Yes I'm alone right now. It's been quite a while since I have been alone in the house. The last time was in December last year when the rest of my companion went to a vacation. I hope I will just be alone for a day, and one night only.

I am savoring this day. I did a lot: washed my clothes, cleaned my room, cooked my meals, read, slept, biked around neighborhood not to mention feed the cats and the chickens. What a day really and it is still a long day for me.

These are the joys of being single which I can't seem to let go of. Waking up in the morning with no one disturbing your sleep. Getting up in the morning to do your routine like hearing mass, go shopping and grocery when there is only you to decide. Alone is lonesome already but if we try to do something about it, then it wouldn't really be too lonely.

I just hope this will be for so long. I hope my housemate will arrive tomorrow. If not, well, it's gonna be another lonesome day for me and I will sure try to make it another busy day.

Got to go for now. Time to eat my instant noodles! Oops, just a last note ok? I seldom eat instant foods but I just feel like too lazy to cook good food right now. Once in a while, instant food is tolerable.

Til then!

NOBODY HOME


I've got a little black book with my poems in
I've got a bag with a toothbrush and a comb in
When I'm a good dog they sometimes throw me a bone in
I got elastic bands keeping my shoes on
Got those swollen hand blues.
Got thirteen channels of shit on the T.V. to choose from
I've got electric light
And I've got second sight
I've got amazing powers of observation
And that is how I know
When I try to get through
On the telephone to you
There'll be nobody home
I've got the obligatory Hendrix perm
And I've got the inevitable pinhole burns
All down the front of my favourite satin shirt
I've got nicotine stains on my fingers
I've got a silver spoon on a chain
I've got a grand piano to prop up my mortal remains
I've got wild staring eyes
I've got a strong urge to fly
But I've got nowhere to fly to
Ooooh Babe when I pick up the phone
There's still nobody home
I've got a pair of Gohills boots
And I've got fading roots. 

Different times entail different concerns, different problems and obstacles.  There is one just one problem among youth common to yesteryears and today: drug addiction.

I have been blogging about drug addiction and its sad effects to the person himself, to the family, society and to the country.  As an advocate against illegal drugs, I attended the first Anti-illegal drug summit in our community.  It started with a motorcade that commenced from the far-flung places up to the town plaza.  There were a lot of participants and not much worry about crowd control because the same activity was participated in by law enforcers.  A velvet rope was of course prepared to the guest of honor and speaker who was a doctor and talked about his experiences with a person undergoing rehabilitation.

The summit proceeded in the convention hall of one of the hotels here in the province.  Barricades  were readied at the parking lot where court confiscated illegal drugs were to be burned or destructed.  It destruction / burning was headed by prominent politicians and social transformers of the society.  The said activity was covered by the local media. At the end of the day, I was half happy because that social gesture of destroying illegal drugs means a step has been taken by out political leaders.  I was half happy because I was also reminded of how destructive these illegal drugs were especially that I know of someone, close to my heart, who was a victim of the acts of a drug addict.  There are also news about heinous crimes committed by drug addicts. I am leaving with you today a song Through the Barricades because regardless of the proliferation of illegal drugs in our society, we are here today to combat this menace in our society.  The victims of illegal drugs are taking a stand, a firm stand to step on these dreaded elements of criminalism. Lyrics of the song THROUGH THE BARRICADES Spandau Ballet

Mother doesn't know where love has gone,
She says it must be youth that keeps us feeling strong.
See it in her face that's turned to ice,
And when she smiles she shows the lines of sacrifice.
And now I know what they're saying as our sun begins to fade,
And we made our love on wasteland and through the barricades.

Father made my history,
He fought for what he thought would set us somehow free.
They taught me what to say in school,
I learned it off by heart but now that's torn in two.
And now I know what they're saying in the music of the parade,
And we made our love on wasteland and through the barricades.

Born on different sides of life,
But we feel the same and feel all of this strife,
So come to me when I'm asleep and 

We'll cross the line and dance upon the streets.
And now I know what they're saying as the drums begin to fade,
And we made our love on wasteland and through the barricades.

Oh, turn around and I'll be there,
Well there's a scar right through my heart but I'll bare it again.
Oh, I thought we were the human race but we were just another borderline case,
and the stars reach down and tell us that there's always one escape.
Oh, I don't know where love has gone,
And in this troubled land desperation keeps us strong.
Friday's child is full of soul,
With nothing left to lose there's everything to go.
And now I know what they're saying,
It's a terrible beauty we've made,
So we make our love on wasteland and through the barricades.

And now I know what they're saying as our hearts go to their graves,
And we made our love on wasteland and through the barricades.

This is probably a love story, or a no-love story for the lack of it. I want to talk about Juliet, a girl friend of mine back in college. This song, because it bears the name Juliet (with Romeo) kept playing in my head. Why? It reminds me so much of Juliet.

One thing about her is, she is deep. I have lived majority of my life practically along the sea shore but it was only her who told me the calming effect of just looking at the sea, and feeling its breeze touching your skin. Indeed, I haven't noticed that. All I know, when I am at the sea, it's time to learn how to swim.

She said the sea calms you mind… and perhaps even the heart.

Aside from being a deep-thinker, Juliet is broad minded. How broad? At her teen age, she has already felt the urge of helping this country. When I was her age or even younger, all I thought of was my survival - for our family to survive. But her thoughts have gone farther than her family, her community to the ends of how this country could liberate itself from its known enemies.

I have always been a law-abiding person. When it comes to family curfew, I am to the dot. When it comes to family chores, I accomplish them. I do what I was told. Juliet on the other hand, taught me that there is nothing wrong at questioning those authorities giving such command, including your parents. She didn't teach me to disobey the rules, she just reminded me that it is sometimes healthy to know the reason why some rules have to be questioned and know its purpose.

She seemed to have a very precise mission in life; i didn't. In fact, I could hardly fathom her dreams. For me, they were just too deep for me to ponder on or maybe, as I have always told myself, I am too young for such a stuff. I did try to emulate her; I took her steps, I followed her advise, I learned a lot from her, I admired her so much but for the span of two years that I have known her, I was overwhelmed. My mind boggled for it wasn't prepared to address the issues of liberty, of democracy, of equality and of all that she has taught me and for everything that we did together. I went away and tried to find my own freedom until such time that I would learn how to secure freedom for somebody else. My mind has grown deeper and broader as hers probably have gone deepest and broadest (pardon my word play).

She was deep and I was just starting to learn how to swim. Over a decade thereafter, I am now in that deep water she was in before. I now know how to swim and is so much ready to dive deeper into the sea we call life - she called it life in the third world. Perhaps, 20 more years thereafter, Juliet will still be the same Juliet that I have known. And the Philippines that I have known long before I met her, when I was with her and now far away from her, is still the Philippines as it is.

"We were both young when I first saw you…" and we will see each other again soon, I hope.

LOVE STORY

We were both young, when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I’m standing there, on a balcony of summer air

I see the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
I see you make your way through the crowd
You say hello, little did I know…

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said “stay away from Juliet”
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you please don’t go…
And I said…

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess,
It’s a love story, baby, just say yes

So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet, because we’re dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while
Oh, Ohhh

Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said “stay away from Juliet”
But you were everything to me
I was begging you, please don’t go…
And I said

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby, just say yes

Romeo save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it’s real
Don’t be afraid, we’ll make it out of this mess
It’s a love story, baby, just say yes
Oh, Ohhh…

I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town
And I said

Romeo save me, I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting, for you but you never come
Is this in my head, I don’t know what to think
He kneels to the ground and pulled out a ring and said

Marry me Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone
I love you, and that’s all I really know
I talked to your dad-you’ll pick the white dress
It’s a love story, baby just say…yes…
Oh, Ohhh… Oh, Oh, Ohhh…
We were both young when I first saw you.

TELL THE WORLD OF HIS LOVE

I watched in the news today that the World Youth Week celebration is being held in Spain. A local counterpart is being held at the Ateneo de Manila University participated in by youth from all over the country.

I remember when the Blessed Pope John Paul IV visited the Philippines in 1995. I remember it not because I was a participant. I remembered it because it feels special to be visited by the Pope carried by a custom-made vehicle exclusive for Papal use as I watched it on TV.

One of the memories that World Youth Day remind me is my girl friend back in college. Yes, she was lucky enough, as a senior high school student back then, to be chosen as a participant in that historical event, which to me, turned out to become a very significant event because of her.

She talked about her experiences during the celebration. She, and her mates were lucky enough to be housed by good people who provided shelter for them while they are in the City. She was from the Bicol Region and so the need to be housed by family that they are not familiar with while attending the celebration. I think it was a pre-arranged accommodation.

I never thought that kind of arrangement was possible especially in Manila. That knowledge just proved that I wasn't really familiar with how people in Manila deal with such an occasion. I didn't even know that there are parents who allow their children, 12 hours bus-ride from Bicol to Manila, to join such a crowded celebration. I have never experienced that. I was always taught to stay away from crowd, from the City, not to be too far away from family.  But her experience was different and I found it extra ordinary thus the need for me to be blogging about it. haha!

This is all for now. Til next entry folks!

Here is the lyrics of the song. A blessed Sunday everyone!

Tell The World Of His Love

For God so loved the world

He gave us Him only Son

Jesus Christ our Savior

His most precious one

He has sent us His message of love

And sends those who hear

To bring the message to everyone

In a voice loud and clear

Let us tell the world of His love

The greatest love the world has known

Search the world for those who have walked

Astray and lead them home

Fill the world's darkest corners

With His light from up above

Walk every step, Every mile, Every road

And tell the world, Tell the world of His love

(Tell the world of His love)

Lyrics www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/jamie_rivera/

(Tell the world of His love)

Our Lord our savior our king

Emmanuelle prince of peace

Begotten of the Father's love

Born to set us free

Let heaven and earth sing His phrases

His righteousness proclaim

Let every heart rejoice in His love

And magnify His name

Let us tell the world of His love

The greatest love the world has known

Search the world for those who have walked

Astray and lead them home

Fill the world's darkest corners

With His light from up above

Walk every step, Every mile, Every road

And tell the world, Tell the world of His love

(Tell the world of His love)

Let us tell the world of His love

The greatest love the world has known

Search the world for those who have walked

Astray and lead them home

Fill the world's darkest corners

With His light from up above

Walk every step, Every mile, Every road

And tell the world, Tell the world of His love

(Tell the world of His love)

Tell the world of His love

This is a song that has become popular again to me since I shuffled the contents of my mp3 player.  On really rare occasions, last night a friend of mine called me and just wanted to be heard of her heart problems. I could not do anything but listen. 


She spoke about how hurt she was over a hundred of times, as if I didn't get her message the first time.  I really didn't know what to say to stop her sobs and so deep within me, I asked, "why chose that guy? What has she ever seen in that guy anyway? Why fall in love with someone like that in the first place?"


We all fall in love isn't it? One favorite passage of mine I kept since high school was "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."  We all must fall in love somehow.


Reading once again the lyrics of the featured song, it hit me that we are victims of love depending on how we look at it.  There is brokenness, like what my friend is experiencing right now. Sometimes, here is hard feelings not because of a broken relationship but because of a long distance relationship. That is terrible and so  hearts love yet have to be prepared for such a battle, anticipating brokenness, planning how to cope seeing the debris, the memories of what used to be a mark of happiness in our days.


Just my thought.  See the lyrics below.  Have a nice day!

Victims Of Love lyrics
Joe Lamont


Our hearts have been to battle
Our souls have been to war
We've lost the will to carry on
We don't believe no more
Oh why is it that we got it set
That this could never happen to us
How long could we be. cause baby here we are

Victims of love are broken down affair
So sad to see the debris
Scattered everywhere
Victims of love, still cannot believe
We are the victims of love
We cannot retreat
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/joe_lamont/victims_of_love.html ]
It used to be so easy, it used to be so good
We had an understanding that got misunderstood
I thought we were survivors and we'll never would go down
But now we're just outsiders as our love
Comes stumbling down

Refrain

Bridge:

Maybe we played it a bit too sure
And everything was hearts and roses
Now fate stand still and closed the door
And we were just left standing
And we realized the ending
Why so near...
Where do we go from here...

Refrain

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/joe_lamont/#share