Mikrobyo ni Pepe

Naranasan mo na bang batiin ka ng ibang lahi sa wikang Tagalog? Kung, oo, ako rin, at nakakapukaw ng damdamin bilang isang Pilipino. Kasi kahit papaano may ibang lahi na sumusubok magsalita ng ating sariling wika. Siguro, patas lang rin, kasi tayo namang mga Pinoy kahit saan mapunta ay sumusubok rin tayong magsalita ng wika ng bansang ating pinuntahan.

Halimbawa na lang, dito sa Saudi, kahit papaano, medyo nakakapagsalita rin ako ng Arabic. At sa trabaho naman, sa pakikipaghalubilo natin sa ating mga ka-manggagawa, kahit papaano ay natotoo rin tayo ng kanilang mga wika. Konting Urdu, konting Bangla, konting Italian, konting French, konting German, konting Mekene, konting Bisaya, konting Panggalatok, konting Ilocano, konting Waray, at marami pang konti. Kahit kung minsan tayong mga Pinoy, nagtuturo rin tayo ng ating mga salita sa ibang lahi. May mga taxi driver nga dito sa Jeddah, na matatas nang managalog – ibang lahi ‘yon ha.

Isa lang ang napansin ko sa ilan sa ating mga kababayang nagtuturo ng wikang Pilipino sa ibang lahi. ‘Yon bang nababastos ang ating sariling wika. At ewan ko, kung bakit kailangan mong turuang mag-mura sa wikang Pilipino ang ibang lahi. Eto ang sample:

Banyaga: Kumusta kabayan (accented)
Noypi: Mabuti-ti (ngising aso – sabay paliwanag to the max kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng dalawang huling pantig sa salitang “ma-bu-ti-ti”)

BAKIT!!!! Puede namang sumagot ng maayos. Napaka-simpleng sumagot ng “mabuti”, pero hindi, dapat ba talaga ganoon ang sagot. Kahit siguro sabihing biruan lang, kasi para sa ating mga Pinoy biro lang ‘yon, pero para sa ibang lahing nakakarinig, hindi biro ‘yon. Yon na yon. Kaya hindi nakapagtatakang sa sunod na bati sa’yo ay ganito na:

Banyaga: Kumusta kabayan? (accented pa rin)
Noypi: Fine, good.
Banyaga: Mabuti-ti! (ngiting aso na rin)

Meron pa nga kaming Storekeeper noon eh, ibang lahi rin. Nagulat na lang ako ng magmura sya na malutong na malutong na P@#&*%-I*#!!! Matapos syang mag-mura, sabay ngiti sa akin, na feeling proud sya na nakakapag-mura sya sa wikang Pilipino.

Kung magpapaturo ka sa ibang lahi ng kanilang salita, hindi ganito ang ituturo nila sa’yo. Tuturuan ka nila ng kanilang salita ng may kasiyahan, kasiyahan in a way na proud sila sa pagiging kung ano man nila. Hindi ka nila tuturuang magmura, o tuturuan ng mga salitang alam nilang ikabababa ng kanilang moral.

Hindi naman siguro lahat ng Pinoy ganito, ilan lang sila.

At ang “mangilan-ngilang” ito ang nagsisilbing mikrobyo ng buong lahing kayumanggi. At ang “ilang” ito ay hindi dapat binibeybi-beybi…dapat dito….. pinapatay!

ABAKADA

Sabi nga ni Lyzius sa kanyang entry kahapon na Palayaw Blues:

"Palayaw. Yan, jan mahilig ang sandamukal na pinoy sa pagbibigay ng palayaw sa mga tao o bagay sa paligid. Parang biniyayaan tayo ng powers na binyagan ang mga tao sa paligid natin."

Totoo 'yon, at hindi lang 'yon, maidagdag ko lang. Kung gaano nga siguro karami ang mga isla ng Pilipinas, ay ganoon rin karami ang mga salita o linguwaheng ginagamit sa bawat isla nito. Isa rin siguro kung hindi man nag-iisa ang mga Pinoy sa buong mundo, sa mga imbentor ng mga samu't-saring bagong salita. Bagong bokabularyo. Ito 'yong mga salitang naka-base pa rin sa orihinal na wikang Tagalog, subalit binigyan na palayaw ang mga salita.

1. G Lingo: Hindi ito ang "Gay Lingo", bago pa man mauso ang gay lingo ay ginagamit na ang uri ng salitang ito, kadalasan sa mga palengke ng mga nagtsi-tsismisang tendera. Ito ang pagsisingit ng titik "G" sa bawat silabol ng isang salita. Isa itong halimbawa ng "coded-tsimis-tool", kasi coded ang usapan, ang makakaintindi lang ng pinag-uusapan nyo ay ang may alam ng code, natural.

Halimbawa:

A S O = A GA S O GO

Digi baga, agastigig tagalaga agang magangagang Piginogoy!
Medyo may kahirapan syang isulat kesa salitain.

2. Gay Lingo: Eto na nga ang Gay Lingo. Gay lingo, kasi ito ang kadalasang salitang ginagamit ng mga bading - na sya ring imbentor ng salitang ito. Subalit ang paggamit ng salitang ito ay hindi lamang limitado sa mga bading, kasi sa kasalukuyan - bading, lalaki, babae, bata, matanda, may ipin o wala, ay gumagamit ng salitang ito. Naka-base sa wikang Tagalog / English / Bisaya at kung ano pang linguwahe, depende sa linguwaheng ginagamit ng pinagmulan ang Gay Lingo, meron nga lang itong sariling salita o katapat na salita sa bawat bagay.

Halimbawa:

Iyak / Cry - Crayola
Anything - Anik-anik
Sex - Churva (hindi ko lang alam kung paano ito nakuha)

3. Isama pa natin sa mga bagong bukabolaryong ito ang mga "TXT Lingo". Bago lang ito, kalimitang ginagamit sa paggawa ng text o SMS (short messaging system). Ang alam ko lang sa linguwaheng ito ay ang pag-aalis ng mga patinig (vowel) ng isang salita at ang matitira lang ay ang mga katinig (consonants) nito. Puwede ring lagyan ng numero ang isang pinaikling salita lalo na kung ito ay inuulit, subalit hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon na may numero ang isang salita ito ay kailangang ulitin. Maaari rin kasi itong ang numerong isiningit sa salita ay katunog ng susunod na silabol.

Halimbawa:

Baba = B2
Late = L8
You = U
Why = Y

Sa mga halimbawa sa itaas, hindi ko lang alam kung ang lahat ay tama. Paki-tama nalang ako kung mali man.

Meron ding sariling salita ang mga magsusugal, magba-balot, mangingisda, lahat ng antas sa lipunan - may sariling pagkakakilanlan. Kahit mga tambay sa kanto ay may sarili ring salita, kahit na 'yong mga tambay sa chatrooms. Bawat oras ay may bagong salitang ipinapanganak.

Ikaw, anong bagong salita ang nadagdag sa bokabularyo mo?

Laro ni Pepe 2

Dahil na rin sa dami ng laro ni Pepe kaingan kong hatiin at ipahabol ang bahaging ito. Narito ang ikalawang bahagi.

Syatô o Kunisi: Syatô ang tawag nito sa Katagalugan, at Kunisi naman sa parteng Timog na bahagi ng Pilipinas (ayon kay Tufs).Isa rin ito sa mga klasik ng larong Pinoy. Lahat yata ng batang Pinoy, probinsyano man o taga-lungsod, ay nakapaglaro ng larong ito kahit minsan lang sa kanilang buhay. Sa tulong na rin ni Kuya Erik – Ang Batang Syatô ng Tondo at ni Tufs – Kunisi Guru, ay mas naunawaan at nagbalik sa aking alaala ang paglalaro nito. Kung magaling kang sumipat at pumalo, puedeng-puede ka sa Syatô. Mas mainam laruin ang larong ito sa kaparangan, ‘yon bang malawak ang paligid. Mainam rin kung lupa o hindi sementado ang paglalaruan, kasi kailangan ng mga manlalarong maghukay sa lupa – eh mahirap namang maghukay sa semento, diba? Ok na rin kung medyo madamo ang paligid, wag lang malago, dagdag epek rin kasi ito sa luntiang paligid. Meron itong tatlong bahagi.

Unang Bahagi:
Sa una palang ay kailangan mo na ang munting hukay – ito rin kasing maliliit na mga hukay na ito ang nagiging palatandaan na may naglaro ng Syatô o Kunisi sa isang lugar. Sa bahaging ito, ang manlalarong titira ay gagawa ng isang maliit na hukay at sa ibabaw nito ay ipapatong ang maliit na kahoy (mga 5 pulgada ang sukat). Pagkatapos ay pu-pwesto ang manlalarong titira sa ibabaw ng maliit na hukay at sisipatin niya ang maliit na kahoy sa ibabaw noon. Gamit ang isa pang kahoy o patpat na mga isang metro ang haba. Pagkatapos, gamit ang patpat ii-itsa o ito-toss papalayo ng tumitirang manlalaro ang maliit na patpat. Ang ibang mga manlalarong ay nakaabang lang sa paligid upang masalo ang ini-itsang patpat, kung masalo, tapos na ang Syatô karir ng tumira kasi ang manlalarong nakasalo naman ang titira. Kung hindi naman masalo, ang manlalarong nakapulot ng ini-itsang patpat ay pu-pwesto upang susubukan nyang ihagis at patamaan ang mahabang patpat na ginamit na batang tumira. Kung tamaan, ang manlalarong nakatama ang sya namang titira. At kung hindi naman tamaan, ang bibong bata ay a-advance sa ikalawang bahagi.

Ikalawang Bahagi:
Sa bahaging ito, hawak ng manlalaro sa kanyang dalawang kamay ang dalawang patpat. Ihahagis nya sa ere ang maliit na patpat at hahatawin nya ito sa pamamagitan ng mahabang patpat. Kailangang ‘wag pa ring masalo ang maliit na patpat ng iba pang manlalarong nag-aabang sa paligid. Kung masasalo ang patpat, natural you will loose your turn, at ang manlalarong nakasalo naman ang titira. Kung hindi masasalo ang patpat, ihahagis muli ito ng manlalarong nakapulot papunta sa iyong direksyon at muli ay titirahin mo ito, parang baseball. Kung hindi mo matamaan, bibilangin ang layo nito mula sa pinagkabagsakan hanggang sa hinukay na butas na nagsisilbing “base”. Paglapit sa base, mas mainam, paglayo, medyo tagilid.

Ikatlong Bahagi:
Ngayon ang batang titira ng Syatô ay maghuhukay ng hindi naman kalaliman sa lupa o maaari pa ring gamitin ‘yong hukay na ginamit kanina sa una at ikalawang bahagi ng laro, sapat lang upang mailagay nya ang munting kahoy (mga 5 pulgada) sa hukay at ipaling ito ng approx. 45°. Makahukay at mailagay na ang kahoy sa hukay, hahatawin ng bata ang maliit na kahoy – puedeng malakas, puedeng mahina, depende sa bata. Syempre kung tinamaan ang kahoy lilipad ito pataas. Habang nasa ere ang “syatô” hahabulin ito ng batang humataw at muli ay hahatawin nya ito ng malakas papalayo sa pinaka-hukay. Ang ibang mga bata na kasali, ay nagkalat sa paligid. Aabangan nila ang syatô at kung maaari ay masalo nila ito bago pa man bumagsak sa lupa. Kung masalo ang syatô, ang nakasalo ang susunod na titira. Kung hindi naman masalo, ay magkakaroon ng bilangan, mula sa pinagbagsakan ng syatô hanggang sa hukay na pinanggalingan nito. Hindi lang maliwanag sa akin kong paglaki o pagliit ng bilang ang ikapapanalo ng tumira. Medyo delikado laruin ang larong ito, kasi puede kang tamaan ng syatô sa mata at maaaring ipatigil ang paglalaro dahil dito.

Sipa: Ito ang pambansang laro ng lahing kayumanggi, Sipa. Hindi ko ata kinagiliwan ang larong ito noon, kasi lagi akong taya. Ang “sipa” o ‘yong bagay na sisipain ng mga naglalaro ay maaaring gawa sa pinitpit na tanso o baryang binutasan sa gitna tapos nilagyan ng hinimay-himay na tali – wala namang itinatakdang kulay ng taling dapat ilagay. Kung walang barya, puede ring gamitin ang pinagbungkos na lastiko. Mas bukong-bukong-friendly ang lastiko, kasi hindi sya masakit kung tatamaan ang bukong-bukong mo, kumpara sa barya o ‘yong pinitpit na tanso. Ang pinitpit na tanso o ang barya naman ay mas mainam sipain palayo kumpara sa lastiko. Maraming paraan ng pagsipa, syempre sa paa (may sipang pambabae at panglalaki), meron din sa tuhod, meron sa siko, at ang pina-basic sa lahat na hindi nangangailangan ng karagdagang abilidad ay sa kamay. Ang pinaka-mahirap, kaya pinakamahirap kasi hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin ito kayang gawin ay ang “black magic” sipa. Don’t get me wrong, hindi ito ang sipang may mga bulong o orasyon, ito ‘yong sipang titirahin mo ng patalikod. Kailangan dito ang ng extrang abilidad sa pagbalanse at pagtansya. Kadalasan ay sampu ang bilang sa sipa at sa ika-sampu dapat ay sipain mo ang sipa ng malayong malayo, ‘yong hindi masasalo ng ibang mga manlalaro, kasi kung masasalo at masisipa, ikaw ang taya. Ang taya sa sipa ay syang taga hagis ng sipa sa manlalarong titira. Kung taya ka, hindi ka makakasipa. Kung matagal ka nang taya, puede ka nilang tawaging “bagoong”.

Pitik: Pitik ang tawag namin dito, hindi ko lang sa ibang tribu. Hindi ito pitikan ng kamay – pitikan ito ng lastiko. Natatandaan ko, na sa sobrang dami ng lastiko ko, punong puno ng lastiko ang kamay ko, mula wrist hanggang siko, syempre hinding-hindi ko rin malilimutan ang lastiko soup con pasta. Sa sobrang addict ko kasi sa lastiko eh lagi akong ginagabi o late na umuuwi ng bahay at sa galit ni nanay nabuo ang lastiko gourmet na ‘yon. Simple lang ang laro, kung napagkasunduan ng dalawang manlalarong apat na lastiko, e’di pagbubuhulin ang walong lastiko. At dito na magsisimula ang pitikan, kung sino ang unang makapagpakalag ng magkabuhol na lastiko sa pamamagitan ng pagpitik – sya ang panalo, sa kanya na ang lastiko.

Disclaimer:

Ang mga larawang ginamit sa entry na ito ay galing sa www.hasloo.com/philsports.

Mata sa Bintana

Napanood mo ba si Osang noon sa Babae sa Bintana? Kung hindi mo napanood, napanood ko ‘yon. Napanood ko kung paano noon bosohan ni Goma si Osang mula sa bintana - at kung paano mag-init ang buong sinehan nang magkita na ang mamboboso at binobosohan.

Intro lang ‘yon, kasi kahapon – maikwento ko lang, ‘yon nga kahapon ng hapon pumunta ako sa bahay ng isang kaibigan na hindi ko na muna papangalanan sa ngayon. Akswali, apat kaming bumisita sa bahay ng kaibagan naming ito. Natural, ewan ko lang kung natural ito ha, kasi halos bente-kwatro oras na kaming magkakasama simula pa noong Huwebes ng gabi, pero hindi pa rin magka-ubusan ng wento. Marami pa ring kwento, at parang walang katapusan.

Parang hindi naman maganda kung puro kwentuhan nalang at puede ba naman ‘yon, wento lang ng wento, syempre may kainan din. ‘Yong isa kasi naming kasama ay nakatanggap ng mahiwagang “envelop” mula sa kumpanya niya. Ano ang laman ng mahiwagang sobre? Wala nang naglakas loob umusisa, basta sa pagkakaalam namin ay sapat ‘yon para bumili ng dalawang biggie-size spicy Al-Baek, na syang aming pinagsalu-saluhan.

Asyuswal, wento at wento pa rin habang kumakain.

Haayy.. natapos din ang kainan. Kainan lang ang natapos ha, kasi tuloy pa rin ang kwentuhan.

Kadalasan, ang isang tao matapos kumain, sya ay maaring magpahinga, o kaya ay umidlip kasi nga busog, o kaya naman eh medyo magpalakad-lakad para nga raw “bumaba” ang kinain. Sa mga ‘yosi-kadiri”, mas ok raw mag-yosi pagkakakain, hindi ko lang alam ang feeling kasi ‘di ko pa nasusubukan. Ito ang mga kadalasang after-meal-ritual ng isang tao. Pero kahapon, matapos kaming kumain, wala sa mga ito ang aming ginawang ritual. Maging Sino Ka Man Family Portrait – tama, yan ang aming after-meal ritual, kakaiba ‘no? Pero ok naman. Full of “emotion” with filled tummy ang family portrait.

Matapos nga ang makasaysayang piktsuran, may naramdaman akong kakaiba. Naiihi ako. Natural kung naiihi, pupunta ng banyo. Kaya ganoon na nga ang ginawa ko, iniwan ko ang grupo at tumalilis ako papuntang banyo.

Pagpasok ko ng banyo. Mmmhh.. ok naman, halatang maayos sa banyo ang nakatira. Hindi ganoon kalaki ang banyo pero maayos. Ok naman ang bowl, wala nga lang toilet seat, pero ok na rin – nakikigamit lang ako eh. Sa itaas ng bowl, medyo gilid, merong isang maliit na bintana. Smoked glass.

Eto nga, ihing-ihi na eh.

‘Di baba ko zipper ng pantalon ko.

Dinukot at inilabas si mini-me.

Sinipat ang bowl.

At ……….. aaaahhhh ang sarap ng feeling, pramis.

Habang umiihi ako, medyo napatingin ako sa bintana. Oo, doon sa bintana sa itaas lang ng bowl. Parang merong kung ano sa likod ng salamin. Pilit kong sinipat kung ano ‘yon, umiihi pa rin ako.

Mata!

Mata nga!

Mapupungay ang mata. Malabo man ang salamin, subalit hindi ako maaaring magkamali na nangungusap ang mga matang ito sa bintana – nakatitig sa akin. Habang nakatuon ang aking atensyon sa pares ng matang iyon sa bintana, na-alala ko na tapos na pala akong umihi at hawak ko pa rin si mini-me.

Binobosohan ako ng mga mata!!??

Kaya naman, dali-dali pagpag ko si mini-me, tapos balik ko ulit sa loob ng pantalon.

Flush.

Nadoon pa rin ang mga mata. Nakatitig pa rin sa akin. Nangungusap. May sinasabi.

Nilapitan ko ang bintana. Mata nga talaga ‘to. At hindi ko man lang kinakitaan ng pagkahiya ang mga matang ito, matapos nya akong bosohan! Kinatok ko ang salamin. Andoon pa rin ang mga mata, hindi natitinag. Patuloy na nakamasid, Eh wala naman akong balak makipagtitigan sa matang ‘yon buong maghapon, so iniwanan ko nalang. Wala namang nawala sa akin eh, ewan ko lang sa may-ari ng mata… sana lang nag-enjoy sya!

Hanggang sa paglabas ko ng banyo ay naroon pa rin ang mga matang iyon. Matang mapupungay. Matang nangungusap.

Mata nino?

‘Yon ang tanong.

Tanong na kailangan kong itanong sa kaibigan kong nakatira sa bahay na ‘yon.

Itutuloy…

Honest Injaz' Teller

This entry is for the Indian teller of Injaz Money Transfer in Bawadi – Siteen. Just want to thank and appreciate him for his honesty. So how’s it happened?

One afternoon, I’ve been to Injaz Money Transfer Office in Bawadi – Siteen, the nearest branch of Western Union affiliated company in my compound.

16:42 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I went to Injaz for some money transfer stuff. There is no queue as always – that’s why I love this branch.

16:44 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I filled-up the required form for transferring money abroad.

Receiver Firstname: xxxxxxxx
Receiver Lastname: xxxxx
Destination: xxxxxxxxxxx
Amount / Currency: xx xxxxxx
CIF No.: xxxxxxx
Sender Name: xxxxxx x. xxxxx
Mobile No.: xxx xxx-xxxx

16:46 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Back to the teller, but there’s a 3-man queue. So I just follow the line and I’m 4th.

16:48 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Still in the queue, and the clock is ticking.
Tik…tak…tik…tak.

16:51 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Still in the queue, the teller is still servicing the first man in the line. Which I guess having more than one transaction. The clock is still ticking.

16:54 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
The first man was finished and left. Now I’m the third one on the queue. Seems the teller is busy with something, he’s not entertaining now the first man in line.

16:55 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Teller is still busy. People are starting to crowd on the other teller. The security guard is now assisting / instructing the crowd to stay in line and wait to be served.

16:57 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
The teller is now servicing the first man – a Pakistan national. The two man on my back who’s also a Pakistan nationals are arguing on what to put on the Money Transfer form.

16:59 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Still the teller is on discussion-sign-language-combo with the first man. I’m still in queue, watching the watch on my wrist – ticking still. The crowd is now starting to build on both lines – my line and the other line on my right side. Mr. Security is now having hard time to keep the people stay in line.

17:04 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Teller is not yet finished with the Pakistan national and I’m already annoyed on the slow service – not to mention with people on queue who fly from this part of the world without even know how to communicate. The playlist on my mind has already been repeated twice.

17:06 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
At last the teller has finished the Pakistan man, and next in line if I’m not mistaken is an Indian national making me second in line. Again the teller seems to be busy with something.

17:07 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
The Indian man is now being served and discussing something with the teller on their own language – something about a “bank draft”? The playlist on my mind is in the middle of the second song.

17:10 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
At long last, the Indian man has been served and finished, and now it’s my turn…not yet, suddenly he seems busy again with something. My fingers is already starting to swell finger-tapping hard on the counter, just for the teller to know my existence. What keeps him busy? Well, he’s counting money, segregating the new bills to the old bills.

"For crying out loud, do you really have to do that now?! "

17:11 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
“Good afternoon”. And the teller started serving me, I pause my playlist. The transaction went smoothly as I expected it to be – well because I have very good hand writing as if the form was filled by a computer with Arial font-face and printed (he he he, almost I guess). The teller started to input my info – tap – tap – tap – tap, and asked for my money.

17:12 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I counted the money and give it to the teller. The teller took the money and suddenly his mobile ring. "For the love of God!!!! Why now??" Of course he answered his mobile and put my money on the side of the table. At that moment I have this thought in my mind.

“He might mixed my money to the money he is counting before, and he might asked me that I gave him less because he don’t even bother to count the money I gave him before he put it down in the table. Well, if he do that, I’m not sure if I can control myself, but one thing’s for sure, he’s going to have an earful from me.”

17:14 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
He hanged-up and get back on me. Well thanks God, I’m just a lil paranoid, because that thing I thought never happened, after my receipt has been printed, I signed the paper and left.

17:14 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Outside I hailed a cab going to Corniched to buy some stuff. We agreed for the price – SR 20.00.

17:16 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
The cab driver is a Bangladesh national from Dhaka. Courteous and polite. The air inside cab is pretty much bearable / breathable.

17:18 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I was checking the receipt from the bank. And I stopped! As if something had hit me! I forgot to take my change! If it’s tenths it’s fine, but it’s hundredths!!! I was thinking hard now… what’s gonna be my next move.

17:19 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
We’re taking Madinah Road now, one of the main road here in Jeddah, approximately 3 miles away from Injaz Money Transfer in Bawadi – Siteen.

17:19 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I asked the cab driver to drive me back to Injaz.

17:23 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
We reached Injaz, and I asked the cab to wait for me. I actually asked him to leave and offer him to pay half of the fare that we agreed but he insisted to wait – so ok, you wait.

17:24 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Back to Injaz, both line now is way to long like labyrinth of people. I know its kind of rude, but I just go to the counter and asked the teller about my change. I’m sure a lot of people in the line rise their eyebrows on me – but who cares I got a cab waiting for me outside and say or not – the meter is still running (I might be selfish, but not all the time – occasionally and i guess it's common to human, that when he do the bad thing he always have the justification to make that thing right.).

17:26 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Though the teller is busy serving a costumer, whom if I’m not mistaken was the man who is second to the man next to me before, he acknowledge me and asked for my receipt.

17:27 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
The teller reviewed my receipt and started to count money, and returned me my change.

17:28 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
Thank you and God bless you. That’s the only thing I could say to the teller. And now I realized how bad I am to the teller. Through the rest of my stay in line in there, I almost curse him for doing his job too slow, and yet at the end of the day – he is my Good Samaritan.

The lesson of the story: Do not judge people. Sometimes we tend to have a quick judgment to people around us, especially if those people don’t satisfy us on the way that we expect them to be. I just remember what Jesus told in Matthew: Do not judge, so you will not be judged. I’m just wondering, what if I openly say out loud my disgust to the slow service of that teller, and in the end, here I am coming back to him – and all of the people on the queue knew who will have the last laugh.

So to you, Mr. Indian teller, I’m sorry for my quick judgment and thanks a lot.

17:56 (+300 GMT) 25.march.2008
I reached Corniched and paid the cab driver SR 35.00 + one homemade puto.

A Short Story by: Ms. Melanie Marquez

Disclaimer:

Ang kwentong ito ay naibato lang sa akin ni Bert. At dahil tanghali na at wala pa akong entri, eto na lang, siguro puede na 'to. Salamat Bert.

We' ve been friends for a long timeago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look.

I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me.

He said, "I hope you don't mine.Can I get your number?"

Nag-worry ako.What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw.

Sabi ko, "Connect me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch?"

Nabigla siya.

Sagot niya, "The!"

Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears. Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this isa blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch na rin.

Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time. After 2weeks, he plopped the question.

"Will you marriage me?"

I'm in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it'sfour! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor. Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces.

Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng,

"Well, well, well. Look dowe have here."

What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud.

She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines!

I told her, "please, mine you own business!"

Who would believe her anyway? Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo.

Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said like twice. He's so supportive.

Sabi niya, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk.You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul.

I second emotion!

Laro ni Pepe

Ano paborito mong laro? Kahit anong laro. Bola? Tsinelas? Lata? Teks (hindi ito ‘yong SMS ha, hindi pa rin kasi uso ang selpown noon) Kagabi kasi nagkita-kita ang mga Batang Dyeda, at habang sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay napunta ang aming usapan sa mga LARO – LARO na ito.

Kung ipinanganak ka ng taong 1975 hanggang 1990, maaaring nakapaglaro ka rin nga mga larong pinag-usapan namin kahapon. Sa pagkakaalam ko kasi, noong mga taong iyon hindi pa lumalabas ang Pi-es-pi, wala pa ring Eks-Baks noon at hindi pa rin ganoong nagu-usbungan noon ang mga basketbol kort – hindi katulad ngayon na halos lahat at ng kanto ay meron. Ganoon man ang sitwasyon, ay hindi rin naman napigilan ang mga batang katulad ko, o mga bata noong katulad ng mga Batang Dyeda na makapaglaro.

At narito ang ilan sa mga piling-piling laro na aming napag-usapan.

Luksong Baka: Sa Luksong Baka lagi ay may isang taya. Kung ikaw ang taya, ikaw ang tatalunan ng iba pang mga batang kasali. Sa unang talon, mababa pa – ang taya ay medyo nakatuwad kung saan ang kanyang dalawang kamay ay nakatukod sa kanyang dalawang paa. Kung nalusutan mo ito, tataas ng konti, mula sa paa, lilipat sa tuhod and so on and so forth, hanggang sa mamalayan mo nalang ay mataas na ang baka. At sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, kailangan mo na mainam na bwelo para makatalon ka ng mataas – medyo ingat nga lang para hindi ka matulad sa kaswela ni Genaro na nawasak ang kasunsilyo habang nasa eri. Ang larong ito ay karaniwang nilalaro sa elementarya mula Grade two hanggang Grade five.

Luksong Tinik: Luksuhan pa rin, pero sa pagkakataong ito ay kampihan na – kasi kailangan ng kapareha ng taya. Tulad ang Luksong Baka, kailangan mo pa ring tumalon – mula sa pinaka-mababang lebel hanggang sa pinaka-mataas na kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay tinatawag na “Pusod” lebel. Hindi tulad ang Luksong Baka na kailangan mong itukod ang iyong kamay sa likod ng taya sabay talon, sa Luksong Tinik, hindi dapat lumapat ang anumang parte ng iyong katawan sa mga tinik. Wala naman talagang tinik na involve dito, ang sinasabing tinik ay ang mga kamay ng dalawang taya na nakabukang pinagpapatong-patong. Ang hindi makatalon o ang sumayad sa tinik – TAYA.

Teks: Gaya nang nabanggit ko sa intro, hindi ito ang SMS. Ito ‘yong may “Tsa” at “Tsub”. Ito ‘yong parang mga maliliit na komiks (approx. 1 x 3 inches), kasi sa bawat pahina ng Text ay kaputol na mga kabanata ng isang pelukula. Parang Cara ‘y Cruz rin ang larong ito, at dalawa kayong maglalaro. Parehas kayong pipili ng mga paborito nyong teks, at syempre pipili rin kayo ng panabla. At salitan sa dalawang manlalaro kung sino ang magta-“Talang” o mag-iitsa ng mga teks sa ere. Habang nasa ere palakasan kayo sumigaw ng “tsa” o “tsub”! Tsa ang tawag kung ang mga teks pagbagsak sa lupa ay nakaharap sa langit at Tsub naman kung nakataob ito. Kung dalawang Tsa ang lumabas at naka-tsa rin ang iyong paboritong teks (tsa ang yong pamato at tsa rin ang panabla), ikaw ang panalo. At kung parehas namang Tsa o Tsub ang inyong mga pamato at ang naiiba lang ay ang panabla, tabla ang laban.

Noong mga panahong iyon, naglalaro ako ng teks hindi para makarami ng text, kundi para masubaybayan ko ang istorya sa loob ng teks.

Tatsing / Tantsing: Barya, tsenelas, laruan, bato at iba pang mga bagay na maaaring ihagis ay puedeng isali sa larong Tatsting o Tantsing. Ang larong ito ay walang limitasyon ng kasali, ‘yon ngalang padami ng kasali kailangan ay malaki rin ang parisukat na ipo-porma mo sa lupa. Simple lang itong laruin, kailangan mo lang ng barya, o tsenelas, dipende sa nappagkasunduan nyo ng inyong mga kalaro. Kung barya, ilalagay nyo lahat ng inyong tayang barya sa loob ng isang parisukat na iginuhit nyo sa lupa. Ang pakay ng laro ay mailabas mo ang lahat ng barya sa loob ng parisukat sa pamamagitan ng pag-“tatsing / tantsing” ng iyong pamato na barya rin. Barya kung barya, tsenelas kung tsenelas, laruan kung laruan. Kung sino ang unang titira depende sa kalalabasan ng tira nyo sa “palamanuhan”, eto ‘yong guhit na ilang metro ang layo sa parisukat kung saan ihahagis nyo ang mga pamato at kung sino ang pinaka-malapit sa guhit ay syang mauuna. Karaniwang mga batang lalaki ang naglalaro nito, pero kung minsan naglalaro rin nito ang mga nakatatanda, kasi nga pera-pera na ang labanan dito.

Tumbang Preso: Eto ang klasik na larong Pinoy. Simple lang ang laro, itutumba lang ng mga manlalaro ang preso, este ang lata na pinabantayan ng batang taya. Tsinelas ang ipangtitira mo sa latang nasa gitna ng bilog na guhit katabi ang batang bantay. Isa-isang titirahin ng mga batang kasali ang lata. Kung mapatumba mo ang lata at tumalsik ng malayo, mas mainam, kasi mahihirap ang bantay na pulutin pabalik ang lata. Ang masakit ay kung matamaan mo ang lata ay tumalsik ng malayo ngunit nakatayo pa rin pagbagsak… kasi nangangahulugan ‘yong ikaw ang bagong taya. Medyo agresibo ang larong ito ay maaaring makasakit, lalo na kung tamaan ka ng lata sa mukha.

Sikyo: Masarap itong laruin lalo na sa kaparangan. Kasi kailangan nito ang malayang pagtakbo-takbo. Labanan ito ng dalawang grupo – dalawang grupo ng mga mananakbo. Ang bawat grupo ay may sari-sariling kampo. Sa kampo naka-istasyon ang lahat ng mananakbo. Kung umalis ka sa kampo mo, puede kang habulin at tayain ng kabilang grupo. Pag-kumawang ka o maalis ka sa kampo mo, lagot ka, masigabong takbuhan na hanggang sa mataya ka. At kung mataya ka ng kabilang grupo, alipin ka nila. At pag-sinabing alipin ay kailangan mong dumipa sa kampo ng kalabang grupo hanggang sa ikaw ay madagit ng kasamahan mo. At kung madagit ka, malaya ka na at makakatakbo ka na ulit.

Kapaan sa Barya: Medyo klasik rin ito. Simple lang ang laro. Kalimitan dalawa lang ang puedeng maglaro. Maghahanap lang kayo ng barya at huhulaan nyo lang ang last digit ng manufacturing date ng barya. Sabi nga ni Rey, kung magaling kang manghula at kumapa, ikaw ang panalo.

Lucky Nine sa Perang Papel: Galing kay Genaro ito. Kukunin nyo naman ang serial number ng mga perang papel. Dalawa ang manlalaro nito. Ang bawat manlalaro ay pipili ng kung pang-ilang digit ng serial number ang gusto nila at sa lagay na ‘yon ay hindi pa nila alam ang serial number ng perang papel na lalaruin nila. Kung napili ko ang 2nd and 6th digit, iku-compute ito, patasan ang laban, parang Lucky Nine, puede ring mabutata. Kung sino ang manalo sa kanya na ang perang papel.

Burutan: Hindi ko lang alam kong tama ang term na ginamit ko, pero galing ang isang ito kay Bert. Para rin itong tatsing / tantsing, ilalagay mo ang iyong tsenelas sa gitna ng isang bilog na guhit at may isang taya na magbabantay. Pagtira mo, dapat ay may mailabas kang tsenelas sa bilog. Kasi kung wala kang mailabas, sa bandang huli ay puwedeng ihahagis sa kung saang parte ng mundo ang tsenelas mo at ang problema kung paano mo kukunin. Ngayon kung may mailabas kang tsenelas, puede mong i-trade ang tsenelas mo sa ibang kalarong nakapagpalabas ng tsenelas mo. Kung wala kang nailabas na tsenelas - NABURUT ka!

Hhhaaayyy.. ang dami-daming laro noong bata pa. Hindi ko lang alam kung ang lahat ng mga larong ito ay nalaro ko na. Tara, laro tayo!!!

Blogcident Update

Update lang sa aking "blogcident".

Kaninang umaga lang ay tinawagan na rin ako ng kalihim ng aking amo. Ang kalihim na kung saan ay nagpakalat ng aking blog entri na Whattanem!!! sa network ng aming kumpanya. At ang blog entri rin na ito ang muntik-muntik nang dahilan upang ako ay mawalan ng trabaho.

Nagpaliwanag naman sya sa akin. Gaya ko, hindi rin nya inaasahan na lalaki pala ng ganoon ang isyung 'yon. Humingi rin sya ng dispensa sa mga nangyari. Sabi ko nga noong nakaraan, ay mukhang ayos na lahat at balik na ulit sa dati ang sitwasyon, kaya ok na rin. Diba nga, kailangan nating patawarin ang mga taong humihingi sa atin ng kapatawaran - maanong mahirap, pero kinakailangan tayong magpatawad. At kalakip ng pagpapatawad ay ang paglimot - mahirap pa rin, lalo na ang parteng ito ng pagpapatawad, subalit ang paglimot ay kasama sa tunay na pagpapatawad...

Tsaka, it really feels good naman eh.

'Yon lang, makapagpaskil lang.

A Love Story

They'd known each other since their school days and had since become the best of friends. They shared everything and anything and spent lots of time together in and after school. But the friendship never developed into anything deeper.

Diane kept a secret: her admiration and love for Jack. She had her reasons for keeping it a secret.

F E A R.

Fear of rejection... fear that he might not feel the same... fear that he might not want to be her best friend anymore... fear of losing someone that she could always find comfort in. At least if she kept her feelings to herself she would still be able to spend time with him... and hopefully, he would be the one to tell her how he felt towards her.

Time passed, and soon school was over.

Jack and Diane went separate ways. Jack continued his studies overseas, while Diane got herself a job. They still kept in touch though... penned letters, sent each other photographs, and mailed each other gifts.

Diane longed for Jack to be back.

She decided that she would tell him her feelings once he got back. And then out of the blue... the mails from Jack stopped coming. Diane Wrote to him, but there was never a reply. Where was he? What happened? Lots of questions ran through her mind...

Two years passed and Diane was still hopeful that Jack would come back... or at least send her a note. And then her prayers were answered. One mid-August day, she received a note from Jack. It said:

Diane,

I have a surprise for you. I'm flying over. Meet me at the airport. My flight comes in at 4pm on Saturday. I can't wait to see you again! There's something I need to tell you, something I've been keeping inside all this time.

Love & Kisses,

Jack

Diane's fingers shook as she read the note. Her heart soared. Diane was thrilled. Love and kisses... it meant a lot for a lady who had waited so long for those words. She was ecstatic!

The day arrived, and Diane waited anxiously for Jack. She had slipped Into her best dress, and did her best to look as pretty as she could. She looked around... but Jack was nowhere in sight. She waited and waited, wondering what she would say to Jack when he got there, what their meeting would be like. Would there be love in his eyes? Would there be longing, bred from years of separation and hiding each others' feelings?

Oh, how she longed to see him! How she longed to throw her arms around him and tell him she was a fool to ever let him go without ever telling him how she felt! And she was certain Jack felt it too. There was always a certain magic about them when they were together.

Then a lady in a sexy, tight, blue dress approached her. She had a very concerned look on her face,

"Hi! I'm Lynn, a friend of Jack. Are you Diane?" she asked.

Diane just nodded her head.

"I'm afraid I... I have bad news for you. Jack is not coming... he won't be coming back anymore," said the lady, placing a hand on Diane's shoulder.

Diane shook her head in confusion. She felt her heart constrict.

What could possibly have happened? Diane felt an overwhelming fear inside her. Her hands turned cold. Her voice shook as she asked:

"Where.... where's Jack? What happened to him? Please tell me..."

Diane begged the lady...

The lady looked intently at Diane... and then she gave Diane a nudge on the shoulder and said...

"HOY GAGA! IT'S ME, JACK... JACKILYN!! DI MO VAH AKO NAKILALA?! ANG GANDA-GANDA KO NGAYON, DI VAAAAH?! ECHUSERA KA NAMAN MASYADO SISTER! KAKALOKA KAH HUH!! TEKA, SANDALI... MEET MY 'PAPA'!!"

Disclaimer:
Ang kwentong ito na naibahagi lamang sa akin ni Engr. Mark. Ang lahat ng kredit para sa kwentong ito ay para lang sa kanya. Anomang pagkakatulad ng kwentong ito sa totoong pangyayari ay pawang aksidente lamang at hindi sinasadya. Maghanda ng pamunas ng luha bago umpisahan ang pagbabasa.

Bulag, Pipi, at Bingi

Ang blogger na muntik nang mawalan ng trabaho: Ako 'yon.

Gaya nga ng nailahad ko sa aking entri na Paalam Karatula, muntik na akong mawalan ng trabaho ng dahil sa pagpuna sa mali (tingnan nyo ang entri na Whattanem).

Matapos nga akong maipatawag sa HR namin noong Huwebes Santo, at nasabon ng katakot-takot, hindi ko pa rin ipinalagay ang aking loob na ayos na ang lahat. Kahit kinamayan na ako ni amo, pero hindi nya ako binabati o tinatawagan man lang - na dati na naman nyang ginagawa bago pa mangyari ang "blogcident" na 'to.

At dumating nga ang Sabado de Gloria, pero mas gusto kong gamitin ang Black Saturday, kasi nga para akong nasa dilim ng araw na iyon. Hindi ko pa rin sigurado kung makakatanggap ako ng Termination Letter. Salamat naman sa Dakilang Manlilikha, natapos ang buong araw ng Sabado ng wala naman akong natanggap. Pero ang medyo nakakainis ay under surbeylans ang aking intranet connection. Kahit na ang aking mga sulat - papalabas o papasok man ay sinasala, kung minsan nga ay binablak na. Kaya nagpupumilit akong isulat ang lahat sa aking sariling wika - sa wikang Tagalog.

Ganoonpaman, sabi nga kung gusto ay may paraan at kung ayaw ay maraming dahilan. Eh gusto, kaya nakakuha ako ng salaan-free na koneksyon sa pamamagitan ng aking telepono - 'yon nga lang ako ang nagbabayad ang koneksyon. Kaya nga kahapon ay nakapag-kwento pa ako, kahit na pasilip-silip lang sa bintana at patipa-tipa ng konti natapos ko rin ang Aparisyon sa Dyeda.

Update (hindi ko alam sa Tagalog ito) lang: Balik na ulit sa normal ang lahat ngayong umaga. Matino na ulit ang koneksyon ko, at wala na ring salaan. Ang mga sulat ko ay nakararating na sa kanilang paroroonan, ganoon din ang mga sulat para sa akin ay natatanggap ko na rin. Binati na rin ako ni amo ngayong umaga, kahit na ang balita ko ay masama ang kanyang pakiramdam.

Haaayyy.. sabi nga lahat ay may bayad. Pati pala ang pagpuna mo sa isang kamalian upang ito ay maituwid ay may bayad rin. Sa aking kaso hindi naman kamahalan. Pero kung iisipin mo, kung ang ginagawa mo na nga ay para sa ikabubuti ng lahat, tapos magbabayad ka pa, hindi nakakapagtaka na konti lang ang kayang magbayad. Marami ang nananatiling bulag at pipi at bingi na lang sa mga nangyayari sa kanilang paligid....

Ikaw, handa ka bang magbayad?

O mas gusto mo pang maging bulag. Maging pipi. Maging bingi.

Aparisyon sa Dyeda

Hindi ko lang alam kong maituturing na aparisyon ang nasaksihan ko kahapon – Biernes Santo sa gitna ng disyerto dito sa Dyeda. Matapos akong magsimba, naisipan kong magpahangin sa labas (as ip malamig ang hangin sa labas tuwing tanghali sa Sawdi Arabya). Habang tinatanaw ko ang ko ang paligid, ninanamnam ang sariwa at may kainitang hangin ng disyerto, nang bigla nalang walang ano-ano’y may kong ano akong kanitang nakakasilaw na bagay sa himpapawid. Nakakasilaw talaga. Kahit na ako ay naka-syeds ng Reyben, wala talaga akong makita.

Nakakasilaw!!!!!! Aaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Para akong mabubulag. Sa sobrang liwanag ay halos magdilim ang aking paligid… unti-unting nagdidilim ang paligid, hanggang sa aking napagtanto kung ano ba ang nakakasilaw na bagay na ito…

Syet! Araw pala!!! Araw pala ang natitigan ko. Anak talaga ng araw o!

Habang nagaadyas ang aking mga mata, mula na naman sa kung saan ay may narinig akong kakaibang tunog. Pramis totoo na ‘to. Hindi ko lang maipaliwang kong ano ‘yong tunog kasi nga diba kakaiba ‘yong tunog.

Hinanap ko ang pinanggagalingan ng tunog. Lingon sa kaliwa. Lingon sa kanan. Umikot ng umikot at humanap ng iba. At mula as kung saan, dis is et na talaga.

Aaaaahhhhh… kablag!

Mula sa kawalan ay isang nilalang ang bumagsak. Para gang inihulog galing sa langit. Elyen kaya ito ? Mukha namang tao, in pernis ha. At talaga namang nakapayong talaga – kulay itim. Swabe naman ang pagbagsak, kahit medyo may “kablag!” na sound paglapat sa lupa – halata na may kabigatan ang isang ito. Konti na lang siguro yayanig na ang paligid. Pag-lapag sa lupa, wala lang.. parang walang nangyaring naglakad papalayo sa gitna ng disyerto.

Akala ko tapos na ang aparisyon, hindi pa pala. Parang sumayaw ang araw. Patay-sindi. Para gang sa Agoo noon. Noong kasagsagan ng “aparisyon” daw eh nagsasayaw din ang araw, at maraming diboto ang talaga namang dumadayo para lang makasaksi ng nasabing “aparisyon”. At matapos ang ilang mahabang taon, ang batang lalaki noon na kung saan ay naging taga-pamagitan sa “aparisyon”, ay dalagang-dalaga na ngayon. Bakit naging dalaga ang batang lalaki… wag mo nang itanong, kasama ‘yon sa mga himala. Balik sa sarili kong aparisyon.

Ka-blag!!!!! As in malakas ang pagpagsak. Naka-payong paring itim. ‘Yon nga lang halatang mas mabigat ang isang ito kesa doon sa unang bumagsak kanina. Nayanig kasi ang paligid sa kanyang pagbagsak. As in yanig, muntik na nga akong matumba eh. Pagbagsak, talaga namang malaki at malakas na ka-blag!!! Nadistort nga ang kulay ng paligid eh dahil sa lakas ng impak. Pero dyaporms na dyaporms naman ang bagsak. Parang na awt-op-balans, pero banayad na banayad naman ang bagsak. Katulad rin ng nauna kanina, lumakad lang din papalayo sa gitna ng disyerto na parang wala lang…

Akala ko tapos na ang lahat, pero may humabol pa pala.

Biglang kembot!

Keym from nowhere na isinuka ng heaven knows. Negritang payong rin ang kanyang parakyutechee at kering keri nya ang malandi ngunit kahinhinan ang kanyang arrival. Talaga namang echusera ang beautiful pes ng lola mo. Super feeling-diva paglanding at talaga namang mahinhin pa sa extra virgin coconut oil. Buti nalang at hindi na-fall-laloo ang lola mo, kundi super crayola to the max ang drama. 'Yon nga kering-keri naman ang arrival-galore, at keber lang sya - wala nang kung anik-anik na chuvaness. Hhhmmmmpp...

Kembot ulit.

Pagbagsak sa lupa, katulad rin ng dalawang nauna, matikas at barakong-barako naman itong lumakad papalayo sa gitna ng disyerto.

Naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto. Pero wala nang dumating. Tahimik na muli ang paligid. Tumigil na sa pagsayaw ang araw. At naramdaman ko na rin na matagal na pala akong nakababad sa gitna ng araw at ilang oras pa ay malutong pa sa balat ng litson ang aking balugang balat.

Sumilong ako sa lilum. At naiwan sa akin ang katanungang:

SINO SILA?

SILA BA AY MGA PULIS PANGKALAWAKAN?

May karugtong….

Paalam Karatula

Nakulong na blogger? Pamilyar ka ba 'don?

Eh blogger na natanggal sa trabaho?  Pamilyar ka rin?

Kaninang umaga, napalaaliwalas ng paligid. Magandang umaga, bagong umaga. Mukhang ok naman nagsimula ang lahat. Naka-dalawang kape na nga ako at isang berdeng tsaa bago pa mag-tanghalian.

Nakagawa na rin ako ng isang entri sa blog ko kanina, tungkol ba sa nakakagigil na POEA at OWWA.

Dumating ang alas-onse ng umaga. Nag-ring ang telepono ko.

Riiinnnnnggggg.... Riiinnnnnggggg.......

Me: Hello!

Ang kalihim pala ng isa sa mga amo dito.

Kalihim: Hello, me, my boss wants to talk to you. Hold the line i'll transfer you.

Me: Oki.

nagbalik sa linya ang kalihim.

Kalihim: Me, just come to his office, he wants to talk to you.

Me. Tell him I'm busy here, I also have some work to do here. (biro lang 'yon)

Kalihim: He's angry!

Me: What?

At hindi na nya ako nasagot kasi ibinaba na nya ang telepono.

So, punta nga ako sa office ng amo nya.

Nasa silid ng amo nya ang isa pang kalihim. Nang makita ako ng amo ni Kalihim 1, sinenyasan lang nya ako na pumasok sa loob ng silid. Pagpasok ko nga lumabas na si Kalihim 2.

At nag-umpisa na nag sisira ng napaganda kong umaga.

Amo: What is this???!!! (galit talaga, as in...)

Pagtingin ko sa itinuturo nya.... aahhh... 'yon pala 'yon. Isa pala sa mga entri ko sa post ko na Whattanem!!! ang nakita nya. Basta isa doon. Nagbabasa rin ba sya ng blog ko??? Hindi naman siguro, kasi kung nagbabasa sya, sigurado sa mga oras na ito eh wala na akong trabaho. Akswali, pinadalhan ko 'yong kalihim nya ng kopya ng blog ko, para nga itama kong ano man ang dapat itama. Isa kasi sa mga larawan sa blog entri ko na Whattanem!!! eh galing mismo sa harapan ng aming opisina.

Ipinadala ko sa kalihim nya ang larawang iyon para ipaalam nya sa amo nya ang mali para gumawa ng aksyon para maitama. Eh ang estupido at kalahating kalihim na 'to, sa halip na ipaalam sa amo nya ang "napansin" ko, e ikinalat sa local network namin ang larawan - naging katawa-tawa ang aming kompanya.

Kaya ako pinatawag ng amo nya.

Syempre paliwanag naman ako ng side. (mahaba ang paliwanagan, in short na-ayos rin ang lahat, at nangako na lamang akong kung may mapupuna pa ulit ako ay dumiretso nalang ako sa kanya - sa amo ni Kalihim 1.)

Haaayyy... kinabahan ako don ah.. akala ko mawawalan na ako ng trabaho. Akala ko masesesante na ako.

But the thought is, i'm just trying to correct what is wrong. Pero hindi ganoon ang pagkakaintindi nila, feeling nila pinalalaki ko lang ang isang napakaliit na bagay. For info lang: 15 years na yatang nakatayo ang maling karatulang iyon sa tapat ng aming opisina - sa tagal ng panahong 'yon ay wala man lang nakapuna na mali pala ang karatula. At kanina rin, sa galit ni amo, ipinbuldows ang karatula...

Paalam karatula.... muntik mo na akong alisan ng trabaho ah...

POEA and OWWA and OFW

Ngayong umaga, pagpasok ko eto agad ang bumulagang e-mail sa inbox ko. Galing 'to kay Sam., kasamahan kong OFW rin dito sa office. Matapos ko mabasa 'to, medyo nagngit-ngit ako - kainis ba. Pero si Sam, sabi nya, kung nasa Pilipinas lang daw sya, baka nga namundok na rin sya. Akswali, puede rin akong mamundok, kasi taga-bundok naman talaga ako, since birth. Mangyan ga ako. Eto ngang isa ring OFW hindi na talaga napigil ang sarili:

"Kaya pala gusto maglabas ng bagong ruling mga walanghiya kasi nabuko ng COA, hayup kayong mga taga-POEA, paano nyo nasisikmura ipakain sa pamilya nyo ang pagkaing galing sa pangungurakot! !! mahiya naman kayo sa amin mga OFW na nagtitiis malayo sa pamilya,para lang maitaguyod ang kinabukasan nila sa disente at matapat na paghahanapbuhay.....ang galing ng gobyerno!!! lalu na ang poea !!!!....sarap nyong balatan ng buhay at budburan ng asin at kalamansi!!! "

Kung hindi abeylabol ang kalamunding, puede na rin ang hot souce, 'yong extra spicy. Nakakagigil!!!

Basahin ninyo ang nadiskubre ng Commission on Audit kung saan nilulustay ang pera nating mga OFW at ipakalat o ipaalam sa mga kasamahan natin na walang daan sa e-mail.
   
THE Commission on Audit (COA) has rebuked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration for "illegally"granting about P40 million in incentives and allowances to its officials and employees for the past three years.
   
COA also took the POEA to task for allowing its executives and employees who were issued mobile phones to download about P796,000 worth of games, tones, picture messages and other unauthorized items.

In its latest report, prepared by Director IV Roberto Marquez, COA said  the POEA drew P24.048 million from the funds of the Overseas Workers' Welfare Administration to grant an "incentive allowance" to its personnel. Such use of OWWA funds is unauthorized, COA said.
   
It said that even if the OWWA Board of Trustees had justified the giving of the incentive allowance by citing the increase in OWWA collections from overseas Filipino workers, the move was "without legal basis."
   
Section 15 (e) of the General Appropriations Act, FY 2003 (as reenacted in 2004), "as well as previous general appropriation acts, provides that no government funds shall be [used] to pay honoraria, allowances or other compensations to any government official or employee, except those  specifically authorized by  law," the report stated.
 
Section 3 of Administrative Order 103 also bans national government agencies from granting new or additional benefits to their officials and employees "except for Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) Incentives and those expressly provided by presidential issuance," the COA said.

Although it recommended that the POEA management stop granting the incentive allowance, COA acknowledged that the issue is awaiting final disposition before the Legal Adjudication Office.
   
COA noted that the POEA granted P15.448 million for the CAN signing bonus and rice allowance to its employees, a violation of rules laid down by the Public Sector Labor Management Council.
   
   
COA said the POEA management and the employees' union agreed on a quarterly rice subsidy to its employees, including casuals, contractual and temporary workers, and a P15,000 signing bonus "to be given on a staggered basis within three years subject to the availability of savings."

On the strength of the agreement signed on December 10, 2001,the POEA granted P15.448 million from 2002 to 2004. But! the COA reviewed the payments and found they could have violated the rules on CAN signing bonus and allowances. Rice and other subsidies require "appropriation of funds," or approval from Congress and subsequent enactment of the President, COA said.

COA also cited a May 16, 2002, circular from the Department of the Budget and Management that said the President has issued a "moratorium on the grant of CNA signing bonus due to some problems raised on the payment and fund source."
   
COA added that the moratorium has been in effect until these problems are resolved and a policy is issued on the matter.
   
It also cited the July 11, 2002, decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Social Security System v. COA, in which it ruled against the signing bonus as a form of additional compensation under the Constitution.
   
COA said that despite the Court's earlier pronouncement against the granting of incentives and allowances, the POEA in 2004 still gave P7.2105 million to its employees and officials as signing bonus and rice subsidies.
   
The POEA justified its move by saying that the budget department had approved the release of incentives and allowances, COA said.
   
COA also questioned why the POEA failed to follow the guidelines in its memorandum on October 26, 2001, covering the use of cell phones after the POEA paid for the nonessential downloads made by its officials and employees.

The POEA is supposed to put a limit on the use of cell phones, but the audit on its telephone bills showed that P487,283.59 of the P1.3-million total from 2003 to 2004 consisted of charges in excess of the authorized limit.

Even POEA's bookkeeper in charge admitted that she could not impose limits on the use of ! the cell phones to some officials, COA said.
"We also noted that the POEA had incurred other charges amounting to P308,747.58 in the use of the mobile phones, in addition to the fixed charges of P400,002.80 due to subscription to Globe lines or plans. These additional charges are value-added taxes and currency adjustment fees. Other charges which are personal and which are easily incurred and billed due to the nature of line subscription, include share-a-load and its processing fee, GPRS such as Globe games, photo messages, polyphonic ringtones, digital postcards, photo album, cinema and magazine covers, premium java download, instant messaging and  catxtcism, etc.," COA said.

 

To avoid further overpayments, COA recommended that the POEA coordinate with Globe to shift to prepaid cards and end the subscription of postpaid lines.

If this is all true it is ROBBERY.CORRUPTION AND DISREGARD FOR THE LAW.

 

Mr. Eliseo P. Tenza Jr. , a senior resident architect from Dubai Marina Mall proposes the following action: 

   
1.    The OFW, through a legal representative file a corruption case against the officers, and employees of POEA and OWWA. The legal funds can be donated by OFW, through a US$1.00 Contribution, per OFW. We have to find how the money can be collected. Through a bank? Through a Trust Fund? (Any suggestions? )

2.    Petition the Government, through the Senate to Scrap the POEA and OWWA.

3.    Force the Government to return to the OFW the payments issued by the OFW to the POEA and OWWA. 

Chief Justice Panganiban, please give us some advice on how to proceed with the necessary action.
       
OFW DOES NOT NEED POEA AND OWWA. THE OFW IS PAYING THE SALARIES OF THESE PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE TREATING OFW'S AS DIRT.
THEY ARE ROBBING THE OFW OF THEIR HARD EARNED MONEY THROUGH THE HELP OF THE GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD PROTECT ITS WORKERS. INSTEAD OF THE FAMILIES OF THE OFW, THE POEA AND OWWA IS ENJOYING THE LABORS OF THE OFW.

THIS IS THE TIME THAT OFW MUST SHOUT AND DEMAND FOR ACTION.

THIS IS WORSE THAN THE DIRECT HIRE REGULATION.

ehds, Para Sa'yo 'To

My friends,

The idea of rearranging thought and conveying it to the concern individuals has been an intent I have after having spent one of the most remarkable years of my life. I need to tell all of you these things, these ideas, these feelings, so here it goes.

I’m a very unconventional individual I must say, I’m proud of it and It made me what I am today. I want to believe that I had lost the ability to render the right emotions or reactions in the apt time it is needed. I have, and everyday I try to regain it. So having said that, forgive the way this letter is done. I tried to make it as frank and yet heartfelt as I could. It took me days to start this just to give you an idea of how I struggled to make this possible.

I now know why elders tell the youth are impatient and idealistic. And growing up and maturing so hasty makes you want to cling fiercely to that idealistic self. That is what I am experiencing right now. I’m plunged to the real world I must spend the rest of my life with, reluctantly and diffident. I want to go back, you know the feeling of wanting to escape from where you are and when you do, wanting to go back? That is what I am trying to say. It is a daunting state but one of the nice things it brought me is this, the letter.

Some of you had been my friend since I can remember and some I met when we are in high school. I cant commit to memory how I got you as friends but I am profoundly grateful because you are. The time spent, the fun shared, pains endured, faults accepted, and all other silly things that made us what we are right now. I don’t have one memory of my high school without you people in it. And it hit me, my God; it’s been eight long years. These people had known me half of my life!

It is that long way back but I know there are still plenty of things left undone, for me, I am sure. I have done a great deal of unwise things that may have amused, pissed, marred, or even infuriated any of you back then. I am trying frantically now to shed light to those I can still recall. And I hope that by saying the thing I left unspoken be a means of you knowing why at some point, I am. Let me now reiterate these things…

I can be bitchy at times, well now, most of the time at least. I might have stated or assumed things that as a consequence of such error upset any of you. And asking forgiveness due to that is just plain simple. I still say that I have to find the person responsible for creating the word “sorry”. I remembered some one once told me,

“Ano pa ang magagawa ng sorry mo, sabog na utak ko?!”

I believed him on that. Para sa akin saying sorry is not a way of easing the pain of the one hurt, but easing the remorse of the faulty. The same way of saying “hindi ko sinasadya”, because there is no such thing as that. Every action has its responsibility. I am taking my responsibility on those things that I am asking your leniency now.

I am also hurt, badly as I remembered. This is the thing with You One and You Two, and unfortunately me. I believe I find it easier to get along with guys than girls. Siguro I’m really a flirt or maybe its just is, don’t worry when I find the answer I’ll tell you. And for not correcting those errors, I caused you all a great deal of anguish. I’m still enraged in myself for that. I never thought that I might be caught up in such a position in which I fully comprehend I have nothing to do with. It is a simple state that can be effortlessly resolved. And I can handle it; I know I can, if only someone believe.

I have never said anything so truthful all my life than that day I attempted to elucidate my side. And no one believed.

Being as arrogant as I am, I never attempted to seek help in the one person I know who can support my claim. I don’t know if you have any idea of how I strived to make sure you remain my friends even when all other said otherwise. It may sound that I am blackmailing but I feel I need to say it.

I can bear everyone’s indictments about me, to hell with them, all I want is that my friends believe in what I say. And you never did. And it is really difficult for me to grasp the full idea that you can do such thing to me. I felt then that I have done a lot of gaffe but I cannot believe that my friend, people I choose to be friends, never believed me. That’s what I felt; it’s not nice.

Not all of you are concern about this but still I want everyone to know. You cannot imagine the twinge of hearing your friends call you the pretender. I keep telling myself if I die because of this, I am the most dim-witted person I have ever known. And I cannot also think that the only person who can clear me never did anything. I am still at awe of how is it hard for that person to say I have nothing to do with it. Just as simple as that and yet it never happened. Maybe it is late to ask for an explanation but I will try to find the reason why things were. And for years I said that you would remain my friends because you knew a lot that I can’t risk anyone else in the world to know. And for the very first time I never trusted anyone. My friends in college used to tell me that I’m always holding back a lot of things, na kahit matagal na kaming magkakakilala they still don’t know me. Siguro this is the reason for that. Mabilis akong madala, totoo yon. And this taught me a lot, that I have to speak louder to be heard, hurt anyone if necessary. I have very warped emotional side; but as you can see I’m working on it. Now you know why I am what I am, someone that may be construed as bitter.

I say I’m not bitter, just guarded.

I can never again permit anyone to treat me as the lowest person in the face of earth as I have felt that time.

Being as such an assuming person as I am (most of us are), in time I have made thousand of situations where things that happened became logical and less agonizing. I said to myself they acknowledged my faults and endured it and I can do the same. I also thought that not all are involved or even aware these things happened and these are the people I valued the most, the people I stood by and fought for. And the way some of you valued the friendship that we have makes it much more harder to tear it apart, for them I stayed. Most of us when we went to college, went our separate ways, found the time and space to think, revalue things. Time really flew, way too fast. And I say, time wounds, all heal.

I’ve watch us grow, in our own way, together. Every time I’m with some of you there is always something new. And we passed collegiate years swiftly as always. I have never been at accord to all of as I have been those years. Maybe because hindi nyo naman ako lagging nakikita eh. I graduated. I took the boards, I passed, I thought… I have never foreseen it this way. I can never be grateful enough. That is the time I said to myself I would write a letter to each and every one of you, to say things, to say thanks, to catch-up. The first letter I wrote terrified the living daylights out of me. The truth really hits you hard and it falls like collapsing tent, unavoidable. That truth – I don’t know any of you. Some, I’ve been with since I was a baby and some since I was barely as I was and I have been spending time with these people and I DON’T KNOW THEM! And the events and circumstances that trailed made me think twice about our so-called friendship and at the same time made me so furious.

I never anticipated as day would come that I will hear words from a friend that is so unpleasant. I know that it’s surprising to others that despite of our personal differences; we still get by very well. It is one of the things we should be proud of; we adapt. And in spite of these differences, each of you earned my respect, as a person, and as a friend. I know that we are all flawed, who isn’t? I just can’t find a way to justify that a friend can consider one as a bad company. It is unconventional on us that we never put up with any erroneous doings one of our friends have done. But I don’t get the idea of why should we protect a friend from a friend which is also your friend.

We have a right to choose who we go with, it’s not always right but aptness of an act is a matter of self-choice.

It may be expressing opinion, nothing is wrong with that. My opinion in this one is, talk to the person, lay your concerns and let the person deal with it. I remember talking is not a thing to us. Don’t get me wrong; we talk. But after we already resolved the issue to ourselves and have already thought of a lot of angles to deal with it without getting blameworthy of this. No sense letting anyone hurt you, besides I made a deal with myself on that. you be the judge on this, if it helps you or just isolate you behind those walls erected to protect you. Against what… against your friends.

Another concern of mine is such an offensive issue. I never liked any your significant others. I say it then and I say it now. Maybe it’s the way they are introduced, maybe the way they act, maybe the way I know them, or maybe because of you. I can think of gazillions of reasons why, but I think it’s apt to say I never liked anyone for any matter. But that is not the issue here. Walang kinalaman ang opinion ko sa nararamdaman nyo. It’s a context I don’t understand and unwilling to tackle, so wag na nating pag-usapan. I cannot promise to be kind at all times but I can be easy. Ewan ko kung bakit kinatatakutan ng lahat na ipakilala ang kanilang mga “mahal” sa buhay. Ipakilala nyo, bukod sa pogi points yon dahil hindi nyo sila ikinahihiya, ‘di kami kumakain ng tao. Testing lang kung kakayanin nila ang vindictive minds na magigiting mong friends. Your friends have no right to judge but they have the right to know. Wala namang hindi nadadaan sa magandang pakikisama. Maybe they will pick on them, on their attitudes or physical attributes, ano ba naman ‘yong maasar ka paminsan-minsan. Para naman kayong hindi sanay. Lumayo na ang line of thought ko sa kaka-intro. This concerns you You Three! As if no one knows! My personal notes on this thing – wala akong pakialam kong sino man ang piliin mo. No doubt You Four has the homecourt advantage when it comes to us pero we do not decide for you. So you got a girlfriend, so what… big deal. Get back to me if it really just a girlfriend, I want to know. And I’m not asking you, I’m telling you! The issue is not that you have one, but how you got one? According to my most reliable sources, during my thanksgiving kainan (remember?), you said that you’re not ready for commitment right then and there. So ok lang hindi pala ready eh. A few weeks after, NEWSFLASH: YOU THREE IS MARRIED! Ayos lang kung may girlfriend, pero KASAL??? that’s flashy news! Hindi pa rin issue ‘yon eh, ang issue wala kaming alam. You never bother to tell us. Kahit na hindi sa akin, kahit kay You Four nalang. I’m telling this according to what I know and not what really happen. Kung may mali o kulang puede kang magpaliwanag. You have the right to change your mind, but you don’t have the right to hang us on a very blurry concept of your recent predicament. We want to know. I’m telling you now that it is easier to deal with pain if it is hurled to you face to face than to know it at your backs when you are the first one who must know. Kilala ko si You Four, mas madali niyang mao-overcome ang mga bagay na isinampal mo sa kanyang harapan. Ok lang sana kung hindi mo barkada si You Four. Kaso barkada mo eh. Don’t say that this wont affect us, sinong niloloko nyo? Madami ang nakialam, I’m one of them but we never decide what will be the end. If others decided to be quite and not say anything about it, wala akong magagawa. I’m not doing this not just for You Four, but for You Three also. Hindi kami ang mga tipo ng taong dapat mong patunayan ng pagkalalaki mo, I know you, since the day you yourself never knew who are you. There is nothing to prove. I therefore conclude: my guy friends are just good as friends not as lovers. Or are they really good as friends? Nakakaramdam ako ng masigabong pagtutol, alright not all. In the light of this discussions, don’t expect me to like her. She has nothing to do with it; It’s the circumstances that precede her that had gone wrong. There is nothing difficult in explaining things, paminsan-minsan patunayan nyo naman na nag-iisip din kayo! Be responsible to your actions. I think it’s necessary to say that no one appreaciates a good constructive criticism than the one giving it. ‘Di tayo perfect but there is nothing wrong in striving to be nice in some ways.

These are the things that made me think na kaya lang tayo sama-sama ay para patunayan sa iba na ‘di nga tayo magkakahiwalay. Like what I thought na to avert others from seeing my mistake, I covered it up by staying friends with all of you. Now this I am saying to all of you, hindi ako nagpakapagod sa loob ng walong taon para lang sirain nyo ang matagal kong pinahalagahan. Maybe at first it’s just pride but later on I realized that I have you all because we choose to be together. I’m proud of being one of your friend and having you all as my friends. Kahit pa ano ang ginagawa nyo or kahit kayo na ang pinaka-dreadful na taong nakilala ko. I want to believe that our friendship is beyond gender, religion, social position, and financial status. Attest to me I am right.

I believe that what’s lasting doesn’t resist time but wisely changes with it.

We attempted to change with time; we barely made it but still WE MADE IT!

I repudiate to accept the fact that we are fooling ourselves for eight long years. As fiercely as I refuse to accept that this friendship is over.

These are just my thoughts, my opinions. They are mine alone. These got me into thinking, view the forthcoming, rearrange priorities, value some overlooked points of view, I hope these serve you as well. I take responsibility of what will be the outcome of this piece of my mind, something bad always happens when I share my thoughts. I am eager to sit down and talk if part of this confuse anyone or just to shed light in some of the things you too want to convey. I know that some will feel awful, about this or towards me, after reading this. Talk to me then. I appreciate you calling me names right to my face than that on my back. As this is filled with lessons I have learned, it may also be filled of faults, for that I asked your cordial consideration, for I am human and nothing human is alien to me.

I give you the right to do whatever you feel is necessary for this letter. What I am right now is a product of much struggle, perseverance, and faith. What I am is because you are.  I regard you all as a part of me etched profoundly enough to cause a scar, a scar that without refute I am willing to have for the rest of my life. I hope you feel the same.

Mahal ko kayong lahat.

 her..

p.s. nalimbag ang obrang ito dahil ayaw nilang making sa “polka-dots” speech ko! Makatotohanan ang mga nakapaloob dito baka akala nyo joke lang… uhmhuh… bakla wari.

In-case maisipan kong dagdagan ito, you will receive another letter! Isn’t it fun?