Chaos created Beauty

In the hundred cities of the Philippines Archipelago, one was once called the "Sin City"- Olongapo.

Get dressed. Pack up your things. Bring a map because we will go to Olongapo City. Fasten your seat belts. Start your engine. Are you ready? Go.

There are three ways to get to Olongapo: by air, water and/or land. Olongapo has a modern international airport--Subic Bay International Airport. There are several budget airlines that operate flights to Olongapo City. If you choose to travel by sea; you make take a ferry boat, ship ride or RORO boats that will lead you to the Subic Freeport. If you are not apprehensive by long land journey you may take domestic buses or taxis that are bound to Olongapo City via Subic-Clark-Tarlec Expressway SCTEX or passing through the Layac intersection. Either ways, you'll reach the city.

As you pause for a while, sitting back in your car or just stepped down from a bus, standing, you will feel the ambience that only Olongapo can bring to you. Smell the breeze. You will see what history brought to the city; the phenomenon, places, and people.

Myths says Olongapo before was just a fishing village. It's Leader was known as Apo, well-dedicated in loving his place and a model for citizenry. The name of the city originated from him, Ulo ng Apo!

Changes happened when Americans started to depart. They built bases, they mingled with Olongapenos, and some even stayed for living. Situated in the heart of World War II.

An innocent village became urbanized. Modernization took place but it took sins with it. Romantic places such as restaurants, hotels, motels, beach resorts emerged but along with this was a high rate of prostitution. Casinos rampaged,  gambling became a habit. Crimes including rape, drug addiction, and murder were king, lurking the place into the darkness.

This was the time "Sin City of the Philippines" nicknamed Olongapo. This was history, marked in city, and remembered by the whole citezens of Olongapo. An issue of the past but left hanging questions to some Olongapenos.

It didn't end up here. Olongapenos knew it was wrong so they made a move, and traveled to the right path. They initiated theirselves and created an atmosphere of volunteerism in the city.  The place underwent alterations. Though history remains, the people have changed.

Second asset of the city are the people. Olongapo is being inhabited by hundred thousands of people of different ethnicities and races, different levels of urbanization, and statuses in life. Whether born or not in the city, they consider them selves as Olongapenos.

Whenever youn walk the streets, even if they don't know you, Olongapenos will smile. Saying that you're very much welcome here. Please enjoy your stay. If there's one product of Olongapenos to promote, it's their smile. Amidst everything that happened or still happening, they still manage to smile. In fact, it is more natural than anything else.

Feel them as you get to know Olongapo better. Try to ask them if where you could go. They will say, anywhere the wind blows. LOL. Every corner of the city has attractions to see. With or without money, you could go on, up to the four directions and the nearby Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority(SBMA).

Off to your car. Try riding the color coated jeepnies and tricycle and experience the Manila-like pavements without traffic. Every color corresponds to the place where it will go. Like the blue jeepney, its destination is a place near the blue waters like Barrio Barretto wherein beach resorts are commonly found.

If you want to eat and really in a hurry, there are fast food chains like Jollibee, Mc Donalds, Mang Inasal. Fine Dining? Try Kong's Restaurant, Max's, and a lot more located along Magsaysay and Rizal Drive, the business center of the city.. Or if you want to buy ingredients? Go to wet and dry markets in Pag-asa, Bajac-Bajac, and the Lumang Palengke.

Olongapo will also serve you the finest and latest clothes in shopping malls, divisoria type stores, and the night market open all year long. Night market serves as a theme park for it provides enjoyment through rides, bingo sessions. For physical activities, the city has Track field, bowling center, and gyms. For relaxations? Go to spas, salons, and parks like Marikit. There is also a grotto of Our Lady of Pardon located near the side of Kalaklan Bridge in Barangay Mabayuan, Catholic devoteed, pray and pay homage to the Lord of Pardon at this Sacred Place. See? you have a lot of things to do. 

Got bored? Tired? And hurt by hurt by the sun? Wait till night falls. Olongapo is awake at night! This is what everyone says. When night begins, party music starts to rock the streets, spotlights are seen in the sky, party lights light the night. Party goes on and on everyone night speacially when its Friday and Saturday. Music Lounge, bars, and disco are available. C'mon! Dance the night out.

-end-

Reasons Why is it Cool to be in School

As we wake up each morning, take a bath, eat our breakfasts, pack up things, and prepare ourselves for school, we always bear in mind reasons for doing so. Our reasons why it is cool to be in school.

Allowance! Admit it to ourselves we are after this. Because we are only students, we cannot compensate ourselves, we depend on our parents for money. So what do we do with money? We save it. We spend it for many things. Our allowances make a reason why it's cool to be in school.

We go to school to share what we have in our homes: extreme experiences, new gadgets, new trends, etc. When we do so people say we are cool but some says, we're mayabang. 

Going to school kills time. We make schooling just for leisure. We easily get bored. But in the end we find ourselves enjoying the time, the place, the learnings. Time being in school introduce us to new challenges and that what makes life interesting. 

It is cool to be in school for it offers you a variety of people. In school, we get chances of meeting new friends and taming them to be our best friends. Those teachers who treat us like their won children, we pay them back by doing things that they could be happy. School makes us socialized. 

After four years, isn't cool to call yourself a graduate? Wearing your toga and holding your diploma, we will realize, we go to school for one reason, to be educated. That's all that matters. 

M.Y's Resolutions

2010 was oh so good to me. Never mention those times that I had downs, right? So this coming 2011, I'm looking brighter. But before the fireworks start booming and lighting the dark sky, I want to share my new year's resolution's list. 


I will aspire more, sleep less.
Health will be of more importance.
Sunday is for God.
Craving for happiness.
Closer family tie.
Be productive.
Be more organized. 
Less grudges, more happy moments.
Speak more, write better.
Alteration of what I did during 2010. 


For 2011, I want to make a change. I will do more than yesterday. There will be no more question or pause, I'll continue my days no matter what. Looking forward to 2012. :]


Boom! Boom! Boom! Happy New Year! 

A Christmas' Touch

December 25, the day that all have been waiting for. Gifts are in wrappers. Christmas cards are top selling. Recipes for Noche Buena are ready and served at the table. New clothes are worn. Some are waiting for their gifts. Some are waiting for Aguinaldo. Some are getting ready. But some have nothing and still hopes for something...


It's not always true that when this season comes, people put their bests feet forward. Open your eyes and welcome to the reality of Christmas.


As some family braise their selves and head for a shopping spree, some just raise their hands high all day long, hoping for someone would stop and spare some alms, waiting just to get over the day.

As some excitedly put their Christmas decor all over the place- Christmas tree at the corner, lanterns at the facade, bright lights around, some just stay at their pavement, inside their shanties, packed like a canned sardines, no lights and body crumpled from cold. 

As some iron and remove the tags of their new clothes, take showers and and feel the freshness all over their bodies, some don't mind about their filthy skins and ragged clothes for they have nothing except those what they used to wear every.

As some mouth water from the foods served on the table, some water for leftovers and others worst for nothing and still starve even at this moment. 

As some rapidly open their gifts, tear its wrapper, and read it dedication, some look from up above and wish they also have and do the same thing with a smile on their face.


Amidst the fate that strikes them, these very people still hopes. In their hearts lie a touch of Christmas. A touch of hope, love, and faith. Hope for there will be another day to live on, another Christmas even without gifts or Noche Buena for them, Jesus is enough. Love for their lives. And faith to God that drive them to continue, knowing that they will not be left out until they know their real purpose in life.


-end-

A Father's Child

Like father like son: this is what they usually say when they see a man with his grown up boy. Comparing their selves and doing stuff that only them can understand. But how come I didn't experience someone saying that to me? I feel bad when I think of this.

Having no father while growing up was difficult. My father is not dead, okay? It's just that we're not closed like a solid one. I don't know. I can't even feel his presence. I can't remember memories that we've been together. In short, there's really nothing about us. He's just my father, and I'm his son, that's all and nothing more.

Ever since I was young, I was only with my Lola, Aunt, and Mom. There were the only ones who help me grew up. Loved and nourished me. I was raised with women surrounding me, maybe this explains why act like this. I could have more than this if  he stayed by my side.

I am my father's only child yet I didn't felt that. It seemed like to him, I'm less important compared to those things he kept on doing. He didn't manage to have another wife and child. He didn't also manage to care, pay attention, and look to his only son. He lives like a single person without obligation.

He's irresponsible. I think he don't deserve to be a father. I'm not blaming him. Please don't get me wrong. But you know what? Every time problem appear, I tell myself that it wouldn't be this way if he worked on our family. I could have been better. I could have been stronger.I could have been manlier.

We didn't have bonding time like those who had one. We didn't had the chance to talk about our favorite stuff and what are habits are.We didn't experience laughing together. We didn't had the chance to go outlook out for beautiful women. We didn't had the chance to know each other better than not knowing at all. We have wasted chance. We have wasted time. I regret. I could made a move. on a gig. We didn't had time to

With these, I share want to share these three messages of mine:

To those who feel apart from their fathers: make a way while you're still young, while time is still on and while the chances are there.

To those who love their fathers so much: cherish each others memories, they are treasures to keep, and show the world, show me, what a father-child relationship truly is!

To those who will become fathers: love your children more than the way your fathers loved you, build relationships toward your children, lay time and be a good example.

-end-

When ABC (a baby cries)

Some would want to search and drink in the fountain of youth  to be young forever but I need more than this. I want to ask Cronos (the God of time) to let me go back to the day that I was born, stay there, and repeat it over and over again. 


I imagine when I came into my family's life. Just like every baby, I was adored by all. Mom kissed me. Dad hugged me. My grandparents, aunts, and ninangs always wanted to carry me. Everyone seemed to like my adorable chubby little figure.


No one did hate me. They even said I was a blessing, a gift from above. A being that bound together my parents as one. We three created a happy family.


Time was of priority to me. They never missed a thing when it comes to my concern. I was fed on time. I had their full attention. My firsts were big deals for them. 


I was their subject for every picture. They made me wore fancy costumes. 


I made my parents laugh when I chuckled loudly. They did everything-fed with bottled milk, played teether, and even made fun of their selves- just to make me stop for those times I cried.


For some reason, though I can't really remember these things, I knew it somehow by heart. That's why I wanted to go back from being a baby and cherish the most of it, forever. 


I am missing those days when my Mom and Dad used to hug and kiss me every start and end of the day as if tomorrow will not come again. After a year or two, I was handed over to my relatives. 


Before, I was a blessing but now, a burden to keep. We were supposed to be a happy family not a broken one. I was left in the middle with no one to run to. 


Unattended and set aside, that's me. Today, no one would pay attention. No one really cares. They don't even offer such affection. I am not enough for them to be proud of. To them, I am not worthy to be loved.


Today, no one recognizes me. We are all apart like a family picture torn into pieces, connected by blood yet separated by distance of heart.


Not a chance to make them laugh nor cry. They don't know me anymore. They had lost me. Without acknowledgment, they created a path that got rid of me. they did everything wrong. 


19 years had past. I hid so many hard feelings for them. It can't be spilled in one spit so if Gods can hear me, let me go back.


I want to be a baby once again. A baby whose innocence hides behind smiles and laughters. An innocent from hurt and reality. 

-end-

Fly Away... Goodbye!

Saying goodbye was never an easy thing.
-Kyla


Everything is set- my passport, medical, and interview except for one thing, the visa, but when it arrives it's done and I'm free to go...


I had trouble enrolling for the second semester. They said months from now, we will be leaving the country. I say, it will just a waste of time if I will wait so why not do something worthy.


Three weeks late form school, I didn't mind. Knowing that I could still catch up. I shifted to Communication Arts from being a Hospitality Management student. For I know I will excel here more and not the fact that they also gave me an insufficient money for my enrollment. 


I know I did the right thing. To make my stay worthwhile, I also applied for SA program. I was assigned in the library. I underwent so many changes this past few months.


When I leave this place, I just want to have happy memories only. There will be no space for fights, arguments, hard feelings, and enemies just love.


Leaving everything that you laid your time on will be hard to leave behind. So while i am still here and through this blog, I want to bid goodbye to these people...


To my dearest friends in 'Olongapo' whom I shared my tears and laughters with. Lean, Jhaz, Pjoy and Jhoy, we will always be singing 'Total eclipse of the heart', together!


To Darryl Yap and family for sharing everything with me as if I'm a part of the family. Thank you for the talent improvement, the time and the love. You will always be a part of me. 


To KHNS, thank you for making me this kind of person. For your help to make me Valedictorian and one of the 'Gawad Parangal' Awardees.


To Letran-Bataan, I'm also sending you my deepest gratitude for helping me out. Everyone has always been kind to me. I appreciate everything done with the fathers, Dr, LAV, and the others. I promise to come back to continue my studies on tourism.

To the HM people, not to mention the best of three Shy, Arriza and Janel, I never wanted to leave you guys. For you guys to know, I've been missing to wear my long sleeves, my vest, my necktie. We'll see each others in an airline someday.

To The Shield, I will be missing those who call me E-I-C, my column, how we rush and cram when deadline comes, and of course, Sir Gab. Thank you and I love you all!

To Carla, Pinky, Hazel, Quatro, Hazel, Via, Jni, Gem, Desiree, and Ajie. I can't say anything more. I love you guys for when I'm with you, laughter never missed a day!

To Mama and Mommy, I won't forget. I promise to call everyday to check if you guys are doing fine. Your 'balikbayan' boxes will be on time. I will carry your love as I go. 

For my last months here in the country, I will make everything right and happy as much as possible. I will never forget. I'll come back.


For my last four word... I'll miss you all!