ena's site

Tall, smart looking, well-built, and he also had that look that made him stand

taller than the rest. He would always occupy that same seat every Sunday, not minding anybody or anything. From the stage, i had never seen his hands raised while singing, or maybe I was just too busy worshiping. But he would just close his eyes with both hands locked at his back, and appear to be enjoying worship. Then down there, I would sometimes look his way and he’s just there with his notebook, taking down notes of what the preacher says. He wouldn’t talk to anybody because he had nobody with him – not a guy, not a girl. But I think he did laugh sometimes, I’m not so sure.

And I also don’t think I had ever seen him anywhere else but on that seat. “Who is he?” I would sometimes ask myself, but I knew better than to care much. I had enough people to worry about and they’re enough trouble for me. He was just that guy on the fourth row every 5pm service and I had my own beautiful life, or so I thought it was.

That time, I wanted to explore new things and meet new people, and sports was the perfect avenue. It was in one of those sports meetings that we were finally introduced. In my mind I said “Ah okay, so that’s his name” and on with my life I went. But that introduction was followed with other things and taaaaalking on the phone was one of them. That guy can talk. And in his talking I got to know a man worth more than a first impression.

He is no longer just a guy on the fourth row. He now has a name, dreams, ideas, plans, personality, and humor that I enjoy. A friend I can count on and look forward talking to. Someone that makes me appreciate the beauty of life more. Somebody I’m gonna meet later to test if everything he says about exercise really works…

Apat kaming magkakapatid. Si ena, weng, don at sha (bunso to panganay). Lahat kami ipinanganak at lumaking mga pinoy. Lahat kami nagpapasalamat na Pilipino ang lahi namin. alam niyo kung bakit?

Kasi kung intsik kami, ganyan mga itsura namin. Okay lang naman sana, pero parang hindi namin bagay eh. Tapos hindi pa pantay ang skin color. panget yun. Nako lalo na kung naging egoy kami...

Di ba? Hindi talga bagay! parang pang missing link. Ehehe Buti nalang Pilipino kami...

Kahit di kami maputi, hindi rin naman kami ganun kaitim. Hindi man matangos ang ilong, atleast magaganda at mga pogi kami.

Kung naging Amerikano kami? Wag na nating pag-usapan. denied ang US visa application ko. so ayaw naming maging amerikano!!!! che! (hahaha may bitterness)

Isa lang masasabi ko. "Pilipino, Pilipino, Pilipino ang lahi ko!"

*Nothing against other races. It's just that hindi talaga namin bagay magkakapatid ang ipanganak na ibang nationality. I have all respects for the Chinese and the Blacks. No offense meant sa kanila. I'm for world peace you know?

All in one year

Bolinao-Baguio trip with karen, carmela, dwyght, Giselle.

Henry and Rache's wedding

Zero or Max Campaign.

Pastor LA Mumar and his team moved to QC.

Appreciation Night in Pioneer.

Back to school.

Sky and Fem's wedding

3PM Taglish Service was launched.

Leaders Convergence started to transition to Big Groups.

More campus ministers added.

Ate Aubrey gave birth to Kaela.

I got hired to relieve ate Jo while she was on her maternity leave.

Pastor Manny Carlos was released from QC.

Ate Jo gave birth to Gabbie.

Got reconciled w/ a friend.

Pastor Edgar became the Senior Pastor of QC.

James Sace became the new MD of the worship team.

Went on leave from worship team.

Lago de Oro wakeboarding with Champions.

1^st Worship Camp in Ciudad Christia.

Dianne moved to Ortigas.

Seneca flew to London.

Victory Weekend Campus and Adults.

Met RR. ahahaha!!! :-)

Lila, left to help out start Tacloban Church.

Ptr Edge moved to Fort, Ptr Manny’s back to QC.

Ate Jo went back to work.

Ely got married.

Awards Night/Christmas party held in CSWCD.

Carmela went home with me to Tuguegarao.

27th birthday.

Ptr. LA moved to Pioneer, King went too.

Prayer and Fasting.

Ang pagbabalik sa Worship team4.

Ptr Sky led 3pm Service.

Ptr Chris led 5pm Service.

Metro Manila Leaders Meeting in Ultra.

Tim moved to Pioneer for ministry.

Zambales/Anawangin trip.

One Life to Live Campaign.

Basic Mountaineering Course

Al came home from Taiwan.

Start of Big Group meetings.

Basic Skin Diving Course with roy.

Appreciation Night.

James left for Dubai.

Este moved to Pioneer.

First worship and prayer night.

One major depression for more than a month. :-(

Anawangin with Champions!

Swimming lessons.

1st mountain hiking at night.

Nugnug.

Karen went full time in QC.

Rache gave birth to Judah

Graduation of so many people.

Ballroom Dancing.

Jeng left for Singapore.

Finally got my passport.

Champions Ultimate.

Ena got engaged. Ahahaha, wish ko lang!

So many things happened this year.

I'm sure there's more to this list i did not include.

Longer will be the list of new people i have met.

Oo nga pala, May 1st is my spiritual birthday.

Thanks God, You've been there all the way. :-)

I have offered so many times to talk to you. This is not only because it’s the right thing to do but because I want to. Talking will settle all the misunderstandings between us. I wanna know what I did to make you resent me that much. I wanna know the real meaning of your defiant stares, those attempts to humiliate me in front of a crowd, those shunning away, and those refusal to be in the same group. I wanna say I’m sorry but I need to know what I have done and said that offended you, or as put in your words “that destroyed your life”. That's why we need to talk.

In my last attempt to settle and to clarify things, you said you already forgave me and you asked me to leave things as they are. And so I did. I have sacrificed the only friends I had just to give you your space. I denied myself of the love of a family, and of the hugs from friends I miss so much, just so I can leave you to heal. I thought this would make things better. I never thought “as they are” meant the resentment, the judging and the accusations would still continue. I have given you what I thought you needed. It hurts me to know you still haven’t healed despite the time and space. Perhaps my apology for specific things would help. Four years have passed and nothing has been settled between us, unfortunately things even got worse. That's why again, we need to talk.

Every time I’m reminded of you or when I hear things happening in your life, I’m left with nothing else but to pray for you. In as much as I wanna extend a hand to help, I can’t. I'm sure i'm the last person you would like to receive comfort and assurance from. Forgive me if this has become my assumption of you. Part of me wanna believe otherwise. In fact, there were plenty of times this past season when i wanted to approach you. My spirit was willing but my body hasn't gotten over the last time it tried to reach out and you refused.

I have stopped asking you this for fear of being rejected again. But as things are turning out, I know I have to ask you one more time…

Dear, can we talk?

I know there's only around 20% chance you'll read this. I'm taking it nonetheless

Karen, Carmela, She, and I went to Tagaytay to celebrate Carmela's birthday last Wednesdey. On our way there, we kind of talked about the different legends or "mga alamat" that we know. The only one i could remember then was the "Alamat ng Pinya". Mommy She on the other hand was the most knowledgeable of us four. She told the story about how the greedy fisherma's wife planted gold and how it grew to become ginger, "Ang Alamat ng Luya". I laughed so hard about how silly the story was, and at the same time i appreciated how creative Filipino storytellers were.

When we finally reached our destination, and while enjoying the scenery of the beautiful Taal Volcano (or crater?), all four of us came up with one of our own - "Ang Alamat ng Daing".

Noong unang panahon, may isang bangus na nagnganglang Ding. Sobra siyang gahaman sa pagpapa-"tan" ng kaliskis. Isang araw, nag sunbathing siya ng bonggang bonga. Nakita siya ng diwata at sabi niya, "Dahil sa gahaman ka, sige, mag sunbathing ka hanggang gusto mo. eto, mag lagay ka pa ng coke sa katawan para pantay ang tan mo". At ganun nga ang nagyari. Hindi lamang nag tanning lotion si Ding, naglagay pa siya ng coke sa katawan. Nagsunbathing siya at nagpagulong-gulong sa sand para pantay sa harap at likod. Nagpa-tan siya araw at gabi hanggang sa naramdaman niyang unti unti nang natutuyo ang kaliskis niya. Sinubukan niyang bumalik sa tubig ngunit huli na ang lahat. Wala na siyang ibang nasabi kundi ang "Help me, i think i'm da... i'm da... i'm daing..." The end.

Lesson: Wag mag sunbathing sa Tagaytay.

Please, walang kokontra. basta, yun na yun! ehehehe. next post will be the OST of the alamat.

Disclaimer: Ang nasabing alamat ay hindi tungkol kay Karen. Nagkataon lang na pareho silang mahilig magpa-tan.

In case you wanna read more of the real alamats. visit  http://www.geocities.com/bestbear_megson27/alamat.html 

Enjoy!