navigating

i know that the world stopped and watched with bated breath the much awaited oath-taking of the president of the United States of America – Barack Obama. watching the rites on television, i could not helped but admire the great US of A. it is but befitting to call them a superpower. it reaffirmed my belief that there is no place like the US of A, when it comes to democracy – how they welcome the people of different colors into their country, live there and called them their own. and of course, i am but proud to say that, because they welcomed charice, and let her performed in this momentous event. she is not, an American citizen but a Filipino. and she sang GOD BLESS AMERICA! what a feat! i guess it will not be long, charice will become an American citizen soon. and i don't know whether to be sad, for our country will loss a world-class performer or be happy for her that eventually her dreams will come true. anyway, to charice - GOD BLESS!!!

i’ve had a feeling that 2008 dealt me a very bad blow. First, there was the uncertainty of my job. Second, it took both of my parents away. Father left us last April, and mother just last December 30. I’m still feeling the loss. We are. I’ve felt I lost a part of me. A very essential part. And I’m hurting. So much so, that I felt I’m floating and just flowing with the tide. I felt that I lost an anchor. We (my siblings) were so focused on them for years. They were our reason for getting together on special occasions - birthdays, Christmases, new years, coming home, weddings, fiestas, successes, losses. They were our tradition that we are trying to impart to our children. And suddenly, they were gone. Of course, we have our families to turn to. But still the feeling that we lost something vital in our lives is palpable. How can we celebrate again? Maybe that is what Father Andy (a family friend) felt. He administered the last rites of both my parents. He told us that there is a reason why Mama left us on this particular day- she wanted us to be together on Christmas and New Year and continue the tradition. Why Tatay (my father) left us on April – because he wanted us to be together on summer. Where everyone especially the kids are on vacation from school. What remained in my mind during Father Andy’s homily was what he said – that even in death, our parents were still thinking about us – their children.