Esteban Street

He is tall and has an amicable face,
With a smile that leaves you almost breathless.
Calls every night before he heads to slumber,
Whispering words that makes your heart race.

Surprisingly, he's more than a face.
He is smart and good-humored, too.
It is no wonder that after almost a year of pursuit,
The heart gave in and was captivated.

He can be the sweetest man alive,
But when angered, he becomes something else.
Deciphering him was a chore, initially.
But soon you realize, he is like the rest of us - human with flaws.

He needs to be loved like everyone else,
Wants to be known and accepted for who he really is.
People have certain perception of him;
He is not all fun, he can be serious and rough.

Yearning to become a better man,
He would often say, she loves her best.
While in the verge of losing her grip,
She has given him her honest and best self.

The same man, this heart longs,
Captured by the endless feeling of love, hate and lov again.
Both souls persevere and give so many chances away,
Staying committed despite certain drama.

Still a work in progress;
Tackling one step at a time.
With their hands clasped together,
While basking under the promise of faith, hope and love.

Mind Game

As the unholy hour strikes;
Buried thoughts would come back to life.
With lingering words and sounds,
Old exchanges suddenly found.

Every possible scenario were played out;
With the main character thinking out loud.
Hidden thoughts are bared;
Heart and soul, no longer jaded.

Battling with unspoken fancy;
Finding ways to avoid fallacy.
Remembering the days when things are that easy;
Savoring moments of certain discovery.

It is at this unholy hour -
When some things are clearer,
When the mind started with its silly game,
Untangling every knots, now considered lame.

Boston Madness (Part Deux)

Winning is just as sweet.

Teacher Meow

I greeted Tuesday with so much hope and cerain enthusiasm. Nothing could ruin my almost perfect day - wearing my favorite pearls, newly polished pointed black shoes and my colorful visual aids in tow, I was more than ready to conquer the world I now share with my students.

I met my 1st graders and worked hard to make them focus on me and our lesson for the day. After 20 minutes, they were still so glued, everyone was participating and my heart was absolutely smiling. Personal triumph, I thought.

And then a scream was heard - bursting my happy bubble.

Two of my students were fighting - calling each other names and hurting each other, all because of a "trak-tora". Being the only adult in the classroom, I naturally acted as their referee - holding boy1 with my left and boy2 with my right. It was World War 3 to me and they were almost unstoppable.

And it happened. Boy1 bit my left arm and pulled my hair. It was so painful, I almost screamed my parents' name.

Oh well.

These kids are really a handful lot and very unpredictable. They make you very alert, stretch your sanity, challenge your creativity and test your patience. Teaching kids require more than wits, it takes an endless passion and genuine love for kids to be able to get through the day in a piece.

Dealing with more than 50 students (age ranging from 6-9) a day is not a walk in the park - they all have their own stories to tell, different personalities to boot and I take home priceless rewards. What with their simple gestures like smiling at me, giving me a high five, asking for my help when they cannot sharpen their pencils and tie their shoelaces right, telling me "you're cool" or "wonderful teacher", their endless list of whys and more.

Every single day is a blessing in itself and despite my personal struggles, God gave me a front row seat where I can see the beauty and experience the joy that these kids bring.

Being a corporate diva on leave can be a struggle but being Teacher Meow to these kids, makes the struggle easy to tackle.

Tears and Apologies

I stood in the corner - stunned;
Fiery eyes - all on me.
What with the screaming lungs and watery eyes -
Rants were all paraded.

Tried to open my mouth for words;
But even the sound rolled back.
Feeling the heat and hurt of your words,
There's nothing but tears and apologies.

Could've run to your arms;
Embraced you, like the good old days.
But something is pulling me back - hard;
Resigning to watch you paint me like the night's horrible thief.

With your coldest stares -
My feet and hands are bound, all tied up.
No words are spoken;
No explanation is suffice.

Please look straight to my eyes again;
I am neither a monster nor a beast.
I am still the same little girl you sheltered and loved;
Only now, I am a grown up.

Just like what you taught me;
I own up to my actions.
Not completely regretting what I cannot undo -
I was just trying to be kind.

Sorry for picking the wounds;
For hurting you in my growing up.
For taking the wheels all by myself.
I pray that soon, my apologies will be accepted.


061608
2:13 am

Life Partner

This is a bit cheesy. No, it is very cheesy but I just had to write this down.

Its been awhile since I ever felt so kilig - don't even remember when was the last major one. i have been secretly longing for that super ecstatic-kilig moment that almost killed me or made me want to scream. That same feeling I had when the boy I sighed in college looked, smiled and said hi to me without me doing anything. Back then, I had this silly habit of literally bumping the boys I like while walking along the campus' hallways just so I could smell them, look at their face really upclose and see if they have clean fingernails.

But please don't get me wrong, I don't just give in to anyone at random. I am no loosewoman.

Last Saturday afternoon, that longing has been fulfilled. I kept on repeating myself - a with wide smile and red face as I tell Mom and my siblings how my beau coined me as his life partner in front of more than 20 people - and most of them are his students. Suddenly, I was more than just an olive face in that crowd.

Life partner and not just a girlfriend.

I know I hid myself behind Vic, one of my beau's students when I heard him say that he was blessed "with a life partner ... and her name is Kat." The overwhelming ecstatic feeling swallowed me whole that I grew deaf for awhile - missing whatever he said between life partner, my name and all the words after that.

My heart is definitely full and burping out so loud. I am almost positive that this will last for days - beating the old record of long time ago in Bethlehem.

Sex and the City

After waiting for 4 years, my favorite girls are finally back - strutting the streets of NY with their fab labels and talking about anything from "coloring" to L-O-V-E. And yes, hitting the big screen with such a wonderful bang.

The movie picked up from where the series ended. Carrie is Mr. Big's The One, Charlotte is happily married to Harry, Miranda lives in Brooklyn with Steve and their son, Brady and Samantha has moved to LA with Smith.

Being a big fan, I have seen the movie twice and have enjoyed it so much just like the good old days - when I was still in school and would get myself glued on the tube for 30 minutes on Tuesday night.

More than fashion personified, I love SATC for the witty exchanges between the characters and the idea that it is possible for 4 women to be different, be liberal, live life to the fullest without sacrificing who they really are. No masks, no pretensions and no hidden identities.

I definitely had Carrie in mind that night when I've decided to watch the movie alone and pigged out at Chelsea Market and Cafe, Serendra - that "every once in awhile, a girl should indulge herself."