Live.Laugh.Love

As I Turn Another Year Older: My Wishlist

2012-02-04T23:49:00.000+08:00

A few minutes to go and I will turn another year older. Yes, I am not getting any younger. And of course, I'd rather call it "growing up" rather than "growing old". Last year, I remember making a list of the things I want to get on my special day. This year, I thought of making something different and I got this suggestion from a friend: list 26 things I want to have or to happen the entire time that I am 26 years old. It could be a material thing, a travel opportunity, a new job, an out of country vacation with family or friends, and etc. Indeed, this sounds very interesting!

Days passed and I couldn't think of a thing that I want put on my wishlist. I've been trying to imagine how I would want my 26th year on earth to be spent. Then I suddenly realized something. My 25th year on earth has been tough and very challenging. Yet, the Lord showered me with a lot of blessings. There were days that I was sad and depressed but He surrounded me with people who cheered me up and lifted up my spirit. I went through a lot of difficult things but here I am, a happier and stronger person.

And so I decided not to make my 26th year wishlist. The Lord has already given me a lot of incredible gifts that I am really thankful for. For me, that is enough. I am contented with what I have and what I am. I have my family who loves me so much and who takes care of me when I feel sick, I have my CCF friends who are helping me build an intimate relationship with the Lord, I have my KFORCE buddies who listens to my stories and who makes me feel good all the time, I have my DLSU barkada who loves me like family, I have my CTOM friends who are my food trip buddies and who makes me laugh all the time, I have my NAVI friends who has never forgotten me and who checks on me from time to time, and lastly I am surrounded with other special people who always make me feel appreciated and loved. You know who you are, apologies if I wasn't able to mention all your names. Thank you. Thank you for the awesome friendship we have built. I may not be too expressive of how I am happy to have all of you but one thing is for sure, I will definitely treasure our friendship until my next life. :)

For this year that will be added to my life, I pray that I can spend more quality time with all of you while I can. Let's live our lives to the fullest! :)

A Very Fun Christmas Eve 2011

2012-01-31T23:58:00.003+08:00

I never thought we could have this kind of family reunion slash Christmas celebration once again. It has been a long time since we celebrated Christmas eve wherein everyone is present. Thank God for making this possible. My aunt, her husband, and her son was able to come home from Saudi for Christmas. My cousins and their husbands were also able to book flights from Singapore to Manila.

First activity for the night was hearing mass. This is already part of our family Christmas tradition. We all went to the church to listen to the word of God and to thank Him for all the blessings we received for the year. After mass, we had lots of "chikahan" while preparing food to be served for Noche Buena. A little before 12MN, we had our Noche Buena which started with a thanksgiving prayer. Different kinds of foods were served. Everyone enjoyed the "kwentuhan" while eating.

Of course, Christmas isn't complete without gift giving! :)

My Lolo and Lola received a portrait of their younger years as gifts

How sweet! :) They look so happy :)

I love SG <3

My mom, sister Janet, nephew Clian, niece Hanna, and I with my aunt Sarry :)

Hurray for the grocery items! :)

The most enjoyed activity for this night was the family presentation portion. Days before Christmas, it was agreed by everyone that each family must do a presentation. It's our first time to have this, but it was super fun! :)

Song and dance number from Hanna, Gretel, and Clian

Song and dance number from Cuenca Family

Dance number from Tito Job and Tita Sarry

Dance number from Cerjohn and Claire

Before the night ended, we had our much awaited family picture taking.

Looking forward to another memorable Christmas Eve this 2012.

PDL #9 - What Makes God Smile?

2012-01-25T10:14:00.000+08:00

"Figure out what will please Christ and then do it."

God smiles when we love him supremely

Love God more than anything else
"I don't want your sacrifices - I want your love; I don't want your offerings - I want you to know me."

God smiles when we trust him completely

Trusting God completely means having faith that he knows what is best for your life.

God smiles when we obey him wholeheartedly

Everything had to be done just as God prescribed it.
This means doing whatever God asks without reservation or hesitation.

God smiles when we praise and thank him continually

"The righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy."

God smiles when we use our abilities

Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an attitude of praise.

PDL #8 - Planned for God's Pleasure

2012-01-25T09:18:00.000+08:00

"The Lord takes pleasure in his people."

-Psalm 149:4a

God did not need to create you , but he chose to create you for his own enjoyment.
We exist for his benefit, his glory, his purpose, and his delight.
Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life.
Worship - bringing pleasure to God
Anything that you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship

"The Lord is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love"

Road Trip and Food Trip @ Liliw, Laguna

2012-01-24T18:00:00.000+08:00

January 22, 2012

Are you fond of shoes, sandals, and slippers? Wishing to have lots of them at a very cheap price? The place to be aside from Marikina is at Liliw -- a town well-known to be the shoe capital of Laguna.

My family decided to go on a road trip and spend the long weekend at Liliw, Laguna. We left our house at 7:30AM and was on the road for about 4 hours. It was sort of a long drive going to Liliw since we were not familiar with the place, it was all our first time there. Since it was already 11:30AM when we arrived at Liliw we decided to have lunch first. We dined at Arabela, a famous restaurant for tourists who are visiting this town. Arabela is known for its delicious pasta and pizza. Food is definitely good, and it they are all affordable.

Based on research, this restaurant was named after Ara and Bela, daughters of Bobby and Tonet Camello :) My sister and her kids ordered for Marinara, Baked Macaroni, and Mashed Potato.

Mashed Potato

Marinara - Php85.00

Baked Macaroni - Php80.00

My mom, cousin, and I ordered for Baby Back Beef, T-bone Steak, Baked Lasagna, and Grilled Fish in Caponata Sauce.

Baby Back Beef - Php230.00

T-bone Steak - Php260.00

Baked Lasagna - Php95.00

Grilled Fish in Caponata Sauce - Php200.00

For desert we had Strawberry Shake and Tiramisu Cake :)

Tiramisu - Php85.00


Strawberry Shake

After eating lunch, we immediately went shoes/sandals/slippers shopping. Everyone was so amazed to see a number of stores selling cheap footwear. But of course, I wasn't able to buy any because none fitted my "taste" and style. Afterwards, we headed to Lilio Church now known as Liliw Church.

Since I had a Katy Perry concert to attend, I had to drive back to Manila after visiting the church. It was a two and a half hours trip going back to Alabang. My trip to Liliw, Laguna was short but fun. Definitely, I'll be going back to see more of this place! :)

Other things to do when in this area: tour around Nagcarlan, try the famous pancit lucban, visit Pagsanjan Falls.

Arabela Cakes, Pastries, Pasta, Pizza and Coffee
503 Rizal Street, Liliw, Laguna
Mobile Number: +63 917 204 1447, +63 927 386 0639.
Telephone: +63 49 5632495

EDSAT Peeps, Thank You!

2012-01-17T09:18:00.000+08:00

When I was transferred to this project 5 months ago, it was as if I had no choice. I was disappointed to find out that my original project assignment has been moved to the end of 2012 Q1. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't complain and I was left with no choice except to follow my Manager's directions.

First few weeks with this project was like hell. The application was new to me and it was a bit difficult to learn. I also didn't like the way we were managed. There were days when the tasks were overflowing and they seem endless. But there were also days when we had nothing to do (literally nothing). Days passed and the situation wasn't getting any better. Still, I had no choice but to endure everything.

A few weeks later, the QA peeps of the project were transferred to our Alabang office where I had been reporting for a few months already. According to the Management, this setup would allow us to work more closely with each other. Plus, the connection in our Alabang office is much faster than the connection in our Makati office.

We started to have fun lunch and merienda breaks together. Each break was filled with jokes and happy stories. The office pantry was always filled with laughter when we're there. We always talk about out of town trips and food trips. And the best thing about our group is that we have one thing in common -- our love for good food. This, I think, is one of the reasons why we could get along really well with one another. We would go out of the office for lunch at days that we're craving for yummy lunch. Also, we would sometimes have food trips after office hours. The friendship that I was able to build with this group is really priceless. They were the ones who relieves my stressful mornings and afternoons at work. They were the reason why I always look forward to lunch and merienda breaks. Spending time with this group really makes me feel good all the time, simply because of the reason that they always make me happy.

Now that I have been pulled out of the project, I fear that I might not be able to spend my lunch or merienda breaks with them anymore. But of course, this is not the end. We are still in the same company even if we already have different projects. So to my EDSAT teammates, I would like to thank you for making my stay in this project bearable. Thank you for being my stress relievers. Thank you for the exciting stories and amazing experiences you've shared. With my 2 years stay in this company, I can proudly say that your the best teammates I've had. I hope that we could still have more fun filled food trips in the future! :)

Jim, Peewee, Le, Dolly, Mike, and Edan... thank you! :)

PDL #7 - The Reason for Everything

2012-01-16T14:23:00.001+08:00

"Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory."

-Romans 11:36

How can we bring glory to God:

By worshiping him.

Worship is our first responsibility to God.
Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving him, and giving ourselves to be used for his purpose.

By loving other believers.

Following Christ is not just a matter of believing; it also includes belonging and learning to love the family of God.

By becoming Christ like.

Once we are born into God's family, he wants us to grow to spiritual maturity.
Spiritual maturity us becoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act.

By serving others with our gifts.

God didn't give you your abilities for selfish purposes. They were given to benefit others, just as others were given abilities for your benefits.

By telling others about him.

PDL #6 - Life is a Temporary Assignment

2012-01-16T13:42:00.000+08:00

"I am here on earth for just a little while."

-Psalm 119:19

To make the best use of your life, you must never forget the following truths:

1. Life is extremely brief

2. Earth is only a temporary residence.

"Those in frequent contact with the things of the world should make good use of them without becoming attached to them, for this world and all it contains will pass away."

"The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever."

PDL #5 - Seeing Life from God's View

2012-01-16T10:58:00.000+08:00

How do you see your life?

Our perspective of life will influence how we invest our time, spend our money, use our talents, and value our relationships.

To fulfill the purposes God made for you, you will have to challenge conventional wisdom and replace it with the biblical metaphors of life.

Life on earth is a test.

God continually tests peoples character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty.
God constantly watches your response to people, problem, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather.
A very important test is how you act when you can't feel God's presence in your life.
"God keeps his promise and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you strength to endure it, and so provide you with the way out."

Life on earth is a trust.

We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we are here.
At the end of our life on earth, we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God entrusted us.

PDL #4 - Made to Last Forever

2012-01-12T17:32:00.002+08:00

"God's plans endure forever; his purposes last eternally"

God designed you, in his image, to live for eternity.
Our earthly body is just a temporary residence for our spirit.
Death is not your termination, but your transition to eternity, so there are eternal consequences to everything you do on earth.

PDL #3 - What Drives Your Life

2012-01-11T17:21:00.001+08:00

Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason.

Everyone's life is driven by something. The most common are:

1. Many people are driven by guilt.

***We are products of our past but we don't have to be prisoners of it.

2. Many people are driven by resentment and anger.

***Resentment always hurt you more that it does the person you resent.

3. Many people are driven by fear.

***Fear is a self imposed prison that will that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be.

4. Many people are driven by materialism.

***Possessions only provide temporary happiness.

5. Many people are driven by the need for approval.

***Those who follow the crowd usually gets lost in it.

Without God, life has no purpose, without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.

PDL #2 - You are Not an Accident

2012-01-09T17:30:00.002+08:00

"I am your Creator . You were in my care even before you were born."

-Isaiah 44:2

You are who you are for a reason.
You’re part of an intricate plan.
You’re a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God’s special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knit you together within the womb,
You’re just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God’s plan in mind,
And they bear the Master’s seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy.
And God wept that it hurt you so;
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you’d grow.

You are who you are for a reason.
You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod.
You are who you are , beloved,
Because there is a God!

-Russell Kelfer

PDL #1 - It All Starts with God

2012-01-09T15:06:00.004+08:00

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him"

-Colossians 1:16

If we want to know why we were placed in this planet, we must begin with God.
We are born by his purpose and for his purpose.
Focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. We must begin with God, our creator.

You exist because God wills that you exist.
You were made by God ans for God.
It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose...

To discover our purpose in life we must turn to God's word and not to the world's wisdom.
As the bible say, "It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for..."

Without God, life makes no sense.

First Saturday of 2012

2012-01-07T18:36:00.001+08:00

January 07, 2012 -- First Saturday of year 2012. Unfortunately, we were asked to come to work today since our project is already behind schedule. My office mates and I went to Alabang Town Center to eat lunch. Before eating, we were already looking for deserts we could bring to the office and eat while we are working. Here's what we bought.

Chocolate Caramel Cake

We bought the cake for Php50.00 only. It was too sweet because of the caramel topping but we were still able to finish it. Yummy! :)

Simot sarap! :)

Best Christmas Gift

2012-01-07T16:43:00.007+08:00

After I attended the B1G7 retreat, I became eager to have my own handy bible that I could bring anywhere. I thought it would be good to have one since I am attending a DGROUP session once a week in Makati. I am very happy to receive this as a Christmas present from a good friend of mine. This is indeed the best Christmas gift I received this 2011. Thank you Brian for giving me this very wonderful book. I will make time to read this! :)

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus

2012-01-02T14:57:00.002+08:00

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

SLE is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.

Causes

The underlying cause of autoimmune diseases is not fully known
SLE is much more common in women that in men. It may occur at any age but appears most often in people between 10 and 50. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races
SLE may also be caused by certain drugs

Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. Almost everyone with SLE has joint pain and swelling. Some develop arthritis. Frequently affected joints are fingers, hands, wrists and knees.
Other common symptoms include:

Chest pain when taking a deep breath
Fatigue
Fever with no other cause
General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
Hair loss
Mouth sores
Sensitivity to sunlight
Skin rash -- a "butterfly" rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose which can get worse in sunlight
Swollen lymph nodes

Treatment

There is no cure for SLE. The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms
Mild disease may be treated with:

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) treat athritis and pleurisy
Corticosteroid creams to treat skin rashes
An anti-malaria drug (hydroxychloroquine) and low dose corticosteroids for skin and arthritis symptoms

Wear protective clothing, sun glasses, and sunscreen when in the sun

Prognosis

How well a person does depends on the severity of the disease
The outcome for people with SLE has improved in recent years. Many people with SLE have mild synptoms
Women with SLE who become pregnant are often able to carry safely to tern and deliver a healthy infant, as long as they do not have severe kidney or heart disease and the SLE is being treated appropriately. However, the presence of SLE antibodies may increase the risk of pregnancy loss

Complications

SLE causes damage to many different parts of the body, including:

Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Destruction of red blood cells or anemia
Fluid around the heart or inflammation of the heart
Fluid around the lungs and damage to the lung tissue
Pregnancy complications, including miscarriage
Stroke
Severely low blood platelets
Inflammation of the blood vessels

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001471/

DLSU Christmas Dinner 2011

2012-01-01T11:23:00.001+08:00

December 30, 2011

It is a yearly tradition of my La Salle barkada to have a dinner get together before the year ends. We must admit that most of us are busy with our own lives but we still make it to a point that we have an activity like this every year. For me, this is one of the events I look forward to each year because this is usually the only time that I see my La Salle barkada and do all the catching ups that we have to do.

2011's dinner get together is a bit different since only a few could make it. Two of our friends are already working in Singapore. One was able to go home here in the Philippines but the other is celebrating both Christmas and New Year in SG. Others were not able to make it because they have other plans on this day.

This year, we decided to have dinner at Serendra, Bonifacio Global City. Our choice of restaurant was Zao which serves Vietnamese food. Even though we were few, we were still able to enjoy dinner! :)

My beloved La Salle friends :)

Richmond. Edan. Gretz. Francis. Grace. Dave. Donna. Karlo

After dinner at Zao, we decided to have coffee at Seattle's Best Coffee, Bonifacio High Street. This was indeed a very fun night with my La Salle friends. Cheers to our lifelong friendship! Hoping to spend more time with all of you! :)

Cheers to our lifelong friendship!

Karlo. Dave. Richmond

Dave. Donna. Richmond. Grace

Pretty ladies with Dave

Pretty ladies with Richmond

Donna. Edan. Grace. Gretz


Edan. Gretz. Francis. Karlo

Someone Like You

2011-12-21T14:59:00.002+08:00

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)

2011-12-09T19:09:00.003+08:00

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)

2011-12-05T18:19:00.005+08:00

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

2011-12-02T19:02:00.002+08:00

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

2011-11-30T17:16:00.003+08:00

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

2011-11-28T12:00:00.003+08:00

November 23, 2011

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

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

2011-11-27T17:58:00.002+08:00

November 22, 2011

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:

Banana milk - a delicious drink that can be bought at any convenient store
Bibimbap - a Korean dish which literally means "mixed dish"; it is white rice topped with seasoned vegetables, chili pepper paste, and raw egg.
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

2011-11-27T17:10:00.002+08:00

November 21, 2011

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

2011-11-26T17:32:00.002+08:00

November 20, 2011

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

2011-11-25T16:34:00.002+08:00

November 19, 2011

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

2011-03-13T15:54:00.003+08:00

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

2011-03-06T15:49:00.004+08:00

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

2011-02-15T15:46:00.005+08:00

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.