Big Eyed Gal

I thought I was back on track with my blogging but I was wrong. TOINK! Some "things" came up. I was busy catching up with my reading as I had to stop because I need to focus more on my school books rather than on my "R&R" books. Before the start of my review I just finished reading New Moon so after the exams last month, I continued reading Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I won't be making a review of the book because for sure most of you have finished all four books already. Hee hee!

Then, I finished watching Boys Over Flowers. LOL! For those who have no idea what Boys Over Flowers is, it's the Korean version of the hit Taiwan series, Meteor Garden. The moment I saw the commercial in ABS, I really got curious. The resemblance of one of the actors in the Korean F4 with Meteor Garden's Jerry Yan was super close. They would pass as brothers but I think the Korean actor is taller.



So anyway, I finished the whole season in youtube. Pinagtyagaan ko sa youtube despite the subtitles because I can't wait for another day just to see the next episode. LOL! Low EQ remember?

Another reason for my absence here is that I've been meeting up with college friends, previous officemates for parties and out-of-town trips. A and I missed a lot of the latter when we were still reviewing for the exams.

So there, after catching up on my reading, finished watching a Koreanovela (haha!) and almost done with the planning of our so-called college reunion, I think I can blog again. :)

It's a Monday and I am back to posting the Song of the Week. This week, I chose a song from a band called Juan Pablo Dream. It's a local band and I just love them. The title of the song is A Nice Place. A very fitting title for where I want to go after a very stressful month.

Enjoy your Monday everyone!

This has got to be the longest time that I have not blogged. I was shocked to see the date of my last post. It was last April! Sheeesh! My apologies to my avid readers (LOL! feeling!) and friends for not updating my blogs as I have been busy. Last month and a week back have been one of the most stressful days of my life. There were times when both A and I would be snapping at each other (well, it's more of me snapping at him...hehe!) but at the end we'd realize that it was just the stress and would apologize to each other. And of course when there's stress, there's always the possibility of breakouts. True enough, I have blemishes all over my face for the past few weeks. So I am off to the mall again in search of a top acne treatment. Sigh.. I wish it would not leave any dark spots.

Anyhoo, I just want to say that I'm back... for good! And hope to be able to blog hop ASAP.

The first time I saw this commercial, I was already humming the tune for days. Plus, the kid is soooo adorable. I'm glad someone posted this on youtube. Weee!

Ok, now ... Everybody sing... One...two...three.... Bulilit, bulilit ang liit-liit... Lol! Enjoy! :)



P.S. I'm not endorsing this real estate company. The kid reminds me of myself having that same haircut at that age. Haha!

Last Tuesday was a very stressful day for me. My classmates and I went to PRC for the filing. This was my first time to set foot in PRC. Getting there was already stressful as the traffic was terrible. Jeepneys move like snakes as they slither their way in those side streets. Not to mention the pedicabs that just pop out of nowhere! Haay...

So we got there around 2:30 p.m. and as we successfully parked our car (somewhere safe..hehe!), we proceeded to walk to PRC. As we got there. We still needed to have our forms and other documents notarized as part of the requirements. We had to pay 150 pesos for the notarized school documents and application forms. This I find weird because all the documents that we will be submitting are all certified by the school. Hmm... Anyway, after having all our documents ready, we proceeded inside the building. I have three words to describe what I saw: Divisoria in December. There were a lot of people and this was just outside the building. When we went in to find a shorter queue, there were more upstairs. I was beginning to think if the building could bear the weight of all the people in it. As we searched and searched for the shortest queue to have our papers processed, we found this room at the second floor where they can process everything. This was good news for us because for some, they would have to go to different queues just to get their metered stamp, the blue and white forms and the one for the payment. In that office at the second floor, they accept payment, they have the metered stamp and give out the blue and white forms. In short, combo meal slash package deal. Kulang na lang eh foot spa. Lol! We were even saying that we got the best queue and we might even end up getting the "license" too. Hahaha! How I wish!

So there at around 4:45 p.m., we were done. It was good that there were eight of us because we would each fall in line in a different queues and would switch places once done. Hehe! It was also good that we were told to go there after lunch because there were "less" students that time. Sa lagay nung pumasok kami eh less pa pala yun! Kaloka! What more if we went there in the morning. I heard from some of our classmates, that they were already there at 4:30 a.m. and was able to finish around 2:00 p.m. Yikes! I would've gone crazy if that was me!

What only made things bearable was the staff in PRC. They were all very helpful and courteous when approached. The only real thing that I disliked was the lack of organization and signs inside the building. You wouldn't know where to go first. We were even joking around saying that PRC made it that way so that the students would make sure that they pass the board so that they wouldn't have to go through with that again. Hahahaha!

All in all, it was an adventure again. I'm beginning to think that every time I go to any government office, it would be an "adventure". LOL!

My husband and I had our Visita Iglesia last Thursday night. This was my first time to do this outside the comforts of our village in LP. Hehe! I was used to doing Visita Iglesia just by going to the three nearby churches in LP. I know, some sacrifice right? But that's what we've been doing for the past... ummm... 10 years I think.

* The above photo was the shoes we wore that night. After reading this, you'll understand why I posted it. *

Last Thursday was different. This was our route:

1st and 2nd Station: UST Church
3rd and 4th Station: San Sebastian Church
5th and 6th Station: Shrine of the Holy Face of Jesus
7th and 8th Station: Quiapo Church
9th and 10th Station: San Beda Chapel
11th and 12th Station: San Miguel Church
and finally, the 13th and 14th Station: St. Jude Archdiocesan Church

It was a very humbling and eye-opening experience for me.

I felt ashamed (of the fact that when we haven't even started with our Visita Iglesia, I already kept asking A if we're going to walk far from the churches that we will be going to) when I saw something for the first time and made me realize how silly I sounded.

What I saw was probably something a lot of you who frequent the churches of Manila during this time have seen before. I am talking about those people who walk barefoot while doing their Visita Iglesia. At first, (when A pointed them out while we were inside Quiapo church)I thought they just remove their shoes while inside the church but they were also walking barefoot on the streets. I was quite shocked and a bit afraid for their sake (the nurse in me was panicking and I was already thinking of all the possible medical emergencies they could be in). There were even girls who were doing the same thing. Imagine walking the dirty streets of Manila without any shoes. The thought made me cringe and shudder at the same time. But it also made me realize that these people couldn't care less if they step on gum, poop or even something sharp. What's important to them is that it was something they "gave up". Something we should all consider doing to live a more content life.

It was so simple yet for me, it was very real. Compared to what I had in mind (a long list of what I plan to give up this holy week), not wearing any shoes beats the likes of "not eating any pork", "not smoking or drinking for the rest of the holy week", etc, etc...

I wish I could do that. But I don't think I can. That is why I admire those people.
I hope I (and the rest of the people) would realize that it doesn't have to be really complicated to make a sacrifice. It's as simple as removing ones shoes.

I hope everyone was safe this holy week. Happy Easter!

Yes, I am back! After another long break from blogging, I am here.

Last week, April 1 to be exact, April Fool's Day, was our graduation day. A and I are now BSN graduates. Woohoo! I cannot believe that it's been two years already. I remember telling A that two years is a long time to wait but I didn't even notice that it's been that long already. All the adjusting to being a student again (after eight years) has finally paid off.

So anyway, the commencement exercises was held in PICC. We were 800 BSN graduates. Imagine, 800?! Whew! That was a long list!

The guest speaker was a priest and he gave a Homily-like speech but it was ok. There were funny parts but as students, we got bored and wanted to get on with the giving of the diplomas. So while the guest speaker was ending his speech, this is what we were doing...




And once we got our diplomas, we didn't go back to our original seats. Instead, we looked for our other friends and decided to sit together. Lol. Mga pasaway! And this is what transpired while waiting for our other friends to get their diplomas.




And being the second-coursers that we are, one by one we sneaked out of the auditorium so we can start with our photo op. Lol! And here's a peak of some of the pictures....

Moi and A... "We did it!"


Ladies in Black


"Alin...alin... alin ang naiba?"


Group pic!!!


With my parents and A's mom


Now we got one more hurdle to overcome and then we're set.

I thank God for everything, my parents for being supportive in this path that I've chosen, for A who was always so patient and understanding, for the friends that I've made in this new chapter of my life (they made exams, hospital duties and our case presentation bearable!) and lastly, I would like to thank my hairstylist for this event and the 33 hairpins (yes, I counted them!) that held up my gorgeous bun. Too bad, I forgot to take a photo of it. :)

To all the graduates of 2009, congratulations!!! Woohoo!!!! *Tumbling tumbling*

In relation to my previous post, my family and I would like to thank everyone who sympathized and gave their love and support when my grandmother passed away last week. I was so deeply touched to receive text messages from people extending their condolences to our family despite the fact that they haven't met my grandmother. Also to those who came to the wake especially to those who came after office hours (I know you're all tired and that LP is a bit far from where most of you live), our heartfelt thank you.

It was always told in Religion class that death is a stage in our life that should not be feared as it is at this time that we come to live with our creator in paradise. This belief is what I have been holding on to since I have learned the concept of death. It is what kept me from being "at peace" and not questioning the reasons why people have to die. However, it is different when a loved one has moved on to paradise.

My grandmother passed away last Sunday.

It wasn't something that happened suddenly. We all knew that her health was slowly deteriorating. We were hoping for the best but was preparing for the worst. As her health slowly deteriorated, I felt helpless. I wished that I could take away the pain that she felt. But there was nothing that I could do but to kiss her on the forehead and asked her to try to eat more. In short, I wanted her to fight to stay with us. The look on her face and the frailty of her body sent a piercing pain on my heart. Unfortunately, our worst fear happened. Ina, my grandmother was gone.

No matter how hard I try to convince myself that she is now in a better place, a big part of me still wishes that she's still here. I know it is selfish but right now this is how I feel. A lot of 'what ifs' have crossed my mind, and I wish that I could resolve them. One of these is to be able to repay the time and effort she has given to care for us when my brother and I were still young and our parents were out working. She has become our second mother. And because of the kind of lifestyle that we have right now, the busy schedules, the deadlines that have to be met and the responsibilities that need to be done, only a minute fraction of her care and love for us were reciprocated.

I'm sorry Ina for not doing more.

I love you.

I cannot stress how this message has made an impact on me. I hope you would all take the time to watch this.

This week's Song of the Week was performed by Josh Groban and Charlotte Church entitled The Prayer. A lot of artists have done renditions of this song but this is what I like best.

I chose this song because it is what got me through last weekend.