Kahapon lang ilang ale at bata ang dumaan sa harap ng bahay para lang magbenta ng pandesal... hirit ng nanay ko "Kanina pa yang mga yan." Natawa lang ako sabi ko kase at least sila kahit pandesal sa umaga ang binebenta, marangal naman ang buhay. Di tulad ng iba na kailangang gumamit ng iba para lang mabuhay.

Naisip ko lang, ilang tao kaya ang nagiisip na sana wala na lang maingay na nagtitinda sa may harap ng bahay nila... sumisigaw ng balot o kaya pandesal o di kaya basahan at kahit kahol ng aso di nila iniinda kumita lang para sa isang araw na kakainin. At bukas, isang araw pa ulit para mabuhay.

Ganito lang kase un eh... marinig mo silang sumigaw ng binebenta araw-araw o marinig mo ang sarili mong sumigaw ng magnanakaw?

Its all a matter of choice. And decision.

Bahala na kayo kung anong iisipin nyo... basta ako, hayaan ko na lang kumahol ang aso sa harap ng bahay namin. Hayaan ko na lang ang mga batang magtinda ng pandesal sa umaga. Hayaan ko na lang sila mamuhay ng marangal. Ayokong ako pa ang isa sa maging dahilan ng pagiisip nila ng masama.

There are a lot of things I'm missing in my life...

A lot of people...

Those that i'd rather keep in my memories...

Not because i dont want to do any of these things...

Neither cause i dont want to see them...

But due to reasons that id rather not think about...

Cause if i do...

I would wallow in self-pity.

Someday they would understand...

But that someday is not now...

Cause now...

I'll just keep missing them...

My prayers are with them.

They are and will never be forgotten...

Even if some would just remember...

That your existence is known...

When they need you.

I learned that love is not love if all you ever think about is being happy with the person... cause when the time comes that you cry, you would think that you were loving a monster.. and well, you were the other half of that monster anyway.

I learned that love is not love if all you ever think about is a perfect life with the person you care deeply... cause there's no such things as a perfect life.

I learned that love is not love if you wanted the other person to be somebody he is not.. cause love is acceptance, if he changes it maybe for the better or the other way around... change may be the only constant thing happening in this world... but nobody has the right to insist for change. Si Jose pwedeng maging si Joseph, Josefina, Josephine, Joe pero kahit anong gawin mo... si Jose pa rin yan may magbago man, sya pa rin yan. Pero ang katulad ni Jose ay di pdeng maging isang tulad ni Carlos. Kya wag pilitin.

I learned that you truly love a person if you love him/her not because of the happiness that he/she gives you, the gifts, the comfort, the support, the care, the love... but by the time that you have learned to understand him, to love his flaws, his imperfections and that this person needed you as well and not just you needing him.

It may be complex but love will always lead you home when suddenly feel lost... it may not be soon... but it will.

And yes, I'm now ok. :)

Weird that i have to write about this thing called... maturity. I guess some of us are thinking that they are mature cause of age -- my dear you aint gonna get that from age. You get that from experience and discipline -- a lot of it Im telling you. Reason why I decided to write and research a bit (just a bit) on the net is because I hear a lot of people say "she/he is so immature" "grow up!" "napakaimmature mo talaga!" only to find out that they themselves are immature... can relate ba? Hehehe. :) Some would have this thinking that just because you're good at work/school/projects etc you are mature. Ummm... I've never seen any dictionary defining maturity as a good worker.

IQ will never be equal to EQ. IQ -- you read, you learn. EQ -- all in experience, discipline then you learn.

I was reading thru a couple of the articles re maturity, you can also check the link: http://www.storybin.com/words/words132.shtml

WHAT IS MATURITY?

Maturity is the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. Maturity is patience. It is the willingness to pass up immediate pleasure in favor of the long-term gain. Maturity is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging set-backs. Maturity is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse. Maturity is humility. It is being big enough to say, "I was wrong." And, when right, the mature person need not experience the satisfaction of saying, "I told you so."

Maturity is the ability to make a decision and stand by it. The immature spend their lives exploring endless possibilities; then they do nothing.

Maturity means dependability, keeping one's word, coming through in a crisis. The immature are masters of the alibi. They are the confused and the disorganized. Their lives are a maze of broken promises, former friends, unfinished business, and good intentions that somehow never materialize.

Maturity is the art of living in peace with that which we cannot change, the courage to change that which should be changed -- and the wisdom to know the difference.

and from: http://www.hinduwebsite.com/selfdevt/maturity.asp

A mature person:

- is concerned with facts
- goes by his experience rather than beliefs
- relies upon his reason rather than his emotions
- relies mostly upon his thinking
- uses his resources wisely according to the realistic needs and demands of the situation
- weighs a situation carefully before drawing conclusions
- lives in the present
- is open-minded. willing to learn and explore possibilities, view points and alternatives
- knows his limitations
- is flexible
- is spontaneous
- has a healthy self-image and sense of self
- takes practical decisions based upon his perception of the situation
- knows how to deal with the anxiety, fear and worries.

(You can check other blogs/journal/photos at -- http://tisaintme.multiply.com) -- but sorry for contacts only.. :)

Isnt it a great contradiction that i used the title -- a friend... a dear new old friend? Old and new? Hehehe. Not really.. I guess i just can find the right words to describe it. :)

Well, I was going thru some of the blogs, reading and replying to some... (for boredom and routine work i decided to add reading blogs of other people aside from writing my own in my daily list of to-do). I chanced upon the blogs of a former schoolmate writing her thoughts about life and about her own life and i just cant help but admire the way that she was able to endure all those things that happened eversince we graduated from highschool.

She has been this very intimidating person way back and would really push things as long she knows that its right. There were people who misunderstood her. Those who condemned the things she did and possibly would be doing. Those who judged her and eventually vindicated her. Those who were just there but were never really there. I aint saying im the kind hearted samaritan reaching out. Im just the great human-observer with nothing much to say but all these.

This is not my bawi moments ok? We were never that close and she knows it hehe. But I respected her ideas and the things she wanted to happen. And i admire her for that. Im not saying everything was good/right/perfect with her decisions or whatever you might wanna say to describe her or the whole whatchamacallit. But somebody who went thru a lot and still standing... that's really worth the admiration.

She may have had tears along the way...but those will end. She may have had sadness on her face... but her little boy made it all disappear. She may still cry... eventually she will... but counting her blessings is more than the amount of tears she will cry.

Good job jazz! I'll see you around. :)

I was just going thru my usual routine of reading emails, blogs, looking thru pictures, checking my site, listing things to do for the day, replying to comments and other what nots... only to realize that most of the things that Ive been reading are about weddings.

I remember when i was still in my elem years (Knoller years, grade 1 - 4), i was the typical quiet student who just wants to hear the bell for recess, lunch and dismissal so that i can just go home and watch my fave cartoons on tv. I used to watch the Misfitz then, Batibot, Voltes V, Sesame Street and all that stuff. I still get to watch some of these though. Hehe. But whenever i watch these on tv, i just watch and enjoy period. Those were the times that boys are not even part of the list of playmates unless they are my "kababata." When i was in grade 5, we enjoyed having the school fair since that was the start of "getting-along-with-the-boys-from-the-school-a-few-steps-from-ours", yah, you read it right.. the students from ateneo. I was a late bloomer so dont ask me much... I only had one serious crush then. Hahaha. That was the start of E-heads music as well in which the school didnt approve due to backmasking-mania (you know how catholic schools are... too conservative)

High school was the time of real FUN. All the parties. Birthdays. Book reports and mini-thesis. Debate as the finals for Speech class. Soirees (unofficial). Inter-school get-together (official soiree). Year vs year for the intrams. Bribols were born. Early bloomers emerge to the fullest. Early pregnancies (hahaha good thing our batch was really... good -- good in using condoms to avoid early pregnancies. Hahaha). Yearly Fair affair. Dance. Prom. Grad Ball. Invites to a prom. Invites to a grad ball. Competition. Sports. Late night tambay. Start of Starbucks moment in Katipunan (sorry Seattles aint existing yet then). BK--the best place to have bottomless (now its refillable) drinks while studying for the quarterly exam. Rivermaya became famous for the 214 song. Bands were born. Friendship bridge. College grounds in MC for more tambay moments. Soccer years. Batch turn-over. Tears of joy cause you graduated. Tears. All that stuff. High School.

Now, it has been 7 years since i graduated highschool and 3 years since I graduated college. 3 years. And the things that we're talking, discussing and getting excited about are no longer the cute boy bands shouting at the top of their lungs neither the bribols who eventually became the sexiest girl in the batch having a bunch of boyfriends. Neither the atenean who sat near the exit to check out the girls of MC. Neither the lasallian waiting for the povedan. The claretian waiting for the fa-me ladies of holy family. The bosconian waiting for the assumptionista. But all about us getting into something different. It is no longer elementary years, highschool or college or a competition of any school at all. It is all about love and getting ready for something more than just loving. It is spending an entire new life... with someone who was just a somebody before.

Ironic isnt it? But i guess this is just one of those things that doesnt need any explanation or scientific findings... just to let it be... and just to enjoy what life has instore for us... :)

a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart that weakens the brain, causes the eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise & lips to pucker "

- inday, gumagawa ng blog nya sa friendster

********************************************

P500 - Globe plan subscription
P1800 - Glutathione tablet
P600 - olay total effects
P1500 - crocs flip flops
P2000 - for mama "

- binabudget ni inday ang sweldo nya!

*******************************************

Amo: Inday anong gamit mo sa katawan, ang kinis mo kc e?  cguro gumagamit ka ng papaya...
O baka nman kalamansi?

Inday: NO! ONLY BELO TOUCHES MY SKIN..... WHO TOUCHES YOURS?

Lufeeeet ni Inday!

*******************************************

Amo: "Inday, ba't nagkalat ang basura sa likod ng bahay?"

Inday: "a change in the weather pattern might have occurred wrecking havoc to the surroundings.the way the debris are scattered indicates that the gust of wind was going northeast causing damage to the path it was heading for."

Amo: -- nag nose bleed! --

*******************************************

" higher stock index and the low flow of investment triggered the inflation of prices, thus, the purchasing power of peso is weak.."

- explanation ni inday nung tinanong ng amo kung bakit yun lang ang sukli niya sa pinamili

*******************************************

" Mush as i want to indulge in the proliferation of such indecent & malicious information, i want to lift the stigma & alleviate society's perception of our profession.."

- inday, tumangging makipagtsismisan sa katulong sa kabilang bahay

*******************************************

" it's absurd! it was never a fact that he will inflict a fight. I can only imagine how you handle schizophrenic kids on this educational institution. Revise your policies because it sucks!

- inday kasama c junior sa principal's office............tulala ang principal!

*******************************************

"Stop your raucous behavior. It is bound to result in property damages and if that happens there will be coresponding punishment to be inflicted upon you!"

- si inday pinagbawalan c junior na wag malikot......TUTYAL!

*******************************************

"I stay awake in the coldness of the darkened sky contemplating why, for some reasons, has my emptiness made itself manifests, extending to that niche where I was given life and growth, that because of austerity I was made separated from..." 

- Inday... hindi makatulog dahil nahohomesick 

*******************************************

"I am solitary. I find it hard to succumb into slumber, though the downpour of rain should've made it easy. This exuberant emotional glue I have for you, cannot be simply washed way. The multiplicity of what I feel for you is inevitable. This isn't platonic. It's real, true romance." 

- Inday, nageemote sa may bintana, habang iniisip si Dodong, ang boyfriend niya 

*******************************************

"The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocation. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!" 

- ganito nakipagbreak si Inday kay Dodong (driver ng kapitbahay) 

*******************************************

Amo: Inday bumili ka nga ng mga isda.. o nga pla inglesira ka... would you please purchase many fishes for our this week's meals? 

Inday: Judging from your statement I believe you meant a variety of fish. The term "fishes", although rarely and even erroneously used, connotes a plethora or an array of different kinds of the aforementioned gilled creatures. But the more pressing questions before I traveresed the road to the wet market would be: What certain type of fish? Fillet or not? Frozen or just right smack the day's catch? (Pauses) Aaah... by manner of careful extrapolation, given the meager budget in this houshold's quasi-peasant middle class taste, I assume then I will source the staple "galewng-gowng". Am I correct? 

Amo: Leche! 

Inday: You meant the freshwater milkfish? Then the "ba-ngooz" is it! 

*******************************************
 
"La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su compradora avido diario por favor? 

- si Inday tumatawad sa merkado ng isinama siya ng amo sa España

*******************************************

*Drunken shrimp and blue lobster meat with caviar serve with milagrosa rice (red variety) and apricot sauce 
*Vegetables in balsamic vinegar splashed with extra virgin olive olive 

*Lychee and peach salad with sour cream cheese topped with lemon zests 

- baon ni Junior sa daycare na inihanda ni Inday 

*******************************************

"Bloody hell!!! What the f*ck did just landed on my cutie top? I mean I've spent all day just to make myself look fabulous. I think I'll have this eewy thing removed in a whip wham of time!" 

- reaction ni Inday nung natalsikan sya ng mantika habang nagluluto ng tilapia 

*******************************************

"Ipomea aquatica has become the constant ingredient to this Filipino delicacy which is very helpful in the digestion during the peristaltic process of the food we intake. Due to the continuous rains and floods, the harvest of the said vegetable has lessen the production in the market."

- banat ni Inday kung bakit walang "kangkong" sa nilutong sinigang 

*******************************************
"Heavy fire that exerted by the stimulus affect the best conductor of heat which is the steel, causing the "oriza sativa" which is the scientific name of rice to change its state of color, smell as well as the taste." 

- sagot ni Inday nang tanungin siya ng amo kung bakit nasunog ang sinaing 

*******************************************

"Off you go! Under no circumstance this house would relent to such unabashed display of vagrant destitution!" 

- si Inday, pinapaalis ang makulit na pulubi sa gate... (Taray talaga ni Inday!) 

*******************************************

"Allergens triggered the immune response. Eosinophilic migration occurs to the reaction site and release of chemotactic and anaphylotoxin including histamine and ostaglandins. These substance results to increase circulation to the site promoting redness." 

- sagot ni inday nun tanungin ni sir kung bakit may rashes si Junior 

*******************************************

Amo: Day! Bakit may bukol si Junior?! 

Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy's cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ. 

Amo: (Di nakareact) 

*******************************************

"Dear Mom, 

Had it not been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moment ago. Junior has become a little monster to me. Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn't enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabily run academe. Oh such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never lot being a governess can be such a strenuous employ. 

Your daughter,

Inday" 

*******************************************

"Dear Inday, 

Walanghiya ka! Magpadala ka ng pera! Nasa ospital nanay mo, dumugo ang ilong kababasa ng pesteng sulat mo! 

Tatay" 

*******************************************

Amo: Bakit tuwing pag-uwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng TV??!!!

Inday: Because I don't want you to see me doing absolutely nothing! 

*******************************************

Amo: Inday di ba nanood ka ng The Buzz kahapon? Bkit daw umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA7? 

Inday: Sometimes people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they'll stay. Leaving can be a tough act and it's harder when people can't understand you for doing so. 

*******************************************

"Physical stress and excessive work may result to serious damage to one's body. It is therefore essential that once in a while we take a break from our usual routine to replenish the lost energy we once had." 

- sabi ni Inday sa amo noong humingi siya ng dayoff

*******************************************

Misis: Inday, bakit mo binenta yung sirang silya? 

Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using projections for 5 years and a pre-tax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on Property, Plant, and Equipment, and PAS36 on Impairment of Assets! 

Misis: ADIK ka talaga Inday! 

*******************************************

" BAKIT LAHAT N LANG NG CINASABI KO E PINAGKAKALAT NYO?... ANO PALAGAY NYO SA AKIN.... ARTESTA?!?!

- INDAY

- - lagot kayo... Nagreklamo na c Inday...Kulit nyo kc eh! hehehe

*******************************************

" Im not ######ly good looking but have a sense of humor. Im not breathtakingly intelligent but im relatively witty. Im not insanely rich but im fairly kind. Im just a simple guy with a crazy elusive ambition of meeting your acquaintance....so.....HI!"

- DODONG, nakikipag textmate kay inday

__._,_.___

__,_._,___

Forwarded message from one of my friends (stress-reliever). :)

"ang batayan ng pagiging mahusay na kasambahay ay hindi masusukat sa kakayahan sa mahusay na pakikipagtalastasan gamit ang pananalitang banyaga. Sa halip, ito'y masusuri sa kakayahang gamapanan ang pangkalahatang gawain at pagsisilbi sa taong pinaglilingkuran.

Wala sa salita kundi sa gawa!"

--Manang-- ang bagong katunggali ni Inday!

False alarm!

I was shocked when people all over the place feasted on the news that I am dead! Some people fabricated such thing to stop my growing popularity.

Maybe a creature envious of my intellect did this. But let me clear things y'all, I am alive and I just got back to my senses... this event really rattled me...

-inday-....

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

there are tulips in the street, there are tulips in the park, but nothing compares to our two lips meeting in the dark.

-pamatay lines ni Dodong kay Inday-

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

I'm not extremely good looking but I have a sense of humor. I'm not breathtakingly intelligent but am relatively witty. Am not insanely rich but am fairly kind. Am just a simple guy w/ a crazy elusive ambition of meeting your acquiantance.  so hi..

-DODONG- nakikipag textmate kay Inday...

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

I was shot by a 9mm bullet at the head damaging my entire stupid brain & my fucking skull so that I will die & stop speaking english preventing people from nosebleeding!

-in loving memory of Inday-

(ayan patay na sya! sa wakas tapos na ang kahibangan!)

 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Ederlyn: Ikaw ba ang Inday na sinasabi nila? at sino ka para itulad sa akin ang iyomg kasikatan ngayong akoy nananahimik na?

wala kang karapatan pra pantayan ako. Hayop ka!

Inday: My apologies, but the fact is, your glory days are over my friend. I find it somewhat ridiculous, your persistence on persuading people to come to your party that never existed is beginning to get into my nerves! damn you Ederlyn! damn you! no one undermines Inday's intellect.. bitch...**evil laugh**

 - nag-aaway na sila Ederlyn at Inday..;-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I stay awake in the coldness of the darkened sky contemplating why, for some reasons, has my emptiness made itself manifests, extending to that niche where I was given life and growth, that because of austerity I was made separated from…”

-          Inday… hindi makatulog dahil nahohomesick



“I am solitary. I find it hard to succumb into slumber, though the downpour of rain should’ve made it easy. This exuberant emotional glue I have for you, cannot be simply washed away. The multiplicity of what I feel for you is inevitable. This isn’t platonic. It’s real, true romance.”

-          Inday, nageemote sa may bintana, habang iniisip si Dodong, ang boyfriend niya



“The statute restricts me to love you but you have the provocation. The way you smile is the proximate cause why I love you. We have some rules to think of. We have no vested rights to love each other because the upper household dismissed my petition!”

-          ganito nakipagbreak si Inday kay Dodong (driver ng kapitbahay)


- - - -

Amo: Inday bumili ka nga ng mga isda.. o nga pla inglesira ka… would you please purchase many fishes for our this week’s meals?

Inday: Judging from your statement I believe you meant a variety of fish. The term “fishes”, although rarely and even erroneously used, connotes a plethora or an array of different kinds of the aforementioned gilled creatures. But the more pressing questions before I traveresed the road to the wet market would be: What certain type of fish? Fillet or not? Frozen or just right smack the day’s catch? (Pauses) Aaah… by manner of careful extrapolation, given the meager budget in this houshold’s quasi-peasant middle class taste, I assume then I will source the staple “galewng-gowng”. Am I correct?

Amo: Leche!

Inday: You meant the freshwater milkfish? Then the “ba-ngooz” is it!
- - - -



“La vida no es una broma actualmente. El dinero es tan duro de pasar. Puede usted bajar el precio parci mi? Soy ya su compradora avido diario por favor?

-          si Inday tumatawad sa merkado ng isinama siya ng amo sa España



*Drunken shrimp and blue lobster meat with caviar serve with milagrosa rice (red avriety) and apricot sauce
*Vegetables in balsamic vinegar splashed with extra virgin olive olive
*Lychee and peach salad with sour cream cheese topped with lemon zests

-          baon ni Junior sa daycare na inihanda ni Inday



“Bloody hell!!! What the f*ck did just landed on my cutie top? I mean I’ve spent all day just to make myself look fabulous. I think I’ll have this eewy thing removed in a whip wham of time!”

-          reaction ni Inday nung natalsikan sya ng mantika habang nagluluto ng tilapia



“Ipomea aquatica has become the constant ingredient to this Filipino delicacy which is very helpful in the digestion during the peristaltic process of the food we intake. Due to the continuous rains and floods, the harvest of the said vegetable has lessen the production in the market.”

-          banat ni Inday kung bakit walang “kangkong” sa nilutong sinigang

 

“Heavy fire that exerted by the stimulus affect the best conductor of heat which is the steel, causing the “oriza sativa” which is the scientific name of rice to change its state of color, smell as well as the taste.”

-          sagot ni Inday nang tanungin siya ng amo kung bakit nasunog ang sinaing

 
“Off you go! Under no circumstance this house would relent to such unabashed display of vagrant destitution!”

-          si Inday, pinapaalis ang makulit na pulubi sa gate… (Taray talaga ni Inday!)





“Allergens triggered the immune response. Eosinophilic migration occurs to the reaction site and release of chemotactic and anaphylotoxin including histamine and prostaglandins. These substances result to increase circulation to the site promoting redness.”

-          sagot ni inday nun tanungin ni sir kung bakit may rashes si Junior


- - - -

Amo: Day! Bakit may bukol si Junior?!

Inday: Compromising safety with useless aesthetics, the not-so-well engineered architectural design of our kitchen lavatory affected the boy’s cranium with a slight boil at the left temple near the auditory organ.

Amo: (Di nakareact)


- - - -


“Dear Mom,

Had it not been for the smelling salt, I must have collapsed moments ago. Junior has become a little monster to me. Remember the head accident he had? As if it wasn’t enough, he was summoned by the principal of his shabily run academe. Oh such an erudite bunch of baboons! I never thought being a governess can be such a strenuous employ.

Your daughter,
Inday”


“Dear Inday,

Walanghiya ka! Magpadala ka ng pera! Nasa ospital nanay mo, dumugo ang ilong kababasa ng pesteng sulat mo!

Tatay”


- - - -
 

Mister: Bakit tuwing pag-uwi ko, nadadatnan kitang nanunuod ng TV??!!!

Inday: Because I don’t want you to see me doing absolutely nothing!

- - - -

Amo: Inday di ba nanood ka ng The Buzz kahapon? Bkit daw umalis si Angel Locsin sa GMA7?

Inday: Sometimes people choose to leave not because of selfish reasons but because they just know that things will get worse if they’ll stay. Leaving can be a tough act and it’s harder when people can’t understand you for doing so.

- - - -
 

“Physical stress and excessive work may result to serious damage to one’s body. It is therefore essential that once in a while we take a break from our usual routine to replenish the lost energy we once had.”

-          sabi ni Inday sa amo noong humingi siya ng dayoff
- - - -

Misis: Inday, bakit mo binenta yung sirang silya?

Inday: I have computed the chair's fair value less cost to sell, and the value in use using projections for 5 years and a pre-tax discount rate. Accordingly, the value in use is lower, so I decided to sell the chair. This in accordance with PAS18 on Revenue, PAS16 on Property, Plant, and Equipment, and PAS36 on Impairment of Assets!

Misis: ADIK ka talaga Inday!

Last Saturday we went to Famy for a new adventure -- we meaning Vic Cayari, Jaime Ronquillo, Raymond Cunanan, my bhey and I. It was a long planned trek going to Buruwisan falls, it was planned way back June or July I think. We left Makati before 2 in the afternoon, originally scheduled at 1pm but we have to wait for Moymoy to arrive (imagine how sleepy i was that day. hehehe). We then headed to the bus station in Buendia riding the bus going to Sta.Cruz. In Sta. Cruz, we rode a jeep going to Siniloan (aint sure if i remember the name of the place right) then tricycle heading to the terminal -- last stop, Buruwisan.

Once we got there, everything changed because at exactly 7:00PM we have to start trekking to be able to reach the falls before midnight. NIGHT TREK!In the middle of nowhere. Hehehe. First stop was at the house of Manang where we have to inform them that we will be trekking and at the same time pay 20pesos for-i-dont-know-what, well she mentioned the reason for paying, i just wasnt paying attention. 7:30PM we started the adventure (we left manang's house at 7:30PM).

Seriously, that night trek was my first NIGHT TREK... and i guess i dont wanna do that again -- it was difficult walking, trekking, going up in the middle of the night where the only light you see is the light from the flashlights that were fading and batteries are non-existent in our list of necessary things to bring. Hahaha. This was the point that you really have to watch every step because every wrong step, brings you closer to danger -- can you imagine, on your left, trees/roots are there for you to hold on incase you slip but on your right, theres a cliff -- talk about having one life in a million years!!!

We took pictures but the people responsible for those pictures havent sent me the pix yet neither uploaded it. Grrrr...

To make the long story short.. we reached Buruwisan Falls by 12:30AM -- it was sooooo tiring. Eventually the guys started to set-up the tent and cook the food for the night, had a short drinking session as well since Jaime brought 2 bottles of Generoso brandy. Hehehe. It rained pretty bad that night, good thing the tents were still in place and by 4am, everyone was already sleeping. Speaking of food, we had mixed veggies (brought it from Rob Pioneer), lechon paksiw (cooked by my bhey -- infairness bhey it was good, hehehe), barbecue (from Vic), rice, tokwa with Jaime's hit-sauce (ikaw ng manginginom hehehe), tuna with onion and garlic (again from the manginginom of the group, peace!), apple juice and generoso brandy for the drinks. hehehe.

Sunday, was the start of the trek going to the falls itself -- Buruwisan and then to Lanzones. It was fun, honestly. We're following a trail but its not the usual trail that I know or that Ive tried... this means a lot of climbing -- holding to ROOTS OF TREES to go up and reach the other side, stepping on roots to be able to get to the other side, walking over rocks just to reach the other side, walk thru the water to get to the other side, yah you read it right -- to get to other side we have to do all these. Scary? Not really. I enjoyed it. Everybody did. :)

We just werent able to go to Batya-batya as they call it due to fatigue. They call it batya-batya cause you have to walk thru water reaching up to your chest to get to the other falls.

It was tiring but worth it. We'll just post the pictures -- once i got all the pictures. Hehehe.

Last week, I pulled out one of my agents for coaching since his score was really quite low. He told me that he really wasnt himself that week due to the accident that happened to him -- he was in his motorcycle and somebody just tried to cross the road, and what I mean by road is EDSA. He got injured -- right arm and he was the one who paid for the "victim's" hospital bills because the police-relative of the so-called "victim" told him to do so. That made me think about the whole situation -- I eventually told him that if i was in his position, i wouldnt pay for it -- i can but they cannot oblige me to do so or make me feel that its my responsibility. I mean, you -- the pedestrian crossing EDSA where all the PUVs are passing -- would just cross right in the middle and then blame the man-behind-the-steering-wheel for your accident. Talk about stupidity and morality at the same time.

That made me think though -- if you were in the middle of this whole situation -- who will you side with? Who will you save if you have the chance to get any of the two -- will it be the man about to cross a road for vehicles or the man-behind-the-steering-wheel about to hit the man crossing? -- you decide.

This was sent to me thru text by my besty:

1. God give what's RIGHT and not what's left.

2. A lot of kneeling will keep us in good standing.

3. He who kneels before God can stand before anyone

4. When praying, dont give God instructions, just report for duty.

5. We dont change God's message, HIS message should change us.

Got this from a friend.. :)

The Forbes Asia 's 40 Richest Filipinos:

1. Henry Sy - $4.0 billion - He owns SM group with 27 shopping malls in the  Philippines and several others in  China . He also owns Banco de Oro Universal Bank and has substantial shares in China Banking Corp. and Equitable PCI Bank. He also owns Highlands Prime Holdings, a high-end property developer.

2. Lucio Tan - $2.3 billion - He owns Philippine Airlines, the country's flag carrier. His business interests include tobacco (Fortune Tobacco Corp.), beer and liquor (Asia Brewery Inc. and Tanduay Holdings Inc.), and banking (Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corp).

3. Jaime Zobel de Ayala - $2.0 billion - He is the patriarch of Ayala Corp., the Philippines ' oldest conglomerate, whose business interests include real estate and hotels (Ayala Land Inc.), financial services (Bank of the Philippine Islands), telecommunications (Globe Telecom Inc.), water infrastructure (Manila Water Co. Inc.), electronics and information technology (Integrated Microelectronics Inc. and Azalea Technology Investments Inc.) and automotive (Honda Cars Makati Inc. and Isuzu Automotive Dealership Inc.)

4. Eduardo Cojuangco - $840 million - He is the chairman of San Miguel Corporation, the largest food and Beverage Corporation in the Philippines

5. George Ty - $830 million - He founded Metropolitan Bank and Trust currently the largest bank in terms of Assets and Capital in the Philippines . He also has stakes in the Bank of the Philippine Islands and Philippine Savings Bank, a Metro bank subsidiary.

6. John Gokongwei - $700 million - He is the chairman of JG Summit holdings, whose subsidiaries include Cebu Pacific Air, Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., First Private Power Corp., JG Summit, Petrochemical Corp., Litton Mills Inc., Robinsons Land Corp., Robinsons Savings Bank, Sun Cellular, United Industrial Corp. and URC .

7. Tony Tan Caktiong - $575 million - He is the founder and current, Chairman and CEO of Philippine fast food chain Jollibee, ChowKing and Delifrance.

8. Andrew Tan - $480 million - He is the Mega world president.

9. Emilio Yap - $350 million - He is the owner of Manila Hotel, newspaper owner, Manila Bulletin, a national newspaper.

10. Oscar Lopez - $315 million - He is the chairman and CEO of Benpres Holdings Corp., the holding company of the Lopez group-  Meralco, ABS -CBN, Maynilad Water.

11. Enrique Razon Jr. - $285 million - He is the chairman and chief executive officer, International Container Terminal Services Inc; publishing magnate.

12. Andrew Gotianun - $280 million - He is the chairman and CEO of East west Bank .

13. Enrique Aboitiz - $275 million - He is the WG&A president and chief executive officer.

14. Alfonso Yuchengco - $225 million - He is the chairman of Yuchengco Group of Companies:

Great Pacific Life Assurance Corporation (GREPALIFE)

Lifetime Plans, Inc.

Bankard, Inc.

Pan Malayan Management and Investment Corporation

Pan Malayan Travel and Tours

Pan Pacific Computer Center, Inc.

YGC Corporate Services, Inc.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)

RCBC Savings Bank

House of Investments

Malayan Insurance Company, Inc.

The First Nationwide Assurance Corporation

Malayan Reinsurance Corporation

Malayan Zurich Insurance Company, Inc.

Tokio Marine Malayan Insurance Co. Inc.

EEI Corporation

Nippon Life  Philippines

AY Foundation

Honda Cars  Quezon City

Honda Cars  Manila

Mapua Institute of Technology

Manila Memorial Park

First Malayan Leasing and Finance Corp.

15. Menardo Jimenez - $210 million - He is the head for wireless consumer division of Smart Communications.

16. Gilberto Duavit Jr. - $210 million - He is the Executive Vice President and COO of GMA 7.

17. Ramon Del Rosario - $205 million - He is the president of Philippine Investment Management (PHINMA), Inc.

18. Felipe Gozon - $180 million - He is the president of GMA-7.

19. Beatrice Campos - $160 million - She is the widow of United Laboratories founder Jose Campos.

20. Luis J. L. Virata - $150 million - He is the UEM-MARA Philippines Corporation president.

21. David M. Consunji - $145 million - He is the founder of DM Consunji Construction .

22. Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. - $140 million - He is the chairman of Rustan's Commercial Corporation.

23. Betty Ang - $115 million - President of Monde Nissin, maker of instant noodles, biscuits and snack food.

24. Manuel Villar - $110 million - Senate President of the Philippines and a real estate businessman who developed Camella, Palmera, Crown Asia , Serendra, etc.

25. Mariano Tan - $100 million -

26. Rolando and Rosalinda Hortaleza - $90 million – Splash Corporation(HBC/Hortaleza)

27. Oscar Hilado - $85 million - He is the chairman of the Phinma group,the  Philippines ' biggest cement maker.

28. Vivian Que Azcona - $80 million - She is the president of Mercury Drug with over 500 outlets.

29. Manuel Zamora - $75 million - PHILEX Mining Corporation

30. Magdaleno Albarracin - $73 million - Vice Chairman of Phinma Group

31. Jesus Tambunting - $70 million - He is the Chairman & CEO of Planters Development Bank (PDB).

32. Frederick Dy - $65 million - He is the Security Bank president.

33. Tomas Alcantara - $60 million - He is a former Trade Secretary

34. Lourdes Montinola - $50 million - FEU Chairperson.

35. Salvador Zamorra - $45 million - He is the Hinatuan Mining president.

36. Mac & Daisy Potente - $45 million - Successful entrepreneur, own the town of  Salinas in Cavite .

37 . Antonio Roxas - $40 million - Director and President of Roxas & Company Inc.; Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Roxas Holdings Inc. Executive Chairman of Central Azucarera Don Pedro (CADP) Group Corp.; Director & President of Roxas & Company Inc., Fundacion Santiago; Chairman of Philippine Sugar Millers Association, Club Punta Fuego

 Inc., Fuego Land Corp., Jade Orient Sugar Corp.; Director of Batangas Assets Corp., Banco De Oro Private Bank, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT),Hawaiian Philippine Sugar Co.; Trustee of Philippine Business for the Environment, Philippine Business for Social Progress; President of Roxas - Gargollo Foundation.

37. Wilfred Steven Uytengsu Sr. - $38 million -Alaska Milk Corporation

38. Philip T. Ang - $35 million -168 Mall partner.

39. Marixi Prieto - $30 million - Philippine Daily Inquirer chairman Inq.7

40. Manuel Pangilinan - $25 million - Chief Executive First Pacific Holdings HK,PLDT chairman, Smart, Makati Med

No matter what, we as Filipinos should always be aware of things happening in the country... not that we simply do not care or that we are not working with the government or not even part of the political chaos... But it is what we are supposed to do. Be aware.

Di ba nakakahiya nmn na lagi tayong sumasabat sa usapang politikal gayong marami sa nakikialam eh wala talagang alam? The irony of all irony. Rude but true.

You need not be part of the rebellious minority just to be presumed knowledgeable of the current situation... being aware is enough and whatever you decide to do next... is your choice.

One of the things that I learned about life is sacrifice...

It's because when you dont sacrifice something in your life you wont get the price of that sacrifice. Im saying price in a human sense... not the way that God sacrificed His son for us to live.

I was actually looking at all the things that Ive been doing and it seems that im already sacrificing much of me for my work. I stay to make sure that the agents are pulled out and not just given a feedback especially when they have questions. Of course I know when to make them stop and tell them that they have to learn and not learn cause of spoonfeeding info. Who gets the credit in the end? I know for a fact that even if i dont get anything here on earth, God surely has something for you at the end of journey... How i just wish its the end of the journey...

Yes I know that there are other people whos problems are bigger than mine... and i aint comparing... just wanted to at least tell people thru writing what has been happening to me in an indirect way of putting words and sentences together. At least when the journey is over... people will know... some people will know... some will know... just some.

One of my agents gave me all the encouragement to work awhile ago... He got terminated due to metrics and he cried to me telling me that he (well he's gay) will definitely miss me cause according to him, "mabait po kayo sakin" and he cant stop his tears as he hugged me before leaving, he was the first agent in the acct that i gave a disciplinary action and because of that he worked his way to pass his OJT for the account. Id rather keep the conversation to myself then put everything here... whatever it is that im keeping and would want to keep is precious... enough for me to be strong, stand out and face the journey with all its thorns. That memory is enough to sacrifice my want to leave and go somewhere else...

I dont want to give all of what i can do for work... even if it means getting promoted again in time, hopefully... If my want would mean sacrificing my need... then I'll stop. My needs are more important to me. My needs are my life. Work is not my life. Health is. Money is not my life. Time is. My station aint my life. Home is. What will i do with all that i can possibly get when the ones that i need are gone?

If im going to make a sacrifice, it would be worth everything.. even if i dont get anything... that would be my price... but once it happens... its the end of the road here... but would be a continuous journey... would always be a continuous journey.

The day started last Saturday, August 18... the long awaited day (we' ve been planning to have this right after Pagudpud which was last May). It was me, my bhey Jen and Vic (gaylord) Cayari. Peace Vic.

August 18 - Florida Bus lines (Cubao), 7:00PM -- Inside a pink bus (may design na flowers outside na feeling nmn pagmamayari ni Lito Atienza at Bayani Fernando

                 Ate lugaw near the station. Ung mga bagong lutong lugaw na mura lang. Sarap!!!

                 Bus left, 8:00PM

August 19 - Arrived in Tuguegarao at 6:30AM

                  Rode a van going to San Vicente (Cagayan), left Tuguegarao at 8:00AM, arrived in San Vicente after a 3hour van trip (hello, walang bagyo as in wala!!!! Thank you Lord sobra!!!)

                  Once in Sta. Ana/San Vicente, boatride naman going to Palaui Island (just check the videos/pictures ill be posting).

In Palaui Island, we stayed in Manong Jony's house pero we decided to camp near the beach since we have our tents at nandun na may mga talangka na gustong lumabas kase nga dinaganan namin ng earth pad and tent. Hehehe. I even collected shells kase ang dami!!!! Nanguha pa kame ng buko since may tanim na buko si mang jony. Nagpahinga sandali then we started the trek papunta sa falls. Di sya katulad ng falls in Pagudpud kase di nmn masyadong inaabutan ng ulan ung lugar pero inakyat nmn sya. Umakyat ako ng bundok para makapunta sa falls... san ka pa??? :) Si Jen nmn inakyat talaga ung tuktok ng falls ng naka-paa at sabi nung nag-guide sa min sya pa lang daw (as in si Jen) pa lang ang nakaakyat nun kase takot daw ung iba kase nga matarik ung papuntang tuktok. Pagbaba, nagpahinga lang ulit sandali tapos nagluto si Vic ng dinner, naligo na then natulog.

August 20 - Lighthouse in Aparri, Cagayan (trekking galore!!!)

                  Cape Engaño Lighthouse (for more info re the lighthouse: http://heritageconservation.wordpress.com/2006/07/27/cagayan%E2%80%99s-guiding-light-won%E2%80%99t-let-darkness-fall/) or check the videos/pictures that I'll be posting. .

We stayed for one night in the lighthouse. There was a calm but eery feeling on the lighthouse siguro kase matagal na sya and at the same time malungkot ung paligid kahit na sobrang ganda ng nakikita mo. Madaming sulat sa dingding.. di na sya naaalagaan. Makikita mo ung 3 kitchen dun and ung lighthouse mismo sinara nila kase delikado... mejo marami na rin kaseng sira kaya mahirap na baka may mahulog.

August 21 - Boatride pabalik sa bahay ni mang jony and we saw camiguin island on the way back.

                  After eating lunch (sariwang pusit at pugita na inihaw, isda na di ko lam kung ano tawag hehehe), we took a shower, dressed up then went home.

                 3:00PM bus ride pabalik ng Manila.

August 22 - Back in Manila, 5:00AM

That's one heck of an adventure... better than drinking and bar hopping. Hehehe.

Dito ko na-realize that God indeed loves us so much that he gave us all of these for free... that God' s creations are really beautiful... yet we forget. At dahil di tayo nagbabayad sa ganda ng nakikita natin sa kalikasan... di natin ito naaalagaan. Ganun nmn tayo eh... if theres no money-value, we dont care. Hay...

Laguna adventure next. hehehe.

Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"
 (Romans 8:31)

1. Pray.

2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule or that will

    compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and un-clutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time;

    don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern,
      find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety.
      If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet,
      an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can
      prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems
      in the bud.  Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of your favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is

       often a good "Thank you, Jesus!"
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself, not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for,
      that you've never been grateful for before.
 

GOD HAS A WAY OF
TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU

When you're down to nothing, God is up to something.