THE PHANTOM BIKER UNMASKED

Alas-9 ng gabi,
umuugong ang antok na dumuyan sa iginagayak na midyear interim report

Ala-1 ng madaling araw,

unang gising at ihi, pahabol na sulsi sa binibihisang Meeting at Convening

Alas-3:30 ng madaling araw,

pangalawang gising upang magpaantok sa panonood ng Manila Visit sa TV 

Alas-5 ng umaga,

matapang na kape ang malabnaw na uhog ng mga kuwentong barbero sa ALT

Alas-6 ng umaga,

kumagat sa manipis na social protection ng basurero ang ngipin ng amihan

Alas-7 ng umaga,

nagbaba ng maskara ang nakabisiklesta upang mahuli ang amoy ng YOSAS 

Huling Sabado ng Enero,

sa Bakal 2 napulot ng namalengke sa Munoz ang mga milyahe na sininop ng mekaniko ng botika sa Guimba

na sinuhulan ng sunog na mani at ginayat na tokwang nasagip  ng plantsador sa lingguhang sanggunian

Unang araw ng Pebrero,

ang pagsusumamo sa Mahal na Birhen ng Lourdes ni San Husep na ipagtanggol ang mga may karamdaman 

at kay Padre Pio sa mayamang bahagi ng Libis, ang pintakasi ng pagpapagaling, ng pagdurusa, ng kirot

mga pagdiriwang at pag-aalay ng masaganang dulang at Amor Del Mar mula sa kusina ng mga Tausug sa Morato

ONE BLACKED-OUT SATURDAY IN TARLAC

Once upon a time in 1945, the returning Americans with Filipino guerillas and Aeta warriors pounded the Japanese invaders into submission at the Battle of Bamban Hills to secure Clark Airfield and push the Tiger of Malaya deep into Northern Luzon, into Balete Pass, into his operations center that culminated in the Battle of Bambang and his eventual surrender in Kiangan.

"The first 4 Filipinos killed by the Japanese in Bamban are from San Jose in Nueva Ecija," revealed the curator of war relics.

"My ancestors avenged them in Bambang where the retreating Japanese were anihilated and burried in the mass graves of Almaguer," said the Phantom Biker who wondered if the boxcars that used to ply PNR's Tarlac-San Jose Line were the same as those that transported POWs to what is now the Capas Death March Monument for interment at Camp O'Donnell, a tragedy now marked with a 73-meter obelisk of peace at the Capas National Shrine. 

The Phantom Biker --- he chased a parade with a flat tire at 56 kilometers/hour to nudge an agenda and a procurement in the name of the Manila Trinity (Visit, Meeting, Convening) that also got a contract amendment signed finally despite a continuing platform glitch and the ensuing barrage of virtual meetings to initiate a midyear interim report preparation.

The Ironman --- he got a consultancy recruitment live at a cost of chicken done two ways: sinampalukan and litson with aged pinikpikan and popcorn on the side. 

Prayer to the Peacemaker and 

Patron of the Holy Souls

"Lord, you worked miracles of healing and comfort at the hands of St. Nicholas: hear all who cry to you in distress, in sickness and in every danger of soul and body, and save them in your mercy.

Almighty God, your glory shone upon the Church through the holiness and miracles of St. Nicholas of Tolentino. In answer to his prayers, keep your holy people in peace and unity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."

SLEEPLESS (almost) AT 56

56 is a plea heard and a covenant with the Great Architect of the Universe.

56 is the angel who encouraged adaption to changes, staying positive, and heeding spiritual signs and guidance.

56 is a Korean-inspired sinadag in Angeles City, a breakfast of kiniing done 2-ways (dinakdakan and pinikpikan) along the dacquel nga carayan in Almaguer, and a watwat lunch of boiled and grilled pork in the mountains of Itogon.

56 is the number of pinuneg slices served with both birthday meals.  

56 is when sleep descends before 9 PM in Bakal 2 and leaves between 1-2 AM long after the din of a garage modification has faded, and escapes early still despite trapping it with beer-infused litson manok and fried luncheon meat.  

56 is when the Phantom Biker rode his bike in gratitude and supplication to the saints, wide awake and loaded with trimmings for the Manila Meeting and Convening, notes from the usual weekly meetings, and a requested ASEAN briefing; haunted by a partners' platform glitch, and chased by a branding requisition, the Global Programs Hub, and a system approval from another project.

56 is a chimaek combo for starters, a full gogigui for the entree, and a dessert of Aling Lucing's sisig and buro just after the gateposts of Fort Stotsenburg.

56 is passing through Balete Pass to pay homage to Almaguer where it all began, to curtsy at the church in Bambang where maidens danced with the Sto. Nino to summon the memories of old Hogwarts --- the gateway to Barat and Salinas that was breached for the first time.  

56 is an abrupt trip to Kayapa to partially scratch an itch, a pit stop in Ambuklao Dam in remembrance of a social studies teacher who a long time ago spoke about a traditional watwat in Itogon, and passing through Baguio where the Phantom Biker, still sleepless in Bakal 2, was conceived in 1969.