Sunday, February 20, 2011

Listen, Katy and Christina are right!

Hi S -

I know, you're kinda frustrated. At 25, you should have been at the peak of your career. You should have gotten married, and already started a family. Well, that's how you imagined it years ago!

But at 25, what have you got? You are still at it - your comfort zone. You could have left months ago. You sent out resume, attended the interviews. But then what? You always have had a way of screwing it. Do you remember that job interview where you came in jeans? Or the one where they asked if you were willing to adjust your schedule, and without batting your eyelashes, you answered no? Oh, please, don't tell me it's quarter-life crisis all over again.


You love putting on the superhero costume. You think, you could save the world. But sometimes, you would want to wake them up from their slumber, too. You'd want to slap them. Why couldn't you just teach them to fish? Now, you are contemplating of leaving. It's for them, anyway. You don't really want to put your life on hold. You wish there was a Pause button. Or a Rewind, perhaps? You wish she didn't leave. It would have been better. When she left, everything else fell apart. You need to put on that frayed costume - for real. You are responsible in picking up the pieces. But why couldn't that cheap glue works?

When you were a kid, your ideal marrying age was 26. So, what happened? Not only that you're not married, you are still single. You hardly date, and you have had a hobby for falling in love to all the wrong guys. Remember the one you dated a year ago, you should have known that he was just a feaking-friendly-asshole guy that you wouldn't want to spend a day with. But you did, and you even went out for three times. Where's the sense in that?

I know, they hurt you. But you are special. Don't pressure yourself to be like the rest of the world. When Katy Perry said that you are an original, she is right. When Christina said that you are beautiful, listen to her. Don't ever think otherwise. Maybe, you've already shove dirt on yourself. Maybe, f- things do happen all the time because God is reminding you that you have had a bad habit of leaving the lessons with your broken heart in the mud. Pick up the lessons, and move forward. It's about time to go back to being you.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You manage 25 years of your life on Earth. For sure, you'll manage the rest of your life perfectly. I know, you'd do better than to whine. Cheer up. You are a strong woman. You don't really need a man to make you whole. If, and when you leave, do so because it would make you happy.

I trust you. Let's kick butts together. Enjoy.

To our happiness -

S




*Thanks Frank for the picture. =)

Friday, February 11, 2011

Ako, Puro na lang Ako!

Hindi ako magaling magsulat. Pero nag-e-enjoy ako na mag-share ng mga experiences ko. At oo, ang blogging ang isang form of release ko ng emotional baggages. Dahil matagal-tagal na din pala ako nagba-blog, may mga ise-share ako na mga tidbits!

1. Naka-68 blog entries ako nung 2010. Tinalo niyan ang entries ko from 2007 (19), 2008 (30) at 2009 (14) combined.

2. Natutuwa ako pag may nagko-comment sa mga entries ko.

3. Blog hopping na ang isa sa mga favorite hobbies ko.

4. Dati, A Dreamer talaga ang blog name nito, pero dahil nagba-browse ako sa office at kita yung blog name sa tab, pinalitan ko ng ... para hindi halata. Haha! Ang deep. =p

 
5. May dalawa akong blog entries na A ang title. At sa hindi ko maintindihan na kadahilanan, ang daming page views ng A (the second one). Maikli lang naman ito at very personal. 

A (2007)
A (2010)


6. May dalawa akong blog entries na Ikaw ang title. May slight difference, may comma (,) yung isa. Tsk tsk.


Ikaw, (2008)
Ikaw (2007)


7. May isa akong blog entry na ang title ay ...

... (2008)



8. Kung mag-blog ako noon, laging indirect reference to something. 


9. Hindi ako mahilig maglagay ng mga pictures sa mga blog entries ko noon. Hindi tuloy ako makapag-Link Within ngayon.


10. May ilan akong mga blog entries na supposed to be ay letters for certain people.


Isang Bukas na Liham (2008)
8 x 11 (2010)
8 x 11: Continuation (2010)
Letter to the One who Got Stuck in the Traffic (2010)


11. Meron akong mga blog entries na ang title ay name of the month. Pero ang March ay February entry ko.


December (2009)
March (2010)

12. Meron akong isang video lang sa blog ko - trailer ng One More Chance!


13. Meron akong isa lang na movie review - Harry Potter!


14. Pag wala akong magawa, binabasa ko ang mga previous blog entries ko at natatawa ako. Sobrang jologs at emo ko pala.


15. Ayoko maglagay ng Share button sa blog ko, kasi baka may mag-share! Haha!

16. Once ko pa lang na-try ang mag-blog using my mobile phone - Potipot!


17. Since 2005, nagba-blog na ako sa Friendster. Pero sinadya kong hindi i-link dito dahil naiirita ako. See sample below. 




Grabe. Sobrang disorganized ng thoughts ko. AT may jejemon phase pala ako. Pero promise, hindi ako ganyan mag-text. =)


18. May isa akong blog entry na ni-repost ko from my Friendster blog - Peterpan!

19. Handwriting Analysis ang pinakauna kong blog entry.


20. Four years na pala kami nitong blog ko. Sana wag kami mag-break. =p

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Volunteer: Lifeline's Medical and Dental Mission in Nueva Vizcaya

I was searching for a planner to use in 2011 when I came across Lifeline Foundation and their This Journal Will Actually Change Someone's Life. I wasn't able to purchase the planner but I did sign up as a volunteer in Lifeline.


On the 2nd week of January, I received an email invitation from them - a medical and dental mission in Nueva Vizcaya. I knew it then, it would be a long hours of travel. I invited my friends to join. But most of them declined either because of their prior commitments or the long hours of travel. Good thing, Kath wanted to go.


The meeting place was in Serenity Place, Westgate Corporate Center in Alabang at 11pm. I asked my friends in Alabang for the direction in going there. Unfortunately, we took the wrong bus. The driver said they would be dropping us off in Susana Heights. We took a jeep. We actually didn't know how to get to Alabang from there. Then, we met someone in the jeep, and they said that they were heading in Alabang as well. We rode another jeep going to the Westgate Center. I was expecting a tall building, but saw a coffee shop instead. Then, we met the volunteers from Lifeline. According to Ms. Jes, there were around 20 first time volunteers as well. But we were really the only ones who didn't know anyone from the group.

 
We left Alabang at 11.30pm, and arrived in Nueva Vizcaya at around 7am. When we arrived, the people of Brgy Bayombong pinned a corsage on our shirts. Fantastic, really! They prepared a breakfast for all of us. It was raining at this time. Then we had a few minutes briefing, and I was assigned as an usher. I admit, I was a little disappointed. I didn't go all the way from Manila to usher people. But when we started. I realized that I was enjoying it. I got the chance to talk to these people, I got to know the kids. Now, I wasn't just watching them on TV. I got the chance to hear their stories first hand.







We left Brgy Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya at around 1pm. We arrived in Manila at around 9pm. Really long hours in the bus, I must say. But to be honest, it feels great to be able to give back something to the community. Thank you, Lifeline for the chance! If you would like to volunteer, visit the website and sign up. If I'm not mistaken, Lifeline is heading to Lipa, Batangas this February 26.
Life gives us too many roadblocks. Sometimes, I am too engaged in my own world - trying to sort things out for the family. But just when I think my hands are tied, I realize that there are still little things we could do to help the community. And you know what, seeing the kids smile is one of greatest things in the world.

***

26 before 26 Update:

I've accomplished my goal. But I'd like to do this regularly. =)

9. Volunteer. Matagal na din ako naghahanap ng volunteer works. Nag-sign up ako sa Black Pencil Project, pero nung time na may outreach program sila, ako naman ang hindi pwede. Father’s day kasi nun.

*** Thanks Lifeline for the pictures. More here.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Doodling: Optics



He reminds me of you,
    perhaps, it's the nonchalance.


But I think, it's the eyes.
They succumb to the never-ending silence.
And when they find me, they send a thousand words,
     which I - believing that words carry a define point 
     of a solid commitment, 
     could never decipher.

He found mine.
And I remember you.