Yosi

Patila na ang ulan, dalawa na lang kami na nag hihintay sa bus-stop sa Cubao. Ayoko ko pang sumakay dahil puno pa ang mga bus na nagdaraan.  Yong bebot na naghihintay pa rin ay medyo aligaga at panay tingin sa kanyang relos at cellphone 

“Tang-ina nya..late na naman siya” sambit ng babae. Galit na ito. Hindi lang ulan ang pinalagpas nito.  Lumapit ako ng konti at sabay tanung.. “Miss, pasensya na, baka may lighter ka?” 

Tumingin muna siya ng pa ilalam sa akin at saka sinabi… “meron naman, pero pahingi ng yosi ok?”..Tugon agad ako ng… “deal”. 

Ang lalim ng hithit ng babae at sabay sabi… “ako nga pala si Jane”…… “Noli de Leon…at your serbis ”  ang sagot ko

“Mukang na-Indian ka ng hinihintay mo? 

“Hay naku Noli, hari ng mga Indyan yang boyfren kong si Mark”…. 

“Eh ganu katagal ka na bang naghihintay?” 

“Siguro mga isang oras na rin” 

“Wala nang ulan Jane, gusto mo sabay na tayo sumakay ng bus pag tapos mag yosi?” 

“Maghintay pa ako kay Mark sandali, baka dumating na rin yon”.. 

“Di pa naman  ako nag mamadali, samahan muna kita, kung mag-ku-kwento ka tungkol sa inyo ni Mark”… 

“Ihanda mo pa baga mo, marami rami tayong yosing mauubos”… 

Ang unang pagtatagpo ni Jane si Mark ay dala na siguro ng tadhana. Sa emergency room ng Ospital ng Maynila sila unang nagkita.  Sinugod si Jane isang hapon ng Oktubre sa pagamutan ng OnM ng kanyang mga kaupisina dahil sa isang atake ng epilepsy.  Dahil nakalimutan niyang inumin ang kanyang maintenance medicine noong pananghalian, ayun, nangisay na parang hito sa buhangin si Jane. 

Duty Nurse si Mark noon at siya ang nagbigay ng paunang lunas upang di makagat ni Jane ang dila niya. Sinaksakan din ni Mark ng “intravenous water-bag” sa braso ni Jane. Kailangan ito para di madehyrdate sapagkat sobrang paglalaway habang ito ay nag-kukumbulsyon.

Noong magkamalay si Jane ay hinahanda na ni Mark and kanyang ER discharge slip.  Sinabi nito na napaka swerte niya at naitakbo siya agad kung hindi ay maaring nabagok na ang kanyang ulo.  Laking pasalamat ni Jane kay Mark at hiningi ang cellnumber nito. Para daw makabawi sa kagandahang loob ni Mark ay aayain niyang kumain ito sa labas pag maganda na ang kanyang pakiramdam. 

Makalipas ng dalawang linggo, nag text na si Jane kay Mark at doon nagsimula ang mabuting pagkakaibigan. Dumating ang isang biyernes na pareho sila ng oras ng labasan kaya’t silay kumain sa labas. 

Sa dinner pa lang, may iba nang kuryenteng nararamdaman si Jane sa mga sulyap ni Mark sa kanyang katawan.  Sexy, bilugan at maituturing na malaking bulas si Jane. Si Mark naman ay maitim, matipuno, kulot, di kagwapuhan pero malakas ang sex appeal. 

Pag-katapos ng dinner ay niyayang manood ng sine si Mark. Walang pag aalinlangan sumama si Jane. Sa loob ng kadiliman nagsimula ang kamunduhan ng dalawa. Walang usap-usap ay naghalikan ang dalawa. Sinalat agad ni Mark ang malulusog na dibdib ni Jane at pinaglaruan ang mga nagtatayuang holen ni Jane. Sa kalagitnaan ng sine ay tumayo na ang dalawa at tumulak na sa isang motel.

Nagsalo sa init ng  libog ng  katawan ang dalawa.  Lahat ng maaring gawin sa kama ay kanilang ginawa, inulit, at muling sinimulan.  Tabla ang galling ng bawat isa pag-dating sa kama.Dito na naging magkasintahan ang dalawa.

Ngunit mahirap magkaroon ng boyfriend na duty-nurse. Parating shifting. Pa-ibaiba ang day-off. Minsan pa, streyt-streyt  ang duty, meaning walang day-off. 

Siempre sa simula, lahat ng kompromiso ginagawa ni Jane at Mark para alng magtagpo ang kanilang mga skedyul.  Masarap at matindi ang mga pagtatalik nila lalo na’t pag matagal silang di nagkita. Kapwa sila sabik na parang mga uhaw na hayop kung mag-talik. Minsan, sa pinto pa lang ng kwarto, hubot-hubad na sila at nakakaraos ng hindi lumalapat ang mga likod sa kama. 

Pero sampung buwan ang nakalipas, madalang na madalang na sila magkita.  Mas madalas na hindi makasipot si Mark sa mga takdang oras ng kanilang tagpuan.  Tampuhan at sakitan ng damdamin ang madalas kinakauwian nila. 

“Ayun, ganun talaga ang buhay pag may boyfren kang nurse”…sabi ni Jane. 

“Parang nasa-abroad ang pakiramdam kasi di kayo mag katagpo-tagpo”… 

“Ang lungkot naman Jane” 

“Ok lang, ganyan talaga siguro kapalaran ko”…

“Ah eh, baka gusto mo munang kumain?” ,para kasing nakakaramdam ako ng konting libog sa kanyang katawan. 

Tumingin sa relos is Jane at sabay sabi … “Tatlong oras na,lecheng lalaki yan” … “uuwi na muna ako Noli, baka dumating na sa apartment ang mister ko!”….

15

Fifteen years is fifteen years. To some, it is already a lifetime. To others, a fleeting moment. For many, a  period of time shared with family friends both in good and bad situations. 

For me, fifteen years is a basketful of stories that started with my boss. He eventually took me under his wings and became my mentor. He has been  a critical coach who would give me constructive criticism when things do get fucked-up.  However he reinforces me with pats on the back for tasks that were well executed.  Over that long journey, the friendship became our bond.

When he eventually let me go with the skills and knowledge that he so unselfishly shared, he made sure I was well grounded.

As I look back to that point in time when he hired me, I can still remember what he told me.  He basically told me to listen and learn well.  Pick up what is useful and throw away what is not. 

He stressed the value of continuing education, formally and informally. We should learn not only from our bosses but most importantly from the people who support us.

As a final after- thought,  I have learned from him how to value the principles I firmly believed in.    
 
Hail to the Chief! 

Maraming Salamat po Sir Boyie!

Sophia

My shooting buddy,Pia, would be leaving soon. 

It’s been great knowing her. However, it was the best having her as a friend.

To my mind, she stands the moral high-ground today  because of two things ; her love for God and respect for her parents. 

She has touched the lives of so many with her gentle candor but firm opinions. She has gamely mingled with all of us during happier occasions. 

I admired her the most during the toughest moments when she lost her father.  If not for her deep rooted faith, she would not have bounced back as a more resilient Pia. 

I am glad that she has found someone to share her passion and life.  Like two apple halves, Mon fit snuggly into Pia’s heart. 

I am glad that she has chosen to learn more in order to improve herself.  Sacrificing work for education is indeed a tough trade-off. I have no doubt she has already statistically looked at the odds of success before she decided to do this. 

For my own selfish reasons, I want Pia to stay put.  The fact that I know Pia  as a selfless person who will give back more with what she will learn, I am happy that she is leaving. 

I will miss you Pia. Thank you for the prayer of Michael the Archangel you have given me along with the book, Climbing the Mountain. God Keep you and may Michael the Archangel watch over you.

                                                Prayer to St Michael the Archangel

            Defend me in the day of battle.

            Be our safeguard in the wickedness and snares of the devil

            May God rebuke him, we humbly pray

            And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host

            By the power of God, cast into hell Satan,

            and all the other evil spirits who prowl through the world

            seeking the ruin of souls.

            Our Lady, the Queen of Holy Angels, Pray for us, Amen.  

A SECOND CHANCE

Last June 30, 2010 would be marked in my book as the day my beloved Philippines was given a second chance in achieving a purposeful democracy.  Winning by a popular vote, Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III was sworn in as the 15^th President of the Philippine Republic.  More popularly known as Noynoy, he has captured the imagination and hope of the Filipinos that this country can be great once again. 

The tyrant that held power for more than nine years was sent-off with boos and heckling which was a welcome sight.  She was lucky that she didn’t get lynched or car-bombed as her convoy left the turn-over ceremony. 

She stole the presidency from FPJ. No doubt about that. What makes me ashamed  as a Filipino is that we went along with the ride, knowing full-well that her presidency was not legitimate. 

We turned our backs on the truth because we feared that if another  “actor” will take the helm of my beloved Philippines, this country would be another banana republic.  We sure paid the price for our collective cowardice.  The “economist” we allowed to be called president almost stripped the country of all its wealth and dignity. 

Noynoy maybe an agent of change but he cannot do it alone. It will take all of us to make the country change.  He is just the catalyst that brought us here today with a new hope of regaining our dignity as Filipinos.  I do not honestly believe that Noynoy is on a quest to relive the legacy his parents have left.  I believe he is there to point us in a direction where we all know will be a tough road to take.  It’s not up to him for the country to change, it’s really up to all of us to make change happen. 

Mr. President, thank you for giving us a second chance.  My fellow Filipinos, let’s not fuck this up again.  It’s time we repair the decays a malevolent bitch left us to rot.  It would be a crying shame if we do not seize the opportunity to be collective agents of change.

STANDING MY GROUND

I got a call from a very good friend last weekend. It is always a pleasure to get in touch with “S-3” because she has is one of my true friends, True friend in the sense that she will never hesitate to tell me the truth no matter how painful it maybe. That’s probably why I don’t tell her everything that’s happened in my life. Not in real-time anyways. 

It’s good that her reason for calling isn’t about another sad story(Angela, God Bless Your soul) .  Like a true friend, she’s checking up on me regarding professional issues because of organizational movements in our :”NAVY”  circle of friends. 

I told S-3 that I was fine and was eagerly waiting for things to unfold . No need to get concerned because I am anchored in my present work and not seeking bluer oceans to sail. With that said, S-3 shifts to light conversation and we relived  old moments. 

For me, this is not the time to move. This is the time to stand firm and hold ground.  No matter what movements the present storm brings in, survivors don’t quit. They claw, chew, bite, and do everything to endure. In the end, survivors make it through any rough situation that presents itself. 

For now it’s better to not to think so much about the future. The present is developing so fast, I could hardly catch my breath. 

TOUGH LOVE

Sometimes, sacrifice is required for a team to overcome a tough situation. The ultimate sacrifice would be a voluntary act of taking a “hit” for the team. 

Taking the hit for the team dissipates the foreseen onslaught of a tactical mistake that a team member has done.  Whether the mistake was an honest one or not, it will make the team  appear to be weak. If there is an opportunity to deflect the weakness by an act of “taking the hit” by a team-member, take it. 

Making mistakes is part of experimentation and learning. However always remember the lessons learned from making that mistake and assure yourself that this will never be repeated. 

I have my shares of sacrificial hits. I have also witnessed others who have taken the sting in order for the common good to survive. For that, my mental thanks goes to all of them. I will never forget their sacrifice.