simpleng kaligayahan

as they say, happy moments could be attained even with the simplest of means. sadly, i feel like advertising has changed the face of happiness through the years: billboards showing children hugging their toys, that ad which a celebrity got her desired figure/sexiness, or that telecom ad wherein the models show off their expensive celphones whilst putting on that *fake* smile. somehow people nowadays are made to believe that happiness comes at a very high price. but of course for people (me included) who grew up barely surviving the daily challenge (3 meals a day that is), we think otherwise. playing patintero at the street under the moonlight with the other kids sure made us happy. it costs us our frail body's energy but hey, not a penny is spent to be able to participate. on my way to sleep i'll remember with satisfaction that i gave my best in the game though i smell sweaty. pero mas maamoy, mas malakas ang feeling of satisfaction haha.. how about tumbang preso. puhunan? just bring your own pair of slippers, lata ng gatas (yung sa Alaska okay yun!) and voila, the group can start the game often coupled with yelling and a lot of trash talking (yeah, i like that part). pagalingan pa kayo sa mga peyk mub (fake move) haha. at kung sino ang matatawag na balagoong at the end of the game! how about watching TV together with your siblings. okay, okay, sumisilip sa bintana ng kapitbahay para manood ng TV with your siblings ;p. you know, these things do not require you to spend much but definitely will bring much joy to the heart. that, my friends, is happiness at its simplest state for me..

so why am i writing about this? because i felt it this morning. in our world today, the race to make life easier is turning out to be very stressful. you work to earn a living. and in my case, having to work on a night-shift schedule gives stress a great chance to play a major role in my everyday life. i get busy with making a life the pursuit of happiness seems to become a lesser priority... a good friend told me once that she'd like to try to ride the PNR train. yes, that very old train running parallel to SLEX. how can you miss that eh though you can't see the train, you will definitely hear it even from afar. kahit mga 1 kilometer pa rinig mo na yung busina niya hehe. she asked me to accompany her and honestly at first i was hesitant. not that i do not want to because i remember we rode the PNR many times before (with my tatay and kuya). but that was what, 10 years ago? eventually i nodded yes (do i have a choice really?). and besides, going out of your comfort zone sometimes for a friend gives you that good feeling inside. so i checked out the train's schedule 2 days prior to our "trial ride". and today, we actually went there, took some pictures of the railway and us, rode the train from Buendia to Alabang, took some more pictures (and videos i won't dare share hehe) and headed back home with nothing but happiness, satisfaction, much much laughter, and joy in our hearts. ang sarap ng feeling! :D


it all started @ Buendia..


Rona and that ever contagious excitement :)


sino 'tong kasama mo?


there's not much peeps inside that's why..


cge tawa lang habang umaalog alog ang tren, mahangin ba sa labas? hehe


finally, Alabang!

how much was it? murang mura lang but loads of fun await you. P12/pax my friends (Buendia-Alabang). it's evident in the pictures that we had a great great time. so if you're up for a cheap, exciting, shaky, maalikabok, and okay, adventurous ride na rin, try out the PNR for once. we enjoyed the trip. i hope you do too.. more than that, it made me happy. as in simpleng kaligayahan. and what better way than to spend it with a friend. makes your happiness complete and fulfilling..