Choices

Life is truly a matter of choices.. La lng, sad lng ko when my brother would have to leave to work abroad again. Laju mn gud kaju cja kay seaman man. But trust God lng mi kanunay for things to go fine.. Makasulti na raba ug 'Nanay' ug 'Tatay' si Baby Patrick mao mas painful if molakaw cja. But ana mn ang life lagi. We make choices and would have to live with those choices. Jia you to us always! I remember that I met their ship M/V Atlantic Spirit in Amsterdam in April 2001. Udto pa ko niadto but gabii na mn sila nakadunggo. I was able to get inside their ship. Car ship mn to. Naay elevator ila barko. Then we bothered our parents by calling them. Morag 3am n mn cguro tos Pinas. Kadyot ra pud kaju ko didto. Nisakay ko pagawas atos sakyanan sa supplies. When I came back to the Hague, I called home again. 7am na, namahaw na gud si Melin ato. I sent him the Phillips CD player this time ug chocolates that I bought cumulative in KonMar. Gihinay2an daw niya'g kaon kay di mn to usual chocolates found in RP. When I was in Singapore in 2005, nagkita pud mis Lucky Plaza. I accompanied them around and ako sila gihatod sa Port of Singapore. La n lng ko pabayara sa taxi kay nakahibaw mn si Uncle nga one month pa lng kos SG ato. Hay memories! We need them as reminders every now and then. Good night!

Christmas 2017

My Christmas 2017 just whizzed by. It started with burying Ate Cecil Abarquez on Dec 20. Then Dec 21 I went to Tagbilaran for a few hours. Dec 22 was bagjo then Dec 23 I went to Cawayanan. Dec 24 we just went to mass and didn't go ila Dodong. Init mn gud kaju nya gihangga si JM. Gidad-an lng mi nila Ate Ica. Then bay ra mi pag Dec 25. Nagluto mi isda nila Ate Ica for lunch. Dec 26 didto mi ila Tiyo Edgar for Ate's 40th day. Then Dec 27 didto mi ila Dodong n pud. Dec 28 down na ko. Nagpahilot ko Nang Lucy. Dec 29 pahuway and Dec 30 I came back to Cebu. Diri na ko Cebu mag new year pohon. Jia you Doki. Things will be alright! ;)

Christian

He must be truly special. How can you ever forget someone that you went to mass with while you were only wearing shorts? And I distinctly remember Bishop Nicholas Chia then saying 'bless the young couples who are here with us this afternoon'. Hahah, saun n mn tawn na oi?! In order to ask for my age he asked me in what year I graduated. I think he made a double take when I said 1996. Heheh.. We had dinner in Clementi Central after that mass on 24 September 2005 which was actually the late Sir Eche's bday.. But he was also the reason why I went to mass 2x during Easter 2006. Coz iya ta lagi kuno ko iintroduce sa iya gf then who was visiting SG that time. Paita lagi ato oi! He once told me on the email that 'mahirap ang pinagdadaanan mo but nakikita kong di ka sumusuko.' Salamat ng marami. 30 yrs old ka man, mukha ka pa ring mas bata kaya ok lng. He was one of my support group when I was having such a hard time in NUS. Mao di ra pud nako sya diha2 dayon malimtan. Merry Christmas to u and ur family in SG, Xtian. God bless!

Holland

My good friend Harry O once told me that the first country you go to outside of your own would be truly memorable. It is Holland for me or formally, the Netherlands. And indeed my first trip outside of Philippines to Holland in 2000-2001 was very memorable. I got a scholarship or fellowship then from the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation in order to pursue a Master's degree at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague. There were 8 of us Filipinos in our batch but only 7 of us left together via Malaysia Airlines on 2 September 2000. Niuna na mn didtos Europe si Fr. Jovic Lobrigo of Legazpi, Albay. He had a Ford Foundation scholarship mn pud. Since it was my first trip outside the country, I learned A LOT from that experience. I was able to visit some places also during study breaks or holidays from school. Unfortunately my father died in October of the next year so I had to go home for 2 weeks to bury him and join my family in their grief. Then I had to fly back to Holland again to finish my thesis and graduate from the program. Gibisita pud diay ko ato ni Manang Bebie, my first cousin who is in Liverpool. Shortly after that she got married to Rod Reyes, also a Filipino in Liverpool. I was able to visit quite many places in Holland too. I made it to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Delft, Utrecht, Nijmegen, Enschede, Friesland and Groningen, Giethoorn, Maastricht, Dordrecht, Voorburg, Gouda, Zoetermeer, Keukenhof, Heemstede. I love Holland. I really do. Thank you Lord for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would forever be a Dutch ambassador of goodwill. Hup Holland Hup! ;)

Itomon: Ben Mbala

Lately nabalik ako memories with my itomon admirers in Holland with the entry of DLSU into the UAAP Season 80 Men's Basketball Finals. Taga Cameroun mn gud siya. Taga Cameroun baja pud tos Poufon. But at least gwapo si Big Ben kaysa nija. Haha, pastilan. Itomon jud ba ako minyuan, Pinoy o puti? Maglibog jud bitaw ko Lord. Please help me decide. Amen. Update on Ben Mbala: He is signed up by a football club in France. From DLSU he went to Mexico man unta for a basketball contract with Fuerza Regia. But maybe his contract was bought out. All the best!

UAAP Season 80: Go for Great Finals, ADMU vs DLSU

DLSU lost to ADMU in the game 3 this afternoon sa Men's Basketball Finals. ADMU ang champions. They were coached by TAB Baldwin. Defending champions ang DLSU actually. Naa sila Ben Mbala, Kib Montalbo, Aljun Melecio ug Ricci Rivero didto. Underdog mn ta ang ADMU, challengers sila. But cguro they were the better or hungrier team. Coz naghabol mn jud nila ang DLSU. Everytime DLSU would come close or try to break away, itsahan mn nila ug 3pts. Cge lng DLSU, better luck next time. U all put up a very good fight. Nothing to be ashamed about. U're still my team! ;)

Biboy's Scouting

Ganahan mn jud si Biboy ug events sa scouting. Fortunately this time nakaapil xas 6th ASEAN Scouting Jamboree sa Tagum City. One week pud sila didto. Ang amo cousins especially si Tata maoy nagkabuang ug itoy2 kung asa sila aron magkita lagi. Then last NOv 30 sa gabii nagkita ra jud sila. Nakagawas kuno sila Biboy from 8-10pm. Morag didto silas new house ni Ging2 sa Tagum. Ingat sa pag-uli, Boy. Thank God for this wonderful opportunity. Sa sunod na pud. Jia you!

December 2, 2017

Twas a regular class day namo yday sa SU in Dumaguete City. Niabsent ko coz I had my monthly period. Nimeet daw si Dr Indab sa 1030-1200 class nya 4-6pm ang amo klase kang Dr Rivera. I would love SU grad school na jud ani. Jia you Doki!

St Peter

I was fortunate to fully pay my St Peter plan last May 2016. Five long years pud to naho gibayad-bayaran oi. Si Artemio Andamon akong agaw sa Cawa ang nagdeal nho ato nga plan. This time nga wa pa koy kwarta from CHED, I realized nga pwede mn diay ko moloan ato nga plan. But 3-4 wks pa daw processing so sunod n lng. Cge. Jia you Doki, you'll be alright. Wa jud ka pasagdi ni Lord. 3 Feb 2018 Ako pud gifully pay ang plan ni Ate Ica. Paaboton daw ang certificate of full payment pohon after 1 month. Makaloan nas Ate ani phn if need n jud nila. Jia you. I told her to look for a job in Bohol too so that naa sya'y paaboton kada buwan. Makacontribute p cjas ija SSS so that makapension xa ig 60 niya phn. God bless our plans!

Philam Cebu

I went to Philam Ayala Bldg yday. Ako na gibuhat ang steps paras ilang ihatag phn. Moabot ra lagi ng panahona. Jiau Doki! Mora na'g Smart ila opisina. Cge more power! Today, 2 Feb 2018 I checked my bank account and I think mao na to ang ilang gihatag. Generous jud si Lord kanunay, dili jud ta pasagdan. All praise and honor be to you Lord. Amen.

God's Love

Yes, time and again the Lord shows me that He is a very generous God. Nagloan kos SSS today kay 6 units ra mn lagi ako tudluon. When I came home, I saw a letter from Philam. Naa daw ko madawat nga money from them soon. Wow, all praise and thanks belong to You jud Lord. Sakto jud si Ate Ica sa iya message yday not to worry. Good night! Since 6 units ra mn lagi ako tudluon this sem, Madon gave me a birthday gift. Ang ako giutang niya nga kwarta bday gift n lng kuno. Wow, thanks Lord. She's always my fairy godmother. God bless you and your loved ones always Madon! I slept in the house pud of Mam Charlotte Cariño in Valencia, Negros Oriental (next to Dgte) last Monday night. Saun nadugay mn kos enrolment. Jia you Mam!

Svetozar

On my 42nd bday, this friend from Macedonia said he wants to see me in person. Whoaa, sure ka? Dugay na jud mi nagkaila, halos 20yrs na cguro. Wa pa gud ko ato molarga to Holland. Wa mi magkita didto. I was also very young then. Di pud ko magminyo that time oi. I was enjoying the experience gud. Over the years we've managed to stay in touch. Mogreet na sya nako for bday and Xmas. One time I told him I was looking for someone. He said he was with someone then. Karon nga gusto na sya makigmeet, I am with someone na pud. So I laid down my cards to him. Told him that I may not be a prime candidate for marriage at my age. That basin di na ko magka-anak. Di n pud ko ganahan mopujo ug bugnaw nga dapit. Tungod lagis ako piang nga naghatag na nako ron ug arthritis. He replied alrdy. Wala ra diay kuno to. He just wanted to see me coz of our long history of communication daw. Nana daw pud sya son oi. Hehe okay.God bless!

Merkay

Our very own Dora The Explorer nga USc-Econ alumna Merky is in Europe as of the moment. 25 days daw sya didto. Good luck Merks and stay safe. I remember Europe of course from her posts. She was actually able to visit me in Cambodia back in 2010. Sila Vance to ang nagtravel to Malaysia, then to Phuket to Bangkok and then to Cambodia and Vietnam. I met them in Siem Reap then and we travelled back to PP together. I remember that nasiraan mis bus ato padung PP. Ako mn gud cguro ang jinks in terms of travelling. I remember thinking back then of who my 3rd visitor to PP would be. Coz the first one to visit me was Yuka back in December. She stayed for the weekend. We even went to Nick's AWHM Run together. Early in the morning. Gisundan dayon nila Merky. We actually met Nick pa sa may Siem Reap proper coz this was the time I went to watch their football games with Globalteer. Yah, kay Int'l Women's Holiday mn diay ang March 8... So much for memories. Back in PP na mn gud si Nicolas. Morag since 2012 pa ba to. It only goes to show that KH is indeed very much a part of my memories. Didto mn gud ko nahasa sa pagka-OFW. I taught kindergarten gud didto for the very first time. Okay ra mn among Mama sa iyang nakita didto. But I insist on being here in Phils coz ganahan mn ko moeskwela. Mao ni dili nako mabiyaan. Mao bisita2 n lng ako plan didto kung bakasyon diris Pinas. Jia you Doki. Everything will be alright!

Claire Gibson

She's my co-teacher at WIS from South Africa. That was the time of the World Cup 2010. I remember that she brought a vuvuzela to school. Heheh. Miss you, Teacher Claire. Will email you later. Poetic kaju ni sija. When there are important events in her life, poem ra na ija ipost. Like that of Khalil Gibran's when she had to leave PP... I received her reply a few days ago. She just came from a 6-month adventure in Hawaii daw. Ikaw talaga, Teacher Claire. Cge, all the best always!

Ate Cecile

Nagfinals na mi this sem when my sister told me about Ate Cecile in Canada. Mao diay tong wala mobawos nako si Jameme when I messaged her in August that I was planning to go to Boracay. Nagwonder btaw ko ato kay gihatag gud ni Ate Wewens ang number. She is in ICU in Toronto as of the moment. Terminal stage na daw iyang ovarian cancer. Mora2 sya'g si Papa nga 3 months ra tawn after diagnosis. I am just sad coz eldest cousin gud na siya namo. Idol jud namo si Ate Cecile kay gwapa mn cja bujag. But if maoy pagbuot ni Lord then wala na mi mabuhat. Padayon n lng sa imong byahe Ate Cecile. Tan-aw2a pud mi panagsa. I love you Ate. She passed on last Nov. 16, 2017 at 17:17 in Canada (Nov 17, 2017 6:17am here in Philippines). Morag huwaton pa daw ang makwarta sa insurance before sija mauli. But nagsugod na'g pangadje sa ilang bay sa Centro. Kadto ka Aunty Thelma kay one month daw before nauli. Rest in peace, Ate. You are with God now...

Married

I was vacationing in Bohol for kalag2 when Gretchen Abuso messaged me that nagminyo na daw si Sir Leloy. Okay, to whom? I eventually had the chance to look at his FB. To Christine Herrin diay. She must be from the same debate team as he is. She must also be smart. Singkit siya. Is she related to Dr Alejandro Herrin of UPSE? Cguro. I wish them all the best. Cge.

Body Changes

Now that I'm turning 42 I have come to know the physical changes of a woman's body at this age. Mao diay tong nutritionist who was guest on the now defunct "Real Talk" with Christine Jacob-Sandejas and Rachel Alejandro over CNN Philippines said 'you cannot eat in your 40s like how you were eating in your 20s.' Nakasabot na ko ron nga di ko pwede manglaba whether gamay or daghan ako labhan then gawas sa bay after a few hours. Mao mn na nahitabo nako last July and last Sept pud. Molain mn jud ako paminaw. Kay hangin mn sa byahe nya aircon amo opisina. Motokar mn jud akong panuhot ana buhata. Amping ug panagana jud kanunay Doki. God bless!

KL & KLIA

I did push through with my KL trip last 22 to 24 October. Air Asia ako gisakyan. I ran into trouble actually. But nakauli ra mn japon ko coz a good friend of mine helped me out. La lng nuon ko kasuroy2 didto. Coz nanagana n mn ko. 57 kms gud from Sepang ang KL Sentral. Nangamdam n lng jud ko'g kwarta. Still, KL was a reminder of SG. Combination of Malay, Chinese and South Indian people who try to live harmoniously in their own corner of the world --the elongated strip of the Malayan Peninsula. I caught glimpses mn pud of the Menara Tower and the famous Petronas Twin Towers while I was travelling into the city via MRT, the KL Ekspres. KLIA was our jump point to Amsterdam (AMS) back in September 2000. I remember then that their airport was huge. And it was surrounded by palm trees. The palm trees are still there, but this time they have a new terminal, KLIA2 which is also huge. Stone said they have more to be proud of kuno than us Filipinos. Well ana mn jud na. Thank you Lord for the opportunity to travel and for wonderful friends that I can count on. I still have 79RM from that trip. Sunil said save it for the next adventure kuno. Ikaw jud. God bless and I keep the faith!

Bukidnon

Taga-NORMIN jud cguro ako swerte. On 1 October Sunday, niari ako textmate from Sumilao, Bukidnon. Gidad-an pa gani ko niya'g pinya. Kasweet pud oi. (Coz giabangan mn daw sa Del Monte ang ilang farm. 18 hectares of it. The rest na kuno ila gitikad). He went home on Oct 2. We've been in touch ra mn japon. Ang ako elementary classmate maoy amo common friend. Wa jud ko mouban nija till he told me kinsa amo kaila in common. Syempre, unsaon p lng ko niya. Kinsay ako kapaninglan?? He's okay, pare2ha ra mi'g background. 88 and 80 y.o. daw iya parents. Both teachers pero nibalhin daw sa military iya papa. Tua na daw sa CDO iya Mama coz di na niya kaya ang katugnaw sa Sumilao. Sya na lng kuno wa magminjo nila igsoona. Tuas New Zealand iya sister. He was there daw for 6 months last year. Milker daw iya work didto. Moari ta sya last kalag2 but naapiki man coz dugay mn ko human sa grado. Passenger season pud, kapoy magbyahe. I told most of my family and friends about him already. I pray for the best. Jia you Doki!

HEIDELIZA

I did wonder what my life will be after I finish my PhD phon. I knew that I wasn't looking forward to teaching 8 classes in CDU again. Then this LDE Research Associate opportunity came along. And di gani moconflict with my doctorate studies nga need ipatiwas kay diri ra mn kos Pinas lagi, no need mn ko nga tua didtos Holland. So walang katapusang pasalamat jud ko ni Lord. Amen. Jia you Aunty Doki. Keep the faith lang jud always. Amen.

May is For Suroy2

I have to write this down albeit belatedly: Our May 2001 weekends in Holland were all spent outside. On the first weekend we went to Keukonhof, www.keukenhof.nl. I think I spent 2 rolls of 36 shots film there. (This was not yet the age of digital cameras, you know). Then we also went to the Northern Provinces of Friesland and Groningen. Then on Assumption Day weekend, Madon, Tina, and I went on a trip to Germany and Austria via Maastricht. That was truly one for the books! Nanuroy gud ang taga-Philippine Embassy sa Dorus! If possible I will post my pics from there later. Jia you Doki! ;)

CNN Philippines

My weekends are usually for watching CNN Philippines coz na'man na silay replay of past episodes: Saturday, August 5 on CNN Go, the feature was Johannesburg, South Africa. I remembered Tina Peralta right away coz siya mn ang lagalag sa among batch buyag. Hehhe. Sunday, August 6 on Talk Asia, Indonesia ang feature specif. the owners of Go-Jek and Potato Head Beach Club as well as F1 driver Rio Hariyanto. Up and coming na mn jud ning Indo oi, di n lng mi masurprise kung one day, maapsan na jud nila ang Pilipinas. I may need to see Jakarta for myself one of these days. Jia you Doki!

SU Na Jud Pohon

My friend from DLSU called me up yday to encourage me to enrol in their PhD Development Policy program. Di n mn ko inclined moadtos Manila oi. Kani pud kalaki sa CHED nga delayed ang allowance, di jud pwede nga moeskwela kas layo. Salamat n lng sa effort kapatid. All the best always! Nov 2017 Di na ta ko modayon eskwela sa Silliman U this sem under CHED scholarship. Gikasab-an kos among dean oi mao pag Monday Nov 20 niadto kos Dgte aron paenrol. Heheh, martial law. I just need a little push mn pud. Jiau Doki!

3rd Dream

LEEC featured in my dream again for the 3rd time. It was in school man, morag lecture ang setup and he said something daw. Baw oi, gimata2 naman cguro ko ni Kuya Lels ani. Heheh. Jiau always Doki! Nagpabungot diay sya in the SONA episode and in the episode with Jayeel sa Rappler. Char nija, wa cjay angay. Hahah.

HB Episode

I slid into unhealthy habits after I decided to drop out of my classes at SU this semester. Nagcge n lng ko kaon chao fan sa Chowking then diha pud ko napalit nga Oreo cookies 1 box with 9 packs. It happened that on Thu 20 July sa gabii, I stayed late sa school to work on my TCW workbook skeleton. I basically stayed in the faculty room the whole afternoon. Then nagtaxi mi Mam Pat to Parkmall. Upon reaching home, nanglaba ko gamay before sleeping. Oatmeal to ako gikaon ug Oreo 1 pack. Pagka Friday morning I had oatmeal ra pud and Oreo. When I arrived in school I had rice and chicken around 9am before going to my classes. Role play man to silas Entrep skills. Pagka 11am wala ko nikaon kay bag-o pa lagi nikaon pag 9am. Laina btaw sa ako paminaw, morag naay nikaging gikan sa ilawom. Then Monday July 24 I was feeling heavy already after watching the role plays of STEM 12D. Nagpahilot ko ni Mam Salome then I signed up for yoga class. I went to the 7pm session. Mga 9 pm na mi nahuman. Next day I wasn't feeling well jud. I went for checkup sa Hi-Precision Tabok. Wednesday I tried going to school but mora japon ko malipong especially when I look up to the black/whiteboard. I went to the doctor in UCMed. Thursday July 27 was spent sa balay lang gihapon. Friday I went to school and to the CHED assembly at Dohera Hotel. Wala ko nagklase whole week jud kay nahighblood mn ko. Jia you Doki, ayaw jud pabaya sa imo kaugalingon. It's going to be alright.

Geneve

EMR is in Europe man as of the moment. Nagpost sya on FB ug pic nila ni LOM ug Migs. O well, enjoy lng mo. I have not made it to Geneva actually. Si Any among classmate I think had been there. Pamilya mn sa tag-iya sa Victorinox iya friend sa Indonesia mao gitour sya didto. Jia you Doki, okay lng yan. You have won ur own battles too. Be proud of them. Happy weekend! ;)

Extended Leave without Pay

Yday Boyett told me that he was granted an extended leave without pay from USC till May 2018 daw phon. Well, good for him. I never thought of that option. Back in 2008, I just wanted to leave USC ra man jud. Whatever it took. I was told that if I didn't ask to extend it by March 31, 2008, considered resigned na daw ko. So I did leave it all. Thankfully, and by God's grace alone, I was able to find another university post here in CDU. Mag 7yrs na ko diri ig November pohon. Jia you Doki. There's a right time for everything under the sun. Ayaw lng jud bitaw Niya. Amen.

CDU New Admin

We are going to have a new President here in CDU coz our founding president, si Dr PVL or Doc Larra as we call him passed away last Thursday, June 29 at 3:05p.m. He was only 77 yrs old. Lung cancer daw iya kamatyan. So far people are saying that si Doc Phillip daw, iyang 2nd son ang mopuli as president sa school. But sa CDU Group of Companies, si Doc Yong ang modala. We pray for the best. Long live CDU! ;)

2nd Dream

That was the 2nd time that Sir Leloy featured in my dream last night. Moarag naa daw sya'y gisulti about something. Kalimot na ko unsa to. Heheh. In the meantime, I had a dream that my friend si Mam Charlotte wala daw kaginhawa kay nagwater sports activity. I dunno unsa to specifically. Morag whitewater rafting. Simbako lng tawn pud. Kadto ka Sir Leloy was primarily due to Gretchen jud posting yday about how gwapo he is sa iyang Rappler 'Basagan ng Trip' 2nd episode. Told her wala koy time motan-aw ana ug hinay pa jud ako internet. Heheh. All the best to us always!

Silliman University, Dumaguete City

I went to Dumaguete on Thursday night, June 23, 2017. I took the boat from George & Peter Lines. We left Cebu at 10pm. We arrived in Dumaguete around 430 am the next day. From Dumaguete moadto pas Dapitan ang barko. After having breakfast, I went to Silliman University (SU) na to enrol in their PhD Social Sciences program. I had to go to the University Graduate Programs (UGP) Office first. Late na mn ko nienrol bale kay klase na mn sila pag June 17. After paying the downpayment, I proceeded to the issuance of ID. After getting my ID, I walked around the campus. I went to the Main Library. One whole building pud ilang library. In some ways it reminded me of NUS. Smaller campus lng jud ang SU and flat. Casual kaju pud didto; people come to the campus wearing whatever they want to wear. I had my first classes on Saturday, June 24, 2017. First class was 10am to 1pm under Dr. Cubelo. But actually before 12nn, nidismiss nas Dr Cubelo kay mouli pa daw xas Bohol. Heheh. I have a lot of classmates also from Bohol. Barkada nako si Mam Alma Vilma Sumampong Pailmao from BISU Bilar. Our farthest classmate is from Samar pa tawn. Si Cañal. Friday pa kuno cja mogikan didto. Catbalogan mn cguro to o Catarman ba. Second class was Dr Rivera at 1-230pm then Dr Apla-on at 4-6pm. After class I went to Robinson's Dumaguete to meet with Mam Charlotte. She treated me and my classmate to dinner at Sans Rival Resto. Lami ra pud ilang pasta puttanesca ug cinnamon roll. Research-based jud ang SU. Every subject naa jud paper requirement. Naaprub kos CHED. But sa 2nd sem na nako itake up ang scholarship kay dugay man gud ila decision. Nagteach mn ko full time pag 1st sem. Half sa college and half sa senior high. Gitabangan n lng pud naho si Ria Alcantara ang coordinator kay ingnan mn ko niya 'ayaw ko hatagi'g problema' when I told her I was thinking of giving up my SHS Entrep load to study at SU. I could've talked to Atty if I really wanted to.. Jia you to us all!

SHS

I am teaching Entrepreneurship at senior high school this semester. 3 sections. Half-half ako teaching load. Lingaw ra mn diay pud ang SHS. I am able to use what I learned in Education classes. Jia you Doki! ;)

National Scientist

National scientist ang oplok for this year. Morag P150,000 ba to ang iya cash gift. Daghan na na cja'g kwarta oi kay nagtudlo pa gud cjas MSU-IIT last June to July. Diha pa cjay Erasmus teaching grant sa Romania before that. Di na cguro naho cja mareach. Pls show me your direction always Lord. Amen.

To Reach You

To reach you I fly across the sky Without you... We were meant to be together ... I like this song by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid.

In A Rush

Madam Shirley frankly told me today that nagmamadali kuno ko mag-asawa. Tungod mn gud sa akong edad. But then, if walay effort ang guy, I might end up regretting my decision. Unsa gani to ang saying, "Marry in haste, repent in leisure". Of course I don't want that to happen to me. So slow down lang jud Doki and keep praying. Ask God for directions always. Cge, jia you.

CHED Funding a Go

Today, July 5, 2017 I received a forwarded email from CHED RO7. Our CAS secretary, si Ms Berns forwarded it to me. It was an announcement for Scholars' Assembly daw on Friday July 28, 2017 phon. This is an assembly to award the scholarship of the scholars and to tell the SHEIs and the DHEIs of their responsibilities. Since nakadawat mn kos email so it means approved na jud ako application? Wowowo, thanks a lot Lord kung maohon. All praise and honour be to You Lord! Gretchen said dugay ra daw to nga list. La mn koy tan-aw2 lagis CHED website so la ko kahibaw. I had emailed Ms Diane Claros of CHED RO7 sometime in early June. She said 1st batch pa daw to. When CHED said on the email that the next batch will come out around 2nd wk of July phon, I didn't bother her anymore. I enrolled na lang in Silliman last Friday June 23, 2017 kay mao mn lagi ilang advice. There really is a God. And it's a God who is ever-loving, ever-compassionate, ever-forgiving. Thank you jud Lord. What a very nice gift indeed. Jia you Doki!

Romania then Iligan

Jayeel was in Romania around the first week ba to of June for an Erasmus teaching mobility grant kuno. Pastilan, kalayo. Home ni Dracula jud?? Then from there, he went to MSU-IIT na pud for a summer school there. But before that he bagged first the National Academy for Science and Technology (NAST) National Scientist Award for Sociology. Char kaju. Then ang iyang pag-adto pa jud sa Mindanao is in the time of Martial Law coz of the crisis in Marawi. Hehhe. Kaedad ra ba diay sila Sir Malcolm Sanchez. All the best to both Sirs! ;)

Coach

I met him in May 2013, he emailed me out of the blue on FB. Nakit-an ra daw ko niya sa FB sa ako distant cousin nga nagtrabaho sa XU Canteen. I haven't even met this cousin nga taga-Baungon, Bukidnon. FB friends ra mi. Magtext ra na sya nako ug motawag. Kung Sundays nga ako ibilin ako fone kay mosimba, pila jud na xa kamiss calls before ko mouli. Sapoton kaayo ko that time, iya jud ko gipasensyahan. He said butangan daw ug block sa ice ang ulo aron mabugnaw. Or magpuyo sa aircon. I had him checked out by my friends sa XU Econ. Katawa lng ko sa storya ato. We had a falling out in Nov 2013 coz nawala daw iya fone. Wa mn ko motuo jud so ako sya gibungulan. I went to Mindanao in end March to early April 2014 but la jud nako sya kitaa. I tried going to Mindanao again in end August to early September. Nagkita gani mi Perte ato sa St Agustin Cathedral. Twas raining so hard that afternoon. But wa japon mi ato magkita. He only asked kung asa ko nagstay. I would've forgotten him but I saw PCCL Mindanao on TV in October. Diha mn syas table. Mao to nitext n lng pud ko niya ug balik. We met in person in Aug 2015 when I had the chance to teach in XU Econ Dept for one week. But wa gani pud mi magkastorya didto ug tarong. Iya pa ko gikasab-an nga nasnatch ako wallet near Cogon Market. He came to Bohol and here in Cebu in January 2016. He came to our house and I took him to the place where I grew up in. We also went to the cemetery and to my cousin's bday celebration. Then we took the boat and went whaleshark watching in Oslob. Nag-away mi when wala syay surprise nako on Valentine's Day last year. Ako jud sya giaway ato ug taman. I didn't hear from him anymore till last Tuesday 5/23 evening lang lagi when he said naa xas barko padung Cebu. He said pamasin ra daw to iya if moreply pa daw ko. Actually he used a different name in the past so when he msgd me on Tuesday night, I was mean in asking him if wala na ba xay problema sa cholesterol. Hehhe. His sister told me yday that niduol na lng daw ta ko niya kay hilomon daw kaau iya kuya. Hilomon mn pud ko. Hay baw na lng Lord. I will wait for the next steps. Amen! We met at SM City Cebu for a little while on Sat, 5/27 before they went back to CDO. I bought him otap and hopia packs for Luthis. God bless us always!

Pahabol

Naa jud pahabol si Lord. He came to Cebu coz they had a few games here. Nitext xa nako samtang diha silas barko. I had to ask kung kinsa siya coz he used a different name man in the past. Heheh. On Wednesday 5/24 afternoon ila first game sa Don Bosco in Labangon. Layo2 pud to didto, first time nako niadto didto. But la mi magtalk kay busy xas table. I stayed for only 30 minutes ra pud. Coz I wasn't sure if magkita mi or makigkita xa nako. Kay ingon mn xa mauwaw xa kay naniwang daw xa. Nagkita ra jud mi on 5/25 at Ateneo de Cebu. Nameet pud nako iya younger sister, si Joan. She's the wife of Coach Arvin Martinez. She's nice. I gave her a Bohol shirt that I bought on 5/23 morning on the way back here. Para iya jud to kay I bought it out of the blue man. I went to their other game also in the afternoon. Sa USC North Campus na pud. Gilubong nila ang taga-USC. But basin gipagbigyan ra pud to sila kay mga dayo lagi. Last game na daw to nila kay nicancel daw ang UV for Friday morning. So on Friday 5/26 didto daw silas Simala then Toledo. On Saturdy 5/27 na sya nitext that padung na daw sila Cebu. We met for a while at SM City. I bought him pasalubong otap and hopia for his other younger sister Luthis. While we were queueing up for the cashier, he said nagkasakit lagi daw siya. But he didn't tell me unsa jud. Nagkiang2 mn to siya tawn. I told him gusto na ko magminyo. Ready na daw pud siya but problema kuno niya ang kwarta. Hahay, what will Heideliza Batausa do this time? Wait forever?? Morag wa mn japon mi klaro ani. I will move on in life na lng jud cguro. Salamat po sa pagbisita. God bless us always!

Dream

I actually dreamt of Sir Leloy last night. Saman to oi nga mora mag naay danger sa akong agianan kay naay cracks sa water. But eventually in my dream, niadto daw si Sir Leloy to check on my classes. Whoa, feeler! Sa July 2nd wk pa daw ang 2nd batch sa CHED applications. I can only pray and hope for the best. Jia you Doki!

Bye AdC

I decided to give up my Ateneo de Cebu teaching opportunity. Kapoy na mn gud kaju. Na'pud chance ang CHED application nako for doctoral studies this June nga ma-approve. Kay gitagaan mn ko'g chance nga macomplete ako profile so that maendorse. I received email today that it is under evaluation na daw and anytime soon ipagawas na ang result. I keep the faith as always. Silliman ako 1st choice then DLSU ako other choices. God bless Doki!

HCA Batch '92 Silver Anniversary Celebration

We had a successful Silver Anniversary Celebration at JJ's Foodstream in Tubigon, Bohol last Friday, May 12, 2017 from 5:30 pm to about 11pm. Daghan kaju mi nangapil, lingaw kaju! Sa simbahan morag gamay ra ang niadto sa misa. But niapas ang uban so pagpicture taking ug blessing after the mass, daghan2 na mi. We were all wearing our official T-shirt that was grey in colour. Overall mga 100 jud cguro to tanan niattend. Actually morag 70 ras listahan but morag nidaghan pag kinan-anay na. We paid for 100 persons n lng para pud free among use sa venue. Lingaw ang games ug ang surprise presentation. Napa mi Panglao salvo ig May 20 phon. I pray pud nga successful sya nga event. Mag-election of officers raba daw mi didto. Jia you Doki!

The Promise by Martin Nievera (from Souvenirs album)

Say goodbye When I can hardly say good night If I can hardly take my eyes from yours How far can I go Walk away The thought has never crossed my mind I couldn't turn my back on spring or fall Your smile least of all Refrain: When I say always I mean forever I trust tomorrow As much as today I am not afraid to say I love you And I promise you I'll never say goodbye We're dancers on a crowded floor While other dancers live from song to song Our music goes on and on And if I never leave your arms I really would've traveled everywhere For my world is air (Repeat Refrain) How could I ever say goodbye?

University Rankings

Coz of CHED possible fundings I learned something about how universities are ranked around the world. NUS is in the top 20; top 10 pa gani sa Asia. And ang University of Hawaii diay mas ubos pa'g rank kaysa Univ of Utrecht in Holland. Hmmm. But basin di na pud ko para didto. Kapoy mag-eskwela abroad nga 40 na ko. Sakit na ako likod. Di na ko gusto ug tugnaw nga lugar. Mas moprefer ko diri n lng jud sa Pinas. Ihatag na lng nakos mga batan-on ang scholarships abroad. I had my chance in 2005 anyway but I squandered it. But since there's always room for 2nd chances, I might just get it soon. I just keep the faith.

Busy Summer

Unexpectedly my summer 2017 became busy. How was I supposed to know it would be? Isa ra gud ko ka subject. But si Lord ra mn gud nakahibaw sa tanan. First kabusyhan ang among Silver Anniversary Reunion sa Holy Cross. Whew! Hasta design sa among t-shirt amo pang giawayan. Hahah. But thankfully we were able to patch things up. Second one is AdC. Niabot ra pud siya nga wa damha. I will wait and strive to be good in it. Coz bigay to ni Lord e. Third is 1st sem loading phon. Bisan asa na ko naabot, bisan unsa nay ako gibuhat. But in the end, only the Lord's will will prevail. I will just wait. I will wait for the CHED decision on my scholarship application. But I'm quite optimistic about it. It's a very beautiful episode now. I thought maguol ko nga June 2017 na, wala na mi tudluan sa Econ 11. But God indeed has other plans. Just keep the faith Doki. He knows best for You always! ;)

Baybay, Leyte

This place must really be calling out to me. I had wanted to go there last October when I heard that Kuya Rey Javier was dying. But I wasn't able to go because of TCW. Then the training that Sir Guiraldo said. Then just this afternoon, it was mentioned that we might go to Baybay, Leyte for our research thing. Wow! The last time I was there was in 2005 pa jud, kami ni Ate Ica. We had wanted to go again and bring our mom but wala na nadayon. Even Legazpi City. Cge lang. Jia you Doki!

H.E.R.

God's clock is not early nor late but just on time. And this is exactly true for me. This Handmaids Enrichment Retreat (HER) came at just the right time. Ang sagot sa aking request for direction from God. Now I am just waiting for where He will lead me next. I keep the faith. Happy Monday everyone!

N. S.

I met him in Cambodia on 18 June 2008. I went to look at his apartment in TTP. I remember very well that it was a very sunny day when I met him. Coz we met at about 1230pm man outside the old CWF building in TTP. Naglakaw2 mi ni Ate atos PP after seeing his apartment. We eventually ate ice cream somewhere coz init lagi. But wala namo kuhaa ni Ate ang apartment unit coz gimahalan mi. He paid for 3 months rent in advance and morag plano ni landlord ato nga patas-an. Wala pa mn gud koy work pud ato sa PP. Then after 2 weeks I saw him at Western International School in Toulkork, De Castle Campus. We became colleagues. There was even an incident that I'll never forget about the report cards at school. I ended up saying sorry to him about it. And the rest is history. Coz I went home in November 2008 and for good in October 2010 coz dili lagi ko OFW.. Fast forward to recent times. I told him that I'm experiencing changes in my body coz of my age. Tiguwang naba daw ko kaju nga di na nako kaya mobyahe to KH which is essentially just a 2 hour flight. Hehe. He always keeps me in check. He's now a metafit coach n mn kaha gud in PP. He's been there since Feb/March/April 2008 I think. He did the CamTEFL man with Marco Demarin. I met him at Cafe Yejj in TTP when I visited with Mama back in October 2013. He asked me then why I didn't want to work in KH again. I said coz my mom's very old. But my mom passed away a few weeks after that and I didn't return to PP. I had my own agenda.. He didn't meet up with me when I visited last 25-31 March 2019. He was busy working daw and that he was also sick. Brownout daw sa PP. True man sad. But then iya n mn gud ni gibuhat before so di n lng ko matingala. All the best in PP n lng po. God bless! ;)

Johnroy

He must really love me. He was my former student who eventually became my suitor. But I didn't give him a chance so in 2006 he got married to someone else. After that we somehow kept in touch. He tried to stay in touch mn gud. I kept my distance coz syempre so I don't want to destroy their family. He's a teacher now in Naga, Cebu. Morag taga-didto iya asawa. Cf he once told me that dili sayon ang pag-aasawa. But if mao daw gusto sa imong heart and di pud mosupak imo mind, go daw! Today 17 March 2017 I saw his message on FB nga nangumusta nako. So I came to the conclusion that he must really love me. He called me up gud even when I was in Holland. Because of that I became disturbed gud and took a train to Belgium. I spent the entire day in Belgium nga nagsuroy2 on my own. Thanks Johnroy and all the best to you and your family and loved ones always!

Legazpi, Albay

I had booked a ticket to Legaspi City in July this year. Madon invited me to share in the joyous occasion of their wedding anniversary. They were planning to renew man daw their wedding vows with Fr. Jovic. I had booked my ticket with Cebu Pacific alrdy last March mn cguro to. I paid P5,334.16 last 03/05/17. I was able to go there last July 11-12. Mora ra jud ko'g nisimhot didto. I slept in Bacacay gud so that I could visit my cousins there also. Then the next day I travelled to Legazpi City after visiting Uncle Loloy in the cemetery. I met up with Madon and her husband and Fr. Jovic at the New Chancery Building in the Old Albay Cathedral Compound. We had a very private mass in their chapel. Then we went for lunch at Colonial Grill in their Ayala Center. After lunch they rushed off to Sorsogon while I made my way to the airport too. Nagkita mi Jacky and Sir Herbert Rosana of Bicol University who I met during TCW at Legazpi Airport. Then I waited for my flight back to Cebu City. That's how my very short trip went. May 2009 pa ko last nibiya didto. I had the chance man to work in SEDP from January to May. I couldn't stay on the job coz it was too far from home. When I went to SEDP this time, gibida jud ni Fr. Jovic ang ilang award from BSP. They are in a bigger office building too. I must admit I felt bad when Jovic said that Cheryl Soriano graduated from NUS but I did not. Well, I already did all of it back in 2005-2006 as well as very quickly in 2008. I can't do anything about it anymore. I withdrew my candidature from NUS na gud. Sayang tinuod but then according to Mam Alona, that was the best I could do at that point. Di mn gud ka pwede magregret sa imong decision. I have tried my best and if indeed it wasn't good enough, then I can't do anything about it anymore. I was confused man lagi when I was in NUS. Nobody helped me out from USC. Only my good Filipino friends there tried to help me out. Jia you Doki, everything will be alright ra lagi. Your time to shine will come. AMEN!

Flores, Indonesia

My high school classmate is now in Maumere, Flores Island, Indonesia. A bit closer to Bali. He told me that they have a transit house in Bali so I can stay there daw if I come to visit. Wow, kana pay kunhon nga na'nay kapuy-an. I am now looking at flights to Bali. Mas barato kaju ang Air Asia kesa CEBPAC. I pray madayon ko phon with Melissa and Inday Chrismarie. I keep the faith!

Jayeel & PSS Cebu

My old friend Dr Jayeel Cornelio was here in Cebu last weekend. They had a socio caravan at UP Cebu and they were also planning for their PSS Annual Conference in October phon. But he didn't meet up with me. I told him about it the past few days. He said he got sick daw while he was here. Well, whether it's true or not, I wish him all the best always. Thanks for the friendship, Leeyaj. I'll see u when I see u phon. His FB showed posts from Japan. Their family went on a tour there. Datu na jud sila, di na mareach. Cge Doki, keep the faith lang ;)

PhilFrance

I suddenly bump into this opportunity just when I thought sa Silliman na lng ko moeskwela ug PhD pohon. Now I am working on the PhD application process. Trabahuon nako ang proposal or proposed project. I keep the faith!