- My mother,Mamang. I am thankful for the priviledge to be her daughter. In million and one ways, she'd shown me the sincerest meaning of endless,unconditional love. I may be mothering my mother now, but I know this will never be enough for all that she has done for me.We love each other but I know she loves me more.She loves me to the moon and back. Stroke and all, I am her sun and stars.
- My big brothers,Mark (C),Melvin(Beloy), and Miller (Boo). The THREE MEN who super love me with all their hearts. I am not a brat,I am spoiled anyhow with their care and concern. They attend to my whims and caprices as much as they can. It's an added bonus I have understanding sisters-in-law,Ate Reggie and Ate Arlyn.I wouldn't mind a Macbook soon.:) I have said several times romantic love has proven to be the most elusive in my existence,maybe it is because I have a family who loves me so much even when I am most difficult to love. I couldn't ask for more.
- Justin, Sam, Kadie and Mykee. The most beautiful children in the whole circle of universe. To hear their high-pitched voice and see them strut their dance moves is magical. It is beyond joy. The family is the essential presence- the thing that never leaves you, even if you find you have to leave it. I will eternally be thankful for these bundles of family joy. I pray that they grow to be healthy and kind citizens.
- Thank you for my work as a clinical instructor in a Catholic university. Five years na.My first real job with payslip and pay at that in an atm. I am able to utilize my profession as RN.I like its perks- holidays and no night shifts.Moreover, I have Ate Ana, Harry,Raidis and Mark and my colleagues who make every day working a blessing. It tickles me to know my students are able to appreciate and apply few and far lessons I share with them,Each time I meet former kids who now work as RNs for different institutions, my heart swells with pride.
- Sha,Kei, Sis Souls Analyn and Clang. I love them and I know they love me as well. I know these girls will not desert me come most turbulent occasions. They are never afraid to expose me to the truth and yet I know that if it's too hard to bear, they'll hold my hand and lend me strength.They know me well enough that sometimes,words need not be spoken to gauge what my real emotions are beyond the boisterous laughter.I am honored to have shared with them our frustrations and triumphs and deep shared history.They are the sisters I never had.
- I learned that for friendship/relationship to pass the test of time and distance, there must be a conscious effort of nurture on parties involved.We make friends in different stages,then somewhere along the way we lose contact with them.I am glad to say that even after years and decades flew, I still get my share of genuine and growing relationship with high school bff Bing,PT mars Pam,Rose,Che and Danna,and my kid buddies,UASN 2005.
- My house angels-Mayet and Daisy. They are very patient in dealing with Mother Hen's kakulitan and my sometimes out-of-nowhere demands. I am impressed with their versatility. Cleaning the house and cooking meals, hours later, curling my hair for an afternoon party.I thank them for their honesty and loyalty despite my wicked attitude.
- Princess Grace once said," Happiness is a perpetual state of being."Happiness is a choice,suffering is an option.It is a consequence of personal effort.You fight for it,strive for it, insist upon it. Now that I have achieved it, I know it is my responsibility to never become lax about maintaining it. I take effort to keep swimming upward to stay afloat on top of it.Happiness is self-generated,sure, things and people can make me happy but I know it is my responsibility to discover and fulfill my own happiness.
- Pain and trials.I know that pain is relative,what may be heart-crushing for me may just be a slice of cake to others.I have learned to respect and acknowledge pain.Pain makes me discover how resilient I can be as a human being and makes me accept I am never in full control of my life.More important ,I bet my pwet that pain,big or small shall also pass.In the same manner, I know it is perfectly owkei to be sad and let tears flow. Sob even until there are no tears left.Blessed John Paul II mentioned that crying cleanses the soul. Feel it and get to know the pain and sorrow, because only then will I be able to let it go. I know I am entitled to "emote modes" once in a while. I believe that beneath the fat,thick tears ,dificulty of breathing and hiccups plus wounds of the heart, there are lessons to be learned that will definitely make me a stronger and better individual.
- Villa pipz and kids. They belong to my group of comfort blanket,I know when they are around me, fun and laughter will be the sum of togetherness. My friends's kids I adore and I enjoy playing with them. I only have a three-wheeler, yet my girlfriends Bhanie,Peng, Ati Lan and Ate Tonette generously drive me around. Looking for more themed-parties and margarita nights with them.
- Saying "I love you" is actually not that difficult,really. I'm proud to share that I get to mention the three lovely words to my family and loved ones with no trace of awkwardness. Believe me, do not wait for something tragic to occur before you start.I can't live home without kissing Mother Hen and say I love you to her.
- Kris Aquino. No one can say they know me if they can't tell in a nanosecond who my great idol is. I love her forever.She is one truest person on earth. Kris cries, I sob. She smiles, I jump in joy.I pray for her, I pray for her fam.Modesty aside, others say I am generous,I think it's Kris's influence plus of course I have such very giving and kind kuyas.
- My cleaner,clearer,fairer face. P'wera asog po.:) Nakuha din sa novena.Lol! I discovered that anyone who has a quiet and peaceful heart,sound mind with acceptance of own's weaknesses and imperfections will exude beautiful aura and radiance.Happiest girls are the prettiest.
- Health is indeed wealth. No amount of monetary value can compensate for wellness. I take a look at Mamang,with the aphasia and all, I am thankful she's doing fine after what she'd been with CVA. Koyang Miller's delicate cervical surgery was a huge success.Thanks to all our prayer warriors.
- Facebook and Twitter. Status updates and photos of friends in and around the globe and latest tweets of Ate Kris,Bianca, Panjee, Jim P. make me feel connected with them, virtually though.And my!! DamnItsTrue quotes are that,just painfully honest and super I can relate with.
- Iphone 4,Face Time and Viber. Thank you again, Steve Jobs for your brilliant contribution of Face Time. It delights me no end to see my family. Such a bliss that the kids could visualize mine and Mamang's pretty faces.:)Viber makes me have regular chats with fave cousins Arlette and Maimai.Add to that the convenience of communicating with friends while I was in Singapore. Tunay n'yong napaglalapit ang magkabilang dulo ng mundo!:)
- My clothes,bags,perfumes and accessories, most of which are sent and given as presents. Fashion makes me giddily energetic. I admit,more often than not, I take that extra effort everyday to fix myself up.Lipsticks,lip balms and of course,eyeliner, I feel make me more radiant.:)I am a girl and that's a given.Who does not have a kikay kit there?
- Final installation of Harry Potter(Deathly Hallows) and Twilight Saga(Breaking Dawn). I am more than a fan. I know till I grow old and hue, I will keep on watching them on DVDs,with Bee and Kei, and with thicker eyeglasses,pull out from shelf their hard bound versions. I am perpetually in awe with Harry and company. Edward-Bella-Jacob triangle is oddly entertaining to me.Gosh!Jake is sooo gorgeous in Breaking Dawn.It is magically safe to say that love,loyalty and friendship are best captured in these best-selling novels.
- Hongkong and China trips.I didn't grow up a Mickey Mouse/Disney fan. Hello Kitty takes my loyalty. But seeing Mickey and Minnie placed a smile on my lips with their happy faces. Having sinister buddies Prince and Harry made it more memorable. Miles and miles of distant walking,for experience,sabi nga ni Prince. It was my rare chance to wear boots and do lots of clothe-layering with the extreme cold weather.China voyage with Sha,Ville and Arlette was a fruitful and fun one. I had my goals met,I did try never-before-tasted meals,bonded with cousins and Dion. There were no Shanghai rolls served, though.Very memorable and learning experiences for me. It's not actually the journey and destinations that matter. It's the company of lovely and happy people that counts. I love to travel, with a very tight budget and generous people,nakakalakbay ako.:)
- To travel alone has been sitting quietly and persistently in my wish box. The desire was further ignited by Eat,Pray,Love,iamsuperbianca's and dapattylaurel's expedition blogs. Yaayyyyy! I did it this sweet November, came back whole,sound and kicking in Pinas from the City of Merlions. I am proud of myself. MRT stations made me restive and jittery at first glance,but hey, I was able to tour and hop all its red,green,yellow and purple lines. The death-defying Galactica in Universal I survived. One greatest lesson I learned here is I was more alert,attentive and aware with the people and directions because I could depend on no one but my company.
- Kobe Bryant LIVE. Yes,to catch a glimpse of the MVP was one helluva of a day.Under the scorching heat of the sun, I waited and stood with the throngs of fans to welcome him in Manila. He loves us and I admire him for his unassuming and funny antics. He is super gorgeous. I love the fact that he is one strong tie that binds me and my kuyas.
- The gift of music and books. I can't recall a day wherein I didn't play songs. My ipods are constant fixtures as air. FM stations,CDs,Myx and Youtube are fantastic suppliers of beat and sound. Lyrics and melodies can by most chances describe how I exactly feel at a certain point. My friends know my line too well, " Ay favorite ko 'yan," for each song that's playing. I cannot categorize myself as a voracious reader,yet I can't imagine for the life of me without my novels.James Patterson's stories bring atrial flutters, Sparks will try to challenge my cold heart about love,and I re-read Rowling's and Meyer's books.Thru reading,my imagination could leap thousands of miles and degrees.
- I learned that LIFE and LOVE are intertwined. One can't survive without the other.Sabi nga ni Mitch Albom,"Without love,we are birds with broken wings." Love is what keeps me alive.
- I learned that I get to express myself more thru writing,no matter how loquacious I am. I write on Notes of my iphone each time I see and miss Crush. It relaxes me to scribble in my journals and blogs my heart's content.I jot down on post-its quick messages for friends.
- Life moves on. The world will continue to revolve without me.I humbly know that I am not the center of the universe. Not because I feel like I am in deep shit, the planet will cease to go in circle .I may have my pieces of error and problems. Yet I know others are suffering worse. In the same way, I feel uplifted in the triumph of others.
- Prayer. It is the greatest weapon in any form of battle.I am mature enough to know that prayer is not an amulet or bullet-proof jacket that will shield me from problems and despair. However, it offers the softest cushion to fall. I now understand that not everything I want is good for me.I now also realize that God knows what I need before I realize I need it, He knows who I want before my heart tells me so. I pray at any given circumstance,while on a jeepney,waiting in line to pay bills,playing with Tam,hearing Mamang call me Mitzi and not Afric.I pray to see Crush,for best of health of my family. I now have a better understanding of prayer,it truly is a conversation with God.
- Dominican Sisters,Fr.Ching,Fr.JL and Fr. Roger.My introduction to the Dominican Sisters I should say, happened in an unexpected and peculiar way. I never shared on sites about it and it will stay that way. What I can mention though is, it has lead me to a calmer and more forgiving heart.The three aforementioned men are my personal favorite priests. I feel like I have a closer line to heaven through them. I am grateful for their maximum threshold and patience with my uncanny behavior and kookiness. It is easy to converse and laugh with them because they are effortlessly cool. It humbles me each time they attend to my spur-of-the-moment queries and prayer requests.
- Forgiveness and Humility.I had successfully wrestled with my # 1 enemy- myself. I realized the one who persecutes and punishes me the most is the shadow within me. I learned to forgive this enemy that's why I'm at peace. I should say that no mistake or misperception is beyond correction. Forgiveness is the only authentic expression of love which is not deceptive. As for humility, I now know that pride will surely make me reach the pit of sin and inner disturbance. I value the importance of "I'm sorry" from the heart,that all I have is fleeting and can be taken away at an unguarded moment.St Thomas best stated it: Humility means seeing ourselves the way God sees us. Humility is truth and pride is nothing but lying.I am honest to say I am still on a process with this.
- I have reached a point in my life when I sincerely like myself. I am content and comfortable with who I am and what I am.I am able to laugh at myself and not take life too seriously.I am way past the state of envy and insecurity and I enjoy my own company.I stare at the pretty face in the woman in the mirror and I am glad of what and who I see.
- The gift of faith. I have constantly been praying for a deep,true abiding faith,one that will keep me steady on the ground whatever may arise. Liz Gilbert best wrote how faith must be: Faith is belief in what you cannot see,or prove or touch.Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark.
- Love.Love in any form and shape is the best thing in the world. It is indescribable and magical. I do not wonder why it is the oft-used theme of novels,songs,poems,movies. No one gets tired of loving. I know I have the huge capacity to love with utmost loyalty and sincerity.However, I also learned that love is not a "trade" wherein I love someone only if I will be loved back. Love is unconditionally given and accepted. I lose nothing in love. To be loved in return in a manner I wanna be loved back is but a big bonus.Love hurts and love also heals.
- Crush. Thank you.As in. You do not have the slightest idea how grateful I am for bumping into you. You make me feel like a high school girl with a teenage dream. Naiyak ako kasi through you, I realized I am not a vampire because my heart still beats after all. I am now sure that I don't have a black and jaded heart,rather it's Hallmark. Thank you for being the pink in my world.Till you miss me and find me.:)
- Mama Mary.I know it is Her will to shield me away from a "sure disaster." She held me tightest in times I wanted to run away and place myself in danger. I count on her intercessions in anything that my heart fancies. Read: To see Kobe live, for a pair of black stilletos,siblings's better lives,Mamang's good health, new DSLR and Ipad 2, immigrant papers to be processed,to be with Crush.
- God.His love for me is pure amazement. In spite and despite of my twisted and histrionic personality, He never ceases to shower me with His infinite and passionate love and care. I have caused him countless misdeeds and disappointments but He keeps on hugging and holding me tight with His guidance and wisdom. Let me be better today than I was yesterday. Thank YOU talaga Lord, for loving me.Thank YOU for the gift of life,love,family and friends.
I like my journey with its smooth and rough rides. I like growing up and getting old. Life can only get better!!
Eat.Pray.Love.
Peace and Happiness to all.
Happy natal day to me.:)
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