T.U.

Thank you, Mr. Rolando Mendoza.

Thank you for making us realize how incompetent our police force is when handling hostage crises. I didn’t even know that axes and sledgehammers are still considered special weapons by SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics). As the crisis dragged on we at least expected them to be more calm and prepared, but we can only guess why they had to storm the bus and risk the hostages’ lives.

Thank you Hong Kong government for issuing a travel advisory to discourage your people in going to the Philippines. Given the situation we really left you with no other choice. Not that your people will have any plans on visiting us in the near future anyway.

Thank you Philippine media for bringing the news real time to us and the rest of the world. Never mind that it might undermine the ongoing operations. Hey, as long as you deliver the news straight and fast it’s all well and good right? Err, for your TV ratings anyway.

Thank you fellow Filipinos for always staying true to yourself. By this I mean being nosy as usual. What you have seen on TV seemed not enough, and you had to take it upon yourself and see it personally. It amazes me how they seemed to appear out of nowhere and cram the whole place seconds after the assault.

Thank you President Noynoy for not being there when your people needed you. You could have at least showed your face and tell us that our Government is still on top of the situation, but I guess you can’t really do that because clearly, they are not. So instead of putting up a lie to calm the public (and probably the rest of the world) you decided not to show up until after it is over. Your people didn’t really wish you to solve it, but they at least wanted to know you were with them.

Thank you Mr. Rolando Mendoza, for these lessons you have showed us. With what you have done we can again show the world how resilient Filipinos are, how we can overcome any adversity. Thank you for you had united our country in condemning baseless killings and massive carnage. Thank you for reminding us that death is in everybody’s doorsteps and that somewhere in this world, there will always be someone planning to do something evil just to get ahead on their lives.

Post Script: Thank you Venus Raj for her major major achievement winning 4th runner up in the Ms. Universe pageant.

Baguio 2.0

It was an unexpeceted trip. I was excited. I was ready to have a good time.

A Baguio trip on rainy days wasn't at the top of my list of things to do, but I wouldn't shun away from this rare opportunity (i never complain for a company paid trip).

Though this was my second time, the only memory I have of Baguio is with my mother and brother on a pedicab (I only remembered it from an old photo).

I was ready to have fun, and I could've had I not thought of someone that I wanted to share this trip with.

Though they say the place was not as good as before, I appreciated it the way I knew. I wanted to shake off the sadness but in the end it got the better of me.

I guess we can't truly find happiness in where we are, but in who we are with.

A lesson learned from a cold and faraway place.

(Baguio 7142010 Mines View)

Corrupted

For a brief moment I taught I could escape it - even if it lurked right under my breath. It didn't help that I occasionally had to toy with it, seemingly taunting it to get to me. What a fool I have been to think that I can't be taken in, that I can't fall no matter how cleer the trap is.

But I slipped. I was caught in a situation I couldn't afford to say no to. No matter how hard I tried to resist, I ended up caving in. Of course, one can always argue that we always have a choice, and I still agree with that, but sometimes we're just caught up in the moment that we end up doing things we'd rather not. This isn't your typical If onlys and what ifs - these were hardwired, down the line decisions that can either make or break you as a person. Honestly, after I've done the deed, I really wished I can turn back the time and didn't give in so easily. But boy it was so tempting...How could I have said no?

The damage has been done. I've made a wrong decision at a crucial time in my life. No matter how remorsed I feel, I can never bring back the lost moment to make something right (or not make something wrong to be more precise). In these mistakes we learn and grow as a person, and as long as I stay resolved into not doing it again, then I will eventually be redeemed, not only in the eyes of the people I've done bad, but also to the Greater Power above. So as a way of repentance, I truly and honestly say, that I WILL NEVER EAT SOMEONE ELSE'S FOOD IN THE REF.

LOL.