Happy Birthday Beaugarte!

Nine Thousand Four Hundred Ninety days.

Two hundred Twenty Seven, Seven Hundred Sixty Hours.

One Million, Three Hundred Sixty Five Thousand, Six Hundred Minutes.

Eight Hundred Nineteen Million, Nine hundred Thirty Six Thousand Seconds.

Four Nine Billion, One hundred Ninety six Million, One Hundred Sixty Thousand Milliseconds.


That would summarize my entire life once the clock struck midnight this morning.

I was amazed at the speed of time. It was as if it was just yesterday.

I have been counting the blessings that came to my life. And every minute, every second that passed made me who I am today. Exactly who I am today.

26 years of existence. It sure is a lot for me! I mean, I have been in this world for a quarter of a century. And who knows how long I am going to stay alive?

If I was to choose, once again, what age I would go back to, I wouldn't take it. I would stay here, where I am right now. I can say, right now, that I am satisfied. I have everything, and I am happy.

6 years ago, I was sitting on my dormitory bed, thinking it was horrible to even get to 20. 20 was already old for me that time. I wondered what I would be after 5 years. Now here I am. Accomplished and, should I say, successful.

No, I don't have any life savings. I spend my money quite unwisely and I had my share of heartaches, empty stomach and drunken nights. But I refuse to think that my life was a mess. I think my life is just perfect. I don’t want anything more, nor anything less.

The question is, how long am I going to be satisfied? The answer - as long as I want to remain satisfied. For now, I dwell in the happiness that I feel every time I see my friends. I am happy every time I laugh with them. The moments shared will never be replaced by anything in this world.

Many people would ask me if I would redo my life again. In a heartbeat, I would answer I wouldn't. Every scar on my body tells a story, every wrinkle on my face shows who I am suppose to be.

To the people who I love - thank you for being there. Always.

To my mom - if you weren't there that Saturday morning, I wouldn't be where I am today.

To my father - thank you for raising me to who I am. Although you do not readily approve to my choices, I know you love me for who I am.

To my brother - you were there beside me all the time. He can be annoying at times, but it sure beats the hell of being alone in this world.

To my friends - without saying your names out loud I know you know who you are. Thank you for making this lifelong journey worthwhile. For the times that I sought for a family to be with, you were there. I will never forget the memories we had.

I grin like a Cheshire Cat, knowing that the start of the second quarter of the century I live in will be full of surprises. And just like that cheesy novel I really love to read, I know that sometime, someplace, it is going to be a blast.

Umulan Sana ng Pera

Umuulan na naman...

Nakakatuwang isipin na pag umuulan, ayaw nating mabasa. Samantalang kapag taginit naman e gusto natin lagi tayong nakatampisaw sa tubig. Ok lang naman ang konting ambon e. Tapos pag palabas ka na ng bahay, titigil na, parang walang nangyari. Masaya ang mga halaman at tuyo ang outfit.

Narinig mo na ba ang kantang Tuwing Umuulan? Yung kantang ang message e ok lang na umulan basta may kasama ka? Ayoko yung kantang yun. Oo, nakakatuwang pakinggan si Regine Velasquez habang tumitili na parang wala nang kinabukasan, pero pag inisip mo ng maige - may kaagaw ka na ng kumot, madadagdagan pa ang bayad mo sa kuryente dahil dalawang beses nang magpapainit ng ubig na pampaligo. Buti sana kung mayaman ka. E pambili na nga lang ng tuyo e pagiipunan mo pa ng 3 buwan. Wala pang kasamang kanin yun. Kailangan mo pang bumili ng kanin sa karinderya. Sampung piso para sa isang serving ng rice. Ang gagamitin nilang pantakal e yung pangtakal sa gatas ng bata. Mga dalawang ganun.

Isipin mo na lang kung naging halaman tayong lahat.

BAMBOO: "Naku, umuulan na naman, malakas na naman ang hangin, magbebending exercise na naman ako."
PINE TREE: "Hindi ako na kailangan pang magbending."
CACTUS: "TULUNGAN NIYO AKO, NALULUNOD AKO!!"

Hay, ewan ko nga ba. Minsan naiisip ko, pag umuulan, talagang hindi mo mapipigilang magisip.

May naiwan ka bang sampay sa bahay?
Tumutulo ba ang bubong?
May pasok ba ang mga bata?
May bagyo ba?
Kelan kaya titigil ang ulan?
Kailan kaya matututo ng ibang sayaw si Marianne Rivera?

Buti sana kung pera ang nahuhulog mula sa langit. Kung pera yan, aba, baka lahat ng timba ko sa bahay e nakasahod na. Ang problema, pag barya ang nahulog, kailangan magsuot ng protective gear. Baka bukol ang abutin mo, gastos na naman.

Sabi nga ng kaibigan kong itago na lang natin sa pangalan na Fifi Larue, sa sobrang hirap ng buhay, marami ang natututong kumapit sa patalim. Aba, e ikaw ba naman ang ligawan ng mayamang Amerikano, kahit na nakakalbo, go go go na, kahit na wala na itong buhok sa ulo at mas makapal pa ang buhok niya sa dibdib.

Ayan, tumila na ang ulan. Bukas uulan ulit. Sana naman pera na ang bumuhos. Wag lang barya.

Bag of Tricks and Special Devices ala Doraemon

Ang labo naman o.

Sabi mo Summa Cum Laude ka. Pero bakit wrong grammar? Nakalimutan mo ata ang subject-verb agreement mo.

Potah. Ang yabang pa ng pagkakasabi. Kung matalino ka talaga, hindi mo ipagmamayabang yan. Ipinapakita ang katalinuhan, hindi pinagmamayabang.

Parang hidden talent lang na walng kakwenta kwenta. Kung hindi naman kami maaaliw, itago mo na lang.

Taena. Kakairita talaga ang mga taong nagpapanggap. Matalino. Daw. Mayaman. Daw. Gwapo. Sabi ng nanay niya.

Ito ang salamin mula sa aking mahiwagang bag of tricks and special devices (BOTSD) ala DORAEMON.

Tignan mo ang sarili mo. Ito, baka kailangan mo ng "special face changer" mula sa aking bag of tricks. Baka sakaling magmukha kang tao.

Ito pa ang "location changer" para makarating ka sa ibang bansa. Baka sakaling makarating ka ng States na walang VISA.

Kung hindi siya gumana, ito, kunin mo, ang limang piso. MAGHANAP KANG TAENANG KA NG KAUSAP MO.

Leche.

Bull

Falling in love.

Some say it is the essance of living in this world. Others disagree, saying they don't need love to live. I, honestly, do not know what side I am on. I mean, I can live without someone to actually love. But every morning, everytime my head hits the pillow, I wonder when my Prince Charming would come and sweep me off my feet.

Damn, just like a child fantasizing about their wedding day, I fantasize about meeting someone and clicking with that person - out of the blue, like in a bookstore or a coffee shop. But, unlike children, who harbor that innate hope that someday dreams would come true, I always put this fantasies aside and remember that I am in the real world. No happy ever afters, no wedding cakes, no wedding gowns. For me at least. For a person like me.

I have always dreaded falling in love. I hate the feeling of falling for someone. Maybe I had too many heartbreaks to last a lifetime. Maybe I am just afraid to love because of the fear of rejection, of falling for the wrong person. Someone told me before that it should never be termed aas "falling", but instead "growing". Either way, I do not feel comfortable in the said situation. It is just too much for me to handle.

I have played, several times, with the idea of finally meeting someone who would accept me as who I am. No buts, no ifs. I once thought I found that kind of love. After a couple of weeks I learned never to trust someone who says he will be at Puerto Galera. With his family. During Holy Week. If you are gay and Filipino you would know what I am talking about. HINT : The beach will be full of men - in skimpy trunks.

Another relationship, but this time, when I thought he loved me for who I am, I learned I was number 3. Out of 5. Talk about choices.

So now I spend my days at work, drowning myself in stressful reports and ugly people, in hope that I would have enough money to drown myself in alcohol and loud music at the end of the week.

Gay people without experiences often confuse love with lust. I have passed through that phase as well. I would fall in love easily. And fall out of it easily as well. That was a funny time for me. It was something tha I will never forget, but never will come back to.

Falling in love.

Some people think it is the only way to happiness.

I think that's bull.