Friday stretch

Today was my first time to commute alone from Makati City to Lipa City. Thankfully, I was blessed to hop aboard a bus where the last available seat was waiting for me. As if calling me as I made my way down the aisle, the seat was dead center at the back of the bus.

Although I'm used to going home alone since I was in college, going straight home from work was different from my school time jeepney-LRT-bus-tricycle routine with walks in between.

Here are the scenarios of commuting from where I work to where I live in the province:

1. I have to ride a jeepney going to Glorietta / SM Mall.

2. I walk to the MRT Ayala Station where I wait in long lines to buy a ticket and get on the train.

3. I go down the last stop, which is Taft Station.

4. I walk some more going to the indirectly connected station of the Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT 1), which is EDSA Station.

5. I buy a ticket, get on the train, and go down Gil Puyat/Buendia Station.

6. I go down the stairs of the station, walk some more, and find a safe place in the highway where I can cross to the other side where the bus station was. Oh, after going down the stairs, another option is walk some more towards the overpass a couple of blocks away in order to get to the bus station.

7. I catch a bus that passes by Tambo Exit, which is the exit nearest where our neighborhood is. The bus drives through the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Southern Tagalog Access Road (STAR) Tollway in a two to three-hour long travel. Fridays have the most awfully heavy traffic from 4pm onwards, since ‘all the people’ are going home to their provinces for the weekend.

8. I get off at Tambo Exit, cross the street and walk towards the tricycle waiting area.

9. I ride a trike and get off right in front of our house.

There you go... a How-To-Get-From-Point-A-to-Point-B made personally by yours truly.

Unlike Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, sadly, I have no red shoes whose heels I can click three times while saying 'There's no place like home' to shorten the 3-hour commute back to Lipa City. Whenever I was asked, "Granted you can possess one superpower, what would it be and why?" I would always answer, "Teleport: It is the fastest and most hassle-free way to go to different places anytime, anywhere." :)

Anyway, I really like the Manila Light Rail Transit System. It's an efficient [not to mention cheap] way of getting around the Metro (in spite of the fact that one gets a first-hand experience of how it feels like to be one of those sardines packed in cans especially during rush hour).

Inasmuchas driving is a skill, I believe commuting is a skill, too. :D

The daily grind

There are quite a number of ways how I can go to work in the morning and go home in the afternoon or evening.

There are also a variety of vehicles I can ride during the day. Unfortunately, the most popular ones that people ride in the metro - namely the jeepneys, FXs, tricycles, and transits - haven't been captured in pictures by yours truly (yet), except for the bus.

This is only a sneak preview into the exciting world of the Metro Manila commute.

Now, if you excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, I have to start walking to catch my first ride of the day.

Do you remember when...?

Tonight, I've taken a trip down memory lane. One that really gave me the goosebumps. I got that 'feeling'... like unexpectedly stumbling upon something you thought you've lost for good.

When I was in third grade, our class adviser encouraged me to join the inter-class singing competition. I was hesitant at first. I told our adviser I would think about it. At that age, I wasn't totally invincible to stage fright. I told Mama about the invitation and she said my aunt, Tita Ana, who sang in our home church choir, could help me if I wanted to join. She's a good singer. Hmmm..

When I finally made up my mind, I told our adviser I was willing to represent our class in the contest. The challenge? It was a duet. Our adviser told me I could choose my singing partner.

Okay... But who?

I can't exactly tell you how it all happened but Ivan Lemuel ended up being my partner-in-crime. I think I asked him if he wanted to sing with me. (Hahaha!) He's one of my childhood friends. We were classmates from elementary to high school; we practically grew up together. My sister and his sister were classmates, too. His family is a close friend of ours.

My aunt chose the song we were to sing in the competition. It was "Kahit Habang Buhay" by Smokey Mountain, one of my favorite OPM bands whose songs mostly revolved around social, environmental, and patriotic themes. (The band, however, was active only until 1995.) The song title roughly translates to "even if it's for life". The song is about two people who love each other but both thought that the other already loves someone else. They sing about waiting for each other even if it meant waiting for as long as they lived. (Thinking about it now, the song really wasn't appropriate for our age. It's a good thing mainstream music didn't get the best of us then.)

To prepare for the singing contest, Ivan (I don't know if he still wants to be called Lemy. :P) and I would go to each other's house to practice in the afternoons and weekends. The whole ordeal was more tiring than I originally thought. Moreover, I was still a lot boyish during third grade. Imagine the weird feeling I had in my tummy when I realized that 'I am a girl that was actually singing with a boy', even if he was a friend. And I have to wear a dress during the contest. And we have to hold hands as 'choreography' for some parts of the song. Ugh. Cooties. Thinking about it now really brings me good-natured laughter though. :)

To cut the long story short, let us proceed to the results. We won first place in the singing contest. :) Both our moms watched us perform - they were both very happy and proud. I was overjoyed, too. It was a promising start for my singing career. Just kidding. On a more serious note, I was glad I joined. I learned a lot from that experience. It was one of the first few steps I had towards conquering my fear of facing the public. That moment also proved that somehow, I can sing. :D

Kahit Habang Buhay

Smokey Mountain

Chedi Vergara:

Nakakalito ang mundo.

Kung sinong mahal mo, s'yang ayaw sa 'yo

H'wag sanang masayang itong

Damdamin kong laan sa 'yo.

James Coronel:

Pa'no naman ako?

Kay tagal ko nang umibig sa 'yo.

H'wag sanang masayang itong

Damdamin kong laan sa 'yo.

CHORUS

Duet:

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Kahit pa maglaho ang mundo.

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Asahan mong hindi magpapalit

Itong damdamin ko.

James Coronel:

Pa'no naman ako?

Kay tagal ko nang umibig sa 'yo.

Chedi Vergara:

H'wag sanang masayang itong

Damdamin kong laan sa 'yo.

CHORUS

Duet:

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Kahit pa maglaho ang mundo.

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Asahan mong hindi magpapalit

Itong damdamin ko.

James Coronel:

Pa'no naman ako? ooh...

Chedi Vergara:

Nakakalito ang mundo

Duet:

Kung sinong mahal mo, s'yang ayaw sa 'yo...

Kung sinong mahal mo, s'yang ayaw sa 'yo...

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Kahit pa maglaho ang mundo.

Kahit habang buhay maghihintay ako sa 'yo.

Asahan mong hindi magpapalit

Hindi-hindi magpapalit

Hindi-hindi magpapalit

Itong damdamin ko.

In addition to this journey to the past, I recently reactivated my Facebook account and have been reconnecting with classmates and acquaintances from my former alma mater. I can't quite put words into the experience of seeing how much we've all grown up since elementary or high school.

I feel old - like the classic senescent adult...

Well, I'm getting there. :)

Unite for Hunger and Hope

Today, peoples of the world Unite for Hunger and Hope.

I was chatting with LJ last April 21st and the topic on poverty and hunger came up. He and I attended the same college and are both part of EARTH-UST, an environmental advocacy group. We had quite the discussion about how many people have the wrong attitude/mentality regarding this issue like:

If we don't finish our food, it's not a guarantee that the hungry will be fed by it.

Why don't you give your extra food to those on the streets instead of giving them money, which they can misuse on addictive gambling, criminal syndicates and illegal drugs?

If we give our leftovers to street children and they get an upset stomach or get sick because of it, we might get blamed for what happened.

Well, have you seen the video below? LJ shared to me this video (which his mom shared with him) that I now wish to share with you.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Synopsis

'This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.'

I live in a developing country and watching this video still moves my heart. Almost every day, I encounter a similar reality. If you think being surrounded by hunger and poverty situations is desensitizing, you're wrong. Each time is an opportunity to make a contribution in making lives better.

Each time, I ask myself this: "What would Jesus do?"

share the Word

Don't get entangled by all things worldly for they will all come to pass.

In an era where an overwhelming amount of facts and figures is just a click away, maintaining a healthy Christian worldview may be difficult to do but it is definitely not impossible. Although we are bombarded with more data than we can deal with in the world wide web, the final decision of regarding which set of information to process still belongs to us. We can avoid the wide path that leads to destruction with the help of our Lord and Savior.

A friend shared this to me last Easter: "Our minds gather the dirt and dust of human opinion everyday but God's words are like waterfalls that wash and purify our hearts and minds." I couldn't agree more.

Today is Internet Evangelism Day. When I learned about it by random searching and net surfing, I felt that God was telling me to do something more so I decided to create an event for Internet Evangelism Day in Bloggers Unite. I want to let Christian bloggers, including myself, realize that we can take a step further in inviting people all over the globe to personally know our awesome God! I strongly believe that we are all called to be instruments of the Lord whenever and wherever. All we have to do is say YES to Him. Hence, I aptly entitled my blog Adsum Domine (Latin), which translates to "Here I Am, Lord." 

Exploring different hosting sites, I began blogging when I was in high school about seven years ago. Unfortunately, I clearly lacked essence and purpose in my writings back then. Now and for the days to come, I want my blog to be a reflection of a renewed commitment to Christ. 

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

- John 14:6 (NIV)

Don't just spread the word; share the Living Word.

Peace be with you

It never fails to amaze me how my prayers are answered, how life moves along a course I never thought would be possible, and how God simply holds my life in His hands. Early morning birds have been chirping outside my window since yesterday. It was such a lovely surprise! And to think that I assumed it is a wonderful sound I wouldn't hear again until I go home in the province.

Work this week has been really fruitful in many ways. I'm discovering certain things about myself far more than I ever imagined to figure out in only five days. Sadly, these past days may have been calm for me but I feel deep down that I haven't really found time to escape from all the 'noise'.. and I mean all the noise both without and within me. I often have my quiet time but lately, I know I haven't had the opportunity to truly let my being be engulfed in silence or better said - embraced by peace in connecting with God.

The Undying Saga Lives On

© 2009 Julie Ann Caringal

Jousting here and there, a battle is well kept

And the knight still holds on to his sword

The news spreads all over the earth

While the unseen impact grows with time

Over vast lands and over wide seas

A battle begins and a battle ends

In every victory a new flag is raised

In every defeat an old flag is brought down

Mystery upon mystery is unfolded by understanding

Each revelation witnessed by the glorious silver moon

Even the bright sun dries away the morning dew

Uncovering a whole field of marvelous discoveries

Eventually, wave upon wave crashes up on shore

And washes away the set of footprints on the sand

But still the beach remains a beach

And an ocean remains and ocean

Render this amazing cycle of fall and of flight

As the undying saga of life and journey lives on

In the hands of the valiant warrior and knight

With his paper as his shield and his pen as his sword

This weekend as I go to Nasugbu, Batangas for our company outing, I hope to find a few moments to be in true solitude with God - to talk to Him heart to heart and listen in silence.

Be with me in serenity, O Lord.

Comfort Zone

After a quarter of a year's worth of waiting, I am happy to announce that I am now part of the nation's work force. It's a nice feeling. :)

On the other hand, "Hello, Makati work" also means "Goodbye, Lipa home". Having spent a year out of school, I felt my life has been so unstructured during the past twelve months that it will be difficult for me to establish a new routine. I was excited to start working but I have to admit that the nervousness that came along with venturing into something new almost got the best of me. Almost. My stress level was on high last week because I was thinking of all the things I need to be taking care of that I ended up overwhelming myself.

There were a lot of things I had to learn especially the "how to commute from where I live to where I work" part. I am staying at an area in Metro Manila that is basically new to me so the commute is a major issue. Moreover, the condominium unit my dad, my older brother and I are living in isn't fully furnished yet, which makes cooking food or putting away things, washing dishes/clothes more challenging so to speak. My work alone is a whole new thing in itself that I have to get used to and comfortable with.

Thankfully, my first week at work and stay here in the condo went very well. Honestly, there are still a lot of adjustments going on but the transition is quite smooth and I am very glad. A little disruption in my comfort zone isn't so bad. I know everyone gets a 'shaking' in their life every now and then. It's the only way we move forward. 

Right now, I am blessed that one by one, things are slowly falling into place for me. God is really good. I know He's molding me into the person He wants me to be. In college, a close friend of mine once told me: "We go where we are needed most." So far, I can't see myself being anywhere else.