An Earthquake to Remember

I had the most terrifying experience in my life this afternoon. I was at gai shopping with my parents when at past 6 in the evening an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred. It was nothing like I have experienced before. We were at the third floor when the shaking started. I thought it was just a weak earthquake. But just when the shaking started to slow down, it suddenly escalated rattling the whole building. Everyone was shouting and running to the stairs. I was so stunned with all the hustle going on and the shaking of the building that I wasn’t able to run or do anything. The first thought that came to me was the ceiling. We were at the top floor. If the moving didn’t stop, there’s a big chance the ceiling would fall. So, I kept looking up planning my move if ever the ceiling did fall down. Good thing it didn’t.

My dad just embraced my mom and me and dragged us to the middle of the floor where no glass or object would fall. Now I know what the earthquake victims in China felt. Now I know what it means when people say, when you are in a situation you get so nervous to even think of what you’ll gonna do. All the while the building was shaking, all I saw were people running and things falling. The only thought left in my mind was my parents, the ceiling, and 5360 pesos in my hands(haha).

I would never forget this eventful night.

Shower me with luck

I can officially say that 2008 is one unlucky year for me! Darn! Did I miss something in my horoscope? Was there something said about bad luck for those born in the year of the Pig this year? Quick I need a new horoscope now. I badly want luck to come my way now. No more bad lucks. I can’t take it anymore. I should probably consult a feng shui expert pronto!

Cheers for a new year!

It’s just the middle of the year but I’m seriously hoping that it’s 2009 already. I pray and cross my fingers every night that when I wake up it’s January 1, 2009. I don’t wanna linger in this year any longer.

lost . . .

It’s been a while since I last posted here in my blog. I kind lost the touch to write with everything that has happened. I’m slowly trying to get back the enthusiasm to write again. Hopefully, I’ll get the right vibe soon. Hayzz…

interesting facts about the Philippines

*The Tinguian or Integ people living in the mountainous northern Philippines have their own way of kissing. They put their lips close to each other's face and quickly inhale.

*Contrary to popular belief, the karaoke is a Filipino invention not Japanese. Karaoke meaning "singing without accompaniment" in Japanese was invented by Roberto del Rosario. He called his invention "Sing-Along-System", which was later called karaoke.

*The Philippine flag is the only flag in the world that is displayed upside-down when the country is in war. The blue portion is flown on top in time of peace and the red portion flown on top in war time.

*In the Philippine jungle, the yo-yo was first used as a weapon.

*The largest crocodile ever captured in the Philippines was found in Laguna de Bay in 1823.

*Aimee Carandang is the first Filipina to become a commercial plane pilot.

*Aurora is the only Philippine province named after a first lady.

*After the United States, the Philippines have the most Boys Scouts.

*The safest Philippine province geologically is Palawan. It is farthest province from volcanoes and earthquake faults.

*The most popular month for weddings in the Philippines is December (until early January) and not June.

*The first Filipino act to land a top hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the 1960s was the group Rocky Fellers of Manila.

*Latina-American pop star Christina Aguilera lost to Filipina vocalist Josephine Roberto aka Banig during the International Star Search years ago. In a mid-1999 MTV chat, she said that competing against someone of Banig's age was "not fair."

count up

How many people do you see? Count 'em up!

same worthless day for me, mayan :(

My Foundation: Clean & Clear
My Mascara: don’t use one
My Blush: forgot the brand/name..haha
My Day Cream: none
My Lipstick: forgot..again.
My Beauty Product Brand: Ponds
My Essential Beauty Product: facial wash
My Favorite Makeup Product: don’t have one
My Perfume: it varies
My Nails: have to be always cut short
My Feet: Block & White lotion
My Hands: Block & White lotion

Three Products to bring on a deserted island:
toothpaste
facial wash
soap

Woman I Admire for their Beauty: Dawn Zulueta (simply pretty)
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: don’t really know
My Ultimate Dream: still contemplating on it
My Favorite Fashion Publication: OK!, Seventeen

WHO TO TAG: ANYONE INTERESTED

. . .

It's time

to hop on

to the next yard

Travel the world and come home a changed man

Catanduanes. . . Home of the mythical waves. . . Home of my wandering soul

Lying east of mainland Bicol, the kidney-shaped island of Catanduanes is a paradise to surfers and nature lovers. This virtually untouched island is famous for its pure beaches, pre-historic caves, humungous waves, archaic stone chapels, and colossal cathedrals.

This island has been my refuge for as long as I can remember. This is the place I find solace and peace during the hot summer days. My memories of this beautiful and serene isle are beyond compare. When the hassle and bustle of the city takes the best of my chaotic life, you know where to find me.

What to see in the island?

Bato Church. Built in 1830, this church is a concrete example of an antique cathedral that has stood over a hundred years of war, destruction, and natural calamities. If historic places are your thing, this church is a must-see.

Batalay. A town of Bato, Batalay is home to some of the serene beaches in Catanduanes. It has a long shoreline of untouched, clean beaches (it’s not a white sand beach though). If a quiet walk on the beach or a calm sunset watch is what you want, this is the best place to visit.

Virac Church. This church is located at the heart of Virac, the capital town of Catanduanes. Known as the Church of the Immaculate Conception to the locals, this church is built with amazing stained glass windows. Offer your prayer at this church when you visit Catanduanes.

Puraran. The surfing site of Catanduanes. Home of the majestic waves, Puraran is found in the southern part of the island in the town of Baras. It has one of the whitest and most beautiful beaches in the island, not to mention colorful underwater views. If a great surfing site and a good relaxing place is what you are looking for, you know where to go.

Batong Paluay. It is said that the image of Our Lady of Sorrow imprinted in a stone is found in barangay Batong Paluay, San Andres. In the past, the image was too small that a magnifying lens is needed to see it. But over the years, the image has increased in size and can be seen with bare eyes. In fact, its storage space has been changed three times to accommodate the growing size of the image.

I haven’t been to Puraran and Batong Paluay. I know I’m missing the fun. But on my next visit to Catanduanes, my destination would definitely be these places. I haven’t even explored half the towns in the island. That would be next in my list. Bon Voyage!

Here are other Catanduanes pics. Enjoy!

When you point your finger at someone . . . make sure it is clean.

I was cutting my nails yesterday when a thought came to me. Why do nails grow so fast? I just cut them five days ago and now I need to cut them again. Why can’t they grow slow just like the hair? That way I don’t need to frequently worry of getting filth in them. For something that’s dead, nails surely grow fast.

Here are some nail facts:

Nails grow 1 cm in every 100 days.

Toenails grow slower than fingernails. It takes 6 months to grow an entirely new fingernail while it takes 12 to 18 months for the toenails.

Women’s nail glow slower than men’s nail.

Nails, just like hairs, are made up of keratin.

Nails are composed of dead cells, so they don’t breathe and sweat.

Nail on the middle finger grows the fastest, while the thumbnail grows the slowest.

Nails that are cut often grow faster than those not cut too often.

The longest nail recorded was 48 inches from an Indian man.

Nails on the right hand grow faster than nails on the left hand on right-handed people and vice versa.

As you reach the age 30, nails grow slower.

Pregnancy and age affect nail growth.

It’s bad luck to cut your nails after dark. But that’s pure superficiality. After all, how can you cut your nails when you can’t see it. The bad luck there would be when you injure yourself.

How do I stay fit? Simple. I sleep.

Why do some people talk in their sleep? Nobody knows for sure.

Somniloquy, otherwise known as sleep talking, is one of the great mysteries of sleeping. Scientists say that sleep talking can happen at any point in the sleep cycle. The lighter the sleep, the more lucid the words. So, if suddenly you hear your sister, friend, or husband talk during stages 1 and 2 of their sleep, chances are you will hear an entire conversation. But if they are already in stages 3 and 4, moans and gibberish speech is all you’ll hear.

I find it funny and exciting to hear someone talk in their sleep. It’s like they’ll talk about something top secret any moment. It’s like making someone talk about his deepest secrets without him really knowing and remembering talking to you. But sadly, that’s not always the case with me. When I hear someone talk in their sleep it’s always gibberish. Maybe because I’m in the REM stage myself or just hallucinating in my sleep. Darn. I’ve been secretly hoping to hear someone shout his secret while sleeping. Must be one great revelation.

Tonight I dream of rare moments of love, peace, and delight

Had a dream last night…here’s what dreammood.com had to say about my dream.

Nuptial

To dream of your nuptials, foretells of an engagement that will lead to much joy and harmony.

Hmm…interesting interpretation.

Since I’m already in the dream mood, might as well find out what my recurring flood dream means…

Flood

To see a raging flood with its muddy debris, signifies that you will have much unsettling occurrences and tribulations in life. Your repressed emotions may be overwhelming you.

To dream that you are swept away by a flood, forewarns that someone is trying to use you.

To see a gentle flood, indicates that your worries over a certain matter will be soon be swept away.

Mine’s the last one.. I always dream of a gentle flood in our town, but the water never reaches inside our house. That’s probably because we live in a hill. But it’s funny that in all my dreams the water always reaches our gate but never get past it.

Time was a cruel thief. ..he robbed us the man we love.

Losing someone you care so much about is just plain hard. It’s mentally taxing, emotionally frustrating, and spiritually draining. The worst part is it leaves a big hole inside you. How could you possibly deal with it?

I’ve talked about death in this blog before. How hard it is, how to deal with it, and even how to accept it. It was positively written that you’d think I’ve experienced a lot of deaths in my life already. Actually, it was only written because the topic interests. Never did I knew that experiencing death with a loved one first-hand would make me want to delete what I wrote and scratch the word death in my vocabulary.

. . . I’ve met him only once, but the imprint he left in my heart was beyond compare. Learning about his death this morning was like a dream I never want to recall. He was still young. There was still a lot for him to experience. He was yet to see his sons build a family of their own. But Fate had other plans for him. His time here with us was over.

It was hard seeing the man I love sad, hurt, and confused. He loved him so much. He cared for him a lot. But he left too soon. He left him unprepared.

But I know he’s in a good place now. I know he’s happy where he is.

We’ll miss you so much Dad. Till me meet again. . .

I’m tired of following my dreams. So I’ll just leave them in their way and hook up with them later

There was once a young woman who wished to gain her heart’s desire.

She traveled far worlds and amazing places to find the one true thing that would fulfill her longing.

She met many bizarre and remarkable people, who in one way or another made a huge difference to her life.

But as she traveled from one world to another, the empty space in her heart grew larger and larger.

Each face she met only adds up to the pile of blank pages in her mind.

Nothing and no one left an imprint on her heart and soul.

At last, she grew tired of wandering.

She traveled back to the only place she knew by heart, the place she calls home.

It was there where she spent the last days of her humdrum life.

The life she left to search for her fate.

But it was there where she find the solace, the peace, and the bliss she longed for.

It was there where at last she found the one thing she desired so much for – her Heart’s Desire.

There are two kinds of people, those who make your life difficult and. . . so on

My day always start with confusion.

Where’s my phone? My key? My hanky? Arrghh..I forgot my wallet again.

But these have been regular occurrences by now that they seem a habit already. Those things don’t annoy me anymore. What turns my confused-cum-normal day upside-down is what happens in-between. . . rather who I encounter in-between.

The guy who never fails to annoy me with his ‘how are you’ text messages.

The woman who constantly complains to me about her work or life.

The gal who incessantly tells me stories I’m tired of hearing.

The woman….the man….the person…

There’s just too many of them. I too often find myself too tired to carry on with my day when these people start hovering around me.

So, how do I cope?

Simple.

First. I don’t take people’s behavior personally. Translation. I ignore them.

Second. I don’t try to change them. In other words, I just go with the flow.

Third. I try to be flexible. Meaning, since I can’t change them, it’s my responses to their behavior that I change.

Fourth. I don’t try to confront them. Otherwise stated, I go to the bathroom sprinkle my face with water, go back to my station, and listen to loud music to distract myself.

If all my optimistic efforts turn futile. . . I go home, read, and sleep. (so much for a good day)

From 24-year old me to 60-year old me

Dear Future Me,

Its May 3 today. I’m feeling sad, distraught, anxious, disappointed, and perplexed. I was supposed to go to Oguis today, but unfortunately, I have to take an exam tomorrow. I’ve been looking forward to this trip since last month. This would have been the first time we’re all going home to Oguis as a family after 9 yrs. But sadly, here I am left anxious and alone in our house.

I’m counting the hours and minutes till they return. I’m sure they have a lot of stories and pictures to show. If only I could move the exam schedule. I would trade it for anything under the sun so long as I can go on this vacation. I so need a vacation. I want to escape the stress and pressure of work even just for a few days. I want to reassess my priorities and what I really want to do with my life. Lately, I’ve been feeling down and unhappy. I feel like there is something missing in my life.

Well, I guess I’m just too disappointed that’s why I feel this way. Oh, how I wish life is simple and carefree. No stress, no pressure, no worry. I hope you’re not feeling the same way I do. Don’t get yourself too anxious, ok. You’re not getting any younger. You won’t handle stress the same way as before. Just keep yourself relaxed and happy.

How’s life, by the way? You’re probably retired by now. Have you gone back to Oguis yet? How is it there? Still as serene and simple as it was before? I hope so.

Take care of yourself, ok and say hi for me to my sisters.

From,

Past me

cool music

Hey guys. I found a great site to download and listen to music. Its called MP3 Search Engine. It has a built-in music player that is easy to use and browse. Plus, you can download full-length songs if you want. It’s worth a try, I tell you.

It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous. RobertBenchley

4 years can feel like a long time, yet it seems like only yesterday when I was writing my first article. A lot has changed since then, both in my writing and attitude. I guess there is something about getting older that makes one more aware of time, that there is not much left of it, and you persistently need to make the most of every moment. It makes me appreciate more all the good things – every endeavor, every experience - and try not to dwell too much on the downside.

Still, too much to do and experience. I’m just halfway to achieving my “Personal Legend”, which I’m still to figure out, btw. I maybe a woman on the outside, but still a girl at heart. Too young to be accomplished, too old to be apathetic. (Sigh)

I cannot say writing is my passion. It’s like something I just stumbled on once upon a time. Honestly, I’m not good at words or sentence structure. Either in expressing myself in words. I never got an A in English nor an excellent grade in business writing. I’m just an average girl with an average IQ.

So, I never really knew how I end up writing in my first job or in my second. It’s like divine intervention. (heehee) One day, He just said, ‘you should apply to this job advertisement. It’s your calling.’ Yeah right, my calling. Despite my mind’s immense resistance, here I am today writing and draining my tiny brain for words, sentence structure, and s-v agreement. I must be crazy for staying on this job until today.

But still, I convince myself everyday not to dwell on the downside but to look always on the bright side (if ever there really is a bright side). After all, I’m getting no younger everyday. Might as well make the most of my writing days and who knows, I might find another more fruitful endeavor today, or maybe next week, or next month. I’ll just hold on to that happy thought and keep my sighs and grunt to myself, for now.

Good Gift!!

I was looking for a gift idea a while ago when I stumbled upon this soy based candle. It says that this is an organic candle that burns clean and environment-friendly. This is perfect for me. Gotta grab one!

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The Youth

Growing up.
School.
Friends.
Career.
Lifestyle.
Beauty.
Fashion.
Gimmicks.
Relationships.
Changing lives.

Nobody knows how it feels to be young . . . except you.

Ready for some splash?

Let’s play under the rain. Who cares if we fall down and look crazy dancing under the rain? We’ll wear our smiles and laugh out loud. If it’s cold, we’ll just grab a jacket and cuddle up.

sometimes fairy tales have deeper meaning than the truths of life told to us

Once upon a time a wizard awakened.
A sleeping beauty came alive.
Fear stirred up.
Horror unfolded.
Chaos erupted.
In one blinding flash everything vanished.
Despite all, a guiding star shines
to lead the hero’s way.

Let life be beautiful like summer flowers and death like autumn leaves

I know the feeling too well. The pain, the longing, the hatred. At first it was always me leaving; now it’s me who is being left behind. There’s always the tearing of the eye and ripping of the heart. The longing that never ends and the slim glimmer of hope.

I have prepared myself on the leaving thinking it was all there is. I never saw being left behind coming. Suddenly reality hit me and there I was on the corner crying my heart out. After days of whimpering, the tears just stopped falling. They don’t fall anymore; they just fill the brim of my eyes.

The loss is too immense. All I could see is pain, all I could feel is dread. Overcome with pain and uncertainty I slipped into nothingness. I felt nothing, knew nothing, care about nothing. There was simply nothing.

Then, as quietly as I left, I find my self awake. Awakened by the clattering of life around me. I thought back on the pain I felt, on the hope I lost and the longing I suffered. It shattered my life, alright, but it didn’t devour my life altogether. I looked around and saw wonder and joy. My heart began to pump, my mind began to sing and my body began to move. There is still life. There is still hope. I’m glad I didn’t leave. I’m glad for the price of pain and longing. I’m glad I survived.

life story

Someone once told me that in order to write a good story you have to know what you write. It’s like telling a story. You need to catch the attention and the interest of your readers.

Frankly speaking, I was never into writing. I do get lots of ideas to write about from time to time, but I never find the way and the time to put it into writing. Every time I think of a good topic I get excited to write about it but there seem to be an unknown force that stops me from finishing it. Call it loss for words or laziness, it doesn’t really matter. I simply can’t finish whatever I have started.

When I was in college, I got deeply frustrated. I was upset with my studies, my life, my friends and myself. I secluded myself from others. My sister was the only person I talked to. I felt a big time loser then. I hated my self especially the people I call friends. I hated that I gave them my trust and my loyalty. I told myself that day that I would never again give my trust to anybody. I would only consider people merely as acquaintances never as close friends.

During that time, my only solace was writing. I kept a notebook full of my feelings and ideas. It became my friend. It became my companion. When I look through its pages today, I don’t remember my depression or frustration. I only remember the eager and happy hand that wrote it all. I remember the emotional girl who now enjoys writing.

It took a downfall and lots of pain for me to find my love for writing. It took me a lifetime to realize my true passion. Don’t let this happen to you. If you think you can write, if you love to write, build it up. Don’t waste your skill and your time. You never know, this may be the one to bring you the big bucks.

money . . . money . . . money . . . and happiness

It’s strange when people say that money doesn’t bring happiness but if they look at themselves closely don’t they feel happy when they have money? Don’t you get excited when its payday? Practically speaking, money gives us happiness. It is the answer to our material needs. It allows us to put food on our table, roof on our head and clothes on our back. It sends our children to school, gets us to exclusive restaurants and places and affords us our luxury. Today, you can’t have something if you don’t have money. Every thing you do, you need money for it. Money rules our life.

BUT, to get a lot of money, you need to work hard. You need to spend at least 20 hours a day at work. You even have to be at work on weekends. You can’t even afford to have a holiday. This means you get to spend only little time with your family and yourself. Pampering your self to a one day walk in the park or movies is already a big sacrifice for you. When you leave at home in the morning, your children are busy getting ready for school and when you get home they are already asleep. They don’t get to see you much they even forget to call you daddy/mommy anymore. That’s the sacrifice you have to make to earn a lot of money.

Plain and simple: money can’t buy us happiness but it can provide us options. It can sure rent us happiness for a long time but not true happiness. Simply put, money does not guarantee happiness. But lack of money can be a big hindrance to happiness. So learn to balance your time and your work and you should be alright.

harrowing chaos

A drenching mix of emotions came into a hopeless and lonely man.

He looked to the horizon pondering on his far-fetched future
thinking whether it was half-full or half empty.

He hated yesterday, he felt sorry for today, he dreads tomorrow
knowing not what lies of his chaotic life.

Ten seconds.

That’s how long it takes to make a first impression.

But why do people bother with first impressions when they say that personality counts? Why do people judge others that fast? When you meet a person for the first time and notice that he/she is fat, do you immediately assume that he/she is sluggish and unhealthy? When you see someone with tattered clothes, do you conclude right away that he is poor?

No you shouldn’t. Your clothes, your look or your choice of sexuality does not define you wholly as a person. Your physical traits are not representations of who you are.

Wouldn’t you be outraged, too, when you find out that someone made a snap judgment of you? So why do we have to be hypocrites and do it anyhow? Maybe it makes us feel better. It gives us an excuse to hide our insecurities by picking out on others. Maybe snap judgments are just our way of gaining insight of a person for a short period of time. After all, when we only have a few seconds to get to know or impress a person, it’s better to rely on first impression right?

But remember that as you are doing this to others, the more others are doing it to you. You don’t know whether the first impression they get of you is good or bad. So the next time you walk down the street and meet somebody, take a moment to see the person deeper and set aside your insecurities. Don’t look for the negatives in him but instead start looking for the positives.

Learning from the Hummingbirds

The Hummingbirds are among the thousands of migratory birds found on earth. They are small in size, in fact the smallest bird in the world, yet they have high metabolism. Nectars and insects are their usual diet. They patiently hover from flower to flower and sip its nectar day in and day out to nourish themselves. Its patience and glamour in floating from flower to flower is truly remarkable. They have though only 5-6 years to live yet they make the most of it. They struggle to live and nurture themselves day after day.

Considering the short lifespan of the hummingbirds, don’t you think it’s quite remarkable that they still skillfully journey from one place to another to nurture themselves yet we humans waste so much time being idle? Ask yourself, where were you five or six years ago? Ten years ago? Twenty years ago? I’m not referring to where you were physically. I’m referring to the state of life you have years ago.

I have passed twenty-four years now and I look back: I’m still young but have I somehow lived my life the way I want it to be? Have I grown? What have I learned in life so far? I try thinking of the positive responses because I know I still have to journey far and traverse an unknown path.

Like the hummingbird, I need to appreciate my life today no matter how sad or short it is. I need to focus more on courage, kindness, and love and less on myself. Like the clever hummingbird, I need to soar from one journey to another cleverly and boldly.

I am grateful for

My simple family
My loving friends
My job
My ever supportive soulmate
The food I eat every meal
The clothes I wear though they are old and worn-out
My umbrella for giving me shade when it is hot or rainy
The incessant rain last week
The loving hand of a friend for getting me through borings days
The smile I see from someone lonely and in despair for giving me hope
The laugh of a poor man
The discussions I have with friends for teaching me lessons in life
The pains and downfalls I’ve experienced for making me the strong woman I am now
The hot days of summer
The soft bed I sleep in on cold nights
For simply having the chance to write this…


Often, it takes a heartbreak or misfortune to make us appreciate all the things we have. So before it’s too late, always be thankful for whatever you have no matter how small or simple it is.

The Horrible Truth

My last post was about my own life is/life isn’t. It’s actually about my delusional idea of what life should be and should not be. Why delusional? Because let’s admit it. No matter which side we look at life, it is most definitely about how physically beautiful you are, how rich you are and how talented you are. Pick up the morning paper or any magazine lying around your house. Skim it and all you’ll see are advertisements and products on how to look good, movie stars wearing skimpy clothes with perfect curves and breasts and job advertisements requiring pleasing personality and certain height requirement. Doesn’t this all show superficialities? It’s all about being perfect, being popular and earning lots and lots of money.

Try telling someone that being rich or ugly doesn’t really matter and all you’ll get is a scowl. With the way we live today, attractiveness and richness is all that is appealing. Let’s face it; being pretty and rich sure does get you somewhere. It puts you way ahead of others. The tall, pretty and sexy girls almost always get the job. The white, rich guys always get the girls. So unfair.

But here’s the catch. If you try to understand and accept the painful truth of life, you’ll eventually learn to work against it. Look at the famous and rich people today. Many of them are not very pretty and rich when they started out. But somehow they find a way to get what they wanted. It’s often surprising to know that those who aren’t rich, attractive or popular before have managed to do great things.

So, all ‘poor and unattractive’ people out there don’t lose hope. Accept the harsh facts of life and realize that you can work against it and trash its implications. Sometimes it’s nice to have fun and believe that the superficialities of life don’t really matter. It’s nice telling others that money and looks don’t matter. But the fact is, no matter how many times you tell others or yourself that they don’t matter, they still do and that is not going to change. What you can only do is accept it and work against it.

The whole point is: Open your eyes to the dim-witted rules of life. Acknowledge that life is hard, painful, and ugly. But realize also that Life is good, Life is fun and Life is beautiful.

My Life Is/Life Isn’t

Life isn’t…

All fun and easy
Doing things just for yourself
Enriching yourself at the expense of others
All about money
The car you drive
How big your bank account is or what school you attended
How many servants or dogs you have
How soft your bed is
How huge your kitchen is
How techie you are
The movie you watch or the music you listen to
The clothes you wear
The color of skin
The size of your breasts
What job you have
All about what other thinks about you


Rather Life is…

Your family
The friends you keep
The people you love
The people you live for
It’s about integrity, determination, hope and compassion
It’s about helping others
Sharing what you have to others
About putting behind jealousy, ignorance and revenge
Embracing life
Nurturing inner love and spreading it
Touching other’s life
Making the right choices

Beauty

A face weathered by numerous trials and hardships in life is the most beautiful of all.

A woman’s beauty shines most when it has endured several hardships in life. Just like the grains on wood which deepen as time passes, her beauty shines more with every hardship that lines the smooth skin of her face. When you see a woman free of ornaments or cosmetics, her true beauty and naturalness come to light. It’s sad to know that commercialism defines what beauty is today. But most often, women who look beautiful in their youth look rather dull when they grow old. Though physical appearance is always associated with beauty, it’s not always wise to focus on it as lasting attraction to a person comes from inner beauty and confidence. So nurture your inner flame as they are the light that would make your true beauty shine.

Outlook. . . Attitude

On my day offs, I oversee the workers who help fix up our house. One of them, a sixty-eight year old man, eagerly and diligently carry sacks of cements to and fro the second floor. Though I don’t see him rest and stop on his trips, I can feel his difficulty in carrying those sacks. His body is old and tired yet he doesn’t complain. He doesn’t let it hinder him from earning money for his family. He comes as early as 7.30 every morning and leaves late in the afternoon. Every time I see him he always has a smile on his face. Day in and day out, I can see his happy smile. The meager money we pay him has helped a lot put food on their table.

But every morning on my way to work, I always pass by a group of men sitting and talking looking like they don’t have anything important to do or go to. I always see them either smoking, drinking alcohol (that early) or talking loudly. Once, I heard one of them say he can’t have her pregnant wife checked up at a hospital cause he doesn’t have money. I always hear them complaining, how they don’t have jobs or food to put on their table everyday. They can’t even send all their children to school with the meager income their wives make from selling vegetables. What? Why let their wives work when they are the one’s supposed to provide for their family? Day after day, they leave their “tambayan” with nothing, except a murky outlook and attitude.

In life, it is our choices that make us who we are. It is our attitude that shapes us. And attitude is always a matter of choice.

The Art of Letting Go

When do you really let go? When do you really say it’s over?

The art of letting go is not really hard to master. It’s like losing something valuable to us everyday – a good quality pen, a badly spent hour, or a missed chance. All of us have, one way or another, experienced the hardships involved in letting someone or something go. It’s especially difficult when you are letting go of an intimate relationship.

It hurts so much to lose someone much more a relationship. You’ll start criticizing and blaming yourself for the fall off. It’s inevitable. But the more you dwell on a broken relationship, the more you are headed to a deeper problem and the more you get bitter. Often, it is better to slip away and spend some time finding peace, happiness and contentment. It’s better to surround yourself with love than anger and pity. Anger and hatred is a hitch that keeps us tied to the past. So do yourself a favor, drop the hitches. Shake it off and step up.

With love around you, you are headed to understanding yourself and resolving the bitterness and pain that dwells in your feelings. Feel and live the essence of your life. In the end, you’ll see and realize that you have finally let go. You have finally mastered the art of letting go.

Mystery

What is death? Where do go after we die? Does our soul live on even after our body decomposes? Is life really only a phase that we have to go through? Is it painful to die? These and many more questions linger in our mind once in a while.

Practically saying, death is the only thing certain in life. It is necessary and inescapable. If people don’t die, just imagine how overly populated we are today. Just imagine the number of problems we would face – living forever with a weak, sagging body; running out of things to do because of old age; getting bored of everyday existence and of course overpopulation. With death, we are given the chance to change and regenerate.

Let’s try to appreciate death as a blessing. Blessing for being given the chance to rest and prepare for a new period in life. Let’s not hate it. Let’s embrace it.

Death does not hurt or discriminate. It strips us of everything we have leaving us with only ourselves to depend on. This gives us the chance to ask ourselves of what we have made of our life. What have I contributed to society? How have I touched other’s lives? Have I lived my life to the fullest?

Remember that in order to die well, you must have lived well too. Accepting the reality of death allows us to convey joy, inspiration and courage to others.

Happiness

The world ain’t always about happiness and success. It ain’t always full of sunshine and rainbow. There would come a time that we will face tall mountains and rivers of sorrows. This can be the times when we most feel down - when we lose a loved one, when we don’t get accepted to a school or job we want, when we had a fight with a friend, when we wasted P2, 000 to a branded can’t-even-wear-sore-and-numb-causing stiletto, when it simply is raining. Simple things that make our life seem like wasted and distressful. But it is through this darkness and downfalls that we find oceans deep with hope and true happiness. Happiness that doesn’t only fulfill us money-wise; but morally and emotionally as well. When we find that inner happiness, that’s when we will truly feel the sun of joy in our heart.

If you are having trouble sleeping, then get up and do something instead of just lying there

If love is a fairy tale, I hope it doesn’t end.
If love is a storybook, I wish it has a happy ending.
If love is a cloud, im gonna walk in the rain.
If love is a battlefield, I’ll charge and rescue you.
If love is an employment, I’ll slave till the end.
If love is a bridge, I’ll bridge our hearts so we’re never apart.
If love is a wild wind, I’ll blow away with it to get to where you are.
If love is a perfect murder, I’ll be the willing victim.
But is love a choice?
If it is, I’ll choose to live each day loving you more and more.

it is often easier to be angry than tell someone you are hurt . . .

I read this article in a news magazine that claims that sometimes it’s good to be sad. Sadness is a part of our life because often we only get to realize that we are well when we get hurt.

As much as I hate to be sad, I have come to appreciate the nifty advantage of misery. I love it when I get to sulk and be alone. Solitude is my pal. We get along really well. Sadness is also my buddy when I write my creative pieces. When I’m in the mood to weigh up my life, I turn to sadness. It helps me get through my rough days.

It hurts to be sad but it hurts more when you feel empty inside. Try forgetting a friend who has hurt you. The more you don’t think about him/her the easier you forget him/her. But sooner or later you’ll feel emptiness. Emptiness that’s making you feel dead inside. You know that something is missing you just can’t figure it out. It may be your friend’s happy smiles, her mood swings or simply her presence. But wait, you hate her don’t you? So why waste your time feeling empty for her.

My advice, grieve for the loss. Mourn for the death of your friendship. When you try to remember your friend or your friendship someday, you’ll find yourself laughing at your stubbornness and the bad times you had. That way you won’t feel numb, dead and hollow again. AND you’ll remember to pick your friends more cautiously this time.

So, enough with happiness. Try a dose of sadness once in a while. It would hurt, but that’s exactly the reason why it’s called sadness.

Every day’s. . .

. . .the same. You wake up, go out and go home again. On your way you meet a lot of people but you never really look into their eyes. It seems everyone’s in a hurry. It feels like they are all ordinary people going about their ordinary life. It’s fascinating to know that every individual you meet has something special in them. It’s often hard to keep track of the people you meet. Sometimes someone just feels so familiar. Some look wasted, others look tired, still others look proud and accomplished. Despite our differences, remember that there’s always light in our stars. Keep it burning and shining. After all, we are all a part of a greater plan.

Hate. Misery. Vengeance.

Burnt out and fed up.