Photos, Pics and Poses

left to right then downwards: on our way to church (Vero, Pam, me), with the bride - Gem, at the church, i luv my curls!!!, with the couple, new love team? (Vero en Flip), at the reception, our masks!, wacky pose.

left to right then down: tamed shot (me, bes, Vero, "ninang" Cecile, "ninong" Kiko, another pose with Edwin and Gem, posing at Greenbelt, we're waiting for a seat at Italiannis, balloons!!!, bes en me, "masked" photos, lakad-lakad...

Hope we could do this again . . . Sino kaya kasunod???

Another Friend's Wedding

It was wonderful! It's a long 15 years of friendship. And it's good to be with old friends again.

Gemma's wedding is one of the most memorable get together of the Tropa, though some members were not able to come. First, I am so happy for Gem marrying Edwin, who seems like a responsible, loving and kalog man. We weren't able to know him personally before their wedding for he works overseas. The wedding was simple (pero dami pakulo), organized, and enjoyable. I like the part where they held ballloons and released them to the sky. Sobrang saya, everyone is smiling and very happy for the couple.

Second, it was one of those times that the ECE group was almost complete. (Si Rej kasi di nakahabol, abay pa naman. Hehehe) Ang saya makipag-kodakan with them. Too bad, I haven't transfered the photos from my cam yet (tamad, hahaha). It was also fun throwing jokes at each other and talking nonstop about everything. Madami pa rin ang single! Hahaha.

Third, we hang out at Greenbelt after the reception. Pam treated us to Italiannis (sosi Bes ko!). Inspite of the rain and the strong wind that day, nothing can stop me from drinking my favorite fruit shake. Haha! This time I tried strawberry, grapes and pineapple. It's the best! (lahat yata ng combi the best for me eh, hehe). Elaine was so surprised when she saw me finished that huge glass of shake. (Mare, see me when I eat sushi. Hahaha)

Fourth, we saw Kuya's bahay! We were running out of time when we left the hotel so we were not able to pose at the PBB house. Then we planned of going back there after the reception to take photos in our pang-abay costumes. We even thought of wearing our masks to look like we are yet another group of house players. Hahaha! Jologs! But then again, we were frustrated because the road was closed for that night was an eviction night so may live program sa bahay ni Kuya. Nevertheless, happy na kami to see the PBB house. Hehehe, babaw!

The wedding was memorable because I liked my hairstyle! Vain me! It was curly at the ends, I like it so much. I even asked Bes to take photos of my hair before I slip on in my dress. I'll post the photos here . . . I don't know when. Hahaha.

And the most memorable is that we were like princesses in our gowns and tiaras. The giveaway is a glass jewelry box with a note on the top that says "Princess". Was it a coincidence? . . . I don't think so.

I am a beloved princess, my Father says so.

Just when I thought it was over…

A special day happened last April 10, it was my birthday. Family and friends remembered to greet and sent their special wishes and prayers for me. I wrote all the messages in my journal, first time to do that by the way. I just thought that it is nice to look back at that day in the future. Something I was not able to record, Clarisse’s messages since the first day of April until the 10th. Clarisse don’t worry, the sweet memories are recorded forever in my heart.

I really did not feel the day was so spectacular. Well for one, an extraordinary happened. Two of my colleagues whom I don’t have that deep relationship with greeted me – the first time they did it for the past many years we’ve been together in the company. It was memorable because one of those colleagues, I never spoke with for years. It was sort of a cold war between us. But that was just history now which we never talked about. One day, we just spoke to each other and accepted and adjusted and did what must be done a long time ago. I guess it’s about maturity. And I never expected that that day will come in such a way, I prayed about it for years. And I’m just thankful that God made His way for it to happen.

I understand if some people forgot to greet me. I never expected for gifts or any thing special. I did enjoy my day. I spent the morning with my Tatay (he accompanied me to LTO) and the afternoon was spent at home, with my family – the people I chose to share my special day with.

The next couple of days, there were still birthday messages coming in. I began to realize that God extended my birthday to few more days. Hahaha…

And there are people who were not contented to just greet me. It was really a surprise. It happened last April 13, three days after my birthday. Cha, Clarisse, Jenna and Mae prepared something special. This I was really touched. Even now when I think about it, there is something I feel in my heart that I cannot explain. I do not deserve to receive such gifts. These four ladies worked hard and gave me what they know will make me happy. It was so thoughtful of them. But more than the tangible gifts, I am most grateful for how they are living their lives. These women are trying their best to be like Jesus. When I look at them, I see God’s mighty hand in action. At their young age, they have decided to use their time and energy for things with eternal value. They strive to have a deeper relationship with their Lord and Savior.

Cha, Clarisse, Jenna and Mae: Thank you for the gift of friendship. Thank you for the trust. Thank you for your heavenly commitment. Thank you for being an inspiration and encouragement to me. Thank you for making this year’s April 10 a special one. Thank you for being beautiful in the sight of God. Let us all faithfully finish the race…

And just when I thought my birthday was over, God is making each day a special day for me. Love You, Dad!

Senti...

Di ito masyadong madrama, sana. Naisipan ko lang magsulat tungkol sa mga simpleng bagay na di akalaing nakakapagpa-senti...

Senti ... short for sentiments... or sa pang araw-araw na Tagalog, term sa mga feeling mag-emote.

Ang aming tinitirhan ngayon ay namana pa namin sa Ama ng aking Tatay. Di ko na alam kung gaano na ito katagal pero as far as I know, more than 75 years na itong nakatayo dahil almost 76 years old na si Tatay and bago pa sya ipinanganak ng kanyang Ina, nakatayo na ang bahay na ito. Mahigit sa sampung taon na rin ang nakakalilipas nang maipaayos, or ma-renovate, ang bahay na ito. Ngunit kahit sa haba na nang nagdaang mga taon, nami-miss ko pa rin yung lumang hitsura ng aming bahay. Maliwanag pa rin sa aking isipan ang bawat sulok (at alikabok, isama pa ang mga lumang gamit at kalat) nito. Paminsan-minsan ay naiisip ko pa rin ang mga masasaya (at malulungkot) na alaala sa aming lumang bahay. . . ang paglalaro ng taguan, ang panonood ng tv (take note, black and white), ang pagsasarado ng kahoy na bintana kapag malakas ang ulan na nilalagyan ng panangkal na bato sa gilid, ang pagpanhik-panaog sa kahoy na hagdanan, ang pag-igib ng tubig mula sa kusina papuntang banyo (nasa 1st floor ang deep well, nasa 2nd floor naman ang toilet) pero madalas ang mga kapatid kong lalaki ang nag-iigib dahil sadya akong mahina sa mga pisikal na gawain. Nakaka-miss...Naisip ko nga, kaya pala yung ibang tao kahit itaya pa nila ang buhay nila ay hindi aalis sa bahay ng kanilang nakalakhan. Yan ang nagagawa ng sentimental value.

Elementary at college. Para sa akin ito ang pinaka masayang panahon ng pag-aaral sa school. Contrary to popular belief, least like ko ang high school. (Kung meron man sa mga kaklase ko sa high school na makabasa nito, no offense meant classmates.) Sa elementarya kasi ay puro laro lang ang naaalala ko. Pagdating ng uwian ay naglalakad kami sabay-sabay ng aking mga kaklase at kaibigan. Kahit nga recess lang or lunch break, nakakapaglaro pa rin kami. Pag maramihan ang kalaro, moro-moro ang drama. Pag puro girls naman, sa loob lang ng room. Bahay-bahayan o kaya'y paper doll making o kaya'y pagalingan sa pag-drawing. Naalala ko pa nun, ang award sa pinakamagaling mag-drawing ay isang piraso ng maliit, pero cute, na stationery na hindi ko alam kung nasulatan ko man lang ba yun o tinapon nang Nanay ko sa katagalan sa taguan. Naglalaro din kami ng pikyaw or sha-tong. Isa sa mga paborito ko ay ang football. Pero syempre, pinaka-ayaw ko yung nasasalo ng taya ang bola once na sinipa ko ito... Sa college naman, napaka-independent ng buhay. Walang adviser, walang set of officers sa classroom. Bahala ka gumawa ng schedule mo basta dapat makuha mo ang lahat ng subjects for that semester. Kahit di ka mag-notes basta may classmate kang masipag magsulat (at dapat kaibiganin mo sya), ok na kasi pwede mo ipa-xerox ang notebook nya. Nakaka-miss ang pagtambay sa stairs ng North building o kaya sa oval seat sa tabi ng xerox machine sa first floor. Nakaka-miss ang paggawa ng reports using engineering lettering- the more pages the better, irregardless of the contents. Sakit lang sa kamay at magastos sa ink. Pero syempre ang pinaka nakaka-miss ay yung mga naging kaibigan, guro, at crushes. Mapalad ako sapagka't sa college madami akong naging tunay na kaibigan na kahit pa mahigit isang dekada na ang nakalilipas ay nagkikita-kita pa rin kami. At syempre sa bawat get-together, hindi maaaring di mapag-usapan ang tungkol sa school.

Isa pang nakaka-miss ay ang ka-simplehan ng buhay nung ako'y batang paslit pa. Wala pang cellphone nun, walang internet, walang PSP, walang MP3, walang masyadong sasakyan sa barrio namin, walang mga high-tech na laruan. Pero masaya kami, lalo na sa umaga at sa hapon kasi maglalaro kami ng aking mga kapatid at kaibigan. Bago pa nauso ang paintball, nakikipaglaro na ako ng barilan kahit ang baril ay pinutol lang na sanga ng ipil o kaya'y sanga ng bayabas basta korteng baril. Masaya rin magtaguan, at masarap umakyat ng puno at doon magtago. Taguang pong, taguang tsinelas, langit lupa, bahay-bahayan, lutu-lutuan, tinda-tindahanan, patintero, yagit na drama, manika-manikaan, at habulan. Yan ay ilan lamang sa mga nilaro at inenjoy ko noon. Masaya ring sumama sa Nanay sa araw ng palengke kasi madaming pwede ipabili at tulad ng karamihan ay madalas din akong umiyak sa gitna ng maraming tao dahil ayaw ako ibili ng Nanay ko ng isang bagay na nagustuhan ko dahil mahal ang presyo. At higit sa lahat, tahimik at payapa ang buhay noon. Sa konting pagkain at sapat na pera, basta buo ang pamilya, masaya. Minsan nga kahit kapos, basta mabait ang kapitbahay, tuloy ang buhay.

Simpleng bagay, simpleng alaala. Pero nakaka-miss talaga . . .

Silence

As we are about to end our short trip in Bohol, I decided to have my quiet time in front of the white-sand beach. At six o'clock in the morning, the sun is slowly dispersing its light on all the corners of the earth, the crescent moon quietly watching the children, parents and adults playing in the waters, and the air carrying the soft sound of combined music from the lushes water and the song from radio. My eyes were so fascinated with the scene that as I talk to God I can't take my stare off the happy and playful people, the quiet blue water, the soft-white sand on the shore, and the birds flying carelessly in the sky. Some people were walking along the seashore while telling stories to each other, some doing their stretching and some, like me, seated quietly on the dry part of the shore.

God knew what my heart was at that time. I kept on thinking about that couple's retreat, about my brothers and sisters deciding to attend to something else that Sunday rather than completing the seminar, about my parents who were left at home to take care of the kids, about my classmate whom I haven't shared the gospel with, about my siblings who do not have a personal relationship yet with Jesus, about my love life, about my dgroup, about so many things. Then I started praising God for all the beautiful things He laid before me on that quiet place. And as I count them, the music of Celine Dion's Because You Loved Me filled the air as if it was my voice thanking my heavenly Dad of all the things He gave me. For all those stands You stood for me . . . For all the truths that You made see . . . For all all the joy You brought to my life . . . For all the wrongs that You made right. . . You're the One who held me up and never let me fall . . . Because You loved me . . .

He brought me to John 2:1, there was a wedding! A grand celebration of two hearts uniting to each other. Again, I remembered my siblings and I asked God that may they have a reunion with Him that day. I was so engrossed with how they will experience God. And as I was thinking about them, God's voice suddenly filled the air . . ." I love you more than you'll ever know, I love you more than you'll ever see. More than My heart could ever show, I love you more than you'll ever know. . . " Tears started to fall on my cheeks. I don't care if people around me noticed it, but it was so moving when I heard those lines. "Take my hand, we'll walk a while, we'll talk a while . . ." As I think of that wedding for my married siblings, Jesus was leading me to my relationship with Him. As I pour out my thoughts and my heart in praying for them, my Daddy held my heart and walked with me. That is what matters most to Him . . . my faith, that He knows exactly what He will do with family, that His plan for my friends are for their good, that He is faithful to His promises for the dgroup, that He will send the best man for me, that if only I trust Him fully all things will fall into places. To ease my troubled heart, my heavenly Dad assured me that He loves me more than I'll ever know, more than I'll ever see. As someone will see me at that moment, he may think that I was very silent . . . but that silence is louder more than the sound of everything else around me.

Take My hand. We'll walk awhile, we'll talk awhile.

Feel My love, always there beside you.

Be the one, I know you'll tell Me everything

You are the one I cherish more than anything

I love you more than you'll ever know

I love you more than you'll ever see

More than My heart could ever show

I love you more than you'll ever know

Think of Me. And know that I'll believe in you.

There'll always be

This precious time together

With every tear

A love so strong, no words could ever say

A love to last forever

I love you more than you'll ever know

I love you more than you'll ever see

More than My heart could ever show

I love you more than you'll ever know

Take My hand. We'll walk awhile, we'll talk awhile.

Feel My love always there beside you

Be the one, I know you'll tell me everything

You are the one I cherish more than anything

I love you more than you'll ever know

I love you more than you'll ever see

More than My heart could ever show

I love you more than you'll ever know