DOUBLE TREAT

This is a very late post for my two friends who celebrated their birthdays. I opted to write this entry anyway because I felt that I owe this to them considering the impact they brought to my life. This is my way of thanking them and letting them know that their birth is a blessing to me, their family and friends whom they touched – one way or another.

IT’S OUR MIKAY’S BIRTHDAY

We had a deal some 14 years ago that if we reached 30 and we’re still single, we’ll pull the strings and marry each other. Fast forward to today, I am currently in a relationship and very happy for that matter while Mikay is single and is having the time of her life travelling the world. I guess the deal is off (thank God!) which means that she will not be able to enjoy my delicious and to die for appeal hahaha

But seriously, I guess, we are still marrying each other – as friends. For me, marriage is not just a legal contract that creates kinship. It is more of an intimate relationship and a commitment to someone that you will be there for each other, for better or worse. So Mikay, am giving you my commitment of friendship, loyalty, generosity and honesty. I commit that I will make you smile when you feel alone; I commit to stand beside you and comfort you when needed; I commit to say the most honest things like you look awful in the camera crying when you and your ex-boyfriend broke up (but the hair and the outfit was smashin’ hot that time)

And lastly, I commit to be the same person you loved 14 years ago and I will love you just the same.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKAY!

Mikay 

Mikay and Migraine Boy

IT’S OUR QUOKAI’S BIRTHDAY

There are a lot of qualities that I admire about this person but the best of them all is her humility and her modesty to say thank you. I’ve noticed that with fake friends, their gratitude level is a complete disappointment. They would either use you or take advantage of what you got. Quokai never fails to make me feel that am doing something good, relevant and special because she never fails to show her gratitude. During my last birthday, she called and candidly thanked me for the “things” I’ve done for her. ‘Twas unexpected and I was truly appreciative of her gesture.

Quokai, it’s my turn now to say thank you for all the things you’ve done for me. Thank you for not doubting my character most especially during the time when people questioned it. Thank you for making the rest of our friends smile…no..laugh most especially during those times when laughter and joy is our only refuge. Thank you for letting me watch Ally Mcbeal every Tuesday back in your house at Nazareth. Thank you for giving me a reason to believe that indeed life is no joke but you have to take time as well to smile and laugh.

Words may fail me but you didn’t. Thank you for the love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY QUOKAI!

Quokai

Quokai and Migraine Boy

SAYING GOODBYE

You know what, just when we are getting relaxed, life will throw something at us which challenges that comfort. I guess that is the irony of life. And, I guess this is one of life’s greatest mysteries that we can’t fathom. Cliché as it may sound, I guess what we can only do is embrace whatever life will throw at us and hope, pray… and pray harder that in every heartbreak, we will end up a better person or else, we will end up more confused and missing the whole point.

Last Valentine’s Day, I was heartbroken upon knowing that my closest friend ended her relationship with her partner. I got so sad that I was not able to hold my tears just listening to her recount how the break-up happened. I suppose ending a relationship is never easy. It’s not like a walk in the park. Some five months ago, my friend took the huge leap of faith and decided to give love a chance and now, it was over. Breaking up with someone you dear most, I guess, can be one of the most daunting emotional struggles we can go through. That is why, we have to work very hard to understand ourselves better why such things happen or else, (yes you got it right)…we will end up more confused and missing the whole point. I guess my friend just clearly understood her needs in the relationship that is why she ended it. I guess she better understood that we can’t make people change instead, we can only change ourselves.

Sometimes, we equate the ending of a relationship with failure. Well, I guess it depends. Personally, I believe that our standpoints vary depending on our experiences and our “life episodes.” Bottom line is, life continues. Like what my favorite author clearly puts, “every inhale we take is a birth and each exhale is the death of that breath; and life continues.”

Yes…life definitely continues.

P.S.

Teacher, I guess you still remember that I dedicated my first entry to you in time of your monthsary. I said something in that article which I would like to share again: "If there is a lesson I learned from this, it is that sometimes you just have to take the risk and enjoy every moment of happiness. Yeah sure, you might say that it's reckless to get into something that you are not assured of but, I guess you will not be able to taste happiness unless you jump in the bandwagon."

Teacher, I can't say that I agree or not with your decision. It's a decision you have to make and I respect that. I just would like to let you know that when and if the road gets bumpy, you have a friend in me.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE...AND SOME GREAT MUSIC

February 14, Valentine’s Day, was a busy day for me. Aside from the fact that ‘twas a Monday and that I need to report to work, we have an activity in the office dubbed as “It’s Definitely a February-fic February” where the main feature of the evening was an acoustic mini-concert with Aegis PeopleSupport’s talents and ADLIB - a local band in Cebu . I hosted the event from 7pm until 12midnight and ‘twas fun talking to the singers on stage as well as to the gutsy employees who took the challenge of “impromptu” singing like my team mate Aldz. As expected, love songs wrapped the venue while the audience sang with the band when old familiar songs were played.

With Misty on stage

A trainee from Aspire who braved the stage and sang "You are my song"

My team mate Aldz who ate a lot of air time selecting his song. He ended up singing "It might be you."

ADLIB. My favorite song of the night was "Paano"

The event also became a venue for us to promote our Happy World initiative for the month of February called as “Love Notes.” Love Notes is a special edition Happy World V-Day Stationery sold at Php 5.00 per piece. The proceeds of the activity will be donated to the Cancer Institute Foundation, Inc. Also, what’s superb about the activity is that the company will match whatever amount is raised through the sale of the stationeries. Personally, I was very involved in the promotion of this activity because of the intention of it.  For those who have been following my entries, you guys are aware that my father died due to colon cancer. I know very well how difficult the experience is for the person suffering the ailment and the family supporting the patient. So, kudos to us for this worthwhile initiative.

MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE

I am in a relationship for nearly four years now and I have been blessed with a loving, generous, patient, candid and honest partner. But just like any other relationship, ours is not perfect. Sometimes we disagree and fight but we endeavor to solve our differences in a manner that is responsive, with the end view of reconciling without hurting each other’s feelings. When we talk, we don’t shout at each other nor call each other names. We don’t drag in the history of our families nor our pasts. We don’t blame each other for the ill-situations we are in instead, both of us tries to find a more helpful course of action in order to resolve it. In situations where we need to come up with a decision, we do it together and in the process, respect each other’s views and judgments. Most of all, we are conscientious and we despise the thought of taking advantage of our family and friend’s generosity.

If there is one thing that I appreciate about my partner it’s the fact that my partner motivates me to become a better person. There are moments when I doubt myself and the things that I’m capable of doing but my partner reassures that am more than smart and talented to be worrying over the things that I should not even be worrying about in the first place. I appreciate the fact that we inspire each other to excel in the fields that we are in.

You see, we don’t tolerate each other’s vices. We understand that if we indulge in each other’s nasty habits, we will end up destroying ourselves. We abhor activities such as parasitism, drugs, deception and/or pretense and the like.

In hindsight, I am happy, proud and blessed to be with this person whose mere presence makes me feel comforted. I want to tell you again and again that you are my rock; that you are my happy thought.

*Thank you for the wonderful partnership; for the times that you made me smile and for the laughter you caused with your hilarious dance moves. Thank you for putting me to sleep when my migraine attacks. Thank you for constantly reminding me that I am special and loved.

As the song goes, “When God made you, He must have been thinking of me.”

Happy Valentine’s Day!

*Taken from my previous post. Click here to read "I HAVE REASONS TO CELEBRATE"

FEBRUARY 6: MY SUNDAY MORNING

2:00am             
Woke up. Got hungry. Went to Siomayan sa Tisa. Ordered five siomais, three puso :-) noodles without egg and Mountain Dew

3:00am             

Went back to the apartment. Ironed clothes and took a bath for the 5am mass.

4:00am             

Dressed up and tried to look good for the Lord :-)

4:45am             

Took a jeepney heading to Cebu Cathedral. On my way to the church, I took the opportunity to enjoy the early morning fresh air. ‘Twas definitely a delight!

5:15am             

Arrived at Cebu Cathedral. Late for the 5am mass. However, I really wanted to hear Sunday’s message so my partner and I stayed outside the church and took the time to take photographs and captured the beauty of the church at early morning.

                       

6:30am             

Went inside the cathedral and settled in a very good spot

6:50am             

The priest shared Sunday’s message and in a nutshell, ‘twas all about our mission to be the light and salt of the world. My partner got a little emotional. Shed a tear or two. Me too. The message was so wonderful and I got blessed by it. It motivated me. Prayed. Prayed for myself. Prayed for my partner. My family. Friends – especially those who forgot what it really meant to be a friend. Thanked the Lord for all the blessings.

7:30am             

The mass ended and we headed to Jollibee for some hot choco. Went to the counter and ordered. Found a good spot to enjoy our hot choco and iced tea.

8:00am             

My partner and I decided to explore Parian – one of Cebu’s oldest barangay and considered as one of Cebu’s Heritage Site. Took some photographs. Got fascinated with Yap- Sandiego’s old house. Was wondering how it feels like to be living during the Spanish era.

9:30am             
Went to Chowking Colon. Ordered Halo2x early in the morning. My friend, Kate, texted that she’s fetching us at 12noon for our lunch date in her house with our friends – Ogie Velez, Shanin and Dustin  Jose. Replied to Kate telling her that my partner and I were heading to Ayala for some grocery chores and to pick us up there instead.

 Ogie

 Shanin

Dustin

10:00am            

Arrived at Ayala. Went to the mall’s grocery to buy some stuff.

11:00am            

Decided to grab some food. Kate texted that she’s on her way. Replied saying that we’ll wait for her at Breadtalk.

12:30noon         

Kate arrived with a big smile on her face. Was glad to see her. Missed her.