Buti pa ang Aso

Ang iba takot na takot umuwi ng gabi o madaling-araw.  Ako hindi.  Basta alam kong may pamasahe ako pauwi alam kong makakauwi ako.  Kahit na sakto lang din ang pamasahe ko, alam kong makakauwi ako… kung sakay o lakad… iyon ang tanong.

Neto neto lang, naisipan kong lakarin ulit ang Mendiola pauwi sa amin.  Madaling araw na at wala akong kasama.  May nag-alok naman ng sakay sa pedicab, may bayad nga lang at kung anu-ano pa ang sinabing pangungumbinsi ng drayber, sumakay lang ako.  Tinanggihan ko.  Una, sayang ung barya at sayang ung moment na maglalakad ako at magiisip sa tahimik na lugar.

Ayun!  Nagsimula na akong maglakad.  Habang pakanta-kanta ako, bigla akong nagulat at may kasunod akong payat na asong batik ng brown at puti.  Paglingon ko, nasa kanan ko pala.  At sabay pa kaming nagkatinginan… parang sinabing…. "Okay ka lang… andito ako eh!"

So sabay kaming naglakad.  Mejo mabilis bilis lang ang maliit nyang hakbang at nauuna-una cia ng konti sa akin.  Pero ang natuwa ako, tumitigil cia paminsan-minsan, lilingunin ako sabay iikot-ikot sa tabi ko animo'y talagang hinintay ako.  Eh di… monologue na lang ako.  Hindi naman kasi siya sasagot eh.  At kung sakaling sumagot cia, aba'y mapapakaripas ako ng takbo.  Nalungkot ako ng tumigil cia sa 5th st.  Pero hindi cia umalis.  Nagpaalam naman ako sa Bespren Doggiedog.  "Babay!"  Sabay wag ng tail nya.  Ibig sabihin nun "Message sent!"

Aba, paglingon ko, may dalawang tuta na ang kulit kulit na ang likot likot ng buntot… isang brown at isang puti… hahahaha anak kaya ito nung unang dog?  Tapos iikot ikot din hanggang sa maihatid ako sa pintuan ng dorm. 

Nakakatuwa… buti pa ang aso at tuta…. may malasakit… at take note… libre!

Salamat mga Aww Aww!

The Gift of a Hundred Kids

It feels so strange that I could hardly feel the Christmas spirit.  This is I guess the worst Christmas that I haven't been bothered to wrap gifts which is very unusual to me.

I started buying few gifts for my godchildren but I haven't finished it actually.  I haven't been on 1/4 of it.  Time constraints. I have very limited time to go on shopping unlike before that I still have the time and energy to visit Divisoria, Greenhills, tyangges, midnight sale, night market and the malls.  Before I go to bed, I prayed for this… "Sana mafeel ko naman ang Pasko."

So I woke up this morning with a text from Shem reminding me to go to office early so we could buy candies for the 100 kids who will be visiting the office for their own version of ePLDT Kiddie Christmas Party.  Anyone can bring in their kids, cousins, nieces… basta kids!

I feel the excitement while wrapping the candies and seeing the kids so delighted upon seeing the bags of candies and each of them are coming to go and get one… while saying "Merry Christmas and Thank You!"  I don't know why but the smiles in them bring back all the enthusiasm in me to celebrate Christmas.  I feel like a child again while roaming around to distribute it.  Kids that I hardly know just smile when somebody gives them their presents. 

I really love kids… kids not mine hahahaha  I just simply love them and how sincerely they smile and look at strangers while saying "thank you!"  It's enough for me to say "Thank You for that 100 smiles" I saw this morning.  Sobrang ang saya saya ko…

Haaayyy… Christmas is really for the kids… and their smiles will always remind the adults that there are good reasons to celebrate it… not for the gifts but for the baby born on this day.

Merry Christmas….. 100 kids!   Hopefully next year… i could bring my Baby Pooh here hehehe

Galing! Paglalabanan ko yang time constraints na yan.. budgetary constraints na lang.. hahaha

Uly and Anje

Oh well, this time it's Uly and Anje's turn to rock the altar!  I saw the invitation and the venue copy pics and some of their pre-nuptial photos and these are the words that came into my mind…

"AnJe na Anje ang theme!! Hang-arte!!! Hahaha"

Anje is one of my "anak-anakan" in St. Therese's dorm.  The one I considered Agot Isidro-look alike!  Where does it all go, Ann?  Hahahaha  I am so excited to see you on January 12!!!

Can I play "Let the Joy Rise" on the church?  Hehehehehe

Best Wishes!!!

She was his Angel

I was about to start my work this morning when I noticed that "1 new mail message" appears at the bottom of my screen.  Instead of opening my file, I decided to have it clicked on and read the email before my time boils down to work.  The message comes from my SFC Yahoogroup.  So simple yet so heartwarming.

READ THIS!!!! and then reread it. Especially the last part…

I walked into the grocery store not particularly interested in buying groceries. I wasn't hungry. The pain of losing my husband of 57 years was still too raw. And this grocery store held so many sweet memories.

He often came with me and almost every time he'd pretend to go off and look for something special. I knew what he was up to. I'd always spot him walking down the aisle with the three yellow roses in his hands.

He knew I loved yellow roses . With a heart filled with grief, I only wanted to buy my few items and leave, but even grocery shopping was different since he had passed on.

Shopping for one took time, a little more thought than it had for two.

Standing by the meat, I searched for the perfect small steak and remembered how he had loved his steak.

Suddenly a woman came beside me. She was blonde, slim and lovely in a soft green pantsuit. I watched as she picked up a large package of T-bones, dropped them in her basket.. hesitated, and then put them back. She turned to go and once again reached for the pack of steaks.

She saw me watching her and she smiled. "My husband loves T-bones, but honestly, at! these p rices, I don't know."

I swallowed the emotion down my throat and met her pale blue eyes.

"My husband passed away eight days ago," I told her. Glancing at the package in her hands, I fought to control the tremble in my voice. "Buy him the steaks. And cherish every moment you have together."

She shook her head and I saw the emotion in her eyes as she placed the package in her basket and wheeled away.

I turned and pushed my cart across the length of the store to the dairy products. There I stood, trying to decide which size milk I should buy. A Quart, I finally decided and moved on to the ice cream. If nothing else, I could always fix myself an ice cream cone.

I placed the ice cream in my cart and looked down the aisle toward the front. I saw first the green suit, then recognized the pretty lady coming towards me. In her arms she carried a package. On her face was the brightest smile! I had ever seen. I would swear a soft halo encircled her blonde hair as she kept walking toward me, her eyes holding mine.

As she came closer, I saw what she held and tears began misting in my eyes.

 

"These are for you," she said and placed three beautiful long stemmed yellow roses in my arms.
"When you go through the line, they will know these are paid for."

She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, then smiled again. I wanted to tell her what she'd done, what the roses meant, but still unable to speak, I watched as she walked away as tears clouded my vision.

I looked down at the beautiful roses nestled in the green tissue wrapping and found it almost unreal. How did she know? Suddenly the answer seemed so clear. I wasn't alone.

Oh, you haven't forgotten me, have you? I whispered, with tears in my eyes. He was still with me, and she was his angel.

Every day be thankful for what you have and who you are.

Even though

Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings. Thank you, Lord, that I can hear.
There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed against the morning light as long as possible.
Thank you, Lord , that I can see. Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off rising. Thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise.
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, and my children are so loud. Thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our breakfast table never looks like the picture in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job often is monotonous. Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work.
There are many who have no job.

Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest.
Thank you, Lord, for life.

God bless you and yours.

The Champion

I wanna be a child again.  At that particular time when I was focused and determined to do what I want and I was slowly living it out.  That’s the young Sheggz, I know.

When I want something, I never stop until I get it.  I am not interested at getting honors at school but I was excited and challenged every time I ran around the playground and had someone timed it.  My classmates had been one of my human stopwatch.  At that time, I want to imitate the champion… who else but “Lydia de Vega”.  Academics had never been my interest, it has always been Music, Arts and P.E. <Sports.>

That’s what my Lolo told me.  If I wanna be great, imitate the champion, not the runners-up.  I ran like a boy and “Hagarang Suguran” had been one of my favorite sports where I can beat my playmates and had my own strategy of winning that.

I don’t care whether my teachers always yelled at me “Pasok!!! Sabay Pingot sa Tenga”, we won in Hagarang Suguran and Patintero… that’s more of an achievement hehehe.

I admire the young me more than I admire myself now… the vibrant Sheggz, I always missed… The warrior in spirit…

God’s Birthday Message

"I call to You; save me and I will keep Your statues." -Psalm 119:14

God has given us a will & promises us strength to say "no" to temptation… to be tempted beyond our ability to resist..

This is the message I got from the Greenbelt Chapel.  Wala lang… natawa lang ako bigla.

ApiBerdey Baby Pooh!

Everytime I’d get to celebrate my birthday, I find time to look back on the year that was. I think of the happy, sad, lost and victorious moments I had with everybody and those that I had with myself.  I always end up crying and smiling at the same time.  Tears of joy, I may say.

I always thank Him for the gift of life.  For the many reasons I am still alive and kept under His love.  I am most thankful each year that I still have a complete family, there’s my Lolo and my Lola, whom I couldn’t imagine my life living without, my Daddy, Mader and Bro, for making me realize what it truly means to struggle to be good and to be whole, the rest of the Titos and Titas and cousins and pamangkins, for unending support and reminders, and for the true friends I’ve always considered my extended families…

It’s their love and my love for them that what makes me going and going and going… through the years…

I am quite nervous that this might be the last year that I’d be single… weh!  A surreal feeling… <aning aning!>

So most probably, my next birthday would have the new addition to the family…

Happy na Happy pa!!!

My wishes for 2007?!  If I’d get to live by a hundred… I wish God would try to deduct even half of it and divide it equally among my two grandparents so I could spend more happy birthdays with them…

I wish my bro will successfully pass the bar so I could finally get the make-up kit I’ve long been wishing he’ll buy for me.  And lastly, may our plans be put into place very very soon so we could make Mader live like a queen. Oh… no more wishes for me… I’ve got a handful from them daily.  No need to ask for more…

BB Gaby

The Racing Goddess "Gaby Dela Merced" is currently nominated along with Riza, Yayo and Baron as the result of Head of Household's (Jon Avila) automatic nomination.

Save her for this week's nomination and let's make her this season's Big Winner!

TO CAST YOUR VOTES:

SMART USERS:

text BB GABY to 231 - 30 votes per day at P2.50/vote = P75

GLOBE and SUN USERS:

text BB GABY to 2331 - 30 votes per day at P2.50/vote = P75

ADDITIONAL WAY TO VOTE FOR GLOBE USERS 

text GBB GABY to 2366 - once a day (automatic 10 votes, plus a chance to win in the globe promo) = P15

text GBB2 GABY to 2366 - once a day (automatic 10 votes, plus a chance to win in the globe promo) = P15

text GBB3 GABY to 2366 - once a day (automatic 10 votes, plus a chance to win in the globe promo) = P15

therefore, globe users can give gaby a maximum of 60 votes per day per sim card (30 regular votes and 30 GBB votes), for a total daily cost of P120. if you join the globe promo, you will receive a picture message of a housemate, not necessarily gaby. so do not worry if the picture message you receive is not gaby…as long as you text GBB GABY/ GBB2 GABY/ GBB3 GABY, your votes will be credited to gaby. registration's needed for your GBB votes to be counted, but no worries since registration is free.

THROUGH VOTE CARDS

Vote cards to be loaded in http://celeb2.pinoybigbrother.com/tabid/571/Default.aspx
Currently sold in 25 and 75 denominations at SM outlets.

e-PINS

WHERE CAN YOU BUY E-PINS?

For Philippine voters you can purchase your e-pins at Robinson's Malls information counters, Netopia internet cafes, Excel internet cafes, Semicon outlets and Be Connected outlets.

For international voters, you can purchase your e-pins at Digital Martian and Load.com.ph.

GABY THREAD:

http://forums.abs-cbn.com/1/2495545/ShowThread.aspx

Relationships

I am more fascinated with relationships that started in friendship than the traditional courtship… those that are rooted in friendship and developed into something more than that.

It's when two souls noticed that they have to depart from mere friends is what makes it exciting hehehe and they both agreed that there's love in them that they would want to build forever… more than the good things they have… Yihee! 

Give her two red roses, each with a note. The first note says "For the woman I love" and the second, "For my best friend."

Is it better for a woman to marry a man who loves her than a man she loves.