The Hunt for the Red Dragon

This story is based on true events.  However, because the characters occupy important public positions, their names, but not their personalities were  altered.

Acting on a tip from lawyer Gorgeous Kate's T-Back, a search team composed of  high school batch mates was hastily formed; the mission: to search for former classmate Red-hen  A-Okay (code name Red Dragon) who, according to Gorgeous, was afflicted with muscular dystrophy, a debilitating disease that tightens muscles, tendons and ligaments particularly in joint areas, rendering the victim in a painful state of immobility, in pitiful deformity.

10:30 a.m., April 23, a Saturday, the hunters: bank manager Medley Crossroads (nee Castle House), college professor Asserin Acacia (nee Caviar), NEDA hotshot Voltron Voldemort (aka Double Dork), and professional hairdresser Vanessa Longhair (aka Mama Hmm-Hmm) converged at San Sebastian Cathedral armed with the firm resolve to find Red-hen, assess his condition, report the findings to the rest of the class, and plan ways and means to help him out.  The group last saw Red-hen on their graduation day 15 years ago; him with a short, frail body, bulging eyes hidden behind binocular-like eyeglasses, and a peculiar gait that appeared as if an invisible rope was permanently tied to his hip and pulled by an invisible mule, propelling him forward – hip first.

Needless to say, the hunters were prepared to witness the worst.

Would you cheat if you can touch Jesus first?

There is a place in the Philippines where a relic of the original cross of Jesus is kept: Monasterio De Tarlac.  Reaching the place though, is an exercise in patience and great trust in the Lord that you're not going to get lost -- pretty much like trying to live a Christ-like life.

We were on our way back to Lipa from a Tour De Force of Northern Luzon. I've been driving for several days, which took me, my wife, my mother and my dog to Manaoag, to Pozzorubio, my mother's birthplace in Pangasinan, and to Baguio.  Our stop at the Monasterio would be our last programmed destination.

My Kuya Gary, who has been to the place, told us it's a must pilgrimage.  But after taking a right turn from Tarlac City, it soon become apparent that the search for the Monasterio has become an Amazing Trace.  The map says its approximately 25 kilometers from Mac Arthur Highway where we made our initial right turn.  So it should appear any moment.

Silent nights and no last song syndrome

Welcome to _______________, a quaint community nestled on the foot of majestic Mount Malarayat -- where cool, pristine air soothes away the stress of city living, and neighbors know each other by name.  Here, crickets lull you to sleep, and birds welcome each new day with delightful chirps.  Truly, when you place premium on quality of life -- this is the place that you want to call home.

If this place is being advertised, then that's how I'm going to write its copy on a print ad.  But this is no expensive subdivision, but a small barangay at the edge of Lipa.  It is called Barangay Talisay, a small, peaceful community where bike trails criss and cross.

With a collection of small and big houses made either of wood or cement or both, this place is not any different from any barangay you would see all over rural Philippines.  But what distinguishes Barangay Talisay is how its residents value their security and peace of mind, and how they come together to ensure that they protect their quality of life; in many respects, like how exclusive subdivisions would protect theirs, though on a smaller and less expensive scale.

Wish

It was only by accident that I found that place.  I was 5 years old, not yet in school, and we were playing hide and seek; I didn't want to be found out first because I despised being "taya."  I hated it when I had to count past 10, you know the numbers, teneleven, twelveteen,  twelthirteen -- and my playmates would count along with me, snickering the whole time.  It had its advantages though, finding out where they hid by sonar, the foremost.  


But it was not a good feeling searching for your playmates when your eyes are half-blind, clouded by tears about to fall.  And when I had to call out a name, "Bong, Kanuto!" -- I wouldn't be able to declare it clearly because the lump that has formed on my throat prevented clear enunciation, and we would have an argument that I did not mention his name properly so it was not a legitimate out.  It was a losing argument for me because, by then, I would be crying and I would be wailing away unintelligible words, in between sobs.


So I did my best no to be found out first.

Moving on

My heart is heavy as I write.  My blog, www.curiousbiker.com was suspended by wordpress for what I think was a spam that I introduced through a posted comment.  The spam is apparently doing things that are against wordpress policies.  That blog, though barely more than a month old, has become an important extension of who I am and, I believe, a source of entertainment, diversion, and inspiration for a lot of my readers.

Though I am feeling a big loss, I believe that my stories should continue though my original site has ceased to exist.  So I am moving on to blogger, to this new site which I hope would reach more readers.  To my friends who are moving with me, thanks for the support.  To my readers and followers whom I can't reach, I hope we meet again in this site.  And if you are reading this right now, you just don't know how elated I am to be with you again.  And to those who are new to my site, I hope you would like it as much as others before you had.

Nothing should stop us from moving forward.  The realcuriousbiker is moving on.