Tadaaa!! Welcome back to blogging :) The truth why it took me this long to blog again is because I forgot my password shocks akala ko I will never access my blog again... But well I got lucky this time when I tried it. Weee!!! Now before I welcome 2007 (the year of the fire pig.. ewww I hate pigs), though so many exciting things happened, especially involving ala-roller coaster emotional rides, let me enumerate a few of my 2006 highlights.
2006:
1. Ang pinakahighlight ng lahat kaya number 1 sya, I finally found someone who knocks me off my feet - my future-husband (dati kasi future-bf lang sya, now tumaas na level nya, naku baka pinagpawisan na pwet nun hahaha), ang pinakagwapo kong bf (as in! hayyy) na si Harley :D Ang saya saya talaga :) Uyyy malapit na kami mag 3 months.. Huwaw! :
2. Transferred to another company again - all in the name of career improvement pero ingon si Claire pula lang dyud ko og lubot.
3. Joined Lingkod ng Panginoon (Makati branch) and through this I got involved with community-service activities like tutoring Math to kids at Baseco. It really feels good to help and share your God-given gifts and skills.
4. Trips: Boracay - sa wakas natupad na rin ang dream kong maglakad na naka2-piece na walang paki sa ibang tao. Sagada - nature trip to the max, don't be deterred by the 12 hours bus trip, it's worth it. Baguio - with my colleagues at work to attend a friend's father's wake pero nag side-trip kami.
5. Nagpakulot ako and I love it! It's really low maintenance because it's literally "wash and wear". So, I'll keep it like this for another year or two :)
6. I completed the Simbang Gabi - secret na lang kung ano wish ko *wink*
My hopes/dreams for 2007:
1. Out of the country trip - may it be leisure or work-related, basta out of the country.
2. Be able to find a place on my own. I just wanna try to be independent, have all the responsibilities re. bills, keeping the place clean or at least livable.
3. Work in Dubai.. gusto ko mag Dubai! Hehehehe
4. Be financially stable. Ayoko na maging poor! :( Paano ba to? ha? ha?
New Year's Resolutions:
1. Quit being tamad. Shocks, the very reason why I'm blogging now is because tinatamad ako. Naku I have failed this resolution na :
2. Complain or whine less.
3. Be less critical, look for the good side in everyone. If I don't have something good to say about someone, I'll just zip my mouth. Uhhh okay, good luck :
4. Eat less sweets kasi it's not good for the body eh, hehe. Basta, be physically fit...
5. Ayoko na, hindi na ako magpapaloko sa mga SALE na yan! Nakakasira talaga sya ng budget e. From now on, I should avoid it like the plague. Good luck again :
It's another year and I am excited what this year will bring. I am positive this year will be more adventure-filled, more exciting :) So let's pop that bottle of champagne and welcome 2007...
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Monday, 22 January 2007
Wednesday, 13 December 2006
Holidays & Georgia Coffee
I received 9 Georgia coffee from friends who came back from Japan. 8 (Oo 8! Malumos jud ko ani og kape hehehe) from Maila who's here for a vacation. She just graced us a few minutes with her presence last night to give us her omiyage in between her flights from Japan to Cebu. Grabe igo ra jud namo gisimhot si Maila...hehehe. And 1 from Ria, who is here to stay for good, for now maybe. Yes, only 1 from Ria - kuripot talaga :p Pero choks lang kasi binigyan naman nya ako ng boylet before she exited with a bang from Japan.
It really is time for the Holidays. Dear friends are reappearing after months of disappearing act. And this coming Saturday is the start of Simbang Gabi. I won't miss it - I'll try not to miss one Simbang Gabis as my thank-you to Him for a suprisingly good year. Ria, gisingin mo talaga ako...
with Ria sa French baker Landmark
with Maila sa Domestic Airport
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Monday, 11 December 2006
My Starbucks Planner
I finally claimed my Starbucks planner kanina. Actually, nung Friday pa ako kulang na lang ng 1 sticker, so I could have bought a cup and claimed the planner over the weekend. But nooooo, I decided to delay it a bit, para mas masarap yung victory. Yes! I finally have a Starbucks planner... weee! Ang saya-saya!!! :D
I'm so proud of this because in just two weeks I was able to collect the required 21 stickers. I just shelled out for less than 10 cups because most stickers were donated by my mabait friends. Thanks, thanks sa inyong lahat na tumulong, di ko makakalimutan to... mwah! =)
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I'm so proud of this because in just two weeks I was able to collect the required 21 stickers. I just shelled out for less than 10 cups because most stickers were donated by my mabait friends. Thanks, thanks sa inyong lahat na tumulong, di ko makakalimutan to... mwah! =)
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Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Red roses for me
Days before Valentines of this year, I passed by IslandRose's outlet near our condo. The store was full of flowers and their staff were busy arranging and packing them into those white boxes. Nainggit ako (inggitera talaga noh?) and naisip ko sino kaya magbibigay sa akin ng flowers like that from IslandRose or basta through online. I never thought it could happen because aside from I had no boyfriend yet that time, di ko naman inakala na magkakaboypren ako from far away land at magiging long-distance love affair ang drama namin, hehehe.
On the morning of 24-Nov. I received a bouquet of 2 dozen red roses from Pangga. I was really surprised because he had never hinted that he had something in store for me that day. May pasorry-sorry pa na wala daw sya gift sa akin kasi nasa malayo daw sya... hahaha acting talaga. And my delight doubled when I found out that he ordered those flowers from IslandRose. Sus, sya pala magbibigay sa akin ng ganun, hehe how sweet... Red na, IslandRose na and from Pangga pa, wow! truly it's the best bouquet I've received so far!
Happy first monthsary :)
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Monday, 13 November 2006
Aging gracefully
I don't feel old, in fact I feel younger than my age... hahaha defensive ba? I read this article from Philstar and it suggests practical tips on how to age gracefully. Practical, in a sense that this doesn't involve expensive anti-aging creams or uber expensive nip-and-tuck procedures, but lifestyle changes that actually will help us grow as a person. I'm posting an excerpt in my blog. I want to have this archived for future reference (shocks... ) and also to share with you. However, the gist of this is to live simply, give more of yourself to others and do things with love and passion.
Secrets to aging well
WELL-BEING By Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit
The Philippine STAR 11/07/2006
• Focus on helping others. As Mother Teresa used to say the world is hungry for our help and our love. When our focus is outside of ourselves and we venture to help others or a cause, then we forget about our own problems, which experts say make us feel old. We gain vitality, fulfillment, and joy when we help others. Age is just a number; it should not imprison us to stop making a difference.
• Be realistic. Do not get carried away though because you do not have the easy and bottomless energy of youth. Do not be too daring and too obsessed that you are already putting in too much energy way beyond what you can really easily commit.
• Start small. Whether it is exercising or finding a good advocacy, start with a small step. If you haven’t been exercising, start by walking around the neighborhood for 15 minutes. Then increase it by five minutes every other day until you can walk for 30 minutes. Then increase the effort by walking faster, swinging your arms or even carrying small weights.
• Begin with your passion. When you love doing it, it is not work. If you love to paint, then offer to paint for free for the homeless like in the GK project of Gawad Kalinga or donate your paintings to hospital wards. Using our passion to help others is very uplifting and defines our purpose in life.
• Use your wisdom. The unique set of skills, gifts, and experiences you have developed over a lifetime makes you a great teacher to anyone in need. Before you know it, your influence will expand as you help a lot of people.
• Connect with nature. There is something about nature that is so inspiring and uplifting. Just being surrounded by trees in a park, for example, energizes you. The magnificence of nature also makes us realize that we are so finite compared to the greatness of our Creator. That normally puts things in perspective – especially worldly concerns that throw us off-balance and stress us out. Plant flowers in your garden, smell them, and enjoy their beauty.
• Be with inspiring people. Who makes you happy, energetic, alive? Be with those people more than those who provide you anguish, low morale, and pain. I remember years ago when I wrote about happiness in one’s work – if your job does not fulfill you and make you happy, then you deserve to find another one because no amount of money and benefits can equal the stress and illness you will develop in a job that makes you miserable. Heal yourself by being with people who inspire you and make you whole.
• Forgive and forget. Life is too short to keep an inventory of what is wrong and not fair. Each disappointment should be regarded as a lesson with a valuable teaching. This is so difficult, but I have a technique. I implore God to do the forgiving for me; once I let go, I realize it is easy.
• Listen to music, admire art. Find something that will inspire you. If it is music, buy the CD or go to a concert. If it’s art, frequent the museum. There is something inspiring about admiring the creation of a human skill, maybe because it alludes to the greatness of the God who created man and his talents.
• Get involved in service. Do not just write a check to charity. Get involved. Whether it is just volunteering to teach catechism to kids on weekends or to sing in church.
According to Dr. Weil, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and author of several best-sellers, among them Healthy Aging, any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others, more connected to nature, less isolated, and more comfortable with change is beneficial. It will improve your physical and mental health. It will help you accept the fact of your aging and help you age gracefully.
Dr. Weil believes many things really become better with age, such as whiskey, cheese, trees, violins, and antiques. "If you look at whiskey, aging of whiskey smoothes out rawness and greenness, it adds depth and complexity, it adds flavors, and concentrates what’s desirable. At the same time, there is evaporation of what’s less consequential and I think it’s fairly easy to see the analogies in human life with that process. Aging can increase value by concentrating what is most worthy and by allowing what’s inconsequential to dissipate. It can smooth out roughness, add depth of character, so I just find it a useful exercise to think what aging brings out in these other areas of our experience that makes us willing to pay more money for old versions."
Read more...
Secrets to aging well
WELL-BEING By Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit
The Philippine STAR 11/07/2006
• Focus on helping others. As Mother Teresa used to say the world is hungry for our help and our love. When our focus is outside of ourselves and we venture to help others or a cause, then we forget about our own problems, which experts say make us feel old. We gain vitality, fulfillment, and joy when we help others. Age is just a number; it should not imprison us to stop making a difference.
• Be realistic. Do not get carried away though because you do not have the easy and bottomless energy of youth. Do not be too daring and too obsessed that you are already putting in too much energy way beyond what you can really easily commit.
• Start small. Whether it is exercising or finding a good advocacy, start with a small step. If you haven’t been exercising, start by walking around the neighborhood for 15 minutes. Then increase it by five minutes every other day until you can walk for 30 minutes. Then increase the effort by walking faster, swinging your arms or even carrying small weights.
• Begin with your passion. When you love doing it, it is not work. If you love to paint, then offer to paint for free for the homeless like in the GK project of Gawad Kalinga or donate your paintings to hospital wards. Using our passion to help others is very uplifting and defines our purpose in life.
• Use your wisdom. The unique set of skills, gifts, and experiences you have developed over a lifetime makes you a great teacher to anyone in need. Before you know it, your influence will expand as you help a lot of people.
• Connect with nature. There is something about nature that is so inspiring and uplifting. Just being surrounded by trees in a park, for example, energizes you. The magnificence of nature also makes us realize that we are so finite compared to the greatness of our Creator. That normally puts things in perspective – especially worldly concerns that throw us off-balance and stress us out. Plant flowers in your garden, smell them, and enjoy their beauty.
• Be with inspiring people. Who makes you happy, energetic, alive? Be with those people more than those who provide you anguish, low morale, and pain. I remember years ago when I wrote about happiness in one’s work – if your job does not fulfill you and make you happy, then you deserve to find another one because no amount of money and benefits can equal the stress and illness you will develop in a job that makes you miserable. Heal yourself by being with people who inspire you and make you whole.
• Forgive and forget. Life is too short to keep an inventory of what is wrong and not fair. Each disappointment should be regarded as a lesson with a valuable teaching. This is so difficult, but I have a technique. I implore God to do the forgiving for me; once I let go, I realize it is easy.
• Listen to music, admire art. Find something that will inspire you. If it is music, buy the CD or go to a concert. If it’s art, frequent the museum. There is something inspiring about admiring the creation of a human skill, maybe because it alludes to the greatness of the God who created man and his talents.
• Get involved in service. Do not just write a check to charity. Get involved. Whether it is just volunteering to teach catechism to kids on weekends or to sing in church.
According to Dr. Weil, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and author of several best-sellers, among them Healthy Aging, any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others, more connected to nature, less isolated, and more comfortable with change is beneficial. It will improve your physical and mental health. It will help you accept the fact of your aging and help you age gracefully.
Dr. Weil believes many things really become better with age, such as whiskey, cheese, trees, violins, and antiques. "If you look at whiskey, aging of whiskey smoothes out rawness and greenness, it adds depth and complexity, it adds flavors, and concentrates what’s desirable. At the same time, there is evaporation of what’s less consequential and I think it’s fairly easy to see the analogies in human life with that process. Aging can increase value by concentrating what is most worthy and by allowing what’s inconsequential to dissipate. It can smooth out roughness, add depth of character, so I just find it a useful exercise to think what aging brings out in these other areas of our experience that makes us willing to pay more money for old versions."
Read more...
Wednesday, 8 November 2006
When God writes your Lovestory (my version)
After I changed my status in Friendster into in a relationship, many friends and previous officemates began contacting me, asking me who's my bf, how did we meet, our love story, etc, blah blah blah. Dami yata nagulat may bf na ako.. don't worry pati rin ako nagulat eh hahaha :p So I've decided to blog about it all para send ko na lang link na 'to sa magtatanong pa. But this is just a summary (warning, mushy to, hehe), I'd rather keep some details private :)
Ria seemed to have this self-imposed obligation to help me fill my loveless lovelife. Two months ago we had this chat:
Oi, may ire-reto ako sa yo, hehehe.
Sino na naman yan?
Si Harley, matagal na sa Kuwait, friend ni Dan, NEC manila din dati. Promise okay to sya, mabait. Ayoko ko sana ireto sa yo kasi sobrang mabait daw.
Huh? Ayoko pala ng sobrang mabait?
Hahaha baka kasi ma bored ka sa kanya :p
Honestly, I wasn't "searching", because I was happy being single and available. Going into another relationship wasn't my priority. I thought di pa naman ako gurang, medyo marketable pa naman ako (hahahaha!) so there's no pressure. Sometimes I even went out to friendly dates para makalibre ng coffee, hehehehe :p Besides I just gained my "freedom", I was bent on enjoying it to the fullest, do things I had long ago wanted to do and I was focusing more on improving myself. And also, since Harley was from NEC (though NEC-Manila) I didn't expect this to take off and progress "romantically". I thought, naku from NEC na naman! I have nothing against NEC guys pero heller naman, kung both naging bf mo from NEC, wouldn't you want to try another flavor? Understandably, gusto ko naman ng iba, baka kasi malas lang ako with NEC guys. But since he's mabait (correction, sobrang mabait pala... hehehe) I conceeded, at least I would gain another friend.
Our first chat surprised me because I was pre-framed that he's boring, oh my gas, di pala! Aba sumasakay sya sa mga hirit ko! Especially when he told me he had a crush on me when he saw me in Cebu when they had their training, plus 100 pogi points na sya agad! Hahahaha oo nabola ako :P After that, we started chatting a lot and exhanged text messages literally from sunup to kadlawon (madaling-araw). We talked about everything under the sun from serious topics like our past relationships and our dreams, to mundane topics and walang-kwenta na bagay. Makulit sya, makulit din ako, kaya ayun magastos sa load, hahaha. I began looking forward to his messages (I made sure may load ako always para makareply, o diba.. hehe) and I felt giddy everytime he called me. I realized then I felt "something" for him. But I brushed it aside, shunned the kilig since I would want to meet him in person first and verify if I would still feel the same way (to verify din na di sya multo, hehe).
Two weeks ago he was here for a vacation. We planned to meet. I was really nervous as I waited for him at Greenbelt. (Oo kainis, pinahintay ako, grr! Nakalimutan yata nya na Pinas to, hello traffic from QC to Makati...) And my nervousness augmented with each passing minute that it was a miracle inabutan nya ako still standing na poised pa rin, as if everything's normal. I can't remember the first thing I said to him , because everything was a blur... I just felt so happy I finally met him and I had this crazy urge to hug him kasi gwapo pala sya in person, hahahaha :D After a few minutes, the awkwardness went away and we were conversing/nagkukulitan like we used to in phone and chats. We had a lovely dinner at Hue, coffee at Coffee Bean, midnight snacks at Chowking, ice cream at 7-11 then breakfast meals at Jollibee... haha oo, inumaga na kami, kwentuhan lang, kulitan... exactly my idea of a perfect date (see, low-maintenance lang talaga ako, basta may food, solve na :p). Two days after, under the starlit sky of Makati, he popped the question. Ayun sinagot ko na agad, di man lang umabot ng one hour, baka kasi magbago ang isip hahahaha (tsk! di ko man lang pinahirapan... ). It's because I finally felt that elusive spark, that magical feeling of finally finding your match... how could I say no? The following days were filled with wonderful discoveries about him, with each discovery leaving me falling deeper in love with him. And believe me, he's not boring... not at all! *wink*
I was already happy before he came, he just made me happier. I never thought I can be this happy. Being with him, I am carefree, no pretenses, I am not restricted... I am me. It was all a perfect timing. Just when I wasn't searching, when I'm already healed by past disappointments and heartbreaks, God caught me by surprise and gave me Harley. I think He waited for me to become a better person (oo pramis, better ako ngayon, haha) because Harley deserves a better me. Yes, he's back in Kuwait now. But even though I miss him so badly, I am comforted by the thought that somewhere out there, under the same stars (naks!) he's loving me as much. This temporary separation is just a small sacrifice compared to the promise of spending better tomorrows with him. "Don't settle", my friends told me that perhaps a dozen of times before and shocks yeah, I'm really glad I followed that advice. Destiny? ... hmmm perhaps :) But one thing is sure, God loves me so much that He has given me someone way better than I hoped and prayed for.
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Saturday, 4 November 2006
Timestamp: Nov. 03, 2006
NAIA, around 3am kaya ngarag pero beauties pa rin! :P
NAIA, around 3am kaya ngarag pero beauties pa rin! :P
Next pic 2 years after?
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Friday, 3 November 2006
buh bye Sis!
Claire's despida at SeaSideI've known Claire for ten years now. Way back in Grade 9, this always sleepy girl defended me against a bitchy classmate whom I had thought was a dear friend. We were inseparable since then and I started calling her bestfriend (naks!). After highschool, we both enrolled for B.S. Physics (USC-TC) to the shock of our parents. They couldn't comprehend what jobs would be waiting for us after graduation. We managed to convince them of the brilliance of the Physics curriculum, without telling them that the main reason why we chose Physics was because of it's hassle-free enrollment (konti lang kasi nag-e-enroll, hahaha). We just didn't want to endure the long lines of Accountancy, which was our parents' preference for us :P Two years after college she was also accepted in NEC and hence we became officially colleagues. Then, I transferred here in Manila but after a few months we were "together again" because she persuaded NEC to transfer her to the Manila branch so she could be with her husband, who was also working here that time.
Claire and I had many other adventures together. To name a few, we earned our first salary as pretty cashiers of Greenwich during the summer before third year college. The next summer after that, we had a stint as service crews of Jollibee where a lesbian courted her while sa akin naman bading yung pumorma : We also started calling each other "Sis" as a pun after we joined a Singles For Christ prayer meeting (sorry nacornihan lang talaga kami nun sa Singles eh, hehe). We also became part of the uber exclusive group of VPALEM, a group of beautiful (ehem ehem) and chismosa este chic NEC software engineers, which paved the way of another series of crazy adventures.
I watched this Joyce Jimenez look alike (naks!) fall in love with Darrix (nobody's look alike, hehe), choosing him among her countless admirers for reasons I still can't grasp (hahaha peace Dar!). I witnessed their love story unfolded and ended in blissful marriage (of course, ako yung maid of honor) . I also witnessed her getting pregnant, giving birth and misplacing her baby because she forgot that she has immersed the baby among the dirty clothes inside the washing machine... okay okay just kidding but I have a strong feeling this will happen in the future, haha!
Sis has been like a fixture in my life for the past ten years. She's the most generous friend I know. She never failed to suppport me and she has always defended me pag may kaaway, kakampi ko sya, hehe automatic yan! The sadness I felt as I said goodbye to her at the airport was of course natural. I may never see her again in the next two years or more :( Honestly, I miss her already. But I am more excited for her because she's on her way to be with Darrix, as they both embark the next major step to realize their dreams. I am very happy for both of them.
As I watched Claire's retreating form at the airport I was amazed at the major changes hurled at me these past few days. My bestfriend has left, to live for good in the US... a major change indeed. As I felt Harley's hand clasping mine, I sighed to realize that his unexpected entry into my life is also another major change... a very wonderful change. Things are working out for the best for all of us... for Claire, Ria and the rest of the VPALs. Thank God for all the blessings :)
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