thoughts for today

State of focus

To be highly effective in what you do, enter a special state of being that you can create with your own intention. Enter a state of focus.

In this state, trivial outside events do not have the power to distract or annoy you. You simply accept them, move past them, and continue working on what's truly important to you.

In your focused state, there is no hesitation or worry about getting it wrong. You move ahead with steady, persistent efforts, knowing that even the mistakes will lead to learning and improvements.

Always with you in your state of focus is a clear and authentic sense of purpose. The energy to keep going and to keep focused comes from remembering why.

When you are focused you are curious, flexible, and open to new ways of creating value. At the same time, you're able to keep yourself solidly on track toward the specific goals you have chosen.

Enter a peaceful, powerful focused state. And make good things happen for your whole world.

-- Ralph Marston

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Hope fulfilled

It is wonderful to live with hope in your heart. Yet by itself, hope will not accomplish anything.

By all means, hope for the very best. Then put that hope into action. It is positive, productive, effective action that will bring about those things for which you hope. Let hope be your reason to act, and not a substitute for action.

Hope will put your mind and your spirit in a positive place. Hope can strengthen your will for doing whatever is necessary to move forward.

Keep hope alive within you. Treasure it, nurture it, and allow its warm, enriching glow to fill your world.

With your skills, your resources, your commitment and persistence, bring that hope to life. Through your own efforts, be the living fulfillment of the best of your hopes.

-- Ralph Marston

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Thanks for these food for thoughts, Nes!

the weekend that was jun 20-21: overdue

Saturday. I was up early but Irvin doesn't feel well so hindi kami natuloy mag-jogging. Sad! Plantsa the whole day because of 2-weeks worth of laundry, but it's okay. Ironing clothes is my fave household chore! Agnes, coming from her visit to Asian Hospital, visited me :) Yey! Sarap ng muffins, Nes!

Sunday. Jogging and badminton at Island Cove! Yipee! Nagpa-carwash then breakfast sa bahay, chat with Ate. We ordered pancit canton and lumpiang shanghai from Lydia's for our Father's Day celebration. Saw Orlyn and her sister at mass, chika galore! :)

the weekend that was jun 12-14: overdue

Friday. Holiday dapat but since it's WD10, we went to work (although I'm not really in the mood for working). We had lunch at Aveneto. Sinundo ako ni Irvin around 3:30 PM because we need to shop for his clothes. Buti na lang may Father's Day sale sa SM Makati! Nakabili kami ng 5 polos, 2 slacks and 1 black leather shoes. Nakabili din ako ng cute brown dress. Hehehe! Haaay! We had dinner at Luk Yuen at Glorietta 5.

Saturday. I was up at around 5 AM, jogging day today e! Usual Saturday lang - read, TV, plantsa. Was already asleep by 9 PM. (Early to rise, early to bed.)

Sunday. I woke up with my swollen right eye, tsk tsk tsk! Tatay's birthday pero may toyo, hehehe! Mahirap talagang magpalaki ng magulang :)

not so me!

I bought a pair of Ipanema Gisele Bundchen from Agnes (at a friendship rate, of course!). This is with approval from Hubby :) Mwah!

So why is it not so me? Mahal kahit super discounted na, but it's Ipanema so what do you expect? (Haha, talking to myself!)

transformers: revenge of the fallen

Irvin and I watched Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen last night at SM Bacoor. We were suppose to see it with Agnes and Tristan at MOA but news spread that typhoon Feria will directly hit Manila area that night. So no, don't like the sound of it. SM Bacoor will do (I can feel that Irvin will see the movie again, anyway).

Thanks to the super-fulfilling dinner at Shakeys, Tan! I look forward to meeting you again (and you treating us to dinner again).

The highly anticipated Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen has not failed my expectations regarding the massive explosions and spectacular special effects. Of course, there are the heart-pounding action sequences and a few laugh-out-loud moments, and the Autobots and Decepticons in a seemingly unending battle. This movie is bigger and louder. It has little story (and confusing, too…but I think that's just me), intended for the simple-minded (like me!). Well, what I want to say is that I don't really care, it's Transformers…a thought-provoking plot is not a necessity :)

The movie is long (too long I think) but is still fun, entertaining and dazzling. It is, for me, worth watching.

photo journal: reflection

time first!

Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
Maibabalik ba ang kahapon?

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'Yan ang panimulang linya ng Kanlungan ni Noel Cabangon. Para akong bumabalik sa dekada '80 at '90. 'Yan ang dekada ko.

Ang buhay nga naman, punong-puno ng contradictions.

Noong bata ako, gusto ko nang tumanda. Inip na inip ako sa panahon. Gusto ko na magbihis ng jeans and shirt, matutong mag-make-up at kumita ng sariling pera sa panahong dress pa ang pinapasuot sa akin ni Nanay kapag aalis, alikabok at pawis mula sa paglalaro ang nasa mukha ko at mga baryang naiwan lang ni Tatay ang pera ko.

Pero ngayong grown-up na ko (ayoko sabihing "matanda" na ako, halata ba?), sulit nga ba ang pagkainip ko? Eto na ba ang estado na noong bata ako e "something to look forward to"?

Hindi ko masasabing nasayang ang kabataan ko. Sulit, pare!

Sa sobrang sulit, 'yan ang nami-miss ko ngayong grown-up na ko.

Sapilitan ang pagtulog sa tanghali. Minsan, natatakasan ko si Nanay, pero magaling siyang bantay kaya madalas, hindi. Nakikisawsaw ako sa paglalaba ni Nanay, kunwari tumutulong pero naglalandi lang ng tubig at ng bula. Tinatapos ang isang papel, front and back, ng paulit-ulit na Aa, Bb, Cc, and so on.

Tagabilang kami ni Ate ng barya ni Tatay kapag galing siya sa pasada. Ang sumobra, amin na. Nakakabingi ang boses ni Tatay kapag tinatawag na ako, isang mahabang " Neeeeeeeeeeng!" Ooops, oras na para umuwi. Tagatapak ako ng likod ni Tatay at tagatanggal ng puting buhok.

Sino'ng hindi makakaalala sa Batibot? Sa mga kantang itinuro nito? Sa mga characters na nagbibigay kulay sa buhay ng mga kabataan na sandaling humihinto sa paglalaro para lang makinig kay Kuya Bodjie? (Pinapanood din ako ni Nanay ng Sesame Street para daw matuto akong mag-English.)

Masarap ang maligo sa ulan, lalo na kung nakatapat ka sa alulod. Masarap magtampisaw sa baha at gumawa ng bangkang papel. Hindi ko pa naiisip na may wiwi ng pusa 'yung tubig galing sa bubong o may wiwi ng daga 'yung tubig-baha.

Kapag nilalagnat ako, pakiramdam ko mamamatay na ako. Pero unti-unti akong gagaling kapag tinanong na ni Nanay, "Anak, ano'ng gusto mong ulam?"

The best ang summer dahil sa outing sa mga beach kahit sa tabi-tabi lang. Deadma kung anuman ang kulay ng buhangin, basta my alon, sugod!

Kapag in-the-mood akong gumawa ng outdoor activities, pipigilan ko ang nagbabadyang ulan sa pamamagitan ng pagdo-drawing ng araw sa lupa. Dapat naka-smile para effective.

Speaking of outdoor activities, hindi ba't nakaka-miss ang taguan, patintero, hagarang upo, hagarang baboy, hagarang artista, siyatok, langit-lupa at touch-body-out? E ang Chinese garter, jackstone at snakes 'n ladder? At ang bahay-bahayan, kotse-kotsehan at titser-titseran? O ang manghuli ng iba't ibang klase ng tutubi?

Madalas ang brownout kaya uso ang sari-saring horror stories. Pinakasikat siyempre 'yung white lady sa may H.E. ng elementary school. Sabay may hihirit ng, "Hoy! Biyernes ngayon, bawal magkuwentuhan ng nakakatakot!"

Naniniwala ako na papalitan ng daga ang ngipin ko, na may ikinakasal na ibon o tikbalang kapag umulan habang umaaraw, na maiihi ako sa kama kapag pinaglaruan ko ang apoy sa kandila, na tutubo sa loob ng katawan ko ang buto ng kalamansi na nalunok ko, na may lalabas na tren sa sugat ko, na namamatay ang Diyos kapag Biyernes Santo.

Ngayon, grown-up na ako. Jeans and shirt na ang karaniwang outfit ko, pwede ko nang pag-aralan ang pagme-make up at kumikita na ako ng sarili kong pera. Iba na ang gawain at paniniwala ko. Ibang-iba na.

Kaya minsan, pinapangarap ko pa din ang muling maging bata.

'Yung mawawala ang lahat ng sakit kapag hinipan na ni Nanay ang sugat.

'Yung feeling na mayaman ka kahit tatlong piso lang ang laman ng bulsa.

'Yung lahat ng pagkakamali ay nalulutas lang ng isang mapagkumbabang "Sorry po…"

'Yung kaya mong pasayahin ang mga tao, lalo na ang pamilya mo, sa pamamagitan ng isang simpleng song-and-dance number.

'Yung walang pakialam sa pera o sa sasabihin ng iba.

'Yung pwedeng maging si Doctor Quack-Quack para maiayos ang lahat ng buhol sa buhay.

'Yung solve na ang lahat ng pighati sa isang cone ng dirty ice cream.

'Yung makulay na ang mundo dahil sa 8-color Crayola.

'Yung parang naaabot na din ang pangarap mo kasabay ng paglipad ng saranggola.

'Yung ang mga pangako ay pwede mong lagyan ng "Pwera bawi, isang basong ihi!"

'Yung kapag tinutulak ka na ng mundo, pwede kang sumigaw ng "TIME FIRST!"

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Natatandaan mo pa ba nang tayong dal'wa'y unang magkita
Panahon ng kamusmusan sa piling ng mga bulaklak at halaman
Doon tayo nagsimulang mangarap at tumula
Natatandaan mo pa ba, inukit kong puso sa punong mangga
At ang inalay kong gumamela, magkahawak-kamay sa dalampasigan
Malayang tulad ng mga ibon ang gunita ng ating kahapon
Ang mga puno't halaman ay kabiyak ng ating gunita
Sa paglipas ng panahon, bakit kailangan ding lumisan?
Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
Maibabalik ba ang kahapon?
Ngayon ikaw ay nagbalik at tulad ko rin ang iyong pananabik
Makita ang dating kanlungan, tahanan ng ating tula at pangarap
Ngayon ay naglaho na, saan hahanapin pa?
Lumilipas ang panahon, kabiyak ng ating gunita
Ang mga puno't halaman, bakit kailangang lumisan?
Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
Maibabalik ba ang kahapon?
Lumilipas ang panahon, kabiyak ng ating gunita
Ang mga puno't halaman, bakit kailangang lumisan?
Pana-panahon ang pagkakataon
Maibabalik ba ang kahapon?

favorite blogs award

Thanks for the award, Me-mae! And congratulations on your new blog! (Your new blog is interesting. I like the cooking-related posts and I wish I can do those dishes, too. Goodluck to me!)

praying at work

(Lifted from a forwarded email.)

the weekend that was jun 6-7

It's the time of the month again, closing time! The weather is gloomy the whole week. Sigh!

Saturday. I got home at past 2 AM because of the heavy rain deferring Irvin's departure from home. Understandably, I woke up at 11 AM. Chat with Irvin until 12 NN. Had breakfast (yes, still breakfast at Estacion's), waited for the rain to stopped before going home to Rosario, had lunch. Took a bath, slept, watched TV, read.

Sunday. Scorching hot! The weather is so weird these days. Missed briskwalking (and picturetaking, on the side). Had a bad case of migraine, rest, read, chat with Ate, had lunch. Back at the Estacion's, slept, rest, read, watched TV…

Haaay, life.

Btw, finished Bob Ong's Kapitan Sino, Paulo Coelho's Like The Flowing River and The Essential Calvin and Hobbes. Yipeee!

the weekend that was may 29-31: overdue

Hay, it's one of those nights again. I had a hard time commuting on the way home on Thursday night. Grrr!

Friday. I took a leave to attend to a highschool friend's wedding. My berks Mavel is one of the bridesmaids. We were not able to go to the reception because it was already raining that time and Irvin doesn't feel well. Congratulations, Ai and Rio!

Went home to Rosario that night.

Saturday. Morning briskwalking with Irvin at Island Cove. I realized I miss mornings like this. It was raining so Irvin stayed until after lunch. Early to bed, around 9:30 PM (unbelievable but true).

Sunday. Early to rise, around 5 AM. Morning briskwalking did not push through because of the weather. Can't go back to sleep so I did some marathon reading. Irvin came before lunchtime. Chat with Ate. Irvin gets and enjoys a 2-hour massage from our local masseuse :) Early to bed again.