Archive for March 2009

Lately, I've been singing OPM ballads by my fave group APO Hiking Society (yes, I'm just 24--I'm not that old but I find their songs good). Some of my friends and colleagues think I'm in love (as corny as it is--but I'm NOT for I don't have time) because they normally hear me singing these tunes:

Mahal kita, mahal kita, hindi ito bola
Ngumiti ka man lang sana ako'y nasa langit na
Mahal kita, mahal kita, hindi ito bola
Sumagot ka naman 'wag lang ... ewan ...

-From the song Ewan, revived by Imago-

Hindi mo malimutan kung kailan
Nagsimulang matuto kung papaanong magmahal
At di mo malimutan kung kailan mo natikman
Ang una mong halik
Yakap na napakahigpit
Pag-ibig na tunay hanggang langit

-From the song Pag-Ibig, revived by Kitchie Nadal-

Frankly, I feel good singing those songs. The past few days, their songs are ringing inside my head that's why I sing to it. I don't know if I am halfway there and I'd rather not think of it. I feel good; having finished my backlogs with my editor, expecting another batch of articles to write and even off to a long weekend next week wherein I'll go soul searching to decode my feelings.

And I'm happy about the great things that are happening to me lately; being surrounded with good company, a blossoming friendship with another individual, and starting afresh with a long-lost friend. Today, I spent few minutes teaching Jeff few Spanish words. And when Aileen asked me if I am still writing on this blog.

But to put it honestly, Despite that I have been writing nice things on this blog--from happy ones to my opinions about serious matters, I am still afraid to let people know about my thoughts for the fear of being misquoted or worse, condemned and persecuted for being honest.

He called me by my nickname which actually brought me to surprise because almost everybody addresses me by my name--even my family and friends. For such a long time, nobody addresses me by nickname and I've been used to being called by my first name.

And then as I was off to leave for home, Luigi bade me goodbye like the usual. I don't know if he really meant it or if he was just kidding around when he teased Jeff, "Oy, Jeff bye daw!" .

Tomorrow's April Fool's. I hope I'll be spared from prank stuff.

Dropping by to update and write newfound things. These days, life for me has been hectic. From exam drafts, initial evaluations, articles that I need to edit and all that stuff. And there are some incidents that sound bothering but then I'd rather not divulge. After all, I promised that I'll just put the sweet, joyful and nice sentiments on this blog.

Now back to regular programming.

Yesterday, I learned that Luigi was a fan of Pablo Neruda and his love poems (jeepers! his works are actually part of my written exercises -- I don't fluently speak Spanish but it was through Pablo Neruda's works that I learned how to translate words from Spanish to English.) Probably, Luigi was a bit surprised I knew who Pablo Neruda is. I told him that I got acquainted to Neruda's works through my former beau who is actually a huge fanatic. But actually, I also find his poems good that I even fell in love too with one of his works, If You Forget Me.

If You Forget Me
Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

This actually is one nice break-up poem. As a writer, I started with poems and this love poem still makes me cry. I was really surprised when Luigi said he likes the love poems of this author. A bit hopeless romantic? Well, I can't exactly tell. Actually, I have always thought that mushy love poems are actually corny, shallow stuff for guys so it took me by surprise when he said that he actually likes the works of this Chilean writer and politician.

Oh, and I think he likes chocolates too.