Tuesday, August 14, 2007

THE!!! (this is extremely funny)

We' ve been friends for a long time ago. We come from the same alma mother. Actually, our paths crossed one time on another. But it's only now that I gave him a second look. I realized that beauty is in the eyes. The pulpbits of my heart went fast, really fast. Cute pala siya. And then, he came over with me. He said, "I hope you don't mine. Can I get your number?" Nag-worry ako. What if he doesn't give it back? He explained naman na it's so we could keep intact daw. Sabi ko, connect me if i'm wrong but are you asking me ouch? Nabigla siya. Sagot niya, The! Aba! Parang siya pa ang galit! Persona ingrata!!! Ang kapal niya! I cried buckles of tears.

Na-guilty yata siya. Sabi niya, isipin mo na lang na this is a blessing in the sky. Irregardless daw of his feelings, we'll go ouch na rin. Now, we're so in love. Mute and epidemic na ang past. Thanks God we swallowed our fried. Kasi, I'm 33 na and I'm running our time. After 2 weeks, he plopped the question. "Will you marriage me?" I'm in a state of shocked. Kasi mantakin mo, when it rains, it's four! This is true good to be true. So siyempre, I said yes. Love is a many splendor.

Pero nung inaayos ko na ang aming kasal, everything swell to pieces. Nag-di-dinner kami noon nang biglang sa harap ng aming table, may babaeng humirit ng, "Well, well, well. Look do we have here." What the fuss! The nerd ng babaeng yon! She said they were still on. So I told her, whatever is that, cut me some slacks! I didn't want this to get our hand kaya I had to sip it in the bud. She accused me of steeling her boyfriend. Ats if! I don't want to portrait the role of the other woman. Gosh, tell me to the marines! I told her, "please, mine you own business!" Who would believe her anyway?

Dahil it's not my problem anymore but her problem anymore, tumigil na rin siya ng panggugulo. Everything is coming up daisies. I'm so happy. Even my boyfriend said liketwice. He's so supportive. Sabi niya, "Look at is this way. She's our of our lives."

Kaya advise ko sa inyo - take the risk. You can never can tell. Just burn the bridge when you get there. Life is shorts. If you make a mistake, we'll just pray for the internal and external repose of your soul. I second emotion.



(received this via email.)

Thursday, August 09, 2007

A choir story that turned to be about something else..

Dear Madinat Jumeirah Colleagues,

Yes it’s that time of year when we start to plan Christmas and in keeping with the Christmas spirit there will once again be a Choir for Madinat Jumeirah.

If you would like to be a part of the Choir then we will be holding auditions on the following days in the Madinat Theater:

Monday 13th August from 3pm – 5pm
Wednesday 15th August from 3pm – 5pm

Feel free to turn up at any time between 3pm and 5pm with your best singing voice.


***


It was half past 3 in the morning (arghh, I’m doing graveyard again!) when this mail popped in my outlook. I was already three-fourths sleeping but the mail triggered the remaining awake cells in my body.

Choir. Ahh.. just a mention of the word always brings me down the memory lane..back to the good ol’ days.

I never wanted to be a part of a choir. When I was in high school, I thought it was so totally geek. Why join a choir when I can do solo? I know what you are thinking. I certainly do not have a voice capable of doing solo. I know that too, but as what friends have told me, I had this star quality in me (a.k.a. kapal muks quality) that always wanted to shine among the rest. So I thought of a contingency- join a band. But when you’re in high school and everyone’s striving to be branded cool, the easiest way to go was the road that leads to metal rock genre. That’s not me, not my type of enjoyable music.

So one day, I just found myself with my little friends (literally, as we were just little then) in Mrs. Marin’s music room. That was the start of my High School Glee Club story. And the rest is history ( History means HImig Yakal and UPCYM Choir).

***


It’s now 4:20. Almost an hour now that I’ve been singing in the Majlis (Reception to the non Arabic). Thank God my guests are all sleeping and the guards have not been making their rounds because I just turned this reception area to a mini music theater and reminisce the Awitan songs..I really love Ngayon. It was sooo grand! But I have to say I really hate this Tattooed On My Mind. I mean, half of the song, the sopranos were just singing do-do-do-do in different pitches because the altos, for the very first time, got to sing the melody (I told you, kapal muks quality). And who would not enjoy the love songs? Beginning Today, Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin, Ikaw… Haay… Can’t help but think of how I innocently adored my crushes in college.. And of course, the worship songs and how we would sing it everywhere. I mean, EVERYWHERE.. In church, Ian’s house, Melvin’s car, tambayan, isawan, while walking in UP, in McDo, in Jollibee, in that resto near the UP swimming pool (I forgot the name!) in Katips, in the library (yes, in the library. I said everywhere, right?).. But Christmas songs have always been my favorite. The Santa Claus Is Coming to Town and its very cute choreography, the songs of Sambang Umaga and the breakfast after which was one big motivation to wake up early. (We have to admit it, guys). The dramatic Pasko Na Sinta Ko..

Shaks, this reminiscing thing is beginning to be bad. Can’t help but thinking that this Christmas is going to be my first Christmas away from home. I remember when I was watching With Honors (one of my fave films), I told myself I want to experience a Christmas away from home as that of Brendan Fraser’s character. You might be asking why on earth. You see, I've outgrown the kapalmuks quality but I have to mention that I also have this Sucker of Pain disease whose main symptom is having a want to experience some heartbreaking emotions life has to offer but actually fearing it when it shows possibility of occurrence. And that is what’s happening to me now and my first Christmas away from home which is bound to happen four months from now. Yeah, I know, Christmas’ spirit is more than this and hopefully in God’ will, I will not be alone this Christmas but the fact that my home’s Noche Buena table will just have 3 plates instead of four is really a sad thought.

I told you, this reminiscing thing is beginning to be bad and not so healthy. Nonetheless, I am still hoping for everyone’s Christmas to be merry..

And yeah, I will go for that choir audition...

Sunday, July 29, 2007

for the love of my life....


I COULD NOT ASK FOR MORE
Sara Evans

Lying here with you
Listening to the rain
Smile just to see the smile upon your face
These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
And these are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes
Seeing all I need
Everything you are is everything in me
These are the moments
I know heaven must exist
And these are the moments
I know all I need is this
I've found all I've waited for, yeah
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
And every prayer has been answered
Every dream I've had's come true
Yeah, right here in this moment
Is right where I'm meant to be
Here with you here with me
Yeah

These are the moments I thank God that I'm alive
And these are the moments I'll remember all my life
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
And every prayer has been answered
Every dream I've had's come true
Yeah, right here in this moment
Is right where I'm meant to be
Oh, here with you here with me
No, I could not ask for more
Than this love you gave me
Cause it's all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more
No, yeah
No, I could not ask for more



now if that's not yet enough, here's a version from Edwin McCain with a video you would surely love..





i love you.. i know you know that...

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Leslie & Belle: The Reunion Part 2

Belle is now here in Dubai. She arrived at the DXB airport at around 11:10 pm of 23 June and at 1am of 24 June, she arrived at her Oasis Village accommodation. By 3am, there was an overly-excited me searching for her room. Walking the corridors of her block reminded me so much of our almost inseparable dormitory days.

When I finally found her, as expected, there were no traces of the 6 months we have not seen each other. We were giddily jumping like high school girls.We tried to have an early breakfast in between our stories but stories proved their importance as we were not able to consume our food. Then we made a call to her family. That was the only time I heard Tita Thelma cry, asking me to take care of her daughter. Of course I will even without anyone asking me to. Belle and I have been there for each other in numerous instances and we plan to keep it that way. Besides, I will always be gratefully indebted to the Pajarillaga family when they helped me during my Ufreshies enrollment period. Belle and I were just 16 then. I could not go to UP as my family did not have money for my fare to Manila. I did not need to pay my tuition dues being part of the STFAP scholarship, but at that point in time, no fare money means no UP. I already said my goodbyes to Belle and decided to stay back and study in our province. But God sent the Pajarillagas like angels and lent my family some money. So I could say if not for them, I would have not been to UP, never met the people I know and never experienced the life I had. Maybe I will not even be here in Dubai trying to eat my oven-heated cheese roll.

By 6 am, we were already among the early birds iin Madinat Jumeirah waiting for the bus to transfer us to my place. While waiting, a photoshoot of Belle's first few hours in Dubai took place..


View of the Burj Al Arab at her back *** Belle at Fort Island, madinat Arena


The Mina A' Salam "harbour of peace" *** Souk Ampitheatre and the abra display


entry way to Mina A' Salam

Monday, June 18, 2007

Leslie & Belle:The Reunion ( ooohh, this is scary)..

5 tulog na lang at darating na si Belle sa Dubai..Di pa rin ako makapaniwala.. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Arvin, wala na yata kaming balak maghiwalay na dalawa. To think na part lang ito dati ng mga daydream sessions namin. Pangarap naman namin talaga na mag-abroad together at sabay na mageexplore ng buhay. Actually, London talaga target namin o kaya Paris. London dahil andun yung Tita niya at saka para baka sakaling makita namin si Prince William o baka makakita kami ng sarili naming prince na blue-eyed at w/ British accent pa. O kaya, Paris kasi romantic daw dun tsaka gusto namin masagot si Paolo Santos kung "Does the moonlight shine on Paris after the sun goes down? haha, babaw namin no pero okay lang pangarap lang naman e.. Tapos gusto din namin dati na magwork sa Disneyland HongKong. Akalain mo, gusto pa namin magcrash course ng Mandarin dati para lang matanggap kami..para kaming mga high school na kinikilig sa sobrang excitement habang naghahanap kami ng dictionary sa Powerbooks.. and to think professional na dapat kami umasta nyan kasi last year lang yan.. tapos pag marami na kaming pera, magbubusiness kami ng clothing line.. naglalakad kami sa Glorietta habang nag-iisip ng brand name na gagamitin namin. syempre gusto naming may initials namin. then we came up with "Lesbian" with the tag line "it's fun being a girl".. hehe..

Bago ako umalis, binigyan niya ako ng diary. Makakalimutin daw kasi ako. At least kung recorded lahat ng events ng aking life dito sa Dubai, wala akong makakalimutang ikuwento sa kanya pag nagkita na kami ulit. Pagdating niya dito, magsususlat pa din ako sa diary na bigay niya dahil it does not change the fact na makakalimutin ako pero at least maikukuwento ko na sa kanya personally ang mga kagagahang ginagawa ko dito. Actually, baka nga di ko na kailanganing ikuwento kasi for sure, kasali siya sa mga kagagahang iyon.

as i always said, Dubai has been good to me.. but im sure, it's gonna be much much better with belle around...

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Filipinos the nicest people I’ve met

I was cleaning my room yesterday when I found a torn page of an old newspaper ( 7Days, one of Dubai's tabloids) in one of my drawers. I purposely kept it as the contents make me proud. I just learned today that the article sparked a buzz and had been a hot topic.. let me share it here. this might make you proud of our people..

Filipinos the nicest people I’ve met
Published on: Sunday, 14th January, 2007

I read ‘Cool Hand Luke’s’ letter about Filipinos being Dubai’s nicest people and it really struck a cord. I have no idea what Filipino’s do (or eat!) to retain such a sunny disposition while suffering hardship (as many of them do) but they are indeed a truly fantastic bunch of people.
In four years of being in Dubai I think of all the drivers who have cut me up on the roads and none of them have been Filipino. I think of all the people who have tried to rip me off in some way and none of them have been Filipino. I think of all the disgusting people who spit and pick their nose in public and none of them have been Filipino.Filipinos have a dignity, pride and code of living that they can truly be proud of and which the rest of the world can look up to.

Nigel Whittaker
Umm Suqeim


This did not end here as Nigel's view certainly struck a familiar cord with many other readers, who have flooded the paper with letters of praise for the Filipinos they have come across here in Dubai, with many asking for the secret to our apparent happiness that we seem to carry with us as we go to work. The newspaper company was kind enough to publish some other reactions. and as they put it, no sender seemed to disagree with this claim.here's one example:


Praise of Filipinos is very deserved
Published on: Monday, 15th January, 2007

I would like to second the opinion of Nigel and ‘Cool Hand Luke’ about Filipinos. I never had a Filipino friend or acquaintance, but its hard to ignore how friendly and chivalrous they are. I travel by municipality bus a lot, and usually see men occupying the seats reserved for Ladies. Once a man refused to move out even when requested by the driver. On the other hand, Filipino men gladly vacate their seats for women though they are sitting in the unreserved section. I have been shamed into doing it myself after watching them couple of times. Filipinos never push and jostle while trying to get into the bus and try to be in a queue as much as possible. I am yet to come across a rude Filipino, though Dubai has struck me as a city of exceptionally rude people. They are the only people who still remember the golden words ‘Please’, and ‘Thank You’.
hope my countrymen would take a leaf out of their book and try to be nice to others.
Viva la Pinoy!

Abi Sultan
Dubai


hmm... although i'd say we have a share of not-so-good-attitude bearing people from the land of thousand islands, i'd say, this makes me proud of the ones who have been in dubai earlier than me. and yes, quite big shoes to fill in for newbies like me..

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

for the man who has been giving me all the good reasons to celebrate Valentine's day!...

Sunday, January 14, 2007

from dubai with love

2006 is a year of surprises for me. of course the biggest suprise is alfred. but just when i thought the year that was had given me enough of a surprise, then came dubai.. i left last dec 28 and yes, i was not able to spend the new year home. instead, i was watching the magnificent dubai fireworks thinking about the lusis i should have lighted if i were home.

today is exactly my 18th day here. but the days seem to be longer than they are suppose to last. a lot of new things, new people, new places..

so far, i could say dubai has been so good to me. my job is ok. i am working for a very beautiful hotel resort where everywhere i look at is amazing. Madinat Jumeirah is fantastic and one of its kind. plus the fact that i work with over 90 nationalities. people im with are also okay. i have a lot of Kabayans around me. i have met my former IHG officemates and had a fine evening with Josh and his friends. my accommodation is great. i am sharing a room with a Filipina as well and i dont think the swimming pool in front of my flat would hurt at all. financially? err.. im working on it. Starting in a new place has always been full of challenges and of course, paychecks here come out monthly. but the Lord has been providing for resources and ways to survive until my most awaited pay day.

the biggest challenges of them all is (surprise! surprise!) .. missing home. it is a weird feeling of longing i do not even want to describe it. the things i saw in movies about the life of OFWs are true. They work hard not just to earn enough money to send home but to make themselves busy. busy enough to feel homesick. now that im one of them, id say OFWs are really worthy to be branded as Bagong Bayani not just because they help the economy a lot but more of the strength, courage and faith they put up everyday.

It is till a long journey ahead of me. but i have always been reminded that this is a blessing I prayed for, my family prayed for, alfred prayed for, my friends prayed for because we know that this is for a better future. im holding on.. taking each day at a time.. the love and support im getting is enough to keep me going each day..