Out and Proud!

LETTING GO...

2010-03-11T06:20:00.001-08:00

Have you ever tried to do your best to make that one person stay? That you've exhausted every effort just to let him/her know that no one else in this world is worth loving other than yourself? But despite every ounce of your energy pleading her to come back, she still would look into your eyes and tell you 'No, I've made my choice.... I can't do this anymore'.....

She could have outgrew the love she once felt for you. Or probably she found someone new. Worst possible scenario: She might not have loved you at all.

So many reasons, so little explanation. You've tried to recount every detail of what happened in the past weeks or months. Going over little things in your head and asked yourself these questions: Where have I gone wrong? Why didn't I see this coming? Have I been trusting her too much? etc.

Despite numerous reasons that you can think of, it still boils down to this reality: SHE IS GONE......

Now it's time for you to move on.

When you look at the mirror, can you still recognize the person staring back at you? The one who used to be so happy, so in love, has been replaced with a ghostly figure. You try to ignore your friends' call (because you can't tell them how it all happened since right now, you're clueless as well), moping around all day, crying over your ex's pictures and letters, checking her Facebook account to see if she changed her Relationship Status to Single?

Awwww, come on! Stop patronizing the pain. Would it help you to know that she has found another to replace you? Would your heart stop bleeding if you tell everyone that she has hurt you and say bad things about your ex just to get back to her? Would things go back to normal if you still pretend that nothing happened and stalk your ex wherever she goes or check her emails and other accounts to see if she has changed her password or deleted your pictures?

If you've done everything to make her stay, then try to accept the fact that you're no longer together.It's never wrong to give it all out for love; neither to love a person so much. Sometimes, the only thing wrong is the person you have chosen to love.

Letting go is another way of telling the person how you love her so.

So now you have to think about how you can stand on your own. I'm not asking you to stop hurting. I ask you to be brave. To be strong. No one else can help you at this point if you choose not to help yourself.

Try your hardest to refrain yourself from seeing her nor communicate with her. If she goes to the same school, same workplace or even if you have the same sets of friends, try to avoid her. Ask your friends to support you and respect that you're in the process of healing. If your ex wants you to be friends, tell her she's not helping. Easy for her to offer her friendship since she's the one who left you. No one knows how hard it is to wake up each morning and drag yourself out of bed dreading how you could last the day without even crying or thinking about her. But then even if she's the only person that can make you happy, try to move on. Remember, she CHOSE to leave, and that means she'll continue her life without you.

When someone tells you to stop crying, tell that person to LEAVE YOU ALONE! Let go of your emotions. You have every right to feel vulnerable. No one else knows the pain that you're going through. It's like you're slowly dying inside each time someone mentions her name or when you see something that reminds you of her. One day, these feelings will help you realize that you're done hurting yourself and soon you'll pick up the pieces where you left off.

I've had my own share of heartaches. Some happened as early as my teens. There were times that I had to deal with the pain in my own little ways. I tried my best to keep my chin up. For I know, that it would not be the end of the world for me.That someday, it'll be my turn to be happy.

I've tried to drown my loneliness with booze, started dating and flirting with others, cried over every love song I heard, cursed, etc. But I can't hide the fact that I was still in pain. I tried to endure it. I kept hurting till it hurts no more. I cried till there's no more tear left to cry

Just think about this: We often times meet the wrong ones before meeting the right one so that we will be thankful that that person came to our life.

It's just that sometimes, promises are broken.The world won't stop spinning just because you stopped believing...

I loved. I got hurt. I survived.

Believe in yourself that someday, you too will be okay.

Take one small step at a time.... take your time to heal....

Let her go .....

SEAFOOD HOORAY!!!

2010-03-11T05:26:00.000-08:00

Craving for seafood????????

Well then, one place comes to mind... DAMPA of course!

After planning our scheds, me, my gf and her officemates went to Dampa in Macapagal at around 9:30 am.

When we arrived, we had to find a restaurant that's open earlier than usual. We also had to consider that after eating, we'd belt out on their videoke. When we found the perfect spot, we're now off to the market!

Just a few steps away, we found what we're looking for... SEAFOOD.. SEAFOOD,.... and more SEAFOOD!

We took our pick. Prices for shrimps range from P300 - P500 a kilo. Crabs sell @ P200/pc. Mussels are @ P90/kilo... Fishes' prices vary .. There were meat stalls but we walked right passed them.... not interested w/ pork, beef and chicken at the moment...

Make sure to haggle! Some vendors tend to overprice.......

In choosing crabs, pick the female! It has more meat!

Then we went back to the restaurant to give instructions on how we want our meal to be prepared.

Everything was cooked to perfection!

I was so full that day I didn't even enjoy the videoke much.... hahahaha..

So what are you waiting for? Call your friends and plan ahead! Don't miss out on this yummy experience!

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package!

2010-02-21T21:10:00.000-08:00

Win a Free Boracay Vacation Package by WOW Philippines Travel Agency

WOW Philippines Travel Agency, Inc. is celebrating it's 5th year in business during July of 2010, and we would like you to have a chance to celebrate with us, so we have decided to give-away a FREE Boracay Package complete with 5 Star accommodations at the luxurious Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel on Boracay Island. The lucky winner will win the following Boracay vacation package.

Vacation Package Inclusions:

- 5 Days / 4 Nights Luxury 5 Star Accommodations at the Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel

- Flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan Airport on Philippine Airlines

- Island Transfers - Door-to-Door from Manila to the resort and back to Manila

- Three (3) Meals each day, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

- Boracay Activities - Horseback Riding, Island Hopping, Glass Bottom Boat

- PLUS - 5,000 peso Spending Cash

Read More Information: http://www.boracay-packages.com

HOW BLOGGING CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

2010-02-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

I was wondering how I can share my thoughts online. But it was too scary for me. You see, I’m the type of person who wants to keep things private. There were lots of things going through my mind like, would someone even care to read it?

Im a Mass Communication graduate. In school, I used to write different plays or skits. I was so creative at that time. But when I started working, I was only able to use it for like 6 months when I’ve become an editorial assistant. After that, I switched to a different field. I’ve been exposed to Sales for more than 8 years.

When I came across this competition, i saw it in www.wheninmanila.com and read more blog on www.OurAwesomePlanet.com , it drove my curiosity. I’ve just started blogging but have read numerous blogs online. Would I even stand a chance over bloggers who’ve done this for years?

I love food. So it’s my most popular search on the web. Whenever I hear about a certain restaurant, I would immediately search for it online and look for blogs to check if the menu and service gets my money’s worth. It would also help me get the easiest directions since I’ll just be commuting from QC. And as I sat down on the restaurant’s cozy sofa, I would recall what bloggers would recommend to newbies like me to order and the taste and budget would consistently be right on target.

I do remember one time when I thought no one else understood me, I just sat down in front of my laptop, venting out thru my stat messages in my FB account. When I remembered that, in previous years, the best thing to calm my nerves would be to read a book. But as I searched my room, no book was to be found. So I Googled into finding something to read and I came across several inspirational blogs. Some were stories of survival, some shared their favorite quotes or heroes and how they have lived their lives with those in mind. Some reminisced funny and memorable experiences that’s diversified from various situations.

That’s when it occurred to me that blogs weren’t as meaningless as I thought them to be. They can take me to places that I’ve never been before. The links, photos and videos would really help me to choose the best vacation spots in and out of the Philippines. Others were like self-help books! They can help and inspire others. There were also helpful tips that ranged from simple to complicated how to’s . If there’s a collections of books made for DUMMIES, the blogs can be considered as first hand experiences that can help newbies!

So I braved myself to publish my first ever blog. It wasn’t easy. Too many topics running through my mind. Then I remembered that I’m a member of various LGBT groups. It occurred to me that many people, especially teens, are undergoing various phases of their individuality. Main point is to come out in the open or not.

I chose to write a piece that I’ve withstand. Narrated how difficult it was to live a double life. Feared that no one would understand nor my family wouldn’t accept me for who and what I am.

One way or another, I know that those who’ve read my blog have come to realize that it’s ok to be different. That somewhere, someone had encountered the same issues and had overcome the obstacles that kept them imprisoned for a long time. I would want to write more blogs about this topic that would tackle different issues like relationships, rights, discrimination, road to self-discovery and many more.

I would not limit myself to what I can blog about. I’d consider writing anything under the sun! (Food, vacations spots, etc) Blogs that would stir my readers’ interests. I aim to broaden my knowledge on how I can further improve my craft because I would really want to make a career out of blogging!

With the scholarship that I can possibly win from www.MavenSecrets.com , I’m determined to contribute to change the world. I’ve started my campaign to inspire others but I do believe that I still have lots to learn. And I aspire to gain it from the best.

(This entry won 2nd Prize for the AIM scholarship. Thanks to http://www.wheninmanila.com and Anton Diaz )

Out and Proud!

2010-02-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

Firsts are often times the most difficult. I had mixed emotions as to what my first blog would be. Would it be reviews on certain restaurants since I LOVE food so much! Or would it be about places that I've been to? It can also be about personal experiences or sharing my views and opinion on a certain topic?

Nah!

Since it's gonna be the first, I need to come out with a big BANG!

So. what better way to start my post than to tell you how my comming out story ...

Yup, i'm part of the L world.. not a typho error. I know you're thinking of the L word. I've watched the entire series too. Most lez i know liked Shane's charater (Kate Moennig) while others liked Bette (Jennifer Beals) better.

In high school (I've attended an all girls' school from HS till College) I've managed to evade the feeling up until my junior year. I've had the occasional crushes but never really had the guts to engage in a relationship. On my fourth year, that's when I decided that, 'Lil miss nice girl has to come out of her shell'.

That's when I started dating and realized eventually that this relationship is the right one for me! Girls are just so much easier to understand, please, confide into, etc. Haha! I know I'm being biased since I really haven't tried the 'normal' way....

I had some relationships that lasted for years and some short lived. Although I've learned to accept my sexuality, there's still one problem. How would I come out to my family?

It was a difficult time. You see, my parents were well known for their strong religious beliefs. Wherever I go, someone would recognize me and ask for my parents' whereabouts. So it was a challenge for me living a double life.

But one day, I mustered enough courage and talked to my mom. She actually offered me to be 'prayed over' by her friends. I told her that I wasn't possessed by a demon! I disclosed everything. Let m skeletons come out of my rusty and dusty closet. My feelings, my fears and how I long for her and dad to accept me. I've never seen her cried that much. But I had to be firm and show her that THIS is my choice. She worried that I may end up alone. I assured her that I've accepted that possibility and I'm ready whatever the future holds.

With my dad, explanations were no longer necessary. He knew right from the start that I'm capable of deciding for myself. He trusted me that much! He doesn't approve but he understands. I hugged him tightly and thanked him. The mere fact that I don't have to hide my true identity anymore was enough.

Friends can either help you or destroy you. Some were supportive while some eventually distanced themselves. We just have to find people that are open-minded and see us for what we really are and not judge us for our preference.

It was a roller coaster of emotions. But really, before we get others to accept us, we need to accept ourselves first. This is not a disease. We may hear a lot of hurtful comments or nasty jokes but bear this in mind.... No one has the right to put us down nor discriminate us.

Happiness is a matter of choice. And I choose to be different.

I. Love. Women.

Deal with it!

(You can share your own coming out story... I encourage you to create your own blogs :) Peace!)