one read at a time

Last year I was able to complete reading 14 books, mostly by Cecelia Ahern, Ransom Riggs, then Andy Weir, Roald Dahl, Jojo Moyes, and Mitch Albom. An officemate suggested that I start a reading journal. But since my time is mostly in front of a laptop, I decided to create an online reading journal instead of writing in a physical (more like literal) notebook.

So yesterday I set up a new WordPress blog (another to maintain – my 4th actually), which I gave a title: “One Read At A Time“.

My new blogsite will just be about my thoughts for every book that I read. Hopefully, I will be able to write for all the books I have read from previous years.

Please check it out (maybe subscribe too) if you have time. Thanks in advance! 🙂

a.k.a Ka’ Pepe👴🏼

Married to Ka’ Cely.

He was an appraiser. Ang pagkaka-explain sa akin, pag may lumubog example na barko, he was the one who estimates the damage. May mga nagba-bribe sa kanya para pataasin yung value. Nandyang offeran sya ng bahay at lupa sa ibang bansa. Meron namang nagpapadala sa kanya ng banye-banyerang isda. Pero lahat yun di nya tinanggap. Edi sana siguro hindi ako laking Pilipinas ngayon, siguro sleeeng eke megshelite ne. Hahaha Yung banyerang isda? Ni hindi nya ginalaw o pinakain sa pamilya nya–pinamigay nya sa mga kapitbahay nila.

It always makes me proud whenever mama and tito mention that specific quality I got from you (bukod sa kulay😂) – that is honesty (lalo na siguro sa suklian hahaha). Ni hindi ko nga rin kayang sumingit sa pila kung di pa ako kakaladkarin ng friends ko eh. 

Wala. Naalala ko lang. 😉

Jose + Marcelia = Jocelle

So, to the man who gave the letters in his (and mami👵🏼’s) name to form mine.. 

to the “kidnapper” who would always snatch me from mama and papa to sleep with him and mami at night..

Happy Birthday, Dadi👴🏽 up there! 💜 I love you since birth to your death, to mine. 

“thinking aloud” but silently

Just because I don’t say anything doesn’t mean I don’t notice and just because I don’t ask a lot of questions doesn’t mean I’m stupid.

At the back of my mind, I laugh at those who believe and think I don’t know something. They don’t know that I notice things they think I wouldn’t see. 😉

Ever since I was a kid, some people would always complain about how quiet I am, that I don’t speak up, etc. At school, teachers would report to my parents that I refuse to recite, won’t see me raising my hand, even if they know I know the answers, even if they know I have something to say. Years ago my silence was taken against me- that as a senior, if I want to take lead, I should learn to speak up. Only a few understands and I am forever thankful to that anonymous one who commented on a nomination site telling me, “you have proven that to be a leader, one doesn’t have to be aggressive.”.. that’s what I’ve been holding on to since then.

I don’t talk because I know nothing. I know some things and keep it to myself, that’s why I don’t talk.

I am not a fan of talking. I just love sitting back and watching everything (every secret unfolding).

I think I was born an observer and I’m loving the realization that I am.

Hmm.. will I pass as a secret agent? Now I wanna be one! *sighs* #theBourneEffect 😂😂

intercept

Malayo palang alam ko na. Yung left eye na yan, yung figure, the way you walk – alam ko na. Sigurado ako ikaw yun.

As we got nearer each other, I can’t stop looking at you while wondering if you can still remember me. 

Ito na. Yung moment na magtatapat na tayo (coming from different directions). My eyes fixed on you. Then you saw me.

Nagkatinginan tayo. Yung moment na hindi ko alam kung hihinto ako to mention your name.

We were close friends and inseparable 16 years ago. 

The biggest and the smallest, together.. sometimes with the tallest, too. My most memorable lines from you was when you were slightly scolding me the day after you were absent, “pag absent ako di ka na kakain.. pano pag wala ako di ka na kikilos?”

Pagtapat ko syo habang nagkatinginan tayo, walang huminto (guess you were trying to remember and asking yourself who is this staring at you). We still continued to walk in opposite directions. I hope you heard me when I whispered your name as you passed me by, “Andrea”. 

Maybe you’d be proud of me if I tell you I’ve changed in some way – I can now eat without company, and have gone to a place hundreds of kilometers on my own and back.

While I am now on my way home, I wonder what if I stopped. But what if you no longer remember. That 3-second eye-to-eye intercept made me wonder.