Jandrea...so far

Badjao Restaurant, Palawan FMM convent, Tagaytay      Anything worth having has to be pursued through many roads, many of them bumpy. A few of them may provide interesting sights along the way. Sometimes, one thinks, the journey is just as, if not more important, than the destination. A good friend of mine said, "Victory is in the struggle and not in reaching the goal. Failure is when I don't struggle anymore."  Wise words coming from someone in a very difficult journey of fighting for his life. Moon Garden, Tagaytay      Many times, we trudge along wearily, not realizing all that we gain by our tenacity. We move forward, little by little, each step a little cause for celebration. Each accomplishment strengthens our spirit, increases our resolve to reach our goal.      The end is not always in sight. Sometimes, we think it is impossible to reach it. At times, it seems not worth all the effort we put into achieving it.  But that tiny light at the very end ho

Yes, I'm sick! I'm not too sure if it's the flu because I'm not showing all the symptoms. Well, not all at once anyway. Here's a rundown of the unfolding of the ailment:                      First, started getting woozy Sunday evening. This, I attributed to a high cholesterol lunch of batchoy.              By Monday, woozy had progressed to dizzy - a mild attack of vertigo which prevented me from going to work.           Tuesday, my nose started to drip more than usual. Nothing that a boxful of tissue couldn't handle. Or so I thought!           On Wednesday, I had to force myself to go to work even if I was sneezing violently all over the place.           Thursday,  there was very little energy left to give a lecture in class as I had also started coughing. With feelings!           Friday was spent in bed trying to fight off the virus or bacteria or whatever name the enemy goes by.             By Saturday morning, my nose and upper lip ar

Piano Recital at Ensemble Hall, SJC Saturday, October 29, 2005 I must have been 10 or 11 when I nurtured visions of myself playing on a stage of a large concert hall. But that dream was not to be. After studying piano for maybe 14 years, I realized the only audience I would end up impressing with my playing would be... no one. Not even myself! Today, those thoughts were confirmed while struggling with a piano piece that I have studying. After a few years, I still can't get it right. Drat and a double drat! Anything "artistic" that only some can aspire to do, I have at least learned how to do at some point in my life. I can play the piano, guitar, and marimba. I sang with a choir for some years, even earning a chance to be soloist at least once. I have acted in and even directed plays, performing in many corners of the country. I even used to paint a little and when inspiration moves me, still try to draw. Dance lessons were part of my summer repertoi