by: Graciel Guevarra

Life is a very cruel, cruel game. The term dog-eat-dog is very much applicable. But what’s really downheartening is, you meet someone who you thought is the best person in the world, pouring all your love and care to him, but it turns out that you’ve made a VERY huge mistake. Try as you might, you can’t turn back the hands of time to retrace your steps. In that point, you’d be asking questions like ‘Is it an inborn curse to lose?’ or even say ‘Why does it always have to be me? Why not my neighbor?’

If only Life has a feeling of it’s own, it would laugh; cruel, harsh, and heartless. But instead, Life is a big puppeteer and all of us are like a million Pinocchios. With string in its hand, we’d be trained to walk, talk, run, etc. on the face of the earth. We’d be walking up and down the street and meet a lot of other Pinocchios. Soon, we would meet the Pinocchio of our dreams and fall head over heels over them, oblivious that Puppeteer is creating a game of its own. So, while we are overly drunk at the love we are feeling to the Pinocchio we think is our future spouse, the right Pinocchio passes by. Then when the time comes you become somber and become aware of reality, you’d realize that your own Pinocchio isn’t the right one for you. The real Pinocchio for you is also suffering to another wrong puppet of his dreams. Damn

What made Life do something cruel and daunting like that? It’s like it doesn’t care about what we feel at all. The happiness we longed to feel and experience is now far away from our grasps. Well, it may be physically near but it’s like a star you can see but you cannot reach. Maybe you’d think this is crazy but we do lose something we haven’t even owned. Maybe, destiny re-arranged our heart’s possessions and played a prank, well, Life told it to.

Sometimes, you’d just want to close your eyes and think that all of this is a big, big, joke. Sleep away the tears and the pain you feel inside but the moment you wake up, the pain is still there, tremendous pain. No amount of consolation can take it away. It doubles, it triples, it even quadruples…with that, you might just want to sleep forever.

Crazy…what a crazy life we have. You love the wrong person, the right one comes along. Tremendous, overwhelming pain succumbs you to forget the happiness you once dreamed off…you feel doubt because you thought you have loved someone you thought you’d love forever until the game is over and you realize you lost… It is like a disease you thought was measly and unimportant you neglect it. Until it is written all over your face that the truth had just passed you by.

The cure?

The hugs and love from the right Pinocchio…

disclaimer: this applies ONLY to those who feels the same way. Don’t blabber at me saying ‘Ooh, I already found my TRUE love and I am not regretting anything!!!!’ Well, I HAVEN’T FOUND MINE YET! And maybe 52% of the human population too!!!!!

by : Russet

“Farewell to you my friends, we’ll see each other again; Don’t worry ‘coz its not the end of everything. I may be miles away, but here is where my heart will stay With you, my friends with you.”
This is probably the one of the most favorite graduations songs in this part of the globe. Who could not relate to this song especially when we have survived school mainly because of the support of our friends? Surely, many of us have gone through the ups and downs of student life just to get hold of our precious diplomas. And a lot of you out there have endured the pressure of submitting those countless book reports, term papers and undergoing those sleepless nights knowing that you have your “barkada” to get you through. And who could ever forget all those group study-cum- love-talk sessions over bottles of beer! Oh, well… student life!

I am no exception. And I must say that I have been so much blessed to find friends whom I have really held on to when the demands of school have been too toiling for me. But graduation is inevitable and we all have to say our farewells and go on separate ways.

Recently, though, I had the opportunity of meeting my old college buddies. After almost five years of not bumping into each other’s lives, we have decided to spend one Saturday afternoon just to be together. Surprisingly, while we all went to the same college, we have pursued different paths. Two are into business, one is an FM disc jockey, one is with PAGCOR and yours truly… uhm.. well.. nevermind! It was a day of endless chit-chatting and we definitely had fun reminiscing our college days. And to make that day even more memorable, we definitely had our pictures taken (we actually had to buy a disposable camera for this!). And, oh yes, we surely had to end our day with few bottles of beer at The Fort.

Truly, as we move on through life, we meet people and find new friends. But I guess, no matter how many new friendships we have built, there will always be those few earthlings we will treasure for life.

EKEMEKE (as we call our group) will always be EKEMEKE. We have chosen this name because, while the word is not found in any dictionary, it made such an impact when one of us coined this word. And EKEMEKE had undeniably made an impact in our lives.

EKEMEKE… we will see each other again…coz here is where my heart will stay… with you my friends, with only you…..

by: Elaine de Villa

I am married for 7 months now. I feel so blessed for I have found my husband. Wala na nga akong mahihiling pa sa Diyos sa pagbibigay niya sa akin ng taong tulad niya. We got married last September 28, 2002 after our 4 years of boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Many said that our wedding is a perfect one. We are so happy that until now some people still remember how beautiful our wedding day was and how some of them wanted to ask for our help as they prepare for their wedding. We were engaged for about a year and we prepared for our wedding for a year too. May be, that made our wedding beautiful and organized.

At present, we already have our own house and lot. Kaya nga ang saya kasi kami lang talaga ng asawa ko ang magkasama sa bahay. Magkasabay at magkasama naming sinimulan ang lahat. Dito namin ipinagpapatuloy ang lahat ng aming mga pangarap at plano sa aming binubuong pamilya. Mabait ang asawa ko, maasikaso… He is really my angel… Siya ba yong tipo ng lalaking hindi mo na kailangan pang sabihin na tulungan ka… He helps me in household chores… basta lagi kaming magkatulong sa lahat ng gawain sa bahay. Mas lalo ko nga siyang minamahal. Sa pagdaan ng mga araw, mas lalo kong nakikita ang tunay na siya. Sobra na akong masuwerte for having him talaga in my life and I can’t thank God enough for this blessing.

We always have open communication. At night, before we sleep, we pray together, sometimes he leads the prayer, sometimes, i am the one who lead. We become more close lalo na ngayon na buntis na ako sa aming first baby!!! Sobrang sarap na pakiramdam na kasama ko siya sa maraming sandali ng aking paglilihi at hirap na pinagdadaanan dala ng aking pagbubuntis. Sabi ko nga, ano ba’ng kabutihan ang nagawa ko para bigyan ako ng Diyos ng taong katulad niya.

Pero alam nyo ba na may heartaches din ang aming love story? It happened before we got married; it was 2001! How can I ever forget that day???

He was still studying in one of the colleges in Manila and he was in his fourth year (college). That was Holy Week 2001…

He had his OJT in one of the big companies in Makati. Doon may nakilala siyang isang babae na nag-OJT din. Bagamat one week lang silang nagkasama, nagkaron sila ng communication that made them somehow get themselves know better. Hindi ko nga siguro nakita ang closeness na yon pero naramdaman ko na agad nang sabihin pa lang ng BF ko na sabay silang nag-lunch nong girl. Iba nga siguro ang babae kasi me intuition power tayo na wala ang mga lalaki. Iba na agad ang pakiramdam ko dahil doon. Pag-uwi nya ng weekend, magkasama kami dalawa ng tumawag ung girl sa celfone ng BF ko, though he didn’t answer the call. Wala lang daw yon. Lalo akong nagduda at napaiyak pa nga ako pero he made me believe that IT WAS REALLY NOTHING! Bagamat nagkagalit kaming dalawa, naayos pa rin yon. Pagbalik nya sa Manila, I received text messages from him na hindi naman para sa akin ang mga messages na yon. Alam ko, don pa lang na-sure ko na there’s something going between them. Tumawag ako sa kanya at sinabi ko na umuwi na sya kasi gusto ko syang makausap tungkol don. Pag-uwi naman nya, wala akong hininging paliwanag. Sabi kasi nya, wrong sent din daw yon, forward lang nya sa akin. Ewan ko rin kung bakit wala akong nagawa, hindi ko nagawang magalit sa kanya. It was Holy Week so he had to go home. (a neighboring town) The next morning, wala lang na nag text ako sa kanya. Sabi ko: Mahal mo pa ba ako?” Hindi nya sinagot ang text ko. Sinabi lang nya eh magkita daw kami. Don pa lang, alam ko na na “he’s falling with that girl he met.”

I will never ever forget that day! Wala syang nasabi kundi Sorry. Umiyak lang ako. Alam ko na agad. Sobrang sakit pala pag ganon. Pagtingin ko sa kanya, umiiyak din siya. He was blaming himself. Hindi daw nya yon ginusto. Ganon ba yon, pagkatapos ng 2 years naming pagsasama, basta na lang siya aalis, basta na lang hindi na nya ako mahal. Isinoli ko sa kanya yong engagement ring na bigay nya sa akin. (Masakit talaga kasi nga may mga plano na kami para magpakasal though matagal na matagal pa.) Sa tindi ng sakit na naramdaman ko lalo na ng tanggapin nya ang singsing na isinoli ko (umasa siguro ko na di nya yon tatanggapin), sinuntok ko sya. Di ko alam kung gaano yon kalakas. (malakas kasi talaga akong sumuntok palibhasa ako lang ang anak na babae).

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit at paano nangyari. Umalis na ako kasi alam ko naman na wala talaga. He asked for his freedom. panahon para makapag-isip at para makasiguro sa kanyang nararamdaman. He even told me that he’s going to the girl’s place kasi may date sila. Kaya alam ko rin sa sarili ko na malabo na nga para magkabalikan pa kami lalo pa at pakiramdam ko naman na may gusto rin sa kanya yong babae. I was about to go home pero paglingon ko ay kasunod ko pa rin sya. Nagalit pa nga ako kasi nga wala na kami. Wala na syang pakialam sa akin. Pero di siya umalis. Dahil don, naisip ko na ganon pala, hindi ako pumayag na magkahiwalay kami kasi nga ayaw ko naman talaga eh. Hindi na nga siya nagkaron ng panahon para makapag-isip at makasiguro sa kanyang sarili. Basta lang ayoko at alam ko lang na I will not give up. hindi ako papayag na mawala sya sa akin. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, kakikilala pa lang nya sa babaeng yon, kami matagal na. Marami na kaming napagdaanan at kahit di ko narinig sa kanya na mahal pa nya ako. hindi ako umalis. Sa maniwala kayo at sa hindi, we spent the whole night of that unforgettable Good Friday sa kalye. Lakad lang kami ng lakad. I did not gave up kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na “I have found the one whom my soul loves and I would like to spend my whole life forever.” Sa buong magdamag na magkasama kami, nalaman ko sa kanya ang buong kwento. Masakit talaga. Di ko nagawang magalit sa kahit kanino. He returned the ring at sinabi nya sa akin na wag na wag ko na raw ibabalik yon sa kanya kahit kailan. Para sa akin lang daw talaga yon. Early morning, sinabi ko sa kanya na tawagan nya yong girl. Sya na ang makipag-usap. Wala naman kasing kasalanan yong girl.

Gumawa ako ng paraan para makilala yong babae. Nakausap ko sya through chatting. Nagpakilala ako sa kanya na bestfriend ako ng BF ko kaya alam ko ang buong pangyayari. Nalaman ko na isa siyang achiever, a consistent honor student since high school at running for magna cum laude sa isang kilalang university. She even joined beauty contests at nananalo pa nga siya. In short, maganda siya. Nalaman ko pa na we both came from the same school in high school. Nalaman ko rin na she was really actually falling in love with my BF. mahal na nga daw nya (naisip ko, buti di ako nag-give up. pero naisip ko rin. walang-wala pala ako sa kanya.) Baka nga dapat eh sila na lang ng BF ko. Pero nagpakilala rin ako sa kanya. Naging chatmate ko sya, eventually nagpapalitan kami ng e-mail tapos text mate ko na rin sya. Somehow, naging friends na rin kami. She’s a sweet person, me mga insecurities din pala.

There were times that I just cried. Parang nawalan na ako ng bilib sa aking sarili. Pakiramdam ko, masyado lang akong nagpilit kaya di kami nagkahiwalay ng BF ko. Hindi ko na makita sa sarili ko na siguro maganda rin naman ako. (parang pinaniwala ko lang talaga ang sarili ko na maganda nga ako) Marami ang nagsasabi na may dating naman daw talaga ang BF ko. Ang hirap ng naramdaman ko.

Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari, nag-usap kami, heart-to-heart talk ba, ng BF ko. Hiningi nya na magtiwala akong muli sa kanya. Na sana ay mahalin ko pa rin sya (di naman kasi nawala ang pagmamahal ko. nagkalamat lang siguro). Na sana ay makalimutan ko na ang nangyari, na sana ay bumalik na sa dati ang relationship namin. Alam ko sa sarili ko, nagtitiwala na ako sa kanya pero nasasaktan pa rin ako at natatakot. Sabi nya, wag na raw akong makipag-usap don sa girl para makalimutan ko na nga ng tuluyan. Sabi ko naman, gusto ko kaya kong harapin sya kung magkikita kami at gusto kong mapatunayan na wala na nga ang sakit ng loob na naramdaman ko.

That was very tough experience! That made us stronger I believe. Thankful pa nga ako kasi we realized so many things with what happened to us. Masaya na kami at hanggang ngayon, alam ko at naniniwala ako na ginusto talaga ito ng Diyos. And I thank Him always kasi siguro binulungan ako ng Diyos na “I had to fight for my love!”

i really consider myself so lucky and full of love and blessings. definitely, i am so sure of him really and di ko naman itataya ang aking kaligayahan for life kung di ako sure. I JUST KNOW THAT I HAVE FOUND THE SOUL WHOM MY SOUL LOVES… FOREVER… and i always thank God for that experience happened to us. i just realized that i really love him and that he loves me more than i love him… i can see it from all the things he had done and has been doing. he even become sweeter and so thoughtful. i can feel that love that i really treasure… so much. God is really soooo sooo good to me for he gave him to me. siguro nga, i’ll be forever regreting if i let him go and i gave up… He must have His own plans for us… That incident made us closer and stronger anyways and if it did not happen… there’ll be no more realizations on that side of our love story.

That is why i vowed to love and accept him, in good times or in bad, now and forever… the only way i know how… fully, truly, completely and unconditionally.

by : Russet

asl?
19/f/phil u?
22/m/usa … ctc?
ok, np
lol

Looks familiar?

For those who are now reading this article, I’m sure that at one time or another, you have entered the world inside the chat room.. Hey, don’t deny it because I, too, am guilty of spending long hours in front of my PC chatting with.. uhmm.. WHOEVER…

The Internet has truly made the world a lot smaller. For the more serious ones, the worldwide web, has helped business transactions less complicated and information dissemination easier.

On the lighter side, it has also provided an avenue to communicate and interact with anyone, help friendships flourish.. and to the fortunate species out there.. for relationships to blossom… and yes, I am referring to the world inside the chat room!

But the value of the chatting, whether through the MIRC, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, depends on how you use it.

It can keep you company when you cannot sleep, cut your telephone bill but still remain updated with old friends elsewhere. And for those away from home or who need to work in other countries, chatting has become a therapy against homesickness. It makes them feel a lot closer to home and family. The new friends they meet in the chat room create a sense of belonging in those times of loneliness. And with people from different places inside the channel, it is definite that whatever time of the day you log on, you will surely find someone to talk to.

However, chatting has also its “negative” side. Chats can expose you to a lot of unpleasant behavior. Talking inside chat rooms can be a bit wild with a great deal of sex talks, sleaze and garbage. Sexual proposals made inside the chat room are not far-fetched (heard of those SEBs?). No offense meant to those who are into it because it is really a matter of choice whether to accept or refuse offers of this nature.

Talking to fellow chatters seems to transport you to another world that you tend to forget time and the other things that you have to attend to. The excitement of meeting different people will leave you wanting for more, until such time that you can never let a day pass without entering what has become your favorite chat room.

I started chatting quite a bit late.. if my memory serves me right, probably around January of 2001.. though a lot of my buddies have told me the fun they derive out of it..

At first, I cannot seem to understand why people would spend long hours just to “chat”. I also didn’t find the idea of EBs interesting.. I was definitely contended with the set of friends that I have…. so I thought…then…

But curiosity led me to the IRC.. and before I knew it, I got.. well… hooked!!.. and to this day, I am proud to say that I have been a regular of the MIRC (#pobres-park at Dalnet… hehehe.. plugging!)

Surprisingly, while at first you really do not know the person you are “chatting” with, you tend to get interested with that person… know their interests.. their views.. and when the conversation gets deeper, you find giving a part of yourself to that person.. you share your dreams, goals and even frustrations and heartaches…

Chatters have their share of stories to tell.. experiences to share.. I have met several couples who started their relationships inside the chat room.. some may have parted ways but a greater number have continued to hold on to their relationships and in fact, have considered sharing their lives together…

And though I was not spared of those unpleasant instances and have been offered those sexual proposals, these would not prevent to continue chatting.. for I have definitely found good friends inside the chat room… and I can say that the friendships that we share go beyond the world inside the chat room….

For whatever its worth, what is important is that you have fun inside the chat room. It is definitely a whole new world of experience. Click on and enjoy! Happy Chatting!

by: Karla Vanessa Redor

A few days left before the most awaited day for the lovers and the not-so-singles pass by. The day of reckoning will soon come. It will be a day of spreading the Munching Cash Plague where lovers of the world join hand in hand to buy precious gifts for their loved ones. The soon-to-be victims of the said plague will have symptoms of paleness, continuous walking back and forth from one place to another, and eyes that looked shock. Beware of this plague. Most doctors prescribe the would-be-possible patients would have to put a special cream at the palm of their hand for the unusual allergies that leads to the said plague. Another prescription would be is for the patient to stay away from places that are expensive-looking.

This is also the day of the Loneliness Syndrome Advanced Level. The future patients of this disease most likely exhibit the following symptoms like type 1 malfunction of lachrymal glands (continuous crying in layman’s terms), state of shock, paleness, red nose, eating disorder, and insomnia. Doctors prescribe that the probable patients would watch mushy cartoon fairy tale stuff and romantic comedies every 5 hours. Likewise, it is best that they attend love relationship seminar or if anything else fails, contact Dr. Love for counseling.

If there is a Loneliness Syndrome Advanced Level, there is what we call as the Anti-mushiness Fever. It is really known as the Loneliness Syndrome Moderate Level. The symptoms of this disease are high blood pressure, number of heartbeats is lower than the usual one, type 2 malfunction of lachrymal glands (no single tear comes out), and the I-Hate-You-All attitude. Although this disease is the moderate level, curing this disease is much harder especially that patients with this disease have attitude problems. It is best that they attend an Interaction Program sponsored by the Lonely Hearts Club and it is recommended by 9 out of 10 doctors. Actually, the Interaction Program is a Heart Therapy designed for people with this disease.

All of us will be affected by the sudden spread of disease for V-day is the day of reckoning. The question is, what disease will inflict us.

by: ASDF

FUNNY THINGS happen every February, every February 14 to be exact. Yep, it’s the day of lovers - otherwise known as St. Valentines’ greatest contribution to humanity. On this auspicious day, every delusional star crossed pair in school decides that it is really cool to go out on a date, whether be it on the 14th or during the days that surround the 14th. Red would be the in color of the shameless and chocolates and roses would be the generic gift of choice. All is expected to be happy in school, all except those who are loveless and this list includes my name. My friend Karen (who, due to that ever popular McDonalds Ad, is now referred to as Gina) will once again send herself flowers so as to convince people, which includes herself, that she has an anonymous lover in school. I guess this is a lame way of self-marketing among the male population of the school. It’s sad really. I told Karen this and she managed to convince me that sending flowers to myself is a good idea. I’ll get at least a dozen roses on Valentines Day, all of which will be funded by my own pocket. It’s sad really.

Then there’s my friend Cess, a beauty and brains combination with supermodel measurements. Her problem is that she’s too good for all her suitors who can rival, at best, the personality of a can of beans. Cess has everything except a boyfriend so, just for fun, even though she is beautiful and smart, Karen also convinced Cess to send herself a dozen roses on Valentines Day.

I told Karen that it would look odd if we all received Roses on the 14th so were thinking about chocolates for one of us and a box of doughnuts for the other; I hope I don’t get a box of doughnuts, people might think my imaginary suitor slash admirer is cheap or something. I believe we have to diversify our self-funded gifts so that it won’t look that obvious. Of course, our dark secret would embarrass us to death if someone discovered it.

On Feb. 14, my fellow students will celebrate the day of hearts. Commitments will be renewed, the usual load of petty quarrels will be lessened and of course, the entrepreneurial Pinoy will exploit the event with tons of Valentines Day caboodles that the public will surely gobble up. The 14th of this month will be a happy day for everyone, genuine or otherwise. My two friends, Cess and Karen, they’ll get some gifts on Valentines Day, gifts that will come from their own pocket. I know the happiness they’ll get from this will be short lived and hollow. So I thought I’d send them some carnations on the day of hearts, and maybe a romantic poem to really make their day.

I’ll sign my gifts with a short and spine tingling note: From your secret admirer.