BFF's 37th!

A friend like you doesn't come along very often. You make me laugh, and you're there for me when I cry. That's why your birthdays are so special. It's one more time to tell you how happy I am to have you for a friend.

May you enjoy a day of leisure, with hours of simple pleasures, on this day set aside, just for you! Have a Happy Birthday, Ruth!

Missed Connections

Much human misery and disease derives from self-centeredness, or the inability to transcend the confining limits of the ego world. Depression, anger, loneliness and other immunity-suppressing emotions are rooted in self-centeredness. To reduce any self-centeredness you may have in your life, try making the following connections. Each will help you get closer to achieving optimum health.

1)    Connect with nature and earth. Slow down and observe and appreciate nature through walks, gardening, picnics or outdoor activities.

2)    Connect with animals. People with pets tend to be healthier, both mentally and physically. The responsibility of owning a pet can put your priorities in focus. Plus, animals provide unconditional love, which is always rewarding.

3)    Connect with family. Instead of thinking of family as "immediate" and "extended," try to consider your family as just that: family. Near or far, family is what keeps us real.

4)    Connect with community. Interacting with those around you, and the area in which you reside, is a good way to create a sense of strength and comfort for yourself and others.

5)    Connect with a higher power. Regardless of what you perceive a higher power to be, sensing a connection with a power greater than yourself is a way to be part of something larger, and to become more connected with it.

Always remember: don't miss out on a single moment... it may never come again.

Remembering the Queen

In Remembrance on the First Anniversary of Reyna's Death

I think of my dearest Sister Taba, Reyna Villacarlos, so often, and although this day brings to mind the sorrow of her passing, it is also an opportunity to revisit some wonderful memories of Reyna. A friend so dear with a heart of gold.

Eternal Rest grant unto Reyna O Lord
Let Perpetual light shine upon her,
May her Soul Rest in Peace. Amen.

Making Choices in Life

If something is important enough to you, you will find a way. If it is not, you will find an excuse. Often, difficult circumstances can challenge you, but they cannot stop you. Only you can stop you.

Others can give encouragement, can teach you and help you or they can hold you back. Only you can decide what to do with it all and what to make out of what you've been handed.

There are some roads that lead to success and others that lead to despair. The path you are on depends entirely on the path you have chosen.

Whether you see your life filled with beauty and positive possibilities, or whether you see no hope at all - Your own perception will turn out to be a self fulfilling prophecy. So which one will You choose to see?

The world which you choose to experience and the world you choose to live in is precisely the world where you will be in.

The choice is yours.

To Be or Not to Be

Be understanding to your enemies.
Be loyal to your friends.

Be strong enough to face the world each day.
Be weak enough to know you cannot do everything alone.

Be generous to those who need your help.
Be frugal with that you need yourself.

Be wise enough to know that you do not know everything.
Be trusting enough to believe in miracles.

Be willing to share your joys.
Be willing to share the sorrows of others.

Be a leader when you see a path others have missed.
Be a follower when you are shrouded by the mists of uncertainty.

Be first to congratulate an opponent who succeeds.
Be last to criticize a colleague who fails.

Be sure where your next step will fall, so that you will not tumble.
Be sure of your final destination, in case you are going the wrong way.

Be loving to those who love you.
Be loving to those who do not love you; they may change.

Above all, be yourself.

Turning 36...

I can’t remember the last birthday that fell on a work/week day. For the past several years, I was not working as a full time employee. Based on previous experience, whenever my birthday fell on a work/weekday, it was always filled with too much work, stress and that “ME” time was impossible.

Last 2010, it fell on a Friday. I was overseas attending a convention that week but on the day itself, I was able to visit and relax at Hong Kong Disneyland. Last 2011, I spent most of day with my pillows while Mom prepared my fave dishes. I even had dinner with the family and was showered with lots of Hello Kitty presents. Not to mention, my birthday cake was divine.

This year, on my thirty-sixth birthday (I call it my 18^th!), I was supposed to be attending again a convention overseas but I opted not to join from the line-up. A week ahead before the 4^th, I already planned to have a catered lunch for my work colleagues, a visit at St. Andrew’s Church in the morning and possibly dinner with the family after work.

Whew! What a day to start! I was already up as early as 3am, waiting for all of my office-mates to arrive at NAIA T1, after a final SMS from my fellow Yehey Productions member that all of them are already present and waiting in line, I turned BBB into silent mode and slept for another hour before I prepare for the day. Lo and behold, as I unlocked BBB, 12 missed calls and 10 messages!

I was excited, hoping they were birthday greetings and callers as early as 530am. Hindi pala! So, my 18^th birthday started not so good. A case of “katangahan”, of course, not by me, led to the not so good mood of almost everyone at work. Whew!

Knowing that I will not dampen my day with bad vibes, go, go, go! Breakfast of champions with my Cheeblings and visited the nearest church that we pass before going to work. Paid my respects at St. Andrew’s Church and was happy for the blessings given and wished for more in the coming years.

At work after Church, it was a madhouse! I was surprised with the gifts, I got two at work. (Haven’t opened them yet!). I have a full load for the day since I was kept late still last Friday. Good thing; I know how to work fast, accurate yet fast. 

Before lunch break, Chloe arrived with Mom and Yaya Helen. I invited them to join the office lunch treat and took some good pictures. Since Yaya Helen was the one taking pictures, we completely forgot to take our picture.

Sir Bobby gave a wonderful prayer and wishes and blessed our food. Corrhin’s Catering never fails with their good food. Everyone was satisfied with the lunch buffet: Molo Soup, Japchae (Korean Pancit), Chicken Cordon Blue, Pork Pastel De Lengua, Fish Fillet and Black Gulaman with Lychee. Burp!

After lunch and clean up, it was back to work. Stressful work day for me, and yet I was still positive that I’ll be able to leave work at 5:01pm. My bad. It did not happen. I left the office at 7:10pm. Hungry and tired and wishing to just cuddle up with my pillows and sleep.

Then I remembered what Haydelin mentioned earlier during our Chikahan while working…

H: Ma’am, birthday na birthday mo, pinagtratrabaho kita.
R: Oo nga, 3am pa lang tapos bad news pa ang sumalubong sa umaga ko, tapos hindi man lang ako nabati ng HBD.
H: Pasencya na po, pero mabilis ka naman magtrabaho, matatapos mo din naman agad.
R: Okay lang. (Sabay biglang tumawa ng malakas na malakas parang Donya Buding).
H: Bakit po?
R: Naalala ko lang, weekday ang birthday ko at workday. Basta ang birthday ko, work/weekday, palaging loaded sa trabaho. Minsan, may party sa bahay, nanduon na lahat ng bisita, ako na lang ang wala.

I missed my birthday dinner. Even BFF Ruth was waiting for the venue. I asked for a rain check and we will have our usual birthday celebration on Friday. I have another birthday celebration on Wednesday dinner. I even have a movie date/lunch/dinner with the only Sistahud in Manila and hopefully a date with some of the beautiful and gal pals (Sem, Sheena, et.al.) before the end of the week.

Even though it was a very hectic day for me, I am still happy that a lot of friends remembered and greeted me by SMS, email and through FB. I even got a birthday card thru post. Thank you for the greetings and the gifts... receiving such made my stressful birthday/work day still a good one!

Thirty Tiny Decades + Six

Farewell, OTH!

It was my brother who first started watching the series. I only liked the show at first because of its dance routines until I became the fan. For the past 9 seasons, I followed OTH with admiration, laughter and tears. 

Come Wednesday night, I will bid farewell with the rest of its fan based. I will definitely wait for the surprises and hoping to hear the theme song once again as it closes for good. 

One Tree Hill  will surely have a bittersweet finale.