To conquer the Isles

The Team:

The Drama Queen – team leader, mission researcher and planner, master of disguise
The Caregiver – chief medical officer, quarter master
The Foreigner –  intelligence officer, team interpreter and spokesperson
The Exorcist –  research officer, marine, detoxification expert, bomb expert
The Girlfriend – equipments officer responsible for overall navigation and transport, communications engineer, specialized biological weapons expert capable of stopping speech
The Killer – special weapons officer, has a deadly wink, master magician
Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa – surveillance officer, medical officer
Ang Tsuk-Tsak – psychological war expert, weapons master, able to deliver a deadly blow potent up to 3 minutes, superior physical strength

The Night Before:

21:00 — The Girlfriend arrived at The Foreigner’s place first, The Drama Queen arrived a short while later. After careful planning, the three set out to meet with the other operatives.

First stop was at The Caregiver’s place. Then they went to pick-up Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa. The Academic was the next stop but was caught up in another mission. They met-up with The Killer then roamed the streets in search of Ang Tsuk-Tsak who had to swing by his safehouse to acquire much needed equipment.

Day 1:

00:00 — The team arrived back at The Foreigner’s place and attempted to rest for the day’s mission.

04:30 — The sleep-deprived team was roused by The Exorcist’s text message. The Girlfriend went to meet up with the Exorcist while the foreigner and the caregiver prepared breakfast. The drama queen contacted the academic who still wasn’t available for the mission.

05:30 — After taking care of some loose ends, the team was en route to the mission site. The Girlfriend was driving with Ang Tsuk-Tsak navigating. Everybody was in high spirits.

Secondary Mission: Survey all churches along the way and document the visits

The team deemed it impossible to accomplish the mission without compromising the main mission so they decided to implement random sampling. They were able to visit 3 churches.

09:00 — The team, not wanting to blow their cover, posed as regular tourists and took pictures on the viewdeck. Ang Tsuk-Tsak took over the driving while the drama queen navigated.

09:30 — The team arrived at the seaside safehouse and immediately made arrangements to acquire supplies.

10:30 — The team split-up into 2 groups, one (The Exorcist, The Caregiver, The Drama Queen, The Foreigner) set-out to survey the place while group 2 (The Girlfriend, The Killer, Ang Tsuk-Tsak, Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa) went out for some additional supplies.

Special weapons were distributed to all team members. The items were: a shirt, 2 shorts, a nail grooming set, 2 combs, a box of rubber hair bands, a wooden mug and a deck of cards. All of which proved to be very useful in the mission.

11:00 — After changing into their dry wetsuits, the team was finally on their way to the primary mission site aboard an ocean vessel steered by a certain Mang Jerry. He briefed the team on the local knowledge of the site and took them on a tour.

Finally arriving at the primary mission site, they set out to have the time of their lives. There was nobody else there but the team. They swam, ate, drank and laughed. Pictures were taken of almost anything and everything on the island.

The team decided to do a survey of the primary mission site and ended up under a hollow side of the island. As the waves grew stronger the team was pushed into the sharp rough wall of rock and sustained injury. When Ang tsuk-tsak, ang huling birhen sa lupa, the virgin and the girlfriend were able to get the team out of the immediate danger, the caregiver attended to the cuts and scrapes.

Sand and water samples were analyzed and tested for possible uses—exfoliant, building material, sustenance and waste/evidence disposal.

17:00 — The team went back to the safehouse for the night on the same ocean vessel bringing with them sand samples as well as a few algal samples.

19:30 — The exhausted team had dinner of green mangoes, tomatoes and chicken at the safehouse terrace overlooking the ocean then trained for the next morning’s mission. Night surveillance was considered but being too tired they decided against it.

Inside the safehouse, the team practiced their special skills until morning. Details of which are deemed as “need-to-know” basis.

Day 2:

07:30 — The team was awakened by The Foreigner informing them of an emergency operation to be done on the primary mission site. The team geared-up for it.

08:30 — The team was again en route to the primary mission site in the same vessel. Once there, they again tested sand and water samples plus rock samples but the weather wasn’t cooperating. The Drama Queen discovered that sand and water can preserve 25-cent coins. The Foreigner became skilled in handling the surveillance camera. The Caregiver discovered extra sensory perception. The Girlfriend discovered how calendar pictures were shot. The Killer, Ang Tsuk-Tsak and Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa surveyed the water for seaweed and algal growth. The Exorcist saved strength for the trip home.

13:00 — Time to leave the primary mission site for the safehouse and get ready for the trip home. The wind was becoming stronger and the waves bigger. The team had to get out fast. Braving the waves one final time on the same vessel, the team headed back.

16:30 — After checking all the equipment, the team was ready to head home. The Girlfriend drove and The Caregiver navigated. They had a very late lunch comprising of noodles and toppings at a fastfood place.

The team made a quick stopover at The Caregiver’s summer house. During the long and rainy trip (no STAIRS in the sky) the team assessed the mission and made plans for the next one. They decided that the next one might just be in Subic or if time and resources would allow, maybe even Boracay.

20:00 — The team arrives at The Foreigner’s place. They rested and had the debriefing over dinner. The Caregiver and The Killer took care of cleaning up the evidence.

23:00 — The Girlfriend drove everybody home. Everybody was reluctant to go but the vision of the next mission was enough to inspire them.

Recomendations:

There is a need to train and invite more operatives for the next, bigger mission.

“tatawagan mo parin ba ‘ko susulatan mo pa ba ako tayo parin ba ‘ng dalawa kahit …na bye bye na aalis ka na bye bye na rin ba sa atin alaala”

Mission Accomplished!

“Grabe guys thanks for the company, this outing is so fun, sobra ang bonding. Miss ko agad kayo. We should do this again and again to the nth time. Thanks talaga. Love yah all!” — The Exorcist

“Thanks guys, and I want to grow old with you all! Ay mali, ulit…..I want to grow old with you guys!” — The Caregiver

“Guys, thanks for lending me your ears and for just simply being you..I have found the real unconditional, fun-loving, happy, etc. etc. frends in you! I thank God for that…Love you all..GBU” — The Drama Queen

“We went on this trip as friends, we came back as a family. My heart has found seven new places to come home to. Thank you for making room in your lives for me. Love you guys so much.” — The Foreigner

“Thanks for inviting me to this outing, sana nag-enjoy kayo sa company ko.” — Ang Huling Birhen sa Lupa

“Heller!!! Sarap ng feeling ko kahit sermon me sa bahay! Sana maulit yung outing pwedeng mamaya ulit? Hehe. Thanks guys! I really enjoyed sa outing natin. Just keep in touch and stick together. MGA PANGET!” — Ang Tsuk-Tsak

“Oo nga e..Pati din ako may lagnat. Pero mas matindi pa din yung effect ng mga alaala natin…Uy nagdrama daw! Hahhaha!” — The Killer

“All the smiles, the laughter and the tears, I have only seen and experienced it here. Years may have passed and we may have matured, but definitely the kid in us always appears whenever we’re together. I would never trade a single moment i have experienced with you guys. You all are true friends and i hope we can pass this treasure to future generations. thanks! i love you all”. — The Girlfriend

• Miss, ok ka rin noh?! Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Hindi pa nga kita nakikilala pina-ibig mo na ang puso ko.
• Ice ka ba? – Crush kita, okay lang?
• You look cold. Want to use me as a blanket?
• Do you have a Band Aid? I just scrapped my knee falling for you..
• your lips look so lonely – would they like to meet mine?
• I may not be Fred Flintstone but I can sure make your bed rock!
• minsan gusto kita tisurin bigla… para mahulog ka na sa akin
• feeling ko mouse tayong dalawa.. you know.. we just click!
• Aanhin mo pa ang bahay nyo.. Kung nakatira ka na sa puso ko?
• kung may rabis ang laway mo. handa akong maulol makahalik lang sayo
• magaling ka naman sa math di ba?? paki substitute naman yung X ko please
• 1 over 100 lang ako kanina sa exam ko dahil sayo!!.. Ikaw lang kasi ang tama sa buhay ko
• Excuse me! Miss alam mo ba yung kasabihan ng mga Pilipino?”Aanhin pa ang damo, kung sayo pa lang may tama na ko”
• pag ako gumawa ng planeta, gusto ko ikaw ang axis ko para sayo lang iikot ang mundo ko?
• Kung ikaw ay bola at ako ang player, mashu shoot ba kita?? hindi, para lagi kita mamimiss..?
• Nung mahalin kita…..daig ko pa ang na traffic sa EDSA……I can’t move on
• ibibili kita ng salbabida… kasi malulunod ka sa pagmamahal ko
• ang buhay ko ay parang nakasakay sa seesaw…pag wala ka down ako
• your tears don’t fall.. they crash around me
• Biniro kita, ginago mo ko. Nasaktan kita, tinarantado mo ko. Sa lahat ng ginawa ko, mas matindi ang ganti mo. Kaya ngayon, tanong ko lang. Bakit di mo pinantayan ang ginawa ko nung mahalin kita ng todo-todo?
• infatuation can only hold the mind for a maximum of 4 months.. if it exceeds that point, i guess you’re already in love..
• mas madaling ngumiti kahit hindi ka masaya kesa ipaliwanag kung bakit malungkot ka
• staying single makes a person a permanent public temptation
• may kandila ka ba dyan?? pwede pakitirik sa dibdib ko, para sa puso kong patay na patay sa iyo
• pwede ba pagkatapos mo sagutan ang exam mo, ako naman ang sagutin mo?
• pwede bang tumingin ka sa akin habang nakataingin ako sa iyo?? para may pagtingin tayo sa isa-t isa
• hindi ka manlalamig sa isang tao kung wala kang nilalanding bago
• the silence of a woman tremendously shakes the consciousness of men
• miss BariL kba? pede pa tira? kahit isang putok lng..
• sometimes the people who are afraid of having commitments are the persons who know the real meaning of it
• (advice from dentists): treat your bf / gf like a toothbrush, do not let anybody use them.. and change them every three months
• sana holdaper ka na lang.. para ibibigay ko sa iyo ang lahat basta wag mo lang akong sasaktan
• advisory: do not use real sarap or magic sarap seasoning.. dahil ang tunay na sarap, sa akin mo lang malalasap ehehe
• don’t make the same mistake twice, madami pang kasalanan dyan, try mo din yung iba
• i am not sad when i see my ex flirting with someone because i know how to share my used toys to poor children
• (advice para sa mga ex) – ingat ka ha.. tanga ka pa naman
• before you find fault be sure you are dealing with facts, not figments of the imagination.. (translation: bad ang manlait pero kung totoo ayos lang)
• don’t ever try to understand everything.. some things will just never make sense
• the trouble with most people is that they have diarrhea of the mouth but constipation of the brain
• love hurts when God knows we deserve someone else
• you have to learn that sometimes it is not love, it is just a feeling and you just over- reacted
• how can you simply forget someone who has given you so much to remember?
• everything will be okay in then end, if it is not okay then it is not yet the end
• the only thing more dangerous than a beautiful lady is a lady who can think
• no matter how plain and simple you are, there is someone who will surely look at you as if you are the most perfect creature that ever existed
• everybody go crazy over happy endings but how could it be happy if it is already the end?
• i can always take care of myself.. still, i want to meet the person who can prove me that i can’t
• it’s better to have nobody than somebody who is half yours, half there or doesn’t want to be there or is there and then suddenly disappears
• it is true that people can move on but you can never change the fact that only amnesia and death can erase memories
• if you can’t be happy, be yummy
• don’t underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers
• what’s the use of your so-called beauty when no man takes you seriously??
• there are two perfect guys out there, the only problem is that they are dating each other ehehe
• wag kang matakot na hindi na maayos ang lahat ng gulo sa buhay mo.. malay mo ginulo lang talaga yan para umayos ka
• why is it that the phrase ” i love you ” desperately seeks an answer when in the broadest sense it is not even a question?
• lahat ng problema may solusyon, kung walang solusyon, wag mong problemahin
• everybody go crazy over happy endings but how could it be happy if it is already the end??
• wag kang choosy kung hindi ka naman yummy!!
• masarap magmahal kung ang minamahal mo ay masarap..
• sometimes, just to make sure i was wrong, i’d make the same mistake twice
• di mo pa ako binabato pero tinamaan na ako sa iyo
• pinapatanong ng nanay ko kung ABSCBN ka daw ba?? gusto ka na niya kasi maging kapamilya..
• kung magiging bagay ako gusto ko maging palito.. ikaw? sana palito ka na lang din para match tayo
• pwede ba kitang maging side car? single kasi ako eh

Drag Me To Hell Movie Poster

I finally watched this movie yesterday. I really wanted to see this movie since I heard it was a good movie, what a shocker; it wasn’t! I guess I had my hopes held high when I saw the trailer for this movie and when I heard comments from my friends that it was a good movie. Yes, it can catch you off guard a couple of times, you can hear shrieks and screams inside the theater but that’s just it. The storyline is somewhat shallow although it teaches moviegoers some lessons about your life and career. The story is just all over the place. It looked like they rushed the production of the movie, and the story is scattered all over the place. They didn’t take time to build up the story and you really can’t follow the story. And the acting of Alison Lohman sucks in this movie. This is her first movie that I saw and her acting isn’t just that convincing. How can I be afraid if she can’t act?

My two cents worth :]

First love would knock at a young heart. One would feel the bliss that is too much to contain. This is the first time that you believed that you can handle even the toughest trials, that you can fight in whatever means just to make it last until your last breath. But, at the end of the day, you will realize that it isn’t a fairytale after all. You will have your heart broken. You will be left alone.

And there comes a knight in shining armor to save you from the pain of losing your first love. That knight will help you heal your bruised soul and scathed heart, and without even knowing, every hurt that you have once felt, has made you stronger, strong enough to make yourself love again, to fall for your knight. To protect you from anything that will cause you pain, that is what he did, but little did he imagine, he is taking you away from what you were. You are becoming an image of his imagery. And it hurts not being your self. Escape. Escape in a box of his mirror. Leave. But your heart is left with him as well.

With your heart left behind, you are ready to leave your dependency to be your own person again. Unexpectedly, a pauper asks your heart, as you have been captivated, you grant the poor pauper’s wish. The pauper had nothing. You had everything. You want to welcome him into your world, but he is afraid to be in a world too much of what he can handle. You gave him a piece of your world, the whole piece of it. Too afraid of having something too much within his reach, he drops everything off, including you. Now, you are more hapless than the pauper. With nothing left, nothing to give, and no one to turn to, you feel you just want to end it all.

I may not be one lucky girl, but I am indeed a strong princess. Between the witches’ curses and happy ever afters, every stop has my story. And every story leads me to you. I believe you are worth the wait.

© 2008 Melanie Y. Cunanan

miss ko tumatakbo sa kalyeng mabuhangin at maalikabok. miss ko yung hinahabol ako ng nanay ko pag pumatak na ang 6:00 p.m. at nasa labas pa ako ng bahay. miss ko manghuli ng gagamba. miss ko ang umakyat sa puno ng santol, makopa, chico, mangga, kaimito, mabolo at duhat. miss ko ang kumain kasama ang angkan sa isang mahabang mesa at ang plato ay dahon ng saging. miss ko ang habulin ang mga bibe at pabo sa likod ng bahay namin. miss ko ang humanap ng mga nakakalat na bote at gawing target ng tirador. miss ko umakyat ng bubong at mahiga lang sa silong. miss ko ang nagpapakain ng baboy, miss ko ang tumatambay sa kapitbahay. miss ko ang naglilimas ng tubig sa loob ng bahay pagkatapos umulan ng malakas. miss ko ang naglalakad lang at kung saan-saan na nakakarating. miss ko ang naliligo sa patubig. miss ko ang gigising sa madaling araw at lilipat ka sa tabi ng ate, kuya o magulang. miss ko ang umihi sa kama (hehe). miss ko ang sumasabit sa likod ng volkswagen ng tito ko. miss ko ang nagbabaon ng ovaltine/milo at chokies. miss ko ang “win agad”. miss ko ang mag-rent ng komiks kina joy. miss ko ang kumain ng belekoy. miss ko si snoopy, grepol, nichie, bambie, brownie at jj. miss ko nagtatago sa hamper. miss ko na yung manghuli ng butete. miss ko ang kumuha ng kangkong pag baha sa capitol gardens para ipakain sa alagang baboy. miss ko na magpalipad ng kalapati at abangan itong bumalik sa bahay namin. miss ko ang family computer. miss ko umakyat sa bubong para ikutin ang antenna para luminaw ang palabas sa tv. miss ko ang tumataya ng jueteng kay apong jose.

at syempre miss ko ang maglaro ng teks.

miss ko kabataan ko.

Yeah, I know today is the fifteenth and this would be a post-valentine fuzz. I would like to share my point-of-view about this “special” day. What really makes this day a special day? I have search for the history of “Valentine’s Day” and guess how many have I found? There are at least three history of what came to be Valentine’s Day. So how does this day become special? When it’s origin is still unclear. Looking back at my previous experiences with this day, I could remember as early as my childhood days. When I was about 8 years old, I remember wearing a red shirt with matching red shorts while visiting my tita who lived two houses away from our house. They would be entertained at how much I would celebrate the day. Then as I went through high school, this day was always an opportunity to be extra nice and sweet to whomever you’re courting back then. And it was always a show on who was more extravagant among your friends. Valentine’s day with college is more like what was in high school but a little more stylish and sophisticated. Here come the fancy restaurants and cool hangouts, for we now can afford those luxuries. During those days, I think you could compare it with faith, it’s like you just follow it with your instincts and what your heart says. We saw this day as an opportunity to express our feelings.

As I have grown matured, I saw Valentine’s Day less and less interesting. Looking back through the years that I have celebrated Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend during those times, I have realized that it was so much stressful. Why? It’s because you tend to go with the rush. Did you ever notice that a day before and Valentine’s Day itself is very busy? And then I came to the conclusion that Valentine’s Day means stress. For me, I don’t really have to wait for another Valentine’s Day to happen just so that I could be really sweet with somebody. I could even do that every day and make it a Valentine’s Day. My point is, if we find Valentine’s Day very stressful (like I do), we could always do it some other day. And on a February 14, even a simple note would mean so much to your significant other if it was sincere and it came from the heart. Giving gifts will always be a bonus. So instead of worrying so much days before February 14, why not think for a moment that everyday could be a Valentine’s Day. You could even make them a special calendar where the dates are only February 14. Wouldn’t that be nice?