Day 3 & 4: Ngong Ping 360 & Disneyland

• Woke up at around nine o’clock. Prepare things and went straight to MTR for our third day itinerary – Ngong Ping 360 and Disneyland.




• Took the train and get off at Lai King Station. Saka kami lumipat ng train line and get off to the last station and take the Exit B.

• We passed through the citygate outlet. Bought round trip cable car ticket at the Tung Chung Cable Car Terminal. The cable car trip took us about twenty to thirty minutes. Hindi siya nakakatakot. In fact, naaliw kami ng sobra sa scenery.




• Right after we get off the cable car, nag-umpisa na ang pamamasyal namin. Mainit siya ng sobra. But since I love historical places, nagustuhan ko ang Ngong Ping Village. After some picture taking, we headed off the the famous giant Buddha. Our first plan was to count the steps. Kaso nung nasa kalagitnaan na kami, hindi ko na inintindi ang pagbibilang. Sobrang nakakapagod ang pag-akyat that all I wanted was to get done really quick!

• At nang sa wakas ay nakarating kami sa tuktok, nawala naman kaagad ang pagod ko. The place is sooooo beautiful! Mahangin, kitang-kita ang mga bundok, ang daming nagkalat na Buddhas! Ang sarap lang talagang humilata doon and enjoy the beauty of nature.

• Ilang minuto din kaming namasyal sa taas. Namahinga saglit at saka bumaba ulit. Dumaan din kami saglit sa Po Lin Monastery. Ang daming nagpepray dun. And since hindi ko naman alam kung papano ang ritual sa paggamit ng insenso, hindi na kami tumagal pa. Iba ang religion nila sa religion ko pero alam kung kapag ganoon ay dapat na tahimik at solemn ang lugar. Kaya hindi na kami nagtagal pa at kumuha ng pictures sa Monastery.




• We had our quick lunch at citygate outlets. The mall is currently having their on sale that time. We wanted to check known outlets but we wanted to get to Disneyland as early as possible kaya hindi na kami dumaan kahit naglalaway na kami sa dami ng sales. And besides, we’re on tight budget! Naubos na sa Macau shopping ang iba kong pera!




• Sumakay ulit kami ng MTR. Get off at Sunny Bay and transfer to Disneyland’s own train line.
  



• At the Disneyland ticketing counter, sobrang disappointed ako dahil close nang araw na iyon ang space mountain. Iyon pa naman ang gusto naming subukan. :( So sad talaga. Nawala lang iyon nang magsimula na ang parade. This may sound mushy and insane but watching the Disney parade makes me want to cry. Lalo na kapag pinapatugtog ang mga kinalakihan ko ng Disney songs. I have always been a Disney lover. And you don’t know how happy I was nang sa wakas ay matupad ko na ang wish kong makapunta man lang ng Disneyland. Kahit sa Hong Kong man lang.




• And since walang space mountain that time, inubos na lang naming panoorin ang lahat ng Disney shows, Lion King and Golden Mickey. Nalibot din namin ang buong adventureland and fantasy land. Tried their rides kahit na sobrang pambata. Lalo na yung pooh chorva. Haha… Pero aliw naman kaya pwede na rin. Hindi nga lang namin nalibot ang futureland. Pasara na kasi ang Disney noon at ilang minuto na lang ay magsisimula na ang pinakahighlight ng Disneyland – ang fireworks. Kaya naman we headed to Sleeping Beauty’s castle na para makahanap ng magandang pwesto.

• After Disneyland, Ladies Market naman ang next itinerary namin for our pasalubong galore! I only bought magnets, keychains and other small stuffs.




• The next day, late na kaming gumising sa sobrang pagod. Okay lang naman dahil The Peak na lang naman ang pupuntahan namin. And since mas maganda daw ang The Peak ng gabi, nag-last minute shopping pa kami. Just in case may mga nakalimutan. Headed to Central para kumain ng Jollibee. Dahil ilang araw na kaming walang kanin na kinakain at kami ay naghahanap ng talaga! Tambay sa Central ng ilang saglit bago tuluyang dumiretso ng The Peak. Hinintay muna namin si Alena sa ticketing area (na kasama ang new found friend na si Ate Joy) bago sumakay ng Peak Tream.




• Swerte namin dahil hindi cloudy that night. Nagliwaliw kami sa buong The Peak dahil wala pang sunset nang dumating kami doon. Kwentuhan doon at kaadikan dito. Ang lakas lang naming mang-trip. Aliw kami ng sobra na muntik na naming hindi maabutan ang sunset. Hahaha…

• At exactly 7PM, bumaba na kami ng Peak dahil 12MN pa ang flight namin. Bumalik kami ng Taisan, get our luggage and headed off to airport (A21 Bus).

Nakakapagod man ng sobra. Bitin man at butas ang bulsa, sobrang saya ko naman dahil sa wakas, natupad ko rin ang isa sa mga 2011 Wish List ko! :)

Till next lakwatsa guys! For our itinerary and total expenses, please see my next blog. :)

Day 2: Around Hong Kong

Okay, so this is way way overdue! I know. Obvious naman sa date posted diba? Sorry folks, talagang tinatamad lang this past few days . And since naumpisahan ko rin naman itong blogging na to ng aking HK-Macau Trip, no choice ako kundi tapusin siya diba? Kaya heto, tatapusin ko na talaga. But I’ll go straight to the point na. By bullet na lang at tinatamad na din akong magkwento. Hehe… Pasensiya na talaga.

• Met up with a PHR reader that morning, si Gee. Kasama niya ang isa niya pang kaibigan na nakalimutan ko ang pangalan. Sorry po. :( Had a breakfast (courtesy of them) at Yoshinoya.





• Went to the Central Park (I guess). Saw lots of Filipinos there. Kahit saan ka lumingon, andun sila. We even saw a pinay preaching about the word of God. Yes, uso din doon ang mga ganun!




• Took some pictures with their infamous blackman. Parang monumento lang ni Rizal. Only, kulay itim siya.





• They were kind enough to accompany us on our way to Ocean Park. Binigyan nila kami ng directions on how to get there. We bid our goodbyes at the MRT Station and hop in.





• From Central Station, bumaba kami ng Admiralty Station. Paglabas namin ng Exit B, may mga travel agents na sumalubong samin offering a great Ocean Park deal. We had a 20HKD discount plus we don’t have to worry na on riding the Bus 629 dahil provided na nila ang sasakyan papunta dun.





• At the Ocean Park, naglibut-libot muna kami. Visit the Panda and Aquarium. After that, sumakay na kami ng cable car to switch sa kabilang island kung saan nandoon mostly ang mga rides. We also watch the Dolphin Show. The show was okay. Really not that impressive pero keri na. Feeling ko kasi mas magaling pa ang mga dolphin dito sa Pilipinas kaysa dun. Rode the Raging River (wala man lang kachallenge-challenge! Susme!), Rapids (Mas lalong walang kwenta!) and Space wheel (dito lang ako nasiyahan!). I wanted to try kahit yung The Flash man lang since hindi na keri ng powers ko ang Abyss at Dragon, but mas duwag pa ang kasama ko kaya hindi na ko nag-insist. Overall, dahil masyadong mainit ang tama ng araw, hindi kami gaanong nasiyahan sa Ocean Park. But it was okay. Siguro kung adventurous lang yung kasama ko at hindi mainit, naenjoy ko siguro ang Ocean Park.





• 3:00 PM nang magsawa kami sa Ocean Park. Hindi na muna kami umalis dahil I have to meet up with another two PHR readers. Si Ate Glenda at Shie. Madalas ko ng nakakachika si Ate Glenda sa FB kaya natuwa ako nang makita ko siya sa personal. Pirmahan muna saglit at picturean bago tumuloy sa Stanley Market. Hindi iyon kasama sa itinerary namin but since kasama naman namin ang mga readers na taga-HK, hindi big deal samin ang maligaw.




• Had our very late lunch at Stanley at some Pizza resto. Again, thanks to Ate Glendz and Shie for the free lunch. Sa Stanley mo mostly makikita ang mga puti (foreigner). It was the western side of the HK. Konting tingin-tingin sa market bago bumalik sa Central para sa susunod naming itinerary – ang The Peak.






• Nakipagkita ulit kami sa dalawang PHR readers na siyang sasama samin papuntang The Peak. Si Gellz at Alena. Kaso masyadong mahaba ang pila papuntang The Peak. No choice kami kundi ipostpone iyon at balikan na lang on our last day. Dumiretso na lang kaming Avenue of Stars para makahabol pa sa Symphony of Lights. Ride the Star Ferry from Central to TST.





• Dinner at Mcdonalds bago tuluyang umuwi ng Taisan. Malapit na lang iyon from Avenue of Stars kaya nilakad na lang namin.

Next blog: Day 3: Ngong Ping 360 & Disneyland

DAY 1: MACAU TRIP

The original plan was Day 1 (Saturday) Ocean Park, The Peakand Star Ferry and Day 2 (Sunday): Macau. But since I have to meet with PHRreaders HK based on their day off (which is Sunday), I had to switch my Day 1and Day 2 to accommodate them. (Chos! Accommodate talaga? Hotel tingin mo sasarili mo teh?)

So eneweiz, we woke up at around 8 in the morning. May freecomputer with internet sa room kaya naman we had enough time to research thedirection. We already know na malapit lang ang China Ferry Terminal sa Taisankaya naman hindi na mahirap sundin ang direction. On our way to terminal, anold man was kind enough to point us to the right direction. Nagbalak pa kasikaming pumasok ng mall (Gateway ata yun or Harbour) dahil lang nakita naman sadulo ang barko. Haha.. But then, mali pala. Sa kabilang building kami dapatpumasok at sumakay ng elevator paakyat ng Level 1. We bought our round trip ticketat First Ferry scheduled 9:30 AM and 10PM for 320HKD. Nasa pilahan na kami ngimmigration nang may makachika kaming 3 magkakapatid – Isang lalaki at dalawangbabae. Kwentuhan doon, tanong dito at tawanan doon. Bago pa man kami makaratingng immigration officer, napagkasunduan na naming magsamang lima sa Macau Trip namin.

More or less ay one hour ang biyahe ng ferry. Pagdatingnamin ng terminal, hinanap ko agad ang mga free maps ng Macau. Pero madadayayung mga tourist agency doon, sukat ba namang kinuha ang mga mapa for them torecognized kung sino ang tourist sa hindi?! Kainis lang. Ggggrrr.. Pero sinongniloko nila? Eh marunong din akong mandaya! Lumapit sakin ang isang tour guide,binigay sakin ang free map at sinabi ang offers nila. Kunwari ay nakikinig akopero ang ending, tumanggi ako. No choice ang tour guide kundi iwan kami pati nayung mapa. Bwahaha… And viola! May free map na kami!

At Macau Immigration

May mga free shuttle bus ang Macau that will direct you totheir different hotels. Kaya hindi problema ang transpo dito. Makakatipid pakayo dahil in our case, lunch at ferry ticket lang ang nagastos namin. Walkingdistance lang ang Fisherman’s Wharf sa Terminal kaya naman iyon ang una namingpinuntahan. Mga five to ten minutes lang iyon. Tirik ang araw noong nagpuntakami kaya konting pictures dito at doon lang ang ginawa namin and after thatbumalik na kami ng terminal. We first hop in to Venetian Hotel’s free shuttle.Iyon naman kasi ang highlight talaga ng Macau trip namin. Doon kami talaganagtagal. Pag-akyat pa lang ng third floor, namesmerize na kami sa ganda nglugar! Sosyal teh! Super ganda lang talaga.

Nagplano pa kaming sumakay ngbangka, pero nagbago ang isip namin nang malaman ang presyo – 180HKD. Huwag na!Sinundan na lang namin ang ruta ng bangka, ganun din naman yun. Makakarating padin kami sa dulo! Hahaha… (talked about kuripot).

Next stop ay city of dreams. Paglabas niyo ng Venetian (kungsaan kayo pumasok), turn to your right. Doon niyo makikita ang shuttle (freeagain, take note) papuntang City of Dreams. Saglit lang kaming namasyal doon, dinaman kasi kami manonood ng Bubble Show or House of Dancing Water. May bayad nadin ang Dragon’s Treasure nila ng 30HKD kaya naman hindi na lang kami nanood.

Sunod naming pinuntahan ay ang Ruins of Saint Paul. From City of Dreams, sumakay kaming shuttle papuntang Sintra. Mahabang lakaran pala iyon mula sa aming binabaan.And from Senado Square, malayo pa din ang Ruins. Haynaker! Pero naglibut-libotmuna kami sa Senado, tikim-tikim ng mga free taste. No wonder ang damingtourists sa Macau, hindi sila madamot. Madami silang free. Hihi…

After Ruins, balak pa sana naming pumunta ng Wynn for the prosperitytree and sa Galaxy Hotel. Kaso habang bumabalik kami dun sa binabaan namin, maynarealized kaming isang bagay. Nakakapagod na palang maglakad. Plus wala kamingmaayos na tulog. Hahaha… Kaya naman mula sa binabaan namin, dumiretso na kamingGrand Emperor kung saan naroroon ang free shuttle to ferry. But you have to goup to third floor ng hotel muna to get your free shuttle ticket bago ka pumila.Only to find out na malapit na lang pala talaga ang Wynn Hotel mula sa GrandEmperor! Kumusta naman diba? He-he... Pero chox lang! Ganun talaga ang buhay.And it’s not as if hindi pa kami sumaya sa tour na yun diba? Even if hindi kaminakapag-Wynn at Galaxy, for me, keri pa din. Ang importante, nag-enjoy kami.Yun yun!

Next blog, Day 2: Around Hong Kong… :)

HONG KONG – MACAU TRIP

And so here it is… my first out of the country trip. Yippeee! Hooray! I’ve been dreaming about this Hongkong Trip since I started working. Isinumpa ko talagang (sumpa talaga?!) makarating ng HK before my twenty sixth birthday. And guess what? I did!! 

Originally, we bought a ticket for four people last May. But then may mga chorva na naganap kaya ang resulta, dalawa na lang kaming natuloy. Siyempre pa, hindi kami umatras dahil lang doon. Because of these reasons: 

1. I already did my research about our itinerary and information about HK that we need to know. Thanks to Pinoyexchange (Hong Kong for Dummies). As in really! Sa kanila ko nakuha lahat ng info about great hostel to stay, itinerary and other stuffs about HK. They have been such a great help in my entire HK-Macau Trip kaya naman iseshare ko din sa inyo ang 4D3N itinerary and lahat ng nagastos namin at the end of my day 4 blog. 

2. I already have my newly acquired passport na minadali kong iprocess just for this trip and luckily ay nakuha ko last August 13 

3. My pinaghirapang pocket money 

4. And lastly, sayang ang binili naming plane ticket and reservation for our hostel. Non-refundable yun teh! Sayang ang datung! 

Kaya bakit ako aatras, right? 

And so came September 9, 2011, the moment I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! Our flight was 10:25 PM so mga quarter to 8, nasa airport na ko. Andun na rin ang friend kong si Queenie or we fondly called “Kiking” since we were still in HS na bumyahe pa from Davao. We arrived at the HK International airport past 12 midnight. We then headed to the immigration line and to the exit door after since wala naman kaming chineck in na baggage. Nahirapan kaming hanapin ang customer service area (siguro ay dahil inaantok pa talaga kami. Hehe…) para bumili ng octopus card so we decided to pay cash na lang sa bus. 

Nang makarating kami ng Taisan Guest House Burlington Branch, mali pa ang una naming pinuntahan! Kalerki! May A and B pala sa branch na yun. Taisan A is where the “infamous” Ate Yolly of pinoyexchange staying and we thought dun kami nakabook. Kaso dahil sa internet kami nagpareserve (to a certain Ken), sa Taisan B pala kami. Kaya bumaba ulet kami ng ground floor at lumipat ng elevator B. In my own opinion, mas malinis at bago ang Taisan B kaya keri na din. What I love about Taisan aside from its great location is their staff. Accommodating, mabait and… basta! :) Kaya for those who are in tight budget and first timers, I recommend Taisan Guest House Burlington Branch. May isa pa akong choice actually, at iyon ay ang Golden Crown Guesthouse. Nasa TST lang din ito kaya hindi mahirap sa mga first timers.

Luckily, we got the room na nasa site nila mismo. Happiness!

Matapos naming makapagcheck in ay nakatulog din kami sa wakas! Kailangang mamahinga para sa aming first day gala, which is Macau Trip!

More about Writing...

Yellow! Mustamus mga amigas and amigos? Watchadoin lately? Ako? Eto:

Lately, I have been receiving some emails and PMs asking for tips on how to write romance novel. Na para bang may karapatan akong magbigay, eh sa totoo lang hindi ko din alam kung papano. Kung may mga naisulat man ako dito tungkol sa pagsusulat, hindi iyon tips o kung anupaman oke? Mabuti na iyong malinaw. Sadyang mahilig lang akong ilaglag ang sarili ko sa ibang tao by sharing my experience with them. Keber sa reaction mga kafatid.Hehe… Kaya ngayon, iseshare ko na naman sa inyo ang nadiscober ko.

Anyways these past few days, I found myself struggling with writing novels. Pramis! Parang bigla akong bumalik sa simula. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. And it freaks me out. Really! Parang bigla kong nakalimutan ang formula ng pagsusulat. Nahihirapan na akong gumawa ng conflict. Maryosep, hindi pa umabot sa singkwenta ang gawa ko pero parang nauubusan na ko ng pwedeng maging conflict! Waahhh… Kaya naman bigla akong napabili ng How-to Guide ng Bookware and started to read again. Hindi pa ko nakuntento, nagresearch pa ko sa internet ng mga tips on how to write romance novels. Then I stumbled upon this site na super informative. And I want it to share this with you guys. May iba din itong articles kaya don’t limit yourself with just one entry. Explore the site! And maybe just like what it did to me, makatulong din ito sa inyo. Enjoy reading! :)

1. Creating Emotional Conflict and Tension in a Romance Novel
2. Writing a Romance Novel

A Place Called HOME

Isang madramang hapong mga kaeksenadora. Yes, magdadrama lang ako saglit dahil parang hindi ko na yata kaya ang mga pangyayari. Chos! Hehe.. Joke lang. Honestly, bukod sa trip kong dumaldal today, napansin kong matagal na rin pala simula nang huli akong magpost. So here we go again.

HOME. Define home. Nang isearch ko ng home kay google, madaming lumabas. Sabi ni free dictionary, a dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it. May tama siya! Pero ang pinakapanalong sagot na nakita ko ay eto:

“Home to me, is the place where you want to be at the end of rough day. The one place where you know that you truly belong and feel welcome and loved. It's where you feel comfortable and at ease. It's where you can be silly, or tired, or cry, or laugh, or walk around in your underwear.”

Yes, that’s what HOME for me din. At bakit nga ba bigla kong naisip ang tungkol diyan? Well, a closed friend of mine finally decided to return to our homeland (which by the way is General Santos City or simply Gensan) for good after two years of staying here in Cebu. I’m happy for her sa totoo lang. And somehow envy her na din. Kasi ang dali niya lang nagdecide na uuwi na. Hindi tulad ko. Sabi nga niya, “You know what, kung iisipin mo talaga, pwede ka na namang umuwi na ng Gensan. With your writer’s fee, tiyak na kaiinggitan ka na ng mga ka-batch natin. You love your job, ikaw lang ang tambay sa bahay na sinuswelduhan, walang house rental na poproblemahin, walang traffic, mura ang lifestyle, what more can you asked for? San ka diba kundi sa "HOME" natin?”

Yes. She’s right. Pero saan nga ba ang HOME ko? Sa Gensan kung saan ako lumaki at naroroon ang pamilya ko o sa Cebu kung saan ako nagcollege at nagkaroon ng career? Hindi ganun kadali para sakin ang mamili between the said two places. Unlike her. I have this trait na mahilig sa sentimental value. Madrama kumbaga. And I always say this to my close friends, mukha lang akong bato at walang pakialam but deep inside, I treasure every person and place that have come into my life. Makakalimutin ako sa ibang bagay pero hindi ang mga mahal ko. Unlike my friend, I’ve spent nine years of my life here in Cebu. Ang dami kong iiwan sakaling uuwi ako ng Gensan. Friends, work, relatives, beautiful places and a lifestyle na nakagawian ko na. I have come to love Cebu. It’s the place where you can have a taste of close-to-Manila-like life and heaven-like life of provinces at the same time. I feel like I’ve become too attached with the place that I’m having a hard time deciding when to go back home. And I can honestly say na ito na ang second home ko.

Alam ko namang walang namemressure sakin na mamili between the two o taong nagpapauwi na sakin. I just can’t help but think of it right now dahil halos lahat na yata ng kakilala ko dito sa Cebu na taga-Mindanao ay umuuwi na for good. Feeling ko nga kami na lang ng kapatid ko ang natitira dito. He-he… Pero basta… Deep inside me, alam kong uuwi talaga ako ng Gensan for good. I see myself growing old there and spending my day with my beloved relatives. Nandoon ang pamilya ko. Ang relatives sa ibang side ko kung saan tinulungan kami nung mga panahong kailangan namin ng tulong. Hindi ko man alam kung kelan ako talaga uuwi ng Gensan, isa lang ang alam ko: Hindi ako tatandang empleyado pa rin. At anuman ang mangyari, uuwi pa din ako ng Gensan. And that my friend is the answer to my magulong question kanina.

The place where I can be silly, or tired, or cry, or laugh, or walk around in your underwear?

GENSAN. :)

PHR in Cebu!

Good news mga Sugbuanon! Our fave writers: Heart Yngrid, Sonia Francesca and Sofia will be having their book signing this coming July 22, 23 and 24! Check out pic below for the details. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity so don't miss it! Of course pupunta din po ako dun hindi bilang writer kundi bilang reader. :) Will visit the booksigning at July 23 and 24 since may trabaho pa po ako ng July 22. :D Magpapapirma din ako ng mga libro nila na meron ako! So magkita-kita ta didto mga Sugbuanon!

Develop the Romance Writer in You!

Hey there mga eksenadora'ng tulad ko! Look what I've found from My Special Valentine site!


Whenever you pick up and read a My Special Valentine book, does it fill you with the desire to write your very own romance story, but you don’t know where to start? Do you very much want to submit a manuscript, but feel like you’re not doing enough?
Worry no more: From one of our esteemed editors comes a new book that answers your questions… and more! In How To Write A Tagalog Romance Novel, Apple Masallo delivers a very thorough and straightforward guide to writing your own Tagalog romance novel. In it, she explains the very intricate process of crafting memorable characters and an equally memorable plot, handling the intricacies of grammar, and dealing with writer’s block among other things.

You may buy this book at MSV's online bookshop. So bili na mga fwends! :)

God created the World, and the rest is China

LOL. My apologies for the title. But before you think of anything, let me just tell you that I don’t mean to mock or something. I just find it amazing how powerful China is. Wanna know why? Because of this…

I’m sure nabanggit ko na with my previous blog that my friend Ayin went to US (Georgia to be exact) for three months for some work-related stuff. And since nasa US na rin naman siya, she grabbed that opportunity to tour from States to States. Isa na sa mga iyon ang Florida. At ano pa nga ba ang unang maiisip ng isang Harry Potter Fanatic kapag narinig ang lugar na iyon?

Orlando Florida!
The famous and newly opened Harry Potter Theme Park!!

Yiipppeee!!! Andito pa lang sa Pinas ay sinabihan ko na ang barkada ko na just in case mamamasyal sila ng Florida at dadaan ng HP Theme Park ay magpapabili ako ng HP keychain. At first hindi siya sure kung makakapunta nga sila. But I think luck must be on my side dahil indeed… pumasyal sila Ayin ng Orlando! Kaya naman kuntodo FB message agad siya sakin clarifying about my request. And since barkada ko siya at hindi uso sa amin ang hiya-hiya, nagpabili na nga ako. Kahit mahal! Ha-ha-ha… And Ayin must have love soooooo much dahil hindi niya na pinabayaran sakin ang keychain. Pasalubong na lang daw niya iyon for me. Oh ha??? I feel the lurve ng sobra. Ha-ha…

And when she finally gave to me my pasalubong, laking tawa namin nang makita ang nakaengrave sa likod.

Oh ha? Naman teh! Sa esteyts na nga binili, Made in China pa din? Hahaha.. Ganun nga yata talaga kaunlad ang China. Ultimo US of A ay produkto nila ang gamit. Oh ha? Sana in the near future ganun na din ang Pilipinas. Iyon halos lahat ay “Made in Philippines” ang nakatatak. Ang bongga nun diba?

Wish ko lang!

My Own Independence Day Celebration

Okay, bago niyo isipin kung gaano ko kamahal an gating Inang Bayan, let me just inform you ahead that this is not a Mabuhay-Ang-Pilipinas-Mahal-Ko-Ang-Bayan-Ko blog entry. Eeksena lang ulet mga kafatid. Since most of my previous blog were a little bit serious and not so0o0o0o ME na talaga. He-he.

So eneweiz, as we all know, June 12 is a regular holiday for Filipinos. Independence Day daw kasi. I won’t lecture you na about Philippine History since it is your responsibility – as a Filipino – to learn and appreciate our rich culture and history. Kung nagtunog “taksil sa sariling bayan” man ako sa umpisa, rest assured na kahit papano ay alam ko pa din naman kung papano natin nakuha ang Independence Day. At pinapahalagahan ko pa rin iyon hanggang ngayon. (Chaarrriiinnnnggg!!!)

At kung ang ibang tao ay nagcecelebrate ng ating Kalayaan, kami naman ng housemates ko ay nagcecelebrate din ng sariling version ng ating Kalayaan. Ano nga ba ang iba pang kahulugan ng Independence? Freedom… Free… FREE! And for us, June 12 is literally our FREE Day. It was also my close friend’s birthday. Kaya naman lunch time pa lang ay nakatikim na ko ng libre mula sa kanya. We went into an Eat-All-You-Can Restaurant by 12noon. Nagpakabusog doon. And then off to SM Cebu to watch the “Nestle’s Kasambuhay Habambuhay Anthology of Short Films.” It’s Nestlé’s free movie for its centennial celebration. At ito ang pag-uusapan natin ngayon.

Obviously, ginastusan ng bonggang-bongga ng Nestle ang film. Ang daming bigating artista ang nandoon. John Lloyd Cruz, Eddie Garcia, Eugene Domingo, Gloria Romero at iba pa. The film composed of 10 short films (approximately 10 minutes each film). Walang konek ang lahat ng film sa isa’t isa pero puro lahat magaganda. Liban na lang dun sa isang copycat ng famous “Walang Himala” movie ni Nora Aunor. Ang adik lang talaga ng story na iyon. And of course, since it’s a Nestle film, expect mo na rin na starring ang mga produkto nila. Andyan ang Bear Brand, Nescafe 3-in-1, Nido, Maggie Magic Sarap, Milo at iba pang sikat nilang produkto. Pero keri lang. It doesn’t bother me at all.

For those who failed to watch the free movie of Nestle, here’s a quick rundown:

1. The Howl and the Fussyket
One of my top 5 fave film. The story is all about an eight-year old boy joins a declamation contest despite his “PNF disease.” Iyon bang sakit ng mga tao na pinagpapalit ang “f” and “p”? Iyon yun! He-he… Good thing, he has his ever-supportive mother (played by Eugene Domingo) that decided to assembled a team para mawala ang kanyang sakit. A speech coach (isang call center agent), acting coach (isang lalaki who always play the role of “taong bayan” sa mga plays) para sa tamang emotion daw sa paged-declame and a fashion designer for the kid’s outfit (isang matandang mananahi. I super love the scenes kung saan tinutulungan na nila ang bata. Tawa kami ng tawa!

2. Unplugged
Heartwarming story of a group of football players (kids) who spent their weekend at a provincial home with their coach (Marvin Agustin) where gadgets are not allowed as per Lolo (played by Eddie Garcia). Ang ganda lang talaga ng shots ng lugar! At in fairness, iyon pala ang Hacienda Luisita? Another pogi points for this film is the music na inarranged ni famous Noel Cabangon. Parang “Kanlungan” lang. Iyon bang tipong pakikinggan mo lang siya sa hammock at mag-iimagine ka ng mga magagandang eksena ng buhay mo? Naghahanap na nga ako sa kantang iyon eh. Unfortunately, as of now, wala pa kong makita. :(

3. Silup
(Copied for PEP Review) (Dahil tinamad na kong magsummary on my own. :P) : Silup (which is reverse for Pulis) shows the sensitive side of a dedicated policeman (portrayed by Sid Lucero). Its best asset is its simplicity. The ending of this suspense drama short packs an emotional punch that I'd rather not reveal so that you can experience it for yourself.

4. Isang Tasang Pangarap
(Copied for PEP Review): An ordinary man, whose only pleasure is drinking coffee, discovers that he can see the future by looking at coffee mugs. It has an interesting premise but it has escapist entertainment written all over it. Obviously a tribute to Ishmael Bernal's Himala, Ramon Bautista delivers Nora Aunor's trademark cry, "Walang himala!"

5. Sali-Salita
(Copied for PEP Review): A mother who writes children's storybooks ironically doesn't have enough time to create stories for her own son. Her child lets his imagination run wild in a storytelling game with his grandfather. For a short film, the production values of this film are stunning: viewers get to see a powerful warrior crossing a deserted plain and fighting a futuristic looking robot in order to save a beautiful princess. This segment demonstrates the power of the imagination and the importance of parental bonding.

Gusto ko din kahit papano ang movie na ‘to. Naaalala ko kasi iyong childhood days ko. Iyong mahilig ka mag-imagine ng kung anik-anik? And someday, I would like my kid to do that “Sali-salita” game.

6. Oh! Pa Ra Sa Ta U Wa Yeah!
The famous Nicos of Nestle Iced Tea is back! At siyempre pa, eto na naman siya sa pamomroblema kay Matina. Musical naman ang genre ng film na ito. Kumakanta sila most of the time habang sini-share ng father ni Nicos ang secret para mapasagot ang isang baba. Love the songs lalo na ang “Abakada ng Matamis na Oo.” Kinanta-kanta ko pa siya pagkalabas namin ng cinema. At bukod kay Coco Martin, crush ko na si Nicos! In fairness, may boses din pala siya. :)

7. Downtown
(Copied for PEP Review): A bittersweet glimpse into the life of an aging man who makes baby steps to get his life back on track. Viewers will get to see vignettes of life in Binondo in this quiet story about love. Like Silup, it has a simple narrative structure but the buildup and the payoff is so much better.

8. Tingala sa Baba
(Copied for PEP Review): Two boys are playing on a seesaw. One of them is well-off and chubby, while the other is less fortunate and lanky. Because of his weight, the rich kid is stuck at the bottom of the seesaw. How will they reverse their positions? This short imparts important lessons about social class, charity, and friendship.

Ito ang pinakafave ko sa lahat. Simple lang siya. Sa sobrang simple niya ay iisa lang ang naging setting – sa isang seesaw. pero ewan ko ba. Touch na touch lang talaga ako sa movie. You will find yourself smiling sa buong duration ng movie dahil na rin sa usapan ng dalawang bata. Ganda ng shot lalo na nung ending. At maganda ang pagkakalapat ng music. (Naks! Parang professional critic!)

9. Cooking Mo, Cooking Ko
(Copied for PEP Review): Direk Chris puts a culinary twist to the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. The Capule family and the Montano family take their dispute to the kitchen as they try to outdo each other's recipe in their respective eateries. The star-crossed lovers must find a way to unite their families. This Shakespearean parody hits a comedy goldmine.

10. Sign Seeker
(Copied for PEP Review): A torpe, superstitious guy asks for signs if he should ask his crush out on a date. Solenn looks gorgeous as the female officemate who is the girl of his dreams. I know it's meant to be light-hearted, but it gives a silly ending to a whimsical film. I guess John Lloyd Cruz's charm can only do so much.

Siyempre, dahil si Lloydi ang bida, fave ko siya diba? Pero aside from that, gusto ko din ito dahil na rin sa relate na relate ako! Kung ikaw ang tipo ng taong hindi makuntento at duda pa sa isang sign na hinihingi, pwes sapul na sapul ka dito!

PHR Writers Mall Tour 2011

Magpa-plug lang po. :)

Catch your favorite PHR writers at these dates (see below). Chance niyo na po ito to meet them in person! Especially my friends: Maricar Dizon, Ashley Javier and most of all, my sister Angel Bautista!

Randomness and Happiness

Okay, sorry for the title. I know it sounds so girly-ish or just some ish, but please bear with me on this. I’m just so delighted I wanna do some happy dance right this very moment. Ha-ha… So eneweiz, let me give you some random, happy things that have happened to me lately.

1. Finally got to visit Tagaytay. And although I know I wouldn’t have time to really see the city because it was a business trip, I’m still a bit excited about the road trip. Kasi I would get the chance na madaanan ang mga lugar na sa TV or libro ko lang naririnig. Yeah, call me a loser or mababaw ang kaligayahan pero sorry talaga, Bisaya at laking Cebu/Gensan kaya thrilled ako ideyang iyon.


2. Had the chance to eat their delicious Bulalo at Mahogany Public Market and burger at Mushroom Burger.


3. Finally saw my dream house (chos!). Sobrang naamaze lang ako (hindi lang ako actually kundi maging ang tatlo ko pang kasama managers) when we saw this not so big house and yet sobrang elegant. Maliit lang ang lot pero andun ang lahat ng room na gusto ko. Attic, music room, three bedrooms, second floor libing room, counter bar and lanai. Oh diba, bongga?


4. Haven’t done any manuscript yet since second week of April. Oh ha? Ako na ang tamad! Pero hindi yan isa sa mga happy things actually. Pero ang nakakatuwa lang and I still can’t believe it hanggang ngayon) was the fact that kahit naka-dalawang manuscript lang ako as of this year, natupad pa din ang isa sa mga wish ko.


5. Got a text last June 02 from someone. Pinapapunta nila ako dun ng Saturday (June 4). Pero dahil sa June 5 pa ang dating ko [dun], nagparesched ako ng June 7. Buti na lang at pumayag sila.


6. And again, napatunayan ko na naman kung gaano kagaling si Bro magplano ng mga bagay-bagay. Ang hirap i-explain, pero ang mga nangyari ay proof na tama nga ang kasabihang “everything happens for a reason.” At gaya ng nabasa ko sa The Five People You Meet in Heaven, “...there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from the wind.”

Hindi ko alam kung anong mga nagawa kong tama sa buhay at binibigyan ako ng mga ganitong blessings. Ni hindi ko rin nga sigurado If I’m worthy of this. Pero isa lang ang alam ko, ke deserve ko man ito o hindi, malakas talaga ako kay Lord! Halos lahat ng mga hiniling ko ay natutupad. Kaya super duper thank you! Thank you po sa lahat!

So, I’m gonna do my happy dance! Gusto niyong sumabay? :)

Strangers, Again

It was the usual Tuesday morning at the office. Doing nothing since most of our group’s reports started after lunch. So I still have time to check our network, visiting from PC to PC to see if they have new movies. Yes, you may call it illegal but it’s what most of the employees do to keep them awake for freaking 8 hours sitting in a swivel chair. And then I ran across this video. At first I thought it was a movie, but it’s not. It’s a short film. And since it would only take of my fifteen minutes, I decided to watch the movie right then and there. Good thing I did.

The story is nothing new to us. It is about a normal couple – Josh and Marissa – who is struggling through their relationship. Every relationship goes through stages. Where and how each stage develops is ultimately up to each person. While we always hope for the best, we often can’t avoid the inevitable. Josh guides us through each stage of the relationship as it formed and as he predicts it will end up as.

I love the way Josh talked about the stages of the relationship. Ang daming “aray” moment sa short film na ito. I think every girl or guy can really relate to this film. Please see the video below. And please allow me to quote some of Josh’s lines that struck me the most. I actually loved almost all of Josh lines, but it would be pointless if I’ll post everything up here, right? So I’ll just let you watch the video yourself and see if I am indeed right or just being my usual drama and emo queen.


Stage 4: Comfortable
“Being comfortable isn’t necessarily bad. It’s one where we could truly be ourselves but it depends on what you do with that comfort. Some used it positively, continuing to work at their relationship, grow together, but others allow it to create distance.”
“Whether it’s taking each other for granted, or people changing over time, bottom line is someone stops trying. The feelings aren’t as strong as before.”

Stage 5: Tolerance
“We became one of those relationships were ‘it wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t great.’ And let me tell you, that’s never a good way to describe a relationship.”

Stage 7: Breaking up
“The change will be so drastic, so blunt, that one would probably want to get back right away, just to restore what was normal. But this doesn't always happen. And the distance will grow.”

AND MY MOST FAVE LINE/SCENE:
Marissa: “What do you think will happen if we don’t end up together? We’re gonna hate each other? Or will keep in touch?”
Josh: “I think that if life separates us and we’re gonna be in totally different places, I’ll always remember when our paths aligned for this period of time. And I’ll be thankful for that. And hope that wherever you are, you'll be thankful too. I think that's the best we can be sure.”

Writing "tips" Again...

Napapansin ko lately madami yata ang gustong magsulat. Medyo marami-rami ang humihingi ng tips eh. Whenever someone asks me to give some tips on writing (as if may "K" akong gawin yun.), i always end up suggesting my blog site. Particularly, THIS BLOG ENTRIES. Kahit papano naman pala ay may silbi itong blog ko no? Hahaha... So eneweiz, panibagong tips na naman mga kaeksenadora. :D Nakita ko lang din ito sa blog site ng isa ding new writer na si Maricar Dizon. I find it helpful and a reminder kaya irerepost ko din dito. Sana ay makatulong. :)

When You Have Nothing to Write...

It's been three weeks since my last manuscript got approved. Three weeks and yet until now, wala pa rin akong matapos-tapos na story. Alam mo yung feeling na may gusto kang isulat, alam na alam mo kung papano tatakbo ang storya and yet hindi mo mailagay sa MS Word? Yeesss.. ganun ako lately. Ang dami ko pa namang babayarin this month. Amf! :( What's more worst is that inaatake ako ng pagka-OC ko. Or maybe somehow, aminin ko man o hindi, apektado ako sa isang comment ng isang reader na nabasa ko somewhere. Sabi niya to no one in particular, pare-pareho na lang daw ang plot. WALANG BAGO.

Kaya eto... para tuloy akong tanga. Sa sobrang conscious at epal ko, walang maisulat. Because whenever I think of something new (plot), lagi kong naiisip yung sinabi niya kahit na hindi naman iyon para sa akin (or baka para sakin talaga yun? Hehehe...). Ang resulta, inuunahan ko ang self ko. Na kesyo pareho lang ng ganito, pareho lang ng ganyan. WALA NGANG BAGO. Ako na mismo ang mang-okray sa self ko. I figured out, mas mabuti pang ako na ang manlait sa sarili ko kaysa ibang tao.
Please don't get me wrong. I always welcome constructive criticism. Wala akong problema dun. Madalas, iyon pa nga ang hinihingi ko sa mga readers ko because I'm very much aware that my writing needs improvement. Kaya nga gustung-gusto kong makapag-workshop eh. Hindi ko nga lang magawa dahil laging conflict sa day job ko ang schedule kahit pa weekend siya. Kapag sinabi mong medyo na-bore ako sa ganitong chapter ng libro, mas madami ang narration kesa sa dialogue o di naman kaya ay wala siyang gaanong impact sayo, wala akong problema dun. Tatanggapin ko ng buong puso ang comment na iyon.
Pero iba ang constructive criticism sa pagiging tactless or inconsiderate. Depende din iyan sa pagkakadeliver ng isang tao. May ibang comment na masakit pero hindi mo iindahin dahil maayos at malumanay siya nang sabihin iyon (gaya ng mga halimbawang binigay ko sa itaas). Pero may iba talagang bitaw lang ng bitaw na hindi nag-iisip kung makakasakit ba sila ng kapwa o hindi. Sana man lang bago magbitaw ng mga salitang nakakasakit, isipin nila kung ilang gabing hindi natulog ang isang writer o ilang beses na sumakit ang ulo nito para lang matapos ang isang manuscript. Sana maisip nila na hindi madaling mag-isip ng mga eksenang "bago" o "unique" para sa isang gasgas na plot dahil sa ilang libong beses na iyong nagamit. Mahirap bumuo ng isang matinong love story na kailangang may 22,000 to 24,000 words. Subukan mo munang gumawa ng manuscript bago ka magreklamo.
Kung wala ka namang magandang sasabihin, sana manahimik ka na lang. At sana alam mo din yung kasabihang "Some things are better left unsaid."

I know, with this entry, you might think of me as suplada o maldita. O isa na namang epal na nakikisawsaw. Only this time, wala naman talagang issue. Gumagawa lang ako dahil nga wala akong magawa sa buhay at wala akong matapos-tapos na manuscript. Poknat na buhay 'to. Hahaha.

Hahayst!

"My Mom Raised Me Well..."

Tunog TV commercial lang ano? Hehe.. Pero totoo talaga yan para sa akin at sa kapatid ko. Because our mom raised us well. Naks! Ang drama ko lang naman!

I was barely six years old when our father died of heart attack. Medyo malabo na sakin ang ibang eksena noon. Ang naaalala ko lang talaga ay iyong eksenang umiiyak sa isang tabi ang Mamang ko habang inaalo ito ng isa sa mga Tita or Tito ko (not sure din) at kampanteng ginagamit ng mga doctor at nurse ang cardiac defibrillator sa natutulog kong Papang. I was not even crying that time. Dahil sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari at kung bakit nandun kami sa hospital at nagkakagulo ang lahat sa paligid ko. And then the next thing I remember, hindi na sa hospital bed nakahiga ang Pudra ko kundi sa isang kabaong na. That was when I realized that my father will never wake up again – ever.

Since then, si mudra na din ang tumayong ama at ina sa amin. Naaalala ko pa noon nang mawalan siya ng trabaho, habang ang ibang singles na dati nyang coworker ay nag-iisip kung saan gigimik o gagamitin ang separation pay nila, si Mudra naman ay abala sa paghahanap ng trabaho kinabukasan. Never kong nakalimutan ang isa mga comment ng former coworker niya: “Naningkamot gid ang byuda!” [Kumakayod talaga ang byuda!]. Hindi ko maalalang nagpahinga siya pagkatapos nun. She was thinking about me, my brother and our daily needs. Kailangan niyang makahanap agad ng trabaho dahil ayaw niya kaming magutom. But of course, hindi ko pa alam ang mga iyon noon.

God must have heard her prayers or maybe my father has been on our sides all the time dahil kaagad na nakahanap ulit si Mudra ng trabaho. But then, hindi pa doon nagtapos ang problema. For a single mother with a minimum salary and has two children, (not to mention na sa amin din nakatira ang lola ko), hindi madali ang lahat. Sa pagkain pa lang, pambayad ng kuryente at tubig at pambayad sa paaralang pinapasukan namin, kulang pa ang sweldo niya. Kaya kinailangan niyang maghanap ng sideline para may maibigay siyang pambaon samin - which is by the way 10 pesos a day. (Yes, tama ang nabasa niyo. Iyan lang ang baon ko noon.) Pagbebenta ng grapes, peanut butter, manicure, pedicure… name it. Lahat na yata ng sideline nagawa na ng ina ko para lang may maibigay lang na baon samin. Kapag naman hindi maganda ang sideline, kinailangan pa nitong mangutang sa iba.

I grew up knowing that my mom is different from my classmates’ mother. Hindi nito kayang umattend ng PTA meeting dahil may trabaho ito kaya Lola ko ang madalas na dumadalo. Hindi niya kami mapaghandaan ng almusal (liban na lang kung day off niya), dahil maaga siyang umaalis for work. Kaya nasanay na akong hindi kumakain ng almusal. Hindi niya kami pwedeng maihatid sa school kaya pinsan ko ang gumagawa nun. Madalas sa hindi, nagigising kaming wala na siya at dumadating kami ng kapatid ko mula sa school na tulog pa siya dahil sa graveyard ang shift niya. Naging Lola’s girl ako dahil halos ang Lola na ang nag-alaga samin noon.

Kung makitid lang siguro ang utak namin ng kapatid ko, baka nasumbatan na namin siya. Lagi kasi siyang wala. But then, sino ba kami para magreklamo? Hindi kami ipinanganak na mayaman. Kailangan pa naming maghintay ng medyo matagal kung gusto namin ng bagong damit. Nakaugalian na naming magsabi ng advance kay Mudra kung may kailangang bayaran sa school. Dahil hindi niya maibibigay ang pera in just a snap of her finger at kailangan pang humanap ng paraan para lang sa “emergency” na iyon. Lumaki kaming nakikita ang paghihirap ng Mudra ko mabigyan lang kami ng maayos na buhay. Tumatak sa isip namin ang lahat ng iyon kaya sino kami para sumbatan siya? Kung mayaman lang sana kami, eh di sana yung pagkukulang niyang iyon ay pinapalitan niya ng pera diba? Wish ko lang! But no, mahirap lang kami kaya burado sa listahan iyan. I guess, me and my brother both understand our situation that time kaya never kaming nagdemand sa kanya. Iyon lang siguro ang sekreto para sa isang masaya at maayos na pamilya – ang intindihin ang isa’t isa. (Parang pamilyado kung magsalita ano? Hehe…) She may be different from other moms, pero katulad din ng ibang ina, wala siyang ibang hinangad kundi ang makita lang kaming maayos. Iyon ang paraan niya para maipakita niya sa amin na mahal niya kami. Different ways but same objective. Ganun lang iyon kasimple.

Mahirap kami, oo. Pero never kaming naghapunan o nananghalian ng lugaw o champorado o magdildil ng asin. No, masyadong madrama na iyon mga fwends. Hindi pa ganun ka-MMK ang buhay naming pamilya. Alam niyo kung bakit? Dahil nagsumikap at naghirap ang Mudra ko huwag lang namin iyong matikman. And I guess lumaki kaming may positive outlook sa buhay kaya sa kabila ng lahat ng paghihirap, hindi ko naisip na pwedeng isa-MMK ang buhay namin. Dahil kung tutuusin, mas marami pa diyang mas madrama ang buhay kaysa sa amin. Marami diyang wala na ngang Tatay, pinapabayaan pa ng Nanay o vice versa. I guess dahil sa ugali din naming iyon kaya madalas ay napagkakamalan kami ng kapatid ko na hindi mahirap. Eh hello? Nakapag-aral lang naman kami ng private schools dahil sa scholarship at never kaming humingi ng awa sa ibang tao. Never din naman kaming nagyabang o nagkunwaring mayaman. I swear! Our friends can testify to that. We always believe that everything will turned out right dahil iyon ang nakikita ko lagi noon sa ina ko. She surpassed all the trials and look at us now?

Wala ako sa posisyon para magyabang ng mga achievements dahil sa totoo lang, wala pa naman talaga akong masasabing achievements. Hehe… Pero looking back to where we were twenty years ago, I’d say may mga nagbago nga. Sabi ni Mudra, madalas daw sabihin ng mga kakilala at kabaranggay namin sa GenSan na maswerte daw siya dahil kami ang anak niya. Pero sa totoo lang? Kami ang maswerte dahil siya ang nanay namin. At kung papipiliin ulit ako ng magiging nanay ko, between her and a rich mother who can give me all I want, dun na ko sa rich mother! Hehehe.. Joke! Siyempre sa kanya pa rin. I will never value the word “hardwork,” “never give up” and “trust” kung hindi dahil sa kanya. At hahanap pa ba ko ng iba kung pwede ko namang makita ang isang Tatay, Bestfriend at Nanay sa katauhan niya?

Kaya for u Mudra, Happy Mother's Day! Alala mo yung kaadikan at asaran natin nung isang araw? Uulitin ko ngayon, huwag ka lang maging pasaway pag matanda ka na kung ayaw mong ihagis kita sa sapa. Ha-ha-ha… i Love you Mamang!

That "M" Thing

WARNING: The following is not intended to frighten young single ladies. This is just my opinion. I’m not looking for a fight or debate. And if you’re a fanatic of weddings/matrimonial, STOP HERE.

Last April 12, 2011, our company provided us a free seminar for Personal Finance 101 with Chinkee Tan as our speaker (you can follow him at twitter). He calls himself a wealth and life coach. He was once a comedienne during 90’s I think if I’m not mistaken. He was one of the “Hawi Boys” of Randy Santiago. And he was also featured in Rated K with his rags to riches life story. The goal of the seminar is to help those who wanted to get out of their debt, budget their money and teach them the basic on how to be financially secured. I don’t mean to brag or something, but I have been reading some financial help books a long time ago so I wasn’t surprised with some of the facts, ideas and ways he presented. In fact, I’ve already started the base of my financial planning pyramid two years ago. But what really amazed me was how great he is as a speaker. He knows how to get everybody’s attention. He cracks jokes most of the time that made the whole session enjoyable. You’ll learn while you’re laughing.

But what really caught my attention was not the “finance side” of the seminar but the “relationship thing” he taught. There’s this one quote he shared that strikes me the most. He said…

“Marriage is a decision. And decision is not just based on your feelings but is based in choice and commitment.”

You choose to marry that one person you wanted to be with for the rest of your life. Therefore, you are committed to stay with him/her no matter what the future holds. Like the wedding vows, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. Until death do us part. If you aren’t ready for that commitment, then don’t get married. And as what Chinkee cited, the moment he decided to marry his wife, he chose to look to one woman only. Therefore he is committed to never take a second glance with other girls. He then jokingly said that its’ the “second look” that gets him into trouble.

Love is not enough for a marriage or a relationship to work. “Ang pag-aasawa ay hindi isang kanin na pwede mong iluwa kapag napaso ka.” Marriage is a lifetime commitment. I’ve heard those things before. But it is only now that they were starting to sink in fully.

Yes. Falling in love is a wonderful feeling. Who wouldn’t want to fall in love? Ayokong magpakaipokrita. I too, sometimes wish that I’ll be able to find my “The One” or “Mr. Right” or whatever you call it. I also hope to be with someone else just like some of my friends who are now happy with their relationship. I too, wanted to be just like every normal girl – waiting for the day that some guy will sweep them off their feet.

But then… A big, big BUT THEN:

Hearing that quote from Chinkee Tan and the everyday complaints of my already-married officemates, made me think and assess myself. And you know what I have found? THESE… I’m not fond of kids. I don’t know why but I’m always having a hard time mingling with them. I’m not patient. I’m not a morning person. I don’t know how to cook decent food. I’m scared of getting pregnant. Just thinking of the nine months agony and its labor process bothers me. I can’t see myself waking up in the middle of the night changing baby’s wet diaper or trying so hard to get him back to sleep. I’m still not satisfied with what I have achieved so far. And I still have other plans for my family (mother & brother).

Indeed… Marriage is something serious. It is a lifetime commitment. Getting married means you’re ready to forget about yourself and maybe giving up some of your usual habits (like shopping, travelling and sleeping for 10 hours straight). You always have to think of the family’s welfare first before yourself. Comfortable shelter, kid’s education, raising your kids properly, food, bills... Ugh! Never-ending list! Freaking scary!

Only now did I fully realize that I may be ready to fall in love again but I’m not yet ready to commit.

NOT NOW.

And I don’t know when…