Goodbye, Hello

So much has happened this year which makes this year memorable for a lot. I can't really say it was a great year maybe even for a lot of people... If you think about it a lot of things have happened this year: middle east revolts, japan calamities, christchurch earthquakes, death of global figures, Sendong calamity, etc. Nat Geo supposedly has a special recounting the year that was which I have yet to watch.
For our family so much has happened that it comes close to ondoy probably. It was a difficult and challenging for us not just individually but collectively... It was a bad year with a lot of bad things happening. In spite of that, we managed, we survived and we're still here... The bad things were there for a reason and what matters is that He provides. So it's still all good.
Personally, it doesn't matter what I've been through, what my state is especially in certain aspects although career and love life wise I am really looking forward to be able to find my niche for the long term... I am coping and hoping. I am good, could be better or great but I am not complaining... In His time. I am glad though for the many blessings still and for the hope He gives to keep on going.
They say that the world will end on the year that is to come... For any of us it could be ending already or anytime soon. Nonetheless, I look forward to a better and greater 2012. As a colleague said, Goodbye 2011, you were harsh and challenging. Hello 2012, may you be kinder! ^_^

P.S. On a side note, these year-ender happenings made me feel glad and at peace. Just the right feeling to end and start another year. Thank you family and friends!

The planner is also en route to Finland, hope it gets there. The photoshop project was a success somehow despite the kinks which could of course be improved. I'd like to think the gifts were a success as well.. Giving does feel better! ^_^

Snap for a Tune: Indak

Indak
Up Dharma Down


Tatakbo at gagalaw
Mag-iisip kung dapat bang bumitaw
Kulang na lang, atakihin
Ang pag-hinga'y nabibitin

Ang dahilang alam mo na
Kahit ano pang sabihin nila
Tayong dalawa lamang ang makakaalam
Ngunit ako ngayo'y naguguluhan

Makikinig ba ako
Sa aking isip na dati pa namang magulo?
O iindak na lamang
Sa tibok ng puso mo

At aasahan ko na lamang na
Hindi mo aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasayaw
Habang nanonood siya...
Paalis at pabalik
May baong yakap at suklian ng halik
Mag-papaalam at mag-sisisi
Habang papiglas ka ako sayo ay tatabi

Tayong dalawa lamang ang nakaka-alam
Ngunit hindi na matanto kung sino nga ba ang pag-bibigyan ko
Makikinig nga ba sa isipan na alam ang wasto

Ngunit pipigilan ang pag-ibig nya na totoo

Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo
At aasahan ko hindi nya lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka

Ako'y Litong-lito
Tulungan niyo ako
Di ko na alam
Kung sino pang aking pagbibigyan o

Ayoko na ng ganito
Ako ay litong-lito ohwooh

Since my brother started listening to this, all of us at home including my mom has been hooked to this song. A really nice song that's easy on the ears while I try and finish this project for a friend if not this week at most next week. It's been long overdue and I need to make up for it. *fingers crossed

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

There's a certain warm fuzzy, light-hearted feeling that goes with Christmas most especially for us Filipinos. Just the thought and aura can bring some sort of cheer for me.
It's different though being reminded of it when you're away from home and alone. Christmas festivities and the energy every pinoy evokes hence the atmosphere is really different. Although I think I've also been out of the country with family twice on Christmas. To me it's just a joyous, peaceful celebration with friends and family.

Christmas in disneyland - well that's another thing. Makes you feel like a kid again. Such a happy place!

On another note: I haven't done any gift shopping yet though there's not really much to shop for. Guess my circle is not that big... Not really a good thing.

Diliman Engineering December Festivities

I miss college. One of the many things that added color to my college life was the December festivities in Diliman. For a start there's the engineering week catering to the competitive nature of the different eng'g accredited orgs. While we still had our share of exams that didn't stop us from enjoying all the different activities lined up from sports-oriented to talent oriented stuff. From the main events: smoker's night which was basically org-bashing, awitan, indakan, maskipaps, dateng'g game culminating with the Ms. Engg to all sorts of mini-games here and there (ex. Car stuffeng'g, breng'g me, command and conquer). There are enough activities to organize and participate in to keep everyone preoccupied. It was truly a time to be young, wild and carefree. Add the lantern parade and the oblation run and viola you have a free, festive atmosphere in Diliman which you can associate with Christmas.
Having been out of college since 6 years ago, I have this feeling of nostalgia. I miss that kind of feeling the Diliman Engineering 'Christmas' evokes. I won't be back this year but maybe next time...

The OAK Starbucks planner

12.14.2011. I finally got my first ever starbucks planner. And it's all thanks to option 2 and the 14 sticker promo! And the free stickers I got from friends who didn't collect. Yes, I am not a starbucks addict. I don't even drink coffee save for the cranberry white mocha frap that a friend just recently introduced me to. Even that was not love at first taste and took quite a few sips of getting used to. If not for the chamomile full leaf tea which, accounts for the most stickers in that 14 I contributed, I probably wouldn't have started collecting much more complete all 23 of them (option 2 required no holiday drinks but 23 stickers instead of the 17 option 1).
Though I love doodling, I'm still thinking whether I'll keep it or give it as a gift. To whom I don't even know yet.

Another clubbing Christmas Party

So it's that time of the year again where parties abound. Contrary to some my social calendar is actually quite open and I've already attended last night my only (I think) Christmas party. And as usual, for the third time in a row, I did not get to qualify for the raffle which was the main thing I looked forward to.
Since joining the company, I always ended up coming late after the cut-off and this year was no different. We were so close however. It took just one wrong turn along the service road to take us from a few kms away to more kms away back to edsa! Too bad! :( it was all good and since i'm actually used to it I got over it except for a few bitter rants here and there. When a teammate won the coveted ipad (what i was rooting for), I couldn't help but be envious! Haha oh well...
Nonetheless, we just made the most out of it. It was good that they got a band that played nicely and pumped up the crowd. They were aptly named, In heat, as they turned up the heat at the party. You could see that our team's population was heavily composed of males as most would end up staring at the band when they did their thing. 6-7 drinks later, I had too much gas inside, I struggled a bit. But their rum tasted nice. It took one burp and whatever buzz I was feeling was instantly gone.
I kind of wonder though, considering how we kind of had our own little circle as if we were having our own party, reflects how we've become isolated and outcasts from the team... Was there something in our airs our aura that repels them away and keep their distance? Does it still have something to do with the "pinagpala" thing? I am too offended with that to even bother to force myself to mingle.
Anyhow, we rested a bit and people watched at all the high heels, legs and skimpy outfits and pretty young things at opus while drinking at starbucks. It was more interesting looking at them ladies than guys (or for the lack of it). Makes you think, there are too many rich people in Manila! And we're not one of them. With that said, we re-entered republiq to milk our free entrance so we see and experience how they party. My conclusion, it's darn expensive to party there. You'd have to shell out prolly more than 2000 to get a buzz going. (more if your tolerance is high unlike me). I am starting to feel old for these kind of parties though and all the drinking makes me think of my body and health.
One other thing I realized, I think I have too much crass when I drink though haha yes, cRass..

The mean, manang and now also late girls haha

Some more grabbed pics (and a little vanity service):

What's in a name?

Or in this case, what's in a title? Sadly, it has some sort of bearing for me that I actually am ashamed to broadcast it in public whether on immigration forms or anywhere else. Internally, it's not a problem but the negative association with the title by some circles make me want to hide it. So much that I found myself hesitating several times from adding 'people' or connections in one 'professional networking' site. I have not added some of them still for fear of this bad judgement considering how nice sounding theirs are already. I know that it's different (somewhat) but sometimes it's just hard to have to explain. Still it kind of makes me think if I have been left behind...
The title I do want is still the same though - wife and mother. Hahaha kidding aside I really want... Oh well. Bahala na si batman!

Malabo lang

It hit me today. Internally, I am more relaxed when there's a constraint and hold back when there isn't. Externally, I hold back when something is stirring up inside than when there's none. A contradiction really. On the road to recovery. Nagising din!
Spell hopeless though. It's gotta change.