"Scapular" - an MMK story

I was in bucket of tears last night. I cried to sleep. My heart is soooo broke and my mind can't help thinking why is the world so cruel. It was about a story in Maala-ala Mo Kaya. Typical pinoy drama. It may seem cheesy for some people but I like watching their episodes even if all I get is a heavy heart. Stories such as that makes me more sensitive to how I deal with the world. It gives me a momentary chance to experience grave things that I wouldn't want to happen to me in real life and that I wouldn't want to happen to others as well. But the thing is, their stories are based on real life experiences most of which are crued and tragic. The good thing is, most stories end happily - survival, triumph, justice and second chances.

Last night's story was about three brothers from Agusan del Sur - a far-flung province with reference to Manila. Story as always is rooted from poverty. A family of farmers happily living together in the simplicity of life in the rural. Unfortunate events - loss of property and father falling ill and unable to work for the family - pushed them to accept a job offer from the cruel recruiter based in Manila. Promises they were given and the poor boys believed and summoned by strict need to help their ailing father earn a living. The brothers were specially close to each other, tied together by their humble dreams and daily struggles in life.

Not a night passed and all the worst thing happened to them upon arriving in Manila. The three boys were separated by the deceitful recruiter. Child-labour, abusive business owners, cruelty to man. My heart was so crushed while seeing how some people treat others as if they are not human; how some people are so proud to take others rights. The siblings were barred from outside life. They were forced to work beyond their will and worst was physically abused. With no decent place to live, food on their plate and no wage at all; they were told that the lady recruiter sold their souls to their lord. I said to myself, "how dare them!"

And like most stories, prisoners find way out to escape their prisons. But life outside is not always fairer to homeless ones. There came more struggles of survival - gangs, drugs and petty crimes became the boys vessel in the wild city of Manila. His misfortunes put him in jail at 17. A young mind may not be ready for such cruelty. He removed God in his life thinking that God didn't even know he exist. He said he was lucky to be alive but he felt nothing anymore and thought he's dead inside.

But we know life is not at all cruel. There are angels that suddenly pop up and brings hope to lifeless souls. The priest who paid attention to his juvenile imprisonment found a way to release him from prison. From there he found a new life and acknowldeged God's love for him. He asked for forgiveness and was given a shelter in his house. The next events lead him to finding one of his brothers again. It wasn't the best of reunions I've seen so far. It was sad learning from each other how the two years of their lives was like - rubbish. The eldest of the three has reamained lost as of this moment. But they are not losing hope and are still searching for the poor brother of theirs.

Tears and more tears flowed... One day I will do great things of kindness to man. I've started with small ones ... I told to myself.

Engagements and Bells Ringing

I was looking forward to it - finally hearing the "will you marry me" liner. Well I didn't really hear those exact words. Mine was more like a "business proposal". Funny, I didn't realize that he was talking of lifetime partnership all the while - changing surnames and titles [laughs]. I was so absorbed in analyzing his business goals and how those could be possible. I am really slow sometimes. Fortunately, I got the gist after few minutes of his redundant statements in hope of making the point clear.

There was no candle lit dinner [we were actually in a beer garden having some bar-b-q's and sizzlers], no live music on the background [at least the new version of APO's panalangin was humming a sort of backgrounder] and no sparkling diamond ring surprises [to follow!]. It was very candid, just like how we started. Yet, he got an easy answer from me. I think he was expecting that as well but everything still sounded like a big surprise. Heart starting to beat faster, blushes, butterflies in the stomach, hesitations - on his part I suppose :D fear of rejection and shame to admit his deepest feelings [sounding cheesy] etc.

I think I'm making it too easy for him :D Fact is, I just wanted things to be clear enough, no going around the bushes. Just hit the target at once. Know what you want and don't keep on changing them. Otherwise, we'd be wasting time. I wanted us to have bigger dreams and spend more time together while achieving them. This is one small leap towards realization and I'm savouring every step we're making. It was indeed dance-able and I am enjoying the beat. BY the way, it is ROCK :D