The Night KGG Joy Hosted a Gathering before the 2012 Chinese New Year
Habang palalim ng palalim ang gabi, unti unting lumalabas ang mga kwento ng nakaraaan. Mga sitwasyong di maalala, sandaliang tinatanggi. Nandoon na rin ang mga masasayang alaala na masarap balik-balikan.
 Ngunit ang klaro sa gabing ito ay ang hirap mag-organize ng isang climb sa mga taong iba’t-iba na ang prioridad sa buhay. Nandoon pa rin ang mga pangyayaring pagbibida, pagtanggi, pagpupursigi at pananahimik (ehem, ako po yun).
 Para sa akin, nagagawa lang ito ng mas maluwag sa kalooban ng bawa’t isa ang tapatang sagutin ang katangunan, “Ba’t ko gustong umakyat muli?” Para sa gamit? Sa pagsasama? Sa alaala ng mga nawalang kaibigan? O trip lang o pagsubok sa kakayahan? Para sa mga anak? O bagong kaibigan.
 Mahirap sagutin. Maaring bigyan muna na ng maiksing panahon, maiksi na lang para matuloy na ang intensyong ito. Maaring makakatulong kung sagutin na rin ang katangunan, “Ano ang toka ko sa akyat na ito?”
 Sa tropang ito, madali makuha ang kasagutan. Maiksing panahon na lang sa pananaw ko at lalarga na ang biyaheng ito.
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As the night deepened, slowly the mountain stories unfolded. Moments of forgetfulness, unnamed mountains, happy times, euphoric feelings were common that evening. Like the food that was unlimited, so were the situations with Mother Nature.

What was clear that night was it was difficult to organize a climb. While there are now other priorities in life, it apparently was not the obstacle to firm up a plan. Not even the presence of a certified coach CSC expedited the decision process. Because we just allowed the moment to unfold by itself naturally. There are bragging, denials, determined pursuit and even plain quiet introspection probing "What really was the past 20 years for me?"

For me it would have been easier to come to an alignment if we first asked ourselves the usual question, "Why do I want to climb again?" To field audit my equipment? To experiment a new recipe? For the bonding and friendship? To honor a dead friend? Or simply a plain adventure to test still our physical capability? To climb with our children or new found friends?

Difficult to answer these days. Allow us some time to ponder about it. However it might be easier to answer the practical query, "What am I willing to give for this climb to happen? Then it would just be a matter of short time that this activity will take off. Because . . . alll of us have the same purpose. HNY 2012!

Fotos taken by Nelson M, owned by KGG Joy DA, grabbed by the FB foto album

Advent and Adversities

Message from Saturday night's Simbang Gabi at the Gesu, "Something's Coming", from Sunday's homily, "Hurdling Adversities." Lines I picked up from the Parol description: The Christmas Parol like the Star of Bethlehem conveys a message of hope, faith and victory over darkness.

Info I picked up from Edsel. 

Mga kaibigan.  Updates on how to ship DONATED goods to CDO/Iligan via Abotiz/Negros Navigation.  Emergency/Relief goods and equipment bound for Cagayan de Oro/Iligan- we have ships ready to transport them asap. For bulk items, bring directly to Abotiz/Negros Navigation, Pier 2, Manila. Call +63 2 211 5484 for more information.   Manila collection centers for relief goods: NN-ATS Express Center at Pier 2; NN-SuperFerry corporate ticket outlets in 1) Robinson's Ermita, 2) Araneta Center Cubao, 3) Victory Mall Caloocan and 4) Pier 15 and 5) Pier 2.



Ateneo Dream Team processing station last 18 Dec



Last Black Friday night, the night after Thanksgiving Thursday, I was in a company of product distribution experts on a drinking and food eating trip along the strip of Manila Bay at MOA (Mall of Asia) San Miguel by the bay.

Traditionally in the U.S. Thanksgiving has been an institutionalized event where the family recognizes appreciation for the blessings over sumptuous dinner. Our local version is an office gathering with shared billing. One came from the river bank of Rizal, another from Laguna and the rest from Paco in Manila.  The prime mover earlier shopped for the fresh "pusit, tahong, tilapia, tuna" at the nearby wet market and had it cooked (paluto) at the selected outlet. Beer was order as much, food almost like "eat all you can" as the prices are affordable to a company of mid managers.

Talk point that evening did not center on giving thanks neither on what's working. Instead it dwelt on what is not working, routines not followed, regulations ignored. At some point, some raised the solution of "ethnic cleansing" to address the root cause. No wonder I said, it was a Black Friday. It turned out to be a ranting session to cope with situation not according to norms, by the group's standards. Talks were on violation, sleeping on the job, conflict of interest, etc. I selectively listened but did not contribute. I savored all the seafood servings but did not drink as much San Mig Pale Pilsen. Discussion extended for hours until way past midnight.

Foto grabbed from http://manila-photos.blogspot.com/

Did the activity have any value? Yes it has as the food was good. Yes as it was with a pleasant company. At the end of the session, it felt good to have attended a gathering, thankful that that the four of us were still around looking forward to more sessions hopefully with more pleasantries than stories on failed responsibilities. “Kailan ulit?” Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Topics in my mind:

-BPI Bank of Philippine Island in Metro Manila has online queue when in the bank premises. Did it cut waiting time?

-CDR King, the mainstream retailer of computer users computes manually. Will they computerize in the near future?

-Why DZUP radio show conversations are engaging keeping me glued on the radio. Will the shows continue to interest me?



Sa-a-a-d movies always make me cry

He said he had to work so I went to the show alone

They turned down the lights and turned the projector on

And just as the news of the world started to begin

I saw my darlin' and my best friend walk in

 -Wit on the new sunshine industry, the neighborhood laundry shop. Spotted on 12th Avenue Murphy, “Suds Story” and “Wet n Wash.” My favorite is “Wash Now My Love” at F. Castillo st. in Project 4. Laundry cost is P25.0 a kilo, wash and dry only. Tea houses too are mushrooming with their creative names.  Spotted at Diliman are: "Infini Tea" and "Cha Dao."  Are there more?

What now my love, now that you left me.  How can I live through another day

5 Incidences That I am Grateful for and Appeciative of:

1. Alvin of Open Pinoy patiently cleaned the 15.1 LCD screen of my Think Pad removing the spots inside the glass panel this 12 November, Saturday.  Divertion to surfing will now be minimized.
2. Habagat Davao sent via JRS the pair of metal braces for the Kinabalu Travel Pack bought almost a month ago and received today Saturday.  Pack can now be loaded with more kilos of pomelo for my next trip.
3. An elderly gentleman with carts of groceries offered me a slot in front of him at the check out counter of S and R in Quezon City two weeks ago.  The gesture was timely as I was in hurry to bring in supplies to a luncheon which is due in several minutes.
4. Closed the 5 month cadetship session of 10 appreciative engineers this 11.11.11.  It is gladdening to hear from a feedback at the end of the day that "they are now better prepared for the eventualities of tomorrow's realities."
5. Heard my name specially mentioned by Jane of Tropang Radyo of DZUP 1602 AM while driving along C5 last 11 November Friday night at about 7.   I happen to be a fan of the AM station which is now one of my rich sources of ideas, insights and inspiration.

I was due to arrive in Manila past one from Cebu the Friday before the long weekend. The PAL plane from Manila arrived an hour late at the Mactan International Airport resulting in a series of delays for the day for the Boeing Jet.

“Manageable,” I told myself. But as we reached the island of Luzon, the pilot announced that there would be a delay in landing due to some operations at the Manila airport. We hovered around South Luzon for an hour until our flight was given clearance to land. It was my 1st time to view landing from the South side of the airport as we would traditionally pass by the air route from East when we would land from coming either the Visayas, Mindanao or from abroad. I found out upon landing that the President of Vietnam departed that same afternoon putting on hold any plane movements at the airport.

Grabbed from the Inquirer

“Still manageable,” I convinced myself. On the way out of the airport, I was caught in a gridlock mid afternoon, 1st at the Quirino Highway until Osmeńa Highway due to the combined volume of private vehicles and big hauling trucks and in Kamuning along Judge Jimenez st. until Kamias. Gridlock was caused by bottlenecks at every intersection of private vehicles and motorcycles cramming for the same limited road space.

Later on that evening, broadcast news validated that traffic was extremely heavy that afternoon until late in the evening as it was a Friday, pay day and Metro residents are moving out to take advantage of the 4-day free day. I was pleased to have heard that news while in the comfort of my destination for the day.

Two days after was altogether a different situation. Metro Manila that Monday was in a relatively relaxed state getting the much needed relief from the stress of a congested city. There was hardly any vehicle in both major highways and local roads. Neither are there any mass gatherings at the streets. Movement from the East side of Metro Manila to the West was a breeze.

Such was the cycle of stress to stress-free. Metro Manila this Monday was given the chance to rejuvenate and to expel the carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles. This much needed respite was timely and temporary, preparing itself for the hurried pace of the forthcoming 2011 holiday season. Happy Halloween!