Marty Manalastas-Timbol

SHITTERU?

March-April 2014

ALAM NYO BA…na pag ikaw ay isang writer at wala kang inspiration, it’s very difficult to really write a story or even compose a short script. Same thing with work pag you are asked to make a project proposal at wala ka sa mood, hay naku, super hirap mag-isip ng isusulat kasi blanko ang utak or wala sa mood ika nga ng iba. Sometimes, yung iba pag may biglang naisip while walking or sipping a cup of tea, they stop for a while and write down agad kung ano ang naiisip nila. I do that paminsan-minsan, I jot down agad yung naiisip ko na quote or phrase or kung may bigla akong naalalang sabihin sa kaibigan… makakalimutin na rin kasi…wink, wink ;)

ALAM NYO BA…that Tokyo is really not ready for heavy snowfall. Trains delayed or some trains will even suspend their operations for several hours. Schools were cancelled due to snow. Marami din daw ang car accident dahil nga di nilagyan ng snow tire chain yung mga gulong ng kotse nila. Marami din ang mga nasugatan dahil sa nadulas sila sa snow. Like me, for example, I slipped one Monday morning when I was on my way to work. I slipped twice and it really hurt kasi nga naging ice na yung snow. It’s been 13 years ago since we had heavy snowfall in Tokyo. 

ALAM NYO BA…na dahil sa magkasunod na snow at super heavy snow, napabili tuloy ako ng shovel. It’s hard to clean yung sa may harap ng bahay pag walang shovel. So next time may snow ulit sa Tokyo, may shovel na kami…hehehe.

ALAM NYO BA…na marami ang gustong makakita ng snow, lalo na tayong mga taga-Tokyo. At my age, when I hear that may snow daw bukas, etc. I no longer feel excited about snow. What I feel is how to keep myself warm. Others are excited about it, but after the snowfall, oh there you will hear them complain. Ako talaga, ayaw ko ng snow sa Tokyo, ang hirap kaya lalo na pag ice na siya, hirap maglakad at dapat may allowance ka na 30 minutes to an hour sa travel time mo dahil madulas nga at delayed ang mga trains.

ALAM NYO BA…na marami sa mga kababayan natin ang biglang nanood ng Winter Olympics 2014? Why? Well, we have our very own kababayan, Michael Martinez as the first figure skater from the Southeast Asia to qualify for the Olympics at siya lang ang kaisa-isang athlete representing the Philippines. Marami ang namangha kay Michael, lalo na he is from the Philippines, a tropical country.  All eyes sa kanya at laman siya ng facebook, sharing updates or news about him, others would even share a link of his performance for those who were not able to watch the live show. Michael Martinez began skating only in year 2005 at the SM Southmall ice rink. Now, who could have thought that this young 17-year old Michael Martinez from the Philippines will be part of the 2014 Winter Olympics. You made all Filipinos all over the world proud! Keep it up, keep believing, keep dreaming, have faith and we will be praying for you. Mabuhay ka Michael!

ALAM NYO BA…dahil sa malayo ako sa mga magulang ko, I miss them so much. I am always happy when I get to talk with them lalo na with my Ima (my mother). Recently, she shared with me some of her jokes and I laughed with her. I hope that I will have a chance to travel back home to be with them. Oh, how I miss them lalo na my Ima, she is just like a sister and a best friend.

Till next issue and God bless you all!