Dito lang ako...

Nandito ako ngayon sa mall. Nagre-renew ng passport. Maganda ang proyektong ito ng DFA. Hindi na kailangan pang sumadya sa kanilang tanggapan para doon makipagsiksikan ang mga gustong kumuha ng bago o mag-renew ng kanilang passport. Pero dito, marami ring aplikante at mahaba rin ang pila. Yun lang, di mo na kailangang bumiyahe nang malayo para gawin ang bagay na ito kase nga, inilapit na ng DFA ang kanilang serbisyo sa mamamayang Pilipino. Pero sa scenariong ito, napapaisip tuloy ako kung ganito ba talaga karami ang lumalabas ng bansa o masabi lang na may passport ka? Eh ako, ano ba ang dahilan ko bakit ako kumukuha ng passport?

Uhm... Una, posible kaseng may maawa sa akin at magbigay ng pamasahe papunta sa bansang kinaroroonan ngayon ng mommy at ate ko. Di naman masamang mag-ambisyon. Pangalawa, baka makaipon ako ng pamasahe at makalabas kami (with my two girls) ng Pinas... HK disneyland, Japan disneyland, California disneyland, o sa Universal Studio na lang kaya sa Cali? Pwede rin sa SG. Ulit, hindi naman masamang mag-ambisyon. Pangatlo, baka may mahulog na biyaya mula sa langit at alukin ako ng trabaho abroad. Syempre ang unang itatanong ng employer, "do you have a passport?" at agad kong masasagot, "oh yeah! I do have a passport!" uulitin ko, hindi masamang mag-ambisyon. Saka kumbaga sa sundalo, lagi kang handa. Meron ka nang pasaporte bago pa man biglain ng pagkakataon na kakailanganin mong lumabas ng Pilipinas.

Ayan, siguro alam ko na rin ang dahilan ng maraming Pilipinong kumukuha ng passport: hindi kase masamang mag-ambisyon. Tama?

P.S. Naiihi na ako pero hindi ako makaalis sa pila.

Sin Li Kwai Lok

to all my Chinese friends (and relatives), Sin Li Kwai Lok (fukien greeting ng happy new year) and Sin Nian Kuai Le! (for the mandarin version) :D


amazingly, this year, i've never paid so much attention to all the new year predictions and the so-called "lucky" things for the year of the (water) dragon, and what to expect for your (year) sign. through the years, it has been an amusement to hear what the "feng shui" experts have to say about things that'll "shape" your future for the new year. but this time, i really didn't buy or even cared about listening to what they have to say.

i still believe that it is ourselves who make our own "fortune" and perhaps, the current impeachment proceedings tell my mind to focus on finishing my daily tasks. yep, for now i live daily. but also i'm trying to look at the things beyond today. lets say, the future. but it's still blurry at this time. i can't seem to see clearly where i'm really heading to for the rest of the year, and in the coming years. i know this isn't good. i need to prepare for my little girl's (future) education. i'm looking at stability. security. and happiness... all at the same time. is it even possible to attain, again, ALL AT THE SAME TIME? i know it is. and i'm gonna find it soon, and have it sooner! yeah boy!

"Brace yourself, 2012!" 8-) let's hear that BIG ROAR this year...

why i love Saturdays & Sundays

the long wait is over. the arranged surprise party for Papa's 60th birthday was a success, and it could have been a bigger success if the thirteen guests who confirmed their attendance were able to make it. nonetheless, the celebrator was teary-eyed with the surprise party and the surprise guests--- his old pals from where he used to work. the afternoon party was a blast and i'm giving my very own wifey the credit for coordinating the occasion. also, many thanks to good pal, k3rwin who's always ready to be our official photographer for special occasions such as this.

some photos on the memorable party...














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TODAY, it's history. our little girl went to her first widescreen experience---

Alvin & The Chipmunks 3!

She enjoyed the movie. I was paying more attention to her reaction than to the film. And it's a delight to see your little one already appreciating the films she like on a wide screen. yay!

Anyway, i also got a good glimpse of the film and the 3rd installment should be the most adventurous among the three. I really like the part when Sai-mohn turned to See-mohn and being the 'temporary' character that he was, is simply hilarious! with this being realized, i now wonder what's next in line for our family-movie date... and when shall it be?

for the meantime, it's IMPEACHMENT fever in manila. This is going to be a VERY busy week.

"It's More Fun In The Philippines"

Last week, the Department of Tourism launched it's new tourism campaign slogan. Unlike the previous slogans (where WOW Philippines made a very good mark among them), this one gives a statement where one would contest, if not agree, and yet entice the people to see for themselves how true the campaign slogan is:
It's more fun in the Philippines.

Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. thru his twitter account explained what brought about the "fun" slogan:



the secretary even added that a successful campaign is realized by sharing positive thoughts and making it viral:



the campaign did well on its first week as it became viral online in an instant. it trended on twitter (worldwide) and it pushed netizens to post their own versions why "it's more fun in the Philippines."
It's more fun... meme

but seriously, many Filipinos agree. Aside from the beautiful tourist spots that our tourism department has offered the foreigners more than a thousand times, it's really the people that make the BIG difference. as a proof, even in the hardest time of calamities and disasters, Filipinos find ways to put a smile on their faces. and not only fellow Filipinos agree on the warmth of the people.

[caption id="attachment_2443" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Neil Richard Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book."][/caption]

now, how can we make the campaign slogan effective beyond the tagline? it's up to the people, really.

almost a week

one whole week has almost passed and we've got 360 days before the new year. haha. early countdown. this year, we have 29 days in February (advance happy birthday to my cousin who recently got married--- Angelica).

I still don't know where the year of the dragon (my year!) will take us but currently, i'm looking into writing daily for the afternoon news program which i'm currently doing three days every week. I just don't know what's holding THE contract for it. and i hope that when the paper's ready for signing, it offers a higher pay than what they currently give. it's actually second to the lowest-paying program among the five programs that i already wrote for. the program actually assigns more takes than my mother program, and literally requires more writing.

anyhoo, i'm on my last workday leave. i took another two days off to be able to allot time with my sister. after she leaves next week to TO, it'll be PURE BUSINESS for me.

for the meantime, let's take it one day at a time, and yeah, let me greet everyone else a prosperous 2012... from my family to yours!

January 1 Date

first day of the new year and i happily spent it with my two girls, right after church obligations. its our first time to take our little Aya in the BIG DOME to see Disney's Holiday on Ice.

[caption id="attachment_2419" align="alignnone" width="300" caption=""Ang tagal namang mag-start!""][/caption]

when we arrived in Araneta Center, parking spaces are full. even in Gateway's basement parking, they're all occupied. good thing Shopwise-Cubao offers a big space for parking and the big dome is just across it.

aside from our little girl, it was also my first time to see Disney's Holiday on Ice. I practically am a Cubao kid but we only get to watch those FREE COD shows during the holiday season. while i don't expect to be "entertained" with the show, i was excited for our little girl so i got busy taking photos of the show and her reactions, and caught on video some parts of it...















HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
Next stop... Alvin and the Chipmunks 3... :D

2011... makulay ang buhay!

ang pinaka-aabangan kong sandali, nilisan ko ang mga dating kasamahan, kasabay ng pag-alis sa kumpanyang pinapasukan na halos anim na taon ko ring pinagsilbihan. bago tuluyang maputol ang kaugnayan ko sa kumpanya, kinaliangan ko munang isipin nang malalim kung ano ang nangyari sa mga taon na yun na aking inilagi sa kumpanya.

di ko man inasahan, nakalipat ako sa isa sa pinakasikat na TV network sa bansa. at bilang konsolasyon ng aking pagbabalik-media practitioner, napabilang ako sa mga tauhan ng programang State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

naging "in" ulit ako sa current events mula sa pagka-tengga rito nang may ilan ding taon. at sa loob ng halos isang taon kong pamamalagi sa bulwagang pambalitaan, maraming balita ang dumaan sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo pero ang pinakanakapag-iwan ng tatak sa akin ay ang sinapit ng mga nasa Japan noong lumindol at nagka-tsunami. ang video footages, iisipin mong pelikula lang ang pinapanood mo. pero kapag nahimasmasan ka't naalala na totoo palang nangyayari ito, nakakakilabot ang pakiramdam. narito ulit ang video footage ng tsunami sa Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture sa Japan nitong Marso...



umikot lang ang 2011 ko sa bagong trabaho, walang katapusang pagba-budget, pagrereklamo, at paghihintay ng magagandang mangyayari sa buhay ko at ng pamilya ko.

apat na beses din kaming nagpabalik-balik sa ospital dahil naging suki nito ang little girl namin.

first time kong makakita ng total lunar eclipse.

ngayong 2011 din naging regular ang pagdalaw sa akin ng heartburn. kaya binawasan ko ang pag-inom ng paborito kong inumin--- ang kape.

hindi ako mahilig magpa-picture kasama ng mga kilalang personalidad. kahit pa man nasa loob na ako ng isang TV network. pero ilang mga personalidad ang magiliw at buong kakapalan ko ng mukha na hinilingan na makapagpakuha ng larawan kasama sila: Pia Arcangel, Sam Pinto, Jiggy Manicad, Cesar Apolinario at ang pinakahuli, si Erap. May target pa ako sa darating na taon: ang dalawang anchors ng Balita Pilipinas Ngayon at si Manay Lolit Solis.

ngayong Disyembre, dumating ang nag-iisa kong ate. tatlong taon din kaming hindi nagkita at ngayon, hindi kami magkasama. naiwan kase ako sa pagpunta nila ng Ilocos. may ilang araw pa naman siyang ilalagi sa amin sa unang linggo ng Enero. pero ang tanong, gaano kadalas kaya kami magkakasama gayong meron akong trabaho. di ba nga, "hindi natutulog ang balita?"

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Thank you, dear Father for hugging us this year. I know that hard times will be more evident in the coming year and I firmly believe that You will continue to hold us that we may not be departed from You...

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BRACE YOURSELF FOR 20-12! ;)