AquaMan

THE ART OF LEAVING….AS I VIEW IT.

Leaving  is a part of one’s journey.

Leaving is seeking better opportunities beyond the realm of present job.

Leaving is  believing that there are vast and open spaces for personal growth to discover.

Leaving is missing the opportunity to work again with people you come to see daily in your workplace.

Leaving is by all mean the cause of heavy and hard cries and sleepless nights if reasons were motivated by financial stability and better security.

Leaving is not seeing on a daily basis the place where you were given the chance to improve your craft.

Leaving is ceasing the chance to be called again with such sweet and unspoiled words from the pupils like: Hi! Sir Aris!, Good Morning, Sir Aris! How are you today Sir Aris! Sir Arisssss!

Leaving is walking a step higher towards your desired dream.

Leaving is also abandoning the beliefs and loyalty to one’s company and soon-to-be embracing a new and seasoned workplace.

Leaving is temporarily, if not permanently, setting aside the idea of camaraderie among work buddies.

Leaving is saying goodbye to the people you used to work with.

Leaving is but a mere word yet the degree of intensity can make one cries out loud.

Leaving is just a 7-letter word but it pushes away someone from the immediate people that was his workmates for a year long .

Leaving is a simple present progressive form of a verb but implies a heavy heart from you and the people you will leave behind.

Leaving is a verb form ending in -ing used as a noun but when it will be said emotionally, it can turn a happy soul into tears.

Leaving is but saying goodbye’s and thank you’s.

Leaving is synonymous with departing but it forces someone to shift from one place to another.

And finally, leaving is  but simply missing ALL OF US.

           I had busied my neuron thinking how I may associate the very word to different instances. Yet, just to think that you will be leaving us put us all in a freezing motion with varied thoughts and questions. That same thought that rendered me mentally blocked. Maybe the big question is "Why now leave when almost all of us decided to stay because of beliefs that we are still intanct?". We dared not to ask the question’ What makes you decide to leave?" We do understand your reasons but we just cannot entertain the sudden impact of your decision. I wrote this open letter, basically, to scribble into writing my personal as well as the thoughts of many, if not all, of your officemates. I boldy took the initiative because as you very well knew this is what I love doing-writing. I wrote this letter to at least serve as a conscience-buzzer trying to make an influence over the decision you have made. It appeared though that you were someone of great worth to us. In fact, Indeed. Yes! you are one great loss to the workforce most especially to the pupils who have been so dearly close to you. You have built a happy connection with them. And if they soon learn that you are exiting you just provoked a situation where sadness would enter their scenario, where happy face will turn into a melancholic aura, where their secret plans wherein you are included will be ruined, where their thoughts of seeing you next school season will be blotted by questions motivated by your sudden exit. How am I or are we going to face their inquiries and how can we be able to direct our answers in ways that is not hurting their hearts, not hurting their egoes. Damn it man! You are so annoyingly stupid! You know what?, a lot of your officemates felt bad of your leaving. Some were like planning to leave also and some, even if there were no plans at all, were also now  entertaining the thoughts of quiting. It is as if you put almost all of us in limbo. You know what, it was my great idea and plan not to make you a resignation letter so that you can’t submit it sooner than you think. One thing more, I was also positive then that you will gather no enough guts to talk to the superior personally. And by all means that I thought will make you powerless to leave and eventually will make you stay with us. But I was wrong. I underestimated what you are capable of doing. I fixed my thoughts that you are sublimely fragile and weak in confrontation. And that your indesiciveness then reflects your action. Maybe I just boxed my idea that "all your plans was purely not geniune and you were just kidding us". But No! Later did it made my neuron realized that it was real. What a twist of circumstances. All I can say is you really can never tell. There you go ready to leave. Waiting for the very day to finally be vanished in our sights. Just remember this man! No matter where your dreams will take you, always look back to your humble beginnings and remember all the good times we all have had minus the discriminately challenged and stress-related instances. Go for your dreams and make it happen. For we can never be prouder. REMEMBER US.

These are my collected thoughts during those times that Mr. Aris finally conveyed to all of us that he will be leaving for good. Just for the record.

Manuscripted last March 26, 2007, 10:31pm at home

I know nothing about you;

My recognition is clouded wiht ecstasy;

My wit is perplexed;

But I am happy to hear you great story.

I know nothing about you;

But your angelic face is the reason I smile;

I can’t quit thinking of you;

Nor has plan to erase you in my mind.

I know nothing about you;

But why am I spending so much time and thought;

Why do all these things happening?

Can I call these sweet coincidence?

I know nothing about you;

But the impact is mind-boggling;

For a casual start we ended up attached;

Your presence is consuming me viciously.

I know nothing about you;

But beyond far distance is genuine respect;

Beyond physical absence blooms affection;

In each God’s happy day I dwell in love.

I know nothing about you;

Yet the feeling radiates mutual understanding;

The emotion explodes in high adoration;

It seek no explanation but affection and action.

I know nothing about you;

My longing persist in each God-given day;

My fantasies are real and enigmatic;

Courage to trigger my constant desire;

MAYBE….. I know nothing about you;

But my love will conquer all the barriers.

Saturday-August 05, 2006- T’was Saturday, past one o’clock in the afternoon. I was relaxingly lying on our sofa, I busied my eyes watching a noontime show in a popular channel, though at times switching channels looking for some great watch. While watching, I was holding in my left hand my oldest sister’s mobile phone (sssshh! truth was i just took it from her table without her knowledge) pity on me guys, my mobile was banned by the network….hehe kidding..actually.. it needs repair. So back to the topic…Mobile phone in my left hand and remote control in my right….Heck! What a luxury of time I got huh..no it’s just that no one was watching with me so I had all the freedom to do the shifting of channels…Not far from me was my cute li’l nephew, who at that time, was very occupied playing with his li’l robot gadget. I turned my attention to the mobile phone, checking for nothing,(Note: It wasn’t my habit prying on to someone’s private messages, if there are any, so I occasionally leave it unread as a respect to the owner) not even attempting of grabbing opportunity using the mobile phone for my friends…I just looked at it as if I am expecting a text from someone important, but in fact none at all. Suddenly, to my great surprise, a familiar message alert tone rang. Anxious excited as I am, I quickly checked on it and what a blast! it was my dear good friend and classmate Michelle’s text. It says, " Gud pm , makikisuyo po sana kay Kuya Joven, pakisabi naman sa kanya if sama siya with us Loren and Randy punta sa SM Mall of Asia nood "Pirates of the Carribbean" The Dead Man’s Chest."(Note: not really the authentic text but at least the key element was there). That was the content of her message, so I secretly grinned, To my mind, Michelle didn’t even realized that I was holding my sister’s phone that time.

Here comes the pleasant twist. I wasn’t sure then if I’m gonna go on with my naughty plan of cracking a practical goodtime jokes. But I thought, since it was just a joke, I went on, I replied, but instead of responding plainly to her I had planned a pretentious tricky joke that I knew would made her and my other friends go a li’l wild. I made it a point that I’ll be using my sister’s name as if she was actually the one replying to Michelle. So I replied her back like this " Ay, censiya na po, nasa Italy na kc siya magto-two months na". Immediately, she replied back and she was a bit stunned and anxious when she learned of my sudden exit from the country. Here’s what she said in text "Daya talaga ng taong yon di man lang paalam us." My kinda naughty practical jokes made it successful in the first base. I convincingly made her believed that it was really my sister who was replying her and that I truly was in Italy already. (Har!har!har!) The exchanging of texts went on for almost ten or so consecutive texts. A sudden feel of guilt consumed me. It made me realized that it wasn’t good of an idea to continue fooling my good friends whose only pure intention was to invite me for a movie. So I quickly replied her that all those texts were pure lies and it was just a masterfully planned practical joke…just for some spice and fun in our convy.

But my idea didn’t stop there, when Michelle learned that I was just joking, I teased her to pass on the joke with Loren, who by that time was already been aware of my fancy out of the country text dialogue. So, without so much prodding, Michelle agreed to pass on the joke to my poor dear Loren. Michelle promised that whatever texts she’ll received from Loren she’ll be forwarding them to me. And so the bigger naughty plan happened and indeed, we successfully fooled Loren about our crazy idea. "Loren was a bit worried about me. She was like in a state of disbelief. Thinking why I leave without even informing her and others. Feeling sorry about the unsuccessful date we’ve planned a month ago.She even asked Michelle if she knew my email address believing that at least she could reach me via email." On the other hand, we kept in touch with Randy and secretly told him about our li’l idea just in case Loren would verify from him about the truthfulness of the texts. Randy agreed to cooperate with us with no hesitation at all and in fact a bit excited about how Loren would react on my absence. Whew! What a foolish creatures we are. Plotting an incident based on foolish fancy and making someone go wild and us mockingly laughing our hearts out..

It was really a hilarious Saturday afternoon for me and Michelle. It was like I was in a high mood of ecstasy due to that funny and exhilarating stupidity of mine.

So when Michelle has gone through the feeling of sudden li’l paranoia, we decided to discuss about our original plan of meeting together for a movie. We decided to set the time for that quick-planned meeting we are goin’ to have. We first discussed about the finality of the movie all of us will watch. Discussed, argued, agreed. So our minds finally concluded one decision.."Pirates of the Carribbean" was the last thing on our mind in favor of Michelle and Randy who weren’t able to watch the movie yet. Though at the back of my mind and Loren we highly favored the movie "Sukob" for a change of atmosphere. But then, since it was Michelle’s authentic idea we subtlety submitted our reluctant yes. Now, the talk thru text came as to how we meet? Michelle was suggesting that I’ll fetch Loren from her house co’z she and Randy will be coming together. And it would be of best interest for both of us to be meeting them both .I politely disagreed of fetching Loren since I will be too inconvenient for me to go North of Manila reason that I’ll be coming from the south Las Piñas City to be exact. They agreed. On the contrary, Loren was hesitant to come due to her belief that I was not around when they meet. Hesitation enveloped Loren’s mind. But then again, Michelle has this ability of convincing someone just to join in and even though Loren was in a layback mood she still agreed to show up.

Sunday-August 06, 2006. Sunday morning comes. I was alarmed by Michelle’s text reminding me of our planned afternoon siesta. I tended my quick response to her affirming her to count me in. Agreed time of meeting was 2:00pm, SM Mall of Asia. Part of our get together was actually to check the newly built mall believed to be the biggest and grandest of all SM Malls. Lot of good reviews and delightful talks I’ve been hearing from those people who happened to visit the said mall. So the feeling of excitement embraced me and maybe they felt the same too.

So came 12:00 noon, I wasn’t even busy preparing myself nor fixing what I’m gonna wear. Still undecided, I replied Michelle if I could just pair a simple shirts and a walking short with presentable slippers. I gauged she wasn’t that happy for me sportin’ such kinda outfit. But, I replied her that I am most comfortable with those get up since in the first place we’re not goin’ to attend some kinda formal party but a casual friends get together. I was favored and so I decided to wear shorts and slippers. Unmindful of the time, I was runnin’ late. so I replied them to extend some time to wait for me since I’ll be a bit late due to my miscalculation of traffic. Unfortunately, I was very late. It was like they’ve waited for me for almost two hours. I was really ashamed of my being late. Loren even called me when she finally knew I was coming, and her voice was a bit agitated and upset to me being late on the agreed time. All I can do is to plead an apology to her since that was my last resort to calm her out. And I came late. it was past 4:00pm when I finally arrived. Apology, apology, and apology was my words. So we went on immediately, queueing to buy tickets and bingo! We are inside the cinema 2 of the state-of-the-art entertainment center. Ambiance got cooler so as the people that surrounded me. There were no trace of irritation and high temperament from them when the movie begun. Instead, they were happy seeing me again and of course I did to with them…our get together is kinda getting on a regular basis and it was a great gestures and concerted effort on our part.

After the movie, we decided to spend time in the seawalls facing the mall. Cracking old lines of jokes, spending happy time with each other’s company was what we busied ourselves just to kill the time. Indeed, that afternoon of unwinding ended up to an evening of happy moments. We went home separate ways at around 10:00pm.

That rounded up my manuscript…just for the thought of it and just to put it in writing for good memories will always last in my young mind.

The author wished to thanks Mr. Randy Ado, Ms. Michelle Balgoma and most especially Ms. Loren Royo…because they are the author’s inspiration and reasons for writing this article.

To you guys, God Bless! Always keep the faith. Stay put!

I remain,

Mr. Joven Rada Rafol

aspiring writer/photography artist/poet

I came here to start a life

Inside a house ashamed of light

With strangers I learned to mingle

Like a meek sheep roaming the jungle

I came here to share my life

Inside a house with my brother’s delight

Strangers now turned to great peers

Or maybe lovers starting an affair

I came here to share my dream

To be real whatever it may seem

Carefree, bubbly a group that is what we

In the big brother’s house from dusk ’til wee

Now a twist has come to life

We need to vote-out another’s pride

Our mind resist but decision persists

It’s not ours but from the big bro’s verdict

Tears fell down it can’t be denied

It will flow down and should be cried out

Leaving the house doesn’t mean ending

But greater friendship is just a beginning

Time now has come to cease

In big bro’s house I will be release

Minutes away from my sudden eviction

People has come to a hard decision

Leaving big bro’s house I can hardly step

My pace as if loaded with grief

There will always be a kind of misery

Every night in my wildest fancy

If I’m gonna ask I want to stay

But I hold no power but to obey

Decision has come to its finality

My whisper utterance I want to convey

"GOODBYE IS EASY BUT HARD TO SAY"

This are my thoughts transcripted to a poem minutes from Chx eviction. Undeniably, I have learned to love Chx for her candidness and being true to herself.  She has this great guts to act what she think and that makes her distinct from other.  She doesn’t care of criticism as long as her actions speaks truly for herself. 

Originally Manuscripted by

Joven Rada Rafol

Posted-October 29, 2005

I wanna share with you some thoughts pertaining to commitment and marriage and life in general…..i guess I hit it right..hmmm…This was series of texts messages sent to me by my good friend James…and here how it goes….Listen peeps you might get something good in it..realization sake!

A SOULFUL RELATIONSHIP……………………..

Once you decided to commit to someone, overtime, his flaws, vulnerabilities, pet peeves and differences will become more obvious.  If you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve, you have to learn to close one eye and not let everything bother you.  You and your mate have many different expectations, emotional needs, values, dreams, weaknesses and strengths.  You are two unique individual children of God who have decided to share a life together.  Neither of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other?  Do you bring out the best in each other?  Do you compliment  and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?  What do you bring to the relationship?  Do you bring past relationship, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain? 

Manipulation, control, jealousy, neediness and selfishness are not the ingredients of a thriving, healthy loving and lasting relationship.  Seeking status, sex, wealth and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.  What keeps a relationship strong?  Communication, intimacy, trust, a sense of humor, sharing household tasks, some getaway time without business and daily exchanges ( a meal, shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch, a note).  Leave a nice message on their voicemail or send a nice mail.  Sharing commong goals and interests.  Growth is important.  Grow together, not away from each other, giving each other space to grow without feeling insecure.  Allow you mate to have outside interests.  You can’t always be together.  Give each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment.  Don’t try to control one another.  Learn  each other’s family situation.  Respect his parents regardless.  Don’t put pressure on each other for material goods.  Remember for richer or for poorer.  If these qualities are missing the relationship will erode as resentment, withdrawal, abuse, neglect, dishonesty and pain replace the passion

Remember, the difference between "united" and "untied" is where you put the "i".

That’s all folks….those who can read it—it’s nice to know you pause your work in the net and find time reading it.  For would-be-readers—-you can learn a lot from these basic facts of life and commitment…

Posted and Edited by:

Joven Rada Rafol

7:30pm/7th of Sept.2005

Lately, I’ve been staring in the mirror

Why I keep on seeing your face at my back

What if I take my time to love you anew

Will you comeback to my sweet embrace?

Only when I sleep I depart my thought from you

———————————————————–

I walk halfway around the world for just one kiss from you

Far beyond the call of love, the sun, the stars, the moon

As long as you are there to love me I won’t lose my way believe me

Even through the darkest night I know

Only when I sleep I resign my memory of you

———————————————————–

We met midway in the beautiful tinseltown of the city

We heed-off for a rugged start but our mind is sane enough and smart

We share brilliant ideas over aromatic coffee in a cozy squared walls

But we never discussed nor give a thought of our parting of ways

Only when I sleep my young soul is dying to have you back

————————————————————-

Don’t wanna try nor dare to lose hope ’tis no way around here

Giving up is when hopes never floats again

And my farsighted eyes finally close for eternal rest

Yet my feelings will stay like a wind smashing your face everyday

Only when I sleep my body temporarily ceases

———————————————————–

It’s been a short-lived sharing of emotions

A love stint in a swim laps less of a mile

No matter how it started it’ll leave an indellible memory that last

In my heart, in my mind it has never resigned

Only in my sleep it turned away like a blind

———————————————————–

I may sound crazy or worse be real creepy

My memory never failed of your ecstatic bouyancy

Your mere presence regals even my lit’list fantasy

Your mild mannered personality really strucked the simple me

Only when I sleep it has gone unknowingly

———————————————————–

Lastly, Is there a reason for chance to hold on

My desire for you has made me to reckon

Time may be of essence long as it may seem

It’ll stop only when you’ll signaled to move on

Only in my sleep i’ll still keep to hang on

———————————————————–

poem originally manuscript by

Joven "JV" Rada Rafol

August 30,2005

2:04AM, at home

Intended to someone from UST

this is for you

1. My proud parents named their second born "Joven Rada Rafol". I officially came out from my mother’s womb at around 7:45pm on the 7th day of the last month of the year. I’m sporting a nickname at home as Jhun. To my peers and friends, JV would fit me.

2. A proud descendant of the Rafol clan of the barrio Taclobo, town of San Fernando, And a beautiful and enchanted island of Sibuyan, Romblon.

3. A sagguitarian by zodiac, is a 5′7" swimming buff. Second in the family of 6. Has 3 other siblings named Jinky-eldest and twin brothers-Jorlan and Jordan-youngest.

4. A mid-introvert/extrovert who love adventurous life and tranquil places suitable to express his poetic side.

5. He’ll give you a million thanks if you could give him for free V/CD/Cassette/DVD of Boyzone, Matchbox 20, Cranberries, Usher, Alicia Keys, B2K, Josh Groban, BSB and Boyz2men. If you can offer for free Tom Hanks’ award-winning film-FORREST GUMP, Harrison Ford’s INDIANA JONES, Humprey Bougart and Ingrid Bergman’s CASABLANCA and all war movies of any sort. Special to mention-Human Interest Stories Books.

6. Tagged by his sister as TV addict, hooked on shows like the Probe Team, National Geo, Game Plan, I-Witness, Lonely Planet, Seventh Heaven and Amazing Race. Idolizes TV Hosts like Che-che Lazaro, Korina Sanchez, Paolo Abrera and Susie Entrata, Karen Davila Howie Severino, Kara David and Jay Taruc on locals. Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, Billy Bush, Conan O’Brien and David Letterman on international caliber.

7. If he had to be given chance to rewind his life he would probably be in a career of Travel Journalism, Marine Biology and Astronomy. He also would want to pursue a career in International Studies with concentration in European History.

8. Most fave pet (don’t know if it can be called as one) Aquarium with variety of cultured fishes.

9. When free, enjoys to be alone or in a company of silent-but-sensible talking individuals and reflects in a silent place, or might as well be seen walking bare footed in a sand of a peaceful shore watching sun sets.

10. Things he couldn’t live without- immediate family, my pens, my books and my present love interests-if you happen to read this you know its you I am referring to.

11. A free-spirited person who has a great attitude of a disciplinarian, whose patience and understanding is far more advanced that the common folks.

12. A no. 1 fan of cinema. He treasured movies lilke: Indiana Jones, Ghost, Casablanca, Jurassic Park, Forrest Gump, All X-Files movies and tv series, The Thin Red Lines, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, The Village, The Notebook, Cold Mountain, Patriot, Deep Impact, The Last of the Mohicans, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and the God Father. You can relate to his sentiments and ideals if you are a moviegoer too.

13. In case you want to make him laugh you must be the likes or can copy great comic acts of Eddie Murphy, Jim Carrey, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Chris Tucker.

14. Impressing him would most likely to be a swimming enthusiast, nature lover, simple but with deep faith in God and probably offer things in blue and green to compliments his being a blue and green color loyalist.

15. In music, would be great to watch in concert the harmonic and heavenly voice of Josh Groban, the sleek and sassy style of Rob Thomas, the crowd-pleaser and people-charmer Maroon 5, the groovy and upbeat concert prowess of Usher and BillyCrawford, the soulful and enchanting voices of Boyz2men and Alicia Keys.

16. Would be willing to learn to play instruments like organ, piano, violin, flute and drums too.

17. A "can-drop-tears" counselor and adviser to his closest buddies and friends. He’s very friendly but very meticulous in choosing friends. He clings on and stays to those people who are really sensible and has a liberated view about life.

18. Loves cooking and considers it as an opportunity to impress and win girl’s heart or anybody’s friendship and love.

19. For an ideal date’ would try to bring his special someone down the seashore and walk barefooted on sand while enjoying a great conversation.

20. Most treasured memory in the past was when he was with his 1st love and the amazing thoughts he learned from her. At present- his special someone who is right now the apple of the his eyes- you know who you are, my feelings for you never fail nor wavered and is still in constant growth. Hope we can always be in good terms.

21. Composition of songs, poems and prose, any articles and other writing stuffs would complete his day.

22. When he has lots of liesure time he would always visit any swimming pools or nearby beach/es or just travel with his cam and take nature photos or anything that would catch his interests. In addition, he’s starting to study exteriors designing and landscaping and extending his knowledge on the wonders of photography.

23. His usual dress code: not-so-tight denim jeans and semi-fit t-shirts and polos and a pair of sneakers.

24. Considers biting the edge of a pen his worst habit

25. He’s into sports of swimming, boxing, football, bowling, badminton, volleyball, sailing and diving.

26. A girl is likely to impress him if she has nice set of teeth, long jet-black hair, and nice-clean feet. In terms of personality, he prefers bubbly, easy to go with, smart and intelligent, has own share of her faith in God and respectful.

27. Fave time of the day: breezy afternoon or near midnight

28. Catches his interest most is to listen or read human-interest stories, travel with local destination and share culture with different people. His life’s greatest fancy is to travel Europe and the rest of the world.

29. Would like to meet in person famous personalities such as Nelson Mandela, Kraig Kielburger, Kofi Annan, The Dalai Lama, Shannen Sossamon, Gretchen Baretto, Tony Blair, Oprah Winfrey and Angelina Jolie.

30. Fascinated by Italian, Japanese and Chinese cuisines. A plate of veggies and pasta and a cup of crab and corn soup would make him survive. Lastly, He believes in two great cliches:
"Dream your dreams, do your best, never doubts, never rests, until the dream is yours"
"The more you take focus on what you want in life and believe in yourself and God, the more it’ll gonna happen to you"

This is the real Spide. For those who read it and would-be readers my appreciation and thanks…..enjoy my autobio.

Original Manuscript by"

Joven Rada Rafol
6:25PM/July 28, 2005
at home

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

In the deepest of night I was unbearably bothered

Why am I in my state of suppression and depression?

I always wanted to cry-out loud and quit with life

But suddenly a thought has made me crippliest of crippled-like

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

I’ve always wanted to reach out to communicate

To end up my lie-low emotion and widening gap not to create

But I was deeply drowned with paranoia and hate

To catch up, rejuvenate to wonderfully communicate

———————————————————–

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

In the shadow of darkness of my shattered dreams

Cheer me up ohh buddy coz I’m in my lowest esteem

My wings are broken and strength should be regain

Help fix them and fuel them coz I alone won’t fly again

———————————————————–

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Help rekindle my weak spirit cast a guiding light on it

Your buddy is aching with the harshness life brings

Am I that bad to suffer with all these cruel things?

Or just wasted and delinguent with some other’s feelings

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Please share a lift, teach me some balance of my heavy loads

Cast out some uncertainties in my drowning spirit

I am in oblivion and can hardly stand with it

Badly in need and thirsting of your unsolicited advice in bits

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Your friend now lost his zest and drive for life

Kindly polish my soul with your magnificent wit

I might be awaken and make a sound rebound

To make up for the friendship stronger and in constant ground

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

My apology please accep for slight negligence

I just woke up one day and the mess is here

I always tried to cope-up but the spirit is low

I ended up failure and now in demeanor

———————————————————–

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Do you think I still have a place in your world

Are you still in constant belief that I can still make up for the mess

I do hope your response will gear me up sooner

Buddy, you are the last and the best of all my frontier

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Does this man still has a place in your friendship?

I have been inactive and neglected my physical presence

But I haven’t and won’t forget a wonderful bestfriend you are no.1 on the list with essence.

————————————————————

Hey dre! what’s up? here I am, are you still there?

Is your friendship’s door still open for my renewed entrance

I may have deprived you of my physical appearance

I may have not showed-up for several months

But I am always at your side with my invisible appearance.

———————————————————–

A poem personally manuscript by:

Joven "jayvee" Rafol

Originally written June 28, 2004

11:00 PM Posted here at 7/12/2005

T’was a rainy saturday morning, the time was 9:00 in the morning..just woke up from a good sleep..Immediately,I opened the televison set to watch the morning show of my fave channel "The National Geo"…since the time was still to early for the show..I handed the remote and switched from channel to channel until I finally paused to GMA 7 and encountered Mike Enriquez’s announcement of the "Sine Totoo"- a special red carpet premiere of the multi-awarded GMA Documentaries and Public Affairs programs..The feeling of ecstacy enveloped me when along with his litany he said that the show is "for free" Without second thoughts, I said to myself, I’m gonna watch it…it’s a rare chance to see this kind of programs and for the fact that it is for free heighten my interest more. I said to myself.."hey, docu guy, it’s your chance to meet those respected guys of the public affairs dept. of your fave channel"..I was absolutely ecstatic and purely excited. If only I could make saturday advanced to sunday I would do just like that..I couldn’t wait to finally watch the documentaries…and daydreaming I could meet them in person..I was anxious about the thought that maybe they wouldn’t show up since Mike didn’t announced that the team would arrive for a forum after the show…But then, I was hoping that they would come even if I wasn’t sure of my thoughts about it.

T’was a great feeling of sigh and relief when I entered the Cinema 7 of SM Megamall yesterday…Anxious, for at last,  my long wait was over and I am to finally meet my idols in Documentaries of GMA 7..Excited, for reason that my dream to closely interact with them are minutes away to finally realized. It was far beyond my imagination to meet these guys and have some talks with them and now it is happening..I was able to ask two questions when the open forum started up and it was intended for Jay Taruc and Kara David…I wouldn’t give you details about it, but surely it was a question that Jay Taruc and Kara David satisfied my longing for answers..Along with it, I asked them how to start up making docus, what attitude to be possessed, what is the first thing to do…stuffs like that..for starter like I am..I was then able to meet Paolo Bediones and Ethel Booba of the famed Extra Challenge, Jay Taruc, Sandra Aguinaldo, Kara David, Raffy Tima, Howie Severino of I-Witness Team, Vicky Morales of Wish Ko Lang, Rhea Santos of At Your Service, Jessica Soho of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho Reports, Macky Pulido, Ivan Mayrina and Michael Fajatin of Reporter’s Notebook, Rhea Santos and Ivan Mayrina of Pinoy Abroad, Mel Tiangco and MIke Enriquez of 24 Oras, and even the bubbly and full of life Love Añover of Lovely Day…but quite sad to say, that only Jay Taruc got me an autograph…i don’t feel cheap to have autograph from them afterall they are well respected journalists I must be proud of and the country should be proud of..I truly enjoyed the presentation because it depicted the realities of life and the true situation of our country and of the people starting from the poors of the outskirts and remote areas of our country to the rich and well dignified people of our country..Their shows awakens us to be vigilant, be cooperative, to keenly watch, to observe and to give a helping hand to our countrymen who are in dire need of our helps, may it be in little ways or in big bulks..

Congratuations Kapuso for being and staying the number one television network in the country…Keep up the good works and Goodluck and Godbless.hope to see more morally and environmentally relevant and exciting shows from you..

Manuscript by:

Joven Jayvee Rafol

June 27, 2005

9:00 in the evening

One of m y good highschool clasm8 is scheduled to leave the country for Singapore this coming thursday, June 23..She is anxious but yet excited about her trip and new life in that foreign country…Excited,for reason that at last she will be able to fulfill her dreams to work abroad.Its been quite a while waiting for this wonderful opportunity…now on the 23rd it will be finally realized..Anxious as she is,for reason that she will be leaving us..her good friends whom with her during the last days she will be on Philippine land…she was very much thankful and greatful for our presence and for all that we have done and shared for her wellness..During our Baguio trip, we almost went on different fun and exciting sites Baguio has… not minding the exhaustion we have been complaining eversince we left our transient house in the uptown of Baguio’s some outskirt places..we spent no waste of time..we’ve strolled…took some walking or from time to time riding an FX. We’ve visited PMA, Botanical Garden, The Mansion, Mine’s View, The Burnham Park,SM Bagiuo,The Gallery, Camp John Hay, The exotic but tiring steps of Grotto and all other sites to count…along with our trip are the countless picture taking we have had..striking all poses we think is unique and fun..since we want our bonding to be something funnier and sensible…we eat in different resto, eat somewhere in places we haven’t been before, even the turo-turo style of eating we took a chance to tastes their foods..we tried all the different foods of Bagiuo, from street foods to fine dining…But of course, this was made possible by our untiring guide, the ever humble Rhea Aubrey, by the way Rhea is the gf of my clasm8 Albert..she took the lead to be our guide since she practically was raised in Baguio and she knew all the outskirts in Baguio..Thanks to you my new friend..practically she is a certified friend of ours since she is connected with our clasm8 na…Night falls and we prepared our dinner since we bought all our needs in the Wet Market of Baguio and basically because all of us knew how to prepare different dishes…so we end up cooking for our dinner..preparing all the fresh veggies and sumptuous dishes-well mastered and carefully prepared by the Chef of our batch..Ms. Marin( she actually is the girl am referring who’ll be leaving for Singapore),After the crave for food has mellowed, we end up watching TV..some talkshow has been goin’ on that time..some of our groups end-up chatting with each other, catching up for the lost communications we had…and connecting their past to bridged up to the present as we are now. Baguio was one of the witness how we have been closely connected with each other since the people who went there with us are practically the cool ones and the so called "game for all types of fun"..T’was a great memory I can cherish for a lifetime..as Mapz commented " I will never forget the moment we have here..It somehow eased me and made me free of problems..and somehow reborned me emotionally, spiritually, and physically.. Indeed, she is absolutely right with her comments…coz I can attest to that effect..Our two-days and one night escapade has created an impact of greater friendship with my clsm8, has made me more reflective of myself, has gave me more reason to love them, and gave me limitless opportunity to explore the side of life that is fun..What a sigh! i may say…but it was the greatest road trip I have considered as delightful and full of life….Thanks guys for the time you have spent for all of us..for the  great spice of life you have added in all of us..Goodluck to all of our future endeavors and undertakings.Godbless All of Us…May The Force Be With Us Always….and May God Always See Us Through…

The Road Trip That It Was by

Joven "Jayvee" Rafol

7:02 PM, Monday, June 20, 2005