welcome 2011

The year is coming to a close and still there are things I should do before 2010 ends:

- get a haircut.  I'd like to have my short pixie bob again
- manicure, pedicure and foot spa.  Since I've been so busy these days, I miss going to the manicurista so much.
-  get myself a 2011 planner.  Thanks to May who's giving me Starbucks booklets with stickers.  I only need to get a few peppermint mochas to have the planner.  Can't wait.
 - buy a 2011 Companion journal.  This has helped me in my prayertime so much that I'd like to continue it this 2010.
-  desk and mobile ped cleaning.  I started cleaning my desk already since I'm moving to a new cube this week.
-  de-clutter.  I need to do a great closet cleanup.
- buy a new pair of sturdy flats.  But this can wait until next year.
- do a cosmetics inventory.  I must to throw away those expired make-up in my kikay kit
- draft my 2011 business and career plan.  This should be on top of my list.  I want 2011 to be the year for my business so I'd better carefully map out my plan.  Also, with the new and tougher assignment, I should prep myself before coming to work on January.

Now that I have my checklist, I think I can finish everything before the year ends. 

Timecheck:  It's only 3 days to go before 2011.  Good luck to me! :P

Christmas is in the air -- random musings again

Call me the Grinch but really I loathe the Christmas rush. I get so stressed out walking around the mall trying to find the perfect gifts that are within my measly budget. Most of my friends know I’m a certified mall rat but in seasons like Christmas, the mall is the last place on earth I want to be. As early as November, I have my gift list but I always end up cramming. Last year, I promised myself I will not go on a last minute Christmas shopping. And obviously, I broke that promise this year. *sigh*

On a brighter side, I got my loved-ones really cute yet inexpensive gifts. I’m so proud of myself that I got everything on my list in only three days (or three trips to the mall/bazaar). I already started distributing gifts to my office friends, family, relatives and some godchildren.  But I have yet to get a dear friend a gift. Hmm… haven’t talked to him for a long time. Maybe the best gift I can give him, aside from the tangibles, is my sincere forgiveness and acceptance.

Since the start of December, I’ve been playing Christmas songs in the office to uplift our mood. In my playlist are the classics from the Carpenters and Mariah Carey. I recently downloaded Backstreet Boys’ Christmas Time and Wham’s Last Christmas, my cubemate Razie’s favourites. And just last week, I loaded my iPod with Trans Siberian Orchestra Christmas albums The Christmas Attic, Beethoven’s Last Night and Christmas Eve and Other Stories. These are not your usual mainstream Christmas music, as the names imply. Among the songs, I love the Christmas Canon Rock based on Pachelbel’s Canon played back-to-back with rock version of O Holy Night. Someday, I’d love to be a part of a great orchestra playing rocking music like Trans Siberian’s.

In violin class, we started playing Christmas tunes since the opening of the semester. This year, we played Jolly Old Nicholas and Good King Wenceslas. And because we’re a cluster of three students, each of us got to play melody (violin A in A string), violin B (in D string) and violin C (in G string). Last year, we played Joy to the World and O Come All Ye Faithful in violin solo. In our Christmas party in Singles for Christ, I performed a rough violin solo of Silent Night. I’m so glad that my December is so filled with quality time with my darling Ivy.

Good thing about Christmas is reconnecting with friends. Recently, my long-time BFF Direk Beautiful PM’d me in Facebook his new mobile number. I’m so thrilled to finally be in touch with him. Last week, I had lunch with my old buddy Anabee at Buddy’s. She just came from a long vacation and so we did a lot of catching up with each other’s stories. Her sister just came from Holland and she gave me a Dutch couple ceramic keychain that is so cute I attached it to the clutch bag I always bring to lunch.
Wow, my December is really filled! I feel so blessed that even with my busy schedule, I still have time to pause and connect with the Lord, the real reason for this season. Merry Christmas everyone!

2011 with a bang!

I am claiming that 2011 is my year.

2010 wasn't that good for me.  And since life is like a wheel, I believe it's my turn to go up this time.  There are so much to hope for this coming year.  Let me enumerate some:

-- starting the book2 of our violin lesson
-- ICON 2011 in CamSur (I haven't registered though.  But I think I can join this time)
-- Alta Summer Frolic:  Will it be North or South?  Ilocos, La Union, Pagudpud, Boracay, Palawan? Or why not all of them.
-- my 30th birthday. Believe it or not, I'm excited to leap into the next decade of my life.  Can't wait what being in the 30s has in store for me.
-- new work assignment, bigger responsibilities
-- more prospering relationships.
-- more Alta Fitness Program activities (jogging, badminton and we can also try swimming)
-- debt-free 2011 onwards (target date: April 2011)
-- 15th Friendship Anniversary
-- 11.11.11
-- more sales for Bits of Beads.  Or I can take this business a step higher.

and the list goes on.  I am really looking forward to 2011. While 2010 is still here, let me enjoy the remaining days with the people I care most.

Planning to get a Planner

Since 2010 is coming to a close, I am planning to get my own planner (redundant huh?).  It’s actually in my to-do list this weekend so while I haven’t bought a planner yet, I checked online the hottest planners in town.

The Starbucks planner:

Should I want this before the year ends, I’d better treat all my friends to a coffee at Starbucks.  This planner has been a fad for years.  And some people I know just collect and never use the planners at all.

This year, the famed planner comes in three cover designs:  metal, wood and velvet. If you don’t want to end up palpitating from caffeine overdose, you can buy online (sulit.com or ebay.ph) for P1,500.  Too much for a planner, huh?

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf 2011 Giving Back Journal

For me, CBTL is love.  It’s actually my favourite coffee shop in our T.Morato neighbourhood.    So when they finally launched this year’s journal/planner (last year’s only a blank page neat notebook), I was so thrilled.  The planner’s actually simple, just like the one’s you see in our local bookstores.  But I love the 101 Ways to Give Back page, a list of inspiring things to do for your family and friends.

Belle de Jour:

I’ve been using the BDJ planner for 2 years now and I’m very satisfied by it’s contents.  The several trackers, especially the expenses and the savings tracker are really helpful to me.  This year, they added Project Tracker, something that can really be helpful to me (after all, I’m a Project Specialist by profession).  So this remains on top of my list, plus the discount coupons worth around P10K that I can enjoy the whole of 2011.  Not bad for a planner priced at only P598.

But I find it very bulky and heavy that I end up leaving it on my desk.  I wish there’s a smaller version of this.

For more information: http://belledejourpowerplanner.com/

The “Relaks, Puso Lang Yan, Malayo sa Bituka” Planner 2011.

From the makers of 2010’s “I Was Supposed to Get that Coffeehouse Planner but I Got Fat Broke on the 10^th Frappe”, comes another witty planner that is set to be a talk of the town.  This year, the theme is Moving On and finding a new one (a partner) in life.  Since I’m in that kinda moving on stage too, I’m actually considering this one.  And besides, humour in this planner can come in handy too on those gloomy days.

Each planner costs only P350.

2010 planner of  Witty Will Save the World

For more information: http://www.facebook.com/wittywillsavetheworld

Powerbooks Pilipinas planner

photo courtesy: spot.ph

Before I can get a hold of this, I should first spend P2,500 at Powerbooks.  And since I’m on a tipid mode these days, this planner is out of my list.

Planner People Planner

photo courtesy: plannerpeople

These uber cute planners are for those who prefer it no-frills yet useful.  What I love about this planner aside from being reasonably priced at P200, they are lightweight and I can actually bring anywhere.

For more information:  http://plannerpeople.tumblr.com/ or http://planner.wedgienet.net/

Still can’t decide which planner to get.  So help me God.  J

happiest thought of 2010

Yesterday, a friend asked me what my happiest memory of 2010 is. And for me, it is a very hard question to answer.

This year, my Mama died and lost all my savings from her treatment. Because of that, I also incurred a lot of payables. I wasn’t able to join my friends in our annual summer outing. I wasn’t able to attend the Davao conference I’ve been planning to go to.

At work, I wasn’t considered for promotion. Instead, there spread some nasty rumors about me and a feud against a co-worker.

If I will focus on the heartbreaking memories and not think of the good I gained from those experiences, I can never move on. I will only encourage negative thoughts to fill me and I don’t want to welcome 2011 like that. And despite everything that happened this year, I still want to enumerate the blessings I received so I can come up with my happiest 2010 memory.

With the death of my mother, the bond between me and my sister strengthened. Now it is like, me and her against the world. It is said that through hardships you will know who your true friends are and with the experience, I realized that my real best friend in life is my sister. We stood by each other through thick and thin, and I can say that nothing can ever destabilize our sisterhood, our friendship.

I also learned a lot, from being independent and strong-willed to being compassionate to the people in need. I learned my lessons the hard way, nevertheless thankful that I gained so. I realized I should live each day as if it’s my last and never hesitate to show loved-ones that you care for them or it might be too late. Cliché but these are the most important things everyone should’ve realized long before.

Though I wasn’t doing really good at work this year, I recognized my priorities. With my free time, I can attend Singles for Christ activities for spiritual nourishment and still have time for my business. Last July, I got to attend the Metro Manila Conference in Silang, Cavite and felt so refreshed with the insights I got. Last August, I headed the Unli-Love Fully Loaded anniversary event of SFC-Claret. I was more elated to know that some of our Christian Life Program participants were actually inspired to join us after watching the concert.

I also continued my violin lessons and I am just so glad to have the time I need for practice. Last February, I had my recital and my super loyal fan Joel came to UP Diliman all the way from Las Piñas just to see it.

Work isn’t so much stressful and demanding these days, one the perks of staying in B2 position. Of course I still would want to be promoted given the chance, I miss the hectic workload I used to have. Anyway, this year I handled Q11’s Buhay Q Kumpleto station ID, Christmas campaign and a handful of corporate AVPs in a breeze. Not even my bosses noticed we’re doing a launch.

I still can’t point to a single memory but I can say that my 2010 has strengthened my grip to the Lord. Each experience has pushed closer to God. And with the trials I faced, I became more dependent on His providence, thus counting each time I wake up a blessing in itself. Every morning is a step closer to reaching my goals and a day away from my depressing past.

full of love

These vendo cups are so cute, I made up stories for them. :)


I'm single and full of love

   

I sooo love my partner

Extra love:  Third party

Loving Couples

lots of love

iShare ♥♥♥

Here’s the draft of my sharing in one of our Christian Life Program talks that made the listeners, participants and service team alike, laugh loud then cry hard.

**I edited some lines to make this appropriate for print.

Hello there! ♥

I am a producer by profession and artista by ambition.

I’ve been in this community for almost two years. When I was a participant like you, this talk, (repentance and faith) is very pivotal, kumbaga, life-changing, U-turn o likuan-U ng buhay ko. It was said that when you repent, there follows a change in your life, lifestyle and values and almost 2yrs ago, when I was seated there, this talk changed my rigid perspective.

My life is like an episode of MMK. In fact, one of the producers of MMK went up to me asking permission to use my story in their program. But the price wasn’t right that time (just kidding). I just thought that time, wala pang magandang ending. Do you believe in happy endings? Kasi ako, gusto ko pag na-feature yung buhay ko, aside from the actor to portray the key characters of my life, I wanted it to be like a fairy tale, may happy ending. But what I will share tonight is not my whole MMK story. I will start not from the beginning, as in since birth kasi kulang ang oras natin. I will start with my involvement in the community, the start of the happily ever after part of my life.

Try this exercise: think of the person who has hurt you the most. How has this person hurt you? What would you want to do with this person? Curse him, forget this person. Others nga would want that person they hate so much dead. Now think of the person who you love so much. Ano naman yung mga bagay na gusto mo gawin for this person? Diba you’d give everything to that person? Diba you’d do everything just to please that person? Now here’s the challenge: why can’t we do the same to the people we hate? Why are those people we hate so hard to love? And you know what, I had a weird realization after that reflection: the same person I hated so much is the same person I love. Sabi nga sa tweet ni @joedmango2010: The person who can hurt you most is the person whom you love the most. Totoo naman diba? Example, what if your boyfriend didn’t text you all day, o di sinasagot yung calls mo, o hindi ni-like yung status mo sa facebook diba magtatampo ka na o it could lead to umaatikabong away. E kung yung boss mo ang gumawa nun sayo: di ka tinext o di nag-return call. Magagalit ka ba? Hindi naman diba? Matutuwa ka pa nga kasi hindi ka nya pinapansin. Here’s more, what if iniwan ka nung boyfriend o girlfriend mo, as in super bad breakup. Diba you’d like to have that EX be exiled to as far as Timbuktu so you won’t see him anymore? Just the thought of that person annoys you. E bf/gf pa lang yun, what is it’s someone sobrang close sayo, someone na karugtog ng buhay mo? What if it is like in my case, it is your Mama?

Mama and I weren’t getting along well. Tuwing magkikita kami lagi kami nag-aaway kaya I’d rather not go home kahit weekends. After hearing this talk, napaisip ako. OMG! What kind of daughter had I been? Si Mama yung binigay ni Lord sa akin na dapat blessing ko, what have I done. Hindi ko man lang napahalagahan, hindi ko man lang minahal.

So that night, I prayed hard. Sabi ko, Lord, please give me a chance na bumawi. Pramis, magpapakabait na ako. Bigyan mo lang ako ng chance Lord.

That week, umuwi ako sa amin, I hugged my Mama and we had a great time that weekend. Nag-mall kami, heard Mass together. Super bonding and I’m sure sobrang masaya din si Mama.

Sumunod na week, mas madalas na ako umuwi sa amin sa Cavite to see her more often na rin. If magaan ang workload, I’d go home and bring her things na gusto nya as pasalubong. But the next weekend was different turned our lives around. Pag-uwi ko, I noticed she’s different: parang wala sa sarili nya and medyo weak sya. I asked her how she was, musta ang week nya, ang activities nya. And she can’t give me a straight answer. Sabi ko, “ano ba Mama, naka-drugs ka ba?” I even sniffed the air in the room to check kung may kakaibang substance sa bahay. Talagang pinag-isipan ko pa ng masama ang nanay ko. Until I asked her “Mama, sino ako? Anong pangalan ko?” She answered, “hindi ko alam e. di ko matandaan. Pero ang alam ko ANAK kita.” Those words made tears rolling down my cheeks. That was Mama’s first attack of stroke. Anong klaseng anak kaya ako sa pagkakatanda nya? Yung mabait at nagbagong buhay nang anak o yung masama pa rin, the one who answered back? When she can’t remember even my name, what memories of me had she retained?

Grabe talaga si Lord, ang bilis sumagot sa mga prayers. Imagine 2wks ago lang, I was asking for that chance para bumawi kay Mama. And I was indeed given that chance. With her stroke, she had an amnesia. I had to teach her  the basics: the alphabet, numbers and the days of the week, how to count, read and use the cellphone. I’d wake up as early as 5am to prepare her meals (may special diet sya) at sleep at 1am after her last injection of insulin. In God's ultimate wisdom, I was made experience how my Mama was to me when I was little. Gusto ko bumawi diba, so there was like a reversal of roles:  I’d change her diapers, prepare her food, give her a bath, carry her around in a wheelchair.

For a year, in and out si Mama sa hospital, sa ICU.  Hands on ako pagbabantay sa kanya, sa pag-administer ng gamot. Once, pinasok sya sa MRI room, only me and her and I was pumping her oxygen. Parang naka-depend sa akin yung buhay nya. What if I stopped pumping? I’d lose her. I’d even negotiate my work shifts sa ofc kasi I had to do night shift sa pagbabantay kay Mama nung lumabas na sya sa hospital. Sobrang sacrifice. That’s when I realized na sobrang mahal ko ang taong ito, I’d do everything for this person. Why did I waste almost 28 years of my life hating her?

Last March, she went back to our Creator. And I know, in that brief moment that we’re tested with struggles, I showed her that I love her so much. On her deathbed, I asked for her forgiveness and told her that I’ve forgiven her likewise. That was the most peaceful moment we had together. And I hope nakabawi na ako sa kanya for all the things she’d given me, above everything, my life.

And for that, may God be praised. ☺