Baktin Diaries: The Road Back Home is So Much Wider

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Continued from Baktin Diaries: Rise of the Jinxed Club

The stars were still twinkling like diamonds in the sky when our ferry hit the dock of Surigao. The breeze was cold and the smell of Mindanao sent a wonderful shiver through my dilapidated body. Few hours more and I would be cuddling my five pillows once again. Pity me!

Baktin Diaries: Rise of the Jinxed Club

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Continued from: Baktin Diaries: The Tragic Death of the City Piglets

The “quick” ferry ride provided us a “quick” relief from the rowdy bus crowd. However, no sooner did we find ourselves squeezed again onto our bus seats, enduring hours of long travel, our muscles numb and joints cramped from being immobile for so long. We were still in Visayas, specifically in Samar where the roads are as tight as chicken’s ass.

Baktin Diaries: The Tragic Death of the City Piglets

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Continued from: Baktin Diaries: Ispiso na Amoy! (A Sharp Whiff!)

“Where am I?”

My mind immediately asked when I regained consciousness. It was like I was in a state of déjà vu as I struggled to identify what place and time I was in. I remembered Christina Aguilera singing loud and bitchy in the background. Did I party all night long? There was a tight crowd. Was I squeezed in a tin can? There was a battle of obnoxious smell. Was I in a gladiator fight?

Baktin Diaries: Ispiso na Amoy! (A Sharp Whiff!)

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Some trips are unexpectedly memorable. Trips that defy all measures of a comfy ride but once shared with friends and a bunch of random funny strangers, they become instant attraction in one’s memory lane. Such ride for me was my recent trip to Legazpi City when I attended a national convention with my colleagues in the faculty. The four of us decided to take a land trip from Davao City to the venue and vice versa, and each trip was roughly a 36-hour bus ride. Going to Legazpi was already a struggle but the ride back home was even more challenging than we thought, and after exhausting our mental, physical and emotional facilities at that monumental gathering of the geniuses and blah blah blah in the field of agricultural engineering, we once have to summon all our outer and inner strengths for this one long but goodness-gracious fuckingly unbelievable journey.

Forbidden

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This is one of the rare times (in the last two years or so) when I have nothing good to do but sit in front of my laptop and browse through some zany websites or watch wacky videos. Yes, it is our semestral break and holiday vacation, and almost all school-related things are done. And yes, I am frisking with the World Wide Web when my own network of restless teeny brain cells began taunting me with their outrageous ideas. So in between surfing through multitudes of sites, I started a new blog entry….

It feels like decades had passed since my last blog post so before the scourge of everyday life evaporates my thoughts, I have to write them down…. But nah, I really have nothing to write about but some random things about blah blah and blah…. Yeah, it is shamelessly blah blah blah (*sighs*).

Well, 2016 is about to end and it is a year of ups (downs as well) for me. New years always bring that feeling of renewal and redemption to me. It is something I always look forward to, complete with my what’s-not, where-to, how-should, and to-do lists. Needless to say, it is also a chance to forget the oversights of the previous years and move on from there.

With mistakes, we learn from them. With failures, we become wiser. With heartaches, we grow stronger. Yet, there are things in which forgetting and moving on never come easy. Things that are not easy to get by. Things we cannot simply disregard. Like feelings we are not meant to feel. Or thoughts not supposedly thought of. Or things forbidden to feel and think about….

Like a secret anger.... Like hidden love…. Like well-kept pains…. Like fantasies…..

No matter how much we try to push them away, they will always revisit. More forceful each time. More searing. For these are part of us. Things that define as us a person. Things that will complete us. Things that cheer us.

Mostly, it’s futile to cast such feelings and thoughts away. Better, accept them. Then embrace the anger…. Embrace the love…. Embrace the pains…. Embrace the fantasies….

And just then, my fingers stumble upon an intriguing website. Ugh! Embrace….

Image credit: Shutterstock

Like Cotton Seeds

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These last few days and up until now, it has been raining cotton balls here in the University of the Philippines. What they call here as American cotton trees have seen shooting these balls, covering the green lawn in the Freedom Park with soft whiteness. Even the surrounding willow and acacia trees are covered with them, much like snow coating the pines. These cotton balls each have a seed inside which when lucky to land on good soil and be protected, will grow to become another mighty tree. Here, it is believed that the shower of cotton signify the end of the semester and the celebration of graduation. Indeed, graduation rites in the University will be held days from now.

Beauty Lesson from the Old Acacia Trees

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Everytime I passed by our dormitory and of our neighborhood, I am always captivated by the towering acacia trees. There were several of them and most are very old. I don’t exactly know how old they are, but the ferns and fungi growing on their stout trunk and limbs are shouting antiquity. During the day, they are a picture of humble grandeur, as their mighty branches stir the cool breeze or their fresh green leaves provide shade to passing people. During the night, they are a picture of relaxed serenity, with their gentle hum and slow sway, and with the corn moon casting its soft glow behind them. Everytime I see them, I just could not help but look up and be mesmerized by them. They inspire me with their simple and quiet beauty. Though unnoticed and unappreciated, they continue to hold their limbs up high.

Little Bridge

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Some nights ago, a Facebook friend shared a forty-second video on her account. Though it did not receive that much likes or comments, I still find it worth sharing. The video is about how a big brother helped his little sister cross a small gap (though it appears really wide for their age) on a pavement. Seeing his little sister’s difficulty, the brother laid and stretched himself out over the gap, acting like a bridge for her. It is truly a funny and cute moment, watching these two adorable kids helping out each other. At the same time, it is heart-warming and thought-provoking, teaching us a thing or two about true brotherhood.

Heroes, et al.

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Over the recent years, I have been downloading and watching my favorite childhood animated TV series. I already had a complete copy of X-Men: The Animated Series (aired in the early 90’s), Full Metal Alchemist, Mushishi, Hunter X Hunter, Fushigi Yugi, and One Piece (which is my most favorite anime). And just this minute, I found out that Power Rangers celebrated their 20^th anniversary. A Youtube video of several Red Rangers (presumably from different versions of the action show) going around key places in the US is a huge hit in many social media.

Passing

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Since the jeepney going around the campus does not pass by our building, I have to walk some good distance, maybe a five- to ten-minute walk on broken and crowded sidewalks. It must have been the cold late morning, or the greenness around me that I felt kind of overjoyed with my walk. Never mind that I slept late again last night, or I still have several papers to make, or that there are impending exams by March. Nah, I just did not mind them, I was really into my walk.

The Ferris Wheel Ride

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It’s Feb Fair here in the University of the Philippines – Los Baños and the campus’ Freedom Park had been converted into a party festival. Stalls selling food and refreshments, booths offering various gimmicks, and amusement rides can be seen anywhere. Since our dormitory is only right in front of the park, I and my dorm-mates wasted no time in joining the party. So from one fun fair booth to another, we hopped. And despite its dilapidated appearance, we also rode the Ferris wheel.

Lights of Home

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I had been home for more than 24 hours now. I should have written this piece last night, but too exhausted, I slept the night away and rested the entire day. I had these thoughts running around my head while I was on board on flight 5J 997, bound for General Santos City. So these were my thoughts….

Seasons Change

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It was already half past noon. I was walking back to my dormitory from an inexpensive food store when a light shower poured down. Instinctively, I opened my umbrella and continued my walk. The dorm was still a good distance away so I took time walking slowly, leisurely and pensively.

Yolanda and the Filipinos

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Haiyan. Yolanda. Whichever the name is, that typhoon has been a great gauge of strength, resiliency, and unity of the Filipino nation.

It was the 7^th of November, 2013 when Yolanda entered the Philippine shores, initially devastating the sleepy town of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It was night time and the damage it had brought remained unseen, until the dawn of the next day. By November 8, Yolanda crossed the entire islands of Leyte and Samar, with winds up to 315 km/h (195 mph). Along with the furious winds was the gigantic storm surge, waves reaching as high as 5-6 m (15-19 ft). Waters covered the whole City of Tacloban and those who were unfortunate to reach high grounds were drowned and killed. Buildings and churches toppled. Boats and ships were thrown on land. Trees were uprooted and lives were wasted. By November 10, Yolanda exited the country, leaving ruined cities and provinces, broken lives, and a shocked nation.

The Wall

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For the last few months, I have been recycling my articles in my blogs, republishing old works or scanning through my tattered notebooks looking for some relevant pieces. It’s just that my mind could not think of anything worth writing for and publishing. I just could not find the inspiration to write, not to mention the pressure I have from my present situations, deadlines to beat from my other engagements, and the temptation from Candy Crash, Urban Rivals, and various other online games.

Shaken

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October 15, 2013. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Central Visayas. With epicenter at Carmen, Bohol, the earthquake shook to destruction many buildings in Cebu and Bohol. Hotels were cracked and old churches were almost brought to dust. The energy released by the quake was claimed to be equivalent to 32 Hiroshima bombs.

Why Does the Sun Go On Shining?

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Three years ago, I wrote this short reflection....

It has been raining or cloudy for the last few days and the sunlight showers on almost every object brought certain cheer to the atmosphere. It was early yesterday morning and the thought of beauty gave me much energy to prepare for that day’s work. But it would be silly standing at the front door and absorbing everything I see, so I hurried up and rushed to school.

Birds Fly

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Three years ago, while recovering from leg fracture, I wrote this reflection....

Friday afternoon, I was waiting for my neighbor to pick me up at school. I still cannot walk right from a fracture I had so somebody would have to fetch me at school every day. So I was waiting for him, seated alone on a bench, and it was past five in the afternoon, when I noticed a flock of birds perched on the transmission line. It was a large group, maybe a hundred or more. Locally known as “lansang”, they were singing (or should I say making noise). It rained hard earlier that afternoon, and the wet grass, the smell of drenched soil and the song of birds were creating a pastoral atmosphere. It was peaceful, and so I sat there waiting, watching the birds. Watching the birds, oblivious to time and to the electricity, made me think of my own life and others as well. Life and time are two inseparable things.

Sand Sculptures

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I was looking through some photos of my students in a beach activity when I noticed sand sculptures on them. They were only on the background but they caught my attention. They were really beautiful, I supposed they were more beautiful than my students. LOL!

A Lighted Candle

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Almost five years ago, a year after my father's death, I wrote this sad recollection....

As noisy as it had been, the house is now peaceful. Friends and relatives who came to commemorate with us my father’s first death anniversary had now left. And as lonely as the stillness that enveloped our home are my father’s memories, which a few hours ago, we joyfully shared.