I AM MY OWN AUTHOR

“If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday, you have the opportunity to write a new page.”

                                                                               Mark Houlahan

Since the start of this year, I claimed that 2011 will be different. This year, I told myself, will be less hard, more optimistic and extra kind. 2010 has been a difficult year. I went through a number of unpleasant and/or perhaps appalling experiences - a death in the family, financial challenges, personal health issues, feud among friends etc. However, in hindsight, none of these agitated or distracted me most especially with how I carry myself and treat others. I guess I championed the deed of compartmentalizing which is why I was successful in enforcing sane judgment.

Amid all the problems and challenges I faced, there was never a time that I considered myself as a victim. I realized that any change, struggle, loss or issue does not make me a victim. My favorite author once said that “the more you carry worse life gets.” Sure, these can shake me or even at one point, make me doubt about myself, but these cannot prevent me from rising above the situation and come out as a better person. Am sure all of this sounds cliché but trust me, no matter where you are in life, no matter what your situation is at this very moment, YOU CAN ALWAYS DO SOMETHING.

I claim that 2011 will be a year where all my plans will come into being. 2011 will be a year of rejoicing, of celebration, of triumphs or victories, of joy and prosperity. As an old adage goes, “if you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life, after all, gives back in kind.”

SINULOG 2011

If there’s one word to describe my Sinulog 2011 experience, definitely that word would be “WET!”

It was definitely raining the entire day but it didn’t stop the Sto. Niño devotees, tourists and Mardi Gras enthusiasts to rally the streets and experience the event dubbed as the biggest and most awaited in Cebu. Been here in Cebu for more than three years now and I never missed a single celebration. There’s that different feeling of being with the crowd, being part of the throng of people commemorating Cebuano’s faithful devotion to the child Jesus. The experience is just intoxicating!

My friends and I decided to witness the street dancing but the heavy downpour prevented us from seeing the grand parade thus, we ended up spending our day at the mall. ‘Twas such a bummer! There, we ordered some booze to let time pass, while waiting for the rain to stop. But it didn’t. The rain-bothered event really got us.  Capping our day was the fire works display at Ayala. I guess the fire works extravaganza served as the exclamation point to our wet Sinulog.

Well, am praying for a nicer and sunnier weather next year! ‘Till the next Sinulog folks.

Viva Pit Senyor!

Yes, spending Sinulog at the mall

Before landing at the mall, I dropped by at our company's booth. My team was working during that day.

Was uber hungry so we quickly grabbed some street food (literally)

What better way to document Sinulog... picture picture!

While waiting for the fireworks display

REAL FRIENDS

The test of a real friend is how they react when things don’t go so well.

We have all heard of fair weather friends; those who are happy to spend time with us, and perhaps help us, when times are good. Such friendships (fair weathered) can last for years with everything going well. Each one is there for the other whatever happens. With this, sometimes we can be fooled into thinking these friends are the real thing.

Then, the sky falls in. Something disastrous happens to your life. Perhaps a break-up or someone close to you dies. Now, you really need a friend – someone who will be there for you whenever you need them. Someone who is prepared to put their own life on hold to help you, as you know that you would do the same for them, if the shoe were on the other foot.

It is not easy to really know whether somebody is a good friend for your or not. In many cases, you must wait long time and verify this friendship in the occasions and problems created by life.

A real friend is able to say you are wrong when necessary because he or she thinks sincerely to be warning you from danger. A real friend also does not say you are right just to avoid “troubles” with you. No parasitism is allowed in a sincere friendship.

Lastly, real friends help you without asking nothing in exchange because friendship is not a business. They are happy for your success and satisfactions and never envious. Real friends like to spend their free time with you and share with you their secrets and inner thoughts without fear of judgment. Real friends respect you most especially your space, limits and preferences.

A real friend, are you?

EPIPHANIES 2 (Reflections)

A lot of things are going through my head right now… so many that sometimes I want to isolate each of them so at least I can deal with them in the right perspective. You see, my father’s death has opened important lessons that I missed when he was still alive. Lessons that were right in front of me but I failed to see because I thought that they would never fail me at all. I guess life has some weird ways to the extent difficult of telling us our lessons.

For one, I realized that above anything else, we should prioritize our family. The odds may be against us but our family will be the constant force who will unconditionally give you your basic strength as a person. In events like death in the family, your family is the same people who will comfort and genuinely feel for you.

Secondly, I was able to see clearly who my real friends are. Before my father’s death, I naively believed that friends are “friends.” Now, I’ve become more discerning. I realized that real friends should be there to offer love. Real friends should be there to offer an honest opinion and never fail to help me find laughter in all of life’s trials. Yes, the friends whom I considered real are those people who have held my hand or tucked me in bed when my own legs would not carry me. And, am using this blog to thank them… Solitaire, Mikay and Irwin. You have been my pillars of strength. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was not joking when I once said that “it’s in situations like this that you’re able to gauge the real character of people. On that note, it’s best to keep real ones and let go those who aren’t.”

CEBU YEAR-END PARTY 2010

A lot of things happened to me since the last entry I posted. The Bora event came successful as expected as well as the Cebu Year end Party. I would like to thank my wonderful team for making Cebu’s YEP this year a resounding success. Although we have to make a lot of changes during the actual program but we were able to pull it off. Thank you Aldz, Demi, Hydes, Misty, Ady, Yor and Julie for the help, support and patience. You guys are the reason why the event was it is as it is. To quote Aldz, it was epic. Am looking forward to sharing the same success as we organize and conduct the upcoming events this year.

But above all, I would like to bring back all the praises and glory to you Lord. Thank you for blessing me with all these talents. Thank you for making me as Your instrument. I pray that I was able to show Your greatness through the works I did.

Aegis Idol 2010 Grand Finals. Congratulations Mags!

The venue. Waterfront Hotel and Casino turned into a super club

The Hiyas ng Bituin Dance Troupe opening the program

Channel One World, One Aegis winner

Natasha Cang and Marc Estuart hosting the event

It's Showtime :-) Account performance

The goddesses from the Orange Lynx