Love Is In The Air

I first read this poem yesterday via email. This is originally written by a friend which he heartfully dedicated to his newfound love and inspiration. I find this one really nice especially the last two stanzas that I want to share it also to everyone. I have asked permission to publish this poem in my blog. You will also find this poem published to the original author's blog.

Actually, what i'll be blogging is not about the poem but about the person behind it. If I do not know the author, i'll just probably treat this as one of forwarded emails. Since the author happens to be a friend of mine, i qualify it as blog material. :-) I already blogged him in my recent post Blogging A Friend Blogger so this is now his 2nd appearance in my blog.

MY VIEWS, OPINIONS & REACTIONS

I really can't believe that this friend of mine is finally struck by Mr. Cupid! It was so unexpected that I even asked him to confirm and re-confirm if it's true. Not that he's not capable of loving someone, it's just that for those years we've been friends i have never seen nor heard him talking about LOVE. And now it seems everything he says is all connected with the word.

I haven't met this love of his life but looking forward to meet her also one day. I know it's not my business but I am curious to know who's responsible for my friend's happiness. "This thing I feel is a joy", he said.

I'm asking myself. Do I sound like a jealous friend?! I would probably never admit it if i am. But I am not. Honestly, I am really very happy for him. He had been through to a lot of struggles and trials, it's about time for him to conquer and experience this sweet little thing called LOVE.

THE CONQUEROR

As each day the sun rise

As each prays to be wise

As my baby sleep with his cries

Hearing his mama's lullabies

As the sun dries up the morning mist
As the day forgives with a subtle kiss
As the night wanders in eloquent bliss
As time travels in boundless breeze

I alone weep with my little wish
To cast my tears of fears and anguish
Not the cold wind to kiss my lips
But the warmth of a love's embrace

I have waited long and for so long
The days had passed to years and gone
Hopeless intimated toy balloon
Scared to fly and soar, abandon

An incredible voice then came along
Out of no where to play a song
My world stumbled and my sight drawn
What couldn’t happen happened and I'm away blown

With all the years and days that passed
Of finding love that never was
The pain of solitude is freed at last
Here to stay, I hope, our match

Each day now the sun hugs west
I see the moon shines at its best
I couldn’t ask for more or less
With you, with you, I'm gratefully blessed.

My First Month-End Post! :-)

Current State of Mind: self-fulfilled, happy :-)
Reasons: i'll be posting my last blog entry for this month of Oct! (my 31st entry; one blog per day) Whoaah! I did it! Yippee!!!! and.....

Since Oct 28 (posting date of my 3oth entry), i've been thinking of what to post for my 31st entry. I got a two-day allowance for I finished ahead of days, i wanted my month-end post to be published same day. I am posting my blogs real-time. I directly write to my blogspot account. Though I was advised by a friend that it's better to write them first in Word file for easy editing. Maybe, I'll try that next time.

I was thinking my month-end post should be something special and memorable. Last night, JC and I went to our favorite get-away place in Al Ghurair City and ate our favorite 'cheesecake!'..hmmm, yummy! I told her, i should have brought a camera. Both of us love cheesecakes! We had probably eaten all the available cheesecakes in Dubai! Be it strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, chocolate, fruity or just plain, we won't miss a chance.

Until this morning I am still not decided what to blog. I opened the laptop.(opppps, i remember i will return this laptop today to a renewed and now so-kind-and-so-generous friend of mine. many many thanks to this person! its with me for more than 2 weeks now, i don't want to abuse the kindness of anyone). I logged-in at my blogspot account. Still nothing in my mind. I read my previous entries and felt so proud to myself. What I have read are all those things that were kept to my heart for long time! In my own opinion, I have successfully written them and be able to share them in one way or another. Funny for I really feel proud of my blog! :-). I am thinking i can now maybe bloghop to other blogs with confidence. lol. Honestly, beside the feeling of admiration to some of my fave blogs, there's this little feeling of intimidation and maybe insecurity to them. They're writings are just too great and too good as compared to mine. They are a born-writers! I would really be super happy and fulfilled as a blogger if one day they would be on my blogroll. :-)

While reading my previous entries, this particular blogpost Aaminin Ko Na posted on 14 Oct 2009 has caught my attention. I read it over and over again with a happy feeling thinking if i'm not into blogging i could probably not tell anyone about this phase in my life.

As my blogtitle suggests, this is about my admission of shortcomings and a not-so-good-side-attitude of mine. I have taken the liberty to let this out and posted it publicly with an intention to keep it anonymous to the concerned persons.

But this morning, i just felt i needed to share this one to JC for the admission is really addressed to her. Remember, i'd wanted to keep my anonymity to my friends so I copied and pasted the mentioned blogpost to Word file and have it read by JC. :-)

Before she read it, i'd started to joke to keep her comfortable. But she knew it immediately (from the blog title) what was it all about- the most avoided topic. I gave her time to read it. I kept some little distance. And when I returned, I find her crying and smiling at the same time. She told me it's like 'natanggal yung tinik niya sa dibdib'. I can't help but cry also for having to give that 'tinik sa dibdib' to my friend. She added, now she feels i'm giving her away. It's not really like that i told her though i strongly feel she will really tie the knot soon as in very very soon. I assured her, this time she has my blessings for real (not only in words). :-)

To My Friend JC,

Thank you so much for being my good, better and best friend for all these times. You are one in a million! I am really so blessed to have you in my life. I love you so much!

I can now wholeheartedly imagine to be a part of your wedding entourage! I really wish you the best in life and that's including me (whether you like it or not) :-)

Sincerely yours,

KP

Where Have I Been Yesterday?

Since I wanted my holidays to be a little more productive, I decided to update some of my legal requirements/documents as an OFW.

PASSPORT RENEWAL
If your passport happens to be expiring within six months just like in my case, this is the right time for you to renew it. My passport will expire on 19 April 2010. Please bear in mind the importance of having a valid passports at all times. It is a requirement in all countries that passports must be valid for more than six months before they can allow you entry.

All countries are now issuing Machine Readable Passport in congruent to the new guidelines of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requiring all countries to issue Machine Readable Passports by 01 April 2010.

There was a message proliferated in the internet before that those having old green passports should renew/change to Machine Readable Passport (MDP) before 01 April 2010 based on this ICAO guideline. Good news to those who still have their old green passports for this is not true as cleared by our embassy.

The Philippine Embassy has issued an official statement regarding the wrong presumption/interpretation of the new ICAO guideline (as posted in the Bulletin Board of the Consulate Office in Dubai). In the statement, it was reiterated and confirmed that all the old green passports will still be valid and acceptable until their expiry dates.

@ Beirut St. Al Ghusais, Dubai UAE
i'm not lost here for this is my 3rd time in the consulate
(1st- a witness to civil wedding of a friend;
2nd-registered in absentee voting for 2010 national election)

the buillding of Philippine Consulate
you will not be lost as long as you open your eyes;
our national flag will lead you to it.

The Seal of Phil Consulate in Dubai @ the entrance

oopps, i was wrong timing. it was exactly 12pm when I arrived,

they're on lunch break. consulate office is open

from 8am to 5pm from Sunday to Thursday.

i have to wait for one hour. while waiting, i took
pics of my renewal application forms :-). i'd like to thank
the staff of our consulate for renewal processing is actually fast & in order,
it took only an hour or less. their staff are friendly and accomodating too!
(unlike the usual exasperating one whole day processing of any govt agencies in the Phils)

SSS Payment Contribution as an OFW
I was able to update my SSS contribution too! I have been in default since Nov 2005 (when I resigned to my company in the Phils and decided to go here in Dubai). Yesterday, I went to a Al Ghurair Exchange in Reef Mall (partner of SSS) to ask something about it. Though if you asked me what is the importance of updating SSS, i only have wild guesses. If ever I go back to Phils, I can be eligible for a loan?!! or as its name suggests, it will be like my social security. On a more higher lever, i can also somehow help our government funds their projects. :-). I think I need to do a further homework regarding this. Meantime, i'd considered this as my mission accomplished! At least I took the first step. :-)

inside Reef Mall
Did you see the security guard? He actually called my
attention telling me that pics are not allowed inside the mall,
only family pictures accdg to him. I told him I am alone, and asked
if he could he take my pictures instead. He laughed at me thinking
I was just joking. Of course, I was so serious. :-)


mission accomplished :-)

I'm on Holidays!!!

Ang bilis ng oras! Last day na ng one-week leave ko ngayon. Sa Sunday, papasok na ako. Eto ang kagandahan ng nagta-trabaho sa abroad. Pweding-pwede mong gamitin ang annual leave mo na 30 days. Naisip ko sa Pilipinas, hinding-hindi ko ito magagawa. Bukod sa laging overtime kami, isang mortal sin ang mag-take ng leave. Magi-guilty ka talaga pag ginawa mo yun.

Sa mahigit na tatlong taon kong pagta-trabaho ko sa isang kumpanya ng eroplano sa Pinas, mabibilang ang leave ko. Eto lang yung mga pagkakataon na kelangan ko talagang mag-leave dahil may nakasalalay na buhay. lol! In fairness to my previous company, convertible to cash naman ang mga leave namin. Pero grabeh, matuto ka talagang maging workaholic sa aming work lifestyle dun.

Buti na lang naging kaibigan ko sina JC, ID at PA dun. Tawag sa amin sa ofis F4, mahilig kaming mag-unwind pag feeling burn-out na kami sa work. Sila napuntahan lahat halos ng mga pasyalan sa buong Pinas, ako kasi si laging nagmamadali sa pag-uwi sa aming probinsiya kaya unti lang ang aking nasamahan. Sinabihan lang ako na hindi naman mawawala ang aming probinsya at mababalikan ko naman ulit ito. Ewan ko ba, parang feeling ko dati MTB (meant-to-be) kami ng aming probinsya at para dun lang talaga ako! hehe.. Nag-sink in sa akin ang advice nila. Simula noon nagustuhan ko na ding ang magpunta sa ibat-ibang lugar. Hindi yung gusto ko lang sa baryo lang namin ako mag-stay. Meron isang matanda noon sa baryo namin at sinabihan ako 'ikaw, you'll go into places..malayo ang mararating mo.'

Nagkatotoo ang kanyang sinabi. Nakarating ako sa Ilocos, Vigan, Banaue, Baguio, Manaoag, Hundred Islands, Subic, Bataan, Fontana, Eight Waves, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Bicol. Dahil may libre kaming airfare sa aming kumpanya noon, nakapasyal kaming F4 sa Cebu, Palawan, Roxas City at Boracay. Bumalik pa ako sa Boracay kasama ang nanay ko at isang tita bago ako nagpunta ng Dubai.

Takot ako sa dagat dahil hindi ako marunong lumangoy pero nung makarating ako ng Boracay. Grabeh, as in makakalimutan mo ang takot mo dahil sa sobrang ganda nito. You'll end up appreciating the beauty of it. Kaya highly recommended ko talaga ang Boracay sa mga kagaya kong takot sa dagat. Magandang therapy ito.

Nawala na ngang tuluyan ang takot ko, last May 2009 nagbakasyon kami ulit ng F4 (tatlo kaming nasa Dubai) sa Pinas, nagpunta naman kami sa Caramoan Island at sa Camsur. Nag-try kaming mag-wake boarding! Palakasan lang kami ng loob..hehe. Dumaan din kami sa Mayon Volcano. Ipinagpapatuloy lang namin ang aming sinimulan. :-)

Madami pa akong gustong puntahang lugar ngayon. Sa Pinas, next stop ko is Bohol naman (meron na akong ka-plano dito). Then going international na ako pagkatapos, plano kong ipasyal ang aking mahal na ina sa Hongkong sa darating kong bakasyon next year. Sana matuloy kami! (nanghihinayang kasi ang nanay ko sa gagastusin). Gusto ko ding makapasyal sa Singapore, Malaysia, China at Thailand. Dito sa Middle East, ipinapangako kong makakarating ako sa Egypt balang-araw! Wala pa sa plano kong makarating sa Europe! Nagtanong ako sa ofismeyt kong galing dun. Nagastos lang naman niya is mga AED40,000 or almost 5ooK sa pesos! Mahaba-habang pag-iipon ito!

Hala, i got carried away. Reality check, nandito pa din ako ngayon sa kwarto namin sa Dubai. Mag-isa dahil lahat nasa kani-kanilang trabaho. Kasalukuyang nasa harap ng laptop, nagsusulat at ini-enjoy ang nalalabing oras ng aking leave. :-)

The Calling

After I graduated from college, i took my review classes for the Board Exam at a Review School near UST. It was during this time that I became really close with God. I practically think of Him every minute and every second of the day wherever I am. I do not fail to attend the weekly masses. I also religiously attend a novena every Thursday at UST church.

It was also during this time when I felt I had this calling to serve Him fully. There was this voice encouraging me to become one of His servants as Sister. I think and pray about it. I seek His guidance. I did not actually come to a point of filing an application for i know He knows what are my desires at the time. I'd wanted to help my family in any way I can esp. in financial matter.

My barkada and friends were all left in astonishment when they learned about this story of mine. Maybe, they cannot just imagine me as being silent and tame. ( i was the leader of all 'loudness' in our barkada then). As for me, i continued to pray to Him to lead me wherever He wants me to be.

It turned out, He wants me to be here in Dubai. :-)

This song captures the current desire of my heart:

LORD I OFFER MY LIFE
Lord I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord i offer you my life

St. Mary's Church Dubai, UAE

inside St. Mary's Church

Thinking of My Kuya

My Kuya finally visited me here in Dubai! (Dubai is just a connecting flight to his destination). It was just a short visit though, for it was only for 2 days. We expected it to be longer. I'd planned to show him the beauty of Dubai and be his tour guide. I even took a one-week leave from office so we can tour Dubai together.
I have been counting the days for his coming. I diverted my attention to other things just to suppress my excitement. I don't want to be super excited over it. I was afraid it might not push thru or something unexpected might happen. A negative thinker, i know.
I was the one who arranged his visit visa package in Dubai. I was always keeping in touch with the agency & gave my kuya updates from time to time. I also asked my housemates if my kuya can stay with us. They told me they got no problem with that. Thanks housemates for a warm welcome to my Kuya!


Oct 24, 2009 Sat (Before his arrival)
I went to St. Mary's Church then I proceeded to Deira City Centre. I also went to Al Ghurair City Centre after that. I seldom shop things for me but since this is not an ordinary day, I decided to buy myself shoes. I'd wanted to kill time, I'd asked a friend who lives near the area to join me. We went to a carnival-like place just in front of Al Ghurair. I brought a digicam with me so expect some photoshoots. lol. (ang lakas ng trip!)

@carnival near Al Ghurair City

i did not omit the 'buy myself shoes' since evidence

is visible in the photo. :-)

That's Al Ghurair City in the background.


my kuya's 30,000 feet above the ground,
may he always be safe and sound.

waiting for a star to fall.

al rigga st. dubai, uae

photo taken at approx. 10 pm in the evening

(we headed home after this pic)

Oct 25, 2009 Sun (Arrival Date)

My Kuya's arrival time is 5:00 am in the morning. Since everyone's will be working this day, i'll be going to the airport alone. It's all okay with me. I find it more convenient and easier in Dubai to pick up someone from the airport. I could probably not do it (alone) in the Phils. I don't want to bug any of my friends who has a car for this so I just planned of getting a taxi. Taxis are everywhere at this time of the day. I was still awake at 3:00 am in the morning watching movie (The Taking of Pelham 123). I was waiting for the time to come but then without knowing it, i fell asleep. My friend JC knowing that my kuya is arriving on that day, just woke me up but at 6:00 am! I got up and hurriedly rushed to the airport. I ran as fast as I can to get a taxi. Oh my, it was a disaster. I hate being late! My Kuya saw me immediately at the Arrival Area. He's smiling upon seeing me. I'm safe. hehe.

Since he came from the Phils, he brought a lots of 'pasalubongs' from my family & friends. I was so touched by all these pasalubongs. Thanks so much!

my mother >>> one slacks, two blouses, my favorite laing ( 'hito' as filling), binagoongan, daing na tilapya, atchara, native chokolate...hmmm..yummy! salamat ma! :-)

my tita M >>> a big box of chicharon, the best in our town! sarapp!! thanks Tita M!

my cousin CS>>> bunch of dried fish..i'd never expected that this cousin of mine will ever remember me here, much more to send me something. He's my super tough cousin., currently a pnp chief of police in a town in Bataan. Thanks, CS! Babawi ako sa bakasyon ko!

my friend AP>>> thanks AP for the delicious longganisa ala hamonado. i was speechless, naalala mo ako. regards sa mga barkada natin.

But the the best pasalubong I had in Dubai is my Kuya! We had our bonding time together after such a long long time. He's only here for two days so my planned 'Tour Dubai' did not transpired. He's on a jet lag on the first day then he's leaving on the second day. But we were able to do a lot of things together. We went on-line and chatted with our mother back in the Phils. I saw my mom getting teary-eyed upon seeing me & my brother under one roof here in abroad. I'm sure, those were tears of joy. We went to Al Maya's Supermarket in Reef Mall. My Kuya is an adventurous one when it comes to food. He likes to try everything unfamiliar. He tried 'mutton' and fresh dates. He cooked the mutton himself. Surprisingly, we are not fighting over who's gonna wash the dishes because I am a changed person now. :-). I'd do everything for my Kuya. Proof is I cooked our food and washed our dishes wholeheartedly, without complaining. :-) (during our younger years, i always complain to my parents for these tasks are all mine; my kuya & youngest brother are responsible for the tasks outside the house my parents told me)

I played tour guide to my Kuya. We strolled to a nearby mall- Al Ghurair City. We experienced Dubai at Night. We sat outside a coffee shop observing different people in Dubai. We talked almost about everything and anything. We reminisced. We took some pics. (I've been meaning to post some of our pics together but there are no back pics!)

Oct 26, 2009 Mon (Departure Date)

It's really hard to say goodbye. Though i know and i am well aware that his visit is for a short time only, i can't help but to feel again the loneliness i've felt (when i left home for the first time). I will miss him so much. To you Kuya, take care always and i love you so much!

Blogging A Friend Blogger

I never knew this can be very difficult to me - that is to blog about this person.

I'd wanted to blog this friend of mine eversince I started blogging. He is the only blogger I personally know. He is somehow responsible why I finally went to public blogging despite so much hesitations. He is also the first person to know about my blogsite for he had helped me set-up my blog lay-out.

He definitely has a right to brag about his blog for he's a recognized blogger being a nominee to several Blog Awards. He's very committed to his blog. Blogging became a part of his life. But because of a pressing situation, he decided to temporarily stop blogging. While it is during this time that I'd started mine.

LOOKING BACK

I met this person in my 2nd company here in Dubai. I started in the company just a week ahead of him. I had a difficulty then to gel with my filipino officemates for they're already close with each other when I got in. I don't feel like there's a place for me to the group. Being both the newest, i felt like we're on the same boat.

If I remember it right, our friendship started with just a small conversation while walking home after office. Followed by countless exchange of opinions and ideas wherever we maybe. I was too happy for I found a new friend in him. I had always a good laugh when I'm with him. I find him so amusing.

Though I won't deny that there were also those days he had made me cry, knowingly and unknowingly (i can see my friends smiling to this statement). There was also a time, i'd thought of giving up on him, i felt like he's too much for me to handle. Glad, I didn't.

If you don't know him that much, you'll think he's not nice for there is an arrogance in his personality. He is often misunderstood. He keeps everything to himself. Even if he seems to have a problem bigger than we could ever imagine, he won't tell anyone.

I care so much about this person. Hope he knows that. He's probably the first person I'd given my full attention and affection here in Dubai (except for my original friends with me from Phils). I wish him only good things in life. I pray that he will soon find true happiness and peace. He's deserving of it.

PRESENT

As I think of it right now, I've missed a lot of opportunities because of our friendship. I'd somehow lost interest in meeting other people. My lovelife had been sacrificed. lol. But seriously, I really thank God, we're still friends after all this time.

Ooops, don't over-react with this, i am not blaming you. It just meant I enjoyed too much your company that I thought i was not missing anything. Besides, i trusted you enough. I know you will not think of me as less of a woman just because i am often seen in public with you.

I know sometimes i get so irritating, sorry for that. But sometimes, you're twice as much! :-) I just hope that despite all the troubles and problems we are facing, we will be able to maintain and be committed to this friendship.

Note: The author wishes that this particular blogpost would make her friend happy and smile once more. No violent reaction please. :-)