Missing my family for the nth time...

I took a couple of blottles of beer last night just to make me sleep. Like most of my scheduled departure for Malaysia, I had a hard time sleeping the night before. So I took my usual medication for sleep deprivation, San Mig Light! hahaha!!!

The alarm went on at around 4:45am and I had this feeling of not going to stand up from bed. I just hugged my son while feeding him. I look at my 9-month old daugther while she was sound asleep. She seem very peaceful sleeping and that seem to start a very good day for me.

My wife, Ella, was still either half awake or half sleeping. I made a little embrace to before setting off for a bath...

Well, I guess that started my day today. Early morning wake-up call for the usual travel to Malaysia... feeling saddened by the fact that I'll be leaving again my family and be alone again for the next week or two. But on the other hand, I feel good knowing that I am doing this for them, for my family's future.

I am missing Josh's songs, cries, and his wits. I am missing Lela's kisses. I am missing Ella's company and her mumbles and her laughter. I am missing their love. I am missing the joy of being with them..

As I take the ride going to Clark, then goes the feeling of emptiness setting in. Maybe, I was enjoying more and more the company of my kids each day or I am missing the milestones that my kids have while I am away, or I will be missing the company of my wife for the next few days... these thoughts make me feel depressed and tired...

I just arrived here in Malacca. Tomorrow will be a new day and the next days and I look forward for coming back home again in a week of two...

Oh God I missed them...

This time I worth the cent

"Pre, narining mo na ba ang kantang 'Tatsulok' ni Bamboo?" tanong ko dun sa isang matalik kong kaibigan sa skype...

"Hindi pa, ano yun?" pabalik nyang tanong sa akin...

So pinadala ko na lang yung link ng website ni Bamboo para nya marinig...

"Hindi ko makita..." balik nya sa king pagkaraan ng ilang minuto... "ano ba nilalaman nun?"

"Makabayan dre yung kanta, narinig ko lang sa magic 89.9 at nakarelate ako agad..." balik ko sa kanya. Natutuwa lang siguro ako dahil magaling ang marketing ni Bamboo sa isang makabayang kanta...

"Naks! makabayan!" kumento nya na may halong pang-aasar. "Makabayan na sa ibang bayan nagtratrabaho... nyahahahahahaha!!!"

Ganyan lang naman kami paminsan-minsan. Asaran sa text or sa skype lalo pag nababato sa harap ng PC. At medjo nakakalamang ko palagi sa pang-aasar... hehehe!

Nagbibiro lang ang pare ko. Pero napaisip din ako dun sa biruan na yun...

Nung isang araw, nabasa ko naman ang isang post ni Bean na ang pamagat ay "OFW:Bayaning Taksil." Maiksi lang ang post na yun pero yun ay isang mapait na katotohanan sa aming mga OFW...

So ano nga ba? May halaga ba talaga kaming mga OFW sa bayan...

Nung isang buwan, nalaman ko na kailangan ko naman magbayad ng buwis sa Malaysia. Katakot-takot ang buwis.

"Mr. Jay, if you stay here less than 90 days last year, you will have to pay at least RM11,000.00 but if you stayed more you will only pay less than RM2000.00. Deadline of payments will be on 30April2007." Our company's accountant told me such terrible news...

So nadagdagan na naman ang kataksilan ko sa mahal kong bayan. Wala naman akong naalalang nagbayad ako ng ganyan kalaking halaga nung nagtratrabaho pa ako sa pinas. Yung huling dalawang kumpanyang pinagtratrabahuan ko ay medjo dinaya pa ang sweldo namin para lang makaiwas kami sa malaking buwisan. Nagpapasalamat pa kami sa management namin nun dahil malaking kaluwagan nga naman sa aming mga empleyado ang sistemang yun.

May choice pa ba ako? Wala. Sumunod sa sistema. Ipagpatuloy ang buhay OFW...

Kanina, nabasa ko na naitala ang pinakamalaking padala mga OFW sa mga kapamilya. Hanggang sa labin-apat na bilyong dolyar ang naipadala ng may siyam na milyong OFW sa taong 2006. Halos katumbas sa kalahati ng taunang budget ng bansa. Ang halagang yun ay katumbas ng pagod, pawis, at pangungulila. Halos linggu-linggo may naririning tayo na may nagagahasang pinay sa ibang bayan. Nagpakamatay dahil hindi nakayanan ang pang-aapi ng mga amo. Nabuwang sa pang-aabuso ng mga amo. Napatay. Pumatay. Nakidnap... para lang maitaguyod ang naiwang pamilya sa pinas...

Nakakalungkot pero ito ay katotohanan...

Tama si Bean at may tama din ang biro ng pare ko. Kataksilang nga siguro yan. Sana man lang nagamit namin ang kakayahang tumulong magpaunlad ng ibang bayan sa sariling bayan...

Ngayon, pagkatapos ng kontrata namin sa ibang bayan... may kasiguruhan ba ang trabaho para sa amin pagbalik sa Pinas?

"Nagtratrabaho sa ibang bayan, dre, para sa bayan. Bagong bayani nga tawag sa amin, di ba? At least this time, I worth the cent..."

Tol, ang sakit ng almuranas ko!

Reminds me when I had a horrible experience after sitting on the kingly throne. Damn, it hurts! I can't forget what happened next. My colleague was washing his hands and he saw me through the mirror as I was coming out from the toilet...

"Pare, mukhang ang asim ng mukha mo a..." said my colleague who was neither grinning nor smiling. He's like trying to emulate the look of my face... Like he just saw blood gushing out from my behind and going to faint...

"Pare, sakit ng almuranas ko!" I uttered back trying to hide the pain from my behind...

He laughed out loud, his laughter echoed down the hallway. Me, I can't even talk and standing straight was so painful!

I went to the clinic to have my bottom checked. She asked me few questions and all that I can remember the most was this...

"Jay, let's try this. I Will do a digital check on you." She said...

"Digital check? You mean may ipapasok po kayong high-tech na instrumento sa pwet ko dok?" I told her back thinking about all the high tech gadgets of the modern world and of course I was working with all those high tech machines in the shop floor...

"Hindi Jay, ipapasok ko lang tong daliri ko sa pwet mo..." she answered back like she's going to have a major operation on me...

Shit! I will be fingered!!! It will be my first! Damn!

"Wag na doc, bigyan mo na lang ako ng gamot na ako na lang ang magpasok..." Answered her back and I stood up to tell her that I am done with her.

Well, I can still feel my hemoroid once in a while and I am getting used to it...

Anyway, I just can't help but remember this experience whenever I see Mike Defensor's Ad on TV. I can't even laugh at because it's not funny! The ad really sucks! Whoever directed that ad may have all the hemoroids in the world surrounding him during the shoot.

"Tol! Mike Defensor! Iboboto kita pagka-senador!" Shouts the PacMan look-alike (I don't know his name) and some other personas like Keanna Reaves...

Mike Defensor looks back with the barbed-wire teeth coming out and with face trying to cover up the pain in his ass. He didn't utter a single word but maybe trying to say this silently...

"Tol, ang sakit ang almuranas ko!"

Damn Ad!

My top 10 list of unsenatoriables

The Grand Opposition, The Unity Ticket, The Wednesday Club, Richard Gomez, and Manny Pacquiao. Newsmakers of these days like no other. Forget everything but politics.

I may say, I have to vote and I have no choice but to vote. But who among them that I vote? Certainly, not Pacquiao. I am not from General Santos City... but the heck, if I happen to be from General Santos City, would I vote for him? hmmmm...

So I may just need to wrap up my no-holds-barred opinion about why I should not vote for these candidates:

1. Richard Gomez. Actor. Billboard model for Bench and Belo Medical Group, and some other products. Showbiz TV host. Athlete. Once represented Mamayan Ayaw sa Droga (MAD) but was disqualified via technicality by the COMELEC a few years back. I AM NOT AGAINST ARTISTS running for political office. It's just that Richard Gomez for me is one of the people who have good probability of being a mad politician. A tactless hosting encounter with Erik Santos/Ruffa last year is a real shallow. He's like another injustice secretary in the making. An incident with the Shooting Association members last year made headline. Damn! He can't even get along with a minor organization...

2. Aquino-Oreta, Sotto. Sister of Ninoy and the latter an Artist. Both are former senators. Both are former allies of Estrada. Known critic of the Arroyo Administration. Two of the strongest voices of the Arroyo Resign campaigns! Now jumped-ship! Once in an interview with DZBB, Oreta said that it's their affiliation with their party made them aligned with the administration. My goodness! Then what! After these guys win, jump ship again and shout madly at Arroyo to resign. This is purely political survival of the meanest.

3. Angara. Hmmmm... I have no question of his ability to be Senator. One of the best there is. But gracious! Why is he in the administration ticket? He's got chances of winning this race but I will not vote for him for jumping ship. Same reason as no.2.

4. Pimentel. Oh my goodness. Look, I may not be looking at his best potential but... I don't know really. I wonder if he can get Cagayan de Oro votes. His father even did not win when he ran for vice presidency on CDO. Other family names please!!! If he wins, the senate really becomes a family affair.

5. Cayetano. He's got good publicity in the past three years. One of the staunch critic of the Arroyo family, if not the staunchest. Maybe a good congressman, I am not sure of it. But in the case of talking about all the accounts the first family may have in Germany for me is so shallow. You can't just talk without evidence to show lah. Yes, maybe Mike Arroyo have a lot of bogus accounts in all the countries in the world but please show us first! Simple process engineering tool; No data. No talk. Second, I am not into the idea of having mother and son in the Senate... and so with brothers and sisters tandem.

6. Pangilinan. I love Sharon, to the max. My mother loves her too! Sealed the presidential elections with the word "Noted" and few years later shouted that Arroyo should resign... I don't know. He should have stood by his principles like the great injustice secretary. I would rather vote for Secretary Gonzales. I hate this guy to the max but this is the kind of guy who stands by his own principles even when hated.

7. Chavit Singson. Ilocos Sur Governor. Come on, give me a break...

8. John Osmena. Former Senator. I hope he becomes former senator for good. Aren't we tired of seing old faces with the same old style? his ads even tell me that "Hey Jay, we are here since the beginning and we should continue to reign until the end..." Great. Some other family names please...

9. Coseteng. Former Senator. I don't know her actually. Better not to know her lah.

Those are the ten of my list. I am still weighing options on who to vote from the remaining candidates.

And if I happen to be from GenSan? Manny, you have done really good already for our country. I still hope that your decision is not final yet. Please continue to do what you know best... boxing. Please...

Daybreak at Caleruega

trail leading to Caleruega

The plan was to have breakfast in Tagaytay after we were invited by Ella's aunt for a breakfast at Josephine's Restaurant last Sunday, 11February. The thing was, the restaurant opens at around 8am as we were told and we woke up at around 445am so I decided to go to Caleruega first. So we left our place at around 530am and it was still dark.

The morning scenery of the countryside was so amazing and it was jaw dropping... So here are the pictures that we took on that beautiful morning.

Ella, Josh and Shai posing like mad in this area. We took about 6 pictures just in this location. It's really a very welcoming sight. This is right before the trail descends to Caleruega.

Josh and Shai on the steps leading to the church.

Caleruega church at the background. This church is famous for weddings and retreats. The scenery is just great yet very refreshing to the mind...

Me, Josh, and Shai...

At the church's entrance. Sadly, there was a retreat that day that we were hesitant to take photos inside.



Ella, Josh and Shai on top on one of the retreat cottages at the side of the hill...

Madonna and Child statue at the side of the hill where the church is situated. Josh was just so amazed with these religious icons. He was screaming mad just to go near the statue...

Interested in going to Caleruega? Here's how:

Via South Luzon Expressway, take Sta. Rosa exit and proceed towards Tagaytay Market. Turn Right to Rotonda and proceed to Nasugbu, Batangas. Turn left at the Evercrest Hotel and Restaurant. It is about 500meters from the Nasugbu Arch. The road ends at Caleruega. Really, it's worth the trip!

For couples who may want to consider a great venue for their wedding and for retreat enquiries, you may cantact Caleruega-Philippines at +63921-2709890 or +63921-8304226. Ask for Ms. Jackie, Ms. Imelda or Ms. Cristalle.

Tatsulok by Bamboo

Just want to share the lyrics of tatsulok (Triangle) by Bamboo. I heard this song last week over Magic 89.9 and I was madly looking for the title and lyrics of this song... until yesterday when I saw Bamboo on TV.

So here it is!!!

Totoy bilisan mo, bilisan mo ang takbo
Ilagan ang mga bombang nakatutok sa ulo mo
Totoy tumalon ka, dumapa kung kailangan
At baka tamaan pa ng mga balang ligaw

Totoy makinig ka, wag kang magpa-gabi
Baka mapagkamalan ka’t humandusay dyan sa tabi
Totoy alam mo ba kung ano ang puno’t dulo
Ng di matapos-tapos na kaguluhang ito

Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban
Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan
Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan
At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman

Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo

Ngunit ng suminag,kay daming mga tao,
At ang dating munting bukid, ngayo’y sementeryo
Totoy kumilos ka, baliktarin ang tatsulok
Tulad ng dukha, nailagay mo sa tuktok

Hindi pula’t dilaw tunay na magkalaban
Ang kulay at tatak ay di syang dahilan
Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan
At ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman

Habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok
Di matatapos itong gulo