JANUARY 28, 1980

Dear Son,

At your age now, you act like a big boy. You still lisp, but you're trying hard on your own to produce "S". You enjoy mixing your own milk because you like to see the "apoy-apoy" when milk mixes with water. You mean, of course, the cloud-like formation of milk as you pour it into a glass of water.

You reason a lot.

You can recognize numbers 1-10, several of the alphabets and colors blue, red, green, yellow, pink. Yesterday, you got a new pair of black shoes. You like eating Mom's papaya lumpia but dislike the sauce.

DID THE KIDS ENJOY THE RED BALLOON?

Hi,

This is in response to your message “How did the kids react to MY red balloon?” – Don’t worry, it is yours, all yours. Sounds like you bought the copyright in Divisoria.

The kids laughed at different parts of the movie.

Tinanong ko sila pagkatapos ng palabas kung mayroon silang katanungan. Sabi nila wala naman daw silang tanong. Pero alam kong may mga tanong sila, tulad ng mga ito:

1. Bakit walang dumating na superhero o kahit bioman man lamang sa huli? Pulis kaya?

2. Bakit hindi miyembro si Pascal ng BMP (Batang Maninirador ng Paris), saang tribu siya kabilang?

3. Bakit nakatali sa poste ang lobo? Balak ba niyang bitayin ang sarili?

4. Mas maganda ba ang ending kung bumuka na lang ang lupa at kinain ang mga bullies? O kaya minasaker ng mga lobo ang mga bata? (gusto ko yung ipupulupot ng mga lobo yung tali nila sa leeg ng mga bata, ok di ba?)

5. Bakit sa Paris lang galing ang mga rumispondeng balloons? Sila lang ba ang na-grouptext ni Pascal? Mahina ba ang network coverage noon?

6. Magkano ang talent fee ng red balloon? Nag-audition ba siya at natalo ang iba pang balloons?

7. Bakit walang nakasulat na ‘Happy Birthday’ sa mga lobo? Kahit isa man lang?

8. Kapag may isa akong lobo at inapakan ko ito, dadami ba ang aking lobo? Hindi? Bakit unfair ang mundo?

9. Ano ang kasarian ng red balloon?

10. Bakit walang farewell speech ang lobo tulad sa lahat ng movies na nakakapagsalita pa ang bida bago mamatay?

I wrapped-up the story for them but I did not discuss it in detail because it is up for many interpretations. Sa 22 na lang tayo mag-discuss in detail.

Sa tingin ko lima ang moral lesson ng story:

1. Don’t leave your balloons unattended.

2. Dapat pinapayungan ang lobo kapag umuulan.

3. Masayang manirador ng lobo.

4. Bawal sumakay ng jeep/bus kapag may kasamang lobo.

5. Masarap makipaghabulan sa mga bullies.

Putol ang kuwento, maaaring isa sa mga limang ito ang tunay na katapusan:

1. Nakilala ni Pascal si Dorothy at ang Wizard of Oz. And they lived happily ever after.

2. Buhay pa ang lobo dahil may natira pang tali, nagalit ito dahil hindi siya isinama sa sky trip ng mga kumag. Gayunpaman, nakatagpo siya ng bagong kaibigan nang gamitin siya bilang tali sa kotse-kotsehan ng isa pang bata.

3. Pagbaba ni Pascal, hinuli siya at ikinulong dahil sa pagnanakaw nang pagkadami-daming lobo. Lalabas na yata siya sa bilangguan this year.

4. Inilabas ng mga bullies ang kanilang mga baril at pinaputukan ang iba pang lobo. Nahulog si Pascal. Kawawang bata talaga. Malas siya ng araw na iyon.

5. Bumangga si Pascal sa Eiffel Tower. Gayunpaman hindi ito naging hadlang sa kanyang paglaki. Nagising siya sa katotohanaang hindi siya makakatakas mula sa mundo dahil sa gravity na hindi kayang alpasan ng mga lobo. Naging kilala siya at yumaman bilang tagatanggap ng royalty fee ng ‘The Red Balloon’. Speechless pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.

Nobody cried; prompting me to suggest to you that there might be some problem with your lacrimal glands.

P.S. Wala akong pakilaam kung magkaiba ang oras ng HDI at CIS. Marami na akong prinoproblema, tulad ng -- ano kaya ang nangyari sa blue balloon? Sumama kaya siya sa diaspora?

Tigilan mo na,

JP

WHAT TO DO ALL WEEK?

I got forwarded this email from someone at work who intially thought I actually wrote it. I don't know what to make of her comment.

_____________________________
Here is an exercise program for those of us whose wisdom exceeds our ambition. The doctor told me "Physical exercise is good for you." I know that I should do it, but my body is out of shape, so I have worked out this easy daily program I can do anywhere. If I can do it, you can do this, too.

Monday:
Beat around the bush.
Jump to conclusions.
Climb the walls.
Wade through paperwork.

Tuesday:
Drag my heels.
Push my luck.
Make mountains out of molehills.
Hit the nail on the head.

Wednesday:
Bend over backwards.
Jump on the bandwagon.
Balance the books.
Run around in circles.

Thursday:
Toot my own horn.
Climb the ladder of success.
Pull out the stops.
Add fuel to the fire.

Friday:
Open a can of worms.
Put my foot in my mouth.
Start the ball rolling.
Go over the edge.

Saturday:
Pick up the pieces.

LIBERATION DAY

For the first time, I was able to find time for myself. Naks. May ganoong drama talaga. But really, I've never felt this free before. It only happened when I finally handed in that long overdue resignation letter.

And siempre, what better way to spend the day than to read, read, read. Hanged out at the Java Man at Powerbooks Greenbelt and devoured two books while lazily picking on the most boring and soggy apple pie I've eaten in my entire life.

Nevertheless, I finished Voltaire's CANDIDE (eyeloveit! So sarcastic! So amusing!) and Alex Garland's 2004 book, THE COMA (a fine material for a film, but it will not sell) in just four hours. After that, I did a tour of the new Greenbelt V and took photos for my other blog.

I can't wait for my next day off.

FIN.

As of this writing, I will have submitted my resignation from the company I am currently working for. I've been here for close to four years (by May 4) and it's actually the first job where I've stayed the longest. The past jobs were all attempts at taking control of my life and my future. Testing the waters, 'ika nga. BC called my resignation "a courageous act." Indeed. The office is just near my place in Las Piñas and it's already a comfort zone for me. The work schedule is in three shifts so it allows me to do some work on my business. Truth be told, it's difficult to leave it because it's so easy to stay (save for the issue on salary making J call it "a dead-end job").

By March 1, I will be assuming a far bigger role. I will be directly handling at least 15 staff (who currently are divided into two cliques - what? Problems already?) in running a 2.5-hectare events venue east of Manila. It pays so much more, too, and the owners have allowed me to continue doing my business. Only this time, it will become an in-house service. I will have to beg off from doing projects outside this venue for a year or so.

FOUR things: It saddens me to be so far from friends and loved ones. Sabi ko nga kay J, what are trains for? However, moving to Cainta, Rizal also allows me to move on from what have been a disastrous 2007. As you all know by now, I lost my Mom and my Yaya last year. What was once a happy home felt so empty all of a sudden that I end up crying all the time. That has come to an end. I have informed my landlord that I am staying only until the end of February, which is the 29th. My friends from work have offered help to pack. D.M. has offered to get the truck (Php 2,500 rent from LP to Cainta is not bad). I am going to look for a new apartment this Saturday. I hope to be able to get a two-floor, two-bedroom affair so my chef cousin can visit me more often.

Also, taking on this new job effectively signals my abandonment of my medical career (or whatever's left of it; not that it's been ever started). I now belong to the statistics of people who have "frustrated dreams" and will just pass these on to their kids or nephews. I have already inquired online to see if I can still pursue my M.S. in Environmental Health, but the UP Open University isn't offering it yet. Tsk. My only days off are Mondays and Tuesdays. No way I can attend class in Taft with my new work schedule.

4 years in this company. Our unit number is 14. February 29 only happens every four years. Four. It sounds like death in the Chinese vocabulary (Si). Weird coincidence, but I am not very superstitious. I only look forward to a new life this 2008.

SERIOUSLY?!

What Dylan Means

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Got this from Ruby.

IT'S A LOMO WORLD!

Super thanks to Ruby. Taken with a Colorsplash camera.

FAREWELL, YAYA!

Sinona Esguerra,(?) - 2007
Faithful Yaya, Friend, and Family Member

As you may probably know by now, I lost my yaya last December 29. She's had mismanaged Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) for several years now. When she returned to us in 2004, she was being treated for asthma but in April of 2007 when I had her checked up, it turned out that there was no asthma at all but rather, CHF.

I really do not have much to say as of this moment except to thank everyone who attended the cremation, as well as those who rushed to the house upon hearing the news. We also make special mention of a blogger friend, S, who sent money before for her treatment and to M.S. for helping with the bills.

We were alone at home, and she expired in my arms. Two deaths in a year in my household. That's more than I could possibly bear at the moment.

I pray to God that He, in his infinite mercy, put Nana Noning in the presence of His Grace for all eternity, that He take care of her in more ways than I could possibly do when she was still on earth.

She was very good to us, to me. We didn't deserve her. We are forever thankful and will remember her fondly as long as we live.

TO-DO LIST