Clueless

A respond to Bel’s challenge.

I know. I know. This is risky. To be talking about something men do not have. The Kingdom Masculin might forever ban me. But hey, friends of the opposite sex, you might learn something from this.

The species of the Kingdom Feminin are superior in a way. Would you believe that the confident masculine friends are inferior against us, women, when it comes to one thing? Women have this ‘unknown something’ men don’t have. Do not ever click the Next Blog button. Do not go away. Sometimes, we all have to face realities. *smirk*

Women have what you call feminine intuition or simply women’s intuition. While everybody (male and female) has an intuition or an immediate knowledge of something, a woman’s intuition is extraordinary. Sometimes this untapped asset needs just a little developing and awakening and presto! You are a woman with a skill.

Below are random situations that illustrates women’s “it”:

1. Rose has two sons. One of them is still in college. Lately, she noticed that her youngest son leaves the house earlier than before. She asked the son why he has to leave early and was told that one of his subjects was rescheduled. Out of instinct, she decided to go to work later at noon and went to the university. A classmate of her son met her with this question, “Ma’am, what happened to Tony? Did he get sick?” To her bewilderment, the classmate continued telling her that it’s been a month that Tony was not attending his classes.
2. Beatriz’s husband is close to his cousin’s wife, Lou. Beatriz later feels wary about Lou frequenting their house. One night, Lou came and was looking for Beatriz’s husband. When Lou entered the house, she was dressed in her pajamas and her perfume filled the house. There was something in Lou’s actions that made Beatriz’s ponder. She confronted her husband about the hunch – she does not trust Lou. Two years later, news broke that Lou and her husband was opting for divorce. Lou was pregnant, not of her husband.
3. Trish and Alex dated one evening. After an hour being together, Alex began to give brief responses and his eyes shoots elsewhere. Trish asked, “Do you want us to leave now?” To which Alex replied, “You see, Trish, Mom told me to be home at 8:30, Tita Inez will visit the house.”

Don’t go yet! You have to know why women defeat men because of their sixth sense. You have to know why they know something without knowing how they know it, or why they have these heightened sense, sensitivity, and perceptiveness. This is why.

Some others insist that women’s intuition is a myth but some others try to prove it is not. Being a woman, I believe that we really have this “it” that men can not have. I am always right when I air a hunch.

This is not to say that man and woman’s creation is opposing. Actually, a man’s linear or left brain thoughts complements a woman’s holistic or right brain thinking. God has a way on things. He had neither created one superior than the other but corresponding to each other. Isn’t that great, my male friend?

Clueless

A respond to Bel’s challenge.

I know. I know. This is risky. To be talking about something men do not have. The Kingdom Masculin might forever ban me. But hey, friends of the opposite sex, you might learn something from this.

The species of the Kingdom Feminin are superior in a way. Would you believe that the confident masculine friends are inferior against us, women, when it comes to one thing? Women have this ‘unknown something’ men don’t have. Do not ever click the Next Blog button. Do not go away. Sometimes, we all have to face realities. *smirk*

Women have what you call feminine intuition or simply women’s intuition. While everybody (male and female) has an intuition or an immediate knowledge of something, a woman’s intuition is extraordinary. Sometimes this untapped asset needs just a little developing and awakening and presto! You are a woman with a skill.

Below are random situations that illustrates women’s “it”:

1. Rose has two sons. One of them is still in college. Lately, she noticed that her youngest son leaves the house earlier than before. She asked the son why he has to leave early and was told that one of his subjects was rescheduled. Out of instinct, she decided to go to work later at noon and went to the university. A classmate of her son met her with this question, “Ma’am, what happened to Tony? Did he get sick?” To her bewilderment, the classmate continued telling her that it’s been a month that Tony was not attending his classes.
2. Beatriz’s husband is close to his cousin’s wife, Lou. Beatriz later feels wary about Lou frequenting their house. One night, Lou came and was looking for Beatriz’s husband. When Lou entered the house, she was dressed in her pajamas and her perfume filled the house. There was something in Lou’s actions that made Beatriz’s ponder. She confronted her husband about the hunch – she does not trust Lou. Two years later, news broke that Lou and her husband was opting for divorce. Lou was pregnant, not of her husband.
3. Trish and Alex dated one evening. After an hour being together, Alex began to give brief responses and his eyes shoots elsewhere. Trish asked, “Do you want us to leave now?” To which Alex replied, “You see, Trish, Mom told me to be home at 8:30, Tita Inez will visit the house.”

Don’t go yet! You have to know why women defeat men because of their sixth sense. You have to know why they know something without knowing how they know it, or why they have these heightened sense, sensitivity, and perceptiveness. This is why.

Some others insist that women’s intuition is a myth but some others try to prove it is not. Being a woman, I believe that we really have this “it” that men can not have. I am always right when I air a hunch.

This is not to say that man and woman’s creation is opposing. Actually, a man’s linear or left brain thoughts complements a woman’s holistic or right brain thinking. God has a way on things. He had neither created one superior than the other but corresponding to each other. Isn’t that great, my male friend?

Clueless

A respond to Bel’s challenge.

I know. I know. This is risky. To be talking about something men do not have. The Kingdom Masculin might forever ban me. But hey, friends of the opposite sex, you might learn something from this.

The species of the Kingdom Feminin are superior in a way. Would you believe that the confident masculine friends are inferior against us, women, when it comes to one thing? Women have this ‘unknown something’ men don’t have. Do not ever click the Next Blog button. Do not go away. Sometimes, we all have to face realities. *smirk*

Women have what you call feminine intuition or simply women’s intuition. While everybody (male and female) has an intuition or an immediate knowledge of something, a woman’s intuition is extraordinary. Sometimes this untapped asset needs just a little developing and awakening and presto! You are a woman with a skill.

Below are random situations that illustrates women’s “it”:

1. Rose has two sons. One of them is still in college. Lately, she noticed that her youngest son leaves the house earlier than before. She asked the son why he has to leave early and was told that one of his subjects was rescheduled. Out of instinct, she decided to go to work later at noon and went to the university. A classmate of her son met her with this question, “Ma’am, what happened to Tony? Did he get sick?” To her bewilderment, the classmate continued telling her that it’s been a month that Tony was not attending his classes.

2. Beatriz’s husband is close to his cousin’s wife, Lou. Beatriz later feels wary about Lou frequenting their house. One night, Lou came and was looking for Beatriz’s husband. When Lou entered the house, she was dressed in her pajamas and her perfume filled the house. There was something in Lou’s actions that made Beatriz’s ponder. She confronted her husband about the hunch – she does not trust Lou. Two years later, news broke that Lou and her husband was opting for divorce. Lou was pregnant, not of her husband.

3. Trish and Alex dated one evening. After an hour being together, Alex began to give brief responses and his eyes shoots elsewhere. Trish asked, “Do you want us to leave now?” To which Alex replied, “You see, Trish, Mom told me to be home at 8:30, Tita Inez will visit the house.”

Don’t go yet! You have to know why women defeat men because of their sixth sense. You have to know why they know something without knowing how they know it, or why they have these heightened sense, sensitivity, and perceptiveness. This is why.

Some others insist that women’s intuition is a myth but some others try to prove it is not. Being a woman, I believe that we really have this “it” that men can not have. I am always right when I air a hunch.

This is not to say that man and woman’s creation is opposing. Actually, a man’s linear or left brain thoughts complements a woman’s holistic or right brain thinking. God has a way on things. He had neither created one superior than the other but corresponding to each other. Isn’t that great, my male friend?

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

One of my blog friends, Major Tom, tagged me. It seems tags are chasing everybody these days.

I do not have the habit of remembering exact dates, except those that are really very important, or significant, and require my memory to store.

TWENTY YEARS AGO, and that was 1985, a year before I finish college, a year of struggle and pain because Papa’s health was deteriorating. He was diagnosed to have emphysema. He was a chain smoker.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1990, my first-born Kay was one year old, a precious jewel to behold, wrote a poem for her. I started keeping photo albums which I was not fond of before.

TEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1995, my second child, Daryl, was three years old. That was the time he began chattering like a bird. He was not talking till he was two years old. It had me very worried.

FIVE YEARS AGO, and that was 2000, I resigned from my work of 12 years. A poor decision to have stayed that long, I suppose.

THREE YEARS AGO, and that was 2002, a year of self-discovery, confidence and strengthened belief.

LAST YEAR, and that was 2004, got tired/bored of chatting, discovered blogging which took my interest. It had really turned the tide. Blogging made me discover myself more, and made me an addict, too he he

THIS YEAR, 2005, news of the horrendous death of my aunt, found inside her room dead atop her bed, and alone, shook me. Her death became a vehicle to reunite with relatives I have not seen for years.

TEN YEARS FROM NOW, and that will be 2015. Kay and Daryl might be working already and earning money for themselves. It will be a year after our 25th year as a married couple. I wonder if we will still be doing together the same stuff?

If you would like to reminisce, just take time to recollect and post. Go!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

One of my blog friends, Major Tom, tagged me. It seems tags are chasing everybody these days.

I do not have the habit of remembering exact dates, except those that are really very important, or significant, and require my memory to store.

TWENTY YEARS AGO, and that was 1985, a year before I finish college, a year of struggle and pain because Papa’s health was deteriorating. He was diagnosed to have emphysema. He was a chain smoker.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1990, my first-born Kay was one year old, a precious jewel to behold, wrote a poem for her. I started keeping photo albums which I was not fond of before.

TEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1995, my second child, Daryl, was three years old. That was the time he began chattering like a bird. He was not talking till he was two years old. It had me very worried.

FIVE YEARS AGO, and that was 2000, I resigned from my work of 12 years. A poor decision to have stayed that long, I suppose.

THREE YEARS AGO, and that was 2002, a year of self-discovery, confidence and strengthened belief.

LAST YEAR, and that was 2004, got tired/bored of chatting, discovered blogging which took my interest. It had really turned the tide. Blogging made me discover myself more, and made me an addict, too he he

THIS YEAR, 2005, news of the horrendous death of my aunt, found inside her room dead atop her bed, and alone, shook me. Her death became a vehicle to reunite with relatives I have not seen for years.

TEN YEARS FROM NOW, and that will be 2015. Kay and Daryl might be working already and earning money for themselves. It will be a year after our 25th year as a married couple. I wonder if we will still be doing together the same stuff?

If you would like to reminisce, just take time to recollect and post. Go!

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

One of my blog friends, Major Tom, tagged me. It seems tags are chasing everybody these days.

I do not have the habit of remembering exact dates, except those that are really very important, or significant, and require my memory to store.

TWENTY YEARS AGO, and that was 1985, a year before I finish college, a year of struggle and pain because Papa’s health was deteriorating. He was diagnosed to have emphysema. He was a chain smoker.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1990, my first-born Kay was one year old, a precious jewel to behold, wrote a poem for her. I started keeping photo albums which I was not fond of before.

TEN YEARS AGO, and that was 1995, my second child, Daryl, was three years old. That was the time he began chattering like a bird. He was not talking till he was two years old. It had me very worried.

FIVE YEARS AGO, and that was 2000, I resigned from my work of 12 years. A poor decision to have stayed that long, I suppose.

THREE YEARS AGO, and that was 2002, a year of self-discovery, confidence and strengthened belief.

LAST YEAR, and that was 2004, got tired/bored of chatting, discovered blogging which took my interest. It had really turned the tide. Blogging made me discover myself more, and made me an addict, too he he

THIS YEAR, 2005, news of the horrendous death of my aunt, found inside her room dead atop her bed, and alone, shook me. Her death became a vehicle to reunite with relatives I have not seen for years.

TEN YEARS FROM NOW, and that will be 2015. Kay and Daryl might be working already and earning money for themselves. It will be a year after our 25th year as a married couple. I wonder if we will still be doing together the same stuff?

If you would like to reminisce, just take time to recollect and post. Go!

Is Virginity Still an Issue Nowadays?

When Papsie was still my boyfriend, he had this to say when asked about women’s virginity, “Hindi naman importante sa akin kung hindi na virgin ang isang babae. Unang-una, minahal mo siya at niligawan nang hindi nalalaman kung ano ang buong katauhan niya. Nai-inlove ka naman ng di inaasahan, nangyayari iyon na di mo naman alam kung sino talaga ang taong iyon. (It is not important for me if a girl had lost her virginity already to somebody. In the first place you loved the person and courted her not knowing fully who she is. You fall in love unexpectedly, it happens without really knowing first the entirety of the person.)” I was taken aback with those words simply because all the while I had this idea that all men wanted a virgin wife. To this he retorted fast, “Sino naman ang aayaw doon? (Who would not want a virgin wife)” And continued with his opinion that it doesn’t mean otherwise that it is a prerequisite for him.

Odd it may seem for me to hear a man with those words; it had me reflecting whether it is really an issue. The attitude of men towards virginity, I believe, is still universal – that they value it more than women valued men’s. Though the matter is congruent to a country’s culture, tradition and customs, it is still a universal belief that female chastity is a matter of morality.

Together with the fast paced technology coming in the Philippines, almost everybody is aware now that the presence or the absence of the hymen is not an indicator of virginity though historically it was. Virginity is more of the state of the mind. It refers to the unspoiled state – that of being untouched, unexplored or unspoiled. But does it really matter to a relationship? Is it really a big factor for a successful and meaningful bonding?

We go to the question – is virginity still an issue nowadays? I have no idea actually. I maybe guessing depending on the trend today, which are mostly from beliefs evolving from other cultures such as the Western culture. Filipinos are generally mutable. Observe how the F4 fad affected the multitude of the young generation of today (including some of those not young anymore) – from the haircut to the outfit. With this example, one can say that the trend today is you have to be “in”. I wonder if that would include how the youth consider virginity. Is it still regarded as a virtue – that is a big question I think?

A 20 plus-year-old chat friend once told me that the girls or the women nowadays are ‘hot’. I was a bit affronted by the remark not sure if that was a good or a bad one. And waited for more quips before I give my own. He continued by saying sometimes it is the girls who initiate and they are as young as high school students. That is disturbing to hear but I am not really ‘friends’ with this guy so I was not sure if he was just blowing his horn. I replied that situations differ and so does people, too. He may had been exposed to that circle of friends where the girls are very liberal with their way of thinking.

One cannot alter the fact that mothers are very protective of their daughters. I maybe considered as one especially about my daughter’s welfare. I don’t discuss this whole thing about virginity directly but I always remind her that she has to reserve something for herself when she loves so that if she meets the right guy, there will still be more and complications will not affect the relationship. I know that I have to be direct one day but not today. There are still ample tomorrows to chat about men. I might be prepared by that time to elaborate why some men value virginity before a wedding night though not all men highly prized it at all.

I may also be blunt and tell my daughter that some men just wanted honesty but generally, all of them dream of a virgin wife (why the heck tease the girls to bed?) But sometimes I have these lines of thoughts – are these efforts to protect virginity a way of controlling female sexuality? That would be oppressive, on the other hand, don’t you think?

Is Virginity Still an Issue Nowadays?

When Papsie was still my boyfriend, he had this to say when asked about women’s virginity, “Hindi naman importante sa akin kung hindi na virgin ang isang babae. Unang-una, minahal mo siya at niligawan nang hindi nalalaman kung ano ang buong katauhan niya. Nai-inlove ka naman ng di inaasahan, nangyayari iyon na di mo naman alam kung sino talaga ang taong iyon. (It is not important for me if a girl had lost her virginity already to somebody. In the first place you loved the person and courted her not knowing fully who she is. You fall in love unexpectedly, it happens without really knowing first the entirety of the person.)” I was taken aback with those words simply because all the while I had this idea that all men wanted a virgin wife. To this he retorted fast, “Sino naman ang aayaw doon? (Who would not want a virgin wife)” And continued with his opinion that it doesn’t mean otherwise that it is a prerequisite for him.

Odd it may seem for me to hear a man with those words; it had me reflecting whether it is really an issue. The attitude of men towards virginity, I believe, is still universal – that they value it more than women valued men’s. Though the matter is congruent to a country’s culture, tradition and customs, it is still a universal belief that female chastity is a matter of morality.

Together with the fast paced technology coming in the Philippines, almost everybody is aware now that the presence or the absence of the hymen is not an indicator of virginity though historically it was. Virginity is more of the state of the mind. It refers to the unspoiled state – that of being untouched, unexplored or unspoiled. But does it really matter to a relationship? Is it really a big factor for a successful and meaningful bonding?

We go to the question – is virginity still an issue nowadays? I have no idea actually. I maybe guessing depending on the trend today, which are mostly from beliefs evolving from other cultures such as the Western culture. Filipinos are generally mutable. Observe how the F4 fad affected the multitude of the young generation of today (including some of those not young anymore) – from the haircut to the outfit. With this example, one can say that the trend today is you have to be “in”. I wonder if that would include how the youth consider virginity. Is it still regarded as a virtue – that is a big question I think?

A 20 plus-year-old chat friend once told me that the girls or the women nowadays are ‘hot’. I was a bit affronted by the remark not sure if that was a good or a bad one. And waited for more quips before I give my own. He continued by saying sometimes it is the girls who initiate and they are as young as high school students. That is disturbing to hear but I am not really ‘friends’ with this guy so I was not sure if he was just blowing his horn. I replied that situations differ and so does people, too. He may had been exposed to that circle of friends where the girls are very liberal with their way of thinking.

One cannot alter the fact that mothers are very protective of their daughters. I maybe considered as one especially about my daughter’s welfare. I don’t discuss this whole thing about virginity directly but I always remind her that she has to reserve something for herself when she loves so that if she meets the right guy, there will still be more and complications will not affect the relationship. I know that I have to be direct one day but not today. There are still ample tomorrows to chat about men. I might be prepared by that time to elaborate why some men value virginity before a wedding night though not all men highly prized it at all.

I may also be blunt and tell my daughter that some men just wanted honesty but generally, all of them dream of a virgin wife (why the heck tease the girls to bed?) But sometimes I have these lines of thoughts – are these efforts to protect virginity a way of controlling female sexuality? That would be oppressive, on the other hand, don’t you think?

Is Virginity Still an Issue Nowadays?

When Papsie was still my boyfriend, he had this to say when asked about women’s virginity, “Hindi naman importante sa akin kung hindi na virgin ang isang babae. Unang-una, minahal mo siya at niligawan nang hindi nalalaman kung ano ang buong katauhan niya. Nai-inlove ka naman ng di inaasahan, nangyayari iyon na di mo naman alam kung sino talaga ang taong iyon. (It is not important for me if a girl had lost her virginity already to somebody. In the first place you loved the person and courted her not knowing fully who she is. You fall in love unexpectedly, it happens without really knowing first the entirety of the person.)” I was taken aback with those words simply because all the while I had this idea that all men wanted a virgin wife. To this he retorted fast, “Sino naman ang aayaw doon? (Who would not want a virgin wife)” And continued with his opinion that it doesn’t mean otherwise that it is a prerequisite for him.

Odd it may seem for me to hear a man with those words; it had me reflecting whether it is really an issue. The attitude of men towards virginity, I believe, is still universal – that they value it more than women valued men’s. Though the matter is congruent to a country’s culture, tradition and customs, it is still a universal belief that female chastity is a matter of morality.

Together with the fast paced technology coming in the Philippines, almost everybody is aware now that the presence or the absence of the hymen is not an indicator of virginity though historically it was. Virginity is more of the state of the mind. It refers to the unspoiled state – that of being untouched, unexplored or unspoiled. But does it really matter to a relationship? Is it really a big factor for a successful and meaningful bonding?

We go to the question – is virginity still an issue nowadays? I have no idea actually. I maybe guessing depending on the trend today, which are mostly from beliefs evolving from other cultures such as the Western culture. Filipinos are generally mutable. Observe how the F4 fad affected the multitude of the young generation of today (including some of those not young anymore) – from the haircut to the outfit. With this example, one can say that the trend today is you have to be “in”. I wonder if that would include how the youth consider virginity. Is it still regarded as a virtue – that is a big question I think?

A 20 plus-year-old chat friend once told me that the girls or the women nowadays are ‘hot’. I was a bit affronted by the remark not sure if that was a good or a bad one. And waited for more quips before I give my own. He continued by saying sometimes it is the girls who initiate and they are as young as high school students. That is disturbing to hear but I am not really ‘friends’ with this guy so I was not sure if he was just blowing his horn. I replied that situations differ and so do people, too. He may had been exposed to that circle of friends where the girls are very liberal with their way of thinking.

One cannot alter the fact that mothers are very protective of their daughters. I maybe considered as one especially about my daughter’s welfare. I don’t discuss this whole thing about virginity directly but I always remind her that she has to reserve something for herself when she loves so that if she meets the right guy, there will still be more and complications will not affect the relationship. I know that I have to be direct one day but not today. There are still ample tomorrows to chat about men. I might be prepared by that time to elaborate why some men value virginity before a wedding night though not all men highly prized it at all.

I may also be blunt and tell my daughter that some men just wanted honesty but generally, all of them dream of a virgin wife (why the heck tease the girls to bed?) But sometimes I have these lines of thoughts – are these efforts to protect virginity a way of controlling female sexuality? That would be oppressive, on the other hand, don’t you think?

Light and Easy

(An attempt to short story making)

It is almost 5 o’clock in the morning. Elena lazily stretches on top of a cardboard at what seem to be a nook for street children her age. Her stomach is literally growling spared last night by the scanty meal she and her friends call as batchoy. She must get up and look for food. Her little brother will be up soon and cry at the top of his voice. She could not stand the noise. She had had enough of the noise of the street’s vehicles and people that go back and forth along this corner of the street that she calls their home.

Not faraway is the market where she can look for food and skim the garbage cans and baskets. Not faraway, too, is Jollibee, the fast food house across the market, one of the branches that serves 24-hours. If she will be lucky enough, she could ask for the excess from the fast food customers before the service crews clean the table. If she will be lucky enough…

Now limping and shaking from the cold weather, she hastily walks towards her destination. It had been 5 years already that she was scouring this metropolis for food everyday. Her mother left her and her brother in that corner of the pawnshop when she was barely 7 years old, and her brother, 5.

She eyes one customer inside the fast food house. He is almost done – a dark, burly man with red eyes that swell with his thick murky lips. He looks like a monster but the gnawing hunger inside her stomach overpowers the fright she felt the first time she saw the man. Diffident, she plunges into the fast food house as she would on a plate of food, and approaches the man from behind. The man is startled by the cold touch on his arm. “Sir, please let me have the excess food… I am so hungry.” Irked by the sudden break off from his thoughts, the man suddenly turns to see who is it that dared approach him. Then he sees a frail-looking girl, wide-eyed, shaking now more from the cold of the air conditioning system.

“What do you want?” asked the grouchy man. “Sir, please let me have your excess… I am so hungry.” The man glares at Elena with eyes like that of a crocodile – red and voracious – and examines her from head to toe, from toe to head. Before I forget to tell you, Elena, behind the dirt and grime and the puny appearance, is a lovely girl, borne by a mother from an American customer. Elena’s mother was a pick-up girl. Of course, the poor little girl does not know anything about all this. Then suddenly the grouch turns into like a kind man and modified his voice to soft. He emotes in front of the little girl as if to ward off any suspicion that could arise from the little girl. Beaming, “Of course, my darling. You can have it all. I could also buy more.” Awed by the possibility of more food for the day and for her brother, too, Elena agrees that the man would buy more food for her.

“On one condition…,” said the man deviously. “Yes, sir, what is it?” asked Elena, still gripped with the little joy eating fresh Jollibee food after a long time. She could not remember anymore when’s the last time she have eaten fresh Jollibee food. It was like eons ago – by the kindheartedness of an old woman that was all she could remember. “You will accompany me to a place.” “Huh? Where?” asked Elena, wide-eyed. “I will tell you later, just finish your food.” “But… I have to bring food to my brother down that corner,” Elena points her finger towards the location.

“Okay, I will let you go to your brother but you have to be back. I will buy more food for the two of you.” Elena runs fast to where his brother is with the food from Jollibee. She wakes him up and tells him about the food someone gave her. Uninterested who the benefactor is, the brother starts nibbling the food. He drowses but he is hungry at the same time. “I will be away for a few minutes. Don’t leave this place or you will get lost.” “Where are you going?” “I don’t know, I have to accompany that man to a place, he told me.” “But…” “Shhh… finish your food. I will be back.” Then she gets herself ready to go, taking with her a filthy bag, and put on a pair of worn-out sneakers, from the garbage, of course.

“Let’s go, sir,” Elena told the burly man who has patiently waited. “That’s my good girl!” grinning with his yellowish set of teeth, marked by nicotine not brushed off regularly. He has now placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, confident that he had won the little girl’s trust. Elena did not mind the burly man’s hand, thinking that this man must have been godsend. But under her subconscious lies this feeling that there is something wrong – again.

The man is a driver of a taxicab. He let her sit in front beside the driver’s seat. While he was driving, he starts glaring at the little girl again, from head to toe, from toe to head. Elena is wearing a one-piece dress, which is up to her knees. It is a shabby dress that looks more like a rag than clothing. The burly man grins again and bears with the whole appearance. There is something playing along in his mind. Then the taxicab stops in front of a building. From last night, the building must have been adored with glimmering lights, Elena thought. There are little bulbs that decorate the outside of the building. There are huge symbols that Elena cannot identify because she had not tasted school or any form of education. This must be a lively place at night, once again she thought, just like the other buildings beside the pawnshop whose corner was their home.

When they board off, the man grips Elena’s arm. “Where are we going, sir?” “Be silent.” The burly man replied, now with a hint of irritation. When they reach the counter, to which Elena thought resembled that of the counter of Jollibee where people pay for their food, because of the cash register on top of a seemingly high and elevated table, the man said, “The same room.” “Wow, pare, that’s a new catch!” Elena overheard the other man from behind the cash register. Though gripped now with terror for reasons she could not understand, Elena holds on to her grimy bag, which is strapped across her body. Then she is somewhat dragged along upstairs while the man was holding her by the arm.

A room opens with the key that was handed over to the burly man. It is a small room, dimly lit but a better place for Elena to sleep, again she thought. “Take a bath!” ”Sir?” “You heard me, take a bath!” “Why???” Elena cried in protest. The burly man now indignant at the growing confusion he sees in the little girl’s face moves closer to Elena and hisses, “We are going to play!” Elena now filled with much, much terror, and with tears falling down her angelic face, “I want to go now…” The man emotes again into his kindly tone, ”Don’t you worry, darling. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.” Then he starts holding Elena’s face, then her lips. “No!” cries Elena sheepishly. The burly man laughs evilly and moves closer. His hands begin to roam the innocent girl’s body.

On the spur of the moment, as if everything is unbelievable, the burly man falls to the floor, bellowing from pain, holding his belly. Elena stands nearby, tears rolling down her face but smiling broadly, and approaches. “No!” the man shouted, “Go away!” “Don’t you worry, Sir. We are going to play. Thi
s will be light and easy.”

A week passed. For days, the headline news speaks of a man, dark-complexioned, sprawled on the floor of a cheap motel, bathed in his own blood. Multiple stab wounds, deeper than they were long, were found on the body. The one aimed at his heart caused his death.

Elena gawks at the blackness of the night. There are no stars above but it somehow gives her a sense of peace. “Ate, what are you staring at?” asked her little brother. “The black sky. It always turns black every time an evil monster vanishes from this earth.” “Monster? Another monster, ate?” “Yes, the eighth monster is dead, Toto. He went away light and easy.” “Who killed him this time?” “An angel who is tasked to protect you and me.”

Light and Easy

(An attempt to short story making)

It is almost 5 o’clock in the morning. Elena lazily stretches on top of a cardboard at what seem to be a nook for street children her age. Her stomach is literally growling spared last night by the scanty meal she and her friends call as batchoy. She must get up and look for food. Her little brother will be up soon and cry at the top of his voice. She could not stand the noise. She had had enough of the noise of the street’s vehicles and people that go back and forth along this corner of the street that she calls their home.

Not faraway is the market where she can look for food and skim the garbage cans and baskets. Not faraway, too, is Jollibee, the fast food house across the market, one of the branches that serves 24-hours. If she will be lucky enough, she could ask for the excess from the fast food customers before the service crews clean the table. If she will be lucky enough…

Now limping and shaking from the cold weather, she hastily walks towards her destination. It had been 5 years already that she was scouring this metropolis for food everyday. Her mother left her and her brother in that corner of the pawnshop when she was barely 7 years old, and her brother, 5.

She eyes one customer inside the fast food house. He is almost done – a dark, burly man with red eyes that swell with his thick murky lips. He looks like a monster but the gnawing hunger inside her stomach overpowers the fright she felt the first time she saw the man. Diffident, she plunges into the fast food house as she would on a plate of food, and approaches the man from behind. The man is startled by the cold touch on his arm. “Sir, please let me have the excess food… I am so hungry.” Irked by the sudden break off from his thoughts, the man suddenly turns to see who is it that dared approach him. Then he sees a frail-looking girl, wide-eyed, shaking now more from the cold of the air conditioning system.

“What do you want?” asked the grouchy man. “Sir, please let me have your excess… I am so hungry.” The man glares at Elena with eyes like that of a crocodile – red and voracious – and examines her from head to toe, from toe to head. Before I forget to tell you, Elena, behind the dirt and grime and the puny appearance, is a lovely girl, borne by a mother from an American customer. Elena’s mother was a pick-up girl. Of course, the poor little girl does not know anything about all this. Then suddenly the grouch turns into like a kind man and modified his voice to soft. He emotes in front of the little girl as if to ward off any suspicion that could arise from the little girl. Beaming, “Of course, my darling. You can have it all. I could also buy more.” Awed by the possibility of more food for the day and for her brother, too, Elena agrees that the man would buy more food for her.

“On one condition…,” said the man deviously. “Yes, sir, what is it?” asked Elena, still gripped with the little joy eating fresh Jollibee food after a long time. She could not remember anymore when’s the last time she have eaten fresh Jollibee food. It was like eons ago – by the kindheartedness of an old woman that was all she could remember. “You will accompany me to a place.” “Huh? Where?” asked Elena, wide-eyed. “I will tell you later, just finish your food.” “But… I have to bring food to my brother down that corner,” Elena points her finger towards the location.

“Okay, I will let you go to your brother but you have to be back. I will buy more food for the two of you.” Elena runs fast to where his brother is with the food from Jollibee. She wakes him up and tells him about the food someone gave her. Uninterested who the benefactor is, the brother starts nibbling the food. He drowses but he is hungry at the same time. “I will be away for a few minutes. Don’t leave this place or you will get lost.” “Where are you going?” “I don’t know, I have to accompany that man to a place, he told me.” “But…” “Shhh… finish your food. I will be back.” Then she gets herself ready to go, taking with her a filthy bag, and put on a pair of worn-out sneakers, from the garbage, of course.

“Let’s go, sir,” Elena told the burly man who has patiently waited. “That’s my good girl!” grinning with his yellowish set of teeth, marked by nicotine not brushed off regularly. He has now placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, confident that he had won the little girl’s trust. Elena did not mind the burly man’s hand, thinking that this man must have been godsend. But under her subconscious lies this feeling that there is something wrong – again.

The man is a driver of a taxicab. He let her sit in front beside the driver’s seat. While he was driving, he starts glaring at the little girl again, from head to toe, from toe to head. Elena is wearing a one-piece dress, which is up to her knees. It is a shabby dress that looks more like a rag than clothing. The burly man grins again and bears with the whole appearance. There is something playing along in his mind. Then the taxicab stops in front of a building. From last night, the building must have been adored with glimmering lights, Elena thought. There are little bulbs that decorate the outside of the building. There are huge symbols that Elena cannot identify because she had not tasted school or any form of education. This must be a lively place at night, once again she thought, just like the other buildings beside the pawnshop whose corner was their home.

When they board off, the man grips Elena’s arm. “Where are we going, sir?” “Be silent.” The burly man replied, now with a hint of irritation. When they reach the counter, to which Elena thought resembled that of the counter of Jollibee where people pay for their food, because of the cash register on top of a seemingly high and elevated table, the man said, “The same room.” “Wow, pare, that’s a new catch!” Elena overheard the other man from behind the cash register. Though gripped now with terror for reasons she could not understand, Elena holds on to her grimy bag, which is strapped across her body. Then she is somewhat dragged along upstairs while the man was holding her by the arm.

A room opens with the key that was handed over to the burly man. It is a small room, dimly lit but a better place for Elena to sleep, again she thought. “Take a bath!” ”Sir?” “You heard me, take a bath!” “Why???” Elena cried in protest. The burly man now indignant at the growing confusion he sees in the little girl’s face moves closer to Elena and hisses, “We are going to play!” Elena now filled with much, much terror, and with tears falling down her angelic face, “I want to go now…” The man emotes again into his kindly tone, ”Don’t you worry, darling. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.” Then he starts holding Elena’s face, then her lips. “No!” cries Elena sheepishly. The burly man laughs evilly and moves closer. His hands begin to roam the innocent girl’s body.

On the spur of the moment, as if everything is unbelievable, the burly man falls to the floor, bellowing from pain, holding his belly. Elena stands nearby, tears rolling down her face but smiling broadly, and approaches. “No!” the man shouted, “Go away!” “Don’t you worry, Sir. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.”

A week passed. For days, the headline news speaks of a man, dark-complexioned, sprawled on the floor of a cheap motel, bathed in his own blood. Multiple stab wounds, deeper than they were long, were found on the body. The one aimed at his heart caused his death.

Elena gawks at the blackness of the night. There are no stars above but it somehow gives her a sense of peace. “Ate, what are you staring at?” asked her little brother. “The black sky. It always turns black every time an evil monster vanishes from this earth.” “Monster? Another monster, ate?” “Yes, the eighth monster is dead, Toto. He went away light and easy.” “Who killed him this time?” “An angel who is tasked to protect you and me.”

Light and Easy

(An attempt to short story making)

It is almost 5 o’clock in the morning. Elena lazily stretches on top of a cardboard at what seem to be a nook for street children her age. Her stomach is literally growling spared last night by the scanty meal she and her friends call as batchoy. She must get up and look for food. Her little brother will be up soon and cry at the top of his voice. She could not stand the noise. She had had enough of the noise of the street’s vehicles and people that go back and forth along this corner of the street that she calls their home.

Not faraway is the market where she can look for food and skim the garbage cans and baskets. Not faraway, too, is Jollibee, the fast food house across the market, one of the branches that serves 24-hours. If she will be lucky enough, she could ask for the excess from the fast food customers before the service crews clean the table. If she will be lucky enough…

Now limping and shaking from the cold weather, she hastily walks towards her destination. It had been 5 years already that she was scouring this metropolis for food everyday. Her mother left her and her brother in that corner of the pawnshop when she was barely 7 years old, and her brother, 5.

She eyes one customer inside the fast food house. He is almost done – a dark, burly man with red eyes that swell with his thick murky lips. He looks like a monster but the gnawing hunger inside her stomach overpowers the fright she felt the first time she saw the man. Diffident, she plunges into the fast food house as she would on a plate of food, and approaches the man from behind. The man is startled by the cold touch on his arm. “Sir, please let me have the excess food… I am so hungry.” Irked by the sudden break off from his thoughts, the man suddenly turns to see who is it that dared approach him. Then he sees a frail-looking girl, wide-eyed, shaking now more from the cold of the air conditioning system.

“What do you want?” asked the grouchy man. “Sir, please let me have your excess… I am so hungry.” The man glares at Elena with eyes like that of a crocodile – red and voracious – and examines her from head to toe, from toe to head. Before I forget to tell you, Elena, behind the dirt and grime and the puny appearance, is a lovely girl, borne by a mother from an American customer. Elena’s mother was a pick-up girl. Of course, the poor little girl does not know anything about all this. Then suddenly the grouch turns into like a kind man and modified his voice to soft. He emotes in front of the little girl as if to ward off any suspicion that could arise from the little girl. Beaming, “Of course, my darling. You can have it all. I could also buy more.” Awed by the possibility of more food for the day and for her brother, too, Elena agrees that the man would buy more food for her.

“On one condition…,” said the man deviously. “Yes, sir, what is it?” asked Elena, still gripped with the little joy eating fresh Jollibee food after a long time. She could not remember anymore when’s the last time she have eaten fresh Jollibee food. It was like eons ago – by the kindheartedness of an old woman that was all she could remember. “You will accompany me to a place.” “Huh? Where?” asked Elena, wide-eyed. “I will tell you later, just finish your food.” “But… I have to bring food to my brother down that corner,” Elena points her finger towards the location.

“Okay, I will let you go to your brother but you have to be back. I will buy more food for the two of you.” Elena runs fast to where his brother is with the food from Jollibee. She wakes him up and tells him about the food someone gave her. Uninterested who the benefactor is, the brother starts nibbling the food. He drowses but he is hungry at the same time. “I will be away for a few minutes. Don’t leave this place or you will get lost.” “Where are you going?” “I don’t know, I have to accompany that man to a place, he told me.” “But…” “Shhh… finish your food. I will be back.” Then she gets herself ready to go, taking with her a filthy bag, and put on a pair of worn-out sneakers, from the garbage, of course.

“Let’s go, sir,” Elena told the burly man who has patiently waited. “That’s my good girl!” grinning with his yellowish set of teeth, marked by nicotine not brushed off regularly. He has now placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, confident that he had won the little girl’s trust. Elena did not mind the burly man’s hand, thinking that this man must have been godsend. But under her subconscious lies this feeling that there is something wrong – again.

The man is a driver of a taxicab. He let her sit in front beside the driver’s seat. While he was driving, he starts glaring at the little girl again, from head to toe, from toe to head. Elena is wearing a one-piece dress, which is up to her knees. It is a shabby dress that looks more like a rag than clothing. The burly man grins again and bears with the whole appearance. There is something playing along in his mind. Then the taxicab stops in front of a building. From last night, the building must have been adored with glimmering lights, Elena thought. There are little bulbs that decorate the outside of the building. There are huge symbols that Elena cannot identify because she had not tasted school or any form of education. This must be a lively place at night, once again she thought, just like the other buildings beside the pawnshop whose corner was their home.

When they board off, the man grips Elena’s arm. “Where are we going, sir?” “Be silent.” The burly man replied, now with a hint of irritation. When they reach the counter, to which Elena thought resembled that of the counter of Jollibee where people pay for their food, because of the cash register on top of a seemingly high and elevated table, the man said, “The same room.” “Wow, pare, that’s a new catch!” Elena overheard the other man from behind the cash register. Though gripped now with terror for reasons she could not understand, Elena holds on to her grimy bag, which is strapped across her body. Then she is somewhat dragged along upstairs while the man was holding her by the arm.

A room opens with the key that was handed over to the burly man. It is a small room, dimly lit but a better place for Elena to sleep, again she thought. “Take a bath!” ”Sir?” “You heard me, take a bath!” “Why???” Elena cried in protest. The burly man now indignant at the growing confusion he sees in the little girl’s face moves closer to Elena and hisses, “We are going to play!” Elena now filled with much, much terror, and with tears falling down her angelic face, “I want to go now…” The man emotes again into his kindly tone, ”Don’t you worry, darling. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.” Then he starts holding Elena’s face, then her lips. “No!” cries Elena sheepishly. The burly man laughs evilly and moves closer. His hands begin to roam the innocent girl’s body.

On the spur of the moment, as if everything is unbelievable, the burly man falls to the floor, bellowing from pain, holding his belly. Elena stands nearby, tears rolling down her face but smiling broadly, and approaches. “No!” the man shouted, “Go away!” “Don’t you worry, Sir. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.”

A week passed. For days, the headline news speaks of a man, dark-complexioned, sprawled on the floor of a cheap motel, bathed in his own blood. Multiple stab wounds, deeper than they were long, were found on the body. The one aimed at his heart caused his death.

Elena gawks at the blackness of the night. There are no stars above but it somehow gives her a sense of peace. “Ate, what are you staring at?” asked her little brother. “The black sky. It always turns black every time an evil monster vanishes from this earth.” “Monster? Another monster, ate?” “Yes, the eighth monster is dead, Toto. He went away light and easy.” “Who killed him this time?” “An angel who is tasked to protect you and me.”

Light and Easy

(An attempt to short story making)

It is almost 5 o’clock in the morning. Elena lazily stretches on top of a cardboard at what seem to be a nook for street children her age. Her stomach is literally growling spared last night by the scanty meal she and her friends call as batchoy. She must get up and look for food. Her little brother will be up soon and cry at the top of his voice. She could not stand the noise. She had had enough of the noise of the street’s vehicles and people that go back and forth along this corner of the street that she calls their home.

Not faraway is the market where she can look for food and skim the garbage cans and baskets. Not faraway, too, is Jollibee, the fast food house across the market, one of the branches that serves 24-hours. If she will be lucky enough, she could ask for the excess from the fast food customers before the service crews clean the table. If she will be lucky enough…

Now limping and shaking from the cold weather, she hastily walks towards her destination. It had been 5 years already that she was scouring this metropolis for food everyday. Her mother left her and her brother in that corner of the pawnshop when she was barely 7 years old, and her brother, 5.

She eyes one customer inside the fast food house. He is almost done – a dark, burly man with red eyes that swell with his thick murky lips. He looks like a monster but the gnawing hunger inside her stomach overpowers the fright she felt the first time she saw the man. Diffident, she plunges into the fast food house as she would on a plate of food, and approaches the man from behind. The man is startled by the cold touch on his arm. “Sir, please let me have the excess food… I am so hungry.” Irked by the sudden break off from his thoughts, the man suddenly turns to see who is it that dared approach him. Then he sees a frail-looking girl, wide-eyed, shaking now more from the cold of the air conditioning system.

“What do you want?” asked the grouchy man. “Sir, please let me have your excess… I am so hungry.” The man glares at Elena with eyes like that of a crocodile – red and voracious – and examines her from head to toe, from toe to head. Before I forget to tell you, Elena, behind the dirt and grime and the puny appearance, is a lovely girl, borne by a mother from an American customer. Elena’s mother was a pick-up girl. Of course, the poor little girl does not know anything about all this. Then suddenly the grouch turns into like a kind man and modified his voice to soft. He emotes in front of the little girl as if to ward off any suspicion that could arise from the little girl. Beaming, “Of course, my darling. You can have it all. I could also buy more.” Awed by the possibility of more food for the day and for her brother, too, Elena agrees that the man would buy more food for her.

“On one condition…,” said the man deviously. “Yes, sir, what is it?” asked Elena, still gripped with the little joy eating fresh Jollibee food after a long time. She could not remember anymore when’s the last time she have eaten fresh Jollibee food. It was like eons ago – by the kindheartedness of an old woman that was all she could remember. “You will accompany me to a place.” “Huh? Where?” asked Elena, wide-eyed. “I will tell you later, just finish your food.” “But… I have to bring food to my brother down that corner,” Elena points her finger towards the location.

“Okay, I will let you go to your brother but you have to be back. I will buy more food for the two of you.” Elena runs fast to where his brother is with the food from Jollibee. She wakes him up and tells him about the food someone gave her. Uninterested who the benefactor is, the brother starts nibbling the food. He drowses but he is hungry at the same time. “I will be away for a few minutes. Don’t leave this place or you will get lost.” “Where are you going?” “I don’t know, I have to accompany that man to a place, he told me.” “But…” “Shhh… finish your food. I will be back.” Then she gets herself ready to go, taking with her a filthy bag, and put on a pair of worn-out sneakers, from the garbage, of course.

“Let’s go, sir,” Elena told the burly man who has patiently waited. “That’s my good girl!” grinning with his yellowish set of teeth, marked by nicotine not brushed off regularly. He has now placed a hand on Elena’s shoulder, confident that he had won the little girl’s trust. Elena did not mind the burly man’s hand, thinking that this man must have been godsend. But under her subconscious lies this feeling that there is something wrong – again.

The man is a driver of a taxicab. He let her sit in front beside the driver’s seat. While he was driving, he starts glaring at the little girl again, from head to toe, from toe to head. Elena is wearing a one-piece dress, which is up to her knees. It is a shabby dress that looks more like a rag than clothing. The burly man grins again and bears with the whole appearance. There is something playing along in his mind. Then the taxicab stops in front of a building. From last night, the building must have been adored with glimmering lights, Elena thought. There are little bulbs that decorate the outside of the building. There are huge symbols that Elena cannot identify because she had not tasted school or any form of education. This must be a lively place at night, once again she thought, just like the other buildings beside the pawnshop whose corner was their home.

When they board off, the man grips Elena’s arm. “Where are we going, sir?” “Be silent.” The burly man replied, now with a hint of irritation. When they reach the counter, to which Elena thought resembled that of the counter of Jollibee where people pay for their food, because of the cash register on top of a seemingly high and elevated table, the man said, “The same room.” “Wow, pare, that’s a new catch!” Elena overheard the other man from behind the cash register. Though gripped now with terror for reasons she could not understand, Elena holds on to her grimy bag, which is strapped across her body. Then she is somewhat dragged along upstairs while the man was holding her by the arm.

A room opens with the key that was handed over to the burly man. It is a small room, dimly lit but a better place for Elena to sleep, again she thought. “Take a bath!” ”Sir?” “You heard me, take a bath!” “Why???” Elena cried in protest. The burly man now indignant at the growing confusion he sees in the little girl’s face moves closer to Elena and hisses, “We are going to play!” Elena now filled with much, much terror, and with tears falling down her angelic face, “I want to go now…” The man emotes again into his kindly tone, ”Don’t you worry, darling. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.” Then he starts holding Elena’s face, then her lips. “No!” cries Elena sheepishly. The burly man laughs evilly and moves closer. His hands begin to roam the innocent girl’s body.

On the spur of the moment, as if everything is unbelievable, the burly man falls to the floor, bellowing from pain, holding his belly. Elena stands nearby, tears rolling down her face but smiling broadly, and approaches. “No!” the man shouted, “Go away!” “Don’t you worry, Sir. We are going to play. This will be light and easy.”

A week passed. For days, the headline news speaks of a man, dark-complexioned, sprawled on the floor of a cheap motel, bathed in his own blood. Multiple stab wounds, deeper than they were long, were found on the body. The one aimed at his heart caused his death.

Elena gawks at the blackness of the night. There are no stars above but it somehow gives her a sense of peace. “Ate, what are you staring at?” asked her little brother. “The black sky. It always turns black every time an evil monster vanishes from this earth.” “Monster? Another monster, ate?” “Yes, the eighth monster is dead, Toto. He went away light and easy.” “Who killed him this time?” “An angel who is tasked to protect you and me.”

Ako na Lang Kaya?

Umuwi si Kay sa bahay noong isang araw galing sa eskuwelahan nang ako ay nasa banyo at naliligo. Hindi kasi ako pumasok dahil sa sama ng pakiramdaman ko. Para akong tatrangkasuhin. Narinig ko ang boses na garalgal at parang naiiyak. “Ma…” Sagot agad ako, “O, anak, bakit?” “Ang sama po ng pakiramdaman ko,” sagot niya na para bang umiiyak na. “Sandali lang, ‘nak, tatapusin ko lang ito.” Dali-dali kong tinapos ang aking paliligo. Buti na lang at nagbabanlaw na ako. Ang hirap kasing madaliin kapag nagsasabon ka pa lamang ng katawan mo.

Naroon si Kay sa sala nang lumabas ako. Naroon din si ***. Parang ginaw na ginaw ang anak ko, parang may mga luhang gusto nang pumatak, at inuubo na. Sipon lamang naman noong una, ngayon inuubo na. Pinagbihis ko kaagad si Kay at pagkabihis ko ay bumaba agad ako para magluto ng chicken noodle soup.

Gumanda na ang pakiramdam ni Kay nang kaunti nang malaon. Tinulungan pa nga niya si Daryl na i-solve ang linear equation problems. Reseta na naman mula kay Doc Rico! Buti na lang at hindi pa niya kailangan ang antibiotic. Ginto kasi ang halaga ng mga antibiotic ngayon. Bawal talaga ang magkasakit.

Sa mga pagkakataong tulad nito, parang gusto mong sabihin kay Lord, “Lord, ako na lang kaya?” Ang hirap kasi para sa akin ang makitang may sakit ang mga baby ko. Para bang gusto mo kunin sa kanila ang karamdaman. Ang makitang masigla at masaya silang gumagalaw dito sa mundong ibabaw ay sapat na para patuloy akong makibaka sa buhay.

The Nagging Pain

Ever woke up in the morning suffering from a nagging pain in the head, instead of praising God for a beautiful morning that has broken? That is the worst that could happen. And worst, at the instant you open your eyes from sleep.

I could have stayed at home to rest yesterday. But my workload and an appointment awaited me. The pain was on and off so I decided to go to work after a bout of puke that was caused by the headache. There wasn’t even something to vomit but a glass of milk. That was the only intake I had because I don’t eat breakfasts very early in the morning. I am a picky eater during mornings. I took my breakfast at around 9 am only to puke afterwards everything that I ate which was very minimal – about 1/8 cup of rice and a few pieces of chopped fried pork chop.

The aspirin did not help and even made me puke even more upon reaching the office. Eeeewww!!! Bitter acid that tasted like pungent liquid! I tolerated pain that was nagging me until I decided to go home at 3 pm. The person I was waiting for did not arrive. The bastard didn’t even bother to call.

The pain had prompted me to do research about HEADACHES. Here is a short synopsis about headaches:

Headache, pain in any part of the head. Although the condition is widespread, less than 1 percent of all headaches indicate serious physical problems. This small percentage includes headaches caused by, or occurring after, concussion or injury to the head, meningitis, encephalitis, stroke, or brain tumors. Headache may also accompany misalignment of the jaw or teeth. Short-lived headaches may occur after eating very cold foods or foods high in nitrites or monosodium glutamate. Caffeine withdrawal also may provoke headaches.

Three main groups of headache:
a. migraine, a recurrent, severe headache, usually with throbbing on one side, accompanied by nausea and sometimes impaired vision
b. cluster, similar to migraine, but of short duration, occurring daily in series over weeks or months and predominantly in the area of one eye
c. tension, a headache without consistent location thought to result from contractions of the face, scalp, or neck muscles.

Most of tension headaches respond to mild analgesics like aspirin and acetaminophen. Severe migraine and cluster headaches do not respond to aspirin, but can be relieved by a variety of medications that affect the expansion or contraction of blood vessels. Headaches of all three major categories have been relieved in many cases with biofeedback techniques.

© 1993-2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

—————————————————–
On Emotions

Nagging pains of the head, except those that indicate serious problems, die down after a series of medication – be it light or through biofeedback. But there is a pain that numbs the senses but nags the heart and you don’t even know when it started exactly. It grows now and then as time passes by. It is like agony that is inside you and you can never tell its story.

It is when your heart grows weary and hope seems to have vanished that this pain started again to nag and longings arise. It is like poison inside that no antidote could counteract its effect or reduce its bad effects, an antidote that could be a welcome relief.

But as Kahlil Gibran had spoken,

Much of your pain is self-chosen.
It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self.

Kahlil Gibran (1883 – 1931)
Lebanese-born U.S. mystic, painter, and poet.

The Prophet, “On Pain”