Fantastic Dapitan

The last time I was at the Shrine City of Dapitan was in December '99. It was for a field trip to Rizal Shrine. Just last Friday, Lovely, a friend and a co-teacher invited us over to stroll around Dapitan, and to have fun at the Fantasy Land and Dakak Beach Resort.

I just arrived from our trip, some 2 hours ago. It was indeed a fantastic experience that I made with my friends there. I couldn't forget the fun we had while walking around and taking pictures of our selves with some historic places as backdrops.

At the Fantasy Land, the rides were amazing and stomach-squeezing too! The galleon ship, the roller coaster and bump car are among those unforgettable. The horror house was really frightening as the props and casts were like the real things and creatures.

I'd been to Dakak last May 2006. I didn't have the time to swim since I was there for a seminar. This time, I really had some fun under the sun. I took a nice swim, had some pictures of the beach view and even got the opportunity of riding on a jet ski. Whew!!!

In one of our leisurely walks, we dropped by Lovely's folks' home. It was a happy moment for her that she met her parents, siblings and relatives. Lovely is truly a friend that brought me just anywhere and I enjoy every time we spend with our friends. Had it not been due to her eagerness to make us happy, I would just have stayed in Ipil the whole summer.

My Fave Four on American Idol

Race the Time

April 10, Saturday. Commonly, during this summer time, the day is a chance to do whatever one would like to do. But it wasn't like any other ordinary day. I had to skip my morning tennis games. Instead, I got formally dressed in white polo and black slacks, put on my polished black leather shoes and was at the church by 8 am. I would be playing the organ, singing with the choir and chanting the Litany. Bro. Arnold would be ordained as priest and a seminarian, as deacon.

Just before the mass, ma'am Daisy called up that our class/final exam in EDSP 222 in the city of Zamboanga would be at 1:30pm. I never told her what time would I be arriving. I just said that I would be late and asked her to tell ma'am Yolly that I'd be busy at the church. The celebration started at past 9 am. I thought it would not be that long - that I could still catch up the 11 am trip and get to the city at 2:00 pm. But the mass ended at past 12 pm. I rushed back home and changed my clothes. I commuted on a single motorcycle and just at the entrance of the terminal bus, I saw an approaching aircon bus, which I took a ride on and brought me to the city by 3 pm.

Just in time when I arrived at the school, ma'am Yolly and our classmates were taking their snacks. Our professor was so kind that she was even telling me to take a rest for a while. She was glad to know that I am active at the Church for she herself, is a devout Catholic. Finally, I rendered with my group our presentation for the finals.

God is truly working in silence in times when time is hard to catch up on. What really matters most is how one gets to his destination.

A Birthday Celebration Like No Other

A. Tennisters' Time (5:30 am - 4:00 pm)

I woke up to the call of the alarm which I set last night. I fetched Manilyn to DPWH, after inviting Karl, JiJay and James. They all had no idea that it is my birthday. I played with them three doubles, and I won every game. We decided to go to the beach. Earlier, Manilyn was asking why I was receiving a lot of greetings. It was only when we were at the beach when they knew it was my birthday. Ciara, who is working at Coca Cola in Cagayan de Oro, called up and greeted me.

B. Choir's Moment (4:50 pm - 8:00 pm)
After the beach party, I prepared for the 5:15 pm Wednesday Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Interlude Choir sang with me playing the organ. How nice it was to celebrate my natal day, at the house of the Lord. Fr. Meloy was the celebrant. After the mass, I treated the group with some pancit guisado and sandwich. Sr. Mary Aurea played the organ to the tune of happy birthday and the choir gladly sang for me. We proceeded on practice for Bro. Arnold's ordination this coming Saturday. The brownout caused us to call it a night. My sister Dyan, who is in Cebu and Ma'am Daisy called me up to greet me a happy birthday.

C. Coteachers' Version (8:45pm - 11:00 pm)
Christine (A), Lovely, Sweet, Kulot, Ma'am Glo, Jiji were waiting for me at NESORICOM. Once there, we decided to go out. We finally agreed to go to Kamayan. We just had a couple of beer each, some chicken barbicue and grilled squid. Tommy and Harvey were there too. Ryan just sent me text.

D. Facebook Friends Turn (11 pm - 12 am)
When I opened my FB account at Ellan's Inet Cafe, I read the birthday greetings of my friends. How thoughtful of them. Of course, I played farmville and fishville too.

Back to the Hard Court after a Long While

James, Karl Vincent, Jayson, Neil, Tonton and I smashed tennis balls at the DPWH hard courts just this morning. I played 5 games and won only 1. But then again, all I wanted was to just play and get wet with sweat. How I missed my stokes and I thought I somehow made some good shots. I look forward to playing some more great tennis.