A MUFFLED CRY

The complete silence at the retreat allowed God to show me the dismal state my soul was in. To save my soul from completely rotting from within me, I managed to write a long list of resolutions. I was determined when I left Vallombrosa. But as soon as I mingled with the rest of the world, I found myself weak and desolate. I could not do any of the resolutions I listed. I just continued to ignored the problem that was staring me in the face.

I realized that the retreat only showed me the state of my soul. It failed to show me the state of my emotions, my intellect, and my body. The lifetime movie, "Augusta, Gone," was the one that showed me that my emotions, intellect, and body were rotting within me along with my soul.

Finally, last night, I heard a muffled cry coming from the depths of my spirit, "HELP."

DISTRACTED BY ANGELS

We get a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay, Downtown San Francisco, and Golden Gate Park in our lab, which is situated on the 15th floor of HSW at UCSF. It's a breathtaking view. It's the same view that would-be mothers, on labor, see while they're doing their lamaze and breathing exercises as they wait for the delivery of their newborn.

As I walked the halls of the 15th floor, I looked at the spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge and I saw four jets in "four"mation, flying closely together. That's when I remembered that it's San Francisco's Fleet Week this week. And I remembered the first time I was introduced to it:

I just recently started working in the lab. I was busy doing experiments (or trying not to screw up an experiment), when I heard this loud sonic boom from outside our building. Frightened, I asked a postdoctoral fellow in the lab what it was, as I looked up and around to see any signs of the building starting to collapse. The fellow pointed me to the window and showed me fighter jets doing stunts on air. It was spectacular.

And today, we got great "seats" to their show. Granted they are just practicing, but I found myself totally impressed. And I wasn't able to get back to work until 30 minutes later. They fly real low and at close range to each other. A miscalculation on the part of a pilot will have devastating consequences. From afar, the four fighter jets flying in "four"mation, looked like two big planes. That's how close they were to each other. They were flying real close to the Golden Gate Bridge. I'm sure commuters and tourists found that either scary or amazing. They flew real close to our building too. They were higher up, but we saw their shadows.

I suppose I don't need to go down to the Pier to see the show. I've already seen them several times in the course of 4 years. And nothing beats the panoramic view I get from watching them in our lab.

WE ARE THE TIGERS ... WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

It's been, what, almost 10 years since I graduated from UST, and since I left my alma mater for good. And yet, here I am, cheering it's Men's Basketball Team, the UST Growling Tigers, as they win the 69th UAAP Championships. I didn't even know that UST made it to the finals. I wouldn't have known, had Kuya Junby not teased me about the Tigers losing to the Eagles (obviously, Kuya Junby is from Ateneo). And apparently, this sudden rivalry of Ateneo and UST (just for the championship, 'coz we all know that Ateneo's eternal rival is De LaSalle) caused ripples all throughout the Philippines (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating). But I suddenly saw a surge of "Tiger Power" status on YM. I couldn't help but join in the band wagon. Amidst all the "Tiger Power," "Black Gold Black White," and "Go USTe" status, I put up the "We are the Tigers ... we came to WIN" cheer for my YM status.

I wasn't expecting the Tigers to win. As I've read from some articles, the Blue Eagles are sure winners. But, in an unexpected turn of fate, the GROWLING TIGERS ROARED and WON! After how ever many years (since we graduated from HS), the UST bags another UAAP Championship Trophy. Aight! Go USTe!

We are the TIGERS
The mighty mighty TIGERS
We came to WIN
And to win it without fear!

AND WE WON!!!

We are the CHAMPIONS, my friends
We'll keep on fighting til the end
We are the CHAMPIONS
We are the CHAMPIONS!

Sorry Maloiks and Kuya Junby ... Got carried away.