The Theme of The Day

Ever felt that everyday is just like a story, revolving around a theme which you unconciously or conciously create?

I remember in high school the golden rule of writing is to start or end or include in a paragraph, a topic sentence. One is not allowed to wander from the topic sentence, one is only permitted to work within the confines of the topic and expound on it a bit further, in order to eventually reach another topic (which is a new topic sentence in a new paragraph) that may be related, though not directly to the first paragraph.

Well I guess today is one of those days of revelation. Although this thought had struck me last Friday, it took me up to today to organize my thoughts well enough as to discuss it more fully in written text. This school year has been an unending surprise, one after another, most of which are entirely beyond the knowledge of those who perform them except perhaps me. The best kind of prize is a "surprise" heh!

The stories which I am about to tell will revolve around the financial aspect of luck, and thus many would find me incompassionate and selfish and perhaps just darn dishonest, but I guess experience is a good teacher, and so far I haven't learned my lesson.. yet.

Story #1
Munch Alley

What makes this day particularly special, other than my story, is a secret about "something stupid" that had occured earlier in the morning. Due to this event, my friends wanted to hear all about it, so we chose to munch in munch alley, a restaurant in EGI, a building just beside our school. Two of my companions bought sizzling squid, while the other, if my memory serves me right, bought liempo. I, on the other hand, settled for my usual tosilog (I have this thing for breakfast meals, you see.. Garlic being my favorite spice and meat being the only thing I know how to eat) My companions entrusted their money to me so I would be responsible for lining up and ordering their meals. After I gave the orders, paid and received my change, I returned directly to my seat to settle the division of the sukli. Curiously though, the money I had seemed more than what we had meant to have paid, so I walked back to the counter and requested to have our orders rechecked. It was accurate and the bill remained the same. Knowing fully how each friend contributed, I decided to compute the whole menu-pricing dilemma, in the end, resolving that the cashier charged my peers 20 pesos below what was written on the menu list, and thus my meal being 60 pesos became a free meal. I didn't find any reason to complain, (may grasya na tatangihan ko pa ba?) and was waiting for any of the staff to approach me to address to me the problem. Nobody came, and therefore, I ate and walked out with a free meal and a full stomach.

I am aware that my actions are contrary to the teachings I had been exposed to in my GMRC (Good Manners and Right Conduct) class and books. And although I've passed the subject with flying colors due to my "convincing" answers to their over-simple brained questions, words do not need to be reflected in actions to pass the said subject. That perhaps being a flaw in the course. I have been vocal in expressing this idea of the subject being a complete waste of time and good paper, but perhaps my school would insist on the said curriculum in order to wash their hands from guilt should any one of their students act inappropriately in events. The whole idea of answering morality questions in multiple choice or true or false test format is a bit too elementary, or kinder even. In addition, the quality of the questions being of mundane or overused nature, would inevitably yield a correct answer from the bored, unchallenged minds of the students due to the repetitive characteristic of the example. At times, quantity of the test items is taken into mind rather than their quality, and therefore the problems would not cause the student to reflect more on the actions of right conduct but on how to attain the best possible grade.

Story #2
MCDO

One time, two of my org-mates wanted to go to Mcdonald's to have breakfast. (Super size.. Super size me!) When we got there, one decided to order a Longsilog meal, the other an Mcmuffin (I am not really sure if this is what he ordered) I, on the other hand, being close to being broke decided to choose the cheapest meal on the lighted menu, hotcakes. The cashier was female and was rather less than my standards of friendliness (perhaps she's having her period... on second thought, eww.. don't ask what went through my head) She placed my meal on the tray and I joined the two guys I was with. We opened our meals together, the two boys having the right orders, except me. Rather than just hotcakes, my meal included a sausage, which costs P20 more than what I ordered. My two companions, obviously were thrilled at my luck, and being not too inclined to eat McSausage.. We divided the round patty into a BMV logo, and distributed the three equal pieces among us. Who said free foods always taste good?

Story #3
UDMC Internet Station

This is my favorite, since despite my good intentions, I've been turned down constantly that I gave up! In this internet station, the policy is, before you can use their computer services, one must first make a downpayment of one hour which is 20 buckeroos. Having only 120 pesos in my wallet, which happens to be the only money left after I defiled my innocent little piggy bank to get some cash to go online, I took out a 20 and paid the lady. And so I started from 11:30 all the way until 3:30 in the pm. 4 hours thus, calculating would cost P80. I went to the cashier; by then the cashier person has changed since they have a shift due to the fact that the station is open 24/7. As I asked the price, the woman answered, "miss, kami pa po may utang sa inyo." And I was like, "huh?" she replied, "iyong una po na kumuha ng downpayment niyo, sabi niya binigay niyo raw P100" "Sure kayo?""Oho, so kami pa ang may utang sayo ng P20" the girl insisted taking out a 20 peso bill. "Miss, sigurado ho ba kayo? Alam ko 20 lang bayad ko eh." I told her. "Sigurado ako, sabi sakin 100 bigay niyo, kami iyong babayad pa ng 20 sa inyo""Kayo ho bahala" Oh well, don't say I didn't try. So, I came and left with the same amount of money in wallet, and an experience worth blogging about.

Story #4
The Bus Ride to DLSU

I had to go back to school since the driver was waiting there for me to bring me home. Ironically, I was already home when I realized that the driver was going to pick me up, plus of course the darn fact that he pawned his cellphone for the time being, thus no means of communication was available. In order to solve the problem, I had to take a public transportation ride. Being in the mood to feel tall, I rode a bus. The route of the bus would pass through Quiapo, Lawton, Manila City Hall, then Taft, it would end in Remedios where the bus would be making a U-turn in a U-turn slot available a little past Quirino Avenue. What is rather interesting in this story is that, I was the only passenger left when we reached Remedios. The conductor and the driver thus called me in front and began the interview. They asked where I was going, "to school" I answered, "at this time?""Yup!""Up to what time classes mo?""Hanggang gabi pa", I lied. "Hatid ka na namin sa school mo, malayo pa sa Remedios eh." the conductor offered. "Wag na po, kaya ko naman mo lakarin eh." I argued. "Hindi, umuulan rin, kami na." looking at the driver, "Gusto mo sunduin ka rin namin mamaya?" the driver commented. ALERT!!! "Wag na po." I answered. "Wala ka bang boyfriend para magsundo hatid sayo? Sa ganda mong yan." "Um.." I thought, "wala eh." Oh well. They brought me to school and I thanked them. I've had so many experiences like that it kind of bugs me, but hey, compliments are always accepted no matter how shallow they may be.

Story #5
A Free Bus Ride

Just this morning, I had a free bus ride. Once again, I wanted to ride a bus to school. I was running late for our class mass which would represent 10 percent of my final grade in Religion two. The cause of my tardiness was my stupid monthly visitor which caused another round of physical cramps, more famously called as "dysmennorrhea", that I had to let my siblings go ahead without me, lest they be late for their classes. Returning to the feature story, I rode a bus to school. It wasn't airconditioned which is the way I like it. I get nauseous in airconditioned buses especially if I sit in one for more than an hour. Guess its the smell of the vehicle. (Ever wonder how everything has a smell? The smell of a bank. The smell of garbage and of market places. The smell of Canada (pine trees). The smell of Binondo (horse shit). )

When I got on, the bus was partially crowded, but intersting enough a man, most Chinese would easily mistake as a "tsaw hwan" stood up and gave me a seat. Chivalry is not dead, there are still men courageous enough to display good manners and sensitivity. I remember going in an LRT with a pregnant woman, and the seated men would just look at us and look away. Just makes you wanna kick their dicks, hello! I was with a pregnant woman, the least they could do was offer her a seat. Imagine carrying a big basketball belly, which is no basketball, but life. Creeps, and some of them were Chinese, which is sad. Anyway, I got my seat in the bus, thanked the man, who stood up for the remainder of his trip.

For the whole ride, I was waiting for the conductor to approach me and ask me my destination, but I guess the bus was so crowded he couldn't remember whether I've paid or not. By the time, we reached Remedios, I quickly went down the bus and found a jeepney that would pass my school, I got away with a free bus ride. Ta-dah!

Story #6
I got away with P1

This happened after my mass class which I would have to say sucked. Let me make a detour in my story telling of my financial responsibility escapes and focus more, ironically, on religion. Our class mass was a product of our teacher's stubborn and shallow reasoning. During the preparation of the mass, earlier in the term, our professor asked us individually what role we would like to take in order for our mass to be a success. Unfortunately, time was against us, and she had only 5 minutes left before the bell to interview the 40+ students in our class. One my classmates, with good intentions in mind, suggested that we group each other per committee and give her the list the following meeting in order for more efficient designation without the hassle of going overtime. She was offended by the suggestion since she felt we were taking her out of the picture. In my personal opinion, she does have issues. Although she may be intelligent and very convincing, she does close her mind to possibilities which are not at par with her flow of thought.

On our mass proper though, the problem was resolved. The room "resembled a chapel" commented our presiding priest. Unfortunately, I did not consider the said mass as valid, especially since the whole event was done sitting down even the consecration of the Holy Eucharist, which I find extremely blasphemous, not only on our part but also on the part of the priest who was praying and holding the "body of Christ" sitting down, not giving reverence. It is like lifting a piece of bread, not acknowledging the beautiful transformation that the said event was meant to do. "The God in heaven is the same God on earth." said St. Therese, and from that quote did I learn to revere even that piece of bread because it represents more than physical wheat, but of a spiritual food. Imagine me saying this after all the stories I've been telling you.

After the mass, I decided to go home to complete some more deadlines due the following day. I took the FX home. As I was looking for coins to pay the driver, I realized that I am 1 peso short of the 20 pesos fare. Carefully, I wrapped the 2 five peso, 8 one peso and 4 25 cents coins in the palm of my hand, waited until the FX stopped. Just before it would begin to move, I handed the coins to the driver. He didn't bother to check anymore, not only since it was all coins but also since he had to focus on his driving.

I had another experience like that last year. It was made purely out of desperation. I had no money at the time, and had to resort to opening my piggy bank and taking out the coins I have so diligently saved. It turns out that most of my coins were 25 cents. Having the need to go to school, and having no driver to bring me there, I collecter 20 pesos worth of 25 cents, and went to ride an FX. Now imagine the look on the FX driver's face when I handed him a handful of golden 25 cents.

Story #7
Speedbytes

I've had so many experiences in Speedbytes this term that it usually turns out funny whenever I think about going back there. One time, I had to use their computer to chat with a friend somewhere out there halfway round the world. I started around 10 am, and ended at about close to 4 pm. When I stood up, I had a terrible ache on my butt, and the man on the counter was smiling. I had made a record in Speedbytes history, 6 hours in front of the PC. As an incentive perhaps, rather than having to pay 180 pesos for their services, they charged me only 150.

Another interesting event that happened there was when I had to use their computer to find a very short note from my groupmates. I used the computer for barely 15 to 20 minutes. When I was ready to pay, the girl had already reset the whole system, and thus told me that my computer usage would not be counted and thus I was free to go. Talk about luck.

Story XXX
(Content is not porn, I just couldn't find an appropriate title)
Totally unrelated but still intersting
A Story of Compassion

This would be the last story before I end my entry. Like I said I had a feeling that life has a theme that we live by. I was thinking about a certain event which my friend has recently revealed to me. It was his perspective towards a choice I committed a couple of months back. I felt the injustice which I have done to him, although not directly my fault, which made me feel even worse. I was in the verge of breaking my ties with the other party that has offended him when I came to the question of my compassion.

The morning after this revelation, which happens to be just last Friday, I rode an FX to school. I had to make a rush on my paper about Hegel that I had to allow my siblings to go ahead without me. After the FX reached Lawton, it began to wheeze, eventually dying in the middle of the road. The driver asked the three men in the vehicle to go down and push. One escaped, the other two were left behind the car pushing. After five to six trials, the FX failed to exhibit any signs of life. The two frustrated men have given up and left the driver wailing to himself. The driver asked us, the remaining to females to go down and push. That's when we began to ask for our money back. The driver hesitated. I having given him a hundred haven't received my change yet. I answered the driver, "Manong, my deadline pa ako. Ayaw ko ma-late." This perhaps was the point when the driver took our money and returned them to us. I took my hundred in full. The other females though took just portions of the money they gave initially. Do I feel guilty? perhaps, but in any situation, I wouldn't be able to say "manong 90 nalang po balik niyo" since I know that he doesn't have that 90 to return. You cannot give what you do not have.