The night that finally got me!

Dec. 26, 2009: The night that will live in infamy! The night I finally reached and surpassed my limit. And I'm already 29. Fuuuhhhhnnn! All I can say is, its Joey Dako's fault!

circle of doom!

still okay... wait for it...

this pic's a keeper. and i got bryan to crack a smile!

why is joey hugging my bf? hmmm...

cracks me up every time i look at this.

Y-M-C-?

i love u man!

nacho macho love

rardi-buuuooooyyyy :D

Christmas 2009. What a rush! All the way up to the day before, I thought we would have a different Christmas. But thank God we are almost out of that one.

I'm grateful that Lola is out of the hospital and back home. Though still a bit groggy but she will get better. She just needs to let go and let it take its course for now.

The gifts I got this Christmas are pretty unique this year. I got the usual cash which is also appreciated. 2 trucks (I got a Giga!). Well, they were not exactly gifts but they what I desperately need to make my worth life bearable :D Joey and Vic2 also gave me a printer/scanner/copier. Joy of joys! hehehe

Going to Iloilo again later so my holiday treats are only just beginning :) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

When the winds turn

Lola Cora was rushed to the hospital Monday night after a whole day of being "high". She took some medication, recommended by her doctors, but the side effects were so scary. She took them the night before and the next day she was woozy, she couldn't speak well, she couldn't walk the way she used to walk and she couldn't even pick up a spoon. She was also hallucinating! She kept seeing people and colors. It really scared all of us. She was mumbling and speaking of things we couldn't understand. Plus she kept jerking uncontrollably. That has never happened to her before.

Up to last night she was still out of wack and getting pretty frustrated and mad. I know my Lola and she prides herself with the way she has taken care of her body and health. She cannot even bring herself to believe she is this old (88 years old). She still thinks she can do the things she used to do and when she doesn't, she beats herself up over it. Seeing her as she was last night, I got choked up so many times. This was the woman who singlehandedly showed me that we shouldn't give up even if the odds are against us (she was widowed when she was 30 with 4 kids and never got to finish college). To fight for what we believe in and to have faith, unparalleled by nothing else, in our life. That God is and will be our meaning for living.

At the same time we get news that April needed to be operated on because her baby was getting stressed and they had to get it out. It was due next month already. Her road to motherhood has been so bad. I have never known anyone who has gone through the things she has went through. I admire her so much and was really praying for her and Gabi. They deserve this baby so much. But as of 1am this morning, Tita Ting updated us with the news that Michael has gone home to our Creator. My heart dropped.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow but this is definetely a Christmas I will never forget and will be unlike all the others. I just want Lola to come home and for Gabi and April to have God's best.

Reliving and Rewriting

Took a peak at my resolution last year. So far, only was able to do number 5: getting rid of my mole! The rest... Weeelllll... Half-heartedly done and not sure if I really did a good job. So let's try to do this again. God knows I do this every single year anyway :D

1. Still try to hold my temper. I get nastier by the year, I think. Oh no... Is it I get nastier or do the people I have around me get slower by the year? I think I'll focus on myself.

2. Now is the time to really try to reach my target, financially. Its now or never.

3. Try to have more discipline in the food I eat and the way I exercise. Find more ways to get off my bum and restrain myself, because the more I get stressed, the more I crave for food. Salty, fatty, crunchy food. Argh!

4. Still try to dress my age. More lines in me this year than the year before. I'm almost 30! Olay pls!

5. Try not to stress too much on things that I can and never will be in control of.

Kinda similar to last year. But then again, I'm still willing to try.

souled

At Soul Superclub (who would have thought Roxas would have a superclub?) during Halaran. Took a terrible beating during the badminton tournament, but thank God got to get it all out right after.

As usual, my Prince Charming fails to crack out a smile. Good thing he is the complete opposite off cam. Now that would be a biiiigggg problem! :D

Feeling the squeeze

I just have to ask, whatever happened to the days wherein people were satisfied with their performance rather than how much they can get out of it? People have no sense of pride anymore. Whoever can give the lowest price or biggest return, even if it means substandard means to get to the finish, that whoever gets it! Its so infuriating! Here I am trying to set a standard in which I can be proud of and not swindling anyone in the process and I always seem to get the short end of the stick.

The year is about to end and I still have so many things to work out. I pray for the new year, among the long list of other things, that God grant me His insight into the situations that face me. My own perception can only bring me as far. I need help. His help. Help!

Prince Charming in the making

And then the princess is whisked off into the sunset by her Prince Charming. And they lived happily ever after. The end.

Its the same formula, right? Princess is in trouble, rescued by her Prince and problem solved. Her life is perfect from then on. Rrrrrriiiiiiggghhhhttt...

When we were 5, this was the dream. When we finally meet a lot of toads, the story changes in more ways than one. Things that fairytales leave out, from my point of view:

1) We've heard this one before: you have to kiss (or meet) a whole lotta frogs before you can even get to your "prince".

2) More often then none, its not happily ever after. No castles or mice to help you out.

3) Some of us take longer than others to find their prince. Some princes took the wrong turn or messing with the evil stepsister in the meantime. Grrr...

4) You end up with mostly Gastons. No wonder Belle opted for the Beast. The Beast was more bearable. You know the type.

5) Romeo and Juliet is more close to reality, I guess. And it wasn't made out to be a fairy tale.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being negative. i just like to poke fun at the situation. No sense in trying to mope around about it. I'm more than happy being in the relationship that I am finally in. Hence, I go back to the way we were raised. Fairy tales were all we knew back then. Disney made a whole lot of cash in the development of little girls and gays.

But finally being in the real world, you can only hope and pray for such a relationship. But 100% not gonna happen in the way you always dreamed it would be. But we keep on dreaming. Thats how we form our "standards", I think. We shape the guy we want to end up with based on how we, as children, found attractive and perceived a real man should be.

More often than none, I learned that Prince Charmings are not found as Prince Charmings already. Some still have to change into someone's Prince Charming. Funny how reality is.

You will be missed, Mark

Mark Vincent Gan, born 1979, died 2009. He was 30 years old.

I can't recall how Mark and I really got to know each other but we had a lot of common friends. He was close to my college friends and my cousins and would occassionally run in to him from time to time.

He and his family came over to Roxas a few years ago to hold a special service in our church. Since then we would text more often and update each other on just about anything we could think of at the moment. I would be cooking something and telling him about it and he would proudly talk about his blueberry cheesecake.

He would talk about his days as a medical student, then his duties until he was about to take the board exam. Can't recall if that was about the last time we texted or was it last year when he updated me on an ex boyfriend's wedding (they were friends, too).

All in all, everybody agrees that he was a great guy. A genuine good guy who will be greatly missed. Gone too soon. It shocked me when we found out last Dec 8. Almost like it was happening to somebody else and it doesn't hit you directly for a while because the concept is just too far fetched.

He was laid to rest today. I know he had faith and he knew who his Lord and Saviour is. Though we are sad, he is where he belongs. Where he will always be loved and at peace. He could have made a great doctor.

Exhaling

I remember the movie, "Waiting to Exhale" by Whitney Houston years ago. The point of the theme song of the same title was that even when you have all these bad things happening all around you, you inevitably, in one time or another get to the point after holding so much in, you get to exhale.

I guess yesterday was one of those days. As crappy as it was, I got a good ending out of it. I know what I can and cannot do (most of the time) at this point in my life. Some things have just gone past their prime and I'm ready to settle myself into a more different way. Its sad in a way that I never got to progress as I have hoped, but life moves on and so must I. Lets just say that the experience yesterday has put a very bitter taste in my mouth, so to speak.

But I had a glorious finish. Totally different from the bangungot that I had. I'm just glad I'm out of the foxhole. I guess, I'm referring to myself as being attached na. Its really a relief. Just the mere thought of myself going back into the single scene... makes my head and heart hurt just reliving it again. Just very thankful for where I am at this moment and that I get to do and share so many things for the first time. I'm happy.

So shoop shoop shoop shoo be doop! :D

"If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow - to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him - then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. Every place where you set your foot will be yours. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea. No man will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go."

- Deu. 11:22-25

I'm going to be 30 soon and life is never going to go back to simple again, as much as I hope it would be at some point. Work in itself is already a reality. I used to be able to just step aside in the shadows and echo the things my dad would say and do, my actions holding no immediate or dire consequence to anyone. "Oooops" doesn't work as well anymore. I say "Oooppss" and other people are dragged along with me. My common sense brings them up with me, my pagka lipong, down.

Its verses like this that gives me hope and strength. I know all my efforts can never bring me to the level I dream of. Its all God's work. It has become clear, how God can manipulate things to our favor. Despite our wrong choices, he already opened door/s that will give you a more graceful exit into something, sometimes not what you would expect, but a place that is more secure.

So onwards to new territorries, more headaches and more lessons I know I will look back on and laugh, someday.

Still so wonderfully surprised...

It is still a shock but so happy this is happening. Christian has found his match and it took him quite a while. But he found her. So happy for my cousin.

http://animoto.com/play/2mpG0fpQy0gEIw0c3rWFvw?utm_campaign=share_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=share_email

Thanks to Larissa for this link.

Happy 1st Birthday Rafa!

Rafa turns 1! The party was a big success with baby Popeye all over. Molo's garden is definitely for all occassions. Congratulations to David and San2 on their very first kids party, too!

I want this...

I saw this and fell in love with it. A bit of a color change for my room which is mainly made up of autumn colors. But its worth it. I just love the pattern. This is by Daphne Osena's collection for SM's Our Home. Definitely gonna drop by SM City this weekend! Gonna keep my fingers crossed. Ain't it purrrtyyy?

Green Days with Tito Larry

Tito Larry declared his intentions of running for Iloilo City's mayor last Friday, Nov 13 (yes, on Friday the 13th!). What a day! This election jsut keeps on sprouting up surprises, thats for sure. David is also running so its really going to be a family affair.

So a lot of prayers for both Tito Larry and David in the next few months. For those who live in Iloilo who read my blog.... Please vote for both :D Pretty, pretty please hehehe

Go, Tito!

Who? ME?

Never in my wildest of imaginations could I have ever predicted what happened yesterday. Ok, let me start by what actually took place before I ramble about my own thoughts and "feelings". Carrries more drama, I think.

A couple of people were trying to talk me into running as councilor in next year's elections. I'm pretty happy where I am and the thought of me in that field has never been a dream or distant fantasy. Anyways, thinking it would only be up to that level, I naturally shrugged it off and went on with my day/s.

But last night I got messages from Matty and Powell that they were actually talking about me in the LP meeting taking place with Tita Judy at their house in Baybay. Then Tita Judy actually calls my dad to ask him if we would be part of the lineup. Of course, my dad knows how I feel so he explained that we are private people and our days are already filled with too much work and were only more focused in doing work for God. It is true so they talked a bit more. The other were still texting me. That even after their conversation they were still talking about me!

My ego was swelling like a balloon last night! Completely flattered, honored and at the same time humbled (this going hand in hand with my swelled ego). Although I know I don't have the "gift" for public service, like in everything, it is a big compliment to be invited and have the option of turning it down rather than pushing yourself into it without anybody asking you to join them. So that's that. I can dream about turning it down over and over. At least someday, when I am old and gray, I can say that I was asked to run in 2010 but Lola Cristy turned it down. Naks!

2010 is already jam packed for our family anyways. Have Tito Larry running for Mayor. David running for councilor, too. Tito Nonoy running for Mayor again in Sipalay. Hello! Too much in one basket, don't you think? And besides, public service doesn't mean actual service. We all get to serve one way or another in our own ways. Personally, I like helping out annonymously, anyways.

Talk of the nation... for now.

It took a while for them to "find" each other. But finally, broadcast journalist, Korina Sanchez found her match at 40 something years old in our very own Mar Roxas. Not your typical local boy meets big city girl fairy tale of sorts. More like present senator of the republic with his eye on the ice presidency weds one of the most powerful women in the Philippine media today. Hmmm... Not bad at all.

I'm not a fan or anything. Others were ecstatic to have these two together in their presence. My father was too "lipong" to even tell me that they actually dropped in one time to talk. Duh! He didn't expect Korina to be that petite but as guys go, thats just about all the chismis I could muster out of him.

I did hear other chismis from other sources within the family circle. Hehehe

This picture was taken by my cousin, Bordoy Viterbo. He got to be one the lucky photographers who were invited to cover the wedding. I'm so proud! Pretty good, huh?

Wish there were more pictures of Tita Judy, though.

Strange...

Strange things have been happening and it ain't Halloween yet! But it does make life a bit more interesting. Can you believe that it was reported this morning by a family friend on local tv that a stray cat gave birth to a litter of 2 kittens and 1 PUPPY! I kid you not! Though I am 100% skeptical about it, still! Imagine how the world has become when something like that actually does happen. RExam plans to upload it on youtube so will be sure to post it here soon.

Another strangER thing happened, well, in my opinion, anyway. The people who chose to look at me "displeasingly" have all of a sudden been trying to be "friendly". Wiiiieeeeeerrrrddd! Indi gid ako anad sa ila. But I know better than to trust them. So I just try to stick my nose out of their business and do what I do, quietly.

Opening your eyes to an entirely different reality...

Santorini was more than a dream. Nothing beats being there in the moment when the world is between day and night.

The crystal waters of Mykonos (among other things)

Isn't this just a dream? To be on a ship facing the sunset together with the one you love. Awww...

Pretty proud of my camera. Didn't know it could actually do this! Wuhu!

One of the best parts about travelling is seeing simple yet beautiful sights such as this. I took tons of pics during this trip. All 3,000+ of them to be exact.

String of thought

The relief and peace to be back home is like a warm blanket wrapping around you on a cold, cold night. its comforting, familiar and you can just be yourself. Not that I pretended or anything while I was away but being around people, there always is a level of behavior in which you can or should act. I can actually hear myself think again. 2 weeks of being in one room with 2 other people (even though it is your brother and mother), sometimes you just wanna take it slow, spend a few extra minutes in bed, gathering our thoughts. Makes you whole, I guess, to start your day.

A lot of things happened in the short two weeks I was gone. The storms that raged the country was all we could think about while we were away (well, most of us anyways). I pray that we would be spared from even more storms until we can all get back on our feet. More prayers for those in Luzon. It was unbelievable to have all those storms happening in such a short time. The images we saw on CNN (that was the only news channel we could understand) were unbelievable. To think it was happening back home while everything was the complete opposite where I presently was. Surreal!

2 deaths happened as well. Edith Basco, our employee for more than a decade finally passed away from lung cancer. She just found out last July and it was so quick for all of us. I regret not being able to talk to her before I left. I just found out she wanted to talk to me but I was out because of the CAPRISA and the people in the office forgot to tell me until now. But I am glad she got to talk to my dad. Hopefully, she received the Lord in her life finally as her Savior. She was often conflicted and needed more hope, I felt from our conversations. She was a character in the office and she will definitely be missed. I miss her with her spaghetti strap tops, tight fitting pants or leggings. She was fun and she loved life. She didn't let her age rule her disposition and she was quite a character. But she did smoke a lot. She would bring me chorizos and chocolates whenever she went somewhere. Edith will be missed.

Mr. Villareal's death also came as a surprise. He was the Dean of Discipline during my highschool years in St. Mary's. He was one of the reasons why I was never late. I preferred to be absent if I knew I was late. The guy was strict but a very common face if ever anyone studied in St. Mary's. Don't have the details on how he passed but it had something to do with the fact that he was drinking. Whatever the case, he was a big part of that era in my life and more prayers for him and his family.

So many things to look forward to now that I am back. Still trying to get over my jet lag. Woke up at 10am this morning! I haven't done that in years. Even if I spent the whole night out I still didn't wake up this late. I even forgot my manicurista appointment at 2! Haha

But that is life. You get the up moments and the totally down times. Its a ride and just go along with it, I guess. God bahala na sa tanan.

Back home

Feels so good to be back home. It was a vacation above any other, most definitely. But I need a break pagid from my vacation. I need sleep. Hahaha!

Packing Anxiety

As much as I love to travel, this is the part I so dread the most. The realization that I have absolutely pffft to bring with me to wear and have no time to upgrade my kikayness. Horror of horrors! Argh! I am sooo utterly at a loss for words with what I have separated in my closet. So boring! Gah! But I do want to be in the pictures naman no! Hello! Proof I was actually there. But years from now I will look back and begrudge the days I was too lazy to shop for anything new and interesting. Dang it! I can't even layer! Dis saaaaccckkkkssss!

In a week

Presently, I am in the middle of so many of things that are happening all in the same time. Its crazy time in Roxasville. Its that time of the year. Bracing and controlling myself to stay above the chaos so that I don't get sick. In the meantime, I have this as inspiration...

My baby's a year older

My other half just celebrated his birthday yesterday. What a weekend we both had. Not the usual weekend that one would expect or even planned. Spent the whole time around our favorite furry friends. So cool! Go Chow! Go Mei2! Go Crunch! Go Jasmine! Go Cyrus! Go Hanoi! Go Nikka! Whew! A lot to cheer for. Chow blew everyone away! So proud. Pogi points for Cartimar ;)

Anyways, happy birthday, langga! You don't look a day over 30 :D Hahaha!

Life and Death

Got to visit ad remember Tita Nena today. She passed away quite suddenly last Saturday. It came as a big shock because she just celebrated her birthday a few weeks ago. Even with the news of her being in the hospital and all, I never realized it could have turned out like this. She will really be missed. Like Tito Hernan, she was big part of my childhood, her being very close with my mom and we are family.

On the other side of the spectrum, an even closer relative of mine had a miracle today. She was diagnosed with lung cancer and the tumor had to be biopsied. We were all preparing ourselves for the worse when my dad came into the room this evening, crying thankfully. Somehow the tumor "shrunk"! It was described as small and containable! God is so amazing!

On another side of love and life

One of the main lessons I have learned in my short 29 years of existence is that after everything that has happened, it is never our place to judge. A few years ago, from lack of experience and life-changing choices, I was sadly guilty of passing judgement on others. I knew what was black and white and if something or someone got out of line, I was quick to swing the axe, so to speak. It was an absolute no or shame on you.

But as God alone could have planned it, He gave me a life full of twists and turns and I find myself on the other end of the spectrum. Things are still black and white but experience has taught me to look at people through the eyes of love. Now I still have judgements and slip into that old passionate sentiment but I get to catch myself in time more often now. And I don't loose too much sleep on things that are, in the first place, out of my control anyway.

Today I was honored to be able to share in the experience of seeing someone else's life from a different point. To see a man, though he made the wrong choices during the high points in his life in serving the Lord, was able to humble himself completely and regret it. Its one thing to do wrong, but another thing to confess it to people, even if it means jeopardizing everything he had worked so hard for. It was a moment of truth for him, but I learned so much in the process as well.

At that same scenario, I can say I was so proud of my dad. He has made such a huge change these past few years. God really knows His stuff, as long as we let Him. So why fight the One who knows all things, and insist on thoughts when you don't know anything? Love means looking through that person's faulty choices/personality and appreciating and cherishing the person within. Encouraging and gently supporting is way better that bringing someone down further when he is already down.

I thank God for what this day has brought. Not my average day at all.

09-09-09

Just thought this might be of some interest. Copied this off the site: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20090908/sc_livescience/why090909issospecial

For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.

Math magic

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.

Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.

"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," wrote Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century B.C.

As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.

Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

Sept. 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2 + 5 +2)...

Loving 9

Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8 p.m. on 08/08/08. What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9,999 rooms.

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.

Solstice Dreaming

See you soon, gorgeous. 'Til then, dreaming... dreaming... dreaming...

here's to our 6th yr! (Sept 1-3, 2009)

This was probably one of the most memorable moments I had while our school celebrated its 6th foundation week. I will never forget the look on dad's face when he saw the kids pile into the Villareal Stadium. Such pride and humility at the same time. The thing I won't forget was seeing my dad in this position with his eyes closed. I worried because I thought he felt dizzy or couldn't stand the heat. He opened his eyes and said, "I'm thanking
God for this moment right here."

I could only just look in awe. God is good. Not by our own efforts, but by His hands can we stand like this. Everything for His glory. This is in itself a living testimony of God's goodness and love.

Jamoraaaaahhhhh!

If only my cousins could visit us more often. Its my break from the monotonous, humdrum life I lead in general. A little chaos and laughs goes a long way. This was taken last month but my time has been so crazy lately.

Richard Poon again!

One of the best songs ever written, I think.

Finally laid to rest

"The Filipinos are worth dying for."
- Ninoy Aquino

Best words that could ever be expressed for the Filipinos. And I couldn't agree more. No one could ever feel this way except for other fellow Filipinos. EDSA was a time that could and will never be repeated. What it stood for, what it achieved and how it has affected so much in the years to come. In a time when the name EDSA has been tarnished, this day just shows how relevant the spirit still is.

A little reminder of how it was back in the day...

Tie a Yellow Ribbon for Mrs. Cory Aquino

The woman who will always be dubbed, "The Mother of Philippine Democracy", Former President Corazon Aquino passed away this morning at 3:18 am.

People will be writing all over about her as a woman, a mother, a president and a staunch believer in the Filipino people. This part, I would just like to share my brief encounter with the woman who was recently then declared the president.

I remember we were sent of to Texas to my Tita Geline's during the 80's. My brother was about just 2 years old. I had no idea what was happening then. I just remembered getting on the plane and visiting my cousins. How long we were there, I cannot recall exactly. But we were there for a while. Our stay was about to come to an end when dad finally came over. We took a short trip all over before coming home. Joey was practically talking in an American accent by then.

When we got back, people were running all over the place one day. Being a child in a Christian household, I was taught from an early age that God was everything. King, Father, Lord, teacher... So when I heard the president was coming, I thought it was God coming!

I heard cars coming up our road and I was in my parent's room then. I rushed out and saw men with machine guns on top down vehicles, with yellow bands around their heads. I remember thinking, "Those are angels?"

When I finally got the chance to see the actual President, all I remember was a woman dressed all in yellow, just as I was in a yellow shirt with something written on it that I could just barely understand. She carried my brother who looked confused and scared. Then we took the picture that has been in our living room since then. Only to my regret that Joey and I had the habit of smiling in the most stupid way. Thanks to Christian, my cousin in Texas who "taught" us to do so.

Since then, I got to understand who she really was and how all those things were happening and what it all meant. She will always be remembered.

Start at the heart

"Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!"
-Ps. 51:10

David doesnt say, "Change the way I behave." He says, "Change my heart." Its not that how we behave is unimportant. Its just that we have to start at the heart. We can go through the right motions without our heart being right, but if the heart is right, everything will fall into place.

Thanks for this message yesterday, Pastor Dy!

Clap clap clap

As of July 26, 2009... 1 yr na gid man. Wuhu! Still have a lot of hoping and praying to do though :) hay gugma!

Roadtrip to Escalante

With Paul and TP's wedding behind us, the rest of us met up the following day, Saturday, and I had more time to spend with my mom and Tito Nonoy on Sunday. As long as those two are invovled, it always means that you have to get your stuff together and put on some comfortable, sensible shoes. In my case, my trusty, ever loyal havaiana slippers.

For the past few years, Negros never ceased to amaze me. There's just way too much to see. To be honest, I haven't been to Antique so I can't say I've been all over Panay. Maybe its the thrill on being on unfamiliar ground. I only get to visit every so often so each time, I literally see something new.

There's so much to eat in Negros as well. The fruits that can be found there, such variety! They cook their stuff so well, too. From the simple inasal which is their forte, from other Filipino food, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, American, Middle Eastern. The diversity of choices are too many to count and they all taste good. Its one thing to be diverse, another thing to do it right. My stomach is growling at the thought of what I ate just this weekend.


Still the best way to get to the good stuff. How can you beat this set-up? And there were a handful of them all in one row, lining up the highway.
















It's Santol season. Pass the toothpick please. This is going to take a while.







The typical landscape of the region. Now you know why they have so much of the sweet stuff.

A little beep that went a long way

Have Gerard to thank for this message. He sends me tons of messages a day. From the inspirational to the funny to the wala diri, wala didto. Keeps my day fun. But this one came when I needed it the most. God moves in the most unlikely places.

Often, we get impatient and take things into our own hands...
but God said "Be still, trust Me. I know your needs better than you. Just wait and allow me to work for you".

Paul & TP's wedding

These two have been together for ages. Tying the knot was the most anticipated wedding of the year! It was such fun seeing how things came together for the two of them. They are so perfect for each other. Wanna see what their babies are gonna look like. Pics are courtesy of Ana. My camera was too big to fit into my favorite champagne purse. The price for fashion dahling!

Bryan is sooo the senorito in this shot. I just realized he was the only one sitting down! But it does warm my heart to have him in a family pic.
Brownies... Abuelita's influence, perhaps? Ana and I ended up with the exact same fabric on our dresses! Different sources pa ha!

Wish I had more pictures. Sigh! It was a fun wedding. The food was superb! Everything was wonderful, despite the pouring rain. Yup! Meant to be.

nilagang baby!

this is rafa. david and san2's baby boy. love him! he is so adorable and so pleasantly overflowing with fatty goodness! we were joking around a few sundays ago and were thinking of different concepts for rafa's photoshoot. well, his father does have a very good sense of humor and actually made the most popular idea happen. kulang nalang paminta. yum yum!

my weekend

i like calling it my weekend. just because i got to do all the things i wanted to do for my birthday. its been a while. i didn't need to obediently follow anyone's wishes. hoorah!

it was mongolian night on the 27th. eat all you can! that was so good. satisfying and simple. just what i wanted. a few drinks after. got to hang out by the sea. damn the rain though. had to be greeted by a downpour. but then again, that always happens on my birthday every year. thats what you get for being born during the rainy season.

sunday was a nice simple day. wanted to show bryan talon for the longest time. must have been 3 years since i last set foot there. such memories. this is where it all began. this was our past. to see how much it changed really broke my heart. the old house no longer exists, hence we had to use what used to be one of the offices there. the people who makes it all happen, old and fading.

this is ford, the lifeblood of the whole talon community and business. i love him! he is the sweetest, most thoughtful, kindest man around. talon would never be talon without him. this man is a walking book of tales of life in the midst of all this chaos. the normal and the paranormal, he has stories for everything. he isn't kidding about anything either.

if only i had the money, i would try to fix the old house back again. life in talon will always be part of us. it was only fitting for me to spend my last year in my 20s in the place where i had the best memories as a child. and also to be able to say thank you to people like ford for that extra facet in my life.

on the downside, had the worst sun burn! stupid me forgot to put on sunscreen and was all over the place around 12noon to 2:30 pm!

dinner was spent at home with family. it was perfect.