LAPASTANGAN.

Okay, I don't know what it means but I think it'd make a good blog title. Hahaha. I heard mum saying, "Nilapastangan na nga nila si Allan ... "

Mum said its parang "binaboy ang pagkatao."

TRUE?

Sorry I never could get past Filipino. O_O

SO ANYWAYS.

Back when I was in first year college, I went through the worst kind of intrigue EVER. As in WHOA. Its probably the most degrading and insulting thing you can say about someone. What made it WORSE is the fact that, of course, not a MORSEL of gossip was TRUE.

Were the scandalous lies for real, people would've gotten over it sooner. *Remember Michelle D.?*

Come to think of it, I think I've been a really controversial girl even before I hit college. The funniest I've heard was me allegedly having two children. HAHAHAHA. I don't even have a puppy. :| The others, mediocre. Like some random Catbalogan loser guys claiming I'm their ex-girlfriend or something. EW. Dream on. *shudders*

SO ANYWAY. POINT IS:

Hindi pa ba kayo tumakas sa akin? Wasn't demoralizing and degrading my reputation and integrity enough for you people?

WHY, OH WHY DO YOU STILL NEED TO TALK SH*T ABOUT MY DEAD UNCLE.

HE'S DEAD. HE WAS AN INNOCENT PERSON WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING.

Now you f*cking bastards better shut your trap about him. Don't you know we had the chance to speak with some of the NPA heads stationed in Samar and they had nothing to do with his death? That they said Uncle Allan was a good person and they could never do that to him?

Do you know how many people went to his wake? That up to now, random people show up at Fortune and Robinson to give their condolences and show their support?

Almost the whole of Catbalogan from all walks of life came to his wake. Friends from Manila, Tacloban, Cebu showed up. From the richest Chinese communities, to the powerful Mayor Tekwa, Mayor Cabuenas, etc., to the poorest of people whose lives my Uncle has touched. From Roman Catholics to Born Agains to Atheists showing up at his wake being held at UCCP. It came to the point wherein the UCCP church could no longer accommodate everyone and visitors were just standing OUTSIDE. As in they were in the STREETS just standing there to show their last respects.

Uncle Allan became rich because he worked hard. He had a pautang business that went along smoothly, and he has an agrivet and poultry supply. He also owns various lands that he bought CLEAN from banks and does a pa-upahan. Do you know how much his store makes in a day? Trust me on this one because I was his intern-cashier-slash-tindera since the fifth grade.

Everything I need to know about business, my Uncle Allan taught me. He was the most humble man I have ever known. Do you know that his laundry basket's handle broke and he fixed it by tying on STRAW to substitute for a handle? Would a drug lord/land grabber/whatever it is you people are calling him do that? They'd just buy another one since money came easily to them, right?

Uncle Allan was kuripot when it came to himself, but generous when it came to God, the church, and others. Do you know that he has been supporting a church in Gandara for over twenty-three years and we only found out about it now? I remember the week he died some radio jock was so angry, he blurted out: Diri kamo maaram na ito na anonymous na permi nabulig ha iyo, hi Allan Tan ito! *Don't you people know that that anonymous donor who's always helping you was Allan Tan!*

Pwede ba. My Uncle's life was rudely cut short. As my aunts would say, "Binaboy at pinatay ng wala man lang kalaban-laban."

Our memory is all we have of him. I just hope people won't ruin and tarnish it by senseless, mindless and tactless rubbish.

Low lives have nothing else to do with their poor and boring existence, and I'm sorry that Uncle Allan was just some boring old rich guy whose death can't bring them juicy chismis to live off for a few months or so.

For the last time, let me get the facts straight. Allan Tan died on October 27, 2008, with TWO gunshots to the heart. *Not four* He was forty-five, not thirty-five. He got rich by WORKING HARD and he doesn't even SMOKE nor DRINK. His only vice was SOFT DRINKS and HIGH CHOLESTEROL FOODS. Whenever I'd go home for the holidays, I'd buy him either TWO LARGE CHAMP BURGERS or a BOX OF BAVARIAN DONUTS.

Uncle Allan wasn't a land grabber. He'd buy land from the bank and if ever there were squatters or whatever still living off his property, he'd give them more than enough money to construct a new house somewhere else. Uncle Allan would never EVER manufacture drugs. He saved people. He would never have the heart to make a living by ruining lives. He almost slapped me silly when he ALLEGEDLY thought I had addict friends. You should've seen him! He almost burst a pipe! Hahahaha.

I honestly think the worst Uncle Allan has done in his life is to eat bavarian donuts.

So. There you have it. And for your sakes, I'd think twice before talking garbage. There is such thing as libel, and karma does exist. :) God doesn't sleep, ya know? :)

As Dr. Marco said, "ALLAN WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF EVERY PEACE-LOVING CATBALOGANON."

SHUT YOUR MOUTH, McDUNOT! Naglalangoy-langoy na imo kaluluwa ha impyerno. MURDERER!

I rest my case. Who's up for coffee?

Faith, Hope and Charity.

My friends and I are holding a toy drive for the orphaned and less fortunate in lieu with the holiday seasons. :) You can help by donating old toys, books and clothes. :) A small act can go a long way.

We're also holding our second Shop for a Cause Bazaar. ANYTHING can be donated -- DVDs, old clothes, shoes, etc. Proceeds will go to the construction of our SB Parish Convent, groceries and funds for selected barangays and or churches within Catbalogan.

Christmas is about giving. Have a Merry Christmas, folks!

***

It was Auntie Karol's birthday yesterday *Uncle Allan's wife*. His unica hija, Jasmine, will turn eight on November 25 -- the same day my E-ma *Uncle Allan's mom*, turns 70. Robin, his eldest and only son, will turn twelve on December 9.

This will be our family's first Christmas without him -- but his first Christmas with God. He'll also be with Ingkong on Christmas again.

I heard KFC Tacloban will be opening on November 29. I don't have an Uncle Allan to bring pasalubong to anymore. He always appreciated every french fry *no matter how durog-durog from the two and a half hour drive* I brought him.

We all know he's in a better place. Uncle Allan wasn't only a good man -- he was a great man. A person of integrity and principles. Jam's dad said it well: "He had a heart of gold."

I miss you Uncle Allan. I miss you every day. Every second. We all miss you. Have a Merry Christmas.

We WILL find you justice. Earthly and divine.

TRIVIA.

I married my cousin and our bread has centipedes. I killed Allan Tan.

Who Am I?

PS: We upped the reward money to half a million pesos.

PPS: Tacloban na ako. YEY! Civilization! Hekhekhek
Chill, Catbalogan. :> My coffee shopS na tayo.

XOXO,

The Phoenix.

Miami Ink has been inspiring me to get inked for quite a while now; but only last night have I figured out what I want to someday get.

I will get a tattoo of a phoenix to commemorate my late uncle.

The phoenix will symbolize uncle Allan's second life. A few weeks after my college graduation, we received a call that Uncle Allan has been stabbed multiple times by a masked assailant. The evil psycho person managed to get his face and arm, but the knife was miraculously BENT when aiming for his jugular.

Given a second chance at life, Uncle Allan was able to redeem himself. He was brought himself closer to his family; and most importantly, to God. He was by nature a really good person who unconditionally gave and helped numerous churches and civilians, but it was about a few months before his death that he became a Born Again Christian.

Born again -- just like a phoenix.

The mastermind behind his multiple stab wounds never gave up. He was shot twice and died instantly on October 27, 2008. We miss him dearly, but we all know that Uncle Allan is in heaven. He was given another life -- eternal life, and is witnessing the fulfillment of our Lord's promise.

And just like a phoenix, I know our whole family will one day be able to rise from the ashes of pain and torment. We will miss Uncle Allan every single day of our lives, but we will be born again. We will ascend above the grief stronger than ever. You see, the murderer was never successful. She (yes, she), was never able to take away Uncle Allan's soul nor his faith. And she will never take away ours, either.

If ever I do decide to get a phoenix tattooed on me (by Chris Garver simply because he's the most talented. :D), I'll have it in full color to represent the vibrancy and life that my Uncle lived. I'd want it to be feather-y to symbolize the numerous lives he has touched and the ripple effect of his generosity. Lastly, I'll have it overlooking my back.

Uncle Allan always had my back no matter what. :)

This time our family is going against the norm of Chinese tradition -- we're not always in white, we're cutting our hair, and we don't have a black pin on our clothes. We knew Uncle Allan wouldn't have wanted that. I was at PCBS this morning and I found a pin of a golden dove. Instead of a black pin symbolizing mourning and grief, I'll be wearing a golden dove on my clothes. Uncle Allan is with the Holy Spirit in heaven. It may hurt to not have him with us physically, but I know that he's watching our family together my Angkong and Daddy's parents.

It's not goodbye. It's see ya later. :)