I’m supposed to finish a short story that I’ll submit for the Iligan National Writers Workshop. I just need to write one short story. One great, outstanding, and short, story. Perfect for aspiring fellows who’s a little bit short on time, but at the same time ambitious to think that one short story can be a free ticket to a perfect, adventurous and academic (?) trip to Mindanao. I have the outline of the story already, and I think it has a solid concept and style, so I just have to kick myself hard into writing the story itself.

I’m also planning to finally finish the stonefree website updates that’s been due for almost 2 months now. I’ve been invisible for some time now in both ym and gmail chat to hide from their manager. Sorry, Ate Ristalle.

And of course, I’m already anticipating my hard drive getting full of pictures from Luzon to Mindanao. My brother Mandala will arrive from the US at 11pm later. My mother coming next, and my other brother, Kriya, will catch up in May. They all want to recharge and realign their culture and identity, I guess.

Summer really looks promising.

But then again, the biggest problem with having all the time in doing what you want is not knowing when to start. So much for cram-free days.

By the way, I’ve updated the gallery, which now includes photos from my Holy Week trip last March in Hagonoy, Bulacan. A quick but meaningful trip.

Here are some thumbnails. Visit the gallery page for the complete set.

It was just a little over 5pm when the sky went dark and the rain started to fall, waking me up in my tiring nap. It gave no warning, and let loose right from the beginning. Everything went mute, drowned with the loud patter on the roof. I went downstairs and saw Tsang Ann and the cat both curled in their own spaces in the sofa, trying to keep warm. I thought I had overslept, seeing no more light outside. I was hungry but there was no food. I wanted to do something right away. I sat on my computer desk and stared at the blank screen. Useless. It was too strong to shake off, too late not to notice. An overdue of an abnormal climate condition affecting not only the biological cycles of the plants, animals, and insects of the Earth, but the mood and aura of humankind as well.

I was drawn to face that feeling of soaking melancholy, hating Sundays even more.