Train Stations

Life is like riding on a train

Last Saturday, my friends and I spent the whole afternoon, and almost all evening celebrating Judd's birthday and Edwin's despedida party. We went to Edsa Shangri-la Mall and ate at Green Tomato where we ordered pasta, a large-size pizza and citrus chicken salad (which was the best!). We haven't consumed everything and it's a good thing Ice showed up though late and ate everything. We were so full then, so we decided to stroll around the mall, talk about stuff, just lazing around, and going to Tower Records and listen to music. It was about nine in the evening when we decided to sip coffee at Starbucks. Edwin showed up but Ice and John had to leave early, so they left. When we finished our coffee, we decided to go at Streetscape, an outdoor nook just beside Shang with restos, live band and a dance floor. Francis and Judd were in the dancing mood when we got there but the band wasn't there yet so we ordered some beer (my first in two years!), nachos and peanuts while waiting. By ten, the band started to play and a group who call themselves "Soul'd Out" started to perform. Wow! They are very very amazing. When they sang their first song, "Stop In the Name of Love" people were on the edge of their seats. The vocalists were very fantastic: three ladies, one of which is a huge woman resembling Aretha Franklin. They sang songs in the 60s, 70s and 80s - soul and rhythm and blues. By the end of the second set, the band played disco songs and before we know it, Francis and Judd were on the dancefloor. God, I can't stand their guts, though I wish I have it, starting the dancing mood, shamelessly dancing when you're the first one to do it. Later on many people followed: single guys and girls, couples, peers, moms and dads and their kids... It's really nice to see people dancing with abandon, not really minding if you look good on the dancefloor or had the coolest groove or dance steps.. just enjoying the beat and celebrating God's gift to mankind - pleasure in music. Later on, we joined in. It was about twelve when we left Streetscape and it's time to go home. We really have so much fun and silently, secretly, each of us wished that we could extend the fun but for an unspoken reason, we just went home.

Looking to it now, I would consider it one of my simple memorable events in my life: that we have fun and really enjoyed as friends and brothers in Chritst. One of them celebrating another year of his life as a "bachelor" (Hopefully, you'll get a girlfriend this year, man. That's my birthday wish for you.) and one of them saying farewell as he faces a new life in another country. Truly these are the moments worth to be cherished because people who you hold so dear will not be with you forever... same with you and other people as well. You may be a son who says good bye to your mom and dad to start living independently or a bestfriend who has to let go of your friend because he or she is now engaged to the person he/she will marry... You may be a father who has to let go of your daughter as you led her down the aisle to the man she loves. These moments, days or hours, or weeks maybe are the bittersweet moments... joyful because they'll be facing a new adventure in life yet sad because you will not be a part of it... Truly we can only trust God our relationships- when to begin, when to grow and when to end... As people go, new people come and you will be part again of a new adventure with them. I have read an article published in our church's newsletter saying that life is like riding a train. As the train stops in each station, people who are with you, some of them leaves while new passengers join you... and in the next station, the same thing happens and eventually, you will be the one to leave. But the story ends where all of these people meet at the Grand Central Station where all people who you know, all people who influenced you, all people you love, all people whom you have at one point have formed relationships. But before we got there, life has to go on the longest railroad, people may come, people may leave but as long as they're with you - share precious moments with them, extending yourself and allow them to extend to you in return.

I dedicate this article to all the people whom I knew for just a little time but made great impact on my life: To Frank and Anita who were like Dad and Mom to me, to Mario, "Astig ka pare!" whose coolness I cannot forget. To Eric, the encourager, who used to cook burritos and pasta for us and hope you will in the future. (Thanks for teaching me to make potato salad by the way) and to Edwin who will leave this Saturday. I admire your encourage and your sense of service. I miss all of you guys (Just thinking about you makes me teary-eyed right now) and see you later in another station or if not in the Grand Station where we will all surely meet.