got tagged by xai

The rules are easy, just post 10 things that recently made you happy! Then tag 10 people and force them to post this meme on their blogs.

Tagging Annjo, Tarits, Jenmai, Joni, Eliel, Charm, K, Heero, Ate Lhory, and Deneb. :)

1. being ALIVE!
2. text msgs, greetings, hugs and kisses (real and virtual) from friends and classmates *hug back*
3. attending Nang Dindin's wedding :)))
4. bonding with jenmai and sweet over a yellow cab pizza
5. camwhoring with the west vi ladies
6. 27 dresses :))))
7. text ni Bevs (na birthday nya naman today, feb28)
8. getting this message from my Nanay as response to my text thanking her for going through labor and a vaginal delivery for me 25 years ago: "After all the pain and sweat, it was worth it. Blessed to have you Tint. Love kita."
9. and from Tatay: "I thank the Lord for you."
10. eating great food while being in great company having great conversations today :D

almost birthday thoughts...

If anybody had asked me at 10 where and what I'd be at 25, I would have had no idea what to say.
And I certainly could not have said that I'd be a third year medical student in Iloilo!
I probably would have answered that I won't reach 25 anyway. That I had no intention to.
Twenty-three was 'just right' for me back then. Enough for everything I wanted to do.
And those who were 28, 29 and 30 were 'old'.

25.
A quarter of a century old.
SILVER.
My favorite.

It's not a bad age to be after all.
I feel that the world has still so much to offer.
There are still so many things to see, hear, feel, do and be.

Now I'm 25. And I'm glad.
Rejoice with me.
:D

Thank you Lord for giving me 25 years of life and laughter.
Thank you Lord for 25 years of your faithfulness.
Of years and years of your mercy and grace.
Thank you for your unfailing love.
Thank you. Thank you, Lord.
*hugs to you Lord*

once upon a time...

secret ko...

No, they aren't mine. Just fished them from the net. :) Adorable, ne?

My little secret is that these guys can get a better and longer positive reaction from me than any of the babies/children in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), nursery, wards, or anywhere for that matter. (Except na lng pala kung inaanak or pamilya ko ung bata. ;) When I see kittens and cats, I go 'Mimings! Awww.. ang cute..., kakagigil' the way my classmates do with the squirmy newborns in the NICU. I'd take kittens over any baby anytime. Haha.

rants today

Long weekend... pero I'm stuck here sa house dahil andami-daming dapat gawin at tapusin before Tuesday comes around. research... community... study for the module exam...

Manong Jaja was in Davao for Nanay's birthday yesterday...

My roommate Bjo hied herself off to Roxas today. I was supposed to go with her kase they'll be visiting a waterfalls tomorrow. Waaaah.......

My other housemates are leaving for Guimaras this afternoon... bukas pa ang uwi...

Grrrr....

'Least I got to learn to play Beethoven's Minuet in G. Ta-raran-taran-taran-taran... ta-raran, ta-raran... Yay! Pambata, I know. At least natututo pa rin akong mag-play. Will tackle the other piano pieces when I get bored with school stuff. I will definitely study piano again when I have the time... wheeeee!!!!

Nanay, Happy birthday! :)

Nanay ko. Oo, RN sya, pero hindi sya nag-practice.

Pretty noh?
Hehe, gohod genes, pare, good genes.


She is OC. Malinis talaga sa house. Maya't maya linis. She's the coolest mom I know (of course, biased ako e. Walang kokontra.) And she's of course, the best mom for me. Pag sobrang tumatawa, umiiyak sya. Hehe. Magaling syang alto. And as far I know, she played the guitar nung single pa sya. O nga pala, she's a PK, like me. And a PW, which I have no plans of being. Hehe. Magaling sya magluto. Favorite namin ang Honey-baked Chicken and Lasagna nya. Magaling din sya mag-bake at gumawa ng jams. Yummy! Chocolate Crinkles! Basta, magaling sya sa kusina. She loves to garden and she hates pets. Magaling din sya mag-cross-stitch and gumawa ng quilts. I could go on and on about my mom.... if I could be even half like her, I'd be happy. She's the Ephesians wife and Proverbs 31 woman example. :) Saludo ako dito kay Nanay ko.

Tomorrow is her 60th birthday.
At ako lang ang absent sa amin sa Davao ngayon.
Pero kahit ganon,
Happy birthday to you Nanay!
i love you nanay.
*bighug*

bridal shower

I've been present in a number of Bridal Showers before, at church, with my mother, so the things usually talked about in these events aren't exactly new to me. But this was my first time to attend a shower na kalapit ko lang sa age ang bride-to-be at may alam na ako tungkol sa medisina at sa katawan. :D

Eye opener? You bet!
I didn't know that you had to prepare tissue paper pala! hahahaha

Feeling ko lang may recitation kami kasi Tita Gema (who's an OB-GYNE) kept throwing questions at me... haha. :) ok lang, basic lang naman. Nakakatawa lang yung mga reaction ng ibang mga single ladies doon that night. Buti na lng Nurse naman si Nang Dindin (the bride-to-be on wednesday next week) so she knew about the normal anatomy and physiology and tita Gem didn't have to spell things out too much. *laughing* Not too much, but spell it out she still did. *laughing*

I also learned something else from Kuya JP (who arrived to take Tita Gem and us home).. I learned about the 6 Tests of Love: Time, Quarrel, Strength, Habit, Reality and Sharing. Di pwede ang Kwatro at Singko sa mga tests na to... dapat Tres or better, kung pwede nga, Uno.

irrational happy thought

I'm turning SILVER in a week.

Thank you thank you Lord.

*clap,clap*

Yey!

apprehensive

Ayokong napapagalitan.. Pero sa ilang linggo na lng... normal lang mapagalitan. Normal lang daw mapagsabihan ng residents, PGIs at consultants.. isama na rin natin ng folks, ng nurses at ng orderlies. Dahil Interns na kami. Pinakamababang uri na kami ng nilalang sa hospital. Kaya ngayon pa lng... I'm psyching myself to think that it'll be normal na mapagalitan...

Ever heard of the 'Love Languages Test'? Well, my major languages are Physical Touch and Words of Affirmation. So kamusta naman ako sa hospital nyan? When noone gives a pat on the back and words are so easily flung to hurt others. waaaaaah..... Nakikinita ko na na kelangan ko ng hugs in huge amounts. hahaha. (Esvees.... need your help. Hehe. Bisita naman kayo dito sa Iloilo!)

Excited ako. syempre, bago nanaman. Pero apprehensive din ako... Waaaah....

Angels brought me here...

Last week I was in Manila. (Nakwento ko na yung mga ginawa ko dun diba. Just look at my pictures and match them with the dates. Hehe.) I went back to Iloilo on Tuesday, Feb12 on the 5am flight of Cebu Pacific. At 1am, I was still in UP Los Banos.

I was supposed to leave at 2am kase sabi ko wala naman traffic... pero dahil i was warned by a lot of people na baka ma-late ako sa pag-check-in, I left at a little past 1am na lng (1:21am, my watch). Aandap-andap na yung battery ng fone ko non... pambihira talaga. I rode a jeep to Calamba. When I got there, I told the driver of the jeep that I was going to Alabang so he dropped me off dun sa pila ng mga jeep to Alabang. Dalawa lang kaming sakay ng jeep: ako at isang matandang lalaki. Sa sobrang antok ko ay umidlip muna ako... ngunit di ako mapakali dahil 1:43am na at wala nang tao sa daan. Sumakay si Mamang Driver sa jeep at nakipag-kwentuhan sa akin. Nabanggit ko na papunta akong airport at 5am ang flight ko at kelangan sana nka-check-in nako by 3 or 4am. Sabi nya, 10 passengers daw ang kailangan before kami umalis pa-alabang and 35php ang pamasahe. So, we waited. 2:10am na... wala pa ring dumagdag sa mga pasahero. Alam na ni Manong Driver na ako ay medical student, na nakatira ako sa iloilo ngayon, na mahal ang airfare, nag-graduate ako sa uplb, etc..etc...etc... As in nakapag-kwentuhan na kami ng matagal. Hindi ko na maitago ang aking kaba dahil pasado alas dos na at nasa Calamba pa rin ako! Tinanong ako ni Mamang Driver kung ano mangyayari pag di ako umabot sa plane at ang sagot ko ay: "Hindi po ako makakauwi!" na halos pasigaw at may konting panic sa boses. Grace under pressure? Ano yun?! haha. :)

Ewan kung anong hangin ang umihip at sabi ni Manong Driver: "Punta na lang akong San Pedro. Dun madaming alabang na jeep, 24 hours. Ok lang ba sayo?" E never pa kaya ako nakadaan dun. Wala akong idea sa daan na San Pedro-Alabang, pero sumagot na lang din ako ng oo. Basta umaandar kami. At kami ay lumipad papuntang San Pedro. Sobrang bilis namin. I'm sure we broke a lot of traffic rules that morning. Every so often, Manong Driver would smile at me from the rear view mirror. Ako naman, kabadong-kabado.

Ako at ung matandang lalaki na kasabay ko sa jeep ay bumaba sa San Pedro at pareho din kami ng sinakyan na jeep papuntang Alabang. Lumipad nanaman kami pa-Alabang at di pa ko umiinit masyado sa upuan ko e pababa na ulit kami. Sa Alabang, sasakay dapat kami ng taxi (kasama ung matandang lalaki na kanina ko pa kasabay) pero mahal kasi papuntang airport so nag-bus na lng kami. Di naman nagtagal na masyado ang bus at lumipad nanaman kami papuntang Magallanes. Grabe. Parang nagkakarera talaga yung mga drivers. Ambilis at nag-che-change pa ng lanes, at madaling araw nun ha! Bumaba ako sa Magallanes at sumakay ng taxi (kasama ko pa rin si matandang lalaki). Buti na lang mabait si Mamang TaxiDriver. Kinwentuhan pa sya nung kasabay kong matandang lalaki na medical student ako, galing nga akong Los Banos nagbakasyon at papunta ako ng airport dahil 5am ang flight ko pauwi ng iloilo. O diba, ang saya, nag-chikahan pa sila. Binaba namin si Manong before we turned for the airport dahil papunta pala syang Baclaran.

At 4:09am, my watch, nakaupo na ako sa departure area sa Domestic Airport. Paano ako naka-abot sa check-in? Di ko alam. Basta, alam ko lang, lumipad kami. Sana pagpalain ni Lord si Manong Driver ng Calamba jeep papuntang Alabang na pumunta na lng ng San Pedro. Pagpalain nawa sya ng marami.

Pagdating ko dito sa IVHome ng iloilo, nag-text ako na nakauwi na ako. At ang reply ng Nanay ko ay: "Ptl! pray kami ng pray ni tatay. Wag mo na ulitin yang ganyan na trip."

malamig

Brrrr.... February this year is so cold here in Iloilo. The heavens are always threatening to rain and dark clouds hover over everything. Sometimes, they make good with their threat. You could also see clouds moving thick and fast to cover the moon at night. There aren't any stars to be seen. It's been like this since the start of February. The wind blows strongly and there is a bite in the air. It doesn't feel like summer is coming soon. Waking up in the morning is a struggle. It's just wonderful to snuggle in for five minutes more.... and another five minutes more. I hardly get to walk to school these days because I always sleep in a little bit more so I have to ride the jeep to keep from being late. The water coming out of our faucets is like water from our fridge! (Oh how I miss the warm tap waters of Los Banos at this time.) I get blue nails when I take a shower in the morning! Inay ko... ang lamig talaga.

It's also cold in school. Malamig sa classroom. Ang lakas ng aircon. Malamig sa library. May electric fan pa. Malamig din naman tumambay sa labas dahil malamig ang hangin. I feel like I shall never be warm again. Kahit na may jacket ka pang suot... malamig talaga.

Brrrrrr..... ang ginaw talaga.... e ginawin pa naman ako.... brrrrr....

birthday love

Happy Happy Birthday!

Feb 14: Mike, Jahmez, Kuya Cres

Feb 15: Kuya Andre, K, Jenmai, Aya

*yakapnamahigpit*

Manila, I keep coming back to Manila!

February 8-12 , 2008. Marathon weekend ko sa Manila. Stayed with Thea in Cubao. Thank you thank you Lord for this break and thank you tita edna for making it possible. wheeeeee!!!

Friday, Feb8, 7pm. I flew to Manila and arrived at about 8pm sa Domestic Airport. Sinundo ako ni Mayk. Yey. Then we took the bus home to Thea's house in Cubao. Sinundo muna pala namin si Kit sa Farmer's and umuwi na kami. Pinagluto kami ni Thea (yes, di nga ko makapaniwala e) ng pasta at chocolates. :p Natulog kami ng 2am?! And there was evening and there was morning on the 1st day.

Saturday, Feb9, 10am. I had a date with my Avo friends at Trinoma. :) After 2 years ay nagkita ulit kami. Yey! So there was Annjo, Johnell, Lory and Louie and Nadia, and Diana. We had brunch at Heaven n' Eggs and tambay sa Starbucks after. I left Di and Annjo at about 3pm kasi I had to go to Edren's debut pa (which is why I went to Manila in the first place.hehe.)

Saturday, Feb9, 7pm. Edren's debut at Manila Diamond Hotel. I went with the Garcia's to the venue dahil hindi ako marunong pumunta dun mag-isa. So nung naghiwalay kami ng Kisay friends ko sa Trinoma ay nagsimula ang aking adventure papunta sa bahay nila Jaivy sa Tondo. I had to ride the MRT to Cubao where I rode the LRT2 to Recto. From there, I rode a jeep to Blumentritt and then another jeep to Solis where I got off at Tores High. And here was me from sleepy little Iloilo. Muntik-muntikan lang naman akong maligaw. Muntik lang. Buti na lng at marunong akong magtanong. At ayon, dugyot akong dumating sa Tondo at dun na lng ako nag-prepare para sa debut ni Edren. Masaya ang debut ni Edren. Ang saya ng mga table-mates ko! yey! At ang saya din mag-picture-picture. Syempre. I think 2am na rin kami nakauwi after. And there was evening and there was morning, on the 2nd day.

Sunday, Feb10, 9am. Morning worship service @ CBC, my home church. Yey! After 2 years ay nakabalik din ako. Yey! Since malayo ang Caloocan sa Cubao, e kinailangan din akong gumising ng maaga. I rode the MRT to Recto, then LRT to Monumento. Aliw nga e. Parang wala ako sa Pilipinas kase trains lang ung mga sinakyan ko. After the service, kaming mga ExtraJoss ladies ay nag-lunch together at after nun ay dinalaw namin si Tere who had just given birth to Baby Thea, sa Tayuman. :)

Sunday, Feb10, 4pm. After ng visit namin kila Tere, ay dumiretso na ako sa next date ko. Si Frozti sa Gateway, Cubao! :) I again rode the LRT in Tayuman, went to Doroteo Jose, took the Ube Train to Cubao. Voila, Gateway na. And dun ay nagkwentuhan kami ni Frozti hanggang dumating naman ang next dates ko na mga esvee alumni! Frozti went home to Bulacan na and kami namang mga esvees ay tumuloy sa house ni Tita Bing. Desi followed us there. Inabot kami dun ng 9pm!

Sunday, Feb10, 9pm. Ay nagmadali na akong pumunta sa mga KCmates ko sa Starbucks sa Megamall at deadbat na ang phone ko. When I got there, wala na sila. I went to the comfort room to freshen up at paglabas ko, yey! andun sila Jenmai at Bhoy2. Sinundo nila ako at lumipat na pala sila sa Starbucks sa Shang. At andun kami sa Shang naghalakhakan at nagkulitan hanggang dumating si Heero kung saan sa Chowking naman kmi naglokohan. Hehe. I got home at about 3am siguro. And there was evening and there was morning, the 3rd day.

Monday, Feb11, 1130am. I went to Paranaque to visit my aunt who had bone cancer (Multiply Myeloma). It was a blessing to listen and to talk with her. At about 3pm, I set off for UPLB. Yey! Dumating ako dun ng mga 530pm at nagkita kami ni Manong Jaja. After my dinner date with Manong, ay naki-gulo na ako sa mga esvees sa Baker. Yey! Yey! FebFair!!! Ang sayasayasayasaya! I didn't sleep because I had to leave for the airport at about 1am. So from Los Banos, I took a jeep to Calamba, then jeep to San Pedro, then jeep to Alabang, then bus to Magallanes, then taxi to Domestic Airport. I'll tell you about this particular adventure in my next blog. Hehe. Amazing! And there was evening and there was morning, the 4th day.

Tuesday, Feb12, 5am. Flight ko yan back to Iloilo. At 10am ang class namin. :) Buti na lng wala pala kaming 8am class. Nalaman ko na lng when I arrived. Hehe. And morning na ulit, I was back in Iloilo na. I had a splitting headache all day and groggy for lack of sleep (pero di ako nakatulog sa class! yey!). Buti yung 10am lng ang class namin whole day and we just consulted sa prof namin nung 3pm so nakabawi din ako ng tulog kahit paano.

So ang saya. In the course of 5 days, I was able to ride airplanes, trains, buses, jeepneys, tricycles, taxis, cars and vans. Boat lang ang di ko nasakyan at helicopter. Hahahaha! I went from Iloilo to Cubao, to Caloocan, to Tondo, Roxas Boulevard, Paranaque and Los Banos. Ang saya! Thank you Lord for a wonderfully refreshing weekend kahit na physically nakakapagod. Yey! *clap,clap*

Uwian na...

.... these, among other things....

And I'm back to my normal world after a crazy and long marathon weekend in manila....

Daniel's Prayer

Last night was the Night of Prayer for IVCF Iloilo and we had it here in IVHome. Ate Mizpah shared the Word and our text was Daniel 9. She made us read the passage and list down what we learned about prayer from God and Daniel. And here are some of the things we learned:

It is good to know the Scriptures when you pray. It's like doing your homework. Know what the Lord's promises are so you can claim them. How can you claim what you do not know you're entitled to? Know what He said so you can converse with God regarding these things. Daniel knew that Israel's desolation was supposed to be only 70years, and yet it was already way past the deadline. So Daniel implored God to remember them.

When he prayed, Daniel appealed to the character of God. This, I liked a lot. God cannot disown himself. It is the one thing that He cannot do. Daniel did not present his righteousess as the ace to get the Lord to listen to him, neither did he use Israel's pityful state to blackmail God into answering; rather, he counted on God doing 'what God does best' because that's just how and who He is. I like what is written in 2 Timothy 2:11-13... "This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us. If we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself." And so the Lord restored Israel and made sure that their desolation will end because He is who He is.

When we pray, an answer is given. And it is God who gives understanding and insight to the answers He gives. Cool noh? We do not pray in vain. We are sure the God we are praying to hears and listens to what we say, and he answers.

God restrains himself and allows us to take part in His work here on earth by praying. Isn't this such a great privilege? Although God can carry on a one-man show, He chooses not to. The God who is perfect and able to do anything allows us to have a part in the goings-on of the universe. It's not that He needs us to tell him what to do or not to, but rather he allows us to put in our two-cents worth of thoughts, desires, and requests.

It is our responsibility to pray for our country and our people. Need I explain this? I am guilty of forgetting to pray for the Philippines. Imagine what could happen if we all prayed for God to turn the Philippines around and heal our land?

Praying is our privilege. Praying is our responsibility. It was a blessing to attend the NOP last night and pray. Lord, continue to teach us to pray. In Your Name, Amen.