Where do broken hearts go?

That Thing Called Tadhana (That Thing Called Meant-To-Be)

is a Filipino romantic-comedy movie that portrays the seeming reality of people who had gone through break ups. That is their tagline “Where do broken hearts go” from the song of Whitney Houston. If you have watched the movie you can surely relate to what this blog is all about. (It is also available nationwide if you haven’t watched it yet.) The movie was released last 2014 and is until now one of my favorite movies of all time. It was a few months ago that I had the chance to watch it again and decided to actually relive it on my own. Although, the exact plot, settings, and characters do not apply. (There is only one character!) This is purely hugot lines (pulled out lines) and quotable quotes from random relatable movies.

Sagada is one of the municipalities in Mountain Province in the Philippines. They are known for its hanging coffins. It is a tradition the natives do of burial. The people would use to make a ladder (before it was being slightly developed) to hang the coffins in the mountains.

Today, only a few still observe this tradition. Most locals would want to be able to visit the graves of their loved ones during All Saints Day and lit candles. And they say not most people are said to “qualify” to hang the coffins of their family member or relative.

It took me and my friend almost 10 long hours bus ride going to Sagada from Manila.

Upon reaching and started the trek of Echo Valley, my “Angelica Panganiban” (lead actress) moment began. HAHA!

In order for you to access their tourist attractions, the tourism requires for you to have a local tour guide with you. They offer different packages for this tourist attraction.

Bear in mind the important reminders in going to Echo Valley and Trail.

13ft above sea level

13ft above sea level

13ft above sea level

“Yung coffin nga hanging, mga sagot pa kaya sa mga tanong ko?”

(Even the coffins are hanging how much more the answers to my question.)

“Para sa mga umibig, nasaktan, ngunit umibig pa rin. You know, tatanga-tanga.”
(For the people who loved, lost, yet loved still. In short, idiots.

They say when someone is in love they become stupid and do stupid things for love. For me, you only do more than the usual when you are filled with so much love for the person. And that is not being stupid if it is the right person you are giving all your efforts to.

“She had me at my worst, you had me at my best….. And you choose to break my heart” – Popoy to Basha, One More Chance

“Kung kayo, kayo talaga.”

(If it’s meant to be, it will be.)

“Kung kayo, babalik siya sa’yo.”

(If he is destined for you, he will come back for you.)

“Iaasa ko na lang sa hangin? Sa tadhana? Sa isang bagay na hindi ko nakikita yung   future namin ng taong mahal na mahal mo? So kami in eight years namin kailangan ko na lang tanggapan na hindi pala kami ang nakatadhana para sa isa’t isa? Hindi ganon, hindi yun ganon para sakin.”

(It’s all up to the wind? To destiny? Some vague force that doesn’t show the future with someone you really love? So after eight years with him, I have to swallow that we’re not meant for each other? It shouldn’t go that way. Not for me.)

Many believed in this saying. And for some they don’t, just like Mace.

“Kung mahal mo, habulin mo, ipaglaban mo. Wag mong hintaying may magtulak sa kanya pabalik sa’yo. Hilahin mo. Hanggang kaya mo, wag kang bibitaw. Sorry, mahal ko eh.” -Mace

(You should go after the one you love. Fight for him. don’t wait for the wind to blow him back to your direction. Pull him back. As much as you can. Don’t give up. Don’t let go. Sorry, but I love him.)

“You don’t easily give up on the people you love.” This is one of my favorite quotes. Because if love is real and true, you really just don’t give up.

Kasi pag gusto mo merong paraan. (Because if you want to, you’ll find a way.) – Mace

Basha: Sana kaya kong sabihin na masaya ako para sa iyo, para sa inyo. Sana. Pero ang sama-sama kong tao kasi ang totoo umaasa pa ako na sabihin mo na sana ako pa rin, sana ako na lang, sana ako na lang ulit.

(I wish I could tell you that I am happy for you, for both of you. I wish I could but I really can’t. I’m such a bad person because the truth is, I was hoping you’d say I wish I were still the one. Please let it be me. Let it be me again.) – One more chance, Bea Alonzo

Our guide asked me when we get here if whether I’ll do an Angelica scene or Angel Locsin. I find it funny when he asked since the reason why I went to Sagada is to have some moment of “moving on” just like how Angelica did it in the movie. He then told me to shout it out loud (whatever it may be you want to pour out) while we were still on this spot because when we go down there will be no echo anymore.

Going to the underground river was a challenge since I wasn’t geared ready. I was on my slip-on because I did not expect even to go to the underground river. By the way, our trip to Sagada is all DIY so the destinations we went to were all planned when we arrived there.

It was a long trek and raining at the same time that I decided to walk barefoot until reaching the end. From there on I thought, nothing worth having comes easy, they say. And the fulfillment you get in a relationship is not when everything is happy and dreamy, but the person you are with through the experience of good weather or bad ones. Most of the time it makes you sacrifice things for the other or compromise for what could be the best.

“I’m not afraid of heights, I’m afraid of falling.
I’m not afraid of the dark, I’m scared of what’s in it.
I’m not afraid to love, I’m afraid of not being loved back.” -Anon

Mace: …Pero wala pala sa tagal ng relasyon yun. Ke eight months kayo o eight years, kung gusto ka niyang lokohin, lolokohin ka niya. Pag hindi ka na niya mahal, hindi ka na niya mahal.

(The length of the relationship isn’t all there is in the end. If he no longer loves you, he no longer loves you.)

There is no assurance that “forever” is meant for you and your partner if you have been together for a long time already. It takes the two of you to choose to love each other still in good times and in bad.

Anthony: Hindi ka na niya mahal. Yun na yon. Anong hindi malinaw dun? (He doesn’t love you anymore. Clear as day. What’s unclear about it?)

Mace: T*** **a naman, sabihin naman niya kung bakit– (Couldn’t he have told me why. Explain to me what I did wrong – whatever did I do wrong?)

Anthony: Bakit, kapag sinabi ba niya kung bakit, may magbabago? Ang bottom line, hindi ka niya mahal. (If he told you why would that have changed everything? Bottomline, he no longer loves you.)

The truth hurts but that is what it is. And that is what you need, the truth and a wake-up call to reality.

Mace: Pano ba makalimot? (How does one really forget?)

Mace: Gaano katagal bago mo siya nakalimutan? (How long does it take to for you to forget?)

Anthony: Matagal. (A long time.)

Mace: Gaano nga katagal? One year? Two? 3? 4? 5? (How long? One year? Two years? 3? 4? 5?)

Anthony: Importante pa ba ‘yun? Ang mahalaga, nakalimutan. (Does it matter? What is important is you forget?)

Anthony: Pwede kang uminom gabi gabi, pwede kang umiyak gabi gabi, pwede kang makipagdate kung kani-kanino, o pwede ka ring makahanap ng new love.

(You can drink every day. Or cry. Pick any guy. Tap the first guy that comes along. Or find a new love.)

Malungkot lang ako pero hindi ako nag-iisa. (I’m sad but I’m not alone.) – Mace

Kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin kasi meron paparating bago. Magmamahal sa atin magpaparealize satinkung bakit naging mali yung dati, magpaparealize din satin kung paano tayo dapat mahalin.

(The ones we love leave us because someone new is on the way. And that someone will show us why the past never worked out. And will make us realize how we’re supposed to be loved.) – Popoy, One More Chance

 

Anthony: Kapag may dumaang shooting star, ano’ng iwi-wish mo? (If there is a shooting star what would you wish?)

Mace: “Na sana…sana hindi ko na siya mahalin.” (That one day, I will stop loving him.)