Someone drowned in Matabungkay, Batangas last Sunday. But it seemed like that guy was not the only one that needed saving. My travel buddy and I spent the long weekend at a beach in my home province. We had grander plans actually — Palaui Island in Cagayan, Caramoan in Camarines Sur, Sagada in Mountain Province, Hundred Islands in Pangasinan — but our weird schedules made the long weekend completely pointless. So we were forced to choose a beach that was close to the city. Matabungkay in Lian, Batangas is indeed close to me. I’m not just talking about physical proximity…
From Perspectives
The Giraffe in the Ref and the Completely Puzzled Life
One December evening in Paranaque, Andre, Dane and I were killing time by solving puzzles that I compiled in my head since I was a little boy. You see, I love solving puzzles and challenging my friends to put their problem-solving skills to a test. It was one of those nights. We spent hours solving the detective stories I throw at them. Mind you, they were very difficult puzzles. Just before daybreak, Dane said: Dane: I am used to simple puzzles like the giraffe-elephant-fridge puzzle. Yoshke: What’s that puzzle? Andre: OMG! You don’t know that? Yoshke: No. Everyone else does?…
Barako No More?
I spent most of my years in Batangas and although my Dad was from Masbate/Palawan, I’ve always considered myself a 100% Batangueno. I’m your typical Batangueno — great and proud of his roots. In Tagalog, magiting at mayabang. Joke lang. Pero half-meant. After all, wala pa akong nakitang Batangueno na hindi proud na taga-Batangas. Gaah, that’s for another story. Ayun na nga, magiting at mayabang. Sa madaling sabi, barako. Haha. My mother has a store in Lemery’s New Public Market. Batang palengke ako, ika nga. I used to roam around the market. My eyes, feasting on almost endless colorful arrays…
We Crash Like Planes Do
I don’t want to start this blogging year with an emo entry but I really have got something emo to say. And I’ve got to say this now. Even before I hit puberty, my friends have been emigrating — to Canada, to the US. That’s why back then, I developed some sort of hatred towards these two countries. I felt like, “North America is stealing my friends.” Years passed, and I noticed that I’d been losing friends not just to Canada or the US but also to Australia, to the UK, to the Middle East. It’s as if all the…
Hada and Other Confusions: Batangan Tagalog
“Hahada laang.” This was what I told my new housemates in UP Diliman when they asked me where I was going. They laughed their guts out. I didn’t know why. But I laughed with them. Pretended I was getting the joke I didn’t even realize I cracked. I added, “Bakit? Gusto nyo sumama?” And they…