Swollen lips, broken sounds...

When we were little boys, barrio fiesta was one of the most awaited time of the year. In my hidden barrio, fiesta could mean a lot of happenings - Flores de Mayo, dance parties, drinking sessions, amateur singing contests, lots of foods, lots of relatives and friends, people from other places, perya, sarswela, and many other interesting things. Most of them enjoyed by more matured folks, but us kids, we will patiently wait for the marching band, we will then follow behind, and there playing our own newly created instrument. Real fun.

I had wished I was born with longer legs...

The bigger boys always got the faster horse, ha ha ha, we also make the sound of the footsteps. I can almost imagine the real thing..., the slowing down footsteps followed by neigh mimicking shout then the bursting snorts... ha ha ha, crazy boys.

Be careful to smash my eyeglasses...

Go on, you can smash my eyeglasses but I could still see you to smash your ass. I can still remember the pride whenever I could make a perfect fit. Through these materials we can also do rings, whips, square balls, sun-hat, and many more...

My chopper got another model...

I love to chop the garden, those leaves including the flowers...
These are some plants I remember we used to keep in our backyard:
1) Kataka-taka (Amazing)
2) Sampagita (Sampaguita)
3) Rosal (White Flower)
4) Santan (St. Anne)
5) Bugambilya (Bougainville)
6) Ulasiman-kumpol (Mah-)
7) Liryo (Lirio cguro)
8) many many more...
I used to whack them with my choppers...

"Helikupter 2" (ballpoint pen > sketchpad)

I might have tried to shoot down the moon...

Yeah, if given enough stones...

Imagine a stone bigger than your head catapulted into your face, you'll get surprised?! No need to imagine that, the poor bird won't have any chance to get surprised, mostly, body parts with involuntary muscles will just anyhow move on their own way, then full stop.

I didn't really use my slingshot to hit birds, but mostly to shoot down fruits, sinigwelas, kamatsili, caimito, guavas, santol, and many more. Then one day I shot my cousin on his neck, and that has ended my playing with it. Mother sequestered it then threw it on the rooftop and refused to buy another one for me.... it's actually quite a long story... :-)


"Tirador" (gel pen + color pencil > sketchbook)

The thought of flying always fascinates me....

Chopper... keep your legs out of the way. I've created more than once for myself... learned to create this toy from the bigger boys, and yes, I earned a lot of cuts on my hands. To create one, I needed two empty cans of Alaska Evap, water pail metal handle, copper wire, and a straight branch of coffee tree.

"Helikupter" (pilot gel pen > sketchbook)

Curtain in the sky...

I heard them calling this as "Lagundrina" and I stick to this name. I'm not sure if it's actually "La Curtina" or "di kurtina". This is my favorite kite.

"Lagundrina" (ballpen > drawing paper)

Kids want big wheels too...

One Saturday night, Amapo came home from work with his usual big bag, but this time it is heavier. He called me to show me something. WOW!! Two big wheels, that what's the bamboo for he's fitting the other weekend. He didn't sleep until he finished assembling it and I've been longing for the cockcrow even before he finished it. It's a big show off tomorrow.

"Pagilong" (ballpen > drawing paper)

You need a longer string...

A kite is a flying tethered object that depends upon the tension of a tethering system. (wiki) Guryon, saranggola, bulador... these are the general terms we used to call it in my home barrio. I used to like flying kites so much I can't stop till sunset. I'm actually always looking forward to fly kites every time I go to my hometown. We also have model name for each type and make of our kite, we call this one "Pupuwitin".

(fountain pen > spring notebook)

When I was young, I can cut my own hair...

"No! Daddy, when we go to Lolo A'po's house, you can make one for me, here we can go to Toy's R Us,... yes Daddy??".
":((".