Present Perfect Tense

I'm a human being, I get tensed every once in a while. And when I do, I experience goosebumps, uneasiness, few butterflies in my stomach, nervousness and sometimes mild heartburn or my gastritis attacks. These are the reasons why I do try to control tension in me.

Yesterday, I got tensed again because I am eagerly awaiting for a particular news. Remember my entry about my eldest daughter being top 3 in their second grading period and how she's going to bounce for round 3? Well, yesterday was the announcement of the results of their third grading period and yes, this was the kind of tension I was talking about.

The news broke at early in the morning but I have no means to hear the news so I waited patiently for it. As the night draws nearer, the butterflies in my stomach were now peeping through my mouth hole. Too much excitement, too much anxiousness, too much agony.

When I got home, it hit me.

We are now # 1. 

Tensed I may be, but it was the perfect present for me.

Ms. 'M'

For the past few days I've been depriving myself of a good night sleep. This is due to the fact that I spent my suppose-to-be sleeping time in doing work-related assignments in preparation for an upcoming customer audit. On the other hand, my wife is also suffering from this same beyond-work-time-syndrome. This has indeed eaten a big fraction of our quality time with each other, much worse our quality time with our kids.

I haven't told my everyday stories to my wife for days now and my kids are demanding me to go along with them at school. I was desperately looking for Divine assistance to help me get through this time-juggling problem of mine. If this could get worse, I would certainly ask for a miracle.

I left our office at half past ten in the evening. Tired and very sleepy, I was wishing that I could just levitate and fly immediately to our home to get rest. But reality tells me that I have to wait for a bus to give me a ride home. I waited and waited and waited. Before midnight I jumped on the first bus that came my way. Little did I know that it was the wrong bus line that I rode into. I was so tired that I slept my way to the next bus stop. Have pity on me, I prayed to all angels.

My wife will be flying to Cagayan de Oro at 4 AM and I have to accompany her to the airport. But here I am, lost, tired and about to break down.

It was around 1 o'clock in the morning when I took this second bus ride. I just made sure that I took the right bus this time, when I asked the conductor three times. My eyes were really throbbing for it was dead-tired and I was about to doze off when suddenly a young lady sat beside me and started asking me for directions. I knew the place she was talking for it was near our house so I clearly told her the directions and the rides that she'll be taking.

But fate was very kind to me that time. The lady then started telling me stories. She had spent the evening with her classmates doing school works, obviously because she had her schoolbag with her and she's wearing her P.E. uniform. But she was not aware of the time, worse, she doesn't know the rides she need to take to get home. She pleaded that I go along with her to her house since it's dangerous for her. She was shaking uncontrollably. I looked at her as if trying to guess if this was real or am I into a gag show. But I saw a different thing, I saw my niece Hanna instead of her. Hanna has the same age with the girl, same built, same length of hair. I squinted my eyes to check if I'm dreaming but Hanna was beside me at the bus.

I volunteered of helping her. When we get off the bus, I fetched on a cab and dropped the girl at the gate of their village. 

Felt a little ounce of energy in me so I did not try to sleep further. I don't know the exact time I got home but it was enough for me to prepare myself and wake-up my wife for I will go together with her to the airport. On our way to the airport, I have exchanged stories with my wife like we haven't talked for ages. She was in awe with me for she can't believed my energy-level.

When I got back home from the airport, it was also the exact time for me to wake-up my kids and prepare them for school. My kids were happy to see me that moment and spent a short time playing with them on top of their bed. I brought my kids to school and even have ample time to talk to their advisers. I was amazed with how time flies with me. In just a short span, I have spent quality minutes with my wife and my kids. It was truly a blessing.

I suddenly remembered the young lady I met. Before she got off the taxicab, I politely asked her name. She showed me her ID and I slowly read the name printed on it. Her real name was indeed, 'Miracle'. She thanked me, smiled and bade goodbye.

Alex and Grace's Wedding

Destiny, Fate or Serendipity...

whichever way you call it

you're both meant to be!

Ok, tama na ang drama, komedi na muna.

Bakit kaya may mga taong adik sa kamera?

Ahhh... alam ko na!

Kasi masarap makita kung ano ang hitsura mo sa litrato na pilit mong binabago sa harap ng salamin...

Ok, ubos na ang film!

Crush

Nagsimula kaming mag-asawa bilang magkaibigan. Kasama siya sa mga naging malalapit kong kaibigan habang nag-aaral ako ng kolehiyo. Kakulitan, kakwentuhan at karamay sa mga lungkot ng buhay-mag-aaral. Sanggang-dikit kami noon. Marahil ito ang naging malaking pundasyon namin kung bakit naging maayos ang aming samahan hanggang sa ngayon - ang aming pagiging magkaibigan. Dahil din dito, malaya kaming nakakapagkwentuhan ng kahit ano tungkol sa aming sarili, kasama na ang kwentuhan tungkol sa aming mga 'crush'.

Nasa kinder pa lang ako, nagkaroon na ako ng crush sa isa kong kaklase, minsan ko na siyang nabanggit dito sa blog ko. Grade 1 hanggang Grade 6, paiba-iba ako ng crush noon dahil na rin sa iba't-ibang mga tao ang nakikilala ko. Buong giliw ko itong naikwento lahat sa kanya.

High school ako noon nang tamaan ng matinding crush sa isang kalaro at kaibigan. Hindi ko na siya babanggitin dito kasi hanggang ngayon walang nakakaalam nito kundi asawa ko. Palagay ko nagbabasa din siya paminsan minsan dito. Ayokong mawala yung respeto nya sa akin.

College na ako nang sabay dalawin ni Kupido at Torpedo ang tahimik at natutulog kong puso. Ito yung mga panahon na naging 'secret admirer' ako ng asawa ko. Sa buong panahon ng aking pag-aaral noon, hanggang paghanga lang ako sa aking mga napupusuang babae. Hanggang doon lang talaga kasi ang kaya ko.

Sa totoo lang, bihira ako magkaroon ng crush, piling-pili ika nga. Sa artista nga isa lang ang crush ko. Ewanko pero patay na patay ako kay Andrea del Rosario. Kahit itabi mo pa si Angel Locsin, Marian Rivera at Ann Curtis sa kanya, kay Andrea pa rin ako, solid at walang iba. Pero sigurado akong kapag naging crush kita, hinding-hindi kita makakalimutan. Marahil dahil napahanga mo ako sa kung anong dahilan na meron ka. At higit sa lahat, ikukwento pa kita sa asawa ko.

Alam ng asawa ko kung ano ang pamantayan ko sa pagkakaroon ng isang crush. Mahaba ang buhok, may pagka morena, katamtaman ang taas, mapang-akit na mga mata at syempre dapat may malinis na kuko sa paa. In short, dapat parang asawa ko, hehe. Siya syempre ang ultimate crush ko.

Ang lahat ng naging crush ko sa buong buhay ko, malaya kong naikukwento sa asawa ko. Minsan nakakainis na nga, kasi hindi ko man lang siya makitaan ng galit o kahit konting inggit sa mga naging crush ko. Lagi niya pa akong tinatawanan. Ang dahilan niya, hindi niya daw kasi ka-level yung mga yon. Astig di ba?!

Kamakailan, nabanggit ko sa kanya na meron akong bagong crush. Kaparehas lang ng mga nauna kong hinangaang babae, walang kakaiba sa kanya, isa lang - _______. Teka, nasabi ko bang operator ko yung crush ko?

Editor's Note: Ang nabasa sa itaas ay pawang likhang-isip lamang, 'wag masyadong damdamin.

Super Daughters

The Daughters Club was conceptualized by our college pals to give name to our group. We noticed that the common denominator of our friendship is that we all have daughters to boast, but none of us have sons. All active members now are thriving hard this year to break the rules because nobody will admit that it makes us less of a man by not having a son. Not even me.

I just believed that having two daughters doesn’t make me less of a man. In fact, it was all that I needed to emphasize my masculinity. But being the only male in our home makes me feel more of a superhero rather than just a simple guy.

It makes me strong enough to do all the repair, restoration and renovation of all broken appliances and fixtures inside our house because there was no one else who will do it.

It makes me strong enough to do manly chores: lifting of sofa bed when getting the doll stuck under it; pushing of cabinet drawers when forcing to stack a pile of old magazines of HSM; pulling-off window glasses from their frame when it needs to be washed due to chocolate stains.

It even makes me quick enough to defend my ladies for any attack, verbal or physical assault from anybody regardless of gender or status.

But being the only male often has it downturns. I was forced to learn how to tress my kid’s hairs; how to iron skirts with pleats or how to match earrings and bracelets from clothes. It was mandatory for me to learn the lingo which I was unfamiliar of. Oftentimes I was referring for shorts when I actually mean pedal shorts, and violet when I mean lavender or purple. Perhaps it’s because women fashion was more extravagant than men.

This year, me and my wife are planning of adding another family member, I will be super glad if it turned out to be a son but will be superhero again if it turned out to be a daughter. Either way, my wife just wanted me to be Super Dad. And I’m sure that you will agree when I say that having four ladies around me makes me look good even more. 

First Post

It is nearly a week since the first day of this new year but sadly I still haven't posted any story. To tell you frankly, I am not really sure how or what particular story am I going to start my blog year.

I came up with three story actually - the story about my t-shirt collection, a story about men's wallet and the story behind my limited edition 'inversetutuldok' Parker pen. I already started drafting these stories and I actually finished one but then again I was hesitant to post it, some invisible force is trying to stop me and I am not really sure why.

This morning, as I was writing down on my 'doodle book', it strucked me like lightning. How silly am I not to think about it earlier.

I will start my blog year with a simple prayer...

Dear Lord,

As we embark on a new year ahead of us, a journey in which we may falter and become bruised, we humbly ask your supreme guidance. Help us by lighting our way to lead others; lead us to make good deeds to inspire others and inspire us to become instrument of change to make others better.

May this year be remembered not on the extent of calamities but by the effort of each individual to rise and help others in need.

May bloggers continue to bring out the best on each one of us as we continue to write with passion and heart on every piece. May we learn to accept the criticisms thrown to us and use them as a stepping stone to aim higher and become better.

May we continue to build a community, who speaks their minds but lets the heart do the talking.

Amen.