I could only imagine how Eve felt after her first bite of the forbidden fruit. Aside from the fear of knowing not what's in store for her, the idea of doing things on her own outside the confines of the 'paradise' must be exhilarating! Like this thing written on a shirt some nasty or rather courageous women wear at times; “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere!". That's the kind freedom that I want (and experiencing right now). Of course, no one can be absolutely free unless you're dead but nonetheless, I'll gladly embrace whatever kind of 'captivity' is in store for me.
After choosing to be free from the responsibilities of an employed professional, I'd quickly got myself back together and I embarked on a journey of self rediscovery. Rediscovery could entail redoing things that you have failed to do or failed to survive in the past. If you play video games, you're surely getting what I am saying. You know the part where you confront the Boss and you don't know what to expect, most of the time you lose. But after losing that game, you tried to recall the rhythm, the pattern and you'll surely win the game. I always say, Failing is inevitable. If anything, it only makes a person stronger and wiser.
My journey to rediscovery started from satisfying my long time urge of a bucolic life. Pastoral and innocent, like the place where I came from. Iriga City. Money though is a problem. Since I've got no regular job anymore, I have to find ways to make ends meet. I figured I have to find Landscape Architectural projects to sustain my "journey" (aside from my current projects in development).
Okay, with money taken cared of, it is time to commence the fun! I started in my neighborhood. I admit that I am narcissistic, insecure and a self contained adolescent. I never socialize with my "kapitbahay". I was like Erica Han in Grey's Vasectomy who admitted in a very recent episode that she never makes friends easily. The reasons I won’t disclose this time to avoid further impressions of 'kaumolan'. But I'll give away one: The fear of rejection. Well, who hasn't? Hehe... So now, with the improved social goddess in me, I began to adopt the true nature of being an Iregueno: Cowboy baby! First, we have a way of speaking like we bare our souls with no inhibitions. "Garapal", "bulgar", 'usmak" and we curse like there's no tomorrow (which is so much fun btw). I remember meeting this guy in a drinking soirée in Ibalon Resort (in San Juan). He just came from the UK and he was very enthused to tell stories about Iriguenos in UK. I remember him telling me that while he was walking somebody else's dog (mind you, 10 Pounds an hour) in a park, he noticed a postman who is a pinoy-looking fella. So he went out of his way to greet him. The postman's pinoy indeed and to his surprise, recognized him as well by greeting him "Putang masimot ika, taga Iriga Ika!" in the crispiest crisp that you could ever imagine. What a nice story to end my day.
Equipped with this unique communication technique, I am very much ready to go. Iriga City is a small community so thinking about how you have to dress yourself is a pretty lame thing to spend your time on if you do not have enough resources. Also, I am in euphoria freedom has blessed me, so I really do not care.
Alright, first stop the house in front. When I was a child, they're my (playboy) playmates. But somewhere along the way, sprinkles of malice dust took away the shroud of innocence. I stopped playing with them. Now, I am happy that I have found new friends in them. They're happy and fun to be with. Susie, I reckon was the girl whom some of my childhood friends pair me to. But in my mind, I know what I want. Boys. In my mind, I want them to pair me to this golden boy in the name of _____. Haha!
Susie, among other interesting people in their house, manages a small store at their front. In my idle afternoon, I always go to her to share some stories of gargantuan scope. Stories of adventures, life, love, sex among other things. There, the portals to their warm hearts opened up for me. Auntie Shiela, is a quite a character. I remember her pimping her son to me (jokingly), asking me to 'sponsor' his education and such. I rode on the vehicle of fun. Then her husband, son with his two other friends came from a basketball game and the fun never ended (not in the way you think, silly! I assure you, my idea of fun is just the same as yours)!
Then the drinking sprees. Boy, it is abundant here. It's easy to get drunk and be free from cares in this bucolic enclave. It's a social channel. And it's way cheap, because you do not have to pay for the place, marked-up prices of 'pulutan' and beverages (unless you want to be seen in Desney (yes, I spelled it correctly honey) Grille, which btw is a very nice place to go out to with friends). Claire and Mafford, longtime friends of mine, were known to frequent almost any drinking event in the city (Haha! sorry friends for giving that away). So whenever I need a 'fix', I just consult my walking directories of fun.
Along the way of things in my stay in Iriga, I found new friends in old faces. I realized that some people that I usually ignore (because I am like god in my own way) are very interesting people ever!
Now, I have to cut this epic tale of rediscovery because I have to embark on a new journey of equal or greater epic proportions.
If I'm properly fixed, I'll soon write about the MAY events in Iriga City. Fiesta Galore!!!
b_r0cka ;)
Okay, yesterday I did my laundry and while I was hanging my clothes, I noticed spots of chocolaty appearance on the ground (amongst the dried dead leaves of Kaimito which is a very messy tree, however I’m in love with it because of the shade it provides). Accents I thought. I looked around, this time taking into consideration inconspicuous elements that have missed my first ocular investigation. Remains of rats randomly distributed with their dreams of a good life evaporated into the thin air (scented). That explains the scent! All the while I was thinking it was the smell of summer and the canal beside our property is just having some 'periods'. Then night time, I have to remind myself (I composed a mantra) that the ground is cursed, and any mistake and miscalculated move might lead me to a pile of shit (yes, all interpretations accepted)! So I started this morning with a drive to live a peaceful, clean and environment friendly way of life. Equipped with a "sig-gid" (waling tingting), I swept the surface of the concrete slab (which serves as our service area and lanai) and now the textured surface is smiling.
