story of a girl

by Bethany Joy Galleoti (feat. Enation)

It’s gotta be this one

Don’t have to fake it

You know I can take it

What if I told you your tears haven’t been ignored

And everything that was taken can be restored

Feel this

Can you feel this

My heart beating out of my chest

Feel this

Can you feel this

Salvation under my breath

It’s gotta be disguised

Soul and spirit

(Soul and spirit)

Caught in the living

What if I told you that innocence is yours

And the beauty you have now is brighter than before, before

Feel this

Can you feel this

My heart beating out of my chest

Feel this

Can you feel this

Salvation under my breath

Let go

Let go and believe

Feel this

Can you feel this

My heart beating out of my chest

Feel this

Can you feel this

Salvation under my breath

(more…)

Today was not a good day for me. We had an accident. Thank God no one was hurt. But I just have to rant about how some people are. How they can succumb to senselessness just to prove and push their points when really, every word coming out of their mouths are desperate justifications of their wrong actions.

Just seconds after I came down from our car this morning and as I was nearing the door of our building, I heard that crashing sound. And there it was, a speeding Mitsubishi Galant coming out from nowhere sped right into our Isuzu Sportivo that was about to do a U-turn coming from the rightmost lane of the two-way street. Our car was on a temporary resting point as it was checking out if the street was empty and perfect for the turn, had established its position to enter the opposite lane (as the police report has emphasized), and with signals on but to no avail. As a matter of fact, all the other cars gave way as the street was practically a give-way controlled one (according to the traffic bureau) because it has no traffic lights. The other car came from the left side, crashed into our car’s extreme upper left because he attempted to do an overtake which he did on the counter lane – I mean, how stupid was that??? Who overtakes on a counter lane??? Good thing he did not smash into another car, but it wouldn’t have surprised me if he did.

It could have been just an easy encounter as no one was hurt and both cars are insured (though I have doubts about the other party’s claim that the Galant is also insured because the guy just wouldn’t stop talking about fees which shouldn’t be our problem anymore if he really has insurance for it and also, I noticed that he talked to an insurance agent at the station who was actually hunting for accident-involved cars with no existing car plans). But no, he chose to push his stupid arguments which were (1) he was already too fast and couldn’t just stop but he honked his horns (maybe literally, pun intended) a lot of times already and (2) it was his right of way. True enough on the second one because in this country every car making a U-turn on open streets is really not on its right of way (have you seen a thoroughfare made just for “u-turning” cars??? Well there’s one now, about to be opened in c-5 but not in The Fort) but my golly! Who doesn’t step on his brakes when a car is already in front of you? According to law, it’s called the Doctrine of the Last Clear Chance. Honey, you just have to step on the brakes and not rely on your one-cent of an argument that it was your right of way even if the other car had already established its post before you even appeared.

Really, the guy was making me laugh when he was insisting on his “too fast” argument, and let’s not even dwell on him calling that an argument.

I guess I just have no patience for people who push their luck too much and stick to those crazy reasons of theirs just so to prove them right or stupid at that. I was so willing to fight it out with him on wherever court but he was too scared to even bite my dare because he knew he was wrong. But the nerve to even ask for apologies! Golly! Of course he heard all these things from me. Funny because it was me who was trying to stop my mom at first and convincing her to not argue it out with the guy because there’s just no point when he can’t even understand. But there I’ve revealed it, I have no patience for his kind and so I just had to say these things right in his face.

He was too proud even after the police told him that his “right of way” argument was not valid because he had the option to just stop and give way to the car that was on the space first.

Ending was the police made a report which was neutral and insurance friendly so there would be no need anymore for us to speak to each other again( thank God for that too!) as the companies would have to settle it out by themselves. I’m just not sure about his “insurance company”:).

I’m sorry for this long post. As I’ve said, today was not a good one and I just have to rant about it.

It’s been a while now since I’ve actually posted something in here. My hands have been really full with the crazy back-to-school weeks, and the issues, the issues that I have exhaustingly faced these past days have been too much. I’m just glad that everything’s well now. Really, I’m hoping that this break would be long enough for me to breathe.

I am not going to talk about all those anymore, they’re over and I’m moving on.

-♥-

UAAP basketball season is on again (opening on July 5, 2008)! I’m sure that this will be another exciting series of basketball games and school wars, although the “wars” should be kept in a healthy mannerJ. I’d love to see how DLSU will be able to grab a back-to-back stunt now that Tang and Villanueva are out of the roster. And of course, I’m still hoping that the Tigers will do better this time.

-♥- 

I’m also looking forward to seeing Broadway Asia Entertainment’s Cinderella with Lea Salonga as lead. It would be so interesting to watch her play a younger role, a princess with a prince charming at that. This would be a date with my mom as I’ve promised her the play ever since it was announced. It would be a breath of really fresh air from all the busyness and I’m just so excited.

-♥-

There are only 173 days left before Christmas! Yey! I’m not pressuring you into your shopping or anything… I just want you all to get excited like meJ! It’s really true that days come and go fast and with another blink of an eye you would see that another start of the year is just right around the corner so let’s treasure the days and the time we have because they’re never coming back.

Love the people you love more, hug them everyday if you can, apologize for the things you do that hurt them, and no matter how cheesy it is tell them – let them know how much you cherish the days you spend together.

So I’m giving you all a big hug and a handful of kisses and hope these will make your day better!

-♥-

A colleague passed away last Sunday when her team of mountaineers was crossing a creek from Anawangin back to the town proper during the same time that typhoon Frank was ripping Zambales out.

My fondest memory of Jhoana was during a dinner celebration for a friend, we had both our eyes and attention to the cute waiters of this then new restaurant in The Fort. It was a happy occasion and I am glad to have shared with her that moment, laughing our hearts out and making up stupid but amusing strategies to get the attention of the lucky servers the whole time.

I have always known her to be really active. By the look of her pictures posted in her workplace, she would have easily got bored in a theme park. She loved organizing really fun events, climbing, hiking mountains, and just having wild fun. She has brought life to a lot of people and has touched us in a way only she can do.

I know you’re happy now Jhoana. Whatever the reason may be for this sudden loss of ours, we know you’re in peace now and there’s no greater solace than the sight of you being with the Father.

Thank you and may you have a great trip ahead!

In memory of Jhoana Pimentel.

I’d like to be able to describe to you elaborately what Mapawa made me feel. But that is just impossible. One needs to be there to experience the fear, the doubt, the excitement and of course, the proudest moment after conquering the challenges.

Unlike the roller coaster rides we courageously get ourselves into, no safety handles, metal bar locks would be in sight – just the guides (who are actually just there to lead the way and encourage you, heheJ), the life vest and your bravest self.

The park requires you to have reservations before going into the activity. They charge Php950 per head, inclusive of the life vest, about 5-6 guides (depending on your group’s number), and packed lunch (yummy binalotJ!).

Just like the rafting experience, the trekking too allows you to relive your relationship with nature as you hike the mountains, walk into the woods, jump off cliffs, bathe yourselves in the flowing water and climb the rocks.

My Mapawa experience was something I never thought I’d accomplish. It was one of those things that you wish you can do but won’t really mind not being able to because you’d rather stay safe watching from the sidelinesJ.

But now that I’ve gone through such an escapade, I dare everyone to do so too. Challenge yourselves and face your fears, it’s not as scary as it seems. It’s nothing compared to skydiving or bungee jumping but for neophytes like me, the feeling after completing the adventure was priceless.

The way to the main trek was already challenging enough, we had to endure a really bumpy ride in the tractor. A walk around the woods for about 15 minutes or so followed thereafter. The sights were unforgettable; it was nature at its best. Then the first test came into view – a 25 ft. slide into the river.

It was fear that swept into me. William was so brave to go first and it kind of gave me that “bahala na” feeling when he later gave us the ok sign upon coming back to the surface. I followed suit, it was actually less than 10 seconds from the top to the fall but it felt like the longest slide I have ever been to. Submerging into the water felt good because only after which did I have my breath backJ. It was a happy feeling having to survive that, but I found out later on that the slide was nothing in contrast to the next challenges.

When the rest have completed the task, we went walking again along the river, trying hard to avoid algae as Kuya Lolong has instructed us. We body rappelled at one point and met a mini-slide on the way. We were so enjoying everything, walking and swimming like children who were given the whole forest for a playground.

And then the challenge that I never thought would be hard for me appeared before us – we have to jump one by one, all by ourselves, from a 30 ft. cliff with water coming down strongly from a falls just beside it. It was nerve wracking! I really admired how our sort-of-team-leader WillJ just did it as fast as he could because he knew that had he not jumped first, nobody would dare do it. Well, it’s not as if the choice was ours, there was no turning back, no other way out except the jump.

It took me about 30 minutes (the longest in the group) of contemplation before actually doing it. I am not sure where the courage or pressure came from but after praying (like really praying, hehehe) I finally decided to let go. Parang ma-drama ang dating, pero ganun na ganun nga. It was as if leaving all the fears past me and, with no assurance whatsoever (amid Kuya Lolong’s 100% safety promise J haha, galing ni kuya mag-encourage), I jumped off the cliff. It was super breathtaking, in a very literal way. Plunging into the water this time around not only felt good, it was a relief to find out that I am not suspended in mid-air anymore. It was such an incredible experience and it even made me teary-eyed. I was the proudest that time, unable to explain what has just transpired, although I’m sure my friends felt the same way too during their turns.

We talked about what made us do the jump afterwards, it was kind of funny because neither sounded scared though everyone knew deep down how frightening the challenge was. Sabi nga ni Carleen, Pare kakaiba! Hehe…

And just moments after getting the air back, another cliff showed itself to us. The last challenge: the 65 ft. Waterfalls rappel. This was much easier for us, I really enjoyed the fact that I was in control of everything, although one kuya had to hold the other end to sway me away from the raging fallsJ. The rappel way down was peaceful, challenging but peaceful, haha, no scary moments unlike in the slide or in the jumpJ.

Binalot for lunch was the perfect reward for the tired trekkers (imagine that? we did all these for about 5 hours!) and I think it was also to prepare us for the hike back up to where according to Car, the civilization liesJ.

All in all, Mapawa river trekking was the best thing we did in Cagayan de Oro, at least for me. It was something different, daring and unforgettable. Kudos to my friends, Kai, Ids, Atty. Will, Brenty and Yhen! Thanks to Iggy for the wonderful job in Mapawa! More thanks to Kuya Lolong, Dodoy and the other guides who were very accommodating, encouraging and really kind!

I’m surely coming backJ.

For those interested:

Mapawa Nature Park

Contact nos: 09193161328/ 09209555978

For pictures:

Please visit

http://crashngroove.multiply.com/photos/album/89/Mapawa_Nature_Park_-_Day_4_