SUPERTYPHOONS

These past few months we have experienced a spate of strong typhoons. One after another, these supertyphoons have battered and pounded the country, leaving large-scale devastation in their wake. Today, another supertyphoon is on its way. This morning, signal no. 4 has been raised over the Bicol region, where my wife hails from. On the other hand, Metro Manila is said to be under signal no. 3.

I have observed a disturbing pattern in our weather cycle. I am no weather specialist and my knowledge in climatology is basically nil. With recent events, however, I cannot help but think that our weather system may have gone berserk and awry. I cannot recall an instance during my childhood days where signal no. 4 was ever declared. The strongest typhoon then was rated no. 3. However, in recent years, supertyphoons classified as signal no. 4 have become quite a common occurrence. So common, indeed, that we can have two or three supertyphoons in a year, just like what is happening now.

I do not want to sound like a doomsayer but can this phenomenon be an ominous foreshadowing of graver things to come as we near what believers say as the end of the world?

I wish it is not...

PRIVATE PRACTICE

As a government lawyer, my law practice is limited. I have obtained an authority from my office to engage in the practice of my profession but only on certain conditions. I cannot handle any case where possible conflict of interest may arise, no matter how indirect or remote the possibility may be. Hence, I cannot represent somebody who has an adverse claim against the government. To do so would be the height of disloyalty. I shall be going against my very employer, the provider of my sustenance. I cannot also accept a case that may eventually reach our own office by way of an appeal. You cannot be an advocate for a party and at the same time be connected with the same tribunal where the case is being heard and tried.

Though small the opportunity may be, I should say that the limited chance afforded me by my office to pursue my legal profession on the side enables me to at least keep abreast with recent developments in the legal circle. At the same time, it widens my horizon a bit so that I do not get too straitjacketed with the specialized field of our office. It also exposes and familiarizes me with court procedures and practices. At least, my limited practice equips me with a working knowledge on how the judicial system actually works.

Thus far, I must admit that my private practice has not resulted in any massive financial windfall. Most of the cases I accept are basically on a pro bono basis, which means for free. I do not know but I do find it difficult to charge fees for legal services I render to them. I would rather that my clients take the initiative in offering me some compensation for my services. If they remember to pay, then well and good. If not, then so be it.

Some close friends I know, not a few of whom are brothers in the same profession, do chide me for this. They say I am quite foolish to be extending my legal service freely. They say that handling cases gratis et amore does not impose any sense of responsibility on people so that they would tend to take you for granted. They add that it creates the wrong impression that you are not collecting fees because you are a so-so lawyer.

I do get the point of my friends. Indeed, it is inevitable that in the long term, free legal service would imbibe on people the mistaken notion that they need not sacrifice time, effort and money in order to secure legal representation. They would think that there is always a pro bono lawyer, who would be there to extend a helping hand at every instance without them breaking a sweat.

Be that as it may, I must concede that changing my mindset on the matter would not be easy. My personal belief is too deeply ingrained in me. But perhaps, I may start by learning to accept payment in kind. Hehehe...

MY FRIENDS' COUNSEL

Here is another attempt of poetic license...

MY FRIENDS' COUNSEL

I know I should have listened well
To the earnest bidding of friends--
When in love, you, by chance, fall
Never ever give your all
Keep something to yourself
To cushion you should you ever slip.

Yet, I thought this was a friendly jest
Simply spoken in playful mirth--
For I was taught not so long ago
When in love, let your heart go
Don't hold back, just give your all
If need be, to bare your soul.

So when I gazed at her, a beauty divine
Stood still the hands of time--
She wove a magic I could not quell
Enchanted, I was under her spell
I knew it right then and there
Anything I'd do if only to have her.

I did what I could to worship her
Even my life, keen I was to offer--
Alas! Things were not what I hoped to be
She had her eyes fixed not on me
To someone else her heart was meant
Such misfortune I was unkindly dealt.

Now, I weep in a mire of grief
My spirit is broken, fraught with distress
Truly, I should have kept my friends' counsel--
When in love, step back a little
Learn to keep something to yourself
To help you up should you ever slip.

MONDAY BLUES

It is Monday once again. The two-day break is over. It is time to go back to the office for another week of work. I feel a little bit sluggish and would prefer staying at home. But I have no choice. I have to earn my keeps. No work, no pay. With a family to feed, being penniless is out of the question. I have to pull my ass up, and start doing my morning routine, though I am not really in my usual self.

Well, today's Monday is just one of those days I feel out of sync with myself. Perhaps, a cup of coffee or any hot beverages will shake out the cobwebs from my head.

Okey, till next time...

SMOKE BELCHING

This morning, I rode a public utility jeep on my way to the EDSA Shrine church. As we were traversing the length of Ortigas Avenue Extension, we were running behind an RCGG bus liner, one of those servicing the Taytay-Cainta-Quiapo route. All of a sudden, without any warning, the RRCG bus started belching black smoke from its muffler. The toxic fume was quite thick and the odor it emitted was simply too pungent and acrid.

Those of us on board the jeep could only grimace in disgust and exasperation as we were enveloped by clouds of smoke and dust. Some though were just about ready to pounce on the driver of the bus. How could it not be? I know that like me, most of my fellow passengers were going to hear mass as evidenced by their Sunday's best. Most unfortunatetely, the dark particle stuck to our dresses and the strong odor easily overpowered our cheap cologne and perfume. Needless to state, the thick smoke leaking out of the bus basically ruined our composure.

Since the enactment of the Clean Air Act way back in 2000, if I am not mistaken, the government has made it a policy that vehicles plying our streets shall undergo and pass smoke emission testing before they will be allowed registration. This is the reason why we have borne witness these past few years to the mushrooming of smoke emission testing centers all over the country, which are raking in millions of pesos. In almost every corner, we find establishments advertising themselves to all and sundry as the best accredited smoke emission testing centers around.

But the policy appears to be failing, if we go by the number of vehicles we encounter in the roads day in and day out that spew out black, putrid smoke like the way factory chimneys do. I do not know why the policy appears to be not working fully well. Perhaps, there are loopholes in the law or policy that enable one to easily slip through without any sanction. Or, it maybe that all the safeguards are there except that the people tasked to enforce and implement the law or policy are just not doing their job. It may also be that there are simply unscrupulous and undisciplined owners, who obstinately and stubbornly insist on using their vehicles even if these are not properly taken cared off, or if at all maintained.

We can speculate so on and so forth ad infinitum why smoke belching remains rampant and prevalent in our roads. But I think, more than finger pointing, I submit that what is needed is for us citizens to take a more constructive role in caring for the environment. We should do our small parts in ensuring the cleanliness of our air. We cannot do anything less. Our very survival depends to a large extent on having a healthy supply of clean, unpolluted and breathable air.

WEATHER AND DECEMBER

December is just around the corner. So, it is supposed to be already cold and rainy here in Manila. But the weather appears to have gone berserk. You see, the temperature is so high that staying outside even for a split second will cause stinging sensation very much like being exposed to a lighted candle. I do not know why this is so. I do not wish to sound like a doomsayer but I suspect that we are again facing the onset of the much-dreaded El Nino phenomenon. This is just a nagging suspicion, however. In the meantime, we are awaiting for the official answer from the premier weather forecasting agency in the country, PAG-ASA.

Notwithstanding the dry and humid weather, I just wish that the Christmas spirit in us shall not be dampened inasmuch as we are barely a month away from that very important event.

This early, let me extend my warmest greetings for the holiday season!

FREEDOM

Due to nagging headache caused by my migraine, I am finding it very difficult to compose my thoughts into a coherent blog entry. So I am taking the lazy way out by posting another one of those poems I penned sometime ago. Should it happen that the work interest you, which I am sure is a remote and far-fetched possibility, you may reproduce it in any manner you desire provided that you recognize my authorship and copyright over it.

FREEDOM

Freedom rings throughout the land
So strong and vibrant does it resound
But alas, for those of us who hear its cry
Not a shudder felt nor even just a sigh.

How sad it is that memory has seemed to fade
The blood and tears once dearly paid
By men and women who with nary a thought
Gave it all that freedom may still reign afloat.

Sad indeed have our generation become
To take for granted the gift of freedom
Dead and numbed has our heart turned into
We live for today and not for tomorrow.

Yes, often it is quipped that those who suffered not
And spared from harsh and cruel lot
Tend to easily forget the lessons of the past
And into oblivion they falsely lapse.

But do we have to wait for war and discord
Before we realize our freedom's worth
Should precious lives be shed once more
To joggle us out of our mindless stupor?

So then my friends forget we never must
Though freedom's our birthright, it's our bounden task
Both in times of turmoil and in times of peace
To keep its fire alive, that it will never cease.

PROMOTION

I have just gotten a promotion. I am now a full-fledged division chief in our legal office. This basically means that my sphere of responsibility has broadened or grown from just being accountable for my individual duties to being responsible for the work of a division. If before I was concerned solely with my official obligations, not thinking about that of my officemates, now I am thrust in a responsibility of managing and supervising a number of staff in my division. In a sense, my world no longer revolves around my restricted parochial interests.

I would be a hypocrite if I deny being pleased about the promotion. The movement entails a concomitant hike in my pay and allowances. I shall be receiving, all in all, around P2,000.00 pesos worth of increase. For somebody desperately trying to eke out a decent-enough existence, an additional centavo in the pay envelope is a welcome development. I said it before and I say it again, beggars really can't be choosers.

But more than the financial reward, which is actually negligible, the promotion does give me a certain sense of accomplishment. After all, I did not actively wrestle for it. When I tendered my application for promotion, I said to myself I was not going to personally lobby for it. If the office did believe that I was worth it, then it would confer me the promotion, no matter what. And the office did. To me, therefore, the promotion amounts to a recognition and acknowledgment of the efforts, sacrifices and dedication I have put into my work for the past ten years.

But the question is, am I ready for the added responsibilities? To be candid, before I accepted the promotional appointment, I have psyched myself. I asked myself several times whether I was prepared to leave my comfortable life of just looking after my own ass in exchange for becoming a division head. In the course of my self-reflection, I did feel some personal doubts and reservations. I was mainly anxious whether I was competent and capable enough for the job. But in the end, my sense of reckless adventurism has gotten the better of me. I thought that I could only fathom my personal mettle if I jump right into the raging river, which I did.

The landing has been quite an initiation for me. Fortunately, my colleagues have been very magnanimous. In their own little ways, they have helped me settle into the job. Thus far, I am surviving. I feel deep inside that I made the right decision.

THAT THING IN THE MIND

It is already around eleven o'clock in the evening here in Manila. My eyes are just about ready to bid adieu to this day. Yet, I am forcing myself to stay awake even for fifteen minutes or so. I have not blogged for the past two days and I do not want this day to pass without me having posted a new blog entry. It is bad enough that I have failed to keep my promise to post an entry each day. It is worse, nay a sin, if I miss out for two days.

I have nothing particular in mind to write about tonight. So, I will just ramble on and on about anything that happens to pop in my head. And the first thing that comes to my mind is... Guess what?... Sex. Hehehe. I do not think that I am the only one, whose attention has been pricked by this thing. I am pretty certain that all members of the human species, at one point or another during the day (especially the night), have somehow come across it. Some may have been luckier in that they have the enviable opportunity to really savor its true essence. Hehehe. As for others, like me, well, what can we say? It may sound a bit sour-graping but there will be time enough for that. In the meantime, we will make do with trying to fathom its intricacies and complexities in the comforts of our cerebral storehouse. In other words, mag-imagine na lang muna kami. Hehehe...

What are other things that do play in my mind? Again, it is that three-letter word. It is really beyond me but it keeps on echoing in the deep recesses of my mind. Hay naku, mahirap nga naman talaga pag malayo ang kasambuhay (kasama sa buhay). Talagang celibate and kalalabasan nito.Tiis na lang muna. Babawi na lang the next time. Hehehe...

Okey, mukhang di ko na kayang buksan pa aking mga mata. So, off muna ako for the day! Hope to see you again in my blogspot these coming days.

THE NIGHT

THE NIGHT

The night has finally come
Draping all in utter darkness
Where there was once light
Dusk now reigns with might

The moon may its light shimmer
And the stars may emblazon the skies
But neither the moon nor the stars
Can tear the shroud of gloom apart

The day will in time arrive
To cast its radiance once more
For the moment though
Abides the world in the shadow

FRIENDSTER

For the past few days, I have devoted much of my blog entries to the Pacquiao-Morales battle royale. I believe I have said my piece about that matter and to further discuss it here will only add nothing of value. So, this will be the last time I am going to mention the said boxing fight in my blogspot. Enough is enough, I guess!

I am quite amazed at how present internet technology really bridges the world. If centuries ago, people embarked on dangerous sea-faring voyages that would last several months just to visit other places. Now, one need not leave the comfort of his home in order to keep in touch with other people. With the help of internet, one can already contact kins, relatives and friends even beyond the shores.

This is what I have discovered with the use of Friendster. I am certain that most, if not all of us are well aware of this internet program. I do not exactly know how it works technically but, in layman's terms, it allows people to interconnect with others via the internet. You just register and then you start searching for people you know, whom you then add as friends.

I registered with Friendster way back in 2004. However, after opening my account, I did not anymore access it. I thought that prolonged non-use of it would deactivate the account very much like an e-mail account, which you have to keep and maintain regularly active, otherwise it would be closed. Out of curiosity, I tried recently to access my Friendster account after more than two years of being dormant. Much to my surprise, it was and still is open and active. And thanks to it, I am able to re-establish contact with long-lost friends.

Through the Friendster technology, I have come to know of the whereabouts of old barkadas, whom I have not seen in a very long time. I am especially happy to rekindle old ties with elementary and high school buddies like Oscar, Nong, Don, Novo, Sherman, Jun, Veronica, Rina and Hazel. On the other hand, I am also looking forward to communicating with old chums from college. I do hope that I could contact them through Friendster.

FINALLY... THE PAC-MAN

The day of reckoning is finally over. Showing his true mettle, Pacquiao has once and for all proved his critics wrong. He knocked out Morales. He did not need to go the distance to do it. He ended the fight in just three rounds, without breaking a sweat. What can I say? I placed my bet on El Terrible, thinking he was the hungrier fighter, not to mention, the underdog, who was out to pull an upset. He did manage to pull an upset. Yes, he did upset me for his lousy performance. I was expecting more from him, knowing his long experience in the ring. But out there in Las Vegas, Nevada, he was simply outclassed by the faster and flashier Pac-man. His ring brilliance, which earned him numerous wins against equally strong fighters in the past, did not make itself manifest. It eluded, nay, abandoned him at the time he needed it the most in his career. Watching Morales, he appeared aged and seemingly lifeless. I now realize that the TV interviews he made days before the fight were merely staged and did not show his real state-- a has-been fighter.

Lest I be mistaken, I am making no excuses for my decision to throw my support to the Mejicano. I just felt at that time that this underdog, against all the odds, could somehow pull off a tremendous miracle. But a miracle-worker he was not meant to be. He was just a pugilist, who has seen the best of his boxing days, and who now ought to hang his gloves. That being said, I do not wish to belittle or degrade him. He gave his heart and all in The Grand Finale. If only for that, Morales should also be commended.

To Pacquiao,my heartiest congratulations for a very sterling and spectacular performance. His awesome demolition of a legendary fighter, who once lorded over the ring as the best pound-for-pound boxer, should cement and firm up his place in the annals of boxing history. I just wish, if by some stroke of luck he would come across my blog spot, which is remote, he would understand why I did not cast my lot on him. Be that as it may, I am man enough to accept the reality that I will not be getting any balato or pasalubong from him for my wrong decision. How I wish I simply shut my mouth before? Hehehe...

Well, in life, one cannot have everything... Ciao

TODAY IS THE DAY

Today is the day! After waiting suspensefully for the past months, the big fight is here. In a few hours from now, we shall be witnessing the Pambansang Kamao going up against El Terrible in a boxing ring in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be televised all over the world but I am expecting that it will be shown delayed here as what happened in their past two slugfests. That is why some malls are making a killing in showing the fight live via satellite in the big screen. But beggars cannot be choosers! Since I do not have enough money to buy the five-hundred peso ticket for the mall showing, I will just make do with the television broadcast, hoping that I will not get swamped with those product commercials that are certain to flood it.

I will not make any prediction as to who will win the fight. But just as I have said earlier on, Morales is my man. He was interviewed on TV last night and I saw the fire blazing in his eyes. He wanted very badly to avenge himself against his conqueror. Often, the fight goes to the one who hungers and craves more. The inner hunger gives the fighter a second wind, so to speak. And seeing Morales, I say, he appears to be hungry for the kill.

Well, I will have to stop now for the moment. The next time I will blog will be when the fight is over. Till then...

THE BIG FIGHT

If there is one thing that now preoccupies the attention of most Filipinos, it is the boxing fight between Pacquiao and Morales tomorrow. Everyone I meet seems so anxious to get this day over with so that it would already be Sunday, the anointed day. Well, we have to be patient a bit, after all, we are barely 24 hours away from witnessing what could possibly turn out to be a big triumph for the Filipinos or a huge national tragedy.

But just the same, as I have stated in my earlier blog, and at the risk of incurring the displeasure of some of my friends who are die-hard Pacquiao fans, I am rooting for Morales tomorrow. I will be cheering him for every punch he lands on Pacquiao, which I hope will be many. I will also be egging him on to go for the kill at the earliest opportunity, like a lion which senses the blood of its prey. I say all of these without any malice in my heart. The boxing fight is a game, where, as a rule, there is a winner, and a loser. It is thus inevitable that one, who watches from the sidelines, will take on side as to which boxer will emerge the better fighter. He cannot be a balimbing, who will be rooting for both sluggers at the same time. It so happens that in my case, my soft (though hypertensive) heart unusually bleeds for the underdogs that is why I am casting my unqualified vote for the El Terrible.

Go, Morales, go!!!

Enough said about the Pacquiao-Morales fight. Let me shift gear and talk briefly about another matter. Though it is Saturday, I reported at the office almost the whole day today to catch up on my assignments. The paper works have been piling up quite considerably on my tray these past few days. I realized I needed to put on extra hours. So, I decided to forego all my engagements (as if there was something of significance, in the first place) and resolved to do some papers at the office even without getting overtime pay.

Working on a Saturday turned out to be a breeze! Except for a janitorial staff doing some cleaning, it turned out that I was all alone in the office. The solitary and peaceful atmosphere, without the hustle and hustle of office life during regular work days, was without doubt conducive for mental processes. At the end of the day, I was able to finish quite a sizable number of pending assignments.

Given the chance, I would certainly like to repeat that again next Saturday...

UNFOLDING DRAMAS

Things are getting quite exciting in the country these days. Some interesting events are unfolding before our very eyes. First was the return of Atong Ang after several years of stay in the United States. Facing the same charges as those lodged against former President Estrada, reports say that Atong Ang has been placed in detention in a city jail. Then there was the arrest of fugitive Senator Honasan just the other day. After shrewdly eluding the Arroyo administration for almost a year, his luck has finally run out. The resources and machineries of the government have finally caught up with him. Last thing we heard is that he is at the moment confined in a hospital to undergo treatment for the injuries he sustained while attempting to escape from the police dragnet thrown against him. We are all in suspenseful animation as to what will happen next.

But these political dramas appear to pale in comparison with the forthcoming fight of what some of our countrymen have labeled as the newest Filipino hero, Manny Pacquiao. This coming November 18, 2006, he will once again enter the boxing ring to slug it out against his mortal nemesis, Morales. This is the third time that the two boxers will be facing each other. Their record stands about even, with both fighters scoring a win against the other. According to the promotional blurbs, this third fight will once and for all settle the nagging question as to who really is the better fighter between the two.

Certainly, most of Filipinos the world over will be rooting for the local icon. No doubt, though, there will still be Filipinos, who will be shouting their lungs out in support of Morales. But they will obviously be in the minority. I don't know but the number of Morales' fans might even diminish as the fight progresses on Sunday since they will be subject to the lynching of the more numerous pro-Pacquiao mob. Hehehe.

As for me, I must admit that I am all for Morales. Having declared my sentiment, I am at this early already preparing myself. I am leafing through books of karate to familiarize myself with some effective martial arts techniques that I could use to avoid or parry possible assault from rabid and overreacting Pacquiao supporters. Hehehe. Let me state for the record though that I am not being un-patriotic for throwing my support on Morales. True, he is not a countryman. But I simply have a soft heart for the underdog as what he is now in his fight with Pacquiao, where the odds are basically stacked against him.

That being said, I just want to share my observation regarding how television stations handle the broadcast of big-time fights such as the two previous encounters of Pacquiao and Morales. They unduly exploit these fights to the point that we are no longer watching a boxing fight but a marathon of product commercials. We understand that these stations need to recoup the big investments they make so that they can bring primetime fights to the reach of every household in the country. But this should not be enough reason to sacrifice the interests of the viewers. After all, we watch not because of the parade of commercials but because we want to see the fight being televised... including the fight of the Arroyo administration against Atong Ang and Senator Honasan, that is.

DRINKING

I came home quite late today. Some of my officemates invited me out to have a round of beer. I have not been going out with them lately, due largely to my nagging concern for the occasional rise in my blood pressure. You see, I have been trying to initiate some gradual changes in my lifestyle, which include a resolve to lessen consumption, if not totally abstain from drinking any alcoholic beverages. But this time, I just could not decline the request of my colleagues. After all, I felt it would not do me great harm if I do take a bottle or two of San Mig Light. So, we hied off to our favorite hang-out, a place we fondly refer to as kambingan, which is located a few meters away from our office. Keeping true to my resolution, I merely consumed two bottles over a span of one hour. After paying my share, I bade adieu to my officemates, who were still in the thick of things, so to speak.

Among men as opposed to women, drinking appears to be a constant element. When male barkadas do go out, one would invariably expect the toasting of glasses or swigging of beer bottles. It is certainly the case that a boys' night out would not be complete should there be no liquor drinking on the side.

I do not know but there appears to be something ritualistic about the whole thing. Perhaps, it is a throwback to the olden times when mensfolk, tired after a hard day's labor in the field, would gather around a bonfire exchanging pleasantries with locally available alcoholic drinks such as tuba and basi providing the necessary stimulus for heartier and livelier discussion.

I have asked some friends about what they thought as to the reason why men do not seem to relish going out with buddies when there is no alcoholic product to partake and share. I have gotten mixed reactions, ranging from the sexist answer that beer or any alcoholic beverage for that matter is a supposedly a true mark of machismo to the rather fatalist retort that men are natural-born drinkers. One answer though that has pricked my attention is the idea that it is rather easy for women to talk about things when they are in group, whereas, men appear to be more reticent and less talkative, even in the company of close associates. It is believed that the alcohol spirit helps loosen up the tongue and enables men to achieve a more free-wheeling interaction.

But whatever it is, it is conceded that consumption of alcoholic drinks does enliven a group. It is important to note though that like anything in this world, alcohol beverages must be taken in moderation. Unless one is trying to desperately forget about something distressing, a trip to a resto bar should be done occasionally.

Care for drinks anyone?...

POETRY WORK

One of the things I usually engaged in during my free time is writing poetry. I do not have any claim of being a poet but I do find poetry writing an stimulating enterprise. It makes one commune with his inner self leading to greater self-understanding.

I write poetry much in the traditional way. I rarely do free verses, which is now the one in vogue among poetry circles. I prefer the more common format of four rhyming lines in one stanza. As I have said, I have no pretension to being called a poet. It is enough that I am able to convey my thoughts and feelings in a poetic manner, no matter how crude it may be.

Let me share with you a poem I composed most recently, entitled "Unrequitted Love." I must ask however that my copyright to this work be respected. Should it ever be reproduced, I pray that I be given the proper credit.

UNREQUITTED LOVE

Ranting and raving, a mad man he's become
His mind has taken the pains and miseries
And cannot for a minute longer bear
The desolation wreaking his soul

Gifted with strength, he was once was
Life and vigor flowed out from his heart
In all things, he proved himself without match
Truly, he belonged to his own class

Yet, so many times have it been quipped
In every mortal, always there lies a weakness
For even the mighty Achilles had his own
Soon, the man discovered his armor's chink

For once, he fell for a maiden so divine
For him, she was Aphrodite incarnate
Besotted he was, completely swept away
Day and night she haunted him without fail

Thus, the man did what he could and more
He gave all his best and held nothing back
He even stormed the heaven's gate with prayers
As he tried to win the maiden's nod

But futile all his spirited efforts proved to be
She was meant to love but not he
Her heart was to someone else already bestowed
And the man just felt the world on him crumbled

Ranting and raving, a mad man he's become
His mind has taken the pains and miseries
And cannot for a minute longer bear
The desolation wreaking his soul

FANTASY

We all have pretensions to be somebody else other than who we really are. We tend to fantasize about ourselves being someone popular, perhaps, in the school where we study or in our place of work. I guess fantasy is very much a part of our life. Take away our ability to dream and fantasize and we are left with a monotonous and dull existence. The Creator is indeed wise in bestowing us this faculty.

But I notice there are those people, who are literally living in their own world of dreams and fantasies. I am not referring to those who have lost it. Rather, I am talking about some people I happen to know who have developed inflated sense of self-importance that they fantasize about being the center of the universe. I simply do not understand them. True, they have achieved a lot but is that a license to be so bragging and boastful of one's worth?

I still believe that it still pays to be modest, even in living our dreams and fantasies. By all means, let us fantasize about being somebody more important than who we really are. But we should never forget to keep our feet grounded for after all, we are merely engaged in a reverie or fantasy.

TIME FLIES SO FAST

I guess I have spoken too soon. If you read my last blog entry, I said there that I was still on track of my personal commitment to post one blog entry each day. But you may notice that I have not been able to post any blog entry since Thursday. The reason is that I recently got a promotion, which has made me a lot busier these past days. In addition, I went home to the province again last weekend to attend to some family matters.

Time flies so fast. Those of us caught up in the hustle bustle of life barely notice the passing of days. We are already in the eleventh month of the current year. Before we know it, we will be throwing away this year’s calendar to the dustbin and replace it with the 2007 calendar.

That time swiftly passes is made more manifest to me with my reaching this year my first decade in the government service. Yes, I have been a government employee for the past ten years. I can never imagine that I would last this long in the government bureaucracy. When I first entered the government, I said to myself I should only be there for five years at the most, and then move out, possibly to the private sector. But apparently, fate has something else in store for me.

Some friends do express wonder about my seemingly undying devotion to the government. They kid me for being so loyal and true to the service even in the face of all the adverse publicities being thrown against it, not to mention the low pay.

Indeed, why have I stayed on? To be candid, I have been asking that question to myself of late. But I guess one strong motivation that is keeping me attach to the service is the respect I receive from my colleagues, whom I have dealt with all these years. Their respect is in itself a source of great satisfaction. It only means that no matter how small or humble my work is, I do feel appreciated.

Any regrets? Well, I must concede that every now and then, I get to thinking, what if I have transferred to the private sector where I could get higher pay. But who knows, there may still be time enough for that someday. In the meantime, I shall continue still to relish my government work.

BLOGGING MY WAY

When I opened my blog about three days ago, I promised myself I am going to post an entry every day. There was no special reason for this. I just wanted to keep my blog spot actively running. Thus far, I think I am right on track. But it is still too early to claim any credit yet. I can only hope I can sustain this personal undertaking well into the future.

I must admit though that writing a blog entry is not a breeze, especially for somebody who is not a born writer, like me. I take about two to three hours on the average to finish a simple entry. But this is just the rough draft. Another hour or two is spent pruning, cleaning and editing the composition to make it at least publishable, insofar as I am concerned.

It does not help any that choosing a topic to write about is, in itself, a difficult task. Our every day existence exposes us to a lot of things, events, places and experiences. But selecting which among these should one talk about is not an easy picking. There is a tendency for information overload. As it is often quipped, too much water can spoil the broth.

At times, too, the mind is just not in the proper setting. I experienced this last Sunday when I was doing my third blog entry. I was grasping for anything I could put into writing. For one reason or another, my brain was simply not up to it. So, after almost an hour of staring blankly at the monitor, I merely decided to ramble on what I did that day, as if there was somebody out there interested enough to know what I was doing.

Despite its inherent complexity, I still find blogging quite an enjoyable and interesting activity, especially when one has some free time to spare. Mind you, it is not squandering time but sharing one self to the whole world. The truth is, I will continue this endeavor for as long as I possibly can. After all, it is something that I relish doing.

By the way, I wrote yesterday about the dreadful experience of my sister in the hands of scoundrels. The police are on top of the case. However, no matter how painstaking the police investigation would be if there are no leads to work on, the result would be inevitable—just another unsolved crime to be added in the growing statistics of criminal cases in the country. I therefore encourage anyone who has information about this “ipit-taksi” group, which is preying on hapless commuters, to come out. You are not only helping us victims obtain justice, but you are making an important contribution in making our society safe from lawless criminals.

IPIT-TAKSI

The so-called "Ipit-Taksi" gang has struck again. And this time, the victim is one who is dearly close to me, my own sister.

The unfortunate encounter happened last night. My sister was on her way to Sampaloc, Manila, where she was supposed to board a bus bound for our hometown in Alicia, Isabela. Unable to get a cab from our place in Pasig City, she took an FX taxi going to Robinsons Galleria in Ortigas Center, where she thought she had better chances of getting a cab, considering that taxis usually congregate in mall areas at any time of the day. Upon reaching Galleria, she noticed the long queue of commuters in the designated waiting area for taxicabs. Not wanting to waste any more time since she had a provincial trip to catch, she decided to just wait nearby.

A vacant yellow taxi did pass by not long after. She hailed it and, to her great relief, the driver, who was in his mid-forties and wearing a cap, agreed to bring her to Sampaloc, Manila, without much discussion as to the fare, which is usually the practice of many unscrupulous taxi drivers during rush hour. Preoccupied with the single nagging thought of arriving at the bus terminal on time, she boarded the taxi and settled at the back seat without bothering to check the body number or plate number of the taxi upon boarding.

On the way, the driver advised my sister to move to the driver side of the back seat purportedly because the right tire at the back was wiggling a bit. My sister did move a bit to the center. Upon reaching La Salle Greenhills, which is just a hundred or so meters away from EDSA cor. Ortigas Avenue, the driver suddenly stopped the taxi and, without any warning whatsoever, let inside two men who were in their mid-twenties. One seated himself beside the driver while the other sat beside her.

Although greatly surprised and alarmed by the sudden turn of event, my sister did not lose any second in trying to open the left passenger door. However, the door could not be opened as it was securely locked. Then, she heard one of the men telling her to be still and just obey their commands. She was told that unless she put up a resistance, they were not going to do her any harm. They were just there for the money supposedly because one of the crooks’ wife and son were in dire need of medical treatment.

Frightened for her own life, my sister could not do anything but to meekly accede to the demands of the felons. Her bag was thoroughly combed for any valuable items. When they found her two ATM cards inside, they forced her, by threat and intimidation, to divulge the PINs for both. She was also divested of her pair of earrings and college ring, which was a gift from our late father. Her cell phone was likewise taken away.

All the while, they were driving towards the general direction of Quezon City. She discovered this when she caught a glimpse of the GMA 7 building along Timog Avenue. They traversed EDSA and then entered East Avenue. Thereafter, they went into a side street, which was unknown to her since she is relatively unfamiliar with Quezon City. One of the criminals alighted when they got near a bank with an ATM ostensibly to withdraw from my sister’s ATM accounts, while the rest of them drove on for a while. After a couple of minutes, they went back to ferry the hold-upper, who withdrew money. They then again circled the area for some more minutes, perhaps in an attempt to befuddle and disorient my sister.

At around 9 p.m., my sister was finally dropped off in a dark corner in the Quezon City Elliptical Circle, near the Department of Agriculture, but not after she was threatened not to look back, otherwise they would return and do her harm. The criminals did have a soft heart (?) to leave her some money to pay for her fare home.

While we are thankful that nothing untoward happened to my sister, we hope that law enforcers shall arrest the culprits soon to stop them from further perpetrating their dastardly crime on innocent people.

By the way, when I recounted the incident to an officemate, I was told that she did receive an e-mail message awhile back, containing an account of a young professional of his experience of being held up in a similar fashion also in Ortigas Center. I believe that the perpetrators are one and the same. I hope most fervently that the hands of justice would soon catch on them. Let it be shown that crime does not pay in our society!

Finally, my advice to fellow commuters: Always be vigilant and on guard. Try to spend some minutes memorizing or much better, jotting down the body marking as well as the plate number of the taxi one is boarding. These pieces of information shall be of great help to our law enforcers should one find himself or herself in the same distressing situation.

HEADACHE

Hello, world! It is nice to be back in the blogosphere. I had quite a hectic day today but I simply could not wait to blog again. So here I am, trying to post my third entry in my recently-opened blog spot.

What has kept me busy for the day, you may ask? Well, I heard mass this morning at the EDSA Shrine. Though I am not a totally devout Catholic, I must say I still make it a point to observe my Sunday obligation, ever hopeful that my church attendance would someday be taken as a mitigating factor in my favor should the judgment day come upon us. After the mass, I loitered a bit at the Robinson Galleria mall, doing some sight-seeing and window shopping as well. With a rather tight budget, I think this is the only kind of shopping I can very well afford right now. Not that I enjoy shopping. It is actually a constant source of irritation between me and my wife, who would sometimes spend a couple of hours hopping from one store to another looking for a precious find. This is especially true if we happen to find ourselves in the greatest shopping plaza right in the heart of Manila, that is, Divisoria. Hehehe, biro lang, be.

About an hour or so of strolling inside Robinson, I moved to the SM Megamall, which is just a short distance away. Just like in Robinsons, I leisurely ambled through the cavernous mall filled with massive throng of weekend shoppers. Along the way, I feasted my eyes on the grandiose merchandise on display for sale. I spent though a much longer time in the electronic section of the mall, where the newest models of high-tech gadgetries, especially cellphones, are put on view. The electronic stuffs were really fascinating, and their features rather overwhelming. You just do not know what product developers would think of next. I do hope though that whatever innovative products they would come up with in the near future, the prices should at least be slashed down to correspond to the disposable income of hard-up government employees, like me. I know I am wishing for the moon and the stars, but who knows, there may be manufacturers out there who genuinely sympathize with the dire plight of civil servants and who would thus be willing to sell their products at a cheap bargain. Sana nga... Pero yun nga, asa pa ako...

After getting so droolingly envious with people pushing product-filled grocery carts and lugging bags of pricey items, I decided I had enough. A little more and I would find it temptingly irresistible to dip into my P1,000.00 peso-ATM account, which is actually my remaining allowance for the next two weeks. So, without much ado, I started for home. I got caught in a traffic jam for a while but at around six o'clock this evening, I reached home, where a tasty pancit canton was waiting for me.

By the way, you may think the title of this blog entry, Headache, does not have anything to do with what I have written above. Well, it is what I am feeling right now just thinking of the interesting gadgets I saw in the mall, which I wish I could own.

THE HOWLING WINDS

You may not notice it but I have just began blogging today. It is a fulfillment of a dream that I have nurtured for some years now. I could have started earlier if I knew that creating a blog spot was not as difficult as I initially believed. Just follow some simple instructions and voila, you have a a blog spot you can call your own.

Being a new blogger, I cannot stop the thrill and excitement welling up inside me. It makes me so anxious to write on almost anything that interests me. Yet, this may not be practicable so let me just share with you an experience I just had.

When President Arroyo declared that only November 1 would be non-working holiday (a marked departure from previous years where November 2 was also declared as such), supposedly upon the prompting of powerful businessmen, I decided to leave for my beloved hometown of Alicia in the Province of Isabela on Friday, October 28, 2006, right after work in Quezon City. I planned to stay there only for the weekend, which I thought was enough time to be with my wife, who is currently enrolled in a nursing school there, rekindle ties with my blood kins, and, more importantly, pay respect to dearly departed family members. The Victory Liner bus terminal in Kamias, Quezon City, which bus company daily plies the Cagayan Valley route with its fleet of airconditioned buses, was brimming with passengers that night, who, I suppose, were also on their way to visit their dead relatives and friends. Due to the influx of passengers, I managed to buy a ticket for the second to the last trip. The bus left at 11:30 p.m. and after a gruelling nine-hour travel, punctuated by a traffic build up along the Maharlika Highway in the mountainous part of Nueva Vizcaya, we finally arrived, safe and sound, in Santiago City, where I was met by my wife. Together, we took a mini-bus for the thirty-minute ride to my hometown, Alicia.

I thought my homecoming would relatively be uneventful. Actually, it was at first. Exhausted by the trip, I decided to simply spend the whole day of Saturday lounging in the house in the company of my wife, my mother and other family members. The gloomy weather did not help any to bolster my wanderlust spirit. So, I put off my visit to the cemetery the morning of the next day, right after the missal service.

Sunday began with a drizzle. Our house being situated about a kilometer or so away from the church, it was an effort to go to the mass. I told my wife we will just attend the mass scheduled in the afternoon at 5 p.m. In the meantime, we would wait for the weather to clear a bit so that we could troop to the cemetery and be with our dead even for a short time.

Yet, the weather was uncooperative. As the day progressed, the drizzle became a downpour that seemed to last for eternity. Any plan of going out, even my trip back to Manila, was basically ruled out. It would not be good, health-wise, to brave the heavy rain, what with the flu cases rising up.

Stucked at the house, we tuned in to the radio, hoping to get any weather news. There, we learned about the impending landfall of typhoon, locally code-named "Paeng." I heard
the reporter saying that the typhoon had been classified as signal no. 4 and was expected, based on PAG-ASA estimation, to hit Isabela around 8 p.m. People were warned to stay home and braced for the strong winds.

As predicted, supertyphoon "Paeng" did arrive at around 8 p.m. It brought with it tremendous winds. So powerful were the winds that they howled and whistled. Though the house was made of concrete, it seemed to have felt the force of the storm. The windows crackled and the ceiling creaked under the weight of the winds. We thought we were in for a disastrous evening.

Yet, after several hours of uncertainty, the winds abated. With the electrical blackout, however, we had no way of knowing whether the storm has passed. Yet, believing the worst was over, we finally had our sleep, albeit guarded and uneasy, for the night.

The devastation wrought by the storm became evident to us the next day. Our backyard was strewn with felled trees, which were uprooted. Banana plants were cut down as if they were hit by a scythe. Some coconut trees, which are believed to be impregnable even against the strongest of winds, were also buckled.

In the neighboring towns we visited later in the day, we saw swollen rivers overflowing their banks and inundating outlying agricultural fields as well as houses.

Yet, against the backdrop of the devastation, people still went on their routine of paying a visit to their dearly departed ones as I personally witnessed when I myself went to the cemetery. I guess, no storm is strong enough to make us forget and forgo of our filial obligations!

So what happened after? Instead of staying only for two days in the province, I filed a leave for another two days. I finally went back to Manila on Wednesday, November 1, 2006.

THE GENESIS

I have always been fascinated with the web. Whenever I have free time, chances are I am stuck in front of a computer, surfing through the net. Mind you, I am not a techno-geek. I do not even have any formal training with computer operations. It is a good thing though that there are web sites that really bring computers to the understanding of ordinary people like me. And this web site which is hosting my blog-spot is one, for which I am very thankful for.

You see, ever since I have come across some blog spots in the web, I have nurtured that ardent desire to have my own. However, one thing that precluded me from immediately carrying out the fulfillment of my desire was my lack of technological know-how. As I have said, my exposure to internet is basically limited to simple surfing and e-mailing, and nothing more. To be candid, my computer courses during my undergraduate days eons ago were on Wordstar and DBase. I have had subsequent computer trainings courtesy of the government office where I have been employed for the past decade or so but these short-term courses were focused mainly on word processing. Thus, for an ignoramus like me, I thought it was beyond me to create my blog spot. Indeed, I should have entirely written off my plan of blogging have I not stumbled unto this web site, which offers an easy and simple way of creating a blog. In just three simple steps, one can have his or her own blog spot in the internet.

So, here I am with my first attempt of blogging. Having said that, I guess an introduction is very well in order.

I am Bernard, and you may address me simply as Berns or Bernie, though I prefer the former. I come from the Philippines and trace my roots to the Province of Isabela, which, incidentally, was recently hit by a supertyphoon, locally named "Paeng." I belong to the great tribe of Ilocanos and I am proud to be one. By profession, I am a lawyer. By occupation, I am a government employee, which I have been for the past ten years.

At this early, I should caution the readers that my blog spot shall basically touch on topics that interest me, which, admittedly, are not much. Since I do not have any pretension of being a a good writer, I shall be merely writing on simple and ordinary things. I also do not have any intent of turning my blog spot into a political commentary or editorial and thus, I resolve to refrain, whenever possible, from discussing political issues of the day, which are already amply covered by other blog spots as well as the news media. This is a resolve I do intend to keep. If I go astray every now and then, feel free to point this out to me.

Well, that being said, let me welcome you to my small corner in the nether world. I hope you would drop again the next time...