Because, She Too, Can

I usually pass over the Marikina Bridge on my way to work. This morning was no different.

Or so I thought...

As of last Sunday morning, the Marikina Riverbank was host to the annual Christmas tiangge (bazaar). This year's tiangge saw the longest row of stalls ever set up for the event. This year also is marked by the highest rental rate for a space in the bazaar.

What I saw this morning, however, gave me goose bumps.

After a little over 24 hours of non-stop, heavy rain, the expected did happen...

The Marikina river overflowed. Bringing along with its strong currents, the dingy stalls of the bazaar with all the merchandise.

It was sad knowing that the damage could never be undone. All the goods have been washed away. They could never even be used by those people downstream who may be able to get hold of them. A total loss of investment.

I was actually contemplating about what I learned over the weekend. It struck me to realize that, as we do the things we do because we can, so can Mother Nature do the things she does because she could!

It was awesome to see the river, which is usually still and stagnant, move about and swirl with the strong currents. I was dumb struck at how feeble we really are before Mother Nature.

No, I wouldn't consider it an act of anger by Mother Nature. And environmentalists can shout 'til their voices are hoarse that what happened was due to improper garbage disposal and illegal logging, but, hey, i'm in the environmental field myself, and there's no reason to point at garbage and fallen trees everytime something like this happens.

I still consider this a reminder of Mother Nature's heretofore unacknowledged power. She can do this because she too can.

Because I Can

I was watching this guy on t.v. last weekend explain how he lost his phone and how pictures of him in compromising poses have been spreading over text (sms) messages.

The show's host asked why he kept such pictures in his phone. The guy answered the usual excuses (i.e. memories, etc.).

It came to my mind, however, that the main reason was because he could.

It was so plain and simple, almost idiotic even, to realize that we do stuff because we can.

But it is the utter simplicity of the reason behind most of our actions that really makes me wonder. It is the single, most honest answer one can give to the question why we do the things we do.

In recent months, I have come to believe that truth is verified by experience. And that there is no absolute "truth", only shared "truths". What may be "true" for me may not be "true" for others, and so is the reverse, because we have different experiences (i.e.different paradigms).

Doing the things we do because we can is a shared "truth", in that, many can verify, and have verified, this by experience. It is, by itself, also amoral (i.e.neither moral nor immoral). It is a basic "truth" devoid of principles and prejudices.

I didn't mean to go philosophical on this. I was just really struck by the simple reason behind all that we do. And I can do this because I can.

Revisiting "Hope for the Flowers"

I bought a copy of Trina Paulus' "Hope for the Flowers" yesterday.

I first got acquainted with the book way back in college, as a reading assignment for Prof. Ching Dadufalza's Humanities class. Back then what struck me most about the story was the "caterpillar pillar" and how everyone seems to want to get to the top of the pillar.

In recent months, however, I have been getting this nagging feeling that I should read the book once more. A voice inside me kept saying:

"the answer lies within 'Hope for the Flowers'"

Last night, despite my fatigue, I browsed through the book and, true enough, a few lines jumped out of the pages and went right through my consciousness.

Here are some of them:

1. "She [yellow caterpillar] felt like doing something, anything, rather than this uncertain waiting.
   
   'What in the world do I really want?' she sighed.
   
   'It seems different every few minutes.
   
   'But I know there must be more.'
   
   Finally, she became numb and wandered away from everything familiar."



2. "'Tell me, sir, what is a butterfly?'
   
   'It's what you are meant to become. It flies with beautiful wings and joins the earth to heaven. It drinks only nectar from the flowers and carries the seeds of love from one flower to another.'
   
   'Without butterflies the world would soon have few flowers.'"



3. "'How does one become a butterfly?' she asked pensively.
   
   'You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.'
   
   'You mean to die?' asked Yellow, remembering the three who fell out of the sky.
   
   'Yes and No," he answered.
   
   'What looks like you will die but what's really you will still live. Life is changed, not taken away. Isn't that different from those who die without ever becoming butterflies?'"



4. 'During the change, it will seem to you or to anyone who might peek that nothing is happening - but the butterfly is already becoming.
   
   'It just takes time!'

I am still reeling from the experience of last night. I am in the process of absorbing the knowledge in those words. They are not yet rhema to me, but, as the book puts it, it's "already becoming".

I guess it is no coincidence that whenever the universe has something to tell me, the butterfly is always there to deliver the message.

"Monarch Butterfly" image courtesy of jan

Pasan ko si Jollibee™!

Kuha ito ng kapatid ko nung linggo sa Jollibee™ Parang Marikina.



Yan ang nagagawa ng puyat!

VCD Shopping Binge

A video shop near the office dropped their prices this week. Sucker that I am for discounts, the following VCDs found themselves in my shopping basket:

1. Lord of the Rings Collection (PhP 650)

I already have a copy of the first part, however Disc 1 was destroyed during one of our "pirating" sessions at the office. Decided to get this package containing all three parts of the LOTR saga.


2. Kill Bill Volume 1 (PhP 150)

My youngest brother has been asking me to get a copy of this movie for ages. Finally gotten hold of one at a reduced price. The CD also came with a free copy of "Mula sa Puso ni Esperanza Double Film Soundtrack" in cassette tape format!


3. Legally Blonde 1 and 2 (PhP 99 each)

Who wouldn't want copies of these classic Reese Witherspoon comedies in their collection? These films never fail to crack me up everytime I see them. Nice having these around for gloomy days at home.


4. Les Miserables and Superstar: Dare to Dream (Buy 1, Take 1 at PhP 150)

I haven't seen this latest movie version of the Victor Hugo classic so it was not hard for me to pick this up.

On the other hand, I have seen this Molly Shannon starrer twice and I still can't stop laughing at her antics. Again, another one worth having during slump moments at home.

That's a grand total of PhP 1,148 for 8 VCDs. Not a bad deal.

As they say, good things come to those who wait.

Birthday Gift for the Birthday Boy and Other Stuff

The love of my life is celebrating his first birthday today!

Medyo may sumpong kaninang umaga kaya when I was singing to him, he was making annoyed sounds (or was it because of my ehem... singing voice?).

Had lunch at Megamall today and spoke with an officemate/friend about stuff. She also helped me look for some clothes for my pamangkin for his birthday party on Sunday. Exciting!

By the way, saw "Forgotten" last night. Crazy movie. But Julianne Moore was her usual "great actress" self. Really love her.

I hope I will never ever forget any one dear to me. Not my family, not my friends.

Also had a very interesting conversation with Albert last night.

Levelled Up to Mage!

My novice character levelled up to Mage yesterday. Yipee!

However, I found out just today that I've been building my Mage wrong. You see, I was randomly picking up the skills that I thought would be useable. But I read in a certain website that I should be picking particular skills if I want my Mage to be really powerful. Well, it's never too late to shift to Plan B, right?

And, it's never too late to shift to Plan B in real life, as well. Assuming, of course, that one has a Plan B or one even has a Plan A, for that matter.

Feeling ko, like my Mage, I should be changing my game plan na. It's appropriate since I just levelled up (just turned 29, remember?).

Sana I could find a website din where I could learn how and where to pick up the essentials for the path that I am choosing for myself.

And, like my Mage who had to "/leave" his current party, I may have to say good bye temporarily to some people, activities and ideas that I have gotten used to na.

Sabi nga ng mga taga IPIC: "Hataw Na!"