A Matter of Waiting

The problem with the future is that we don’t know how it will unfold. We can make some logical predictions based on history and observation, but there is always that x of an unknown that no one can anticipate. The vastness of predictive studies, and you can add the unscientific ones, could only comprehend things that have transpired.

Neat intro, huh? No? I thought I’d make a great impression. So what am I anxious about? In two measly weeks (as of the time I’m writing this piece) I’ll be joining the club of the big four-oh; entering the twilight zone where, they say, everything gets bad or good depending how you live your life. I’m the eldest in the batch so I get to become forty first. This post is about being that.

For a moment, be serious. Serious. Last December I accompanied Mayen for refraction. Since I was already there I thought I’d have my eyes checked too. The optometrist found out that I had some problems reading so she prescribed a pair of glasses. Again, a pair of glasses, for reading?!

Another story: I usually get up early to prep the kids for school. One morning while waiting for my coffee I found myself doing some stretches, things that I haven’t done for a long time. I had trouble reaching my shoulder blades with both hands. All the flexibility of youth gone.

Not only the physicals changed, so do interactions. Lately I’ve noticed that some people were addressing me with some politeness, or respect, depending on how you look at it. The “po” and “opo” are becoming frequent, and so is the dreaded “manong” as in “Manong, nag-submit na po ako ng requirements”. “Kuya” would have been better sounding, though both words mean the elder male sibling. But “manong” connotes not only seniority but also elderliness with eons of separation. You call someone a “manong” out of respect for the elderly; “kuya” is used mostly with affection, as in “Kuya sama ka sa gimik, ha”.

But is this what I should be anxious about? No…wait, yes. What’s the average life expectancy in these islands? Deduct 40, and viola! X more years to go.

Really now, anxious? About something inevitable?

Imagine on my 40^th birthday the world and its inhabitants will continue to live; some areas of Caloocan, Pasay and Pasig will again sink due to hundreds of hammerings; tongues will be knotted at Lovapalooza and elsewhere; a killing will be made by enterprising individuals in the chocolate and flower business; lovers await for their sweethearts for a tryst; and a million “I love yous” will be said. Then on my little space on the world you think I would sulk because of an anxiety attack. No way.

No way. Why should I sulk? A few more years and you guys will be in the same state and age as I am two weeks from now. It’s only a matter of waiting and our batch will all be members of the forty something crowd. That's when your stories about aging will be as good and horrid as mine.

And I’ll be waiting.

Happy Birthday Cando!!!

padi, email ka man sin latest na mga pix mo kay lumaonon na nang-gayud an yadi sa akon. ano palan mapakaon ka sa amon? hehehehe

new year wishes

"May your year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the year, you surprise yourself."

- Neil Gaiman

Fr Gerry's visit

Fr G in our house blessing. Thanks for coming and blessing our house!

Please take note: He is good looking because he no longer wear eyeglasses.

Courtesy of our Chairman Tyron.

Happy New year mga Padi!!!!

Merry Christmas from Hael Family

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !

from Hael Family

Baptism of Nono's son

Mga padi we're all invited on the christening of Nono's second child this coming saturday December 8, 2007 at the Irosin church.

Do text him for details. and pics pls ha. kay mabudlayon na an blog ta

Happy Birthday Tivo!

padi sorry ha. nakalimutan ko magpost. anyways belated happy birthday!!!

Prayers for Dave's newborn baby

mga padi, let's offer prayers for Dave's newborn baby, who was born premature and has been in a critical condition the past days.

prayers for yayes's dad

let us jumpstart the maelstrom prayer brigade again and offer prayers for yayes's dad's triumph against his difficult medical condition

2007 OLPS Homecoming

nano na mga padi? me balak ba kita na magkirita niyan na OLPS homecoming? mas ok siguro after 20 years ulit hehehehe :p

sa october 17 palan an homecoming daw. medyo alanganin ngani kay wednsday pa. dili ako makauli kay 3days na absent ina

heniways, sa mga taga- sorsogon, text text na lang kamo san plano. we'll just see kun ano

here's the invite

prayers for dante

mga padi let's all pray for dante's success in his bar exams. he's on the second exams today.

we can go coco

I just came from Romblon last 9/11 where I was invited by DTI to talk about dairy as part of their One Town, One Product (OTOP) activities. It happened that Dr. Justino Arboleda (or simply dr. Bo) was the other speaker on the coconut coir business. Though the surname may tell you that he comes from way up north he is actually a bicolano from guinobatan, a retired dean of the bicol university college of agriculture. He is an agricultural engineer by profession and studied at Tokyo University where he earned all his degrees, from his bachelor's up to his doctorate. In 1994 he set up JUBOKEN in guinobatan and specialized in exporting coconut coir.

He eventually realized that there is a huge world demand for coco coir that he then set up coco technologies corporation that uses coco net to stabilize slopes, prevent erosion and other soil projects. Another factor of his present success is memorandum circular #25 that instructs dpwh to use coco nets to stabilize soil in its projects. Among the countries that require an abundant supply of coco coir are china, japan, europe and usa. I consulted the statistics on coco coir exports at dti and everything checked out fine.

His company have already won all sorts of awards, from the BBC World Challenge 2005 to the Golden Shell.

He is so desperate about the supply of coir that he went as far as mindanao to secure supply agreements. He is even willing to partner with anyone who is willing and offers help for the needed equipment.

He estimates that in order to produce 1kg of coir and the accompanying 2kg of dust, a coir plant only needs to spend P6 in operating cost. If delivered to his plant in quezon city he is willing to pay P9/kg coir and we could sell the dust at P3/kg. That's a per unit sale of P15. He is willing to talk to us if we can provide some 18T/month. You can check out his site http://cocogreen.net/homepage.htm

Remember: coconut husks are farm wastes that are either burned or just thrown away. Tell, email me at glagamayo@yahoo.com or text (get my number from jet, dont post numbers here).

Happy Birthday Fr. Peewee!

ano pasalubong mo sa amon hali sa japan?

Kumusta mga padi

kabudlay didi ha. harain na tabi kamo. any updates and pix and stories?

ito mga diyot na news:

Junie has left his previous job at the Gubat LGU and is currently working part-time in an HR Consultancy founded by the current HR Director of Aquinas. he says it may become a long term gig for him.

Dante is deep in review mode for the forthcoming bar exams. do pray for his success in the exams. pangadyi ta na top 10 sya.

Jet is busy with work and book design gigs, CCNA course and bugski

Sanni is doing well in florida, you can see pix of his family at the batch87 blog. do wait for his promised postings here.

Rino is ultra busy with his GK work and cellphones

Gabby is still with the dairy board and drops by here every now and then. i would just liek to remind the other ninongs na damo-damo na an utang ta na regalo sa batit niya. hehehe

Mervs, still drops by here from time to time and might send some more pixs this week

Gojie, is now a nurse and wants to get married next year

Kit's problem is now resolved.

Yayes is still drafting his wonderful reflections, which he will post here. SOON!!! also apart from being a devoted family man, he's currently a newspaper editor, teacher and law student. hanep sa hataw. sya an pan-tolo na lawyer ta

Peewee will celebrate his birthday this coming wednesday. but japayuki anay siya ngunyan. invited na magkasal didto. ingat sa mga ninja dyan Padi ha, basi ma-shuriken ka

Collins is still in iloilo and too shy to post his amazing pictures

Cando is still saving up gas slips for our road trip hehehe

Dave was supposed to become the new municipal agricultural officer of sorsogon

Franz was online a minute ago

Erwin has set-up his ice plant

Tyrone is in cebu

Tivo is still in naga, waiting for my dvds hehe

Nono is in sorsogon

And so is rene

and henri who seldom visits this site (sabi ni junie) and yayes says he might go back to teaching soon

Jason is somewhere

and also moonvale

and wiron too

and maybe sherman and victor and BJ

Dino and Lorbes meanwhile are still out there, waiting to be found

Lastly, mga padi, let's give our full support to dante, magbar exams na siya beginning this sunday (four sundays daw iyon). kitakits kita this coming sunday sa lasalle taft

Happy Birthday BJ!

padi kun hain ka man down under--- happy bday!!!

ingat sa mga kangaroo hehehehe! san-o ka mauli?

Eric Gojar, RN

silensyohon lamang an nurse. pungal warang tingog! hehehe. ano mapainom ka ha :p

congrats nurse eric!

Thank God i'm now a nurse!!!!

pasado na ako mga pards!!! Thanks to your prayers!!!!

25$ Flickr gift needed!

mga padi, our flickr account expired last august 15. because of this some of the pictures may not be viewable anymore and we can't upload pictures the way we used to.

so anybody care to donate 25$ for a one year subscription to flickr?

the first year ako sumagot. then the second year si mervs.

just let me know ha?

siya reunion daw kita didi sa manila sometime next week. adi daw si junie that time

Happy Birthday Nono and Rino!

sabi ni tivo wara man kuno handa . hehehe