Stories

Those streets in Adamah district near "Seiko". Those streets where every morning we walked for about 15 minutes for our daily bus ride to work. Those streets where I first think every morning of what to do for the day. Those street and I will seldom walk on them now. I have transferred to a nearer place to the bus pick-up point to save time and energy and the very real reason is that I was left in the house since the 3 housemates I have go to the Philippines for good. Grover is staying in our country to start a new career and business. Ryan on the other hand has his luck in Japan. And Ayie got his job in Batangas again in Siemens. And I am the one being left here that still continuing to struggle despite the loneliness and the eagerness to go home also. But I guess I will spend more of my time here.

November 1. All Saint's Day but in the Philippines it is the day that we go to cemetery and visit and give some prayers to our loved ones who passed away. An occasion that is embedded in our culture and to pay respect and to remember all the memories that we have when our loved ones are still alive. To my Tatay, my Tiyas and Tiyos, Lolos and Lolas- I am offering some prayers to you this day since I am very far away from home.

After my barber shop session at the Salon de Manila near the Bamboo Kabayan Restaurant, I went to Jarir Bookstore and bought The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom ( where's the photo? - not yet ready!). And now it is there..

Some days are really just fun and exciting and some days are just normal and unexpected things happen. Sometimes we have to be prepared to all circumstances. We must be just like that wires and switch that anytime can be turned off or on depending on a situation in life. But is it really like that in real life? We hope so. A couple of nights ago we went to a hospital here in Dammam to see my friend and elementary classmate Gerry. We have to seek his assistance for a medical check-up of one of my fellow Filipino here in Dammam. Thanks God Gerry was there in that big Mouwasat Hospital. He was a supervisor of general services of that big government hospital here in our place. He almost ran the "show" for all the cleanliness and order of the whole hospital. It was so big we were lost in maze of hallways and floors. The medical check up did not last that long because Gerry made it clear that we will be prioritized. And he did. Then we went to his house just a walk away from...

At first I do not know what it is. And then someone lit a cigarette and put it in such metal thing. An ash tray. Designed to be that way as it is used in industrial spaces like in our power plant. Design. Our life. Our surroundings. Everything is according to the Grand Design? I get it from a philosophy book. But sometimes I don't care about design. We are the one designing our life. Of course with the guidance from Above if you believe. Or sometimes our very own existence designed someone else's.

Saturday and Sunday..my friend Richard (ins Singapore) is on a diet mode too..but he insisted on a day or two that he will eat as much as he can..he calls it "cheating day"..and I have my own version..Saturday in Bigg's Diner and Sunday in Goto King..such a relief after a five-day almost no-rice week..

Definitely the process of losing weight has its own downside since I really have to deprive myself of the amount of delicious food to take. Take note of the word amount. I am not on a diet or something but on taking minimal calories as I want to be. I am still on eating such "prohibited" foods but on a very low quantity. And guess what? I am feeling better and better each day. I thought the sun will not shine this morning. It is August month and I am expecting such heavy rains and storm but to my surprise the brightest object in the sky is radiating its heat that seems to invite me to go on a trip once again. But where? I have two in mind. Go east or go south though  north of me now. Sounds weird? It is not. I checked on my two nephews this morning and they are so busy doing some chores. Arvin is sick of seems to be chickungunya which translated into "tuko" in Tagalog language. Though similar to dengue it is not dengue and yes it is caused by mosquito too. And o...

More than thirty years of having no father to celebrate at this very special moment for the "foundation" of any family..but I never take his absence not to celebrate the day with some musings and reflections and just strolling myself to pass the special day..got myself almost half of the day in SM-Batangas..looking at those father and sons enjoying the food, enjoying some exhibits.. my lunch in Chowking..loved that big mami wanton..with kangkong and milk tea too.. have watched some recitals in SM Event Center.. Got amazed by how those teens made their big moves in sync with Wii device.. playing some basketball to release some anger over Miami Heat hahahaha!! Finally dinner at Biggs..again Happy Father's Day..to my tatay Valeriano and other dads out there..I should be a father sooner..hopefully..

Man of Steel. The remake. The reboot. Superman flies once again! Soaring up the sky! At last I have watched it yesterday..long lines? yap..with so many old people watching..must be father's day! And my friend Oliver who had just watched earlier got teary eyes upon watching..dramatic-action flick? maybe for the elements of "fatherhood" coming on the scenes.. And I have watched it..got some teary eyes moments when Superman himself was directed and guided by his two fathers in his quest for good and justice for all humanity.. A better watch..and one thing I have notice also was its "dark" theme all through-out the movie..but it was the best Superman I have watched for the longest time.. (photos from Google image)..Russel Crowe as his father in the Kryton planet while Kevin Costner as his earthly father..