Swan Song

It's been a long while since i posted something here, and the first time i'll try to post using a mobile device. Oh how times have really changed since the first time i met you. Dati laptop lang ang paraan para maabot kita pero ngayon celfone lang, solve na. But nonetheless, the purpose is the still same, to say thanks to you dear friend.

Salamat sa pakikinig ng walang pagtutol, sa pagiging saksi sa aming mga luha at tawa, mga tagumpay at kabiguan, mga hagikgik, init ng ulo, takot, at iba pa. Sa panonood habang kami ay nagpapalitan ng mga kuro-kuro, mga kulitan, maging mga sagutan o maliliit na away. Salamat din sa pagtatago mo ng aming mga litrato at videos at ng mga kuwento sa likod nito. Isang malaking utang na loob ito na hindi ko makakalimutan.

Salamat at nagsilbi kang tulay upang makakilala ako ng mga bagong kaibigan. Siguradong masaya ka din makitang sa kabila ng maraming pagbabago sa aming kani-kaniyang buhay ay eto pa din kami, malalapit na magkakaibigan pa din hanggang ngayon. Sa katunayan nga, mahal na asawa ko na ang isa sa kanila ngayon, dahil na din ito sa tulong mo.

Maraming salamat muli sa lahat ng ito. You really are, and forever will be, a true and trusted and forever cherished friend, my dear Multiply. :-)

The Chronicles Of Dad-nia

Some random ramblings in my mind after all that has happened to me (us) these past few weeks... just for my own personal indulgence. :)

• Almost two weeks had passed since our dear son's arrival and I must admit I'm still adjusting in more ways than one. Sometimes I experience this "pinch me, am I dreaming?" state-of-mind, usually kapag nagigising ako at nakikita kong may bitbit na bata si Mei. Haha! But don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, not even a bit. It's just that sometimes I can't help but wonder with how He works His way in our everyday lives. Who would have thought that after spending the Holy Week at the beach with friends last year I would be a husband to a loving wife and a father to a very cute boy exactly 365 days after? Magic? Miracle? For me I call it His will.  :)

• Talk about mismanaged expectations. I've already conditioned myself during the last few days leading to Mei's delivery of Yohann para hindi naman ako magmukhang ewan at mas mag-panic pa kaysa sa manganganak pag dumating na ang takdang oras. Na-imagine ko na ang sarili ko noon as Mei's source of strength and her pep talk coach while she's having her labor pains. Kumbaga sa isang basketball game, nakapag-warmup na ako't lahat para ready na ako agad kapag tinawag ng coach na pumasok sa court. Nag-chewing gum pa para mukhang cool at astig na din. But alas, my much awaited moment to shine didn't come. Ni hindi man lang nga ako nakaalis sa bench, both literally and figuratively. Ang buong akala ko kasi pwede ko masamahan si Mei while she's having her labor all the way to delivery kaso iba pala ang palakad sa ibang hospital. The whole time she was there inside an isolated room with only the doctors and nurses to keep an eye on her while I was left with no choice but to wait for any updates or news about her and our son inside our room all alone. Those 15 hours of waiting were among the longest 15 hours I have seen in my life so far. Pinaghalong nakakabaliw at nakakabato. Hehe!

• After Mei gave birth, I took a picture of her while she was sleeping and recuperating right after she was transferred from the delivery room to our personal room. Actually, ayaw talaga niya ng ganung klaseng pic ever since kasi daw hindi man lang siya nakaayos at haggard na nga ang itsura niya. It's quite unflattering according to her. Naintindihan ko naman ang point niya but nevertheless I still took a picture of her (and even posted it sa FB hehe). Not because I just wanted to tease her or make a mockery of her looks then, but because for me that is the real face of beauty. No aesthetics. Without cosmetics. A fair face even after enduring 15 hours of labor and a major operation just to give birth to our son. That is beauty in it's purest form.

• Gaya nga ng sabi ko sa isang stat ko sa FB, yes I may have spent almost 3 years worth of my "savings" from our work para lang sa mag-ina ko but for me that is already nothing. Mas importante pa din na safe at maayos sila after everything they went through. Medyo nakaka-amaze lang kasi isipin na three years ago, I was a bit hesitant to join our employee's cooperative kasi iniisip ko yung ibabawas nila sa sahod ko every payday. Little did I know that it was God's way na pala of telling me na umpisahan ko nang mag-ipon for Yohann's arrival. When I pulled my shares from the coop to help us pay for the hospital bills and the magnanimous professional fees of the doctors, napangiti na lang ako. Bakit? Kasi yung naipon ko na pala after all those years was the exact amount that we needed to settle our dues. Believe it or not.

• Ngayon alam ko na ang sinasabi nilang mga nanay at tatay. Isa kasi sa mga naunang naitanong sa akin after Yohann came out was ano daw ang feeling ng maging isang first-time dad. I must admit that a lot of things were running in my mind during those times. Happy and excited but at the same time anxious and afraid. Kaya ko ba talaga siya buhayin at palakihin ng maayos? Will I be a good provider and a good husband and father to my wife and child, respectively? Totoo nga ba lahat ng nakikita ko at naririnig ko nung mga panahon na iyon? <Haha!> But everything changed the moment I saw my son for the first time. Sinasabi ng mga magulang na kadalasang naiinterview sa TV that they would do everything they can do for their child. Now I believe them. Iba pala talaga ang naibibigay nila, feeling mo superhero ka at kahit anong problema hahanapan mo ng paraan masolusyunan para lang sa kanila. I hope someday you too will feel the same way I feel right now kasi it's one of the best feelings a person can have in a lifetime. :)

Chingching Baby

Reposting from FB, para may kopya din siya dito.

The very first pictures of our dear son Raphael Yohann who was born last Sunday, April 3. Bata pa lang chingching na, 7.6lbs ba naman. Hehe.

Be a good boy ha? Sabagay mommy and I believe that you will be one for sure. We love you very much. :)

UST Quadricentennial Homecoming (01-27-11)

Since our beloved alma mater in Espana Blvd. is currently celebrating it's 400th year of existence, I, together with some of my fellow Thomasian alumni in the office (John and Choms), decided to pay our old school a short visit. Ayaw namin sa Friday itself kasi may bayad daw (P1500 at dapat coat and tie... umiral ang kakuriputan namin) that's why we decided to do it the day before. Isa pa, mahirap gawin ang mga biglaang ganito sa nature ng schedule ng jobs namin (mahirap kasi maging artista talaga I swear. hehe).

Feels good to be back after 8 years since our graduation. A lot may have changed with regards to the buildings, structures, and surroundings since our heydays there but make no mistake about it, the memories remain. Congratulations to our beloved alma mater. Unending grace indeed. Viva Santo Tomas! :P

my 2010 photo blog

I remember I did something like this exactly a year ago as a year end blog for 2009 and I said there that I would be lucky and blessed enough if I can do another one for 2010. Thank you Lord for giving me that chance and for the awesome year that was. :)

Here are most of the highlights from the year 2010 in my point of view. I may be missing some events here and there kasi walang pictures noon (i.e. my own birthday) pero everything in here quite summarizes the year that was for me. Looking forward to 2011! See you around my dear friends.

January 9 - Mount Pinatubo and Capas Death March Shrine





January 18 - Gab's 1st Birthday celebration





January 30 - Enchanted Kingdom





February 19 - Biak na Bato National Park





February 27 - Gabriel Jay's Christening





March 7 - Subic Bay with the family





March 12-15 - Boracay Island





April 1-3 - Bolinao





April 22-26 - Cagayan De Oro, Camiguin, Iligan City Tour





May 1-2 - San Juan, La Union surfing





May 9 - Overnight in Tagaytay





May 13 - Meimei's Birthday celebration





May 14-15 - Sally's Birthday / Cagbalete Island





May 18 - May Mee day





May 22-23 - Friends of RACE summer party / San Pablo, Laguna





May 26 - San Miguel - Ginebra fans day





June 12 - Annual Company Family Day





July 3-4 - Bondoc Peninsula Tour





July 7 - King Louie's Birthday celebration





July 16 - Bidjoke Night Out





August 8 - Lloyd and Diane's Wedding





September 13 - Confirmed! First sight of our son, Yohann





October 10 - Yadao Clan Gathering





October 14-17 - Trip to Bacolod





October 22 - Our Wedding Day





November 27 - Mic's Birthday celebration





December 11 - Friends of RACE Christmas Party





December 17-22 - Company Christmas Parties-to-da-max





December 25; 31 - First Christmas Holidays together

2010 yearender meme

Originally tagged by Cathy sa Facebook for this meme, pero dito ko na lang post ang akin. I was actually about to do something like what Meimei did sa kanyang post (top 10) for my own yearender but after reading hers, parehong-pareho lang kami halos ng masasabi kaya eto na lang akin hehe. :)

Feel free to answer din if you want, no pressure whatsoever. Happy New Year everyone! :P

1. What did you do in 2010 that you've never done before?

- white water rafting; get married (haha!)

 

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

- i don't think i had any resolutions last year, come what may ako e. this year? wala pa din.

 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

- really close? nah.

 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

- fortunately wala din.

 

5. What countries did you visit?

- republic of the philippines lang din. olats ako e. hehe!

 

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?

- pwede na ang house and lot. hindi naman bawal humingi di ba?

 

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

- 102210. One of the happiest days in my life of course, to be married to the woman i love.

 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

- to start a new life being a family man, something that i really didn't see coming before 2010 started kasi feeling ko noon hindi ko pa kaya. pwede naman pala kahit paano. ika nga ni Rico Blanco "kung ayaw may dahilan, kung gusto palaging merong paraan."  :)

 

9. What was your biggest failure?

- can't think of anything big for this one.

 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

- other than the usual colds and cough, none thankfully.

 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

- hindi naman counted as "bought" yung mga pinagpuntahan ng pera ko last year e. haha!

 

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

- my family. i saw how sincerely happy they were for me the moment i got married. our family doesn't really have that expressive/showy type of relationship ever since kaya naman it meant a lot to me when my nephew and nieces did that dance and when our mom gave that speech that brought the room down (well almost) hehe.

 

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

- wala naman, buti na lang.

 

14. Where did most of your money go?

- new place, new life, and everything that comes with it.  :)

 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

- journeys to beautiful places around the country during the first half of the year, start of beautiful journey in life during the second half of the year.

 

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?

-  justin bieber songs. it's his year deym.

 

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. happier or sadder? kailangan pa ba i-memorize yan? happier of course,

ii. thinner or fatter? walang kaduda-duda... fatter.

iii. richer or poorer? poorer in my wallet but richer in love and joy in my heart. <insert cheesy tone here. hehe!> :)

 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

- more lakwatsa sana pero ok na din yung mga napuntahan ko. not bad at all; do some physical exercise (badminton/basketball)

 

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

- eating. but come to think of it, ok lang pala. ang sarap kaya kumain. hehe.

 

20. How did you spend Christmas?

- spent the eve with Meimei's family then spent Christmas day itself with my cousins and family naman

 

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?

- di obvious di ba? haha! outside the kulambo ako pag sinabi ko hindi.

 

22. How many one-night stands?

- errr... *rolling eyes*... secret.  :P

 

23. What was your favorite TV program(s)?

- ala e. NCAA at UAAP lang siguro nung collegiate basketball season pa

 

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

- wala naman ako maisip.

 

25. What was the best book you read?

- may nabasa nga ba ako book last year? haha! ndi ko natapos mga binabasa ko e.

 

27. What did you want and get?

- for the record, i only wished (albeit discreetly) for an inspiration at the start of the year (naka-blog pa nga yun), but thankfully God gave me more. and i mean MORE. hehe.

 

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

- inception, naaliw lang ako sa story kasi; iron man 2, for its action scenes at least; the back-up plan, for reasons na amin na lang. :P

 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

- i turned 29 then. went home to have lunch with the family then went on a date in the evening with someone (that someone is my wife now. yun yun e.)

 

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

- i've got more than what i've hoped for last year. it would be too much if i'd ask for anything more in my opinion.

 

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?

-  ganun pa din, pormang jologs o kanto boy pa din ako. haha!

 

32. What kept you sane?

- family and friends. meimei of course.

 

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

- sawa na ako sa mga celebrity. sa office marami e. hahaha!

 

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

-  last May's national election

 

35. Who did you miss?

- our dad, especially during the wedding.

 

36. Who was the best new person you met?

- marami sila, can't really say just one.

 

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson(s) you learned in 2010:

- gaya ng nasabi ko kanina "kung ayaw may dahilan, kung gusto palaging merong paraan."

- patience is a virtue... and it does pay to be patient.

- that God answers our prayers, we just have to learn to wait, listen and be still. He is never late. He knows all our heart's desire, but He will give us not what we want but what we need for He knows what's truly the best for us.  :)

Merry Christmas indeed.

   They say Christmas season is for the kids and is dreaded by adults. I guess that is somehow true and I think I know why.

   These past few days have been very busy for me, so busy in fact, I cannot even remember the last time I had a very good night sleep. Almost everyday may parties na kailangan puntahan after duty sa work in the morning. Nahihiya na nga ako kay Mei kasi halos hindi na kami mag-abot sa bahay. Dadating akong natutulog na siya tapos mauuna pa din ako aalis sa kanya para pumasok sa umaga. We barely see each other ng gising lately. And though it may sound like fun, having parties every night for 2 weeks, nakakapagod pa din ito para sa aking katawang-lupa. To be honest, given the choice I wouldn't attend each and every party sa office kaya lang para na din kasi silang compulsory in a way. Automatic deduction ba naman sa salary, not to count the fact na you'll probably be tagged as "K.J." and have a bullseye mark sa likod mo sa paningin ng mga immediate superiors kapag hindi ka nila makita doon. So susulitin ko na lang ang mga kinaltas sa sahod ko at kakain kahit ayaw ko sana at aasang mabunot man lang ang pangalan sa mga raffle para makabawi sa gastos kahit paano. Hindi pa kasama dito ang parties with close friends and former classmates, which unfortunately I have to turn down some kasi nga pagod na ako. Isama mo pa diyan ang stress na nakukuha kakaisip kung ano pwede iregalo sa mga loved ones.

   Although yes I am having fun as Christmas day approaches, but all the activities related to it are slowly taking its toll on my mind and body. Naalala ko tuloy yung lecture nung pastor the last time Mei and I attended the church service a couple of weeks ago. It's message struck me like I was suddenly doused with an ice cold bucket of water. He said people nowadays tend to forget the real meaning of the season kasi ang lagi na lang naiisip ay mga material na bagay. Kung anong regalo ang matatanggap o gustong matanggap, kung makakakuha ba ng pamasko sa mga ninong at ninang, kung makakakain ba ng marami sa noche buena, kung matutupad ba ang wish nila, o kung miyembro ba sila ng SMP o hindi, etc.. Everything has been commercialized, the essence of the season is slowly lost amidst all the shopping and organized chaos around us.

   This is where I realized that I still have to be thankful to Him dahil pagod na pagod ako lately. Ironic as it may sound but there's a reason behind it. Oo nga at pagod ako at kulang sa tulog lately, but it only shows na I am more than blessed. All of those parties I've been attending here and there are all because of I have a good job, I have good friends around me, and I have a happy family that surrounds and loves me. He has given me much and at the same time also given me the opportunity to give back and share to others as well. I guess having a tired body (and tight wallet) is a very small price to pay for all these blessings that He has given me. And for that, I thank Thee, and I hope I am worthy of all of these. May you enjoy your holidays as well my dear friends. Merry Christmas everyone!