#ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

I am a self-confessed foodie and today I was alone at home while trying to arrange stuffs in our little mini-grocery/tindahan. I was the "tindera" for the day since my Mom went to the City to manage the documents for this year's tax payment on our house, store and our car. Since I've been quite hungry after tending our store and cleaning the house, I treated myself with another Philippine street food. Look it!


Other favorite street food includes kwek-kwek (orange egg), balut, tempura and squid ball. There are more things I have yet to discover for in my beloved country that's why the title says it all, twitter trending inspired. Haha! Indulging my taste buds on some streefoods is just one of the main reason why truly it is more "bibo" (fun) in the Philippines. And. I. LOVE. IT! Masarap na fishball,anyone? Hehe. Until next street food discovery! Xoxo.. =)

I can see clearly now..

Yepey! I finally got my new pair of eyeglasses. It's an early birthday present from my dearest mother. It's like 4 months in advance. Haha! Now out of the blue, I've been humming the song from Bob Marley. Definitely, I can see clearly now. It's a 50/50 healthy vision for me and my mom too. She's also had her new glasses. Now she won't be feeling that darn headache anymore. 



It's a great way to start the year right. It's gonna be a bright, bright, sun shiny day!  =)

New Year: Spic and Span House

A new year is new start. To welcome 2012 with an open heart is to have a place to live that's clean and healthy. I've had my bandana,cleaning gloves and gadgets on for this week. I started cleaning the entire kitchen the other day and next day I'll be cleaning the sala, the comfort room as well as my mini-library upstairs. It'll be busy week. After all those cleaning going on, I've gotta rest and fuel up. Eat some pizza, I say. We ordered pizza from Alberto's and it's amazing as always. Here's what I'ma talk about:


Eye Care

Eye care is to I care. 
YES! I care for my body as much as I care for the people I love. And when it comes to looking after my health I need to go to my ophthalmologist with my mom today. It was quite a rainy afternoon but it settled down awhile after me and my beloved mother had a heart to heart talk while taking our lunch at Merry Muffet. (Haha!) Awkward to have that talk for the first time with her but it was a great feeling after you have divulged your secrets when it comes to matters of the heart. I mean, I am never open to my mom about it but I guess this is the right time to tell her just about everything now that she gave me the permission to be in a relationship already. Waa! Pressured. But. I think. I am not yet ready. :D But having that talk with her was overwhelming especially so that I now know she's cool with me having a special someone soon. It definitely made my day since I am already 22 and I already have the freedom to have a paramour. LOL! Talking about a very strict family when it comes to lovelife. Indeed, it was a relief. I have yet to find the one though. I hope he'll hurry up. Haha!

After we had that talk, we did went to Salang Optical Clinic and remade a new frame and pair of lenses for my eye glasses. 


Tomorrow will be getting me and my moms glasses. Can't wait  =)

Year End Countdown for 2011: First Times & Freedom

KASAMA Team!
Last year was such a joyride. The ups and downs. You name it! I have to say it has been a very busy, fun, liberating, shocking and absolutely one helluva scary ride. I say busy 'coz I've won the position as treasurer in the College of Law's Student Council last February but sad because I've to give up my online job because I have not been active on it especially during campaigning time. Thus, I was jobless for a moment but not for long.

More so to in February, my MKP family held a first ever sportsfest and it was also the first time I have played bowling. It was great! Also, we did a feeding and outreach program to some communities in Iligan. We went to some schools and in Bantay Bata to cheer up and give goodies to female kids who have been victims of rape. It was something I've always wanted to do which is to help other people in their ordeals in life. It was a gratifying feeling to have helped them & made them smile because of our lil efforts to make their day special.


Precious, Zam, Jehan, Glen and Me :)
By March my batch, the so-called "Fortiores in Fide" is now, for one year, a certified member of Mu Kappa Phi. And in the same month, I have concluded my second semester at law school - FINISHED. I may be an irregular student and surely I will  not be able to graduate on time but it doesn't matter so long as I will be diligent in my studies and be optimistic still. Like what my friend told me, IT ISN'T A RACE. Just do good at school and aim for the top :)


The creative Taurean/Earth Snake that I am and like I said, I will not be jobless for long. I have been hired as a legal researcher/secretary at Gandamra Law Office in the month of May. But then again, I realized the work was kinda stressful and I had to be more focused on my studies for next semester therefore leaving me jobless again. It would have been a pretty awesome job knowing that I am a law student and the experience would have been grand. It would have helped me honed my skills in the said profession very soon especially making docus on memorandum, pleadings and the likes. It was actually a great working place the fact that my bosses are my fraternal brod and sis in Mu Kappa Phi and I feel comfortable but sadly it wasn't good for me to work there for full time and I am concerned about the fact that I might have lots of absences at work due to my being an officer in the student council too.

My take on the pixie-look. Haha! Me with the beautiful ladies
Monique, Joyce and Niel at Malibu House,
Malaybalay, Bukidnon. :)
Still, in the month of May, my being so busy has now commenced in full throttle. Such as talking about traveling and a few contests to attend to such as the ALSP event at Bukidnon with brod Nader and ate Joyce. It was a great experience and again, I met new faces and traveled alone without any family member to escort me there, FOR THE FIRST TIME.

After that said event, I felt a bit freed from having to stay in Iligan for years now. It is time for a new adventure! It was like breaking monotony. I've indeed, started to put my best foot forward on this year.



And so back to reality, before the start of the class on June, I thought I was jobless but that was just for a few months since I got back to teaching at MTIM. They called me on the phone and hired me again after teaching for second semester last January. I never knew I'd be teaching now in MTIM for a year and a half already and it feels so good. I just hope they will offer me more units to teach not just the English subject but my forte per se, which is political science. During this year's event I've met  so many faces and became close to them such as Safa and Seddik, who through, partly my influence, has become instructors also of the same College.

DK, Vienne, Joyce and Me at Manila Gateway.
Then on June to July, I together with some professors and law students, I went to Manila for the first time to attend the PBIEL Seminar. It was quite exciting for again, it was another first time for me to travel the capital city of the country. It was my first time to ride on an LRT/MRT. It was quite fun but dangerous at the same time since alot of people are on the train and I think it's where most snatchers are looming to steal anything they could get taking advantage of the scenario. Oh well, new experience begets new friendship. I got really acquainted with the other law students and learned something from the seminar as well. Again, freedom is here to stay! Plus, it was also the time when my mother bought me a netbook for the sake of this seminar. It was pure heaven! Haha! :)) 

Ate GM with my MKP buddies Glen, Zam and Raffy :)
On September, I met my sister in-law, Ate Gay Marie (GM). She's the wife of my brother Junjun. A true blue Davaoinian. She's also sabay like my Kuya (big bro). Though for her short stay here in Iligan, I've already learned to like her. We strolled her to some of the nice spots in Iligan with some of my closest friends. My family loved her for she reminds us of my elder brother. Soon enough will meet each other again with their lil angel. Hehe. It'll be another addition to our already big family. I can't wait! ;)

Still on September, it was also the month where Ate Anne got hitched with her long time boyfriend Kuya Gerald. Ate GM, my brother and I were invited but the lovers weren't here in the Philippines for they're still at Saudi so I had to act as their representative per se. Their motif was the color red - LOVE! I am with her other STAR-CM friends Ate Rose & Clint, Ate Jonalyn and the others of whom I forgot the name. Hehe. :)



Now here comes the month of October where I've been so preoccupied at law school. The horrors of Atty. Lanto's subject on partnership. Having to deal with assholes y' diablo disguised as human beings the moment I decided to run for school politics. Deym! May Lord God grant them forgiveness of whatever scornful things they've than and may they change for the better. This enriching experience have definitely warned me who to trust and who to stay away from. Poker-faced syndrome is a must and I have somehow managed to learn the art of it.

Also, to stray away from law books for awhile, I have decided to buy and to collect John Grisham books. It was another avenue to motivate me at law school. It was yet another influence to make me love more what I will soon become. At least I've had something to add in my very own bookshelves in my mini-library upstairs.

To continue the privilege of freedom given to me by my beloved mother, in the month of November, I have now joined the bar operations committee. Again. For. The First Time!!! Haha! I was with great people and being surrounded by them motivated me to push forward with life. I was again back in Manila and this was another great experience to treasure. It has helped me loved my soon to be profession, THAT MUCH. For I have quite figured out the small details about law school and those sorts of stuffs. It made me appreciate what I'll be doing soon as an administrator of justice, as a lawyer, of course.

Then all of a sudden, Sendong hits Iligan City on December. Just like that! The scary journey I had being an officer is that same feeling which drastically haunted me when alot of people died and many houses were damaged at dawn on December 17. It's was unbelievable. We never thought Iligan could experience such tragedy. It was the first ever that tons of casualties and properties have been juggernaut. Even my sisters who lived in Orchids Subdivision and in Lambaguhon have been victims of this tropical storm. I am just grateful to the Lord that they've survived this calamity. We could not imagine the things they have experience on that day the fact that seeing the aftermath of the flood was way beyond our expectations. It was an instant ghost town. Totally wiped out! We were hoping we could have celebrated my Dad's birthday on that day but what was to happen next was astonishing. Lives were taken and things that were in the way of Sendong were all destroyed in a blink of an eye. Dreams were crushed and hearts were crying. 

But on a lighter note, "UNITY AMIDST DIVERSITY" occurred out of this unforgettable battle, whether due to Mother Natures wrath or be it a man-made calamity in itself. Iliganons and those from CDO received help and various donations from different parts in the country. We've witnessed the spirit of bayanihan irregardless of the fact that you are rich or poor, a Christian or a Muslim. There were no boundaries. Everyone even those who have been victims too have helped other victims. Therefore, making each of them a catalyst for positive change in the aforementioned cities.

Truly it is painful to see those people who have lost everything, whether material or losing a loved one. Others are up to now, still haven't found the missing bodies of their family members. I am just thankful that out of this unimaginable experience, my family is in good hands. And that a positive thing has happened because of this event. I've in the process, matured into another level. I have come into good terms with my sisters whom I haven't been in total contact with for the past months/years. The hatred inside my heart was also totally wiped off. That deep seated anger finally subsided. It felt like that burden I have carried for a long haul has now finally been unloaded. 

Indeed, blood is thicker than water. I can say I now have peace of mind especially so that beginning today I am starting to rebuild the damaged relationship I had with them. Each of us may have our faults with each other but, if God can forgive the sinners then who am I not to forgive my own blood. 

Sendong's wrath taught me a lot of lessons. I forgave. I loved. I cared. I was able to extend a helping hand to the victims by doing relief operations be it in my individual efforts or with the help of my colleagues at law school. It was my way of thanking God for saving my family through that raging storm. It feels like everything is renewed inside my heart. It felt like we just landed on a new territory while on board on Noah's ark. A new beginning awaits as we welcome the year 2012.

When Sendong left Philippines, the hatred I've felt begins to vanish into oblivion and the secrets I've carefully concealed for years have now been let out of the bag. I've managed to open my secrets to my mother when it comes to matters of the heart. It felt great. I felt light. I felt so open. I felt so safe. It was freedom. It was amazing to have shared my emotions with my mother now that she gave me the permission to be in a relationship for my 22 years of existence. Haha! I am a bit pressured but I'll just go with the flow. Only God knows what my fate will be. I lay it all in His Glory. 

And ow, since we're talking a lil about my lovelife here, then maybe an old flame can be possibly rekindled? Haha. THAT I have yet to discover as 2012 unfolds. Question is, "Will this year of the water dragon be in favor of my soon to be blossoming lovelife? Or will it stop me from  a terrible heartache?" It remains to be unknown. I am scared but again, together, let's find out. Hang on tight, you! It'll be another roller-coaster ride for us. Hehe.  =)

By the way, Happy New Year! Happy New You! :)

Tangerine Tango for 2012!

Hours before welcoming 2012, me and my pamangkins went shopping for later's preparation for the party and foods. When we went to a certain department store, I took the liberty of looking at this cute piggy bank and I thought it's about time I have to save money. Haha! I bought it and what was even more surprising is that it is colored tangerine tango which is said to be the color for this year. Definitely an optimistic color to boost ones energy, to recharge and move forward. 

Experts at Pantone Color Institute, the color itself does not only symbolize vitality but it is also about urgency and strength. The color itself is all about being hopeful and optimistic which I find very interesting for it resonates with the kind of attitude I adore. I know the year 2012 is going to be a really mind-blowing ride but the vivaciousness of the reddish-orange and warmth brought about by yellow forming this years color is already getting me excited ;) To begin with, let me introduce you to my beloved piggy bank with a touch of tangerine tango of course. Haha!

Oinkieeeee!!

Mama, Joshua, Leah and I..

It's been a long time since Joshua came back to his Lola's house. If he only knew how much we missed him. It's a good thing that this Sendong tragedy happened because my family has now been reunited and an old debacle with past misunderstandings have now been mended at least. This is one way of seeing the brighter side of how Sendong changed each of our lives but we hope this tropical storm shall no longer have a part 2. Anyway, I am just happy to have spent more family time with Mama and my pamangkins after we spent the evening at church and going on a snack at Jollibee.




 =)