kathang isip lang nun

I had lunch with some friends from high school last Saturday. We really had a nice time reminiscing on the crazy things we did back then. Of course, di rin nawala ang mga "updates" from our own batchmates. I cannot believe we spent 6 hours just talking na as if last week lang kami huling nagkita when in fact it has been 8 long years. Nothing much has changed except that as my friend said "ang mga kathang isip lang nun, totoo na ngayon!". It was fun girls! I wish we could do this more often. And I'm so happy to realize... na hindi pala ako nag iisa! (wink wink!)

Picture Disclaimer: Pinilit lang namin magka picture for the day kaya yan ganyan. We promise to do better next time. We're prettier in person. =>

SONA

I don’t have work today because of the State of the Nation Address. The President decided to declare a non-working holiday for people in Metro Manila. Since it is the reason why I have the time to rest at home today, I decided to watch it. This is the President’s 5th SONA but this is only my second time to watch it. I think the last one I saw was the one where she had 3 kids up on the stage with her. Anyway, the speech was short but I found myself getting sleepy towards the middle of the speech. I guess it was the standing ovations that bored me.

I really don’t have much anything to say about the speech except that I agree with what she said about the political system in this country being a hindrance to it’s growth. I used to be what you may call an activist. I used to be up to date with what’s happening in this country and you can always find me with a firm stand on any issue. I was raised and educated to be as such with my Theresian education. But, eventually I grew tired of it. I don’t know why. It just doesn’t affect me anymore, or I just chose no to be affected, which makes me sad. I’ve become indifferent with this country’s situation. I am now one of those people I used to hate. Those people who chose to leave the country and pretend to be citizens of other “great” nations. I now find myself surfing in the net for better opportunities abroad. I can now understand those people. I can now feel their pain and desperation for a better life. I don’t hate my country I just want a better life for me and my future kids. I don’t know what can convince me to stay or revive that love and passion for my country. I just pray that it will come back someday. This is the country that God put me in and it’s my duty to love, defend and honor it.

acctg dinner

I had dinner with my college barkada blockmates last night at eastwood. It was sooo much fun. I miss laughing that hard. I miss Malou's contagious laugh, Papao's crazy antics, Rio's unique expressions, Mylyne's funky outfits... and many more. Hay I miss college. Accounting is not an easy subject but having these people around me makes it more fun at least. I miss hanging out with them sa lanai. Manlait ng mga dumadaan... hehe joke! Nakaka miss yung kababawan. These group can really laugh at anything... failed exams, heartaches, deadlines, as in lahat. All of us may be a bit different now since we're all professionals na but there are some things that will never change. Unang una na late pa rin si Prinsesa Ria. Pangalawa bastos pa rin si Papao. Pangatlo mahilig pa rin mangchancing ang boys, pati kabarkada hindi pinapalampas. Pang apat ganun pa rin ang tawa ni Malou. Pang lima si Rio mahilig pa rin manakit. Hehe! And madami pang iba. Hay I can fill up this whole blog with stories of our crazy antics back then. Hindi ako mauubusan ng kuwento if I'll tell all that we've been through in those 6 years. Sobrang daming memories. I'll never get tired of reminscing. They are truly worth keeping. Sana lang mas madalas pa ang mga dinner dates natin. I miss all of you! Miss ka rin namin Less, Eurika... and the rest of the gang. 'Hope to see you all sa next dinner date.

iT miGht nOt Be eAsY bUt nEveRtHeLesS
tHeSe ArE tHe BeSt DaYs Of mY LiFe

Got this from Phoebe's blog...

Feast Fifty-Five

Appetizer
What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called?

My middle name is Valmonte. No, I don't want to change it because it's my Mom's maiden name and I'm proud to have it. And besides, it sounds rich eh... sounds lang ha! Hehe!

Soup
If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?

I'll be probably designing corporate clothes. I love seeing people, especially the yuppies, wearing their corporate clothes nowadays. They look so cool yet respectful. I want my corporate clothes funky and colorful yet very elegant.

Salad
What is your least favorite chore, and why?

Washing and ironing clothes... because I don't know how. I already had some of my clothes ruined because of this inability to be domesticated enough to take care of my own clothes. I'll leave it to my bf... he's good at it. =P


Main Course
What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

Not having a kid of my own. I don't know why but stories of couples not having kids or having a hard time to have kids of their own scares me a lot. It's like losing the purpose of having a family or getting married.

Dessert
Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment.

At the office.... back in my old workstation. I miss my old team kaya I'm here using the server pc. Hihi! Lagot!
I can see the PC, window, and some wires... hehe! Boring!

love

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

the best kind of love

This was forwarded to me by a friend. I am hoping and praying that what I have now is the best kind of love. Miss you Dee!

The Best Kind of Love
by: Annette Paxman Bowen

I have a friend who is falling in love. She honestly claims the sky is bluer. Mozart moves her to tears. She has lost 15 pounds and looks like a cover girl. "I am young again!" she shouts exuberantly.As my friend raves on about her new love, I've taken a good look at my old one. My husband of almost 20 years, Scott, has gained 15 pounds. Once a marathon runner, he now runs only down hospital halls. His hairline is receding and his body shows signs of long working hours and too many candy bars. Yet he can still give me a certain look across a restaurant table and I want to ask for the check and head home.

When my friend asked me "What will make this love last?" I ran through all the obvious reasons: commitment, shared interests, unselfishness,physical attraction, and communication. Yet there's more. We still have fun. Spontaneous good times.Yesterday, after slipping the rubber band off the rolled newspaper, Scott flipped it playfully at me: this led to an all-out war. Last Saturday at the grocery, we split the list and raced each other to see who could make it to the checkout first. Even washing dishes can be a blast. We enjoy simply being together. And there are surprises. One time I came home to find a note on the front door that led me to another note, then another, until I reached the walk-in closet. I opened the door to find Scott holding a "pot of gold" (my cooking kettle) and the "treasure" of a gift package. Sometimes I leave him notes on the mirror and little presents under his pillow.

There is understanding.
I understand why he must play basketball with the guys. And he understands why, once a year, I must get away from the house, the kids - and even him - to meet my sisters for a few days of nonstop talking and laughing.

There is sharing.
Not only do we share household worries and parental burdens - we also share ideas. Scott came home from a convention last month and presented me with a thick historical novel. Though he prefers thrillers and science fiction,he had read the novel on the plane. He touched my heart when he explained it was because he wanted to be able to exchange ideas about the book after I'd read it.

There is forgiveness.
When I'm embarrassingly loud and crazy at parties, Scott forgives me. When he confessed losing some of our savings in the stock market, I gave him a hug and said, "It's okay. It's only money."

There is sensitivity.
Last week he walked through the door with that look that tells me it's been a tough day. After he spent some time with the kids, I asked him what happened. He told me about a 60-year old woman that had a stroke. He wept as he recalled the woman's husband standing beside her bed, caressing her hand. How was he going to tell this husband of 40 years that his wife would probably never recover? I shed a few tears myself. Because of the medical crisis. Because there were still people who have been married 40 years. Because my husband is still moved and concerned after years of hospital rooms and dying patients.

There is faith.
Last Tuesday a friend came over and confessed her fear that her husband is losing his courageous battle with cancer. On Wednesday I went to lunch with a friend who is struggling to reshape her life after divorce. On Thursday a neighbor called to talk about the frightening effects of Alzheimer's disease on her father-in-law's personality. On Friday a childhood friend called long-distance to tell me her father had died. I hung up the phone and thought, This is too much heartache for one week. Through my tears, as I went out to run some errands, I noticed the boisterous orange blossoms of the gladiolus outside my window. I heard the delighted laughter of my son and his friend as they played. I caught sight of a wedding party emerging from a neighbor's house. The bride, dressed in satin and lace, tossed her bouquet to her cheering friends. That night, I told my husband about these events. We helped each other acknowledge the cycles of life and that the joys counter the sorrows. It was enough to keep us going.

Finally, there is knowing.
I know Scott will throw his laundry just shy of the hamper every night; he'll be late to most appointments and eat the last chocolate in the box. He knows that I sleep with a pillow over my head. I guess our love lasts because it is comfortable. No, the sky is not bluer: it's just a familiar hue. We don't feel particularly young: we've experienced too much that has contributed to our growth and wisdom, taking its toll on our bodies, and created our memories. I hope we've got what it takes to make our love last. As a bride, I had Scott's wedding band engraved with Robert Browning's line "Grow old along with me!"

We're following those instructions. "If anything is real, the heart will make it plain." There are some people who meet that somebody that they can never stop loving, no matter how hard they try. I wouldn't expect you to understand that, or even believe it, but trust me, there are some love that don't go away. And maybe that makes them crazy, but we should all be blessed to end up with that somebody who has a little of that insanity.

Somebody who never lets go. Somebody who cherishes you forever. Hope you find this kind of love in your life.

my new best friend

SKYPE is my new best friend. And I guess it will be for the next two months. It's what's been keeping me sane these past few days. As I've said from my previous post, my boyfriend is currently assigned in Chicago. If not for Skype I'm probably spending 500 pesos a day for overseas calls, just like what happened on my first weekend without him. I am so not used to this LDR thing. I am missing him terribly. But now, thanks to skype, I can hear his voice everyday for free! Without any hidden charges. It's almost as good as an overseas call. It depends on the time of the day though. It's like he's just beside me. We were both so hapy and relieved when we tried it. Thanks Sis and Alfie! Buti na lang I have friends who are experts in LDR. Hehe! It may not take away the sadness I feel, but at least I've stopped crying. And I promise I'll try not to for the next two months.

48 na tulog na lang... August 26 na! my baby's coming home soon!

parting is such sweet sorrow

My boyfriend left for Chicago today. He'll be working there for the next two months. Yeah two months of agony for me. I just realized this morning that the longest time we were apart for the last nine months that we've been together was for only 2 days. You may think that I'm exaggerating when I used the term "agony". It's okay. Maybe nga I really am. I mean compared to my sisterette who has a boyfriend living in LA.
Today, I think it's safe to assume that I am not the type of person who can handle long distance relationships. It's not for me. Or maybe it is. We will see in the next two months.

"Good Night, Good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow,that I shall say good night till it be morrow."