badminton!!!

i just felt a sudden addiction to this sport lately... it just feels so good to play... smashing the shuttlecock with all your might like that (thinking you're smashing that someone you hate... /heh just kidding :p ) but it is really fun... especially when you're a first-timer who don't even get to hit the shuttlecock as you are "serving" it at first... then finally, after some more tries, get the shuttlecock flying! now i don't wonder anymore why it has suddenly become such a popular sport 0=)

Hearing God

from an email... a reminder that He's never too far from us...

The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn.
So he went to see the old preacher.

Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his
problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged
God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't
God answer?"

The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in
reply -- something so hushed it was indistinguishable. The young
man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.

The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a
whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on
the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you."

With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once
more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move
closer to hear Him."

This time the young man heard and he understood.

We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the
answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice. . .
the gentle whisper.

Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like
a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move
close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then,
as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer
to God.

Author Unknown

Renewed 0=)

Went to church last Sunday... and I have to admit, I haven't been in that place for quite some time now... and going back made me feel light again... all the stress I felt didn't automatically disappear but I was again reassured that I shouldn't be the one carrying the burden... all I had to do is trust Him and cast my burdens upon Him...

I have been a bit lazy the past few days prior to this... lazy to go to church... lazy to go out... and I felt so burned out already... I was too lazy even to take a look at and feel the blessings He has given me... those as they say are right under my nose...

And, seeing things clearly again for the first time in quite a long time of melancholy, i just feel so renewed... ready to put back all the pieces of my life together again... and face a brand new day 0=)

Gimik after the beach!!!

Last Thursday, the kada went out to surprise Jome at Cafe Monaco. He came down with a fever the week before so he wasn't able to join us in Puerto... so... we went to Monaco in beach attire!!! lolz... I was a bit sick then but hey, birthdays come only once a year!

Then came Saturday, we went out to celebrate his bday at Nippon, Tomas Morato... (his treat this time *wink*) The food was great... I had little of almost everything, and I was so so full!!! we had some pics taken... am so excited already to see them! After that we went videoke-ing... had a few sips of Singapore sling (was getting a bit alcohol-phobic *blush*) sang songs that brought back a lot of memories... and went home really late already! was tired... but happy and very much contented :)

The Dash

Life can be so short indeed...

THE DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak
At a funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. (1934-1998)

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own
The cars...the house...the cash,
What matters most is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard...
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash,
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how we spend our dash?

By Linda Ellis

Puerto Galera!!!

I have to admit... I really wasn't sure if I could make it... Although I really wanted to so badly, I have lotsa work to finish... and more to be left behind =)

But I came... I saw... I conquered... and I survived... *lol*

--- ☼Ü☼ ---

1:00 AM: I can't believe I was awake already this early!!! I slept 11ish the night before (that's barely two hours)... quite a record for me! Anyway I crammed... I admit it... I was only able to pack my things the night before... and now I had to wake up early to finish my packing...

1:45 AM: I'm officially awake already at this time... got up, took a bath... did all my morning rituals... text text text! saw Dwin's message that he texted Raen the night before... won't share it here now... censored!!! hehehe =)

I don't know what time Raen picked me up... I think it was after 4:00 AM already... was so sleepy to remember... Allen was already with her, her mom was there also... then we picked up Chew and all four of us were talking about how we weren't able to sleep the night before...

4:45 AM: In the bus terminal already. chatted some more; Allen brought hot taho which I was so tempted to buy also but I was too scared to upset my stomach before the rough ride so I restrained myself... We then boarded the bus a few minutes after.

5:00 AM: Left Manila!!! I didn't know that the Batangas bus would be filled up that quickly!!! But that's just too good... coz we're now on the way to Galera!!!

---Sat with Chew, we were both sleepy so waht can you expect...? Sleep... Got woken up by I dunno what... Then sleep some more... until...---

7:20 AM: In the Batangas Pier!!! Had no idea which boat to choose... just picked the only one leaving soonest... the 8:00 ride...

---Boarded the RO-RO boat... waited waited waited... and told my co-passengers:
"Grr... Kaya nga ito pinili na ride kasi 9:00 yung iba... Akala ko ba 8:00 yung alis... eh 8:30 na ndi pa gumagalaw???" And all three of them looked at me and said... "Ven, kanina pa tayo gumagalaw..." *lol* I had to look outside to see that we really were moving... it felt like an inch per second to me... :)) Anyway we just chatted and videocam-ed each other... Saw an ant.... videocam-ed the ant... saying that was how slow we were moving... and yeah, so now i know how it is is to ride the RO-RO... it's like row-rowing your own boat!!! *lol*

Fastforward... we arrived around 10 mins before eleven... or something like that... We were dropped off the Balatero port... rode a trike to White Beach

Fastforward again: Arrived at White Beach at last! Saw Edwin topless... so we knew this was it... hehehe... brought our stuff to the cottage... I had to take a quick shower to lessen the heat... then lunch...

Umm... food wasn't so good... it was well... so-so... well, just not the type of "buffet" I was expecting.... just one viand (no choice but to have meatballs...) then rice good for ten giants... corn soup and mangoes... looks more like eat all you can rice and meatballs...

Then shopping at the tiangge!!! I had fun selecting the really-cheap-but-sooo-cute trinkets that I bought... the more expensive ones were already commercialized in Manila that's why I really wasn't that attracted to them... Believe it or not I spent roughly Php 170 for 7 bracelets!

We had so much fun shopping we almost forgot about the island-hopping!!! We hurried to our cottages then rode the boat...

:( Bad trip... the banceros were so mukhang pera but oh well, that's how they are ):

We went snorkeling!!! It was my third time... but still, I didn't know how to swim!!! Dwin took care of me most of the time... Drich, Keith and Raen also helped... Raen was handful already with Len (who was like me hehehe) most of the time and Chew was with Keith (ahem, ahem just kidding). Pau was with Angelo. Debi stayed in the boat.

I had a really good time! Saw a blue starfish but I wasn't able to take a shot of it since I was too scared to let go... I saw a school of green, yellow and blue-colored fishes... I think I saw angelfishes too... I took some shots... dunno it they were good coz it was kinda difficult to see through the tiny hole of a camera when you're so used to digicams... (if only digicam casings weren't so expensive /sob)

Not long after... I was already brave enough to let go of Dwin's hand... I tried to "swim" on my own... and I was just so proud of myself... and yeah I was overconfident after that... hahaha... I was moving an inch per second though, like the RO-RO... but who cares? I was having the time of my life! Feeling so in control (well not so much because of the life vest) But I was a bit more in control now that I am moving on my own... =)

I wasn't too aware of the time this time coz... I was having so much fun to even bother! Bruised my knee as I climbed back to the boat... the bleeding didn't stop until we reached the cottages... Luckily I was with scouts who brought with them first aid kits... Courtesy of Keith Yague... Got it? 1st aid kit-Keith Yague... kit-keith... hehe

So we went back... a bit disappointed that there was no island hopping to speak of... Raen and I went out again for a stroll... found Mindorinne Oriental... a really nice looking hotel with better rates... /sob sob... fast forward... (some parts ommitted so as not to be reminded of the regrets =) )

We decided to just have fun despite of the things we saw... and just make the most out of the experience! Ate what we call "dinner" hehe... Then got my first henna tattoo... It's really cute!!! Designed by Keith Yague... hehe... my dolphins are sooo sooo cute!!!

Then we also tried their kebab... shopped some more and... got drunk! (won't give you the details anymore...) Had to sleep already... I just regret not being to wake up early the next morning as I have planned... I wanna give my kaberks some stuff but I already didn't have time to /sob

The best meal we had I think, was our last breakfast. Too bad, as I've said, I woke up late... so I wasn't able to eat the nicest meal...

9:something AM: We were late for the departing boat (sorry guys :">) Wasn't able to choose our seats (there is no choice now to speak of)... as expected... Debi, Angelo, Pau, Keith and Dwin sat on something which wasn't supposed to be sat on... but at least, they were huddled together while I, Raen, Chew, Len and Drich had to sit with other passengers. The boat ride was faster than the one we rode to Puerto... We had some kulitans too... Though I was still groggy from last night... I was just too happy to go home! Was too tired...

Fastforward... Rode a bus to Cubao... Sat with Chew again... chatted for I think the whole trip!

We arrived the station around 1:30 PM... (Angelo, Debi and Pau had to go off before Cubao) and the rest got a cab to Tomas Morato... our destination... FOOD!!! at Napoli's!

We were disappointed at first coz there weren't available seats... we were already hopeless and trying to get ready for a long walk to Yellow Cab to see if they have space when the lazy person in me stepped in to ask if there would be an available space for us in a few minutes... Luckily there is so we waited and took some shots in the process of waiting...

The food we ordered there was the BEST!!! We had carbonara with chicken, seafood parmigiana and a LARGE New England's best pizza!!! As expected... food was gone around five minutes after everything was served!!! *lol lol lol* We had a nice chat... a handful of teasings and teasings and teasings *lol* and the best of all, the best company and kada in the whole wide world!!!

We were supposed to meet up at anyone's house after that (we were still undecided) but I was too tired to stay though I would have loved to... I guess they were all feeling tired as I am so we decided to call the day off... After all, we have to spend some time with our families... it was Sunday, and a Mother's Day at that...

---☼Ü☼---

So for the evaluation part:

PLACE: could have been better... we should really try Mindorinne!!!

FOOD: no package for this please!!! let's choose our own food next time... please please please *lol*

ISLAND HOPPING: meron daw pag umaga... so next time... =)

TRIP: so-so... no RO-RO next time!!! *lol* else i'll just row-row my boat! that'll be cheaper, and more time efficient... i'll burn calories in the process too!!! *lol*

PEOPLE: Guys, you're the best!!! As I've always said, no matter where, no matter what we'll be doing, no matter how much the cost (all as long as they're within my means) would be fine with me... as long as you'll be there... I'd be more than happy... 0=)

---☼Ü☼---

Acknowledgments:

First of all to Jome: muchos gracias for encouraging me to go... i don't approve of how you tried to convince the others though... but the important thing is, you won, we went... could have been a lot more better though if you were there also =)

Yo and Cynts: Believe it or not, kasama pa rin kayo dito!!! You're never far from our hearts... ilan beses nyo ba nakagat dila nyo while we were away??? wahehehe... Sana makasama kayo next time!!!

Mike: Ok lang yan... may next time pa naman eh... pero thanks for planning to go, kahit na ndi natuloy... would have been more fun if you were there... =)

Dwin: for being my snorkel buddy and never leaving me on air... i mean on water *lol* Indirectly though it may be, you gave me the confidence to just go and let go... for the advices... for plain listening... and sa iba pa... thanks so much!!!

Keith: alam mo na yun!!! wahehehe... dun sa ommitted part ng blog ko... yun na yun!!! hehehe thanks for the free henna design and tattoo... i really had a great time with you!

Debi: for the trip! could have been better but we wouldn't know din, could have been worse too... anyways, thanks! =)

Pau and Angelo: for going and being "game" sa lahat... merci beaucoup!!!

Drich: for being my reporter/alarm clock 0=) hehehe (ndi ko nasama sa blog ko na si drich yung kinukulit ko the day before kami pumunta ng Galera... hehehe and he really is a good reporter... very detailed and helpful info!)i wasn't able to bond with you much though... pero thanks dude for all the help, sa snorkeling din =)

Allen: sensha na uli sa pang-aasar ha... belated happy birthday!!! thanks sa pagdala ng gamit on the way and sa iba pa...=)

Babes and Chew: I wouldn't have gone without you!!! Total girl bonding talaga to... hehehe anyways... yoko na magdrama pero... sana maulit muli...

Thanks so much guys!!! You're the best among the rest, among the best you are the rest??? hahaha baliktad!!! anyway, love ko talaga kayo... yun lang!!! mwah mwah mwahhhh!!! =☼