Ode to my Family

when everything is,
and even when it's not;
when the days are bright,
and even when sun's not in sight;
i take a look at you and all becomes right
your smiles, your embraces,
even just the thought of it
makes me happy, keeps me warm.

Daily Dose of Verse (03-13-2013)

when love is lost
and your lover's gone away
should you wait?

when his feeling's gone
and everything seem to have said and done
should you keep the faith?

can love be love
when it was just found today?
or love is love
when it has has seen the best of days?

a heart that forgets so easily
is a heart that you can't depend to stay
a heart that remembers, and fights till it lasts
is a heart you should keep 'till the end of days

Daily Dose of Verse (03-12-2013)

play me sweet music,
and shower me with memories
whisper to me words
that will fill my fantasies

let's dance in the rain,
be silly, and laugh all we want
I'd like to hold on to today
when I can be here, and you can stay

#dailydoseofverse

Dail-E Dose of Verse

my mind's wandering, dreaming of you
how can my heart go on with all these blues
today is spent with what I could have done
to make every minute count when you were still around

I am left with with all the words I could have said
I regret the time I have wasted
If only I have, oh, if only I have
Why did I let it all pass, I let it all pass


#nagsasapoetic #dail-edoseofverse

musings at the break of dawn

Awake but in a standstill,
holding my breath unawarely;
I am caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts
but barely capable of a word

I am enveloped in darkness
but could vividly see;
washed out by an endless sea of mumblings
taking in every word, with it, oddly swimming.

I count the ticking of the clock,
and listen to nothingness
as I dream of a dream about reality

I let myself drift off to sleep
and dream the dream
hoping by tomorrow I live the dream
of living to dream of living.

My One Day - Dec 18, 2012

Marriage is a one of those roads less traveled. It offers a different course to each wanderer, making the adventure far and apart, and it also makes you second guess each and everytime, about almost everything.

Married people, or those who are in a relationship for that matter, are often asked, "Why him/her?". It's a vague question, if you ask me, and not inappropriate. It is vague in the sense that one would almost never give a definitive answer to the question, even after years of being together. One may say that "he loves as much as I love him", "he takes care of me so well", "he'll be a good father/mother", "he/she compliments me", or even as inane as "his eyes are beautiful". And, God forbids, even until death, you will never get to point a finger as to why you chose that person to be the one you've spent your whole life with. When you are gray and older, would you look at your other half with the same fire when you first met? Or you look back and say "It would have been better".

The question is not inappropriate. I know,  that sounds confusing. But you see, nobody is entitled to question your decision over something that important. It's your choice, and you are the one who has to live with it. Not unless you really don't care a bit in the first place. Nobody has the right, but everybody is allowed to be concerned. It is, after all, supposed to be ever after right? And these words - "ever after", they are utterly frightening. Eventually though, it wouldn't be just you two. New life may be created by you, and will depend on you on a lot of things. Are you in this together for the long huddle?

So, in this age of skepticism, what makes the pros of being married heavier than the cons. What would it take for us to believe and have faith on the the vows of forever?

I, to be honest, after 11 years of being married, has no solid answer to that. We, our marriage, will always be a work in progress. We still stumble from time to time, make wrong turns, hurt each other, and other people, unintentionally or not, go against what other people perceive to be the "better option", be human. But we will always try to swim up the shore, cope up as much and as swiftly as we could. I know we've just scratched the tip. But, looking at our two wonderful kids makes me look at what we have in a different perspective - positive and never giving up.

On one reflective moment in my life years back though, and I remember it vividly to be in the wee hours of the night  and having these crazy thoughts about whether everything is all worth it, it came to me, that in spite of and despite of all that has happened and are to, I can never see myself to be with anyone else other than my husband. I can never see my kids having a different father other than their dad. That I am holding on and keeping this marriage intact for better or for worse.

I guess everybody's entitled to have their own way of dealing with their marriage. And I give my respect as you deserve. To each his own, as they say. I am saying a prayer to us all who have made the leap into the ocean of uncertainties of being married, with a partner, being parents - no matter if we all choose to swim together or battle the tides alone. I pray that we all be the best of what we can be for ourselves, and for the people that we love, and to always have faith.

I am writing this as a homage to my husband, my partner, my better half. 11 years honey, and we are still counting.

Isang Gabi ng Parokya

Amongst the bands that went mainstream in the early 1990s, I think the only band that remained intact (except for a few years when Vinci took a 'leave') was Parokya ni Edgar (PNE).  And it's been, what, 20 years? If that is not enough to speak for the bond that vocalist Chito Miranda, lead guitarist Darius Semaña, rhythms Gab Chee Kee, bassist Buwi Meneses, drummer Dindin Moreno and back-up vocals Vinci Montaner, I don't know what else could. For the avids, it will be very noticeable that few of PNE's songs speak about their brotherly love for each other, Yes Yes Show to name one.

In their Wikipedia entry, the band' name is roughly translated as Edgar's Parish. Funny  enough, the throng of people that filled The Arena in Clarke Quay looked like a prayer rally (was also quipped by the night' host), ready to be moved by their witty, straightforward wordplay, and be blessed with good music.

Parokya ni Edgar's highly anticipated gig last September 2 was supposed to be a one night-only concert but due to overwhelming response, the organizers were pushed to open a Saturday slot. But, for those who were too eager to grab tickets for the Sunday event were in for a great night of music, bonding, fun and camarederie that only Parokya, as a band, can give.


A few front-acts revved up the excitement which included 2 dance groups (names slipped my mind), showband Stella's art, metal-trash sounding Tao band, and our personal favorite, reggae-sounding Ranara band (they were cool, really!).

Ranara Band pre-performance

The Arena was so jam-packed that the air-conditioning system turned out ineffective. But despite waiting in line for about two hours, and waiting a bit more for the front-acts to finish performing, everything turned out to be all WORTH it. 

just got in!

excited for the event to start

Chito's opening spiel was so warming it melted everyone's heart and surely set the pace for the rest of the night.

"... Kagabi nakasampung kanta lang kami. At balita ko, ito yung original date ng gig (concert) at kayo, kayo yung mga naunang bumili ng ticket. Dahil diyan, maraming maraming salamat pare. Request lang kayo ng gusto nyong kantahin namin. Enjoy lang tayo pare.."

Their first song was the classic Buloy. And just hearing the intro, the crowd went a notch wilder. All throughout the show, the echoing chants. singing and cheering were defeaning  and electrifying. Chito and Vinci's friendly banters were very entertaining, and made you remember again and again the years these guys have spent together as a band; made you feel how tight they are. Chito were coercing Gab and Darius to gang-up on Vinci but he found allies with Dindin and Buwi, who started the intro for Vinci's solo turn on the mic with Maroon 5's Moves like Jagger. Man, Vinci girating? That was hilariously entertaining. Ang so was his and Chito’s shoulder-twists during Mr. Suave.

Vinci, sporting the Mr Suave mustache and having been teased since the beginning as not being able to memorize any of their songs aside from Picha Pie, belted out Rivermaya's Elisi and Wonderful Tonight to the delight of the crowd as they chant his name after Chito's continuous teasing.

Chito: "talagang tatapusin yan ha?" (You really intend to finish that, huh?"
Vinci: "Syempre" (Of course!)

Vinci's one retort went like, "..Oh pano yan, ako pala gusto nila. Pwede ka nang umuwi."  (How about that? It’s actually me they want. You can go home.), which caught Chito off guard for a quick second, and gave the crowd the chance to joshed on Chito. Vinci even urged the crowd to shout his name even louder. This fired up the frontment’s jousting all the more, much to the delight of the everyone.

But before that, Vinci took the spot to sing Picha Pie - and I literally meant he took the spot as he chose to leave the stage for a while and walk along the divider in the VIP section. The people was in a frenzy.

Chito sang each of the songs with so much gusto and never fails to shout out his appreciation to the crowd. Vinci's equally passionate back-up vocals and making faces took the spotlight from Chito from time to time. He's just a delight to watch and listen to as well.

One highlight of the night was one girl from the crowd was requested on the stage to sing "Pangarap Lang Kita" with Chito. She looked, interestingly, prepared for that moment. She sounded nice, in all fairness, and look good as well. Dang, what would I give to be whispered on to by Chito, be hugged afterwards, sweat and all. Deym!

  Anyways, in anticipation, or probably I just miss their music, I listened to just PNE's songs for a few days priour to Sept 2, and it's so noticeable for me how much Chito's voice have changed a lot. It's more thick, manly, if I can use that description. Must be the change in his built.

Aside from what has been previously mentioned, they sang (at least as far as my memory serves me) Harana, Halaga, Sayang, Boys Do Fall In Love, Alumni Homecoming, Para Sa Yo, Your Song (My One and Only You), Muli, Elisi, Gitara, Silvertoes, Mr. Suave, This Guy's In Love With You Pare, Maniwala ka Sana, Sorry Na, Inuman Na. They ended the gig with Yes Yes Show, which I think beautifully sums up everything they made fun and talked about the whole night.

It’s so heartening to feel how much appreciation the band has with the love they are getting, not only from the people who filled up The Arena, but to everyone who has supported them all these years.

Parokya rocked Singapore for one night and that one night was how concerts are supposed to be - frantic, high spirited, communal, sublime, down-right fun, no-holds barred, honest, music filled. Seeing them in the flesh, a bit bulkier compared to their earlier days, made me realized they've aged. I've aged. But their music, their passion, their hunger for every chance of a good performance, and their love for those who have been at their backs lives on.

Hanggang sa muling bagsakan!