The Mediocre

Are you tired of settling for the mediocre? Hell! Life is full of it. The world is full of it.

I tell you there is no shame in mediocrity. Some people see it as a weakness while others, their starting point.

Weakness or not, there is no shame in mediocrity...shame on those who settle for it!

The mediocre? You know – the average, the ordinary, the second-rate, the so-so – they’re just like you and me. They actually are you and me in some aspects or another. It’s just that I’m good at this and you’re not. Your good at that and I’m not. It’s a balance. It’s just fair.

So don’t settle for anything less of your value. Once you’ve discovered your value, you’re empowered. Stop digging the hole you got yourself into. Get out. Remember the holes. Learn from it and never fall into the same pit. Then start all over again but this time you’re wiser.

Fight for what’s yours. Fight for what’s right. Don’t accept anything less. Don’t be a cushion for the rubbish thrown at you. Strive for that balance.

You see. There is no shame in mediocrity, just don’t settle for it.

Britney Spitz

Say hi to Britney Spitz!

Yes, I named her after Britney Spears...not because I like her or anything. I think it’s a cool name. Spitz fits just like Spears ‘coz her breed is Japanese Spitz! Harhar! Do you find it corny?

Oh well, what the hell! I love my dog...she’s so adorable! She’s one of Fluffy’s brood...the pup of Moch’s aunt. She’s super smart and sweet but absolutely picky when it comes to her food! She’s a carnivore...doesn’t like rice and dog biscuits! “Why!? When I bought so much dog biscuits for you!?”

I don’t even treat her like an A-class pup but I love her so dear. Hehe! I can’t believe I’m writing about my dog like this. Oh well!

She can be loud and appear fierce at times but it’s all in her voice. She’s so well behaved and loves to play with her toy ball. Whenever I would sit on the chair in our patio she would jump up my lap and stay comfy there. Her ears would stand like a rabbit’s whenever she would hear something. So cute! Not as cute or as clean or as smart as other dogs perhaps but she’s my dog. Hihi! She’s one of my stress relievers.

I would walk her with her purple leash and jog with her once in a while...oh what fun! What an energetic four-legged creature! I can’t keep up with her! She actually knows I’m walking her when she sees the rope of her leash in my hand. She gets excited!

Did I tell you she’s also a flirt? She would only listen to Moch to sit, stay and lie down (play dead, haha!). I don’t get it. Maybe it’s in the voice? Whatever! She also practically wants to play with my dad every time she sees him. It’s like she lights up. Haha! That makes me laugh.

What I like most about her is she doesn’t dirty or pee anywhere! She was potty trained! Yeah, the newspaper trick works! Good for me!

So anyway, I just want to say...love your pets! They can help us become more responsible, sensitive and caring.

Bow-wow!

I Know You...

Have you ever known someone all your life and realize that you don’t actually know anything about his or her life? You just know him...how he feels, what he likes or dislike. It’s kind of weird, but it’s true. Is that enough to know the person?

Hi! How are you? It’s been a long time since we’ve seen or talked in this tiny old house. Teasing or annoying you seems to be the only way for you to notice me.

What’s up? You seem to have become distant lately. Is anything the matter? You’re always up early, leaving hurriedly then coming home late at night...or rather early the next day. Is it work, graduate school or both?

So, I see you’ve been smoking, been drinking lately, been out too much. You look so tired. Can’t you stop and take things slowly?

I’ve never seen you like this. You seem sad and lonely. Managing a smile or a laugh just to hide the hollowness. Is it something...someone or just this hell of a life we keep complaining about?

Be happy. You have been blessed. Everything’s going to be okay. Pray. You’ve been there, gone and left, but you’ll be back. I’m sure of it. I know you. Usted es mi hermano.

Ohana!

Our Beach

‘Tis the summer season, the time of heat and sun ablaze. Wear your beads and shades, your trunks and bikinis. Spread the sarong and chill with reggae music while basking under the sun. Lets play disc on the sand and get dirty. Take a dip at the cool salt water. Race the jet ski or ride the boat. Drink cold beer and dance ‘til the break of dawn. Oh what fun times!

But what I remember most are the strolls along the shoreline hand in hand, the sea breeze blowing softly, our foot prints marking the sand that the water washes away. It’s that memorable first kiss as the sun bids goodbye. Laying on the sand while gazing at the starry starry night. It’s our exchange of dreams and promises to each other. It’s the hug that kept us warm. It’s your eyes, your smile, your touch.

These were the moments...that we owned the beach. Our beach...ours forever!

On Breaking Free

A friend once wrote, "...i think everyone's problem is that we are leading a mechanical routine. and its called life. sometimes we have to break away from it all, but we must also be ready to come back." This was Jean’s comment on my journal entitled, The Breakdown of My Day.

I thought it was a great insight. Then I asked myself, how does one breakfree from the mechanical routine of life? Suicide? Of course not! That’s the easy way out.

It’s funny. It just came to me that after graduation, everyone seemed to be jumping in the same pool as everyone else’s...but it wasn’t a pool! It was a washing machine that whirls and whirls mechanically...just like our jobs. We spent four years or so in college just to join the perfunctory whirling. It’s sickening!

I envy those people who traveled. They enjoyed a brief moment of their life. It is marked that can never be erased. They can look back and reminisce those wonderful moments…moments that they are proud of and stories that will be told...stories that will be immortalized.

So is this how it feels like? This...the feeling of being part of the ‘real world’. Questions forming such as - what am I doing with my life? What is my purpose? Where am I headed? It’s scary!

And so I jumped in, because where else am I to go? What will I do? I have my BSIT degree with me, and what am I to do with it if not to jump in as well? It’s the only logical thing for me to do. If not, it’s like I’ve just wasted my 4 years of college education!

And so here I am… composing my thoughts. Waiting for the time. Waiting…just waiting. Waiting for something to happen with my life. Here I am...thinking…thinking how to break free from the mechanical routine of life (which is my original question by the way and the reason why I am writing in the first place).

How the hell!? I actually don’t know where to start...

Don’t get me wrong okay. I like my work. I think it’s a great opportunity for me to succeed in my chosen field. I also like the company I work for and the people I work with. It’s like family here. Well anyway, going back...

It seems that at my young age, I want to try everything...as in everything! It could be the reason why I want to do this and that, try this and that, be here, go there…whatever, wherever, whenever! I can’t seem to manage the things that I want to do and the things that I should do. It could be the reason why I want to breakfree and just have all the time in the world to do everything I please. But ofcourse with work demands, I can’t do that. We simply cannot. Well actually we can but it would be reckless of us. We’re such eager spirits! We cannot be imprisoned by work!

So what am I saying? Do I need time management? Hmmm...well...errrrr...maybe...perhaps...it can help...I think...

Discipline. Maybe I still lack discipline with my desires. Maybe I’m just not given enough work to keep me busy that’s why I still have time to think of these inexplicable questions…hehehe…probably.

I can be contradicting myself because...now...I’m thinking, if you enjoy your work so much, you can’t possibly be thinking of such questions...you won’t even entertain them in your chain of thought. But I did say I like my work.

Now I’m baffled more than ever. I should just stop. Right here. Stop.




Okay, wait. I thought of something...

I think we should just enjoy every moment...all of the experiences life brings...be it good or bad...exciting or boring. It molds our character. Everything that we do we should learn from them. Make things happen. Think out of the box. Create. Influence. Dream. Aspire to be that someone. Never stop. Life is not always happy. If you trip, standup! We are unique individuals with character…breakfree from the stereotypes…not life. Let’s bring life to the pool!

Love is Pain

Pain. Aren’t you a pleasure? ...pleasure for the wicked. Wicked ego that is so self-centered. Centered on the expectations. Expectations that were not met...damned!

Damn outrage! ...outrage that is out of control. Control your anger! ...anger that is unreasonable. Unreasonable to the person you love. Love that should be forgiving...understand!

Understand that I am not perfect but flawed. Flawed person that I am but who is struggling. Struggling to be the best that I can be for you. You that I love...love that is in pain.

Pain be gentle. Gentle as my heart. Heart-felt apologies please do accept. Accept that I am truly sorry and that I love you. You who I love...because...

...to love you and to be loved by you is the only thing I will ever want.

The I, You, We Analogy

I am the positive
and you are the negative.
We are magnets.
Opposite poles attract.

I am the hole in the needle.
You are the thread.
With much effort you went through.
We now hem beautifully!

I am the words.
You are the melody.
Together, we make music
and sing in harmony.

I am the tongue
and you are the ears…
sometimes, and vice versa.
Together, we make wonderful conversations

I am the stone.
You are the ground.
Throw the stone up in the air.
It plummets back to the ground.

You are my map…
giving me directions,
taking me places,
helping me when lost.

You are my rainbow
after my storm,
giving color to my life,
brightening up my day.

You are the tree.
Your trunk to lean against,
Your branches of leaves for shelter
And your fruit…Oh, so sweet!

You are my inspiration
giving me hope
accepting the truth,
having faith.

We are the life
that breaths the air…
we are the love
that makes the heart beat.

Wake Me Up!

Wake Me!

It’s 2:22pm. It’s sunny outside but cold in here. I slept quite late and I really feel drowsy right now. I put my computer glasses on to hide my half opened eyes. I’m yawning and starting to get teary-eyed. Haaaaaaay…! I can’t do my work. I already had coffee this morning and I don’t want to have another cup. I can go to the pantry and back but my ass is stuck on the chair and I have no energy. It’s too hot for me to go outside. Well, at least it’s not raining, or that will make me even more sluggish. Wake up Anne! Wake up! Wake me up, won’t you pleeeaaaase!? Haaaaaay…! Beeed! Where are yoooou?


This is useless…coffee it is!

Looking Back Forward

And again...Welcome back!
But this time, a lot has changed (besides the time).
So young then, you can almost imagine the innocence and immaturity.
Those were the days...but are not gone.
It’s deep within.
Not hiding...
but transforming into this,
and what is to come...

I'm Baaack!!!! =)

hello friends!

I'm blogging again...i think.

Check out my warning label...hehehe!

UCAUTION

IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY IT IS ADVISABLE TO KEEP RUBYROCKS AWAY FROM FIRE AND FLAMES.

Username:

From Go-Quiz.com

I'm a Good Reader

cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt! tahts so cool!!! If you can udernatnsd tihs rdanieg, rpeost it!!!

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!!!

Merry


Christmas


and a Happy


New Year!!!

Holiday Outing

Dec.21

The Barkadings have been planning to go to EK this Christmas break (‘coz we got 10 tickets for free when the Barkadings won 1st runner up in the PLDT Vibe Tribe), so we decided to make it last Monday-Tuesday where we would sleepover in Tagaytay at Danie’s house. It didn’t push thru on Monday so we decided last minute to make it a one-day affair and scrap the overnight. From 10 people who were supposedly coming, we ended up going to Royal Tagaytay with only 4 people left…Cams, Danie, Mos & me. Most people were sick, or needed to stay home. As they say, the show must go on! Hehehe! So we did.

We met up in my place, but before hitting the road, everybody was so hungry (that was 7:30am). Instead of eating breakfast to go, we decided to cook our breakfast. We ended up leaving the house after 2 hours or so.


picture w/ Santa Claus: Mos, me, Danie, Santa & Cams

The sky was clear and the weather seemed to be in a good mood, so it was a good day to go up to Tagaytay. We arrived 11am in Royal Tagaytay. We were all geared up to play Badminton & Basketball even! Haha! It was so much fun! We played for a total of 3 hours!!!


myBaby&me after playing badminton in Royal Tagaytay

After tiring from the games, we cleaned up, then Cams treated us Bibingka & Putobungbong w/ free Pandan tea…yummy! But we were still starved ‘coz that was already 4pm! So we decided to go to Café Lupe.


Danie, me & Cams outside Cafe Lupe in Tagaytay

When we got there it was sooooo ccccooold! It was fogging & the breeze was so cool touching our skins. We were so undecided that we ended up eating in Hen-Lin, w/c was just in front of Café Lupe. We ate for an hour & a half ‘coz the 'kakanins' were so heavy in the stomach. It was like early dinner also for us.

We went down from Tagaytay after, then headed straight to Sta. Rosa, Laguna for EK!


we're in EK!

The crowd was so-so. There were an average number of people so the lines weren’t that long. It was bearable.

RIDES: (sorry, I don’t remember all their names)


feeling like kids again

1) We went inside the Rialto first w/c was so baduy!
2) Roller Coaster …only 1 round …bitin!
3) Up Up & Away …man I hate that ride! I got really dizzy! My head & stomach hurt after!
4) Wheel of Fate. I needed fresh air!


me&myBaby: The Wheel of Fate


Cams & Danie enjoying the ride

5) Space Shuttle …I didn’t go ‘coz I almost barfed!




6) Log Jam …I didn’t have the stomach to go! Cams & Danie were semi-wet.




7) Motorboat …I’m ok at this point …I started enjoying again …yay!


waiting in line

Interval …Fireworks!!!

8) Swing …Cams & Danie were swinging their legs & flapping their arms …felt like they were flying!


The Swing

Edge & Carla arrived…

9) Giant Air Slide. The guys manning the slide were so nice. We had to pay P10/slide, but they allowed us 3 slides!


Cams & me on the giant air slide...yipee!

9) Log Jam …only the 4 of them rode. They did it twice.


Carla, Edward, Cams & Danie splashing away in the Log Jam

10) Rio Grande …the most fun of all!!! We did it 4 times! We were sooo wet. It was Danie’s 1st time (& Mos too), and she was the favorite of the water & falls! Hahaha!
11) Dodgem …this was fun too! Bumping cars w/ anyone! myBaby & I did it twice while the rest went to the Swing & Rio Grande for the last ride!

Closing time.

Ok, so we stayed in EK ‘til closing time! It was so much fun! We were so wet! Good thing we brought extra clothes.

We were so hungry afterwards so we decided to stop by one of the gasoline stations on the way home. We ended up in the newly opened McDonalds, Caltex. I ordered double cheeseburger …it’s sooo good! It was still hot & the cheese was still melting…yummeh!

We headed home, w/c was about 2 in the morning. We exchanged gifts only until that point…hehehe! What a tiring day!

Dencio’s to Yaýo

Dec.18

It was the birthday of my very good friend, Tin, last Dec.16 (the bunso of the kada). She treated the Barkadings in Dencio’s (along Service Rd.) last Saturday. And I saw an old chum I’ve missed for sooo long! Keng was actually there!!!


Tin & me @ Dencio's, Posadas

She looks really good now. She’s her same old wacky self, who has matured I’m proud to say. She drives at last…in her new Altis car…very good!


me & Keng

Keng & I excused us from our friends & left to bring her tita in her mom’s shop. We headed to her house after…I miss her house! It brings back so much memories. Mela, Mike & I used to go home to her place back in 3rd year highschool just to eat! Our favorite was their tapa w/ Banana ketchup! Hahaha! Her house was still the same…of course. It was great seeing it again just like old times.

Then we went to a party afterwards where we met up w/ the kada again…

Yaýo…I don’t know exactly what it means, but it’s a party my barkada & me attended last Saturday night in Big Fella, Better Living. One of the organizers is our friend, our batchmate in CSA, who persistently marketed the event in Friendster & YM…hehehe! He’s a good fella’! He said it’s going to be like the CSA batch ’01 reunion (only after 4 years!!! hehe)/Christmas party! It was a success I would have to say ‘coz the place was packed with people, mostly from CSA. It’s good to see old friends & classmates.

So we went up & checked the place out. Not much was happening yet so the girls decided to have a ride in Keng’s new car & rate her driving skills ‘coz she’s still new to it (but I’m personally impressed w/ her driving except when it comes to parking…hehehe). We decided to go to BF (my village). We were already in Sucat Rd., when the guys called & said they were in Petron, Better Living to have a few rounds of cheap costly beer. So we ended up making a U-turn before even going to BF to hang w/ them instead.

We went back to the Yaýo, which had a better mood this time & people started pouring in. We got our cocktail drinks (complementary w/ the ticket), which was really good (it was a mix of one of my batchmates who took up HRIM in CSB, w/c he wouldn’t reveal what was in it). We greeted & had small talks w/ some of our batchmates whom we bumped into. Everybody was looking great of course! We hit the dance floor & everybody seemed to enjoy the Yaýo!

It was time for Danie, Tof & Pat to leave so we accompanied them downstairs. Then Mela, Cams & me had our serious talk. Things started getting dramatic after that. I wouldn’t say here…hehehe, but we have our own personal dramas in life. I just wish for things to be ok for Mela & Cams…whatever happens. Good luck girls!

Then it was time for all of us to go…me & Mela rode in Mike’s Sportrac, w/c we had a ‘lil stopover for them to cool down(!?) When it was a ‘lil ok, he brought us home. I got the car & we headed straight to the church for the 4:30am simbang gabi. We were so drowsy, just trying to stay awake during the sermon. When it was all over, we freshened up at home & still had time to make kwento in my bed…we ended up sleeping just before 7am! I was fast asleep!

Dreams of Travelling

I just looove traveling…anywhere, with anyone of my friends & ofcourse family!

I want to see the beauty of the Philippines! I want to get out of Metro Manila…gosh! Definitely, I wanna travel the world! That’s my dream.


balsa on the water. taken summer '04 in Matabungkay, Batangas

I wanna retire & live by the beach…I love the beach! Then maybe just have a condo when I’m in Manila.


myBaby&me. beach getaway! cottage by the beach in Puerto Azul.

Ofcourse, I wanna do all those things with myBaby!

Reminiscing

Since I was little, my brothers and I have been playing hide ‘n seek, patintero, etc. with our “kababatas”. It was also then I learned how to ride the bike & play basketball…I was one of the boys! That explains why I’m so active & engaged into sports.

I have always looked up to my brothers, going wherever they would go, copying everything they do, trying whatever they wanted & played whatever toys they have. I learned how to be adventurous! We would play ninja, G.I. Joe (mine was G.I. Jane ofcourse), cars, lego, & watch cartoons. That was my world back then…my dolls were as good as displays in my room. But ofcourse I would always wear my Sunday dresses for my mom…hehehe!

So, after school we would always play outside the house, going to the park, hanging out in different houses. Being the bunso, plus the fact that I’m a girl, I was the favorite of practically everyone in my family & some of my titas & titos in the neighborhood! That was my limelight! I was always welcome wherever I go. It’s a nice feeling. I became spoiled…hehe!

My family & our neighbors were “kumpares” & kumares”, some of them were my ninongs & ninangs too. So, there were always parties around the village, which was fun! That was how I got to know Mela, my long time bestfriend since we were three years old!

Mela truly influenced me. She’s the eldest of two, both of them girls. So just imagine, she’s very girly. That’s how I was transformed from being a “tomboy” to a young lady. Those times, I truly wished of having a sister. I even asked my parents to give me a little sister…hahaha!

I was a mix of being boyish & girly when I was a kid. When I’m at home, I play with my brothers, but when I’m out especially at Mela’s place, we would play “bahay-bahayan” & ofcourse Barbie. I enjoyed playing all of them! I enjoyed the best of both worlds!

Eventually, I grew up being with Mela all the time, going wherever she & her family went. I was literally the third child of her family! I would always sleepover since our house was super near! We practically did everything together. My childhood to teenage life was spent with her 24/7! We were like twins…inseperable! We even won an award…we were voted as the “Romy and Michelle” in highschool during our Grad Ball.

The best experience before we parted ways (‘coz now we’re in different schools, me in UA&P, and she in DLSU + they moved to SouthVale…we’re not neighbors anymore) was when we went to the U.S. … only the two of us!!! That was suuupppper! That was our parents’ debut gift for us. We went to L.A., Utah, Las Vegas, Mary Land, Washington D.C., New York & San Diego! What an experience! Sight seeing & shopping ‘til we drop! Whew! We were truly independent & responsible girls! Ofcourse with the help of our relatives in the states!


me & Mela in the streets of New York, summer '02


Mela & me on top of the world! taken in Utah.


the Capitol & me in D.C.


Mela & me feeling in Paris! taken in Las Vegas.

I got used to College life not being around her all the time. I truly miss her. We seldom see each other but we’re always in contact…that’s for sure! My life won’t be the same without her.

Now, there’s another special person who has always been there for me. This person didn’t replace Mela or anything because she will always be here with me, but this new person will surely fill up the empty pieces for the rest of my life. Y’all know who that is!

Tagging Along

Dec.17

I was supposed to go to my block’s Christmas Party in Gilmore, but they said it’s not going to push thru, so I thought we weren’t goin’ to have one. They just changed the venue lang pala. So, I decided to tag along with myBaby instead. He was going to help his parents check out the sites of their catering services in East Ortigas.

But before we did, we went to Mizuno (eating Lapid’s chicharon on the way..hehe) to get his all white Bombonera Futsal shoes!

So we all met up in Bistro109 in Pateros then headed to East Ortigas Mansions, where Bistro is in-charge of the kitchen. Next, we visited Mayfield Park where it is currently being developed…almost done. It has beautiful Asian style living condominiums…more on Japanese interiors by DMCI.


welcome to Mayfield Park


me&myBaby @ Mayfield Park


swany by the pond


zen flower by the window


the tree of life

Year Book Photo Shoot

Finally, the excitement & anxiousness is over!

Earlier, i had my yearbook pictures taken in school. it was so convenient for all of us, coz the make-up artists did well with our hair & make-up, & there were ladies helping us change costumes :) the photographer also lit our mood to let out our picture perfect smiles :) they were all supportive all in all.

Pictures taken:
1. w/ toga
2. formal
3. business attire
4. creative shot...cool! :)

Kinney brought her Pitbull, Bodi along...cool! :)
All of us were so cute in our creative poses! can't wait to get my yearbook!

I also had my Futsal team picture taking.

Dec.14


looking goofy over lunch :)

Dog show by the bay

Dec.11

It was my first time to attend a dog show live, & it was my first time to walk by the bay along Roxas Blvd. it's totally different now, but still so many people, esp. couples hangin' out.

Some of the Barkadings met up there. it was both to see Kinney again after so long(except for me ofcourse :p) & Cams birthday get-together (her bday was on the 12th...she's technically the "bunso" of the kada but really the "mommy" of the kada at heart...hehehe!)

So both Collins & Blash won in their respective categories, which was great! todo support to them & to the SBK!!! :) so congratulations!!!