Getaway

Two weeks ago I encountered a beach in La Union where its history is different from among other beaches that I've gone to. Relatives of a friend of mine told me how a hectare or more used to be water but when the the 1990 earthquake occured. A huge part of water turned into land. According to the residents the seashore is until the church. There are still parts of water in the area but turned into marshes. You are also able to walk on sand even though the beach is miles away. I'm just amazed how the earth can change something in land or water. If that's the case, continental drift can happen again.

It's like I'm seeing people from the past in this town where food could just be picked right at their backyard, where they raise chickens and cows. The only thing you'll hear is the wind and the birds chirping. Another thing about the people who lives near the sea is helping each other by pulling the catch of the day. It's been years since I've seen Filipinos do the "Bayanihan." Residents pull the net and those who comes from back would return up front and it goes on and on until it's at shore. The net contained thousands of fishes but there were more jellyfishes. I don't know what these fishes are but they look more of sword fishes. They have long bodies and long snouts. Women separate them from other species of fishes, then those who helped will get a share of the fishes. But most of them will be sold at the market. I got a taste of the fish, they've given me a whole one. We grilled them by the shore.

This is the life, where you don't need to worry about other people, work and problems. You just need to get away from them sometimes and learn other things from other people.

The Shed People: Jik-Jik

Full Name: Jake Espiritu
Birthday: January something 1988
Hobbies: Singing, Drinking, Busting Balls, Fixing Computer, Embarrassing me, and others..
Music: Foo Fighters, Mudvayne.. grunge and alternative

The first time I met this person was the year of late 2004. I think that was October or November. It's also the first time I went to the "hang-out" place. That's the shed. We love that place. That's all the greatest memories of friendship begun. It's located near the university that we used to study to.

Where were we? Oh yes the first time I met this guy. My first impression was "what the hell"! I don't like him. He talk too much. He even embarrassed me in front of the others. He was mocking me about my height but look at him. He's short as well. I want to smack him in the face that very moment. Anyway, I didn't like him the first day. The days came and I became to know him. That's his personality. Oh boy! We came close. He was like my boyfriend that time even though he has girlfriend. Well his girlfriend doesn't mind anyway. I'm their "ate", but she didn't call me ate. There is that one time that another friend of ours, that's Mike. Since I don't have a boyfriend they are acting like ones. They even have names for me. I think Jake calls me Gulaman. I can't remember it. He loves Foo Fighters so much coz he looks like him. He always play Everlong in his guitar. No one plays it better than him. His facial hair will grow in just three days. He would shave everyday yet it will grow back immediately. I call him werewolf. We call him a lot of names.. Jewish, Dave Growl, and others just because the hair on his face. By the way we call him "jik-jik" because of how his mother call him. He was crying while watching "Hachicko A Dog Story," yes I was there. One more thing we did go to the same school when he was in prep and I was in grade school. We just checked out the yearbook. Now that's destiny of becoming as friends. He would give me fare everytime I don't have money. He's the most gentleman I've ever met. He would hug me long enough when we don't see each other that much. I would hold his arm everytime we cross road or he would put his hands around me while walking and they thought he's my boyfriend but not. He laughs so loud. He's got the initiative to do things. He's got leadership skills. I love he's cooking. He's speaks like a true American together with Aaron, and Paolo. They become racist and we laugh hard.

Yes he's the one with mic

The first time we went to their house was his birthday. January of 2005. That was one hell of a party. We were so crazy and drunk that we were slamming without a band, just the radio playing and the music was the first album of Paramore. Can you imagine that! He's drunk. We all are. His place where everyone could get drunk and be noisy. His place is where we can act as we are. No pretensions, just the real us. That place was memorable too. I remembered one time that we had this talk and I was crying. He said the nastiest things but they're true and comforting. He's straightforward you know. Everytime I talk to him he tells me something comforting. This is one smart guy. There a lot of things I want to tell you about him. I guess these are just some. I miss talking and keeps busting me everytime we would see each other. I hope he will not read this.

Pinoy Henyo Anyone?

It’s Sunday morning and some of my friends did not go home due to the party that had happened Saturday night. It was my friend’s birthday. Sunday morning I had no sleep and I had to entertain those who came early, yes 5 am and there are still visitors. The birthday boy was drunk so we were the one in charge of the party.  It was one hell of a fun though. Food, drinks, music, bonfire and most of all Friends were there to celebrate not only his birthday but also of the friendship we have for years.

It’s Sunday morning right? Some of my friends did not go home. So we decided to have an after party. They cooked food again and of course beer. The beer was soothing and we were talking about what happened Saturday night. There was one event that had happened to my couple friends who are together for 11 years. It was not good but the celebration continued. Anyways beer and reminiscing continued until 2pm.

Then someone suggested to play Pinoy Henyo but this is the group version. Since we were lazy to stand we decided to use cellphone instead of paper and the categories were about how we know each other. There were ten of us. The word or group of words can only be shown to the group members. In our case it’s everyone. Two in each group and you know go went first, yours truly. It always had to be me. The first one was hard I had to guess a name of my past and that was awkward. My questions went this way:

Me: Is it a thing? Partner: No

Me: Is it a place? Partner: No

Me: Is it a person? Partner and Everyone: Yes! (shouting!)

Me: Is it a boy?  Partner and Everyone: Yes! (shouting again.)

Me: Is he a superhero? Partner: He can be. (laughing)

Me: Is it the police? Partner and Everyone: No (Now I am the one laughing.)

Me: Is it Iron Man (laughing) Partner and Everyone: No!

Me: Is he someone I know? Partner and Everyone: Yes! (still shouting)

Me: Is he someone you know? Partner and Everyone: Yes

Me: Is he close to me? Partner and Everyone shouting loud: Yes!

Me: Is he here in Baguio? Partner: No (side comment: I don’t care where he is!)

Me: Is he in Manila? Everyone: Yes

Me: Is he close to you guys? Everyone: No!

Me: Is he tall? Everyone: Yes!

Me: Is he handsome? Everyone: Yes

Me: Does he have big body? Partner and Everyone: (Laughing!) Yes! Yes! Yes!

I know I am close to the answer but I never got the answer. We had our rules too. Everyone can answer and there are clues. What’s up with that?

The game went on until 5pm; we were enjoying much that we forgot the time.

The last time we played the game one of our friends got it right randomly. The answer was Abu Sabali. I still kept laughing until now.

Pinoy Henyo is a general information game by which the answer is put in a piece of paper and posted on the forehead of the player. The player asks a series of questions or clues to the members for him to guess what is written in the piece of paper. The members will only answer yes or no, if the player guesses the correct answer before the time laps then they won around. Pinoy Henyo was popularized by an afternoon TV show.