if you will be describing filipinos, i think one of the adjectives that should be there is "romantic". i believe this. why else would valentine's day be a big event year in and year out? why else would the biggest music hits in the philippines be love songs? speaking of love songs, most of them talk about unrequited love or maybe, the grandness of love... how you would and could do anything for the one your heart beats for. one love song is different, however. (well, at least, this is the only one i know of). it talks about love but in a more realistic sense. probably because the songwriter is gary granada (an all-time favorite of mine). gary's songs have always captured what is real without sacrificing the content. i even think that being real, the meaning becomes more profound. here are the lyrics of the song:
=====
kapag sinabi ko sa iyo
gary granada
kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y minamahal
sana'y maunawaan mo na ako'y isang mortal
at di ko kayang abutin ang mga bituin at buwan
o di kaya ay sisirin perlas ng karagatan
kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y iniibig
sana'y maunawaan mo na ako'y taga-daigdig
kagaya ng karamihan, karaniwang karanasan
daladala kahit saan, pang-araw-araw na pasan
ako'y hindi romantiko, sa iyo'y di ko matitiyak
na pag ako'y kapiling mo kailanma'y di ka iiyak
ang magandang hinaharap sikapin nating maabot
ngunit kung di pa maganap, sana'y huwag mong ikalungkot
kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y sinisinta
sana'y yakapin mo akong bukas ang iyong mga mata
ang kayamanan kong dala ay pandama't kamalayan
na natutunan sa iba na nabighani sa bayan
halina't ating pandayin isang malayang daigdig
upang doon payabungin isang malayang pag-ibig
kapag sinabi ko sa iyo na ika'y sinusuyo
sana'y ibigin mo ako, kasama ang aking mundo
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
five minutes
there is one habit that i started more than four years ago... visiting the rainforest site. i was pestering all my friends to go and visit the site everyday as i did because i thought that this was something we could do to help with very little effort involved. this daily habit grew when they had the hunger site. this site gave food with every click a visitor makes. being in a country where a lot of poor and hungry people live, i thought it would be a great idea to visit this site as well. then they added the breast cancer site, which funds mammograms to women who could not afford one. now, they're targetting to fund 250 mammograms this month. the child health site helps provide for sick children --- the site recently turned one year old. and the animal rescue site provides food for animals in the shelter.
visiting these websites take less than five minutes everyday. and it gives me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction knowing i was part of something good. i may be funding just a cup of rice or 0.1 of a mammogram... i really don't know. but together with all the other people who visit the sites, i know we've made a difference. and isn't that what it's supposed to be about -- making a difference? :)
visiting these websites take less than five minutes everyday. and it gives me a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction knowing i was part of something good. i may be funding just a cup of rice or 0.1 of a mammogram... i really don't know. but together with all the other people who visit the sites, i know we've made a difference. and isn't that what it's supposed to be about -- making a difference? :)
Thursday, October 09, 2003
on cloud nine
being in love is probably one of the greatest things that could happen to you. moreso if the person you're in love with is in love with you as well. however, if you're not, the next best thing is to know someone who is. :)
here's to love and being in love!
here's to love and being in love!
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
reminiscing again
"tsong" is synonymous to friend. but over the years, this word has been more to me than that. this word pertains to a group of people that have been very special to me and who have made significant imprints in my life.
i remember...
*receiving the news that we passed the exam when we were in bulacan, in tita oj's reast house. i do believe, however, this time is more memorable to rose who broke her foot trying to catch a bus to cubao. or maybe to irish.. who had to carry rose around the house because of her broken foot. a true test of friendship. :)
*our first day (which rose sadly missed). pogs was wearing a pink long sleeved polo and could only be described as "mataray". bert deceived us all when he pretended to be quiet and shy. reno was the english-speaking person in the group and alvin was first preceived to be arrogant (who would not, if you say your nickname is inlav and not divulge anything?).
*our first gimik --- playing billiards and bowling. the guys were very much interested in playing billiards while we were getting sleepy. little did we know we would be loving the sport ourselves! thanks to bert for being my first "tutor" in this sport and to all my other senseis --- alvin, irish, kathy, art, andrew and neil. i am still looking forward to the day when i would beat neil fair and square. maybe in ten years' time. :)
*the time we went to batangas to attend our manager's wedding. we stayed in tita eva's house and played games until 4 am. i would always remember rumel gamely wearing a dress and dancing at the top of the table. hehehe!
*our first company outing -- in punta baluarte. greatly enjoyed watching the volleyball tournament where reno was the ever humble but undoubtedly the star player. i didn't mind losing to them. i have fond memoriers of erwin, creating those catchy cheers for their team, einstein in his winning form in the sack race, the late night conversation with vanny while everyone else was already sleeping and alvin waking everyone in the room. hehehe!
*los banos outing. we were greatly enjoying while the rest of the nation was in edsa, participating in the ousting of erap. we did watch, though. :) and the second outing being so memorable because of andrew trying to act out, "ano bang meron ka?" in charades and pogs singing april boy's "di ko kayang tanggapin". that was priceless!
*the time when we went to disneyland (irish and alvin, martha and bert and me!). me obviously being the fifth wheel. i distinctly remember we were pushing martha at bert to be a couple. little did we know they were seriously thinking about it. i still believe they just waited for me to go back to the philippines before they made their "formal" announcement. hehehe!
*the time when pogs, eden, erwin and i went to japan for a business trip. it was a great time eventhough we were up to our necks with work. it was all worth it come weekend when we would all get together for a dvd night or a trip to akihabara.
*all the coffee sessions in starbucks and seattle's best. we would frequent these places when we were excited, happy, sad or angry about something (or someone)... or sometimes just to have a caffeine boost.
*all the bowling and billiards tournaments and all the swimming sessions. we were half-crazy to swim in the cold but we did, anyway. :)
i could not even begin to imagine life without these people. we've been through a lot of really tough times and all i can say is that i am grateful to have survived it with them.
i remember...
*receiving the news that we passed the exam when we were in bulacan, in tita oj's reast house. i do believe, however, this time is more memorable to rose who broke her foot trying to catch a bus to cubao. or maybe to irish.. who had to carry rose around the house because of her broken foot. a true test of friendship. :)
*our first day (which rose sadly missed). pogs was wearing a pink long sleeved polo and could only be described as "mataray". bert deceived us all when he pretended to be quiet and shy. reno was the english-speaking person in the group and alvin was first preceived to be arrogant (who would not, if you say your nickname is inlav and not divulge anything?).
*our first gimik --- playing billiards and bowling. the guys were very much interested in playing billiards while we were getting sleepy. little did we know we would be loving the sport ourselves! thanks to bert for being my first "tutor" in this sport and to all my other senseis --- alvin, irish, kathy, art, andrew and neil. i am still looking forward to the day when i would beat neil fair and square. maybe in ten years' time. :)
*the time we went to batangas to attend our manager's wedding. we stayed in tita eva's house and played games until 4 am. i would always remember rumel gamely wearing a dress and dancing at the top of the table. hehehe!
*our first company outing -- in punta baluarte. greatly enjoyed watching the volleyball tournament where reno was the ever humble but undoubtedly the star player. i didn't mind losing to them. i have fond memoriers of erwin, creating those catchy cheers for their team, einstein in his winning form in the sack race, the late night conversation with vanny while everyone else was already sleeping and alvin waking everyone in the room. hehehe!
*los banos outing. we were greatly enjoying while the rest of the nation was in edsa, participating in the ousting of erap. we did watch, though. :) and the second outing being so memorable because of andrew trying to act out, "ano bang meron ka?" in charades and pogs singing april boy's "di ko kayang tanggapin". that was priceless!
*the time when we went to disneyland (irish and alvin, martha and bert and me!). me obviously being the fifth wheel. i distinctly remember we were pushing martha at bert to be a couple. little did we know they were seriously thinking about it. i still believe they just waited for me to go back to the philippines before they made their "formal" announcement. hehehe!
*the time when pogs, eden, erwin and i went to japan for a business trip. it was a great time eventhough we were up to our necks with work. it was all worth it come weekend when we would all get together for a dvd night or a trip to akihabara.
*all the coffee sessions in starbucks and seattle's best. we would frequent these places when we were excited, happy, sad or angry about something (or someone)... or sometimes just to have a caffeine boost.
*all the bowling and billiards tournaments and all the swimming sessions. we were half-crazy to swim in the cold but we did, anyway. :)
i could not even begin to imagine life without these people. we've been through a lot of really tough times and all i can say is that i am grateful to have survived it with them.
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
reminscing --- aots days
the second of my reminiscing trilogy. this would not encompass all the memories i have because of my aots training but then again i couldn't list everything here. so here's a gist of the wonderful times i had.
i remember...
*the time we went to japan for our aots training. i had the biggest luggage among the five of us (amil --- who was unfortunate enough to be the only guy, rose, hazel, irish and me). we were met at the narita airport by chino-san and miyasaka-san. their positions did not matter in the long run anyway because we made them carry our luggages for us. hehehe! by the time we arrived at yokohama kenshu center, we were so tired and were ready to give up. but we were so impressed with ykc, we were able to gather enough strength to go up to our rooms.
*our first "trip" outside ykc? to jusco! the only supermarket in the area, it was the single place we could go to by walking.
*our kenshuu ryokou. we went to nagoya, osaka and kyoto. we went to a lot of places including the kinkakuji temple, the osaka castle and the toyota showroom where we got to ride (but not drive) really cool cars! we also went to a buddhist temple where we met and talked with a monk. we went to a place where they made kimonos and created our own naturally-dyed handkerchiefs. the coolest part? we got to ride on the shinkansen... twice! i remember rose professing her undying love for it. hehehehe!
*the time we went to kikuta-sensei's house. we even got to see mt. fuji! we went there together with the whole class and we had a really good time eating, singing and playing dance revolution!
*the time we went to disneyland! we had to wake up at 4 am because we had to walk for an hour just to get to the train station. we didn't mind the long walk because we were too excited. we were like little kids when we got to disneyland! we went to all the rides we could go to and bought all the souvenirs we could afford. it was a dream come true!
*our first and only trip to sea paradise. it was irish's birthday and we decided to go there to celebrate. we arrived there with just enough time to ride the roller coaster and the blue fall. russel was the only one who went with us... and we loved him dearly for it. a few days later, we spent hours in rish's room just talking until the wee hours of the morning.
*christmas and the millenium together. we met at my apartment in shiojiri. we had christmas dinner with kuya ramon and some other aots friends. although cold, we were happy we were together. had coffee sessions everyday in different coffee shops and did shopping for winter clothes. amil, unfortunately, had to go through the ordeal with four women. hahaha!
*my first skiing trip. i went with kuya ferdie's group and even had to borrow a ski suit from my nihongo sensei. at the end of the day, i was the only one who was not able to learn how to ski. but i didn't care. i had a lot of fun in the snow!
*my trip around suwa and shiojiri. ate hye yoon and kuya ferdie planned a trip going around a nearby city. i still think it's a conspiracy between them to have me spend time with hatta-san.
*the barbecue party in shiojiri with amil's friends, the matsumoto boys, kyoden girls and the epson boys (from lipa). the kyoden girls became my really close friends. sadly, however, we were not able to keep in touch after my aots days.
*my last lunch with the japanese girls of epson. they prepared a special lunch for me --- a sushi box. when all others were eating cafeteria food, we were enjoying our beautiful bento. :) i was really touched by their gesture. we may not have been close because of the language barrier but we have become friends.
i still believe that my stay in ykc are the happiest six straight weeks of my life. and i have voltes v (what we call ourselves) and our aots friends to thank for it. special thanks also to kuya ferdie and ate hye yoon who have been like a family to me while i was in japan.
i remember...
*the time we went to japan for our aots training. i had the biggest luggage among the five of us (amil --- who was unfortunate enough to be the only guy, rose, hazel, irish and me). we were met at the narita airport by chino-san and miyasaka-san. their positions did not matter in the long run anyway because we made them carry our luggages for us. hehehe! by the time we arrived at yokohama kenshu center, we were so tired and were ready to give up. but we were so impressed with ykc, we were able to gather enough strength to go up to our rooms.
*our first "trip" outside ykc? to jusco! the only supermarket in the area, it was the single place we could go to by walking.
*our kenshuu ryokou. we went to nagoya, osaka and kyoto. we went to a lot of places including the kinkakuji temple, the osaka castle and the toyota showroom where we got to ride (but not drive) really cool cars! we also went to a buddhist temple where we met and talked with a monk. we went to a place where they made kimonos and created our own naturally-dyed handkerchiefs. the coolest part? we got to ride on the shinkansen... twice! i remember rose professing her undying love for it. hehehehe!
*the time we went to kikuta-sensei's house. we even got to see mt. fuji! we went there together with the whole class and we had a really good time eating, singing and playing dance revolution!
*the time we went to disneyland! we had to wake up at 4 am because we had to walk for an hour just to get to the train station. we didn't mind the long walk because we were too excited. we were like little kids when we got to disneyland! we went to all the rides we could go to and bought all the souvenirs we could afford. it was a dream come true!
*our first and only trip to sea paradise. it was irish's birthday and we decided to go there to celebrate. we arrived there with just enough time to ride the roller coaster and the blue fall. russel was the only one who went with us... and we loved him dearly for it. a few days later, we spent hours in rish's room just talking until the wee hours of the morning.
*christmas and the millenium together. we met at my apartment in shiojiri. we had christmas dinner with kuya ramon and some other aots friends. although cold, we were happy we were together. had coffee sessions everyday in different coffee shops and did shopping for winter clothes. amil, unfortunately, had to go through the ordeal with four women. hahaha!
*my first skiing trip. i went with kuya ferdie's group and even had to borrow a ski suit from my nihongo sensei. at the end of the day, i was the only one who was not able to learn how to ski. but i didn't care. i had a lot of fun in the snow!
*my trip around suwa and shiojiri. ate hye yoon and kuya ferdie planned a trip going around a nearby city. i still think it's a conspiracy between them to have me spend time with hatta-san.
*the barbecue party in shiojiri with amil's friends, the matsumoto boys, kyoden girls and the epson boys (from lipa). the kyoden girls became my really close friends. sadly, however, we were not able to keep in touch after my aots days.
*my last lunch with the japanese girls of epson. they prepared a special lunch for me --- a sushi box. when all others were eating cafeteria food, we were enjoying our beautiful bento. :) i was really touched by their gesture. we may not have been close because of the language barrier but we have become friends.
i still believe that my stay in ykc are the happiest six straight weeks of my life. and i have voltes v (what we call ourselves) and our aots friends to thank for it. special thanks also to kuya ferdie and ate hye yoon who have been like a family to me while i was in japan.
Friday, October 03, 2003
reminiscing --- college days
my past two entries have been about remembering. i've decided to add to them and reminisce about the good times and some not-so-good ones. i don't know how many entries i would be alotting for this but i am making this my first.
i remember...
*the time when i enrolled in UP for my first semester in college. i didn't know what block to choose until i saw jenp lining up for G9 and decided to enlist for the same block. at least, i thought, i would know someone from the very first day. little did i know that would be one of the best decisions i ever made. college became so memorable and a lot of fun because of my G9 blockmates!
*my first day in college. i went with ate and stayed in their tambayan in econ. we were playing cards and were enjoying so much i was almost late for class. i had to run so fast and up 10 flights of stairs (got lost twice -- 3 floors each) until i finally arrived at our classroom. lo and behold! it was a roomfull of guys (and a just a handful of girls). i was so shy then, i didn't know what to say to my seatmate. the handful of girls became an advantage, however, because we had an instant barkada! (i distinctly remember it was rona who first called me by my new nickname... kat)
*the time i was depressed because of my grades. it was buboy who gave me encouragement and advice that time. he said that maybe it was time for me to think about what i want. if i do decide to shift to another course, it would not mean that i would become a lesser person. and i if i do decide to stay, that they were there to help me through. i still have that letter with me.
*our block parties. we always had them at carl's home. we haven't left college then but we were having reunions already. :)
*our ERG days. i still believe that ERG was the starting point of our college barkada. memorable moments were talent shows, EEE days and engineering weeks. one of the most memorable times was when we went to makati during marc's birthday.
*the time when we had a "drinking session" in tia maria's. myn, jenp and i just decided to go and have a drink. that was the time when we were the only girls (plus ginia who we missed dearly then) who didn't have boyfriends in our barkada. hahaha! guess who's the only one left now? :)
*overnights at NEC because of our thesis. i was actually just playing x-boing during that time, serving as the cheerleader for aids, loklok and jen. we would sometimes go out at dawn to buy some food -- with ginia and aids doing a duet from the fourth floor.
*the time i decided to be a USC volunteer because i had a crush on somebody in the council. the stupid reason did me good because i met a lot of friends, did my share of community service and was the starting point of my "political career". my memorable people in the USC? barry, perci, jing, germy, sally, ryan, mel, cielo, glenn and leah. miss you guys!
*my ESC days. there might be times when there was political rivalry in the upper levels of the council but where we were, we were all happy. the most memorable times for me were our planning sem in taytay (i distinctly remember dhoyz singing and playing a mean guitar) and the swimming session we had in los banos (would never forget the sharing session along with a shot of tequila). there were so many happy memories and a lot of special people that i remember because of ESC.
*the time when i had a huge fight with joel u. it was probably one of the worst misunderstandings i had with a friend. we eventually patched things up (thank goodness!). i was so touched when he chose me to be one of those who would speak about him during his graduation party. "pearl jam" will always be one special person to all of us. hehehe! ;)
*"kilig" moments with my crushes. only my friends know who they are. hahahaha! :) to you guys, thanks for the inspiration. :)
*graduation. my only claim to fame? i am the first proclaimed female graduate of computer engineering from UP. (it just so happened that my surname comes before jen)
there are a million more memories that would make me smile when i think of them. and special people that would always have a place in my heart. i've always said that my college days were some of the best years of my life. and since my life is still intertwined with those of the friends i've made then, i know that i would still have more wonderful memories to come. :)
i remember...
*the time when i enrolled in UP for my first semester in college. i didn't know what block to choose until i saw jenp lining up for G9 and decided to enlist for the same block. at least, i thought, i would know someone from the very first day. little did i know that would be one of the best decisions i ever made. college became so memorable and a lot of fun because of my G9 blockmates!
*my first day in college. i went with ate and stayed in their tambayan in econ. we were playing cards and were enjoying so much i was almost late for class. i had to run so fast and up 10 flights of stairs (got lost twice -- 3 floors each) until i finally arrived at our classroom. lo and behold! it was a roomfull of guys (and a just a handful of girls). i was so shy then, i didn't know what to say to my seatmate. the handful of girls became an advantage, however, because we had an instant barkada! (i distinctly remember it was rona who first called me by my new nickname... kat)
*the time i was depressed because of my grades. it was buboy who gave me encouragement and advice that time. he said that maybe it was time for me to think about what i want. if i do decide to shift to another course, it would not mean that i would become a lesser person. and i if i do decide to stay, that they were there to help me through. i still have that letter with me.
*our block parties. we always had them at carl's home. we haven't left college then but we were having reunions already. :)
*our ERG days. i still believe that ERG was the starting point of our college barkada. memorable moments were talent shows, EEE days and engineering weeks. one of the most memorable times was when we went to makati during marc's birthday.
*the time when we had a "drinking session" in tia maria's. myn, jenp and i just decided to go and have a drink. that was the time when we were the only girls (plus ginia who we missed dearly then) who didn't have boyfriends in our barkada. hahaha! guess who's the only one left now? :)
*overnights at NEC because of our thesis. i was actually just playing x-boing during that time, serving as the cheerleader for aids, loklok and jen. we would sometimes go out at dawn to buy some food -- with ginia and aids doing a duet from the fourth floor.
*the time i decided to be a USC volunteer because i had a crush on somebody in the council. the stupid reason did me good because i met a lot of friends, did my share of community service and was the starting point of my "political career". my memorable people in the USC? barry, perci, jing, germy, sally, ryan, mel, cielo, glenn and leah. miss you guys!
*my ESC days. there might be times when there was political rivalry in the upper levels of the council but where we were, we were all happy. the most memorable times for me were our planning sem in taytay (i distinctly remember dhoyz singing and playing a mean guitar) and the swimming session we had in los banos (would never forget the sharing session along with a shot of tequila). there were so many happy memories and a lot of special people that i remember because of ESC.
*the time when i had a huge fight with joel u. it was probably one of the worst misunderstandings i had with a friend. we eventually patched things up (thank goodness!). i was so touched when he chose me to be one of those who would speak about him during his graduation party. "pearl jam" will always be one special person to all of us. hehehe! ;)
*"kilig" moments with my crushes. only my friends know who they are. hahahaha! :) to you guys, thanks for the inspiration. :)
*graduation. my only claim to fame? i am the first proclaimed female graduate of computer engineering from UP. (it just so happened that my surname comes before jen)
there are a million more memories that would make me smile when i think of them. and special people that would always have a place in my heart. i've always said that my college days were some of the best years of my life. and since my life is still intertwined with those of the friends i've made then, i know that i would still have more wonderful memories to come. :)
sometimes you have no choice...
i was watching tv (as i usually do when i stay in my hotel room) when i saw this advertisement asking donations for an alzheimer's disease foundation. i could not define what this disease is. all i know is that somehow, your memory gets impaired and soon you forget almost everything. i know. because my grandmother died of this.
tears still fall from my eyes everytime i think of alzheimer's and inay (that's how we call our maternal grandmother). even that simple tv advertisement made me cry. it might sound stupid or too melodramatic for some but i believe those who have been affected by alzheimer's know what i am talking about.
some studies say that alzheimer's may be genetic. so it's possible for me to have it, as well. karla and i once joked that we feel we are the ones that would be having it in the family. i just hope that in case it would happen to me, my future husband and kids will take care of me the same way inay was cared for.
tears still fall from my eyes everytime i think of alzheimer's and inay (that's how we call our maternal grandmother). even that simple tv advertisement made me cry. it might sound stupid or too melodramatic for some but i believe those who have been affected by alzheimer's know what i am talking about.
some studies say that alzheimer's may be genetic. so it's possible for me to have it, as well. karla and i once joked that we feel we are the ones that would be having it in the family. i just hope that in case it would happen to me, my future husband and kids will take care of me the same way inay was cared for.
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