It's finally here! I have finished setting up my new website! I have moved all my posts there which means that this blog is going to rot soon. I'm happy that this blog (especially this platform) served me well for more than 2 years. I won't forget you. *tears*
Anyway, I have a little favor to ask everyone. Please include me in your blogrolls with the new url or if you have already included me in your blogroll, please change my url to:
Okay, this really caught me off guard. As you may have noticed, you cannot access this blog anymore (except for those who know the trick). A few weeks ago, my domain expired. I was so eager to renew my domain. However, automatic renewal of the domain have been disabled by my provider so I had no choice but to request via email. However, after thousands of request emails, texts and calls, I have not received any response from my provider.
I am deeply disappointed with page.ph because I had the right amount of funds and everything but they ignored me. Now, I can't use the funds left on their website anymore. Sayang.
Because of this, I decided to abandon my old domain (besides, I've been thinking for quite some time now to have a new domain and a new platform). Good thing help is always on the way.
Soon I'll be writing on a new blog, on a new platform and on a new domain. Let's all bid goodbye to www.allenyuarata.com and say hi to:
WWW.ALLENYUONLINE.COM
Now don't get excited as I am, di pa na-setup yan. Hehe. I'll keep you posted as soon as my new blog reels off. Okay?
Nga pala, thank you so much to www.mynameiskurog.com for all the help in setting up my new blog. Thank you thank you! ^__^
Oh and by they way, that's our new cactus named TeaGus, cute eh?
There was turmoil outside the building. Hundreds, probably thousands of hungry victims came pounding the gates, desperately asking for food, for shelter, for hope. Amidst all this, Allan Francisco, sat comfortably at his humungous swivel chair, nestling his mammoth-like body. There was a burst of roaring and crying outside, yet he didn’t hear it. His iPod entertained him, turning him deaf from the commotion.
A couple of knocks at the door somewhat turned him back to his senses. His drooling eyes, gently but slightly opening into consciousness.
“Mayor, the goods had just arrived, three trucks for today.” Said the man who just came in.
“Perfect, get the people outside to line up and order them to shut the fuck up!” He ordered.
Mayor Allan, or most commonly known as Manong Allan by his constituents is considered by many as the most beloved leader this town has ever known. He won a landslide victory a few years ago against a well-experienced lawyer who had served this town for more than ten years. He was never hesitant, though, just because he had never earned a college degree or had maliciously attempted to earn one by pressuring the local college, it doesn’t mean he couldn’t be the number one. Thanks to his PR consultant, a notable executive in the industry, Manong Allan managed a home run.
He lazily tried to raise his bottom from the chair, roughly tucked his shirt inside his pants and made his way towards the door. At the back of the Town Hall was a roomy warehouse where today, several tons of relief goods from all over the country are being unloaded from the three trucks that came. More are to come later. Perfect indeed.
Jess volunteered today at the Town Hall. Although he himself was a victim of the flood, something inside him says he should help instead of asking for one.
“Good Morning Manong Allan,” he greeted the Mayor at the door.
The Mayor nodded in recognition and walks around the vast expanse of the warehouse. Jess idolized him. He is his inspiration. The Mayor, the one who started with nothing, was catapulted to power by those who love him and now, is being tested for his resilience. That’s what he liked most about Manong Allan. He never shows how weary he has become amidst all this. He stays and tries to look strong for his people.
Or so they think he is.
“Melba,” Allan called the woman busy counting the goods that are slowly flooding the warehouse floor.
“Yes, Manong?” responded Melba who nearly jumped in surprise with Allan’s high and dry voice.
“How many canned foods do we have in every bag?” He asked.
Melba opened the one she was holding, “we have at least five.” She added.
“I think we have too much in every bag. We need to re-sort them so that we could give to more people. Cut them to three canned foods apiece.” He ordered.
Melba nodded in agreement. Her Mayor thinks for the people.
Or so they think he is.
At around midnight, when all the volunteers were gone, Manong Allan, together with his most trusted men started moving the re-sorted canned goods to another warehouse at the Public Market. The warehouse was smaller than the one at the back of the Town Hall but this one, isn’t empty. There were tall cabinets, dividers and boxes all over. All of which contained more canned goods. Overnight, Manong Allan’s trusted men moved all of the re-sorted goods to his warehouse, where tomorrow, it will be tagged, priced and sold at his very own Supermarket.
Perfect. Manong Allan thought.
Two days later, the rain washed everything again. The flood rose too deep that even the tallest houses in town was fully submerged. The first deaths were recorded, even Manong Allan had to move his family to the roof as the water rose in minutes. After almost a day, the rain had stopped and the town was turned into a sea.
Manong Allan had to act according to his mandate. Thousands now pounded the gates of the nearly destroyed Town Hall. He himself needed help, his people needed him. He had to find a way. Manong Allan took his cellphone from his wallet and dialed continuously.
The phone rang and shortly afterwards, a man in a very tiny but gentle voice answered.
“Good Morning, Mr. President.” Greeted Manong Allan.
“…yes… we need rubber boats.” He agrees to the man on the other line.
“…and food too. We are totally isolated… Even I saved nothing Mr. President...”
“…five choppers… really? You would do that?” Manong Allan felt relieved.
“…yes, of course. Can you send food as well?”
“…that’d be great Mr. President. Thank you very much…”
Manong Allan is happy. At least he could get more than what he had nicked last time. More help is on the way.
About several hundred miles away, Mr. President sat blankly on his elegant swivel chair. He had just received a call from the Mayor of some 4th class municipality asking for help. He should help them, of course. He is the most beloved President of all time. Just before that call, the UN had pledged to give $20Million for calamity assistance.
$10Million will go to the victims, and the other half will go to his account. He knew they wouldn’t mind. He is the considered the best leader in Asia. The people knew he worked well.
I was all ready for my defense. My class wasn't until 10 but I went to school very early to prepare. It was raining so hard that my shorts got soaked.
When the school announced suspension, the oval already looked like a lake. I was even laughing not knowing that eventually I'm gonna be stuck on a horrifying situation....alone.
ang saya ko pa dito kasi akala ko makakagala na ako
the flood already entered the school building
When I got to the corner of V.Mapa and Aurora Blvd., the flood was already chest-deep. I would've taken the LRT but no one can reach the station. Both stations nearest to us was inaccessible because of the flood. We were somehow trapped in the middle. My clothes were wet, I was literally freezing and shivering. My Fibrella betrayed me. My FH jacket betrayed me. My Sandugo betrayed me. Only my sling bag was loyal. He protected my things. lol
Suddenly, I thought of my classmate Colleen who lives just a few blocks from school. So I stayed there the whole night until the water subsided. I even borrowed her clothes and whined when she didn't have any briefs to lend me (haha!). So there I was, looking like a fool on an orange board shorts, a t-shirt two sizes smaller than me, partially covered by a girly jacket and had no underwear underneath. I even went to Jollibee wearing those. Waaaah!
But then, when I saw the aftermath, I immediately thanked God with what happened to me. I mean, at least we're all safe.
I felt the need to help. I felt the need to take part in rebuilding this torn city. So first thing in the morning of September 28, I looked for my old clothes, stuffed them in my bag and me and my friends headed to the Balay Expo, Cubao to take part in the Tulong Bayan Relief Operations for the victims of the storm.
It was all hard, I worked for 8 straight hours, got dozens of paper cuts all over my hands and my back ached like it never ached before. But it's all worth it, knowing that whatever I did will be used by those needy people who may not have just lost houses but also loved ones. I feel for them.
I whined too much about clothes and underwears while other people wept over dead bodies. I learned a lesson. A lot of them. So I helped.
What about you? What did you do? What are your plans? There's plenty of things undone. Take part now.
What if life in the future doesn't anymore require physical contact? Will you enjoy it?
___________________________________________________________
September 22, 2065
I would wake up when the sun is high above me, yes, I may wake up too early but this is just how I was raised by my parents and my grandpa who would do nothing but scowl on me whenever he sees me doing what he dared not do during his childhood. I never really enjoyed his company but he's the only family I got aside from Mom and Dad who works almost nonstop at the International Space Station some 500 miles away from Earth.
"Oh, you're up now. I thought you died in your sleep!" my Lolo greets me. He's already up 2 hours ahead of me. Well I guess all Lolos wake up so early and sleep at 12 in the evening. Weird.
"C'mon Lolo, it's 1PM, everyone's still asleep! Why be up so early?”
“The sun is almost setting Matteo! I don’t get it why you young people live during the night when it’s the sun that’s more enjoyable to watch!” Lolo tells me for the nth time.
“Lolo, the time of the sun is past. Let’s at least give credit to the Moon,” I answer.
“’Wag kang pilosopo ha, kayong mga kabataan ngayon talaga,” he says in pure Tagalog, the language of the oldies.
Most of the time, my Lolo sits by his favorite La-Z-Boi chair near the glass window of the flat overlooking the once-so-majestic Manila Bay. I could see how bored he was, actually, but I think he’s too old to ever visit the gym of Central 236.
Central 236 is where we live. It is a sprawling 50 hectares of 150 gigantic towers housing over a thousand flats for the people of Megapolitan Manila. It has over 70 indoor pools, 120 gymnasiums and athletic centers, auditoriums the size of 6 Bird’s Nests and has the fastest internet connection in the region with 56 mpbs servicing its 38 million users.
Central 236 also boasts of its state-of-the-art transport system, The Zapper that moves commuters from tower to tower. The Zapper is the modern replacement to the trains and LRTs who were outmoded about 30 years ago. The Zapper is a series of interconnected glass spheres using the Wormhole Technology, a technological breakthrough in the world of Physics. The Wormhole Technology uses the propulsion system that allows people to travel from one place to another in a matter of seconds using the Zapper’s glass spheres and sucks them to a series of cables in one tiny zap! My Lolo calls this the Time Machine (though I don’t think people travel back in time with the Zapper).
“Don’t you think you’re gonna be late for school?” Lolo snaps.
“Oh, I nearly forgot! I haven’t done my homework yet!” I replied.
I took one sip of my coffee and hurried to school. My school, the Mac Super Pro is the latest of its kind. Thanks to the ISS grant, my mom and dad was able to get me the fastest and most efficient educator set in the world.
Advanced Metaphysics-206 Examination in 30 minutes.
The screen flashes in front of me as I try to remember what I had learned yesterday. I am now in my 2nd year in the university and in a few years, I’ll be getting my diploma from the Wikipedia University of Physics. In a few years, I’ll be a Physicist and work at the ISS just like my mom and dad, eventually meet girls at Facebook Dating Society and have our child delivered from the Laboratories.That’d be my goal that’s why I will study well. Metaphysics Exam now flashes in front of me.
Google cheating is strictly discouraged.
The screen tells me. I know.
After 4 hours of school, Lolo and I eat dinner from KFC’s Instant Delivery Service, the world’s largest QSR offering the healthiest food on Earth.
“So tell me, did you pass the exam?” Lolo asks as he slowly stuffs his mouth with Chicken Fillet.
“I think so. I hope so. Did mom and dad call yet?”
“Yes, they called when you were taking the exam. They’re working nonstop now that Nibiru’s near the Solar System. I can see they’re eyebags through the screen. Ugly creatures,” says Lolo, now sipping his favorite Pepsi Float.
“Ha! I’ll tell them you were mocking them when they get here!” I threaten him. He smirks.
After dinner, I go to the bar. Not to drink (they’re now banned because human beings started to be frail with continuous intake of alcohol), not to dance (nobody knows how to dance aside from my Lolo and all other Lolos and Lolas in town) but to socialize, collect friends and hopefully, girlfriends.
I turn on my HP DV9000-Ultra, puts on my favorite FH vest (while still on boxer shorts), opens the webcam and makes sure that I don’t show my boxers underneath. A series of windows start to flood my screen as my friends start to come over.
“You’re nearly late Matt, what took you so long?” says my friend Jasper from the other line.
“Sorry guys, I just had dinner. So, who’s new to the bar?”
“We got quite a few one on the second lounge.They’re from Cebu, though.” Jasper answers.
“That’s not too far, c’mon! Let’s party!”
And I bury my eyes on the screen as I socialize with my online friends at the Friendster Bar until the sun rises again in the distance.
Just when the finals are fast approaching and I got tons and tons of advertising campaigns that I need to finish, the stupid computer crashed and won't work. Nakakapanghina. Nakakapanlumo. Mabuti naman sana kung desktop lang at madaling madali ipaayos. Waaaah!
So bago ako magwala sa gitna ng kalsada, I just want to share you what I did today.
Early in the morning (that means 12:00PM), I received a text message from a very very very very distant friend. (haha!)
*toot toot* Jill: Len, may gagawin ka? Allen: Oh, anong meron? Jill: Magbookstore-hopping tayo. Allen:... Jill: Oh mag-cook tayo jan sa inyo. Allen:... Jill: O manood tayo ng UAAP. Allen: Kahit ano lang, go ako. Nang mawala naman boredom ko dito. Jill: O manood nalang tayo ng sine. Allen: Great idea. I mean, napaka-unique nyan.
I have to admit, na-miss ko din tong si Jill. Masyado na kasing workaholic and the last time we went out to do something worth blogging is nung....di ko na matandaan. (to those who doesn't know Jill yet, she's my sidekick. wahaha!)
So Jill and I met at Robinsons Ermita at 4PM (as usual nauna na naman siya at na-late na naman ako. Hehe.)
We did book-hunting sa sale and we both got two books each for only 99Pesos. Great, isn't it? Well, we have to admit, we're nerds (kahit she always claims na ako lang daw). It took us about half an hour to finish raiding the book sale. Haha!
So after bickering over our little knowledge in the French language, we then headed to Movieworld to look for an indie film (yes, we do want to take things the unusual way. LOL). Unfortunately, entries for the LEAP Film Festival are only by block viewing (we told them we were A BLOCK but the management wouldn't believe us judging by our physical attributes. LOL). So we watched Final Destination 4 instead.
Because the movie isn't until 6PM, we ate at Icebergs muna. They had good food except the knife that looks like it should only be left in the kitchen.
And I don't want to tell you what happened during the movie. I'll give Jill the honor to embarrass me. LOL. But hey, it was scary seeing people die that way, so what if I hid my face behind the popcorn box?!
So after the movie, Jill and I headed to Quiapo to hunt for DVD's (para ma-ease and boredom habang sira pa ang computer).
We had recorded a video earlier but I think I should post it later or better yet, wait until we've come up with a more relevant topic to talk about. Haha!
Thanks for reading!
eto naman si Manang Tindera, nakisama sa pic kasi baka sumikat ang tindahan nya. Di nya alam isusumbong ko sya sa OMB. hekhek
ang bigat-bigat ng bag nya ako pa ang pinagbitbit
Jill once wrote for the now-defunct blog http://chillwithjill.wordpress.com
On the phone talking to my dear mother: (not the exact conversation)
Allen: so what have you been busy with lately?
Mom: Oh, wala naman, nag-apply ako for driver's license.
Allen: I thought you already had a license.
Mom: Sa car 'yun. Eto naman ngayon sa motor.
Allen: Ha? Why? Magda-drive ka ng motor sa Vancouver? What for?
Mom: Eh bakit ba?
Allen: Cool! So hey lady, where'd you park that Harley? (tawa ako dito)
Mom: Ikaw din dapat kumuha ka ng student's license.
Allen: Para sa'n pa? Wala na 'yung motor. Di na ko makakapagdrive. Besides, di pa nga ako nakakapagparegister for the election.
Mom: Ay oo nga pala, you should register para maka-vote. Teka, sino na ba ang mga tatakbo?
Allen: Hmmm... Well there's Noli, Noynoy, Villar and Loren.
Mom: Hindi ba tatakbo yung kay Korina?
Allen: You mean si Mar? Nope, he gave way for Noynoy na.
Mom: Ay.. he should've been quite a candidate.
Allen: Oo nga e. I don't know why they don't want someone from Wharton School of Economics. Siguro may trauma na sa mga ekonomista.
Mom: Ay nako. Then you vote for Loren na lang.
Allen: I was eyeing Noynoy.
Mom: No, you vote for Loren. Si Loren nalang.
Well, I'm not going to scrutinize our politicians now, no, not this time. Anyways, I'm never good with talks about politics. It's just a pane in the nape. But then, excited na akong bumoto so I'm going to register next week. Buti nalang pinaalala ng aking nanay. Haha.
