And it was my turn

It's a little over 12 midnight and this was one of the first greetings I got on facebook. I celebrated my birthday 2 days before the actual day so I thought pass na 'ko sa birthday blues. Well, I guess it still kicked in. I actually cried while sending a reply. 

We never openly talked about it in Team4One, but I guess we all have it - that odd feeling of turning 30. And for some of us it's even worse - single. Maybe that's why I'm emotional with them about this. To me, we connect in this area whether we admit it or not. 

I love you Team4One.

Melay's 30th

At Tony's Grill in Morato, June 8, 2012.

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I had myself a bit of crazy night.
Next month it's my turn.

Say yes...to time with friends

Minsan naiisip ko boring ang gimik life ko. Tapos nandiyan yung maiisip kong magplano ng lakwatsa. Pero really, if I say yes to invites and go to church and office events, I would hardly have any free weekends, I'd be torn in choosing which event to go dahil nagkasabay, and I'd be broke. Sinong nagsabing homebuddy ako?

So yes, this is something I discipline myself to do more of: say yes to invitations. Well, hindi pa din ako maka-oo to every single one, but I make it a point that I go to some. Lalo na kapag good friends. Isa sa mga natutunan ko over the past year is to value real friendships and invest on nurturing them. True friends are treasures. Walang echos. :) At isa sa mga pwede kong magawa is at atleast show up in gatherings to spend time with them.

Isa-isa na kaming nagiging trenta sa Team4One. This is Maj's 30th birthday.

mga kasama kong tumanda

I got to see some of Team Chester again, and sasabihin ko ngayon ang isang matinding cliche: parang kahapon lang. Hehe. I was like..."Am I really looking at Chester? Has it really been 2 years?"

The last time I saw these NCO friends was in October 2011. Yung Christmas gift ko na 2012 calendar April ko na naibigay. Tsk. Nevertheless, I have to see them 'coz I love them. And I want to go the beach. Hehe. Nabuo ng Potipot trip na ito ang summer 2012 ko. Ready na ko sa tag-ulan kahit bukas. 

will do another post on this trip 

Maybe one day I should throw a party where all my friends are in one place with me.

Sa Tahimik

Two influential people in my life just got engaged - Kuya Kevin and Patty Laurel (not to each other though). I did not even know Kuya Kevin has a gf so it was quite a shocker. Patty naman on the other hand, was both inspiring and inggit-ting, sarap sabihan ng "ikaw na". Siya naman na talaga...ang susunod na ikakasal. =P

After a few months of not seeing each other, nakita ko ulit nung isang araw yung paborito kong pedikyurista - buntis, sa pulis = happy misis. Gem, my good friend from college naman got married last Sunday. Her parents are together for years but were never officially married. So I'm happy for her because she's found the "one" for her, and also because she still believed in the sanctity of marriage and chose to make things right.

 

I was there at the bridal shower but didn't make it to her wedding because I was at the wake of a dear friend. Ang buhay nga naman, kung sa iba nagsisimula, sa iba naman natatapos. 

Naisip ko lang bigla, ang kasal at ang pagkamatay nga pala ay parehong tinatawag na "paglagay sa tahimik".

Cinema Drawing Night

I went to VCF Fort instead of Galleria last Sunday because I had plans to see Cinemanila in Market Market after the service.

Dumating ako ng 7:30pm, thinking ang aabutan ko na lang ay ang message but still feeling okay with it because that Sunday, I was only after the attendance. I then learned that the service was closing but there is still one service left at 8pm. Okay, good, I can complete the service, I thought, but I knew I might be late for the movies. I was going to see it with two guy friends, and I was kind of thrilled because it's the closest thing to having a date on a weekend after a long time.

Date na date na talaga 'ko. Kailangan dalawa sabay. Haha.

So I went in, and while waiting for the service to start, I felt like asking God to say something to me. I said, "God, speak to me through this. I want to hear you." But really, I was saying, "God, I got all the way over here. I was supposed to be at the mall watching movies right now, but I chose this first. So make this worthwhile by atleast revealing something to me".

We planned to see any film showing at 9pm because one of the guys was working late on a Sunday. As it turned out, he still couldn't make it, the service ended at 9:30, so the other guy just watched the film alone. Ang aming ending? Eh di wala. Haha.

So I went to the mall after anyway, checked out the movies, then left and went for a walk in High Street. After a while, I had to leave to go back to the mall, but I promised to myself that I will go back there one day and spend hours in Fully Booked for inspiration. Medyo malakas ang artsy vibe sa lugar na yun and I like it.

I went back to the mall to see the last screening. I was convincing myself that I was there for arts sake. So may kasama o wala, I was gonna see a festival film. And I was really committed to it, promise, kaso nalaman ko na medyo Korean horror ata yung palabas. Hindi ko naman siguro kailangang gawin sa sarili ko iyon para lang patunayan ang pagmamahal ko sa sining. So, naisip ko, mas masisiyahan ata ako kung yung P150 kong pangsine eh wawaldasin ko na lang sa Starbucks.

I was used to being alone. In fact, I'm comfortable with it. But that night, man, I was lonely. Beyond words. Maybe because naka-set na ang mind ko na that night, I was gonna be with these guys, but I ended up with neither one. The worst part? I dressed up a little and powdered my nose! Tapos hindi nila nakita? What a shame! Haha.

On normal days, that would have sucked. Well, it still does. But I remember how I felt walking in the dark and empty mall at 11:00pm. That was awful, but inside I was calm. Why? In my head I was hearing what I took from church that night. The series ongoing was about finance and stewardship, but when out of the blue the pastor said something about waiting, timing and giving up, I knew that when I asked God to speak to me that night, that was Him, speaking to me through those words.

When I got home, I was supposed to be grouchy and tired, but I was surprisingly in a good mood. When I washed my face and looked in the mirror, nakita kong gulo-gulo pala ang buhok ko dahil hinangin sa tricyle, but my face was glowing, I was...beautiful. Chos. Haha. Sayang hindi nila ako nakita.

So it wasn't really a bad night. If I had to go all the way to the Fort to be encouraged like that, it was worth it.

To Team4One With Love

Warning: Cheesy.

You know how it is sa movies, may turning point na marerealized ng isang character na mahal na niya yung isa? Yeah, that kind of thing happened to me the last time I spent time with these guys. Narealized ko lang...I'm happy for their success, I'm sad for their heartbreaks, I care for them and I miss them. And it hit me..."Oh my gosh, I love these guys".

Team4One-blockmates ko buong buhay ko sa PUP. I've known these guys for 10 years now, and it was love-hate for me. But maybe, time not only heals, it proves.

When Maj casually did a little sales talk about something na partida hindi pa nga niya account, I was left thinking, "Account Executive ka nga." Si Jojo naman ay inuulan ng praises sa devianart na parang rockstar. At nung nakausap ko si Jed about her passion in films, hindi ako makasunod, not because she doesn't make sense, but she knows a lot now. Pero sa parehong paraan na successful sila in their own respective ways, really, we're also just a bunch of losers. Haha. We laughed at the thought that half the night we talked about relationships and even giving advices when in fact we suck in it proven by failed ones, being dumped, and not being in one! Seriously now though, these guys are one of the coolest, smartest, funniest, most talented people I know. They know how to have a good time but deals well in bad times too.

How else do I know I love them aside from this strong feeling inside? Forgiveness. One of them may rub me the wrong way, but my attitude is, "That's not cool, but it's okay now. It doesn't hurt my respect for you. Just don't do it again. I will forever wish you the best and I still want to see you next time." Aaaaw. Isn't that love? :) I can imagine them cringe so I will stop now as this is downright cheesy.

But really, Team4One, I love you like my dogs. I mean...the way I love my dogs. Whatever. You guys know what I mean.

Team4One Christmas Party 2009

Yey! Nakaaattend ako this year.
Thanks Eli, I like this pic.