Dusky Beauty

There’s something about the late afternoon that soothes my soul.  The harsh sunlight gently mellows down into a warm glow, softening the sharp edges of everythingness.  Buildings and trees look friendlier. Even the pavement takes on a welcoming aura, which only a few moments ago, glinted blinding sunshine.  People look more human, as they catch rides to bring them home.  Their foreheads un-crease as they cast the day’s cares into the fading light.  Some catch after-work snacks on the streets.  They munch on fishballs and kikiam, contemplating the warm, soft bed that awaits them.

Back in college, when I took up cinematography, I learned that 4-5 pm is called the “magic hour.”  It’s the best time to take pictures or to film because it has the best light.  Noontime’s too-strong light creates shadows and radiance contrasts.  But the “magic hour” flatters your subjects, its light caressing their features, bringing out the best in them. 

And now, it brings out the best in me too.  It coaxes out childhood fancies and an awareness of blessings.  After a tiring day of weaving in and out of the metro traffic, of yet another day wondering what my life is really made of, the dusk gently makes her entrance after the daylight, just before the moonbeam, and embraces my weary soul.  If something so in-between can also be so complete and comforting, then I guess my in-between days can also make sense.

The Morning After

I am in a bad mood today. 

And waking up to gloomy skies doesn’t help. 

 

Yesterday, while driving home, I planned to write about my passion for music here.  But when I got home, I had a spat with my parent, and therefore, am now incapacitated to write anything cheerful or inspiring.

My parents are good people, and I love them dearly.  But sometimes…ooh just sometimes, they get on my nerves.  But hey, I admit the fact that I also push their buttons.  Isn’t this always the case?  People who love each other, inevitably also hurt each other.

I lived in the moment of last night’s argument.  I acted as if that specific scene were the be-all and end-all of things—as if after that, everything would fade to black to give way to the credit roll.  I didn’t care about the consequences of my words and actions.  I delivered my witty but hurtful lines flawlessly.  I stormed out of the room with genuine flair, unmatched by any stage actress.

But life is not like the movies.  It continued the morning after. The fade to black before the credit roll turned out to be just me, sleeping and dreaming.

So I’m now living in “the next morning” scene.  Things are awkward and un-artistically routine.  My parent is busy with chores while I pretend to look busy in front of this web page.  We’ve exchanged a few words—purely business matters with no mention of last night’s drama.  We squelch it, even deny it, until suddenly one of us bursts out of the masquerade and reopen the issue.  I wonder who that will be?  

When that time comes, the LIGHTS will be switched on, the CAMERA will roll, and I and my co-actor will launch into ACTION.  All in the name of my pseudo-movie.

Phony Blues

Living without a cellphone has now become unthinkable.  Two days ago, my precious trinket broke down.  Well, it isn’t quite so precious—I mean, I’ve been using the same Nokia 3310 model for the past 3 years—but still, it’s precious in the sense that it’s my communication tool to the outside world.

The funny thing is that when I have out-of-town gimmicks, my cellphone loses its charm.  After all, who cares about the outside world when you’re ooh-ing and aah-ing at the spectacular view?  But in Manila, where there’s no view to enchant me, I need the cellphone to convince myself that I am in touch with the rest of the world.  Not having a cellphone feels like the world is revolving without me.

When I was home alone yesterday, without my cellphone, I immediately went online for some human contact via the YM.  To my dismay, I didn’t find anyone online.  Even my friend, who was always online in her office, wasn’t there!  Desperately, I sent her a message, demanding “Why are you NOT online?”  And after a few seconds, she replied.  It turned out that she was only in invisible mode.  She only appeared offline when she was really online.  (For those who want to hide from certain people.)  So we chatted for a while, and I was able to momentarily cure my CDD (Cellphone Deficiency Disorder).

I also went to the mall yesterday to check out the phones, but I found them all too pricey (or maybe I’m just a cheapskate).  After all, my knowledge of cellphone models ended with the 3310.  Pathetic, I know.  I wanted to get one of those gadgety mobiles with built-in cameras so I can finally upload photos here.  But they all seemed to be beyond financial reach. 

As providence would have it, Spanky’s friend is selling his one-year-old phone (with a camera, yay!) for half the price.  I’m playing it cool, saying that I’ll first try it out and if I find it ok, then maybe, I’ll buy it. Rrrrright.  In my desperation to have a phone ASAP, I’ll probably buy it on the spot.  After all, I'm not going on an out-of-town trip anytime soon. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SPANKY! :) 

Tired but Thankful

I am so tired. I've been staring at the computer for 12 hours now. Well, almost. I took breaks when I had to eat or pee. I've been translating Tagalog scripts into English and I was so slow! My back hurts from bending towards the laptop.

But still, I'm thankful for a lot of things. I'm thankful that I've finished my work. I'm thankful that Ateneo won in the game yesterday. I'm even thankful for my 4-year-old nephew who's bugging me as I'm writing this.

Life is good. Writing here feels good. :)

Making Sandwiches

Two days ago, we made 16 sandwiches. By the end of the day, I was pooped. That morning, we shopped for ingredients then cooked them. The chicken had to be torn into fibrous strips by hand so it can be mixed into the gooey filling. While mixing, we ran out of mayo so we went back to the grocery.

But the most fun part was putting together the sandwiches: first the butter, then the lettuce before spreading on the filling. But we ran out of lettuce and bread. Spanky went back to the grocery. We put the lovely sandwiches on paper plates and slid them into clear plastic bags. I stuck the labels in front. Very, very nice. I fell in love with those sandwiches.

The next morning, we received instructions of cutting the sandwiches in half. So one by one, we removed them from their already perfect packaging and halved them. Then we delivered them.

16 sandwiches. 16 reasons to feel tired but fulfilled.

View from a Tuesday Afternoon

It's nice to be the passenger once in a while because you get to observe the view. You might notice that a restaurant has closed shop or a new building is being erected. You get to read street signs and funny shop names (Krispy Krepe, Johnny's Chicken, the "Fried" of Marikina). But best of all, you get to observe the people: frustrated commuters hailing jeepneys, traffic enforcers looking hot and uncomfortable in their blue uniforms, and street vendors looking longingly at every passer-by.

Just like the old man with his cart full of corn and peanuts. He kept pouring steaming water on the corn to keep them piping hot. And he was razor-sharply aware of everyone who passed in front of his goodies. Everyone was a potential customer. But no one stopped. Still, he kept on pouring and arranging the yellow cobs.

Then there was this teen-aged boy, pushing his cart of coconuts. He was competing for road space against the merciless cars and jeepneys. It was a hot afternoon, but he had no choice to move on.

I remember one time before Spanky and I went inside a drugstore, I noticed a lolo (grandfather) selling sweepstakes. And what made him stand out in my memory was that he was wearing decent clothes. Sure, his white shirt was frayed and had a few, tiny holes beneath the collar; but he wore a pair of smartly pressed black pants, and polished leather shoes. The other sweepstakes vendors didn't care how they looked. Sometimes I think they purposefully dress poorly to gain sympathy. But this particular vendor had dignity. He made sweepstakes selling a dignified job--nothing to be pitied.

Spanky noticed him too so after going out of the store, we bought tickets from him. We asked him the mechanics of the sweepstakes, and he explained them to us politely. And when we left, he said, "Thank you."

In these hard times, these people are admirable. They could just get easy money through stealing, cheating or other dubious means, but they choose to earn money the hard way-- the honest way. For me, these people are heroes.

jumping in the badminton wagon

Ok, so maybe I may be a little too late. After all, badminton fever hit the metro around a year ago. But it's never out of style to burn those calories and to feel good about yourself.

Last night, I played badminton at the top floor of some obscure elementary school in Q.C. I've been doing it for about a month now. And it's so much fun! Sometimes, my "playmates" and I keep score. I've lost more times than I've won, but I don't really mind. I play for exercise. :)

I even bought my first ever badminton racket yesterday. And I got it for free! Free in the sense that I used GCs (gift certificates) my old office paid me, instead of the usual moolah. I even bought a towel grip because last week, my forefinger got skinned from clutching the racket.

So there. I have a "new flame" in the realm of exercise. Before, it used to be jogging. I remember me and my officemates faithfully going to U.P. Diliman thrice a week to jog. We didn't care if we had overnight video editing, just as long as we jogged. We even joined two marathons! Not that we were sporty; it was more like being adventurous.

Badabing Badabadminton! For now, it's my day's saving grace, especially after having pigged out. ;)

totally inspired

after surfing two of my friends' blog sites (www.themueslibowl.blogspot.com and aliavargas.tripod.com), i was inspired to start my own. after all, this is something like self-publication (but on the web) and i've always wanted to get published. :P yup, great move-- admitting a secret shame just in the first few lines of my blog. :)

anyway, i just bounced back from a nasty bout of fever and colds and felt ready to do anything. so i decided to give this a go!i've never been a techie person but nowadays, you don't have to be one to enjoy the net.

i wish i had ovaltine sandwiches for breakfast but instead, i nibbled on (gnashed on, more appropriately) three sweet corn cobs. Yellow yums! Yummy yellows! The kernel skins got stuck between my teeth like crazy but i didn't really care. sweet corn juice is delish.

aaaahh...life's simple pleasures. stick around for more!