Posterity

"Kasi yung ganyang kalaking pagmamahal, ganyang overwhelming love, imposibleng walang pupuntahan e. May mababalik sayong pagmamahal. Not necessarily sa taong pinagbigyan mo, pero sigurado akong may mababalik sayo."

Notes to self

I actually really mean notes to self. Skip this nalang! :)

28 November 2014

Balcony hohol with Berns and Carmela over a bottle of pale pilsen, a can of San Mig light, and a slice of Starbucks chocolate crepe cake. Not sure if the beers and the cake match pretty well or we were just hungry.

Berns called me his ball of sunshine. Carmela agreed. I wanted to cry because it was the first time my 'goal' was verbally affirmed. But all I could say was thank you. Thank you that they noticed. Thank you kasi nararamdaman naman pala. 

Posting it here because I don't want to forget. Because I want to be reminded whenever I doubt myself.


6 December 2014

I've been so distracted the past few weeks. All I could think of was sending the perfect gifts to our customers. I have so many more gifts to buy on top of all the office work to do before the year ends.

I just got back from a week of chaperoning my mom in Iloilo while my Dad was at a work trip in Pagadian with my kuya.

Heard anticipated mass today. Second Sunday of Advent. Because I've been distracted lately, I prayed for forgiveness. And strength, and guidance so I can focus on the last few weeks of work before the office Christmas break. I wanted to find or hear the word JUSTICE to tell me the distraction is okay. It's a thing I do when I want a sign but not really. I pick a word and if I encounter it within the day, that's my pseudo-sign.

I didn't see or hear 'justice' today. But at mass the reading was Mark 1:1-8. MARK 118. Gets mo, self? GETS. This is crystal.

Again, posting this to remind myself something. :)

Tita Wish List

It's the first of December! The most traffic time of the year (at least in Manila). I am writing this from the Iloilo home. The folks flew me in to keep my mom company while dad is in Mindanao for work. Dad and I actually just said hi-hello at the airport. Ay, andami kong sinabi? Okay bye! :)

Twenty Five

I'm 25! I turned twenty five two weeks ago. I don't feel any different; only more aware of my age. Twenty-five sounds old until you reach that age. Anyway, I'm gonna share my learnings so feel free to click X now. hehe


1. I spent my year of being 24 learning how not to give a shit about what others think. There are opinions that matter and there are opinions that qualify as mema (me-masabi lang). At 25, I'd like to think I got the hang of filtering opinions. Of course there will be 'off' days, sucky days, well, shitty days but I have learned to handle these situations properly. Defend yourself if you must. Speak your mind if you can't help it but don't lash out each and every time. Pick your moments! Feels pretty awesome. :)

2. Find time to do the things that make you happy. Cliche, I know! But hear me out. It doesn't have to be something you earn from. I'm not saying leave your job. Your job and your passion need not be one and the same.  If it is, well CONGRATULATIONS! In my case, my job is an enabler. It allows me to do the other things that make me happy. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an artist - specifically a painter and sculptor. But I realized I cannot draw to save my life. My mom proudly displays my first ever painting at our Iloilo home. It's a small garden with three 'front-view' butterflies. Not elegant at all! I cringe whenever I see it but she loves it so fiiine. HAHAHA! I also remember drawing a forest for art class with a snake that looked more like a very healthy worm. Since then I just set aside the creative part of my life. I guess if it's in you, it'll nag you until you nourish it. I started with small DIY projects like painting an old pair of shoes. I rediscovered watercolor, and recently started to dabble in calligraphy. I am lucky to have a bunch of legit artist friends who I can consult when I have a new project. Looking forward to pottery classes too!

3. Take control. Manage what you can. Be it feelings, your temper, expectations; Choose your words carefully. It saves you from so much unnecessary stress. If need be, hold back. Not because you're afraid, but because you know (deep inside) it's not worth it.

4. Stick to core. Everyday, our principles are challenged. And when I find myself in a 'situation', I go back to my core- what kind of person I want to be, which decision will allow me to sleep at night, and which decisions let me to 'live with myself'.

5. Love yourself. You cannot give what you do not have. You cannot fully love life, love your friends, love someone else when you do not love yourself. And me not listening to irrelevant people, doing what I love, taking control and standing by my principles are all because I love myself.

It's not a lot of lessons at 25. But I'm posting it as a reminder. :)

It's Christmas already!

Has it really been a year? Crazy! Every December, I try to recall my best memories of the year and very often it come up with something that happened during the summer. Not a fling (unfortunately) HAHA This 2013 it's going up the Cordillera Region and exploring 5 of its 6 provinces. Aaaahhh... You guys have to go there! 

Anyway, posting my annual wishlist. 

These are mostly stuff on my own shopping list that I don't mind receiving as gifts.

1. Headware! Light, quick-drying, and multi-use. Perfect for my adventures.  http://www.theheadware.com/files/theme/headware-2013-catalog.pdf

2. J. Maxwell and other business / leadership books. Before agreeing to attend UP for college, my dad promised that if I still want to pursue MBA, he will send me to Ateneo. Four years in business school and I don't want to take MBA anymore. I'd rather take special education or art studies. But since I work with my dad, I try my best to make up for skipping graduate studies by reading these books. Eventually I plan to put the books in the office so my officemates can borrow it. I wish they do. Coz I would hate to tell them what they should have or shouldn't have done.

3. Washi tapes. I still like them. I don't get to use them a lot though. Right now I mainly use them to post documents in my cubicle. It helps me enjoy my work desk more.

4. Food! Royce chocolate chip and truffle oil. These are items I can't afford on a regular basis. HAHA! I like eating Royce Nama and potato chips separately. I can only imagine what happens when they're combined. Now the truffle oil, imagine scrambled eggs with a dash of truffle oil for breakfast. Aaaah!

5. Donations. Doesn't matter how much. You don't even have to tell me about it.

Typhoon Yolanda destroyed the Visayas. I'm sad that very little attention is given to provinces in Panay island. I do know that Red Cross has presence in these areas. NVC is based in Bacolod but has a solid network in the Visayas. I also like NVC's other projects such as sponsoring a classroom or providing boats to fishing villages. (If you're interested, a boat costs 20k, that's the motorized boat plus environmental conservation fees. Plus you get to name the boat! hihi) On the other hand, I am happy to hear some grade school acquaintances based in Iloilo have relief operations of their own. I hope I see some of them when I visit for Christmas to ask how we can send more help.

Website: nvcfoundation-ph.org/how-you-can-help/

I hope we are kinder not just during Christmastime. You know, try to warm a heart every chance you get. Give the beggar something to eat or better yet take her to the food place. Offer your seat to an oldie or someone who looks so tired. Smile at people in the store even if you refuse their offer. Buy your village guards a bag of hot pandesal just because. Thank the servers every time they refill your glass of water, or the guard who opens the door for you. Little acts of kindness go a long way, guys! It restores faith in humanity, it makes someone's day brighter, it makes you happy knowing you have been a good person today, everyday.

Wishing you all a meaningful Christmas season. :)