Stuck in Traffic

Photo not mine

At some point in our lives, we all have what ifs. And it happened to me few years ago on one rainy night in Makati.

Coming from Cebu, I had only been in Makati for few weeks, I was finding my way around. While waiting to get a massage at a spa, a young bloke smiled at me. We exchanged hellos but before we got to know each other, I was called for my massage.

After my massage, I was surprised. He was waiting for me with a grinning face. We chatted and he was easy to talk to. Feeling hungry, I told him I had to go. He was a bit disappointed. I left hurriedly the spa but had to retrace my steps. It was raining really hard.

When I came back a little bit wet, I saw his face lit up. It meant that we could chat a bit longer. Thirty minutes later of random conversations, the rain hadn’t stopped and was already waist deep. (They were really not kidding when they said that when it rains in Manila, it pours).

He invited me to join him instead. I hesitated. What was I thinking? (Letting a stranger driving me home?) He was very persuasive that after a while, I decided to take his offer.

So we drove from Osmena Highway to Buendia for about an hour (For a 2km distance, it was an extremely a long ride). There was silence initially but once I was comfortable with him, we started talking. I got to know him. He works in China Bank, studied in La Salle, his parents are in the US and recently got his heart broken two days ago with his girlfriend of two years. They broke up over money due to his girlfriend’s spending habits.

I stole a glance at him. He seemed lost, lonely, and so heartbroken. (This was the time before the movie Tadhana was released.)

We were both hungry after being stuck in traffic. We passed by KFC and decided to have dinner there.

It was the first time I saw him in bright lights. He was slim, moreno and had well-chiseled nose and piercing eyes. I was thinking that even a good-looking man like him, can get heartbroken, too.

I was caught up in a daze and then I noticed, he looked back at me. *Electrution.

It was almost midnight and the heavy rain stopped that I decided, we should be going home. We were living in opposite directions, him to Las Pinas and I in Makati.

We drove me home in silence this time. When we arrived at the corner of my boarding house, he asked for my number. I didn’t know what I was thinking but I didn’t give him my number. (Actually, I really know what I was thinking. I was inspired by the movie Serendipity that if it’s meant to be, fate will find a way. I tell you, folks, fate hasn’t!)

I left his car with a quick kiss and said our goodbyes. That was the last time I saw him.

Looking back now, I can no longer remember his face, nor his name, just the feeling of having a connection with a random stranger. Six years have gone by, I wonder what if. What if I gave him my number? What if I accepted his invitation for coffee? Where would it lead to? Do I still cross his mind? Does he ever think about that one night where we got stuck in traffic?

What if...

Biliran

Paradise Undiscovered.

"So where did you go?" I get often asked.

"Biliran." I said.

"Where?"

I get confused faces. And I had to explain that Biliran is an island located in Eastern Visayas. It is one of the country's smallest and newest provinces. Formerly a sub-province of Leyte, it became an independent province in 1992.

My parents have retired there. It's a very virgin island filled with rice terraces, beaches, waterfalls and mountains for trekking. It's where the sweetest water in the Philippines can be found.

I promised myself that I would be writing more in detail about this paradise soon. For now, here are the pics I have taken or you can visit their website here.

There are several rice terraces across the island.

This is where trekking starts to Bagongbong Falls.  Cars or habal-habal can no longer enter beyond this point.  My retired glamorous mother is now preparing for a 30 minute trek.

Bagongbong Falls

Sunset view at Agta Beach

Quiet rest at Talahid Beach

Brgy. Caucab virgin mountains where you can cross paths with a wild bore and monkeys.

Organic produce from my father's farm.

I'm Baaaaack!!!!

After years of hiatus, I am back because Nagmahal, nasakatan, huminto sa pag trabaho at bumalik sa pagsusulat.

I'm Sick

Baba called this morning.  Like a needy girlfriend, I told him, “Baba, I am really sick.”

“This is because I cleaned the whole house and my room last weekend.”  I paused waiting for his pity-cutesy answer.

Then continued, “I went the whole nine yards of cleaning the windows, walls and even the small corners.  That’s why I am now sick.”

He said, “So, now you want to become a yaya?”

Blooming Powder

Last weekend, I was looking for a new brand of face powder. The saleslady said, "Ma'am eto yung bagay sa kulay mo." 

Thinking that it was too dark for me, I asked. "Meron po bang ibang shade?" 

 
She cheerily said, "Ma'am, wala na pong mas dark sa binigay ko!"

Throwback Thursday

While browsing old photographs, Buchok asked one by one who those people in the pictures were.  So I enumerated, “This is Tita Ayis, Papa, Tito Caloy and Tita Ellen...”

Flipping through the pages, Buchok asked.  “Tita Ellen, is this Papa?”

In horror, I said, “No Buchok!”

“That is your Tita Ellen!!”

Feel the Moment

Holy Week 2013

Another Dentist Visit

While sitting on the dentist chair, Karl said, “I have a kid patient earlier who is a similar case with you.”

“Oh, the kid had a root canal?”  I asked in bewilderment.

“No.” He smiled.  “It was like you.  It was a matagal procedure.” 

Silver Linings Playbook

After watching Silver Linings Playbook, The Habit finally concluded that all the characters in the movie have a lot of issues.

So one fine morning at breakfast, he said, “You got issues.”

“I really don’t have issues”.  I called the food server and ordered WATER WITHOUT ICE while eating my RED AND ORANGE FRUIT LOOPS. 

I then said, “I really don’t like eating the green and yellow fruit loops. They don’t look tasty.”

Hong Kong

In a magical place called Disneyland!