Pictures on the Wall

Others may not like the idea of putting collage photos on the wall especially inside your own room. But for me, I don’t care much about the idea of having a good room designs or ambience. I considered putting photos on the wall more interactive and refresh my minds because they remind me always of the wonderful moments I spent with the people, the places and occasions captured in those photos.

I displayed the pictures on the left side of my bed so I had the chance to view them at once before I close my eyes at night and by the time I wake up in the morning. Having someone to remember is pleasing enough to my heart. It doesn’t matter where they are now, as long as they are in my heart. These people inspire me and I am convinced that they love me for what I am.

Valentine's Night

valentine's night.

a joyful night filled with laughter, and randomness.

a time where laughter happened most.

took a step and shared the love.

good company on a special night.

nothing more there is to ask.

wishing time would stop just there.

thank u my valentine date.

seeing u smile made my day complete.

Intense love does not measure, it just gives.

Meant To Be.....

If it's meant to be, our hearts will find each other even when we are apart. And if our hearts melt together so will our bodies and soul. Then, every word and every touch will fuel our passion flame. I'll be yours, you'll be mine, and we'll be one till the end of time.

You know what happiness is?

You know what happiness is?

Its waking up in the middle of the night, shifting blankets and feeling the heat of the person next to you…

You turn around and you see the innocent state of that person…

You smile, kiss the face gently so as not to awake that person.

You turn around and a grin forms on your face…

Then you feel an arm wrapped around your waist…and you know it doesn’t get any better than this.

They Were Kids Before....

Time flies..but memories remain.

As we grow older, we tried to bring back the good memories and the people who had come along the way…Some stays…others are gone….

Nevertheless, bringing back the memories and remembering the people who, by circumstances and necessity, had separated from us, can make us contemplate on how, and where are they now.

I have soft-spots for kids until now. I had this feeling that whenever I am with young people, I feel I am rejuvenated. Iba ang pakiramdam pag kasama mo mga bata.. naglalaro.. nag aalaga…nagpapatulog..naglalambing…

Para sa akin, mas natutuwa ako pag kasama ko mga bata kasi kung ano ang pinapakita nila, yon ang totoo. Kung ano sasabihin sa iyo, galing sa puso nila. Ika nga, you learn honesty from them.

On my top list of the kids I missed so much, of course, my brother, nieces and nephews and cousins:

I was nine years old when my mother gave birth to a healthy boy. When me and my sister arrived from school, we took time para alagaan namin siya, maglalaro kami, minsan, kinukulit namin. It took four years bago ulit kami magkaroon ng kapatid. We were already in high school, pero andoon pa rin yong affection naming sa aming mga kapatid. As time went by, lumalaki na sila and my sister had already her own family. This time yong mga anak naman nila ang pinagtutunan naming ng pansin, lalo na ang parents ko.

I enjoyed spending my time with my nieces and nephews. Mas gusto ko pa ang makilaro sa kanila kaysa sa lumabas ng bahay.

When I finished my studies, it was time for me to be independent at mahiwalay sa kanila. I took job in Manila pero during vacation, umuuwi ako sa province kaya nakakasama ko sila once and a while. Of course as they grow older, hindi na katulad ng dati na puwede ko silang kargahin o maglaro kami gaya ng dati.

When I was in Manila, dahil sa sobra kong na mimiss ang pagkakaroon ng mga batang inaalagaan, I usually go to my neighbors and friends. Naghahanap ng mga bata.

It so happened that my friend has an aunt from the states who decided to live in Manila and became our neighbor. Tita Cel has 4 kids, Mark, Bianca (from her first husband) and Tracy and Patrick from Tito pat (a retired American navy).

Naging close kami lalo na yong mga anak niya.


I remember Mark Paul, the eldest who was 10 years old that time, usually stayed in our place. Palaging naghahanap ng pagkain, nanonood ng TV, at maglalambing, hihingi ng pera dahil bibili daw siya ng pagkain or anything sa tindahan. At his age, kahit medyo malaki na siya, still, sa akin para ko siyang kapatid na kung may kailangan, I was there palagi sa kanya. Not only ion material things, kundi sa lahat na puwede kung i-share as their tito. During his graduation sa elementary, I was there for him at tuwang-tuwa siya.


Si Bianca, 8 years old, medyo mahiyahin. Usually, pag pinapagalitan siya ng mommy niya, sa akin pumupunta. She is kind, malambing at magalang na bata. Walang reklamo lalo na pag may inuutos sa kanya. Tuwang-tuwa siya pag nasa bahay namin. Sinasama ko pag namamalengke kami.. tumutulong sa akin pag nagluluto..naglilinis ng bahay.

The other kids are Tracy, 4 years old and Patrick, 2 years old. They’re Tital Cel’s children to her second husband, Tito Pat.

At first, when they arrived, medyo hindi pa nakapag adjust yong dalawa, pero nang tumagal, nawala yong culture shock nila at naging at ease na sila. Dahil nga sa super cute silang pareho, nakakaliw silang alagaan.


Now after ten years that I haven’t seen them, I had the chance to know how they are doing now. Ibang-iba na kaysa sa dati. I cannot even hug and carry them like what I did before. Hindi na kami puwedeng maglaro, wala ng magsusumbong, wala ng mapipikon, at wala nang iiyak kapag may tantrums. Its only the memories that can be remembered at pag naaalala ko yon, natutuwa ako coz once in my life I feel much younger and happy during the time that we are together.

Down the Memoray Lane

While walking along the Timog Avenue, I stroll down memory lane and drop by some of my favorite places. But first, I scope out the area to see what’s new.

Before, parking was not a problem, but now, we have to ditch the wheels away from the place kung saan kami pupunta.

Food and entertainment now are never a problem in Morato and Timog Avenue. You can find restaurants, bars and entertainment venue till daybreak.

However, traffic and parking was (and still is) a pain in the ass especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

The area which we frequently visited 10 years ago was different now, everytime we go out with my friends noon, mas prefer talaga namin ang kahabaan ng Timog Avenue. Aside from being familiar with the place, malalapit ang mga places na gusto naming puntahan.

Honestly, I find myself getting sentimental while reminiscing the past. Ang dami kasing mga memorable experiences na nangyari sa akin at sa mga friends ko sa place na ito. But then when I look around, ibang-iba na ito kaysa sa dati.

Before, we used to go to Jailhouse Rock (now replaced by William's (?) billiard), Music Box, Gimik Bar, Padi’s Point, etc., then before we parted ways we took some good food sa Food Plaza katabi ng Lithauz, where we meet some of my friends working in bars. Then sabay-sabay na kaming umuuwi.

It was during that time na nakilala ko ang mga sing-along masters (who at that time hindi pa masyadong sikat) like Ate Gay, Patricia Ismael, Vice Ganda, Moymoy, Trissa and some celebrities also. Sa dami ng nakilala namin, it was Ferdie B., member of Glady’s and the Boxer, who was a regular host of JHR, ang naging ka-tropa namin. Magkakasama kami during weekends strolling, bar hopping and adventuring. It is also in this part of QC that I met my real friends who until now, ay buo pa rin eventhough we had lives of our own at may kanya-kanya nang buhay.



Sa pagpunta namin all together sa lugar na ito, ang sarap balikan ang mga tawanan, biruhan, kulitan, at tampuhan which made our friendship strong.

BONDING MOMENTS

Nothing could ever be more rewarding than to see your friends, especially yong mga natulungan mo, na masayang nagsama-sama at sabay-sabay na binabalikan ang mga nangyari noon.




After watching the Pacquiao-dela Hoya fight at SM, it was time to meet our SE Talents here in Manila. Halos lahat na tinawagan ko ay dumating coz they are all excited to see each other.

Gerald Mudlong, who is graduating next year, arrived first. He told me that he's doing well sa La Salle taking up ECE. No doubt, dahil sa talino niya, he's included in the Dean's List. He looks matured na kasi medyo nagdag-dag ng timbang.

Grace, at first, medyo nag aalangang pumunta kasi kailangan daw niyang bumili ng damit for their creative pictorial. Bu later on decided to come. And in a few minutes dumating nga siya. Laki ng pinagbago ni Grace after na mag break sila ni Josh. Now, she is more of a great single lady na ine-enjoy lahat ng pagiging single. She has changed to a strong, charming, more confident and beautiful lady.

Maya-maya dumating na rin sina Rev, Triss, Princess and Aja. They all look great and i'v seen that they adjust to the lifestyle in Manila. I was so grateful dahil they have been doing well in school at hindi sila nagpapadala sa mga bad influences and they grow up smarter than what i expected.


In a few minutes dumating sina Dave and Ryan. Dave looks thinner but Ryan gains much weight.

Edcor and Edzel arrived and we started to dine.


Medyo nahuli si Manay Tez coz galing pa siya sa Antipolo.

We finished our dinner at 8:30pm. Medyo bitin daw so they decided to go to Music 21 for more bonding moments. Lahat excited na mag bonding sa isang private place. Of course sa konting inuman, kantahan, food, etc., lahat naging sulit ang pagkikita-kita






During our bonding, nakita ko how they enjoy singing, drinking and cracking jokes. We ordered food kaya forget muna ang diyeta ng iba. At least after years of not seeing each other, kalimutan muna ang diyeta.

Edna arrived late kasi galing pa siya sa isang church choir practice. Edna changed a lot. Dati, mahiyain siya but now she has that confident na natutunan niya sa SE. She told me privately na nagkaroon siya ng tiwala sa sarili,sa pananamit, sa school participation, sa pakikitungo sa iba, all because of SE. Kaya ng malaman niya na gusto kong i-meet lahat, she made it sure na makakapunta siya.

We spent almost 3 hours na masayang masaya. How they wish daw na laging may magbabakasyon para laging mag-sama-sama.

First Play

December 6 - 6:00 pm

We proceed to YMCA Manila and met Quiambao's brothers Edcor and Edzel para maglaro ng badminton.

Excited kaming lahat since ang tagal na naming di nagkita simula noong mag college sila sa Manila.

Both are still wearing their school uniforms at laking tuwa nila ng makita ako. Nag kumustahan habang papasok kami ng YMCA. Maraming tao sa loob ng badminton court, mostly mga students. Dali-dali silang nagpalit ng damit at inumpisahan na maglaro. I am with my mother, brother andmy nephew - who played with us too.


Sa sobrang gigil sa laro (coz Edcor and me haven't played for almost 3 months), halos wala kaming pahinga. Inabot kami hanggang 10:00pm.

I asked the two to join us in a dinner at alam ko sabik na sila sa Arabian food so we went to Mister Kabab in West Avenue in QC para makatikim naman sila ng mga lutong na mi-miss nila.

"My Hollywood First"

Jeff from Batangas who works in "Hollywood".

Yesterday, December 5, was Lester's birthday so he had to go to Cavite to spend his special day with his family. Nauna na yong celebration namin few days ago. Kaya doon naman siya sa kanila this week-end.

Its Friday night so we have to paint the night red, ika nga. Dave and I decided to meet para gumimik.

By 9:00pm Dave fetched me at SM North Edsa and we proceed to a place called "Hollywood" somewhere in West Avenue QC. Actually, earlier, i called up Zami, a friend of Tita Evelyn who often go to Saudi for his export business. We're supposed to meet him at the Ultimate Bar in Avenida. While we were inside the Hollywood, Zami called up several times just to know what time are we coming to the bar.

Around 10:30pm, dinaanan namin si Mar sa Cubao para isama kina Zami. We arrived around 11:00pm sa Ultimate Bar. Pero dahil nga sa nasanay kami sa mga magagandang "watering holes" sa Timog, we find the place na para sa masa.

Umalis kami sa bar at around 1:00am and we proceed in Tomas Morato at Kalye Juan para kumain. The place was cool, kahit maliit, pero tambayan pala yon ng mga galing sa Call Center sa madaling araw. Kahit crowded na yong place, pero we were accommodated sa loob.

After we dined, hinatid ako ni Dave sa bahay a around 2:00am,pero pagkababa ko, may pahabol na sinabi si Dave, "Friend,ilang araw ka pa lang, tumaba ka na masyado!"

First Night Out

"My family boarding our van on their way to bus station."

After attending mass together with my family, asking for some guidance from the Lord and the encouragement of my friends here in Manila, naging madali ang pag ayos namin ng problema sa family. Now, we settled everything and make us more closer to each other.

My family returned to our province yesterday, except for my mom whom i promised to spend more time with her in Manila, and we decided to spend the season together with our relatives in the province. I'm going to our hometown next week at kasama ko ang mother ko pag-uwi.

After the relief, it was time for me to unwind with my closest friends. Kailangan ko rin na lumabas kasama sila to thank them for the friendship and the lost time i had with them.

Pagkatapos kong hinatid ang family to sa bus terminal, i called up Dave first para mag meet kami sa Gateway Cubao, but he told me na pumunta muna ako kay Mar, who lives malapit sa area. When I arrived at Mar's place, matagal kaming nag kuwentuhan and i found out that he is now managing female talents and has already put up his own house in Antipolo. I was so happy to see him succeed and live a bountiful life. After a few hours dumating si Dave, driving his car at dumiretso kami ng Steak Place sa Timog Ave. I was supposed to surprise Allan on his birthday sa Friday, pero hindi nakatiis si Dave na tawagan ito sa Cavite dahil may surprisa daw sa kanya. Sinabi ni Dave na kailangan siyang lumuwas kaagad ng Maynila. Dali-daling lumuwas si Allan dala ang kotse niya and in just an hour dumating siya sa Timog.

Hindi muna ako nagpakita sa kanya at laking gulat niya ng bigla na lang akong lumabas ng kotse. He was surprised to see me, we hugged ng matagal at dahil sa tuwa namin, hindi namin alam na nasa kalye pala kami with many people. He told me na hindi niya alam kung bakit hindi siya maka hindi kay Dave na lumuwas ng Maynila at kahit alanganing oras,bumiyahe siyang mag-isa from Cavite.



We proceeded to Music 21 at masaya kaming nag kumustahan,nag kuwentuhan at nag kantahan sa loob ng KTV room. We stayed until 3:00 a.m.

After that, umuwi na si Allan kasi my duty pa siya sa Children's Hospital at 6:00a.m. Dumaan kami ng Heartbeat para sunduin yong talent ni Mar at hinatid namin sila sa bahay nila. Dave and I went to his house para palitan yong dala niyang kotse ng kanyang bagong Trooper kasi balak naming dumiretso sa Antipolo para makita yong bahay ni Mar. Kapit bahay pala niya si Rosanna Roces. Dave told me that his house cost almost 12.5M, which he bought it few years ago for his family. I told him na sobrang swerte niya and he get back to me na dahil sa sobrang love niya sa family, especially to his mom, he was blessed. At his age, 28, nakabili na siya ng malaking bahay at may sarili ring condo unit.

Way back years ago, i saw Dave how he loves his mother, lahat ng paghihirap niya, para sa kanyang ina and his family. Totoo iyon, sabi ko. Kaya i advised him na patuloy niyang mamahalin ang family niya in the best way he can.

At kahit alanganing oras, he toured me sa loob ng bahay niya. Sobrang impressed ko sa ganda ng bahay niya. Last na pinakita sa akin yong room niya. It was so big, fully furnished, malinis at well-organized. He offered me his house pag wala daw akong matutuluyan. Ganoon kabait si Dave kaya naman super dooper love ko ang bestfriend ko na to, kahit matagal kaming di nagkita at successful na siya, still hindi pa rin siya nagbabago ng ugali. Napaka humble pa rin niya at hindi niya kami nakakalimutan.

When we go back, dinaanan ulit namin si Mar we had our breakfast in McDonald's at 5:00 a.m. Don kami inabot ng sunrise and we decided na wag nang tumuloy g Antipolo dahil na rin siguro sa sobrang nainom at antok na kaming lahat.

Hinatid nila ako sa Sauyo Q.C. and we parted at around 6:00a.m.

It was a real fun spending time with my long-time-no-see friends at talagang walang tigil ang kuwentuhan, saya and kumustahan. Just like my friends in Riyadh, hindi rin sila nakakalimot sa friendship namin. Although marami yong may mga family na at hindi na namin ma-contact, still we remain good friends kahit i am far from them.