Dear Someone,

Hey.. How are you? I dont even know what  to say to you since we stopped talking for a couple of months now. I guess i miss you.. I've been wanting to tell you that but i dont have the nerve to do so because of what happened. I really do miss you.. All the talking and txting and the stuffs we used to do together. I sometimes wonder if you think about me too. Well, I guess you do, but maybe not as much as i do. Im guessing you are mad at me, or maybe you resent me so much that you wouldn't want anything to do with me. Maybe you dont want to see me again ever.. Maybe this is really the end and we have to move on and forget about each other. It kinda hurts you know. It really hurts to think about goodbyes and all that letting go thing. But i guess that's what i have to do now.. And since i know i wont be able to tell you about this personally, i decided to just write down my sentiments on my lame blog. I just need to let this all out before i totally close the doors. I dont know if doing this makes any sense but i just got to let this all out!

Okay. So I am not mad at you. I guess im just a little... hmmm... a little.. okay! I guess im a little mad at you. I honestly think you have a cold heart because it was so easy for you to walk out on my life just like that. I dont know if that is the real you or you are just so good at pretending, but letting our friendship go is like a piece of cake to you. It's as if i've never been important to you. As if, we didn't became so close and all that we've shared dont mean anything to you. I understand that we've only known each other for months but our friendship is really something special and you know that. At least im thinking that you know that.. That's what i wanted to believe.
Well of course, there's always a two side to every story.. I dont know your side, and in the first place you never bother to let me know. All i know is you're mad at me after that last txt conversation that we had and that's it for you! Seems like you're really done with our friendship but hey! after a month or two dont you think its about time for us to talk once and for all? I believe it's better to sit down and talk and be angry--if that's whats gonna help us both! People get mad from time to time,dont we? It's normal! You can get mad and lash out on me and i will understand it. And if this friendship is bound to end then so be it! At least you will hear my point and i will also know yours. But keeping things hangin like this? I will never understand it. I think this is a dumb idea.Such a coward way to face our differences.

But what can i do? I guess there is nothing i can do but write this letter and finally put everything behind me now. Yes. Finally. I've realized i am tired of trying and i just wanted to stop caring or worrying. What's the point of still doing that? there's none right? And so im letting our friendship go. It's sad when  good things came to an end but life can be really that depressing sometimes ... It will leave you with no choice but to stop fighting and start giving in to it's tragic circumstances.
But please dont get me wrong, I am not saying that i regret meeting you. I dont have regrets.  But i guess at this point, i've come to realized that loving a person and caring about them so much isnt a guarantee that the relationship can withstand everything. There is no guarantee. Sadly, there is really none.

Now, for the last time, i wanted to tell you that i miss you and if in some place and time our paths shall cross again, i'll just smile.. With the thought that once upon a time, in a not so distant past, we have shared a beautiful, genuine friendship. Though it ended, we know it both made us a better person. So much better than yesterday that we will never allowed our past mistakes to happened again. Never again..

Until here my dearest friend.. I wish you happiness.. And all the good things i could ever think of.

Thank You for Everything.

Always,
Me.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

People change, feelings change. It doesn't mean that the friendship once shared wasn't true and real, it simply just means that sometimes when people grow, they grow apart.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Forgiveness is always easier said then done… to forgive is to stop feeling anger and to stop blaming another, to pardon, to let go of resentment, to move on, even to stop playing the scene over and over in your mind. If this is forgiveness then for true forgiveness and to be able to heal and to feel inner peace again you must both forgive and forget… 

reality bytes 101

I just couldn't contain the sadness upon watching news. I need to write my thoughts down or else my heart would explode. (lol) Seriously, my heart was broken right now. Seeing the devastating news on TV. People are screaming for help. No food, water, shelter and most of them even lost their loved ones and worst, they cant even recover the bodies. It was PURE MADNESS. It was like HELL. I know this is a crazy thing to do but i tried putting myself into the victim's shoe. What will i do then?

think.. think.. think..

It was depressing really, just to even thought about it. What more if im in that situation? I guess i'l go crazy--that is if i am lucky enough to survived the storm.

I guess the situation is an eye opener for everybody. I know for a fact that Filipinos are one if not the most resilient people in the world. We are survivors by nature! but in times like these, especially when you are in the middle of all the distraught and distress, how can you tell yourself that everything will be okay??? How do you hold it together when everything else is falling apart???

It's really hard. Hard is an understatement. I mean, it's really difficult to be your own hero. It's not easy to be in the middle of catastrophe.
Well, me too, had my fair share of traumatic experiences caused by disasters.
I am from Hagonoy Bulacan and I swear! nothing is worse than the flood situation here in our town. Flood had became part of our lives. Flood is happening even without typhoons, even in summer, or christmas season. It was crazy! I remember there was this one night, my family and i are sleeping (we used to sleep on floors using mattress in our living room) and we unfortunately woke up to soaked beds and pillows. Little did we know the water had already entered the house like an uninvited guest. It was mortifying! I dont even know what to do first because the water is just so fast and we have to move faster to save our things from getting wet. Flood is worse during typhoons. It was like a nightmare for me and my family. I have also experienced evacuating, leaving our house and our dogs behind because there is no place for us to sleep. Our house was always a mess. We dont bother to really restore it because we know the flood will keep on coming back and it will just ruined everything! It was really sickening. Sometimes you would want to relocate to another place just because you are fed up of all the flood.
What's worse than going to work and you have no choice but to ride on a trash truck coz that's the only vehicle available? or riding a small boat crossing into the dark river at 4 o'clock in the morning just because  that's the only way to travel since the water will not subside, and you still have to go to work.
I thought nothing was worse that that!

Until Yolanda came..

Until i saw Tacloban and what was left of it.

What i realized is we are still blessed. You, me and every single one of us who is spared in the damage were really blessed. I'd use the word BLESSED. It's more appropriate i guess. We are not just lucky but blessed! :)

I realized that what we have experienced here in Bulacan are nothing compared to those who are in Tacloban right now. Yes. we do have our struggles but not as much as what they had to bear right now.
I still  have my family with me. I can hug and talk to my parents anytime, i can still call my siblings and friends, i dont have problems as to where will i sleep, we still are eating 3 meals a day (sometimes more than 3) i have access to electricity, internet, water and all the basic needs. Yet i still got the nerve to say that we have the worst situation ever! *sigh* now i know how pointless that was.

Nahiya ako bigla..

Anyway, i am just so grateful that help from the inside and the outside of the Philippines are outpouring. It's really nice to see people from other places and from different races really go out of their way to help our people. My friend in Norway message me on FB twice and she is so worried because she'd seen the news. It did make me smile! And i guess the best thing that this tragedy brought us is it makes us closer as a nation, as a world, as a family. It doesnt matter what race, what skin color, what language. Everybody is just so willing to take part in helping the Philippines.

With that, we say THANK YOU.....

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts :)

It got me to believing again that there are still a lot of goodness in this world. That there are still a lot of reasons to smile, that there will always be countless reasons to smile  :-) :-) :-)

I'll leave you with this inspiring song. Goodnight guys! GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES :-)

Movie Review: Four Sisters and A Wedding

Heyaaaaa! :-) Its been a while since i last posted on my blog. I actually wanted to write about so many things. I have loads of ideas on my mind but i always end up not doing it. lol.. Well, lets just say im too pre-occupied with a lot of things lately. Anyway enough of my rants! Today i feel like scribbling my thoughts out. I just recently finished a local movie and the story kinda lingered to me so i decided to write a review about it.

I dont know about most of you but i love watching rom-com tagalog films especially if its from star cinema. Ofcourse, given that the trailer is promising and it shows something new, i would definitely watch it!
Well for that matter, i didn't find the trailer of "Four Sisters and a Wedding" so promising. I thought its just another feel good movie so im not really crazy about it, but now that i've seen it I'd say you cant really  judge the movie by its trailer.

Synopsis:
The title itself speaks for the plot of the movie. Four sisters and a Wedding is a story about four sisters-- Teddy Salazar (Toni), Bobby Salazar (Bea), Alex Salazar(Angel), Gabby Salazar(Shaina), and their only one brother, the youngest in the brod CJ Salazar (Enchong) -- who is the one getting married.
The Salazar sisters are living different lives and live far away from each other until the news of their baby brother's wedding broke and suddenly all of them are back in each other's arms.
The Salazar girls however had a mutual dislike over their brother's fiance princess (Angeline Quinto) so they secretly connived and hatch a plan together to stop the wedding of their brother. As they all struggle to keep the wedding at bay, personal conflicts between siblings arises, emotional baggages from the past re-surfaced and even their deepest secrets were unraveled.

What i like about the movie:

I thought the characters are well written. They are given ample time to be recognize and identified. Each of the four sisters had a very unique qualities to them. Teddy (Toni) is the funny one. Bobby (Bea) is the cold-hearted and intelligent one. Alex (Angel) is the more laidback kinda girl who loves adventure, and Gabby (Shaina) is the motherly-caring one. I just love how their characters are written. It's not hard to relate yourself to one of them. Personally, i could relate to Alex. I guess my personality is more on her side. (I have 3 other sisters too btw! :-P) Their confrontational scenes towards the end of the movie was really good. Hmmm.. Okay! I did cry. Coudnt help it.

Another thing I love about the movie is: the conflict between the characters. 
Teddy keeping her "dirty little secret" from the entire family. Pretending to be BIG in Spain, while the truth is she's juggling two jobs at the same time to support her needs as well as her family's.
Bobby is on the top of her game as a career woman working in New York, but failing on other things like building a good relationship with her BF's daughter, and dismissing her fear of marriage and life long commitments.
Alex happens to fall in-love with Bobby's former boyfriend. Imagine all the tension between her and Bobby everytime they'd bump to each other. She is struggling to keep a job as an assistant director (her career isn't that stable) She is also considered to be the blacksheep of the family and the least intelligent among the four.
Gabby-well, her character is the safest one. She is always neutral, the one who keeps peace between her sisters. She is considered the old-maid as she never had a boyfriend since birth i guess.
CJ- poor little baby of the family. His sudden marriage targeted by his own sisters but i love how he stood up in the end.

One more thing is: the supporting characters.

• Carmi Martin is really something in this movie! She was so so funny and her character as princess's mom brought more life and humor to the story. I especially like her trying hard french accent. Oh boy! she does it really well. 
• Janus del Prado is another plus factor. He is effortlessly funny playing the pretend boyfriend of Teddy.
• "Toti Marie" (i dont know her real name) is great as well,playing the nanny and all around girl/lesbian  in the Salazar household.
• Ms. Coney Reyes--no questions asked. She is always great especially playing mother roles. This movie is no exception.

other characters are: Sam Milby, Buboy Garubillo, Joy Viado, Bernard Palanca.. to name a few!

What i didn't like about the movie:

I thought the movie was really good but ofcourse, we cant say that it was flawless perfect. NO.
Example, i didnt like some scenes where they push it to be SO FUNNY when it doesn't really needed.
And i honestly dont like Gabby's character that much. I think because she is not given enough spotlight like the other 3 characters so she didn't shine nor stand out.


OVERALL RATING: Great family movie. Good casts. Heartwarming story. PASOK SA JAR!!! :-)




4 out of 5 stars :-) :-)  :-)  :-)

the terminal..

Okay. So it all started last January. Right after new year I think. I met this lady on the jeep terminal that I used to go to every morning. Actually, I’ve been seeing her almost everyday for a few months. We even  rode on the same jeep and often sit next to each other. Well, I guess you could say that we became familiar to each other in the span of that few months, although we never really talked except for occasional nods and smile sometimes.   

My first impression of her? 

Masungit  at Suplada. Palagi kasi syang nakasuot ng salamin, pormal manamit at parang napaka silent type.

Tandang tanda ko, palagi syang nakaupo duon sa dulo ng jeep, sa pinakabungad. Kadalasan pa nga, sakin sya nagpapa abot ng bayad sa driver. Pero hanggang doon lang. Pag baba nga namin ng jeep at nilingon ko sya, ang bilis bilis nyang mawala. Parang bula.

Mysterious indeed.

We never really talked until this one morning. Nakatabi ko ulit sya sa jeep and out of the blue, I asked her. “Ate,anong oras na po ba? Naiwan ko po kasi yung relos ko eh.”

And then she answered smiling while looking at her watch. “Maaga pa. Seven-oh- five.”

It all started there. Hindi ko na alam kung sino ang nag follow up questions sa aming dalawa pero humaba na ng humaba ang usapan. I asked her about work and stuffs. You know—the questions you usually ask to a person you just met.  She seems nice. Madaldal, masarap kausap at duon ko lang nalaman na sa bangko pala sya nagtratrabaho at Mira ang pangalan nya. Well to be honest, at first I actually have an ulterior motive when I decided to approached her. Ang totoo, gusto ko syang mainterview para sa isusulat ko sanang manuscript. I don’t know but of all the people I’ve been seeing in the terminal everyday, I am most drawn to her. It’s weird really, but maybe God has a reason for making things happen. And that reason can sometimes come in weird packages. 

Anyway, hindi ko naman talaga intensyon na maging super friends kami. I did interview her, but my intention was quickly set aside as I get to know her.  And then eventually, from just being mere strangers, we became friends.

Really good friends.

It’s funny how we would txt each other everyday. From Monday to Friday we would see each other at the terminal, we would sat on the same spot inside the jeep and we would talk endlessly until we reach our destinations.

Hindi lang sa pagpasok kami nagsasabay. Kung minsan, pati na rin sa pag uwi. Magkaiba kami ng oras ng pag uwi pero ang nakakatawa don, madalas ring magkatagpo ang mga schedule namin. Sometimes, we would even go to each other’s office to fetch each other para lang sabay kaming uuwi. Madalas rin kaming magkita sa harap ng SM—which is our favorite meeting place. Duon nya ako palaging pinapadaanan sa jeep na sinasakyan nya.

Hindi ko alam at hindi ko rin masabi kung kailan kami nagsimulang maging ganon. It's odd because i am not a very trusting person. But I don’t know. I came to really trust her. I trusted her so much that even my innermost thoughts, I could confide in her. Hindi ko na namalayan na sa kanya ko na pala nasasabi lahat lahat ng nangyayari sakin sa araw araw. Be it personal, or professional.

Ganon din naman sya sa akin. She would txt me sometimes and I could easily tell if she’s sad or upset and she’ll open up to me.  And I guess, in the same way that i did, she did learned how to trust me.

Hindi ko na rin maalala kung papano nya ako unang inimbitahan na pumunta sa bahay nila at dumalaw sa church nila. Basta ang alam ko nagsimula lang ang lahat ng iyon sa kagustuhan kong kumain ng fishballs. I often teased her about that, sabi ko sa kanya ilibre nya ako ng fishball.. Hanggang sa iyon na nga, ang fishball nauwi sa pagdalaw ko sa bahay at church nila, sa pagkakakilala ko sa pamilya nya, pati na rin sa iba pang tao sa buhay nya.

Hindi ako nakakain ng fishball nung araw na yon. Pero masarap ang naging experience na yon, parang nakakain na rin ako ng fishballs. J Iyon yung first time na nakapunta ako sa church nila Ate.

Come Lord Jesus Christ or “CLJC” as they called it.

My heart was slamming through my chest as I enter CLJC’s door. Wala naman kasi talaga akong kilala duon bukod kay Ate. I remember she was holding my hand and she was smiling as we enter the church. Inakay nya ako hanggang sa makapasok na nga kami sa loob.

Medyo nanibago ako nung makapasok na kami, walang crucifix, walang dalawang anghel na nakatayo sa pintuan na mayroong hawak na tubig, walang magagarang upuan at malalaking industrial fan na kadalasang nakikita ko pag nagsisimba ako. Wala ring Mama Mary o kahit na anong holy image na sumalubong sakin. Instead, what I saw was people. Group of people with a huge and warm smiles on their faces.

Medyo nagulat ako sa mga reaksyon nila nung makita nila ako. Maraming lumapit sa akin, lahat sila may ngiti sa labi. Karamihan hinawakan pa ako saa kamay sabay sabi ng “Welcome!!!”

Ofcourse I smiled back. Papano mo nga ba tatanggihan ang ganuong klase ng ngiti at pag welcome? I find it really weird but their welcoming smiles and gestures somehow ease my tension. Sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko “Ahhh ganito pala dito, lahat masaya, hindi uso ang problema.”

I finally got to meet the rest of Ate Miras’s family. Her brother, kuya Dennis and his wife Ate Cherry, their daughter Khaela and ofcourse, their parents nanay Amparo and Tatay Luis. Just like all the people in the church, they we’re nice and welcoming.  

And then the so-called service finally starts. I was seated in front katabi ni Ate at Khaela. Wala naman akong ginawa actually kundi mag observe lang ng mag observe. For the first time, I watched the CLJC people sing and dance or worship as they called it. At first I thought it was OA coz they were singing and dancing as though it was the last time they would ever do it. It was like watching a band concert. Mayrong guitarist, may mga vocalist and ofcourse, there’s the drummer. They even had a small stage to complete the look.  

Everybody inside the church (except me) is singing and dancing (even the kids), even raising their hands at some point while solemnly whispering praises. I was amused. Honestly it was fascinating to watch them worship God. I have never seen anything as intimate and as intense as that. Parang gusto kong kilabutan dahil pakiramdam ko nandodoon lang talaga si God mismo sa loob ng church.

After doing a series of songs, nagsalita yung kapatid ni Ate sa mic, si Kuya Dennis. He even acknowledged my presence in front of the people. Pakiramdam ko tuloy para ako ang special guest. HAHA. But seriously, they treat me like that the entire day.

Pagkatapos nun, mayroong pastor na nagsalita sa harap. We have to read the bible sometimes  and obviously since it's my first time, hindi ako nakapagdala. Mabuti na lang pinahiram ako ni Ate tapos nag share kami ni Khaela sa pagbabasa. Aaminin ko, for the first time in a long long time, dun na lang yata ulit ako nakapagbasa ng bible. The last time I held that book was during high school I think.

The sermon lasted for an hour or so, at pagkatapos non ay may kantahan ulit. Hindi ko man alam yung mga kanta pero tahimik kong sinusundan sa isip ko yung mga lyrics na naka-flashed duon sa projector.

Nung finally natapos na yung service, iyon na. Iyon na yung favorite part ko kasi may libreng meryenda! Hehehe joke! Seriously, that was one of the highlights of that day. Masarap palang kumain kapag marami kang kasabay. Sa bahay kasi o kahit sa trabaho dati, madalas akong soloista sa pagkain.  

It was a humbling experience. Kasi, kahit simpleng pagkain lang ang nakahain daig pa yata ang kahit na anong pyesta o eat all you can! Lahat sila nakangiti at masayang ine-enjoy ang pagkain. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit lahat sila parang masaya, pero basta!  Nakangiti lang din ako buong maghapon na iyon. Hanggang sa makauwi, hanggang sa matulog. At hanggang kinabukasan nung magkita ulit kami ni Ate sa terminal para pumasok na ulit sa trabaho.

THE END.  
..................................................................................

Iyon ang kwento ng first visit ko sa CLJC. :)
To be honest, it was a very odd and unusual experience for me. But as odd as it may be, I had to admit, I like the feeling of being there inside the church, of being with the people I met for the first time, of being with strangers that strangely doesn’t feel that “stranger” to me.

Hindi iyon ang naging una at huling pagpunta ko sa CLJC. My first attendance led to another and to another.. Hanggang sa hindi ko na lang namamalayan na Linggo Linggo na pala akong naroroon para umattend ng service. I became a regular since January. Kahit nuong napunta ako ng Bataan, i was there every single Sunday. Hindi ko rin alam kung papano ko napagkasya ang oras at energy ko nung ma panahong iyon. It was truly amazing.

Sa totoo lang hindi ko inaasahan na makakaramdam ako ng pagbabago sa sarili ko nung mga panahon na yon. I wasn’t even sure why I keep on attending the service every Sunday. I never really plan to be there regularly, it just happen spontaneously. Hindi ko alam pero every week, pakiramdam ko may naiiba sa akin. Totoo ba yon o imagination ko lang?  Im not really sure. Basta ang alam ko lang mas gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko, at unti unti ring lumalawak ang pag unawa ko sa mga bagay bagay.

After a few weeks of attending, I was surprised to find myself occasionally reading the bible and finally talking to Jesus again. Not just small talk, but I guess that was more of a heart to heart talk. Hindi naging madali iyon kasi hindi naman talaga natural sa akin na gawin iyon. I mean, I do know how to say my prayers but my prayers had never been that personal and deep. Palagi ko lang sinasabi sa kanya na “Thank You.” And “Im sorry sa lahat ng nagagawa kong mali.” Pero ang totoo maraming marami pa sana akong gustong sabihin sa kanya pero pinipili ko na hindi na lang iyon sabihin. It’s a shame to admit pero mahaba haba ring panahon na nawalan ako ng gana sa kanya. I don’t know if I did that on purpose. Nagtampo ba ako? Lumayo ba ang loob ko sa kanya? O sadyang nakakalimutan ko na nag e-exists pa sya sa buhay ko?

Siguro nga ganon. Ang natanim kasi sa isip ko dati, sya ang unang nang iwan, hindi ako.

He turned his back first, so I had no choice but to turned my back on him too. May mga pagkakataon kasi na dumating sa akin nuon na  kahit anong dasal, o lapit o pakiusap ko sa kanya na tulungan ako sa mga problema ko, parang hindi nya naman ako naririnig. Naisip ko siguro, mabait ang Diyos. Pero mabait sya sa mga taong deserving at mabait din sa kanya. Bagsak ako kung iyon ang gagawing standard.

I was never really that nice. I mean, I had my moments when I really was unworthy to be called or to be even considered as a child of God. Hindi naman ako masamang tao, pero marami akong nagawang hindi mabuti at hindi masyadong maganda. Masyadong mahaba kung iisa isahin ko pa ang mga iyon pero ilang beses rin akong naging sakit ng ulo ng mga magulang ko. I was lost as a teenager. Pero syempre sa pananaw ko nuon, normal lang naman ang mga pinag daanan ko. High school ako nuon nung medyo nagpabaya ako sa pag aaral, natuto akong bumarkada, uminom, manigarilyo. I thought it was okay then. Wala namang masama kung susubukan ko ang ilang bagay di ba?

Nung college naman ako, hindi rin naging masyadong maganda ang record ko. Hindi ko mabilang kung nakailang eskwelahan at nakailang course ako bago ko na-realize na magpakatino at finally tapusin ang pag aaral ko. Mabuti na lang medyo nagising gising ako sa katotohanan nung finally makatapos ako at magkatrabaho. And I thought it was all settled. Kasi, ang mahalaga naman pag nagkakamali ka, natutunan mo ang leksyon mo di ba?

Iyon yata ang essence ng buhay para sa akin nuon. May nagawa man akong pagkakamali,  pero sa huli natuto naman ako. TAPOS. PERIOD.

Akala ko ganon lang ang buhay. Pero hindi rin pala. Parang may kulang pa rin kasi. Dati,hindi ko alam kung ano yung kulang na yon at hindi ako nag aabala na alamin pa. Pero iba na ngayon.

Nagyon, alam ko na kung ano at sino ang missing piece na iyon sa buhay ko. J

Si Jesus.

Sya pala yung missing piece sa puzzle ng buhay ko. Or mas tama yatang sabihin na ako yung nawala? Kasi, hindi naman pala sya nawala kahit kelan. Pinili ko lang talagang isipin at paniwalaan na nawala sya sa buhay ko nuon but the truth is, I shut the door for him. Pinagsaraduhan ko sya ng pinto, pati nga yata mga bintana sinara ko kaya hindi sya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makapasok sa puso ko.

Hindi ko sya maramdaman kasi in the first place, hindi ko naman sya pinapayagan na tumuloy sa puso ko.

Kinailangan pa nya akong katukin ng katukin, kinailangan pa nyang ipadpad ako sa terminal ng jeep Marilao, kinailangan pang ipakilala nya sakin si Ate para makarating ako sa CLJC at makilala pa ang mas maraming tao na nagpatunay sakin na totoong hindi sya nawala sa akin. He is just there. Lurking in the corners of my heart, waiting to be noticed. Waiting to be loved.

Sa ilang linggo/buwan na inilagi ko sa church, I saw how blessed I am, how fortunate I am, and how the Lord really cares for me. Na-appreciate ko yung ka-simplehan ng buhay sa mga taong nakasama ko. Pwede naman palang maging masaya kahit na hindi ka perpekto o hindi perpekto yung buhay mo.  

You don’t always have to have answers or reasons for everything. Hindi naman talaga lahat ng bagay kaya mong unawain at kaya mong sagutin pero ang mahalaga kaya mong tanggapin. 

Kaya mong tanggapin kasi kung  tinanggap mo na SYA sa buhay mo. Imagine, what else can you not accept? At ang pinakamasarap na kapalit ng lahat ng iyon, alam mo na tinatanggap ka rin nya.

Jesus accepted me long before I accept him. 

I cant really imagine myself writing about this, but here I am tapping the keys of my laptop with all these wonderful thoughts on my mind. Gusto ko lang kasing isulat yung magandang experience na nangyari sa akin. Masaya ako sa mga naging pagbabago sa buhay ko sa nakalipas na ilang buwan. Masaya ako sa mga bagong kaibigan, bagong karanasan, at bagong simula ng pakikipag kaibigan ko sa KANYA.

Nagpapasalamat ako kay Ate Mira. Now I know why I met you in that jeep terminal Ate!  Wala talagang aksidente sa mundong ito, siguro sinadya iyon ni Lord. 

Salamat din ng maraming marami sa CLJC people. Thank you for inspiring me and letting Jesus into my heart. Im sorry I didn’t get to say this personally. Ganito po talaga ako, dinadaan sa sulat. Ang haba haba kasi ng mga sinabi ko. Haha pero totoo, maraming maraming salamat talaga. 

AMEN!!!!!! =)))))

BUHAY MANUNULAT

I found this article on Juris Angela's wordpress blog. She's a co-writer and a good friend. She wrote this really nice article about writers. Nakakatuwa kasi totoo yung lahat ng sinabi nya rito. I love that she wrote it in a very Bob Ong way. Full of fun and humor pero nandon ang puso. :)

Ang galing mo Juris! You really captured the struggles, the pain and the joys of being a romance writer. Im sure lahat ng writers makakarelate dito.

Buhay Manunulat

BY JURISANGELA

Hindi biro ang sumulat ng isang nobela. Maraming gabi kang walang tulog. O kaya naman, kung sa umaga nagsusulat. Ilang beses mong mari-realize na kanina ka pa tulala habang nag-iisip. Ang masama pa, minsan, wala kang maisip. Ang hindi alam ng marami, ang mga writers. Halos araw-araw, inaatake ng Writer’s Block. Ang simpleng hindi ka makaisip ng susunod na eksena, masaklap na ‘yon. Ilang beses na rin ba nangyayari na ihing-ihi ka, pero hindi ka makatayo dahil hindi mo mabitawan ang nakakakilig na eksena. Kumakain ka habang nagsusulat, kaya before you know it, mas malamig pa sa ilong ng pusa ang pagkain mo. *Gaya ng kape sa tabi ko ngayon*.

Ilang beses ka na rin bang nakiluha, kasama ng mga heros at heroines mo. Nainis sa mga kontrabida sa buhay nila. Kinilig sa mga kissing scenes, sa mga sweet moments, sa simpleng pagkakalapit ng mukha ng mga bida. At naki-share sa love na nararamdaman ng mga heroines kapag aminan portion na at happy ending na.

At sa bawat konseptong naiisip, palagi kang excited na simulan ang bagong storyang tumatakbo sa isip. Masaya ang buhay writer kapag hindi ka nauubusan ng ideya para sa mga nobelang gustong simulan sa darating na araw. Pero minsan, hindi masaya kapag wala kang naisip kahit na kung paano hihilik ang hero mo habang tulog ito, nakanganga at tulo laway pa.

Masaya ang buhay ng mga writer kapag ang nobelang, ilang araw/linggo mong pinagpuyatan, pinag-isipan at pinagbuhusan ng panahon ay magugustuhan ng mga mambabasa. Worth it lahat ng bagay na pinagpalit mo para lang matapos ang nobela mo. Ang lakad ng mga barkada na dineadma mo dahil naghihintay na sila Miss Editor, ang tuwalyang kinuha mo sa hanger, na sinabi mo sa sarili mo kanina bago ka magsimula ay maliligo ka na. Pero matutulog ka na lang ulit, hindi ka pa rin nakakaligo kasi nahaplos mo na naman ang pinakamamahal mong laptop. Ang ilang beses mong pagplanong mag-toothbrush, na nakalimutan mo dahil sa may sinusulat ka. Nang bumuntong hininga at naamoy mo ang sarili mo tsaka mo na lang ulit naalala hindi ka pa pala nagto-toothbrush simula gumising ka.

Ilang beses ka na bang pinuna ng mga kaibigan mo dahil hindi ka nawawalan ng notebook at ballpen sa bag mo? Ilang beses ka na bang napapagkamalang praning dahil bigla ka na lang ngingiti habang nagku-kwento ang kaibigan mo tungkol sa masalimuot niyang lovelife, kasi may naisip kang magandang idagdag sa isusulat mo. Ilang beses ka na rin bang napapagkamalang may sariling mundo, kung mas lamang na nagkukulong ka sa kuwarto mo? At minsan, ilang beses ka na bang natatawag na bampira dahil mas lamang na gising ka sa gabi, at tulog sa umaga.

Hayyy…ganito ang buhay naming manunulat. Madalas masaya kami sa sariling mundo na ginagalawan namin. Mga sakripisyo para lang makabuo ng nobelang makakapagpasaya at makakapagpakilig sa inyo. Nobelang mamahalin ninyo at kapupulutan ng aral. Kahit na minsan, nakakakulta ng utak magsulat, at naninigas na mga daliri namin…go lang! Ang mahalaga kasi sa amin, ang mabuo ang nobelang sinusulat. At forever mapasaya kayo, aming minamahal na mga mambabasa.

Ito ay para sa mga kapwa manunulat ko. Kampai! *alak sa inyo, ice tea sa akin..bawal sa akin eh. Hahaha!*. Mga bagay na aming tiniis at niyakap ng buo para lamang mapagyaman ang talento sa pagsusulat na ipinagkaloob sa amin ng Poong Maykapal. Ang siyang manunulat na aming mga buhay.

ISANG MALAKING SALUDO SA INYONG LAHAT! Bow!

Exploring Bicolandia

I've seen a lot of Bicol on TV these days. I think it's one of the hottest tourist spots that we have in the Philippines today. Few weeks ago while watching KrisTV, Kris Aquino herself said that she wanted to go to Donsol Sorsogon to experience the Butanding Interaction, and then i also saw Donsol too on a wildlife documentary show on GMA 7.
Seeing that very place that i've been with a few months ago being featured in a lot of programs put me in so much awe. I feel so lucky that i have gotten the chance to visit the beautiful places in Bicol. (Naga, Albay and Sorsogon) It was truly a paradise. I never knew that there are places like that in the Philippines.

It was very rare that i've got to travel and visit such beautiful places so i thought about putting it here. It's definitely worth blogging! :)


Our team left Bulacan at around 6-7PM via bus, then from a terminal in Cubao, we took the bus that will took us to NAGA. It was the the longest and the bumpiest ride i've ever been with! It took us overnight to get to NAGA but i had fun. The bus is so comfy though, the seats we're huge and soft so it's still comfortable just sitting there the whole night.

 at the office before we took off

at the Cubao's bus station while waiting for the bus that will take us to NAGA.

Me and Daryl inside the Lazy Boy Bus 

Stopped over at Mcdo Batangas around 12AM

Bus's ceiling :)

Arrival at Naga around 6AM then breakfast at Jollibee Naga

                               

we toured around some old churches around naga then checked in at Camsur Watersports Complex at around 2PM. It was raining hard the whole day so we just spend most of our times inside our hotel room.

Came night, we decided to eat out! Cant remember the name of the resto we've dined in but they have kick ass sisig! I coudnt help but order extra rice. LOL. Anyway, Day 1 is sort of boring. Maybe its because of the rainy weather and that we are all tired of the bumpy bus ride plus the lack of sleep! So the excitement and the fun really begins at Day 2--The day we went to Donsol Sorsogon for our Butanding interaction and Island Hopping.
It is my most favorite part of the tour. It's my first time to try snorkling. Sadly, butandings are not around at that time so we're not able to dive and see them but it was nonetheless fun! We did island hopping, shark feeding and coral watching. :)

                                       
                                          at the boat. :)

                                       

                                          At San Miguel Island.

After spending the whole afternoon at the island, we decided to head back to our hotel. We swim on the pool then ate dinner fast then head straight to our next activity--The Firefly Watching at Ogod river. I didnt have any pictures of that experiene coz flash photography isnt allowed in the area but if i have to summed up that experienced in one word? It was BEAUTIFUL.
After the firefly watching, we go back to the hotel again to finally rest but we end up playing cards til 1AM in the morning! LOL. Next day was our last day so might as well make the most out of the time that we're there. I woke up at around 7Am. We had breakfast then our shuttle bus picked us up to take us to our last destination--The Bulkang Mayon.

The whole Mayon experience is also one of my favorites! Seeing it in person and the fact that i was just a few meters away from it gives me a HIGH. lol It was just so beautiful, you could stare at it all day and you wouldn't get tired. The beauty of Mayon grows in you. The pictures speak of its splendor beauty but it was nothing compare to the feeling that you are seeing it live.

Ofcourse, there's a variety of souvenir stores/shops along the area. The bicolanos were nice and considerate. They give us discounts! HAHA. and ofcourse, as always. We tried to take as many pictures as we can!! Here are some:

It was indeed a tiring day. My feet and my back are really sore from endless walking and picture takings, the whole team are all tired but we are all smiling despite the back aches coz we know that it was all worth it.
Well, it's not like we'll be seeing Mayon everyday right? It was a once in a lifetime experience so might as well, enjoy every minute of it, and make the most out of it.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.  =)))

 I know in the future, there are possibilities that i'll be seeing Mayon again but i know it will never be this special. Nothing beats the first time! First time is always the unforgettable, the one that you would always remember. And i would always remember how beautiful Bulkang Mayon is.

Hayyyyy uwian na! HUHUHU

Our flight back to Manila was at 12noon but our plane was one hour delayed so we decided to take our lunch at the Legazpi Airport Cafeteria. Im not that enthusiastic about the food we ate coz i am somewhat nervous. Im a first time flyer so i really dont know what to expect! and im also excited to board TBH. HAHAHA =D
While waiting for our plane, we saw Camille Pratts. She was also Manila Bound. I didn't have any  pictures with her coz im not the type that--you know! LOL but anyway, it was nice to see her. She's nice to people and some of my colleagues were given the chance to have a photo-op with her.

The plane ride only lasted for a few minutes. Cant remember exactly how long but about 30 to 45 minutes. It was fun. And i looked funny coz im too excited and nervous hahaha but all in all it was a good ride. The best thing about riding a plane is you got to see the view from the window, you got to see miniature buildings and houses and fields.It was surreal!  Hayyyy finally... We landed safe!
we arrived at Manila around 2PM.

and that's when all the tiredness and sleepyness and hungryness sets in.

Goodbye Bicol, Hello Again Bulacan!!! :)