8 years to forever, okay?

Happy 8 years of LOVE and LAUGHTER  and KILIG (Ayeeeee!) to the both of you Che and Karl!!!!!!!

If there’s a word greater and stronger than “happy” in order to greet you on the eighth year of your wonderful love story, then I would have probably used that word. 

It warms my heart to see both of you growing in love despite your apparent geographical distance for most of the time. While I am writing this, I can’t help but smile while remembering how your story started waaaaay back from high school, up to now. It has grown from pa-tweetums-love into a kind of love that is mature enough as to have deepened with time and even with distance. 

Your story has a way of tugging into our hearts with the fact that you can look back into the past and know that you can look back at each stage of your life---from awkward high schoolers, to idealistic but happy-go-lucky university students, to unemployed fresh out of university graduates, to struggling young adults at the bottom of the working force ladder paving for the way up---and see each other in each step and in every transition, sharing mutual stories, mutual laughters, and mutual friends (gapadara-dara lang, ahahahaha!). And I am so happy that we are somehow part of some tinie-tiny-tidbits of your LOVE story and we are mute loud witnesses to the growth of your love. 

Happy anniversary Che and Karl!!!!! The world is a much better place with your love for each other in it. Best love story ever, swear!  IDOL!!! *wink*

…and because the 7 seas (7 seas guid man? Ahahahaha!) are a great part of your story, I can’t help but include this “Jack-Rose” scene.

P.S. When can we hear the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bells?

You Have Everything a Real Princess Would Envy!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESSY!

I wouldn't make this greeting sentimental because this day is supposed to be filled with everything that is HAPPY!

Never dampen your spirit with the fact that you are miles away from home. You have more than too much of good and happy memories to last with you not only for the coming months ahead but for the possible lifetime of staying away from home for most of time. And thinking about it, that's the good thing about home and old friends-----you couldn't shake them away even if you try and it's a great comfort knowing that despite all odds, you can always go back to them again and again.

You (Actually, we. Hahaha!) might be growing old but the fact is that despite the years and the experiences that we had, we are unsure about so many things in life. But if there's one thing that I'm definitely certain about, is that we will be making more happy and good memories together, definitely not now, but in the coming years.

It is such a rare gift to find people whom you can grow up and grow old with despite the distance---people who know the best and worst about you but accept you just the same. Aren't we so lucky to have found such group of people? Despite the differences, we're fitting in just perfectly.

Telling you that you're such a blessing to us would definitely be considered a cliche, but I'll say it just the same. YOU ARE A BLESSING----in a world full of superficiality and complexity, your simplicity is something that makes you rare. You are such a simple person and what makes you truly happy are simple things in life------family, friends, new adventures, new places to visit, a new movie or series to get hooked to, and even a 10-peso worth of fishballs shared over laughter and stories on a dusty city plaza.

I admire your passion over things that interest you. Once you set your mind on something, you make sure that you follow it through to the end. Your loyalty and your unwavering support are things that endear you to people who know you.

Enjoy your day Bessy!!! Smile, and eat, and share laughter and stories with the people whom you are with at the moment, and then smile again until your jaw hurts. Those are what matter most, and you perfectly know it!

You may not have a tiara on but with your loyalty, optimism, and positive views about life, you are and would always be, in every sense of the word, a PRINCESS.

In Case that You Never Keep Tabs of These Things, I'm Reminding You of Them Now! :)

You seem to have always been one of the strongest ones among us that sometimes, while you're busy facilitating things for others, it seems that you never need anything or anyone to lean on. 

But we know better. 

So on this day, here are some of the things that I would remind you about how AWESOME a person you are! 

• You are always being open-minded when listening about our life-dilemmas,you are tolerant of our craziness,and very patient on us for being drama queens as friends.

• You are a silent but a very reliable post to lean on. 

• You're like the (not so) big sister that I never got.

• You may not be aware of this but I've learned some of the biggest lessons of humility from you.

• You seem to be so strong amidst everything that life throws on you. How do you do that?

And since it's your birthday, here is my list of wishes for you:

• ...that GOD will shower you with so much blessing that you will never know what to do with them.

• ...that you'll find that one great love that we're (secretly) hoping for and I pray that God will give you the grace to recognize it when it comes. And as an afterthought, I hope that person will fall in love with you so much, he'll never see anything else straightly. hahahaha! But then, again, that's scary so ignore that afterthought.

• ...that no matter where life will lead us to go, that you may always find your way back home---back to your family and to your old friends (That's us of course! You have no choice on that!).

We're getting older, but years definitely don't count unless you are a cheese.

HAPPY BDAY CHAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

---a big hug and a great love from Thailand, Au :)

They never can and they most certainly never will :)

I woke up today remembering that it's Sunday, instantly crushed with the thought that it's yet another day that I don't get to eat a late, lazy Sunday breakfast with loud and rambunctious people at home.

 But then a tingle of warmth inside me slowly crept and warmed my whole system with the thought that I may be alone and might feel lonely once in a while but the people that I'm longing to be with at this very moment are actually not completely detached from me, that they never can and they never will. Here's why:

• My nanay constantly daily reminds me through texts that I have to wake up already and do what I have to do for the day for she clearly knows that her daughter is actually a scatter-brained, absent-minded 8-year old who pretends to be an able and efficient 23-year old.

• I have a 14 year old brother who can be my student if the circumstance allowed it, but who never believes me when I answer his questions in his Biology subjects for it is already programmed in his twisted mind that his sister is his play-drawing contest-craziness moment-white lies-jamming partner buddy. So despite the distance, he constantly pesters me everyday and constantly denies that he misses me. Yet, I know better.

• A sister who supplies me constantly with her cheezy  stories.

• A family in which, in my absence, would most probably certainly think about me and insert me in their discussion in any chance they can get------during siestas, early morning talk, afternoon convene, inuman sessions of my cousins and uncles.

• A group of friends (high school classmates, to be exact) to pester and fight with and make up with though virtually, since they are scattered at different points all through out the globe.

So, I am actually alone in here, but almost always not lonely. I'm lucky. =)

John Leomel Macero, Don't You Dare Forget These!

Note: Prepare to be hit by a storm of corns. Consider yourself to be forewarned! 

As I was warning you, don't you ever dare forget these things, not ever!

• You are an artist. So you can always create something beautiful and leave everything a little bit beautiful than they are.

• Just your mere presence is a stress reliever. And your absence can really be felt.

• You are a principled person that sometimes, these principles can get you into trouble. But what the heck? The world does not need silent bypassers. It needs people who are principled enough to fight the "good fight".

• People would either hate you or love you. When it comes to you, there is no in between.

• Behind your funny anecdotes and comical laughter is a person who takes responsibility.

• If you think that you are too beaten already, all you need is to flash a warning sign and we'll come in gushing whether you like it or not.

• You have a very supportive and amazing set of friends, not to mention, crazy, crazy set of friends. But you have no choice. You're stuck with us. Okay?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEOMSIE!! :)

"Stargazing" at ELJ Compound

Plano ko tani, isulat ang detailed account sang "meeting the stars" namon nga experience. Pero sang na-umpisahan ko na sang sulat, na-realize ko nga daw libagon kun gamiton ko ang English, considering sang topic.

Ari na lang ang mga pictures kag mga pahapyaw nga captions instead sang detalyado nga English write-up.

• ANG WALA NA-PLANUHAN NGA TAMBAY SA GUWA SANG ABS-CBN

Pila man ka minuto ang bina-isay kun sa diin kami makadto. Mag-suggest gani ang isa, siyempre indi madula nga may ma-reklamo. Ambot kun sin-o ang nag-lahog, kay indi ko na madumduman, nga makadto na lang kami sa ABS-CBN para mag-pamantay sang mga artista. Kay wala na guid kami sang may mapinsaran nga kadtu-an,   nagpasugot na lang ang tanan biskan daw naham-ut man kami sang ideya nga mag-pamantay kami sang mga artista.

Samtang masako kami ni Leomel sang pa-picture sa atubang sang "Bahay ni Kuya", gulpi ko na lang nabati-an si Fatty nga nagsinggit halin sa tabok sang dalan nga, "Ay si Coco!". Abi ko galahog man lang siya, so wala pa namon siya gin-sapak. Pero nakit-an ko nga nagpanaw palayo sa amon si Fatty pakadto sa isa ka van nga naka-park sa unhan lang guid namon. Nakit-an ko nga may babaye nga nagatindog sa atubang sang nakabukas nga van kag may gina-istorya siya sa sulod. Sige ang lakat ni Fatty palapit, kag may nabatyagan na kami nga tuod ang ginsinggit niya. So, nagsunod kami sa iya kag guess what.....

Sa sobra nga pag-palpitate sang dughan ko, wala na ko kadumdum kun sin-o ang naghambal sa amon nga, "Ay hala si Coco guid man hu!". Daw gulpi lang nagpalanig-a ang akon tiil, OA man pamati-an pero tuod ni 'ya. Sin-o bala ang indi mag amo sadto kun sa atubang mo ang super crush mo, tapos artista pa? Ang kaladlawan pa kay wala ni isa man sa amon ang gulpi naka-recover sa initial schock. Daw pelikula guid ya nga wala sing may naghambal maskin isa sa amon for several seconds kag naka-tunganga pa kami tanan sa iya. Ang mas kaladlawan pa, naka-himasmas kami sang nagsiling ang PA ni Coco, "Gusto niyong magpa-picture? Akin na ang camera niyo." As in, siya pa 'ya ang nag-suggest nga mapa-picture kami! Tapos sang photo opportunity with Coco, nakibot guid ko 'ya sang gulpi nagsiling si Fatty Sheryl , "Coco, puwede pa-hug?". Ako, nga wala pa  fully naka-recover sa pagka-starstruck nakapanumdum, "Pwede gali buhaton ina?"...haha, kaladlawan guid 'ya. Dasun nabati-an ko pa guid si Sheryl Fatty nga nagsiling, "Coco, ako din, puwede?". Sang nakit-an ko nga nagkupo si Sheryl Fatty, feeling ko daw ka surreal sang moment nga ato , kag bag-o pa maka-balik sa full-alertness ang alarm system ko kag makahambal nga "Ako din Coco.", nakita ko na lang nga gapalayo na ang van nga ginsakyan nila. Baw, ambot na lang. Kanugon gd 'ya! As in. Wala niyo abi ko gin-orient nga pwede gali ka request sang hug, haha! Kaladlawan guid 'ya. Bahala na kun sin-o makabasa 'ni ah! Ano karon? haha!


*Note: Pasensiya sa sala nga mga detalye kay tam-an ka marilipaton ang naga-sulat sang captions. Kag gusto pa gali idugang ni Sheryl nga siya man, nag-palpitate sang gin-hug siya ni Coco, sobra pa kuno sa pag-palpitate niya kun may ara sila demo. Amo lang na. Kon may ara pa gali kamu gusto idugang  kag i-edit kay sala ang mga detalye ko diri, lihog paki-post na para tingub ang pag-obra. okay?...haha!

Nalipat ko sang ngalan sang artista nga ini pero kun indi ako mag-sala, daw sa PBB ni siya sang una. Si Leomel, nahuya pa magpa-picture nga isa lang siya pero, gusto niya guid tani. Wala untat hutik niya nga gusto niya tani magpa-picture asta nga si Fatty na lang ang nagpamangkot kun puwede. Nakapa-picture guid man sila, pero pasensiya na Leomsie wala ko na gin-upload diri ha?

Ang picture nga ini ang nagpahanumdom sa akon kun daw ano kabudlay ang mangin artista. Tuod guid man gali nga maskin indi maayo ang mood mo, kay gina-pangayo sang obra, kinahanglan mo guid ipakita ang yuhum mo. Ahay daw na-guilty man ko pagkakita ko sini ah.

Si Sheryl, samtang sige kami pa-picture, wala untat man siya sulit sang, "Hala daw indi sila ya mga tawo no? Kagamay sang gawi niya ho kag tan-awa bala ang panit! Daw indi guid ya sila tawo!" Huo na she, you have made your point....haha...=)

Maskin sin-o na lang, waay sing pili ah. Nalipat ko, sin-o 'ni siya gani? Sa diin gani 'ni siya nga commercial ah?

Pa-picture...

Pa-picture pa guid...

Ano pa abi ang pwede ma-obra habang gahulat pa guid sang may ma-agi nga mga artista? Mabati-an gali halin sa ginahulatan namon ang tingug sang mga hosts sa ASAP halin sa upper floor sang building.

• IT WAS A HAPPY YIPEE YEHEY DAY!

No pun intended ina ha, pasensiya lang. Nag-umpisa ang tanan sa lahog ni Bessy sa kay toto Samuel nga kun pwede niya kami makuhaan sang ticket sa showtime. Hambal gani nila, "You couldn't have the best of both worlds". So, sang nag-reply siya nga pwede kami katan-aw pero sa Happy Yipee Yehey lang kuno ang bakante, choosy pa ba kami? Samtang gapalapit na ang "big day", siyempre excited na ang tanan. Ang iban gahipos lang pero ga-praktis sang "Sakto! Wahaha!" sa atubang sang espiyo, ambot lang kun sin-o. Pero, si Lorenz nga super excited, gin-papuli na ni nanay niya sa Iloilo. Maskin naga-binagyo, wala guid na-cancel ang flight niya, so nagpuli siya nga daku guid ang langot sang buot niya. Tsakto, Mark? Si Sheryl iya, ginmasakit sang ara na ang "big day". Teh, wala kami mahimo kundi kami na lang guid nga apat ang naglantaw nga supposed to be, good for twenty persons ang ginpa-reserve nga seats.

At last, naka-tapak na guid man kami sa sulod sang Studio 6 ABS-CBN! Wala na ni 'ya pugong-pugong!

Dapat gali, thirty minutes before the show, sa sulod na sang studio ang audience. Nakibot kami kay kagamay gali sang studio nga kun sa tv tan-awon, pamatyagan mo daw daku-daku. Gin-briefing anay kami kun ano ang mga dapat kag indi dapat buhaton habang ga-air ang show. Siyempre, nagpraktis kami sang actions. Amo gali na ang feeling 'no? Biskan daw nahuya kaw tani, pero malatnan ka guid sang lively atmosphere sa sulod sang studio. 

Kaladlawan kay ang family and friends namon sa Passi nag-effort man nga matan-aw sang Happy Yipee Yehey sa TV. Ang magulang gani ni Chal, wala nagpa-pugong biskan sa eskwelahan. Anu-anu man lang nga daw may away si Pacquiao man. Dasun, waay untat pa ang text nila nga nakit-an nila kuno kami sa TV. Teh Lorenz, ano pa guid ayhan kun diri ka? Ginpasirado na guro ang Man-it kay duwa guid kita 'ya ang representative. hahaha! Ay, daw ako lang guid 'ya ang nalipay. Pag-lawag ni Randy sang "from Iloilo City!", baw daw gin-itik kami nga apat sa udyak. Pero indi guid madula ang mga may "more exposure" kag "less exposure" nga audience. Sa sunod Bes, kun may tv appearance na man kita (char! haha!), mapula man kami para labayan man kami sang camera sang sulit-sulit.

So far, okay man ang first tv appearance namun ah. Indi lang gali okay, sobra guid 'ya ka okay! Amo lang 'ni ah kay daw ma-ubusan na ko sang Hiligaynon. Sa sunod, dapat studio tours na ha?

*Promise, by that time, sagad na 'ko mag-Hiligaynon.

A Walk in the Clouds

This is not about the 1995  Keanu Reeves romantic epic movie.

We walked in the clouds, and I really mean that literally.

I and Bessy woke up at around 5:30 in the morning last June 20 for the 6:30 call time to Tagaytay with Chal, Fatty, and Mark L. Much to our dismay, there was a heavy downpour with news of storm signals in some parts of the country and flood in the streets of Manila. We contacted the group if our spur of the moment idea of the trip was still to be pursued. Fatty and Chal said they were dressed up. Lorenz on the other hand, commented that come storm or high waters, our "level-up" trip should be pushed thru. So we, the ever loyalists don't have any choice but to dress up despite the sound of the rain on the tin roof and the howling of the wind which are clear indicators that today is not a good day for a picnic or a field trip or any activities which are supposed to be done when Mr. sunny-sunshine is in a perked up mood.

But on the other hand, when did we develop the right habit in following rules or thinking inside the box? We were more of the unconventional stream of people who question rules and think out of the box. So what could happen when you push through a plan despite a storm warning? Here's what:

                                        Chal, Fatty, and Lorenz were armed for the cold while 

                                                         Bessy and I had to bear the cold inside the bus. 

                                                 Whatever happened to common sense---that when you

                                         have to go out of the storm, go out as prepared as you can be---huh?

                                         The fog was so thick that we could barely see the sights along the road.

                                     Instead of being dissapointed, as always, we realized how amusing it was

                                                  and had a good laugh about it, truly a good laugh.

                 We had to bear the cruel cold much more that I and Bessy didn't have a sweater with us.
                                      So we walked up the People's Park shivering, it was so much an effort
                                            to push one foot forward when your knees are wobbling. 
                 But it was a joy seeing how the fog can veil and unveil the sceneries in every passing moment.
                With only Php 15 entrance fee, one can enjoy a good portion of Tagaytay because this park 
                         is located on one of the highest points in the city. Though we weren't able to fully
                        enjoy the view of the plains, it was also an experience having the ethereal feeling
                                                         of the fog that seems to blanket the place.

                 At the Picnic Grove, one could enjoy the sight of Taal lake for just fifty pesos as entrance.

                           We were lucky that by the time we arrived there, the fog had already dispersed. 
                We walked around, caught our breaths while trekking the different points of the place,
                      laughed some more, and shared a lot of stories---most of it we already know by heart
                 since we have a lot of shared history, but shared it anyway and then laughed some more.

                                By the time that we were about to move to another location inside the Picnic Grove,
                             a drizzle prevented us from walking around. So to pass time, I took out balloons from
               my bag which I and Bessy got from the birthday party of her cousin, we inflated these balloons
                      by blowing air into it up to the point when our lungs were already screaming "surrender". 
              We attempted to do an "Up" scene for the picture but failed so we settled for this photo instead.

                                 It was a feat going up and down these stairs to get to different points
                                                          but it provides a wonderful photo opportunity.

                                                    We bought these shirts for Php 100. 
      We opted for the same design and it was a good thing that there were exactly five different colors.

                                               Lesson learned: Though the weather does not agree with your plans,
                                                                 if you strongly feel like it, pursue your plans. 
                                              Don't worry, after a little while, the weather will definitely change.
                                                                            So, 'til the next GYPSIES trip!

My Summer has Officially Ended

 (This has been posted last May in FB but I just want to have a copy here. You see, this is about some of my most favorite people in the world. This is a bit mushy, so consider yourself to be forewarned.)

So long Summer!

          ...and though it is still so clicking hot that just by exposing the tip of a single strand of your hair to "Miss Sunny Sunshine", you'd surely be in grave danger of having a heat stroke any moment, I am officially ending my summer TODAY.

          Officially ending my summer is not without a great hesitation on my part. We all love summer---and I especially LOVE summer for numerous reasons that my "twisted" sense of self gratification requires. And though my reasons are as mushy and as shallow as anybody can perceive, I'm sticking to them anyway....=)

          I LOVE summer because I don't have to wake up 5:30 in the morning and go home to as late as 8:00 or at most 10:00 in the evening for school works. I LOVE summer because I am not forced to wash my own clothes or else worry that I don't have anything to wear. I LOVE summer because I can stay awake to as late as the wee hours of the morning---everyday. I LOVE summer because I don't have to bear with having a cup of coffee and a stale biscuit as my complete breakfast. I LOVE summer because I can stay at home with my pyjamas on for the whole day. I LOVE summer because my mood is perked up by the thought that my shoes is not going to be wet if I decide to go somewhere for the whole day (who loves having their shoes and feet soaked, anyway?). I LOVE summer because of the fiestas. I LOVE summer because it gives the young people a wonderful opportunity for the bittersweet summer love affairs. I LOVE summer because I have all the reasons to be lazy.

          These are just starters. But most especially, I LOVE summer because that means  I get to spend two days with some of my most favorite people in the world (no comments are allowed in this)---two days out of town in which I'm allowed to be as crazy as i can be and no one will say that I am crazy because we are all crazy anyway.

          And because of this yearly event that I don't even know who among us conjured the idea in the first place, I got the chance and the opportunity to know some of them better. And knowing them through this yearly summer get-away  means rediscovering them not under the microscopic but impressionable curiosity and state of mind of a high schooler---which I tell you, can really twist what's real. This is knowing them several years after high school and loving them anyway for all that they are and all they they've become.

          These are  what SUMMER has made of you in the way I deem of you:

          Leomel is the the short-cut for the warning "stay away from him if you don't want to laugh not only your heart but including your stomach out". We all love him any way for that though he believes otherwise. He doesn't mind looking funny or crazy and when you're inside a 2 -meter radius away from him, you wouldn't mind looking funny or crazy yourself. Life would be a little bit less perked-up when he's not around.

          When Macky's around, you don't have to worry because his presence would mean everything is in control. I don't know how he does it, but it's just like that. He wouldn't mind traveling for miles to get to spend just several hours for friends or self-proclaimed extended family.

          Do not be misled by Sim's silence. Beyond his impressive CV and credentials, he is a truly unassuming person. He is silent, no doubt. But in the middle of the silence could be some  shocking stories and ideas coming from him. And when he starts talking, it means talking for a long while.

          Joan is the one whom I am acquainted with for the longest of time. But despite those years of acquaintance, I only had the chance to get to know her better recently. She's firmly grounded and she can speak her mind without any qualms.

          Who makes plans and then leave us for hours waiting for her? But since, she's part of the group, she's always forgiven and we just have a good laugh about it. But just at moments that we least expect it, Sheyl willl pop out, with her "miss two goody shoes" self which we all love but we always make fun of, making any moments all the more better.

          Johnalee might be our "self-proclaimed" mother of the group but being with her can be an enriching experience. Her stories and experiences can be a source of many great laughs and learning moments.

          Jay, I just found out recently is truly a chatterbox. Why did you mislead all of us of your silence way back in high school? She has strong opinions about everything. She's fun when she's sober but she defines the term "fun" when she's tipsy.

          Lorenz is the ultimate hoodie wearer, if he knows what I mean. His ideas and opinions over different matters are something to look forward to. And oh, I failed to mention----he owns facebook. Take a look at his comments and you'll get the idea.

          Karl A., bless him for he can tolerate all the noise that we make considering that most of us are female. He laughs easily over our female twisted sense of humour but when it's drinking session time, no matter where you hide, he surely has a bottle with your name written all over it!

         Cherry is the ultimate "it' girl. She has a lot of stories to share and what tops all of it is that she has a big laugh to push all of us to laugh some more again. Drinking 'till the wee hours of the morning is not a problem---what with the stories and the laughter and the dances that she would surely insert in between.

          Beauty---whoever gave her that name----I'm sure is basking over the idea  everytime we  call her that. Who doesn't want to be "re-christened" with that name anyway? Her shrieking voice even though during normal conversations are already to be expected, but since eveyone's doing the same anyway, nobody is really complaining. We just love to share stories, and with her giggling around, we surely wouldn't be lacking of those.

         Javie, with no one to disagree is the ultimate life of the get togethers. She dances and sings like a pro 'til the wee hours of the morning. With her singing and dancing, you might wonder how she got drunk so fast when she doesn't seem to drink at all.

          It's funny to think that I just learned to appreciate the pleasure of sitting in the city plaza (which I firmly avoided before) and sharing stories over 10-peso worth of fishballs and a bottle of coke just now, now that I'm already twenty-three. Bessy, influenced me and most of us of  the pleasures of having simple joys in life. And the additional bulge on my already overweight eyebags are all because of the movies and dvd's that she generously shares to me.

          Chal and I share our ultimate love with books. She is an unassuming person, but again, do not be misled. Half of the funny anecdotes and experiences that I know are courtesy of her. Aside from the love of books, I don't know if she'll agree with me as an Aquarian (a  sign that we again share) that we can be absent-minded and scatterbrained most of the time. When she is hooked about a certain issue or fad....she is certainly hooked.

         Most of what I know about Fatty however, is through the years of sharing a room way back in college. Again, do not be misled by her strong character for beneath is a person who, if she finally believes that you can be trusted, then she'll trust you all the way.

          With all these written, I'm officially ending my summer.

          So long summer!