginning to haunt and defeat me. Good thing I was seated beside a very jovial father whom I instantly shared a chat with. Read the rest of this entry »

How could the very person who gave you joy be the very same person who could give you sorrow…

How could the person who made you smile be the very same person who could make you cry…

How could the person who brought you love be the very same person who could bring you hatred and indifference…

How could the person who caused your delight and bliss be the very same person who could cause you agony and pain…

How could the person who comforted you be the very same person who would leave you broken.

Tell me how…please tell me why? I don’t really understand how…I can’t comprehend why.

Do you fear number 13? Or you love it because it is your lucky number?

Today is Friday, the 13th. How do you take it?

I have never been conscious about the date, especially now that a new school year begins. At work, we have been very busy orienting and meeting classes for the first time and preparing for the grand exhibit our school publication is up to (this I will definitely share with you soon!).

But when I opened the mails this morning, I got an unsolicited message about how I can be lucky on a Friday the 13th. Grinning, I simply shrug my shoulders off, and as usual, delete the spam from my folder. Read the rest of this entry »

AM now upset.

I am supposed to be sleeping already to get ready for an early dawn mountain climb. But since my climbing buddy has his own personal reasons why all of a sudden backing out, am here pounding this keyboard to write about this disappointment or I will end up neurotic all night. Read the rest of this entry »

Many parents may have faced it a bit earlier than I do.

But I guess we share the same sentiments if not worries or anxieties when we all proceed to the cashier’s offices of the schools where we enrol our children.

Only this afternoon, I enroled my Geline and paid for her 1st quarter tuition fee and school books and supplies. Instantly, Php20,000 has flown away from my wallet. That did not include uniforms, for which I already told Geline to have old ones this year. I still have to purchase some other materials such as plastic covers, pad papers, and other personal stuff she will be needing, now that Geline will be entering third grade.

When I reached home, I had to tell my Gia, “I will enrol you next week.” I also had to convince myself, “I will have money next week, to buy other things my two gems need.”
Read the rest of this entry »