College Friends!

I would say I am blessed to have great friends from college. They were the ones I gathered support and strength while pulling an all-nighter or working on a research paper / defense, assignments and projects. My college life wouldn't be happy and fulfilling if it weren't for these people… they were the ones who made my day bright and even I was worrying if my parents would be able to afford my tuition. They made me feel that life in college is sure a breezy and fun one.

I wouldn't say their names because I value privacy and silence… anyway, here they are…

K - of all my college girlfriends, she's still the closest friend I had. We've been classmates since first semester of 2000. We shared a lot of common links, our love for poetry and short stories, cute guys and showbiz (haha :)). She had a talent in writing and I used to remember that she dreamed of becoming a journalist but ended up in the wonderful world of Information Technology (haha). Anyway, she is currently doing good in her career. Up to now, we are still meeting up for some girl talks over coffees, ice creams, pizza, pasta, salads and any foods we feel like eating at the moment. She's my constant shopping buddy and text mates when we're not busy at the office. Recently, we are on the same wavelength regarding on quarter life crisis. It was good because when we opened up we realized we are currently treading same wave of thoughts regarding our future.

There are so many memories of her and one of the most remarkable I guess was when we went together for some serious soul searching prayer at St. Claire chapel and of course her sweet letters reminding me that friends may come and go but true ones often stay in your heart and in your life.

M - Who would have thought this tough and best looking guy in school would be my life savior after college graduation? We became close because of our common denominator: my ex-boyfriend. He was my ex-boyfriend's best friend. He was the one who helped me see things that are not worth fighting for. When me and my college best friend and ex-bf fell apart, he was there as a friend willing to cheer me up and made me see that things happen for a reason. I would never forget the day when he confirmed to me the thing every girl doesn't want to hear from their ex-bf's bestfriend. He sided with me despite the risks of ruining his friendship with his bestfriend. Up to this day I am still grateful for him. Currently he is newly-married and a proud father to his 1-month old daughter.

Today, I was able to talk to him again in Yahoo Messenger. There was so many things left unsaid and I must say we both grew up. I was really happy for him because he seems contented and proud of his new status. Before I talked to him to cry my heart out in frustration and now we are laughing at our distant memories. He told me that whatever happened in the past has a reason. We both know it since we were being blessed with lovelives which is very far different from the past.

CJ - He was my college best friend. We met through common friends and we instantly clicked after we talked. He was very talented in drawing and programming. Too bad he wasn't able to land a career in those areas. He was my constant buddy during 1st sem of 2002 up to our graduation. Secretly, I had a crush on him (or should I say everyone in school knows it) but I was too afraid to risk everything for our friendship. He was very protective and very concerned with me. I really missed those times when we just had to hang out at their house talking endlessly and playing jokes on each other or just eating banana-que and drinking Coke in her aunt's sari-sari store. My favorite memory of him was when I got rejected applying for a known call center in Makati. This happened after our college graduation. I was bawling and crying like a kid in Greenbelt park. It was too embarrassing but I couldn't help but vent out my frustration and stress. He was there calmly speaking to me and cheering me up. He put his hand over my shoulder to stop me from crying. All the way from Makati to Laguna he didn't let go of my hand. Up to now, those memories still make me cry but I always thought God has better purpose for me since I landed a career in IT. Something I always wanted from the very start.

Recently, I was organizing my inbox messages in my cellphone, I was surprised when some of his previous messages are stored in my SIM card… here is one of the most memorable message he sent to me:

"You'll pass it! Tsaka ur always in my prayers naman e. Lam m, u've been through
a lot noh I've never met a stronger person than u kaya believe in urself, to u
its another challenge nalang d b? Pass yan, I know you can do it!"

It was dated August 09, 2004 around 12:03 in the morning… he sent me that message when I was applying for a job. I think it work, because I was hired after :).

Too bad our friendship didn't survive after this due to complicated situations but I will always be thankful that even we shared only two years of friendship, he would always still remain in my heart. It made me sad how our friendship fell apart. Honestly, I missed him and his constant companionship, but since he is married, I only wish the best for them and hoping he is happy wherever he is.

For now, these are the people who are quite remarkable in my college life. People who shared my thoughts, laughters and tears. People who made significant contributions and helped me in my current journey.

Next Planned Article: High School Friends!

Desiderata

Sharing my favorite poem on how I struggle and survive...

Desiderata by Max Ehrman

Something To Do When You're 25-ish....

Just earlier this morning, I was browsing my Facebook account when a former officemate of mine shared this article it was found on online Relevant Magazine.

WHAT TO KNOW WHEN YOU'RE IN 25-ISH
BY: Shauna Niequist
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life/whole-life/features/22864-what-to-know-when-youre-25ish

Photo from:http://frostier.net/

Here are the things really worth caring about in your 20s.

When you’re 25-ish, you’re old enough to know what kind of music you love, regardless of what your last boyfriend or roommate always used to play. You know how to walk in heels, how to tie a necktie, how to give a good toast at a wedding and how to make something for dinner. You don’t have to think much about skin care, home ownership or your retirement plan. Your life can look a lot of different ways when you’re 25: single, dating, engaged, married. You are working in dream jobs, pay-the-bills jobs and downright horrible jobs. You are young enough to believe that anything is possible, and you are old enough to make that belief a reality.



Job
Now is the time to figure out what kind of work you love to do. What are you good at? What makes you feel alive? What do you dream about? You can go back to school now, switch directions entirely. You can work for almost nothing, or live in another country, or volunteer long hours for something that moves you. There will be a time when finances and schedules make this a little trickier, so do it now. Try it, apply for it, get up and do it.

When I was 25, I was in my third job in as many years—all in the same area at a church, but the responsibilities were different each time. I was frustrated at the end of the third year because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do next. I didn’t feel like I’d found my place yet. I met with my boss, who was in his 50s. I told him how anxious I was about finding the one perfect job for me, and quick. He asked me how old I was, and when I told him I was 25, he told me that I couldn’t complain to him about finding the right job until I was 32. In his opinion, it takes about 10 years after college to find the right fit, and anyone who finds it earlier than that is just plain lucky. So use every bit of your 10 years: try things, take classes, start over.

Relationships
Now is also the time to get serious about relationships. And “serious” might mean walking away from the ones that don’t give you everything you need. Some of the most life-shaping decisions you make in this season will be about walking away from good-enough, in search of can’t-live-without. One of the only truly devastating mistakes you can make in this season is staying with the wrong person even though you know he or she is the wrong person. It’s not fair to that person, and it’s not fair to you.

Counseling
Twenty-five is also a great time to start counseling, if you haven’t already, and it might be a good round two of counseling if it’s been a while. You might have just enough space from your parents to start digging around your childhood a little bit. Unravel the knots that keep you from living a healthy whole life, and do it now, before any more time passes.

Church
Twenty-five is the perfect time to get involved in a church you love, no matter how different it is from the one you were a part of growing up. Be patient and prayerful, and decide that you’re going to be a person who grows, who seeks your own faith, who lives with intention. Set your alarm on Sunday mornings, no matter how late you were out on Saturday night. It will be dreadful at first, and then after a few weeks, you’ll find that you like it, that the pattern of it fills up something inside you.

Don't get stuck
This is the thing: when you start to hit 28 or 30, everything starts to divide, and you can see very clearly two kinds of people: on one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find God and themselves and their deep dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. And then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. They mean to find a church, they mean to develop honest, intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in kind of an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than they were when they graduated college.

Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. Walk away, try something new. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal. Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? What have I learned about God this year? What parts of my childhood faith am I leaving behind, and what parts am I choosing to keep with me for this leg of the journey? Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”

Now is your time. Become, believe, try. Walk closely with people you love, and with other people who believe that God is very good and life is a grand adventure. Don’t spend time with people who make you feel like less than you are. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.

Taken from Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist Copyright © 2010. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com

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My Take:

Thinking about it made me realize that 20's is the age where you get to live your life at the fullest. You are starting your career and you're starting to shape your life and dreams. There are so many things and endless possibilities you need to take. You can go out and have fun with your friends especially if you are single, have the time of your life with your special someone, dream together, you can travel locally and internationally while discovering the hidden wonders of the world, you can go back to school and learn more and find out what piques your interest, save early and earn more in the future. There are so many things to do and learn. Above all, this is also the time to reflect and thank God for the bountiful blessings. Sometimes we think that we are miserable and frustrated for not getting what we want, but seeing and meeting different people, we might be able to find we are more blessed than what we think.

Manila Adventures

I used to remember going to Manila is a luxury before. Since I went in a private school in Laguna during college, I seldom go to Manila or explore it. I don't go there without someone to accompany me since I am clueless commuting the LRT and jeeps and I find it too dangerous for newbies like me. First time I explored Manila was when I accompanied my Mom buying stuffs in Divisoria and found out it was a great haven for shopaholics like me! The next time I went to Manila was when my BF accompany me during my enrollment in Graduate School. Since he went to a public state university in Manila, he is more familiar in navigating the city. After my enrollment, he was able to show me around Quiapo, Recto, SM Manila and Binondo.

For now I am currently residing in Manila for almost three years and I must say it was a great experience for me since I learn my way around and I got comfortable riding public transportation. Sometimes I still get paranoid and suspicious of people around me.

Some of the lessons I learned in Manila are:

1. Don't talk to strangers
2. Be alert all the time
3. Do not flaunt your possessions
4. Avoid going home late in the evening as much as possible
5. LRT and MRT is a challenge everyday

Living in Manila is an eye-opener. Since I grew up being sheltered by my family, it is really tough to adjust in the city. But as you overcome the challenges of living independently you'll be used to the polluted and crowded city. For me it was like practicing to live outside the country.

Aside from personal learnings, there is something more Manila can offer. I know some people would say Manila is polluted, crowded, full of crooks and beggars and traffic but Manila is also rich in history and information. I learned these while trying to explore famous Manila landmarks during weekends with my significant other. For those who like to have weekend getaways that are cheap, relaxing and not going to the mall, visit these beautiful places and structure in Manila.


1. National Museum

This place is brimming with all our culture rich histories, arts and sculptures. I was fascinated seeing our national artists' master pieces such as Spolarium and offer interesting artifacts from different provinces and tribes. It was ages ago since I visited this place and I must say that my recent trip to National Museum is a fun one. Entrance to the Museum is 100 pesos and during February, museum is offering free pass since it is the National Arts Month :)





2. Intramuros

Just like the National Museum, Intramuros is rich with history and this represents Manila during the Spanish period time. This is also where our national hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned. Parts of the Intramuros is dedicated to our national hero. If you have foreigner friends this is a perfect spot for sight seeing and learn Manila's history in one day.

Entrance fee to the park is 75.00 pesos. Not bad actually ;)

The crumbling structure in Intramuros

The old copy of El Filibusterismo, housed in Jose Rizal's Museum inside Intramuros

The famous facade of Intramuros, almost destroyed during World War 2

3. Manila Cathedral

This is one of the beautiful structure found in the heart of Manila. It was destroyed few times from the Spanish era up to World War 2 in 1945. It was re-created and copied to the original architectural design during the ancient times. At the back of Manila Cathedral, a marker / commemoration for the unknown victims of World War 2 is placed. This is to remember the cruelty and the innocent casualties brought by nonsense war.

The old picture of Manila Cathedral destroyed during the World War 2

Memorare - Manila 1945, for those innocent Filipino people who perished during the war

The Pieta inside Manila Cathedral

Manila Cathedral facade

Manila Cathedral facade

4. San Agustin Church

San Agustin Church is one of the oldest church in Manila. Aside from being one of the most sough-after church for wedding, San Agustin church offers great history in its walls. Its museum is filled with information on the lives of Augustinian priests who stayed in the Philippines and the religious artifacts they left. I was impressed with the saints' statues and religious relics made from authentic ivory, gold and silver. It also houses an indoor cemetery dated back from 1500s to 1700s. Visiting it during late afternoon sends chill to the spine since it is eerily silent and cold. :P

Entrance fee to the church is 100 pesos, my bf thinks it's kinda expensive for an entrance pass, but for me I find it "sulit" because of the unknown wonders inside the church museum.

The beautiful ceiling of San Agustin (while wedding is ongoing below)

Wondering how this hall looks like during the 17th century?

Scary St. Rita de Casia, holding a skull in her left hand

The Prayles, inside the museum

The first floor hall, filled with paintings of renowned saints

5. Luneta Park

When I was a kid, I always hear the phrase, "Namamasyal sa Luneta". Well actually it might be a little different from before but when we stroll Luneta is was still filled with different types of people. You can see tourists flocking over Jose Rizal's monument, kids exploring due to their field trips, simple people hanging around, students studying and practicing/shooting for their plays (they are even in their costumes). Just to feel the actual experience of going to Luneta, me and my significant other brought packed sandwiches and mats then pass time by sitting and talking. We find it relaxing and fun since we get to talk about everything we see or observe in the park.

I also noticed that there are certain parts of the park that has entrance fees like the Japanese and Chinese Garden for 5.00 pesos each and the hidden Jose Rizal monument during his final hours for 20.00 pesos each

Photo from: http://www.aidan.co.uk/photo8436.htm

Next Stop: Manila Bay and Binondo food tripping :D

Signs of Growing UP

Growing up is the hardest thing for some people. Some are already adults and acting like crazy teenager or kids, some are kids who thought it was cool acting like an adult but end up doing stupid things and lastly, some never left the world of fantasy and illusion, refuse to move on and live life as it supposed to be.

Few days ago, I had a very interesting chat with my college friend. She's my constant shopping buddy and we always hang out together when time and budget permits. We always talked how things are constantly changing and how people around us (our college friends) move and live their lives.

I used to remember before our topic of conversation during college revolves around our projects, assignments, grades, teachers, current rumors circulating in school, defenses, college crushes and our empty love-lives. But life back then was easy. Now that we are currently working, we still talk yet on different level of conversation. Most of the time we talk it's about our annoying classmates who keeps flaunting their material possessions, vacations and fiancés/husbands/babies in Faceboooks, rumors verified to be true during college and our so-called direction in life. It seems like me and my friend is currently on the same wavelength, worried what will be our future. But I must admit we are growing up and bracing ourselves on the challenges will come on our way.




This is the changes I noticed that I am currently growing up…

1. I used to be impatient. I thought that if things didn't go my way, I don't bother trying again. Now, I am trying my best to be more open-minded about everything in life

2. I used to be jealous my boyfriend's ex. She seems career-minded and very stable in her chosen field, and that made me so insecure. But after meeting her and some few awkward smiles and talk, I just learned she's just like any other person who has her own issues and concerns.

3. I must admit I used to be very possessive with my boyfriend. I panicked when he's not texting or calling during our first two years together and I realized how quite unnerving I was before. Now, I allow him to hang out with his friends and officemates as long I am fully aware his whereabouts in case of emergency. (at least di na possessive masyado! Haha)

4. I used to envy my other classmates and friends who are already stable in their careers/jobs. I learned recently that everyone has it's own time to "shine". We just need to be patient and always seek refuge in God (He will never fail us)

5. During my first two years on my job, I love to "shop til I drop", now I am thinking of ways to increase finances and be more stable

6. I am still learning to work and be patient with different types of people

7. I am ashamed asking money from my parents… or even ask for a pasalubong from my DAD. I thought I'm too old for those stuff, but my Dad pointed out that no matter how old I am, he likes to give me presents because I am his kid. :)

8. Discussions and conversation with close friends and significant others are soaring into deeper level.

9. WE have plenty of things to discuss about love-lives. Hahaha

10. Gives advises to younger peers, sibling and cousin :P

Another Realization...

My GAWD!!!! Last time I put my comments here in my blog was last May. How pathetic of me... been very busy lately in the office and I did come back in the graduate school trying to redeem myself for being a mega MULTI SLACKER. It's been last of July and I haven't had any updates last June. Poor me!

Well, what done is done and let's move forward. It is already middle of the year and it's time to evaluate what are the few things I learned this year. I must say I learned a lot and hope its not the end of new realizations in my life. Currently, I am happy and little bit stressed but can fairly handle it. Hopefully everything will turn out well after August and September.

Things I learned this year:

1. It never fails to seek refuge in our Lord
2. Prayer really helps, we just need to keep in touch with our Lord
3. I used to take for granted those days when Dad is still working in the Phils., right now it is a blessing to share and bond with him every weekends
4. There is no place like HOME. I feel free when I'm at my own home
5. Be happy for what you have and be thankful for all the blessings that you receive
6. Patience is really a virtue!
7. Be humble

For now that's it. I know some people would think why I learned these things after 26 years of my life. For me it is just a realization that these things helped me become a better person.

What's UP???

I’ve been very busy lately and haven’t got any time to update my so-called “online journal”. This April and May I am swamped with lots of activities. It could vary from office, personal, friends and family. Though I am tired sometimes I really enjoy spending more time with people I really care about.

Things I did while I was “out” on this blog:

1. Attend my sister’s graduation - I am one proud ATE!



2. Went to Iloilo for vacation with my HS friends – our annual planned out of
town trips.




3. Join our company outing – first time I participated



4. Found new friends and group in the office – I was a loner for 1 and a half
years.



5. Start jogging again with my family



6. Visit Pink sisters and Poor Claire chapel – it’s been a while since I
visited my favorite chapel
7. Bonding with my family
8. Been hooked on Glee series – kinda late to join the bandwagon but I really
enjoyed watching and listening to their catchy songs



9. Meet up with my friends – I did have fun because after six long years,
was able to come back again to Padis. Dance, drink and sing like there’s no
tomorrow
10. Been able to meet my BF’s ex (finally!) – promise no blood-gushing boo-boos
or any violent stuff. Just plain simple “nice meeting”
11. My unnerving shopping expedition :P – (Uh oh, here we go again)



12. Created my personal twitter like diary – as in a hard copy journal of my own
13. Created my bucket list – which I will post it here (sooner or later)



14. I cast my vote during May 10, 2010 National Elections



15. Got my yearly flu vaccine



16. Process reviews of our projects in the office
17. Laugh a lot since meeting new friends
18. Found a nice “resto” somewhere in Circle, Mandaluyong. Me and significant
other enjoyed dining there when we have budgets



19. Will attend my friend’s wedding this weekend



20. Will attend baptism of my second cousin’s child – Again, chosen as the
godmother (and the list of kids under my care grew longer and longer…)


Plans this mid-year

1. Renew my passport – so I can try travelling outside the country
2. Enroll again on graduate school – just like in my previous post, this is the
final straw!
3. Create a proposed dissertation and prepare for the comprehensive exam
4. Create a massive photo album for all my recent trips!
5. Buy a storage media as a backup for the humungous data and files (that is
worth 2-3years of information)