I touch to write.

I was laid-back, reaching for some helpings of roasted almonds. The gloomy feeling of the star-less night might be right to give me a reason to contemplate. Then holding my new iPod Touch, I started to write this blog.

I downloaded a WordPress App and I was just wondering where this technology might take me.

I’ll soon see.

I ran solo.

It wasn’t  half-marathon, but it was a great run for me last September 26, for two reasons: one, it happened in Tagaytay City, and two, it’s almost a half-marathon.

It was my longest run so far–a 21 kilometer distance–a few meters away from a real half-marathon distance. That morning was a definite challenge for amateur runners like me who are not used to elevated air pressure, cold weather, uphill and downhill road, and morning fog.

Wearing a sleeveless singlet and my best Adidas CC Modulate running shoes, I started along Calamba Road fronting One Tagaytay Place–where I stayed the night before–then heading east going to Tagaytay Highlands. By then, the fogs were avalanching from the highlands down the roads. Then I felt I got the wrong running outfit as my sweat mingled with fogs that gave me chill for around 5 minutes before turning around.

Returning to my starting point I met the beautiful scenes of Taal Lake, welcomed by the magnificence of Taal Volcano, and greeted by the gates of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

I continued going west. The sun was rising slowly touching some warmth at my back as I passed Mother of Perpetual Help Church and several inns before completing the half of my run at the Tagaytay Rotunda. I continued the run with few kilometers left at the Aguinaldo Highway passing several pine trees, flower stores, and a lot of smogs from the busy roads. I headed back to rotunda and completed my run stopping at the same starting point.

I named my route, “Tagaytay 21K Invasion” and I felt great knowing that I accomplished this run with a pace below 6 minutes per kilometer.

I turned my friends around.

I’m a bit crazy and facinated about AMBIGRAM these days. I really feel elated whenever I finished creating an ambigram of a friend’s name.

With the help of available softwares from my computer, MS PowerPoint and Paint, I already created several ambigrams for my friends. Take a look and I hope you enjoy it.

I will try to make as many ambigrams as the names appearing on my Facebook friends. You might get yours soon!

I got my best shot!

Yes, I got my best shot!

It was at the Rexona Run 2010, held last August 1, 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia.

Well, I’m not talking about my running time. I’m talking about my photos. It was my best shots ever during a running event.

It is as if some famous guy was being stalked and followed by a bunch of fans in their uniform–getting crazy over him. Or, as if I was a running champion leading a bunch of trying-hard runners.

The fact is, I just loved being in a different shirt than the rest (the free singlet actually hurts). Further, I sucked at my running time, 1:05.

I’ll get better next time.

So I can still smile.

Photos are free from PhotoVendo.

Love is found again.

This is another found love in poetic rendition from another friend who was envious of my other friend who first requested me to post his poem.

These guys are simply filling up spaces in my blog site, and are letting me lose my creativity.

It’s entitled, or I want to have it, “Lea”.

Lea (Part 1)
by Archie S. Valerio

The first time I met you
I felt nothing
Everytime your there I am glad
I tried to ignore this feeling
But everytime I do
This feeling gets stronger
I think of you night and day
I think I’m in love
I will never forget you
For you’ve been part of my life
I’ll always think of you forever
I’ll always think that your mine

Lea (Part 2)
By Archie S. Valerio

I don’t know
If you also have feeling for me
How I wish you also have
I want to talk to you sometimes
But I’m afraid that you will refuse me
I can’t stop thinking about you
And that’s the reason
I really miss you so much
I’m hoping that time will come
That I can express to you how much
I love you

All I can say is: yikes.

Nice Arch. Every work done by the heart is a good one.

We’re not best, just right.

A mother’s love has constantly surrounded your whole being. 

It started nine months before you were born. Then she would carry you, as her newborn baby, around her gentle arms–bordered by her sweetest lullaby. You grew up. Your fragile body got sick a lot of times. You went to school. You met the world. And she was always there for you. 

Then, her last breath came, and you wish you could have done more to love her back. 

That was the theme of what I personally call a “masterpiece” performace of PAGCOR’s Corporate representatives in the recently concluded PAGCOR Musical 2010. 

Our Stint 

Last year was a tribute to Broadway musical, the PAGCOR Broadway Musical 2009. It was indeed a huge success, more so to us, having dubbed as champion for staging a 10-minute rendition of “Ms. Saigon.” 

This year, I was equally fortunate to be part a group of office workers becoming amateur performing artists, once again. There were 13 representing branches of PAGCOR casinos, including its Corporate Office (which our group represented), competing to stage their grandest original-story musical, so far. 

Our group staged a 13-minute musical entitled “Inay” (“Mother”) which was crafted by Ryan Cordeta, who was then an Assistant Manager. A discerning list of melancholic OPM songs were selected to season this heartwarming, tear-jerking play. 

Being amateurs, we were simply decided to enjoy every minute of performance, but also pushing ourselves to craft it to the best of our abilities. 

The Casts and Crews 

In this kind of musical competition, the performing artists were also (most likely) the crews behind the stage. There were Ed, Gelo, Jhun, Archie, Fhunks, and I, to boast the male vocals and acting, and to carry props with our huge biceps. There were Jela, Lonix, Khaye, Ryah, Jonah, and Mitch, to highlight the best female tunes. And then there was our secret weapon to hopefully sweep other performances, our main actress and vocal, Rachelle, who played the role of the main character, Lea. 

The Story and The Songs 

Noni, in his forties, recounts his memories of his mother, Lea. He is holding a letter envelop he received from a province where he was born. That letter envelop is the triggering point for Noni to narrate the story of his mother. 

He's holding a letter envelop. It triggers his most valuable memories--both vivid and dark--about his mother and her sacrifices for him.

To his recount, Lea was married to a lowly fisherman in a province. She would, before the dawn breaks, go to the coast to meet her loving husband. She was pregnant then. The most unfortunate event came when her husband was devoured by the sea and she was left alone. 

"May ningning pa ang mga bituin, nagbangon na sila't handa nang salubungin, yaong mga mangingisdang nagpalaot sa magdamag. Katulad ng marami pang kabiyak, naroroon si Lea, naghihintay." (from the song, "Lea")

As a single parent, she took responsibilities that of both mother and father to Noni. The small nipa house was home to Noni, as his mother was both the foundation and the light.

"Iduyan mo ang duyan ko. Unti-unting itulak mo. At babalik sa isip ko, nang dati nang sa kandungan mo. Iduyan mo ang duyan ko. Unti-unting itulak mo at pakikinggan ang awit mo. Sa liwanang ng buwan, mahihimbing ako." (from the song, "Iduyan Mo")

Because of inevitable hardship, Lea sometimes would question the life God has given her. 

"Dito ba ang daigdig ko ngayon? Bakit ibang-iba sa daigdig ko noon? Dito ba, kung saan naroroon ang hinahanap kong wala sa panahon? Dito ba ang sulok kong takda, sa ilalim ng araw?" (from the song, "Dito Ba?")

 It seems the whole world is against her. 

"Kung saan kay lalim ng luha, ligaya'y kay babaw. Dito ba ang sulok kong takda sa ilalim ng araw?" (from the song, "Dito Ba?")

She was strong at heart indeed as she would came back to her senses, knowing that her life was purposeful in joyfully caring for her son. Amidst hardships, Lea was hoping to set free her son to the bondage of poverty and lowliness.

"Uunahin kita anak, upang ika'y makapag-aral. At sa bawat layunin mo, karamay sa pagpapagal. Sa kandungan ng kapayapaan, sa landas ng pagkakapantay-pantay. Ihahanda ko ang daigdig sa masagana mong buhay." (from the song, "Uunahin Kita Anak")

And she did. She was able to send Noni to school, to a prestigious university in Manila. Years passed, and letters and mails were the only connection of Lea and her son Noni. A lot of things–in fact good things–happened to her son. She must’ve been very very proud of him.

But then, she always wanted him to come back and see him once again.

"Bawat patak man ng ulang masinsin ay lagyan ng talim. Ako ay sasayi. Di ko iindahin ang ulos at hiwa ng mumunting patalim. Ang iyong kalinga ay kanlungang matibay. Lilim nito ay langit na aking kanlungan. 'Pag ito'y natiklop, lalantahin ng araw, lulunurin ng unos ang marupok kong buhay. Aking hihintayin ang iyong pasabing, 'Nagbalik ka na, mahal.'" (from the song, "Nagbalik Ka Na, Mahal")

Noni stopped narrating as he came back to his senses that his purpose of going back home that day was the news (from that letter he’s holding) that her beloved mother Lea was too old and fragile to be vulnerable to sickness and inevitably, death.

He saw her not in her deathbed but in her lowly rocking chair, beside the rotten old baby craddle (duyan), where he, as once a baby, slept.

His heart was a churner of mix feelings the moment he saw his mother. He was grateful for the love her mother gave him. He was disheartened that he was helpless to fight the time.

"Kung ang lahat ay may katapusan, itong paglalakbay ay makakarating din sa paroroonan." (from the song, "Paglisan")

Her last breath came. He kissed her mother the last time.

"At sa iyong paglisan, ang tanging pabaon ko ay pagibig." (from the song, "Paglisan")

The air was filled with sorrow, yet Noni’s heart was filled with gratefulness knowing that her mother did, not the best things for him, but only the right ones.

How Noni only wished he could turn back time so that more of his love can be given to his loving mother, Lea.

"Iduyan mo ang duyan ko. Unti-unting itulak mo. At kung maaaring pihitin ang mundo pabalik, sana'y iduyan mo, ang duyan kong muli." (from the song, "Iduyan Mo")

The Winner Is…

We landed fourth on the judges’ tally due to the lack of Choreography. But we are so glad that we’re the highest in Musicality and Vocal Quality criteria. All the same, the fact that we enjoyed our performances, made us realize we are our own trophies.

To date, Rachelle is already bound to Middle East to work as a full-time nurse. Sir Ryan is transferred to another branch. The rest of us are just as workaholic as before.

Until a time came when we will be engaged in this kind of event again, we will cherish the moment we pulled together a masterpiece.

Thanks to…

Sir Dodjie for the tips and tricks in performing arts.

To everyone in the Corporate Office for that all-the-way support, specially, Sir Gino and Ma’am Majoy, and the rest of ”invisible” guys of GSD backstage.

And, to God for letting us performed that His glory shined on that stage, that night, and within us.

It was indeed a wonderful experience.

Love is found.

This is a poetic rendition of a loving heart, it’s my friend’s poem inspired by the losses and gains of loving someone who’s already loving someone else. It’s definitely cheesy. I have to post this, promise!

Untitled.

All this time, I’ve waited for this moment to say
Not a single day passes by ever since I met you that I don’t think about you
Just a simple smile or hellow would make me happy
Everything is brighter when you’re near, and I could say that
Love has come my way.
As swift as the wind, love has carried your name in my heart.
I now that this feeling is wrong
Let me feel it anyway–the emotions of happiness and frustration
On top of it, the love I have for you
Very much in love–in you
Even though I’m hurting inside knowing that
You already have someone else to love.
Of all the people, I know, he’s the lucky one to have you
Until that day that we can be together once more.

Nice one my friend. Question, is there a wrong feeling of love?