Those Who Are Them

There are those who work. There are those who work hard. There are those who try to work. There are those who try to work hard. There are those appear to work. There are those who appear to work hard. Regardless of who you are, there will always be a complaint; Unemployment, overworked, underpaid, not doing anything, unhygienic working environment, traffic, de-motivated and, of course, people.

If I ever encountered one; It would’ve been the most pompous, self-centered, self-assured, narcissistic, puny-minded (sometimes self-righteous) bitch I have ever encountered. Oh! Wait! I have encountered such creature.

It's been more than a few months since I first noticed something peculiar about this person.

There are people who feel they’re the center of the universe. Anything that has nothing to do with them is of no importance -- at least in their point of view. I guess that explains the pompous, self-centered, narcissistic behavior. The thing is they can’t be on their own. They always have to be around or be surrounded by others. I guess being alone would defeat the purpose of their behavior.

To be continued...

Me and C5 on the Road

I got a hold of C5 about a couple of months ago after weeks and even months of careful evaluations. At first, my budget was just under 15K (just the bike). I thought it was going to be enough even if my uncle’s cheapest bike (he has three) is already two times the amount. And then came, Cannondale Trail 5, my C5. Looks; I was stunned! I still am. After seeing the bike, I had to check the specifics. I thought upgrades will make the bike from good to great. But considering the cost and the already quite okay parts, it will have to do for now.

We’ve been through a lot, me and C5. The farthest we’ve been was Tagaytay. That was after only a month of riding of getting here, there and, pretty much, everywhere. Going back, our route was from Cubao – Burger King Marcos Highway – Tikling – C6 – Daang-Hari – Aguinaldo – Silang - Tagaytay. It was a very long ride. C6 and Daang-Hari are long and winding roads. Those two were part of a boring and torturous ride. After, well, Silang “Makunat” up ride. The Silang ride was a hell. Mirage due to heat, farting due gas and hunger, leg fatigue due to lactic acid and wanting to disassemble my bike due wanting to take a jeep ride to Tagaytay. The road never seemed to end. It would have been nice to have listened to The Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road”.

I have never imagined, in my entire life, that “Bulalo” was going to be the only thing in my mind. When my group got to Mahogany, no other thing in mind; parked our bike, sat on a chair in front of a table with “Bulalo” and “Unlimted ‘Saging’” and ate like there’s no tomorrow. Lucky for our group, the advanced party already prepared the table for us. The thing with this ride was; traditionally, the breakaway group is usually smaller and the group behind has the most number of riders. In our case, it was the other way around.

After an hour or so lunch break, we headed back home with very little number pictures for keepsake. Well, we were really wasted. Anyway, the route was much easier as it was mostly going down and flat. Our route was from Tagaytay - Silang – Aguinaldo – Bacoor – Dasmariñas – Las Piñas – NLEX – Sta. Mesa – Cubao. All was well until we got to Sta. Mesa (This part, there were only three of us left as we parted ways gradually) when I thought everything was going to be a tiring but good experience, damn, weather turned against us. Rain started to pour really hard. From soaking wet with sweat to soaking wet with acid rain. I expected to be sick yet surprisingly enough, I was spared. Anyway, at home, I didn’t know what to do whether to sleep or to take a shower or wash C5 first. I ate.

Although it was a painstakingly taken ride, I am still satisfied as now I could say I have Tagaytay under my belt. I would say for a newbie this is not a simple and bad ride. I’ve met people that I wouldn’t normally meet somewhere. Oh! And yeah, forgot to tell you about one fellow we were with on a BMX bike (Single Speed) with only one arm. He was my buddy up in some parts of ride. Considering his situation; single speed, one arm and lit a cigar every stop. He didn’t seem to tire.

Next stop, somewhere!!!

COME, I WILL TELL YOU A TALE LIKE NONE YOU HAVE EVER HEARD

“Mend a Broken Heart”

Here's to my Angel...

I feel your pain. You have been used by a taken same as I. I know there's no easy way out. It's like gout nothing you can do but fall south. Don’t worry we live in a world that is round.

Some people are lucky and most of the time I’m not one of them. “I’m not an actor, I’m not a star and I don’t even have my own car”. Hell, I don’t even have the same frame of mind as “Mang Pandoy” living in 7th heaven who sweet talks his way into a woman’s heart (which I am proud of). Although, I’ve had my fair share of creativeness to get in between two parallel lines, it’s not something I am proud of. It’s for the weak.

Reason for that maybe…

One person close to me once sent a message saying, “The people who are afraid of commitment are those who know the real meaning of it.” I’m not saying I know the real meaning both literally and figuratively but one thing I can be sure of, I don’t have the courage. Because of you I have now.

Be strong not for me but for yourself as it would affect us.

Question is; what can I do?

I have this:

“I cannot undo what has been done but I’m not going to come undone. I’ll be here not gone.

I’m surprised that this is how it feels. I can say I am confused but sure. Unsure of what is happening and what will happen but not confused of what I want to do.

Come back to your senses because I don’t know what is going on. I can help you with what’s going on with you not with me.

This is the first time I am afraid, afraid of you and me as us. I’ve never been afraid because I’ve never been sure. Sure, I’ve had some but I was sure that I was not sure.

Now I see, I see clearly that this is a blurry part of the game of life. So vivid this silhouette in front of me and I cannot even distinguish what is.

With the predicament, I organize myself to you and to you only; Now, I don’t feel left.”

It is true that “a man does everything for a reason even if he doesn’t know it.”

____________________________________________________________


“Five Things I Have for Ali”

I saw her once, just a glance, but she caught my heart like that of a lance. I called her twice, I felt like being nice but also I had to take the chance and be wise.

When I say something thrice it’s like a vice, can’t stop, can’t, it’s the four-letter word, but if it is her it’s worth the price.

She was five times five, I was twenty-eight, not that far thought we could jive and maybe in the future have someone alive.

Five used to be my fave, now, four because my life became a bore until three came. But among the last two, somebody caught my attention, one named Ali.

____________________________________________________________


“JC”

First she came to impress me, now, here I am trying to impress her; truly I hope we get there.

She has the Tiger, for that, I like her. I hope she likes me back so we can be together.

Since then, I’ve always wondered if I have a chance ‘cause just one glance, like I’m struck by a lance feeling in a trance.

I wish to celebrate as I feel great at a high rate, I really hope to have her as my textmate.

Now, I send her a message then a reply comes, I reply back, but suddenly she’s gone, isn’t she someone? I hope, though, she is the one.

____________________________________________________________


“My First”

Once I had it, but, was so weak only lasted for a week;
Thought it was a good break, no, all I got was a break and a heart-break.

What might’ve been, no matter keen did not lean;
Too bad I have seen a beautiful scene but still nothing, oh, so mean.

Still looking for something satisfying kept lingering at nothing hoping for one thing fulfilling.

Love makes me lame it burns like a flame, please don’t blame they really are the same;
Feeling I could fly like a fly though I know it is a lie.

ANNOYANCE

Some people can really get in to your nerves by mere presence alone. I don't know how but it's a fact that when these people are around me, they just annoy me. Perhaps there was/is a pattern for the things they have done and doing until now. Good example is this one person, relatively, close to me. This person doesn't even have to speak; just a look at this person and there goes my everything. This one's really a pain and is going to be closely ASSociated with me for as long as I live in this lovely but abused World we're living in.

Being silent doesn't necessarily mean one doesn't know anything. That is what I am now... I, most of the time, know something about what this person's talking about but because I know I'm going to end up with a nonsense discussion, which has, most probably, been discussed already in the past but just for the sake of having to discuss something nonsense, this person would act as if this is a new topic. Because of my silence, I am, now, for the most part, underestimated. Pros and cons of being underestimated;

Pro/s:

- Unpredictability
- Flexibility
- Being an audience to their stupidity and laugh

Con/s:

- None

Furthermore, this person whom I speak of is so self-centered that this person would always want to insert every single thing about their culture, work, experiences, etc... In short, everything is about this person. There is a term for that in Sociology. Example: Name of a plant or a tree. Other culture would, of course, have their own name for a certain plant or a tree but talk to this person and this person would insist that you should listen as it is what it's called in their place. Whatever the hell it is, I couldn't care less even if I wanted to because, again, its nonsense. It's as if talking to your teacher in high school, in some part/time of/in high school, that is. This person would prefer every discussion to be based around "them". Whoever the hell are "them" I couldn't care less even if I wanted to. Damn, this person seems to have all the centrisms in this World. The funny thing is... This person can't even make a decision by himself. Decision-making is not one of this person's specialties. Oh, great! This person has a weakness after all. This person would always seek other's ideas through a discussion one in which this person is "the focal point" of the story and integrate them together with "the focal point's" ideas. If the outcome is positive, credit goes NOT to the "others". On the other hand, bad outcome, good luck! That happens even in buying a beverage or what route to take in going to some place.

Another good skill this person, I must commend, is manipulation. This person, probably, afraid of being criticized if it goes improper, would use the people around to do what might be satisfying, "SELF-CENTRICALLY". If there's even such a term. This person's campaign of manipulation has never been stronger because the old M.O. is no longer working and his allies are rapidly decreasing. All that is now are just stories to hear but not really listened at. However, there are still some unfortunate few who would fall or have fallen already in this person's M.O. Because this person is quite "learned through hearsays" and probably, through experience as well, just pushing the right button to press, one's already under the "spell". Luckily, I am now able to block everything this person throws at me. I don't how... Maybe that person's style actually triggered my defense mechanism.

GAME OF LIFE

Why are you hiding when you have the right to simply just tell me stop looking? Why are you afraid of walking straight forward when you’re not really sure you’re the one I am following? Why won’t you tell me THAT something you’ve been keeping inside your head? Please don’t flatter yourself too much into thinking my world only revolves around you. I have a life and it is within my options if I want to include you in it. Now I’m flattering myself. I have an answer though, it’s because you’re not sure if you really want me out of your life… another flattery. lol

It’s very funny how ironic life is. One thinks this and the other believes that. That is the reason why communication between two parties is important, because if not, we would end up with the questions of why. But it seems that we can’t always face the concerns just yet. We all need some “time off”. In some instances, though, we just would not face the problems at all. Some would just say “things happen for a reason”. All things happen for a reason alright and it depends on each individual concerned and whatever this person makes of it. It is interestingly ugly. It’s what I call the Game of Life.

CORPORATE RONIN

Once there was a man who finds people for his masters. These are wanted individuals that would help them because of their specialties. Although, most are not the best, they are considered right for the job. He did all that he could for his masters. But, of course, this man, although capable, still needs help and help he got from his mentor and perceived allies. Yet however helpful the people around him maybe, there was one thing more powerful than the alliances and the extra effort they had made; POLITICS. In politics, power is the main factor. To get that power, one must consider a position of great leverage. This man heard once that "it's not what you know but who you know that counts." Very true, indeed, and because of that this man ended not the politics in the organization but his service to his masters. Because of that, he is now a "Corporate Ronin".

BACK TO CEBU!!!

Well, here I go again. I will be going back to Cebu, the Queen City of the South, to do recruitment. Imagine that, me going to Cebu for the wonderful company I work for... Kinda hard to imagine if I were not me. Looking at my past, though, I never would've imagined myself handling such responsibility. Hell, I never even thought I would finish HS but here I am now "entrusted" with a big task. I'm starting to doubt myself. Of course not!!!hehe I'll be there one working week. Quite an experience, huh? Lucky me noodles. I just hope results would be positive.