Sunday, September 25, 2005

Friends and love

I've seen and experienced people falling in love from becoming friends. It's maybe one of the least things a friend could imagine towards his friend but it's possible. They say proximity leads to deeper relationship. The more you get to know him, the more you discover that you have lots of things in common and he has these characteristics that you want to have in a partner. Your ideal partner. But I seldom know of friends letting go of the feeling even if it's already mutual. Why would they let go of someone who they believe they would like to cherish and the feeling is the same? I came to the answer last Saturday. I had a conversation with a long-time friend of mine. I've known him and the girl for years. And in more ways than one, even if we don't communicate that often now, I thought I understood what happened between the two of them. I thought I knew what went wrong or right. I thought I knew their thoughts. I always think that he was still afraid of commitments that's why he doesn't have a girlfriend yet. I thought he was like other guys who still enjoys the benefits of bachelorhood. But he's serious and a deep person. He thought before and until now, that he cannot give what the girl needs at that time. He didn't want to pursue her because he knew he has nothing to offer. Other persons will only begin to think of this before getting married. I admire him not only because of his principles but of his courage in letting go of his special person. He was unselfish. Even if he didn't give in to love, I think he gave her more which is freedom to find someone who can give her more than love. Now, this girl has already found the man whom she shares her goals and dreams with forever. The man who is 'capable' of offering her not only love but a life that she's been dreaming of.

I have many thoughts that I would still like to write about this topic but I would like to end it with my own experience. I've been in a relationship with someone that I thought would give me love and life that I've been dreaming of. He gave me these but I knew there's something missing. There was still something wrong. I felt love but with conditions, life but without "freewill". I was limited to live my life depending on what he thought is right that led to losing my identity. Until I found myself falling in love with a friend. I didn't expect I could find some one who is like me in so many ways. I've been so blessed by God, that he led me to Vince, my best friend and true love. I wish we continue to share the same love, life and dreams for the rest of our lives.

posted by Leng @ 5:40 AM 0 comments

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Caring for the marine life

It was a special Saturday today. It's the International Coastal Cleanup Day and our company participated in this event. Volunteers will remove trash and debris from Manila Bay. We started very early (at least for me) in the morning. We have to be there at 645 for the Manila Dragon team's instructions and will start with the clean up at 715am. It was hard for me to get up that morning since I slept 230am and considering I also didn't had enough sleep the night before. What really made me get up is the fact that I wanted to do something special, change the way I start my Saturdays (and end my Fridays) and make a sacrifice. And so I got up, made sure to have something before I leave, small piece of bread, and drove out. I got there just on-time. I saw my office friends, Roald, Ryan and Dianne waving at me from the bay's side. It's a bonus for me that these guys are volunteers also. Made the event more fun. Instructions were told, registered, got my free t-shirt, gave us tools and sacks, off we walked towards one side of the bay.


As expected, there were many trash, different kinds. But I'm not going to go to those details, I know it's gross as it is. We were so lucky the weather was awesome! After days of raining, the sun finally came out, right timing. I can't imagine what we could do if its raining. It wasn't that long when we started and then one by one, groups of people began to flock around and join us in our area. First, the men in uniform - the sea marine officials. They were carrying nets. This is very helpful in getting floating trash especially the styrofoams. And then, several groups of students from different schools, different communities from different cities...it was a party!

At 9am, we got tired, walked back to our tent, drank water, sat at the bay, saw old friends, relaxed, and I guess, reflected silently without being noticed. Small good deeds we don't even notice will go a long way. Sure, its a great way to start my weekend right!

posted by Leng @ 11:02 AM 0 comments

Sunday, September 04, 2005

About Katrina


My dad usually tells me current events, what major news is happening around the globe because he watches the news on tv often. I think I've gotten my interest in the news from him, even listening to the am radio while driving. In any case, there was one day, I think Aug 31'st, something has caught my attention to veer towards the tv. I heard again hurricane Katrina from the tv. Before that, I didn't know that it was that dead serious. I mean, I thought that the impact will not be too big and that US already knows about it and so they must have evacuated the place if they have warned about it. I was really shocked on what I saw on tv. I told my dad, it's not like a US city that I'm seeing. The city that was built under the sea level was really a huge tragedy. It's like the city was submerged in a bowl.

I became curious and hungry for information about the aftermath and about New Orleans, Louisiana itself. I learned many things about it, from joyous days of Mardi Gras, jazz, Fats Domino, to hair-raising infos on graves that were put above the ground, not burried, hoodoos. I even watched The Skeleton Key (with my good friend Jeff) in Greenbelt last Saturday. What could be the reactions of the cast and crew of that movie after the tragedy that took place. They shot the film from March to May. From the movie, the landscape looks really ghostly specially the houses and the swamp.

Well, enough of those scary stuff, but it really amazes me why people still want to live there when they know it is very prone to flood, hurricanes, etc. There are so many pictures in the internet about the aftermath, the anarchy, the rescue operations. I wondered what was the reason that it took too long for the rescue team to get into the survivors. I mean, this is US. They have huge military forces and what not. Could this be a racial issue (according to African-American survivors), anarchy (according to press), wrath of God (according to al Qaeda) or political issue? I heard in CNN regarding Cuba sending doctors in Louisiana. They are still waiting for the green light to help the victims because the head says they still have to take care of the logistics first. They cannot accomodate help until they've fixed the logistics. I mean, what's a bigger deal than people dying on the streets?

I remember, there was this news or email that spread several months ago that there will be a terrible earthquake that would happen in Manila. The coastal waters will get very high that it will flood the city. This was a predication by a nun. And she said that the only thing that could prevent this from happening is through repentance of sins from God and by doing good deeds. I begin to think, what will I do if this ordeal happens to me, my family, my country. Will I get scared from dying? Will I be willing to lose all my belongings and evacuate? Am I prepared to die?


posted by Leng @ 10:55 AM 1 comments