Solemn Investiture

Today, I was reminded of the swiftness of time... how in this world, everything happens all at once at one particular moment. At this very minute, somewhere in the globe someone rejoices while another one mourns, someone is born while another dies, someone laughs while another cries, someone struggles while another relaxes, someone fights for his life while another lives as comfortable as ever, and so on.

This Palm Sunday, I chose to experience both as I witnessed a wonderful beginning and remembered a sad ending.

Four hundred and ninety students of the University of Santo Tomas College of Science Batch 2010 graduated at the Philippine International Convention Center this morning. I attended the commencement with several companions (some of whom are also alumni of the college like me and some of whom are still students who have a few years left to earn their degrees) to show support for our graduating friends. I am extremely proud of each one of them and I eagerly look forward to their promising futures. 

Nevertheless, sitting on one of the soft chairs up on the balcony, I thought it was as if everything was surreal at one point. It felt like watching an old film for the first time. I've been up there myself on the stage two years ago. Basically, the plot has not changed but it is also different because the role I played before now belongs to someone else. Although there was strong nostalgia, I was simply at ease with myself for I knew confidently that I have moved on. I had my curtain call. A new batch of young men and women deserve the spotlight now. The circle of life goes on; the wheels of time continue to turn.

Somewhere down the road, I came to an unfamiliar place. It served like a fork in the road where you buy your time to stop and ponder where you are and how far you've come. My friends and I ate lunch there at Yellow Cab Pizza before heading for Manila Memorial Park at Sta. Rita, Bulacan where a common friend, Stephen, is laid to rest.

Like the flowers [despite being cut away from their roots], our friend who passed away to be with the Lord continue to bring beauty and fragrance in our lives by the memories he have left immortalized in our hearts. However, like the sunset in all its splendor and wonder, a great friend was gone too soon. Nevertheless, in spite of the darkness that comes when the sun has set, we can be assured of a glorious light to fill the world when morning comes once more.

Life has always been bittersweet. We can't have it any other way.

MEmorABLE

I have been an avid collector of memorabilia since I was a little kid.

The photo above shows but a small fraction of the things I've collected over the years: from books to candy wrappers, from airplane tickets to photographs, from candles to wedding garters, from corsages to ribbons, from cards to sashes, from receipts to stickers, from dried leaves to letters... and the list goes on.

I find a sense of joy (that I can't quite put into words) in collecting little somethings that remind me of people, places and events. Even after many years, they somehow bring me back to that specific moment - that strand of time and space in the tapestry of the world - that enriches the experience even more.

"A pleasure is only full grown when it is remembered. You are speaking, Hmān, as if the pleasure were one thing and the memory another. It is all one thing. The séroni could say it better than I say it now. Not better than I could say it in a poem. What you call remembering is the last part of the pleasure, as the crah is the last part of a poem. When you and I met, the meeting was over very shortly, it was nothing. Now it is growing something as we remember it. But we still know very little about it. What it will be when I remember it as I lie down to die, what it makes in me all my days till then--that is the real meeting. The other is only the beginning of it. You say you have poets in your world. Do they not teach you this?"

- Hyoi, a creature of the planet Malacandra speaking to Ramsom, the human protagonist. From "Out of the Silent Planet" by C.S. Lewis

As I grow older, though, I realize that I can't hang on to every single thing that tugs my heart otherwise even a museum wouldn't be big enough to house all things that I put sentimental value into.

I have come to think of the act of saving meaningful things as sort of a self-preservation. Although it sounds like a good pursuit, I believe otherwise. I am not here to preserve myself. My stay here in this world is a mere passing by, a sojourn. Thus, as a voyager I wish to travel lightly. I soon became content with the fact the mind finds ways to remember.

The only memorabilia that I continue to hold on steadfastly now are the handwritten letters (which I fondly call 'snail mail') that I receive.

For me, an object only has meaning to the person/s who puts sentimental value to it but to the outsider, could mean nothing - it may even be seen as rubbish. A letter, on the other hand, tells everyone who reads it a story. An object could spark a deep curiosity that may never be answered, while the letter gives answers that may lead to further inquiry.

To sum it up, what I believe about memories is that they should make me more able: able to grow, able to appreciate, able to love, and able to help others become more of what they are meant for and to be.

Take your time

On this first day of June 2009, I was late 17 minutes for work. 

After punching in at the bundy clock this morning, I saw the first red mark on my time card since I started work last April 15. I was a little sad that I wasn't able to have a completely flawless attendance like I promised myself when I started working. Nevertheless, I just tell myself constantly that some things are out of my hand regardless of much conscious I am of my internal locus of control.

You see, my dad and I left home around 5:30 in the morning, which is actually early enough whenever we would go to Metro Manila for morning appointments. Unfortunately, traffic was really, really horrendous at the Santo Tomas exit of Star Tollway and after leaving the South Luzon Expressway hours later. I had no idea the skyway construction was disrupting the traffic that much... no thanks to the fact that it was a manic Monday and everyone was rushing to work (or school for some). Oh well, what's done is done. I just have to step up for the rest of June and avoid any more tardy time-ins.

Anyway, this weekend has been a re-energizing one. I went home to the province, spent time with family and friends, and got all the sleep that I needed. Although there were slightly heavy rains in the afternoons, I found it refreshing. True enough, summer is slowly leaving the skies for the monsoon season to take centerstage.

An unplanned Tuesday night trip home and visit to a friend's house last week also gave me the chance to embrace my simple joys in life: gaze at stars, watch a firefly, play with a dog, lie on a hammock, be with family, and hang out with friends. That day, May 26, I filed for my first undertime and punched out at 4:39 pm.

Life sure has a way of teaching me that things may not go exactly as I wanted them to because something better is about to happen. :)

P.S.

Today is the the beginning of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month. I have to buy some fruits tomorrow. Cheers to healthy eating! :)

Warmth in a cup

I can't count the number of times I've enjoyed steaming cups of hot coffee with friends.

Coming from a province known for its kapeng barako, I grew up in a culture where coffee is part of the people's lifestyle. It is considered a breakfast staple.

Although I am not really a coffee person, I cannot deny the fact that coffee has a way of bringing people together. There's just something really inviting when you hear, "Let's get together and talk over coffee." It matters not whether you're enjoying coffee at a big name cafe or in your very own house. For me, company always makes coffee - hot or cold - taste better.

The last time I had coffee was during snack break at an art therapy seminar that I attended. I was enjoying a productive afternoon with people I've met for the first time yet it felt as if we've had a certain connection for as long as I can remember.

I have so many memories where coffee was part of the picture:

I was trying to finish a Clinical Psychology case study and I just can't stay awake anymore. I had to drink five cups of coffee while text messaging a friend who was similarly pulling an all-nighter with tons of projects at hand.

My thesismates and I spent hours at Starbucks, desperate for internet connection in order to finalize our thesis paper. There were only three of us. The other three were elsewhere. At the time, there was conflict in the group. (Long story.) Eventually, after defending our paper, the group was reconciled.

I was waiting for an organization meeting to start when Gerard text messaged me saying he was in the UST hospital where his cousin was confined because of an accident. We met after I finished the meeting at around 9:30pm. I went with him to see his cousin. Gerard's brother was there as well. They're a family friend; my parents know their parents. He bought coffee (strawberry macchiato, yum!) for the both of us from the hospital's cafe. Since I was dorming just across the street from the hospital, we talked about how quickly life was going by and many other things until almost 11:30pm before we parted ways.

I haven't seen Anna, a college friend, for a long time and we decided to have dinner together at Seattle's Best. We had coffee while passing the time with a memorable conversation.

I could go on and on with my coffee stories but I will reserve them for another time. What about you? Do you have a coffee conversation to share?

Have a little sunshine in your cup. :)

Three, two, one...

X definitely marks the spot.

My classmates and I had a countdown for almost everything when we were in high school: exams, someone's birthday, a school event, holidays, and so on. Our favorite (not to mention the most popular) is the countdown for summer vacation - roughly two months away from tests, homeworks, and projects. Each day crossed off from the countdown poster is a day closer to "farewell, dear alma mater... hello, freedom!".

The countdown in the picture above was made by my classmate, Erwin, one of only eight boys in our section/class of 44 (if I remember correctly.. I had to look at our class picture and count). The handwriting is undeniably his. ^_~ The blue highlight stood for quarterly examinations, yellow meant school events, while light green meant a holiday.

The poster was placed right next to my seat in the classroom. As such, I was assigned to make sure it was updated every day. I was tasked to cross off the date of the day as soon as the last class was finished. Sounds easy, but I tell you, there were times I'd forget to cross out a date if it weren't for my classmates' reminders. There was just too much going on in my head, sometimes, that a simple task like that slips my mind. Nevertheless, all of our eyes were on one goal: to finally put a cross mark on the last day of classes for the school year.

A year after graduating from college, I still haven't completely outgrown countdowns. However, instead of doing the daily cross marks, I now mark down a specific date in the calendar, which I truly look forward to (like my first day at work) and do more of a mental counting-of-days. Thankfully, holidays and special national events are already printed in most calendars. The new downside now is that two-month summer breaks are no longer applicable to me. ^^

There's a great caution amid all the excitement of looking forward to that long-awaited day, though. As much as keeping the eye on the goal is important, it is equally important to keep this in mind:

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."
- Jim Elliot