Walking on A Dream

Listen to walking on a dream while you read :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eimgRedLkkU

Chris and I were perched on a big rock a distance from everyone else down the river. The rushing waters, the rustling of the trees from the breeze, the birds chirping, the sound of laughter-- enough to drown out voices of worry, fears and uncertainty in anyone's head. If we turned our heads, looking back-- we'd see turbulent waters, strong currents racing through scattered rocks. But up ahead, the gleaming emerald water was calm, and still--serene on a backdrop of pale blue skies, with white fluffy clouds surrounded by the freshest green of the leaves on the trees and the moss on the rocks. A Carabao sits by the water. Locals, taking a bath in the river with their children in their underwear. KC wading in the shallow water, lost in thought. Kitchie giggling as she sat on the rocks across the bank, oblivious to the fact that she was shivering. Lynn, laughing while trying to get her shoulders below the water without getting swept away by the current. Kate balanced on a rock with that big smile on her face that makes you wonder "Are her eyes open?"  Ken atop a rock by the bank beside the Adams kids, ready to make the leap. Dash standing in the water up to hid knees, "Sucking it." Fonta, with his feet in the water behind the lens of his camera, capturing everything. I am consumed by content and overwhelmed by gratitude. How lucky am I to be where I am right now? I must be doing something right in my life. And then I realize, so this is what it feels like to be walking on a dream.

Ken Alonzo, also know as King Ken. I know we never got to talk-- maybe because you and Kitch were busy being lovebirds hehe ;)) Thank you for welcoming us to your kingdom that is Pannzian-- as far as the eye can see. From a distance, I can already tell what a fine young man you are. Seriously. The way you handle all the blows these boys throw at you, is LUPET to me. You have a way of owning up to the blows and elevating yourself. I don't really understand how you do it so I can't write about it so well. Your warmth, sincerity, security resonates in every move you make. All I know Ken, is that I hope my sons grow up to be like you. Till our next adventure! Roll out! Roll out!

Kitchie Lazatin, who very very sadly I did not get the chance to talk to much. I did enjoy eavesdropping on your love story as you were talking to Kace at the bonfire and Lynn in the room-- thank you for not minding me there hehe :)) Don't worry I will not divulge the contents of your conversations-- some overly chismoso and vain boys from Pannzian might be snooping around as well. Hehehe ;)) Thank you for your warmth and the great company, the laughter and the pink pony tail you lent me-- I still have it. Promise next time we go to Pannzian-- and that's not an IF, thats a WHEN--I will bore you with all the possible stories I can think of and will expect as much in return. Could also be another adventure in another place----- but then again, future Queen of Panzzian ka na e.

Lynn Pinugu, is it a double N or just one? I get confused. This girl surprises me. I have to  admit that I honestly thought it was drunk talk coming out of you when you said you would come to Pagudpod with us. I didn't think that you could handle the bus, the trek-- to me you just seem daintily sheltered in a way-- Not bad, not bad at all, it is a mere circumstance. Nag tatagalog ka pala, Lynn Pugu! It could also be those pretty little dresses of yours, always fixed always poised. Does not mean that this way of life was aborted in Pannzian, yes you still wore your pretty little dresses, even to the bus-- with only a cardigan with no heating capacity-- the table cloth of a dress, the flowers in her hair. You pushing yourself to over come your fears, to go beyond yourself---Wait, this strangely sounds like me. I think we are more alike that we realize. I found your dreams amusing. To be a princess, "Dash, Pigaain mo to" and to be a Travel show host-- I promise to watch your "Oh Tokyo" show with as much faith as the original one. It really enjoyed getting to know you better, crossing that bridge between Church friends, and real friends.  I have a good feeling that this will be the start of a great friendship, or so I am hoping. And one last thing, I was actually holding back tears when you started to cry after saying you'd stay. Sometimes I feel like all my words of inspiration and God fall into deaf ears, like no one listens or understands--- this is why most of the time I say it as a joke, because most people take it as such. But you Lynn, you understood. Thank you for listening, thank you for staying.

Jose Enrique Maningas, the dashing debonair. I was really excited when Chris told me that you were coming to the trip, I kid you not-- and that's an extra excited Ina pa ha. For some reason, I knew that we would just be laughing more with you around even though I just met you a couple of times at that place named after your kind. Grilla -- Gorilla?? Okay, Corny talaga ako. Most of the time I can't tell whether or not you are seriously nice to me or whether you are mocking me-- but either way, I love being around you. I don't really take "pangasars" well, but I don't really mind anymore with you because it sort of feels like you do it because i matter to you -- and I can feel some sort of sweetness behind it all. Maybe that's just me, but I would like to hope so.  If it be through these jabs that we build our friendship on, so be it. Thank you for bringing me joy-- this is my translation of "Natutuwa ako sayo."

Kate Lim whose laughter and genuine smiles I find comforting. She has no qualms about her, which I admire. She is the first archeologist that I've met. Her stories and theories of gold artifacts hidden somewhere in the unexplored vastness of the Philippine lands sparked my curiosity over Pineapple and Rice Wine while sitting by the bonfire, our faces hot but our spirits high. The Adam's tribal band (Okay I made this up) serenading us while the Lost boys tinkered with their toys finding the best way to capture the moment.  We talk of these boys, and how they started out in doubt-- but look at where they are now. Your eyes light up in awe, inspired by the road these Lost boys have taken-- but you neglect see that you are inspiring yourself, Kate. I was even more surprised to find out that you had worked at El Nido and Boracay, you dive, you are going to teach, taking your MA in archaeology-- I think to myself "This girl is so cool, and ganda pa ng hair nya." I am really inspired to build my blog like you suggested-- this is a product of your reassuring words and awesome example. Lupet mo Kate Clapping my hands-- "Oy, Oy, Oyoyoy!" I am looking forward to hear about your marine archaeological finds in the near future.

Chris Yuhico who they call the devastator-- please take note that I tried not to be in on this, but sometimes I simply couldn't help it. Especially that time you dropped that coke bottle in the middle of National Highway-- because you were too busy eating your fish crackers to properly hold the moist bottle. And the fact that after dropping it, Kace,  and I frantically thinking of what to do-- you pop another cracker into your mouth saying. "Ay! Lai Lai pala to, hindi La La" That moment of "Oh, no--I broke the slingshot" caught on video was priceless-- and the camera man's hysteric laughter to come with it.  But "SUCK EEET" to all of us--- those 8 strikes came about because you took a swing at things. I applaud your tenacity to live. I am looking forward to witnessing more blunders from you Mr, Yuhico. That talk on the rock at the river is something that really stuck. I feel like we are both in the same page of our lives, you get exactly what I say. Yes, I know I lag sometimes and I have trouble finishing my sentences-- thank you for finishing them for me. I was actually telling KC that I think, we'll be really good friends. I hope that does transpire.

Brian Fontanilla, kilabot ng mga LaSallista. You are to me the perfect mix of macho bravado and teddy bear cuddliness. It's just so easy to be around you because you because you are who you are and you say what you feel. There is so much else to discover about you, Panzzian na to tonight! Army is one hell of a lucky girl. Aanakan mo na ba? Oy-oy-oyoyoy!


KC Joaquin, I love you PERIOD. Enough said.

More than anything else, what I miss is being around all of you. Waking up early and waiting for you guys to wake up one by one-- pleasantly surprised for the next face that I see. "Daaaaaash, 430 na!" Having amazing conversations, singing along to sappy love songs and doing the Fonta dance, the Ponti dance, the Embassy dance and the Jaipur dance-- Laughing endlessly, chopping non-stop and perfecting my Suck it jump. Those helping hands that guided us through the difficult trek across all of natures elements--- something I will never forget. Please, balik na tayo.

There is so much else to say, but I can't anymore-- Napakadaldal ko na.

And so this is how it feels to be walking on a dream, I am just in awe of what's in front of me.

Where shall the next Greatest Adventure be?