Many Happy Returns

"So, what's the drama all about?" was my opening salvo the moment Rudeboy picked-up the phone.

"I'll just tell you about it when we meet up later," he replied.

"The usual place, I suppose? Ten-ish?"

"Yes, I'll text you later what time exactly."

"Alrighty, I'll see you later!"

100

Ngayon ko lang napansin na naka-100 followers na pala ako. Sa totoo lang, nung una akong nag-sulat sa blog, hindi ko naisip na meron palang susubaybay dito.  Di ko nga akalain na merong magtyatyagang magbasa ng mga pinagsususulat ko.  Sabagay, pati rin ako siguro, di ko rin babasahin an mga sinulat ko noon. Puro emo mode kasi e.  Para bang di ako magsususlat kung hindi ako emo.  Pero nakakapagod din pala ang maging gloomy and whine-y all the time hehehehe

Eternal Wanderer is Grateful

Thank goodness, I'm over that nasty bump.  I hate it when episodes like those occur. They're nasty, and absolutely ruin my long, flaxen locks perfectly coiffed into a sweeping french twist.

Humpft.

Random Notes to Some Bloggers

Sa aking Kabit, na-miss na kita sobra! Pwede bang ako na lang mag-manage sa mga panadero mo???

Sa aking Kalangitan, fakers will go to hell, pwamis! MWAHAHAHAHAHA

Sa aking Vulcan, relak lang ok? Mashado mong pinu-push saili mo. Mmmwaaaaaah

Sa aking Miley Cyrus, alagaan mo ang iyong buko. Kundi ako ang iinum nyan! BWAHAHAHAHA

Sa aking Fashion Institute, kakalurkey ang image mo ngayon! Impeyrnez, very chorvah!

Sa aking Napag-apuyan, magparamdam ka naman ;)

Sa Tres Marias, nag-enjoy ako sa kape natin noon. Napaka-stimulating at free-flwoing ang mga kwento't diskusyon! Mariang Makiling, di pa rin ako naniniwala na busy-busyhan ka. Busy-busyhan sa booking pa ako maniiwala nyahahaha. Mariang Sinukuan, wag ka na-emote, ok? Mariang Palad, sino na naman bago mong inaalembong?!

Sa aking Boy Jakulero, hinay-hinay lang. Nakakabulag daw ang pagtitikol. Baka tumaas lalo grado ng salamin mo!

Sa aking Dikya, once a dikya, always a dikya lolz Hayaan mo, inuman tayo one of these days ;)

In Search Of, One Year Later

When I created this blog way back in 2007, I never really expected that I would be able to sustain writing continuously. True enough, I did not, except for a couple of entries. In fact, I never even wrote a single post in 2008.

The Year that is About to Pass

A roller coaster year.

Cagbalete. The Great Flood. Mom's visit. Band of brothers. Binondo. Relatives ahoy. Hello Kitty. Bohol. Blogging. Loss. Generosity of spirit. Learning.  La Union. Blogger friends. Injury. Cebu. Happiness. Vigan. Tampuhan. SF. Spice. Desktop suvives. Bataan.  Teaching. Musa survives. Triumph.

Life.

Now, I welcome 2010 with open arms.

A Christmas Carol

"Look around about and see, 
what a world of wonder this world can be!"

Despite a rough year, this is the perfect time to remember that there are still plenty of things to be grateful for.

With this performance he sang at, Eternal Wanderer wishes all his family, friends, and readers, and his Hello Kitty, a truly meaningful season.

A Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!

Mothers and Sons, Redux

Tonight, I brought my mom to the airport.

She spent a good three weeks here at the house where my father and I live.  It was actually a preliminary trip to prepare for her impending retirement come next year.  She went about her business of seeing to whatever things that may be needed when she finally returns for good.

At first, I was hesitant about the idea of her living with my dad and I.  After all, she has been gone for a very long time.  Like I said before, I may have already forgotten how it is to be a son to her, and she might have already forgotten how it is to be a mother to me.

The Homecoming, an Epilogue

At one point, I was taking a yosi break after clearing out the things that could still be saved. Most of the furniture were intact, but almost all the appliances had to go. Sure, the refrigerator, the t.v.'s, and all the other appliances could always be replaced. However, there were certain objects that were painful to lose. The old pictures and albums of my family were glued together in a wet, sticky mess. The comics that I had kept from my childhood were in tatters. My mom's old letters, which I carefully kept under my aparador, were gone. The extensive classical cds I collected from all the travels I did through the years were in a large black trash bag.

I was heartbroken. It was hard to let go.

All I could do was find a dark corner where no one could see me, sit down, and tear up silently.

-----

A poignant scene from the movie "Up" crossed my mind. The old man had a treasured scrapbook his late wife put together. In it contained the pictures and memorabilia of their life they shared. Until that moment, he never saw that there was still space at the end the album. Written there was a note from his wife saying that they had the most wonderful memories together. It was now up to him to fill up the proceeding space with new memories of his own.

Then I thought, alright, these nostalgic things of mine are ruined and have to be thrown out. But they can never be lost because they are just mere physical representations of my past. They are in here, indelibly etched in my mind and heart. They will be always remembered for as long as I live.

I felt comforted with these thoughts. I reminded myself, just like the character in "Up", I now have a blank space - literally. It is the perfect opportunity to add new memories and experiences to fill out the remaining pages of my life.

And besides, Musa, my beloved Rhodesian ridgeback, was still able to leap at me with joy when he saw me come home. Yes, he survived the great deluge. He entered our helpers' quarters, the only area that wasn't reached by the flood waters. If he is still able to be happy after what happened, who am I not to be overjoyed? My family and I came through this trying chapter in our lives hale and whole.

Yes, we are safe.

Yes, we still have a roof over our heads.

Truly, there are things to be grateful for.

-----
A shoutout of thanks to all my friends who texted, called, ym'd, fb'd, twitted, and commented their concern and support. But my most special thanks goes to Jay Vee and Ting Ting Cojuangco (who chose to celebrate his birthday by being there at my house to provide manpower), both of whom helped me lift the old and heavy furniture around the house, and hosed down and scrubbed away the muck. To my school girl-friends, my special thanks, too, for washing the dishes and knick knacks that need to be cleaned (it was a sight to see PKF sitting down on a small plastic timba washing the dishes in a metal palanggana. Wearing a bolero skirt with matching boots. Leather high-heeled boots, mind you. Tell me, how bonnga can that get pa? lolz). And for those whose rooms and beds provided me respite at the end of the tiring days of cleaning up, my heartfelt thanks, too. Mapa-kama man o mapasahig, ang importante nakatulog ako ng mabuti. To all of you, you gave meaning to the phrase "walking the talk." May your tribe increase a hundredfold!

One Hundred!

Wow, the hundredth post on my blog!

Thanks to Trip and E, I let myself be convinced to write here actively. Previously, the only way you could make me write was to show me the moolah. You see, I never really considered myself a prolific writer. Sure, I knew I could write, but I had to sweat blood for me to churn out words. The only way for me to write was if my arm was twisted or I was shown the oh-so-lovely dough. Even then, I'd still have to agonize just to produce a single paragraph.

Now, I'm still no prolific writer. Yes, sometimes I still do sweat blood to produce a paragraph or two. But that's fine because when I write here, I write for the love of and not because I'm being paid or forced whatsoever. In other words, I write here because I want to write. Huge, huge, huge difference it makes.

-----

For the good friends I have made while writing here.

For the good friends that have read, and continue to read my stuff.

For the blogs that I have read and still read.

For those who have read, and still read my blog.

A heartfelt thanks, and may the words continue to flow out of my fingertips!

Fathers and Sons

My father's eldest brother came back from the States for a vacation. He dropped by the house to visit my dad and me.

At one point, we were laughing uproariously at something funny that my tito said. When we finally settled down, he made a remark that struck a chord in me.

"You know what, you laugh like your Dad."

I grew up with absentee parents. The nature of their work was that it required them to be out of town for long stretches. Their frequent absences at that time didn't really cross my mind until much later on when I was an adult. After all, the house was clan central, and I grew up in the company of my grandfathers, titas, plus a whole gaggle of cousins. Company definitely ran a-plenty.

But I digress.

Looking back, I'm not surprised that my parents' marriage didn't last. The the stress and demands of their jobs must have put a tremendous strain on their relationship. By that time, my mom was already based in another country; and I had been staying with my dad in Manila.

I always appreciated how my Dad brought me up: a little pep talk and sharing here and there, a lot of trust, and definitely no melodrama. In other words, he treated me as an individual who was capable of making decisions for himself. He respected that I had my own life to lead, and I respected that he had his own. That's why when my mom asked me if I wanted to join her in making a new life abroad, it was a no-brainer choice for me. I remained in Manila with my dad.

But my dad is no saint, despite the claim of one of his sisters. He definitely has his own kinks and imperfections. And for a time, it was something I was afraid of turning out to be. The mango doesn't fall far from the tree, so to speak. However, time has a wonderful way of putting things into perspective. I now realize that all the good and bad things about my father is part and parcel of what he is. Take away either part, and he won't be the same dad that I know. I, too, am far from being perfect; and yet he has loved and accepted me as an individual, and more importantly, as a son. These are the very realizations that make me stop and be thankful that he is my father, and that I am his son.

Yes, Tito, I do laugh like my dad. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Close Encounters of The Showbiz Kind 4

Masarap ang tulog ni Eternal Wanderer at ni Cubao Boy dahil malamig ang aircon ng kwartong tinulugan nila. 'Wag kayong malisyoso. Walang nangyari sa kanila dahil matalik silang magkaibigan. Bawal mag-sex ang mga matatalik na nagkaibigan kasi sila ay magkakalasunan, o matatamaan ng kidlat, o lalamunin ng lupa (hango sa mga karanasan ni Eternal Wanderer ang mga kasabihan na ito). Hindi rin sila pwede mag-sex dahil kasama nila si Erpats sa kwarto, at kung madatnan man silang gumagawa ng milagro ala Judiel ng Agoo e baka palayasin sila ng di oras ng ala-sais ng umaga.

Nagtungo si Eternal Wanderer at Cubao Boy sa set para mananghalian dahil medyo ginugutom na sila. Hindi pananghalian ang nadatnan nila. Isang pyestahan pala. Napagdesisyunan ng the-powers-that-be na minsan lang sa isang taon ang Easter kaya nagpahanda sila ng isang damukmok na pagkain. May lechon, menudo, rellenong bangus, bistek, inihaw na liempo, dinuguan, lechong manok, leche flan, at hinalay, este halaeyang ube. Nabusog ng husto si Eternal Wanderer at si Cubao Boy. Kaya hayun, nahiya sila magpa-picture kay Bobby Andrews, Epy Quizon, Rhian Ramos, Pinky Marquez, at Leo Martinez kasi napaka-unglamorous na bundat ang tyan sa ritatro. Pero itataya ni Eternal Wanderer ang pagkadonselya nya na pati rin yung mga artista ay nagsipagbundatan ang mga tyan dahil sa sarap ng pagkain. Nagka-evil thought si Eternal Wanderer: magkakasya pa kaya si Rhian Ramos sa corset nya pagkatapos nung lunch?

Nung bandang 2:30 ng hapon, napag-pasyahan ni Eternal Wanderer na hindi na nya hihintayin na palayasin pa sya ng Erpat nya. Hinatak nya si Cubao Boy (na kumokodak pa rin ng mga pictures ng dalampasigan. Hindi na nag-bother si Eternal Wanderer na i-check kung totoong scenery or scenery ulit ng mga katawan ang kinukuhang mga pics), at nagpaalam na sila kay Erpats. Ang sweet ng Erpats ni Eternal Wanderer. Inabutan pa sya ng pang-gas. Alam nya kasi na butas na ang bulsa ni Eternal Wanderer dahil kakagaling ng nito sa Ilocos. Si Eternal Wanderer naman, nagpakapal ng apog. Kahit may tira pa ring pera mura sa trip nya, e kinuha pa rin yung gas money. Sayang naman. Pang yosi din yon.

So ano naman ang punto ni Eternal Wanderer sa kanyang pagsalaysay sa (napakahabang) kwento tungkol sa pagbisita nya sa set ng Zorro? Wala naman. Natuwa lang sya dahil naka-spend sya ng quality time kasama ang Erpats nya. Natuwa din sya dahil napatuwa nya yung kanyang butihin (at kaladkarin, at kerenkeng) na kaibigan nyang si Cubao Boy. Ganun lang naman si Eternal Wanderer e. Madaling mapasaya sa mga simpleng bagay sa buhay.

Pero ito ang huling tanong ni Eternal Wanderer: so sino ang gusto sumama naman sa kanya pag bumalik sya sa set ng Zorro?

Related links:
Close Encounters of the Showbiz Kind 1
Close Encounters of the Showbiz Kind 2
Close Encounters of the Showbiz Kind 3

Tina Paner, Isdatchu? 3

Tina Paner, Isdatchu? 2

Nung hapon ding yun, inantay ko syang matapos mag-basketball. Takip-silim na at mukhang uulan nung matapos ang kanyang laro. Since sarado na ang classroom, doon ako sa bench sa labas tumambay. Naabutan nya kong nakaupo sa bench nung dumating sya.

"Are you done na?"

"Yeah, I'm tired na nga eh. Do you still have water in your Coleman? I'm really thirsty."

Boy Scout ako. Laging handa. Malamig na malamig ang tubig sa Coleman kasi singurado kong humingi ng ice sa cafeteria nung hapon pa lang. Alam ko kasing uuhawin sya.

Nakatayo sya sa harap ko habang nilaklaklak nya yung tubig. Sumimple ako.

"I read what you wrote in the book."

Hindi sya umimik. Tuloy pa rin ang inom nya.

Mabilis na dumidilim na sa paligid namin. Nasa dulo ng 2nd year wing yung classroom namin, at sa tapat nya ay may isang malaking pond. Sa tabi naman ay puno-punuan at talahiban na. Kami na lang ang tao sa wing na yun.

"I love you, too." sabi ko.

Napatigil sya sa pag-inom. Binaba ang Coleman. Tumitig sya sa akin. Diretso sa mga mata ko.

Nag-umpisa ng umambon. At nag-umpisang mag-ingay ang mga palaka't kuliglig.

Nilapit nya ang kanyang mukha sa mukha ko. Napapikit sya. Ako rin napapikit.

At sa gitna ng ingay na pumapatak na ambon sa bubong, sa mga kumokokak na palaka't nag-iingay na kuliglig, si Tina Paner a.k.a. Eternal Wanderer ay nakaranas ng tamis ng unang halik mula sa kanyang Cris Villnueva.

Romantic na romantic ba ang pakiramdam ko nun? Hindi masyado. Panira yung mga kokak ng palaka't maiingay na kuliglig. Namomoblema din ako nun kung paano ako uuwi kasi wala akong payong. And worse, si Cris Villanueva na nagbasketball buong hapon ay nangangamoy pawis na.

Pero ang unang halik ay unang halik. Totoo pala yun. Kahit na marami nang taon (at halik, at kung anu-ano pa) ang nakalipas, nakaukit pa rin sa gunita ang katamisan nito.

Cris Villanueva, kung nasaan ka man ngayon, leche ka. Napabayad pa ako ng fine nung saulian ng schoolbooks nung end of the school year dahil sa sinulat mong "I love you" sa biology book ko. Destruction of school property daw, sabi nung counter checker. Pero salamat na rin. Dahil sa 'yo, sa munting saglit na iyon, ako'y nagmistulang isang Tina Paner, at napakanta ng 'di oras nito:

P.S. Please feel free to sing-along. May lyrics na provided pa yung video! Hihihihihi

I thank You God for this most amazing day (ee cummings)

The cool, overcast weather Tuesday afternoon came as a much-welcome respite from the unrelenting heat that has been besieging the city these past few weeks. It was a particularly languid afternoon, so I decided to sit by the veranda and watch the fine drops of rain fall gently from the grey heavens. "Now this is the good life," I said to myself. No unnecessary worries cluttering the mind, and enough downtime to linger and appreciate the fleeting moment that is the now and here.

Yes, I have a good life. A roof exists over my head, and my body is nourished by food at least three times a day. I have a quiet but caring father, and a mother who, despite our physical distance, loves her only son. My friends are constantly by side, supporting me through whatever endeavors I chose to undergo. Despite the seething emotional turbulence that has been rocking my world, I know I am firmly behind the reigns of my being, the captain of my own ship. And yes, I even have Spice, who has made me realize that I still have a heart that knows how to love with all truth and honesty.

Yes, I have a good life. I am truly grateful for it.