My Pearl Farm Davao Dream

I have long drooled over Pearl Farm Beach Resort in Davao. I even posted something about it here . Besides wanting to share my desire, I was actually trying to follow the teachings of 'The Secret' and thought that if I visualized my dream, it would come to me and come true.
Now, almost 5 years later...

 I am so excited. Yes, it took me 5 years to reach my dream - but hey, others never do.

         

Ebooks VS Paperbacks

A long-standing debate with myself...
Ebooks are cheaper (FREE actually) but I love seeing all my books in my library, and Ebooks cannot really compare to having an actual book on your hands...
But still, ebooks are free.

VS

Some feel-good things I love...

1.  The promise of a new day brought by sunrise.
2. The sweetness and beauty of a sunset.
3. The warmth of cuddling.
4. The comfort of my fuzzy microfibre blanket on a cold night.
5. Looking at the clock at work and learning that hours have passed without me noticing.
6. Waking up in the middle of the night / day and realizing that I still have hours to sleep.
7.  Coming home to the excited welcome of my kids.
8. Waking up to the excited hugs and kisses of my kids.
9. The excitement of planning and preparing for an outing / trip.
10. Intense emotion over a good movie or book.
11. Having a good cry.
12. Looking back at pictures and remembering the old times.
13. Hearing compliments.
14. Falling asleep to a love one's embrace.
15. Higher salary payout than expected.
16. Eating a delicious meal.
17. Buffets.
18. Getting the highest scores/ grades in class.
19. A good hair day.
20. A flawless karaoke rendition.
21. The pride and excitement of cheering and seeing Jay play basketball.
22. The first-sip kick of my Caramel Frappe.
23. The punch of an ice-cold Coca-Cola.
24. The instinct to close your eyes and savor a bite of your favorite chocolate.
25. The scent of Jay's perfume.
26. Listening to a good song performance.
27. Extra money.
28. Staying up late on a weekend. 
29. Going to sleep on a weekend. 
30. Releasing my passion and energy through dancing.
31. Shopping spree.
32. Opening Balikbayan Boxes.
33. Looking up to a clear blue sky.
34. Starry night.
35. Meteor showers. And wishes.
36. A low full moon.
37. Dreaming about the good life.
38. Receiving thank you notes.
39. Love letters.
40. The feel of sand between my toes.
41. The aquamarine color of the sea.
42. The scent of flowers.
43. Awe over fireworks.
44. Finding forgotten hidden money.
45. The joy of finding a good book at a bargain prize in Booksale.
46. National Bookstore sales.
47. Good buys.
48. Fitting sexy jeans again after a successful diet.
49. Long vacations.
50.  Receiving surprise gifts.
51. Receiving and then spending bonuses.
52. Relaxing on a beautiful garden.
53. Finding something funny and laughing out loud.
54. Dressing up.
55. Going out on dates with my husband.
56. I love yous from the kids. 

Why I (and you too!) Should Continue Blogging

I have a multitude of blogs. Blogs that I don’t actually get to update much. Okay, okay, blogs I almost don’t get to update at all. One is my true blog (this one), which I had actively written on about 3 years ago. I love the things I wrote here, it was full of thought and I think I could say, was somehow written nicely. And then my writing dwindled to just an entry or two every few weeks, and then it became bulleted entries every few weeks, and then now, zero. And then I have my love love love tumblr, which is my tumblog focusing on my love for life. I have about 5 entries I think, not bad, if I am going to continue posting. And then another Tumblr, this time all about happiness. “Finding Happiness” is mostly reblogs: pictures and quotes that help in our quest for happiness. Now, my most recent venture into blogging is to try to come up with blogs that in the future can earn from advertising. Whew, That means, I have to post often, and I have to let others read it. Tough. I have come up with 3: one is book reports (which I am thinking of pulling towards book recommendations since I want people to buy the books, maybe from links from my page?), the other about restaurants/ resorts, and the last one is about love/ marriage. I have posted 1 on my book report blog – and wow, it took me soooo long to write that one entry alone! How am I supposed to pull off my plan of earning from that blog? For the love/ marriage blog, I haven’t posted anything yet, but I do have the material already (ok, 1 material), I just need to find the time to post it. For the resto/ resort one, I am having a bit of a difficulty (oops, more difficulty rather) because I do not really travel nor eat out much. So what am I gonna write about?
Okay, enough about my long intro. What I really want to say centers around my struggle to write and why despite that I should not stop with my endeavors.
Jay and I had a conversation on why I still try (operative word: TRY) to write so many blogs when it is so obvious that I am not really a gifted writer. The answers are actually many.


1st: Yes I am not a gifted writer, I had not been blessed with the inborn talent to put together words effortlessly, but when has that been enough of a reason to quit trying? I believe that not all greatness are inborn – sometimes, you have to earn it. There is a reason why sports teams, performers and those who are learning practice a lot. Practice makes perfect they say. And that is what I plan to do. I will work hard, I will practice, I will try and try. Who knows, writing will be a breeze for me in the near future. I just have to work for it.


2nd: When you pause and reflect about things in your life, and then try to put them into words that people would understand, you stimulate your brain. You force it to think, and since it is an actual effort for me to write, I force it to work as well. And what better way to use your brain than using it a lot? :) Although our brain cells die and diminish every second, the brain is one of the few things that gets even better and better the more and more you use it!


3rd: I'm sure you've heard of the saying "The unexamined life is not worth living." So, let us blog, and in the process examine our lives! Socrates would be really proud... :)


4th: When you have a blog, (specially since mine is about love for life and happiness,) you get to see the world differently. Everything is more beautiful and more meaningful. You get to be happy for every little thing, because you are looking for things that are happy. You get to appreciate the little joys in you life, because you want to tell the world about your love, even for the smallest things in your life. You appreciate everything and this makes your life doubly enjoyable! This is actually the same with photography. Once you learn photography, you learn to appreciate the beauty and artistry in things that are neglected by most. The colors, patterns, even the mere shape of objects come alive! And that is one reason why I also try to incorporate photos in my blogs. The world is definitely more beautiful in the eyes of a photo enthusiast... Now multiply that by 2 for a photo enthusiast blogger. :)


5th: When you regularly pause to examine your life, and see a lot of beauty in it, and when you exhume your creativity in trying to share what you see with the world, you get to feed your soul. And I believe, that the happiest in life are those with the fullest souls... :)


So you, why are you blogging? Or, why aren't you?

What if?

The news is out. Today, 8 of my friends became doctors. I am very happy for them - special mention to Ria who placed 5th. I know they've studied hard and that they deserve that title.

Now, this news made me think: "What if I had been celebrating with them today?" Meaning, what if I had not opted the easy way out and pursued medicine, just as I had planned 12, (until 7) years ago?

As a young kid, I had always thought I would be either a doctor or a lawyer. These two careers required some degree of intelligence, which humbly, I think I had. I know I could have been with them today. I could have passed that exam as well (ok, even if not on the 1st try, I would think I'd nail it on the 2nd). What I didn't have though, was the focus to see my dreams through.

Somewhere in the middle of my pre-med course, I changed my mind. Thought I'd rather be a lawyer, but then again, even before I finish my then pre-law course, I changed my mind the second time and decided I'm happy with just being a graduate of Psychology. I cannot even be called a Psychologist.

Years after my decision, I am plagued with the "What ifs...?" I think I am happy with my job, but, please Lord, tell me I made the right choice. Tell me I am on the right path. Tell me that this is really where I belong. Maybe I won't hear God's answer today, but I'll wait. I know he'll let me know soon enough.

Thoughts

Thoughts running through my mind right now:

1. I love my job. Thank you Lord, for leading me to this.
2. I have a happy life. Not perfect, but a life I would not trade with anyone my age I know. And what I have I wish for my friends. Lots of Love, joy and fulfillment.
3. I want to be loved by at least 10 people around me the way millions love Cory. Of course, I know that I have to try to be somehow like her to achieve this. And it is very difficult. I have not known myself to be saint-like.
4. Willie Revillame is abusing the love and fame that the Filipino mass is bestowing on him. Better straighten up his act, or all that he is enjoying will soon disappear. Bye bye luxuries.
5. Husbands and wives SHOULD really sleep and wake up together, every night/day if possible. It's the only way marriage SHOULD be lived. I'm gonna miss Jay when he goes back to his regular work schedule. Aaaargh.
6. I'm doing a shortcut with my blog - but bear with me, next time maybe I'll have something longer. Someting more profound. :)

Blogging

Emotions are fleeting...

Moments treasured may oh so soon escape our ever so unreliable memory.

As time passes, the more things we want to remember, and the less our minds are capable of storing them all.

That is why keeping a diary is important, a blog even.

For life is rich and beautiful - and it needs to be recorded.

To give you a more concrete picture of all that you are, and to remind you of the things that molded the "you" that you're seeing now.

I have once been actively blogging- and I enjoyed it tremendously. For reasons I can only associate with laziness, I stopped.

Now, I wanna try again.

Ang Saya Saya :)

I Got Drunk

Last Friday, we celebrated TL Edward's birthday at my place. It was soooooo fun! We cooked several dishes like: Spicy Ground Beef, Inihaw na Liempo, Mushroom in Oyster's sauce, Creamy/Cheesy Mushroom, Inihaw na hotdogs, Hungarian Sausage, Caesar's Salad, at samu't saring chips. Of course, the reason I got drunk was because we had a lot to drink. 1 L of tequila, 1 bottle of Boones and a case of beer.

Ayun, lasing. Hehe.

More pics here.

100 Peso Airfare to Kalibo

Ilan beses ko narin ito sinubukan. Sa bawat promo ng Cebu Pacific, titignan ko, pagiisipan, at kadalasan, palalampasin. Lagi kong gustong umalis, pero lagi ko rin napipigilan ang sarili ko. At sa mga pagkakataong yun, kadalasan, nanghihinayang ako.

Pero nung Friday, hindi ko na pinigilan ang sarili ko. Dahil napakaganda ng promo, I grabbed the opportunity and took a chance. Kumuha ako ng ticket para samin ni Jay papunta Kalibo. At kung titignan mo yung binilugan kong amount, oo, 400 pesos lang yan. Para sa roundtrip naming dalawa. Wala ng tax and additional surcharges. . O diba? Sobrang mura.

Matagal nga lang ang pagitan, magstay kami dun for a total of 5 nights. Okay yun, kasi meron kaming free accomodation for 2 nights. Nakuha namin yun nung nakining kami sa presentation ng timesharing promo ng isang hotel. Hindi kami bumili ng shares, but we got the free accomodation gift. Astig diba?

Marami nagsasabi bakit Bora ulit, eh we've been there na. Ang mga sagot: 1. dun yung libreng accomodation, 2. dun mura ang accomodation 3. and i just love the place.

So, ginive-up ko muna yung desire ko na sa Pearl Farm mag-anniversary. Dito nlang ulit Bora, para mas mahaba. After all, what we need is the special time together, additional bonus na lang yung ganda ng lugar. :)

Sana na lang talaga, wala namang bagyo ng mga panahon na yun...

Why I Am What I Am

For the past several months, I have been enjoying several TV series that showcase the excellence of men. I have watched and admired the brilliant minds of The Practice's lawyers, the life-saving skills of Grey's Anatomy's surgeons, and the crime-busting intuitive minds of CSI NY's investigators. All these shows have main characters who are intelligent, smart, and have jobs that matter (Matter a great deal), and it made me think about where I am now...

In a Call Center. Doing work that my high school brother could do. (Ok, I think I do it better than he can but still...) I wonder what hapened to my dreams of greatness when I was a kid? I had wanted to be a hotshot lawyer, or a world-renowned doctor... I had wanted to be somebody. Well, come to think of it, I still want to be somebody. I still want to make use of the gifts God has given me. I still want to have a job that matters. Then, can someone tell me why I am still here? Why have I not reached the potentials my parents thought I was to accomplish?

It is all my fault. My life right now has all been my decision. I chose to attend UP, I chose to take BS Psychology, I chose to shift from BS to BA, I chose not to continue to Med or Law school and I chose a call center agent career. Now, choosing to go to UP had not been a bad move, but all the other choices I made after doomed me for failure.

What is it with me? Why had I made those choices? Damn, I'm not really sure. I think maybe because I do not push myself hard enough. I settled for something less than what I had hoped for myself. I had been too lazy to try to become more than what I am...

And so I admire those people who had achieved a lot. Those whose jobs mean something, and those who are leading the lives they have dreamt of. I am quite sure they are where they are not simply because of luck. They have done something, a lot of things even, to be where they are, and they are reaping the rewards.

And they are there while I am here, because I did nothing.

My Favorite TV shows

I love Weekends

Syempre, masaya kapag weekends. Nakakapagpahinga ako, nakakasama ko ang pamilya ko, at nagagawa ko ang mga gusto ko.

What I did last weekend:

1. Watched Heroes Season 2- down to the last 3 episodes, darn.
2. Watched A Very Special Love - loved the movie! twas funny, cute and even made me cry
3. Ate at Mango con Hielo at Icebergs - I like Mango Ice in Ice Monster better
4. Ate at Sushi-ya - Didnt like their customer service, I texted my comments, got an apologetic response but what I really wanted was some freebies or discounts. Hmpft.
5. Drank Boones Strawberry Hill with Jay - sa bahay lang ako pwede maglasing. hehe.
6. Treated the kids to McDo - syempre, sakin Quarter Pounder
7. Bought the kids pajama sets, shirts and sandos - sobra cute nila sa pajama sets nila! Damn, bakit ngapala hidni ko napicturan?!
8. Inflatables for the kids - had to stay with them kasi maliit pa si James, at nahilo ako dun sobra.
9. Reviewed Andre for his Periodical Exam - kakatuwa naman dahil mabilis namang turuan yung bata.

So ayun, overall it was a good weekend. Sana lagi nlang weekend. :)

Friends

Not that I don't like being with people. Maybe it was just that I don't like imposing my company on others so I just go ahead and eat on my own. It's also not that I don't like friends. Believe me, I am just like everyone else who crave for companionship, story-sharing, laughter and all the things that friends share. And though I love going home (on the dot) to my family, I also seek times where I am able to go out and have fun.

Anyway, I would just like to share that I have friends now, hehe. I no longer eat on my own, and there's something else I look forward to in going to the office besides the internet and DVDs I am to watch.

And it's nice. Real nice.

Stars

Stars...

I love them...

They're beautiful... they are very calming. Not to mention the wonder it brings and the disbelief I feel knowing that they are actually light years away (read: more than trillion miles away) and that there are supposedly more stars in the universe than the grains of sand in the oceans.

Amazing huh?!

Seeing stars make me appreciate the beauty of life, and it makes me believe in the endless possibilities that await me.

Last night, we have pasted glow in the dark stars on our ceiling. They're nice. Nothing like the real ones, but the effect similar.

And my babies love it!

I'm Back, Again.

It's been three months.

I haven't touched this blog since the first week of May. I've had several excuses, blaming my non-production to a heavy workload and a sideline that took all my writing juices away. For a while my reasons were valid. I was indeed busy, and my rewriting sideline really was very consuming I can no longer squeeze my brain for new blog topics. Plus, any time spent writing that does not involve money-making made me cringe.

Anyway, it was true for about a month and a half. The rest of my hiatus was just due to plain laziness and ningas kugon.

Aaaaargh. I hate myself for succumbing to the strong gravitational pull of doing nothing. When things don't seem to go the way we want to, when nothings seems to moving, or when we just don't achieve our hopes, sometimes it is just so easy to give up. When all your work seems to be futile, there are times that you just want to quit and save yourself from the frustration and hassle.

But no. I am not really a quitter, nor am I mediocre. Though there are times I get weak and fall behind the things I should, I shall stand up and continue on. I will not settle for nothing because I can be anything.

PS

Reading this blog, I think I may be referring to more than just blogging.
Oh yes, definitely.

When Love Begins

After months of not watching movies, we saw When Love Begins last night. It was okay, I guess... But there are several things I didnt like:

1. The two characters didnt seem to have chemistry. - NO, its not about Aga and Anne, but about Mitch and Ben. They didnt seem to have any similarities (except the fact that they both supposedly don't like commitments - but Ben didnt seem to be so) and they didnt seem connected at all. Basta.

2. The color of the movie was a bit dark. - Don't know if sa cinema house yun, or sa movie itself talaga, pero hindi maganda ang color ng movie. Hindi napalabas ang ganda ng Boracay, dahil parang kulang sa ilaw ang mga scenes.

3. Christopher de Leon confuses me - Seeing Christopher de Leon playing almost the same role he is playing in Maging Sino Ka Man: rich, overprotective but loving daddy to a beautiful princess, somewhat confused me and made me think that Bea Alonzo as Jackie Madrigal will then be appearing on the screen.

4. Mitch's character - I was not able to relate to the character of the heroine. It's not about her being rich and beautiful, all of us will want to relate to that kind of character, but her being liberated and wary of commitment. Totally not me.

Oh well, okay parin naman. Enjoyed the movie parin.

Busy Weekend

Last weekend was an event-packed one for me...

Thurs-Fri : CSC Outing in Mount Sea Grand Resort, Tanza, Cavite

Had fun - the place was nice, the people wonderful, the water refreshing, and the slide exhilirating! Ang tagal ko na ring hindi lumalabas with friends, lalo na overnight, but because it was a weekday, pwede ako... Saya!

Friday - 11th Avenue vs Friendster Knockout Game

Tobby scored 5 points, can't count Jay's... he did good as usual, maybe 5 blocks and a dozen or more rebounds... Hinid naglaro si Jen, but they won parin.. Off to the semis!!

Saturday - Pahinga lang ako nito, too tired eh...

Sunday - Bruski and Nina's Bday

Dinala ko ang mga babies ko and Bunini (not in the picture) sa bday ng mga chikiting ni Mommy A.. Ang dameeeeng mga bata, ang gulo.. Natatawa na naaawa nga ko sa naghohost ng party.. kasi I dont think naiintindihan siya ng mga contestants niya... hehehehe.

Sunday - Christine's Graduation Dinner

Congratulations to Christine! BS Psychology Cum Laude graduate from UP Diliman.. She's off to PGH for Med... Kumain kami ng npakaraming seafoods sa Seaside kaya ayun.. Hinigh blood ako the next day... Oh well, masarap naman eh! :)

Magical Ball

Ang aking mga wishes sa magical ball na ito:

1. Longer life for Tatay, no suffering.
2. Be able to go to Singapore to visit Les.
3. Day job, with same or higher sweldo for Jay - para d naman niya ako iniiwan at 930pm.
4. Pearl farm Beach resort in Davao, or any resort in Palawan.
5. More photo ops.
6. Higher pay - syempre.
7. Lotto nlang kaya? Kahit magakano, basta milyon! :)
8. Mabawasan ang kulit ng mga anak ko - minsan nakakastress eh.
9. Jay and I's own house - in the right time siguro.
10. Continuous basketball "career" for Jay - masaya manood eh.

It's Finally Mine

Paid Les through the bank yesterday... And I now have a new (well, not so new..hehe) camera!
Sabi ni Jay, teka, tama ba? Basta something like ipupukpok niya sa akin yung camera kung hindi ko ipagpapatuloy ang aking hobby at hindi gamitin ng husto ang cam. Hehehehe. Syempre joke naman yun. :)

Anyway, sana nga magtuloy-tuloy na ang pagdevelop ko sa photography. So far, I am pleased with the differences in my photos. Factors include: good camera, editing skills learned, and a renewed passion for the art. Good.

Isa pang difference na napansin ko lately, and I soooo like it, is that my world is a lot more beautiful now. Promise, ngayon, whenever I look at things, or at sceneries, mas naaappreciate ko ang beauty, kasi nakikita ko lahat as possible photo shots.

And it's nice. Really nice.

Last night, I felt it all again...

I had a silly smile pasted on my face all the way to work this morning, and it was all because of a dream. The dream was simple, but very very nice. Actually, it was not the dream that was nice, but all the feelings that it made me feel again...

In the dream, I just met Jay again and it made me feel all the giddy feelings when you are just falling in love...

I remembered how thrilled I am at his every text message, how my stomach fluttered at the mere sight of him, and how my insides would all turn to mush whenever he would talk to me.

Haaaaaay. For those who are yet to fall in love, you're missing a lot.

Anyway, it's good to remember the feeling. Thank God for dreams.

I need to unwind

Last weekend was a stressful one for me. Had a big disagreement with my mom that had me depressed the whole day Sunday. I think the two of us are ok now, but I could still feel the heavy load inside me. Maybe because the heavy feeling is not only because of the disagreement per se, but with all the issues that it had raised.

So I am now to start the week with a heavy heart and a haeavy workload. I need some uplifting!!!!!!

Jay, wink wink. Haha.

*%$#*@!!!! Mabuhay Miles

Bwisit na Mabuhay Miles to. Fake pla siya, napaka deceiving. Hindi pala siya libre. Ang binibili lang pala ng miles ay ang mismong airfare. Hindi kasama ang fuel surcharge sat taxes.

Kalokohan pala. Sa maga sanay magbook ng fligts, alam nating mas mahal ang surcharges at taxes kesa sa airfare. Papuntang Kalibo for example:

2 way
Airfare: P576
Fuel & Surcharge : P3290

So ibig sabihin, after kong magspend ng P360,000 to accumulate the 8000 miles for a roundtrip sa Kalibo, ang matitipid ko lang pala is a lousy P576! Buti sana kung 1000 nlang ang babayaran ko. BUt no. I have to pay P3290.

So, anong kalokohan to?! Grabe, for a time, nauto ako nitong Mabuhay Miles na ito.

Stupid.

*in fairness to the Mabuhay Miles, medyo okay naman siya for international flights... (pero mas mura parin nung ng promo ang Cebu Pacific) Kaso hindi ko naman kasi siya plano gamitin for international dapat eh. Grrrrrrr.*

Weekend's Result

Back from Laguna... Ang saya manood ng laro...

Natalo nung Saturday, nanalo nung Sunday.. Both days Jay was spectacular. Hehehe.

I'm his #1 fan.

Ang Tawag Ni Daddy

Kanina, tumawag sa office phone ko si daddy gamit ang celfone niya. Ang pag-uusap namin:

Daddy: "Kelan ang uwi niyo?"
Dy: "Sa Sat, bakit?"
Daddy: "Crucial game sa kasi yung sa Saturday, 630 pm, kapag nanalo sila, pasok
na sa semis. Kailangan maglaro ni Jay."

Ganun. Nakakatuwa. Kasi after almost 2 years na hindi naglalaro si Jay ng basketball (dati ay member siya ng Intertown team ng Pagsanjan, kaso wala na ngayong Intertown games eh), nabuhay ulit ang basketball sa buhay naming pamilya. Lahat kami nanonood at nagchee-cheer. Daddy, Mommy, mga kapatid ko at syempre pati sina Andre at James.

Maliit na liga lang ito actually, pero mahalaga siya sa mga sumusunod na dahilan:

1. Naglalaro rin si Tobby at si Jen (bf ni Lucky)
2. Ngayon ko lang ulit mapanood si Jay maglaro after 2 years.
3. Nakakintindi na mga babies ko sa pinapanood nilang basketball.
4. Superstar si Jay. Hehe. (Bawasan lang ang hapo!!!!!)

Oh well, good luck sa inyo Mahal, galingan niyo.. Excited na ulit ako manood... :)

I Can Change My World

The magic of editing. Spot the difference.

Kung bakit hindi ko nakukuha ang mga gusto ko

Haaay. Nagsisisi ako ngayon.

Ewan ko ba, minsan kasi, pakiramdam ko, medyo mabagal ako mag-act sa mga gusto ko. Full of restraints kasi ako, lagi nlang iniisip na "wag nlang kaya". Kahit gustong-gusto ko na ang isang bagay, nagdadalawanng isip pa ako lagi, thinking na baka hindi naman dapat, or baka aksaya lang ng pera, or kung ano pang rason na pumipigil sa akin. Minsan, iniisip ko sa sarili ko na kung talagang para sa akin ang isang bagay, makukuh ako talaga yun. But hello. Alangan naman makita ko nalang sa cabinet ko ang isang blouse na dko naman binili, diba? Kailangan ko talagang kumilos.

Dahil nga ganun ako, marami akong napapalampas. At ngayon, ang talagang ikinalulungkot ko, ay yung pinalagpas kong P5000 fare ONLY for Asian destinations ng Cebu Pacific. Haaaaaaay.

Paulit-ulit kong binalikan ang website, paulit-ulit akong nagtry. Paulit-ulit din sinabi sa akin ng website na oo, limang libo lang, makakapunta ka na sa HK o sa Singapore.

E bakit hindi ko binili?!!!!!!

Napaka-hilig kong magtravel. Yun nga lang, hinid obvious dahil hindi naman ako masyadong nagtratravel. Dahil nga sa restraints ko.

Pagkakataon ko na sana yun noon. Pero pinalagpas ko na naman.

Hindi naman ako poor, may pera naman ako, e bakit hindi ko magsatos?!!!!!!

*In fairness to me, kapag nakapagdecide na ang utak at puso ko to go and get something, I will stop at almost nothing to get it. Yun nga lang, kahit na gustong-gusto na ng puso ko, minsan humihindi parin ang utak ko... :(

Happy Birthday

He is more than my favorite subject actually.. He is my life, my everything.. Naks! :)

Happy Birthday Mahal! Failed to make your day yesterday super special, but don't worry, I'll try to make up the whole year... Although that may be a bit hard as everyday with you in itself is already special...

I love you...

My Favorite Subject

Pictures would never be able to capture the true depth of his beauty, as his is more than skin deep....

But I still love photographing him ... :)

A Hundred-Year-Old Tree?

Photo shot at La Mesa Ecopark.

Fujifilm Finepix S9500

I'm sooooo excited!!!!

I have this weekend to try out Les's camera, at SAAAAAANA makakuha ako ng magagandang pictures... Ang trial na ito ang mgdedetermine kung dapat o d dapat kong bilhin ang camera na ito. ( Salamat Les sa chance, and wish me luck!!! :) )

I have downloaded na the manuals, tried to do some researches, sana lang ay maiapply ko ang lahat ng mga ito....

BTW, binabasa ko ngayon ang Bestseller na "The Secret". According to the book:

"Everything that's coming into your life, you are attracting into your life. And it's attracted to you by virtue of the images you're holding in your mind. It's what you're thinking. Whatever is going on in your mind, you are attracting to you."

Kaya ngayon, puro thoughts of beautiful photos, and thoughts of the camera ang iniisip ko. Para maattract ko ang talent of photography sa buhay ko.

Kapag nagwork, I will fill my mind with thoughts of winning Lotto... Hahahaha. More on the book some other time.

For my visualization, here are some BEAUTIFUL (bow!) photos taken by my friends:

Photos by: Migs Medina

Photos by: Les Magno

Tatalon?

Mobile Games

Dahil sa pagkasira ng aking camera, ngfocus ako ng attention at appreciation sa aking celfone. Kaya bukod sa mga bagong ebooks at kantang inupload ko, naglagay din ako ng mga games na kinagigiliwan ko ngayon...

Minesweeper - The object of the game is to clear an abstract minefield without detonating a mine. If the player clicks on a square without a mine, a digit is revealed in that square, the digit indicating the number of adjacent squares (typically, out of the possible 8) which contain mines. By using logic, players can in many instances use this information to deduce that certain other squares are mine-free (or mine-filled), and proceed to click on additional squares to clear them or mark them with flag graphics to indicate the presence of a mine.



Kakuro - The object of the puzzle is to insert a digit from 1 to 9 inclusive into each white cell such that the sum of the numbers in each entry matches the clue associated with it and that no digit is duplicated in any entry.



Sudoku - Sudoku is a logic-based number placement puzzle . The objective is to fill a 9×9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3×3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9, only one time each (that is, exclusively). The puzzle setter provides a partially completed grid.



Blackjack Hustler - Blackjack Hustler puts you in the shoes of a professional blackjack player with it all to win – as well as lose! Travel around the city working your way through different tournaments to win cash, fast cars and flash mansions in Career mode, or just play an instant game for a quick fix of fun. Goal of blackjack is to beat the dealer by getting a higher set of cards, but should not be greater than 21.



Tetris - The object of the game is to manipulate falling tetrominoes, by moving each one sideways and rotating it by 90 degree units, with the aim of creating a horizontal line of blocks without gaps. When such a line is created, it disappears, and the blocks above (if any) fall. As the game progresses, the tetrominoes fall faster, and the game ends when the player "tops out", that is, when the stack of tetrominoes reaches the top of the playing field and no new tetrominoes are able to enter.

Pagmumuni- muni

*Photo taken using my SGH U600 phone (pagpasensyahan ang quality)... Haaay wala pa camera eh....

*Pagmumuni ng aking mahal na asawa habang nasa aming floating bantilan

Trials and Faith

After 10 days of confinement, 2 surgeries, 100K bill accrual and a liter of tears shed, we're still not sure when Tatay will be released from the hospital.

A hundred questions run through Jay's family's minds: when will tatay recover?; will he recover?; where do we get the money?; was it the right decision to have him operated on?; why did he get sick?; why does he have to suffer?; how long do we still have him?; how will nanay be without him?; how come it has to be tatay?

Sadly, answers are mostly disheartening, showing a steady decline of faith with God. I know that is just natural... With all the hardships and sufferings the family is facing, keeping a strong faith would be hard.

But though it may be the natural course for one's faith to go, it is not the only path. With the trials that come, faith could also be strenghtened. I have read one passage from the bible that somehow will tell us why we should stop supplying our own answers (discouraging answers at that) to our questions to God:

Romans 11:33-34 (New International Version)
" 33Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"

For better understanding, here is the passage from The Message:

33-34 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out.
Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice?

So point is, we are not to question the plans that God has for us. With the shallowness of our understanding, we may not be able to grasp his purpose. But though we lack understanding, there is one thing that will help us see. In times when we are so down and so doubtful of everything that is happening, our faith in God should see us through, and this faith will bring us the peace and the strength to face all the trials that come our way.

Isaiah 26:3-4 3
"3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal."

N95 8GB ni Daddy

N95 8GB. It's what computers have become.

This is my dad's latest phone.

8 GB Internal Memory
5 MP Camera
16M colors, 2.8 inch screen
Etc, etc....

O diba, super HOOOOOT!!!!!! Ang tagal din niyang inasam-asam ang phone na ito, magbibirthday palang ata siya nung October, gusto na niya magkaron nito eh. And nung last week of February, he finally got one. Yahoo!!!!!

Di niya agad ginamit, kasi pinalagyan pa niya ng mga pictures, videos, MP3, games... Syempre, ano ba namang gagawin niya sa 8GB na memory nun diba? Nung Holy Week, nilipat na rin niya ang kanyang mga contacts from his old phone.

Kaso hindi naman talaga techie si Daddy eh. I doubt kung magagamit niya talaga ang features na meron ang phone na ito. So, kung tutuusin, medyo hindi bagay sa kanya. Hehe.

Kaya kahapon, binawi na ni Lord yung celfone sa kanya. Coding kasi, kaya from Makati, nagjeep mula Junction pauwi sa amin. Ayun tuloy, na- nenok ang napaka-ganda at super bago niyang celfone.

Pinatikim lang siya ni Lord.

*It has to be noted na d rin nagtagal sa kanaya ang kanyang N90. Sandali plang niya ginamit nasira na agad beyond repair. Malas talaga siya sa magandang phone.

Generosity vs Selfishness

I've recently had some thoughts regarding generosity and selfishness.. To help clear my mind, went to the bible and this is what I found:

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 (New International Version)

Sowing Generously

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."[a] 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

And it helped. A lot. Cleared not only my mind, but my heart as well.

So still... in times of doubt and of confusion... when I do not know which way to go... I could always turn to God's Word and see.

To Buy or Not To Buy

I am feeling such a deep longing right now. An intense craving to be able to produce beautiful photos.

I have tried for over a year... I can't say I have succeded, but I know I have learned. Maybe in time, with more practice, I could be good.

But fate is not so kind... it had to take away my camera for no reason at all. I was not careless, I wonder why it got broken...

Now, an opportunity is being offered to me. A good camera for a reasonable price... Probably more reasonable than having my Exilim repaired... Maybe this is my chance to be the photographer I wish I could be...

But is my dream really worth chasing? There is no guarantee that if I have a good camera, I will produce good photos. Maybe it is all about talent, something I have not shown.

Haaay... But then again, what is stopping me?

It Was A Black Saturday

"Gud pm. dis is Compex. we wud lyk 2 inform u dat u will have p7500 charge 4 ur cam. wil u aprov? 4 mor info, dial 6331862"

Got this text last Saturday at gumuho ata mundo ko ah. Well, hindi naman, pero sobra akong nalungkot. Although I have the money naman, ang hirap parin ipatuloy ang pagpapagawa. Ngayon, I am more inclined to buy a new camera kesa ipagawa ko pa yun. Pero sa ngayon, hindi ko rin naman kayang bumili ng bagong cam. Again, not really financially, pero parang hindi dapat.

Haay. Sobrang depressing. I so love taking pictures, both for memories and for art. Hindi naman ako magaling talaga sa pag-take ng pictures, pero it is something sana na gusto kong matutunan at pagbutihin talaga. I was thinking that someday, magiging magaling din ako, pero paano pa ako gagaling if I dont have a camera?

So, bakit ba hindi dapat, o hindi pwedeng bumili? May pera naman ako. More than enough actually. May hilig naman ako, actually, I would even give up my phone (at gumamit ng isang pangit na phone) for a camera. Mapapasaya naman ako ng camera... E bakit nga hindi pwedeng bumili? Bakit hindi dapat?

Ewan... Dahil mahal? Dahil hindi ito KAILANGAN, gusto lang? Ewan... magulo isip ko, mabigat ang loob ko...

Sana, makapulot nlang ako ng bagong camera... O kaya manalo ako sa isang contest...

Iwa Look-Alike No More

*Left - IWA MOTO *Right - Me

I never saw it..., but during the first quarter of 2006, people were saying I look so much like Iwa Moto (from Starstruck of GMA 7).

And mind you, it is not just few people. I am talking about lots of people from different groups and distant locations, so you would not say that they just heard it and trying to ride on.

A few examples:

- I was working as a recruitment assistant for a call center during this time and everyday (okay, about 8 times PROMISE!!!), different sets of my applicants would tell me "Ms Dyanne, kamukha mo si Iwa Moto." My officemates actually call me Ms Iwa, instead of Dyanne.

- I went to a seamstress in Pagsanjan and her kids (about 10 & 12) were whispering and giggling. Their mom apologized saying, "Pasensya na po, sabi kasi nila ang alam nila taga- Las Pinas si Iwa Moto, bakit daw andito."

- My Yaya's tita went to visit us and her remark to her niece after was "Grabe, kamukha niya si Iwa."

- When one of Jay's officemate 1st saw me, he described me to the others as "Kamukha ni Iwa Moto".

There were actually more, but suffice to say, it really happened (haha), people really saw it. And during that particular time, way too many actually did.

Anyway, I don't really like Iwa, so I changed my look. No one says I look like her anymore.

Song Recording

Masaya ako ngayon... Hehehe. Paano kasi, for the longest time, hindi ako nakakapagdownload ng kanta sa PC ko dito sa office. But with the help of my friend Betsy, may nadownload ako program na nireredord niya ang mga tugtog sa PC and converts it to MP3! And it works wonderfully! Hehehhe

At dahil panahon ng projects ni Lesley ngayon, nabuhay din ang aking mga nakatenggang projects dati. At isa nga dun ay ang iupdate ang aking Music Library, along with lyrics of the songs. I think medyo madami na naman siya ngayon, but paparamihin ko pa siya! I upload ko narin sa phone ko para makakanta ako sa bahay.

Target right now is yung mga oldies na love songs...

Off to my project....

Lotto Jackpot

The Lotto Draw tonight is estimated to be at a whopping P158 Million. Wow!!!!

Allow me to let my imagination run wild and dream of what I am to do if I win:

1. Time Deposit - 100M
2. House including furniture - 20M
3. Cars : MB, Expedition & Camry - 6M
4. Business (franchise?) - 15M
5. Shopping (gadgets, clothes, jewelry, toys..)!!!! - 5 M
6. 5th Anniversary Honeymoon US Tour - 1M
7. Give to Paguio and Largueza family - 10M
8. Give to Charities - 1M

Ang SAAAAAYAAA!!!!!!

Camera Flu

Nagkahawaan ata ang camera ko at ni mommy. Nakwento ko na diba na nasira ang camera ko nung nagpunta kami Boracay. Overexposed ang mga pictures. Nung isang araw, pati yng camera ni mommy, sira narin. Ang salarin, sina Andre at BUnini.

Nakita nalang na pinaglalaruan nung dalawa yung camera, nung tinignan namin yung memory card, aba! napakaraming pictures! May pa-pose2 pa sila,a t in fairness, mukha namang marunong ang mga kumuha. Matatalinong Bata!

Nagawa nilang mabuksan at gamitin yung camera, yun nga lang, hindi na nila nagawang isarado. Nagstuck na kasi yung lens.

Ngayon, parehong nasa service center ang camera namin. Yung sa akin, pwede daw software o lens ang problema. Kung software, d nila alam magkano aabutin, pero kung lens, P7000 ang babayaran ko. Hala! Wag naman sana! That is too expensive for camrea repair! Tsk tsk. I really fear the thought... I dont think I can live happily without a camera..

Exagg...