On The Front Porch

Rooms and Smiles

King Solomon — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:58:33 +0000

As the new year dawns, and as fellow porchers would say, there’s a whole lot of unknown waiting for us in the far horizon. Some prospects are exciting, while some are just as mundane as any day in the past year. But no matter what happens, we still carry some burdens from what we experienced in the previous year, call it battle scars if you may. Like any soldier, once the gunshots and the adrenaline dies down, what we are left with is silence, a deafening silence that leaves us peculiarly empty and at times lonely. It doesn’t matter whether it was about something good or something terribly harsh, when all things die down, you are left with a once-filled room, only to be saddened by it’s current emptiness and involuntary reminiscent feeling of a passed year full of events. Most people see new years as a blank slate, a new chapter, but from some, it means an end to something that was great. It isn’t a “half-full, half-empty” kind of thinking but sometimes when one thing ends, your being just copes up with the loss. The closest concept that I can think of is Inertia. And from experience, that kind of inertia hits hard in years when it was especially eventful.

So as King (or trying to be kingly), I am not excluded from this feeling. And as far as I know, no one is either. But as King, I realized that when confronted by a person with this feeling, the thing to do is to add stuff to their room. Heck, if you can, enter the room yourself and happy-fy the place! “Keeping the ball rolling” as some people would call it, because as long as there is something (or someone) in that room, they will always have something to remember, something that they can carry along the way. But what if I was the one with the feeling? How can I fight it off alone? The only thing to do (this is what I do anyway) is to find JOY in the things I do in the New Year. Now, JOY, for me anyway, is way to keep yourself open. When there is nothing in my “room”, I just keep the door open. Random stuff will start entering it. Little by little you have little memories that keep you going until the the big things of the new year come and change your world. Maybe joy means keeping yourself open to the little moments so you can find the happiness in them. It may be small, but it was meant to make you smile, and smiling, my dear porchers, is a good way to keep yourself happy.

So to all my dear porchers. and the others who visit our porch as well, do not dwell on your empty room! open your front door! Away with our Psychosomatic Sadness (yehesss… ;p ) and on towards new and exciting, and sometimes awkward, experiences! And if you ever find your room to be empty, don’t worry, I’ll always be there to knock on your door.

Keeping his door open,
K.SoL

How to start the new year – write.

Confucius — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 06:29:32 +0000

When we write of beginnings, we all get that high, mighty feeling of how marvelously splendid the unknown can be. And given the past year gave us nothing but what we never could have expected to start with, then so shall this beginning.
Confucius says: expect nothing in the beginning, but leave a large luxurious king-sized room for what’s to come.

To write a good ending, we’ll need a lot of fight within us. We got to filter out all the things that will pull the high down. Or we won’t reach the summit of that feeling in the ending we wanted and hoped to feel we sketched out in the beginning. Worst would be not changing at all come next year’s countdown.
Confucius says: fight like a madman for your ending, but change and learn, whether you get closer or further from what you wanted.

But, you know, its the middle part that I remember the most. It was you, porchers, who were there in the middle, writing the journey from point A to point B. Whatever we planned in the beginning and have become in the end, whether we: found no romance, failed miserably at work, hurt somebody we didn’t want to, expected too much, trusted too little, dropped the ball, didn’t reach the dream just yet, became the topic of gossip, waved the white flag, tried again, took the leap, stayed steady for the year, invested in the future, laughed way too much, finally set a place under the sun, basked in glory, made new allies, rekindled a passion – you were there swinging in the porch listening to another porcher, ever without a perfect answer, but there nonetheless. Seven very different characters have made quite an interesting story without us knowing we did.
Confucius says: This year, let’s leave the beginning and the ending truly as bookends, and write the book everyday like it was the only page we ever had.

With that, I resolve to write more often on the porch that we sit upon. Hope you will too.

Still swinging here one year after,

Confucius

I Made A List.

Tiger Lily — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 15:56:12 +0000

I am posting a list on the porch (as is blatantly stated in the title) so everyone can be witness to what I dare to do. We sure make a lot of to-do lists, but when have we ever made a “done” list? Being that 2010 was great in such epic proportions, I would like to bid it a proper farewell by listing all the things I’ve dared to accomplish AND strive to have an even better list for 2011.

Things I Learned To Do:

1. Learned to drive
2. Learned to play the guitar (still learning!!!)
3. Learned to play frisbee
4. Learned to surf
5. Learned to play AGOT
6. Learned.. to sing? (started voice lessons but only did it for a month– must resume!)
7. Trained to be an educator (the school I will not mention for reasons that involve this entire entry haha)

Things I Experienced For The First Time:

1. Buying a car
2. Buying a van
3. Applying for a car loan
4. Taking the written and practical driving test for my license!
(it really IS true when they say that the answers are literally on the walls)
5. Jumping off a cliff (or rock; Tali ’10)
6. Winning an online blog competition (which leads to no. 7)
7. Blowing P10,000.00 at Republiq
8. Planning a P500,000 party
9. Being featured in 2 magazines and appearing in a talk show

Things I Experienced, Period.

1. Loss of a loved one
2. Heartbreak (uuuy..)
3. The Joy Rise ;p
4. SABI NI LEA SALONGA MAGANDA RAW AKO :’((

New Places I’ve Been To:

1. Singapore (Universal Studios, Night Safari)
2. Malaysia

FOOD!

1. Kampong Chicken House, Singapore
2. Bonchon Chicken, Singapore
3. Garret Popcorn, Singapore
4. Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream
5. Calda Pizza
6. Sandwich Guy’s Chicken Pesto
7. Sandwich Guy’s PBB
8. Marty’s!!!
9. Fruit Magic Strawberry Smoothie
10. Robinson’s Pioneer’s Popcorn
11. Anything from CYMA

Things I Did For Myself (??)

1. Had my braces taken out
2. Fed on tuna and saba for 5 days straight while teaching very rowdy cebuano kids -_-’
3. Went to the gym (and WILL go back)
4. Redecorated my room (Penny Lane, I designed my dresser!)

Err.. Random Things

1. Played Bingo at a public hall
2. Bought underwear from 7-11 (Barracks, Feb 4, 2010)
3. Passed out in a hotel bathroom for what only God knows is a really long time
4. Watched a Dingdong-Marian movie with Mayari

And then some..

1. Got a wife! ♥
2. Rekindled and reaffirmed old friendships ♥
3. Got a Mamaw ♥
4. Was single for an ENTIRE YEAR!!! (but no hearts here haha)

There may have been a few things I missed, (feel free to add) but there you have it, my year in a blog entry. I’m so intimidated by 2010. That year was UNREAL. I shall now send out happy thoughts to the universe with high hopes that 2011′s list will shame 2010′s to the ground. Hehehe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, PORCHER!!!

1.1.11

King Solomon — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:47:57 +0000

I have nothing much to say as of the moment either coz I just drank meds and my brain is fuzzy or I inhaled too much firework smoke haha. Either way, I’m starting this year right by letting you all know:

I LOVE YOU ALL.

See yah all in the 1.1.11 flipzide,
K.SoL

The First January Sky

Skywalker — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 18:33:06 +0000

And so with the fireworks and loud noises, Skywalker signs back on! Hello, my fellow porchers! I missed this place! After reading your beautiful posts, I am nothing short of inspired to share with you my thoughts for this year aptly named 2011.

First things first, Tiger Lily, as always, your post is beautiful. Penny Lane, your reply made me all the more inspired to write here again! And of course, my beloved King, K. Sol, always the glue of happiness that holds us all together, I greet thee with a Happy New Year! To the others who are yet to write, I say HELLO and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ok, let’s get down to business! (I’m so excited to write again!)

I guess the best way to open is to say “Goodbye, 2010! You were a good year and you made things clearer for me, thank you. However, I must move on and hope to get better.”

Porchers, I want to share with you the experience I had while I was celebrating the New Year. Lemme paint the picture for you: Before today, I was actually fuming. My mother is not exactly the coolest person to deal with when under a lot of stress. This year, finally – as one of my wishes came true – she invited my grandpa to spend New Year’s with us because he is pretty much alone and living in a slum. I will never forget the happiness on his face when he found out he was spending it with us after so many years of not talking to my mother. Fast forward to yesterday.

Mother starts to act annoyed towards lolo. That’s not cool. I wanted to shout at her and tell her how childish she’s being and how stupid it is to invite your father and NOT WANT to INTERACT with him. That broke my heart a little bit. All I could think about was telling her “How would YOU feel if I treated YOU like that when YOU get older?!” And as always, I kept my cool and I shut up. Having my spirit dampened a little, I was going back to “I give up” mode to ever bridge this gap between them.

Fast forward to New Year’s Eve. My mom cooks this amazing dinner for everybody. Steak, salmon, 2 kinds of pasta etc. and I was much like a giddy little boy. HEEHEE. One of the best meals EVER. My lolo enjoyed, everyone was laughing, I’m happy. After dinner we decided to go out and watch the fireworks for midnight. Lolo wanted to sleep in because it was so cold and he never really gets to experience nice beds anymore. So, we get to the field where there’s a countdown concert. We decided to watch it from the outside and NOT pay to be part of the program. (Sidetrack and the reason why we didn’t go in: They were singing Luther Vandross’ DANCE WITH MY FATHER 40 minutes before the fireworks go off. UHM.) We were all in a talking mood so we were just having fun outside and poking fun at the laughable playlist (Try It On My Own by Whitney Houston. )

Fast forward to midnight. I had a realization – almost similar to how Sherlock figures out the answers – and it is a very beautiful one. I found it so awe-inspiring how ushering in a new year – with all its fireworks and loud noises – can bring such a calm within you. It made me forget all the disappointment and annoyance I had with my mom. It’s as if I found this clearing amidst the cluttered negative emotions. A break. A sanctuary.

While those bright lights were igniting the first January sky, I couldn’t help but look back at the year that passed and forget – YES, FORGET – all the worries I have for 2011. Sometimes, life is just about moments. Moments that made you laugh. Moments that made you go “HOLY…” Moments that were burned in your head for a myriad of reasons be it right or wrong, disturbing or calming. And thankfully, moments that make you see how beautiful life really is. That moment that makes you realize that LIFE isn’t THAT bad. At least for me, in those first 5 minutes, the world stopped and all the worries and trepidations dissipated into the night sky much like those fireworks.

THIS is what I love about ushering in a new year: You get to start over with a clean slate. A second chance. Heck, maybe even 365 chances. It gives you a bird’s eye view of everything. Much like how we were all raving about 2010, I will now rave about 2011. Let me be the first to say it: THIS IS GOING TO BE THE BEST YEAR OF OUR LIVES. We have only our path to tread in front of us, dear friends. It’s RIGHT THERE. All we have to do is follow it. I think 2010, or every year prior to this one, equipped us with the ability to face the challenges that will come our way. The trick is digging deeper and figuring out which skills to use. If this year be another year of trials, BRING IT! If something knocks you down, GET BACK UP. Like Tiger Lily said: YOU BE YOUR OWN HAPPINESS.

Easier said than done BUT, IT CAN BE DONE WHEN WE KEEP SAYING IT’S EASY. Skywalker’s hand will always be outstretched for you, dear friend.

Cheers!

Happy New Year and May The Force Be With You!

Skywalker

Here’s to the next “You Year” (K. Sol, circa 2009)

Penny Lane — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:57:09 +0000

I decided that instead of writing a comment to Tiger Lily’s post, I’d actually and finally write a post of my own after months and months of stalling and making up excuses. This won’t be so lengthy, but at least it’ll get that darned procrastinating ball o’ mine rolling. O, King Sol, ‘eto na!!

First of all, I think it’s safe to say that everyone in the porch agrees to the awesome-ness that was (or IS, rather) 2010. From start to (almost) finish, it oozed with good times and good people even during its not-so-high points. I’ll have to agree with Tiger Lily in saying that this year has definitely been one of the most, if not THE most colorful year that my life has ever seen. In these 12 months I have managed to learn a new sport, intentionally and willingly worked out at the gym, jumped off a cliff, got “high” on an energy drink, learned how to take the bus home (thank you, Amon Ra), went parasailing, travelled to singapore, became an events organizer, became a teacher, bought a show, paid for the down payment of a car (haha), got my driver’s license and oh so many others. I have you Porchers to thank for a lot of these and more, so really, THANK YOU friends, you guys are truly made of OWE SAM SAWS!

That being said, I must also admit to fearing the new year to come. Tiger Lily knows very well that I, too was afraid at what 2011 might bring; fearing that life might catch up with me and even out all the amazing things of 2010 with it’s negative counterparts. But after Christmas day, I realized that the new year is, well… a NEW YEAR! It’s another 365 days to create, to move, to make things happen. Personally, it’s another 365 days for me to use to upgrade myself and hopefully get closer to scratching out the many items on my “List of Life” that have remained there for God knows how many New Years now. Things I never reeeaaally bothered to actually take action for, but the Porch has inspired me to actually get off my arse and move it, move it! I remember my professor in Philosophy speaking about our individual duty of forming one’s self, and that’s exactly what I plan to do, or keep on doing. After the series of firsts I’ve had this year, it excites me even more to see what else I can do, what else I can make happen, where else I can go, who else I could meet. For the longest time, I was the girl whose greatest fear was Change– so afraid of the unknown, of the uncomfortable. Now, I think I am falling in love with it. Lalalala.

So, I bid adieu to 2010 and welcome ze next bunch of adventures and misadventures with all of you! CHEERS!

XOXO,

Penny Lane

Roll Call

King Solomon — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:57:58 +0000

Tiger Lily — Check
K.SoL — Check
Penny Lane — ?
Mayari — ?
Skywalker — ?
Confucius — ?
Person without a pen name — ? hahahaha!

Ok..I hope everybody gets to post soon. 2010 came and went by FAST. 2011, ano kaya meron ka? ;p

Surprised of other people besides himself in the porch,
King Solomon

Right on the Money.

Tiger Lily — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 15:00:25 +0000

Wise words from Sir Ron Capinding, one of my mentors in college:

I’m a bit bothered by some posts of people I truly care about.

They are those that say that they don’t think they’ll be happy this season.

Ano ba? Are you just waiting for happiness to fall on your lap? Happiness is a pursuit, an objective people strive for. Gumawa ka ng paraan; there are countlesss ways. It need not cost anything or take so much time. You need not solve your problems or heal your wounds and heartaches; focus on the happy experiences, remember the things you are grateful for and/or plan to do things that will make you or others happy. Sobrang dami nu’n.

Magdi-December pa lang, sinabi ko na sa sarili kong gagawin kong masaya ang Paskong parating. At ginagawa ko ang lahat para magtagumpay ako. Hanggang ngayon. There were many setbacks: I got sick; my funds were not as much as I expected they would be; I missed several things, etc.

But what the heck, I knew I had to make myself beaming with pride when people express their gratitude to me; I knew I had to find ways to allow me to greet people “Merry Christmas” in a way that I am overflowing with merriment myself. MY HAPPINESS IS MY BUSINESS. I knew I had to be happy this season no matter what it would take and in spite of obstacles. At nangyayari naman. Hindi mahirap. Sa katunayan, masarap!

Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga estudyante ko: “Kapag pumunta ka sa party at hindi ka sumaya, kasalanan mo.” Kahit nga ‘yung “It takes two to tango.”, hindi ko na masyadong pinaniniwalaan. Dahil hindi naman laging “Ballroom” ang Buhay. Minsan “videoke-singing”, “breakdancing” o “krumping” din ito. Madalas, ikaw lang talaga ang kailangan para mangyari.

So please be happy this season. I am not only wishing you; I am requesting you to be so. Matanda ka na. Huwag ka nang magsabit ng mga medyas na baka wala namang maglagay ng laman. Ikaw na ang maglagay ng laman sa medyas ng iba, kahit ng sa iilan lang. ‘Yun naman talaga ang nakakapa-”Ho-ho-ho!” ngayong Pasko.

The season is far from over. Make sure your Christmas is happy. At Merry Christmas sa lahat!

——————-

I was so ready to dismiss this season as so-so, so thank God I found his post.

Earlier this month, I told myself it was going to be tough to top 2011 because 2010 was AWESOME. I claimed it and it was my year. MY YEAR. (yes, i know it hasn’t ended yet but see, it’s just THAT great). I did things I never thought I could do, stomached all the crap (and I mean aaaaall) that came my way and became a better version of me in the end. 2010 was supposed to be “crappy” given the circumstances I had just gone through the previous year, but I fought hard and went against the grain of ickiness (ie. EMO-ness). Save for a few emotional glitches at the stairmaster with Penny Lane (heheh), lo and behold, 2010 turned out to be one of the richest years of my life. It wasn’t because of fate. I CHOSE to be happy.

What I did realize much much later though, and wish I had ingrained early on, is that the real world is nothing like your average 20-min sitcom. Sure it’s easy to digest, gets to point A and B in a flash and resolves in the end, but those things are meant for TV and TV alone. Life is wayyyy more complicated than that and with good reason. I realize now that most things in life are better experienced full-length– drama, pain, boredom and happiness included. I say this because I’ve been guilty for the longest time, porchers. I feel like a certain part of my life took too much inspiration from sitcoms. I let things happen because it gave me instant answers FOR THE TIME BEING. I did not even so much as stop and think about the consequences of these 20-min resolutions until I realized how careless I’ve been. Tanga lang. Not to worry though, Tiger Lily has learned her lesson and will now leave sitcoms to the people who are actually paid millions to live 20-min lives. Bring on the grueling and painfully looong documentary!

That being said, and after reading my mentor’s post, (and not that it has anything to do with my long allusion to sitcoms) I daresay that 2011 will be far better. It will be EPIC. and I will be the happiest sucker on this earth. You should be, too.

I love you all, but I’m sure you knew that already. ;p

In what feels like a whole year,
Tiger Lily

And so a new conversation begins..

King Solomon — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:26:29 +0000

Time to dust the porch off..I’m bringing it back!

And stimulate a new and envigorating discussion..I give all this:

Bringing out the best!

King Solomon — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:58:29 +0000

Hey goes there porchers!

*tumbleweed rolls by*

wow…pretty dusty porch. Yes, I’am sorry for neglecting this blog for a while, maybe because we always see each other in the real world. But Skywalker has a point, maybe we should start writing, you know, just for kicks. I know for a fact that some porchers are branching out into their own blogs which is awesome! The porch will now be our common room, with our own blogs as personal rooms. Practice writing on your own blogs, and if you find something that might interest the group, feel free to publish it here. There will be no more restrictions. This place used to be a fort, a haven for when we are troubled, so what if there aren’t any troubles to talk about? First and foremost, this is our playground. Whatever happens, happens here.

Post what you like (something mundane, something funny, or even something weird)! It’ll spark our conversations more, and even fuel our own writing in our own blogs.

But at the same time, like always, keep it clean and positive…rants are mleh.

Taking out the broom,
K.SoL