New Year

No, i am not writing about my new year's resolution/s... haven't got any... haven't thought of it yet.

Do you really enjoy new year's eve?

firecrackers all over... too noisy, too dangerous... don't like it.
(fireworks display...no comment... love it.)

tv ads on people who got their hands blown on new year's eve...too morbid, too much blood, not too wholesome...can't look at it.

paranoia of having stray bullets above your head...too scary, don't wanna take the risk... don't go outside the house.

anticipating for midnight... too sleepy, too much to eat you can't sleep... have to wait for midnight for tradition.

jump at least three times on midnight so you can grow taller... can't do this, my elder sister won't let me since elementary... not my fault I'm already taller than her.

January 1... dirtiest streets outside, black nostrils, polluted clouds, headache for lack of sleep... not a good morning, not a pretty sight on the first morning of the year.

Nevertheless, the thought of a new year is still refreshing to know that you still have another chance to repeat your happy days, undo the mistakes, take revenge to your enemies (hehehe), renew friendships, make new ones, make the most of your present for the clearer future and live your dreams!

Enjoy life! :)

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Happy new year to all, may God's blessings continue to be with us always.

Sa Nitso ng Lolo Ko (Undas 2004)

oo... sa nitso ng lolo namin yan.

Yes, this picture was taken atop our grandpa's graveyard. Hehehehhe. Kung makapag-posing eh akala mo wala sa sementeryo!!! Kinareer!

You see in our province, Nueva Ecija (and i guess most in the Philippines), Undas is considered to be one of the most "festive" days in the year. Traffic flow is rerouted just to accompany everyone going and coming from the cemetary. All the teenagers seem to dress their best (just like Christmas!) Everyone get to see all their old friends again. Everyone get to be reunited with their relatives - dead or alive. We never saw this day as a sorrowful day, but a blessed day. We say a prayer for the dead and pray for those who are still with us too.

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I miss my Lolo most during Christmas (You can see his picture on the backmost middle part)...

Encounters

Today, MRT stopped operations due to fire in Guadalupe station which was allegedly due to the train cables. So there i was in Quezon Ave station at 7 AM - stranded.

Good thing there were two women who approached me and asked that we share a taxi going to Makati. I said yes, of course. By the time we were able to catch a cab, we were already 5 women in the group. Mrs. Nely (who works in DTI, in her 50's i think) Gheil (works in Semicon, in her early 20's) Lena (works in a non-call center company, the name she didn't mention, also in her early 20's) and Girl 5 (in her early 30's, we didn't get to catch her name because she got off in Boni Globe Office and we remembered to exchange names in Guadalupe, hehehe).

We squeezed each other in the cab, God bless the the cab driver, he was in his 40s i think, was a good gentleman; unlike most cab drivers you would meet in the metro.

Anyway, good thing that all the 4 women with me had strict time policies (Lena's company would consider 1 min late as halfday! Talk about slavery! Gheil's time was 8:30, with her Japanese boss waiting on the door for people who come in later than that. Mrs.Nelly's time is 8 AM, but she looks like a semi-boss so she wasn't that worried with time. And Girl 5, whose time is also 8:30 but come 10 AM it will be considered as half day too). So each one shared a thing or two on ways to avoid taking EDSA and go to makati as fast as possible. We took a shortcut along Horseshoe village, then greenhills, then out to the Shaw area. Everyone shared there EDSA tips... everyone except me! Hehehe. I did not have a good night's sleep last night so I was really sleepy, in fact I fall asleep every once in the while while listening to their chats on the way, and they kept teasing me that I was so lucky my company follows flexi time policy that I didn't look a tiny bit worried at all.

Actually, I really wasn't in the mood to go to office today. It's friday, everyone is tired. I was actually influencing Lena to go shopping instead since she's officially "on half day" because she'll arrive in office later than 8 AM.

Anyways, so Girl 5 got off in Boni, Mrs.Nely and Lena in Buendia. Then me and Gheil headed to Ayala avenue. We had some more chit-chats, exchanged name spelling, and then exchanged our phone numbers. She then got off at Standard Chartered building. Then lastly, I got off the cab at GT Tower.

Total Cab Fare: Php180.00.

Mrs. Nely was really the "mommy" type that she was really good on estimating each one's cab fare contribution... we only had to give 35 pesos each!!! 35 pesos each for a cab going to Makati is indeed very affordable! (But 180 divided by 5 is 36... so nag-abono ako ng 4 pesos, pero ok lang noh!)

I arrived in office at 8:40 AM, which is just about my normal time on normal days.

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Happy weekend everyone!!! :)

"Relax, Don't Near"

relax don't near :)

On our way to Nueva Ecija, we saw this jeepney with “Relax, don’t near” tag line on it.

The driver means you keep your distance. But remember that I am the “Double Meaning” queen so I got pretty much ‘deeper’ into this relax don’t near line.

In life we become too aggressive, or too eager, or too impatient with what we want to happen to us, but we often forget that life is supposed to be enjoyed. Yes, life is short and that we need to make every second count; but let’s never forget that the process of reaching towards your dreams is far more important than the dream itself.

So in this very busy world… when we feel pressured, when we feel like crying, when someone has hurt us, when we’re afraid, when we’re unconfident, when we're late, when you feel ugly, when your drunk, when you feel unwanted, when wefeel incomplete, when we feel unaccomplished, when we’re doubtful, when we’re unhappy…

Just repeat to yourself: RELAX, DON’T NEAR and remember that life is not necessarily always on the upper side, but having the “downs” makes you appreciate the “ups” even more.

Relax... don't near...
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Applicable on all types of circumstances.

Water Color

I received a Water Color Painting set as a gift from one of my office exchange gifts (because that’s the only thing I’ve put on my wish list, haha).

I got a whole pad of water color pad (11”x15” – enough size for my amateur attempts), around 10 pieces of paint brushes of different types, and a 12 piece water colour pencil too! Pretty generous for a 400 Peso amount we’ve set for the event.

I have 3 sets of Prang water colors which have been stuck in my cabinet since college, but never got to really use them ‘by heart’. In fact, contrary to the real artists, my water color sets has always been clean… I wash the excess colors, or stain on its container every after use (definitely not a very normal trait of an artist!)

I’ve always liked water color painting but wasn’t really exemplary on the area. Though I’ve had a few 1.0’s from my water color painting subject during college – all from luck (tsamba ba!); not really from inborn artistic hands, nevertheless, I have always been ‘challenged’ on how I can capture pictures in my head and is still hoping I will have real masterpieces someday.

I guess I never had enough patience: patience to wait for each layer of paint to dry off, or patience to mix the correct colors that I want, or patience to make very, very slow and steady brush marks. Most importantly, I also lack the courage to show people my works so I can have their comments.

But then it’s never too late to try again, right?

So once more, I begin my water color 'masterpiece' attempts … wish me luck!

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Maybe I never got to really know what I want as my subject or theme.
Any ideas out there?

Valentine’s Day 2004

I just felt like reminiscing…

One of the reasons why I consider 2004 a great year is because I was lucky enough to have been able to celebrate Valentine’s day on top of the Empire State Building. I was with my cousins who lived around the area. We had to fall in line for 2 hrs, just to buy us tickets. Then we had to wait another hour just to get accommodated to the elevators that will service us to the 86th floor Observation Deck. And let me tell you – their waiting area was not that pleasant. Much like how our government offices here. Good thing it was winter, our bodies had absorbed freezing air to last us for an hour or so. As for the rest of the hours of waiting, we had to wait in zigzagging lines amongst the hundreds of people inside some not so ventilated, small, basement corridors that we had to take off one garment at a time just to sustain us some breathing room.

Nevertheless, that crowd was expected. Valentine’s day is Empire State day anyway. Thanks to those Hollywood movies (by the way, I prefer to relate the building more to Sleepless in Seattle rather than An Affair to Remember).


view from empire state (i think this is the brooklyn side)

Considering it was winter, it was one fortunate day that we had 100% visibility on the deck, a clear day – no snow, no fog, but just enough clouds to cover the sun’s glare. A perfect weather for romance. As for me, I am just there for the view.

Romance indeed was amidst that frozen day. On the 80th floor was a wedding reception. Amongst the people falling in line, 80% were couples; the rest are families (like us). We also saw several bride and grooms who took their wedding vow on the deck – I think it was a total of 17 couples that day.

After taking several pictures on the deck, we got in the souvenir shop on the same floor, bought some magnets, shirts, and a penny that was engraved into the empire state logo ($1 token for the engraving machine), took some more pictures then went down to look for a nice restaurant to have lunch.

Oh! I almost forgot, there was also this woman I saw from the deck, dressed on a business suit with a huge red flower pinned on her gray coat, and was pulling with her a suitcase (looking like she just got off from the airport); she was wandering around the deck for several minutes, as if looking for someone. Maybe she was supposed to meet (or elope with) someone there. How romantic! But I wasn’t able to see if she did find who she was looking for, I hope she did.
:)

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Your life is really a movie, if only you’d watch it.
Have you been watching yours?

On valentine's day 2005, i plan to stay near, no... i plan to stay as close as possible ;)

Emergency: need a new set of wardrobe!

I've always had a overflowing closet. Having come from an Ilokano family, we tend to just keep old things and consider it almost a mortal sin to throw away anything we don’t even use anymore. Until a few months ago, while I was packing my things in preparation for us moving into a new house... I saw a bright light across the sky...and realized that... I DO NOT HAVE WEARABLE (is there even such a word?!) CLOTHES!!!

Times like these, I need the Fab 5!!! But wait, they only help out guys. :(

Oh well, starting from today, I intend to buy myself new clothes, accessories, stuff at least once a week. Hehe. Good luck to my so called “dispensable income!”

As for the “old” stuff, I will give to the typhoon victims and some also for my rummage sale.

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A little change wouldn't hurt but a little 'change' from your salary, let's see...

Trees

nothing beats the UP campus scenery

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

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wala talagang tatalo sa makapigil-hiningang mga "senti points" ng UP noh?
anlupit.
miss ko na.

Maligayang Bati

11.29.2004
Today is my birthday. Happy birthday to me!
Though i see my birthday as a mark for me to look forward to another year... so i would rather refer to it as MY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Looking back at my past year, i must say 2004 has poured me with so much blessings.

Family: Yes, we just moved to a new house and it was a family project. I can't say we have totally settled in but the process made us more attached to each other. :)

Career: Just a few months back, i got promoted. Yes, I sort of expected to be promoted having stayed in the company for more than a year. But just the same, promotion is still promotion. :)

Lovelife: This year has had nascar-rally-dirt road-rocky type of zigzags, crosses, u-turns and bumps but it still made it to the finish line with flying colors anyhow. :)

Social: Beside from the fact that all my friends are still my friends now. I was also able to find old and new friends, from all walks of my life. :)

Travel: Yes, i was able to travel to places this year. Some are from my company's pocket and some from my own. Nevertheless, I saw a lot of different cultures this year. I feel blessed i had the opportunity. :)

These were just few of the millions of blessings i got this year. All have been appreciated- from the smallest to the grandest- ALL OF IT!

I PRAISE GOD for all the trials, the failures, and the successes i had this year. I will look forward to another year ahead.

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I don't really care what my age is anymore. I just enjoy my days and count my blessings on the way.

Muse

Definition:
To be absorbed in one's thoughts; engage in meditation.
A guiding spirit.
A source of inspiration.

When i was younger, all i know about muses is that they're supposed to be pretty - the cheerleader type of girls. They are supposed to look like goddesses on earth whom every guy would fall for.

But an episode of "Charmed" made me realize what MUSES are. Yes, they are sort of goddesses on earth, but they come beyond physical. In fact, we don't see them. We just feel them. More like guardian angels.

Muses come on times when we need passion with what we do. They give us inspiration to think beyond our limits.

They give us music in silence, flashflooding poems in our minds, and an instant telescope to give us a clearer view of what's ahead.

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Wouldn't it feel like heaven to be someone's muse?
I'll let you know when i know.

me and my shoes

first time to walk on snow

“You must always wear the best shoes for these shoes will take you to different places”

All my life, I have always been an ordinary girl, not really into those material stuffs. I was just the typical girl – the “wash and wear” type of girl. Very low maintenance. Unlike the other girls I know, I didn’t have lots of clothes, nor accessories, nor makeup, nor lots of shoes. I didn’t feel a need to have too much of those anyway.

As the above saying implies, quantity doesn’t really matter. What matters is the quality. When it comes to shoes, what matters most is the COMFORT that you get from it. Second is the beauty. No. Let me correct that, second criteria is the affordability, then the beauty. This is always how I buy my things especially with shoes.

Most of the time though, I tend to forget that the price really doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know it is the one you’re looking for. It doesn’t really matter if your shoes don’t look grand or too hip. What matters is if it will be able to sustain you for the future walks, runs, travels. What matters is if will be able to stay with you and protect your feet, whatever it may encounter. What matters is you will be able to go and enjoy places not having to worry if your shoes would still be there at the end of your adventure. What matters is that your feet would hurt from too much traveling and not from shoe sores.

Your shoe will be taking you to places you wouldn’t even expect you’d go to. So always wear your shoes right and be ready for the adventures that you and your shoes will share.

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I take pictures of my feet when i go to new places. I love to travel for I can let my eyes
feast on new pictures of life.

Sa MRT

Sa MRT, lahat ng bagay puwede malukot... pati na ang mukha mo!

Everyday I leave our house looking fresh, feeling good, with clothes neatly ironed, my shoes polished, my hair beautifully combed, with a smile...

(But our Metro Rail Transit has the ability to make all of these vanish in just a few minutes. Thanks to the poor management of transportation in this country!)

... But everyday I arrive in office looking harassed, with clothes crumpled on unexpected places, with shoes having marks of other's shoe soles, with hair all over my face, and most dominantly, with a face not so happy.

unnoticed beauty

Everyday, between 6-7 AM, I go through the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila's rush hour just to hope that I (and sometimes, miraculously i do!) arrive in office at 8 AM.

One hot day as the jeepney I was in was knitting its way across the crawling traffic, i came to notice that the traffic along Commonwealth avenue was caused by the sidewalk "market" that has crowded the huge streets. This was the Tandang Sora area, just beside the creek. You would never fail to have a look as you would notice the traffic gets really slow, the morning breeze suddenly gets humid, the smell was of rotten garbage, and the people are all over the road.As i was 'observing' the area, I noticed a lot of colors, the colors of the vegetables, the fruits, the clothes, the watches, the accessories, all things possible... they were all laid down on a mat - waiting for a buyer and more ready to absorb all the pollution as well.

But as I continue to look into the area (while the jeepney still trying to crawl in and out of it), my eye got stuck into this simple stall... a stall of fresh flowers! Oh yes I was happy that finally I was able to see something refreshing amongst the "polluted colors." It was like the world took a slow motion, everything else became a blur and though I don't have 20-20 vision, I did see the flowers very clearly. They were a combination of Malaysian Mums and Roses each kind and color bundled by an old newspaper and was sitting on green plastic trash cans used as buckets.
A few moments after, we got out of the market area. I felt the morning breeze again, smelled fresh air, and a road free of people.

Once again I have survived the "rotten" area, but this time, I am looking forward to another day of passing by.

:)

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Funny how we find beautiful pieces of life in the dirtiest places.
Maybe it's God's simple signs that He is always sitting there, amongst the ugliest situations, waiting for someone to notice.