countdown.

in 4 days, it's our Graduation Day already..

in 7 days, it will be Daniel's birthday already..

in 10 days, it will be our Anniversary already.

tick tock.

im counting down. getting excited. *wink* : )

Monsters vs. Aliens

D and i watched Monsters vs. Aliens today at IMAX. : ) it's both our first time to watch there and it was great. i love the screen.. it was really soo big! they said it was the biggest in the world. don't know. but maybe it's true. the whole theater was big too.. i think it's four times the capacity of an ordinary theater.

here we are before the movie started - with our 3D glasses. : )

the movie itself is good. there are parts wherein you'd really laugh out loud. : ) it also showed how important friendship is, no matter what you are. : ) there were alot of kids watching with their parents too (since it's a cartoon), and i was really laughing when i saw them raise their hands altogether trying to hold the pictures in front of them, haha! it's a 3D.. they thought it was real. so cute. : ) i loved our large BBQ popcorn we bought at the snack bar just before entering the theater. we finished it right away! : )

i LOVE Kripy Kreme!!! : )

on our way home, we stopped by Roxas Boulevard and took a picture. too bad the sun was almost gone, haha. but i still loved our shot. : )

Missing.

i'm missing you badly.. : (

it's been how many days already.

i wish i could be with you...

soon.

EQ in the Workplace

Deb and Jen

last week, before the Baccalaureate Mass started, we had a seminar conducted by our guidance counselor entitled "EQ in the Workplace". that morning, Jen gave me a gift, a picture mosaic (pictured with us above) with our pictures in it. : ) i loved it, and i already placed it on my desk. : )

the seminar started a little late than scheduled. the speaker discussed about, obviously, EQ. that the employers are are looking for people who knows how to deal with persons, and those who know how to handle stress. there are five domains of EQ - self-awareness, self-regulation (self-control), empathy, motivation, and relationship skills. she discussed these points one by one. on how we should understand the causes and impact of our own feelings and actions on us and others, and on how we're building our own self-image. she also prepared some activities for us to participate. it was a fun learning experience, and im sure it helped us in more ways than we expected. : )

"Anyone can become angry... that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way... that is not easy."

- Aristotle

03. 23. 09

Happy 9th Birthday Shobe dear!!! : )
you're growing up fast.. but you'll always be my baby. : )

***

this morning, i got up early to have my urine checked by the lab. it's been a week since i had UTI.. when i got the results, im glad that it's normal already. : ) i visited my OB again and all is well. thanks for the prayers! : ) i also got my eyeglasses too. i had my lens changed last week because the doc said i have astigmatism already.

anyway.. after my checkup, i met up Alda and we started our driving lessons today. : ) we have one hour each, but the both of us is in the same car so we get to listen to the instructor whenever he lectures us about the how-tos. i came home right on time for dinner.

twas a long day, but im happy. it's just the start. have a great week ahead!! : )

today..

piano. story telling. attend a meeting. fix my bookshelf.

that's what i did today. and i lack sleep. and for some reasons i can't explain, i just can't sleep. how's that? hmm.. how's your weekend? it's Monday again tomorrow. i have a list of things to do and im excited about it. : ) D has a meeting with their company so i didn't see him today.

when you want great pizza, call a cab. so we did. ; )


that's Four Seasons. and i think they gave us a wrong combination. where's the New York Classic there? tsk. anyhow.. let's eat! : )

Fontana

today, we went to Fontana to celebrate Shobe's birthday in advance. : ) they will be staying for a night but i have to come home to attend church tomorrow - i have a lot of things to do! it was already late afternoon when we got there, but it's alright because it's not hot anymore. the sky was clear and it's just peaceful and quiet there. : )

i went with her to the new place to swim. i should have bought my swimsuit with me have i known that they will swim before dinner. good thing i have a book with me. : ) just read and took pictures while waiting for them to finish.

see the shirt she's wearing above? that's my gift for her and im glad she loved it. : )

we had dinner at our all-time-favorite-whenever-we're-here, Fortune Restaurant. haha! i have to admit, they really serve good food. that's why we have to wait a couple of minutes just to have our table ready because it's always full.

my Dad and brother came home with me. and now, im just so sleepy. i hope to wake up early tomorrow. ciao! : )

UST Baccalaureate Mass

we had our Baccalaureate Mass today at the field. : ) we started our parade from our building to the field at 4:30 in the afternoon. it was so hot, and we were all sweating all over. but nevertheless, we were all in high spirits. : ) we keep on taking pictures! haha. we were seated right in the middle of the field and i liked our place because we can see the stage properly. after everyone settled down, the program started. introducing each college/faculty, when it was founded, the dean and regent, and how many graduates they produced. when each college/faculty was called, everyone stood up happily. others bought balloons and tarps, some blew horns, some even raised their chairs haha. all in all, Batch 2009 has 7,308 graduates. : )



then the mass started with scripture readings and the priest spoke in front. he opened his message by saying "Panahon na, para mag saya..". he talked about how people kept thinking about their problems and forgot about rejoicing. i liked it when he said, if there is no night, how can we appreciate the coming of dawn.



to my surprise, D came from work to see me. : ) XC and Jay also came. and the girls were very happy. ; ) we pinned the UST pin given to us earlier and we lighted our candles. lights were put off and people were so happy watching an AVP prepared for us.



the most awaited part of the night, the fireworks display, started. : ) it's beautiful. : ) then all the graduating students walked together to the Arch of the Centuries, marching out of it. i remember during our first year, we walked in it. symbolizing that we are Thomasians. now that we are graduating, we are going out from UST to the real world. 'twas bittersweet. my foot hurts when i came home because of all the walking and standing, but i really had a great time. : )

*except for the first shot which i took, all shots were taken by Daniel.

on a day like this.

i woke up to a cold Tuesday morning. it was raining.. and even if it stopped pouring, there's dark clouds the whole day. the weather makes me wanna sleep more.. to just stay in bed the whole day and read a good book. : ) but, i have to go to school to pass something to our thesis adviser. and because one of our groupmate is late, our thesis adviser left already and we have to go back again tomorrow.



i got my shoes already. : ) i ordered it from Kara. their business is making custom made shoes and bags. before we became friends, i was always having a hard time finding the perfect school shoes for me. a shoe that will give me comfort and at the same time strong enough to last for at least a year. and because i have a feet that is a little too small for my age, the size of the shoes is always a problem. i usually buy my shoes at Celine. but halfway through the semester, it gives up. and i have to find a new one again. thank goodness Kara shared her secret with me. from second year till now, i always have them make my school shoes. : ) you can tell them what design you like, what material to be used, and how high you want the heels. i can remember her Mom measuring my foot a few years back. and when my first order came, it fits perfectly. : )

i have UTI - urinary tract infection. it started Sunday night when i was feeling uncomfortable and there was pain when i was urinating. this is not new to me, last year, i had UTI for three times. so when i felt the pain, i knew immediately that it is UTI - again. i had my urine analyzed at the lab yesterday and went to see my OB. she gave me antibiotics for one week, and i feel better now. : ) please say a little prayer for me. : )

i read this at the net today and i want to share a part of it to you:

The urinary tract is the body's filtering system for removal of liquid wastes. Women are especially susceptible to bacteria which may invade the urinary tract and multiply resulting in infection.

Although most urinary tract infections or UTIs are not serious, they are painful. Approximately fifty percent of all women will have at least one UTI in her lifetime with many women having several infections throughout their lifetime. Fortunately, these infections are easily treated with antibiotics that cause the symptoms to quickly disappear. Some women seem are more prone to repeated infections than others and for them it can be a frustrating battle.

What are the Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infections?

Symptoms of UTI or bladder infection are not easy to miss and include a strong urge to urinate that cannot be delayed which is followed by a sharp pain or burning sensation in the urethra when the urine is released. Most often very little urine is released and the urine that is released may be tinged with blood. The urge to urinate recurs quickly and soreness may occur in the lower abdomen, back, or sides.

This cycle may repeat itself frequently during the day or night--most people urinate about six times a day, when the need to urinate occurs more often a bladder infection should be suspected.

When bacteria enters the ureters and spread to the kidneys, symptoms such as back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting may occur, as well as the previous symptoms of lower urinary tract infection.

Proper diagnosis is vital since these symptoms can also be caused by other problems such as infections of the vagina or vulva. Only your physician can make the distinction and make a correct diagnosis.

- http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/bladderhealth/a/UTI.htm

so there.. my lesson? drink LOTS of water. : )

we'll be out for dinner tonight because it's my stepmom's birthday. happy birthday! =D

DVDs and Doulos

this morning, Grace came over and we watched these films on DVDs today. : ) we got bored during the first part of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, but it's alright. You Changed My Life on the other hand, entertained me, haha! baduy ba? ok lang. ; )

Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss. You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go. - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Grace and i also went to MV Doulos - the world's oldest active ocean-faring passenger ship and is used as a floating bookshop - along with her sister Judith, cousin Samuel, and Uncle Henry. : ) the weather wasn't hot like the past few days and luckily, there was no line at all when we arrived. : ) it came on March 5 and will stay in Manila Port until the end of March. the entrance fee is 10pesos only, and free for 15years old and under.

Doulos


Grace and Judith


Deb and Grace

D's photography classes starts today. when he came to see me after his class and showed me his shots, it was beautiful. : ) i'll share it to you next time. : )

just finished preparing for my story telling tomorrow at Sunday School. : ) im currently deciding about what career path i'll take. pray for me, please. thanks in advance! have a happy weekend. goodnight! :o)

TGIF

oh it's Friday the 13th. but it's a good day for us. : ) i attended the Kinder One Moving - Up Ceremony at St. Stephen's High School this morning to see Hannah. it's their Closing Ceremony. we arrived a little bit early. after waiting for almost an hour, the kids came at the Stephenian Hall. some in their uniforms, and some in their colorful costumes. : )

here's Hannah - my cousin and also my tutee. : )

she got awards for
3rd Honor in their class
Best in Writing - English
Best in Writing - Chinese
Outstanding in Coloring Contest

here's the kids in one of their singing and dancing number. aren't they cute? : ) i love kids. they sang, danced, memorized bible verses, and during the finale, they all performed a number about God's creation. some of them are dressed up as flowers, moon, sun, trees, butterflies, and mountains too. : ) the hall was filled with laughter and clapping of hands. all the parents and teachers who attended the program are all very proud of them. : )

You're Not Alone

You're Not Alone
Meridith Andrews

I searched for love,
When the night came, and it closed in
I was alone, but You found me
Where i was hiding, and now I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice
That called my name
Saying

You're not alone
For I am here, let me wipe away your every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All your life

You cry yourself to sleep
Cause the hurt is real, and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
And everyone else long gone, you've had to face the music on your own
But there is a sweeter song that calls you home, saying

You're not alone
For I am here, let me wipe away your every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true...
Forever, For my love will carry you...

You're not alone
For I... I am here
Let me wipe away your every fear...
Oh yeah, My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest night
Your darkest nights
And I'm the one that's loved you all your life,
All your life.

***
i heard this song earlier today and i love it. each word touched my heart.

off to bed. : )

long day

it's been a long and tiring day today. i received a call yesterday afternoon and the girl said that i'll be having an interview this morning at Makati. so i arrived at 9am at Polaris street and waited for my turn. the company was actually a recruitment agency - SL Temps. they got my resume from the job fair we had in school. i was thinking if im going because for sure the work they'll be giving me is contractual, which i don't like. but then, i tried. so i'll know what they usually ask in an interview. ; ) they first gave me a speed test. then we proceeded with the interview. they were nice, in fairness. but the position where they have an opening is not AT ALL related with my course! and the workplace is far. they have one in Rizal, and one in Munoz. so i just told them to give me a call if ever they have an opening for FT. : )

i walked around Makati while waiting for my brother to pick me up. we had lunch somewhere in Banawe. our Dad asked us to run some errands and buy something at the mall so i decided to drop by the grocery while Hans paid his Sun bill.


an attendant gave me a free taste of orange juice. where the oranges ride the Ferris wheel-like machine designed to squeeze the oranges in one go. the liquid goes into a container connected to a spout, the lever of which is pressed down by the attendant. literally, orange juice coming out of a faucet and into a one-liter plastic bottle. i bought one bottle. : ) and some foods to munch on. : )

one by one
or
all at once?

permit and piano lessons

today, i got a student's permit from LTO. i'll be taking driving lessons with a friend by the end of March. : ) i've been wanting to learn how to drive since time immemorial. now that im starting to find a job, i HAVE to learn how to drive because it will be a hassle to have someone bring me to places. and if you know my Dad, he doesn't like it very much when i commute.

i bought some BBQs at Quezon City then went to see my piano teacher. : ) her daughter, Atsi Lydia, who just gave birth two weeks ago is staying there for a month. im happy that i saw baby Jade again. she cried for a moment because she's hungry, then finished her bottle of milk in just a few minutes! good girl. : )

Grandma, Mama, and Baby : )

we ate lunch together then Teacher Bi Hwa taught me some piano pieces which i can't play. she's really good in piano. she can play the songs in different keys! she can play even without a piano sheet. she said that i should practice more so i can be like her. : ) i don't think so, haha. that's a gift. : )

you'll see this in a corner of their house. this is where i first learned about do-re-mi eight years ago. : ) and until now, people are still going there to learn piano lessons. : )

i'll nap first. bye! : )

ordinary Monday

Porkchop Rice

i don't have classes anymore! : ) hurray. this morning, James, Chiara, Alda, and I met up at Starbucks SM Manila to fix some documents. we went to Comelec to get voter's ID. im 21 and still haven't voted yet, haha. we already registered ourselves but the ID will come out after 1-2 years! that long?? tsk. bulok haha. they stayed at my place after because i have to come home and send an important file to someone. we had lunch at Tasty Dumplings. : ) and we all ordered their famous Porkchop Rice. : ) yum!! we went to school after to pay for the rental of our toga. i dropped by the lab to see Jen before coming home. : ) it was so hot, but suddenly rained hard in the afternoon.

it's a 9 today. but we didn't meet because D will be staying for a week at his cousin's house in Pasig. their father died. : ( sad for them.

it's okay not to meet though. i want to be alone. i want to think. to rest. and.. hmm.. i'll leave it that way first.

don't worry. im okay. : )

some pictures i wanna share before i end this entry:

i saw this at the mail and i find it funny. don't be a nagger. =D

Deb, Alda, and Casey. during our last day. : )

happy Monday everyone! : ) please pray for me. thanks!

bond

D went to Batangas with Froilan and some other workmates to find a place for their company outing. Francine also didn't go out with Eman today. so to comfort ourselves, we headed to Starbucks and had this - two venti fraps and two waffles. : ) haha. yum!! i looove it. : )

at first, i was going to go there and have some 'ME' time. have a coffee and read a good book. being alone and being lonely are two different things. and believe me, im far from being lonely. but since Francine had a checkup with our dentist, she joined me after. it was fun though. i was telling her about my classmate who's just like her - the way they look and talk. it's funny that i just realize how similar they are with each other. : ) she updated me with her work, about their upcoming team building, and our upcoming conferences in our church during Holy Week.

i made macaroni salad too. but i forgot to take a picture of it. next time!

i had fun today. i have many things planned this month. hope to be productive. : ) off to church in a few.

hey dear, thanks for having dinner with me last night. : ) but i still missed you today, haha! see you tomorrow. : )

Francis M. (1964-2009)

it's so sad that Francis Magalona died already around noon today. our maid told me this news when i came home from the grocery. im not much of a fan, because i rarely watch TV (id rather stay in front of the computer all day than in front of a TV, hehe). when i heard this, my heart breaks for his family. his wife, and eight children. i learned that not only is he a rapper and an artist, he's also good at photography (i loove his Canon 5D Mark II : )), a director, producer, and he loves his family very much.

what also caught my attention is that he loves our country too. the Three Stars and a Sun.

it made me realize once again how unpredictable life can be here. six months after he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, he's gone already.

may we all live life to the fullest.

you can visit his personal site here and here.

03. 05. 09

i took my last exam as a student this morning. and im glad that i did it well. : ) then i watched one of our classmates' defense. it's actually their third defense. : ( and.. they didn't make it. because they still have some errors in their paper, they have to test it again. in short, they will not graduate on time. they won't be able to march during the big day. : ( i feel sad for all of them. : (

after the defense, Alda, James, Hershey, Chiara, and i went to Wai Ying and ate lunch together. Alda and i both had Roasted Duck rice and siomai. yum! : ) we came home and left our things then went to 168. it's SO HOT when i came home. kakainis. hay. : (

so there. nothing much happened today. and i only got myself two tops and baby wipes from 168 hehe.

so sleepy now. goodnight! i promise to do a better post this weekend. : ) ciao.

March

goodbye February. it's the third month already. and today is the first day of my final exams. we'll be submitting our take home exam in professional deontology and our paper tomorrow. last test on Thursday. and.. that's it.

this is it.

part of me feels happy that im finally graduating and i'll be stepping into the REAL world already. not the kind of world im used to, but the cruel and unforgiving world. that's what they say, anyway.

part of me feels sad to leave too. im sad of leaving Jen behind. : ( but im happy that she found a new circle of friends. they're kind, funny, and loves to eat like us too. : ) no matter who we meet, we'll always have this special bond that no one can break. when the going gets tough and the tough gets going, it's comforting to know that you have a friend. : ) there are some things that only the two of us can understand. and sometimes, we don't need words. just being there by one's side, it's already enough. : )

if there's one thing i'll miss in UST, it's my bestfriend, Jen. : )

Jen.. lets not count the days, lets make each day count. : )