About the Author, Dan Jimenez (danmeljim)+ + Born in Binmaley, Pangasinan. Grew up in Galas, Quezon City. A graduate of PMA Class of 1977, married to the only woman he has ever loved who bore him 2 daughters and a son. All wonderful human beings. These thoughts reflect the search that one day will end. And that the greatest failure is the one never attempted. Life and other non-essentials as viewed from afar yet always with an open mind.+ + + Preface + The written word cast its spell early in my life with Ingkong's introduction. Thoughts and ideas came alive and breathed on their own to tickle those who agreed and those who did not. The syntheses of ideas even in the most vehement and venomous ways strengthened the resolve to be better and to dig deeper into the rationale of life regardless of the seeming futility of the quest. I relished the exchange. As vanity dictated, attention whether negative or positive, was better than being ignored. To matter, one must be loved or be hated. This will be the first of hopefully a series of attempts to be relevant. Age dictates that time is shorter but never insufficient. With the lengthening shadows of twilight, yesterday holds what was the future as tomorrow unfolds the answers long sought for. There is but one request in this journey I invite you to take. These are my truths, my biases and my perceptions. Be not offended by those that run contrary to yours. Be justified in believing otherwise. If by chance, you agree, welcome aboard. As always, in all endeavors I have indulged in, "the greatest failure is that never attempted." And to this I sign my name...+ + + Contents My Philippine Military Academy: - p6 1. Masikap Story - p6 2. Masikap Story II - p9 3. Masikap Story III - p12 4. Masikap Story IV - p14 5. Philippine Monetary Academy - p19 6. Once Upon a Brotherhood - p21 7. In Memoriam - p22 8. 2004 PMA Registry First Security Breach - p23 9. A Plebe's Reply - p26 10. The Loakan Manifesto - p27 11. Redemption - p29 12. In the twilight of our Years - p31 13. PMA Adoptees' Class Call - p33 My thruths, my Consequences - p35 1. I am a Filipino - p35 2. I am a Filipino-American - p37 3. Good Friday sans Deadline - p39 4. The legend of the sewer people - p40 5. The mist in memories - p42 6. Galas - p44 7. Ingkong - p45 8. Lying for truth - p47 9. Last Fall on Yellow Leaf - p49 10. Thoughts of Christmas pasts - p50 11. Fall into winter - p52 12. Summer's remains - p54 Poems without rhymes - p56 1. I will write you a Poem - p56 2. To Marilou: In the birth of another year - p57 3. Fear Reprise - p59 4. Late Summer Rain - p60 5. To the Unknown - p61 6. Still goes the night - p62 7. Waiting for Andrew - p64 Sa Kinagisnang Wika - p65 1. Sa Lilim ng Lantang Damo - p65 2. Kung Ako si Rizal sa Kaniyang Kaarawan - p67 3. Lumuluhang Bangkay - p69 4. Panaghoy sa Kawalan - p74 5. Ang Tulay na Putol - p75 6. Ang Kawal na Bayani - p76 7. Halalan na Naman - p80 8. Sa Bayan ng Paombong - p81 9. Sandaang Penoy - p83 10. Desiderata - Marubdob na Kahilingan - p85 11. Dimalupig - Invictus - p86 Opinions Unquestioned - p88 1. Iginuhit ng Tadhana: To be buried or not - p88 2. Pardon Conjectures - p89 3. Occupy Wall Street - p90 4. Maharlika - p91 5. Like Mother, Like Son - p92 Of Shores I have found - p94 1. Los Cabos: The Cactus also Blooms - p94 2. Baguio, Bangkok, Beijing - p96 3. Journal des Voyages - p100 4. Bemudez's Island - p103 5. Places - p106