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.