Thank You, 'Ma!

She hears me now I am sure of it. But I would love her hears me say this when she was still around, when I could still do it with a hug. I did not have the courage. I tried many times but I failed even more in my mind. How could I say "thank you, mama for everything," when you gave more than everything. As a kid I just wanted to learn the way you do things in life, your own style, but you even invented ways for me on how to do things and make them special. I just asked guidance while growing up, but you gave me directions on how to succeed though at times I failed to live up to your simple yet worthy expectations of me. I am very sorry for that, 'Ma. I knew all along my weaknesses in life and the many shortcomings I made but you stood ground, never gave-up, patiently and eagerly watched me soar in life with what I know and what I have. I know you are still and will always be watching. I have not yet reached more heights in my chosen fields, but not in friends and experiences.

I would like to thank the Lord for giving you to us. You're such a great mentor, friend, our children's friend ....and amazing mother to us. You very well know what I mean. Much as I would love to see you live more, see more of our lives, see our children grow, I could not defy the Lord's invitation for you to be with Him now. Papa would be even happier probably to be with you.

You may have left us but you will definitely continue to live in our hearts forever.

We love you, 'Ma. Salamat uli!

Missing Even More

Significant part of my high school life were the moments outside the classrooms, free time along the building corridors, unguarded moments inside the cottages in front or at the back of the buildings, but what made it even more meaningful and unforgettable were the voices, faces, and individual unique laughters of my dear friends and batchmates which until now, I could vividly recall. Silent smiles of some completed the moments.

And I miss them. All of them. Just badly. High school days could not be complete without them.

Thanks to "technology." Thanks to blogger.com. Slowly my friends and classmates are surfacing one by one, telling their very own experiences after high school days. Slowly, I could almost hear their voices, see their laughters exactly the same during "parantukan days" when our age was not part of the topics.

I wish I could turn back the hands of time, from time to time, and meet them again when I wanted to. But I want also to fast-tract same hands so I could one day meet them with their kids, spouses and new friends but not in this site. Our town would still be the best place for that dream reunion. A reunion would only be a genuine one when we also re-unite with the place where we spent happy times...back then. Only in Bulusan.

As we move forward in this life, we tend to even recall more of the past, learn more from it... at times we could not help but bring it forward and make the current time or maybe the future even more meaningful. For you, my friends, batchmates, our days then together, are among my important past that I must always bring as I connect with with what we will further share again in the furture....together.

I do now miss you...even more. Pag-uruli man pan-o kamo..pirmi!

Yolanda Fortes Victor & family