Peaceful Town There is no argument about it. Typhoon Mario brought havoc in almost every corner of Metro Manila and the surrounding provinces, but in one little town in the upland Cavite God was lenient. He kept the almost piece of Paradise almost undisturbed. There were no flooded areas, no landslides, no brownouts. No fears, no hurries… The strongest Typhoon happened in this town in 1926 when the roofing of the Church was blown out. Alfonso is almost in level with Tagaytay where the climate is very seldom uncomfortable. This must be the reason why resorts are fast sprouting left and right almost as fast as building of comfortable and beautiful rest houses in this area turning the whole paradise-like place into a haven for retirees. Considering the troubles happening left and right almost everywhere, Alfonso remains relatively the most Peaceful Town since it was awarded as Cavite’s Most Peaceful Town in 1952.

NEW SENIOR TRICK This happened three days ago. I just finished my last gulp of brewed coffee and was about to read the newspaper when I found the page blurring but I wasn’t at all dizzy. The whole surrounding was twirling as If I had too much wine the night before though I was a totally good boy last night. I wasn’t feeling anorexic or unstable but this was the first time I felt this way. It could have been easier and wiser to go back to bed and just rest but it could also bring about fatal consequences. I realized I was just being acquainted to a new symptom probably associated to aging. I tried my forever helpful acupressure by pressing strongly to a point three inches behind the wrist of both arms, alternately, while looking straight to the farthest point, to no avail. Having memorized every part of our house ever since, I inched myself towards my bedroom in the midst of a foggy ‘quirling’ path with the intention of lying flat on bed but on second thought and for fear of early lying flat forever, I slowly took my bamboo walking stick and proceeded to my favorite Netcafe, ever careful not to fall accidentally and be hit by a rushing vehicle. I was able to finish my routine uneventfully. Nature must be rehearsing me for just another senior trick. This must be a prelude to Alzheimer’s coming. Of course he is welcome to pay a visit for as long as he do not stay

"BAGYITO"

BAGYITO “Bagyito”Luis came like a naughty little boy that cheerfully played around. At home it introduced endless rhythmic raindrops that gave me an interesting experience of little eternity. The good feeling was challenged by another strong force that dared to make a mess on the bed if unattended. The calling of a full bladder is not a joke. I was forced to jump out of bed in surrender to relieve myself quickly. I went back to bed to continue listening to the cadence of the raindrops. This time my mind shifted to places where the “Bagyito” was not only playing naughtily but already destructively. Nature has been unkind many times. Luis turned erratic and is no longer a “bagyito” but an angry typhoon cutting classes in many areas of the country. I don’t find it interesting anymore to listen to its rhythmic raindrops, the sample of little eternity.

OF ROOTS AND GROWTH Things in this world are interrelated. Like Life and Love as well as death. Like Root and Growth which could easily be interpreted with the help of the three Ss, the SEED, the SOWER and the SOIL. In truth we are all SOWERS of sort (planters of lessons, ideas, inspirations, etc.) We choose the best SEED to plant while at the same time we hope for a good harvest. That is, after first finding the best SOIL (the environment, the school, the company, the neighbors). There is interrelation too between roots and growth. It is very important first to be a good SOWER to plant the SEED to a well cultivated SOIL for the ROOTS to anchor strongly to be able to hold a good GROWTH, after all a good and beneficial growth is all we aim to achieve while we all try our best to pass all the trials and errors that we encounter on our journey through life.