A Good Lesson on Love..

To the Almost Hopeless, Hopeless and Loveless..

This is an excerpt form Paulo Coelho's book: By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept..
"....But love is always new. Regardless of whether we love once, twice or a dozen times in our life, we always face a brand-new situation. Love can consign us to hell or paradise, but it always takes us somewhere. We simply have to accept it, because it is what nourishes our existence. If we reject it, we die of hunger, because we lack the courage to stretch out a hand and pluck the fruit from the branches of the tree of life. We have to take love where we find it, even if that mean hours, days, weeks of disappointment and sadness.
The moment we begin to seek love, love begins to seek us.
And save us....."

Beautiful words of hope.. This has given me a brand new outlook on love..

I am a Magnet of Committed Men

I do not know really what is with me, but men who are currently committed tend to fall for me. Why can't I be a magnet of single men? Why committed guys?

Celebrating My 25th Birthday..

"Go, go, go shawty....It's your birthday...We gonna party like it's yo birthday...We gonna sip Bacardi like it's your birthday..."

Hey, I turned 25 today, and I don't feel like a day over 23! hahahah! My age went from 18, skipped a few years and now, I'm 23, hahahah!

Absynth Celebration, January 13-14, 2005

Gerry's Grill Celebration, January 21, 2005







MPRH Celebration, January 22, 2005

My Guy..

Some of my friends say, I like bad boys daw, some say I like the boy-next-door kind.. Well, I am pretty confused. Sometimes I do like the bad boy, sometimes, I do like the boy-next-door..

Actually, physically, I am attracted to the boy-next-door type, the crisp white shirt, the well kept trendy hair, the fair-colored skin..

However, with the "trend" I've been having (all my exes seem to have similar qualities except for one), I seem to like the bad boy type.. The unruly hair (but definitely not dirty!), the manly color, and the "cool-guy" look..

But it's just physical, I don't want to limit my options by defining something that will change eventually.. For now, I am dealing with things one day at a time (or should I say, one man at a time! hahaha!! I wish!) (",)

I read this from a bulletin board message in friendster.. I think its really nice.. Read on..

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

HOW 2 KIP UR GIRL IN LUV WITH YOU

• Play with her hair.
• Talk to her in movie theatres. Snuggle, Hold her hand, and lightly kiss her.
• Pick her up and pretend you're going to throw her in the river; she'll scream and fight you but secretly, she'll love it.
• Hold her hand and walk. Hold her hand and run. Just hold her hand.
• Pick flowers from other peoples Yards and give them to her.
• Tell her she looks beautiful. Introduce her to your friends as "The most amazing girl I know''.
• Sit in the park and talk to her.
• Take her to the library, ice skating, playgrounds, and coffee shops.
• Tell her dirty jokes. Tell her stupid jokes...Whatever it takes to make her Laugh.
• Write poems and songs about her.
• Walk with her, even if its just around the block. Throw pebbles at her window at night. Surprise her.
• Do things that make her smile, make her laugh, and make her want to kiss you right on the face.
• Be spontaneous. When she starts yelling at you, tell her you love her. Give her back rubs. Play mud football with her. Play in the snow with her. (How I wish we have snow here..)
• Let her fall asleep in your arms.
• Call her... even if its just to say hi. Call her back right away if she calls you.
• Jump on the bed with her.
• Sing to her, no matter how bad you are.
• Carve your names into a tree.
• Get her mad, and then kiss her. (Really cute! I really recommend this!)
• Give her piggy-back rides.
• Stay up with her all night.
• Leave her little unexpected notes.. on the car, or on her door, or in her locker saying how much she means to you.
• Take her to romantic places and lay out blankets to look at the stars*.
• Make up nicknames for each other.
• Show up at her school or class unexpectedly.
• Send flowers and dorky notes that only you two understand.
• Teach her guitar. Lend her your cds.
• Make her cds of songs that remind you of her. Write her letters.
• If she asks you to go to a show with her, go, even if it means a 5-hour car trip. Go out on a road trip even if theres no destination or you cant be gone long.
• Take her to cool shops, and let her take you to even cooler ones.
• Listen to her favorite songs.
• When shes sad or sick, hang out with her or stay on the phone with her, even if shes not saying anything. Buy her ice cream.
• Let her take all the pictures of you she wants. Look into her eyes.
• Slow dance with her, even if the music is fast.
• Kiss her in the rain. Kiss her in the snow... Kiss her when she least expects it. And always tell her "I love you!"....

Year 2004 - The Year that was.. The Year of the Monkey

We'll I only realized this 2nd day of January that the previous year was the year of the monkey, and I was born on the year of the monkey..

I have a few things to be thankful for last year, some of them are as follows:

• I finally graduated. I completed my Master's Degree on Engineering, Major in Computer and Communications
• I completed the CCNA course
• I passed the CCNA Certification Exams
• I became a regular employee (faculty) of Mapua Tech
• I gained and lost weight
• Most important of all, I know that in troubled times, I can always rely on my siblings and my closest, truest friends..

'Twas an interesting year, time has passed so quickly, and in a few days, I will be a year older again.. Haayyy...

A Love Letter for an Old Friend, an Old Love

Dear You,

Getting over you was the hardest thing I ever have to do. You knew almost everything about me. Well, almost.. I don't think you knew how much you meant to me. That you were my world, my life, the air I breathed in, the fire that kept my passion burning. You knew of my passion but never its intensity. I sacrificed my values, principles and some things I believed in because I was inlove with you, because I valued our "relationship" very much. I believed you when you made that promise of "As soon as.." and I waited. But you never came back. Now, I see that you are happy in the arms of someone else. I have to admit at first I was bitter, but I accepted it all, that my love for you was stronger that the feeling of hatred. Still, I could not accept the fact that you never came back, that you fell in love with someone else and left me all alone.

But that was then. Everything's different now, time has healed all the wounds that this love has caused. And I want to thank you for the experience. For the joys and pain. For opening my eyes to a whole new world.

Yes I am still alone, but I am happy. I do not know when I'll fall in love again. You came in to my life so unexpectedly, maybe the next one will arrive the same way you did, but I hope this time, not in the same circumstances we were in.

I still want you to know something, maybe because my conscience has bothered me about this for a long time, I neve replaced you with that other guy, he was helping me deal with the pain. HE NEVER TOOK YOUR PLACE in my heart. Everything was untrue. It was a false romance. What you saw between me and that guy was a show. Nothing more.

I bid farewell to you old friend, because I had let go of all my feelings for you. I wish you the same happiness that you were able to bring me, as I hope you wish the same happiness for me too. God bless always..

The memory of us will always be with me.. Take care..

Baby

Goodbye Jerry

Our friend Jerry died on Christmas day. We lost him to cancer. 'Twas a sad Christmas for his family and the barkada.

Jerry Boy, whereever you are, please guide us, we will surely miss you.

Wild "Wild Manila" Experience!

The wild ride began at 4am. My stupidity and laziness got the best of me.... I have been experiencing a lot of problems with my car's keyless entry. Sad to say, I was too lazy to go to the mall and have the battery replaced. The team should be at the venue by 6am, and I was suppose to help my friends bring their bikes, unfortunately, the battery of my keyless entry was drained, and I could not open my car, so they had to bring their bikes to the venue via a cab.. I had to wait for stores to open in Raon so I can have the battery replaced. I accomplished this task at 9:30am. We caught up with the team in Quezon City, when one of them was having trouble with his bike. Then the wild ride really began..

We went to La Mesa Dam, Ateneo University, Marikina River Banks, back to Quezon City (Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife), then to Manila, Old Film Center, Makati (Libingan ng mga Bayani), and the Makati Park. Rain went down on and off that day, so the team was covered with mud and dust by the end of the day.. The wild ride ended at around 9pm.

This experience has been very much fun for me because I able to tour Manila and Quezon City.. It was truly a wild ride! (",)

Evil PPGs / Mean PPGs

If we are lucky, at one point in our lives, we will find friends who will remain honest and true to us. Whether the truth will hurt us or not, what is important is that they tell it to us straight, without sugarcoating, just the plain truth. I am very much blessed to have found this honesty, in my two bestfriends. Collectively, we call ourselves the EVIL PPGs. hehehe..

Why are we evil, not really to the truest sense of the word, we just have opinions on things that others may think that are too harsh or mean. But like I said earlier, we tell it like it is. Just the plain and brutal reality. If they can't handle it, we can not do anything about it. HAHAHA!

Gimik Pictures!

These pictures were taken a few weeks ago, we went to Elements (over at Greenbelt) for a bit of dancing (or should I say, a lot of dancing!) then to Seattle's Best Coffee for some chit chat before heading home..

We had a lot of fun that night.. (",)

I got sick (again!) Hahaha!
Well, I'm sick again, I thought I will not get sick if I get wet by a little drizzle. Well, I was wrong. Now, I am down with the sniffles and a little fever. Just when the finals are comin' round. Haay..

KARMA

What you send out will come back to you times 3...

A friend is sick with cancer. Another friend suggested that we help. I have to admit, I am selfish, but I am selfish with reason. If I believe that one is less fortunate than I am, and he/she can not do something about it, I give what I can.

I am most blessed this year. And I have been inspired by the passage I wrote above. Even during times when I had very little to spare, I sacrificed myself so I can help those who are not as "lucky" as I am.

We can not put a price on charity. Its the feeling inside of us that makes a difference.

Sacrifice is the key. It is not how much we share, it's about how much we sacrificed to share.

Let us be less selfish. It's the holiday season. It's time to share. It is a different kind of high. A different kind of fulfillment.

Update!

(Cheers!)
On Losing Weight
I posted the other day that I lost weight. It took a lot of hard work and patience. I've tried so many things before, but I only lost weight through a disciplined diet and exercise. I once was teased that I am really pretty only if I lost weight. Actually, losing weight is what I am most afraid of. People will really see the real me, that I am really not pretty.. What a fear!?!?!
On Falling In Love
Another fear.. I fell in love once already and it is really a risk to fall in love again, for me, it means that I am giving the person a chance to hurt me, to disappoint me.. On a positive note, I am giving myself a chance to share my life with someone, be happy with someone (although I am happy by myself)... But there are risks that are worth taking, for now, I am pretty sure we are happy with what we have with each other. (",)

I lost weight. I am happy. (",)

A sad but cute story of love and playing with love...
Peter and Tina are sitting in the park doing nothing, but just gazing into the sky, while all their friends are having fun with their beloved half.

Tina: I'm so bored. Just wish I have a boyfriend now to spend time with.
Peter: I guess we're the only leftovers. We're the only person who isn't with a date now. (both sigh n silence for a while)
Tina: I think I have a good idea. Lets play a game
Peter: Eh? What game?
Tina: Eem..It's quite simple. You be my boyfriend for 100 days and I'll be your girlfriend for 100 days. what do you think?
Peter: Oookay..Anyway I don't have any plan for the next few months.
Tina: You sound like you aren't looking forward to it at all. Cheer up. Today will be our first day and our first date. Where should we go?
Peter: What about a movie? I heard that there is a really great movie in theater now.
Tina: Seems like I don't have any better idea than this. Lets move. (went to watch their movies and sent each other home)

Day 2: Peter and Tina went to a concert together, and Peter bought Tina a keychain with a star.

Day 3: They went shopping together for a friend's birthday present. Share an ice-cream together and hugged each other for the first time.

Day 7: Peter drove Tina up onto a mountain and they watch the sunset together. When the night came and the moon glowed, they said sat on the grass gazing at the stars together. A meteor passed by. Tina mumbled something.

Day 25: Spend time at a themepark and got onto rollercoasters, and ate hotdogs and cotton candy. Peter and Tina got in the haunted house and Tina grabbed someone's hand instead of Peter's hand by accident. They laughed together for a while.

Day 67: They drove pass a circus and decided to get in to watch the show. The midget asked Tina to play a part as his assistant in the magic show. Went around to see other entertainments around after the show. Came to a fortune teller and she just said "Treasure every moment from now on" and a tear rolled down the fortune teller's cheek.

Day 84: Tina suggested that they go to the beach. The beach wasn't so crowded that day. They have their first kiss with each other just as the sun is setting.

Day 99: They decided to have a simple day and is deciding to have a walk around the city. They sits down onto a bench.

1:23 pm
Tina: I'm thirsty. Lets rest for a while first.
Peter: Wait here while I go buy some drinks. What would you like?
Tina: Eem...Apple juice will be just fine.

1:43 pm Tina waiting for about 20 minutes and Peter havent return. Then someone walked up to her.
Stranger: Is your name Tina?
Tina: Yes, and may I help you?
Stranger: Just now down there on the street a drunk driver has crashed into a guy. I think its your friend.
Tina ran over to the spot with the stranger and sees Peter lying on the floor with blood over his face and her apple juice still in his hands. The ambulance came and she went to the hospital with Peter. Tina sat outside the emergency room for five and a half hours. The doctor came out, and he sigh.

11:51 pm
Doctor: I'm sorry, but we did the best we could. He is still breathing now but God would take him away from us very soon. We found this letter inside his pocket.
The doctor hands over the letter to Tina and she goes into the room to see Peter. He look weak but peaceful. Tina read the letter and then she burst into tears.

Here is what the letter said. >>Tina, our 100 days is almost over. I had fun with you during all these days. Although you may be greedy sometimes and less thoughtful, but these all brought happiness into my life. I have realize that you are a really cute girl and blamed myself for never taken the time to knowing that. I have nothing much to ask for, but I just wish that we can extend the day. I want to be your boyfriend forever and wish that you can be beside me all the time. Tina, I love you.

11:58 Tina: (sobbing) Peter. Did you know what was the wish I made on the night there was a meteor. I asked God to let us last forever. We were suppose to last 100 days so Peter! You can't leave me! I LOVE YOU, but can you come back to me now? I love you Peter. I LOVE YOU.

As the clock struck twelve, Peter's heart stopped beating. It was 100 days.

Weddings
Weddings always make me cry. I hope tomorrow, at Leah's Wedding, I may fight the urge to cry.
Why do weddings make me cry? Well, maybe because weddings are full of hope. Maybe because when we marry someone, we forget what he/she has done in the past and we look forward to the future. Maybe because its an expression of love, it may be one-way, but it is still an expression of love (Athough I have never been to a wedding that the couple was forced to marry each other). Maybe because I see parents, genuinely hoping and praying for the success of their children's success. Whatever the reason, I shed tears because it makes me genuinely happy.
I hope the wedding tomorrow will be a success. I am again on the verge of getting sick, I have a sore throat and a throbbing headache. And the fact that we still have to travel 8 hours tonight is not going to help my situation. I do hope I get better tonight. (",)

Graduation
I've finally graduated! I am now Engr. Tiong, Master of Engineering, Major in Computer and Communications, also Master of Reporting! Ha! Why did I say so? I can count in one hand the courses that I took in the program that didn't require me to report on a topic of choice or present answers to problems assigned to us by our professors.
Anyway, graduating from the Masters also signifies something else, it means that I have to move on from the academe to the industry. I've promised myself even before I graduate from college, that I will attend graduate school before moving on to the industry. Why then am I having a hard time moving on? Well, I've made friends and I have been given great opportunities. That's why I am feeling rotten about the whole "moving on" thing. I don't want to be ungrateful, I never asked for anything, it was willfully given to me, because of my qualifications not because of friendship. But what’s really buggin’ me is the fact that I am not happy with what I am doing anymore, I am not built to teach.

An Inspiring Story
One thing I learned from this story is to never accept payment for kindness... Read on...

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He d rank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied.
"Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side as she read these words.....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."

MULI (again)
I love this song, to listen, click here

Maybe because I can relate, but basically I like it because this was sung by my favorite singer of all time, Miss Regine Velasquez

MULI
Muling hinahanap
Ang dating paglingap na mula sa'yo
Muling umaasa
Sa dating nadaramang laan sa'yo
Mula ng magwakas, tapusin ang lahat
Ay naritong nagmamahal pa rin
Pa'no kaya maibabalik
Ang damdamin mong dati

'Di ba't ikaw pa
Unang may nais na tapusin na
Habang panahon
Pinilit limutin ka hanggang ngayon
Mula ng magwakas, tapusin ng lahat
Hindi maikakailang ikaw pa rin
Papa'no kaya maibabalik Ang hangaring dati

Refrain:
Ba't di nagkatagpo
Bakit tuloy nagkalayo
Bakit mayro'n pang nadarama
Gayong hindi na tayong dalawa
Bakit magwawakas
Pag-ibig na wagas
Ma'ri bang mangyari pang
Ibigin pang...Muli

Kung muling iibigin
H'wag sanang lisanin nang tulad noon
Pagluha'y di na kaya
H'wag na sanang isipin nang tulad gayon

Hanggang sa nagwakas,
Natapos ang lahat
Ay naritong nagmamahal pa rin
Paano pa ba maibabalik
Ang hangaring dati
(Ma'ri pa kayang muli....)

REFRAIN:
Ba't di nagkatagpo
Bakit tuloy nagkalayo
Bakit mayro'n pang nadarama
Gayong hindi na tayong dalawa
Bakit magwawakas
Pag-ibig na wagas
Ma'ri bang mangyari pang
Ibigin pang...
Muli

Nandito lang ako
(bago lumayo sa pilling mo)
Higit kang kailangan kailan man
(hanggang kailan kaya naman)
Mahala kita (tila) hanap ka (sana)
(tunay kaya ito)
Minsan pang bigyan ng daan
Pag-ibig na sa'yo nakalaan

REFRAIN:
Ba't di nagkatagpo
Bakit tuloy nagkalayo
Bakit mayro'n pang nadarama
Gayong hindi na tayong dalawa
Bakit magwawakas
Pag-ibig na wagas
Ma'ri bang mangyari pang
Ibigin pang...
Muli