I like Havaianas... they're cute and comfy. But I'm not one to really splurge and collect them. But their Chiso line is my favorite! I'm willing to shell out for these cuties. To bad they're not in production anymore *sniff*. If anyone knows where I can still get these pairs (though I know they've long been released and sold out), let me know.
Whenever March swings by, I am reminded of final exams, thesis defense, the thrill of not having to worry about anything related to school, getting your grades and of course, graduation day. Hamza's twin sisters graduated from high school this afternoon. Although we didn't attend the ceremony (kids weren't allowed), high school graduations bring back memories of my own graduation day. It was eons ago, twelve years to be exact! But still, it was a memorable one.
Going back to my high school graduation, we chose the song "Farewell" by Raymond Lauchengco. I think it's a timely song for graduates to sing... unfortunately, we didn't get to sing it... we were bawling like babies onstage in front of everyone even before getting to the chorus.hehe! 
Anyway, here're the songs lyrics just in case you're not familiar with it. Enjoy.
Farewell
Raymond Lauchengco
We used to be frightened and scared to try
Of things we don't really understand why
We laugh for a moment and start to cry
We were crazy
Now that the end is already here
We reminisce 'bout old yells and cheers
Even if our last hurrahs were never clear
Chorus:
Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you.
Yesterday's atreasure, today is here
Tomorrow on its way, the sky is clear
Thank you for the mem'ries
Of all the laughter and tears
And not to mention our doubts and our fears
The hypertension we gave to our peers
It's really funny to look back
After all of these years
Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you
Chorus 2:
Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't worry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be oceans away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you
With you, my friends
With only you...
Lately, I have been finding myself "googling" just about anything: from psychological disorders (I misplaced my DSM-IV) to friends to see if they're "Google-able" (I know I am!) to recipes of Filipino delicacies (mostly kakanin and other sweets) to the characters and novels of movies that Hamza and I have seen (the last of which was Shattered Glass), and now, my latest addiction, hunting down our residences using Google Earth.
Yeah, I've been "googling" down our houses using GE. It's pretty fun. At least to me, it is. Google Earth is like a 3D map of the entire planet. Its images are photographs taken by satellites and aircrafts over the last three years and is updated on a rolling basis. I've marked down our houses in the south and here in the metro. pretty cool.=) Here're pics to give you an idea of what I've been googling about.
I've marked a bunch of other houses of relatives and such but I'm not gonna put them up here anymore. Baka ma-tempt na naman akong mag GE, hanapin ko pa bahay ninyo!;)
I know I'm supposed to do something. But I can't remember what. I used to be so OC (obsessive-compulsive.. well, I wasn't diagnosed as one, but the symptoms are there,really), but after giving birth to Raja, I noticed that I have become more and more forgetful. Well, I wouldn't say I'm a complete blankhead but more like I tend to miss bits and pieces of this and that. Crazy huh? Some say it's because of the anaesthesia...it makes you lose your memory. Or parts of it, like you have selective amnesia or something. hehe. But I doubt it. It may have caused my atrial fibrillation (cardiac arrhythmia, which recurs now and then..tsk tsk), but not losing my memory.
Why write something about this? It irritates the heck out of me, like it's doing right now. See, I'm the type who remembers everything: birthdays, anniversaries, death anniversaries, deadlines, errands that needed to be done and all that.. but I've been noticing myself to be more and more forgetful. It may be insignificant, minute, but still, forgotten. I know it annoys Hamza at times (although he doesn't show), how we have to go back home to get something I forgot to put in Raja's bag or if all the faucets have been shut tightly (unless we want to go home to a house with a waterfall), but more so it annoys me because it makes me feel a bit s-t-u-p-i-d. And to think I'm contemplating law/graduate school this June..good luck! *snickers at myself*
Oh well, it'll come around...whatever that is.
This is the "hottest" circulating article that was written by youth leader Mr. Harvey S. Keh, which, in fact only started as an open letter that he sent out to his friends and then made it to thousands of people's e-mail addresses (including my two accounts) and a major spreadsheet. Since it's all over (meaning everywhere), I thought it wouldn't do any harm if I reposted this on my blog site. And oh, about the letter? All I can say is this:
"my sentiments exactly."
What Will Make Me Leave The Philippines...An Open Letter To Every Filipino
Dear Fellow Filipino, Good day to all of you! Before I begin my letter... just a disclaimer, for people who know me they know that I love the Philippines very much and I am not really one who rants and complaints to high heavens about what is happening to our country and does nothing about it, in fact, I feel that at my relatively young age of 27, I have done much service to the Philippines by setting up Pathways to Higher Education which has sent more than 500 poor but deserving students to college and AHON Foundation which has already built two public elementary school libraries that have benefitted more than 3,500 students. Yet, after seeing how events in our nation have transpired the past few weeks and talking with some friends, I feel the urge to share with you my own thoughts and feelings. Over the weekend, we saw the completion of two major political alliances for this coming Senate Elections that has just began here in the Philippines . Now we have two political forces with familiar faces nonetheless on opposite sides of the fences. On one end, you have Tito Sotto and Tessie Aquino-Oreta who were two major stalwarts of the opposition and the FPJ Campaign in 2004 hobnobbing with the woman (Pres. GMA) whom they claimed to have cheated FPJ in the last Presidential Elections.On the other side of the fence, you see Manny Villar, the former house speaker who was actually responsible for impeaching Erap now part of the United Opposition who is led by no less than... Erap himself. Now if you don't see anything wrong with this picture then you must be one of the many Filipinos who have accepted this very sad reality that there is indeed no permanent ideals that our government leaders stand up for but rather they just go where there self-interests can best be served. It is this kind of politics why I no longer wonder why good people like Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Mayor Jesse Robredo of Naga City or outstanding Bulacan Governor Josie Dela Cruz will find it hard or worse, never be elected to national positions. It is with these in mind that I'd like to share with you what are events this coming May elections that will make me consider leaving the Philippines : 1.) If former COMELEC Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano of Hello Garci fame wins in his bid to become Congressman of Bukidnon...seeking to replace a good man no less in incumbent Cong. Neric Acosta... We would really be the laughing stock of the whole world if we allow a man with the reputation of Garci to be one of our so called "Honorable Gentlemen". 2.) If Dancing Queen Tessie Aquino Oreta reclaims her seat at the Senate... I hope that all of us would still remember that dance that she did during the 2001 impeachment hearings after they voted to overrule the decision of then Chief Justice Davide... let us make sure that people like her never make it to the Senate again. 3.) If Richard Gomez becomes a senator... what does he know about making laws? We already have the likes of Bong Revilla and Lito Lapid in the Senate and their performance or lack of it would be reason enough not to elect another actor who has no prior experience in government to the distinguished halls of the Senate. 4.) If Gringo Honasan wins again.... have we not learned our lesson? I cannot believe that just because someone is charismatic then we will just elect him to become one of our senators despite the fact that he has time and again caused so much instability in our country... if we want a military junta similar to that of Thailand ... then lets all vote for this guy.... 5.) If Manny Pacquiao becomes Congressman of General Santos City... everybody loves Manny the Boxing Champ but Manny the Lawmaker? Lets be realistic here, Manny is our Hero alright but I think it takes more than just great boxing skills and a desire to serve to be able to make appropriate laws that would help uplift the lives of the many Filipinos who live in Poverty. 6.) If Lito Lapid wins for Mayor of Makati City... I don't like Jojo Binay as well but Lito Lapid as city mayor of the country's finance and business center?!?! And do you really think he is from Makati and has good plans for the city? The Arroyos asking someone like him to run just goes to show you how much love and concern this government has for our country. 7.) If Chavit Singson becomes a Senator, Illegal Gambling = Chavit... enough said. Now if all of these 7 things happen during this coming elections then don't be surprised if I decide to leave this country that I love dearly. Like I said during the first part of my letter, I feel that I have done much for this country but I think its time that Filipinos become more vigilant and critical in selecting our leaders for the sake of our future and the generations that will go beyond us. So I appeal to every Filipino who asks what can I actually do for my country... Choose and vote for the right people this coming elections, huwag na tayong magpaloko sa mga kandidatong maganda lang ang jingle o gwapo lang sa mga poster. Let us choose leaders who have a good track record for service and who are genuinely committed towards serving our country. Manindigan naman tayong lahat para sa ating Kinabukasan at para sa Kapakanan ng ating Bayan! Thank you very much for your time in reading this letter. Sincerely, Harvey S. Keh
Email: harveykeh@gmail.comKAILANGANG MABASA ITO NG 80 MILLIONG PILIPINO !!! IPASA NYO NG IPASA !!!
Two more weeks and it's Valentine's Day. So what? It's not like we celebrate Valentine's Day. No, we don't... Muslims do not have such celebrations. But on February 14, we will be celebrating that day. Only slightly differently. Last year, when the world was busy literally painting the town red and celebrating hearts' day, we lost someone very dear to us. Emilkhayr Punzalan Pimping-Benito passed away. She was Ate Tatanie to us, bubbly, frank and outspoken. Fierce, loving, passionate. It's a description of contradictions, but yes, she was all that. All that and more. Everyone looked up to, adored and loved her. It was sad. No, it was tragic, how we lost Ate Ta. She went away so unexpectedly. It was like the Angel of Death stole her away from us when we weren't looking. First week of February last year, Ate Tatanie, her husband , in-laws and parents flew in to Manila. She suddenly fell ill and they all agreed to take her here for treatment. They were giving her all sorts of tests and shots and was constantly on painkillers. She was in pain but tried not to show although her eyes said otherwise. But still, she didn't let the pain beak her down. She had a warrior's spirit...wouldn't back down from a fight. And then, that fateful day. No one thought it would happen so soon. No one thought it would happen, period. We were distant relatives, my dad said, but I was only close to one of her younger brothers, Zaad, who was my age, as we both went to the same university when i went off to college. We only became close when we got married to our husbands (Hamza and Kuya Cocoy are first cousins). Although they lived in Mindanao, and us, here in the metro, the proximity didn't hinder us from being close. I remember whenever we had the chance to go to Mindanao, we'd make time to visit their food place, Pastel Tats, the one in Mindanao State U (Marawi), and we'd find her there, busily taking orders from customers, chatting with the cousins and friends, managing the crew and taking care of the register. She did all that, and then after a while she'd disappear, only to find her managing the meatshop next door which she and her husband owned as well. They were a young, successful couple, and they had it all going for them. When the scene at the resto would die down a bit (which was rare), we'd find a spot and just talk about life. She'd give me unsolicited advice about marriage, about taking care of oneself, or what-have-yous. But I liked it best when we talked about her love life, how she and Kuya Cocoy fought for their love. I didn't mind hearing about it again (I wouldn't ask in the first place), because I just never got tired of it. It was like a novel, or even a complicated soap opera; you wouldn't believe the things they went through for each other. It just makes you stop and say to yourself, 'Now, THAT is love'. December 2005 was her last reunion with the family. I can still recall how she and the rest of the cousins decorated the house with tassles and such, to make the house more festive. And then she ran off to the kitchen with Ate Ling to finish her cooking. She didn't seem to get tired doing things...such a busybody. And to think she had Rayhaan (six y/o) and Tanisha (four m/o) to take care of, too. That was one of our best reunions, and sadly, our last, too, since we welcomed 2007 with our respective families. Every now and then, when I'm doing something or nothing at all, she would cross my mind. I'd remember all the times we were together, all the stuff that she taught me, and the advice she gave me. And then a wave of sadness would wash over me and my eyes can't help but get misty over the thought of her. Sometimes I still can't believe that it happened; like it's all a bad dream.I still miss her, and I'm sure everyone else who has been touched by her does, too. If only I could thank her for all the kindness she's shown me. I can only do so through prayers... du'as to you, my cousin. Why am I writing this entry? Just because... I miss her. Still. Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi raji'un. "Verily we belong to Allah, and to Him we return."
A first grade teacher collected well known Proverbs. She gave
each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders (six-year-olds), because the last one is a classic!
Better to be safe than .......... punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the .......... bug is close.
It's always darkest before .......... Daylight Savings Time.
Never underestimate the power of .......... termites.
You can lead a horse to water but .......... how?
Don't bite the hand that .......... looks dirty.
No news is .......... impossible.
A miss is as good as a .......... Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new .......... math.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll .......... stink in the morning.
Love all, trust .......... me.
The pen is mightier than the .......... pigs.
An idle mind is .......... the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's .......... pollution.
Happy the bride who .......... gets all the presents.
A penny saved is .......... not much.
Two's company, three's .......... the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what .......... you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and .......... you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as .......... Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not .......... spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed .......... get new batteries.
You get out of something only what you .......... see in the picture on the box.
When the blind leadeth the blind .......... get out of the way.
And the favorite:
Better late than.......... pregnant!!!
November 17, 2006
our third wedding anniversary...
to abi and rajabOi...
thanks for everything...
i love you to pieces!
love,
ummi jOdi
