Fruitful "Me" Time

I always do "me" times. One of which is yesterday.

After office, while my officemates played badminton as part of our regular work-life balance in our department, I opted not to join but rather have my "me" time.

My agenda: to look for a leather belt, buy vitamin supliments and eat.

Here's what happened:

I usually start my "me" time with a prayer (at kung sinisipag-sipag ako, binubuo ang misa) at the nearest church. I would pray that I would have a good "me" time. But rather, this time, I asked God for a fruitful "me" time. And that's what happened.

I first came to National Book Store to see some good titles. I found this book written by my favorite author Bo Sanchez entitled "How to Live a Life of Miracles". It is priced Php250. So I thought it would be the same price as in Powerbooks. So I went to powerbooks only to find out it is priced Php295. So I went back to National and finally bought the book. Presto, I saved Php45.

Next agenda: Leather belt.

So I went to Memo and Celio just to find out their belts cost Php1,000+. No way! Agenda: crossed. Not this time.

As I was about to go to the Food Choices to eat my dinner, a man with a leaflet of WWF appproached me and invited me to sponsor their cause. Without batting an eyelash, I said yes. I don't know what's in me to actually agree to sponsor them that quickly, after all it would be a continuous donation (on a monthly basis). Whew. I am not easily been dragged to that sort of giving but somehow I did. Well that's ok, I said to myself, it's for a good cause.

After eating my dinner, I went to Mercury for the vitamins I am to buy, went back to office for the 7 o'clock shuttle.

At the dorm, I read the book that I bought. And to my surprise, I read it in one sitting! (Actually in one lying! hehehe). That I never had done in my lifetime.

That night was the best, so far, and I may say the most fruitful "me" time I had.

Cold War

I think I am in a silent war against a friend (sabihin na nating very close friend because for a time many think ako lang ang nakakaintindi sa trip nya).

I confronted him through e-mail when I read something from his blog. Malayong malayo sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya. I didn't mean any harm to him when I confronted him but it seems he's not also used to me being like that.

He stopped writing from his blogsite but somehow I manages to peek into his new one, without telling him, in fact, I never talked to him after the confrontation. His words are striking. Whenever I read his posts, I feel pressed down.

I know I should not confronted him that way. It's my fault. I am honestly admitting I had a fault there, but I don't have any bad intention writing that "sermon" to him.

I lost a friend. I think I have insulted him. I am wrong. The damage has been done. I am sorry my friend.

But to tell you frankly, I am hurting too. I felt insulted also, specially the blog posts you have after my "sermon" to you.

I don't know if you are also following my blog posts the way I do to yours. But if you happen to, I would like to tell you I do not mean to insult you, or to break your spirit.

Let's have a time-off (sabi mo nga "Just stop there" so I will).

For a while, just enjoy your new found friends.

Time will come we'll forget about this.

Until we meet again, I would gladly tell you personally my apology.

Just Close

I feel used again.

I can't explain, basta pakiramdam ko ginamit nanaman ako.

Nakakainis lang na parang ang siste e aligagang aligaga sya na akala mo sya ang nag-utos na gumawa ako nung kung anuman yun.

Kung sa akin lang naman, di ko kailangan ng recognition, pero yung may makinabang na iba sa recognition na dapat sa akin ang hindi ko palalampasin.

Minsan na nya kong inagawan ng recognition, o nakisakay sa pinaghirapan ko, na puntong sya ang sumikat pero ako ang nagpagod. Hinding hindi na ako papayag na muli nya akong nakawan, o makisakay sa kahit anong paraan.

Please lang. Tama na ang kaartehan mo. Hindi ka importante.

Long-term Goals

It's been around 6 months since I created a list of my goals/wishes for this year 2009. My goals there are set to be completed by the end of the year. It is the first time I did a list for my goals and its progress are monitored monthly.

Now, there are goals that are trying to come into my mine that I never had thought when I am doing that list, although I may say these could not happen within the year (so technically can't be part of that list). Let me share these to you:

1. I wanted to have my own car. Now I realized the practicality of having my own car. I can go to wherever I want not thinking of what transportation means to take. I had a very hard time commuting specially during rush hours. Imagine me at the crowded MRT. Whew. That's always my problem. Kung minsan, tingin ko hihimatayin na lang ako bigla sa loob ng siksikang MRT dahil indi na ko makahinga at di na kaya ng katawan ko ang stress ng mabibigat na katawan ng taong tumutulak sakin.

2. I want to go back to school. I told myself before even graduating that I will pursue another course. Not that I don't want my course way back in college, but I want to experience more knowledge. Civil Engineering, Management Engineering, Business Administration, Architecture, Masters in ChemEngg - these are the courses I wanted to pursue. But I think I don't have drive right now to go back to school, yet I know I want to. Maybe I should be conditioning myself more. I wanted to be an Atenista when I was small, but because my parents can only afford the tuition of UST, I became a Thomasian. I don't regret being a Thomasian though. Now, if ever I will go back to school, I still want to be an Atenista.

These two are what I am taking into considerations now. Probably I'll have these at my goal list next year. But one thing is still lacking on me to pursue these - money. It takes a lot of money to be an Atenista, and car is not something you can buy in a month's salary. So I think this should be my first priority for now - how will I raise my own funds to support these goals I have in mind.

Balot-Buniag Nuptials (31May2009, Tarlac City)

Yesterday, I witnessed the wedding of my friend Vic John to his long-time girlfriend, now his wife, Lailanie. This is the first time I became abay for a friends wedding. The last time I had a chance to be abay was the wedding of my eldest sister in 1995. This was also the first wedding I attended after a long while.

The moment the bride walked the aisle, I looked at my friend and told myself, they really love each other. The sparks on their eyes are totally indescribable, they are in love.

The wedding itself is very much fun. That, I can say, is the most creative wedding I ever attended. As part of the entourage, the pictorial before, during and after the ceremony is a little bit different. Very creative are the photographers, really catched the moments. And not to mention, some on-site photo where already flashed in the screen during reception, all editting completed (they preseneted it in a video collection of pictures) in just a short period of time.

The programme during reception is also unique. Instead of the usual throwing of boquet and garter, the single ladies are asked to choose riboons "attached" to the boquet. The lady who has the ribbon in which the boquet is really attached to is the winner (don't know what should we call it, probably the lady to put on the hot seat). The same is with the bachelors. Luckily, I didn't got the ribbon attached to the garter.

I wish I could have the photos soon. Photos are better story teller than me, i guess.

And for the couple, I wish their relationship will continue to go stronger and their love for each other remains with them for lifetime, I am sure it will.