Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.—Anonymous

Yesterday we had a meeting of AKLNZPinoys. Grabe po, ang daming nag-attend. We originally estimated around 80 to 100 people to attend but close to 200 showed up.

Ang saya po ng get-together. I hope, especially to those who just recently arrived in Auckland and are still settling in to the NZ way of life, na sana nag-enjoy kayo ang found new friends during the meet. Yan naman po ang main purpose ng group natin, that we remain friends. And that we continue helping one another and caring for each other.

Marami pang challenges ang haharapin ng mga bagong dating sa NZ. Lalong-lalo na ang mga may WTR na 6 months. Medyo pressured sila dahil sa short period na meron sila to find a job. But I think with a little help and encouragement from some of us who’ve been in NZ longer, and with God’s grace, they will manage and achieve their purpose for coming here.

Sabi nga ng Beatles, “we get by with a little help from our friends”. Sagot naman ni Stevie Wonder, “[because] that’s what friends are for”. Corny, ano? But truly, yan po ang feeling ko (parang gusto kong kumanta kahit sintunado) when with friends. Lalo na Pinoy friends who are one in caring for each other.

Speaking of friends, nagugulat na lang ako kapag may lumalapit sa akin at nagpapakilala na matagal na raw silang nagbabasa ng blog ko. They talk as though they know so much about me na parang matagal na nila akong kakilala at tinuturing na kaibigan. Pero sila, first time ko pa lang ma-meet kaya medyo feeling awkward ako kasi di ko alam kung paano mag-react.

Lalo na nung may magbigay sa akin ng pasalubong galing pa sa Pinas. One couple sinadya pa nila na ipagdala ako ng plastic tabo. Nabasa kasi nila yung post ko about my multi-purpose tabo. Kahapon naman may nagbigay sa akin ng box of Cloud 9 chocolates na all the way from SM (alam ko kasi nasa isang blue SM plastic bag). At si J naman pinasalubungan ako ng isang music CD. Dahil yata alam niya na 60’s pa ang alam kong music. Yung iba naman, they go out of their way to approach me and thank me personally. All of these from people I’ve never met before (or maybe once pa lang). Nakakataba ng puso. Sometimes, I wonder if I deserve any of these attention. All these for simply putting my thoughts into words on the internet. In any case, taos puso akong nagpapasalamat. At sana ipagpaumanhin ninyo kung di ko ma-recall ang mga names ninyo. Mahirap kasi ang tumatanda.