Gin in Sachet

Gin in sachet!?

Woah!

Di nga?

Another innovation na naman sa isa sa paboritong inumin ng mga Pinoy.

Now you can bring your toma anywhere you go. Di pa embarrassing. Kasi kong bote ang dadalhin mo, eh iisipin ng mga tao na isa kang lasenggo. Ngayon, because of its small size, pwede na syang ilagay sa jeans pocket, shorts pocket, breast pocket, brief pocket, at left corner pocket na di sya bubukol which is very unlike the bote kind. So if you start to feel that thirst that can only be quenched by a 90 proof beverage, punitin mo lang ang dulo ng sachet and take a sip! One sachet is equivalent to one ‘tagay’.
How convenient! Perfect for those people on the go!

Dati, di ako tumatanggi sa inom.
Dati, di ako umaatras sa anumang drinking session. Mapa-gin man na madalas ay hinahaluan ng Tang na pomelo, lambanog na bubble gum flavor, Kulafu, shoktong, o lady’s drink na beer with Sprite, o kahit na ano pang inumin, cheap man o sossy. Kapag nagkaron ng usapan na merong gathering mamyang gabi, buong araw na itong nasa isip ko. Ina-anticipate ko na ang masayang kwentuhan at biruan, ang bote, ang baso, ang likidong guguhit sa lalamunan, na magpapainit sa tiyan at sikmura. Na tuluyang magpapabagal sa maayos na takbo ng isip at tamang lohika.

Sa totoo lang, masaya rin. At sobrang may bonding (eh isang baso lang ba naman ginagamit nyo). Sa pagpapasa-pasa ng baso (at laway) eh para na rin kayong nag-blood compact. Ang sabi daw, kung gusto mong makilala ng husto ang isang tao,
hintayin mong malasing sya at saka mo tingnan how he or she behaves. Ako, kahit gano pa ko nalalasing noon, hindi kelan man humiwalay sa akin ang matinong ulirat. Conscious ako sa mga nangyayari sa palibot, kaya naman madalas ay nakakaiwas ako sa marami sanang embarrassing at awkward moments.


Minsan, habang naglalakad sa kalye, I happen to pass by a delivery truck na naaksidente. Kumalat sa sidewalk ang mga basag na bote. Nakakauhaw ang amoy ng serbesa. Para akong bampira na nauhaw sa dugo.

I even came to that point when I drink not because of friends and their cheerful company. I drink for the sake of drinking.
I drink just because I want to.







And then, I quit.

One day, nagkayayaan sa school and I said “di muna ako.”
That became a consistent response each time na ma-invite ako.
Madalas na akong biruin non ng mga kabarkada ko.
“Chie, bumabait ka na yata.”
Hanggang sa nasanay na rin sila.
“Wag nyo nang pilitin si Ochie, buti nga’t di na umiinom eh.”

I reflected on how I live my life. I asked myself,
“Am I pleasing the One who made me?”

“Sa mga ginagawa kong to, napapangiti ko ba Sya, ang Diyos,
na sa sobrang pagmamahal, ay namatay para sa akin?
Is this how I’m going to pay Him back?”

“Am I obeying Him? Does my lifesong sing for Him?”

I know the answers to my own questions.

May nagtanong dati sakin: Bakit di ka umiinom? Bawal ba sa religion nyo?
Ang sagot ko: Hindi dahil sa religion. It’s a personal conviction.
It is a choice.

Naging better person ba ko when I stopped drinking?
Well, it certainly helped.
Because I cannot start to please Him unless I gave up and surrender
this vice that has a really tight grip on me.

Hindi madali ang humindi. It was such a struggle.
Hindi madali ang tumanggi. But it’s worth it. The rewards are divine.

I Cor. 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have received from God?

You are not your own; you were bought at a price.
Therefore honor God with your body.

. . .now where is my Tanduay in tetra pak?
dito ko lang yun nilagay kanina ah... whahaha joke! :D

The Executive Teddy

he's one of the gifts the Executive received on his last birthday.

he sits still and quiet among the
files and folders in the room.
a cute and silent witness to the comings and goings

inside the gov’s office.

Governor's Office
September 25
8:04 am

Cory Bread... and Other Brids

Cory's Yellow Ribbon Bread!
May Pacman Bread din nga dito sa Julie's Bakeshop.
Yung hugis boksing gloves.
Natikman nyo na yun?
By the way, nakita nyo yung latest commercial ni Manny?
Yung about sa pinakamatindi nyang kalaban - ang falling hare.
Grabe noh? Iba talaga kung national hero ka,
lahat na lang ng produkto ikaw ang gustong kuning endorser.
Pati pamilya mo damay.
Drenk yur Magnolya melk ferst!
Yes mhem!

Tapos ngayon si tita na naman.
May Cory t-shirt, buttons, accessories, corycong at
kung anu-ano pa na pwedeng pangnegosyo.
Ngayon may tinapay na ring tribute para sa kanya.
Eh sadyang creative talaga ang mga Pinoy.
Si Mar din sana may tinapay ding hugis traysikad bilang
parangal sa honorable nyang pag-atras sa pagtakbo
sa pagka-presidente sa ngalan ng pagkakaisa.
Si PGMA kaya? hmmm...if she's worthy na magkaron ng
tinapay named after her that is.
Pwede cguro yung nunal noh?
Eh pano ba gumawa ng bread na hugis nunal?
Aba, malay ko. Eh di naman ako panadero.
Si Erap para sa kanyang ginintuan at di-makasariling hangarin ('langheya)
na maging presidente ulit at makapagsilbi sa masa,
wristband na tinapay naman.
Si Eddie Gil, na idol na idol ko, eh pwede cguro
ang peluka-shaped bread.Im planning to launch a
signature campaign para himukin syang
tumakbo ulit this 2010, to step again into the political limelight.
Bakit? Eh kasi nga aydul na aydul ko sya.
May five signatures na kagad ako sa mga
kasama ko pa lang sa office.



O sya, tama na ang kwentong tinapayan.
Di naman ako bibili ng Cory Bread na to.
Medyo na-curious lang ako konti.
Ang madalas kung bilhin dito sa Julie's eh yung butter bread nila.
Masarap lalo na kung bagong luto.
Two pesos lang ang isa kaya mabentang mabenta.
"Miss pabili nga ng kinseng butter bread."
"Kinse pesos?"

...

"Sabihin mo nga Miss, kung pano magiging 15 pesos eh tig-dos ang isa nito? Hahatiin ba natin? . . . Miss... Miss... Eto naman di na mabiro. O sige, samahan mo na rin ng isang Pacman."

Jawless! Jawless! Jawless bekshop.
Nagabek ng kek, kokess, at iba pang brid..
Kasama ang chess brid, monggo brid, at igg brid.
Jawless! Tralala lalala lala...

-Aling Dioness

On Rainy Days and Newly-washed Converse

Naranasan mo na ba to?

Yung bang kung kelan mo isinuot ang iyong bagong labang sapatos, eh dun din sasama ang panahon at uulan?

Eto ba ang tinatawag nilang tadhana? O karma?

Minsan, di talaga maipaliwanag ang takbo ng buhay natin. May isang araw na sadyang halos lahat ng nangyayari ay hindi naaayon sa iyong kagustuhan. Para bang ang pagsuot ng bago mong labang sneakers na nataon sa panahong umuulan ng aso’t pusa (raining cats and dogs ba) ay hindi pa sapat, sapagkat sa pagbaybay mo sa eskinita, eh makakaapak ka pa ng iniwan ng mga kabarkada ng alaga mong si Spiky. Hindi ka rin makauwi sa inyo at makapagpalit dahil mali-late ka na.

Kanino bang law yon? Murphy? Morpheus? Na sabi nya, "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." How right you are, Morphling!

Parang nawalan ng saysay ang isang oras na pagtootbrush mo sa iyong sapatos na para lang kahit papano eh mabawasan ang pangungutim nito.

Tapos, ganon ganon lang?

Saklap noh?

Maaari pang ang mga pangyayaring ito ay magdulot ng pagguho ng mga pangarap, ng magandang relasyon ng bawat isa, pagkawasak ng pundasyon ng pamilya, ng pagbaba ng moralidad ng mga pipol. Maaari din itong maging huling hibla at maging dahilan ng pagpapatiwakal ng mga …uhmmm … mga emotionally weak.

...

...

...

OA na ba? Echuz noh? Sori… Kainis eh… Basa pati medyas ko. Kahiya namang maghubad ng sapatos sa loob ng office. Tiniis ko na lang. Kahit na may sound efx ang bawat hakbang ko. Squisshh, squissshh.

ang picture ng aking converse na kahit hindi na cute at muka nang battered wife eh palangga ko pa rin.

Tas nagcorrupt yung Windows ng pc. Kaya dito ako ngayon sa isang unknown na computer shop at nagpopost nito. Arrrggghhhh!!!

The Queen's Visit

The Queen is coming! This is why the Mayor had ordered the cleaning of its streets and alleyways a week before this fateful day. The air is a buzz of excitement with people coming and going and talking all at the same time. This is a big day for all of them!

The Mayor watched with squinted eyes, from the balcony of his regal home amongst the tattered shelters of his neighbors, all of the activity that surrounds him. He is also memorizing a speech that he will deliver, conveying his unwavering loyalty to the present regime, and also to ask for several favors. She was expected to arrive in the afternoon, but at high-noon, the people from all over the countryside were already waiting under the merciless heat.

After all, this may be just a single chance in their lifetime, to see in the flesh the one who they pay their taxes to. The powerful monarch of the land is going to pay them a visit! Many can’t believe it. Isn’t it exciting!? Theirs is one of the farthest towns in the whole kingdom, and yet the Queen had seen fit to waste her precious time and set foot in its dusty streets.

“She’s here! The Queen’s here!” shouted the town crier.

The people made way for the passing of the footmen, the Queen’s female entourage, and the knights in their steeds.

Finally, here comes the large carriage driven by the royal horses. After the dust settled down, she step down from the vehicle and waved her greeting to the people. Her subjects dutifully clapped their hands as if it she’d just performed an incredible feat. She was followed by the good Grand Duke of the province who accompanied her in the vehicle.

Physically, she doesn’t present such a striking presence, which has been mistaken by others in the past as an Achilles' heel. They’ve long since regretted the mistake. Her Excellency stands only 4 feet and 11 pulgadas. She looks old, with worry lines creasing her otherwise noble face. It is just one of the penalties of the demands and pressures of running a kingdom composed of more than 7,000 islands. Yet, it cannot be denied the power and influence of the short ruler. A simple wave of the scepter makes her court tremble, and a simple press of the ring into the soft wax for the seals of orders means poverty and prosperity for many. There had been numerous plans and attempts for dethroning her, but the Ice Queen, as some of the radicals began to call her, has consistently squelched these rebellions with military might.

The fat merchants, the skinny laborers, the tired farmers, the mothers with their crying children, the wealthy and the weary, the stout and the hungry, all brushed shoulders, vying for the best view.

The royalty made their way onto the improvised platform constructed yesterday by the Mayor’s hired servants. Shy-faced, unsmiling girls waved flaglets while some cast flower petals ahead of her feet as she walked.

A fixed smile was on the Queen’s mug. She’s wearing a simple white dress and a white cape. Some of the spectators climbed up their seats as she’s hard to see among the heads of others because of her small stature.

The soldiers surround her, creating a protective wall, which seems unnecessary since the people didn’t make any attempt to get too close. When the Queen was seated, the knights stood in strategically assigned positions in the midst of the crowd, not moving much, constantly scanning the faces of the natives for any threat.

The Mayor delivered his speech with much ardor, praising and telling how much the townspeople love her, pausing at the right moments for the applause, and then continuing after it died down. The Queen then ordered some of her soldiers to take out a box from the royal carriage. The heavy box is full of silver coins. The poorest peasants were instructed to line up and each bowed down low before Her Excellency and received the money.

Many went home happily that day. The mothers will buy rice and fish for their children, and cheap gin and tobacco for their husbands.

Then, as quickly as she had come, it was time for her to go. Once again, the soldiers surround her, this time raising their shields and some their spears, to defend her from their dirty hands and foul breaths as the peasants got more confident to draw nearer. Several got through and have shaken her hand and kissed her ring.

The Queen tried hard not to mind, projecting herself as a person of the masses. Some would have fallen on their knees and embraced her feet if not for the immediate reaction of the knights. She has taken off her cape because of the heat.

After much jostling, shoving, and pure manhandling, the Queen reached the sanctuary of the carriage.

The Grand Duke once again joined her aboard as he will be discussing some of the economic problems of the province with her.

The people soon went to their own homes.

The topic of conversation for the next week, no doubt, will be their personal encounter with the monarch. The images of that momentous day forever etched in their minds. However, almost nothing will change, the peasants will still continue to live in paucity, and the impact of the Queen’s visit to that sleepy town will be so trivial as insignificant.

PGMA's visit to Libacao, Aklan
8/7/09