Personal Journal, City of Cagayan de OroJuly 7, 2008 3:49 pm

My Second Sentara Visit

 

Did I tell you that I went to Sentara lately for their Sentara Royal Massage? And did I say that it was so special?

I had a wonderful time and oh so relaxing and rejuvenating experience while having the massage and the post massage feeling was something that lingered.

But this time aroud, my masseur was so hot and cute. I said to myself as he extended his hand saying, "this way, Sir". I said OMGosh. Wow, you are hot, I said to my self as I responded to his leading the way.

His name was ******* and he said his name with lots of smiles and cordiality. His smiles and words were as warm as their service. And I thought to myself, who would think that such a jaw-dropping looks could be found in the spa and will be the one rubbing and massaging my skin.

I said, if all spas hire these type of people, I am sure they would sell like hotcakes. Just imagine, a Beckham or say Jake Cuenca looking spaboy will give you that massage. Don’t you think it is such an exciting experience?

 

What do you think? Go try Sentara now.

 

Sentara is by the way located at Limketkai Drive. It is a Nail and Body Spa.

Glossie Review, Fashion, Personal JournalJune 13, 2008 1:02 am

Help! Where can I buy this V Man with Ashton on the cover, in the Philippines? I do not want to make online purchases.

Please, please, please help me. I so love Ashton. Love, as in to the extent that I can dare to starve for days just to get a copy of the GQ that has him on the cover. The story here is that one weekend few years back, I only had 300 Ph P for the whole weekend. Both luckily and unfortunately, I bumped into this mag stall at Limketkai mall that sells GQ among other international glossies. Then, I drooled, got confused and pestered myself with should-I-buy-or-not questions. I gave up and bought it at 250. I had 50 remaining to survive, I mean starve for the weekend. I did. Just for a mag? Not really. It was the oppurtunity that I actually bought.

So, please inform me. Or send me one for free, as a gift. :) I love you guys. Enjoy! Be real! Long live VMan!

Mwaah to the V Man Editors for coming up with a gorgeous cover! :)

 

P.S. I hope Joanna is reading this. Friend, find me one in Hongkong before you go back to CDO, please, please, please. Mwaah!

Events and News, City of Cagayan de OroJune 9, 2008 11:42 pm

Events and News, City of Cagayan de Oro 11:22 pm

Something is brewing…


 

COMING SOON…

Fashion, Events and NewsJune 4, 2008 8:25 pm

Hollywood hairdressers, where are you guys?

Provenance: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2007-06/04/content_886630.htm Entertainment/Movies

Actor Johnny Depp is one great actor. His works so far have been admirable. He has been awarded recently as the Big Winner of The 2008 MTV Movie Awards at Los Angeles, California last Sunday, June 3.

However, his hairstyle (see picture above) is awful. I think that his hairdo is like so high school-ly. I see no sense of style and glamour in that hair do. That hair does not go with his name and achievements. Please, please, please, dear Johnny transform it. That do may work though if you are Jack Sparrow. But, no oh oh, you are done with the filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean, right? So, that hairstyle does not really work well in the outside, real world.

I love you Johnny Depp.

Hollywood hairdressers, where are you guys?

 

Let us suggest a better hair. Perhaps this?

No. This is the best Johnny Depp, if his hair is as clean cut as this.

What do you think? :)

Personal JournalMay 18, 2008 11:41 pm

 

Freddie Ljungberg. Man ohooohhh man. Truly this man’s physique and his package gives you an assurance of forever happiness. LoL Whachutink? :) He will surely make everyone, even the timid, go naughty and wild.

Provenance: http://www.mykindaplace.com/lads/celeb/pgladsceleb.aspx?id=70

Personal Journal, City of Cagayan de OroMay 17, 2008 9:18 pm

I am grateful to Ryan of Carlo Reyes Hair Salon-Hayes

By Denver Ejem Torres


I am not actually a hair person and do not really care about my hair even if it is long (which means that it should be taken cared more than the short ones). I am a low maintenance person and I just shampoo my hair and slapdash cream into it. Then, I’d have it tied, rolled and kept it into a bun every time. Even when going to bed.

For the past two to three months, I have discovered that I am having an excessive hair loss and I have patches in my head. My dermatologist calls it Alopecia. It is a type of baldness caused by stress. With my hair so sensitive that it can fall and detach itself from the scalp so easily, I have decided not to comb my hair. This non-combing among other causes like shampooing frequently causes my hair to tangle like a dread lock of any Bob Marley wailers. Mine though are thicker ones and they are as thick as a cat’s tail. I find it dreadful to look at. It hurts as well sometimes when pulled down. Atop them all is the fact that I have become the subject of tease for my friends every time we meet up, say in, a coffee shop. I find it both annoying and funny though. I would laugh with them sometimes.


But all these are things of the past now. Thanks to the adorable and excellent hair doing of Ryan of Carlo Reyes Hair Salon at Hayes Street, Cagayan de Oro City. Ryan is the Hairdresser of the said salon. He is very friendly and such a skillful person in dealing with clients. His answers and suggestions about my hair issue are so reassuring.

I think that my hair, with the tangles or call it dread locks in it, is a big job for him. But Ryan and his amazing staff are but so diligent and willfully, skillfully solve my hair issue. They first have to wash my hair, apply some hot oil then steam for over an hour. Ryan does the hair cut and styling after. They have it blow dried. Finally, the styling. My hair looks so amazing now. The patches are not visible anymore.  I feel so beautiful and confident. I never really think that I can look like a mag hair model (kidding). You have to see me in person. Sad though, I do not have a picture of myself yet with my new hair do. I’ll post some later.   

I have mentioned earlier that I am not a hair person. And that I do not really go to hair salons or parlors often. I have changed my mind. I think I will be going to hair salons frequently from now on. That’s because I have a very good impression of the place and the people.

Thanks to Ryan and to his amazing staff. I love you all guys at Carlo Reyes Hair Salon-Hayes. I will be coming back soon for another service.

***
Carlo Reyes Hair Salon is located at Hayes Street in front of the old Butcher’s Best.
The salon operates from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM and is open from Mondays to Saturdays.
They can be reached at 000-0000
Hair Spa (with Hair Cut and Blow Dry) is P 199.00
Hot Oil (with Hair Cut and Blow Dry) is P 99.00
Phone them up or visit the site for more inquires about their services.

***
Have a great hair day!

My LiteratureMay 12, 2008 7:31 pm

Fashion, Events and News, City of Cagayan de OroMay 9, 2008 8:16 pm

The Winners of the Ms. Teen Philippines 2008-Northern Mindanao

Standing from left to right: Ma. Teresa Angela Santos, Jo Phel Paige Reyes, Ma. Teresa Chiong and Paola Michelle Pilapil.


The event was held at Limketkai Mall Rotunda last May 2-3, 2008, 3 PM. Among the aside activities were Santa Cruzan sa Limketkai and Fashion Show shocasing some collections by Mark Yaranon, Benjie Manuel, Joshua Guibone and Aya Bumanglag among others.

SAY WHAAAAT:This year’s contestants all in wide smiles.

To the organizers and participants,

CONGRATULATIONS

[The two photos are from Jiva Jimenez Photography for the Ms. Teen Philippines-Northern Mindanao ‘08. These photos are from Dennis Almazan, one of the directors/organizers of the said event. Specifically, the two images are imported from On Arts and Culture blog by Dennis Almazan. The gowns are creations of Oro Fashion Designers Guild members.]

Glossie ReviewMay 7, 2008 10:54 pm

MENDACIOUS TITLE

By Denver Ejem Torres

 

THE TERSE CAPTION at the bottom left of the special supplement issue by Business Mirror for the 2006 Philippine Fashion Week is one tall editorial style error.  (Please see the photo with the said caption below.) Such error leads my discovery of a more problematic matter about that article.

This essay though does not attempt to make a mountain out of a molehill and discuss just that, the problematic caption. More than the intolerable caption, this essay intends to illustrate a lie that the author and the editor pursued to satisfy whatever commercial and editorial purposes they may have had.

This is referring to a rather old article by Abe Florendo on the Philippine Fashion Week ’06 for Business Mirror entitled, Before Philippine Fashion Week…There was Ramon Valera. From here, it’s important to defer. As promised, this will talk first in brief about the problematic caption. Then, proceed with the so called misnomered article or misleading title and discuss its effect upon the reader.  

[The image above is a photostat page from a special supplement issue for Business Mirror named Philippine Fashion Week ‘06]

CIRCA 1947, the Filipino artist also known as Ramon Valera. This is how the awkwardly formulated caption went. This line will be studied in the linguistic plane specifically it’s structure or simply, by how the words were faultily arranged. 

The formulation is without question inappropriate as to say so in itself is disrespect to the name of the person. The name should be stated first prior to his titles or achievements. The logic of this linguistic arrangement is simple and can be elucidated by the fact that the person and his/her name come first before anything else. After all, the achievements of the person are always obtained later than the creation of his name.

The structure of a language portrays in the mind of the reader the order of events, on which comes first and which one follows. In short, when the line is given a visual equivalent, the name or the person was created last and his being a Filipino artist came first. This is where the problem comes in and why in the mind of the reader, the line becomes unseemly. In short, this shows the writer’s lack of imagination.  

Over and above, the swapping of the name and the designation of Valera gives the impression that his name is less important. In all given cultures, both in Western or the Eastern, the name is so important and is given main concern. Why for example must Daniel Day Lewis choose to face death in the film The Crucible to save his name? Or the disinterest of Santha Rama Raw in her new Anglican name to replace her Indian name as mentioned in her creative non-fiction entitled, By Any Other Name? These among many prove that the name is so important and it must be given priority before anything else. The caption would have been acceptable had it simply said CIRCA 1947, Ramon Valera also known as the Filipino Artist.
***
The problem falls on the idea that there is no confluence between the title and the body. The said article is conveying a fallacy by putting such title into an article that does really talk about Valera in full or by how much Valera led, influenced, participated in, contributed or defined the Philippine Fashion industry. The article does not talk about the whys that would explain why, despite his bold and daring designs and remakes, his preeminence and élan still flourished. Although, it states that Valera had the lion share of all the wealthy clienteles (like the Aranetas, Lopezes and Roxases) during his time, the writing does not mention anything about the impact of this to his later designs, or whether the money transformed his atelier into a luxurious looking shop, or that the number of rich and famous clienteles made him a wealthy man enough to expand his atelier into other parts of the Philippines. If the title intends to talk about Valera in relation to the Philippine Fashion phenomenon, the writer should have focused on these matters.  

Instead, the article pursued a rundown of events and people who were movers and shakers of the industry from the 50’s to the present. In a way, Abe Florendo has reported a chronology of events and personae of Philippine Fashion from the yore to present times.

Part of the said historical précis is Valera and in fleeting it talked about him and his reputation and fame during his time. The way the article went on is a severe dodging away from what the title seemed to promise and what the reader expected to read as the title suggested. As the title asserted, the reader anticipates a read that would offer a full blown Valera feature and on how his contributions shaped the fashion industry of the Philippines. Alas, the article ends leaving the reader aching for more Valera talk and is frustrated by the undersupplied article on Valera as the Filipino artist impacting the fashion industry in particular and the culture and arts of the Philippines in general.  In fact, the piece ends instead with an expression of optimism that the Philippine fashion industry going global than pinging back to Valera. Apparently, with how the writing went on, the writer does not have the aim on really talking about Valera. Honestly, the text is a gem but it was inaccurately named.

Not only in government offices, and some other places that one can find dishonesty but also in spreadsheets like this, dishonesty is openly committed. The mendaciousness found in that writing speaks of our culture or the kind of society the Philippines has.  

At first, this matter discussed in here would appear trivial and inconsequential, but on a serious thinking, such improper naming of the article is really a serious matter that one should care. In the long run, if things like this continue, the people-readers develop in them a sense of acceptance of the things that are not really accurate and true. And this activity develops a culture of cheat and falsity.

THE EDITOR AND writer may have not intentionally pursued this form of cheating; they may have been unaware of the deceiving nature of the article they have produced. But this essay wishes that they do not commit the same mistake ever again. Another hope of this essay is not to run after the two for deceiving their readers though but to entreat them and all the other writers especially press people or journalists to be more cognizant on what they are producing. They should ask themselves the imperative questions before having their write-ups published.
 

My ContactsMay 5, 2008 7:49 pm

Hey guys!

Finally, I am moving to a new place. I will leave Dolores apartments for a reason I am bound hide for the moment. I am happy that I will be away from it now. The place is nice but in the past months, it forced me to cry a river. I cried a Cagayan de Oro river.

I am trying to move on now. I am finally moving to a better place. I am happy moving out from Dolores and moving in to …..

 

I will tell you my address later. Keep yourself posted.

 

Have a great day guys! emoticon

I love y’all!

My LiteratureMay 4, 2008 10:56 pm

Language of Bonds

(Comment on a part of the Pinoy Centric post, Onli Noypi by Marge Gonzales)

“Our language has words interrelating with “socialization”: we have kasama, kaisa, kapanalig, kabayan, and, of course, kapuso and kapamilya.”

This is true and agreeable.

Even, in the street gangs and prison cells, they have “kakosa”

In call centers, the English and vernacular fused in the term, “ka-team.”

In apartments or boarding houses, people say, “kabordmeyt.”

We associate ourselves to the groups we hold dear and where we feel respect and acceptance. We take pride in the fact that we are a member of a group, whether such group is not sikat or familiar.We are proud of our roots, of our origin, of our mga kasama kahit sino pa sila/siya (whoever he/they is/are).

Do you agree?

Fashion, City of Cagayan de Oro 5:12 pm

Dennis N. Almazan, Cagayan de Oro’s artist extraordinaire, is my cognitive partner in most, if not all of my posts-writeups for my Fashion category specifically about local fashion, culture and the arts. His munificent guidance, suggestions and assistance make my Fashion/City of Cagayan de Oro posts doubly credible.

This is purposely expressed here to recognize his valuable friendship and help to the author of this site.

The copyright though remains to the author of this site and thus, all the accountabilities.

My LiteratureMay 1, 2008 9:23 am

My LiteratureApril 29, 2008 11:50 am

Personal Journal, City of Cagayan de OroApril 28, 2008 11:09 am

On Coffee and Coffee-drinking
By Denver E. Torres

Truly, Coffee is the blood that runs in the veins and arteries of this Archipelago. I agree to the truthfulness of the things mentioned in this ( Coffee: A Celebration of Life  from www.pinoycentric.com) essay.

The essay is well written and the things mentioned in it bring me back to the days of my Childhood. The essay evoked some memories related to Coffee as well as other thoughts. I remember, especially my own personal experiences regarding Coffee. I recall the morning glory-filled-eyes mornings seeing my Mama and Papa conversing silently over cups of coffee early in the morning at our kitchen while the rest of my brothers and sisters are still snoring.

Also, I am transported back to the Mornings at Sta. Cruz, Claveria, Misamis Oriental, my Mother’s natal town. I visit my grandparents on most summers when I was a kid. In Lola’s house, mornings are the busiest because people prepare Coffee and drink them with much enthusiasm and ceremony. I watch them from the long table in the kitchen. I sit down there at the edge of the long bench busy watching my Tiya making fire to boil water.   Coffee, in fact is stapler than rice to them, I guess. I see big jars of Coffee. And, yes they are labeled Nescafe. The hot cups of Coffee are always taken with bread they call patatas among other kinds of bread. I learned later that the patatas they call and we are eating is actually the galletas (egg bread). I do not know if it is a wrong naming by them. Or if simply, patatas is a linguistic variety of galletas.

I am twenty-four now, and I am a lover of Coffee and all about it (maybe, this explains why I have to read Coffee: A Celebration of Life and write something about it).  Even when I need to spendthrift, I cannot help but splurge on 100+ a-cup specialties at Coffee Works, Bo’s Coffee Club or Gazebo, and frequently before at the now-non extant Skizzo Specialty Coffee, all of these shops are in Cagayan de Oro City. When Skizzo closed few years back, I am saddened. I miss the place and still missing it up to now even after two years plus.  Such was a nice place to hang out at. Quiet. Not crowded. Affordable. These three were its best traits.  Plus, the goer gets to see some authentic paintings of local sceneries by local artists. I remember seeing a replica image of the façade and entrance of the St. Augustine Cathedral on a Sunday. The painting is so nice and I wanted to buy it then except that I could not afford it.  It is expensive. But I think it was priced right.

Going to coffeeshops, in my case, is more than just spending or the love of the taste of coffee but, more of a social activity. I think that I spend a lot of money drinking coffee in these shops because I see many nice people around, not to mention the cute ones. Coffee houses are the best places to flirt around. It’s my flirting place.

Coffee-drinking at the Coffeeshops are not necessarily all for flirting with hot and cute guys though. Coffeeshops are best places for serious talk with friends and a great place for business meetings. In fact, I and my literary friends would meet up in these places to workshop our new poems or fictions. They are a perfect place because they are quiet and comfortable.

I have observed that for both the city-dwellers like me and the boondocks people like my grandparents, Coffee or Coffee-drinking is not just a meaningless sipping of something but more of a ceremony to start the day right. It is truly a ritual or an offering of sort to-asking the Deities of the Nature to bless the day with lots of suns and smiles.

Indeed, Coffee or Coffee-drinking is a celebration to most Filipinos. We are a culture of festivities and merriment. And such is a reflection of the type of people we are:  Happy and Optimistic!


Enjoy your Coffee!

My LiteratureApril 26, 2008 9:39 am

Today, I have discovered a serious error in this Blog. Please spare the Dickinson poem in this blog and our analysis from reading. There are some major revisions I have to make. The analysis have used rather the wrong copy of the poem. I am currently studying the mistake and how to fix this. I need to consult as well my co-author and my professor at Xavier University-English Department.

Please bear with me. I extend my apologies to the readers who may have read the analysis and poem and have believed and relied on the integrity of the post.

I apologize once more.

From the Bloggerista

My LiteratureApril 23, 2008 9:27 am

 

Riddles
Riddles have a long history and exist in most cultures. A riddle attempts to use language in such a way as to present common things as unfamiliar and then asks its readers/listeners to guess what it is. Central to the tradition is their use of language: good riddles rely upon creative use of metaphor, simile, and metonymy; concrete imagery; and imaginative presentation and description of an object or concept. Because they are games, riddles are an excellent vehicle for introducing students to poetry and poetry writing.

Because riddle poems are games as well as poems, they provide an easy and fun way to introduce students to poetry and poetic technique. Moreover, as riddle poems are usually about mundane, concrete objects, they provide an opportunity to write in a poetic genre that avoids getting bogged down in the normal student poetry-writing angst: the belief that poems must be about grand ideas, use grandiose phrases, and make use of end-rhyme.

Steinbergh, Judith W. 1999. "Mastering Metaphor through Poetry." Language Arts 76.4 (March): 324–331.

Provenance of the Text: What Am I? Teaching Poetry through Riddles, http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=169

Personal JournalApril 21, 2008 11:04 am


 

My neighbor, Ronald (or RJ, the initials of his full given names) has already moved out from Dolores Apartment. After roughly five years, Ronald has moved back to Butuan City, his home town. Ronald is a fresh graduate. He graduated from Xavier University. Recently, he has taken oath as a new Reg Nurse.

But, Ronald is more than that to me.

He is my funny, good looking, sexy and smart-ass friend. He is a good neighbor too, who has given me many laughs. He is such a funny guy. He is kind of my crush as well. This crush-feeling though came just recently. I think I find him interesting and hot when he graduated and became friendlier to me. Before, when we were still in first and second year, he is the snobbish kind. We do not usually talk except lately, I mean when we were juniors and in senior years and after he graduated.

And his moving back to his hometown is giving me gloomy feelings. Maybe, because my heart misses good people like him. But I think this is normal. All leaving and departures are accompanied by sadness, by tears (both visible and the unseen ones).

I am happy though that he has graduated and moving on to the next level. I am assured that he is happier now that he will be back in Butuan, reunited with his loving Dad and Mom, Tita Linda and loving relatives.

Though, I can see that he is kind of sad leaving Cagayan de Oro because his girl is from there. I know he will miss her loads. I am asking myself. Would he miss me too? Would he miss his friends? I bet he would.  But I am unsure if he would miss me. He even does not know that I like him the way I like him. This is a secret. Although, funny thing is I have given him this site address. But heck I care if he would discover.

Truly, I am still recovering from the bouts of parting and goodbyes. So many people and friends left me to go home. This is something usual to people living in apartments/renting, because people come and go. Such is an sad experience. But I know that his leaving is not our last seeing. We will see each other sometime in the future. I am sure of that.  I am even planning to visit their place.

By the way, I should clarify that my liking towards Ronald is not the sexual type. I think, it is more of a brotherly-peer liking. After all, he is such a funny guy. He teases me a lot. And I would end up frowning yet inwardly smiling every time he clowns around. They term this moment in vernacular as “kilig.”

When he was packing his things up and loading them to his sexy Pick up, I said to him, “Alright, good luck! Extend my regards to your Mom and you take care.” I did not say “Good bye!”

I miss him. I miss his antics and wide smiles. And not to forget, I miss as well our intelligent chats with Hans, my other cute guy neighbor-friend.  

See you around dude!

City of Cagayan de Oro 10:17 am

This page is under construction. Please keep posted. Don’t loose hope. Alright? It will soon be filled. : )

Fashion 8:20 am

Photo is from JD Ferguson

Last night, I dreamt of Miami. But I wonder why I dreamt about it? Is it a foreshadowing of things to come? OMGoooshhh! Am I going to Miami any soon? Could that dream mean I am going to Miami? I hope-wish… :)  

Hot guys. Hot spots. Hot weather. Hot. Hot. Hot. Everything Hot is heaven. Right? Enjoy summer 2008 guys!

Personal JournalApril 20, 2008 8:17 am

THE HEAVY DEBTS I have to settle for the past six months make me a broke. I do not go to spa anymore. It’s been a while that I have not visited a spa house for a foot pampering. I haven’t gone to Sentara for six months now to have my favorite Royal Massage. It’s been long that I have not cooked and eaten spaghetti or any pasta for that matter.  And I have been dreaming for so long to sip that Kiwi Fruit Shake since the summer started. Worst is, my nails have not been pedicured by Manang Ailyn, our home service manicurist, for three weeks now! And my nails look awful and the in-grown makes my toes hurt! Yes, I am not financially free. But that is not all this is about. This entry is more than my qualms about what life has given me for the past months. I will tell you in the next parts.

This situation teaches me a lot of lessons.  

First, it teaches me to be resourceful. Literally, I am speaking about broke as in broke like having only less than a hundred to survive a week. Imagine that! Living in cities like Cagayan de Oro, 100 pesos will not even be enough to feed a hobo for a week, all the more me.

So, I have to lend some money from friends (yes, plural). I have no choice. I feel I have none at first but I realized something later. Though, I am always thankful to Him-up-there for their presence. They must be God-sent, or, I mean, their compassion must be.

Going back to ingenuity, this cash-scarce situation I am in forces me to devise ways to earn that little cash I need to survive the day till the (much-awaited) pay day comes. One morning, I wake up gloomy with the fact that I have nothing to eat for the day. I even wish that instance that the fairy god fag grandma comes to fill my ref with food and lots of foods.  Yes, and in a moment I recall the yarn of the Little Match Girl I read way back from grade school.  That poor girl dreams of food while treading the snow-clad streets to sell some matches so that she and her sick granny will have something to eat for the Christmas Eve.

I am inspired by the Little Match Girl’s determination. I pull my ass out from the bed and go to the kitchen. Then, I see the empty big water containers from a Water Refilling Station. I say to myself, these have been here since I moved in two years ago and they are idle and useless. A former occupant of my unit must have left it. I have to trace the address of the station. Returning the containers means claiming the 100 pesos deposit. Wow! I say this is unmistakably God’s grace. The hundred pesos help me survive that day.

Such amount of money forces one to veer away from posh restos. So, I have to scout for some affordable but not cheap food stores (carenderia). I find one near the shawarma stall in Divisoria. I am able to order a Binagoongang Baboy (Pork in Shrimp Paste) and two cups of rice for only less than P 30. Such is a fulfilling meal already for a broke gay like me.

But, the 100 is not all to be spent for food. I need coffee to start my day. I need to shampoo my hair and some other daily essentials that I have to buy. The 100 is gone in a flash. I go to bed worrying again for the next day. (By the way, please do not wonder why I sound like I do not go to work on these days because I really did not. I am on a five-day leave for my medical check-ups.) This among many worries triggers the insomniac in me.

On another morning, (my new morning is 3 pm, and I find this good way to skip the meals and the fret), I wake up realizing that I only have some few bread in the ref. I eat them all and drink some cold water. I am ready for the day. I go to my derma for a check up (I will tell you later in another entry about this hair and scalp check-up). But the same sad cycle of lending money have occurred later that day.

Another morning, I am inspired. The grit of that Little Match Girl visits me again. I see the buyer of empty bottles and other seemingly useless stuffs pass by our place. I call him over to sell the bottles I find at the rear of our apartment. They lay idle and useless there near my laundry and halayanan (place where you hang to dry the washed clothes). I earn 39 pesos for the trash I have sold. The aphorism is true: there is money in the garbage. I tell the scrap buyer to make it 40 pesos instead; he wills my request without batting an eyelash. And I say this is another work of the Merciful and certainly not the fag fairy!

In kidding mode, I say to the man: how about body and soul? Do you buy them as well? We burst into laughter and he say: they cannot be kilo-ed. Well, that’s really something philosophical and sensible. But truly, had he been able to afford me, I would have sold them (laughing out loud). But I think about it, only if my body (oh, well, I am sexy and desirable I believe) can be sold, I would, just to survive. No, I am just kidding!

So, you see. Poverty, in general or simply the paucity of money is such a strong element. It makes, or rather forces a person to think, move, and scheme ways.  The most important thing though, I think, is that one should be able to survive the situation without doing anything ill to others.  

Second, it teaches me to appreciate and be thankful for the little things I have. When money is many, the minute things are to me invisible. I am thankless by the presence of soy sauce and oil. But these save me from starving. The soy sauce and edible oil when mixed can become very tasty as a viand. I see many other little, petty and seemingly insignificant things and appreciate more their presence in my life during these trying times. The value of money becomes very clear to me as well.    

Thirdly, this situation teaches me to shun away from the unnecessary act of money owing. Lending money makes one become more financially flop. I have proven it myself. Sometimes also, debt when not paid on time can sever friendships (except of course institutional ones like Banks and Loan facilities as they are impersonal). Money borrowing and delay of paying it can really break relationships. Perhaps, my derma is right. I should slice my Visa (credit card) into two. I have been told to by Mom, but I would not listen. This is the karma.

Lastly, it teaches me to be more prayerful. In one of my essays, I state that God have a seasonal popularity. In this modern world, God, to the contemporary person is “dispensable and superfluous” (from Can A Truly Contemporary Person Not Be An Atheist? of John A.T. Robinson). Truly, I realize the legitimacy of this perception at the onset of my financial troubles. I realize that God becomes God when (in most times) I am problematic, sad and down. And it hurts to realize this. But this is true in my case. And I pray. I pray. I pray more for enlightenment. I pray for more understanding. I pray for truth that I may see the purpose of my current situation to my life.

On a different light, I see my problems as the opportunity to be united with Him. It is not though that I like to be problematic all the time. I do not like all of these. But, seeing and being reminded of Him, is one nice thing about having problems.

But, no worries guys, I will get out of this. Soon you will see me cheerful again. I hope that you do not get sad reading this because this is not meant to make the reader sad. I share this and my other life-stories because I want them to serve as a lesson to others so they may evade the same mistake I have made.  I share this because I am simply happy when writing. I share this to express and release that certain pain and distress that need to be taken out from me.

More so, I am not writing, posting and broadcasting this to solicit monetary help or pity. This is for intellectual intensification purpose (both the writer and reader).

Like the title of Eric Berne’s book, I’m OK; you’re OK. Actually, I mean, I am okay if you are. Okay?


 

My LiteratureApril 14, 2008 7:32 am

Note: This poem has been workshopped at the 1st XU Creative Writing Workshop held at the Malasag Gardens last November 2007. The head panelist of the said workshop is Dr. Rofel Brion of the Ateneo de Manila University.

My LiteratureApril 10, 2008 12:00 pm

My LiteratureApril 7, 2008 3:15 pm

The Cause of his cry
By Denver E. Torres

When I was in first year high school
And Adó, our youngest was yet to
Celebrate his first birthday,

I was always excited
To go home and smell his head and hair.
His head and hair smelled like the juice of the coconut fruit.

Though unlike the coconut, his head felt so delicate, soft and
Smooth as if he shampooed Mama’s Nivea.

I would rush home early after school to do this for many days.
I thought that at that time I became addicted to his smell, and

I wanted to smell him more and more.
And I was so happy when I was doing that,
Happier than watching Ghost Fighter

Happier than eating Magnolia.
And the more I smelled him, the more I

Became touchy of his head and hair
And then this would wake him up from his afternoon sleep. 
And he would cry so sharp that it will make me hurry-scurry,

Like Ming Ming, our cat when caught red-handed
Stealing the leftover fried fish in the kitchen,

And hide to the next room;
So that Yaya will not catch me.
I, the big brother, the Cause of his cry.

My Literature 7:54 am

Kid

(This picture of a cute kid here is from Google Images. This kid though does not have any relation to the character/s in the poem. This is but for purely illustration purposes. After all the kid looks very lovely.)

Was He happy?
By Denver Ejem Torres

(for Fr. Jorge Hofileña, S.J.)

Was He happy?
When you were naughty
Or lazy,
Silly
Telling lies
About the nothing you see in the skies.

Did you ask, was He happy?
Or were you happy?

Did you? When you picked on Sam
And shouted at your friend, “Damn
You blunt-head Sam!
Was He happy even a gram?

When you left the Jam bottle
Open and uncovered near the boiling kettle.
You were always told not to but you repeated still about zillion times
So frequent and as regular as the wind bullying the chimes

Mom would always say, Marky, son, cover the jam.
You replied: I cannot hear you Mom.
 
Ham? Plum? Drum? Whatever!
While saying in hum, tell it to the spider
Mom! And do your homework after
Yeah later!

 

Did you ask, was He up there happy?
Did you Marky?

 

Note: This poem was written few semesters ago particularly on the time when I took English 220 or the Children’s Literature at Xavier University.  This poem for children I dedicate to my ever youthful at heart teacher, Fr. Jorge Hofileña, S.J. Fr. Jorge is my Kindergarten and Grade School principal and later became my professor for Children’s Literature.

My LiteratureApril 6, 2008 1:04 pm

Eagle

Perennial Pause

By Denver E. Torres

 

Spread your wings!

Yes, like that.

No, a little higher, I mean.

There!

That’s it.

Then, tilt your head.

Look down like the way

You see a worm

An inch near your feet.

Do not move your eyes.

That’s it

 

 

Then, he grins.

The Architect of Perennial Pause

My Literature 12:37 pm

Events and NewsApril 5, 2008 1:04 pm

This site is under construction. Please keep posted

Personal JournalApril 2, 2008 10:01 am

My first day of April this year is so wonderful. Earlier, in the daytime I had to cook up some lies to make a valid excuse for absence from work. Despite the excuses and lies, my day ended complete and content. I am not saying that it was a wonderful, complete and content because my lies pulled through but because my absence from work paid off more than money can pay. I will tell you why.

The last night of the previous month was totally draining. It was enervating both physically and psychologically. For several nights of March, the people from the appliance center where I had my ref on installment kept on pestering me even as late as 11 o’clock in the evening. And the last evening of March was doubly draining.

The month of March was, I think in vernacular a malas (nearest in English is jinx). I was not able to pay my apartment rent on time and meant that I have to pay extra hundreds of pesos for the penalty. Plus, the electric bill for our unit was a hit-all-high P 1800, P 900 of that was my share to pay. Atop them all, I had to hear the harsh and dagger words of insult coming form my landlady. Unfortunately such headache did not end there, as the twin problem of that rent issue came in the last night of the previous month when four people from that appliance center brought court papers to repossess the ref whether or not I will it. This was only a word of mouth though from our apartment Guard.  

That rent issue made me decide to scout for another place to stay. Even if tired from the whole day work, I went to the other side of the city. The place is called Carmen. I scanned the place looking for the two words: For Rent. It was not an easy task as I needed to be on my foot. Although, part of it was exciting as I bumped into cute guys drinking beer and by standing at a corner store. I did not ask their names and numbers though. I was so tired to flirt.

Anyway, let us talk about the first evening of April.  Yes, yesternight was truly fun and pleasing. I had dinner with my crushes. But along with them are their girlfriends. But it was okay. I had so much nice time listening to the stories of strength and life in general of Tita Linda, the mother of RJ. It was also refreshing to hear stories of plans and dreams and futures. The four of them (2 couples), fresh graduates and nursing board passers had shared to the group their future steps. It was a fair evening of talk and exchanging of thoughts about life, making money, possible obstacles, better destination, better job,  dreams, and future in general. In my case, it was a silent moment of embracing of some facts in my life that cannot be changed, like, the fact that my crushes will never be mine. Also, it was a happy moment, letting go of the ill feelings and it was a more of a moment realizing that I can still be happy seeing my two handsome crushes happy with their girls.

Such evening was really fine as we ate authentic pinoy food such as tinolang isda, sinuglaw (combination of sinugba and kinilaw), calamares and sisig with egg. It was such a hearty meal. And I thought while chewing the rubber-like skin of the pork from the sinuglaw dish that this sort of food is rare for me. I do not cook this type of food. In my apartment, I fry almost all food I find in the fridge. And to be exact, it was a year and two months already that I have not eaten tinolang isda. That was perhaps the farewell dinner to pinoy foods as my fresh graduate nurses-friends may miss them for quite a while, I guess, should their work-abroad plans be realized, they will surely be missing the kinilaw and sisig. I am sure of that. More than the food, they will miss their friends, families, classmates, and me (laughing).

Listening to their stories was so inspiring. And there was from that instant this renewal of interest in life and the want to live. It seems like my problems suddenly became so light that I was able to toss it up into the air and then they disappeared like dusts. Then, I am so alive again, full of energy and ready to take on the challenge. That is to graduate and toil abroad and you know…

Yes, sad. But true, Filipinos like me do not see Philippines as a place of comfort. Happiness and comfort, to most of pinoys (I believe) are always not found in the Philippines. That’s why you see all the professionals leaving every minute.

 
Oh, did I tell you that I was able to settle my bills for my ref. That was one of the reasons why the evening was wonderful. And I was realizing, reflecting all of these while a lady was busy scrubbing off my sole’s dried calluses at ban sabai, later that evening.
By the way, their Foot Spa service is so affordable and the best so far in the whole of Cagayan de Oro. I am spahopper/spaholic by the way. ban sabai offers a complete package of foot pampering and dry massage for the head, back, upper and lower extremities. Nothing beats ban sabai’s foot spa.

I am bringing Tita Linda there soon as I secure an Elite Card from them. I love ban sabai! I thank them for completing my first evening of April. Long live ban sabai!