Itchy Convesation

We had crabs that noon. My erpat just caught them from our pond. I burped after eating, unaware that something freaky would startle me a bit later.

After lunch, I rested in our hut and enjoyed a short siesta. But shortly I felt something strange. There was an unpleasant feeling on my skin as if thousands of higads were crawling on by body. I started getting stomach cramps. My entire body itched intolerably and I felt like the pores of my skin were blocked. There were big and thick rashes from my scalp down to the soles of my feet. I managed to gulp a glass of water before my vision blurred. It made me want to scream and plunge into a drum of freezing water. I wanted to feel numb.

http://www.foodmall.org/images/allergyone_985.jpg

I had some allergy attacks prior to that but that one was the gravest. I’m pretty sure that the previous attacks weren’t triggered by food. My previous attacks were caused by airborne pollutants (ano raw).hehe. They call it “dupang” in our dialect.

What I experienced that afternoon was totally odd. I haven’t the faintest idea why my body reacted that way. That was something I haven’t experienced before. And something that I wouldn’t want to happen ever again. After hours of scratching and almost dying of terrible itch, I felt better.

Few days after, I tried eating other seafood. Next on my list was shrimp. I was really surprised when it gave the same effect. The attack even became more excruciating. I hated that feeling.

The most recent attack happened months ago. I had squid for lunch. And it was confirmed. I’m also allergic to squid. Wheew! No crab. No shrimp. No squid. What else am I allergic to? I think I’ll go crazy if I get allergic to bangus as well.hehe

I’m saddened. Really. I love eating those seafood. I now envy people who can freely eat those without fear of being close to death.   

I’m still wondering why my body reacts this way whenever I eat those food. When I had a med exam for my previous company, the doctor asked me if I’m allergic to something. I told her the whole story and she told me some blah-blahs. I forgot everything that she said. hehe.

I caught my blogger friend Ced, a med stude, online the other night. I took the chance to get some answers that could somehow shed light on me.  

(8:15 PM)
BEERO: May tanong ako, dude. Allergic kasi ako sa hipon at crab. Bat ganun? ano possible causes?
CED: Hmmm…Una kasi pwedeng ung una mong nakain na hipon o crab eh medyo spoiled na, yong malapit ng masira.
BEERO: Galing sa fishpond namin kinakain ko. Fresh pa yun.
CED: Teka patapusin mo muna ko. Yong katawan mo natreat un as antigen o foreign body. Natural gagawa ng defense mechanism mo yong antibody.
BEERO: Ok
CED: So kapag kumain ka ng panibagong hipon o crab ung activated antibody mo lalabanan ung kinain mo na hipon o crab kasi tinandaan ng antibody mo ung food na yon as antigenic. oks ba?
BEERO: Oks na oks. LOL
CED: Usually IgE yong antibody mo na naactivate so responsable sila sa inflammatory response mo like ung rash lips mo nangangapal. Ayun nakatulog ka na.
BEERO: Gising pa ko. (sabi mo kasi patapusin muna kita) Oo nga eh. Di ko talaga matiis ang kati.
CED: Kasi yong IgE mo nagrerelease sila ng substances para maellicit yong mga yon as response.
BEERO: Nagtataka ako kasi dati di ako allergic eh. Ano ba dapat kong gawin?
CED: Alam mo yong asukal?
BEERO: (Oo naman). Bakit?
CED: Kapag may atake ka ng allergies, kain ka ng isang spoonfull ng asukal. Di kaya eh inom ka ng honey.
BEERO: Fatal ba ang ganitong allergy?
CED: Oo naman kapag hindi naagapan.  Pwede maglead sa cardiogenic shock yun.
BEERO: Tinatakot mo yata ako eh.
CED: Pero yong sobrang allergies na as in may respiratory o kaya renal involvement
BEERO: Ganun ba?
CED: Oo. Kaya necessary ang first aid.

I hope our conversation on YM helped those who suffer from the same health problem. Thanks to Ced for the free consultation. Always remember, prevention is better than cure. hehe

Fun In Tacloban

After the tragic and traumatic events that happened few days ago, Tacloban City will be celebrating Sangyaw Festival tomorrow, June 29.

That’s how resilient Pinoys are. No matter how scarred we are, we can still manage to put on a happy face. Having said that, everything is set for Sangyaw Festival.

I haven’t watched Sangyaw Festival before. I actually thought that it’s the replacement of Pintados Kasadyaan Festival. I just knew lately, (from a reader) that Sangyaw Festival and Pintados Kasadyaan Festival are separate festivals. Pintados Kasadyaan Festival was held last June 27.  I also learned from him that the former was organized by the city government while the latter is organized by the provincial government. Wheew! I got totally confused ’cause I haven’t heard about Sangyaw Festival before. Thanks to Benjie Retuerto. I don’t know you personally but thanks for the info.

I’m afraid I could’t tell you what “Sangyaw” means. I was born in Leyte but grew up in Cavite. That expains why I don’t understand some high-falluting Waray  terms. Nevertheless, Sangyaw Festival would still be as grandiose as Pintados. It has just gone bigger and better. 

     

It was published on Tacloban City’s official website that Councilor Cristina Gonzales Romualdez (the former actress and now the wife of Tacloban City’s mayor) has invited some city mayors to join the festival parade. Her efforts paid off because there will be contingents from Cebu, Bacolod, Surigao, CDO, and others vying for the half million cash prize. It’s really something to watch out for.

But unfortunately I would have to miss it…again. It was in 2006 when I last watched, or should I say joined the event. I was then an intern at M.O.R. Tacloban (the local FM Station of ABS-CBN). I really didn’t understand why we had to ramble through the city and be “flaming hot” at the end of the day. Nobody knew I have a fever that time. Thank God I didn’t pass out in the middle of the street. I could have been in the headlines the next day.

But that didn’t stop me from watching concerts of Brownman Revival and Sugarfree. Nothing can stop me from doing what I will (Dingdong, pahiram muna ng linya ha) haha. There’s always plenty of nightlife in Tacloban in June. You can actually drink til you drop. The whole RTR Plaza is provided for drunkards like me. hehe.   

There’s more to that. This could also a chance for you guys to visit some historical places and landmarks in Tacloban City and in some neighboring towns.

   

Photos Courtesy of my former classmate Melody de Luna. I had to to grab these photos without her go signal. I asked for her permission, though. hehe.

This could be the perfect occasion for those who want to experience fun and excitement in this side of the region.

If you’re free this weekend, fly to Tacloban and you’ll surely have fun…

’cause once you see Leyte, you shall return!   

 Log on to http://tacloban.gov.ph for more info and updates.

 

Insomniac

Darkness covered the four corners of my room. There was silence all over it. And there were no people outside. No uninteresting “talks”. No unwanted noise. The narrow patio outside was totally deserted. Everyone was asleep…except me.

Lying on my bed, I opened my heavy eyes. These eyes have been wanting to close but my mind seemed so restless. I felt like I was preoccupied with many things but I wasn’t thinking of anything at all.

I let my eyes behold the emptiness of my room. My eyes caught something bright, a green bulb that I use as the source of light when I sleep. But now, it’s no use. I felt like I would be awake whole night.

The squeaking sound of lizards was the only thing that breaks the silence. I was gazing at them as they play freely on the ceiling.

This small green bulb lightens up the room. I can see things clearer now. But all of them are lifeless. Not even the air that the electric fan blows can bring them to life. I’m alone. I’m used to it, though.

I’ve been tossing and turning on my bed for quite some time. I spent so much time in embracing my pillow and wishing that I would finally snore after few minutes. I wanted to close my eyes and fall asleep. But the problem is that I can’t. I really can’t. It seems that my call center days are all coming back. I thought that the polyphasic “sleeps” that I had before would come once again.

Then, I felt that something was crawling on my skin. Damn! It was one filthy cockroach. WTF!  I hate it. I hate to see cockroaches fly everywhere and get near me. I hate it even more to see rats eat the little food that I have. I would get rid of these pests soon!  

I got up from the bed and sat on a wooden chair. It felt good to cover my face with the palms of my hands. However, my eyes hurt every time my eyelids touch them. It felt like the smallest grains of sand were scattered in my eyes. If only I could ask my eyes and mind to cooperate, I would have done it earlier.

I grabbed my cellphone roughly to check the time. I was a bit horrified to see that it was already past twelve.

I lied down once again and finally lapsed into unconsciousness…

 

 

Goodbye…

I don’t wanna lose you but you strayed. I am helpless. I can’t find a way to get you back. I admit my fault. You can put the blame on me. But believe me when I say that I didn’t mean to lose you.

You caught my attention when I first saw you. You look awesome and attractive in black. I’ve been wanting to touch and hold you since that day. I wanted to look at you every now and then.

I did everything for you to be mine. I really wanted to bring you home. You just don’t know how glad I was when I finally held you in my arms. That moment is very unforgettable that I can even recall it vividly.

Nothing and nobody would ever equal the days and nights that we shared together. You’ve been a very good companion ’cause I never heard any complaint from you. I apologize for the times when I pressed you so hard and when I took you home so late. And sorry for the times when I overused you…

Your voice was soothing as you sing softly on my ear. That was the sweetest lullaby I ever heard before I fall asleep. I can’t forget the nights when you lie next to me. I would never forget the sensation that I get when your smooth skin touches mine. I can’t imagine my nights without you. I can hardly sleep without you by my side. I’m haunted.

It would be so hard for me to wake up every morning. You were the one who greets me with your gentle voice. I used to hold you as soon as I open my eyes. You were then waiting for me to touch you so you would stop.

You made me feel that I’m the most handsome guy on Earth ’cause you can’t get enough of me. You’ve been taking my pictures anytime, everywhere.  I was then your favorite subject despite of my not-so-handsome face.

You told me everything that I wanna know and helped me communicate with the people I love the most. And yet you didn’t get envious and jealous even if they stole my time for you. I appreciate that. Really.

Now, tell me. How can I ever forget you? You left me all alone. Nobody and nothing would ever complete this emptiness in me.

I was praying that you would come back. Unfortunately, you didn’t. It has been two days since you left. I don’t know where to find you. I don’t have an idea if you’d still be in my arms. I don’t know if I could ever get hold of you once again. What’s worse is that it would be so tough for me to replace you…

I know that God takes something away if He has something better to give. But I don’t want to replace you as much as possible. You satisfied me. I can never ask for anything better than you!

Goodbye…Clamshell!

Bewildered

I am now 23! And I don’t know if I should be happy that I reached this age…

Damn, I’m not getting any younger. I just realized that it has been 23 years since my mother tried to abort me. hehe. Yes. That’s how ruthless she is! But I didn’t allow her to kill me. Those medicines didn’t kick in for a child destined to be a star! ahehe.  So here I am now, alive and kicking at the age of 23!

Sigh…growing old is really something that I can’t get away from. Well, I have to accept that I already spent 23 years on Earth. I can’t help but think what transpired during my 23 years on this planet. Have I served my purpose? Have I achieved everything that I want? Have I grown up to be a wise and mature man?

I can’t answer all these stupid questions. I’m clueless right now. But I’ll try to provide answers, though…

I don’t even know if I’m living a purpose-driven life (ha?). What’s my purpose, anyway? I’m sorry but I can’t figure it out! I haven’t found my niche until now. I took AB Communication but I don’t intend to become a journalist, broadcaster, or whatsoever. I hated our Broadcast Arts and Performance class because I had to face the  camera. I don’t want my classmates to count my freckles on my face while staring at a huge TV screen. hehe. Not only that. I also had to sound like Gene Orejena, the anchor of “Good Morning Philippines”,  while carefully reading the prompter in front of me. But I enjoyed shooting documentaries, music videos, and plugs somehow. I was the official cameraman of our group before. You can laugh at me when I say that I only wanted to become a cameraman. haha. Perhaps, I should follow that “calling” - become a media practitioner and make big stories from ordinary people.

I just work eight hours a day without even thinking where I’m heading to and what will I be in the next few years. I wanted to become a disc jockey before but I landed in a different job. I can’t boast about any achievement. I’m just a call center quitter and a struggling writer. I even envy my friend who’s now an editor in chief of a local newspaper. But it’s fine. I’m not a good writer like him anyway.hehe. What an excuse! I don’t have career goals, so to say.

And I don’t think I’m matured enough. Everything seems so blurry for me. If maturity is measured by the clothes I wear, then I’m not mature. If it’s about the ability to decide on things and a clear perception of the future, then I’m way too far maturity. It’s because I’m only thinking of my short-term goals. That includes being able to eat three times a day, earning something for myself and my family, and buying something that I want. After this comes a long and broad ________.

Take things as they come. That’s how I live my life…No plans. No expectations.

But I don’t think I should live this way. I need to realize the purpose of my existence. I need to have plans. I need to have long-term goals.

I want to make to a change this time. I should reflect on the thing that matters most. After all, I’m the “driver” of my own life and I’m the “writer” of my own history…

The questions are waiting to be answered. It’s up to me to fill in that blank…the blank that would complete every piece of me! ahehe