Year End Countdown for 2011: First Times & Freedom

KASAMA Team!

Last year was such a joyride. The ups and downs. You name it! I have to say it has been a very busy, fun, liberating, shocking and absolutely one helluva scary ride. I say busy 'coz I've won the position as treasurer in the College of Law's Student Council last February but sad because I've to give up my online job because I have not been active on it especially during campaigning time. Thus, I was jobless for a moment but not for long.

More so to in February, my MKP family held a first ever sportsfest and it was also the first time I have played bowling. It was great! Also, we did a feeding and outreach program to some communities in Iligan. We went to some schools and in Bantay Bata to cheer up and give goodies to female kids who have been victims of rape. It was something I've always wanted to do which is to help other people in their ordeals in life. It was a gratifying feeling to have helped them & made them smile because of our lil efforts to make their day special.

Precious, Zam, Jehan, Glen and Me :)

By March my batch, the so-called "Fortiores in Fide" is now, for one year, a certified member of Mu Kappa Phi. And in the same month, I have concluded my second semester at law school - FINISHED. I may be an irregular student and surely I will  not be able to graduate on time but it doesn't matter so long as I will be diligent in my studies and be optimistic still. Like what my friend told me, IT ISN'T A RACE. Just do good at school and aim for the top :)

The creative Taurean/Earth Snake that I am and like I said, I will not be jobless for long. I have been hired as a legal researcher/secretary at Gandamra Law Office in the month of May. But then again, I realized the work was kinda stressful and I had to be more focused on my studies for next semester therefore leaving me jobless again. It would have been a pretty awesome job knowing that I am a law student and the experience would have been grand. It would have helped me honed my skills in the said profession very soon especially making docus on memorandum, pleadings and the likes. It was actually a great working place the fact that my bosses are my fraternal brod and sis in Mu Kappa Phi and I feel comfortable but sadly it wasn't good for me to work there for full time and I am concerned about the fact that I might have lots of absences at work due to my being an officer in the student council too.

My take on the pixie-look. Haha! Me with the beautiful ladies
Monique, Joyce and Niel at Malibu House,
Malaybalay, Bukidnon. :)

Still, in the month of May, my being so busy has now commenced in full throttle. Such as talking about traveling and a few contests to attend to such as the ALSP event at Bukidnon with brod Nader and ate Joyce. It was a great experience and again, I met new faces and traveled alone without any family member to escort me there, FOR THE FIRST TIME.

After that said event, I felt a bit freed from having to stay in Iligan for years now. It is time for a new adventure! It was like breaking monotony. I've indeed, started to put my best foot forward on this year.



And so back to reality, before the start of the class on June, I thought I was jobless but that was just for a few months since I got back to teaching at MTIM. They called me on the phone and hired me again after teaching for second semester last January. I never knew I'd be teaching now in MTIM for a year and a half already and it feels so good. I just hope they will offer me more units to teach not just the English subject but my forte per se, which is political science. During this year's event I've met  so many faces and became close to them such as Safa and Seddik, who through, partly my influence, has become instructors also of the same College.

DK, Vienne, Joyce and Me at Manila Gateway.

Then on June to July, I together with some professors and law students, I went to Manila for the first time to attend the PBIEL Seminar. It was quite exciting for again, it was another first time for me to travel the capital city of the country. It was my first time to ride on an LRT/MRT. It was quite fun but dangerous at the same time since alot of people are on the train and I think it's where most snatchers are looming to steal anything they could get taking advantage of the scenario. Oh well, new experience begets new friendship. I got really acquainted with the other law students and learned something from the seminar as well. Again, freedom is here to stay! Plus, it was also the time when my mother bought me a netbook for the sake of this seminar. It was pure heaven! Haha! :)) 

Ate GM with my MKP buddies Glen, Zam and Raffy :)

On September, I met my sister in-law, Ate Gay Marie (GM). She's the wife of my brother Junjun. A true blue Davaoinian. She's also sabay like my Kuya (big bro). Though for her short stay here in Iligan, I've already learned to like her. We strolled her to some of the nice spots in Iligan with some of my closest friends. My family loved her for she reminds us of my elder brother. Soon enough will meet each other again with their lil angel. Hehe. It'll be another addition to our already big family. I can't wait! ;)

Still on September, it was also the month where Ate Anne got hitched with her long time boyfriend Kuya Gerald. Ate GM, my brother and I were invited but the lovers weren't here in the Philippines for they're still at Saudi so I had to act as their representative per se. Their motif was the color red - LOVE! I am with her other STAR-CM friends Ate Rose & Clint, Ate Jonalyn and the others of whom I forgot the name. Hehe. :)

Now here comes the month of October where I've been so preoccupied at law school. The horrors of Atty. Lanto's subject on partnership. Having to deal with assholes y' diablo disguised as human beings the moment I decided to run for school politics. Deym! May Lord God grant them forgiveness of whatever scornful things they've than and may they change for the better. This enriching experience have definitely warned me who to trust and who to stay away from. Poker-faced syndrome is a must and I have somehow managed to learn the art of it.

Also, to stray away from law books for awhile, I have decided to buy and to collect John Grisham books. It was another avenue to motivate me at law school. It was yet another influence to make me love more what I will soon become. At least I've had something to add in my very own bookshelves in my mini-library upstairs.

To continue the privilege of freedom given to me by my beloved mother, in the month of November, I have now joined the bar operations committee. Again. For. The First Time!!! Haha! I was with great people and being surrounded by them motivated me to push forward with life. I was again back in Manila and this was another great experience to treasure. It has helped me loved my soon to be profession, THAT MUCH. For I have quite figured out the small details about law school and those sorts of stuffs. It made me appreciate what I'll be doing soon as an administrator of justice, as a lawyer, of course.

Then all of a sudden, Sendong hits Iligan City on December. Just like that! The scary journey I had being an officer is that same feeling which drastically haunted me when alot of people died and many houses were damaged at dawn on December 17. It's was unbelievable. We never thought Iligan could experience such tragedy. It was the first ever that tons of casualties and properties have been juggernaut. Even my sisters who lived in Orchids Subdivision and in Lambaguhon have been victims of this tropical storm. I am just grateful to the Lord that they've survived this calamity. We could not imagine the things they have experience on that day the fact that seeing the aftermath of the flood was way beyond our expectations. It was an instant ghost town. Totally wiped out! We were hoping we could have celebrated my Dad's birthday on that day but what was to happen next was astonishing. Lives were taken and things that were in the way of Sendong were all destroyed in a blink of an eye. Dreams were crushed and hearts were crying. 

But on a lighter note, "UNITY AMIDST DIVERSITY" occurred out of this unforgettable battle, whether due to Mother Natures wrath or be it a man-made calamity in itself. Iliganons and those from CDO received help and various donations from different parts in the country. We've witnessed the spirit of bayanihan irregardless of the fact that you are rich or poor, a Christian or a Muslim. There were no boundaries. Everyone even those who have been victims too have helped other victims. Therefore, making each of them a catalyst for positive change in the aforementioned cities.

Truly it is painful to see those people who have lost everything, whether material or losing a loved one. Others are up to now, still haven't found the missing bodies of their family members. I am just thankful that out of this unimaginable experience, my family is in good hands. And that a positive thing has happened because of this event. I've in the process, matured into another level. I have come into good terms with my sisters whom I haven't been in total contact with for the past months/years. The hatred inside my heart was also totally wiped off. That deep seated anger finally subsided. It felt like that burden I have carried for a long haul has now finally been unloaded. 

Indeed, blood is thicker than water. I can say I now have peace of mind especially so that beginning today I am starting to rebuild the damaged relationship I had with them. Each of us may have our faults with each other but, if God can forgive the sinners then who am I not to forgive my own blood. 

Sendong's wrath taught me a lot of lessons. I forgave. I loved. I cared. I was able to extend a helping hand to the victims by doing relief operations be it in my individual efforts or with the help of my colleagues at law school. It was my way of thanking God for saving my family through that raging storm. It feels like everything is renewed inside my heart. It felt like we just landed on a new territory while on board on Noah's ark. A new beginning awaits as we welcome the year 2012.

When Sendong left Philippines, the hatred I've felt begins to vanish into oblivion and the secrets I've carefully concealed for years have now been let out of the bag. I've managed to open my secrets to my mother when it comes to matters of the heart. It felt great. I felt light. I felt so open. I felt so safe. It was freedom. It was amazing to have shared my emotions with my mother now that she gave me the permission to be in a relationship for my 22 years of existence. Haha! I am a bit pressured but I'll just go with the flow. Only God knows what my fate will be. I lay it all in His Glory. 

And ow, since we're talking a lil about my lovelife here, then maybe an old flame can be possibly rekindled? Haha. THAT I have yet to discover as 2012 unfolds. Question is, "Will this year of the water dragon be in favor of my soon to be blossoming lovelife? Or will it stop me from  a terrible heartache?" It remains to be unknown. I am scared but again, together, let's find out. Hang on tight, you! It'll be another roller-coaster ride for us. Hehe. ♥ =)

By the way, Happy New Year! Happy New You! :)

Bagyong Sendong

Signal number 1 hits here in Mindanao! A thick knot hits deep in my stomach. I felt so scared. My heart stopped for a moment and my lungs skip a breath. This is the first time in the longest time that I've experience a storm invading our little City. I could not remember the last time we've experienced this intense kind of weather. Rains pouring down on our rooftops like bullets fired in armalite rifles and the winds gushing so damn hard as if the roof is about to fly. Lights flickering on and off just like in a horror movie and the environment is freezing cold. It's been raining so hard for hours now and my mind races sporadically of the possibility that sooner or later the lights will die out since my internet connection unexpectedly got terminated (for the first time!) and maybe in a few hours we'll be flooded so bad all because of this surging tropical cyclone now turned into a full pledged typhoon. I feel so petrified. Now I am starting to feel neurotic but I gotta stay composed and vigilant. 

My mom’s already asleep and I keep myself awake guarding the entire house for possible thieves looming just around the corner taking advantage of this kind of weather. I keep myself perky at dawn and prepared our emergency light, candles and matches just in case a power interruption happens. Just when I hit back on my netbook to make some coffee, the lights eventually died just as what I’ve expected. Now this is really bad. I tried calling my sisters who are a few miles from us but I cannot send a message through my cellphone for the Globe network itself crashed down and even the telephone lines too. All I can do is to pray for them that they are safe especially to those who are living near a creek. I can imagine the house floating, people sitting on their rooftops shouting for help or the worst case scenario, some people might be dead as Bagyong Sendong wrecks havoc at exactly 12 midnight.

The hours passed by slowly and the rain let up at dawn yet the electricity, internet and telephone lines are down. My brother from Jubail called me on my cellphone to ask if we’re okay and thankfully we’re safe for now but I am really praying for my sisters and their families to be safe and away from the flood and those sorts of stuffs.

My eyes eventually start to feel sleepy and I surrender to the muddled thoughts racing wildly through my mind and get on to bed. Then around 7 in the morning, we heard people talking in the streets about certain areas in Iligan being totally damaged and hundreds of people died. Since electricity was out and globe networks still down, we haven't had any updates from my sisters or what has happened outside our Subdivision. So when the people walking on the street mentioned many dead casualties at Bayug Orchids Home, Hinaplanon & Lambaguhon; our hearts beat fast. So mom visited where my sisters lived and thank God they are safe however their house and things are drastically damaged. I am just thankful to Jesus that my family is safe but I feel for those people who died and the families they left and to those who are still missing. No one thought this was ever gonna happen in the City of Waterfalls. 

Almost a day passed by and still, the number of casualties are increasing and I could still hear the noise of ambulance racing from one place to another getting the dead bodies of those who became the unfortunate victims of Bagyong Sendong. Various pictures and videos of those victims showing the aftermath of this calamity were posted on Facebook and other social networking sites. Here are some of the pictures I saw from my FB account:

Photo Credits from Atty. Tanya Lat's FB

And thanks to these social networking sites because we are also able to update our families abroad of what is currently happening to their families back here in the Philippines. Some organizations too have helped raising funds and getting donations for the victims. I even volunteered to repack relief goods in less than 8 hours from now. I also plan to donate some used clothes especially for the little children. I'll be at the City Plaza and IIT gymnasium to assist those families who have nothing left of them except themselves. All their things, their house and car have been completely washed out. So me and some of my fellow law students decide to help these people the best that we can so that at least in our small efforts we have uplifted their souls to never lose hope and continue to fight, to live.

And may we pray for the eternal repose of those who have died and may those people who are missing shall be found soon. This could be the most tragic thing that's ever happened in Iligan City but through prayers, only He can help us, Jesus Christ, to keep us strong during these difficult times and to make things better just like before.