Yey!! Ok na ako sa Second Place, at least we are consistent!!! Hehehe.. There's no way to go but up di ba! SAYA! Icing on top, I was awarded Model Instructor. hahaha.. di ko akalain! waaah!

MEEE!!! Ngarag, kakatapos lang magdinner, kakadating lang
from the Skills Competition in HAU

Kenneth Garcia: Model Student

Angelito Carpio: Fourth Highest Individual Scorer (wala lang recognition)

Kenneth Garcia: Second Highest Individual Scorer

John Mark Cornilla: Highest Individual Scorer

Losing Weight and Getting Sick

Good News! I lost 7 pounds in almost a week! Yey me! hehe..

For all weight-watchers, I found this ultra-COOOOOOOL sight where members motivate each other, give tips on maintaining, losing or gaining weight. Visit www.belletoday.com. It is so cool and very helpful. And you have an online weight tracker and a BMI calculator. You can blog about your diet and keep a food journal. I really found it real helpful. Hey, add me when you sign up.

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

Bad News! I am sick. Not because of dieting, I caught a virus, I have the sniffles. Hopefully, will not develop to a bad cough. The sniffles has been bugging me since early this morning, my head hurt and tonight, I didn't have the appetite to eat. Hmmm... Is it because I am feeling sick or my eating habits have changed? hahaha.. Hopefully, its the latter... (",)

'Til They Take My Heart Away

Eto na naman, nag eemote na naman ako.. It's been a long time since I last felt this way. Ang sakit sa puso. kaasar.

I will love you, 'til they take my heart away...

OO. Birthday Ko Nga. Na Naman. haha..

This year it's different, my birthday means so much more. Like an end of an era. I have so many things to look forward to this year that I really don't have the time to be emotional about it. I am actually excited. This year will be the last year that my age will start with the number 2. HAHAHA! Yes, I am turning 29 on Wednesday. And I've never been more excited! So much has happened in the first 3 weeks of this year and I believe more is expected!

In my 29 years, I never felt more accomplished, more satisfied and more at peace with myself. Finding the Lord has helped so much with this new found appreciation for life and people. I love my family, friends and my job. Although its very tiring, its ok, because the more difficult tasks I complete, the more rewarding the job becomes. Don't get me wrong, I still get tired! I just realized that its just a matter of perspective. hahaha!

On the day of my birthday, I will not go to work, maybe I'll stay at home or go to Tagaytay to spend some precious ME time. So, to all my students, my birthday will be a break for you, to all my friends, I'll just text you the time and day when I'll see you and to God, thank you for the 29 wonderful years! Cheers!!

Christmas Breakfast in Tagaytay Year 2!!

This is our second year to celebrate Christmas morning together, but its a little different, we had "1+1" additions to the "family", one is Mina (in 2007 she was in Japan), and the other is inside Janine's tummy (although we were quite unsure that there's life already in her tummy! hehe!)

As usual, after eating, we spent almost an hour capturing jump shot, mas masaya ngayon kasi 5 kami! as usual, di pa din ako marunong ngumiti pag tumatalon! hahaha.. Enjoy the pictures!!

I am Thankful to God for....

Pastor Paolo gave us an assignment last Sunday in church, which is to write all the things that we are thankful for the year 2008. Instead of writing just a list, I thought I'd be writing God a letter of the things I am thankful for this year and things that I will be thankful for next year! Hahaha.. Here it goes...

Dear God,

I pray to you this New Year's eve to thank you for a wonderful 2008 and the gift of more years to come. Here are the list of people, list and circumstances that I am thankful for this 2008.

1. I want to thank the Lord Jesus Christ for being born, to save me from all of my sins. Everyday I am thankful for this wonderful gift of LIFE!

2. Thank you Lord for my FAMILY. Though we still experienced problems (financially, emotionally and physically), we still made it through, together we battled these problems, as a family we remain strong. I thank you for my sister Angel, who has been a powerful "wind beneath my wings" in times when I lose all my strength to continue "flying". Thank you for my brother Sonny, for being the tough voice inside my head, for all the criticisms and ideas and the endless sermon/advice he's been giving me regarding my career. For my parents, who have been supportive with my decisions and with my actions, I truly admire their strength despite having a "pasaway" daughter like me. I am also thankful for my Yaya, Ate Josephine, who has been with us since I was 7, for staying with us and returning to us inspite of and despite of the "characters" at home. I may not say it often to them, but I truly love them.

3. I thank you Jesus for the gift of FRIENDS. We may have different goals at this point in our lives, different views on things, and different priorities, but despite of it all, we remain true friends, sharing burden, always offering a hand or a shoulder to lean on. My two bestfriends, Janine and Mina, who are really blessings, I thank them for keeping me grounded, and being the honest mirror when my views have become clouded with dilussions. Leslie Boy, who has been very patient with Mina and I, for putting up with our "kalokahan ever".

4. I thank God for my officemates and "bosses", (Ate Nalen, Kuya Don, Sir Glen, Sir Gel, Sir Jun, Mam Jen, Mam Flor, Sir Gardo, Luis, Kenneth, Angelo, Jec, Eka, Pat, Wil, Jack, Jas, Ronald) for the opportunity to work with them, the challenge of the job itself and the endless fun time we have even if its really "work - time". Thank God for the times that I've complained that I have so much work to do, it just means that I have a job while others don't.

5. Thank you Lord for understanding students, in times that I've been busy or sick.

6. I thank God for all the material things that I was able to buy this year. My new shoes, bags, clothes, new flip mobile phone, my laptop, endless maintenance of my Toyota, and my trip to Singapore. I thank you Lord for the wonderful people who accomodated me in Singapore. I thank Mike and Diane for their patience and super hospitality; for Diane's Mom, who treated us like one of her children; Reggie, Delfin, James, Jhennie, Chay, Joanne and Hazel for being accomodating in Singapore!

7. I am also thankful for the accidents that happened to me this year, all of which are NOT FATAL. Thank God that no one was hurt, except for my car, huhuhu! I am sure Lord that you will provide for the repairs of my car.

8. Eventhough I was hospitalized this year, I am thankful that the heart problem I had was not serious. I am thankful that the ailment I had can and will be cured in just a matter of time.

9. Lord I am also thankful for my other friends, Benjiegirl, Sharon, Sun, Bam, Elmer, Nino, Deuel, Leo, Angelo, Cris, and other unnamed friends (MPRH), for entertaining me when I need "entertaining". Hahaha!! Thank you Lord for Richard, he is one of the kind souls who "re-introduced" me to you, for being an inspiration, that like him, I can return to your side and leave my "old" life. I am thankful for my spiritual family, Vanessa, Ronald, Romeo, Aileen and nameless friends who have prayed for my during my rebirth.

10. Lastly, I am thankful for the simple things in life, for the clothes on my back, for the shelter I live in, for the food that I eat. I have all the things that I need to live and all the people that I love with me.

Lord, as the year comes to a close, I'd like to be thankful for the things, opportunities and people you will share, give and introduce me to in the year 2009. I'd like to thank you in advance! You know what my heart truly desires and in your good time, I know you will grant me those. Thank you Lord and I love you so much.

Your daughter,
Maruth (",)

Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift

I just want to vent... So here it is, this is me venting!!! WWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Teardrops On My Guitar Llyrics

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I need down everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without

Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's just so funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.

Sidenote: Mina, don't react ever!!! Let's keep this between us. Janine, if you want to know, ask Mina. It's too sad to recall! Haay!!!

Love the color BLUE!!!

Yey!! new banner, new set of colors.. same old picture.. hahaha!!!

"I'll Take Care Of You" Platinum Edition (Richard Poon)

Available in your favorite record bars! Also available in digital downloads. Just login to: www.fliptunes.net.

So sorry if I posted an autographed CD. But if you want an autographed CD (and a limited edition poster!) as well, maybe you should check out this awesome promo:

My First Ever Personally Customized Multiply Site

Yey!! At long last! After several months of promising myself that I will do this, I followed through and finished it! Hahaha!!! Thanks so much to the people who helped me!
1. Angelo C: for the photoshop tutorials
2. Don Y: for the honest opinions
3. My Students: for the patience with the laborious lab activities I assigned them yesterday (so I can finally finish this!); and
4. Ms. Regine Garcia: for the inspiration that I can still learn if I wanted to..

It started out with a problem that I wanted to solve in RP's site. But I thought, since I am doing my services for him for FREE, why not tinker with my own site first then edit his site later??? Hahaha!! I've put my site on hold because I've been busy (read: using up my free time) doing uploads, edits, updates with his site. (For sure, he'll understand! hahaha!) (",)

I know, I know, its so vain of me to put my picture (a big one for that matter) in the banner but this happens to be my site, so just take it! hahaha! If you are using Mozilla (with the Web builder add-on), you'll see the CSS codes I made, its absolutely messy! I am too old to remember most things so I made sure I remember them by inserting tags. I love the color BLUE but I found it a bit boring so I used my two other favorite colors, RED and PINK, definitely too GIRLY! hahahaha...

I am still in the process of editing this, so your constructive criticisms are most welcome!

Good day you all!!

PS: I am just and STILL a hobbyist. I am not planning on making money out of this if I even learn almost everything that needs to be learned. We should never stop learning!

MITECCEAA Raffle Winners

To those who bought tickets from any MITECCEAA officer, friend or supporter:

Here are the winners of the MITECCEAA raffle held last November 15 on the occasion of the 2008 Alumni Homecoming:
First Prize: PS3, Ruel Dalman, solicited by Joan de Guzman of IECEP
Second Prize: Nintendo Wii, Richard Marave, solicited by IECEP
Third Prize: IPod touch, Renann Baldovino, solicited by Mercy Manila
Fourth Prize: PSP, Tristan Joseph Magpantay, solicited by tropang MPRH
Fifth Prize: Nintendo DS Lite, Juanita Sebuano, solicited by Glenn Avendano
Sixth Prize: DVD Player with built-in TV tuner, Analene Bustamante, solicited by James Monasterial
Seventh Prize: Fujitsu Handy Drive, Allan Borja, solicited by ECE GC Class
Eighth Prize: Video Camera, Mark Pingul, solicited by Marc Cabrera
Ninth Prize: Nokia Cell phone, Michael Vicera, solicited by Emma-Ruth Tiong
Tenth Prize: Digital Camera, Amerlito Tiongco, solicited by Anna Suzette Pastrana

Congratulations!!!

Saturday Habit...

Since my accident in August, my Saturdays have become boring, as I am too traumatized to return to Off the Grill in Timog to watch my favorite band, 7th Soul. So for the first few weeks, I was bummed out that I was not doing anything on Saturdays. I would text Mina and ask her to go out malling with me but I soon got tired of going out during the day because there would be so much people running around the malls, also doing nothing. Soon, I also got tired of going to the mall. I didn't know what to do. One wise man told me to take a look at my life and just figure out what needs changing, maybe I needed a change. The only constant thing in this world is change, so why not jump into the bandwagon? hahaha! And in the very short time of "reflection", I realized, I needed something that no mall, no band and no friends could ever provide, I needed REST! I needed ME-TIME!

For the last 3 Saturdays, I devoted the entire day to ME! Just pampering myself at HOME, doing nothing, mostly SLEEPING all DAY! I just wake up to eat, then watch 30 minutes of TV and then go back to sleep! And the rest was really good for me. I had more energy on Sundays, that I was able to attend Church in Galleria on one Sunday and in Imus on another. I was able to devote more time for daily reflection during the week and had more energy for work. I even look forward to Mondays! Not going out on Saturdays has its perks after all! (",)

MY VISUAL DNA

Vote for REGINE GARCIA's Multiply Theme!

Friends, MULTIPLY-ers, please vote for Regine Garcia's Multiply Theme. A very young designer (as in: college) who's very very very talented! (grabe, very talaga!)
You can cast your votes here: http://customizedthemes.multiply.com/journal/item/384.
Her entry is number 5, entitled: imagining art. I hope you like it as much as I do! (",)

Appreciating Life's Daily 'Gifts'

Some people would consider themselves unlucky if these things happen to them in a day:

1. Wake up early to charge the mobile phone only to find out that the charger is missing
2. Due to persistent rummaging for the missing charger, went out of the house ten minutes late, must be in the office before 7am to avoid getting caught by the police because its "color-coding" day
3. On "color-coding" day, 20 minutes before 7am, car breaks down because of "overheating" in the middle of Roxas Boulevard
4. Five minutes before 7am, just finished filling up the car with water at the gas station, nervous of the lurking police, still a kilometer away from the office
5. Ate lunch alone
6. Going home, in a street that has no "no right turn on red light" sign, way past 7pm, police stops you and asks for your license. The people you are trying to avoid that morning are the very same people you meet in the evening, only giving you a ticket for a different offense.
7. Just when you thought that the car is fine, you hear weird noises in the engine, so you had it checked in the nearest gas station again. You find out that the car's engine oil ran low, the reason why the car overheated in the first place.
8. Spent 600 pesos for the car's engine oil.

These things happened to me, all in one day. I know it sucks. But the whole day that I was experiencing these "unlucky" things, I became concious of God's presence with me. How?? Here's how:

1. My other phone beeped and I cheked if the batteries on my phone that had low charge were the same. Viola! The battery of my other phone was similar and I have the charger to this phone, so I just switched batteries. Problem solved!
2. Eventhough I went out late, I was in time for "buhos" (counterflow), so I was in Manila wih 20 minutes to spare.
3. Although my car stopped in the middle of Roxas Boulevard, it started again and I was able to reach the gas station and have it filled up with water.
4. Five minutes before 7am, all stop lights were GREEN so I made it in time! whew!
5. Since I had to eat lunch alone, I went to the canteen to buy food, I was able to buy a complete meal: protein, veggies and dessert! yey!!
6. The policeman knew I know the law, and I was willing to get myself a ticket, and he sort of knew that I was going to contest it in City Hall, so he let me go.
7. The strange noise from the car's engine was a warning, the noise informed me to have the engine oil level checked!
8. Six hundred pesos is nothing compared to the accident that may have happened because of my car!

So you see, it's not at all bad! I used to ask God why I experienced such bad things in my life, even worse than the things that happened to me yesterday, but now, I don't think I have to ask Him anymore. It's a matter of perspective. Yesterday, I became conscious of the fact God will always be with me through these "unlucky" times, and I am just as sure that He will carry me through worse in the future! Keep the faith because God is also faithful!

My Singapore Trip Pictures (and a little bit of travel logs..)

At last!! After 2 months, I finally found the time to upload the pictures of my trip (thanks to Mike's, Sir Glen's and my bro's camera). I was too lazy to put them in several albums, so here it is.. Enjoy!! Comments are most welcome! (",)

Day One: torTOURe walk... My first ride (of many rides) in the MRT and the bus! Super astig!! One card for all your transportation needs. Saya! Rode the Flyer, super na afraid ako sa taas!! waah!! The best part: bonding with friends! super enjoy even if we were really tired of walking the whole day!

Day Two: Shopping day. Went to Bugis, Sim Lim, and Funan to buy some electronics and pasalubong. That night, we ate at Gluttons Bay (near Marina Square), super gluttony talaga (treat nila!).. Super dami ng food! Went to see the Merlion, too band, they turn off the water pala at 11pm. Saktong 11 pm kami nakarating sa Merlion park, so no more water! haha.. After pictures, went to Starbucks, mahal dun ah! D na ako umorder because I didn't want to stay up late. The best part: food trip and catching up with friends in Singapore!

Day Three: Sentosa Day! Rode the 3D and 4D rides, and of course, ang Luge! super fun!! Had fun at the beach without going swimming. Waited for the "songs of the sea" at the beach instead. Ate my first ever Ben and Jerry's ice cream. yumyum!! The best part: before we rode the train to Sentosa, we shopped at Vivo City and bought a lot of shirts from (where else??) Giordano! haha..

Day Four: Zoo Day. Jurong Bird Park in the afternoon, Singapore Zoo in the late afternoon and Night Safari at night. Jurong Bird Park was fun, I saw a lot (as in a lot!) of birds, I was really amazed at the colors of the birds! I was not able to tour the entire Singapore Zoo because it was about to close but what I saw was enough. We met Hazel and Joanne for dinner (treat nila! grabe!) at Night Safari. Rode the tram so the tour inside the Night Safari would not take long. Super afraid ako sa bats so when we went inside the "bat cave" I walked so fast as if I was running away from the bats. haha!! The best part: learning that Hazel and Joanne were so brave to go to Singapore and find employment there. I just hope that I have the same courage as them. Catching up with them made me feel a little old but proud because these two (although not former students of mine, but I was already a teacher in MIT when they entered college, Joanne was a former student laboratory assistant in MIT) made something of themselves in another country.

Day Five: Quoting Michael Buble's song HOME: "Another airplane, another sunny place, I’m lucky, I know, But I wanna go home, I’ve got to go home". I really can't stay long away from home. So, I woke up very early because I was really excited to come home. We arrived at the terminal 2 hours prior to our flight and met Normandy by chance (he was coming home because it was a long weekend in SG). Landing at the NAIA Termina 3 was a little bit delayed because the Philippine President left for China as she will be attending the next day's opening ceremonies of the Olympics. The best part: we were fortunate to ride with Cebu Pacific's President Lance Gokongwei, which gave me relief because the pilot may be the airline's best (shempre sumakay ba naman ang may ari kung di nila gagalingan ewan ko na lang!). Normandy was a blast, he made me forget about my headache that I always get when I fly!



Here are my favorite photos:

Click here to view the entire album!

My Singapore Trip Pictures (and a little bit of travel logs..)

At last!! After 2 months, I finally found the time to upload the pictures of my trip (thanks to Mike's, Sir Glen's and my bro's camera). I was too lazy to put them in several albums, so here it is.. Enjoy!! Comments are most welcome! (",)

Day One: torTOURe walk... My first ride (of many rides) in the MRT and the bus! Super astig!! One card for all your transportation needs. Saya! Rode the Flyer, super na afraid ako sa taas!! waah!! The best part: bonding with friends! super enjoy even if we were really tired of walking the whole day!

Day Two: Shopping day. Went to Bugis, Sim Lim, and Funan to buy some electronics and pasalubong. That night, we ate at Gluttons Bay (near Marina Square), super gluttony talaga (treat nila!).. Super dami ng food! Went to see the Merlion, too band, they turn off the water pala at 11pm. Saktong 11 pm kami nakarating sa Merlion park, so no more water! haha.. After pictures, went to Starbucks, mahal dun ah! D na ako umorder because I didn't want to stay up late. The best part: food trip and catching up with friends in Singapore!

Day Three: Sentosa Day! Rode the 3D and 4D rides, and of course, ang Luge! super fun!! Had fun at the beach without going swimming. Waited for the "songs of the sea" at the beach instead. Ate my first ever Ben and Jerry's ice cream. yumyum!! The best part: before we rode the train to Sentosa, we shopped at Vivo City and bought a lot of shirts from (where else??) Giordano! haha..

Day Four: Zoo Day. Jurong Bird Park in the afternoon, Singapore Zoo in the late afternoon and Night Safari at night. Jurong Bird Park was fun, I saw a lot (as in a lot!) of birds, I was really amazed at the colors of the birds! I was not able to tour the entire Singapore Zoo because it was about to close but what I saw was enough. We met Hazel and Joanne for dinner (treat nila! grabe!) at Night Safari. Rode the tram so the tour inside the Night Safari would not take long. Super afraid ako sa bats so when we went inside the "bat cave" I walked so fast as if I was running away from the bats. haha!! The best part: learning that Hazel and Joanne were so brave to go to Singapore and find employment there. I just hope that I have the same courage as them. Catching up with them made me feel a little old but proud because these two (although not former students of mine, but I was already a teacher in MIT when they entered college, Joanne was a former student laboratory assistant in MIT) made something of themselves in another country.

Day Five: Quoting Michael Buble's song HOME: "Another airplane, another sunny place, I’m lucky, I know, But I wanna go home, I’ve got to go home". I really can't stay long away from home. So, I woke up very early because I was really excited to come home. We arrived at the terminal 2 hours prior to our flight and met Normandy by chance (he was coming home because it was a long weekend in SG). Landing at the NAIA Termina 3 was a little bit delayed because the Philippine President left for China as she will be attending the next day's opening ceremonies of the Olympics. The best part: we were fortunate to ride with Cebu Pacific's President Lance Gokongwei, which gave me relief because the pilot may be the airline's best (shempre sumakay ba naman ang may ari kung di nila gagalingan ewan ko na lang!). Normandy was a blast, he made me forget about my headache that I always get when I fly!

Click target="_blank">here to view the entire album!

Here are my favorite photos: