Dream Of Me

10 years from now...

...i'll be 50,000 pesos richer.




Ikaw naman kasi. Sa dinami-dami ng puwede mong ipusta sa akin, dun ka pa sa siguradong talo ka.

Alam ko, masamang magsalita ng tapos pero sa puntong ito, lalagyan ko ng tuldok ang sasabihin ko.

HINDI MANGYAYARI YUN. <-- kita mo yun, may tuldok?!

Kahit maghanap ka pa ng kakampi, gumawa ng lahat ng paraan, at kahit daanin mo pa sa dahas...

HINDI MANGYAYARI YUN. <-- kita mo, may tuldok ulet?!

Ngayon pa lang, pag-aralan mo nang tanggapin na talo ka na.

Mag-ipon ka na rin ng pera :)

Sayang, kung sa ibang bagay ka pumusta, baka manalo ka pa...

The Love Factor

I had a very sensible and lengthy discussion last night with 2 of my male friends. The topic was about my current civil status. Both of them were very much concerned with my current situation. You see, I'll be turning 30 this coming April, yet I haven't experienced how it is to love and be loved by someone from the opposite sex. As for me, I haven't really done some serious thinking about being single for life...until these two individuals braved their way to finally confront me with the issue.

According to them, there are four factors that contribute to my current situation:

Factor #1: My credentials are "too high"

A woman of character, independent, smart, talented, born-leader, sensible, perfectionist. These are some of the words that they use to describe me. According to my friend, I am a threat to any man. Well, I don't think so. As far as I am concerned, I am willing to submit myself to a man who's worth it.


Factor #2: I'm too tied up with my work and extra-curricular activities

Absolutely. Take a look at my weekly sked last year; I stay late in the office every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have rehearsals on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I have an entirely busy Sunday. Now tell me, where can I squeeze him in? Singing and teaching the choir are two things that I really love to do. I just couldn't imagine myself not conducting rehearsals or not singing for an entire week! It's my life. Besides, I still have nobody to "bequeath the throne" to. However, after some serious thinking, I can perhaps change it a bit so I could spend more time for myself.


Factor #3: I have a high-standard when it comes to men

Who wouldn't want a gallant knight in shining armor? Unfortunately, he doesn't exist. Not in this lifetime, honey. And I know that for a fact. To get things straight, my criterion is simple: he is should be someone who will love and understand me despite my weakness and shortcomings.


Factor #4: I am afraid of falling in love with the wrong person

Alright, I admit. I want to experience how it is to love and be loved in return but I certainly don’t want to be hurt in the process. I'm too idealistic when it comes to matters of the heart. Blame it on my perfectionist side.


Later on that night, I received a text message from one of my 2 male friends. It says:

"Assuming that you died in that accident, do you think the music ministry will die with you? God has given you not just another chance to live but also a chance to change the direction of your life according to God’s best plans for you."


And that really struck me.

New Year Get-Together

SPSM Batch '89 had a get-together dinner at Gerry's Grill, Glorietta...Jules, a former batchmate was here for a two-week vacation...

Of course, the night was filled with so much reminiscing, fun, and yes, pictures!


In front of Gerry's Grill


With Julina at Greebelt 3

Happy Birthday, Elay!

Happy birthday, Elay!

May true love and happiness find you and may it fill you with all of life's vibrant colors!

Cheers!

2005...the year that was

2005...a year filled with so many things:


Realizations...
"Nothing in life is more important than God and your family and friends."

"Anyone that means something to you-you should spend time with them and let them know how much they mean to you as often as you can."


Lessons Learned...
"Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level."

"Life is short and we have a very limited time. Always make the most of each day and never forget to tell those you love that you love them."

"Don't expect anything if you don't want to get hurt in the end."


Metamorphosis...
"Reach higher, and you'll attain more. Expect more of yourself, and those expectations will soon become your reality. Each day provides ample opportunity for improvement. So expect to improve. And you will."


Letting go...
"If you’re holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to LET IT GO!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains...LET IT GO!
If someone can’t treat you right, love you back and see your worth...LET IT GO!"

Indeed, 2005 has been a good year.




Thank you, Lord for giving me the chance to welcome 2006 and to look forward to what lies ahead of me...

Year-End Stint

For the second time, we were invited to sing at Rockwell's Thanksgiving Mass last December 31, 10pm. Everybody was in their element that night...maganda ang kanta...ikaw ba naman ang ilagay sa elevated platform, pag di ka nagperform ng maayos!

...yun nga lang nagmistulang replay ang misa ng gabing iyon...lalu na ang homily...ang kwento ng anniversary thanksgiving mass sa Bureau of Customs...ang blessing ng isang ektaryang factory...ang offertory parade sa isang misa sa MegaMall kung saan nakakuha si Father ng 35 baskets na pinamigay nya sa mga madre sa isang kumbento sa Quezon City...at ang mga madre na lubhang nasiyahan sa itlog, este, balot!...at ang free advertisement ng 2006 planner na may daily Gospel reflection na ang proceeds ay mapupunta sa mga seminarista ng Society of St. Paul...

...kahit parang kami'y nasa deja vu ng mga sandaling iyon, maganda pa ring pakinggan ang gist ng homily ni Father...

"This New Year, don't thank God for giving you more blessings while others have less, instead, thank Him for the countless ways you've been a blessing to other people during the past year."

"It's nice when your prayers are answered, but wouldn't it be nicer if you'll be the answer to someone else's prayer?"

That night, i'm pretty sure, the Rockwell Management felt a whole lot better since what they gave us is indeed an answer to our prayers...thank you so much!

Nightmare Before Christmas

Too many unfortunate events happened the night before Christmas:

- last minute problem at Poweplant
- emotional burden
- last minute rush (na talagang kinawindang ng mundo ko!)
- stress brought about by the recent church activities which resulted to: slight fever, colds, and severe headache

Hindi ito pelikula...totoong buhay ito...sa tagal ng career ko sa choir, ngayon lang nagkaganito...ayoko mag-elaborate...basta, it was indeed a NIGHTMARE...

Buti na lang masaya kami sa picture...

At The Coro

Last night was the start of Simbang Gabi...at sa coro kami kumanta!



Actually, di na bago sa akin ang pagkanta sa coro. I've sang and have conducted the choir at the coro for a couple of times, mostly during special liturgucal celebrations. What really makes it quite exciting this time is the fact that it'll be the first time that we will be singing in our new home, our permanent location, in the church. Yes, wala na ang mga araw na di kami magkanda-ugaga para lang pagkasyahin ang aming mga katawan sa gawing kanan ng altar ng simbahan...ewan ko ba naman kasi sa naka-isip nito...eh, ang pagkakatanda ko, tinanggal na sa Vatican II ang pag-awit ng mga manganganta at choir sa coro...kung bakit ba naman kasi...tsk,tsk,tsk...

Mixed emotions ang feeling the Youth choir kagabi: may excited, may nahilo dahil sa paikut-ikot na hagdan, at may natakot (I see dead people!)...generally, maganda ang kanta namin...binagayan ang aming bagong uniform...pero, later on that night, we had a small talk with Derps, sabi nya, ayaw nya sa coro kami kumanta...feeling daw nya, nawalan sya ng pamilya...

How sad :(

Kami rin po, para rin kaming nawalan ng pamilya...gone are the days na magi-greet at makaka-kwentuhan mo yung mga lectors, commentators, mother butlers, and eucharistic ministers dun sa sacristy...suddenly we've become isolated...we're one with them in worship but physically and strategically far from them...

Ngayon, naintindihan ko na kung bakit pilit na inalis sa Vatican II ang pagkanta sa coro...



(A shot of the altar taken from the coro)

Kuwentong Sari-Sari

Nakakatuwa kaninang umaga. Nagbidahan kaming mag-anak tungkol sa mga nakakatuwa at nakainis na mga tagpo na nagaganap sa aming munting sari-sari store.

Masaya sa tindahan namin at eto ang mga patunay kung bakit:

- Saan ka nakakita ng taong naghahanap ng asukal, kape, paminta, asin, suka, toyo at patis, gayong ilang hakbang na lamang ay palengke na.


- Meron ding mga taong naghahanap ng tempra, dolfenal, decolgen, aspilet, biogesic, neozep, gardan, salonpas, colantro, mertayoleyt at agua oxenada gayong ang tindahan namin ay di naman botika...yung katapat ng bahay namin, yun ang botika!


- May mga taong naghahanap ng "cocomban", "bagulgang", "head ang shoulders", "juicy fruwit", "dabolment", at envelope na ang tatak ay "via air mail"


- May mga coñotic at pasosyal effect na mamimili:

(a) Meron kayong mosquito killer? (lay man's term: katol)
(b) Miss, have kayo ng Marlboro Lights, the one in Gold? (yeah, right!)
(c) Meron kayong crape paper? (crepe paper, yung ginagamit sa art project)


- Meron ding mga medyo "tanga" na mamimili:

Ale : Manang, pabili po ng dyaryo...bago ho ba ito?

Syempre, saan ka naman nakakita ng lumang dyaryo na tinitinda, di ba?
Dahil dito, medyo nainis ang aking ina kaya sinagot nya ng...

Nanay Ko: Ay, luma... (tonong sarkastiko)
Ale : Ah... cge po, salamat. Saan ho ba merong nagtitinda ng dyaryo na bago?

...ay, patulan ba ang joke time ni mother?


- At mga pilosopong mamimili:

Mama : Manong, pabili po ng Pop Cola, maliit.
Tatay Ko: Ilan?
Mama : Isa lang po. Magkano isa?
Tatay Ko: 7.00
Mama : Bakit ho sabi sa TV, sais lang?
Tatay Ko: Eh, di sa TV ka bumili!

...oo nga naman!


- Meron ding question and answer portion:

Mamimili : Pabili ng sigarilyo?
Jhie : Anong sigarilyo?
Mamimili : Winston
Jhie : Red o Lights
Mamimili : Red
Jhie : Ilan?
Mamimili : Magkano isa?
Jhie : 1.50
Mamimili : Magkano 1 kaha
Jhie : 28.00
Mamimili : Cge, 4 na piraso lang

...ang ganda, di ba? Daig pa ang interrogation sa NBI!


- At dahil nagtitinda kami ng dyaryo at yung kodigo na para sa karera sa Sta. Ana, kailangang alam namin ang mga sumusunod dahil baka may magtanong ng:

- dyaryo na may ingles o kaya tagalog na editorial
- dyaryo na may horoscope
- dyaryo na may kwento tungkol sa sexual experiences
- dyaryo na may mga numerong lumabas sa lotto
- ang halaga ng mapapanalunan sa lotto
- masuwerteng kabayo na dapat tayaan sa karera
- araw at oras ng karera

Masaya magkaroon ng tindahan...kaya lang nitong mga nakaraang araw, ayokong magtinda...
sa sobrang bilis kasi tumaas ng mga presyo ng mga bilihin, di ko na alam kung ano ang
presyo ng mga paninda namin...hay!

Happy Birthday, John

Para sa aking...



...ka-tagay ng Coke
...ka-partner sa aking debut
...kakosa sa kakulitan at kalokohan
...taga-puno ng inbox
...tagapagtanggol sa mga stalkers at krung-krung na tao
...katulad sa pagiging smart at intelligent (syempre, di ako papayag na ikaw lang!)
...karamay sa dusa at saya

at kaibigan for life...

MALIGAYANG KAARAWAN!


SI JOHN AY...
isa sa mga pinaka-paborito kong tao...a genuine friend...a loving son...a good husband material (o, wag na magreact, wala naman akong sinabi na civil status mo ah!) ;p

PERO...
di halata!...hehehe...pero, lapitin ng bading (hahaha!)...at mabagal kumilos kaya palaging nale-late...


SALAMAT SA...
lifelong friendship and for being the brother I never had...

DI KO EXCPECT NA...
he has remained the same John that I've known all these years kahit na dami nang dumaan na trials sa life nya...

AT SANA MALAMAN NYA NA...
na panalo na ako sa pustahan, hehehe...and that i'll always and forever be a friend that he can count on for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, in proverty and in plenty, in joke time and in seriousness...until...matapos ang forever! So help me, God.

An Affirmation

I don't take personal text surveys seriously. Actually, I am scared to find out how others would think of me as a person...However, it dawned upon me that you can really get something from it, an affirmation...something unexpected...but sincere.

I sent this survey to my Txtnonstop Tribe (thanks to Globe!) and it's nice to know how others valued my personhood, my uniqueness, my character...

I personally like what my good friend, John, said...mind you, it took him about four text messages to finally get the entire message across!



Here is it:

"SI JHIE AY...kaibigan ko na matagal na, as in matagal, alam mo yun, nung fetus pa lang kami nagtatawanan na kami...mabait yan

PERO...mataray, sasabihin ang gustong sabihin basta totoo lang queber kung masaktan ka, pero maayos pa rin naman approach niya

SALAMAT SA...halos magdadalawang dekada ng pakikipagkaibigan sa akin, biruin mo natiis mo yun. At salamat dun sa pang libre mo sa akin at sa pag sunod sa mga kantiyaw ko...ang coke, syempre...barbeque, chocolate sa ref nyo, balot, among others...

DI KO EXCPECT NA...until now friends pa rin kami, i mean yung tatagal talaga...sabagay, pareho naman kami mabait...Isa pa, di ko expect na magiging diretso buhok nya...salamat sa siyensya...

AT SANA MALAMAN NYA NA...sobrng thankful ako to have her as one of my good and closest friends"

Thanks for the affirmation, John!

ABS-CBN...here we come!

Last October 9, 2005, we sang at the Sunday TV Mass aired over at ABS-CBN Channel 2. After rigorous rehearsals and sparing ourselves from our usual saturday night bonding, our efforts have paid off. Everyone managed to be up and about as early as 3AM and we headed to the studio at quarter to 6.

The stint was generally OK except for some minor flaws: 1. Ang offertory song na di namin malaman kung kailangan nang tapusin o hindi at; 2. Ang keyboard na humina...kaya tuloy di namin nakanta ang Sanctus (it's ok Roehl...it's not your fault)

Tita Enciang sang a Marian song for the communion. She really wanted the song "Awit Ng Ina Sa Santo Rosario" to be sung during the recessional part but ate Jhie managed to convince her that the song she sang during the communion was enough to make Mama Mary proud (yay! payang MYMP :p )

After the show, syempre di mawawala ang picture-picture...



...at ang pinaka-importante sa lahat...ang fellowship! Saan pa kundi sa Jollibee!!!

Kaya't sa aming mga fans na walang sawang tumatangkilik sa aming musika, maraming salamat po!

Hanggang sa muli...

The Friendship Factor

I consider myself an expert when it comes to drawing the line between friendship and professionalism. I am serious at work but I also "laugh till my lungs drop" when I'm in the company of friends. My choir friends knew this for a fact...the two sides in me: the friend and the mentor.

Having my closest friends in the choir was really something I am really thankful for. Their jolly personality added just the right amount of casualness into our somewhat formal rehearsals. Being friends with them for so many years did not require any adjustment on my part now that they have become a part of the choir. Little did I know that it was the other way around for them...

A freaky little incident triggered my 360-degree shift from being cool to furious. That was the very first instance that I have been humiliated in front of the choir by no less than my closest friends! No amount of explanation can compensate for the disappointment that I got from that experience. In front of the group, I tried to pretend that I'm still the same strong mentor that I was...but deep inside, I was falling into pieces. I was about to explode and I did just that...cried buckets of tears and uttered a thousand curses...after they all have left.

Later on my close friends texted me and have expressed how sorry they were for what they did. I promised myself not to reply to their text messages but the TRUE FRIEND in me prevailed...

"I was deeply hurt about what happened earlier. What disappoints me the most is the fact that it was done by the very least people I expected -- my closest friends. I just hope that we all learned something from what had happened. To forgive and understand are the two things that I can easily do simply because you are my friends."

happy birthday, Danna!

aherrrm......





Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Danna
Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!

...isang kampay (at pose sa camera) para sa paborito naming Poblacion Star...



Salamat sa Yellow Cab Pizza, ChiSig, at San Mig Light...

Maligayang Kaarawan, Ryan!

Happy Birthday, Carol!

Today is the birthday of my inaanak, Carol!




'Nak, next year, ganap ka nang dalaga...

Sunday Blues

Waaah! Nandito ako sa office...

...pero bago ko simulan ang trabaho ko, minabuti ko munang sagutan ang BIG 5 PERSONALITY TEST...

and here's the link to the results of my test:

I'm a O70-C52-E64-A44-N43 Big Five!!

Bridges

I have crossed a thousand bridges
in my search for something real
There were great suspension bridges,
made like spiderwebs of steel

There were tiny wooden trestles,
and there were bridges made of stone.
I have always been a stranger
and I've always been alone

There's a bridge to tomorrow,
there's a bridge from the past.
There's a bridge made of sorrow
that I pray will not last

There's a bridge made of colors
in the sky high above
and I think that there must be
bridges made out of love

I can see him in the distance
on the river's other shore,
and his hands reach out in longing
as my own have done before

And I call across to tell him
where I believe the bridge must lie,
and I'll find it,yes, I'll find it,
if I search until I die

When the bridge is between us,
we'll have nothing to fear
We will run through the sunlight
and I'll meet you halfway

There's a bridge made of colors
in the sky high above
and I'm certain that somewhere
there's a bridge made of love

New Phone...Yipee!!!

I got myself a new phone...its a Sony Ericsson K750i



I really wanted to have a digital camera but since my Nokia 7250i was becoming a bore (no bluetooth, no video...talk about human contentment! ;p ), well, i thought of finding myself a phone that would surely fit my needs into a T.

After reading the reviews about this SE K750i unit two days ago and after receiving our bonus, i bought my dream phone...

...well, at least, for now ;p