It's my Day!

I'm 25 today! My! Time flies so fast. Sometimes, I just can't believe that I'm 25 already. I'm not sad about it. I should be thankful because I'm able to reach this age.
Anyway, I got a lot of text messages from my friends who greeted me a happy birthday and I was just so glad about it.
My high school friends whom I haven't heard of for years also greeted me.
My sisters were at my room when I woke up and it feels so great to feel so special on your special day.
I was still so sleepy when they woke me up and greeted me and I think it was my mom who kissed me a happy birthday (I didn't know coz my eyes were still closed. I was really so sleepy).
Oh my! It's such a wonderful feeling to be home.
Every moment is so precious.
We spent the day preparing for the New Year.
My brother-in-law's brother and 2 of his relatives came over for the New Year.
We then attended the 8 PM mass and went home.
New Year is just hours away.
I always love this time of the year.

[o@tm]

Sunday at home

We woke up early today to attend the 5 A.M. mass. That's the Sunday morning habbit at home.
Haven't been to church for quite sometime.
I hate waking up so early but today is an exception. I think it will take a long time again before I can go to church with my whole family.
In the afternoon, I went to the city with my two sisters(Nang Len and Inday) and my niece (Sage) to shop for groceries and to buy stuff for the New Year.
Susan also called me up while I was on my way home. That's so nice of her to call me up.
It was a tiring day but it was great.
I'm happy to be home.
my dear niece


[o@tm:10:30 pm]

Glad to be home!

Today is the day! Gina and I did our last minute shopping. We went to Tulay (Guadalupe) after the shift and we bought some presents. I bought a duster for my aunt and jelly shoes for my cousin (Maryjane). Left for the airport around 2:30 am. My flight scheduleis actually 5 in the morning but since our place is a little bit far, I left the house early (and not to mention I was just so excited to come home - I didn't really mind waiting for long hours there) I'm just so glad to be back home. Nobody fetched me in the airport but it's okay. Anyway, I told them that I can handle myself. My niece and sister waited for me at the "crossing". My niece is just so cute! My mother and my sisters were really glad to see me and I felt the same way too. It feels so great to see them again. I was awake for more than 24 hours since yesterday so I took a nap in the afternoon. We then went to the cemetery. It's our saturday's habbit to visit my father and grandmother's tomb. It was just this evening that they opened the Christmas presents that I gave them. I actually told them to open it earlier but then they waited for me to arrive. It feels so great to be home. How I wish this time would stand still. [o@tM]






I'm exhausted from my trip but it feels great to be home again.
Gengen - she loves to pose! Got this pic a few moments when I got home

Last Day in work before I go on vacation

Went to work today. I actually planned to get absent but I just can't do it because of some reasons. Since I won't be around on Monday, my office mates just greeted me a happy birthday.
I was really glad.

Got this from Chona. I was so touched by the gesture. I didn't expect it.



Cute cake and a candle to make a wish


[o@tm]

I'm coming home!

Now I have this familiar feeling again... the feeling of excitement and longing. I'm now excited to come home. Got a ticket now and off I'll go tomorrow morning. Have a scheduled flight at 5 am and I guess it's pretty good.
I'm supposed to be sleeping till now but my sister called me up so I was up earlier than usual.
I'm so blessed having my family. They're really making me feel that I found a home in them. Home will always be home. HOme sweet home.
P.S. Got a call from Ruby (one of my friends here) I thought she's in Antique already but I found out that she was not allowed to have a leave so she'll be going home tomorrow.

unclear

Glad the sun is up today. Don't have a ticket yet. 2 more days to go...

Rainy Wednesday

Woke up feeling so gloomy because of the weather. You know sometimes your surrounding can affect your mood too. Sometimes when it rains, it makes me melancholic and I wonder why I am here not somewhere else. I just don’t like it when it rains sometimes. It makes me feel so alone.
I hope it will be sunny tomorrow. Three more days before Saturday – the day when I’m supposed to go home and I wonder why I’m not that so excited. I’m looking forward to it but unlike before it’s not that exciting… maybe because I don’t have a ticket yet and it’s just so costly. Oh my!
I need to take a break.

---

My niece (Mai-Mai) and I went to Market Market yesterday. It’s actually the nearest mall to our place (anyway, our place is just so accessible to a lot of shopping centers). I guess I haven’t been out with her for quite a long time, maybe months or a year.

The mall was packed with people. Children as well as adults are in a festive mood.

And here are the Christmas trees in front of the mall entrance. Last year there was only one tall Christmas tree but now they made it three though it's a bit smaller than before.

It's Christmas!

It's Christmas Day! It's not snowing nor cold outside but surely the spirit of Christmas is in the air.
Had a simple CHristmas celebration with my sister and her 2 kids as well as my brother and Ate Neng, Nong Romy and Marvin.
I guess I was just right on time to come home for Christmas.

---

Last night too while in the cab with Gina and Heidi, the taxi driver is with his son as Christmas eve is coming. We asked him why he's with his father but didn't catch his answer. It makes me realize that a lot of people can't spend Christmas with the whole family... some have work to do eventhough they really want to spend Christmas with their family.
The thing here is we need to appreciate what we have for there are hundreds or even thousands of people who are all alone and feeling cold while the rest of the world is in a festive mood.
I guess I'm still lucky... I am still lucky. When I get off the cab I gave the boy (his name is Randy - the taxi driver's son)just a small present and the driver said that he'll safely bring my friend to her place. I was just so moved by what he said and I got off the cab having the lightest feeling.
Got a present from Mhyre and Marianne last night too.

all done

Finally I've finished my Christmas shopping yesterday! Everything is packed and ready. Just a few hours left and it will be Christmas Eve.
I have work today till 11 pm. Maybe I can get back to the hpuse before Christmas.
Honestly I still wish I am home. Miss spending Christmas at home. Hopefully I can get an available flight on the 29th.

Stepmom

It’s been quite some time since the last time that I cried watching a movie. The movie that I’ve seen last night wasn’t actually sappy but I don’t know for some reasons I found my tears falling.
It’s just so touching on how a woman pretends to be strong but deep inside she’s falling apart.
It was kinda surprising how a mother pronounced nonchalantly to her children that she has a cancer. It sure hurts badly. Yeah, I know it’s just a movie but that thing happens in real life.
Saying goodbye is definitely not easy especially knowing that you’ll not gonna see that person again.
We always make ourselves believe that even if we can’t see them but still they are there watching over us, listening and all those stuff. Still reality bites. It hurts us and maybe life will never be the same again.
We keep holding on to the memories that we have and deep inside we still wish we could turn back the hands of time and do it all over again.

[w: yesterday:2315]

From Landmark To Market Market

Christmas shopping isn’t always easy. You have to look for the right stuff, which you think is right for the right person. You have to at least find something that you like, it’s like buying gifts according to your taste (maybe I’m just the only one who has that idea). The thing is if I don’t personally like it then how can I give it to someone else? I gotta choose something that I like and give it to them.
I surely enjoy shopping but it could be damn tiring too. A day or two I think is not enough to look for a present. I can’t just pick up anything else that’s why it takes me a long time to shop.
Well, I’m glad that I’ve already bought more than half of the presents that’s on my list. I still have today to finish my xmas shopping..
I was really tired and my feet and legs ache yesterday but anyway I’m happy and relieve. Got home around 9 pm yesterday. A half a day shopping is surely not enough.
Hopefully I could finish my Christmas shopping today.
[w: yesterday:2130pm]

pictures pictures

WE had our sort of account xmas party yesterday... oh well party is I believe not the right term. I was disappointed actually...hmp... anyway just thought of keeping memories with my friends.

all the small things

It's DK's Christmas party! Thank God I found the item that is on Grace's wish list. Bought these earring in Guadalupe. She said she wants 20 pieces of earrings (which costs P10 each).

Susan also gave me this cute socks yesterday.


and of course with a note that says:


My friends and I

untitled

The weather is pretty good today.
We have our Christmas Party tomorrow and I haven't finished buying presents yet.
Got these pictures taken last night while most of us were tired and sleepy.

Kate

Kate (Karen Kate Ramos) went to the office yesterday to submit her resignation letter but too late because she was already terminated...
She used to be my buddy. A nice person and maybe a lot of people misunderstood her. She's bubbly and straight-forward the reason why some think that she's an airhead. Known her for a month or so but then I can say that she's not what most of the people in the ofc think she is.
She's nice and maybe I'll never have the chance to know her more coz she no longer works in the office. She was terminated for being absent because she got sick and was absent for quite some time.
Oh, well... The company that I'm working with is not really okay... no wonder a lot of people are resigning... I might as well resign too... gotta figure out my next move yet...
Kate

another 25 cents

Last night while I was about to get off the jeep I saw another 25 cents. Hmmm... What does it mean? I'm not really the type who seek for the meaning of things around me but I just can't help but wonder. I wonder if some people would also pick it up whenever they saw one... oh well...
Anyways, I'm kinda surprised to read Jenny's e-mail. She's my student before. I tried to e-mail her once but it didn't get through.
It feels good that she still remembers me.
Also called home today and spoke to my sister.
It's Tuesday once again and oh well I still don't like this day.

fine weather

Just a fine weather - the sun is up and it's a little bit hot.
Arlene, Sally and Abby dropped by in the office today.

Christmas Shopping

Went out for Christmas shopping. Got so many people on my list yet I've only brought presents for 4 people. Honestly it's really hard to look for a present that they will like.
Anyway, I still have the 22nd and 23rd to finish buying the christmas presents. Kinda tired today.

home after 2 years

My sister, Jasmine, went home in Iloilo. Good there wasn't much emotional moments. She stayed here for 4 days. WE talked about so many things during her stay here and we even stayed up till 3 am just chatting with each other. Even if I was really so sleepy, yet I tried to ignore it since I wanna chat with her.
She's such a wonderful sister.
She's great!

25 cents

5 Days ago in the MRT station I found a 25 cents but I didn't bother to pick it up then suddenly I felt a little bad for not picking it up. It made me think why oftentimes we ignore those little things - or maybe it's just me being like that.
And then just this afternoon I saw another 25 cents on the street. I was about to ignore it again but when I was about to cross the road there's a coming car. So I went back to the safe side of the road and picked it up.
I guess sometimes we tend to ignore the little things around us.
Just like in life, we tend to take for granted the simple gestures - holding hands, a pat on the back, a smile and all those simple things.
Maybe there's a lesson that I should learn from that 25 cents.

bury the hatchet

Been having this bad feeling lately. Maybe I should try to forgive and forget about what happened. I should try to bury the grudges or whatever this feeling I'm holding. Maybe I would feel better if I will just accept things as they come and just learn a lesson from it.
Maybe everything will be okay soon. Maybe everything will go back to normal... maybe...
(I gave Heidi a sorry note and she gave me this drawing)

emotionally tired

I'm emotionally tired these past few days. Thank God my sister is at least there to ease this feeling that I have.
I guess I'm just so affected with the misunderstanding that I have with Heidi. I heard she's even resigning this January (She's going to Korea). Honestly I don't wanna think about it coz it just brings me tears. I didn't even talk last night while on our way home.
I'm tired emotionally and I guess it really shows. I don't know if they notice it but I just wanna get away and free myself from everything.
I'm such a crybaby!
Oh my! I don't know what to do. I'm just so tired.
Talked with my sister last night and we stayed up for almost 3 am. I guess it's also the reason why I'm feeling groggy. But it feels great talking with her.
I'm not in the mood to hold a class.
I don't know what to do. I honestly feel tired.

sister

My sister arrived today so we fetched her at the airport. It's such a wonderful feeling to see her and spend time with her again. She'll be here for a month. I missed her a lot.
Got an mp3 player as birthday gift from my borther(Jun) and his wife (Ging).
I'm just so happy.

can't believe it

I thought were friends... I just don't understand why she kept it from me. I feel so bad because Heidi - whom I thought was a good friend of mine kept from me that she's getting married. She actually got married a few days ago and was shocked because I feel like she doesn't trust me and that she's taken my feelings for granted. I believe that if you consider a person as your friend then you wouln't hide such thing from her or him.
I really don't understand why she kept it from me. She was on leave for more than a week and Gina and I were wondering what happened to her and then today I overheard from AJ and Heidi herself about the wedding. I feel so bad that I can't help but cry.
I feel betrayed. I feel so bad.

one more day to go

Yep! Just one more day to go and my sister's arriving! Can't wait for tomorrow. I thought she's arriving today but maybe there was some changes in her flight sched. Well, I'm looking forward to see her. Gonna fetch her at the airport tomorrow.
Hoping for a sunny weather tomorrow.
Actually these past few days the weather was not really good. I mean I found it gloomy.
Oh well...

The Holiday

I think this movie is really awesome. Exchanging house for a couple of weeks with a complete stranger is pretty amazing. A real holiday getaway and maybe a once in a lifetime experience.
I found the movie pretty intersting. And Graham's 2 kids are just so cute and adorable.

walk walk walk

Met Nathalie and Ruby in Megamall today. It was such a tiring day. We walked for hours around the mall looking for something to buy but wasn't able to buy what we like.
I went there by bus and yeah it's another first time - my first time to go outside Makati by bus. I actually don't like taking the bus going there because of so many reasons - pollution, which includes noise pollution unlike when you take the MRT, which is more comfortable and heavy traffic.
Well, I was late on our meeting time...lol! My legs are painful for walking around the mall. I thought I could find some nice presents to buy there but haven't found something that caught my eyes.
Anyway, we had fun together and the best thing about hanging out with them is that they don't really whine about me.
We're planning to meet again on Sunday.

finally

Finally, I was able to finish cleaning the room and putting things in order especially cleaning my closet.
My sister's coming home on Monday and don't wanna let her see how messy the room is... lol!
I'm just so excited to see her.

---

Went to Jollibee with my office friends last night (Mhyre and her bf, Ana, Sarah, AJ, Gina). Just thought of hanging out there for some time.
And I think the new guy in the office is really cute and he looks nice too. :-)

caught off guard

I was caught off guard when Shams (met her in e-baby and we're chatting now) asked me why most Filipino women work as domestice helper (her question was actually: "why most philipins women work as a service").
I was surprised. Are Filipinos known as domestic helper? It actually makes me sad when I know that there are some foreigners who looked down on Filipinos. They just don't know the sacrifices that those Filipino workers are going through.
Well, I'm still proud to be a Filipino and I know I should be.

early call

Called my student 10 minutes earlier than our scheduled time yesterday. Oh my! I was shocked when I looked at the schedule and tada! EARLY CALL! OMG!
What I did is I called him again and told him that there was something wrong with the schedule the reason why I called him up again. Well, he didn't sound happy! My God!
I should expect a claim today or next week! Darn it! I was out of my mind. I wonder why I overlooked it.
Yeah, it's my fault! Let them discover it. I don't know what alibi should I give. I'm kinda anxious thinking about it.
I guess I wasn't concentrating yesterday. My mind was occupied by other things.
I got a crush or should I say crushes in the office (oh so high school stuff!). But there's really this one guy in the office (he's actually new) whom I think looks nice. Well, I guess so!
Seen him these past few days but haven't caught his name. Well, I'm not the kind who would snoop around just to know information about him.
I just thought he's nice. Okay I guess he's kinda cute too. LOl! It's so high school huh... alright I know!
Susan is on leave today so might as well have some sub classes. Might spend some time with my office friends after shift.

4 days to go...

Counting the days till my sister come home. Haven't seen her for two years and I'm pretty excited to see her on Monday.
She's actually one of the closest person in my life. She's such a wonderful person.
Sometimes I'm also worried about her love life... whoa... I mean she should have her own family now, a happy family but the thought of her getting married makes me sad too.
But I really want her to be happy and to find the right person for her. It actually scares me thinking that maybe one day and maybe the sooner she'll say that she's getting married... I don't know what to feel when that time comes.

just thinking out loud again

I've been exchanging e-mails with this man of wisdom. I barely know him but it's nice having a wise and older person to talk to and to exchange e-mails with.
He's a father figure. He has two daughters but his older daughter passed away years ago.
Well, the thing is, the Internet can sometimes make you realize a lot of things. You'll meet different kinds of people... some are real and most are unreal.
Well, I guess somehow I found true people through the net.

VL

I need to file my VL today. I have to and I need to. I don't know what will happen if they'll not allow my 5-day VL. Oh my! I just can't imagine it!

geeez

Need to have my ticket reservation as soon as possible. Oh my! The plane ticket now is just so expensive. But I have to go home for new year. I don't wanna spend my new year here. I'm not even sure if they will allow me to have a 5-day VL.
Oh my!

I've realized...

Went to the mall this afternoon... am I a mall rat or something???.. nah...
Well, thought of looking for some present this Christmas but wasn't able to find something that they might like (it's really hard to look for the perfect Christmas present!)
THe mall was packed with people. Anyway, still have lots of time for Christmas shopping.
Well, thought of checking my inbox and was happy to see Violet's e-mail and got some pictures too from Hermann.
I've realized that a person can touch your life unexpectedly. Sometimes it turns out that the person you least expect is the one who will make a difference in your life and who will inspire you a big deal.
Just like what Violet had done to me. I didn't really like her before and thought she's a cold soul, lacking emotion and feelings but I'm so glad I'm completely wrong.
Never thought I'll be touched like this. She gave me this wondeful feeling of happiness ans inspiration.
I never really appreciate her that much when we're still having our phone class and I thought I'll be happy if I won't be talking with her anymore. Now it turned out that she's one of the few people who have actually inspired me.
I guess in this life, you'll never really know whom you'll meet and you'll never know how they will leave a mark in your life.

from Violet

(above: Kim Dan Bi/Violet)
She may not be my favorite student but I was so touched when she said goodbye. I mean I never expect that she'll say goodbye because most of them just vanished without even saying that it would be our last class.
With her I learned something. Somehow I've realized my worth and the role that I played in her life. It may not be a big part but I'm happy to know that somehow I've touched her life.
I wasn't able to hold back my tears when I read her letter...
I know there were times that I wasn't nice to her but here she is inspiring me.

(from Kim Dan Bi/Violet 2007-11-29 )
Title : I will miss you a lot¢½.¢½

Teacher!
I will really really miss you...!
You are always kind to me and you teach me so well.
I'm so sad that I want to cry.
How can I express myself to you!

¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½¢½
TEACHER!
My mind is short of these hearts.¡è

*TOP SECRET : YOU are the BEST english TEACHER ever I met before!!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO SO MUCH and ALWAYS good luck!
I'll cross my finger for you¢½,¢½
I'll miss you a lot..................................................................¢½

the usual...

Just the usual Saturday... well maybe not really. After all I got up at 11 am. I was even so lazy to get up since no one is at home except me so I'm not bothered by the time. There was a sort of school event so my sister and her kids left home early for school. My brother didn't come home and I heard he went to attend a christening of his friend... hmmm... i don't know.. anyway the day just went on as usual... Went to Market Market before lunch since I can't stand the boredom here.
Chatted with my brother (Jun jun) and kidded him about my present.
Oh by the way, we're supposed to go out last night but I wasn't really feeling fine so I didn't come with them. Hopefully their not mad at me.
And the photo that we have submitted for yesterday's event was chosen as Best photo for Individual category. Well, the credit should go to all those who helped us, Mhyre and her friends.