TSINELAS - Ang Kwento ng Batang Kalye (True Story)

Walang may alam ng pangalan nya. Maski ang guard sa building nina Tini na madalas nakikipag-usap sa kanya. Wala rin nakakaalam kung ilang taon na siya.

Lagi siyang pinangangaralan ng guard na iyon. Mag-ayos siya at maligo. Nangako pa siya na basta maligo siya, bibigyan niya siya ng damit.

Nung linggo, galing sa Makati si Tini. Paakyat na siya ng kanilang apartment nung nilapitan siya ng batang lalaki. Humihingi siya ng lumang tsinelas kay Tini. Sumagot si Tini na wala siyang lumang tsinelas pero bumunot siya ng isang daan at binigay sa bata. Sinabihan niyang bumili na lang ng tsinelas. Pero siguraduhin niyang tsinelas ang bibilhin at hindi gagastusin sa kung saan.

Ilang araw nang nasa ospital ang ina ni Tini. Malubha ang kalagayaan. Inuwi ko si Tini sa kanila kagabi. Pagka parada namin napansin naming may nakatirik na dalawang kandila sa may gate ng building nina Tini. Tinanong namin sa guard kung para saan ang kandila. Nabunggo raw ang batang laging tumatambay sa baba ng building nila. Namatay. Ilang oras pa lang ang nakalilipas.

Kinuwento ng guard na tumawid raw ng fly over yung bata at nag-alangan. Nabundol siya ng taxi. Nakaladkad pa ng ilang metro bago tumigil ang taxi para ihulog ang bata sa kalye at humarurot paalis. Nakuha raw ng isang taxi ang plate number at binigay sa pulis. Ewan naman kung may mangyayari pa doon. Ulila na ang bata at kung saan-saan lang natutulog.

Nalaman ni Tini kagabi mula sa guard na bumalik raw ang bata nung gabing binigyan niya siya ng pera. Gustong ipakita sa kanya yung tsinelas na nabili niya. Sumunod na gabi hinahanap ulit siya. Baka magpapasalamat. Pero nung mga panahong iyon, hindi na mapirmi sa bahay si Tini dahil pabalik-balik sa ospital.

Hindi ko siya kilala pero naiyak ako nung narinig ko iyon. Hindi nakwento sakin ni Tini ang pagtatagpo nila nung bata. Sabi niya kahit papaano sinusubukan niyang magbigay ng tulong sa mga nangangailangan. Mga maliliit na bagay lang. Nakita ko sa mata niya na nalungkot rin siya. Lalo nasa ospital ang ina niya, maraming bagay ang dumadaan sa isip niya. Isang sandaling pagtatagpo nila ni Tini pero natamaan ako sa ilang minutong pag-uusap nilang iyon.

Naisip ko kung may iiyak sa pagkawala niya. Malamang wala. Ako na lang siguro.

Wake Up Call

Why is it that when something bad happens that's the only time we grow up... act our age... mature?! Things happen so suddenly we don't even realize we're thrust into that situation until we're neck deep in shit.

I try to be strong but I'm actually scared.

Life is so short.

I've known that since I was a kid. Maybe that's why I throw caution to the wind and do stupid things. But life is suddenly even shorter than I thought.

Prayers for Tini's mom. I pray she gets well soon.

Funny, I never called her anything but Mrs. Navarro.

The Perils of Coffee and Curls

Last saturday before I went to another 4J Poker Game, ennui overcame me and had my hair permed. Curls for those unfamiliar with salon terms. I'm happy with my new look. Been wishing I had curls since I was a kid. But I didn't get blessed with those genes.

Other than that, I got a new phone. A Motorolla V3i. I really wasn't planning to buy a new one till I'm permanent in my new work but accidentally poured coffee on my old one. Brought it to Sony Ericsson and told me I brought it in too late. It got corroded already and although it will still work, it will eventually die soon. Thanks to Tini I was able to buy a new one at once. It has iTunes, expanded memory, 1.3 megapixel camera, and a sleek design. Although I did want the pink Razor but I went with functionality over style.

Too bad I lost both games last 4J Poker Game. It would've helped finance my new phone. Or even my perm. Congats to Budoy for winning both games that night. It was a big win having quite a number of participants.

There will be a Poker Expo this week at the World Trade Center. I don't know if this is open to the public but I hope my mom could get me in.

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Long overdue. Posting a pic of my new puppy.


Dobby my new little sister. Two-month old Doberwoman.

In my player...BACK TO BEDLAM

A family friend in London gave this cd to me as a "pasalubong". It was a pleasant surprise for me coz I didn't actually enjoy his first single "You're Beautiful". But now I'm hooked on James Blunt.

One of my fave tracks... GOODBYE MY LOVER

Did I disappoint you or let you down?
Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?
'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,
Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.
So I took what's mine by eternal right.
Took your soul out into the night.
It may be over but it won't stop there,
I am here for you if you'd only care.
You touched my heart you touched my soul.
You changed my life and all my goals.
And love is blind and that I knew when,
My heart was blinded by you.
I've kissed your lips and held your head.
Shared your dreams and shared your bed.
I know you well, I know your smell.
I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.

I am a dreamer but when I wake,
You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take.
And as you move on, remember me,
Remember us and all we used to be
I've seen you cry,
I've seen you smile.
I've watched you sleeping for a while.
I'd be the father of your child.
I'd spend a lifetime with you.
I know your fears and you know mine.
We've had our doubts but now we're fine,
And I love you, I swear that's true.
I cannot live without you.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
And I still hold your hand in mine.
In mine when I'm asleep.
And I will bare my soul in time,
When I'm kneeling at your feet.

Goodbye my lover.
Goodbye my friend.
You have been the one.
You have been the one for me.
I'm so hollow, baby, I'm so hollow.
I'm so, I'm so, I'm so hollow

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!! and other weekend blah, blahs...

It's been awhile since I last updated my blog. It's been difficult trying to sneak in "internet time" here in the office when your cubicle is right infront of your boss. And my laptop's connection at home is busted. Darn!

So, what's new??? Just my new little sister Dobby, the Doberwoman. She's over a month old and adorably annoying! She sleeps in my room on her own bed. I bought her one. She loves being cuddled in the middle of the night... or else she makes a lot of noise. What's a big sis to do but give her what she wants.

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Last saturday after spying on our competition our big boss texted me and told me about the Wowowee tragedy. I was having lunch then and took another hour before I caught the news on the radio on my way home.

Tragedy. Poor people dying a senseless death.

I won't go into details as everybody knows it by heart already. Although, I kinda thought the actions of Eat Bulaga hosts were in bad taste. They're happiness in seeing their rival suffer at the expense of all those lives.

Who is to blame? Everybody! Even the government. It's a domino-effect. It's ABS-CBN, it's ULTRA, and it's the people. The root cause? That I don't know. So many tangles can't find the end of it already.

Now we know how far people would go for money. How far will you go?

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I won! About P250. Just broke even coz spent money on beer and also lost the first game. So, technically, I didn't get much. But then, the real fun is playing with crazy friends and outsmarting them. Hah!

"Shut up and deal!"

It was just the 2nd 4J Poker Night. We're getting the hang of it. Jay was so happy he finally got his own Poker set. It was just by chance I passed by Fully Booked in Greenhills that day. Now I'm jealous. I wanna get a new one too. Coz ours is missing a chip. Courtesy of the little girl who nobody could see.

Thinking of checking out the Poker table top too. This is getting expensive! Hay!

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Chocolate Warehous Sale just ended. Two Mink pants, one Mink mini-skirt, one Grab cropped pants, and one Mink pink buster.

I saw Mango in Robinson's Ermita was still on sale... Hay again!