LYRICAL ESSAYS

*Sense of SMELL

December, 20**

The fabric conditioner still lingers to every strand of the hanky you gave to me as a gift, in exchange of mine. Simple yet symbolical. With your red-themed clothing matched with a purple pig in your hands, I didn't know that it would be the last I'll ever hold you close.

https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=walking+away+pictures&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwia45aCj4raAhXGGpQKHSc0D54Q_AUoAXoECAAQAw&biw=1366&bih=647#imgrc=sJ9j4FykL6mhcM:

August, 20**

It was a fine day with a little drizzle. Officially a year after him, then I saw you. My young heart fluttered as you remove your thin-rimmed eyeglasses; everything was in slow motion. You looked so ethereal that I didn't notice my feet walking towards a masterpiece. I thought your aroma will be like 'typical man smell'  but no, the redolence of you smells like home.  

*Sense of TOUCH

Summer, 20**

Young and stupid me, I was only five that time. I remember having a wound on my left knee, I thought it already healed ...but I was wrong. Having fun  with the pool slide, and being small and dumb, I landed first on my knee. My wound opened, exposing the whitish flesh and almost the knee cap of my thin legs. I didn't cry nor smile that time; thinking of that moment while writing this made me wonder ... why I didn't cry like a 'normal' kid would do.

*Sense of HEARING

"Stay for tonight
If you want to, I can show you
What my dreams are made of
As I'm dreaming of your face
I've been away for a long time
Such a long time
And I miss you there
I can't imagine being anywhere else
I can't imagine being anywhere else but here ..."  

-James Dean & Audrey Hepburn by Sleeping with Sirens

Hearing your voice in a short recording from our call ... it's fun, it's a stress-relief. I honestly don't know you personally, but your sweet voice rings in my head every time my phone blasts the first words ... 'stay' and all these years, I stayed waiting for your voice.



https://www.google.com.ph/search?biw=1366&bih=647&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=cgO5Wob9BYSy0gSS7o7oBQ&q=call+screenshot+unnamed&oq=call+screenshot+unnamed&gs_l=psy-ab.3...38202.40566.0.40824.8.8.0.0.0.0.226.920.0j5j1.6.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..2.1.223...0j0i30k1j0i5i30k1.0.Sg8lxMsAvVY#imgrc=mtDPNVjE7lbidM:

*Sense of TASTE

Layered. Filled. Absolute heaven.

My life's layered, full of layers. Penetrate one and another one will be unmasked.
Filled, with all the people staying and supporting me, I am filled with love and affection.
Heaven, do I still need to explain what heaven is?



*Sense of SIGHT

The festivity is in the air, summer air rather. Sun shines brightly but the air kisses everyone's skin so light. Laughter is the background music that soothes everyone's stress and distress. This blue and white colored triangles hangs and flows like everyone should be, worry-less.

#1

Eros

As he present his gesture of love in material things; roses, chocolates, balloons, a large white teddy bear. They walked hand in hand, he smiles sweetly through the empty pocket and growing cramp in his stomach but who cares?  His babe is pleased, obviously delighted from these things.

"Happy Valentine's Day babe!"  



#2

Three, two, one! 

Boom! It's new year once again, oops, clarification, Chinese New Year. Hearing people greet "Kung Hei Fat Choi!" and never ending "pahinging tikoy", makes me question ... why?

Filipino culture displays streaks of Chinese culture; we celebrate their holiday like it's ours, we eat their delicacies like it's ours, and in return, WE are being their territory, secretly.

From our culture to our visible territory, what's next?

#3

Red Highlight

Shoot! Running. Shoot! Running. Pass.

"TOR ko po?" Asking for the last requirement to qualify to this event.

"Naipamigay ko na, iha" Dumb-founded, they didn't received any. 

"Disqualified na kayo, kulang ng TOR requirement n'yo," Hours of training, wasted. 

"Hindi ko pa kasi alam 'yung process ... Bagong upo lang ako," Excuses. 

Soya-mmy

With a simple sip, you’ll easily slip through your childhood days.

Who could have forget the nostalgic feeling when Manong Magtataho would shout, Tahoooooooooo! with all his might and lungs? Anyone? Anybody? Is it just me?

Anyway, most of the Filipinos know what soy bean curd or taho is, but where does taho originated?

Trivia

Unlike other delicacies, taho originated from the Chinese that predates the Spanish occupation. Legend says that it is one of the results of a failed attempt to concoct some immortality pills by mixing soybeans and bamboo piths by Prince Liu An of Han Dynasty. Oh well, your pain, our gain.

Introduction

Recently, a vendor roams around the BulSU main campus to serve (and to protect, chos!) the BulSUans with a warm sweet delicacy that is taho. With that, a food review is rightfully served.

Presentation

Served in a simple plastic cup topped with, occasionally, stripped colored straw— very cute! The minimalist and simplistic presentation of this delicacy screams affordability, which is, very suitable for students who need to be economical because of several school projects. The simplistic appearance is a statement itself— it doesn’t need any fancy packaging, a cup and a stripped straw is good enough; the taho will speak for itself. The color of the arnibal is just right, not too dark that one would suspect food coloring like what most modern taho vendors do to create an illusion that it is sweeter but unfortunately, not. To sum up with the presentation, for PHP 10, you wouldn’t be disappointed with an 8 ounce cup filled with plenty warm gooey goodness.

Texture

Fresh, silken tofu as the base, simply mouthwatering. The high-calcium content of the raw salt curdled the soybean mixture, resulting in the tofu’s gel-like form so its texture, resembles to that of a very fine gelatin. The soybean custard is then dressed with arnibal, which is brown sugar that’s been caramelized into a syrup leaving a smooth and non-grainy texture on your mouth. Heaping spoonfuls of translucent, gummy sago pearls crown each serving. Its texture would be simply described as flawless— or as Miss Franchezka said, it melts in your mouth. The main reason why, I think, that taho is very sensational to all ages; a babe with a gummy smile and an old man… with a gummy smile as well, can easily eat it with no problem at all. Though some would argue because of the sago, customers can also opt to leave them out, which lead me to conclude that taho is also a versatile delicacy.

Truly, a fine treasure.

Taste and Complexity

You don’t need to taste the whole thing to say whether it’s delicious or not, well that is the case for taho. With just a sip, the sweetness that is of caramelized brown sugar will explode in your mouth, giving you the boost you’ll need to get through that math class and warm you through the chilly mornings of February. There is no need for complex terminologies and jargons to explain its taste because in the first place, taho is a simple delicacy and a treasured delicacy must be savoured with your heart. After that, the sweet taste will linger on your lips, wishing you had bought the PHP 20 cup instead of a PHP 10 one.

Pro and Cons

It is uncommon for a magtataho to be spotted in the late afternoon or evening as well. Taho vendors peddle their product, keeping a habitual route and schedule, most likely, traveling their routes regularly or most of the time early in the morning. So if by chance that you’ll be craving taho during your afternoon period in class, you’ll be troubling yourself with two things: where do I find manong and if there’s still taho left. If possible, having a stall with regular hours would be most convenient, not only for the busy and stressed students of Bulacan State University, but also the faculty members who seldom encounters manong magtataho because of their class schedule. 

The best testament to a delicacy’s longevity is how well its original form can outshine recent modifications and fluctuating trends. This is one area where Manong’s taho really shines, he didn’t tried to reinvent or experiment a flavor, he  maintained its basic and its truest form that all Filipinos are craving— not those strawberry or almond flavored ones.

Taho has been one of the Filipino’s best delicacies for merienda. Since then, it has been a favorite by many due to its nutritious value and its affordability.

Manong sells taho, his shoulders yoked with the traditional dual aluminum buckets that have doled out the comforting trio of silken tofu, brown syrup, and sago pearls, roaming around the BulSU around 7 in the morning. One canister contains the warm brown sugar syrup and tapioca pearl solution while the second contains the soy bean curd. He carries plastic cups in two sizes, 8 ounce which is PHP 10 and PHP 20 for 12 ounce, and straws. Using a wide, shallow metal watch glass-shaped scoop, Manong would skim the surface of the bean curd and toss out any excess water, before scooping the bean curd itself into a cup. Then, using a long, thin metal ladle, he scoops pearls and arnibal into the cup, loosely mixing it in.

The service is good and fast, no faults can be said. When asked if he increased the price for a cup of taho (because of the TRAIN Law), he smiled and answered negative.

“Love ko kayo kaya ‘di na ko nagtaas, dinadagdagan ko pa nga ng arnibal ganoon ko kayo ka-lab!”

A;All

All in all, try it and you will not regret it. With the warm sweet treat, you couldn’t resist but to start reaching for your pockets.

A Trip to the Forbidden (??) Cubicle

"Samahan mo naman ako sa CR," a young lady said. 

"Tara na, kanina pa ako naghahanap ng kasama mag-CR," With sense of relief they walked side by side, not even knowing why they needed each other doing a simple personal thing. 

             It has been an age-old enigma for me why does most of my female classmates go to comfort rooms in pairs, or even in a group. What do they gain from that, personally, it's illogical being asked "Uy, samahan mo naman ako mag-CR" and I don't gain anything from that aside from being like a stupid waiting for her to come out, just kidding, it is just awkward to wait for someone outside an occupied cubicle and besides, they won't be flushed nor they need someone to wipe their ass.

I think it was about two years ago that I thought of a hunch concerning this enigma, and I answered it with

"In my opinion, sa society natin ngayon we feel safer if we're on a large group.It lessens the chance to be assaulted."

 After two years, it still fits the logic and reason behind why I said it, it is saddening thinking that women are capable of being independent human yet we confine ourselves being the inferior one.

Emotional dependency, yes, no man is an island but why in a simple thing such as going to a comfort room needs to have "somebody else" in the said situation. The reason behind this might be alarming because it hides a bitter reality of those who ask for a favor of accompanying them to a personal happening.

Codependency.

That's it.

According to Mental Health America,

"Co-dependency is a learned behavior that can be passed down from one generation to another. It is an emotional and behavioral condition that affects an individual’s ability to have a healthy, mutually satisfying relationship. It is also known as “relationship addiction” because people with codependency often form or maintain relationships that are one-sided, emotionally destructive and/or abusive. The disorder was first identified about ten years ago as the result of years of studying interpersonal relationships in families of alcoholics. Co-dependent behavior is learned by watching and imitating other family members who display this type of behavior."

In other words, they actively exhibit the after effects of their childhood or even what they are experiencing while their faces are turned away from you.

I read this somewhere that women are naturally dependent on their friends, family, or their special someone. Probably because our society taught us that women are weak, which we are not. 

Scientific things aside, I will try to answer my age-old enigma. 

Hmmm ..

Probably they had their monthly menstruation suddenly and they need someone to buy a napkin for them? 

A Trip to the Forbidden Place

“May hika ka then gusto mong pumunta sa Divisoria? Magtigil ka nga!”

I heard that line a dozen of times already but I’m definitely their daughter, I’m also hard-headed.

1 January 2018

 “New year, new me” as they put it – so I decided to be a daredevil, I accepted someone’s invitation going to Divisoria; that was on the first day of 2018.

2 January 2018

AM930

Waiting for a bus, my heart was thumping and my mind keeps playing unending train of scenarios – negative scenarios of what if’s … then a bus came.

“Uy. Tara na, sakay na tayo,” His voice quickened my heartbeat and made the train track shift.

I slowly dragged my feet on the ground coming towards him. Why? I was thinking of an excuse! I was trying to back pedal but it hit me, the bus. Well not literally, the bus is in front of me, waiting for me to step in and so I did.

Throughout the whole ride, I was struggling in familiarizing myself with the bumpy road to Divisoria. Why not? I’m  a tourist on this famous place and I might come back sooner or later. Just kidding, I was overthinking that what if I got lost.

AM1100

As soon as we descended from the bus, the polluted air blew on my face. It. Stinks.

I held my bag and breathe tight, fast-walking to exit that stinky place. At last, still holding my bag tightly as if it would be part of my body, we walked the what-so-called “bangketa” selling shoes, bags, clothing, and plentiful of other everyday things. I was quite disappointed so I asked him, “Ito na ‘yon?” and he answered while pointing to buildings far from where we are standing, “Hindi pa, ayon pa ‘yung pupuntahan natin o. Layo ‘no?” My eyes widened. Mom, if you happen to stumble to this blog memoir, I apologize for being hard-headed, I won’t do it again. Just kidding, I would definitely go to this place again.

AM1125

Passing through “pasilyo” I take my words back. It was fascinating inside the shopping mall. It was surprisingly cold, probably because there’s no bunch of people jamming the pasilyo. Most of our time walking around this certain shopping mall was spent eyeing shoes and clothing but not buying any of those things.

Heading to the uppermost floor, smell of waffles entered my olfactory nerves, at that moment, we realized we haven’t eaten lunch. Searching for a budget-friendly fast-food chain … there’s none so we head down to the food stalls near the Lucky China Town.

But of course, due to our joyous atmosphere surrounding the two of us, instead of eating, we ended up taking photos on the large blood-red Christmas tree. While taking photos, we can feel people low-key laughing at us, why not, we’re making derp faces  on the camera.

After the photo session, we decided to head home. On the bus, windows were covered with bright yellow curtains, guess what we did. Another photo session! We slept the whole ride home.

It was a nerve-wrecking fun ride.

I’ll definitely going to that forbidden place again.