this is arguably my favorite poem of all time.


Impressions of Lent
Alfrredo Navarro Salanga

I.
Lent is the season of hot suns and mad dogs made mad by hot sons. It is also the season of the madman, and of beggars. Old women crowd the churches with candles and the smell of mothballs. And the children must learn to be quiet or the devil will cut their tongues out. One must be good these days and one should say his prayers slowly. Kiss his foot, son. No Mother, it smells bad. And one must remember to give food to stray dogs.

II.
The boy and the dog stood leaning on the cold stone of the church pillars. Women filed past them slowly, with the downcast eyes one often associates with adulteresses discovered. One must not throw stones unless he is without sin. The dog, who was incapable of sin, bit an old lady. The boy, who had just gone to confession, threw a stone at a beggar. The beggar, who was blind, started to thrash around in anger and, with his stick, knocked off the candles from an old woman’s stall.

III.
Maria was praying. With clammy hands, she counted the beads. She gazed at the suffering Christ above her. Fake drops of blood caressed His brow. Maria sighed and found it hard to pray. Fake! Fake! Everything was a fake around her. She turned her face and noticed the young man behind her. She gazed long at him. She gazed and thought of how much he resembled her god. The young man rose and she saw his limp.

IV.
Vis Crucis devotees were wailing their way. A leader chanted some verses and the chorus responded with cracked voices. Some of them walked on their knees. And they loved to do it. They left a trail of blood from their scratched knees. They loved to do it because Christ would love them more and make their husbands stop beating them. A woman in black thumps her vanishing breasts as she learns of Christ’s First Fall. An American tourist is busy taking pictures of the group. The devotees are shocked because is wife does not wear a veil.

V.
Home. And Mario is drunk. He sings a dirty song. He staggers around the house and makes a lot of noise. He swings an empty bottle and hurls it through his neighbor’s open window. The bottle strikes the shrine in the living room. And the Virgin’s image falls. The falling virgin drops on the baby’s crib. The baby is hurt and she cries. Later, when her mother comes home, she will blame the Virgin.

VI.
The doddering priest bellows from the pulpit. The Seven Last Words are as tearful as soap operas. He orates, declaims, cajoles the crowd into tears, and, by crying himself, causes the women to cry louder. As the Hour nears, the crowd cries and sings and prays. Many are waving their hands in an annual manifestation of sorrow and repentance. The church is full of women. And, in the churchyard, henpecked husbands fondle their roosters and think of Easter Sunday and the smiles it will bring; and, yes of course, the gala cockfight.

Bakit pa kasi nag-leave si Ma'am Beni??? :(

And to think I was planning for her to be my thesis advisor!!! Nooo!

Now, I have to hope Sir Krip will say it's okay. Or maybe Sir D.M. or somebody, dahil hindi ko personally kilala si Sir Vincenz at si Ma'am Naya.

Pwet!

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Also have Guidance Testing tomorrow! 4:30 - 6 PM. As if I wasn't wasting enough time in school!

URgh.

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In other news, first day was great. Former TnT partner Missy is now my practicum teacher, Sir Lerma's class looks really engaging, Ma'am Dacudao is nice, and Sir Rosario's (Tagalog! Sigh.) Philo class looks like fun. Also am happy to report that (so far) wala pa akong naging "kaklaseng bwiset", and that most of the familiar faces are quite welcome.

A trip to the "eaternet" cafe also allowed me to keep my tradition of eating out every 1st day. And yeah, 1/2 power lunch it was. Hehe. Guilty pleasures, really.

Un nga lang, may homework na agad ako! Sir Lerma's asking me to write a paper right away! Haay. The price of having the art gallery as your classroom. hehehe.

I learned today that some people, in spite of my decreased frequency of posting here, still do seek out this blog to keep up with my life. I'm flattered, because it means I'm remembered, even if I've forgotten to log in here. I chalk it up to a crash that took place which wiped out most of my old blogspot layout.

So, if you are one of the ones I mention, I will give you my other blog, the livejournal:

www.livejournal.com/users/heaven_spawn/

add me! :D

And yes, I still use this blog. I don't use it that frequently anymore, but I still do. In fact, I think I'll be using this a whole lot more in the next few months. :)

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I'm tired but happy. :) I'm also somewhat grateful that I didn't get picekd for OrSem. The past four days have been a mad rush of highs. All highs, no lows. :) I like, and I'm happy.

Tomorrow, rest na 'to. Or, I can buy Knights of the Old Republic II for the PC. Haha. Happy, happy, happy ako. :D

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here's my current sched:

Hi 166 L - Dacudao, TTH 1200 - 1330 CTC 308

FA 108 A - Ypil, Monday 430 - 730 CTC 319

FA 165.1 - Javellana, MWF 130 - 230 G-312A

FA 198 - Maramara, TTH 1030 - 1200 G-306

FA 166.3 - Lerma, TTH 300 - 430 Art Gallery

Ph 103 Q - Rosario, TTH 430 - 600 CTC 103

Th 151 A - Dy-Liaco, MWF 830 - 930 CTC 102

Lord help us all.

current music: quiet. and i like it. :) because there are still songs in my head, and i can hear them better that way. :D



I'm home, back from A29.

Staffing for these retreats is tricky business. I admit the fever and the LBM were NOT fun things to encounter away from home, but it was all good. I feel tired physically, but I still feel like I can keep going. :) Hehe. parang natural high. :)

I'm kind of sad, as Kuya Third and Mommy Tammy will be leaving. Shet. To think two of my favorite, most looked-up-to a-dayzers are leaving... :(

I learned so much from those two. I shall miss them dearly.

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In other news, congrats kay Ria and Dandan for 7 new kids! To Chai and Twinkle for a fantastic job, and to Vannie and Maundy as new vice-rectors of A30! :D

As homesick I was in the batch... I shall miss it. :)

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Ikaw? Do you need a retreat? Ako bahala sa inyo! :D