Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Ruins: History, Architecture, and Love

Today marks the 24th hour from the time my jaw dropped in amazement. Yesterday, we had the opportunity of touring down to Talisay, Negros Occidental to visit the historical structure called "The Ruins".

I heard about this before, many times from my close friends from Occidental. Now that I've seen it, I want to even see more of it. But I won't blog alot about how amazing this is, 'cause most assuredly, the photos below will surely tell you of how amazing this mansion was despite being torched in 1930s during the World War II by the Guerrillas (Well, the black edges caused by fire made it even more marvelous). Good riddance!

History speaks about the abundance of great stories about this house. The romantic stories are engraved in the edges of this spanish-inspired mansion built in the early 90s. Don Mariano built this house in memory of his wife, Maria Braga. It's foundations are marked with letters M, placed sidewards on some of its foundations.

This house was built by pure cement with a marble-like effect when you touch its edges.



Touring the place made me proud of Philippines. It did attest that it's not only fun here, but with rich history and beautiful masterpieces that could compete with world's best (notwithstanding romantic stories that could be told).

See more of these photos in my facebook account, http://www.facebook.com/joelaba.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Day 1 - Valentines in the City of Smiles

An hour more to go, and the Philippines celebrates the seeming glorious celebration -- The Valentines. It's the time were couples kiss, warm themselves with each others' presence, exchange their vows, and give cards and presents. It's glorious. Sweet, Romantic. Whatever.

But there's nothing much romantic fun for me. The reason? I'll have to stay away from Dumaguete - where my heart belongs - and be in the City of Smiles for a special assignment -- train agents in Panasiatic Solutions Center, Bacolod. Sad as it may be, that does not matter alot because both of us very well know that a line could make us feel better while being distant --"We have a lifetime to spend for each other -- and we have forever to do that."

That line always strikes me whenever a day makes me feel so distant from my lover. But the lines state exactly the best reason to smile amid miles away: "We have a lifetime to do that." It always dawn on me: What a great idea from a person I have never expected to catch me from my fall. There's one thing that made me love my partner more-- the spur of brilliance that makes lonely realities become instant shining silver, gloomy things to an instantly romantic one. That is Brilliance. That is eloquence.

They say comparison is bad when you do it to your past versus the present. But I couldn't help it while thinking of the very good things I have now received. In my mind I realize I have spent my 1 year and 6 months to a insensitive lover, a not-so-very-significant relationship that ended into a drastic, horrid breakup.

Everytime I train Supervisor Group in the care center, I always get to stop in one of the slides that reads: "The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow..." which I always make sure I am able to ask someone from the class to give an scenario example. Most of time, no one could give the best example. So I give myself the floor by saying, "Just as when you had a break-up with one person, then you realize after a year that you were tangled to a jerk -- you realize it was yesterday's crisis. But now, he/she is but a joke. And you laugh by saying, NGANU NA UYAB MAN TO NAKO UY!" And there, I just broke everybody a gas of humor.

But indeed, its true to me.

We'll, in a positive light, the horrible break up was still my greatest learning ground. Sometimes, people love you and you love them but it comes to an end because someone way, way better has to come. And now, indeed I have found the "way, way better". God has indeed plans we sometimes do not understand. Things that sometimes, we feel an instance of unfairness or inconsideration of life, but it's not the way we think it is. It's life's birthpains for the commencement of a NEW, BEST Life with the NEW, BEST Someone that fits you.

I could not ask for anything more in life now that God has given me the best. May this Valentines, I be able to learn that life and love made me strong at some instances before --even if in some instances I have had felt deprived and scattered. But knowing that I have already reached the point of STOP, we realize, it's an initial commencement of something new. The commencement of The best.


Day 1 11:36 PM East View Hotel
Bacolod City