THE PURPOSE OF MY EXISTENCE!

All things nice and good, all things great and wonderful,

 but even things that seem unfair,

 there is a purpose of their existence.

I never requested my life. Neither my parents

nor anybody else did.

 But all have got some place of

existence in our world we live in.

The agent of dengue, the snakes that bite to death,

even the criminals, they also do their part to

complement the existence of beautiful butterflies,

the cobwebs on a misty morning, and the glory

of people who work for the goodness of others.

I could not even think of the purpose of my existence.

God has given us the gift of life

with only God knows His divine purpose for each of us.

We are God's creation. He gave good life

for us and He is expecting to give good life back.

Each of us has given empty pages of books

 for us to be written our daily lives until we filled it up.

Such that day of book launching,

we the writer would only be the one to read between the lines

the times of our lives.

Consider this: God without man, His is still God.

 Man without God means nothing.

If we do not know the purpose of our existence,

 do not be bothered by it, bring purpose with our

existence ourselves, in God's way!

A QUICKTRIP TO QUEZON!

Mayora Arlene of Bustos called me up and asked if I would like to go with them for a short trip, I quickly said, “Yes.”

At around five o’clock in the morning, Elene, her daughter was so prepared that the car rolled at about less than an hour reaching University of Santo Tomas. This is the alma mater of Elene and gladly knew that the Mayor of Bustos, so as Madam Arlene finished their studies at this same institution, the oldest Catholic school in Asia.  Having eaten my breakfast, hurriedly I took some pictures of the grandeur of the facade o the school.

Ten minutes passed and we were on the road again straight to Juliet’s home. She is the househelper of the family that longed to visit her own family for a three-day-vacation. The mayora intended to go with Juliet of course with Bella and I with Alex our driver on our way to Pagbilao, Quezon.  It was a 400 kilometers from Bustos and a four hour drive.

Mountains of greens, clean surroundings, breath taking views and cool breeze of the air filled our enthusiasm until we reached the place.

Juliet’s family hut is located by a half kilometer walk on a muddy, watery, slippery trek through the summit of a not so high mountain. Simple living, house made of nipa and bamboo, surrounded by mango trees, rambutan and even dragonfruit stems. With no source of electricity.

   

 

 We had a short talk with her family, their way of life with the mountains, had our suman sa ibos as  merienda and we bade goodbye.

It was barely 15 minutes late for lunch so we looked for a place to eat. We found FIESTA MEAL STOP in Silangang Mayo in Lucena where we were served with Tulingan wrap in banana leaf, dinuguan, sinigang na baka, and my choice ginataang pusit. Just before we left the place, the Mayora bought pasalubongs like longganisang Lucban, pastillas, kalamay or tikoy made from Lucena, broas and other sweet products. On our way we bought rambutan and lanzones.

We then stopped a while to a church and offered prayers to St. Francis of Assisi in Sariaya, Quezon

At around four o clock in the afternoon, we found ourselves dining in Guilbert’s Place in Tabang, Plaridel. We were served with Fresh Buko Juice. Our main course consisted of Fried Chicken wrapped in Pandan leaves, Pork Chop, and Sizzling Balot.

We headed home at about seven in the evening, bearing with me, another once in a lifetime experience on a Quicktrip from Pagbilao, Quezon!

TIWALA LANG...

(For such a short time in the middle of the pouring rain, in the middle of a cozy, quiet place in Calantipay, earned the frienship of a photographer, an apprentice, two models and a businesswoman. A simple photoshoot, helped widen my horizon of knowing people i suddenly met, thank you my friend Calvin, for making the way)


Bakit ka nakatungo?
Nag-iisa ka ba?
Hindi a!
Akala mo lang yun,
Nasa isip lang yun!  

Bakit?
Ano nga ba ang maitutulong ng iyong kasama,
Ng iyong kaibigan,
Wala.
Ikaw mismo kasi hindi mo ipinagkakatiwala sa kanya,
Ang iyong karanasan,
Ang iyong damdamin,
Ang iyong kalooban!

Subalit isa lamang ang aking natitiyak,
Ikaw lamang ang mismong may hawak ng iyong isipan,
Ng iyong puso, ng nararamdaman, 
ng pangungulila,
Ng kapighatian.


At kung sa akala mo ay nag-iisa ka...
Nagkakamali ka,
Sapagka't sa kaibuturan ng iyong puso,
Sa kailaliman ng iyong pananampalataya,
Alam mo na may kasama ka.

Sa lahat ng iyong mga nakakatuwa at kakatwang karanasan,
Sa lahat ng iyong pagdapa,
Sa iyong pagbangon,
Isa lamang ang lagi mong baunin,
Sa pagtahak sa landas ng buhay.
Ang isiping laging may umaalalay.

TIWALA LANG!!!

CHET FAJARDO: THE CHEF IN THE MAKING!

          It was almost a rainy Saturday afternoon. A couple of hours before dusk, at the veranda of the house designed for Mr. Al Talusan, Dra. Annabelle's brother, held one of the monthly meetings of Soroptimist International-San Rafael. Simple as what expected, the gloomy afternoon was filled with volumed laughter.

Dra. Annabelle Talusan

           The business was started with a tap in a wine glass. The quorum then recognized and the agenda of the meeting, queries, awardings and other matters were carried out.

Chef Chet Fajardo

          After the meeting, the host, called for Chef Chet to serve the merienda. Chet whispered to me that contrary to laymen's belief, the term chef (Chief in French), reserved only for the chief in the culinary world.

Black Tiger Prawns

          Anyhow, Chet, surprised the attendees with menus far cry from usual foods every meetings were served.

          Served as appetizer was a glass of blended mojitos wine with lime and mint leaves. Sliced mango with bagoong added the beginnings.

Lechon de Leche

          The buffet table was opened.  Baby Back Ribs with coleslaw, Lechon, Pakistani Chicken Kebah with dips of Tatsini, Yoghurt Cucumber Sauce and Motabal Eggplant with Tahini, Vietnamese Spring roll, and Grilled Black Tiger Prawns, all of them were paired with Buttered Basmati (Indian Rice) rice.

Baby Back Ribs with Coleslaw

Baby Back Ribs

Pakistani Chicken Kebah

           To everyone's delight, each requested the services of the chef (he's in charge of the Party, so he allowed me to call him at that.) for home service but Chet humbly turned down the offer because as of this writing, he might be away from home.

Motabal Eggplant with Tahini

Vietnamese Spring Roll

          The simple meeting of the Soroptimist International-San Rafael became special because of one CHET- our chef in the making!

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