My New Teacher: Class, Get One-fourth!

Huminga muna ako nang malalalim. Aminado naman ako na kinakabahan ako, napakaaga ko nang dumating dito sa school. Alas-siyete daw ako pumunta, 6:30 ng umaga pa lang nakaupo na ko sa bench malapit sa Dean’s Office. 

Kabado at hawak ko ang papel na ipakikita ko kay Dean. Nagusot na tuloy ang polo ko kakaupo-lakad ko. 

Ganito talaga ko pag kabado.

Maya-maya pa may dumating na ‘di naman gaanong katandaan na babae. Nag-good morning ako sa kanya at ngumiti. Ngumiti din siya sa akin sabay sabi, “Oh, so you are here? What can I do for you?”

Sumagot ako at magalang na nagsabing, “I was instructed by the registrar to validate the subjects I have today, Maam”. Tumango siya at ngumiti at niyaya akong pumasok sa office niya.

“You’ll have, I guess, Psychiatry as first period. It should be room 204 of the Nursing building, second floor.” Tumango ako at nagpasalamat. Nang magpapaalam na akong umalis, may tinanong pa ulit si Dean,

“Wait, how old are you again?”

“Just turned twenty one po.”

“Oh, no wonder you look like a teenager to me. Just wait for me, in few minutes I’m going to introduce you to the class.”

“Ok po ,ma’am, I’ll be outside.”

Ilang minuto pa ako naghintay kay Dean, kinakabahan talaga ko, ano kayang magiging reaksyon ng mga aabutan ko dun. Maya-maya, lumabas si Dean at nakiusap na mauna na daw ako at may kailangan daw pala siyang hintayin na tawag sa office, hintayin ko daw siya sa room at susunod siya agad para ipakilala ako sa klase. Tumango ako at nagpaalam. Nadagdagan pa yata lalo yung kaba.

Naglakad ako na kinakabahan pa din at gulo ang isip, unang salta ko kasi sa University na to. Paakyat ako ng hagdan nang may makabunggo sa akin na students, nasaktan man, inuna kong tingnan kung ok lang sila. Dalawang babae yun, nagulat ako ng sa halip na humingi ng paumanhin dahil sa pagkabunggo sa akin, sila pa ang nagalit.

Sabi, “Hala, design lang ba mata mo? Nakita mo na patakbo kami, ‘di ka pa umiwas…?”.

Di na ko nakasagot pa dahil dali-dali silang bumaba, hahabol yata sila sa pila ng NFA na bigas. (May scarcity pa ba tayo ng bigas sa panahon ngayon?)

Binalewala ko na lang yung nagyari at dumiretso sa room 204. Nakita ko naman agad; salamat sa mga nakadikit sa pinto na numbers. Bukas ang room at maingay ang klase, tipikal na classroom. Bago tumapat sa pinto, pinilit kong tingnan ang sarili ko, black na polo at maong pants, black na body bag at low-cut white rubber shoes, idagdag ang medyo mahabang buhok.

Napagalitan pa nga ako kanina umaga ni Mommy, mukha daw akong kasapi ng rock band at hindi sa school papasok. Karamihan naman ng nasa room ganun ang suot, nagbabago lang sa kulay. Pasukan pa lang kasi, ‘di pa required mag-uniform. Tumapat ako sa pinto, ewan ko kung anong magic mayroon kapag may bagong mukha sa classroom, bigla na lang silang tatahimik at parang via bluetooth sasabihin nila sa lahat ng katabi nila na tingnan yung bagong dating.

Ganun nga nangyari, nakatingin sila lahat sa akin habang nakatahimik. Nag-goodmorning ako. Yun yata pagkakamali ko, dahil pagkasabi ko nun, parang yun ang password para ituloy nila yung kanya-kanyang pinag-uusapan. Wala nang pumansin sa akin. Ngumiti na lang ako at pumasok na. Umupo ako sa harapan na upuan sa bandang gitna, nakatahimik ako habang wala sa loob na napakinggan ko yung mga pinag-uusapan ng tao sa paligid ko.

Sa kanan ko,

“Pare, hindi nga alam ni Erpats na dito na ko nag-aaral, akala niya dun pa din sa dati, ‘di ko sinasabing lumipat ako, magagalit yun. Tsaka mas malaki tuition dun, sayang yung sobra, pang-gimik din yun… pinapadaya ko na lang yung resibo tsaka certification ng grades ko.”

“Ako nga din, pare, ‘di alam sa bahay na bumagsak ako, ang alam nila last year ko na to, sabi pa ni daddy kagabi, siguro naman daw after 6 years matatapos ko na kurso ko.”

“Mga pare, wala kayo sa akin, sabi ni daddy, ‘wag ko daw madaliin, ano ba naman daw na tapusin ko yung course ko ng 8 years… hehehe….”

Napabuntung-hininga ko sa narinig ko, sa kaliwa naman, eh grupo yata ng kababaihan,

“Nag-away na naman kami kagabi, tawag ako nang tawag, hindi sumasagot, tapos malalaman ko umiinom pala sila ng barkada niya. Sabi ko nga kaninang umaga, nung dumaan sa amin eh, sumaksak na lang siya sa lalamunan ng mga kabarkada nya… Kabadtrip ang animal!”

“Hay naku! Mabait pa yang jowa mo, si Lawrence eh nawrong send sa akin kagabi, sabi eh, ‘see you again soon’, at may ubod tamis na smiley pa sa dulo.. Abay, abot pa deny na hindi daw babae katext, nakakita na ba kayo ng lalaki na nagtext ng see you again soon sa lalaki din? At my smiley pa! Pacute ang gago…”

“Kayo kasi eh, sabi ko sa inyo, ‘wag n’yo muna sagutin, isang buwan lang kayong niligawan eh, bumigay na kayo?

“Naku, nagsalita, pang-ilan mo na ba si Archie?”

“Pang-27. Eh ano naman! Ganoon talaga pang madaming standards, mahirap humanap ng sakto sa taste….”

Huminga ulit ako nang malalim. Tipikal ko namang marinig yung mga ‘to, pero bakit kasi parang iba ang dating sa akin ngayon. Sa likuran ko naman, iba ang topic,

“Boy, dota tayo maya. May bago akong character!”

“Eh, wala ko pera. tol, naubos kahapon, naka-anim na oras yata tayo eh.”

“Boy, sumama ka na, hinahamon tayo nung kabilang block!”

“Utang ka muna kay Bakekang, crush ka naman nun eh!”

“Ulol! hehehe… Pero sige, uutang nga ako, may gusto din akong subukang map eh.”

Maya-maya, may dumating na dalawang babae habang maingay silang nakukuwentuhan. Napatingin sa akin yung isa nang madaanan nila ako sa upuan. Umirap ito, naisip ko, anong luto kaya ng ampalaya ang almusal nito, wala naman akong ginagawa eh, kung tingnan n’ya ako eh akala mo ako’y pupu ng aso na nasa daan niya. Nang maalala ko, siya pala yung babaeng nakabunggo sa akin. Nangiti ako, naisip ko, dito ka pala sa klase na ‘to ha.

Dumaan sila habang malakas na nagpapatugtog ng ‘di ko maintindihan na kanta, Korean yata o Japanese o Chinese. Di ko sigurado, pero naisip ko nung dumaan sila kung naabot kaya yung bahay nila ng kausuhan ng “headset” at “earphones”? O talagang sadya lang na pinapadinig nya sa buong klase yung music genre na type niya?

Isang grupo ng students ang lumapit sa akin, dalawang babae at isang lalaki na nakasalamin. Magalang nilang sinabi na dun sila nakaupo, nag-iwan daw sila ng papel at ballpen dun kanina. Nagtataka ako na luminga-linga at nakita kong nakabagsak ang isang papel at ballpen sa gilid ng upuan. Humingi ako ng pasensya.

Sabi nila ok lang daw, tatayo na sana ako nang sabihin nilang huwag na daw, kukuha na lang daw ng extrang upuan yung lalaking nakasalamin. Tinanong nila ako kung bago lang ako dun sa school. Sabi ko, oo, kaya ‘di ko pa kabisado. Tumango sila at sinabi na kaya daw pala noon lang nila ako nakita. Sa pagkukuwento nila, ay nakita kong mabait sila, seryoso sa pag-aaral dahil ‘di iilang beses na nagbanggit sila ng deadline sa report o project na sa dinig ko eh two weeks in the future pa.

Sinabi nila na kinakabahan daw sila sa subject, major daw kasi. Nangiti ako, sila pa talaga ang kinabahan kaysa dun sa ibang narinig ko kanina. Sabi nila, si Dean daw ang nagtuturo ng subject na yun dati. Pero ngayon daw, balita nila may bago na. Sabi pa nila, sana daw mabait dahil medyo mahirap daw yung subject. Ngumiti ulit ako at tumango, sabay sabi na, sana nga mabait.

Maya-maya, tumahimik yung klase. Luminga-linga ako at nakita ko ang dahilan ng katahimikan at biglang pag-ayos ng upo ng mga students. Si Dean pala, pumasok sa room. Humarap na din ako sa kanya at tumahimik. Nagsalita si Dean, halata naman ang takot at paggalang sa mga students dahil nakinig silang lahat.

“Maybe you already heard that I will not be handling your Psychiatric Nursing subject. I got a lot to attend this semester, the reason why, we hired a new member of the faculty…

Mrdami akong bulong-bulungan na narinig. May naulinigan pa ako na parang nagpasalamat at sobrang istrikto daw ni Dean. Sana daw yung papalit eh mabait, o kaya naman daw tamad pumasok o magturo para wala lagi klase. Nangiti ulit ako.

“…So today, I’m going to introduce to you to your new instructor… Mr. $# %&*!@#…”

Natahimik ang lahat. Nakatingin sa akin si Dean. Biglang sumunod lahat ng tingin sa akin ng mga nasa room. Bigla na naman yata akong ninerbyos. Ayaw man ng tuhod ko, napilitan akong tumayo at naglakad palapit kay Dean.

“He will be your instructor for the whole semester, he will be handling Psychiatric Nursing and Nursing research this sem, so for students who are enrolled on this subject, siya ang instructor n’yo dun…”

Ngumiti ako sa klase at medyo nagbaba ng tingin, nahihiya kasi ako, hanggang ngayon nga, parang hindi ko pa tanggap na magtuturo nga ako. Nagulat ako na ipapakilala pa pala ko.

“He may look young, pero huwag n’yo siyang mamaliitin. He got impressive credentials and a certified scholar back in College. Akala ko nga kanina he’s still a teenager.”

Nagulat lahat ng nasa loob ng klase, tumingin ako sa kanila. Pero may partikular na tao na hindi talaga maipinta ang mukha. Yung babaeng nakabunggo sa akin kanina sa hagdan. Di niya siguro naisip na ang mabubunggo niya ay ang bago niyang instructor sa major subject niya.

“Ok, I’ll give you time to chat with each other. Please do visit my office after class.” nakangiting sabi ni Dean sa akin, tumango ako at sumagot ng “Yes, maam.”

Awkward ang sumunod na set-up, hindi makatingin lahat ngstudents sa akin, ngumiti lang ako at sinabing naiintindihan ko naman kung napagkamalan nila akong student, buti nga kako at akala nila student ako kaysa pagkamalang tambay. Tumawa naman ang klase, naibalik ko na yung comfortable ambiance. First week namin, puro basic, nagreview kami ng psychology, tapos dumating ang first quiz namin, first day ng second week, 30 items quiz.

Sa bahay ako nagcheck ng test paper, nang matapos ako, nakalulungkot ang nakita kong resulta. Lima lang ang pumasa, tatlo sa kanila ay yung tatlong huling nakausap ko bago ako ipakilala ni Dean. Karamihan, single digit ang score, at maraming-maraming red circles (zero). Nag-isip ako kung may kulang ba sa pagtuturo ko, pero pakiramdam ko ginawa ko naman lahat, hanggang naalala ko lahat ng narinig ko nung bago ako ipakilala ni Dean. Nung nakita ko yung totoong mukha ng mga students na walang halong pagpapanggap dahil sa takot at respeto nila sa akin bilang instructor. Nag-isip ako, kailangan may gawin ako.

Kinabukasan, binigay ko yung score nila. Tahimik lahat sila, tinanong ko kung ano ang naging problema. Sabay-sabay silang nagsalita, pinatahimik ko sila at sinabi na sa klase ko, kailangan naming magrespetuhan at magbigayan. Isa-isa ko silang tinawag at isinulat sa white board ang problema nila, sa dulo, na-igeneralize namin sa lima:

Madaming problema sa bahay at sa lovelife.
Matagal na kasi nadiscuss, kaya nakalimutan.
Dapat hindi na wrong spelling wrong, kasi mahirap spelling nun ibang terms.
Pagod na pag umuuwi kaya hindi na makareview. Wala pa kaming libro.
Masyadong maraming nirereview.

Pagkatapos, sinabi ko na may gagawin kaming activity. Suprise quiz kako. Siyempre lahat nagreklamo, pwera yung iilan na sa tantya ko eh yung mga nakapasa pa sa last quiz ko. Nagtataka ako na nagrereklamo sila sa suprise quiz eh malinaw naman na sinabi ko na nagpapasuprise quiz ako. At isa pa, nasa kanila yung syllabus ko, alam na alam nila kung ano yung susunod na topic namin.

Pero pinatahimik ko sila, at sinabi na kailangan nila mag-one seat apart. Nang maayos na ang klase binigyan ko sila ng apat na papel. Sampung tanong kada isa. Nagtaka sila, sabi ko sagutan nila yung tanong, kung hindi nila alam, bakantihin nila. Two points each question. Nagsagot na sila, tumahimik ang buong klase. Tiningnan ko yung apat na papel:

Unang papel: mga tanong tungkol sa Dota tulad ng (a) ano ang superskill ni Mirana? (b) kanino ang atake na Requiem of Souls? (c) sino si Dragonite?…

Ikalawang papel: mga tanong tungkol sa Asian music tulad ng (a) magbigay ng 5 members ng super juniors (b) sino ang apat na member ng 2NE1? (c) magbigay ng kanta ng Girl’s Generation…

Ikatlong papel: mga tanong tungkol sa movie at TV shows tulad ng: (a) sino ang ka-love team ni Wolverine? (b) ano ang pangalan ng alter ego ni Spiderman? (c) sino ang bida sa Mara Clara?

Ikaapat na papel: mga tanong sa psychology. Karamihan inulit ko lang galing sa huling quiz namin. Binago ko lang kung pano naconstruct yung sentence.

Ilang minuto pa, tapos na lahat, nagcheck na kami. Kinuha ko ang papel nila by test parts. As expected, highest yung mga nasa likod ko nung first day sa test 1, perfect pa. Sa test 2, highest yung nakabunggo sa aking babae at sampu ng mga kasamahan niya. Test 3, yung mga nasa kanan at kaliwa ko nun first day ang mataas. Sa test 4, perfect yung limang nakapasa nun first quiz ko, at may nadagdag na tatlo pang nakapasa. At tulad ng inasahan ko, karamihan mataas sa test1 hanggang 3, pero nakakalungkot na bagsak ang fourth quiz. Tawa silang nang tawa habang binabasa ko yung score. Madali lang daw pala yung quiz, ang isip kasi nila pasado sila dahil mataas ang first hanggang third quiz nila.

Ngumiti ako, at sinabing ‘di ba kaya n’yo namang makapasa? Tumango sila. Sinimulan ko silang kausapin. Eto na ang perpektong pagkakataon para maunawaan nila ang mga bagay na maaring magsalba sa pag-aaral nila.

Sabi n’yo, maraming problema sa bahay at sa lovelife. Unahin natin sa bahay, bakit may problema? May kinalaman ka ba? Kung meron, malulutas ba to pag inisip mo siya nang inisip at pinabayaan muna saglit ang pag-aaral mo, kung oo ang sagot mo, maiintindihan kita. Sige, unahin mo muna pamilya mo. Pero kung wala kang kinalalaman, hindi ba mas maganda na isipin na sa oras na magtagumpay ka sa pag-aaral, baka sakaling may magbago sa buhay ng pamilya mo?

Love life? Bakit ba may problema? Alam ba niya na nag-aaral ka? Tandaan n’yo na malalim ang salitang pag-ibig, sa sobrang lalim niya at seryoso, handa itong magsakripisyo sa taong mahal niya. Kung mahal talaga kayo ng mg karelasyon n’yo, alam nila kung paano maghintay, alam nila na ang dapat bigyan ng prioridad sa oras na ito ay pag-aaral mo, o pag-aaral n’yong dalawa. Mahal ka ba talaga ng taong mas pipiliin na mag-absent ka para samahan siyang magdate? O taong mas pipiliing magtext at magtawagan kayong dalawa kaysa hayaan kang magreview? Isipin n’yong mabuti. Maaaring sweet nga yang tingnan, pero isipin, hanggang saan ka ba dadalhin ng ka-sweetan na yan?

Pangalawa, sabi n’yo matagal nang naidiscuss, kaya nakalimutan na. Pero tingnan nyo, ilang taon ka ba nang malaman mo na si Peter Parker si Spiderman, o si Jean Grey ang love interest ni Wolverine? Bakit naaalala mo pa na si Judy Ann Santos si Esperanza? Kasi nag-enjoy ka habang pinapanood sila? O kasi binigyan mo sila ng atensyon?

Nasa motivation lang lahat yan. Kung gusto mo, laging may paraan para tandaan lahat yan. Yun ngang pamatay na linya ni Popoy kay Basya sa “One More Chance” naalala mo eh, taon na ang dumaan, ‘di magagawa mo din to sa mga pinag-aaralan mo ngayon lang.  Motivation lang ang kailangan mo. Positibo ang gawin mong pagtanaw sa pagrereview at hindi parusa. Ano ba na isipin mo habang nagrereview na, “ang hirap, pero mabuti na lang at nadadagdagan ang alam ko” kaysa isipin mo na “bwisit na instructor to, napakadaming pinapareview…”

Dapat hindi na wrong spelling kasi mahirapi- spelling? Nagtataka ko sa inyo, karamihan kabisado yung mga kanta ng Asian groups, kinakanta n’yo pa nga, at malamang kaya n’yong isulat sa isang papel yung mga lyrics nun.  Tanong ko lang, naintindihan n’yo ba yung kinakanta n’yo? Kung sasabihin mo na mahirap tandaan yung spelling ng mga terms na naexplain naman sa inyo, o names ng tao o bagay na naipakilala naman sa inyo, bakit yung kanta na ‘di mo naiintindihan, tandang-tanda mo?

Pagod kaya ‘di na makareview. Eh bakit kaya n’yo pang magdota? Bakit kaya n’yo pang makipag-away sa mga boyfriend at girlfriend n’yo? Walang libro? Bakit ‘di mo subukang bumili? May pang-dota ka, di ba? May pangload ka, may pangpanood ka ng sine? Ano ba na minsang ay magsakripisyo ka muna?

Bakit madami pa kayong oras gawin yung mga bagay na maaari namang walang bilang pag tanda n’yo? Tandaan n’yo na habang nasa paaralan kayo, kailangan n’yong mag-ipon ng kakayahan na maghahanda sa inyo sa pagharap sa tunay na quiz ng buhay. Lahat dito, practice lang, pero sa lahat ng practice, ito ang practice na kasama sa final scoring.

Kaya ano ba ang uunahin mo? Mag-enjoy nang husto ngayon at magdusa nang matagal sa hinaharap, o magtiis ngayon at i-enjoy ang buhay sa matagal na hinaharap? Ilang dekada ka lang titigil sa paaralan, pero habangbuhay na kalagayan ang isusugal mo dito, hahayaan mo bang matalo ka nang walang kalaban-laban?

Sabi ko, madami ang nagsabi sa inyo na madami masyadong nirereview. Hanga ako sa inyo na alam n’yo na maraming kailangang reviewhin, kaso nawawala ang paghanga ko pag naaalala ko na alam n’yo lang na maraming rereviewhin pero wala kayong ginawa para mabawasan yun. Malulutas mo ba ang isang bagay kung titigan mo lang to? Kung wala kang gagawin?

Nakita mo pa lang ang problema, nagpatalo ka na.. sumuko ka na… Sinubukan mo ba kahit minsan na buklatin yung libro mo? Sinubukan mo na bang magsulat ng notes? Sinubukan mo na bang makinig, at bigyang katarungan ang itinuturo sa iyo ng instructors mo?  

Mahirap kasing turuan ang taong ayaw matuto, tulad ng di ka gigising kahit anong gawin sa’yo kung nagpapanggap ka lang na tulog.

Natahimik silang lahat habang kinukuha ko ang apat na papel. Sabi ko sa kanila, maaaring mataas ka sa unang quiz, highest ka sa pangalawa, pasado ka sa pangatlo. Pero sa huli, ito, ang ikaapat na quiz ang makakaapekto sa buhay mo, ang ikaapat na quiz na naglalaman ng natutunan mo sa paaralan, at hindi kung ano ang alam mo sa dota, sa asian performing groups o sikat na movies at TV shows.

Sa bawat tatak ng grades mo sa transcript mo, tandaan mo na dami o unti ito ng opportunidad na maibibigay sa ’yo. Sa bawat pagpasa o pagbagsak mo sa quiz, tandaan mo na maaring makaapekto ito sa hinaharap mo. At sa bawat absent at late na ginawa mo, ay oras at minuto ng kaalaman na ipinagdamot mo sa sarili mo. Sa huli, kayo pa din ang magdedesisyon kung may kuwenta ba o wala ang sinabi ko? Kayo din ang magpapasya kung gusto n’yong ipagpatuloy na mag-isip amag o simulang paganahin ang utak sa kung ano ang dapat habang maaga pa.

Tumingin ako nang isa-isa sa kanila, karamihan ay nagbaba ng tingin. Hindi ko balak paliitin ang tingin nila sa sarili nilang pagkatao, pero minsan, kailangan nilang malaman ang problema nila sa sarili nilang paraan. Binigyan ko sila ng apat na quiz upang malaman nila kung nasaan ang focus ng buhay nila ngayon.

Sana bukas, may sagot na sila sa sari-sarili nilang tanong. Ikaw, may sagot ka na ba kung anong quiz ang ipapasa mo?

Time na pala.

Uwian na.

Class dismissed.

You may leave now.

See you tomorrow!

author:  mga-sulat-kamay

For Boys: Types of Women (Iba't Ibang Uri ng Babae)

1. Pa-conyo: sila yung super vain na kala mo everyday is “foundation day.” Magaling mag-ingles, hindi umiinom ng house water sa fastfood at kung magbihis e kala mo parating may party. Sila rin yung aakitin ka, pero hindi bibigay….agad. Kailangan ng matinding humor kung talagang trip na trip mo sya iuwi.

2. Top-of-the-line sosyalera: Sila yung mga pinanganak na may gintong kutsara sa bibig. Lumaki sa aircon, straight English kung magsalita pero mahilig din silang magmarunong na magaling silang mag-Tagalog pero ang sama talaga pakinggan. Di nakakarelate sa mga kanto jokes, nagtatawanan na ang mga tao di pa din nila nagegets yung joke. Lumaki raw sila sa kalye playing street games. Pero alam nyo kung ano yun? Street hockey, soccer, baseball, etc. Pffft! Batang kalye nga. Mahirap abutin. Pero kung masusungkit, pwede rin!

3. Feeling or Illusionaries: mga mahilig mag-ilusyon na magaganda sila at may sinasabi sa buhay. Pinsan si ganito, kilala si ganyan, may lupain sa hibok-hibok para ma-impress lang ang kausap. Sila ata ang tinutukoy ng Parokya sa kanta nilang, “Silvertoes.” Madaling kausap at minsan, isang sabi lang, gora na yan… walang paliguy-ligoy pa. 10/11 ang drama, sa sampung sinabi labing-isa mali. Dagdag-bawas magkwento kaya ingat lang lalo na kung kiss and tell sila.

4. One-of-the-boys: Sila yung “ideal bestfriend.” Cowboy ba… Pwedeng biru-biruin, masarap kasama sa inuman, naiintindihan ang kalokohan at kaberdehan ng kalalakihan, madalas gumamit ng “tsong” at “pare” pag kausap mo. Pero sila rin yung hindi nagsasalita sa totoong nararamdaman nila. Ingat din ang mga boys sa mga ganitong girls- lalo na pag nahuhulog na pala sa inyo. Kawawa sila pag nasaktan. Hmmmm…

5. Girlfriend-material: Sila yung sa unang tingin pa lang ng boys, abot-langit na ang respeto. Sila yung mga simpleng babaeng matipid ngumiti, makikipag-kwentuhan pero hindi may mystique pa rin. Na-cu-curious ang mga lalaki kung anong meron sa kanila that they keep on looking for more of that person. Minsan ang hirap kausap dahil pabago bago ng isip. Usually, sila ang naliligawan, sinusuyo hanggang mapa-oooohh… OO.

6. Man-hater: Sa una, mapagkakamalan mo silang tibo dahil sobra silang “boyish.” Defense mechanism nila yun dahil galit sila sa past experience nila with an EX. Takot na daw sila masaktan. Mahirap din silang getlakin dahil matatakot ka sa kasungitan nila. Ang hindi mo alam, kulit lang ang katapat. Bibigay din yan. Pero syempre, sa mga lalaki, dapat armed ka with sympathy, timing and humor. Kahit hindi ka masyadong pogi, basta meron ka nito- malaki na ang chance mo.

7. Pa-Girl: OA sa pagka girl, mayat-maya ang retouch inaabot ng 30mins sa CR kahit nasa mall kayo suklay ng suklay ng buhok, mayat maya nananalamin. Super freak-out sa kaarteyhan. Malakas mag react ng “yuck!! Or eewwww” kapag nakakarinig ng mga maseselang usapin. Di nila gets o maapreciate ang ibang mga bagay bagay. Di mo alam kung makitid lang talaga utak nila o talagang slow sila makagets.. Basta ang hirap nila ispelengin!!! Ang masama eh kung 30 yrs old na pagirl pa din… awts!

8. Super Friendly: By the word itself, friendly siya sa lahat. Napakabait, Napakadaling i-aproach napakalawak ng pang-unawa on things. Masarap hingan ng payo. Pero minsan namimisinterpret ng iba. Aakalain ng guy na may gusto sa kanya si super friendly. Lalo na sa pagmimisinterpret sa kanila ng girls dahil pinagchichismisan sya ng masama, siguro kinaiinggitan kasi. Ang hirap din minsan ng masyadong mabait.

9. Doble-Kara: Eto yung matino or mataray pag normal, pero pag nakainom eh bigla na lang sasayaw sa ibabaw ng mesa, or iiyak ng walang malinaw na dahilan, or magiging robot na hindi na alam ang nangyayari, gumagalaw lang pero di nagrerespond sa kapwa, meron ding biglang nang aaway pa. Nakakatakot sila painumin kasi nakakahiya sila kasama pag nalasing.

10. Ms. Know-it-All: Gusto nilang i-impress ang lahat ng tao- especially ang mga kalalakihan, thinking na ma-g-getsung nila ito. They think na mas matalino sila sa guy at kaya nila itong paikutin. Pero wag ka. A good guy can recognize a smart girl. Boys, ingat sa mga tulad nila dahil yung pagka-Know-it-all ay pwedeng mauwi sa paninira sa ibang tao at mga buhol-buhol na kasinungalingan.

11. Problematic: Sila yung mga girls na kala mo kailangan lagi ng karamay o mag-aalaga sa kanila. Pa-emo minsan.. Hanap lagi yung instant Knight-in-Shining-Armour. Dapat mag-ingat ang mga girls na ganito dahil pag problemado sila, mas madaling nakaka-score ang mga kalalakihan lalo na yung magagaling mambola.

12. Babaeng-Bakla: Isa sa pinakagusto kong personality. Tipong laughtrip lagi pag kasama mo.. Hindi maarte, bulgar kung bulgar magsalita pero nasa timing. Punong puno ng humor. At minsan kung pikon ka maiinis ka sa pang-ookray niya pero ok lang yun lambing lang niya iyon.

13. Silent but deadly: Maria Clara ang datingan, Di sila masyadong palakibo, or masalita. Kung magsasalita man eh parang sila lang nakakarinig sa sinasabi nila. Pero wag matahin… Nasa loob ang kulo nila. Talagang mabibigla ka sa matutuklasan mong ibang side ng girl na ito….

14. Camwhore: Wala naman kinalaman to about sa pagkarir, share ko lang.. Sila yung kahit saan mapunta eh magpipicture ng sarili niya maya’t maya. Kahit di na sa kanya yung celfone puro mukha na nia ang laman. Iba-ibang anggulo pa pero magulo naman karamihan ng kuha. Pipiliting iphotoshop pero lalo lang sumasama. Tapos yung karamihang kuha naman eh nakaside view lang yung mukha. Nakakapeke kasi ang ganung posing, nakakapagpaganda. Tapos di pa makukuntento may mga kuha ding nasa taas yung cam and nakaside pa din. Kasi nakakapayat yun, diba? Uuuyyy gagawin na nila yan lagi hehehe.. Daming picture sa fb or multiply na puro mukha lang naman… na naka-side view.

15. Flexible: Eto yung girl na akala mo sa unang tingin, di mo mareach mukhang snobbish, and maselan, pero pag nakuha mo ang loob at nakilala mo ng husto eh di pala maarte co-boy din sya na hindi one of d boys. Kahit saan nakakarating mula Ayala hanggang Colon. Walang arte, Kakain kahit saan mapa "pungko-pungko" or fishballs sa kalsada.

16. Flirt: In tagalog, Malandi, Syota ng bayan…. game! Kadalasang sila yung mga liberated, bombshell na talagang pansinin manamit, magsalita, at kumilos. Madaling pumatol lalo na kung gwapo or mayaman.

Excerpt: A POV on Modern Maria Clara..

I was listening to my player when I heard this great song from a band, Parokya ni Edgar entitled “Pangarap Lang Kita.” Listening to the verse: “Ang hirap maging babae, kung torpe yung lalaki, kahit may gusto ka, hindi mo masabi…” made me think that it is so true. Here in our country, it has been a big taboo for girls to express what they truly feel. We are bounded by norms and brought up with an understanding that as a Filipina we should be courted, serenaded, and our hand asked from our parents before we try to start a relationship with that significant other. 

Personally, I don’t believe in courtship. I see it as a fictitious façade worn by ego centered men. For me it masks the true identity of that person as he tries to only show his good side to get that “pogi points”. Instead of having the opportunity to know him well, it is barred by the role he needs to portray to be your “perfect man.”

Filipino guys think that we Filipinas are so lucky most especially when they believe we don’t need to do any move for the one we like which is ultimately wrong. We are dying every minute that passes without that special person approaching us. It’s not like we can grab them and say “hey, let’s talk.” We can’t make him feel we’re interested yet we should at least let him know that we might be. Filipinos always tend to interpret small actions as wrong signals, so always measure the consequences of your actions. My advice, just play it cool. Even though you’re itching to grab him and to make the first move, just take a deep breath and relax. Never get caught looking but if he did, just give your sweetest i-am-innocent smile.

Being in a "Conservative" country, we are governed by a certain set of moral laws. We might say that we Filipinos are a truly conservative race but as time progresses and modernity creeps its way in, this ideology has taken its toll for most of us, mostly for Filipinas.

Isko: The Boy Genius!

A friend sent me this joke. Original author is unknown. I wish everyone can grow up with a clean and open mind like Isko. – Admin-Ben 

Ben is the founder and creator of the Definitely Filipino network.

—
“Isko” is a Filipino nick name for Francisco.

A boy named Isko was very sad in his class…

The teacher asked, “Isko what is your problem?”

Isko answered, “I’m too smart for the first-grade. My sister is in the third grade and I’m smarter than she is. I think I should be in the third-grade too!”

The teacher had enough. She took Isko to the principal’s office.

While Isko waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the principal what the situation was. The principal told the teacher he would give the boy a test and if he failed to answer any of the questions he was to go back to the first-grade and behave. She agreed.

Isko was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed to take the test.

Principal: “What is 3 x 3 ?”
Isko: “9″.
Principal: “What is 6 x 6 ?”
Isko: “36″

And so it went with every question the principal thought a third-grade should know.

The principal looks at the teacher and tells her, “I think Isko can go to the third-grade. ”

Teacher says to the principal, ” I have some of my own questions. Can I ask him?”

The principal and Isko both agreed.

Teacher asks, “What does a cow have four of and that I have only two of?
Isko: After a moment, ” Legs.”
Teacher: “What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?”
Isko: ” Pockets ”
Teacher: ” What starts with a C and ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious and contains thin whitish liquid?
Isko: Coconut
Teacher: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky?

The principal’s eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer, Isko was taking charge.

Isko: Bubblegum
Teacher: What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a dog does on three legs?

The principal’s eyes open really wide and before he could stop the answer…

Isko: Shake hands
Teacher: Now I will ask some” Who am I ” sort of questions, Okay?
Isko: Yep.
Teacher: You stick your poles inside me. You tie me down to get me up. I get wet before you do.
Isko: Tent
Teacher: A finger goes in me. You fiddle with me when you’re bored. The best man always has me first..

The principal was looking restless, a bit tense and took one large Jack Daniel peg.

Isko: Wedding Ring
Teacher: I come in many sizes. When I’m not well, I drip. When you blow me, you feel good.
Isko: Nose
Teacher: I have a stiff shaft. My tip penetrates. I come with a quiver.
Isko: Arrow
Teacher: What word starts with a ‘ F ‘ and ends in ‘ K ‘ that means lot of heat and excitement?
Isko: Firetruck
Teacher: What starts with a ‘ F ‘ and ends in ‘K ‘ and if you don’t get it, you have to use your hand.
Isko: Fork
Teacher: What is it that all men have one. It’s longer on some men, than others, the pope doesn’t use his and a man gives it to his wife after they’re married?
Isko: SURNAME
Teacher: What part of the man has no bone but has muscles, has lots of veins, like pumping, and is responsible for making love ?
Isko: HEART

The principal breathed a sigh of relief and said to the Teacher:

“Send this Boy to Harvard University !! Even I got the last ten questions wrong myself!”

Top 30 Rules ng Facebook According to Jayson

1. Iwasan ang pabigla – biglang pagpapalit ng relationship status. Lalo na kung mababaw lang ang dahilan tulad ng late reply sa text o hindi pag iloveyou sayo ang jowa mo kaninang alas tres (sarili nyong 3 o’clock habit). Dahil pag nagka-ayos kayo, at ibinalik mo sa dati ang status mo, ikaw din ang magmumukhang praning.

2. Walang masama kung purong tagalog ang shout out mo. Wag matakot na sabihan nang “uy makata”. Kesa naman panay nga ang english, sablay naman ang grammar at hindi kakikitaan ng sense ang sinabi. (iba ang you’re sa your).

3. Check in. Ang post kung saan sinasabi ang kasalukuyan mong lokasyon. Positibo. Pwedeng maging safety precaution. At least alam nila kung saan ka huling pumunta sakaling di ka mahagilap ng ilang araw. Negatibo. Easy prey ka sa mga serial killers o sa kaibigan na may galit sayo. (Ingat ka silvestre. hehehe)

4. May “about you” page ang FB. Dun mo isusulat ang mga hilig mo. Di mo na kelangan pang magpost ng magpost ng mga youtube videos nila Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica o Korn para ipagdiinan na rakista ka. Ikaw din, baka mahirapan kang panindigan. Lalo na pag tumugtog na ang paborito mong kanta ni Katy Perry. Napaindak at sing along si kumag.

5. Hindi kelangan magpost ng mga litrato o video nang iniembalsamo o bangkay na durog durog ang katawan at labas ang mga laman loob. Palit kaya kayo nung andun sa picture. Ako naman ang magpopost.

6. Magtira ng konting privacy para sa sarili. Hindi lahat ng bagay ay dapat ishare. Lalo na sa social media. Sarilinin mo nalang ang gusot sa pamilya o away mag asawa. Pribado na yon. Post ka ng post, tapos mababadtrip ka kung gagawing pulutan sa inuman ang kwento ng buhay mo.

7. Ok lang ipost ang mga bago mong gamit. Gaya ng mga gadget, damit o accessories. Natural lang maging proud ka lalo na kung pinaghirapan mo o importanteng tao ang nagbigay sayo nito. Di lang siguro tama na sabihing “hay nakakapagod na magshopping, andami ko kasi pinamili”.

8. Kung sakaling may nagpost ng malungkot o kaya’y tungkol sa isang masamang pangyayari sa kanila, wag mong i-like. Ano yun? Nagustuhan mo pa na sumemplang siya sa kanal.

9. Wag mong i-like ang sarili mong post. Kaya nga pinost mo in the first place. Mas malala kung ikaw din ang magcocomment. Parang loner ka naman nun.

10. Wag kang basta basta magpost ng nakakagagong comment, lalo na sa mga picture kung saan may mga taong di mo kilala. Halimbawa: “Pre, sino yang kasama mo sa pic? si Bella Flores?”. Huli mo na nalaman. Girlfriend pala niya yun.

11. Kung sakaling may nagpost ng matino at informative na mensahe. Magpasalamat. Huwag mag angas sabay comment nang “ay luma na yan, huli kana sa balita” o kaya “wala, kalokohan lang yan”. Wag kang magmagaling. Matalino kaba na parang si Rizal? E di pabaril ka sa Luneta.

12. Wag gamitin ang FB para magpakalat ng maling impormasyon at maghatid ng mass hysteria. Pero kung sino man ang napost na aabot dito ang radiation sa japan. Nagpapasalamat sayo ang manufacturer ng Betadine.

13. Wag sumali at i-like ang isang fan page kung puro kagaguhan lang ang ipopost mo sa wall nito. Halimbawa, nagpamember ka sa page ng isang seksing artista tapos mag cocomment ka lang ng “uy, sarap mo naman, parang mainit na lugaw sa malamig sa madaling araw”. Tapos magtataka, “hala.. bakit ako na banned?”.

14. Hindi lang ikaw ang may gustong manood ng sine. Wag kang mag post ng mga spoilers na maaaring ikabadtrip ng iba. “just watched Nardong Putik: Ang Pagbabalik Ni Totoy Burak, ganda ng ending, napatay nya ung kontra bida sa pamamagitan ng pagpukpok sa ulo ng isang palayok, pero sad dahil huli na nang malaman nya na tatay niya pala yun..”.

15. Di naman ata kelangan simulan ang post mo sa salitang “Damn!!” o kaya “Oh gosh” lalo na kung di naman malubha o kagulat gulat ang pangyayari. Halimbawa: “oh gosh, umuulan”. Taga saudi???

16. Wag matawa at kantyawan kung corny o masyadong romantiko ang isang post. Tandaan mo, magmamahal ka din. Lintik lang ang walang ganti. Dami kong kilalang ganyan.

17. Ok lang siguro ipost kung ano at kung saan ka kumakain. Iwasan lang yung pagpopost ng close up pictures nung pagkain mismo. Marami ang nagpapalipas ng gutom sa pamamagitan ng Facebook. Sino ka para inggitin sila. Parang yung feeling na, asa air-con bus ka, pauwi sa bahay at gutom tapos may kumag na kakain ng burger at fries. Langhap mo ang bawat kagat niya. Di maka tao. Dapat palitan ang pangalan niya. Gawing Lucifer.

18. Ok lang siguro ang mag post sa paraang Jejemon. Trip mo yun e. Wag mo nga lang asahan na seseryosohin ka kahit matino ang gusto mong sabihin. Expect mo rin na lahat ng comment sayo e magtatapos sa “jejejeje”.

19. Wag magimbita sa isang okasyon gamit ang shout out mo, tapos may ita-tag ka lang na piling tao. Bangag kaba? Makikita ng lahat ng “friends” mo na iilan lang ang gusto mo papuntahin sa nasabing okasyon.

20. Pwede ba?? HINDI PORKET ALL CAPS E GALIT ANG NAGPOST. BAKA LUMUBOG AT NASTUCK LANG ANG CAPS LOCK.

21. Sapat naman na siguro ang tatlong exclamation point para ipaalam sa bumabasa na puno ng emosyon ang post mo. Di mo kelangan punuin ng punctuations porket walang bayad ang extra characters tulad ng sa text messaging. Halimbawa. Pakyu ka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Mali yun. Dapat. Pakyu ka!!!

22. Iwasang magpost kung ikaw ay (a) lasing, (b) nasa impluwensya ng ipinagbabawal na gamot o (c) hindi tinirahan ng ulam. Walang gustong makabasa ng pag aamok mo na puno ng mali maling spelling. Kung sakaling nakakaramdam ng “FB rage”, magpahid ng menthol toothpaste sa mga palad, at itampal tampal sa mukha mo hanggang sa kumalma.

23. Oo, dapat sulitin ang unlimited surfing na maghapon mong binantayan para lang maregister. Pero di ibig sabihin nun na post lang ng post. Halimbawa, ang ilalagay mo sa shout out mo e tatlong magkakasunond na tuldok. Ano yun? Buti pa quote nalang. Time is gold.

24. Wag trigger happy sa “share” button. Hindi porket di nagappear sa profile page ang mabangis mong status message e kelangan mong tiktikin ang pagpindot. Antayin mo lang. Mamaya ilang beses na pala napost. Paulit ulit. Wag kang atat. Lalo na kung ang ipopost mo e “Patience is a virtue”.

25. Wag mong kakumpetensyahin ang youtube sa dami ng video na nakapost sa wall mo. OK lang siguro kung ishare mo ang isang nakakatawang clip kung saan may nag susurfing na pusa o kaya naman e makabuluhang excerpt ng isang documentary. Wag naman yung lahat ng mtv ng kantang marinig mo sa jeep o lahat ng episode ng wow mali.

26. Wag ipahamak ang sarili. Kung sakaling pwede naman palang acronym ang isang term e wag mo na itong buuhin sa iyong post. Laugh out loud!!!!.

27. Hindi masamang makisali sa mga occasional drives o campaigns. Tulad ng paggamit ng picture ng nanay mo pag mother’s day o pag post ng mensahe tungkol sa cancer bilang status message mo. Hindi porket di ka nakisali e cool o mas sophisticated ka.

28. Kung may nagcomment o nagpost sa wall mo na di mo kilala ang pangalan pati na ang picture. I-open saglit ang profile. Wag mo agad replyan ng makamandag na “HU U?”. Malay mo, tropa mo pala yun. Binaliktad lang ang pangalan. O kaya naman e dinagdagan ng H. Mhayhumhi Pharhedez.

29. Kung magcocomment ka, halimbawa sa isang picture, iwasang gumamit ng paghahalintulad sa ibang tao lalo na kung kagaguhan lang ang sasabihin mo. Halimbawa, “baduy ng porma mo pre, parang bisaya lang” o kaya “mukha kang magsasaka”. Tandaan, di ka lamang o nakahihigit sa mga bisaya at magsasaka. Ikaw kaya, magpost ka ng video tungkol sa mga unggoy, tapos may magcomment, “ambobobo naman nila, parang ikaw”.

30. Wag kang magatubiling bumati sa mga post tungkol sa panganganak ng isang ina, pagpapakasal ng magsing irog o pagkatangap sa trabaho. Sa magulong mundo, hindi ba’t masarap ishare ang mga positibong pangyayari.

Minsan May Isang Puta

“Minsan may Isang Puta” by Ms. Mike Portes won the film grant in 2010 to be a part of an Indie trilogy “Ganap na Babae”. Director and screenplay writer Sarah Roxas together with two other distinguished women directors weaved together three short film screenplays to make a full length feature movie in “Ganap na Babae” (International title : Garden of Eve).
 

Tingin ng mga bobong kapitbahay ko, puta daw ako. Nagpapagamit, binabayaran. Sabi nila, ako daw ang pinakamaganda at pinakasikat sa aming lugar noon. Di ko nga alam kung sumpa ito, dahil dito naletse ang kinabukasan ko.
Tara, makinig ka muna sa kwento ko, yosi muna tayo.

Alam mo, maraming lumapit sa akin. Nagkagusto at naakit. Ang hirap pag lahat sa iyo, virgin eh. Tinanggap ko naman silang tao, bakit kaya nila ako ginago? Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga nangyari sa akin. Bukas palad ko naman silang pinakitunguhan, ni hindi ko nga itinuring na iba. Iniisip ko na nga lang na kasi di sila taga rito kaya siguro talagang ganoon.
Tatlong malilibog na foreigners ang nagpyesta sa katawan ko. Sabi nila na-rape daw ako.

Sa tatlong beses akong nagahasa, ang pinakahuli ang di ko makakalimutan.

Parang maski di ko ginusto ang mga nangyari, hinahanap-hanap ko siya. Kasi, ibang-iba ang hagod niya. Umiikot ang mundo ko sa tuwing ginagamit niya ako. May mga pagkakaton na nasusuka na ko sa mga nangyayari sa aming dalawa. Parang ‘pag humahalinghing siya, nararamdaman ko na nalalason ako.. Gusto ko mang umayaw, hindi ko makuhang humindi. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit. Ibang klase din kasi siya mag-sorry eh, lalo pa at inalagaan niya ako at ang mga naging anak ko.

Alam mo, parating ang dami naming regalo – may chocolates, yosi at ano ka! May datung pa! Nakakabaliw siya! Alam kong ginagamit niya lang ako pero pagamit naman ako nang pagamit. Sa kanya namin natutunan mag-inggles, di lang magsulat ha! Magbasa pa!

Nung kinasama ko siya, guminhawa buhay namin. Sosyal na sosyal kami! Ewan ko nga ba, akala ko napapamahal na ako sa kanya. Akala ko tuloy-tuloy na kaligayahan namin, yun pala unti-unti niya akong pinapatay.
Punyetang buhay! Sa dami ng lason na sinaksak niya sa katawan ko, muntik na akong malaspag. Ang daming nagsabi na ang tanga tanga ko. Palayasin ko na daw. Taon ang binilang bago ako natauhang makining sa payo. Iniisip ko kasi na parang di ko kakayanin na mawala siya sa akin… Sa amin! .
Sa tulong ng ilan sa mga anak ko, napalayas ko ang demonyo pero ang hirap magsimula. Hindi nga ako sigurado kung nabunutan ako ng tinik o nadagdagan pa. Masyado na kasi kaming nasanay sa sarap ng buhay na naranasan namin sa kanya, kaya eto nabaon kami sa utang. Lubog na lubog kami sa pagkakautang, kulang yata pati kaluluwa namin para ibayad sa mga inutang namin.

Nakakahiya man aminin pero hanggang ngayon, sa tuwing mabigat ang problema ko, siya ang tinatakbuhan ko. ‘Yun nga lang, kapit sa patalim sabi nga nila. Para akong isang aso na nangagat ng amo, na bumabahag ang buntot at umaamo kapag nangangailangan.
Usap-usapan ako ng mga kapitbahay ko. May nanghihinayang, namumuhi at naaawa. Puta na kasi ang isang magandang katulad ko. Ang dating hinahangaan at humahalina ay nabibili sa murang halaga. Alam mo maski ganun ang mga nangyari sa akin, nilakasan ko pa rin ang loob ko. Kailangan makita ng mga anak ko, na masasandalan nila ako maski ano pang mangyari.
Maski ano pa ang sabihin ng iba, sinisikap namin na maging maganda ang buhay namin. Nag-aambisyon kami at nangangarap. Ayun, may mga anak ako na nasa Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi. Yung iba nag-US, Canada, Europe. ‘Yung iba ayaw umalis sa akin. Halos lahat, wala naman silbi. Masaya daw sa piling ko, maski amoy pusali ako.

Sa dami ng mga anak ko na nagsisikap na tulungan ang kalagayan namin, siya din ang dami ng mga anak ko na nanamantala sa kabuhayan at kayaman na itinatabi ko para sa punyetang kinabukasan naming lahat. Eto na nga ang panahon na halos di na kami makaahon sa hirap ng buhay. Napakahirap dahil nasanay na kami sa ginhawa at sarap.
Alam mo, gusto ko na sanang tumigil sa pagpuputa kaso ang laki talaga ng letseng utang ko eh. Palaki pa ng palaki! Paano na lang ang mga anak kong naiwan sa aking puder? At paano na lang ang mga anak kong nasa abroad? Baka di na nila ako balikan o bisitahin man lang? Hindi na importante kung laspagin man ang ganda ko, madama lang ng mga anak ko ang pagmamahal ko. Malaman nila na ibibigay ko ang lahat para sa kanila.
Sa tuwing titingin ako sa salamin, alam ko maganda pa rin ako. Meron pa din ang bilib sa akin. Napapag-usapan pa din. Sa tuwing nakikita ko ang mukha ko sa salamin, nakikita ko ang mga anak ko. Tutulo na lang ang mga luha ko ng di ko namamalayan. Ang gagaling nga ng mga anak ko eh, namamayagpag kahit saan sila pumunta. Mahusay sa kahit anong gawain. Tama man o mali.
Sa dami ng mga anak ko, iilan lang ang may malasakit sa akin. May malasakit man, nahihilaw pa.

Mabigat dalahin para sa akin, ang katotohanan na ni minsan ay di kami naging isang pamilya. Halos lahat ng mga anak ko, galit sa isa’t isa. IIlan ang gusto magtulungan, naghihilahan pa. Madalas kong itinatanong sa sarili ko kung naging masama ba akong nanay para magturingan ng ganito ang mga anak ko?
Kanino bang similya ng demonyo nanggaling ang mga anak kong maituturing mong may mga pinag-aralan pero nakakadama ng saya at sarap sa paghihirap ng kapatid nila? Di ko lubos maisip kung saan impiyerno nanggaling ang kasikiman ng ilan sa mga anak kong ito. Sila pa naman ang inaasahan kong magbabangon sa amin. Nakakabaliw isipin na natitiis nila ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga kapatid na halos mamatay sa hirap ng buhay. Parang di sila magkakapatid sa tindi ng pagkaganid at walang pagmamalasakit.

Ang di ko akalain ay mismong mga anak ko, ang tuluyang sisira sa akin. Kinapital ang laspag na ganda ko. Masaya sila sa mga nabibili nila mula sa pinagputahan ko. Buong angas nilang pinagyayabang ang mga pansamantalang yaman at ang kanilang hilaw na pagkatao sa mga makakakita at makikinig. Talaga bang nakakalula ang materyal na kayamanan at mga titulong ikinakabit sa pangalan? Hindi ko maintindihan.

Minsan sa pagtingin ko sa salamin, ni hindi ko na nga kilala sarili ko.
Dadating na naman ang pasko, sana maalala naman ako ng mga anak ko. Ilang linggo pa, magbabagong taon na. Natatakot ako sa taong darating. Ngayon pa lang usap-usapan na ang susunod na pangbubugaw sa akin. Gagamitin pa nila ang kahinaan ng mga kapatid nilang alipin sa kalam ng tiyan. Sa tagal ng panahong ganito ang sitwasyon namin parang eto lang ang sulok na gagalawan ko. Sana may magtanggol naman sa akin. Ipaglaban naman nila ako. Gusto kong isigaw: “Ina ninyo ako! Pagmamahal nyo lang ang kailangan ko!”
Sensya na, ang haba na ng drama ko. Masisira na ang make up ko nito eh. Salamat ha, pinakinggan mo ako. Malaking bagay sa akin na nakausap kita. Ang tagal nating nag-usap, di man lang ako nagpapakilala.
Ay sorry, di ko nasabi pangalan ko.
 
Pilipinas nga pala.

A True Story of Mother’s Sacrifice

After the Earthquake had subsided, when the rescuers reached the ruins of a young woman’s house, they saw her dead body through the cracks. But her pose was somehow strange that she knelt on her knees like a person was worshiping; her body was leaning forward, and her two hands were supporting by an object. The collapsed house had crashed her back and her head.

With so many difficulties, the leader of the rescuer team put his hand through a narrow gap on the wall to reach the woman’s body. He was hoping that this woman could be still alive. However, the cold and stiff body told him that she had passed away for sure.He and the rest of the team left this house and were going to search the next collapsed building. For some reasons, the team leader was driven by a compelling force to go back to the ruin house of the dead woman. Again, he knelt down and used his had through the narrow cracks to search the little space under the dead body.
Suddenly, he screamed with excitement,” A child! There is a child! “

The whole team worked together; carefully they removed the piles of ruined objects around the dead woman.There was a 3 months old little boy wrapped in a flowery blanket under his mother’s dead body. Obviously, the woman had made an ultimate sacrifice for saving her son. When her house was falling, she used her body to make a cover to protect her son. The little boy was still sleeping peacefully when the team leader picked him up. The medical doctor came quickly to exam the little boy. After he opened the blanket, he saw a cell phone inside the blanket.
There was a text message on the screen. It said,” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.”
This cell phone was passing around from one hand to another. Every body that read the message wept.
” If you can survive, you must remember that I love you.” Such is the mother’s love for her child!!

Movie: No Other Woman: Big Success!

Big Success!!

Apparently due to the astounding success of “No Other Woman,” the film’s stars reportedly received bonuses from no other than ABS-CBN’s big bosses Gabby Lopez and Charo Santos-Concio.
Lead stars Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay, and Cristine Reyes, as well as “No Other Woman” director Ruel Bayani and writers Kriz Gazmen and Jay Fernando, were handed their respective checks during the film's thanksgiving party last Oct. 5, Journal Online reported.
“No Other Woman” is Star Cinema and Viva Films’ latest blockbuster hit, grossing P100 million in the first five days after opening on Sept. 28.

 And..Here's a movie review from Neil (lateforreality.com):

Don’t really want to go through the movie from start to finish, but basically Derek randomly meets Anne while he’s swimming. They see each other again at a resort that Anne’s dad owns, they decide to hang out, end up kissing, hang out again, then they end up going all the way and having sex. So Derek basically cheats on Cristine, his wife.
I think acting-wise, Derek was just ok – not bad, but not great either. It was really a battle between Anne and Cristine. I think they both did exceptionally well with their respective roles. It’s hard to say who I thought did better, maybe Anne.. slightly. She was an outstanding kontrabida, she really owned her role as a mistress.
Derek is one lucky bastard. When you have a beautiful wife, who is kind, loving, caring, at simple lang, why the hell would you want to be a dickhead and cheat on her??
Yeah, sure, Anne might be tempting, but so is porn. It’s something called self-control and remembering why you chose to be with someone.

Favorite parts of the movie…

- Tear-jerker scene #1: The first scene that made me teary-eyed was the scene when Cristine broke down in her room at the resort. I guess I got too into the movie to the point that I just really felt sorry for Cristine, and I could really imagine how she must have felt through it all. Her acting was very believable, especially in the parts where she first felt apprehensive about whether Derek was cheating or not.
As you watch the movie, all that you feel for Cristine really builds up inside, and then I guess that scene at the resort is what eventually brings it out for ya. First she makes up with Derek and you are led to believe that everything is ok. Cristine then comes with Derek to Anne’s resort to kind of shove it in her face that they’re ok, despite Cristine’s knowledge of Derek’s adventure on the sideline. Then there was a scene where Anne was alone, lying down on a chair in a two-piece. Cristine approached her and started throwing all these killer lines at her hahahah! Then she took off what she was wearing to reveal her two-piece, and I guess also to show Anne that she’s not the only one who has a body to flaunt. One of the lines I remember Cristine saying was “Alam mo anong tawag sa mga umaagaw ng asawa? Ahas. Yung bikini mo, baka balat mo lang yan” (Anne was wearing a snake skin bikini) hahaha!
Another line was “Ang marriage ay parang exclusive village lang. Kailangan binabantay mo para hindi makapasok ang mga squatter.” which Anne retaliated with, “Buti nakapasok ka pa dito sa resort. Bawal kasi ang ugaling skwater dito” haha.
Line after line, Anne eventually said something to Cristine that literally crushed her on the inside. Ipinamukha niya kay Cristine ang lahat ng ginawa nila ni Derek, and how much she enjoyed all of it.  It was too much for Cristine to take in, tears rolled down her face and she just walked off without a word. And that’s when she decided “fuck this!” and packed her shit ahaha, and then Derek just so happened to come in at the RIGHT time.. with a look on his face that just screamed “shit! she’s actually leaving!” hahaha. But on a more serious note, this exact scene, particularly when she broke down when Derek came in the room, was what made me teary.

Rating: 9/10

No dull moments. Amazing story. Above par acting by both Cristine and Anne. Almost perfect character development. Some eye-opening (in the sense that it’s true, not really eye-opening as in shocking) lines by Anne, and so many funny lines from Cristine and her mother hahah. And lastly, there’s definitely a lesson to learn from the movie.
One of those movies you have to get on DVD.

Girl Rises From The Grave

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Regaining consciousness, a 10-year-old girl clawed her way out of the ground and pointed her parents and the authorities to the cousin who raped her, knocked her out with a blow to the head and buried her in a shallow grave, the police said Thursday.

Inspector Roberto Ocumen, chief of police in the town of Magpet, said the girl told investigators she was raped, then hit with a hard object on the head and buried alive by her cousin Dennis Quilaton, 21, on Sunday.

Ocumen said the girl regained consciousness underground and crawled out of the freshly dug grave.

She managed to reach home through the help of some neighbors and told her parents about her ordeal.

Ocumen said that policemen arrested the suspect on Monday and that he has been charged. He is still under police custody, he said.

The girl’s father said that his daughter was snatched by Quilaton Sunday morning, hit her with a hard object and brought her in a grassy area near their home before sexually abusing her.

The suspect then buried her in a shallow grave, he said.

“Miraculously, she regained consciousness, woke up and crawled until she reached a house and sought help,” the father said.

It was not clear how long the girl had been buried.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/71391/g...ints-to-rapist 

Junko Furuta: The Girl Who Went Through 44 days of Torture

photo removed upon request

Junko Furuta. The girl who went through 44 days of torture.
DAY 1: November 22, 1988: Kidnapped
Kept captive in house, and posed as one of boy’s girlfriend
Raped (over 400 times in total)
Forced to call her parents and tell them she had run away
Starved and malnutritioned
Fed cockroaches to eat and urine to drink
Forced to masturbate
Forced to strip in front of others
Burned with cigarette lighters
Foreign objects inserted into her vagina/anus

DAY 11: December 1, 1988: Severely beat up countless times
Face held against concrete ground and jumped on
Hands tied to ceiling and body used as a punching bag
Nose filled with so much blood that she can only breath through her mouth
Dumbbells dropped onto her stomach
Vomited when tried to drink water (her stomach couldn’t accept it)
Tried to escape and punished by cigarette burning on arms
Flammable liquid poured on her feet and legs, then lit on fire
Bottle inserted into her anus, causing injury

DAY 20: December10, 1989: Unable to walk properly due to severe leg burns
Beat with bamboo sticks
Fireworks inserted into anus and lit
Hands smashed by weights and fingernails cracked
Beaten with golf club
Cigarettes inserted into vagina
Beaten with iron rods repeatedly
Winter; forced outside to sleep in balcony
Skewers of grilled chicken inserted into her vagina and anus, causing bleeding

DAY 30: Hot wax dripped onto face
Eyelids burned by cigarette lighter
Stabbed with sewing needles in chest area
Left nipple cut and destroyed with pliers
Hot light bulb inserted into her vagina
Heavy bleeding from vagina due to scissors insertion
Unable to urinate properly
Injuries were so severe that it took over an hour for her to crawl downstairs and use the bathroom
Eardrums severely damaged
Extreme reduced brain size

DAY 40: Begged her torturers to “kill her and get it over with”

January 1, 1989: Junko greets the New Years Day alone
Body mutilated
Unable to move from the ground

DAY 44: January 4, 1989: The four boys beat her mutilated body with an iron barbell, using a loss at the game of Mah-jongg as a pretext. She is profusely bleeding from her mouth and nose. They put a candle’s flame to her face and eyes.

Then, lighter fluid was poured onto her legs, arms, face and stomach, and then lit on fire. This final torture lasted for a time of two hours.

Junko Furuta died later that day, in pain and alone. Nothing could compare 44 days of suffering she had to go through.

When her mother heard the news and details of what had happened to her daughter, she fainted. She had to undergo a psychiatric outpatient treatment . Imagine her endless pain.

Her killers are now free men. Justice was never served, not even after 20 years.
They deserve a punishment much greater than they had put upon Furuta, for putting an innocent girl through the most unbearable suffering.

This story from 1989 is true. Please spread her story around. Everyone should know about the existence of Junko Furuta’s unimaginable and incomprehensible suffering, and this is why this group has been made.

Invite your friends. Never let her story be forgotten. If this story changes the life of at least one person then it has been worth it.

Rest In Eternal Peace,
Junko Furuta
1989-Eternity 

Most Sought-After Pilipino Foods Part 1

 PANSIT LUGLOG. Fresh or dried bihon (thin noodles) cooked in a thick reddish sauce. Luglog means to cook by immersing in boiling water or broth with the use of (originally) a woven rattan ladle with a long handle. The noodles are immersed in the liquid (linuluglog). When lifted, the broth or water simply drips through. Also known as pansit palabok. Eaten with patis and kalamansi.

PALABOK is its thick red sauce that is poured on the noodles and garnished with hard boiled eggs and halved, boiled shrimps. (Palabok also means flowery flattering speech, meant to entice).

 PANSIT MALABON. Same as above but uses fat miki noodles. Poured on top, the palabok is topped with boiled (preferably duck) egg slices, halved shrimps, (originally) slices of kamias, kinchay and maybe a sprinkling of ground chicharon.

The best pansit Malabon is allegedly that of Rosy's. The eatery is located in the part of Malabon that floods during high tide, so that you have to sit on a stool with your feet in the water. Today it has many Manila branches.




 PANSIT LANGLANG is a soup consisting of sotanghon or glass noodles with bits of chicken and tasty tengang daga (rats' ears) mushrooms. May also be served dry.

PANSIT BIHON OR PANSIT MIKI GISADO. Normal pansit known to anyone who has sworn allegiance to the Philippine flag.

PANSIT HABHAB. Unadorned miki and sayote noodles sauteed in pork fat. It is served up on a small square of banana leaf to fit one's palm and is directly brought to the mouth (hence habhab). A Lukban snack.
 
PORK FAT and CHICHARON. Pork fat is revered by "wa-care" Filipino gourmands who insist that anything fried in it tastes better. These heathens are also adorers of pork chicharon (with a slab of fat) and chicharong bulaklak made of the intestines of the pig pulled inside-out to resemble wood roses. The inferior tito or small intestine are also made into just-as-deadly cracklings. All dipped in vinegar with garlic or sili (sarap!)

LECHON or LITSON. A good lechon should have meat that is evenly and fully cooked, tender and dry. The skin should be crisp from ears to tail (but is often not). The lechon preferred by party givers is lechon de leche, the month-old piglet mercilessly plucked from its mother's breast which socialites feast on without mercy.
The best weight for a good party lechon is allegedly 30 pounds. Its best diet is vegetarian-bran, kangkong or kamote leaves-not kitchen scraps or store-brought feeds with antibiotic. The simplest lechon stuffing is banana leaves, which keeps the inside moist so that the pig cooks thoroughly. Young sampalok or alibangbang leaves are also popular stuffing as they impart their sourness to the meat and neutralize the greasiness.
Some prefer to stuff the stomach cavity with brown upland rice or even malagkit rice, which swims in lard as the pig roasts. Others insist on a kind of turkey or chicken stuffing, therefore bread dough. The truly perverse fill their lechon with paella or stuff it with a whole chicken.
Warning: One of two people who split a baby lechon between them for dinner, died of high blood the same night.

LECHON SAUCE. The Batangas type is the most popular Tagalog version. It is pork liver boiled and pounded to a paste, mixed with vinegar, sugar and herbs and thickened with biscocho bread crumbs. Mang Tomas has grown rich from bottling this lechon sauce.
The Pampanga lechon sauce tends to be sweeter, the Bicol, sourer.
The Cebu-Leyte lechon has no sauce. Its stuffing is a lot of pepper, shallots, leeks and lemongrass, a stuffing that makes the animal tasty by itself. The Cebu lechon has made its presence felt in Manila where it is flown upon order.

RELYENO AND GALANTINA must not be confused. Both are deboned stuffed chickens. Relyeno is the whole chicken, drumsticks and wings showing, galantina is rolled, with deboned wings tucked inside. Relyeno is brown-roasted in the oven, galantina is boiled and more bland. Galantina filling includes, aside from ground pork and chicken, hard-boiled eggs, Vienna sausage, maybe ham, green olives stuffed with pimiento, and carrots. The basic filling of relyeno is spicier, with ham, pork sausage, chorizo de Bilbao and raisins (no eggs).

DINENGDENG or INABRAW, a salubrious soupy vegetable dish of Ilocos Norte made from fresh veggies picked from the backyard (one's own or the neighbor's). It may include any of the following: bamboo shoots, malunggay, himbabao, lima beans, patola, mashed kamote, squash leaves, string beans, eggplants and saluyot with broiled fish or shrimps put into the kettle before the greens.
An Ilocano teacher said: The Lord ascended into heaven in order to scatter the seeds of saluyot for the poor Ilocanos to eat.
Saluyot is a weed (slimy when cooked) which is never cultivated but grows wantonly when it rains. Its consumption was once regarded with amazement by botanists and other ethnic groups like Manilans.

Ampalaya. Why is the ampalaya wrinkled? Says artist Romeo Lee, because it is the only vegetable that was not included in Bahay Kubo! It is the signature vegetable of pinakbet. The miniature ampalaya is probably the best symbol for how the Ilocano turns a disadvantage into an advantage. Originally eaten by the farmer because it is a reject, the small aborted ampalaya is now the sought-after size, ideal for pinakbet.

PINAPAITAN. Early in the Spanish times, the ship of the English freebooter Thomas Cavendish was moored off Fuga Island. He had captured some Ilocanos to help him on board. From the shore came natives rowing bancas with foodstuffs to sell, including a goat.
The sailors decided to buy the goat and they slaughtered it on deck, throwing all the intestines into the sea. The Ilocano assistants were not about to let all that lovely laman-loob go down and dived for the treasure. This is followed by a description of the natives cooking the innards, including its bile, into what the poor chronicler could only describe as "a disgusting mess." This is the first mention in Blair and Robertson of pinapaitan.
Pinapaitan is a bitter dish of goat meat and offals or chopped intestines, mixed with papait which comes from digested grass in the stomach of the goat. Pinapaitan dishes include the half-cooked Ilocano kilawen and the almost-raw imbaliktad. With every purchase of meat specifically for pinapaitan, the vendor throws in the attendant bile for free.

KALDERETA is a goat stew with a rich red sauce consisting of canned tomato sauce, ground liver, red hot chilis, bell peppers, a grated ball of cheese and green olives simmered in the caldron for over an hour.

ITLOG NA PULA (red egg) or ITLOG NA MAALAT. We're probably the only nation that colors its salted egg red.

BIBINGKANG LALAKI. In the province, I stood in line behind a little girl who had ordered a "bibingkang lalaki." I soon find out that it was simply bibingka with eggs. (Logical.)

QUEK QUEK is a hard-boiled chicken egg dipped in bright-orange batter and fried. Sold on busy sidewalks.

BIKO; KALAMAY-HATI; SINUKMANI (Laguna) all refer to the same sticky rice delicacy.

KESONG PUTI; KESONG LAGUNA. Same-same

HOPIANG MONGO and HOPIANG BABOY. Hopiang mongo has black or yellow mung bean filling, sometimes mixed with kamote. Hopiang baboy has no baboy filling, only kundol, but it is fried in pork fat. Hopiang mongo hyped up with lots of nuts and salted egg becomes mooncake that has a box and sometimes costs as much as P500 each.

TURO-TURO, CARINDERIA, CAFETERIA, FAST FOOD are all the same.

Couple Stories: The Eye

My mom had only one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment.. My mom ran a small shop
at a flea market. She collected little weeds and such to sell... Anything for the money we needed.

She was such an embarressment. There was this one day during elementary school.. It was field day, and my mom came. I was so embarressed. How could she do this to me? I threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school... "your mom only has one eye?!?!" .. and they taunted me. I wished that my mom would just dissappear from this world so I said to my mom, "Mom.. why dont you have the other eye?! If you're only gonna make me a laughingstock, why dont you just die?!!!" My mom did not respond.. I guess i felt a little bad, but at the same time, it felt good to think that i had said what I'd wanted to say all this time.. Maybe it was because my mom hadn't punished me, but I didnt think that I had hurt her feelings very badly.

That night... I woke up, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. My mom was crying there, so
quietly, as if she was afraid that she might wake me. I took a look at her, then turned away. Because of the thing I had said to her earlier, there was something pinching at me in the corner of my heart. Even so, I hated my mother who was crying out of her one eye. So I told myself that i would grow up and become successful. Cause I hated my one-eyed mom and our desperate poverty..

Then I studied real hard. I left my mother and came to Seoul and studied, and got accepted in the Seoul University with all the confidence I had. Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. Then I had kids, too.. Now i'm living happily as a successful man.  I like it here because it's a place that doesn't remind me of my mom.

This happiness was getting bigger and bigger, when.. what?! who's this?! ...it was my mother... ..Still with her one eye. It felt as if the whole sky was falling apart on me. My little girl ran away, scared of my mom's eye. and I asked her, "who are you?!" "i dont know you!!!" as if trying to make that real. I screamed at her," how dare you come to my house and scare my daughter!" "GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!" and to this, my mother quietly answered, "oh, i'm so sorry. i may have gotten the wrong address," And she dissappeared out of sight. Thank goodness... she doesn't recognize me.. I was quite relieved. I told myself that i wasn't going to care, or think about this for the rest of my life. Then a wave of relief came upon me...

One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. so, lying to my wife that I was going on a business trip, I went. After the reunion,  I went down to the old shack, that I used to call a house...Just out of curiosity there, I found my mother fallen on the cold ground. but I did not shed a single tear.

She had a piece of paper in her hand.... it was a letter to me. my son... I think my life has been long enough now.. and... I won't visit Seoul anymore... but would it be too much to ask if i wanted you to come visit me once in a while? I miss you so much.. And i was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. but I decided not to go to the school. ...for you... and I'm sorry that I only have one eye, and I was an embarressment for you. You see, when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mom, i couldnt stand watching you having to grow up with only one eye... so I gave you mine... I was so proud of my son that was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye. I was never upset at you for anything you did.. the couple times that you were angry with me,.. I thought to myself, 'it's because he loves me..' my son... oh, my son... I dont want you to cry for me, because of my death. please don't cry.... my son, I love you so much..

Couple Stories: Her Last Request

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly.
She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane.

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day.

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me.

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart.

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband....

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

5-Star Movie!: Every Child is Special

I have no words to express how i felt while watching this movie. I must have cried at least 5 times during the movie. Forgive me for being a cry-baby but it was so touching that anyone could easily burst out!

To start with, Taare Zameen Par is a must-watch movie. It just not told you that every child is special, it also leads you to think (and this is why I rate it as top-notch movie) the pressure building upon young generation by their so called parents, relatives, teachers and all.

The movie deals with a boy suffering from dyslexia. As a dyslexic child, the boy has difficulties in reading, writing and understanding letters, words and sentences. His world is fill with wonders that no one else seems to appreciate; colors & shapes that are just not important in the world of adults, who are much more interested in things like homework, marks and neatness. And the boy just cannot seem to get anything right in class. For that, he gets punished by his parents, teachers, and friends. Later in the movie, The parents being as traditional parents are not ready to accept his deformity. The boy is sent to a boarding school where all his hopes, passion & imagination died. When everything is down, ‘the angel’ show up to the screen, his art teacher. It is then that how his teacher bring back the boy’s lost creativity and the boy rises above all odds to face this ‘cruel’ world.

Watching this movie should be an eye opener to all parents about the kind of pressure the education system puts on young kids. Being a topper and doing extremely well in academics is not everything in life. It should also open the eye of schools to kids with learning problems and they should not be confused with kids who have psychological problems.

Hats off to the director too. The screenplay is very nice. Story flows naturally and audience can identify the characters easily. There is a beautiful portrayal of emotions. The child actor Darsheel Safari depicts any normal naughty kid. An immaculate acting by such a small kid is praiseworthy. Cinematography is excellent and songs are appropriate to the situations. A movie which has a social message, is a replica of the society and (again) a must watch for everyone. It comes second after Slumdog Millionaire!

So what is the best thing about this movie? Unlike most big-budget-glamorous Bollywood/Hollywood flicks, this movie entertains you, and still makes you think. It carries a message that life is really not about getting the top grades and competing with others, don’t try stretching all the fingers..they might break! Sometimes in life, it is healhty to be slow and dumb