Happy Birthday Dear Reich!

We celebrated Reichelle's birthday earlier than her actual birthday. The party was held yesterday at our house.

Here are few of the pictures taken...


Happy Birthday my Little Angel!Ü

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

What can I say? Nakipag-intsikan kami yesterday!Ü

We celebrated Chinese New Year's Eve at Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Sosyal no!Ü This was the first time that I got to join such a celebration. And it was really festive!

There was a night market where they sold stuff like Feng Shui books, charm bracelets, accessories, Chinese ornaments, puppies, Chinese food, etc. Shempre nagpaloko naman kami sa pagbili ng accessories even if we know that these are the same Chinese people who sells them in 168. Kailangan naming magpanggap na mayaman din kami!Ü




After we bought our bracelets, we noticed that there are men in Chinese costumes roaming around with gold bowls with them. We asked what it's about, and they mentioned that they were holding the bowls where we can place our wishes written on red paper. We didn't have any red paper, pero shempre binebenta rin nila dun.Ü And so we bought paper, wrote our wishes, and placed them in the bowl that will be offered to Buddah or something (I'm not sure if it's gonna be offered to Buddha or eaten by the dragonÜ).

Since it was a long wait for the freakin' dragon to appear, we went to this Lights Party at the poolside of the hotel. Aliw! We were given light sticks and encouraged to dance the night away. We had a couple of drinks that made Cindy ngenge na. We also saw the fireworks from the party, but failed to see the dragon. Bwisit. Hindi rin tuloy kami na-bless nung man in costume (kung ano man ang tawag sa kanya, hindi ko alam).

We went home around 2am...tired and happy. It was a different experience that my cousin had to learn about since she'll be joining the Chinese clan in a few months.Ü As for me, I've had a lot of Chinese men in my life, but none of them came close to asking me if I want to be a member of their family. Oh well...Kung Hei Fat Choi na lang!

Babe...

There are some things that are not meant to be........



........Like the way we are not meant to be together in bed.Ü


Enough said.

Ode to the Nice Girls

(Editted from a rant written for the Wharton Undergraduate Journal; Fu-zu Jen, SEAS/WH, 2003)

This is a tribute to the nice girls. The nice girls that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and complaining about how girls can be such bitches, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those girls who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those girls who drink like men to show a sense of camaraderie in times of heartbreaks, gives reassuring pats on the back and sits around billiard tables listening to stories of getting even with the girls who broke their hearts. This is in honor of the girls that obligingly reiterate how handsome/cute/smart/funny/sexy their male friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know guys need that litany of support too. This is in honor of the girls with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the girls who respect a guy’s every facet, from his privacy to his theology to his lack of manners.

This is for the girls who escort their drunk, bewildered male friends back from parties and never gets mad when she suddenly becomes the designated driver, for the girls who accompany guys to be used as “trophy women” so that they won’t be seen alone, for the girls who know a guy is fishing for compliments but give them out anyway, for the girls who always play by the rules in a game where the rules favor cheaters, for the girls who are accredited as girlfriend material but somehow don’t end up being girlfriends, for all the nice girls who are overlooked, underestimated, and unappreciated, for all the nice girls who are manipulated, misled, and unjustly abandoned, this is for you.

This is for that time he left 40 urgent messages on your cell phone thinking you should be available all the time, and when you called him back, he spent three hours painstakingly dissecting the conversation he and his girlfriend had over dinner. And even though you thought his girlfriend was such a bitch, you assured him that it was all ok and he shouldn’t worry about it. This is for that time he interrupted the best part of a movie marathon with your friends to talk you into joining him for a round of beer that you know will last forever. And even though you thought it was something you couldn’t do because you have a life too, you said goodbye to your friends and rushed to where he was. This is also for that time he didn’t have a date, so after numerous vows that there was nothing “serious” between the two of you, he dragged you to a party where you knew nobody, music was awful, and he flirted shamelessly with you, justifying each fit of reckless teasing by announcing to everyone: “oh, but we’re just friends!” And even though you were invited purely as a symbolic warm body for his ego, you went anyways. Because you’re nice like that.

The nice girls don’t often get credit where credit is due. And perhaps more disturbing, the nice girls don’t seem to get serious dates as often as they should. And I wish I could logically explain this trend, but I can’t. From what I have observed on campus and what I have learned from talking to friends at other schools and in the workplace, the only conclusion I can form is that many guys are just illogical, manipulative assholes. Many of them claim they just want to date a nice girl, but when presented with such a specimen, they say irrational, confusing things such as “oh, she’s too nice to date” or “she would be a good girlfriend but she’s not for me” or “she already puts up with so much from me, I couldn’t possibly ask her out!” or the most frustrating of all: “no, it would ruin our friendship.” Yet, they continue to lament the lack of datable women in the world, and they expect their too-nice-to-date female friends to sympathize and apologize for the women that are bitches. Sorry girls, guys like that are beyond my ability to fathom. I can’t figure out why the connection breaks down between what they say (I want a nice girl!) and what they do (I’m going to sleep with this complete bitch!). But one thing I can do is say that the nice-girl-finishes-last phenomenon doesn’t last forever. There are definitely many guys who grow out of that train of thought and realize they should be dating the nice girls, not taking them for granted. The tricky part is finding those guys, and even trickier, finding the ones that are single.

So, until those guys are found, I propose a toast to all the nice girls. You know who you are, and I know you’re sick of hearing yourself described as ubiquitously nice. But the truth of the matter is, the world needs your patience in the billiards table and counterstrike joints. Your party escorting services is needed until they find another girl to have fun with. Your propensity to be a sucker for puppy looking eyes should be there when they ask for endless favors. For all the crazy, inane, absurd things you tolerate, for all the situations where you are the faceless, nameless hero, my accolades, my acknowledgement, and my gratitude go out to you. You do have credibility in this society, and your well deserved vindication is coming.Ü

What Your Face Says

What Your Face Says

At first glance, people see you as warm and well-balanced. Overall, your true self is reserved and logical. With friends, you seem logical, detached, and a bit manipulative. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. In stressful situations, you seem cheerful and optimistic.

What Do People Think Of Your Face?

Rumor Has It

Last night, my friend Mark and I had dinner at Tokyo Tokyo Powerplant, and then watched this film:




"I'm not here to say I can't live without you, because I can live without you...I JUST DON'T WANT TO.."

Exactly what I'm feeling right now...Yun lang.

The Fabulous Friends Goes to Bamboo Cove!

We finally gave in to Mommy A's invitation to go to Bamboo Cove....and we loved every minute of it!Ü It's a different island in Mindoro...Somewhere behind the puno-ng-gulo na White Beach.Ü

Here, we had the cove all to ourselves...We can say that we were able to really relax because there were no vendors to ask you if you want to buy beads, if you want to have your hair braided, if you want to have a massage, etc. Walang nanggugulo dito. This is why we felt as though time was stretched! Imagine, it was only 7 in the evening, and we were all sleepy na. After dinner, wala na kaming magawa. Sorry Paan, walang umiinom ng kasing lakas mo.Ü

Here are a few of the pix from my camera. Medyo lang...overnight lang kami duon pero we took more than 400 pictures!Ü




The lovers Odie and Kei


Paan and her loved one also!Ü


Lod and the branch


Fresh buko!


Mommy A after putting sunblock on her face...


parang kukunin na ni Lord yung mga nasa boat!!!


Little Red Riding...Wolf!


Wel-trained talaga ang tummy mo Paan!Ü


Elaine and the swimmers...


Ang pagbibilad!


Our Fabulous Pet Vanilla


Nagmumuni-muni ako...Ssshhh...

Yan ang overnight namin sa Bamboo Cove...Sarap ng feeling na para kaming may sariling rest house! What made it all worth it is the fact that I am with such fabulous friends.Ü I'm definitely lloking forward to our next get-away...Boracay by April!

Time to get sappy!

Love comes not from the brain, but from the heart.
It has no reason nor cause.
Love is always a surprise.
It hits you at the most unexpected time, place, person and situation.
Never love because of need, but because of want.
True love is a rare gift, thus when found, treasure it.
Love is never about playing it safe, it's about risks.
The perfect person does not exist, there are only people perfect for each other.
There will always come a time that we have to stop loving someone not because the person started hating us, but because we ran out of reasons to fight for what we feel inside.
Keep a piece of your heart for yourself.
When love fails, cry but learn how to stop, pick yourself up and move on.
Learn to accept the fact that some things are just not meant to be.

UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION

I left work early to catch a movie with Jan. Pasaway si Rei.Ü We watched Underworld: Evoution at GB3.




After the movie, we had dinenr at Krocodile, then went to Powerbooks.

I feel good on my way home...It was an ideal middle-of-the-work-week-break for me...Ü

FaBuLoUs FriEnDs GoEs To BaGuiO!

The Fabulous Friends resolved that: 2006 is TRAVELING YEAR! Yes, we want to see the world!!!

January 14 and 15, we pushed through with our plans of going to Baguio and speding a NIGHT there.Ü Elaine drove all the way from Manila to Baguio, and back! No choice: nobody else within the fabulous Four knows how to drive!Ü

Here are a few pictures:



Coffee at Starbucks SM Baguio


Shopper Award goes to....Elaine!!!


Next time we'll be staying at The Manor Hotel!


Cafe by the Ruins


Cafe by the Ruins


With our Ukay fabulous finds!


Mommy A pagkasyahin ang skirt ha!

Next stop: Bamboo Cove, Mindoro for Mommy A's birthday celebration!Ü

First Week of January 2006

January 7 - Creative People's Guild at Friday's; Nagtipon-tipon ang mga magagaling sa art.Ü Oo. Nag-attempt kami ni Paan magdrawing dahil kay Teza. Inaapi kasi kami!!! Ang masasabi ko lang, may character ang monkey ko, impressive and mermaid ni Teza, at fantabulous ang sakahan ni Paan!Ü At, magaling kaming tatlo magdrawing ng Bratz doll!Ü








January 8 - Jan and I didn't reserve for any Narnia tickets, so, hindi kami nakanuod. Hassle. We ended up having dinner with Jean at Northpark, and then went to GB3 to meet with the rest of Partypeepz for coffee at Seattles. After coffee, we transferred to Ebun for light dinner. What did we talk about? Well, we were planning out our trips. I have fabulous friends you know.Ü And so, we're starting with Baguio ths coming weekend!










January 9 - Nothing satisfies me more than being able to teach someone to have EXCELLENT manners when it comes to facing customers. Nagwala lang naman ako sa PNB. Not really nagwala. Di naman ako sumisigaw. I just asked for the manager. Tinatamad na akong i-share dito ang buong kwento. Basta bottomine is, I was right -- to the extent that the VP of the company called me.Ü

January 10 - Finally! Natuloy rin ang Narnia namin ni Jan! Woohoo! Nice movie!Ü Almost everything in the book was included. Can't wait for the next Narnia movie!




January 11 - I had dinner at Krocodile GB3 with my college friends: Kate, Thons, Mariel and Cindy. Catching up lang. When you are with friends who are currently enjoying their long-term relationships with their boyfriends, hindi maiiwasan na ang pag-usapan ay marriage. And so I was stuck in the conversation...I am excited for them don't get me wrong. It's just that, I can't contribute anything. Sadness.:( Kelan kaya mangyayaring ako ang tanungin nila kung kelan ikakasal? Haay...
After dinner, Jan met up with us at Gloria Jean's, at kamalas-malasan, kabarkada pa ng gf ang barista. Hassle.













January 12 - I bumped into Pebbles (na hindi sumama kahapon) while shopping for shoes.Ü We just had coffee at Greenbelt for an hour, tapos uwi na rin.

January 13 - A lot of friends are celebrating their birthdays today! Happy birthday Chynna, Marc, Bong and Ate Pinky!Ü I didn't see any of them though. But I did have dinner with my HS barkada. For the first time in how many years (after graduating from HS), nabuo kami!!!! As in! All 7 of us. Si Ricca kasi is in the states, so she's obviously not invited. HeheÜ We had fun catching up with each other's lives, until Thet had to tell me that she saw Jan with "someone else" recently. Hindi nya kasi alam na ako ang "someone else"...Deadma na lang ako. Anyway, ang press release is "wala na kami".








Those are the things that happened the past few days of January. I'm off to Baguio tomorrow with Elaine, A and Jean!Ü

What Element Is Your Love?

Your Love Element Is Earth

In love, you have consistency and integrity. For you, love is all about staying grounded and centered. You attract others with your zest for life and experiences. Your flirting style is defined by setting the scene, creating a unique moment in time. Steady progress and stability are the cornerstones of your love life. You may take things too slowly, but you never put your heart at risk. You connect best with: Fire Avoid: Wood You and another Earth element: need each other too much to build a good foundation

What Element Is Your Love?

It is Madness....

To hate all roses because you got scratched with one thorn...
To give up on your dreams because one didn't come true...
To lose faith in prayers because one was not answered...
To give up on your efforts because one of them failed...
To condemn all your friends because one betrayed you...
Not to believe in love because someone was unfaithful or didn't love you back...
To throw away all your chances to be happy because you did not succeed on the first attempt...

As you go on your way, do not give in to madness...
Always remember, another chance may come up...another friend...another love...a renewed strength...Ü

1ST QUARTER of 2006 - Chinese Love Horoscope for Goats

JANUARY
First two weeks - Heartwise, you'll have the desire of stability and solid commitments. If you live alone, an encounter is possible and even probable. This won't certainly be love at first sight of the movies, but a deep and important love story that has chances to become a long adventure à deux.
Last two weeks - You'll be under the crossfire of the planets, some of them being very positive while others really disagreeable. Thus certain natives may go through difficulties in couple to such an extent that in some cases a pure and simple rupture must be envisaged. Others will know superb love at first sight. Others still will experience both!




FEBRUARY
First two weeks - The planet Linh Tinh in a beautiful aspect will awaken you on the sentimental plane. And the star An Quang, a master of desire, will also spoil you. When these two planets act together this way, amorous happiness is surely at arm's reach; thus the heart and the body vibrate together and one recovers both affective and sensual complicity with one's mate. If you live alone, you'll meet a person who suits you sentimentally and sexually at the same time. And since Dai Hao, the planet of surprises, will also be present, this period promises quite a number of you a capital amorous encounter!
Last two weeks - With this phase of the Moon, you should heartwise expect neither noticeable problems nor exceptional events. It will rather be routine, but on the whole an agreeable routine. In any case, as a good native of this sign, you clearly give your preference to stable situations over successive upheavals; thus you'll surely be pleased to be able to serenely share an eventless everyday life with your beloved one. If you live alone, don't lose heart: the stars Dao Hoa and Tu Vi promise you several opportunities of encounter.




MARCH
First two weeks - On account of this aspect of the planet Hong Loan, your sentimental life may become shaky if not stormy. This will above all be the case if you're married and succumb to passing siren songs. Beware, an indiscretion that you deem unimportant may transform itself into a conjugal drama! If you're lonely, your adventurous heart will lead you by the nose. Sudden outbursts, love at first sight but also disappointments and not always agreeable surprises are possible. So watch out!
Last two weeks - Thanks to the support of the planet Hong Loan, your increased charm and well-bloomed sensuality will attract attention. If you're already bound, your couple life will be very harmonious. And if you're lonely, you'll have chances to meet someone with whom you'll click right away and very well.

Horoscope for Lamb/Sheep/Ram

In the face of challenges, build a reputation of integrity.

You have two choices for 2006: Either spend the year with the Peace Corps or some charitable project, or make 2006 an entirely by-the-numbers year. The good news is, if you pass this test, the future will reward you.

Honestly, in 2006, there won't be much way for you to avoid juicy temptations that can turn your life upside down. Wine, women, and song... they will sing a siren song in 2006. It's a "character building" year for you. Cut up the charge cards, stick to healthy routines, and don't try to sneak out of work early on Fridays. Drive below speed limits, and--if you're in a relationship--don't flirt, even in an online chat.

If you can stay out of trouble in 2006, you'll build a reputation that will attract all the right people--including potential investors--starting in 2007.

ON LAMBS...

LAMB people have good taste and are quite charming and elegant … and rich. You may find them the center of attention at a stylish dinner party, ravishing all with incomparable wit and bon mots. The opposite is also true: they are often quite shy and sometimes prefer complete anonymity, the quiet life at home with a good book, a roaring fire, and the joys of the palate. A creative flame burns in their lives and you may find them before a canvas experimenting with bright bold genius strokes of paint. Sometimes, they tend to be pessimistic and question the meaning of life, wondering "why they dwell among green mountains." They are quite often deeply religious or spiritual and quite passionate about their work and their belief.

Sweet Potato Soup and Cellophane Noodles are among keys to good health.

Earth Lambs are like dancing daffodils, moving with kinetic exuberance and joy. Like all Lambs, these creatures are wonderful to socialize with, you just can't help loving their friendly ways and enthusiasm for living. They make lemonade out of lemons, velvet out of porcupines, and find serendipity everywhere. All their friends and colleagues get caught up with this passion. As you can imagine, they make the best of traveling companions. Earth Lambs are honorable in all their dealings; they roll up their sleeves and do whatever it is that must be done. They know true contentment because they can think of yesterday without regret and tomorrow without fear. Earth Lambs love good books and spend many happy hours seeking treasures in used bookstores. This serious nature also applies to their college years and careers, which they pursue with utmost dedication, hard work, and diligence. At some point in later life, they are rewarded with unexpected financial fortune. What a cozy twosome the Earth Lamb makes with a love partner. Relationships are filled with exquisite warmth, gentleness, and tenderness, with magical threads of sensuality taking them on beautiful carpet rides.

You Don't Miss Your Water

This is one of my favorite songs of Craig David. For some reason, it never fails to make me reminisce and be sad when I hear it after my hear has been wounded...

As I sail with you across the finest oceans
On our way to find the key to our emotions
Together, we will move the clouds to brighter days
Some people question what I say
Try to break up you and me
But I know this love between us is growing stronger
You can call me whenever from wherever
Just remember that
I'll be there
Through all the stormy weather
Us break up, never
No we'll be together
Forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Can't somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

As I close my eyes
Sit back while reminiscing
Of when we used to fuss and fight, but end up kissing
There may be sad and painful times along the way
But in my heart you'll always be everything and more to me
For I know this love between us is growing stronger
You can call me whenever from wherever
Just remember that
I'll be there
Through all the stormy weather
Us break up never
No we'll be together
Forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Cant somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

For you are always on my mind
You are always on my mind
Girl you know that you
You are always
You are always on my mind
You are always forever

You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry
But I believe so strongly in you and I
Cant somebody answer me the question why
You don't miss your water til the well runs dry

You don't miss your water girl no
But I believe so strongly in you and I yeah
Cant somebody answer me the question why
Cause you don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry yeah listen
If you ever get the feeling
You wanna play around starting cheating, remember
You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry

He probably miss me because he called after I decided not to do so...But then again, I know I miss him more...

What About Love...

What if i took my time to love you
What if i put no one above you
what if i did the things that really mattered
What if i ran through hopes of disaster

No-one would care if we had never made it
We're in this alone so why dont we face it
There is no room to blame one another
We just need time to forgive each other

Chorus:
What about love...
What about feeling...
What about all the things that make life worth living
What about faith
What about trust
And tell me baby what about us

How can I give this love a new beginning
How can I stop the rain...its never ending
How do i keep my soul reliving
Memories of how we should be keep calling

(Chorus)

Oh baby
Il take the rivers right
Il take the happy times
Il take the moments of disaster

(Chorus)

Things We USED to Argue About...

Odie and I have been chatting almost the entire afternoon...Sharing stories, pieces of advice, and links of interesting blogs and hobbies.

One of the links Odie shared with me is a freakin' long one...I grew tired reading the entire entry entitled as such, and I started reminiscing (again). But this time, I'm trying to recall the things we argue about...

- what new celfone model to buy
- what movie to watch when everything showing sucks
- what movie to watch when everything showing is good
- where to have coffee
- which chinese restaurant to hit (NorthPark or SuperBowl?) -- what the hell??They're all Chinese food!
- where will i get a cab -- in front of Tower Records or Landmark?
- why do we always have to pass by Powerbooks when I have no intentions of buying anything
- what new kiddie series of books will I start buying
- what his shirt size is -- ayaw maniwala na sa binibilihan ko large sha...
- what reasons should he give "the one" when we go out
- why he had to ditch long-planned gimmicks because of his barkada
- poker nights
- ladies' nights
- why I want to travel so much
- why I don't eat bread and red-sauced pasta
- when I ran out of credits
- when I text or call after 10pm or after 2pm at some days
- tardiness -- kasi lagi akong late in meeting up with him

These are some of the things that we continuously argue about over the year...Annoying as they are, these are the things that made me love him more. If I can only have the chance to have another year to fight over these things, I'd grab the opportunity...=(

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!





Our family stayed at Manila Hotel to celebrate New Year's Eve. Si Reichelle kasi has asthma. This is the first time that I've experienced 11:45pm in the lobby: CHAOS!!! People were running around, kids were making a lot of noise, etc.! As in! Ang sayang chaos nito!Ü Unfortunately, we had to go back to our room before 12mn because Papa, Neal and Reich are there. There was a countdown at the pavilion which we missed, pero pig-out naman sa room!Ü

Here are some of the pix: