My journey, my endless quest!

A little way back, it was but a normal thing for me to say that someday in God's time i would do everything to get out of this trap and live a luxurious life. In my surroundings, some are showing contentment, others are getting fatalistic, while some others (including myself) just keep going because they believed that God has his own plans and so be it. Many times did i set my personal goals, but the end points were frustrations. I tried to reverse things; no goals were set but in the end I got my prayers answered. Miracles do happen, and let me believe in this too because there are so many things going on that are beyond man's logical capacity. Hard works and patience of course can be so rewarding. There can be no greater rewards than having achievements. If things come along without extra efforts and without honesty, I think every moment of joy is fake. You can neither be so much proud of it nor be truly happy for it because you grabbed things in the wrong way.

Yes I did cheat on few exams in my younger days. Now and then if I come to think of it I get slightly down in the dumps because I knew it made a contribution to what and where I am now. “We’re only humans,” is always a common alibi for this attitude, but thanks God it didn’t develop in me. I could have built my dream castle of questionable means just like what some few people did. Certainly I wouldn't do it for I know I belong to a community and my deeds would affect every member of my team. It did happen here just very recently. But what can we do but to accept that it is but a natural phenomenon. This guy has definitely succumbed to his calloused conscience. And if there’s one more thing I can say to him, he sucks at it! Things like this need not fade away from our daily hearings. There will be more of this kind in some other blogs but i have to proceed to another paragraph anyway with more of me.


This coming June 2010 is my 9th year in this small catholic educational institution. Originally from Mindanao where I earned my degree in Communication, I spent few years in Manila for my previous employments until such time when I had to be in Masbate for my provincial assignment as a computer teacher. God never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the place to live in. When I arrived, I only spent few days as a stranger, the rest I learned to co-exist, I grow, I belong, and I have found a perfect refuge here. The moment I first stepped on this soil I knew I was on top of my lungs being all alone and worry-free. Yes it was. I may not have my biological family around but these people make me feel so at home more than anybody can.

My journey started in Ali Mall, to the historic and scenic Mayon Volcano that I used to see in text books. The moment i saw this scene right in front of my eyes I had to let go of some teardrops. Then in silence I asked myself why did I end up here? "Lord if this is your will, then I just had to keep going." Good that when I said all these words to myself, he just absorbed them and listened. Otherwise we could be in trouble. I was around 23 years old then when I left San Mateo in Rizal. I remember I had an old neighbor back there who gave me a bit of a hint on how to locate Masbate because I told him I have not even a single information about the place. And so he directed me to Ali Mall in Cubao, and there I should take a bus ride to Sorsogon.

Call me stupid but i was thinking I could reach Masbate in two hours or three. So when my bus seatmate told me I was not even halfway there and I was almost five hours on the road, and more hours had passed I saw the volcano, shocks i really broke down. I had no way back because i did sign a contract at the office in Ortigas and backing-out would mean I had to pay. I know I am a vocal person when at eased with the people around me but this time I had to be still for strange reasons or what. Then I got into the Masbate harbor by 7:00 am. I had no idea i would have to cross the island by a fast or slow craft. But i was in a fastcraft. I had in my mind while on the bus that I should be in a taxi going to a school called liceo de masbate as i was well instructed by my superior in Ortigas to at least look good at the principals office for some talks with regards to my contract and of course the nature of my work. Sad to say that Masbate is a place where first impression could be "there are more trycicles than people" so I had to carry my bag and hailed one to take me to school. To my surprise the school is so near. At the gate I remember I was asking who the principal was and where was her office. Then, at long last I met the principal Mrs. Estenile Adoptante. I was welcomed, I found her name a little strange, she called some of her faculty member to join her entertained me and I was just so amazed everyone looked so good and welcoming. I never can't forget the "set" story but i could not elaborate more on this to avoid a libelous blog, but some people I got close to knew it. Few people could read the enigma of my presence, while I was completely illusioning myslef as a doctor who was attending to his patients for blood tests. Sure you know what I mean. The first 3 faculty members Edwin, Greg and Mr. Pogi were first on the test. Their blood type? Confirmed! Last was the president himself Msgr. Q., his blood type? I found out he's got a diabetic origin and he's absolutely so. Of course, confirmed!

Then my saga continued on with all these big twists coming into my life i could not believe in ugly gods' name to happen to me. First there was Edwin de Lara. A man who knows no borders I learned so much from him. He is from Dimasalang, Masbate another municipality of this place. Since i got paralyzed when I was a kid, evidently for me I could not play basketball in Jesus' name! But Edwin was the man. He taught me how to play the game, how to dribble, how to pass and how to share the ball with our team mates. He took me everywhere where there were tournaments. We even had a match in Gilotongan, Cawayan, Masbate i think in 2002 during the Christmas season. And we played good basketball under the mango tree, with all the bermuda grasses on the side that served as our bench or benches during breaks and substitution times. He left us in 2003 and switched to a public school. But the game did not end there. He always comes to visit us for a basketball and the fun continues. He's now happily married to a princess and they have one little cute daughter in Dimasalang. No matter what happens, Edwin will always be the man I feel so grateful for. If not for him I could have led myself to drug addiction, womanizing, gambling, all these and more. He is one of the reasons why I'm standing still and living life so steadfastly. I may not be at the height of my career now since in my own point of view we are slightly bungled, but the gift of friendships has got the hold on me to stay.

Part of this journey is a totally hilarious personality who is of course our team captain for many years now. Mr. Gregorio Gabotinosa, a BSA graduate at St. Rita College in Parañaque City. He is actually from Tumalaytay in Mandaon, Masbate. He is a multi-talented individual for a very natural reason. He is a quick swimmer and could even represent the country in Olympics. His trainings? When he was younger, he used to save his money going to school so instead of riding a boat for fare, he would just swim from Trinidad and Tubego all the way to his school. No wonder he is a competitive swimmer his age. He is a world class singer not just in his own rights. Mind you he sings pretty well his voice is as expressive as Toni Braxton's, Celine Dion's, & Enrique Iglesias'. Name it and he's a kanta singko idol certainly so. Trainings? Well he's just over exposed with microphones of all sorts. He started to sing when he was 6, a little closer with Charice Pempengco's age when she got discovered with her talent. An entirely good looking boy was with him as he grew up that's why his vocal chord was in the right mold for the voice. His close neighborhood so to speak. The vocal chord in this case has its own Etymology. And few guys from our team could very well explain this jargon so there is no need of a probe agent. Greg also dances so gracefully ranging from cha-cha to sway, soft to hard rock, boogie to rumba, and discos 'til he drops. He always receives his MVP award even he's at age. For he is the best ball handler of our team. He is a complete package of a person.

Speaking of a package, this team is not complete without Boy Mr. Jonathan Morano. He does not play basketball in his own will and testament, but he would always serve as our guiding spirit. I am sometimes feeling so guilty we make him wait even at late nights depending on what time a game should end. He would just pray for us on the side. In and outside his flat he would have with him his beads for our safety. Thank you so much boy for all these. We know he is so busy with all his taping and talent managing, but he would always find time to secure the team. You know what? To tell you the truth this guy has a little folly that is innate in him. If you happen to be in his company, you need to be always aware of his fist or else he will suffocate you with his AIR from within. (bumubuga ng Utot at itatapal bigla sa ilong ng mapagtitripan nya), and this is one of his addictions. He would not make a good driver, tendency is, he would end up smoke belching on the road. On the good side of him, this man is an achiever, self-driven and hard working. If only he died few years back, by this time for sure he is already canonized at the Vatican as one of the saints. But so far he is the team's living saint. And Mr. Greg would call him "M..... S....." again I cannot spell it out to avoid a libel case.

As we come of age here in Liceo, we met the former Vice mayor in Masbate and she eventually became one of our colleagues in school as she is also teaching. She joined us in 2004, became our friend and she founded the big 4 team for the 4 pillars of Liceo. She is undoubtedly a renowned political figure in Masbate although I might fail to convince you that she is because she looks more of a fashion model than a public servant. But yes, Bing Sanchez or ate Bing is the name. In her stunning umbrella, she stands 5 feet and 2 inches tall, weighs **** kilos, she takes the tape at 36, ** and one fourth, and never mind. Then again, asterisks to avoid libel cases. This fellow has so much to tell in person. No wonder she is a politician. But there is just one thing I'm some kind of giving her an "ew!" conjunction because she eats a lot of "buriring!", that seasonal, fatal, rat-like fish in this area I've never seen like this before. But as the days passed and we're getting matured, i never gave her a damn if she eats the thing as she never cared of our ball games. In fact, she would invite us in her farm and introduce us to her tenants who could possibly play with us in the farm's basketball tournament. And we are actually waiting for the next invitation so that for sure we could bring home a trophy. The first invitation was a try-out so we did not benefit from it. By the way, the big 4 is expecting for another member. If you pass the qualification and be willing to undergo a unique initiation, then you must be what we've been looking for. This time, we are not preparing but surely, there will be a national tour and hopefully soon we can go as far as Hong Kong or Singapore. If a reader of this blog finds this reading a nasty one, be willing to write your comments on the same page or, the least that you can do is to go to the barangay post and air your sentiments there. My journey, my endless quest is a lifetime process, so there will be so much stories in the next few days I hope you stick around and I will do my best to write some more. You can post all your favorite topics to discuss with and Liceo blogs it for you. Thank you and may you have a good time.