There’s nothing more irritating to a person who has just hung her 2-week’s worth of laundry than to have rain while the sun is shining brightly.

I remember this time when my college friend and I were on our way home. It was around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the sun was still in full force and it suddenly rained. No, not just a drizzle, but something short of a downpour. It lasted only for about 5 minutes, then it was gone as quickly as it came.

My friend said that during these instances, a tikbalang* is getting married.

Can’t they schedule their wedding during days when I’m not doing my laundry? *grumble*

* A half-man half-horse creature from Philippine folklore. It lives in secluded areas in swamps. It is said that the knees of the tikbalang rise above its head, hiding its face. The tikbalang is responsible for misleading travelers so that they will get lost. However, a traveler may find his way back by wearing his shirt inside-out. (source: pantheon.org)