I'm With The MVP!

The proud wife won't settle down if she doesn't have a photo of herself holding the MVP trophy. One proud girl: "I'm with the MVP!" Shoo, shoo, girls!

It was our parish fiesta yesterday. And although Mhark's championship game happened two weeks ago, they were awarded only last night.

There was a small celebration at the basketball court and almost all the participants of the said league were there.

The camaraderie among the neighborhood in our village is really commendable . We've only moved in for 3 months now; and yet, we already feel like we grew up in this place... It is so different from the other neighborhood we've experienced in our three years of stay in Metro Manila.

I was very happy last night. I could see that Mhark was, too. Usually, Mhark gets sleepy at 10pm. It was surprising that he was able to stay up til past midnight.

Being an MVP, he deserves a reward. Hmm, he got his first installment of the reward last night. He's getting another one this evening. I'm preparing a ref cake for him. =)

The New Seven Deadly Sins Recently Added By The Vatican

1.) Polluting the environment - introducing contaminants into the environment.

2.) Genetic engineering - direct manipulation of an organism's genes using the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation.

3.) Being obscenely rich - being wealthy that's tending to moral looseness.

4.) Drug-dealing - the act of cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal drugs or narcotics.

5.) Abortion (induced) - intentional termination of pregnancy.

6.) Pedophilia - sexual attraction to children.

7.) Causing social injustice - being unfair in judgment of fellow human beings.

The Seven Deadly Sins...

Don't leave fun girls in a workplace where there's plenty of idle time. Chances are, they'll eventually come up with a hilarious topic. That's what happened to us when we reported for work yesterday and found out that we had some connection problems. Ugh! Do I hear Yipee?!

Vee, Maica, Hazel, Daphne, Kimber, Cheryl and I went on an endless chat that started with Maica's high school experience about having difficulties praying "Hail Mary" in Tagalog. When we figured out what "Holy Mary" is in Tagalog, we started reciting some Catholic prayers in Tagalog. Only to find out that it was an absurd idea because we don't even know how to translate "Hail, Holy Queen".

Then we tried to evaluate ourselves if we would pass St. Peter's interrogations and if there was a chance that any of us would be allowed to enter heaven in our after-life. And so we started with the first checklist: The Seven Deadly Sins:

1.) Greed - Excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs.

2.) Sloth - Apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue (in other words, laziness)

3.) Gluttony - Eating or drinking in excess

4.) Wrath - Belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (also, intense anger)

5.) Envy - Spite and resentment at seeing the success of another and a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another (jealousy included in this category)

6.) Pride - Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem

7.) Lust - Self-indulgent sexual desire

We found out that all of us have committed the seven deadly sins if to count not only the act itself but also those that we have committed in thoughts.

Coincidentally, there were also seven of us. So, I suggested that each of us pick something that we think is the sin that we mostly commit. Maica picked Gluttony, Daphne -- Wrath, Hazel -- Envy, Kim -- Pride, Cheryl -- Lust (we actually volunteered it for her), I picked Sloth and Veeya -- who was supposed to pick Greed (coz that's what's left for her to choose), we unanimously decided that she is our Queen Bee -- the mother of all queens of deadly sins! Hahaha!

We sure had a lot of fun as we continued to evaluate ourselves by using another instrument to gauge our sinfulness -- the 10 Commandments! Well, I'll tell you about it next post. I just realized that I'm supposed to be asleep now. It's almost 2am now. Hahaha!

I Survived!!!

It was such a full day for me. I thought I wouldn't leave the workplace alive. I took over four of my sick TL's classes. Good luck to me!

You should understand my panic. These guys are THE most delicate students - CEO's at that. Will I ever come out alive???

Well, after a stressful 9 hours spent at work plus an additional hour for making reports, I managed to still be kicking when I punched my finger at the biometrics. Out at 12 midnight... It's a good feeling to feel that my heart was still beating and that the blood was still moving around my body.

I still couldn't catch sleep, though. The adrenaline is still in my blood. I don't know what time it will stop being pumped to my system. Hey, brain, enough already!

I just want to go to bed now. So that I could get enough sleep after a stressful day. I do hope that TL will be back to work. I'm praying, Vee. With fingers crossed.

Get well really soon... How about tomorrow? *wink* Wabsyoo!

I Dread For Monday...

The weekend went too fast. Just a wink of an eye. Whew! I wanted it to go on and on... I'm dreading for Monday to come.

With my new assignment in a different account known as the most demanding, the most delicate account in our call center. Wish I could retract what I told our Boss when I sadi it is a challenge that I would be glad to be a part of. Waaaaah! Last week had been the most stressful in my entire stay at CBB.

Here comes Monday. Guess what?! My beauty queen TL was sick and unable to report for work...! Can I just take it off my chest??? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Vee, get well soon. I mean it as a friend and partly as your subordinate who's in panic mode. What a way to wean me eh? Barely 4 days of being in this account and suddenly...? I thought weaning was supposed to be gradual, not abrupt! Hehehe...

Oh, Vee, please take lots of Vitamin C and I hope your fever goes down this instant. I need you... need you... need you... Kulit, 'no?

I'm just sooo not ready for this. I wish there was an auto-pilot mode. Hehehe!

Happy Araw ng Naga!!!

Naga, my hometown, which I miss dearly, is celebrating Foundation Day today. Not even Bagyong Cosme could stop the tradition of the Naganian style of festivities. I'm sure there was a month-long basketball league with each of the 16 barangays vying for championship. Other sports widely played in Naga are table tennis, volleyball, lawn tennis and badminton. So I'm sure each had a league of their own.

One of the main events of Araw ng Naga is the Mutya ng Naga beauty pageant, where I am an alumna, being an honorary crown-holder for 1996 and 2002. No pageants happened in those years because of some conflicts between the local government and the previous organizers but I was appointed as the representative to Bb. Congrassional in 1996 and in Mutya ng Sibugay in 2002... I wonder who won last night? The pageant pushed through eventhough the storm left the open ground muddy. Ugh!

Another event that I would always anticipate every Araw ng Naga is the "Horse Fight" in the plaza of Naga Central Elementary School. It fascinated me so much at my young age. Being a tomboy and all, I guess I was one of the few female audience of the said fight.

In addition to these activities, we also have the annual parade led by the high school drum and bugle corps where I am a lyrist alumna. It will be followed by a friendly competition among Drum and Bugle Bands from various schools. Now, I heard that they've incorporated street dancing, cheer dance and choral competitions in the said affair.

I forgot to ask my insider if there was a carnival which usually builds their tents near the gym (which was sadly down in ashes now).

Picturing the series of events in my mind, I remember many faces. The faces of the people who have created a certain impact in my life. Those people who have partly molded me into who I am now. I miss them. I miss the genuine camaraderie, the sincere concern and the love of a real family. Wish I could join them next year.

Masadyang Araw ng Naga ninyong tanan diha! Gimingaw na gayod ko sa inyo hurot. Amping-amping lang...

Congrats!!!

I'm so proud of my MVP!

1.) Mayor's Cup - Violet Team: 2nd Placer, Men's Basketball. Jersey # 3: One of the Mythical Five Awardees...

2.) El Dorado League - Yellow Team: Champions, Men's Basketball. Jersey # 35: Hailed Most Valuable Player...

Mahal, I'm so happy about this additional milestone in your basketball career. I'm ecstatic more than you know. You think I abhor your achievements in basketball but I don't. I just want you to stay focused on the main path that you are supposed to travel. Basketball and other fun stuff are just sidetracks. Enjoy them while you still have the vigor. In a few years' time, you will have to give way to younger wannabes and hopefully, our future kids would emulate your passion for sports. Still, they should be able to balance studies and extra-curricular activities. I don't want a bunch of nerds for offspring; I want cool genius dudes and dudettes. Hehehe!

Busy again on Saturday eh? For another awarding ceremony! Hmmmm...

Onions

How powerful are you?
You can beat the brave
The strongest man on earth
Sending the tough to tears

Now, I am to challenge you
With me is a sharp knife
To stab you in the heart
And squeeze the juice out of you

I felt your blood in my hands
Soon, I smelled the scent of victory
I entered straight into my nose
And went into my eyes

Then you turned my eyes weepy
Liquid flowed out of my nose
Upon wiping them, I decided
How powerful you are!

Doom

Seated in solitude by the creek
With the moon in tears and moaning
Counting the stars so few
Cause clouds have stolen some to hide

The sky growled in pain
The underworld is celebrating
Soon, they'll be shed with blood
From the doom of a lonely soul

A star has fallen to the grounds
In it, a wish was sent
A wish that will begin and end
A stolid life of sufferings

The creature saw a sudden flash
Lightning struck her in the heart
Her body surrendered to eternity
And heavens poured in ecstasy

I Used To Love Fridays...

TGIF!? More like ONIF! to me these past weeks.

Friday used to be the day I like most. It's the last day of work and no matter how terrible that day could become, I feel that I can get through it with ease. The simple thought of being able to get ample sleep the next day is enough to get me through with it.

But last night, I had a difficult time going to sleep because I was anxious for Friday morning to come. I know that Mhark had to go to his review early in the morning and won't be back until after 9pm. I hate waking up in the morning to find Mhark not in bed with me, not in the room where I sleep, not at home!

I woke up rather early this morning because I wanted to enjoy him just for a few minutes before he goes to his whole day review in Manila.

Now, I'm having a difficult time going back to sleep. Friday sucks! It's not my favorite day anymore. And then starting the week after next until the end of June, I'd also start hating all the weekdays. Ugh!

Butterfly Kisses...

I think my husband has been reading too much of my blog. He's getting so many hints from here. He's taking all my entries too seriously.

Last Saturday, he filled my sleepy morning with tickles that I got really pissed off, REALLY pissed off. Hahaha! You know how a woman's scourn could go. Wahehehe!

Anyways, Sunday morning was different. He didn't tickle me even once. Did my violent reaction scare the heck out of him? Maybe because we were both tired from the weekend getaway in Calaca, Batangas.

Monday morning. I was already getting worried. I think grumpy Saturday killed my wake-up tickles. How sad! How can I make him revive them without becoming so inconsistent? Sure, they can become so annoying. But most of the time, especially when I'm not so tired from work, I kind of look forward to it.

Tuesday. Wednesday. Got so jaded. Maybe more jaded because my morning dose of some loving has faded.

Sadness became me... Only to find out this morning that my husband has just changed his strategy. He accidentally woke me up while filling my face with butterfly kisses -- on my nose, my eyes, my cheeks, my lips--!

How sweet! Well, I'm liking this new morning therapy instead. Overdose me with butterfly kisses, Mahal... I don't care! I love it. I love you...

One Dead Poet...

I was inspired to publish my poems here because I chanced upon them this weekend while I was cleaning my room. They looked sad and lonesome being imprisoned in stained papers where I've written them. So what the heck? I decided to free them!

The following are my composition about 10 to 15 years ago. So excuse the naivety, the idealism, the simplicity... Gawd, I am old! Hahaha! More poems to come in the next few days... I still have to dig them from my golden chest.

Morning

You give me light after darkness
Making me strong when I am weak
Helping me stand from the rest
You are an inspiration

You give colors to life
Making my world green, blue
Violet, red, brown and yellow
You kiss my day hello

You're something I can't live without
As special as you are to me
I can't imagine how to live
A life without you to brighten it

You drag me out from dreams
To help me work for it
Your kisses touched my heart
You are my dream come true!

The Welcome

I was again embraced
By that familiar breeze
Its sound produces rhythm
Harmoniously singing love

The autumn leaves fell
Leaving the trunk bare
They lay soft in my path
Serving as red carpet

It made me feel the princess
I had almost forgotten
Until the royal welcome
Made me remember

As I approach my throne
Its branches bowed
The leaves danced
To the wind's roaring tune

It was the kingdom
Which I have abandoned
Now, I came back
To reign it forever...

Gratitude

It's so nice to be a writer...
Memories will be reminisced
Dreams will be realized
Thoughts will be expressed
And I have the pen to control them.

I swam in the depth of thoughts
I traveled through the length of emotions
I ran around the endless meadows
I climbed the highest peak
And God was good to grant me my wish!

Brain Strokes and A Heart Attack!

Via just gave me a mild heart attack last Monday night. She said that she's recommending me for ESS and that our big boss in Manila will be calling me once he gets back from dinner. What?! Not that I'm clueless about the program. Via had been giving me some input for maybe a month now. My main concern is facing our boss. In my four months in this company, I managed to keep a low profile and I will find it a relief if my Korean boss has no idea who I am. The less that he knows about me, the better. You know how some bosses can pick on some employees that they know. Get what I mean?

So I was kinda praying that he would be busy after his dinner break and he will totally forget about calling for me. Haha! My prayer was answered.

Yesterday, Via gave me a brain stroke when she said that our big Boss wants to have a word with me. Uh-oh! Via said, "Ella, I need you to wear your American accent. Come on, you can do it. I have so much faith in you." Whoa! Aren't you adding up to the pressure, Vee???

While talking to our Korean big boss, I was trying really hard to keep my composure. I know how I suck at impressing the boss. And to top it all, he has this poker face -- so I have no idea if I impressed him or not. His last words, "Call Via".

When I left his office, I called for Via and told her that I think I didn't pass his standards. I might have overdone my accent. Have I? I told Via not to immediately let me know if the she will get a negative result.

A few minutes later, Via was ecstatic to tell me the result. Moment of truth -- I did it!

She gave me some materials to study because I will be speaking to our counterparts in Korea after 30 minutes. Oh, no! Two stroke attacks in a span of one hour. Is that healthy, Vee? I need to smoke because I was already having palpitations. After one cigarette, my palpitations was gone but I could feel constrictions in my veins. And that made it hard for me to breath. What the hell is happening to me?

Well, I did what I had to do. And I'm very thankful to my new TL who's wacky and extra supportive. How can she not be? She's the one who gave me brain strokes and a heart attack in the two days that passed!

I am now an ESS -- English Supporting Secretary. So the guys have heard. Many might have raised their eyebrows. What the heck? That's your eyebrows so you decide what to do with it! That's your prerogative--just like it's my prerogative to inject botox on your faces to put those eyebrows back to their original positions.

Vee, you're asking me how I feel? It's a mixture of ecstasy, nostalgia, tension, among other emotions that I cannot fully describe... But generally, I am simply glad! I miss Dess, Yani and John, though. And I also miss my students back in Junior Level 2. But I know I will love this new adventure with you. And I hope I can live up to your expectations. Help me out, okay? Newbie alert here!!!

Tutorial Lessons...

A lot of my friends are having a difficult time posting their comments at this site. So, I thought of giving them tutorial lessons on how to go about and hit the comment section.

At the bottom of each entry, you will find:

Written By BelleWitch aka Louella Time 2:52:00 PM 2 comments

Click on the "comments" link and a new window will pop up. Write your comment on the box that says "Leave your comment".

Below the box, this is what you'll see:

You can use some HTML tags, such as ...

Comment moderation has been enabled. All comments must be approved by the blog author.

On "Choose an identity", "Google/Blogger" is the default option. Simply click "Name/URL" below it to automatically unchoose it. Two boxes will surface under "Name/URL". Write your desired name on the "Name" box and leave the URL box as it is (optional).

Lastly, click on "Publish your comment" and viola! Your comment will be posted upon the author's approval. Easy, right? How about a return demonstration right about now? Hehe...

A Peek To The Men's World...

I was so sleepy yesterday. I fell asleep the whole time Father Jun was giving his sermon. Ugh! I didn't have enough sleep the night before.

We were in Calaca, Batangas for the victory party of my husband's team. They were celebrating for winning the village league (where Mhark was hailed as MVP) and bagging the second place in the mayor's cup (where Mhark was included in the Mythical Five).

We started our journey at 2pm from our place. We had to beat the traffic on SLEx. We arrived in Tagaytay at 5pm and traveled 45 more minutes to a private beach resort in Calaca.

We were 13 people in the car. The number of the passenger dwarfed the Innova. Haha! There were 10 guys and two girls--who were also from the neighborhood. "Where are the the wives and the kids?" I asked Mhark. "Baka nauna na," he replied, both of us were thinking it was a family affair and that the family we often see at each game would be the same faces we'll see at the victory party.

So, we reached the resort at sundown. We saw more senior (citizens) guys. They offered us to have dinner first. Only then did I remember that I haven't had breakfast yet. I just ate some chips and drank Virgin Blue Cola when we had the yosi break in Tagaytay.

Just before we finished our meal, we saw a number of girls with a gay company. Uh-oh! I had a hunch that it was going to turn out bad. And it really did.

After eating, we dipped for a swim. When we came back from the beach, we were instructed to move to another cottage. The one with the videoke would be used for another purpose. Some chauvinistic purpose!

The next thing I knew, Mhark was already asking for me to permit him to watch a "show". That shed the light to all the comotions. It wasn't a family affair afterall. It was a party made "for the boys only." Ugh!

I asked Mhark if he knew how the party would turn out. He said he wouldn't dare bring me had he known. Well, that made sense. Bringing a wife/gf would spoil the fun. Hah!

I gave Mhark ten minutes to watch the show. The guys were shocked. A husband asking the wife to let him watch a stripper's show? Let alone telling her about it, man! Are you outta your mind???

Yup, guys... We're that open to each other. Afterall, I would pretty much prefer the truth over a lie which is supposed to protect me. Protect me from what?! Protect my ass! {Excuse my language... I'm making a point here!}

If you allow a man, really, he becomes more hesitant to do it. Maybe his brain started to work after getting a "yes" from me. So, I had to kid him to get some "ice cubes" for me and to take his time for him to go to the "mess" hall. After a couple of minutes, he came back. What? Can't take the sight of flabs, eh? Hehehe!

And he didn't go back until the sound system got broken and all the dissatisfied groans could be heard from the mesh hall. Storm "Butchoy" might have heard my prayers. Haha!

I thought that was the end of the dirty "guy" business. Turns out to be just the start...

Later, Mhark and I were already preparing to sleep in one of the vacant huts. But my cp battery needed recharging so I climbed out of our "bed". I left Mhark knowing that it's already past his bedtime (he usually retires at 9pm).

Just a few minutes after, I saw more girls marching toward the mess hall. Some of them stopped at the hut near ours. A couple of them even sat in the "bed" where Mhark was sleeping. I really panicked. I hurriedly climbed down from the hut where I was charging my phone. Guess what? I slipped! Got some bruises in my left leg. Waaaah! My scream woke Mhark up. He hurriedly went to my rescue. He was surprised to see company.

He just took our things and we decided to move to another hut. From the hut where we moved to, we could see some senior guys approaching the girls. They were negotiating with the gays, who were actually the pimps of the hookers.

Mhark and I really felt uncomfortable. It was something we've only heard other people talk about. It was the first time for us to witness something like it first hand. If we only had an available car to drive us home, we'd get home as fast as we could. Both of us felt morally corrupted. You see, a dirty act looks dirty from afar but it's a lot dirtier upclose.

So this is the men's world--women, alcohol, cigarettes. And for some--drugs. Scary... Sneaky... Here are the family men who looked so dignified while they were with their families and there they are doing some monkey business. They make me want to throw up!

When we reached home the next day, we were just so glad to be back home. Eventhough we were so sleepy, we felt the urge to attend the mass. We need our souls to be cleansed after being exposed to the deeds that stained our souls. And just to connect yesterday's celebration of Pentecost to the experience, I wonder where have the gifts of the Holy Spirit gone for these men. Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!

My Beloved Nanay

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom in the world!!!

The most gorgeous....

The most loving...

The best teacher in life...

The best friend...

The sweetest...

We all love you, Nanay!!!

Thanks!

Nice to know that people from all over the world and the Philippines are checking out my blog. Thanks, guys!

This is the list of the locations of my visitors:

1.) Philippines --
a) MINDANAO - Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Cagayan de Oro City;
b.) VISAYAS - Cebu City; Jaclupan, Cebu; Mandaue, Cebu; Cordoba, Cebu; Iloilo City; Tacloban;
c.) LUZON - Baliuag, Bulacan; Malolos, Bulacan; Bagong Barrio, Bulacan; Benguet; Mabalacat, Pampanga; San Fernando, Pampanga; San Pascual, Tarlac; Damarinas, Cavite; Bacoor, Cavite; Batangas City, Merville, Rizal; Malanday, Rizal; Cainta, Rizal;
d.) METRO MANILA - Manila; Makati; Caloocan; Las Pinas; Paranaque.

2.) New Zealand -- Wellington; Auckland.

3.) Saudi Arabia -- Riyadh

4.) USA -- Redwood City, California; Richmond, California; San Marcos, California; Stockton, California; Baytown, Texas; McKinney, Texas; Wingate, North Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; Brooklyn, New York.

5.) Norway -- Oslo.

6.) East Timor.

7.) Japan -- Tokozawa, Saitama.

8.) Germany -- Frenchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen.

9.) Qatar -- Doha, Ad-Dawhah.

10.) Korea -- Seoul.

11.) France -- Basse-Normandie; Genas, Rhone-Alpes.

12.) Dubai.

13.) Malaysia - Shah Alam, Selangor.

14.) Poland - Krzeszowice, Krakow.


Feels great, guys!

xoxo, ella

No Wake-Up Tickles?

I woke up this morning at 10:30am. I was so lazy to get out of bed. I know Mhark isn't home. He kissed me goodbye at 7:30 this morning. He went off to his 13 hrs review session...

When he reminded me about it yesterday, I panicked. I've gone used to waking up late and he's already up, sitting in his study table, his head--buried in the thick books he's reading. In between reading, he'd climb up the bed and tickle me in his lame try to wake me up. He'd start doing it at 7am and would annoyingly repeat the act every hour. I hate it when my sleep is interrupted. So I thought I hated it when he bugs me in my sleep!

Only to find out this morning that I badly miss it! Mhark just kissed me lightly--on my eyes and on my lips-- before he left. I was so sleepy to respond.. Where are the tickles? My body clock is erratic. It slightly woke me up at 8:30--no tickles yet? At 9:30--again, no tickles? At 10:30--wake up, sleepy head! So I forcefully dragged myself from slumber.

Why do we always realize the value of something--or someone--only when there's a threat that we're going to lose it?

So, it'll be every Friday, eh? No wake-up tickles? Until middle of June? Ugh!

Confessions of a Real-Life Gossip Girl

One of my daily routines is checking out Brian Gorrell's website for new posts. Last night, I read about Tim Yap's so-called charity event side by side KC Concepcion that happened the day after Easter. Brian even posted my pictures. The post ended up warning KC to stay away from Tim and the GG (gucci gang)--a group Bx accuses of snorting coke.

Then, I browsed thru the comment section and OMG--! One comment says that this certain reader saw KC in a party snorting coke like a pro!

Now that's a comment I found juicier than the blog entry itself. Phenomenal!

Being a self-confessed celebrity gossip girl, I quench my thirst for input daily by going to tabloid (ABANTE, TALIBA, PHILSTAR) and et (PEP, YEHEY) sites. Maybe that's the basic reason I got curious about Bx's blogspot--the scandal that involves Filipino celebs. I also joined yahoogroups that send me daily input of showbiz and even political personalities. The dirtier-darker-juicier, the better!

Some totally shocked me, especially if the "blind item" involves a personality that I truly like. Then, I learned to shrug them off me, thinking that these celebs won't even give a damn about me. Hehe! So now, I even found the stories amusing!

Being in the gossip "business" for quite a long time now, I also learned that many writers and sources of these juicy items just either fabricate or semi-fabricate them. Total fabrication is a total make-up story. 100% Lie. Semi-fabrication is a story that was spiced up to make it incredibly marketable to gossipmongers like me. So one should learn how to discern. Naks! Such a deep word for a very shallow matter.

Wonder why I waste my time on petty things like these? Well, it is a vice that I can't get away from. Haha! Just like a cigarette to smokers, liquors for alcoholics, sex for SA's, casinos for chronic gamblers... This is my addiction! I like to be updated because I find the lives of these celebs fascinating. The price of being at the top (?)... Makes me wonder if I would really like to be where they are. Well, I guess NOT! I like where I am better. An spectator... A loser who feeds on the latest explosive scandal to erupt!

Happy 4th Month To Me!

It's my 4th Month at CBB as an online english teacher! So far in my career background, my lifespan in a company lasts only for four months. And since there are no resignation letters yet at hand, so I guess, CBB is lucky enough to have broken the record! Hehehe!

I found teaching a very noble and rewarding job. Especially when I get assigned to another classroom and my former students ask their new teacher where I was. Such a heartwarming experience! And I thought my passion was writing! Turns out that teaching is!

In my four months of teaching, the students who had created an impact in my life are Amy (I really cried for days when I got assigned to another classroom...), Stone (he used to cheer me up each time), Darlene (Stone's loveteam), Hanju (I have already mentioned him in my past entry), Beckham, Lukas (she's a girl!) and Marine Boy (I mistakenly called him a "daughter" so he decided to add "Boy" to his name), among many others!

Although I know that my career path would be directed to Nursing eventually, I want to enjoy these moments and cherish the undescribable feelings that teaching has brought me. Aja!

Another Late Night Talk With Vee

I woke up really late today. 1pm! That's why I got to work 8 minutes late. Huh?! {Well, the other reason involves an explanation not suitable for public reading. Hahaha!}

I went to sleep at 3am last night. Veeya and I talked for three straight hours again about life. It's funny because we always come to so many realizations while engaged in this intellectual talk of ours.

We talked about her visit to her hometown in Davao and how good it felt to be home once again. I agreed. I felt strange because, although I miss Naga, I don't feel the same way when I go visit the town where I grew up. Maybe because now, "home" for me is a place where I am with Mhark. He is my home now.

Then, we talked about this white mocha that she tasted when she was in Davao. It was the best one she's ever had. But how can she tell? It was the only mocha she's ever had. According to her, the experience brought her to another realization. She's found the best mocha. And eventhough she knows there might be a mocha somewhere that might taste better, she's sticking with the one that she found as "the best".

Well, that made me realize that that's exactly how I feel about the love that I found in Mhark. It is indeed the best for me. And since I haven't experienced any other, I have a hunch that there could be someone out there who's better. But I'm staying with the one who I believe is the best. Afterall, it's in him where I found contentment and bliss! So to hell about finding a better-looking, richer, more intelligent, sexier and more promising guy. I'm sticking with what I have, my best "mocha" in the whole world!

So, yes, Vee! Mhark owes you bigtime. Thanks for making me appreciate my long-found "one great love" more. I'm looking forward to having another late-night talk with you--over a bulalo or a bottle of shared Mountain Dew. Hehehe!

Which Spelling TV Series Do You Like Most?

1.) Charmed2.) 7th Heaven3.) Kindred: The Embraced4.) Sunset Beach5.) Melrose Place6.) Beverly Hills, 902107.) Pacific Palisades
8.) Twin Peaks
9.) Fantasy Island
10.) The Love Boat

Post your answers and justifications in the comment section .

Thanks!!!


xoxo,
*ella*

Goodnight! (Or is it Good morning?!)

It's 12:30am... I should already be sleeping. But my body clock is again going against me. Stubborn body clock!

Tomorrow (technically, it's today) is another day to conquer. To Diane Lovelace: you'll make it in your interview, Dear! I'm positive about that. Just be yourself and you shall make it!

Funny because just about now, my husband is singing the Pido Dida themesong "Ang gusto ko, Mahal... Laging sabay tayo.. Kahit sa pagtulog, Mahal..." and I am lost in the middle of this post. I better wash myself now and climb to bed. The king is waiting. And he's pissed off because they lost the championship game for the mayor's cup this afternoon. I told him to look at the bright side. At least, their team is the second best among the 12 teams that competed. At least, he is part of the mythical five. But he wouldn't listen... For now, he's just pissed off because he could've won that game and brought home another mvp award.

Oh, he's smiling... Is he trying to seduce me? Better not! Hahaha!!! I have a very busy day ahead of me. So, he better not... Hmmm... Let's see... His smile tells me I'm not winning. He is! *wink*

Goodnight, guys! Sweet dreams, Philippines! Mwah!

The Encounter...

October 7, 1998

I was invited by my friends to sit-in in their PE class so that we can go home together. And so I did. While their instructor was giving them some instructions, my friends introduced their class officers to me by using pointing fingers.

"That's our class president," Rose said. My brows arched. I was also the president of our PE class and our Nursing Class, so I was disgusted to see another class president who doesn't seem to care about the world. He was busy playing fools with his friends at the back row, creating so much noise. I asked what his name was and Liza said, "Mhark Paiton" (I thought it was spelled Mark Payton then). I found him irritating but I couldn't help but stare. Rose noticed me and she pointed to me his girlfriend.

"And that's his gf," as if to warn me.

"Poor girl," I said, "cause I think he belongs to Edel now!"

Edel is our friend who didn't have a boylet yet... Rose had Echo, Liza had Oms, I had Mark S. then... Though those boys are not yet our bfs, we already claimed them as ours... Hehehe! Later that afternoon, we met up with Edel. I excitedly told her that I found the perfect guy for her. She laughed hard when she learned the name... She knew him because they went to the same high school. Rose also went to the same school. Edel said no girl in her right mind would hook up with Mhark Paiton!

October 10, 1998

Edel and Rose had to attend their high school homecoming. So after class, Liza and I went with them. Since the homecoming was supposed to be lunchtime and we went there at 1pm, some of their former classmates had already gone home. It was quite boring cause I barely know anyone, except for Keff, who was earlier introduced to me by Rose. We just went around the school. And as we were approaching the drinking fountain, I saw a guy in the sink... I couldn't understand why all of a sudden, my world stopped... I could hear bells ringing inside my head and I could hear a music playing in my mind: "The closer I get to touching you... The closer I get to loving you..."

"You remembered that guy?" Rose brought me back to reality. "He's the one you matched to Edel."

"So what do you think?" I asked Edel.

"He's got the looks but not the background. Hehehe!" Edel said.

After a few minutes, we decided to call it a day. So, we mounted a jeepney going back to pueblo (the city proper). It was still waiting for some more passengers. So we were kidding around. Then, at the guard house near the gate, I saw Keff talking with some guys. I thought it was polite to wave bye-bye to him. So I did. Unfortunately, Keff didn't notice me. Instead, one of his friends did. We exchanged a dozen of bye-bye's until the jeepney finally left.

Rose noticed us. "I thought that guy was for Edel. Why were you flirting with him?"

"No, I wasn't!" So I explained the whole scenario but Rose wouldn't buy it.

Later, I learned from Mhark that after the jeepney left, he asked Keff who I was. He told Keff that he was smitten by my smile and that he wanted us to be introduced. So they used his motorcycle to run after us. Too bad, they thought we headed for the university campus...

October 12, 1998

We were having our final exams. Keff went to our classroom to borrow a pen. I let him borrow mine. He said Mhark was extending his regards to me. Rose was quick to ask, "Di ba may gf sya?" (He has a gf, right?)

Keff said they were already in the process of breaking up. I don't know why but I was glad to know that fact!

October 29, 1998

Enrollment time! My other Mark was helping me out with my enrollment process. But that day, I came to school really late so I wasn't able to meet him up at the gate. And since we didn't have cellphones yet during that time, my friends and I were having a hard time looking for him. Then, at the pathway, we met Mhark with his gf. I thought they already broke up!

Rose noticed my reaction. She was quick to be on my defense. She went to Mhark and asked him, "Did you see Mark S.? He's Louella's bf, you know..." Mhark just stared at her. He couldn't stare at me.

Later, he explained that he and his ex patched things up during that time.

I wasn't able to sleep that night. I don't know but I got so affected...

The Courtship...

Do you believe in the old saying that says, "Easy to get, easy to forget?"

I don't...

Why?

Here's the story.

Prologue:

My first boyfriend, Arnel, got my answer to his proposal in just one magical night. It was a school affair when he finally had the guts to ask me to become his girl. Although, he had already been hitting on me weeks before that night, I still count it as a one-click courtship. We lasted for 1 month and 5 days... Too short for a relationship. Then I thought maybe the length of courtship had to do with it. So my next boyfriend, Brian, had to court me for four months! He started courting me on my 15th birthday [March 12, 1996] and he had me as his girl on July 16th of that same year. Result? We lasted for 1 month and 10 days... At least, it was 5 days longer than the first one. Conclusion? The period of courtship does not guarantee the length of the relationship!

My husband got my "YES!" in 6 days. Though technically, I should only count five. Here's the detail.

November 20, 1998

Mhark sent me a love letter. I was so excited about it, I read it infront of my BOO-mates and two male oldie-classmates. One of the oldie-classmates recognized him as Mr. MVP in their place.

November 21, 1998

Mhark and I talked for 3 hours at the KIOSK of the College of Education... There, we asked about each other's family, likes, dislikes and those basic stuff.

November 22, 1998

We didn't see each other. Technically, this should be counted off.

November 23, 1998

Monday... I don't remember what happened during this day but he was around me, I'm sure...

November 24, 1998

It's a tuesday... He waited for my class to finish at 7pm. He was already outside our classroom since 4pm. But he disappeared between 6:45 and 7pm. Later he explained that his ex-girlfriend asked for a talk and was asking him back. Too bad, he was already determined to pursue me. He gave me a long-stemmed rose and 3 Toblerone Chocolates on our way out of the campus. I was truly flattered. He escorted me home and greeted my mom, "Happy Birthday!"

November 25, 1998

He said he had to attend a debut where he is one of the escorts who will give the debutante a rose. So, he just walked me to the jeepney stop.

November 26, 1998

I still had no idea I would become his girlfriend on this day. My day started really early and ended really late. In between classes, he was always visible. So, that was nice. After classes, I had to attend our editorial staff meeting at The University Digest. He was patient enough to wait for me for four long hours. He was there, just at the corner of the meeting room and mosquitoes are feasting on him. Oh, such a poor guy... Surely, his hardwork has been paid off that very day. After the meeting, it was raining so hard. We didn't have an umbrella and we have to go home cause it's getting late. He took a medium-sized towel from his pocket and handed it to me. I think that was really gentlemanly of him!

Since it was already late, we agreed that he will only walk me to the jeepney stop again. While the jeepney was still waiting for more passengers to fill it up, Mhark was waiting down by my window. He suddenly said he wanted to tell me something important but it can wait until the next day. But I was so persistent that he spit it out that very moment or else...! So, he had to say the line, "I love you!"

That did it!

I got off the jeepney [surely the dispatcher was cursing our asses down because he had to call for two more passengers, instead of one]. Then I saw Mhark trembling, he thought I'd eat him for telling me so.

I asked him why he said what he said. Can he defend it? Can he handle it? Or me? We had a long discussion... I told him about my past boyfriends, past suitors and what went wrong with them. I asked him about his past girlfriends, past flings and what went wrong with them. We shared each other's passion in life, each other's expections and dreams and plans... And it took us 2 1/2 hours before he had to walk me back to the jeepney stop because i had to catch the last trip. While I was mounting the jeepney, I said, "Yes, we are..."

He asked, "What? What do you mean?"

I said, "That's it. See you tomorrow... Take care and good night!"

I saw him jolly-jumping his way to the waiting tricycle...

November 27, 1998

I woke up late. I didn't go to school that day. I don't know how to face Mhark. For sure, he would be looking for me and I didn't want him to see me.

Edel, Rose and Liza told me later on that Mhark was all smiles the whole day. It was weird because all the three of them got pissed off because I didn't show up. So they suspected I already accepted him. And they were not wrong!

Common Fashion Blunders

Before I start my article, (article daw, o? hehe!) I would like to congratulate my dear husband for bagging the championship in a basketball league in our village... I'm so proud of you, Mr. MVP... Take home the mayor's cup as well, Mahal. I'm positive that you can do it. Loves you, Papito!

*****

Common Fashion Blunders:

1. Peek-A-Boo! >>a result from wearing a high-waist panty in a hipster jeans.. such an eyesore. your panty has no business showing up unless it's the latest thongs from Victoria's Secret. duh!

Remedy >>Wear a boyleg panty when wearing hipster pants.

2. Trapped in Straps >>another version of peek-a-boo, only, it involves brassieres. this happens when you wear either spaghetti-strapped, racerback or halter tops with regular bra straps showing up.

Remedy >>Wear transparent bra straps. There are also funky, stylish straps that's worth showing off. You can also opt for a freebra. It's more convenient.

3. Jewel-Wreck >>i pretty much hate to see a jewelry and accessory mismatch! never mix silver and gold, antiques and modern nor pearls and diamonds. it totally wrecks your get-up!

Remedy >>For your wedding ring, choose a two-toned band since you get to wear it all the time.

4. Color-Coding >>don't make a traffic statement out of your fashion sense. don't wear a pink shirt and a pink pants with your pink bag and pink shoes that matches your pink hair accessories. uh! no more elaboration needed.

Remedy >>Try to match some neutral colors to contrast to your main motif for the day.

5. The Pot At the End Of The Rainbow >>i'm actually just talking about people who love contrast so much that they apply it to their fashion sense. they pledge to have all the rainbow colors present in their everyday get-up. shocks! i need an eyedrop for this one!

Remedy >>Contrast works if you mix dark colors with lighter shades and remember to have a maximum of only 3 different colors in your outfit.

6. Snow White >>the super pale people who only wear whites and other neutral colors. boring is synonymous with ordinary.

Remedy >>I'm not asking you to be superbold. Just add a little color to your apparel.

7. The 5 Minutes Of Fame >>costumes that are seasonal. nothing's wrong if you want to look like the models in the fashion magazines but remember, most of these clothings are either not suitable to your kind of lifestyle or not practical at all.

Remedy >>Always keep a set of basics in your wardrobe: the little black dress, a pair of jeans, nice-fitting shirts and some accessories that you can easily mix and match.

*****

Will be researching further on this issue so I can add some more fashion blunders and remedies in my next post. Extra Tip for today: Invest on sexy undergarments because it's easier to feel sexy and beautiful if you know you are wearing a nice pair of undies!

A Tribute to Mr. Aaron Spelling...

Browsing through my past posts in my blogs (I have four), I chanced upon a post entitled, "I Want My Cole Back..."

Nope. I didn't have a boyfriend named Cole. Hahaha! Cole was a character in my all-time fave tv show, "Charmed". He was vanquished by the charmed ones because he was a demon. But he was also the love one Phoebe, one of the charmed ones. I even pleaded to Mr. Aaron Spelling, the producer of the show, to revive his character and prove that love conquers all. Well, there's a knock from reality there. Sometimes, love just isn't enough...

Going back to Mr. Spelling... I searched his name in wikipedia to know what he's currently brewing... I haven't seen new shows with his label, "Spelling TV" on it...

Then I learned that he died more than a year ago... I became sad. I don't know why. We didn't have the chance to meet in person but... He touched my life! Looking upon his accomplishments, I realized that most of the tv series that I have learned to love were his production.

One is the famous "Beverly Hills, 90210" where we loved the twins, Brandon (Jason Priestly) and Brenda (Shannen Doherty) and their friends: Kelly, Dylan (Luke Perry), Steve, Andrea, Donna (played by Tori-Aaron's daughter), Valerie, etc.

Another is "Melrose Place", a spinoff from Beverly Hills where some characters would cross over from the two shows. We adored Heather Locklear here who played Amanda. My fave lovers here are Billy and Alison. Some notable characters are Jo Reynolds, Jake (the biker hunk), Matt (their gay neighbor), Dr. Michael Mancini and wife, Jane. Later, Michael had an affair with a fellow doctor, Kimberly Shaw. It had a lot of twists and turns and more exchanging partners.

One of my most unforgettable series is "7th Heaven", which became a family affair that even my Mom and Dad would watch with us every Saturday night. It's a story about a family whose head is a pastor, Rev. Eric Camden. His wife, Annie bore him 7 kids: (Dr.) Matt, Mary, Simon, (Rev) Lucy, Ruthie, and twins--Sam and David. To add to the family's big number is the lovable dog named, Happy.

Other notable productions of Mr. Spelling: the vampire soap opera, "Kindred: The Embraced"; the horror serial drama, "Twin Peaks"; a cruise ship-set series, "The Love Boat", visiting the mysterious, "Fantasy Island"; and the soaps, "Pacific Palisades" and "Sunset Beach" --a worldwide phenomenon hit where his son, Randy, played a minor role.

So, thank you, Mr. Spelling for these shows which have partly molded my personality. You left a legacy, Mr. Spelling!

DVD Marathon...

Long weekend! It's Children's Day in Korea on Monday so we get to enjoy 3 rest days straight. Spent the 1st day enjoying a dvd marathon of one of the tv series that I really got hooked to: Prison Break.

I already finished the first two seasons. So I'm in the third season now. Up to the last... And now I'm waiting and hoping for a fourth season. I'm quite addicted, eh? Well, yes! My husband and I are quite addicted to it. For once, we agreed on something. Haha! Such a rare incidence in our daily lives: to have the same choice.



Well, it was his idea that we buy a dvd copy of the said series after learning that it involves some sort of floor plans. He, being an architecture grad, got curious and was really bugging me until I finally gave in to buy a copy of it.

While watching the first few episodes, I even fell asleep. I didn't find it interesting plus the sight of prison and prisoners wasn't that appealing to me, you know. Until I caught eye to the handsome Michael Scofield... Haha!

The series turned out to be have an appeal. Brilliant script! And I love the pacing... And adding some spice are the interesting characters of T-Bag (Theodore Bagwell), Fernando "Sugar" Sucre, Lincoln Burrows (Michael's Brother), Former CO Brad Bellick, Former FBI Agent Alexander Mahone, James Whistler, among others. And the interesting and sizzling women: Gretchen "Susan B." Morgan, Sofia Lugo, Dr. Sara Tancredi and Atty. Veronica Donovan.

How a structural engineer plans the escape and evades the deadliest men.

Watch out for season four! Sara is making a comeback. Turns out that her "beheading" was just a ploy...

I Got My Voice Back!

After five weeks of struggling against a hoarse voice and delivering a good class to Korean students, I finally had my voice back! Whew!

Thanks to my kind TL (team lead) who assigned me to classrooms that provided me with ample time of voice rest and less stress. Thanks, TL!!!

I had been in a state of paranoia because of the doctor's preliminary diagnoses during my appointment with them. I swear I really regret why I didn't go immediately to a specialist (ENT) and instead, set and appointment with general practitioners. Ugh! Can you believe that the two doctors on duty in a lying-in clinic said they had to rule out a case of hyperthyroidism and a possibility of laryngeal fibrosis. Ugh! I panicked... I don't want to experience what my sister, Leda had been through. I've seen how hyperthyroidism had almost killed her spirit!

But being too familiar with the disease, I wonder if I really am inflicted of it. I don't feel any palpitations and I didn't lose weight (I even gained). The only thing that's changed in the past few weeks is my appetite. That's because I thought I was pregnant so I programmed myself to eat more for the baby's sake. Turns out to be another false alarm so I'm back to my old "no appetite" self...

Then I did some research over the net and also did some browsing through my books... Turns out that the higher incidence of thyroid issues leading to a hoarse voice is hypothyroidism and not hyperthyroidism. And in my research, I have reached a conclusion that I am just having another case of chronic laryngitis (because it has already hit more than 3 weeks) and that I need only voice rest..

Voice rest... And I thought I was already that sick! Those incompetent doctors have raised an unnecessary fear in my heart. Hah! Sometimes, it really pays to go to a specialist rather than incompetent general practitioners who lacked research on certain diseases.

Anyways, I am just glad I had my voice back and I promise never to overuse it again. Thanks goodness!

When Love Begins...

We saw a movie once again! After five and a half months... The last time we saw a movie was on Christmas day, to support the MMFF. And now, we picked a Filipino movie once again. I used to be very picky with the movies I chose on movie houses. It's very seldom that I see a Tagalog movie. But I feel like the Philippine movie industry needs support and so, this is my way of supporting them. Hehe!

When Love Begins... A romance flick which brings back memories of our (Mhark's and mine) earlier moments together. You see, for relationships which has lasted this long (we're turning 10 in November) with practically spending almost every day of it together, things get as casual as they can possibly get. There are even times like I feel as if we're siblings. Huh?! Gone are the corny sweet moments... But we can see that the love and care are still there. It's just that the romantic side of the relationship needs heating up. And movies like the one we saw help in heating it up.

On the way home, we talked about the first time we saw each other. I told him again about the song I heard in my mind: "The closer I get to touching you... The closer I get to loving you..." He said he got glued to my smile. And that he wanted to make advances to me right then and there. A feeling that he hadn't felt for other girls. Hehehe! Iba talaga ang dating ko. Nakks! Then we talked about the moment we realized that it was love. Haaay! It's such a nice feeling to bring back the raw feelings... And to look at how time has deepened and strengthened those feelings...

Love begins when you least expect it. If love will deepen... That depends on how both parties work things out. My favorite part of the movie was when Mrs. Caballero (Boots Anson-Roa) said: "Sa simula, kayong dalawa lang. And in the end, kayo pa ring dalawa. Kaya sa pagpili ng mapapangasawa, dapat bestfriend mo. Dahil ang romansa, nawawala..."

I'm glad I married my bestfriend!

Rest Day!?!

Esor, so sorry, dearie. I wasn't able to text back last Sunday. Izza didn't confirm if she was coming to our supposedly "date". Plus the PMS really knocked me down the whole day! I planned for another date which was supposed to happen today but Izza couldn't make it. I'm really sorry, sweetie! Maybe I will find the courage to text you and I hope you hadn't left yet when I found it.

Vee, welcome back to your real world! I haven't downloaded the photos yet. I couldn't find the USB of my cellphone. And I'm so tied up with Mhark's errands. I'm his newly appointed secretary. The man hasn't registered his design firm yet and he's got me working for him already! Ugh!

Today's been a lazy day. Nothing big has really been accomplished but too many good news arrived! Whoah! Something big is going to happen towards the end of this year and I am so looking forward to it!