baptism by fire

wow, had my first driving lesson this morning. it really is such an experience. ika nga ni ants, "baptism by fire." (hence, the title)

i was a nervous wreck the whole morning. i was so scared of hitting hard-headed pedestrians, stray dogs, insane jeepney drivers, innocent trees... anything. sure, the car was insured... but i'm not sure if i am. i don't wanna die!!!!!

judgment time came sooner than i hoped to. i followed my instructor to the garage. he pointed to a car - a toyota altis, i believe. i wrinkled my forehead. i knew i asked for a lesson in driving a manual car. the altis was automatic, right? i tried checking the stick shift through the window. "not that one," he called to me. he pointed to a toyota revo next to the altis. "this one." let me tell you, nanlaki yung mga mata ko. hoy, maliit na babae lang ako. pang-kotse ako, tapos revo ang ipapamaneho niya sa akin?!?

but it turned out okay. even though the first road i drove through was a main road, i survived. the "car" died about five to six times. i noticed that whenever it died, the instructor lost no time in restarting it. ang galing, halatang sobrang sanay na namamatayan ng makina. i also turned before i should have, almost plunging ourselves into a shallow canal. everytime i'd brake, i'd hit it too hard, too fast, and the poor revo would lurch. if i'd accelerate from a full stop, i'd fully release the clutch, instantly killing the engine. tsk, i have so much to learn.

point of story: i did not hit any vehicles, people, animals, plants or inanimate objects. i also did not die. one session down, nine more to go. kaya ko 'to. :D

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ang galing, i got this email from daddy. i think we can all learn from our very own miss international: precious lara quigaman.

Miss International - THE WINNING ANSWER
q: "what do you say to the people of the world who have typecasted filipinos as nannies?"
a: "i take no offense on being typecasted as a nanny. but i do take offense that the educated people of the world have somehow denigrated the true sense and meaning of what a nanny is. let me tell you what she is. she is someone who gives more than she takes. she is someone you trust to look after the very people most precious to you - your child, the elderly, yourself. she is the one who has made a living out of caring and loving other people. so to those who have typecasted us as nannies, thank you. it is a testament to the loving and caring culture of the filipino people. and for that, i am forever proud and grateful of my roots and culture."

needless to say, she received a deafening applause from the audience.
 
now ask yourself this: have you heard anything as patriotic or heartwarming from any of our useless politicians?
i rest my case. :P


verse for the day:
"if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he comes back to you and says, 'i repent,' forgive him." [luke 17:3]

time check: 11:27 PM