And That's How We Spell Happiness

My momma always says "charity begins at home". I've never grasp the true meaning of it until I attended a short notice but planned Christmas party with my friends and together with the kids of Tuloy sa Don Bosco. This was the first time I attended such a fulfilling party. Christmas belongs to kids and to the kids at heart. :)

I met Carlo, a child formerly making bones in the streets of Manila. Found a home in the south. Met friends and eventually happy eating spaghetti and chicken with someone from the north. He loves math, praying before and after meals and basketball. These were enough for us to become friends.

and if charity begins at home, we can find happiness in the spirit of giving.

the joy of opening a gift given by a stranger in a far away place...

the giver who've found sense by sharing one Christmas with another. Me and Carlo.

then i was a kid again, like Carlo. It was magical! Pouring out sweat in a game which adults shall never understand.

Imagine this picture 20 years ago. Would our smiles be different in spite of our ages? Our smiles will still be the same as before.

We cherished our lives by seconds, minutes and hours. We've treasured not the sadness. But the number of times that you've been appreciated, loved and accepted.

Childhood was never forgotten by time. Time forgets that childhood belongs to anyone.

Along the way, we find friends that eventually become either a sister or a brother.

Such great things can never be outdone in distance. Especially if both sides have done significant things through such minimal chances. Indeed, it is, the time that we have given to a person that makes that person so important.

A pinch of happiness can be seen in the littlest corners of your smile.

You will stop becoming a child when you called the thing above my head as a party hat, instead of a Grimace name tag hat. Or worst, if you only saw a hat instead of an elephant swallowed by a boa constrictor. :)

Photos courtesy of venice furio, karen posadas and mabel.

Share the Music, Save the world.

©"Angel/Butterfly"
by Epic Proportions
Words & Music: Ccigaux Adona
Sometime in May, 2008


This is us, like a million words of poetries
We're lost for thoughts and creativity

This is me, conjuring all the feelings
Summing up this rare chance of bravery

Then This is you, like an angel slash butterfly
Unreachable and yet sublime

I wasn't really planning to reveal it
I was hoping I can shoo this off away
But this kind of unrelenting feelings
Just needs to be heard, needs to be said

I'll create another day
For you to hear what I would say
Wait, I need to hesitate
Coz things will never be the same

If I tell the truth, I'll be free
But you might get mad at me
Perhaps I'll take that risk
Than be haunted with regrets

This is you, like a thousand splendid roses
Colorful and so divine

Then This is me, silenced from all the beauty
My heart beats so irregularly

And this is us, surrounded by these fictions
I wish to become the words to your blank pages

I loved you months ago
Now you know, time for me to go
I know it sucks. It's the end of me
So long, farewell, be happy

I, alone, adored you so
From your best to worst and so much more
La La La La La
So long, farewell, be happy...................

Myself In A Different Section of a Train

I live by the rules of MRT. So if the rule for the first two train cars are only for women, a person with disabilities, pregnant, aged and children below 8 accompanied by a parent or two, then I shall abide.

Last Sunday, I went to Rock the Riles 08, a celebration for human rights week, to watch Terno bands in Ayala station. After Updharmadown's set, my friend Bel and I went home. Thus, we went down to wait for our train. She choose to go to the train cars for women. I was about to go to the "sardines" section of the train when she asked me to join her instead. A law-abider side of me came to my senses and refused. But she said it was okay as long as "may kasama kang babae". Trusting her word, I joined her there and talked without worrying that security guards who're just around the corner.

And the train stopped and we jumped in.

We continued talking until we finally reached her stop. We said our good-byes and I was left alone with all the women in different ages. I felt weird. It's like I'm in a world where men are weak and dominated by women; where men are far lesser in terms of numbers. I become an extinct sort of animal. It wasn't a good scene, you know. When you're there, a lone man in the sea of females. It's all eyes on you. There was this teenager girl kept on looking at me; perhaps seeking what physical deformity or disability I may posses. She might thought what on earth does a man like me doing in there. The cold air conditioning doesn't help to ease the uneasyness.

A part of me wanted to jump off to the next stop and ride to where I'm supposed to be. I was also thinking of an excuse if a She-Guard would ask me or scold me for not following a simple rule. Sort of things were running inside my lunatic brain. Like:

a. Mag panggap na Ngo-ngo
b. Mag panggap na Bingi (Deaf)
c. Mag panggap na babae na nagpatanggal ng dib-dib
d. Mag hanap ng nanay na magpapanggap na nanay mo
e. Magpanggap na pilay

Thank goodness. I never did any of the above mentioned choices. Whew!

In the end, I just shrugged off all eyes piercing me. I put up a decent "I don't care" attitude and waited for my stop, Cubao. But mind you, it was really lonely and I felt uneasy when you're surrounded by different women around you.

Ganun pala yung nararamdaman ng isang babae being sardined with all of us men on a train.

The Pages Will Shorten The Distance Between

Last two weeks ago, I received this from a fellow book moocher, Cassandra from Chicago. Oh the spirit of giving! I was surprised when I got it. I was half-expecting it'll be lost in mail or something. But bless you Mr.Postman! Whoever you are!

It may not be a new copy but the feeling of receiving something from a far or from a newly acquainted book lover like myself is very fulfilling! Like an answered grace from up above!

I was smiling the whole day. Thanks, Cassandra! Though we're miles a part, the pages of this book will be a reminder that we're just a page a way. :) Bless you! I'll definitely going to do the same!

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