TODAY...

I got this thru forwarded email:

Today is my day. Today belongs to me. I choose today to be wonderful, exciting, and rewarding. Today, I expect extraordinary ideas and opportunities to be revealed to me that will enhance my well-being, joy, and success. Today, I am more loving, more accepting of myself and others than before. Today, I do the very best that I can do in whatever I am doing. Today, I remind myself that I can do anything I choose to do. ANYTHING.

"Yesterday was but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision; but every today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope."

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE. :)

1st day of Simbang Gabi

Medyo huli na akong nakauwi kaya't muntik ko ng hindi maabutan ang misa para sa unang araw ng simbang gabi. Sa kabutihang-palad ay inabutan ko pa naman ang pagsisimula ng misa. Ang tema ng sermon ng pari ay: "kalkal" (ito mismo ang salitang ginamit ng pari). Inihalintulad ng pari ang mga tao sa golden buddha ng Thailand na noon ay nababalot ng putik. Gaya ng buddha, umaasa ang pari na ang mga tao matapos ang siyam na araw ng simbang gabi ay natanggal na ang mga putik na sa ating pagkatao at sa pagdating ng paghuhukom ay isa na tayong golden buddha na malinis, maaliwalas, at makinang na haharap sa Diyos.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Bangkok trip!

My first trip outside the Philippines - destination: Bangkok, Thailand.

Pre-departure dilemma

Due to Thailand's political crisis, all flights are cancelled since late November. We had to monitor the situation, so we'll know if it is safe to proceed with the trip. I decided not to go, scared of what was happening to Bangkok and scared of being stranded in the airport... then the next day, I decided to go, although I'm not 100% sure if I really want to go on with the trip... plus the rebooking fee is so precious! :)

Welcome to BANGKOK!

Day 1: December 9, Tuesday

we left Manila past 9PM (Manila time) and landed in Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok by 11PM (12midnight Manila time)… dropped by the foreign exchange booth… then met our tour guide, Ken. after the preliminary introductions and instructions, we headed to our hotel, The First House Hotel, located along Petchaburi Road, 45 minutes away from the airport. By around 1AM (Bangkok time), we’re ready to rest for the next day activity… ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Day 2: December 10, Wednesday

We had our breakfast by 6AM, then we walked around the block near the hotel… then we went back to our hotel for our 9AM half day tour. We went to (1) Wat Hua Lampong, like any other temple, we had to remove our footwear before entering; (2) Standing Buddha, which is extremely tall and big, and the temple beside it; (3) Jewerly Factory a.k.a. Juweli Factoli, they showed a 10-min video presentation, then we proceeded to the “factory” itself, then on their showrooms. If I had extra money then, I wanted sana to buy a ring with my birthstone, but well, there’s always a next time. Then, the last stop: (4) Leather Factory, they showed us the difference between the genuine and fake, and I learned that fish skins can also be turned into wallets… amazing! We supposed to visit also the Golden Buddha, but unfortunately, it was set to be transferred to its new house, which is under construction that time, so it was temporarily closed. For the afternoon, activity we all decided to go to the elephant show. We first dropped by in Tesco Lotus Mall for our lunch, KFC, it was my first time to eat in KFC… Bangkok, hehehehe! Then we headed to the show, which is outside the city. Before the main show of the elephants, we first saw the crocodile show and some sort of magic show.. after the amazing show of the elephants, we had the chance to ride on the elephant, yes! first time… hehehehe. By 5PM, we traveled back to the city; we went directly to “The Place”, a Thai restaurant, for our dinner, the food is extremely spicy!!! Then we went to the night market, it was so exhausting, my legs are almost numb when we went back to the hotel. There are so many “tyangee” near the hotel, there’s the Platinum Mall (Greenhills version) and the night market (Baclaran and Divi style). By 10:30, sleeping time again… ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Day 3: December 11, Thursday

Almost the same routine, breakfast then gala-gala. We decided to go to the MBK Mall, so we took the BTS (MRT here in Manila)… but when we reached the place, we realized that it was not yet open. A concerned Thai advised us to just go first on this another place (which turned out to be another Juweli Factoli), then we just go back when the mall opens, so we had our unplanned tuktuk ride… hehehehe. Tuktuk ride to Juweli Factoli then tuktuk again back to MBK Mall…. walkathon to death again inside the mall, we bought some pasalubongs and souvenirs… then we took taxi going back to the hotel. We checked out at exactly 12noon. Then Che’s friends went to visit more temples, while the two of us decided to go back to Platinum Mall… we had our lunch then gala again to death… by 5PM we went back to the hotel and made tambay in the lobby until 7PM, the we went out to have dinner in KFC again! Hehehe. 9PM, the driver fetched us to take us to the airport… we’re going back to Manila!!!

Day 4: December 12, Friday

12:20AM (Bangkok time) Flight 5J932 bound to Manila is ready for take-off. Bye-bye Bangkok! We arrived around 4AM. Welcome back to Manila!!!

It was such a nice experience… I never thought that my 2nd time to board an airplane will be an out of the country trip!

Passport application

THIRTY DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!! 1. Make sure that you are in DFA (basketball court) even before the sun rises if you want to avoid being hungry, dizzy, and annoyed. Fill up the application form and start looking for the end of the box-office/blockbuster line to reach the windows A&B.

2. Then, your next stop is Gate 2. You will actually be given an appointment date and time to enter the Gate 2, if your schedule time is 1pm, be sure to be there at around 11:30am to be the first in line.

A. Processing and evaluation – there are more than 20 windows here, so if you’ll be lucky, you do not have to wait anymore, you can just proceed in any window right away and have your requirements evaluated.

B. Payment – proceed to the auditorium to pay; Php 500 for 14 working days and Php 750 for 7 working days (prices to change without prior notice).

C. Encoding – the DFA personnel will encode the data from your application form, so you can check them before you go. But, before you can reach and talk to the personnel, you AGAIN have to be in the spectacular box-office/blockbuster line.

3. Return on the date specified on your receipt to pick-up your passport (but you have the option to have it delivered to you, there are lots of delivery services in the area).

Important:

• Requirements: 3 passport size ID, NSO certificate, NBI clearance, valid ID’s • have your ears very visible in your ID pictures (don’t wear earrings when you have your picture taken) • bring a small plastic pouch for the IDs (paste 1 ID on the application form, place the other 2 inside the pouch and staple it to the application form) • bring your own paste, stapler, and stamp pad (you will definitely need it) • have a photocopy of the valid IDs that you’ll be submitting • BE PATIENT!!! Applying for the passport has been very frustrating; I was in the DFA around 8am and finished the whole procedure by 4pm.

Christmas songs

It is 45 days before Christmas… Christmas songs have been playing everywhere… My MOST favorite Christmas song is “Christmas in our hearts”, it is also the one most associated to me… But aside from the customary Christmas-themed songs, my other Christmas songs are: “Together again”, “Where are you”, and “I love you always forever"... Whenever I hear these three songs, I feel like it’s Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :)

Passing the UPCAT

“… kumbaga UP or NOTHING”
“… pag hindi ako pumasa, tatalon ako sa bangin, PLAN B, B for bangin!”
“shaded circles”

--- lines from the UPCAT The Movie

I came across this 2-min trailer of the movie from the Youtube, and got these lines. And of course, naka-relate naman ako. Like the main character, I may say that back in high school, I also have that “simple” dream of passing the UPCAT because of:

>>>financial reason – during that time, there’s an insinuation that I should be sensitive enough to understand that it would be too hard for my mother to send me to college; and so I thought that passing the UPCAT would be enough reason for me to insist that I want to enroll in college. Also, most schools cost too much. I only took 2 college entrance exams, one is UPCAT and one from PNU, I passed my exam in PNU… and so my plan B, is definitely not bangin. And I did not entertain the idea of “UP or Nothing” because my primary concern is to study, but if I will study, why don’t I go to UP?

>>>pride, self-satisfaction, and “redeem yourself” thing – From Kindergarten to Grade 4, I was a consistent honor student, in the top 5, if I may say. But just imagine how the world turned upside down when I was in grade 5, I got the biggest flop of my student life when I collapsed from top 4 (in grade 4) all the way down to (there’s still a 4 in fairness!) 14th. I am not so sure how it happened, or what happened to me, but one thing for sure, I did my best (maybe it’s just good enough). Of course, I felt bad, just imagine the feeling of the 11-yr old girl, who used to be part of the recognition program, stepping up in the stage, receiving a ribbon or a medal, then all of a sudden, there she was far from the stage, watching her classmates in the stage receiving their medals. Then she had to answer everyone’s “why? what happened?” question, when she herself, doesn’t know the answer. Obviously I graduated from elementary not sitting in the stage, and never had the chance to receive or passed the “sulo”. So sad! But well, that’s life, and life must go on. Highschool. I just enjoyed myself, well, just a little pressure knowing that my classmates are valedictorians, salutatorians, etc. from different elementary schools in town, plus a little pressure of being known as the “sister of” as days went on, and of course there are some crying moments over the unanswered math homeworks. But aside from that, my high school days were fun; in general I truly enjoyed it. I don’t care if I failed those monthly or even periodical exams, or got a grade of 79 (my only palakol grade) in Biology; my only concern is I need to pass the final grades. Well, graduating in time wasn’t a problem, I knew from the very start that I can (magaan lang ang bangko!).
With what I’ve been through as a student, passing the UPCAT is really one thing I dreamed of. In our school, names of UPCAT passers are displayed near the gate, where everyone can see it, even the churchgoers (our school is just beside the church) and I somehow wanted my name to be part of that “display”.
“Redeem yourself” is from Sir Velandres (+), he often mentioned it in class. He has been my Math teacher from 2nd – 4th yr high school, and without he knowing it, he had instill it in my mind since then. I thought of UPCAT to redeem myself but still I am not 100% sure that I can do it, but I decided to take the risk, after all how can I pass if I will not take the exam.

August 6, 2000: my UPCAT day, I left the house around 8am, and then dropped by the church. Around 10am, we left going to Batangas City; our exam schedule is 12:30pm. For almost 6 hrs, we are inside the testing center, getting sleepy and dizzy rubbing the tip of the Mongol 2 pencil on the test paper to shade more than a hundred circles. After the exam, we dropped by the Jollibee to eat, then home sweet home. Within 6 months before the result came; different emotions, anticipating for a positive result then telling myself it is impossible, then again praying that I will pass, but somehow do not want to expect anything. It was a little torture. February 2001, here comes the result: I PASSED THE UPCAT!

I was so ecstatic during that time; I can’t believe that I really did pass the UPCAT. I was so happy; at least I got something that had at least made me visible. I left the school not just as one of the familiar faces that have spent days sitting in the classrooms and walking along the corridors. I may never have reclaim being part of the top 10 students, but on our graduation day, I was back on the stage to receive the certificate of recognition of being one of the UPCAT passers…. and of course my name had the chance to be part of that display near the gate.

I went through a lot before I took and passed the UPCAT… but before I can enroll and be accepted in UP is another story… and studying in UP is still another story… and graduating from UP is again another story!

So, I have 3 more UP-related stories to post!

UPCAT The Movie *** Robinsons Galleria *** December 3-16

basketball :)

In the late 1990’s, nakakanood na ako ng PBA games (sa TV) because of my sister, who’s an Alaska fanatic. But I am not that so interested pero ang team ko noon Shell, (magaling sila na team, mas magaling nga lang ang mga kalaban nila). Never pa yata ako nakanood ng game na as in pinanood ko talaga until last night. It was a game between Purefoods and Coca Cola. Masyado akong nag-enjoy manood kasi naman twice nag-OT, kumusta naman yun?? Medyo sayang pa nga kasi the score was 104-103 CC, with .08 sec left sa 2nd OT, then may FT pa ang PF; but the player missed his shot… Sayang, if he got that shot, tie sana sila at sana 3 OT’s… hehehe! I enjoyed watching kasi hindi boring yung game. I think (medyo) mawiwili ako manood ng PBA games… I’ll start to choose na rin my new team, wala na kasi Shell. Hmmm… parang okay naman ang PF (kahit talo sila kagabi) because of that #21 Kerby Raymundo… I am now the newest PBA fan… LOL… Let’s just see…
[sister, mag-comment k d2, but there’s no need to mention, na umiinom ka ng cali pag natatalo ang Alaska noon ha at nung day/time/game na nakuha ng Alaska ang grandslam nila e tulog ka naman… hehehe ]
Anyway, speaking of basketball, just this year, I started na rin to watch UAAP games on TV. I’m aware naman of the UAAP’s existence pero busy kasi ako sa pag-aaral (naks!) at never din naman kami ni-require na manood ng games, maybe because Diliman-based naman ang team. And during that time, mas sikat kasi ang CDC than the MBT for very obvious reason… Syempre pa, I am a supporter of the Fighting Maroons despite the sad reality that they lost most of their games by double digit points; BUT, BUT, BUT they WON over Adamson by 31 pts (bravo!). With their performance this season, they are not hopeless naman, they just need some time to prove their skills (gaano kaya katagal?):)

It's 70 days before CHRISTMAS!!!

THE KITE RUNNER

I finished reading THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini last week…

It’s a story of two young boys, Amir and Hassan… the story of their friendship and their intertwined lives.

Okay naman ang story, unexpected ang twists… but it is too heartbreaking especially for Hassan’s character… I hope that the author had at least not killed his character through massacre… and sana man lang nagkita pa sila ni Amir, his childhood friend, na half-brother pala nya… so sad!

It was a story of making up for your mistakes… Amir went back to his country to look for Hassan’s son, Sohrab, amidst the threat of war, traversing roads with ashes of warfare… it was the only thing that he can do to return the loyalty and sacrifices that Hassan has given him… it’s his way to unburden his self from the guilt that he had been holding for decades…

Uhmmmm… napaka-sad nung story… naging movie na pala xa last year, I’m now looking for a copy of the movie, tingnan ko how did they portray Hassan and Amir’s story in the movie…

birthday celebration 2

i had my 2nd birthday bash last September 18. that was actually a double birthday celebration of rizza's and mine. we had it in Mulligan KTV and restaurant. well, we really had fun inside the room that we have rented unaware that the rain is pouring heavily outside. (maybe our voices are so good, that the heaven shed tears of joy) we sang the all-time favorite songs like: Philippine Geography of Yoyoy Villame, Babae po ako by Tuesday Vargas, etc. :)hahaha! i really enjoyed that one, i was able to sing (and dance) as long as i want... :)

Life is work as work is life

I have received and browsed the document a week ago, but it’s only now that I really read its content. I missed the important word in the 2nd page “NOT”, now I’m facing again the same problem.

It was only 2 months after that event in PICC, when I come across this company in the PLDT directory. Excited and in need to have a job, I called them and asked for a vacancy. Luckily, they are looking for someone to fill in the position. After an almost a month of preliminaries, I got to have the so called ‘first day in work’.

I started as simple as a staff; I am just receiving instructions on what to do. But when I was just starting to get used to my undemanding work and barely after being employed as permanent, my supervisor, who have spent nearly 10 years with the company, decided to take a leave and try to have other working environment. Although there are changes, I did not have much difficulty adjusting on her absence because with our technology today, it seemed like she’s just here with me in the office, and so I still work under her instructions. Another thing is I consoled myself that she’ll be back and everything will turn back to what it is used to be. Few months before her supposed return, I received her email: irrevocable resignation.

It gave me mixed emotions: I was scared coping up with the work, making decisions, talking to people, and doing things on my own. For few days, I was always like in a daydream with questions popping up on my mind: How will I do it? Can I do it? Will I survive? But later on, I started to realize that there’s nothing I can do anymore. I would be very selfish and self-center if I will leave my work just like that, or force her to come back, she had already given 10 years of her life for the company, maybe it’s now my turn!?! I just took what happened as a challenge. I have to work hard, and do everything I can do to have journals on time. But the most challenging and difficult task I have to endure is to have available papers for an issue.

The journal has been circulating for over 30 years now, featuring over a hundreds of different papers and studies. Like any other thing, the publication has also experienced its great abundance… abundance on papers/articles, which are submitted not only by local authors but also by foreign enthusiasts. It was the time that our journal is the only one of its kind circulating in Asia. But as years went by, changes also went on, other publications came in and competition arises, and articles/papers came to us less and less.

After three decades, we only now have at least five authors, who are dedicated to share their studies/papers for our journal. I really felt bad because given the subject that the journal is dedicated to and the advance technology that this generation have, we should have been receiving now more and more papers for the journal. But I understand that it won’t happen that easy because of the competition, we are competing with foreign publications. I have talked to some authors a year ago, and they refuse to give us the chance to publish their works in our journal because they do not want to have any conflict with the submission of it to foreign publications, and also money really matters. While we are giving a very minimal amount of peso as an honorarium, maybe our counterparts are offering dollars. Well, that’s life!

That is my dilemma now, but I guess that would always be my dilemma every start and middle of the year. If I have no enough articles or worse if there’s nothing at all, how can I produce an issue of the journal? Every article is like a medication that keeps the ailing journal live, and the journal is the reason why I am still here… and I am not yet ready to leave my work so I need to use all my strength and all my brain cells to seek for more than enough medication to keep life going…

Learning

I am lucky to work in a company, which holds office for only 4 days a week. With this kind of schedule, I became interested in looking for some activity/ies on which I can use my free time. I ended up applying in a tutorial center and was been accepted. The tutorial sessions are done in the house of the student.

My first project came in November 2006; this only lasted for a week. I was tasked to assist a grade 3 half-British student to review her lessons in preparation for the week-long periodical exam. I had no difficulties on teaching her the lessons; the problem is her mood, but what can you expect from a 9-yr old girl who has been in class the whole day and then has to read, write, and recite the lessons again and again for another hour at home. She was exhausted and so do I; but I have to maintain my patience, it was the most challenging part of it. I am glad that I survived!

The next assignment was in the middle of 2007. My student was a grade 7 studying in De La Salle Zobel. The name of the school gave me a little doubt of myself. Can I do it? Based on my experience with the first student, lessons nowadays are way, way in advance than what I have studied during my elementary years (more than 10 yrs ago!). With the school he is in, there is no doubt that lessons are not simple, and so I prepared myself for complicated tutorial session with him. My first week was like a do-or-die game, I almost gave up. I’m working in Ortigas and he’s living in Manila, I have to rush to their house after office, catching the MRT and LRT trips to hit the 5:30 schedule. Another challenge for me is the lesson, which indeed is tricky and complicated; and do I still have to emphasize that the student is an achiever, smart and very eager to learn more. I thought of giving up but I accepted the challenge, why not? Aside from the challenges, the only problem that I have encountered is my time. There were days that I was late, and he’s no longer in the mood to study.

After some time, I got used with my new routine. In an instant, I became a student again, studying lessons, especially in Science: the subject matter that hated me ever since! There were times that he’s the one teaching me the lesson, Science is his forte. But with Mathematics, I am the one in charge. I missed solving problems and answering equations, and I really enjoyed doing it again. I think one thing that made our tutorials active is because we complement; I have helped him in his homework because he helped me.

I was his tutor for 8 months, covering his last school year in elementary. It was during those days that I really felt like a student all over again: studying and reviewing for the exam and anticipating for its results, cramming for the project that has to be submitted the next day, etc. Eight months is long enough for me to be affected on anything related to him and his studies. I felt proud whenever he got high grades; and sorry if there is a few not so high grade. I also somehow prayed for him to be one of the graduating honor students. Also, eight months has been long enough for me to be relaxed on our sessions, listening to his and his sister’s stories on what had happened in school that day and other things. It was really fun and a great learning experience for me. If I have to look back on those days, I won’t see the troubles that I have encountered with the MRT and LRT trips, but what would be very visible are the memories of learning and sharing stories with him and his sister. I am glad to have that chance meeting them. I wish them success on whatever path that they will choose; and I hope to share stories with them again.

What goes around comes around...

What goes around comes around… I got this line from one of the emails I received recently. The man in the story helped an old woman, who in return helped a pregnant waitress, who turned out to be the wife of the man (who helped the old woman). The assistance that the man has given returns to him through his wife.

This has been the story that helped me decide on something couple of days ago…

A friend, whom I have not seen for almost a year, asks for some help. After looking over the situation, I decided to help out. Helping friends in need (provided that there’s still something left for our family) has been so easy for me. I know how hard it is to be in need; and it is so disappointing and distressing if no one reached out for you.

Unlike the story, my case has been the other way around. Lots of helps first came to me; as I grew up, I have been very blessed to benefit on financial (and moral) assistance & support from family, relatives and friends. When I was in college, I have been very lucky to have some people who had helped me out to survive; and luckier to still have them backing me up even when I began to work (and until now).

Good stuffs shouldn’t be stagnant! And so, there I was last night, waited for my friend for hours, to pass on the assistance that I have received in the past and hope that it will flows throughout the others, who might be in need.

“THE MORE WE HAVE ACHIEVED, THE BIGGER IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.”

98 days before Christmas...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I found the music video of PUSO by Spongecola in You Tube... this is the themesong of the UAAP men's basketball.... ASTIG! (Why is Martin Reyes not part of this video?)

UP FIGHT!!! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvyj9msxp3Y

MY past Christmas(es)

Like many other individuals, Christmas is special for me. Whenever Christmas season comes near, I always feel a strange feeling, which I can’t really figure out. Maybe it is because I was born in –ber months, 106 days before Christmas; and so I am considering the 1st day of the 1st –ber month as the start of the Christmas season. It’s 98 days before Christmas! I can’t help but look back on my past 23 Christmas seasons.

How can I forget the small old Christmas tree (about 18 inches) and the small bells & balls dangling on its branches. It was the Christmas decoration displayed on the top of the old BW television set, which also serves as a cabinet in our “living” area. Along with that Christmas tree, is the poinsettia “vine” together with the Christmas light, surrounding the drift wood placed in the corner. There is also this shiny, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” that dances with the wind. It was fastened at the wall behind the TV set. The trio Christmas decors have been the usual view in our home every Holiday Season. Of the three, the drift wood is the most special because it always bears socks the night before Christmas and so Santa Clause is paying him a visit every Christmas eve.

I was in high school, when I have completed the Simbang Gabi for the first time. I was able to woke up early and attend the mass before going to school. I was really happy and fulfilled because I was able to complete the 9 masses. It was also during that time that every house is required to put a ‘star’ (parol) in the front yard, and if I was not mistaken, we had the biggest ‘star’!

Christmas 1997: I was in 1st yr high school, my sister and I spent Christmas here in Manila. I have experienced for the first time to be awake on Christmas Eve and have a Noche Buena. After the mass, we went to the mall. Tita Bell let us choose a pair of slippers and a blouse as her gift. Well, what is with the color orange? My sister and I have both chosen a blouse with orange&white, and the slippers… also orange. [By the way, my sister’s slippers turned into blackish orange as she has still used it until 2 yrs ago]. We went back home by ourselves, 3 days after Christmas. We are still using the Candelaria route that time, and because it was our first time to travel alone, we get off the bus in the middle of the bridge, kumusta naman yun! and so we have to walk a few meters to reach the jeepney terminal.

Hmmm… how about Christmas parties? The most unforgettable one is when I was in Grade 1, I was the only one who’s wearing the school uniform in our class; huhuhu… sad… but I can no longer remember the reason why. Another significant one is in 2005; it was the first and last block 9(A) Christmas party that I have attended. We did the gathered in Maragondon Cavite, I enjoyed playing cards, in between, hahaha.. I lost in most of the rounds and I paid out more or less 50 pesos! And before I forgot, my 4 Christmas(es) in UP Manila… I never missed the Oblation Run, hahaha! and I have joined in the Lantern Parade once.

It was also during the Christmas season of 2006, when I traveled by plane for the first time. We went to Bacolod. It was such a memorable experience. Then guess what? After two years, I’ll be taking a trip again by plane… We are going to… secret! Hmph! I will get my passport first!

But my Christmas seasons do not all have cheerful memories. As far as I can remember, I already have few sorrowful Christmas seasons. *****Christmas 1996: An uncle very close to us died 4 days before Christmas. It was really a heartbreaking holiday season for our family and relatives. *****Christmas 2001: I was still mourning for the death of our grandmother, who passed away August 2001. Also, Christmas season will never be the same because she’s no longer with us. Her birthday is December 28, and we had only celebrated her birthday twice or thrice because we are not aware of her birthdate. Whenever we asked her, she’ll reply: mayayakir din yun! We found out about her birthdate through her voter’s ID. I am personally saddened by her early death, (she died at the age of 90, but for me, it is still a little early), because I haven’t fulfilled my promise when she left; I was just starting then to ascend on my stepping stone to reach my goals. Seven years after she left, I hope that she is pleased on my way of fulfilling that promise, I may now be just in the mid of fulfilling it but I’ll do my best to fully accomplished it. Wherever she may be now, I hope that she is happy on how we are now. *****Christmas 2003: My high school Math teacher died few days after Christmas. I was one of those who were really affected. He is one of the very few people who have shown trust and confidence in me. He may not know it, but he had given me encouragement to at least believe that I can. For a student like me, who have not been part of the high school’s honor roll list, his encouragements has motivated me a lot and have helped me land to the UPCAT passers’ list. Many of us his students have been very affected by his departure.

Well, I have a long, long way to go… I may still have another more or less three 23 Christmas seasons and I hope to have happier holiday seasons in the future! ADVANCE MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Dinner for August celebrants

Dinner in Makati, Saturday, September 13: Call time is 6pm, there’s no scheduled UAAP game that day so I was not late, I even came a little early at around 5:45pm. While waiting for others, I went around the mall to look for ATMs; I am so annoyed because most of them were out of service!?! Good thing, there’s a solitary terminal working at the ground floor.

Quarter past 6pm, we are all gathered in front of the restaurant waiting for our turn to have a seat… all tables were occupied. After 10 years of waiting, we had our chance to go inside, and oh, here comes Muri… [She’s just in time… just in time that we’re going na inside; Mhike, what can you say hindi na naghintay si Muri?!?? Hahaha!]

In between chewing of food are non-stop chickahan and chismis and laughing out loud [literally LOUD!!!] hahaha… it is always fun seeing them, and being updated on each other’s lives. We are done eating but we stayed a little longer talking about many IMPORTANT matters: from the latest movies, AVSP and FTFT, koreanovelas, and of course how can we forget to chat about the “never-ending story of all time”, every time we meet it is impossible not to mention that topic and the people connected to it… hahaha… move on! And because the restaurant personnel are already giving us dagger looks for staying so long, we left the place and look for other spot. On our way from the restaurant: well, well, well, guess who’s here?!? [Diane, where r u??? I think it is, indeed, not yet the right time. Hahaha!]

Around 11pm, bye bye time… see you next time friends!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E95-pPEpmA4

birthday celebration 1

My 24th birthday Wednesday, September 10

I had a stormy birthday, heavy rains and strong winds joined forces to make the weather so mean. Fortunately I was at home because I used my birthday leave privilege, hahaha. My cp started to beep with birthday greetings as early as 3am. At around 4pm, my sisters and I went to HP chapel to attend the mass; we’re back at home by 7pm and wrapped up the day with an appetizing dinner [yummy! Pizza from Shakeys and pancit with coke zero]. Well, the highlight of the day is my funny, scary dream in the middle of the day, hahaha, that’s the effect of too much sleep! :)

That was the 1st celebration… just hang around to know where the next gala is!!!

my 1st post!

this is my first post... for this blog... i actually started my blog last july but i forgot my username and password... :(