SAYANG HIGH

Tsk tsk tsk...

Mukhang namana ni Bulan ang sumpa namin ng nanay niya sa Math.

Ilang araw din bago naghilom ang mga pangarap na kasabay napunit ng liham na nagsasabing hindi na siya makapag-eenrol sa CLSU Science High School.

At 'yun nga, hindi ko na maihahatid sa iskuwela ang mga gamit na nakalimutang dalhin. Hindi na niya masasabi sa magiging adviser sana nila na ayaw na naming sumali siya sa Search for the SSC King and Queen. Hindi na siya makakasama sa bamboo band at photography club.

Sabagay, natsuktsak din ako noong high school. Third year na ako noon. At dahil tinaihan ko ang lamesa ng aming adviser at ginawang banderitas sa flag pole ang mga panty na ninakaw namin sa girls' dormitory.

Karma?

Maaari. Pero eka nga, we live one day at a time.

Kaya matapos itampo ang mga ipagtatampo, isumpa ang mga nais isumpa, at itaga sa bato ang lahat nang kailangang itaga e kailangamg umusad.

Another lesson in Life 101.

At madami nga akong napatunayan sa karanasang ito.

Hindi naman kami iyakin kaya okey na 'yun. Gan'un lang naman ang disappointment. Kaya ipinagpansit pa din namin si Bulan sa Pizza Hut.

He took it like the man he is growing up to. And we are proud of him.

MGA LARAWAN: [1] Bulan in action sa Pizza Hut, at [2] ang collage na ginawa ni Bulan sa huling araw ng kanyang pagiging estudyante ng CLSU Science High School bilang pagpupugay sa mga alaala at makukulay na karanasan

THE MAN WHO TALKED ALL NIGHT

He came at 10 pm when the jug of Fundador Brandy is almost half.

He stayed until a new bottle was opened, when we went to bed at 12 midnight, and when the power went off and the mosquitoes invaded.

He joined our Bating Tournament when we decided to kill the last 3 hours before 5 am.

And through it all, he talked: of the things gone by in the Kingdom of Pee, of secrets untold and moments retold a hundred times, of the betting rules of Bating and places as far as Tuguegarao.

He got down at Pili but his voice stayed and resonated as we hunted for an open kinalas shop, ogled the Naga Cathedral for some photos, and brought packets of pili nuts for those back home, before finally vanishing as we pampered bodies bruised by 3 days of chasing road (paved, unpaved, under repair) in the courtyard of Pagbilao's ancient church...

PHOTOS EXPLAINED (top to bottom): [1] Kinalas is a noodle dish is similar to the everyday mami except for a topping of what looked like a Pansit Palabok sauce, and the meaty dark soup made from boiling a cow or a pig’s head until the flesh fell off. Hence, the name kinalas. [2] Naga City's Cathedral of San Juan Evangelista was first built in 1595 when the Diocese of Nueva Caceres was established. The present structure is the third church and was built by 1843, and repaired in 1862 and 1890. It just underwent a general restoration work. [3] Only the bell tower remained of the Pagbilao church's original structure --- the third of such that was started to be constructed in 1845. Most of the church was destroyed during the war for the liberation of the Philippines in 1945.

TO TIWI AND BACK

With Aussie couple Zach and Jill plus colleagues from the Kingdom of Pee did a round trip from Baao to Tiwi and back to lick that glass of DJC Halo-halo clean while Eboy breaks bread with the fishers of Lagonoy Bay as Mayon shyly peeled away its cirrus robe.

And yes I did update my take on Malinao's church before Tiwi and Tiwi church before the halo-halo and finally got replaced those pre-DSLR photos as we detoured to the lost city of Ligao and and the governor's hometown of Polangui where it was said that men become priests and the women into whores..

PHOTOS EXPLAINED (top to bottom): [1] Tiwi, [2] Malinao, [3] Ligao City, and [4] Polangui all in the province of Albay.

MABALOS!

Kahit namanhid ang aking puwet sa biyaheng katumbas ng flight mula Manila hanggang Los Angeles...

... kahit natalo ako ng P350.00 sa unang gabi ng aming Bating Tournament...

... kahit hindi muna ako masyadong nakakatulog at malapit na ding magkaroon ng high tech na sakit dahil sa katitipa sa computer...

... at kahit umalis ako ng bahay na may kaba sa dibdib dahil final exam nina Bulan sa Science High...

... ay napawing lahat sa isinalubong na isang bandehadong Pansit Bato sa aming pagdating.

Mabalos Bicol! It's great being back after some time.

PANSIT BATO: Nagmula sa bayan ng Bato sa Camarines Sur, ang pansit na ito ay gawa sa dried yellow noodles na ginisa sa sibuyas at bawang at tinimplahan ng toyo at Knorr seasoning. Mainam na partner sa dinuguan.

BOSMAN

HORACIO "Boy" MORALES, JR.

1943 - 2012

He dared to dream and live his dreams...

"Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to  and from the mouths of men (and women)". --- QUINTUS ENNIUS