The ActiveTalker

This was taken in-front of the Metrobank – Iba, Zambales Branch last June 19, 2008. It was a beautiful sunset, too bad i wasn’t on the beach.

Even though Christmas is still a few months away, I would like to share this story that i came across with a couple of years ago through an email that was sent to me. It never failed to make me teary-eyed. This is a story of HOPE and FAITH. Read on..

Andoy’s Story (This is very, very touching)

Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, Philippines
there lived a fourth grader boy named Andoy who
would follow this route to school everyday.

He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the
dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly
driving to and from. Once passed this highway,
the boy would take a short cut by passing by the
Church every morning just to say Hi to Jesus,
and faithfully say his, “Magandang umaga po”
in Bicol dialect.

A Priest, who was so happy to find innocence so
uplifting in the
morning, was faithfully watching the
boy. “Kamusta Andoy!
Papasok ka na?” “Opo padre…” He would flash
his innocent grin,
the priest would be touched.

The priest was so concerned that one day he
talked to Andoy,
“From school…”, he advised “do not cross the
highway,
you can pass through the Church and I can
accompany you to
the other side of the road… that way I can
see
that you are home safe.
“Thank you father.” “Why don’t you go home?
Why do you stay in this Church right after
school?”
“I just want to say “Hi” to my friend, Jesus,”
The priest would leave the boy to spend time
beside the altar,
talking by himself, but the priest hid behind
the
altar to listen to what
this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER.
“You know my math exam was pretty bad today,
but I did not cheat – although my seatmate is
bullying me for notes…
I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a
bad season and
all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for
this! I saw a poor kitten that
was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my
last cracker to him …
funny but I am not that hungry.

Look, this is my last pair of slippers … I
may
have to walk barefooted
next week … you see this is about to be
broken.
But it is okay at least
I am still going to school … some say we will
have a hard season this
year and some of my classmates have already
stopped going to school.
Please help them get back to school again,
please
Jesus? …

Oh, you know, Inay had hit me again, it is
painful, but I know this pain
will pass away; at least I still have a
mother…
Jesus, you want to see
my bruises? I know you can heal
them…here…here and….oh .. blood ..
I guess you knew about this one huh? Please
don’t be mad at Inay.
She is just tired and she worries for the food
in
our table and my
schooling that is why she hits us …

Oh, I think I am in love … there’s this pretty
girl in my class, her name
is Anita … do you think she will like me?
Anyway, at least I know you
will always like me, I don’t have to be anybody
just to please you,
you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday
is
a month from now!
Aren’t you excited? I am! Wait till you see my
gift for you…. But it is
a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oops, I
have
to go…” then he stood
up and calls out, “Padre, padre, I am finished
talking to my friend.
You can accompany me to the other side of the
road now”

Everyday this routine happens without fail for
Andoy.
Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the
people in his church
because he has not seen a very pure faith and
trust in Jesus,
a very positive look at negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he
could not make it to
Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church
was left to 4 manangs
who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per
hour
would not smile and
always find fault in what you do. They are also
very well versed in cursing
if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying
their kilometric rosary
when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,
playfully dashed in,
“Hello Jesus! “P—-! (a curse) bata ka! Alam
mo
nang may nagdadasal
dito! Alis!” Poor Andoy was so
terrified, “Where’s Father Agaton?
He is supposed to help me cross the street….
And to be able to
cross the street I will have to pass by this
church … not only that,
I have to greet Jesus. Today is His birthday and
I have a gift right here….
Just as he was about to get the gift out of his
shirt, one manang pulled
his shirt and threw him out of the
church. “Susmaryosep! (does a sign
of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung
hindi matatamaan ka!
So the boy had no choice but to cross the
dangerous side of the road
in front of the church.

He crossed. There was a blind curve. A fast
moving bus came in.
The boy was protecting his gift inside his
shirt, so he was not looking.
There was so little time. The bus hit Andoy and
he died on the spot.
A lot of people crowded the lifeless body of
the
young boy.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man
wearing
a white shirt and pants,
a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full
of
tears. He came and lifted
the boy in his arms and he was crying.

The curious bystanders nudged the man in white,
and asked,
“Excuse me sir, are you related to this child?
Do you know this child?” The man, his face
mourning and
in agony answered, “He was my best friend.”

He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody
chest of Andoy
and placed it near his heart. He stood up and
carried the boy away
and they both disappeared in sight. The crowd
was bewildered.
The next day, Father Agaton learned of the
shocking news.
He immediately visited Andoy’s house and wanted
to learn more
about the man in white. He asked Andoy’s
parents.
“Do you know the man who took Andoy?”
“A man in white brought him here.” sobbed the
mother.
“What did he say?” The father answered, “He did
not say anything.
He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he
was very lonely
at our son’s death as if he knew our son very
well.
There was something peaceful and unexplainable
about him.
He brought my son home and then he smiled
gently.
He rubbed Andoy’s hair away from his face and
kissed him on his
forehead. Then he whispered something to
Andoy.” “What did he say?”,
asked the priest. The father began, “He said to
my son… “Thank you
for the gift … I will see you soon… you
will
be with me forever…”
Andoy’s father continued, “You know for a
while,
I felt so wonderful.
I cried, but I do not know why. All I know is
that I cried tears of joy.
I could not explain it father.

When that man left, something peaceful came over
me. I felt a deep
sense of love inside. I could not explain the
joy
in my heart. I knew
my boy is in heaven now but tell me father, who
is this man that my
son talks to everyday in your church. You should
know because you are
always there… except on the time of his
death.”

Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling
in
his eyes, with trembling
knees, he murmured, “He was talking to no
one….but….JESUS.”

If you have been blessed by the story, please feel free to share it. 🙂 Have a great day and God bless.

Upon reading an article in three daily newspapers last week, i quickly sent a group message regarding an 11-year old girl’s suicide in Davao City. I got this article from Yehey! News entitled,

11-year old Marianette ended her life last November 2 by hanging herself inside their house in Barangay Maa, Davao City after losing hope on her family’s miserable situation.

Found atop her bed is a diary which revealed her prayer for her parents to have a job and for her siblings to be enrolled in school. The diary also narrates her crying because of her family’s way of living which includes begging for “kaning-lamig” for their meals.

A letter addressed to the “Wish ko lang” program was also found and it bared Marianette’s desire to have a dress, shoes and bicycle which she will use on going to school.

It was learned that Marianette’s father irregularly works as a carpenter and she often fails to go to school because of their financial difficulties.

Revilla pointed out that Marianette’s death reflects how most Filipinos feel about their state of living as indicated by the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed more Filipino families, about nine million of them, consider themselves “mahirap” or poor.

Based on the SWS survey, the self-rated poverty incidence of 52 percent for September was up from June’s 47 percent but still far from all-time highs. Self-rated poverty fell in the Visayas but the numbers increased in the rest of the nation, and the SWS noted further belt-tightening among poor families.

The survey results also found that 43 percent, or about 7.5 million Filipino families, considered themselves poor in terms of food. This self-rated food poverty was up from the 37-39 percent in the first two quarters of 2007. Again, a drop was noted in the Visayas but the numbers increased elsewhere.

The third quarter survey was conducted over September 2-5, 2007 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the

Reacting to the SWS survey, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye noted that there was actually a decline of around 6 percent from a range last year of 55 to 59 percent to only 47 to 53 percent this year.

Bunye said the decline roughly translates to five million Filipinos or one million families.

Balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The sampling error margins were 3 percent for national percentages and 6 percent for area percentages.

—I don’t know what is wrong with the government, but I just hope and pray that the poor girl will still go to heaven. We all know that suicides go to hell, but I just hope Marianette will not. I saw her picture in the news and I saw how cute she is. I just hope this never happens again. Let us pray for Marianette’s soul and the many others in need.

Wow (andaming) legs!

This is for my students. As I have promised you, here is the story of Annie’s first Kiss

Hi, my name is Annie. An average looking girl of 27, educated, smart i may say, who grew up in the province of Benguet,Philippines.Having to grow up in a place where in all people are so fond of traditions,aside from the fact that my family is so religious, kissing and being kissed have never been a subject of discussion. All this have been changed when I had a boyfriend.

March 2003, i met Wesley. A handsome guy, tall and well built. He was from Manila. A good for nothing playboy as people from our town calls manileños.But of course as the saying goes “to every rule, there is an exemption” and Wesley is exempted.

making my story short, we became friends and eventually lovers after 4 months of courting.being with Wesley makes me feel so safe. He never took his eyes off me, always attending to my needs and because of those things he showed me.i planned to come with him to manila and work there. My boyfriend,fetch me from work everyday. never forgot to call me before going to bed and never failed texting me in the morning.

But one day June 23,2005. i received a call from Wesley, saying “we’ve been on for almost 2 years now and i haven’t kissed you yet. tomorrow will be the day that we will be kissing each other, or else…. “then ends his call with a naughty scheming laughter.suddenly i felt cold,nerve wracked and stunned.honestly,I was frightened by that call.Thoughts came into my mind. ” i don’t know how to kiss” “my folks told me that kissing was immoral” “what will isay?” “should i turn him down? or should i call the “tipanan thing off.i am scared but excited at the same time.

June 24,2005, i was mentally prepared for that so called kissing thing that Wesley asked from me. I love him so i will not turn him down.i arrived, 9:00 am to the venue and saw some familiar faces. everybody was looking at me as if i was doomed. some smiling and some are giggling.I felt like melting but i am full of anticipation of what was to happen between me and my beloved Wesley. and so after walking a few meters, after getting off the car that my brother Ron drove, i saw Wesley in his most wonderful outfit. he looked so impatient but still manages to smile.”oh boy,if you could only see my man.”As always, he took me by the hand and walked some more.He whispered”you look beautiful today,honey” i reciprocated that flattery with a fine pinch on his side.he whinced a bit and that made me smile even more. suddenly, a guy in a “weird suit” started talking,his words were so powerful and meaningful that Wesley and I couldn’t help but say yes to what he is saying and so after a few exchange of words with that guy in white,Wesley decided to hand me a ring saying “this ring symbolize my love for you.it has no beginning neither it has an end.” I handed him a ring also saying those cheesy but sweet words he told me. That made me forget the call that Wesley made the night before.

I was so confident that he forgot all about it. when suddenly he whispered “be prepared, i will kiss you”. as the weird looking guy in white spoke his final remarks, Wesley looked at me,held my chin up gently and little by little his face was working it’s way towards mine. I am chilling i was about to scream.But i told myself.. ” I don’t care even if they all see me kiss this guy, I love him and he means the world to me…”

As his lips were about to touch mine, I can’t help but close my eyes and feel the warmth of his lips. It felt like the whole world stopped moving,i can’t hear a thing, my heart almost burst with so much beating. I just can’t describe how ecstatic that was. my first kiss, I have given to the man I love so dearly.

After that I’ve been brought back to reality Wesley said “Thank you for making this day so wonderful,thanks for giving me your first kiss.” I reciprocate with a hug. All the people around us started clapping. and my mom and dad was crying, not of shame but because they were happy for me.

And oh by the way?? didn’t i mention, i was also wearing white that day, walked the aisle with boquette at hand.

—Such a lovely story. I hope every girl is like Annie…

Here is my photo with my long-time crush, Niña Corpuz. She told me she have a web blog but unfortunately, i wasnt able to get it because she is in a hurry. Some says we look a bit the same.. ehehe =D

This photo of my dog was taken about a month ago

Last night was a very faithful night, my favorite team in the Philippine Basketball Association, the team of the 90’s, the Alaska Aces won the Game 7 of the recent Fiesta Conference. After a long wait, the Aces finally did it, with the heroics of import Rossel Ellis, his exploits and how he made the big men of the Aces involved in the game. They call him “Mr. Everything“. What a guy! Visit http://www.alaskaaces.com.ph for the official site of the Alaska Aces.

I saw this on the news a couple of days ago, Last June 11 and I was moved by what the guy did for his dog. He was on his way home from a drinking session when his dog fell from their boat and when he tried to save his dog, he drowned instead of saving his dog. That’s L-O-V-E