It's the Big 3

I finally hit it. Today is my big day. And breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all spent with beautiful friends. :)

Dinner!

Dinner at Din Tai Fung, a casual Hong Kong restaurant, and dessert at Dessert Story tonight, sprinkled with good conversation and topped with a hearty laugh, make up for the not-so-good Tuesday. All is well that ends well, eh? :)

Flowers

I guess the only good thing that happened today is the fact that one of my plans had somehow materialized. The florist for the event we are organizing agreed to supplye roses for the same cost. Mother Mary is helping. :)

Sunday!

Watched a movie and dined in a new place. Missed some days of writing a note on my blog, and it is saddening. I will renew my vow of loyalty from today onwards. :)

Help

Help will come to those who ask for it, as Dumbledore once uttered. Seek and you shall find, the Bible says. I have been in distress due to unforeseen chain of events, and in times like these, help really is extended. I found it knocking on my doors. :)

Wedding Day

It was my friend's wedding day yesterday. Time flew so fast that a year of planning had all materialized yesterday.

And it is yesterday once more, so the song goes.

Commitment

These past few days have been busiest. Days expire like the tearing leaves of a calendar against the blowing wind. Weekends came and went. Before I knew it, days have not been translated into writing. My phone does not recognize the email address for my daily blog anymore.

But today would be a renewal of spirit. I may be late in the office, but I never am in life. It is a rekindling of commitment.

Procession

The event that we have conceived last year, that we have invested time and effort on since the early part of the year, may not push through after all. After all the disagreements, miscommunication, and petty judgments, after all the coordination, a rehearsal, and spiritual bouquets, it may not really materialize at all. A meeting of the heads was set at the end of the week, and may God meddle. I need His healing hand to touch all spiritual and emotional wounds, to grant us wisdom for a better judgment, to replenish our patience unceasingly, to meet all loose ends.

So help us God.

Latin

I overheard the boys talking to each other in my catechism class today. I was explaining something, my accent and pronunciation were getting in the way of their understanding of me. I combined two classes today, the other catechists were unavailable. One kid, my original student, in defense of me spoke to the other. "She is a Filipino, so sometimes she speaks Latin."

What an adorable way to put a language barrier. :)

Ladies Night

We had our hen's night last week, so it is the guy's turn today for their stag party. While the boys are enjoying themselves, we, together with the bride, dined lavishly, window shopped for the hottest shoes, and pit stopped at mcdonald's for our dose of ice cream. It was an adventurous day!

Johnny English

Mr. Bean is his primordial personality. Authentically slapstick, yet highly contagious. It tickled our funny bones that we never stopped laughing until we boarded the bus home and my friend alighted on the second stop. Unforgettably hilarious I totally adore Rowan Atkinson for his sincerity in his craft. Hahaha!

Patience

I read somewhere that hurdles block our way because we are trekking the right path. We are organizing an event in October, but is unexpectedly being obstructed by the main character we rely support from. But we will not dwindle. We are doing this for a higher purpose, and we will not be demoralized.

Butterscoth Ice Cream!

Butterscotch ice cream from McDonald's is love! I have been indulging in it for almost every day, and thus imbuing my tiring days with sweetness and coolness!

Lantern Function

Today is the chinese moon cake festival. Alongside it is the celebration of the lantern festival. Today is also the anniversary of our Legion of Mary praesidium, which is normally spent on potluck, with bonding as its main course. Today, to make it more special, we gathered at the garden in the parking lot of the church, chaperoning our delicacies, filling the air with chortles and angelic voices. Lantern festival mixed with catholic ambience, the result? A concoction of blissful camaraderie. :)

Synagogue

There used to be two synagogues in the country, our guide told us. But the decrease in the attendees due to migration to other parts of the world has led to the inactivity of one. We visited the only surviving Jewish Synagogue in Singapore today. I feel blessed to have done so. )

Graces in the Morning!

It is game of domino. I slept late; I woke up late. I sped up my morning rituals, walked to the bus stop undistracted. I reached there, uttered a simple prayer, and God delivered. The bus flew in front me! I arrived at the office before the appointed time, and my colleague gave me free breakfast! Thank You, God!

10:10

I did not realize my time zone was set to the wrong country. I rectified it, challenging myself to a fulfillment of this 'tedious' task diligently. And the first day was a fail. And the second too. Haha!

This third day is a redemption, as it is comparing to the history of salvation. And today is 10:10!

Legion of Mary

On this day, in the gathering of six people including its founder, the Legion of Mary was born. For ninety years, dedicated men and women had and have been offering their lives for its flourish, clasped in their hearts its divine vision. A mass was offered today, celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia.

I entered the cathedral, overwhelmed by the unity of lay people scattered inside this holy ground. Banners attached on each side of the pews swayed confidently yet humbly before the Lord. I am just happy to be part of it. :)

Hens Party

A night of preparation for the first hens party I will be taking part of. It's a night of eternal laughter and imagination!
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld from M1.

Angelic intervention

I woke up to piercing pain in my tummy. I deduced to un-disposed water. I immediately went to the john to release. Everything flowed but the pain remained.

On my way to work, inside the lift, I uttered a short prayer to my angel. And he heard me! :)

Dolph

So this is the inside my student gave me for Teacher's Day. It truly represents the giver: it is cute and very childly. :)

Teacher's Day!

For the first time in my life, one of my students gave me a present for teacher's day. I was so touched to have been remembered. :')

Shoes

I read from the Book of Happiness that happiness dependent on material things is superficial. However, after the fourth purchase of my fetish, shoes, a light feeling descended upon me. Happiness? A bit of it, maybe. :)

10/10

There will be ten plays in ten minute duration each by Walk on Water Production this September. I signed up for the 3rd September performance along with other friends, only to realize after purchasing the ticket that there already is a prior commitment I overlooked. Braving, neglecting the idea that I might be experiencing it alone, I asked for a possibility of a reschedule to the 9th instead. I was happily obliged.

Last night, one of the two friends I was supposed to be seeing it with delivered the good news to me. He was given two free tickets by an angel! The original plan of seeing it with them will actually materialize. I will not be watching it alone, after all! :)

Interchange

I bumped into a friend today. I was talking loudly on the phone, she noticed the talkative girl behind her. Disturbed, she turned around to discover it was me ruining her contemplative moment. Haha! It was nice seeing her. :)

Guardian Angel

Google map has been an acquaintance when I go places. But it kind of abandoned me halfway today.

A sinless being glided to my aid. "Ask, and you shall receive", the Bible instructs us. I received without, surprisingly, asking. In replacement of my google map, an angel took the form of a human being and offered to drive me to my destination. A blessing indeed! :)

He's Home

Finally, after four days of exile in the four walls of the hospital room, my father inhaled emancipation.

The doctor prescribed medications, he is back to his normal routine. Except that an additional item is now part of his everyday list. I talked to him today, and I sensed a renewed man who is ready to embrace life from a different light and from a clean slate. My mom's prayers reached the heavens. A heavy downpour of happy blessings forecast a more meaningful life. Answered prayers, indeed. :)

Sunday School

I arrived a little late today. The kids were earlier than I was, a handful was inside the room patiently waiting for my presence. I stepped in.

An art class transpired within the four walls of our religious class before my arrival. There, on my stainless white board, was the most artistic of drawings I have ever gazed upon. It said, "Good morning, may", with four sketches of smiley faces under the names of the four girls who connived at it. I admit. I was touched. :')

Rainbow

For every obstacle, there's success. For every storm, there is the rainbow. And for every dark tunnel, there is a light seeping through.

My father was hospitalized due to bleeding. But I received the good news today. I thank God for the second chances he profusely bestows upon my family. God is good. All the time. :)

October Procession

It has been a tradition in the church to gather the congregation to a procession in the rosary month in honor of the Blessed Mother. This year, since we are the ones in charge, we conceived of swaying from the norm.

So we spoke with the parish priest yesterday. The first time we asked for permission, answers did not accord to what was initially planned. We sought to clarify some ideas and prayed for the light to shine upon it.

And indeed, it did! We finalized into a compromise, a procession from outside the chapel to the car park instead of a more solemn march from the main church. His agreement was good enough. :)

Birthday Babe

A continuation of firsts. :)

A church sibling invited us to her private birthday party that took place in her home. It was a night of food, karaoke, laughter, and magic!
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld from M1.

Lunch

Despite difference in posts and lunch timing, my lunch partner and I still manage to find our common denominator. The queue curled up to a big loop, lunch timing was unpredictable, but in the midst of everything, there was redemption. Eating meals with a company is always preferable. :)

Sunday Treat

A fruitful Sunday, it was. Catechism in the morning, attendance to a recollection by lunch, and Holy Mass in the evening. The deacon in the recollection shared his version of Ave Maria to all the participants, and while he was uttering the Latin verses in a melodic song, facing Our Lady, it pricked my goose bumps. Divine shivers traveled down my spine.

Kite Flying!

The amazing fact about this year is that exciting and never-been-experienced things transpire. Like the kite flying event.

It should have been a childhood memory of everyone, this flying of kites. Not for me. The closest recollection to this activity is attempting to create one out of plastic bags and broom sticks when I was young. It was a failure. Today, thanks to modernization that cascades to even the trivial things, Disney's Buzz Lightyear designed kite was an over-the-counter purchase I readily made.

The ingredients were perfectly arrayed: the wind was at just the right rate, the sun was bearably high, the number of people was tolerable, the chances of tangling threads with the others were slim. Before I knew it, Buzz was already soaring, its wings extended to its maximum length. It was bracing the sky proudly. To infinity, and beyond!

TGIF!

Nothing beats a weekday off, and a Friday at that! I was able to catch up on my sleep, refresh my soul with a good dose of the words of the Lord, and strengthen my immune system with my occasional consumption of junk food. A rest day, indeed!

And it continues tomorrow!

City of Angels

Inspired by the book Angelology, the passion for celestial beings begins to inflame within me. From Robbie Williams to anything with the word angel is pronounced. And so, in spite of the fact that I have seen it a couple of times or so, the ardent desire to relive the story of City of Angels awaken my senses. The poetry narrated in the film was intense, it reaffirmed my new found love of the angels. The music 'Iris' by Goo Goo Dolls confirmed it.

FB Exile

For some unknown reason, the Facebook application on my mobile phone ceased reloading new data for two days. Being busy deprived me of the opportunity to dissect the unfamiliar cause. So, before going to bed, just a little past shower time, I picked up the phone and dialed my telcomm's 24-hour hotline. And voila! I'm back from my exile to the cyber civilization. :)

Baby Boy

My friend is supposed to be due in November. She is currently on her 7th month. But things just do not accord to plans sometimes.

She felt razor-sharp contractions last Sunday, which resulted in her confinement for three days and bill that ballooned to incomprehensible proportion. The doctor tried to stop the premature process; my friend opts to deliver in the Philippines which she finds financially rational. Early this morning, she pushed through with her flight home, intoxication from the powerful medicine to stabilize her condition evident on her face. But I guess it is okay. She is home now.

Assumption

Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. Being the day of obligation, I stormed from my workplace to the church I frequent. It was a blessing I arrived just in time for the Gospel.

Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. Today, not only this commemoration transpired before the holy banquet, but one assumption of praises and faith transcended beyond the boundary of norms.

He had unexplainable haircut: close to a full shave seemingly patterned after the famous mysterious signs that invaded the corn crops. His tattooed body glistened under the warm light that burnished the church. His whole ensemble contradicted with the ambience of the holy ground of God. I thought someone must have forced him to attend, that it might have been his first time. But God proved His point. This man, in his most solitude communion with Him, clasped his hands in fervent prayer. His voice chorused with the congregation. His smudged facade, overshadowed by his great faith, was too fragile to contain the tsunami of thanksgiving bursting from his heart, he spewed a beautiful string of total union with the One Above. Disappointing all negations. He vividly reminded me of the Canaanite woman whose daughter Jesus healed in the Sunday's gospel.

Mother Mary and Jesus' divine tandem was at work today. His presence was an affirmation.

Mass

Normally after Catechism, I head to the main Church to hear Mass. I was intently listening to the Father's Homily, received the Holy Communion, and when the hymn Lead Me Lord was sung by the choir, I was greatly moved. It is in our solitude moment that God bestows on us His grace of happiness. The love of God spread on to every nerve and cell in my body, I felt happiness seeping through. His radiant love was hard to contain I felt needing nothing more.

Mobile Bible

My BB is putting on a halo above its glowing bubble-gum pink head. I downloaded a Bible application today, to officially sanctify it. BB is indeed a messenger. :)

Happy!!

I woke up late, reached the office late. The queue at the branch contoured a snake, and I reached home dead tired. But despite all these, I had exuberant smiles duct-taped on my face. From sun rise to sun down, the warmth feeling of the simplest happiness overpowered me it translated to a heart-felt service. The exchanges of beams especially at my counter were elating. The happiness continued to be profusely secreted through my fingertips, I bled contentment. :)

First!

My first attempt at serious photography.

My friend tagged me along to a pre-nuptial photo-shoot, with the goal of polishing my skill. Nervous, I packed my beloved camera, dusted my photography knowledge by googling some self-help information from the web. The photo-shoot session transpired a long time ago.

After two weeks, I finally had the courage to scrutinize my produce, accept the things unrectifiable, ameliorate those that can be. Of more than a hundred photographs, only nineteen passed my strict guidelines, and are now on the process of emailing them to my friend. I hope he is enticed by this raw ability and will still remember my name the next time he is invited in this engagement. :)

Good Wednesday

Friday has been Good to Catholics, Holy Week or not. My church siblings decided to offer a day of fasting for the teaching ministry, for its growth. Instead of Friday, my partner and my turn is today, Wednesday.

I have never attempted to skip dinner, given my physical state. I avoid meat on Holy week. But total deletion of food from my evening schedule is a new task and a brave endeavor for me. The best part is, I succeeded!

Get Your Pink On!

On the first of October, the founder of the youth ministry I am actively involved in will be taking the vow of Holy Matrimony. Everyone participating in this holiest of her undertakings, she gathered to her place today. Wedding plans were revealed, designations straightened out, and materials necessary for this event of the year are almost finished. Our hands synchronized with our lips as we drowned ourselves in endless babble, oblivious to the fact that only three days had passed since we last mingled. The tummy-aching-that-made-me-cry laughter, fueled by fruits and spiritual and nonsensical conversation, reverberated against the flares and strong wind of the sunny afternoon. The music in the background composed the soundtrack of the day. A holiday spent wisely indeed. :)

Yum Yum!

Three meals in one night. In a span of four hours. And the best part was, two of them were from generous friends! Graces were profusely flowing! :)

Garfield Day

Waking up late, lazing away, snoozing in the realm brought about by the softness of my pillows, while staying connected and talking with people who matter as if unbarred by distance and time. Sunday is supposed to be holy, and I did. :)

Teaching Charism

I joined the teaching sub-ministy to exercise my charism. Today is the first time it is exposed to the public eye, that is, to the members of the other young adult ministry I am part of. With thorough research in a span of two days and a little Powerpoint, I was able to pull it off. The positive feedbacks affirmed the experience. And I am happy to have pushed myself to the limits, to be God's instrument. Teaching is truly a passion for me. :)

BB

Who says BlackBerry is a mundane, all-business (yawn) device? Theme exported from BB World that time-warped my phone's face to its youngest days. A mature outlook with a Sesame Street visage. Haha!

Walking the Walk

Morning walk under the garments of enormous trees that encase the sidewalk is the type of exercise I don't mind taking. It used to be a burden to me, the long walk from my abode to the stop where I hitch my morning ride. But since we transferred to our new home with huge trees a normal sight, the walk has become a deliberate and enjoyable option. :)

Angelology

After Delirium, Angelology. One of the reviews stated that it is much, much better than Dan Brown. We'll see. :)

Black Birds

My friend and I were walking in the middle of a crowded place, talking about how the day progressed, when a breath-taking scenery stopped me in our tracks. Birds, a flock of twenty I believe, hovered the are in unprecedented flight. Black birds coloring the blue to sunset hue of the sky, it stopped me from breathing. It was amazing.

Delirium

After months of installment reading, I have finally finished reading this beautiful book. Just when I thought it is all about teenage dreams, I was taken aback by its labyrinth of stories, and was surprised with the ending. All suppressed emotions brought about by Love, its main theme from an oblique angle, the only way to punctuate the last two pages is by crying. I shed tears at 1am, and only the four corners of my room being the only thing that was still breathing, and my witness.

It was a good experience.

Home-bound Sunday

I was alone this Sunday afternoon, drowned in the endless playbacks of music of Gavin deGraw and Keane. It was 3pm, the sun was high, my windows were hospitable to the wind that lulled and drove me to the place closest to my heart. Nostalgia attacked me, and I caved.

I'm not sure if it can be counted a happy memory. Leaves fell, days tore, years passed. Yet, the image of home, once it decides to visit me, still brings longing that cannot be refilled. The song 'Home' by Michael Buble says it all. And I wish I was.

Captain America

Nothing beats seeing a film with people you consider siblings. We watched Captain America today, after half a day of spiritual learning and physical filling. Eleven of us reserved the seats, booked them, and marched to the nearest movie theatre to catch the first of The Avengers. And we were never failed! Great company+good movie+Chris Evans = Paradise.

Too bad I napped ten minutes before it ended (It was just past my bedtime! :p).

Mr Snob

I try not to be judgmental as possible. But sometimes when first impression is severely damaged, to repair it is unlikely. Yes, unlikely, but not impossible.

One client is very popular for being nasty. I try to avoid serving him once I spotted him queuing for his turn. The more I shoo him away, the more he is magnetized to wherever counter I am designated.

I served him today. He liked being called by his name; his frown converts into a smile when he hears the musical lyric that is his name. I asked him if he had taken his lunch, he said no I believe. The most surprising thing was what he asked me next. He said, 'How are you?'

I did not expect him to say those, even in the most nonchalant way. But he did. He is not bad, after all.

Laundry Time

I reached home at 11pm, very tired, but I am even surprised myself that I still have the energy to collect my dirty clothes, stack them inside the ever hard working washing machine, choose over dozens of controls, add the liquid soap, press start, and await the machine to complete its task. I only have one desire: a washing machine that hangs the clothes without manual intervention. Life would be perfect!

Siblings in Christ

It has been almost two weeks since I came back from my short trip to the Philippines, but today was the first time I sat and conversed with my Christ-siblings.

We met up to talk about a very confidential matter, laughed all throughout the conversation, finalized some points, then headed towards home, appreciative of each other's company, with smiles plastered on our tired physical faces. We might not be bonded by blood, but we're bonded in spirit. We fan it with healthy conversation and purity in intention to keep it flaring. :)

Chocolate by the Bald Man

For the first time in months, I ate dinner and indulged myself in the richness of chocolate from Max Brenner tonight with a friend and my boss. The chocolate is unforgettable!

Sunday Choir

How long have I been absent from my beloved blog? Two days? It felt like forever.

I was down with rhinorrhea and had to convene with my second-love Ratatouille-covered bed at an earlier time, and be detached from earthly thoughts to calm my being temporarily. I still am having it, but better.

I attended Mass last Sunday. The choir was singing, the congregation was humming, and I noticed two particular participants who made use of what they know and what they have to give glory to God. The younger man was deaf and mute, the mom was assisting him. But despite the absence of melodic vocals, both of them actively 'sung' through their wonderful hands, the young man patterning the mother's acts. It made me cry.

While some were physically present but psychologically traversing under the Sunday sunshine outside the four walls of the church, the mother and son's tandem echoed inaudibly, in chorus, with those who came for God. Nothing was more beautiful. It reminded me of the story of five loaves and two fishes that fed the five thousand. The little that we have is all that we really need. The absence of voices but the presence of their wonderful hands, and the support of their loved ones, are all that they actually need. All else are insignificant.

Pre-nuptial Shoot

I informed my friend some months ago, due to my admiration for his captivating photos, to share with me his deeper knowledge in photography. Materializing the promise, he tagged me along to this pre-nuptial shoot today to establish my portfolio.

The picture above was not taken with my Nikon DSLR, but this is one of the two places we used as background for the lovely couple. I think I might have captured and frozen one or two timeless mementos. :)

Amaya

I guess at one point in our life we got addicted to those soap operas. When I came back from the Philippines, to replace my forgotten heart, I packed in my luggage the love for Amaya. And today I saw two episodes!

Choco Choco Yum Yum!

Due to concerted effort by everyone in my workplace that has been sweetly recognized, the franchise showed their appreciation by giving each one a bunch of chocolates intricately wrapped in a glossy, red, and designed wrapping. It was topped, not by a cherry, but by a bow.

Perfect timing because I did not bring my fruits for my afternoon snack. It was the perfect substitute. Just the right dose of sugar rush for my long day!

Curia

I attended the Legion of Mary's monthly meeting in a church that is one-hour ride from my workplace. During the meeting, it has been discussed in the allocutio how the system is invariably in existence for 90 years, of which is the sole reason for the endurance of the organization. Regardless of the generation, the war, the oppression and the individualistic aims that conquer the hearts of the world today, the legion remains intact. It is immune to the annihilation attempt by some political forces in some parts of the world. The system is the sole reason for its endurance.

And I am happy to be part of it. :)

Birthday Foodie!

Yesterday was my friend's birthday, and our colleague volunteered to give everyone a very delicious meal today to celebrate this. I was not able to greet my friend (ooops! I was not aware of her birthdate), but I would definitely not miss a very enticing, FREE lunch!

Nom nom nom

Legion

It was my first time to preside the meeting after three weeks. I am involved in a church ministry where I lead the meetings on a weekly basis. The warmth of welcoming me though after a short absence only makes me glad to be back. When all these end, bidding goodbye will really be a painful task to do.

Sweets on Sunday Morning

I missed the first day of my Sunday catechism class last week due to my vacation in the Philippines. So today technically was my first.

The three classes were combined. The other teacher is also away on vacation, the level coordinator thought I still was. I marched to the second floor and began recognizing my kids amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces. The moment they laid their eyes on me, they got excited and uttered my name at a tone higher than normal. My girl student even asked me why I was absent from last week's meeting. I thought they wouldn't even notice.

I handed out the little souvenirs from my beach trip, one for each kids. The sincerity in their voices expressing their gratitude over what I considered trivial touched the very core of my being. The kids were so sweet they melted my heart away. I can't wait to see them again next Sunday!

HP7 Part 2 Take 2!

I cannot get enough of this movie, being the last, that I watched it for the second time. And indeed, love is sweeter the second time around. I understood it more, with its heavy Brit accent, this time around. I even blogged about it! Long live the boy who lived!

Plan Dec

My flight was at 550am. Cabs are hard to come by in the wee hours, and our place is half an hour far from the highway. But the cab apparated out of nowhere, at just the right timing, as if the whole universe was making a statement and conspired to conjure the cab out of nothing, and that we own it. And we did.

In nearly four years, there never was an instance that I did not shed a tear during departure. Today was an exception. I took a deep breath, I felt the liquid rushing like an avalanche triggered by the caring voices of my parents and brother. But I fought real hard.

Using diversion as a tactic, I reiterated to myself that this separation is ephemeral. I shall be facing the challenges of life in the most comfortable terrain, in the land of my birth, in my final return. I have gained a little at the expense of missed memories. I am learning to detach from the worldly pleasures that can only satisfy my temporal self. I would rather personally create memoirs in a tangible state. An act that cannot be compensated by money.

All's well

Every beginning has its end. The boy lived, defied the evil that conquered the wizarding world, and he defeated him. It was a plot full of magic. At some point, I almost believed Harry was real.

A day before my departure. My mom, dad, and two cousins witnessed the fall of Voldemort as the Harry Potter series draw the curtain to a close. My brief stay in the Philippines is likewise approaching its ending. And I've made my decision.

Ima

Almost every vacation, I would take the opportunity to visit the oldest person in my social circle. Everyone calls her Ima (mother in local dialect).

I have known her since I was in high school. We belonged to the same church ministry, though active in different sub-groups. I feared her. Her domineering stature is enough to shut the most opinionated of individual. But Ima is like an onion. The outer layers may cause discomfort; the process of tearing off is tedious and is gradual. Once the true self is revealed, beauty overflows. Synonymously Ima.

A day before my flight back to reality, I knocked on her gate. She was not home; I was offered a sit in her living room. She arrived on a wheelchair. We talked. We ate breakfast. We caught up with each other. She may not be as capable physically, but the Ima that I have known within the callous shell remains. She still wears that innocent smile. The kid in her 93 year old body still listens, her eyes glistening. She is still present to the person she interacts with,  like before. Her body tires, but her sympathy doesn't. The same old Ima never changed.

Boracay

Part of my itinerary was to visit our grandmother who lives in the South. Squeezed in between is a sojourn to a glimpse of heaven, a beach called Boracay.

We stayed in my father's place when I was young for years, but never did we step foot on that place. This vacation of mine had been an opportunity to finally materialize hearsays and experience the ten-times-better-than-phuket-thailand haven. And my expections were met a thousand fold!

Ever wonder if there is such sand as fine and white as powdered milk, where three shades of green with a dab of blue are visible on its crystal clear waters? Boracay is the perfect pearly postcard, a luxuriant gift from the One above. It is a blissful intimacy between man and nature.

And it is just an hour ride from my grandmother's home! :)

New

I met new acquaintances and made new friends. I tagged along with an old friend, and punctuated the day gaining new ones.

Human beings are social animals. We find happiness in the presence of other people in our lives. It is also an accomplishment witnessing my Facebook account increasing in number. Social life transforming before my very eyes.

And I'm loving it! (Didn't mean to advertise :p)

Friends

Regardless of the busy schedule, the innate virtue of hospitality paved the way to welcome me. The people I have been with since I stepped into the complicated and larger than life college, I met with them yesterday.

The air was filled with giggles and chortles. An encore of stories of old played in the background, like an old song that never loses its magic despite countless playbacks. Change seemed to have ignored us; it passed over us, recognizing the blood stain of friendship that served as our charm. The chemistry lingered.

Nothing beats old friends.

The Power of Prayer

The gap has finally happened. And I'm here to fill it in!

I was readying myself to compose my daily commitment in this blog when a worrisome news was delivered to me. It devoured my whole system and sipped all my creative juices I couldn't produce a single thought. Until sleep overcame me.

Before I finally caved to the calling of my bed, I fervently uttered a prayer, pleaded for the intercession of Mother Mary. And just like the last sequel of the most sought after Harry Potter, 'All is well that ends well.'

Thereby the conception of this very entry. :)

The Service Provider

Shakespeare once said, 'The world's a stage and we are merely players.' I play the role of a daughter, a friend, a colleage, and a messenger.

I was tasked to deliver a birthday gift freshly purchased overseas to a friend's brother today. My mom assigned me to send the recently-owned-now-spoilt-for-the-second-time stereo to the service center. Not even the rain, cheating cab drivers, five-inch high flood could stop me from becoming what I was made to become specifically today.

Mission:Impossible? Mission:Accomplished!

Home

it has been a long time since I attended the Legion of Mary meeting in my local parish. They have swayed to the rhythm of change, faces came and went, and new friendship and membership had been established successfully. The meeting place has migrated to an air-conditioned sanctuary.

I also attended a mass conducted in my native tongue. I recall a friend who told me she was touched by the Tagalog version of the Our Father after hearing it again. Greener pasture achievable only in the foreign land, it drowned the reverberated Our Father. It was out of the earshot of our memories. To hear the local Mass songs after a long time brought back memories of comfort it was hard to contain. I was hit by the same nostalgic feeling. I got teary-eyed on a lazy, Sunday afternoon.

But the happiest realization? I am finally home. :)

The Eagle Has Landed

Despite my redundant home-coming, the fear of flight always attacks me and clouds my mind. Excitement could not totally squeeze me tightly; the thought of flying painfully sneaks in and is sandwiched in between. So I solicited prayers.

One of my church siblings recounted the agony and horror of being on an 8-hour flight solely. She experienced bad airplane journeys in the past, the long travel to Europe psychologically murdered her. But she was able to overcome all these. She shared to me her secret.

I checked in early, I paced to the boarding gates ahead of the 520 pm deadline. I chose a solemn chair, took hold of it, neatly positioned my belongings to the sit beside me, and blessed myself. I closed my eyes and recalled to be in His presence. I uttered my prayers.

The weather for the past days, both in Singapore and Philippines, was maddening. Heavy downpour infested the area and has procrastinated its stay for a couple of days. July is the typhoon season in the Philippines; I remorsed having been persuaded to book a flight in a small plane as Tiger Airways, given the situation, mainly due to its cheap rates. Turbulence has always been in my black list. My heart stops every time the plane descends un-deliberately; even the slightest twitch increases my blood pressure to the maximum. My heart is sliced in two pieces, my hands tremble and the sweat glands produce the stickiest of secretes. Anxiety befriends me.

I boarded by myself, worries all packed in my luggages it exceeded the allotted weight of 20 kilos. But God was with me. A sibling blogged her 8-hour plane ride ordeal, and how God, in His magnificence, rescued her from senseless paranoia. He salvaged me today. Rain did not occur, not even a drop of drizzle touched the tongues of the thirsty landscapes, in both my places of origin and destination. The plane's take off today was as smooth as a baby's lullaby. The ride was bumpy in the middle, like the normal hump I experience in road trips every single day. I imagined being in a class trip where things flew and scattered all over but the kids were enjoying and did not even notice them. That's faith.

I remember once a cab driver told me that Someone up there loves me. The rain was nonstop during his whole drive but it came to a halt upon my acquisition of his service. Today was a deja vu. I offered a short prayer and a decade of Rosary to Mother Mary, and amidst the rough, tumultuous weather mood precedently, the sun conquered the clouds. It accompanied me all through my three and a half journey. The names of the pilots in command were mentioned at the commencement, but one name echoed in a whisper. 'He who calmed the raging seas and roaring wind, they woke Him up to silence the storm'. And He did. He was my pilot in command today :)

Almost Home!

I can already hear the snorting sound emitted by the public jeepneys. The crisp chuckles from the playful children that dominate the yellow afternoon is crystal clear. A few more hours and I will be invading the sky to get to the promised land!

My mom asked me if I was excited. I hope she did not notice the pause in my sentence when I gave her the reply. I'm caught up in mixed emotions as of the moment. I giggle to the thought of embracing them again, but I recoil to the journey on a turbulent sky. I am soliciting prayers.

Regardless of my worries, only one thing is certain. Manila, here I come! :)

Pre-Home Adventure

In two day's time, I will be breathing the air that filled my childhood chest. I will be trotting on the muddy pavements that had witnessed the triumph, the eviction, and the fluctuation on the hopes and dreams of the Filipino people. On Saturday, I will be kissing the land my forefathers gave their lives up for. I will be home, again.

I am a fanatic of the cramming method. I love the creative juices at work when I am time pressured, and they seem to ooze out imaginatively just when I need them. I decided to do my last-minute shopping today; I had been troubled by the types of gifts for my family. But today ideas came shooting at me, and I have been hit by a firing squad.. One more round of shopping for chocolates and I am done!

Transformers 3

Except that my ears hurt because of the 3D glasses, but the whole experience of the third installment of Transformers on IMAX and 3D is just amazing!

I attended a Latin Mass again, but I had to furtively tiptoe my way out and sprinted when I reached the exit of the quaint St Joseph's Church to the MRT station. I hurried to get to Orchard where the big cinema was booked. I took flight to reach my destination and arrived just in time for the trailers to start coloring the screen.

And I was not disppointed. Optimus Prime and Shia La Beouf's movie duet is simply fantastic!!!

Movie Time (Office Version)!

It has been quite a while since my office had some functions with my participation in it. My manager exquisitely concocted an idea to deepen the bond between all of us by going to the cinema, hand in hand maybe, and watch a movie. The only problem to this brilliance is that announcement was done late. Almost half could not make it!

Those who could marched our way to the cinema, settled in, and laughed our hearts out to Mr. Popper's Penguins. His aim is to soften the ambience relatively, which was effective I guess. I look forward for more! :)

Residual effect

This is a residue of yesterday's fleeting elation. I did not have proper sleep, prayer was my breakfast plus Milo on the side, but I felt energized and extremely happy. It is all because of yesterday's event.

I narrated to everyone what transpired, even to non-Catholics. Most of them looked a bit disoriented, and puzzled maybe with the conspicuous, ecstatic twinkling of my eyes while re-telling the story. It was the excitement in my being that hooked them; I could see their attention dwindling in the middle part. It did not defeat me; my story continued. I could not contain the joy that was within me, and the only way was to recount it to others.

I hitched a ride on my way home, and I was in the car with our Spiritual Director, who is a nun. I asked her about her order, how she started, how her family reacted. Then she asked me if I was interested. I looked away, smiled, kept quiet for barely ten seconds then negated. Not that I am putting a stop sign on possibilities. I am taking one emotion a time. And all I know is that, seeing the two angelic nuns and the pietistic version of the tabernacle, the beautiful prayers and the synchronization of the priests and the altars boys, visually digesting them purified my spirit. I was flying. It was serendipity. :)

Latin Mass

A first time that is worth the experience! I attended a Latin Mass in a foreign land with the people I consider as siblings. It was a great celebration!

Itinerary

Bedtime procrastinated. A sign of dedication to this blog? Certainly!

I just finished booking flights to the province to visit our grandmother who has not seen my brother for ages. I will be going home for a two-week visit in july (for which this blog will be temporarily halted I expect), and in the middle part of the trip will be a sojourn to the birthplace of my father. This trip to home would be the most memorable! :)

Zzzzz....

3rd Day

This has become a challenge for me, to be able to see through the rain and be the adversary of good and bright happenings. Thus, the extension of recognizing good occurrences in other people, celebrating and embracing their successes. I choose to be surrounded by amazement.

My friend, a loyal fan of her outdated, touch screen phone, has decided to upgrade her utilities. She braved to shear the string that's binding her away from her necessity, went to the mall with a few other friends, and signed up deliberately for a plan for a high-end gadget. This girl whose fetish is shoes and bags, who is amazed by gadgets but is never convinced to own them, has taken a big step towards riding the bandwagon. Her old phone is dilapidated. She has finally moved on. And I'm proud of her! :)

Stranger

So I made a covenant to diligently update this blog for all the positive things that I experience in a day. I opened my eyes extra wide today, I was extra observant and overly-sensitive, in a good way. I smiled beyond my two ears, with cherries on top, knowing that by giving I shall be receiving. And the sun started to set.

I was on my way to dinner. I sojourned to the ATM, my friend transacted her business after mine was finished. I was standing near the machines awaiting my friend when I received a series of looks and sweet beams from a stranger. A greeting flew straight to me I was caught unaware. I smiled in reciprocation.

It was enough to warrant an entry to this blog. :)

Let There Be Light

And there was light.

Inspired by the Book of Happiness, I gave birth to this second blog for the sole purpose of compiling only happy moments. As they turn into memories, before the subconscious archives and crystallizes them, they will be immortalized by religious effort in this journal.

How was this concepted? I was in the salon doing a touch up of my unruly hair, engrossed in the book I chose to accompany me. It was in that book that a suggestion popped up. As my hair straightened, so is the idea for this blog. The salon, with its secular music and temporal vanity, became the birthplace of
my rainbow journal! Amazing contrast!

Think happy thoughts! :)