Planong Buhay

Last year, may kausap ako tungkol dito eh -- Planong Buhay.

"Anong Planong Buhay mo?"
"Ako, gusto kong
magtrabaho. Gusto kong mabili lahat ng gusto kong bilhin. Gusto kong
makapag-ipon. Gusto kong magsulat pag nakaipon na ko. Gusto kong
magkaron ng business. Parang masayang magtayo ng resto... Gusto ko
ganito, gusto ko ganyan... Gusto ko pang makapag-aral. Gusto kong
magkapamilya..."

Last year, yan ang planong buhay ko. Siyempre wala pa masyadong
details. Kasi kagagraduate ko lang nun. Nakakalungkot isipin na ngayon,
pareho pa rin ang Planong Buhay ko. Hindi nadagdagan ng detalye, kundi para pa rin silang mga pangarap na matagal-tagal ko pang maaabot. Pero hindi eh.

Isang taon ang dumaan, wala akong nagawa. Masyado akong naabala sa maliliit na detalye ng buhay ko na nakaligtaan ko ang Planong Buhay ko. Nakakalungkot na nasayang yung oras ko. Planong Buhay ko to. Buhay ko to. Dapat bigyan ko to ng pansin.

Siguro, wala man akong nagawa, may mga natutunan naman ako tungkol sa kinatatayuan ng buhay ko.

me_en_my_hunny: ikaw musta?
layla_1204: oki lang
layla_1204: eto
layla_1204: ewan ko miki.. ok lang. siguro yun lang. ok lang.
layla_1204: not great, not bad, but ok
me_en_my_hunny: sa tingin ko good thing na din un :)
me_en_my_hunny: ako din eh so-so lang din
layla_1204: hehe
layla_1204: ewan ko
layla_1204: mapapaisip ka talaga kung anong gusto mo sa buhay
layla_1204: yun lang
me_en_my_hunny: and you reached a conclusion?
layla_1204: not yet
layla_1204: just stuff i know for a fact
layla_1204: alam mo yun
layla_1204: na eto:
layla_1204: 1.) hindi ako talaga totally magiging happy sa work ko ngayon
layla_1204: 2.) na gusto kong magipon. tapos eventually magsusulat nalang ako
layla_1204: 3.) na nalulungkot ako na hindi na ko nakakapagsulat. na hindi man lang ako makahanap ng
panahon para magsulat
layla_1204: 4.) na gusto ko pang mag-aral. MBA. pero di ko pa entirely sure kung saan.
layla_1204: 5.) na eventually gusto ko mag-abroad. pero alam kong malulungkot ako
layla_1204: marami pang iba.
me_en_my_hunny: hmm..
layla_1204: pero planong buhay ko? di pa ganun ka defined. general path, oo. meron. mga gusto kong
gawin. pero hindi pa defined
layla_1204: nalulungkot lang ako na ganun
layla_1204: kasi 1 year na since graduation.

Siguro, OK lang to. Paunti-unti. Pero ang kailangan ko lang tandaan
ay wag masyadong maabala sa mga detalye ng buhay ko. Wag masyadong
intindihin ang trabaho, ang mga problema, ang kalungkutan, na
nakakalimutan ko na ang Planong Buhay ko. Sabi ko nga dati, Never lose sight of the big picture. Never, ever lose sight of your life's big picture. Dapat lagi nating isaisip yan -- ang mga Planong Buhay natin. Kasi kung hindi, hanggang plano nalang talaga sila.

Groovy Kind of Love

When I'm feeling blue
All I have to do
Is take a look at you
Then I'm not so blue

When you're close to me
I can feel your heart beat
I can feel you breathing in my ear
Wouldn't you agree
Baby, you and me got a groovy kind of love

The rain was pouring and the wind was blowing so hard, but the UP MedChoir still sang it beautifully. Everybody was amazed as my eldest cousin, Ate Cel, entered the church to meet her groom. It was a sight to see -- a very beautiful bride walking down the aisle with a typhoon making a ruckus in the background.

Ate Cel was crying and so was Kuya Sonny... And so were her sisters, and so was their dad. And of course, I was caught crying as well. For me, it was a bit bittersweet. I was sad that our family was in a way, giving Ate Cel away. I was sad thinking of the important people who weren't there -- Ninang Virgie (Ate Cel's Mama) and Lola Paz. I was sad of the trials we all know Ate Cel and Kuya Sonny will face right after the wedding. Despite all these, she was still very, very beautiful. And I was very proud and very overwhelmed.

I've been looking forward to their wedding for so long (see here and here) but I never imagined their Tagaytay wedding to occur in the middle of a typhoon. We got our feet wet and our gowns were blown by the wind. There was no Tagaytay view, only the fog blowing around everywhere. It may not have been the best of weathers, but it was certainly one of the best weddings. I'm sure it will bring forth a very good marriage. I have no doubts that Kuya Sonny is THE ONE for Ate Cel. It just shows every time they're together. At sabi nga ni Kuya Sonny, "Kahit anong mangyari, walang iwanan." Because of that one line, Kuya Sonny gets ten thousand plus plus plus pogi points from me. It's easier to let go of Ate Cel when we know that she has a Kuya Sonny to love and care for her for a lifetime.

Best Wishes to Mr. & Mrs. Sonny Manotok!!!
Kuya Sonny, welcome to the family.  Love ko kayo both. God bless!

Your first-time bridesmaid,
Chubbs

Buhay Pisay

They say high school is one of the best parts of a person's life. No doubt mine is.



Those were the days when we would stroll around the campus during late
afternoons, talking about anything under the sun. We used to make tambay
in the GRHM (illegally) during the lunch breaks and at the pergola
watching volleyball in the afternoons. I used to stay late in school
just to be with my friends, usually not caring about the Coro Physics
exam I have to take the following day.



Those were the days when Kurt would argue with Sir Chung about the Book
of Nomenclature (for the love of God!). Or we'd learn about life and be
inspired by the words of Sir Jleg and Ma'am Oblepias.



Those were the days when we prepared for the Paskorus, and for plays we
loved performing. Those were the tambay days, hell weeks, prom nights, kilig, and memorable moments of Pisay.



One can't turn back time and bring '01 back to Pisay again. Never again
will my batchmates flank the front lobby benches, play basketball at
the hot court, and sit around at the back lobby. Our reign in Pisay has
passed and we don't own the place anymore. But our memories do. They
will stay with the hallowed halls and the green surroundings of Pisay. We
have made our mark in that school and have taken home lasting friendships and
endless memories from it.



That's what Luz and I were talking about during our visit to the empty
Pisay two Sundays ago. High school will never happen again, and we
never want to go through it again, but we will always have the
life-long friendship that started from high school, and for that, we will always
be thankful.



That's what not seeing your best friend for 5 years does to you. It makes you a drama queen. I love you Bes! I'll see you soon.

Luz in Manila!

Luz is in Manila!
April 30 to May 1, 2006