So...

I just received the email from my soon-to-be employer that they have couriered my Employment Letter. I am to fill this up and send back to them with my signature. Whew, this means my work abroad will push through after all. This is it!

It's not sinking in yet as of the moment, but I'm sure that as my departure draws nearer the effects of this change will grow more apparent until it totally washes me over.

I promised myself that when I go there, I'll strip myself more of my inhibitions. This transition has been a true wake up call for my emotions, views, and beliefs in life. I want to venture out into the world with a more open heart and mind. And by going there, I hope that I'll be able to see a side of life that I haven't seen before. :)

UP Food Trip!!!

Dahil lumipat na kami sa UP Ayala Technohub site, kelangan mag-food trip sa Alma Mater namin ni Jason at Pao. At siya na nga! Bilang puro mga barako ang kasama, at pagbukas ng elevator sa ground floor ay saktong kakadating lang ni Jaime, si Vaj ni Pao ang aming school bus dahil dun lang kami magkakasya. :D

Ayun, sinubukan namin sa dalawang isawan sa UP kaso parehong kakabukas lang kaya lumipat kami sa Faculty Center. Marami namang nakain ang mga tao, fishball+hotdog+kwek kwek+cheese sticks. Si Noel at Jay hindi mapakali, parang nasa buffet lang. Pagkatapos kumain, jabar na ang mga tao, lalo na ang dalawang ito! Hahaha.

Sa aming bagong opisina naman, kung kakalimutan ang katotohanang mas malayo siya kaysa Eastwood, maaliwalas naman kung tutuusin. Maliwanag, maluwag at mas may privacy ang work stations namin sa office, saka green siya, my favorite color! Napipilitan din kaming mag-exercise dahil lahat mas malayo namely CR, kainan, at hi-way. :P

At malaki ang pantry!!!! Pag may dumating na bagong grupo ng kakain, hindi kami required tumayo at lumayas para lang may malibreng upuan. Kasi maraming iba pang pwedeng pwestuhan, parang canteen lang! Maganda rin naman ang view sa mga bintana. Sa bandang likod forest kung saan matatagpuan ang Microstop. Sa may harap park-park-an na may mga bibe, bulate at hyper na mga sprinklers. Pag umuulan, pwedeng pwedeng mag-emote, wagi.

Afu, malamang ay iiling-iling ka pag nabasa mo to, pero wag ka kasi mag East Avenue, mag Q. Ave ka!!! Ang mga tao pumupunta lang dun pag kukuha sila ng birth certificate! :P

Spreading the word

The more people I tell, the harder it gets. Angel was right, it will get worse before it gets better. But I've prayed too long and too hard for this, I've no plans of backing down anytime soon. God is too good and I'm extremely grateful for this immense blessing.

This is it, I'm so excited! As my friend said, go fight and win! :D

Define grief and depression

n. Realizing that you've made a horribly bad decision by buying a non-waterproof mascara.

How I get through the past weeks

I've been really bummed out these past two weeks. All the waiting is driving me crazy!!! Fortunately I found my saving grace :D

This insanely hilarious sitcom keeps me sane!!! Hehehe. I can't even choose a single favorite character, they're all really funny! Ok, back to watching the freshly downloaded episodes... :D

Waiting...

...for the next big thing. Lord, please grant me this one...

Smile :)

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Preparing for preparations

I'm here at Mocha Blends, middle-of-nowhere branch. I was planning to do some brushing up on my technical know-hows. Unfortunately, my brain is simply not working. Maybe I'm tired and I don't realize it. This green notebook of IT gibberish has been in front of me for almost an hour and I haven't absorbed a single concept. I'm reviewing for a very important interview on Monday. One of those things that I want so much that I haven't even told my closest friends about it, to avoid jinxing. I'm just trying to adhere by the rule that if you want to achieve a goal, don't be a blabbermouth about it. Tell only the ones who are directly involved in your plans. So the only persons who know it are M******s(she was the one who first told me about the job opening),R****l(he passed my resume to the HR) and C**y (a fellow applicant). I want this so so bad!!! I'll do my best to push this through, swear.

But since my brain is in a halt, I'm here blogging. Probably some online window shopping might help then some episodes of Fringe when I get home. Hopefully tomorrow, my head will be in a much better condition for some serious studying.

Lord, please help me.

Thinking Positively

I refuse! I refuse to let this consume me! Law of Averages, back me up here!!!

Tribute to Travel Adik Tropa

Lately I've been feeling quite grounded. I worry less, I feel lighter and happier, and I treat the people around me better. I've gained a renewed appreciation for life. I have my new friends to thank for this. They are the ones that I've been traveling with recently. Like me, they have a severe infection of the travel and shutter bug. Being with them made me see beauty in even the smallest and simplest things, and this translates to the photos we take. That's why we can't put down our cameras every time we set foot anywhere. There's just so much wonder that can be captured. :)

Apo Reef Retreat

Travel and travel photography. These are two of my favorite things. Two passions that keep me sane. For my last trip someone even bothered to buy the photos that I took, how cool is that? Unfortunately, I was crappy to talk to and didn't have a paypal account so it didn't push through. But the thought of my shots getting a value other than for personal enjoyment, it really lifted my heart. :D




Next year I plan to go on out of the country adventures, something that I've been dreaming of my entire life. Right now, I'm gathering all my energy to free myself from DOST. These are my prospects, two destinations in a year would probably do:

1.) IndoChina - check!
2.) Japan
3.) US
4.) New Zealand
5.) Australia
6.) Europe - Putting this at the last spot since this will definitely take some great powers to achieve. And also, I'm hoping that by the time I'm able to do this, there will already be a special someone I can share it with. :)

In Betweens

For me, in-betweens are the hardest periods in life. In between jobs, in between singlehood and a true relationship, sadness and happiness. It's during these times that I get most confused. Suddenly I have options but don't know which to choose or whether it's worth it to take the leap of faith. But ultimately, I just pray hard and take things as they come then no longer look back.

Oh rainy season, you're so not helping...

How do I get out of this?

I already know how this will end. I need to get out as soon as I can. Lord, help me...

When the good days come...

..take advantage of it. This is one of those days, I took a sick leave since I was not feeling well... NOT!!! Hahaha. This was kinda planned, but I did not tell my "plan" to my teammates, because I read in a magazine that you can better achieve a goal if you don't tell a soul. I can't remember the whole complex explanation, but I think it goes something like if you tell someone, it already feels like you've already done something, when in fact you have not. And if you don't tell anyone and you do achieve your goal, the magnitude of the gratifications are n times better. Haha, I hope I understood correctly. So from now on, I'll restrain myself from being such a blabber with my goals in life. Today, my objective is simply to take a breather. I haven't taken any leaves for weeks now and working 5 days a week, though a norm, is still quite taxing. And I'm glad I did it, my mood today is contemplative and laid back. If I get into the groove, I'll try to sort whatever it is I feel like sorting today.

On another note, I got a postcard from Soli!!! And it adds to my already good mood:


Thanks Soli, you're so sweet :)

Lowest of lows

All-time low. Hindi ko talaga kinakaya ito. Lord, please help me get through this.

Just another day

I miss you... Otro dia mas sin verte... :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSqPbZnVjXQ

Rut

There is something wrong with me. A telltale sign is my urge to shop like it's payday twice a week. Today after buying another expensive item that I can't get my mind off since last night, I discovered that my credit card is maxed out! This only means that I'm in a highly severe RUT. For the last few weeks, I've been buying clothes that I have no idea where to wear, bottles of expensive perfumes, and loading my car with gas so I can unnecessarily go anywhere and everywhere.

I usually go on a spending spree whenever I need to distract myself from things that I should be doing or when there's some emotional baggage being dragged around. This time it's both. I've been putting off updating my resume and sending it out to the world. I should have done it weeks ago, but it's just like putting off review for board exam which is still months away. No hurries, until you realize how little time you have left! Ok, now I'm really disturbed. Then there's my issue with you being so far away, and the minimal communication we've been having. Ai ai ai, I'm at a loss.

Nevertheless, I feel that I'm not yet recovered from this phase of wrongness. I just can't resist the gravitational pull of pretty designer cuties, hahaha. Come what may. Let's see what happens to my bank account in the coming days.

On a different note, I found these vadalisms on an Eng'g CR. My gulay! I thought these thingscan only be found in AS. I thought Eng'g students nowadays are a bunch ofgoody two shoes. Good job ladies! :D

Mahal na Araw sa Arayat

Ilang taon na din mula nung huli naming dalaw sa Arayat para sa Mahal na Araw. Pumupunta kami dito para makasama ang mga kamag-anak namin... at para makakuha ng masarap na buro, longganisa, tocino, gulay at bigas, hahaha!

Pero nag-iba na talaga ang mga panahon. Naabutan ko pa yung mga sinaunang araw kung saan nakakasakay pa kami ng mga kalabaw bilang transportasyon. Hindi pa rin gaanong patag ang mga kalsada noon, bonggang bongga lang talaga.

Sa araw nagtatakbuhan at naglalaro kami sa mga maalikabok na kakahuyan ng Gatiawin. Haha, OA, hindi naman talaga ganon kasukal, puro mababang halaman lang naman ang nandoon. Sa gabi naman nagtatakbuhan at naglalaro kami sa mga maalikabok na kakahuyan ng Gatiawin. Haha labo. Nagbabaraha din kami, syempre peborit namin ang walang kamatayang 1-2-3 pass, at bilang parusa, mamumula ang mukha mo sa lipstick, o mamumuti sa johnson's baby powder. At highlight ng araw namin, ang mga nagsasalibatbat sa kalsada! Pag may dadaang nagsasalibatbat nagkakagulo na kaming mga makukulit na bubwit. Masaya kasi, maraming klase ang makikita mo. Andyan yung nagtatambling sabay blag! Hagalpak sa lapag! Ilang beses kaya nila kelangan gawin yun hanggang sa makarating sa simbahan? Meron din yung nanghahabol at nangangain ng mga usiserong bata gaya namin, haha. Pag ganun yung dumaan, ay kasaya naman talaga. Meron yung parang earth worm lang, gapang sa lapag pero kakaiba gapang niya, hindi ko ma-describe. At meron din namang normal lang, naglalakad habang hinahampas yung likod niya ng dahon na may food color na red. Kunwari matindi na ang pasakit na natamo niya sa maghapong pagpepenitensya at mapapatawad na siya.

Tapos pag lumalalim na ang gabi, maglalamyerda na. Kakain ng mga fish balls, palaka, bibingka, day-old chick at kung anu-ano pang mga pagkain na pwede bilhin sa paligid ng mga nagpapasyon at abot-kaya ng mga barya sa bulsa namin. Hanggang sa matapos ang ilang araw ng pabasa ganon lang buhay namin. Sa huling araw mamamalengke na ang mga nanay para sa mga iuuwi sa Maynila.


Ay! Muntik ko nang makalimutan. Swimming sa Banyo! Hindi eto yung banyo=kubeta. Banyo lang tawag sa place. May resort dun na may apat ata o limang pool. Tapos yung isa dun yung main attraction, may natural water falls kasi, refreshing (chez!). At dahil nasa Pampanga yon, nagkalat ang pagkain. May nagbebenta ng inihaw na mais, barbecue, tapos nahuhulog lang sa mga puno ang mga kasoy at duhat. Pero siyempre magbabaon naman kami ng maraming marami ding pagkain. Sa kasamaang palad, ang huling balita ay nagka-land slide daw doon kaya napapaligiran na siya ng mga evacuees at hindi na kaaya-ayang puntahan sa kasalukuyang panahon. :(

Ayun, ganun gawain namin nung mga paslit pa kami, magpakalat-kalat lang sa Arayat at pasakitin ulo ng mga matatanda sa kakahanap sa amin. Habang tumatanda, nagkakaroon din ng mga pagbabago bilang palatandaan ng pag-asenso, hehehe. Naging pusoy o pusoy dos na ang mga laro sa baraha. Barya na ang pot, hindi drawing sa mukha. Sinasama na kami nila Mama sa palengke at pwede na kaming pumili ng klase ng buro at longganisa. Tapos ayun, may nag-debut, nag-asawa, nag-debut, nag-asawa, nag-abroad, nag-asawa, nag-abroad, nag-stay, bumalik galing abroad, tumaba, pumayat at kung anu-ano pa. In short, sadyang malaki pamilya nila Mama, kaya marami talagang nangyayari, haha.

At tuwing uuwi ka, bilang pag-welcome isa sa mga ito ang welcome message:
a.) Kamusta:

a.1) Tumaba ka!

a.2) Ang taba mo ngayon!

b.) Kamusta:

b.1) Pumayat ka ha!

b.2) Ang seksi mo ngayon! (ehem, haha joke lang)

Basta to that effect, nakaka-touch.

Pero ngayon, matatanda na sila (wahaha!), marami na ang nag-iba. Unang una, ang KJ nung pari doon! Tapusin ba ang pabasa ng Miyerkules?! Eh Huwebes pa lang ang simula ng bakasyon noh. Labo talaga. Dumayo pa kami sa ibang bayan para kumain ng isaw, hahaha. Pangalawa... basta maraming nagbago, hahaha!

Syempre andun pa din naman ang mga minamahal kong pinsan at tiyo/tiya dun. Pero wala na ang mga kapanabayan kong mga pinsan/pamangkin dun, naka-move on na sila, kasama na yung Ate ko. Ngunit bilang kapalit, kongkreto na ang mga bahay at semento na ang lahat ng kalsada dun! At para nang hotel yung evolved form ng ancestral house dun, ang dami nang air-conditioned na kwarto at may wi-fi pa! O diba??? Hahaha. Pero sana magkasabay-sabay ng uwi ang mga tao para makapag-bonding na ulit kami, kahit di ako marunong mag-kapampangan :P.

Sige Mount Arayat, hanggang sa susunod, paalam! :)

Midnight Train to Georgia

I'm very very sleepy. But I don't want to go to sleep, I want to miss you. And I am missing you... terribly. I hate and love this feeling. What are you doing right now? Please let me know. Please please don't be a stranger. If you want, I'm gonna board the midnight train. Just tell me.

Quiapo QT

Tomorrow I'll be going to Quiapo to buy a bunch of rolls for my stash. Lately I've been a film pack rat. Still have more than ten rolls of 36exp kodaks and now I plan to get 20 more of 12exp films, haha. I'm quite excited though, hehehe, kilig even. Kuya Dong just texted me yesterday that he has new stocks of expired films, and the ones available are 400ISO so it should be good. Sorry, but shooting with my film cam makes me freakishly happy, I feel like it brings out the creative weirdo in me @_@.

I also plan to score some ukay ukay finds. The last time that I went to Quiapo, I managed to buy a bunch of good ukay stuff, I think 30 items for 500 pesos. Wahaha, steal!

Quiapo day = Reloading my stash + satisfying my fashionista appetite = Perfect!
Tomorrow I plan to do the same. I love Quiapo! :D