Aqua Training

It was still dark when I arrived at the Amoranto stadium because I thought the training would start on time. It was already 5:00 am but the swimming area was empty. I learned from the guards that there are only a few people already there.

After about an hour of waiting, the aqua training begun.

It was FUN! We were on the pool and performed these exercises that seems to be easy on land, but damn they were difficult to perform on the pool. Running across the pool makes you feel like running in a dream, or watching a slow motion movie. You just can run fast.

There were many exercises executed, but I was not feeling tired because we are under water and it is just refreshing.

After the training, we stayed a little while enjoying the pool and then head home.

I just slept the whole day.

My Goodbye to a Good Mentor

Nothing in this world stays the same.

People leave for different reasons like finding a job somewhere else, getting married, escaping the old familiar with something new and exciting.

This is not new to me since I've said goodbye to friends countless times and I myself left my home to work hundred of kilometers away.

I've been lucky to call this former professor a friend now. Way back in college I remember her as this super strict teacher that came from the US. However, over the years I've come to learn so much from her because she took me in as her student assistant and I got to experience the corporate world under her watch.

Though Im not proud of it, sometime 3 years ago I just left her hanging on a project I pledged to finish. Those were one of my lowest and darkest hours in retrospect. I lost touch, because I was ashamed to communicate back.

I learned days ago that she will be returning back to the US for good. I just had to see her and say goodbye and for closure.

I will always and forever thank you Ms. Pauline Wade for the chance and for believing in me. Eternally grateful.

 

Another Talk

Today I got to see and chat, albeit briefly, with one of my dear friend since college.

It has been a long time since the last time we were together, her having moved to Singapore to work and got married.

I admire this lady very much because as I see it, she has transformed into the best version of herself. She has undergone a lot the previous years and came through it alive, better, stronger. It is as if she has metamorphosed into a new being.

Now she does what she loves and is not afraid to take on the world.

As we talked I got reminded to take on chances myself. To take risk. To be ready for disappointments but most importantly to standup when you fall, and rise and learn and move!

It will be quite a while for us to see each other again, but I thank her for inspiring me now to not give up. To take the challenge. To do what I love and passionate about. Most importantly, to move on.

A Whole New World

Not the Disney's Aladdin song, head over to my new blog at phdwightseestheworld.wordpress.com for updates.

See you there!

It Seemed Like Eternity

Yes, it has been a long time since I neglected this blog. I have not written in months! I promised that I would write an entry at least once a month, but I failed (insert sad emoticon). Not that I have nothing to share in the last couple of months. It was just that I was lazy. Lazy to write.

Anyhow, I am constantly updating my twitter and instagram and facebook status on where, who, what I am doing at any given day. Some are interesting, others are quite routine. But let me summarize:

1. Gym - I am actually going to the gym! Isn't it amazing? Hahah. Well we have this wager with my officemate back in December that I will have 6 packs by end of March. Thankfully, I got discount coupons for Gold's gym and so began my 2 to 3 times per week gym sessions. I actually like going to the gym, it gives me such good vibes everytime after working out.

2. Beach - I went to Cebu with two of my officemates - Sab and Ate Tin. We went to Bantayan island and really enjoyed the place. We beach bummed the first day, and went to Virgin island on the 2nd. I thank God that the weather was nice and that it went really well.

Finally! I got to see Nagsasa Cove in Zambales. I remember 5 or so years ago that I really want to go and see Anawangin. Thanks that our team decided to have our summer outing in Zambales. Truly, I was at awe when I saw the place. Sandy beach, picturesque views and serene nights with skies full of stars. A welcome break from the hectic days at the metro.

Summer is just beginning and I want to explore more places!

That Sinulog 2014 Talk

The person I considered to be one of my bestest friend came back in Cebu this Sinulog. Sadly, this will be the last time we will see each other (maybe for a little while in Manila next month) for at least 3 yrs. She will be going to the US to pursue her studies in MS and maybe find a job there afterwards. I will surely miss her. Yes she lives in SG and we don't really talk that much or see each other that much but the US is that far.

We talked a lot, jumping from topic to topic. We only have a limited time to update ourselves with what is happening on both our lives. This is one person i can totally be myself without fear of being judged or not caring of.

One thing memorable from our talk is how time flies fast. She had nephews and nieces, cousins that are already teenagers (she remembers then as still kids) making "mano" to her. Then we talked about love.

She has been married for 2yrs now. And i asked her, how's married life? I got an answer which is not really shocking or new, but is something of a validity on how I viewed married life. It is not a fairy tale! Sadly, there are many roadblocks to those happy ending we so often see in movies. Love fades. The two "kilig" people are now familiar with each other that somehow diminishes that factor. What I remember is respecting the other person. There is also that "not quitting" when life is testing you.

And then "how about you?". I was asked.

Yes, I said it gets lonely sometimes now that we reached this age. Most of our friends are married, busy working, working abroad, have kids - that even though today is Sinulog, the liveliest Cebu can be in a year, where parties abound left and right, we opted to stay at starbucks to have this conversation. But it is the conversation I needed to realize things. A sort of introspection. What am I doing in my life?

I am stuck. Stuck in this phase of life. I am in my early 30s now but it is like Im still mid twenties.

I don't have a relationship that can somehow bloom into a forever tale someday. Not yet. Not ever?

And yes I got afraid. I felt that sting of being alone. Yes I got loads of friends. But every year these people get engaged, get married, go somewhere place, have kids, change priorities. And I'm still here.

What will I do now? How can I enrich my life more?

So at this point I got only a thing to do. Pray.

Please Lord, let me find my purpose again. Let me live again.

Regret

Not all affections are returned
This I learned from my journey
And it is all fair, it can be you
The sufferer or the suffering

I was thinking that somehow I exist
Cause there were moments when we almost kiss
Or was it just an illusion I made in my mind
Im just a fool to think you are mine

Somehow I wish that those times never ends
When we held hands, ahhh, those times are bliss
 I really felt you are close to being mine
Stupid am I to think it all these time

I cannot really move on because I never yet expressed
How I really love those times, frozen in my memories
Of you and me walking and holding each other hands
Not caring if we are labelled, we just kind of did

Im stuck in this moment of regret
Things have changed and I fret
Cause I cannot go back to that moment I wanted so
You have moved on and let go

The Year That Was: 2013 (Part 1)

Finally 2013 has ended! (as Im writing this it is still 9:14pm 12/31/12)

Calamities, that would be the negative word that is associated with 2013. The biblical flooding proportion of Habagat that submerged Metro Manila. The century-old shattering earthquake that rocked Visayas. The devastation that the strongest typhoon of the year - Haiyan (Yolanda) brought. Countless lives have been spent, countless more still striving to live normally after the catastrophe.

Along with these natural disasters are the man-made scandals that brought as much damage to our nation. The biggest would have to be the Pork Barrel scandal, where billions of the tax payer's money are laundered by these senators, congressman - filthy politicians. 

Let's now put the negatives for a moment and let me reminisce on what good transpired during 2013!

January.
Celebrated with family as per usual tradition. Watching fireworks and media noche afterwards.

Went to Manila Ocean Park with Cecil and Mae.

February.
Loveless, what's new. So Valentine's day was spent with officemates and former officemates who visited Manila.

My first ever rappelling over a waterfall (with Marianne).

 

My first ever solo trip of the year. I went to the balloon festival and saw these giant hot-air balloon spectacle! It is a really good sight to experience.

March.
My first ever at Moviestar cafe. It is  nice place for kids at heart like me :D Thank you Rosmarie for the invite. When you are at this stage in your life, moments like this with your former classmates gets rarer and rarer.

--- to be continued ---

The Number(s) Game

There is some trending activity on facebook right now. You give a number to a friend (secretly, through private message), then that friend will post something about you anonymously. You know that it's you they are referring because of the secret number that goes along with the post.

So I'd given my number to some friends (I will update this post if there will be more), and here's what they got to say.

From Bim (a friend through Amabelle):

Kani si mr #4, close ni sya sa akng amiga. Tga cebu pud ni sya pero di ko kadumdum kung nagsabay ta sa una sa mga laag, si Ms Spiderwoman ra man to akong madumduman na katagay namo sa una. Hahaha. 

Murag ang first natong pag-uban (hopefully naa pay sunod, hahaha) kay katng kauban si 1313. Hahahaha. Nibisita man to si amiga nga tga cebu. Btaw, i think nindot man ug choice si amiga sa iyang mga friends (kay friends man mi. Hahaha). So muapply pud na sa imo kay friends man mo.

Mao ni sya ang gitawag ug friends by association. Hahaha

From Rhea (a friend through Reymaline):

Kung magkuyog mo ani niya ky murag nag fiesta imong palibot. He's a very sweet friend abi gani nako sa ilang ka sweet sd sa ako fwnd ky sila ang magdayon. Peace! He's also a very talkative 1st pa gani ninyo kita ky gravee FC na but ma super like pod dayon nimo ky Naa mn dayon unod ang story. Smart sd Ni nako nga amigo... To my Ladies frnd ... HE is still SINGLE... But still available ba sir? Di jud mo magmahay niya. Another good attitude Nya ky loving, caring and approachable... Miss na our bonding.. Looking forward as bonding puhon...

From Yra (NCR officemate)

#4. Unfriend! Hahaha klaro na kaau. Lol mingaw nako nimo! Hahaha suppppeeeerrr tabian. Mabuang ko. Nig mag.outing mi tas ikaw ako tapad sa bus ky di ko katug ky magcge kag tabi. Hahahaha mishu friend! Mingaw nakos atong mga chikka. Dugay2 naxd ta wa nagkita ky others naman ka. Hahaha

From Vella (NCR officemates. Abi jud nkog close mi ani nya... LOL )

When I first met this guy, I don't like him immediately, which is my default emotion on meeting people. He talks loudly and incessantly and I could hear him talk within 50 meters apart. He doesn't whisper, oh no, he does not know how to do that. 
He knows that I hate this number game on facebook but still, he made me do it, he has that effect on people. He made me travel to places out of my comfort zone, he made me do my first zumba ever and other things I'm not proud of.
The one thing I hate about this guy? The body! Oh, the body. Every time I see him, it reminds me that life is not fair. He'll make VS models jealous. He's body is the epitome of sexiness, just on the wrong gender. It may look like he's suffering from an eating disorder but NO, he eats like each meal is his last. He'll swallow anything that is edible and not gain an ounce of fat. The injustice. People like him should be illegal and be imprisoned. Yes, AFFECTED KAAYO KO!
We both like sitcoms and movies and we go crazy on trivias.
He's a great uncle to his nephew and niece, not a very good brother and son - he admitted. hehehe!


Lol.