. . . f e a t u r i n g . . .

collection...

2006-01-30T20:25:00.000+08:00

special thanks Tots, for helping me find these precious tokens :)

anong petsa na!!

2006-01-19T20:49:00.000+08:00

i found a piece of paper, torn-out leaf of steno notebook to be exact, while tidying my wallet. barely recognizing the penmanship, i immediately read the hadwritten material and started laughing my heart out!! Girl, what were we thinking that time?? why we came to this idea??
..syempre nagreminisce ako to figure it out :-D

September 11, 2004: After your check up in Makati Medical City, we decided to treat ourselves with a sumptuous lunch in G3. Big Buddha was offering an "eat-all-you-can" promo so we gave in despite your doctor's advice of avoiding "flavored" food! hehe pasaway! Then we talked about your condition, wishing that you had a special someone at the moment to marry you.. then you gonna bear a child.. and you will live happily ever after.. we were dreaming! and laughing! and of course hoping! then while giggling and enjoying our food, a sweet couple passed our table, wow, so girl yung babae..very pretty, neatly dressed and accesorized! we were enchanted by her beauty, wished that we could be liked her!... then... ahhhh.... hmmmm... oh, i can no longer remember what's next and how/why we came up to this covenant! yeah, covenant as i call it 'coz it has our signatures!.. and yes, you also have a copy of this as i recall, just dunno if you still have it until today :-)

so what was on the covenant? here, be ready for a laugh! :-D
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

1. By December 18, 2004, we are going to introduce our boyfriends.
2. We will be in a lady-like attire on that day.
3. We are going to save PhP5,000 from our Christmas bonuses until January 8, 2005.

** Whoever fails #1 condition will shoulder all the expenses on January 8, 2005.
** Whoever fails #2 condition will give the other party a beauty product/accesories worth PhP1000.
** Whoever fails condition #3 will suffer a consequence!!!

we agreed not to discuss this covenant to anyone nor to ourseleves until January 8, 2005.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

the truth is, neither of us took the covenant seriously! can't remember if we indeed met on Dec 18, 2004 but as far as i can remember, we cancelled the covenant while pampering ourselves in "The Spa" during one of those weekends of Dec 04.. for an obvious reason - neither of us are prepared to meet any condition hehe!

Girl, 2006 na! both of us are still unattached.. bugoy pa rin manamit.. and perhaps wala ring saving!! hehe.. but we're both HAPPY and that's good enough :-)

prayers for 2006

2006-01-18T12:07:00.000+08:00

good health

last quarter of 2005 had been awful!... Kyla's surgical operation, Mama's fluctuating blood pressure, VJ and Ate Tel's urinary tract infections, Kuya Gene's stones in gall bladder and my vertigo on attack... whew, the house was on FIRE!! Dear Lord, please deliver my family from any sickness this year.. but if it is your will that we have to suffer, please be with us that we may be victorious against these odds.

steady financial income

I am not asking for riches Lord, just enough to enjoy life. And grant me a sharing heart, teach me to become a cheerful giver! :-)

stronger CV Community

this is Your apostolate, make things happen as You plan!.. I am just Your humble servant...

boyfriend :-D

it has to be this year, or never na! hehehe demanding ba Lord? :-D .. You know my heart Lord, let me know Your will :-)

wisdom and honesty to our goverment officials

need to say more? hmmm this is quite tough Lord, but with Your blessings, You can definitely change our system!

more passion in knowing and serving YOU

as the song goes "...take me deeper, deeper in love with you.. Jesus, hold me close to Your embrace.. take me deeper, deeper than I've even been before.. i just wanna love You more and more.. how i long to be deeper in love..."

All these i ask in the sweet and mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

para sayo kaibigan...

2005-11-21T19:34:00.000+08:00

salamat...
.....sa mga dasal na inalay mo para sa kagalingan ng aking ina at ni baby kyla
.....sa mga salitang nagbigay ng lakas at nagkabit ng ngiti sa aking mukha
.....sa mga oras na inukol upang ipadama na ako'y hindi nag-iisa
.....sa mga paalalang ang Diyos ay nakikinig at tunay na Dakila!

salamat...
.....dahil kahit mahabang panahon na ang nakaraan
.....kahit milya milya ang layo ng ating kinaroroon
.....ang pagiging magkaibigan ay hindi kinalimutan
.....bagkus ay higit pa itong pinagyayaman

maraming salamat kaibigan, tunay kang maasahan!
kung nangangailangan ng tulong, ako'y iyo ding malalapitan
ako'y nagdarasal na ika'y laging patnubayan
at sa tamang panahon, makita ang tunay na minamahal :)

listening

2005-11-10T12:50:00.000+08:00

i thought i'm a good listener until i read this post from CV Discussion Board.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why we don't hear others
If you want to listen so you really hear what others say, make sure you're not a:
• Mind reader. You'll hear little or nothing as you think "What is this person really thinking or feeling?"
• Rehearser. Your mental tryouts for "Here's what I'll say next" tune out the speaker.
• Filterer. Some call this selective listening—hearing only what you want to hear.
• Dreamer. Drifting off during a face-to-face conversation can lead to an embarrassing "What did you say?" or "Could you repeat that?"
• Identifier. If you refer everything you hear to your experience, you probably didn't really hear what was said.
• Comparer. When you get sidetracked assessing the messenger, you're sure to miss the message.
• Derailer. Changing the subject too quickly tells others you're not interested in anything they have to say.
• Sparrer. You hear what's said but quickly belittle it or discount it. That puts you in the same class as the derailer.
• Placater. Agreeing with everything you hear just to be nice or to avoid conflict does not mean you're a good listener.

Source: The Writing Lab, Department of English, Purdue University Press, 1356 Heavilon Hall, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Indeed listening is an art!
- requires human effort to master
- needs high quality of execution
- a non-scientific branch of learning
- a skill arising from the exercise of intuitive faculties

funny scenes

2005-10-27T18:49:00.000+08:00

#1:
me: uwi ka ng masbate?
ad: baka hindi.. bakit?
me: naghahanap ako ng kasama, uwi ako eh..
ad: bakit ka uuwi?
me: kelangan ko maghanap ng makakasama ni mama sa bahay
ad: ha? bakit mag-aasawa ka na??
me: HUWAAAAATTTTTT???

#2:
me asking a tsonggo for a nice, cozy and affordable hotel in baguio.. twin-sharing, good for 2 pax.. he gave me some suggestions, i thanked him and searched the net for rates.. the day after, i burst into laughter when an instant message suddenly popped:
drew: tsong, sino ka-date mo sa baguio? honeymoon ba?
me: hahahaha.. speaking of honeymoon, tuloy na kayo?
drew: do go changing the topic? hehe.. nde nga? ikaw nga aakyat ng baguio? wento naman jan..
me: hahhahaha.. nde ako noh..

#3:
back from lunch, i changed my YM's status to "pasko na sinta ko", hmmm last song syndrome since i heard a man singing that song in the elevator.. few minutes after, instant messages flooded:
"oi sino yan?"
"may boyfriend ka na??"
"yihiiii mainit ang pasko nya"
nyek! isnt that ironic with the messsage of the song?

i know most of you guys are excited to see me inlove.. or to hear an announcement that i am with someone... but hey, arent these reactions too much?? :-P

"what gave you that idea?"
hehe feeling commercial model tuloy ako :-D

ang pangako...

2005-10-25T15:23:00.000+08:00

when comforting words from friends are not enough..
when you can do nothing about a situation..
be quiet, be still and hold on..
because it is in calmness that you will hear HIS promises..

Huwag Kang Mangamba
-Bukas Palad-

KORO:
Huwag kang mangamba, 'di ka nag-iisa
Sasamahan kita, saan man magpunta
Ika'y mahalaga sa 'King mga mata
Minamahal kita, minamahal kita

Tinawag kita sa 'yong pangalan
Ikaw ay Akin magpakailanman
Ako ang Panginoon mo at Diyos
Tapagligtas mo at Tagatubos (KORO)

Sa tubig kita'y sasagipin
Sa apoy ililigtas man din
Ako ang Panginoon mo at Diyos
Tapagligtas mo at Tagatubos (KORO)

Aug 27:Day4 - Feeling at Home!

2005-10-04T13:47:00.000+08:00

We're backed in SG! Strange but we were relieved and felt safe. It's Saturday, time to mee my SG-based friends.. exciting!

1st was Dadi D, havent seen him for more than 2 years... hmmm still good looking :) .. We had our 1.5hour lunch, his treat.. yahooo! Laughters covered the place as we exchanged 1st-timer bloopers (ours, his and Momi B's). After that heavy lunch, he accompanied us to Burgis to scout for electronic gadgets. Hala, wala to sa plano.. gasgas credit card!! hehe
2nd was Renie, havent seen him for only 6 months but wohooo there's a big improvement in his built! where are those fats gone?? Ni-career ng lolo ang pag-workout :) .. With the two us our tour guides, we finally saw the Merlion Park which is just near the Esplanade. Why we havent saw that on our first day?? Syempre pa piktyur piktyur.
3rd was supposed to be Jay, havent seen him for almost 8 months. Checked my phone, but still no sign of him!! hmmmppp..

We then proceeded to Orchard Road for our last minute shopping. Without the two, we managed to hop around the malls and abled to find our way to Lucky Plaza. Craving for Phil delicacies?? This place would definitely cure the homesickness of our Kabayans! While in Lucky Plaza, Jay finally called explaining why he didnt show up. He didnt sound well, we couldnt go with us to safari as well.. too bad!

Another unique experience we had in SG was the Night Safari. There was thrill while we were riding the tram and hearing the stories of the animals that we passed by. Excitement grew more when we walked through the trails that are not passable by the trams.. a more close encounter with the animals! And then we were refreshed in our last tram ride with the cool evening air. Indeed, a very different night life!

Aug26:Day 3 - in a strange land

2005-09-14T11:35:00.000+08:00

It was almost 8am when we reached Kuala Lumpur, an hour delayed. But with no reasons to rush, we first took shower at the train station, secured our things in left-baggage lockers and enjoyed a good breakfast at McDo (hmmm love that has brown dipped in strawberry jam!). After talking with the very accommodating receptionist, we thought that our stay in KL would be as smooth as our 1st day in SG but uh-oh...

what went wrong:

announcements inside the train are broadcasted in native tongue! Consequently, we have to very attentive in counting the train stops in order to get off at the right station
"ordinary" malaysians seem to be allergic to tourists, their unfriendly faces scared us from asking directions
deceived by the map, we took a very long and exhausting walk from the National Mosque to the Bird's Park, totally unaware that the park is located uphill
in contrast with the aloof "ordinary" malaysians, the vendors in Petaling Street (Malaysia's version of ChinaTown) were very aggressive and scared us away
unexpected rain!!

But in fairness to KL, generally, we did enjoy our trip.

what went well:

declared as the biggest covered Bird's Park in Asia, it indeed showcased beautiful and rare species of birds ... though the place needs more improvement and innovations
taxi is reasonable.. and very convenient to first timers
compared to SG, prices are more affordable.. unfortunately, the rain lowered our shopping stamina
unlike in Petaling, vendors in Central Market (another place for bargains) were shopper-friendly
the rain finally stopped, just in time for our visit to Petronas Tower... wow, picture perfect!

Aug 25:Day 2 - into the magical world

2005-09-01T13:53:00.000+08:00

after exercising our bargaining prowess in singapore's version of chinatown, we proceeded to harbourfront center to get into the magical world of sentosa. upon the sight of the cable cars crossing in the air, excitement grew so we walked hurriedly to the ticket booth. we decided to go first to mount faber before going to sentosa. for more than 30minutes in the air, we couldnt help but to marvel the beauty of singapore... the lush forest of mt. faber, the good engineering of highways and buildings, the orderliness of the habour and the panoramic view of sentosa island.. amazing! (but still nothing beats the aerial view of El Nido, Palawan, hehe syempre love your own). enthusiasm grew bigger when we saw the tallest symbol of singapore.. the Merlion!

so how was our sentosa experience?

enjoyed the dragon trail/nature walk but wished to cut the trail shorter to save more energy for the rest of the day
loved the concept of underwater world and wished of becoming a mermaid to swim with those sea creatures
applauded the witty pink dolphins but wished to have a closer encounter, should have volunteered to get a kiss
learned the legend of singapore in merlion walk and positively thought that filipinos could make the place more adventurous and could present the legend more creative
unsatisfied with the butterfly kingdom! was expecting to see many butterflies flying and not being hanged in the walls
relaxed and amazed with the magical fountain show while eating the upsized burger king.. kudos to the artists of the show, great works on the laser
wished to enter cinemania and to ride sky tower but ran out of budget
wished to stay overnight but have to leave for kuala lumpur

the cold breeze, the luminated city, the neon eyes of merlion and the sight of dining lovers inside a cable car made a very romantic return trip to harbourfront center.

Aug 24:Day 1 - meet our firsts

2005-08-31T16:58:00.000+08:00

Tot's 1st airplane ride, Tot's and Bateng's 1st out-of-the-country trip, everyone's 1st visit to Singapore...
1st love -PASIR RIS! uniform condominiums rising, unjammed streets, very clean surrounding, accessible... what more can you ask??.. childrens' laughter perhaps...
1st eyeball with Oliver, our host, who was so accomodating! since he's still at work, he trusted us his keys and gave us permission to use the facilities inside his condo... 'baet'
satisfied with our 1st taste of local food bought in a 'turo-turo'.. by observing the customer ahead of us, we learned to just point on whichever viand we want and paid the food at a very reasonable price. later we learned that such resto is called hawker...
our 1st task was to secure train tickets to Kuala Lumpur.. thanks to momi bhing for lending me her map, whew it took us almost 30minutes in finding the railway station! that's twice the actual minutes walking from the nearest train station...
1st realization - taxi is impractical! mrt and bus stations are strategically situated although walking is inevitable...
after having that long walk in Raffles place (with picture taking of course), we had our 1st frustation - we cannot locate the Merlion's place!! 'tulong! may pinoy ba dyan?' :-D
still walking, not being sure if we are on the right track to the Fountain of Wealth, we met our 1st angel - a sweet HRM trainee pinay who is also on her way to the fountain.. thank u Lord!.. we finally reached the fountain and enjoyed the cool ambience while watching the laser show which concluded our 1st day in singapore :)

softie but also a toughie!

2005-08-11T00:09:00.000+08:00

with the current economic situation, the number of Filipinos who are pursuing their dreams of working/going abroad is fast increasing. it is no surprise that many of my friends are advising me to try my luck in finding a job during my Singapore trip. Naahh, i really haven't thought of that. i admit though that sometimes, out of frustrations, working abroad becomes an option. but the thoughts of living alone, of being absent during family gatherings, of not having my close friends anytime i want to see them and of not seeing familiar faces and places when i feel unsafe demotivate me to push such option. my fellow OBiers could attest how iyakin i was during our business trips to Japan. Call me coward, i won't argue =P
i know a quite big number of friends who are currently out of the country for work (in fact, many of those reading this blog are abroad and i salute you guys for being brave in facing hard row challenges!). some are very fortunate to be there with their family/loved ones/relatives/friends, some have eventually gained friends and support group while others are still hoping to find trustworthy and sincere friends among the strangers.
Lhen is one of the OFWs i'm missing so much. i have been thinking of her for the past weeks, hoping that she'll get in touch. yeah, she got my message and paid me a phone call (mental telepathy does work huh!). as soon as I recognized her voice, I sang her a birthday song and waaahhh she began sobbing!... her voice was breaking, i could hear her sniffs.. oh noh, what have i done?.. tears of joy? .. hmmm, my instinct is telling me more.. how i wish i could hug her, hold her, comfort her and assure her that everything is gonna be alright.. if only.
back in high school, i know Lhen as a very sweet, timid and sensitive girl. people tend to abuse her kindness and generosity and she would just cry if being hurt. that's why i panicked when i heard blubberings on the other end of the line. but as i listened to her stories, i am so relieved to know that she is now assertive. living away from her family during college perhaps made her tough. yes, she still cries but that's just normal =)
am proud of you Lhen!.. just keep going and take care of yourself.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! GODSPEED!... and see you... soon!

at sa iyong paglisan...

2005-08-04T10:26:00.000+08:00

it was last christmas when your mama brought you to our house
just a month old, you were so little and too fragile
-o-o-o-
i cant recall of carrying you in my arms
i didnt hear your cries, nor saw your smiles
worst, i cant even remember how you look like
-o-o-o-
you were sleeping most of time and i was told not to disturb you
so i left you with your mom
and got busy playing with your other cousins
-o-o-o-
it was the first and the last time that i saw you alive
i really cant believe that you are going away that young
only 8 months?? God, why this has to happen?
Please give me some answers and let me understand
-o-o-o-
i talked with your ate and she told me about your heart ailment
your mama kept this from us, i believe she has her reasons
i was furious, i was upset, i couldnt describe how i felt
-o-o-o-
but when i saw you lying in that wooden box, i sensed peace
truly God is amazing and His plan is always the best
'coz i know that you are now resting in eternal peace
-o-o-o-
...good bye lou raigne... we love you...

m.e.c.a.r.s

2005-07-21T11:33:00.000+08:00

for the nth time i was asked who/what is mecars and why am i using it as my pen name.. for the nth time i have answered but i think this will be the 1st time im going to tell the memories behind the name..
MECARS reminds me much of Masbate, of Nursery St. in particular. We, Marites, Eden, Cynthia, Alma and Renato, were neighbors who found joy in each others' company and spent most of our childhood and early teenage years together.

...from sharing toys to sharing puppy crush secrets, we built trust...
...from sunbathing to stargazing during summers, we had fun...
...from biking/playing in the streets to dancing/hosting street parties, we painted the town red...
...from beer drinking to halo halo business venturing, we valued discipline and hardwork...
...from attending cathecisms/simbang gabi to joining processions/block rosaries,we've known and love God...

while children nowadays have barbie/pooh/mickeymouse as their bestfriends, i am so blessed to have mecars... while teenagers nowadays are rushing to grow up, i am glad i had it slow with mecars... because life is good when you're having fun, but it is best when you're facing its challenges with your good friends :-)

dear mister,

2005-07-18T11:20:00.000+08:00

i was about to enter the train when i saw you.. "no, not this time" .. i wanted to turn back but the crowd pushed me inside.. i wanted to disappear but i didn't own a magic wand.. "relax girl" .. i took a deep breath and chose a place where i thought you would not stay but "oh noh!" you stood right next to me!.. "are you not with someone?" ... i couldn't look at you, but i couldn't avoid staring at your image reflected on the window glass.. "wow your built has changed, your look became more matured"... after more than 3 years since we last saw each other, after almost 2 years of not hearing anything about you.. "hoy kumusta??".. i almost tapped your back to start a conversation but i was freezed and tongue-tied.. so i covered my face with 1 hand and grabbed my celfone with the other hand.. "get busy girl!" .. then i sensed a motion on my other side, a girl called you and you both transferred at the other side of the train.. "is she your gf?"... again from the window glass i stared at your reflection.. you remained silent, 1 hand holding the bar and 1 hand on the side.. the girl checked your back and advised you to put handkerchief on it then she clinged to your arm.. you just smiled.. and "hey, you are looking at my reflection too?!?" .. i could feel the blood rushing to my face.. "i need to get off!!".. the train stopped, thank God it's my exact destination.. "whew! saved by the bell!"
.............
it has been 3 days but im still trying to figure out why i felt that way when i saw you.. what was between us back then?.. wasn't it just a budding, platonic friendship??.. okay, there goes my another denial... "May sikreto akong sasabihin sa'yo Mayroong nangyaring hindi mo alam Ito'y isang lihim Itinagong kay tagal Muntik na kitang minahal *Di ko noon nakayang ipadama sa'yo Ang nararamdaman ng pusong ito At hanggang ngayon ay naaalala pa Muntik na kitang minahal **Ngayon ay aaminin ko na Na sana nga ay tayong dalawa Mga tanong ay iniwasan ko Akala ang pag-ibig mo'y di totoo Di ko alam kung anong nangyari Damdamin ko sayo'y hindi ko nasabi.. Hanggang ang puso mo'y napagod Sa paghihintay kay tagal Saka ko lang naisip Muntik na kitang minahal.. " .. yeah, i sang that song when the first time i felt i missed you.. but i was too shy to admit the truth..
but wait, im no longer singing that song.. but the thought that i sang that for you back then still makes me blush... "could you please stay out of my sight first... until im ready" :-)

it's me,
-signed-

pagbabago

2005-06-22T11:43:00.000+08:00

mukhang lampa noon.. matapang na pulis na ngayon
maton kung kumilos noon.. mahinhing dalaga na ngayon
hindi nag-aayos noon.. kagalang galang na abogado na ngayon
simpleng manamit noon.. bonggang dude na ngayon
isang torpe noon.. confident na ngayon

ang mga ito'y ilan lamang sa mga pagbabagong naganap
iba iba na ang narating, iba iba na ang mga yapak
ngunit sa kabila ng lahat, may isang kahapong nag-uugnay
ang masasayang alaala sa MNCHS ay mananatiling buhay

mind boggling

2005-06-21T12:24:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, try this! There are no tricks, just pure logic.
Mechanics:

In a street there are five houses, painted five different colors.
In each house lives a person of different nationality.
These five homeowners each drink a different kind of beverage, smoke different brand of cigar and keep a different pet.

QUESTION: WHO OWNS THE FISH?

Hints:

The Brit lives in a red house.
The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
The Dane drinks tea.
The Green house is on the left of the White house.
The owner of the Green house drinks coffee.
The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
The owner of the Yellow house smokes Dunhill.
The man living in the center house drinks milk.
The Norwegian lives in the first house.
The man who smokes Blends lives next to the man who keeps cats.
The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
The man who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.
The German smokes Prince.
The Norwegian lives next to the Blue house.
The man who smokes Blends has a neighbor who drinks water.

It was said that Albert Einstein wrote this riddle during the 19th century.

Good luck!

survey!

2005-06-20T12:11:00.000+08:00

if someone's texting you "Good morning!", are you supposed to answer back?
how about "Enjoy your lunch!"?
or "Good night, sweet dreams!" ?
and the many other sweet nothing thoughts

argggggggggghhh, he's clogging my inbox!!! and im not quite sure if i'm handling him right... i'm not answering his messages, can't he read between the lines?? or "bato" lang ba talaga ako?

honestly, i'm confused! :-D

been tagged!

2005-06-09T09:07:00.000+08:00

Oh i miss blogging! I've been wanting to feature special experiences and dear people who had their big day recently but i'm afraid my vocabulary has been limited to "sockets", "TCPIP", "netconnect", "GPRS", "WIFI", "VMAC" and other networking terms. Oh boy, my job has been occupying much of my mind and has been eating much of my time lately. Unsound sleep, eyebags, pimples, back pain and uncontrolled weight gain are but few of my whines ='( I NEED A BREAK!!!
Anyway...
While reading my friends' blogs yesterday, (this actually became my pastime during long run tests), I was both excited and surprised that Ate Evi tagged me! I actually tried answering.. but my test program could not get through so I had no choice but to get back to work! Told myself to look at it today before starting to work. So here it goes:

It's good when u have.. known God but the challenge does not stop there. Seek and follow His Will!

The best part of love is.. sacrifice. and yes, it's also the hardest.

Step out of.. bad habbits.. they will just ruin your life.

I had a sly smile when.. someone points out that what i'm insisting is wrong.. hehe of course that matches with a "soweeeeee"

Turn it on and.. and let your kind of music soothe your senses.

Don't mess wih my.. heart. (i'm not a toy! nyahahaha)

I love the way I feel when.. im with kids.. helping them sort out things, feeding their curiosity, giving them toys and playing with them.

There are lots of.. things to do for CV 25th anniversary and it's fast approaching!!!

The moment I laid eyes on.. Kyla (Kuya Ely's daughter), I know she's special. A gift to our family =)

Scuba diving in El Nido, Palawan ..is completely different than anything i've ever done!

It's best to.. keep quiet when your angry. Wait until you calm down.

When u find the right.. . facial scrub, stick to it!

The dos and dont's of.. 10 Commandments are for strict compliance =D

The worst music i've heard.. are those with double-meaning lyrics, sung in a teasing way.

Large bold prints can seem.. offending so be careful in using them.

Done! Chels, Kat, Donits, Haze and Jolo can you please keep this fun running =)

mother dear...

2005-06-04T12:33:00.000+08:00

To all the sacrifices you have made

in Helping papa raised the nine kids

for All the values you have shared

iN the desire of bring us up good and well

to your endless love, Kindness and care

that made us secured and tightlY binded

for being a great wife and a great mOm

we thank yoU and praise God for another year

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!!!

....we love you....

shower party

2005-05-24T12:10:00.000+08:00

our get together last friday night made me realize how much i miss being with them! For a long time, i was with my CV ates (yes, im the youngest among them) again. We met to give ate daiz a shower party and like those girl talks we had way back then,when all of us were still single, the night turned out to be very informative and enlightening. The combination was perfect!... 4 are married (3 of which are already mothers while 1 is a year-old wife), 4 are still single (2 of which are currently linked while the other 2 are unattached) and of course, the bride. With the different experiences of the married ates, the conversation had been very beneficial not only to the bride but to the singles as well...oh even the married ones learned from each other =)
So ladies, this might help! =D

for those who are still looking: Pray specifically the qualities of the man that you want to marry! All married ates and even the bride attested that their husbands have the qualities of the man they have prayed for.
for those who are currently attached: Pray for revelation! Know your partner well before exchanging vows, know the strengths and weaknesses of your relationship and work on how to bring out the best in your partner.
for the married: If your husband is in the mood for sex and you are not, Pray for passion! If you are in a heated argument and cannot control your anger, pause and Pray! If your plans fail, encourage each other and Pray!

Bottom line, nothing can put down a prayerful woman =)

OnE wORd

2005-05-12T10:38:00.000+08:00

got this text from Loren, a high school friend:

Describe me in ONE WORD, just one! Send it to me then send this msg to ur other friends & see how many wonderful/strange things people think about u! Txtback, it's fun!

i sent her "thoughtful" and forwarded the message to some of my friends whom i'm not seeing lately. here are their descriptions:

Shawie, daughter of a 1st cousin -> sweet
Fats, ftsp friend -> sweet
Richie, grade school friend -> sexy
Jericho, ftsp friend -> gracious
Sheryl, high school friend -> god-fearing
Ruby, adtx friend -> sweet
Malou, college friend -> beautiful
Agape, ftsp friend-> sweet

want to describe me too? feel free to post a comment.. remember the rule : just ONE WORD! =)

wandering around ilocos

2005-05-07T18:27:00.001+08:00

want some stories?

embracing praise

2005-05-03T18:22:00.000+08:00

at the womb of my mom, You placed me carefully
for nine months You designed me perfectly
that i may able to taste, feel, smell, hear and see
Your creation and my family, awaited me excitedly

then I was born, You continued to nourish me
You watched me grow, waiting for the day that i may recognize Thee
You kept on calling me, You never get tired of loving me
with trials and triumphs, You're always bringing out the best in me

at last You succeeded, You finally caught my attention!
i was strucked by Your love, by Your sacrifice for my salvation
You conquered my old self and gave me a new life
You increased my faith, with Your grace i saw light

and now i'm embracing the passion of becoming a person of praise
because in praising You i find joy, contentment and genuine peace
in loving You i am healed, in serving You im am blessed

i love You with all i am
i praise You with all my heart
my soul longs to see You
in heaven forever i will praise You!

simple joys

2005-04-25T14:35:00.000+08:00

being with my family, enjoying the presence of my nephews and nieces, are some of the simple joys that sweeten my life... oases of rest and peace amid life's difficulties and distresses.

thank u for the music =)

2005-04-18T18:09:00.000+08:00

Im not gifted with a golden voice, but i do sing in public.. opps let me rephrase that... i do sing with a very comfortable crowd (family and super close friends). But yah, there are times that i also go public! When my favorite songs are being played on radio while riding public vehicles, i cant help but to sing along! [hehe, of course in a very soft voice] I am really inspired whenever I hear and sing these songs, each has meaningful meaning in my heart:

1. i won't last a day without You - carpenters

If all my friends have forgotten half their promises
They're not unkind, just hard to find
One look at you and I know that I could learn to live
Without the rest, I found the best
When there's no getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams won't come true
I can take all the madness the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you

2. because You loved me - celine dion

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

3. i can - regine velasquez

I can live, I can love
I can reach the heavens above
I can right what is wrong
I can sing just any song
I can dance, I can fly
And touch the rainbow in the sky
I can be your good
friend I can love you, until the end

4. only hope - mandy moore

So I lay my head back down.
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours, I pray, to be only yours
I know now, you're my only hope

5. hands to heaven - breathe

As we move to embrace, tears run down your face
I whisper words of love, so softly
I can't believe this pain, it's driving me insane
Without your touch, life will be lonely
So raise your hands to heaven and pray
That we'll be back together someday

believe me, sometimes hearing/singing these songs can make me cry.. minsan over joy, minsan sobrang lungkot, minsan wala lang =P

last 2 minutes!!!

2005-04-15T09:43:00.000+08:00

the last 2 minutes of last night's game (Alaska vs Coke) was very exciting! Few seconds before the last 2 minutes, the ACES tied the ball game. The defense of both team was very tight, both were determined to win. 9.3 seconds left: Coke was leading with a point and has 3 more fouls to give, ACES's ball possession. Coke's strategy was to kill the time by giving up fouls, but ACES were quick! With very good coordination, they were able to make a shot, giving them 1 point lead with 3.9 seconds left. HURRAYYY!! I was jumping and shouting!!! Hehe go ACES! Coke called for a timeout to plan their next move.. a make or break situation for them. DEFENSE! ACES DEFENSE! And yes, they heard me! =D ..Cariaso, the hero of the night, was able to steal the ball.. yipppppppiiiii ACES won! wala pa ring tatalo sa alaska! =P

ps: why is Arigo my love palying with Coke?? And so with Ali Baby??? Hmmmppp break na tayo!!!! wehehehe

=(

2005-04-14T12:29:00.000+08:00

One of the reasons why i'm enjoying my work here at Verifone is the luxury of flex time. Eliminating the pressure of being late is a big help! As we know, americans are more focused in employee's output, and having been exposed to that culture, my persian boss gave us the freedom to choose what time we think we are most productive. And i could tell that such policy is bringing positive results.
But then came this pinoy boss! Hey, what are you doing???.. putting an end to my pressure-free mornings?? He is planning to have a "core time" for discipline ekek daw. This and his other plans of course caused violent reactions from my peers! hehe puro lalaki pa naman, mga war freak! Yesterday, they were determined to write to our big boss, complaining about this unreasonable bureaucracy. And I played as their antogonist... opppss hear me first. I told them that we have to direct our complains to this pinoy boss first. If he still insists his policies without considering our views/suggestions, then that's the proper time to escalate. They listened naman =). I just dont know how this pinoy boss would react. My persian boss will have the last say anyway, and I believe that he is just =)

Hayyy... bakit nga kaya mga ganito ang karamihang pinoy bosses??

life's purpose

2005-03-31T09:40:00.000+08:00

"We are placed here on earth not to be remembered but to prepare for eternity" -PDL

When my father died almost 3 yrs ago, i heard a lot of his good deeds and stories on how he is remembered by people he shared his life with. From then, I started picturing my own death and imagining how people will testify my existence. I have focused on finding my mission here on earth, determined to leave a legacy that i may somehow be remembered.
Until i got this text from bro. Ryan... thanks bro for reminding me the very purpose of life!
Come to think of it, if our focus is mainly on achieving eternal life and not on earthly fame, we will continually seek and do God's will, which of course means, bringing goodness and sharing His love and blessings to mankind. Is there a promise of being remembered? Maybe... but will it still matter if we are already enjoying life in Heaven? What is more precious than having eternal life?

happy easter!

2005-03-29T18:30:00.000+08:00

The loveliest day comes when you wake up one morning and discover the romantic truth that GOD still colors your world =)

--o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o----o0o--

Just came from a 6-day vacation... no, make that 5-day because my vertigo finally crippled me yesterday. Its attack had been a threat since thursday but i managed to ignore it and able to do couple of things:
1. of course cleaning the house was an obligation =)
2. played with my nephews and nieces, chatted with my siblings and siblings-in-law (is there such term?).. except for Kuya Emer and Ate Evy, the rest of my married siblings visited us.
3. heard masses, visited adoration chapel, reflected the gift of salvation
4. finally finished reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, and hurray! also done with Nicholas Sparks' The Rescue (syempre pa iniyakan ko ang The Rescue)
5. watched dvs (hehe mga luma: i Robot, the Village, lost in translation, arthur), and tv shows (amazing race, american idol, art attack, cartoons and some local shows too)
6. exercised! but due to this vertigo, my movements were very limited... huhuhu my pants are shrinking?!? sikip na sila eh!! =P
7. arranged photos but not yet done.. with kids around, hay naku!
8. had my hair cut... hmmm trim lang naman, almost negligible.
9. bought graduation gift for Jen
10. and yes! i started recording my 'more' private thoughts.. thanks jo for the notebook =)

now, for the things i planned to do but not able to do so:
1. visit Hospitaller
2. scout for a sala set
3. write articles for past CV activities (lagot ako ke Renie, assignment to!)
4. try to write lyrics for 'Embracing Praise', our theme for Gospel Concert... syempre nde ko linya to pero wishing na makapagcontribute kahit 1 line lang =)

17 words

2005-03-21T11:53:00.000+08:00

almost 2 years ago, i received a mail asking about my thoughts on these 17 words (capitalized)... inspired, i grab my pen and composed a poem =) ..
might be a piece for thought this Holy week, read on...

============================================================
If the angel of death arrives tonight, are you PREPAREd?
What if at the gate of heaven, St. Peter ask if you have CAREd?
Or have you BELIEVEd that Jesus died and sacrificed himself?
Have you valued the gift of salvation and FORGAVE those who err?

My friend, if most of your answers are no, then it’s about time for a CHANGE
Why RISK your life in hell when God promised an abundant life to share?
Why not CHOOSE the right path and let God lead the way?
So that at the end of your journey, you can RELAX in His kingdom with Jesus and Mary

Stop, Look and LISTEN, the enemy is just around
Always PRAY for His guidance and keep your feet on the ground
PERSIST in fighting temptations, introduce Jesus to a crowd
Don’t forget to SMILE ‘coz it brings hope to those who are experiencing dark clouds

FOCUS on your role, think twice before ACTing
God never fails those are TRUSTing
ACCEPT Jesus in your heart and keep on believing
That there in heaven, our God is just WAITing

-- eden r. oliva 09232003 --
===============================================================

for the past 3 months...

2005-03-08T08:59:00.000+08:00

S H E
...sleeps at my side...
...listening and sharing our thoughts until we drop...
...in her babyPaj, we sing a lot...
...and laugh at jokes that suddenly pop..
...there are times we are not talking...
...but we know what are minds are thinking..
...oh yes! we're watching our diet...
...but with yummy food, we tend to forget it!...
...i once wished to have a younger sister...
...and her short presence has been the answer...
>>> H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y J O!! <<<
i love you

what is this i'm feeling....?

2005-03-01T09:21:00.000+08:00

... my heart is beating fast...
... i barely slept but my veins are alive..
... a lot of work need to be done yet my mind is wandering...

OPPPSSSS!!!! i know most of you guys are waiting for an "announcement".. but nope, i'm not in love!! =P .. These are mere effects of that chocolate marshmallow mocha. While self-confessed coffee addict Martha told that caffeine is not affecting her sleep, a small dosage of it would surely keep me awake for long hours! Add to that, is the discomfort i'm feeling after having a troubled sleep. Okay, let me say it... i HATE coffee!! But salute to the artist of that chocolate marshmallow mocha ads of starbucks, he tempted me to have one! Which of course i'm regretting 'coz right now, i can't FOCUS! [ggggrrrrrrr] Can somebody please shake me up!?! Or any tips on how to get rid of this awful feeling??? Martha, you're suggesting another cup of coffee? Yeah right... thanks but no thanks! =P

today...

2005-02-24T09:54:00.000+08:00

[hohhommm] i feel so sleepy but damn i got a deadline to beat...
[yummyyum] i wanna eat ice cream and sansrival but oh-oh im getting bigger..
[huu-whatttt] a juicy news is waiting to be told but nope, it isn't time yet..
[wisshywissh] another tsonggo(s) joining Verifone? hehe go go go!!!
[aaaaaaaaaay] i learned that a "long-time-no-see" friend attended the party that i missed last sunday
[morniingggg] yeah, he's a constant greeter and im more at ease with him now..
[aaarrgghhhh] this writing had to stop and get my work started!

bon voyage

2005-02-21T15:54:00.000+08:00

two of my male friends are leaving [huhuhu].. pai is bound to work in Japan while Apol will be following his wife in London.. gonna miss u guys!!! do keep in touch..
GODspeed!

cebu... finally!

2005-02-16T12:33:00.000+08:00

As far as i can remember, Bateng has been inviting me to have a vacation in Cebu since we were in highschool... but for so many reasons, it took me ages to finally visit the place. I originally planned to attend the Sinulog festival this year but due to budget constraint and mama's health condition, the plan did not pushed through. Thanks to the airlines' promo and thank God for mama's bp is now getting normal, hurray! i was there last weekend!
Friday night was meeting the Tambagos, a family friend. Kumustahan galore =D .. Bateng's siblings asking about my siblings.. Bateng's mom asking about mama.. "ilan na ang apo ni mama mo?.. saan nakatira si Estela?.. saan nagtratrabaho si Eugene.. bakit wala ka pang asawa?".. whew! questions kept on coming!
It was a sunny Saturday.. and we're off to Tambuli Beach Resort! The place was nice but too bad, the beach was loaded with seaweeds so we ended up swimming in the pool. Bateng's niece and nephew are better swimmers than the two of us! hehe such a shame.. But they can't float.. haha that's our advantage! =P. Then at night, we're supposed to have dinner with Romer, Cecille and Jhing but except for Jhing, the two were unreachable. So we ate dinner at Ate Portia's place, dessert at Ate Dory's and midnight snack at NASA's disco house. Gosh, i was so full that i could not move to dance =P.. We were with the Capitans.. hehe ang kukulit nila!
Sunday was Bateng's late grandma's birthday so the Barrigas came to Yoyon's place. Kainan ulit! =D .. Then after visiting her grandpa, we went shopping! Then we went to hear mass in Basilica de Sto. Nino, visited Magellan's cross and Cebu Cathedral. Then yey! Romer called.. so we ate dinner at Kaona Grill with Jhing. Thanks guys for the time.. and Romer for the treat! =D.. Of course, many thanks to Bateng's family for the hospitality and love =)
Now, who is Bateng?? She's my most precious bestfriend! That was the first time, we've met valentine's day together.. which made my trip to cebu very special =)

weird day!

2005-02-09T08:58:00.000+08:00

Yesterday's events were just ordinary.. but for them to happen in a day??.. hmm that was odd!
1. a guy who had been asking me out announced that he got a date!.. which I hope he's not just being bitter after I finally gained my confidence to tell him that i would not go out with him if he's planning to date me just like the way he's dating the other girls he met in chatrooms.. oh, it was him who gave me that impression! =P but his honesty is appreciated =D
2. an ex-boyfriend popped with his out of the blue "hi-how are you?-what time you'll be home?" greetings.
3. another ex-boyfriend called and decided to accompany me to CV's Servant Leader meeting. it would defintely be a surprise to see us coming together, but he didn't mind. there's nothing wrong with it anyway =)

a bit of present, past and history in a day! kakaloka d ba? =P

thoughts to ponder

2005-02-08T09:09:00.000+08:00

While on my way to the office, I came across to a page of my morning book talking about a speech teacher who once assigned her students to give a one-sentence speech, entitled: "What I Would Like for My Tombstone to Read". Answers were not enumerated, but indeed, it pushed me in doing my own. So here it goes:

Here lies Eden, a lady who tried her best to bring S.M.I.L.E. to every person who became part of her life.
S-ense of belonging
M-erry heart
I-nvolvement
L-ove of GOD and
E-ncouragement

So what's yours?... muni-muni.....

love this song...

2005-02-03T12:30:00.000+08:00

You’ll Be Safe Here
[ Rivermaya ]

Nobody knows
Just why we’re here
Could it be fate
Or random circumstance
At the right place
At the right time
Two roads intertwine

And if the universe conspired
To meld our lives
To make us
Fuel and fire
Then know
Where ever you will be
So too shall I be

Chorus:

Close your eyes
Dry your tears
‘Coz when nothing seems clear
You’ll be safe here

From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Weary heart
You’ll be safe here

Remember how we laughed
Until we cried
At the most stupid things
Like we were so high
But love was all that we were on
We belong

And though the world would
Never understand
This unlikely union
And why it still stands
Someday we will be set free.
Pray and believe

Chorus:

When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here
When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here

Save your eyes
From your tears
When everything’s unclear
You’ll be safe here

From the sheer weight
Of your doubts and fears
Wounded heart

When the light disappears
And when this world’s insincere
You’ll be safe here

When nobody hears you scream
I’ll scream with you
You’ll be safe here

In my arms
Through the long cold night
Sleep tight
You’ll be safe here

When no one understands
I’ll believe
You’ll be safe,
You’ll be safe
You’ll be safe here
Put your heart in my hands
You’ll be safe here

conversation with a child =D

2005-01-31T09:45:00.000+08:00

[Characters]
Kuya Ely(KE) - 36yrs old, father of three
John(JN) - 3 going 4yrs old, prep
[Scene]
While on their way to pay visit to the deceased folks in Asingan, Pangasinan Cemetery
-0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0-
JN: Daddy, ano po ito? (asking about the place)
KE: Sementeryo ito anak.
JN: Sementeryo? Ano po yun? Bakit tayo nandito?
KE: Dadalawin natin ang mga lolo't lola.
JN: Dito sila nakatira?
KE: Hindi, nasa heaven na sila pero dito nakalibing yung katawan nila.
JN: Nakalibing? Bakit po nakalibing?
KE: Kasi patay na sila anak.
JN: Patay na? Sino po pumatay sa kanila? Binaril sila? (too much television?)
KE: Hindi po. Namatay sila kasi matanda na sila.
JN: E ako daddy? Bata pa?
KE: Opo.
JN: E ikaw po?
KE: Bata pa din ako anak.
JN: Hindi, matanda ka na daddy eh! (hahaha)
JN: Pero hindi ka pa naman mamamatay daddy d ba? [hugging his daddy tight](aaaaaayyyyy.. sweet)
KE: Hindi pa anak malakas pa si daddy. Pero wag matigas ang ulo para hindi magkasakit si daddy ha.
JN: Opo =)
-0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0--0-0-0-

No wonder why the Lord is telling us to have a heart of a child!

JEMMSS

2005-01-25T15:08:00.000+08:00

Our group is definitely a HeadTurner! Unfortunately, it's not because we possess body beautiful nor pretty face but it's because of the noise we're creating whenever we're together.. giggling girls speaking in their native tounges with high-pitched tones, who could not notice that? =D

This is my high school barkada.. from left: Marj, Maricon, Sheila and Joyce. Marj owns the baby! hehe small but terrible! She's the first to get marry and now has her little angel, MJ.
We visited her last Thursday and as expected, their house was filled with hoo-ha as we listen to her "labor" story. Having a pedia (Sheila), a lawyer(Joyce), a well-read person(Maricon) and a silly girl(that's me!) in the house made the story very exciting and informative. "hush".. "shhhhhhh"... "prtttt".. MJ was having a hard time to sleep! but she stayed calm and quiet.. enjoying the girl talk huh! hehe..
'Til our next session gals.. Shawie come home! You're missing a lot!!

CV - my community

2005-01-20T18:04:00.000+08:00

It was in 1993 when I first met the Christus Vincit Community through my college professor whom we call Kuya Johnny. But it was in 1997 that I became actively involved when George invited me to join the group. Hmmm.. do I need to explain why? :-P
Attending the community's prayer meetings, apostolates, retreats, LSS, camps and other activities became part of our journey in getting to know each other, in taking our friendship into a higher level, and of course, in building our personal relationships with God. Everything was almost perfect! But naah, a big test came... George and I had to part our ways. To avoid seeing him, to avoid questions from our brothers and sisters in the community and to put back the broken pieces of me, I abstained from attending CV. But sure enough, I was missing it! How can I be whole without picking up that precious piece? Thank God for the courage!...With His grace, I was able to accept things and face the community...With His love and the support of the group, the hurt of seeing George with her new gf gradually faded...With His mercy, I was able to forgive myself and start a new life. Christ Conquered! Know what, that's the literal translation of Christus Vincit =)
Aside from helping me to know God more, CV had played a role in my personality enhancement. It had given me the opportunity to serve God and to give joy to the less fortunates. It made me realized that I need not to be of power nor to be an expert to be able to help. CV taught me that simple gestures like smiling, or patting one's back for a good job, or giving a hug to someone in despair, or touching the one your talking to, could make a difference as long as one's intention is pure.
Thank you Lord for this community =)

shoot that ball!

2005-01-17T17:34:00.000+08:00

Alaska player wanna be?!? Hahaha!
Taken last saturday at X-Site Amusement Center, Festival Mall. Wow, I never played basketball that long! Didn't count the number of times I played but I guess it was more than 15 games. Whew! I made my highest point.. 92! Oh that was an achievement for an amateur hehe...
I was with the newly elected CV servants. We were chosen to lead the community for year 2005. The seven of us did not know each other well yet, so we had our "bonding" day. We had fun.. yep, we were able to get along =)

wala pa ring tatalo sa ALASKA!! =P

2005-01-12T17:30:00.000+08:00

It may not be the best team in our PBA today..
It may not have the best players and coach in hardcourts...
...but still, my loyalty to ALASKA ACES remains! =D

It has been a long time since I last watched PBA in television.. oh boy, it was much longer in real court =(. And yesterday's action (Alaska vs FedEx) did not fail to bring back my passion in patronizing PBA. I've seen a lot of new faces, new moves and strategies, and a new team formation for Alaska. (Addendum: word "new" used by someone whose been out of PBA circle for at least a year! hehe). Of course, my team won! Though honestly, Ritualo's lucky hands scared me. Thanks to the good defense of Mike, he was able to stop the big man. My kisses to him! =*
Yesterday's game reminded me of the first time I watched PBA Live. I was with the Milkmen cheering squad!! No, I was not one of those pretty dancers =P but since Ate Evy is working in GMC(sis company of Alaska), we were given the privilege to be with the team's court. I was in my elementary years then.. and from then, I became Alaska's big fan =). During teenage, while my classmates were crazy over those teams having "heartthrob" players, I sticked with the ACES.. Aba, gwapo din naman si Tim Cone ah! hehe..
So why Alaska? WHY NOT! Here, let me brag some of their achievements...

ALASKA ACES' STATS
- Grand Slam winner in 1996
- Winning-best team in the 1990s with 9 championships
- 16 finals appearances in 34 conferences
- Record-holder of most number of out-of-town games won

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
1st Place: 11
2nd Place: 11
3rd Place: 11

Want to know more? Visit their site @ http://www.alaskaaces.com.ph/history.php

happy new year!!!

2005-01-05T13:30:00.000+08:00

hello everyone! am back!
2005 is here, let's start the year right =)

Be not anxious about tomorrow. Do today's duty, fight today's battle, and do not weaken and distrust yourself by looking forward to things which you cannot see and could not understand if you saw them. -- Charles Kingsley

my birthday gift

2004-12-22T22:30:00.000+08:00

Like many other years, Your blessings this year showered
... when I asked for a new job, You provided
... when I cried for financial help, You supplied
... when I prayed for healing, You answered
... when I besseched company, You sent best friends

... with Your powerful words, You enlightened me when I was confused
... with Your gentle voice, You instructed me when I was baffled
... with Your joyful songs, You lifted my spirits when I was depressed
... with Your loving arms, You embraced me when I was broken hearted

Thank You Lord for the absolute love
Sorry Lord for the frailties that I have
I am weak to temptations, I constantly need Your guidance
Please bear with me, purify me and reign my life

You already have everything but still deserves all the glory
I hope I could live up to these offerings I have for Your birthday
... a forgiving heart to those who err
... a friendly smile to a stranger
... helping hands that are always ready to be extended
... be an inspiration to those whose lives are in vain
... to CV community, my service and dedication
... to You, more quiet times for contemplation

May others may see You through me
and experience the same joy You're giving me
May all of us love and thank Thee
and praise Your divine sublimity!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Christmas Gift

2004-12-20T23:45:00.000+08:00

Last saturday, I proudly told Jo that I am already done with my christmas shopping. But yesterday's sermon proved me wrong. I was taken aback when the priest asked "Have you already prepared your gift to the one who ought to receive a birthday present?". Uh-oh... the truth is, Jesus is not on my list! It was indeed nice to be reminded of the main reason why we are celebrating Christmas =)
So what can I give Him this Christmas? Hhmmmmm ninuninuninu...

how far can you go to win a race?

2004-12-16T15:21:00.000+08:00

I have to admit, hearing partners exchanging harsh words is part of the excitement in the Amazing Race reality tv show. But seeing a man shoving his wife that almost knocked her down was not cool! Shame on Jonathan who was very frustrated just because they did not came first to the pit stop to win a cruise! They came second, they are still on the race, yet he acted like that!?! Was the cruise worth humiliating and abhorring his wife? In the first place, Victoria came late because she picked up Jonathan's abandoned bag for the fear that somebody might steal it. That of course gave her a hard time to run. Too tired, she was crying and catching her breath when she reached the pit stop. But instead of being comforted by her hubby, the angry Jonathan screamed at her, pushed her hard and when they checked in, he didn't stop on berating her that even the host, Phil Keoghan, looked visibly agitated. Victoria walked away still sobbing, Phil advised Jonathan to talk to her and Jonathan complied. But his idea of "talking" to her was definitely not what Phil had in mind. Grrrr asshole talaga!!!
That was just for a cruise.. I wonder what will cause Victoria if they'll be eliminated or be in the finals but miss the 1million dollar price.

criteria for Mr. Right?

2004-12-10T10:35:00.000+08:00

Last tuesday night, I bumped into a high school classmate and found out that our offices are located in the same building. To catch up on what's been goin on, we went for a lunch yesterday.
He is now happily married with two kids... I am still single and uncommitted. That didn't surprise him though =D. He had known me kasi as conservative and choosy during our high school days. He then advised me not to set too high standards for Mr. Right, or else I will end up with no one! [Hahaha] I laughed but I agreed. Then he asked what qualities daw ba am I looking? Hmmm, same question asked during our "diretsahan" in Sagada but still I was grasping for words to describe what I am really hoping for.

Ano nga ba talaga ang hinahanap ko?
.... someone who loves and fears GOD
.... someone i could talk to about anything under the sun
.... someone who could bring out the best in me and I in him
.... someone who could manage to put a smile back on my face during odd times
.... someone who is trustworthy and dependable
Simple lang naman d ba? =P

He continued to ask, "And if one of those is missing, the guy fails?". [good question huh!]
And I answered, "My mind and heart should agree to love the man, that's my rule of thumb =)". [nice answer daw!]

He paid our lunch [yipppeee] and offered another free service: he will help me daw look for that someone!.. Wow, bless him! =)

can't believe i've been through all that

2004-12-06T14:23:00.001+08:00

Hurrayy, I got my first check in my wish list(take a peek at the side bar of this page)!!
And finally, after more than a week, I can now write an account of our Sagada trip =D
Nov 26, 2004 @10pm
Aboard on a MB100 campervan, we left Alabang and excitedly discussed our trip... the itinerary, the budget, the dos and don'ts, the climate, and the must see places and its reviews from net. (Honestly, those reviews were giving me reasons to back out days before the trip.. but hey thanks to those who encouraged me!).
It was a very very long trip and I was so lucky to occupy the most convenient seat in the van =). While Allan was having a hard time positioning his long legs, I could freely stretch mine =P. Opps, don't curse me... I allowed him to take my seat at the latter part of the trip hehe..
Nov 27, 2004
We were still on the road, at the top of the hill, when we said hello to the sun. It was amazing! Feeling the cold breeze and the clouds, being so high.. feeling so near to God!
It was almost lunchtime when we finally arrived at Sagada. Tired and sleepy but cannot afford to waste time, we immediately proceed to explore Sumaging Cave after having our lunch. Kakaibang level.. it was a test of balance and courage. We have to walk on slippery rocks, pass through narrow openings, glide and rapel using ropes, dipping into a very cold running water.. whew that was really tough! But it's worth it... we've seen different rock formations, beautiful stalagmites and stalactites and even fossils inside the cave.
Then, on our way back to the inn, we visited a burial cave (not sure of it's name) where old coffins could be seen at its entrance. No excitement there, but it was nice to be informed of the natives' burial traditions and customs.
Nov 28, 2004
Our next destination, the Bomod-Ok (Big) Falls, was another test of physical strength and endurance. Imagine taking hundreds of steps down to the falls, passing through the rice terraces! It tooked us 2 hours! Oh well, that included stop overs for picture taking and rest =) . And when we reached the falls.. wow, what a creation!! The ambiance was very relaxing and refreshing. The water was freezing but that didn't stop us from swimming. I'm not a swimmer, so at first, I was contended with the smaller falls. But seeing others getting near the big falls, I convinced Eric to accompany me to get there and I'm glad he did =D. It was an indeed an achievement! But hey, the challenge did not end there. Going up, heading home, was more difficult! I remembered Allan chanting "I'm tired but I will run!".. encouraging himself to go on by cheering "Go Allan, Go Allan!" Hehe kakapagod talaga!
Nov 29, 2004
It was raining! We were supposed to visit St Mary's Episcopal Church and Echo Valley but to due bad weather, our drivers insisted that we leave Sagada early =(. Our shopping time was also cut! But true enough, it would not be safe if we will not leave Sagada in the morning so the drivers won. They allowed us to stop in Banaue anyway =). Seeing one of the 7 wonders of the world, the Banaue Rice Terraces, was another awesome experience. Filipinos' staircase to heaven!
After all the excitements, now here's the "kilig" part! I never thought that our trip back to Manila would be that eventful! We had our "diretsahan" game and everybody was sport enough to answer blunt questions. Of course, I will not divulge any of those answers =P. Not all travellers are my close friends, and the game somehow gave us the chance to know each other more personal especially about one's lovelife ;-)

The travellers
1. the newly found buddies (Einstein and Adon)
2. the budding lovers (Tin and Drew)
3. the honeymooners (Art and Perls)
4. the beautiful me (walang kokontra!)
5. the rockers (Allan and Rose)
6. the bodyguard (Eric) hehe

Special thanks to: (1) Maricel, our caretaker (2) Gilbert and Alfred, our tour guides (3) Gerry and JonJon, our drivers and (4) the good Lord, for keeping us safe and sound

never a LOYALTY awardee =P

2004-11-25T15:00:00.000+08:00

VERIFONE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER PHILIPPINES, INC.
(September 2004 - present)
MILLENNIUM SOFTWARE INC.
(April 2004 - August 2004)
ADTX SYSTEMS INC.
(January 2001 - April 2004)

FUJITSU TEN SOFTWARE PHILIPPINES

(October 1999 - December 2000)

CASIO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

(March 1998 - June 1999)

ANGPING & ASSOCIATES SECURITIES, INC.

(May 1997 - February 1998)

job-hopping (n. Informal)
-- the practice of changing jobs frequently, especially as a means of quick financial gain or career advancement.

daddy's girl

2004-11-23T13:26:00.000+08:00

bro's angel, originally uploaded by _mecars_.

to Kyla Marie...
he's the man to run when you're afraid
the one who'll love you until the end

to kuya Ely...
she's too fragile so be careful
she's a gift so be thankful

trip to NeverLand

2004-11-19T13:27:00.000+08:00

tink, originally uploaded by _mecars_.

Tinkerbell.. painted by tyQ in a yellow post-it dated October 13, 2003. Copied from one of the stationeries used by Kat and Rose to write him a letter (hmmm, 'wonder what were on those letters 'coz the three of them never let me read them). He added sunglass on the head and a dimple on the cheek to fit me into the character.
Feeling mushy yesterday, I opened my memory box hoping that the paraphernalia I kept there could somehow fill my longings. Along with the funny love notes from tsongers and rushers, cards from distant friends, gift tags and love letters, I found this post-it and my journey to NeverLand began. Sarap mag-reminisce!!

malamig ang simoy ng hangin....

2004-11-16T18:23:00.000+08:00

...kay saya ng bawat damdamin
...ang tibok ng puso sa dibdib
...para bang hulog na ng langit

39 days to go, PASKO na!!

Yesterday, we started putting up our christmas lights and decors. Our christmas tree broke down last year and with a tight budget, I can't afford to buy a new one =P. So with a little creativity, I recycled some of its part, and !whola! there's my mini tree and the manger underneath.

For me, the nativity scene best reminds us of the true meaning of christmas: (1)baby Jesus, the Emmanuel (2)Mary, the handmaid (3)Joseph, the foster father (4)Magi who offered gold, frankincense and myrrh which were interpreted respectively as King, God, and Suffering Redeemer (5) shepherd, the protector and (6) sheeps, the vulnerability of human.

As the song of Jose Mari Chan goes, May the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts =)

be ye kind one to another

2004-11-16T11:55:00.000+08:00

found this in my mailbox... might be a piece for thought =)

=====================================
(1) We "need one another" 1 Cor 12:18-22.
(2) We must "love one another" Jn 13:34, 35.
(3) We must "forgive one another" Eph 4:32.
(4) We need to "pray for one another" James 5:16.
(5) "Exhort one another daily" Heb. 3:13.
(6) "teaching and admonishing one another" Col. 3:16.
(7) provoke one another unto love and good works" Heb. 10:24.
(8) "By love serve one another" Gal. 5:13.
(9) "And be ye kind one to another" Eph. 4:32.

circle of friends

2004-11-11T18:22:00.000+08:00

I got a quite big number of friends... well that's not a surprise 'coz I've been in five companies since I graduated. Add to that, of course, are those I met in schools, trainings, religious and social activities, chat rooms and in the neighborhood. You would be soon meeting them here, but for now let me introduce my recent constant dates :-)

ring of friendship, originally uploaded by _mecars_.

It all started with a Yahoo conference that led to a treat in Pizzeria! Then we bonded in Makiling Highlands while sipping frangelico :-D. And then came another treat in Dampa (hmm kakagutom!). And last night, we planned our next destination - SAGADA!!! Of course the trip is not limited to this circle. It's open to all our friends, so tara, JOIN na!!

By the way, to my right is Art then Rose, Tin and Drew.
All are working in ADTX-Alabang except for me.
All are unattached except for -tut tut - (hehe baka patayin ako pag pinangalanan ko!!).

p.s. thanks drew for the pix :-)

to a dear friend out there....

2004-11-10T09:27:00.000+08:00

I know you're tired, but be strong
I know you're confused, but be focused
I know you wanna give up, but hold on
I know you're losing faith, but just trust

I may not know the root cause but I understand it's not an ordinary thing
I may not feel your real pain but I am also hurting
I may not be there to hug you but I hope our occasional chat is helping
We may be afar but Im glad that our friendship is still growing

I love you Bhing and GOD loves you more!

lychee.. anyone?

2004-11-05T11:15:00.000+08:00

noi : FYI

noi : the fruit lychee is pronounced lit’chi” and not “lie-chi

mecars : ah tlga? mali pala tayo all the while

noi : oo nga..hehe

Perhaps many of you are also surprised to know the correct pronounciation of this fruit. I myself immediately consulted www.dictionary.com upon receiving this message and learned that lychee is a Chinese native fruit thus the pronounciation "lit-chi". Thanks Noi for the info :-)

I love lychees but I seldom see them in the market. So tyaga na lang sa JellyAce Lychee :-P.. hmmm yum yum!!

up up and away

2004-11-03T09:12:00.000+08:00

superChrist, originally uploaded by _mecars_.

I run to HIM
... when I'm lonely and sad
... when I'm betrayed and feel bad
... when I'm sick and harmed
... when I'm frustrated and being dumped

I thank HIM
... when I'm happy and glad
... when I'm secured and triumphant
... when I'm in good shape and alive
... when I'm blessed and well loved

For HE is
... my friend and my guide
... my provider and my helping hand
... my healer and my judge
... my HERO ... my GOD

spinsterhood <-- a choice or a destiny

2004-10-29T13:02:00.000+08:00

"Good Morning! Wala pa rin bang boyfriend?" greeted Aling Baba as I smiled at her this morning. My smile just grew bigger and she started cursing men for not seeing me daw. This time, my smiles turned into laughter!! Good thing, the tricycle arrived and gave me an excuse to bid her goodbye. Whew.. saved by the bell! 'coz I'm quite positive that the next part of her speech would be "o baka naman ikaw 'tong masyadong pihikan, naku tatandang dalaga ka nyan!"

I took this pic when I got home last Monday thinking Lola Eling to be the next person to be featured here. Since then, I've been trying to figure out my introduction and **bling** this morning's scenario was perfect!
Yes folks, Lola Eling was a spinster! She's my mom's Aunt who dedicated her life in raising our family. While other children were left to their yayas when their parents are at work, we were very lucky to have her as our second mom. Old maids are known to be strict, too conservative and unaffectionate but Lola Eling was an exemption. She was jolly, caring and the most patient person I've ever known. She was our comforter, our nurse and our dressmaker too!
Lola Eling made a lot of sacrifices when she opted to stay with our family in Masbate. She could have enjoyed her life with her friends and relatives in Pangasinan instead of living in a stranger land. She could have stayed with my other aunts in Canada. Or better yet, she could have married and spent the rest of her life with her man.... But she was with us until her last breath and I knew that she was happy and fulfilled. It was maybe her choice, but for me, it was a part of God's plan for our family. And we are forever grateful for that! :-)

he's now safely HOME

2004-10-25T15:46:00.000+08:00

Death scenes in movies/tv shows would surely make me cry :-( They remind me of the day when my father died. Believe me, witnessing the death of a loved one is the most heartbreaking experience one can ever have. The scenes kept on repeating on my mind until the day I heard my father's voice saying "Sabiha kan Mama mo nasa langit na ako" (Tell your Mama, I'm already in heaven)... very comforting words from a loving father, telling us to let go of the pain and be happy 'coz he's now home with the Creator!
"Papa", as I call him, was a well-rounded home-buddy. Ask my brothers and they would described him as a gifted carpenter.. ask my sisters, as a green thumb gardener.. ask my mother, as a livestock raiser.. ask his nephews and nieces, as a jolly clown/storyteller.. ask our neighbors, as a "MacGyver" who could provide solutions to complicated problems out of ordinary things.
Teaching grade school was his profession. When assigned in one of the barrios of our hometown, he gladly shared his room to accommodate students coming from other adjacent barrios. That inspired the Barangay Captain to donate his land and urged the government to build in it an Elementary School where my father spent most of his teaching days. His forte? --MATHEMATICS! He got a lot of shortcuts and techniques in doing math :-)
He may be far and away by now but I know that one sweet day, we will be together again and be back to the days when he would take me to the beach with his big bike to do our breathing exercise while the sun is coming out. Then he would cook tinolang manok and save the "dugo and atay" for me. He would tell me once more his teenage experiences while I'm removing his white hair during siesta hours. Then we would dance cha-cha around the house while Mama is cooking our dinner, he would show me again his funny tricks and magic after having our dinner and at the end of the day, he would massage my tired feet and put me to sleep :-)
See you again Papa!!

I, mE and mYseLf

2004-10-20T17:49:00.000+08:00

eDen, the Gemini, originally uploaded by _mecars_.

I don't really believe in Astrology, but being born on May 29, the dual-natured sign of Gemini best describes my personality. I can be very cheerful and lively when in a good mood; I can be boring and dull when in a bad one. Better leave me alone first when I'm quiet, my tantrums won't take long anyway :-D. Well that's no wonder 'coz gemini is also known to be quick in changing minds right? Yeah I admit, I'm finding it hard to stick to a decision but hey! I can easily adapt to changes :-)
To better understand me, I think you should also note that I'm the youngest in the brood of nine.. quite a big family huh! Attention seeker, bossy, spoiled, name it! (oist no naman.. exaj un!). I maybe a brat sometimes but lambing ko lang un noh :-P.. Bunsos are naturally sweet and charming :-)
When it comes to love... hmmm... they say that I'm choosy but I tend to disagree. I can easily trust and love someone but mind you, that love and trust can also be easily gone if not nurtured or if betrayed! I hate complications.. I would rather sacrifice my feelings than seeing someone else in despair or than being in a doubtful relationship.
I treasure my friends a lot! I really believe that they are GOD sent and that they should not be taken for granted. Friendship with opposite sex is no big thing to me. I enjoy their company in as much as I enjoy my girl friends' presence. Dual-personality remember? ;-)