kaytee’s Neighborhood

Bayan Ko

I just couldn't control my tears when this song was played right after the mass at La Salle gym this morning, with most of the few thousands of people rising on clenched fists, including priests and nuns.

Ang bayan kong Pilipinas
Lupain ng ginto't bulaklak
Pag-ibig ang sa kanyang palad
Nag-alay ng ganda't dilag.

At sa kanyang yumi at ganda
Dayuhan ay nahalina
Bayan ko, binihag ka
Nasadlak sa dusa.

Ibon mang may layang lumipad
Kulungin mo at umiiyak
Bayan pa kayang sakdal dilag
Ang 'di magnasang makaalpas!

Pilipinas kong minumutya
Pugad ng luha ko't dalita
Aking adhika,
Makita kang sakdal laya!

The past weeks have been quite hectic. Before I could finish decorating the house, Christmas was over. Last week, I kept back in the storage boxes the decorations outside the house, including the unadorned garland at the main door. But the mini-Christmas village, the tree and the belen at the sala are still there, maybe until my birthday, which falls right after the Chinese new year. No more Lucky Route though since 7 or 8 years ago. It's a working day..and night so I don't think I'd have time for that. Besides, there's no one to drive me around.

Anyway, I will remember Christmas 2007 with these:

I really love Tagaytay, especially at this time of the year. I just hope we can soon have our own house built there. It was particularly fun with the family almost complete to celebrate Ate Edith's 53rd birthday on Dec. 1.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2PWfB4lurT4&feature=related

COLBIE CAILLAT

"Bubbly"

I've been awake for a while now
You've got me feelin' like a child now
'Cause every time I see your bubbly face
I get the tingles in a silly place

And it starts in my toes
And I crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go

The rain is falling on my window pane
But we are hiding in a safer place
Under covers staying dry and warm
You give me feelings that I adore

And it starts in my toes
Makes me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go

What am I gonna say
When you make me feel this way
I just mmmmm

And they start in my toes
Makes me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes
I always know
That you make me smile
Please stay for a while now
Just take your time
Wherever you go

I've been asleep for a while now
You tuck me in just like a child now
'Cause every time you hold me in your arms
I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth

And it starts in my soul
And I lose all control
When you kiss my nose
The feeling shows
'cause you make me smile baby
Just take your time now
Holdin' me tight

Wherever wherever wherever you go
Wherever wherever wherever you go

wherever you go
I always know
'Cause you make me smile
Even just for a while

Six of 10 people I texted Tuesday night about the Batasan explosion did not seem to trust that the police investigation of the incident would yield credible  results, and that Congress is full of shit. Their common theory: it's another deadly gas emission from the septic tank.

"Kinonfirm daw ng PNP. Indisputably full of shit daw kasi HoR (House of Representatives. Sama, no? - WO texted back.

"Is it true? Who's shitting this time?" asked BT.

"Am sure it's methane gas." said another.

And I thought it was over after three people had died and at least 7 others remained in different hospitals. But before I left the office at 1:30 a.m., I got it from my lawyer: "Let me guess, septic tank gas na naman ang cause." He felt sorry when I told him I lost a friend, Maan Bustalino, who expired almost two hours ago, because of serious injuries she sustained from the blast.

The explosion was quite powerful. A friend who was about two kilometers away from the site felt the tremor. My sister and her children in Diliman heard it, and so did WO who lives in Xavierville, Katipunan.

Batasan became my second home for 15 years. I was assigned there in July 1992 and left the beat in December 2006. My assignment was briefly disrupted for six months when I was assigned to the Senate in April 2000, until I was  sent back during the impeachment proceedings against Erap.

I know a lot of people there, particularly the staff, like sweet Maan who has been there since the time of Gary T, I guess, or since Lolo Meniong's first term.

The blast site is where I sometimes waited for the shuttle to Commonwealth. That's also where I often saw Maan, either waiting for the shuttle , or sharing a ride with her boss, or Diday and other staffers.

The police and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno were quick to point to Basilan Rep. Wahab Akbar, said to belong to the Abu Sayyaf, as the target for assassination. It wasn't a handiwork of terrorists, they said. OHUM!!!!

They're not saying yet that it's a shit. As of now, they're still saying it's a bomb, but they have yet to find out what kind of bomb..probably a remote detonated bomb.

In the Glorietta 2 blast, the police came out with the "shit" theory on the fourth day...Monday, and ruled out the bomb angle.

The chemist who said materials used in the military's bomb-making was found was, I heard, sent to Bangkok to attend an anti-terrorism seminar. Someone from the CIDG who was initially convinced it was a bomb that exploded had to step back after feeling the heat ...until the shit theory came out..and pursued.

It's been almost a month and the investigation report the police promised to release two weeks ago is still nowhere in sight. We have not seen the foreign experts' findings, which the pnp said corroborate its findings that the explosion was an accident and not caused by a bomb.

The police said the methane gas accumulated in the septic tank. Spokesmen for the Ayalas said there is no septic tank in Glorietta. what it has are sump pits. And how did the police find the septic tank when the basement, where the septic tank is supposed to be, is under one meter deep in waste water?

I just hope there won't be another big, killer explosion before the police completes the Batasan blast probe.

Today, the blast may be at the House justice committee which will vote on the sufficiency in substance of the impeachment complaint against Arroyo, while the Senate investigates the gift-giving in Malacanang days before Halloween.