Jacque Bermejo Steals the Limelight from Ondoy!

If you are hoping that this piece can take you to the "one million dollar" answer to the question if those accounts of Jacque Bermejo are real or fake, then this is not worth reading. She or better say "that name" does not exist in any of my friends' list nor my contacs' list in the phone.

I cannot blame the Filipino to be such in rage! We have enough of stupid politicians and we don't need another one. In this trying times where people are on their best effort to help out a hand, such "commercial" can be really frustrating.

Whether such accounts are real or fake/hacked, it does not matter.... at this time. Ondoy might be angry for abandoning his stage of fame. We do not want him to come back, nyay! Let us give him utmost importance NOW. Re-focus!

This is again, a bitter lesson for all of us.

We must be aware by now that these social networks such as Facebook are not painted in the net for pure fun. As what we experienced, FB and TW have been instrumental in carrying out a faster cascade of information and relief operations. We must protect our accounts. We must be responsible. We must be vigilant. Never underestimate the power of internet. It can either boost your image or drown your morale.

This event has tested our ability to prioritize. Needless to say, our hand is very much needed to help our brothers and sisters. Equally important, our work is a must for our usual business shoudl continue otherwise our economy will further suffer. Bathing in sites or topics related to her, no matter how quick it may be, is definitely a minute by minute waste of time. Those minutes may SAVE lives in danger. Leave Jacque first, we will deal with that issue anytime soon. Ondoy first, Jacque later!

The best lesson of all? We ought to be good. In that way, there will be no one who would intend to inflcit our image with malicious attack.

And so I am spending much time here, time for me to end this up and email some other friends abroad for doantions and time for you to do it as well!

Move forward Philippines!

Typhoon Ondoy: A Call for Filipinos Abroad

I have never been this affected as to concerns regarding national issues as I have long conceded to the lousy drama of Philippine government. But this unexpected event moved me to at least extend a little help to others. Why would I? It was simple. Metro Manila is the place where I already call my second home and the place where I have created lots of friends. The place where I exactly stay.

It is a different feeling when you know that the calamity is within your reach, that anytime soon, it may hit your area. It is a very disturbing feeling getting text messages and calls from people whom you know are experiencing the real deal of the situation and… more so, knowing that your friends abroad are wrapped with anxiety because they cannot reach their family members.

What if my place was deliberately hit by the angry flood? What if I was out, stuck in the middle of the streets battling with the raging water? What if this happens to Negros and I have no means of knowing how my family is doing?

Strong as I may seem, but I doubt if I can fathom the pain

These, my friends, are the clear reasons why I am going an extra mile to help out. Selfish as I am for only realizing this one now, I guess it's not yet too late for me, for all of us. =)

Let us help, and since you guys are the ones who could maybe shell out more, I am encouraging you to help! Your wider network will really help a lot! I pinned the websites where you can send in your online donations.In any case that you know a faster and easier way, please let me know so that we can spread the news. :)

And as a real-deal update, majority of the Filipinos are helping out each other without the help of the government! I went to one of the dropoff points here in Makati and I was overwelmed to see that people are really working hand in hand, rich and not-so-rich, Filipinos and foreigners! So let's keep praying!
Thank you thank you very much! And if you already did, a double thanks!!! Go go go!

And Gibo is put to TEST

At Don Bosco Makati around 3 PM

This is the time, unexpected events concerning the whole country that Twitter is of better help than Facebook. Tweople are up-to-date, concerned, and help each other even in the least way that they can do. Updates are more or less real time.

And this time also, where one of the presidentiable wannabee, "Gibo" Teodoro, who is the current National Disaster Coordinating Council head is put to test. But, sadly, Twitter is not his avenue for making his name a sweet music to the ears of the Filipino. And, definitely, his music is irritating to my ears.

Hear is the rundown of events that concerns GMA's bet for 2010. And, before you continue reading, this accounts for the happenings in Twitter that has a relation to Twitter ID @giboteodoro, whom Twitters construe as the real Gibo. This serves as my disclaimer.

In about past 2 PM, Gibo tweeted:
been constantly working w/ all depts since last night & will focus our efforts on the most critical areas.

Rain not as bad as ths morning but I still advise everyone 2 stay indoors, stock up on supplies, & pray 4 the safety of our countrymen

These tweets raised an eyebrow and to some, raised that ire upon reading the said tweets. The best tweet I read was telling Gibo, to stop tweeting and do his job right there and then. I can't help but laugh.

An hour or so after, @MLQ3 (Manuel L. Quezon III) tweeted:

Teodoro appeals to public to clear roads, use MRT/LRT and walk if necessary, Asks people stranded for patience.

Sec. Teodoro announces President authorized placing most of Luzon including NCR under state of calamity.

Teodoro announces basically all of Luzon including Metro Manila under state of calamity, gov't resources being mobilized.

I personally hit the keyboards with extra force while retweeting. I can't help but put sarcasm on my statements as I find the update so useless. Telling people to clear the roads, at this hour where the whole Metro Manila was turned into a Manila Resort, is like telling the people that we are all dumb! Who would get out of their houses with their cars battling with the flood? Ugh, Filipinos are more intelligent now, in case Gibo doesn't know. And WALK? Can you possibly risk your life in the middle of the windy and stormy day walking? These, to me, is yelling at people - HEY! SAVE YOURSELVES! DON'T LET THE GOVERNEMNT DO IT FOR YOU!

I know he is doing his effort, but in trying times like this, people don't need such updates.

And lesson learned? Beware of twitter power!

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It's already like seven hours of non-stop raining in the metro. This time, this time i just can't be more pissed off knowing that my friends, my close friends are experiencing such hardships. Yes, hardships not just to physically get out of their way and be in the comforts of their home but more importantly, my friends who are miles away. Emotional attacks are killing them, having that uneasy feeling of not knowing how their family members are. A friend of mine is in Qatar, her folks are in Montalban, Rizal.

We cannot contact her family through the phone, may it be celphone or landline. Her dad is in the office right now, safe. But we have no news where her mom is. Worse, their house was finally eaten by roaring Ondoy. Roof now became a basement.

Can you just imagine how she is currently feeling, at this very moment? Have you had experiences the feeling of helpless? She is a good daughter who has nothing else in her mind but to give her parents a much more beautiful life. With this, she braved all the way through Qatar to seek a better paying job. She wants to help her family. She is helping our government. SHE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS.

I have never been as in rage with the government as this. You cannot have a better airport? Fine. You cannot solve the everyday traffic? Still fine. You cannot provide better education and health care? Bitterly still fine.

BUT, you cannot save people's lives in a scenario that is so common in Philippines? It is not about because it is unforseen, or the heaviest rainfall of all time - IT IS ABOUT BEING READILY PREPARED. Securing a million rubberboats cannot drop your stolen money to a significant level. In simple terms, BARYA lang yun.

Why can't we have readily available relief goods? Why is it that the seemingly best option now is to ignore the government and we, the citizens just hold hand in hand and help to the best of our capability?!

When Typhoon Strikes

I woke up today with my fan off, a rare instance by the way. My phone is flooded by sunalertz updates in FB and TW. I checked out outside and oh! flood ate the whole cemented streets!!!

I was down again in the memory lane. Typhoons in my younger years at home means having a pile of food and water which mom and dad preemptively secured, batteries stocked up like a tower to be used as the bullet of the flashlights and our small AM radio. Oh, cnadles too! And the best part of it is that the five of us would situate our butts in just one room, the safest room which dad have already surveyed and just talk about anything or play boardgames. We go on alternate sleep for us to be vigilant enough to whatever mood the world has. 

Ah, memories! miss waking up with a clear view in my room's window of the rain droplets kissing our orchids. =)

I miss home once again!

Family and Forgiveness

It is in the light of the tweets of one of my most favorite tweeter that I am composing this piece. Thank you by the way for knocking into my heart to register this very rare instance/encounter in my life, and in my family's. You know who you are. =)

Forgiveness. Arguably, I will tag this word as the hardest thing that sons and daughters of Eve can do. The person causing us unbearable pain is a heavy load to pin in our shoulders. Add up that your relationship is connected by blood, not by any circumstances...

The greatest problem that God has tasked my family to carry is my sister. She is the eldest among us three, and I wrap up the list of siblings. As such a very young age of like 14 or 15, she was already bold enough to run away from home. I vividly remember when at the wee hours in the morning, the rest of us will toddle through the city to search for her. Our Volkswagen was my and my brother's frequent mobile bedroom.

The routine goes on and on. She'll come back, after a certain period of time she'll run away, we will search for her, then she comes back home again. Pain was inevitable. I once heard my friend's mom telling my friend not to hang out with me because my sister has a nasty record. I became the extended recipient of her tainted image. All of us were a victim. One day, I promised to myself that I will never ever step on the road which she chose to take. I will eradicate whatever negative perception the society might have for my family. It was not an easy task. And more impotantly, it was a very long path to take.

Each of our family members took one step at a time to improve our lives. Except for my sister. Through the years, she was still the same. No, I am not saying that she was ruthless enought to not even shed a little space in her timetable to do good. She shared a responsibility to the family. But her share equated to acting as the god in the household. As she was responsible in restoring our business and took it to greater heights, she thought that she made it singlehandedly. This resulted then in her obnoxious ways of treating the rest of us. Little did she realized that, ALL of us played an important role to it. I was in second year high school when after my class, i'd go straight in our store to help out. I helped while my friends are in their teeny weeny hang outs as a normal highschooler normally do. My dad too has been diligently reinforcing everyday after he got out of work. Mom and bro played the back office roles. But my sister was a very proud woman. I remember how she slapped my face in front of so many people. It was one of my darkest days. That very same day, I again promised to myself that I will be one of the most respected people in our community. I succeeded.

Years passed, she got herself into a whirlwind marriage. Just the same, her life was still in a mess. A mess that that could have been avoided if only she waited for the right time. Yet, our family still has that long patience and understanding for her. Demanding that she should be paid for the time she spent "working" in the business was granted by my dad. It was a very disrespectful act, but still my dad chose to support her. She was the same pain in the ass.

Worse has come to her marriage, my niece became a member of a broken family. She has no one to run to (just the same for the longest years) but us. We accepted her amidst her wrongdoings to us. We still remained patient with her. But for some unknown/unexplainable reasons, she still cannot manage to fix her life once and for all. She was still the same, a proud, obnoxious and disrespectful woman. She also became an irresponsible mother to my niece. At a very fragile age, my niece suffered so many heartaches. She was a child that was like thrown in the middle of the sea with no parents to rescue her. She has an estranged father and more painfully, she has a mother who chose to live a single life again and dumped her to lolo and lola. I can't bear that pain that I want to teleport from US to Negros to hug my niece and give her comfort. Her mom was out in the streets, enjoying that "freedom" that she regained. Being a mom was not in her vocabulary.

Worse change her last letter to "t' when after several months she came back to our home, pregnant by her second child in another man. It was an unfathomable pain for all of us. Pain, shame, hurt, - everything. It was again, a very nasty feeling that cannot be explained in words. So what we did? WE STILL ACCEPTED HER. But, amidst everything, I cannot still find any justification on why she has not genuinely changed. Our family life became a lousy cycle, battling every single day with that biggest burden in our shoulders. Our concerns got broader with two young kids whom at their very childhood have already experienced the pains of this so-called life. What greater pain can you feel if you come to know that your niece, at a little more than one year old, was again dumped into the middle of the sea? All these has become my frequent nightmares, getting goosebumps everytime I think of the kids back home.

We all became numb. We became indifferent that whatever "routinary" mistakes she does, we chose not to entertain them. My dad whom I've known to be the most patient man in the world has given up on my sister. We all gave up on her. You cannot blame us, with all those excruciating pain we suffered from her, we were just human to feel that way. For the longest time that we tried to understand and help her, we got nothing but just pain. She became a stranger in our house.

Two accounts of my friends' family members' unexpected death awakened my senses. Their situation were quite the same like ours. Those deaths were deaths of the so-called black-sheeps of the family. It was the deepest guilt that my friends felt when they lost their loved one. They were full of regrets and what ifs. It knocked me off, relating everything to my own family's situation. It was an eye opener for me.

The unexpected moment came when I went home recently to attend the house and the business as well as the kids as the folks are out for some important matters. My sister was in our house as well. So I planned to talk to her, a one time bigtime talk. We had one, and it was a funny, casual talk about the happenings in the family. In between those funny lines, I sensed that she still has that concern for the family. I felt how she missed saying "mama" and "papa" without that awkward tone. She spills out admiration to the family members in those trying times that we undergone. I realized she has unknowingly confessed what she really feel. I acknowledge our shortcomings to her. I did not push further for her not to feel awkward.

Thanks to the techonology of cellular phone. In quite a number of SMS exchanges with dad, I told him that I do not want to feel the same guilt my friends had. It was a turning point. Dad spoke to my sister (I don't know what went through).

Everything is not yet in perfect shape though. We are in the process of seasoning that stained blood relations we had. We do not convince ourselves that all is well. We do not give assurance that my sister will genuinely change.

But what I am thankful of is that amidst the repeated times that we were hurt, we managed to seek that forgiveness for our family member. As I told my dad, what is important is that we exhausted all the possible means of helping her rise up once again and fly. The ball has now been passed in her court.

Nobody knows what will happen next. What I am certain of is that God has definitely completed sewing this part of our family journey.

Truly, God has reason for everything. =) Good day to you!

Down The Sugarcane Island Called "Home"

Reposting this piece from my FB note. =)

_____________________________________________________________

It's 12:15 PM. In my face is an old square called "monitor" that was the hip of the town six years ago. Awww, my personal computer now turned into an off white, errr, brownish color. It was aged, and for me, the best flagship of the time that has elapsed...

As I entered the door that welcomed me everyday for the past 20 years or so, I thought that yes, so many things have seasoned with time. Our house has gradually changed, the furnitures lurking up the floors are quite new in my eyes, my Manang Peng has now dominant white hairs, Clesh is a very adorable kid that at less than two years old, she can already utter words like plane, car, lolo, mama, etc. and can massacre a handful of noodles in her mouth with bare hands, Sace is already in her white and blue uniform pulling out her big bag to her school service - almost everything changed.

Changes. Yet, in the midst of these growing times, I am here finding that sense of belonging in our little home!

The once 100 php internet connection which you have to repeatedly dial because it disconnects now nd then was finally laid to rest and this Globe broadband was born, giving me a surf all you want mode! This same computer where I went gaga over MIRC is now replaced by Twitter's and Facebook's more exciting features. Ah, this same old computer!

In my quest for a nap, I can't help but feel a familiar warmth in my bed. The same bed where I cried for those young and funny love i had, and now gives me peace and excitement while waiting for Levy's next day visit. Ah, this same old bed!

My dad excitedly ask me to join him for lunch even though my back does not want to separate from the soft and comfortable foam. But i know I need to move my ass. I shared a big lunch with him in our old old dining table. Once I chose to have toyo(patis in ilonggo)-suka-bawang as my sawsawan, but now i adapted that toyo-calamnsi tandem. Same old traditional viand, different sawsawan! The table was exact place where he scolded me about my attitude towards school and telling me to take up Accountancy. Just this lunch, we had that usual talk too, but this time it was him giving me enlightenment and encouragement towards work issues and my profession. Ah, this same old table!

When we decided to take a small walk after a sumptuous meal, I heard one girl waving and uttering "trisikol" when she was trying to get the attention of the driver. I smiled, knowing how i would pronounce the same word as well then. Now, due to Manila's scrutiny, i am used to calling it "trisikel". Kol then, kel now. Yet, those two pronunciation refers to that same old mode of going out of the subdivision, the trayk. =) Ah, that same old three-wheeled transpo and very same street i paved my way many many years back!

Whoever coined the saying, "there's no place like home" was feeling the same thing as what i do now. That I am pretty sure of. =) Time might be very lazy doing his work and quietness may lead me to boredom in the next day or two, but now, just now - I am enjoying a life I had five years ago! Simpler things makes me laugh my heart out, personal talks with my family give me home once again, and best of all, finding the old me helps me pick up the pieces of my life once more. =)

Waswas bugsay Talisay!

Anywhere but here!

This very moment is one of the classic examples where I want to desperately utter, "anywhere but here!".

I did not get a decent sleep since Saturday night. I am starving but there's no one to tap to accompany me even for a quick meal. I am here in my estranged office staring blankly on my laptop, literally doing nothing that is work-related. I am waiting for my boss for my signed resignation letter but there is still no signs of him since time immemorial. ARGH!

I am resigning. The world already knows about it and this has been a long saga now. I am not open to any further negotiation talks. I just want my resignation letter signed, process my exit stuffs, and get a new life. That's it.

I don't like any diamonds, I don't want any LVs. I don't clamour for any huge money.

I JUST NEED MY SIGNED RESIGNATION LETTER!!!

Twitterifics!

Twitter has recently been my "alt tab" result page when I am in Facebook and everything seems lousy on the latter. Funny it is, I only got a handful of friends that I follow in Twitter, with only ONE active tweetish girl! I follow about 40 people, majority (like 90% i think?) of them are celebrities, QC and Hollywood based alike.

It is a different world in Twitter, whether your main goal is to stalk like an overly avid fan, or just to simply know their thoughts from simple to more serious stuffs around them, Twitter is an avenue for those who want to inspire, to share their point of views, to keep in touch with everyone, and to even boast with just 140 characters per post. In Twitter, everyone are ordinary people wrapped around that twitterific mania blanket!

I did not enroll in Twitter just to stalk these personalities as I have seen them countless times every audit season where ABS was a witness of our sleepless nights. What I love about Twitter is that you will see who, in the world of media, are deep and respectable. Julius Babao and Bianca Gonzales are my two top favorites. Their tweets, no matter how simple or candidly stated are the ones with depth and sense. I admire how they view things and squeal to the world what their thoughts are or where they are without appearing to be know-it-all or boastful creatures.

Their tweets regarding the political drama of this Magellan-discovered archipelago are with intelligent spice. I just love how they put on words that definitely strikes you. Reading their posts, for me, is a worthwhile bathing in Twitter website.

Coming from respectable images in the media, and with no plans of vying for whatever seat in the government (as what I perceive currently), I am sure Filipinos will be delighted to see them lay down their views and boldly take stands on what they think the current government is. I know they can bring sincere and knowledgeable people to call upon GENUINE CHANGE.

But yes, I am aware also that they have images to protect, especially with Julius Babao as a primetime newscaster, it will not be a good move to hear him talking his views, much more taking on sides given the nature of his job.

Nevertheless, I salute them for sharing their pieces of thoughts in the cyberworld. In one way or another, I know it made an impact not just to me, but to everyone who are twitternatics tagging themselves as followers of juliusbabao and iamsuperbianca. =)

An oh, special thanks to Christine Babao for being the first one to send me direct message!

Way to go tweet lovers!

Ask out!

One thing I hate most about mysself is the fact that I am too lazy to ask.

On several accounts, this led me to an unnecessary fiasco, particularly on my slim pocket. Illogical spending. There it is.

It was a time to overhaul my nasty hair when I decided to go to MOA and choose a salon that, hopefully, can tame my very unruly crowning "glory" (errr, "shame" may be the right word!). An alley with neighboring salons greeted me which took several turns of the clock's long hand before I decided to step on Ystilo Salon. I entered, told the receptionist that I want to sit in fornt of the mirror with the hair straightening treatment, but before it, I want to sport a shoulder length hair do. So immediately, she ushered me to the washing area, with the stylist all set to start the vanity session.

We were on the actual hair straightening session when I asked him how long is the minimum length for the starting price of 1800 php. He told me my hair's length qualifies for it and that he already priced it as such. I was happy so I told him, "Ah, Ystilo Salon is affordable pala". Realizing maybe that I  have a lot of money (in his thinking, of course!), he quickly pulled out hi earlier remarks and told me, "Ah mam, yung sayo siguro mga 2k to". I did not react, as it was only 200 php up. Finally, I cannot rest my mind on the price that I have to pay so I decided to go to the receptionist and ask her how much. Whoa, 2600 php it is! I know I cannot refused not to pay because I am to be blamed for it. I was furious, but heck, what can I do?! I can't get out of the salon with a towel enveloping my hair!

I am not in loathe because of the price I paid. What I am annoyed to is that I think was bullied because the stylist already mentioned a lower price for it. But i was caught in a situation where I am in a lose-lose situation.

Only, only if I had ask from the very first step I made inside their salon. Stupid Dahlj!

When Noynoy flashes the L sign

I know I laid down my unstarted pieces in mind. And I know too well also that I am dead tired after battling with flood, heavy rain, and traffic going to QC for some business appointments. Add up the short sleep and endless waiting I had earlier.

But I just can't help it when the news that filled my ears was the official announcement of Noynoy as one of the hopefuls for the 2010 presidentiables. I felt the need to pour out my insights on this hottest news of the moment.

I have long conceded to the drama of Philippine politics. As how I describe my political views in facebook, it is, for me, a waste of time. Call me a useless citizen, you can't get my fist on your face. But this one had captured my Filipino heart once again.

Noynoy's decision to finally tag his name as part of the list of candidacies for president is, for me, a pre-mature decision. This is the highest post in the governement of Philippine Republic! No, don't get me wrong. I am not against him as running for the seat, what I am against at is the fact that the decision was like a spur-of-the-moment thing. I was suggested to run as president... hmmm.... I'll go on a retreat... then ola, I am announcing my candidacy. I think this is an insane move! I am not trying to project a "know-it-all" image here since I admit I have not done extensive research on the life of the "hottest" man in town.These insights are just plain practical observation.

Have they (him, friends, sisters, supporters) considered:

1. his capability as the highest leader of the country?
2. the country needs not just a person who will unite the opposition slash coalition blah blah blah, what we need is a bold, decisive, and truthful one. Will Noynoy play the best leader there is?
3. that yes, what the countrymen clamor for should be taken into consideration (I'm talking of the claims that people are asking him to run). But, have they thought that this might just be a heightened feeling just because of the "emotional" pour out during the succeeding events concerning his parents?
4. Filipinos are leaders of "ningas kugon" club. What is hot today, will surely not be as hot the next day.
5. Noynoy's desire to really "reform" the country, and not just because he felt the responsibility is being passed unto him?
6. that Filipinos may just be interested in him because of his sister's super famous image and bubbly remarks?

Simple yet very vital considerations for his candidacy.

On the other side of the coin, I am also crossing my fingers for this significant turn out in our history.

1. The family's image of being a simple one (except for Kris of course) is a positive factor in the overall scenario. These four sisters' personal roles stir up my curiosity that what they want is very noble. And what struck me most? Kris' telling the media that to avoid that so-called utang na loob, they need to work hard for Noynoy's campaign. Holding everything to be true, this is a starting point of getting rid of all those nasty decisions brough about by utang na loob.

2. Choosing the lesser evil would be better (I think). I don't know his achievements, mush as I don't know his bullshit tactics. I would go for that one rather than those who deliberately claims as a spearhead of a good project and desperately refuses obvious misconduct and stealing of people's money.

3. Having parents who both marked the history as nationalistic and honest people, I think it plays even a little part in igniting the guilt once you think of a wrong doing.

And what practical tips I can shed?

1. That Kris should stop overshadowing his brother. She talks more giving an impression that he is a weakling.

2. Noynoy should do an effort of improving his total image. A one that is well suited for a president.

Whatever the continuation of this saga is, I only have one cliche hope. That at the end of the day, Philippines and the Filipino people will be in a win situation.

God bless the Philippine Republic. =)

Tales yet to be told

So many things in mind that I want to blog about. hmmm... moody writer is attacking me. nyay!

Let me spill here what I have in my disorganzed mind:

1. insights of not asking questions that leads you to uncessary anger, efforts, and costs. - blog titled "Ask out". 9/16/09
2. why is it hard to make an eye to eye contact?
3. come up with a list of my own version about facebookers. Most admired ones this time.
4. the list of how places got its name - tagaytay, calamba, etc.
5. investment in mind

In my other pad:

6. Crest review
7. Pearl slimming pill and bioslim review
8. Where to buy scrapbooking materials

Hmm, I do hope I'd edit this blog soon, not for adding another bucket of list though *grin*, but to use that icon on the right of  I.

Scheduled to have an HR interview and personality test later at 2 PM at Quezon city. whew! Another quite a long sitting mode in Tissy's passenger seat later. argh.

How sweet can you get?

Ok. I am committing myself to keep my pieces here in this blog. So this one is from my facebook note that I was not able to load it here. This was dated August 28, 2009. =)

They say lovers have their own world. They have their own language. They have their sweetest times.

The best parts of my relationship with Levy are the smallest, non-material related, and very casual things that we both shared.

Buubi is an endearment he coined to officially seal our relationship. some might think it came from the famous "baby" just twisted and sprinkled with some creativity. But heck no, the term actually is a marriage of two adjectives that Levy pinned on me when we first met. Bully and bitch. Wow, what a combination! As i find it cute, i want to call him that way also so i similarly looked for two words that would best describe him - "bunjing" and "bilbil". So so levy!!!

Did i mention that we did not miss a single day to go on a date until we become a couple? That is exactly thirty three days of gluttony. Those days were surely blooming moments for me, minus the fats of course! On those seemingly heaven moments, a monday night stood out. we decided to watch an overly corny horror movie that time. Halfway through the movie, he mustered all the guts in town and tucked it to his sleeves then he took my hand, clasped it in his. It was too soon, yes, but i find it sweet. =)

Washington, Pasong Tamo is a long-time record-holder for the most number of curses fired through during rainy season. I constantly help in maintaing that record. Flood, oh yes flood. The worst thing that can happen to you is to be stuck at the four walls of your room and wait until the water cease to create an awful copycat of a river. Yet, amidst this downfall in settling in a reasonably cheap area, there were two rarest events that made me thankful for it.

Levy paved his way going through my place one time with a KFC bucket meal and other foods not just for me but for my other dormmates as well! This fell under the dating stage yet, so on top of that "kilig" feeling i reserved a small part in my head that it might just be one of the many "pa-pogi points".

It was a little over a year when, again, this pedicab drivers' bestfriend hit my place. it was about 1 pm when i called levy to tell him not to come anymore as Tissy (our mobile house) might be caught in an unsafe situation. He insisted, so i let him drive his car like a jetski. his usual 15-min drive accelerated to a crazy 5-hour journey. man, 5 solid hours of non-stop pressing of the gas pedal! talk about a severely aching leg he had. but what touched me more is that when i finally sat on the passenger's seat, i did not hear even a single curse or saw a sour face. he was widely awake when God bestowed patience on earth. unbelievable.

Picture out this scenario: it was nightime. a car parked in one of the not-so busy streets of the fort. inside were two lovers munching on a double order of large mcdo fries, quarter pounder, large coke, and hot fudge sundae. good music breathed out by the radio lcd echoed in the air. outside was a downpour of heaven's tears which wrap up the whole car. nobody else in the world but taba and peklat enjoying the moment. that very moment. ahhh, how romantic!

The world knows that I am my parents' favorite. These two old folks can't help but get excited everytime i pay them a call and most importantly, when they head off to the airport to fetch me up. I own the "apple of the eye" spot for the longest time until this self-proclaimed macho entered the scene on August 26, 2008. His first land to the island of VISAYAS. I can describe Levy's first meeting with my family as a family feast! Everyone, including our house and store helpers, fell into his so-called "charm". I was tied up with everyone that night talking about Levy. How sweet he was with me, how caring, how humble, how down to earth he was, etc etc. This bonjing guy was a threat to me!!! They were so attached to Levy that mom even gave him that oldest cap with the printing "USS Dahlgren" to him. Dad was the very first who greeted us happy first year anniversay! And what made all these worse? Everytime i went home without Levy tailgaiting on me, they would give a sad face and say lines like " sayang wala si levy" or "ngaa wala nag-upod si levy haw? hidlaw na kami cya pro"(ok for the NON-ILONGGO speakers, not non-visayan speakers, they simply ask why levy did not come with me and that they miss him already). Hello? I am your daughter, remember?!?! Hehe! Sweet sweet relationship.

Dad and Levy are the two most wonderful guys in the world for me. Just as how they are proud of my achievements, they are also the guys who stick with me in times of my career failures. Levy escaped with me in Tagaytay when i needed space to release my frustrations with the exam results. He was there, patiently looking after me and hearing my rants. During my torture in then-named Constantinople City, he did not miss calling me everynight, comforting me and telling me that days are running faster, it would end up too soon. and his sweetest surprise? the hk-macau vacation a week after i came back from Istanbul! And during this recent chaos in the office, again Levy did not fail to make me feel better. he is ALWAYS ready to support me, going an extra mile to just let me feel that my worth is not just measured by any foul circumstances. i got passes to be over-bratinella and to splurge to the highest level! to top it all, dad sent me a very heartwarming message saying: Levy is worth more than a thousand jobs, don't lose him. Ah, kargs is just my loving angel! sweet so so sweet!

These are some of the sweetest, most loved stopovers during my two-year journey with Levy. Two years of living a life hand in hand with life's sweetest blessing!