Dingayang Realizations

1) i'm getting a bit too old for playing badminton competitively. hehe maybe its just a hangover from our disappointing loss this weekend. lost through the point system, breaking our 3 way tie. physically, i do want to continue for exercise reasons. but competitively, i kinda lost the drive. come to think of it, i've been playing competitively for 5 years na. I kinda lost the fun. haha The whole day, even while playing i kept thinking, "why do i do this to myself?" hahahaha

2) iloilo is really like my second home. feels the same there as it does here in roxas :D i have friends, family there. i spent almost half of my life there. maybe even more.

3) last year bryan and i were in the same place at the same time and in the same room! hahaha it wasn't time.

Dinagyang 2009

d gerls --- bourbon

check out the crowd coming in and out of smallville

the view from bourbon

at the avenue before bracing the crowds

funny how we look like an ad for coffee break --- we spend most of our time there anyways

pam, ana and watson

For sure this has been a much more exciting and packed Dinagyang. I thought last year was a rush but was I so wrong. It probably had 5x more people this year. Good job with the tourism! Bryan actually took an hour to pick me up at Molo from Ledesco. 40 mins alone at the old airport area. He, unfortunately, came through just as the fireworks show was ending.

They had so many things going on that it was so much to do, in so little space and in so little time. I missed The Bloomfields for the 2nd year in a row! ARgh! I wish they would have a regular concert and not just play in Iloilo during Dinagyang at SM City. I'm too old to be going through crowds, I think :D

Just looking at the sea of faces passing through. Old faces, too. What a night! Good vibe all around. Can't wait 'til next year!

Wedding Belles

w/ Maricel and Elena

gotta have our pic taken with Sharon and Andre

Sharon and Andre finally tied the knott yesterday amidst controversial oppossition. But I'm a hopeless romantic (blame it on the Sweet Dreams books and fairy tales I read as a child). So hurah for love and hurah for 2nd chances. Everyone deserves a chance of finding true love. And who are we to judge? We can't even predict the next step we make, how much more someone's future. We can only hope and pray. Its that or being a scrooge all your life and missing out on all the wonderful things that come with taking the big step of faith.

Wedding and marriage have become a hot topic around me lately. Maybe its because of my age or the people around me taking the plunge one after the other. Love the phrase of Ruffa Mae's new movie, "Status: Single". When the mom says to her that women have expiration dates. She responds in a way only Ruffa Mae can , "Ano ba tayo, Ma? Battery or delata?" (or something like that. I've only seen the trailer twice so far). Hands down I wanna applaud her retort. Ang galing! Hahaha Wanna watch it na gani and the only one who shares this shameful indulgence with me, actually the person who got me into this mess in the first place, is Pam.

So it got me thinking about the things I kinda want on my wedding day. Very shallow insights here and there so far:
1) At the moment, I saw a really nice combination of white, green and sorta lavender... I've kinda began to like lavender, purple or violet for some reason lately and I can't seem to stop myself from buying clothes of that color. Hmmmm...
2) I want a garden wedding. If weather turns for the bad, tents would be nice. If possible and if not expensive. Or the reception venue and church to look like its in a garden. Arte no?
3) I want the flower girls to actually look like little girls. You know, how things were back in the good old days. I loathe looking at girls dressed up and made up to look like women. Let them enjoy their childhood no!
4) Obviously, my mom and dad won't be giving me away at the same time, much less walk down the aisle together or even take pictures with me and my groom together. Its a fact that I have willingly and undoubtedly have accepted. If North and South Korea are at odds, then so are my parents.
5) I don't want the ceremony to be long. Just like Gabi's and Larissa's na straight to the point and very intimate and God inspired. Maybe thats also why I like garden weddings. At Gabi's wedding it was just wonderful to see how God was all around. From the sunset, to the breeze, birds and nature at its best.
6) Pam will definitely be my maid of honor. Might have 2 matrons of honor. I dunno. hahaha Can I do that?
7) I want Elena to sing at my wedding.
8) Want my dance with my dad to be to his favorite song, "Baby, baby." I think its by the Stylistics.
9) Don't want it to be in Roxas hahahaha Too many chismosa and intrigeras and people I don't really care for are gonna be required to be invited.
10) I don't want any highschool or college pictures of me anywhere! I know those were my "dark days". Ew!

This was fun, writing it all down. My hope chest is getting bigger but its all in God's hands. He has my best naman anyway. He has much better taste than me for sure. I just make a mess of things.

BRRRRRR...

It's funny to think that I am in the Philippines right now. Its really chilly! According to PAGASA, expect colder days and nights to come pa! Crazy!

One good thing though about this weather... GOOD HAIR DAYS! Thank you, God! Hahaha Plus I get to wear my jackets and have a reason not to be too girly these days. I'm in a lazy slump so sometimes choosing a good working outfit gives me too much stress at 7am every morning. Hot showers are the best. I take longer baths now. Its just heaven and to see steam fogging up the mirror, makes me feel like I am back in Europe or something :D Snuggling is not that bad either ;) Hello!

Happy 97th Birthday, Abuelita!

Can you imagine being 97 years old? I'm 28 turning 29 this year and 97 is like light years away (in Trekie speak). It's amazing to see how she is still the way she is. She may be weaker, but not as weak as some people a quarter of her age. She can still talk candidly with all of us. Share her thoughts, insights. A few chismis moments here and there and she can still crack a joke just like that. But what I do admire about her the most is her strength. To think of all the things she has been through even within this decade alone. Wow.

I remember finding out Abuelito died the same time she found out. I was in college then and I remember sitting in her room, hearing the news. Her face was so full of strength. I was weeping like a 2 year old. Blubbering even. That moment in time kind of represents Abuelita in her best light.

Then there is the Abuelita who led a very charmed and blessed life. Listening to her adventures and stories, not even Paris Hilton could do what she did during her time. To live out the early years of her life in such a carefree and spontaneous nature. From the cosmopolitan to the spiritual adventures. It's like those old movies featuring Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn. In a time where peoople had this different view of life and the world.

Abuelita has been such a blessing and with great grandchildren around her, she's like the picture of what a grandmother be.

Extra Pics (wish i took more)

the Antonios

working on the give-aways

Lulu and Pam --- not smiling a few hours after hehe

Had to do 150+ of these. My fingers were numb, I am not kidding you. Gives me more respect for Pam who does this the whole year round. Saludo gid ko. I'm sticking with Marketing :-D

Trying to loose weight

Its official, I am on a diet. Never thought I'd be saying that out loud so soon in my life, but I am. I am so miserable about it, too.

All this is because my cousins are arriving from the states. I love them but getting myself into any beach clothes is daunting at the moment. The holiday season has barely ended and this is not right to be able to loose weight so soon. Torture!

So hoping to shed the gutt before they arrive on Feb. 7. God help me 'coz I need it. Thank goodness the Dinagyang Badminton Tournament is coming up soon. A very good goal for me to aim for with 2 purposes in mind. Loose weight and "maintain" the title.

As for dinner for the next few weeks, that's what the pic is for. Glorious tomato soup. Its delish for now but for how long... I don't want to know :D

What a fun way to end 2008

Still have more pics to gather. These are what I do have so far.

Love 2008. It was a great year and will be remembered fondly. Glad to see I took some good pictures along the way. More to come! But I do need to loose weight if I do want to be in more pictures.

Dec. 27 @ Bourbon
w/ Bryan, Sharon, Michelle, Rico and Jinky
Dec. 28 @ Sandbar, Roxas
Highschool get-together
w/ Ton2, Irene, Anne, Gwen, Joy2 & Lynn
(Lara was taking the picure)
Girls in white @ Breakthrough
After Abuelito's Birthday mass - Dec. 31
Timing lang nag white kami
w/ Pam, Ana & Melissa
Richie, Joey & Mart
this is the pic that will always remind me for 2009 to loose weight. Dang!

A good start to 2009

Probably the best new years I've had so far. Spent it with the people I love and so many new firsts. It just gets better, I swear! Looking forward to 2009 gid ya! Wuhu! Bring it!

I'm so happy because I think I found a good church in Iloilo, finally! And for Bacolod as well, because the church I'm talking about is Ikthus. Heard Pastor Ascalon speak this morning. Such a blessing. :)

I need to sleep though. First day of work for the new year tomorrow. Wanna start it right.