An EPIC Moment

 Photo by Eden

How I met these women is not just some sort of a chance. In this world, we're meant to meet people. Some who will just pass by, and some who will leave a mark in your life. I have made so many friends from my teen years to now and only a few have really made an impact in my life. As I was saying it's not just a chance that I met them, but we're actually meant to meet. We're meant to share each of our life's stories and learn from them. We're meant to share each laughter in everywhere we go may it be in the mountains, or on a secluded, untouched island.

These women since we met, has indeed touched my life in ways they never imagined. That in every trip that we're together there's always, always a moment to remember and hundreds of photos to laugh at. And Eden, was right it didn't have to be in an expensive hotel, with a private van, with an expensive restaurant to satisfy our travel cravings, it happened in places in Northern Mindanao that has significant meaning in our lives. Now, how can i say that though it's only my first time? Well, it's not about the fact that it's my first but rather, it's about being part of an event that's meaningful and unforgettable.

It is a wedding. A wedding that's non-traditional, no full bouquets in the church, no fancy bridal car, not even a full-entourage - just a simple matrimonial ceremony held in a secluded church, in a beautiful sacred place with the couple's loving and supportive family and close friends.

We couldn't help ourselves but to react to what Father said during the wedding. "Love is a DECISION not a feeling." - which we all beamed at each other and said "tama!". So there goes our rebellious attitude towards love and commitment. haha!

I don't want to go into details as to what happened in the wedding. The photos in facebook says it all.

So define INTIMACY? Then, what I witnessed in the Monastery is the answer.

As Lallie said, I will always and forever be thankful to Travel Factor for I have met great friends to share with my laughters and tears kahit san man kami magpunta.
 

We're meant to make moments together and to have spent it with the people that matters to you is what makes life's journey worthwhile.

 Photo by Eden

Heart Attack!

Like Christmas, love should be around us each and every day of our lives. We make the most out of what we have, friends and loved ones. We don’t just feel the love, but we spread the love.


So,

This is my way of saying..

Happy Valentine’s to all.

A Wishy, Washy, Wibbon…

A souvenir brought by our client from Brazil. Each agent has his/own band. It’s a tradition as what Caroline said.

 

You can tie the band anywhere, from headsets to your pen, even in this long-stemmed rose I have now (which by the way, is a valentine’s gift from our other client, Lisa). One tie = 1 wish. I’m not sure with the color coding though, green is probably for the ladies’ because well, all the guys got the yellow ones.

 

Just a nice to know. :)

The Littlest Sophia

This morning I asked my nanny to go home and come back at 1:30pm. While Sophia was sleeping at around eleven, I went down for a cup of coffee. Tita Liza and I were chatting about a lot of things when I suddenly felt the urge to go back to bed. Yeah, coffee didn't do exactly as it was suppose to do -- to keep me awake.

I was watching TV when I checked the time. It's already past 12 o'clock and I'm really all tired and sleepy. I was thinking, maybe I could sleep for a couple of hours while the nanny is gone and Sophia taking her nap. A few more steps when I heard voices inside our bedroom. I leaned on the door and I can definitely tell that it was Sophia as if she was talking to someone. I opened the door and I saw her seating on our bed, reading her book - the littlest mouse, playing with the mouse puppet and saying words like - ada..na...du... over and over.

Here I was, an amazed mommy. And I know my reactions are priceless.

Mommy: Oh! You're awake Sophia!
Sophia: ada...na..na...na..na..ummm baaa a..na na na na (pointing at her pillow as if she was telling me - I woke up mommy and i was bored then i saw my book and read it while waiting for you to come pick me up)

Whenever she wakes up in the room alone, she would usually cry, then you'll hear footsteps from our sala, she then would go to the door and knock...but now..she has totally grown. She didn't cry...nor knocked. All this time, she was up, reading and waiting for me.

Sophia Turns One

My darling, daughter mommy is so happy that we get to be together each and every second of our lives. It has been a year of firsts. From first smile, to first crawl, to first step, to first tooth. I am so proud of you.

One year and more to come. So let us blow your first candle - together. :)

You're the most beautiful thing happened to me. Happy One Year!

Photos and camera by: Ninang Pat and Ninang Nonie

Birthday photos taken last January 20, 2012



The FAILED "KENDENG" Combo Dance

Sophia last night while watching WILL TIME BIG TIME (blame the nanny!!!)

Sophia - dancing, to kendeng-kendeng and waving her harms like crazy

Tita L: Mommy you dance with Sophia!
Mommy: what?! NO! i'll just watch her..
Tita L: Dali! You stand up and show sophia how to dance kendeng-kendeng...
Mommy stood up and did the kendeng-kendeng dance...but Sophia got tired already and asked for ... dede....

FAIL. :/

Welcom to the gang, Pooh!

Last night, Sophia with her new toy - winnie the pooh

Sophia: waaaah! (holds piglet and pointed at pooh's nose and giggled)
Mommy (holding pooh): hello Sophia, i'm pooh. can i be your friend?
Sophia, looked at Mommy: (she smiled with her teeth showing and said...) mama..yaaaaaaaa...

Sophia hugged her "teddy" the bear, piglet, alf (her puppet), and pooh altogether. :)

Happy ending.

2011 - The Year That Was

I'm looking back at the year that was. A year of everything, literally. It was 20 months ago (yes i know the title is the year that was but let me take you back...), I was playing Frisbee with my friends on a competition with Travel Factor. Nobody knew what was going through my mind that with conviction I decided that it would be my last. I have never told anyone of the true reason why I joined and why I decided to go back on working. In that moment, I simply just endured every moment I had with my friends.

I will be going on a trip. A journey, that is different this time.

A journey to motherhood. The real life begins.

I was already five months pregnant when I announced to my family (and of course in social networks as well..) that I was expecting and managed to surprise people, yet again.

In such challenging, blood draining, crying out load moments of my life; I'm still standing strong. I learned that the beauty of life doesn't come from money and other material things but comes from the people who have stuck with you as you go through your hardest times.

I'm happy. that simple.

I now have a little angel with me and every sacrifice, she was all worth it.

She shines a light in my life, every second, of every hour, of every day from the day she was born. Since then, she has been the main story of my life. It is true that I lost all the things I have. A reality that I have no other choice but to accept and yet with all the problems I faced she's just there giving me the sweetest smile of hope just when I'm about to give up. I love her, beautifully...dearly.

With 2011 about to end, I will bring with me all lessons learned from the past and move forward to another year of life's journey to 2012 that is just around the corner.

Happy New Year!

My First Christmas Party

So much drama unfolded last 7th of December. A feverish, weak, droopy eyed Poms came to SMX to get it all over and done with. My first Christmas Party at my new home, Hewlett-Packard Philippines. Seems that these events have always found their way back to me..or I should say - a "calling".

Me, as the backstage director raised my eyebrows toward one thing - the stage. It's already half past-12 lunchtime and the stage is not yet complete and no paint at all. Unfortunately, stage was finished around 4:30pm. Paint were all dried up and spot lights are already in place. There was even a dilemma in the tech run and some exchange of words between me and the stage director who is way over his head and has serious superiority problems, that and among other things. But, we managed to survive the night of tension, nerve wrecking Christmas party.

I should only thank BIOFLU for effectively managing my fever and kept me sane for 12hrs. (but failed to go to work the next day because my body...let's say...gave up and want to rest.).

So this is how I look like when sick but still ready to kick butt at the backstage. (very nice...hehehe)

And finally, she rises...

and let the party begin....

why don't we have a lil' fun while working.

With the hosts, and members of connect@hp (engagement group)

and we survived!

oh btw, the guy in front of me was marvin agustin...

look alike...hehehehe!

I'm excited to work with them again next year.



Welcome, Again...

Now, why am i listening to Judy Garland's Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas?

Tomorrow is the day the lights will turn red, green, blue and white,

where stars are here and there, 

when xmas trees are high as they can be, 

and all that matters are the people that has stuck with you through thick and thin. 

Welcome, December 2011.

DIYES!

Yes! Diyes is the number!



It's the 20th; and it's that day of the month where she turns 10!


Not just that, she made a significant milestone this month when she made her first step at 6:35am, Sunday of November 13th. She has been amazing since then.


Happy 10th month, Sophia!

All Set...Get Ready 2012!!!

She's all set and ready to go!

Photo by Tita Reg

The Puss Named Boots

The Puss named Boots.


Boots, the cheesecake eater.
The Puss who knows how to open the magic oven.
The Puss who's favorite meal is chicken.
The Puss who whenever comes home, wreck everything 
and gives you a face telling you "hey guys, im hungry!!!"

We miss you Bootaptap!

Photo by Poms

Every time...

Every time you wake up and ask yourself, What good things am I going to do today?, remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it.

What are you staring at?

She Sells...

sea shells by the seashore....

Photo by Poms Yapching

Camarines Norte 2009

She Turns 9 Today...

Happy 9th month, Sophia!

 I love you soooooooooooooooooooooooooo damn much!

Ginormous Nutella

Sometimes it's boring at work specially if there are no calls waiting. I've been browsing through my tumblr dashboard  to see amazing photos from people that I follow all over the world. This is what I thank Hewlett-Packard for. Full internet access has never been better. But of course, use it with discrete and caution. We don't want to be reprimanded or get caught up by our bosses right?

From food to destinations, arts and graphics, from people to animals. Whenever I see something amazing I quickly reblog these to my own tumblr for my reading pleasure. As I go through these amazing tumblogs, I stumbled upon a photo of this huge nutella nothing I've seen before. I found out from my aussie friend that we have to order it online because they don't sell this in most stores. Nutella has been my favorite since I discovered this when I was in China. I love nutella more if it's matched with keebler chocolate cookies (talk about sweet tooth!) and black coffee.

Wherever this is! I WANT TO TELEPORT RIGHT NOW!

credit to the source here's the link: http://benc0bane.tumblr.com/post/10491388153

8 Months and Counting...

Happy 8th Month!!!

Ilang buwan nalang...

My Oath As A Mother

A couple of hours ago, I stumbled upon a news posted in yahoo! Singapore about a mom who happens to be Jacki Chan's former lover and like me, she too is a single mother. I read through the news and I find her perspectives significant to mine. I never saw my situation as some sort of a disadvantage nor pittiful. Instead, I took it as a challenge. I don't want Sophia to grow up with so much anger with her father nor to any of our family members.

I grew up with so much hate and anger that when I got pregnant, all I wanted was to make things better for my daughter. I don't want to pass on the grudges I have and I don't want to do the things that my mother did to me. I want my daughter to grow up with compassion and have a sense of value for freedom. Freedom to express herself. Freedom to choose between what is right from wrong. Freedom to dream big. Freedom to explore new things. And, Freedom to make a decision at her own accord.

I will be open to her as she grows up and teach her to understand that things happen for a reason. I will show no regrets at all to whatever the decisions I made in my life and I will make sure that she will grow up proud. My daughter will grow up with love around her.


She will know that out of all the good things, she was the best ever happened to me.