Santa's Signing Off

Rakista ang peg, to?

‘Ne, ano sa sa Tagalog ang ‘Don’t block the driveway?' , jokingly asked by my tito when I was about eight years old.  The memory is still vivid. ‘Di ko po alam’, I replied.  Then he answered back teasingly, ‘Wag mong itiman ang daanang papunta, ‘di ba?, ‘di ba? Nakakatawa.  Wag mong itiman ang daanang papunta. Hahaha.’ He was amused by his own joke. I didn’t find it comical, then.  Or maybe I didn’t understand that it was supposed to be one of his gags.  Recalling the scene, it was his facial expression that makes me laugh.

My uncle, known to many as Ancis, is my favorite maternal uncle (I don’t have too many as a choice). He is a favorite, I am sure, of  my other cousins as well. When we were little, he used to bring us to and from school using tatay’s ride.

He is always that funny uncle.
He cooks good food. 
He is a fanatic of anything about radio (the electronics) and ironically, yes, he follows the serye  ‘ Walang Hanggan’.
He is a master to his several dogs, Maxi to be his favorite. 
He is the tito and lolo to every kid on the block.
I can say, in fact, he is fond of all the kids- The Lolo Ancis to the new generation Aplaya kiddos, my niece and nephews to name a few.

He used to play Santa and dress himself like one during Christmas Day Aplaya celebration. Always, he would try to sneak his costumes and detour from the opposite street (Quezon St) and surprise the giggling kids celebrating Xmas afternoon in Rizal St.  And always, he would try to deny as kids shouted,  ‘ Si Tito Ancis lang ‘yan, ‘di naman yan si Santa’.  He was always wearing his gigantic gold ring so kids would always recognize it was him. Yet, he would always play role and participate in these kiddie activities.

It is heartbreaking to see our Santa in pain.  It just doesn’t feel and look right. Even the moon and stars are not revealing themselves in tonight’s skies.  The celestial bodies in animation might be saying that there’ll be no Santa sleigh to guide tonight.

So as 10/11/12 ended, you may now take off your Santa costume and give yourself your due rest.  You can now sign off. All the parts you have played were all given justice.

We love you. Rest in peace, my beloved uncle.
Oscar, Kilo? Oscar, Kilo!
Did I hear you say, ‘10-4’?

laging meron pa

* a random artwork  from my good college buddy, Prima (UPLB, 2004);
 found it in my drawer a while ago.

 masaya,

malungkot, galit, 

bigo, lito o tuliro?

 dahil kung kailan akala 

mo naramdaman mo na lahat ng 

emosyong pwedeng ikulong ng mga salita, 

hindi pa pala. dahil kung kailan akala mo naituro na ng unibersong tanggapin ang mga bagay na di mo maipaliwanag, hindi pa

pala. dahil kung kailan akala mo wala ng lugar sa

 puso para tanggapin ang mga aral, meron pa pala. 

‘pagkat ang puso, kapag dalisay,

 muli’t muli’y magpapa-alala

 na kapag akala mo 

wala na,

 mali,

 dahil

 laging

 meron 

pa.

HAPLOS

At dumampi ang mainit na haplos ng kamay mo sa aking kahubdan. 

Ang ningas ng mumunting liwanag sa loob ng silid iyon ay sapat na upang papayapain ang aking isip kahit panandalian.  Ang samyo ng lila ay sumiping sa katahimikang namamagitan sa ating dalawa. Tanging mga hininga lamang ang nag-uusap at ang mga kamay mong patuloy na humahagod na tila walang kapaguran.  Ang lamig ng kwartong iyon, ikaw, ako – nakaramdam ako ng kapayapaan.  

Bakit nga kaya may kalingang hatid ang bawat dampi ng palad mo sa aking balat?  Pang-ilang ulit na nga ba ito?  May ilang beses na ‘di ba? Pero hindi ako nagsasawa, hindi magsasawa. Ito ang isa sa mga pagkakataong hinahanap kita.  Higit pa sa paghahanap, kundi pangagailangan.  At pinagbigyan mo na naman ako.  

Huwag mong itanggi ngunit batid kong pagal ka.  Ngunit ‘di maka-hindi.  Pangagailangan din ba? Marahil.  Hindi ko sigurado pero malamang.  Gusto sana kitang kausapin, kwentuhan. O tanungin kung kamusta ang araw mo?  Pagod ka na nga yata? Ngunit mas nanaig sa ‘king manahimik na lamang at damhin ang bawat segundo habang ako ay nasa loob ng kwartong iyon, nakahimlay at malayo sa magulong mundo.

Unti-unting bumibigat ang talukap ng aking mata.  Gusto kong manlaban dahil gusto kong maramdaman ang bawat kilos na gagawin mo. Ngunit makapangyarihan ang bawat dampi ng kamay mo. Bumibigat.  Gumagaan.  Humahaplos.  Nagpapagaling sa pagal ko ngang katawan.

Hanggang sa tuluyan na ding mag-abo ang huling gunita.Tinraydor ako ng aking kahinaan.  Bumigay ang katawan.  At tuluyan nang iniwan ng ulirat.  Gaano katagal? Hindi ko alam.  Parang habambuhay akong nahimbing sa  katiwasayan.

Nagising na lamang ako sa munti mong bulong.  Na aalis ka na.  Ni hindi ko maalala ang iyong mukha.  Madilim.  Tanging anino mo lamang ang nakilala ko.  Tanging ang mga anino niyo lamang ang kakilala ko.

Lalabas na ako sa silid.  Magbabayad  habang iniabot ng kahera ang enbelop kung san nakasulat ang pangalan mo – Gina. Ah, ang may-ari pala ng anino ay si Gina. Bukas malilimutan ko na ang pangalan mo.  Magsisilid ng ekstrang singkwenta pesos na sukli sa tatlong daang pisong iniiabot ko sa kahera bilang bayad sa iyong serbisyo.  

Hindi ko alam kung magkikita pa tayo.  Sa loob ng silid, ikaw ay isang anino.  Isang aninong blanko ang talambuhay.  Sana pala nakipag-kwentuhan ako sa ‘yo.  Pero aalis na ako. Sana na lang makatulong ang maliit na ‘tip’ ko sa pagmamasahe mo.

How to lose a boy in five days

Ooops, sorry naman. Typo. Eto pala dapat talaga ang title: How to lose a boil in five days. Lol.

Ang Boil (o pigsa sa Tagalog) ay koleksyon ng ‘pus’ o 'abscess' na karaniwang sinasabayan ng pamamaga ng balat at ‘tissues’ (Encarta, 2009).  Naalala kong turo ni hayskul Health teacher, ang medical term nito ay ‘furuncles’. Kapag hardcore furuncle na, ‘carbuncle’ na ang tawag.  Kung titingnan para lang talaga syang pimple sa umpisa. But since life is not fair, that little bump suddenly turns into a monstrous scare – unimaginable. And you’ll just find yourself uttering in sheer silence: Hassle!

I.              Dear Staphylococcus

You look family (familiar). Hmmn.  Ilang beses na tayong may close encounters noong college days.  Pero back then, life was sweeter. Ako kasi ang master sa laboratory at slave lang kita sa iyong kulungang petri dish.  Padadamihin kita (culture) at eventually ako din ang magtatakda ng iyong death.

Ang Staphylococcus ay isang uri ng parasitic bacteria na common causative agent ng iba’t-ibang sakit, kasama na nga dito ang pigsa. Particularly, ang genus na S. aureus ang dahilan ng skin-related infections tulad ng pigsa atbp.

microbiologyinpictures.com/staphylococcus aureus

II.             Caution: Boil Area-- Do Not Cross

Tender. Hot. Reddish. Inflamed. Painful.

Ano sa tagalog ang tender? Basta parang hotdog pag pinindot. 
Mainit (o parang kulob ang init).
Mamula-mula.
Namamaga. 
Masakit.

Ito ang ilan sa mga symptoms kapag ang inaakala mong pimple noong una ay bigla na lamang uumbok palaki at nagpapakita ng mga nabanggit na sintomas.

Ang sabi, init daw ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakapigsa.  Pinalala ng condition kaya nauwi sa bacterial infection.

III.            Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. San banda, teh?

'Eye' (o tip)—ito ang pinakasikat na parte ng pigsa.  Ito ang pinupuntirya mong paputukin para ma-drain ang pus sa loob.  Normally, ang pamamaga at sakit ay dulot ng pressure ng pigsa kapag hindi pa ito nahihinog (mature).

IV: What to do in case of boils?

First rule: Do not self-medicate. Pwede magbasa sa google (o manuod sa youtube) pero wag paniwalaan ang lahat.  Humingi ng payo sa nakakatanda pero i-filter din at i-verify ang proposed remedies.

1.  Keep the area clean.  Huwag hawakan at panggigilan.  Madaling kumalat ang Staphyloccus at once magkaroon ng contamination, posibleng malipat o madagdagan pa ang pigsa mo to other locations.                   
2. In my case, nakatulong ang mga sumusunod:

Warm compress to relieve the pain. 

Koyo, blue-green minty liniment in wax paper (mostly sa Chinese drugstore), na pinaniniwalaang nakakapagpahinog ng pigsa.  Soothing ang peg ng mint.  Though, may nagsasabi na di daw talaga to epektib (Dectractors, agad agad).  Pero sa kaso ko, nakatulong naman.  Dalawang piso isa (may tinda si Abil).  Pinapaltan ko every 6 hours kahit ang recommended ay kahit daily ang pagpalit.

Antibacterial medicine (do not self-medicate).  Dahil I have a lot of MD friends (chos, mga kaklase ko nung college, hehe), nakapagtanong-tanong ako at nagrereseta talaga para systemic ang pagpuksa sa bacteria.  Isa pa, talagang lalagnatin ka sa sakit.  Do not self-medicate, paulit-ulit? Dalawang araw ko lang kasi ininom yung gamot, tinigil ko na nung pakiramdam kong okay na.  On the 3^rd day, para na naman akong nilalagnat.  Takbo sa company clinic at napagalitan ni nars dahil 7 days daw dapat inumin ng diretso ang gamot.  Do not self-medicate.  Ako na ang madaming MD friends.

Others sa google (ewan kung totoo), paki-commentan na lang ng True or False: 

1-     Lagyan ng boiled egg white yung swell.

2-     I-drain ang pus gamit ang baso. Gawing parang suction (pressure, beybeh).

3-     Pahiran ng gatas.

4-     Tadtaran ng onions (dahil sa antiseptic property?).

5-     Dahon-dahon sabi ni inay (herbal, alternative med dabest, libre pa)!

V: What comes up must go down

Sa cycle naman ng nature, ang anumang kondisyon ay temporary lang. Si mother nature ay madaming paraang natural para pahupain ang isang natural phenomena.  Ang lahat ng sugat ay kusang gagaling.  May maiiwang marka, battle scars! Chaar.
 

[insert mala-HIMYM, Year 2030: Kids, in the post-summer of 2012, Aunt Chie had to experience nature’s  wrath.  Just after her 28^th birthday, she had a boil.]

For best results, go and have the doctor physically check the boil. In few days time, naturally or mechanically, kailangan mai-drain out ang pus at ma-disinfect ang wound.  

Spell HEAVEN!

After the trauma, I decided to finally consult a doctor:

Me: doc, dry na naman po.  hanggang kelan antibiotic?

Doc: Patingin nga if tuyo na talaga.

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT WHEN THE GUY MD

WANTS TO VALIDATE IF THE BOIL HAS REALLY DRIED UP!

HINT: AXILLARY AREA, PRE. :-/

Die. 

2012 Bday!

H A P P Y  B D A Y! ;-)

Dear Time

It suddenly hit me.  When faced with the query, what four factors affect bacterial growth, my mind began the process of elimination: select what I think the best answers are.  The difficult part is to decide on which amongst the roster belong to the topmost four.  It’s like an American Idol episode of whose out and I have to expel my Skylar Laines¹.

According to Campbell, bacterial growth is generally affected by temperature (heat), moisture (O₂ levels), pH (acidity), salt concentration, source of nutrients among others.  There was no mention of time.  At least for that Campbell (book page) that I got a quick peek. But nevertheless, time is a universal factor.  It is something automatic. Say default.  And it shall belong to that pedestal.

 I backtracked.  From what I can remember, almost all exams where I am tasked to enumerate the factor(s) affecting something (algal bloom, osmotic rate, growth, decline, etc), time is one mechanical answer that never fails to render me a point. 

I just had this thought how powerful time can be that its continuum somehow (or strongly) dictates the fate of things—living or non-living, tangible or intangible ones, like emotions: love and hatred. 

Time heals, literally, figuratively. 

It heals wounds.  It heals souls.

Define irony for time can also break hearts and signal death.

Through time, cells divide and grow then eventually die. 

Flowers bloom and wither.

People love then expire. 

Bacteria multiply exponentially but through time will lag because of unavailability of space. 

According to Malthus, come the time when population rapidly increase and food becomes scarce, existence is countered by diseases and drought.  Demise.

Time. Time.  Time.

Time either grows something or depletes it. In between, it is so powerful that it can also impose dormancy.

Remember Timberlake’s movie when people have to buy time just to survive. Everyone competes hoping to spare some decency to the remaining days of survival.

Time, says an adage, is a great equalizer.

 For me, time (or the lack thereof) is but one great dimension we will forever be enslaved in. 

Time lost is time you will never ever get back. Never.  Ever.

 'But if you're lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time.' 2
 

_¹ Skylar Laine, American Idol 11, eliminated during the vie for the top four posts.

2  A famous 80's song.

Quickie Commuter’s Guide: Galera 101

Yey. It’s Summer. And for the South people, the quickest route off for some steamy treat to the beach is Galera. Puerto Galera has been a staple summer escape and yes, the island still boasts a good fix.

For those backpackers who would like to thrive for a trip treat, here’s a simple commuters’ guide:

1) Ride a southbound bus and drop off to Turbina (a channel-like terminal point connecting Laguna, Batangas and routes to Lucena/ Quezon).

2) Buses going to Batangas Ports abound there. Fare approximates at 100Ps or less.

3) In the port, one can actually choose from boatride-to-Galera packages (Ps500, 2-way, open ticket). You just have to add Ps80 for the one-time-pay terminal fee.

2Go also offers big boat trips to Caticlan/ Kalibo if you want a detour to Bora (Ps 499, one-way, not bad) and other not-so-neighboring coasts!

Note1: Don’t buy items from the terminal for they are way too costly (e.g., 5Gallon Water Ps200). Hardsellers would try to convince you that drinking water (and other foodstuff) in the island is scarce and therefore, expensive. So not true. Everything you want is available there and is relatively affordable. You just have to scan the array of kiosks for better value. There are a lot of food stalls, too, including yes, an in-store, Shakeeeey’s!

Note2: During the ride, mints can really be great buddies to ease motion sickness. It’s a 1.5hr boat travel. The waves can really be naggers at times. For the not-so-tolerant ones, bring in some barf bags. ;-/

4) Upon arrival to the island, just confirm with the agent when is your boatride back so as to save the spots.

You can choose from a roster of accommodations. Just coordinate/ book in advance to assure a seamless stay. I recommend ‘Summer Connections’, located at the relatively right-rear-side part to those who prefer a ‘calm-less-crowded-minus-the-party-rock’ mood.

Trivia: Sunblocks are major must-haves. We are very familiar that sunblocks are tagged with Sun Protection Factor or SPF. Let’s do some math. If the label brags a 60-SPF, just multiply it by 10 (you get 600). This means, you have an approximate 600 minutes (or 10 hours) to sulk under the scorching heat before one needs to re-apply. I would assume one application of SPF60 would be enough for a whole-day sun date.

5) Activities like snorkeling, island hops, banana boat rides, scuba dives, sand massages among others are offered left and right. Just choose what fits you best.

6) Have fun under the sun in the morn or at night time, you can lie under the moonlit sky and traverse your eyes with the infinite universe. Chos!

--hakuna matata--

c'est la vie: galera 2012

HOLY WEEKENDER + eLBi Friends = SERENITY :D

Life is of the ESSENCE

" I will never give in to peer pressure!" :-)

jerri, favor: dont mind us, the elders.

Quarter Life: Sa Likod ng Lib

*UPLB Main Library*

It never fails. 

Therapeutic  ang effect ng LB Lib(rary) sa akin.  Nope, not the indoors (though minsan parang addictive din ang amoy ng lumang mga book pages doon).  Yung part ng lib sa likod kung saan tumatambay ang mga estudyante para magpalipas ng oras.  Ito yung part kung saan visually mae-entice ka lang pagmasdan ang kabuuan ng Makiling habang umaakyat ang mga dyip pa-forestry.

Just imagining, parang naamoy ko na ang mga dahon sa ELBI.  Soothing.  Naririnig ko ang mga ibon.  Music to the ears. Nare-refresh ang mata ko sa greenery. Eye-candy!

Hindi ba masarap alalahanin ang panahon kung kailan ang role(s) lang natin sa buhay ay mag-cram para sa mga exams, tipirin ang baon para meron pang maipang-gimik at magreklamo over demonic profs?

After eight years, much have changed.  Hindi na pwede basta tumakbo sa likod ng lib para tumambay at mag-destress.  In this real world kung saan we are very much entwined, ang bilis ng phasing.  Nakakalula.  Kung babagal-bagal ka, surely maiiwan ka.

To my dear lib, you will forever be one of my comfort blankets.  Just my memory of you is enough to lift my spirit.  

Tumatanda na nga yata ako, emo stuff and all.  Must be...The Quarter Life.

OF SAND GRAINS AND VALENTINE

I removed the slippers embracing my feet, my feet that seemed so exhausted because of the hours of walking. And at the moment those feet felt the sands again, I sensed coldness- the coldness brought about by the sea winds—caressing me and my entirety. Odd as it was as it soothed me- grateful though as if the wind has the ability to heal, heal something that was incrementally wearing me during those times.

Purposely I sat down facing the sun. I devoured on its warmth. The monsoon breeze blending with the sun’s heat will be perpetually perfect for my senses. My hands commenced to amuse themselves with the grains--fondly playing with their softness. I attempted to confine them in my palms; I confined them so tightly and got marveled by the thought that the grains, regardless of how firmly I grasp on them, still manage to escape. Perhaps, the grains do not like me. Or just maybe, the grains do not belong to me. Again, my struggling fists tried to imprison them, and over again all my attempts failed-- for the grains were able to flee again, flee back to the place where they ought to belong.