Reward for Passion

Whenever people ask me what I do for a living and I would tell them that I’m a CPA by profession, they would always say “oh, so you’re good in math?” to which my immediate response is “Oh no, no, no!” As far as I can remember, my passion has always been with writing and speaking. Even as a kid, I’ve always been highly opinionated and there is nothing more exhilarating than sharing my views or stories with other people. My passion for writing has even been more fueled when I became a part of, and eventually led the school news paper in both elementary and high school. Those were fun times, I get to have my opinions read by the entire campus. My school days (that is from elementary through my university days) have also given me a platform to develop another love affair, this time with public speaking. My best loved mode of public speaking would definitely have to be a debate. I just feel elated each time I step on that platform to deliver my views on a matter of discussion and the knowledge that somehow, I am able to influence the opinion of others as well is beyond words.

After college, when I started working, there are fewer avenues for me to extend my wings for writing and speaking. There was just no room for me to pursue my passion further. This was the case until I’ve discovered blogging. Since then, my fervor to express my opinion, to tell my stories and to just say something has been ignited once more. I now found a channel where I can keep a journal of all the pieces that I’ve ever written. It has become my stress-reliever and has allowed me to build a space for my thoughts, my very own views.

Apart from writing in my blog, I also enjoy discovering other entertaining, informative and funny blogs in the web. What’s even more exciting is when a co-blogger notices my space and rewards me for what I’ve created here. That is why I’d like to thank Pu Niao of Chopsticks for dropping by and showering me some love by gifting me with these fabulous awards

The Neno's Award and the Brigadeiro Award. These awards are gifted to bloggers who show intense love for blogging and encourages friendship through blogging.


Thanks again Pu Niao, more than the award, I appreciate that you’ve noticed my love for blogging.

Now the other good thing about blogging is that you find other bloggers with the same amount of zeal and reading there blogs will make you realize how enthused they are with it. I find the following blogs so candid and entertaining, truly worth the stop.

Niko’s blog – her maxim of “blogging like no one is reading” is truly admirable.
Confessions – this blog is truly informative and funny.
Witsandnuts – her antics, travel and experiences are inspiring and informative at the same time
Market Manila – if this is not a blog that showcases passion for food, then I don’t know what will.
Pulse - DrEm's blog is indeed a blog that inspires, her daily post is something that i look forward to, when it comes to movies, food and travel, i definitely consult her blog

These are just some of the blogs that I’ve been lucky enough to chance upon and it is evident in all of them how passionate they are with blogging and how enamored they are with sharing their views and stories.

My Hero!

“For the honor of Grayskull… I am She-ra.”



I can’t help but grin as I recall these more famous lines from one of my all time favorite superheroes, She-ra. I am even having flashbacks of the game I used to play with my sister where we would wield out fake swords and battle some of our friends, pretending that both of us were She-ra. Ohh, I could only remember the vases and figurines we broke as we made our living room a mock-battlefield, those were good times!

Who wouldn’t adore She-ra, a typical young princess who can merely sit all day in the splendor and comfort of her castle but instead volunteered to protect her beloved Etheria. Even at a very young age, I appreciated how she didn’t allow herself to be overshadowed by the image of her superhero twin brother and became an equal, if not even more. She was also the epitome of a great woman. She can be as soft spoken and feminine in every way but can transform into a strong and ingenious protector without loosing her femininity. The plot of the series also leaves very less to be desired. In the midst of all the action, Princess Adora still gets to have a love life and has an admirer in Bow and a love interest in Sea Hawk. There is also the transformation of an ordinary horse, Spirit, into a fascinating unicorn, Swift Wind, who becomes She-ra’s faithful ally. And of course, what superhero story is complete without a nemesis, Hordak, the leader of the evil Horde.

It was a disappointment though that throughout the years, a lot of superhero-movies were created out of animated series but She-ra’s adventures never made it to the silver screen. Superhero flicks have sprung from left and right, some have become classics while others are more easily forgotten. I have grown up and watched a lot of these superhero movies and if I were to choose among all of them most probably I would have to go with the Christopher Reeve-starrer, Superman. Since this was the first superhero movie that I have ever seen, I can’t help but be awed by the plot and the struggles that Superman went through and although he was perfect in every way, he still has weaknesses. Consequently, if I were to choose a superhero movie that I liked the least, I would have to go for Daredevil, although I love Ben Afleck, that movie just didn’t gel well with me for some reason and maybe that would make him my least favorite superhero.



The coolest thing about being a superhero is having abilities to do things that a normal human being cannot, may it be because of super powers or technological advancement. Whatever the reason maybe, I think that one of the main reasons why we so love to watch and admire these super humans is because of their powers. Having to think of it, if there is one super power that I would so like to have, that would be the power to fly. Imagine how much I can save from all the airline tickets if I could fly and transport myself and my honey to a place that we would want to go to. Sorry, I know that is for personal gain (selfish, selfish selfish!!!) but I would also volunteer to transport relief goods to far off areas to make up for it!!! Haha.

This is an entry to EmDy’s Superhero Contest

Ref Door Project – Magnets, magnets and more magnets

Ever since I was a small kid, I have always fancied having a side-by-side fridge with portable water and ice dispenser which would be great for the hot and humid summer days in the Philippines, apart from the fact that I really thought it looked fancy. That is why, needless to say, one of my most favorite appliances in our kitchen is our LG double-door refrigerator. Honey and I bought the fridge last August 2007 when we moved in to our very own home. We both hesitated to buy such a big ref coz it’s just the two of us and the grocery is literally a stone throw away from our home (about 1 to 2-minute walk) so we wouldn’t need to store a lot of supplies. However, the employee’s discount that Honey would be getting from their company got the better of us and we thought that buying the bigger ref would mean more savings for us. We caved in and finally decided on buying the humongous refrigerator which almost didn’t fit through our doors.

All is well that ends well, we love our fridge. Its spacious, everything fits in it and we always have room to store more. I am not sure how it begun but when we started to travel more often, we got the hang of buying fridge door magnets from each of the places that we visited. So when we noticed that we already had a couple of them magnets, Honey, being the compulsive collector that he is, decided that from then on, we would try to find ref door magnets wherever we go and put it on the fridge so that we could keep track of the places that we have been to. However, when we went on holidays in Manila, Honey’s aunt gave him a ref door magnet from Davao and we have never been to there. So the rule of Honey’s magnet collection changed, he said that all those magnets that were given to us as presents bought from places that we’ve never been to, those magnets would go on the freezer’s side and the magnets from places we’ve already been to would go to the other side. Fancy rule huh. (hehe). Well here it is the picture of our fridge at its current state featuring all the magnets we’ve collected over the months. The magnets are from Amsterdam (of course!), Belgium, France, Spain, Turkey, Hong Kong, Boracay, Palawan and Davao.




This is my contribution to Wifely Steps' Blog Carnival: The Ref Door Project..

Filipina: A Woman of Character

I always see her standing in the middle of her garden with a long broomstick clasped in her feeble and bony hands, sometimes alone, most of the times gleefully surrounded by her apos. She was always clad with an ankle length skirt and a blouse that is less elaborate than the traditional baro. Her hair was pulled tightly in a bun and her face was wrinkled with the years that passed her by. In spite of her old age, her back was as straight as a board and her mere glance could silence the rowdy teenagers that pass by. Although, the one thing that really struck me about her was her warm and gentle smile and her presence that commands nothing less than respect and reverence. I knew her as Manang, the old lady who lives in front of my parents’ house.

It was a very long time ago, I don’t even recall seeing Manang the last time I visited my parents. Indeed, it was a long time ago and yet my memory of her has never faltered. Manang was one of the first few women whose character I have truly admired. Maybe it was because she has always exuded this strong personality that can silence the untamed and yet a mere look into her eyes reveals kindness, care and compassion. As a kid, while staring at her contented in her garden, my young mind could not comprehend how her small and frail body could radiate such a sturdy and dignified yet gentle persona, she was an enigma to me.

Certainly, Manang’s personality is admirable but I have realized that her character was neither unique nor rare, not for Filipinas anyway. Only after several years and after living far away from my roots have I realized that Manang’s persona, the very same enigmatic personality that mystified my childhood, is embedded in each and every Filipina regardless of the country that they are in and the lifestyle that they lead. True indeed, all Filipinas that I have met possess a hint of Manang’s character in them albeit wrapped in different packages.

The modern Filipina has been influenced by so many cultures, customs, ethnicity and traditions. We have been exposed to knowledge and have acquired skills that our historic counterparts would have never imagined. Filipinas have explored corners of the globe that Gabriella Silang or Melchora Aquino knew nothing about. We have even taken up roles that were tabooed for women during Dona Teodora Alonzo’s times. Yet, in spite of all these influences, knowledge and modernization, the Filipina has never let go of the values inculcated in her by her forebears. She still values her family more than any luxury or comfort in life, she still offers respect to the elderly, she values hard work, honesty, integrity, courage, and above all, she finds solace and hope in her faith.

Throughout the years, the Filipino women have taken an active part in the fields of medicine, music, arts, business, religion and even politics. We have proven that our brilliant minds and resilience can be helpful in the betterment of not only our families but also our society. I believe that the Filipina’s greatest edge over the rest of womanhood is her passion which is fuelled by an unconditional love and care for others. This passion inspires her to excel in any field that she tries to conquer. I can’t help but be overwhelmed by pride as I see Filipinas from all walks of life stride on unfamiliar grounds to try to enhance their families’ or societies’ situation without succumbing to the pressures of the progressive world to compromise their moral fiber or loose their strength of character.

When I see a Filipina, I envision an oasis in the middle of the deteriorating image of womanhood in the modern world. The Filipina is a personification of equilibrium between a woman of conviction and a woman of heart Filipinas possess a character so strong it cannot be thwarted by poverty, struggles or norms. I wouldn’t have though it possible but the modern Manang’s character is even better than the one I have admired for so long. The modern Filipina is a radiant persona, indeed we Filipinas are all these and much more.

This is an official entry to the WikiPilipinas Filipina Stories Writing Contest.

For More on WikiPilipinas please visit the following Links:
http://www.wikipilipinas.org/
http://www.filipiniana.net/
http://www.filipinaimages.com/
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=WikiPilipinas:Filipina_Stories/

Right under my nose

Our eyes met and we couldn’t stop staring at each other as everyone else around us was fading into the background until it was just him and me. Everything stood still for a moment. I heard bells chimed from a distance and right then and there, from that moment on, I knew he is the one I will spend the rest of my life with, my knight in shining armor, my prince, my one true love. When I was a kid, this was how I imagined it would be when I finally met the guy I’m destined to spend my life with. It was many years later that I was proven wrong.

It’s as clear in my mind as if it was yesterday, it was our freshmen year in college, one of those lazy afternoons, in the middle of a crowded university grounds, we were a group of seven (my good old barkada) sitting in one of the shaded benches when one of them, D, nudged me and said “ayan ung crush ko parating!” in that giggly excited tone that made me smile. I peeled my eyes off from the book that I was trying to read and looked up to the guy walking towards the direction of our bench. She didn’t stop nudging me until I told her what I thought of him so I told her “cute, pero hindi ko type”. I had to refrain from smiling coz D was turning as red as a cherry by the second as he neared our bench. I noticed though that the guy had a girl walking next to him and D, who seems to have researched about the guy whispered to me, “girlfriend nya yan”. They have already passed and all seven of us were still staring at their backs when I reassured D by saying, “ano ka ba mas maganda ka pa sa kanya!”

Three years passed, we were juniors, older but also more childish than ever. Through the years, I have become acquainted with D’s crush; he was Junfer, a popular campus figure being a student council officer and all. We mingled with the same group of people because I also became a part of the socio political group that he was in, and I also held a position in the student council although in a different term. He was also close friends with one of my barkada, Van, who was a member of the group as well (longer than I have been). Still, I was only barely aware of Junfer’s existence since D’s infatuation with him have faded through the years, we never mention him in our chats anymore. Until one day…

Everyone in campus had that light, elated feeling, a feeling that can only be triggered by the thought of another semester coming to its end. It was our last day in campus before we go on holidays. Van approached me and said, “Billiards naman daw tayo”. Having nothing else to do, and having developed a fondness for the game, I agreed. I was surprised when Junfer joined us. I thought we needed him anyway coz we were seven so we needed another to make it even. I really don’t remember how but we ended up playing against each other.

During that time, I can’t help but notice how engaging he was, he was funny, witty and quite good at billiards. He was very kind and he had very beautiful eyes that lights up when he laughs. He was very attentive and always asked if I was comfortable or if I needed more drinks. We were laughing the entire time we played. When I glanced up at Van playing against another one of our friends, both of them were giving me this meaningful looks. I approached them and both of them said “parang may firework sa table nyo ah, ingat ka baka mainlove ka dyan”. I told them that they were just crazy. When everyone decided to call it a day, Junfer approached me and asked, “gusto mo pa magbilliards, nagtext sakin si Kuya A (also a member of our organization) imeet ko daw sya sa Rob magbibiliards daw, sige na anyway wala na tayong pasok eh”. I said yes.

It was an enchanting evening. We laughed, we joked around and we realized that we both liked a lot of things like basketball (both the game and the same PBA team), billiards, movies, music and a lot more. The evening was so surreal. He even insisted on dropping me off at my place saying “ano ka ba ihahatid na kita, gabi na”.

I realized that I was so smitten when I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face long after he dropped me home, I couldn’t get his sparkling eyes out of my head, I couldn’t stop thinking of his smile. I couldn’t get enough of his jokes and above all, I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking of the next time I’ll be seeing him again.

I have always thought that I would know that the guy is “the one” for me from the moment I met him, I guess I was wrong. Little did I know that he was right there under my nose, I was just looking too far away. I have always thought that love was an instant attraction, I guess for me, I needed to look more closely. But I was certain about one thing, I knew that he is the one because everything fell right into place.

Guess I wasn’t the only one smitten. Seven years later, we got married. My very own fairytale came true.

This is my entry to the About my Recovery's Love Struck Writing Contest a perfect opportunity to share those sweet moments in time for valentines day.