Switching On the Sun

Dear Joanne, Ane? Or would you prefer “Dear Ms. Fallarme”? Pardon the formality as calling you by what I’m used to would most likely spark off your sarcasm: “Don’t call me ‘Mommy’, I’m not your mother!” While in contrast, beginning this with “Dear Wifey” may well be spontaneous but would seem off. It’s after all a Valentine’s Day letter. Corny as it may sound, I think you rather want to be addressed as any of the more popular terms of endearment (you’re just in denial). Whereas “ Spicy ” as opposed to the usual “sweet” appellations and as I’ve considered you to be, directly aims to be (ironically) sweet; which isn’t the intention behind this. As a matter of fact, you don’t see me that way… or you simply find blandness in how I instinctively substantiate such “lovability”. Anyway, I similarly don’t intend to draw a “What the hell?!” reaction given that it’s not the normal “Awww” (with all the likely emoticons attached to it) kind for such a letter. Thus, this “o...

If it’s any manifestation of amusement, the new Department of Tourism’s slogan is indeed living up to its meaning as it is eliciting so much excitement. If the initial intent is to draw awareness, then such advertising campaign is a clever inducement. However, would it similarly attract its target market – the tourists? And would it generate economic growth? Fact is that it is the key rationale. In view of that though, may we not be accused of false advertising; more so, such “branding” be attributed as merely for the sake of commerce. How could it not appear as if it’s just business when even among its own people, ridicule is apparent. It is as if there’s no serious truth to it considering the “unflattering reality” behind every mockery comes from among those who could attest to its “funny” exactness. Yet then again, the fun-loving disposition of Filipinos in whatever circumstance is one engaging fact. Even under depressing situation, we get to good-naturedly joke and optimi...

My son getting snatched by a big spider woke me up from such a bad dream this morning. What it meant kept me wondering and somehow worried. Lately, dreams seem to be foretelling something I should be concerned about. Just the other night, I dreamt of having a short (life) term left due to brain cancer. Brushing it off was rather manifested until a text message from my kid brother had me contemplate on a probable signification. Inadvertently, in his dream that same night, he had a long conversation with our late father who appeared poignant and emaciated apparently asking him to help me out among other things. Coincidentally, I’ve been sensing unusual physical conditions lately. Yet what I thought of was the few remaining days before I turn 39. Not too long ago, I thought of the probable age I’d breathe my last – 38. Should the inevitable happen and I’m gone, I was talking my wife into (re)marrying someone who would fill the void and be involved to assume the role as husband a...

In as much as I try to brush off the disturbing image, I can’t get over the heartbreaking scene of the 2-year old Chinese toddler getting run over twice then vulnerably ignored… Virally circulating, I suppose a substantial number has seen and knows what’s being referred to…  As human nature allows, we tend to be judgmental of people despite being clueless of what really transpired and how it could all the more be devastating for the concerned or involved persons of the regrettable incident. Yet as wrong and insensitive to be condemnatory, I can’t help but be critical of how careless any parent or guardian not to tend to a defenseless child along hazardous environs. I’d even refuse to blame it on accident under the usual few-seconds-difference for a (parental) relapse considering how long it took for the toddler to helplessly suffer and exceedingly go through agony even more… It was gravely neglectful. As for the insensible and unkind passersby: SHAME ON ALL OF YOU! And f...

In some gathering early yesterday, my mother lost her 2 phones to a thief. Having been informed through a text message from my cousin, she was somehow disheartened as 1 of the 2 was a gift from me. I texted back to perk her up with the assurance that I’ll just buy her a new one since, notwithstanding the unfortunate incident, it’s just stuff… Before heading back home forlorn, she decided to drop-by in a nearby church. After which and to her surprise, an apologetic woman who explained to have stolen her celphones out of desperation returned it in exchange for P500. Paying for what you own may sound absurd but getting back the worth of the attached sentimental value for such an amount could be relatively cheap… A timely occurrence in a time opposing views on worldly possessions is maturely mounting between the family… What makes material belongings really valuable is the story behind its acquisition. What is so special about having these things is not even clo...

“Daaaaaaddyyyy, I’m dooooone!!” That’s my cue to washing off my son’s ass LOL! Still dependent of us, we have to be patient in cleaning up our children’s mess. It’s similarly a way to instill in them some sense of responsibility. It’s ironically an “inconvenient convenience” (if I may say) to inject values relevant to their upbringing. We somehow hope that such commitment will teach them to be as conscientious amidst some “inconvenience” in going about their activities without disregard for uprightness. If there was an “upright” thing from one father last night, it was his right hand’s upped middle finger before his kid. We were about to go through an intersection when a speeding black Honda Civic flickered it’s headlights to signal its intention to go ahead before we proceed. After braking to a halt, I defensively let them passed despite already having the advantage for a right of way. It stopped right in front of us for the young driver to flail a “dirty finger” on me. Goo...

That’s the cheerleader in me. Minus the pompoms and perhaps the somersaults and the synchronized choreography, I managed to be cheerful still after some disappointing sequence. There is a fitting reason as to why “A” being the first letter, is used as a superlative prefix for a source depictive of the best (i.e., A-List; A-Team; A-Student or what have you) . “A” could however be inferior in terms of its literal usage as “A choice” for instance is second-rate compared to “The choice”. I’m an “A” person. “A” could as well stand for Acceptance and Acknowledgment. It’s not being accepting of the fact that I’m not or will not make it as “the one” but acknowledging of transparency. As foremost as the letter “A”, I’ve landed on the “A List”... That is, I was given an “A” rating or Average from my work performance. Being used to higher ratings in the past from the smart ones, normally, getting an “A” would be quite acceptable if it was professionally gauged and from a similarly intellectua...

Coming from a 4 Days/3 Nights out-of-town work-related engagement, a time off would be a welcome breather; thus, catching up on movies which I haven’t given much attention to for quite some time is one relaxing indulgence. I’ve watched 2 movies on HBO yesterday – “The Ugly Truth” and “Big Fish”. Somehow, the movies had me thinking of timely peculiarities. Though booked in Holiday Inn with breakfast buffet at Mequeni while we were in Clark, Pampanga other than having had a sumptuous dinner at AC Rumpa Restaurant and delectable desserts at Cioccolo or the “musical” nightcap at the Wishing Well Music Lounge, I yearned to get back home instead. My stay at the hotel gave me peace and quiet but I was actually missing my children’s clamoring. As expected, the food were flavorful just how Pampangeños are known to cook ‘em, however, I long to rather be eating alongside my wife (a mouthful incites considerable silence LOL) . In summation, the 2 movies correspondingly dealt with the differe...