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| At 1:30 AM on August 28, I was awoken by bright lights. Reluctantly getting out of bed, I made my way to the kitchen. My spirits were low, because I knew that was going to be my last meal. After finishing, I dressed in jeans and a t- shirt. My thoughts still remained on the same thing: this was my last morning. The first moment I got, I texted Coy and Chek. I was worried Chek wouldn't keep his promise, which was to accompany me and Coy. My cousins aroused to say their goodbyes, just as I was gathering my bags. Taking one last look at the house, which I called home for the past two months, tears came to my eyes. I turned around to face the path which led to the van, when I saw two figures approaching in the dim moonlight. Even from a distance, I immediately knew who they were: Coy and Chek. Chek and I walked together to the van, with Coy a few feet behind us. We took the last few seats available in the van. I chose to sit in between the two. Though I was no longer crying, my heart was still heavy, as we left San Agustin, Iba Zambales.
As we passed Amungan, Bangantalinga and Botalan, Chek and I texted each other, in attempt to have a somewhat private conversation. When the text conversation dwindled down to just "Mahal Kita"(I love u), we converted back to talking aloud. Chek took ahold of my hand, knowing that the time we had left to spend together was quickly passing. As we drove past Olongapo, he held on tighter. Three more hours until we reached the airport. The country scenery gradually changed to buildings and stores. We both knew time was running out. We both started tearing, our hands still intertwined tightly. Though we were both trying to hide our faces from each other, I was unsuccessful. Chek caught sight of my face, and told me not to cry. A few minutes passed, and I noticed that he grew quiet. I glanced toward him; he appeared to have been crying also. I asked him if he was, but he denied it. I couldn't stop thinking about the impending doom ahead.
Signs pointing the direction to Ninoy Aquino International Airport started appearing along the sides of the roadway. Chek and I knew we were only a few minutes away from doom. Tears started forming once again. As soon as we passed the gates of NAIA, my heart sank, and more tears came. It was only about 6:30 AM, still too early, considering my flight was at 12:10 PM. I was afraid they would just drop me off, though I was 5 hours early. To my relief, we pulled into the parking lot to wait until it was time for me to check- in. Chek and I still had about an hour and a half until I had to leave. We talked so much during that last hour. I wished it never came to an end, but it was inevitable. I asked Coy to take pictures of us as a remembrance. 8:10 AM came around faster than I had hoped, and with a shaky voice, I told my uncle it was time for me to check- in. As we pulled around to the front, I started crying once again. Chek gave me a napkin from Jollibee to dry my tears. We reached the front doors, and started to unload my bags. After unloading, I said my goodbyes and my thank you's to everyone. I gave Chek one last hug. I never wanted it to end because letting go is so hard to do. As the hug ended, I held on to Chek's hand, only finally letting go when I had to. Tears filled my eyes as I watched them pull away. | | |
| 1) You're walking through the woods—who are you with?: ronald
2) You see an animal--what is it?: deer
3) What do you do to the animal? watch it
4) There's a house in the woods--what kind? log cabin
5) Is there a fence around the house? What kind? no fence
6) There's a table inside--what's on it? food.. yum lol
7) In the back yard, there's a cup of some sort--what kind? a non disposable plastic cup
8) What do you do with it? leave it be
9) Behind the house there is a body of water--what kind? stream
10) How do you cross it? walk
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1. The person who you are walking with is the most important person in your life. Your thoughts?: very true.. he will always be imp. to me.
2. The size of the animal is representative of your perception of the size of your problems. Your thoughts?: i agree.. lol
3. The severity of the interaction you have with the animal is representative of how you deal with your problems. Your thoughts?: i dont really agree.
4. The size of your dream house is representative of the size of your ambition to resolve your problems. Your thoughts?: my dream house is huge lol. and yea.. i agree
5. No fence is indicative of an open personality. People are welcome at all times. The presence of a fence indicates a closed personality. You'd prefer people not to drop by unannounced. Your Thoughts?: i agree
6. If your answer did not include food, people, or flowers, then you are generally unhappy. Your Thoughts?: well mine had food.. so i guess im a happy person.. thats true lol
7. The durability of the material with which the cup is made of is representative of the perceived durability of your relationship with the person named in number 1. For example, styrafoam, plastic, and paper are all disposable, styrofoam, paper and glass are not durable, and metal and plastic are durable. Your thoughts?: i agree..
8. Your disposition of the cup is representative of your attitude towards the person in number 1. Your thoughts?: i dont get it? lol
9. The size of the body of water is representative of the size of your sexual desire. Your thoughts?: umm lol
10. How wet you get in crossing the water is indicative of the relative importance of your sex life. The wetter you get, the more important your sex life is in your relationship. Your thoughts?: sex isnt important... belive it or not.. u can actually survive without having sex. but dont get me wrong here.. sex is a great thing lol. | | |
| YOU KNOW YOURE A 2ND GENERATION FILIPINO IF: (the true ones are bolded.)
1) You understand a lot of Tagalog, but can hardly speak it.
2) Make fun of your parents' accents.
3) As a child, you were totally embarrassed to eat spaghetti with sliced hot dogs in it. Now, there is absolutely no way you will eat spaghetti without the hot dogs. In fact, you suggest to your non-Filipino friends that hot dogs make spaghetti taste better.
4) As a child, you hated being Filipino.
5) Now, you wear Pinoy Pride T-shirts. (i would wear them if i had some!!)
6) You still wear Tsinelas (slippers).
7) You still take off your shoes when entering a house.
8) (Southern California) You've ever lived in Baldwin Park, Carson, Cerritos, the ghetto part of L.A., West Covina, Walnut or Diamond Bar. (Northern California) You've ever lived in Union City.
9) You don't steal things (e.g., towels, soaps, tissues, cups) from hotel rooms like your parents did. And when you do take things, you deny that the action is not a Filipino trait.
10) You don't care if a T-shirt was made in the Philippines or the USA. As long as it has a designer label on it, you'll wear it.
11) You like shopping in small Filipino markets or the 99 Ranch, but you can't stand the way it smells in there.
12) As a child, you cursed your mom for feeding you Sinigang and Adobo all the time, instead of eating at McDonald's once in awhile. Now, it's a special treat when your mom cooks Sinigang or Adobo.
13) You know how to cook at least one Filipino dish.
14) You know what fried Tuyo smells like.
15) You don't go to church anymore.
16) Diniguan ("black chocolate" dish) still grosses you out.
17) You still exhibit "tightwad" traits like buying a small soda (instead of medium or large which costs 20 cents more) when it's all you can drink.
18) You'd rather wash dishes with your hands than use your dishwasher because it wastes more water.
19) You still like Lumpia and Pansit.
20) You say Paanset (American pronunciation) instead of Pansit.
21) You still like Lechon but the pig's head still freaks you out.
22) You still find Balut disgusting.
23) You think you're all that when you go back to the Philippines because you don't speak with an accent, your skin is fairer than the natives', and you have cool clothes - not hand-me-downs from relatives in the States.
24) You think all Filipino (VHS) movies are funny, even when the movie is a drama.
25) You actually believe that you could become a Filipino movie star back home because you think you're better looking than the Filipinos back home.
26) You can't stand to look at pictures of you as a young child because you looked like a Fob. (Hey, you were a Fob!)
27) You're disappointed at American parties where the only food to eat are small finger-type foods with names you can't pronounce. (How about those vegetable sticks? Yuk!) You're even more disappointed when there is meat being served, but no rice!
28) You eat Kentucky Fried Chicken with rice. Screw the biscuits!
29) You still call your grandparents Lolo and Lola.
30) You dare not bring Balikbayan boxes with you when traveling back home! One suitcase will do just fine.
31) Sometimes your Filipino accent comes out accidentally and you get embarrassed about it.
32) Your non-Filipino friends and coworkers ask you if you've ever eaten dog.
33) Your college major was in computers, engineering, nursing or business. Filipinos don't major in philosophy, literature, history, sociology and other liberal arts. There's no money in it!
34) You think that President Marcos is still the Philippine president. Do you know who the current president is?
35) You still eat Pandesal with butter, Vienna sausage, or eggs.
36) Your friends and coworkers don't call you by your Filipino nickname (e.g., Popoy, Bong, Jhun Jhun), although your family members and relatives still do.
37) Your parents' house still have the furniture you grew up with.
38) Although there are now creative ways to eat Spam, you still like it the classic Filipino way - fried with rice and ketchup. Same with corned beef except without the ketchup. | | |
| ronald wrote this for me..
prinsesa, anghel, diwata, dyosa...
tila mga butil ng perlas ang iyong mga luha
na nagmumula sa nagniningning mong mga mata
huwag ka nang umiyak, o kay gandang prinsesa
nandirito ako sa iyong tabi, upang pasayahin ka
hindi dapat malungkot ang anghel na tulad mo
iyong hinagpis ay maglalaho sa pag-ikot ng mundo
magsaya ka at ngumiti, itaas ang iyong ulo
mga kaibigan mo'y nandirito, nagmamahal sa iyo
iyong mga mata'y tila bituin na kay tanglaw
sa gabing madilim at sa gabing maginaw
kay kinis at kay puti ng iyong kutis, animoy diwata
pinasaya mo kami oh dyosa, dapat karing magsaya
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| He called me today. Ever since that call, I just can't get him out of my mind. | | |
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