after almost a year... TGIF!

today has been declared a holiday by the palace but we have work, swapped with our Saturday work.. it means our holiday will take effect tomorrow and i don't really mind it. two upsides of this holiday-swap are, 1) traffic going to work should be light today; and, 2) i can happily say TGIF again! yay! :D

since i embraced this six-day workweek job, i've obviously haven't expressed so much delight whenever Friday arrives since i still need to go to work on Saturday. Saturdays were usually spent with other stuffs (domestic or raket) and of course additional time with family. it's usually my "rest" day and more bonding time with my two girls. but since i worked up to Saturdays, i have to squeeze in my Sundays to do all things that are usually done in two days. so tomorrow, wifey and i are scheduled to spend the Saturday buying stuffs for her online business. also, we will drop off papa & mama in Mommy's abode in Manila. Our little girl will be with them while wifey & i do the rounds. family day & business raket = hitting two birds with one stone. sounds like a very productive Saturday! ;)

and while i thank GOD for everyday, it's one of those times today that i can gladly say Thank God, It's Friday! :D

The SONEVA Experience

I've been longing for a relaxing massage for weeks already and just in time, an offer i can not resist has to come. Thanks to blogger pal, Glentot, he thought of me without batting an eyelash to try this family spa in Tomas Morato. In my years of familiarity with the stretch of Tomas Morato, i was surprised to have missed this establishment, when in fact, i always seek for massage parlors where wifey & i can have our body pampered. It has been five years since i first tried to avail a body massage, visit different spas, and determine which massage suits my preference. And so I know what massage service to avail when I visited SONEVA Organic Spa--- Aromatherapy, which costs nearly a thousand pesos. And yeah, it comes with a foot massage so total massage time is 90 minutes. I said to myself, "wow, relaxation at last!"

I walked towards the reception, the receptionist gave the usual welcome smile. she was accommodating enough to respond to my inquiries. after telling her the massage i'd be availing, she asked me the therapist preference if i'd like a guy or a lady therapist. i really don't care about the gender and i just told the receptionist that i like a veteran therapist (which i always prefer even in other massage parlors). i was asked if i'd hit the shower before the massage but due to time constraint (yeah, i just left wifey & the little girl in a newly-opened mall nearby) i opted to have the massage right away.

I was led to the room (looks like it was a couple's room since there were only two beds inside) where i will be treated. room space, check. lighting, check. room ambiance, check. music, check. bed sheets, check. robe & shorts, check. room temparature, check. i was just puzzled though, the therapist asked me to change and put on the robe (even if i didn't take a shower) then when she came back after a few minutes of preparation, she told me to take off the robe. i knew i shouldn't have worn it in the first place. :P

i also noticed that she brought with her a rice cooker--- where she heated the water. when she's set up everything including the aromatic oil, she began stroking my back. oops, wait. i told her to dim the lights more because i feel more comfortable having a massage with much dimmer lights. then she continued stroking my back. believe me... the therapist knows her kung fu very well. she knows where to put those pressure. i felt i was receiving a thai massage with the bonus of that green tea scent oil soothing my sense of smell. the therapist constantly asked me how the pressure was but later on learned through the body language i display whenever i felt too much pressure was applied on my gentle body (haha). after an hour of body (mostly back, which i really like) massage, the therapist concentrated on my feet--- foot massage! it was a good experience over all. I was asked if i wanted a hot or cold tea afterwards and while i was still feeling rejuvenated with that "veteran" touch, i chose to drink a glass of iced tea.

should i recommend SONEVA to my friends? why not? it is accessible via jeepney ride, cab, and especially with your private car. SONEVA Organic Spa is located at Tomas Morato corner Limbaga St., 270 4th Floor, Forum Building, Quezon City. It is open seven days a week, from 1PM to 12 midnight. Yep, even if you work overtime on a normal 8 to 5 or 9 to 6 pm sechedule, you can still catch up a good massage with their 12 midnight last call time.

for more information, you may contact them thru (632) 926-6249 and (63) 917 4071129 or email: info@sonevaspa.com

i'm considering to come back there and try their signature massage, and perhaps a treat for wifey, i may avail one of their couples packages on our next special occasion. ;)

PS. ok din kaya yung slimming massage nila? har har har... :P

Sa Lahat ng mga Guro sa Buhay Natin...

kapag sinabing "Teacher," ang naiisip natin kaagad ay yaong mga nakasalamuha natin sa paaralan mula elementarya hanggang kolehiyo sa loob ng isang silid-aralan. Pero marahil hindi natin napapansin, marami pa palang guro sa buhay natin na nagtuturo hindi lamang ng mga asignaturang inilapat ng Department of Education o Commission on Higher Education, kundi ng iba't-ibang bagay na makapagpapaunlad ng personal nating pamumuhay. sabi nga nila, hindi lahat ng bagay ay sa paaralan lang natututuhan.

noong nakaraang taon ay pinasalamatan ko sa pamamagitan ng blog na ito ang aking mga naging guro sa paaralan. Salamat po, Ma'am, Sir! ngayon, gusto ko namang ialay ang pasasalamat sa maraming mga guro sa buhay ko na nagturo sa akin ng iba't iba pang mga bagay. kung sino ako ngayon, kung ano ang ugali ko, kung paano ako makitungo sa kapuwa ko, kung ano ang pananaw ko sa buhay, ito'y dahil sa mga taong hindi sa silid-aralan ko nakasalamuha. at oo, may nakapagtuturo rin sa akin na mga tao na higit na mas nakababata kaysa akin. kahit nga sa anak ko, may natututuhan ako. ang pagkatuto ay isang proseso na nagpapatuloy. at sa pagkatuto, laging may guro sa likuran nito. minsan nga, sarili mo na pala ang tinuturuan mo.

pero aminado ako, hindi man guro ang propesyon ko, lubos ang kagalakan ko kapag may natuturuan akong tao. at ang pagkalubos nito ay kung balikan ka nila pagkalipas ng ilang taon at sariwain ang dahilan ng tagumpay nila sa buhay--- na ito'y dahil sa pagtuturo ko na hindi ko naman inasahang babalik sa akin.

sa lahat ng mga guro, sa loob man o labas ng silid-aralan, HAPPY WORLD TEACHERS DAY po sa ating lahat!


(handog ng isang mall ang "Teachers' Wall" kung saan maaaring magdikit ng mensahe ang mga tao para sa kanilang mga minamahal na guro)