bursting beer belly

“Learn how to die and you’ll learn how to live.” - Tuesdays with Morrie Mitch Alcomb Saddened. Nothing has changed in how I feel since I first heard the most shocking and horrible news thus far. To some, it may not mean a thing, but for me and for so many whom he touched and walked with, it means not just a lot but a terrible loss. The passing of Isidro Gomez Hildawa—a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, an architect, a visual artist, a musician, a poet, a manager, and a teacher (yes, he truly seemed to be a modern-day Renaissance man)—leaves a significant impression in each of the endeavors he engaged in. Not only did it bring an immense setback for those he left behind, but it was also so unexpected for a man who had just come home from the hospital and was still recovering, only to pass away suddenly. I remember him as a teacher, a visual artist, and a poet. The most memorable lesson about drawing that he imparted to me was, “The ke...

Bakit kaya sa tuwing matatapos ang isang unos sa buhay ng isang tao agad namang dumarating ang panibago? Katatapos lang ng isa subalit masasabing pinakamahabang unos na dumaan sa buhay ko. Siguro masyadong overrated ang statement na 'to, pero sa aking palagay, tama lang na sabihin ko ito. Pagkatapos ng ilang buwan ng pagbubuhos ng pagod at pag-iisip para magsaliksik at maisulat ang thesis ng inyong lingkod, nakarinig ako ng liwanag nang sabihin ng tagapayo ko ang mga katagang "You're done Bryan, Congrats." Hindi agad tumatak ang mga katagang iyon sa aking isipan hanggang sa maipasa ko ang thesis ko na nakabookbind sa aking tagapayo. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa ko at natapos ko ang isang pagsasaliksik nang nasa tamang panahon. Ilang buwan din ang ginugol ko upang makamtam ko ang liwanag mula sa unos. Mahaba-haba din ang ilang buwan, kasabay nito ang iba pang pagsubok bilang pinuno ng isang organisasyon sa pamantasan, kaya naman labis ang aking ngiti ng saglit na iy...