dam dam daah dam

It finally happened. On Valentines Day and Chinese New Year 2010, Bryan proposed. And obviously, I said yes. I wish I had a manicure though. Haha! Its panic time!

Congratulations Leo & Jaja

All the best to the new Mr. & Mrs. Leo and Jaja Lim! After more than a decade of love, its one of those love stories na sa duration palang you go "whew!"

Wedding bells have been in the air so far this 2010. God bless all of them and looking forward to seeing a lotta bebehs :D

Reading Back

Blogs have definitely served their main purpose as far as I am concerned. I remember owning lots of diaries, jotting down bits and pieces of a life that I thought was exciting. Be it in English then in Filipino (I think I was preparing for a Filipino extemporaneous contest and was psyching myself into the moment. Didn't work). I've always been into diaries.

I actually have a drawer next to my bed filled with old journals. I like browsing through them as well from time to time. See how I was like, who I was with, who I was pissed at. Man, did I have those moments.

Growing up... I haven't grown an inch since college, I think. But something inside and outside is evolving. Life is never as simple as before. But I am thankful that I do have the means to go back to those days and just for a few moments live in that particular moment in my life.

Hala Bira!

Dinagyang Tournament 2010. This is something I really look forward to every single year, whether I participate or not. Honestly, the urge has left me after all this time. I guess 'coz I've been playing for more than 7 years already. I dunno it just fluttered away into oblivion. Twisting my ankle didn't make the decision any harder, either.

But what I do regret is not being able to play with Jing for this tournament. This may be her last one before she leaves for New York and we have been through it all for so many years. I guess it may have also been a sign that she may be leaving since she bagged the championship for mixed AND ladies doubles plus the raffle! Sigh! Pains me so.

2010 has had me seeing a lot of endings as well as beginnings. Then again, you can't begin something without something ending in its place.

Was glad Bryan got to spend the whole day with me. Tagging along, more like it. It never ceases to surprise me how he actually doesn't mind being around me. Heck! I get bored being around myself from time to time! He literally skipped his friend's wedding just to be with me and cheer for my friends.

A lot of other things happened that weekend that steadied my bearings even more. I guess its about that time. God help and bless me nalang as He always had.

Words of Inspiration from last year

I've developed this habit of writing phrases down that inspire me. It may be Spiritually-related or just out of the blue things that have come my way at just the right time. Be it via SMS, email, books, magazines or tv.

As I was gathering the stuff I didn't need anymore, I brought home my planner from last year. I'm pretty proud of my planner since it was the biggest one I could find at National Bookstore. I need it for work to be extra big but at the same time it enables me to scribble things down on the top part. A quick reminder of sorts and to bring me back to the goal and the game plan at hand.

" Realize that the Lord shows the Godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to Him."

- Psalm 3: 3

"I will lie own and sleep peacefully, for you, Lord, make me safe and secure."
- Psalm 3:8

"If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others."
- Gen. 12:2

"Then you will call out and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, 'HERE I AM'..."
- Isaiah 58:9

"I don't want your sacrifices --- I want your love; I don't want your offerings --- I want you to know me."
- Hosea 6:6

"It is possible to give away and become richer! It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything. Yes , the liberal man shall be rich! By watering others, he waters himself."
- Proverbs 11;24-25

"Give me an understand mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between what is right and wrong."
- 1 Kings 3:9

I just realized, while I was typing this, I don't have the space and time to write it all down right now. That's how much inspiration I needed for 2009. But 2009 was very memorable for me and everything at its proper time.

Hello 2010!

I honestly have more pictures of my New Years Eve, but don't want my blog to look like my facebook account. As long as I spend my new year's with my Jamora cousins, it is always from from being boring. Buuhhhllliiieeeaaavvveee me!

I am a believe of the thought that what you do and who you have with you during the start of the year will be what it is throughout the year. So far so good! Minus the alcohol, hopefully! But as far as family goes, I am not one to complain.

The things I look forward or wish for this year (well, some hehehe):

1) Business-wise, I can make my own name and achieve my own leaps and bounds and not be cast in my dad's shadow all throughout. I am not going to complain but it is always a goal to achieve your own identity.

2) Increase my savings. I am 30 and I have a goal to hit the big zeros this year.

3) The thing I have been praying for more than a year, God-willing, will happen soon. All in God's hands.

4) Go to Christian's wedding in SF on April 10, this includes renewing my visa and Joey's.

5) Retain my sanity and dignity for the big steps that are to come. Crossing my fingers and praying for dear life.

2010 is going to be definitely different.

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.