Eulogy

Socorro Capellan-Marcaida.

They said you died a sweet death, I wasn't surprised. Naalaa ko nung huli tayong nagkita, lagi kang kumakanta and you always wear that toothless funny smile -- you were already bedridden by then.

You've always been strong-willed. Imagine a lola traveling alone in her 60's. Ayaw nyo pa ngang subuan ko kayo kahit nahihirapan na kayong umupo 'non. Sabi nyo pa saken "I can manage." E kaya naman pala inglessero din ako. Nakuha ko pala sa inyo.

Hanggang sa mga huling oras nyo, nagbibiro pa daw kayo. That funny look you gave to Tita Bing when she said that she's your prettiest daughter, that would remain a classic. I just confirmed where I get my sense of humor.

Few days before you left, you asked my tita's to prepare you a dress. A white dress. They knew the time was near. Thanks for your creative way of telling us that it was near. And yeah, you looked good in the white dress. Impeccable taste.

The last time we saw each other, you didn't recognize me anymore. Ilang beses tayong nagpakilalanan. Sabi mo alam mong may apo kang si Jun-jun na anak ni Nonoy pero di mo na matandaan ang mukha ko. Naiintindihan ko po. Siguro mas pogi na ako nung nakita nyo ako.

Nagdala ako ng camera nung last kitang binisita. Sabi ko may memory man lang ako, baka last na nga nating pagkikita. Then I decided not to have a picture of us together. That was not the lola I wanna remember. The last kiss you gave me was the sweetest. And you said "I love you," too.

When my tita's told you that you should rest already, you replied, "Sa langit?" And then you just closed your eyes. Sweet death indeed.

I'll sure miss you Lola Sosing...



My little homage to my Lola Sosing. She died two years ago. I wrote this a week after her burial and posted it in my multiply page. 

Internal Breakdown


Halos one month na after matapos ang mango supply chain project namin at andami ko natutunan professionally at, well, academically na din kasi para uli akong nagkaka-crash course araw-araw tungkol sa postharvest at tungkol sa mangga. Then I thought, ano naman ang natutunan ko on a personal level. Ibig kong sabihin, yung mga sinasabi nating lessons in life. Happily, meron naman pala.

Backgrounder muna. Two most common postharvest diseases ng mangga ay stem-end rot at anthracnose. Yun yung nakikita nyong itim-itim na parang dalmatian spots sa mangga kapag nahihinog na. Isang solution dito ang hot-water treatment. Ang ginagawa dito ay nilulubog ang mangga sa mainit na tubig (48-55ºC) at a certain period of time at macocontrol na ang dalawang postharvest diseases na binanggit ko ng up to 100%.

Ngayon may problema. Kapag ang mangga ay hinarvest ng immature at dumaan sa hot water treatment. Nagkakaroon ng defect ang laman ng mangga. Ganito itsura nya:

Internal breakdown ang tawag dito. Ang pangit diba? Pero kung titingnan mo yan ng hindi pa "na-babaak" (like divide it into two, you know, dalawa), yung intact pa si ripe mango, normal na normal ang itsura, mukhang masarap kainin.

Two lessons learned:

Una, don't take things (and people na din) at face value. Ang maturity ay makikita sa mga "breaking" situations. Dun mari-reveal what we really are made of.

Pangalawa, hindi dapat ipinipilit ang mga bagay-bagay kapag hindi pa panahon kasi panget ang kinalalabasan. Nasisira ang magandang design.

I tenkyu. Bow!



Scavenged from multiply.com, posted it there 18 July 2008. 

Retrospect


I haven't been using multiply.com for a long time and i decided to pay a visit. I realized that my it is now a lonely planet since facebook took over my virtual social life. I scavenged through my old files (which also reminded me of many good old memories as i recalled the stories behind the posts). I found some worth-sharing so decided to put them in this blog. I might not be posting stuff in multiply anymore since most, if not all, of my friends already "migrated" to facebook.

If it interests you, click the picture below to visit my multiply page.

Dada


I missed the typhoon in Los Baños. I was in Pampanga last night to attend a ministry activity there. Except for the heavy downpour, which is becoming normal nowadays, it was just a normal wet weather there.

I am not going to talk about typhoon Basyang today, you'll read it in the news. I just wanna share how I was blessed with the conversation that I had last night with one of my best brothers in the ministry. We talked until 2:00 AM sharing about what the Lord has been doing in our lives recently and how are we doing in our walk with God. His is a more exciting one. He shared his devotional notes with me (he said I was the first time that he shared his notes to somebody else) and I, too was thrilled with how clear and consistent the Lord is speaking to him lately about some promises and admonitions. We shared prayer requests (amidst the blackout) and we ended praying for one another (which we usually do) before we retired. One of his prayer requests was to buy a new motorbike.

I just realized how blessed I am for having Godly friends like Da. One whom you won't hesitate to open your life with and whom you won't be ashamed to accept rebuke from. Friends whom you can share your frailties and joys and the nonsense things. Forging such kind of bond with other guys is rare as we are more keen in keeping our emotions and vulnerabilities to ourselves. We dare not to expose them because it's a sign of weakness. But that's not necessarily true. Sometimes, admitting that you are weak and vulnerable is a display of bravery and humility and honesty. And those are virtuous traits.

Drought


“Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravense to feed you there.” (1 Kings 17:3-4)

While it's true that the Lord lets the sun shine for both the good and evil, He however grants special favor to His children.

It was a time when the Israelite's rebellion and wickedness went over the top and the Lord decided to teach them a lesson. There will be a long famine in the land but the faithful Elijah, He spared.

The passage reminded me of few things. That amidst the spiritual drought in this world, the Lord sets His children apart and he provides their needs, even in the most unconventional way possible.

Elijah practically received a special treatment from the Lord that he lacked nothing. He was provided Kerith Ravine as shelter and when everyone else craved for water, Elijah drank from the brook. Unlimited supply, at that. And ravens, yes ravens, provided Elijah with food day and night! Elijah had meat and bread. And let me say it again, from ravens!

It's just amazing how God takes care of his children. He provides all the means. Yes, ALL! And that includes the impossible and the inconceivable ways that man's limited mind can think of.

I praise the Lord for bringing me to this passage this morning. It was very timely when after a spiritual high, I noticed that I am heading to a spiritual drought. By drought, I mean I am at the point where I am craving for continuous intimacy with God... where my faithfulness to Him seems to be faltering. I made a few bumps just recently but I thank the Holy Spirit's constant reminder for me to persevere. Thus, His Word for me today is just what I needed and I praise the Lord for His encouragement. And yeah, special favor.



*Notes from my morning devotional today in 1 Kings 17:1-5.

B+

It was my first time to donate blood last Thursday. The thought that a tube will be inserted in my vein to draw blood scared the crap out of me. I tried to build rapport and joke with the nurses who evaluated my fitness to donated blood so as to divert my nervousness. It took about 15 minutes to draw 450 cc of blood in my system. There is a slight pain but it was manageable and the bleeder was friendly.

Speaking of bleeder, the lady nurse handed me a sort of donation card attesting that I gave out blood. In the card was my name, the volume of blood I donated and the name of the bleeder, which reminded me of someone.

By the way, my blood type is B+.