Another Farewell...

Today Lola already joined Lolo in heaven. Lola just turned 90 last 17 February. We were not able to go to the province to celebrate with her but we just called her and greeted her. That was the last time I was able to speak with her, that was the last time I heard her voice. She had a "stroke" a few days after her birthday, husband and I went to visit her at the hospital the day after, that was the last time we saw her alive but not conscious. After almost a month, she bid goodbye.

Lola is my husband's grandma. She took care of my husband and two sisters since childhood. I met her some few years ago, I was still "a girlfriend" back then; she would never fail to cook "ginisang ampalaya" for me every time I go to their place in the province because she learned that it was one of my favorites. Now that she is already in heaven, I guess I need to learn to cook ginisang ampalaya on my own…

To our dear Lola, we thank you very much for all the love and the care that you have shown us. We know that you are happier now with Lolo. Stay happy Lola, we love you! ;)

Very First!

Today is exactly 1 year from the first time that I blogged here, and for a year I have created 139 posts plus this one. So that's 140 entries in a year, not bad. ;)

Blogging has helped me a lot, now I know myself on a more personal level. Before, I couldn't even decide what my favorite color is. When you are blogging, you discover more of you, you start to know your preferences, the things that make you happy, your goals, your dreams, the occasions which, and people who, really matter in your life. Blogging is my outlet, sometimes my escape from reality. For me, the best thing about blogging is you have a written account of the things that happened, the things that you dreamt of, the things that made you appreciate life all the more. It's always good to look back and know that you are actually in a better state now than before.

Cheers to more years of blogging and sharing!

By the way, today is also my favorite aunt's birthday, she's in the UK right now with her daughter, son-in-law and her very first grandchild. I wish her continued happiness, peace and good health. ;) Happy Birthday Auntie!

Ouch!!!

I have uttered this expression several times yesterday.
Guess what I was doing???

Before you think of not-so-wholesome things, I will tell you what I did.;)

I, with four of my ADB friends (Gillian, Alica, Erin and Valerie), tried out "barre3." Are you familiar with barre3? It was last week when Gillian introduced it to us and invited us to try it out. It is offered at The Spa in Alabang and at the Fort.

Barre3 is a combination of ballet, yoga and pilates. It is a 60-minute workout which aims to connect mind, body and breath to relieve stress. To know more about its benefits and how it started, click here.

During the 60-minute workout, I felt that I badly need to exercise, well, all of us do. And I need to do it soon. There were several times that I had to pause/relax because I found some positions too painful.... only because my body has no exercise at all prior this trial session. I last attended yoga classes two years ago, and that was it. Though my body hurts until now, I had to admit that I liked barre3. I think it can work for me after some sessions and the pain will be lessened as I go along. But for now, my friends and I decided to "prepare" for barre3 by taking less intense workouts such as yoga/pilates or just by mere going to the gym or playing some sports. As for me, I will join Gillian and go back to yoga next month. I will do this mainly for health reasons, at the same time, to firm up muscles, and lessen tummy fats. ;) Good luck to all of us!

10 years from now...

Sorry for thinking so ahead. I just got inspired (again) by Ms. Daphne Oseña-Paez. She turned 40 today, happy, happy birthday to her! She's 40 but she doesn't look like one, she looks so pretty and fab, she's so accomplished as a wife/mother, as a career woman, as a UNICEF ambassadress and as a person in totality. I really admire her, I would like to atleast in some ways be able to feel fulfilled and accomplished when I myself turn 40.

Now that I am 30 and I still have 10 years to work on things, to achieve my goals, and to make my plans materialize, I would like to have a list of the things that I hope to have and to achieve 10 years from now. I always believe that it is better to write what you want in life, it serves as a constant reminder, you can always check where you are and see if you are bit by bit reaching your target.

On or before 40, I hope that..

* my husband and I already have our very own home-sweet-home ;)

* I am the best mom to atleast two healthy, kind-hearted and God-fearing kids ;)

* my husband and I are active and serving members of Couples for Christ or other organization with the same mission

* I have gone(with husband, family and friends) to atleast 5 best places(beaches) in the Philippines, 5 countries in Asia, atleast 2 countries in Europe ;)

* I am debt-free ;)

* I am already level 7 at work ;)

* I know how to drive and I am already driving my own car (atleast to and from work) ;)

* I have a "personal, untouched and not-to-touched(until retirement:))" savings of atleast P500,000 (so that's atleast P50,000 a year)

* I have started investing on mutual funds (and stocks)

* I am giving 10% of my take home income to charity institutions (like World Vision, UNICEF, etc.)

* I know how to cook a variety of food and to bake cakes/pastries for my husband and kids ;)

* I have studied and finished a course on Gender and/or Environment (focus on Climate Change)

* I can speak atleast 1 more foreign language (Spanish most probably)

* I have atleast 1 LV bag, 1 LV wallet and a Little Miss Marc Bag ;)

* I have a leica camera with brown leather case

Well, I'm done with my list, I will check this from time to time for focus and guidance. By the grace of God, may all these come true. May His will be done!

Together again!!!

As you know, my husband is in Davao since March 3. His return has been moved several times. He told me early this week, that he might be back on March 20, so we have to wait for 1 more week! Well, that's fine because I know that he's been busy with work and has to finish the project on time. Though you cannot blame me for missing my husband, this is the longest time that we are apart since we got married.

Yesterday, Saturday, I was supposed to meet a dear friend, we would watch movie in Greenbelt, but in the morning, she had to cancel because her sister and nephew paid her a visit at home. So I decided to just stay at home, but in the afternoon, I thought of inviting my sister, but she's busy with her thesis so she told me that she would text me if her thesis professor would not give her something to do for the day, we could watch. With this response, I didn't expect anymore so I just read at home and rest. Well, I was so happy because I finally finished reading one work document that I've been wanting and needing to read for so long. So my Saturday isn't so pathetic at all. From morning until afternoon, my husband was texting and calling me from time to time. At around 7pm, he texted me and told me that he would sleep, knowing that he was so tired all week, I just replied "Good night baby, iloveyou!" After a few minutes, my mom called me and told me that she had a missed call from Jomark, so I just told her to text him and ask why. At the back of my mind, I was thinking of the reason for the call, I thought that maybe, my husband was already coming home and he called my mom to request her and my dad to pick him up from the airport... I called my mom to ask if my husband responded to her text but she told me that he just accidentally dialled my mom's number which was not the same with what my husband texted me, he said that he called my mom, it was cut off, so he just texted her and asked if everything was well... Hmmm... I smelled something fishy... ;) but dropped the thought. After more than 2 hours, I received a call from my husband, he asked me what I was doing, I told him I was watching tv while surfing the net, he just replied, open the door!!! Oh no! This is it! I knew it! He's back and my parents connived with him to surprise me!! ;)

Well, I love surprises!! So this will truly be a happy weekend for us!;)

A very LoVely Surprise!

I love surprises, pleasant surprises of course. Before today, the last pleasant and lovely surprise I experienced was when my husband gave me the wallet that I wanted for Christmas. When we dropped by the store, I showed it to him, but told him not to buy it because we incurred too many expenses, anyway, I still have a decent wallet. After watching a movie, we ate dinner and while strolling after dinner, we passed by the store again, my husband pointed out a bag he wanted to check, upon entering the store, a saleslady approached me and handed me a paperbag with a gift tag with my name on it! I did not know how and when my husband purchased it because we were always together almost all the time that day in the mall.;)

Well, today, I received another very pleasant and lovely surprise from a dear friend, Kit, who currently resides and works in Geneva, Switzerland. She was a former officemate in ADB. When I received the envelope with her name on it, I got really excited to open it! Inside is a very lovely postcard with Audrey Hepburn's photo (a famous Breakfast at Tiffany's photo), at the back is a letter from Kit. It feels so good to get updates from friends especially those who are far, very far. I felt so touched because she remembered me and sent me an AH postcard. She might probably saw that postcard in a store and remembered me or she remembered me and tried to look for a postcard and saw this AH postcard which she knows I would totally adore. Either way, I feel so happy and grateful for friends like her who never forgets.

I sent her an email , thanked her for sending a very lovely surprise. I told her at the end of my note to give us (her friends) some time to save up for Europe so we can visit her. ;) Thanks Kit! ;) See you soon! ;)

My Day, Your Day

Every 8 March is International Women's Day. This is being observed worldwide. In ADB, the celebration starts with a breakfast for all, unfortunately, I was not able to attend this year, after the breakfast, there are distinguished guests who give presentation on issues mostly about gender equality. If only I have an extra time to study again, what I really like to study (aside from Climate Change) is about Gender Equality. At this stage of my life, it is not the best time to study because I am still adjusting in my new work and new environment, my husband and I would like to have a baby hopefully by next year if it's God's will. I can probably go back to school to learn what I want and need when our baby doesn't need my full time (or atleast most of my time after office hours). Or I hope by that time, UP Open University is already offering a course on Gender...

To all grandmas, momsies, aunts, sisters, daughters, shopaholics, bagaholics, shoeholics, etc... appreaciate that you are a woman and love every second of it!

Cheers to womanhood! ;)

Miss you like crazy - not about the movie...

My b. h. is in Davao since Tuesday of this week to work closely with his colleagues from the headquarters to finish urgent projects. Initially, he was told that he would be back in Manila by Saturday, that's today. But his boss advised him last night that his stay in Davao will be extended until Tuesday next week.

If my memory serves me right, since we got married, this is the longest time that we were apart. On a weekend like today, we usually stay in the house to rest and to do some household chores, if we still have enough energy, we would go out, sometimes we would just window shop at the nearest mall, watch a movie or go to the groceries to buy some supplies. Since he's far, I don't feel like going out. I'm just at home right now, just watching tv while surfing the net and blogging (I should be reading work-related documents but I'm not in the mood!).

I am missing my baby, hope he will be back by Tuesday. Here's a photo of him which he sent through MMS last night. I miss you my baby! iloveyou.mwah! see you soon!

What's next?

After almost a month, I have finally finished reading this book, which I now consider one of the favorites. I have been with ADB for almost five years, and only in this book I have learned how ADB started, who were behind the establishment of this institution, how and why Manila became the chosen headquarters. I am very thankful that ADB's headquarters is here in Manila, and I feel proud that I am part of this institution and its remarkable history.

After this book, what's next? For this month, I will focus on reading work-related materials, no leisure reading this March unless I finish reading the relevant OMs, PAIs and memos all piling up in my workstation. I still have atleast 3 unfinished books so I would probably pick one on my shelf and will not buy a new book in the next 2 or 3 months.

So for now, this is my project for this month --- reading ADB manuals and instructions. Good luck to me!:)

random things, random thoughts

I got this from one of my favorite blogs. I again tagged myself ;)

Tag yourself too! I had fun answering the questions ;)

what is your current obsession? getting fit and shoes
what are you wearing now? LBD and gray leggings
do you nap a lot? nope!
what is on your desk? planner
what would you like to learn to do? "good" cooking and baking
what’s for dinner? whitefish belly
what was the last thing you bought? grocery items
what is your favorite weather? not too sunny but not raining
what is your idea of a relaxing day? just staying at home, watching, reading
what is your most challenging goal right now? to read all work manuals and instructions
if you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where do you want it to be? Paris and/or Venice!!
what would you like to have in your hands right now? an LV bag ;)
what would you like to get rid of? debts!!

what languages can you speak? only Filipino and English
what language(s) do you want to be able to speak? Spanish, French and Italian
what do you want to be when you grow up? I would like to be a preschool teacher
what's one thing you're looking forward to? trip to Malaysia and Singapore in April
what websites you visit constantly during the day? daphne's blogsite and other blogsites
if you were to pick up a pen right now, what would be the first thing you'd write? hi baby, i miss you, hope you'll be home very soon!
if you could be anywhere in the world at any point in time, where would you be? Paris/Venice, but at this very moment, I would like to be in Davao with my husband
what was the last movie you watched? Miss you like crazy ;)
what is your favourite thing to make? uhhmmm... food? for my husband ;)

*photo from mylittleparis

31 on 3 - 1

My b. h. turned 31 today, March 1.

In the morning, before we went to the office, we visited the nearest church in our place to give thanks for another wonderful year. I prayed that he will be blessed with more lovely, peaceful, prosperous and healthy years.

After work, we just had dinner and watched a movie, this time it was a "date movie," entitled "Miss you like crazy." :) Oh yes, we watch Tagalog movies sometimes, mostly JL and BA movies.;) The movie was good enough for me, though the story is far from reality.

As of this writing, I am still looking for a gift for my b.h. Hopefully before this week ends, I will already find the perfect gift.