Best Things in my Life

The morning dew on a freshly bloomed flower

The radiant sun reflecting on the waters with its vigor and power

The gentle kiss from a loving child

A tender touch when you need the most, so soft and mild

The redness of an apple so ripe and delish

The glittering stars on a dark night that embellish

A sweet smile on a tear dried face

The hug that makes the pain disappear from lonely days

A breath of fresh air after a life's pain and struggle

A nice peaceful sleep with your wifey to cuddle

The smear of ice cream on a happy kid's nose

The intoxicating fragrance from the love and the rose

The warmth of a blanket to the one who owns none

A place of shelter and hope for the one on the run

A rainbow after the rain brings hope to the hopeless

A warm cup of soup to the one who is homeless

A list that grows with awesome things in life

I thank God for this experience and just to be alive

DADDY TALK :)

(An adult version of baby talk)

We can't expect kids to think like we adults do, but we adults of course can think the way kids thinks...Pero kapag ang matanda ang nag isip bata, nakupo! sobrang ang gulo ng usapan.

Napag usapan namin kanina ng isang kaibigan sa YM ang tungkol sa mga super smart na pre-school kids. Minsan nga nagtataka tayo dahil sa kanilang edad ay kung ano anong mga bagay na ang naiisip nila. Kaya naman, naisipan kong ibahagi dito ang super riot na usapan namin ng bunso kong anak na si Fionna Faith.
Heto, basahin nyo na lang kung paano kami nagra rambulan ng five years old pre-school daughter ko na super smart at super kulit kausap...(mana daw sa daddy)

excited na tuloy akong umuwi...

Conversation #1 Batang Bolera

"Papa, I LOVE YOU!..."
"Talaga anak, Love mo si papa?"
"Opo"
"Totoo?"
"Totoo po"
"Kahit wala akong pera?"
"Ay! wala kang pera papa?"
"Hindi na kita Love!"
"Jan ka na!...BYE!"
"Papadalan mo lagi si mama ng pera ha!"
Conversa
Conversation #2 Uwi ka na

"Papa miss na miss ka na namin"
"Talaga anak?...miss na miss ka na rin ni papa"
"Papa uwi ka na...kahit walang pera basta uwi ka na"
"Hindi pa puwede anak, kasi walang sasakyan si papa pauwi eh"
"Hindi ba sabi mo may car ka jan?...eh di yun ang sakyan mo pauwi"
"Hindi ko puwedeng gamitin yun pag uwi ko anak, kasi sa boss ko yun, magagalit siya sa akin"
"Ay!...masungit ang boss mo papa?"
"Opo...kaya hindi ko puwedeng dalhin yung car"
"Ay ganun?..Ano ba yan?...Eh di mag tricycle ka na lang"
"Anak, hindi puwede ang tricycle kasi malayo, Hindi ako makakarating kaagad...dapat airplane para mabilis kasi lumilipad..."
"Ay! airplane pala saskyan mo papa?"
"Eh paano ka makaka baba...ang taas taas ng lipad ng airplane?"

sumabat sa usapan ang aking asawa na halos gumugulong na sa kakatawa sa usapan naming mag ama...(naka loud speaker ang phone)

"Baby, may hagdan naman anak yung airplane, kaya makakababa si papa mo dun"
"Uhm!...wala naman akong nakikitang hagdan nung airplane ah!...paano yun?
(lumilipad kasi ang mga airplane na nakikita nya)
"Ahm...anak kasi yung hagdan, dadalhin ko sa loob ng eroplano pagsakay ko, kaya hindi mo yun makikita..."
"Ah, ok...papa, sa tapat ka ng bahay bumaba ha, para makita ka namin!"

Conversation # 3 Bahay ni Barbie

"O, anak...uuwi na ako."
"Anong gusto mong pasalubong?"
"Ay!..uuwi k na papa?"
"Opo, malapit na, so anong gusto mong pasalubong?"
"Papa, ibili mo na lang po ako ng maraming maraming chocolates..."
"Ok, chocolates...ano pa?"
"Saka po papa, ibili mo ako ng malaking Barbie doll na may haus..."
"Eh anak, wala namang haus si barbie eh, doll lang siya anak. kung gusto mo ng doll na may haus, hindi si barbie ang bibilhin natin..."
"Eh gusto ko papa si barbie...tsaka may haus kasi saan matutulog si barbie kung wala siyang haus?"
"Patulugin mo na lang sa room mo, tabi kayo sa bed"
"Eh si mama naman ang katabi ko, kawawa naman pala si barbie?"
"Bilhan mo na lang ng haus si barbie papa"
"Hindi nga puwede kasi walang haus si barbie."
"Bilhan mo nga papa eh, para magkaroon siya ng haus"
"Eh anak, paano ko madadala yun, hindi naman kakasya sa airplane yung haus?"
"Bakit hindi kakasya, eh malaki naman yung airplane?"
"Eh kasi maliit lang ang pinto nun."
"Eh di sa bintana mo idaan!"

Conversation #4 Chocolates

"Oh, anak...nabili ko na yung chocolates mo"
"Talaga papa?...Marami?"
"Opo, maraming marami...ubusin mo lahat ito ha"
"Ay!..sabi po ni teacher nakakasira daw ng teeth..."
"Eh paano mauubos yung chocolates?"
"E di bibigyan ko po si baby Angel namin, tsaka si teacher, tsaka yung mga classmates ko sa school."
"Si tito Resty, hindi mo ba bibigyan?"
"Hindi!...kasi bad siya...lagi nya ako inaaway saka sinasabihan ng panget."
"Eh si mama, hindi rin?"
"Hmmp!...kumukuha na lang naman si mama kahit hindi nagpaalam eh..."
"Eh si kuya?..."
"Hindi rin po si kuya, kasi hindi nya ako pinapasakay sa bike niya..."

biglang sumingit sa usapan ang kuya na nakikinig pala sa amin...

"Papa sabi po ni Fionna sa akinkagabi, pag binili mo daw siya ng maraming chocolates, bibigyan nya daw po yung crush nya sa school..."

"Waaaa!...ayaw ko na sa inyong mag ama kayo!...Mga panget kayo!...Mga panget!..."

"hahahahaha!" lakas ng tawa ko..

at kinausap ko si ivan, matapos iwan ni fionna ang celfon sa kanya...

"Eh ikaw Ivan, may crush ka na rin ba sa school nyo?"
"Hmp!..si papa parang TANGA!...9 years pa lng ako, grade 3 pa nga lang eh crush na daw agad!..."

waaaaaaaa...ako pa tuloy ang tinawag na tanga!...

What does it takes of a husband to be a "GOOD HUSBAND"?

before doctors becomes a good doctor, they must undergo physical and psychological test. it is not required of a doctor to be hospitalized for any reason.
meanwhile, before a lawyer becomes a good lawyer he must learn to play with the laws that he is trying to preserve. it is not acceptable for a lawyer to be convicted.

but what does it takes for a husband to be a good husband?
husbands do err, as humans we are. we drink a lot, we smoke a lot, we fuck other woman...a lot! but we also try to be the best man for our lady. we love our kids, we love our wife, and we want to keep our family intact...as much as we can...but our being human makes us vulnerable and prone to error.

being a husband is a skill that doesn't require any special training course or experience. for most men, it's like they sleep one night with the woman they love, and "puff!..." they're already a husband when they wake up.

so what does it take of a husband to be a better husband?...

let me say, a good and understanding wife...

Para sa mga lalaking may Kabit...

Ulan kang naligaw mula himpapawid
At biglang pumatak sa tigang kong dibdib
Aking pinagyaman ginawa kang batis
Nagtampisaw akong lihim at tahimik.


Giniginaw ako sa lamig mong handog
Puso'y nadadarang sa init na dulot
Pigil ang hininga tuwing naghahamog
Ang buong paligid sa bawal na sulok

Kamalian ka bang niyakap ang patak,
at ipinidestal sa lumikong landas?
Sabihin mo lamang pag ibig mo'y wagas
Ako'y nakalaang kahit na mautas!.

Gaano mang tagal sa pagkakabulid
Laging naghihintay paglinaw ng tubig
Iinanalanging lakas nitong dibdib
At sa habang buhay ikaw ang pag ibig....

Textmate

Inspired by True-to-Life stories of Filipino Overseas workers in the Middle East...
Marami sa mga kababayan natin ang nakakaranas ng matinding pangungulila sa kanilang mga mahal sa buhay na iniwang pansamantala sa Pinas.
Tao din po ang mga OFW, hindi bato. Nangungulila, naghahanap ng kalinga...at minsan ay nadarapa at nahuhulog sa bitag ng isang BAWAL NA RELASYON...

Ako ay umalis sa bayan kong mahal
Baon ang pangarap na magandang bukas
Sa malayong lugar ng gitnang silangan
Ay magtatrabaho at kikita ng dolyar

Sa pag alis ko ay iniwang pangako
Sa aking pamilya ay tapat ang puso
Hindi magtataksil sa asawang irog
At siya lang ang tanging laman nitong puso

Ngunit di naglaon lungkot ang nadama
Ang tapat kong puso ngayo'y nangulila
Ang irog kong mahl na siyang sinisinta
Malayo sa piling ko't hindi siya nakikita

Kaya naman upang ang puso'y maaliw
Sa mga katoto ako'y nagliwaliw
At nasabi ko ngang akoy nalulumbay
Sa sinisinta kong sa aki'y nawalay.

Siya'y biglang nangiti at saka natawa
At kanyang sinabing "madali yan kosa"
Hanap mo ba'y aliw sayong pag iisa?
kita ay bibigyan ng ka-textmate baga

Kanya ngang binigay pangalan ng dilag
Kalakip numerong dapat kong makontak
Subukan ko muna at ng mnakatiyak
Na dulot ay ligaya sa pusong umiiyak

Sa pagtunog pa lang niyaong telepono
Ako'y kinabahang tila baguntao
Ang pinitg ng puso ay biglang lumukso
Hindi ko na mawari ang pakiramdam ko

At ng sumagot na dilag na kinontak
Sa kabilang linya ako ay nagalak
Nagpakilala siya at kami'y nag usap
Naghalo ang saya't excitement kumbaga

Sa bawat araw ng aming pag uusap
Ako ay masaya't puso'y nagagalak
Nakalimutan na ang pangakong tapat
Sa aking pamilyang naiwan sa Pinas

Heto ako ngayon, masakit ang ulo
BUtas ang bulsa ko't buhay ay magulo
Kaya kabayan ko ikaw ay matuto
Tiisin ang lungkot at magpakatino

Sa pagsintang bawal kapag nadupilas
Ang pusong marupok maligaw ng landas
Walang mararating na magandang bukas
Matatauhan kang ang bulsa ay butas.


Ronald V. Rafer

Moving Forward...

Waiting for HOPE to be drawn closer...
or hoping for WAIT to be overcome!.

Are we waiting for HOPE to approach us?
or is hope WAITING for us to believe in it?
To function the way it should be
which is the bright side of every existence
We are seeking to unleash it's goodness
When all the odds are screaming the other way around?

When does the function of HOPE exactly works?
Is it before we hold our life and start WAITING?
Or is it after we let go and start BELIEVING?
Where we acknowledge such a thing would exist?

Is it the idea of it's existence that excites us?
Believing that it is out there and it will come to us
Though not straight away,
Yet there is a chance throughout our lifetime that it will.

Why are we sometimes afraid of HOPING?
Are we aware of the outcome of a certain circumstance
Or we do not want to expect and wait until it comes?
Afraid of not finding what we have hoped for at the end of our waiting?

Is hope paralyzing?
Because while we are HOPING, we are WAITING.
And while we are WAITING, we are actually doing NOTHING but putting our lives ON HOLD until the situation gets resolved.
But can anything be resolved by doing NOTHING?

Is hope an everlasting feeling?
Or can it be turned on and off depending upon how good or bad the situation is?

What is HOPE capable of?
Is it applicable to all matters concerning living our life?
Or despair has to have some role to balance our existence as a whole?

Can we HOPE without WAITING?
Can we WAIT without HOPING?

Can we wait for a dream to come true without being optimistic about what would come out of it?
Are we superficial not wanting to be appreciated or gratified?
Are we a fool to go on living without realizing the impact of our actions into the lives of the people around us?

Why should we care to wait in the first place if the result would not make a difference at all?
How could we maintian ourselves motivated to keep on living a life that we believe nothing good would emerge out of it?

If life is all about waiting, then actions will never be taken, problems will never be resolved, and the very concept of living a life would be alienated.
javascript:void(0)
But everything CHANGES with HOPE added in it..,

Because LIFE is about GOING ON and MOVING FORWARD!..

ron:)

WONDERING...

WHAT IF...

I saw a movie last night, and in it was a statement about two simple words, "what" and "if"...

These two words by themselves are very innocent and really can be implemented in many sentences and questions, but if you put them together, it forms a very powerful question...

What If??

This question is the very question that can and will bring you back to a certain instance in your life where you made a choice. A choice that you may not be happy with today and often think about why you did it, but discovered you settled on it because of one of two reasons...

You settled on that decision because it was the easier path to travel at that specific moment in your life, or you did not think that you could take the other choice because of fear of failure or what other people would think.

Now, years later you think about that one specific choice or choices you have made in you life and your mind and thoughts start to take aim at your decision...

You have an inner battle with yourself and contemplate if you had that decision again, what would you do?

What would your life be like today??

Would it be totally different?

Would you be where you are right now, in the exact space sitting and reading this??

Here again lies the very important question...

What if you had that decision to make again??

What would you do??

Would you take the other path because of what you know now, or would you think it would be too late in time to go down the other path all together??

Your mind will probably and inevitably tell you not to do it...Not to do it because you are comfortable in life and doing something different may bring you down a path of uncomfortableness and anxiety may set in.

But is that not how we grow stronger and learn things about ourselves by doing or trying things we never thought possible? Pushing one's self to the limit and going beyond our normal comfort zone!!!!!

In life, there is an old cliche' that I know... It is "Where there is a will, there is a way".

I truly believe if you want something bad enough, you can do it and achieve it. You can correct the mistakes of your decisions from the past, and go out and find happiness in the right decision for your future.

It is never too late do anything in life...

You are on this earth for the time period of a blink of an eye in respect to time overall. Everyday we have to make decisions and have choices thrown at us that could hinder our forward motion or even change the course of our lives all together.

When entering into a decision, make sure it is the right one. Make sure that you play out your answer a year from now, or even ten or twenty years from now.

But if you find yourself in that position of wondering "What if", then usually you have made the wrong decision to begin with, and must correct it so you can live in peace not only now, but for your future as well...

My Solitude

I cannot and will not lie down and kneel before my life. I cannot and I will not let the destiny that life has dealt me be the only destiny worth living for. I am I, you are you, we are distinct and we are individuals. I will carve my own destiny and I will dream my own dreams. I will walk bare footed through the warm golden sand, sleep naked under the stars and listen to the sea as it lashes against the rocks of hypocrisy. I will let the wind play with my hair and be at one with nature. This is my island and it is called hope.

As long as I am alive I have hope there is a chance, there is a dream to be fulfilled and a life worth living. I aspire not for wealth, for success, to conquer lands or the minds of men but seek refuge in conquering myself. I seek refuge in the hope of touching the stars in the blackness of the night. I ask for the courage to confront my greatest enemy, myself. I ask for the courage to help me to realise the potential that burns within my soul.

As I walk along my island of hope, alone, with merely my thoughts and the sound of my beating heart who have I become and what am I to become? As the sun sets on the horizon, there is calm all around me. The day nears to an end and slowly the sky goes black. Through the darkness appear the glittering eyes of the world and they gaze down at me, the moon smiles at me yet I am I. An eagle flies above me with its wings of hope spread wide into the vastness and emptiness of the ocean in front of me.

I am finally at peace with my soul. My island, which I have strove to seek all my life, is now within my grasp. I have arrived. My island is a place of non-attachment and non-possession. It is a place of calmness where the pains of yesterday are but a distant memory. I have courage within my heart to face my ultimate destiny. As it looks at me, I smile at it. I no longer fear that which I once feared, I no longer yearn for more but am content with what I have gained; I no longer yearn for a life of the past. I look at the demons within me and I have defeated them and they have not defeated me. I have finally conquered myself.

I now embrace my island without regret and walk into my destiny. I have been born, I have lived, I have loved and been loved, I have failed and succeeded, and I have forgiven. There is nothing more for me to do. I have become what I essentially was at birth, myself. I close my eyes and my soul transpires out of my body and takes me to a higher level of existence. I leave the pains of the world and embrace the wonders of what lie in front of me. A teardrop falls from my soul into the ocean, that is how it was created. I cease to exist

My Life...

My Life

This is how I want to live it. It may not be how I live, but it is the way I want to live. I want to live my life in such a way that it will be remembered. I want to leave an impression on everyone I come in contact with.

I want to live as Thoreau said, “to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and spartan like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to it’s lowest terms.”

I want to be open and honest with everyone, to be remembered by my actions. I want to lead my life in such a way that I can be respected. I want to live my life so I can be an example for others. I want to aspire for greatness but never be famous. I want to live sure of myself. If I doubt myself, others will too. I want to live my life in such a way so that in the future I won’t regret my past.

I want to believe in myself. I want to capture the strength I have deep inside. I want to believe in tomorrow and what it might bring. I want to be able to trust and in turn be trusted.

I want to begin every day thinking this is the beginning of a new day. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I am using a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever leaving in its place, something I traded for it.

I want to be a friend to everyone. I want to always have a dream. I want to be remembered for the good I did in my life. People won’t remember what I said, people won’t remember what I did, but they will always remember how I made them feel.

“I shall pass through this world, but once. Any good therefore that I can show, to any human being, let me do it now for I shall never pass this way again.”

* Si Miling* (basta lalake)

Si Miling (Basta Lalake)

Siya'y si manang Milagros, pinsang buo ko.

Mas matanda siya sa akin ng sampung taon, ang pinakabunsong anak nina tiyo Gudong at tiya Iska na kapatid ng tatay ko at kapitbahay namin sa probinsiya. Nakapagtapos siya ng kursong "komersiyo" sa isang kolehiyo sa kabisera at nakapagtrabaho bilang isang "clerk" sa munisipyo ng aming bayan. "Rosing" ang nakagisnan kong itinatawag sa kanya ng mga kakilala at kaibigan. Nakatayo ang kanilang bahay sa isang malawak na bakuran na kinatutubuan din ng isang malaki at matabong na punong sampalok.



Gayong pangkaraniwang anak ng isang magsaska sa probinsiya si manang Rosing, hindi naman pangkaraniwang kagandahan ang kanyang taglay. Kumbaga sa bulaklak, isa siya sa pinakamagandang rosas sa hardin ng aming nayonnoong kapanahunan niya. Bata pa lamang ay madalas na siyang mapiling mutya sa paaralang pinapasukan. Madalas din siyang maging mutya sa kapistahan ng aming nayon, at minsan nga ay napiling mutya sa aming bayan.



Marahil, naisip niya na hindi bagay sa angking ganda ang palayaw na "Rosing" kaya ginawa niya itong "Millette" ng siya'y magdalaga na. Tinanong ko siya minsang nag uusap kami sa ilalim ng punong sampalok

"Bakit mo binago ang pangalan mo manang Rosing?"

"Huwag mo nga akong matawag tawag na manang! ate Millette na lang, o kaya'y "sist".

"Alam mo kasi pangalang bata ang Rosing, masakit sa tenga pakinggan. Mas bagay talaga sa akin ang Millette."

"Ganun pala" nasambit ko sa aking sarili. "Kapag nagbago na ang edad at hitsura ng isang tao ay nagbabago na rin ang kanyang pangalan"

Sampung taong gulang na ako noon, at magdadalawampu naman si ate Millete.Halos gabi gabi ay may nakikita akong umaakyat ng ligaw sa kanya. Madalas na rin siyang hinaharana.

"Ang daming lumiligaw sayo ate" sabi ko ulit. "Siguro me nobyo ka na ano?"

"Wala pa! wala sa mga lumiligaw sa akin ang mga katangian ng lalaking hinahanap ko!"

"Eh ano ba ang mga katangiang iyon?"

"Marami ah!, Magandang lalaki, Mayaman, may pinag aralan, Mabait at Marunong magmahal."

Dagli akong nag isip. Sa aking murang isipan ay gumuhit ang maraming mga katanungan.

Napatingala ako at napatingin sa itaas ng punong sampalok. Sa mga sanga niyon, sa pinaka mayor na sanga ay napansin ko ang tila halamang kumapit doon.

"Ate ano yun?" tanong ko sabay turo sa halaman.

Tumingala siya. "Dapo yun" sabi niya.

"Eh hindi naman kaya niya sasakalin ang punong sampalok kapag lumago yun? Bakit hindi nyo alisin?"

"Huwag!" sabi niya. "Magaganda ang mga bulaklak, sayang"



Lumipas ang ilang taon, dalawampu't lima na ang edad ni ate Millette, magtatapos na rin ako ng highschool noon. Pero sa ngayon, hindi na "Millette" ang tawag sa kanya kundi "Rose" at wala pa rin siyang boyfriend.

"Bakit wala ka pang nobyo ate Rose?" tanong ko sa kanya minsang nag uusap kami sa ilalim ng punong sampalok.

"Hindi pa kasi dumarating ang lalaking bagay sa akin."

"Eh ano ba yung lalaking bagay sayo?"

"Yung lalaking mayaman, may pinag aralan, mabait at marunong magmahal."

Ng tingalain ko ang dapo sa punong sampalok ay napansin kong lumago iyon. Lumipat na rin sa iba pang mga sanga. Magaganda pa rin ang mga bulaklak.



Nakatapos ako ng highschool at nagtungo sa Maynila upang doon magpatuloy sa pag aaral sa kolehiyo. Tapos na ako ng aking kurso ng ako'y magbakasyon sa aming nayonat muli kaming nagkausap ni at Rose. Nagulat pa ako ng malamang hindi na pala "Rose" ang tawag sa kanya kundi "Mila" at nalaman ko na wala pa rin siyang nobyo gayung magtatatlumpo na ang kanyang edad.

"Hindi pa ba dumarating ang lalaking bagay sayo ate Mila?"

"Oo nga eh."

"Eh ano ba yung lalaking hinahanap mo?"

"Yung lalaking mayaman, may pinag aralan at marunong magmahal."



Sa maynila na ako nagkaroon ng magandang trabaho kaya't naging madalang na ang pagbabakasyon ko sa aming nayon at ng minsang nagbakasyon ako ay nakausap ko muli si manag Mila.

Magtatatlumpo't lima na noon ang kanyang edad, "single" pa rin at ang naririnig kong itinatawag sa kanya ay "lagring" na.

"Wala pa rin ba manang Lagring?" biro ko sa kanya.

"Wala na yata eh." sabay tawa niya.

"Simple lang naman ang hinahanap ko sa isang lalake."

"Ano?"

"Yung mabait at marunong magmahal."

Sa punong sampalok ay napansin kong malagong malago na ang dapo. Kumapit na rin ito sa halos lahat ng sanga. Magaganda pa rin ang mga bulaklak nito.



May sarili na akong pamilya ng muli akong magbakasyon sa aming nayon kasama ang aking asawa at ang una naming anak, ngunit dalaga pa rin si manang Lagring. Pero sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi na siya nagpalit ng bansag. Halata na nag mga guhit sa kanyang noo ngunit maganda pa rin ang hubog ng kanyang katawan bagama't mag aapat napu na ang kanyang edad.

"Tinalo na kita manag Lagring, me trophy na ako na ipinaghehele sa gabi." kantiyaw ko sa kanya.

"Iniinggit mo naman ako eh." tawa niya.

"Eh ano ba talaga ang lalaking gusto mo? Baka maihanap kita ng "Manila boy" na magiging darling mo?"

"Yung lalaking marunong magmahal"

Ngunit hindi ko natupad ang sinabi kongh ihahanap ko siya ng lalaking marunong magmahal kahit na biro lang yun. Nakarating ako ng ibang bansa at nasingkaw sa pagtratrabaho doon.



Lumipas pa ang ilang taon bago ako muling nakapagbakasyon sa aming nayon. mag aapat napu't lima na ang edad ni manang Lagring. Dalaga pa rin. Ngunit sa ngayon, naging Rosing ulit ang tawag sa kanya.

"Bakit naging Rosing ka ulit manang?" pabiro kong tanong.

"Hindi ba masakit sa tenga at saka pangalan ng bata yan?"

Hindi natawa si manang Rosing.

"Bakit?" Paasik niyang tanong.

"Bata pa naman ako ah!" at inirapan niya ako.

Naging mapakla ang matamis kong ngiti.

"Nagbibiro lang ako ate." sabi ko sa kanya.

Nangiti na rin siya. "Oh, di ba sabi mo noon ihahanap mo ako ng Manila boy na magiging darling ko?"

"Me nahanap ka ba?"

Napakamot ako sa batok. "Hindi nga ate eh, na busy ako sa abroad."

"Hamo't sa pagbabalik ko'y ihahanap kita ng "foreigner"."

"Ano nga ba yung mga katangian ng lalaking hanap mo, manang Rosing?"

"BASTA LALAKE!"

Napatingala ako sa mga sanga ng punong sampalok, Natatalukbungan na yun ng lubos ng dapo at nagsisimujla na ring matuyo ang mga dahon. Alam kong sa muling paglipas ng panahon, hindi maglalaon ay mamamatay na rin ang dating malabay at matipunong puno...