Christmas 2011

I thought of writing something I ought to remember someday. yes. So today is my first Christmas away from home. Not actually my first Christmas away from my family but this is something different.

This is my first time to have only pizza for Noche Buena. First time not to talk to my family. My celphone got drained, plus th video call is not so clear. The voice is stuttering. I almost wanna cry. I just felt so sad.

But then again, I don't wanna cling to that doomed feeling so I just have to think of the happy thoughts instead. I saw my dog on skype. OMG! He's so big na! I wonder if he could still remember me. I just miss him so much. My closest friend stayed in our house and celebrated Christmas eve with my family.

So that's just my sister and my friend out there.

Sigh, tonight, I feel like I'm only living in a virtual world. My family, my friends, everyone is so out of reach. I don't know if I ever have to be seeing them for real. =(

 Wooohoo..I just can't help it. I was trying to hide my tears..But maybe, just once, I just wanna say that I miss them so much! Nevertheless, I just wanna thank God for all the blessings. For making it til the end of Simbang Gabi, and for my job, new people I've met, and new place where I am right now.

I am suppose to wait until midnight like I used to do. But, I just realized that maybe today is just another day to be thankful and be blessed. Anyway, Happy Birthday Jesus!

I know this is not much an interesting post. I just want to remember this day. Merry Christmas!!!

A letter to the one God prepared for me

I am wondering at this very minute if you are thinking of me, if like me, you are wondering what is taking us so long to find each other. Many times I thought I finally found you only to be disillusioned by the fact that my wait has not yet ended. I get up each morning hoping, dreaming, longing to meet you.

I am thinking of how we will meet, would it be as romantic as the ones I have seen in movies? Or is it possible that I have known you all my life but we have yet to realize that we are meant for each other? Oh how I wish you were here right now because you are the only one who has the answers to all my questions. Sometimes I ask myself if I have ever really known "love". I do not have the answer to that question either but I believe that, more often than not, we will never really know what love is until we find that right person.... and since I have not found you yet, then maybe I do not really know what love is! You just don't know how often I dream of finally knowing what it feels like to be in your arms. Even at this very moment I am imagining how you will simply sweep me off my feet! Perhaps your smile, or your eyes would draw me to you, or maybe even how you manage to make me laugh by your silly little ways! I don't really know for sure but I am praying that God will help me recognize you when the right time comes. I think of all the pain that I have gone through in the past and of how much I have cried since the day I began my search. I just wanted you to know that I find my strength in clinging onto my vision of the beautiful life ahead of me --- the life I shall spend with you. In my mind and in my heart I know that you are worth all that pain and sacrifice.

After all, the tears have become a part of my life and I believe that they are slowly washing away my flaws so that I would become perfect, not perfect in its truest sense, but perfect --- for YOU! I wonder if you've gone through so much pain as well. I wonder if you've been hurt so many times along the journey. But my dearest one, please don't ever give up because I am right here... patiently waiting for you! I assure you that when we finally find each other I would slowly heal those wounds by my love.

At night, I would look out my window and stare at the beautiful sky, hoping that somehow you are also looking up and wondering about me. I utter a silent prayer and send all my cries to the heavens above thinking that in time they would reach you. And when I feel impatient, I just close my eyes and believe that you are on your way and that you are longing to see me as well. It is funny but when I finally fall asleep, it is still you that I think of, for you are always in my dreams. It seems that, for now, that is the only place where I can hold on to you, long enough to tell you how much I love you. In my dreams you would kiss away my fears and wrap me with your arms of love. And this, all the more, makes me want to wake up and face the new day ahead with the hope that soon enough, you will no longer be a dream but a reality and once again I am assured that you are worth the wait. And when that time comes, everything will fall into its place, just as I had imagined, just as I had thought and dreamed, just as I had believed it would be! By then, I would simply look back and smile at all that I have gone through, in spite of the pain and amidst the simple joys of life --- and I would be very thankful because they all led me to you!

In the meantime, take care of yourself for me. Hold on to our dream and don't even think of letting go. Believe in your heart that we will find each other no matter what happens. God has planned the course and it is up to us to follow the directions. Don't worry, don't be afraid about getting lost, God saw to it that all the roads, no matter which one you choose to follow, lead to me.

PS. I once told myself that if time comes that we will meet each other, I'm gonna punch or slap u and rant at you, and tell you, "How dare you make me wait for so long? What took you so long to find me? Then I'll hug you coz finally I found you. So if ever my heart says and love you back, please don't ask why, I don't know neither. Just do love me too. Will you?

JAbel Hafeet, Al Ain

I have always been fascinated with great views and that's why I always wanted to travel. But, my favorite places could be amusement parks, beaches and great architectural buildings and malls. However, sometimes I also wanted to try the mountain climbing experience. I wanted what it feels like to be at the top. As like most of those people who are fond of doing such hobby, I wanted to give it a try. However, I know for myself that I always get tired easily. I always end up saying, "nagpapalpitate nko. pagod nko. pahinga na nmn". Okay, that's my weakness.


But then, I never thought that one day I could really get to the top with no expense and a little effort. This mountain is called, Jabel Hafeet. It is a rock formation-like mountain that I have been last week. My workmate told me that we would be going there one day. And I never thought that it would go beyond my expectation because in the morning, it would just look like a plain and boring mountain with no green at all.

So we did!

This is what the mountains are made of. Rocks na literal. But then, I never thought that it would be so fascinating to go up there. We took a car up to the top. I was really amazed and that I could not help my excitement from raging while we were escalating up there. I could feel the cold breeze and feel na feel ko na nasa tuktok na kami. It was freezing cold!

This is how the road looked like. Everytime I look down, my heart was pounding for excitement. "Ang ganda!" Me and my friends were having fun inside the car, not even feeling that paakyat na kami pala sa bundok.

Finally, we reached the top. It was not actually the most tophill but it was already freezing cold and from there, I could feel that we were already so high. I could see the whole city of Al Ain, UAE. And from there I did not feel like I was in the middle east. "Ang lamig lamig.. brrrrrr"

But... it was heavenly! Beautiful!

After we took some pictures from the top, we moved down hill and there I saw green hills all around. Wow, I wondered how those grass grew in the desert? I moved closer and that they called it the "Green Mubazarah"

From there, I learned that they placed built-in water hose under those grass para lang mabuhay sila sa disyerto. Whoa!!!Brilliant Minds! We then experienced what it's like to be lurking around. Then we found a hot spring where in you can soak your feet to have a relaxing feeling.

It was super hot. At first, I thought it could burn our feet. But then I saw people and even small children tolerating the heat. So then we tried it. It was indeed relaxing! "And sarap sa paa." Afterwards, we went up to the hills.

We looked closer to the grass. It was not like an ordinary "bermuda grass". It has a bubble like leaf that's like a cactus that's really good for very hot weather like in the desert. "Ang galing!"

Finally, we went home. It was then I have first been fascinated with how it feels great to be on top of the mountains. It feels like heaven! Then, we came up with one thought....


"It is true that UAE has the best architectural designs in the whole world. However, it not because they produce great architects, but because they have all the money and finances to pay the those with great minds all around the world. And mind you, a lot of those great minds they are paying are Filipinos!"

If only! ;)

From once upon a time to I wish upon a falling Star! ;)

Whenever the day comes that I am off from duty the next day, it feels like my heart is pounding for joy that I wanted to seize the day, freeze the time and make my day off longer than a regular 24 hour would do. I cherish every moment that I could find time to rest, and sleep, eat and yes, tell a story.

Ayun un eh. Sabi ko na meron ata ako talaga akong calling sa pagiging story teller. I just wanna talk and talk kahit na mag isa lang ako, kaya I always find time to write once in a while. Sa totoong buhay man o hindi, talaga lang sigurong madaldal ako or madaming kwento.

Okay, so much about that, I just received an email from our boss that my probationary period is about to end. Which means, I'm almost 3 months already here away from Pinas. But why do I feel like I'm still at the coping up stage? The culture, the weather, the dialect stage, etc. Minsan, gusto ko din ma feel ung "homesickness" nilang tinatawag. Madalas kasi, nababasa ko sa Facebook ng mga friends ko na naunang nag abroad, na miss na miss n nila agad ang Pilipinas, ang balot, jollibee, sinigang, etc.. Well naisip ko, meron nmn din ditong itlog maalat? Fastfoods, pwd nmng magluto ng sinigang? Wala lang, skeptic lang ako kasi minsan, naiisip ko, abnormal ba ako? Bat di ako nahohomesick pa? haha Or baka sanay lang din talaga akong independent ever since? Anyway, d ko nmn mapapagkakaila na I miss my family and friends, but not to the point that I would want to go home na agad, rant about it and all that.

Anyway, darating din ako jan. At baka pagtawanan nyo ako pag ako ay sobrang nahomesick. Now naiimagine ko na how sad it could be. But...this is not about that. My kwento is not about the homesickness, it's about the "once upon a time and wish upon a falling star" ika nga ng title ng blog na to.

Well, para lang may konek, ganito un. Once upon a time, na bigla ko nlng naalala, we live in this matchbox type of dormitory. (with my friend Wendee, a costaff nurse in Pinas).

It was super small room na kung makikita mo nmn, parang pgbaba mo ng kama, dining na agad. 3-4 steps, it's our door out. Super masikip, it was. But then, it was already expensive enough for a salary of the nurse in Pinas.

But anyway, though bahay namin kahit munti, we were having so much fun!

We would invite our other friend, (Let) and do our silly things. Picture to the highest level, and mga kakikayan lang. No dull moments indeed. Then, we started to wish. Sabi namin, "yaan mo Deng, pag yumaman na tayo, hindi na ganito kaliit room natin. Hindi na tayo masisikipan, d na tayo magcocommute, d na tayo maglalakad. (ting!)

Fastforward to 3 years after. Never did we imagine that we would once again bump into each other again in a new chapter of our lives. It was fate. We never did think that our one wish would be granted and truly, at almost exact package as we wished.

Wendee has been working in UAE for more than a year and then we met again. She got married and we planned to rent a flat. It took as a lot of obstacles before we had came up to the one that we would really like.

 And this is what I call, the adjustment period. Ang hirap palang magsimula. We were like starting from scratch and now praying that finally makapag settle down na. Then ta-da!!!

This is our new flat!

Oh ha, ala "from rugs to riches" ang drama. Although, I believe that we are not yet rich. Madami pa kaming kayod, sermon, sakit at pagod na kelangang harapin sa pagiging nurse. But somehow, nakakatuwang isipin na from the matchbox house, to a wish, now a reality in living in our own flat. Amazing, right? God is so good. He listen to our prayers when he knows you work for it.

Hindi masama ang mangarap. Sana susunod na ang wheels namin na isa pa naming niwish din. haha..Kaya pag nagpray ka dw, be specific! Pray with details and work for it too.

I remember this night when we were walking, we were choosing from the cars that were parked.
Wendee: ayan nalng kaya? ay masyadong maliit. Gusto ko ng madaming kasya.
Me: Okay, pili na!!! hahaha

These are my new housemates. And this story is a living proof that we should never under estimate our dreams. Dream. Believe. and make it come true!

(like it was Saturday when I wished na sana Wednesday na para off ko na. And tomorrow, it is!) haha ;p

Where Can we find Happiness?

It took me time before I could regain the things that I have been missing. The old me. The-not-so-busy-me who always have a time to write her thoughts every now and then. The old me who rants and rants, but still get manage to get a life, be happy, travel, laugh and cry at petty things. That was when everything was so simple. And it feels like yesterday.

I just could not imagine that I would be waking up one day in a world where everything is a fast track. I wake up each morning like a battery automated robot that is tuned to go to work, get home, do my laundry, cook food, sleep, and then repeat. It's been two months! And it feels like, it's been years!!! Seriously, I am wondering what my life could have been when I am not here. Where could I be when I took a U-turn? left turn or right?

But after all, I did not regret every single decision that I had. Everything was planned according to my fate. And this honestly, is more than enough that I could ask for. So instead of raging on my rants and raves, I just came to some thoughts of realizations after 2 months of living in a brand new world.

I then came thinking..."Where could the happiest place be?" When I was a kid, I believed that Disneyland was the happiest place on earth. Never in my dreams that one day I would be stepping on that place, shouting for joy. True enough, I was the happiest when I have been to that place. It was a magical feeling. Then I began to fall inlove into traveling to different places, knowing different cultures. Just when I thought that my personal definition of happiness is "traveling".

Now that I am living in a foreign country, I just came to realize so many things. Now that I am in a world that's full of richness, I thought.... "Could money really buy happiness?" At first, I was overwhelmed with all the material things that I could not buy before. All the signature bags, clothes, stuffs and all those beautiful places I never thought that I could be. I tried them all. To quench my thirst of curiosity, I asked the people in here, "Are you happy with your life? I mean, with all these richness in the world?" The golden spoon, the most updated techies, luxurious cars, that they could almost buy everything, even their wives. Sad to hear, the answer was "NO".

I then came to know that this is a place where you can find so many unhappy souls despite the riches that they have. A place where love does not exist. When I heard different stories of the women in here, I felt sad. They uttered how stiff their life is, with all the restrictions and all that. When they could not express their feelings. Yes, they have everything, but nothing....

I was then thinking that life is not unfair. It is not! Let's try to imagine the Philippines! What if it will be sooo much rich, then all the people will no longer go abroad to work. Then what will happen to this place? What if this place is so poor and no one will work but them? Would they still survive? I have witnessed how well and intelligent Filipinos are in terms of working. Now, what if there will be no patient enough Filipinos to endure working in other places, what a mess the world could be? So that's what we call- balance.

Money is important, yes! It is given to those who are willing and courageous and deserving enough. But, mind you, it is indeed not everything. It is so sad to hear stories from people who could not be as HAPPY as a Filipino folk!

I don't wanna be a racist here, but as I had traveled to some places, I could still say that the Philippines is still beyond compare. =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREETING

From Coast to coast, I am sending all my wishes and greetings to my one and only sister,  Hazel May! The voice when I stutter, the person who snaps when I sleep, who turns the tv on when all I wanna do is to listen to music, who makes me run when I am just suppose to walk, who scolds me more than my mom, who treats me like her little sister or I must say beyond how an older sister treats her baby sister, and just get lucky because she has me who understands her more anyone could ever do.  Hey soul sister, I don't wanna miss this single day without greeting you a HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (and ps. thank me for the effort) haha..love you! miss u. take care =)

Shocking Cultures

Whenever I feel so doomed, missing home, feeling tired and bored, it is reminds me how I wanted to be here. This! A place exactly where I am. It reminded me of my everyday prayers a long time ago that I really wanted to go away from home. Not just to earn Dirhams, but for so many reasons. And one of them is to get a life away from my rants and raves of a tiring job that was never been fairly compensated.

Now here I am. Though I am not complaining, I am more on contemplating. What and where in the world am right now?

I remember when I used to go places, I always love to capture and learn the cultures of the people. My first struggle has always been the dialect, then the currency.

Natutuwa ako mag collect ng mga pera ng ibang bansa. They are so colorful and they look like "play money". Well of course, at first they were neatly filed on my wallet. But at the end of the day, I have to spend them all. Well, at least I have taken a picture of them before they're gone with the wind. Now, that's the Rupiah. A money in Jakarta, when I have visited my sister in Indonesia. I was the happiest kid then. My sister gave me 100, 000 Rupiah. Akala ko ang yaman yaman ko na. Only to find out that their money value is so low. My gulay!

Talking about gulay, the next thing that amazed me were the vegetables. I don't know why I always want to take pictures of them eh sa totoo lang d nmn ako mahilig kumain ng gulay...Though all my different encounters whether it could be in China, Jakarta, or even in ABu Dhabi, I always get a picture of a "Gulay".

So look, eto Ang Gulay! Bow!

peppers from Indonesia

Ang talong from Abu Dhabi...

And of course, ang tumatagingting na dirhams!


I sometimes find myself weird that I whenever I capture things, I have to think that maybe I could use this for future references. Maybe I could show the next generation how it was back then. The views, the food, and the things that seems to look different from what I used to see.

That was me in Macau...


Now, as I was saying, it is indeed difficult to be at a place where you didn't used to grow up with and adopt the culture as if it was really yours. The reason why I was comparing the things that has amazed me during my travels is that today, when I am working in a world that is entirely different from a Filipino culture, It is indeed a challenge. Meaning, it is difficult. Few weeks ago, I was battling with the dialect encounters. It was so stressful to deal with people, especially in my profession as a nurse pag hindi mo sila naiintindihan. Nosebleed talaga. I remember last night when I saw a book of my mentor and asked her if I could read it. It was all in Arabic. I told her, "how could you read this all? Isn't it difficult?" Then a filipino colleague came to talk to me in Tagalog. My mentor then asked me, "how could you talk in Tagalog so fast? Isn't it so difficult?" We both then laughed.

God is so amazing. He has indeed made the world so colorful and full of wonders. Whenever I travel, I always love to learn different cultures. And never in my dreams that I would be dealing with the arabic culture this way. In one way or another, I could not complain nor question God why He chose me to be here. In the first place, it was my choice. There were so many things though I have learned in here, and I know there will be more.

Now I am looking forward of more cultures and places that I will be visiting one day. I wanna witness myself that the world is indeed ROUND! =)

There's always a first time!

It's been 3 weeks since I have been away from home. When I say away, it means, 4ooo miles away. Yes, I am here in the land of nowhere, where everything is new. The place, the culture, the people, the weather , the religion. One by one, I have to deal with it. So, let's call it a "major-major" adjustment in Abu Dhabi!

When my dad accompanied me at the airport, I was damn nervous. You know that impression of most people have on the arab place? "Scary!" So I was so afraid. I saw my other colleagues with their parents and a bunch of friends with them, teary eyed and all that. My dad left already that I was alone with all my anxieties and there were not much emotional goodbyes for me to make. Well, that's a perk, I believe so... I should re assure myself that it's ok (coz I had no choice)..

There are a lot of perks though when you had traveled a lot already before. You already know how it feels like when the plane takes off, the turbulence, the immigration process, the baggage, etc. I was alone in my journey and I knew that I would make it. And yes I did! Although may mga kasama nmng Pinoy, they were all strangers to me that time. I just took few pictures though during my plane ride, for blogging purposes (hihi)

But..... A BIG But!!! it was my first time to travel for almost 12 hours via plane with a connecting flight in Singapore. Woohooo! I was shivering, dizzy and super bored that I had already finished 3 movies on board.

Now let me show you the airport that welcomed us in land of United Arab Emirates!

amazing, right? Yeah I was amazed! But then again, I was really anxious of the life beyond this beautiful things my eyes could see....Nung una kong makakita ng mga taong naka abaya halos lahat, bigla akong natakot. Oh em gee! eto na yun! At lalo kong naramdaman yung realidad nung nakaamoy nako ng kakaibang amoy. haha.. So kelangan tagalog, syempre para hindi maintindihan.

Okay let's see...
How does it feel like to be officially called as OFW? I have been hearing a lot of things about being an OFW..

malungkot, mahirap, etc, etc...
But then again, In my life in the Philippines, I was so independent that I was living away from home that at this moment, I felt like I am still living on my own, only that it's in a brand new world! Honestly, I don't feel like missing anyone yet. (aside from my dog)...Of course my family too, pero I know, kanya kanya na nmn kami ng buhay ngayon. Lahat nasa malayo na din. Well,  I hope it would feel like this until the end of 2 years. Maganda nga siguro yung wala kang masyadong naiiwan para d ka masyadong nasasaktan. (chos)

So far, so good... I just wanna share my first few "first times" in here...
The first time I exposed myself outside, I was sunburned. The temperature was 41 degrees and it was pricking hot. I bought some hydrating creams because my face and skin was super burned. My goodness! But the good thing is that, everything in here is centralized.

So after I had recovered from the heat shock, I was so amazed to hear that it's raining din pala in here. In fairness nmn.. I took pictures again.

It was so funny that even at work, the rain was so big deal. Everybody was talking about it. Ang saya ng lahat. Umuulan! haha
Well, so much about the rain. There are other new things that amazed me in this place. Another thing is when I have my journey to work, I always encounter camels walking and passing the streets. May nakalagay pa na signage, "Be careful, camels crossing". (sayang d ko napicturan!)

After few days that we get used with the people, my anxieties and worries slowly has been deteriorating. There was even one time when I went to the mall alone. I took the taxi and I left the plate number with my friends. Afterwards,  I could hear my heart pounding.... But then again, Thank God, I reached there and got home safely.

We also experienced the place in here that is "ala- Quiapo/Divisoria" ang dating... Everything you need to buy is there. We have to hurdle the prices and it was so cheap. When we get used to the place, we again took pictures...

That's the mosque at my back..

And that's the busy streets at night.

Then, while we were walking at the mall, we passed this atm machine, which looked like a vending machine. Instead of food, it's Gold to Go! Susyalan. So pagbigyan nyo na. First time din namin makakita nito. We were so wondering how much a little gold bar costs. Then we said, "Oh, kaya nmn pala ng sweldo natin. Not Bad! pero syempre, why would we waste our money for that dba?" wala lang, just to quench our thirst of curiosity.

A closer look...

Life is full of mysteries and uncertainties. We will never know what it's like when we never try. Sometimes, we get too scared that we never get out from our shells and at the end of the day, we would end up full of regrets and "what-might-have-beens". In this journey, I have learned a lot. I know that different challenges are waiting for me ahead. But then, I know that there's nothing bigger than my faith and my courage to conquer them all. Inshallah!... =)

My hair

That instead of cutting my hair, I decided not to. I straightened it instead.

Sweet stuffs!

I just never thought that people would be so sweet and thoughtful. I just could not express how it melted my heart, knowing that through little sweet things, people made me smile bigtime!

A 20 peso bill with a message from my workmate- hazel.

A flower from a stranger to friend
And a traveling pillow from a friend, ER

A printed picture from a friend, Janet. 'Ako nalang daw bumili ng picture frame, okay fine!" hehe

A personalized chain with my name on it and a cute little airplane with a sweet message from my unit supervisor from work.

A message in the bottle from my workmate, Ann2.

A lovely souvenir from Paris from my friend, Cherry.

A huge bday card from my headnurse, Sir Jav with all the greetings from the whole 3600 staffs. Thank you!

A little toodle from my costaff, Genevieve. Coz according to her, this looks like me, "antukin"

Guys, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I so much appreciate this! I could not say more. Aww, this made me feel so loved and I am so blessed to have you. Thank You! =)

Talking about Growing Up

Whenever I see people, teenagers go crazy about silly things, I never thought I was just one of them a long time ago. I was also the so-called "Silly Girl".

The rockstar wannabe, the crazy over a popstar, a trendy follower, loco over sweetums tweetums stuffs that whenever I remember those times, I go saying, "duh?! was that me then?"

So how does you know you are actually growing up? It's when you no longer go on concerts? shouting over you fave crush with a fan banner saying, "I love you Aaron Carter!" Ayayay, that was Justin Bieber on my time.ha-ha.  Or maybe a locco over Korean cuties and dreaming over them? Oh darn... Old days old days. been there, done that!

yes, i guess I have gone through them. As I was saying, I have moved on. Congratulations to me! I have grown up! But once in a while, isn't it cute to look back and remind yourself how silly you were?  I was!!!

This is my childhood bestfriend, Kathlyn! She was my partner in my teeny crushie talks, my teenage drama stories, my locco obsession over Aaron Carter, Leonardo de Caprio, The Moffats, Backstreet Boys, 7th Heaven series, Casper, M2M stuffs and many others.

This was US. From schooldays, to Prom nights, to the day we said goodbye to each other.

Then we met this another girl who became a big part of our teenage years, Pearl. We then became the trios. And guess what? I have to whisper to you guys, coz it's so nakakahiya. But, we actually had this kabaduyan name of our group. We called ourselves, "The Annce". Ann-for Jennifer ANNe and CE for kathlyn marCE and pearl graCE. nyahaha!!!'

Here we are! The "ANNCE"

oh dba? The moves! plus the the outfit, pamatay! I just could not help laughing, while looking at our picture. It's good to see yourself once upon a time and laugh how naive you were. Well, there's more!

We actually dreamed to have our own band. My two friends, Kathlyn and Pearl, were good in guitar. I know how, but I was not so good on it, anyway. We were recording our voices and portraying the once-famous-singers, The M2M. We believed we would be sikat one day. Mga ambisyosang palaka! And to make that things even more interesting, Kathlyn even composed a song for the 3 of us. I could still memorize the chorus. It goes like this....

"Now it's time to move in our ways. And leave the friends we had since yesterday. And even if if won't see each other again. We will look and and think about the friends we had." 


Amazing coz I could even remember the tune.

We were good girls. We did great in school. We had good grades, but sometimes, we cut classes, just for silly sessions. Nah, it's not inuman sessions. It was all about our concert-kuno, our beauty contest for our Barbie Dolls and paper Dolls, our drawing sessions, and mga kalandian while watching the backstreet boys on TV.

After high school, we parted ways. One on each island of the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. From then on I never had much news about them. All I knew was the 3 of us became a NURSE.

I found out that Pearl got herself indulged with the Korean peeps, and so I did, as they were my first career. I worked as a Korean teacher. Dumating din ako sa point na I was head over heels crazy over the Korean tele serye and all those stuffs. Then finally, na outgrown ko din. narealize ko, these people doesn't even give a damn to us, why am I wasting my time? Nah, it was just so childish. That was just it!

Then, I came back to my hometown and thought of looking for Kathlyn. I haven't seen her for years already and I so just miss her! So finally, I saw her.

We had a lunch date outside and talked about the things we missed with each other. I found out that she's already married and she has a daughter who is turning 3 already. My God, napag iiwanan nako. Then I saw this picture of her daughter.

Oh EM Geee!!! She's so cute and this is so like Kathlyn! The Barbie Dolls! Oh my, it seems like time runs so fast that yesterday, it was us who were playing those dolls, now, it is her daughter! Sigh... yeah, growing up issues!

Then when I came back to Manila, Pearl told me that she's here too. So I grabbed the chance to meet her.
Okay, the same old beautiful girl I have met before. Seems like nothing has changed. Maybe we just both grew taller and now wiser in life. Pearl is such a future-driven person. She's focused with her life and motivated with her career. Now we are both seeking for our fate abroad.

While looking back at our old pictures, we just laughed at it and we are proud knowing that we have gone through them all.

Now, I can see people and teenagers who are still in this stage of time. Yung kung baga nasa stage ng pagkakaloka sa mga celebrities, karamihan sa mga korean. Well, sometimes, I find them funny and cute. It just remind me of myself once upon a time. I know that there will come a time when they will have outgrown this stage, they too would smile as they look back.

Well today, I just have to shrug and sigh. Buti nalang tapos nako sa stage na yun. Now, I am ready to face the realities of life.

When I unraveled God's Gift

Do you believe that God makes the best gifts ever? Do you believe that He is actually working the best things in your life more than you have ever prayed for?

It was quite a long run for me. I have been longing for this one prayer that took so long to happen. I have been praying over and over for my career to change at hand. I wanted to reach the future I am talking about for so long. I have been led to different roads. It took me some wrong turns before I finally found where God wants me to go.

Last year, I had been so much devastated after I have exerted too much time, money and effort in this one thing I believe I should be getting. I was so sure that I could get it. I passed all the examinations and interviews and completed the requirements. But hey, God said "No, it wasn't the best one yet, my dear! I am preparing something so great for you!"

I was so rushing. At first, I decided to go to Saudi. I thought it wouldn't matter anyway if I would be going there. Everything was all set, I was so fearless regardless of the things I have been hearing, I was just waiting for my visa, when it took a year after that I realized that it was not for me. I have thought of going to Singapore, but then again God whispered, "No my child, I have something better for you".

In an unexpected time, I was scheduled to take the HAAD exam by my friend. It was a less-than-a-week preparation. It was a licensing exam for UAE. An open country in middle east where I least expect I would be working to. I took the exam though I barely had my review. Well I believe if it's where God wants you to go, He will give it to you. I passed! Amazing!

I thought it would be that easy already. Me, being so impatient, thought that with that exam, I could go anywhere as fast as I wanted to. Then, I bumped into this employer who has suddenly made a big change in my life. I invested too much money, time and effort, knowing that this could be my fate. But everything was shattered when I was not able to leave. And yeah, it was not my fault. It wasn't anybody's too. Though it broke my heart, It is only now that I realized that i should be thankful I did not pursue it because God has something a lot to offer me. Something BIG! And now, I realized that instead of putting a blame into anyone, I should be thankful it did not happen.

During those times, I was suffering from different rage of emotions. I was having tantrums that I have to admit, I came to a point of questioning God, "Why?" Everyday, I have to face the dilemma of facing people and their queries on what had happened to me. At work, I have to drag myself, knowing that it was already against my will to work in the workplace where I ought to be leaving quite some time ago.

But I believe that my heart is still strong to go on. I worked anyway. Life goes on, and patiently, I told God that I will wait til His plans are ready.

I had brought back my life. I had breathe again. I had set aside my worries. I was no longer rushing. I was enjoying every minute of my everyday. I have traveled to several places, I met new people, I have fallen in love, I have fallen out of love, I have found peace of mind, and I was happy.

During the time that I have was already having a time of my life, God whispered, "My child, my gift for you is now ready. Now open it!"

Whoah! I never thought that it would be something far beyond my expectations. Few months I had passed all the employer's interview and screenings, I was offered a reasonable compensation. With that, I was already happy and contented. I didn't care when i would be leaving and if I would be leaving still. I got numb after all the delays I had before.

Then this God-given gift surprised me. As I unraveled the gift, I was so happy to know that the employer doubled the offer. Now it is even triple the offer I was longing before. It was something MORE than I even asked for. Plus, the place I am going to is really something great. Now, I am so overwhelmed!

 Then, everything happened so fast. I was no longer doing anything, but one by one, things are happening I wanted them to be.

Finally, I have let go with my job I had for almost 3 years, that I learned to fall in love with. I never thought that though how much I wanted to leave already, it was indeed heartbreaking to do so. Goodbyes weren't that easy. People just kept on touching my life that made me harder to say goodbye.

But then again, at the end of every journey, we should say goodbye. And at once we say hello again to another chapter in our life.

As I woke up this morning, I still could not believe that God has finally given me the gift I just truly deserve. A gift that was far beyond my expectations!

I was just thinking... If it took me so long to find my one true love, maybe God is working on it too? I am claiming that he is the best! Yes, he is!

Now, do you believe that God gives the best gifts ever? Coz... Yes, I do!

My Cravings!!!

Time Check, it's 12 noon... No lunch yet and I had only 2 pandesal for breakfast. Maybe my blood sugar is already dropping, hands cold and clammy and a little bit tipsy. But I have to wait patiently. They're still cooking. As of now, I am practicing my new found picture editor in "picnik". Oh noes, I could not find any other photos to edit. All I could see is food all over. My mouse looks like a chocolate to me, yeah for real, I am starving, alleluah!!

So here's my first try... the collage!

Friends with the same feathers flock together. And if there's one common denominator with us is that, we are all "matatakaw!". We splurge a lot for food, everywhere, anywhere! And guess what's our favorite? rice! rice! rice! Well, that is my personal favorite too.... I always go for extra rice. Isn't it ironic? We binge a lot, we aim to gain weight, but we are all skinny. My golly.. Anyhow, we never lose hope. We starve, we crave, we binge, all for the glory of somehow getting fat!

So this is how we crave and these are the few of my favorite food!
From left, that is from seafood island... Imagine, 3 lang kami kumain nyan... And burp, excuse us but naubos namin yan!!! We eat like construction workers... But we look like we're always gutom. I'm always weighing myself and sigh, a kilo for a month is already tantamount to a sack of rice. (exage lang!) lol...

Then the ice cream. I have ice cream buddies, and this is our comfort food. Whenever emo days struck us, there's always ice cream to rescue! We go to ice cream house, or my new fave yogurt, or kahit ice scramble lang, solve na! lastly, the crabs!!! Actually that is what I want to eat right now. Sigh, but hotdog and lumpia is the only thing we have for lunch... Geezzz, so isipin ko nalang, crabs yun! hehe

O sya, sya, so much for these cravings. I am seriously hungry!!! Now who could have thought that a skinny girl like me could have an appetite as big as a hippo?! ^^