Today I was a good citizen

For my morning runs, I usually wake up at 4:40am. My phone's alarm is already programmed on days when I have training. But on this particular morning, something else woke me up. I had already hit the "disable" button when I heard a faint ringing sound of a bell.

It seemed distant at first, but it had a particular pitch that alarmed me. It sounded like that of a fire alarm drill. I quickly jumped out of bed, and opened my room's window. The ringing grew louder. I stuck my head out. I didn't see any smoke nor fire nor people scrambling out of neighboring buildings. My heart started to race.

Still the ringing continued. I went out of my room, and went to the kitchen. I usually drink a cup of Milo before I run, so I prepared the pot to boil water. Still, the ringing. I peered out of the kitchen window, I see now the two adjacent flats. The ringing grew louder, it seems it's coming from one of them. No smoke, fire or panicking people, still. Thank God.

I wasn't sure if I should be scared of seeing nothing at all, or seeing thick, dark smoke coming from one of the buildings.

The pot whistled, so I poured the freshly boiled water into my mug. I went back to my room hot drink in hand, I opened my computer. I quickly Google-ed "fire department". I clicked on the first local result. Skimming through the site, there was no useful info. No number which I can call. The site takes pride in it's awards and national service program, but stupid of them not to publish contact numbers for emergency! That should be at least in the homepage!

I Google-ed again, and I found 911. I didn't know 911's applicable here in Singapore. I think 911 should be worldwide. Governments must set up 911 as their emergency hotline.

After a couple of phone rings, someone picked up. I told the the guy in the other line of ringing. I said I didn't see smoke nor fire nor people scrambling out. Just that alarming ring, usually heard from fire drills. I gave him my address. I told him the ringing comes from the neighboring buildings. Then he said he'll have a police squad come ove and investigate.

Still a bit nervous, I finished my Milo. I changed into my running shorts and top. Slipped into my shoes. Maybe 5 minutes had passed, then the ringing stopped. Thank God!

I think it was because of me. A faint smile crept to my face. I am proud of myself. Today I was a good citizen. Not of the Philippines though, sadly. But a good citizen indeed.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Lamppost shows you the Way, Truth and Life

The Lamppost - The name of this room that could locate the Island is an allusion to the lamppost in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' by C.S. Lewis. The lamppost in Lewis' novel lead was landmark that showed the children how to get back to their world. --TV.COM/Lost

WARNING: Lost spoilers and an entry that talks about religion and morals.

The Lamppost showed Ben and Jack how to go back to the Island. The latest episode surely had me on the edge of my seat, (or the edge of my bed!). A lot of questions were answered in this episode. Like how John Locke died from Season4, how the Oceanic6 was able to go back to the Island. But a lot of questions were also posed after 41-minutes and 45-seconds of Episode 6. Questions like where's Baby (well, now a toddler) Aaron, why is Sayid in handcuffs on the way to Guam, who and what was the significance of that Mid-Eastern guy... Tsk tsk! They considered the Island as considered a sacred, mysterious place that draws them together, whatever their differences are.

Well, yesterday, I had re-discouvered my own sort of Lamppost. It has been my Lamppost since I was small, but over the past few years I forgot I had one. It was a constant, always-there figure in my life, but until one seeks it's refuge, one wouldn't bother going to the Lamppost. I'm talking about Church. And yes, I attended yesterday's services at 1030am at the Greenbelt Chapel.

I consider the Church as a "safe" place. I remember when I was small, my whole family would attend the Sunday 8-am mass. Rain or shine, we should all dress-up and proceed to the nearby Church. I'd attend without hesitation. I'm happy going to Church. But lately though, as I grow up, I took on a few principles on living life-- that somehow contradicts the Church. That is when my Church attendance trickled to twice a month, then once a month. Until lately, I attended only during special occassions like Christmas or my birthday. I think i mentioned that in my previous post about Bare: the musical.

I felt peaceful and safe yesterday. Even if it's summer-y already, I didn't bother the warm weather. There was a bit of breeze anyway. I was a bit late actually, I arrived during the Responsorial Psalm. I somehow listened through the Celebrant's Homily, but my mind was more of thinking what he's talking about. I was surprised to still remember the responses! I was alone but YES, i felt peaceful and safe!

I want to do it again next Sunday, and the Sundays that follow.

have some Bare...

i was invited by Gibbs to watch Bare last night.

we met up with MGG prior to the show. i also met miss sharmaine buencamino, an award-winning actress. i instantly recognized her as being the nanay of bea alonzo's character in One More Chance. alavet!

anyway, bare is a love story-- between two Catholic high-school boys that is. things get complicated when one can't handle the fact that the other is so damn proud of their relationship. the other just wants to shout out to the rest of the world that their in love. he can't stand being out-ed. mix in drugs, sex and booze, and you got one edgy play.

there were two things that i like about the story/play. first is that i feel for peter-- the guy who's so proud of his love for jason but somehow gets disappointed with the jason's attitude to it. ever since, i'm always this type. you might call it the giver, expecting nothing in return. i'm happy with the fact that i love to love. i am human after all, so after a while, i tend to give up when i see there's no chance. no spark of hope. second thing that i like about the play is that "god don't make no trash". i'm not a devout Catholic. i go to church only on special occasions, like christmas, new year's, my birthday, etc. i came from a Catholic background. a family of regular Sunday church-goers, with my education in Catholica elementary and high schools. i actually believe there is a God-- a higher being, and who's created all of us equally. i'm just satisfied with the fact that what i do, i do it for the greater glory/good and that i don't step on anyone else's rights.

let me share with you, a couple of songs from the play that i sooooo love. these are from the Indianapolis staging of the said play.

Role of a Lifetime	God Don't Make No Trash

find time to watch Bare, visit their multiply site so you can check the terriffic students who staged this play-- http://baremanila.multiply.com. the play runs february 17-21 and 24-28 at 8PM at the Gonzaga Exhibit Hall in ADMU. You may contact alexa yupangco for tickets at +639177220805.