I should have been writing about my singleness! In fact, I almost have finished an article about the pleasures it brings to me especially in the past weeks, not until I had a very terrible experience last night!

 

From a meeting in Makati, I tried to get straight home and pass through a nearby mall. I was walking along the basement when a woman approached and asked me if I do own a credit card. In my excitement to join a free raffle promo that I was told of, I decided to spare some time to sit down and listen about the offer. After introducing me to a fellow, she handed me a poster showing the prizes I could possibly win including a luxury car and P888,888.00 cash. I might have thought of it as a bluffer to their true motive so the woman let me read a line on the poster saying that it was not an obligation for me to pay anything that has a value. She further explained that it was a special promotion and just wanted me to know so I may have something to share with my friends about their company. Even before that, I was told that I already won an umbrella and a bag because of the time I gave them.

 

It was not over yet! She brought me to the third floor of the mall where I would be playing for the P888,888.00 cash. The woman was so persuasive. While on the elevator, she was asking questions about my work and then telling me some stories about her life. I must believe that she were really trained to have such a speaking caress! As we finally reached the lobby of their office, I saw many other people accompanied by agents like her with the same sense of friendliness. Then after few minutes, another woman called my name and asked me to get in for a "45-minute orientation".

 

She was equally outspoken and convincing. She first asked me to fill out a form while preparing a cup of coffee for me (hmmm! who could resist of coffee???) and then started the conversation by asking of my dreams in life that I wrote on the form. The questions were quite personal so I assumed that we were having intimate and serious talks, which I ought to answer seriously. She commented that I sound so matured and profound (huh?!) while bringing the issue of future security over the cup of coffee and then… finally offering their insurance program!

 

I had so many questions expressing hesitation not until their account manager came to me. In the end, I was convinced to avail of their insurance through initial deposit over my credit card plus a monthly premium payable within 7 years, entitling me to a P250, 000.00 cash endowment upon maturity period of 15 years. That was the only time I got raffle coupons for the luxury car and won 11 PIN as my ticket for the P888,888.00 cash to be drawn on July 2008.

 

Ergo, all I took home was a free gym-bag and the insurance certificate for myself after the 45-minute-turned-3-hour-orientation!

Filipino is always known to be fond of eating. Foods like pastries and delicacies (among others) are not only present in our cuisine but also come in wide varieties. It's no wonder that food chains are found elsewhere and have become one of our most favorite hangouts especially during Sunday and other special occasions. Though it seems to be quite a luxurious pastime, feeding both your ego and stomach is worth it sometimes. And when you start plunging into the most tummy-bloating experience, you can't help but look heavenward and give it a BURP!

 

             It was not an ordinary Sunday for aside from getting a deal of love-themed sermon during the church service, Ayat was turning two years old. By the way, she is the lovely daughter of equally intellectual couple (Ate Jhen and Kuya Joltz) that suggests a perfect cross-culture of Zambali and Ilocano natives. As part of the celebration, we were given a delightful eat-all-you-can treat and a luscious sip of soups at Cabalen restaurant along West Avenue in Quezon City. Yes, I must say that the experience was truly unforgettable for I was literally overfed!

                     

As translated by a friend, "Cabalen" is a Pampango term for "kabayan". A word-turned-bistro that offers lip-smacking varieties of native cookery right from the kitchen of our folks in Pampanga, no less. An irresistibly mouthwatering smell does not only welcome visitors from the doorsteps of the restaurant but also grips a starved. Hearty buffet like a pistang pinoy, there were about 40 viands to choose from thus enabling everybody to give himself an endless delight!

  

 More than any, it was the kilawing kangkong (half-cooked damp cabbage) combined with bagoong alamang that gave me an extra-delightful experience (not more than an orgasm though! haha). I also couldn't resist trying a handful of crunchy spinach leaves plus arusep (a kind of see-weed) that extracts a self-pleasuring juice when crushed by the mouth. Not to forget of the inihaw na hito and bangus dipped into soy sauce with nerve-kindling red pepper! Of course, my favorite kare-kare should in no way be outdone. What about nilagang (steamed) talong, okra and ampalaya? They were perfectly soothing to my buds! I was all my way savoring with sinangag na kanin and arroz de valenciano when sisig winked upon me. Tokwa't baboy, dinuguan and a lot more were also equally tempting (how bad that my puffy tummy could no longer accommodate them). Alas, I weren't able to try ginataang kohol unlike ate Jhen!

 

            Kare-kare. It is like beef stew because it has meat and vegetables with sauce. The beef part of the kare kare is made up of ox tail. The meat on the ox tail is very tender, not chewy like beef jerky. The vegetables in kare kare are eggplant, string beans, and bok choy. The sauce is thick and make up of ground peanuts. (Photo and caption courtesy of Noemi Dado. View photos.the-protagonist.net/album)

 

            If you think it's over, fine-fibered pichi-pichi and gelatin with gata (coconut milk) were still up for the battle. Halu-halo (a simple mixture of sweetened banana, kamote and beans with sugar syrup, milk and pinipig on the top) also made it all the way.  Not to mention of tibok-tibok, maja kalabasa and more on their carte du jour!

 

            Well, the experience was just yummy as how you imagine it!

 

Ang mga sumusunod na kwento ay likhang-isip lamang. Sadyang ginawa para aliwin ang mga loveless na tulad ko, pero pwede rin para sa mga bitter o sa sinumang nagbabalak makipag-break sa kasalukuyang karelasyon!

 

MGA TAUHAN:

 

Miyo:              Sugo ni Apong Lakay sa sanlibutan na may misyong sagipin ang mga kabataang naliligaw ng landas. S'yempre siya ang bida sa ating kwento. Kung hindi mo pa s'ya kilala o ang sinuman sa kanyang mga kauri, malamang eh matagal-tagal ng napapariwara ang buhay mo. Peace tayo!

 

Zaido:              Sila ang grupo ng mga pulis-pangkalawakan. Matataas ang lipad. Minsan na rin silang sumanib sa pangkat ni Miyo subalit umalis din dahil napaglipasan ng panahon. Ngayon, kabilang na sila sa matataas at makapangyarihang uri. Hindi sila ganap na kakampi pero hindi rin naman maituturing na mga kaaway. Hindi ko lang alam kong kaano-ano nila si Volta!

 

Palos:              Mabilis! Mula sila sa madidilim na taon sa kasaysayan ng angkan ng ating bida. Wala ako masyadong masabi sa kanila. Tingnan na lang natin kung ano ang naging bahagi nila sa kwento at kung paano nila hinugis ang kapalaran ni Miyo.

 

Pedro Penduko: Kapatid niya sina Padre at Petra Penduko. Makapangyarihan silang tatlo sa kani-kanilang mga kaharian. Ang isa ay matatagpuan sa hilagang bahagi ng globo samantalang ang isa naman ay nasa lugar kung saan maraming lumilipad na ligaw na bala. Si Pedro? Ayun at pakalat-kalat lang, maaaari mo siyang makasakay sa dyip patungong Baclaran!Hekhek

 

Kung Fu Kids: Sila ang mga maliliksi at matatalinong mga bata na sumusunod sa yapak ni Miyo. Bukas ang isipan sa maraming bagay at sa lahat ng nangyayari sa paligid sa kabila ng murang edad. Dapat silang ingatan dahil kung hindi, baka malinlang sila ng mga tuso!

 

Marimar:        Simbolo siya ng henerasyon ng mga bakla! Kung bakit ganun ang amoy niya? Mas mabuti pa sigurong pag-aralan mo ang alamat ng dagat!

 

Chelsea:         Nyahaha! Isa siyang manikang nagpapanggap na maamo pero siya ang talagang dapat katakutan. It is like a vulture waiting for the right opportunity to grab power. Mabuti pa si Kokey!

 

Imong:            Ano pa nga ba't isang tapat na katiwala doon sa simbahan?! Asawa niya si Imang na isang kampanerang kuba din. They are humble gatekeepers who do not have any other interest but to protect the candle that brings light from the culprits. Dahil sa dami ng ginagawa nilang mag-asawa, hindi nakapagtatakang kasingbigat ng bukol nila sa likod ang mga tungkulin na kanilang pinapasan. (Tanong ko lang, paano nga ba sila matulog maliban sa nakapikit ang mata?)

 

Toink, toink, toink!

 

 

UNANG TAGPO:

 

SA ISANG DIGMAAN…Palos (sinusubok itakas ang isang supot ng kayamanan kasama ang kanyang mga alipores)

   

                        Mio:      Hoy Palos! Bitawan mo iyan kung ayaw mo masaktan at matikman ang lufet ng aking tsuktsaknes!

 

                        Palos:    (Magyayaya ng jak 'en poy. Hindi matitinag. Nakapagtatakang makakatakas…)

 

                        Mio:      (Sisigaw). Ibalik mo 'yan, maawa ka please. Maawa ka!!!!!!!

 

Pero wala siyang magagawa para pigilan ang maitim na balak ni Palos at ng kanyang mga kampon.

 

 

IKALAWANG TAGPO:

 

SA PRESINTO…

 

Zaido:      Hindi natin ito dapat palampasin! Kailangan nating panagutin ang mga salarin. Nakaabot na ang balita sa diyosang nagbibigay ng kayamanan. Kung hindi natin maibabalik iyon, baka tuluyan nila tayong itakwil sa kaharian at itigil nila ang pagbibigay ng mga pagpapala.

 

Pedro Penduko: (Lilitaw ang isang ulap sa isip na may katagang: "mas maganda pa nga yatang itakwil nila tayo para mapadali ang paghiwalay natin sa kanila. Panahon na rin upang tumayo tayo sa ating mga paa! Masarap magkaroon ng oto, noh?)

 

Imong:    (Sasampitaw). Bakit hindi na lang natin sila patawarin? Ipaubaya na natin sa kanila ang kayamanang iyon. Tutal, 'yan naman ang itinuro ni Apong Lakay, ang magpatawad sa mga nagkakasala tulad ng kanyang pagpapatawad sa atin!"

 

Susundan ng walang katapusang diskusyon at imbestigasyon hinggil sa nangyaring krimen. Pero wala ring mangyayari. Mababaon na lamang sa limot ang ginawang pagtangay ni Palos sa yaman ng kaharian.

 

Matapos ang mahabang taon, maisasaayos din ni Mio ang lahat. Tila mababaon na sa limot ang mga nangyari. Unti-unti ding babalik ang tiwala ng diyosa sa buong kaharian at muli silang pagpapalain.

 

 Ayos na sana ang lahat ng biglang…

 

 

IKATLONG TAGPO

 

SA ISANG PAGPUPULONG NG IBA'T IBANG KONSEHO NG KAHARIAN… Nagtatalo ang buong kapulungan hinggil sa mga programa at pagbabagong iminumungkahing ipatupad ni Miyo at ng Kung Fu Kids.

 

Chelsea: Hihihihi…. Hindi dapat payagan ang mga iminumungkahi ni Miyo. Taliwas ito sa mga batas ng ating kaharian. Hindi tayo dapat pasakop sa kanila. Ang mga kabataang tulad nila ay dapat sumunod lang sa utos ng matatanda. Kung hindi, baka tuluyang…. (puputulin ni Miyo ang kanyang pagsasalita)

 

Miyo:     Huwag ninyong pangunahan ang aming kapatiran. Hindi kami papayag na yurakan ninyo ang aming mga karapatan!

 

Kung Fu Kids: (Magbubulungan sa isang sulok. Sabay-sabay sila) Oo nga! Oo nga!

 

Zaido:     Bakit hindi natin sila hayaang gawin ang kanilang gusto? Ipinapahayag ng buong kapulisan ang buong suporta namin sa kanila! Miyo, narito kami para tulungan kayo. Layunin ng aming konseho na makipag-isa sa inyo sa pagpapatupad ng inyong mga programa.

 

Kung Fu Kid: Sa palagay ko, hindi namin kailangan ang inyong konseho. Mayroon kaming sariling pananagutan at nalalaman namin kung ano ang higit na makabubuti para sa amin. Kaya nga layunin naming baguhin ang aming mga batas upang pagandahin ang aming samahan kung hindi man baguhin ang pagkakamali ng aming mga ninuno.

 

Sa gitna na mainit na tensyon sa pagitan ng mga panig ay biglang lilitaw sa gitna si Marimar. Gigiling. Sasayaw.

 

Magri-react ang mga pulis pangkalawakan. Magagalit si Pedro Penduko habang magtatawanan naman ang pangkat ni Chelsea. Mapapaliyad sa gulat si Imong at mapapa-sign of the cross. Matitigilan si Miyo pati na ang mga Kung Fu Kids.

 

Ano kaya ang susunod na magaganap? Magtatagumpay kaya ang kinatatakutang si Chelsea? Eh si Zaido na nais ipailalim si Miyo sa kanilang konseho? Ano na lang ang kapalarang naghihintay sa ating bida at sa kanyang kapatiran?

 

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata ng kanyang pakikipagsapalaran dito lamang sa http://kibitzer.blogdrive.com

 

             

"Most Filipino people are hungry now, including me, my stomach is empty and many children are crying because there is no food. Why do poor people suffer and die? There is no chance for them to overcome their fear! If you are concerned, you must be willing to help me find a job. Masaya ka ba na kumakain ka ng masarap tapos kami walang work? Sumasakit ang t'yan namin sa gutom…"

 

Sounds desperate? Well, maybe. These lines came from one of my applicants. Yes, I have been working in the Human Resource Department (HRD) of a recruitment company where unemployment becomes an ordinary face I meet nearly everyday. I rub with the elbows of desperate applicants swarming a single job. I also see how the company terminates an employee. For many times, I just end up saying "meron na namang isang pamilyang magugutom". The feeling is just disheartening as how you see and hear about employees being exploited and deprived of their rights.   

 

 "Habang may nagugutom, mayroong pa ring kawalang hustisya", these lines I heard from the recent bible forum I attended was both a relief and a challenge to me. It is truly undeniable that while many bask and luxuriate themselves in worldly splendor, many families remain homeless, starving and trying to console themselves with endless hope in the midst of poverty. And while people like them have nothing at all, those in the seat of power keep on asking for more.

 

Ironically, the economic growth claimed by the government is never felt by the masses. For the least of the society, house for every family and food in every table are the most basal measures of democracy.

 

It is certainly a dream of everybody to have a lucrative or even at least a simple job that can defray everyday expenses. And in a country like the Philippines where unemployment and underemployment thrive, everybody must be dreaming to leave the country as if it were on fire just for the sake of a greener pasture. Many are forced to go abroad at a very young age.

 

Young people are no excuse in this issue. Not even me. In fact, I also attempted to apply once. I knew it would have been very easy for me since international recruitment is one of our company services and I can say that the best of foreign countries is just a few steps away from me. I would have grabbed those opportunities only if God did not remind me of the path He has prepared ahead of me. I realized my commitment to the young people of our church and all the plans He has perfectly crafted for me.

 

Still pondering…

 

Nakatutuwa ang paalalang ito na nabasa ko sa nasakyan kong dyip kaninang umaga. 

 

Ugali nga naman kasi ng ilang pinoy ang hindi magbayad. Dahil dito ay napakaraming mga paalala ang nagagawa ng mga kaibigan nating drayber para tiyakin na magbabayad ang kanilang mga pasahero bago bumaba. Ilan pa sa mga kakat'wang paalalang ito ay "mabangungot sana ang hindi magbayad" o kaya "magbayad ka, mahiya ka naman!"

 

Ang iba sa kanila ay isinasama pa ang misis sa pamamasada para s'yang maningil ng pamasahe. At kapag napaghinalaan kang hindi pa nagbabayad, titignan ka ng matalim mula ulo hanggang paa saka tatalikod at magpaparinig nang "yung mga wala pang bayad d'yan…"

 

Hindi lang sa dyip makikita ang eksenang ito kundi maging sa bus at ilang pampasaherong sasakyan. Kapalit ng kaunting barya ay ipinagkakait ng mga pasahero ang obligasyong moral sa serbisyong tinanggap. Tsk!

 

May hinaing din naman ako sa ilang mga drayber! Ang pinakamababang pamasahe o minimum fare ngayon (sa Maynila) ay P7.50 o higit na mataas sa ibang pampublikong sasakyan. Pero kapag sobra lang ng kaunti ang ibinayad ay hindi na ibinabalik ng ilan sa kanila ang sukli mo. Alam kong halos wala nang halaga ang barya ngayon dahil sa taas ng mga bilihin at bayad sa serbisyo. Nagiging koleksyon na lamang ito sa bahay. Pero hindi ba't dapat pa rin itong maging disiplina sa ating mga tsuper? Ang ilan sa kanila ay masama pa ang loob kapag siningil mo ang iyong sukli.

 

Pa'no kaya kapag tayo namang mga pasahero ang gumawa ng paalala: "makatulog sana habang nagda-drayb ang hindi magbalik ng sukli".

Hay naku mama, para na po d'yan sa tabi!!!