Cheers!

All I know is that as long as God is with us, we are blessed. Merry Christmas everyone! Speaking of being blessed, allow me to share an excerpt from a letter given to me by the most wonderful blessing I received this year. Here it goes...

"Finally I’ve found my real love..

Someone who makes me feel that my whole purpose in life is to make her happy…

Someone who makes me excited to get up in the morning and someone who can bring my mind to peace during sleepless nights…

Someone who believes that I can do anything and be the best that I can be even thru hardships…

Someone who can take my breath away with the very sight of her smile…

Someone who makes me wish time can stop whenever she puts her arms around me…

Someone who can make my heart melt whenever the words I love you are said to me…

Someone who sends tingles up and down my spine just by laying her lips unto mine…

Someone who can make me feel that we are in this journey together just by holding my hand…

Someone who makes me feel responsible of caring after her and making her happiness my top priority…

I feel all of these towards you because you made it so. I’m addicted to loving you and I don’t care. Loving you has become my first priority and I want to keep it that way for the rest of my life…"

DAC: speechless + blushing + gigantic smile

I'm all smiles

You know what they always say? When you're ready and when the time is right, God will give you the person he has prepared for you. And it happened to me this year.

I told God that this year is His year. Ironically, I haven't done any big step yet to make it His year. Instead, he was the one who showered me with happiness and made it one of the best times of my life. I guess having found the person who makes me genuinely happy is a welcome surprise. Not that I was doubtful that he could melt my heart but the thought of the both of us nourishing the seed that was slowly growing did not stick in my mind at the onset.

Now, I believe that there are no random circumstances, just indefinite events that are bound to zip and become definite when divine power and nature's forces finally give their thumbs up. I am thankful that this time I put my trust in God and in this person and did not force anything to happen. But more than that, I am extremely proud of myself to have taken the leap. The rock has been crushed.. so to speak. In replace, there's free flowing water ready to quench thirst and also bask in the warmth and brightness of the sun.

It's easy to be truly blissful when what you feel for the person is real. Everyday, you find comfort in knowing that someone is taking good care of you, is making you smile and is always there to listen. On the other hand, you find joy in sharing your thoughts and feelings and in bringing happiness to that person by being who you really are. It makes a lot of difference when there's someone whom you can hold hands or lean on. And as cliche as it may sound, life begins to have more meaning. You don't just sing songs, you sing songs with memories playing in your mind. Problems are lighter, dreams are more vivid and for the first time I feel like a child again excited to celebrate Christmas and any other holidays or occasions. There is actually truth in the saying that Love is the best catalyst to mankind coz I think people are just wiling away time without it.

I'm glad I have waited and I've learned to become vulnerable because I now appreciate more and whine less. I am able to finally live my life and love with my eyes wide open. And even though it's not always a walk in the park and there are a few things that we still need to work on, I trust that God will help us to sustain and become unwavering.

I'm so happy this person came into my life and that he listened to God and to his heart. I can't wait to have the time of my life during our journey together.


I'm in love and I want to spread my happiness to everyone:)

tip of the iceberg

This is me right now:

revert

I've been meaning to post a decent entry again in this blog but for some reason I just couldn't start typing. It was either I didn't have enough time or my mind was just in plain sabaw mode. And now when I think about it, it was more because of the latter.

Two months of endless yawns, piercing headaches, fattening sausage mcmuffins, and heart-pounding caramel macchiatos and still I am itching to do my part in the job that I took. This surprised me.
I must admit that up to now it still takes every bit of my energy just to get up from sleep. And when I am in the office, my eyes still squint and my head gets a little wobbly when dawn unfolds. But time has a way of helping people straighten out if not cope. Just like the callous on my feet which initially is very troublesome and throbbing and often leads me to curse and then after a while it hardens and suddenly I am a bit numb of the pain. It gets thicker and thicker and I have to remove the excess skin and then it turns sore again and the cycle goes on.
There comes a point when you get used to it and think you can handle. And yet after a while, you get worn-out because the strength you generate is beginning to appear smaller and smaller because the pesky stuff keeps on piling and you did not look for an outlet thinking that you can swallow it all up. That is usually the danger side. That's why even in my sleepiest state, I try to read my favorite mag, eat my perk-me-up snacks or just do something that I feel is worth my remaining waking minutes.
Where I am right now is with a reason though I may not know it at the moment. There may be several things that annoy me but at least I am able to experience it, to know what it's like and find a way to deal with it. So I am living my life. Perhaps, not yet the time of my life but I'm crazy... and my heart is blushing... and I believe in God... so I know I will be very happy soon.

raft

Sims ba etoh?

Hindi...

Google Lively yan.

Express yourself by showing people your virtual world. I'm loving this!

xoxo

There was this episode in the season one of Gossip Girl where Serena was hesitant to ask Dan to go with her to the debutante ball because it's not just Dan's kind of thing. And then when Serena told this to Blair, Blair said something like.. Dan would go anywhere with you because he loves you. (I'm not certain if those were the exact words though but the message was similar to that.)

This scene plays over and over again in my mind. Well to tell you, I'm definitely not going to a ball or any thing like it but this one hit me hard because I have been thinking a couple of things which somehow relate to it. Lately, I feel like I need to know if a person can really be with me. I need to know if he can walk beside me on the mainroad and not just saunter on the sidestreet. And also, if I can step inside and not just peek on crucial points and persons in his life. Because two people cannot live in their own created separate world forever, maybe for a period but later on everybody has to face the real world where other humans and factors coexist.

Serena and I are on the same page because I think like her I can be firm when I give importance to who and what I have and not be mindful of any unnecessary. Because what matters to me, really matters. It usually makes me sad when I tumble upon this topic because in truth, I would want to share my earth and from what I gathered only some continents are welcome at this time. However, I will not know the other side of the story unless I discover it. So in time, I sure would know.

tralala

I've got three songs now that keep me rollin' and bumpin' everyday and I'm sharing them with you.

First...







Next...








Lastly...

and then

There are no accidents. This was said by Master Shifu in the movie Kung Fu Panda. It got stuck in my head the minute I heard it. This is because I often ask myself if the events that are happening in my life do really mean anything and if they are actually bound to happen.

It's hard to count using my fingers the instances where I was confounded by the mystery of a certain occasion. Have you experienced that time when you cannot even understand why you have to put up with a misery or why you have to be so lucky to have so much blessings compared to others? You keep on asking yourself the reason behind it, still you end up not knowing. This is because we cannot know everything at once. Life has its cliffhangers that we need to unravel at the right time. What happened in the past, what is happening at the moment and what will happen in the future are all interlocked. Surely, certain episodes are already plot in our lives even before we were born, it is only up to us on how we will ride the adventure.

Wherever you are in your life right now, you are there because God wants you to be there base from the things that you have decided. And bizarre as it may seem, regardless if we chose the road less traveled or the more sensible one, there are specific moments that will surprisingly pop up and are unavoidable. These moments are THE moments that we essentially have to undergo because it is already a part of our life's masterplan. It is only through time and the decisions that we make that will determine how and when we will know the purpose coz everything has a purpose.

So, it is not an accident that...

1. Manny Pacquiao won over Diaz during their fight last July 28 at the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas




2. I am currently developing a positive stance regarding career

3. I am sharing something wonderful with this person

4. High School Musical on Ice is coming to town this July and I am going to watch it

gimme some hug

Sorry.

This is not so me but I'd like to receive some good-solid-TLC from anyone considerate.

I'm beginning to feel a little less ardent. It was unexpected. Kaso tao lang din nagkakasakit. And I thought tapos na yong mga sakit days ko nung nakaraan kaso mukhang sabi ni Lord kinailangan ko pa ulit makipag bonding sa mga nurse at doctor this week.

samu't sari

As much as I would want to whine over a lot of things, I'd like to maintain the positivity that got me in this job. Why I applied and why I finally said yes are exchanging blows as to what I have to put up now to be able to adapt certain aspects. And man... all these new stuff is driving me crazy. I'm not even sure if my body is still eager. I already have two absences during my second week and have gone to the doctor twice, how's that? But I'm really really trying to get myself into the habit of paradigm shifting. Not long ago, I read an article written by Stephen Covey about the power of a paradigm shift. The principle discusses how human behavior varies from looking at different paradigms or viewpoints of the world. It suggests that depending on what you see is what you are going to say or do about a situation. I hope it will help.

This is ironic but...
on the other hand...
Can I just highlight my sunny disposition lately?

Yeah my jaws are a bit exercised and my lips are constantly stretched coz I've been smiling an awful lot nowadays. And I thank God coz he is making me happy through this person and I hope it goes both ways. And you know what there are times when you can't remember exactly what happened or what you talked about but you will always remember how you felt during that moment (wink..wink).


Btw,

Hats off to the most responsible and caring dad in the world! I know I am lucky...






Aaaand,


Why don't we implement a rule like this in the Philippines?

"Japan Seeking Trim Waists, Measures Millions"

the top ten

Because my mind says I should be sleeping and my body tells me the opposite... I am about to get crazy. At dahil nabubugnot na ako bigla kong nahanap toh while browsing the net for anything to keep me sane. This is from Chico Garcia's Blog.

I remember countless teachers who proffered the adage, “There’s no stupid question”, but even if that were the case, for sure there are stupid answers. Where do I even start…

March 6, 2008 → The Top Ten Worst Answers To A Question

1. Thea’s Dad - In high school, our English teacher asked my classmates to give a sentence. A classmate answered, “mother baked a cake.” The teacher got irritated and asked, “wala ka na bang alam na ibang sentence? Our classmate answered “mother baked another cake?”
2. No name - An unidentified person texted me so I replied, “who r u?” He replied, “this is me, is dat u?”
3. Wilson - When I was about 10 yrs old, me and my dad went to the cemetery, and I noticed 2 initials R.I.P and D.O.M. in the same tombstone. I asked my dad, “Ano po ibig sabihin ng R.I.P?” He answered, “Rest In Peace.” Then I asked, “eh yung D.O.M.?” He paused, and said, “Don’t Open Me.”
4. Powerful Alice - I once asked an officemate, “Naku, paano na yan, delikado daw ang mga cute diyan sa may Crossing!”. He retorted, “Wag kang mag-alala…safe ka.”
5. Happy Dorothy - Our teacher said, “Class, our lesson for today is science. What is science?” A student answered, “…our lesson for today?”
6. Lucas - Sa Divisoria, the saleslady asked, “Ano pong sa inyo sir?” I answered, “Siyempre hindi kagaya nung sa ‘yo!”
7. No name - One day my dad and I wer walking in our village. A tricycle stopped and the driver said, “Tricycle?” My dad looks at the tricycle then says, “Oo nga, noh?”
8. Beng - My aunt asked me, “Dust pan ko?” I thought she was asking about my exams, so I answered, “Sa Chemistry.” She then proceeds to go to the atis tree to check, comes back and says, “Wala naman eh!” Then I replied, “Bukas pa!”
9. Shining - One of my Korean students went to Canada knowing only the most basic of English. One day, he was hit by a car while riding his bike. The driver asked him, “How are you?” My student replied, “I’m fine, thank you. And how are you?”
10. Shiela - We asked an applicant, “Why should we hire you?” He answered, “Because you have an opening and I need a job?”
11. Joanna - I once asked a friend, “Anong sa palagay mo?” Ang sagot: “Ewan, di ako mapalagay eh!”
12. No name - In a resto, the receptionist asked my dad “Ilan po sila?” My dad quickly replied “Ako isa, sila ewan ko.”
13. No name - A judge in a beauty contest asked a contestant, “Why did you join this contest?” The contestant answered, “Me? Join contest? Thank you.
14. Adrian - I onced asked someone, “How long have you been a magician?” He answered, “Sometimes 1 minute, sometimes 2 minutes…”
15. Jowie - My friend asked the question and answered it herself. Question: “Ano ngang tawag dun sa lips na red? ” Answer: “Ah…red lips.”
16. Marcus- My brother and I were eating pansit. After a few spoonfuls I said, “Bakit parang lasang panis?” My brother chimed in, “Oo nga, at bakit ang konti?”
17. Syudin - In a quiz show, the contestant was asked, “Ano ang kinakain ng monkey-eating eagle?” The contestant answered, “Saging!”
18. Loipogi - During a pageant - Host: “I heard you almost didn’t make it here on time. Did you walk or did you ride?” Candidate: “Of course did you ride! What do you think of me, did you walk?”
19. Howe - In an 80’s show, the host asked an actress, “Are you aware of the current political problems we have?” The actress answered, “I’m afraid not.” The host asked another actress, “How about you?” The other actress replied, “Naku tito, I’m afraid also.”
20. No name - I work in a call center for DSL internet connection. I asked a customer, “Why are you cancelling your service?” He complained, “Nobody told me I needed a computer to connect to the internet.”
21. Zhe Archer - One of my colleagues asked a claimant for benefits, “When is your birthday?” The claimant answered, “Between 1946 & 1947.”
22. Camie 28 - One day I asked my busmate, “Why?” She answered, “Because!” I asked again, “Because…?” And she answered, “Why?”
23. Imay Anna - I asked someone, “Anong jeep ang sasakyan ko?” Ang sagot, “Siyempre yung may gulong.”
24. Rx addict - KOYA: “Inday, nasaan na ang soap maliligo na ako!” INDAY: “Koya, iniinit pa po!” KOYA: “Ang soap, iniinit?!?” INDAY: “Opo, ang know-dell soap!”
25. No name - I asked our yaya, “Anong isda yan?” She answered, “Yung lumalangoy…”
26. Loipogi - I finally asked a friend we have long suspected to be gay, “Are you gay?” He replied: “Only if you are…”
27. cbboating - I once asked an MMDA officer, “Saan po papunta sa Wack-Wack golf and country club?” He answered, “Mula dito sa Shangri-la, derecho lang, tawid ka ng flyover, tapos pagbaba ng flyover tanong ka ulit sa MMDA.”
28. Morenang Kaligatan - Overheard in a restroom: Girl 1: “May tissue ka?” Girl 2: “Wala, ikaw meron?”
29. No name - Conversation between 2 guys: Guy 1: “Pare anong ibig sabihin ng ‘coincidence’?” Guy 2: “Pare ewan, pero weird, yan din iniisip ko ngayon!”
30. Izel - When I asked my friends, ‘”Sinu-sino kayo diyan?” They answered, “Kami-kami…”
31. Roni - One time I asked a classmate, “Bakit wala ka kahapon?” He answered, “kasi absent ako eh…”
32. No name - Overheard conversation: Guy 1: Bumili ka ng laptop? Anong brand?” Guy 2: “Brand new!”
33. Marcus - We were in Ateneo looking over the Marikina valley view. Manila memorial park was very visible so I asked a pal, “Ilan kaya ang patay diyan?” He answered, “Lahat.”
34. Rodel - A teacher asked, “Sino ang gustong pumunta ng heaven?” A classmate answered, “Ma’am, gagabihin po ba tayo?”
35. Jose de Vengenge - In a gay beauty pageant, a contestant was asked, “What do you think is the root of all our economic and political crisis?” The contestant answered angrily, “Ano ba ‘to, beauty contest o quiz bee?”
36. Jose de Vengenge - True story. I once asked a female classmate, “Uy, gusto mong sumali sa paluwagan?” Her answer? “Ay…di ako pwede…virgin pa ko, eh.”

kumusta naman

For a second I thought I would just go home and forget about it. It was raining like there's no tomorrow and I felt like a rubber ducky soaked in a bathtub. Surprisingly, my first day in the office was vibrant. It helped that my foreigner boss visited Manila and I was dragged to the training classes he was involved with or else I would have doze off to dreamland or wander into boredom. I was not given any formal load yet except for some itsy bitsy work and some familiarizations and orientation. It helped that the pace was a bit slow coz it would be a daunting task to adjust while already taking heaps of stuff to do. The people were pleasant and uhm what else well that is the only description I can think of right now coz I haven't been able to socialize that much coz everyone's got something to finish and of course talk about newbie blues.

The following days for me felt a bit more like I was participating in a reality game show where participants need to survive and, in my case, I should be able to survive my sleepiness. It felt terrible during the wee hours of the morning. Seemed like my head was about to crack because it got heavier and heavier while dawn settled in. I tried to outwit the drowsy feeling by eating or drinking but it would not just go away. I was even afraid I would hear myself snoring. Deym, it was really really tough especially because I am a such a sleepyhead and although I am used to sleeping late, to stay awake all throughout is waaaaaaah! It's even more difficult after that coz when I am already at home it's hard to sleep and also I noticed that I get irritated immediately even by simple glitches (in short bugnutin). I just find myself staring into nothingness (in short nakatulala) and when someone asks me something I don't like to open my mouth and talk, I just want people to let me be (in short lost in my own world) and then I sometimes forget about the things I said or the things people said like I am not sure if we talked about it the night before (in short ulyanin). Kumusta ka naman diyan.

Like what I said before, this is a gamble. I am not sure if I can outlast every nerve-racking thing that will test me. For now, I find comfort that I am still alive and kicking and that I can still go to work next week. I look forward to eating more Sausage Mcmuffin with Egg every morning at McD... it's beginning to be a favorite of mine.. coz super hungry in the morning and now it's also my comfort food.

This is off the topic. Anyweis, amidst the sleepiness and the headaches not to mention the tired eyes... I am blooming. I'd like to borrow a line from Alanis Morisette's song.

para sa pagpayong sakin...
para sa pagpapaypay sakin...
para sa pagsama sakin...
para sa pagtulog ng late at gising ng maaga para meron akong kausap...
para sa pagsabing kaya mo yan...
para sa pagbigay ng assurance na ok lang pag hindi ko na kayanin...
para sa pakikinig sa mga litanya ko...
for being there for me.

aksyon

What: Family Outing/Bonding
When: May 8 -11, 2008
Where: Hong Kong

After I arrive from a trip I usually talk about what happened during my stay. This time I'd like to devote this post on the observations I made about Hong Kong (HK) which are relevant to what's happening here in our country. Seriously, I didn't plan to pile up all these it just kind of hit me that the things I'm about to address are the things that I would have wanted the Philippines to become in the near future. How soon should this happen? Uhm well I guess first it is imperative that we vote for a reliable and expedient leader before I set a time limit. In any case, here are my arguments:

I observed that the Kowloon Side, the business district of HK (the area where most of their buildings and malls and trade places are set) usually have roads with only 2 lanes or 4 lanes. Having said that, it amazes me that in my four days stay in HK (2 weekdays and weekends) I didn't experience to be stuck in traffic or even just witness a traffic jam from a distance (considering how busy and crowded the city is). SUV's, trucks and buses even navigate through these pathways and also through more contracted streets (equivalent to the eskinitas in the PH). And never did I spot a muddle because of traffic. I believe the reason why in spite of the number of narrow roads the city has (compared to other developed places abroad) they barely experience traffic is because the routing of the place is seamless. Their road map was carefully designed, organized and maximized. They positioned one way, no u-turn, no crossing schemes in the right places. They put the appropriate and visible signage for the drivers (signs are positioned where drivers can easily see it either daytime or nighttime and are not engulfed by posters or names of politicians). They have efficient stoplights (stoplights are placed on the same lane of the queue just in the front-left side of the first car and not across the street just like in most cases) and pedestrian lights (their pedestrian lights are working and produce a ticking sound, the faster the tick gets it means people can cross and when it gets slower it means people should stop already from crossing, really practical especially for blind people) and they have established crosswalks at the proper areas. I did not even catch sight of a traffic enforcer or a street vendor who are usually and habitually all over a place where there are lots of cars. Also, public vehicles such as buses and taxis are only allowed to stop at a designated point like a terminal Which is a very practical way of precluding traffic as it limits the amount of time a public vehicle needs to stop. It controls public vehicles from the urgency of stopping anywhere they like especially when they want to catch commuters. This system puts the flow of traffic into order because it prevents delays caused by the constant stopping of public vehicles and the blockage that the stopping creates when done in the wrong area.

In line with this, I think HK has a practical means of commuting. Compared to PH which offers a lot of options for commuters (like the jeepneys, shuttles, fx, tricycle, depadyak, horse carriage, bus, what else? did I miss something? hope not) HK only has limited means of transportation for those who have no cars (its either bus, train or taxi). But the beauty of it is that the fewer vehicles that maneuver the metro the less chance there is for traffic. The reach of their MTR (Mass Transit Railway) is so extensive and so are the route of their buses that commuters need not to worry where to find a transpo. The only thing that passengers need to do is to walk to the right station/terminal and fall in line, how easy is that compared to getting down and dirty just to be able to get a seat and most of the time end up in either unsecured waiting areas or mode of transpo. Plus they have this prepaid cards in replace for cash payments in riding a bus. Passengers just swipe the sort of debit card onto a machine upon entering a bus and no more waiting in line or annoying barkers.

Next, I noticed that there seems to be less clutter in HK considering that it has a small land area and big population. There are no unlawful tenants residing in make-shift houses made of plastics, cartons, cardboards, etc. In short there are no squatters around the place. It was told in a survey that HK ranked as the 5th city in the world which has the highest cost of living. If we try to think about it, the city should have been squatted with a lot of unlawful residents due to the incapacity to afford a house of their own. Fortunately, this did not happen. The government designed a method in such a way that even those with only low income are able to find shelter. The government created low-cost housing in the means of condominiums whereby tenants will pay for the unit on a monthly installment and at a very reasonable rate. I guess the PH government created this kind of program already, I wonder why there are still numerous illegit houses in every corner. Really, more clutter often paints a bad impression for the country and no clutter at all if not less clutter deliberately suggests the opposite.

Then, I saw how huge and efficient and cold and agile the HK International airport was. Upon reaching the HK airport, there was a designated entrance for each and every airline likewise travelers need not to wait for a long time in the immigration area because there were a lot of counters waiting. The place is well-ventilated and very much updated when it comes to technology, amenities and establishments. Right then, I thought about happened to the NAIA Terminal III Airport that was built years ago. Has the government paid for it and fixed it already? When will the people of the Philippines be able to utilize such airport?

I still have so many things to ponder but because it's almost 5:00 am right now I have to slowly end this entry. I am not saying that we should adapt all of the practices of our neighboring countries, coz certainly if we remove jeepneys and other public vehicles right now, what will happen to the lives of the drivers who will become jobless? What I am trying to say is our country needs change. It may be either about small or big stuff end point is we need to have a firm resolve on how we can improve the country's flaws that are eating us alive. We may not get the desired result at once, but its the thought that three to five years from now maybe there may be less traffic in the streets because the government has finally thought of other means for the jobless drivers (if their work will be scraped) is more than enough. If other countries were able to succeed, I think we can too.

wow, really really sleeeepy now. dry run almost done;)

a look at Cook

I guess he too can't wait to have the time of his life.

David Cook, New American Idol sings Time of My Life

day planner

A typical day for me...

paging joe de mangga

I was given that kick in the rear and I feel terrible that I cannot tell what I feel. This is one of my greatest weaknesses. To not be able to let a person know how much I value what we have. I become mute because of trepidation and it pains me. Yes, hindi ako bato, cemento or kahoy. I am guarded but I am very much vulnerable especially when it comes to the matters of the heart. Hanggang kailan kaya ako ganito?

Incidentally, I received an email today and it says:


"It can be said that most, if not all our decisions in life are based on
these two human emotions:

Fear or love.

Take a moment to reflect on the decisions in your life to see if this is true.

If you find that fear is dictating your actions, actions that you don't want
to take but can't help doing because of great fear, you can do two
things to remedy the situation.

Mitigate the fear.

Increase the love.

Find a way to reduce the fear.

Find a way to love and increase the intensity of it.

And you'll find the actions you take out of love instead of fear will be well worth it."


Ayayayayay kayanin kaya ng powers ko?! haaaaaaaaay.....

emote ni inday

waiting for my shrek/hunk/artistahin to come out and finally see me...
coz i've been waiting for him all along

five wishes

Dropped by Powerbooks today just to kill time. I chanced upon a book entitled "Five Wishes" by Gay Hendricks and was able to leaf through some pages. The author tells about a conversation he had with a man at a party. The man asked him a question and his answer to the question unveiled his life path before him and opened a window to make his aspirations become a reality.


Imagine that you are on your deathbed and someone asks you this:

Was your life a complete success?

What would be your answer?



Would you probably say yes?



If it's the other way around then the next question is:

What are the things that should have happened that would make your life a success?

Think about it. It's better to pay attention to the first thing that comes into your mind. Those are the hidden voices that you need to acknowledge and gratify.

longer than my last long post

After a month-long hiatus, I am finally back again. It's easy to delay posting in your blog when you've got so much in your plate but that doesn't mean I don't intend to resume things. During the times that I failed to write here, it was because first, I was busy with the transition(yes I resigned and am now a bum), second, I took the time to communicate with my other peeps, third I was traveling and lastly I was busy being happy.

It's been four days since I'm jobless and aside from my fear of not having enough funds to last until the start of my next work, I am doing fine. I sometimes think how my previous officemates are doing but I never wonder about the aptness of my decision. I was undeniably decided and I think I stick with it no matter what. It's going to be a couple more weeks before I start on the next company. I have to rest well and take the remaining days to enjoy being awake during daytime. It's definitely something new and I am about to venture into a routine that is unfamiliar but hey I guess when you dream of something, even the slightest step that's gonna take you closer to your goal, you grab it, regardless of the consequences. I am about to embark on the next phase and I deeply pray that it will become successful.

As I mentioned in my other posts, one of my most treasured memories is my experience in Japan and its probably gonna stay in the abyss of my heart forever. I contacted a Japanese friend of mine who speaks, reads and writes good English. He is already in his senior years. Apart from suffering some ailments he is very able and productive. Already retired from work, he makes a living out of his pension and from translating abstracts of patent Japanese documents into English. He is such a brilliant fellow who loves vintage Mercedes Benz cars and who is so much engrossed in photography. I asked him to translate into Japanese my letter to my foster family which is originally in English. He gladly helped.

Mr. Negishi's Shot taken with a Super Ikonta Type 531 w/ Opton Tessar Lens

(camera made by Carl Zeiss of Germany some 50 yrs. ago)

Last April, I was lucky enough to visit Boracay and Bohol.

Boracay is divine with its azure waters and fine-as-sugar sands.You can forget about slippers/sandals and just walk along the shoreline barefoot. The water caressing your feet really feels good. It's also fun leaving footprints and doodling non-sense stuff on the powdery sand. I like how everything blends well in that place. With the sun bold and red-hot, you'd most likely dip in the sea all day. And it's nice to swim because the water is clear that you can even see schools of fish on some parts. The water is also not itchy plus the temperature is just right. Although a lot of people go to Bora during summer, I can say that the crowd is tolerable. The area is vast enough to accommodate plenty of tourists.

The most amazing thing that you can do aside from the water activities is watching the sunset. There's nothing like an orange ball bidding goodbye spreading orange vibe in the horizon and on the sea. And once its night time, the joviality in Boracay is amplified. Since resorts, restos, bars and shops are positioned side by side, the mood in every place is crisscrossed. There's a long stretch of yummy food, good music, great people (hunks with nice bods and great smiles) to compliment a fantastic view. Somehow Bora is more or less commercialized with establishments mushrooming but then again the natural beauty of the place outshines the urban feel. At night, I especially like to lay on the sand and just plain look at the moon and stars in the sky with the waves as the background music and the people who peep as distractions.

Yes, Boracay is the place to be. Thank God he made all those wonderful stuff over there. I actually like to go back in the future.

It's the employee's time to shine during the outing:

The trip to Bohol took a one year preparation. It was suppose to happen last year however because of financial concerns, we decided to just go there this summer. And one year of waiting seems to be no-hassle at all after the visit.

Bohol is rich in history. Maybe this is one of the reasons why of all the destinations in the country, we decided to pick it as our first. It is not as renowned as Palawan, Cebu or Boracay but the mere fact that one of its tourist spots namely Chocolate Hills is a contender in the new Seven Wonders of Nature is enough reason. There's so much that Bohol can offer to visitors aside from the wonderful beaches in Panglao. The tour to the Blood Compact Site and Baclayon Church is a treat to history-addicts. The Baclayon Church reminds you of old churches in Ilocos but the outside appearance of the edifice is a bit updated because I guess it was refurbished. There's a pulpit inside, the platform used by priests in the early years of Christianity. There's also a museum beside Baclayon where people can see old artifacts/stuff like the original writings/hymns written in Spanish, old clothes of priests , etc.

I had fun during the Loboc River Cruise. It's great to eat while you get to enjoy the view changing every second. Since we were traversing a lake, the place felt like a scene in the movie Anaconda or something like that. The water was brown and there were hills and greens on each side. Some locals were swimming. During the one hour cruise, we were entertained by a bunch of Boholano's perched on a wide floating podium, playing the guitar and singing and dancing.

Luckily, we were able to hold a tarsier (people are prohibited from touching tarsiers in the tarsier sanctuary). Our driver/tourist guide was kind enough to bring us to someone who owns a tarsier and allows tourists to hold it. The brown furball is I guess the size of the hand of a tall person, it has really big round eyes, long tail like the tail of a rat, has scary hands like that of a bat and has a subdued disposition.

The look of Chocolate Hills when we were there was a bit hazy because it was raining. Still, it gave me that feeling of "sooo etoh pala yon". Some hills are color green and are not perfectly round in shape , but when you view them as a group, they assemble to be chocolate mounds.

We could have enjoyed more and relax further if we stayed for another day but the three days two nights vacation is more than enough. To visit a place is not about the length of the stay, rather it is being-all-there.

Balik sa Bohol balik:

Where are you going this summer? Do you still have other retreats in mind? Take me with you=) It is in experiencing things that you learn to live life with all its grandeur and facets. I am happy because although situations are not perfect, still I am resilient enough to bounce back and everyday there are blessings that shape my happiness. It's not all the time that things happen according to my terms but I'll try to look on the bright side. I cannot do piercing anymore but I am cool with it. I try to do aero everyday and though its tiring I stay positive. I am surprised that people care for you so much that it even exceeds the concern you have for yourself and for that I am speechless. Last but not the least, I am happy because Pyrolympics 2008 has finally kicked off.

tag-tara-tag

i was tagged by Kwago.

• Each blogger starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.
• Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their ten things and post these rules.
• At the end of your blog, you need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.
• Don't forget to leave them a comment telling they're tagged, and to read your blog.

1. mahilig akong hindi magdala ng pera tuwing lalabas kami family, at pag meron ako type bilhin sasabihin ko pahiram muna sa nanay ko or sa kahit sino at hopefully mahulog na lang sa limot ang lahat kaso nabisto na nila yon kaya hindi na ako makadiskarte ngayon

2. if i have to choose, i'd rather date adam sandler/rob schneider/jim carrey than brad pitt/tom
cruise/ashton kutcher. go figure.

3. all this time gusto ko pala ang color green at hindi blue

4. hanggat meron pang ibang option, i don't eat sinigang na baboy. bakit? di ko alam.

5. Favorite kong laruin sa built-in games ng pc ay ang freecell.

6. when i was a kid nakasanayan ko na two ang blankets ko. yong isa pang kumot ko talaga yong isa nakafold lang nilalagay ko sa bandang face kasi gusto ko yong feeling na malamig, smooth, malambot.

7. someone refuses to call me by my name "dac" instead calls me "sexy" - can you believe that?

8. makita ko pa lang buntot ng daga nasstress na ako sa sobrang takot

9. meron akong mole sa bandang stomach

10. wish ko to have an additional ear pierce as in. dami nga lang kontra


-->well whoever wishes to answer kayo na lang. hindi ko masyado type ang mag-tag.<--

nth time in Baguio

Have you experienced adoring a place so much that even if you've already been there countless times you still get excited whenever you visit it?

Love the cool weather, love the slopes lined with pine trees.

Still enjoyed though it's the 5th time in a row.

Mac Attack and SE Splurge

Recently, I find myself browsing the net for the following gadgets:


First

The new MacBook Air! Ohhh yes very modish, ultra slim and light with a height of only .76 inch and weight of 3 lbs. Users say it can even fit inside a manila envelope. It is very handy and I would like to believe that owning this baby sort of gives you bragging rights.

Design wise the MacBook Air is superb however I think that the technical specs is below par. Well I've never owned a Mac. Not really a fan coz I'm used to Windows but tried MacBook Pro and iMac a few times and if the specs of MacBook Air is compared to the latter, it definitely won’t match up. With just 80GB HD or 64GB SSD, no optical drive, just one usb slot, processor a bit slower than other Macs and no LAN port so it solely depends on wifi connection, uhm this laptop is designed merely as the computer for people on the go. It works best as a secondary computer. Users of MacBook Air most likely need to get a primary computer for more reliability.

In spite of this, I still surf the net and look for tidbits about it. Though I know I won’t be buying, MacBook Air entices me even by a mere glance . Heck save the money for more useful stuff and even if I have the money, its too much luxury to buy myself this gizmo.

Second

is the Sony Ericsson W980i. Ok I must admit that the initial reason why I am drawn to W980i is because I like the flip top form and the overall design. The orange backlight of this mobile phone is a wonderful contrast to the glossy black finish. It appears to be very sophisticated.

Favorably, W980i is not only about style; the specifications also put the phone on the front line. Some of the highlights are its 8GB memory, big enough to accommodate loads of media files. Also it has a camera with 3.2 megapixel (not as high as 5MP but still 3.2 is pretty clear already), it has 3G function, a pictbridge where you can send your images directly to a printer, a bluetooth stereo for you to listen to music from phone to headset over a wireless connection, a Track ID where you can record a few seconds of a song and get the track, artist and album information of the song sent to your phone and the Shake Control where you can change songs by just shaking your mobile phone. Really, it’s a good deal - at least for me.

Eh magkano naman kaya ito? To buy or not to buy. But can’t splurge.. No. Not at the moment.

hotel uniform romeo tango

I can only wish for so much.



But right now I am....


wavering. confined. gloomy.

jottings

I'd like to write about some valuable lessons I stumbled upon last week but I cannot guarantee that I can deliver the message clearly as I am feeling quite lazy right now. Albeit, I'll post it today. Gusto ko lang talaga malista toh para meron akong mabalikan.

Dac should know that:

1.) if I think that it is only 50% right
but I feel that it is 100% right
I should go for it

2.) the best way to think clearly is to detach myself first from the situation

3.) I can't give happiness when I myself is not happy

4.) happy moments require a happy mood even if I'm down
(probably contradicting to number 3 but what I am referring here is just the mind-set of a person; trying to be happy is different from making someone happy)

5.) I find it difficult to trust but to not trust is suicide

6.) just because I don't say certain things doesn't mean I don't feel them.

6th bday

March 13, 2008 - Alliyah's 6th Birthday

Me: Babybop, sorry I don't have a gift for you coz I was so busy I didn't have
time to go to the mall to buy you something. I'm just gonna get one this
weekend.

Alliyah: Tita Dac It's alright, I believe you.. reeeeaaaalllly.. I believe you.

(mga bata ngayon akala laging gumagawa ka ng excuse)

unclog

I have always been tight-lipped regarding my burdens and the things that usually eat up my energy. Much of the blame goes to my being a private person and my hate for tear jerking moments. However, I've noticed recently that talking about my concerns instead of keeping them will do me more good. I realized that when you are given the chance to discuss and when someone tries to listen, the pressure building inside starts to drain. Sometimes, it doesn't really matter if the person listening will give you the right advice, what counts is that you are able to share what you're feeling inside.

Do you have any issues lately? Why keep it to yourself? Find the courage to trust someone and pour your heart out.

in bliss

How can this not make me happy?!!!

moving back

Sometimes being with a person even for only a brief period allows you to be attached in ways you could not have imagined. My aunt and uncle went home to the States yesterday. Yes, I'm definitely back to my own room, back to having my privacy and doing the things that I feel like doing in the spur of the moment. But often, there's that hankering to listen to my aunt nagging us about cleanliness, healthy living, being economical, exercising, etc. Her personality is very dominating and hasty. She couldn't care less if the people around her are already irritated by her voice. She likes to nag, meddle, discuss, argue and advice. Nevertheless, those acts only arise out of her concern for us. I think, thats her most pungent and at the same time most endearing quality.




Conversely, her husband is soft-spoken to think that he is a former US Navy official. I like the fact that he is level-headed and obliging. Although he was the guest, he didn't mind helping out when our water tank had to be cleaned because the water that was delivered to us was grey. I enjoyed the times when he would comment on how driving here in the Philippines is very much different from the US hihi. Well, he got frantic over the sound of our roosters always waking him up at four in the morning but I'm certain he's gonna miss them.. walang ganun sa States=)

sharing bits & pieces

These are the things that I've done lately:


1.) Went to a Ballroom Dance Club

I had my share of ballroom nights the past days. It was my first time to be in a ballroom dance club, one where the lights are dim, the dresses are glitzy and the music repertoire is a range of classics. It was also also my first time to dance with a dance instructor. It's kind of manic to dance with a d.i. Their bodies move more fluidly than mine considering that they are guys (i mean "paguy" pala). I found it a tad hard to hit the floor and get low with all the dances coz once you're on the dance floor your feet and hands should be ready with whatever steps the music obliges you to do. Upbeat dances like swing, mambo, reggae, hustle and salsa are easier compared to the slow sweet dances like tango, rumba, foxtrot and waltz.

I've fallen head over heels with those slow dances. They're absolutely sexy to dance. The thing is they require some expertise for the footwork. You have to feel the music and be able to slide, close, glide and turn with ease and finesse. I saw a number who already mastered it and they are very entertaining to watch. I feel embarrassed though that most of the time my d.i. still has to teach me a lot of the steps right in the middle of the dance floor. A novice like me still has more to learn. All in all ballroom dancing is a commendable alternative to lose weight. I didn't even noticed that we already spent three hours dancing.

My aunt and uncle doing the Tango

My first ever ballroom shoes bought by my aunt.

Feels really comfortable to wear, soft and light.
Ballroom dance shoes are usually made from fabric or leather and
they have more padding in the insole for added flexibility.

2.) Attended the wedding of my high school buddy.

Not getting any younger.. that's a fact. Last Feb 23 I went to the wedding of one of my dabarkads. He is the first guy in the group who got married. Sa hinaba-haba man daw ng prusisyon sa simabahan din ang tuloy. Congratulations and best wishes to Carlo and Hazel! The picture quality is really poor as it was taken by a camera phone. Clear pictures to follow.

3.) raided the karaokeeeeeey


singing songs that are old skul
makes you feel like a fool
but fool is the person who think
that those songs are uncool
for no one can ever tell you the rule

--- by yours truly



wala lang hihi. This song got me a score of 100!







4.) watched neyo's concert

Neyo in the house last Feb 29, 08. Kapal talaga ng labi ni Neyo kahit in person. I feel sorry that the concert didn't even last for two hours although it was short but sensational. Fave ko talaga ang song niya na "Sexy Love".

5.) strolled around the village at night

It's one way of becoming toned again. I realized just last week how huge I've become. Not even a single dress fit my bod. I was suppose to use an old dress for the wedding but unfortunately I found it difficult to zip them.. gosh! If you plan to know if you've gained weight, try putting on your old clothes like the dresses you used to wear two to three years back. If it won't fit, my my.... welcome to the club!

Anyways, walking around the village gives me time to relax aside from the health benefits it entails. Relax in such a way that time seems to slow down and I get to relish the wind caressing my face. I also enjoy watching the dark sky with the moon shining. My room never gave me a chance to get a glimpse of the outside as the windows are always close and even if it is opened, all I can see is the wall dividing our house to the next property. Kaya sa future house ko I'd definitely opt for glass doors and windows. Para sakop lahat ng view sa labas.. with matching balcony pa at roof deck (kung hindi masyadong delikado) echos! hihi.