Finally, the world and the people around me are moving at a pace which I am comfortable with and that is the gait towards 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda. Today is my flight to Johannesburg via South African Airways. For the past 2 days ready and waiting for today to come, it is sure but hectic and almost so I cannot sleep due to excitement. I have been going home for the past 6 years at a rate of twice a year but the feeling of eagerness and exhilaration of knowing that you are coming back home is always there no matter how many times this remarkable development happens to your life. Indeed, nothing beats the excitement of going home. Despite the feverish or hectic and intense emotion I have, at the moment, it suits me just fine.

While waiting for my check in time, I would like to share to you a powerful song, it is called HOME by Michael Buble, I am coming home baby

“Home”

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm

May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home

Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
‘Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Very nice song indeed. I reiterate that nothing beats the excitement of going home especially someone special is dying waiting for you to come home.

Thanks to Youtube and MichaelBubleTV for posting the video.

The agony of waiting has finally come to an end.  Today is the last day of my life in mina at the moment as I am leaving the boondocks of Camissombo and fly back to Luanda for 2 days and finally embark on a 20 hour flight back to the Philippines, that is only the air travel time and does not include the waiting time at the airport.  A month long vacation but truthfully I just needed this break as I am already feeling bored and weary in the mining camp and of course as I have a mission to do back home.  Hopefully things will run swimmingly well as I have envisioned it to be.

Quite frankly despite the hardships, sacrifices and the never-ending demand and command of our superiors, for us, overseas Filipino workers, the time to go back home for a break is the best period of time in our work-life abroad. These surly feelings will be put to an end temporarily.  Not lasting though but this is better off than nothing.  Even though you have been working abroad for so many years, nothing beats the feeling of going home.  Your excitement always lingers everytime this “going back home” time comes, the sense of exhilaration outrides from the point you reach the “sala de embarque” (embarkation room) at the airport of origin up to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal and up until you reach your destination. 

The sad truth though is that after a month’s of delectation, you have to go back to reality, it will be “back to the salt mines” again.  It is a chronic cycle that gives you the notion that life indeed has ups and downs.

First, the French Open, this time the Wimbledon, two consecutive finals win, my idol Rafael Nadal is 2008 Wimbledon champion.  He beats Roger Federer in a five thrilling sets in the finals.  Accordingly, this is the best final ever in the Wimbledon history.  What can you say about that?  In fairness to Federer, he remains to be the World Number 1 in Tennis, his backhand stroke is just extraordinary, he hit the tennis ball way too hard.  Nevertheless, my idol Nadal’s performance last night was just over-the-top, far more than the usual and expected.

Almost all of my workfellows here in mina seem siding against my idol as we watched last night the 5 epic hours of strenuous and worth watching Wimbledon finals.  At first I thought I will not be able to catch the finals as I was working yesterday overtime since I am set for a month’s break in the Philippines.  Good thing though it rained and their play had to be stopped and I was able to watch their match.  Lucky me!

Nadal last night was just phenomenal and he played fantastically.  From the words of Nadal, after asking if it was greatest match he had ever played, he said, “I don’t know if it’s the best,” “Probably,” “Probably the best, yes.”  Nadal really indeed overcame rain, darkness, and the valorous effort of Federer to keep on his 5 year winning streak at Wimbledon.

Nothing much to say but just congratulations to Nadal and more spectacular match to come!

Final score of the match: Nadal beat Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 for his first Wimbledon title

Thanks to CNN, www.cnn.com and for my Sony digital cam that I had to take pictures from my television just to show support and share the winning experience of my idol Rafael Nadal.

Its July 2008, and as usual we begin the month with a music.  For this month, I thought of sharing with you the song which hit the airwaves of Angola’s radio stations and even in their own homes and in the offices.   This is called “Eu Sei” (I Know) by Papas da Lingua.  This is a Brazilian song that almost every Angolans love.  Probably because of the hit TV series, PAGINAS DA VIDA over , the leading network in Brazil.

My boss and my colleagues here in Mina cannot help but sing everytime I play the song in my media player.  They don’t even bother if they are in tune or not, others even sing this song the Pavarotti way!  Hope you will like this song as I do, love the melody, its Bralish combination in the song (Brazilian/English).  It is a song about love in the brink of losing but with faith and finding the purpose of love between them, a love that once thought fading will remain glowing despite all odds.

Papas Da Lingua

Eu Sei lyrics

Early dawn today 29 June 2008, Filipinos in mina wakened and gathered together to watch tv for the anticipated boxing fight between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz for a WBC Lightweight Title.  We were very elated as our champ Manny Pacquiao after 9 rounds of bout, he made history by knocking out the mexican fighter.  He dedicated this fight to the victims of the ill-fated sinking of MV Princess of the Stars early this month.

Photo courtesy: Solar Sports

Our sacrifice of waking up early in a cold and breezy weather in our mining camp has paid off since we were victorious from the match.  We were very proud of Pacquiao, very proud of being a Filipino.  Even our president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has extended her congratulations to our champ by saying “What a masterpiece.  Pacquiao, who knocked out Mexican-American David Diaz to win his fourth title, has proven anew to the world the ability and strength of Filipinos in the boxing arena.”  “Manny once again showed the sterling quality of excellence of a Filipino at his best,”

After Morales, Barrerra, Marquez and today Diaz, who is next?  All of whom hailed from Mexico that led Pacquiao being tagged as Mexi-cutioner.  He really made history out of this winning as before he claimed the WBC Lightweight Title from Diaz, he won also WBC super featherweight and flyweight belts and the IBF super bantamweight crown.  He also held Ring Magazine’s super featherweight title thus becoming the first Asian to win four titles in four different divisions according to the news.

What is nice about Pacquiao despite these accolades, he remains humble and just let his fists do the talking and not his mouth.  That to me is extraordinary and hope he will not change.

Below are the videos from the 9th round TKO that made Pacquiao in the history book:

 Thanks for Youtube and for jinglebeez and krisatienza for uploading the videos.

‘Havemos de Voltar’ - I guess most of you never heard this phrase, not if you are in Angola or in a Portuguese speaking country.  I encountered this phrase 4 years ago when I enrolled in a formal Portuguese class lessons, my teacher introduced me these famous lines, she told me these are perhaps the most liked and most phenomenal words ever said or written in the history of Angola. 

‘Havemos de Voltar’ actually a far-famed Angolan poem written by their first president Agostinho Neto which mean in English ‘We Must Return’.  A poem inspired by love of a country ‘Angola’, it illustrates the country’s beauty and abundance of riches and natural resources that Angolans should love and be proud of and return to their motherland wherever they are.

I just thought this one this morning and told myself I have to write about Angola and I think this has brought about my feeling of resurgence of what has been happening in mina lately.  An answered prayer really.  A realization that while there is life, you should not lose hope.

Anyway, below is the poem of ‘Havemos de Voltar’ by Agostinho Neto courtesy of   It is in Portuguese obviously, just use the translator

Havemos de voltar

(Agostinho Neto - Pablo Milanés)

Às casas, às nossas lavras
às praias, aos nossos campos
havemos de voltar.Às nossas terras
vermelhas do café
brancas de algodão
verdes dos milharais
havemos de voltar.

Às nossas minas de diamantes
ouro, cobre, de petróleo
havemos de voltar.

Aos nossos rios, nossos lagos
às montanhas, às florestas
havemos de voltar.

À frescura da mulemba
às nossas tradições
aos ritmos e às fogueiras
havemos de voltar.

À marimba e ao quissange
ao nosso carnaval
havemos de voltar.

À bela pátria angolana
nossa terra, nossa mãe
havemos de voltar.

Havemos de voltar
À Angola libertada
Angola independente.

 Here is the video of ‘Havemos de Voltar’ by the good manners of Kuribeka where he posted in youtube (www.youtube.com). In the video you can see the entirety of Angola, its people - its natural resources, oil, gas, diamonds, gold you name it! the green scenery and pristine beaches.  Enjoy the music embedded in the video to give a taste of Angola Africa.

As I listen to the news in ABS-CBN’s TV patrol, I cannot help myself but feel the excruciating pain of the families of the victims of the recent sea tragedy that struck the Philippines - MV Princess of the Stars - the latest in the Sulpicio Lines’ list of maritime incidents.  According to the news, out of 800 or more passengers on board the ship, only 87 more bodies have been found adrift the sea and washed off the shore of Camarines Norte and 48 survivors, the lucky ones who have battled the extremely roaring sea brought about by the deadly typhoon Frank.

As it is said, this is not the only commercial passenger ship of Sulpicio Lines that sunk,  the worst of all is the MV Doña Paz incident that happened last December 20, 1987 when it clashed with a small oil tanker Vector.  This had claimed the lives of more than 4,000 people which is considered as the worst ferry disaster in the world and the worst in the maritime disaster in the history. 

Sulpicio Lines should have learned from the happenings of the past.  More and more people die and if you are one of the families of the victims, how are you able to cope this unpleasant and disastrous destiny?  I bet you, an expression of condemnation and a hope that the management of Sulipicio Lines is better off included in the mishap so that they can perceive the feeling of pain and suffering.

I just hope rescuers can recover more bodies and we will pray for the families of the victims to have the courage of acceptance and for the dead to be recovered to have a proper interment.  And for the survivors, you are really lucky and I know you will now realize the importance of life, a life that is so beautiful and perfect.  More dreams could have been realized if not for this so called Princess and Frank.

It is really a sad fact that more and more people die due to natural disaster,  Are we prepared for the menace?

Photo credit:

Let us not wait for the Thanksgiving day to happen, let us make everyday a thanksgiving day.  A day to remember what we’re thankful for.  I have so much to thank for,  GOD the foremost - for the continued blessings, for the good health, just for being alive so I can continue my journey, my quest and my yearning.  You - what are you thankful for? 

As I said, you see, I have a lot to be thankful for, I know you do too.  We have to take our lives easier as it comes and be grateful for the experiences and lessons learned.

Allow me to share with you this message I received from a concern individual that wants to share the importance of saying “THANK YOU” for every bit of occurences in our lives. 

I AM  THANKFUL:  

FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT’S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.


FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.


FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME


FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .

BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .


FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.


FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.



FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE crazy people I work with
BECAUSE they make work interesting and fun!
           

For this year 2008, June 15 is the Father’s Day, celebrated in most countries in the world.  This is in complement to the Mother’s Day.  Giving recognition to all the Fathers in the world.  So, to all Fathers in the whole wide world, this is your day, relish this celebration of fatherhood. 

Happy Father’s Day to my dad, even if he is already with our Good Lord above since 1989.  To you dad, thank you for all the memories and teachings you have imparted on to me and for molding me to what I have achieved so far.  Too regretful though, you have not seen my achievements and what I can possible reach in the coming days.  Nevertheless, thank you for everything and Happy Father’s Day again.  I know from where are you now, you have always seen and guided me to the right path.

And to all those of you who still has a Father to cling too, take every opportunity you have in thanking and showing him for everything he has done for you. 

Roland Garros (French Open) Finals between Nadal and Federer happened last week but I feel I need to blog this to demonstrate my enthusiastic devotion to the sport of Tennis.  It is better late than never.

He did it again…not once, not twice but this is the 4th grand slam of Rafael Nadal in French Open tournament. This is his fourth straight French Open win.  My idol and the idol of the many.  Without a

doubt, he is indeed the king of clay.  Contender and world number 1, Roger Federer has yet to prove himself on the clay court since this is the only grandslam title he lacks.  It is sure as shooting that millions of Fereder fans worldwide would like nothing better than their idol to win that grandslam.  Unfortunately, my idol, Nadal is just really, really strong - here is the evidence - The final score — 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 —Nadal, congrats!

We will surely meet in person. That is not impossible, i guess.  Perhaps meet you in Australian Open in Melbourne, next year? after next?  Only God can tell.