The second school we went to was located to a community near where I live. Located in barangay Merila of Iligan City, the Miguel Obach Memorial Elementary School has 15 Yapis scholars as recipients of our noche buena packages.

After the solemnization of the marriage of the couple, it is with great honor and privilege for me to speak first a message for the newly-wed. A message is supposed to be delivered first handedly by my Dad, the Sangcopan ko Bayabao-Masiu, who is also the second father of our bride but I came here instead to deliver my thoughts and maybe also a bit of my father's. 

As we all know, our bride and her siblings lost their father at their very young ages. If I can vividly recall the stories, my cousin who is their youngest, can barely walk when their father died. And with that came the great challenge to my aunt, whom we all call as Omie, to raise a family on her own.

My dad then became the father figure of my cousins, and we never regret that we all share his intention and care, although he is somewhat strict to all of us. Nevertheless, our bride took a very special place in my dad's life, whom I may consider as my honorary elder sister for she was not the first niece but also the first grandchild of the family.

But then again, as I grew up with them, I started to realize the special role of my dad in the bride and her family's life. Although at a very young age, it seems hard to contemplate on the fact that every cousin of yours calls your Daddy, as their Daddy also. But I never questioned that, on the fact also that I call their mother the same way they also call her.

But what made me jubilant after all the things that transpired through with the family is that, there is never an impossible just when you dream of it and support one another. I can proudly say that it was a very difficult and arduous journey, not only for Ate Bing, but for the entire family all throughout the road in becoming a doctor of medicine. I think we consider her as a crown jewel of our family.

To tell you honestly, it took a great number of head nodding and a windful of sighs until it sank to my father that her precious niece is already a grown up woman who is already aptly ready where life may take her head on. I know it may sound selfish but after all those of years of study, I think what my Dad, Grandmom and Aunts ultimately want is the time to spend with her more. 

But as destiny has it, a new chapter of her lifestory must be written and it is improbable to stop. But as we say it, as long as she is happy, then maybe it is already the right time to move forward.

From Daddy's point, it was a hard decision to let you go early, as he say. I remember the countless sacrifices of my Aunts, Omie, Mamang, Tita and Daddy alongside with their tears, in accepting the fact that you are now really into the stage of a married woman. 

At this stage of yours in becoming entwined with a man, the family, Daddy, wishes you welland be a happy married woman. Life might be full of challenges ahead but your years of personal and academic struggle might have equipped you to face the bigger challenges and questions that the future may yet to bring.

This is another beginning filled with apprehension and anticipation. May your warming aura in the family bring your new life full of joy and love beyond compare.

With all my heart, May the Almighty Allah bless your union and I offer you my congratulations as you begin the latest adventure of your life. We wish you well and all the best! 

Those were the last words of Bilbo Baggins before credits rolled in at the end of The Desolation of Smaug. It was the sentence that left the crowd wanting for more, seeing the imminent situation in the Esgaroth.

This second part of the movie adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit prepares the moviegoers of the entry of familiar characters of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Legolas, the renowned Elf Prince awed the audience once more of his archery skills (although age does seem affect Bloom), with a twist of being entangled with a love triangle against a dwarf. *interspecies relationship is too rare I think, that's why it is exciting* 

Besides focusing on Thorin Oakenshield's quest of regaining the seventh dwarf kingdom of Erebor, the plot goes thicker with the revelation of the identity of the unknown necromancer as the Dark Lord Sauron, rallying once more the legions of Orcs in his bid to gain control of Middle Earth. With Dol Guldur as his starting point, we may expect that Mordor will be revived. This part is very crucial to the future quest of Bilbo's nephew, Frodo Baggins, in his quest after 100 years.

What also left the people asking is the question of how Gandalf the Grey will escape from Dol Guldur. Will Radagast the Brown be able to engage contact with Lady Galadriel to tell her about the tombs and will they be able to help in fending off Smaug both from Erebor and the Laketown? 

All in all, Tolkien's work never fail to amaze people. The movie was worth the wait and the third part will surely be a blast! The mixture of fun and danger was quite exquisite that you were worried for the characters as well as laughing at how they managed to escape from the Orcs and from King Thranduil's grasp. *notice the dwarves in the barrels scene* 

Though the actions were vividly portrayed and the place really is the Middle Earth out of the book, but it is so lamentable how the adventures of the party in Mirkwood was cut short. Their long journey to the Lonely Mountain through those woods were supposed to be really perilous. But then again, not everything can be fit in a movie.

Another notetaking part was the entry of a man, Bard, who is a descendant of Gilion, Lord of the city of Dale. He was responsible of sneaking in the dwarves to Esgaroth, the new community of the descendants of the City of Dale. And he holds the important weapon that can kill the dragon. Will he overcome his present situation in the holding cells? 

We always know that Oakenshield will regain back the throne and establish the mighty Durin's line through Erebor. The real question is how will they be able to be victorious? Will there be sacrifices? Deaths? Fans who were not able to read the book will foment these feelings. Get ready for another adventure, with the dwarves, the wizard and the hobbit.

I am just wondering how will they end this trilogy of The Hobbit if most of the climax scenes are already shown, but let us just wait how will Director Peter Jackson will blow us away yet again in the last of the series. 

And I would like to mention my brother Rikio and his cousin Aibee for accompanying me in watching the film today, even though they had seen it already. Really appreciate it along with that planner! ^_^

-Maiki-

Well anyway, it was a brilliant sunny morning! And it is seven days before Christmas. I know, I know. We don't celebrate Christmas but in a community tainted with the holiday season, we also share in solidarity to their celebration. And gifts are really mainstream in this time. 

As part of the season of sharing, the organization I belong to, the Youth Advocators Productive Integrated Service Inc. (YAPIS Inc.), has planned of giving small noche buena packs to some students in a hinterland barangay. By the way, these students are scholars of our organization. The targeted area, Dalamas Elementary School is located between the boundary of Iligan City and Tagoloan Municipality, accessible only to single motorcycles with a single trip lasting for 35 minutes. *phew! imagine that!*

I have my Tumblr account but I needed a more formal blogging site. And I think this one fits my objectives. As I am writing this, lying on my bed with only my iPad and laptop giving brightness to my room, I can only thought of all the things that I have been wanting to write about before. My hobbies range from food tripping, movie marathons, travel escapades and communtiy involved activities, and those are probably what I will always be writing about.

I beg for your indulgences as I started blabbing directly. Let me introduce myself first. The name is Datu Esma Mikee Pantaran-Maruhom. Natives of our place would have noticed the traditional title attached to my name, which is an attestment of my patrilineal and mattilineal noble and regal lineage which is now disregarded by our country. Nevertheless, we continue to upheld with dignity our ancestry as it is part of our culture thriving in a place where beliefs are contrary to ours. But we act in solidarity to the predominant Christian populace of our Republic, for this is the way of peace, with our religion Islam teaching peace.

Never mind the aforementioned things. I hope this avenue will become my best buddy in telling my stories and I hope you will be so kind to read them. Will start posting soon! ^_^

-Maiki-