Let’s Drink To That

Now who would’ve thought that I’d end up spending Christmas in Dumaguete, and new year in Kidapawan (or Davao, if I can get away with a little pitik-pitik) hehehe..

I just about made up my mind already that I wouldn’t be able to spend my Christmas and New Year holidays with Borski and my family but alas! God is so good.

Earlier in the month, Borski kept texting me as to when she could get my definite schedule so that she could already purchase plane tickets early so as to avoid the skyrocketing prices of plane fare now that the holidays are here. And my answer was the same all through out..I still don’t know my schedule.

Last week though, I got word that after my Christmas holidays (I got Dec. 23-27 off yipee!), I would be reporting to Davao on December 27 and would be spending my New Year there, hopefully with Borski and her family. Actually I will be reporting to Kidapawan, in Cotabato but I am hoping to be able to escape to Davao City on New Year’s eve and I am optimistic that my superior will allow me to spend that time in Davao, and not high up in the mountains, cold and lonely. LoL.

I am now at NAIA terminal 3 awaiting for my connecting flight to Dumaguete. At every gate I passed today, I kept wishing people I met along the way with ‘Merry Christmas’ complete with the ear-wide grin. I am gonna be home later today!

Yebedep! I’ll be home for Christmas…you can count on it!

Wet or very wet.

As I have already mentioned in my previous post, that is how I would describe the weather here. I am speaking of course as someone who resides high up in the mountainous regions (read: taga bukid). LoL. Anyway, at first, I did find it hard to adjust to the very wet weather here and to days that never go by without any rainfall, but I am pretty much warming up to it nowadays.

Due to the high altitude, more often than not, I also get to experience really foggy days (and I mean really foggy!), and as I look below the cliffs beside as we travel to and from our work site, I can’t help but imagine the eerie feeling you somehow always get when you watch horror movies.

One time I asked our driver,

“Meron naba nahulog sa bangin dito?” (yep..tagalog kunuhay…hehehe),

to which he replied,

“Wala pa ho sir, gusto nyong subukan?”

LoL. Kidding..the first part was his reply, and the second part was part of my mental conversation, my unverbalized thoughts, hehe.

Anyway, as we travel to our site, we get to see the majestic Mt. Mayon from afar, granted that the skies are clear and there is no fog. We’ve seen it on a couple of occasions and indeed, it is a sight to behold. I mean, I have seen it on postcards and from numerous history books, but nothing really compares to the feeling of seeing it with your own two eyes.

..ang mga bakasyonista..bow!..

Which reminds me..my exilim digicam has bade me goodnight. Game over. I dunno but there seem to be many horizontal lines whenever I try and take pics with it, but when I use it to take videos, all seems to be working well. I dunno whadaheck is wrong with it. I am not in the mood to purchase a new one anytime soon. But it always is good to have one in hand whenever you are in the mood for taking snapshots, right?

Everyday I get to watch the perfect conical shape of Mt. Mayon from afar, and everyday I am reminded of my retired digital cam…

sigh…

(This post is a bit belated since we are waaaay up there in the mountains. LoL. Still, I couldn’t help but post my thoughts on this subject matter.)

When both guys came out after the sounding of the bell for round 1, that was what initially came to mind. The disparity between height and build was so obvious that once couldn’t help but notice it. Add to that that the betting odds were 2 to 1 in favor of the big guy. Amid the excitement, I was still able to send my dad a text message, and it went a little something like this..

“It’s David versus Goliath..Pacquiao is dead..”

But then again, as the rounds went by 1 by one, I was like a child mystified and awestruck by what I saw. Instead of Oscar dela Hoya (ODLH) giving Pacman a boxing lesson, it went the other way, with Pacman tagging and rocking ODLH’s head numerous times. And he was as precise as clockwork.

At first, I was ecstatic, watching Pacman connect again and again, to the delight of the jampacked theater in downtown Legaspi. But as the bout went on, I no longer felt that way. I felt pity for Oscar. Here was a guy, a respected and accomplished boxer during his prime. I had high regard for him, having watched him fight quality opponents time and again. But here he was at the mercy of our modern day David. I pitied him, and wished that his cornerman would stop the fight. Everytime Pacman would fake a punch, I could see him visibly retreating and almost cringe in anticipation of the next barrage of power punches.

After the fight was over, and as I looked back in retrospect, I could only hope that Pacman would be spared the same beating he gave Oscar that day. I do hope he would have the sense to retire while he is still on top. I could only hope. For history has always told us of a different story. Many boxing greats exited the stage pretty much the same way. Even the great Muhammad Ali retired in the same fashion. It’s Oscar dela Hoya’s time now, and soon, it will be Manny’s.

After Oscar refused to come out for the 9th round, I got this txt message from my dad..

“Goliath retired after the 8th round”

I couldn’t help but smile.

Here’s to you Manny! Let’s drink to that!

What a sad combination, right?

But lately I am finding myself just getting my dose of the two. The weather here in Bicol is just a little too much for my liking. I still haven’t gotten through an entire day without experiencing a rain-free day. So I guess I haven’t brought enough jackets here to keep me warm. And add to that, I din’t bring along the two sweatshirts that I borrowed (read: arbor) from home, thinking that the heavy Red leatherette Ferrari jacket (which Borski bought me during my base off last week of November) was enough to keep me warm.

Alas! That jacket wasn’t made for heavy duty use so I guess in a way it will be serving its purpose, but only for 1 tour of duty.

Anyway, I will be able to go home on the 23rd (thanks boss!), and I’ve got my tickets already. There are no forecasted abnormal weather conditions so far (and I hope there won’t be any) so I am so looking forward to being home for Christmas..

I’ll be having dinner tonight while listening to the song which goes a little something like this…

…I’ll be home for Christmas…you can count on it…

tama ba ang lyrics?…hehehe..basta..I’ll be home for Christmas..that’s all that counts..weeee! Borski..better have the Noche Buena ready.