A Short Notice

I noticed that my latest post was still last Friday, about Dove's resignation. That means I've been silent for a week now. I've been busy this week and a lot of things came up that's why I haven't posted anything yet.

Monday: Feeling lonely. It's only me and Daddy Freddie at work.

Tuesday: I was at work only from 6:00am to 7:45am. Today is Ka Naguit's burial. Hurried there to get a glimpse of him for the last time. Burial is at 10:00am. I got home at around 12 noon after having lunch at McDo with Felman. Headache..headache..headache..ouch!

Wednesday: 4:45am - 6:00am - Choir practice; had breakfast at Felman's home then headed to work afterwards. I was sent home at around 10:30am because of my ulcer. tsk tsk tsk...not feeling well. :(

Thursday: Still not feeling well but managed to get to work. The day passed by without me knowing what really happened. hehehe! my bad!

Friday: Today, here I am, composing this post and then going back to work mode - I have to catch up with my transaction length. I have a big big headache again. I hope I'll enjoy watching Transformers later after work with Felman.

badly need some rest..... my stomach still aches, too...

but the week isn't over yet. Tomorrow, I still have to attend Zhey's wedding at 3:30pm.

Wish me luck that I can still go back to work on Monday. hahaha!

Enjoy the rest of the week!

When Dove Spreads His Wings To Fly

As if Ka Naguit's passing and Bryan's resignation aren't enough, another officemate, Dove, has filed his resignation today. Just like Bryan, Dove, or Merwin "Felix" Tadeo, is leaving for Qatar, probably on Friday, if all things go well. He's one of us, 6:00 a.m. folks, (along with Daddy Freddie, Vinee, Claire, and me). In being teammates for more than 1 year now, we've been very close to each other that sometimes, it's as if we don't have any other teammates anymore from the 9:00 shift. I guess this is what happens when you're together 10 hours a day, 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Dove is a good cook. No, he's a great cook, actually! He, with no complaint, cooks our food almost every teambuilding (once a month). From his sumptuous steak to his mashed potato, salad (superb! two thumbs up), squid, sisig, and sawsawan, you'll really be amazed by his skill. But wait, there's more! He's also the "techiest" guy in our department. He is the savior of all the consultants when they're stuck with their e-mails and have no knowledge of how to address the issues of our members at hand. And he graciously helps us all. :)

As told by his friends, Dove is a changed man. Well, at least since he got married. He got married recently and is now a proud dad to Lucien, his bouncing baby boy. Now, he finds a different meaning with his life. His family, now his topmost priority, I know is the very same reason why he decided to leave. I salute him for his courage in leaving them behind - for a while - so they can reap the benefits in no time. Aaahhh...what can one man not do for the welfare of his family?

Dove, may you have a safe journey ahead. When sadness engulfs you while you're there, just think of the smile you will bring to your child with your sacrifice. We'll surely miss you as we'll be losing a good friend and wala nang mamumusit kay Daddy Freddie..hehehe... but nonetheless, we're happy and proud of you!

I know Claire also made a tribute to you, and here's the link for it.

SOME PICTURES OF TWO OF OUR FRIENDS WHO ARE BOTH GOING TO QATAR, DOVE AND BRYAN

THE BOYS:

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

I still can't get over the sadness I'm feeling for losing Ka Naguit. It's been 2 days now, he died June 20.

Last night, in our worship service, you could really feel the tension, probably from the shock of us all, or from the sorrow that we feel. When we started to sing hymns of praises, our tears flowed without control, men and women, all of us at the same time. When our head deacon invited everyone to stand for a prayer, you couldn't hear any other sound anymore aside from our singing, the accompanying organ, and the weeping, the wailing of the choir members. I, myself cried my heart out to God because I couldn't contain the hurt anymore.

After our worship service, we all went together to his wake. I was trembling when I saw him lying in the coffin. I was trying very hard to keep myself composed because there were hundreds and hundreds of people inside the room. I shook the hand of Ka Glo, his wife, but I couldn't look into her eyes, yet when I saw Ate Ailah at the back, I knew there's no way I could hold back the tears any longer. We embraced tightly and cried. After that, I already went out to give way to the other people waiting in line to see him and speak with his family.

It's so amazing to see all these people from different walks of life, coming from different places, here and oversees, gathering to pay their last respects to this humble man. This man who offered his whole life in the service of God, who dedicated more than half of his life to teach and head the choir members in the Church in Pampanga and Tarlac (he turned 71 years old last week, June 12, and has been our teacher, tagapagturo, for 50 years or more).

This man taught us the meaning of music, literally and figuratively. He taught us how to read notes, time signature, correct breathing, correct posture, head tone, chest tone, hand and foot position, but most importantly, he taught us how to read between the lines we're singing, how to sing with our hearts, how to see our lives in the lyrics of the hymns, how to reach out to God though our voices. Yes, he patiently taught us all these amidst the storms, the calamities. He patiently taught us to value our duty to God and the Church under oil lamps or lampara even during brown-outs.

Now, how do we keep the music playing when the man who has been guiding us is now gone? On his burial, I can sense that we'll hear a defeaning silence, when all music will stop.

But I know he has entrusted us to Him before he passed away, so with His blessings and guidance, I can say we'll make it through. Besides, that's what he wants, too. He wouldn't want us to be stuck with his passing. What he would want is for us to embrace and value our duties more.

Ka Naguit, hindi po ako magsasawang sabihin ito.. Maraming maraming salamat po sa lahat ng itinuro nyo sa amin. Sa pagtyatyaga na mapuyat o gumising ng maaga at maglakbay para lang madalaw kaming mga Mang-aawit at masubaybayan mo po kami. Salamat po sa pagtupi mo ng manggas ng damit ko noong unang pagdalo ko ng Banal Na Hapunan at dahil inihatid mo pa kami ni Ate Ailah sa Kapilya noon para hindi na kami maglalakad dahil maaga pa. Salamat po sa pagmamalasakit mo sa amin. Maraming salamat po sa pagmamahal at ibinuhos mo ang buong buhay mo sa pagtuturo sa amin ng mga awit sa Pagsamba. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!

...may the tears we shed in your passing help calm the waters under the bridge your family is now crossing, as you're not there anymore to hold the hands of your wife and children and guide and light the way for them.

...when we finally meet again in His Kingdom, we'll sing praises to God and His Son... together again.

A Sad Passing; 'Til We Meet Again

Just a few minutes ago, I received an instant message from Elaine, a good friend, saying that Ka Naguit already passed away. I immediately texted the president of our Choir in Dau and he confirmed it by saying "Totoo po."

I still can't believe it. Though he's had ailments and even a heart problem, I still don't know how to accept this news.

Bro. Angelo Naguit, or "Ka Naguit", as we all fondly call him, is our Tagapagturo ng awit here in the District of Pampanga. For more than 50 years, he has been a pillar of strength for so many brethren, choir members or not. On the major eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, June 15, 1991, it is in their home where my family found solace, and not surprisingly, another 25 families or more.

He is also one very humble man of God. Though he is a very big and influential figure in the Church, he never forgot to show respect and humility. My mom even told me a story about how respecful he was when she went to their home to deliver the messages coming from the locale and district offiices, even saying "opo" and "po" to her.

Just last week, he even visited our locale to head the choir practice for our upcoming Pasalamat in July. How sad he won't be able to join us anymore on that day. How sad we won't be able to hear his pieces of advice and help strengthen our faith anymore. How sad we cannot shake his hand any longer, the hand that helped so many brethren stand up for the Church.

It was his birthday last June 12. Unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to just even greet him or shake his hand when he headed our practice (June 13, 4:45 a.m.). If we only knew that will be the last time we'll be seeing him alive, we could have cared less if we're already late for our offices or schools. But he insisted we don't shake hands anymore because we're already getting late and he just said "Kaway na lang." Those were the last words we heard him say...

Ka Naguit has also been, for three times, the answer to my prayers. Or should I say the medium that God used to answer them. And just imagine how immediate the answers came. The three times I asked, Ka Naguit will be there the next morning to deliver the answers! Walang mintis talaga!

But Ka Naguit is strict. But no matter, we know it's for our own good. And we know that's how it must really be. We've just been slow in following.

He is also a very good family man. Having raised two very beautiful children, Kuya Angel and Ate Ailah, with his wife, Ka Glo, always by his side, you couldn't ask for more from him. When he's not in his office at Church, you'd see him home, reading the newspaper, washing the car, catering to their garden needs, and can you imagine this powerful man kneeling and polishing the floor??? OMG, yes, he does that! Nagbubunot pa! Oh, how I adore you! And how I'll miss you, too. :(

He's also a very good friend. He's been with our family (mother and father side) since they were little children. He grew up with them in Tarlac, also taken cared of by my mom's relatives. He even courted my mom's eldest sister, Auntie Del, but sadly, they didn't become more than friends. He's also an "adopted son" of my grandparents (father's side) and when the right time came, he offered his home to be the home of my dad's sister, Auntie Riza, when she studied here in Pampanga.

Ka Naguit, a comrade, a source of strength and faith, a brother, a leader, a beloved husband, a father, a friend, a survivor, will be terribly missed, not just by me, but by all the people whose lives he has touched, by all the choir members here in Pampanga, even in Tarlac, including those who never got married because they were hoping, dreaming and praying that he would be their husband.

I can already see the flock of people, thousands and thousands of them, (including me) who will attend your burial. All these people love you. All these people will sorely miss you. But you don't have to worry because these will be the same people who will take care of your family for you. The same way that we don't have to worry because I know we'll meet again, in His time, in His Kingdom.

Ka Naguit, maraming, maraming salamat po. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo! (Thank you very much. I love you so much!)

Here's the only picture I have of him. He's the one wearing eyeglasses.

From left to right: Kuya Angel (his son), Ka Naguit, the groom (unfortunately, I don't know his name), Gemma, the bride, Ka Naguit's "alaga", Ka Glo, his wife, Ate Ailah, his youngest child. I apologize to the other persons in the picture, I, unfortunately, do not know their names.

Blood Will Always Be Thicker Than Water

Are you a member of a big clan or just a small one?
I'm proud to say that I'm coming from a diverse, conflict&problem-filled but happy, big, family. My mom has 9 other siblings. She's the 4th in the two-men family. Two men meaning her father, Lolo Jose, and her youngest brother, Uncle Jun. I wonder how Uncle Jun feels...just imagine having 9 older sisters? hahaha! Buti na lang hindi sya naging bading (lol) :).

My lolo, a Chinese, came to our country during the war. He was a refugee (okay, I'm not that sure about this but if my memory serves me well, this is his story.) He met my lola, Meding (Medina) and they lived in San Roque, Tarlac, Tarlac, where my mom, along with her brother and sisters lived. From the stories of my mom, aunts, and uncle, we can sense that they had very strict parents. But looking at the brighter side of things, all the pain they've been through just made their bond stronger. All the hardships they endured made them closer to one another - something that has been passed down to us, the second generation of the Lim family. We're the type of family who lends a helping hand to one another without expecting anything in return (well... except for stories and a good laugh along the way..)

Here's our family tree:

LOLO & LOLA:
Jose Bacani Lim Pok - Medina Palma Lim (may you both rest in peace)

SIBLINGS & HUSBANDS, WIFE (in order):
Adelia Lim Harrow - Alan Harrow
Zenaida Lim del Mundo - Alexander del Mundo
Elena Lim (R.I.P.)
Rosalina Lim Pangan - Joel Pangan
Ofelia Lim Ramos - Romarico Ramos
Lilibeth Lim Abe - Danny Abe
Mariel Lim Vargas (R.I.P.) - Juanito Vargas
Rosita Palma - Joseph Tan
Percila Palma Martinez - Mr. Martinez (sorry po, I forgot your name, my fault :( )
Joselito Lim - Preciosa

SONS & DAUGHTERS (in family order):
Edith Emilia - Alexander James - Sarah Shiner
Alexander Jose
Kristian Lee - Kristine Joy - Kelvin Jay
Romarico Jr.
Danica - Danilee
Aziel - Joanna - Arvin James
Keenan Irish
Jan Karl - Cyner James - Irish (sorry, dear, I don't know if this is the correct spelling of your name) - Junjun
Jana Patricia - Justine Pae - Joey

APOs SA TUHOD:
Ate Edith's son: Bryan Harrow
Xander's children: Alissandra - Elisha Ericka - Aya - Arthur
My Kuya's children: Krizzel Faith - Kyle Andrew

-------------------------------------------------

Last year, March 4, 2006, my Lola passed away after a long and difficult battle with the complications of Diabetes. For you, Lola, here's a poem I composed.

Thank You

For all the years that passed
You have always been our guiding light
Wishing us nothing but happiness
Praying not for you but for our success

Thank you, oh, thank you
The only words that we can say
While trying to stop these tears
As they silently take you away

Memories of you will always remain
Sealed and etched deep in our hearts
Until we grow old, plump, and frail
Our love for you will never fail.

Kristine
March 10, 2006

PICTURES PICTURES! Don't they look lovely? :)

This ain't complete yet. I'm still missing a lot of pictures of my other cousins and aunties/uncle. Soon to come....

Ohh....., how I miss you guys! If you notice, I'm not in one of these pictures! Lagi akong wala sa eksena. I'm sorry for all the time, laughters, celebrations, cousins' bonding time, and all the other moments I missed. huhuhu... really hurts to see you cuz so happy in these pics.

SARAH, JR, AJ: Sorry, guys, I didn't make it to Baguio :(

SIMPLY AMAZING!

50's thingie

I got this Q&A thingie from Claire. I decided to answer them too.

Here's the rule: Type what comes to your mind first whenever you hear these 50 words. Don't think and don't go back and change. Doesn't matter how random just type it!

1. Beer: i wonder why a lot of people like it
2. Anorexics: need help
3. Relationships: to be treasured
4. Your Last Ex: never had a First Ex :)
5. Power Rangers: go, go, Power Rangers (with tune)
6. Life: can only be lived once, but if we live it right, once is enough
9. The President: has power
10. Awesome: opportunity to travel
11. Cars: i wish i have one
12. Gas Price: people complain about it
13. Halloween: November 1
14. Sex: female
15. Religion: being in the true one (religion) is the only way to be connected to Him
16. Myspace: don't have one
17. Fear: losing a loved one
18. marriage: must be respected and not wasted
19. Blondes: can change their hair color. hehehe
20. Brunettes: the lovely Julia Roberts
21. Redheads: Lindsay Lohan
22. Asians: us, Filipinos
23. Past time: reading and daydreaming
24. One night stand: a big mistake but is very common nowadays
25: Cell Phone: necessity
26. Gadget: digicam, handicam, laptop
27: Smoke: can suffocate
28: Vanilla Ice cream: i'm looking for one
29: Piercings: ouch!
30: Highschool Life: lame; something to be forgotten
31. Pajamas: should be comfortable
32. Stars: good to look at
33. Wet Socks: put it at the back of the ref :)
34. Alcohol: must be 70% to kill germs
35. The word love: i wish i can take back the many times i said it to people who are unworthy of its meaning
36. Friends: must be people who are true and can be trusted
37. Money: most people think it's all they need
38. Heartache: brings tears to my eyes
39. Time: is gold
40. Divorce: will always remain a subject of debate
41. Dogs: love them but fear them!
42. Underpants: must always be kept clean
43. Parents: must never be taken for granted
44. Kids: say the darnest things
45. Strippers: clubs
46. Blogs: are entertaining
47. News: i wish they aren't all about death
48. Weddings: i'm not yet ready to walk down the isle
49. Pizza: Dominoes Pizza - mute witness to a committed crime (hehehe)
50. Kleenex: used to wipe the __________ (fill in the blank.. be as creative as you want to be!).

My Partner in Crime

Today, my friend is leaving again. She's probably sitting inside the plane now, waiting for it to take off. Or maybe they're already on their way by now. I think I got the time of her flight wrong. :(

I'm sad and happy at the same time. But sadness is getting the better of the two. Sherry has always been my best bud, the perfect partner in crime. Yep, we've been partners in crimes since Day 01. But details of these won't be discussed here. Maybe not even in the future. Some secrets are better kept as secrets...hehehe.

For the last two days, someone has been sending me text messages without introducing him/herself. I got the feeling that it's Sherry because she's the last person who asked for my new cellphone number. What confirmed this is the text msg that I received yesterday, saying something like... "HI...... KAMUSTA KA NA?". How did that confirm it? Well, maybe it's just instinct, but then again, she's the only one who asks me that question in that manner and spelling.

We got to see each other last night. At last! But it was just a brief one. We talked, shared stories, talked about her cellphones and her work, laughed, until we didn't have any more things to say. I wanted to cry because I know I won't be seeing her again in a long time. If only Brunei is a stone's throw away, I'd probably be there with her every single day. But that just isn't the case. Sucks big time. Yeah, really.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of her last night so I am unable to upload any of her pictures. But I'll try to look at the pics I have at home and when I get the time, I'll have them scanned and upload them.

Sherry, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I will stick with you. No matter what your choices will be, I'll still be here for you. Yes, that doesn't necessarily mean I'll agree with all your actions and decisions but definitely, I will be here by your side to help you make it through. I luv you, girl!

I don't actually know how to end this post...but I remembered a line that I told you before so let me say it again. Here it goes...She, don't be afraid to go back. He's just there, patiently waiting for you. :)

Ouch!

Hypersensitive? Is this a term one can use to describe me? I admit I'm such a crybaby because even cartoons and feel-good movies make me sob. I can still remember when I watched Happy Feet in the moviehouse and I was weeping silently.. hehehe (I watched the movie alone so I was like.. oh my gosh, what will others think if they hear me crying!?). But that doesn't make me hypersensitive to what others say.

Well, normally, I don't get hurt anymore by what others say about me, but sometimes, it just gets so out of hand that I want to hammer their heads and tell them "hey, you don't have to tell me in the face!" I know I'm bigger than most women my age. I know I am heavier than the usual, too. I know I don't have a pretty face. I know I look old for my age. I know I have pimples. I know I have a big belly. But do people really have to constantly remind me? Come on, you can do better than that.

Insensitive - is it okay to describe other people using this adjective? heehee...

Sister-in-law: Joy, may nakasakay ako kanina sa jeep. Ang taba nung babae. Nasabi ko nga sa kasama ko "May mas mataba pa pala kay Joy?" Pero at least yung nakasabay namin sa jeep, ang puti nya chaka sya, maganda sya kaya okay lang na mataba sya."

CAN YOU JUST IMAGINE THE WIFE OF YOUR BROTHER TELLING YOU THAT???!!!

So-called friend to my boyfriend: "Bro, pag nag motor kayo ni joy, dapat sya yung pagsuotin mo ng helmet. Baka kasi habulin kayo ng mga tao at magpa autograph sila sa kanya. Baka akalain kasi si Jessica Soho ang kasama mo."

Same so-called friend: "Tin, ang laki laki mo, pwede ka nang maging model ng ref, pero hindi yung pang kwarto lang na size ha? Kaya yung malalaking aparador... ah, cabinet!"

At least, these comments, I can still bear:

ACQUAINTANCE: "How many kids do you already have?" - I'm not even married yet!
NEIGHBOR: "You don't look 27 naman. 26 lang." - Excuse me, but I'm just 25. :(
NURSE: "Ang taba mo kasi miss kaya ang hirap mong kuhanan ng blood."
SALESLADY: "Ang tataba kasi ng mga paa mo kaya wala kang magkasyang sapatos dito sa tindahan namin. Sa iba ka na lang tumingin."

If only it were that simple....
If they only know how I feel...
If they only know what I'm actually going through...
If only what they say don't feel like multiple stabs to the heart.

But don't worry, I know who I am and I love myself. ;)

Cool!

To ward off negative vibes (due to my previous post), how about a token of appreciation to the people serving at DFA Pasay? (At last, I have no pending posts anymore. Yey!)

Last June 1, we went to DFA Pasay to get our authenticated school records. My post about our itinerary that day describes how the entire day went. I went straight to the room of CHED and found that there's only one employee working for all the people who are waiting for their names to be called to get their own authenticated copies. There were about 100+ people by the time I arrived. The room was so hot, there's just 1 electric fan for all of us! Just imagine... Raffy, the employee, had to deal with everyone in the room - those who are asking when they'll be called, if their records are already there, and the newcomers who are just about to submit their claim stubs. People flock him everytime he comes back to the room, holding some papers with him that he needs to stamp, sign, and put the O.R. number to before he calls the respective people who can claim them.

Okay, okay, so what's my point here? I'm just amazed that Raffy didn't lose his temper even one time! Cool! Yeah, I really admire people who can keep their calm even if people tend to be harassing them already. I knew there were some points when he was about to lose it, especially when he already asked the people standing at his right side to move because they're blocking the electric fan...but he managed to keep his voice down and pleasing.

To my surprise, even the security guards were not grouchy, grumpy, unrefined, and indecent (para mas may feeling - hindi sila bastos) that you can speak with them properly! Simply amazing, huh?

FACT: There are people who work at NBI Clark and SSS Angeles City who are the exact opposite of those who work at DFA Pasay. tsk tsk tsk... I'm sorry, I don't have their names, but man, come on, you don't have to shout at an old man who can't think right away of his SSS PIN number or another old man who doesn't understand what you're telling him at the other side of the glass window. I just hope they realize that since they work as customer service representatives, they HAVE to at least be polite.

Don't Cha?!

Don't cha just hate people without social skills?!? They're like a bunch of people who think they're so perfect and high up on a pedestal that they won't even bother to look at you when you call them. That they won't even bother to talk when you speak with them.

These are people who turned out to be 101% snobs!

Can you tell that these people really piss me off? So to my teammate, ___ the snake, and to our neighbor (i didn't bother to get her name anymore), sana kunin na kayo ni Lord!

Well, normally, I see the goodness in people. Usually, I see the positive in them, too. But when I deal with such, I don't know why they turn on the worst in me. :(

Okay, so I have to change the way I see these people. Anyway, everyone deserves a second chance, right?

Okay, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

For now, that's the best I can do. I will have to do better, soon...

Bravo Romeo Yankee Alpha November

So I guess this is it.

I still can't believe that today is the last day I'm gonna be seeing Bryan at work - officially. You see he is resigning, effective June 10, 2007. It's already June 7. Tomorrow, I'm out of the office so I won't see him. On Saturday, it's his dayoff so come Sunday, he's officially not an employee of our company anymore. How do you put sadness in words, anyway?

I've known Bryan for almost 4 years. I was ahead of him a few months here at work. I'm batch 73 and he's from the 74th. We've been teammates since we were newbies but we were never really close. I'm just so happy that before it's too late, I got the chance to be considered a friend by him. =)

Here's Claire's blog where she put up a tribute to him so at least you'll get to know a little more about this ever-happy, responsible, loving, changed man.

Brye, thanks for all the good times, the laughters, the advices, the rides to maingate when I'm getting late for church, and for everything else (to all, don't worry, the everything else is wholesome - mostly the jokes, small talks and the like... hehehe).

Bittersweet Memories

I'm getting left behind now. I have two pending posts, one about the DFA experience in Pasay. The other one about a friend, Bryan. The only problem is I really can't turn on the "writer's mode" in me. I want to go on a dayoff and relax but I still can't. For now, let me just post some poems I made through the years...

How does it feel when you have to let go of someone you've loved from the first time you knew him/her? aaaawwww... to all the brokenhearted people out there, take time to heal, but most of all, don't close your hearts! Be open to love (and probably be hurt) again. Anyway, these things make life more (bitter) sweet. :)

Everytime The Wind Blows You Near

I used to compose poetries of love
to express to you how i feel
the emptiness of not having you,
the bitterness of life without you here.

I also said i'll love you forever
and that's not just from my head
all the moments i said those words
I was telling you exactly how I felt.

I asked you not to let me down
I even pleaded - no, not yet!
for I already put down my only card
and indeed, you're my only bet.

You even heard me saying
"I'll wait for you, my dear
until you're ready to love me
I'll be patient and true with what i feel."

But lately, I can see that things have changed
it seems that I'm already a little too late
while I'm here patiently waiting for you
I realized your heart now belongs to someone new.

I want you to know that I understand
I'm not bitter, remorseful or mad
I just pray for you to find true happiness
And for your broken heart to finally mend.

Now, even if I don't see you anymore
or even without me in the big picture
my heart will always skip a beat
pause, or maybe even do a backflip...

whenever fate brings me here...

...and everytime the wind blows you near.


i am now letting you go

now, as i look at you,
i see the person i will love forever
so i close my eyes to lift a prayer
and thank Him for each moment we're together

and when my tears start to fall
you cup my face with your hands
tracing your fingers with each drop
as you whisper, "i hope time and space would stop"

yet, we know the time has finally arrived
nothing else can be more true than that
we both have known this day will come
even then.., right from the very start

we used to say there will be no holding back
we even said we will understand
but now, as the final hour comes near
everything suddenly becomes unclear

questions keep rushing in my mind
'bout things to which answers are hard to find
yet, with doubts, i am now letting you go
with no answers for things i long to know

i'll keep my heart for you

for now i'll live the days to come
the way i should if i'm with you
and remember to always keep my word
i'll keep my heart pure and true

you may say anything can happen
while you're still there
i may love you know, but very soon
i might not even care

i wish to say that won't happen
no, never will it be true
for i love you now until forever
and i'm keeping my heart for you

i'll prove myself to you, my love
don't let me down, not yet
i've now put down my only card
and you're my only bet

even if it takes forever,
i'll wait for you, my dear
until you're ready to love me
i'll be patient and true with what i feel

i'll wait for the right time to come
that's what's left for me to do
i'll put all my faith and trust in Him
and i'll keep my heart for you

i honestly love you.

Fun, fun, and more fun!!!

Claire, I'm glad to know that you can wholeheartedly smile and even laugh after what happened. You're really one tough woman. :)

Let me proceed with the post that I was supposed to make earlier this morning.

Yesterday was a good day. Err... this is an understatement. It was a great one, actually! Can you tell from the subject of this post? hehehe....

6:30am
Call time at Dau, Bus Terminal. Lovely, my boyfriend's youngest sister, bought food at Jollibee.

7:00am
My brother, Kelvin, needs to go back to his school to order his nursing kit and uniform. He studies at Metropolitan Hospital College of Nursing so he needs to ride a Philippine Rabbit bus headed for Avenida. Me and Lovely, on the other hand, will be going to DFA Pasay to get our authenticated school records (red ribbon), so we have to ride Victory/5 Star bus headed for Pasay. So we're just 1 jeep away from DFA. The only problem is we don't know what jeep to ride once we're in Pasay. Hahaha! come 7:20, there's still no 5 Star or Victory Liner bus. Just imagine that.. so we resolved to take a Philippine Rabbit, too. Good thing the bus that Kelvin rode hasn't left yet. So there, nagka sabay-sabay din kami.

8:15am
Traffic at A. Bonifacio. Getting mad at Kelvin because of it. (sorry, kelvs)
Buti na lang hindi masyadong matagal.

9:00am, almost
Just arrived at Phil. Rabbit's terminal. We walked up the LRT and headed for Gil Puyat station. Kelvin already went to his school. Buh bye!

9:40am
We're now at DFA (at last!). :)

Felman and Juden, sorry for making you guys wait. Ala naman kayo reklamo eh. hehehe

past 10:00am
Lovely is already done, she has her records with her already. Now, how come my name hasn't been called yet??? So hot inside the room. With around 70 - 100 people inside, there's only one electric fan for us all. I'll be making a post about the DFA experience I had in Pasay, maybe on Monday. I just have to remember it. :)

almost 11:00am
Finally, my name was called, I went to the cashier to pay P100.00 and at last, got my records. Yey, I'm finally done!

11:00am
Riding a Taz (or Tas) Trans bus, we're going to Pedro Gil so Lovely can pass her papers at the agency. By the way, she'll be leaving for Taiwan again soon. The authenticated school records are the last set of requirements she needs.

12:00 noon
Official business trip is over. Kelvin waited for us at Pedro Gil LRT station to go to MOA. For the first time, we're going to see Mall of Asia, said to be the third biggest mall in the world. Was I excited? Nope, I was sooooo excited because this is the first time I'm going to the mall with Felman's siblings to stroll. Before, there was always something to do when we go to the mall, but not this time. After eating our lunch at Mongkok Dimsum & Noodles, (our bill was a whopping P1,228.00), (we're all dead hungry from the earlier itenerary), there started the fun, fun, fun!

After one hour of non-stop laughing and falling off balance, we're off to strolling, playing and enjoying our first visit to the third biggest mall in the world.

I hope we can do this again soon! And hopefully, by that time, we're already complete.

Survivor

Supposedly, my post today is about what happened yesterday when I went to Manila. However, when I came to work this morning, I found my friend crying her eyes out because of something that happened here at work. So I'll save my own story (to be posted later if I have the time) and dedicate this one to Claire.

I can't say "I know exactly how you feel" because I don't. I can't say "everything will be okay" because I can't tell what will happen after this. All I can say is I'll be here for you no matter what. I've been through a similar ride last April so I guess in one way or another I know what you're going through right now. But you know the truth. Hold on to that. With His grace, this will soon be over and you will still be standing tall.

Stay strong! Luv u gurl!