HOMINIS PLASTICUS

they are secretly dubbed as ' the flat tops' by the congregation of the learned a gauche because their brains have been flattened by the pressurized air trapped inside their skulls (with gustiness exceeding 250mph!!!). they are easily recognized, as they stick together as though glued, flaunting their wares as a peacock showing its plumes would, and when they pass by they reek of burning plastic. separated ,they are dodos--helpless and easy prey. collectively they could be a threat--but mostly to themselves.

these pseudo-humans belong to the primitive era, where bashing the opponent was the norm and the only way to survive. their language, also reminiscent of the past, is limited to pointing, grunting, picking their cavernous noses, and teeth-gnashing. they can, however, be very charming, that's why despite the reek and their penchant for sneak-attacks, they easily dupe simpletons.

the present government of Papa Charlie has no notion that this small community of ultra-neanderthals is under his rule. the junior deputy prime minister has come to enlist their aid in the upcoming re-formation of the knights of the round table, and they have named their group 'the united plastics incorporated' or TUPI. speculation from the congregation of the learned a gauche has risen that the junior deputy prime minister might be a clansman of the hominis plasticus. if this is true, then Papa Charlie will have to prepare for chaos.

Kape

Ang maghapo’y nauubos
Sa pagbibilang ng oras;
Hindi mapakali
Hangga’t hindi sumasapit
Ang takdang sandali
Hangga’t wala ang init na gumuguhit
Sa lalamunang sabik,
Hangga’t wala ang halimuyak
Na sintamis ng sampaga,
At hangga’t wala ang linamnam
Ng nag-aagaw-pait-at-tamis
Na sa dila’y kumikiliti.
At sa pagdating ng tamang panahon
Magigising ang diwang
Pinag-manhid ng pagkabagot,
Waring lupang tigang
Na nadiligan ng ulan,
At ngayon…
Matapos ‘hipan ang usok
Magsisimula na ang ugnayan
Magsisimula na ring bumagal
Ang mundo sa pag-inog
Matapos ang unang higop
Na puno ng sigla,
Mata’y ipipikit
At sa hangi’y pakakawalan
Ang damdaming nag-uumapaw sa tuwa
Na animo’y dalangin ang sambit
Pagka’t langit ay narating na.
Muling hihigop ng isa
At susundan ng ilan pa;
Pinananabikan ang bawat patak,
Pinakatangi-tangi
Ang bawat pangungusap
Ng labi at tasa.
At pagsapit ng wakas
Ng ginigiliw na tagpuan,
Saglit na matitigilan,
Titingnang maigi ang tasang walang laman,
‘Maari kayang ulitin pa?’
Sambit sa sariling puno ng pag-asam
Habang unti-unti
Umikot nang muli
Ang kamay ng orasan

No Politician

i'm currently having problems deciding whether i should enter into school politics or not... i've found myself cornered by a persistent teacher and equally persistent classmates to run for council president. the school director has also voiced his opinion that he'd like me to take the helm as well. sigh!

truth be told, i have no desire for any position in the council. politics leave me stressed out, what with my personal code of life going against most of the unwritten laws in politicking -- and even against some principles that are deemed good in society. i live by my own rules, and i hate compromising just for the sake of conformity, which is why i dare say my participation in the recent meetings with aspiring council members had been disinclined and halfhearted. i admit, i had been willing at first, even to consider the suggestion that i run for council president. but as talks progressed, i realized how little i knew about the school and the undercurrents going on.

this weekend is a good time to think things over and examine motives, mine and others'. life has taught me never to jump into a situation blindly. and i don't intend to. i also do not intend to be used by anybody. i will have to disabuse them of their notion that i will be putty in their hands. i hope i am far too experienced to be lured in a trap.

Summer Fun

The greatest pleasure of all is to own a piece of heaven!!! LOL!

A fish like me can't be expected not to turn a golden color with a private beach like this near our property, eh?

Shame, though, I wasn't able to get a shot of our own. I couldn't take the camera with me on the bangka. I feared it would get wet since i was sitting at the helm of the little fishing boat.

Next time I'll bring it along so I could post more pictures. Maybe I could put it in a zip-lock bag... Cheers!

Sa Kanlungan ng Panaginip

Walang puwang ang lungkot
Sa diwang nahihimbing;
Walang pait na papawi
Sa ngiti ng nananaginip;
Pagka't tanging ito lamang
Ang kanlungang maituturing
Sa pagsapit ng dapit-hapon
Ng isang pag-ibig

Kung mata'y ididilat
Mababanaag ang lumbay,
Mananatiling sariwa
Ang luhang walang humpay;
Kung kaya't maigi pang pumikit
At kagyat na humimlay,
Takasang panandali
Ang sakit ng paghihiwalay.

On Childhood and Confidence

When I was about 4 years old or thereabouts my mother used to make me sing and recite nursery rhymes and prayers in her presence while the cassette recorder was turned on. I was pretty much articulate, except that I really talked like I was always in a hurry, and my r's were so trilled. We still keep that old cassette tape, and would listen to it occasionally. Everytime I hear it I would wonder where everything about me went wrong. I was a bold little girl then, very talkative and never shy. I never hesitated to say everything I wanted to say. I was confident. Everything became the opposite when I started going to school. Boldness meant impertinence, being talkative meant being a gossip, worse, a shrew, and confidence meant bragging--"angas". Every personality had to be tamed down, muted, to suit the society. I learned to conform--the hard way. By the time I graduated from high school I was a quiet,proper girl,whose confidence was dwindling. I hated myself then.
When I went to college,everything was new. I decided to re-live my life. I was 12 hours away from home,I told myself. I can start being independent now. From a boarding house that my mother and I picked out, I came to live with my best friends in an apartment that we chose, then eventually to an apartment of my own that I shared with my younger brother. From the degree I originally planned to major in, I shifted courses and pined for a degree that I really liked and knew I'd do well in. From a scaredy cat who refused to appear in front of the stage, I came to join a performing group and became one of the most flexible artists there. Eventually, I regained some part of my old self that I lost between childhood and adolescence. I like myself now.
Of course, I still retain a trace of the qualities that I acquired during elementary and high school, but I am trying to keep them at bay. I know I have a long way to go. I may undergo a lot more of changes as I go on in life, but I'll strive never to lose the child in me.