Wandering Blogger

EXCERPTS FROM THE SONG OF FLOWERS BY KHALIL GIBRAN (1883-1931) I AM THE LOVER'S GIFT I AM THE WEDDING WREATH  I AM THE MEMORY OF A MOMENT OF HAPPINESS I AM THE LAST GIFT OF THE LIVING TO THE DEAD I AM PART OF JOY AND PART OF SORROW NIPA HUT REFRESHING WITH NATURES BEST BUKO JUICE

ONE SUMMER AFTERNOON (APRIL 22, 2012) I DECIDED TO VISIT THE LA MESA DAM AND ECOPARK IN FAIRVIEW, QUEZON CITY AS I PROMISED MYSELF TO VISIT LASTTIME WHEN I FEATURED IN THIS BLOG THE SWAMP WERE TEENS USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SWIMMING POOL TO REFRESH THEMSELVES FROM SCORCHING HEAT OF THE SUN. THE FAMILY ENJOY THE SHADES PROVIDED BY THIS TREE WHILE SOME CHILDREN RESTED ON ITS BRANCHES. ASIDE FROM SWIMMING, PICNIC AT THE PARK IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE PAST TIME OF EVERY FILIPINO FAMILY.

I LIVE IN QUEZON CITY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS NOW. I ALWAYS ON THE MOVE FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER BUT WITHIN THE CITY'S MOST POPULATED DISTRICT, DISTRICT 2 WHERE A WELL KNOWN COUNCILORS IN THE NAMES OF MARIANO "MARCING" MEDALLA, RAMON "TOTO" MEDALLA, AND NOW JULIENNE ALYSON RAE V. MEDALLA CAME FROM. I WORKED WITH THE MEDALLA'S SINCE 2003 FIRST, AS SOLEMNIZING OFFICER IN THEIR  FREE MASS WEDDING PROGRAM WHERE AROUND 60,000 COUPLES WERE LEGALIZED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. NOW I STILL WORKED WITH THEM AS A TECHNICAL WRITER OF SORT AND ONE OF HIS LEGISLATIVE STAFF. IN MY THIRTY YEARS OF STAY IN QUEZON CITY, I ONLY VISITED THIS LOVELY PLACE TWICE. WHEN IT IS NOT YET DEVELOPED INTO PARK AND NOW AS AN ECO PARK WHERE RESIDENTS FROM NEARBY CITY'S HELD THEIR PICNICS AND FAMILY CELEBRATION DAY. IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF QUEZON CITY AND NOT YET VISITED THIS ENCHANTING ECO-PARK AS SAYING GOES "YOU MISS A FRACTION OF YOUR LIFE" SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO

THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE SEEMS UNBEARABLE IT IS NO DOUBT THAT IT IS SUMMER TIME. MOST OF THE SWIMMING POOLS IN THE METROPOLIS WERE FILLED OF PEOPLE WANTED TO SELF BAPTIZED  AND SUBMERGED THEMSELVES TO WATER IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ESCAPE SCORCHING HEAT OF THE SUN RAYS. IN SEARCH OF A NEARBY SWIMMING POOL TO REFRESH MYSELF, I WENT TO LA MESA ECO PARK IN FAIRVIEW QUEZON CITY. BUT THE POOL CLOSES AT 4 PM. SO I DECIDED NOT TO COME BACK FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE PLACE WHEN I DECIDED TO TAKE A WALK.  A LITTLE BIT FARTHER FROM THE PARK THERE WAS A GRASSY AREA, I HEARD A COMMOTION AND LAUGHING. MY CURIOSITY BROUGHT ME TO THIS PLACE WHERE CHILDREN ENJOY THE SPILL OVER WATER FROM THE LA MESA DAM. I REMEMBER MY YOUTHFUL DAYS WHEN MY FRIENDS AND I ENJOY THE FRESH WATER OF THE LAKE OF RIZAL. WE USED TO DIVE USING THE BRIDGE AS OUR DIVING BOARD. WE ARE NOT MINDING OF THE DANGER IT WILL BRING US. ALL WE KNOW IS THE THRILL AND THE ENJOYMENT IT GIVES US.

THIS MORNING I WENT TO QUEZON CITY LEGAL OFFICE TO CHECK THE LEGALITY OF A CITY ORDINANCE FILED BY MY BOSS, COUNCILOR JULIENNE ALYSON RAE V.MEDALLA REGARDING AN ORDINANCE REGULATING COCKFIGHTING AND OTHER SIMILAR GAMES DURING FIESTA CELEBRATIONS IN THE BARANGAYS WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF QUEZON CITY AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF. THE SERVICE ELEVATOR FOR THAT PARTICULAR FLOOR IS UNDER REPAIR SO I NEED TO RIDE OTHER COACH UP TO 5TH FLOOR AND FROM THERE USE THE STAIRS GOING TO THE SEVENTH FLOOR. MY OBSERVANT EYES TAKE NOTICE OF AN ARTICLE POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD OF THE PERSONNEL OFFICE ENTITLED JUST FOR A LAUGH.  AS I READ THE ARTICLE, I LEARNED THAT IT IS ABOUT THE STORY OF A PROBLEMATIC MAN WHO WENT TO A BAR JUST TO RELAX AND UNWIND HIMSELF. HE ORDERED A BOTTLE OF BEER AND AS HE SIP ON IT THE OWNER OF THE BAR NOTICE THAT THE MAN IS CRYING SO THE BAR OWNER APPROACH THE GUY TO OFFER HIS HELPING HAND. THE GUY WAS SO ASHAMED OF HIMSELF. AND