Journal 2086: Second Chances
Edited by: Gelai Alera
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| Refluctunt |
My third day here in Sagada was quite a challenge. Every ligament
in my body was aching as a result of a whole day-long of trekking, spelunking
and other physically exhausting activities. But then, it didn’t stop me to go
back to the Gaia Café. I walked for almost 30 minutes from the town center having
to bear the throbbing pain with my every step. Everything was soothed away
because of the delicious hot chocolate served with organic muscovado sugar and peanut butter banana sandwich I ordered. It was
really amazing and inspiring as well to stay in this beautiful and peaceful
place. The ambience was also great—books stacked on shelves everywhere that you
can borrow while staying, chilly weather, wide stretch of green fields and pine
trees spread across the scenic view, plus relaxing music played inside the
café. Imagine how tranquil the feeling was! What a coincidence that the
playlist of the owner had some of the songs I usually listen to when I want to
calm myself.
1.)
Don’t Dream It’s Over (a reggae version)
2.)
The Show
3.)
I’m Officially Missing You (acoustic version)
4.)
Love yourself
5.)
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
6.)
The Scientist
7.)
And so on.
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| Je vais vous raconter une histoire |
How I wish every time I go home from office, there is a
nearby coffee house like this where I can spend a couple of hours thinking
about how my life is going. Well, the moment was really perfect for my reflection.
I thought of my family who’s actually very supportive at all times, including
this solo vacation. I am just very thankful for having a family like them. Just
like what they say—you don’t choose your
family, they are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. Each of us has
those gap in our hearts that can only be filled by those people around us, primarily
our tatay, nanay, kuya, ate, bunso, tito, tita, lolo, lola and pinsan. They are the ones who we spend our
time with during most of the years of our life. Whether we like them or not, or
whether there are misunderstandings going on between family members, they are
the ones we can go back to in the end. There
is no better place than home, as the famous maxim says. The love that made us from the beginning of our own existence are
the same love that molds us of who we are right now. They are also the ones who
our deepest, darkest and ugliest sides. You definitely experience once in your
life to fart while your brother or your little sister is around—because it
doesn’t matter to them at all! They will just tease you for doing a gross
thing. It is kinda cool to imagine to have a family whom you share laughter and
tears with—and I could say I am super blessed to have one. Not really a perfect
family, but a family that is perfectly meant to be together.
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| With the best people closest to my heart! |
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| 12 o'clock on the 25th, My Inmenzo-Lleno Family! |
Nothing is also greater than to have a friend whom you can
always count on. I am super thankful that God gave me so many friends that I
consider as a blessing. I couldn’t mention their names here because it will
definitely consume a couple of papers with font size of one and no margin just
to list every one of them. I normally don’t spend time with the most of them
but I definitely make sure to hug, or to fist bump, or to tap, or just pinch their
bellies whenever I see them. Having a great time with those people add some
colors to my life. They are those people who know my embarrassing and memorable
moments inside and outside the classroom, office, or wherever place I’ve been.
Likewise, some of them are those people whom I can lean on in times of my worst
days. They are the ones whom I normally talk with when I feel sad or depressed
or when I just feel to have a companion. Especially in my case, I am honestly a
drama king and because of that, I am super
thankful to have those friends who are willing to lend their ears for me. While
a portion of them are those I spend with inside the office—who tease me
whenever I go home on the dot like saying their goodbyes in a volume loud enough to be heard across the whole area.
Those are also the people I’m with when I got to experience my first quervo with matching lemon and salt and other liquor drinks—but don’t you
worry, these people will definitely take care of you if you get drunk; except on
the part when you are not in your consciousness anymore—they will re-enact what
you’ve done to make you remember your awkward, unconscious self on the next day.
A small percentage of those friends are those dorm-mates I normally share stuff
with. They are the ones who typically share the meal-for-a-week which their mom packed for the group, and also the
ones who normally surprises you with not-so-surprising chocolate cake for your
birthday. Normally, I also consider their family as my family too. But most
importantly, a few of them are those who can see you far more than those normal
friends around you. These people are those who you are comfortable with to
share all your stories. These people who would always be there for you to guide
you when you’re lost or whenever you’re in a complete disaster. I am just so
thankful to have those people in my heart. Those people are the ones that I
would definitely tell about to my kids in the future. Sadly, life is not that
perfect because there are also broken ties that I experienced and honestly, it
still hurts me. But then, you can’t decide for your friends’ behalf because it
is their choice whether they want to stay or not in your life. That’s a painful
thing about those people you have invested so much emotions and moments with—it
is hard to let go, especially when you have already built a strong relationship
with that person. It is not only a lesson about friendship and relationship but
a lesson of forgiveness, humility, and acceptance. It is either you, the other
one, or both of you that caused the fight. But I learned that no matter who
that person is, you have to admit what you’ve done, say sorry, accept the
consequences, and most importantly, learn for what it is supposed to teach you.
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| My Tito and Tita and my dear Maeann at Arnedo, Bolinao, Pangasinan! |
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| Ala Eh, I'm their legal third party, Love these two- Dang and Anle! <3 |
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| My (the) first batch of students in our ministry!, Once a Sakristan, always a Sakristan! |
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| Friends for keeps! |
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| Punu Family would always have a part in my heart. |
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| Getting stronger- highschool classmates forever! |
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| The Bigger, the Better! My love for these buddies! Welcome to the new member of the family- Jep! :) |
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| Pushing Beyond the Limits, BSA 4-2 Family! |
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| The JBM Angels, and I! <3 We miss you Lou! |
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| We will always make it! |
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| The Unbeatable, My JPIA-FINEST Family! |
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| Hooray for today! Feat. my anakis, Resty and my dormie-beshie Manilyn! |
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| Mah Boys! <3 Marlo and Pepsy! |
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| The Long Ride, Escapade in Pangasinan with these people- Kuya James, Lester and Ate Maeann! |
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| SSG: We Make it Happen! I miss you all guys! |
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| My dormmates fam! I miss you all! |
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| When we are still young, My SSG Family! |
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| Second chance, please! |
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| Once a tropang P, always a tropang P! (Feat. Tropang Bowl) |
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| JBM Family |
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| Wish things get better? |
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| Things will be alright. |
In my 21 years of existence, I always aim to be nice and
kind to others, just like how my mom taught me to become a good boy when I was
a kid. It is always a life mantra to me that whoever it is, kindness is
something you can give without any cost. It is something that could bring smile
to the other person you’re interacting with and would surely resonate back to
you. It is a virtue that would cultivate other good things too—like being
polite, being persistent, being respectful and so on. It is the first thing
that was taught to us by our parents and passed on to our little brothers and
sisters. It is the thing that builds friends and relationships. It is something
that is innate to all of us, only needing to be showcased. That’s what I also
learned and felt for the people around Sagada. They always treat their
neighbors, including the tourists everywhere, with gentle heart and kindness.
It is something that makes visitors choose to stay or to come back again. I
remember one nice thing about the residents of Sagada that was shared to me by
Kuya Duvan (my tour guide yesterday). Whenever there is a wedding in town,
everyone is invited, that even if they don’t know the person’s name, they know
each and every one in face. It was really true since I saw it with my own eyes
and felt by my heart when Kuya Duvan and I were heading to Sumaguing Cave and
all the people we passed by greeted each other with genuine smile. It is something that really makes me smile
because the place is not only filled with beautiful destinations but filled
with people with beautiful hearts. It is one thing I will really miss about Sagada.
Sagada will always have a part in my heart that I would be proud to share to
all. If there would be a place where I can stay for a few days or so, alone or
with families or friends, I would definitely choose Sagada. I cannot wait for
the second chance I get to go back there and drink hot coffee while enjoying
every single thing in Sagada.
