la vida es un ratico

La Vida Es Un Ratico

La Vida Es Un Ratico

de Juanes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upuf7sLiBLU

Estamos pasando el tiempo mas dificil en nuestra vida. No hay palabra nada puedo describer lo que me siento en este momento.

Que cambie todo pero no el amor. Es la mision mas grande que tenemos tu y yo. En esta vida que aprender enteder y saber, porque estos tiempos son dificiles y es mas escasa la verdad.

Que cambie todo pero no el amor. Nuestra familia es mas importante ya lo se, y la debemos proteger y volver a tejer porque estos tiempos son dificiles y mas escasa la verdad. Porque estos tiempos son dificiles y estamos sentando tan lejos el uno del otro. Porque estos tiempos son dificiles y estamos atados de manos y corazon.

No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. Todavia hay muchas cosas por hacer. No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. La vida es un ratico, un ratico, nada mas. No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. Vienen tiempos buenos y los malos, ya se van, se van, se van. Quedate tu.

Que cambie todo pero no el amor es todo lo que yo te pido no te pido mas. Dame la mano por favor no me dejes caer,porque estos tiempos son mas dificiles y es mas escasa la verdad. Porque estos tiempos son mas dificiles y estamos sentados tan lejos el uno del otro. Porque estos tiempos estamos atados de manos y corazon.

No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. Todavia hay muchas cosas por hacer. No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien la vida es un ratico un ratico nada mas no dejemos que ese no se acabe bien, Vienen tiempos buenos y los malos. Ya se van, se van, se van

No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. Todavia hay muchas cosas por hacer no dejemos que ese no se acabe bien. La vida es un ratico un ratico nada mas. No dejemos que ese no se acabe bien, vienen tiempo buenos y los malos ya se van se van se van. QUEDATE TU

At Rosedale Station

At Rosedale Train Station

Everyone has his own story to tell.

Waiting for the next train at Rosedale Station for my last minute shopping in Manhattan, I bumped into Maria, a very nice Colombiana in her 50’s. Maria is one of the many migrant workers in the Big Apple doing limpieza, or house cleaning, part- time or on-call basis.

Since the train is yet to arrive in the next hour, tried to strike a conversation with her in Spanglish. After all, an hour wait doing nothing is too much to bear.

She has two daughters in Antioquia and is separated from her husband. Most of the money she earns goes straight to Colombia for her daughters’ daily needs and education.

Life is not easy for her in New York but she exudes optimism. She has a happy disposition in life. In Antioquia she said, “Not all women have the same opportunity like me to be able to come and work in the US. I’m blessed. Gracias a Dios.”

I shared with her good memories of my recent visit in Medellin and in Bogota. She was fascinated but homesickness can be seen all over her face. “Que bonito! I had been planning to visit Antioquia for the last three years. I hope I can make it happen soon.” She said.

I’ve learned that she’s been in the US for seven years without seeing home. Her meager income has prevented her from doing so. Likewise, she is saving money for a house in Colombia. With a plastic bag of sandwich, fries and a can of soda in her hands, she was ready for supper when she gets to her apartment.

Her story is not extra-ordinary. In fact it is very common to several Filipinasworking abroad as domestic helpers. What interests me about her tale is that it’s full of hope for better days to come. It’s a noble story of doing great sacrifices for family members, of putting aside personal happiness so her children can live a decent life. Most important of all is the virtue of being grateful for the many blessings she receives, of being contented to life’s gifts no matter how big or small.

We had a very great time talking about going to a rumba or a discoteca, eating bandeja paisa and getting drunk of Antioquia’s old-time favorite Arguadiente. I told her that bandeja paisa is too heavy for me and that arguadiente is too strong. She burst in a minute of laughter. When she learned that we passed the night dancing salsa, her laughs were unstoppable.

Before we knew it, the long wait was over. The train arrived on time. We bid goodbye and exchanged besos. She was going towards Jamaica. I was heading to Penn Station.

Of Leaving Dogs and Pets Behind

Of Leaving Dogs and Pets Behind

Everything is ready for the long-planned trip, but who will take care of the dogs and the other pets?

I sometimes hear friends being so worried on who will take care of their pets when they take a holiday break. Pets are family members. They too should be a part of the big plan.

My lawyer friend Joan completed all Mumu’s papers, a shitzu breed, ahead of hers when she migrated to the US. Lucky Mumu, she is now a US resident citizen! However, she sold her beloved Python Snake. Imagine her bringing a 5-foot Phyton snake to America! “Will the serpent be issued a US visa too just in case?” I hope so.

My elder sister left a pair of love birds with her neighbor for feeding while they were away for Christmas three years ago. They made advance payment to the old lady. When holiday was over, they claimed the birds and to their surprise, they were greeted with a pair of cold bodies in the cage waiting to be buried six feet below the ground because the crook just took their money. The birds died of thirst.

Unmindful of the security issues, my brother-in-law in NYC left the key of their house to a friend so he can feed Pumba, a pug, while they were on a vacation. A big NO in the Philippines.

I have a male Jack Russel Terrier named Marco and a local breed named Dora. They are my farm dogs. However, I don’t have any problem leaving them behind when I travel because they live with my parents at the farm. Lucky angels.

So when you leave, who will take the dogs out???

So the Trip is Over and the Fun has Ended

So the Trip is Over and the Fun has Ended

Universal truth, vacations are short-lived. We met people, found new friends, share travel experiences with them. We touched their lives, they too became a part of our lives.

But when the holiday is over, we are faced with the sad reality of bidding goodbye to the wonderful people we met, hoping against hope that our paths would cross again someday.

Been seeing friends and newfound friends come and go. Saying goodbye may not be easy. But that’s how it goes.

We just have to face another universal truth that when somebody leaves, another one would come, that when somebody closes the door on you, then another welcomes you with arms wide-open.

Then you embrace this new chapter and another journey begins.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Home Is Where the Heart Is

I may be faraway from home whenever I am in the Americas but I always get a piece of home in New York City.

My sister Lanie is a Yorker. She’s a nurse for over 20 years in the Big Apple where she realized her dreams together with her husband and with her lovely daughter Kay.

A stop-over for a couple of days in NYC is a very good idea. Catching up with her is part of the fun. Biggest part of what I am and what I have, I owe it to her. In her selfless ways, countless times she’s there to help financially, morally and spiritually.

I’ve witnessed how her daughter grew from a toddler to a young pretty lady. I’ve seen how she equipped her with education and special skills from ballet, Taekwondo, to playing with musical instruments like drums and guitar. I adore them both.

Looking back, we were just innocent kids, climbing trees, riding water buffalo, hunting bird’s nest. Those were the days.

I am glad to have a big sister like her. She’s always there no matter what. I found a piece of home in her. She will forever be in my heart because home is where the heart is.

Thank you sis.

Letting Go

Heading back home after the Colombian trip, got this sms message from a friend. "I believe we write our own stories. And each time we think we know the end—we don’t. Perhaps luck exists somewhere in the world of planning, the world of chance and in peace that comes from knowing that you can't know it all. Life’s funny that way. Once you let go of the wheel, you might just end up right where you belong. Learn to let go."

Letting go is liberating. But letting go of something so beautiful might be a foolish thing. Hang-on if it's real, if it's not...Vete puta mierda!!!

La Camisa Negra

Discovering Juanes

Best part of my Colombian visit is knowing where Juanes lives in Medellin. Leo and Giovanni drove me while Alejandro took me to El Tesoro, an Ayala like high-end mall and finally got his CD, Mi Sangre Tour edition

www.youtube.com

www.youtube.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQN5ZRugVzc

Nuevas Palabras

Nuevas Palabras

Colombian locals have a treasure of localized Spanish words very distinct from the traditional Spanish (Castellano). My friends, tour guide and taxistas taught me a few.

Aca - - here (not aqui)

Arguadiente – a typical liquor in Colombia seems like gin to me.

Bacano - something good

Bandeja Paisa - a heavy plate of meal with chorizo, carne, carne and many carne!

Bien dotado – well endowed ( I won’t go there far to explain…..)

Chevere - something good – they say que chevere!

Chimba - same as chevere – they say que chimba! o muy chimba.

Chino/chinezo – a friend of someone’s friend ( not Chinese)

Costeno/Costena- people from the coast side of Colombia (Cali, Santa Marta, Cartagena)

Finka - a house in the farm or a ranch

Paisa - people from Medellin

Parcero – friend ( not amigo)

Pollo/polla or gallina- a teenager or a young guy/lady ( Pollo is chicken in Spanish. Colombians are fund of making yummy chicken soup. So the young ones are like chicken soup, amen!)

rollo/rolla- people from Bogota

Rumba – dance/disco ( rumbear - to go to a discoteca)

Tirititir - to make love ( or they say hacer un tirititi)

Colombians don’t say “de nada” as a response to your “Thank you”. They would instead reply – “Con mucho gusto.”

When you are in a market place, they would say “ A su orden mi amor.” At your service sir/my love.” How’s that for you? Instantly somebody calls you mi amor. Que ricoooo!

Gracias Jose Raul, Alexander, Giovanni, Leo y Alejandro. Parceros, fue una chimba estar con vosotros. Hasta luego bacanos.

Viva Colombia!

Que Boludo!

Que Boludo!

I was denied entry in Buenos Aires, sent back to Colombia for an immigration official's lack of knowledge in interpreting my visa.

April 3, 2010, Buenos Aires, Argentina, this day will never be forgotten. I was a victim of someone’s ignorance, of someone’s greatest exercise and display of arrogance. He is a moron.

Arriving from Bogota, Colombia via flight LA 4641. I was refused entry by an immigration chief in Buenos Aires for his erroneous interpretation of my visa, which he declared expired. The truth of the matter is, it is not. The Argentine Consulate in Manila later confirmed this to me through an e-mail.

I was holding a multiple-entry business visa for 15 days with three-month validity issued in Manila on February 3, 2010 by the Argentine Embassy. I entered Buenos Aires using this visa on February 16, 2010 spending ten good days of business and leisure leaving me 5 more allowable days on my next entry within three months. Hence, my supposed three day-visit this April.

I am collecting the frame of a leather chair I bought in my first visit from The Sweater, Inc. in Buenos Aires, a company that sells fine leather goods mostly from cow.

Apparently, when the first immigration officer examined my documents, he didn’t know how to interpret the type of visa I was holding. He referred my case to his superior who declared it expired. He explained that it has expired after 15 days from my first entry. (Mute button on…) Duh! Then what’s the three-month validity clause for? Please explain Mr. Officer!

The not so dumb junior officer seemed unconvinced of his superior’s interpretation, approached the lady officer in the next cubicle and referred my case with her. They discussed and were later interrupted by the smart officer who called him to come to his office. I took the opportunity to approach the lady who was in a rush to take her break and asked her if something was wrong with my visa because I was the last man standing from flight LA 4641. She quickly said, in my opinion there is NONE. Then the rest of the officers were greeting each other Feliz Pascua and exchanged besos and rushed home. I realized then it was already Easter Sunday.

I politely told the immigration officer that he might have just been mistaken. I told him I had been issued same type of visas from several Schengen States and the immigration officials didn’t interpret it that way. Further, I explained to him that I had been issued Argentine visas for the last five years, give or take. If I may recall, I clarified this matter with their consulate in Manila two years ago but he is the type of officer who doesn’t listen to reasons. With such a commanding voice he said, “You were badly informed by our Embassy in Manila!”

(Mute push button on por favor!) Really sir? Then you are the smart guy and the people from your Manila office are the stupid ones? Vale?

He ordered for my immediate return to my port of origin via LAN, which is Bogota, which left Buenos Aires in the next hour.

I appealed that he would give me a chance to call the Embassy of the Philippines in Buenos Aires for a possible assistance regarding my case but he said, “NO! What we do in Argentina is independent from what the Philippine Embassy does.”

“What’s the point of allowing Embassies and Consulates in Argentina Sir? I don’t understand. You are so contagious!” (Mute button on again!)

I was immediately escorted to the plane. They sequestered my old and new passports and made me take the LA 2428 flight to Lima. Then at Lima Airport, I also had an escort and I was not allowed to get hold of my passports up to Medellin, Colombia, my next destination entering Colombia as a tourist this time. (Mute button please...) “Please explain to me, why am I being treated like a criminal. I am not going anywhere! I'm taking the flight to Colombia. Give me back my passports. I am holding a 10-year multiple visa to the United States, most of the stamps there are B2 with 6 months allowable stay. I will not over stay in your country! Besides you already refused me entry. Give them back to me baby, now, Ahora mismo! Pronto tonto!”

A LAN crew handed over my passports to the immigration officials in Colombia. The Colombian officer asked me to explain why I was denied entry in Buenos Aires and what’s with the visa problem Buenos Aires had declared in my papers. I explained and showed him my visa and he smiled and said after inspecting it that to his understanding it is valid. He then welcomed me and granted me entry to Colombia. (Mute button for the real smart guy….) “Thank you sir, you are the one! A person like you should be the one’s to be commissioned in all immigration offices in the whole civilized and modern world! Viva Colombia!”

In Lima, airport and LAN officers opined that there is nothing wrong with my visa, it is valid and it has not yet expired and that Buenos Aires should have granted me three-day stay.

(Intermission please) _-A perfect 10 - a los peruanos y colombianos, y el otro 10 para el senor en Buenos Aires por ser ganador de Moron Olympics y no nos olvidemos un plaque para el senor Filipino por ser un victima! Vale? Muchas Gracias! A sus orden senor, con mucho gusto!!!

I believe I was not accorded with my proper rights as a stranger in Argentina. Understand that when Argentines come and visit the Philippines, they can stay in the country for 20 days without visa. I didn’t see any show of reciprocity in its smallest form or some kind of consideration just for three days in Buenos Aires from this immigration officer.

He made a costly mistake. I paid dearly for someone's incapacity to deliver his job . Que Boludo!