Ma Mao Rong, behind the scenes of a nasty world: January 2007

1. Expect Change

Since we live in a changing universe, expect change—good change, difficult change, destructive change, transformative change.

2. Make Friends With Change

Try not to fight change; make unconditional friendship with it, in whatever form it arrives.

3. Relax Into the Mystery

There is so much more to this life than we can ever understand through our tiny brains and fearful hearts. So in times of big change, it's good to be gentle and kind and patient with yourself. And to relax. The best peacemakers are those who are at peace with themselves.

4. Receive Change's Message

Be still and listen deeply for the truth that is carried on its winds--information about the past, wisdom about the present, and direction for the future.

5. Come Alive

Join forces with the dynamic flow of life. The African-American theologian Howard Thurman said: "Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” And so, as the old year changes into the New Year, ask what makes you come alive, and then go do it--for your own sake, and in service of the greater good.

Source: www.beliefnet.com

Yeah, you read it right. There is another church whose bells rang earlier today. And it's another endless Kodakan day for the six of us (Me, Maybz, Jaymz, Ycel, Moneth, and the groom's sister, Nheng). Read on and know the details of this story from the start to its end, still with my Chronos Digital Camera (Nax ang plugging, Chronos, pay for this space! haha).

My day started with two phone calls. And I can't exactly recall what goes on with these calls. What I know is that they are calls from Maybell and Tita Titser. And as far as my memory is concerned, here are our conversations.

January 13, 2007, 8:05AM, In my room.

"Simple lang naman ang aking pangarap..." My mobile phone is ringing. First Call. From Maybell.

Maybell: Mayo!

Me: O?

Maybell: Pupunta ka ba?

Me: Saan?

(then i suddenly remembered that we will attend Nheng's Brother's Wedding)

Me: Ah, kina Wilgy (Wilgy = Nheng).

Maybell: Ano, pupunta ka ba?

(all of a sudden, our landline phone rings...)

Me: O, sige, oo. Bye!

---end of first call---

January 13, 2007, 8:06AM, Still in my room.

"Ring. Ring... Ring. Ring." Another phone is ringing (the landline is in my room, connected to my PC). Second Call. From Tita Titser (from now on, she will be named as Titser).

Titser: Haller?

Me: Hello.

Titser: Is your mom there?

Me: Ewan, baket? Baka nasa kusina.

Titser: Pakisabi aalis na ko.

Me: Sige, bye!

---end of second call---

*tulog*

"ZzzzzZZZZZZZZzZzzzZZzzZZzzzZzzZzZZZzzzzzzzzZzzzzzZzzzzZzzzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzz..."

10:00AM
Thank you Lord for this new day you have given me...
Wha! Ang sakit ng ulo ko. Napuyat kasi ako kagabi kakainternet. Sa tingin ko hindi na ko makakapunta kina Wilgy. Ako pa naman kako yung gustong gustong nagpiprisentang aatend sa wedding ceremonies ng kuya ni Nheng sa Born Again church na katapat ng Flavors sa Tabang, Guguinto. Ayan, lagot ako sa Tuesday, baka hindi nila ako pansinin pag hindi ako pumunta. Naku, hamu na nga sila. Hindi naman nila siguro gagawin yun. Magiinternet muna ko, text ko na rin sila online. Wala kasi ako load, sa CoE-5B yung natitirang nine pesos na load. Ayokong gamitin yun. Magpapaalam ako na hindi nga ako makakapunta.

*I also can't remember the exact text messages I got, how I answered them, and from whom they are from.* But to sum it up, nagutom ako... Dahil sa mga tawag nina Maybell, James at Nheng eh napilitan na rin akong pumunta. Not to mention, ang tawag ng sikmura.

Naku, baka iniintay pa rin nila ako sa simbahan. Eh pati yung mga bisita't abay eh nagiintay din. Yun tuloy, sinabihan ko na sila na mauna na kasi COD (Cause Of Delay) ako ngayon. 9AM lang naman ang usapan namin sa may tapat ng Flavors.

It's almost 12NN nang makarating ako sa Pandayan (Balagtas), kung saan hinihintay ako ng nakababatang kapatid ni Nheng. Akala ko sa kanila yung owner, muntik na kong sumakay. Sabi kasi ni Wilgy, susunduin ako ng bro nya. Nasa isipan ko kasi eh susunduin=may sasakyan, isasakay ako, at ihahatid sa reception. Whaw! Super VIP naman ako.

Nagyaya na yung kapatid ni Wilgy, nasa gilid kami ng Pandayan nun, may nakapark na owner sa harap namin. Bigla ba namang pumara ang kasama ko! Nyak, mamamasahero lang pala kami! Okay, sumakay na kami. May magagawa ba ko? Hehe. Isa pang akala ko eh jan jan lang sa tabi itong reception. Kaya kada bahay na madaanan namin tinitignan ko kung may handaan. Dito, wala... Doon, wala... San kaya?... Ah siguro dun sa susunod na kanto... Di kaya dun sa pagliko... La pa rin... Bakit puro palayan ang nakikita ko... Wow, may kalabaw... Lumiko ulit kami... Magaayos na ko ng buhok, baka yun na yung bahay nila eh... Hindi pala... Lumiko na naman... Nasaan na ba ko?... Namamaligno kaya ako... Baka naman binabangungot... O daydreaming lang... *Kurot* Yikes, this is reality. Eh bakit naman suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuupppppppeerrrr layo? Ayoko na, uuwi na ko... Hindi pwede, nakakahiya naman sa nagintay sa kin. Sige, paninindigan ko na to... Enjoy ko na lang ang view ng kabukiran... Bulacan pa kaya to?

In short, super duper mega layo ng bahay nina Wilgy! Pero nakarating naman kami ng matiwasay sa reception. Tomguts na ko... Ano kaya ang handa??? hehe...

Sinalubong ako ni Wilgy. Naabutan kong kumakain na ang mga bisita at ang mga bWisita (hehe, kami yun este sila pala). Sige, edi ayun, bumawi ako sa pagkain at paginom ng bottomless iced tea. I am proud that I got an award, the Super COD of the Year, for being super late, as in, 3 hours late, with more or less 50 people waiting. hahaha.

Haba ng kwento, basta ayun. Nagkodakan kami after kumain.

Sumukob sa design na kulambo parang pagmukhang belo.*Click*
Nagpalitan ng partners. *Click*
Umupo sa Presidential Table. *Click*
Kumuha ng wishes sa cake. *Click*
Kumain ng cake. *Click*
Nagpahiran ng icing. *Click*
Pumitas ng bulaklak. *Click*
Naiinip. *Click*
Nagyakapan. *Click*
Umupo sa panibagong sofa/upuan. *Click*
Naghugas sa may kusina. *Click*
Nakakita ng coat. *Click*
Uy, may manikin. *Click*
Hawak sa b***s ang manikin. *Click*
May gown, suot. *Click*
May waterfalls. *Click*
Sumalok ng tubig. *Click*
Pauwi na. *Click*
Maganda ang view ng bukid. *Click*
Stop. *Click*
Sa may kalsada. *Click*
Parang fieldtrip. *Click*

Uy, bongambilya! *Click*
Hakbang ng konti. *Click*
May simbahan. *Click*
Sa may tindahan. *Click*
Sa tricycle. *Click*
Sa Pandayan. *Click*

Bagay kaya ang cap? *Click*

Uy, si Katrina Halili!. *Click*
Last na to. *Click*

Summary lang yan ha! Binilang ko mga stored pictures namin sa digicam and found out na naka-one hundred forty one kaming shots! Hindi pa included yung mga nasa cellphone ni James.

Once and for all, aaminin na namin:
AYAW NAMIN NG PICTURE! (O, heto ang patunay para maniwala kayo!)