For the past month, I've been troubled with a question I ask myself. Do a huge disparity of age and the distance really matter in relationship? I just recently met someone who is more than 10 years younger than me. Also, there's another someone that I've constantly been in touch with for a long while now and is living in a country that is seven hours late than the Philippines. These two forced me to search for answers.

As of now, I cannot muster enough energy to ponder because I am physically tired. Moreso, I do not want to find out even an answer because it might just leave me wounded. More than anything else, I just need relaxation.

In order to divert my mind from my routinary life, I agreeably went swimming. It is known that the Ancient Greek first discovered the healing power of seawater. It was used then to treat some skin maladies and even back pain. Whenever you see me swimming, please don't disturb me because I am trying to relax. Also, it might be that day when I am possibly nursing and trying to mend a lacerated heart as I swim and soak myself in the sea. #SeawaterHeals #LifeLately

Feel free to leave a comment

I have been based in Mati City for more than five years now. It’s approximately a three-hour drive away from home which I consider quite far. Despite the distance and the state of being away from family, I have taken pleasure in my time here. I like that there are only a few people who know me because I choose to keep a small circle of kind, smart, generous, and genuine individuals. Compared back home where everybody knows everybody, I can splurge on doing activities and go places with anonymity in this city. I get to enjoy life without the prying eyes of neighbors and distant relatives. Another reason for my fondness of staying here is that Mati City and the whole province of Davao Oriental have always enticed me to visit one beach at a time within the area. For someone like me who is self-diagnosed with beach addiction, this side of the country is my den.

Staying here hasn’t always been filled with rainbows and butterflies. I have also experienced mishaps and misfortunes. There was a time that I lost a potential love which left me wondering all the what-ifs and what-could-have-beens if only the potential was manifested. However, Saint Cher always reminds me through her song that I am “Strong Enough”. Also, Santa Regine V. would sing, “But time has been such a friend, brought me to my senses again. And I have you to thank for setting me free.” I moved on. Aside from the ordeals of the heart, just recently, I tested positive for COVID-19. It was a tough time. I knew I would recover from this disease but the idea that I became a host and a spreader of the virus was worrisome. I was bothered if any people, particularly my loved ones, contacted the virus through me. These two untoward events in my life occurred while I am here in Mati. I don’t want these experiences to happen again but, made my stay here still memorable.

Some friends have asked me if I do want to live here to which I answer that considering Mati as my domicile is a possibility. Although there are still goals I want to accomplish which may require leaving this location, I will always keep coming back here in Mati, someday, one day.

Feel free to leave a comment

To the Guy I Met Three Years Ago

To the guy I met three years ago, I still write about you. I still go back to my tinder account, check my inbox, and scroll down to our first exchange of messages. Those first words, greetings, and smoothly done flirtings have not lost their charm to send butterflies in my stomach. On the night we met, your smile was the brightest I have ever seen. You have a smile that could brighten up an entire room. It was just a  one-time meetup but it was a defining moment. On the following day, I woke up in another country without you and not knowing when to meet you again. They say that you have found your soulmate when you can already divide your life into two- the life before and life after meeting that person. That person has changed you. It might be over the top to say this but I think that someone is you. 

At present, I still think about you. When I am in the midst of my daily routine, there are times that you still cross in my mind. I can still associate you with a particular thing, occasion, and time. When I do remember you, I message you. When you reply to my messages, I am happy. There are days that you send me random messages through WhatsApp and Instagram which never fail to put me in a better mood. You still have that certain effect on me. 

I hope that you and Iwill have a second meeting. I could be in a relationship with someone and you might be committed to God by then. Nevertheless, I will look forward to the day that we will share  conversation and breakfast together again.

Feel free to leave a comment

What's up?

Prior to this post, the most recent blog entry was dated in year 2015. Since then, many changes (good and bad) have occurred. For the past years, I visited five countries and local destinations which opened my mind to the vast beautiful cultures and places of the world. Visiting those countries and places has shed a light on me that there was more to life beyond the confinement of my office desk. In year 2016, I shifted work carrying the hope that this job could have an impact for the greater good; hence, making good use of my profession.  Also, the balance in my savings account has been fluctuating. I still admittedly struggle with being frugal. At present, I am contemplating on something about my career and life per se. Some people would make a comment that I easily get bored. As for me, I try to live my life without apologies and regrets. I take one day at a time because the rest is still unwritten. 

Today's Music: When I See You Smile

Smile is the best accessory one could wear. It has a positive effect on the one giving it and the one who sees it. Research shows that smiling takes fewer muscles than frowning. Thus, one will look younger than the other who frowns. The effect for someone who sees someone smiling is it brightens up one day. Smiles are infectious.

We have seen numerous smiles. We could separate the real from the fake. Personally, there is a certain kind of smile that so powerful, true, and contagious. It could make one believe again in learning, living, and loving life. We will not pass our lifetime without witnessing that kind of smile. I think I have found that smile and the owner of it. I did not see in the most traditional way but I have been moved and inspired the first time I saw it. Surely, I will enjoy seeing that smile as long as I can. I hope the owner of that smile will never run out of reasons to smile even if the reasons do not include me.

Road to 27

I have this odd habit that whenever I am close to celebrate my birthday I get emotional. This attitude could be just hormonal imbalance but nonetheless, I let myself feel all the frustrations, disappointments, and all sentiments my heart is holding on. My close friends know this very much because they have listened and witnessed all predicaments I had during that point in my life. I usually vent those out by sharing a glass or even a bottle of liquor. But this year I am feeling a lot different. I still have those predicaments towards life. For me, they will never go away but thru the years I know how to handle them. I learn to accept that there are endeavors you may lose but there are some you win victoriously. I had failed dreams but failing did not stop to create and chase other dreams. I hate to admit this but this is called maturity. I am able to accept the realities of life.

As I came across this blogpost http://forevertwentysomethings.com/, I immediately agreed after reading this post. As she narrated her life, I can relate to the phases she went through. I also experienced the liberating life after college, the booze stage, and the quarter-life crisis. After I turned 25, I started to really consider my game plan on life. I started to put more importance on savings and investing. I opened separate savings account aside from my payroll, trusted some of my income in a mutual fund, engaged in the stock market applying peso cost averaging, and getting life insurance. Sometimes, I also think of where to settle or live eventually. Buying a house also have crossed my mind but I need to save and very financially disciplined if I will finally decide on this. 

Getting drunk on weekends has not been present on my to-do list. I miss the feeling of being in a crowd and having good fun but I can live doing it once in a very long while. My idea of relaxation would be visiting my parents back home, spending some nice conversations with friends, staying home alone reading,  planning where to travel, or learning new things.  At present, I am learning to speak Spanish. I hope to learn the basics of that language.

As I am nearing to celebrate my birthday next month, I consider myself to be an adult now. I am open to pop culture. I can still sing Dessert by Dawin which is my LSS as of the moment. Being kilig with love-teams still tickles me. I still know how to have fun because I have always been a fun person. I accept change because I am changing, evolving and maturing. Maybe I could say I have left the youth behind me. Life really comes in stages. Everything has its own time. Time has been my friend. Truly, I am over the quarter life crisis. #RoadTo27

Why Do I Love Weddings?

I had a work related training at Eden Nature Park and Resort last November 17-21, 2014. The activity was necessary and relevant to me because it was related to my new undertaking at work. However, I cannot deny that it was tiring because we are the host region. Nevertheless, I was satisfied by the whole duration.

Last night of the five-day training, there was a set-up at the function area of the resort's restaurant. Tomorrow would be a wedding. My eyes were having visions of hearts when I saw the decorations. I could not resist myself to take a photo of it. Yes, I admitted to myself I like to witness weddings and I enumerated below WHY DO I LOVE WEDDINGS.

Love Letter to My Future Mahal (4)

Ready to Become a Silver-Plus-One Adult

When I was about to celebrate my birthday last year, I wrote Looking Back Before I Turn Silver. Reading that post brought me back to that very time I was writing it. Along with the memories, emotions were rekindled as I recited each word. I was having so many hesitations, doubts and uncertainties as I was nearing silver because I took a leap of faith in terms of career and life. Maybe, I was experiencing "quarter life" crisis then ( self diagnosis just to justify what I was experiencing ☺). 

Then  I turned 25 years old. Being at mid-twenties was trying to become adult and young at the same time. I am an adult in terms of making decisions and handling finances I have been always rational and logical in making decisions but this time I am more cautious. When I decide now, I consider the implications in the future. Yes! I am visualizing my future. Everything must be in alignment with what I want to become in the future. In handling finances, I am paying my obligations to be debt free. I am not splurging and the good news is I am starting to invest. It may sound pretentious but I am doing it. As of now, it is not that much but I am starting and taking it seriously. However, I do not pressure myself to be stingy old man. I still know how to have and that keeps me young. 

This month is my birthday month again. I am going to be a year older. I won't be stagnant in the past and enough of looking back.  I just want to be more optimistic than I ever was. I like that my birthday is the penultimate day of the year because my wishes are also like my new year's resolution. What I want to condition my mind are the following listed below (well just a few of them worth sharing in public)

1. To be deft free
2. To start investing in stocks wherein I will be managing my own portfolio.
3. To be in a romantic relationship (HOPEFULLY)
4. To read daily the bible (enriching spiritual aspect)
5. To start earning my MBA (God permits)

I guess I can look forward for another year with so much positivity. I just have to surrender to Him for I know God will grant the dreams, ambitions and desires that I really need in this lifetime. So bring it on. I am ready to be a 26-year-old adult.

Miss Universe Question and Answer Portion

I admit that beauty pageants interest me especially Miss Universe. I like the parade of national costumes, flaunting of their gorgeous curves of the candidates in their swimwear and elegantly sashaying of the evening gowns. However, I always look forward to my favorite part which is the question and answer portion. I commend candidates how they are able to quickly generate answers to life's boggling questions and making an impact as they convey what they believe in.

I commented on some answers by beauty aspirants. I say she could have answered this way, stressed that point, and concluded more her message. Candidates may hate me if they're going to hear me. So to make this even, I take this self-imposed challenge. I will answer some memorable Miss Universe questions.

Miss Universe 1997: Brook Lee of USA
Question: If there would be no rules on your life in one day, and you could do something outrageous what would it be and why?
Her answer: I would eat everything. You don't understand. I will eat everything twice.
My answer: I would go the nearest pub and have a drink or two so that I could gain confidence to literally follow Dr. Seuss’ advice to dance like nobody’s watching.

Miss Universe 2002: Oxana Fedorova of Russia
Question: What makes you blush?
Her answer: When I say the wrong things.
My answer: When I sometimes fart in public places and someone actually heard it??????? Hahahaha ☺

Miss Universe 2012: Janine Tugonon of Philippines 
Question: Do you think speaking English should be pre-requisite? Why or why not?
Her answer: For me, being Miss Universe is not just about knowing how to speak a specific language, its being able to influence and inspire other people. So whatever language you have as long as your heart is deserve and you have a strong mind to show to.. To show to people, then you can be Miss Universe. Thank you.
My answer: I have always believed that the universal language is not the language spoken by lips but it is the language conveyed and understood by the heart. And that is the language of love. If you have a heart who knows how to love, then it is the best asset to become a Miss Universe. 

Miss Universe 2008: Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela
Question: Which have it easier in life: men or women?
Her answer: God made us to share and have differences, but big differences?  I don't think so. The difference is that men think, they think that the faster way to go to a point is to go straight, and women know that the faster way to go to a point is go the curves and fix every curls.
My answer: Life is made easier or harder not because of being a male or female but it is because of the person’s choice. The quality of life depends on the quality of our decisions. Don’t blame gender because in the beginning, we are created equal. What’s for Adam is for Eve and what’s for Eve is for Adam. 

Those are my answers without facing a big audience, wearing high heels and the pressure of representing my country. If all those and more are present, I might puke. Thank heavens I chose not to be a beauty queen. ☺

Feel free to leave a comment

Nothing But A Big Sigh

Just hold it right there because before I will formally start writing this post I am going to let out an unimaginable more you can picture big sigh.

Ok. It made me a bit better.

I am optimistic person. I prefer to look at the brighter side of life. When a friend, workmate, or anyone who is at one of those lowest moments of his/her life, most of the time, I let him/her realize that better days are coming. There are moments in our lives that happen for a reason. We may not understand why these are all happening but in time it will all make sense. To inject uplifting words may sound cliché but I prefer to utter and listen because it gives hope to hold on.

However, this positive vibe that I have is tested these days. And I have been letting out deep and big sighs just what I did earlier ago. Those sighs indicate that I have so many things bothering me and as of the moment I can’t resolve them. Not able to find resolution immediately adds uneasiness to my current state of mind. Also, I am running out of patience because I am racing with time. Unfortunately, I feel that I can’t keep up with time. The world turns on a steady speed. It is not affected if my own world seems to slow down. It would go on turning and it wouldn’t wait for me.

There are many suspended plans, unfulfilled goals and unattained targets. I cannot go on the next chapter of my life if I leave all these hanging. Time is one of major factors I have to consider in achieving them. It may not be the right time now for them to unravel but I am just going to sigh (again) and hold to a hope that it can’t rain forever. 

The Normal Heart: Movie About The Universal Language

The Normal Heart is a HBO movie. The trailer can particularly capture the attention of the LGBT community because it is about the struggle of gay men led by Ned Weeks played by Mark Ruffalo in the 1980s at the city of New York as they fight for awareness of a nameless disease which is known now as AIDS caused by HIV. The movie is directed by Ryan Murphy and based on the play written by Larry Kramer which is the right combination to keep a person in anticipation.

In the movie, Dr. Emma Brookner played by Julia Roberts called gay activist Ned Weeks to inform the gay community and eventually the government that there was a type of cancer that only infected gays and it was easily labelled as gay cancer. So Weeks started it in the best way he could do. He started with his friends. It was not an easy task because telling them this type of cancer, aside from it was still unconfirmed and without official research, this would entail prevention of the spreading of the disease by having to stop sex. The thought of abstinence among the gay men could not be embraced by them because they felt taking away from them to express their love was like snatching from them the only right they only held.

One of the steps taken by Weeks to inform the public about gay cancer was meeting Felix Turner immortalized by Matt Bomer who was a closeted gay and New York Times writer/ reporter. This wasn’t the first time they met each other but Weeks couldn’t remember their first rendezvous. It was only Turner who could remember it. The two were obviously attracted to each other. They fell in love, made plans together and eventually lived together. Unfortunately, throughout the movie Turner got infected by the disease but they stayed together. Turner’s body was getting worst but he was able to heal relationship of his partner’s relationship with his brother which was tainted at that time.

As one by one of their colleagues died including Turner, the New York gay community acknowledged and accepted that there must have been done about the illness. After having to fight tooth and nail, Weeks and the rest of the advocates were successful to catch the attention of the government to allot budget for the study and research on this gay cancer.

This masterpiece should not be only watched by every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender but all of us, regardless of gender orientation/ preference, must enjoy this flick because it talked about the universal language that every human has spoken and understood. And that language is love.

It conveyed brotherly kind of love which considers the welfare of others. Thru the initiative of Dr. Brookner and fast acceptance of Weeks to awaken the consciousness of others about the life threatening disease, they took the first steps to stop infecting others and spreading it.

The movie also shows the truth about how romantic love must be. Weeks and Turner stayed true to their promises of love which unconditional. They love each without inhibitions and qualms. They remained on each other arms up to last breath.

Lastly, the normal heart touched the subject about love for oneself. Loving oneself first is essential to be able to love others. One must be healed and got over of his/her personal scars, accepted all his/her imperfection and maximized his/her strengths and potentials.

If the world would only speak the universal language, there would be no misunderstanding that leads to doubt and confusion. If each person comprehends one language, no discrimination and prejudice would happen. And if love could just rule the world, then this world is a better place to live in because each possesses normal heart.

>>To know more about the movie, click here.

Feel free to leave a comment

Love Letter to My Future Mahal (3)

The Day My World Stood Still

Yes! You read it right. The title of this post is taken from a movie. It was not because the world has gone thru a disastrous time that made me to borrow the title. It was just a personal experience. That personal experience happened to be mine. My experience. My world.

Beginning of this year, almost all of us listed what we wanted to change, achieve and other matters we have called since time immemorial as New Year’s Resolution. Personally, I only kept a few important goals and resolutions. One of those resolutions I listed was TO BE IN A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP. For me to be always reminded and put me on “attack” mode, I set a deadline to make it happen. Without any consideration, March 31, 2014 was the deadline or 1st quarter of 2014.

If you feel the urgency, impossibility or simply find my resolution funny, please don’t judge me. Don’t laugh at me because I have had enough. Most of my friends, if not all, were bewildered with this and find it funny. They couldn’t help themselves to laugh.  My relationship status as single has never changed since birth. My heart has been a virgin for 25 years. I am just a poor boy waiting for someone to love me. 

In each day of the first quarter, I felt jittery as I faced it daily. Like most of us say that every day is another day, I held on to that promise but I couldn’t help myself to feel anxious about my goal. Time went by so fast that I couldn’t even cope up. I have this one particular person who I thought was the realization of my resolution but as of writing of this post, nothing is happening. I guess we are better off as friends. Nevertheless, first three months of this year went by so fast. It was so fast that it left me so way behind. 

March 31, 2014 passed and today is April 2, 2014. I am still single. I fail to realize my resolution.  I feel a little sad but I am laughing as I write this post. I am laughing because I have been crazy for three months.  What was I thinking for setting a deadline for my love life to prosper? LOL!

There are really some aspects that cannot be planned. One of those is the love aspect. Out of this crazy three-month experience, I have learned one lesson. True love transcends time. If I want to experience a love that lasts beyond lifetime, a love that’s forever, I should be patient. True love waits. It is more than enough to make my world stands still.

Feel free to leave a comment

Senior Citizens: "Please Still Include Us"

How does one feel when he/she is at his/her youth? Isn't he/she having the time of his/her life? Isn't he/she allowed to experience all that life has to offer? Isn't he/she beautiful? Isn't he/she entitled to be young, wild and free? Isn't he/she capable of doing everything?

I am on my youth now and I am enjoying every moment of it. In professional aspect, I have earned my bachelor’s degree and got the corresponding professional title for it. I have been working for over three years now. This is the moment in my life that I can navigate my life where I choose to go. Physically, I am strong and feel healthy. I seldom get sick except for having asthma attacks once in a while. I am very appreciative of myself. I feel I am at my most attractive and desirable stage. I am more comfortable and confident about myself than I was years younger ago. At this time also, I do my share as Filipino Citizen. Since I turned 18 years old and registered as voter, I have never missed to exercise my political suffrage. To say "youth is the spring time of life" may sound cliché but this is how I truly feel right now because I can do whatever I desire because I am capable and able.

When youth fades, what will happen to me? Will I still have the same level of enjoyment that I am experiencing now? I am much aware that I will not be as healthy as now when I'll be old. But will I be as enthusiastic about life by then? At present, I am opinionated and participative of what's happening in our politics. I always take a stand of what I believe. For that reason, I am driven to really exercise my right to vote. I am still hoping those elected officials are doing to protect the people especially less fortunate, vulnerable and weak. When I'll reach old age, I will be defenceless, vulnerable and weak. Will I be constitutionally protected by then?

RA 9994 - The Expanded Senior Citizens Act is one of the country's laws that tackles about senior citizens. As a young professional, this makes me happy because there are privileges I am going to enjoy when I'll reach old age. I was able to know this act because my present job has to do with senior citizens. Part of the job is that I have to deal face to face with our Lolos and Lolas. Every time I give to them one of the additional grants stipulated on this act I can't help but to know a portion of their life. It is good to know that our government gives importance to our elderly.

Moment of belonging.Group of senior citizens expecting for their stipend.

As I do my duties I realized that parents will always be parents. My heart melts with this. Out of that meager stipend they received they would still share it to their children and even to their grandchildren.

However, there were also painful real life situations I've encountered. To have many children is not an assurance that one of your sons/daughters will take care of you when you will be old and weak. I've witnessed some of the Lolos and Lolas who diligently went to the site to claim their grants alone. There was no one to assist them. When asked if why they were alone they would only say that all of his/her children were busy with their own families or already left and lived in another place. Some of them would tell that they didn't want to disturb the busy life of his/her children. 

What had taken me a back immensely was most of our senior citizens felt they were already disconnected to the society, to the family. From my point of view, to feel left out, neglected or alone crushes a person's sense of belonging. I have never wanted to feel alone. And to feel that way is the worst kind of ordeal I don't want to encounter. Loneliness is a dangerous killer. It can kill you slowly yet painfully.

When all of us reached the age of majority, we started to plan how our life to be in the future. We visualized that we would be employed in a stable and great company. For some of us, to own a business would be the greatest achievement. When we would already be financially independent, most of us would like to have a family on our own. A few of us would consider living a life of singleness whether in a holy order or not. In order to achieve that detailed plan or our life, we promised that we would do great in our studies believing that education is the key to a better future. And when we earned our diploma or were already capable to survive the challenging world, we took off to realize those plans.

We have referred the life after schooling as the real world and this real world, once we set foot on it, took the best of us. It forced us to be always to be preoccupied in our chosen career. Manic Monday, busy Tuesday, stressful Wednesday, hectic Thursday and deadline Friday were our labels for weekdays. When Saturday and Sunday come, we would pamper ourselves. We would be tired but we would never give up because of our eagerness to make our plans realized. 

There is nothing wrong having those personal plans in life. Also, there is nothing wrong realizing those personal plans. What we fail to include in our personal plans are our parents. While we are so focused with our life, our parents age, get old and weak. It is just right and our time to give back to the people who have given us all without asking any in return. It is accordingly right to fly back to the people who gave us wings to take greater heights in our life. We should remember when we were still not able to walk, they were our feet. When we were still not able to talk, they were our voice. When we were still not able to see the wonders of the world, they were our eyes. So who are we to neglect them when we are now able and capable? Who are we not to take care of them? Who are we to be selfish?

More than what the government can extend to our elderly, let start from us. Let’s be generous to the closest senior citizens in us by distance and by blood. Let’s include our parents.

Feel free to leave your comment

Recent Life Ventures: Four-Day Valentine’s Celebration

Valentine’s Day is a big deal for people who are in a relationship because today they are allowed to express their love in the most romantic ways possible. Chocolates, roses, love letters and fluffy stuff toys are some of the usual gifts. Love songs complete the whole mood of mushiness of this event. On this day, those who have partners go early out of office, work or class in order to spend dinner date or simply quality time with their special someone.

However, I as single and not in a relationship status, need not feel alone on this day. Instead of spending the event in just one day, I celebrated it in four days. Valentine’s Day doesn’t discredit any single to celebrate it joyfully. It could be celebrated having a dinner with friends, family or something out of the box.

My celebration started on February 13, 2014. I spent time with my Almighty Father. I prayed for the obvious reason. I prayed for love. I prayed for the love of my life to come into my life sooner than I expected.

Sta. Ana Parish Church

On February 14, 2014, I gave out my gifts to my 3 friends and when office work was done I partied at Sunsets Beach Park, Island Garden City of Samal. The event was called Back2Love. I went there with the Party Fun People. I enjoyed so much that I forgot to take my own photos of the event. I just missed a blog worthy event.

After that day, I went and danced the night away at the event called The Flight (The Flight Hit Turbulence) in The White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Camella North Point, Bajada, Davao City. 

On February 15, 2014, I spent again time with my Almighty Father. I attended the Sunday mass and I realized that there are so many aspects of life. So I prayed not only for the love aspect of my life but for the totality of myself.

Love Letter to My Future Mahal (2)

You can also read my Love Letter to My Future Mahal (1)

Love Letter to My Future Mahal (1)

Recent Life Venture: Sleepover with College Friends

“Nothing is comparable to a faithful friend, and no weight of silver or gold is worth more than the goodness of his fidelity.” -Sirach 6:15

January 10, 2013

Some people say that true friends are found during high school years. I was just so fortunate that I found many true friends also in college.  We had each other’s back as we aspired the coveted professional title. Though we didn’t graduate with same course, together, we enjoyed and hurdled college years. 

We baptized our group as THE SERFENTSY. We got that name from an incident I don’t want to share (I might be killed. LOL). Each letter represented our nicknames. Some may find it very “baduy” to have a group name but we are “baduy”. Laban ka? 

During college days, we spent many moments together. If we were not studying, you would see us talking and laughing, actually talking and laughing very loudly. That was our favourite recreation. We made laugh at each other. We were fond to ridicule ourselves and unfortunately, if someone was bad to us, you might be our topic.  The walls and kiosks at our university witnessed how fun people we were. 

Since we started to pursue our careers, we couldn’t afford to spend the same amount of time just like those times. To gather us all, we need to schedule our gathering. Last Friday night, I was so happy to be reunited with my four lovely fents (we refer each member as fent). Although we were just 5 out of 12, we made the best out of the time.

Just like the old times, we chatted like we didn’t have commitments after that night. We updated ourselves with our recent endeavors. Our work, family, future plans and of course lovelife were our topics. To make our conversation a little different that night, I encouraged everyone to say one negative trait, attitude or something bad to each one present that night and to admit what was, from our own mouth, our individual one bad trait/downfall.  We were hesitant at first because our eight years of friendship might end that night. Eventually, we plunged into the challenge because we knew we were matured adults now (assuming to be adults lang =D).

While devouring liempo, lechon manok, yummy imported chips and cookies, we had a good catching up. Yes! No alcoholic beverage included. Our conversation was very productive and juicy that night. Things were clarified. One fent cried (alam na). Advices were given and taken. And our friendship never ended that night (or Am I the only one assuming it? hahaha) 

P.S.

Enjoy viewing the photos for those who were absent that night. =P

Feel free to leave a comment

5 Life Lessons I Realized in 2013

 “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” 

-Soren Kierkegaard

2013 was a challenging year. As a nation, there were so many natural calamities hit the country. These calamities happened one after the other. Like past years, political scandals were rampant. Pork barrel, corruption, abuse of power, word war between political leaders were just few to mention. However, good news should not be ignored. Victories of our Filipina representatives and athletes to international pageants and competitions and stability of the economy were some of the notable highlights of last year.

On a personal note, my 2013 was a turning point of my life. I made big life changing decisions. I spend it weighing what mattered to me the most. My family life was stable. They always had my back. Spiritual aspect was still work-in-progress. As a Catholic, I tried to act the teachings. I attended few The Feast Sessions and my second Kerygma Conference by The Light of Jesus Family. Career wise, I was also in the safe zone. I was and still am thankful. Moreover, I had good relationship with my friends. I was able to express to them my pains and joys. Lastly, even though my lovelife aspect was a big zero last year, I was still full of love. I had constantly prepared myself to be the right partner for my future love. ☺

So what I learned last year can be summed up below.

1. Forgive yourself. As a young professional, there were so many things I wanted to accomplish last year but some I had not been successful in realizing. Instead of feeling disappointed and blaming myself, I had forgiven myself. I accepted the reality I couldn't do it all not because I was incapable but because there were something grander at hand for me in the future. 
2. It is okay to ask for help. I am young and able. First semester of last year, I tried to be self-sufficient in all aspects. I reached a point that I became so self-serving. I realized that I pretended to be all-knowing. As a result, I was not moving forward. Asking for help doesn't mean you are idiot. When I ask, it is an indication that I want to learn and be enlightened.
3. The quality of life depends on the quality of your decision. Last year, I made life changing decisions and I am living the results at the present. 90% of my decisions, I could say that was right for me. 10% was not that good but still I learned out from it. There are three persons you need to ask. Ask your trusted people (family, friends and mentors) whose opinions matter to you. Second, ask yourself. Do not just ask once but a million times until you are quite sure. Lastly, ask someone bigger and mightier than anybody. Ask God. Ask Him for enlightenment. 
4. Always establish a good relationship with others. It is important to properly deal with others regardless of what their background and where they came from. May be the kindness you are showing them is what they are badly needed. Especially at work, establish good working relationship. If ever you need something, it would easier to approach the responsible person. However, you can have many acquaintances but keep few friends.
5. Allow myself to fall in love. This last one is pertaining to my lovelife. I was single last year. I am happy and I just want to share that happiness this 2014. Last year, I had so many inhibitions and idealistic when it comes to committing in a relationship. The walls I've built were too high and strong. I was asking for perfection. However, in this world, nothing and no one is perfect. I should look and aspire not for the perfect one but for the right one for me. ♥

With all these learnings, I can now face and live 2014 better and wiser than last year.