It's been a while since I attempted to document my thoughts. It's partly because I'm so busy. That's why I've come to like Twitter. It's made for lazy bloggers like me. Haha.

But apart from being busy, it's hard to write when you are feeling so many things all at once. I just don't know where to start. The last time I blogged, I wrote about the passing of a friend. Two months later (and I just realized that when I saw the date on my laptop), life has gone on as it should, but I still have my moments. Moments that I still try to understand the why's. I still don't have the answers, I don't think I ever will, but I ask anyway. It's still hard for me to look at your pictures - so full of life, smiling and sparkling. And the other night, during our company Christmas party, I couldn't help but think of you. I knew you would have rocked that night. Well, I guess nothing beats rocking with angels up there.

Thanksgiving was a couple of days ago, and I know I have so many things to be thankful for. No, make that so many people to be thankful for. In spite of the many sad and bad things happening around me, life is still good. God is still good, as he always is. I have a man who is patient and loving, although sometimes a handful, but I'm quite one myself, and he's not complaining :) I have my family, and I love them with all my heart. And I have my friends who give color and excitement to my existence.

I thank God for heroes like Kuya Ef aka Efren Penaflorida, and the others like him who are selfless and wonderful. I feel so inadequate yet also inspired to be better because of them.

I'm also thankful for my career and opportunities. In a parallel universe, it's perfect because I don't have hormonal imbalance or insomnia.

I'm thankful because I am able to travel and experience cultures and places with awe and wonder. In that parallel universe, travelling is all I do, and I will conquer the world, one city at a time :)

Among all things, I'm simply thankful that while I have things I can look forward to, I have my today.

Labels: crush, R, thanksgiving

To a very sweet and kind soul, now you are truly an angel. How I wish you could have spent more time with us, but I guess the Big Boss has other plans for you. I'm not yet sure I know how to say goodbye, but know that I'm happy that you're now at peace and without pain. You'll forever be in my heart... Till next time, dearie. I love you.

Labels: crush, friends, goodbye

It's only been slightly more than a year since my crush declaration for you. Haha, I'm sure you'll get a good laugh out of it if you ever found out. Don't worry, I'm much more blessed having you as a friend now, than you were as my distant crush. You are one of a kind. Cute (o sige na nga, guapo). Intelligent. Charming. Sweet. And that is why so many people love you. 

Labels: crush, friends, prayer

Mistakes can't be undone. And that's even truer when you make that mistake in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a tourist haven. If you know where to go, you can get good deals on most of the things in your "wish list". But while the country is safe and convenient, it also does not have pricing regulations, which makes consumers very vulnerable. I know every country has their version of shady characters, and tourist traps. What's amazing in HK is that these shops looks very legit. Back home, I know a legit shop from a shady one. There, unless you have done very thorough research, or you've been had one too many, then you might never know.

As for me, I learned the hard way. Experience is the best teacher, they say. It's also very costly. I wouldn't go through the details of our traumatic experience but I want to share my learnings, nevertheless :

1) The very basic tip whenever you go on a trip is to research, research, research. That's what Google is for. I can make an excuse and say I was too busy to do any preparations for this trip, but then, see #2.

2) If you're too busy to do any prior reseach, then don't do something impulsive when you have little or no knowledge about what you're going to do. Or buy. In Hong Kong, most shops don't have a return or exchange policy. Once you hand them that plastic or paper, then it's gone for good. There's no going back.

3) Beware of heavily discounted items or too many "freebies". An old wise man said, "if you're being offered too many freebies, then the shop is definitely making money on something else". True that.

4) If you're in TST area, stay away from shops with neon lights that light up even during day time. If you see the words "TAX FREE" displayed anywhere in the shop, RUN! Don't even try and ask any of their "sales" persons. These people are cons. And they're very very good. If this was a restaurant service, you would even give them a tip. They are that crafty.

5) If you want some tourist guidance, call the Hong Kong Tourism board. They also have an office near the Star Ferry terminal. They are very helpful and that extra call will save you money and energy in the long run.

So, like I said, mistakes can't be undone. But I hope somehow preventing more people from making the same mistake will be karma enough for those scammers.

Labels: con artists, hong kong, scam

A little more than a year since she was diagnosed with colon cancer, former president Cory Aquino passed away in the company of her loved ones, and perhaps being welcomed by the love of her life. Her death has affected millions of Filipinos, if not all Filipinos, and some say, it has united us in a time where everything is just going wrong. Oil prices have shoot up again @ P40/liter. Elections is looming closely, and with it, tons of road improvement and what have you, obviously a ploy of local officials to be "remembered" for what they have done for their constituents. And then we have a president and her cronies, who apparently dined luxuriously abroad, while millions back home die hungry. Her assets have grown exponentially - @ 2000% + since she was elected as senator. One would wonder, with a salary of P45000, where has this all come from? Or do we wonder?

At home, the family is growing restless over the management of our schools. With both my parents in retirement age, and none of my sisters wanting to take over, we may need to close shop. At least one of them. R's brother, who was diagnosed with tumor, has been out of work for 1 year due to therapy. He's been rushed to the hospital this weekend, and apparently, the stress and distress has gotten to him. R on the other hand, has decided to be with me, and figure out where we're headed, practically jobless for 4 months or so. And yet, amidst all this, my mind is set on continuing to explore the world and enjoy life. And sometimes I think I have too much going on in my life, and I should feel guilty. It's almost overindulgent. Not as overindulgent as a P20,000 USD dinner tab. But still, perhaps, a bit too much.

And maybe that's why we've iconicized President Aquino, because she has reminded us about our humanity and frailty, and she showed us humility amidst power. In our weakness, we need heroes to keep our faith alive, and for us to remember goodness and simplicity. She reminded us in her death, that families, till the very end, are real treasures. And if Kris said, the Filipinos are worth it, our families, are also well worth it. They are worth every stress, reflection and sacrifice, and of course, they are worth all the love we can give.

Labels: cory aquino, life, R

The world almost stopped when a music icon passed on a couple of weeks ago. All of a sudden, everyone only had kind words to say, much unlike when he was alive. I guess in a way, those who ridiculed and mocked him felt guilty about his passing. For it seemed his tragic life had ultimately led him to an untimely death. People saw him self-destruct and yet no one who knew him did enough to save him. Where was all the love when he needed it the most?

Labels: life, michael jackson

I was in my sister's house last weekend when she first told me about Influenza A. She is a doctor who doesn't believe in medicine, so her prognosis was really bad. While I didn't totally dismiss her, I told myself not to panic. I remember during the SARS outbreak, the news made it seem like the world was going to end. I was in the U.S. at that time for a work assignment, and since it was worse in Asia, I didn't really feel the panic nor the fear. Now, with this new viral strain, it seems that medicines and surgical masks are selling like pancakes (or Manny Pacquiao's tickets??:)), and people are just really scared. The really really of this matter is that we have to be healthy by eating right, exercising and all that. Medicines do not guarantee cure.

With that said, I might just be screwed. With my schedule, I sometimes only eat 1 decent meal a day, and the rest I power myself with coffee, chocolate, or junk food. Working in a call center has really taken its toll on me and my body. So that leaves exercise. And for me choosing between sleep and exercise is a no-brainer. So like I said, I'm screwed.

And what about global warming? The constant change in weather is not only making summer a "blah" instead of "blast", but it's giving me more migraine than normal. Sigh. My 6 yo nephew, who is super smart, was matter-of-factly telling me that global warming will make the world end someday and it means people will die, but a new world will be created. And the thing is, he was right on the money. Not only does it seem like earth is close to its expiration date, we are accelerating the journey.

Gah. This is too serious for a 3AM blog. But then again, what am I talking about? I work at nights. It's been 2 years now. I'm supposed to be in my serious mode at this hour.

2 years. It seems so short but life in Call centers is really similar to dog life. 14 years. YEah, definitely feel like it's been that long. Don't get me wrong, I love my work. And I love that opportunities just keep coming along. Plus I heard something that my old manager was cooking up something for me, and I feel good about it, because if anything else, it was a vote of confidence. But the life -- it's just not normal. My body is reacting to it in more negative ways than I can ever count. And sometimes, my humanity kicks in. I get tired. And want to go away.

Can't wait for August. HK is in the works. And then September it's touring Palawan (Coron, Puerto Princesa).

Labels: global warming, influenza a, life