What I Got for Christmas

'Tis the time of the year when everyone seems to be in a festive mood, are a bit nicer and giving. I got myself a handful of gifts way before christmas and I just wanted to share it to you.

This was the very first Christmas gift I received. Yummy puto seko from Joanna vacuum sealed and packed and wrapped in sinamay bag. She gave it first week of December and I remember how excited she was when she handed it to us. And this was her line, in a very sweet tone " i know it's kinda early, but then merry christmas!!".

The next week, it was my tutorial student C, who gave gifts. This was what she gave.

These custaroons was an instant hit to everyone and we ended up ordering ourselves too. By the second week of December, while all of us tutors were busy and harassed doing reviewers for our students trimestral exams, we received these cool bag organizers from the preschool/tutorial center directress.

We really need these organizer. Then a few days after Larry, gave me a gift check, or a complimentary christmas drink from Starbucks. This was posted on my previous entry. Siblings Teo and Nina got me pouch bag similar to this one, but theirs is embroidered silk...

Poch and Pepi gave me a set of lip balm similar to this one..
Joaquin sent me rye bread, packed in three's..

Siblings Bei and Alexi gave me a set of L'Occitane En Provence. They dropped it off to the tutorial center right before going home..

And this was T. Auds gift for me...a box of....
On that note let me say: MERRY CHRISTMAS Everybody!!!

It's Almost Christmas and What Have I Been Doing

Just came from preschool & tutorial teachers and staff Christmas party. We had a lot of fun and what I liked about it was the laid back feel yet everyone seems to be enjoying and laughter was really all over the room. It's just like a Sunday lunch with your family. The days prior to the party however was quite hectic for us tutors. It was the students trimestral exams and I have spent sleepless nights making reviewers and trying to sneak in some Christmas shopping and bazaar hopping..lolz! My tutorial sessions was made more fun and enjoying by my cutie little preschoolers who stays at the center and do stuff while waiting for their parents to pick them up...

[Teo drawing transformer]
[Zo playing with the clay]

Aren't they cute?

Now, since it's the time time of year where gifts are always abundant, my students have been so sweet to send me some presents. There was one gift I really appreciated, though because it was coming from Larry, a 14-yr old boy with special needs. He looks and speaks like normal kid but he feels like he is always in a war..This is what he gave me..

[a complimentary drink from Starbucks]

[and this is what he wrote on the card]

It's almost Christmas.....

Song Titles

Got tagged on this meme by a friend on facebook and thought I'd share it with you....
----
Using only song names from ONE ARTIST (or two!), cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to however many people you like and include me. Try not to repeat a song title. It's harder than you think.


Pick Your Artist: U2

Are you male or female: Lady With a Spinning Head (lol!)

Describe yourself: Two Shots of Happy,One Shot of Sad

How do you feel about yourself: Magnificent

Describe where you currently live: In God's Country

If you could go anywhere you wanted to go: Where the Streets Have No Name

Your favorite form of transportation: FastCars

Your best friend is: Dancing Barefoot

Your favorite color is: Ultraviolet

What's the weather like: Indian Summer Sky

Favorite time of day: Night and Day

What is life to you: A Celebration

What is the best advice you have to give: Sometimes you can't make it on your own

If you could change your name, what would it be: Jean Genie

Your favorite food is: Lemon

Thought for the Day: Love is Blindness

How I would like to die: Exit (hahaha)

My soul's present condition: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

My motto: Walk On

The Week That Was

Monday,was quite a toxic day for me. I woke up early and realized I needed to grab some more sleep so I'll be refreshed during my tutorial schedule in the afternoon. I was not able to sleep anymore as I realized I have to be early at the center..
--
I found some cool site where you could build an online store without having to spend a lot. The past few days I have been busy creating designs or rather designing the stuff I would be selling for my online store and I am enjoying it. MY online store is called Kraftika Stuff. Will talk about this more on my posts in the future.
--
My tutorial pre-schooler Marchie, passed his entrance exam in big school..I couldn't be more proud.
--
Sat beside my other preschooler Joaquin,when he had his mock interview because he sort of doesn't like to talk to the teacher interviewing him. But he answered the questions after a while.
--
Gave my tutorial student Cheska,some chocolates for her birthday. And I was just proud that she got the highest grade on her Science quiz.
--
Have been a really busy time for me, but seeing kids smiles is fulfilling.

He Brought me To YOu

I just love this.....

HE BROUGHT ME TO YOU

xtian:in search of my life and my one true love
i pray to almighty god above
and his masterful voice directed me to
the many things i was destined to do
so i sailed across the mighty sea
persued knowledge of the highest degree
took to learning new things
experience new thrills
felt my life was completely fulfilled

at the end of my amazing quest
after proving myself by achieving success
i hope to find a prize so rare
priceless treasure beyond compare
for god promised he would give me love
a love without measure
trusting and true
and behold my dear sapphire
he brought me to you
he brouight me to you

sapphire:in dearch of my life and my one true love
i pray to almighty god above
his compassionate voice directed me to
the many things i was destined to do
and in my private reverie
i read of lands across the sea
i imagined enchanting hollow and hill
worlds beyond my windowsill

and through all of these
my fancy quest
i cherish the secret, held close to my breast
i hope to find a prize so rare
priceless treasure beyond compare
for god promised he would give me love
a love without measure
trusting and true
and behold my dear christian
and behold my dear sapphire
he brought me to you
he brought me to you

xtian and sapphire: my heart knew this without a doubt
that's what destiny's all about

xtian:god promised he would bring me love
sapphire: a love strong and true
xtian: a promise he fulfilled above
he bought me to you
sapphire:he brought me you
xtian: he bought me to you

xtian:in search of my life and my one true love
i pray to almighty god above
and his masterful voice directed me to
the many things i was destined to do
so i sailed across the mighty sea
persued knowledge of the highest degree
took to learning new things
experience new thrills
felt my life was completely fulfilled

at the end of my amazing quest
after proving myself by achieving success
i hope to find a prize so rare
priceless treasure beyond compare
for god promised he would give me love
a love without measure
trusting and true
and behold my sweet jewel
he brought me to you
he brouight me to you

jewel: what is this is feel
is this for real
the longing inside that i just cannot hide
in search of this feeling they all call love
how could i've known someone up above
i find this rare and priceless treasure waiting
this isn't a story but fantasy
it's as real as his love for me
the feeling is true
what i feel for you..

This is It..

So I finally get to watch the much talked about MJ film. Was not planning to because I have been really busy the week that was, but after hearing almost all the people I know giving out rave reviews of the movie I got more curious..And my student, told me what the video was about, and she even copied the " Beat It" dance..lol! Then she told me-"you should watch it teacher"... That was when I knew I just had to watch it...Enjoyed it a lot and this last song made me cry..Apart from "Man in the Mirror" of course....

This is it, here I stand
I’m the light of the world, I feel grand
Got this love I can feel
And I know yes for sure it is real

And it feels as though I’ve seen your face a thousand times
And you said you really know me too yourself
And I know that you have got addicted with your eyes
But you say you gonna live it for yourself.

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thught that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

This is it, I can say,
I’m the light of the world, run away
We can feel, this is real
Every time I’m in love that I feel

And I feel as though I’ve known you since 1,000 years
And you tell me that you’ve seen my face before.
And you said to me you don’t wnat me hanging round
Many times, wanna do it here before

I never heard a single word about you
Falling in love wasn’t my plan
I never thught that I would be your lover
C’mon baby, just understand

This is it, I can feel
I’m the light of the world, this is real
Feel my song, we can say

Seasons of Love

This song always makes me cry...

Guess Who's Back

I was doing a semestral break countdown, and I was a bit early at the tutorial center that day ..I assisted my co-tutor for a while when my "once in a while" student - Kyle came..I call him "once in a while because he is not a regular tutorial student, he only goes for tutor whenever his mom goes abroad..He was one of those very organized and responsible kids at the center, he knows his school stuff and even knows hat to do with all his home works..And he is only 7 yrs.old.

A session with him is always filled with lots of laughter as he would crack you up with all his funny antics and he tries to be "emo", when I let him answer his Math workbook..And this was how the conversation between me and Kyle went:

Me: Kyle, it says in your assignment notebook you had to answer the exercises on pages 55-56 of your Math workbook.
Kyle: (pointing at all the exercises) oh, all these and this too?
Me: Yes
Kyle: (looking at his workbook - answered some of the questions and suddenly stopped.) Then, he looked at me and said: Ugh, I don't know what to do with this number? I'm gonna die..(and his facial expression: smiling)
Me: (laughing out loud)...
Kyle: (looked at his workbook again, answered the math problems and then..) Oh, I love this workbook...This is the coolest workbook in the whole workbook world.

I couldn't stop laughing after that. He even have some naughty remarks about his nanny..I remember one time, I heard him and his brother talking outside the tutorial center:

Brother: Where is our nanny?
Me: She's probably by the pool area near the clubhouse.
Kyle: Yeah, she's there swimming in her bra.....

And guess what? He has a facebook account , and he proudly showed me his profile picture..Here it is:

[Should I say: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!]

Blogging, Typhoon and Everything that Came in Between

I haven't updated my blog in ages and now that I finally had the time, I feel I had to write about what I have been doing the past month..or more so what have been happening the past month - personal or otherwise....

On Work - my pre-schooler students for tutorials, are the cutest....They never fail to make me laugh with their funny antics...Just look at how they goof around before our sessions...

[Marchie the little boy on the right passed his first interview for big school.....I am soo proud...][Apple cinnamon cupcake that made Kyle(above) soo happy]

Other than the kids, I have also been so busy with my grade school tutorial students...End of September was their first trimestral exams, and I stayed long hours at the tutorial center making reviewers and I did one home tutorial session as well...And it was also my finals in school...Hectic...Toxic but fun......until September 26 came....

Typhoon Ondoy(intl. name: Ketsana) - this was a Saturday, September 26.. Supposedly the last day in school for me, it was finals and it was dark and gloomy early in the morning...But I was able to go to school..Come lunch time, our classroom was already flooded and I have received text messages from my friend and sis that typhoon Ondoy has hit Manila and most of the major roads are already flooded...We were stuck in school, we parked my classmate's car in a mall's parking space, we left our stuff there and had to walk through the flood which was up to the waist to get home or in my case to get to where my sis was, to pick her up because she got stuck in traffic and the vehicles are no longer moving...I've never seen Taft avenue that flooded...It was like a river already...

[there was supposed to be a center island along the avenue, but it was no longer visible]

When I met up with my sister, she was already too hungry, thanks to the toblerone white, my classmate gave me at least it eased up the hunger, and it gave us enough energy to walk through the flood again..We had to get near a mall, because there are hotels beside it..Looking for a place to stay was tough..We were literally dripping while inquiring inside the hotel lobbies. My relatives from the province have been calling us asking how we are because the area where we lived was all over the news..My sister and a friend, who were at our home that time, already told us not to go home anymore because the flood on the road was already too high, it has reached up to the third floor of certain establishments and hospital around the area...A lot of people are being rescued on the roof of their houses because that's the highest point they can get, as the waters have already gotten inside their houses. We were lucky to have found a hotel to stay, the only room available..And as soon as we checked in, I ran to the nearest mall to buy some dry clothes..And lucky enough also that our house has not been affected by the typhoon and that all of us are safe. Some footage's of the typhoon can be seen below..


The next day, the sun showed up for a while, and some flood water have already gone..I felt bad for friends who have been hit by the flood, one friend had to stay with us for a while, because the place she was staying have been devastated by the flood...some co-workers have been terribly hit by the flood as well, donations have been accorded to them already...

Need some Payment Services?

Recently, I heard that one of my long lost friends have expanded her business which she has been maintaining for about four years now. And I was just as proud to know that it boom so well, knowing that she single handedly put it up herself...And through the years, she has tried ways on improving her products .

What I found surprising though was the fact that she has not tried to offer credit cards as a payment option..Until recently when she found out about Five Star Payments. They offer services according to what your business needs and at less cost as well.

Single Ladies

Found this funny clip from Jason Magabanua's site.....Just wanted to share it with you..

Single Ladies - The Fritz Dy Remix from Jason Magbanua on Vimeo.

I love..love..love

For you

My gift is my song
And this one's for you
And you can tell everybody
That this is your song
It maybe quite simple
But now that it's done
Hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world

Sat on the roof
And I kicked off the moss
Well some of the verses well
They got me quite cross
But the sun's been kind
While I wrote this song
It's for people like you that
Keep it turned on

So excuse me for forgetting
But these things I do
You see I've forgotten
If they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is well I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody
This is your song
It may be quite simple
But now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is now you're in the world
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world

He said I was loving..I say..How So?

At a recent activity we had in school, we were asked to write on a piece of paper what our impressions on our classmates were..as well as on our teacher....I was happy to get some nice impressions from them, mostly were saying I have a strong personality but nice, funny..etc.. But what struck me the most was the impression I got from my classmate whom I happen to like and that of my teacher..

My instructor's impression of me, which made me realize that she does appreciate my fun loving personality and the SMART comment she made was a surprise..I thought I was just an ordinary student.......

This was the impression I held close to my heart and probably the on that struck me the most....After all this was from a classmate, whom I have grown to like, and who has been really nice to me...He said I was loving and I wonder how so?Maybe he has been observing me all the while, we been together on OJT and are constantly laughing at each other's jokes, perhaps the reason why he had these remarks on me...

A Soulful Relationship

I just want to share with you this article I read at a friend's multiply blog...Felt this is worth sharing for single and married alike....
----

A SOULFUL RELATIONSHIP
by Rev. Ronald McFadden

If you're not married yet, share this with a friend. If you are married,
share it with your spouse or other married couples and reflect on it.

An African proverb states, "Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and
after you marry, close one eye."

Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust,
desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low
self-esteem, make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't
fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults
aren't really important.

Once you decide to commit to someone, over time his or her flaws,
vulnerabilities, pet peeves, and differences will become more obvious. If
you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve, you've got
to learn to close one eye and not let every little thing bother you. You and
your mate have many different expectations, emotional needs, values, dreams,
weaknesses, and strengths. You are two unique individual children of God who
have decided to share a life
together.

Neither of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other? Do you bring
out the best in each other?

Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete,
compare, and control? What do you bring to the relationship? Do you bring
past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain? You can't take
someone to the altar to alter him or her. You can't make someone love you or
make someone stay.

If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and "a life", you won't
find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or
responsible for your pain.

Manipulation, control, jealousy, neediness, and selfishness are not the
ingredients of a thriving, healthy, loving and lasting relationship! Seeking
status, sex, wealth, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a
relationship. What keeps a relationship strong?

Communication, intimacy, trust, a sense of humor, sharing household tasks,
some getaway time without business or children and daily exchanges (a meal,
shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch, a note).

Leave a nice message on the voicemail or send a nice email.

Sharing common goals and interests. Growth is important. Grow together, not
away from each other, giving each other space to grow without feeling
insecure. Allow your mate to have outside interest. You can't always be
together. Give each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment.
Don't try to control one another. Learn each other's family situation.
Respect his or her parents regardless.

Don't put pressure on each other for material goods. Remember for richer or
for poorer. If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as
resentment, withdrawal, abuse, neglect, dishonesty, and pain replace the
passion.

The difference between 'UNITED' and 'UNTIED' is where you put the I.

New Template

Finally found a new template for my blog...Not the techie one just like many of my blogger friends, I am just glad to have found some beautiful, free templates on the net.. I'm now using bird's secret garden theme by giselejaquenod. I just love it...

....On The Sound of Music

Who doesn't love The Sound of Music??? Probably none..I grew up watching the movie -The Sound of Music, must have watched it many,many times and I practically memorize all the songs,the scenes and the characters in the movie, the reason why I found it hard to believe seeing a picture of the Von Trapp children now....

[Von Trapp children today]

[was probably stucked in this image of them]

[1. Liesl 2.Friedrich 3. Louisa 4. Kurt 5. Brigitta 6. Marta 7. Gretl with Fraulein Maria Julie Andrews]

MissingThem..

It's getting really quiet nowadays in class...Most of my classmates have finished their modules and are just awaiting for the next modules which is scheduled middle of July until August...Two weeks a go, was our last meeting in our module in Anatomy and the moment my classmate D--- said gooodbye (This was his last module and we told him we will miss him and he replied -"same here") there was a tinge of sadness in my heart....It might be because even if we were not in the same batch, he has been really nice to everyone and this we felt most especially during OJT..He was just one funny classmate, making all those naughty comments and hilarious reactions in the most stressful situations in class and even during training...He always has a positive outlook in life, one quality I always admired in him...The week after, only seven of us were left as the rest of our classmates are on their CPR training..Never seen the room so quiet, and for the first time, the room which we called "small room" is now too big for us...

[Missing most of these guys]

Fun Times in Class

Last Friday, was our last day at our Care for the Elderly class...Just after our final exams, we presented our reports - about other therapies done in caring for the elderly. One group was assigned to report about music therapy, the others were to do exercise therapy and ours was Art therapy...Barely two days before our presentation, and still we haven't figured what we would ask the class to do - add to it the fact that we are not so much into crafts...Then I figured, why not try doing those decorative mugs..Talked to my group mates about it and they were amenable with the idea...And it was probably our wackiest day...Check out these photos..

[while I was reporting, showing off my half decorated mug, and decorating with j..][dancing along to richard simmons aero, relaxing and laughing out loud]
[my classmates e,d and g all got carried away with richard simmons aero video]...

We missed our groupmate C_ _ _ _, he wasn't able to attend this session...

Belated Mother's Day Post

So it's been a week since the world celebrated Mother's Day...Have been busy the past 4 weeks so it's only now that I got the time to write something for my Mom and the Mom's I know...Not that I wasn't able to greet them last May 10, in fact I sent out text messages very early in the morning because I felt I had to send it that early otherwise I won't be able to for the rest of the day, because I still had duty that day. It was still OJT weekend, you know, so we were all busy from 6 am to 6pm...Anyway, so indeed I was able to send out those messages but they were just for those relatives and friends who were in my phonebook..apparently I forgot sending out some greetings to the friends and relatives I had abroad...Deym!!! That was some lapse....So today I wannna send this poem by Helen Steiner Rice to my friends Jhari, Rics and Gie and to my cousins Nids, Bing, Cecil....This speaks about a mother's love - being unconditional and selfless...

A MOTHER'S LOVE

A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.

~Helen Steiner Rice~

Also, this song by the backstreet boys entitled 'the perfect fan" is probably one of the best songs you could ever sing to your mom....


Belated Happy Mothers Day to you all!!!

Whaaaaat??? Gokey was Voted Out???

I have been following American Idol for quite a while now, I guess I was so into it during season 7, when I didn't have that much to do so watching tv was a better alternative....lolz! I was soo for David Cook and I was soo glad he won... This season my personal favorite was Danny Gokey..Must be his eyes, that spells sincerity to me and when he sings - it just touches the heart......And it seemed like he was on the way to Number 1 until last May 13, when he was voted off from the top 3, leaving Kris Allen and Adam Lambert to go against each other for the top spot....It was such a surprise and a biggest disappointment for me...It would have been a better competition if Lambert and Gokey would be the ones vying for this seasons American Idol title....

If You Forget Me

So, I was flipping thru youtibe and google and came across several videos of the poems of Pablo Neruda..His poems are so captivating I can't seem to get enought of him...This video is from you tube user selvo68. This features Neruda's poem - IF YOU FORGET ME, as read by Madonna. Indeed, a heart that loves doesn't forget....and never would...As you watch this video, and just feel the intensity of the words....

Pacman is again Number 1

The fight last Sunday between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, has been the most anticipated, yet even if we were allowed to watch it during our OJT, I still was not able to because I had to attend to my client, who seemed to be bored, so I took him out in the garden...When news came that Manny Pacquiao won, by knock out at round 2, there were cheers all over Rendu. I was able to catch scenes from the fight over the news and while I was happy for Pacman's recent victory I was more glued on his entrance song entitled "Lahing Pinoy"...The lyrics just got me and even if I was only watching the fight on replays on the news, hearing that entrance song gave me goosebumps...Makes me more proud to be Pinoy...Below is a video done by youtube user dotz67, which shows some scenes of the fight and the lyrics of Pacman's entrance song...Enjoy it and mabuhay ka Pacman! Mabuhay and Lahing Pinoy!!

Give these a Thought

Here are some thoughts on love and life, which I feel are definitely worth sharing...



Friends18.com Poems
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Friends18.com Poems
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Friends18.com Poems
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Friends18.com Poems
---

A Day in Hospicio

Last March 27, we had our orientation at Hospicio de San Jose, a charitable institution that is a shelter for abandoned babies, elderly and those with mental retardation and special needs. The orientation was a briefing on what we are supposed to do once we start our On-the -Job training which is set to start on April 18. It was a half day talk and afterwards we had a tour of the entire Hospicio...It has opened my eyes to some realities of life - that there are some children who just cannot take care of their old parents, and can leave them in nursing homes and would not even bother to visit them..Such are the cases of most of the elderly clients we met there. And we were even more heart broken when we saw newborns and infants at the nursery, and they are those that have been abandoned by their mothers and some of them were even left outside the gate of hospicio all bundled up in a bag....While we knew the OJT is going to be a tough one, I'd like to take it as a challenge and would look at it as a way of being able to at least show some love and care for the Hospicio's clients who are longing to be cared for. Here's a couple of pictures of our class, inside Hospicio, just enough documentation of that enlightening day for all of us....

How WEll Do You KNow Me

Lifted this from Jhari...

I love to hear an answer from YOU!
1. Where you and I met? 2. How long have you known me? 3. The last time we saw each other? 4. Your first impression of me upon meeting/seeing me? 5. Am I funny? 6. What's my favorite music? 7. Would you call me preppy, average, sporty, punk, hippie, glam, nerdy, snobby, or something else (what)? 8. Have you ever hugged me? 9. If there was one good nickname for me, what would it be? 10. If you and I were stranded on an island, what would I bring? 11. Where do you think I will be in 25 years? 12: Will you re-post this so I can fill this out for you?

The Master Rapper Has Signed Off

The country's Master Rapper Francis Magalona succumbed to cancer today. A while ago in school, while there was a short gap during lecture, my classmate Chris, just blurted out - "Guys, patay na daw si Francis M..." {guys, francis m. is dead}... and the whole class' reaction was-Oh????All of us could not believe he is gone. Around August or September last year, he was diagnosed with leukemia and all through his ordeal, he has always projected a positive outlook about it. Never would one see him cry or question why it had to happen to him. He just had such a positive outlook about his illness, that he was too convinced that he was gonna get well soon...He even wrote about his daily grind in his blog Happy Battle. He was even able to record an album while he was on rest from chemo sessions...He did photography, performed on t.v. and was very positive about all the medications he had to take - blood stem cell transplant included. Indeed he has fought a great battle and his contributions in the music industry would always be remembered. Below is his phenomenal comeback to his home Eat Bulaga, the country's longest running noontime show where Francis M, is a host, but after he was diagnosed with cancer he had to take a leave. As soon as he was allowed to perform he came back October 2008 and performedjust for this time, the song he wrote with his bestfriend and Pupil vocalist Ely Buendia...

House Hunt

Nowadays, the need to have a more secure home is becoming the top priority of many...And for busy people like me, finding a time to go around and check some properties for sale is tough..But I never had to worry about it now as Paradise Valley Real Estate is here...It allows me to search on a particular site by just providing my specifications on their customizable filters and you will be provided with the homes or other properties for sale in the particular area. Their virtual mapping is a great help as well as it at least gives you a bird's eye view of the property's location and proximity...

Easy isn't it? However, if you feel the need to check out the property and see it up close, you can always arrange for a schedule visit with their very much experienced staff..And this also works if you want to sell your property as well. Now that made it more easier.

Back to School....

In case, you still don't know, I am back to school...Yep, I have enrolled in a caregiver class, and is set to finish in about six months. I enrolled at a school that offers the course on modular type, so I was glad to have came to class at a time where they were doing demos and exams....It's like going back to college...I'm done with three unit tests, will have cooking demo tomorrow, and there's final examination on Tuesday..Next week is more like injection and blood pressure reading....Busy? Yes, sir! I have classes practically everyday, except on Sunday.....I'm not complaining though, as I am enjoying the company of my classmates who are professionals at one time and now all of us have the same goals as mine, on why we took caregiver classes --we all wanna go abroad and earn a little more for the family....

The Week That Was

Monday was my first day on my caregiver class and I am on my way to week number two....I'm hoping that I can cope with it, now that there's another module added...
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Went home late last Tuesday, because I went out with a friend, and I'm glad I went with her, otherwise I wouldn't have known a new route going home to my place....lol...
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Talked to Mom last Wednesday and she was asking me how school was, and I told her everything's fine...Mom's will always be moms....
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Was supposed to do grocery with my sis last Thursday, but my class is until 9p.m. so my sis told me she was going to buy dinner instead....Had a nice Jollibee and KFC dinner that night, thanks to sis =D
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Did the grocery, yesterday after I helped my friend Fel purchase a calculator and shop for shirts...Would like to do that one again, Fel and I still got a lot of things to talk about.
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Was in class the whole afternoon today, it was a start of a new module and it seems interesting...A fun group/class indeed...

And I have been struck with cough and colds, and darn, this running nose is bothering me.....Time to self medicate, lol!

Just Right

This video was posted by chicogarcia, on his blog , which I would constantly follow. Seeing this, it has opened my eyes and made me realized a lot of things...Learn from the man..I like he part when he said "but i tell you there are some times in your life when you fall down and you feel you don't have the strength to get back up...do you think you have hope? because i tell you i'm down here, face down and i have no arms no legs. it should be impossible for me to get back up, but it's not. you see i will try 100 times to get up and if i fail and i give up do you think i'm ever gonna get up? no. but if i fail, i try again and again and again..but i just want you to know that it's not the end. it matters how you gonna finish. are you gonna finish strong. and you will find that strength to get back up...."

Believing the Worst

For the longest time, news about recession has been hitting the whole world and this somehow makes most of us alarmed. Everyday news about mass lay offs and companies shutting down only worsens it...Read on this email I got from a friend...

"Whenever the media states, 'We are in a recession,' people lose confidence, quit buying, and more people are thrown out of work. As a result the cycle widens, and soon there really is a recession," wrote Ken Gaub in his best-selling book Dreams, Plans, Goals (New Leaf Press, 1993).

Larry King, on the "Larry King Live" show, asked former president Richard Nixon, "What is a recession?"

Nixon answered, "A recession is any time people lose confidence in the future and think there are no answers."

Don't let brainwashing by the negative news media rob you of the positive that God can help you do.

"The LORD watches over you [us] -- the LORD is your [our] shade at your [our] right hand; the sun will not harm you [us] by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you [us] from all harm -- He will watch over your [our] life; the LORD will watch over your [our] coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121:5-8).

"Trust in the LORD with all your [our] heart and lean not on your [our] understanding; in all your [our] ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your [our] paths straight.... Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your [our] foot from being snared" (Proverbs 3:5-6, 25-26).

I Hate....

The other day, I went to a caregiver school in Taft. I was quite familiar with the place, but got confused with the street where I was supposed to be in, so I was literally walking through a wrong way...Midway through it, I knew I made the wrong turn, and realized that I should be in the next street, but just to be sure I tried to seek assistance from the owner of the canteen that I passed by. Apparently, she was talking to some Indian guy, so I waited for them to finish their conversation before I asked...I tried to be as nice as possible and the conversation went like this..

Me: Tanong ko lang po, saan po dito yung Nakpil St. [May I please ask, where Nakpil St,. is?]
Lady: [busy texting] Dyan, sa Nakpil..Dyan lang... [It's there...Nakpil, is just right there]... and she was not even looking at me while she was answering my question...And she did not even point to me where I should be making my turn or what not... Was on the verge of arguing, but somehow cool heads prevailed...I realized there's no point in arguing and seeing that she was not too ready to help, I slowly walked away from that canteen..and I was glad I have found my way to the school, where I was supposed to be...

Got several mesages from friends whom I don't see as much...I was glad to again have a connection with them after quite some time...With the advances in technology, email and chat is easily available but because of busy schedules sometimes chatting and emailing is also set aside. I came across this test that is supposed to identify what one person's friendship style is...Here goes the results for me...

Your Friendship Style is Empathetic

You deeply care about each person you're friends with. For you, friendship is all about the personal connection. You tend to know everything about your friends' lives... and they know everything about yours. Your friends are your confidants. You are always there for your friends. You celebrate their successes and support them in their times of need. You are as loyal as they come. And you expect the same loyalty and understanding from your friends in return. You and another Empathetic Friend: Have a amazing friendship, when it works. You care for each other deeply, but you often end up with hurt feelings and drama. You and a Gregarious Friend: May have a bit of a one sided friendship. You adore your Social Friend, but you sometimes feel a bit neglected. You and an Independent Friend: Struggle a bit. You are very interested in your Independent Friend's life, but your friend often needs more space. You and a Philosophical Friend: Respect one another. You love to learn about your Philosophical Friend's brilliant ideas.

What's Your Friendship Style?

Somehow, I agree to this...

My Blogs

I am glad I am able to update the blogs that I am currently hosting on three different platforms..But I am seriously thinking about deleting my blog-randomthoughts.i.ph on dotph as I am not too happy with it..Writing a post there is ok, but posting pictures is a different story..It takes forever, uploading pictures and comes out in thumbnail sizes even if you opted for a bigger size..Must be on the settings, but if uploading pictures takes that long, I just don't have that much patience...The most personal blog I have is the one I have kept the longest - Rollercoaster Ride. It's in wordpress and there I keep all my rants, rave and whatever comes to mind including the sponsored posts that have already made me earn a few bucks...And then this one on blogspot is relatively new but am happy because I am able to add links and whatever on my sidebar with no fuss...hahaha..So what exactly is my point? Oh well, just wanna invite you to check on my blogs when you can and drop me some comments , so I know you were there....Happy Writing, bloggers =D

Moving Out or Not?

It seems like everytime there's a discussion about us moving out of the house that we have been staying for the past 7 yrs. here in Manila, I get bothered...I start to feel uneasy and a lot of questions would come up...This house was owned by my Aunt's family since late 1980's but sold it sometime in 2002..It was a blessing that the new owner had it rented and we've been renting it since then..I like the fact that we are given the freedom , with regard to running things around the house..The owner is just too busy to still bother us with his house rules..But we are still cautious though, since he lives just across our place...lol. Plus the fact that we never had an increase on the rent considering the location and accessibility of the place- picture this I just have to cross the street to get to a mall called SM Centerpoint, just a few steps from the LRT 2 station, and there's practically a ride wherever I want to go...How cool is that? Lately though, with all the prices going up, we've been contemplating on looking for a studio type place, enough for my two sis and me, but nothing's final yet. We still are not able to find a place that would be as quiet and secure as this one. And after 7 years, we definitely feel this is home away from home...Ey, I'll worry about moving out some other time...

McDonalds Commercial {Philippines}

The new commercial of McDonalds gets through my heart. And it's the words at the end of the commercial, right before they flashed the McDonalds logo that really got me.....sigh.....


Narration:

At kahit hindi rin naging kami sa huli, sya pa rin ang first love ko {even if we did not end up together, she would always be my first love}

1. It's January; brand new year so let's get the ball rolling!

2. Pesto with hungarian sausage is what I crave most right now.

3. Cork and wine go together like coffee and cream.

4. Soya milk is so nourishing.

5. Let us dare to win our life's battles.

6. Miss my home.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner with my sibs, tomorrow my plans include attending mass and Sunday, I want to visit my cousin!

BFF's McDo Moment

The morning of December 31, despite the not so wonderful weather, there were signs of dark clouds everywhere, I met up with my best friend Chi. It was the first time in probably 3 years, that we saw each other again..Sure we update each other through text messages but nothing beats the conversations over fries and other knick knacks...She brought along her eldest, who is my godchild, and after I handed the boy my christmas gift, Chi and I started our never ending how are you's and chitchats...Just like the good old days....And funny, we seem to not notice the time, before we knew it, it was way past lunch time, and we had to send Chi's son to play some arcade games while we continue to laugh about our stories and reminisce about our college days. Nothing has really changed after all these years and I made sure I had my camera with me so we could take some pictures..The last picture we had together was in some 10 years ago, both of us in our rocker fashion, Chi in a Kurt Cobain hairstyle, both of us making the peace sign...Now, we still are rock fans but sports a more "girlie" fashion..lol..I posted here one shot of us together, never mind how it looked, it was intentionally captured this way, quite a clear view of my Best Friend For life, the already empty mcdonalds drinks and fries and a peeping me...lol..

Lunch at Oniv's...

[Time really fly so fast, my six day vacation is over but I couldn't complain more, I just made the best of it...lol....A few days before Christmas however, I got a text message from my cousin Oniv, who leaves just a few blocks away from me, inviting me to come to their house because they have a party. Much as I wanted to, I had to decline because I had some shopping to do and was not somewhere near his place...hahaha.... While I was on vacation, he sent me a text inviting me to come over for dinner at his place, and he further told me that he also invited my two other cousins...I had to reply informing him that I am in the province for the New Years, and he understood]...So finally, after a series of coordination, with my other cousin, we were set to go to Oniv's. So I asked him if they were home and told him we were gonna go to his place...Thank heaven's he replied, Ok....lol....Arriving at Oniv's was a riot! His kids and my other cousin's kid's instantly bonded, played around, got really loud while we-the not so young spent the rest of the day, laughing at stories of long ago, watching dvd's over carbonara and other delicacies that Oniv prepared himself....What a party host! We spent the whole afternoon at Oniv's and went home late...We were too carried away by our stories and must have forgotten that it was already getting dark, had not my nephew started bothering my cousin that they should be going home....I'm looking forward to the next get together....Guess, the holiday's not over yet....