I deserve a prize

After a very stressful day at work, I decided to go to La Quinta Hotel by Marriot and attend their Open House just to check the place out. When I arrived, I was ushered in the receptions area where I was greeted by the front desk people. They took my name and gave me this card to be signed by the attending hotel staff in every station indicated in front of the card. And so I went and checked out their hotel and all.

The last stop was at the pool side. But before one can enter, you must fill out the back portion of the card and drop it on those tiny baskets. There was a Mexican band playing and some caterers with their mouth-watering food. I engaged in small talks with the other guests while chewing on this brisket and a cup of margarita in hand. The margarita was heaven!

At the end of the whole event, there was a raffle draw. 3rd prize winner will get a night's stay at the same Hotel and free use of their facility, 2nd prize winner will get an Ipod Shuffle version 3 and the grand prize winner will get a plasma TV. I was not really expecting for my name to be called out since I've never been lucky enough to win any raffle draws. So I ate and ate and ate some more. Until the person beside me screamed! I looked at her and she said I won. I looked at her strangely because she knew my name. Then I remembered that I was also wearing their ID card. I went on stage and verified if I indeed won. The name that I wrote down at the back portion of the card was Tofi. While the name that was displayed as Marc Fernando.

I was like :OMG"! I indeed won. I was hoping for the plasma TV but I won an Ipod shuffle instead. Not bad for a start!

The Filipino Craving

Yesterday morning I decided to eat in a Filipino restaurant because I've been craving for some Sinigang and Kare-Kare. The problem is, I don't know where to find one. So what I did, I drove along Pat Booker Rd. I was not disappointed because I saw Mekeni Restaurant.

I went inside and looked at their menu. WOW! There was Sinigang and Kare-Kere! Perfect! I soo loved it! I was not disappointed because their viands are good. Well, not as good as my Mom's cooking but, it quenched my craving for some Filipino food.

Now I know, if I need a Filipino dish to satisfy my appetite, I just have to drive 15 miles to eat some. Yummy!

Isa Akong Pilipino

Kagabi, naisipan kong lumabas ng kwarto at magikot-ikot. Bitbit ang aking camera, tinungo ko ang Wall Mart. Hindi naman kalayuan ang naturang pamilihan kaya nilakad ko na lang.

Piktyur dito, piktyur doon.

Nang makarating ako sa Wall Mart, naisipan kong manigarilyo muna. Alam kong bawal dahil sa sakit ko, pero tila nauuhaw ang aking baga. Pagkasindi ko ng sigarilo, biglang may humintong sasakyan sa gilid ko. Hindi ko na tinignan dahil inisip ko, baka may bababa lang at mamimili sa loob. Nagpatuloy ako sa aking paglalakad ngunit mga ilang hakbang pa lamang ang aking nagagawa, biglang umalingawngaw ang tunog ng isang pito...

Nilingon ko to. May papalapit sa akin. Isang pulis.

"What are you doing out so late?" sabi ng pulis.

"Nothing much. Just walkin' around the block." sagot ko.

"You can't do that here." paninita ng pulis sa paninigarilyo ko.

"And why is that?" balik ko.

"Because you're Asian. If I'm not mistaken, you're a Filipino, right?"

"That's your reason why I cannot smoke here?" tanong ko.

"Yeah! Got a problem with that, chink?"

Nag pantig ang tenga ko sa sinabi nya. Chink? Eh hindi naman ako intsik ah! Bobo!

"Did you just call me chink? I'm not even Chinese! Stupid! And I've never heard of a police officer forbidding someone to smoke just because he's Asian! That's discrimination! May I have your name?" sabay piktyur sa mukha ng pulis!

Tila nagulat ang pulis sa ginawa kong pagkuha ng litrato sa kanya.

"Give me that!" sabi ng pulis.

"This is mine!" sagot ko.

"I'll count to three buster and if you don't hand that over, I will be forced to take that forcefully from you!" pananakot ng pulis.

"Try to do that and I'll report you for discrimination!" sabat ko.

Napahinto ang pilus sa sinabi ko. Parang biglang napaisip.

Ano naman kaya ang nagawa ko para mapahinto ang pulis ng ganun? Na ire-report ko siya? Hindi yata. Tsaka ko naalala, na ang mga Puti, takot sa salitang discrimination. Dahil punishable pala dito yun. Discriminasyon. Malawak na salitang nagdudulot ng takot sa karamihan ng Amerikano.

Pagkakataon ko na para "durugin" ang Kano.

"I'll repeat, I'll report you for Discrimination!" ulit ko.

"Hold on one moment. I was merely trying to tell you that you cannot smoke here" tila takot na sagot ng pulis.

"Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah! You said earlier that I cannot smoke here because I was Asian!"

"Look sir, I was just pointing out to you that the smoking are is right over there" sabay turo sa may bandang basurahan.

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Bakit ba may mga taong hindi matanggap na kayang lakaran ng ibang tao ang bansa nila? Kung makaasta, kala mo nabili na nila ang lahat ng daanan. Ang ayoko pa naman sa lahat, eh ang mababang pagtingin sa lahi natin. Sa Lahi ko! Isa akong Pilipino. Taas noo kong ipagsisigawan na isa akong Pilipino. Kahit pa sabihing nagta-trabaho ako sa isang banyagang kumpanya, Pilipino pa din ako! Matapang, Walang inaatrasan. Ipaglalaban kung ano ang tama.

At kahit baliktarin pa natin ang mundo, mananatili akong Pilipino... Sa Isip, Sa Salita, Sa Gawa...

Party!!!

I just got home from partying at some bars downtown. I'm telling you, the strip clubs here are WILD! Totally wild! I'm telling you, they are wild! The strippers are really really HOT! Too bad i didn't brought my camera. I could have taken some pictures of those those damn strippers! Next time, I will definitely bring it!

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I'm drunk! I think I've had too many cranberry vodka tonight!

Shopping Spree!!

I went to Best Buy earlier and I can't help it but go loco over their stuffs! It's really really cheap!

So I was looking at their mobile phones when, from my peripheral vision, I saw these Digital SLR Cameras! I didn't bring mine because I thought it would be an inconvenience, but boy was I wrong! I should have brought my camera along so I can take pictures of their gadgets! I'm just not sure if it's allowed inside the store. Anyway, I felt like those cameras were calling me! I went over and, lo and behold, this Cannon camera was talking to me! It said "Hold me! Try to take some pictures using me and maybe you'll like me! Go ahead! Don't be shy!"

I was mesmerized by it's beauty! I went over and picked it up slowly. I felt like a child licking his very first lollipop! I cannot possibly let this camera go!

To cut the long story short, I spent like the entire day gushing over the darn camera. When I placed it back down, it was crying! And I am way too kind to let a camera cry. Without thinking, I approached the saleslady and said "I'm not letting her go! I'm going to buy that camera and take care of her.. Forever!"

I ended up buying the camera.. I already have one back home but I cannot simply let this opportunity go! I spent $600 for the camera. Haay. But it was all worth it.

Now that I'm thinking about it, between the camera instead of buying a new laptop, I don't really care. I can go back to Best Buy next weekend and.. I don't know.. Look around for some cheap laptop.. I hope..

Turning Point

I'm here in San Antonio, Texas waiting for a call from my doctor. I've already made arrangements about my medication and treatment. I just hope after all this hassle, everything will turn out fine. I no longer care if people knew about my condition or not, I just want to overcome this hellhole! I think I've suffered enough for me to let this Cancer take the life out of me. I will start living my life the way I want to live it. I won't let this disease dictate my actions nor decisions! It's time be free! It's about time for me to live again. I will resurrect the old me!

The Power of Tears

Earlier today, I had this urge to go out of the house. I don't know where, but I want to go out. I felt like I'm a prisoner in my own world. I couldn't breathe! I need some air!

While walking, a man stepped up to me and said, "Are you OK? Because you're quite pale." Without thinking, I answered "Of course, I've Cancer!" The guy stepped back looking like he was about to run. Then I thought, is this how it will be from now on? Every time people became aware of my condition, they'll just run away? Stupid! For people who are not informed of how and what Cancer is, they'll forever be ignorant. Cancer is not contagious like some might think. It cannot be acquired by mere handshake!

I didn't know where I was until I stumbled on a rectangular granite. I was on my mother's grave. After the realization, I went down on my knees and sobbed. It's been a while since I last visited my Mom. Knowing that where she lies is just half an hour of walk away from my house. I cried... I was emptying myself from the chaos that's been haunting me since I learned what I have. And it helped. It somehow alleviated the turmoil within. It freed me, even for just an hour or two.

Indeed, the power of crying cannot be underestimated. The famous line that says "boys don't cry" is a fallacy. Now I'd say, real boys do let their emotions take control of them. Even if it means shedding a teardrop...

I am not yet a Survivor... But I will be.. Soon..