Andrea’s dad has just opened up a second restaurant/bar/billiard place in Payatas. It sports the same features that their original store has:

• goat-based menu
• cellphone loading station
• mini sari-sari store
• a billiard table
• discount cigars
• liquors
• a common TV

Just like its predecessor, the newly-opened branch in Payatas aims to cater to local residents of the place by offering goat-based menu (which is indisputably a healthier choice of meat than pork or even beef), entertainment in the form of billiard and TV, and a place to eat, drink and be merry.

Learning valuable information on how such a system operates, her dad seeks to receive the same success with this seconds installment as the first in UP Bliss. And because of the original place’s popularity and the fact that Andrea’s dad is or used to be a seaman, this second branch will be called Bar-Ko 2, with respect to the original restaurant (Bar-Ko).

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, I’ve bought a mountain bike in place of my motorcycle. Since a car is still a bit beyond our reach, I might as well provide myself a cheaper, but faster and healthier mode of transportation to and from work.

After trying it out for more than a month I find myself having mixed sentiments about my decision. First, because the bike offers the same, if not less, protection than my motorcycle, safety issues still remain (rain, collisions, theft, tire puncture, etc.) . I still go to and from work on the same roads so the health hazards are not exactly lessened. Second, since the route to work involves inclines and descents (we’re on a hill after all), it takes quite a bit of physical effort traveling. Now don’t get me wrong. I love the work out. What gives me a bit of hesitation is the fact that I arrive at work covered in sweat, which is not exactly a very hygienic nor convenient condition to have just before entering a classroom to teach.

On the other hand, my bike never needs gassing up nor monthly tuneups and change oils. Perhaps a little greasing, but nothing significantly expensive. Also, since my ride is muscle-powered, it doesn’t produce any smoke or unhealthy emissions. It’s also an awesome if not the best fat burner out there.

Unfortunately, unlike cars or motorcycles, my mountain bike is built for only a single rider, which means only I can ride it. It may not exactly be the best ride available but it’s good enough for me… at least for now.

In the short time that I’ve tried riding the motorcycle, I’ve realized that I’ve fallen in love with it. I know it may not be as convenient as its 4-wheel competitors on the road in terms of air-conditioning, ability to withstand rain and heat, or even simply in terms of compartment size, but it makes up for these things with so many other factors.

For one, if you’re an adrenaline junkie, speed becomes so much more alive and real on a motorcycle. Inside a car, an 80 kph cruise can sometimes even make a driver drowsy. On a motorcycle, reaching 80kph already pumps a driver with so much adrenaline because of the wind on your hair and face as well as the feel of the wheels on the road. Things you don’t normally feel while driving inside a car becomes intensified several folds when you’re on a bike.

Second, motorcycles are extremely versatile and agile. This becomes so much more obvious during traffic jams and even during parking. While 4-wheel vehicles easily get caught up in traffic jams (which is a common occurrence anywhere), bikes have no trouble zigzagging through narrow spaces. Also, during parking, while most cars take anywhere between 5-30 minutes looking for parking spaces, bikes can park in almost any place a human can fit in.

Lastly, because motorcycles pale in comparison to cars when it comes to weight, they also require significantly less gas (and I can’t stress this enough) than cars. While a 500-buck load of gas is needed for a week’s worth of car travel, this same load is enough to make some motorcycles run for a month and a half traveling the same route.

The major drawback, however, is a safety issue. Because no matter how safe and knowledgeable a motorcycle driver is, accidents do happen on the road. Regardless if the bike driver is defensive or significantly less aggressive, he may still fall victim to other more aggressive drivers on the street. Let’s face it. When it comes to protection, the chassis of 4-wheel vehicles definitely provide better protection than a motorcycle’s. No matter how good of an Oakland motorcycle accident lawyer you hire, no one can bring back a crushed spine, a severed limb, or a lost life.

As for my short love affair with the motorcycle, I’m glad nothing bad happened. Am I willing to try it again? That’s another story.

Ever since I was small, my dad would always tell me to loosen up and to stop worrying because I would often be bothered by the smallest details that do not go as planned or details that I don’t have complete control over. Before 50, you’d be needing a wrinkle cream, he would often warn me.

So I tried my best to stop worrying. It was difficult and I admit that it still is. I can’t help but be agitated whenever things don’t go accordingly. In fact, I would often be upset to the point of doubting my capabilities every time my plans fail especially when it comes to class.

I’m not the type that relies solely on spontaneity or luck. I actually prefer going into battle prepared not just with a plan but with a contingency strategy too just in case the plan doesn’t work. But sometimes, things have a  way of turning out that eludes all kinds of planning. It is during these times that I truly become infuriated and helpless, when I truly turn back into the same kid my dad used to warn about worrying.

After the miscarriage, andrea and I came to a conclusion that perhaps one of the reasons why Vivienne was taken back from us is because we’re not yet financially ready for a new baby. God knows we wanted her and loved her dearly.

I mean, being far away from both our parents, we should have had means to being a little mobile just in case Vivienne or Mateo had an emergency. (We used to have that with mateo because of the red car.) We should have had been able to bring her to any place she desires – the zoo, park, museums, etc. (We used to have that with mateo because of the red car.) We don’t… not now.

This is why after much consideration, we have decided to put all our effort in getting financially ready for the next one. We’re starting with a car. Currently, we’re on the hunt for a new ride. Well, not a new one exactly, but something a little newer than the red car (around 3-8 years old). If possible, I’d prefer something that can accommodate a Golden Retriever at the back like a pickup, an SUV, or even used rv for sale, although the last one isn’t that practical for our country. Because aside from all the baby stuff that comes with a new baby, we also have to have room for Aria, our pet retriever.

Hopefully, if things start looking better, we might just be able to get one in time for the summer break.

For a teacher, being an adviser is not necessarily the most envious position. Well, maybe it is for those who crave a taste for lordship, attention, and control. But for the most part, it isn’t. Being an adviser is so much more…

You see, aside from making sure that lessons are learned, an adviser has the extra responsibility of ensuring growth and progress in other aspects – emotional, social, and psychological. We have the burden of watching things unfold without much intervention… the task of watching from afar in order for the students to learn the life skills of compromise, sacrifice, and assertion on their own… to give a little prodding without openly pointing them in the right direction… to exercise just the right amount of (never too much and never half-baked) control without losing our sanity.

However, despite the many hardships and responsibilities that come with the title, there is also great fulfillment that advisers derive at the end of each year. All the troubles that help advisers lose belly fat can only be matched with the joy of seeing our students become even just a bit better.

After taking another ultrasound, andrea and I have finally had a bit of closure. Vivienne has gone back to heaven and mateo is not going to be a kuya, at least not yet, not for next year.

It was extremely difficult accepting that she’s gone despite having her for only 3 months. No wonder there are parents that go crazy after losing their children. Not only is it extremely depressing, but it’s also even more physically demanding than taking any weight loss diet pill, emotionally draining, and downright heartbreaking.

It’s only now that I fully understand the sorrow behind the words that King Theoden of Rohan (The Lord of The Rings) uttered: No father should bury his son. Parents are not supposed to outlive their children. We are willing to give up everything, even our lives, just so our babies can live on. And that goes the same for me, for andrea, and for vivienne.

October has come and we’re officially two months away from the holiday seasons. It is once again time for Christmas trees, gifts, holiday cards, carols and lanterns.

This we know because mateo has just insisted on assembling the Christmas tree. In fact, we had to move one of the chairs out of the sala in order to accommodate the tree. It now sits on the far side adorned with its usual trimmings, lights, balls and everything else.

I guess it’s an early holiday for us this year because we have more reasons now to look forward to it than before. Mateo has become more appreciative of the season and we have a baby on the way so we’re full of blessings this early. I can’t wait to celebrate! Haha!

For several days already, the news has constantly been featuring stories of devastation and heroism brought on by the great typhoon Ondoy. Pictures of cities and villages that were literally drowned by the huge floods are constant components of every evening news programs in every local channel.

Even up to now, the streets of some of the familiar areas we pass by showcase a stack of soaked and damaged appliances from the houses of nearby residents. Piles on the road would often consist of drenched sofas, beds, tv stands, tables, damaged electronic equipments such as electric fans, TV sets, DVD players, radios, and even computers. It’s really sad.

But do you know what’s worse? There are people out there who would take advantage of the chaos and confusion to actually steal from others. The government can’t utilize the people properly to help themselves. So-called victims, even after the storm, are drowning themselves in self-pity and have taken to just relying on relief goods and support from others.

Filipinos are capable of so much more. We can withstand greater challenges and we have. Let’s not give in to despair and sorrow. We are so much better than this, so much stronger, so much more, typhoon or no typhoon.

There are times when I feel proud and happy to be a teacher. However, there are also times when I seriously consider looking for a different profession, going into software development, opening my own coffee shop, or starting my own invention company.

Because you see, aside from the challenge of making children understand and enjoy understanding the lesson, teachers face the difficulty of behaving like models – the very personification of ideals such as truth, fairness, knowledge, objectivity, and rationalism.

I guess the difficulty springs from the fact that teachers, regardless of how ideal they’re trying to portray themselves to be, are human. And being humans, they, we are not exempted from mistakes, biases, and emotions. God knows how hard we try to become fairness and perfection personified. But the thing is, no matter how much effort we give, we are bound to show faults and shortcomings.

We can sometimes be hasty, nearsighted, overzealous, overly sensitive, overly devoid of emotions, too involved, or completely detached. We can’t help but commit errors, overlook a few things, or sometimes even misjudge a certain person or event.

We are all subjected to these things despite the fact that our profession entails us to be perfect. It’s a very difficult responsibility and a very costly one too because whenever we do show humanity by committing mistakes, we’re not the only ones that pay for our mistakes. Other teachers, the parents, and of course the children too suffer for our mistakes.

It is our curse. It is our burden. It is what makes human teachers.