My Corner

Always the Bridesmaid but never the …

2010-04-13T20:27:00.005+08:00

I know I have been away and out of touch for far too long now. And as always, I have again come up with a very good explanation for my long absence. No, it is not one of those lame excuses I used to come up with and it’s about time I come out into the open and talk about it (heck, I might as well rant about it too! lol).

Well, I just got in touch with my long time friend today and found out she’s getting married next month. I also found out that she picked me to be her maid of honor. I was shocked and caught off guard. In all honesty, I am happy for her – with all my heart, I truly am. But something about it tugged at my heart. Painful memories of the past came to mind along with feelings I have tried so hard to forget. I guess I’m still not over it. I thought I was but I guess I was mistaken.

3 years ago, I believed and thought I’ve finally found my destiny. You can just imagine my happiness when I got proposed at. The thought of being engaged was pure bliss. I was really looking forward to becoming someone’s wife and soul mate (it was to happen this year, supposedly!). I was really all excited and ready to share and spend the rest of my life with the man I thought was the one God had intended for me. It didn’t matter to me how or where we were tying the knot – all that mattered to me was the love that I felt for the person. Needless to say, I thought I finally found my fairytale.

Last year (June 2009 – right after I got back home from my Bohol trip), just days after our petition got approved, he broke the news to me. He said he needed more time… that he needed more space. I was dumbfounded, shocked, hurt and confused. Did he really love me? Was it something I said? Or something I did? I remember feeling numb all over and not knowing what to do or think. In the 3 years we’ve been together, I have never asked him for money nor did I take advantage of him. My parents adored him – hell, my Dad was really all thumbs-up for him. So, what the hell went wrong? I honestly don’t know. I was so lost. I had no idea what to do or say. I was so hurt. All of my friends said I was fine, that I was a good catch. I am employed and earning my own money. My parents can afford to support me if I should decide to stay at home and do nothing. I had been a very loyal and faithful partner… I didn’t deserve this pain.

So… being the typical Filipina who liked being sought after, I matched the pain he caused me and told him I’m not marrying him if he’s not ready. At the back of my mind, I hoped and prayed he would go after me and try to win me back – but he didn’t. Ouch! I was dropped and dumped like I were some hot potato burning in his hands! Yes, I know. It was so painful it killed me. It killed that part of me that hoped and believed. I tried to get even with him by saying hurtful things at him – even when deep inside, I just needed him to say he’ll stay and make things work for both of us. I got so depressed as I watched 3 years of my life go to waste. I got sick, performed poorly at work, and avoided eating together with my family for fear of being asked about our status. Yes, he also left me alone to deal with the mess he left behind. I had no clue how to tell my family. I was so angry at myself for trusting him, for believing him.

He was a big part of my every day. Losing him was not even in my worst nightmare! I was so used to having him with me (virtually of course – the perils of a long distance relationship). I started and ended my days with him. We prayed together, shared our hopes and dreams with each other… I just simply didn’t know where or how to start being my own person again. I spent endless nights crying myself to sleep, there were even times when I thought about ending my life just so I could escape the pain. All of my closest friends are out of reach (living / working in another place). Yeah, sending them messages did me good (for a while) then I started battling with depression again. I gained back all the weight that I’ve lost, I spent all my money on food. I needed someone to comfort me while I cried out all the angst I have been keeping inside me. I couldn’t cry at home, fearing it could cause alarm to my family members (I rarely cry), and without a sister to share my room with, I always had to wait till everyone’s asleep before I could let my tears run free.

I am tired believing good things happen to good people – because it doesn’t. I am tired of believing in miracles – do they really exist? I am tired of believing in love. All my life, I had done nothing but obey all the rules simply because I was told it was the right thing to do. Now, I’m tired. Tired of living? Yes, I am. I am 31 – and I am tired of waiting for Mr. Right. As one of my friends used to tell me, life truly is one shit right after the other (lol!). But atleast now, I have partially recovered. At least I am starting to enjoy myself again… I am doing new things, seeing new places… expanding my horizons (whatever that means! lol!)

It has been awhile and I am still trying to pick up pieces of the person I once used to be. And I did meet someone interesting along the way (and someone I truly admired). I also thought we clicked really well, hmm that was before I told him I love Twilight. As soon as he learned I read books about vampires, he decided I was less of a Christian and didn’t want to have anything to do with me. Oh well… I wish he spent more time really getting to know me and knowing more about where I came from before judging me. Tough luck and tough love?!? lol! Maybe it was just God’s way of telling me I’m not ready (but boy, I really thought he was handsome and cute… tsk tsk tsk… lol!) but, I’ll take it as my cue that it just isn’t my time (yet).

To my dear friend, thank you for showing me that miracles still happen (not necessarily on time or when you expect it to be but at least it still exists)… that love still lives and that dreams still come true. I am so happy you found your miracle… and most of all, thank you for sharing the wonderful news with me today. Congratulations, Vikas and Divine! My love and prayer goes out to you both! Mwaaahhh!

As for me... I’ll have to keep believing that there’s someone in this crazy world for me (sigh…)

Music Monday #2

2009-06-15T20:32:00.003+08:00

M/V Wondergirls Nobody Music Video

Wordless Wednesday #3

2009-06-10T16:59:00.004+08:00

My Sagbayan Peak Buddies

(Picture taken at Sagbayan Peak, Bohol last May 31, 2009)

Bohol: A Wedding and the Tour

2009-06-06T15:40:00.054+08:00

It's been so long since I last wrote something here. I have been so busy with my day to day life lately and finally took a short break from everything and went to Bohol for my teammate's wedding last May 30, 2009.

I, together with my brother and 2 teammates went to Bohol last May 29, 2009. We left CDO on the eve of the 28^th via Trans Asia. It was a smooth trip – amidst the noisy environment being in the Economy section of course (lol).

One of our teammates were getting married on the 30th - and well, let's just say it was something we wouldn't miss for the whole world! And much to our surprise and delight, the ferry arrived early! We took a lot of pictures and enjoyed our short vacation.

Here are some of our pictures:

This was taken at the port - at around past 5am.

This was taken while we were waiting for our ride to fill up with passengers so we can be on our way to our destination: Doljo, Panglao

Me, Ana and Jane - just posing :)

At the Restaurant's entrance

Jane, Ana, Me and my Bro: Enjoying the delicious treat before us (and it was very expensive too!)

The Bride and the Groom

The Bridesmeaids

The Newly weds opening their presents

Night swimming!!!

Tour Day! Ana, Jane and the Bride: MaEve

Me and my Brother, Erwin

Me and Ana

Me and my other Sibling (lol!)

Erwin and the cute Tarsier

The Happy Bunch at the Man Made Forest

At Carmen, Chocolate Hills

The Newly Weds enjoying their jump (hehehe)

Me and my Bro - attempting the hard climb

Me and my Bro - just posing - what a great view!

the Happy Bunch hehehe

At Sagbayan Peak

hmm Me and my Pet -- he looks very friendly and HUNGRY! (lol)

hmm can you guess who's beside me?

At the Butterfly Garden at Sagbayan Peak

At Alona Kew Resort - a great place for sight seeing and well... (lol)

Yours truly enjoying my very first taste of Margarita (before I got drunk and declared the ants were having a disco party while helping them by flashing my flashlight rapidly at them lol)

The Happy Bunch at Alona Kew having dinner

During our Island Hopping the next day. This was taken at Balicasag Island - our 1st destination.

The Happy Bunch at Virgin Island - our 2nd destination.

At the Boardwalk - this was our 3rd and unplanned destination. A very wonderful treat!

At the background are the healthy mangrooves growing abundantly in that area.

Bohol will always hold a special place in my heart - not just because of the friendly people and the delicious foods but also because of the great beaches and sights!

This is one place you should go and see!

Funny Pantomime

2009-05-14T00:13:00.004+08:00

I had a great time watching this video on YouTube. This is one great funny pantomime and I'm determined to share it with y'all!

I hope this will make you laugh.

Ciao!

Me and my BIG Lil Bro

2009-05-13T23:52:00.006+08:00

Wordless Wednesday #2

Music Monday #1: Kosovo Music Video

2009-05-11T21:51:00.005+08:00

This is my first entry for Music Monday. I actually feel good that I am back to the blogging world - kind-of-back anyway. Will be trying my best to drop on my constant droppers (you know who you are and I thank you so much! Mwah!)

I will be sharing with you a video that I first saw on break.com (the website was introduced to me by my supah friend Vanessa Morante). I so love this video. It's cute and so original. Not really the kind of music video you see on MTV or Channel V - but it's still a music video, right? (lol)

So here goes my first entry for Music Monday: (Happy watching!)

Authentic video of Norwegian soldiers in Kosovo. Music from the Beach Boys song "Kokomo"

I hope it put a smile on your face.

Take care!

Ciao!

My very first award!

2009-04-17T08:30:00.009+08:00

Guess what? I have just been awarded! Yep, my very first award here in the Blogosphere! Thank you Meryl and Cacai M. for the award! I am so thrilled and excited!

Now it’s time for me to pass this on – great and good bloggers :

Dorothy – Self-Esteem Blog for Women

Cacai M. – Cacai’s Step and Journey (for Best Blogger Award)

Darling – Just The Tip of the IceBerg

Bruce – American in Davao

Dutch Boy – Dutch Boy from Groningen

Emma - Memoirs

Take care and let’s keep on rockin’ the blogging world!

Ciao!

100 TRUTHS TAG

2009-04-17T07:05:00.017+08:00

Been wanting to grab and post this tag. Only been able to do so just now because of some personal issues (not really serious cases). Got this tag from my fellow blogger, Cacai M. And now I’m sharing and passing this on to all of you out there! (winks!)

001. Name → Janice Gay (I have 2 first names and no, I am not a lesbian! lol)
002. Nickname(s)→ Jingjing, Jing, Jan, Jang
004. Zodiac sign → Capricorn
005. Male or female → Female
006. Elementary → Montessori de Oro (Grades 1 - 4); City Central School (Grades 5 - 6)
008. High School → Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School (SHJMS)
009. College School → Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
010. Hair color → Dark Brown (natural hair color with streaks of white hair hahaha)
011. Long or short → long
012. Loud or Quiet → Depends on who I’m with and the place I am in.
013. Jumpers or Jeans → Jeans
014. Phone or Camera → Phone w/ Camera (lol)
015. Health freak → Hmm… 50 – 50, I still enjoy some unhealthy foods hehehe
016. Drink or Smoke? → No to both
017. Do you have a crush on someone? → Nadah – NO.
018. Eat or Drink → Both
019. Piercings → Ears
020. Tattoos → None (or my father will disown me lol)

MY FIRST...

023. First piercing → I can’t remember – I was too young then.
024. First best friend → Gosh… I can’t remember…
025. First award → Honors award, Quiz Bee awards (High School)
026. First crush → KT (hahaha now I cringe at the thought of him lol!)
027. First pet → Chicken I named “Hetty” hehehe
028. First big vacation → Cebu when I was 12 – first time to meet relatives (Dad’s side)
030. First big birthday → First Birthday I guess hehehe

I AM CURRENTLY...

049. Eating → no
050. Drinking → no
052. I'm about to → go take my tea
053. Listening to → none
054. Plans for today → SLEEP (because I worked all night! lol)
055. Waiting for → my tea to cool down a bit

IN MY FUTURE, I...

058. Want kids? → Yes. Of course.
059. Want to get married? → I hope SOON!
060. Careers in mind → hmm… I think I’m too old (and lazy) to go back to school hehehe I’d prefer a career in the IT or Health care field.

WHICH IS BETTER IN THE BOY/GIRL YOU LIKE?

068. Lips or eyes → eyes
070. Shorter or taller - Taller
072. Romantic or spontaneous → Both
073. Nice stomach or nice arms → Doesn’t really matter
074. Sensitive or loud→ Sensitive
075. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship
076. Trouble maker or hesitant → huh??? – none.

HAVE I EVER...

080. Lost glasses/contacts → Yes. Refer to this post.
081. Ran away from home → Never – but have thought of it when I was a teenager hehe
082. Held a gun/knife for self defense → Nope
083. Killed somebody → Never! I don’t think I have the guts for those kind of things.
084. Broke someone's heart → I’m not sure (lol). I think they broke mine.
085. Been arrested → Never!
087. Cried when someone died → Yep

DO I BELIEVE IN...

089. Yourself → Yep!
090. Miracles → Sometimes
091. Love at first sight → I guess NO. I don’t know. It takes time to really love someone.
092. Heaven → Yep
093. Santa Claus → When I was a kiddo myself.
094. Tooth Fairy → Nope (No tooth fairy in the Philippines! lol!)
095. Kiss on the first date → hmm nope.

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY

097. Is there one person you want to be with right now → hmm... The one person God has intended for me
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life → I guess, not much choice really! hahaha
099. Do you believe in God → YES!

Folks, it’s time to pass this on to you. Feel free to grab this tag.

Ciao!

Starfish at Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines

2009-04-15T14:08:00.004+08:00

Wordless Wednesday #1

Lenten Season 2009

2009-04-09T08:44:00.007+08:00

I received a very meaningful Lenten message today (thanks to Topee). I would like to share it with all of you. Here it goes:

The season of LENT reminds us that the life we have and the material possessions we hold are simply LENT to us. We are but pilgrims here on earth who will pass by only once. We bring nothing when we die. But we can leave behind the love we’ve shared, the hope we have given and the goodness we have done.

P.S.

You might also like these presentations (perfect for reflecting on your personal journey in Life) *winks!

Pathways to Peace and Interview with God.

A blessed and meaningful Holy Week to you all.

Somebody, please HELP!!!

2009-04-06T08:23:00.005+08:00

I just woke up. It’s only a quarter to 8am and already I am excited, confused, happy and sad all at once! (lol) I guess I’m just having an emotion overload, eh? Just my typical Monday blues – what d’ya think?

We had a power interruption yesterday – which really made sleeping an impossible thing. I usually sleep during the day and work nights – power went off at around 6am to 8am and went off again at around 1pm to 6pm! I slept for a couple of hours in the morning and woke up at around 1:30pm drenched in my own sweat! After that, I was awake all throughout the afternoon. I finally decided to change my rest day when I didn’t feel like I could go to work due to lack of sleep plus the fact that I am (again) suffering from these itchy, red rashes (darn allergies again) – I have it all over my face and back. I look hideous!

As soon as I went on the PC, I noticed Cacai’s greeting. It actually REALLY caught my eyes! She was congratulating me for having my blog’s PR2! I was soooo happy and excited! I thought “Finally! A PR for my blog!.” So I went to popuri, and other sites that lets you check your page rank – all of them returned a PR0 for my blog. And then I went from happy and ecstatic to sad and lost. And, now I’m confused. How can I tell and see my blog’s PR? Some say it’s on my side bar but I don’t have it. My blog is going to be a year old this June 20 and I’m still a PR0 with an Alexa ranking going lesser and lesser everyday. I wonder what I’m doing wrong?

Please help and shed some light to this poor, clueless blogger (sob…sob…sob…)

The Interview with God

2009-04-05T01:00:00.006+08:00

It’s 1:00am now and I’m at work. I close my eyes and wish I was tucked in bed and enjoying my sleep – but alas, I find myself at work and bored as soon as I open my eyes. It will be a few more days to go before my rest day and I find myself procrastinating about a lot of things. So… I remembered this web site that was shared to me by one of my good friends (Thanks, Josie!).

This web site ALWAYS gets me in the right mood/path when I’m being too oblivious about the many things that I have been blessed with. Without much ado, let me share this one great presentation with you…

I hope it touches your heart like it did mine – never fails to calm my spirit and relax my soul.

If you can't view this movie, please go to www.TheInterviewWithGod.com or if you would like to learn how to start your own internet business, make money online, or work from home then visit the other url."

Brought to you by Internet Marketing site.

Bohol Trip Pictures

2009-04-04T07:43:00.003+08:00

I’m supposed to post this for my first Wordless Wednesday but – well… I’m late again and it’s a long way to go for next Wednesday! I just can’t wait to post this so I made a collage – I hope you will enjoy them.

Bohol is definitely the place to go when you’re looking for a place to unwind and relax – no wonder I’m going back there this coming May 30! Hopefully, this trip will be more happy with companions who won’t give you tantrums along the way. Oh my! I truly can’t wait for my next Bohol trip! This time, I’m bringing my brother along so he’ll have time off school and enjoy his summer vacation.

For more pictures, just click here.

March Top EC Droppers

2009-04-03T10:05:00.002+08:00

March has ended and once again it is time to reveal my March Top Droppers. I owe everyone an apology – this month has been a struggle for me. I was in the middle of a crisis, from adjusting to my new work shift – getting allergies – getting sick – and planning for my long overdue Bohol trip. To all who still dropped ECs even when I was away – thank you so much for your continued support! I will be back to being active and visible again now that my trip has ended and I’m back to my “normal” mode (lol).

Please check out their web sites – they not only write cool stuffs but they also share their everyday lives and experiences with you too.

Here are my Top Droppers for March:

Life's A Pizza Pie
Kids Toys
Big Boys Have Toys Too
Cacai's Step and Journey
Dutch boy from Groningen
Singapore Draws
Glue 4 Families
Steven Humour
C'est La Vie
Earn Money Online

Thank you so much! Hoping to see more of you in the coming months!

Bohol Trip 2009

2009-04-02T09:23:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone!

I’m back and sporting a tan plus some sunburn from Bohol! The trip was a long awaited one but was not what I imagined or hoped it would be – well, the views and the sceneries were more than I expected. Something else just made my mood went from sky high to nadah during the trip. So… yes, I enjoyed Bohol. But please don’t ask me how the trip went.

As promised, here are the pics. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Take care! Ciao!

P.S.
Will start dropping ECs tomorrow, need to get some sleep and cool down my temper.

Busted PC

2009-03-24T08:33:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone! Sorry been out. My PC crashed a few days ago. Then a day after that it failed to start. Brought it to a computer shop to have it's busted power supply replaced and now - well, its still not working -- a busted hard drive maybe? Kept displaying an error message that says "windows encountered a fatal error" and wouldn't load anything up.

I'm just at a cafe now - thank you everyone for dropping by even when I'm not around. I am scheduled to leave for Cebu on the 27th and will leave for Bohol on the 28th. I should be back home on the 31st. I so much hope and pray that the PC gets fixed before I leave - so much to do and so little time to do everything.

I better go now and get some sleep - will be working tonight. Been working straight since the 18th. I am supposed to be on my rest day today but since I moved my rest day for the trip -- well....I really don't have much choice but to drag myself to work for 9 nights straight! (lol).

p.s.
Special thanks goes to Cacai and to all who came by even during my absence.

Ciao!

Witness to a Crime

2009-03-15T22:30:00.002+08:00

I have witnessed a crime. Not really the gruesome, bloody type crime but could have been one. I know I’m not making any sense here.

Let me explain:

Last Saturday morning, at around past 6am, I was with my colleagues Jun and Christian and we were on our way home. I usually get off work and get on the same jeepney ride home with them. We were so busy talking about houses and house – related stuff when this guy got in on the same jeepney as we were and inconveniently got seated beside an unsuspecting girl who was very busy texting. Now, why did I say “inconveniently”? Well, the jeepney was neither full or empty – meaning there was enough room for atleast 6 to 10 more people but that man chose to sit right next to the girl even when there was a lot of room at the other side from where he was seated. At first, I kept staring and glaring at him for being so rude because he kept nudging the poor girl for more space so he could fit and sit in. After a few minutes, his intentions and agenda became clear to me. He skillfully placed his bag to where his other hand was – so it is hidden and covered from prying eyes. After a few minutes he placed his bag on his lap --- and the girls bag was wide open! And still – the girl was soooo busy texting!!! I was fighting the urge to tell the girl who was seated across me. Instead, I kept on nudging Christian’s elbow (who was sitting right next to me) and when he asked what – I discreetly pointed a finger to the man’s direction. At this time, he was again busy with his hands inside the poor girl’s bag! Christian nodded as if to say he saw it. We were now both watching the man doing his crime and neither of us could lift a finger to help the victim! Why? Because not far from where we were seated was a man who also kept glaring at us as if watching our every move. I suspect that it was the man’s accomplice. Usually, one will get stabbed or killed if you try to expose them right then or there. So we just kept our silence and pretended everything was okay. I got off the jeepney with Jun at a block away from my usual stop as I didn’t feel safe going off the jeepney alone and all by myself.

I still shudder remembering the other man’s glare at us – it was like getting a silent death threat. My only consolation was I made sure I remember their faces – so the next time I see them or get in on the same jeepney ride with them, I’ll know what to do.

I just feel lucky that they didn’t harm us that day. And I still feel sorry for the man’s unsuspecting victim.

If you have any similar experiences, please do share them with me and enlighten me. So the next time, I’ll be much more prepared.

Planning for Long Overdue Trip

2009-03-13T01:42:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the long absence everyone. I have been quite busy lately as I needed to plan for my upcoming trip to Bohol. Yes – finally! I am going to Bohol! I will be leaving for Cebu on March 27th with my good friends Sang and Gal. I and my friends have been planning and saving for this trip for so long – LONG as in like a year! We are planning on our one-time-big-time experience at Regency Hotel’s Sky Rise. After a night in Cebu, we intend to leave for Bohol and stay there for the next 3 days. Sounds like fun, right? I am so looking forward to it! Yipeee!

I have been out the past few days looking for bags and etc. I needed a traveling bag and a sleeping bag. And believe it or not, I spent the last 2 days looking for a sleeping bag and finding none anywhere in the CDO area!!! Can you believe that? What’s so surprising and frustrating is none of our malls here are selling them anymore. A saleslady in SM told me “Ma’am, we no longer have that available and that product has actually been phased out.” All I could say was “Since when?” (lol!) If you were there, I swear you could have seen the big question mark plastered in my face! (lol). Anyway, I’m just really surprised that malls here in CDO would prefer to sell the “Traveling Mattress” and the “Inflatable Traveling Air Bed” – and you would need to purchase and carry it’s pump separately too, unless of course if you really want to blow air on the bed yourself – well, then be my guest. For me, nothing beats the practicality of having / owning a sleeping bag. It’s not only light weight; it is also compact and neat. And unlike the traveling Mattress and Airbed, it is not bulky.

Anyway, I finally found a sleeping bag online. And the best part is, they are selling the items in Peso. They are a company in Manila and they offer 2 to 3 business days of shipping. And if you’re in the same area as I am, I suggest you check them out at: http://www.t3ckoutdoor.com/.

I will be posting more soon! And will definitely keep you all updated! Sorry for missing out on my daily EC droppings everyone – will make it all up to you I promise!

Ciao!

You Shouldn’t Meme Tag

2009-03-06T22:31:00.004+08:00

I just got tagged again! Yehey! This is really great! I love getting tags! I got tagged by my good blogger friend Cacai, from http://www.cacainadjourney.com/. I still have a pending tag (Bag Tag) to post. Will be posting it when I get home later as I am at work now. Thank you Cacai for tagging me. I really enjoyed answering this Tag – it made me think really HARD! (lol!)

Take heed and check out the rules for this tag:

The Rules:

1. List these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog.
3. Tell 7 unspectacular quirks on yours.
4. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
5.Link the person who tagged you.
6.Leave a comment for each blogger.

Here are my answers:

7 facts about myself:

1. I don’t and never eat anything with liver or heart in the recipe. I don’t know. My mother used to say I eat pork / chicken liver / heart when I was little. But now… well… all I can say is “Ewwww!” LOL!

2. I have always thought I was a Catholic when I was growing up. I joined school activities including Rosary prayers and only found out I was a Protestant (UCCP) when I was in high school – when I was asked by our school to get confirmed! Please don’t get me wrong – a person’s religion is not a big deal for me as long as they live life the way Christ wants us.

3. I grew up the boyish way. My childhood memories are more about climbing trees, falling off from them, falling into a deep drainage system in our area than playing with dolls. And no, it’s not your typical 2 to 3 feet deep drainage/canal. I fell into a 4 to 6 feet cemented drainage / canal and my brother had to call and gather all our playmates to help me out. LOL!

4. My favorite cartoon character of all time is Donald Duck.

5. I would rather stay home and sleep than go out and be with the crowd on my rest days.

6. My first pet was a chicken that I named Hetty. I was around 9 or 10 yrs old when I had her. A few days after she laid eggs she disappeared. Someone cut her leash and stole her! It left me so broken hearted back then. I loved her very much. I even remember waking up early in the morning so I could walk her out to where the grasses are – along with my brother and his chicken too. He named his chicken “Porky”. Memories like these really make me smile and laugh to my hearts content.

7. My greatest fear is losing the people I love. When my parents had a vehicular accident 5 years ago, I started to understand how heavy my responsibilities are as the eldest child in the family. I had a brother to take care of and I was jobless at that time. I’m very thankful that our parents are still with us. I feel blessed and I’m really thankful for that.

7 quirks that I have

1. I still bite my nails (especially when I’m nervous).
2. I sleep when I’m bothered by something.
3. I can’t bake - unless it means baking a pizza! (Well, more like re-heating it actually! LOL!)
4. I can’t grow anything (except Mongo Beans!). I am a very bad gardener while my father is very exceptional with it.
5. I swear a lot when I’m upset / angry.
6. I sleep with my cell phone right next to me.
7. I take a bath with my cell phone with me – I just put it on top of our medicine cabinet so it wouldn’t get wet.

I would like to pass this tag on to:

1. Jonaver of http://www.jonaverslife.com/
2. Madame Apro of http://ruthrush.blogspot.com/
3. Bless of http://www.blessconfessionsofanarmywife.com/
4. Mommy Emma of http://memoirs.lecio.us/
5. Shawie of http://anemptycup.blogspot.com/
6. May of http://mylee-may.blogspot.com/
7. Dutch Boy of http://lammert-au.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoyed this tag! C’mon and join the fun!

Ciao!

Being tagged and the missing camera scene

2009-03-06T10:16:00.000+08:00

I have been tagged by my fellow blogger Cacai. I hope she doesn’t feel bad that I haven’t posted my Bag Tag yet. You see… well… I have been sick lately and have not been able to clean out my messy bedroom. It looks like a jungle now – and I really mean it LITERALLY! With just 3 more nights to go before my restday, I am now more determined to clean my room so I can locate all of my stuff. I hope they would miraculously resurface as we speak now – but then again, that would have been spooky! (lol)

Cacai, I hope this post will say it all. I really appreciate being tagged – my first tag! I will make it up to you – as soon as I find my camera, that is.

Thank you so much for bearing with me. Life is much more bearable when you have good friends to share the good and the bad times with.

Joining Blogsvertise

2009-03-04T07:16:00.001+08:00

Today I finally decided to join Blogsvertise. Most of my fellow bloggers has been earning through their blogs. So I thought “Why not join the fun?” I hope this will turn out productive and fun for me as well.

If you are blogger like me, who’s looking into monetizing their blogs – please do check Blogsvertise and join them now. Registration is free and all you have to do is blog about the things you love!

My February Top 10 Droppers

2009-03-02T07:01:00.004+08:00

February has ended and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my daily droppers. Thank you so much for dropping by and visiting even when I am unable to return the favor because of health related issues. I will make it up to you, I promise.

Ladies and Gentlemen: Here are my Top 10 Droppers for February: (clap, clap, clap, applause!)

Steven Wilson Marketing

Toys For Kids
Big Boys Have Toys Too
Life's A Pizza Pie
Lights Camera Action
Gadgets Directory
Life With Roxxymetal
The Natural State Hawg
Singapore Draws
Glue 4 Families

Please take the time to check these blogs out. I really enjoy their posts and I’m sure you will enjoy them too!

Happy blog hopping and may we all have a very blessed month ahead!

Ciao!

Tired of being Sick

2009-02-27T08:38:00.006+08:00

I’m so sorry if I missed dropping ECs lately. I haven’t been feeling well and to top it all, I couldn’t call in sick at work as I made a deal with my friends, Gal and Wasang. Loser will pay 500 bucks ~ awww!!! Painful in the pocket! (lol!). I wish I could turn back time and didn’t make the deal (lol).

Please bear with me. I will be posting updates soon and will resume with my daily EC dropping and read everyone’s updates too! I really just don’t have the energy right now. I think the virus / microbes are still in control of my total being as of this writing. Will need to plan for my defense attack.

Wish me luck!

Ciao!

Blogger in a mess and I lost followers

2009-02-24T11:40:00.001+08:00

I woke up today and found out I lost a couple of followers. So I thought “Why? Did I post something bad or rude?”, I was really confused. I went ahead and did my EC dropping and found out that some of my fellow bloggers are experiencing it too.

So I’m just wondering, are some of you folks still having the same problem? A friend of mine said this sort of things can be avoided if you have your own domain for your blog. I’m thinking of getting one but I really just don’t have the budget for it right now. Maybe I will get my own domain as soon as my blog starts earning.

I hope Blogger gets fixed soon ~ and we’ll be a bunch of happy campers!

Way Back Into Love

2009-02-18T10:45:00.004+08:00

Let’s put the groove back this Valentines with this video from one of my favorite movies of all time! Valentines is not officially over yet – is it? It is after all, still February! *winks!* This movie really got me giggling the whole day! Love truly makes the world go round and round and round and…round! LOL!

Happy watching! Here’s wishing some love your way – LOTS of it! *winks*

The Demo Version:

The Big Concert:

Joining my 1st Meme: Top 5 Crazy Things I did for Love

2009-02-12T08:46:00.010+08:00

Today, as I was dropping EC cards, I stumbled upon Pu Niao’s interesting blog. And later found a note from Pu in my ChatBox too – how cool! I am a drophalic – I hope not a bad case (lol)! Anyway, Pu is hosting a meme this month of Hearts. And I am joining my 1st meme ever! Yipee!!! To join Pu’s meme, just click here.

Mechanics of the meme is easy. You just have to list the top 5 craziest things you did for love… hmm… it’s more like a puppy love for me now as I look back and ponder on it. Geezzz! I’m already hesitant in sharing mine now (lol)! I have one crazy voodoo like secret to share! But, I’ll share them anyway – I’m a good sport and besides, I did it when I was just in my teens (lol). Looking back and remembering really makes me say “Ewwww”, “yuck” and “I can’t believe I did that!” (lol).

Here goes my list:

The Top 5 crazy things I did for love:

Wrote my crush’s name on a piece of paper, burned it while chanting some “magical” spell that was supposedly going to make him go nuts about me, keeping the ashes in an envelope and hid it underneath my pillow – this was supposedly going to make him dream of me for endless nights! Hahaha! I was just 12 years old back then! lol! Crazy kid!
Wrote a “Mr. DeeJay” letter to a famous FM station to help me convey my feelings to my crush. Ewwwww!!! I was 14 when I did this ~ and the guy was like 3 inches shorter than me! Geezz! What was I thinking?!?!?! Well, atleast I made sure to use a code name for the sender's name and not have to reveal my name!!! LOL! This is one veerrryyy crazy memory I wish I could erase forever! LOL!
Actually choked when my crush suddenly passed by me & my friends while we were at the school canteen enjoying our recess.
Forgot how to solve the simple math problem in front of the class (on the board!!!) when I saw my crush looking at me! Ugh! I think I was in 2nd year high school when this happened. I remember wishing I could evaporate and vanish into thin air right then and there! lol!
Pretended I was cool and okay when my crush asked someone else for our Junior prom – even when deep inside I felt like wanting to hit him for not knowing how I felt for him! He was one of my friends. This happened when I was in my 3rd year in highschool. LOL!

Now, it’s your time to share yours! I am tagging all my visitors to list and post the top 5 crazy things they did for love! I am not really sure how a meme works yet but…. Leave your comments with your suggestions and I’ll surely get my way around with your help!

Thanks a bunch and have a blessed day!

Rustom Padilla: When “He” became a “She”

2009-02-10T08:21:00.009+08:00

Back when I was in my teeny-booper years, I was a sucker for tagalog movies. I particularly loved Sharon Cuneta, Vilma Santos, Manilyn Reynes, Sheryl Cruz and a bunch of stars from “That’s Entertainment”. I even remember memorizing all the groups (Monday to Friday Group) of stars that I see everyday on TV.

There were a lot of booming and budding love teams here and there. Manilyn – Janno, Romnick – Sheryl, Lotlot – Monching and the cutest of them all, the Carmina – Rustom Tandem. For me, they were the cutest couple I’ve ever laid eyes on. Carmina has always been cute and beautiful. And very endearing in her own little ways too. While Rustom was a pure HUNK! Yup. He was. He was muscular with a smile that can stop and kill you right then and there.

A few years went by and before I knew it, I grew up and well… I started to avoid tagalog movies after that. Not because I don’t patronize movies coming from my own country. But because their patterns were always the same. And geezz, do they really have to have those dance numbers in the beach in every middle part of the movie? (lol) I still watch tagalog movies but in moderation and depending on who’s starring it.

Anyway, back to our topic. Rustom and Carmina got married and eventually separated. At first, the reason for their separation was not known to the public. Until a few years after, Rustom made a stunning come back. I think “shocking” is the more precise term.

He is now a She. Rustom Padilla died in the US of A - that is according to Bebe herself. Rustom is now known as Bebe GandangHari. See pictures of Rustom before & after and Bebe Gandanghari’s exclusive interview. The interview is in TagLish (Tagalog mixed with English).

This is Rustom Padilla's Before and After pictures:

A video clip of Bebe's Interview with Lolit Solis and company:

This video clip of Bebe’s interview really knocked a LOT of sense into my head. She’s right. Life is short. And we should never be afraid to be what and who we truly are because only God can see our hearts.

To Bebe, you go girl! Thank you for reminding us that life is indeed too short to concentrate on what’s pleasing to others. That it is also important to be true to oneself – even when it means going out of your way to be who you really are.

Here's another video clip of Bebe's interview with Ruffa Gutierrez and Kris Aquino on The Buzz.

More happiness and blessings to everyone!

How to lose weight FAST!

2009-02-06T09:12:00.009+08:00

For most people, everyday is a struggle – a struggle to be healthy, fit and strong. And with all the mouth-watering, yummy, gorgeous sweets out there, it’s just soooo damn hard to say NO. Am I right or am I right? (lol) Not giving you any options for an answer, eh? (lol)

Actually, not many people realize how easy it is to actually shed off the unwanted inches and keep them off for good – well, keep them off at a good distance anyway and maintain your new weight. I know this may sound like a cliché for most of you. But, really! You just have to have the following (in any order):

1. DISCIPLINE
2. DETERMINATION and
3. FAITH

Remember that only by disciplining yourself will you be able to see some results – really GOOD results. And you are only going to get as far as you can if you are very determined to reach your goal – to lose weight and become healthy in the long run. And you just have to have faith that everything’s possible and doable.

Today I am going to share with you one trick to losing weight fast. It may sound crazy but it really works! Just read more and click here to start losing weight ASAP.

I also suggest keeping a diary to track your weight and progress. I started mine by marking my start date with my current weight for that day. I used a pencil to mark the date a week after that date with my goal weight (i.e. I marked Saturday 180lbs – I then used a pencil and wrote 170lbs for the next Saturday, making sure I lowered my goal to 10lbs a week). That made it easy for me to track my progress and actually set a weekly goal for myself too. It was very rewarding! You might gain some of the weight back after you stop the diet but atleast you're starting clean. This is a great way to start living and eating healthy. This diet not only helps you lose weight - it is also ideal for cleansing and detoxifying your body of toxins.

Please feel free to leave a comment for your feedback.

P.S. This is not a paid post, okies? And please check the link. I assure you - it REALLY works!

Sleepwalking without leaving bed the video

2009-02-05T18:15:00.006+08:00

I'm sure most of you saw this on Yahoo! - this caused quite a stir on the Internet a few days ago. And as usual, I am late again!

Nevertheless, let me share this one great video with you. I didn't find the music interesting but I enjoyed the video very much!

Happy Viewing!

When Dreams Lie

2009-02-04T06:55:00.001+08:00

They say dreams have meanings. That dreams are the windows to our subconscious. Many say dreams reveal so much about our future. Some even attest to dreaming about things they have not seen or met but experienced déjà vu sometime after having some particular dreams. Dreams are most likely easily forgotten. We forget them the moment we open our eyes and then we find ourselves groping for the incoherent images in our minds – the only memory of the now lost dream.

Just 2 nights ago, on my rest day, I dreamed of one very unforgettable dream. I dreamed about a lot of sh!t. Yes. Sh!t as in poopoo, that soft sometimes hard brownish thingy that comes out of your other end after your body is done digesting your food. I know I’m getting gross here, please bear with me as this has a lot of relevance to why I’m writing this post (lol). They say that dreaming of sh!t means MONEY. And dreaming of lots of shi!t means LOTSA MONEY! I think the saying “The more, the merrier” applies to this! (lol).

Anyway, I woke up and only remembered a few things about my dream. All I know is that I dreamed of being on a beach with crystal clear waters and… seeing all my sh!t around me! Eww… gross! lol! So, thinking that dreaming of sh!t = money, I immediately checked my wallet and smiled when I saw a few extra bills. I thought out aloud “Now is my time to shine, my dearest Poopoo!” and hurriedly went and asked my brother to go to the nearest Lotto outlet and pay for the numbers I wrote down. And boy! I had a lot of numbers! (lol!). Remember, the more the merrier and I did dream of a LOT of sh!t, right? (lol!)

I was mostly restless the whole afternoon. I was excited, nervous and yes, very hopeful. I pictured myself buying a new house and a car for my parents who will be retiring soon. I pictured myself finally owning my own laptop. And I also pictured myself saving some trust fund for my brother who is soon graduating from college. And was even thinking that if I win a big amount, I’ll use some to help my relatives, pay debts and share some to charity. I was already dreaming with my eyes wide awake! (lol).

I couldn’t sleep that night. I had to watch the Live Lotto draw on TV. I twisted and turned in bed – trying my hardest to fall asleep. Alas! Sleep did not come to me. So I went and watched TV – then the moment of truth finally came.

Well… I didn’t win anything. And I came to realize that maybe dreams are just dreams. A product of one’s crazy subconscious. And maybe dreaming of sh!t doesn’t always mean money. Dreams are just dreams I guess.

Now I know that dreams should not lead anyone on to anything. I learned my lesson the hard way. Let’s just leave it at that.

Are you what your blood type is?

2009-02-03T07:03:00.003+08:00

I was browsing through the Internet while sipping my tea this morning and came across one interesting article. It says that in Japan, people base your personality traits according to your blood type. The article also says that some schools in Japan divide kindergarten class by the children’s blood type (Geezz… this is freaking me out! lol).

Check out if your blood type really says a lot about who you are:

Type As are sensitive perfectionists but overanxious;
Type Bs are cheerful but eccentric and selfish;
Os are curious, generous but stubborn; and
ABs are arty but mysterious and unpredictable.

I also went to a Yahoo Answers website which also talked about blood types. Just click on this link to check out the article on Yahoo Answers. This is what that page is saying about people’s blood types:

TYPE O - You want to be a leader, and when you see something you want, you keep striving until you achieve your goal. You are a trend-setter, loyal, passionate, and self-confident. Your weaknesses include vanity and jealously and a tendency to be too competitive.

TYPE A - You like harmony, peace and organization. You work well with others, and are sensitive, patient and affectionate. Among your weaknesses are stubbornness and an inability to relax.

TYPE B - You're a rugged individualist, who's straightforward and likes to do things your own way. Creative and flexible, you adapt easily to any situation. But your insistence on being independent can sometimes go too far and become a weakness.

TYPE AB - Cool and controlled, you're generally well liked and always put people at ease. You're a natural entertainer who's tactful and fair. But you're standoffish, blunt, and have difficulty making decisions.

I’m an AB. And I can’t decide if this is accurate. I’ve always thought and believed that a person’s personality is influenced by his/her family, environment and peers.

How about you? Are you what your blood type says about you?

Have A Nice Day Music Video

2009-02-02T09:10:00.004+08:00

Yes. It’s the classic “Mundane Monday” for me and is the reason why I skipped work today. Not really bad anyway. I’ll just swap my rest day so I can have today off and still qualify for this month’s Perfect Attendance bonus (hehehe).

So right now, I’m just at home. Resting and relaxing to my hearts content. Maybe I’ll go watch a movie later and hopefully get some chores done too. My room really needs some tidying up. It looks like a jungle – well, my mini-jungle actually (lol).

Today is a great day. The sun is up. I’m well rested (slept for 12 hrs straight) and relaxed. My brother is home and is cooking breakfast (yehaaa!). And to everyone, I would like to share this music video by one of my favorite band / singer.

Have a nice day everyone!

Happy watching!

Bon Jovi's "Have A Nice Day" music video

My Top EntreCard Droppers

2009-01-31T17:38:00.004+08:00

I’ve just joined Entrecard a few days ago and already, I’m seeing a BIG improvement on my blog’s traffic. This is really so thrilling for me.

Droppers and their # of drops :
The Transparent Hypnotist 4
Gadgets Directory 3
PipeB Web Hosting 3
Nuclear•Winter 3
Search Engine Panel 3
Lights Camera Action 3
The Toy Report 2
Steven Wilson Marketing 2
josh q. public 2
Bitter Wind 2

To my top droppers for this month, thank you so much for dropping by! I hope you will continue to visit My Corner and make me smile!

For those who came by and dropped their cards, thank you!

May we continue to drive more traffic to our blogs / websites!

Take care my fellow bloggers!

Heart and Souls Movie

2009-01-27T12:52:00.002+08:00

I am so addicted to this movie. I am so into it that I downloaded it from torrent after failing to find a copy of it (zero copies found in DVsoria, rental shops, friends and etc). I loved their song (walk like a man), I loved Penny and Julia’s story of love, Harrison’s stage fright and Milo’s crooked but endearing ways. This is a must-see movie! Its story about love, being brave and being true to oneself without fearing the risks is surely going to linger in you heart and soul for a very long time. Some would consider this an old movie. But nonetheless, the heartwarming story and message that comes with it will surely touch your heart. I am certainly a Robert Downey Jr. fan. Definitely!

Here’s a clip of the movie I found in youtube. I just love this song so much!

Finally! A new look for my Blog!

2009-01-27T10:46:00.004+08:00

I have always wanted to change and improve my blog’s template. I wanted something serene and sleek looking. Not too fancy and not too classy. Just something simple really. I came across a lot of templates – all very beautiful! In fact, I had a headache just trying to decide which one to use! (lol) Anyway, I have finally decided on this one and I am happy with it.

I have lost some of my widgets and spent more than 2 hrs on the PC just getting everything right (from loading the new template, arranging the page elements, to manually adding widgets & gadgets and changing fonts & colors). Finally! I am done and can now go back to downloading movies! Yeahhhaaa!!! (lol)

I hope the new look fits your taste too! Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Ciao!

Earn traffic by Advertising and Marketing your Blog!

2009-01-27T09:13:00.006+08:00

One of my toughest dilemma as a blogger is getting more traffic coming into my blog site. But once you have a good blog advertising network to help you out, that’s going to make all the difference. You write about things you want to advertise and the best part of it all is you get paid for it!

I just joined PayingPost.com today. It’s a great way for bloggers and advertisers to meet and mingle. Having your own space in the Internet where you can freely write about anything is the greatest way to advertise and market your business. It’s very simple specially with their new and easy to use layout. If you are a blogger and want to learn more about advertising and blogs, just register for FREE. You can also learn more about what I'm talking about by visiting them at PayingPost.com.

Join now!

Ghosts: Do they really exist?

2009-01-23T03:23:00.005+08:00

I’ve always been fascinated with ghost stories – but take note: I don’t want to meet one! I just like to read or watch ghost stories or anything related to that. But meeting one face to face is definitely out of the question. Period.

Here’s a video that was shared to me by Mommy Aina. I hope this will spook you out like it did me. (lol) Happy Watching!

This page requires a higher version browserFor Negros police, it’s an ordinary mapping operation. But as one of them takes a video of their activity, an image of a woman in a white flowing gown appears on the side of a mountain.

Cagayan de Oro Calamity: Nature's Wrath?

2009-01-17T20:33:00.035+08:00

After a series of heavy rains coupled with flash floods and landslides, Cagayan de Oro is now officially under the state of calamity. With its residents still suffering and affected, thousands of families displaced, increasing number of people missing and dead tolls on the rise – this is by far the worst calamity for all Kagay-anons.

PAGASA weather forecast shows Cagayan de Oro will continue to have rains until Tuesday (January 20, 2009) - and who knows maybe even longer that that! Beats me! Just imagine how the city would be like next week. I am fearing for the worst. After having 2 waterspouts (Buhawi or Ipo-ipo in our dialect), just the thought of the coming days are already starting to get into my nerves.

Let me share with you some pictures that I took (of our backyard & Cagayan de Oro River view when I was in a taxi on my way to work) and some that I found on the Internet. I also have some that was provided to me by my teammate who took some pictures when their boarding house was flooded. Thanks to Gloryvel for her pictures. (For the other pics – which web sites I have forgotten to take note of, please notify me so I can link your web site and give you credit for your pictures. Thanks!)

(pictures taken from the Internet)

(pictures still taken from the Internet - i think this is in Isla de Oro?)

(Pictures I took using my cellphone)

(Pictures courtesy of my teammate Gloryvel Abao)

Cagayan de Oro has never had any serious case of flooding and landslides until recently. I guess it is just Mother Nature’s way of reminding us that the only way She can protect us is if we protect Her. The poor drainage system that has been left unattended and ignored for so long has finally caught everyone’s attention. I just hope the government officials are planning to do something about it. And for the residents of Isla de Oro, I hope the government can find a solution to this – a relocation area where the victims can start a new life, perhaps? Isla de Oro has never been a suitable place for anyone to live at but with the financial crisis and burdens on every Kagay-anon’s back, who would not take the risk of living under the bridge, near the drainage or even at Isla de Oro? If it would mean being able to provide shelter for the family, who wouldn’t take the risk?

Despite all the sad events, it is very heart warming to know that our fellow Kagay-anons has been given all the help and support they need (well, not ALL their needs but atleast people came rushing in to volunteer and donate clothings, foods and cash). Cagayan de Oro truly is the City of Golden Friendship. To all Kagay-anons out there who went out of their way to help the needy, I salute you! You make us all proud.

May God keep us all safe always.

Birthdays in the Family

2009-01-17T20:16:00.010+08:00

My brother recently celebrated his 28th birthday last January 11, 2009. It was a quiet celebration. Just the 4 of us (Papa, Mama, Erwin my bro and me). We just stayed home because it was raining plus we needed to check the river water level from time to time. I got my schedule adjusted that day due to the rain – because I came in 10 minutes late for work hehehe. I actually felt bad about not being able to give my lil bro something for his birthday. I gave him some cash but I’m just not used to giving cash as presents. But I’m happy knowing what my brother bought using my gift. He bought a new keyboard for our PC, visited his GF out of town and saved the remaining cash for his future use. Way to go, Bro! I hope you finish school soon so you can treat me out to dinner! (lol)

Anyway, I love my brother so much! (of course, I better do, because he is the only sibling I have). Even if we don’t always agree on the same things, I know that I’ll always have his support whenever I need it. Whenever I’m upset, not in the mood or when I was in the mood to argue with our noisy neighbors (lol), he has always been there for me, even went with me to the Barangay hall (lol). And I almost forgot, he cooks for me too when I’m too lazy to cook my own meals. He’s a good cook but… hmm sometimes, his food choices kinda gets weird. Good tasting but weird (lol).

Erwin my bro, this post came in late but nevertheless, I wish you more birthdays, blessings and happiness coming your way always! I love you! (Maskig pangit ka hehehehe).

My 30th Birthday

I celebrated my 30th birthday quietly this year. I took a day off work and just stayed at home, relaxed and just emptied my mind (Kakuyaw gud noh! lol). In other words, nagmuni-muni ko bayut! (lol) I truly enjoyed my birthday (even when it was raining and the weather was trying to get me down – ha!). A lot of really good things are happening for me (atleast, I’d like to think they are!).

My birthday this year is my happiest. And I have a LOT to be thankful for.

· For having my family with me
· For having a roof above my head
· For being able to eat 3 square meals a day (and even more!)
· For having a job (even if it’s making me paranoid)
· For my health
· And most of all, for having so much to look forward to everyday!

And the list could go on and on and on and on and on…..(lol).

For all who wished me a happy birthday – thank you! I appreciated it very much! Will post my birthday goodies next time.

Ciao!

Cagayan de Oro Flooding: A Tragic Start for 2009

2009-01-06T12:58:00.016+08:00

It started raining the past few weeks and days, but last Saturday (January 3, 2009) the rain didn’t stop and the Cagayan River started to rise. 7 were reported missing and feared dead. Many of my fellow Kagay-anons were forced to leave their homes for their safety.

I feel for those who lost their homes and valuable belongings – many lost their livelihood stocks to the flood. This is going to be a sad New Year start for my fellow Kagay-anons.

Behind our house is the Cagayan de Oro river. I consider myself and my family lucky to have been spared this calamity. Our house is situated much higher than the river level - it is as if we have a mini-cliff in our backyard and our house is situated right at the mini-cliff’s tip. But just like everyone else, we panicked and would check the river water level from time to time.

Here is a picture taken by my brother. He took this at around 9am using his cellphone. The water rose to as high as 8 to 10 ft. As you can see, the dark, murky waters will greet you as soon as you open the screen door of our back door.

For more pictures, just click on this link. This has been the worst flooding in our City since 1964. As of today, January 6, 2009, there are still a few reported missing and body counts are rising.

To all my fellow Kagay-anons out there, may you find the strength and the courage to go on. Don't ever lose hope & always have faith. Everything will be okay soon. My prayers go out to all of you.

Company Christmas Party 2008

2009-01-06T10:46:00.016+08:00

We had our company Christmas party last December 12, 2008. It was grand, overflowing with great tasting foods and guests. I didn’t make it early enough to join the early bird raffle (thanks to the traffic!). But I’m not fretting. It was actually good because I had time to breathe and relax. I was working that day and got home at around 2:30pm. Early registration (for the raffle) started at 5pm and I wasn’t ready on time and when I was – well, I got stuck in traffic (lol).

I wasn’t able to get as much pictures as I’d like to because I was more of not in the mood that day (being sleepy and tired from lack of sleep – thanks to our ever noisy, drunk neighbors who partied and drank on the street till dawn). But anyway, here are among the few that I have taken. Enjoy! :-)

Me, taken at home before leaving for the party.

Me, Aquela, Jane and Gloryvel

Mr. Chris Caldwell, a very special guest, and the Irates girls

Rey, Aquela, me, Gloryvel and Jane

Happy Chat Support Team

Goodbye to a Comrade

2009-01-06T10:00:00.008+08:00

Last December 5, 2008 was a very sad and tragic day. A very good friend of ours died of a sudden heart attack. Life really is unpredictable. You can be sitting and talking with someone and the next minute they’re gone.

Benhur was one of my agents. At first, I thought he spelled trouble. He has a say about anything and everything without a care of whoever hears him. But as I got to know him, he was quite gentle, kind and yes, even loving in his very own way. He was a good family man. A loving & doting father to his 2 kids, a faithful husband to his wife and was a very great teammate to us. He knew little about computers when he first started working at the call center, heck, he can’t even type as fast as normal people can – but he persevered. He was very determined to learn. He overcame a lot of struggles and yes, he learned and became one of the best.

Our team has this somewhat special bond between all of us. We have respect for each other and yes, we look after each other too (absences, over auxes and all). We worked as one and partied as one. Benhur went with our team outings even when he was already transferred to a different team. I guess he loved our company. We call our team the IRATES. Swearing and procrastinating are quiet common in our bay – but what I admire most about my team is the way they handle stress and still help customers even when they themselves are having a bad day. And Benhur was a true blooded IRATE (we all are!).

Benhur Tianco, in red, a good agent, friend and comrade to the Irates.

Benhur, thank you for the memories, for the laughter, the joy, the many wonderful moments, for sharing your time and your friendship with us . To you I say, Goodbye, Comrade! May you rest in peace in our Lord’s kingdom.

The White House Chaos?

2009-01-06T09:26:00.007+08:00

I’ve been wanting to share this video with everyone but then, my ever reliable self managed to forget my password. So now that I’m back to blogging, I am finally going to share this one video that really just makes my day anytime. I hope it has the same effect to you (lol).

Happy viewing! :-)

Long absence reason

2009-01-06T09:13:00.006+08:00

Hello, everyone!

Before anything else, I would like to take this chance of greeting each and everyone of you a belated Happy New Year! (woohooo!!!)

I know I have been out for a while again and a lot has happened – and this time, I really mean a LOT! And not only that, I successfully managed to forget my password! Can you even imagine that? Well, I finally remembered my password just today (after so many failed attempts before) and just couldn’t stay long on the PC since I was working through the Holidays (phew, what a shame!). So now, I’m just at home, being lazy and enjoying my rest day, and I am going to blog and make up for lost times (oh yeah!).

So, I’ll just go get my coffee, feed myself before my tummy decides to come up with a Coup threat (lol) and will be right back to write about the latest happenings lately (yes, ALL as in the good, bad and everything in between!).

So nice to be back here again, folks and this time – I’m writing this blog’s username and password in my phone’s organizer - and I’m not going to lose it ever again! (Yeehaaahhh!)

Happy New Year, folks! : -) Ciao!!!

The simple and delightful world of Origami

2008-11-04T14:03:00.013+08:00

My good friend Gal is so into origami. She’s addicted to it. She brings with her some great, beautiful colored papers at work and plays with it whenever she can. My other good friend Jessa (who I fondly call “Sang”), gave Gal a surprise birthday present with a collection of origami inside it. It was a superb gift. Handmade and straight from the heart. I on the other hand failed to come up with something for Gal’s birthday. Good thing Sang asked me to gift wrap the gift. I did so with so much pleasure! In fact, I think I worked at a gift wrapping section of a store in my past life (lol).

From left to right: Jessa (a.k.a. 'Sang"), the gift I wrapped, and Gal with her Birthday goodie.

This is only one of Gal’s work of art. Well, I only managed to snag one and hid it under my shirt (lol!), just kidding! I asked her if I could have it. I brought it to my desk and took a picture of it. I really enjoyed playing with Gal’s mouse (lol). I hope you find it cute, too!

This is Gal's Origami.

Kare - Kare Recipe

2008-11-04T12:27:00.012+08:00

It’s lunch time here now and I am craving for a hot bowl of my favorite kare-kare. This dish is a bestseller in our family. My mother knows how to cook a lot of Filipino dishes. I, on the other hand, am more inclined to eating than cooking (lol).

I love the creamy, rich, thick paste of this dish. It is so delicious and just so yummy. One mouthful will send your taste buds sky rocketing to the heavens!

I am going to share the recipe of this dish in this post. I found the recipe online. It is pretty much the same as my mom’s (I couldn’t find mom’s so I just look it up in the Internet).

Well, here goes the Kare-Kare recipe:

Estimated cooking time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

· 1/2 kilo beef (round or sirloin cut) cut into cubes (for a more traditional kare kare, use cleaned beef tripe instead of beef)
· 1/2 kilo oxtail, cut 2 inch long
· 3 cups of peanut butter
· 1/4 cup grounded toasted rice
· 1/2 cup cooked bagoong alamang (anchovies)
· 2 pieces onions, diced
· 2 heads of garlic, minced
· 4 tablespoons atsuete oil
· 4 pieces eggplant, sliced 1 inch thick
· 1 bundle Pechay (Bok choy) cut into 2 pieces
· 1 bundle of sitaw (string beans) cut to 2" long
· 1 banana bud, cut similar to eggplant slices, blanch in boiling water
· 1/2 cup oil
· 8 cups of water
· Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions:

· In a stock pot, boil beef and oxtails in water for an hour or until cooked. Strain and keep the stock.
· In a big pan or wok, heat oil and atsuete oil.
· Sauté garlic, onions until golden brown, then add the stock, toasted rice, beef, oxtail and peanut butter. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Salt to taste.
· Add the eggplant, string beans, pechay and banana bud. Cook the vegetables for a few minutes - Do not overcook the vegetables.
· Serve with bagoong (Shrimp paste) on the side and hot plain rice.

I hope you'll enjoy cooking this very delicious treat! I am sure your family will love you more for it!

The Pink Panther

2008-11-04T11:24:00.009+08:00

I know I’m supposed to do some chores today. But I couldn’t stop blogging. I think my brain is just in a super hyper mode today (lol)!

After posting my first post for today, I continued to sit by the computer, having some coffee while listening to some songs. After which I decided to watch a movie. I wanted to watch something funny and relaxing. I found our Pink Panther DVD. So I guess that made a good choice for today.

I am now sitting by the PC (still), laughing to my hearts content and blogging about Inspector Jacques Clouseau. I find the movie very wacky and chaotic. Where everything and anything that could go wrong goes wrong (lol)!

The part where Inspector Clouseau was learning how to speak English really got to me – so hard I couldn’t stop laughing. I choked, and boy, the coffee was really hot (lol)! Man, how could he not say 'Hamburger" correctly? That really made me laugh so hard, my whole body just couldn't stop shaking (lol)!

Steve Martin and Jean Reno really did justice to this movie remake. It’s really great! Superb! Kevin Kline and Beyonce were both outstanding!

Now! I really must start doing some chores and start cleaning my mess (lol)!

Lolo, this one's for you

2008-11-04T10:45:00.005+08:00

My grandfather died when I was in my 2nd year in high school. It was a very painful experience. My cousins loved gathering together every Christmas and New Year at my grandparents’ house. My grandfather was the only link linking all of us. My grandmother… well, she’s just different. She loved gossiping with the neighbors than spending quality time with her own children and grand children. I grew up noticing all these bad qualities that my grandmother has and I have grown to despise people with the same qualities (and I have become an expert at avoiding them too!).

My grandfather was a very gentle man with a very big heart. He was a retired army. A veteran. He also had some medical training and had served at the army hospital during his younger days. He loved dotting on all of us. He had no favorites. All of us were equal in his eyes. We called him “Lolo”. In our dialect, it means grandpa. I remember spending my summers at my grandparents’ house together with my cousins. That was where I learned how to do most of the household chores (I even learned how to cook rice without using a rice cooker!) Birthdays were a big event too. We always had goodies waiting for us all when someone in the family is celebrating his/her birthday. How I missed those times!

Things started to change right after his death. My ever notorious grandma had a lot of things changed. She had the house changed (she took the store out and replaced it with a tiny, weeny room that had poor air ventilation. I honestly don’t think a mouse would survive a night in there!). She got rid of most of my grandpa’s belongings (we couldn’t find any of his tools anywhere!). Then my aunt died – to which my grandma failed to attend both the wake and the funeral. She purposely didn’t show up during her own daughter’s wake and funeral! Can you imagine that?!?! Oh well… have I told you my grandma was just different? Well… now you know.

I miss my grandpa so much. I miss my Lolo Julian. Sometimes I wish it was grandma who died and not him. I know it’s a bad thought but that’s how I feel. Now, our ancestral home (my grandparents house) is about to be taken away from us. My grandma thinks and believes she needs to give it to charity – even when her own grandchildren, who lives right next to her house, my late aunt’s family, badly needs a house of their own! Wow, my grandma is really a one of a kind. Don’t you agree?

Well, enough about my grandma. This post is supposed to be about my beloved grandpa.

Lolo, wherever you are right now, I know you are looking down at us. I know Aunt is with you. Somewhere. In a place we cannot follow. I will be seeing you again – but not yet. This one’s for you:

For the brave things you have done
Serving the country at times of war.

For the gentle way you have loved us all
Looking back surely would make us all cry.

For the many wonderful things in life you have showed us
Thanking God for each blessing sent our way.

For the many ways you have guided us
Our mothers have become the best because of you.

For the many wonderful memories you have left behind
I keep yearning for more.

For all the wonderful things you have instilled in us
I thank you for being the best grandpa in the whole world!

We miss you.

I love my Crocs!

2008-11-04T09:39:00.013+08:00

Time flies when you’re having so much fun. And that’s true for me specially after having my first pair of Crocs shoes. I was born with ugly, big and long feet. I remember my mother’s frustration when it was time for me to have new shoes. It was very hard looking for one that will fit me. My growing up years has been so full of sad memories when it comes to foot wear. When girls my age were wearing cute, sexy and strappy sandals, I was forced to wear “uni-sex” foot wear that looked like it were men’s shoes! I had to endure that all throughout my highschool life. When I was in college, I preferred rubber shoes (atleast, uni-sex rubber shoes doesn’t look too “manly”). But still, that didn’t hide the fact that I wanted to wear sexy, strappy shoes. I was very envious of girls who had cute, small feet.

When I started working, I began to invest in really good shoes. I love Rusty Lopez’s shoes. They have big sizes too! But, it wasn’t as durable as I want them to be. Being a clumsy walker, I trip and stumble most of the time. And I always have to worry about broken or torn foot wear. Then my officemates started wearing these colorful rubber shoes. I got so curious about them that I started checking it.

(These are the ones I already have)

I finally bought 2 pairs of Crocs. And after 8 months of rain or shine weather conditions, I am glad to announce that it still looks brand new. The soles have not thinned out, my feet are so comfy in it and they look sleek and stylish too!

Hmmm, this Christmas I know what to get for myself. I have been eyeing the Red Alice shoes by Crocs. And oh, I want the brown, the violet and the blue one too! Geezz… looks like I’m really addicted to it now (lol)!

Me and my poor eyesight

2008-11-04T09:32:00.004+08:00

I broke my glasses a few months ago. I just had it repaired recently. I bought a pair of contact lenses too – but, silly, careless me lost one of it. So right now, my glasses are in good working condition (hehehe after having the lenses and nose pad replaced, it looks like it’s brand new!).

I started wearing glasses when I was in my senior year in college. After getting tired of sitting at the back in the classroom (because I am taller than the average Filipina, I am expected to sit at the back to give others a clearer view of the board), squinting to see what my professor has written on the board and borrowing my classmate’s notes, I finally went to have my eyes checked. That was when I found out I was near sighted with myopic astigmatism (I hope I got the term correctly).

When I started working at the call center, I upgraded to wearing contact lenses (of course, I was earning more than what I did with my past job, lol). The only problem? My eyes got too dry and sore. I had to make sure I apply my eye solution every now and then. But I must admit, wearing contact lenses made me feel so FREE. For the first time, I felt like I had perfect vision! It felt so great having the perfect vision I have always dreamed about. And then, I lost one of it. Right now, I am planning on getting myself a new pair of contact lenses. And this time, I am going to be very careful and not lose one of it!

Just another day

2008-11-04T09:12:00.003+08:00

I just woke up a couple of hours ago. Slept long and well. Finally had the sleep that I have needed so badly. Working early in the morning is really just not for me. I am not a morning person. I hate getting out of bed in the wee hours of the morning. I just hate it. Period (lol).

Since today is my rest day, I have a lot of things in mind. I just hope I can accomplish them all before the end of the day. Among the ones on my priority list is to re-arrange my room (it’s my mini jungle right now lol). I am also thinking about going to the cemetery to light a candle for my late relatives. Maybe I’ll call my cousins so we could all go together. The more you are, the merrier you will be (so they say! lol).

So, I better get going now. Maybe have some tea ( I think I better have a cup of hot coffee to really wake me up right now lol), and then do my chores. Hopefully, everything gets done by the end of the day.

Wish me luck!

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T20:30:00.017+08:00

Happy Halloween!!!

Celebrating Halloween is not really a Philippine tradition but the company where I work at is observing every US Holiday. This is why we have our “Theme days”. I wrote about our company’s “Back to School Theme day” which our support group won (Yehey! Big applause please! lol). This month, we are celebrating “Halloween”. I decided to try my luck at carving. This time, I dragged my brother along (lol). I had 2 pumpkins, which we carved together. I had a great time carving it because it not only gave me time to stay connected with my artistic side (ahem! lol!) but it also gave me a chance to bond with my brother. It has been a while since we did something together because I am always sleepy upon getting home from work – and he is usually at school or with his classmates having their group study.

After successfully carving and shaping the pumpkins, I had to look for the materials that I needed (well, I had to think indigenous! lol). I decided to cut some dead branches from Dad’s mini forest. So anyway, I collected a couple of dead branches, a 5ft bamboo stick, an old shirt and prepared everything so I’ll have them ready when I leave for work the next morning.

When I got in at work, I was more pleased at successfully arriving with everything with me! It was VERY hard carrying everything. The pumpkins were heavy, the bamboo stick was protruding and I didn’t want to break any of the delicate dead branches! In short, I’m really happy my arms are in good condition and are still attached to me (lol)!

Even if I am sure we didn’t win anything during this year’s Halloween Theme Day (they’ll be announcing the winners tomorrow), I am just glad I took part in the event. Imagine this: I will be with the company for 4 years this coming May 2009 – and I have never done any major participation in any theme day ever! (lol). But this year, I am happy to share that I have discovered I can carve!

A treat for myself!

2008-10-30T18:05:00.012+08:00

Hi! It's been soooooo long since I wrote anything here. I had been so busy with a lot of stuff - work, new schedule, housing concerns and etc... (lol)

Today, I am in a very good mood. Wanna know why? I had finally recovered some of my pictures and mp3s from my old mobile memory card. Yes, I had problems with my cellphone recently. I had to have it's LCD replaced (which was very costly!), then my ever reliable memory card went dead ( I'm suspecting it's because of the themes I downloaded for my phone). Well, enough about that very frustrating event...

I am here to share with you this picture. This was taken by my teammate. I think this was taken before we had our schedule transition at work (I used to work the night shift a couple of months ago -- I am now in the morning shift, working at 5:00am to 1:30pm). I and my teammate, Jane, decided to go to Pan de Pugon (they sell really good brewed coffee! You should try it!). It was a cold night, a little rain shower and the night was just really so... uhmmm... peaceful? (lol). Anyway, we made our orders and then we decided to have something for dessert! (yehey!) It's been a while since I had any ice cream - well, that night I had some Cornetto Rocky Road Drumstick! Yum Yum! (lol). I really like this pic, reminds me of the days when I was still growing up. Vivid childhood memories of me and my brother always put a smile on my face.

And oh, by the way, I just discovered too that Chocolate and a really good coffee are great together! (I have heard Ms. Ina Garten mention it in her show but never did I realize how true it was until I tried it! Now, I'm addicted to her show "Barefoot Contessa" - but I'll write about it some other time hehehe).

Funny Olympics

2008-09-19T07:32:00.009+08:00

I would like to share with you this funny olympic video that I received in my email (at work). This has been passed around since the 2008 olympics began. I was shocked and at the same time amused by the video - you'll know what I mean once you've watched it (lol). I don't know who made this video or where this video came from. As soon as I find out, I'll make sure to make a post about it. For now, if any of you happen to know anything about the maker of the video, please leave me a comment.

Once again, this is Janice signing off for today. Happy viewing everyone! (lol)

Give way for the new YOU!

2008-09-15T11:24:00.012+08:00

I've been surfing the Net today and came across this article. I would like to share it with all of you out there (as I believe in everything that was written on the article - I'd like to think of myself as it's living proof hahahaah LOL ).

This was written by Debbie Rocker and you can check the original article by clicking here.

This is what's written in her article:

1. Stay positive. Believe that transformation is possible even when you haven’t seen the changes that you want yet. I am sure that you can site many examples in your life where you didn’t expect something to happen and then whoa, there it was. If you don’t have enough evidence of your own, look around you. Do you know someone who thought they’d never get the job, meet that special person, or lose the weight, and then they did? Haven’t you read amazing stories about people overcoming obstacles and creating tremendous transformation in their lives, many against great odds? These are just people too, like you and me; anyone can overcome.There is one thing that you can be sure of in life, and that is change. Make sure yours happens quickly, and in the way you want, by staying positive and then taking the steps that you know you should take.

2. Stay in the moment. If you think about your end results, the work becomes overwhelming. Just do what you know you can do today, and when tomorrow becomes today, you’ll deal with that.

3. Keep your expectations low. Don’t expect too much too soon, you’ll only get discouraged. Aiming high is nice to say but truly it is easier to stay positive if you set your sites on realistic, smaller goals.

4. Eliminate temptation. Remove distractions like foods that you don’t want to eat and people who have habits that you are trying to break. Surround yourself with people and materials that mirror the changes that you want for yourself. Hang out with happy, healthy people, read inspiring books, and listen to some great music that motivates you to get moving and take action.

5. Stop using excuses. There are always excuses; I am sure you have heard, or used, them all. When your desire to change becomes greater than your fear of changing, the excuses will go away -- nothing will stop you from becoming the new you. Even though you may not be able to change the underlying reasons why you haven’t yet accomplished your goals, you can start by removing some of the actions and thought processes that encourage you to stay stuck. Enough with the excuses!

So there you have it! Live life to the fullest my dear readers! And enjoy transforming yourselves for the best! ;)

The Greatest Miracle in the World

2008-08-10T07:48:00.003+08:00

This was the first Og Mandino book that I've read. I first read this when I was in highschool and I have since then been addicted to Og's work. I was introduced to books by my elder cousins (Amy and Gay). I got hooked on books since then - of any genre and type! Anyway, this post is about Og Mandino's "The Greatest Miracle in the World". It never fails to uplift my spirits whenever I feel depressed and sad. It somehow helps me think and see the positive side of things (and of life). I think this is going to be my longest post - I intend to post the God Memorandum too. I just want to share this with all of you out there. I hope you will enjoy and start to read some of Og Mandino's work. :)

oOo

Memorandum from God

To: You
From: God

Take counsel.

I hear your cry.

It passes through the darkness, filters through the clouds, mingles with starlight, and
finds its way to my heart on the path of a sunbeam.

I have anguished over the cry of a hare choked in the noose of a snare, a sparrow tumbled from the nest of its mother, a child thrashing helplessly in a pond, and a son shredding his blood on a cross.

Know that I hear you, also. Be at peace. Be calm.

I bring thee relief for your sorrow for I know its cause ... and its cure.

You weep for all your childhood dreams that have vanished with the years.

You weep for all your self-esteem that has been corrupted by failure.

You weep for all your potential that has been bartered for security.

You weep for all your talent that has been wasted through misuse.

You look upon yourself with disgrace and you turn in terror from the image you see in the pool. Who is this mockery of humanity staring back at you with bloodless eyes of shame?

Where is the grace of your manner, the beauty of your figure, the quickness of your movement, the clarity of your mind, the brilliance of your tongue? Who stole your goods? Is the thief's identity known to you, as it is to me?

Once you placed your head in a pillow of grass in your father's field and looked up at a cathedral of clouds and knew that all the gold of Babylon would be yours in time.

Once you read from many books and wrote on many tablets, convinced beyond any doubt that all the wisdom of Solomon would be equaled and surpassed by you.

And the seasons would flow into years until lo, you would reign supreme in your own garden of Eden.

Dost thou remember who implanted those plans and dreams and seeds of hope within you?You cannot.

You have no memory of that moment when first you emerged from your mother's womb and I placed my hand on your soft brow. And the secret I whispered in your small ear when I bestowed my blessings upon you?

Remember our secret?

You cannot.

The passing years have destroyed your recollection, for they have filled your mind with fear and doubt and anxiety and remorse and hate and there is no room for joyful memories where these beasts habitate.

Weep no more. I am with you ... and this moment is the dividing line of your life. All that has gone before is like unto no more than that time you slept within your mother's womb. What is past is dead. Let the dead bury the dead.

This day you return from the living dead.

This day, like unto Elijah with the widow's son, I stretch myself upon thee three times and you live again.

This day, like unto Elisha with the Shunammite's son, I put my mouth upon your mouth and my eyes upon your eyes and my hands upon your hands and your flesh is warm again.

This day, like unto Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus, I command you to come forth and you will walk from your cave of doom to begin a new life.

This is your birthday. This is your new date of birth. Your first life, like unto a play of the theatre, was only a rehearsal. This time the curtain is up. This time the world watches and waits to applaud. This time you will not fail.

Light your candles. Share your cake. Pour the wine. You have been reborn.

Like a butterfly from its chrysalis you will fly ... fly as high as you wish, and neither the wasps nor dragonflies nor mantids of mankind shall obstruct your mission or your search for the true riches of life.

Feel my hand upon thy head.

Attend to my wisdom.

Let me share with you, again, the secret you heard at your birth and forgot.
You are my greatest miracle.

You are the greatest miracle in the world.

Those were the first words you ever heard. Then you cried. They all cry ...

You did not believe me then ... and nothing has happened in the intervening years to correct your disbelief. For how could you be a miracle when you consider yourself a failure at the most menial of tasks? How can you be a miracle when you have little confidence in dealing with the most trivial of responsibilities? How can you be a miracle when you are shackled by debt and lie awake in torment over whence will come tomorrow's bread?

Enough. The milk that is spilled is sour. Yet, how many prophets, how many wise men, how many poets, how many artists, how many composers, how many scientists, how many philosophers and messengers have I sent with word of your divinity, your potential for godliness, and the secrets of achievement? How did you treat them?

Still I love you and I am with you now, through these words, to fulfill the prophet who announced that the Lord shall set his hand again, the second time, to recover the remnant of his people.

I have set my hand again.

This is the second time.

You are my remnant.

It is of no avail to ask, haven't you known, haven't you heard, hasn't it been told to you from the beginning; haven't you understood from the foundations of the earth?

You have not known; you have not heard; you have not understood.

You have been told that you are a divinity in disguise, a god playing a fool.

You have been told that you a special piece of work, noble in reason, infinite in faculties, express and admirable in form and moving, like an angel in action, like a god in apprehension.

You have been told that you are the salt of the earth.

You were given the secret even of moving mountains, of performing the impossible.

You believed no one. You burned your map to happiness, you abandoned your claim to peace of mind, you snuffed out the candles that had been placed along your destined path of glory, and then you stumbled, lost and frightened, in the darkness of futility and self-pity, until you fell into a hell of your own creation.

Then you cried and beat your breast and cursed the luck that had befallen you. You refused to accept the consequences of your own petty thoughts and lazy deeds and you searched for a scapegoat on which to blame your failure. How quickly you found one.

You blamed me!

You cried that your handicaps, your mediocrity, your lack of opportunity, your failures ... were the will of God!

You were wrong!

Let us take inventory. Let us, first, call a roll of your handicaps. For how can I ask you to build a new life lest you have the tools?

Are you blind? Does the sun rise and fall without your witness?

No. You can see ... and the hundred million receptors I have placed in your eyes enable you to enjoy the magic of a leaf, a snowflake, a pond, an eagle, a child, a cloud, a star, a rose, a rainbow ... and the look of love. Count one blessing.

Are you deaf? Can a baby laugh or cry without your attention?

No. You can hear ... and the twenty-four thousand fibers I have built in each of your ears vibrate to the wind in the trees, the tides on the rocks, the majesty of an opera, a robin's plea, children at play ... and the words I love you. Count another blessing.

Are you mute? Do your lips move and bring forth only spittle?

No. You can speak ... as can no other of my creatures, and your words can calm the angry, uplift the despondent, goad the quitter, cheer the unhappy, warm the lonely, praise the worthy, encourage the defeated, teach the ignorant ... and say I love you. Count another blessing.

Are you paralyzed? Does your helpless form despoil the land?

No. You can move. You are not a tree condemned to a small plot while the wind and world abuses you. You can stretch and run and dance and work, for within you I have designed five hundred muscles, two hundred bones, and seven miles of nerve fiber all synchronized by me to do your bidding. Count another blessing.

Are you unloved and unloving? Does loneliness engulf you, night and day?

No. No more. For now you know love's secret, that to receive love it must be given with no thought of its return. To love for fulfillment, satisfaction, or pride is no love. Love is a gift on which no return is demanded. Now you know that to love unselfishly is its own reward. And even should love not be returned it is not lost, for love not reciprocated will flow back to you and soften and purify your heart. Count another blessing. Count twice.

Is your heart stricken? Does it leak and strain to maintain your life?

No. Your heart is strong. Touch your chest and feel its rhythm, pulsating, hour after hour, day and night, thirty-six million beats each year, year after year, asleep or awake, pumping your blood through more than sixty thousand miles of veins, arteries, and tubing ... pumping more than six hundred thousand gallons each year. Man has never created such a machine. Count another blessing.

Are you diseased of skin? Do people turn in horror when you approach?

No. Your skin is clear and a marvel of creation, needing only that you tend it with soap and oil and brush and care. In time all steels will tarnish and rust, but not your skin. Eventually the strongest of metals will wear, with use, but not that layer that I have constructed around you. Constantly it renews itself, old cells replaced by new, just as the old you is now replaced by the new. Count another blessing.

Are your lungs befouled? Does your breath of life struggle to enter your body?

No. Your portholes to life support you even in the vilest of environments of your own making, and they labor always to filter life-giving oxygen through six hundred million pockets of folded flesh while they rid your body of gaseous wastes. Count another blessing.

Is your blood poisoned? Is it diluted with water and pus?

No. Within your five quarts of blood are twenty-two trillion blood cells and within each cell are millions of molecules and within each molecule is an atom oscillating at more than ten million times each second. Each second, two million of your blood cells die to be replaced by two million more in a resurrection that has continued since your first birth. As it has always been inside, so now it is on your outside. Count another blessing.

Are you feeble of mind? Can you no longer think for yourself?

No. Your brain is the most complex structure in the universe. I know. Within its three pounds are thirteen billion nerve cells, more than three times as many cells as there are people on your earth. To help you file away every perception, every sound, every taste, every smell, every action you have experienced since the day of your birth, I have implanted, within your cells, more than one thousand billion billion protein molecules. Every incident in your life is there waiting only your recall. And, to assist your brain in the control of your body I have dispersed, throughout your form, four million pain-sensitive structures, five hundred thousand touch detectors, and more than two hundred thousand temperature detectors. No nation's gold is better protected than you. None of your ancient wonders are greater than you.

You are my finest creation.

Within you is enough atomic energy to destroy any of the world's great cities ... and rebuild it.

Are you poor? Is there no gold or silver in your purse?

No. You are rich! Together we have just counted your wealth. Study the list. Count them again. Tally your assets!

Why have you betrayed yourself? Why have you cried that all the blessings of humanity were removed from you? Why did you deceive yourself that you were powerless to change your life?

Are you without talent, senses, abilities, pleasures, instincts, sensations, and pride?

Are you without hope? Why do you cringe in the shadows, a giant defeated, awaiting
only sympathetic transport into the welcome void and dampness of hell?

You have so much. Your blessings overflow your cup ... and you have been unmindful of them, like a child spoiled in luxury, since I have bestowed them upon you with generosity and regularity.

Answer me.

Answer yourself.

What rich man, old and sick, feeble and helpless, would not exchange all the gold in his vault for the blessings you have treated so lightly.

Know then the first secret to happiness and success - that you possess, even now, every blessing necessary to achieve great glory. They are your treasure, your tools with which to build, starting today, the foundation for a new and better life.

Therefore, I say unto you, count your blessings and know that you already are my greatest creation. This is the first law you must obey in order to perform the greatest miracle in the world, the return of your humanity from living death.

And be grateful for your lessons learned in poverty. For he is not poor who has little; only he that desires much ... and true security lies not in the things one has but in the things one can do without.

Where are the handicaps that produced your failure? They existed only in your mind.
Count your blessings.

And the second law is like unto the first. Proclaim your rarity.
You had condemned yourself to a potter's field, and there you lay, unable to forgive your own failure, destroying yourself with self-hate, self-incrimination, and revulsion at your crimes against yourself and others.

Are you not perplexed?

Do you not wonder why I am able to forgive your failures, your transgressions, your pitiful demeanor ... when you cannot forgive yourself?

I address you now, for three reasons. You need me. You are not one of a herd heading for destruction in a gray mass of mediocrity. And ... you are a great rarity.

Consider a painting by Rembrandt or a bronze by Degas or a violin by Stradivarius or a play by Shakespeare. They have great value for two reasons: their creators were masters and they are few in number. Yet there are more than one of each of these.

On that reasoning you are the most valuable treasure on the face of the earth, for you know who created you and there is only one of you.

Never, in all the seventy billion humans who have walked this planet since the beginning of time has there been anyone exactly like you.

Never, until the end of time, will there be another such as you.

You have shown no knowledge or appreciation of your uniqueness.

Yet, you are the rarest thing in the world.

From your father, in his moment of supreme love, flowed countless seeds of love, more than four hundred million in number. All of them, as they swam within your mother, gave up the ghost and died. All except one! You.

You alone persevered within the loving warmth of your mother's body, searching for your other half, a single cell from your mother so small that more than two million would be necessary to fill an acorn shell. Yet, despite impossible odds, in that vast ocean of darkness and disaster, you persevered, found that infinitesimal cell, joined with it, and began a new life. Your life.

You arrived, bringing with you, as does every child, the message that I was not yet discouraged of man. Two cells now united in a miracle. Two cells, each containing twenty-three chromosomes and within each chromosome hundreds of genes, which would govern every characteristic about you, from the color of your eyes to the charm of your manner, to the size of your brain.

With all the combinations at my command, beginning with that single sperm from your father's four hundred million, through the hundreds of genes in each of the chromosomes from your mother and father, I could have created three hundred thousand billion humans, each different from the other.

But who did I bring forth?

You! One of a kind. Rarest of the rare. A priceless treasure, possessed of qualities in mind and speech and movement and appearance and actions as no other who has ever lived, lives, or shall live.

Why have you valued yourself in pennies when you are worth a king's ransom?

Why did you listen to those who demeaned you ... and far worse, why did you believe them?

Take counsel. No longer hide your rarity in the dark. Bring it forth. Show the world. Strive not to walk as your brother walks, nor talk as your leader talks, nor labor as do the mediocre. Never do as another. Never imitate. For how do you know that you may not imitate evil; and he who imitates evil always goes beyond the example set, while he who imitates what is good always falls short. Imitate no one. Be yourself. Show your rarity to the world and they will shower you with gold. This then is the second law.

Proclaim your rarity.

And now you have received two laws.

Count your blessings! Proclaim your rarity!

You have no handicaps. You are not mediocre.

You nod. You force a smile. You admit your self-deception.

What of your next complaint? Opportunity never seeks thee?

Take counsel and it shall come to pass, for now I give you the law of success in every venture. Many centuries ago this law was given to your forefathers from a mountain top. Some heeded the law and lo, their life was filled with the fruit of happiness, accomplishment, gold, and peace of mind. Most listened not, for they sought magic means, devious routes, or waited for the devil called luck to deliver to them the riches of life. They waited in vain ... just as you waited, and then they wept, blaming their lack of fortune.

The law is simple. Young or old, pauper or king, white or black, male or female ... all can use the secret to their advantage; for all the rules and speeches and scriptures of success and how to attain it, only one method has never failed ... whomsoever shall compel ye to go with him one mile ... go with him two.

This then is the third law ... the secret that will produce riches and acclaim beyond your dreams. Go another mile!

The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be. This is a habit followed by all successful people since the beginning of time. Therefore I saith the surest way to doom yourself to mediocrity is to perform only the work for which you are paid.

Think not ye are being cheated if you deliver more than the silver you receive. For there is a pendulum to all life and the sweat you deliver, if not rewarded today, will swing back tomorrow, tenfold. The mediocre never goes another mile, for why should he cheat himself, he thinks. But you are not mediocre. To go another mile is a privilege you must appropriate by your own initiative. You cannot, you must not avoid it. Neglect it, do only as little as the others, and the responsibility for your failure is yours alone.

You can no more render service without receiving just compensation than you can withhold the rendering of it without suffering the loss of reward. Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, these cannot be separated. The effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, and the fruit is always in the seed.

Go another mile.

Concern yourself not, should you serve an ungrateful master. Serve him more.

And instead of him, let it be me who is in your debt, for then you will know that every minute, every stroke of extra service will be repaid. And worry not, should your reward not come soon.

For the longer payment is withheld, the better for you ... and compound interest on compound interest is this law's greatest benefit.

You cannot command success, you can only deserve it ... and now you know the great secret necessary in order to merit its rare reward.

Go another mile!

Where is this field whence you cried there was no opportunity? Look! Look around thee. See, where only yesterday you wallowed on the refuse of self-pity, you now walk tall on a carpet of gold. Nothing has changed ... except you, but you are everything.

You are my greatest miracle.

You are the greatest miracle in the world.

And now the laws of happiness and success are three.

Count your blessings! Proclaim your rarity! Go another mile!

Be patient with your progress. To count your blessings with gratitude, to proclaim your rarity with pride, to go an extra mile and then another, these acts are not accomplished in the blinking of an eye. Yet, that which you acquire with most difficulty you retain the longest; as those who have earned a fortune are more careful of it than those by whom it was inherited.

And fear not as you enter your new life. Every noble acquisition is attended with its risks. He who fears to encounter the one must not expect to obtain the other. Now you know you are a miracle. And there is no fear in a miracle.

Be proud. You are not the momentary whim of a careless creator experimenting in the laboratory of life. You are not a slave of forces that you cannot comprehend. You are a free manifestation of no force but mine, of no love but mine. You were made with a purpose.

Feel my hand. Hear my words.

You need me ... and I need you.

We have a world to rebuild ... and if it requireth a miracle what is that to us? We are both miracles and now we have each other.

Never have I lost faith in you since that day when I first spun you from a giant wave and tossed you helplessly on the sands. As you measure time that was more than five hundred million years ago. There were many models, many shapes, many sizes, before I reached perfection in you more than thirty thousand years ago. I have made no further effort to improve on you in all these years.

For how could one improve on a miracle? You were a marvel to behold and I was pleased. I gave you this world and dominion over it. Then, to enable you to reach your full potential I placed my hand upon you, once more, and endowed you with powers unknown to any other creature in the universe, even unto this day.

I gave you the power to think.

I gave you the power to love.

I gave you the power to will.

I gave you the power to laugh.

I gave you the power to imagine.

I gave you the power to create.

I gave you the power to plan.

I gave you the power to speak.

I gave you the power to pray.

I gave you the power to heal.

My pride in you knew no bounds. You were my ultimate creation, my greatest miracle. A complete living being. One who can adjust to any climate, any hardship, any challenge. One who can manage his own destiny without any interference from me. One who can translate a sensation or perception, not by instinct, but by thought and deliberation into whatever action is best for himself and all humanity.

Thus we come to the fourth law of success and happiness ... for I gave you one more power, a power so great that not even my angels possess it. I gave you ... the power to choose.

With this gift I placed you even above my angels ... for angels are not free to choose sin. I gave you complete control over your destiny. I told you to determine, for yourself, your own nature in accordance with your own free will. Neither heavenly nor earthly in nature, you were free to fashion yourself in whatever form you preferred. You had the power to choose to degenerate into the lowest forms of life, but you also had the power, out of your soul's judgment, to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine.

I have never withdrawn your great power, the power to choose.

What have you done with this tremendous force? Look at yourself. Think of the choices you have made in your life and recall, now, those bitter moments when you would fall to your knees if only you had the opportunity to choose again.

What is past is past ... and now you know the fourth great law of happiness and success ... Use wisely, your power of choice.

Choose to love ... rather than hate.

Choose to laugh ... rather than cry.

Choose to create ... rather than destroy.

Choose to persevere ... rather than quit.

Choose to praise ... rather than gossip.

Choose to heal ... rather than wound.

Choose to give ... rather than steal.

Choose to act ... rather than procrastinate.

Choose to grow ... rather than rot.

Choose to pray ... rather than curse.

Choose to live ... rather than die.

Now you know that your misfortunes were not my will, for all power was vested in you, and the accumulation of deeds and thoughts which placed you on the refuse of humanity were your doing, not mine. My gifts of power were too large for your small nature. Now you have grown tall and wise and the fruits of the land will be yours.
You are more than a human being, you are a human becoming.

You are capable of great wonders. Your potential is unlimited. Who else, among my creatures, has mastered fire? Who else, among my creatures, has conquered gravity, has pierced the heavens, has conquered disease and pestilence and drought?

Never demean yourself again!

Never settle for the crumbs of life!

Never hide your talents, from this day hence!

Remember the child who says, "when I am big boy." But what is that? For the big boy says. "when I grow up." And then the grown up, he says, "when I am wed." But to be wed, what is that, after all? The thought then changes to "when I retire." And then, retirement comes, and he looks back over it and somehow he has missed it all and it is gone.

Enjoy this day, today ... and tomorrow, tomorrow.

You have performed the greatest miracle in the world.

You have returned from a living death.

You will feel self-pity no more and each new day will be a challenge and a joy.

You have been born again ... but just as before, you can choose failure and despair or success and happiness. The choice is yours. The choice is exclusively yours. I can only watch, as before ... in pride ... or sorrow.

Remember, then, the four laws of happiness and success.

Count your blessings.

Proclaim your rarity.

Go another mile.

Use wisely your power of choice.

And one more, to fulfill the other four. Do all things with love ... love for yourself, love for all others, and love for me.

Wipe away your tears. Reach out, grasp my hand, and stand straight.

Let me cut the grave cloths that have bound you.

This day you have been notified.

YOU ARE THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD

oOo

C’est la Vie!

2008-08-05T08:04:00.005+08:00

One of the many wonders of life is life itself. It is a very complex thing, so enigmatic, mysterious, complicated and yet so surprising and unexplainable in its simplicity. So as I am sitting at my desk at work today, with most of my tasks done, I am left with just enough time to really think and ponder on some of the thoughts that’s been on my mind lately.

What makes life so complicated and so agonizingly painful?

Have you ever experienced wanting something so bad, so bad that you were more than willing to give up your life just to get that something? And then just when you thought you were going to get it, you failed ~ with your face flat on the ground, your body numb with pain and emotions you can barely comprehend to? Well, I hope you’ll believe me when I say everyone has experienced that. We all have our most depressing moments that helped us become who we are today. These pits made us stronger and braver ~ these were designed by our Maker to help us improve and polish ourselves and to help us become a better person as we go through life. The important lesson here is to stand up whenever we fall. Don’t let failure get you. You are worth more than you think you are.

Sad to say, but, not everyone makes it out of the pit alive. Some simply refused to live. Some preferred to stay and linger at the bottom of the pit. While some may have gone out of the pit alive ~ their souls have been badly scarred and their hearts has turned to stone, incapable of love, happiness and worst, incapable of living life to the fullest. This is where life is at its ugliest form.

Is life unfair? Well, nobody ever said life was going to be fair or easy. It depends on how we handle situations and what we make out of it. The choice has always been ours to make. Rich people are not necessarily happier just because they are wealthy. Happiness doesn’t come from being rich or poor. Happiness is something we find deep in our hearts of hearts.

When we lose people we love and care about in our lives, we question God instead of understanding the purpose behind it. When we fail to realize our goals and our dreams, we get upset and blame God and ourselves. When things go wrong and when the going gets tough, we isolate ourselves from our family and friends. In doing so, we fail to realize that we are hurting the people that matter to us the most - we not only caused more pain to ouselves but have caused pain to others too. When we become bitter, we affect those who are closest to us ~ our family and friends. When we are hurting, we isolate ourselves – then how does that help in making life worth living when we are just passing on the pain and agony to others?

I am not writing this post because I know a lot about life – in fact, I don’t know much about life. My journey has not ended, I still have a LOT to learn & understand, and a lot are still coming my way (obstacles and blessings, in its many forms!) I just would like to share my thoughts and my personal views on this matter because I see a lot of badly scarred souls everyday and I wish they would atleast stop for a while and examine their choices. I’ve seen some who simply stopped believing in dreams and that’s a terrible thing to do. I see many people complaining about the things they don’t have and not even see what’s right in front of them. I see so many people wishing they had this and that, not even realizing that they are far more blessed than others are. I see a lot of people getting upset at mundane things when it’s not really something they should even waste their time with. I see a lot of people ignoring their families because they are so preoccupied with work (I am one of those people, sad to say) ~ and most of us have this lame excuse of working hard for our families – what a shame! And I realize that now too. Our families can survive without the money we can help them with ~ it is losing us that they cant stand because we are a part of their lives and they love us. They fear of losing us just as we fear of losing them. I fear about losing my family without being able to tell them how much I love them and how thankful I am for being a part of the family. I fear of losing them when there’s still a lot left unsaid and undone.

Why do we not see our blessings? Why do we not recognize them? Is it because they came in small packages we didn’t want or expect? Or because it was not what and how we wanted it to be? When would we start recognizing the blessings we already have? Why can’t we just treat our misfortunes as blessings in disguise? And the question goes on and on. And I will leave the answers to you my dear readers. And I hope you’ll come up with a good answer and a wise decision. We all have to live a good life and enjoy it while it lasts. We will walk the face of the earth just once. It is only but right to make sure we are maximizing our time. Nobody knows what the future brings. We could die anytime. Any family member or friend could be gone before you even know it. It’s sad I know. But that’s how life is. That’s life. Nothing is certain or permanent. That is the simple plain truth about life. We have to act now and start living a meaningful life.

Camiguin Island Escapade

2008-08-03T08:57:00.002+08:00

I know I should have written about this a long, long time ago. But this happened way before I even started blogging! (lol) So now, I am sharing with you the memories I have taken with me when I and a bunch of friends went to Camiguin to unwind.

It happened on a cool summer day last May 2007. We had been planning about the whole trip and as we were approaching the big day, we were all just so excited and thrilled. It was going to be my first time at Paradise island ~ of course, I went ballistic! (lol) I was overweight and fat back then (hehehe I am now lighter bwehehe lol) but my body didn’t really bother me a lot during those times. I swore that I’d go and bare as soon as I arrive on the island (lol! For just as long as no one was going to puke when I came within sight! lol).

Eithel, me and Jessa (a.k.a "Sang")

Gal, me and Sang

So off I went with 3 of my best buddies at work (Gal, Jessa and Eithel). We woke up early, got ourselves ready and made sure we had packed everything essential to enjoy the island. Eithel was with her boyfriend at that time, so I and the rest were left on our own, wishing we were with our special someone too! (lol, I didn’t really have a special someone back then. Anyway, the three of us just made sure we enjoyed the trip by taking as many pictures as we can get using Eithel’s cam. (lol).

Our first stop was at Balingoan. From there we had to ride a ferry to get to Camiguin. We boarded the ferry, had a fabulous time, then took some more pictures (lol, what can you expect? We had been so busy working hard the whole year and this was our only chance of being away from work and relax to the max). As soon as we arrived at the Island, we were fetched from the port by Eithel’s relatives. Then, as we were on our way to Eithel’s hometown, all three of us were so awed at the breathtaking scenery that greeted us. All we could muster to say was a couple of “Ohhhs” and “Ahhs”. The road was by the cliff, it wasn’t scary, and as we neared the cliff, all three of us would move to the side and look at the majestic waves that came rushing to the shores, splashing on the rocks and crystal clear waters that were calling us – me- to go ahead and take a dive (lol, yes, that was how inviting the ocean was).

Sang, Krizzia, Gal and me

We went touring around the island as soon as we got there. We toured and toured, swam and swam, ate and ate, and toured again. (lol, sounds exciting, eh?). We went to the Sunken cemetery, Katibawasan Falls, the White Island, the Lagoon (and had a fabulous meal there too! hehehe). We were having the time of our lives and enjoying the moment. One night, we went out to attend a baranggay dance party (Benefit dance) – it was like a disco party! (lol). I had no choice but stay glued to my chair – oh please don’t let me dance! (lol! I can’t dance! I don’t know how to dance! lol!) The next morning, we went on a tour again, this time to the cold springs! Brrrrrrr, very cold! (lol) And there we swam with the teeny, tiny fishes that we managed to catch using Eithel’s dress (lol). We used her dress as a net and came up with a master plan on catching the fishes (much to the delight of Krizzia, Eithel’s cousin). It was an adventure we would never forget!

Eithel, Gal, Krizzia and me

Me, Krizzia, Gal and Sang

We bought some dried pusit (squid) on the way home. Then, as expected, we slept in the van during the rest of the trip. We were exhausted but very, very happy and satisfied with our Camiguin adventure.

We dreamed and planned of having a Bohol adventure ~ well… It’s still in the process (lol). Will update you as soon as we come up with the money and the time to have another island adventure.

Ciao! :-)

Back to School 2008 Theme Day

2008-08-01T11:06:00.003+08:00

We were on our best Back to School attire last June 24, 2008. Why? Our company has always been fond of having “theme” days (Pajama, Halloween, Christmas, Back-to-School, and Etc. You name it and we have it! lol). Well, being a part of the Non-Voice support group has, in some way, alienated us from the whole support group – but not this year. This year, we won the Back-to-School theme day!!! (yuhooo!!! Go Chat Support!!! Go Non-Voice Team!!! lol).

I was dressed as a teacher (I didn’t want to wear the short skirt and freeze to death in our workstation! lol) while my co-TCs were in their school uniforms (one acted as our Principal and our Manager was dressed in his school attire). Don’t we all look cute and adorable? (hehehe you better agree or I’ll shave your head! lol)

Hmmm… and now as I wonder… would we be able to keep up on the next theme day? Let’s wait and see ;-P

Top Filipino foods that make me drool like crazy

2008-07-07T08:24:00.001+08:00

I love to eat. I am from a family of food lovers. I generally would eat anything edible (lol). After loosing weight, I have been watching my food intake constantly. And I must admit, there are times when I just want to indulge in all the foods that I love to eat. When I’m home alone with nothing to do, I always find myself fantasizing about the foods that make me drool and salivate to the max! (lol) Well, let me share with you some of the foods that make me go crazy. (By the way, they are not arranged in order of preference because honestly – I would love to have all of them on one table and in one sitting! lol) Here goes! (lol)

1st: Lechon. Yes, most Filipinos just can’t celebrate without this great yummy treat. With its oh so crispy skin and soft succulent meat – yumyumyummmmy! (lol) I like the tummy part because that is where all the flavors are (all the herbs and spices are tucked inside the tummy when roasting the pig – so this makes the tummy part the most favorite part of most Lechon lovers out there). This is served best with a Mang Tomas sauce or the usual Ketchup/Catsup will do. I prefer hot Ketchup/Catsup or vinegar with some garlic and Chili (now, just talking about it is making me crave for it! Lol)

2nd: Kinilaw. Whether it’s made of Dilis (fresh Anchovies) or Malasugi (swordfish), it’s still one of my BIG time favorites! It is not limited to Anchovies or Swordfish – some prefer using tuna, marlin, fresh squid, fresh sea shell meat and etc. But I just prefer the Dilis and the Malasugi more. I like how the raw fish meat is cooked in vinegar. I don’t always prefer the white cane vinegar for my kinilaw. I usually prefer the traditional brownish ‘Tuba”. Tuba is made through a process of extracting the sap of an unopened coconut bud. It has a stinging sweet and bittersweet taste. Filipinos consider Tuba as a type of hard drink. And I know our ancestors drank Tuba just like the way the new generation is drinking Tequila! (lol) Anyway, back to the Kinilaw, I love my Kinilaw more with some Chili in it – yum yum! Kinilaw shouldn’t be taken with water. They are best paired with Coke or any kind of Sodas. Another variety of the Kinilaw is called the “Sinuglaw”. It is actually just grilled pork meat mixed with Kinilaw. This is a very good food to bring out to the beach and enjoy with family and friends.

3rd: Steamed Crabs or Shrimps. I just love it when they are cooked naturally this way. Another big time favorite of mine is when they are cooked with garlic, lots of onions (the bigger chunks the onions are - the better!), salt, pepper and some Sprite. (Yes, you heard me. Sprite. The drink Fido Dido is crazy about! Lol) I love to just eat and dip their meat in their sauce (when steamed I dip them in their natural sauce (lol), when cooked with the sprite – I dip it with the sauce it created!) I just love to suck out their juices and let their meat linger in my mouth until I’ve had enough. Well… It usually takes a lot of time before I’ll have enough! lol)

4th: Sisig. I love to eat sizzling Sisig in restaurants with family and friends. When it's sisig, I prefer going to Butcher's Best or Inilog Grill. They serve the best sizzling sisig - well, for me that is! (lol) I am not a very big fan of liver (which by the way is one of the main ingredients of Sisig). I usually take out all the liver I can before eating. But other than that, this is one dish I’d always love to have when I’m out with friends. This food is just amazing when paired with soy sauce, vinegar and chili sauce (I love hot and spicy foods teeeheeee!)

5th: Bulalo. Oh my goodness!!! This is one soup I’ll never say “NO” to! I love my Bulalo with a lot of veggies in it. I prefer a lot of Raddish and Cabbage in it plus some chili. I love eating the marrow inside the bone along with its oh so heavenly soup. I like it more when there’s a lot of marrows in it too. Yum yum yum. Makes me remember the good old days when my Mama would cook Bulalo for dinner making my Papa very happy - and the kids – me and my brother, fighting for the biggest marrow! (lol)

6th: Humba (Braised Pork Belly with Sugar). This is a very popular dish in the southern Part of the Philippines. This is one of my comfort foods. When I am down, depressed, weary or just feeling lonely, I usually crave for humba and pester my brother to cook me one. (lol). Yes, I know some of you are thinking this dish has too much fat and oil. Well, it is exactly what gives it the flavor and that great taste. This is best served with a lot of rice (grins). Well, sometimes, it’s good to stop counting the calories and fat and just go ahead and enjoy the food. When you are in that mood – Humba is one great food you certainly would want to try out!

7th: Dinuguan (Pork Blood Stew). Yes, pork blood. It’s not yucky. It’s not gross. It’s actually one of the most sought out food during parties and special events. It usually comes with the Lechon because Dinuguan is made with the blood of a freshly-slaughtered pig, pork meat and port entrails. (usually the remains after the pig is slaughtered and roasted). I know it sounds yucky and morbid for most of you but all I ask is that you try it first before deciding that it’s no good. I like to have my Dinuguan with some puto and kutsinta to go with it.

8th: Palabok. This is a Filipino specialty dish. Usually made with pancit Luglug or with Vermicelli. I go crazy whenever my Mama would cook one for us. I love the orange colored sauce and the chicharon that goes with it as its topping. I also love Spaghetti but I like and prefer Palabok more (grins). This is just one of those dishes that make me want to eat and eat and eat and eat and….. eat! (lol)

9th: Pancit Canton. I am not really sure if this is a Filipino Cuisine. More like Chinese or Japanese… or Taiwanese or Thai??? (lol, now I’m confused!) Anyway, when I say Pancit Canton, I am NOT referring to those instant ones you can make within 3 minutes! Puhlessss! (lol) I prefer my Pancit Canton with lots and lots of veggies in it – the less Pork / Beef / or Chicken liver you can add to it, the better for me (grins).

10th: Cassava Cake. This was what I always bought at the canteen when I was in grade school, high school and even when I was in College. It is cheap, very yummy and tasty (I really like it when there’s a lot of cheese on top of it). This was my comfort food when I was growing up. This was the food that rescued me from starvation because I have used my allowance on pocket books, much to the dismay of my parents (lol). I remember my friends buying burgers, fries, hotdog buns and all those yummy treats during recess – but I didn’t mind having my beloved cassava cake with me for as long as I get to buy the pocket books that I wanted (lol).

11th: Pinakbet (Meat Vegetable Stew with Shrimp Paste). Yes, an authentic Filipino dish and a treat to all veggie lovers. I prefer mine with less or no meat at all. I like how this is cooked with the yummy, pinkish shrimp paste. I also prefer my pinakbet dry. I don’t like having all those extra soup in it. When I’m cooking one, I usually let all the liquids dry out before serving (but making sure the veggies are not overcooked). This is best served with a LOT of rice (teheeee lol)

12th: Halo – Halo. This is a popular Filipino dessert (especially during Summer!). It is a mixture of shaved ice and milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a tall glass or bowl. There is no specific recipe for this dessert, and a wide variety of ingredients are used. I prefer my halo-halo when it’s bought at “Ice Castle” (a restaurant located at Lim Ket kai). Unlike most shaved ice, Ice Castle’s ice doesn’t harden. I just love being able to enjoy the soft creamy ice along with the other concoctions! I also like Chowking’s halo-halo.

13th: Binignit. This is actually a different version of Halo – Halo. This version is cooked with Coconut milk. It is also known as a warm root crop and fruit stew. It is cooked with sweet potatoes, plantain bananas, Gabi (I honestly don’t know its english name, so please pardon me lol!). Filipinos prepare and cook this treat during Lent. This is the time of year when Christians in the Philippines are not allowed to eat meat. I eat Binignit whenever I want to, lent or not, warm or cold. This is just one treat I can’t deprive myself! (lol).

14th: Bicol Express. This is one very popular dish in the Philippines. It originated from Bicol and was named as such because it is known to make one rush and run for water. This is a very spicy dish cooked with coconut milk, pork meat and a lot of chili. One time, my college long distance friends came to town. They were from Bicol (Theresa and Aleiza). Showed them around and told them how much we (I and Gladys, one of my good friends) love Bicol Express. A few days after they went home, a package arrived at home. Guess what was inside? A lot of Bicol express!!! (yipeee!! lol). Gladys wasn’t able to get her share – I think because she wasn’t available or wasn’t in town – but one thing I’ll surely never forget --- I enjoyed the Bicol Express they sent me – down to the last drop!!! (lol).

So now you know what foods make me tick (lol). I really just love food and if given the chance ~ I will really have all these great foods laid on one table, invite family and friends to share it with me and take that out from my to-do-wish list (lol). By the way, pictures posted on this article were all taken from the Internet. As much as I love eating, I am not very fond of taking pictures of my meal! (lol).

Bon Appétit everyone!

Patch Adams Movie: A personal insight about Love, Life, Acceptance and Learning

2008-07-01T09:16:00.008+08:00

How does one live life to the fullest? We are always wondering why life is like this and like that – why there are always things that we can’t change no matter what we do. The truth is - Life is about loving, taking risks, accepting that there are certain things we just can't change and learning from our mistakes. Sounds like a cliché I know (lol). But when we really think about it, when we think and look back, our life has always been about loving, taking risks, accepting and learning from our failures. Everyday we are bombarded with situations that need our decisions – no matter how small and insignificant that decision is to others, it is a fact that along with that decision is a risk on our part the moment we choose how to react to a particular situation.

The Real Patch "Hunter" Adams

How can one truly live life to the fullest and effectively? To this question I think my answers are to accept one's limitation, to sing as if no one's listening, to dance as if no one's watching, to live as if there's no tomorrow and to touch another person’s life in a positive way. I remember watching Patch Adams years ago and even now as I watch it again and again, I still get teary eyed and emotional about the movie. Why? Because it speaks a lot about loving in its many dimensions – loving oneself, loving what we want and aspire in life, loving our friends & family, loving that very special someone, loving the feeling when one is able to help another human being in need. It also shows us that we shouldn’t quit just because we got hurt. It is only but inevitable that we get hurt once in a while – after all, that is one proof that we are still alive. It is a wonder how one man could have so much happiness in his heart and how he goes about sharing it to everyone! Not only did he improve the lives of terminally ill patients – he made it possible for the world to see how good it is to be alive and doing what God has designed and planned for us to become. There is always a reason for everything. (Yes, whether you like it or not! lol)

Patch Adams with his elderly patient & with kids. (Pictures were all taken from the Internet)

There are a couple of scenes from the movie that really just touched me in so many ways. The scene where Patch never gave up and made a bitter man’s life better by befriending him and outwitting him – yes, that terminally ill patient that shouts and throws almost anything within his grip!(lol) Patch brilliantly got to him, one night – dressed as an angel and later on outwitting the poor man with Patch’s choice of words and terms. Then there was this scene with Patch and the cancer stricken kids – what a darling! He really went nuts and went out of his way just to see them smile. Nothing could stop him from making another human happy just to be alive. Then the most romantic scene was when Corrine confided in him and confessed her love for him. She completely opened up to him and trusted him. Corrine spoke of her childhood envy of caterpillars which could "turn into beautiful creatures that could fly away untouched." The morning following their romantic interlude, we see Corrine still asleep in her bed under a window in the middle of which is the large stained-glass image of a butterfly. Patch had already read the first few stanzas of the poem during Corrine's surprise birthday party. And boy did I love and envy her balloons!(lol) Patch stood over her bed and reads a few more words from the poem: "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where . . . " He never finished reading the whole poem to her because shortly after, Corrine died and Patch read the rest of the poem during Corrine’s funeral and he kissed the coffin in desperation as if kissing Corrine for the very last time. (sob... sob... :-( how tragic...)

-o0o-

Sonnet 17

By Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way
because I don't know any other way of loving
but this, in which there is no I nor you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep
it is your eyes that close.

-o0o-

I remember going crazy over this poem so many, many, MANY times before! (lol) I was just then starting with my career as a Call Center agent and replied to everyone on the email thread and asked if anyone ever knew the poem from the Patch Adam’s movie – I know, I know – but I was desperate at that time! (lol) It was one of our superiors who emailed me the details of the poem and it was then when I found out about the poem’s title (I took the risks and learned – see? Life is indeed about loving, taking risks, accepting ones limitation and learning! lol)

Life is really worth living and savoring for – no matter how painful and discouraging our paths may sometimes seem. We just have to have faith and believe that our life’s journey is with a purpose. We just simply need to learn how NOT to quit when the going gets though. After all, nobody ever said life was going to be easy.