Halloween Gimmick

The plan is to give a different twist to this Halloween. The idea came first this morning aboard a mini bus. Just as the bus I rode passed by a dull-painted gate, a guy wearing a Grim’s mask ran to the street, with his hands almost touching the bus and growled at me. Or probably, at all of us.

Lightbulbs flashed. Stars shimmered. Music blared. I can do the same. And maybe, even with a better twist.

Our house is quite oddly placed at a dangerous slope along Maharlika Highway. Accidents happen a lot on that area. It might be the reason people believe that the acacia tree on the other side of the road fronting our house is home to a white lady and a horse with its carriage. It has been quite a time since there was any serious accidents so the tale is no longer that popular.

But, if people will see someone clothed in shimmering white wearing a Grim’s mask, they will start to talk again. Especially, when they’ll see it tomorrow night just as they’re walking home from the cemetery. It's time to scare some people and give this Halloween its rightful Halloween vibe.

Hopefully, this works. All I need are a few conspirators to back me up. Interested? Hehe

Some of some

Went to Heritage in a bike tonight. Did it passed the arrogant big buses with horns that ring like monsters' growls.

Within 8 slow minutes, I got there at Heritage's, just in time to catch the last of the Halloween parade. The parade closed with an ambulance with a driver who wears a Grim's mask and when it exited at the 4th crossing, onlookers soon attacked the souvenir shops and cameras flashed in all directions as tourists picked their spots. They will surely post those pictures in Facebook and earn everyone's envy because they've been to Vigan's Heritage.

And I biked and biked. I circled the crossings and felt the cobblestones' mini-friction with the bike's wheels. Then I saw my companions turning in my direction; it was the end of my biking moments. In a few seconds, the bike was claimed by its owner.

I left Heritage in heavy footsteps as the bike owner did its usual tricks on the bike. Limping, jumping some inches up the ground.

Then we flagged down a tricycle and went home. It was the Halloween Night of 2010. Some biking, Some parade. Some walking. Some of some.

Less Nocturnal

I’m on a roll! Since two nights ago, I was able to sleep early. No more of those “I-have-to-wait-until 3-am-to-feel-sleepy” complaints.

Feels great to be able to sleep early and have enough sleep to start another day’s work.

So I’m kissing my goodbyes to all those insomniac nights! Here’s to more of good night sleeps.

I care to remember

5 minutes, that’s all it took for me to scribble the names of those I voted for the barangay election. The elementary school, BCS, which has been home to different elections ever since I can remember, has its usual buzz of food vendors, onlookers and supporters lined up at the entrance and outside the low concrete walls of the school. There were also those in motorcycles and bicycles scattered in front of the different precincts exchanging stories about days that are better not remembered.

After a BEI inked my forefinger, I readily went outside and was surprised to see more people scattered everywhere; most of them I hardly recognize though they seem to know me. They smiled and waved in weird ways and in turn, made me feel guilty. In my being so away from our place most of the time, I have forgotten a few faces and names.

Buds, the perennial hungry sister of mine, bought some hotdogs and isaw from one of those food vendors before we went home. Just as we were waiting for the food, a guy whose face I instantly recognized to be a former classmate, called me by my name. I was actually embarrassed because I would have wanted to return the greeting by calling him by his first name. But, my mind went black and I settled for a smile and “Hi!” Lame.

So this classmate of mine went on to ask about how things are. I vaguely answered him, cautious that he might find out I don’t have any idea what his name is. I said goodbye just as the vendor handed my sister her hotdog and isaw.

I have forgotten people, not everyone but some of them. And it has made me realized that the people that used to fill my former life has been blurred, if not replaced by new people who occupy the kind of life that I have now, the kind of life that hardly allow me to mingle with the people I used to know, with people in our place.

But, I would want to remember everyone as much I could and piece all the memories, especially when I was still a kid and believed in vampires. I would like to remember each of those faces that graced my life as a kid in gradeschool and as a struggling teenager in highschool. These are the people who might no longer have anything to do with me but they remain, essentially, the people who know me when I was still discovering the world. I care to remember them.

Typhoon Juan

After a whole day of writing reports regarding the damages of Typhoon Juan in Ilocos, I'm ending this "I-thought-I-will-seat-infront-of-the-computer-forever" moment with this blog post.

I just hope that the storm surges in coastal municipalities of Ilocos Sur and La Union have stopped so that affected families and individuals will recover faster. I also hope the same for agricultural areas wherein damaged crops amount to millions of pesos.

Typhoon Juan is the strongest typhoon to hit the country in four years and hopefully, no other typhoon this strong will ever hit the country again.

So, now it's a rest for my tired, tired eyes.

Flexibility of LGU Offices during disasters

We've rounded several barangays in three municipalities today in the second district of Ilocos Sur. And from our visits, I can say that: Some people out there in local LGU's are doing their jobs halfheartedly. Apart from Santa, Ilocos Sur, and Candon's Fisheries Bureau, we were not able to talk to anyone from concerned offices of two municipalities who could give us sizable information regarding the extent of damages in their areas of responsibility.

Those from the LGU's should do more than just wait for reports from barangays. They should at least try to arrange ocular visits in their areas of responsibility so that when people ask them about data on damages caused by Typhoon Juan, they won't be giving answers like: "We still do not know. We're still waiting for reports."

Answers like these are lame. They can do more than just wait. Because the faster that they gather data, the faster that they will also be able to provide assistance.

Take for example this one barangay that we visited in Sta. Lucia, they have already reported a totally damaged house; they've been advised to wait for ocular inspection. Surprisingly,we were the first to be there for ocular inspection; none from any LGU office of Sta. Lucia have paid any visit to the barangay since they reported it on October 18. Apparently, the LGU also still do not know that in that same barangay, bananas of at least 100 families have been destroyed and vegetable crops of several families were also damaged.

I just hope that other LGU offices would be more flexible in carrying out their responsibilities during calamities; they would have to leave the comforts of their offices and conduct visits in barangays.

Stubborn Heat

The sunrays seep through this thin, embroidered cloth that's supposed to be a curtain and dust particles are dancing to an easy air. It's hot. Freaking hot.

The electric fan buzz on a corner, slightly cooling down the place but not enough to keep the sweat from forming on my forehead. It is uncomfortable enough that I have to listen to the endless rattle of the fan blades and with the addition of having to wipe off my face every now then, a severe headache is on its way.

It's "ber" month and it's supposed to be cooler but the pattern obviously no longer apply. No more of the misty air that used to greet nightwalks during this month. One walks and it seem like hard labor. Profuse sweat at a even a minute of light physical activity.

It's 4:33 pm, RP time, yet there's not even a light air to brush the deadliness of afternoon heat. It might rain just like other late afternoons but the heat persists. Stubborn heat, it is.

A shower again later, perhaps.

Bloopers

I came home to an empty house three hours ago. It was dark and I almost had to crawl upstairs to get the lights on. When I went back downstairs, I saw it all.

Signs of intrusions were very evident. Chicken shits at the garage. Small and scattered. Small and sundried. Not in any way pretty. When I got to the kitchen, ants were laboring on the TV, on a Bench paperbag and on the dusty floor tiles. Some creativity helped to get rid of them.

When I turned the TV on, I went deaf. The volume was at its maximum. Remote control doesn't work and so does the volume button. I had to spend three minutes forcing down the V- button to keep it down.

After a supper of Seafood instant noodles, I decided to start writing. That was 30 minutes ago. The thing is, I forgot my flashdrive which contains my references.

So apart from being alone tonight, I also have to stare blankly at the computer screen, forcing myself to write despite incomplete data. I had to type: ___________________ every now and then. So far, I've written nothing.

I'm going to miss the deadline tomorrow. At least, I'll have the chicken shits to blame it all on. Or maybe the ants.

Haha. Sweet.