Chow Funs

Katie: I want to go to Chow Funs

Ben: I thought we agreed we couldn't really talk at Chow Funs

Katie: I know

Ben: Are you saying Chow Funs because you can't face telling the kids? Because if that's why you're saying Chow Funs, don't say Chow Funs

Katie: That's not why I'm saying Chow Funs. Funs, I'm saying Chow Funs because we're an us. There's a history here, and histories don't happen overnight. In Mesopotamia or Ancient Troy there are cities built on top of other cities, but I don't want another city, I like this city. I know what kind of mood your in when you wake up by which eyebrow is higher, and you know I'm a little quiet in the morning and compensate accordingly, that's a dance you perfect over time. And it's hard, it's much harder than I thought it would be, but there's more good than bad and you don't just give up! And it's not for the sake of the children, but God they're great kids aren't they? And we made them, I mean think about that! It's like there were no people there, and then there were people and they grew, and an an an I won't be able to say to some stranger Josh has your hands or remember how Erin threw up at the Lincoln Memorial And I'll try to relax, let's face it, anybody is going to have traits that get on your nerves, I mean, why shouldn't it be your annoying traits, and I know I'm no day at the beach, but I do have a good sense of direction so I can at least find the beach, which isn't a weakness of yours, it's a strength of mine. And God your a good friend and good friends are hard to find. Charlotte said that in Charlottes Web and I love how you read that to Erin and you take on the voice of Wilber the Pig with such dedication even when your bone tired. That speaks volumes about character! And ultimately, isn't that what it comes down too? What a person is made of? That girl in the pin helmet is still here 'bee boo bee boo' I didn't even know she existed until you and I'm afraid if you leave I may never see her again, even though I said at times you beat her out of me, isn't that the paradox? Haven't we hit the essential paradox? Give and take, push and pull, the yen the yang. The best of times, the worst of times!I think Dickens said it best, 'He could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean', but, doesn't really apply here does it? What I'm trying to say is, I'm saying Chow Funs because, I love you

Ben: Did you hear that kids? Mom wants to go to chow Funs

-from the story of us
my j, will this be our story too? hihi:)

I think its been about three years since my ate came to Manila. Kaya she was wide-eyed amazed sa paligid nya, including sa glorietta.

She insisted on meeting up there instead of somewhere near the condo. She made up all kinds of excuses like she’s scared to get lost so somewhere familiar na lang daw or that it was raining too hard, mahirap bumaba sa alanganin. Yun pala she just wanted to see the malls! Hahaha!
The next day, we went to gateway. She was doubly amazed. How in less than 2-3 years, Cubao could change from being feared to being the ‘it’ place. grabe noh, how this city changes in a year or so.

Actually whenever I go home to naga, I feel the same way. Back then it was just a few fastfood restos like jollibee or mcdo, then came starbucks-inspired beanbag where everyone hangs out. Then theres coffee beanery - in the middle of the elite-looking Avenue Square.

And that also my niece, jenny is finally going to school. How time flies hahaha! My sister and I kept laughing while we bought school stuffs for her, pencil case, eraser, pencils, sharpeners, even panties, and sandos hahaha!

Am watching felicity again. Remember high school? Remember noel… ben… hahahah!

five lovely days.
May 16 – got back from Naga. Thankfully the ride is smooth and comfortable care of Isarog Line Lazyboy. you would feel lazy while in it but emerging from it, energized ka na because it gave you a sound sleep.

May 17 – bday ni jenny. She cried a lot when I left. It breaks my heart to leave her and so much more, to see her that way when I leave.

May 18 – erabella is born at last! Mommy donnnssss pictures please. daddy errol as expected is the proudest dad

May 19 – my j arrives from Mindanao. Now I know why the airport scene is the best place to see that L-O-V-E still prevails. anxious anticipation. Ganun pala feeling when you’re minutes away from seeing a loved one.

May 19 again – home massage. ang sarap. thanks to my housemate, johanne who sold the idea to us. Its super affordable and worth it!

May 20 – my j asked me out on a date. we had dinner at big buddha. got my fave coffee at seattles – javanilla. and went to see spiderman.

May 20 again – his flight (to Mindanao) the next day was postponed.

Sabit sa Caramoan.

Sabit lang ako but here I found myself as excited and as exhilaratingly crazy as them.


How can’t I? The beach is the best I’ve ever seen.
Ang sarap maligo. Ang linis. Ang sarap humiga sa shore. Ang sarap matulog sa beach!



The models
Not bench models but b-e-a-c-h models. I am the ‘unsupervised’, ‘stubborn’ model. but I did try my best kaya I have the widest grin, the least serious look when needed and the least free-flowing act. Hahah!





Thanks to ray. He made a sense out of the whole scenery. Naging doubly majestic, doubly enchanting ung beach – with us around!


Mga sirena.
Its not part our intention na I-outstage sila. It just happened.

My old dorm.
Not that I miss it. Wala lang.

My new room. Yes that’s still my old bulky tv. My old belts. An old pair of pants. But a new bed - a new second hand bed!

the view from my new room.

Not my new roomies but old friends who helped me welcome my new room. Thanks for coming over :) Sayang, they came in late that day, nothing left to unpack anymore or was that the intention?

huling halakhak

yey. ive finally moved in sa new place ko.after a tormenting experience sa old dorm ko, where i stayed for almost 7 years - this new place that i found is proving to be worth all that. parang blessing in disguise. its like a taste of vengeance din. now who's suffering sa heat, lack of light and air, in short poooorrrr ventilation right now?sila! nasa TBD ang huling halakhak bwahahah!:)

ok na po ako Lord, enough tboy-bashing.am moving on:)

glad you're back poisonivy! :)

Look at that smile.

I begged to sleep beside her one night when I was in Naga.
She sleeps with mama (she calls her mommy) and my ate (her ma, who she calls mama) so tucking me in beside her means someone has to sleep somewhere else.

When mama came into the room…
Me : jenny, dito na ako matutulog? Tabi tayo?
Jenny: oo dito ka na, mommy, ikaw san ka matutulog?

Too young to be subtle. Nsa genes kaya? Hihi.

to my gg:
I’ve been too hard on you these days.
And with you being so soft on me despite of that has made me realize, how blessed I am having you.
Here, your fave pic. Save mo na, pang-friendster hihi.

Hope you’ve added me finally. Pleaasssssee. Technically, you said that im not qualified to be your ‘friend’ jan sa friendster because I am more than that to you, but pleaasssseee, I want the world to know I’m part of the world you live in.

“I don’t know how to live in a world where my dad doesn’t”

I cracked in tears when George of grey’s said this.

I think I can say the same to you.

oathtaking ni atty.
i am deeply deeply happy for this guy. i remember him a few months back, he rarely talked about it. sabi nya, he has fully given it up to HIM. bahala na daw SYA. i guess it really is God's will - everything that happens in our lives is all up to HIM.
2 days back, he took his oath with of course his beloved family and close relatives plus meeee.hmmm.unofficially part of the family.

a lot of things happened when i went home for the holy week. dami ko gusto ikwento but my very important resource, time, is scarce. but here, one of the higlights is that i realized how much i missed my ever adorable, chubby niece...nakakagigil...



thats my sister, her mom - strangely slim haha.inaagawan sya ni jenny ng pagkain most of the time so there.

my youngest sister, mama, jenny, and my jojo and his knees.

so happy to have three mushy months with you and looking forward to more...:)

7 things from bali i wish i could bring home :

a hammock by the seashore -in one of those equally grand resorts beside Westin - sarap matulog hmmm

a wooden lamp that lits the stone steps leading to Westin

another lamp along the gardens of another resort

lamp part 3 - nawala wala kami while walking back towards our hotel, these lamps seems to mistify.

bali food, satay, spicy veggies

and desserts! mawawala ba naman.they're similar to our native delicacies (may sapin-sapin, nilupak tagalog ba to?hehe.

and finally, a painting made of balinese coffee

i thank this person for the instantaneous miracles in my life...

reunited with ying! was it just a year ago, that we met at booze stop for her and rhap's despedida? how time flies.
ying looks fresh out of the beach, while the rest of us -- office na office! haha!



grinning ear to ear. ok this one, though corporate looking, masaya pa rin!

UN-BUSY
I miss the busy days. It seems I always have free time. after work or in between work.
Or maybe my life has just been reduced to work these days and hence I don’t feel so busy anymore.
I’ve quit gym. I’ve deferred school for one term. And my lovelife is decidedly quiet. Hehe.

Most of the time I find myself na nangungulit sa friends (chai knows about it. Toni. Omar. Marlon. Or even diwa.)
Hayyy. A friend kept telling me, is it because I am single these days kaya I have more free time than I can ever afford. NOPE. haha!
It is really school, the lack of it that has kept me UN-BUSY. I told myself am not enrolling because work will be hectic in the coming months with the transition and all – and also because my conscience has been bugging me everytime I leave work earlier than my two team mates. And then it happened, I did not enroll. the work that I do is still the same. And yes I find myself loitering, waiting, bored…
Ok, I realized that no matter how busy life at work becomes, I will always have time for school. Get what I mean --- it seems a natural course, that time creates its own when you’re doing too many things at the same time. Am going back to school in two months. Can’t wait.

my first kayak experience - there goes me and sands, rowing with might as if we knew where to go!!!

big thanks to sands!

i so much want to go back to july 17th to 21st --- it was my first trip to dumaguete, sands' hometown. perfect company, perfect place, perfect food.

see you around
in less than two weeks, dalawa na lang dito sa pic ang mananatili dito sa pinas.
everyone is moving elsewhere in the world, esp. dubai.
ais is leaving for dubai to join emirates airline -- am so proud of this lady and am so hapi for her coz i know how much she worked hard for this and how long she waited for this. totoo talaga that when you wait long enough, something good and beautiful will always come out of it.


now, its not just one friend who's leaving me, but another one, toni!
not just a colleague at work but a dear friend -- one thing that amazes me about this girl is that she lets you be a friend to her. let me explain. she listened to me when i asked her to defer her resignation even when her heart and mind was all set out to do it. she listens and she trusts her friends.ang sarap nya maging kaibigan.


but to you both, i dont wana say goodbye but see you around.
bilog naman ang mundo, dbaaaaaaa.

a dear, dear friend, sands --- college friend, dormmate, sab sis. ill be seeing you in a week's time.. in dumaguete!!!
i can hardly wait.pero before that, ive to finish a term paper and take my midterm exams, complete client requests and decks and.. the lists go on and on.
no such thing as free lunch talaga. grabeeeeeeeeeeee.