1/4 of a whole

We all yearn to be loved. There is that fervent desire to be accepted. To be seen for who we really are and be welcomed regardless of our shortcomings. Our families have been our source of security, our homes our safe havens. For being with them allows us to be ourselves. However, once we face the outside world we feel the fear of not knowing who can be second families, who can see past our weirdness.

Looking back, high school can be the best or worst four years of your life. The time when cliques are the norm and finding the right clique can be a challenge or a piece of cake. I remember entering high school with uncertainty since most of my grade school friends have already transferred schools. I was scared that I might be bullied again and I won’t make it alive (exagge). Needless to say, I was not looking forward to high school, I really wasn’t. The school year started well, and I have met the best girls any unsure girl will ever have. I was now looking forward to having more adventure with them, I finally found my second home.

High school ended, another chapter begins, College. I attended college at De La Salle University-Dasmarinas far from where my best friends were, most of them attended the University of Santo Tomas and one of our friends attended the University of the Philippines-Los Banos. It wasn’t easy juggling school and our social lives. It was always a struggle to see each other since we were starting to get a hang of College. Sometimes, we would just go to McDonald’s just so we can catch up with each other. We tried to be creative even if it means seeing each other just for two hours.

You can say that we’ve been through some struggles. From conflicting schedules, to irritating ex-boyfriends, name it we had it. But nothing is more painful when some ties had to end. When someone decides to leave even without saying why. I guess, it’s even more painful when you hear their issues from other people and only to find out that there were too many issues that were just shoved beneath all the smiles and laughs. It wasn’t easy, it was too painful to swallow, but what’s done is done. We could have done better but there were choices made and we just have to live life with those choices. (I will write about this chapter someday. I promise, I will.)

One of my bestfriends and I visited our high school alma mater recently. I must say it was so refreshing to be back home. All the memories started coming back and it was so nice to see the familiar faces, all their smiling faces. I miss walking those corridors, i miss laughing with my friends but its all just memories now. I am happy that I was able to experience it all. I am proud that my bestfriends then are still my bestfriends now.

I am blessed to have met wonderful people. Over the years I can say that I have met a lot of acquaintances and a few struck a nerve and left a mark. Life will never be the same again for me, because I have met the best girls any one can ever have. We were judged but some people but (hell!) we’re still here, together. We were not just friends, we were sisters. We look after each other and celebrate each other. One thing I have learned is that, we all love our individual lives that its easy to let the other shine.

I have added a featured image so you can see my sisters from different mothers.
They are my bestfriends.
I am 1/4 of a whole – Bru Club.

Hail, 2016!

Last 2016 has been a year full of surprises.

2016 tested our family’s strength and love for one another. Dad’s hospitalization brought our family closer and our faith stronger. It wasn’t easy, seeing him lying in a hospital twice in a span of six months. We made it through, with the help of God and the strength we have as a family.

2016 brought wonderful memories. This year marked my 30th birthday and it was memorable one. Though I wasn’t fully happy of getting a year older, however, its the maturity and experience I get out of life that makes the feeling better. Being 30 is just the same when I was 29.

2017 is fast approaching and I can already hear the roar of fireworks outside, all I can say is that I pray that God will keep us under His care and mercy. We are who we are because of HIM. Life will truly be memorable regardless of year.

Happy New Year everyone!
Cheers!

An open letter to my 13 year old self

I have been struggling for the past few days on what I should be writing on. According to 10 tips on making a successful blog, always maintain a schedule. A schedule when you’ll be posting your articles. So, I have been really struggling on what to write about. It ain’t easy especially if there are a lot of ideas running to your mind. And, throw in a hectic 9(PM!) to 6(AM!) work schedule in the mix, and you have the perfect combination for blog writing trouble. Anyway, I have finally decided that I’ll be writing about open letters to myself, at the different stages in my life. I guess, being 30 gives me a different perspective on life. So, let’s start with.

Being 13 is the beginning of a lot of changes, both physically and emotionally. There will be moments wherein being stuck is a common feeling and that pimples are actually a common thing now. There will be unexplainable emotions and feelings that are too complicated, blame it on your hormones. And yes, sometimes there are parts of you that will hurt. There might be a feeling of the struggle is real but believe me when I tell you, it’s not yet the end of the world.

Always listen to your parents, they will always know better. Don’t piss your mom off, she’s still your strongest ally. Dad may start to be a little stricter with the boys, but it’s just a “dad thing.” The boys are also starting to change now, they’re getting taller, their voices becoming deeper and starting to grow weird hair  and they’re starting to look a whole lot cuter, but they’re still boys.

Start to choose your friends wisely. High school can be a mean environment, but honey hold on, life will be better. Don’t let someone dictate your feelings, your self-worth and your independence. You are your own diva and you do you. Rely on your real friends, they’ll help you power through the challenges. Don’t let the hurtful words cut you deeply, it may shake your confidence but always be a bigger person.

Keep praying, and keep believing that the Lord is on your side. Life has just begun love, and the best years of your life has yet to come. Savour the moments of being 13, you’ll only be 13 once. It is the start of the life of  teenager.

Brace yourself, it has just begun.

Be a Child Sponsor

I would like to take this time to promote World Vision Organization. I came across this organization six years ago and i admire their advocacy. I am a strong advocate of children welfare and I believe that no child should be hungry, sick and uneducated. When I came across World Vision, I got excited. Now, I would like to encourage you to do the same. For 750 php a month, you’ll be able to help a child, his/her family and even their community.

Sponsor a Child NOW click on the link if your interested. If you want to learn more about the organization, visit their website at worldvision.org.ph

 

What am I thankful for?

I am thankful for my Family.
Who I am and what I have become is because of my family. I am lucky to be in a family that makes you feel safe. Our relationship may not be perfect but I won’t have it any other way.

I am thankful for my friends.
Over time, we learn who are true friends are. I have learned through past connections that not all people are your friends. There will always be some people who don’t fit in your puzzle. I know who are the members of my  inner circle, know yours too.

I am thankful for all the blessings I’ve received.
We are all blessed, in one way or another. Do not let bad experiences make you feel otherwise.

I am thankful for life.
Every day is a gift, a gift of life. I am thankful that I wake up everyday.

I am thankful for all the good and bad things that happened in my life. The scars that I got helped me in becoming a better person. God has blessed me, more than I can ever imagined. He is/was/will be my rock.

Thank you, Big Guy!

 

I miss you everyday, kuya

Happy Birthday to my dear kuya Sonny. 🙂 I know you’re having a blast there in heaven. We miss you, I miss you. We were talking about you the other day, we shed a few tears knowing that we won’t be seeing you in a while. It is never easy. Mom still cries when she remembers you. I know that she misses you a whole lot too. I know you are at peace, and that you’re in a better place now. Watch over us. Always look after your kids, sibs and extended family.

I miss you kuya. (Pero wag mo ko dalawin ah, medyo freaky!)

Yay, MMDA!

It’s very rare for people to say good things about the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). I for one am guilty when it comes to sharing criticisms about them. I guess, MMDA is synonymous to traffic congestion, most especially when it comes to managing one of the main roads in the country, EDSA. I traverse EDSA every day and I must say it’s not fun, I’ve been stuck in EDSA far too many times and far too long.

Today is different, I was on my way home from work when I accidentally hit the small concrete barriers that separates the buses from the private cars in Guadalupe. I hit the barrier hard that I got a flat tire. It was so bad that I can feel my steering wheel going out of control. I had to stop in front of the Pet Plans building which right across the MMDA main office. I asked for help if they can have my car towed to the nearest tire shop. It took them a while to have a tow truck over. A rescue tow truck arrived however, they cannot lift my due to some chains missing they had to call for back up. The second tow truck came from Ortigas and it was the group who helped me out (thank you, mga sir!”) Also, there were two MMDA officers who assisted me and made sure I was safe the entire time.

The MMDA may not be the perfect department. There are still flaws within their systems however today, they were heroes. They were my heroes. The rescue team lead actually said something “Andito kami para sa public service.”

Saludo ako mga sir! Salamat po!

Photo credit: wikipedia.org

I found hell in Coastal Road’s Tollgate

It takes a lot of skill to be a driver in Manila. Believe me when I say that for the longest time that I have been driving, what I have experienced is not even half of what happens on a daily basis in Manila traffic. I have experienced being stuck in EDSA for four (4) freakin’ hours because of an unexpected rain shower. I have my fair share of PUV drivers who drive recklessly on highways, national roads, etc just to get passengers. I’ve seen how crazy bus drivers can be, they don’t care if there are cars near them, all that matters is to get as many people as they can. Motorcycle drivers are also my latest pet peeve, how they arrogantly drive their motorcycles not even taking into account that there are specific lanes that they should occupy.

However, one takes the ultimate prize. The Coastal Road Tollgate, i must say not a day passes by without me cussing inside my car. Every day, and i say every day regardless if i am on my way to work (at night) or on my way home (in the morning) its still the same saga that I face all the time. What I don’t understand is how the lanes (ETAP, RFID, BEEP/CASH, etc) are arranged in the freakin’ tollgate. It’s in the middle of all the CASH lanes that all people if not 90% of drivers use. Before I even get into the booth, I’ve already spent almost an HOUR of my time just to traverse the crazy line of cars, vans, jeeps, buses, etc. Just imagine, AN HOUR to pay your toll and when you’ve successfully traversed the craziness, all you will see is an all clear ETAP lane! It’s just unbelievable!

What irritates me that most is when you ask the security guards that are stationed in the RFID lane, they would give lame answers if not stupid answers that makes the situation all the more aggravating. One time, we confronted a teller (i am sorry miss, i know its not your responsibility) and asked for someone to deal with the congestion, her reply was “marami po kasing nakaharang” I know! I am not blind, I can perfectly see na maraming nakaharang. Then some guard will intervene and say “Puro po kasi bago yung mga tao” Is it our fault as drivers? Do something about it!

We made an effort and spent money availing the etap card and rfid because we wanted to get through the tollgate in the fastest way possible. However, I don’t get it why the Cavitex people don’t realize that everyday is hell in Coastal road.

Hindi po libre ang pag gamit ng Coastal road, kaya nga po kami ng-avail ng ETAP or RFID kasi gusto namin makadaan ng tollgate ng matiwasay at mabilis. Please lang, wag na natin hintayin na may magkarambola, mgkainitan ng ulo, mgkabarilan or mgkasakitan sa kalsada para mapansin nyo yung hirap na pinagdadaanan namin mga motorista, araw-araw. Gawan nyo ng paraa yan mga sir. Isipin mabuti ang mga sinasabi kasi hindi nakakatuwa.

Feeling Great @ 30

Every year, I would always wonder how getting a year older would feel like. I always get excited on how many IG posts, Facebook shoutouts and birthday comments I get for every birthday I celebrate. I always hope that I surpass the number greetings I got the year before.There is always that feeling of beating the year before, in any way, shape or form.

2016 is definitely a year to remember, especially for those who share the same birth year as myself. This year, we are ringing in our 30th year. I was always worried on how I can make my 30th birthday memorable. I thought of going on a staycation and enjoy the remaining moments of my late twenties. Being 30th felt like there is that dark cloud ahead, an inevitable dark cloud. (lol!)

When it was finally my birthday, it was nothing but normal. I guess, reporting to work made it more like any regular day. (haha!) Kidding aside, it felt like I was just 20. It is true when they say that age is just a number. It really is more of how you perceive life and how you play it. Age is part of life, no matter what we do. How we handle our birthdays and being a year older makes all the difference.

If you ask me two months ago how I am feeling being 30, i’ll tell you I am terrified. Now that I am 30, heck! it doesn’t change anything. I am still me. I guess, ask me next year when I turn 31.