Silver

I remember the list of anniversaries starting with "paper" for the first year and so on and so forth. But people remember the longer ones well....silver, gold, diamond.

Silver for 25 years. In my case, add another 7.5 years so that totals 32.5 years.\

Looking back, it certainly is a looooong time when you think about it. Reclusion Perpetua or a life sentence starts around 25 years. So in short, my wife and I have served our life sentences plus 7.5 years.

When I think about it, it really doesn't feel like 25 years and I look forward to another 25. Hopefully our kids are stable by then and so are we. So we can enjoy each other's company more and see the world.

Meantime, all we can do is dream as dreams are free and we are cheap. Cheap but happy.

As I write, I remember 25 years ago we were still at the reception venue with over a hundred people that we wanted to leave so we could be alone.

Nowadays it is a luxury to be alone but we always find time whatever the situation may be.

There were many plans for a big celebration, travel, etc. Sad to say, they never pushed through....as usual.

But like I said before. We never stop dreaming. We never stop moving forward no matter how difficult the odds may be.

Come to think of it, all I want is some time alone with my best friend for 32.5 years. I know you deserve more and we are both working hard for it.

But in the meantime, let's just continue dreaming, loving, caring, laughing as we have been since the day we met.

And I thank you for all the years you have stood by me and our children.

Today it is silver and I look forward to gold

When Shit Hits the Fan

Sa pagdaan ng panahon unti unti kong nakikita ang tunay nilang kulay

Ang kulay ng bulok. Masakit sa mata, nalalasahan sa pagtingin, naaamoy sa malayo, nakakasuka

Sa iyong paglipad, tila napakataas ng iyong mararating

Ngunit habang pinagmamasdan kita, hindi ka Masaya

Sa halip, kalungkutan ang aking nakikita sa likod ng iyong mga ngiti

Galit sa bawat mong tawa

Hindi nakukuha sa ganyan yan

Maaring mabili mo ang ilan pero hindi ang lahat

Ang palasyo mo bagamat malaki at malawak ay inaamag

Walang tao, walang buhay, walang pag ibig

Crawling Out of a Hole

Now I know how it feels like when you try to crawl out of a hole. You get sucked in deep, and it gets darker and darker. The darker it gets, the light from above gets brighter and brighter.

Everyone looks down on you and watches you try to crawl out. What I learned is no one will go out of their way to pull you out except a few friends. Some will even commit to call you, but you find yourself hanging and waiting for nothing.

It is demeaning, depressing, and tiring to say the least. With people belonging to the root of the problem, leaving you desperate to solve the problem on your own.

It was a hard lesson learned and learn I did. Now it's time to work harder to find a way out of it for good I hope. So I can give more to the ones I love and make sure they do not experience the same painful thing.

But my chin is still up and will always be up as I keep trying until I achieve the freedom I have been longing for, no matter what it takes.

In the end, the good part of this exercise is that there is a limit to everything. Once you cross that line and there are no options left, you are damned for life.

Music

"Where words fail, music speaks" so goes a quote that I found while surfing the net. Music has been my savior of sorts as I and my family go through a major crisis in our lives. Funny thing about it is everyone is happy at home and it seems there is no crisis at all.

However, the weary need to rest. I have not had a vacation in a long time and have been silent and out of the loop in my circle of friends.

I am tired, impatient, and frustrated over the waiting game I again have to play as the year of the dragon starts.

As they say, time is gold and I have always tried to buy time at a very expensive cost.

Well, there is nothing more I can do but wait. Meantime, I hold my chin up and do what needs to be done to survive. As I always say, this will be over soon.

Blues

In an anniversary party of our company in 2003, I hired famous Filipino Reggae band "Tropical Despression". I have been following this band since the 90's as aside from knowing their front man personally, their former bassist was a band mate in high school.

After their set, they hurriedly left the venue telling me they had to catch the gig of Juan Dela Cruz lead guitarist and rock icon Wally Gonzalez. I couldn't believe what I had heard as Wally was out of the music scene for more than 15 years.

A week after, cutting a long story short, I had followed Wally's gigs at his band's home, Chaquico's formerly Kiko's bar and at other bars when my tight schedule allowed me to.

Every time I watched his gigs, I had this desire to ask him to play even one song to make my dream come true to play with my idol. Unbelievably at a product launch last night, that dream came true.

It was "Halo Halo Special" as my friend called the band named "The Manila Blues Experiment". A collection of great musical talents from well known rock and jazz bands in Manila: Kat Agarado of Sino Sikat, Louie Talan of Razor Back, Vic Mercado of Rivermaya and Bamboo, Wowee Posadas, session keyboardist and drummer of several great artists, and of course the rock guitar god and my idol...Wally Gonzalez.

Fortunately, good friends made the request with slight hesitation from some of the band members but the 2 of my favorite "Wally Songs" : Wally's Blues and JDLC original Beep Beep were approved by Wally so the jam went on with Wally's Blues coming in first. Powerful at the build up, unforgettable in the end. And it was most fulfilling after your idol gives you his sign of approval with a high five.

Another JDLC song came in second but it was more of a fun segue to the first song as we all did not take it seriously being sung by a friend who had a drink too many. Fast forward, I requested to sing "Beep Beep" while playing the drums. I felt the entire band was worried as they thought it was going to be a train wreck. Well, I proved them wrong. The song was sung an played in the format of the original version in the "Maskara Album". And what was so rewarding was to see seasoned musicians looking at you while we played as if saying something through their instruments. It was tight and heavy till the end.

That's one off my bucket list. Amid all of life's hardships, there are always moments that lighten you up. Surely one for the books that I will never forget till the end of my days.

Thank you Manila Blues Experience for one of the best experiences I have ever encountered in my life. I look forward to more.

Bright Idea

I have not stopped using my imagination to come up with a new concept for this new project I have been working on for months.

With the goal of having my own "brand", I have exhausted everything I can to come up with at least 3 alternative concepts just in case the one I chose does not get accepted by my partners.

In as short as 10 minutes into my explanation, I was happy to see their faces light up with their big nods of approval.

So here we go again, moving forward and thinking of ways to mix good taste and affordable price with a concept that will come in with a bang!

I hope I can open this with the budget I estimated with in time for the holiday season. It would help my family a lot and it would give opportunities to my brothers as well.

Taste test is in the making......Let's get it on!

BER

We have now reached the "BER" months. That means, in 3 months, people will get crazy again and celebrate Christmas season. The time of the year when you eat what you are not supposed to, there are parties almost every week, and people wait for you to give them a little something to spread the cheer so to speak. Good for those with deep pockets, dangerous for those who have none in them.

Well life has been too exciting lately and I'm hoping the excitement mellows a little bit so I can rest. I mean, I'm not complaining but sometimes a guy needs some R&R.

It would be great if I could buy a bike though. I miss biking and racing.

I hope to be able to do it soon.