Class Picture

I've never had a group class picture in college and high school, that's why whenever I see this picture at work, I kinda regret the fact that I was born too early, when Friendster and Facebook are not yet in. When internet is still a thing from the future and pictures are only placed on photo albums.

I bet I would have so many pics with grade school, high school and college friends now, if only our generation had FS and FB earlier on. I totally envy all the kids today. There's just no reason for me to be so interested with pics and photos then, since it would only end up in one freakin' album, stored in one place and hoped that one day it would have a feet of it's own, so that it could go hop from one place to another and share the beautiful memories and pictures placed in it...

I truly love this pic. It will always remind me, how good 2009 is because I'm surrounded with the most fun group I've had in years. I just feel so lucky to have had the best team at work!

Bliss

I have always been a nature lover.I love the sight of green meadows,the chirping birds,the flowers,most especially when it's early in the morning and it rained the night before.It is like heaven on earth. That's what I always look forward to when I was younger.I would stay in our attic then and let time pass watching the trees as they were swayed by the wind.

When I got older.I never paid much attention to the little plants that bloom in our backyard. I guess I was so busy, that I even forgot appreciate the beauty of nature that I so use to love.

This year, my life just got more and more complicated,with the account that our company handled. I actually work in a call center. The account is so toxic that I would pray for the week to end and hope that it's another weekend.

And my weekend wouldn't be complete without going to the most beautiful places within my reach. The last getaway that I've been to is the Toyozu Mountain in Mainit,Nabunturan,Compostela Valley.

There I enjoyed nature once again in it's finest. It healed me in and out. The sight of the lush greenery, the relaxing hot spring and the abundant flora and fauna, has somehow relieve me of the stress and the complications of the real world. There, I become one with nature again, to the feeling of being comforted and nursed.I'm home indeed.

The funniest note

This is probably one of the funniest notes I've read in my facebook social network, which was written by a friend. We'll it is funny because, we've been talking about this for the longest time. She has been so open, that she's no longer doing it. You know that thing, because of so many reasons...So when we read about the note, all her friends know what she's talkin' about and comments poured in. Try to figure out, what she has done again, which she refused to do for the longest time. It doesn't take a genius, to know, you just have to be naughty and green ;)

India - Revived!

...Can't believe it. Geez... I actually did it. After such a long long long time. I dunno what got into me. I just felt like doin it. It felt right. It's like I freed something wild. Really. And frankly, it felt real good.

Lookin' forward to doin it again, lol.

You are what you sing...

I certainly love music.

I wouldn't know what the world would be without it. And there are just so many songs, that I really really love. Songs that I listen to everyday. Songs that make me smile, make me cry, long for someone, feel good, hurt and get inspired.

Someone told me before - "You are what you sing". I guess this is 70% true.In my case it's even 80-90% true. The song that I like, it's message and mood, certainly reflects the emotions that I have in a particular time and day. I guess my huge song library(thanks to radio, I worked as a DJ before), helped me become very very attached to songs, that when I feel something, a song would just pop up and it would reveal the exact or similar feeling that I have.

Nowadays, I'm singing about longing for someone...(I don't wanna divulge the title of the song). I guess it reflects my over-all being. I may be denying it, but i guess I am indeed missing someone. Hmmm....

Daydream

I've always been a daydreamer, a slacker, if you like, but it has always been one of my favorite hobby (if you can call it one). I even like Mariah Carey's 1996 album daydream so much and in my imeem's music list, most of it are about my fake realities, hope floats and all the things that I'm not.

When I daydream, I usually have a concrete story. I know all the details. I create my own script. I create the beginnings and the endings. There I find solace. There I visualize a reality so close yet untangible.

Sometimes, I find it very hard to stop daydreaming. I know it's unproductive, I know it's not really healthy to do it like all the time. But I guess, it's my only way out, my getaway. How I wish I could live out all of my daydreams.

Nothing to write about

I just can't think of anything to write about. I'm not even interested in blogging. It's been days now that I have not updated anything in my blog. I just can't think of anything, or maybe the tons of workload that I face everyday in the office just caught me up. I could hardly breathe just thinking about the things that I have to do everyday. I used to have a much more complacent workload. With the new account coming in...whoooahhh...it's been hell.

Anyway, this might just be a phase. Hopefully I can adjust to it.Soon. Well for now, I'll try to look for some inspiration and get back into blogging again.

My New Year's Resolution

It's 2009, a brand new year. Well new year has always been a time for looking back to the past, and more importantly, forward to the coming year.

For those who are taking life seriously,it's a time to reflect on the changes we want to make, which we think could help us out in carrying out a great year ahead.

Well I have always skipped new year's resolutions. They say it's a bad habit for we will just break it anyway. But I've realized that making one is still essential for it would at least make you better and a little remedy to our ills could go a long way. Anyway, here are those resolutions that I would like to get by the whole year through:

1. Be fit as ever. I know I've been eating a lot lately and I have not been looking into my diet. But starting today, I'll be walking more, spend at least 15 minutes (3x a week)for dancing as a form of exercise. That way I could be fit and I could take away all those extra bulges.
2. Be serious about my work.That means I would have to take a closer at my monitoring and coaching, since I work as a QA Specialist. I think would also have to learn more about excel and other data analysis to be more effective. Being keen about deadlines is also very important, so that I would be a role model to others.
3. Try to become a well-read person. I believe being knowledgeable is very important specially in this information age, but we oftentimes neglect reading and being informed by checking out what's happening and the latest. I'll try to be more updated and at the same time gain know-how from these reading by paying more attention to significant articles and papers. I think it would widen my knowledge and broaden my perspective about life and of the world.
4. Accumulate wealth.I know this one is really hard to achieve, but I'll make a way for this to happen. I'm not getting any younger and I want to achieve something by being able to help out my family in so many ways. "Money is not everything" I know, but it would really change and create so many things. I'll find a way so that I would be able to give back to my family, esp. to my mom and my dad, give them the best life that they deserve.
5. I'll take care of myself. Pampering myself, being vain and giving something out of my salary for me alone, would be a very healthy exercise that would hopefully make me strive harder and would help me view life in a more positive way. I would pamper me and take care of me so that I would be able to give out more to my love ones.

Special gifts

Gifts especially coming from the heart always makes Christmas really really special. Kids and adults alike for sure hope that they'll receive something, specially coming from the people most dear to them. Gifts that are meaningful, either because you know there's a symbol about that gift or the one who gave you the gift made an extra effort to be able to deliver the goods is way way better than the glittery and expensive ones. As they say,"it's the thought that always counts!"

We'll this year, I've received some of the best gifts from some of the most special peeps in my life. I'd like to thank them for making my Christmas extra significant. I've been wandering for the past few weeks, looking for the "feel" of Christmas. Maybe because of the global crisis Christmas this year may not have come as early as November or the first 2 weeks of December. I haven't felt it's presence until the last days going to the big day itself. The gifts I received during that period made me feel that Christmas is still here to stay.

My Christmas Eating Diary

My stomach is still full. I know gluttony is a sin and it isn't healthy to eat everything that you see, but apparently that's what I've done since 6PM, Christmas Eve. Without knowing it, I've been eating almost every 3-4 hours.

Before that, I was so starve and I was so irritated when my sisters went out and no where to be contacted. We have to prepare food before 6 or 7, but they're still out there partying with friends. Anyway, we all fixed it and we were able to prepare food for the big day.

So here's my Christmas Eating Diary. I hope I could control my cravings this New Year's Day.

Dec. 24 (6PM) - Lechon arrived (so I ate half a plate)
Dec. 24 (9PM) - Eat Dinner (4 types of viands, 2 dessert)
Dec. 25 (12mn) - Noche Buena is here, so I have to eat again
Dec. 25 (3am) - I reported to work (I work in a call center, so there is still work even on holidays) and I brought along with me a plastic box of food to share with colleagues at work. We had a little get together and exchanged gifts.
Dec. 25 (6am) - Eat cake again for break
Dec. 25 (10 am) - Head home and prepare since my Mom and my dad and my bro's family would come over. Of course to start the preparation, I have to eat again.
Dec. 25 (12nn) - Everything is prepared and all of our visitors are all in -it's time to eat lunch this time.
Dec. 25 (3pm) - Been eating some desserts again
Dec. 25 (6pm) - Dinner again
Dec. 25 (10pm) - A friend came over and we shared spag and a salad

What I want this Christmas....

This blog entry is specifically made to my Manito or Manita for this year.

Well our company has our own Kris Kringle, so as to feel the essence of sharing and giving this "Crisismas" (Crisis Christmas). We've had several themes up for grabs for the last 3 weeks. Our first Kris Kringle is "Long and Soft", then we proceeded to "Long and Soft", then last week it was "Wet and Slimy". Our HR Supervisor is actually the one who thought of all this naughty themes, so we have to blame the "double-meaning", pornographic sets on him.

Anyway, I have 5 things in mind for my final gift, which will be given on the 22nd. I heard my Manito or Manita is asking what's my wishlist for this year.

Well here are some of the things that I'd like to have this year:

1. An e=mc2 cd by Mariah Carey. It's one of the best CD's of the year, but I still don't have an original copy of it. My nieces and nephews would be very happy to have a copy of this.
2. A USB, would be a very very nice option.
3. I'd also love to have a new shirt. I'm a minimalist, so the less the design the better.
4. Sporty shorts would be a nice selection. The one that I can use whenever I stroll in the mall or go somewhere else.
5. A personal kit (a.k.a.toiletries)would also be nice (that consists of facial wash, shampoos, body scrub, towels, creams, lotions, toothpaste, mouthwash). Anything that would make me clean and feel better.

That's it. Got that? ;)

Remembering Jeag

This sums up everything I felt about her untimely death. I'll miss you Jeag-jeag.

I always wanted to write something about her,of how she changed my life completely,especially my daily routine,how she would wake me up at a very early hour,kisses me in the cheek every day and then how she would lead me to an early morning walk.I could still recall how I met her,it was September 08,2008.,during Joey's birthday,she wiggled her tail towards me and I then told them that I’d be happy to have her and take care of her.After a month they finally gave her to me and I named her Jeag(which stands for Jovito,Ely,Annie,Gina)she was never a bother to me,she’s so cuddly and I must say far from the dogs that I had before.It even amazes me how she would go near the electric fan and have it all to her self.

Since she came into my life, my days become more fascinating and colorful,she is such an adorable creature and I have lots of plans for my little jeag.Whenever I travel,she’s always with me,but when she’s not allowed to go with me like in the malls or when I watch movies,she’s left in our room,but,always a behaved puppy she is.She would wait for me near the door and would signal for a hand shake when I come home.,then we would cuddle in the bed and she would kiss me like a little girl would do to her dad.she has brought so much joy to me.

Yesterday(December 14,2008)she was taken away from me,she died at 5:40pm after 3 days of continued vommiting.it all started when I took her to the city vet to have her anti rabies vaccination,she was well at first,then came the first day of vommiting and she find dont want to take any foods,thats the time that I started to worry.so I went to the vet and they told me to give her paracetamol and hydrite.she wouldnt take the medicine so I keep on telling her to fight for her life because christmas is near and I dont want to have my sad christmas.,she would even listen to what I am saying,neighbors did came by to have a look at my sick little jeag,especially aunt Jenny who is a dog lover and who also love jeag.afternoon came by and jeag becomes weaker and then I convince myself to let go of her but half of my mind says no,she will survive,but then there I saw her lifeless body,no longer breathing,maybe she have listened to what I have said that if she can’t wait till christmas then its time to let go and I would let go of her too.

Now Im still mourning for her death while I am writing this blog,I missed her,text messages from friends and emails came flooding in,sending their condolences.it made me realized that jeag somewhat changed their lives too in a way.I guess I’ll go crazy,as I woke up today,it pains my heart to know that she’s no longer there to wake me up and kisses me in my check,and lead me to our daily routine,reality is screaming that she is gone,it hurts,it cuts like a knife,if only I could turned back time,I would,just to have her again.Jeag,my baby,you will always be remembered and loved.

http://otivoj.wordpress.com

Where are you Christmas?

To be honest, it doesn't feel like Christmas at all...I don't see the kind of enthusiasm in the many people I've seen last year compared to now...Our city has to take some austerity measures in celebrating the holiday season...You don't see, the grandiose lights and lanterns that use to fill the City Hall and the nearby park. Some known establishments, popular for their Christmas decors and designs are not in the mood for Christmas at all...It's as if Christmas won't come that they just ignored it....I guess people are not that enthusiastic to celebrate especially that 2009, looks like a very depressing year with the effects of global crisis in the offing....

Fortunately, while heading to one of my favorite fastfood, I happen to passby a house where Christmas is everywhere...It gave me delight and the feeling of glee, as I see the shimmering and glittering lights all over the place...I even enjoyed the sight wherein kids had so much fun seeing the lights and designs and the manger created at the center....It had there Baby Jesus, the symbol of light and hope when everyone else has pessimism in them....(By the way this house they say is owned by Jolina Magdangal's grandmother)





The whole site made me feel more optimistic again and it gave me the drive to strive harder to make Christmas and the New Year the best ever....

Speaking of Christmas, I'd like to share to you this beautiful song "Where are you Christmas" sang by my fave country singer Faith Hill, written by my fave singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and was featured in the film "Grinch" by my fave Jim Carrey. This clip features 3 versions 2 of which are featured on the film.

A Very Special Day

Today is one of the most important days of my life. Today wayback highschool, I won a national contest in journalism. When I won it didn't really matter to me then. It was not that special and I didn't treated it as a big deal. But as the years run through, I just realized how lucky I am looking back. I realized that when I'm into something, that if I'm really really passionate about it and if I put my effort on it, I would be able to gain the fruits of my labor.I use to think that I'm just so lucky to have won different contests. It didn't come up to me like it was given to me because I deserve it or that I was really really good. It was more like a gift given or as if I won in the lottery.

Now I feel that those winnings were given to me, to make me realize that all my effort all through out the years (reading those newspapers and schoolpaper and my fascination with news and current affairs when I was in grade school), has a positive output and it would be rewarded in time. It made me realize that our hobbies and interests are valuable way of spending idle time. It tells me to follow and adhere to what my heart tells me, because for all we know, it is where we can gain success and where we hit the summit of grand achievement.

I realized that not everyone can become a great lawyer or a doctor, or a famous celebrity, or a rich businessmen, but everyone can attain success in their own way and their own right, when they lead the right path that pleases ourselves and the people around us.