Quingdom.com

Happy Birthday, Mama!

2010-03-20T09:00:00+08:00

Dearest Mama,

Thank you for supporting me when I was all by myself.

Thank you for believing in me when I didn't.

Thank you for giving me strength when I had none.

Thank you for understanding me when it was most impossible to.

Thank you for making me feel like I'm the most important person on Earth when I felt useless.

Thank you for praying for me when I needed it the most.

Thank you for loving me even when I don't deserve it.

Thank you for sacrificing your own happiness for mine.

I can never thank you enough for showering me with love and making me feel how it is to have the best mother in the world.

Happy Birthday, Mama!
I love you very much!

Love,

Am I Ready for the Languages and the Arts?

2010-03-15T22:00:00+08:00

In the past couple of weeks, I've been doing some soul searching and rethinking what I really want do with my life. It's a tough responsibility I must fulfill. Unfortunately, I'm not one of people who, at an early age, were blessed to realize what they were born to do. I'm part of the majority who try to figure out our purpose in life as we go through our day-to-day survival.

After graduating from college, I had the privilege of having worked in two reputable companies. Although my work experiences are in line with the degree I earned in college, I can't seem to find the fulfillment I'm longing for. I end up being unhappy with the work I have to endure on a daily basis. I try to explore the possibility that I might just need to tweak my attitude as most people would suggest, but I simply feel that I have the wrong occupation. I'm fighting in the wrong battlefield.

With that said, I ask myself, "What must I do?" It's very easy to say that I should leave my current job and follow my heart's desires, but as the cliché goes, it's easier said than done. I'm 25 years old and coming up with a decision when faced with a predicament as such does not get any easier at my age.

I have to consider a lot of things before arriving at a conclusion.

First, if I decide not to resign, I have to brace myself to face the ugly truth that there's a big chance that I might continue to live a life of unhappiness. Maybe I'm being pessimistic, but from the way I see how things are going, the future is far from becoming bright. Again, you may think that happiness is a choice and should not be dependent on one's environment or situation, but then again, misery could spring out from over fatigue, stress, frustration, and desperation.

If I do resign, what will be my next steps? Do I even have a plan? The problem is, I don't know what I really want. There you go. My biggest obstacle. If asked what areas of discipline would make me happy, I would say photography and languages. However, when I look at my camera I wonder if that piece of equipment can really bring in the money I need to survive and support the my luxuries. There are photographers out there who make a name for themselves and earn big in taking beautiful pictures. I just don't have the courage to take the risk and try it out myself.

If I think photography can't create a livelihood, much less speaking Spanish or any other foreign language. Moreover, to be a dependable Spanish speaker entails years of experience. I'm not sure if I even have the luxury of time to master the language sans a promise of a career.

I know I'm an artist at heart. My friend Migs said I have a temperament of an artist. But aside from being an artist, I want the financial stability of a business or working up the corporate ladder. It's possible to marry the two. I just have to find a way.

For now, I'll just pray for the guidance and the courage to take the path I truly desire. I hope I'll get that sign real soon. There is still hope.

Bow,

Friends Know Me Well

2010-03-14T20:00:08+08:00

I'm blessed to have friends who know me well enough to know what gifts to give me when the occasion calls for it. Last night when we went out to watch the UA&P Chorale's "Make It Pop" concert and celebrate Angelica's birthday, Kristy handed me a present for my birthday last January.

She gave me a small lined notebook with a message in the front cover that says, "Witty today, humdrum tomorrow. Better make a note."

I love it! I like the way that it fits my personality like a puzzle piece. It says so much about me, especially about my current state. Lately, I've been having hyperbolized mood swings that really gets in my way. This notebook just shows that my friends know me well and I'm grateful for having them.

In response, I will try my best to control my emotions and to keep them from getting in my daily life. There may be rants in Facebook and Twitter at times, but I'll try to keep them at a low level.

Thanks, Kristy!

Bow,

Happy Birthday, Ate She!

2010-03-10T00:48:30+08:00

Happy Birthday, Ate She!

May you continue to enlighten and inspire everyone with your creativity, kindness and love. I hope you succeed in whatever path your heart desires to take and I wish that the Lord continues to shower you and your family with bounteous blessings, happiness and unity.

Always,

Skarlet at Boy Katindig Jazz Café

2010-03-10T00:06:56+08:00

Lately, I've been tagging along with my parents when they go out and have some drinks and listen to live bands. That's how my social life has been the past few days. Hehehe! It can be fun. I just enjoy the free food and drinks!

Our latest night out was at the opening of Boy Katindig's Jazz Café. We went there in support of my parents' friend Skarlet who was a guest singer that night. She's the front woman of the popular 90's band Put3ska which was known for their song "Manila Girl."

Fortunately I had camera with me. I didn't miss the opportunity to take some pictures of the well-applauded Skarlet.

Click here for more pictures.

Bow,

Julia Gets Her First Haircut

2010-03-08T23:42:23+08:00

Summer's here! It's the best time for Julia to get her first haircut. Last Sunday, Julia's parents brought her to Cuts 4 Tots in SM MegaMall for a trim. With the help of The Backyardigans playing on video, she behaved as the barber cut her soft baby hair. Good thing I brought my camera along with me and so I took pictures of this milestone. The strands of the cut hair were kept as a memento.

Click here to see more pictures.

Bow,

Question of The Day: Who was the first musician you saw live?

2010-02-25T00:47:32+08:00

This is really interesting! And my answer says so much about me being an old soul. As far as I know, the first musician I saw live was Barry Manilow! Hehehehe!

My mom is a fanilow so when she learned that Barry Manilow was going to perform live in Manila, she didn't think twice about getting tickets. She got really good seats for her and dad.

At the day of the concert, she learned that my uncle and aunt were supposed to go too, but had to cancel. So they decided to give us the tickets. My parents had better seats, though. It was my first time to watch a concert and I really didn't get the idea. I was a grade schooler back then. I was annoyed with the people standing on their seats and screaming. I was covering my ears for the whole duration of the concert! Had I known that I would also be a fanilow later on in life, I would've swapped seats with my dad! During the intermission, my mom checked up on us and she found me silly for covering my ears. I'm sure they still remember the story until now.

Bow,

All-Positive Week

2010-02-23T00:23:50+08:00

It's always been a struggle for me to keep hoping for better things to come. Maybe it's my faith that is not strong enough or maybe I'm just naturally prone to depression - something that I wouldn't want to reoccur. Been there, done that.

Anyhow, to oppose the pessimism that has been lingering in my system the past few days, I decide to make the effort and establish an all-positive week. For one whole week, I'll try to think of only bright thoughts and good things that can happen in my life. It's easier said than done. I'm done with day one and so far, so good. It's helping me cope with the crossroad I'm currently facing.

By God's grace, I hope I can make it through the week.

Bow,

Question of The Day: What are your top ten pet peeves?

2010-02-22T09:00:00+08:00

Pet peeves. Ugh. We all have pet peeves. It ranges from the simplest to the most outrageous. Some are deemed unreasonable, but there are just some parts of our human nature that we cannot explain. To answer the Question of The Day, here are my top ten pet peeves:

10. Choppy phone lines
I think anyone would have this on his or her list. I'm not surprised that this has become one of my pet peeves. Having the chance to work in a telecommunications company, poor communication lines has always been one of the top complaints of subscribers. I couldn't blame them. I experience the inconvenience too!

9. Loud ringtones
Some people just don't know that the mobile phone ringtone is not for everyone to hear. It should be set at a certain level for it not to be intrusive. So, before leaving the house, I suggest you check the volume of your ringtone.

8. Red tape
Any form of unnecessary delay never fails to get in my nerves. Especially at work when I've got a long list of to-do's, an impediment is that last thing I would want to encounter.

7. Pens that skip
Whenever I shop for pens, I spend a significant amount of my shopping time testing them before checking them out at the cashier. I can be pretty anal about making sure that the pens are in perfect writing condition.

6. People who can't eliminate their fake twang
I cannot seem to understand why people who learned to speak English in an accent they are forced to do so cannot revert back to the English they grew up with. I can probably tolerate the way of speech, but the arrogance is just unforgivable.

5. Pay parking
I can't remember when establishments such as malls started charging for parking space. Shouldn't they be required to provide their customers free parking space? Even hospitals charge for parking space nowadays!

4. Cents used to mean centavos
A lot of Filipinos make the mistake of calling centavos, cents. I just can't stand the error. Cents and centavos are two different currencies! My sister and I share the same cent-iment.

3. Open doors
Maybe it's my obsessive-compulsive self, but I get uncomfortable when the door of the room I'm in is unclosed or in simpler terms, open. Hehehe! There must be a psychological explanation for this.

2. Mismatched spoon and fork
Do you know that it's impossible for me to enjoy my meal if I'm using mismatched spoon and fork? Well, I would probably have to make an exception if I'm famished, but on a regular day I would have to have matching spoon and fork to have a great meal.

1. Wrong use of the word pictorial
You're probably expecting a photography-related pet peeve. Here it is! And it's the top item. Pictorial is often used to pertain to a photo shoot. I'm sorry, my friends, but pictorial is actually a synonym for graphic. Also, it can be used as a noun that means "a newspaper or periodical with pictures as a main feature" (Apple Dictionary).

There you have it. My top 10 pet peeves. What are yours?

Bow,

Julia Learns to Pose

2010-02-19T23:01:50+08:00

My niece Julia learns how to pose. She's so adorable! I just take out my camera and she knows what to do - smile, pose and just be cute! She's got a variety of looks!

Click here to see the whole set.

Bow,