A few days ago, I was sitting on a chair ( monobloc plastic chair) while answering a crossword puzzle in a newspaper. I started to feel like the chair's making a creaking noise. Blaaaaaaag! The chair collapsed and the legs splintering into pieces. I am glad nothing bad happened to me. Yes, you read it right! I am perfectly fine. The poor chair looked so vulnerable and broken. Everyone's laughing at me. Waaaaaaaah! =(
My mother came over and asked me, "anak, okay ka lang?" I said,"ma, okay lang ako. ung upuan ang mukhang di okay."And then my brother said, "ate, ang dami mo ng upuan na nasisira ah."Waaaaaah! I said, "eto na ang simula ng pagbabago...magda-diet na talaga ako!"
Obviously, this incident calls for a drastic move to lose weight. Whew!
It's been ages since I started my diet plan (only in my mind!) hahaha =) The first thing that came into my mind, I want to enroll into a gym to try and lose some weight. Pero naisip ko naman kakapagod yun! hehehe =) On second thought, I will just ask my friends for some diet tips in order to lose weight. But I know myself better. Knowing what you want ( gusto pumayat) and knowing what you can do (wala akong will power gawin ang gusto ko) are two entirely different things. Mahirap talaga! =)
Three years ago today, I only weigh 121 lbs when I was working in First Sumiden. I left First Sumiden then joined Calamba Doctors' Hospital. In CDH, I started to gain weight~ from welterweight to heavyweight. Boxer kuno? Pwede!!! Sabe nga ni Dr. Alcantara, "dapat idemanda mo ang CDH" I said, "bakit naman po?" And he told me, "kasi pinalaki ka ng ganyan." As of today, I weigh around 163 lbs. Well, 42 lbs is quite a lot of gain, db? =)
Naisip ko, "balang araw...papayat din ako!" I am bound and determined to lose weight... I'll do it whatever it takes! It's now or never! =)
In this Halloween season, I am reminded of a family tradition.
As far as I can recall, my family did cemetery trips on the 1st day of November, every year. All Saints' Day is November 1 of each year. I am just wondering why families flocked to the cemeteries on November 1st, which is actually All Saints’ Day, with All Souls’ Day occurring on November 2.
There must be a good explanation for this. So come tomorrow, November 1st, we will still be visiting the graves of our departed loved ones. =)
Last night, I went out to watch Till My Heartaches End with my girl friends. Before we bought our tickets, we went grocery shopping. We bought lotsa food to munch on while watching. =)
Who does movie marathon without junk foods, right? Picnic galore! hahaha =))
Now, let's talk about the movie. Watching Till My Heartaches End is watching Agnes (Kim Chui) emotional roller coaster ride. Agnes knows the painful truth she needs to hear but doesn’t want to, she acts
like she does but she ends up hoping to get Powie (Gerald Anderson) back again. But she never did...
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Let me quote the synopsis of the movie as released by Star Cinema:
“It’s about adults and them growing up and breaking up. It’s about growing up and moving on.”
Paolo “Powie” Barredo (Gerald Anderson) is out to prove to the world that he is not just a son out of wedlock, but that he can succeed in life independently. Though he started out roughly, he soon picked up pace and climbed the ladder of success. But as things started falling into place, other important things in his life had to take a backseat as he experienced the thrill of finally achieving his goal.
Agnes Garcia (Kim Chiu) has always longed for the time when her family will finally be complete again. At the young age of 6, her parents left the country to work abroad – her mother was a medical technician in America, while her father worked as an engineer n Riyadh. Despite the distance, Agnes held tight to the inevitability that she will reunite with her parents once again when she passes the nursing exam and applies to work in the States.
The moment these two saw each other at the café, they couldn’t take their eyes off each other. Their attraction was apparent and it seemed that destiny brought them together. As they got to know the other better, they found solace and comfort in each other’s company. But the security they found in each other soon started to shake when their different life paths take them to different directions. Despite the love they both still have for each other, one must choose to decide when to let go, even if the other is still holding on.
Watch the trailer:
After the movie, we went to our respective homes. It was an amazing movie date, made even more amazing by great friends. =)
yummmmmmy!
As soon as I arrived home, I raided our fridge and saw an ice cream in the freezer. I had several scoops of Strawberry flavored ice cream in a tall glass. What a way to end the day! Whew! =)
Yesterday morning, I was on my way to LPN agency to withdraw my other documents. As soon as I arrived in the agency, my phone rang. I spoke with the person on the phone. I got really excited by what she said about... secreeeet!!! hahaha =)
Indeed, life is full of surprises! Maybe, just maybe, fate and destiny do play a part in my life. Hmmmm... =)
On the other hand, I have a greater belief that God brings people and events into my life for a reason.
He has a greater plan for my life. =)
It is often said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". What appears beautiful to one person may seem ugly or not so beautiful to another. Just by looking at these pictures, I never thought that an ugly duckling would turned into a beautiful swan. (grabeeee...ang kapal ng mukha! eto kagandahan ng may sariling blog site) hehehe... Well, it is evident if you look at the pictures below... the evolution of my face! =)
I believe in prayer. It's the best way we have to draw strength from heaven. ~Josephine Baker
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I have many dreams that I want to pursue. It has always been my dream to work abroad. My dream to work abroad stemmed from circumstances & childhood dream.
Six months ago, I received an e-mail from an online recruitment agency. They told me that I have been pre-selected to work as Ultrasound Technologist in Saudi Arabia. I will be working for a well-known private hospital. Yipeee! I got really excited. =)
I went to the agency and gave them all the necessary documents. After going through a long and difficult interview procedure, I got the contract offer. I underwent a thorough medical examination including x-rays, urinalysis...all kinds of tests. In a span of one and a half month, I've completed the requirements and I'm ready to go! They told me to wait for the release of my working visa. Then weeks passed, I did not receive any call or text message. So, I called and spoke with the secretary, and was told to wait for the employer advice. I waited and waited, and the working visa did not come through. I personally went to the agency to ask about the job offered to me. They told me to wait for the employer advice. Again?!? As usual, I agreed to wait for their call probably by next week or the week after next week. But two months passed, they grew silent. Silence for the past 2 months made me anxious. I made several visits to the recruitment agency. They were giving me the same reason for the past six months.
I should have realized then, I don't have potential work abroad just yet. I decided to pull out my documents & retract the job offer. I just grew tired of it. I think I've had enough already. I have waited six long months without a definite answer. Since I need a job overseas, I can't wait for them to make up their minds
and lose other potential jobs. =(
I've realized that my dream of working abroad remains to be an elusive dream. And yes, I've gone through really tough times because of that dream. Tough times will always be there, and yet I never question God. I believe that one should never question God's will. I learned from my failures and become a stronger & better person. I even read an article that says "Failure is not God's rejection but God's redirection." =)
It is by prayer that I seek God's guidance. I am keeping my faith in God. I know God has a wonderful plan for my life. God cares for me in the best way. God will direct me in the best road. God will never leave me empty. It is so wonderful to have such wonderful God! =)
Now, everything is slowly but surely falling into place... *keeping my fingers crossed*
I am so excited to see where my life is going to take me. Life is a journey, indeed!
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."~ Matthew 7:14
Today, I've read in the newspaper that the movie, Till My Hearts Aches End, which is topbilled by Gerald Anderson & Kim Chiu, got the inspiration from (500) Days of Summer. I've watched that movie a few times already. I'm just a fan of the movie. It’s easy to identify either with Summer or Tom. =)
Narrator: This is a story of boy meets girl. The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New
Jersey, grew up believing that he'd never truly be happy until the day
he met the one. This belief stemmed from early exposure to sad British
pop music and a total misreading of the movie 'The Graduate'. The
girl, Summer Finn of Shinnecock, Michigan, did not share this belief.
Since the disintegration of her parent's marriage she'd only love two
things. The first was her long dark hair. The second was how easily she
could cut it off and not feel a thing. Tom meets Summer on January 8th.
He knows almost immediately she is who he has been searching for. This
is a story of boy meets girl, but you should know upfront, this is not
a love story...This is a story about LOVE! ♥
If you have not seen the movie yet, discontinue reading this blog. Warning: There are spoilers in this blog... =)
The movie is about Tom Hansen and Summer Finn. Tom was in love with Summer. Summer does not believe in true love, and does not want a boyfriend. Despite of her belief, Summer and Tom became really close, and started hanging out. The movie showed what is happening in their lives from day 1, day 87, day 114, etc, especially when Tom confronted Summer to ask what's the real scorebetween them? Summer said, "we're friends." Tom got irritated and pissed off. They were friends, and yet they've been dating for months. They have sex. They tell each other stories they haven't told anyone.
Summer told him, they should not put label on their relationship as long as they're enjoying each other's company. Tom could not believe what he just heard. In a struggle between himself & Summer, Tom agreed to continue with theirundefined relationship.
Seven or eight months has passed (I even kept on counting the months passed while watching), many conflicts tore their relationship apart. They would always argue over petty things. Those things they used to do together that they found amusing, is not amusing anymore. Summer grows more distant from Tom.
Until finally, Summer said they should stop seeing each other. "You're still my best friend," she told him.
Tom was devastated; and he find it hard to accept their current situation. He suffered from depression, and his work was greatly affected. People were telling him to get over her. And Tom told them, "I don't wanna get over her, I want to win her back."
The saddest part of the story is~~his plans of winning Summer back never happened. People were telling him to stop reminiscing of the happy and sweet memories they have shared together. Tom's friends advised him to look back and think of the painful things that Summer gave him instead.
And then, a few weeks after they stopped seeing each other, he found out (sobrang spoiler na talaga ito) -- she was getting married to another guy. After few weeks of being separated, she was getting married to another guy!
Tom became even more depressed. He doesn't come out of house. He became bitter about love. But eventually, he managed to crawl back from the pits of depression. Because of Summer, he did what he always wanted to do. He followed his dream. Tom decided to return to his original field and applied for architecture jobs.
On day 488, they saw each other, and they talk. He asked her,"why it happened?" Before she didn't want to be his girlfriend but now, she's someone else's wife. And she answered, "it just happened."
Summer:I woke up one morning and I just knew.
Tom:Knew what?
Summer:What I was never sure of with you.
Twelve days later, Tom attended a job interview and met a girl who is also applying for the same job. Tom asked her to have coffee
with him afterwards. He asked her for her name, and she replied, "Autumn"... =)
Watch the trailer:
This is a very well crafted romantic movie. This movie mirror real-life situation. We all tend to remember the good times. We all tend to build moments that then let us down.
The most important lesson imparted by this film~~ You have to challenge yourself to find positive learnings that will remedy you to get over a failed relationship. These positive learnings will help you to find a longer and happier relationship next time. Just keep in mind, there is still hope. *wink*
Enchanted Kingdom 1st Asian Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition
I, together with my friends, was very excited to witness the Grand Finals of the 1st Enchanted Kingdom Asian Sky Wizardry Fireworks Competition. It was already past 7 pm when we arrived at Enchanted Kingdom. I've noticed that park areas were crowded with cars and there's a long queue of people waiting to buy tickets at the entrance area. We haven't taken our dinner yet, so we bought foods to fill our empty stomachs. It would surely be nice to watch fireworks display with a full stomach. hehehe! =) We have decided just to stay outside since we can also see the fireworks up above the sky. Tipid pa, db? =)
We were informed that there were seven competitors that night. As it turned out, there were only six competitors (three local and three foreign), which showcased their products and creativity. We patiently waited for each competitor's fireworks display. Both local and international finalists showcased their creativity,
artistry and ingenuity with pyrotechnics and music as their individual
10-minute display of fireworks displayed a spectacular feast to
the eyes. The heavens and the skies served as their canvas. We looked up into the sky in awe of the bright lights and dazzling colors.It was a truly magical experience that we will always remember.
As soon as we finished watching the fireworks display, we decided to hang out at Paseo de Sta. Rosa. It is the best place to hang out in Laguna. Also, Paseo de Sta. Rosa is a hands down pick in terms of restaurant choices. Other notable restaurants in Paseo are Brothers Burger, Café Breton,
Yellow Cab Pizza, Shakey’s, Razon’s, Cabalen and Pancake House. Of course
Jollibee Foods Corporation can’t resist putting up branches there of
its flagship fast-food chain Jollibee, as well as Chowking and Greenwich. We pig out at Jollibee and Greenwich just to end our gastronomic cravings. (grabeeeee...di pa sapat ung mga kinain sa food stalls na nasa labas lang ng Enchanted Kingdom...hahaha) =))
After pigging out, we looked for a nice place to unwind where we can enjoy live music. Chill & Relax!
all the single ladies...di kasali si rose kaya asa kabilang table, katabi ng asawa! hehehe
tanduay ice alcomix para sa amin ni ailyn...san mig light naman para kay jen...
KUNG FU MASTER...KUNG FU-MULUTAN! =)
TANDUAY ICE ALCOMIX...para ka lang uminom ng juice! =)
I am a certified KUNG FU master. The best KUNG FU-MULUTAN! hahaha =)) My best friends can attest to that. I consumed only 1 bottle of alcoholic drink. But, I really enjoyed it soooo much. So, if you're looking for the smooth kick of a triple-distilled spirit with
the zest of citrus flavours, then maybe you should try this new
beverage. The reason? TANDUAY ICE ALCOMIX is one smooth 5% alcoholic beverage
that's so easy to drink because of its smooth kick and refreshing
taste. And it's also easy on the pocket! (mag-promote ba?!) hehehe =)
uwuin na! yipeeee! =)
We were told that liquor ban will be implemented exactly 12 midnight. My friends and I headed back to our respective homes. It was a fun-filled night out with my best friends...magic lives on...more apt term is "friendship that lives on"! ♥
Today is Local Election Day! Non-working holiday! Yeeeea! =)
Well, I did not exercise my right to vote in exchange for a chance to finish another Asianovela story. I've been glued to my computer all week long~ certified Asianovela addict! hehehe... =)
My mother borrowed my new lady watch to match her black blouse. I handed her the lady watch. Then the whole family went out to vote.
I continued to watch the Taiwanese story titled "Summer x Summer" at www.mysoju.com. After 2 hours of being stuck in front of the computer, I suddenly felt sleepy because of a moderately cold weather. Zzzzzzzzz... (-_-)
I was awakened by the sound of my mother & Jack (youngest brother) having a loud conversation. They were talking about Jack's newly bought shoes at SM Calamba City branch. And then, my mother approached me, handed me a two-tone jewelry set. Whoa! I was really surprised! *eyes widened in joy* I was so elated. *smile that reaches ear to ear* I am so lucky to have such a caring, loving, and THOUGHTFUL mother. ^___^
Look! There's a photo of each jewelry item... =)
hugis puso... ♥
love it! ♥
ganda noh? ♥
Well, here's the highlight of today's story...it really made my day!
The last part of our conversation... ♥
Mama Carmen: "Anak, ang ganda noh?"
Jha: "Ma, ita-try ko na 'to...bagay na bagay sa bago kong relo! Yehey!"
Mama Carmen: "Anak, may kasalanan nga pala ako..."
Jha:"Ha?!?" *esep esep*
Mama Carmen: "Naiwala ko ung black metal cover ng relo mo..."
Jha: "waaaaaahhhhh..kaya pala may bago akong mga alahas kc "pansuhol"... waaaaaah"
Jack: "hahahaha! Ang galing ni Mama noh?! hahahaha"
And we all burst into laughter! PANALO! hahaha =))
My Tita Idelita gave me an early Christmas gift. It's a beautiful and stylish lady watch by Ricardo. I love it so much because it comes with different colored straps. I can wear different color for every day of the week. I just love how straps can make a difference. A precious gift of "time", indeed! Yeeeea! =)
I am a self-confessed Asianovela addict most especially Korean & Taiwanese stories. I so love Jang Geun Suk (Korean) & Jerry Yan (Taiwanese). I cannot tell how many sleepless nights I’ve spent just watching Asian stories. My current favorites are Down with Love and You’re Beautiful. I have watched these stories at www.mysoju.com. It is an online site for Korean, Taiwanese, Japanese & Mainland drama addicts. I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to Apez Javier for giving me this wonderful online site. Now, I am contemplating a visit to Taiwan & South Korea to get a glimpse of my favorite actors… *kilig to the bones*
Here are the summaries of my current Asianovela favorites provided by
www.mysoju.com…
Korean kilig-drama: You're Beautiful (2009)
The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted
on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung's
(Jang Geun Suk) voice was
hurting. However, the new member, Mi Nam (Park Shin Hye), had to go to the States to repair a
botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the
idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu (also played by Park Shin Hye), to stand in for him and pretend that
she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who
was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn't want to spoil
her brother's chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother...
Taiwanese Love Story: Down with Love (2010)
Xiang Yu Ping (Jerry Yan), an expert divorce and inheritance lawyer, is
seen by others as cold, selfish, and ruthless. After Yu-ping’s older brother
dies in a car accident he has little choice in taking in his brother's two
orphaned children, Fei and Ting. Every nanny he hires to care for them is
either scared off by the mischievous children or ends up falling in love with
him. Fed up, Yu Ping asks his secretary, Yang Duo (Kelly Huang), to find a nanny that meets
his requirements. Having lost all their wealth when their mother passed away
and being abandoned by their father after racking up heavy debts; Yang Duo cannot
ignore the fact that she needs the money and recommends her younger sister,
Yang Guo (Ella Chen) , for the job; assuring Yu Ping that her tomboyish sister will not fall
in love with him by lying that she does not like men at all.
"It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace."
-- Christopher Morley
my loving lola viring... (1930-2010)
Two days ago, I've lost one of the most important people in my life. My grandma loved her family with all her heart. I missed all of the wonderful memories of a quiet, kind, caring soul who was there to serve everyone's needs. I know God put her in a better place right now. ='(
Today, I decided to delete old e-mails on my yahoo account. E-mails were starting to pile up because I get dozens, if not hundreds, of e-mails a day. Also, I deleted my e-mails from the sent items folder. I saw an old e-mail, and to my surprise, it was an e-mail sent to AM. I started re-reading the contents of my letter to him. I can't believe I wrote this one. Maybe, it was an outpouring of emotions which led me to write an emotional letter to the man I once loved...
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AM,
Kung anuman ang naging desisyon mo ay iginagalang ko. Maraming salamat sa mga panahon at oras na inilaan mo sa akin at sa pamilya ko. Ang buong panahon na pinagsamahan nating dalawa ay pinapahalagahan ko pa din hanggang ngayon. Sapagkat ang bawat oras, araw, buwan at maraming taon na pinagsamahan natin ay mas madami ang mga masasayang oras kumpara sa sama ng loob na naramdaman ko mula sa iyo. Kung ako man ay nakapagbigay din ng sama ng loob, sakit ng ulo, patawarin mo din ako. Iisipin ko na lang ang nangyari sa ating relasyon ngayon ay isang istorya na hindi nagtapos na maligaya. Hangad ko din ang iyong kaligayahan.
Sana ingatan at pagtibayan mo ang relasyon mo ngayon. Sana maging matatag ka na ngayon at wag mo siyang sasaktan. AM, wag kang mag-alalala kc ang pamilya mo ay ituturing ko pa din pamilya ko dahil wala silang pinakitang masama sa akin. Napaiyak din kanina ang ate mo ng malaman nya na hindi na ako ang magiging parte ng pamilya ninyo. Nakaramdam ako ng sense of relief ng malaman ko ang katotohanan mula sa iyo. Yun lang naman hinihiling ko, salamat sa pagtupad mo. Don't worry, mahal kita bilang kaibigan na lang din. Madami din dumadating sa akin temptasyon noon pero pinigilan ko. Noon, may mga panahon na nararamdaman ko na may pagkakataon na maaring mahulog ang loob ko sa iba pero di ko magawa dahil nakakahigit pa din ang pagmamahal ko sa iyo.
Ngayon, handa na akong humarap sa mundo ng wala ka sa buhay ko... God bless & Ingat!
Jha
* After reading the e-mail, I copy pasted it here in my blog site then click on the delete button.*
I love to watch cooking shows like Iron Chef & Rachael Ray. I have been wanting to cook any dish on my own. So, I raided our fridge looking for stuff to cook. Voila! I found eggplants stored in the fridge. With Mr. Google's help, I was able to find a simple recipe online...it is worth a try! =)
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Ingredients:
5 cup diced eggplant, cut in 1 1/2-inch cubes
Salt to taste
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Procedure:
1.Spread eggplant on paper toweling and sprinkle with salt.
2. Let drain for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
3. In a non-stick skillet, fry eggplant in oil until brown and set aside.
4. In a small saucepan, simmer soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and pepper for 5 minutes.
5. Add eggplant, cover and cook over low heat for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
God's love as a healing presence in the world is growing stronger daily. This song reminds me of the presence of God's healing hands as I struggle to overcome the storms of life with dignity and faith. ♥
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HEALING
(Deniece Williams)
Now that we have gotten through
One more fall
I can just admit I've got it all
Cause I do
Cause I've got you
We've crossed these battle lines to many times
It passes throught the heart
But it never leaves a mark
Cause Your love just keeps on healing me
No matter how I bruise
If I just trust You
Your love just keeps on healing me
One more clue
One more chance that wasnt there before
In your arms
no pain can harm the way im feeling
Lord I know that Your love is healing
I've kicked around those lines in my head
But I've never listened to the words that You said
See where its lead
Well I know I have it now
Cause You showed me how
And all I had to do
Was just to keep my eyes on You
Cause Your love just keeps on healing me
No matter how I bruise
If I just trust You
Your love just keeps on healing me
One more clue
One more chance that wasnt there before
In your arms
no pain can harm the way im feeling
Lord I know that Your love is healing
(break)
Cause Your love just keeps on healing me
No matter how I bruise
If I just trust You
Your love just keeps on healing me
One more clue
One more chance that wasnt there before
In your arms
no pain can harm the way im feeling
I recently attended the funeral service of my friend's mother. I heard one of the most touching songs being played as I was watching Nanay Aba in her coffin, Paano Kita Mapasasalamatan, a song where they fully expressed their gratitude to the most important woman to whom they were deeply indebted. But then again, I realized that we can never really thank our mothers enough for everything they've done for us... for giving us the most precious gift called LIFE!
Nanay Aba (1937-2010)
PAANO KITA MAPAPASALAMATAN
(Kuh Ledesma)
♫♫ Paano kita mapasasalamatan
Sa puso mong sa âkin ibinigay
Ngayon lamang ako nagmahal nang tunay
Sa tanang aking buhay
Sapat na ba na ako ay mangako
Mananatili ka dito sa aking puso
Paano kita mapasasalamatan
Sapat na bang mahalin lang kita
Magpakailanpaman... ♫♫
♫♫ Ngayon lamang ako nagmahal ng tunay
Sa tanang aking buhay
Sapat na ba na ako ay mangako
Mananatili ka dito sa 'king puso
Paano kita mapasasalamatan
Sapat na bang mahalin lang kita
Magpakailan man...♫♫
