Diminished

It’s been six days and she still hasn’t come home. We were never close. As a matter of fact, she seemed forever oblivious of my existence. Of course she knew me to be her niece.  But we never got to bond as an aunt-niece would.  Afterall, she and mom are just first cousins.  But you see, when we got news that she was among those declared missing in the devastation of typhoon Yolanda at Tacloban City, I sobbed.  A sharp and almost unreal pain hit me.  I could not believe I had a relative who was actually a victim…

Friday morning, November 8^th, she along with her husband and second child were still inside the premises of their family-owned restaurant located within the Tacloban City Airport.  She was reportedly on the phone with her sister at 5am saying the storm wasn’t as strong as it was first reported.  By 7am, she was on the phone again, this time to report that the winds and the rains were indeed strong.  But she didn’t seem alarmed or scared at all so her call did not cause concern.

Saturday afternoon, her sister in Manila received a call from my cousin, my Aunt’s second child, that they were already in Cebu having been rescued by some military personnel….and that his mother could no longer be found.

And that was it.  All the relatives have been informed and have been asked to fervently pray that Tita may have survived…

Days passed and still no news. And over and over and over again, the TV news showed how much devastation has actually occurred in the hardly hit areas – especially Tacloban.  Dead people are strewn all over the place.  The whole city has seven been declared unsanitary already because the decomposing bodies of the victims lie rotting beneath the pile of debris and garbage and have not yet been retrieved  by the authorities yet.  The whole scenario was chaotic, very much a semblance of the apocalyptic movies conjured up by some director/writer’s wild imagination.  Everything seemed unreal.

But my Tita still hasn’t come home.  Her husband’s last glimpse of her was on that Friday morning itself….as they waded through the flood waters brought by the storm surge.  He and their son were able to cling on to a sturdy post but Tita got washed away by the raging waters. 

To see her son’s post at Google Yolanda Person Finder breaks my heart.  I cannot imagine the feeling of having to look for a missing parent. 

But yes, others have lost their entire family.  Many still have lost many more relatives.  One thing I just realized though is that no matter how many loved-ones has been lost in that tragedy, a loss is still a loss.  It is painful --  achingly painful, and the lives of those who lost them is never ever the same again. For as John Donne aptly wrote:

No Man Is An Island

No man is an island,

Entire of itself,

Every man is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were:

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind,

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; 

It tolls for thee. 

John Donne

I am diminished by the lives lost in that catastrophe.  But for now, I could only hope, that anytime soon, I'll be able to hear the happy news that my Tita has come home.

Milo Marathon 2011 (Iloilo City Leg)

The starting line was infront of WVSU
along Luna, La Paz.

Twas the day we swam ran in a sea of green. Milo Marathon is the biggest, longest, and perhaps, the grandest running event in the country.  We chose to join the 5km - Fun Run as the more serious categories (10k and 21k respectively) were out of our league.  I hardly jog, nor do I engage in any fitness activity (ain't it obvious?heheh..)

The little boy who was up by 3am
just to be sure he gets to the race on time.

The sea of green filling Bonifacio Drive.

Crossing the bridge leading to the Sports Complex
 (the finish area).

Isn't that long stretch of people filling Gen. Luna St lovely?

Walking the climb isn't as hard when there's thousands
of green-Milo clad crowd to make everything fun.

Descending the Gen.Luna flyover--thousands and thousands of happy feet.

It was such a fun event (my first time) because for the record, Iloilo City registered more than 12thousand runners -- the biggest number of participants outside Manila! That means more kids are going to get more running shoes as Milo undertakes to donate a portion of the registration fee (which was 100pesos for the fun-run category, 500pesos for the 10k and 21k categories) to buy shoes for kids in public schools.

With former PBB housemate Tatang Rudy Fernandez,
himself a  fan of sports events like this.

Running Coah Rio de la Cruz was also there to grace  the event (he is a Milo Marathon coordinator).

Among the many side activities were Nutrition Consultation like these (with a certified Nutritionist giving advice on proper nutrition, and necessary lifestyle changes).

Most of those who joined were school delegates.  But friends and cliques also came in throngs.  Families with school age kids also joined the swarm along with very many yuppies who sported their chicest running gears and gadgets.

Running the last mile towards the finish line.

...and finally making it.

..to be able to claim this coveted Finisher's Certificate
-- with pride.

Finishers in all categories got to receive a certificate but those who finished the 10k and 21k especially in 1.5hrs were also given medals.

Those who finished the half-marathon (21k) within 1.5hrs
 were given their medals.
See? No such thing as senior citizen
when it comes to doing "great things"! =)

Its heart-warming to realize how simple things (in my case, ditching my pessimism and longer snoozetime for some fun Sunday run) can make us savor life's many blessings... Like the breathtaking view of the sea of green -- the Milo singlet-clad crowd who happily filled the streets of our quaint little city, one fine Sunday morn.

And because "great things start from small beginnings," I vow to put my fuchsia trainers to more work -- one small step at a time. ;-) So perhaps I could join the full marathon (at 41k) when I'm 41? Heheh. Who knows? =)

Sorry Seems the Hardest Word..

Its been a year since the bloody Manila bus hostage siege.  And to many, the incident is but another story of case of senseless killings. Hapless murders happen everyday anywhere in the globe.  But for some reason, my heart does ache for this particular incident.. And I couldn't quite explain why.

The victims' families arrived the other day to commemorate the event and to reach out once more to the Philippine government in their attempt to seek justice for their love-ones.  Among their demands was a simple "apology" from President Aquino himself.  Such, they claim, is the least they deserve to assuage their grief.  To their dismay, Pres. Aquino vehemently refused to yield to such demand.

The victims' families on a short media conference held for them after they arrived in Manila to commemorate the Manila bus hostage incident a year ago. Image source.

The President explained that seeking apologies for what happened would connote that the state is taking responsibility for what happened.  He says that the incident should be attributed to the gunman alone and to nobody else. 

"This was the act of one man, in the same token that some of us citizens have been affected elsewhere in the world, we do not blame the entire population," Aquino said.

Sorry does remain to be the "hardest" word.  For a  man as principled and as important as the president of this country, "sorry" isn't just a word.  It speaks alot about his conviction.


On the contrary, I wish he said "sorry" instead.  Not to defeat himself nor assume full responsibility for what happened.  But as a human being, isn't it the least we can do even to total strangers?  We say sorry when no other utterance can enunciate the sympathy we feel for another's loss?

Nothing would suffice... No words. No tears. No fortune can ever fill the void left by another man. Even by those of total strangers.

So to them...

Image source.

...I send my deepest, sincerest apologies...

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

July was filled with rains.  And rains ushered August too.  While this may be the perfect time to sport the trendiest rain/cool weather gears, rain always brings so much inconvenience, anxiety, and distress in general.  A vessel sank middle of last week brought about by the perilous weather, my birthplace, Bicol was again castigated by the typhoons, many people have lost their homes in Olongapo after their houses (in popular subdivisions) were washed away by the mudslide.  Unhappy news is everywhere and all these came with the rain.

A few years ago, in June, a surprise disaster also struck our place.  Floodwaters inside our abode rose up to the waist level.  It happened on broad daylight without the rains.  All the areas which used to be considered "absolutely" flood free before were hit by the flashflood.  And while many lives were claimed, many lives were also wrecked.

In that flood, I have not lost much...only a few material things.  But what crushed my heart more was the hapless sight around me.  Residents of the plushiest subdivision lost to the flood many of their newest, priciest cars, appliances, clothes, etc.  The awesome furniture which used to adorn their lovely homes were also wrecked. Truly, we all become helpless when Mother Nature unleashes her wrath.

Over and over again, we've been told to always be prepared.  None of us knows what awaits in the future.  The cherished material possessions we have can be snatched away in a second -- and we will be left clinging only to that which matters the most:  our lives.  Many of those who lose much are those who have much.  Those who have few know exactly what to safeguard. 

Things happen for a reason.  But my heart still aches for those who have been hit by these various disasters. 

Tonight, as I go under my warm sheets, I shall whisper prayers for you.  I shall be grateful not only for the roof above my head, but for the reminder that constantly, I have much to thank God for, and even much more work to do to make this world, a little better.

So please go now Rain.. Go away!

Rewarded by BDO Rewards

..i feel good..Tana- nana--nana..

Whoever watches TV must'v gotten familiar by that upbeat jingle that accompanies the BDO Rewards ad.  The scenes aren't fancy. Just enough to pique on one's curiosity.  But just how does BDO Rewards bring anyone rewards?


Banco de Oro explains,

Banking has never been this rewarding. Through BDO Rewards, you automatically get rewarded with free SM shopping points for qualified bank transactions.

The BDO Rewards Card works like an SM Advantage Card wherein you can earn more points when you use your card for purchases at SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, SM retail establishments and other BDO Rewards Partners.

What's more, members are rewarded for their loyalty with exclusive perks and privileges corresponding to their membership level.

The more points earned, the higher the membership level reached and the more perks and privileges to enjoy!

Easy to Earn
Earn SM shopping points for qualified bank transactions at BDO.
Earn more SM shopping points when purchasing from SM and other Rewards Partners
Easy to understand
Clear and simple - one point is equal to P1.00.
Easy to Redeem
Use your SM shopping points to pay for purchases at any SM Department Store, SM Supermarket, SM Hypermarket and SM retail establishments such as Watsons, Toy Kingdom, Ace Hardware, Surplus Shop, Makro, SM Appliance Center and more.
Membership Levels
BDO Rewards offers four membership levels. The more points you earn, the higher the membership level you will reach.
Each of the four levels comes with a set of perks and privileges, which makes membership all the more exciting!
BDO Rewards Card
The BDO Rewards Card has a different look for each membership level. The earned points required to achieve a specific membership level are:

	Emerald Rewards Card  2,999 points and below	Sapphire Rewards Card  3,000 to 5,999 points	Diamond Rewards Card  6,000 points and above

A mere deposit entitles a depositor to a BDO rewards card.  The points thus earned may be used to shop! Yes.  It's the greatest perk of being rewarded a Rewards card because you get to shop for free -- literally!


So here's what I get reward myself for owning a BDO Reward card... yes, my very first purchase. =)

It does feel great to be rewarded.  In my case, I'm loving it!

Reminiscing Flores de Mayo

Google Image

May is our month -- the Flores de Mayo month.  I call it our month because "flores" refers to flowers.  Coming from a brood of six girls, everybody in the community refer to us as "flowers" too.  Hence, during our childhood, May always became a special and dear month to us.  It was a month when flowers were in bloom and kids can be themselves...

Google Image

I spent most of my childhood years celebrating the Flower Month in May.  It is a month-long celebration in honor of Mama Mary.  Little boys and girls from our little town then spent May-afternoons in the church learning catechism, singing songs for Mary and offering Her prayers and flowers.  It was such a joyful occasion which I and my sisters never want to miss.  

May mornings were spent scouring the neighborhood for flowers.  Yes, there were even times when we had to steal flowers from the neighbor's garden...it was definitely part of the fun.  We then race home with the little treasures, arrange them on makeshift baskets (made out of tin cans or bamboo containers) and get them ready for the afternoon in the church.

When May ends, the highlight of the celebration in the form of the Santacruzan becomes a community affair.  Little girls like us then, often dressed in white, with those little bouquets or basketfull of flowers bask in the merriment of the grown ups in a procession of beautiful ladies dressed in regal clothes.  I have always yearned to be a Reyna Elena -- the most supreme of the muses in the Santacruzan-- (I believed most girls did) -- be the most pretty muse, in the most regal gown in town, to walk in around town in a grand parade of beauties.

Source

After the little boys and girls have brought their flower offerings...

My sisters and I unanimously agree that those Flores de Mayo times were among our best of childhood memories.  Now, the festivity persists.  But if you around and ask little boys and girls, not many of them know what the festivity is all about anymore.  Times have changed indeed.

Nowadays, Santacruzan becomes an opportunity for many gays to showcase their homosexuality by parading in their glorious gowns in many a titles very few can understand.  

Originally, the procession consists only of the following participants and in this order: (from Wikipedia)

1. Matusalém (Methuselah)- bearded and bent with age, he is depicted as riding a cart and looking preoccupied with toasting some grains of sand in a pan over a fire. This is a reminder that everything in this world is passing and will end up like the dust which he is toasting.

2. Reyna Banderada (Queen with a banner)- a young lady dressed in a long red gown carrying a yellow triangular flag. She represents the arrival of Christianity.

3. Aetas - represents the animist Filipinos who have settled the islands prior to Christianisation by the Spanish.

4. Reyna Mora (Queen Moor) - represents the Filipinos who converted to Islam, which arrived in the Philippines two centuries before Christianity.

5. Reyna Fe (Queen Faith) - symbolises Faith, the first of the theological virtues. She carries a cross.

6. Reyna Esperanza (Queen Hope) - symbolises Hope, the second theological virtue. She carries an anchor.

7. Reyna Caridad (Queen Charity)- symbolises Charity, the third theological virtue. She carries a red-coloured heart.

8. Reyna Abogada (Queen Lawyer) - the defender of the poor and the oppressed, she wears a black graduation cap, gown (toga), and carries a large book. She may also be a representation of Mary, Help (Advocate) of Christians.

9. Reyna Sentenciada (Queen Sentenced/Convicted) - has her hands bound by a rope, she stands for the Early Christians, especially the virgins, who were martyred for the faith. She is accompanied by two Roman soldiers.

10. Reyna Justicía (Queen Justice) - a personification of Mary as the "Mirror of Justice", one of her titles in the Litany of Loreto. Her attributes are a weighing scale and a sword.

11. Reyna Judít (Queen Judith) - represents the biblical widow Judith of Bethulia who saved her city from the Assyrians by slaying the cruel Holofernes. She carries the head of her victim in one hand and a sword in the other. She is also known as Infanta Judith.

12. Reyna ng Saba (Queen of Sheba) - represents the Queen of Sheba, who visited King Solomon and was overwhelmed by his wisdom, power, and riches. She carries a jewelry box.

13. Reyna Ester - the Jewish queen of Persia who spared her people from death at the hands of Haman through her timely intervention with King Xerxes. She carries a scepter.

14. Samaritana (The Female Samaritan) - the woman with whom Christ spoke to at the well. She carries a jug on her shoulder.

15. Verónica - the woman who wiped the face of Jesus; bears a veil with three imprints of the face of Jesus.

16. Tres Marías (The Three Marys)- each Mary holds an attribute associated with her:

a. Mary of Magdala - a bottle of perfume;

b. The Virgin Mary - a handkerchief;

c. Mary, the mother of James - a bottle of oil.

17. Marian - each figure in this group alludes to a title of the Virgin Mary or to a figure associated with her.

a. "A-V-E--M-A-R-I-A" - eight "angels": girls all wearing long white dresses and wings- each holding a letter from the word "AVE MARIA."

b. Divina Pastora (Divine Shepherdess) - a shepherd's staff.

c. Reyna de las Estrellas (Queen of the Stars) - a wand with a star.

d. Rosa Mística (Mystical Rose)- a bouquet of roses.

e. Reyna de la Paz (Queen of Peace) - a dove.

f. Reyna de los Profetas (Queen of the Prophets)- an hourglass.

g. Reyna del Cielo (Queen of Heaven)- a flower; accompanied by two little "angels".

h. Reyna de las Vírgenes (Queen of the Virgins) - a rosary (or a lily); also escorted by two little "angels".

i. Reyna de las Flores (Queen of the Flowers) - a bouquet of flowers.

18. Reyna Elena (Queen Helena) - the last member of the procession, she represents Helena of Constantinople who found the True Cross; this is alluded to by her attribute, a small cross or crucifix that she carries in her arms. This considerably prestigious role is usually awarded to the most beautiful girl participating in the pageant. In some communities, the identity of the woman who will portray the Reyna Elena is kept a secret until the day of the procession.

a. Constantíno - the escort of Reyna Elena; traditionally a young boy representing the Emperor Constantine.

The issue of whether gays should be allowed to stage their own version of the Santacruzan remains an interesting topic for debate.  Meanwhile, as May ends, I shall continue with my childhood reminiscence and bask in the beauty of the blooms in my tiny garden.

Ave Maria...

Scotty is My Idol!

Scotty McCreery is the newest American Idol -- and mine too!

He swept me off my feet during his audition and when he remained in the finals, I was more than thrilled. I was ecstatic.

So when Ryan announced he's the next AmIdol, I was truly elated..

Scotty is almost as old as Justine Bieber.  But while the latter is the most popular boy in the world right now, Scotty is my boy.

Scotty who admits to having "J.Lo blood" in him (his father is half Puerto Rican) made an impression upon the judges during audition with his deep baritone voice.  Truly unique for a boy his age.

While Justine sings pop, this young Southerner embraced his adulation for country music. And such is what endeared him to many fans from all over the world.

Way to go Scotty!  All the best!

Farewell AJ Perez

Yesterday when a friend told me AJ Perez died in a car accident my reaction was, "AJ who?" Pardon me but I honestly didn't know who he was.  When my friend told me he was the handsome leading man of Sabel at ABS-CBN's recently concluded soap, it was the only time I recognized him.  I always liked him even when I hardly watch TV.  I admired his charm and appeal.  I always found him wholesome..and very young.  So yes, I was saddened by the news of his death. 

Life is short they say..but for AJ, it was shorter.  His dad was qouted as saying,

 "Sana, panaginip lang to, Ogie. Si Aj ang buhay namin ng mami nya, bakit sya pa? Sana, ako na lang." (I wish this is just a dream.  AJ is our [his mom and dad'] life.  Why him?  I wish I were the one instead..)

Once again, theirs is a story of a parent burying their child.  The father's words create a very strong impact upon those who can relate to the pain of losing a loved one.  Why him? 

...and why not?  On a different perspective, if we come to evaluate the events in our lives, many of which are unpleasant and painful, we always find ourselves asking a similar question, "Why me?"  But, why not?

AJ's death like that of former young star, Rico Yan, happened at the Holy Week.  Jesus, in His Passion, could have easily daunted His Heavenly Father the same question..."WHY ME?"  But He did not.  Perhaps in the deepest recesses of His being, He knew why.

Things happen to  us not because we truly derserve them.  People who die young like Rico and AJ didn't die because they deserved it.  But it is because things happen for a reason.  So for us who remain living, our tasks will be to understand and accept that the loss of our loved ones, as well as the painful experiences we become subjected to happen for a reason.

Such is the mystery of life without which, living only becomes a senseless journey towards our death.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

John Donne couldn’t have said it any better in his poem, "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thine own

Or of thine friend's were.

Each man's death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know

For whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee.

Any man’s death diminishes us.  But more so if we know the person who just died. Such death leaves some inexplicable sense of hollowness which sears our spirits for quite a while.

Image courtesy of This

The death of the three OFWs in China left such an effect on me.  I was most especially sad for the families they left behind. I felt for the young children who will have to live the rest of their lives without their other parent anymore. I also sympathized for the mothers and fathers who have to face the ordeal of unveiling their anguish for all to see.  I feel sad for seeing so much sadness and sorrow…

But on the other hand, I’d like to think Ramon Credo, Sally Ordinario-Villanueva, and Elizabeth Batain  are in a much better place now.  After languishing many years in prison for the crime they were charged, their pains are finally ended.  They are now free from any more suffering, any more sorrows.

Death does that to us.  It frees us.  It liberates us.  While it may leave a deep and lasting pain to the those who love us, it nevertheless strengthens them. 

From This

I’d like to believe that no death is untimely.  Because everything happens for a reason.  Although deciphering such reason may sometimes take a lifetime for some of us.  There is always a reason.  Such is the mystery of life. 

Death is painful.  But life remains worth living.

Tsunami 2011: This Ain't the Movies

No this ain't the movies anymore... That's what occured to me as I watched the horrible news on TV.  And these images shall remain with me --all throughout eternity...

For many of us, our first thought would be..
We are just dreaming, aren't we?
Waves these big cannot be real
How then are we supposed to feel?

Have we  gone so wicked? Are we being punished?
Is everyone safe? Are our families far from it?
Is this the end of all our lives?
Or no its not, we're meant to survive?

But looking at this devastating scene
Our hearts ache, and spirits in pain
For sure there's still more suffering
But how do we help? Where do we begin?

Perhaps this is another call,
A bitter reminder for us all..
So we must do all that we can,
Help each other and do good to every man.

Because with wrong priorities,
We can face our own calamities
And right when all is but too late,
we then awake...
but its too late.