on my mind...

2014

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 09:15:00 +0000

2014 what happened?

It started out so great and then last quarter was a disaster. I don't know how it started awesome and ended with dismay.

I get to travel for most part of the year, Philippines (Jan-Feb), US (October/December) and domestic Canada (Toronto - July; Calgary - September). A lot of firsts also happened this year but not all those first are good memories. There are lessons taught to me and I have to learn it the hard way.

* when you love, save something for yourself because when they leave you'll be left with nothing

* patterns never lie. everything else changes except this one. watch out and look for the signs. Do not ignore it. do not make excuses for him to comfort yourself.

* learn to appreciate everything (people, things, moments, efforts). it goes a long way. show someone that they are special no matter how busy you are. say hi, send a text or email to your mom, dad, family and friends. ask them how their day went. appreciate the people that cares for you, thank them for the effort and time they put into it. money can be replaced but the time someone has set aside for you is priceless.

*stand by your word. back in the days, your word is your honor. as for me, when i say, i'll do something, i'll do my best to fulfill it.

*humility - its not about who is wrong or who is right but sometimes acknowledging that we are not perfect is good enough and assure them that you'll make it up to them.

Still, 2014 is memorable and I like to thank these people who inspired me and made me hope that the best years of my life are still ahead. Here are my 2014 People of the Year

Capt and Biker- They are 2 amazing individuals. I haven't talked to them much but I saw that they were able to fulfill their lifelong dream. They made me hope that someday I too will be able to do my own adventure of a lifetime. Capt has achieved his dream to be become a pilot, it sure did took a while but he got there. He did it! Nothing is impossible while Biker here is currently on an adventure with the love of his life. Cycling from North America to South America, they've been in the road for several months now. I wish I could do that too. It's still on my bucket list and I know I'll do it someday.

Cla - Thank for being my voice of reason. Thanks for reminding me to love myself and put myself first before others. You may not know all the story but you're always there to listen to me.

ACT - for always, always being there. You never get tired of cheering for me even if i have not been a good friend to you.

AnnKat - You've always come through whenever I need you. Wherever you are, whenever I send you a message you never bail out on me. Thank you for always being there.

Bogart - never a dull moment with you. You've always been a great travel companion. I wish we could live in the same province together. It would be really awesome. Here's to more lakwatsa days, booze and mischief moments.

Midnight Boys (Rye, Jay, Fran & Dave) - working at nights with you guys are always the best! being a night auditor for the first time, you were all supportive and helpful guiding me at work. and when i'm alone, you've always check on me if I am alright. Through heavy snow, dealing with suspicious persons, calming down drunk guest, you always got my back. Graveyard shifts are the best! lol Thank you all for taking good care of me.

Rachel, Nads and Shei - Though we are miles and miles apart, all of you never forget to say Hi or check how am I doing. You don't know how it means a lot to me. Thank you girls for always remembering me.

The constant persons on my list are my family here and back at home. Words are not enough but from the bottom of my heart, Thank you, Thank you for everything, I would not be here without you all. Looking forward to 2015.

Cheers!

October

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 06:30:00 +0000

Dear October,

What happened?! October you were supposed to be the IT month.; birthdays, anniversaries, travels and autumn (my favorite season). You and I used to have fun all the time. Partly my fault, I have not made some good choices lately.

You would think at my age, I would not make that much bad choices as I have done this month. I have not wise up through the years, I think my brain cells just died or I didn't have any brain cells to begin with. lol One bad move after the other, it keeps piling up. Its November now so I'll just leave it behind and bring with me the lessons I've learned.

Oh well, I'll just laugh this off. As they say, bad decisions make good stories. I'll live with that for now.

Till next year! It will be better, promise!

Annual Birthday Wishlist

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 06:54:00 +0000

Well, well, well... will you look at that, it' October! Last quarter of the year, time flies so fast! October means its time for the Annual Birthday Wishlist! Yay!!!

May I now present to you my wishlist...

1. Laptop - my trusty old laptop is giving up on me. :( Well, its been 3 or more years old now. Look at the crack by the cover. I sure do need a new one.

2. Winter Gear - October also means Fall season but if you live where I live, Fall season doesn't exist. lol Or Fall is just like for 1 week and winter feels like forever in here. So to be ready to face the hrash cold I need a reliable winter jacket and boots that can withstand a windchill of -45. brrr!!!

Arctic Winter parkas from North Face

Anti-slip Winter Boots from Columbia Sportwear

3.Backpack - I love backpacks it makes my life easy.

Herschel Back Pack

4. Phone Case and Earphones - Believe it or not, my iPhone 5 right now is bare, meaning I don't have any phone case/cover on it nor a screen protector on it! Crazy right?! I dropped it a few times now, what can I say, its durable and tough. I do have a lifeproof phone case for my phone however the cord that connects the phone and earphone is no longer working so I really can't use it especially if someone is calling me, I can't hear the other person. I think I can only drop it a few more times and it would finally won't work. So before that happens, I should get one asap.

I want a blue one!

5. Old fashion handwritten letters and cards - I love chatting, texting and all that sort of technology but deep inside I also love receiving handwritten letter and cards, its more personal and thoughtful. I miss getting one from my Nanay. :(

Thanks in advance to all my secret Santas' for the early Christmas gift AKA Birthday gift! hehe! :)

must get out

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 10:25:00 +0000

I'm baaaaaaaack! Hello blogosphere, its been awhile.

The past week has been crazy. It was so crazy that I need to go away. I was so physically drained that one night I was crying. I think I was losing my mind. I needed someone to talk to but the person that I wanna talk to was nowhere to be found and was so busy with his own thing. That's when I said to myself, Screw this! I'm going somewhere, I need to leave ASAP . Immediately after, I texted my evil twin Bogart and told her that I'm going to Toronto and I'll stay on their place. I basically, self-invited myself to their house (lol). I traded and gave away some of my shifts then booked a flight to Toronto and flew a day after. It was all spur of the moment. I'm so thankful that Bogart is in Toronto and her family was gracious enough to let me stay in their house. And thanks to Annkat too for being patient with me especially that night that I was about to go insane.

Fast forward to today: I just came from back my trip. I was glad I made that decision. I had to a great time there. Its nice to get away from the all the craziness; to step back a bit, to break away from work routine and give myself a chance to breathe and relax. Still not quite ready to get back to work yet but that's life. Oh well, there's always next time. I'm looking forward to my next get away.

be free!

Parliament House (Toronto)

The Vintage Code( Kensington Market, Toronto)

view across Square One Mall (Mississauga)

Credit Lighthouse

As the old adage goes, All work and no play makes a dull boy/girl. So peeps, give yourself a break. Find something that will help you relax. Traveling does it for me; and I must say blogging is therapeutic for me too. Don't take life seriously, no one get out alive anyway.

Cheers and have good weekend everyone!

My GM Diet Experience

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 05:44:00 +0000

I just finished this so called GM Diet last week. I've never tried any kind of diet before and for me diet is DIEt with the emphasis on the first 3 words. lol. A friend of mine swore on how effective this diet works and so I tried it. I didn't follow the diet strictly, I made some modifications.

Anyway, here's how my week went.

Day 1: Fruits

Any kind of fruit you want preferably melons and cantaloupes (except bananas) and you can eat unlimited amount of fruits for the whole day and of course, lots and lots of water.

Breakfast: melon, strawberries and mandarin orange

Lunch: melon, peaches and apples

Dinner: melon and apples

I started my day with melon, strawberries and mandarin, eating halfway through my fruit bowl I already feel full. By lunch time, I had the same fruits plus apple and peaches. During dinner I had melon and apple. I didn't feel hungry at all.

For a rice eater like me I feel that I'm missing my daily fill of carbs. It was a struggle especially if everyone in the house is eating rice, nevertheless, I survived Day 1.

Day 2: Veggies

All you can eat veggies for Day 2, its advisable to have it eaten raw or boiled. Avoid oil and coconut when cooking vegetable. Eat potato in the morning you can add a small dab of butter for taste. Don't forget to drink lots of water.

Breakfast: potato with small amount of butter

Lunch: boiled broccoli and cauliflower, celery sticks and lettuce

Dinner: mixed veggies with some oyster sauce

I thought the 1st day is the hardest but now I feel that the 2nd day was the hardest, for me atleast. I do eat veggies but with seasoning (salt) not boiled or raw. I tried munching on celery and lettuce without dressing but I had a hard time. What I did was I boiled some broccoli and cauliflower and add some pepper on it just to have some taste. Still no rice, oh the struggle is real!

Day 3: Fruits and Veggies

All fruits (except bananas) and all veggies (except potatoes) you can eat. And also don't forget to drink lots of water.

Breakfast: apple and mandarin oranges

Lunch: celery sticks, steamed cauliflower and broccoli, apple

Dinner: steamed cauliflower and broccoli, peaches, strawberries and melon

This day is easier than the previous day because its a combination of fruits and vegetables. I ate more fruits than veggies because I like fruits more and I feel like fruits has more variety in taste and texture than veggies. Day 3 went by smoothly.

Day 4: Bananas and Milk

You can eat as many as 8 bananas and 3 glasses of milk.

Breakfast: 2 bananas and 1 glass of milk

Lunch: 2 bananas and 1 glass of milk

Dinner: 2 bananas and 1 glass of milk

Looking at the diet plan, I thought 4th day would be difficult more difficult than the 2nd day. Surprisingly, I didn't have a hard time. As per GM diet, it should be skimmed but I changed it to 2% milk because I don't like the taste of skimmed milk. On this day, I ate 2 bananas and a glass of milk, I don't know why but it made me full and didn't feel any hunger.

Day 5: Chicken and Tomatoes

As per GM Diet, it should be beef and tomatoes but I substituted beef for chicken.

Breakfast/Lunch/ Dinner: chicken and tomatoes

As mentioned, I made some modification for this day's diet plan. I am not a big fan of tomatoes, I can only eat tomatoes if it has cilantro and some seasoning on it just like that of a tomato salsa. So what I did was I sauteed a 8 tomatoes with onion and garlic and threw in the chicken breast. That 's what I ate for the whole day.

Day 6: Beef and Veggies

Beef and veggies for the whole day.

Breakfast: steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Lunch: beef broccoli and 3 spoonfuls of rice

Dinner: stir fried beef and a medium sized cucumber

Yes, you read it right, I had rice. Finally!!! I was waiting for this day! There are many variations in GM diet, I read in some websites rice can be eaten starting on the 5th day. But I waited till the 6th day, just to push my limits on how long can I go without rice. lol I feel lighter now than the 1st day that I started. I haven't weighed myself yet.

Day 7: Beef, Fruits and Veggies

Feast day! The Grand Finale! Beef all you want and a cup of rice plus any fruit juice you want.

Breakfast: strawberries and melon

Lunch: stir fried beef, corn and carrots, 5 spoonfuls of rice and a glass of apple juice

Dinner: stir fried beef and strawberries

Truly, it was feast day! It was a balanced diet, I had my carbs, protein and vitamins from veggies and fruits. What a way to end a diet!

Result and Thoughts:

The GM diet works website says, you'll lose about 10-17 lbs a week if you follow the diet. Since I made some modifications, I lost only 7lbs. That's not bad, not bad all! Well, in my opinion I think I did well.

I really think that I won't be able to finish the 7-day diet program. What kept me going was the bet I made with Dex; that whoever loses most weight in 3 months will win an Ipad mini. Kidding aside, what did it for me is having someone to motivate, encourage and support me to finish the diet and not give into temptations like chocolate, ice cream and pizza; those were my favorites and it was so hard to resist.

Being on this diet has led me to discover that if I put my mind into something I can achieve what I want. So for those of you out there who want to try this kind of diet, find someone who will motivate and encourage you all throughout the week.

Will do it again, and my answer is yes, I will. :) Maybe next week again or probably next month. I just want to get started in losing weight that's why I did this diet. I will do some exercise program next week to keep weight off and lose some more.

P.S. Once you're done with the diet give yourself 3-5 days rest before you go on this diet again. You can repeat this diet as many times as you want.

For those who are still hesitant to do it, I say to you START! GO for it! DO it! If I can do it, you can do it too!

2013 hits and misses

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 04:04:00 +0000

I never believed the superstition that #13 is unlucky but I must say lady luck was tough on me last 2013. I was struggling to find a job, had a hard time adjusting to the terrible weather and adapting to my new environment. Nevertheless, I still have a lot of things to be thankful for. Here are some of my Hits and Misses last year.

HITS

*work - After applying in more than 35 companies, I finally got a call and successfully landed on the job that I like.

*travels - I was able to get some time off from work. Wasted no to time to book my ticket and fly to different cities in Ontario; Montreal and of course explore my own province and nearby towns.

Downtown Winnipeg

Niagara, Kenora, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto

*friends - I'm really blessed to have friends that value our friendship despite the distance and time. I may not get to see them but talking to them in a daily basis makes life and living here tolerable. Yay to all my friends!

meeting in person; chat thru skype, viber and fb

MISSES

*blog - Wrote just a single entry for 2013. I have a lot of things to say, stories to tell, memories to share and lessons to impart but I was lazy. There were some instances that I started writing but I didn't finish it and it just here in my drafts folder waiting to be published. Hopefully, this 2014 I can write again. I miss writing; this has been my outlet and lately I am feeling crappy, so maybe I should get back to writing again.

*death - death was so busy last year, everyone I know has lost someone dear to them. I for one, lost my Nanay (grandma) last year. It was the hardest goodbye I have ever made in my life.

*snow - i like it here, its just that I can't stand the cold and snow. its a struggle to go to work let alone go outside the house in -40C temperature. And having snow for almost 6 months is pure torture.

*photo taken from instagram*

So here's to a better year! Cheers 2014! The best is yet to come!

My 2013 People of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 04:45:00 +0000

As an annual tradition of this blog, here's a salute to the people who made my 2013 extraordinary.

AnnKat

- Changing time zones and distance is not a barrier in our friendship. Thank you for listening to my krung-krung and heart break stories. And thank you for not making any judgments on my actions and decisions. kunsitidor! Thank you for being supportive! wahaha!

"Dex"

- 2013 has been crazy, thank you for keeping me sane. You make each day bearable in this miserable weather. I hope you won't get tired of me. It'll be spring in a month or two, are you still keeping that promise?! I hope so.

ABC

- Thank you for your never ending faith in me, and I'm sorry if i caused you any pain. I hope you understand. Thank you for always being present whenever I need you. I hope someday I could repay all your kindness. I wish you well for the rest of your life.

Kathy

- Thank you for not getting tired of driving me to and from work even on your rest day. I never hear any complaints from you and you always offered to drop me to work on wee hours in the morning and for that I am grateful.

Tadz and Taby

- I am forever thankful for looking after me; for being my 2nd moms here in Canada; for all the help you have extended not only to me but also to my family. I don't know how I will be able to repay you both but I know God is faithful to give you all His blessings.

Patty

- I dread going to work everyday especially when I was new. Thank you for patiently teaching and guiding me; for making work less stressful; for believing in my capabilities and for always being there to defend me. Thank you! Its always a pleasure working with you.

Marose

- Thank you for being my 1st friend at work. I have found myself a new lakwatsa buddy. We rarely see each other but knowing that you're still with JV gives me relief, I still have a friend at work.

Bogart

- My evil twin, you never fail to make me laugh with your witty hirits! Looking forward to your everyday rants about weather and school, you make feel normal. hahaha! Thanks for taking the time to meet me last August. Let's plan again this year!

AK barkada

- I won't name all of you, you all know who you are. Thanks for everything ( I know gasgas na yung line but I really mean it). Whenever I read our conversations on our "chatroom" it makes me smile and sad at the same time. (baliw lang?!) I miss you all! Thank you for keeping in touch!

Family

- Thank you for believing me, for loving me unfailing love. I miss you all. I wish we could all be together soon, I hope.

Thank you for being a constant force in my life. I am forever grateful to God to have met all these wonderful people in my life. Let's make more memories this 2014.

my people of the year 2012

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:05:00 +0000

Last year, I started a post thanking people that helped me and made an impact on my life. To continue the tradition this post is dedicated to these wonderful people that made my 2012 memorable. Thank you for everything from the bottom of my heart!

Family - If there are people that loves me unconditionally, my family would be on the top of the list. Thank you for being always there when things are not going well, thank you for the boost of confidence and believing in my capabilities.

Tadz and Taby - Thank you for everything, as in everything. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you - Tadz. Taby, thank you for all help. Thank you to both of you for letting me invade your home with my presence. hehe! :)

Cousins and uncles - Thank you for making time to accompany me and touring me here in winterwonderland called Winnipeg. Thank you for all the treats and presents, and for making me feel welcome in your home.

AA Family
Sheila - Thank you for always keeping in touch despite the distance and time difference. Thank for always being there; for being a great friend to me and for the encouragement and support.

Mimi - Thank you for being an awesome housemate, i'll miss our night talks, your experimental cooking, your kapraningan, your out-of this-world theories on things. Thank you for accepting me as your housemate.

Patching - Thank you for patiently listening to my kwentos about who-know-you and for trusting me with your own kwento. When I watched the video and you said, to hell with haters! I almost cried, thank you for believing in me. Thank you for always being on my side.

Rachel - My malditang alaga, Thank you for all the laughs. We never have a dull moment together, you made my 'short stay' bearable with your witty one liners and comebacks. And oh, thank you for listing me as one of your nominee. Let's plan our getaway soon! Just like what you said on the video, "see you later, ali-gay-ter!"

Nadine - Thanks to your bubbly personality and your becky speak, my vocab has improved tremendously. I'll miss our halimaw moments that always ruin my DIEt. wahaha!

Remember girls, there is life after _____ (fill in the blanks na lang). Wahaha! Go!

College Barkada - Its almost 15 years since we met on that classroom and formed this amazing friendship. Thank you for those years we've been together and even if we only get to meet twice or thrice a year I know we will still be there for each other. Thank you for the send off dinner get together we had... to be able to meet with you all before I leave is really heart-warming. Special thanks to Nikki for that video message! Goddesses rule. :)

Dex - Thank you for constantly uplifting my spirits and cheering me up. Never told you this before but you can break my facade and make me cry, that sometimes I need a timeout for being tough on myself. You can read through my feelings and moods; and I thank for that! You know me too well.

Ankat - Thank you for always listening to me, for never judging me, my actions; for always being there to support me in everything I do. I miss our asaran, basagan-ng-helmet talks and lakwatsa. I wish we could see each other soon! I miss you!

Hype Family - Thank you for your help and support especially now that I still unemployed in this foreign land. I'd like all of you to know that I'm thankful for all the assistance you have extended to me.

ABC - Thank you for always being there. I know I have not been a good friend yet you are willing to drop everything for me. I know exactly how you feel (I've been there....) I hope I could make it up to you in some way, someday. Thank you for all the patience and love. I wish you all the happiness you deserve.

To each and everyone on this list, thank you for all the love. I appreciate it and really grateful for all the things you've done for me. I may not be able to express it all the time (you know me naman...) but rest assured I am forever grateful to all of you.

year twenty twelve

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:59:00 +0000

My 2012 is filled with goodbyes and hellos, travels, packing and a lot of uncertainty.

Goodbyes

I would not really call it goodbye because I know we will see each other again. Sheila and Lawrence were the first ones who said their goodbyes. Followed by Nino and Sky late January 2012. Its kinda sad but I know they will have a better future not only for themselves but also for their families.

August came and I got an unexpected email telling me that I'm on the final process of my application. And by October, everything was finalized. November, I said goodbye to my life in the Philippines. Everything went on too fast. Had too many farewell parties with family, friends and colleagues which I really enjoyed... every moment of it.

Goodbye's are not forever. I'd like to say... I'll see you again. Dear friends, see you next year!

Hello's

Hello's are always a pleasant experience. I had a chance to meet again friends whom I haven't seen in years. And I get to meet and gain new friends!

Oh Dex, it was a nice surprise to see you though it was just a few hours; I had a blast. One of the highlights of my 2012.

19th of November, I set foot to the Land of Strong and Free: Canada. Hello to my cousins, aunts and uncles and friends. The aunts, uncles and cousins whom I only get to see on Skype are now all here to meet me and welcome me to their home. Thank you for your generosity.

Finally get to meet friends JK and Lea from my previous work after 7 long years. Had a great time reminiscing all those fun times we had at the airport and catching up with other lives.

And most importantly, hello Canada, hello new life and hello challenges!

Travels

Work has taken a lot of my energy and motivation that I need to get out of it all. So, even without leave credits, I found a way to travel and re-energize and reconnect with my loved ones.

A. Puerto Princesa - The first of the 4 trips I had planned. It was not my first time to go there but still the place amazes me. Click here to find out more about my Puerto Princesa escape.

B. Zambales trip - I had a chance to travel with friends from my former work. It was an all girls camping trip; we had so many misadventures on this one but it was all worth it. And we vowed to have another trip of this kind. You can read here, here and here about my Zambales' adventures.

C. Boracay - This place is paradise. One can do a lot of things in Boracay. Read here for things you can try when you're in Boracay.

D. Davao - The last of my domestic flights for 2012. I had to fulfill my promise to visit Patch. We didn't explore the place much but we did make our tummy happy. Food trip!!!

March 2012, I had a chance to go back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for training. The first and last training I attended with my 'almost' complete MAA family. I wish we had the chance to go to Genting, all the 4 of us. Oh well, there will be another chance to do it and maybe we will be complete.

I was not able to write about my Davao experience and my Canada flight. I hope I'll have the time to do it.

Packing

Late packer, thats me! Packing away 32 year of my life in 2 suitcases can be so stressful. The things I've accumulated all those years, what will I do with them? Souvenirs, photos, rinkets all those stuff with memories to tell..... How will I sort them? Which one should I throw away, which one should I keep? What should I bring? What will I leave behind? Where will I put all those things that I will leave? Those were the questions I had to answer and figure out what will I do. I learn to let go of some stuff that I thought were important when I was young but now when I look back those things were irrelevant.

Uncertainty

Almost always we are faced with uncertainty. Life gives us things that are not yet clearly defined and so vague that we have to grope our way through. The start of 2012 was like that, it felt like I was on borrowed time. I didn't know if I would still have a job or not. Thankfully, I get to keep my job but that was not a guarantee that everything would be smooth sailing. There were times that I felt I was shortchanged but in the end I finally understood that there were better things in store for me. I'd like to say that... there is life after AK.

The 'big move' happened November and I had to leave the life I had known for the last three decades. All I know is that I'm going to set foot in another continent far away from home. And towards the end of the year, I was still uncertain if I can secure a job right away... but so far everything is good; still enjoying my 'extended' vacation. :)

This is what I learn from 2012...

No matter what life brings, let's always be thankful. At the end of the day, remember to count the blessings we received rather than sulk and whine. It could have been worse; always look on the bright side.

Looking forward to more blessings this 2013 and hopefully I get land on a job soon! Cheers! Enjoy 2013!

Birthdays and Morbid Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:26:00 +0000

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who greeted me on my birthday! To those who forgot about it, it's okay you can still make it up to me by granting my birthday wishlist 2012. nyahaha!

Anyhoo, honestly that day was a drag. I know, I should be happy on that special day but I have a 'tampo' on 1 person. They say, it takes only ONE person to remember and greet you and that would definitely complete your day. But sadly, that ONE person forgot or maybe didn't realize that it was my birthday that very same day that we were talking. Oh well..

On a happy note, I got 1 item crossed out in my birthday wishlist! yay! It's kinda bulky but I love it to bits! To my mom and sister, Thank you! Thank you!

Another thing to celebrate is the birthday of this blog. Gailieslifejourney is now 5 years old! Wow! It all began on a boring night of october 2007 when I chanced upon a blog... I've read it till the wee hours of the morning. It inspired me to start a blog of my own... to write what and how I feel, to share to everyone what I've been through and hope that others can learn from it, get insight and be inpired too. Wishing more years in blogosphere. To my friends and people who visits and reads this blog, a big thank you to all of you from the bottom of my heart.

***

November, this is it! The big move! 1 more day and I will be leaving... till now, my things are in disarray. Haven't really done some packing yet. As I said to some of my friends, I still can't picture myself living in Canada. Morbid thoughts are cropping up on my mind... thoughts of crash or other untoward incident pops inside my head that I don't see myself somewhere near Canada. Is this how I should really feel?! *sigh* You see I still have time to blog rather than pack my things... everyone's excited for me and I don't feel the same. I don't know... I just don't feel excited about uncertainty, about winter or maybe I'm not just prepared to leave the life I've known...

pag-ibig na wagas

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:43:00 +0000

me: (sending msg to the group)

hellooooooo! kamusta na?! punta ko dyan next week. ano mga sched nyo?

tsaka tanong ko na rin kung alam nyo kung san ang PAG-IBIG. may aayusin kasi ko doon.

let me know your sched. sana pwede kayo. see u soon!

Nel: hi! waah wala ako d2 s monday alis kame.. mag elnido kme letss go! hehe

san kasi yung pag ibig lam ko kasi lumipat na sila. wait txt ko samin kung saan.

Josh: Gail sa Monday off ko. Samahan kita.. Hanapin natin ang pag-ibig. Nyahahaha.

Nel:
Kung commute, sabihin mo suburbia right after pepsi. highway lang un. Dun nyo mahahanap ni josh ang tunay n pagibig

me: sa
masahan mo ko josh?! yay! wahaha! teka, san tayo magkikita?! tandaan mo sinabi ni renel. basta may pepsi may pag ibig. wahaha! thanks!

Shei: mga adik pa rin kayo no..namiss ko tuloy kayo bigla..hehehe.gail magkita tayo bukas dito ka ba?sana kasma din si mimi at josh...para bago ka naman alis magkita-kita pa tayo...wahahaha..

awww.... namiss ko na rin talaga sila. almost 6years kami magkakasama... dami na naten pinagdaanan.lahat yun nalagpasan naten! Yun ang PAG-IBIG na wagas!wahaha! i miss my crazy CRK family!

back to earth

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 18:09:00 +0000

this couple of months had been exhilarating... then it happened, one moment everything changed, all was forgotten. i had been in my own bubble that i completely disregarded what other people can do... i realized that i am not invincible, that everything and everyone is dispensable...

hello reality, i'm back!

2 things

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Its been two months since I have not gone to work and submitted my passport to the embassy. I check for daily updates on our group and I get to see members that have their papers processed later than mine but already received their passports. While waiting I keep myself busy with other things.

There are 2 things that I think I am learning from all of this.

1. letting go - I am sentimental. I'd like to keep things especially from those who matter to me. I have blank papers given to me by my high school crus; or papers with crush's handwriting/signature/name on it. I kept it all. Years before I tried to let go but I can't seem to do it. As I am now preparing for the big move, I am slowly cleaning up my clutter... thinking that I won't need it anymore. I need to let go, I couldn't believe the trash that I have collected, there were playing cards from my dance partner, broken friendship bracelet from my 1st year crush, shades from my one true love-highschool edition, notes I've uncovered about a boy's misbehavior, my black heartache notebook, and the list goes on. I threw it all, letting go of all those unnecessary clutter. Frankly, I thought it would be too hard but I was able to do it. I'd like to start anew with my life, devoid of all those bittersweet memories.

2. faith - I am impatient by nature. I think this is the best practice for me to be calm, to understand and to trust in Him.... Not to panic or rush, that all will be alright according to His plan and to His time.

For now, I'll just patiently wait...

Gailie's Dayoff Series: Boracay

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 19:36:00 +0000

Aside from swimming, there are a lot of things one can do in Boracay. Some of the things, I tried when I went there.

1. Food trip

Rumor has it that these are the best in town. Let's try and taste it.

Best Shake: Jonah's - I had Mango Rum. It tastes good but there was too much rum on it that it overpowers the taste of mango. My sister tried strawberry and it taste good.

Best Pizza: Aria - Its an Italian restaurant, its a bit pricey but this dish pizza is a winner.

Loco Frio - frozen cocktails. i love the bubble gum flavor with a shot of vodka. I had 2 rounds of those. I can't get enough.

2. Catch the fire dancers perform

I was in awe when I saw them. They were really good. When we had a chance to have a picture taken with the fire dancers, I can feel the heat coming from the rotating fire ball.

3. Seek Adventure

Adventure you say?! Well, Boracay has lots of it.

a. parasailing - it may seem daunting at first, but once you' re up... whoa! it has a calming effect. Everything is so serene up there. It gives you a 360degrees view of the whole island.

b. zorbing - i thought i may get dizzy after trying this but no it happened so fast you won't have time to get dizzy. wahaha! imagine yourself inside a washing machine, spinning round and round but this time on a hill. we were tossed in every direction.

c. sea walking - the idea of walking of scared me at first. you just have to listen to the instructors direction about breathing and 'equalizing' you'll be fine!

d. fly fish - cling for your life, wahaha! just kidding.

4. Sand Sculpture - Boracay is known for its famous fine white sand. What better thing to do than build castles and try your hand at sand sculpture.

5. Explore

There are a lot of activities going on especially at night. Party people go bar hopping, drinking and dancing all night. Not my type of scene, while others dance the night away, I'd rather have my quiet walks by the beach and admire the sky. If its not your cup of tea either, there are coffee shops abound and diners where local bands play. You have many choices or maybe do it all if you have the time.

This was my second time to visit this piece of paradise called Boracay and I never get tired. There's something about this place that makes me want to go back for more. Now, I understand why my cousin goes back every year to this place (told you, being a wanderlust runs in our veins). Be sure to try out some of these activities. Enjoy the sun, sea and sand. See you in Boracay.

Birthday Wishlist 2012

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:43:00 +0000

Hello October, we meet again. As per tradition of this blog, I now present to all of you (godmothers/godfathers and friends) my annual birthday wish list.

1. pocket sized devotional bible - my bible is so old. the spine is ripped, the pages are crisp. i think it would not last especially in ever changing season of Canada.

2. iphone5 - this item is consistent in my annual wishlist. I just hope this year someone out there would grant my wish. hahaha! #feelingera. well, there's nothing wrong in wishing. :)

3. perfume - i really love the scent of Issey Miyaki's L'eau D'issey Florale, i just have a hard time pronouncing the name of the perfume. wahaha!

4. old fashioned letters and cards (snail mail) - in the age of internet, YM, Skype, viber, bbm's very few people nowadays use cards and letters to communicate with their loved ones and friends. Its perfectly fine, in fact I often use those apps to talk to my friends. But once in a while, I really want to receive a letter, a simple postcard or note will do. Its a tangible manifestation on how friends find time to write, give advice and wisdom, offer encouragement, get in touch to update me about their lives. And I can always go back and read it again and again.

5. lomo camera - i want the spinner 360 so bad!

6. winter jackets - i might arrive during winter inorder to combat the cold. i need those jackets!

7. backpack - i'm a backpack type of girl. all my backpacks have given up on me. i need a new one for my travel soon. i like eastpak's getter coat backpack. i wish they had color blue. but this one is just fine.

I'll be leaving my comfort zone and venture to the unknown. Friends, please always include me in your prayers; prayers for safe travels, protection, guidance, blessings, strength. pray for me that I'll be able to find a job soon. I hope all my wish will come true! :) *wink* *wink*

Plans

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Two years ago, my sister and I were talking about how we can save (money) and have a better future. With our aunts living in Canada, we have an opportunity to go there through Canada's Provincial Nominee Program. We took the assessment test online, and I passed, my sister didn't.

Honestly, I didn't want to go there. My mom said, its okay if don't want to go but I decided to pursue my application because I wanna pass up the chance that someone was kind enough to help me financially. I prepared the needed documents and submitted it to the embassy. I said to myself if I didn't pass the 1st step in the program then its a sign that I should stay here. It is also recommended to take a language test like IELTS before applying. I didn't do that. After 6 months of waiting the results came, I had my nomination. The next step is to submit my application to Canadian Embassy here in Philippines.

There's no turning back. I prepared another set of documents and send in my application. Little did I know that this was HIS plan for me. Things are not doing well at work. I was disheartened and unmotivated. I love my work; airport has been my life for the past 10 years but I guess all good things must come to an end. As I said, it was not my intention to apply and leave the country, but I suppose God has better plans for me. At first, I didn't understand it at all, I ask why?

Now, I know the answer, 'cause HE said...

...For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

RR Herrera part 2

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Sa mga di pa nakakaaalam kung ano kinalaman ni RR Herrera sa pagkatao ko, pwede nyo basahin to, click here.

Eto nanaman tayo... RR Herrera round 2!

gailie: Purpose of travel po Ma'am, tourist po ba sila?

pax: hinde, 3 weeks!

*natawa ko sa sagot nya, ang layo naman sa tanong ko. tapos bigla ko naisip baka ang narinig nyang lumabas na sound ay W imbes na R so yung touRist naging touWist, baka naisip nyang na yung touWist ay 2 weeks! kaya pala 3 weeks ang sagot nya saken. Ako pala ang nakakatawa.

pax: Ma'am mag-claim po ako ng naiwan kong baggage.

gailie: Sir, punta po kayo sa sales office namen sa arrival area. Hanapin nyo po si Renel.

pax: ah si Venel po ba?

*yung R ko kung anu-ano na lang lumalabas na sound!

gailie: page mo na yung name ng missing passenger. bigay ko sayo name, ready to copy?

gate agent: okay ready!

gailie: okay, pax name is Kevin Forrer

gate agent: copy! Kevin FoWeY!

*hay, no comment na lang sa R ko. wala na talagang pag-asa to. wahaha!

memories

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:23:00 +0000

These past 2 days, I have been busy cleaning my closet. Sorting and preparing things for the 'big move'. I never thought I have that much stuff. I found letters, conversations on paper, movie tickets, pictures, cd's I forgot I even had. Here are some of my interesting discoveries. wahaha!

1. id's

before and after

2. pictures!

I found a CD with my name on it. I can't really remember what's in it. I checked it out and to my surprise I found pictures of my Siem Reap trip. I can still remember Lawrence and I had a fight because he deleted my photos without copying it on a CD. Sorry lawrence. wahaha! :)

my first kiss! hahaha!

picturesque Angkor Wat

3. random papers

my Taz

Way back, I think I draw decently. I don't know what happened. :(

4. Souvenirs

I had this souvenir photo from my trip to Bukidnon. I just conquered Asia's Longest Dual Zipline! Oh what fun! :)

Now, I'm ready to take on new adventures and new memories to cherish. :D

why i love traveling...

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 13:20:00 +0000

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” - Miriam Beard

Aside from relaxation, travel gives me new perspective. It taught me a lot of things. With my recent trip to Zambales, it gave me realizations that are relevant and useful in my life...

1. you can't prepare for everything, learn to deal with difficulties.

2. think outside the box, use your imagination.

3. laugh at your mistakes. learn from it but don't dwell.

4.“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”–Mark Twain

I'm proud to say that the friends I have are the best. Distance and time doesn't matter, even if we haven't seen or talk to each other for years, we still have the same closeness and bond. It seems like there was no time/distance gap; no awkwardness. Everything's the same.

5. Lastly, as I stated in this blog enjoy the journey, it's not all about the destination its also about the trip; the people you met, the friends you gain, the adventures you went through and lessons that you learn.

So keep exploring. Let's go!

the master is back!!!

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:25:00 +0000

6-pack

gailie: gusto mo sama sa boracay? libre hotac, airfare na lang sagot mo.

master: di pa ready 6-pack ko.

gailie: wahaha! baliw ka talaga!

t-shirt

gailie: pano na pag nag Bali tayo?

master: ciempre, ibang usapan na yun.

gailie: pano kung di pa ready 6-pack mo?

master: okay lang yun, mag tt-shirt na lang ako. kahit wala ng 6-pack.

gailie: bwiset ka talaga! wahaha!

abuso

master: di ba via KUL tayo nun?

gailie: yep! sa KUL na tayo magkita.

master: bigay mo na rin saken ticket mo CRK-KUL para sabay na tayo.

gailie: wahaha! abusado! gamitin mo free ticket mo noh!

master: wahaha!

Gailie's Day off Series: Capones, Zambales

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:45:00 +0000

At first I thought we'd go swimming right away. Kuya boatman brought us to an island with big white rocks, I said to myself I can't swim here. But then I remember Ate Maria said that, Capones has a lighthouse. Probably, we will go to the lighthouse first. And that's what we did.

We have to climb and trek again while Kuya Boatman waits for us.

Finally, stairs!

Half way through...

At last we reached the lighthouse.

Took some shots and tried to go up to the top of the lighthouse but the stairs are shaky. Its covered with rust and its doesn't look sturdy. After 30 minutes of taking pictures we went down and proceeded to the part of the island where we can swim.

White sand beach greeted us as we docked. The water was inviting us to take a dip and we did! The water was cold and clear, so clear that you can even see fishes swimming too.

Mina and Annkat swam for a while but Unna and I swam till we were tired and hungry.

By 11am we left the beautiful island of Capones and that concludes our stay in Zambales. We really had a great time. Till next time!

Gailie's Day off Series: Anawangin, Zambales

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sun, 27 May 2012 11:40:00 +0000

From Evernote:

Gailie's Day off Series: Anawangin, Zambales

Part 3:

Night Time

Problem #1 : no light on shower stalls

As soon as we arrived at the campsite, we head to the shower area and take advantage of the light the setting sun brought. Problem #1 solved!

Problem #2 : Light for dinner

Now, time for dinner. The problem with cooking rice and spam was resolved earlier that day. Our second problem was light, I had the flashlight in mind but in a hurry to meet Mina and AnnKat, I left it at the apartment. The ever reliable girl scout that she is, Mina brought a penlight and a whistle. We were laughing so hard with Mina's whistle but come to think of it a whistle would be handy in case of emergency. As Mina said, she had been to several camping trips, so she's prepared. Wahaha! Problem #2 solved!

Dinner

Problem #3 : No utensils.

Dinner is served. The plate that was used to served the spam was used by AnnKat/Unna as their dinner plate. We transferred the spam to a foil wrapper of Chips Ahoy. Wahaha! Talk about being resourceful. Then the cover of the pan as our plate (Mina and I). We can't scoop out the steaming hot rice with our bare hands so we make use of the plastic divider of the cookie. Bright idea right?! Eating dinner with no utensils: SOLVED!

Sleeping

Problem #4 : Pillows/Mattresses

Bags as pillows

My towel as bed sheet

My sarong as kumot

Mina has a sweater to keep her warm during the night

Problem solved! Word of the night: Improvise!

We hit the sack as early as 830pm too tired to talk, we just lay there and closed our eyes. A few minutes of silence inside the tent, we collectively expressed disappointment over how hot it is. Not to worry the girlscout has a fan! Prepared for all kinds of weather. A sweater for the cold and a fan to beat the heat! Veteran camper talaga! wahaha! To let the air in we just let the entrance of our tent open. Passersby can see us from the outside but we didn't care we want air to come in. Still its hot and humid inside. I didn't know but we all fell asleep to be awaken by rain. We're so glad that it rained thinking it would make the tent a little colder but still its humid. We just closed our eyes and prayed for a miracle.

The morning after

We survived a humid night! Wow! We made it! Wahaha! Surprisingly, we didn't have mosquito bites but AnnKat and I had a few insect bites in our arms and legs. Oh well... we still made it! Had a good laugh about the things that happened last night. Up until now we can't stop teasing Mina and her sweater.

After a quick breakfast, we set out for Capones Island.

Gailie's Day off Series: Anawangin, Zambales

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Part 2:

With life vests on, we braved the sea.

The waters were clear, so clear that you see the bottom. On route to Anawangin, we passed by big mountainous rocks. It was breathtaking.

After the 45mins boatride, we've finally reached our destination; Anawangin. Fine gray sands greeted us as we docked; oh bummer! I was expecting white sand beach but not to worry the water is clean and clear that the sand didn't matter at all.

Kuya boatman, set up our tent and we discussed the schedule for next day. Pick up time is 7am for us to see Capones island before going home.

When we finally settled and had our things arranged, we found a swing and hammock by just a few steps from our tent. Like children we were excited to play and relax by the hammock.

After giving in to our childish whims we set off to explore the island. We went beyond the camping area and discovered a river which we crossed.

There was a lush vegetation and to our surprise another river. We call it the spa river. The water is shallow and you can see big smooth rocks which gives that spa vibe. wahaha! :)

AnnKat was looking for another river which she saw in the internet. Told her that I think this was the river she was talking about but she insist that it was different from what she saw. Still determined to see that river we went to the far left side of the shore. With AnnKat's persuasion we climb the steep hill, one misstep and we will fall on the rocks by the sea. It was all worth it because the view was spectacular.

At last AnnKat found the river she was looking for it can only be seen from a high place. We can't go further up because Mina and I got scared. The path was slippery and steep, we assessed that it was to risky to try to go up. And so we stopped and went down. Going back down was equally difficult that we had to sit to avoid slipping.

After that risky trek, we found our spot. Its where the river meets the sea... we stayed there till the sun sets. Another beautiful scene to witness.

where the river flows toward the sea and the sea meets the river with its waves.

Before the island is engulfed in darkness, we went back to the campsite to shower and get ready for the night.

Ah... night time, where the fun misadventures started!

to be continued...

Gailie's Day Off Series: Anawangin, Zambales

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:16:00 +0000

Part 1:

Spur of the moment

Actually there was no planning stage. Everything was just spur of the moment. Weeks before AnnKat's arrival we talked about going somewhere. The date was set, May 10-11 but we haven't decided about the place yet. Our first choice was an overnight stay in Tagaytay, but since we've been to Tagaytay many times before, we scrapped the idea. May 8 AnnKat arrived from DXB, we talked and decided it would be an overnight stay in Anawangin. May 9 evening time, we just discussed about where we will meet and what time. That's it! Everything else will leave it to faith. haha! We'll just make arrangements when we get there. All we know is that Anawangin is an island with a camping site that has no electricity, no internet connection and phone signal, sounds like an adventure!

Anawangin from afar

The Wheel(wo)man, The Navigator, The Girl Scout and The Cutee

AnnKat was the one behind the wheel, I was the navigator, Mina was the girlscout (you'll know why later) and Unna's the adorable cute girl who was always smiling throughout the trip.

roadtrip

AnnKat and Unna (AnnKat's daughter) picked up Mina somewhere in Makati around 0500, by 0630am they picked me up in Clark. And off we went to an amazing experience. The road trip begins…

Roadtrip!

From Clark we took the SCTex route to Subic, in no time we've reached Subic. Finding the road that leads to Zambales was kinda confusing. The girl whom we asked for directions pointed to us to a different route, (she told us to exit at Main Gate and just go straight ahead when we see the Ulo ng Gapo statue). We were busy chatting when we discovered that the road leads to Bataan! We realized that if we had exited to the other gate instead of Main Gate we would just have to turn left to reach Zambales. So were back on track and within an hour or less when we were in San Marcelino, Zambales. We looked for signs that points to Anawangin but found none. In San Marcelino city proper instead of turning left we turned right and found ourselves racing with the buses going to Iba, Zambales. HAHAHA!

So, we got lost twice and we had a good laugh about it. The endless teasing, 'kantyawan', jokes, reminiscing and boy talks just like the old times during our heydays in NAIA are back! The 1 hour detour was barely noticed. That's what I like with roadtrips; the bonding, the 'kwentos' and of course unexpected misadventures those unforgettable memories you know you'll laugh about in the future.

Ate and Kuya

Finally, after asking several people for directions we've reached Pundaquit, the jump off point to Anawangin and Capones. We found a Kuya boatman (who we don't know the name, we asked him but he didn't tell us) and Ate Maria the store keeper. Kuya showed us where we can have the car parked overnight and where the boat is. We asked Ate Maria on what to expect on the island. She asked us if we have cooking utensils, spoon and fork, tent, food for dinner/breakfast, firewood and light all of which we answered with NO. Wahaha! She said to us, 'Hinde kayo prepared!' TRUE!!! Wahaha! But were in for an adventure! AnnKat said, we're gonna do it Survivor style! Wahaha! She told us that we can buy food, firewood, water and other essentials at the island but it would be expensive. She advised us to buy canned foods and just have it cooked there for a fee of 50php. Not bad, so we bought cups, rice, spam and canned tuna. We're covered!

buying our essentials to survive the night

One more concern was the shower area, Ate Maria said there are toilets there and water pump. We got all our answers so we were off to an adventure of lifetime, Anawangin!

to be continued…

camp site

i was here

noreply@blogger.com (gaiLie) — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:50:00 +0000

From Evernote:

i was here

These shots were taken last May 10- 11 as second part of my Gailie's Day Off Series. Can you guess where is this?

Thanks to Annkat for taking these wonderful photos and thank you instagram for making the shots more dramatic.