A book for a rose: Dia del Libro 2008

Labels: , - Tuesday, April 22, 2008


Spanish culture is romantic in every sense of the word. It’s flair for romance runs not only on its language but also on its traditions and practices. One of the manifestations of this ‘romantic culture’ is their holiday, Dia del Libro (Book Day). In this unique book fair slash celebration, a buyer gets a red rose for every book purchase.

Last Saturday, I had a chance to experience this culture via Instituto Cervantes, which hosted the Dia del Libro affair. There were many cheap Spanish books on sale. Too bad, I can only understand few Spanish vocab so I didn’t enjoy much of the books being sold there. I only bought three books: Escrito en no, PEN: anthology of short stories and a children’s book (which, I forgot the title). Aside from the open house book sale galore, there were poetry and photography contests, Spanish wine and food and of course, PARTYYY.

Of course this event coincided with the nivel 4 qualifying exams. BOO. This, of course, makes it hard for me to enjoy dia del libro and concentrate on the test. I had to come early to study in the Biblioteca. I saw Boni, Donabel, JPaul, Jimmy and Delilah there. (all seriously studying). My teacher in Spanish keeps on telling us that we should enjoy and not study (BI pala si sir). The test is dificil. Muchisimo. There are four parts of the test: Listening skills, reading comprehension, multiple choice and essay writing. I had difficulty in all parts because I didn’t study at all.

After the test, Dona, Cha, Boni and I bonded and talk about the test (aren’t students do that all the time?) and life. I am happy since this is the first time I sit down with my classmates and listen to their histories/herstories (to think they’ve been my classmate for almost a year now). Personally, I feel a lot closer to them now than before.

There are layers and layers of stories on Dia del libro: the charina-ronnie lazaro’s son collision, endless matchmaking jokes, the real-deal, harry potter, and the simple truth-donabel.

I’m looking forward on the next Dia del libro and hopefully when that time comes, I’m a better Spanish speaker. (crosses fingers here)

Usapang bigas at pag-aasawa

Labels: , , , - Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Matagal-tagal din hindi nakapag-email ang tatay ko sa akin. Kadalasan bawat araw mayroon yun sulat kahit na kakapirangot ang sinasabi, na ,minsan pa't puro mga paalala at mga kamusta eklaboo. Malamang busy sa trabaho ngayon si tatay kaya ayun makalipas ang isang buwan dun lang nagparamdam. Ito ang nilalaman ng email niya: (na kinatuwa ko)

Hi kumosta uli kayo dyan? at kumosta naman ang trabaho mo IHA? ako okey lang dto,,hay kawawa naman ang walang pambili ng bigas biroin mo ang haba ng pila para lang makabili ng NFA rice nakita namin kasi sa balita dto! nakita namin kong mag kano na ang kilo ng bigas...Mabuti kayo ay may roon pang bigas at bangitin mo sa nanay mo na bumili na ng maraming bigas....e komsta naman si noynoy??? nako kaya ikaw kong mag a asawa ka yong marami ng bigas as practical...hehe uhm..osigi walang pikunan....ingat lang parati..iwasan ang sobrang pag pupuyat baka lumabas ang tagyawat...

Natatawa ako kasi andami naman pwedeng sabihin like mga bilin but NO—kelangan mag-imbak ng bigas. Tapos nagkaroon din ng bagong standard sa pag-aasawa: kelangan maraming bigas. Hehehe.. Haciendero na ngayon ang bagong "ideal guy." Hehehe. Pero seryoso tama din si tatay kasi andami na ngayong naghihirap at swerte pa din kami kasi hindi namin nararanasan yung ganun.

miss ko na tatay ko :(

a song playing in my head...

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If I were a flower growing wild and free
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I were a tree growing tall and greeen
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

If you were a river in the mountains tall,
The rumble of your water would be my call.
If you were the winter, I know I'd be the snow
As long as you were with me, let the cold wind blow

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod
If you were a seed, I'd be a pod.
If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug
And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug

If you were the wood, I'd be the fire.
If you were the love, I'd be the desire.
If you were a castle, I'd be your moat,
And if you were an ocean, I'd learn to float.

A Vague Dream

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Sometime ago, I had this dream of being killed—by my friends. At the onset of the dream or nightmare (for the term dream often connotes happy things), I sensed already that death is coming. An unstoppable event, predicament that made me accept and just wait for death to come. And so death arrives in the form of three hooded figures, all cloaked like dementors. As I sat in my couch, I thought why does God have to put me in this situation? I felt so scared at the thought of dying young. When the three figures approached me, the two held my hands in a sort of crucifixion way and the other one, lifted my head and aimed for my neck. But before the knife pass through my neck, I saw that the killers were actually my friends. Long time friends whom I known since forever (well at least to me it is). Sudden shocked creeps into my system before I lose my breath and darkness envelopes me. The nightmare ends there.

The morning after I asked my friend, Elea (who sorts of interprets dreams) about it. She told me that I’m just doing many things related perhaps to my friends or I’m doing too many things for other people. My unconscious is telling me to stop and to take a deep breath. Apparently, dreams aren’t so literal (thank God). I’m still alive so I guess no one is going to kill who here. In short, I’m just stressed out because I’m doing many things.

Sighs.

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