Live. Laugh. Love.

Weddings
I attended Roland and LU's wedding yesterday. Yes, an 08/08/08 wedding. :) LU was sooooo beautiful and we got to watch the once-in-50-years song number from Roland. Happy tears here and there. Ahh, weddings! When I attend them I can't help but think of how mine will go. ;) Ahh, love! Isn't it grand?

It's now my second free weekend ever since I started studying last April. And guess what? I've stocked up on books. I have a few already lined up -- including Stephanie Meyer's Twilight (Yes, Sars!). I've always loved waking up on weekends and reading books in bed. Books before breakfast. Ooh, how I've missed this!

C
As for the studying, I've had my fill of reading PDFs. I'm back to free weekends/lunches/dinners. I even watched Season 4 of House last weekend. And I won't be heading to Starbucks for quite a while. All of this is because I passed the SAP Certification exam! Yeyness! I've never been so glad in going back to my "normal" life. Now I can archive the folder in my desktop suspiciously labeled "C".

RN
Speaking of exams, my sister Kris also passed the nursing board exams. Wuhooo! Kris, RN. I knew you could do it! The house was buzzing with excitement that night that Kris didn't even get to sleep. Too much adrenaline.

Jogging
Also since I have my weekends back, I'm going jogging tomorrow. I've missed the UP grounds. But I've missed my alone time most of all. See, I'm not just working out. I'm also giving myself time to think. Thus, the rested mind. And the neat list of things to do come Monday.

Smiles
Can I just say that I absolutely love your smile? Stop smiling! Because I have an inkling of what might happen if you don't.

Kung payabangan ng Lolo ang laban, ito ang ipapakita ko: Wikipedia. Lagi kong ipagmamayabang na, "Lolo ko yan!"


Si Lolo Cleto ay pampito sa sampung magkakapatid galing sa Caba, La Union. Dahil hindi ganon kayaman ang pamilya, nagtatrabaho siya tuwing gabi noong nag-aaral pa siya. Pero dala ng katalinuhan, kasipagan, at lakas ng loob, nagawa niyang maging isang magaling na abogado. Pinakasalan niya si Paz noong Pebrero 1945 at nagkapitong anak. Dahil sa kanya at sa mga paghihirap niya, nandito kaming lahat ngayon -- isang buong angkan ng mga Mangaser. At dahil dito, at hindi lang sa Wikipedia, ipinagmamayabang ko na, "Lolo ko yan!"

Lampas isang buwan na ang ika-27 ng Hunyo, ngunit gusto pa rin kitang batiin na: Maligayang ika-siyamnapung kaarawan, Lolo Cleto! :) At hindi man ako marunong mag-Ilokano, Ayayaten ka! :) Mahal na mahal kita! :)

 

The sun is arriving, flooding the world with light. Dawn has come. A new day is born.

Last night, I dreamt of you. You were laughing so hard at a joke that I told. Your nose was crinkling. Happy tears were forming at the corners of your eyes. I woke up laughing with you.

Today, I find you with me. Your eyes look sleepy. But your smile betrays your drowsiness. The first rays of the sun light your beautiful face. And my heart soars with joy.

It is dawn. And as the sun arrives, you are finally here. With me.

(100 words)
© Isabel M. Casas 20080723

 

Let my Love Open the Door to Your Heart -- a very unlikely wedding song, I know. But we were all smiling as Ate Mitzi played the guitar and Kuya Marky sang to this song as newlyweds on May 25. The song was light and fun and simple -- just like their wedding that was held at Chapel on the Hill followed by the reception at Sonya's Garden.

It was a simple and quiet affair in Tagaytay attended by their closest family and friends. I can't imagine Kuya Marky and Ate Mitzi asking for anything more. All the important people were there on their wedding day. And they were showered by well wishes, prayers, and lots of love.

Just like in Ate Selly's and Ate Mai's weddings, I almost cried. There's really something about a bride walking down an aisle. It must be one of the greatest tearjerkers known to man. And then I almost cried again when I was giving my maid of honor speech. Ate Mitzi is my partner and favorite cousin, my idol of sorts, and my Ate. I still believe that I am her and Kuya Marky's favorite third wheel. :) I guess I was just sad thinking that I'm going to miss them both when they fly to the US and start their new life there. But still very happy that my Ate ended up with a very intelligent, responsible, and loving MarkyPu. I couldn't have imagined it any other way. :)

So, this is what I was supposed to say in that speech that I somehow forgot... God bless you in your new life as husband and wife! Don't ever forget what you promised to God and to all of us on the day of your wedding. Ate Mitzi. I will miss you very much! Kuya Marky, welcome to our family, even though I feel that we've all welcomed you years before. :) Take care of each other and give me nieces and/or nephews! :) I love you both! :)


Let my Love Open the Door to Your Heart

When people keep repeating
That you'll never fall in love
When everybody keeps retreating
But you can't seem to get enough

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door to your heart

Let my love open the door, ooh
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door, ooh
Let my love open the door


When everything feels all over, everybody seems unkind
I'll give you a four-leaf clover, take all worry out of your mind
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door to your heart

Let my love open the door, ooh, to your heart
Let my love open the door, ooh
Let my love open the door, ooh
Let my love open the door, ooh




I got the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today, you'll find this way
Come on and give me a chance to say
Let my love open the door, it's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
There's only one thing going to set you free
That's my love, that's my love

Let my love open the door (to your heart)
Let my love open the door (to your heart)
Let my love open the door (to your heart)
Let my love open the door

When tragedy befalls you, don't let it drag you down
Love can cure your problems, you're so lucky I'm around

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door to your heart

Doti tagged me! And it's just about time to answer one of these... ;)


You share 8 things that your readers don't know about you. Then at the end, you tag 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going.

* Each blogger must post these rules first.
* Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
* Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they're tagged, and to read your blog.


1. I wrote my very first novel when I was in gradeschool. I was 10 or 11. It was patterned after the Sweet Valley Kids series. Except my twins had short auburn curly hair. I typed it up in Wordstar and saved it in a green 5.25 inch diskette. I think my uncle has a printed copy of it somewhere.
2. I sleep talk all the time. There was a time that I was laughing so hard in my sleep that I woke up my sister and uncles. They thought something was wrong. I had them go back to sleep by sheepishly saying sorry.
3. My very last interview was with HP -- the number 1 company on my list. Honestly haven't been in another interview since.
4. A highschool friend taught me how to move clouds. Sometimes I still do. :P
5. I have 3 unfinished scrapbooks with me. My highschool scrapbook, travel scrapbook, and 2008 planner/scrapbook (haven't updated in more than a month). They're all waiting patiently to be updated.
6. I'm an avid fan of UAAP basketball. And when I watch the games live, I do all the actions of the Unibersidad cheer. Shamelessly.
7. I can't distinguish good coffee from bad coffee. Starbucks? 3-in-1? All the same to me.
8. I'm lactose intolerant, but I can stomach ice cream. Even lots of it. I guess I just love ice cream that much.

Not tagging anyone. You're welcome to follow suit, though. :) Have a great week ahead! :)

The sun is saying goodbye in orange tones. The world is at the brink of darkness. It is dusk. And I am sad.

Last night, I dreamt of you. You were smiling in your charming way. And then laughing at one joke or another. In my sleep, I was laughing with you.

Today, I am alone. I continue to dream of your charming smile. The orange tones light your happy face. And your laughter tickles my heart. I am awake, but still dreaming.

It is dusk. And I am sad. I wonder if I would be if you were here.

(100 words)


© Isabel M. Casas 20080531

Last night, I visited Peyups after a long time and found this message waiting in my Inbox. This covers the gist of the message; I'm not posting the whole thing because it will divulge my Peyups ID. Hehe :)


antagal na ng article mo. but it sure does have a great effect on me. funny as it seems but tagos hanggang buto lahat ng sinabi mo. i would like to thank you for opening my mind about it.


Nakakataba ng puso. :)  Because of this and a thousand different reasons, I know I should continue writing. :)

Nothing too major, just something light. But I promise I'll blog about that "major" something. As Flo said, I'm going through a phase. A lot of thoughts screaming in my head at the same time. A lot of things to pray for.

Anyway, this song is currently the only song on my playlist. Yep, the only one. Most people don't know that I don't get sick of a song that easily. I could literally have just one song playing the whole day. Talk about perennial LSS. It's a song by Billy Joel, released in 1984 (the year I was born!) It's fun and it's catchy, something that suits Friday afternoons. A good choir can do justice to it. And I guess I can relate to some of the lyrics as well. :)

Let's sing! :) If you don't know the song, I can sing it for you :P Haha! Not as good as Billy Joel sings it, though.

For the Longest Time
Billy Joel

Oh, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Oh, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh, oh
For the longest
I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've been hoping too hard
But I've gone this far
And it's more than I hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more than I hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time

Oh Oh Oh Oh
For the longest time
Oh Oh Oh Oh
For the longest time
Oh Oh Oh Oh
For the longest time

I love this pic. Taken yesterday at Bubba Gump with Miki's Strawberry sumthing shake. I forgot what it's called -- the only important thing is that the bottom of the glass lights up. Amazing. Just like a little disco.


I've lost my blogging mojo lately. It seems like I don't have exciting and new experiences to share. I didn't go anywhere new, I don't go out as often, I'm so busy with work and other work-related stuff, and I've made no new realizations -- nothing that would interest other people.


Hmmm.

There's been a backlog of pictures in this site. I just wanted to give a quick picture update on this thing called my life. : )



"Ninang, I ate all the chocolate!"

Sean is getting cuter than ever. He can now repeat whatever we're saying even if he doesn't know what it means.

One word that he knows is "gan-da." That's his noun for his Crocs and all other people's Crocs. : )

And I have a niece on the way! : ) Ate Mai is pregnant with a little girl. : ) I'm so excited!

















Triangle?

Met up with Pentagon girls Nikki and Tere 2 weeks ago. So now, we're a triangle? Hehe. : ) It was so fun updating each other with our (love) lives and reminiscing the old high school days. Gawd, I even forgot all my crushes and they remembered! Hahaha. : )

Today the Pentagon will be complete after seven years (shucks). We're meeting up for a grand reunion. Again, I'm so excited! Love ya girls. Mwahhhh! : )


Ready to get Pampered

We had Ate Mitzi's bridal shower at The Spa in Bonifacio High Street when Auntie Bernadette and Auntie Osee were home. What a way to end my week -- it was so relaxing. In a family of girls, there's nothing like girl bonding time while getting pampered.


The Beach

No beach pictures as yet. : (  Let's go summer tripping!!! Cmon!!! : )

I've become a disaster in heels. First, this incident. Which, coincidentally, happened March 30, 2006 -- three days and two years ago -- and which also involved PBB. Now, I'm at it again.

What happened, you say?

Well, I was hurrying home to catch today's PBB episode. And I almost made it when the lady security guard at Trinoma informed me that the mall was closed already. So I set out walking briskly at the side of the mall, carrying my laptop bag, my lunch box and my big white bag. I was walking, walking, walking... One quick step at a time... PBB... PBB... Get home early... PBB... When I tripped.

You know how in the movies they put exciting sequences and the most embarrassing moments in slow motion? That happens in real life. So there I was tripping and cursing, "PPPPUUUUNNNN-YYYYEEEEE-TTTTTTAAAAA!!!!" Punyeta talaga. In a split second, it was over. I was found almost lying down in dirt in my white pants. Great! I almost didn't want to get up because I was still in shock that I actually tripped that way. But right after, somebody helped me up. And I was walking again, slower this time and with scratches on my hand, my Momma Rowsaa knee, and my foot.

It was the lady security guard's fault. And you guys better not expect a Part 3 from me.

I unearthed my memory box this evening.

I'm a sucker for small momentoes. I keep anything that is attached to any special event in my life. Tonight, as I was going through the things in the box, I found name tags, a Hitch movie ticket, a candle from a high school retreat, my first paycheck from SMART, lots of scribblings, letters, mushy prose, and notes that we passed around to stay awake in class.

Some were memories I'd rather forget. But there were a lot more that made me laugh and wonder how much I've grown. Still others showed me how I could be so inspired, driven and passionate about life.

In an unsent letter to Luz I wrote,


...Ang tanda na nga natin. In 3 sems gra-graduate na ko! Hopefully! Natatandaan mo ba nung 3rd year, sabi ko ang tanda na natin? E 15 lang tayo nun, e! Dyosko pano pa kaya ngayon? Magbebente ka na sa December! Yikes! Pano kaya ang feeling ng adult na, no? Masaya sigurong kumita ng pera. Pero ikaw na talaga bahala sa sarili mo. BUHAY mo na yun. Yikes... Owel, walang nalalagpasan pag nagpatulong kay God. :) :) :) Konting dasal lang yan. :)


In more ways than one, I was more intelligent when I was 19. I never forgot about faith. Now that I'm an "adult," I just hope I wouldn't disappoint my 19-year-old self.

This was a note I put in my filecase. I wish I'd regain that inspiration and drive that I had before. I guess I'd just have to steer in the direction of my dreams.

Okay.

So here I am, online after more than a week of Internet hibernation. I'm getting a little work done, browsing through my 200 emails (God, help me), and watching Gilmore Girls on the side. (I love Chris, btw.) A true girly girl who can multi-task, eh? :)

Anyway, I've been out for 2 weeks because of an illness that has plagued me ever since I got back home. High fever, the cough, phlegm, which of course developed over time to pneumonia. But I'm loads better now. And I believe that my 2 weeks at home has taught me much about sickness and health. First thing to do is to make some changes in my work-life balance as this is totally not worth it.

So now I'm back. I'm back at work. I'm back online. I'm back in your lives (cue in evil laughter -- HAHAHAHAHA). Believe it or not, some people are happy that I'm back, including my teammates who have been covering for me (AU Mega DC team, you're THE BEST!!!) Mike F was also happy to see me back online earlier and he had a little sumthin sumthin to say...

mike f: anong sakit mo
chubbs <3: pneumonia
chubbs <3: actually nagdevelop yung pneumonia
chubbs <3: hay
mike f: ok ka na ngayon?
chubbs <3: medyo hinihingal pa
chubbs <3: pero ok - can work a little
chubbs <3: watch gilmore girls a lot
mike f: naku dahan dahan lang
chubbs <3: yeah
mike f: pag namatay ka
mike f: well
mike f: pag namatay ka, wala ka nang problema
chubbs <3: hahahahahaha
chubbs <3: HAHAHAHAHA
chubbs <3: omg

Well thank you Mike, you really did miss me a lot. And because Fridays are a cause for mini-celebrations, I'll just pass it off as one of your numerous stating-the-blunt-truth moments.

Happy Friday, everybody! :)

Help improve public education in the Philippines! :)

The night started innocently enough.

Flo asked me where I wanted to have dinner and I muttered, "Something chicken...," remembering a high school classmate who wanted to read the Chicken God's Wife by Amy Tan. It turned out I was referring to The Cookbook Kitchen.

Being that I was wearing a very green girly dress and high heels, we set off to catch a cab. After waiting in the queue for several minutes, getting a worrying phone call, and seeing a sight that was *a bit* depressing, I ranted to Flo in the cab. After a while, I decided to myself out loud, so that Flo, the taxi driver, and the whole world could hear, "I shouldn't be sad; this is a great year!"

Little did I know that the night's adventures have just begun.

The Cookbook Kitchen is snugly located in a residential area in Mandaluyong. These days, though, a road leading to the cafe is closed for construction. This means that our purpose for riding the cab was totally defeated, as I was walking blocks and blocks in, yes, a very green girly dress and high heels.

What's more, when we got to the road construction site we were forced to choose between wet cement and actual dirt. As our heels were sinking in the compact earth with every step, I said, "Flo, that's wet cement. Better here than there, or we'd be stuck til morning." It was a very good point, I thought.

After going through the road block, we realized that we had another problem: We were a bit lost. So there we were walking in between a massive house where giants seem to live and this thick hedge, not unlike the ones in the Triwizard maze. The last street sign that we checked did not match to the directions in Flo's phone. But after a while... Lo and behold! A sari-sari store! We're saved!


When we finally arrived at the Cookbook Kitchen, we were as hungry as ever. We decided to order CBK Chicken and Adobo Pasta. The ambiance was very homey; a place for the family or for nights out with the girls. This particular night spent with a great girl-friend. And so in between mouthfuls of very delicious chicken and adobo pasta, the talking of the-things-that-girls-talk-about-in-nights-out ensued.

After all the good food was gone to the very last bit, we got a cab back to the office. Again, one would think that the story ends here. But as we were riding the elevator to our floor, the lights suddenly turned off midway. I swore loudly, waiting for the panic to rise inside me. Flo took hold of a railing in the dark. We thought there was a blackout and that the elevators stopped functioning. But when the elevator doors opened with a flood of light, we realized that we were brought up to our floor safely.

And here is where our story ends: Flo and I scared to our wits, but considering the night as a great adventure nonetheless.

I find this email and the circumstances surrounding it as amusing and telling. It may just be numbers, but admit it, this rarely happens. :)

Hi Everyone,

I’m pleased to say that at 1:11 AM of 1/11/2008 (as in promise! :)), the Development is 100% Complete – from scoping to coding to unit testing. Good to go for SIT. :) Incidentally, our 11^th and last TP worked like a charm. :)

Yehey!!!! :)

Have a great weekend! :)

Thanks & Best Regards,

Chubbs

First off, Happy Rizal Day! (I don't know where that came from)
 
To put a spin to this year-end tradition, I dug up my archives and will be including a few entries from the past years. Time really does go by quickly. Just a few years ago, I was small enough to fit in a car with 25 other people, now I fit in an FX with 10 other people.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
In 2007, it was my first time to experience snow in Cincinnati and I loved it! Also my first time to experience perfection in Boracay, to see the sheer beauty of the Sydney Opera House and the Blue Mountains. I underwent surgery and had all four of my wisdom teeth extracted (My right cheek is still swelling!). I visited Ate Mai at her Cleveland home, drove in another country, went on a summer family holiday to Zambales, saw the sights in Pittsburgh, had a great time in Caliraya, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with my parents, and lots more!
2003: yupyup, dami talaga from engg week... pumasok sa kotse kasama ang 25 other people ("i love you ol"), tumungtong sa mattress wih 32 other people (go cursor!), maglaro ng giant pick-up sticks (hehehe!). marami ring firsts this year: first time magdala ng kotse, first heartbreak, at marami pang iba!

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Oh well, I seem to be growing fatter every year. But only because of the holidays! Haha. I think I only make that resolution because of the holidays. Now, since it's still the holidays, I resolve to lose some weight next year, only because I want to live a healthier life. And again, stronger faith.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A ton of friends and officemates gave birth this year. Jean, a gradeschool friend, gave birth to my first goddaughter, Iya. Around September-October this year, officemates started giving birth. Jusel to Moriah, Sheryl to Jakob Zion, Les to Andrei, and Lou to CURSOR baby Qwerty.
 
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no one. :)
 
5. What countries did you visit? 
USA, Singapore, Australia.
2003: wala :(
 
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Right now, I really couldn't ask for more. I'm okay with everything, but there's always room for improvement. I guess I want a stronger driving force, more things to look forward to, better personal relationships, and more quiet times with God.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 21, 2007        First time I saw real snow!
February 25, 2007       Kuya Paul and Ate Mai's wedding
October 4, 2007          A truly dysfunctional birthday
2004:
Mar 8  2004. Lahat ng kabitteran sa mundo. Huhuhu... Kakaiyak to. :,(
Apr 13 2004. First day ko sa SMART.
May 28 2004. Last day ko sa SMART.
Oct 21 2004. Masaya. :)
Dec 14 2004. Awitan night. Natalo kami pero memorable to.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Work: A promotion! And really understanding what it means to do something for the organization. Naks.
2003: matanggap sa cursor!
2004: Nakasama ako sa ACM-ICPC. And we finished 15th out of 80 teams. Not bad, eh? GO TEAM KWEK-KWEK!!! :)
2005: Graduating from UP!!! You wouldn't believe what I went through. This is indeed a great and valued achievement to me.
2006: Two Cutovers!  I'm so glad we all pulled it through. Especially for ANZ, after all the pagod, puyat, pawis, and hirap, akalain mong naka-Cutover kami?!?

9. What was your biggest failure?
I guess this year, as with many other years, I really failed in the friends department.
2004: Sa studies, SocSci2. Sa orglife, na-probi ako. Sa love life, failure pa rin talaga.
 
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I'm generally healthy this year. I was just down for a few weekends to recover from a slight fever or from impacted tooth surgery.
2004: Naaalala ko nagkasakit ako nung summer tapos na-stuck ako sa MRT ng isang oras. Kaiyak. :(













11. What was the best thing you bought?
For myself, food and books. Lots of yummy food tripping this year, and lots of weekends just reading or re-reading my books. For my parents, our 25th wedding anniversary gift to them - a mosaic of their wedding picture. Again for myself, that Boracay ticket! Ya-hooo! Ya-hooo! Ya-hooo!  :)
2004: The best thing I bought for myself.. When I got my paycheck, I bought pseudo-diamond earrings. I like them a lot. For my sisters, food! :) hahaha...
 
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My family. To my sisters, cousins and Sean the godson, who make me laugh and smile, and to my parents who've always supported me and given me strength.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Let's not name names.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, books, pasalubongs, the Boracay trip, Christmas gifts!
2004: Hay, sa pagkain. Sa xerox. Sa lab fee [haynaku Leng]. Sa Internet Card. Sa Yellow Cab. Sa Gloria's. Sa Sbarro. Sa libro. Sa room for Awitan practices. Sa costumes namin [naku, pera ko].
 
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ate Mai and Kuya Paul's Wedding! Our Boracay trip! UAAP Season 70! Our Sydney trip!
 
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Makulay ang Buhay sa Sinabawang Gulay, hahahaha! Puff the Magic Dragon! And our ultimate GV song: The Flame.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? sadder
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter
iii. richer or poorer? richer
 
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I wish I'd spent more time with my family on the weekends instead of just sleeping through them.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I've done less of worrying. Worrying for the project, worrying on the plane, worrying what to do... I really wish I've done less of that.
2003: being talkative. lahat na siguro nakwentuhan ko.
 
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my family. We went to mass, ate our Noche Buena, played a little charades (with Mama's rendition of the Little Mermaid), and opened our presents.













22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope!
2003: =) i think so
2004: Naku kung pwede lang magfall ng maraming beses ng paulit-ulit sa iisang tao, yun na ang nangyari sa kin. Haha...

23. How many one-night stands?
Zero
2003: ngek, e di wala!

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Holy Week this year we watched nonstop House MD. And of course, who can forget PBB? I remember texting to Krizel and Audrey with rage during eviction nights.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. Nope!
 
26. What was the best book you read?
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
2003: this year i haven't been reading much. hp5 lang, and that wasn't exactly great. pwede bang introduction to algorithms? the best yun! ahahaha...

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Remember after the fire, after all the rain, I will be THE FLAME. GV talaga, promise.

28. What did you want and get?
To stay at home for a while - I didn't leave the Philippines for 8 straight months.
2003: mataas na grades pa rin last sem

29. What did you want and not get?
Si The One. Ayown!

30. favorite film of this year?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (courtesy of HP), 300 (Awwooo! Awwooo! Awwooo!)













31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Again, my 23rd birthday was a truly dysfunctional one. I went to mass, went to the hospital with my sister, cried, and ate Mango Bravo and Yellow Cab pizza. Afterwards, I got to celebrate my birthday by spending quality time with my closest office friends.
2004: This year, I turned 20. Birthday ko, may 131 exam kami! Pero ok lang, favorite subject ko yun. Hehe... I attended mass nung gabi, sobrang na-overwhelm ako sa blessings. Isa sa mga pinakamasayang bdays ko. :)
 
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Again, what more can I ask for? I got the greatest vacation, a good job, and the best family.
2003: haaay, kung nakapanood ako ng concert ni mandy moore
 
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
I noticed that I had less jeans that fit well and I have more formal attire for the office. So there, more formal. And as for shoes with heels, I got a lot of those this year.
2004: Pa-cute. :) Hehehe... I loved dressing up this year. Pag hindi, I love my white tees.
 
34. What kept you sane?
My faith and my family.
 
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Miami Ink Boys: Chris Garver, Ami James, Chris Nunez.
 
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Senatorial elections this year and all the issues surrounding them.
 
37. Who did you miss?
My family when I was in the US for 3 weeks, and there were times that I did miss a particular someone.
 
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Auds F! I miss riding, or trying to ride, the MRT with you, Auds! Mwah!
 
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Life is better when you set the goal of touching more and more lives. It's sincerely showing other people that you care and returning the kindness that was shown to you.
 
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Purpose
It's that little flame
That lights a fire under  your ass
Purpose
It keeps you going strong
Like a car
With a full tank of gas
Everyone else has a purpose
So what's mine?

I don't know how I know,
But I'm gonna find my purpose
I don't know where I'm gonna look,
But I'm gonna find my purpose
Gotta find out,
Don't wanna wait!
Got to make sure that my life will be great!
Gotta find my purpose
Before it's too late

-- Purpose, Avenue Q

Happy 2008, everyone!

Earlier today I was thinking of a meaningful Christmas greeting to send to my friends. I seem to have run out of Christmas carols to quote and when I started creating one of my own it turned out to be melodramatic. I ended up just sending a simple message.

During our Christmas Eve mass, our parish priest  was telling us about how simple the first-ever Christmas was. What was simple turned out to be the most special event of the year, because God was there. God makes simple things special. That's why a simple birth in Bethlehem turned out to be special. Why the ordinary bread and wine during mass is special. Why you and me are special.

So, simple as it is...

Maligayang Maligayang Pasko sa iyo at sa mga mahal mo sa buhay!

I started documenting my best scrapbook entries last year. This year, there are no more icicle stickers from Starbucks. Instead, they've been replaced with little red cup stickers. And I'm proud to say I've completed the set for this year. What happened to last year's planner, you say? Let's see...


Well, I turned 23, and that's always a milestone. My birthday this year has a really funny entry:

My day... A year's worth of blessings...
Blessings indeed!
- in the form of friends who sent a ton of text messages and emails
- and of family -- of my truly dysfunctional family!
    - Kris' fever and rash brought us to the hospital
    - Mama & Papa fighting
    - Yellow cab and Mango Bravo Part II
    - worry worry worry worry about dengue
    - cry cry cry -> whatta disaster!
Birthdays are always good :)


A big guy also celebrated his birthday last October. Happy 1st to my nephew and godson, Sean Matthew! There were ribbons in his party and they have somehow made their way to my planner.











Number one travel entry of this year goes to Sydney. I really love this city. The pictures are great -- I know it'll help me remember our The Ranch dinners, Rolan and Krizel's engagement, Oh my Greek God!!!, the sights in Bondi Beach and Blue Mountains, the stunning beauty of the Sydney Opera House, and most importantly, the happiness of coming back home to lovely Manila. I really hope I can come back with my family sometime.




Early this year, I also fell in love with Cincinnati big time.

It's nice to be back with hugs hugs hugs from everyone. :) Pero I feel a bit empty. I miss Cincy. :( Hay. I thought the people here at home can fill in the emptiness, pero hindi eh. :( Cincy is Cincy. The space in my heart is for Cincy. Huhu. :( I Miss Cincy.

The long flight also gave me a chance to update my journal in an in-between, as Delirium termed it. The entries were cool, I was making them on a flight, but not anywhere in particular.



Of course the Boracay trip was my best beach trip this year. Super enjoy with a lot of really funny stories, songs, and who can forget? Puff the magic dragon! Bora gang, where to next?

When Ate Mai was here this year, we were supposed to go to another beach, but we ended up touring different malls and bumming around. It was okay though, because Ate Mai and Kuya Paul were here for a very important occasion -- their wedding. It was such a beautiful celebration with the family. Again, I really am amazed by you both.





Lastly, I found this, which I think is very funny, but I guess you'll find it very cheesy.

I know I've written this so many times before and consequently thought I was overly-mushy. But forgive me future self, I just have to let this out...

People ask me: Why him? To me the answer is more like second nature. Well -- because it's HIM. :)


So, having mentioned that I'm a very cheesy girl, care to hear the whole story over a cup of Starbucks coffee?