North Shore’s 40-foot waves
It was January 28, 2003, my cousin Jazlyn’s baby luau. Uncle Gary with his bulky truck drove two hours from Waipahu to the north of Oahu where BYUH sits. My roommate Apple and I jumped up the back of the Nissan Frontier while Mommy sat beside Uncle. We took a few pictures before he started the engine.
"Shaka!"
On the way, we were still striking some poses and flashing big smiles; which obviously showed our excitement. As we pass by Sunset Beach my attention was caught by people huddling by the seashore – the sea was raging with its 40-foot waves!
We were in much awe, making noise, stretching our hands out pointing at the furious yet flaunting sea. Suddenly, my Uncle pulled over at the right shoulder of the high-way. We happily hopped out the truck; hurriedly neared the shore, and started taking pictures, taking turns on saying “cheese.”
Displaying our smiles zipped up to our ears, we patiently waited for the right timing for the waves to form a wall-like structure. We were like new parents, with cameras pasted on our palms, animatedly anticipating our baby’s first giggle.
As the waves collided into the rocks, subtle shower sprinkled on our faces; that was also worth note taking.
Challenging the angry sea at the annual surfing competition at North Shore
Noticeably, a long yellow ribbon which says “no swimming,” stretched out few inches between the shore and the water’s toes. One would never dare charge and challenge the North Shore at the peak of its wonderful wrath. On second thought, perhaps daredevils would.
It was a sight both beautiful and dreadful.
Killer waves of North Shore
Those humongous waves of North Shore, one of the biggest in the world, happen only once a year during the winter season – truly a site worth anticipating.
On the other hand, the day I scanned the newly processed pictures I was both zealous and disappointed. The giant waves in our background looked like ordinary ones. It didn’t appear 40-foot at all, nor exhilarating and angry. The only things duplicated close to reality were our smiles exuding excitement.
"...didn't look 40-foot at all!"
Few days passed yet my words still lingered on the massive waves and the irony behind the processed photos. A friend overheard my awe and queries; and abruptly expressed her similar experience of wonder and frustration regarding the waves. The only difference was, she had a video camera. When she watched the film – you know how the waves looked like on screen. Yet I see postcards of North Shore’s waves cradling surfers; they really are overwhelming they could swallow a mountain. My mind then landed on a simple conclusion – our gadgets were far from sophistication! In other words, what we need are professional cameras and video cameras. Too bad our amateur apparatus can’t capture the killer waves.
"Where are the big waves?"
I therefore conclude – there’s no substitute to personally beholding and experiencing the real rage and wonder of North Shore’s 40-foot waves. So, you better be there in the flesh and feel the blood rush up your head!
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: BYUH, English speaking, feature story, feature writing, Hawaii, ironic, irony, knowledge, learning, writing skills
Tips for a Good Grammar
As second speakers of the English language, attaining the level of proficiency is indeed challenging; taking another consideration the natural complexity of the language. One of the secrets on gaining a good command of the language is sufficient and deep immersion in its usage – years of training, hard work, and practice.
Studying English at an early age is the best way. Children trained to speak the language as a medium for casual conversation at home are the ones closest to English expertise as they grow up. For those who started studying the English grammar at their adult years, the best tool is study and practice.
First things first. Learn the English grammar theoretically.
Here are the fundamentals that will aid you on your way to English excellence:
1. First, learn what is a sentence, a phrase, and a clause. Know their differences.
2. Next, study the parts of a sentence – the subject and the predicate; and learn the sentence errors.
3. Then, you should be able to recognize a complete sentence or a grammatically correct sentence from the one that is not.
4. Following these should be lessons on the eight Parts of Speech. You should be able to tell if a word is used as a noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, or as an interjection.
5. Afterwards, study the rules on Subject-Verb Agreement.
6. Learn Verb Tense.
After learning these canons of the English grammar, you should continuously use the language and practice speaking or writing in English everyday. Schedule a time daily for it, 10 minutes a day is good — 1 hour is best!
One of the many benefits of possessing a good command of English is "not getting lost."
Categories: Public Speaking, Speech Writing Tags: English, English Language, English proficiency, English speaking, good grammar, grammar, Journalism, knowledge, learning, Parts of Speech, sentence errors, speaking, speech, speech improvement, subject-verb agreement, Verb Tense, writing, writing skills
Mysteries of Heaven
(This was one of the articles [based on a true story] I wrote for my writing class back in college at BYUH, in 2005; under the human interest story)
In the “Joseph’s Smith’s Discourse,” it was written: “When you stare at the stars
Janette Manzano Catahan
for five minutes, you will learn of heaven more than what is written about it.”
Janette Manzano, sophomore in TESOL once mentioned this quote to her roommate Joann Diray, sophomore, biology student. The mysteries of heaven, then literally unveiled for both of them.
That same night, May 13, the two went stargazing at around midnight. They laid their backs on the grass yard by Hale 3. “We talked on different things about the gospel,” said Diray. Being a person who has a number of queries about matters on spirituality, she started asking Manzano, a returned missionary.
“I told her that I am wondering why my favorite star, the Polaris or the North Star always stays in the north,” Diray related. “[When] almost all the stars are rearranged.”
She believed that the North Star was one of the signs of Jesus Christ’s birth and that it was the same star that guided and led the wise men to Bethlehem. She also considered it “so magical also because it is the most important star for travelers and sailors.”
Her theory: “Maybe the Polaris is Kolob. Maybe it is the star where God lives.”
Their conversation, according to Diray was steered to Heavenly Father and His goodness. The discussion gradually became more intense and profound. She added, “Janette said that Heavenly Father might really be very sorrowful when Jesus Christ was crucified and died.”
They both continued on recalling God’s wrath in Jesus’ death as the earth that time met an awful and total destruction. “When we were talking about Heavenly Father, Janette exclaimed, ‘Look! (pointing upward), It’s like Heavenly Father!’”
The two can’t believe their eyes. White clouds at nighttime and in a form of a being? They supposed and strongly believed and felt that it was Heavenly Father’s image.
“He hears us,” Manzano exclaimed with tears. “He is there to guide us and let us know that He listens to us.”
Diray first supposed that it was a mere coincidence when the clouds appeared forming the image of a supreme being. The clouds resembling a heavenly icon floating in the air, seemed staying above their eyes moving slowly and smoothly, as Diray described.
While in awe, Diray popped more questions on the existence of the so-called cherubims and seraphims. As she queried, she adored the charms of angels. “Then suddenly,” she said. “I saw in the form of clouds an outline of a little angel that seems looking down at us with its flowing, wing-like dress.”
The two were again amazed on what they saw, more when they saw not just one angel-like image, but three. They were filled with emotions. “I cried so hard,” Diray stated. “This time I realized that all of these were not coincidences; these were not based on imaginations but based on truth proven by faith and promptings of the Spirit.”
But it didn’t end there.
Joan Diray served a full-time mission at the Utah Temple Square.
When the angel-like images dispersed, the conversation went on a little turn. Manzano asked Diray on how sure is she if Carlo (Diray’s boyfriend) is the right person for her. She replied that she had made her decision, a matter of prayer and fasting. Then they went on talking about temple marriage. They both shared their desires and future plans about having a family and goals of having the three right things – with the right person, at the right time, at the right place.
A mass of clouds again resembled an image of someone holding and blowing up a trumpet. For Latter-day Saints church members, they know who that would be — Moroni. And for the two, it’s never a mere chance why a Moroni-like image appeared to them while they were in a deep conversation about celestial marriage. Every LDS would know.
“It was the same image in the spire of the temple though it was a really big form and only half of the body was shown,” Diray described. “The trumpet and his head were prominently formed.”
The two again burst into tears because of what they have witnessed. “It’s like the heavens are saying that ‘do not fear, for you will be able to reach your goal if you continue to be worthy,’” Diray hopefully uttered. “It’s like it is saying that ‘you will be married there so do not worry”
“I really can’t express fully what we saw.”
They indeed stared at the stars for more than five minutes and they have witnessed things that were really unexpected and way beyond their imaginations. The heavens unraveled its mysteries.
(from L-R) Ckaz C. Anderson, Janette M. Catahan and Joan Diray
In an LDS perspective, it’s believed that each could receive personal revelations. This is considered one form of it. Everything has its purpose. They both contemplated on what’s the purpose of that considered, edifying and wonderful thing that happened to them.
“It strengthened my testimony,” Diray gave witness.
There are no coincidences. “We know that it is more than mere clouds,” Manzano attested. “It is a representation of God’s protection and guidance.”
She believed that it was a reminder and an assurance. “Here at BYUH, I felt the need of that kind of spiritual strength to build up a testimony of the Lord’s love for his children.”
“At that time, I felt that God really cares,” Manzano further testified. “I know that evening, God was communicating with us.”
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: BYUH, English speaking, essay, feature writing, human interest, interesting, knowledge, learning, writing skills
SERVITO FAMILY
The Servito Family
The Servito Family
By: Dr. Lourdes D. Servito (November 2005)
Service is our mission in this life;
The Servito-Navarra Family
Excellence remains to be a goal and dream.
Reverence is love, more than anything else.
Versatility is not elusive; it is a choice,
Intelligence is the glory of God; it’s a precious gift;
Talents when shared bear good fruits and have multiplying effects,
Ordinary people can have extraordinary toils and dreams.
“Families can be together forever,” this is our belief.
The Servito-Ramirez Family
Amidst trials and adversities we use our strength and faith;
Many more challenges, we know we have to bear and face.
In these trying times, we hold on to our faith.
Loving God above all and obeying His Commandments;
Yearning to be back to Heavenly Father’s presence.
Categories: Poetry Tags: dream, education, English, English speaking, excellence, intelligence, knowledge, learning, writing skills
Mr. Touch’s touching tale
(This was one of the feature articles I wrote when I was working at the Ke Alaka’i [The Leader, BYUH's university paper]; about Sophornn Touch’s inspiring story on his pursuit of learning and being educated. Date published: January 26, 2005. Headline altered.)
Entrance: Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Walking for three months at the young age of 14 from his home country of Battambang, Cambodia to Thailand, BYU-Hawaii student Sophornn Youch, 29, carried along with him a strong desire for an education. He came to Thailand with zilch — no money, no food — basically nothing.
“When I was little, I didn’t see education [as being] so important to me; because in my hometown, we were raised in a family focused on work instead of education,” Touch said.
In Cambodia, his daily routine was waking up early in the morning to go to school, come home, work in the farm, then go back home and sleep after an exhausting day.
The next morning, he would do the same things over again. Therefore, Touch didn’t have the experience of studying at school or doing homework, he merely attended school for the sake of being there.
A Cambodian farmer
“Sometimes, because of the workload, our parents [asked] us to skip school,” Touch related. During breaks from school and on weekends, he and his family spent up to 15 hours at the farm with meager time to rest and eat meals.
“But when my mind started to develop, I realized that education was so important to me,” he said. I saw its importance in terms of finding a job.” He said he realized how much he could do for and in his society if he was educated. “And plus,” he emphasized “I saw… my friends who have gained beyond my capacity in terms of education: they dress nicely, they have money, and they have work because they have a degree. I want to get out of the circle of what we call the ‘farming circle.’” he added.
Typical Farming Day at Cambodia
But when the civil war in Cambodia erupted, he was forced to stop school. “I thought that my education had ended.”
However, the war didn’t totally hinder him or wither his will to have an education. He asked his supportive parents if he could go to a refugee camp in Thailand to continue his studies. They allowed their 14-year-old son to travel by foot with nine other Cambodian boys.
‘We didn’t have transportation, so we walked,” he explained.
That’s how he began his three-month journey toward gaining an education and a new life in Thailand. It wasn’t easy. “We slept under the trees, and when it rains, it’s cold — we traveled during the rainy season,” he related. “We walked through the jungle. We took baths in rivers on the way.”
They carried no food with them. “I didn’t have any money,” he continued. “We just asked for food from people we met along the way. They [provided] us food to eat.”
That’s how they survived the long and exhausting journey with nothing — not even a tent to shelter them or a bag with bread and water. They were traveling like homeless beggars.
When they finally got near the refugee camp in Thailand, their guide who was a soldier instructed them to carry a log with them (weighing approximately 50 kilos, perhaps heavier that they were ).
“We need to carry or offer something, If we don’t Thai soldiers will shoot you or beat you up,” he said.
Since they didn’t have anything to give the soldiers, Touch and his friends, trembling from exhaustion and hunger, somehow found the strength to carry a log on their shoulders; to be spared their lives and be able to cross the border.
“I was so hungry and tired, I saw a leaf and I ate it. It was sour like a tamarind. I don’t know if it’s edible — I was so hungry, so I ate [it] just to ease my hunger,” he related, recalling how badly his body was shaking.
Not only did he and his friends suffer fatigue, hunger, and cold, but they also risked their lives in the pursuit of education.
The Cambodian Flag
Touch added, “when you are from Cambodia and you try to go in, you are in jeopardy.” Yet using his strong will, he successfully entered into an orphanage and continued learning in a nearby school in the refugee camp.
His goal of getting being educated was threatened when the refugee camp was accidentally burned down. Then a couple of days later, the Cambodian king ordered all his people to go back home. Hence, Touch and the rest of the Cambodians went back.
When Touch got back to Cambodia, he studied a vocational course and learned English. There he met a couple from the LDS Church who were serving a mission and the introduced him the Gospel. A few years later, he got baptized; the following year he left to serve in the California, Sacramento Mission.
"Enter to Learn; Go Forth to Serve."
Touch learned about BYUH through two of his friends who were studying at the university at that time. He applied at BYUH while he was in California. He is now happily married and about to march in the June commencement exercises; and is planning to enroll in graduate school to further his learning.
“I see education as a guideline in my life,” he uttered. “[My] education [now] is preparing me to pursue more education.”
Touch graduated with a masters degree at the University of Hawaii. (with him, his Filipina wife Ludy and daughter Chandy)
“Education plays a big role in my life because I have the blessing of coming here [at BYUH]; and my goal is to be educated, not for myself only but also for my country and my people in Cambodia,” Touch concluded.
( As related by his wife, this feature story had contributed to his acceptance in graduate school at the University of Hawaii. He and his family now lives in Cambodia).
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: BYUH, English, English speaking, feature writing, importance of education, knowledge, learning, writing skills
My first dip into the Hawaiian waters
Gray, coarse sand; non-exhilarating waves; and murky shore; that’ how beaches looked like to me until I had my first plunge into the Hawaiian waters — white, fine sad; thrill-filled waves; and clear, blue waters.
It was in September of 2002. My elder sister Dolour tugged us along (my friends and I) to Hukilau Beach, just a stone-throw away from BYUH. The first sight of the azure sky, crystal-clear waters, boosted by the calm kiss of fresh air and the soothing touch of the non-scorching sun, made us charge the tempting sea! Our being non-swimmers made it absurd to do so; yet armed with a blue bogey board, and my sister with a disposable camera, at once we documented the exciting experience! The board was the least thing we would use to ride the unwavering waves since our sea skills are not suited for a surfing board yet. After a few tries, following my Ate Dolour’s instructions, and taking turns, we had the ride of our lives; caught in camera.
September 2, 2002
Afterwards, we enjoyed relaxing seawater staying within waist-level. At the same time, we soaked ourselves with good chit-chats leaving us unaware of the water reaching up to our chin! Upon realizing that we are close to submersion, we inevitably panicked holding our heads as high as we could; with lips firmly closed to avoid swallowing saltwater. This disabled us to call for help. My sister by the seashore, seeing only half of our faces, yelled frantically for us to draw near the shore. No lifeguards present, we were on a swim-at-your-own-risk beach. Tiptoed, hoping it would help, we inched our way towards at least at a shoulder-level, till we reached safety.
Ironically, throughout the effort of basically saving our own lives, we were half freaking out…half laughing! How silly we still afforded some chuckling.
That was a high tide in a matter of minutes; coupled by a strong pull of the water’s current.
Later I realized, we were like thoughtless tots who can’t wait to have fun in one of nature’s beauteous cradles unknowing of the hidden danger it may bring. Also, the current was tough; way stronger than that of Philippines. If beaches here would take you approximately twenty feet to go knee-deep, one step on the North Hawaiian shores would sink you immediately till the thighs.
Lesson learned: bizarre beauty impends random risk. North Shore’s bizarre beauty though, was irresistible; so, that dip which literally almost cost us our lives was followed by numerous, more adventure-filled beach escapades.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: Brigham Young University-Hawaii, BYUH, Engllish skills, feature writing, Hawaii, Hawaii beaches, irony, knowledge, learning, writing skills
The day we found out…
I frequently got up at night to visit the comfort room; one thing I don’t usually do, my abdomen seemed to be thickening for some reason I’m puzzled with, my breasts were full and swelling with pain, a few touch or movement, even the pull of gravity ouched me.
Came early morning of March 3, I did a typical visit to the C.R. but this time holding a half-filled dipper with me after the routine. Then with just four drops (of you know) on an oval shaped, chip-like device we bought, two purple lines appeared within split seconds.
I am going to be mom!
Ironically I was not completely surprised; knowing that my last menstrual flow was in January 18, plus my mood swings were strangely intolerable; definitely I made good use of my woman instinct. The thought of being pregnant was already lingering over my head yet at numerous times I was naturally sceptical; until the day it was confirmed that indeed I was carrying another life inside of me.
I was barely learning the crafts of being a housewife; and now I need to take Motherhood 101.
My husband’s initial reaction, on the other hand, was a self-controlled giggle with a kid-like rubbing of feet on the bed. Then he gave me an open-mouthed, wide-eyed stare, followed by an abrupt silence. He was obviously checking his senses.
I discreetly conveyed the good news to my parents; they likewise gave me a simple expression of bliss.
To my motherly excitement, I took a picture of the pregnancy testing device considering that day as the beginning of my baby’s life story.
The next thing my husband and I thought of was – we need to save. After we enjoyed the good news; after it sank in us, we immediately recognized the impending financial responsibility entwined with having a baby. Yet still, the idea of cradling an angel surmounted that of money matters.
Having one should be less than a worry; never a problem. It is a motivation for us to excitingly look forward the day; to prepare, to work harder. It is a blessing; a gift, a bliss.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: English speaking, feature writing, knowledge, learning, motherhood, pregnancy, writing skills
Ironically Ironic: On Michael Jackson
Ironies loom upon the death of a person especially during his or her funeral service.
At the last tribute for the King of Pop at the Staples Center in California only good words, praises, and expressions of love and gratitude were heard and felt for Michael, when not so long ago, people bombarded him with controversies, judgements, criticisms, and disgusts. Things suddenly turned upside down. Out of the blue, people forgot about the pedophile issue, the hot buzz on his sex change, his intriguing marriages and divorce, physical alterations and so on. Way before his death, the only positive thing you could hear regarding Michael is that he is an awesome performer and singer.
One fan ironically said through a television interview, “He inspires me more in his passing than when he was still alive.” Others conveyed that they have wholly understood the true messages behind Michael’s songs in his death. He was in the entertainment industry for four long decades and yet people just barely got the real meanings of his immortal hits! Not to mention, whenever Michael performed, he sang his heart out, and yet the essence didn’t completely sink in – not until he won’t be able to do so! So ironic. It is likewise reported that the people, especially the avid fans have seen the other side of Jackson – the good side hidden for quite awhile. It’s the first time in forty years they realized how honest, gentle, and kind-hearted he was. It was only then people appreciated his being “a lover of life,” as spoken by Brooke Shields.
Emotions poured. Tears flooded the stadium. It was only that day people knew how good of a father he was hearing the wee yet heart-breaking statement of his 11-year old daughter, Paris. The wailings manifested that Michael really loved and took good care of his daughter; and that he loved children. Yet for more than half his career life, televisions, magazines, and newspapers were lurked by stories and heart-piercing comments that he abused and molested children.
There was even an aircraft roaming the sky above the Staples Center sketching the initials “MJ.” Wouldn’t it be nice if MJ himself gazes at it before it fades in the clouds?
It’s so ironic how people give a person the greatest honor one could ever receive, on the day of his burial. Too bad he won’t be able to experience it – be put on the best pedestal.
It’s so ironic how the sweetest words and sometimes the never-been-heard words are spoken at someone’s necrological service. Too bad the person won’t hear it anymore.
It’s so ironic how the greatest number of visitors is when one is already in a coffin with cold feet. Too bad he won’t be able to greet and welcome them; and witness how many people loved him.
It’s totally ironic how people completely and truly get to know the person at his funeral, when they have his lifetime to do so.
People forget all the mistakes, faults, weaknesses, and wrong doings of a person and all of a sudden, the positive traits, accomplishments, strengths, and good works are accentuated. Why not do this when the person is yet alive and kicking?
If everyone beats all these ironies, and do these a little earlier, I think we could end and avoid misunderstandings, fights, and wars; and perhaps Michael’s song will come to life –- [we could] heal the world and make it a better place.
Hence, we ought to make the most out of life. Take advantage of every breath each of us still has. Express love to our families, friends, and even to strangers. Shower and radiate pure charity and genuine gratitude while we still have the luxury of time; while they could still see, hear, and feel it.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: English, English speaking, feature writing, ironic, ironies, irony, knowledge, learning, Michael Jackson, writing skills
Keys to Achieving Academic Excellence
Excerpts from a lecture by Dr. Lourdes D. Servito
(Resource speaker during the Multi-stake Youth Conference at Villa Jireh, Labrador, Pangasinan, May 14, 2008)
Knowledge is Power
“Katarungan Laban sa Kahirapan”
–war against poverty
Attitude determines Altitude
“How high you can reach depends upon your attitude.”
Skills for Success in Studies
• Study Skills: Organizing notes, note taking, note making, library skills
• Communication Skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening
• Lifelong Skills: livelihood, stress management, problem solving, decision-making, communicating orally or in writing, getting help and assistance.
Habits are what we repeatedly do.
“We are what we repeatedly do.”
EXCELLENCE, then, is not an act but a Habit.
- Aristotle, 384-322 B.C.
EXCELLENCE
can be attained if you:
• CARE more than others think is WISE;
• RISK more than others think is SAFE;
• DREAM more than others think is PRACTICAL;
• EXPECT more than others think is POSSIBLE.
• Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders
• – by Stephen Covey
Focus on your studies
“Have an inspiration;
avoid distraction.”
Actions become your habits
• Five Watches:
- Watch your thoughts, for they become your actions;
- Watch your actions, for they become your habits;
- Watch your habits, for they become your values;
- Watch your values, for they become your character;
- Watch your character, it shapes your destiny.
Character is what is left when everything is gone.
Strength of character:
After much tribulations come the blessings. God never created a trial that is bigger for anyone to handle. He created trials for us to realize that NOTHING is bigger than God.
Talents should be developed continually
“Each one is created a genius”
- Henry Tenedero
(Multiple intelligences)
No one has the monopoly of talents.
“Each one is created a genius”
- Henry Tenedero
(Multiple intelligences)
No one has the monopoly of talents.
Success is a choice
• Choose to be successful not a failure.
• Plan for your success. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Mata’s Eyes
(Feature Story: Human Interest)
(This was one of the articles I wrote for my writing class, [under human interes stories] back in college at Brigham Young University-Hawaii)
A line in his patriarchal blessing it says that he will be blessed with extra ability to hear and see things that other people can’t. Indeed, he sees, feels, hears and even smells roaming spirits and wandering ghosts!
ICS Communication student, Filipino Nephi Mata, 26 from New York said that he started experiencing unusual and quite scary things when he was eight years old. His first encounter with such creepiness was a night when he was peeing outside an old bungalow house.
“As I was peeing, I felt there’s one set of eyes looking at me by my right side,” he related. “Then all of a sudden, when I looked, a sharp, flaming eyes zoomed right in front of me.”
Frightened as a little boy, he immediately zipped up and ran. “And my pees’ all over the place,” he added with a big laugh.
Those sharp, red pair of eyes appeared and shocked him at two separate times. From then on, extraordinary things happened to him, countless times.
Staying in Hawaii for almost three years now, in and off BYU-Hawaii campus, Mata likewise had infinite encounters and experiences with the tagged, “the unseen.”
It was Fall 2002 when he first arrived at BYUH. His first home here was in Hale 6, room 207E. It was around 3 a.m., staying up late finishing his school works, as he related. Exhausted, he fell asleep. As he recalled, few minutes later while trying to catch his sleep, he felt something odd. “I felt like there’s someone behind me, by my bed, standing and watching over me, staring at me,” he said. “I was so scared to turn around and look to check it out.” Then he finally turned around and looked.
“I saw a big, hairy Polynesian man, with brown skin, with no face,” he recalled. “[He’s] dressed up with traditional Polynesian costume.” In his shock, according to him, he instantly turned the other way, faced the wall on his sides and started praying. He tried very hard to go to sleep. Because he’s trembling with fear, he can’t. He then tried to ignore the figure he saw and continued on his prayers.
In his exhaustion, he fell asleep again. Recalling that after about 15-20 minutes he woke up with the same feeling. “There’s a figure and I knew it was the same person, but it’s not on my side anymore,” he stated. “It’s at the end of my bed, close to the window.” Mata confirming to himself if he was just dreaming or not, looked around and turned to his alarm clock; it was blinking and flashing the exact time. As he remembered, it was around 3:30 a.m. He looked outside, saw, and heard the leaves rustling with the blowing of the wind. The figure, as he described standing by the window was blocking the post light that shines through and inside Mata’s side of the room.
“I’m not just dreaming,” he confirmed. “I’m awake.”
On the second time the faceless figure appeared to him, he again did the routine of praying in his fear and curving his body trembling. He again, tried so hard to fall asleep. Once more, few minutes later, he woke up. “I woke up smelling something nasty,” said Mata. He noted, it was not the little trashcan he had in the room, as he first thought. He described it to be like the smell of the earth. Lying on his back and opening his eyes, looking straight to the ceiling, he again saw, for the third time, the uninvited guest, this time standing behind his headboard, looking down at him.
But the last and worst thing he could ever thought of, happened. Not only did this faceless figure appear to him, frightening him to death, but as Mata related, there was physical contact and actual struggle. Clearly recalling it he said, “I felt his right arm reaching over my bed, grabbing my shoulder and my neck.” Mata at that moment was reassured that the man’s figure was hairy by nature. “I felt his hair as he grabs my neck.”
“And his left arm was going towards my other shoulder thrusting my shoulder down and my head at the same time while his right arm is pulling me up against the head board chocking me,” he related. “I was chocking and I was screaming and screaming.”
The faceless Polynesian man, as Mata storied was actually banging Mata’s head as he bangs the walls struggling. The manly figure was just quiet and looked relaxed.
Again, Mata confirmed, “I heard myself, I was awake. I was sure.”
He wondered how his Korean roommate didn’t get to hear or feel anything at the time he was screaming and struggling. He was tightly and peacefully asleep. Good for him.
Then as he was struggling, as he said, eventually he decided to quite relax. “And he kept on gripping my neck, but I still fought back but in a very calm way.” Mata recounted. He did a more of a spiritual fight than a physical struggle. “Then all of a sudden, he’s gone.”
Grabbing his pillow and sheets, he rushed to his friend’s room, two doors down, knocked frantically. Leaving his surprised friend, who responded on his call, Mata went straight to the floor and laid there. He was up the whole night — shaking.
This was just one of the freakiest nights of his life knowing how many times he had experience such. But shock, trembling and fear, of course did not leave him every time he’s faced with these scary experiences. These came in a series in Mata’s life. He noted that every place he moved to, there will always be these types of hair-raising, true-to-life experiences.
“I’m so used to it,” he said.
Whether people believe in ghosts or not, Mata is certain on the things he saw, felt, heard and even for the strange things he smelled. Those and more haunting experiences with different kinds of spirits, be it good or bad, to him communicate something. When he hears voices and sounds, whether he understands the language or not, he feels that the wandering spirits are trying to reach him, trying to tell him something. Whatever the message they have is unknown, even to Mata.
Categories: CHIT-chats Tags: BYUH, creepy, English, English speaking, feature writing, human interest, interesting, learning, writing skills