What's for your exchange gift? :P

In our wishlist, I asked for a stuffed toy, specifically "yung malambot at masarap yakapin", but I got more than I've wished for. :)

I got this as an exchange gift from Sir Borge, these three sweet little bears. I'm still deciding on what name I should call each of them, but I want to call one of them Borge, in honor of their giver. :P

So, how about you.. what did you get for your exchange gift? :)

What is lost and what is gained with a camera..

I went out with my officemates to watch the latest installment of Harry Potter on IMAX at the SM Mall of Asia last night, and although none of us is a fanatic of the Boy who lived, that experience was really something worth every penny. I was even excited to try watching inside imax theater, so I made sure to bring our digital camera with me, you know, so I can have a memory of the first time I watched on that BIG screen. But I guess I was just too busy laughing so hard with my friends, and enjoying the moment that I actually forgot about my camera altogether.

Somehow, it's sad that I can't post a photo of that experience on my facebook, or I can't even put a picture here in my blog. Surely, it will be a lot of fun if I only took sometime to point and shoot with my camera, then there will be more thread in my comment box. But somehow, I felt like that day was meant to be felt and enjoyed rather than to be shared or preserved. Somehow it felt like a precious second will pass me by if I've let myself pose still in front of a camera, or maybe our smiles won't be that genuine compared to how I saw it with my bare eyes.

With the presence of digital cameras and DSLR made more affordable, I guess people is beginning to have this clamor for framing every possible moment with their favorite gadget. A camera is viewed most essential in an outing, family affairs, group dates, and get together. And although something is gained with a digital camera, I guess some people is starting to be unaware of what is lost within a lens and a shutter.

Hmmm.. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with taking photos, of course we all want a remembrance of that once in a lifetime moment, right? Especially for those functions that happens once a year, or some that won't even happen again, I guess having a camera is a must. It preserves memories, it gives us a proof of something that happened, "hindi lang puro kwento..". But after all the "say cheese!", is it not nice to keep your gadget and just talk and mingle with everyone else?

I guess our mind is blessed with its own way of recording things although some people may have shorter term memory than the most. Our heart has its way of recalling how happy we were at a certain moment. We can even be our own story tellers, we can tell a story that is more vivid than a photograph.

If you'll only consider it, there are things that are better caught with your own memory rather than with a piece of memory stick. There are things that is more beautiful when you see it with your eyes, rather than through a lens. There are sounds, like that of your friend's laughter, that you can't hear from a printed photograph. There are moments that is more meaningful to relive over a simple chitchat that can't be replaced by your comment box. I guess, no matter how handy a digital camera is, your heart is still be best place to keep those memories, those laughters, or that awkward moment.

So flash your sweetest smile not just for the camera, but because someone might be trying to keep a memory of it in his mind. Who knows, he might even keep it in his heart forever.

Disappointments.

I guess being disappointed in small things often hurts as much as disappointments in big things. It's not just about a person being unwilling or incapable of fulfilling promises or simple favors, it's also about the other person feeling unworthy of such favors.

But asking for and doing favors are equally important in building a relationship. It leads us to being someone whom other people can depend on, someone accountable, a man of our word, someone considerate. Asking favor can teach us to trust other people, and helps us to be more understanding when it's not met. It shows how to lower our expectations, and to be grateful when someone delivers.

Even in our work place, it is important to learn to say no when you can't instead of saying "Yes" and back down eventually. I guess we should realize that as a part of a team, or a company, we start building our team work by simply fulfilling our promises or delivering the things we are expected to do in and outside our work place. We all have our limitations, but raising other people's hope only to fail them isn't a good way to earn their confidence and respect. If you can't, say it, it's much better than getting them deliberately disappointed.

Trust is something we earn, and we earn it in both little and big things. So keep your words when you can and try to make up when you can't. I know other people will do the same for you if you will be a good example for them. I guess, "palabra de onor.." is still a filipino virtue, right?

It's a "Me" day! :)

It's Saturday, my favorite day of the week aside from Sunday. While Sunday is a family day, and God's day, we often allocate saturday for our personal gala or bonding with our own group of friends. But since the plan to watch movies with my officemates didn't materialize, I just decided on going solo, as usual. :)

First stop! Sunset by the bay..

I remember the last time I sat down alone on the MOA seaside, it was after my exam and initial interview for SPi, the company where I work right now. After three months, I found myself staring at the sunset again and wondering about so many things, enjoying the view, watching couples and families, barkadas or best friends take their time off while I was there, all alone.

Next! My own piece of heaven!

Back in college, I often spent my time inside a bookstore, specially when the time got too tough and everything was stressing me out. But unlike before, when I only borrow the books I read, this time I decided to buy Eat Pray Love and Have a little faith. Two books I really wanted to read for so long.

One more thing! I also found my brother with his girlfriend inside the bookstore, and I realized how we really are siblings that we both always visit a bookstore when we go to a mall. I wasn't really expecting to see him, especially with his first girlfriend, but seeing him holding hands with her, that really made me smile a lot. :))

Next stop! Naked Juice Bar!

I bought papaya shake at the naked juice bar, but unlike the usual shake which is made with milk and sugar, that one was made of pure papaya and ice but a lot sweeter. It's really refreshing!

The high light! Fireworks while raining.

It's the lighting ceremony for the Firefly's giant christmas tree. Kids wearing a firefly costume, with some light on their butt, performed something while waiting for 7pm. They were pretty cute, but the huge crowd, plus a light drizzle wasn't really helping.

At exactly 7:00pm, the fireworks and the heavy rain started, but instead of leaving, the whole crowd enjoyed the lights and the water pouring out from heaven. I only got my jacket on, and I spread my arms to feel the rain on my face. That was really awesome. :)

Monster Meal at Shakey's..

My other brother was also at Moa with his officemates, so he asked me to join them for dinner. The food was great, at P17oo only, you can have a meal good for 12 people. Not bad. :)

Last stop, Pete's place.

It's a bar with a band performing for the audience's entertainment. The singers were wearing tube dress, showing most of their legs, and their boobs! No wonder a lot of guys were having a good time! But kidding aside, they were a bunch of good singers. And not to mention, funny. :)

The best treat! A good night sleep! :)

After a long day I hit the sack around 1am. A little tipsy from a bottle of light beer and tired from the whole day of having fun. So despite of all the itch on my back because of some allergy in alcoholic drinks, I really had a good sleep. and that was more than a weekend getaway can offer.

So, that ends my "me" day.

I hope you too can have a day for yourself. Yeah, we all deserve a day off. :)

*happy weekend! :)

Gasp!

I guess, I've never appreciated Saturdays and Sundays before more than the way I do after I got hired for my first job. Yeah, I've waited for it like a rain in the middle of the dessert, or Christmas in the middle of June. But why oh why, these two days seem too short that it only feels like a gasp before you take another of life's swift blow at work for the next weekend.

Mondays to Fridays. It's the five longest days of my week. Sometimes I don't even want to know what day it is so I don't really have to long for weekends like a starved kid. But when the time comes that I have to drag my feet to work, and the thought of the weekend suddenly cross my mind, heavens! I suddenly light up like up a newly installed light bulb!

Oh, who wouldn't long for a weekend, those two short days when you can actually chose what to do with your time without even worrying if you're being rightfully paid or if you are doing what you're supposed to do to meet deadlines. It's like finally letting out that deep breath you are unconsciously holding for five long days. It's a reward that is worth more than you're pay slip. It's life. Yes it is.

So continue looking forward for these two days. Plan a vacation, a date, or simple meet ups with friends. Let your long hair lose and dress up. Feel beautiful and stress free for a day. And REST. Yes, don't forget to sleep and eat right to let your body catch up with your heavy work load ahead.

Here! Let's take time to breathe out, and enjoy the simple joys of life this weekend and make it more than a gasp, more than a 48 hour work free day.

Happy weekend everyone! :)

Big Boys Do Cry...

"You are my first star at night,

and I'll be lost in space without you..."

Here it goes again. It's playing on repeat. And every time it does, I know exactly what is happening...

It's my mom's favorite song, Lost in Space, by Lighthouse family, something that hit the airwaves back in the 90s. Maybe not so many know this song, but in our home, it's like a lullaby, or a love song, or a song of grief. Long ago, it was played in our home for the first time on a mothers day, on a cassette player. I even tried to have my rendition of this song although it is for a male voice and a key lower for my voice. But when my mom died, it started to be played as a way to cope with grief, or to shake off sadness. When mom died, my boys, my brothers, played it on repeat every lonely day, like this day is.

Yes, big boys do cry, and how I wish I can draw them close to my arms every time. But I know I can't and I should not. I can never give comfort the way my mom did, it will be more painful for all of us. So I let them have their own time, a time to shed their tears silently, until such time they'll be ready to stand up again for themselves, for us.

I remember the day when we received the call that told us about mom. I was cooking sopas for our breakfast back then. It was almost done, but my tongue couldn't even taste a thing and I couldn't even swallow because of the lump inside my throat. I was trying hard not to burst into tears, especially in front of my two brothers. They need me, they need me to be strong. So I said, "Kain muna, kain muna tayo..."

Earlier, it was almost the same thing. I prepared something for our dinner, and called up for my brother. When he went down, his eyes were still red from crying, but I smiled. That smile. I know it will never be enough to take their tears away but I smiled, a reassuring smile and talked about trivial things, and talked about the world, as if I never heard them grieve or saw them cry. Yes, they are my boys who cry over their loss, but they are my men, the men I always count one. So I have to be their girl, who fights and tease them like a cat, and their woman whit whom they could find the strength to go on.

Oh God, thank you for the luxury to see them crying.. Their vulnerability is something I really treasure, but Lord, it breaks my heart, it weakens me. Although I tried to stand firm for them

I still wobble with their tears. So please, dry their tears away and comfort them in your loving arms, and teach me to be the woman they need, Lord.

After having our dinner, my brother rushed to his work. He said he needed some distraction. And once again, he strides like a big man out into the world.

Big Boys do cry...

And when they're done, they look up, and wonderfully turns into a man.

Out of the comfort zone...

Today is our fifth day since we came out of our training room to do our live work. Yes, it certainly feels like being a chick pushed out of our nest to fly on our own and once again I realized how cruel this world is.


The training room has been our comfort zone for almost a month. It sheild us away from the scrutinizing eyes of the senior editors and other team leads. In that room, we were allowed to be dumb, to commit mistakes, to ask innocent questions, to laugh like we don't care, to waste our time like we're not being paid, and play around when no one's looking. But now, we're here, out in the open, acting and moving like everyone else. Now, the expectations to perform accurately and with full productivity can almost be felt and seen as thick as a fog. Somehow, it's sickening. Yes, I felt suddenly sick like when you're pushed off the cliff with nothing to hold on to but yourself. Now, I have to stand for myself more than ever. If I have to fall seven times, I'll get up eight times.


This is... GROWING UP.

Confidence boost! :)

Happy first month team mates! :)

It's been a month of information overload, of trying to pass this training, of making ourselves enjoy the best out of this work.

Thank you for the small, honest and harmless compliments you give me. Maybe you'll think that's nothing, but to have you seated beside me just to spend some of our break time talking about nothing in particular makes me feel so good. Thank you for hearing me out and trying to understand the reasons why I am like this way or the other (specifically, why I'm always late or sleepy! LOL!). Thank you for making the eight hours I spend in our office worthwhile and more enjoyable. Thank you for reminding me not to be like this or like that, thank you because it makes me feel how really care for me and how you accept me just in case I won't change right away. Thank you for hearing me rant about our work and joining me in my wailing then the pressure gets too tough on us. Thank you for making me feel like it's okay to excel because we will support each other all the way to the top, yet I also want to thank you for understanding me when I don't stand a thing and I don't seem to pick up things the way I should.

Thank you guys... :)

I'll be forever thankful to have each and everyone of you..

*huuuugs! :)

-tonying

Things you don't want to encounter when you're running late...

1. The Slow Poke Driver...
You were almost rushing your way to hop in the first jeepney that could take you to your destination. Feeling relieved, you sit down and wait for the rush of wind to brush on your face as the jeep speed off the highway. But after a while, you noticed that all the other vehicle is over taking your jeepney. You stared hard at the driver but it seems like he is really taking his time behind his wheels driving oh so leisurely. Of course he is running 30kph, on the middle of the expressway!


2. The Blue Man.
Oh well, they also wear yellow, green, pink, black.. whatever that would suit their sense of style. I hate reckless driver who beats the red light, or a drives without license or someone who unloads his passenger in the middle of the road. But I guess, this is the time I silently pray for the Goddess of all the traffic enforcers to spare the driver of our public transport.

If you also experience this, and you are lucky enough, a bunch of bills and some negotiations will get you off the hook, but if not, better hop off and wait for the next jeepney. They might be needing more time to negotiate how much to pay for the bribe, or how to fill up the ticket they will issue.

3. The Pacman.
No, not the boxing champ. I mean, you know, the classic game that eats those little things that come accross his way? Yeah. It's like that driver who goes out of his usual route just so he can get more passenger, or stops in every corner to shout his destination (e.g. CUBAO! CUBAO! CUBAO!). Sometimes he will also add, AALIS NA! AALIS NA! AALIS NA!, which will take him another 10 minutes or more.

4. Engine Failure..
I'm no good when it comes to distinguishing one mechanical failure from the other, all I know is sometimes, the tire goes flat, or there will be some smoke coming from the hood of your wheels. When that happens, the driver usually return your fair and let you ride on the next jeepney. Or, he may feel like the greatest mechanic, and try to fix his jeep while you wait. Holllaaaahh! :D


5. Full Tank!
yeah.. say it again.. say it with all your anger, and frustration! FULL TANK! :D
that's how you will say it when the jeepney driver stops at the gasoline station to have a full tank, specially when the attending personel is taking too long and the queue of waiting vahicle gets longer.


Unfortunately, last week, I experienced everything that I listed here. And I guess, it goes without saying that on that day, I timed in way too late. I know it's not their fault, it's mine right?! No more alibis.. It's just that.. that's just so infuriating..



Oooopppsss.. it's time to go. It's the last working day for the week. Happy weekend everyone. :)

The damsel in distress at work…

20 seconds…
I’ve wasted 20 precious paid moments of my life staring blankly at the monitor, and if not for my seatmate who repeatedly snapped his fingers in front of me just to catch my attention, maybe that time counter will still go on and on and on for God knows how long.


I don’t know… I’m not feeling sleepy… It’s just that… I’m… I’m lost somewhere… Deep in my thoughts, or maybe I must say, I am more lost inside my broken heart… What the heck! When did I start to be like this? When did I learn to mix my personal life with my work…? Maybe just yesterday… when everything about us started to mess up.


It’s never my style to get out of focused, or to think of something else while I’m at work.
Most of the time, I try to stop and cry for a while, compose myself and bounce back afterwards. But this time, I can’t figure out a way to keep my hands on one thing and forget about the rest just for the meantime. Why? I’m thinking about him! There is nothing more important to me than that. Or so I think.


I know it’s wrong…
As a team member, I am of course expected to uplift the spirit of my workmates, but how can I do that when I can’t even bring myself to sanity. As an employee, I’m expected to use my resources, especially my time for the company’s benefit, but I’m beginning to forget how to do that too.


I know this too shall pass… When would that be? I don’t really know. All I know is, I’m not okay and I have to live with it until such time that I can laugh and blab like nothing happened.

Birthday Party with Officemates! :))

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. *wink! :)

Okay, it's gonna be a long thank you message for my officemates.. so bear with me! :)

To my team Hapontukin,

thank you sa isang masayang birthday party para sa akin at sa kapwa ko mga september babies..

thank you sa pagpunta kahit parepareho tayong walang maayos na tulog. haha. :)

JESSA,

thank you sa balloons, at sa pagdecorate sa bahay namin, wala ka talagang katulad. ang kkuuullleeeet. haha. salamat sa pagudyok ng sample! sample! at batobatopek.. naubos natin yung pangalawang bote. ampf. XD

Cheeeeessyyy MaC!

thank you sa GIANT birthday card.. haha. natuwa talaga ako dun, anlaki eh. ahaha. pasensya na kung hindi ko kayo pinaglunch at hindi ko kayo pinatulog.. mabait ako eh, alam nyo naman yun. :P

ATE LEI!

wwweeehh.. sa aming official nurse cook! haha. salamat po sa pagbubusog sa aming lahat, yuuummm.. next time ulet. hala! haha. salamat sa mga medical advice, ngayon pati cooking advice pwede na rin humingi sayo. :D

BIJIN!

aaww.. sayang, di gumana yung cd.. di ka tuloy nakapagdance number, i mean, hindi tuloy tayo nakapagkaraoke. haha. benta talaga yung photographic memory mo, hindi tayo naligaw! haha. :) salamat sa pamblow ng balloons. haha.

Kabirthday ko, RAIN!

haha. yyiiikkeee.. haapppyy birthday satin. buti na lang, maaraw naman, para maiba, palagi na lang maulan pag birthday natin eh. ;)) thank you sa pagpunta, sabi ko na eh, di mo ako matitiis. :))

Future team lead, TEK!

hahaha.. kinabahan ako sayo, kala ko maliligaw ka na. haha. salamat din sa pagpunta, buti na lang hindi natuloy yung lakad mo.. hihi.. sinabotahe ko talaga yun, para makasama ka samin. haha.

singer/rapper JHOE!

ooohh yeah, may hidden talent ka talaga eh, ang galing galing! :)) salamat sa mga simpleng banat na palaging nakakapanggising samin..

Cartoonist, ArnArn.

THANK YOU.. keep on sleeping talaga. haha. :))yaan mo, walang problema dun. :D

Seatmate, BOWGZ!

haha. gisingin mo na lang ako pagnakakatulog na naman ako ah. haha. :)

Rakistang Hal!

haha. sayang dapat talaga tinugtugan mo kami ng isang malupet. ahe.. salamat sa paghatid sa kanila hanggang antiplolo.. haha. teka, hinatid mo ba? haha. :))

Intel Inside, ATE NERI!

haha. nakikiATE talaga ako. haha. :P salamat sa maagang pagcomment sa FB. haha. ang bilis eh. toinks. :D next time, party party o kaya bowling naman. :))

ALVIN,

sabi ni ate neri, hinintay ka kaya namin sa labas, hindi nga sila umuwi hanggang wala ka eh. hahah. XD

andayaaaa... hhmpf. pero okay lang yan.

sa hindi nakapunta..

ASH!

Next time sa inyo naman daw. haha. :)

kuya ARVIN!

wala nang spaghetti eh, sorry naman. :))BM na lang treat ko. haha. XD

ayan, natapos din. ahaha. thank you talaga guys. I love you all.. salamat sa tatlong linggo ng pagsasama sama. malapit na matapos training pero sana masundan pa to. :)

*cheeeeers to us!

To laugh hard is to risk appealing the fool..

It's just my third week at work but I guess, we're now beginning to risk showing everyone who we really are and how we wanted to be treated in our office. It's like slowly peeling down our defenses, our pretense, just so we can show our genuine self and be loved and respected for who we are.

TO LAUGH IS TO RISK APPEALING THE FOOl..

quoted from my favorite poem, Dare to Take a Risk..

Yes, I laugh hard, I sneeze, I yawn, I talk fast, I grin, and I giggle the way I want to, but I don't mind. I don't care if I would look naive or dumb, but I admit it when I don't know something, share my knowledge when I do, and accept criticism when it's due. In this way, my officemates will begin to personally know me, and love me and hate me but still accept me just the same. I am lucky to have them, to be excited to go to work because I know I will laugh away our working hours or maybe sleep and eat and yawn with them until it's time to flash our badge out of our building.

I'm afraid that I'm once again about to take one of the biggest risks in my life -- to love. But I love them, I love the absurdity of what we are doing, I love the variety of our age, our out of tune music jam, the praising songs when it's break time, and of course I love our brief walk on our way home.

I know these things will change sooner than I wanted, but I just want to relish this realization that indeed, God always surround me with so many awesome people and always use me as His vessel of blessings for those people around me..

SPI Shuttle Bloopers Part 1

This thing happened last week, I don't know what day because I don't even want to remember that embarrassing day, but for the fun of it, let me narrate that first incident of my being late, and the stupidity that followed...


I was literally brisk walking as soon as I got off that stupid jeepney who wanted to get every innocent people standing on the side walk as his passenger. I sighed, that was the very first time I believe I will time in past our schedule. I was furious, so I stommped my way to our company's shuttle..

Then I hold the knob, pulled it, got irritated because it didn't open and nobody from the other side had the kind heart to open it for me. So I tried again, and even pulled harder, then finally! Helluvah! It opened, I looked up to see a man holding the door.. and in my almost dazed state, I heard him say...

"Miss... HINDI PO ITO SHUTTLE NG SPI.."




So I let go of the door and watched as the man who slapped those words on my face slowly closed the door. Damn.. What was that? Is he joking? It's a white L300 Van! and it's parked where our service shuttle were supposed to be..


Then when I turned around, it hit me...


There was a queue behind me. and they are all wearing this smart casual attire almost the same as I do. Okay.. I got it..


thanks for a wonderful night..




End of the story?
I timed in at around 10:07 because it took me another minute or so before our most awaited shuttle arrived. Lucky..

that was the day I realized...
"if it's late.. it's me.."

Tax, Politics and being underpaid..

Underpaid.

I never thought this word can really sound so bad when you are actually the one working hard to earn your money but then it will suddenly puff out of nowhere. UNDERPAID. Such an awful word.

Actually this god forbidden word surfaced in one of our conversations on our break time, and suddenly it hit me, we are all aware that we are underpaid, and yet why the heck we accepted this job offer! haha. I guess it's about the charming HR who wooed us to this direction, but kidding aside, I guess, we are all just after for the experience since most of us are fresh grads, so here we are! welcome to the world!

In the middle of our discussion about our new job, someone blurted out, "okay na sana mababa ang sahod, wag lang mataas ang tax o masyadong mahal ang mga bilihin.." Of course, the rest of us exhaled our sigh of dismay.. "Asa!" But then again, who won't wish for a lower tax, right? But since we live here in the Philippines, where our taxes cover most of our country's expenses, some of our politician's living allowance, and a little for misaligned projects, of course we have to deal with "kaltax" as our trainor called it..

I guess there is no helping in discussing politics when we talk about salary, being underpaid, and of course, taxes. Our conversation even trailed as far as our presidential bets last May 2010 national election and why or why not PNOY should indeed be our president, or if there's somebody else to fit the position. But since we can do nothing about who won the election last May, I guess we can only work hard, pay our taxes, and pray to God so our politicians will spare our meager contributions for our country.

But I guess paying taxes is somehow a good thing. I actually even smiled at the thought that finally, I dropped in some peso on our "kaban ng bayan..." That those little amount actually marked my being part of the work force of our country, an asset and not anymore a liability..

"Let be your reward, equal to your hard work.." So one day, I hope I'll earn as much as I work hard, although I am perfectly aware that it's almost impossible.

*cheers!

Happy Wednesday!

My formula for a happy life? It's a long, deep sleep plus a simple I Love You from him when I wake up..


Hoho! :)
Since our trainor announced earlier that we will be having a lengty exam today, I really made sure that I will have enough sleep, so I slept for like 8 hours not even minding the hard rain pouring on our roof. But I guess what made me really happy was the news I got when I checked my mail. weeeehh.. Finally, the wait will be over! :)



Hmmm..
Also today, ETC showed the first episode of Glee with our very own Charice Pempenco.. I almost literally pushed myself out of our home, just so I won't be tempted to sit and watch the whole episode! haha. Too bad, I didn't catch our own star in her debut in the most popular series in the US nowadays. But there's youtube anyway, or maybe my brothers will once again download the whole series someday, so no worries. :))




happy wednesday!



*end note*

I timed in at exactly 9:54, a minute earlier than yesterday!
yehey! :))

Laid Back Tuesday!

Yes, it's a more laid back day here in the office. (Fortunately) Our trainor is having a meeting with the bosses, i guess, and we, the trainees, got our chance to sneak around and browse the web. Let's talk about a model employee in the making! :))

For the record, I timed in around 9:55 tonight. Can somebody give me a round of applause? haha. I made it just on time, not too early but at least not late. :))

What I also noticed about Tuesday is, of course, the less hassle on the street. It doesn't have the same busstle as Monday and has definitely less traffic jam than a wednesday, Baclaran Day. I know I'm not the only one who watch out for what day it is so you can calculate your travel time depending on how busy the road might be on that particular day. So I guess, if my observation is right, specially around here on our place, Tuesday is definitely THE DAY! :P

The queen is never late, everyone else is just too early..

That is a line from the movie "Princess' diary.." starring the ever beautiful Ann Hathaway. Oh yes, maybe everyone else is just too early, and I am not that late, oh well.. I timed in 13 minutes before our work sched but when I entered the training room, everyone else, including our trainor, was already around. oh, boy.. what's wrong with them? Why are they always early.. or is it just me? :))


Anyway..
I just came in from a weekend getaway in Bicol for the Peñafrancia Festival, and I really had a great time. Although I missed some of the more important activities, I can't be more happy to celebrate with my brothers and sisters and their family, and somehow rediscover the Bicolano tradition and culture.


Happy Fiesta bicolandia! :)

There is always a first time...

So good.

After I made this blog, the following day, I was late. That was my first time, though.. Tsk. Just to set things straight, I actually made this blog to track down my battle against being late, and that incident yesternight was really not part of it, so please omit. hoho. :)

What made me late?

1. Because my body aches so much.. raaaahh.. I can't believe that a 30 minute badminton game with my brother can give me this much aching especially on my thighs and my right arm. Tsk.. Darn Kuya Zan, he kept me running for the shuttle cock and made me do all the serve. hoho. :)

2. It's raining. Actually it was raining before I went out, but by the time I was out the road were all dried up. haha. Some of my officemates complained of being stuck somewhere because the rain was too heavy. But in my case? No rain. Just some drizzle. I guess that's the advantage of not going out too early.

3. I cooked. I cooked spaghetti for kuya's breakfast, fried tilapia for dinner, and 5 minute cake mug for nothing.

So I was late like 7 minutes, and this night I am really determined to make it up. And! It's Dress down friday so I am really a bit excited. Imagine the hassle of wearing slacks and almost business attire everyday! :)) Oh! Well..

One more thing! tomorrow after office, we will be heading to Naga for the Peñafrancia Festival. Yooohhooo.. Got to be my first time to ride on an airplane. yeeeehaaa.. :)

lalalalala..

-remember, if it's late.. it's me. :)

For One More Day

Okay, I finally got a copy of this book, but unfortunately, when I went home, it only took me 30 minutes to finish reading the rest of it. Naaahh.. I’m not that fast-reader, but Mitch Albom’s book hooked me right between the shelves of Powerbooks and when I started reading it, I couldn’t seem to put it down. But since I still got the nerve to stop and buy a copy of it instead of reading it free of charge, here I am, doing this blog. :)

For those who happened to readThe Five People You Meet in Heaven maybe you all know how Mitch Albom could make you wishful, or how he could make you have a closer look at how you spend your everyday life. This time, he did it again. This time, he hit me harder.

Maybe somehow I wanted to be like Chick Benetto, who had the chance to be with his departed Mom even For One More Day. Maybe, it will be a good break from all the screwing up I did since she left. Somehow, as I read through these pages, I can’t help but feel the same nostalgia that Chick felt when he saw his mom — the way she was, the smell of her cooking, the way she prepared the table, the way she made everything simple and sweet. I guess, like him, I’d be willing to embrace the insanity of having my mom back when I perfectly know she’s gone.

But then again, this book reminded me of how much my mother loved me in those short span of time we had together. This book reminded me of her words of wisdom, her comforting presence and strong motivation. It also reminded me the times she stood up for me, and the number of times I failed her. But most of all, it reminded me how motherly love never fails, always understands, is unwavering, and pure, and most of all — irreplaceable.

There are some kinds of love we took for granted while growing up. There are some things we always leave unnoticed. There are some moments that we just slip away never knowing if it would be our last. But I guess, our mother’s love is never one of them. A time with our mom or our family should never be our last priority. Because no matter how we much we wanted to be like Chick, who had the chance to talk to our dearly departed when life gets too tough, in life, there are no second chances, no guarantees, nothing permanent.

At the end, having a one more day with Chick’s Mom didn’t fix his everything. I would be very happy if he happened to get his wife back, or reconciled with his father. But no. He only got to be a loving father again to his daughter, and live another day to tell his story. I guess that’s also how crazy life could be. Sooner or later you will realize all your mistake but it’s too late to start all over again. But God is faithful, He still gives us a life ahead to learn more, and live a better life.

Disney Pixar's UP!

Minutes after watching my most awaited movie of the year and there I was, smiling my way out of the Mall of Asia Cinema 3.. The movie was released a little late here in the Philippines, but watching it in 3D animation made all the waiting worth it.

After Pixar studio conquered the sea, with Finding Nemo, and discovered the outer space with Wall-E, this is yet another movie that will take you up, Up in the sky.

The movie’s plot is quite simple, it’s about a 78 year old man, Carl Fredricksen, who launched his house on its way to South America (*it’s like Ameerrriiicccaaaa, only in the south…) by tying thousands of balloon on his house.

The adventure of course won’t be such as fun without his unlikely companion, Russell, an 8 year old, wilderness explorer looking for “helping the elderly” badge.. (hi! My name is russell, and I am a wilderness explorer.. I can help you cross the street, I can help you cross the yard.. I can help you cross your porch..)

Another unforgettable character in this story is of course, Mr. Fredricksen’s late wife, Ellie. I can’t even count the number of times I said, “ang swwwweeeettt…” during this movie. In its simplest way it presented the love story we all dream of, just the thought of someone we can dream and work with, someone to have coffee with everyday for the rest of our lives and just someone who would make this adventure called life worth it.

Yes, it’s nostalgic, it’s touching and sincerely heart warming. But more than that, it is equally funny, and hilarious it will also bring you to tears after a good laugh.

With a very bright dog, Dug, who can obey his master’s commands from, sit, shake, bark, and talk, the movie also brings out the meaning of loyalty. (I wonder what my dog Whiskey would also say if he would have that collar that can make him speak in different languages… :D) Like everyone else, Dug just wanted to be liked, and loved by the other dogs, but he falls a little short each time, nonetheless, no one, especially he, deserves the cone of shame..

And there comes Kevin, a very rare bird that loves chocolates! :) Russell gave her the name Kevin, only to realize later that she is a she. (her chicks look pretty cute you would like to keep it as a key chain.. lol!) But Mudz, the Spirit of Adventure pilot wants to catch her alive. Of course, her friend Russell won’t allow it. So the little boy made Carl promise to protect Kevin at all times.. (Promise? Cross your heart?)


With a straightforward, simple and sincere scenes the movie takes its viewers into an adventure of a life time. The animation, as it was of course created by Pixar, the pioneer in digital animation, was undoubtedly stunning and beautiful and clear and technically masterfully crafted.


The movie made me think about my goals, the things I want to put on the next pages of my adventure book. It made me look for the better days, but it also reminded me to treasure the little adventures I am having each day of my life. It made me wish for a lasting friendship with that special one, who would make every wrinkle and every white hair strand count. It made me feel good about getting old, and being young, and everything in between. The movie, is definitely, a must see…


For the young and old alike. For the dreamers. For the Dug, i mean, dog lovers. For the widows and widowers. For the couple. For friends. For the adventurers. There is absolutely no way, but Up!

What's in Your Backpack?

“what’s in your backpack?…”

Yeah, let’s think of all those things important to us — shoes, cellphone, bags, books, pens, our pillows, slippers, our clothes, let’s even include the bigger things like our house, our refrigerator, TV, computer, bed, dining sets and many many many more. Let’s also think of the people we love, — parents, siblings, aunt or uncle, cousins, boyfriends or girlfriends, our children. Then imagine putting it inside your back pack…

Done? Don't worry, I won't ask you to burn it..

Now, imagine carrying that back pack with the straps on your shoulder…

Then walk…

How does it feel? Yeah, it’s heavy. isn't it? And you know what? it slows you down…”

Okay! Now you can put that back pack down!

I saw that scene in the movie UP IN THE AIR, where George Clooney played the role of Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizer (someone who earns a living by firing employees of different companies around the world). Ryan Bingham also gives a talk about how relationships and things slows you down and make it difficult for you to move forward. He emphasized this thought with a simple question, “what’s in your back pack?..”

That entirely makes sense. I guess what we are, where we are right now, the places we are looking forward to reach and how we get there has a lot to do with what we carry in our journey.

But although some people really looks and feels like a baggage, most of those people we love and those who love us may prove otherwise. Although Ryan Bingham in this movie, talks about commitment being a big word, and how most of the time we gain nothing from it, at some point of our lives, that word may prove to be more than just something to fill in our backpack.

In a time where commitment and marriage already seem old fashion, and family is nothing like the basic unit of society that it was, Up in the Air did a brief, and honest view of life, and relationships that people may somehow find it fulfilling in the end.

Be careful, and be sure to remove people who are beginning to be a burden in your backpack, but take care of your belongings for they may seem handy and helpful most of the times.