What my Imaginary Dad Said

Avicii is one of the most talented musicians to come out of this decade. Evidences of this are his songs and music videos that reminds me of MTV circa 90s and lyrics that somehow make sense to word nerds like me. One such song that caught my attention is This Nights.

Philip Cosores of Radio.Com wrote that the video on Youtube "is a compilation of shots of life-adventurer Rory Kramer where the YouTuber goes cliff diving, speeding cars, city lights, water-skiing, boating, DJing (duh), a lot of looking into the distance and raising his hands in the air while the sun sets over the desert/ocean/skyline/whatever, a ton of jumping off things into water (often in the cannonball pose), bungee jumping, sledding, fire breathing, car surfing, going to an amusement park, high fives, and tagging." The videos in Kramer's channel made me salivate with envy.

(Read it here http://radio.com/2014/12/15/avicii-music-video-the-nights/)

Basically the lyric made me wish I have a father like the narrator's.

                                                         "The Nights"

Hey, once upon a younger year
When all our shadows disappeared
The animals inside came out to play
Hey, went face to face with all our fears
Learned our lessons through the tears
Made memories we knew would never fade

One day my father—he told me,
"Son, don't let it slip away."
He took me in his arms, I heard him say,

"When you get older
Your wild heart will live for younger days
Think of me if ever you're afraid."

He said, "One day you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember."
My father told me when I was just a child
These are the nights that never die
My father told me

[Instrumental]

When thunder clouds start pouring down
Light a fire they can't put out
Carve your name into those shining stars
He said, "Go venture far beyond these shores.
Don't forsake this life of yours.
I'll guide you home no matter where you are."

One day my father—he told me,
"Son, don't let it slip away."
When I was just a kid I heard him say,

"When you get older
Your wild heart will live for younger days
Think of me if ever you're afraid."

He said, "One day you'll leave this world behind
So live a life you will remember."
My father told me when I was just a child
These are the nights that never die
My father told me

These are the nights that never die
My father told me
Hey, hey

Parents, for the love of them, can sometimes be too uptight thinking they wish nothing but the best for us. And they do. But parents can also be our number one doubter. I have done a lot of stuff and not done a lot of stuff, I just wish my parents said, "Go for it, you only live ones!"

Manglaba

Ever since I could remember, I've hated hand washing clothes. So much so that I swore I will get a degree, get a good job and free myself from the shackles of washing clothes. 15 years later here I am! Two degrees, a nice job and I still wash my clothes. Turns out I'm not quite there yet. I cannot part with enough money to pay a labandera so what to do? I still hate washing clothes but I've found ways to get short cuts. Here's how:

1. I used Breeze and do what the packaging says. I simply soak the clothes for 15 minutes and then give it a go with the washing machine. Yeah, I know your mom may have told you, washing machine just doesn't cut it. Don't believe the myth people. If you are not so messy with your clothes and avoid tough stains in the first place. Washing machines are a life saver. Trust me.

2. Use Downey Isang Banlaw! Again, don't believe the hype that they wont get rid of the soap because no matter how many tons of water you consume to post wash your clothes. It still wont be enough. Furthermore, using this type of Downey saves a lot of water bill, too. Good on your pocket, good to the environment, good for your back.

The abovementioned hacks are a life saver for me. You might want to try it for yourself. And oh, I was not paid to post this. Wish I was! Paging Breeze, Downey....

Kinabuhi (A Short Story)

(i'm trying my hand at creating a short story in my native language that is Bisaya. I wrote this in 2 hours.)



“Mo ondang ko. Dili na ‘ko mag skwela!”

“Na unsa ka? Naboang na ka?” Naglawom ang mga linya sa nawong ni Nang Linda sa dihang nadonggan niya ang dekalarasyun ni Orlan, iyang kinamanghoran’g anak. Nanlapot ang iyang laway og namula ang iyang mga nawong sa pagsinghag niini. Ge barog siya gikan sa pag lingkod og ge atobang ang ulitawitong anak.

“Ikaw eskwela didto kung gusto ka! Singhag pod nga tobag ni Orlan ug dongan labay sa iyang bag sa walang sook sa sala’ng gamay.




Estudyante sa sekondarya si Orlan. Usa na lang ka tuig og mogradwit na kini. Dili siya otokan nga bata. Pero dili sab kini bogo. Sama sa oban mga bata nga iyang kaidad, magginahian siya og, usahay, dili magpatoo sa iyang inahan daw nag toon ug gisokod kun asa taman ang iyang kagawasan sa iyang pangidaron. Taas nga bata si Orlan para sa iyang kense anyos nga panuigon. Liwat ang iyang panagway sa iyang sondalong amahan nga mibiya kanila sa wala pa kini’y panimoot. Nagsoot sa iyang puting pantaas og itom nga pantalon nga oniporme niini sa eskwelahan. Pinabondak siya nga milingkod sa ilang sopa nga kawayan. Getongtong ang usa ka paa sa bokton sa selya. Daw puno sa pag panghagit ang linya sa iyang batan-ong dagway.




“Hoy Orlan, nag antos ang imong ate aron maka eskwela ka unya mag ingana ka lang? Unsa ka anak ka og melyonaryo?” naninghawak si Nang Linda nga ga singhag sa iyang anak.




“Magpasalamat si ate mo ondang na ko. Wala na siya’y gastohan!” sinopladong tobag niini.




“Na boang na ka! Na unsa man ka? Nag droga-droga ka na?” singhag sa inahan.




“Droga-droga...” bondak niyang tobag.




Kadyot nga nahilom ang duroha...




“Nak, ayaw tawon pag hatag ug problema nako.” Nagpakimalooy nga tono ni Linda sa iyang kinamanghoran. “lalaki ka nak, unsaon na lang nimo ugma maminyo ko wala ka mahoman ug sekondarya. Pait ang wa’y grado anak.” Nitapad si Nang Linda sa iyang kinamanghoran, ge tan-aw niya ang nawong sa iyang anak nga sa una inosente pa kaayo karon makita na niya ang balbas nga mga pino pa, ga tubo sa baka niini. Usahay makorat siya nga magtan-aw nga ang iyang kinamanghoran magkaulitawo na. Madomdoman niya ang mga milabay nga panahon... Gi hawiran niya ang kamot niini.




“Nak pobre ta, pero makapahoman pa gihapon ka namo ug pa eskwela ni ate nimo. Ayaw tawon ko gol-a nak.”




Gesipatan ni Orlan ang inahan, nangimol kini apan wala motingog. Wala pod niini ge bira ang iyang kamot nga ge hawiran sa iyang inahan. Mabati niya ng pagpangaliya niini. Ge tarong siya sa pag lingkod. Og mihangad. Wala mitingog. Ge boy-an ni Nang Linda ang iyang kamot og mitindog kini. Mabati niya ang kagool sa iyang inahan nga samot naka palagot sa iyang pagbati. Milakaw ang inihan og mipadolong sa kusina.




“Molayas kaha ko?” napangotana ni Orlan sa iyang kaugalingon. “Asa man pod ko padolong?” gepiyong niya iyang mga mata ug naghona-hona kini. Madongog niya ang iyang inahan nga nag tikaw-tikaw sa kusina.




Kamanghoran siya sa tulo ka magsoon. Ang iyang kuya minyo na ug naay duha ka anak. Wala nakahoman sa kolehiyo tongod ka’y nakaboros kini sa iyang uyab. Sa sayong desisyete nga panoigon na amahan kini. Sa “wala’y saktong oras” matod pa sa iyang inahan. Ang panginabuhi sa iyang magolang ang pagpanagat. Nakita niya unsa ka lisod ang kinabuhi nila. Wala siya’y plano nga mosonod sa pait nga tonob niini. Ang iyang ate bag-ohay lamang naka human og koleheyo. Education ang iyang korso kay mao ra’y makaya sa ilang inahan. Samtang wala pa nakasolod sa pag maestra nag trabaho kini sa dakong department store sa siyudad. Nakita niya ang ilang ka pobrehon. Dili siya bota. Nagdako siya nga wala’y amahan ug wala na usab siya nangita niini.




“Nak palihog ko, pagpalit ug toyo sa silingan.” Si Nang Linda nanawag gikan sa kusina sa ilang simpli lang nga balay ng ginama sa lubi, kawayan og paod. Kung mamaestra na si Inday iyang gepang hinaot nga mapalitan sa sen ang ilang atop aron dili na ma kawkaw sa mga manok ang mga paod og dili na magtolo kun tingolan. Wala midool ang iyang anak. Ge ponit si Nang Linda ang senselyo nga iyang ge botang sa lamisa og nakasabot nga wala’y plano iyang kamanghoran nga motobag sa iyang sogo. Wala na lang niya ge botang sa boot ang pag ginahian sa anak og milakaw kini aron sa pagtoman sa kaugalingong sogo.




“Nganong gebyaan man me sa akong amahan?Unsa’y iyang nawong? Unsa kaha iyang reaksyun kun magkakita me? Mag sondalo pod kaha ko?” mga ediya nagdola sa hona-hona ni Orlan.




Na bantayan niya ug nahibalo siya sa iyang kaugalingn nga sapoton siya ning mga milabay nga mga adlawa. Pag tong-tong niya sa ikatolong tuig sa sekondarya nagsogod ang iyang pag ka dili mahimotang. Mora ba’g malomos siya og perme mag apas sa iyang pag ginhawa. Daw gusto niyang mopalayo og mag inosara. Ug duna pod mga adlaw nga daw lami ang iyang pamati ug makaingon siya ang malipayon siya. Mura siyang balod nga mag saka, ubos ang iyang pamati. Mismo siya naka sabot sa iyang kaugalingon. Ug nahibalo nga wala’y saktong rason ang iyang pag boto atobang sa iyang inahan.




Wala siya’y angay problemahon, nahibalo siya. Tood man pobre sila apan sinoportahan kini sa iyang egsoon og sa iyang inahan. Motonol osab ug gamay ang iyang magolang nga lalaki kun naa kini gamay nga ikatonol…




Nadongog nia ang pag naog sa iyang inahan sa balay aron pagpalit sa toyo nga ge sogo niini kaniya. Me hegda sa sopa, ge onlanan ang iyang mga palad, ge piyong ang mga kapoy mata. Taliwala sa kangitngit iyang ge hona-hona ang iyang kinabuhi. Mga pangotana nag baha ug nag sunod-sunog pag okopa sa iyang pangisip.




“Unsa ma’y akong ugma? Asa man ko napolo ka tuig gikan karong panahona? Makabuhi kaha ko ug pamilya? Kun matigolang na si Mama, ako? Unsa man akong kinabuhi kun matigolang na ko? Matigolang pa kaha ko?... daghan na ko ug bolingon... igang... Nganong natawo pa man ko? Unsa’y akong korso kuhaon? Dili ko mag koleheyo... gusto ko mag piloto... Akong assignment... si Ana wala ko kita niya karon adlawa... ugma mag test sa Math... kapoy...


“Nak, nak mata na nak.” Gipokaw ni Nang Linda ang anak nga nakatolog sa selya. “Manihapon na ta nak. Aron makag toon na dayon ka.”




“O, ma...”




“Sige na nak dali na, mentras init pa ang pagkaon.”




Ug ang inahan ug ang anak nanihapon. Gesalohan ang simpli nga pagkaon. Nag estoryahanay, daw wala’y nahitabo nga panaglalis sa sinogdanan. Daw sa hilom nagkasinabot nga dili sila kontra kun dili sangga sa pakigbisog sa adlaw-adlaw nga pagpanginabuhi. Samtang ang kalibotan gawas sa ilang panimalay hinay-hinay nga gehabolan sa kangitngit. Ang tomang kainit sa adlaw ge anam-anam nge gelomos sa kahayahay nga dala sa kagabhion. Ang mga gangis nagsogod sa ilang mga kanta sa kagabhion. Ug ang mga kalanggaman sa kalangitan namatog sa mga kahoy, nangahilom, namaholay, nag hulat sa pagtonga sa bag-o na osab nga adlaw. ###

Captured by Camiguin

i went to conquer Camiguin instead, it CONQUERED me.
My friend D and I went to Camiguin's renowned Lanzones Festival. We were disappointed to note that unlike in the years past when Lanzones where given away to onlookers during the street dancing not the Buwahan were so scarce, no thanks to climate change. I learned from the locals that because of the wierd weather patterns the Lanzones season only lasts until September because unlike other fruits the Lanzones cant be picked when its unripe. Dang.
But the island, the beautiful island did not disappoint us. It was amazingly beautiful and breath taking...boy i loss words when recalling the beauty that is Camiguin.
We went to the old church the 16th century church which partly sank after an explotion what was left was the belfry... it was heaven for picture taking. I wished we could've stayed longer, then there's the sunken cemetery which makes one wonder and stand in awe at what angry nature can do, then off we went to the panaad stairs which we decided not to accend anymore for the lack of time, and then there's the Sto. Nino cold springs, and the breath taking Katibawasan, the we-cant-get-enough-of Ardent Hot springs (we went twice and is looking forward to more swims there...) and the sweet discovery that is Enigmata which thrilled as to no end. Thanks so Ate Nelds for touring us around the place. We promised ourselves to go back there and stay longer than the three days we spent there. Which deserved another intire blog entry by the way.
There are places we havent been to yet but i promised the next time i go back there it would be hard core back packing for me...i want to savour its beauty again...i can only understand why the ownew of Enigmata decided to put it there, if i could have the means i'd do the same thing.
I also love the fact that other travelers seemed to be a bit more friendlier in Camiguin probably because the place is so relaxing and small which is not bad at all. Boy i'd love to move there! I will never look at the Camiguin Island's selhouette like i used to before. Sigh* i'm hopelessly in love with the island...
I hope Camiguin wont become an overrated overly commercialized place like in other "touristty" spots. I pray the people of Camiguin will care enough for the treasure that is their island and make it the paradise that it is...

if only (for Muelmer Magallanes who died saving others in need)

I don't know you until I read about you in a Philippine Star article. Tears flowed freely as I went through with the article, even now tears wail from my eyes as I hope to write about you. You're still eighteen. You're working in construction sites when you should be attending school. It pains me to think that when I was your age I was in school hardly doing my best to make the most out of what my parents have afforded me. Meanwhile there you are... I don't know if you've graduated from high school all i know is that poverty drove you to work instead of stay in school.

And now you will forever be immortalized for your heroism, for your selfless act. You deserved more than a post-humous recognation, those things can never bring you back. Only God can give you your reward now. Meanwhile, what i can do is to pray for your family and for our ailing country...

If only our country's leaders are as half as heroic as you, you're probably still alive today and attending school, not working to help your parents nor living in a dangerous area nor caught by surprise by a sudden flood that forced you to go beyond what's asked of you and died as a result. If only they did their part like you did yours all these heartache and pain would've never happened. You deserve so much more...

I'm sorry what this cruel world caused you but i thank you so much for showing me, us, the world what a hero can do, what an ordinary person like you can do if only he will do what is right for others...

Muelmer you will forever live. I dont know you until your name was posted in a news report but because of you I now know what i wish to do... Thank you.

more initao lasang park shots

lasang shots

anna and i went to initao national park and played with my point and shoot..here are some of the shots in black and white....

i love LINUX..need i say more?

ok i will say more...since buying a laptop with a vista bundle that kept dying on me I went with pirated version of windows xp and the works. Now i said enough and since im planning to get internet connection real soon i decided to get Linux and i hadnt regretted that decision. Its cool i mean really COOL! Whoever thought a freebie could be this cool and excellently made? i think people should stop being so dependent on mainstream softwares that they can't afford and end up with pirated copies. we need education here!

mid-20s life crises

lady protests

i was in the Cagayan de Oro Hall of Jutice last Thursday and I chanced upon a bunch of women protesting about women-related rights. What surprised me is that they werent that many. And that's sad. I think we of the female population should be participative in this sort of affairs. I think the protest rally lacked creativity. But then again that's just me. Good thing I brought my dad's camera phone and so I was able to take snap shots of it.

lomokono

i love photography. i just love the act of taking shots, of being behind the camera... maybe because i'm not much of the photogenic type...but anyway...the thing is a i love taking pictures and the irony is i dont even have a camera. i just borrow my father's camera phone. a motorola L6 and make the best out of it. then i bumped into this lomomania thing and i think its nice but very prohibitive. so what do i do? I take shots with my borrowed moto and edit it later in photoshop. i like the stuff i did. i only learned to photoshop after seeing all those beautiful lomo shots. Hurrah for photoshop! so what to call this frenzy? LOMOKONO: the movement of trying to "lomofy" photos using a photo editing tool like photoshop or gimp... here are my sample photos.

Initao National Park

Initao National Park is a patch of wooded land in our small town. Probably the only reason it remained is because of people's fear for the unseen. People think beings from the unseen dimension inhabit the place. That helped the place from getting totally wiped out. Some towering trees are alive and majestically lording over the place. Being in the park makes you feel in another place, but only for a few second though. Not soon after you pay the entrance fee you will be greeted by trash like snack wrappers on the ground, walk to your left path and you'll see the huge part of an old tree's roots chopped off to make way for the concrete path built in place to make walking comfortable perhaps or to make visitors go around the park in their cars without having to step down and take a walk. Which is stuped. Then the garbage pit...its a big hole dug where the old school building used to be. You can see loads of non-biodegradable garbage dumped in there. Not a good sight for a park. Then there's the termite infistation. They need adrress that problem. I heard they are pouring millions into the project... the money can go a long way if used properly and honestly.

The government should think seriously about their plans and aims for the place. If they seriously thinking about preservation and education then they are really off track, if they are in it for they money, then at least make it look like they mean it.

The solution is to set up a foundation like that in the case of New York's Central Park where in they made a great work and preserved the whole place. Now its in place never touched by the long, udly arm of industrialization. This is where the "if i were i millionare..." essay comes in...

I'm thankful and glad that the place managed to survive but looking at how they are handling the place i'm not sure if it's gonna hold long. We need more than setting up a place and charging one hundred fifty pesos... we need far more than that.

the mantra