At Twenty-three Froi Dencio 23:29

I remember the time when I was young.
When I looked at the world in awe,
when I read books and traveled far.

I remember the time when my curious mind would ask.
How come stars form figures in the sky?
How come we have day and night?

I was full of questions then and was eager to learn.
I would read and read and read.
I would ask anyone about anything.

And then the time came when everything turned different.
I continued to ask not anyone, but just myself.
I have traveled far but found no relief.

What happened to that young child in me?
What happened to those good old days?
What happened to awe and curiosity?


And then I would wish to go back to the time when I was young,
When books are enough to reach distant lands;
When simple answers are enough to satisfy my mind.





Photo: Google Images

Water Lilies, A New-Found Friend and My Lake Sebu Experience Froi Dencio 01:45

The sun tried to shed its light on the lake despite the clouds.

          "To, ano nga ulit pangalan mo?"

          "Kenken po."

          "Ilang taon ka na? Nag-aaral ka pa?"

          "Thirteen po. Opo. Grade seven."

          "Nag-aalaga kayo ng tilapia diba?"

          "Opo."

          "Sa palengke nyo dinadala?"

          "Hindi po, dyan lang sa Punta Isla."

          Our conversation went this way as the wooden boat traversed the placid waters of Lake Sebu. I asked a lot of questions and he answered all of them shyly, blurting few words each time. I was thankful that he agreed to let me ride his boat to go to the part of the lake where water lilies are full abloom. 

Kenken's an early riser. He was already on the lake before I got there.

          It was actually yesterday when I saw Kenken on his boat with his little sister tending on fish pens that made me ask him if he could let me ride with him too in the morning to watch the rising sun on the lake. Without any hesitation, he agreed. He just told me to be on the lake shore on the other side of Punta Isla by morning.

          I woke up at around five-thirty. I rushed outside to check if the sun already rose. It was cloudy. A thin blanket of mist is visible around the lake. I went back inside our room to get my jacket and proceeded to the place where I'll be meeting Kenken. He was tending their fish pen again. Few minutes later he prepared his boat and rowed toward where I was standing.

The boat's a 'lil bit shaky. Or it's just me?

          "Hindi naman tayo lulubog dito no?" I asked Kenken when I boarded his wooden boat. I tried to maintain my balance. As far as I could remember, the boat I boarded last time, capsized. 

          He answered me with a chuckle and said that he know how to swim anyway. He then started to row and we went past fish pens and few huts near the lake. I found out that T'boli natives, like Kenken are living around the lake. Some of them are raising tilapia for a living.

Fishes love lilies. Men love fishes.

          We waited for the sunrise. Unfortunately, the clouds seemed to grow darker minute by minute. I was not able to catch the sun rise by the lake. The sun appeared only later as a faint ball of yellow sphere overhead.

          I was lucky enough though, to witness the blooming water lilies. It is said that they open their flowers on certain time of the day. Perhaps it was the reason why I only saw buds yesterday; since when I first arrived here, I was hoping to see water lilies in their most beautiful state.

These egrets sure know that food is abundant in the lake.

          After few minutes of picture taking, I told Kenken that we need to return back to the resort. The sky was showing that rain is imminent. He rowed steadily, steering the boat toward the direction of Punta Isla. I found it amazing that at that age, he is already skilled as boatman. His parents seemed to rely on him too to tend their fish pen. His actions showed that he knows by heart the way of life in the lake.

          As we get near the lake shore, I gave him a hundred-peso bill. 

          "Salamat Kenken ha?"

          "Salamat din po dito kuya."

          "Walang anuman. Sana makabalik ulit ako dito sa Lake Sebu. At salamat ulit ng marami. Mag- aral ka ng mabuti ha?"

          "Opo. Mag-aaral po ako ng mabuti."

          I get off the wooden boat and Kenken smiled while rowing away from the resort. I just waved my hand as he went past the water lilies. He is such a nice boy, I thought. I could only wish the best for him and his family. 

          I stood for few minutes to watch the lake, the mountain ranges, the fish pens and the water lilies before I go back to our room. I couldn't help but reflect on the simplicity. The beauty. The peaceful aura. As I turn my back from the lake, I smiled. I will definitely return here sometime in the future.

Water lilies at their most beautiful state. 

Kiss Froi Dencio 02:08

How long has it been since I last kissed somebody?

Has it been weeks? Months? Years?

I'm starting to actually forget what it felt like, not until you asked me to kiss you.

It was weird on my part, but we were both drunk. We just set aside the world for a while, our lips started to meet in passionate lock.

You were more of an aggressive type, so I tried to keep up. Lips to lips. Tongue to tongue. Your hands crawled and caressed my back. Mine went down to your hips. It was as if we both danced to the music made by the waves crashing on the shore and the soft breeze overhead.

From that very moment I felt eternity.

I don't know when we are going to stop, not until I realized that we shouldn't be doing that.

Reasons. Circumstances. Situation. Reality.

I guess I have to thank you for letting me kiss you.

How long has it been? Weeks? Months? Years?

That very night. I was reminded what a kiss felt like. 

Balik-Pinas Random Froi Dencio 08:32

          

Me: Thank you for calling bridge. How may I help you?
Caller: Baba na diyan! Pauwi na tayo!

            Pagkatapos ng anim na buwan na kontrata, dalawang linggong walang internet, at ilang oras na paghihintay ng flight, nakarating kaming buo at ligtas sa Pilipinas. Mabuti na lang at hindi umuulan sa Maynila, dahil umalis kami sa Taiwan na parang binubuhos ang ulan mula sa kalangitan.

*****

              Sa loob ng dalawang linggong walang internet, wala kaming ibang napagkatuwaan kundi ang irecord ang sarili namin at gawan ng parody ang music video ng OST ng Oh My G! Nakakatuwa daw kasi si Janella Salvador.

*****

          Parang napakabilis lang ng anim na buwan. Halos lumipas lang ang araw na di namin namamalayan. Kahit na tila saglit lang ang kontrata namin, nakakatuwa dahil nadagdagan ang kaalaman ko at naging maganda ang samahan namin sa barko, kumpara sa mga nauna kong nasampahan.

Pwede rin naman palang i-imagine na nagwo-wall climbing
 ka habang nakasakay sa Bosun's chair.

*****

          Isang araw pagkarating sa Pilipinas, pinaputulan ko na ang buhok ko. Ipapaputol rin naman iyon ng fleet manager ko kapag nakita niyang ganung kahaba. Maraming nagsabi sa akin na huwag ko munang paputulan, kaso wala eh. Magpapahaba na lang ulit sa susunod na kontrata.

*****

Bago ko pala makalimutan, ang nanalo ng "Lobster Award" ay si....(drum roll please!)

Lobster photo from Google Images

          ............ay silang lahat ng sumagot sa mga katanungan ko. Congratulations kay Sep, Sir Jo, Yccos at Fiel-kun. :) Kitakits tayo sa Sabado sa Megamall!hehe >_<

*****

          Iniisip kong magbakasyon ng apat na buwan. Sana lang talaga ay di ako agad na tawagan ni fleet manager. Gusto kong makapag unwind at ma-enjoy man lamang limitadong panahon ng pananatili ko sa lupa. Sana lang din eh umayon si Panahon at maging maayos ang ilang naka-schedule nang getaway (fingers crossed).