I am happy to say that I took time to celebrate the holiday season. For the first time, I gave gifts to my colleagues. I also received gifts from them. Most of them were foods like chocolate, cookies and brownies. I also received handkerchieves, face towel, foot spray, boxer short, calendar and a long pillow which I wrote in my wish list. It was not exactly the one I had in mind but it was great.
On the 24th, I had lunch with my friends from the office at Cafe Lupe in Tagaytay. We also opened our gifts at the restaurant. It was nice seeing one another open gifts. We were laughing and smiling while unwrapping it. We all like our gifts. They gave me sandals, tanning lotion, lip balm, eau de toilet, coffee mug and vinyl closet. I like all of them!
In the evening, I visited my cousins. They are all grown up and all of them were calling me "kuya" because I am the eldest. Thank God they did not ask for gifts from me but I gave them buko pie and buko tart which i bought at Rowena's in Tagaytay. It was very delicious. My Titas and Lola was also there. My aunt invited me to visit them more often. I think i will do that. I also watched my younger cousins open their gifts with enthusiasm and excitement at exactly 12 midnight.
The next day, 25th, I reported to work from 6 am to 3 pm and headed home afterwards to catch some sleep and woke up at 7 pm and visited my relatives in Angono. I gave them also buko pie, buko tart and chocolate candies. These cousins of mine are much younger than the ones i visited yesterday. they are kids. my aunt gave me a gift which was a table top candle holder. it was beautiful.
I enjoyed carrying Miggy, my one year and a few months old cousin. While I was carrying my little cousin her Mom was telling him to hug me and he would do it. He embraces me every time her Mom tells him to. It was touching.
Just like my Christmas over the past years, this is another memorable one because it taught me to take time to celebrate Christmas in whatever meaningful way.
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Santa Claus
Aside from the exchange gifts my friends and I organized, there was another one that I particpated which was organized by my teammates. We have to give a gift to the person we pick based on the wish list we made. the gift must cost 300.00 pesos. the funny part is that we have to use code names to hide our identity. i named myself 'king kong" and wished for a very soft blue long pillow. and the one i picked goes by the name of "makoy" and wants pirated dvd
copy of "dubai", "a lot like love" and "hitch" or a u-turn cd. thank god! i was not given a hard time to look for it. i wonder how my long pillow will look like. i hope it will be as big as king kong.
last night i started wrapping my christmas gifts. i made sure that the present was beautifully wrapped. i placed the gift which was covered with a japanese paper on a box and wrapped it with a nice christmas wrapper. i also tied a ribbon in it and pasted a greeting card and wrote:
wish you all the best this holiday season
and for the years to come!!!
merry christmas and
happy new year!!!
it is my first time to give extra effort in buying and wrapping gifts. what i really wanted to give is something that will touch the person. i want to see them smile upon opening their presents. and tomorrow, i am ready to play santa claus! without the red suit ofcourse! ho-ho-ho-ho!!!!
copy of "dubai", "a lot like love" and "hitch" or a u-turn cd. thank god! i was not given a hard time to look for it. i wonder how my long pillow will look like. i hope it will be as big as king kong.
last night i started wrapping my christmas gifts. i made sure that the present was beautifully wrapped. i placed the gift which was covered with a japanese paper on a box and wrapped it with a nice christmas wrapper. i also tied a ribbon in it and pasted a greeting card and wrote:
wish you all the best this holiday season
and for the years to come!!!
merry christmas and
happy new year!!!
it is my first time to give extra effort in buying and wrapping gifts. what i really wanted to give is something that will touch the person. i want to see them smile upon opening their presents. and tomorrow, i am ready to play santa claus! without the red suit ofcourse! ho-ho-ho-ho!!!!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
In Loving Memory of Dad
I know you are there a breath away is not far to where you are
-from Josh Groban’s To Where You Are
For the first time in my life, I will celebrate Christmas this year without my dad. The man who knew me longer than any other passed away on August 14. My dad was 70.
It has been said that the loss of a parent is one of life’s most traumatic events. I now know the devastating truth of that statement. I have been told that, in time, the hurt will fade, only to be replaced by positive memories that soothe the soul. Already, I can feel that happening.
Maybe it’s because my father and I had a simple and loving relationship. He was a remarkably good man. He was a man of few words but I knew he was very smart and thought about many things he didn’t express.His greatest accomplishment was family. And as his eldest child, I have seen how he supported us. My father poured vast amounts of love and energy into me during my most formative years. That is why I measure his life in the warm embraces he gave me. Because what I remember most about my father are those big hugs he always gave me every time I am home. From my earliest days, we have spent so much time together. I remember those times I went home to visit, we would end up spending our time together in the living room watching movies. We did not talk much, although there were many things I was aching to speak with him about, he is never been one to paw over the past.
And I remember these things as if we had done them all last weekend — because we did them again and again and again, his outstretched hand leading me everywhere. I remember my times with my father as vividly as a great piece of music where you know every word, every note, and every solo taken by every member of the band. You know it until it becomes part of you, until it becomes you.
As my father’s health condition took a turn for the worse, I kept in touch with my dad as often as I could. The last time we were together was during my vacation leave, which was spent on the last week of June. I was glad to see him at home so that my mom, brother and me could share precious time with the man who had been the most important person in our life. Dad however never felt sorry for himself or let life get him down. His Catholic faith was the sustaining force of his entire life.
The loss of my father has been painful, yet also strangely reaffirming because it has made me ever more aware of the rewards of our wonderful relationship. Its one of those feelings where you know you did a lot and you cared, but you feel you could have done more in retrospect. He lived a long and full life. It wasn’t tragic, just so sad for all of us who had to let go. I have lost the physical person, but the feeling — the essential part of him — endured. Perhaps the most consoling words came from a prayer book which we recited during the wake:
“Lord, help us to see death for what it really is, the end of poverty and beginning of riches; the end of frustration and the beginning of fulfillment; the end of fear and the beginning of tranquility; the end of pain and the beginning of joy; the end of weakness and the beginning of strength.”
Upon learning from my mom thru text that my dad was having hard time breathing, I immediately called home. I was already getting weak while dialing our home phone number. It was mom who picked up the phone and when she passed it on to Dad I asked him “How are you?” and said that I’ll see him by last week of August. He did not say any conscious words to me but I heard him drew two deep breath and it was enough for me that somewhere in his heart he felt my love for him and I knew he cared for me.
I heard his breath just hours before his death, a beautiful way of celebrating life’s final moment.I had mislaid my dad in the tangles of my grief, but he had never really left me. I still held his words in my head, his selfless love in my heart. He will live on inside me as long as I draw breath.
-from Josh Groban’s To Where You Are
For the first time in my life, I will celebrate Christmas this year without my dad. The man who knew me longer than any other passed away on August 14. My dad was 70.
It has been said that the loss of a parent is one of life’s most traumatic events. I now know the devastating truth of that statement. I have been told that, in time, the hurt will fade, only to be replaced by positive memories that soothe the soul. Already, I can feel that happening.
Maybe it’s because my father and I had a simple and loving relationship. He was a remarkably good man. He was a man of few words but I knew he was very smart and thought about many things he didn’t express.His greatest accomplishment was family. And as his eldest child, I have seen how he supported us. My father poured vast amounts of love and energy into me during my most formative years. That is why I measure his life in the warm embraces he gave me. Because what I remember most about my father are those big hugs he always gave me every time I am home. From my earliest days, we have spent so much time together. I remember those times I went home to visit, we would end up spending our time together in the living room watching movies. We did not talk much, although there were many things I was aching to speak with him about, he is never been one to paw over the past.
And I remember these things as if we had done them all last weekend — because we did them again and again and again, his outstretched hand leading me everywhere. I remember my times with my father as vividly as a great piece of music where you know every word, every note, and every solo taken by every member of the band. You know it until it becomes part of you, until it becomes you.
As my father’s health condition took a turn for the worse, I kept in touch with my dad as often as I could. The last time we were together was during my vacation leave, which was spent on the last week of June. I was glad to see him at home so that my mom, brother and me could share precious time with the man who had been the most important person in our life. Dad however never felt sorry for himself or let life get him down. His Catholic faith was the sustaining force of his entire life.
The loss of my father has been painful, yet also strangely reaffirming because it has made me ever more aware of the rewards of our wonderful relationship. Its one of those feelings where you know you did a lot and you cared, but you feel you could have done more in retrospect. He lived a long and full life. It wasn’t tragic, just so sad for all of us who had to let go. I have lost the physical person, but the feeling — the essential part of him — endured. Perhaps the most consoling words came from a prayer book which we recited during the wake:
“Lord, help us to see death for what it really is, the end of poverty and beginning of riches; the end of frustration and the beginning of fulfillment; the end of fear and the beginning of tranquility; the end of pain and the beginning of joy; the end of weakness and the beginning of strength.”
Upon learning from my mom thru text that my dad was having hard time breathing, I immediately called home. I was already getting weak while dialing our home phone number. It was mom who picked up the phone and when she passed it on to Dad I asked him “How are you?” and said that I’ll see him by last week of August. He did not say any conscious words to me but I heard him drew two deep breath and it was enough for me that somewhere in his heart he felt my love for him and I knew he cared for me.
I heard his breath just hours before his death, a beautiful way of celebrating life’s final moment.I had mislaid my dad in the tangles of my grief, but he had never really left me. I still held his words in my head, his selfless love in my heart. He will live on inside me as long as I draw breath.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Giftful
Its noon and I can not wait to get off from work. Five more hours and i am out of here and ready to finish my christmas shopping!
i started looking for gifts since december began. i am actually searching for two kinds of presents for my exchange gift among my friends from the office. the first one is "something that will make him/her smile" or "something that he/she need/wants" or something that you have in common" and the other one is "something that represents your special moment with him/her". i have to spend 600.00 for the two gifts. the twist is we should have a gift for each one. there is three of them and i should give each of them two kinds of gifts and that makes 6 gifts!!! whew!!!
i already went to a lot of malls and saw tons of stuff already but havent bought them yet because i really want to give the right present. for the first category i am still thinking on buying a turtle shaped lighter, a cd wallet stuff toy, a lip-shaped ashtray or a sexy underwear. and i still have no idea what to give for the second category.
the only gift that i bought was a christmas card for my mom and brother. i am quite good at choosing greeting cards. the one that i bought was really nice. the message even touched me. i will send it to them via mail. i hope they like it. and i hope i'll be receiving gifts especially if its from http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/ref=wlem-si-html_viewall/102-9651309-0500169?id=1J5I8ZDP7PMDI.
i started looking for gifts since december began. i am actually searching for two kinds of presents for my exchange gift among my friends from the office. the first one is "something that will make him/her smile" or "something that he/she need/wants" or something that you have in common" and the other one is "something that represents your special moment with him/her". i have to spend 600.00 for the two gifts. the twist is we should have a gift for each one. there is three of them and i should give each of them two kinds of gifts and that makes 6 gifts!!! whew!!!
i already went to a lot of malls and saw tons of stuff already but havent bought them yet because i really want to give the right present. for the first category i am still thinking on buying a turtle shaped lighter, a cd wallet stuff toy, a lip-shaped ashtray or a sexy underwear. and i still have no idea what to give for the second category.
the only gift that i bought was a christmas card for my mom and brother. i am quite good at choosing greeting cards. the one that i bought was really nice. the message even touched me. i will send it to them via mail. i hope they like it. and i hope i'll be receiving gifts especially if its from http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html/ref=wlem-si-html_viewall/102-9651309-0500169?id=1J5I8ZDP7PMDI.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Long Time No See
I was glad that my high school friend was in Manila Tuesday of last week. It has been quite a while we have not hang out in the Manila. The last time we went out was Summer 2003. We had dinner and coffee together with another high school friend of ours. We talked endlessly about a lot of things. It seemed that we missed one another so much especially our high school life. We even planned to go Christmas shopping and swimming the next day but our friend have to go back to the province.
I always enjoy hanging out with people i have never seen for a long time. Its really nice to see them again even if we just ran into each other and exchange greetings or just a smile. How i wish i can see all of them again and catch up with old times.
I always enjoy hanging out with people i have never seen for a long time. Its really nice to see them again even if we just ran into each other and exchange greetings or just a smile. How i wish i can see all of them again and catch up with old times.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Hello Abucay!
My first week of December had been an eventful one. Rose took us to her hometown in Abucay, Bataan for the weekend. We travelled 4-5 hours without traffic. The fun part of our trip was a stop over in a restaurant in Pampanga. We ordered the ever famous Sisig. The one that we ate was not served in a sizzling plate and there was not much onions in it. It was just pure sisig. Its very delicious.
We went to Raven Resort. It was a nice place with plenty of swimming pools. What attracted me the most are the log cabins. Its very different from the usual resort that I have been to especially the ones in Laguna.
The owner's house is an attraction itself. It was a very big log mansion. Too bad, I was not able to get inside their home. There were even monkeys and birds in the place. It really made feel like I was in a ranch. The only thing missing that will complete the western ambiance are horses and cowboys.
We also went to the town proper of Abucay. The provincial setting was complete which reminded me of my home in Albay. There was the church, the plaza or the park where we bought barbecue, the market and the ancestral home of Rose. Most of the furniture showed signs of antiquity especially the cabinet in their old room. It gave us a creepy feeling when we saw it. It can even be use as a set prop for a horror movie.
We went to Raven Resort. It was a nice place with plenty of swimming pools. What attracted me the most are the log cabins. Its very different from the usual resort that I have been to especially the ones in Laguna.
The owner's house is an attraction itself. It was a very big log mansion. Too bad, I was not able to get inside their home. There were even monkeys and birds in the place. It really made feel like I was in a ranch. The only thing missing that will complete the western ambiance are horses and cowboys.
We also went to the town proper of Abucay. The provincial setting was complete which reminded me of my home in Albay. There was the church, the plaza or the park where we bought barbecue, the market and the ancestral home of Rose. Most of the furniture showed signs of antiquity especially the cabinet in their old room. It gave us a creepy feeling when we saw it. It can even be use as a set prop for a horror movie.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Day off
One of the things I hate to do is going to work on a weekend. Today, I just did.
I woke up at 5 a.m. and went to work at 7 a.m. and I hated it! I do not even like my work schedule for this month! And would you believe the day off given to me is Sunday and Tuesday? I would have appreciated it if my day off was Sunday and Monday or any consecutive day. Oh well, at least I still get to enjoy Saturday nights and Sunday mornings.
And tonight, I will be going on an out-of-town trip with friends.
I woke up at 5 a.m. and went to work at 7 a.m. and I hated it! I do not even like my work schedule for this month! And would you believe the day off given to me is Sunday and Tuesday? I would have appreciated it if my day off was Sunday and Monday or any consecutive day. Oh well, at least I still get to enjoy Saturday nights and Sunday mornings.
And tonight, I will be going on an out-of-town trip with friends.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Josephism Begins
I attempted many times to write a journal but I always failed to keep one. I keep on tearing pages and ended up with nothing. Until a friend from the office introduced me to blogging. I began reading some entries and I liked it.
I finally decided to put everything in writing - my thoughts, my fears, my dreams, my all. From now on, I will write what I see and what I feel. The way I see it, the way I feel it. I will write what I believe in. I will write things I am proud of.
And I will not stop writing even if I only write for myself. Even if I will never become a "real" writer. Even if I am not good at it.
Let the Josephism begins...
I finally decided to put everything in writing - my thoughts, my fears, my dreams, my all. From now on, I will write what I see and what I feel. The way I see it, the way I feel it. I will write what I believe in. I will write things I am proud of.
And I will not stop writing even if I only write for myself. Even if I will never become a "real" writer. Even if I am not good at it.
Let the Josephism begins...
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