Keeping The Vow...

"To have and to hold from this day
forward, for better for worse, for richer
for poorer, in sickness and in health, to
love and to cherish, till death do us part."
Book of Common Prayer



I just finished reading the novel "Handle with Care" by Jodi Picoult. I was browsing books for my next reading when the above lines had caught my attention. Perfect subject! that was what crossed my mind for i've been wanting to blog romantic/love story for my month-end post this February.

The Continuation- March 1, 2010

I admit I am a hopeless romantic. I'm actually 'kinikilig' while reading these lines. I remember a friend when he said this vow & professed his love to her bride teary-eyed. It's the most romantic wedding i attended. Everyone's in tears! I was in tears because of too much happiness for my friends (the bride and the groom are my closed friends). I am very confident that both of them would keep their vows with each other for the rest of their lives.

How I wish all marriages are made in heaven just like that of my friends. But reality bites, there are those that aren't. I have another friend who puts everything on hold trying to save her marriage. Her husband who's working abroad (my friend's in the Phils), to my understanding had abandoned them- no communications, no financial support, no respect, no love for the one person he vowed to love for the rest of his life. I really hate him for continously hurting my friend, for being a certified jerk. He'd even forgotten his only son! He left for abroad mainly to give a better future to his family, but what's happening is the contrary. Beware of this kind of person. They exist in this world. In one of the many conversations i had with my friend, i told her to consider the option of just ending their marriage (this is the 1st time i entertained this thought). I just wanted my friend to reclaim her life. She was full of life back then. She was a strong person. But my friend is very determined to still wait for his missing in action husband. She declined the opportunity to move on with life (that my friends had offered her). She's doing what she thinks is the best for her family. She doesn't want to have a broken family, nobody wants this (moreso, formalized in writing). We're just here for my friend. We understand her. She's just keeping her vow. I just hope and pray that her husband would also do the same.

Bagong Tambayan

Kung dati sa Deira City Centre ang 'gala' namin lagi ni PC (a closed friend/busmate), ngayon sa Burjuman Centre na kami madalas. From office, eto kasi ang unang mall na dadaanan ng service namin, tapos meron ding Metro Station dito so wala akong problema pag-uwi sa aking tirahan which is only one station away. Ayoko kasing sumasakay ng taxi mag-isa pag gabi or madilim na (bukod sa mahal ang taxi fare dito, mas safe kasi ang feeling ko pag public transport ang sinasakyan ko). Si PC ay nakatira sa bandang Bur Dubai, malapit sa Burjuman samantalang ako sa Deira naman. Ang Bur Dubai at Deira ay parallel to each other, pinaghihiwalay lang sila ng Dubai Creek. Ang nadudugtong sa kanila ay ang Maktoum Bridge, Shindagha Tunnel at ang tunnel ng Dubai Metro.

from L to R: PC & me

kuha ito kahapon ni JF, isang kaopisina at kasama din namin sa service

i'm so thankful talaga at sinasakyan ni PC ang trip ko.

Thanks friend! as in! :-)

Itong nagdaang apat na araw pagkatapos sa office sa Burjuman na kami diretso. Sabi ko kay PC i need to breathe some fresh air, depressed ako kasi hindi ako maka-blog! hehe...Wala kaming internet connection since Monday due to technical reason sabi ng Etisalat, ang aming internet service provider. Anyway, naayos na siya kagabi. Kaya i'm back to blogging na naman. Sobrang na-miss ko talaga (nde ako makatulog ng maayos kasi iniisip ko ang blog ko, sabi ko sa mga kasama ko idedemanda ko ang Etisalat for doing this to me..hehe..buti na lang mabilis naman action nila kung nde as in naisip ko nang mag-internet na lang sa labas kaya lng sobrang gabi na)...Parang feeling ko tuloy nag-iistart na naman ako. Naputol kasi ang momentum ko sa pagba-blog. Sabi nga ni Roderick Paulate sa pelikulang Ded Na Si Lolo (napanood ko nung Monday), "Nandun na eh" referring to his dramatic moment na nabitin.

Why I Don't Feel Old?

I'll be turning 29 years old next month. My friends and family are making a big fuss out of it. They are seriously concerned about me getting older (alone). I couldn't believe them. Honestly, I don't feel old & lonely. In fact, i'm even anticipating my 30th birthday next year for many reasons. :-)

I completely understand them, they just want me to be happy (and married). How can i explain to them individually that i'm doing great and i'm happy with the way my life is going.

I'd wanted to tell them, they need not worry about me. I'm mature enough to know what would make me happy in this life. (ang serious ko na tuloy..hehe) I told my mom last Friday na huwag niya akong i-pressure kasi nai-stressed ako. hehe..

SO WHAT'S KEEPING ME BUSY?
1) work.work.work...
2) blogging :-)
3) hanging out with friends whenever i'm free (which is very seldom)
4) planning for the future of my immediate family esp. my mom's. i have this big dream for my mom. she's my inspiration. she's the reason why i'd want to realize this plan. (pls ma, wag mong isingit ang pag-aasawa dito & pls don't say na sasaya ka lang talaga pag nag-asawa ako....i'd make sure i'd give all the best (of me) to you first. i'm getting closer to this dream, ma. this is really for you. :-)
5) planning for my future (in congruent with my future plans for my family)

Love Letters

I find it so sweet and romantic when someone's able to write his special someone a love letter. Sometimes, i wish i'd meet/find this kind of person in this life. Actually, if you'd ask me what would be the characteristcis of my ideal man, this will definitely included in the list (the others are God-fearing, family oriented, responsible, humble). Just a wishful thinking though. Sana talaga meron pang natitirang ganito dito sa mundo. :-) (pls, don't get me wrong hindi po ako naghahanap. tama na muna ang paghahanap ng mga kaibigan at kamag-anak ko. lolz.)

I'd received several love letters before from friends, (almost) special someone, former special someones but the love letters below were the most outstanding of all. These letters came from my two lovely 'pamangkins'- Jon Harold & Raizza Gail.

these two letters are safely folded inside my wallet.

i'd received them in early 2007, from pinas with much love :-)

this is written by Jon Harold, my 1st pamangkin.

he's only in grade 2 back then, tawag namin sa kanya noon

si 'bili mo ako', just read what he has written. hehe ..
ngaun, binata na daw cia at marunong nang manligaw. :-)

this one's from my 2nd pamangkin, Raizza Gail (kapatid ni Harold) :-)

napagkakamalan kaming mag-nanay dati kasi magkamukha daw kami.

she was kinder 1 when she wrote this letter.

she's an honor student, masipag din mag-aral.

and she got the best in math award!

(hmmm..mana nga yata sa akin, that's my favourite subject too dati.)

2010 Dubai Tennis Championships Experience

I treated this day as a major turning point in my life. This is the first time I ever watched a live tennis game in a big stadium (thanks ate MM for the tickets! :-)). Moreover, it is also the first time i got to see world tennis players. I am not a fanatic though, i don't even know the faces of those famous tennis players. I only hear their names like Federer, Nadal, Sharapova etc. But that doesn't prevent me from enjoying the game. :-)



But more than the above, this is the first time I really break the ice between me & JC's fiance. This is the first time i invited the couple for us to have a bonding moment. This really marks the end of my unreasonable 'coldness' with JC & GD because of my unreasonable 'jealousy'. Though i started little by little being reasonable to them since Oct 2009 (see my posts Aaminin Ko Na & I Knew It Was Coming), it is only now that I felt truly happy. I mean without the feeling of akwardness, little hurts anymore that I've kept for quite a long time. I can easily, loudly & wholeheartedly tell the world that I'm super happy (nothing more, nothing less) for my friend JC & of course for GD too, who now becomes my friend effectively. :-) By the way, the big day will be on September 2010. For the love of my friend JC, i changed my planned vacation leave from August to September. Surely, i'd want to be there for my friend in that very special moment of her life. :-)

@ Dubai Tennis Stadium


one of the posters for Dubai Tennis Championships
February 14-27, 2010

the last game for this day is Radwanska vs. Sevastova
we were on the side of Radwanska (the girl in the pic)

we were happy when she won the game.

i heard later she's the no. 9 world tennis player

that's us during break :-)

from L to R : me, JC & GD
(pinagbigyan ako ng dalawa sa trip ko. hehe)

another let's-volt-in pic of us :-)
from L to R : me, JC & GD

(napilitan ang dalawa na mag-pose..hehe)

Isang Imahinasyon...

NOON
"True Love waits", ito ang bilin ng mga nakakatanda nung kabataan namin. Masyadong silang nagpa-panic pag nabalitaang may boyfriend o girlfriend ka na lalu pa kung nag-aaral ka pa. Tila ba sa tingin nila, masisira na ang kinabukasan mo. Hindi na sila mapakali. Nawawalan sila ng peace of mind. Pero sympre wala naman din silang magawa pag na-inlab na. Yung iba pa nga, pilit na nakikipag-close sa bf/gf ng anak. Siguro kinikilatis kung mapagkakatiwalaan ba nila ito at kung safe ba ang anak nila dito. Masaya daw sila kasi masaya ang anak, alam daw kasi nila ang feeling ng inlab. Pero once na nakipag-break ang anak, ayun malalaman mo na lang na mas masaya pala silang hindi inlab ang anak..hehe. :-)


NGAYON
"Hindi na uso ang pakipot", ito naman ang maririnig mo sa ngayon sa parehong taong nagsabi sa iyo noon na 'true love waits'. Matatawa ka na lang, bumaligtad na ba ang mundo. Hindi sila mapakali hanggat wala silang nababalitaan na bf/gf mo. Masyado silang nagwo-worry sa kinabukasan mo. Wala daw mag-aalaga sa iyo pagdating ng panahon. Yung iba pa nga, sila pa ang naghahanap para sa'yo para mapadali lang. Tila ba sa kanila, ganun kadali ang lahat. Nakalimutan na nila ang kanilang bilin na "True love waits". hehe. :-)

NAGULUHAN
Ano nga ba ang inaantay mo? Bigla na lang darating ang true love mo nang walang kahirap-hirap? Yun bang tipong nahulog ito sa harapan mo galing langit? O kaya naman mararamdaman mo na lang siya na ang 'The One"? Masaya ka at lagi mo na itong hinahanap? Just the mere thought of him/her, inspired ka na at kayang-kaya mo na harapin ang lahat? Para bang ang buhay mo karugtong na nang buhay niya? Wake up! Mukhang ang lalim ng panaginip mo. :-)

Mga Anik-anik....

Tuluyan na ngang nagpaalam ang aking mobile kamakailan. That's life, i have to move on & get over it...Total pictures accumulated is around 900! ..Heto ang ilan sa mga ito. :-)

sent to my mobile in 2006

oh yes, that's kobe (the one looking at the camera) &

luke (the shy one ). komusta na kaya sila? :-)

photo taken by my cousin in july 2005

isa sa mga orchids ng nanay ko. :-)

gitara ng pinsan ko- taken in 2005
mahilig ako sa music pero walang hilig sa akin ito
nagpaturo akong manggitara sa pinsan pero nde pa din ako natuto. :-)



photo taken in April 2005
kinasal yung ofismeyt/fren namin sa nueva viscaya
side trip kami ng F4 sa banaue rice terraces
during this time din namin nai-plano ang pagpunta dito sa Dubai.


photo taken in jan 2006
naging adik ako sa koreanovela na Fullhouse
would u believe nakalimang beses ko siyang naulit
sa pinas at pati na dito sa dubai
love na love ko si justine (na nde naman daw gwapo sabi ng mga frens ko)
i just couldn't believe them...hehe


@ al ghurair city in june 2008
natuwa ako nang makita ko si Dora!!!!!!
super favourite siya kasi ng pamangkin ko. :-)



photo taken @ Grand Cinema City Al Ghurair in 16/08/2008
sa pinas madalang lang kaming manood ng tagalog movies,
dito sa dubai ang mga ito ang inaabangan namin...kagaya ng
"A Very Special Love". :-)

My Funny Valentine :-)

Ang saya-saya namin sa bus kanina- ako, sina EG, ate PC, RE, CR, VT, MG, JF, ate EA, ate EV at ate LR (pati mga kasama naming ibang lahi- mga Indian & isangPuerto Rican nadadala din sa kasiyahan namin) . Tuksuhan dito, tuksuhan doon. Sympre ako na naman ang numero unong paboritong tuksuhin nina EG, CR, VT & RE. Sabi nga nang kaibigan naming si Ate EA, buti daw nde ako napipikon sa kanila, ang sagot ko alam ko naman kasi ang biro at nasanay na ako. Tsaka isa din akong numero unong mapang-asar kaya i know how to handle it- bawal ang pikon. :-) Anyway, ang topic kanina is tungkol sa nalalapit na Valentine's Day. Kung kani-kanino na naman ako pina-partner. Grabeh, to the highest level na sila ngaun. Sa loob mismo ng service ang mga tinutukso sa akin. Sabi ko, bigyan naman nila ako ng kahihiyan.

I guess this is the price i have to pay for being single. Ako lagi ang nakikita. Si ate PC (matalik kong kaibigan) double na kasi ngaun kaya sa akin ang bagsak ng atensyon nila pag usapang lovelife na. Sabi ko sa kanila excited na nga akong dumating yung panahon na iyon...sigurado mananahimik na din sila..hehe..:-)

Searchee No. 1- kasama namin sa circle of friends sa service, kaasaran ko din ng sobra. ewan ko ba kina EG, VT & MG- mga kaopisina niya, bigla na lang kaming ginawang loveteam sa bus. sobrang kilig pa ang mga iyan nung minsang i-set up kami para magkatabi sa upuan. :-) kanina, pagkababa ni searchee no. 1, tinanong ba naman ako nina RE & EG kung ano pa ba ang hahanapin ko sa kanya..hahaha...natawa talaga ako sa kanila..sabi ko ang mga magkakaibigan, magkaibigan...tigilan na ako. :-)

Searchee No. 2- kasama din namin sa service, ibang lahi. nde nagkasya ang mga kasama ko kay searchee no. 1, nandamay pa sila. yeah right, mas madami mas masaya. si EG ulit ang pasimuno. Binigyan nila ako ng pagkain minsan, sympre kinain ko..alam kasi nilang lagi akong gutom pag uwian. I said thank you. Kay searchee no. 2 daw ako magpasalamat kasi galing ito sa kanya. So nag thank you naman ako. Biglang tinukso na kami. Bagay na kami. Haaayyy ang hirap maging single... :-)


Lagi kong sinasabi sa mga kaibigan ko sa service na time will come, time will tell...darating din siya. Malapit na. Hayaan na ako. Tama na. Tigilan na ako. Umayos sila. Pero grabeh, nde sila mapakiusapan ng maayos..haha...Tila ba naging kaligayahan na nila ang tuksuhin ako. :-)

Kwentong Pag-ibig...

Malapit nang dumating ang Araw ng mga Puso. Excited na ang lahat lalo na sympre yung mga may special someone sa kanilang buhay. Hindi pahuhuli si Teresa dito, aakalain mong inlab na inlab siya dahil sa sobrang excitement na nararamdaman.

Ang katotohanan ay matagal na siyang walang espesyal na pag-ibig sa kanyang buhay. Hindi naman niya isinara ang kanyang puso ngunit sadyang kay ilap ng tunay na pag-ibig sa kanya. Simple lang naman ang nais niya, ito ay ang makatagpo niya ang taong mamahalin niya at magmamahal din sa kanya. Natatakot siyang ang matagpuan ay either mahal na mahal niya o kaya naman mahal na mahal siya. Ayaw na niyang masaktan sana dahil sa pag-ibig. Nakawala na din siya sa kanyang maling paniniwala na 'ang nagmamahal ay laging talo'.

Puno siya nang pag-asa na kung para ito sa kanya, ito ay ibibigay sa kanya. Malalaman niyang dumating na ang para sa kanya, pag wala nang humahadlang. Kusang darating na lang ito. Marerealize na lang niya nandyan na pala siya. Buong paligid ay biglang magiging kulay rosas na lang.

Masaya si Teresa sa nalalapit na Valentine. Hindi dahil meron siyang ka-valentine kung hindi dahil nakikita na niya ang kanyang sarili na handa nang magmahal muli. Nararamdaman niya malapit na ito.


Paalala: ang istoryang iyong nabasa ay isang kathang-isip lamang ng may-akda.

Farm Visit...:-)

snapshot of EG's Farm @ Level 60 (the highest level!) :-)

as in napa-wow ako sa ganda when i got this pic from my email.

i told EG, ito pinakamagandang farm na nakita ko so far!

look at the mansion, it is elevated! very impressive! :-)

I do not have Facebook account until now. I'm too lazy to upload pics & update status, could be the reasons why i think FB is not for me. Besides, i still have my Friendster account working for me. :-)

The only thing that made me want to join FB is because of FarmTown. It was such a hit and talk of the town to almost everyone i know then. My friends, officemates, busmates and housemates were really going gaga over it that they wanted me to experience the same. But i was so busy blogging. I don't think i can manage a farm while blogging. :-)

Lately, I noticed that the FarmTown hype had subsided. I don't hear my friends talking about it anymore like they used to be ie. from dusk 'til dawn! hehe. And the reason is......most of them had already reached level 60 which is the highest level...they're somehow going through to the so-called 'the law of diminishing return'. :-)

My First Doctor's Appointment in Dubai...

I believe I am a healthy person. I have never been confined in the hospital. I'm trying my best to live a healthy lifestyle. I so love walking. I have a friend who makes sure she's not wearing heels whenever we meet up. She knows 'mahaba-habang lakaran lagi ang mangyayari pag kasama niya ako'. I do not fancy fatty foods. I eat fruits and vegetables. The downside is i also love eating (lots of) rice, red meat, mcdo's burgers & fries, snickers and cheese cakes! :-(...I do not smoke. I do drink alcohol in moderation before but totally 'cursed/banned' it when i passed out in one of our drinking sprees with my room mates ie. i did not remember a single thing!. I was crying the next day, not because of hangover but because I saw my comforter, bedsheet, pillow case & shirt soaked in the tub at our bathroom! - lesson learned the hard way. :-)

But earlier this year, I began to feel otherwise. I'm having persistent back & neck pains. I have difficulty in breathing. I'm also having palpitations. I was afraid I might have a serious health condition like heart ailment. Seryosong 'Bawal Magkasakit' dito sa abroad. So I decided to seek doctor's advice today to have a clear diagnosis on my condition. (nagtapang-tapangan ako). :-)

How To Make An Appointment

1) since i have company's health card, i made sure that the hospital i'm going to is accredited by health insurance.
2) call the accredited hospital, in my case i chose Al Zahra Medical Centre ( referred by a friend/officemate)
3) i don't know what's wrong with my health so i made an appointment with internal medicine for a complete examination.
4) make sure to abide your appointment date & time ( mine is today 06 Feb 2010 @ 4:00pm)

receipts, doctor's business card & my health card

The Big Day

I was in Al Zahra at exactly 4:oopm. I went to the reception & told him that i have made an appointment. He checked his computer & asked me to fill-up a registration form & a health questionnaire. He verified my health card. (It is very important to bring your health card otherwise, you might end up paying all the bills). He gave me some papers & ask me to go to the cashier. I paid AED75 only (AED25 for registration fee plus AED50 for the consultation).

After 5 minutes of waiting, the nurse had called my name and ushered me to the doctor- Dr. Elias. Dr. Elias had interviewed me & asked me about my medical history. He also wanted to know if i'm suffering depression right now (stress-related question i think). Do i feel very sad and lonely? To these, i answered him No. :-)

After almost 25 minutes of consultation, he asked her nurse to perform these medical examinations:
1) Blood Pressure- my BP is 110/70; doctor's advice- OK
2) ECG- result is OK
I felt relieved upon knowing that i don't have any heart ailment as per doctor's findings. :-)

3) i don't know the medical term but it got something to do how's your lungs condition/breathingtest.
4) body temperature, height & weight
5) and of course, the use of stethoscope- the most common medical device that is use to listen to internal sound of heart & lungs.

They also made some laboratory tests:
1) blood tests (blood sugar, blood count, thyroid etc..)- results will be on Monday
2) X-ray- results will be on Monday

On Monday, I will get the results of the complete examinations. I'm full of hope that they'll all be okay.

It is really recommended to have a regular medical check-up. Remember, prevention is better than cure. Let's take care of our health at this early. As the old saying goes, 'our health is our wealth'.

Al Zahra Medical Centre @ Zheikh Zayed Road

a glimpse of Zheik Zayed Road :-)

Second Thoughts...

I just got a call from JY, a friend from a previous company. I was surprised when she asked me about my health??? Apparently, she and other friends had been reading my blog (without my knowledge) and they happen to read my post entitled Regulated Post. :-( I understand their concern but my initial & desperate reactions are...."i don't have blog (tried to deny & lie..so bad..but it seems they've read the other posts too, they've seen our back pics together..huhu..) "pls don't read my blog"..i keep on mumbling to her "nakakainis...nakakainis talaga" like more than 20 times, of course not to her or anyone. :-). She wanted me to just brush it away, to think as if they never read my blog...I really want my blog to be anonymous to everyone who personally knows me (the reason why i had never given my blogsite to them or even just mentioned about it)


It had happened before when my cousin unintentionally followed my blog (blogged about it in my Tidbits post), but i had it contained then. Now, i don't know what will happen to my 'blogging career'. hehe...Since its inception in Oct 2009, blogging has been a part of my system. My day will not be complete without me seeing my blog. :-) If i'm not blogging, i'm reading other bloggers' posts. I'm also improving, i am now an active 'commenter' to the blogs of two newly found friends in the blogosphere...i enjoy blogging too much that it's on my priority list. :-)

I can never be completely anonymous. I am aware of that. Besides, I publish my blog publicly. What would I expect? Oh yes, i can just go back and write to my secret diary instead. haha...


This is the only place on Earth where i can freely share my innermost/deepest feelings, where i can unload whatever i can't to any of my friends. If only i could ask/beg all of them, to please 'ibalato na lang ito sa akin'. I can only hope that they would just forget about this blog after today. Huwag sana silang ma-curious about it because curiousity can kill me! haha...

There's an end of everything. But i'd like to believe, this will not (in any way) end my 'blogging career' nor end my good relationship with my friends. It's never their fault. I also do not want to blame anyone for this.

From Dubai With Love...

PARA SA AKING NANAY

pyrex- naging koleksyon na ng aking nanay;

ginagamit lang yata niya tuwing may okasyon

uso ang mga ito sa amin nung umuwi ako
pangarap daw ng aking nanay ang mga ito..hehe

Ang aking mahal na bunsong kapatid ay kasalukuyang nasa himpapawid na ngayon sakay ng flight CX746 ng Cathay Pacific pauwi sa Pinas. Dalangin ko ang ligtas at masayang paglalakbay nito. Tapos na ang kanyang isang buwang pagbisita sa akin dito sa Dubai. May mas malalim pa na dahilan kung bakit naparito ang aking kapatid ngunit sinadya kung huwag nang isulat ito, ayokong maging emosyonal ang aking kapatid. :-)

Sana madaming natutunan ang aking kapatid dito. Sana nag-enjoy siya. Sana naramdaman niya na mahal na mahal ko siya at nandito lang ako lagi para sa kanya. (naku..naku...pagtatawanan ako ni bunso pag nabasa niya ang kadramahan ko)

Sa Agosto ko pa plano magbakasyon sa Pinas, kaya naman pinauna ko na sa kapatid ko

ang mga bagay na nasa larawan sa itaas na tiyak na ikatutuwa ng aking nanay....