Beauty and Madness

An hour and a half…

Of doing nothing but tinker with the latest apps in my Iphone while sipping a cup of Starbucks iced mocha is quite boring. Passing the time in a corner chair, trying to be unobtrusive as one could be is never easy in a very busy café especially if it’s the favorite hangout of half the people that you deal with in the workplace everyday.

She’s late again. Promises are really made to be broken. And old habits certainly die hard. But this time, enough is enough. I’m fed up and I’m mad as hell.

Makati is hell at this time of the year; Hot and sticky, polluted and dirty, noisy and ugly. This urban jungle in the middle of what used to be a swamp before it was reclaimed by the old rich that owns much of the land has long been my favorite playground.

Makati has been synonymous with the best days of my life: Of care-free days and tranquil nights; of raging adventures and mindless tortures; of the beauty and the beast inside me…

Yes, I’m back in the hunt again trying to recapture those days when I was the king of the world. It’s been a year since I last venture into the abyss of my existence. I thought I was through walking into that dark road less traveled.

But was I wrong. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel but only darkness. Darkness that I need to groped for a rope to find my way out. And then I saw the light.

I realized that I was in my room and the golden rays that passed through the curtains which warmly tickled my skin were from a solitary incandescent lamp hanging from above.

And behind the curtains, I saw my dear old Myla-- suspended in mid-air, swaying from side to side, her bulging eyes looking but not seeing through me, her purple tongue sticking out in a facial grimace that is both beautiful and ugly.

Pitter- Patter- Twitter

A lot of Tweety Birds are doing it. Some idiots are even doing it. Hell, Ashton Kutcher's been playing with CCN and his wife Demi with it. And now, I'll be doing it, too.

Twittering, that is.

Yes, you can follow me on twitter on the dot and on the clock whenever I am up to something. I think this is a better way for you to know the minute details of everything; the bits and pieces of my masterpieces. Cool, huh?

I don't know whether this is a bad thing or not but I have a confession to make- I have been out of the loop for ages now. And twittering will probably inspire me more and make me venture once again into the realms of my dreams. Dreams that in turn will be the nightmare of anybody who will catch my fancy.

I dare ask you people to follow me on Twitter as Hunyango...

Tweet, tweet.

"29"

I just turned 29 today.

And I got myself a present- beautiful, sharp and deadly!





I never thought I'll be back in my old ways sooner than expected. Anyway, I plan to check out the night scene in Rambotito's Kingdom. I'll see you there people.

Life's a Beach

August 11, Circa 1990’s.

I boarded an Air Philippines flight bound for Caticlan, Aklan en route to the world’s most beautiful beach- Boracay. This was part of the prize given by the multinational pharmaceutical company that I happened to be working with at that time as a medical representative for being chosen as employee of the year.


It was already dusk when our group of eleven tourists arrived at Lorenzo’s Resort. I immediately unpacked my things and put on my swimming trunks and went straight to the clear blue water and pristine white sand of the world’s famous beach.

There I met Chip, who introduced himself as a consultant of the resort and Wanda, an American of Chinese-descent. Both are quite articulating, intelligent and well versed on any topic under the sun! We talked about anything, from current events to trivia to history and science.

We were so engrossed in our discussion on the reported high levels of Coliform bacteria in the waters of Boracay that it was already past 10 p.m. when we realized that we have been talking for almost 3 hours!

I went back to my cottage, ate my dinner and took a quick hot shower. I then went to the bar and ordered a glass of Mezcalero and Tequila Sauza Blanca.

There was a local band with a lead singer who looks like Bob Marley playing reggae, ska and calypso.

From the corner of my eye I saw Wanda sitting in a corner table holding a glass of Kahlua on one hand and puffing on a stick of Virginia Slims looking amused at several local and Caucasian tourists doing the Limbo.

Our eyes met and she gestured for me to join her. I ordered a glass of Jose Cuervo this time while she had a Zombie and Daiquiri.

At 10 minutes to midnight we decided to go to the beach. When we get there and found ourselves alone we decided to go skinny-dipping into the cold waters and made love in the sand.

The following morning we decided to go snorkeling and skin-diving. The waters are very clear and the underwater views are breathtaking. The whole day we played in the waters and frolicked under the sun. We were already sun-tanned when we decided to call it a day. Due to sheer exhaustion we just slept the night away.

On the 4th day of my stay, a low-pressure area was sighted and signal no. 1 was raised in the Visayas including Aklan. We were advised to stay indoors and not venture into the sea but Wanda was the athletic and adventurous type and asked me if I can join her canoeing around the shores of Boracay. I decline noting the foul weather and the dangers of going into the sea in this particular situation.

Nevertheless, she decided to go on with her plans and went into the rough sea. Only a fool will do such thing in this kind of weather I said to myself.

Suddenly, a thought flashed into my mind. I went back to my cottage and got my Scuba gear. I rented an outrigger and followed Wanda off to the open sea.

A minute later I saw her about 150 meters away off the coast of Boracay. I dived into the water and tailed her. When I finally reached her, a surprised look flashed on her face that later turned to fear as I grabbed her down with me into the deep blue waters of the rough and stormy Visayan sea.

She struggled a bit but soon gave out the futile fight.

I watched her cold and limp body with open eyes and mouth agape as the strong current into the wide and rough open sea was carrying her.

I then went back to my cottage as if nothing happened.

At 4:30 p.m., she was declared missing but the foul weather prevented the local authorities from launching a search and rescue operation.

The following day, when the weather finally calmed down a massive search and rescue operations was launched but it was only on the second day when her body was found and by that time my vacation was over and I was on my way back to Manila with the happy thought that what happened to Wanda will forever be buried in the crystal blue waters of that island paradise called Boracay.

#081601

Edge of the Blade

I have not ventured outside of my den for ages now. I’m really on the edge nowadays. I think I’m once again losing my grip and I need to do something before it’s too late.

I turned on the radio and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue was playing and quietly, I drifted away...

I soon found myself inside a dark room full of people, all of them are wearing black and they're all staring at me! But wait a minute; they all looked so damn familiar!

I got out of bed, put on my shirt and combed my hair…

It’s time.

What is Love?

“Love is a many splendored thing”, as the old saying goes.

But my answer to that is the song “I want to know what love is” by Foreigner.

So, here I am at 2 o’clock in the morning cruising along the lonely stretch of Quezon Avenue looking for the proverbial girl of my dreams.

Then I saw her, with a lit cigarette stick on her left hand, heavily made-up, in a red mini skirt and black tops. She was a stunner with her long black and silky hair falling down to her shoulders waiting for somebody to pick her up.

“Perfect”, I muttered as my 4x4 halted to a slow stop.

I rolled down my power windows and asked her if she care for a ride?

After a few exchange of pleasantries and small talk she agreed to join me for a night of adventure.

I found myself traversing the empty Aguinaldo Highway in Imus, Cavite en route to Tagaytay City. We arrived at my rest house at 10 minutes to three in the morn.

She went directly to the shower while I went straight to the cooler and grabbed a can of Heineken to quench my thirst.

The sight of her beautiful and naked body with the cool and silky voice of Billie Holiday in the background greeted me as I entered the Mediterranean- inspired bedroom.

She rose and met me across the room. We kissed and caressed each other.

The scent of Victoria’s Secret lotion on her soft skin soothed my tired mind and body.

We made love in the carpeted floor until we fall asleep.

The sound of rap music coming from the Boom Box next door woke me up from my sleep. I got out of bed, put on my robe as I made my way out of the bedroom and peeped through the slightly ajar next door and saw her on the treadmill.

I headed for the kitchen for a cup of hot chocolate and French bread.

When I pulled the drawer, I saw the sharp and glistening Solingen set of knives that brought home from one of my travels abroad.
.
The sight of the human heart on my left hand jolted me back to my senses.

It’s only then that realized that it’s Valentine’s Day.
So, what is Love to me?

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”



Note: this is supposed to be my Valentine’s Day post but heavy work loads in the office prevented me from posting it on time. I will update you about my latest adventures next time.

Badge of Honor

One dreary Monday evening while walking along the sidewalks of C.M. Recto Avenue my attention was caught by a man bullying a frail-looking teen-age boy of about 13.

I caught the boy’s eyes looking at me as if trying to ask for help. I looked around but noticed that nobody was paying much attention on what is going on right in front of their very eyes.

I am very familiar with most Filipinos behavior; they do not care at all as long as they are not the ones in trouble. They will pretend like they are all just too busy with their business but in reality they are just indifferent. Some were actually afraid to be dragged into somebody’s business.

I stepped into the alley and slowly made my way towards them. The man, aware that I was heading their way let the frightened boy loose and face me with his right hand in his pocket and contempt written all over his dirty and ugly pockmarked face.

I studied his features--

The man was a mess with blood-shot eyes, broken teeth and a perpetual sneer on his lips that you could tell that he‘s the real thing and not just a lowlife trying to bully his way. His breathe reeked of alcohol as I came face to face with him and I noticed the Sigue Sigue Sputnik tattoo on his right arm.

He accosted me and now brandishing a fan knife that he got from his pocket and warned me to mind my own business.

Suddenly, he lunged at me with the bladed weapon but I was able to fend it off with my right hand and socked him with a right straight smacked into the kisser knocking him down to the ground in the process.

He got up gingerly and lunged at me again but I was faster than him and planted a roundhouse kick that caught him square in the jaw that sent him sprawling down into the pavement writhing in agony.

I figured out that he’s got enough and wishing not to attract any more attention, I turned my back to leave…

Then all of a sudden I heard a high-pitched shrieked behind me and in the corner of my eye I saw the man leaping back to his feet like a wounded hyena, with the fan-knife in hand and murder in his eyes.

I was able to sidestep his thrust causing him to miss. But on the second I was cut in the forearm.

Seeing the blood gushing from my forearm, he tried one more time but got careless and I was able to grab and locked his hand.

In one clean sweep, I broke his arm, planted a solid frontal kick right into his solar plexus followed by a left karate chop into his left temple.

His face turned ashen as he collapsed in the dirt with a stunned look on his face. I then got hold of his head and twisted his neck for the coup de grace.

I looked around and saw several people looking at me in horror but did nothing.

They stepped aside in silence as I made my way back into the busy street and disappeared among the crowds.

Looking back now and seeing the scars on my left forearm, I couldn’t help but smile and beam with pride on what I consider as my badge of honor.