i was eating my favorite nilaga and tilapya one morning when my mother joined me in the dining table. she would do this normally if she has time - to sit with me while eating and to chat. therefore, it was an ordinary morning... nothing unusual.
then she became teary-eyed. it alarmed me. you see, my mother is one of the strongest people that i know. i would only see her crying if someone in the family is hurting.
she then narrated her dream to me: a blinding light calling her, saying it's her time to go. she, of course, asked if she can stay longer. how could she leave when her children are not yet settled with their own lives?
after that, the blinding light disappeared.
then she woke up.
i did not know how to respond. i've heard a lot of similar stories of people dying and having this vision. it scared me to death but at the same time, i know i have to be strong for her - to not falter in her time of weakness. so i said, "ibig sabihin nun malakas ka kay Lord kasi pinagbigyan ka... ibig sabihin nun matagal ka pa dito."
whether it came from the Lord or merely a dream, my heart is still troubled. how would you feel if you knew that the most important woman in your life is leaving for good?
maybe this is a wake-up call for all of us in the family. we're so amused with our own personal lives that we take for granted the presence of each other.
that we forget the importance of each other.
that we forget that family is a blessing.
later that moment, i talked to God. i know that someday, each of us will be gone. but today, i thanked the Lord for my mother, and letting us keep her. and i pray that she'll be given many many more years ahead of her... so that we can show her how important she is to us.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
after a long period of silence...
i haven't been blogging lately for two reasons: one, because fatigue has been zapping the creative energy in me and two, uber-slow net connection at home. i'm dying to post pictures of our previous endeavor (hot air balloon @ clark) but unfortunately my net connection gives up on me. i'm thinking of getting a postpaid internet subscription at home. i'm just not sure which provider will give us the best value for our money.
so what's the latest?
still here in shaw.
in the process of deciding whether to MA or not to MA.
still doing 2-3 jobs at a time.
trying to lessen my rice intake.
craving for mangoes mangoes mangoes!
wants a vacation so bad.
- but wants to save as well.
wants a killer swimsuit.
hay boredomville. :(
so what's the latest?
still here in shaw.
in the process of deciding whether to MA or not to MA.
still doing 2-3 jobs at a time.
trying to lessen my rice intake.
craving for mangoes mangoes mangoes!
wants a vacation so bad.
- but wants to save as well.
wants a killer swimsuit.
hay boredomville. :(
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
for a noble teacher, from her former pupil
i was on my way to work this morning when i saw a very familiar face among the crowd - pleasant, calm and very gentle. she was about to ride the same bus as i did, and i can't help but smile as she walked the bus aisle towards her chosen seat. i was not sure if she could still recognize me after 14 years, but she did. finally she smiled and said, "kumusta ka magandang dalaga"? after so many years, i saw my most favorite teacher in the world again - mrs. henrietta v. nievera.
she was my grade 6 adviser and english teacher in 1996. but before she became my teacher, she was the adviser of my two other sisters who are older than me by eight and six years. she is basically an institution in the school - one of the, if not the, most sought-after teachers during our time. her excellence in english, journalism and music, as well as her dedication to her profession, is what makes her a truly remarkable teacher. while some teachers would ask a pupil to choose a topic from a book and write it on the blackboard for others to copy for the rest of the period,(just to buy time), she would make us recite a part of her carefully-compiled poems and selections from various works. that was our morning drill. i still remember one of the code of ethics she taught us:
"lead a clean and frugal life. do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. be simple in your dress and modest with your behavior".
while some teachers are done with their work after classes, she would patiently wait in the school library, preparing the materials for either: 1. schoolpaper staff practice for the upcoming journalism competition; or 2. review materials for pupils who will be competing in other competition/s. i saw her sleeping once, waiting for me in the library for our spelling cee review. i was late for our 1pm schedule and i thought she would scold me for making her wait. instead, she bought me a bottle of sprite and empanada. i almost cried. for some it might just be a simple gesture, but for this girl who came from nothing, it was that simple gesture that made me feel very valued.
she is the first person to believe in me and in what i can do. she was my mentor in spelling, she picked me as one of the dancers in our school for programs, she was the "punong-abala" when i was chosen as muse for school intramurals (which i really don't understand why), and she handpicked me as her editor-in-chief for our schoolpaper. i still have a copy of our schoolpaper and it gives me a sense of pride to see my name on top of the editorial staff.
i owe it to her that i was able to study in a private school with full scholarship. eventually, i graduated from high school with honors and was blessed to have made it in UP Diliman, also with good scholastic records. her efforts to mold our young minds finally paid off.
as years passed i lost contact with her, though i think of her once in a while and i wonder if she is still teaching. i would be a little bit sad if she retires, for i know it would be a big loss not to have her as a teacher. as fate would have it, i saw her this very morning and i am delighted to know she is still on a roll. she was on her way to esteban abada elementary school to train some pupils who are bound for davao, perhaps for a conference. she's still the same dedicated teacher i knew 14 years ago.
i wish i could have talked to her longer this morning, so that i could tell her how much i appreciate what she did for me. i wish i could have thanked her for being a great, great educator. i may just be one of her regular pupils, i might not be the best and i might be forgotten soon enough, but i'd like her to know that for THIS pupil - she made a lot of difference.
she was my grade 6 adviser and english teacher in 1996. but before she became my teacher, she was the adviser of my two other sisters who are older than me by eight and six years. she is basically an institution in the school - one of the, if not the, most sought-after teachers during our time. her excellence in english, journalism and music, as well as her dedication to her profession, is what makes her a truly remarkable teacher. while some teachers would ask a pupil to choose a topic from a book and write it on the blackboard for others to copy for the rest of the period,(just to buy time), she would make us recite a part of her carefully-compiled poems and selections from various works. that was our morning drill. i still remember one of the code of ethics she taught us:
"lead a clean and frugal life. do not indulge in frivolity or pretense. be simple in your dress and modest with your behavior".
while some teachers are done with their work after classes, she would patiently wait in the school library, preparing the materials for either: 1. schoolpaper staff practice for the upcoming journalism competition; or 2. review materials for pupils who will be competing in other competition/s. i saw her sleeping once, waiting for me in the library for our spelling cee review. i was late for our 1pm schedule and i thought she would scold me for making her wait. instead, she bought me a bottle of sprite and empanada. i almost cried. for some it might just be a simple gesture, but for this girl who came from nothing, it was that simple gesture that made me feel very valued.
she is the first person to believe in me and in what i can do. she was my mentor in spelling, she picked me as one of the dancers in our school for programs, she was the "punong-abala" when i was chosen as muse for school intramurals (which i really don't understand why), and she handpicked me as her editor-in-chief for our schoolpaper. i still have a copy of our schoolpaper and it gives me a sense of pride to see my name on top of the editorial staff.
i owe it to her that i was able to study in a private school with full scholarship. eventually, i graduated from high school with honors and was blessed to have made it in UP Diliman, also with good scholastic records. her efforts to mold our young minds finally paid off.
as years passed i lost contact with her, though i think of her once in a while and i wonder if she is still teaching. i would be a little bit sad if she retires, for i know it would be a big loss not to have her as a teacher. as fate would have it, i saw her this very morning and i am delighted to know she is still on a roll. she was on her way to esteban abada elementary school to train some pupils who are bound for davao, perhaps for a conference. she's still the same dedicated teacher i knew 14 years ago.
i wish i could have talked to her longer this morning, so that i could tell her how much i appreciate what she did for me. i wish i could have thanked her for being a great, great educator. i may just be one of her regular pupils, i might not be the best and i might be forgotten soon enough, but i'd like her to know that for THIS pupil - she made a lot of difference.
Friday, January 22, 2010
mahal magkasakit
i woke up early thursday morning with an aching head and nausea. i thought i could just sleep it off but it didn't go away. instead, my insides churned and i knew it was time for me hurry up and head to the cr and throw up. for the record, i hate vomiting. actually, i am afraid to vomit. i feel like everything inside me is going to come out.
i thought that after this i would feel better. but after a few minutes, i contracted a low-grade fever which eventually worsened. i had chills and my body is totally aching. i couldn't even get up to call my mother because it's like i am looking in a kaleidoscope because of dizziness (and i feel i'm gonna throw up again). i was not able to go to work that day.
my temperature rose and my head and body continued to ache. i was a bit afraid that i might have dengue again. i couldn't eat any solid food and i only wanted liquids (soup, tea, water). in the afternoon, my mother brought me to the nearby clinic to have me checked. i was thinking, maybe it's food poisoning because i don't usually vomit even if it's a high grade fever (the last time i threw up this bad was in 4th year HS when i had gastroenteritis). but the doctor said if it's food poisoning, i should experience diarrhea and my stomach should be hurting as well. luckily i didn't have those symptoms. she advised urinalysis and platelet count to check if a.) i have UTI b.) God forbid, i have dengue.
i just finished both lab tests and we're waiting for the clinic to open this afternoon. so far, i don't think i have dengue because my platelet count is good and i do not have fever anymore.
whatever it is, i would sure love to know what the heck happened to me.
(p.s. i'm browsing the net and i checked what "elevated segmenters" mean - a response said it's an indication of a viral infection. whew. i hope it's not too bad).
i thought that after this i would feel better. but after a few minutes, i contracted a low-grade fever which eventually worsened. i had chills and my body is totally aching. i couldn't even get up to call my mother because it's like i am looking in a kaleidoscope because of dizziness (and i feel i'm gonna throw up again). i was not able to go to work that day.
my temperature rose and my head and body continued to ache. i was a bit afraid that i might have dengue again. i couldn't eat any solid food and i only wanted liquids (soup, tea, water). in the afternoon, my mother brought me to the nearby clinic to have me checked. i was thinking, maybe it's food poisoning because i don't usually vomit even if it's a high grade fever (the last time i threw up this bad was in 4th year HS when i had gastroenteritis). but the doctor said if it's food poisoning, i should experience diarrhea and my stomach should be hurting as well. luckily i didn't have those symptoms. she advised urinalysis and platelet count to check if a.) i have UTI b.) God forbid, i have dengue.
i just finished both lab tests and we're waiting for the clinic to open this afternoon. so far, i don't think i have dengue because my platelet count is good and i do not have fever anymore.
whatever it is, i would sure love to know what the heck happened to me.
(p.s. i'm browsing the net and i checked what "elevated segmenters" mean - a response said it's an indication of a viral infection. whew. i hope it's not too bad).
Sunday, January 10, 2010
new year's resolution
i am not usually a firm believer of new year's resolutions; it takes one day to create them and 364 days to forget about them (hihee.. very typical of me). but i feel that maybe, it's something that i might start doing to challenge myself to improve and be better. i'm going to put it in writing here so i will be reminded from time to time...
1. quit worrying (or at least lessen the worries). my bestfriend has always told me that i am such a worrier. i thought it's just a phase (since high school? come on). now that i am not getting any younger and wrinkles may soon appear on my face, i should STOP doing this bad habit. and this resolution will lead me to number 2 resolution which is..
2. have a little more faith. in 2005 i came to know Jesus Christ and i sought a personal relationship with the Lord. it's 2010 and i still feel that i am a baby christian. it's high time that i give due importance to my spiritual growth.
3. be more responsible and productive. i will not be affected by the so-called quarter -life crisis. and i will try my very best to be a really productive person.
4. spend wisely. no more credit cards for me.
5. live happily every moment.
6. live healthy.
7. spend more time to enrich a skill or talent. i definitely miss singing!
here's my list for this year. i declare 2010 as MY year. :)
1. quit worrying (or at least lessen the worries). my bestfriend has always told me that i am such a worrier. i thought it's just a phase (since high school? come on). now that i am not getting any younger and wrinkles may soon appear on my face, i should STOP doing this bad habit. and this resolution will lead me to number 2 resolution which is..
2. have a little more faith. in 2005 i came to know Jesus Christ and i sought a personal relationship with the Lord. it's 2010 and i still feel that i am a baby christian. it's high time that i give due importance to my spiritual growth.
3. be more responsible and productive. i will not be affected by the so-called quarter -life crisis. and i will try my very best to be a really productive person.
4. spend wisely. no more credit cards for me.
5. live happily every moment.
6. live healthy.
7. spend more time to enrich a skill or talent. i definitely miss singing!
here's my list for this year. i declare 2010 as MY year. :)
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