Hello guys! In a few hours we will say sayonara to the year 2009. Another year of fun, laughters, happiness, sadness, challenges, adversities etc. had passed. This year brought a lot of unforgettable events to me and I can't forget all the memories I had incurred all throughout the year.
Every year has it's own promises and surprises to bring to us whether it is good or bad and whatever it was that had happened to us this year for sure contributed a lot to your different outlook in life and the memories still lingered in your remote mind.
Another year that added a year to our creeping age making us a year older. For me I dreaded to reach the moment in my life which implicated my getting old but as we let nature run it's course we cannot do anything to defy it. We have to admit that as we aged we gain wisdom above all.
The first quarter of the year was not that promising to me. From January to March there's not much to remember I think. I still teach at the LVN school in Hawthorne handling two batches and my job at the hospital in downtown Los Angeles was still steady.
The second quarter was a little more auspicious compared to the first quarter. In April I conceived this online blog spot under the heading "Inner Contemplations." And so far this was very promising to me because the online site is still standing up to this time.
It already posted about 115 entries until now, and I am so proud about it's eventual success. It mirrors my various sentiments and moods and also what's running inside my mind everytime I write something. Although, I faced a lot of challenges along the way still it thrived very well. I am so proud about myself for keeping it up and also thankful that God was always there to give me a lot of ideas and inspiration to post.
The first batch that I handle at Homestead Schools, Inc. culminated their program with a very successful graduation at The Reef restaurant in Long Beach, CA on the first week of April. The graduation program was a big success. So far, after their NCLEX review I heard that eight students out of eleven successfully passed their board exams. It was a big achievement on my part to have heard that they did good in their exams. And I missed them so dearly.
The second quarter of the year was also vacation time for me. In May I took a two-weeks off from my very busy work schedule. Me and my best friend George took off to Seattle, WA to visit some of his close friends there and at the same time see and tour the whole place. I just tagged along with him since it was really his vacation. I like Seattle a lot considering the emerald and lush trees that surrounds the whole state and the polite people that lived there.
The month of May was also a sad month for me because I had received a bad news from my brother informing me that my mother was been critically ill. In as much as I wanted to go home that time I could not do it because my work schedule was in conflict so I promised my mom that I will try to go home in July.
When I went home in July I saw my dear mother deteriorating and was lying on her deathbed very helpless. If I can only turn back the time, I probably had did something to alleviate what she felt. But it seems that the cancer in her brain consumed her so much and she told me the last time I spoke to her that she was very very tired now and was just waiting for me to come home.
It was a very sad homecoming for me yet I know that my mom choses to give up that time because she knows that I was there to show her my love and care. I still took care of her for a week when I was there before she died the day of my departure to the US. I left the Philippines that time with the goal to pursue my vacation to France and when everything gets tough I promised her that I will come back after the vacation.
When I layed over in Hawaii the bad news was been relayed to me by my brother through a phone text. Upon arriving at the US, I was about to leave for France for a two weeks vacation but instead of going there I decided to call the Continental Airlines to just postpone my trip next year in May. I then scheduled myself to go back home and prepared my mother's wake and burial after asking permission for a leave of absence at school and hospital work.
The third quarter of the year set in where all spent for mourning for my mom's passing. August was the saddest month for me. It was the time to bring my dear mother to her permanent resting place and say goodbye to her for the last time.
The mass and the burial was the saddest times for me because I bottled up a lot of emotions inside me. I felt that I was about to burst and give up that time, but I held on to my composure. I then picked up the pieces of myself and went back to the US to face another challenge in my life and go on with it alone.
September was the time I came back to work but it seems that I am still affected by my mom's loss. I am still grieving madly and can't even concentrate at work and at school. I then decided to focus more on picking up myself and tried to go back and seek God's guidance. Good thing I was still resilient to continue surviving.
The last quarter were the months that I was able to pick up myself and get over my grieving process. I learned how to held up and seek God's help through intent prayers. My recovery from my grief was enormously well and I was able to come back to normal again.
October was the month of my birthday. I celebrated my 40th birthday with a lot of surprises firstly from my students in school, organizing a little birthday celebration in my honor, as well as my friends preparing my birthday celebration a little festive and memorable with foods and cakes in tow. It was a memorable and unforgettable birthday I had.
The months of November and December was not quite special for me, although I still thrive well against the odds. I worked on Thanksgiving and Christmas day, so it's really nothing special to me.
Although the second week of November was the last day of the second batch, which is Batch 5, I had handled at Homestead Schools, Inc. I had them for almost two years and now they were almost done with their school pending their exit exams. I can still see another set of students making a mark in their lives as they graduate in March pending their ATI and exit exams. Hopefully they will do good on their NCLEX board exams, too, as what Batch 4 did after they graduated.
As we end this year, I hope the coming year will be a better year compared to the previous year. The year 2009 was also a year of devastation, calamities, and abuse of human rights for my birth country, the Philippines.
Although there were some good events and situations that had happened but the ones that cause havoc to the lives of my countrymen were the ones easily remembered. From typhoons, to flooding, economic hardships, to poverty, natural calamities like the spewing of lava by the Mayon Volcano, until the mass killings and murder of the innocent and helpless journalists in Maguindanao done by a political tyrants in the said province. The year of 2009 can be easily remembered because of all of these.
So I hope as the year ends, I hope we can bury all those bad things that had happened and start anew for the coming year. The coming presidential elections will post more threat to the society but I am hoping it will be a peaceful process. Hopefully it will be a promising year for me and for us Filipinos.
Sayonara to you year 2009. Another history had already pass and hope this will be remembered as the year with a lot that happened in our lives. Each year always brought a lot of legacy in our life so hopefully as the year 2009 leaves we will always learn a lot from our shortcomings and will try to avoid those bad situations to happen again.
And as the famous New Year song says; "Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind. Should old acquaintance be forget and as the days gone by." Happy New Year guys!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
A Visit At Hsi Lai Temple
Yesterday, I had enough time to finish my household chores and also I visited the Chinese temple in Hacienda Heights called Hsi Lai Temple which is a very sacred, peaceful, and quiet place conducive for meditation and prayers on top of the hill.
It was raining hard yesterday morning. It's so bitingly cold everywhere and the weather was so dark and gloomy outside. After doing a lot of chores for two days in preparation for the coming New Year and staying at home arranging and organizing my room I suddenly got tired and bored doing it alone.
I decided to take a warm shower and decided to go somewhere else to meditate and spend some quiet time for myself. I remembered my Korean co-worker telling me one time at work that there is a very quiet place situated in the mountains of Hacienda Heights which is more conducive to meditation.
I immediately grabbed my laptop and googled for the name of the temple until I found it. It is the Hsi Lai Temple located and found in Hacienda Heights. I printed the map for the location and took off. I punched the address on my GPS and followed the direction told by the small gadget.
The pouring rain suddenly changed into a slight drizzle but the road was wet and slick. I drove towards Highway 60 which is the Pomona Freeway. I drove for fifteen miles and located the place as instructed to me by the GPS. The temple was situated on top of the hill. It was very easy to locate it.
The temple is situated on an almost 200 acres place and it was wide and vast. The entrace was welcomed by the intricate arch placed in the middle of the concrete stairs resembling like "stairways to heaven" leading towards the entry way of the entrance door of the first building. I continued driving on the right side of the hill and located a parking on the very limited parking lot.
When I came out of the car it was still drizzling a little bit. I started to climbed up on the concrete steps towards the first entrance door where people came in and started to offer food at the altar and meditate solemnly. I bought a tray of fruits and five incense then started to light it and bury it near the altar bowing my head several times as what others had did. I stayed there for a while to meditate then I started to roam around the inside main square.
I went around on the back of the entrance building and there I saw the inside of the temple. What surprised me when I went in the other side was the big concrete square and the very intricate inside temple buildings. The place was very quiet and solemn and all I can hear was the hum and chant of the praying people.
I started to roam around the vast place and peruse the scenery it has to offer. On the left side was a small garden with different replicas of golden buddhas typical from Northern Asia like China, Korea, and Taiwan and on the right side was a small garden with different replicas of golden buddhas typical from Southeast Asia like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It was a pretty site.
I started to go up the central building or temple where there were also a lot of people praying and meditating there. I started walking and browsing on the left side building walking and perusing the hallway towards the right side building. The hallways have a lot of buddha bust in each corners of the building. The place was enclosed like a square so it was just easy to roam around. A lot of people were also roaming around.
Different people of all walks of life can be seen meditating near the altar while the bald orange robed disciples dressed like the dalai lama were kneeling in the front altar praying, chanting, and humming songs monotonously. It was a very sacred place and very conducive to praying and meditating.
My purpose of going there to acquire peace and quiet was been achieved. I was so stressed out lately and I really needed my space and this place gave me the autonomy to be alone and thinking things over.
I stayed there for two long hours trying to immerse myself with the peace and quiet of the place. I really felt good after that. I seldom did this kind of things but it really helped a lot for me. Now I felt so light, fulfilled, and not numbed anymore. I just probably needed my space and independence that time. Thanks God I did this, and it helped me alot.
I left the place not drizzling anymore and drove back to Los Angeles. I passed by at Alhambra first to grab some food since it was nearly dinner time. I dropped off myself at The Boiling Crab and ordered an ounce of shrimp and clams. I also ordered three dunganees crab for a takeout but they ran out of crabs that time.
After the hefty dinner, I went back to Los Angeles and drove straight back home where I watched my teleserye. It was a very refreshing day to start although it was raining earlier and this was the rare time for me where I spend some quiet time for myself.
I was glad I did it. At least there were some temporary closure for me despite of the busy and stressful schedules I had. Hopefully, my New Year will be better than this. Thank you God!
It was raining hard yesterday morning. It's so bitingly cold everywhere and the weather was so dark and gloomy outside. After doing a lot of chores for two days in preparation for the coming New Year and staying at home arranging and organizing my room I suddenly got tired and bored doing it alone.
I decided to take a warm shower and decided to go somewhere else to meditate and spend some quiet time for myself. I remembered my Korean co-worker telling me one time at work that there is a very quiet place situated in the mountains of Hacienda Heights which is more conducive to meditation.
The pouring rain suddenly changed into a slight drizzle but the road was wet and slick. I drove towards Highway 60 which is the Pomona Freeway. I drove for fifteen miles and located the place as instructed to me by the GPS. The temple was situated on top of the hill. It was very easy to locate it.
The temple is situated on an almost 200 acres place and it was wide and vast. The entrace was welcomed by the intricate arch placed in the middle of the concrete stairs resembling like "stairways to heaven" leading towards the entry way of the entrance door of the first building. I continued driving on the right side of the hill and located a parking on the very limited parking lot.
When I came out of the car it was still drizzling a little bit. I started to climbed up on the concrete steps towards the first entrance door where people came in and started to offer food at the altar and meditate solemnly. I bought a tray of fruits and five incense then started to light it and bury it near the altar bowing my head several times as what others had did. I stayed there for a while to meditate then I started to roam around the inside main square.
I went around on the back of the entrance building and there I saw the inside of the temple. What surprised me when I went in the other side was the big concrete square and the very intricate inside temple buildings. The place was very quiet and solemn and all I can hear was the hum and chant of the praying people.
I started to roam around the vast place and peruse the scenery it has to offer. On the left side was a small garden with different replicas of golden buddhas typical from Northern Asia like China, Korea, and Taiwan and on the right side was a small garden with different replicas of golden buddhas typical from Southeast Asia like Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It was a pretty site.
I started to go up the central building or temple where there were also a lot of people praying and meditating there. I started walking and browsing on the left side building walking and perusing the hallway towards the right side building. The hallways have a lot of buddha bust in each corners of the building. The place was enclosed like a square so it was just easy to roam around. A lot of people were also roaming around.
Different people of all walks of life can be seen meditating near the altar while the bald orange robed disciples dressed like the dalai lama were kneeling in the front altar praying, chanting, and humming songs monotonously. It was a very sacred place and very conducive to praying and meditating.
My purpose of going there to acquire peace and quiet was been achieved. I was so stressed out lately and I really needed my space and this place gave me the autonomy to be alone and thinking things over.
I stayed there for two long hours trying to immerse myself with the peace and quiet of the place. I really felt good after that. I seldom did this kind of things but it really helped a lot for me. Now I felt so light, fulfilled, and not numbed anymore. I just probably needed my space and independence that time. Thanks God I did this, and it helped me alot.
I left the place not drizzling anymore and drove back to Los Angeles. I passed by at Alhambra first to grab some food since it was nearly dinner time. I dropped off myself at The Boiling Crab and ordered an ounce of shrimp and clams. I also ordered three dunganees crab for a takeout but they ran out of crabs that time.
After the hefty dinner, I went back to Los Angeles and drove straight back home where I watched my teleserye. It was a very refreshing day to start although it was raining earlier and this was the rare time for me where I spend some quiet time for myself.
I was glad I did it. At least there were some temporary closure for me despite of the busy and stressful schedules I had. Hopefully, my New Year will be better than this. Thank you God!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
PNHS Class 1987 Reunion
Two days ago, December 27, 2009, was the 22nd year class reunion of my high school batch, the PNHS Class of 1987. It was supposed to be held twelve hours before the date from yesterday because Southeast Asia is twelve hours advanced from us. (I live in Los Angeles, USA.)
Despite I was living here in the United States, I can still feel that I was attending the reunion because my thoughts were always there with them. Thanks to the ever reliable Facebook Network which can connect us directly to the Philippines as long as they were online there. Networking is really the trend of the 21st century I think.
At least I did saw the initial set of pictures sent to us by our ever reliable classmates (Merlyn and Jojo) which eventually had helped me quench my longing and thirst for the faces of my former high school classmates. I was so thankful that they had posted several pictures for me to peruse, enjoy, and laugh at.
I think it was a very fun reunion this year because they were saying that a lot of our batchmates had attended the reunion party, although there were some who did not attended also. But they said that the numbers now were much higher than the previous reunions. That's a big success already.
I was so ecstatic upon seeing from the pictures that they were really having so much fun. Judging with the number of pictures from Jojo Bautista's and Merlyn Porras' entries....wow!..... I was so surprised how happy everyone is celebrating the festivities. It's really obvious from the smiles and grins of their faces that they really had a lot of fun.
It was been twenty-two years, since we graduated from high school and until now I haven't even attended even one reunion. What a shame on my part. I really envy those who had made it all the time. But I cannot help it because my life is already here. But despite of that my heart and thoughts still belongs there.
In as much as I wanted to go home during the holidays it is really not the best time for me to go on vacation because at work they require us to work one holiday per year and judging that the holidays were just seven days apart from each other, it would be too late to fly after the 25th of December and arrived in Iloilo after two days, considering the lack of time and the effect of the long flight for the body.
But I really promised, during our 25th Silver Jubilee, I will make an effort to really go home because I know that will be very meaningful for our batch and for me. And right now, I already submitted my request at work in advance to let my superiors know that I have to spare that day for the very important event in my life.
So in 2012, I got to see each and everyone I missed after 25 long years from graduating at Passi National High School. I can imagine how each of my classmates, batchmates, close and best firends, teachers, and everyone looks like. It was just like remisniscing our old times again and living the most of it. I wonder who will I bumped first when that time happens. I really can't wait now, I am very excited already. I wish tomorrow will be that day. Hahahaha.
Anyway, I thanked the effort and hardship of our ever dutiful and reliable class president in really making this recent reunion a big success. Thanks for contacting and nagging all those who wanted to contribute so that the gathering will become fruitful. To Mr. Joe Divin Palencia....... you are indeed a true leader.... living up to the expectations of your position as well as of your batchmates.
With your constant coresspondence with everybody you have collected about 29,000 pesos for our batch's funds. It was indeed a big achievement on your part and I salute you for your untiring and unselfish effort.
To Merlyn and Jojo, thank you for being there ever ready to help out just in case everything will fall short. And also thank you, to both of you, for gracing the occasion with your presence and making it more meaningful to all our batchmates to see you. Also, thanks for posting those myriad pictures for us who did not attend the festivities to scan, browse, peruse, look, see, watch, and comment online. For sure it brought joy to everyone who did not attended the party just like it brought a lot of joy to me.
Thanks a bunch also to all my batchmates and classmates who in one way or another contributed financially or in kind. Without your contributions the occasion would not be a total success. Thanks for sharing your unselfish help and grace to all of our batchmates who cannot even afford to contribute, in that way we made them feel important and that they were loved by us. No one can match the joys and laughters we saw from the eyes and faces of those batchmates that we had helped. It was really priceless and precious!
And to all our batchmates who attended the party..... thanks for making the occasion very festive and fun. Thanks for your effort, cooperation, presence, smiles and laughters, as well as your participation in making the reunion a big success. I myself really enjoyed looking at the pictures.
Hopefully, I am looking forward that in 2012, during our 25th Anniversary and Silver Jubilee, we can even double or triple the fun compared to this and we will make it unmatched to every other batch who had a silver jubilee celebration.Yeah!
I hope seeing each and eveyone of you in three years time if God willing. My best regards to everyone and kudos to all us! PNHS Batch '87 is the best!
Despite I was living here in the United States, I can still feel that I was attending the reunion because my thoughts were always there with them. Thanks to the ever reliable Facebook Network which can connect us directly to the Philippines as long as they were online there. Networking is really the trend of the 21st century I think.
At least I did saw the initial set of pictures sent to us by our ever reliable classmates (Merlyn and Jojo) which eventually had helped me quench my longing and thirst for the faces of my former high school classmates. I was so thankful that they had posted several pictures for me to peruse, enjoy, and laugh at.
I think it was a very fun reunion this year because they were saying that a lot of our batchmates had attended the reunion party, although there were some who did not attended also. But they said that the numbers now were much higher than the previous reunions. That's a big success already.
I was so ecstatic upon seeing from the pictures that they were really having so much fun. Judging with the number of pictures from Jojo Bautista's and Merlyn Porras' entries....wow!..... I was so surprised how happy everyone is celebrating the festivities. It's really obvious from the smiles and grins of their faces that they really had a lot of fun.
It was been twenty-two years, since we graduated from high school and until now I haven't even attended even one reunion. What a shame on my part. I really envy those who had made it all the time. But I cannot help it because my life is already here. But despite of that my heart and thoughts still belongs there.
In as much as I wanted to go home during the holidays it is really not the best time for me to go on vacation because at work they require us to work one holiday per year and judging that the holidays were just seven days apart from each other, it would be too late to fly after the 25th of December and arrived in Iloilo after two days, considering the lack of time and the effect of the long flight for the body.
But I really promised, during our 25th Silver Jubilee, I will make an effort to really go home because I know that will be very meaningful for our batch and for me. And right now, I already submitted my request at work in advance to let my superiors know that I have to spare that day for the very important event in my life.
So in 2012, I got to see each and everyone I missed after 25 long years from graduating at Passi National High School. I can imagine how each of my classmates, batchmates, close and best firends, teachers, and everyone looks like. It was just like remisniscing our old times again and living the most of it. I wonder who will I bumped first when that time happens. I really can't wait now, I am very excited already. I wish tomorrow will be that day. Hahahaha.
Anyway, I thanked the effort and hardship of our ever dutiful and reliable class president in really making this recent reunion a big success. Thanks for contacting and nagging all those who wanted to contribute so that the gathering will become fruitful. To Mr. Joe Divin Palencia....... you are indeed a true leader.... living up to the expectations of your position as well as of your batchmates.
With your constant coresspondence with everybody you have collected about 29,000 pesos for our batch's funds. It was indeed a big achievement on your part and I salute you for your untiring and unselfish effort.
To Merlyn and Jojo, thank you for being there ever ready to help out just in case everything will fall short. And also thank you, to both of you, for gracing the occasion with your presence and making it more meaningful to all our batchmates to see you. Also, thanks for posting those myriad pictures for us who did not attend the festivities to scan, browse, peruse, look, see, watch, and comment online. For sure it brought joy to everyone who did not attended the party just like it brought a lot of joy to me.
Thanks a bunch also to all my batchmates and classmates who in one way or another contributed financially or in kind. Without your contributions the occasion would not be a total success. Thanks for sharing your unselfish help and grace to all of our batchmates who cannot even afford to contribute, in that way we made them feel important and that they were loved by us. No one can match the joys and laughters we saw from the eyes and faces of those batchmates that we had helped. It was really priceless and precious!
And to all our batchmates who attended the party..... thanks for making the occasion very festive and fun. Thanks for your effort, cooperation, presence, smiles and laughters, as well as your participation in making the reunion a big success. I myself really enjoyed looking at the pictures.
Hopefully, I am looking forward that in 2012, during our 25th Anniversary and Silver Jubilee, we can even double or triple the fun compared to this and we will make it unmatched to every other batch who had a silver jubilee celebration.Yeah!
I hope seeing each and eveyone of you in three years time if God willing. My best regards to everyone and kudos to all us! PNHS Batch '87 is the best!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Spending Christmas Day With Friends
A night before, Christmas Eve, I was working and was very very tired so upon arriving home I just changed immediately and went to sleep right away thinking that I have to woke up later in the afternoon to meet some of my close friends for post-Christmas celebration.
I slept for a substantial six hours and tried to call my friends if the date will still be on. Yes, it is! So I immediately get up from my bed half awake and tried to get some water in that I will have to push my-still-drooping-eyes to open up and keep my back stick away from the inviting soft bed and not yearn to fall asleep for more hours or else the date will be at stake.
When I got out of the room, the afternoon breeze was so cold touching my skin and gave me shivers inside. My goosebumps immediately surfaced trying to protect myself from the threat of the nagging cold from outside. Damn, I forgot to close the window before I went to sleep, now it's hard to close it because it already got stuck on the window sill because of the cold. Aaah.... dumb me.
Well, I can't do otherwise but to go back to my room where my heater was continuously on and have myself recovered by covering myself with the thick warm comforter sheets I laid on my soft bed. I turned the light on to keep me fully awake and also turned on the television to keep me aware that it's really wake up time by engrossing myself with the teleserye's I've recorded while I am asleep earlier. Good thing my ever relying DVR still works continuously to record me my fave teleseryes for me to review when I am awake.
It was past 5 pm when I got up again from bed and took a hot shower because I was planning to go to church to visit the baby Infant Jesus and pay homage to Him as well as greet Him a Happy Birthday.
When I got out of the shower the chill of the outside breeze gave me some shivers so I ran immediately inside my warm room and seek the comforts of my warm sheets when I noticed that my celfone was blinking. I checked it and I noticed that the hospital was been calling me to work extra tonight. Since I only put myself available I just ignored the call because I still want to meet with my friends whom I haven't seen for a long time.
But before that I called the unit to confirm how many patients were there and good thing it's safe for me not to answer the call because they only needed enough people. Maybe some units need added help tonight that's why the nursing office called me. But hell no, I have a date tonight and I'm sorry for not responding.
I left the house and drove to St. Basil Church in Wilshire Avenue. I spotted a good parking at the church yard so I parked my car and immediately went to church. The mass had already started so I looked for an available seat at the mid portion of the left side of the church.
After the mass, I lined up myself to go in the front pews to see the Infant Jesus and kissed the baby telling him my birthday and christmas wishes. This kind of holiday gesture is a tradition handed and taught to me by my parents which I couldn't forget every where I go.
My wish for Christmas is global peace and harmony as well as good health and guidance for my jobs. I also thanked baby Jesus for all His love and answers to my prayers and for all the good things I got this year. It's a way of commemorating all my good blessings for the whole year. And also I prayed for my mom whom I missed so dearly.
After I got out of Church it was already 6:30 pm and I was starving badly so I called my friends telling them that I am on my way to pick them up. I drove at Julio's place and told them that I will be there immediately in 10 minutes. When I got there we hugged each other and I gave them my Christmas presents. It's good to see Julio and his boyfriend Joaquin. They were a stunning couple to look at because both of them were awesome and very very handsome together.
We left the house and I drove towards Sunset Boulevard looking for the Bossa Nova Restaurant. When we got there the place was close on Christmas day so we decided to go to West Hollywood and check out if the other branch is open there. But again, when we got there the other branch is also close so we just decided to go inside The Abbey right across the street which is open.
We went to see an open booth for us to get seated and when we spotted one we immediately took a seat and made some orders. I was so happy to see both of my close friends so much in love with each other.
After a brief hi and hello at the house we continued our long conversation here. We talked about everything pretty much about our individual lives, jobs, lovelife which I hesitatingly avoided because they know I am always mum about this topic, about our families, friends, and love ones. Everything we can think of. We also made a lot of flirting and jokes in between. Julio is a natural joker and Joaquin is just a good listener, very reticent and shy.
When our orders arrived we gobbled them down slowly while talking in between. It was so fun to be with the twoclose friends I haven't seen for a long time. Too bad Kuya George was not here with us to join. He is apparently in Las Vegas spending time with his family. I called him earlier and he told me that his mom called him to go home for the holidays so he has to skip spending Christmas with me. I haven't seen him either for almost three weeks now.
We had a hearty dinner. I ordered a grilled swordfish and mixed green salad with poached vegetables. After we gobbled down our dinner we ordered drinks and Julio decided to watch Avatar after that.
I didn't told Julio that I watched Avatar twice so I decided to just tagged along with them. We went to Arclight Cinemas in Sunset Blvd. and lined up for our tickets but we couldn't find a good spot for the 10 pm show so Julio decided to get three tickets for the 11 pm show.
Since we have two hours to wait, we decided to leave the premises and I drove them to Hollywood Blvd. towards Highland Mall where we decided to make a short stroll.
Upon finding a good spot to park near the mall, we got out of the car and just walk. There were a lot of people on the streets trying to revel the cold breeze of the Christmas and also enjoy spending time with their families, friends, and love ones.
We walked towards the Kodak Theater and looked for a Starbucks Cafe there to buy coffee. After obtaining coffee to warm us up we walked around the place and took pictures capturing the essence and spirit of Christmas around us.
We still continue talking, joking, and giggling at each other. It was really fun to spend time with close friends. I always missed this time especially if the friend is very very close to me.
Julio is just a big brother to me. He was my neighbor before the first time I moved here in Los Angeles from Texas and he is very accomodating, understanding, and respectful. When he met Joaquin last year they both move in to a new big place in Park La Brea but I still call him, corrspond to him, and talk to him periodically.
He is the one who encouraged me to find a boyfriend but I always refused his offer. So he knows that I am always mum about that topic. He stopped pestering me about it because he knows he couldn't squeeze me out to talk and admit about it which is very kind and respectful of him. But I know he just want me to get happy.
After the stroll, we went to see check Avalon Club in Vine Street if it's open to get some drinks but when we got there the line was very long. Julio went to ask how long was the wait and he was told that it's about one hour, so we decided to go back to Arclight and just get some drinks at the inside restaurant there.
When we got to Arclight we went to the premises' in-house restaurant and Julio got us some drinks. He got me an apple martini and he got two bloody mary's for him and Joaquin. We sipped our drinks very intently while waiting for our movies, talking at each other, and making jokes, and giigling at the jokes.
When our time was up, we went to our assigned stadium and took our 3D googles. The show started and we concentrated on it. The movie was more clear to me now after watching it for the third time. I can sense that my two companion were so sweet at each other, smooching and cuddling at each other and very engrossed and focused in watching the show. The movie lasted for three long hours and after the show they were so happy and had told me that they liked it very much. Me too had liked it a million times and is never fed up watching it over and over again.
We got out of Arclight where it was nippy and cold outside and I drove them both back at their home in La Brea park. They both thanked me for the wonderful night and time I spend with them. I gaved each one of them a tight hug wishing them the best of the Holidays and they returned the favor as well. We called the night off and bade a sweet goodbye.
I left their place and drove back home very tired. I already missed my warm room because the night was chillingly nippy. But all the memories I had tonight was beyond explanations and comparison. I am bursting with happiness seeing both my close friends in a very happy mood and having them both tonight was a joy to reckon with.
Twas a good and lovely night spending Christmas with my very close friends. How I wish to see them again in the future. Merry Christmas everyone!
I slept for a substantial six hours and tried to call my friends if the date will still be on. Yes, it is! So I immediately get up from my bed half awake and tried to get some water in that I will have to push my-still-drooping-eyes to open up and keep my back stick away from the inviting soft bed and not yearn to fall asleep for more hours or else the date will be at stake.
When I got out of the room, the afternoon breeze was so cold touching my skin and gave me shivers inside. My goosebumps immediately surfaced trying to protect myself from the threat of the nagging cold from outside. Damn, I forgot to close the window before I went to sleep, now it's hard to close it because it already got stuck on the window sill because of the cold. Aaah.... dumb me.
Well, I can't do otherwise but to go back to my room where my heater was continuously on and have myself recovered by covering myself with the thick warm comforter sheets I laid on my soft bed. I turned the light on to keep me fully awake and also turned on the television to keep me aware that it's really wake up time by engrossing myself with the teleserye's I've recorded while I am asleep earlier. Good thing my ever relying DVR still works continuously to record me my fave teleseryes for me to review when I am awake.
It was past 5 pm when I got up again from bed and took a hot shower because I was planning to go to church to visit the baby Infant Jesus and pay homage to Him as well as greet Him a Happy Birthday.
When I got out of the shower the chill of the outside breeze gave me some shivers so I ran immediately inside my warm room and seek the comforts of my warm sheets when I noticed that my celfone was blinking. I checked it and I noticed that the hospital was been calling me to work extra tonight. Since I only put myself available I just ignored the call because I still want to meet with my friends whom I haven't seen for a long time.
But before that I called the unit to confirm how many patients were there and good thing it's safe for me not to answer the call because they only needed enough people. Maybe some units need added help tonight that's why the nursing office called me. But hell no, I have a date tonight and I'm sorry for not responding.
I left the house and drove to St. Basil Church in Wilshire Avenue. I spotted a good parking at the church yard so I parked my car and immediately went to church. The mass had already started so I looked for an available seat at the mid portion of the left side of the church.
After the mass, I lined up myself to go in the front pews to see the Infant Jesus and kissed the baby telling him my birthday and christmas wishes. This kind of holiday gesture is a tradition handed and taught to me by my parents which I couldn't forget every where I go.
My wish for Christmas is global peace and harmony as well as good health and guidance for my jobs. I also thanked baby Jesus for all His love and answers to my prayers and for all the good things I got this year. It's a way of commemorating all my good blessings for the whole year. And also I prayed for my mom whom I missed so dearly.
After I got out of Church it was already 6:30 pm and I was starving badly so I called my friends telling them that I am on my way to pick them up. I drove at Julio's place and told them that I will be there immediately in 10 minutes. When I got there we hugged each other and I gave them my Christmas presents. It's good to see Julio and his boyfriend Joaquin. They were a stunning couple to look at because both of them were awesome and very very handsome together.
We left the house and I drove towards Sunset Boulevard looking for the Bossa Nova Restaurant. When we got there the place was close on Christmas day so we decided to go to West Hollywood and check out if the other branch is open there. But again, when we got there the other branch is also close so we just decided to go inside The Abbey right across the street which is open.
We went to see an open booth for us to get seated and when we spotted one we immediately took a seat and made some orders. I was so happy to see both of my close friends so much in love with each other.
After a brief hi and hello at the house we continued our long conversation here. We talked about everything pretty much about our individual lives, jobs, lovelife which I hesitatingly avoided because they know I am always mum about this topic, about our families, friends, and love ones. Everything we can think of. We also made a lot of flirting and jokes in between. Julio is a natural joker and Joaquin is just a good listener, very reticent and shy.
When our orders arrived we gobbled them down slowly while talking in between. It was so fun to be with the twoclose friends I haven't seen for a long time. Too bad Kuya George was not here with us to join. He is apparently in Las Vegas spending time with his family. I called him earlier and he told me that his mom called him to go home for the holidays so he has to skip spending Christmas with me. I haven't seen him either for almost three weeks now.
We had a hearty dinner. I ordered a grilled swordfish and mixed green salad with poached vegetables. After we gobbled down our dinner we ordered drinks and Julio decided to watch Avatar after that.
I didn't told Julio that I watched Avatar twice so I decided to just tagged along with them. We went to Arclight Cinemas in Sunset Blvd. and lined up for our tickets but we couldn't find a good spot for the 10 pm show so Julio decided to get three tickets for the 11 pm show.
Since we have two hours to wait, we decided to leave the premises and I drove them to Hollywood Blvd. towards Highland Mall where we decided to make a short stroll.
Upon finding a good spot to park near the mall, we got out of the car and just walk. There were a lot of people on the streets trying to revel the cold breeze of the Christmas and also enjoy spending time with their families, friends, and love ones.
We walked towards the Kodak Theater and looked for a Starbucks Cafe there to buy coffee. After obtaining coffee to warm us up we walked around the place and took pictures capturing the essence and spirit of Christmas around us.
We still continue talking, joking, and giggling at each other. It was really fun to spend time with close friends. I always missed this time especially if the friend is very very close to me.
Julio is just a big brother to me. He was my neighbor before the first time I moved here in Los Angeles from Texas and he is very accomodating, understanding, and respectful. When he met Joaquin last year they both move in to a new big place in Park La Brea but I still call him, corrspond to him, and talk to him periodically.
He is the one who encouraged me to find a boyfriend but I always refused his offer. So he knows that I am always mum about that topic. He stopped pestering me about it because he knows he couldn't squeeze me out to talk and admit about it which is very kind and respectful of him. But I know he just want me to get happy.
After the stroll, we went to see check Avalon Club in Vine Street if it's open to get some drinks but when we got there the line was very long. Julio went to ask how long was the wait and he was told that it's about one hour, so we decided to go back to Arclight and just get some drinks at the inside restaurant there.
When we got to Arclight we went to the premises' in-house restaurant and Julio got us some drinks. He got me an apple martini and he got two bloody mary's for him and Joaquin. We sipped our drinks very intently while waiting for our movies, talking at each other, and making jokes, and giigling at the jokes.
When our time was up, we went to our assigned stadium and took our 3D googles. The show started and we concentrated on it. The movie was more clear to me now after watching it for the third time. I can sense that my two companion were so sweet at each other, smooching and cuddling at each other and very engrossed and focused in watching the show. The movie lasted for three long hours and after the show they were so happy and had told me that they liked it very much. Me too had liked it a million times and is never fed up watching it over and over again.
We got out of Arclight where it was nippy and cold outside and I drove them both back at their home in La Brea park. They both thanked me for the wonderful night and time I spend with them. I gaved each one of them a tight hug wishing them the best of the Holidays and they returned the favor as well. We called the night off and bade a sweet goodbye.
I left their place and drove back home very tired. I already missed my warm room because the night was chillingly nippy. But all the memories I had tonight was beyond explanations and comparison. I am bursting with happiness seeing both my close friends in a very happy mood and having them both tonight was a joy to reckon with.
Twas a good and lovely night spending Christmas with my very close friends. How I wish to see them again in the future. Merry Christmas everyone!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Celebrating Christmas Across The Miles
Yeah...... it's Christmas 2009. A call for celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord. All Christian nations celebrate it as a commemoration of the Lord's coming to earth as a little baby who was born in a hapless manger in Bethlehem. He forsake his royal status in heaven just to be with mankind.
And we are all celebrating His birthday every year by giving gifts and sharing graces with our family, friends, and love ones. It is also a time to change our bad ways into good ways by doing something good to our fellows. A time to forgive and forget so that we will be harmonious in everything we do and attain peace internally as well as globally.
I just can't think of anything else but my family way back in the Philippines as I live alone here in the United States celebrating Christmas on my own. I can still remember my happy memories way back home during Christmastime.
The celebration of "Misa de Aguinaldo" every day starting on the 16th of December which always fall nine days before Christmas was my fondest memory. It was a tradition I always cherished which is not being celebrated here in the States. How I wish I could be home and feel the true essence of the tradition of my heritage.
I know when September strikes people started to prepare and make lists on what to expect for the coming Christmas. Some malls were already adorned with Christmas spirits everywhere. Even the radio stations starts playing Christmas songs on air. You can even hear them blaring on air in some of the transportation vehicles, houses, and inside the mall. Every where is bursting with the early spirit of Christmas.
Unlike here in the States, Christmas doesn't start after we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. By the time Black Friday starts people will crowd out the malls and look for bargains and sale in preparation of the early Christmas shopping. Few days after Thanksgiving people lined up some of the high end malls for the erection and lighting of the traditional Christmas tree heralding that the occasion starts during that time.
Then Christmas songs couldn't be heard from the radios not until the first day of December starts. And after that no regular songs were being played but only Christmas songs and carols can be heard all over the air until the month ends. Then the usual will resume after that.
The difference though of Christmas here is that presents and gifts were so abundant because all the stuffs are cheaper and we can have our choice of a lot of items and goodies. I mean the luxury here is much better of compared from back home. Even the food you can see on the table is more high-ends or expensive compared to the traditional food way back home.
But despite how much we spend in maintaining our needs for the holidays still the spirit is always the same. The essence of giving and receiving is there reverberating on the air and the goal of maintaining and attaining peace, unity, and love is always there. Although each culture has its own different means of celebrating Christmas still Christmas is universally celebrated.
As we celebrate Christmas each year we always see to it that we are thankful of the bountiful gifts and presents we got. Greeting each other peacefully and harmoniously can be the usual scene and that we always strive hard to uphold to the expectations of our own traditions and culture.
Christmas is always the time to give what we have in excess to all those people who really need our help and during this time it always made us consider our shortcomings and inadequacies because it is always the time to contemplate and prepare for what to expect for the oncoming year. We also start formulating our own individual resolutions to carry on for the coming year.
This day always had gave us the chance to change for the better and the better couldn't be achieved well if we are not yet ready for that change. Although we always focus on our own individual busy schedules at home and at work Christmas always had brought each and every one of us closer because gatherings like this always kept us more intact and solid to each other.
In as much, as we always neglect to see the benefits of the celebration to us and to others, we always take into consideration that the children are always happy and satisfied during this season, because Christmas is always a time for the kids. Looking at those little cute smiling faces when they received their presents and gifts is enormously uplifting to watch.
Christmas is the time for children to believe in a make believe that Santa Claus had left the North Pole and visit all those children who behaved and trying to behave to give them their wishes listed on their wish lists. It is the time to encouraged kids to be good and do good to others because once they get naughty and not nice Santa Claus won't come by and give them their wishes and presents. This creates a structural imagination for the children to do good and commemorate the true meaning and essence of Christmas.
While children swoon dreamily for the coming of Santa Claus, adult and elderly people were busy saving their time, effort, and money to act like Santa Claus and fulfilling what these kids were asking for from their imaginary Santa Claus.
Thus with these actions by the adults, children really believed that Santa Claus is for real. Although, bribing children to behave and do good to their fellows is easy for the adults to do, or else the children could not get what they wish for during Christmastime.
Over here in the States, this kind of tradition is always being practiced rigidly. And children always do their best to fulfill what they were expected to do so that their Christmas will be full of presents and love. Oh...... how I wish to be a kid again.
So on this Christmas, I hope that the world will be in harmony. I hope violence will be lessened to a minimum although it can't be eradicated but at least peace will be given a chance even just during this season for Christmas is always a time of peace and harmony for every one, no matter what race, culture, and belief you have.
Christmas always had inspired me to volunteer a lot for it is through volunteering that I always find satisfaction in my life especially in helping my fellows uplift their self-esteem and become more determined to feel the true essence and meaning of Christmas...... that they were not being leftout there to be unhappy and sad despite of their unfortunate situations and circumstances.
Wherever you are...... whatever you do....... whatever your status is....... we all celebrate Christmas with the same meaning and purpose. The act of giving, receiving, forgiving, forgetting ones inadequacies, maintaining peace, upholding harmony, and making children happy is always the spirit we bring and aim hardly as we celebrate Christmas across the miles.
And always don't forget that the Father Almighty had given us His unconditional love for us by sending His beloved Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our own inherited sin from Adam and Eve. And because of this we don't want to make and render God's effort futile in reuniting us with Him. We always have to lift up to His expectations in that the true meaning of Christmas will be felt every where.
Merry Christmas to all of you and may you have a Prosperous and Promising New Year as well! Hope you have a good one................
And we are all celebrating His birthday every year by giving gifts and sharing graces with our family, friends, and love ones. It is also a time to change our bad ways into good ways by doing something good to our fellows. A time to forgive and forget so that we will be harmonious in everything we do and attain peace internally as well as globally.
I just can't think of anything else but my family way back in the Philippines as I live alone here in the United States celebrating Christmas on my own. I can still remember my happy memories way back home during Christmastime.
The celebration of "Misa de Aguinaldo" every day starting on the 16th of December which always fall nine days before Christmas was my fondest memory. It was a tradition I always cherished which is not being celebrated here in the States. How I wish I could be home and feel the true essence of the tradition of my heritage.
I know when September strikes people started to prepare and make lists on what to expect for the coming Christmas. Some malls were already adorned with Christmas spirits everywhere. Even the radio stations starts playing Christmas songs on air. You can even hear them blaring on air in some of the transportation vehicles, houses, and inside the mall. Every where is bursting with the early spirit of Christmas.
Unlike here in the States, Christmas doesn't start after we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. By the time Black Friday starts people will crowd out the malls and look for bargains and sale in preparation of the early Christmas shopping. Few days after Thanksgiving people lined up some of the high end malls for the erection and lighting of the traditional Christmas tree heralding that the occasion starts during that time.
Then Christmas songs couldn't be heard from the radios not until the first day of December starts. And after that no regular songs were being played but only Christmas songs and carols can be heard all over the air until the month ends. Then the usual will resume after that.
The difference though of Christmas here is that presents and gifts were so abundant because all the stuffs are cheaper and we can have our choice of a lot of items and goodies. I mean the luxury here is much better of compared from back home. Even the food you can see on the table is more high-ends or expensive compared to the traditional food way back home.
But despite how much we spend in maintaining our needs for the holidays still the spirit is always the same. The essence of giving and receiving is there reverberating on the air and the goal of maintaining and attaining peace, unity, and love is always there. Although each culture has its own different means of celebrating Christmas still Christmas is universally celebrated.
As we celebrate Christmas each year we always see to it that we are thankful of the bountiful gifts and presents we got. Greeting each other peacefully and harmoniously can be the usual scene and that we always strive hard to uphold to the expectations of our own traditions and culture.
Christmas is always the time to give what we have in excess to all those people who really need our help and during this time it always made us consider our shortcomings and inadequacies because it is always the time to contemplate and prepare for what to expect for the oncoming year. We also start formulating our own individual resolutions to carry on for the coming year.
This day always had gave us the chance to change for the better and the better couldn't be achieved well if we are not yet ready for that change. Although we always focus on our own individual busy schedules at home and at work Christmas always had brought each and every one of us closer because gatherings like this always kept us more intact and solid to each other.
In as much, as we always neglect to see the benefits of the celebration to us and to others, we always take into consideration that the children are always happy and satisfied during this season, because Christmas is always a time for the kids. Looking at those little cute smiling faces when they received their presents and gifts is enormously uplifting to watch.
Christmas is the time for children to believe in a make believe that Santa Claus had left the North Pole and visit all those children who behaved and trying to behave to give them their wishes listed on their wish lists. It is the time to encouraged kids to be good and do good to others because once they get naughty and not nice Santa Claus won't come by and give them their wishes and presents. This creates a structural imagination for the children to do good and commemorate the true meaning and essence of Christmas.
While children swoon dreamily for the coming of Santa Claus, adult and elderly people were busy saving their time, effort, and money to act like Santa Claus and fulfilling what these kids were asking for from their imaginary Santa Claus.
Thus with these actions by the adults, children really believed that Santa Claus is for real. Although, bribing children to behave and do good to their fellows is easy for the adults to do, or else the children could not get what they wish for during Christmastime.
Over here in the States, this kind of tradition is always being practiced rigidly. And children always do their best to fulfill what they were expected to do so that their Christmas will be full of presents and love. Oh...... how I wish to be a kid again.
So on this Christmas, I hope that the world will be in harmony. I hope violence will be lessened to a minimum although it can't be eradicated but at least peace will be given a chance even just during this season for Christmas is always a time of peace and harmony for every one, no matter what race, culture, and belief you have.
Christmas always had inspired me to volunteer a lot for it is through volunteering that I always find satisfaction in my life especially in helping my fellows uplift their self-esteem and become more determined to feel the true essence and meaning of Christmas...... that they were not being leftout there to be unhappy and sad despite of their unfortunate situations and circumstances.
Wherever you are...... whatever you do....... whatever your status is....... we all celebrate Christmas with the same meaning and purpose. The act of giving, receiving, forgiving, forgetting ones inadequacies, maintaining peace, upholding harmony, and making children happy is always the spirit we bring and aim hardly as we celebrate Christmas across the miles.
And always don't forget that the Father Almighty had given us His unconditional love for us by sending His beloved Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our own inherited sin from Adam and Eve. And because of this we don't want to make and render God's effort futile in reuniting us with Him. We always have to lift up to His expectations in that the true meaning of Christmas will be felt every where.
Merry Christmas to all of you and may you have a Prosperous and Promising New Year as well! Hope you have a good one................
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Be An Angel
Christmas is that time of giving and receiving. It is a time of forgetting the bad and remembering the good that had happened to us for the whole year. And it is the time where we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who redeemed us from the sin of death.
Christmastime is also the time of sharing everything we have in excess and sharing our love and affection. It is also the time to forgetting and forgiving people who have owed us a lot or hurt us so bad. It is the time of peace and love all throughout mankind.
Yeah, and this Christmas season we hope that we will share our gifts and blessings for others who doesn't have one. It is time to play like an angel to someone who doesn't feel love all throughtout their lifetime. It is poignant to know that there are people like this in our society and I couldn't express more sympathy to them because it is really bad to be involved in such situations that somebody had not loved them.
I worked part time as a court child advocate and as an advocate it is my responsibility to take care of kids who got abandoned by their family. Some of these kids were been bruised and abused emotionally, physically, and psycholigically. It is heartwrenching to know their plight as they struggled to find love and shelter at this early formative point of their life. It really breaks my heart a lot.
I had a chance to met this awesome eight-year-old boy who went to a foster home because authorities had him taken out from his parents place because he was severely abused physically by his stepfather. When I met him initially I can see the dark fear in his deep blue eyes and it was really hard for me to establish a good rapport with him initially because he was really guarding his stead.
Eventually, with my constant contact and interaction with him he had grown trust for me and we started talking initially until he opened up with me. With my skills acquired during college for learning therapeutic communication which I rigidly applied in interacting with him I finally gained his precious trust until he started opening his life to me.
Listening to his past experiences, I started to immersed myself in his situation and empathized to him constantly. I listened very intently to him everytime I had a serious and close conversation with him. He immediately granted my unconditional brotherly love for him with his kind friendship until we grow very close to each other. And as I met him twice a month we always have fun with each other. Now it is time to wean off my ties with him and start meeting another subject and challenge myself.
Lately, when I met him two days ago, I told him about the termination phase, he started to shed tears and told me that he already had trusted me a lot. I told him that we can be friends and I can be his big brother forever and whenever he goes he will just have to think of me and everything will be all right. He told me that I am his angel from now on and he can't forget me until he grow old.
By the time we bade goodbye to each other, I gave him my Christmas gift and told him that hopefully we can see again in the future and I want him to be successful someday. It was a poignant goodbye but it was the right move to do so that he can go on with his own life.
Hopefully next year, I will be meeting another advocate subject and get challenged again like this. My child advocacy work, had given me a lot of confidence in dealing with troubled kids and the chance to share my knowledge and wisdom in defending these bruised kids and I was thankful to God that I was able to be of help to them even though in a small way.
And Christmas is always the right time to do this because it heralds the coming of the Lord and tells us to prepare ourselves for that coming of the Lord God. I can't ask for anything else this Christmastime but only for helping abused kids who needed my help in helping them pick-up their broken pieces and helped them put up the puzzle piece by piece until it will become whole.
The process will be enormously tedious and long but the satisfaction of helping them knows no bounds. And to me Christmas will even add icing to the cake because they will think that Jesus is always there to help them, and that He will send angels for them to guide them and these angels will be us.
So be an angel to them especially in helping them mending the broken pieces of their life and hopefully the feeling of having them helped by you will be enormous and satisfying to each and everyone of us. Help in your own way and God will guide you in every way. Trust in Him all the time and everything will be all right.
I hope helping other people will find you peace as you celebrate this holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Promising New Year to one and all!
Christmastime is also the time of sharing everything we have in excess and sharing our love and affection. It is also the time to forgetting and forgiving people who have owed us a lot or hurt us so bad. It is the time of peace and love all throughout mankind.
Yeah, and this Christmas season we hope that we will share our gifts and blessings for others who doesn't have one. It is time to play like an angel to someone who doesn't feel love all throughtout their lifetime. It is poignant to know that there are people like this in our society and I couldn't express more sympathy to them because it is really bad to be involved in such situations that somebody had not loved them.
I worked part time as a court child advocate and as an advocate it is my responsibility to take care of kids who got abandoned by their family. Some of these kids were been bruised and abused emotionally, physically, and psycholigically. It is heartwrenching to know their plight as they struggled to find love and shelter at this early formative point of their life. It really breaks my heart a lot.
I had a chance to met this awesome eight-year-old boy who went to a foster home because authorities had him taken out from his parents place because he was severely abused physically by his stepfather. When I met him initially I can see the dark fear in his deep blue eyes and it was really hard for me to establish a good rapport with him initially because he was really guarding his stead.
Eventually, with my constant contact and interaction with him he had grown trust for me and we started talking initially until he opened up with me. With my skills acquired during college for learning therapeutic communication which I rigidly applied in interacting with him I finally gained his precious trust until he started opening his life to me.
Listening to his past experiences, I started to immersed myself in his situation and empathized to him constantly. I listened very intently to him everytime I had a serious and close conversation with him. He immediately granted my unconditional brotherly love for him with his kind friendship until we grow very close to each other. And as I met him twice a month we always have fun with each other. Now it is time to wean off my ties with him and start meeting another subject and challenge myself.
Lately, when I met him two days ago, I told him about the termination phase, he started to shed tears and told me that he already had trusted me a lot. I told him that we can be friends and I can be his big brother forever and whenever he goes he will just have to think of me and everything will be all right. He told me that I am his angel from now on and he can't forget me until he grow old.
By the time we bade goodbye to each other, I gave him my Christmas gift and told him that hopefully we can see again in the future and I want him to be successful someday. It was a poignant goodbye but it was the right move to do so that he can go on with his own life.
Hopefully next year, I will be meeting another advocate subject and get challenged again like this. My child advocacy work, had given me a lot of confidence in dealing with troubled kids and the chance to share my knowledge and wisdom in defending these bruised kids and I was thankful to God that I was able to be of help to them even though in a small way.
And Christmas is always the right time to do this because it heralds the coming of the Lord and tells us to prepare ourselves for that coming of the Lord God. I can't ask for anything else this Christmastime but only for helping abused kids who needed my help in helping them pick-up their broken pieces and helped them put up the puzzle piece by piece until it will become whole.
The process will be enormously tedious and long but the satisfaction of helping them knows no bounds. And to me Christmas will even add icing to the cake because they will think that Jesus is always there to help them, and that He will send angels for them to guide them and these angels will be us.
So be an angel to them especially in helping them mending the broken pieces of their life and hopefully the feeling of having them helped by you will be enormous and satisfying to each and everyone of us. Help in your own way and God will guide you in every way. Trust in Him all the time and everything will be all right.
I hope helping other people will find you peace as you celebrate this holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Promising New Year to one and all!
Homestead Schools Annual Christmas Party
Sunday, December 20 was the set date for the annual Homestead Schools, Inc. Christmas Party and every batch were been invited to attend and participate in the program.
My Sunday started early in the morning meeting Batch 7 at Centinela Hospital Medical Center at 7 am for their clinical orientation in Obstetrics, Nursery, and Labor and Delivery Units.
I met up with them in the hospital's cafeteria and discussed with them their intended objectives for the term and the policies and guidelines to be followed while rotating there.
Then we started our unit tour and met with the appropriate personnel for each unit. They did their scavenger hunt and identified and located places for the equipments and supplies for each unit. I also introduced them to each unit's charge nurses and also the unit set-up so that when they come back there next year they will know their surroundings.
After the tour I gathered them back in the cafeteria and had discussed to them their assignments when they come back next year. And then I dismissed them and told them that I will be checking their attendance at school later during the Christmas Party.
I went home and changed for my casual clothes then left the house and drove to Hawthorne where the school is. I first passed by Smart and Final and bought some packed green salads to bring for the party then headed straight to school. When I got there they were just starting the program.
Since it was past lunch time the management decided to start the lunch and then go on with the program after that. After seeing to it that every body had their food and had eaten, Ms. Sadang officiated the program.
Each batch presented some talent numbers which made the party more interactive and fun. Each batch presented some dance numbers, singing numbers, skit and play numbers, etcetera. The program was a huge success.
There were even games made and prepared to make the program more fun, and each winner were presented gift prizes. It was a very successful Christmas Party indeed!
The program presentation first prize went to Batch 12 where they present a modified skit about Wizard of Oz with a nursing twist, second prize went to Medical Assistants class which presented a chorus with a modified lyrics about medical assisting, and third prize went to Batch 10 who also presented a chorus with a modified lyrics about nursing. All in all the program was a success.
Then after that more games were been laid out with the participation of the students and the faculty. Some were also taking pictures, talking at each other, and also watching the games and programs. It was a time of enjoying away from the harsh reality of the classroom and clinical settings.
The students were so happy that programs like this were been put up for them to enjoy and to forget the rigors and worries of nursing life. It was indeed a success and thanks for Mr. Ignacio, Ms. Sadang, and the faculty for putting up such a good show.
After the program we headed to the library and started our white elephant exchange gifts and greeted each other about the essence of the holidays. It was a long day for us but it was perfectly timed because of the joys that the holiday had brought to each and every one's face. Happy Holidays guys!
My Sunday started early in the morning meeting Batch 7 at Centinela Hospital Medical Center at 7 am for their clinical orientation in Obstetrics, Nursery, and Labor and Delivery Units.
I met up with them in the hospital's cafeteria and discussed with them their intended objectives for the term and the policies and guidelines to be followed while rotating there.
Then we started our unit tour and met with the appropriate personnel for each unit. They did their scavenger hunt and identified and located places for the equipments and supplies for each unit. I also introduced them to each unit's charge nurses and also the unit set-up so that when they come back there next year they will know their surroundings.
After the tour I gathered them back in the cafeteria and had discussed to them their assignments when they come back next year. And then I dismissed them and told them that I will be checking their attendance at school later during the Christmas Party.
I went home and changed for my casual clothes then left the house and drove to Hawthorne where the school is. I first passed by Smart and Final and bought some packed green salads to bring for the party then headed straight to school. When I got there they were just starting the program.
Since it was past lunch time the management decided to start the lunch and then go on with the program after that. After seeing to it that every body had their food and had eaten, Ms. Sadang officiated the program.
Each batch presented some talent numbers which made the party more interactive and fun. Each batch presented some dance numbers, singing numbers, skit and play numbers, etcetera. The program was a huge success.
There were even games made and prepared to make the program more fun, and each winner were presented gift prizes. It was a very successful Christmas Party indeed!
The program presentation first prize went to Batch 12 where they present a modified skit about Wizard of Oz with a nursing twist, second prize went to Medical Assistants class which presented a chorus with a modified lyrics about medical assisting, and third prize went to Batch 10 who also presented a chorus with a modified lyrics about nursing. All in all the program was a success.
Then after that more games were been laid out with the participation of the students and the faculty. Some were also taking pictures, talking at each other, and also watching the games and programs. It was a time of enjoying away from the harsh reality of the classroom and clinical settings.
The students were so happy that programs like this were been put up for them to enjoy and to forget the rigors and worries of nursing life. It was indeed a success and thanks for Mr. Ignacio, Ms. Sadang, and the faculty for putting up such a good show.
After the program we headed to the library and started our white elephant exchange gifts and greeted each other about the essence of the holidays. It was a long day for us but it was perfectly timed because of the joys that the holiday had brought to each and every one's face. Happy Holidays guys!
Watching Kooza
Last Friday, December 11, I watched Kooza, one of Cirque de Soliel's touring acrobatic shows. I bought the ticket about a week ago online for the reason that the show will be ending soon in about two weeks so I immediately decided to set a schedule to see one.
Right after I got out of my theory class from school I immediately left the school and brazenly faced the hard-pouring rain and the meadering-irksome Los Angeles traffic from Hawthorne to Santa Monica where the gypsy tent was been set up near the Santa Monica pier.
It was raining hard that time and the road was slickly wet and slippery thus the traffic was irritatingly sluggish. I left the school at 5:15 pm and I arrived at Santa Monica at 7:00 pm sharp.
The parking was even confusing to find so I decided to park near the 3rd Street Promenade and then decided to walk down the slippery overpass bridge crossing the Pacific Coast Highway down the pier's boardwalk.
When I got near the tent, the door was still closed so I decided to browse the open souvenir shop near the cocktail lounge. I tried on some of the displayed masks and had bought the DVD and the souvenir book about the show.
Fifteen minutes before 8 pm the curtain started to open and had allowed audiences from all walks of life to enter the stadium. The stage was situated in the middle of the stadium and the seating plan was even arranged closed together around the center stage. I really got a good spot on the mid portion of the stadium.
Before the show had started some of the show's characters came out and made some effort to meet the audience and started to coach them in heckling and pushing for the show to start. By the time the show started the audience were seated well and focused for the show's opening acts.
After some few dances and some few acrobatic stunts, three contorted ladies came out from a sliding table and started contorting and bending themselves like soft rubbers. It was so awesome to see those three beautiful ladies doing contortion acts and people started to like it. I myself love it so much.
Then the next act was a blonde lady doing a trapeze act. It was funny though because she tossed up her hair like a turkey crown and had even spray-painted it in red. The facial paint even looked awesome. She was flying to and fro all around the stage with the trapeze and do some somersaults and tumbling acts on air. When she did her last act of somersault she made a calculating error and had dropped herself unfortunately. Good thing she had a suspension string on to protect herself from a bad fall. Have she not..... she probably had hurt herself badly.
Next act was a double high-wire act. Four burly well-muscled guys came out with white studded robes on and when they stripped off themselves with the robes they revealed themselves wearing tight white stockings and a G-strings. They went up on a high suspension wire and started to walk across the tight rope doing their balancing acts.
My God! I had probably attained a stiff neck from looking at them and extending my head upwards just watching them doing their balancing acts. They jumped, ran, danced, skipped, rode a bike, and rope-balanced holding a long straight rod across their hands. It was very scary looking at them doing the balancing but at least they did it with finesse unlike the other girl who did the trapeze act.
Then the next act was a unicycle dance done by a couple riding on the equipment and maneuvering it around the stage. They did a lot of lifting and balancing in tune with the music. It was perfectly done and was so timed well with the music. All their acts was superbly done and very difficult to watch especially doing it while manipulating a running unicycle. It was probably the toughest acts I've ever seen especially tossing that scrawny lady up in the air and have her spin then catching her while the unicycle gyrated on stage. Wow, it took a lot of skills to do that stunt!
The clown acts were also hilarious and funny. It also included an audience participation wherein they have made the audience participant disappeared for a while and had him come out later near the end of the show. That really sucks. But I think the participant was also their hired member. Who knows.
The one act that really scared me a lot was the "wheel of death" wherein two burly masked men kept spinning on a spool wheel on each opposite sides while suspended on the air without a net underneath to scoop them and kept the spool roll as fast as they could while tumbling, jumping, skipping ropes, and flying in and out of the round spool. It was an act of kissing death.
The other guy almost fell to the ground. It looks like they were a maximized hamster suspended on air rolling in the spool or wheel. It was really scary and everytime they jumped and skipped the rolling wheel the audience just can't stop screaming to the top of their voice. But in the end they were the ones who had received the loudest clap and standing ovation which even boost their confidence to give a better performance.
The other act done by a petite Asian guy is the balancing of piled up chairs while doing some bending and twisting on the air. That one also had shrunk my guts into a prune especially when he piled ten chairs up in the air on different directions without even falling. It was a very gasping moment for me until the time he started collecting down and dismantling the chairs one by one and finished his scary acts. Another kiss of death performance.Whew that one even had held my breath for a few longer minutes. It was spellbound!
There were a lot of dancing and singing in between which even add up to the spectacular performances. All in all it was a very good and professional show. It's worth every penny of your dollar. Well, what could I say about Cirque de Soliel. They are always known worldwide to promote good acrobatic shows. And it's an honor for me to have witnessed such good shows like this.
After the show, I left the place with a big smile of satisfaction. The drizzle had abated already and had left the road look slick and wet and even slippery. I went home tired but satisfied despite of the long day I had. Thank God I decided to watched the show.
How could I let this awesome show pass? If I was that busy for sure I will still find some time to look for available slot in my skeds just to have it watched. Yeah..... it was very good show indeed.
For the show's website please look Kooza at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/kooza/default.aspx
Right after I got out of my theory class from school I immediately left the school and brazenly faced the hard-pouring rain and the meadering-irksome Los Angeles traffic from Hawthorne to Santa Monica where the gypsy tent was been set up near the Santa Monica pier.It was raining hard that time and the road was slickly wet and slippery thus the traffic was irritatingly sluggish. I left the school at 5:15 pm and I arrived at Santa Monica at 7:00 pm sharp.
The parking was even confusing to find so I decided to park near the 3rd Street Promenade and then decided to walk down the slippery overpass bridge crossing the Pacific Coast Highway down the pier's boardwalk.
When I got near the tent, the door was still closed so I decided to browse the open souvenir shop near the cocktail lounge. I tried on some of the displayed masks and had bought the DVD and the souvenir book about the show.
Fifteen minutes before 8 pm the curtain started to open and had allowed audiences from all walks of life to enter the stadium. The stage was situated in the middle of the stadium and the seating plan was even arranged closed together around the center stage. I really got a good spot on the mid portion of the stadium.
Before the show had started some of the show's characters came out and made some effort to meet the audience and started to coach them in heckling and pushing for the show to start. By the time the show started the audience were seated well and focused for the show's opening acts.
After some few dances and some few acrobatic stunts, three contorted ladies came out from a sliding table and started contorting and bending themselves like soft rubbers. It was so awesome to see those three beautiful ladies doing contortion acts and people started to like it. I myself love it so much.
Then the next act was a blonde lady doing a trapeze act. It was funny though because she tossed up her hair like a turkey crown and had even spray-painted it in red. The facial paint even looked awesome. She was flying to and fro all around the stage with the trapeze and do some somersaults and tumbling acts on air. When she did her last act of somersault she made a calculating error and had dropped herself unfortunately. Good thing she had a suspension string on to protect herself from a bad fall. Have she not..... she probably had hurt herself badly.
Next act was a double high-wire act. Four burly well-muscled guys came out with white studded robes on and when they stripped off themselves with the robes they revealed themselves wearing tight white stockings and a G-strings. They went up on a high suspension wire and started to walk across the tight rope doing their balancing acts.
My God! I had probably attained a stiff neck from looking at them and extending my head upwards just watching them doing their balancing acts. They jumped, ran, danced, skipped, rode a bike, and rope-balanced holding a long straight rod across their hands. It was very scary looking at them doing the balancing but at least they did it with finesse unlike the other girl who did the trapeze act.
Then the next act was a unicycle dance done by a couple riding on the equipment and maneuvering it around the stage. They did a lot of lifting and balancing in tune with the music. It was perfectly done and was so timed well with the music. All their acts was superbly done and very difficult to watch especially doing it while manipulating a running unicycle. It was probably the toughest acts I've ever seen especially tossing that scrawny lady up in the air and have her spin then catching her while the unicycle gyrated on stage. Wow, it took a lot of skills to do that stunt!
The clown acts were also hilarious and funny. It also included an audience participation wherein they have made the audience participant disappeared for a while and had him come out later near the end of the show. That really sucks. But I think the participant was also their hired member. Who knows.
The one act that really scared me a lot was the "wheel of death" wherein two burly masked men kept spinning on a spool wheel on each opposite sides while suspended on the air without a net underneath to scoop them and kept the spool roll as fast as they could while tumbling, jumping, skipping ropes, and flying in and out of the round spool. It was an act of kissing death.
The other guy almost fell to the ground. It looks like they were a maximized hamster suspended on air rolling in the spool or wheel. It was really scary and everytime they jumped and skipped the rolling wheel the audience just can't stop screaming to the top of their voice. But in the end they were the ones who had received the loudest clap and standing ovation which even boost their confidence to give a better performance.
The other act done by a petite Asian guy is the balancing of piled up chairs while doing some bending and twisting on the air. That one also had shrunk my guts into a prune especially when he piled ten chairs up in the air on different directions without even falling. It was a very gasping moment for me until the time he started collecting down and dismantling the chairs one by one and finished his scary acts. Another kiss of death performance.Whew that one even had held my breath for a few longer minutes. It was spellbound!
There were a lot of dancing and singing in between which even add up to the spectacular performances. All in all it was a very good and professional show. It's worth every penny of your dollar. Well, what could I say about Cirque de Soliel. They are always known worldwide to promote good acrobatic shows. And it's an honor for me to have witnessed such good shows like this.
After the show, I left the place with a big smile of satisfaction. The drizzle had abated already and had left the road look slick and wet and even slippery. I went home tired but satisfied despite of the long day I had. Thank God I decided to watched the show.
How could I let this awesome show pass? If I was that busy for sure I will still find some time to look for available slot in my skeds just to have it watched. Yeah..... it was very good show indeed.
For the show's website please look Kooza at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/kooza/default.aspx
Random Tidbits
Ooops.... I haven't been here in my blog anymore for more than two weeks. What had happened is beyond my control. I've been very busy lately in my two jobs that's why I have not come back here to make some entry. But eventhough it was not an excuse and I know that.
I've been laxed again for my blogging here and my blogging attitude gradually seems to eased down from being hyper-imaginative to totally damn lazy. I don't know what had happened to me lately. It was highly unlikely for me to be like this and I was so surprised about it. I will held accountable and responsible for my own shortcomings. And I apologized for that. Hope you'll understand.
I know even things have been busy for me, I still have to find time to make sure that the job was done well. But it seems that my growing age had already posed a threatening toll on me. I just don't want to attribute it to this but I feel it is really giving me a big toll to do things on time. Been so tired lately after work and I just want to rest all through out the day. I even had neglected doing my chores most of the time.
They say that life begins at forty but it seems to me that I am regressing badly at the moment. I just don't want to move around. I've been a slob lately and I am very ashamed about that. It's just not me actually. I don't know why it happened to me. I refuse to say that I am depressed because I am still communing to my surroundings well lately.
Well, as I came back here again I realized that I had missed writing down a lot of important events in my life currently so I just decided to just scribble some random tidbits of it for me to have a record of it here in my blog for me to reminisce later on.
I was glad that the rain had already abated. That one, too, had contributed to my laxed attitude lately but even though I shouldn't have put a blame on it because in the first place I should have been more responsible to do my task on time no matter what the weather was and the odds were.
That's the purpose why I put up this blog in the first place, for me to become more responsible in marking and creating my blogs on time despite how timid and lazy I am in order to just account what had happened in the past and for me to remind myself of the past events for future recap. But what is happening right now is totally crazy, a helluva madness per se. I was not living up to my own expectations and I am very very frustrated about it. And that was shameful and embarrassing in the first place.
On December 4...... I started my first day of teaching theory class with Batch 14 at school. I was been teaching theory years ago when I decided to quit it for a while and just focus on my clinical teaching. Now I decided to give it a try and I liked it.
Guess what happened? My director-of-nursing had requested me last month to cover for the next incoming batch (which is Batch 14) for their theory class because someone from school had recommended me to teach theory. I didn't know that somebody had believed in me and I was surprised about it.
Well, how could I refuse such a good offer? I was totally shocked that somebody had believed in my teaching skills in the classroom whether he's a colleague or a student I was totally in awe. I was planning to decline the offer in the first place but I made it a deep and long thought to just give it a try. Besides there's nothing to lose about it.
And mind you, it even added and boost my confidence level to be with the students three folds and had able to help them in their theory class as they learn to ascend their professional ladder. So I accepted the offer with some degree of hesitation, and it was productive so far. The students liked me and I liked it, too.
I was been teaching them for two weeks now and I really enjoyed it a lot. The students were benn participative and interactive in the class. They ask questions whenever they're in doubt and I couldn't ask for more. God always works in mysterious places and time. I always believed in His guidance.
December 8...... was the feast of the Immaculate Conception and I went to attend the mass. I felt so good during that time and I decided to fulfill my Catholic obligation. So right after I got out of work I headed directly to Saint Brendan Church on 3rd Street and Wilton Avenue where I usually attend the weekend mass.
When I got to the church there were a lot of people attending the mass and the students of the St. Brendan Parish School were all there together with their family. While listening to the mass the priest was kind of good at giving his homily service and at that time I was really enlightened by what he was saying and I started crying trying to remember my dear mom.
It was highly unlikely for me to cry in public because of my stoic attitude but I was probably over immersing with my emotions about Mama Mary's story and I remembered my mom. It was very uplifting to have cried that time and unconsciously vent out my emotions in the house of the Lord and when I went out of the church I felt so light and good after that.
That was the first time I feel so good in my life. I know mom had touched me and able to be by my side that time. It was a strange feeling but I can attest to that. Thanks mom for believing in me all the time and for always being there during the times that I needed you.
December 11..... was still raining that time when I got out of the school after my theory class. The weather forecast in Los Angeles was cold and rainy that time extending all throughout the weekend. I was supposed to watch a show in Santa Monica by Cirque de Soleil called Kooza. I was driving on a sleek road and heavy traffic going to Santa Monica to catch the show but it didn't bother me because I was three hours ahead of time.
Well, you know what happened I just barely got there on time. Imagine the traffic was that slow on a heavy rain, I didn't even realized it. And when I got there I have to turn around several times because the parking was bad. Good thing I decided to get to Third Street Promenade and parked on the public structure there and just decided to walk down the pier even though it was drizzling.
But all the hindrances, the traffic, the scarce parking, the rain, and the long walk was nothing because by the time the show started I totally forgotten about all I have been through just to catch up and watch for the show. The show was beyond spectacular and was awesomely done. I made a separate blog for Kooza so please read it if you have time.
December 12..... it was Saturday and I was off. I decided to spend a quiet time with Kuya George so I called him up after lunch and invited him to watch a movie. Since I was curious about that new theater in downtown that my co-worker had told me I decided to probably bring Kuya George there for our movie viewing.
When we got to the downtown again my parking dilemma started. It was really hard to look for a decent parking around downtown area. After several turnarounds I told Kuya George to ask the theater butlers where to park and good thing the guy told us this awesome parking lot intended just for the moviegoers which only charge a reasonable price just for the theatergoers. Damn we've been roaming around like crazy and it was just there. We should have asked in the first place. Hehehe.
Well, after finding a good parking spot we went to the theater (it's name is Regal 14 Theater) and purchased two tickets for 2012. And when we went in we were greeted by the sprawling lobby and the towering floors. My God the theater was so huge, like a cruise ship (hehehe I never been on a cruise ship). It was big that we have to take the elevator to the 3rd floor to watch our movie. I don't know how many auditoriums they have but I'm telling you it was huge.
The movie was titillatingly full of suspense but very nice. I liked it and was a bit scared about the twist in the plot. I know it's just a fiction but judging it will happen in the future because of mankind's current regard to their surroundings then it is a scary thing to happen.
It gave us a big lesson to treat mother earth with kindness to prevent global warming to prevent this havoc that mother nature will create because of mankind's neglect. To me it can happen sometime in the future as people multiply and abuse mother nature but not in 2012. I know the director just fast track the date to give us a realization that it will sometime happen in the future.
December 13...... after working clinical a day before and had my good rest a night before I decided to go to Whittier, CA to see my maternal aunt and my high school classmate to drop off two things, one my little contribution for our high school alumni reunion this year and my wedding present for my second cousin. I stayed at my aunt's place for a little chat and bonding time then I drove back to Los Angeles.
Since it was my off I decided to passed by downtown LA again and look around for the enticing and flickering christmas decorations on the streets when I accidentally passed by the Regent 14 theater again. So I abruptly decided to watch another movie. I spotted a good parking at the theater parking area and headed to the theater and bought a ticket for Blindside which stars Sandra Bullock. I love her so much that's why I chose the movie.
The movie was so poignant. It was a story of a black NFL football player who started from poverty which despite his hapless situation he didn't gave up and become succesful. He was adopted by a white family after finding him living in the streets, had him stayed at their home, giving them hope that he can do it, had him go to a private school and educate him, and guiding him to be a good Christian.
I actually cried after the movie was done. Sandra Bullock was so awesome in that movie. And I heard she got two nominations for the coming Golden Globe awards next year. Good for her.
My weekdays was not that good to blog though. It was just my routine work at the hospital and it was not that great except that I was floated Wednesday night in NICU. It was my first float after one and a half year. I survived the night after taking care of an overstaying boarder (167 days-old ex-preemie) and a twin girls which made my night a nightmare because they were crying constantly. But it was an awesome night though.
December 18...... Time passed by so fast. It's Friday again and I had a skills lab with my regular class. We return demonstrated on gowning, gloving, and masking after watching a pile of videos and they were so eager to do their skills lab. I also helped them practice their Christmas presentation for the Christmas party on Sunday.
After I left school I decided to passed downtown again and watched the new flick "Avatar" which I heard was good judging that I already had been watching the theater streams on YouTube. I know it will be a very nice movie to watch.
But before going to the theater I decided to get my dinner at The Old Pantry House. I ordered a top sirloin steak and I gobbled the food in a nick of time just to catch the movie. It was been a long time that I haven't had steak so I decided to have one for my dinner and I enjoyed every piece of it judging that the restaurant had a good reputation for grilling good juicy steak. My dinner was satisfyingly great!
After the dinner I headed to the theater parking lot at Francisco Street and spotted a good spot despite it was already full. I then headed to Regent 14 theater and purchased one ticket for Avatar. I was still on my maroon scrubs and jacket but I was so excited to see it so I decided not to go home and changed and because time is of the essence here and the traffic is bad at that time, I just decided to go straight watched the movie with my scrubs.
When the movie started and with the googles on for it was in 3D I was so fascinated how intricately it was made. Every details of the pictures was so life like. It was awesomely done and I liked it so much. I was so happy I lined up myself to be the first one to witnessed it at this opening day.
I even had watched it the second time around after two days on my next day off. I was so crazy about it and I can't resist watching it again.
Well, I think that's all I can remember had happened for me lately. You've noticed I basically immersed myself in watching movies lately because that's the only one I can do here in Los Angeles to amuse myself and nothing else aside from working too much.
At least I've done something that keeps me going although it wasn't productive. It's much better though rather than staying in my pad and do nothing except for watching television. I can't even do my chores on time because I was been very lazy doing it. By just mere looking at the piles of work that is waiting for me I already lost my appetite starting to do it. Hahaha.... funny but that's the truth.
Hopefully, maybe someday I could change my attitude although I can say the chances are nil. But who knows it will happen. And if that happens it will be a huge miracle. Ciao!
I've been laxed again for my blogging here and my blogging attitude gradually seems to eased down from being hyper-imaginative to totally damn lazy. I don't know what had happened to me lately. It was highly unlikely for me to be like this and I was so surprised about it. I will held accountable and responsible for my own shortcomings. And I apologized for that. Hope you'll understand.
I know even things have been busy for me, I still have to find time to make sure that the job was done well. But it seems that my growing age had already posed a threatening toll on me. I just don't want to attribute it to this but I feel it is really giving me a big toll to do things on time. Been so tired lately after work and I just want to rest all through out the day. I even had neglected doing my chores most of the time.
They say that life begins at forty but it seems to me that I am regressing badly at the moment. I just don't want to move around. I've been a slob lately and I am very ashamed about that. It's just not me actually. I don't know why it happened to me. I refuse to say that I am depressed because I am still communing to my surroundings well lately.
Well, as I came back here again I realized that I had missed writing down a lot of important events in my life currently so I just decided to just scribble some random tidbits of it for me to have a record of it here in my blog for me to reminisce later on.
I was glad that the rain had already abated. That one, too, had contributed to my laxed attitude lately but even though I shouldn't have put a blame on it because in the first place I should have been more responsible to do my task on time no matter what the weather was and the odds were.
That's the purpose why I put up this blog in the first place, for me to become more responsible in marking and creating my blogs on time despite how timid and lazy I am in order to just account what had happened in the past and for me to remind myself of the past events for future recap. But what is happening right now is totally crazy, a helluva madness per se. I was not living up to my own expectations and I am very very frustrated about it. And that was shameful and embarrassing in the first place.
On December 4...... I started my first day of teaching theory class with Batch 14 at school. I was been teaching theory years ago when I decided to quit it for a while and just focus on my clinical teaching. Now I decided to give it a try and I liked it.
Guess what happened? My director-of-nursing had requested me last month to cover for the next incoming batch (which is Batch 14) for their theory class because someone from school had recommended me to teach theory. I didn't know that somebody had believed in me and I was surprised about it.
Well, how could I refuse such a good offer? I was totally shocked that somebody had believed in my teaching skills in the classroom whether he's a colleague or a student I was totally in awe. I was planning to decline the offer in the first place but I made it a deep and long thought to just give it a try. Besides there's nothing to lose about it.
And mind you, it even added and boost my confidence level to be with the students three folds and had able to help them in their theory class as they learn to ascend their professional ladder. So I accepted the offer with some degree of hesitation, and it was productive so far. The students liked me and I liked it, too.
I was been teaching them for two weeks now and I really enjoyed it a lot. The students were benn participative and interactive in the class. They ask questions whenever they're in doubt and I couldn't ask for more. God always works in mysterious places and time. I always believed in His guidance.
December 8...... was the feast of the Immaculate Conception and I went to attend the mass. I felt so good during that time and I decided to fulfill my Catholic obligation. So right after I got out of work I headed directly to Saint Brendan Church on 3rd Street and Wilton Avenue where I usually attend the weekend mass.
When I got to the church there were a lot of people attending the mass and the students of the St. Brendan Parish School were all there together with their family. While listening to the mass the priest was kind of good at giving his homily service and at that time I was really enlightened by what he was saying and I started crying trying to remember my dear mom.
It was highly unlikely for me to cry in public because of my stoic attitude but I was probably over immersing with my emotions about Mama Mary's story and I remembered my mom. It was very uplifting to have cried that time and unconsciously vent out my emotions in the house of the Lord and when I went out of the church I felt so light and good after that.
That was the first time I feel so good in my life. I know mom had touched me and able to be by my side that time. It was a strange feeling but I can attest to that. Thanks mom for believing in me all the time and for always being there during the times that I needed you.
December 11..... was still raining that time when I got out of the school after my theory class. The weather forecast in Los Angeles was cold and rainy that time extending all throughout the weekend. I was supposed to watch a show in Santa Monica by Cirque de Soleil called Kooza. I was driving on a sleek road and heavy traffic going to Santa Monica to catch the show but it didn't bother me because I was three hours ahead of time.
Well, you know what happened I just barely got there on time. Imagine the traffic was that slow on a heavy rain, I didn't even realized it. And when I got there I have to turn around several times because the parking was bad. Good thing I decided to get to Third Street Promenade and parked on the public structure there and just decided to walk down the pier even though it was drizzling.
But all the hindrances, the traffic, the scarce parking, the rain, and the long walk was nothing because by the time the show started I totally forgotten about all I have been through just to catch up and watch for the show. The show was beyond spectacular and was awesomely done. I made a separate blog for Kooza so please read it if you have time.
December 12..... it was Saturday and I was off. I decided to spend a quiet time with Kuya George so I called him up after lunch and invited him to watch a movie. Since I was curious about that new theater in downtown that my co-worker had told me I decided to probably bring Kuya George there for our movie viewing.
When we got to the downtown again my parking dilemma started. It was really hard to look for a decent parking around downtown area. After several turnarounds I told Kuya George to ask the theater butlers where to park and good thing the guy told us this awesome parking lot intended just for the moviegoers which only charge a reasonable price just for the theatergoers. Damn we've been roaming around like crazy and it was just there. We should have asked in the first place. Hehehe.
Well, after finding a good parking spot we went to the theater (it's name is Regal 14 Theater) and purchased two tickets for 2012. And when we went in we were greeted by the sprawling lobby and the towering floors. My God the theater was so huge, like a cruise ship (hehehe I never been on a cruise ship). It was big that we have to take the elevator to the 3rd floor to watch our movie. I don't know how many auditoriums they have but I'm telling you it was huge.
The movie was titillatingly full of suspense but very nice. I liked it and was a bit scared about the twist in the plot. I know it's just a fiction but judging it will happen in the future because of mankind's current regard to their surroundings then it is a scary thing to happen.
It gave us a big lesson to treat mother earth with kindness to prevent global warming to prevent this havoc that mother nature will create because of mankind's neglect. To me it can happen sometime in the future as people multiply and abuse mother nature but not in 2012. I know the director just fast track the date to give us a realization that it will sometime happen in the future.
December 13...... after working clinical a day before and had my good rest a night before I decided to go to Whittier, CA to see my maternal aunt and my high school classmate to drop off two things, one my little contribution for our high school alumni reunion this year and my wedding present for my second cousin. I stayed at my aunt's place for a little chat and bonding time then I drove back to Los Angeles.
Since it was my off I decided to passed by downtown LA again and look around for the enticing and flickering christmas decorations on the streets when I accidentally passed by the Regent 14 theater again. So I abruptly decided to watch another movie. I spotted a good parking at the theater parking area and headed to the theater and bought a ticket for Blindside which stars Sandra Bullock. I love her so much that's why I chose the movie.
The movie was so poignant. It was a story of a black NFL football player who started from poverty which despite his hapless situation he didn't gave up and become succesful. He was adopted by a white family after finding him living in the streets, had him stayed at their home, giving them hope that he can do it, had him go to a private school and educate him, and guiding him to be a good Christian.
I actually cried after the movie was done. Sandra Bullock was so awesome in that movie. And I heard she got two nominations for the coming Golden Globe awards next year. Good for her.
My weekdays was not that good to blog though. It was just my routine work at the hospital and it was not that great except that I was floated Wednesday night in NICU. It was my first float after one and a half year. I survived the night after taking care of an overstaying boarder (167 days-old ex-preemie) and a twin girls which made my night a nightmare because they were crying constantly. But it was an awesome night though.
December 18...... Time passed by so fast. It's Friday again and I had a skills lab with my regular class. We return demonstrated on gowning, gloving, and masking after watching a pile of videos and they were so eager to do their skills lab. I also helped them practice their Christmas presentation for the Christmas party on Sunday.
After I left school I decided to passed downtown again and watched the new flick "Avatar" which I heard was good judging that I already had been watching the theater streams on YouTube. I know it will be a very nice movie to watch.
But before going to the theater I decided to get my dinner at The Old Pantry House. I ordered a top sirloin steak and I gobbled the food in a nick of time just to catch the movie. It was been a long time that I haven't had steak so I decided to have one for my dinner and I enjoyed every piece of it judging that the restaurant had a good reputation for grilling good juicy steak. My dinner was satisfyingly great!
After the dinner I headed to the theater parking lot at Francisco Street and spotted a good spot despite it was already full. I then headed to Regent 14 theater and purchased one ticket for Avatar. I was still on my maroon scrubs and jacket but I was so excited to see it so I decided not to go home and changed and because time is of the essence here and the traffic is bad at that time, I just decided to go straight watched the movie with my scrubs.
When the movie started and with the googles on for it was in 3D I was so fascinated how intricately it was made. Every details of the pictures was so life like. It was awesomely done and I liked it so much. I was so happy I lined up myself to be the first one to witnessed it at this opening day.
I even had watched it the second time around after two days on my next day off. I was so crazy about it and I can't resist watching it again.
Well, I think that's all I can remember had happened for me lately. You've noticed I basically immersed myself in watching movies lately because that's the only one I can do here in Los Angeles to amuse myself and nothing else aside from working too much.
At least I've done something that keeps me going although it wasn't productive. It's much better though rather than staying in my pad and do nothing except for watching television. I can't even do my chores on time because I was been very lazy doing it. By just mere looking at the piles of work that is waiting for me I already lost my appetite starting to do it. Hahaha.... funny but that's the truth.
Hopefully, maybe someday I could change my attitude although I can say the chances are nil. But who knows it will happen. And if that happens it will be a huge miracle. Ciao!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Immaculate Mary
Well, I know today is the feast of the "Immaculate Conception." This means that Mama Mary was been destined to be born without sin so that she can be ready to receive the announcement made by Angel Gabriel that she will conceive a baby, which is the Son of God.
Every year we reminded ourselves about this feast, that Mama Mary was been conceived immaculately to fulfill the promise of God to us, sending His own Son to redeem us from the dead. And Mama Mary will be the instrument to that promise. She played the role of the bearer of God's Son to free us from the toils of sin. And we have to thank her for accepting that huge responsibility.
See how enormous that responsibility would be? Yet Mama Mary didn't hesitate to accept the challenge. She has some confusion initially but then she succumb to it because she knows she was been chosen or hand-picked by God for the job and that she is just a humble servant of God, so she uttered those words; "Let Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Such powerful utterance which is still an element of our daily prayers that inspired us everyday.
As I embark on this day celebrating the Immaculate Conception, it reminded me of my mom. How I missed her so much. Despite she left me this year and permanently stayed with our Creator forever, I still recall her part in my life and I am so honored that I had her as my mother.
How I wish she will be here by my side right now so that I can thank her for all the deeds that she have done for me. But I've always know that she is just around looking after me and I can always feel her presence with me all the time. So mom, allow me to thank you for everything for not leaving me always.
In every success I have I know you are there. In every failures I have I know you always cheer me up and lighten my burden. In every challenges I have I know you always made it easy for me to perform it for I never feel it is hard. And thanks a lot for all your precious presence despite of the fact that you are intangible for me now. Thanks a lot!
So as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, we should never forget to go to church today because it is a very important feast in a Christian calendar. We have to be thankful for Mother Mary for bearing Jesus Christ to be born as a human being to redeem us from sins. And with that great responsibility we were been freed from darkness.
Also, please don't forget to thank your mother for being a part of your being a human being. For without her, we are nothing on this planet. Give them appropriate importance today. Celebrate this day as a second Mother's Day for them because they need to be treated very special.
Mom's are always the light and wisdom of the family. And without them, a family will be worthless because they are the once who brought forth an infant, male or female, to be a part of a family. So mom's shouldn't be outcasted but should be given due importance as well. Agreed?
Yeah, to all mother's of the world, thank you all for inspiring men, because if not without you the word family wouldn't be possible. If not with Mama Mary our Lord Jesus Christ would not come down to earth and be with us.
Thank you Mama Mary for accepting that big role and for accepting the news that Angel Gabriel have brought you in that isolated place in Nazareth. Thank you for contributing a lot in our lives especially for sharing Jesus to us and for your unconditional love for Him and for us. Thanks a lot Mama Mary!
So guys, Happy Immaculate Conception! Hope you will remember Mother Mary's role in our Christian life. Once again, thank you for your constant patronage! Ciao!
Every year we reminded ourselves about this feast, that Mama Mary was been conceived immaculately to fulfill the promise of God to us, sending His own Son to redeem us from the dead. And Mama Mary will be the instrument to that promise. She played the role of the bearer of God's Son to free us from the toils of sin. And we have to thank her for accepting that huge responsibility.
See how enormous that responsibility would be? Yet Mama Mary didn't hesitate to accept the challenge. She has some confusion initially but then she succumb to it because she knows she was been chosen or hand-picked by God for the job and that she is just a humble servant of God, so she uttered those words; "Let Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Such powerful utterance which is still an element of our daily prayers that inspired us everyday.
As I embark on this day celebrating the Immaculate Conception, it reminded me of my mom. How I missed her so much. Despite she left me this year and permanently stayed with our Creator forever, I still recall her part in my life and I am so honored that I had her as my mother.
How I wish she will be here by my side right now so that I can thank her for all the deeds that she have done for me. But I've always know that she is just around looking after me and I can always feel her presence with me all the time. So mom, allow me to thank you for everything for not leaving me always.
In every success I have I know you are there. In every failures I have I know you always cheer me up and lighten my burden. In every challenges I have I know you always made it easy for me to perform it for I never feel it is hard. And thanks a lot for all your precious presence despite of the fact that you are intangible for me now. Thanks a lot!
So as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, we should never forget to go to church today because it is a very important feast in a Christian calendar. We have to be thankful for Mother Mary for bearing Jesus Christ to be born as a human being to redeem us from sins. And with that great responsibility we were been freed from darkness.
Also, please don't forget to thank your mother for being a part of your being a human being. For without her, we are nothing on this planet. Give them appropriate importance today. Celebrate this day as a second Mother's Day for them because they need to be treated very special.
Mom's are always the light and wisdom of the family. And without them, a family will be worthless because they are the once who brought forth an infant, male or female, to be a part of a family. So mom's shouldn't be outcasted but should be given due importance as well. Agreed?
Yeah, to all mother's of the world, thank you all for inspiring men, because if not without you the word family wouldn't be possible. If not with Mama Mary our Lord Jesus Christ would not come down to earth and be with us.
Thank you Mama Mary for accepting that big role and for accepting the news that Angel Gabriel have brought you in that isolated place in Nazareth. Thank you for contributing a lot in our lives especially for sharing Jesus to us and for your unconditional love for Him and for us. Thanks a lot Mama Mary!
So guys, Happy Immaculate Conception! Hope you will remember Mother Mary's role in our Christian life. Once again, thank you for your constant patronage! Ciao!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Rain
Whoa! It's gloomy now here in Los Angeles. I went home last night at 2 am from a party and I met a lot of nice people. The one that really spend most of his time talking to me eventhough how boring I am was this very patient skinny guy (his name is Steven) who I find more amusing to talk with.
I went to bed at 3:30 am and had probably slept for a quite long six hours. I woke up at around 9:45 am and was planning to do my laundry because my work scrubs were been piling up and overflowing from the hamper. I immediately collected all the scrubs, grabbed my quarters, and went to the back of the house where the washing machine and dryer were located.
When I opened the door, the breeze was bitingly cold and the pavement outside was slippery wet because it was raining hard outside the house. I didn't even bother to peek out of the window to check the pool for the pouring raindrops. But I don't have any choice but to weather the pouring rain and gradually tiptoed the slippery concrete pavement all the way to the back of the house to do the laundry.
While the laundry is ongoing, I went back to the house and gather my school shirts for my theory class on Thursday and Friday. I started ironing two shirts and my black slacks in preparation for the said class. And since I am working tonight I also went to iron my scrubs that I gonna wear tonight.
After doing the laundry, folding the clothes, and ironing my school outfits, I went out to do some errands eventhough it was raining hard outside. The rain was really pouring hard but I have to go out and go to the bank to wire my payment for the two condominiums I bought in Manila and also send money for my niece's school tuition. I just don't want to be late on my payments so I just have to weather the rain.
When I got out of the bank the rain started to slow down and when I was driving east along Beverly Blvd the sun started to slowly creep out from the open gloomy skies illuminating the still drizzling dark Los Angeles skies where I saw a rainbow forming slowly from the horizon in the east as the sun reflects on the slight drizzling skies.
I grabbed my iPhone immediately and started to click my camera and took some pictures while driving (I shouldn't have done that). When I made a left turn towards north on Western Blvd I also saw two rainbows slowly forming from the northeast horizon illuminating the well-known Hollywood Hills. The sight was awesome and awe-inspiring. I also included the picture here on my blog.
I passed by the Thai Barbecue restaurant that I always frequent at to buy my favorite Thai Chicken Barbecue in preparation for my lunch at work tonight.
When I went out of the restaurant the rain had already abated and the sun shined decadently and gloriously on the southwest skies heralding the coming of the very bright afternoon. The streets looks cleanly fresh and drenchly washed because of the just finished rain.
Yeah, the rain always symbolizes new hope for us. Despite of the gloomy weather, after the rain had passed by the sun still shines brightly bringing us the promise of God for a new life and a new beginning, which is aptly represented by the appearance of the rainbow.
I was so lucky that I have witnessed a rare phenomenon that rarely happened here in Los Angeles, which is the occurence of the rain and the rainbow. It seldom happened here in this very warm city of Los Angeles (like once in a blue moon) and for me I was still baffled and perplexed quite a bit for having witnessed one. I remember the last time I've seen a rainbow way back in my tropical country, the Philippines, when I was still there 20 years ago.
Now, after 20 long years, I know that the old adage is always true. The adage that said: "Behind the clouds the sun is always shining." And I can attest to that saying having witnessed one occurence today while it's still raining hard here in Los Angeles.
Thanks for always coming here and patronizing my boring blogs. Hehehe. Thanks a lot and bye bye to all!
P.S.
Since the topic is about Rain..... well I would like to mention that deliciously skinny Asian (Korean) guy from the new movie "Ninja Assassin". His name is also Rain and he is so awesomely handsome, sexy, charming, and likable. I love the movie a lot and it really rocks. I love all the ass-kick stunts and the plot of course. I am always a fan of ninjas, I don't know why. Maybe I have a ninja attribute deep within. Yeah!
I went to bed at 3:30 am and had probably slept for a quite long six hours. I woke up at around 9:45 am and was planning to do my laundry because my work scrubs were been piling up and overflowing from the hamper. I immediately collected all the scrubs, grabbed my quarters, and went to the back of the house where the washing machine and dryer were located.
When I opened the door, the breeze was bitingly cold and the pavement outside was slippery wet because it was raining hard outside the house. I didn't even bother to peek out of the window to check the pool for the pouring raindrops. But I don't have any choice but to weather the pouring rain and gradually tiptoed the slippery concrete pavement all the way to the back of the house to do the laundry.
While the laundry is ongoing, I went back to the house and gather my school shirts for my theory class on Thursday and Friday. I started ironing two shirts and my black slacks in preparation for the said class. And since I am working tonight I also went to iron my scrubs that I gonna wear tonight.
After doing the laundry, folding the clothes, and ironing my school outfits, I went out to do some errands eventhough it was raining hard outside. The rain was really pouring hard but I have to go out and go to the bank to wire my payment for the two condominiums I bought in Manila and also send money for my niece's school tuition. I just don't want to be late on my payments so I just have to weather the rain.
When I got out of the bank the rain started to slow down and when I was driving east along Beverly Blvd the sun started to slowly creep out from the open gloomy skies illuminating the still drizzling dark Los Angeles skies where I saw a rainbow forming slowly from the horizon in the east as the sun reflects on the slight drizzling skies.
I grabbed my iPhone immediately and started to click my camera and took some pictures while driving (I shouldn't have done that). When I made a left turn towards north on Western Blvd I also saw two rainbows slowly forming from the northeast horizon illuminating the well-known Hollywood Hills. The sight was awesome and awe-inspiring. I also included the picture here on my blog.
I passed by the Thai Barbecue restaurant that I always frequent at to buy my favorite Thai Chicken Barbecue in preparation for my lunch at work tonight.
When I went out of the restaurant the rain had already abated and the sun shined decadently and gloriously on the southwest skies heralding the coming of the very bright afternoon. The streets looks cleanly fresh and drenchly washed because of the just finished rain.
Yeah, the rain always symbolizes new hope for us. Despite of the gloomy weather, after the rain had passed by the sun still shines brightly bringing us the promise of God for a new life and a new beginning, which is aptly represented by the appearance of the rainbow.
I was so lucky that I have witnessed a rare phenomenon that rarely happened here in Los Angeles, which is the occurence of the rain and the rainbow. It seldom happened here in this very warm city of Los Angeles (like once in a blue moon) and for me I was still baffled and perplexed quite a bit for having witnessed one. I remember the last time I've seen a rainbow way back in my tropical country, the Philippines, when I was still there 20 years ago.
Now, after 20 long years, I know that the old adage is always true. The adage that said: "Behind the clouds the sun is always shining." And I can attest to that saying having witnessed one occurence today while it's still raining hard here in Los Angeles.
Thanks for always coming here and patronizing my boring blogs. Hehehe. Thanks a lot and bye bye to all!
P.S.
Since the topic is about Rain..... well I would like to mention that deliciously skinny Asian (Korean) guy from the new movie "Ninja Assassin". His name is also Rain and he is so awesomely handsome, sexy, charming, and likable. I love the movie a lot and it really rocks. I love all the ass-kick stunts and the plot of course. I am always a fan of ninjas, I don't know why. Maybe I have a ninja attribute deep within. Yeah!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Lazy Day
Yeah, I was off today. It's a very cold Saturday here in Los Angeles..... I stayed at home the whole day doing nothing..... procrastinating badly.
Instead of doing some household chores that needed to be done on time, I felt so lazy to carry them out. And I still have a lot of paperworks to be finished, done, and to be submitted. But look what I've done, I still haven't start anything even with just one page. It was supposed to be submitted a week ago, but still I didn't even start anything.
Here we go again, I am exhibiting my "manana" attitude. It was so embarassing but I still did it anyway. I don't know why I usually want myself to cram all the time. I am so used of stressing out myself every time. I know it's not healthy but I still do it. Well, that's just me probably and I need to change it real bad but I'm still doing my old ways. Aaah.....
Today, I basically haven't done anything aside from just lying down on my bed after I woke up in the morning and tapped my laptop and searched some YouTube streams that really interests me all day. I was so irritated about myself for doing it but I still did it anyway. I did not have any goals set-up today aside from just doing my paperworks but thinking of the bulk of work I am about to do I immediately brushed off doing it. I don't know I am like that.
I haven't had any productive things done today but just lie down on my bed and listen to 2NE1. A female K-pop group from South Korea, listening to their music video stream from YouTube all day. I was so fascinated with their upbeat music and aside from that I was fascinated with Sandara Park, one of its member.
Sandara was once a celebrity in the Philippines who was been loved by my fellow countrymen despite of her Korean background. She and her family moved to the Philippines when her dad lose their business in Korea and tried their luck in the Philippines.
Her stories had inspired a lot of the Filipino people. And her humble attitude brought more inspiration and love from her fan base. She made a lot of popular movies, bankable commercials, and famous music in the Philippines and was very successful in her entire showbiz career in the Philippines. She was been loved by a lot of the Filipino people because of her honest personality, sweet attitude, and wacky moves and fashion style.
She went back to Korea in 2007, left her fan base to venture her luck in her native country only to surprise her fans after several years of keeping herself away from the limelight and then emerge as Rie in a traditional Korean Novela about the coming back of a ninja which didn't made a good rating in the Korean mainstream but made good reviews in the Philippines.
Early this year her group 2NE1 was formed and had debutted their first song "Fire" in May and had gradually climbed up the Asian Music Charts in a nick of time. There and then, Sandara had greatly surprised her Philippine fan base for this instant fame of 2NE1which even surprised myself.
So all day, I haven't done anything but just layed on my bed and just listen to this group's music video streams from YouTube. And that's how I spend and wasted some of my precious times for the whole day. I was so ashamed of myself for doing this and I don't know why I did this.
It might be the cold weather that renderred me to be lazy today, but I know, eventhough it's the weather I still have to motivate myself to really accomplish something today. Well, I hope this would not happen again in the future but I know I can't really promise for a change here. Because I know deep inside I will still have to repeat it someday.
Anyway, I will try but I couldn't really promise here because if I promise I know it will not be carried out well because I know I will break it anyway. But hopefully, I can really start all the things that needed to be done so that I can resume with my usual daily activities.
This week I will start teaching theory with Batch 14 in school and this will add another toll on my pending chores because I have to prepare my Powerpoint slides for my lecture. Good thing there is already a ready made slides from school ordered from an independent company Elsevier for the school and all I just have to do is add more pictures in the slides to make it more understandable and presentable.
Hopefully, I can overcome this challenges and troubles that I did to myself. I don't know, I'll just probably face the rigors of what I did to myself and just blame myself and not others for doing such things to myself. It's only me who was responsible for it and not others and anything else. And I have to be responsible to face the consequences of my actions.
So, I hope everything will be all right although how stressful it could be. May it will be okay despite the odds of postponing everything that needs to be done. I mean procrastinating is a bad thing and I hope it won't happen again. Au revoir!
Instead of doing some household chores that needed to be done on time, I felt so lazy to carry them out. And I still have a lot of paperworks to be finished, done, and to be submitted. But look what I've done, I still haven't start anything even with just one page. It was supposed to be submitted a week ago, but still I didn't even start anything.
Here we go again, I am exhibiting my "manana" attitude. It was so embarassing but I still did it anyway. I don't know why I usually want myself to cram all the time. I am so used of stressing out myself every time. I know it's not healthy but I still do it. Well, that's just me probably and I need to change it real bad but I'm still doing my old ways. Aaah.....
Today, I basically haven't done anything aside from just lying down on my bed after I woke up in the morning and tapped my laptop and searched some YouTube streams that really interests me all day. I was so irritated about myself for doing it but I still did it anyway. I did not have any goals set-up today aside from just doing my paperworks but thinking of the bulk of work I am about to do I immediately brushed off doing it. I don't know I am like that.
I haven't had any productive things done today but just lie down on my bed and listen to 2NE1. A female K-pop group from South Korea, listening to their music video stream from YouTube all day. I was so fascinated with their upbeat music and aside from that I was fascinated with Sandara Park, one of its member.
Sandara was once a celebrity in the Philippines who was been loved by my fellow countrymen despite of her Korean background. She and her family moved to the Philippines when her dad lose their business in Korea and tried their luck in the Philippines.
Her stories had inspired a lot of the Filipino people. And her humble attitude brought more inspiration and love from her fan base. She made a lot of popular movies, bankable commercials, and famous music in the Philippines and was very successful in her entire showbiz career in the Philippines. She was been loved by a lot of the Filipino people because of her honest personality, sweet attitude, and wacky moves and fashion style.
She went back to Korea in 2007, left her fan base to venture her luck in her native country only to surprise her fans after several years of keeping herself away from the limelight and then emerge as Rie in a traditional Korean Novela about the coming back of a ninja which didn't made a good rating in the Korean mainstream but made good reviews in the Philippines.
Early this year her group 2NE1 was formed and had debutted their first song "Fire" in May and had gradually climbed up the Asian Music Charts in a nick of time. There and then, Sandara had greatly surprised her Philippine fan base for this instant fame of 2NE1which even surprised myself.
So all day, I haven't done anything but just layed on my bed and just listen to this group's music video streams from YouTube. And that's how I spend and wasted some of my precious times for the whole day. I was so ashamed of myself for doing this and I don't know why I did this.
It might be the cold weather that renderred me to be lazy today, but I know, eventhough it's the weather I still have to motivate myself to really accomplish something today. Well, I hope this would not happen again in the future but I know I can't really promise for a change here. Because I know deep inside I will still have to repeat it someday.
Anyway, I will try but I couldn't really promise here because if I promise I know it will not be carried out well because I know I will break it anyway. But hopefully, I can really start all the things that needed to be done so that I can resume with my usual daily activities.
This week I will start teaching theory with Batch 14 in school and this will add another toll on my pending chores because I have to prepare my Powerpoint slides for my lecture. Good thing there is already a ready made slides from school ordered from an independent company Elsevier for the school and all I just have to do is add more pictures in the slides to make it more understandable and presentable.
Hopefully, I can overcome this challenges and troubles that I did to myself. I don't know, I'll just probably face the rigors of what I did to myself and just blame myself and not others for doing such things to myself. It's only me who was responsible for it and not others and anything else. And I have to be responsible to face the consequences of my actions.
So, I hope everything will be all right although how stressful it could be. May it will be okay despite the odds of postponing everything that needs to be done. I mean procrastinating is a bad thing and I hope it won't happen again. Au revoir!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A Cry For Justice
In as much as I themed last month's blogs about the essence of life, it is appropriate then to include this current blog about the recent heinous killings in the Muslim dominated province in the southern part of my beloved country.
It was reported that there were 59 people who were brutally shot, massacred, and burried along with the vehicles they were riding. They were brought to a very remote place where they were brutally shot and burried in a shallow grave that was been dug up days prior this ominous crime was committed. Even some women were degradingly molested and raped without mercy.
Among this people were 25 independent journalists who were covering the convoy of a well respected family of the vice-mayor in Buluan, Maguindanao. He sent his wife to the capital to file his application for candidacy as the province's governor for the 2010 National Elections against the incumbent governor from the Ampatuan clan who reign the province for a very long time and was a political ally of the current president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
I was supposed to evaluate my blogs for the month of November, but it was been a week already as I am watching and waiting for the developments about this horrifying news from my country. So I decided to just postpone my evaluation as I scribble all my opinions and angry sentiments about this sad events.
I just don't know what kind of evil person had resorted to commit this brutal and heinous crime. A crime that I couldn't even fathom and imagine that will happen and witnessed from the television and YouTube streams. I don't know what kind of motivation had provoked these perpetrators to do such terrible abuse of human rights. It was very heart-wrenching to see the outcome and consequences of their terrible actions.
Now, the people of my nation was in so much pain as they mourn the hapless experience of those helpless men and women of the brutal massacre. It was an awakening against the obvious abuse of power by the political dynasty in the southern part of the Philippines wherein they regard power as a means to render them immune against the comeuppance of their terroristic actions.
But God always works in mysterious ways. It only suggests that whatever evil you have caused to your fellows it will be revealed eventually and will come out to light. Thanks to the wonders of technology!
Haven't the wife of the political candidate who was supposed to submit his candidacy papers called him that a bunch of armies had barricaded and blocked their way while on the way to the capital, the incident shouldn't have been revealed and known to the public and was probably done with finesse and totally forgotten.
The candidate was been alerted and called the authorities immediately to head to the unknown location. It took them several hours to locate the place and it was already too late. The victims were already all brutally murdered and were lifeless. But at least, the heinous crime was been made known, and was been covered nationally and globally, which also alerted the whole nation and the whole people.
But the question is: "Who will be blamed for this brutal killings?" The authorities had already detained the alleged mastermind of this horrific acts but there is not enough evidence to really bury and accuse him for the crime.
The process of justice in my country was so slow and the people who participated in the crime was not yet fully caught and detected. It will turn out that they can still have time to escape and not face the acts that they committed if the process of law was at this turtle pace.
I hope that justice will be granted for those helpless victims (the candidate's families and the independent journalists) and their immediate families. And that the government will have to work hand-in-hand with the authorities to catch the exact perpetrators while it is still early.
And that justice will be committed fairly so that there will be closure for all the people who got affected and effected by the incident especially the whole nation that was mourning for this brutal killings that was already etched in the country's history, as well as the whole world, as the most heinous that had happened in the country.
My prayers to all the families of the Mangudadatu's and the independent journalists and civilians who were accidentally got involved with this extreme political rivalry and abuse of power. I hope that the people who did this had realized what they have done to the families of the victims, to the nation, and to the whole world.
I know that they can wash theirselves off with what they have done and caused, purpurting havoc and wrenching our hearts, but they cannot escape the wrath of the Almighty when they leave this earth. I know God will always work at the right place and time and that justice will be granted eventually though how long the process of justice will be.
I was so angry and mad about what had happened but all I can do is to pray fervently that everything will be processed fairly and rightfully for the justice of all the victims. So help me God.
It was reported that there were 59 people who were brutally shot, massacred, and burried along with the vehicles they were riding. They were brought to a very remote place where they were brutally shot and burried in a shallow grave that was been dug up days prior this ominous crime was committed. Even some women were degradingly molested and raped without mercy.
Among this people were 25 independent journalists who were covering the convoy of a well respected family of the vice-mayor in Buluan, Maguindanao. He sent his wife to the capital to file his application for candidacy as the province's governor for the 2010 National Elections against the incumbent governor from the Ampatuan clan who reign the province for a very long time and was a political ally of the current president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
I was supposed to evaluate my blogs for the month of November, but it was been a week already as I am watching and waiting for the developments about this horrifying news from my country. So I decided to just postpone my evaluation as I scribble all my opinions and angry sentiments about this sad events.
I just don't know what kind of evil person had resorted to commit this brutal and heinous crime. A crime that I couldn't even fathom and imagine that will happen and witnessed from the television and YouTube streams. I don't know what kind of motivation had provoked these perpetrators to do such terrible abuse of human rights. It was very heart-wrenching to see the outcome and consequences of their terrible actions.
Now, the people of my nation was in so much pain as they mourn the hapless experience of those helpless men and women of the brutal massacre. It was an awakening against the obvious abuse of power by the political dynasty in the southern part of the Philippines wherein they regard power as a means to render them immune against the comeuppance of their terroristic actions.
But God always works in mysterious ways. It only suggests that whatever evil you have caused to your fellows it will be revealed eventually and will come out to light. Thanks to the wonders of technology!
Haven't the wife of the political candidate who was supposed to submit his candidacy papers called him that a bunch of armies had barricaded and blocked their way while on the way to the capital, the incident shouldn't have been revealed and known to the public and was probably done with finesse and totally forgotten.
The candidate was been alerted and called the authorities immediately to head to the unknown location. It took them several hours to locate the place and it was already too late. The victims were already all brutally murdered and were lifeless. But at least, the heinous crime was been made known, and was been covered nationally and globally, which also alerted the whole nation and the whole people.
But the question is: "Who will be blamed for this brutal killings?" The authorities had already detained the alleged mastermind of this horrific acts but there is not enough evidence to really bury and accuse him for the crime.
The process of justice in my country was so slow and the people who participated in the crime was not yet fully caught and detected. It will turn out that they can still have time to escape and not face the acts that they committed if the process of law was at this turtle pace.
I hope that justice will be granted for those helpless victims (the candidate's families and the independent journalists) and their immediate families. And that the government will have to work hand-in-hand with the authorities to catch the exact perpetrators while it is still early.
And that justice will be committed fairly so that there will be closure for all the people who got affected and effected by the incident especially the whole nation that was mourning for this brutal killings that was already etched in the country's history, as well as the whole world, as the most heinous that had happened in the country.
My prayers to all the families of the Mangudadatu's and the independent journalists and civilians who were accidentally got involved with this extreme political rivalry and abuse of power. I hope that the people who did this had realized what they have done to the families of the victims, to the nation, and to the whole world.
I know that they can wash theirselves off with what they have done and caused, purpurting havoc and wrenching our hearts, but they cannot escape the wrath of the Almighty when they leave this earth. I know God will always work at the right place and time and that justice will be granted eventually though how long the process of justice will be.
I was so angry and mad about what had happened but all I can do is to pray fervently that everything will be processed fairly and rightfully for the justice of all the victims. So help me God.
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