BITS AND PIECES

started t off with a children's christmas party at strata office.. where all the kids of my officemates had a get-together, exchange of gifts and an overflowing fun and games. I love kids!  I really do.. and i enjoyed this moment with them..

i already got my starbucks 2008 limited edition planner!!!

there are people who would do all that they can to destroy your credibility in order to protect their name and to hide all the lies they have done. 

In celebration of our company's 9th year anniversary, we sponsored a Gawad Kalinga Build Day last Friday, December 8, 2007 at Munting Paraiso, Trece Martirez Chapter.

Straight from our Metrobank M-Card sign-up activity and with almost no sleep at all (because we finished the sign-up activity at 2am Friday morning), me and eka headed to the Build Day site to arrange everything so that as soon as everyone arrives, everything will be all-set. Yeah, we have no choice but to do this because we were the one assigned to organize this activity. But of course, we also wanted to do this thing... we are excited actually.

Now, i can finally say goodbye...

my last tears fell... my heart so broken now finally have its time to heal... no more holding back...

i know you're in peace. i know you can see me...

to the very end you showed me you've hold on to our promise. you've waited for me before you left...

you left not by choice... because it's your time...

our Big Daddy up there needs you now... and you have to go...

its just now that things are starting to sink in... i have to face the reality that you're gone...

you're a one big part of my life that i would never exchange for anything. Your the greatest thing that ever happened to me. You've showed me a lot.. learned so much... loved unconditionally...

and now you're my angel... (together with my mommy)

i know you're just around....

i will terribly miss you....

...till i see you there....

How could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
We’re so close
To reaching that famous happy end
And almost believing this was not pretend
Let’s go on dreaming for we know we are
So close
So close
And still so far

10:00 pm

of all the out of town trips i've ever had, this is one of the best!!! syempre kasama ko ang aking partner in crime cum sis na si minnie...

this is the jeepney that took us to the start line of rafting activity... here. we were given all the stuffs that we need... lifevest, helmet, paddle, etc...








i really love this shot... taken from the first stop-over for picture taking... this was taken by Clint... may talent din sya sa photography no? *big grin*... fyi: super lamig and lakas ng water current... kaya kelangan holding hands kme.. heheheh!

this was the five of us... we get to know the three of them during the briefing... just so happened that they are only three and kami naman, 2 lang.. so might as well we'll join together as a group...

they call this rapid as Cloud 10. I forgot why.. this is where the raft will bump into a big rock making the raft move upwards.. having the tendency for us to fall.. pero sorry!!! mahigpit kapit namin.. di kme nahulog!!!the "sneak preview" cave (kasi daw marami daw snake dito pag summer).. one of the parts i like...may maliit kasi na falls... ang sarap!!!



it was really a fun, exciting adventure i (or should i say we) ever had. you guys should try this kahit once lang... its really worth the experience...

MANILA --> OZAMIZ CITY --> OROQUIETA CITY --> CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY --> BUKIDNON --> back to CDO --> MANILA

- naging supergirl ako for one day kasi kelangan ko magconduct ng training sa Ozamiz at Oroquieta (1-hr drive away ang pagitan) at the same time makapunta ng Cagayan De Oro (na may last trip na 5pm sa Ozamiz) the same day kundi e di ako makakabalik pauwi ng Manila. Ang CDO is 4 hours away from Ozamiz.

- syempre di ako umabot sa last trip. natapos ang training ko sa Oroquieta ng 5pm. Buti na lang mabait yung client namin sa Oroquieta.. hinatid ako sa barge. yun na kasi ang last option.

- First time ko sumakay ng Barge. Sa mga di nakakaalam, eto yung barko kung saan sinasakay ang mga land vehicles para makatawid ng dagat. Syempre natakot ako, ako lang kasi mag-isa and di ko naiintindihan ang salita ng mga tao...

- Yung bus na nasakyan ko sa barge e hanggang Iligan lang.. so kelangan ko pa magtransfer ng bus sa Iligan papunta Cagayan... a enong oras na???? Nakarating ako sa Iligan ng 9pm.. pagdating sa terminal e yung nag-iisang bus (last trip na yata yun) papuntang Cagayan e paalis na... muntik pa ko di umabot... tapos non-aircon bus pa! kapag sinuswerte ka nga naman...

- nakarating naman ako ng safe sa Cagayan De Oro... mga 11pm na yata yun. Tapos wala pa kong hotel na matutuluyan... ni hindi ko alam saang lupalop ako ng Cagayan De Oro... si Minnie kasi na dapat kasama ko e di nakapagland yung flight nya dahil sa bad weather.. pinabalik sya ng Manila. So, ako lang talaga mag-isa...

- May lifesaver naman ako... I have this "newfound friend" na pinakilala ni jaymie na nakabase sa CDO. Sya tumulong sakin na malaman ko kung saan ako magchecheck-in.. yung hotel katabi ng bahay nila.. hehehehe... Tawag nila dun sa area na yun e Divisoria... yun pala ang center ng CDO... malapit sa lahat...pagdating ko dun, yung Night Market agad and nakita ko...

- Pagdating ni Minnie kinabukasan, walang pahi-pahinga.. go agad kame sa WHITE WATER RAFTING! Panalo sa experience!! yung details sa susunod na post. Here's one of my favorite pic...



- Kinabukasan, uuwi na dapat ako. Biglang cancelled lahat ng flights papuntang Manila. Ang lakas ng ulan. No choice ako.. kundi tumawag sa office at sabihin ang situation... kelangan na rin kasi ako sa ofc dahil ang dami kong naiwan na work... Nagparebook ako ng flight for next day... buti na lang may available pa.. pero 2nd to the last flight na..

- Sumama na lang ako sa trainining ni Minnie sa Bukidnon. Dito ko natikman ang sizzling bulalo... panalo!

- Bago umuwi, di namin pinalampas ang ukay ukay.... mas mura dito kesa sa baguio...




Super memorable experience ito of all the out of town trips namin ni Minnie... thank you thank you sa lahat ng tumulong sa amin... kay Ms. Eliezer ng Petron Ozamis sa pagsundo sakin sa airport ng Ozamiz at sa lunch na masarap... kay Mr. Fred ng Petron Oroquieta sa paghatid sakin sa Ozamiz Port ... kay Rich.. and aking "newfound friend" for keeping up with us, sa tanduay mix at sa mahaba habang kwentuhan.. and kay Serge sa pagsama sa amin sa Bukidnon...

This was indeed one of the best ever adventure weekend i ever had....

im going out-of-town again this weekend.

destination: Oroquieta, Ozamis City in the morning to train one Petron station. After the training, Minnie (who's then in Bukidnon) and I will meet at Cagayan De Oro and spend our Sunday there.

Hopefully, we could do the White Water Rafting, which we always plan before. And now that we have the chance, i really hope to enjoy the thing.

And, yeah.. im going to meet a new friend, as introduced by my dear Jaymie (through YM) who happened to be bases at CDO. They've known each other for more than 2 years and just recently, last Monday to be exact, jaymie asked me if she could introduce to me her friend... and there... so far, ok naman...

Just so happened that we were abruptly scheduled for a training there... timing lang. *wink*

hope things would be fun... part of "reformatting" my system.... hahahahah!!

it was like the whole day i am doing nothing at the office... internet, limewire, facebook.... waaaahhh!!!! feeling ko tuloy wala akong kwenta...

i am feeling great because slowly i am able to cross this state of emotional and mental torture caused by what happened recently. this is an accomplishment for me. *big grin*

-------

will meet besty nikay later for Trina's wedding invite. I can't believe i am (still) invited. *big big grin* (again)

------

i hope we could start working on our charity work christmas activity... soon..

-----

sooooo bored.

* jaymie introduced me to facebook.. and ngayon, ito ang bago kong kina-aadictan... give it a try... www.facebook.com

* a new hang-out place every sunday after church : witch's brew @ blu wave (dito masarap na mura pa.. may libreng wi-fi pa!)

* macky - my new baby toy...

* a new perspective in life... keep quiet, still and do not go down to the level of people who doesn't seem to know what they're doing.

* now smiling

* new life

We had a meeting earlier for our upcoming Christmas Party (as usual, I am once again part of the committee). I am very much glad that I have this thing to keep me busy. And I love being part of company activities like this.

In a nutshell, we were thinking of celebrating Christmas with the less fortunate instead of spending a lot for ourselves. We thought of spending it in an orphanage. An all-out children's party. I loved the idea. I actually have something in mind while everyone is discussing the details.

I love kids. I really do.

And this comes to me: a chance for me to make a difference in my life. Maybe I could find a kid there and then make it a point to spend some time with that kid every week.. maybe once or twice a week. maybe this is a chance for me to share my time with someone who needs care and attention... its been so long since i wanted to have a kid of my own. and at this point in time i really don't have any way to have one (of course unless i have a family of my own).

i just thought of making a change. Its always been that the love i usually give to some people always turned out to be "unappreciated". so why not give it to some innocent kid who would surely cherish everything that i could share?

this idea gave me a different perspective. if this would push through, i really think it would make me happy and feel accomplished.

i shared this thought on one of my officemates and she said "baka naman timandang dalaga ka ng tuluyan nyan?" And I said, "di naman siguro.. e di aampunin ko pag kaya ko na... at least may anak ako... "

just something for a change... and for a good deed...

i am starting a new step in my life...

i'm pretty sure this is going to be hard for me. but i have to do it. for my own self's sake.

so anyone who who want to make things easy for me, you are most welcome... i would appreciate it... *wink*

... and to you, i know they would take care of you, more than i could. thanks for everything... you've given me a lot of lessons in life... you'll always be a part of my life...till then....


___________________

part of moving on...

a bonding time with my favorite tita and cuzins....

... do not trust easily.
... believe in the power of your instinct.
... loving unconditionally is not bad, you just have to spare something for yourself.
... learn not to expect.
... trust GOD.

and everyting else will fall on its proper places.

i am now at a point where i finally decided to open my hand and let go of that one thing i held so close in my life for so long... i don't know if it is the right time to do this but i realized i came to a full stop and there's nothing more that i can give. Naubos na... nasagad na... gustuhin ko man magbigay pa, wala na akong mailabas...

for two years i have been with this person i thought was someone who would be with me forever. we've been through a lot... facing ups and downs... for two years i always give him my benefit of the doubt... despite of all the "proofs" of accusing him to be someone he always denied as him, still i believed in him... because he asked for TRUST.

sad, it happened to be that the character he used to show me was far (so far) different from his true self. and what hurts is that the truth came not from him but from his family, who apparently became so close to my heart... and up until now he never said anything about it... patuloy nya pa rin akong pinapaniwala...

and inspite of that i choose to stay... knowing that he needs me now more than anything. And that's what i thought. as time came to its near end, i am starting to feel that he's pushing me away... and sometimes it seems na ako pa ang humihingi ng attention to be there for him... and obviously, he wanted somebody else on his side right now... and that's not me.

masakit. yug harap-harapan nakikita mo na may hinahanap syang iba. and all you can do is back off... inspite of all the sacrifices and efforts you gave him. sometimes i dont need to ask him "why" because i already knew the answer...

as much as possible i never wanted to leave him. BECAUSE HE IS DYING. but what choice do i have if i can see clearly he never wanted me to be there... and it hurts most knowing that up until the end, he's lying to me... pretending to be somebody else...

last night, narealize ko "pagod na ko". i have to find my self-worth... i have to pick up the pieces of broken me...

some would say that maybe this is not the time to leave him, because he's still here and would be needing me more... but i guess, he already let me go... and doing this right now could save me from this insanity.

siguro sa buong 2 taon na binuhos ko para sa kanya, panahon naman ngayon na sarili ko ang asikasuhin ko...

for 3 days i haven't been to the hospital... as per your request. because you said its your time with your family... for your spiritual healing...

it was so hard for me. i wanted to be at your side... i wanted to be with you... but it's you who told me to rest for a while...

that 3 days gave me the chance to reflect and think. i realized, i also have my own life to live. that i have to start moving on.

yes i love you so much, and i will do everything that i can to make you happy. but now, its different. Its God's call. and all we need to do is to surrender to Him everything.

and when you said that I can see you today... i thought maybe its my time to say goodbye. that later could be the last time that I can see you.. "could be" coz i dont know when will be the next. i know this is too much hard for you.. and i know that there are more important people in your life that you would want to spent time with...

but inspite of all that, you know that i am just right here.. i'll just wait for that time when you would call me and tell me you want to spend some time with me... but for now, i will just back my way off but that doesn't mean i am totally leaving you. i would just give you all the time and space you need... you will always be here in my heart... and i would definitely be waiting for that time... because you know i never wanted to leave you.

and if in case we never see each other again, i'll remember what you've told me ... that we will still see each other... not here... maybe in some other place...

as for now all i can do is to pray for you... for your heart.. for us... for me.. for more strength.

and always remember the love that i gave you and will continually giving you till the end...

i love you so much and i don't wanna be selfish... I'll give you everything you want... even if it means sacrificing my longing to be with you...

"magkikita pa tayo ulit... but maybe in another place..."

one of the words you told me last night.

as much as possible i want to spent the rest of the remaining time with you. i wanted to be at your side till the end.

but i cant... you need to spend time with your family too. and i understand. our talk last night gave me the strength to hold on.

i love you so much.

and you said "i love you too".

i never wanted to leave you last night. your stare makes me wanna hold you tight. because i know it could be the last time that I can hold you, see you and hug you. the way you grasp my hand tells me i have to be ready...

i know i should. 3-6 months is just too short... you are too young to leave...

and we kissed... for the first time....it was the most heartfelt thing we did.

thank you for letting me know that up until the end... you loved me so much... in your own reasons... what we've been through showed me the real meaning of unconditional love.

and you asked me if we could have our family of our own... yes we will... just be strong to fight this test... God will always be on our side... and everything will be fine.

if this is goodbye, i know its just temporary.

yes.. we will see each other again... soon.

i love you so much... marlo.

not even in my imagination did i expect things to turn this way. everything just happened so fast.

and today, more than anything else, is the time i know you need me as your friend.

and i will never leave you... up till the end.

if it means staying at that hospital until God knows when, to take care of you the whole day... staying awake at night to make sure you are feeling well... even if it means i have to ignore work stress and attend to you right after work...

which i am doing right now.

i wouldn't get tired... i will do it again and again if that's what it takes for you to feel better.

i can see you in pain... you cry because of unbearable pain...

even after a hurtful revelation of your character, i forgive you... and i will stay because i can't take leaving you in your situation.

because i know you even never wanted this thing to happen.

because i love you.

and i know you loved me more because you never allowed this sickness to get into me.

i should've gotten mad of you... i could've left you the moment i learned the truth... and i shouldn't even have to care about you...

but then anger would just kill me...

and i cannot push myself to hate you.

and i would stay true to our promise...

first time ko to ginawa...

woke up 3am for my 5am flight to Iloilo. Arrived at Iloilo at 6:30 am.. headed straight to San Jose, Antique to train one (1) [yes!!! only one] Petron Station. It was a three-hour land trip from Iloilo City. Rented a taxi to be my service.. since it would just be a quickie training, i thought it would be best if I have a service because madugo ang public transpo experience dun. Rough road... alikabok... non-aircon bus.... kmusta naman yun di ba? Arrived at San Jose Antique by 9:30am...did the training for 30 or 45 minutes... then went back to Iloilo City.

my taxi fare reached to 2,300.. and si manong driver humirit ng additional 200 kasi daw hinintay nya ko habang nagtratrain... hay!!!

arrived at Iloilo City by 1pm... wala akong choice kundi maglibot kasi 5pm pa flight ko back to Manila...

what I did was... took a nap... at the cinema of SM Iloilo.. hahahaha!!!!

It was a very tiring day... ang nakakapagod is the travel... mas matagal pa ang byahe ko sa mismong purpose ko dun...

hay...

sorry no pics... ganun talaga pag mag-isa lang...

to...




.. oo balikan ito. kmusta naman?????

soon.

Im used calling him Marlo. But lately... nasasanay na rin ako na tawagin syang "yani".

Spent the weekend with them...

Prepared a little surprise party for his birthday... i brought ingredients for auntie's all time favorite baked macaroni. Bought cake (as choosen by maila) and balloons...

That time I am hoping he could come. Kasi nasa 40 temperature nya. It's been a week ng trangkaso and he's not yet well...

Pero dahil sa powers ng kanyang little sisters... it was a success!!!



stayed there until sunday afternoon. nagpaka nurse muna ako sa knya for the weekend...


i hope you get well soon... kahit dindi pa nagsisink-in sayo yung birthday mo... we're happyy to at least gave you something you'll remember....

and i know that you know how much we love you....

it was my first time to eat an oyster. hehehe!

Baked oyster with garlic and cheese... with a bit of tabasco sauce... at Oyster Boy. Tastes good... it was. Not like how I perceived it to be seeing my dad wayback eating a raw oyster. I thought it was "malansa" or something but having tried it last night, i might order it again next time. :-)

Thanks to dennis, a new friend i knew and met last night.

-----

tomorrow would be the day i have waited for in the past couple of days...

i really hope my effort would be appreciated.

ok.. so here's a snap details of our cebu trip..

why are we there? as usual.. for PETRON-SM ADVANTAGE Activation/Training. Simple, just to train Petron Staffs on how to give points to SM Advantage Cardholders when they gas up to their stations. 27 stations, all in 5 days...

Stayed at Rajah Park Hotel along Fuente Osmena. It has a free wifi connection at the lounge (yahoooo!!!) and a very very good sumptuous (free) breakfast which Minnie and I were looking forward to every morning...

Our Activities:

Day 1

~ Dinner at Larshan. Panalo ang bbq.. costs 4pesos each plus the "puso", a rice wrapped in "balat ng saging", which costs only 2pesos..

Day 2

~ Trained 7 stations straight... I wandered along the whole city of Cebu.
~ Dinner at Kaininan ni Kuya Jay. The best food ever. It was the best meal we've had during our 5 day stay here. Tried Grilled Pusit, Tuna Belly and chopsuey. Panalo talaga! You guys should try here when you got the channce.. Located at Orchids St., near Fuente Osmena.

Day 3

~ Trained 3 Stations
~ Did MasterCard visibility study as SM Cebu
~ Dinner at City Grill. Billiards after. This is a place where you will choose what you want and then they will cook it for you. Parang "dampa" dito sa manila. So we had sizzling squid and inihaw na liempo.


Day 4
~ Tambuli Beach Resort. Which, hmmm... we were not that overwhelmed... pero ok na rin. Had only day tour trip that costs 350 (300 consumable for food). Maybe because of the not-so-good weather.



~ Trained 2 stations
~ Bought some pasalubongs at SM. We were supposed to buy at Shamrock pero naman! doble ang price compared to SM. Kaya pala most of the bakasyonistas, sa SM na lang din bumibili.
~ Tried the local lechon manok.

Day 5
~ Went to Sto. Nino Church
~ Magellan's Cross


~ Bought danggit
~ Trained 2 stations
~ Visibility study at Ayala Center

We need to fly back to Manila by Sunday evening... tired, stressed.. pero still we had fun.

.... sa pagbabalik, CEBU.



for more pics, click here

we are just so early for our flight back to manila. 2 hours before our flight, we already checked-in... good thing though we were able to get a good seat...

we're here at macta airport waiting for our flight...

medyo nagkaproblem lang k minnie because of her mango puree... pero ok na naman..

will post details soon of this cebu trip...

back to reality tmrw.. hahaha... back to ofc...

hay!!!

arrived here at cebu last night around 9pm.

Its the first time that i didn't enjoy the plane ride. nakakahilo.

i am practically super tired yesterday. and as much as i want to share where 've been in the morning, i can't. madamin kasi magrereact. but i am glad nakaabot ako sa 7:30 flight... literally im super scared na baka maiwan ako ng flight. sakto sakto pagdating ko sa airport.

there, i rode the plane alone. kakainip. buti na lang it was just a 1-hr flight. thought of taking the flight as my chance to sleep pero dahil sa nakakahilo yung byahe, mas lalo yata ako napagod.

as soon as i arrived, i went straight here at Rajah Park Hotel where Minnie made the booking for us.

thank God may free wifi!

we had dinner somehere near the hotel. Isang compound na pro bbq and tinitinda. Natuwa ako... kasi masang masa! hahaha! at take note ang mura ng bbq-- 4pesos lang at ang kanin, 2 piso lang! sulit na sulit!

as expected, plakda ako pagdating ng sleeping time...

today.. it was another super stressed day. Diniretso ko magtrain ng 7 stations straight! walang kainan!!! nagpakabibo ako.. kaya eto ako ngayon... mukang wasted...

hay!!!

but tmrw up until sunday, loads are lighter.. 2 -3 stations a day na lang... and i really hope, Minnie and I could explore the city!!!!

kahit sa Plantation Bay lang!!!!

i never felt so relieved, happy and contented... not until now.

all my doubts are gone.

and im thanking God for allowing "these things" to happen...

I never regret all the risks I made. It all paid off...

sa akin bukas...

because of the change in schedule of the trainings, our flight was moved to an earlier date... BUKAS NA.

goodluck naman... all the original plans for tmrw was re-arranged. And i have to meet my 7:30pm flight to Cebu. Hay!

bahala na si batman...

it is not usual that i sleep as early as 8 or 9pm but last night i did. usually i go to bed as late as 1 to 3am.

Last night it was different.

Arrived home around 7pm. Dinner by 7:30... and i went to bed by 8.

and lech!!! why is it that i decided to sleep early causing me to be awake at around 2am and can't sleep anyomore??

yes, i am practically awake from 2am to 6am...

with lot of stuffs going around my head... excited on my cebu trip but much more excited for tomrw's activity.

hay!!! for sure the same thing would happen later... because i need and i WANT to rise early tmrw...

....sleepyhead.

just booked our flight to cebu...

departure (thursday) : manila-cebu
arrival (sunday) : tagbilaran - manila

yup... magbobohol kme!!! kahit 1 day lang...

i'll be out for days... and yeah, will be missing some planned stuffs (on saturday to be specific) but its ok. in the first place i have to set my priorities. mas marami pang oras for that planned stuff (its just 2 hours away from manila lang naman)... at minsan lang ako makapunta ng cebu... ng walang gastos!!!

i am thinking if i'll bring macky with us... baka kasi may asap workload that needs to be done... plus minnie said mas maraming wifi area dun... at the same time natatakot akong dalin...

anyways...

hope everything would go well on the next few days...

soon...

i was informed just now that we'll be having another training for Petron..


yiheeee!!!


first time ko if ever sa CEBU!!!

excited!!

saturday...

travelled all way up north...

it was the most i-cant-describe-how-i-feel-but-definitely-on-the-cloud-nine-state travel that i had.

my destination: Orani, Bataan...

and im going back... soon...

because i forgot to post some pics from our day 2 ilocos invasion at fort ilocandia... here they are...







for more pix... check out my home at multiply...

As usual, this trip if for the Petron Fleet Card Training. This time its was a tag-team with Ms. Jean. Together, we tagged along with us my friend Wisa and her (Ms. Jean's) mom.

We're invading the Ilocos province! With 14 stations to be trained, we have 3 days to do all the works... and fun!!!

Amost 14 hours road trip.. we left manila by 6pm and arrived at vigan town around 7:30 am the next day...

With all the trainings, of course we wouldn't pass the chance to enjoy and explore the province. Here's our activities:

Day 1: Vigan Town Proper, Baluarte
Day 2: Fort Ilocandia in Laoag
Day 3: Pagudpud Beach, Bangui Windmill Project, and back to Vigan for pasalubongs...






















left pagudpud beach at around 9:30 am and got back at manila at 3am...

of course with stop overs for lunch, snacks, and dinner...

ganung katagal na land travel...

wasted pero masaya!!!

ang gaing!

may wifi dito sa place na pinagstayan namin...

dito sa pagudpud. arrived here a while ago after a long training at laoag.

last night naman nasa vigan kme..

i'll post more details soon.. natutuwa lang ako kasi may wifi dito...

just need to check some e-mails from the office...

and will go to bed na rin in a while.. aga pa kase kme gigising tmrw...

soon.. pix and details...

:-)

for ilocos, i jst thought of having a trim... just a little.

mamaa pa kasi ang trip namin. naiinip ako dito sa bahay kaya...





bonding muna kame ng babyy cookie ko. super mamimiss ko sya e.... wala akong akap sa gabi...

by 6:30 pm we're off to vigan!!!

pagudpod na!!!!

today, she's suppose to turn 58...

and for 5 years she's been gone...

i terribly misses her....

so much...

wherever you are, you know that I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH MOMMY...

can't wait....







pagudpud + vigan....

ilang tulog na lang!!!!!