Angels and Devils

Depression and Anxiety are so much these days.. I mean we hear famous people lost battles in Depression...  and this takes me down memory lane when I battled with it myself. It was like almost  year long battle and some people without them knowing have helped pull me out from the dark.

If you know me, I'm super mababaw, cheesy, shy though madaldal and quite easy to get along with. Uh in short boring person, an average one and not the most exciting and adventurous person to be around with. I am just right I guess.

I was a fresh graduate when I came to Dubai to work. It was not at all part of the plan but opportunity knocked at the right time. I grabbed it instantly. I desperately needed to earn money because mom was currently going chemo therapy at the time. So when I got here I was so determined, so strong-willed and no one and nothing stopped me.

During the first 5years living overseas, I was totally fine and thought I was living the dream. I considered myself so blessed to be able to work overseas and earn good while others can only dream of. Life in the Phils was hard and almost everyone I know wants to work abroad. My job became the bread & butter for my family. During those years  I was able to settle financial obligations of my family and provided financial support for my mom's medication. Mom eventually won her battle and bounced back. Praise God for mom's 2nd life. Family debts were settled. Working and sending money home was a routine for years.

But one morning, I woke up feeling extremely heavy like I have a lump on my chest. Suddenly I find myself sobbing. I opened skype and called up my mom. The 1st thing that came out from my mouth was "mame gusto ko nang umuwi" and then I lost it. For the first time in my life I cried in front of her.

What I love about my mom is, she can be strong when she needed to be. In normal circumstances, she's the one who always cries. When I first had my heart broken, she cried for me. When I needed to work miles away from home she cried for me. Even when I simply tell her I love you and I miss you she cries and will always point to herself as the reason why I needed to be away. I don't recall myself crying in front of her ever. Not once. I was very careful with my emotions when in front of her. I was her only child and I'm the source of her strength and if I falter, she sure will. I cannot let my mother worry about me. She has so many things already in her mind. Therefore, I needed to be strong at least in front of her. Surprisingly that day. She didn't shed a tear. She listened to my sobs. She knows. She gets it. Straight-forwardly she told me, you feel this way because malayo kame sa iyo, at wala kang mapagbalingan ng attention like boyfriend or mga kaibigang babae na pwede mo makasamang lumabas. kahit kasama mo mga pinsan mo pero mag-asawa sila. nhohomesick ka anak. May mga pagkakataon talagang mararamdaman mo yan anak. Kapag di mo na kaya, Uwi ka na. Dito ka n lang sa atin. Mabubuhay naman tayo dito. 

But then, although we know whats causing me anxiety, I do not have guts to give up my work. It is my bread and butter and although mom still was teaching at the time, I'm still almost the breadwinner of the family. I'm lonely living overseas and I'm burnt-out from work but I cannot go home. Its just not an option.

I was dissecting what happened to me that very day. Then I realized maybe I was phasing the so called middle-life crisis? I was lonely. Everything in my life at that time was routinary with no goal left for me. I don't know where to head my life anymore. I felt like the precious age of 21-25 was robbed off of me where everyone my age are having fun, travelling, partying with friends or be in a relationship. I'm in a state of depression.

With all the arguments now-a-days, i really don't know what depression really means but what I can recall is that I was extremely sad in the inside. Loneliness, emptiness, self-pity, fatique, anxiety, insecurities all brought me down.

During these period, I was thankful to two people. It was my cousin and his wife, Kuya gerry and ate liway who helped me battle depression. We all live together in a flat and they knew about that morning when I suddenly burst into tears. We have a talk and man was it therapeutic. They make sure that I will be tagged along on almost all their dates. Even on Valentine's day they tagged me along. I was their 3rd wheel. Kuya encouraged me to look for a new work so I will have a fresh new work environment. He helped me edit my resume and I still can recall he sat with me on  the dining table and we practice Q&As for job interviews. I mean c'mon who would do that? Ate liway, on the other hand, was being her normal sweet, selfless human being self. These are the kind of people that held my hand when I was being eaten by the devils. They're are the people who I know will be there for me no matter what without any thing in return. How blessed I am for having them in my life. They are there for me and I'm so fortunate, blessed rather, to call them family.

Ofcourse that phase in my life is now a history. Life could be trying some times if not most times. Let it but then don't be lost. don't be eaten by the devils because there is always way out.

How I re-met my Husband

A long time back, during one of my Phil vacations, mom came to me and she was with this 40sh-old woman who turned out to be a wife of a relative. Mom said held out your hand and let her read it. So what's this.. is she manghuhula or something? I'm not a superstitious person and not a fan of hula but my mom insisted. Wala naman daw mawawala. So okay I obliged. I held out my hand to her and then ask "so what do you see?" She said that I'm a happy person that all I want is happiness around me and all my goals were for my parents. We'll that's so true. But that is what everybody is like right? Anyhow, I continue. I then ask a funny question.. makakapag-asawa pa po ba ako? "Oo naman. yan oh. Kilala mo na nga kung sino." (she also said we'll have 3children together) right then and there I made a list of who could possibly the person be and I have few candidates in mind. A childhood crush, a friend, etc.. but really there is no way I could have ended up with any of these people.

I think I was on my slightly late-20s when I started to worry about life. Ever since I work abroad I have not been in a relationship. It is so different when you are in your home country rather than being overseas. Different in a sense that the chances to meet someone is limited. Sometimes I ask God that if ever, I prefer someone who is from my past. Meaning someone I know already. Could be a former classmate or workmate or a childhood playmate. Because just the thought of introducing yourself to a stranger and putting your best foot forward exhaust me already.

13March2013, I got a random fb message from someone.. "Hi save. Kamusta ka na?" It was Carlo. and you know if an opposite sex randomly sends you a message either you get creep out or you get intrigued. With him it was the latter. I thought huh buti ng-message ito? before hitting up the reply button I checked his profile first. There wasn't much actually. Mostly were tagged photos from his colleagues. He's wearing braces, clean-cut, fair-complexion, he looks neat. In one of his tagged photos amidst a group of wacky faces he remains the only one smiling. Ah di sya makasat. liked! looks mahiyain. liked! Doesn't post much. liked! He's employed. Checked! He's a person from my childhood. We were schoolmates. Batchmates. Same age. I know him. He knows me. We came from the same place literally from the same Brgy.! In short aba pwede! Pwedeng pwede!

From the very 1st message he sent, there was this instant kilig and for some unexplainable reason the kilig was overflowing! Suddenly fireworks and rainbows and butterflies in my stomach came pouring over me. Overflowing. I told myself that this is it. He is the one. I cannot explain it but it felt that way right away. Maybe because we are from the same place? and we were batchmates? I'm not sure. But what I clearly remember is that I have never felt for someone as strongly as what I have felt for him. I have never felt more secure for myself to someone and I was feeling this way already whilst not yet meeting him in person.

Coincidentally, two months after we first exchange messages I was set for my annual vacation. But it was not only me coming home it means judgment day for both of us. Are we going to click? Are we going to feel the same way when we finally see each other in person? So the day has come. It was the most nerve-wracking day of my life. The dogs started to bark signaling someone they aren't familiar with was out there. My heart was pounding so fast that I can almost hear it. My two young nieces (shey&ishen) didn't help much. They came out and came back running at me telling me "mommy save ang pogiiiiii! ang puti nya! lumabas ka na!" I came out of the house and opened the door and there I saw him standing under the rays of the sun holding a bouquet of white flowers smiling. 1st thought? yay ang gwapo! 🙈  I ask him to come in and when I saw him upclose I, out of nowhere blurted out "bakit ang gwapo mo?" hahaha I really wanted to play it cool but I guess it was too late. He spent the rest of the day at our house. Then the next day. Then the next.

One story he shared, when we were little, he saw me once at the H.E. of our Elementary School with my square short hair, with a headband and thought I look cute! (although I move to a different school, I still go to his school because that's where mom works. In fact, my mom was his grade1 and grade2 teacher). As he recalled, from then on he always looks forward seeing me in the school ground. So when his sis-in-law ask him, two decades later, if she can introduce him to someone, her name is save. I reckon his answer was Yes :) That's where the random "kamusta ka na" message came from.

I always say this to people who ask on how we met, that our love story is so simple. There was no drama. Its like God-given. It was like a gift that the Lord wrapped long time ago and was given to us because it was the right time. I think when we met we are in the perfect place and in the perfect time in our lives. Everyone approves. Everything felt right.

Soon After, December that same year. I find myself in the airport waiting for him to arrive. It was another nerve-wracking day for both of us. I know it was not only him that was coming but a future together. We are nervous but we are ready. When he arrived, we knew, another chapter of our lives have unfolded anew.

Our 1st ever picture together :)

Heart at First Sight!

01Jan2013, my two bestfriends and I decided to welcome the New Year in DFC to see the fireworks up close. The countdown begins with a hologram clock positioned above the water. This is in the waterfront ironically situated at the back side of DFC. When the clock hit 11:50 people started yelling. Everyone is hyped. Its almost time. 10 seconds until it reached down to 3, 2, 1 then boom! The dark luminous sky turned alive and colorful. We found the perfect spot. The fireworks were just right above us and almost suddenly the whole sky were covered with different colors and formations. It was so beautiful. Magical. Otherworldly. Ofcourse given the growing millennial in me I took pictures of it. A lot of it. When we got home and about to go to bed (yes still with the two. they are like my sisters and we were inseparable back then) I was scanning all the pictures but one shot captured my attention.

There's this one shot that accidentally formed a heart! Wow Ang galing. How rare can you capture an amazing thing such as this?! I mean wow! How extraordinary. Of course I post in on Instagram which was in public mode at the time.(still getting the hang of it)

For many years I stopped asking God for signs.. but for whatever reason, randomly I told God, if tomorrow morning when I wake up and there are 23likes on my post then it means something or someone special will come this year. I know! At 26 I never outgrew being sappy and mushy 🙈 and I choose 23 because.. well birthday.

So the morning came. The first thing I checked was my phone. Opened my IG and tadaaah!

Its 23! wait..what? really? Seriously? Of all numbers huh.. of all numbers.. well-played..Well-played.

Two months later, March2013, I got a random message from someone.. "Hi save kamusta ka na?" - Carlo

The day I found out I'm Preggo!

When we got married, both my husband and I decided not to bear a child just yet. Maybe after a year or two, when we are more settled with things. Lets enjoy first the Co. of each other, travel as a couple, find better jobs so we will be financially, emotionally and mentally ready. What I realized is nothing can ever prepare for the coming of a child.

Jan 07 2016, in the middle of our Philippine vacation, I was to attend a friend's bridal shower. She's also on vacation only for her wedding so I in no way can not possibly miss it. We were scheduled for a mountain adventure to Mt. Pinatubo that day where a Spa Resort situated somewhere up in the mountain is waiting to spoil us. It would be my first time to experience Mt. Pinatubo, I heard we will be doing a mud spa which I think is so cool! The other bridesmaids are my best friends too and they too came from other sides of the world.. Paris, Singapore, the bride herself is from US so it would be like a HS reunion for us. We have not seen each other for like 5-8yrs. So I was really excited. We all were. But for some reason, the very morning of that day, I had an "urge". Suddenly I wanted to take a pregnancy test. I counted if  I missed my period and as tense as I already was, I did missed and was actually delayed for like 4days already. I ask my husband to buy a pregnancy test right away. I don't think I'm pregnant (more like my mind wanted to think I'm not pregnant) but I wanted to make sure mainly because I'm about to go on a mountain trip that day and I don't ever want to risk! Talk about woman's instinct huh.

Took the test and wallah... Two stripes! I saw it unfold right in front of my eyes! From having the 1st stripe going to the 2nd blurry one until it became both very visibly. OMG! I'm pregnant! Shocked. Surprised. Tensed. I showed it to my husband who is waiting just outside the toilet. Carlo buntis ako. oh and the look on his face! He literally said "Yessssss!!" Cause this was the moment he's been waiting for. He was so happy!

I made a text message to my friend that I had an emergency. I cannot go anymore. I'm sorry. Have fun girls. I'm gonna miss you guys. Honestly, I was a bit upset for not being able to go with them but as upset as I may be, there is no way in my mind and in my heart I will risk my baby (at this moment the thought of having a baby was surreal) to any threat of miscarrying.

I was just blown-away by the fact that of all the days, she made me known of her existence the day I'm about to head up of what could be a rough thing to do for a pregnant woman. That "urge" is my little one telling me "Mommy.. I'm here. I'm holding on." Its like she really wanted to live and just the thought of that melted the whole of my being.

Thank you for a Goodbye

Infatuation or love? I know! how elementary (and corny) those terms were right? but really how can you differentiate the two.

Years ago, I was reunited with a friend of mine. Despite the distance and the years he remain one of the constants in my life. I have gone into college, work overseas, a decade and half have past and he was still there. Will pay me a visit to our house whenever I'm home. Will give an overseas call and chat for over an hour just to catch up. We had quite some fun adventures together like going to places and its always been a blast. He made sure his presence is felt whenever time and place permit. And I appreciate it. I wouldn't blame myself for being a bit hopeful though, that maybe one day, maybe, all this will lead into something. Because growing up I have the biggest crush on him. So big that I think he was my first love. Or so I thought.

The chances of friends seeing each other abroad and knowing distance isn't a hindrance anymore got me excited. So much to look forward to. So we met. In a span of two months there are good and horrible things that had happened and things that made me realize we are not meant for each other. It was not at all I thought I expected it to be, simply saying he is not the one for me. So I bid goodbye. and this time it was for good. But in the inside I was left wondering why would fate bring us together and make us fall apart too? I waited for him, for this moment, for this chance but why we fell apart? I just didn't get it. It didn't make sense to me.

After a month of nursing my heart,  I met Carlo, my husband. and it is when everything finally made sense to me.

I am a strong believer of fate and destiny. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and oftentimes, it is for a better reason. I realized that even if it shaken me up abit things had to happen because only then I was able to bid goodbye to this person without having any ounce of 'what ifs' and 'could haves'. It gave me a sense of closure I never thought I needed and timing couldn't be more perfect.

When I met my husband my heart is whole and ready. And the rest as they say is history.

has it been four years? wow!

Amused.. Amazed and very much, I guess, thankful is the right words I can best describe the last four years of my life.

I almost have forgotten that I have a blog and that oftentimes, I really want to put down on words my "thought of the moment" but that I do not have outlet except for the social media accounts then hello my blog. I'm quite happy to re-visit you again.

Wow! Just wow! After that last post of mine, boy how much have changed. Literally the following month was life-changing for me. New chapter and probably the moment I have always been waiting for finally came into existence. Yes, I'm now married to my soulmate and we have been blessed with a beautiful daughter whom we adore so much! I guess I can finally say that "Life is Good. I'm leaving a dream"

But before I continue, let me go back to the meaningful beginning of the Year 2013. Because a part of my life got a closure. "To pick your self up one must falter."Go to my next post.

Steve Jobs..Thank you

call me naive but i first learned about Steve Jobs only last aug when the news of him stepping down from being apple's CEO came on fire and thats about it. 3days ago and the news break out that he has passed. news everywhere is all about him.. the blogs, net, news locally and globally. i came to know he is the man behind everything people are enjoing nowadays.. ipod, iphone, ipad, itunes.. trying to know him abit i stumble on a clip of him in Stanford University giving one if not the most memorable, heart-felt, inspiring speech i have ever heard. Interestingly, his life story is somewhat like a novel. I came to know that his biological father is Syrian. He was born out of wedlock so biological mother decided to put him for adoption, first couple refused him so the 2nd couple became his adoptive parents, met his biological sister only after 30yrs. His start is not a far cry from Facebook's founder M. Zukerberg being a college drop-out who decided to put fate in the palm of his hand creating on something where tuition fee&diploma is not a must but only his passion, a greatmind & self ideas and the next thing we know.. we have his creation right in front of our bare faces. he is a true inspiration, a genius, the graham bell of this generation. we all are lucky enough we live in his time as we are the first to enjoy the art he introduce to the world. i wouldn't know what we would be doing in this moment without his innovative creations. the world became smaller because of him..thank you sir Steve Jobs.. you have done something wonderful. mission accomplished.

Some memorable / inspiring quotes of him to live by:

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”


“you have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect in the future will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference”

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people."

“The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.”


“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”


"I’ve always felt that death is the greatest invention of life. I’m sure that life evolved without death at first and found that without death, life didn’t work very well because it didn’t make room for the young. It didn’t know how the world was fifty years ago. It didn’t know how the world was twenty years ago. It saw it as it is today, without any preconceptions, and dreamed how it could be based on that. We’re not satisfied based on the accomplishment of the last thirty years. We’re dissatisfied because the current state didn’t live up to their ideals. Without death there would be very little progress."

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away."

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

vampire diaries

Its vampires everywhere right? Twilight is everywhere! There is also the more adult True Blood and the teeny bopper The Vampire Diaries.. well i got to watch the latter and I didnt expect it to be that good. It was well thought of to say the least.
I thought it was similar to the movie twilight.. a human falling in love with a mysterious guy who happens to be a vampire with some sort of cheesy scenes well I was wrong perhaps. When it progresses to the half of the season, it became interestingly good. The story is great. It is a story of Stefan & Damon Salvatore two vampire brothers who happen to be inlove with the same girl. I love the idea of the brothers as main caracters. And the girl is a doppelganger from their past love (18THcentury) so its like history repeating itself. I love it when the story unfolds the back-then history. The flashbacks scenes are beautiful and interesting. The cinematography becomes epic. It is all beautiful. The bad ass brother 'damon' is such an eye candy.

I have read that their producer is that of Dawsons creek's. Back in the day.. Pacey & Joey ended up together so i was kinda hoping that Elena will end up with Damon after all its all history repeating itself.
Well i will leave this post with some picture perfect stills from the series. Cant wait for season III. I'm team Damon all the way.

Farewell to the Liberian Girl

An icon and a legend, touted as Hollywood's Queen and MJ's very best friend has passed on 23rd March 2011 which happens to be the date of my birth.. it feels special.. wow!

A two-time Oscar Best Actress & the original Cleopatra, she is beyond beauty. She is a Philanthropist and above all, a loving loyal best friend to Michael Jackson. She is MJ's soulmate and finally they are together. May she rest in peace.

back to blogging..welcome Yr 2011

whew...Xmas have passed, new yr is welcomed and my vacation is over. It was the best vacation i have ever had. Now back to work..hell busy with the customers, contracts and back to being alone and lonely in this dessert island of Dubai. I'm planning to shutdown my facebook anytime soon so this blog would be busy by then. Sometimes it feels better to be invisible esp. if you feel wrecked inside.

PI vacation i never really went literally going out of town roaming around Philippines..no, but I went out with bunch of great people, visited familiar places and met old buddies. It is cheesy and 'clichey' but family & friends are the true riches of my life.

Our home, este house..i feel occupied even without doing anything but just wandering around my house..home is where your heart really is.



below is kuya anjel & dade..

my dearest mom have done a great job beautifying our simple abode

i just learned that when you want a mother to smile, compliment her house

our precious altar w/ dade modeling it hehe..

cousins..i grew up having all these cousin's around..i will always be the baby of the family..i love them ow so dearly..the fun&laugher& even drama we share everyday is a true happiness and im truly grateful for it.

shey&ishen..they are both my pamangkin shey calls me 'mommy save'..OMG she is only 5 but is so bibbo..she's my alarm clock every morning

the night i landed and was welcomed by my two cute nieces..

  ishen is my inaanak, this is the first time i saw her..she is so dear to me cus her mom happens to be my closest dearest cousin ate malen..i love them so much.

 

girlfriends..well im really one lucky lady having this girls around.. Opal, Jong, Ann, Rose and Tracey. We really have a great bond and sisterly love. no walls, no bounderies. sisters by heart. we are the best of friends since high school so its like 10yrs already and will be forever counting. Im overly happy as i have a solid friendship with all of them. They all have the a beautiful heart. They're not the type of girls who are annoying. They all are lovely. I am proud of what they have all achieve and extremely proud and grateful for simply having them as my best friends. It feels like home when I am with them. I love them so much!

so love the backdrop..

w/ bro.harold,our guidance counselor in HS he happens to be my cousin's better half

posing in front of our fave korean restau in subic

we greatly miss our two barkada, Rose en Trace, they are is KSA and in US :(

yellow cab is a delight!! esp their pistacios flavored ice cream

college BFFs..im indeed lucky cus during my college yrs, I found good companies which till this day never fails to remember. Ramon & Mae, plus Niño and Randel too. Though i fail to meet Niño, the 4 of us got to bond. mae&mon is a couple since 2ndyr of college. Way to go.. I'll be an abay when they marry..(assuming hehe)

w/ bess mae, one of my loyal..sweet & pretty friend..she never fails to remember

we are in randel's backyard in ilwas subic..with their blossoming mango tree

outside dampa in cubao..

kababata..some friendship never fades just like my what i have w/ friend jr and she has her own jr too.

luacan elem teachers..mame's bffs..mom is by far the oldest teacher in their school. .yaiks hehe..i like hanging out w/ mom's co-teachers cus they are kalog and puro jokes..kaso i got tired of saying 'no mam la pa po bf' theyre'll giving me ultimatum na.

 Weddings..two of my relatives wed, one in intramuros and one in subic. they're both have a nice feel-good reception

my cousin's wed in San Agustin Church, Intramuros

the wackiest wedding entrace i've ever seen..how cute!

below is in subic, i fell in love w/ the beach..so beautiful! probably when i get wed (..??) it would be by the sea..by the way the name of this resort is 'by the sea'

noche buena..welcoming christmas w/ a beautiful prayer from dad..

  xmas..is really for kids and for the kid-minded too hehe

my cute nephew..piolo

sweet little princesses

the reyes's xmas party will not be complete w/o the paagaw ng P20..total fun!

as a yearly tradition, all family plus all those working abroad have to contribute P1000/- for the prizes&raffle draw

got a gift from tita ima!..they're from aussie and went home for xmas..

new yr 2011..tito dan & tita ima bought dad this firecrakers straight from bulacan



first visitor for d new yr is my cousin, rambo..he is a baller and plays for Maynilad

one of the high lights of our new yr is the paagaw ng coins..everyone went crazy!

clubbing..one description of dubai workers is having a quote 'i-do-not-have-a-nightlife'..sure there are bars around but nothing beats the company of the barkada.

this is in pier one in subic w/ mah best enemy opal

two margaritas for jong&opal

club bosa in angeles city

beach&resorts..

my girls and i went to whiterock in subic..P500/- each and a cove is worth P2000/- kinda pricy but worth it

part of the freebies is 30mins kayaking..

this pool have waves..its fun

alfredos resort, san fernando city..we stayed overnight here courtesy of tito dan&tita nels..they booked our whole suite for like P8000/- for that night only..whew!

this is in subic castellijos boundery, a private pool owned by my friend's aunt. i wont suggest swimming in the middle of the night during cold months..sure colds&flu the next day..but tnx angela for letting us enjoy ur aunt's little paradise

fiestas..

this is my friend ramon carrying shey, we went to santo niño fiesta

balsik's fiest w/ my HS classmates, ezekiel section

nathan christopher..i have tons of pamankin from cousins but this time, its my very own nephew,..he is one cute little boy!! kuya anjel en tess must be so proud..im proud too! i love you nathan!

this is shot by my kuya..one of my fave pic..

streetfood..ow so sarap..well aside from the yummy fishballs&kikiam, its the experience im after..things u used to do brings back some good old memory.

St.John..this church is the core of our town Dinalupihan, and is just right in from of my HS campus. im glad i attended one simbang gabi here. i missed the place!

simbang gabi w/ my bestfriend jong

a giant xmas tree outside St.John Church..merry xmas!!

Juliennes..my friend runs a catering business..they offer the best cake in town!

SCTEX..the not-so-new roadway going to either Subic/Clark/Tarlac..the view is just breathtaking..the forest..the farm..amazing! coming from a dessert land no doubt i miss the natural greeneries around. you can see Mt. Malasimbo below, Dinalupihan's pride.

public transpo..for 5 yrs of my college life i have been riding this bus well not specifically bataan transit but been riding this route..its good to have it experienced again.

remember mt.pinatubo's eruption back in 1991? this used to be solid lahar soil, now its pampanga's one breath-taking view just along the road..

SM..even if the malls here in dubai are incredibly well-built and have wide variety of things to offer..for me..SM still..yeah its hell crowded, typical but in this crowded area you would find the warmest and nicest people.

Mame&Dade..finally..the moment i have been waiting for..no words can best describe the days spent with mame&dade..they just mean the world to me. love you both!!!