Killing Time

Had fun with my two cousins Arjay and Sheane.

The Weird Skirts and Farmville

I think this would be my weekly habit for this summer: endless observations of the events that happened during my Sundays wherever fate brings me to. Last week I posted about Easter Sunday (Popcorn, Puto and Camera-Whoring: Is This How We View Holy Week?) and stuff. This week fate brought me to another faith/devotion-related place. For protection purposes, I will not specify any place. Therefore, it will then be named as "The Shrine" in the whole article. So, here it goes.

I stayed over at my Tito's house for the weekend. I know that they always go to church on Sundays but I never thought that this time they would go to this more than 9-hectare piece of what seemed like holy land of The Shrine. I've heard stories that you cannot come in this place wearing shorts or sleeveless tops or any indecent clothing. But I completely forgot about that that I also forgot that I'm wearing khaki short pants (well, it's the only thing I brought with me for my stay at their house). So when we got in, I saw people in weird skirts. I was like, "What are the skirts for?" Even men are wearing them too. And I noticed that most of the people who wore them are people who also wore shorts and pants. When I was receiving communion, people shot deadly looks on me as if I had committed any crime. And then I remembered - Shoots! I was wearing shorts! I heard some of them saying, "Pwede diay mag-shorts? (Translation: Short pants are allowed?)" I hurriedly went to the back where my Tito and his family were. When I arrived where they were I told my cousin, "Natingala sila ngano nakasulod ko nga nag-shorts. Hehe. (Translation: They wondered why I was allowed to get in while I'm wearing shorts. Hehe.)" And my cousin looked around and said, "Hala ka Ate Jha-Jha. (I don't know how to translate this but he's trying to scare me here.)" I tried to ignore what just happened but I was already conscious of my actions for people are already giving me looks of disapproval. After the mass, we went  near this statue and ate our snacks while observing the people lining up. I won't say the reason why they were lining up because it would be very obvious if I say (I'm just trying to protect the place). Anyway, so most of the people lining up are wearing those weird skirts. I still don't get the real reason for wearing it though. But what I do know is that it is weird.

On our way out of the very far-from-civilization place, we passed by a couple of newly cultivated lands. My five year-old cousin Khail was sitting on my lap at that time. While looking out at the fields he suddenly said, "Farmville man ni oh. Nanga-wither na ang plants. (Translation: This is Farmville. The plants are withered already.)" And I can't help but laugh. Imagine a five-year-old kid saying that. You might wonder why he said withered when I said it was newly cultivated. The field looked withered because the farmer mixed, I think, fine lime stones with it. I cannot be sure of the kind but I know its for soil-conditioning purposes. So anyway, I was really laughing so hard and my other cousin Sheane who is a year older than Khail added, "Trees na lang ug animals ang nabilin kay wala na gi-atiman sa tag-iya. (Translation: Plants and animals are the only things left because the owner did not take care of it anymore.)" And he was saying it like he was really sorry for the land. I cannot help but see how new technology influences man even at the young age of five.

You might see me as apathetic when I said what the skirts are for. Of course I know it is to follow a certain dress code. But why do I have to wear it? Ok, I know it's a holy place or whatever you call it, and I know I should respect it but I'll never wear that skirt. I might not be wearing the right clothes but at least I was there and I think I did not make a scene (which would have been done by some). I acted as simple as what I always am and said my prayers. Anyway, the point is, as long as you're not doing something wrong and you practically respected the place for its purpose then there's nothing wrong with that. Another point that I'm trying to make here is the influence of the new technology on man and how widespread it is. [J]

This happens when I'm bored

Yesterday, we had our go-away party at the beach. The assembly time was at 10AM and I was all prepared by 8:30AM. Since my boarding house and the assembly place is just a few meters away, I decided to play with make-up. And here’s what happened: make-up and photoshoot. Message to my roommates: Never ever let me be alone in the room again. LOL.

Comeback Entry: Popcorn, Puto and Camera Whoring: Is This How We View Holy Week?

Note: I haven't gone to this a lot for quite a long time. I wish to be here more often. So as a comeback entry, I chose this one.This was supposed to be posted last Sunday. So bear with it. LOL. have fun.

For the first time in my 19 years I attended the so-called "Tabo" or "Angel angel" this year. I woke up at 2 in the morning to be able to join the said event. According to them, it was to witness the resurrection of the Lord. But as far as my observation is concerned I think the sole reason for being there is diminishing.

So I woke up at 2 in the morning, fixed myself, had a sip of coffee (literally) and went to the Provincial Capitol Grounds where the Easter Mass will be held. (Oh, special thanks to Tito Wildon for the ride!) When I looked at the make-shift altar, I noticed little kids in white and they have wings and, guess what? They got pompoms! I told my sister and Tito Wildon's daughters, "Cheerleaders na diay ang mga angels karon? (Translation: Angels are Cheerleaders now huh?)". They laughed at my joke. But seriously, do they need to have those metallic pompoms? They were already cute with those homemade wings and white clothes. I tried not to be narrow-minded and rationalized the presence of the pompoms. I thought that they were just props to make their (lip)singing and dancing lively and make a woosh-woosh sound with it.

After a few waits, the mass has started. The kids stood up waving their metallic pompoms to the tune of the entrance hymn. The choir was singing bisaya songs, so practically I only know a few words since it’s in the more formal variety of the language. So I was trying to concentrate on the words coming out from the speakers since we are too far from the altar though I only understood a few of it since the words were deep enough for me not to understand. In the middle of the first part, I noticed a flash coming from the back of the car. I turned my back and a roar of laughter came from this family parking behind Tito Wildon's car. They were acting as if they were on a picnic, flashing and laughing away as if nobody is affected. I was irritated. I said to Nikka (Tito Wildon's second daughter), "Naa na sila diri para mag-picnic dili para magsimba. (Translation: They're here to picnic not to hear mass.)". Nikka was irritated too, so she said, "Tan-awa gani Ate Jha (apparently my house nickname is Jha-Jha) muundang man nuh sila. (Translation: Stare at them Ate Jha, they will stop.)" She went at the back of the car. I have no idea what she did and she went back. She gave no reaction. The family at the back is still laughing, even worst a kid shouted! I could not do anything. I wasn't even able to concentrate on the mass. So I just kept quiet and hugged myself. We just let them be. Flashing and laughing here and there. My sister, Via, said that an old woman nearby tried to warn them but they seem not to notice. We just moved on and concentrated on the mass.

While we were trying to concentrate, a puto vendor passed by and the aroma of freshly popped popcorn filled the air. I smirked at the puto vendor. Why was he doing that in the middle of the mass? I mean, I know he's making a living but in the middle of the mass? And the aroma of the freshly popped popcorn showered with cheese flavoring was filling the air. I felt my stomach grumble. I was hungry. Shoots!, I shook my self. I'm in the mass. I should be concentrating not thinking about that popcorn that was oh so crunchy and hot. Er! I hate it. Why are they tempting us in the middle of the mass? In my frustration, I imitated an OPM song, "Oh, Tukso layuan mo ako! (Translation: Oh, Temptation go away from me!)" I know they were making a living but I think they were selling at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

I was kind of irritated by the scene. I mean, we were there in the grounds to witness one of the most important events of the Catholic church, and here comes these vendors and some pretending to be mass-goers distracting the concentration of the people around them. We were not there to picnic, people! We were there to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. We can eat your popcorn and your puto after the mass. And we can take pictures and laugh our lungs out after not during the mass. Popcorn, Puto and Camera Whoring: Is this how we view Holy Week these days? [J]