a beautiful piece to have 🎹

my biggest heartache (and yes, i’ve had some huge ones) is losing that one man who loved me the most. he calls me princess, i call him dad.  
a serious man, this guy; but we would always chuckle together as we shared many secrets worth grinning like crazy.
his health issues got in the way, in that he had to leave at the time when i was neither here nor there in my career and business of the heart. suffice it to say, this daddy’s girl lost her smile then.
but just before dad slipped into a coma, we had this conversation that, to this day, resonates with me. i should never forget those words..

me : dad, how can i still smile when you and i go on separate ways from hereon?
dad : go back to playing piano
me : ehhh.. it’s a beautiful piece to have, but i suck at it when i was little.. and how is that the answer to my question??
dad : princess, that’s your reminder, that life sucks, but you smile at life because it is a beautiful piece to have.
——

and so every time i feel that i am neither here nor there, i go back to playing my saving grace. 

THE PRAYER

i still suck, but i smile, for indeed, it is a beautiful piece to have.

a s   l i f e   g o e s   o n..
 

keep climbing ✈️

"not everyone is meant to make a difference;
but for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life is no longer an option."

i fly thousands of feet above sea level. often, i lose track of the day and time. i get disoriented at where i am. i can earn multiple stamps on my passport fast.
did you think this thing is only for the rich and famous? think again. i do this almost daily, albeit just 20 bucks on my pocket always.

"the story of my life is not for the faint of heart."

my usual routine keeps me high --- literally. when i am on the go, i keep climbing.

"if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, 

not a care in the world, 

somebody lied."

 where i stand, all that come require my presence – it’s imperative for their safety. the responsibility is flattering; on occasion, overwhelming. for should i fail, we all may perish.

"whatever life holds in store for me, i will never forget these words: 

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

this is my gift, my curse."

don’t mess with my will. federal law requires you follow my command. it’s my lead to act on emergencies.

                      "who am i? you sure want to know?"

nahh, i ain't spiderman. but yes, i am in the neighborhood.

ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seatbelts.
this is the moment when i say i got the best seat in the house! 

welcome aboard.

a s l i f e g o e s o n.
.  

if you just believe

the warning says, "muddy/not developed trail; drop to 300 ft may hurt; classified medium to difficult hike but view is fascinating"

when i saw this, i changed my mind instantly about wanting to go hiking despite the supposedly beautiful sight at the end of the trail. why, i cannot even climb up the stairs at the mall without cursing when the escalator is not working!

besides, when did i ever survive a long walk, mud or no mud, without slipping? errrrr... never??

but just when i was about to back out, annoying daughter announced that whoever won’t go shall be tickled until tickle doesn’t tickle anymore?! oh geez.. that was my cue to just get on the track and dearly hope that being used to hours of walking when shopping would pan me out.

so goes the song in my mind: “a hiking we will go, a hiking we will go, hi-ho the dairy-o a-hiking we will go!”

in between the singing, i had to halt a good number of times because i dropped my butt on the ground more than i can count with the fingers on my two hands.. yap, much like the frequency and cycle of my aches and pains day in and day out - as one frustration ends, another begins. when it is forgotten, a different problem comes along. and so on and so forth with the loop. often, there is no sign that i can handle the hurdle. only faith in my heart that says, “ trust you will get by IF YOU JUST BELIEVE ”.

my conviction springs from the message in harry potter, the movie : it is not our abilities that show what we truly are; rather, it is our choices.

ay, this is a sneak preview of what i should remember in my daily struggles : that i may come unprepared but i have all that i need : a choice to finish.. that i shouldn’t doubt, for this, too, shall pass.. that i will fall repeatedly, but i can get up the same number of times next.. because life is like a difficult trail -- muddy and not developed, every drop will hurt, but the fascination is worth it.

and it is true with this hike as well, which i finished alive and most importantly, saved from the tickle :-)

by the way, the view, as promised, was a beauty!

i should do another one.

a s l i f e g o e s o n..

hope springs eternal

i recently reconnected with old friends that i  didn't think i would be in touch with again after we have all moved to the next phase/s of our lives. good thing we figured that we may be separated by distance but not too far with the wonders of technology.

and so via email, we exchanged stories of how fate has treated us since decades ago when young age was still our good excuse for being carefree.

i learned that 3 are battling cancer. two have failed in marriage. one weeps at missing her career. another still longs to have a child. and the last is deep in debt.

i can go on with our list of frustrations, and clearly what i want to say is that each of us has struggles. each has pain to endure. each is lonely somehow. each cries every now and then.. to think that we envisioned such a jolly future for us way back then.

that was, however, just one part of our stories. the continuation is actually rather amusing : one is happily married albeit having a long distance affair with the husband. another is doing well with their food business so never mind the weight gain that came with the bucks. one is enjoying the frequent travels that work requires; hence glad to be free and single. another is earning big time and loving the city where she is now based. and there is the one that brags about becoming an expert in cooking that she can do it side by side with rachel ray. sweet.. 

suffice it to say, all have been surviving anyway – not much by choice, but by circumstance. you see, opportunities keep emerging; help keeps knocking; blessings keep coming. really, hope springs eternal for this group.

such is the make of a human heart, i guess – you tickle it and it giggles; you hurt it and it toughens. no matter what the weather is, it will keep on beating loud enough to remind us that we are okay. thus, all continue to afford a good laugh even at the lousiest joke.

i just remembered, there is one classic song that mirrors how we manage our battles:

“the blues they send to meet me won’t defeat me

It won’t be long till happiness steps up to meet me”

indeed, after the calm comes the storm; but after the storm, comes the sun. bright and shiny, you bet.

 so next time that ondoy pours at our lives, my girlfriends and i will simply sing altogether:

“i’m never gonna stop the rain by complaining

because i’m free, and nothin’s worrying me!”

a s l i f e g o e s o n..

heart space

recently, i saw some scratches on our dinner table. it’s not really noticeable, but i chose to immediately have it refurbished. i’m thinking it would be best to fix it now rather than when it already hurts the whole look of it. as soon as it was pulled out of the house, our dining area showed a considerable open space despite putting a temporary table, smaller but just the right size for us, in the same spot. suddenly i got the space that i didn’t think i have but i have been wanting! i realized the trick is simple : do away with excess.

as if confirming this to me, i saw an article in a magazine that outlines ways to de-clutter your place. in summary it says, “let go of your old stuff”.  at first i wasn’t sold to the idea because i am such a silly romantic who wants to keep things that come with stories – you know, like the shoes that i wore on my graduation and clothes that prove i was under 100 lbs once upon a time J

and then i remember my daughter  donating her memorable but no longer needed things -- costumes from previous ballet recitals, toys for infants, books in kindergarten, to name a few. it didn’t only make her room much bigger and brighter; it also added to  an institution’s earnings. so why can’t i do that???? for the greater good, right? hmmm... i can’t believe i’m taking the cue from a 10 yr old who watches cartoons  while i’m looking mature in front of the computer..

it should be the same in our lives, i ponder. in my case for instance, holding on to past emotional baggage uses up so much space in my heart. i’m referring to an old grudge with the person that badly bruised my heart in my much younger years. i have not forgotten even after the many years that passed, despite the wonderful blessings i got along the way in exchange for the tears i shed and pain i endured then. i promised myself to forgive only when i hear sorry from the person. i continue to believe it will come “one day”; thus, i keep the ill feelings alive.

but just like the big dinner table i removed to vanish the scratches, i guess it will  afford me extra space in my heart to bury this century old hatchet . who am i fooling anyway .. that “one day” may never come; and if it does, what do i even care still??? i have since recovered and am well taken care of. it’s not a perfect world always, but my heart definitely beats now with a healthy smile.

hannah montana nailed it when she said, “life is a hard climb, but the view is terrific”. i ought to agree (geez, that’s one more lesson from another  child??!!) .

from this day on , therefore, i shall “let go of the old stuff”.  forgive the pain; forget the sorry.. 

bruises no more, so i can look forward to plenty heart space. 

my good morning has broken..

a s l i f e g o e s o n..

somewhere over the rainbow

not too long ago, i started to see the rainbow as bright, not gloomy.

this is how it happened.. 

we're six children in the family, and i have no qualms in saying that i am my parents' favorite. i wish i can say that it is because i'm the prettiest (nahh.. my elder sister happens to be a few baths fairer!!! grrr...), or that i am the smartest (my younger brother continues to show us how he is surviving the economy with flying colors even though unarmed with a masteral degree).
it is clear to all that i am the star of the clan because i was -- still am -- such a sickly creature who is a potential '911' subject. :-(

i grew up having regular visits to the hospital that i actually thought we were related to our doctor so we need to see him every so often for 'bonding'.
that is why when i got married, i was almost sure that i would have medical issues in my dream to have a child. true enough, 7 doctors (who were the most popular, most 'expensive' in my country of birth) had the same diagnosis on me : "we don't see a chance for you to be a mother, sorry."

i felt so sad at one point and cried a river... too much, that i could have probably filled up an olympic-sized swimming pool had i gathered all my tears in buckets!

after awhile, the heavens cried with me, it seems. it allowed life to find a way..

one afternoon, i got stuck in terrible traffic because of heavy rains. it was taking too long, and i needed a bathroom break so i stopped at the nearest corner, parked and rushed inside this tall building which i assumed would have clean toilets. after relieving myself, i decided to take a short nap at an inviting bench, as traffic is still at its worse outside. just a few minutes into my relaxation, the door next to my bench opened, and a lady told me, " the doctor is free to see you now, ma'am". i looked around and realized that i was in a hospital extension where all the doctors' clinics are; and that i am right outside an ob-gyne's office. this lady thought i was there for checkup?!

i told her that i left my purse in the car so i'll cancel my visit to the doctor for now. she quickly answered, "no fee on initial consultation". duh!!!!
i didn't have the face to tell the lady that i only had a need to use the bathroom, and that i now want to simply abuse their nice comfy bench outside, so ok, i went through the motion and met the gynecologist alright. it's free anyway.

the doctor was a very optimistic person, who would not give me false hopes but would neither tell me that my fate is decided by medical technology alone. i remember being told the most magical words ever: "God and your faith will always play a part on how you see the rainbow - bright or gloomy."

all i did from then on was believe.. hold on to my faith.. and it turned out, the doctor was right..
despite my poor health and struggling condition, after 7 doctors saying that mine is an impossible dream, with continued consultation, and a lot of prayers, i conceived.

it was not an easy pregnancy, as i was bedridden for the most part of it due to frequent bleeding. neither was it exactly joyful because i have been given several warnings from test results that my baby would either have physical deformities, or be mentally incapacitated.

but the doctor's words never made me lose hope:"God and your faith will always play a part on how you see the rainbow - bright or gloomy."

today, i write this story with tears of happiness as i recall how faith has taken my dream to reality..i gave birth to a beautiful angel. she's a ballerina since age 3; she's healthy and sporty; she's consistently on top of her class; she has no deformities.

"somewhere over the rainbow,
skies are blue

and the dreams that you dare to dream

really do come true

If birds fly over the rainbow
why then, oh why can't i?"

have faith.a s l i f e g o e s o n..

choose your battles

if my information is correct, included on the listing of 20 US top grossing films is the “spiderman” series, with all 3 releases making it to the ranks. the earnings total more than a billion dollars -- handsome amount that could mean freeing my country of birth from debt for a generation!
a spider can be a hero, alright..

there must be something about this character that engulfs us tremendously. is it the wanting to learn how to win our every battle? can being a spider guarantee high percentage in emerging victorious in life?

i believe that the most critical component of winning is being qualified to be an opponent in the first place; for how do you even expect to get a good chance if you’re way out of the league, right?

and so when we feel our abilities measure up, we call the shots. never mind analyzing what's in it for us. our convenient excuse is that, 'we are only humans'.
expectedly, we oftentimes allow the situation to get the better of us.
“you have a knack for getting in trouble.” says spiderman.

we plunge into the pit with eyes closed so people won’t say that we don’t have the guts. our pride tells us we can’t allow others to put one over us. we react almost instantly.
and then we hurt badly.
“revenge is like a poison that can take us over and before you know it, it can turn you into something ugly.” ~ aunt may

we always forget to choose our battles; as if we weren’t given a caveat on that nursery rhyme:

"the itsy, bitsy spider climbed up the water spout

down came the rain and washed the spider out”

there are defeats that are just waiting to happen; heights that are not to be conquered. some are accessible, but not necessarily ours to climb.

we will know which ones are meaningful battles if only we choose to recognize our demons; if we pick the fights that will make us a better person, not the ones that will turn us to a peter parker in the jetblack suit.

a spider waits until the sun has 'dried up all the rain'.

maybe we should take the cue..

“out came the sun and dried up all the rain

so the itsy, bitsy spider went up the spout again."

it may be best if we wait for our hearts to heal awhile. it may be best to set aside our pride and retribution. it may be best to be less human.
then and only then should we wrestle the world, for we can be sure that a sound reason is on our side.

our favorite movie asks, " can a man confront the forces of darkness without giving in to them?"
we can begin the fight by remembering the words that uncle ben left us: “a man changes into the man he's gonna become for the rest of his life. be careful who you change into.”

there is more to war than simply winning. in courts, they refer to it as 'justice'. in daily life, we call it 'fairness'.

be a spider and choose your battles.
a s l i f e g o e s o n..

in her shoes

in her shoes is a movie about two sisters with nothing much in common. as the plot tells us, maggie and rose feller are exact opposites when it comes to values, goals and personal style. maggie barely graduated from high school, recycles jobs and men in life as quickly as yesterday's newspapers, and is virtually homeless. rose, on the other hand, is an educated lady and is at all times sought for help as maggie’s poor decisions take a toll on her life.

this movie caught my attention as the tale comes too familiar in my heart. i happen to know a never-ending story, much like the parable of maggie and rose, which begun in a small town back home. here is how it goes:

once upon a time, there were 2 sisters, gina and grace, who, from birth, already carved their destiny unrelated to each other. gina grew up not challenging her intellectual capability; when grace grabbed every opportunity for further studies. gina always found time to be mischievous; as grace unconsciously remained less of a burden to the family. gina always acts as the victim and never takes blame for her bad luck; while grace seems to have eternal good fortune, forever able to assist in the eyes of mankind.

i used to seek definitive answers on why the big difference in fate between them ever happened when they came from the same parents, lived in the same house, even shared the same room in the early days. this movie offers an excuse. when art imitates life, we learn a lesson or two.

with this story, it occurred to me that, perhaps, we all could take just one of two roles in this world: you either choose to be the receiver, or agree to be the giver. when one is already a recipient, the other can only be a donor; hence, gina's role was molded the way it is in the story, and grace’s character was shaped as a consequence.

grace is tasked to share whatever richness she worked for. if grace delays, people judge her to be limiting charity when society expects generosity. should she complain for humanity’s one-sided judgment? i guess not, as the movie suggests.

grace should be happy to serve as donor; the hard role of being the less fortunate has been taken away from her by gina. it was sure, after all, that grace's meek abilities would not survive to be the poor.

gina, like maggie in the movie, paved the way and chose to be ‘in her shoes’. now grace has to carry gina to survival until eternity.. as to who is heroic, only HE shall decide.

they say in every family there is a black sheep. after much thought, i say every black sheep could only come from the longing for a family.

if indeed i am a donor, i shall not complain; for i take it from john d. rockefeller jr. who said, "think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege."

by the way, i have a sister called gina; and my real name is grace.
some odds..
as life goes on..

the law of all laws

"aequum et bonum est lex legum."
what is good and equitable is the law of all laws.

i first heard this maxim when i joined a sorority in law school a couple of heartaches and 20 pounds ago. i am in support of this opinion, and had hope to not ever have the wanting to remind anyone that comes my way of how the word ‘fairness’ should be humanity’s slogan.

and then last week’s event took place:
i saw 2 little girls, of different nationalities, talking to each other – girl1 asked if she can play with girl2; girl 2 said no, “because you don’t have my skin color”.
girl1 ran away in tears to mommy, while girl2 exchanged smiles with her daddy.

i find it disturbing to realize how even the youngest of mankind would describe people by the shade of their skin, when at no effort, we can be more human to be colorblind.

coincidentally, i witnessed this while reading the news about some refugees rallying to be granted legal stay in a country where they have proven to be assets and not liabilities; contributors, and not robbers. the government is not considering yet.

i would understand the need to evict criminals threatening to halt peace and safety; but to reject fellowmen of good moral character???? somebody tell me, please, how, in the first place, can specific citizens own specific parts of the world and keep it to themselves, when God intended all of us to coexist and share HIS blessings with one another.

what is good and equitable is the law of all laws.
when will we have the audacity to bow down and recognize this credo..

This land is your land, this land is my land
La,la,la…

This land was made for you and me

As I was walking a ribbon of highway
I saw above me an endless skyway
I saw below me a golden valley
This land was made for you and me

As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there
And that sign said - no tress passin'
But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin!
Now that side was made for you and me!

we simply lost memory of the song :-(
a s l i f e g o e s o n..

if i can do magic

my daughter’s fascination these days is in magic. she got a book on tricks that she would try on me with matching abracadabra command.

pretty much she has taken a crack on most of the cool tricks in that book, so as she runs out of "magic", my 7-yr old asks me what i wish to have in this world, and she’ll attempt to work magic to get it for me. i could only smile and sigh, for i know that no magic is possible to achieve what i desire.

it must be fun though to see it coming..

you can do magic
you can have anything that you desire.
magic..
and you know you're the one who can put out the fire.

you know darn well
when you cast your spell
you will get your way;
when you hypnotize with your eyes
a heart of stone can turn to clay.
doo, doo, doo ...

how good can it be if only we can actually do magic and get things our way, eh?

if i can do magic, i would have made myself the healthiest person growing up, not knowing any form of pain and sorrow physically and emotionally. i would have felt just bliss and grandeur every moment in my life.
if i can do magic, i would have seen myself become a lawyer as my parents had planned. i would have stopped craving for continued education with the thought that i have enough intelligence to understand anything.
if i can do magic, i would have already traveled in all continents. i would have been done exploring the wonders of the world, not only in books, also in actuality, even in luxury.
if i can do magic, i would have at least 2 kids, a twin maybe, so it’s double the pride i have right now. i would have spent every minute delighted with mommy duties times 2.
if i can do magic, i would have been so rich that i won't feel guilty shopping like crazy, let alone worry for the rainy days.
if i can do magic, there is no end to my youthfulness in looks and in thinking. i would always be forgiven for my mistakes because being young is often stupidity conveniently interpreted as innocence.
if i can do magic, there would not have been goodbyes from mom and dad.. no loneliness, no tears.

that’s if can do magic..

but as it is, only GOD can do magic.

and so i grew up knowing pain and sorrow in some pitiful moments; in the process, i grew tough and ready to face challenges.
only GOD can do magic so i did not become a lawyer as my parents had wanted. as a result, i continue to have interest in learning and developing and growing in a more meaningful way.
only GOD can do magic so i have set foot only on a part of the world yet, which stops me from losing interest in its wonders. i remain amazed with stories of countries that my naked eyes can only hope to see for real.
only GOD can do magic so i got just one kid that's exactly what my limited ability can handle. it makes me focus well on my career as a mother; on the side, affords me time to relax myself.
only GOD can do magic so i’m far from being rich, which taught me to appreciate simple things, and conscientiously reminds me to save for the rainy days.
only GOD can do magic so each passing day takes away part of my youthfulness; in exchange, i earn wisdom and maturity.
only GOD can do magic so mom and dad have gone to the life after, where they finally see the peace we all wish this world isn't short of.
only GOD can do magic so i’m one blessed creature.

i am glad that only GOD can do magic..
this thanksgiving, it’s a good realization for me.

did i say it's good to do magic?

on second thought, i guess i’ll just borrow my daughter’s book for the tricks that complement me more.
a s l i f e g o e s o n..

tagged

i’m taking a short break from pondering on life’s intricacies.. just this one time, i shall abide by the rules of the name called “tagged” – only because it came from someone who is too nice that i can’t say i never keep the fun going on things like this. even chain letters die on my lap; but for the love of a friend, here goes, mavs..

five things i love to do with family/friends (but if by chance, i am alone, i’d be just as happy to carry out); these activities revitalize me.. exactly what i need to take on life’s challenges every now and then :
1. travel.. exploring the beautiful cities of this oh-so-complex world is, to me, the best way to get educated on some of God’s wonderful creations.
2. shop. nothing beats the way hoarding makes me release stress :-)
3. daydream. fulfilling hopes on my own sweet time inspires me all the more to not just wait for fate to happen -- i work it out.
4. watch the sunset. when the day seems unbearably cruel, the coming of the dusk says all else will come to an end; and rest i shall, thank heavens.
5. clean up. pure dwelling, sound mind.

three names i go by :
1. bu
2. gracia
3. honey

three “screen names” i have had :
1. beadle (as i was constantly the “secretary” those days i was at graduate school for my masters degree)
2. daddy’s girl (need i explain..)
3. ‘OC” (a.k.a freak? oh, geez..)

three physical things i like in myself :
1. ears (they’re not nice but they serve as proof that i am my dad’s daughter 😂)
2. shoulders
3. eyebrows

three physical things i don’t like in me :
1. eyes - it’s a penitence to always rely on glasses
2. arms – not “sleeveless” friendly since motherhood became me:-(
3. skin - dry spell won't leave! grrrrrr...

three parts of my heritage :
1. filipina
2. spanish
3. british (hey, i’m working on this one to happen! he..he..)

three things that scare me :
1. snakes
2. my daughter getting used to my absence due to work
3. that i may be too sick to take care of the family

three of my everyday essentials :
1. tools to pray
2. vanity bag in the car (that means lip gloss, mirror, extra shoes, extra bag, extra sunglasses)
3. cash/credit card

three of my most favorite songs :
1. just the way you are
2. i will
3. i can see clearly now

three things i want in a loving relationship :
1. respect on each other’s individuality
2. the feeling of comfort and peace even when apart
3. signs of a happy future

three things people say that i know are lies :
1. i won’t do it again, mom (yeah, right..)
2. although you didn’t win, you’re the best (then why didn’t i win???? hmmmpppp..)
3. i’ll pay you as soon as i have money (hohumm…)

three things people say that i know are true :
1. you can’t have it all.. win some, lose.2. all hurts will come to pass
3. if i can see it, then i can do it; if i just believe it, there’s nothing to it! (go, jordan!!)

three physical things on the opposite sex that appeal to me :
1. height
2. abs
3. teeth

three of my favorite hobbies :
1. laughing with kyle
2. writing
3. traveling

three things i want to do badly now :
1. fly again.. day in and day out.. really.
2. pig out. seafoods, mangoes, seafoods, mangoes.. and lots of chocolates, pls!
3. lose weight.. yap, right after the “pig out” session.

three careers i hoped for / would hope for :
1. pilot
2. social worker
3. interior designer

three places i want to go on vacation again and again :
1. rome. the best i have so far been to
2. new zealand. the pictures and the stories are always nviting
3. manila. never mind the pollution and bad traffic; midnight sale will more than make up for that!

three kids' names i like :
1. mikaela francesca (my daughter kyle got it)
2. jianina beatrice (my 1st choice for a daughter when i was infanticipating yet)
3. rain gabriel (my ready name in case i will be blessed with a son)

three things i want to do before i die :
1. see my daughter happily married and adjusted with motherhood (needless to say, i want to grow old)
2. go to the holy land
3. save a life

three ways that prove i am such a girl :
1. shopping always makes me smile
2. i’m forever conscious of my looks, clothes, smell
3. travel light? no way!

three people i admire most :
1. mother teresa. the dedication moves me.
2. my parents ( i count them as one)
3. kyle. she brings me enormous joy even without moving a muscle. how does she do that..

and the rest of mankind? (here comes the pondering, alright)..
what are the chances that i would meet an alter ego? can at least 2 people have the same passion, the same desires? if not even identical twins can have exactly the same prints, how many choices are there in life!!

i’m overwhelmed..
a s l i f e g o e s o n..

life begins..

it's my birthday in a few days, and i would so love to ( re )start life.. yes, commence after decades.. for wasn’t it said that it isn’t at birth, rather, at a certain age that, truly, life begins.

i saw an ad that claims, "life begins at 65".. c'mon, no way it can take that long!! it must have been coined only by that man who finished law school at 63.
the argument of those who can’t hide gray hair anymore is that "life begins at 40". by reason of a majority vote, this should be more sensible; except when you hear a debutante stating that "life begins at 18"?! i wonder which one is it, really..

Someone said, life is not the breaths that take your moments away, but the moments that take your breath away.. given this premise, i think i'll finish humanity's subject "decision-making 101" with flying colors.. what with all my stories that would make anyone grasp for air to live! he.. he..

seriously, it’s been awhile now that i have been trying to imagine how people who know me would describe the way i live my life; how i have so far (mis?) managed my persona. it must be the coming of age that brought me to consciously look into this.

"it's not who i am underneath, but what i do that defines me." so says the caped crusader.

if that covers even the distant past, oh, dear.. i’m in trouble..
there was one point in time when i became an expert in picking the wrong choice always -- like i’d utilize all the bad decisions prior to settling for the right move. why i allowed myself to experience that phase, i have no idea, given that common sense was/is right on my face and the right values never escaped my mind.

ignorance in youth got in the way? boy, if i can get a penny every time i hear that, i’d now be rubbing elbows with bruce wayne, the billionaire guy!

but while i may have been silly once upon a short time ( in my defense, it was just a short period ), life didn’t ( yet ) give up on me. 100 stupid acts certainly were not enough for good fortune to leave me; it only meant i have discovered the 100 ways on how not to go for it the next time ( although i must admit that it was way too much trial and error..)

good ole alfred pennyworth's wisdom tells us another manner to look at it: "why do we fall? so that we might better learn to pick ourselves up."

i love this butler. gives me courage to continue asking how am i perceived by the rest of mankind.

unfavorable although some replies may be, no worries on that for me; as i can redeem myself at any rate i need to.
"gotham isn’t beyond saving." and so am i!

quo vadis, bday girl? i'm about to see.. wherever it is, i'll take with me the lesson on how batman begins; and i conclude:

the opportunity to recover what could be a lost character will present itself -- until i run out of life, of moments to take my breath away..

carpe diem.
a s l i f e g o e s o n….

music on air

a melody plays on air while i wish for a tune to come with my voice so i may say:

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

a s l i f e g o e s o n . .

with an attitude

during my school years, i can count with my fingers on one hand the number of times i joined a contest. very few. not that i didn’t want to be competitive then; it’s just that i was not a good sport; so to save me from tears, i limited my participation to those fun-filled activities.

i still remember how i cried a river in 5th grade when i lost a lead role in school play. i so wanted to play “the little girl, goldilocks” and did my best in the audition. when out of 10 hopefuls only 2 (one was me) got a second call, i thought i nailed it . on the final selection, however, it was awarded to the other girl, a 6th grader. you bet, i hated her to the max..
my sadness in this experience lasted a long while, and my immaturity led me to develop some sense of vulnerability since then.

losing, to me, is like being robbed of a big part of my earnings. i am passionate about winning, that walking away with nothing is a big heartache..

but not until recently when i caught an interview with one contender in a game show. the man shared an impressive hindsight when he didn’t emerge the winner.

in his words, the message was, “i came here with the mindset that i have nothing to lose. i'm happy for the winner; put a little love in my heart. i’m not like most contestants who say they lost when they didn’t win. i say that’s wrong thinking. when you say you lost, that means the prize was yours at the very start, and it was just stolen... stolen?? c'mon, need i remind them that the prize is yet to be someone's possession? non-winners, your blessings were not diminished; you just didn’t add up to a certain extent! tough luck, you didn’t gain as you wish you had; but hey, you didn’t lose either. . yap, i face the audience with an attitude. i take charge of my fate”

good will hunting. how come i didn’t hear that as early as when i was in 5th grade? or should i have known that on my own since forever?? what was i thinking.. i could have saved my life some serious stress had i realized that logic in the olden days! that’s one healthy food for thought..

now, more than ever, i give credence to the words of wisdom nicely written in a poster hanging at my bathroom – it says:

the longer i live, the more i realize the impact of attitude on life.
attitude, to me, is more important than facts.
it is more important than the past, than education, than money,
than circumstances, than failure, than successes,
than what other people think or say or do.
it is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.
it will make or break a company, a church, a home.

the remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day
regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
we cannot change our past;
we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
we cannot change the inevitable.
the only thing we can do is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude.

i am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me
and 90% how i react to it.
and so it is with you.
we are in charge of our ATTITUDE.

igan’s car plate is so right : "attitude = altitude".. truly, our chosen outlook brings that high feeling influencing our mood, our state of emotion..

with an attitude, i can better appreciate a no-prize experience, be happy for the winner, "put a little love in my heart".. much like that wise contender’s mindset, kindness will be my guide.
subsequently, the world of challenges would be a better place for me, winner or not, and for whoever beats me, fair or otherwise.

wooohoo0... it'singing break again :-)

think of your fellow man
lend him a helping hand
put a little love in your heart
you see it's getting late
oh please don't hesitate
put a little love in your heart
and the world will be a better place (2x)
for you and me
you just wait and see

another day goes by and still the children cry
put a little love in your heart
if you want the world to know
we won't let hatred grow
put a little love in your heart
and the world will be a better place (2x)
for you and me
you just wait and see

take a good look around
and if you're lookin' down
put a little love in your heart
i hope when you decide
kindness will be your guide
put a little love in your heart
and the world will be a better place (2x)
for you and me
you just wait and see

next time i gear up for a battle, i’m good to the end.

let the gauntlet be thrown.
a s l i f e g o e s o n..

if you got it flaunt it; if you lack it, fake it!

sheer fashion and good sports don’t go together for me. that’s why i’ve never been a personality at the latter – never a contender, rarely a supporter... well, neither am i an expert in fashion, but i’m always a supporter, and would love to be a contender! i drool at the sight of the stars all dressed up for the golden globe awards night. boy, it must be fun panic buying stuff for a walk on the red carpet!

no thanks to scarcity of funds, window-shopping is all that i can afford to do often :-(
plus my conscience is always on guard.. what i would spare to get a chanel sunglasses, i can use to feed a big family in a day.. a louis vuitton tiny bag? dearest, that’s all i have to give up for next month’s mortgage! hay..

am i glad there’s the convenience of “uniform only when on duty” policy in place; i have less to worry about when i go to work..
however, that does not decide for the magic that i desire for my hair. and i ain’t leaving this unresolved for the world!

oh, how delighted i am whenever a stranger approaches me to say that my hairstyle looks so simple yet enviable. modesty aside (and yes, i can’t believe it, too..) i’ve had that one minute of fame happening in more than one occasion. the best part of it is that the stranger is a woman!! for me, it’s more flattering to be noticed by women than men, given that most men tend to be “compassionate” in hope to be called a hero?!

a woman rarely compliments another woman, but when she does, it's usually honest.. “you carry that  style well. as they say, if you got it, flaunt it!"
encounters like that are liberating; give me the feeling that a trip to the salon is indeed a “must do” task every three weeks without fail, lest i want those kind women to know that i carry a make-believe look.. you see, i have a well-kept secret: i don’t have naturally nice hair :-(.. one of my biggest frustrations, i don’t have it so can’t flaunt it..

i envy those who can throw caution to the wind with trying out whatever is the latest in haircut or experimenting with different brands of shampoo. my hair type is actually one that is so inconsiderate. my good fate is drawn only in a salon. miss one treatment and bam!!!! it’s bad hair day in the offing.
my savior is a a lot of quiet time getting treatments called hairspa, highlight, trim.. right, the works.. to think that i sport super short hair!

i do share God's blessings in me with the less fortunate; but when my crowning glory is the matter, forgive me, the “feed-your-needy-relative first” issue is not for discussion. this is the only personal luxury i refuse to compromise.

i’m not really into putting on fancy makeup (i have no patience painting on my face) or wearing perfume (i tend to get migraine attack on that); but no way will i be caught with a bad hair day. especially in this cruel world when a happy day isn’t always imminent, i got to do something to pan me out. i refuse to be sad and 'uncoiffured' at the same time.

i praise beauty experts more than i do a bunch of government officials. stylists make me want to pay them more with their work while most senators make me want to take our money back! a salon transforms a cinderella to a princess; the congress transforms cinderella to another cinderella. the cosmetologists get my vote then.

call it a girl thing; there isn’t a chance i’d turn my back against the quest to pretend that vanity exists in me. i embrace the strategy: “if you lack it, fake it.” :-)

i know, i know.. people obsessed like me are freaks.. the nerve to have over concern on a “not-at-all-critical-to-humanity’s-survival” topic!

disgusting priority?.. hey, cut me some slack. i’m from venus, not from mars; hence, a pardonable act.. or not??

if someone asks me, it's a sad reality that the rest of mankind will have to deal with: freaks have it their way.
as life goes on.

turning japanese-ah!

i would say about 70% of tourists (at least in my area) are japanese. go fly my way and you’ll see them here, there, and everywhere. no wonder it is a big plus when working in the airline industry to know that language. ergo, turning japanese-ah! is a good resolution this year.

the first time i looked at the study guide, i resembled a no-read-no-write little girl. how do i say “ onimotsu ga ooki no de; watakushi ga chekkuin shimassho”??? and who can read “toire dewa otabako wa suwanai de kudasai”??? holy macaroni.. this, definitely, is torture. that’s why i didn’t date a japanese -- i can’t pronounce their words, let alone read their characters!


but i’m married to my love for flying so on to this tongue twister exercise..
surprise, surprise.. one month after, i rock! throw me a japanese conversation now, from 'konichiwa' to 'dajooba desu ka?' to 'mata owai shimashoo' to 'sayonara' and whatever there is in between, i can handle the situation. just make sure it’s "cabin talk" (you know, be considerate and limit the discussion to your needs on air, please); otherwise, i’m still lost.. which brings me back to my problem of conquering the japanese flights.

but then again, thanks to the glossary below that i got somewhere, i just might be able to bridge the gap.. and with a good laugh!

Learn Japanese in 3 minutes...

English: He's cleaning his automobile
Japanese: Wa Shing Ka

English: This is a tow away zone
Japanese: No Pah King

English: Is there a fugitive here?
Japanese: Hu Yu Hai Ding?

English: Small Horse
Japanese: Tai Ni Po Ni

English: Your price is too high!!
Japanese: No Bai Nut Ting!!

English: Did you go to the beach?
Japanese: Wai Yu So Tan?

English: I bumped into a coffee table
Japanese: Ai Bang Mai Ni

English: It's very dark in here
Japanese: Wai So Dim?

English: Has your flight been delayed?
Japanese: Hao Long Wei Ting?

English: I thought you were on a diet?
Japanese: Wai Yu Mun Ching?

English: They have arrived
Japanese: Hia Dei Kum

English: Your body odour is offensive
Japanese: Yu Stin Ki Pu

English: You know lyrics to the Macarena?
Japanese: Wai Yu Sing Dum Song?

English: I got this for free
Japanese: Ai No Pei

English: Stay out of sight
Japanese: Lei Lo

nice one, eh?
isn’t it great.. what language has done to separate people of different races, humor tries to reunite to save the day!
in joanne’s words, "if i ever hook with a japanese guy, i'm set!" :-) he..he..

i kid you not, a joke is a welcome tool in one’s survival kit when struggling in this world.
i'll keep it handy.
as life goes on.