Bacolod - Guimaras - Iloilo Trip | Aug.29 to Sept 2, 2014

Hello Girls!

Here’s the tentative itinerary for our trip:

DAY 1 – Arrival at Bacolod International Airport

                Ross, Ahms, Lie and Marcie – arrival at A.M.

                Tessa, Kyela, Lizzy and TL Carj – arrival at 6:40 P.M.          

Check-in at 11^th Street Bed and Breakfast or somewhere else cheaper.

• Lunch at Nena's Best for a taste of the famous chicken inasal (Manokan Country, near SM Bacolod)
• ANP Negros Showroom for souvenirs, also located in Lacson Street
• If you still have time, you can also visit the ancestral houses in Silay City

Dinner with the meanies somewhere or at the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 2 – Bacolod City Tour

• Breakfast
• TOUR. The Ruins in Talisay City - this is what remained of the grand mansion that Don Mariano Lacson built, following the death of his wife, Maria Braga. Today, it is a tourist attraction for its romantic, yet strong structures.  How to get to The Ruins: From Araneta Avenue (Old Bacolod City Hall), ride a jeepney with the Mandalangan-Lopues route. Alight at Lopues (another landmark is Robinson's Place) and ride another jeepney going to Talisay City. Alight at Bata (Pepsi bottling plant). You will see a signboard here going to The Ruins.  Ride a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to The Ruins. Fare: Php80 one way.  You can have the driver wait for you since there are not many tricycles going that route. Travel time is around 15 minutes and you'll be transported back in time. Entrance fee is Php60. Best time to go there in the afternoon and wait for the sunset.
• Early Lunch + Calea Cakes located at Lacson Street. Calea is quite famous in Bacolod and there are also many branches throughout.

After lunch, head to Bredco Terminal - for ferries going to Iloilo. Take the Supercat (P380.00. Schedule: 0600, 0900, 1240 - target, 1540) or Weesam Express (P330.00). Travel time is around 1 hour.

Arrival at Muelle Loney Port, Iloilo. Get a cab going to Ortiz Port (approximately 17 mins by foot and 5 mins via cab). Ortiz Port in Iloilo City - this is the terminal for pumpboats going to Guimaras. Fare is Php14 if you travel during the day and Php17 if you travel at night.  I think the earliest trip is at 6AM and the last trip is 10PM. Travel time is around 45 minutes.

• Jordan Port, Guimaras - upon arriving at the port, there are tricycle drivers that offer trips around Guimaras. Take cab to Raymen Beach Resort, travel time is approximately 24 mins.
• Check-in at 2pm. Get settled. Siesta. Beach. Free time or island-hopping.

Small boats good for 4-6 persons go for the rates of Php400/first hour and PhP150 for the succeeding hours. Boats with a bigger capacity command higher rate.

DAY 3 – Guimaras City Tour

·         Tour Guide for city tour: Kuya Jun. Php1000 for a tour. (0918) 367-1195. Tour around Guimaras: Daliran Cave, Trappist Monastery, Raymen Beach Resort, Smallest Plaza, Guisi Lighthouse and Balaan Bukid.

·         Go back to Raymen’s Beach Resort. Chillax. Beach bum. Overnight.

DAY 4 – Guimaras – Iloilo

·         Breakfast. Last time to beach bum. Prep to leave (target 11am).

·         Go to Jordan Port to catch the boat going back to Iloilo.

• Check-in: Ong Bun Pension House. Get settled. Go out for lunch at Deco's La Paz Batchoy beside SM Delgado
• Travel to Super (Iloilo wet market) - terminal for jeeps going to Miagao Church. Travel time is around  1.5 hours, fare Php50.
• Miag-ao Church - UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Other churches you will pass by and can explore:  Molo Church, Tigbauan Church, Guimbal Church
• Roberto's Siopao located at JM Basa Street - famous for the Queen size siopao
• Tibiao Fish Spa - located in the lower ground floor at SM Iloilo (they also call it SM Mandurriao). The rate for a fish spa is Php120 for 30 minutes.
• Take home some biscocho from Reggie's or Biscocho Haus (located at near SM Iloilo Traveler's Lounge)
• Other suggestions: Museo Iloilo, Iloilo Provincial Capitol and Jaro Cathedral
• Night gala. Overnight.

DAY 5 – Iloilo

·         Breakfast. Pasalubong hunting.

·         Early lunch / check-out

Off to airport (Ong Bun Pension House to Iloilo International Airport, approximately 29mins via cab)

Screw defunct-ness, I'm back.

For a while Twitter consumed my life (it still does, actually. Just not in that level anymore) and here I am missing blogger after spending almost 3 months in tumblr.

And so.. I've decided, no more straining my brain by thinking so much of what I should write here. I shouldn't worry about the public reading about stuff I write about anymore. I have what, 2.. 3 readers? LOL. Seriously though, part of my New Year's resolution (despite my very bad track record in keeping them) is to write more.. express myself more. I feel that's one part of me that I should resurrect because it helps unleash my daily demons and stresses from everyday work life.

Speaking of work, I got a call yesterday from Thomson Reuters. I sent Karen my resume in the afternoon and I got a call before dinner. It was immediate hiring and I wasn't that adamant into getting in because I am still hoping DKS would happen. And plus, training starts in February and I would need a 30 day notice before I could actually exit.. And I am waiting for DKS to happen. :)

I am eating caesar salad in front of my laptop. Just had my braces adjusted (adjusted=tightened) yesterday and so biting into the croûtons, which are semi-crunchy from being drenched in dressing, still feels like biting into steel. In short, eating is torture but I force myself to eat because I cannot live on congee (blogger spell check tells me to type this is as "con gee") anymore. Oh and hey, don't you just hate it when people tell you they've decided to get braces because "they would like to lose weight". What a stupid waste of money. But I guess these people feel it's some kind of status symbol. It's no joke to have on. It's painful, morons. You could've saved yourselves the nagging feeling that your entire teeth structure is going to fall off anytime by hitting the gym or just eating less.

I figured I'll just jump from one topic to another (screw coherence)..

Mosh just gave birth to 6 puppies yesterday. I wasn't home when the first 4 came out but I witnessed her give birth to the 5th one! IT WAS A-MAZING! It's like watching Animal Planet live! lol. I thought it was magic. :) 2 of the puppies didn't make it out alive though but I'm glad that the 4 are looking healthy. We have to spoon feed Mosh though because she refuses to move an inch from her lot and she has to regain her strength and forcing her to eat is the only way to go. My dog is a rockstar. :)

Untitled

testing.

via @tweetitow

Posted via web from in between brain farts

Cross-posting rocks. :)

via @tweetitow

Posted via web from in between brain farts

And now some wisdom from Calvin and Hobbes

What, I have a blog?

I frequently micro-blog now, thanks to twitter and has time and again left this blog to rot.

I've been so spent in saying stuff in my head in 140 words or less and it's beginning to be new lifestyle for me because I have a chronic case of brain farts each time I sit down and try to come up with something read-worthy here.

And so.. (see there it is again those nasty nasty brain farts).

Year is almost over and I'm thinking about what lies in January when my 1 year bond expires. In the last couple of days I've been contemplating on calling it quits next year because:

(-) I feel like the liability involved in the job is too massive should I (become human and) slip

(-) There's not much room for mistake (Which in effect, limits my learning curve)

(-) The instances I feel like dragging myself to work when I wake up has doubled (that's massive!)

(-) The taxes are horrendous it's like I have one regular (day shift) employee under my payroll list

However;

- I believe I am one of those people who's spending has grown proprtionately as my earnings, thus, I cannot imagine a payday with a 5-digit salary.

- I have more bills to pay now

- My brother has 1 year and 1 semester left before graduating and I have to see his education through until then.

- I have to save if I want to spend my birthday out of the country next year.

So that's been bugging me. My job pays well as compared to most jobs and I don't think I can easily find one should I have the urge to call it quits anytime soon. I guess I just have bouts of dissatisfaction because the taxes elude my rational thinking and plus I am in prime time shift (8-5pm ET) which exposes me in so much trading (hence liability, stress, heart attack, Shin). But that's bound to change because I got the shift I wanted in the recently concluded shift bid. How I got it versus half my team wanting the same schedule beats the crap out of me but it's okay. I'm happy. = )

Oh, did I mention that I have a tendency of being irresolute? So ask me again in 2 weeks what I want.

This is where all the missing relief goods are. OUTRAGEOUS.

I got a tweet from @annecurtissmith about this blog which, by the time i was about to view, was already blocked. I found another link from Jenni Epperson's website who was able to copy and paste the entire entry before it was restricted. SPREAD THE WORD PEOPLE. THIS DESERVES ATTENTION.

Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? (A special report from a volunteer)

Oct 21st, 2009 by ELLA

Dear friends,

I’m asking your help to spread the word. Tulungan po ninyo akong ikalat ito. Beyond this, we should also demand action. I disabled a plugin so you can copy the photos of relief goods rotting in DSWD warehouses. You can link this post to your blogs, facebook, websites etc. You can also email the photos.

Philippine News (US based Philippine newspaper) will use this as its front page story this week. Every Filipino has the right to know where the tons of donations from the UN and other counties go. Kahit po nakakahiya sa mga nag-donate. Kung sa ganitong paraan, matutulungan natin ang mga nasalanta, then by all means, let’s do it.

For those who have the time, please try to volunteer sa DSWD warehouses. Getting in was not easy. A friend had to put in a word for us. Let’s see kung madali nang makapasok sa DSWD warehouse ang mga volunteers.

Please read on and good luck to us.

Ella

(This post was last edited Oct 22, 12:30 pm)

Kahapon, tinanong ng Philippine News si DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral:

Editor of Philippine News: Why are the relief goods in DSWD warehouses not moving?

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral: Wala kasing volunteers.

This short interview was done over the phone. Philippine News wanted to hear her side pero ayaw niyang makipag-usap sa press. After four tries, pinasabi na lang niya ang maikling sagot na ito sa secretary niya - “Walang volunteers”.

I don’t want to accuse her of corruption but at the very least she is showing signs of being totally incompetent. We are in a state of calamity where every second counts. May namamatay araw-araw dahil sa sakit.

In my opinion, these deaths could have been prevented if Secretary Cabral had tried a little harder to do her job.

Deaths from Philippine storms nears 1,000

“Tropical Storm Ketsana left 420 dead and 37 missing when it flooded 80 percent of Manila on September 26, a disaster the government saidAFFECTED 4.35 MILLION PEOPLE.




Some areas are still flooded three weeks later and 189,000 PEOPLE REMAIN IN EVACUATION CENTRES,





Typhoon Parma hit the northern Philippines on October 3 and lingered as a tropical storm for a week, triggering landslides that killed 438 people and leaving 51 missing mostly in mountain communities.




The government agency said Parma AFFECTED 4.16 MILLION PEOPLE, including more than 32,000 WHO REMAIN AT EVACUATION CENTRES.”

During the first week after the storm, lumabas ang “bayanihan spirit” ng mga Pinoy. “Makatulong lang kahi’t konti,” katwiran nila.

kung walang volunteers, ano ‘to, komiks?

From STELLA ARNALDO’S BLOG:

“At the offices of many civic groups and private organizations, hundreds of people showed up to volunteer in packing relief goods.

At the Tulong Bayan center at the Expo Centro in Cubao, Most of the volunteers were adolescents as young as 10 years old, along with their kuya or ate in high school and college.




They came in huge numbers, many of them barkadas, classmates or siblings, dressed just in their tees and shorts, wearing their Havaianas. All were just enthusiastic to do their share!
Photos by Leah Navarro





Even grade school kids pitched in to help!




Youth volunteers repack detergents for distribution





Making beds from carton boxes

GMA asked world for donations

Our government begged the world for more donations. Sumagot ang buong mundo sa ating panawagan. In less than three weeks, dumaong ang mga barko, ibinaba mula sa mga cargo planes, i-diniliver ng mga trak at container vans ang sandamakmak na relief goods. Cash donations were in the millions of dollars.

But these donations must be coursed through DSWD

Nagpalabas ng directive ang pangulo. Individuals, private companies and other nations were ENCOURAGED to send their donations to DSWD. I blogged about it HERE and the video of her announcement HERE.

This PGMA directive sounded suspicious to me then. Now I know why. Here’s the story.

A group of eight people, your ate Ella included, went to one of DSWD warehouses to help in repacking relief goods. We know they need volunteers pero hindi namin akalaing WALANG TAO TALAGA SA LOOB NG WAREHOUSE!

As in sa isang humongous warehouse (1000++ sq.m) NA PUNONG-PUNO NG RELIEF GOODS HANGGANG BUBONG, ISANG DSWD EMPLOYEE LANG AT ISANG SECURITY GUARD ang tao!!

Kailangang magpa-register at i-schedule ang volunteering

1) UNICEF Registration (as a volunteer)

The warehouse CAN ONLY TAKE AS MUCH AS 50 VOLUNTEERS at a time or per shift. Here you will find that there is a 4-hour shift, and an option for a 6-hour shift for the volunteers to indicate their availability.

What “volunteers”? Nasaan?

Aside from the 8 of us? Nope, there was nobody there. Bakit kailangan ang scheduling? Feeling hindi ba magkamayaw at nagu-unahan ang mga volunteers?

I know somebody who wanted to volunteer many times. She was always bumped off, laging nirere-schedule kasi “THERE WERE TOO MANY VOLUNTEERS” daw. At tuwing Sunday lang daw puwede. What the hell is going on here?

Nakatambak ang donations ng UNICEF sa warehouse, local and international

Mga banig na dapat ay nahihigaan ng mga nasalanta. Mga imported camp beds na hindi na yata masisilayan ng mga biktima. Mga kumot na hindi naman nakabalot sa katawan nila. At mga pagkaing hindi sumasayad sa sikmura nila.

The relief goods are not going anywhere

We arrived at about 8 am and left by midafternoon and yes, you guessed it right. Kami pa rin ang tao bukod sa isang DSWD employee sa loob ng warehouse maghapon. Walang ibang dumating.

The relief goods are not moving. By the way things look, they are not going anywhere. Hindi maglalakad mag-isa ang mga donations na ito papunta sa mga evacuation centers.

LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING

Note: Pinagbawalan kaming kumuha ng pictures sa loob ng warehouse. I wonder why.

“Not a creature was moving, not even a mouse.”

Parang haunted warehouse ang dating. May multo na yata.

Kahit na daig pa ang tindahan sa Divisoria sa dami ng naka-stack na kaldero

At walang katapusang kaldero pa ulit

Kahit halos natakpan na ang mga bintana sa dami ng mga kahon

Kahit umabot na hanggang kisame ang stack ng mga kahon

(Close up ng Coleman camp beds sa previous photo) Hindi ito kasama sa ni-repack naming goods. Para sa mga “special victims” kaya ito? Ire-repack kaya ang mga “imported” camp pads na ito ever?

Sabagay, may BANIG naman para sa “ordinary victims”. Ito ang kasama sa inimpake namin. Sayang ‘yung imported.

Ano kaya ang laman nito? Hindi rin pinabuksan. Pang-special victim din kaya ito? (teka, dito nga pala galing ‘yung mga kumot)

Mahiwagang mga kahon from Japan Aid.

(close up ng mahiwagang kahon) Hindi rin ito kasali, of course. Hindi namin alam kung ano ang laman nito. “Imported” are not included, we have concluded.

Marami ito, mga laruang kasinlaki ng tao. Hindi nakunan ng pic kasi nasa tabi ng sikyo.

PORK AND BEANS? Yup, you’d think kasama ito sa relief bag. Pork and beans lang ‘to, puwede na sigurong ipamigay,

Naaah! “Imported” pork and beans from Spain po ito. Sorry, hindi pa rin included

Now let’s take a look at what a victim will get from DSWD

Look Ma, sampung lata ng sardinas! How generous! Kaldero ang unang ilalagay sa sako. Sabong panglaba (bar soap) at sampung sardinas sa ilalim. Siyam na sabon sa gilid ng kaldero. Local goods lahat syempre.

Tapos papatungan ng isang tuwalya at isang pack ng sanitary napkin.

Sisiksikan ng tatlong rolyo ng kumot(?) ang blue water jug tapos ipapatong sa kaldero sa loob ng sako.

Last but not the least, lalagyan ng dalawang banig.

Sabay tatahiin na ang sako. O di ba, parang asong tinapunan ng buto ang mga nasalanta? Eniwey, busog naman sila sa SAMPUNG lata ng Mega sardinas

Do not delay

YOU THINK?? WTF is the matter with these people? Mag-iisang buwan na mula nang masalanta ang mga kababayan natin. ISANG BUWAN!! Do you mean “do not delay ang dati nang delayed”?? Shet.

Anong ginagawa ng mga donations na ito sa warehouse?? APAT na warehouseang nasa loob ng compound na ‘yon! APAT na warehouse na punong-puno ng inaalikabok na relief goods! Relief goods na ayaw yata ibigay sa mga nasalanta. Halatang-halata.

Marami pang pabubulukin

Wow! May bagong shipment na naman! At the rate DSWD is moving, next year na madi-discover kung ano ang laman ng mga kahong ito.

“The first of two of the largest high-energy food shipments from the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) arrived in the country two days ago for victims of storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng.”




The biscuits were fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for supplementary feeding to children, pregnant women and the elderly in evacuation camps. Another 100 tons of biscuits will arrive on Oct. 24, in a continuing effort to provide food assistance to flood victims.

Sige, ideretso ‘nyo ulit ‘yan sa DSWD warehouse. Para AMAG naman ang abutin ng biskwit… at sapot ng gagamba.

Conclusion

Sa maghapon namin sa warehouse,nakagawa kami ng 150 sacks of relief goods.150 bags of relief goods lang ang lumabas sa warehouse na ‘yon that day.At nandoon pa rin sa loob ang mga imported relief goods, safe, sound and packed as the day they arrived.

Nakisakay kami palabas sa isang DSWD delivery van. Gusto sana kaming ihatid ng driver hanggang Makati pero wala raw siyang sobrang gasolina. Ibinaba na lang niya kami sa gitna ng EDSA. Millions of dollars in donations, walang extrang pang-gasolina.

Susulpot din siguro ang laman ng mga mahiwagang kahon at mapapasakamay din ng mga tao…sa ARAW NG ELEKSYON. O mabibili na nila ang mga imported goods na ‘yon sa mga puwesto sa Quiapo at Divisoria.

Suggestions lang po sa DSWD:

Alam ‘nyo palang walang mag-volunteer sa inyo, bakit hindi kayo mag-hire ng mga tao? Bayaran ‘nyo ng arawan para mag-repack. Ang daming walang trabaho, makakatulong pa kayo. Hindi naman malaking kabawasan ‘yon sa bilyong pisong donasyon na natanggap ninyo.

Isa pa, gaano ba karami ang mga sundalo natin? Hindi ba puwedeng ipagawa sa kanila ‘yan? Baka isang araw lang, tapos na ang problema ‘nyo

Bakit hindi ‘nyo ibigay ang trabaho sa mga NGO, churches, private charities, TV stations? I’m sure they are more than willing to help. Time is of the essence. Huwag kayong suwapang. Obvious ba, hindi ‘nyo naman kaya.

Kung talagang gugustuhin ninyong makarating agad sa mga kawawang biktima ang mga donasyong ‘yon, nagawa ‘nyo na ‘yan. Maraming paraan…kung talagang gusto ‘nyo lang.You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

You are the government. You have the power, the resources and the money. You just have to really care.

The Hunge Games (Review)

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive to read this. At the back of my

mind, another young adult? And plus, there was always that huge poster in the "Bestsellers' section in the bookstore with Stephenie Meyer's comments about the book that plays in my head saying there's no doubt we should read it with as much enthusiasm as her books. Gahd, I dunno why they even have to do that? As if being on the bestseller's list wasn't enough publicity as it already is.

Anyway, The Hunger Games was first and foremost very original, plot, character names and settings-wise. That, I fully found interesting. It takes little for me to get bored with a book and I found myself turning page after page, anticipating what will happen next.

The love angle wasn't exaggerated and I found myself get kilig-ed at just the right amounts. And this is a good thing because when I picture my 7th grade cousin reading this, I'm comforted at the thought that she won't be reading something she cannot fully handle just yet. (Ahem book four of another author who disguises as a young adult novel!)

It was a bit more graphic than I think a young adult novel should be. Imagine Survivor meets Lost. Gore factor, check, but nothing that's more than necessary to develop the story.

And then there's the Rue side of things. Okay so I cried a little. I'm a big sister so that got me. I just wish it lasted a few more days for them y'know?

So all in all I give The Hunger Games four and a half stars. I loved the originality as every other young adult novel that I come across with these days would borderline trite (case in point: vampires). Love story was there but was not rubbed in your face. I found myself on the lookout for the main characters while they traipsed along the arena and worried when one of them got hurt.

Guess that's what a good book does to you, for a few fleeting moments you leave your world and find yourself within their realm --fingers crossed, that even in a twist of fate your main characters will end up heroes and that the love story will have a happy ending even if the real you knows it's least likely.

Random

Okaay, so to my 14 readers (well I'm not even sure if all of you really read this), I'm alive and drowning in reading materials. I don't even know which one to pick up first.

So I went on a book-buying frenzy last week because there were several book sales around the metro and I got copies of 2 hardbound David Sedaris books (Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim) for only Php 99.00, around $2 for both books. I still haven't gotten around to finishing The Time Traveler's Wife because the time travelling made me tired and most times confused. I don't know when I'll have the stamina to ever pick that up again. I should've watched the movie instead. Oh and I'm halfway through Chuck Palaniuk's Rant and I hope to finish soon..

Other than that I also got copies of books I used to have but were lost because the people who borrowed them once upon a time had no decency to return them. There's The Horse Whisperer - Nicholas Evans and A Walk To Remember - Nicholas Sparks. (Oh hey they're both Nicholas!)

But the list doesn't end there. I have the following ebooks lined up as well:

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins (currently reading)

James Patterson - Maximum Ride 1 - The Angel Experiment

James Patterson - Maximum Ride 2 - School's Out - Forever

James Patterson - Maximum Ride 3 - Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

James Patterson - Maximum Ride 4 - The Final Warning

James Patterson - Maximum Ride 5 - Max

Cassandra Clare - Mortal Instruments 01 - City of Bones

Cassandra Clare - Mortal Instruments 02 - City of Ashes

Cassandra Clare - Mortal Instruments 03 - The City of Glass

The Host - Stephenie Meyer

I am currently finding The Hunger Games very interesting. Character names alone are very original and I can't wait to turn page after page to see what happens next. No, sorry I'm not about to give you spoilers. I might review the book after though. Depends. I don't know. If I'm a good mood maybe a short one. haha.

I'm suppose to tell you more about my boring life but my Grey's Anatomy Season 6 episode 1 and 2 download has just finished and I have to watch. NOW.

Goodbye President Cory

360 view of the Filipino people saying goodbye to former President Corazon C. Aquino.

HERE

Fortune cookie says..

Message found in fortune cookie:

Your heart will always make itself known through your words.

Closing Cycles (by Paulo Coelho)

Stolen from Mariel's FB. It's a good read and awfully makes so much sense.

--------------------------------------------------

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters - whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister, everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot forever be children, late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents, lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back. Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.

That is why it is so important (however painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home. Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts - and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place. Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.

Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the "ideal moment." Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back. Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person - nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.

Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life. Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

It's back

I should've written yesterday but was too numb to do so.

I came home Friday with bad news. I was told my physical exam results were back and that I can't report for work unless I can present a fit to work notice. It's my x-ray. Apparently, they saw the same thing they saw 5 years ago. It was -possible Koch's infection of unknown origin- that's what I read from the results.

My dad said my uncle had the same findings 20 years ago, and when he had himself checked a couple months back because he had recurring coughs, the same thing appeared on his x-ray. He was informed that those were just scars from his previous case and that he was going to be fine. (I refuse to call it "infection" as it makes me nervous).

And so from when I got home last Friday, I couldn't take my mind off it, try as I may. I found it impossible to sleep. The last time my xray looked like this, I was asked to resign from work and rest for 6 months. In the past I was able to haggle 3 months rest on the condition that I take my medications with no fail.

I can't be asked to resign from my job. I can't afford it. There's just too many bills to pay and I have people depending on me. And what happens to me when I lose my job? I'll probably lose someone too, eventually.

So these things have kept me awake for the last 2 nights.

I'm not sure what to do or if there's anything that I can do to stop things from falling apart, really.

I'll visit the specialist tomorrow. Not knowing what's gonna happen sure scares the hell out of me but I know it's out of my hands now.

Like any other defining moment in my life, I'm choosing to leave it up to Him. He hasn't let me down anyway.

_______________________

Keep breathing
I said that I'll always be there
Now I mean it more than before
there's a future worth fighting for

Don't be scared
I know how you must be feeling
No one to help you carry the pain
I'm coming to save the day

from myden

1. This survey gets a little personal; can you handle it?
~ oo naman.

2. If you married the last person you texted, what would your last name be?
~ twitter. haha.

3. Were you happy when you woke up today?
~ hindi gaano kase absent ako kagabi.

4. When were you on the phone last? And with who?
~ tatay ko kanina, para sabihin na nandito nako

5.What is the last thing someone bought you?
~ starbucks coffee jelly

6.What’s something that can always make you feel better?
~ getting answers. knowing tomorrow's gonna be okay

7. What are you excited for?
~ hindi ako excited.

8. What were you doing yesterday?
~ Work. Mega, bumili ng cardigan sa Mango. Ortho, nagpa-adjust. Metrowalk, bili dvds. Umuwi ng mga 5.30 ng hapon at sinalubong ng bad news.

9. Honestly, who was the last person to tell you they love you?
~ medyo matagal na pero si behng

10. What's the last thing you put in your mouth?
~ ripe mango

11. Have a best friend?
~ i used to be obsessed with this term before, thinking i was different if i didn't have a person to call my bestfriend. but that was a long time ago when i was stupid. it's all good now. and to answer the question (and daming segway), yes, i think i do.

12. Are you scared to fall in love?
~ minsan. ginawa na akong praning ng tadhana.

13. Do you think teenagers can be in love?
~ kahit sino naman e.. kahit dogs. cats. love birds. kahit si totoro naiinlove siguro.

14. Last person you wanted to punch in the face?
~ hmmm wala akong maisip

15. What time is it right this second?
~ 2011PM

16. What do you want right now?
~ ang maging kampante.

17. Who was the last person you took a picture with?
~ hindi ko maalala

18. Are you single/taken/heartbroken/or confused?
~ taken

19. When was the last time you cried?
~ kanina lang

20. Do you have a good relationship with your parents?
~ i think so

21. Do you find it hard to trust others?
~ i have trust issues.

22. How fast does your mind change?
~ not too fickle.

23. I bet you miss somebody right now.
~ oo. nakakabaliw.

24. Can you honestly say you're okay right now?
~ no, i'm not okay. =(

25. Why do you think so many people cheat?
~ kasi hindi makuntento. o kaya people are just plain polygamous

26. Tell me what's on your mind.
~ ang dami.. parang sasabog na nga utak ko sa dami e

27. What are you looking forward to in the next three months?
~ i dunno.. preparing for xmas? haha ang aga! kala ko pa naman hindi ako excited

28. Have you ever worn the opposite sex's clothing?
~ oo minsan yung nabibili kong shorts and tshirts, pang boys. pero di pa ako nakasuot ng damit ng lalaking kakilala ko.

29. When did you last talk to your number 1 top friend
~ wait di ako sure sinong number 1 top friend ko..

30. When is your next road trip?
~ wish ko lang may time for roadtrip

31. Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell anything to?
~ oo may ilan ilan din.. karamihan bading.

32. How's your heart?
~ kabado

33. Have you ever felt like you weren't important?
~ sometimes

34. Do you think somebody's in love with you?
~ oo. (wow confident!) pero oo nga. siguro naman.

35. What are you planning on doing after this?
~ ligo

36. When will your next kiss take place?
~ hindi ko pinaplano yung mga ganyan bagay.. basta it just happens.

37. Have you told anybody you loved them today?
~ nagawa ko pa lang after reading the question.

38. Who do you not get along with?
~ ayoko mag-name drop pero meron.

39. What does your 3rd recent text say?
~ "Crush is a trending topic? Haha that's awesome! Thanks you guys! =)"

40. What are you wearing right now?
~ pambahay ng shorts and tshirt

41.Are you wasting your time on the person you like?
~ no. it's been worthwhile

42. When's the last time you had a grilled cheese?
~ in bulacan

43. What's your favorite boy and girl name right now?
~ tobey

44. How did you feel when you woke up?
~ weird. nanibago kase hindi ako pumasok na dapat nung time na nagising ako, lunch ko pa lang sa office nun

45. Do you wish someone would call or text you right now?
~ oo

46. Do you crack your knuckles?
~ i know it's a bad habit but i do it sometimes, lalo pag kinakabahan at di mapakali

47. What were you doing yesterday at midnight?
~ tulog nako 10pm pa lang. sobrang pagod

48. What are your LEGAL initials?
~ MKJL

49. Who's the first B in your contacts?
~ Babuy

50. When was the last time you laughed really hard?
~ everyday. bungisngis ako eh.. konting bagay lang natatawa na ako.. lalo pag humirit na si beh ng "spreadie" jokes nya

51. Your number 1 top friend walks out of your life, do you go after them?
~ depende kung bakit nag-walk out.

52. Last awkward moment?
~ kahapon after reading a text from somebody sa office

53. Are you afraid of the dark?
~ no

54. Do you have good vision?
~ no. as per the last check up i had (which btw, was not too long ago), i have astignatism in my left eye and i am certified color blind.

55. Have you ever tripped someone?
~ no

56. Have you ever slapped someone?
~ wala pa.

57. Are you Irish?
~ nope

58. Do you use chap stick?
~ noon.

59. Do you have any scars?
~ yes

60. Is there someone you will never forgive?
~ napatawad ko na. pero i don't think we'll be friends again.

61.Do you laugh off embarrassing moments?
~ yes

62. Name the last person to text you?
~ fherrie

63. Would you marry someone 8 years older than you?
~ ewan ko.. depende kung okay naman kayo.

64. Can you go in public looking like you do?
~ yes. ganito itsura ko pag nagpapasyal ng mga aso sa umaga.

65. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
~ single lang yung bed ko so parang lahat ng sides nagagamit! haha

66. Is it easy for someone to make you smile?
~ oo, hihirit lang si behng, matatawa na ko

67. What's the first thing you'll do on your wedding day?
~ gigising

68. Do you fall for people easily?
~ not really. it takes a lot for me to like someone.. mahilig kase ako maglista ng mga sablay

69. Has anyone put their arms around you in the past 5 days?
~ yes while sleeping

70. Do you miss the way things used to be?
~ okay naman ako ngayon but i guess it's just normal to look back and miss some things from time to time

71. How often do you hold back from saying what you are thinking?
~ hmm.. depende, i tend to think before verbalizing espacially kung mean yung naiisip ko.

72. Song you're thinking of right now?
~ save the day - david archuleta

73. Want someone back in your life?
~ andrew and my lolo. nakakamiss lang =(

74. Will tomorrow be better than today?
~ hindi pa siguro. monday kase ako hahatulan e.

75. What’s the color of you’re shirt you are wearing?
~ color blind kase ako so ang hula ko beige/grey-ish sha. but i can be very wrong.

76. Has anyone ever sang or played music for you personally?
~ yes

77. Does it bother you when someone lies to you?
~ pag yung kung sino sino lang wala naman akong pakialam mashado..it only matters if it's someone i really care about.

78. Is there anyone who understands your relationship status?
~ oo there's a handful of them

79. Are you a naturally happy person? Or is your happiness forced?
~ naturally happy

80. Is there anyone you wish would fall in love with you?
~ sha lang okay na. hindi ko na kailangan ng iba. mushy kung mushy!

Fangirl

WOW. So the fangirl in me came out again.. I love this tribute.. This is probably the best one any other David fan has come up with..*melts* Thank you MichelinMarie for posting!

Notice how he gets all emotional in the end.. He made me cry!

I love Josh Groban but I like D's version better (because I'm biased.. haha). But seriously, it's a beautiful song and I'm glad he did a cover. I liked how he said "To my fans, I just wanna thank them..I could thank them forever but I can't thank them enough.." D has given so much of himself to the people who support him and it's just fitting that the fans love him so many times back. He has such a good heart and he deserves all the good things happening to him now.

So now I'm sharing David's magic with you. Spread the love! Ü