Jun 2009

Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na talaga ako...

Mahilig maglaro at manood...

ng volleyball... Hehehe...

Nanonood na ako sa channel 9 noon ng World Grand Prix, tanda ko nung 1993 pa yun kung kailan nagsimula and World Grand Prix. Madalas kong mapanood noon ang mga bansang Brazil, Cuba at China. Yun kasi yung malalakas na bansa kapag Volleyball ang pinag-usapan. Simula nun nagustuhan ko na talaga ang Volleyball. Yun din ang simula ng paglalaro ko ng Volleyball sa iskwelahan. Nung high school ako, sa intramurals namin ako ang binigyan ng award na Most Valuable Player. Well, deserving naman ako nun. Ako ang team captain nun.

Naalala ko pa, nung 1998 yata yun na magkaron ng Metropolitan Volleyball Association o MVBA na kung saan naglaro ang iba't-ibang male volleyball players dito sa bansa natin. Natatandaan ko nun sina Papa na kababayan ko sa Navotas City, Gallo, Cruz ang setter na left-handed na pumapalo, at kung hindi ako nagkakamali, si Verayo ang MVP sa MVBA na isang conference lang. Hindi ganun kalakas at kasikat ang Volleyball pag dating sa mga male players dito sa bansa. Dito kasi sa atin, ang alam ng nakararami, kapag lalaki ka at naglalaro ka ng volleyball eh bakla ka na.

Dumating ang college years ko. Nung 2004, 4th year college na ako ng nagsimula ang Shakey's V-League na kung saan ang mga top universities at colleges na naglalaro sa UAAP at NCAA ay kasali at naglalaban-laban. Dito naman, mga babaeng players lang ang naglalaro. Pero, 2005 ko na talaga nalaman na may Shakey's V-League pala. Kasalukuyang nasa on the job training ako ng nagsimula ang Season 2, First Conference ng V-League. Pag dating ng 4:00pm nagpapaalam na ako para makapunta sa Vito Cruz sa Rizal Memorial Stadium para makapanood ng V-League. Nung time na yun gustong-gusto ko ang De La Salle University Lady Green Archers dahil guest players nila ang magkapatid na Michelle at Mayette Carolino. Naaalala ko pa nun nung second match ng DLSU at UST, in three straight sets nanalo ang DLSU. Nung first match nila kasi nanalo ang UST in 4 sets kaya bumawi ang DLSU. May mahabang rally nun at si Michelle Carolino ang pumatay sa bola. Libre pa nun ang panonood kaya kahit saan pwedeng umupo. Sinubaybayan ko talaga ang conference na yun. Sila Cherry Rose Rivera-Macatangay at Joanne Botor-Carpio na pareho ko ring gustong players ay naglalaro nun bilang guest players para sa Colegio de San Juan de Letran habang sila Roxanne Pimentel na Team Captian ng Philippine Team nung panahong yun at Rubie de Leon ay guest players naman ng University of Sto. Tomas. Natuwa rin ako dahil sumali ang dating Philippine Team na nanalo ng Gold Medal sa 1993 Southeast Asian Games o SEA Games. Sila Amelia Guanco, Rosemarie Prochina, Thelma Barrina-Rojas na Team Captain ng Philippine Team nung 1993, Chay Arceo-Ybañez na left-handed, Theresa dela Rosa, Leonora Escollante, Bernadette Gaspar at Ma. Theresa Iratay ang naaalala ko na members ng PSC o Philippine Sports Commission Team. Sa conference na ito, si Michelle Carolino ang tinanghal na Most Valuable Player. Ang galing niya talaga.

Pagkatapos nung conference na iyon, hindi ko na nasubaybayan ang Shakey's V-League hanggang dumating ang pagkakataon na mapanood ko ulit ito ngayong taon na. Gosh! Nagulat ako dahil Season 6 na pala ngayong 2009 ito at sa The Arena sa City of San Juan na ito ginaganap. May bayad na rin ang panonood. Sa upper box Php20.00, sa lower box Php100.00 at sa ring side Php150.00 ang bayad. Actually, nung nakapanood ako ng live dun, quarterfinals na.

Sa quarterfinals ang talagang inabangan ng mga tao eh yung paghaharap ulit ng University of Sto. Tomas at San Sebastian College-Recolletos. Ang akala kasi ng iba makakabawi ang SSC-R sa UST dahil nung opening ng Shakey's V-League nanalo ang UST in 5 sets. Nung quarterfinals naman panalo pa rin ang UST in 4 sets. Ang scores:19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-23. Napakaganda rin ng crowd nun dahil talagang asaran. Pati ako nakikisali sa pag-cheer sa UST kahit hindi naman ako Tomasian. Nagpakita ng galing dito ang mga inaasahang aarangkada talaga para sa UST, sina Michelle Carolino at Mary Jean Balse. Pero ang nakatawag pansin sa akin ay ang baguhang setter ng UST na si Rhea Katrina Dimaculangan. Ilang beses niyang na-block si Jaroensri Bualee ang Thai guest player ng SSC-R. Kitang-kita sa mukha ni Bualee ang pagkadismaya at pagka-intimidate sa tuwing naba-block siya. At hindi lang dahil dun kaya kapansin-pansin ang performance ni Dimaculangan, dahil din ito sa magagandang sets niya sa mga attackers. Si Balse ang best player of the game nung quarterfinals na iyon.

Si Michelle Carolino pagkatapos ng Quarterfinal Match laban sa SSC-R.

Si Mary Jean Balse habang ini-interview bilang Best Player of the Game sa Quarterfinal Match ng UST at SSC-R.

Si Venus Bernal na isang alumna ng UST at dating Team Captain. Nanalo na rin siya bilang MVP sa V-League.

Si Laurence Ann Latigay habang ini-interview bilang Best Player of the Game nung Semifinals laban sa AdU.

Sa finals, ang napanood ko ng live ay yung first game ng best of three finals na kung saan natalo ang UST ng SSC-R in 3 straight sets, 17-25, 22-25, 19-25. Yung second game hindi ko napanood dahil nag-team building kami nun. Pero nanalo naman nung time na un ang UST in 3 straight sets din, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23. Napanood ko na lang sa Youtube yun. At sa second game na yun, dun may gustong-gusto akong set ni Dimaculangan kay Aiza Maizo na Team Captain ng UST. Back set yun sa position 2 o opposite attacker's area. At talaga namang perfect ang set ni Dimaculangan na yun kay Maizo. Dahil sa magandang performance ni Dimaculangan tinanghal siyang Best Setter at siya ang Most Valuable Player of the Finals. Habang si Mary Jean Balse naman ang MVP of the Conference. Pangalawang MVP award na ni Balse dahil siya ang kauna-unahang MVP ng Shakey's V-League nung nagsimula ito nung 2003 at siya pa lang ang nakakadalawang beses na naging MVP. Dahil sa pagkakapanalo ng UST sa second game in 3 straight sets din, nagkaron ng third and deciding game kung sino ang magiging Champion ng conference na ito. Sa third game, nanalo rin ang UST in 3 straight sets, 25-18, 25-20, 25-22. Ang saya-saya ko talaga nung nakuha ng UST ang kanilang 4th title sa Shakey's V-League at pumapangalawa ang DLSU na may 3 titles.

Si Mary Jean Balse ang Most Valuable Player sa Shakey's V-League Season 6 First Conference.

Ito si Joanne Botor-Carpio ang guest player ng Adamson University. Siya ang setter na left-handed at pumapalo kaya siya ang pinaka gusto kong setter sa lahat. Ini-interview siya bilang Best Player of the Game laban sa FEU nung Battle for Third Place na pinanalunan nila.

Si M9 Michelle Carolino habang pumapalo sa Finals Match. Air Carolino naman ang tawag ng iba sa kanya.

Ang middle blocker ng UST na si Maika Ortiz doing a quick attack.

Ang Team Captain ng UST na si Aiza Maizo habang pumapalo sa right side of the court. Siya ang opposite hitter na pinagmamalaki ng UST.

Ang MVP na si Ging Balse. Palayaw ni Mary Jean Balse yun. Masasabing versatile player siya dahil middle blocker talaga siya pero sa larong ito, ginawa siyang outside hitter.

Ito ang tinatawag na "patong". Ang play na kung saan ay dinadaya ng setter ang kalaban dahil kunwari sa middle blocker niya ibibigay ang bola pero sa isang outside hitter na papalo sa middle position sa court. Si Michelle Carolino ang pumapalo dito at si Maika Ortiz ang middle blocker na gumawa ng daya.

Haaay... Ang second conference ng Season 6 ay sa October na. Dun ko na lang ulit mapapanood ang V-League. Pero ngayong darating na July ang World Grand Prix naman ang pwede kong mapanood. Kaya talagang aabangan ko yun. Hehehe...

June 20, 2009, Saturday

It's already 8 am and supposedly it's my end shift from work. But I am still there in my post. Working on schedule changes PNRs (Passenger's Name Record). I was not really on a hurry that morning even though I will be going home to Sapang Palay, Bulacan because I know it was my fault why I should stay and finish those pnrs. From time to time I am texting my Nanay telling her that I am still in the office rendering overtime. The whole time I stayed there rendering OT, I am working on those ASC (Airline Schedule Change) pnrs and chit chatting with my very good friend Mommy Emz. Then 11:30 am came and I was all done with my work. I immediately kissed Mommy Emz good bye. I texted my Nanay and told her that I will be going to my apartment in Makati first before going there in Bulacan. She said ok. Her birthday is on June 22 but we'll be celebrating it this weekend.

When I arrived in my apartment, my baby, the person I am living with was already awake and waiting for me. I called my Nanay and told her that I am about to leave in my apartment to go there. My baby and I talked and I went to bed and I did not realize that I fell asleep. What I remembered was that my baby was waking me up saying:

"Baby, gising ka na. Alas-dos na. Kanina ka pa hinihintay nila Nanay sa Bulacan."

Of course, hearing that I immediately got up from bed and I just placed the things that I am going to bring with me inside my bag. I just washed my face and brushed my teeth then I kissed my baby and left our apartment. When I arrived in Guadalupe, I went to Goldilocks to buy my Nanay a cake. I texted her too to tell her that I am on my way to Bulacan. I ordered a mocha cake and when the lady from Goldilocks asked me:

"Sir, ano po yung message na ilalagay sa cake?"

It seemed I was surprised that is why I answered immediately:

"Ah, Happy Birthday Nanay! From Edz. No. Love Edz."

Gosh, I didn't even include the name of my baby. I am so sorry baby ko!

This is the cake that I bought for my Nanay.

After that, I immediately went out of the mall to wait for the bus going to Sapang Palay. I was able to ride to one as soon as I went out of the mall. While on the bus, I am updating my Nanay where I am. I also thought of buying fried chicken for them even though I am not eating chicken because I am allergic. My cousin, Ate Gemma along with her 2 daughters, Jen-jen and Jana, son Tevi and Jen-jen's son, her grandson Yuree were already there. They were all waiting for me. I also bought bread for them in Goldilocks. Thinking of that, I checked my money to see if I can still buy fried chicken. But to my surprise, I will not have enough money. I remembered that I already got my last money of 900 pesos from my atm card. So, I went straight home with the cake and the bread with me. When, I arrived home, my Nanay said:

"Oh, nandito ka na pala. Bumili ka pa ng cake."

The usual thing you'll hear from her. Because ever since, she is prioritizing me even with little things. I think it's because I am their one and only child. Hearing that from her, I just smiled.

I went inside our little home where my cousin as well my nieces and nephew and grandson were all there. I just rest for a while. Then suddenly my grandson whose 1 year old and 9 months of age was carrying the cake I bought for my Nanay and with just one second it was already on the floor. So, we immediately opened the box and found that some parts were already deformed. Upon seeing that I immediately took pictures of it. Then, we placed the candle and we lighted it and sang Happy Birthday to my Nanay. I took pictures of everybody. We were all happy.

My Nanay with her cake.

My Nanay, my Papa and my grandson Yuree.

I am happy that time at the same time, sad too. Sad because until now I cannot give everything to my mother. Sad because until now I haven't give her any money to renovate our house in Sapang Palay. Sad because I was not able to buy fried chicken for her birthday celebration. And sad beacuse, I know that I cannot yet equal her sacrifices for me, for our family.

That is why, I always say I love you to my Nanay whenever there is a chance and always hugs her whenever I am with her. I slept that night by her side hugging her.

June 21, 2009, Sunday

She woke up early to cook for us. She sent my cousin and her son to the market to buy the food that she will be cooking for us. We ate our lunch together and happy. That afternon, I was not able to go with them to the church. But before going to the church, I took pictures of my Nanay with her plants outside our house.

My Nanay with her flowering plants.

When they arrived I was about to take a bath. It was already, past 6 pm when everybody was ready to go. We waited for a tricycle with her. Before we finally go, I hugged her tight and said:

"I love you Nay! Tatawag ako agad kapag nasa Makati na ako."

And I kissed her.

Before I formally start my very own blog, I would like to tell the bu bu I did. Hehehe... I accidentally deleted the domain of this blog, my blog which is HolisticMe. Gosh! So, my new domain now is TheHolisticSoul. Ehehehe... Thank you.

In this page, I would like to describe myself because I believe, somehow this is a way of introducing myself to you all out there. Anyway, I call myself "The Holistic Soul" because I am flexible in the sense that I can deal, mingle and get along well with different people. Others find me snob but I am really not one. I also smile to other people. I am a fanatic of volleyball especially Team Brazil (both men and women), Celine Dion and Meryl Streep. I love the nature. I love joining anything that is for a cause. I think I just don't have the chance. Hehehe...

I am independent now for I had moved out from my parents place though I am their one and only child. I am living now with my partner in Makati City. I am 25 now and happy. There's so many things I want to do in my life.

Perhaps, you're thinking what can you expect from my blog. Well, for sure volleyball will be here, music, films, plays, concerts, nature, call center life and other things that can make you interested. I can also dedicate a page for a friend and if you want, you can also make a suggestion. I think, I would like my blog to be informative as much as possible and of course, will give fun to my readers.

This is it. I am officially opening my blog to the public.

Thank you so much!