Tired of Waiting

Everyone was all agog over the news yesterday: the Supreme Court has scheduled a special session to hear Satur Ocampo's petition for certiorari. So what about it? Well, the over-eager bar examinees saw something beyond it. The prevailing thought was that the deliberations on the release of the bar results will be inserted during the discussions.

That the hearing on the Satur case was later re-scheduled to March 30 simply fueled the speculations. "Lalabas na... lalabas na." With the whispers getting louder, some brave souls even started trooping to the SC.

But again, nothing.

"Bukas na naman daw." At 1:00 this morning, I still received a text message saying it could really be today. Damn!

Can't blame us though. We really are just tired of the continuing suspense. Everyone wants to move on, pronto! It's been months, for chrissakes!

"There's a session later today" said the latest note on my celphone.

"It's a jam session for the Supreme Court employees. Wanna come?"

Filipinos just have a weird sense of humor.

(Postscript: It's now being floated that the results will come out on the 29th. Or is it April? Whatever. Simply means another week/s of torture. I hate the suspense. Any suggestions on how I should spend the rest of the waiting days? I need to have a good diversion. Caveat: Nothing naughty please. I need to be saint-like until everything is over. lol)

P.S. to the P.S.

My "source" at the SC now says it's April 3. Confirmed na daw. Talaga lang ha? Game!!!

Another P.S.

Just a few seconds after I posted the last note, another "reliable source" from the SC texted that April 3 is for the decoding of the booklets only, not the release of the bar results. Ansaya!

RETHINKING BAGUIO

I had another "quickie" travel over the weekend, this time to the City of Pines. My last visit was probably about 2 years ago, and clearly many things have changed since then.



Traffic is evidently heavier (it can take you minutes to traverse Session Road), the climate's warmer and there is definitely more pollution (read: smog). In short, Baguio is exploding!

I guess it's time for lowlanders to search for a better, more pristine summer hideaway. Baguio just cannot accommodate the steady inflow of tourists. The place may not be as comfortable and as cosmopolitan as Baguio, but we'd certainly appreciate some place that will not exacerbate the stress in our already harassed lives.

Of course, Baguio still keeps its old charm. The question really is how long will it last?

I don't know, but with so much commercial activity plaguing the area, will attractions like the Strawberry Farm (below) sustain their freshness and cool atmosphere? Not in the next few years, I'm afraid.

My Kind of Heroes

It was just a random pick from my friendly neighborhood video pirate - I've never heard of it, nor ever even seen it plugged on local TV. I was just looking for some stuff to fill my spare time.

And gee, was I glad to find out what a gem of a watch it was!

I fell in love with it though, not at first sight (how cliche can I get?). I actually ejected it from my player just after a few minutes of initial intrusions. Boring, I surmised; convinced that the development was slow in coming.

But there was a growing buzz about it on the many blogs I've visited. Many claim elation that it's finally being aired on Channel 9. The curious cat that I have always been, I decided to give it a second chance to prove itself.

And swear, I was floored. It was one damn good show! Good plot, nice effects, wonderful mix of characters.

Of course, I'm not saying it's original. People who "thought they were like everyone else... until they woke up with incredible abilities"... Such premise is old hat, basic for all comic book greats. But why does it persist and continues being a hit among us, vulnerable earthlings? Because it feeds on one basic hunger -- to be super-human.

True, being one may have its own setbacks (talk of one's best gift as being his biggest curse too), but can we stop people from ever wishing that there lurks in his deepest recesses some hidden power, for good or bad? I'd like one, honestly. And I mean any power. I've got no specific preferences: telepathy, time travel, flight ... any thing will be deeply appreciated. Please?

I'm still just a few episodes through it but I sure am hooked. But much as I'd like to talk about the episodes in detail, am gagging myself for now, in deference to those following it from free TV.

But just this one thing: please let me give you this message from the future: "to my kindred souls, let's all unite and save the world! " (Whew! It actually felt good saying that.)

BEACH IN MY MIND

My room is now becoming totally uninhabitable due to the creeping heat that has invaded this equatorial part of the world. Even my old reliable electric fan seemed to have surrendered the fight. It has been helplessly egging me to turn the budget-draining aircon on, a request I regularly deny lest I bury myself neck-deep into bills.

Now, with the onslaught of summer, I’m beginning to develop a deep longing for the beach. It is the type of craving that triggers a rush of memories of childhood thrills – the simple yet lasting joys of being raised in an island.

Eat your hearts out city kids, but this I got to tell: when we were of school age, going to the beach was all but routine. It was part of our growing up, an ingredient of the daily grind.

I recall, our weekends were never complete without a trip to the beach. If city kids look forward to weekends for shopping, movies and other indoor activities, we look forward to these days for wild abandon - shooting waves, racing through the currents, riding motorboat floaters or simply basking in the sun riding inflated car tires (interiors) until one’s skin cracks from the blistering heat.

The beach then was an extension of school. Early Saturday and Sunday morning, the seashore is already filled with classmates, friends and childhood idols. To miss the fun would be mortal sin. Think of joining the line for the Monday morning flag ceremony and you knew nothing about what happened in the beach. You will be a virtual outcast. A life in kiddie hell!

Would you believe that as elementary pupils, our idea of play involved organizing our own picnics? Yes, no adults! We’d usually scrimp on our daily “baon” in order to buy beach food (normally pancit with hebi plus what whatever else we could sneak out of our cupboards). Nothing much, but that’s enough to cause incomparable bliss. Finding happiness was easy, then.

For as in all other retellings of things sweet and wonderful, the good times inevitably end.

When we were lured by the Big City for our studies, the view of the beach has become a rarity, as we’d see it only during summer break. And as the years passed, to our dismay, the gatherings we used to enjoy have all disappeared. The grounds we used to adore are now deserted. What happened to the kids who loved playing with the waves, I‘d wonder. Where are the young lovers who patiently build sand castles? Alas, modernity has savaged the simple joys. Kids have found happiness with gadgets, cable TV and other costly and less strenuous fun. Happiness now has a higher tag price. Communing with nature has become the exception rather than the rule.

I guess I succumbed to the same pressure as I too have fallen for urban fun. But as the soul gets weary, I know where to go.

Whenever I go home, I make sure that I take a plunge into the blue waters of the Pacific sea that kiss our island. It’s my simple homage to Mother Nature for giving me a wonderful childhood.

But I now prefer going to the beach late afternoon. There, I simply laze on the shore and listen intently to the sound of the pebbles swaying to the rhythm of the waves. That melody of nature provides a background to the skies slowly turning black, while the kingfishers and seagulls scramble towards their homes.

And as the sun finds its resting place, I too would find that familiar joy that only nature and the simple life could bring. Sans the hustle and bustle of the city, the beach indeed is one great sanctuary, the womb that brings me respite from the wear and tear of the years passed.

I dearly miss it.

Fly This Helicopter

Please bear with me on this.

You're free to say this is sheer stupity. Okay lang. Wala lang kasi nito sa isla namin.

Pardon my simple mind, but I swear I had fun flying this helicopter. I wish you'd try this. And please tell me how far you went.

Am not posing any challenge. Dexterity has never been a trait I could be proud of. So there really is no record for you to break.

http://www.hurtwood.demon.co.uk/Fun/copter.swf

Caveat: Don't play while at the office. I will not be responsible for your early retirement.:-)

Who Paid for All These?

My otherwise peaceful morning drive to the office is always disturbed every time I reach the sidestreets of Manila. They may not directly affect me (I live in Quezon City), but I just can't help but get enraged over the assaulting presence of the preposterous posters of the father and son tandem of Lito and Ali Atienza.

I would have tolerated this insensitivity if these were just mere privately funded pre-election hoopla. But what's utterly revolting is the fact that it is being passed off as a government initiative.

The posters say:

1. "This is an inner city development project". You ask, what the hell is the project here, specifically ? The lamp posts to which these posters were nailed to? The walls of the buildings where they were unceremoniously posted? The electric cables where they hang?

2. "Project: Barangay Alley". This is what the logo in the middle says. Must be the name of the mythical project. But it was so written that the second letter "l" of the word Alley, is shorter than the first and the "ey" is blurred, thus reading "Ali" . Creative huh?

3. "Buhayin ang MayniLA". Yeah right. Manila is so alive with these expensive "banderitas" blocking our every view. And I will not be surprised if one of these days, more posters will invade Manila with a new handle: BuhAyin ang MaynilA - for the successor Ali. I hope just hope Manileños will not buy this stupidity.

4. "This is where your taxes go." At least these thick-faced politicians are honest. But despite this admission, why are they not facing charges for wasting government funds and using people's money for personal interests? If some public officials can be prosecuted for violations of the Anti-Graft Law for amounts as low as P 20,000.00 (remember Gov. Neil Tupas?), why are the Atienzas exempted when the evidence is all over the place? These posters and billboards, given their omnipresence in Manila, surely cost by the hundreds of thousands. Would I be wrong to assume that in this country, laws are imposed only to those who oppose the implementors?

I know I shouldn't have asked.

Busy, Busy ...

For good boys like me (ahem!), regular days are filled with nothing but home-office-home travels. Boring. I have become so used to this uneventful routine that my recent out-of-town trips seemed like a local Amazing Race episode. Taxing indeed, but the change of pace and environment was, to say the least, gratifying.

That's why I had a short blog-leave. It's just now that I have settled again and found time to face the computer. Hay buhay. So many things to do, so very little time.

Nothing extraordinary came out of these travels though. But I'd be glad to recount them here, for posterity's sake. This, in a nutshell, was how the travels went:

First stop: Manaoag. February 24, 2007

We've been planning this pilgrimage for some time now. And knowing how important our concerns were, there was really no entertaining reasons to back out. So even if there were only three of us, we proceeded as committed. Mahirap na. Baka samain.:-)

We just took the early morning bus going to Dagupan. We were planning to just take the jeep to Manaoag. But luckily for us, good friends took care of our transportation to Manaoag and back.

The church was not full when we were there. Well, it was twelve o' clock midday. And it was a Saturday.

After the Mass, we went to the petition area. And as the candles burned, we prayed like never before. As fervently as we could.

Like litigants in a court proceeding, we pleaded our cases. We silently cited the merits of giving us the blessings. We even probably muttered promises. But we were cognizant of the fact that everything depends on the great Judge, and the most we could do is beg for mercy. For the best results. And at no other time ... but now.

From Dagupan, we went to Malasiqui, Pangasinan where one of my companions had her roots. We braced for a bumpy jeepney ride, but again, luck smiled on us. Our hosts volunteered to bring us there. Ang yabang tuloy namin. Inihatid kami ng luxury car.:-)

But something funny happened on the way to Manila he he. We realized there were no airconditioned buses passing Malasiqui at the time we were waiting. Determined to go home that night, we took a regular bus.

Result? Na facial kami ng sandamakmak na alikabok -- at me kasama pang blower ng hanging galing sa labas!

Next stop: Cebu. February 28 to March 1, 2007

We went to Cebu to conduct a lecture. Everything went fine, except for my failure to see the City again in its full glory. We were there just overnight. And as I tried searching my phone for possible contact persons, I realized most of my friends are no longer there. Wala akong mahihila!

Ending. We spent our spare time in - of all places, the mall! Corny.

Last stop: Tagaytay City; March 2 to 3, 2007

This was supposed to be an office planning conference but we knew better. It was actually more aimed at fostering camaraderie and bonding among the employees. So we did just that.

Locked in our rooms, we watched a video of some magic show somewhere via the laptop we brought and at the same time watched Final Destination on TV. Of course, while the madness was on, Fundador was being served. Viva los Indios! :-)

Understanding Joker Arroyo

It was painful watching the honorable and venerated Joker Arroyo making a lame pitch for his senatorial candidacy.

I refer to the proclamation rally in Cebu (that it was aired in full by Channel 9 clearly shows how government resources are being used to further the interests of Team Unity bets), where he delivered quite a short and crisp speech. From my standpoint, it was pretty obvious that he was not thankful for being there. He knew there was something wrong with his being there with the characters on stage.

Before he spoke (as with everyone else, I learned later), his television ad was flashed:

“Ipinagtanggol niya ang Konstitusyon; Ipinagtanggol niya ang Senado; Ipinagtanggol niya ang mga Karapantang Pantao ... Pag Bad ka, Lagot ka! – Joker Arroyo, for Senator!”

I admit, there were no misrepresentations in his ad. He did everything that he proclaimed.

But I guess we can’t stop people from pursuing this pitch with the question: “against whom?”

Who was trying to surreptitiously alter the country’s principal law that Joker had to stand tall defending it? Who was it who besmirched the reputation of the Senate as an institution so that it may no longer exist to block their shameless ambitions? Who was it who tried to stifle dissent, who tried to suppress basic rights of assembly and dissent so that the citizens may no longer have a forum for the discussion of their shenanigans? Pray tell me, against whose claws did Joker save us and our constitution from?

Answer: GMA and her cohorts.

So why is he holding hands with these b*st**ds now?

Funny, but I did see a twitch in GMA’s lips when the ad was being played. She is not stupid not to know she was the enemy being referred to.

In that specific rally, Joker spoke little. Maybe because he really did not have much praises for his allies.

He only highlighted the major reason for joining Team Unity – the failure of the Genuine Opposition to denounce violent means of overthrowing the present dispensation.

Ahem. Was he not the same Joker Arroyo who enjoyed the fruits of EDSA I, which was, for all intents and purposes a coup d'etat, gone successful? He did not say then that coups are a disgrace to nationhood.

Was he not the same Joker Arroyo who stood by GMA’s side when Erap was ousted (please spare me the headache of discussing the mythical difference between the succession issues of EDSA I and II)? EDSA 2 was also supported by dissident military and police officials and such would have been capped by violence had Erap not decided to leave in peace.

I am not saying I support coup d'etats, because, aside from the fact that it is a criminal offense, it really depends on the causes being advanced.

All I’m saying is that getting the Opposition to denounce the means will be useless, inasmuch the rebels are always heralded as heroes when the plot succeeds. If it fails, they very well know the consequences.

On the other hand, history tells us that the turn-over of governments became peaceful only because the subject leader had the grace to succumb to the people’s will.

My point? If there is anyone who should not embrace violence – as a means for perpetuating her stay in power, it is GMA and her minions. It is she who should swear to respect the constitutional processes and embrace her accountabilities to the Filipino people without resorting to the violence of numbers. It is she who should refrain from sowing terror to avoid meeting public scrutiny.

But with GMA foretelling that the world will not tolerate another EDSA, it is crystal clear that when the time comes for the swelling of another mass uprising, she will not have the magnanimity to concede defeat. That to me is more potent threat than the coup plots whispered in the darkness. With the former, violence is sure to happen while with the latter, violence is a matter of last recourse.

As to Joker, I still believe that he is needed in the Senate. No aspirant one is more qualified for the job. This hand-holding with the enemy is but a survival tactic. I’m confident that when he returns to his seat, the clasp will loosen and he again will be a pain in the administration’s fat asses.

Does GMA expect loyalty from her converts? I’m sure she does. But can she really rein the maverick? I guess not. He is not like Brenda who once frothed in the mouth denouncing GMA but later salivated in the latter’s Lilliputian lap. I still have to hear him glorify Gloria.

What is simply upsetting is to watch “the” Joker Arroyo kissing ass in order to be where he rightfully should be.

Either there’s something wrong with him ….. or with us, Filipino voters.

The Countdown Begins

"Patience is power; with time and patience the mulberry leaf becomes silk."
—Chinese proverb

There is now talk of specific dates as to when the results of the 2006 bar examinations will fly off the Supreme Court’s tightly guarded vaults. “March 22”… so says the circling whisper. “ March 22” … so say the hushed tones that sound not so unlike voodoo chants.

Of course, we all realize that all that is idle talk. Plain rumors. No one, as of yet, knows just exactly when. And setting dates only makes the waiting more tension-filled, more nerve-wracking, more agonizing.

Why then do the bar hopefuls continue to feed on the rumors? Is ignorance not bliss? (If you'd only see the criss-crossing text messages, e-mails, chats and other conversations on the matter, you'll know what I mean.)

Let me have some uninformed guesses (sorry, my psychologist alter ego just jumped off the window). I guess we want to figure out the exact date because we want to determine when the waiting will end. Uncertainty cultivates gloom. I bet it’s easier to run the marathon when you know how far lies the finish line.

We all want to move forward after this – either we made it or we faltered. Whatever the results may be, we’d like to know ASAP so we may plan and decide on what to do next.

But the waiting is part of this challenge that we chose to take. To endure a little more brings us in communion with all those who have been through the same path. After this, we shall be brothers …(hopefully).

Yes, it doesn’t help that the results of the medical board exams were released yesterday only after a few days of waiting. Much as we would like to wish that the same be applied to the bar examination, I’m convinced that such will come not in the very near future. The fraternity of lawyers deeply treasures its traditions and I foresee no immediate abandonment of the rites and rituals that separate the legal profession from the other callings.

So to all of us 2006 bar examinees, let’s just run the entire course and have fun observing the countdown to nowhere. Anyway, one thing is sure in the scheme of things – the day of reckoning will definitely come.

If I Were a Super Hero

There's this site that gives you the chance to live your fantasies. Just take the test and check out the results. Hmm. Obvious bang walang mapag-tripan? He he.

Here's what the oracle told me: (at walang magrereklamo! Mag-test na lang din kayo.)

You are Superman

Superman 85% The Flash 85% Green Lantern 85% Hulk 80% Spider-Man 65% Iron Man 65% Robin 60% Batman 55%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Crystal Ball Talk

The Chinese New Year has just set in. And this is supposed to be how our Eastern brethren reads what’s in store for me:

“There will be positive news from all quarters of the world. Your stars are pumping out abundant acclaim at your work and home. There will be dramatic alterations in your life. Such changes will be beyond your anticipation.”

“If you have been considering a change of career or company, this year will be favorable to make the move. Changes will take place in your life during 2007 that will set the stage for future progress.”

I’m not much of a believer in astrology, or for that matter, anything related to prescience. I’m a cynic by heart. But if the predictions were this positive and hopeful, how would a tattered and weakened soul react but look forward in anticipation?

Okay, okay. That actually is how fortune-telling operates. The desperados are the easiest of preys.

But then again …

Bear with me. But I’ll try to think positive this time. I'm taking the better choice -- counting on luck.

"Lea Salonga: Uncut"

I’m not really a big fan of hers, but I did like her Sunday night. She was in her element, singing perfectly. And she looked so radiant! For some reason, she exuded a different glow – so unlike her usual aura in television shows. She even looked like Gretchen Barreto’s better twin.

I’m talking about Lea Salonga who performed at the PICC for a concert sponsored by the Adamson University in celebration of the latter’s Diamond Jubilee. Striving for a connection, the organizers dubbed the show “Lea Salonga: Uncut” – with the emcee referring to Lea as a raw diamond.

Poor metaphor.

For Lea has become the epitome of class. She is now sophistication personified. For all intents and purposes, she is a polished gem. Indeed, there was no display of rawness during the entire show.

I submit she is not the best that the Philippines has, if singing talent was the only measure. But it was she who captivated the world, for reasons clearly beyond our regular standards. She possessed something else.

What that was, I’m not certain. But her concert confirmed what many critics have been lamenting all these years – singing is beyond vocal histrionics … one need not bust his lungs in order to enthrall.

I have no beef against belters. What I detest is turning singing into an athletic activity where singers try to reach the highest of notes as if they were chasing world records. Try and try until….

I appreciate singers like Lea who hit the right tones at the proper time, not those who know nothing but high notes. I actually thought that Jed Madela, one of the guests, was one of the first, but he surprisingly showed variety. And boy, he was good! Lea even described him as “hindi tao”. He made mincemeat of the classic “Impossible Dream”.

It was nice seeing Philippine Idol finalist Gian Magdangal as another guest. I liked his “Superstar” a la Usher, but for the other songs, he was tentative. Well, who wouldn’t? Performing with the best can only tax one’s confidence.

I was fortunate to have watched Lea before she conquers New York anew as Fantine in Les Miserables (thanks Gibbs!). I will never be able to see her play the role on Broadway stage, but I sure know what she’s going to deliver.

That’s enough to make me feel proud.

Two Bottles

Yesterday, I spent the entire day in bed, nursing a mean hang-over. I tried to summon even only the slightest energy to do some other things worthwhile, but the spirit can only lift a weak flesh to certain predetermined levels. Beyond those marked limits, one is predisposed to just let go and allow nature to take its own sweet course.

That, I realized, via a eureka-moment induced by the bottled St. Michael's concoction, is simply the approximation of the yin and yang of life. You can’t reach blissful acmes without getting pulled by an abysmal nadir. Positive – negative. Happy - sad. Fun --- hang-over. And this stupid rationalization is just but a symptom of the negative extreme. (lol)

Seriously, I have been learning not to be terribly serious with life. I surmised, with the aid of some divine nectars, that challenges and problems are but regular spices to this entire journey, that without them, life will be some damn bland experience. The resulting motto? Take all the punches, but don’t forget to store beer in the fridge. Or whatever.

I’m beginning to lose count of the various hurdles life has thrown my way for the past few years, but while I do sulk for being Fate’s favorite toy, I guessed I just had to enjoy the attention. Stubbornness can be pretty annoying, and when I eventually get the Playmaker’s goat, I’m quite sure he’ll soon just leave me alone with the good things in life.

And what better way can there be to taunt Life but by showing resilience? By finding time to meet with friends and just let time pass sans any trace of worry?

That’s why, for some time now, I’ve been having two-bottle sessions with friends. Not very often, but good enough to wash down the rust of life. This began during the bar review period when fun was taboo. Given the back-breaking rigors of the period, it was then but natural for us to thirst for any soothing elixir. But of course, only up to a certain level, we hoped.

But as all drinkers would know, the pre-specified limit is just the cross-over margin. There is where the drinkers are given the option to exercise restraint and pack-up; but as that is breached, there is no more telling when to stop.

And most of the time, the limit is breached. And when the dam breaks, all the angels in heaven join in the fun. Problems be damned! They’ve had us by the balls for so long now, that sparing time for gleeful abandon with friends will not hurt.

Thus, the other night, I enjoyed. Thus, the hang-over.

And until now, I’m still trying to make sense of myself.

Two bottles, anyone?

Tale of a Heart

This is about my Mother’s heart.

She’s scheduled to sign-out of the Philippine Heart Center anytime today, after having an angiogram yesterday.

The results showed that she had a main artery partially blocked, necessitating a bypass – soon.

It’s never easy getting news of this sort. One is always in the pink of health until a check-up bares a different color. After that, everyone gets his own dose of mortality checks.

Even just with the prospect of an angiogram, Nanay was already visibly afraid. It didn’t help that we know so little of the procedure. She only eased a bit when I gathered literature from the internet as to what it was all about.

Now, I shall be surfing again for information related to heart bypass. I hope knowing the process will at least provide her comfort.

We still have to gather every one to discuss how we’d all meet the challenge. Medyo nasa denial pa yata lahat.

I’m confident that the doctors at the Heart Center are competent at what they do, and performing heart by-passes are but regular parts of their daily grind. They are the best in the field.

The bigger part of the worry is where to source the funds to finance the operation. Were we blessed with obscene riches, the procedure would have proceeded immediately.

Pero wala eh. Just like any other Juan dela Cruz, we do not have enough savings for the rainy days. That’s why we’re given some time to gather the money. I’m sure it’s going to be an uphill climb (ang hirap kasi talagang maging mahirap!), but who cares? It’s a mountain that has to be conquered regardless of the cost.

Bahala na.

Test of Faith

Ginawa naming Divisoria ang Davao kahapon.

We had to fly in mid-morning and fly out early evening. We were to conduct a lecture in between.

We reached the training center past noon. There were still three speakers scheduled before us. We were getting worried we will not make it to the 6:45 flight.

"Trust God", sabi ni Gary, isang kasama namin. He was to talk after us pa! "Madami ng nangyaring ganito na nalusutan ko."

Mahaba ang lecture at maraming tanong sa mga nauna. We promised, iiksian namin ang amin. One hour, at most.

Eksakto. Tapos kami ng mga 5:10. Salang kaagad si Gary. "Ano gusto nyo, fast or quick? Basta mabilis lang to", yabang pa niya sa participants.

Pero 6:00 na, nagkukuwento pa rin siya. Di nya nakikita ang time-out sign namin.

Tumawag na kami sa mga nauna na sa airport. "Ano pa'ng ginagawa nyo dyan? Andito na ang eroplano!"

Walang kaabog-abog, lumayas na kami. Aside from Gary, me isa pa siyang kasama na magsisimula pa lang. We had no choice but to leave them both.

Ang masama, pinagamit na sa amin ang sasakyan na dapat para ke Gary (mas bosing kasi sya, he he). Ni-request na lang namin ang guard na ihanap sila ng ibang masasakyan.

Pagdating sa airport, we realized, niloko pala kami ng tinawagan namin. Kararating lang ng plane!

After a few minutes, dumating sina Gary. Gusto sana namin, pero di na kami nakapagtago.

Nakangiti siyang lumapit sa amin, sabay sabing, "You did not trust the Lord!"

Guilty, your honor . . .