#When In Lucban

[jeromesigue]

TROPANG SHORT RIDE SA MALAYO!

Tropang Short Ride sa Malayo - it all started as a joke. Me, my stepbrother, and his cousins were just hanging out, messing around, when we randomly came up with the name while talking about our small motorcycle rides. At first, we were just tripping, but over time, we started using the name seriously and it became our official group name.

Our first ever ride was in Tagaytay. I had just bought a motorcycle, but it wasn’t in the best condition. So, we decided to test it out by riding to Tagaytay. Our only plan? To eat Bulalo at Mahogany Market. That day was unforgettable - it was simple, but the joy we felt riding and eating together made it special. We took pictures, shared laughs, and felt free on the road. That was the start of everything.

After that, more relatives got interested. They saw how fun it was, so some of them bought their own motorcycles too and some of them join us. What began with just four of us slowly grew into a bigger group. Every weekend or holiday, we would plan short rides sometimes to nearby towns, sometimes farther if we had the time.

One of our most memorable long rides was our trip to Kamay ni Hesus in Lucban, Quezon. We left early in the morning and got there around 10 AM. We were out for almost 20 hours riding, exploring, eating, resting, and just enjoying every moment. Yes, it was tiring, but seeing the peaceful place, climbing the steps, and standing before that tall statue of Jesus made everything worth it. We prayed, took pictures, shared stories, and of course — looked for food again! Gutom na eh!

Over time, our group grew to 20 riders. But we weren’t just a riding group anymore we became a family. We shared tools, food, advice, and memories. Riding turned into more than just a hobby. It became our way to bond, to relax, and to escape the stress of daily life. Every ride gave us a new story from random food trips to chasing sunsets.

And no matter where we go, we always start by praying and thanking God for our safety. We believe that no matter how far we ride, He’s with us on the road.

Right now, we’re planning our next adventure - a ride to Dingalan, Aurora. It's still in the “drawing” stage, but we’re excited. We know, just like the other rides before, we’ll make it happen soon.

Tropang Short Ride sa Malayo may have started as a joke but it turned into something real: real friendship, real memories, real joy. All made on two wheels, with people who feel like home.

Jerome Kim A. Sigue

4th Year BSBA - Major in Marketing Management

[kayemndz]

A Leap of Faith and Everything After ✨

There are things I can’t easily put into words. Like a pain you feel but can’t put into words. You can’t point to where it hurts, but you know that it does.

So here it is, I’ll say it plainly. I'm in a chapter of my life where everything feels unbearably heavy. I’m fully aware of it, even if I never thought this season would come so soon. But if not now, when?

Right now, I feel like the most foolish version of myself. I am reckless, impulsive, sometimes immature. And honestly? I don’t even try to deny it anymore. Because at the end of the day, I’m left alone, with all the choices I made, all the regrets I carry, and all the consequences I now have to live with. The decisions are still mine to make, even when I feel lost.

We all know our truth deep down. We know what we’re going through. It's just a matter of whether we face it or avoid it entirely. We feel our own pain, and if we’re honest, we also sense the pain of those we’ve hurt, even when we pretend not to.

Lately, I've been crying most nights. Sleep escapes me. Thoughts of you take up so much space in my head, but I’m trying. I’ve been keeping myself busy—doing things I never imagined I could handle, going places I never thought I’d reach. And in the process, I’ve hurt people too. I’ve said things I didn’t mean. I've acted like someone even I barely recognize. But through all of it, I remind myself: my feelings are valid. The way I hurt was never without reason. It was the aftermath of what you did to me.

Still, I want to thank you.

March 02, 2013 : Kamay ni Hesus, Lucban Quezon PH

Thank you for showing me how to love unconditionally. Thank you for teaching me that sometimes, love means not expecting anything in return. You gave me so much. Experiences, growth, and lessons I’ll carry for life. Even with all the betrayal, I won’t regret a single moment, not even the time I feel I wasted. Because it made me stronger. It made me whole again.

Maybe I wasn’t the one you needed. Maybe I was never the one you wanted to spend your forever with. But I understand now. I truly do.

Moving on from you has been hard. So instead, I’ll just move forward. It’s not that I’ve stopped loving you, because I haven’t, but I won’t stay stuck anymore. I’ve made peace with the fact that my journey continues without you in it. But I’ll take the lessons you left me. That part stays.

Sometimes, the smallest decision leads to the biggest change. And no—you don’t have to have everything figured out to begin again. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll feel like a mess. But progress isn’t always pretty. It’s still progress.

If I’ve learned anything about love, it’s this: it’s hard work. No one person can meet all your needs—but with the right effort and commitment, anything is possible. It’s about listening. It's about meeting halfway. It’s about growing together, even as you grow individually. You need space, independence, and the ability to create your own happiness.

And above all: you have to choose each other. Every single day.

You don’t have to chase love. The right one will find you. And when they do, you won’t need to ask to be treated right—they just will. They’ll learn how you love. They’ll speak your language, even when you haven’t said a word.

So take that leap, even when it’s terrifying. Even when it breaks you open.

Let your faith be bigger than your fear.

Still choosing faith,

Kaye

[ohmeshed2025x]

April 1, 2025 | Tue.

🥝 I worked onsite today and was a few minutes late. I felt unwell during the first part of my shift with stomach cramps, diarrhea, and lightheadedness, so I went to the clinic and was given some medication. TL Jo, who just returned from his 2-week leave, let me rest for 1.5 hours. I then continued my shift, followed my schedule, and almost got my target EOM RTF score, until I got a detractor before end of shift. Thankfully, I met my EOM target efficiency score and even exceeded my 20mins goal. You are a tough one, March!

🥝 Grace and I felt like treating ourselves, so we went to Tapsihan ni Mama Berna in Makati. We enjoyed some sisig, lechon kawali, and tapa with fried rice. On our way, I even wanted to eat pansit, as I was really craving Lucban's authentic Pansit Habhab. I also really missed chatting with Grace about anything and everything—it felt so good to catch up after so long. I know life hasn't been treating her kindly too and I appreciate her for being my beacon of strength.

🥝 I had to reactivate my Messenger to ask Ataw to prepare eggs for Q's breakfast while I'm gone. Mum also messaged Grace, asking why she couldn’t reach me. When I finally went online, instead of asking how I was, bayaran ko daw yung cellphone nya kasi baka mag-lock na naman daw hehe.

🥝 After eating, we then went to Waltermart Makati for Fruitas Mango Shake (all-time favorite) and then headed back to Makati Square to check out some ukay-ukay shops. I found 3 white Zara tops for ₱85 each and got a pair of Mary Jane shoes for ₱365 that I absolutely adorrrrrrrree!

🥝 When I got home before noon, I prepared Adobong Sitaw with giniling for lunch and dinner. Ang alat na naman but my cooking skills are improving! So proud of you, self!

🥝 I'm still not feeling okay. Aside from tummy cramps and diarrhea, I'm also now dealing with some heartburn. Hooray, katawang lupa! Kaya mo yan! 2:56 pm

[fragmentsbyherpoetry]

Lucban

The entire alley is yellow from the street light, the sole of her rubber shoes kisses the asphalt lining the entire street. What seemed to be the endless walls enclosing her is painted pink and green. Her face twitch as a shooting pain burst from her back. Her posture is bad and her bagpack is heavy.

Her head wonders as she traverse the street she knew ever since she was a child. The street she loves because she knew everytime they will walk along this path, a moment, a highlight of her 5 year old life is about to happen. She walks with people taller than her — looking up — they were holding her hands, guiding her way, everyone is weary of her falling and hurting herself.

In her eyes she will always be safe, held by hands and held by the loving gaze the grown ups always gives when she looks down on her.

She knew she will always be looked out for.

She never worries, she never have to care. She never have to think about anything. She's a five year old after all. All she ever thinks about is the claw machine waiting for her at the arcade and the feathery colored-cat keychains she's going to pester her grandmother to buy before they go home later.

After life happens, she walks along the street. Her eyes are moist and her gaze is tired. She walks along the street, with an aching back and confused existence... twenty years are added to her life. She's alone now.

She look up the sky when she knows there's no road humps her way, she doesn't want to fall down as an adult — with no hands holding her anymore. She was greeted by bright twinkling lights and she wonders. How time flies so fast. How she's have more years in her but less people in her life.

Her back aches and her chest aches. Longing for the time when she was little and everything is handled by the grown ups.

She wonders, if even in her dreams she won't be 25 but just 5. Walking with her bouncy pigtails and her violet slippers she loved to death, her small hand engulfed and held by someone who she knows will never let her go.

...but someone will.

What 5 year olds doesn't know is that someone will have to let go. No matter how big her hands are and how strong her grip have become.

Because if she's still 5, she'll still have the hands of her papa, and nanay, and lolo too, and her tito buboy. No one has died yet.

The street might have known, the longingness she feels for her childhood and also the people she had in childhood but no longer here during her hard early adulthood.

The ache of remembering the life she was born into.

She wonders, how time is so fleeting she never noticed how the street never change but her life did.

[tinyapartments]

hanash lately: shoulders, syllabi, slowing down, and other shenanigans from the last two months!

luntian had raved a few times about her boss's memory: "she remembers everything. you know why? she journals every day."

i told her: we should do the same.

but here i am failing miserably at keeping this blog updated. i had intended to write about our trip to baguio during the tail end of may, my 33rd birthday in lucban, our anniversary spent watching plays and a stand-up act, and my mundane teacher's leave. however, as i type this, another semester has opened and details for the past two and a half months are almost slipping away!

when we got back from japan, i had to prepare for a conference in baguio where my colleagues (who are also close friends) would present our current research. luntian took a leave and tagged along. we dined at oh my gulay! and she took me to bencab museum: it was my first time. i was happy to see works by santi bose and antipas delotavo in the flesh.

in june, i celebrated my birthday by having dinner at a taiwanese restaurant in quezon city with luntian and my closest friends, rogelio and faith. the celebration continued when we spent a full weekend in lucban. one of my best friends, june (not to be confused with jeane), had an airbnb there and her entire family was happy enough to host us. my mother and luntian's family went as well. we were well-fed for almost three whole days. we visited my dad's grave. i introduced luntian for the first time. she and i ran on saturday morning and discovered that lucban's uneven streets were not kind to our feet. on sunday, my mother, luntian, and her mom went to mass before heading back home. my jesus year could not have started any better.

the highlight of july was our first anniversary, which we spent at ace water spa for free (for free!). luntian was heading a paralegal training for work and had free accommodations (buffets included!) at the water spa's hotel. for that saturday we watched sir vlad's back-to-back theater plays (prinsipe bahaghari left us in tears and puting gunaw left us haunted) as well as atsuko okatsuka's full grown tour in manila. on sunday, we woke up early for an almost nine-kilometer run around up diliman campus punctuated by a well-deserved breakfast buffet at the university hotel. what a weekend!

and soon enough my most awaited teacher's leave began. i went home to cavite to spend time with my dogs and my mother. i started watching sex and the city. i tried finishing an ongoing research i'm writing on queer coming-of-age films, but it's still in my drafts folder. i ate my mom's baked goods. and in a blink, it's august again.

august had a disorienting start. though i was able to tick off most of the errands on my to-do list during our leave, i suffered two shoulder dislocations in the first two weeks of the month. luckily, i managed to pop them back in less than an hour for both incidents, but healing and rehabbing them will take a considerable amount of time. i guess that means no pickleball for a while.

i've had this injury since i was nine: i got hit by a speeding tricycle (probably a faulty assessment of a highway at my age as well) and broke my right clavicle. even though it healed as young bones have a pretty good recovery rate, it dealt a permanent blow on my right shoulder. it would dislocate for a few seconds if i twisted my arm on a weird angle or when i kicked too hard in high school soccer. i'd be immobilized for no more than five minutes, but it would pop back like nothing happened. i didn't understand what a shoulder dislocation meant then and just called it "spasms."

throughout my adulthood, i would endure three severe shoulder dislocations (i'd call it severe because i can't put it back on my own) where i'd end up at the hospital. the most recent incident was just last year. the doctor told me that my best resort is surgery (which i can't afford right now!). the consecutive dislocations just this month were frightening because it happened in my sleep.

while rushing to curate readings to update my syllabi in time for the school opening, i'd alternate tabs on researching about my condition. once you've had a shoulder dislocation, relapse is about 90% certain. it's called shoulder instability. some heal properly through physical therapy (i've done this after my second hospitalization), but the best hope is surgery. coach aivi, who happens to have the same condition as mine, but had the surgery told me that building muscles on your shoulders is also a big help. while this is comforting as i do enjoy physical activity, it would have to wait until my shoulder is stable enough to at least lift a decently weighted dumbbell. i hope i'm patient enough to wait for that.

the first week of school opening is also the first week of getting used to wearing my shoulder braces daily (i use different ones for daily wear, sleeping, and sports) and applying cold packs every night and morning. all these additions to my daily routine are unexpected and quite frankly irritating as they slow me down (especially in the morning!), but perhaps it IS a necessary reminder to indeed slow down.

slow down and wait for my shoulder to heal. slow down while i save up for surgery. slow down and take time to write more every day (to remember more about every day!). slow down to bounce back better and stronger. slow down, slow down, slow down. if i'm patient enough to rehaul my syllabi (i cannot wait for my students to read john cheever and doris lessing though!) then maybe i could be patient enough to wait for and work on my recovery.

slow down, slow down, slow down.

[lakan-olivares]

Summer harvest couplefie

My nephew and I join the throng of visitors to the Municipality of Lucban, in the Province of Quezón; to celebrate the May 15 harvest Pahiyas Festival dedicated to the San Isidro Labrador (1070-1130), the Spanish patron saint of laborers and farmers.

The Pahiyas started in 1595, when the parish priest Fr. Miguel de Talavera of Lucban’s San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church (Saint Louis of Toulouse Parish Church) would have the farmers present their crops for blessings during the feast of San Isidro Labrador to ensure the continuation of a good harvest the next year.

It was only in 1963 did the Pahiyas become an official festival of Lucban, when the Art Club of Lucban president Fernando Cadeliña Nañawa organized the Lucban Arts for Commerce and Industry Festival; which also invited artist of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) in Manila.

From then on, the neighborhoods would festoon their homes with colorful rice wafers called Kiping, and display their wares by the windows and doors to invite visitors to enter and partake of the feast. The term “Pahiyas” is derived from the words “hiyas” (jewel) and “payas” (to decorate as an offering); which is what the kiping symbolize.

This picture was taken circa 1999

[doyouthinkimenjoyingthis]

Sept 19, 2015

My mom's mission when I was in elementary was to find me friends. She would enroll me in academies, befriend mother who has the same kids same age as mine. She'd encourage me to go to Sunday schools and is actually a cult and the church leader Apollo Quiboloy is a shady, trafficking guy. Didn't meet the guy but my friend Frances Jean and her family watches the channel. I couldn't stand even 10 minutes of the program. I am catholic and I like the whole sacramental processes of the mass. The Sunday school went on only for a year. It was fun it wasn't like we are indoctrinated to do some religious shit it's just normal catholic shit. But we weren't allowed to carry a rosary. I have a rosary with me which was a gift that I've gotten from a nun when I was christened at 6.

LIn the morning, there's a morning mass. The kids are separate as not to disturb the adults. All the adults are inside this hall in Lucban Elementary School. They don't come out until five. While we kids, we have all the fun. The rides are free so mom didn't bother driving or dropping me off.

My friend Frances and I have this closer relationship. She has a unique condition. For her age, she has white hair. I just searched about it and it's Vitiligo according to google. Didn't read much. She was bullied for it off course and being called a grandma but I guess she wasn't bothered anymore by it or she just got used to it. Because she seems really strong or resilient. I'm a sensitive child, I wouldnt last that.

Anyway, in this church, I've known kids who have very troubled childhood like we only discuss those in abnormal psychology kind of troubled. One of them, I went to school with her younger brother.

She told us her story about how she is abused by her father.

DSWD has taken actions already but I felt weird about that because I don't refute it's true. Sometimes I can't help compare myself to that girl. We all live in the same neighborhood, we just live a little bit above. And when I come out of my house, I look at every person living their lif , acting nicely, smiling--unknown to me thy have nasty little sins. Unforgivable. Inhumane.

And you know whats the funniest part is itcan be someone closer to me. The worst part is you could have stopped it. You actually have the right tools and connections to do so but you can't because you didn't know enough.

Frances lives in the same neighborhood as me. Yes in a subdivision too but not all subdivision are bougie. Frances and her family of 5 children, her mom works in a government agency Department of Something-- a professional but like she gets pregnant every year. The father not sure he seems normal. But he was kinda funny weird especially during my glow and grow as a teen.

All men except my father and brother in laws are funny weird to me while growing. I know why and it's giving me hibby jibbies .

I've been hanging out with them since I was a kid. But they all live in this one bedroom apartment basement in the in law's building. I didn't think of it as weird back then. I didn't think I was lucky that I got my own room and that my parents are very particular about personal space and privacy.

It has no windows. My dad didn't want me hanging out with them because he doesn't want me to pick up "squatter habits" as he points out. I don't think he's being matapobre but what he meant is he doesn't want me to pick habits that they have like imagine being in the slums-- noisy and stuff, swearing and fighting, drugs, alcohol.

Frances would tell me things that would hint that something is wrong in the family.

Living in a one bedroom apartment is already one of them. I told you about my father's job and he says that small houses am with no privacy encourages child abuse.

I still sleep beside my parents up until I was 5. I had my own room but when Roxanne and Ronaliza was adopted I shared the room with all fourofnus. As family especially stormy seasons, we still like to sleep in one bed, sharing body heat and scary stories. But we all have our rooms. I had to share mine with Roxy and Ronnie when my sister Sally movrd out because dad says she's already 16 and needs her own privacy. The three of us 9 year olds are stuck in a bunk bed and one bed.

I mean what sthe point of that segue as that I can't imagine being that many in that four walls that is too small. Our room is even bigger than that. I mean we do that we sleep altogether occasionally I just can't imagine me being in her situation.

We have a big house with the rest rooms. My parents have their own bathroom.

We have a wide space so we don't get to look at each other the whole time. Imagine being that many and wherever you go whatever you do you you will see them in every angle tests sick

One time Frances told me that her mother was so angry that she made her sleep outside. It was February. She slept in a 5 inch wide bench just enough to accommodate her very thin body.

It was a punishment.

One time when I was 13, I slept outside to punish my parents. Make them feel guilty.

I would see these purple marks around her neck and wrists but she would hide it.

I shared food with her because she wasn't fed. She has no lunch and her lunch money was 20 pesos which wasn't going to buy a decent one.

So I tell my mom to put more and my mother is more than happy too. Until she learned about it because the teacher said that I'm very nice girl because I share my lunch.

Mom was mad and told the kid directly notto ask food from me and thinks Frances is using me.

She made her under the list of friends I am bit allowed t hangout with. So she enrolled me in a judo class Soni won't go to Sunday school.

I remained friends with Frances against my mother's wish which is funnily against her wish to because she wanted me to be friends with her in the first place since we are neighbors, goes to the same school, loves cartoons and books, and that her grandma is a doctor. Frances grandma is also our kagawad and we often come along for the campaigns.

So anyway, until we were in Grade 5, I still hear about this mini abuses of her mother. By that time we've got our menses. I had mine in January 2006 and she got hears before we started Grade 5.

I would hear how his father is weirdly affectionate of her. But I've never thought of it as something bad which afain--irony.

By Grade 6 I had other friends-- the kind of friends my mother wanted for me. Come from a nice family, middle to upper class, high achievers and plays ay least one musical instrument.

W ehave kind of separated but we hangout when watching anime together at 5:00.

By the end of our elementary, she was given money and pleaded me t hang out before we separate schools. I didn't want to because her life is so tragic and i dont want to hear anymore of the abuses or grooming she is getting from her parents.

So we went out chaperoned by her creepy dad to the cinema and watched a very traumatic movie Bridge to Tabitha. Then had some buttered chicken after.

She has gone into special sports program IN city high Andi went into special sciences in UB. I was friends with Jimmy then, and she couldn't understand why I'm friends with her.

I'm friends with the people my mother dislikes. And I'm enemies with people my mother likes and I had to endure.

Maybe I really am a trashy person. I'm not supposed to be well adjusted Buti know now the reason why. I'm queer and I'm into different and more interesting people.

So anyway we were talking the three of us while I learn how to sortmy laundry in our laundry space upstairs.

Frances is helping me how because I don't know how to do laundry.

She said she's going to her aunt and she's going to Davao to serve Christ.

I know that Frances has once dreamed being a nun. She was just like me who has the kind of devoton to God except that I am abit skewed and she's not.

Whenever reproductive system comes up, she tells us that she'll enter the sisterhood not the kind of sisterhood in travelling pants.

Our science teacher would point out that girls would say that off course due to fear of sex, pregnancy and childbirth. On a side note, she claims that we are just saying that now that most of us will be mothers.

Just one of us will become a mother superior.

But in Christian sectz, there's no vocation such as being a priest and a nun.

I was confused and it's not even a real church. Because Apollo Quiboloy is a big fatliar I know.

Because my soeciall talent is sniffing bullshit.

So it was our goodbye.

"Paano volleyball mo?"

I asked

She said she'll still fo volleyball.

I've learned years later the truth from a neighbor, DVD auntie (because she hoards DVDs and we borrow from her) about what is happening

It devastated me because she's been telling me but i didn't help her. At first I didn't know why I was so angry hut I realized it's because of that.

I think that these has just been stories to me just like how my father's cases ee just cases. They are just stories. It's like you cant feel sorry for a movie because it's not real.

And I theorize that swhy bad things happen a lot and worse it gets normalized because good people doesn't do anything.

After Frances left with no contact whatsoever, I moved to different schools. I encounter many of these shocking stories that people are supposed to be in jail for.

But you know when you get thisnkun of stories you don't think about going to the police station to report it. You listen and thinks having this secret or knowingsomethign illegal is cool.

So I stay away and notform attachments so I don't need to know.

Should I have reported it or done something. I have no power or energy.

I stepped into the City High and the students' stories are heartbreaking. The you hear more stories involving even adults who are supposed to protect you because we still are children and are powerless. So when a friend told me this story about her cousin involved with an elderly teacher we were both about to puke. But did we do anything? No. We just stood there in disgust and gossip. At least she didn't laugh about it because I neighborhoods thats what I hear they will year you down spread gossip but won't do anything about it.

But we didn't. We talked about it at night (she was my nanny) and express disgust. Because,the man is 50 something and we sorta mock and imagine the kind of sex they are having. Like imagine fucking a grandpa.

It's awful and disgusting. My mom if you know that Tv5 program SE likeswatching it because of this unbelievable drama that are so trashy squatter like and happens to most Filipinos. She sees the struggle of others as entertainment. Lives of Filipinos are really juicy. And gossip is one real serotonin trigger.

But what Ive learned from my friend Frances shit happens to everyone.

Evil things happens not only in certain communities, classes, educational or socio cononomicak backgrounds. It can happen to the closest ones.

I've closed my doors to any other human attachments and that was a tme I struggle with faith. I stopped being friends with these bougie friends.

I remained a few I share interests with but not too close. It's almost out of duty.

And speaking of Faith that how things changed for me.

Another person to the list my mom don't want me to be friends with.

When I grew out going to academies, dad starts bringing me sports clubs like tennis, golf and squash to enhance my physiquenand social skills but it's actually where you can find a suitable boyfriend and potential rich husband. Someone's who's already rich.

My mother said "never marry for potential."

I believed her. All my sister's did believe that and that's why they delayed dating until they are established and went from dating to marry and snagged decent husbands. Five of my sister's married youngmen actually so it's not applicable.

Julie married her own student. That's classic grooming.

Now I'm going to exit for a while-- I used to go to this DEPED school near our house because most of my friends in the neighborhood go there.

But in just a year of staying there, many shit happened. Child abuses, drama, suicide, spirit possessions and mean teachers. So my mom was horrified and found a nicer school.

Yes just a year. I also entered a local quiz completion hosted by RPn. Can't remember anyway.

She stopped setting me up with friend when I was 13. She realized I'm having my own personality and that I will choose my own friends noatter how she hates it. She was healing from surgery.

Jimmy was my only friend and Eunice.

We spend time watching DVDs and singing and dancing to Britney Spears. Their moms are cool. My mom wasn't and doesnt like it but it's what I wanted.

When I transferred to City High when I was 14, I cried because my friend is going back t Manila. A really good friend turned out she's my crush.

She gave me money so I can join in the goodbye party.

She doesn't get angry when I'm drunk. But she breathes in and out. She knew I was having problem with my faith and she's really worried about me going the bad wayn

I continue to have bad friends bit it barely turned me bad.

I told you-- I'm more of an observer. A voyeur. It's like watching Tv.

My mom since then met all my friends even those from the church service off course and she was glad that I'm in touch with spirituality.

And Constant is there but then he died.

My mother told me that life is an elevator. Whether you go down or up, people leave.

I never thought it has affected me. Because the following years creating new bonds became really different.

It's like I cant anymore.

When I turned in college since I'm not a cool girl, I asked my mother a lot of money for books and a laptop. That's all I've been doing. No friendships except for Hollmae and a few.

She met them and is satisfied that's found my own tribe. I think my mom is a successful parent through med. S e made me trust her. She made me be the rgin anymore. And when I told her whom I lost it, she's not even half surprised. She got hurt off course but she accepted it.

Parents usually look at their kids as still their little angel who is innocent and they think they can't do antyhing that seems bad.

Mom never looked at me as if I don't deserve to be treated like a baby anymore.

Nothing d

[chimii12]

MY UNFORGETTABLE VACATION

My unforgettable vacation is when we visited my favorite 2nd hometown, MARINDUQUE we visited my grandma's place which is MARINDUQUE, Marinduque also has a beach and a beautiful scenery. We stayed at Marinduque at 7days (1 week) we also had a roadtrip, we went to Pulo island, Boac Marinduque laylay port, and The famous church in Marinduque, BOAC CATHEDRAL we went to church and we visit many of our relatives i enjoyed my trip in Marinduque with my family before we go back to Marikina we went to Kamay ni hesus which is located to (Lucban Quezon Province) and had a boodle fight in my aunt's place in Lucena we had a good and safe trip especially a happy Trip!!:)

[aleiammostoles]

I joined in SLSU College Rondalla in Lucban, Quezon. Since when I was in First Year, I already joined and attended many practices there through google meet because of the pandemic. But, in the Second year of my College days, I already experienced a face to face training sessions with all the members of Rondalla which totally amazed me with many talents and skills of my co-members when it comes in playing instruments. With this, it motivates me a lot and it enhanced my skills and knowledge in playing different instruments like the banduria, octavina, bass and guitar. But, I am an octavina player in our group which is very challenging in my part beacuse I can say that I'm a beginner although I already had a prior knowledge about it but, honestly it was a fun and grateful experienced to show your love and passion in music, and my determinations to learn more.

[thedorkreadstheworld]

I’m happy to be in this beautiful resto-resort where the food was great, plants are charming and the backdrop is the enchanting Mt. Banahaw. It’s perfection that I want to invite my friends for an overnight stay here.

I’m a city boy for most of my time here on earth but now I’m at this age that I know I will be happy going to places like this…you see, seeing trees and plants makes me excited now and I now find comfort when life is slow and predictable. I’m changing.

August 27, 2022 / 5:29 PM / Linang ni LK, Lucban, Quezon Province

[akocomyk]

Had a creepy and sad dream this early morning

I couldn't let go of it.

I remember the first parts of it being in the new office of my previous company and we were all preparing for some big formal event in a nearby location. Some of my old officemates were ignoring me.

Moments later, we were all trying to change outfits for that particular event, and when I tried to change, I found out that I wasn't able to bring the pants for my suit. Then I started panicking and talking to different people. An old college classmate was there, all suited up, and I tried to ask him for help but he just brushed me aside.

BUT... there were a bunch of girls who volunteered on helping me. And... they really started doing their work—as in do my hair, makeup, undressing me and making me try on some clothes...

And then... somehow it changed into a different location... and a different story.

I was with a group of people in a place where the road bends—kinda similar to those in Kawit, Cavite—and there were some teenage kids who were jumping and causing a small earthquake.

But then our group was led inside a museum... explaining why the earth shakes at the slightest movement. It turns out, below the streets of Kawit were tunnels and secret passages used during Spanish era and until World War II.

Many towering shrines and statues in honor of the Virgin Mary stood before in that part of Cavite. If you looked on the horizon back then, rows of statues of great heights would fill your vision.

The museum then turned out to be an exhibit of Virgin Mary images. I felt scared just being in that place. Hundreds of sculptures were there—some in various ages of decay, some beautiful in their pristine condition.

Then our group ran outside. Because we've had enough of the place

Then I ran over my mother. She was wearing a red blouse, the one she wore when we went to Lucban, Quezon.

And I was shocked. And I started crying.

My mother walked away.

That moment, I knew everything wasn't real. I remembered that I can only see my mother in my dreams.

I grabbed the nearest person to me—a college classmate from a different course. And I hugged her and cried.

That's when I woke up.

[veraairalucban]

MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The wind dances with my medium black hair as I walk towards the sea. My chocolate-colored eyes stared at the setting sun and felt the rushing wind on my pale skin. I am Vera Aira Lucban. Most of my acquaintances and friends call me Vera, so I'm used to it even though my parents call me by my second name. I just finished my birthday on the 5th of February, and I am currently seventeen years old. In the seventeen years I have lived in this world, I have never had a severe problem. With His help, I can overcome all of them. Because of this, I am afraid that, like the characters in the books I have read, the laughter I have released over the past years may also be replaced by sadness. However, my passion for reading books still lingered. Reading a book takes me into a world with no problems and nothing to think about. Reading is my break. My other hobby is drawing, but not the usual drawing with pencil and paper. The times are modern, so I am also one who kept up with its change. I draw with my cellphone and various apps where I can draw. This is called digital art. By drawing, I can relax my mind and make my friends happy because I draw their faces. Apart from these, I also love to help other people, whether I know them or not. My heart rejoices when I see them happy because I helped them. I also can't bear to keep quiet even though I know I can do something. But they say that sometimes it is terrible to be kind, especially when you are very kind. Even if they're abusing my kindness, saying no is not in my vocabulary; this is what I hate most about myself. There's this article that I've read before which says that it's okay to say no because it's our right as human beings. It's okay to say no, especially if what you're being asked to do doesn't help you personally. It's not selfishness to think of oneself. I always imprint that in my mind, so I'm trying to say no at least once. Maybe I'm like that because I want to be an expert in the science of psychology, not now or in the years to come. I promise myself that no matter what happens, I will be a Psychologist, bringing change to this world.

[divinity-infinity]

el fili sanders sides au? 👀👀👀👀

Yeshhhhhh

I was thinking of them as the tropang nerds (y'know, the students that want to have a language school) but then I realized that Janus could make a really good Simoun...🤔

I'm sticking to the tropang nerds for this au lmao but I WILL draw Janus as Simoun...

So far I'm thinking (judging my how I perceived them when I first read El Noli this quarantine and from their descriptions in the book hindi pa kasi naman natatalakay ngayon hehe fourth quarter pa):

-Thomas as Basilio/Placido (both have a lot of problems but deserve all the love)

-Roman as Isagani (creative people)

-Virgil as Pecson (habitual worriers)

-Logan as Sandoval (like to debate and speak out meaningful words)

-Patton as Macaraig (pretty sure Patton would definitely let students board in his house for free)

-Remus as Tadeo (acc. to my book Tadeo "nagsasalita nang malaswa" which kinda???? Fits remus???)

-Janus as Juanito (according to the book Juanito is "balimbing" or takes both sides which is kinda like the two-faced snek boy) i definitely can see a simoun janus though 👀👀👀👀👀👀

Also completely unrelated to the el filu au but I personally headcanon filipino!patton to be lucbanin/from lucban,quezon because self projection lmao

[ohkthoughts]

@21

happy birthday Kesha, can you believe it your 21 last time you were just this 18 year old girl who is still clueless and afraid of things, not so confident and full of doubt but did you see how you’ve grown. did you notice the things you have overcome, why don’t we trip down to memory lane senior high- it was a challenging school year for you having been the first ones to study in this curriculum but with the help of the best people you’ve done it and even graduated with honors and was awarded outstanding in your academic strand. then your world was shook when you knew you didn’t pass the UPCAT you were very disappointed with yourself and you blame yourself. college- clinging on to God’s promise you studied your first year at Southern Luzon State University the same university where you graduated senior high school which was a very nice school and because you got waitlisted you took up Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education and during that time you made up your mind that you were not really into teaching but during your stay there you met great people who became your friends and you know what they even trusted you to be their class president which I know you aren’t really a good leader but still you tried to be responsible and a good listener to them to the point that even your seniors entrusted you the academic organization and I know that is a much bigger responsibility for you and you were so scared thinking that you can't handle it. during those times you were really planning to transfer to UPLB, you were very determined that’s why you were hesitant to accept the responsibility and you had many thoughts about it but still you tried then you failed, you failed your org, your leadership and you were so apologetic towards your org mates, you doubted your leadership and it got the best of you. realizing that this org was too much for you, you handed the responsibility to the one you know that is capable of leading. you really did your best to maintain a GWA which was required for you to transfer- while you were processing your documents you really felt God’s approval because there were a few circumstances that you thought that you will never get to UP but guess what? you are now currently taking up BS-Development Communication and you remember the days when you got interviewed by the college sec and you got accepted you were on cloud nine and super thanking your Father in heaven for allowing you to study in this university. for the first week you were very excited to learn and with the Taal eruption going on you were adjusting and were able to meet new friends and a very warm community. then the pandemic happened and that just kick you like classes were cancelled, the sem ended early and you see you were like so happy that finally you’re in this university but then COVID-19 so quarantine- from march to now, september you and the whole country was in quarantine and during these times you felt down, anxious and you became super lazy but you had your good days, you were restored, it gave you time to reflect and get to know Jesus more and discovered that you have this great longing for Him and spark your heart for the lost. you were able to gather and have a youth fellowship in your church where you help others to have that desire in knowing Jesus more, building relationship with Him. do you remember your Ate Awit in your church and you saw her leading you and the youths in your fellowship and for that you admired her, her faith and her desire in discipling you and the others and now looking at yourself i believe you are also doing it little by little.

I remember I was so in a hurry to grow up, to be like my Ate in our church, I was in a hurry to be like her, to have this and to have that and I tried, during in my senior year I tried sharing gospel to my friends but it turns out I’m not yet ready, I’m not prepared. I realized that I needed to strengthen my faith first before others and thankfully God used someone to help me grow my faith and that is through Ate Coleen of ENC Lucban. Then during in my first year of college at SLSU I met some of my brothers and sisters in Christ and we started a fellowship with our classmates but we also stopped because we knew as a group that we were working for the kingdom but not for the King, we had to check our hearts and intentions. I came to UPLB where I met this warm community, a family I met the CRU(CCC) community and this family helped me adjust to the new environment or culture in elbi and they also helped me get closer to God, helped me desire a spirit-filled life also with the help of my discipler Ate K. During this quarantine, the Lord planted a desire in my heart to lead a discipleship group and now that I’ve thought of it maybe during those times when I tried to lead a group, share gospel and many more ministries, God was equipping me, He was teaching me so that when the right time comes I will be ready. “ When the time is right I, the Lord will make it happen,”Isaiah 60:22. Now that I am going into young adulthood I’m 21! I am excited on what more great things God has in store for me on how He will use me in His ministry.

 �� oh wow this came out very long, well I typed hahhaa from the heart, if you’re still here thank you for reading :) i hope through this long thought u were encouraged and if you want to know more about Jesus we can talk :)

 To God be all the glory!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind can imagine the things             that God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Cor. 2:9 

[kriaror]

Media Manipulation

According to the University of Wisconsin, “media manipulation is a sociotechnical process in which motivated actors use specific conditions or features of an information ecosystem to generate public attention and influence public discourse through deceptive, creative, or unfair means.”

With the help of social media, we can freely express our thoughts and post about anything these days. What we see and hear can have an impact on how we understand things. Seeing as people can freely state their opinions for all to see, other people are occasionally influenced by them without realizing that what the other person said was false. Media manipulation can be both positive and negative depending on how you perceive it, how it affects you, and how you use it.

The election period last year is an example of how media manipulation had a significant impact on Filipinos. There have been numerous debates over whether Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was actually good or not. Since his regime took place years ago and we lack firsthand knowledge of what transpired, we base our opinions on what we see, read, and hear. Others have read articles and written evidence of what Marcos has done in the past. Some people, on the other hand, formed their opinions solely based on what they heard from others.

There is no doubt that our experiences differ from those of others. For example, if you lived in the north of the Philippines during Marcos' regime, you probably had a good experience; however, if you lived in Metro Manila, you probably saw how many people suffered or were a victim of martial law. I recall my tito telling me that he resided in Lucban, Quezon, during the martial law. He claimed that none of them had any idea what was going on in Metro Manila. When I asked my lola about her experience, she told me about how her husband, my lolo, was once kidnapped and tortured psychologically. As I previously stated, our experiences differ. This is why many people believe Marcos was a good person. Many people prefer to trust other people's opinions over documented articles and books. However, opinions are formed through experience and knowledge. People’s use of emotions can also highly persuade the readers because if the text has a strong emotional impact on you then you have already been manipulated. 

Returning to my tito's story, why did the people of Quezon, where he was residing, have no idea what was going on in Metro Manila? This could be because Marcos silenced everyone at the time. This is yet another instance of media manipulation. The positive aspects of Marcos were highlighted in the media, while the negative aspects were kept quiet. An article supports this claim saying, “Marcos silenced public criticism and controlled the information that the people had access to. By doing so, Marcos had the final say in whatever passed for the truth.”

I believe that we should be cautious about what we share and learn on the internet. We may unknowingly share and learn misinformation at times. It is also critical to double-check facts and think before sharing information with others.

References:

Research, Citation, & Class Guides: News Literacy Guide: Media Manipulation and False Context. Media Manipulation and False Context - News Literacy Guide - Research, Citation, & Class Guides at University of Wisconsin Whitewater. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://libguides.uww.edu/News-Literacy/media-manip 

Breaking the news: Silencing the media under martial law. Martial Law Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://martiallawmuseum.ph/magaral/breaking-the-news-silencing-the-media-under-martial-law/ 

[crazyhomecooking]

Another recipe creation from my #kitchen. It‘s all about „Pancit Hab-Hab“, a variety of #noodles or #Pancit in the #Philippines 🇵🇭 originated from Lucban Quezon province. It has crispy noodles when uncooked and softer than usual when cooked. I extra bought it at Marikina public market and brought it with me in #viennaaustria 🇦🇹 Prep it with #cabbage #carrot #redbellpepper #scallions #chickenbreast #sausage out of #chicken. For seasoning just #mushroom #sauce and #soy sauce. € € € € € #pancithabhab #recipesharing #recipeideas #recipeoftheday #cook #homecook #instacook #icook # (hier: Vienna, Austria) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpvj01St-wU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=