Side Trip: Lucban, Quezon: Kamay ni Jesus

Last May 30, 2008, after the 3-day Training Conference organized for Quezon Province High School Teachers, we visited Kamay ni Hesus Healing Church. It is a famous landmark in Quezon Province, as famous as the Longganisang Lucban.











The Church was visualized by Rev. Father Joey Faller to give sick and the spiritually weak, a haven where they could feel and experience the presence of God.









At the backdrop of the church is a steep hill designed as a picturesque of Dolorosa Grotto of Healing and Purification. It's a 292 step-hill with life-size statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross that directs to a 50-foot statue of the Ascending Christ. The statue of the Ascending Christ is considered the third biggest in the world.

Racing the End for a Good Start

A lot of things have changed.

You've grown your hair long as if telling the world how you've become wiser.
You hold your body upright that relates how you've embraced adulthood
You keep the smile of a man who's responsible and reliable
You have the bearing of a person who's ready to accept the challenges, and

I am happy for you.
Knowing that you wake up every morning with a smile on your face,
gives me no less than the same joy you have these days.

Believe me, I see no reason to feel sad knowing that you are climbing the ladder of dreams, that used to be plain words we speak of, over lunch or dinner.
I feel happy that as you are closely reaching those stars, you are inspired and armed with so much love and warmth from the one,

the one you thought, you would not meet anytime soon,
the one you thought you’d have to wait forever
the one who’s not left handed.
But she’s there, and she’s the one.

I used to feel the last hold…
But, seeing how you take her in your arms
everything felt so deaden.

I am glad though.

And even if I keep your memory,
Just so you could be near me,
Let’s try to be distant
So we could race the end, with a good start

Pour Monsieur Français

I think of you in many ways,
So I won’t have lonely days
I keep your memory
Just so you could be near me

I try to keep a kindred spirit
To ease the twinge a bit
I yearn to meet you again
But, I don’t know when

You make me reminisce at times
As I try to remember your lines
You make me feel indifferent
Crestfallen, that’s what I meant

You make me wish to skip another day
So I won’t miss you in anyway
Where have you been?
Years apart, that’s how it seems

I won’t take your words as promises
I’ll just remember those as wishes
At least I won’t get disappointed
By just relying on what you said

I won’t remember you as, special
I’ll just commit you as my friend
That’s what we are in truth
What better words to suit

I’ll settle for what I have
A memory and your wish
Let’s turn everything into a magic
So we don’t make our love story, a tragic

Until the time we meet again…

I’ll just remember how those time were
As others envy us for being together
Like watching a movie to end the night
With our hands holding tight

As we walk on the street
With every single stick you lit
Remember the rain dance
And how you try to cover me with your hands

Bring out the big umbrella
As you run me off with a kiss
We laughed and blathered
We hugged one another

For now let’s keep our hearts apart
And race the end with a good start
Let’s see if soon we could get together
And be happy forever

Je m'ennuie de vous beaucoup Monsieur,
Je devine que vous êtes si heureux maintenant
parce que vous ne vous rappelez pas d'autre
autant que d'autres se rappellent vous
Je suis triste Monsieur, really, I am.

Sketching Out a Security Scenario

The government in this country is just going crazy. In the midst of all the controversies hustling the anomalous deals, security issues are being dealt with some reservations . The perilousness of the issue has left many at a wonder... who will take the cudgels when the very service forces themselves have been vacillating the very sanction of their office.
hmmm...

why do i suddenly entertain such uncanniness when I'm in my homeland, yet when i was at a foreign land this time of last year, the security of LU just blows me away.

Let me conjure up a picture...

To enter my hostel, I type in a 5 digit key code that is exclusive to Hall D.
Then... I swipe in with a security officer (who by the way i wouldn't mess with)
...and then enter into the elevator that is "disinfected no less than 3 times a day".
Finally I key into my room.

Oh and to enter the bathroom I've got another key code.

Plus, no overnight guest...ever (but being an X/S entitles you some concessions, especially if you're friendly with the officer! hmmm...whoever consumed those entitlements?!)***wink

Bring Back My 2007 'Spring Break'

Everybody looks forward to spring break or March Break or slack week (for others) because its that time of the year when school is on recess, and many are lured on travels or what have you.

However for me, spending Spring Semester as an exchange student is more or less a spring break escapade. It was obviously not a recess from school, but more likely a breather from my poleco studies here in the Philippines and a leave from the environment I have been used to.

That was last year, but Sweet Jesus! its already 2008 and I'm not really over, getting-over last year.

There's just too much about last year that I cannot really allow to slip away with time. I feel so empty, thinking about letting go of it. For some reasons, I am simply not inclined in doing so. I should know that by this time, I ought to be over it. For crying out loud, people from last year have already moved on (sigh)! I should be moving on as well. However, no matter how much I try to convince myself, I am still romanticized by 2007.

Last month,Vico (X/S Monterrey Univ) shared his cup of coffee through MSN (Mex time) after coming back from a year of studies at LU ... I asked him how he was doing, his reply was "...you know how it feels like, raiza." Okay, I figured, I know what was it like so I replied him with "How then are you, coping?" He said "one day at a time...I couldn't complain". He told me I was harsh on myself, i didn't allow my being to recover from the reverse culture shock, that's why I'm still despondent by HK, LU and all things encompassing. He suggested one viable way to tidy up the clutter of 2007 is to patiently see things as plain as the nose on one's face.

Hence, I should try to shipshape things not by turning a blind eye to the resplendence of my 2007 Spring, but to actually recognize the wonderful things I have gained, be it the unimaginable or the simplest form of learning...or could be the unnoticeable or the most obvious joys of life.

I reckon how do i clear a glass filled with contaminated water...
simple...
lave the glass and slosh water anew!

Happy Corner

What was one thing you did, which you thought made somebody else happy?

Well, a plethora…or so I thought, but at least that was how I felt.

It was January 31, close to 12 midnight, I came back from a happy hot pot dinner with some Chinese friends. I rustled up a surprise for a friend, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday. I’m not a typical friend who would cook up something for a friend, but last year, I somehow felt compelled to do so. Well, maybe it was one of the episodes in my life where I am enthralled to exhibit the “good traits” I possess but would not normally recognize. I’m really not your nice-type of person, so a birthday surprise for a friend sounded “too nice” of me.

So I called one of the buddies of the X/S (exchange student) to ask for his number. He was one of the first local students in LU, who I’ve met. He’s also one of my close friends in the hostel I was billeted into. Well, we’ve shared a lot of good times and not-so good ones too, but that’s another entry to compose.

I knew he was sharing a flat with another local student in the first floor, but I did not know what his room number was. I called him to ask about it, and good-naturedly inquired whether it was his bedtime already or if he was busy. Already was he asking what I’ve been up to, I had to hang the call as he was realizing the oddity of things. I walked through the exit doors of the hostel and called him back to appease his curious mind. As I walked through the long wing of the 1st floor, I was trying to engage him in a conversation and told him I knew of a secret about him.

In Lingnan University Hostels, the guys don’t openly talk about their birthdates because of “Happy Corner”. Well, it’s one of the few things discussed in the informal orientation with local students and friends. Happy Corner has been practiced for a long time already, perhaps since LU transferred to the New Territories in HK from its old campus in Guangzhou. It’s been a tradition for a person celebrating his birthday to be carried around by the guys who reside in the hostel. So some guys are assigned to knock on everybody else’s door and call everybody to come out of the room and sort-of gang up the celebrant. Even girls participate in this tradition as spectators. There’s a chant that everybody else say or shout repeatedly in a singsong tone to signal that a guy is due to be sentenced. So when the celebrant has been carried around the hostel, they will whack and thwack his body at a junction. Ouch! Probably that would be painful so a guy’s birthday is a taboo in the hostels (poor guys!).

He sounded like I gave him a fright and he was dying to know what I have been up to. Maybe yet, he was scared that I would kick-start the happy corner for him. I was bursting in a tee-hee, knowing that I was sending him into a cold sweat. Already, I was in front of Room 108, I insisted that he open his door. What the heck! I might have scared the hell out of him as he was having second thoughts of opening his door. Just when I convinced him, he opened it and found me standing right in front of his door with a birthday cake at hand. I tried to sing him the birthday song (and boy did I want to sound like Marlyn Monroe singing to President Kennedy). I don’t know if it had made any difference to actually stand in front of him, yet keep him on the phone as I tell him my birthday greetings. I was clueless that there were a number of guys in his room playing some war games and boy did that unnerve me…well because of the happy corner and some loose lips (yikes!) after all we’re just really friends (disclaimer’s affixed!)

A lot of friends, especially him told me that my gesture speaks a lot about my kind of character. Wow! At least I realized I could be nice too. Well, generally that’s one of the few deeds that I thought I would never have done. And Well, its one of the few undertaking that I think I would not have the courage to do again (…unless there are other and better reasons for me to do so). However, if its just about being nice to a friend, maybe other deeds would be better yet. Actually, it doesn’t really hurt to do things like this, once in a while, especially if it would be for friends, but to actually carry the consequences of the actions I make…like the happy corner and well uh, the tittle-tattle…its enough that for once in my life, I’ve tried to be nice to a friend celebrating his birthday.

It may have turned-out well last year, but maybe not this year…

So here’s for a friend who’s now celebrating his 23rd birthday:

One, Two Three
I haven’t seen you lately
You’ve been friendly
And have always been so busy
You can be so irritating, yet funny
You speak of canniness but can also be crazy.
Hello chiseen!
How have you been?
I hope you’re happy
Happy Birthday!

Tears Gone Back

I cannot recall how many months I have counted from the morning you left me by my window. I surely have continued life with vigor, thinking I have surpassed the torment. I wonder how many times I have rejoiced believing there was nothing wrong with the hollow muscular that pumps blood for me to walk on earth. Heck! It was only yesterday when I found out that there was nothing to rejoice about. In truth, I have not triumphed the harrow of disappointment, which I have cast upon, myself. Somehow, I can opine, how shrinkingly I shied away from the whole affair. Perhaps, this is the price I have to pay for not doing the things my heart wanted me to do, in response to what your heart have gestured. I wouldn't know how to break free from the whole ardor, and pledge to carry on with what the present has to offer. I am clueless as to when I would be unencumbered...will it be when you see me again, as you have promised, or when I see you splinter your words. I don't want to sound like a defeatist, giving up when things are yet to be done, nor an overtly propitious, looking too forward to things that will never be. What then is the incentive for me to go fair-to-middling, when I only have your words as collateral and your sincerety as a guarantor.

You bring me back to tears and I cannot even beg you to wipe those tears away.
You bring me back to my old wound and I cannot ask you to heal them for me.
You bring me back to melancholy and I cannot seek you to make me happy.
You are surely happy now, how can I engage you to the blues you've once have gone through.

I will keep and save everything that has been left,because someday...perhaps soon, fate will bring you back instead of tears which fits to be taken away.