Milestones

Last night, my core group of friends trooped to the Supreme Court to support Arianne while waiting for the results of the bar exams. She passed! She is now officially an attorney! We are so happy and so proud of her as it has been her dream to be a lawyer since we were like what - first grade? Yay!!! Everyone was sending their congratulations. All of our parents were so happy! Tita Carol, Candy's mom, even texted that it's nice to see all of us getting there. In 2 years, it will be Candy's turn as she takes the medical board exams. JC is now CEO of Tangerine, a sister company of EON, a public relations firm. And I am currently pursuing a career in development banking via an arduous management program. Tita Carol told us to celebrate by having a good dinner and ordered Candy to charge everything to her! I love it!!! We had a fantastic chinese dinner at Tai Yuan in Manila. This restaurant was feautured in the travel show, Our Awesome Planet! Peking duck galore!

We got senti a bit because we realized how we've grown up together. I shared the hope that we'll have more milestones like this in the future. Family, career, and love will surely bind us together and make our friendships stronger.

To my little blog club and to some extent, the circle, I hope we get there too. I hope we'll share more successes and be with each other in times of failure.

An Important Lesson

Life is really unfair. You win some. You lose some. You will get frustrated in moments when you lose something that you feel in your heart you worked for very hard. You will argue your side and would feel better after releasing some of that bottled up emotion. But know this. The situation may still not go your way. Thus, the best thing to do is to walk away gracefully and decide to bounce back with a vengeance!

Such lesson is applicable to any facet of your life, most epecially in love and career.

Life Path 3

I was born on June 29, 1984. Thus my life path number is 3. (6+29+1984=2019; 2+0+1+9=12; 1+2=3). Read on about what it says about people whose life path number is 3 just like me. Try it yourself and check it out here http://www.astrology-numerology.com/num-lifepath.html#lp3. Thanks to Nico for sharing this with me.

The Life Path 3 indicates that you entered this plane with a strong sense of creativity and with wonderful communication skills. Achievement for you most likely comes through engaging your ingenious expression. A truly gifted 3 possesses the most exceptional innovative skills, normally in the verbal realm, writing, speaking, acting, or similar endeavors. Here we are apt to find the entertainers of the world, bright, effervescent, sparkling people with very optimistic attitudes. The bright side of this path stresses harmony, beauty and pleasures; of sharing your inventive talents with the world. Capturing your capability in creative self-expression is the highest level of attainment for this life path.
Life is generally lived to the fullest, often without much worry about tomorrow. You are not very good at handling money because of a general lack of concern about it. You spend it when you have it and don't when you don't.

The 3 loves connecting with people. The characteristics of the 3 are warmth and friendliness, a good conversationalist, social and open. A good talker both from the standpoint of being a delight to listen to, but even more importantly, one who has the ability to listen to others. Accordingly, the life path 3 produces individuals who are always a welcome addition to any social situation and know how to make others feel at home. The approach to life tends to be exceedingly positive. Your disposition is almost surely sunny and openhearted. A happy and often inspired person, you are constantly seeking and needing the stimuli of similar people.

There is a remote side to your 3 Life Path, as well. This comes as a surprise to the native and to those who think they are well acquainted. The 3 is actually a very sensitive soul. When hurt, you can easily retreat to a shell of morose silence for extended periods. Nonetheless, the 3 eventually copes with all of the many setbacks that occur in life and readily bounces back for more. It is usually easy for you to deal with problems because you can freely admit the existence of problems without letting them get you down for too long. Because of your own sensitivity to hurt, you have a caring disposition and seem to be very conscious of other people's feelings and emotions.

In romance, the 3 is a very ardent and loyal lover. Affairs that don't go well can leave scares that seem to linger. Emotional experiences of all sorts tend to deeply touch the 3 and the drama may take some time to play out. Regrettably, the giving disposition of the 3 often attracts demanding partners. As with most of life's issues for the 3 Life Path, balance in relationships is illusive.

Your big test with a 3 Life Path is controlling your highs and lows. You won't survive very well in any routine environment or when you are placed under dominating management. Slow thinking and overly contemplative people tend to frustrate you, and you don't function too well with this type whether you are working for, with, or under them. Your exuberant nature can take you far, especially if you are ever able to focus your energies and talents.

For the few living on the negative side of this Life Path, a 3 may be so delighted with the joy of living that the life becomes frivolous and superficial. You may scatter your abilities and express little sense of purpose. The 3 can be an enigma, for no apparent reason you may become moody nd tend to retreat. Escapist tendencies are not uncommon with the 3 life path, and you find it very hard to settle into one place or one position. Guard against being critical of others, impatient, intolerant, or overly optimistic.

Time Heals All Wounds Indeed

It was not that long ago when I decided to stop apologizing. It has been almost a year and I thought that it would be better to just count my blessings. I have been ignored long enough and I was actually convincing myself that it is not that big of a deal anymore. I can always make more friends. Heck I don't even need more friends. I am fine with the people I have. There is no point in wasting my time with someone who clearly had moved on. So I decided to do the same.

But then, an unexpected text message late last night...

S: Hi. Sorry if ngayon lang ako nag text. I've been receiving your messages before. And I didn't want to be a hypocrite, so I didn't reply to your apologies. It's been almost a year now, and I just want you to know that I am not mad at you anymore ok? Honestly, I want to trust you again, but I will need time. It will never be like before. Let's face that. But I'm not mad anymore. I'll see you around. Have a great evening.

I was driving and my jaw literally dropped upon reading this message. I did not think that he would finally take the step to start talking again. We were good friends. At one point, I considered him one of my best friends. The reason or reasons for our falling out is a long story that I do not wish to revisit. But here it is - the opportunity I waited for to finally be able to reconnect with my once good friend. So I replied...

M: I understand and I appreciate you touching base. I really missed you. I also recognize that it will not be the same but hopefully time will help make things the way they were again. Take care.

S: With all sincerity...I hope so too.

I have no delusions that everything will be ok. But this is a good first step. Time can heal and I hope it will do it fast. I miss this friend of mine that much.

The Real Deal

Not a few people have told me that I can be intimidating. Not a few people have also told me that I have very high standards. I guess it is a logical explanation as to why I am still single. I can not blame people for thinking that. I can understand how I may come off too strong for some people.

But here's the thing. If people find me intimidating, then it's their problem. Sometimes you have to build walls in order to know who has the courage to break through them. If people think I have very high standards, then I guess they have serious insecurity issues.

Some of my friends may flinch at this but I am actually shy. Really. Leave me all alone at a social function then I would most likely be a wallflower. I hate small talk. I rarely start conversations with strangers. And I am usually awkward around new people. If people think otherwise, then I guess they have failed to see through my tough exterior. And if so, then I guess they are not worth meeting; much more worth dating. Only a few people have managed to break through the walls I have unconsciously created. Fortunately, they are the ones with whom I have developed special bonds - friends for life, relationships (official or unofficial) I won't forget, and a soul mate.

To be honest, I really do not think I have that too high a standard. Please. I am not
looking for perfection. How can I when I know I myself am not perfect? I am just looking for someone decent-looking, can carry a good conversation, and open to new experiences as I am. Is that too hard? Seriously. I have always wondered where this notion of me having very high standards emanated from. Is it because I love dining out and travelling? That can be but I don't expect to be always doing that with people I date. I can be just as happy in a fast food joint as I would be in a posh restaurant. I can just be as comfortable in an MRT as I would be in a boeing 747. My examples may be shallow but the point is that I can be flexible.

I guess what I am trying to say is, I am who I am. It is easier to judge me from how I appear. But it is more rewarding to go beyond that.

Unexpected

It feels so good to receive an unexpected call from someone you care about. Kilig! Yun lang! Hahaha!

Moving In and Moving On

I spent the night at our new home for the first time last night. It is the new home that represents my family's new life without the painful baggage of my good-for-nothing father. So much has happened in the past 3 years. A lot of it was drama only fit for a primetime teleserye. I remember thinking how insane it was that something I can only watch on television can actually happen in real life. Grabe! I thought things like that can not possibly ever happen to people like me and my family. It was just wrong. I mean it was just like life immitating art - or is it the other way around?

I am very happy that finally that chapter is closed. We are moving on. Still, I was surprised to have a moment last night where I felt sympathy for my estranged father. Imagine waking up one morning and your family is gone. Does he feel remorse? Does he feel regret? Does he finally understand the error of his ways? The answers to such questions will remain a mystery for now. I choose to move forward and never look back. After all, it is still my world. I decide how it looks like from my perspective. And the view looks good.

N and I are Just Friends

I had dinner with N at my favorite restaurant in Serendra, Balducci. We shared the Gamberri, Greca, and Rib Eye Steak. Needless to say, the food was delectable. I was super satisfied. The red wine paired with the steak provided that extra bite. But this entry is not a food review.

N and I still have that chemistry we had when we were still dating. We are alike in so many ways. Conversations were still on point. We made each other laugh, stimulated each other's intellect, and gave each other smiles in moments of silence. But it was the first time that I actually thought that we will just be friends. I guess we differ on the things that matter most.

Pilipinas Kong Mahal

Ako'y naaawa sa kasalukuyang lagay ng aking bansa. Dahil sa El Niño, malapit nang matuyo ang mga dam na nagbibigay ng kuryente sa maraming probinsya. Dahil sa El Niño, ang mga irigasyon ay hindi na gumagana. Dahil sa El Niño, ang mga tanim ng ating mga magsasaka ay nasasayang. Ang kondisyon ng panahon ay nagbabantang makasira sa takbo ng ekonomiya. Nararanasan na sa Metro Manila ang mga "rotating brownout" na siya namang nakakaapekto sa takbo ng negosyo. Laganap na din ang sakit dulot ng sobrang kainitan.

Sa lahat ng ito, ang pinaka apektado ay ang ating mga mahirap na kababayan. Nakakalungkot. Mas nakakalungkot ay tila ang kawalan ng aksyon mula sa ating mga hinalal na opisyal ng bayan na tungkulin ay maglingkod. Sila ay abala sa pamumulitika. Hindi naman ito kagulat gulat. Dahil kung sa bagay, bihirang makarinig ng mga kongkretong plano at posisyon ukol sa mga importanteng isyu ng bansa. Sino na ba ang nakapagbigay ng malinaw na posisyon sa reproductive health bill? Sino na bang nagbigay ng suhestiyon sa lumalalang kakulangan sa pagkain? Sino na bang nagbigay ng solusyon sa krisis sa kuryente at tubig? Iba ang pinagkakaabalahan ng ating mga pulitiko. Puro pasikat, papogi, at pahirap ang inaatupag. Mga hangal!

Diyos ko, sana ay magpaulan kayo ng grasya sa Pilipinas kong mahal.