My Vice

Who could ever resist that adorable face? 

Birthday Bliss

26 years. The Lord has blessed with 26 meaningful years.

April 5, 2012 , Maundy Thursday

I am used to celebrating my birthday on a holy week. Ever since I was a kid, when my birthday falls on a holy week, we would usually celebrate my birthday on my kuya's birthday or on the nearest sunday. By the way, just a trivia, my brother and I are of the same age for four days, he was born April 9, 1985. Sometimes, I would jokingly state that I am not obliged to call him 'kuya' until he celebrates his birthday.

Anyhow, this year, I just stayed at home but I had the nicest breakfast ever. I literally woke up at 6:05am, I took a screenshot of the time on my phone for documentation (lazy excuse! I just love how the smiling star brightens up my morning) and Tim prepared pancit canton (my all-time fave!) and cheesedogs for breakfast.

In the afternoon, we went to Amang Hinulid, a usual Lenten season 'panata' that we do. Tim joined me, my mom and kuya going there. We left the house at 5:00pm and arrived there at around 6:30pm. This was the first time that we went late at Calabanga because usually mama and I would go there by 2:00pm.

When we arrived, the line going to Amang Hinulid was too long that it took us almost 3 hours to reach the image. It was worth the walk and the wait.

After that, we went straight to Auntie Dhing's house for our dinner. She prepared a special meal for us that I even thanked her for allowing me to celebrate my birthday at their house :)) The next I knew, we were racing towards the Calabanga-Naga jeepneys. I never imagined girls riding on top of the jeepney, I don't know what it's called but they're sitting on 'roofdeck' of the jeepney. It's quite dangerous and yes, they are still girls. I don't know but it could be a way for the jeepney drivers to earn more, they really know how to maximize the opportunity.

I hope that in my next blog, I can come up with a new set of bucket list or a list of memorable blessings that I am really thankful of. Nevertheless, I thank God for giving me another year to be wiser, kinder and become a more faithful servant to Him.

Marriage

“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

... Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn’t want anything from me, but needed a month’s notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month’s time and she didn’t want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month’s duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.

I told Jane about my wife’s divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully.

My wife and I hadn’t had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don’t tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn’t looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn’t tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily.

Suddenly it hit me… she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it’s time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn’t noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office…. jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind…I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won’t divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn’t value the details of our lives, not because we didn’t love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I’ll carry you out every morning until death do us apart.

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed -dead. My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push through with the divorce.— At least, in the eyes of our son—- I’m a loving husband….

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves.

So find time to be your spouse’s friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage!

Source: Random post from Facebook :)

Bus Transport Contact Numbers

This might be useful :)

1. Aladdin Transit Corporation
Location: 1310 Espana Cnr. Galicia Streets, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Cagayan Valley in Region in the extreme north of Luzon.
Telephone Number: + 63 2 743 8523; + 63 2 781 9168

2. Autobus Transport Systems Incorporated
Location: Dimasalang Street Cnr. Laong Laan Street, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: Baguio, Laoag, Cagayan Valley, Dagupan, Ifugao, Kalinga & Isabela provinces.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 735 8098

3. Baliwag Transit Incorporated
Location: 199 Rizal Avenue Extension, Cnr 2nd Avenue, Caloocan City, Manila
Destinations: Baliwag, Cababatuan in Nueva Ecija Province, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan Province. All in the far north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers:

4. Baliwag Transit Incorporated
Location: 33 Edsa, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: Baliwag, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan Province and Aparri and Tuguegarao in Cagayan Province which is in the far north of Luzon Island.
Telephone Numbers:

5. BLTB – Batangas Laguna Tayabas Bus Company
Location: Edsa Pasay City
Destinations: Calamba in Laguna province, Nasugbu in Batangas province, Lucena in Quezon province, Legaspi in Albay province, Naga in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province. BLTB will also travel into, Leyte & Samar.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 833 5508, + 63 2 833 5501, + 63 2 913 1525

6. Dagupan Bus Lines
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City, Manila
Destinations: Dagupan, Alaminos, Lingayen in Pangasinan province and further north to Baguio City and Benguet province. Both these provinces are in central Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 727 2330, + 63 2 929 6123, + 63 2 928 5639, + 63 2 727 2330, + 63 2 727 2287

7. Dangwa Tranco Company Incorporated
Location: 1600 Dimasalang Street, Sampaloc, Manila.
Location: 832 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao.
Destinations: Both terminals have bus transport Philippines to Benguet province and Ifugao Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the northern central area of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 731 2879, + 63 2 410 1991

8. Dominion Transit
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City
Destinations: The provinces of Abra, La Union and Ilocos Sur on the north west coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 741 4146, + 63 2 731 4180

9. Farinas Transit Company
Location: Laong Laan cnr and M dela Fuente Streets, Sampaloc, Manila
Destinations: The city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province and the city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte province on the north western Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: + 63 2 731 4507, + 63 2 731 4375, + 63 2 743 8580

10. Five Star Bus Company

Location: Aurora Boulevard, Pasay City, Manila
Destinations: Dagupan and Bolinao in Pangasinan province, Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija province in the north of Luzon island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 8339, +63 2 833 3009

11. Franco Frederico Lines
Location: Sampaloc Manila.
Destinations: The provinces of Ilocos Sur & Ilocos Norte in the north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 731 4473, +63 2 731 2584

12. Inland Trailways Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Pasay City, Manila.
Destinations: The city of Legaspi in Albay province, Lucena City in Quezon province, Naga City in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province all in the southern end of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 6280.

13. JAM Transit
Location: Taft Avenue, Pasay City, Manila.
Location: New York Street, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: Batangas, Quezon and Laguna provinces south of Manila.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 541 4409, +63 2 924 7712, +63 2 831 4390.

14. JB Line Bicol Express
Location: Aurora Boulevard, Pasay City.
Destinations: The city of Legaspi in Albay province, Lucena City in Quezon province and Naga City in Camarines Sur province in southern Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 2949.

15. Maria de Leon Transit
Location: Corner Gelinos and Dapitan Streets, Sampaloc, Manila.
Destinations: City of San Fernando in La Union province, Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province and Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province all on the north western coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 731 4907.

16. Partas Transportation Company Incorporated
Location: 816 Aurora Boulevard, Cubao, Quezon City.
Destinations: To the city of Baguio, Benguet province, Bangued in Abra province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province, San Fernando in La Union Province and the city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur province. All in the north west coast and Cordillera mountains of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 725 7303, +63 2 724 9820.

17. Philippine Rabbit Business Lines Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Quezon City.
Destinations: The city of Bangued in Abra province, Laoag City in Ilocos Norte province, City of San Fernando in La Union Province, Tarlac province and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province all provinces are on the north western coast of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 734 9836, +63 2 734 9838

18. Philtranco Service Enterprises Incorporated

Location: Edsa, Pasay City.
Destinations: south to Daet in Camarines Norte province, Legaspi City in Albay province, Lucena in Quezon province, Naga in Camarines Sur province and Sorsogon province all to the south of Manila on the southern end of Luzon.
Also travels via ferry across to Samar Island and through Leyte and onto Davao City on Mindanao Island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 851 8077, +63 2 851 8078, +63 2 851 8079

19. Tritran Transit Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Quezon City, Manila
Destinations: Batangas and Quezon provinces to the south of Manila on Luzon Island.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 925 1758, +63 2 925 1759

20. Victory Liner Incorporated
Location: Edsa, Pasay City, Manila
Location 713 Rizal Avenue Extension, Caloocan City
Location: Edsa, Cubao
Destinations: Olongapo and Iba Cities in Zambales province, Tarlac province, San Fernando in La Union province, Baguio City, Benguet province, Alaminos, Bolinao and Dagupan cities in Pangasinan province and Tuguegarao and Aparri towns in Cagayan province. All in the north of Manila on Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 833 0293, +63 2 833 5019, +63 2 361 4665, +63 2 741 1439, +63 2 361 1506, +63 2 361 1510

21. Viron Transportation Company Incorporated
Location: Corner 1209 Blumentritt and Dapitan Streets, Sampaloc, Manila.
Destinations: The city of Tarlac, Dagupan City in Pangasinan province, San Fernando in La Union province and Vigan City in Ilocos Sur province all in the north of Luzon.
Telephone Numbers: +63 2 741 6588

Happy April Fools!