Someone Like You

I heard that you're settled down
That you found a girl and you're married now.
I heard that your dreams came true.
Guess she gave you things I didn't give to you.

Old friend, why are you so shy?
Ain't like you to hold back or hide from the light.

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I begged
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead, "
Yeah

You'd know how the time flies
Only yesterday was the time of our lives
We were born and raised
In a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days

I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I begged
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."
Yeah

Nothing compares
No worries or cares
Regrets and mistakes
They are memories made.
Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you
Don't forget me, I begged
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I begged
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead."

Nothing is new with the love story behind Adele's hit "Someone Like You". It has the same plot where two person meets, they fall in love for an undetermined length of time, one leaves the other for some tragic reason, then the one left ends up having self-pity.

Songs like this may sound too dramatic for some but there are still those who fall for these depressing and heart wrecking songs. Why? Because not only in movies and songs that this tragic love story can be seen but it also happens in reality. And because of the simple reason that deep down we relate to them.   

"Move on"... easy to be said but most of the time it is difficult to put into action. As the song narrates, it is usually easy for us to wish for the best to the person we had loved. But there is this feeling inside our hearts that hopes for things like being not forgotten by the person who left us or even the hope for a second chance.

Why is moving on difficult for some? Is it because they have loved the other person too much that they cannot let go of the feeling even if the relationship is already over? Is it because of the things that  weren't clearly discussed during the break-up or what is most commonly called as "closure"? Whatever reason might be, I now believe that relationships come to an end because each of the persons involved in that relationship is given the chance to find his/her "God's best". In God's time, each of us is bound to meet a person who He thinks is the best for us.

B1G7 - Finding Rest (Part 2)

There were lots of fun and exciting activities during the B1G7 retreat which were surely enjoyed by all of the participants.

Messages and Breakouts - "Messages" are the presentations made by the speakers (most of them are Pastors) to all the retreat participants about topics like Sin and The Cross. These talks were held at the main hall for about an hour or two. After each message, we would have discussions within our own breakout groups. There were different fun activities during the breakout sessions that have helped us better understand the topic that was discussed by the Pastor. Personally, I enjoyed each breakout discussion because I was able to share to my group my experiences in life that are related to the topic discussed by the Pastor.

Taken during our first breakout session :)

Dawn Watch - This is the activity wherein we had to wake up really early and sing our praises outside where we can see and appreciate God's creations. At exactly 6AM, my roommates and I joined the other retreat participants at the playground nearest to our room. We were surrounded by trees, flowering plants, and chirping birds. While singing songs of praise, we could feel the cold breeze and we can see the beautiful sky. "Dawn Watch" has made me realize that God is really good for blessing us with these wonderful things. For me, this is really an awesome experience and one of my favorite activity in B1G7.

Praise Night - For me, this activity is like a mini concert of God-loving and God-fearing people :) I must admit that I felt uneasy at the start since it's my first time to attend an event like this. But I had fun. People were dancing and singing on top of their voices. Everyone seemed to had so much fun during this activity.

Games - There were cool games participated by many during B1G7. Just by hearing the name of the games, one couldn't probably imagine how fun each game is. As described by the hosts, the games were real life versions of some well known mobile applications like Angry Birds. Unfortunately, my roommates and I decided not to join since we all preferred to get some power nap while everyone was busy playing :)

With my CTOM friends who invited me to attend B1G7

My roommates and breakout group :)

B1G7 - Finding Rest (Part 1)

One busy day at work, I was invited by an officemate to attend a retreat. The idea of joining a retreat sounded awesome to me since a lot of things had happened to me for the past months. So I thought that this was my very much needed break from everything -- work life, busy city life, as well as personal & family problems. I was even more convinced when my officemate told me that the retreat fee will be shouldered by her and my boss. Isn't that great?! So without any hesitations, I did confirm my attendance to this much awaited event.

11-11-11

The theme of the retreat was "Finding Rest". It was a 3-day event held at Chateau Royale, Batangas. I already knew beforehand that this was a Christian retreat. And even if I am a Catholic, I didn't mind joining it. Anyway, what I am eager about are the good things that I will gain after the event. At first, I was a bit culture-shocked as I wasn't used to how Christians do their praises. But it was indeed a wonderful experience. I learned a lot of things from all the sessions. I gained new and wonderful friends. I learned new things about God. And most importantly, I felt spiritually renewed after the retreat.

As mentioned by one of the speakers, we were there not by accident. Instead, it was in God's plan that we are there at that very moment. This is certainly is true! God wanted me to be in B1G7 retreat after all the hardships I went through because He loves me very much and He wants me to know that everything happens for a reason. And that I should be very thankful for every single thing in my life. After the retreat, I always felt good about my surrounding. I learned how to appreciate everything God has given me. Thanks for everyone who has been part of this very memorable experience. I am looking forward for B1G8! :)

More than a thousand participant who were able to find rest :)

Another Well Spent Thursday

Thursday - the day of the week that I partly hate because of number coding. My car's plate ends with "7", therefore on this day I have to wake up early and go home a bit late.

Most of my Thursdays are spent in Makati. Even though I have to wake up really early, I prefer to work in our office in Makati because of the simple reason that "a lot of things always happen on Thursdays". 

Just yesterday, 1st of December, I was at CTOM Makati. Here were the things I did which really made me feel good and happy the whole day:

1. Arrived at work before 7AM and started to work early thinking that I would be able to finish all my tasks before 5PM.
2. Attended mass at PBCOM tower with my church buddy.
3. Received a starbucks treat from my friend. Now, I only need 3 more stickers for my starbucks planner!
4. Still not done at work by around 6:30PM. But I felt very eager to attend the Dgroup session of my CCF friends. Thank God, He probably wants me to attend this so miraculously I was able to finish my work by 7PM.
5. Drove to Pasong Tamo to meet my Dgroup. Yehey, there was no traffic. Thank God! I was there just in time.
6. Had my first and very memorable Dgroup session :)
7. Went to KFORCE office to visit my friends. We were talking about nonwork stuffs for about 2 hours. 
8. Went home at 12MN :)

This is a very productive Thursday. I was able to do a lot of things. I was able to enjoy every activity I did. I also felt awesome after the Dgroup session.

I am hoping to have more meaningful Thursdays in the future! :)

On the 30th of November Year 2011

It is the 30th of November year 2011, and it is a holiday here in the Philippines. This means that I should be at home or somewhere else except at work. But due to strict deadlines that we could not avoid, we have to come to the office and finish the task that has been given to us. Anyway, Christmas is already near so coming to work on a holiday means I am going to have extra pay. Bravo! :)

Also, things at home are not going so well lately thus I like to spend more time at work than at home. Though I believe that running away from our problems would not fix them, right? Instead, we should be strong enough to face and deal with them. And I should not be scared because I know God is with me. Thank you Lord for surrounding me with people who comforts me at times like this. I am only human and I am weak, but because of your love for me, you made my friends as your instrument in making me a stronger person.

From the things that happened and is happening for the past couple of days, I realized that I am really blessed. And because of this realization, there is no reason for me to give up. I know, with God, things will eventually be back to normal. My days will become better. I just have to trust and have faith in Him.

Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Korea Day #5

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Last day in Seoul. It's hard to accept but it was really the end of our 5 day stay in South Korea. The highlight of our last day was having brunch at Egg and Spoon Race in Edae. This restaurant is famous for their brunch meals and it is located near Ehwa Women's University. The place is also very cozy that's why a lot of the university students love to dine here. The food we ordered was really delicious!

Egg and Spoon Race @ Edae

Egg. Sausage. Bacon. Waffle. Salad.

My highschool friend and I was able to find time to visit one of the palaces in Seoul. Below are photos taken from Deoksugung Palace.

Deoksugung Palace

Inside Deoksugung Palace

Inside Deoksugung Palace

Autumn in Seoul - Photo taken at Deoksugung Palace

There are still lots of places that we were not able to visit. Seoul is such a nice place to go to. Definitely, we are coming back to see more of Seoul's tourists spots. :)

Korea Day #4

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Second to the last day in Seoul, South Korea. We had our DMZ tour scheduled on this day so we had to wake up really early because someone was going to pick us up at the hostel at exactly 7:30AM. This DMZ tour costs 41,000 won and it already includes the shuttle bus going to DMZ with a tourist guide.

DMZ stands for Demilitarized Zone and it is the border that cuts the Korean peninsula roughly in half (North Korea and South Korea). As one of the relics of the Cold War, DMZ attracts a great deal of public interest and it became a popular destination for tourists visiting Korea. In this tour, we were able to visit the 3rd infiltration tunnel as well as the observatory. When availing this tour, one should take note of the "strict" guidelines since photo taking is not allowed in some areas.

"End of Separation. Beginning of Unification"

After the DMZ tour, I met up with my MaSci friend. When I was with my friend, he made me taste the following:

1. Banana milk - a delicious drink that can be bought at any convenient store
2. Bibimbap - a Korean dish which literally means "mixed dish"; it is white rice topped with seasoned vegetables, chili pepper paste, and raw egg.
3. Dunkin Donut's Cookies and Cream Iced Drink

We were also not able to resist buying and eating these muffins :)

Yummy muffins!

To burn all the calories we had from all the food we ate, we had a night walk along the streets of Hongdae. It was an endless walk along different bars and restaurants. Very day tiring indeed! :)

Korea Day #3

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It's our 3rd day in Seoul, South Korea. Since we didn't make it to the Nami Island Tour yesterday, we were still lucky to have it re-booked on this day.

Nami is a small island which is perfect for those who want to relax and take an afternoon walk around a beautiful scenery. This place is very popular among Koreans and can be seen in most Korean dramas (i.e. Winter Sonata). Going to Nami Island, we took a shuttle bus from Insadong which costs 21,000 won. From the port to the island itself, tourists have to ride a ferry.

Ferry going to Nami Island

Nami Island during Autumn

There were also other activities on the island. There were bikes for rent. There are also villas available for tourists who want to stay overnight. There are souvenir shops and restaurants. Foods on the island were a bit pricey so we only had sandwiches for lunch.

What's for lunch?

After our Nami Island tour, we went shopping again at Insadong for our "pasalubongs". Then we headed to Hangang River because we wanted to try the night cruise. Unfortunately, there were no schedules for the cruise on that day. So since we were already in that area, we decided to go to 63 City instead.

63 City is Korea's tallest and most recognized building with 63 floors and has a spectacular view of the Hangang River.

63 City

It was already late when we arrived 63 City so we didn't have time to go to any of the following: 63 Sea World, 63 Sky Deck, 63 IMAX Theater, 63 Sky Art, and 63 Wax Museum. And to maximize our stay in this building, we just ate dinner at the food court.

Burger and cheese balls for dinner :)

This was indeed a very tiring day! But we surely did enjoy all the activities we had! :)

Korea Day #2

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Woke up early on a Sunday morning because we were supposed to have our Nami Island tour. The assembly place and time was at Tapgol Park in Insadong at exactly 9:00AM. Unfortunately, we did not make it on time because the Korean's who we asked for directions did not know where the park was located. It was a bit disappointing so we went shopping at Insadong instead. There are a lot to be seen in this area -- clothes, food, and different kinds of souvenirs.

Famous shopping area in Seoul

Traditional Korean pancake! So delicious! :)

After eating Korean traditional pancake and shopping for souvenirs at Insadong, we went back to Hoehyeon. Since most of the restaurants in the area were closed, we decided to have our late lunch at BBO BBO Chicken Hof which was near Seoul Backpackers Hostel. For this day's lunch we had: Korean fried chicken, Korean terriyaki chicken, and mixed sausages.

Korean Fried Chicken

Korean Chicken Terriyaki

Mixed Sausages

Next stop is at Lotte World! :) We were only able to take one ride because there were so many people since it was a Sunday. Nevertheless, we enjoyed  taking pictures on the different amusement rides.

After being amused with the largest indoor theme park in the world, we went to Cheonggyecheon (Stream) to witness the last day of Seoul Lantern Festival 2011. This festival began in 2009 and each year it has a different theme. For 2011, the theme was ”Stories of Seoul’s Past through Lanterns”. Lanterns depicting the history of Seoul were displayed along the stream.

Stories of Seoul’s Past through Lanterns

The last activity we had for the day was to have some drinks with Kim and Sooji at a bar in Seoul. It was indeed a happy way to end the day and to celebrate our friendship with our NFKF. :)

Cheers!

Korea Day #1

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Arrived in Seoul, Korea at around 8:30 AM. Walked from Seoul Station to Seoul Backpackers Hostel carrying our bags and luggage because we didn't know that we could take the subway from Seoul Station to Hoehyeon which was supposed to be a lot easier. The three of us were already hungry so we decided to eat brunch at a Korean restaurant near the hostel.

Yummy beef stew for brunch for only 6,000 won

After eating brunch, we took the City Bus Tour wherein we rode a bus which took us around the famous tourists spots in Seoul. The tour costs 10,000 won. Unfortunately, since we were tired from our flight, we were mostly asleep during the tour. After the tour, we went back to Seoul Backpackers Hostel to rest.

Had dinner with Sooji and Kim (NFKF - new found Korean friends) at Woori Garden, Myeongdong. They ordered Soju as well. :)

Kim and Sooji's dinner treat

Kim and Sooji asked us to try this dish: Raw beef w/ radish on the side

Soju! :)

We also tried the Korean traditional candy which we bought for 1,000 won along the streets of Myeongdong. According to our Korean friend, when you eat this candy without breaking the molded figure in the middle, you can make a wish.

Korean traditional candy. Yummy! Sweet!

After dinner, we went to N Seoul Tower. The view from the the tower's observatory is really awesome! :) This is one of the "must see" places when you visit South Korea.

N Seoul Tower at night

Fashion 101 - #1

I am a girl who loves bags and shoes. Yes, you read that right. I have a number of bags -- office bags and 'casual' bags. For shoes, I have quite a number of shoes. And I do love high heeled shoes especially when I go to work. To tell you frankly,  I am not a super 'fashionista' type of person but I always want to look good and to feel good about myself.

Just now, I got a new pair of shoes from People Are People. It's a 5-inch high-heeled close shoes. The moment I saw this pair of shoes in the store, I was determined to buy it. It looks really good and the fit is really nice. It's not heavy, in fact when I tried it on I was amazed by how light it felt when wore it.

As for the price, it's not that expensive. It costs less than 2000PHP. For this type of shoes, I think it's already a good buy. :)

Haha! I'm so excited to pair this with my office clothes. I just hope that I won't trip while walking. I must prepare my legs to wear this thing whole day at work. :)

A Suite Life

Never have I imagined that I'll be attending a birthday party that will be held in a motel. Bridal showers and stag parties are acceptable. But a birthday party?!?! No way! This was my initial reaction upon hearing my friend's suggestion that we could have our joint birthday bash at Victoria Court. On a second thought, the idea sounds a bit cool.

We found an online deal regarding Victoria Court’s party package. Originally, the package costs 15000 php. But the online deal only costs 5250 php and here were the perks:

• venue will be at the motel’s party room or suite of our choice
• we could bring up to 20 guests
• free food and drinks for 10 people
• free use of videoke
• room has jacuzzi
• use of room is good for 7 hours
• no corkage fee for food and drinks that will be brought inside

It’s a good deal, isn’t it? Come to think of it, it will only cost us 5250 php for a party that’s already good for 20 persons. The deal was so good that we couldn’t resist buying it. And so we bought it and we started planning for the party. Our choice for the room is ARUBA suite. It was supposed to be Austin Powers but this was already reserved for another group.

The ARUBA suite was nice. Upon entering the door, you would immediately see the jacuzzi. A buffet table has been setup in the ‘living room’ area and mono block chairs were setup to accommodate all of the guests. On the entrance of the bedroom, there was a movable wall. On one side there is the TV and the other side has a mirror. So if you want to watch TV while lying on the bed, just turn the wall and presto, the TV is already facing the bed! The ambiance was nice and the room was so cozy.

 Our drinks for that night were: Absolut Vodka Citron, Absolut Vodka Kurant, Tequila Rose, Bailey’s, and Jose Cuervo. We are not heavy drinkers and I couldn’t imagine that we’ll finish all these bottles. But I was wrong! We started drinking Absolut Vodka Citron mixing it with iced tea or sprite. First bottle down! Next was Bailey’s. Second bottle down! Next was Absolut Vodka Kurant mixed with sprite. Third bottle was not entirely consumed; about ¼ of the content was left. The group also tasted the Strawberry flavored Tequila Rose. Because of its sweetness, not everybody enjoyed this drink. Finally, Jose Cuervo’s turn came. To make the tequila session more fun and exciting, we decided to play body shots.

 

Couples, non-couple, boy-to-boy, girl-to-girl… everyone participated in our body shots game. I must admit that I had so much while doing this activity. Everyone was screaming, laughing, and cheering. We were like college students again. Due to public demand, we requested for an hour extension for the Aruba Suite.

  

I must say that I had the best party in my whole life (so far) on this day – February 19, 2011. We didn’t expect that it will be so much fun. It was such a very unforgettable night. For those who came, thanks for sharing this fun night with us – the birthday celebrants. For those who weren’t able to come, you surely missed a one-of-a-kind event in your life. I hope that our group could have this kind of party again in the future. I love you guys! Thanks for all the laughter!’Til next time! Happiness! <3

 

Crazy Thing Called Love

Feb. 12, 2011 - Two days before Valentine's day, I went to the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark Field Pampanga. I saw a lot of couples there but there was this one couple who caught my attention. Why? Because they were wearing the famous 'couples shirt', they have the same wrist watch, and they were wearing the same pair of shoes which I have branded as 'couples shoes'. I sighed when I saw them hoping that I was with my prince charming that day watching the hot air balloons fly up in the sky. But I wasn't. I must accept the reality that I am not with someone special right now and it seems that my prince charming is still finding his way to my heart.

Feb. 13, 2011 - A day before Valentine's day, I decided to do some nail pampering. Wishing to have some ME time, I went to the mall to get some manicure and pedicure. To my surprise, upon entering the treatment area I saw a not so young couple having foot spa. Yesterday wasn't my lucky day. And today is still not my lucky day. I felt a bit envious as this is one thing that I dreamt of doing with a special someone. They were teasing each other while having their foot spa session. I wanted to leave the area asap because I could not bear their sweetness any longer. But I could not stand up and walk away from that scene. I ended up pretending not to hear them and I focused on my Iphone games instead.

Please be kind to me! I am not bitter. I am not a love hater. I am just envious. I envy the happy couples walking side by side at the hot air balloon festival. I envy the couple having their foot spa together. I envy those people who are in love. Come on, let's face the reality. I am single and haven't been in a relationship for two years now. And to be honest, I missed the feeling of falling in love over and over again with the person who have stolen my heart. I missed hearing these words come from his mouth: "I will never let you fall, I'll stand up with you forever... even if saving you sends me to heaven". I missed being called pet names like "baby" or "love". To cut this short, I missed being in love head over heels.

Feb 14, 2011 - My dilemma now is how I'm gonna spend Valentine's day without having someone to spend it with. I went to work early hoping I'll find flowers on my desk. I was a bit disappointed that there was none. I took my normal morning routines, answered emails, and worked on my task. Finally, lunch time came. I had lunch with a good office friend. We ate at Amici Ayala Triangle. Some thought that it was a date. It wasn't! It was just a friendly lunch with my good friend. We both enjoyed the food but I didn't enjoy my surroundings. Why? Because there were a lot of couples everywhere. I may have felt a little awkward being surrounded by couples but it was ok, anyway I did enjoy my lunch meal with Brian.

No flower deliveries, no sweet text messages and emails, no phone calls - this is how I'm gonna describe my Vday. But I didn't lose hope. It's already 4pm and my prince charming might be on his way already. 2 hours have passed and there were no signs of him. Time to go home. I am losing the hope of having a happy Vday when suddenly, our female utility personnel handed me a long stemed pink rose. Damn! I was surprised and touched at the same time when she said that it was for me. Thanks Ate Weng! I must have done something good to you that you decided to give me a rose. An hour passed and I was already with my girl friend Edan. We agreed to have dinner at Sinangag Express (SEx) before meeting our other friend Karlo. The food chain was a bit full and crowded. And for the second time today, I was being surrounded by couples. After having dinner, we went to Karlo's place and we had some DVD bonding. This is how I spent my day.

I may have felt a little sad not being with someone special on Valentine's day. But I could not set aside the happiness I felt being with my closest friends who I love and who loves me back. Hearts' day is not only for couples. It is not for those who are married and in-a-relationship. Futhermore, happiness on Vday does not only mean being with your other half. It may also mean being with the people you love and who loves you back -- like friends.

Thanks for the people who made me survive this day. I hope everyone of you had a happy and memorable Vday. Stay happy! Stay in love! ♥