BALLS of LIFE

... just wanted to share or say for me to keep :) 

Imagine  LIFE as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them: WORK, FAMILY, HEALTH, FRIENDS & SPIRIT and you are keeping all of them in the air.

You will soon understand that WORK is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. BUT the other four – FAMILY, HEALTH, FRIENDS & SPIRIT – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same.

…if you get the point, strive to balance everything in life.

Some thoughts to ponder:

---Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. Each      one of us is born special.

---Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only YOU know what is best for you.

---Don’t take things closest to your heart for granted.

---Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past & worrying for the future. Live one day at a time.

---Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

---Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.

---Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances we learn how to be brave.

---Don’t shut love out. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly.

---Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

---Don’t stop learning. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

---Don’t use time or word carelessly. Neither can be retrieved.

LIFE IS NOT A RACE BUT A JOURNEY TO SAVOUR EACH STEP OF THE WAY…

YESTERDAY IS HISTORY;

TOMORROW IS A MYSTERY; and

TODAY IS A GIFT, that’s why we call it “THE PRESENT.”

ang pre-PASKO sa PINAS

on a lighter note… 40 days na lang PASKO na! pero sa pinas, marked September 1 (ber month as they call it) Christmas na hehe. Radio stations & shopping malls were playing christmas songs all throughout the day.

…what makes PASKO sa PINAS different? daghan…      1) like on stoplights, street kids appear from nowhere singing christmas jingles. 2) on the side walks, lanterns (homemade parols) are displayed. 3) sa mga shopping malls, tanan baligya are all about christmas. 4) na’ay mga buta nga mgtukar gawas sa office…. ug uban pa

one time, i took jeepney on my way to ayalamall… when we were caught by red light in Mabolo-delaMontana, a kid jumped in and began his jingle. he sang a familiar song with a twist, lingaw kaayo ko hehehe

“maglipay kita, nganu man? niining panahona, nganu lage? kay natawo na si  Hesus nga manunubos. siya gidan-agan sa mga kabituonan…”

I wish I taped him singing para na-attach unta nako diri. Katawa pod unta mo apil hahaha.

I waited him to finish before I supposed to give him coins. but before he could finish the song, the lights turned green and the driver pulled the gear then accelerate. Nalooy ko sa bata, he should sing a shorter song I thought.

The next day, there was a blind old man with his small guitar singing (nangaroling) in front of our office. He sang another old (visayan) christmas song. Lingaw na sad ko and this time i didn’t wait him to finish. Murag 2nd line pa lang, i handed him the money na. sus! to my surprise, he stopped as soon as he got the money and left. whoooooooooaaaaah nadali ako ni manong!!!!

fun stories lang… 

...another SAD reality

hell, yes! the government is really doing something... but are they serious??? di yata nila alam ang priorities ng mga nasa pwesto. basta kung anu-ano lang. dapat bago lagyan ng computers with internet connection ang mga piitan, pag-gastusan muna nila ang LAHAT ng public schools. am i making sense? haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

meet my PHILIPPINES!!!

a typical Filipina as I am... nothing extra interesting about me. I am a proud Filipino. AND nothing makes me more proud when Filipino names are making BIG in other countries. The likes of Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, APL of BEP, Monique Lhuillier, etc. bring goosebumps in my skin every time they are mentioned in an international TV/press.


But just last month, as I ran through my twitter feeds, I felt very sad when i learnt about the World's Worst Airports, see here the list: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/worst-airports.htm#.TryjmfSInqH.

NOW, I'm not even sure if I am still a proud pinoy!


NAIA 1 was voted number 1... yes!!! number 1 jud... I can't attest to this since I haven't been in that terminal. I always fly via PAL in terminal 2. Reading the article, I really feel for the passengers. One said, "I lost my cellphone between the drop-off at the entrance and the security check! The phone was in my side pocket of my handbag and this side pocket was slashed with a sharp knife! I mentioned it to the PNP officer and referred me to the airport policeman. This guy has the guts to suggest that I go to the lost and found office and check if they found it. Long story short, he didn't even get my name and address to file a report and was just saying: ma'am there are many thieves in the airport. Just look after your belongings." hala!!! they were there and did nothing about it. These airport policemen should do something since their visibility is obviously not enough!!!

At kahapon lang, na-confirm pa ang negative image ng Terminal 1  http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/10-most-hated-airports-324645?page=0,1&hpt=itr_t1 Top 5 na pud ang NAIA 1. 

It is just so disappointing knowing that our Department of Tourism is very strong in its campaign on bringing in more & more tourists. How can we make tourists come back kung airport pa lang nakakaloka na! Airports are the first & last place to stop by in a trip.


And short enough after it has been posted.... here's another NICE (?) news. PHILIPPINES is the 4th in the world and top in Asia as WORST COUNTRY for BUSINESS according to CNBC. http://www.cnbc.com/id/45128939?slide=8  Wow!!! Consistent ang mahal kong Pilinas parating nasa top 10! Parang international beauty pageant lang.

1. Venezuela
2. Ukraine
3. Algeria
4. PHILIPPINES
5. Nigeria
6. India
7. Indonesia
8. Brazil
9. Russia
10. Argentina

Kakaiba ka Pilipinas!!! Ikaw na lang parati. But kidding aside, nakaka-disappoint lang talaga that even with all these negative images stoned on us, government has done nothing about it or may ginawa ba? It has been always said that we have to be proud being Filipino... nationalsm, nationalism, nationalism blah blah blah but how can we... receiving all these reviews every now and then. Our human resources are our best asset. Only very few personalities are bringing GLORY to this country... but the country itself, i doubt! 


Now, asking myself... am I still proud?

KYLE's story

... I was moved when i read the story and even cried towards the end, inspiring! hope it inspires you too :)
-----------------♥♥♥♥♥♥--------------♥♥♥♥♥♥-------------------

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.”

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up, and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So I jogged over to him, and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.” He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now. I would have never hung out with a private school kid before, but we talked all the way home, and I carried his books.

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He said yes.

We hung out all weekend, and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!” He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak.

On graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous. Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech, so I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach — but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.” I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. “Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth.


Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture, you can change a person’s life.

(By: Tina Azarcon Ankerman)

Z-I-N-G-A-P-O-R-A

.... this is a LOOOOOONG over due blog

short but memorable vacay in "no less" the lion country of Singapore. YES!!!! Singapore, it is! oh wow.... sossy haha

'Twas very memorable because of few my FIRSTs... my very first time to travel overseas (my passport got devirginized)... my first time to take CebuPac. I traveled with gorgeous cousin Rose a.k.a. "tayang," she's much sexier by that name hehehe. Anyway, we landed safely despite my nervousness (plane created unusual noise, sorry but i used to take PAL) close to midnight at Changi Airport. We were expecting Lai (my other cousin) to pick us up in the airport, surprisingly 2 of my colleagues, owen and toddy (SG based) were also there...

 

tayang-eric-lai-toddy-me (owen took the photo)

we drove to Pasir Ris (at Lai & Eric's place). very sweet of my cousin Lai who prepared food for us. We were talking 'til 3am as if we've not been talking for decades hahaha.

• FIRST DAY.... not to waste time, with only few hours of sleep, we got up early to have our tour in the heart of the city.... along ORCHARD.

public transport is very comfy (buses & MRT are using top-ups)

We did a lot of window shopping hahaha but in fairness, we bought something... I got sandals and tayang got a dress and sandals too which eventually we call 'em killer sandals. Lingaw kau mi, that whole day was spent walking in the streets of Orchard, the Ion, Merlion and the city hall (i think). for some time we were so tired and found ourselves sitting on the grass in barefoot... and still taking photos, enjoying every moment of it. On our way home, we were caught in rush hour, train was full and we had to bump elbow-to-elbow with hmmm smelly locals eewwww! 

 ...had our dinner across Novena Church (not sure of the exact place) with their famous chicken rice yum! yum!

• SECOND DAY.... chinese garden!!!!!!!!! AND we were in shorts, yes! these are some photos during our bonding with nature CHAAARRRR (actually lots lots of these coz we were/are picture addicts)

@MRT, we were the 1st few to ride
so we had all the liberty to take pictures

hehe we were buzzed for crossing the yellow line

murag wala'y ice cream sa pinas... see $1.00 sounds cheap but hell NO!

one more pose!!! tnx to self-timer

   

                    

Oooops! I had an unforgettable embarrassing experience with this train-top-up thing. Top-up is like a debit (prepaid) card used in public transport. Lai & Tayang were ahead of me chatting, when my turn to exit...the bar didn't roll. Gosh!!! the line was getting longer waiting for me to get thru. A lady came to tell me that i had to reload my card. Fortunate of me that i kept $10 in my pocket. aaaaarrrrghh!!!

mga emoterang FROGGIE!!!!

ang mga addict hahaha

...obviously we were enjoying, laugh like crazy ang trip. super lingaw, murag wala'y ugma :))))

yeah look!!! di na kaya mg-heels. this was on our way home whoahahaha
sa kakapoy!!! dinner @ the flat kay we were supposed to change then off to night safari
BUT after dinner, we realized that so much for the day and no power anymore yay!

• THIRD DAY.... the great SENTOSA ISLAND DAY. Since it's a Saturday, yehey... ERIC & OWEN were able to join us.   

We (AGAIN) started early. We met up with Eric in Vivo City. Get our tickets for the monorail ride bound to Sentosa Island. Here's some photo-freak proof... here are some crazy moments :)

AND the walk begins....

 

 ...that guy in green is OWEN ---> so hospitable to join us in our quick SG adventure. He is my colleague based in SG. He stayed with us the whole time and even sent us to airport on our way back to Philippines... 

hahaha full of moments! we start walking by the beach... murag wala'y beach sa ato??? but anyway-hiway, pwerte jud picture-picture bisan asa ka-landing thru the kindness of our good friend K.T. Lee a.k.a. Eric baby! hahaha felt like a star.... a lost star bwahahaha. oh yeah, we tried the cable car where the experience was breathtaking. 360 degrees view of entire Singapore. In short, no need to laag-laag coz practically we saw the entire country na weeeee

 ang mga picture-addict... bisan asa tugpa "posing" dayun bwahaha our photographer must be very quick too. he never failed to catch our moments! One of a kind ka talaga eric yay!

kuyaw kau oh! so natural, hublag na diay!!

......bisan unsa makit-an nga pwde kapatungan GOOOO!!!
......AND oh! flawless kau mi bwahahaha
......ooops! walang mo-palag arun di ma-nosebleed 

Oh SINGAPORE, i miss you!!!!!!!

bwahahahahahahaha!!!! some people even turned their heads on us pero keber! Nobody dared... kay deadma ra jud gihapon mi bwhahaha


FOURTH DAY (last)... that was when we visit my friend and tita in Woodlands. 

Dessa's family 'sbeen in SG for years, they are PRs. Dessa's bro, Delo sent pasalubong for them... pancit canton, peanut butter, etc. kay wala daw lami ang food sa SG. She also asked me to bring toys for Delo's kids. 

our last day... was just a chika day. after Woodlands, we went back straight to Lai's flat to continue our neverending chit-chat and our packing 101. AND ohhh I remember now... before we flew to SG, Toddy introduced this Indian guy (hehehe i can't even remember his name) to me online hmmm actually to US (JPanis Lads), not me alone. When he learnt that we were in SG, he went up to Pasir Ris from Jurong (end-to-end of SG). With due respect to the guy, nigawas baya ko for a while but I was just too uncomfortable of the thought and I stayed inside the room (ng-agwanta bisan init kau) and never got out until he decided to leave hahaha so rude of me!

so much memories that this room had witnessed!!!!

estoryaheeee hahaha

Y_O_U_R FACTS

.... i hope you are now smiling as I am, good day... gawin nati'ng LIGHT :)

saan na nga ba??? ^_^

.... ewan ko ba kung paano ngsimula, sa kalokohan at chikahan na madalas mgtambay sa kung saan. Isang barkada na kay saya. Laging me hawak na kung anu-ano! Konting udyok lamang ay kakanta na♫. Kay simple lamang ng buhay noon.

Oskie's despidida

San na nga ba, San na nga ba? San na nga ba napunta ang panahon? Saan na nga ba?Saan na nga ba? Saan na nga ba napunta ang panahon? 

jenn's b-day 2010

Sa kahit anong lakad tayo'y mgkasama, magkasabwat sa lahat ng kalokohan. Walang sekreto tayong tinatago Oh kay sarap ng samahang barkada... ♥♥♥

tayang's mañanita 2010

Ngunit biglang nagkawatak-watak na! Kanya-kanya na ang lakaran. Kahit minsanan na lang kung magkita, pagkakaibiga'y di nawala.

At kung saan napadpad ang ilan, nkaka-miss talaga ang dating samahan♥

Saan na nga ba? Saan na nga ba? Saan na nga ba napunta ang panahon? Saan na nga ba? Saan na nga ba? Saan na nga ba ang barkada ngayon? 

sol's b-day 2010

Kanya-kanyang sikap upang yumaman??? hahaha para guminhawa ang kinabukasan. Minsan-minsan kami'y mgkita-kita, mga naiwan at natira... at pipiliting kausapin ang iba sa chat.

Nojie's baby shower

Napakahirap malimutan, ang saya ng ating samahan. Kahit lumipas na ang  panahon, Magkakabarkada pa rin ngayon... magkaibigan... magkaibigan... magkaibigan...

....hmmm now listening to APO's Saan na nga ba, and i'm inspired to post this blog hehehe getting some lyrics from the song. i miss you fellas!!!!♥