off to tabuelan...

the blue skies...

aquamarine seas and

wonderful people....

>>>a paradise on earth<<<

into the nothingness...

i traversed and found solace...

...

currently speechless...
this, too shall pass...

The Take Off

October 4, 2008 (4:10am, Mactan International Airport).

As I looked into the faces of Mj and Jib who were both extremely excited about the long over due trip, I wondered if any of them realized that deep inside I was as scared as a convicted murderer being taken to the electric chair. For several days, we have been preparing for our departure for Manila and even though I was also looking forward to this trip, I dared not think about the actual flight. Now here I was, face to face with my hour of decision! Don't get me wrong. This is not the first time that I've been on the plane. But still, I was scared. Scared that the plane might crash and the world will lose such a wonder like me. (char!)

The attendant must have noticed the look of awe and wonderment on my face, or I must have stood frozen in position; whatever happened I am still not sure. All I remember is that she took my boarding pass and said something about welcoming me aboard and hoping that I enjoyed the flight. She practically led me by the hand to my seat!

At my seat I started fumbling with the seatbelt and was on the verge of exasperation when finally I was able to put it on. I then settled back into my seat watching what seemed like an endless stream of passengers boarding. How many people did this damn thing hold! My mind wandered as I sat there by the window. I can’t say how long I had been daydreaming, but I was suddenly brought back to reality by the sound of a female voice on some sort of intercom.

The voice was metallic and monotonous. I could tell that whoever it was, she had repeated those very words again and again possibly for years. She welcomed us all aboard, told us her name and proceeded to explain certain emergency measures. Emergency measures! Who was she kidding? Here I was, trying to figure out what manner of idiocy had brought me aboard this contraption, and she was talking about emergency measures! That did it! I immediately grabbed my “King James “ pocket version and started to read from the psalms. After all, I could not think of anything real bad that I had done, so the scriptures would surely help to calm me down. (okay, I am exaggerating! I didnt bring a Bible. =p)

As we taxied down the runway I sat rigidly, (jib's fingers were at the same time buried on my arms-he didnt like the feeling of taking off) and asked the powers that be to make sure that we did not roll into the ocean. Buildings, trees, other planes whisked by, and in no time we were airborne. Even though I was scared half to death, I was impressed by the totally different perspective I had when I dared to look out the window. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen! I could see miniature buildings and lights way below. The shoreline was visible for miles and I found myself wondering if the people who drew maps did so from airplanes.

After several minutes into our flight, I started to relax a little. The feeling of crashing began to vanish. We did not appear to be moving! I looked out the window and all I could see was a dark sky. I was on top of the clouds! The captain’s voice came over the intercom wishing us a safe flight. We would be cruising at 355 miles and should be landing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in about 45 minutes. Somehow the captain’s voice was more reassuring than the previous voice we had heard. Feeling much more secure I settled back into my seat and started to read the plane's magazine while Jib and Mj were so busy talking. I had barely got into my book before two attendants pushed a cart with assorted food and drinks, stopped by our seats and asked whether we wanted anything to eat. Afterwhich, I closed my eyes and dozed off...

There was a flickering of lights and the voice on the intercom informed us that we were approaching NAIA, and would be landing in a matter of minutes. I looked out the window and was amazed with the sun set. What a sight! There was a bump followed by another and buildings were flashing past my window. We had landed! We taxied for about 10 minutes before coming to a complete stop. I shall never be able to describe the profound feeling of relief I felt knowing that we were again on solid ground. (we did not crash and I was still alive! oh yeah, hardcore paranoia!)

With all the anxiety I felt, I really believe that we owe a lot to technology and the pioneers of flight who made it possible for me to travel 355 miles in 45 minutes...

Manila trainers, here I come... Sit back, relax and buckle up!

why now?

It’s sad, really. Some people just come too late; and though we know we only have one lifetime and it’s a short one at that to waste on anything but the things, people, and moments that truly make us happy, there are choices we’ve made in the past that simply cannot be undone.

Some people just come too late.

God Bless the Broken Road

this is one song that has been haunting me for days now. the lyrics is so perfect!

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream
Lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.
Yes he did!

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You been there, you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true.

Every long lost dream
Lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart
They were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way
Into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you. yes he did

Now I'm just rolling home into my lovers arms
This much i know is true
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you
That God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you

random thoughts

There is drudgery amidst happiness. I once read in a book something to this effect:

Happiness is repetition.
Man hates repetition.
Therefore, man can never be happy.

This is scary.

I wonder what my heaven will be like...

I remembered reading this book by Mitch Albom entitled "Five People You Meet in Heaven".

Made me wonder what kind of heaven I'll come up with. For Marguerite, it was a world of weddings because err... she loved weddings? I'm trying to think of a place I consider perfect that it's worthy of being my heaven, but I can't come up with anything. I'm thinking nature, vibrant colors, serenity. Read: What Dreams May Come. But if I am to base it from the book, I'm sure my heaven will be something else.

I wonder who the 5 people I will meet in heaven be.

I wonder if I also inadvertently killed someone when I was a kid. Yikess. Scary thought.

I wonder if I'll see my beloved lolo as one of my 5 people who'll teach me an important lesson about my life that was.

I'm thinking, If I die now, who will I wait for to find peace? Will there be some truths in my life that would need to be revealed? Reason for these thoughts? Well, my life is pretty much boring and uneventful so I really don't think much will be revealed. I do still have some hangups with one or two people, so maybe I'll be waiting for them to find peace.

And maybe it doesn't matter what my heaven will look like, as long as all my loved ones are there. Awwww. =b