(in a span of 2 months we were able to travel Singapore twice, Hong Kong, and Macau)


“is love really lovelier the second time around?”

(Joriel and I met and were together back in 2004 til we parted ways in 2005.
3 years passed without any communication at all, we just found ourselves "together" once again while he has ISHA and I have my THEA, both single parents and raising our little girls....hmmm reality bites)

A friend of mine muttered, “is love really lovelier the second time around?” As I processed his words, I could sense that It was not a question. It was more of an “as a matter of fact question-statement.” A question with a ready answer. A fact.
For me, the statement is not absolute. It is one of those which could be true for some, but absolutely false for many others. It could be true for now. It could be an error the next morning.

But where do I stand right now?

… I guess I’m still weighing things. I would rather say that we’re on a status quo. Things get better when we got back together. For sure, there are moments which make me happy. But still, there are more uncertainties that haunt me. There are facts in our relationship that give me frozen feet.

Is he the one? Am I the one for him? Who am I to judge? = PUZZLE.

So, is love lovelier the second time around? = I DON'T KNOW YET.

August 2008 - Singapore Business Trip

1st person to see whenever I'm in SG = my bestfriend CHE.

2nd best things to do in SG = tumambay sa TCC - Raffles! at syempre Shopping sa TAKISHIMAYA!

14 years after Highschool..sa Singapore na kami nagkikita kita..Beat that!

Highlights of this trip:

The Singapore Grand Prix is a Formula One race which will be staged in the Marina Bay area of Singapore. The first race, which was also Formula One's first night race.

and whatelese but, he followed.

JULY 20-22, 2008 HONG KONG and MACAU TRIP

Avenue of Stars and a vie of Hong Kong Island day and night:

One of our first stops in Hong Kong was to see the 8:00 pm light show from the Avenue of Stars. When we stepped out of the building onto the boardwalk and I was completely overwhelmed by the view. It was by far the most amazing cityscape I've ever seen in my life. All the tall skyscrapers, belonging to companies from all over the world, line the harbor on Hong Kong island. The light show is a combination of strobe lights and sparkling lights on the buildings on the island that are coordinated with music. It was interesting to see, but I think the actual view of the harbor at night was much more amazing than any flashing lights.

The Hong Kong International Airport was named the world's best for the seventh year in an annual survey of passengers, with Asian airports dominating the top positions in the list.

Happy 31st Birthday to me from Mickey, Minnie and Joriel.

"Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy". Main Gate - Hongkong Disneyland .

1st SINGAPORE Business Trip

I fell in love with Singapore the first time I set foot at Changi Airport - one of the best in the world. I was there last July for a business trip and I opt to stay in my friends' flat in Ang Mo Kio while I was asked to report in our Raffles Place corporate office. Ienjoyed the zoo, the night safari and the science center. Of course, top of the list was the Merlion, Esplanade, Singapore Flyer and the visit to Sentosa.

it was indeed a memorable experience since it was Joriel and I first trip abroad together.

How I wish more women would say that … the world would be a better place. For one thing, women will stop being punching bags for their insecure husbands. Single moms like me will be respected because we will no longer need a man’s approval to breathe and live. Motherhood will be celebrated!I don’t need a man to be complete because I already am complete. I have a steady, good paying work job that many of my friends are envious of. I have a little girl who loves me unconditionally and who will be there with me until the day I die. I have a great family, no matter how dysfunctional we may seem. My friends will forever stick with me through thick and thin. I have a home, I pay my bills on time and I don’t owe anybody money. I’m healthy and I still have about 6 or 7 cat lives to go. I don’t have to stress that I’m happy with how my life is right now.

I have the sperm donor to thank for. If he never left me, I would never have realized what I’ve been missing. I would never have found out what I’m capable of. Thank you for making me accomplish everything without you. Like what my friends said, the best way to get even is to show you that I’m better off without you. And they were right, because without you I am now complete.

moving on

Sometimes I surprise myself. I think I have always bitten more than I could chew. But I chewed it anyway, even if I almost choked to death in the process.

This is one good time as any to sit back and check on myself. Can I really handle all these things I take on and now have? Am I happy, even if these things keep me on my toes all the time?
Ever since, I’ve always taken more than my plate can handle. If you ask my mother, she would say I was running even before I could learn to walk. In fact, she would still say that I still do not walk and that I am still running.

That doesn’t mean I run away from things. Because I don’t. Anything that comes at me, I most often face it head on. I may never have fought like I should have when I had to, but I remained standing even after all is gone and have walked away. When I fell down, I got up. Especially in the stuff that really matters in my life.

To answer my questions above: I am just too happy being on my toes always. Too happy to survive things happening at once. I am at a point now that I’m sure I can take and handle anything. There’s just never a dull moment in the last 30 years. I think! Never easy. But never dull too. Exciting in many ways.

There’s gonna be more juggling (multitasking!!), more standing on my toes while “running”…but I’m gonna be laughing out loud all the time. I’m going to remain standing as long as life permits, even after all have gone or dropped or walked away.

‘Tangina Hindi na ako maitutumba! Bring it on!

I’ve cried. I still cry. I laughed. BUT the thing is: I am still laughing and will always be!

Am I Ready?


That’s the question I’ve been asking myself for quite some time now. Am I ready to share my life with someone? Am I ready to trust again? Am I ready to begin a new life? Am I ready to have another baby? Am I ready for new responsibilities? Am I ready for happiness?

It’s true what they said about getting married; either you marry young or you marry old. Not that I’m tying the knot real soon, but commitment scares the hell out of me. Not because I think I will get hurt again, but that I will have to give up and sacrifice a huge chunk of my freedom. I’m so used to being independent and fending for myself and Thea; that I’m not quite sure how I will react to someone else taking care of us. Will I see view it as an intrusion in our lives or as a loving gesture? For the months, I’ve had the run of my life. Independence is intoxicating and addicting. There’s really nothing wrong with it, it’s just that I’m scared of giving up a lot of things that I enjoy doing just so I can make someone else happy and content. Selfishness? I think I deserve to put myself on top of my priority list since my happiness depends primarily on me.

Or are these petty excuses that I’m making up just so I don’t have to be part of a relationship? Are these just manifestations of my fear of being hurt again?

thea's first big pool experience

thea's first big pool experience
Video sent by yreyes

thea @ casa san pablo

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

thea welcomes summer 2008

HAPPY MOTHER's DAY!

I went to a family friend’s wedding recently. Met up with some good friends, had some wonderful food, … all in all, a good time was had.

This will be the second marriage for our family friend. Her first marriage ended when her two sons were still in elementary school. Her boys are now both in their 20s ~ fine young men who have made us all very proud.

Thinking about how our family friend struggled as a single mom really made me appreciate my being a single mom to Thea and what she had to do to provide a nurturing, supportive, and loving home for her sons.

I don’t know if I could ever do as well as she did. I am in awe of all single parents who raise their children alone, and often without the help of the non-custodial parent.

According to the U.S. census, there were more than 10.4 million single mothers in 2007 and another 2.3 million single dads. The report I read didn’t say how many of these single parents received support from the other parent. Based on my own experiences, and those of my friends, there isn’t always an involved second parent.

This isn’t a bashing of non-custodial parents, it’s in praise of all those parents who do the near impossible to provide wonderful homes for their children.

It is in praise of all those parents who were both mother and father to their children. Who saw that their children could play sports or have music lessons, while giving up many of the things they enjoyed. It is in praise of those parents who were involved in their children’s school when they barely have extra time to sleep. It is in praise of all those parents who found ways to provide a safe, happy home, and still finding quality time to spend with their children.

It is for Kathy and Tetet who are raising great kids to be even better adults. It is for Maru, Racell and Yel who are brave enough to chronicle their struggles as single parents with no excuses. This is for Jones who was left to raise his daughter when his ex-partner decided she wanted something different in her life. This is for all those who raised their children as single parent and found new love to share their empty nest.

As a single mom, I can tell you that our children will grow up and will appreciate our sacrifices and come to know what it took for us to provide for them. When they become parents of their own children, they will finally understand what miracles we have really accomplished.

This is an open letter to all my friends who are or have been single parents ~ I applaud you and marvel at your strength and character. Our children are truly lucky to have us as their champion.

thea: certified starbucks baby!

Thea Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

searching...?

In times when I start envying other people who have "normal" families, happy couples and newly weds, it is good to be reminded of the blessings that I am enjoying. And of the life I can build for myself and Thea. Kaya ata walang interesado sa 'kin, kasi they can sense that I don't need them hahaha! Hay...

happy 4th month baby, don't grow up too fast....

" I learned the most important lesson of my life: that the extraordinary is not the birthright of a chosen and priveleged few, but of all people, even the humblest. that is my one certainty: we are all the manifestation of the divinity of GOD".

- Paulo Coelho

" the easiest thing in the world is to be you. the most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. don't let them put you in that position"

- Dr. Leo Buscaglia

..:: Learn from my failure ::..

Failure does not mean I have accomplished nothing;
Yet it doesn't mean I have learned something.

Failure does not mean I have been a fool;
Yet it does mean I had enough to experiment.

Failure does not mean I have disgraced;
Yet it does mean I have dared to try.

Failure does not mean I don't have it:
Yet it does mean I have something to do in a different way.

" you don't love because people deserve it. you love because you have it in your heart. you love because they are human beings, because they are the creations of GOD".

- Immaculee Llibigiza

Catching up on Thank You's

Dear God,

It's been years since I last wrote you, though I know we've been having conversations everyday...still I'd like to write you. It helps me in a lot of ways when I write and see for myself how much you've blessed me and the people I love dearly. :-)

Thank You, God...
... for finding love, even for a short time, I felt so happy to have him. Now that it's over, I still thank You because I gained a lot from that relationship

... for giving me little Thea, even if I have to raise her without Jin, I know You'll be his Father, and You'll provide him with the love she truly deserves

... for my family, especially my Mom and Dad, who made everything easier for me...

... for my dear friends, even those from way back, who always make me smile, who gives endless encouragements, who listen to all my frustrations... I'm really blessed to have them!

... for my officemates who have always been supportive, who have been my nth family :-)

... for my Thea's Godparents, who have always been there for me, especially during my "hell week", when He Who Must Not Be Named (let's call him Jin) decided to call it quits

... for new friends, some I haven't met before, but only talked with through text messages... hope to meet them soon

There are a lot of things to be thankful for. This sort of summarizes everything...

I hope to write more in the coming days...

Till then, thanks again, my Friend, my Father, my God.

beng

Day Dream

We're in Baguio right now, and memories come alive... I miss having someone, but I'm not eager to have a new one. Ewan!

I see families on vacation... daddy, mommy and little kids... I once saw myself having one of those vacations... well, my version would be Lolo, Lola, Mommy, and Baby...

Dapat talaga makuntento na lang ako.