Part IV – The Proposal (In Filipino "Tagalog" dialect)

Tumigil ang pag pintig ng puso ni Steph, hindi sya gumalaw at lumingon kay Damon...

“I missed you” pabulong na sabi ni Damon sa kanyang likod.

Dahan dahang limingon si Steph at ngumiti “Hi”... ‘yun lamang ang nasabi nya matapos matulala sa kagwapuhan ng binata... Naka khaki shorts and white shirt si Damon... napaka simple ngunit ang lakas ng dating.

“Ang ganda ng bahay mo, mag isa ka lang ba dito?”....

”Oo, salamat, but if you would say yes sa aking offer na dito ka na tumira, hindi nako mag-iisa, besides masarap mag-aral dito, tahimik at safe, may guest room ako sa taas, pwede mong maging kwarto yun.”...

Hindi ‘yun inaasahan ni Steph kaya hindi sya nakasagot agad... Nagkunwari na lamang itong wala syang narinig.

“Akala ko ba pakakainin moko ng lunch”....pataymaling sagot ni Steph.

“Syempre, handa napo ang pananghalian ninyo kamahalan”, malambing na sagot ni Damon.

Dinala sya ni Damon sa ikalawang palapag.  Napasinghap si Steph sa paghanga, Di nya akalain na sa second floor pala ay isang malawak na hardin, napakaganda ng pagkakalandscape ng lugar, overlooking ito sa kabundukan.  Sa bandang unahan ay isang infinity pool, at sa gilid nito ay, kung hindi sya nagkakamali, isang Jacuzzi...

“How do you like having lunch by the pool sweetheart?”, Tanong ni Damon.

“Im speechless, thank you”, pag amin ni Steph.

Tinungo nila ang table kung saan ipinahanda ni Damon ang kanilang lunch.

“Dig in, wag kang mahiya”, pag-imbita ni Damon

”Nag iisang anak ka ba?”..di nya napigilang magtanong, saka sya ngsimulang kumuha ng pagkain.

“Ha, ba’t mo naman naitanong?”, gulat si Damon.

“Kase sa lahat ng nakikita ko, mukhang provided lahat ng gusto mo at tila wala ka ng mahihiling pa?”, sagot ni Steph.

“Hindi, dalawa kaming lalaki, ako ang bunso...Si kuya Alfred, sampung taon ang agwat namin... Nasa Las Vegas naman sya naka base.”...

“Bakit pinili mong dito mag-aral sa Pilipinas when obviously your parents can afford to send you to a prestigious school in the States?.”, dagdag ni Steph.

“Um, nasa hot seat ba ako, mukha yatang ineenterogate mo na ako a”, biro ni Damon..

“Ah..never mind I asked”...nagpatuloy sa pagkain si Steph

Tahimik rin si Damon habang pinagmamasdan sya...Hindi makakain si Steph ng maayos dahil ramdam nya ito... wag mokong titigan pls, matutunaw ako... sigaw ng isip nya..

“Please don’t look at me like that”..di nakatiis si Steph

“Like what?”, nagtatakang tanong ni Damon

“I don’t know, para kaseng natatawa ka sa akin”...

“Naisip ko lang kase, matakaw ka pala”...natatawang sabi ni Damon

Di napigilan ni Steph ang sumimangot... Naalala tuloy nya ang kanyang apat na kondisyon bago sya pumayag na pumunta sa bahay ng binata... Ipapaalala na sana nya yun ng biglang sumingit si Damon.

“Hinde, kidding aside Steph, ayaw kong mag-aral sa States, una, dahil dun na ako ng aral until highschool... I went home dahil hindi ko gusto dun, and besides come to think of it, if di ako umuwi dito e di hindi kita makikilala.”

Hindi nakasagot si Steph, tila seryoso si Damon dahil tinawag sya nito sa kanyang pangalan... Nagpretend nalang syang nagcoconcentrate sa pagkain hanggang maubos nya ito.

Si Damon naman ay nakatingin lang sa kanyang tila naaaliw.

“Do you wanna swim? Marunong ka bang lumangoy, I can teach you”

“Hindi ayaw kong maligo, but yes I know how to swim”..pagmamayabang ni Steph. “and kahit gugustuhin ko man, wala rin akong dalang panligo”..dagdag pa niya...

“May pinabili akong mga swimsuit sa taas for you, you can choose whatever fits your taste, that is, just in case you’d change your mind, masarap maligo sa pool nayan, regulated ang temperature ng water’

“No, thanks”..yun ang naisagot ni Steph kahit gustong-gusto nitong maligo.

At the age of 10 ay sumasali na si Steph sa mga swimming competitions sa kanyang school... She loves to swim at miss na miss nya nang maglangoy, it has been like a year since the last time na nakapag enjoy syang magswimming. But she kept her self control and managed to say no to his invitation.

“Ok, don’t worry di naman ako mamimilit ng ayaw”, nakangiting sagot ni Damon.

“So, how about a tour around my house first:”... Inoffer ni Damon ang kanyang kamay ngunit umiwas si Steph at tumayo ito... si Damon naman ay tila tumupad nalang sa kanilang usapan at hindi na nag attempt na hawakan sya.

“ Let’s start from the 3^rd floor..” umakyat sila sa ikatlong palapag...

“The entire 3^rd floor is my room and a guest room...” binuksan ni Damon ang guest room, para itong isang pad.  Dumeretso si Steph sa terrace at hindi sya nagkamali sa kanyang inaasahan... The place is so magical, para syang nasa ibang bansa.  Malamig at napakapresko ng simoy ng hangin.  Di napigilan ni Steph mag isip, ang sarap sigurong mag aral dito, walang ingay sa kapitbahay at tila napakalayo mo sa kabihasnan... Madali nyang matatapos ang kanyang thesis sa ganito katahimik na lugar.  Ngunit hindi ito mangyayari.

“Do you like the place? this will be your room should you decide to accept my offer na samahan ako”...

“Napakaganda, but I guess alam mo na ang sagot ko tungkol dyan, hindi naman ako ganun kahirap para makitira sa bahay ng may bahay, thanks but no thanks”..

“Ok, let’s go see my room then?”...“Don’t worry, I wont take advantage of you”... natatawang comment ni Damon dahil napansin nitong hesitant si Steph. “Except if  you’ll ask me to”...dagdag nito.

Matalim na tinitigan sya  ni Steph......

“Joke... I’m just joking alright, to naman, di na mabiro”..kantyaw ni Damon

Binuksan ni Damon ang isang malapad na pinto... “Welcome to my dwelling place”...

Malayo sa inaasahan ni Steph ang ayos ng kwarto ni Damon, maayos ito at mabango.  Maluwang ang kanyang kwarto at tulad ng guest room, my terrace din ito, ang malaking bed ay kulay navy blue ang mattress at nakaharap ito sa isang flat screen na ubod ng laki... She was puzzled kase napakalinis ng lugar...

“May katulong ka ba dito?”

“Yep si Nanay Belen, sya ang tagapagluto ko, pero off limit sya sa kwarto ko.”

Lalong nagulat si Steph...” Obsessive-compulsive ka ba?”..

“Ha, why do you ask ?”

“Your room is so clean and tidy, para kang bading”..babawiin sana ni Steph ang kanyang sinabi... pero huli na ang lahat... nasa harap na nya si Damon... Steph, bakit mo nasabi yun, napakataklesa mo talaga... Nagpanic si Steph, napaatras ito, ngunit bumangga ang kanyang likod sa salamin na sliding door ng terrace.

“Paki ulit nga ng sinabi mo”, seryosong tanong ni Damon habang lalong nilapit ang katawan kay Steph sabay sandal ng dalawang kamay sa glass door.

“ahhh, ang linis ng kwarto mo?”...napakagat sya sa kanyang labi

“No sweetheart, the other one.”... nilapit ni Damon ang kanyang mukha kay Steph.

God his breath smells so good, parang bibigay na ang mga tuhod ko... please God, pwede ba akong magdisappear na lang... ‘di ko yata ito kakayanin...

“Stephanie,... do I look like a gay to you sweetheart?”...halos pabulong ng bigkas ni Damon.

“Gay?, I did not say you’re a gay!!” binasa ni Steph ang kanyang mga labi unconsciously...

“God,please don’t do that.”...napatingin si Damon sa kanyang mga labi

“Do what?”....mukha yatang kakapusin na si Steph ng hininga....

“Your lips are asking me to kiss you”...

Aktong hahalikan na sya ni Damon when his phone rang... Damon sweared under his mouth... tinanggal nito ang isang kamay at sinagot ang phone... Hindi makaalis si Steph sa harap ni Damon dahil nakaharang parin ang kabilang kamay nito...

“Sally, what part of don’t disturb me did you not understand?” sagot ni Damon sa telepono...

Narinig ni Steph ang tila nag eexplain na boses ng isang babae sa kabilang linya...

“Ok, put him through..”... nag-iba ang tono ni Damon, hindi na ito galit... Nag karoon si Steph ng pagkakataong titigan si Damon at isa isahin ang parte ng kanyang mukha... He has brown eyes, thick lashes, nakatingin ito sa baba... Napakatangos ng kanyang ilong and his lips... mother of God... any woman would die to be kissed by those lips.

“Good morning sir”, pormal na sagot ni Damon sa telephone...

“Yes sir, I’ll be there, thank you”... napatingin si Damon sa kanya na mukhang nanghihinayan... Si Steph naman ay biglang umiwas ng tingin...

“Too late sweetheart, alam kong kanina mo pa ako tinititigan”....

Natauhan si Steph.. “Oo, dahil kanina ko pa gustong umalis dito kaya lang nakaharang yang mga kamay mo” mataray na pagdadahilan nya sa binata.

Tinanggal ni Damon ang kanyang kamay “Princess, will you forgive me if I leave you here with Nanay Belen for a while, I just have to meet this very important person, may kelangan lang kaming i-settle”... tila pagmamakaawa ni Damon sa kanya...

“Sure”, kaagad na sagot nya dahil yun naman talaga ang dinadasal nya kanina pa, ang makawala sa sitwasyon nila ni Damon ngayon... thank you God, for answering my prayer... tahimik na dasal nito.

“I promise to come back soon... I’m really sorry sweetheart.”

“It’s ok, take your time, I’ll be here when you come back”...you’re such a fool Stephanie.... fool but happy...

“Feel free to do whatever you like in this house, consider it yours, sweetheart... use the guest room if you feel like resting”..

“Ok, thank you”

Tinitigan sya ni Damon na tila may gusto pang sabihin... Pagkatapos ay tumalikod na ito at bumaba ng bahay...

Narinig ni Steph ang paalis na sasakyan ni Damon.

To be continued... 


Next: Part V - The Tragedy

Previous: Part III - No More Pretensions

Just Another Famous Boy Fever

I just can’t help myself not to write about the incident that recently happened at NAIA I've seen in the local news.  I’m not really fascinated with show business... but this is different... it's a foul move.  It was an encounter between a Filipino airport employee asking this Canadian pop singer to autograph  his CD.  This singer tapped the CD to the floor,  called the man stupid and walked away like nothing happened.

First and foremost, let me tell you something about us Filipinos... we are very accommodating and hospitable to our visitors, we cook our best recipe for them... offer our nicest things for their use and even giving them our own room for their stay... and what we only expect from them is to show us the GRATITUDE and RESPECT.  We are also very sentimental people and we often take the side of those who are oppressed or those who are underdogs.  So you see, it doesn’t really matter to us how good or famous a person is, as long as he did something ungrateful or uncalled for to another person, especially if that “another person” is our own, definitely you will lose a lot of followers from us.  You are lucky by the way; you’re not born in the Marcos’ regime, because if you were, being banned from our country will be the least that you’ll expect because you might have suffered the same fate as that of the very famous band would have had a concert in Manila in 1966.  We also have high respect to a person’s privacy and we value it.  Seldom do we have paparazzi here unlike in other places... and we seldom have incidents of people harassing artists especially if they are off-stage.  And most of all, I believe we are one of those having the highest percentage of educated and degree holder in the world.  So don’t call someone stupid, because you don’t know the educational attainment of that person.  Most of us earned our college degree even our masters’ but have to settle for a job unlikely to what we had finished or attained due to the lack of job opportunity.  So please before saying or doing something rude... stand first in front of the mirror and say it... does it feel cool?... or will it feel right?

Our men here don’t really show that much affection towards artists or famous personalities.  We tend to keep it to ourselves as not to gain a different impression from others.  Hence, the person that was asking an autograph from you was actually a father who was doing her daughter a very big favor.  I just can’t think of the humiliation he had felt that time.  And I can’t blame his daughter if she’s getting sympathy in the net for what had happened to his father.  Man, I don’t know... I’m trying to be as modest as possible... but I guess, with what you have done, you don’t just lose one fan, to inform you we may also consist of a large portion of the viewers in the net and well-known social sites.

I hope you’d change, you’re still young... please remember you are there because of your avid fans... and they’re the reason for the things you’re enjoying today.  I’m sure you’ve heard of stars rising and eventually falling from star dome... and that is true to everyone with no exception... but what people will always remember from you is the person that you become... With high hopes.  God bless.

A Day of Celebrations

A lot of momentous happenings today call for a celebration and thanksgiving.  First and foremost, it's the day of all the moms in the world.  Let us make this day special for all of them by showing them how much we appreciate them in our lives and how important and dear they are to us. We can make them feel this way by showing them that we love them even in our own little ways.  A simple thank you will do but you may want to treat them also with something nice, like doing something for them, perhaps cooking for them or cleaning the house.  Or if you can afford, surprise them with a vacation spree or a nice relaxing spa, but if you can't, flowers will always bring a smile in their faces, especially if it comes with words of endearment.

My loving wife with my son...

To all my mom friends and loved ones, especially to my mom and to my beloved wife, I salute you all... for carrying us for 9 months in your wombs... for accepting whatever we look like the day we were born... for nursing us and providing our needs... for helping in molding us to what we are today... for all your sacrifices and giving almost all of yourself... for all of these, please accept our deepest appreciation and thanks.  I hope and pray that in this day, God will provide you what you need most... and may your day be filled with what your heart’s desire. 

Secondly, Hon. Representative Manny Pacquiao again made his nation proud by winning an impressive unanimous decision against his opponent Sugar Shane Mosley.  Almost all rounds favored Pacquiao, knocking down Mosley on the 3rd round and even the round when the referee called for a standing count knockdown to Pacquiao.  I really didn't get it though why the referee did that.  Looking at the replay, Mosley had accidentally stepped on Manny's foot and it's actually more of a push than a punch.  Well, he still won fair and square and he never forgot to pray to give thanks to God... I think that's what mattered most.  Congratulations to the Pacman, you never stop to impress us... but I guess we must also give due recognition to his Nanay Dionisia for making it possible for Manny to be the champion that he is today.

Pacquiao directed by the referee to go to his corner after
knocking down Mosley on the 3rd round

To all mothers... May God continue to bless you with the strength and wisdom you need to help mold the future pride and champions of our country.

Hurray for Our Company's First Sponsored MBA Program Graduates!

Just recently, several of my colleagues in our department who joined our company's MBA program had finally made through.  I may say they are very fortunate that their schooling expenses were shouldered by our company.  Also, they do not need to travel to their school because they are provided with an air-conditioned classroom within our company's premises by which was attended by their instructors.  This was in consideration of their classes being after their work.  Furthermore, their school did not require them to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).  They just took the university's entrance examination.  Because if it did, then they will be preparing for the GMAT which won't really be a problem as long as they are well equipped.

If, in any case, since a lot of MBA programs worldwide already require you to have a GMAT score to qualify, you need not to worry.  You just have to choose among the many reviewers that can provide you with the latest GMAT practice test which can best prepare you.  I suggest that in choosing, you may want to look at the reviewer's background and how good their instructors are.  It would surely make a difference and will definitely make it worth your time and money.

To our new MBA colleagues, we know it wasn't easy finishing your course. We heard of your countless sleepless nights and overtimes but you conquered it all. With this, my sincere congratulations.  Now is the time to take another step towards growth, and be what the company hopes you to become as you  go forth in an era thriving for sheer excellence. Good luck and God bless.

The MBA program of our company to its selected employees.

Working on Labor Day

It's holiday and it's Sunday and I'm working... hard labor... literally.  It's a good thing though, I really need to divert my longings and do something productive.  I'm landscaping a small vacant space in our house to make a garden... I already bought white stones, bricks, garden soil, and some plants... the rest of the materials were from what can be found in our house.  Arranging the bricks, stones, wood and plants was the easy part... filling the area with soil is a whole different story.  I had to dig up soil from our backyard and bring it in the spot using 2 buckets... with one having no handle (guess I'm just quite short of options).  So I had to dig in the dry topsoil in our backyard and carry it up to our front yard... keep repeating the process for at least 15 times... you just don't know how glad I am that I'm done... haha...

These are my paints...

And this is my canvass... still in progress.

We are so blessed as a country... our soil here is very rich and fertile.  Grasses and plants grow all year round... if you throw a seed in the soil, it'll just grow.  I hope Filipinos would appreciate this blessing  from God and take care of our natural resources... Our topsoil might be thick but if we constantly abuse it... we might lose it's fertility someday.  Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is I won't have any problem with growing the plants then... however, I still have to choose the right plants and work on the walls... I'm still halfway in completing the project... long way to go.  I'll post the picture here when I'm done... God bless.