My 2008

2008 had been a different year for me. i guess if i can describe it in one word, it will be work. hehe. but summarizing my year would be:

1. meeting long-time blogsy friends. i've been blogging for four years with blogspot. and besides those that i have known before i started, i've only met two bloggers. but for this year, i've met four. and the funny thing is, these are the bloggers that keep themselves anonymous. Abaniko, Wil and Ate Toe. they had been in my blogroll for the longest time. abaniko and ate toe, being one of my first blogsy friends.

2. the angels. i've met most of them last year, but it's just this year that abet's angels had been a reality. it's also great meeting Meyms in person. also meeting Abet, Sally, Jassy and Nona for the first time.



3. meeting new people. i've met a lot of new people this year. most of them from Multiply, starting with Yen. these are great people, funny people. i would not enumerate anymore, okay?

4. going to new places. compared to last year, i've travelled less this year. first time to go to hot air balloon festival/tacsiyapo, visit anawangin, seeing taal volcano upclose, surf in la union. and of course visit singapore and malaysia.



5. being healthy. as i've told my friends, i've never been sick this year. only got hit by a truck. hahaha. i guess i have superpowers. getting hit by a truck and yet, only got a bodyache for a few days? whoa!

6. sseayp. we became host family for two sseayp delegates. this gave me an idea on their life and got to be inside the ship! fyi, i had applied for sseayp on 2004 and didn't pass. sad but that had been like my funniest application/interview/audition

7. getting thin. this is one achievement for me this year. to shed some pounds. something unbelievable happened. hehe. but really a big thanks to ate rezza.

8. weddings. i've attended a lot of weddings this year. and got a chance to be a coordinator (for the day) and be the host.

hmm.. as i am writing this, it dawned on me that still a lot of good things happened to me this year. what i've mentioned above are just a few. for all those who had been part of my 2008, thank you. and hope i'll still encounter you in 2009. and i hope to meet more blogsy friends in 2009. have a fabulous year everyone :)

Sadly Mad

the other day, i saw my econsoc sis and she told me: "Why do you look sad? it's the holidays." and i was like, "i'm not sad." then after a few hours, she texted me not to look sad. i was really surprised. later that night, i met with two friends, and i told them about it. they were like, "we know why she told you that, coz you're so irritable now." i told them, "sad is different from mad"

the next day, i met my highschool friends and they're like, "why do you look mad?"

i don't know what happened to my face or to my smile. does it have something to do with my hair? i'm always having a bad hair day. haaay...

My Lifeline

if i would describe my 2008 in an activity, it would be bungee jumping. but i was left hanging, still dangling. that if i let go i would really fall. but there are people who helped me keep hanging. if not for them, i'll surely have fallen. they're literally my lifesavers. there also others who have helped me such as tita gene and babylynne, kirby, pol, therine, thinz, family ko, etc. but i'm just going to focus to these two groups because they are the ones i text/email everyday. they kept me sane. and my mom knows already that if i'm going out with of these friends, i'll surely go home early in the morning already. hehe.

thank you my dear friends. i survived 2008 because of you. i love you all :)

the angels. talagang sulit unlitxt sa kanila. really patient in listening/reading my everyday rants. and can see behind my sunny disposition.
tin-tin, jamie (the stateside angel), abet (bossley), tin (our connector), joyce (you can depend on), sally (the buenja updater), jas (seriously sweet), nona (newest angel), meyms (so far yet so near angel), mei (ate), cher (mahal), sarah (thoughtful artist)


the wakieboardies/harpers. if the angels fill my cellphone inbox, these guys fill my email inbox. they can give me an award for best in drama this year. hehe.
son (miss pepsi), emcee (miss spontaneity), gabe (famous), dino (yosibreak friend), tristan (drunken moments caregiver), tin-tin

and to you my blogsy friends, thank you for still reading my posts all these years. Merry Christmas! and i hope i will meet more of you next year. a great 2009 for all of us. Happy New Year!

Balut! Balut!

as some of you knw, my family hosted two participating youths (PYs) of the Ship for Southeast Asia Youth Program (SSEAYP) 2008, Lilian from Singapore and Kaew from Thailand.

for them to be able to experience the philippine culture, we let them taste filipino food such as adobo, sinigang, chicken inasal, isaw, tenga ng baboy (pig's ear), mangoes, dried mangoes, etc etc. and of course balut!

on the first night, a mangbabalut (balut vendor) passed by our house. our maid got excited and called me to buy some for our guests. so we bought three.

then when the balut are in the table already, no one dared to try it. the guests won't try unless we do. and as a good host, i did.


it tasted like hard boiled egg, only the white is much tougher to chew. will i try it again? can i not? i just hope net time we have our foreign guests eric would still be awake so he'll be the one to show the visitors.

20 Years Ago...

this was supposed to be my birthday post but i did not have any time to post and i kinda lost the pictures. hehe.

these are my pictures 20 years ago. do i look the same? do i look cute? bwahahaha. but am sure they can't be used for blackmail :)
3 months?


1 year old?

kinder graduation

7th birthday

nearly 3 years old

Reunion

they say that reunions happen during two occasions, weddings and funeral. i believe this is true. even with the limited guests in weddings due to budget, this is still a venue to see old friends. and this had been proven for my highschool barkada. every year, we try to get together and yet, we never get to be complete or even close to completion. good thing there are three weddings this year, and i got a chance to see those i've last seen during college (like ton and gian). hopefully in december for richie's wedding, those who are in another country could also attend.

though it had been years already, and we've lived our own lives, i've noticed that we have not changed. we're still the same people as before. of course, change is inevitable but still as a whole the same old person is the same only better.

i've met the girls second year highschool, we had been classmates. and the guys, we've met in bld youth. it is during the times that there are just few members who are from north. since we are included in the few, we would go home together from prayer meetings until we all became friends.

since it's only again now that we've seen each other, we can't help but reminisce. it is funny to remember them crying because of heartaches from each other. funny, walang nagkatuluyan sa kanila. but as jay said, it is better that way since we get to attend more weddings and see each other more. hehe. highschool...

*pic from batts

Music Beat

i love music, though music hates me, i still love it. a long-time wish is to have a duet with this good singer, and we'll sing Better Days. but of course, my family and friends don't want to jeopardize my well-being that is why until now they have not granted it. of course, everyone's dream is to have a recording or an album of their own. and i also would like that. but that would really be impossible. that would be a joke.

but if ever i had been a good musician, that would not be a joke. i would like to have been given an opportunity. and there is this site that makes it a reality. their love for the music led them to establish have their own production. for the Beats they make, they share it to others. but of course, it comes with a fee. if you're into music and you hiphop, this site is for you. honestly, though it comes with a fee, it is okay. why? because they get a chance to help others also, especially aspiring musicians.

Blogger

i've been using blogspot or blogger.com for four years already. and after 230 posts, have i gained anything from it? actually, i do. i never expected that until now i'd still blog. i started to blog coz i don't have anything to do and i was so confused, but then now i'm blogging almost every week. what started as an online journal of some sort turned out to be a little money-earning thing, an informational tool, a realization venue and most importantly a way to meet a lot of wonderful people.

yes, i've met a lot of wonderful people through blogging. some i've talked to only online, and some i've met in real life. and they're really great.

i would just like to say thank you to my blogsy friends who had been with me all these years. i hope i would meet in person more blogsy friends and for those i've already met, i hope to see you guys again.

this post, is just to say thank you to all of you. thank you! thank you! thank you! :)

Ouchy Back

i'm still suffering from back pains and this week had been the worst. can't have bentosa coz i'm going to attend a wedding on saturday. so i'll just have it hopefully this sunday. i don't know what's causing it. most probably bad posture. i admit i have a bad posture. there are also some who had been saying osteoporosis. i know i just turned 28 the other week, but hello?!?! isn't 28 still young?

but one thing they can't tell me is i lack calcium. if one day a doctor would diagnose me of lack of calcium, i'll really laugh or get mad. if there's one kind of vitamin that my body is full of, it would be calcium. unless, what they say about milk being a source of calcium is false. i love milk. everyday, i drink milk. i don't eat breakfast but i have to drink milk in the morning. that's my breakfast. it can substitute water for me. i guess, my skin is like this also because of milk. so it would really be funny if i'll have low calcium. i may get emphysema or lung cancer even if i never smoke, because of second-hand smoking. but lack of calcium, that then would be funny.

actually, this is a nonsense post. i just have to update my blog and my back is still really ouch-ouch.

Bentosa/Ventosa

the other week, i had a very bad backache for two consecutive afternoons. it was really painful, i can't work well. coz of the pain, i was deciding if i'll have a bentosa. i'm not a massage person. i hate massages. it makes me have more body aches afterwards, that is why bentosa if perfect for me.

what is bentosa/ventosa?

bentosa is using a cup/glass to suck the "lamig" from your back. lamig is a tagalog term for the one that they say causes the back pains. im not sure if it's really cold in english.

it's just easy to use. an officemate even did it to me for free. you just need a glass/cup, gas, cloth, coin and rubber band. wrap the coin with the cloth and tie it with the rubber band. place on your back/pressure points and cover it with the glass. light the inside of the glass with the gas and fire. okay.. i dont know how youll light it coz i haven't seen how it was done since i was facing backwards. and i don't think kim still has a copy of the pictures and video of my bentosa adventure.

then the your back will like rise. hehe. waah! i need pictures. i'll have a bentosa again just to have pictures. the more lamig you have in your back, the higher or redder it will become. it's not a good sight actually. i remember my dad panicking after seeing my marks.

why do i like bentosa? because it is effective. i won't have backache afterwards. and i don't feel any pain during the process.

i've heard bentosa from the news before when gwyneth paltrow wore a backless dress with her bentosa marks. it caused some commotion in the entertainment industry.

have i explained bentosa clearly? i don't know. a lot had been visiting my site when they search for bentosa. so now, i'm writing on what bentosa is.

in the philippines, the spa that i know that offers this is the sanctuario spa. but bentosa is a popular thing in the province that ordinary people can just do it.

paging ate france, can you do a bentosa on me again? hehehe ;p

It's My Birthday?!

for the first time in the history of mankind, i'm not excited for my birthday. before, i would always look forward to my birthday. my birthday is my favorite holiday. (yes, i consider it a holiday. hehe). but now, i am not excited. i really am not looking forward to november __. why? because:

1. i won't have any celebrations - to make this birthday unique from all my other birthdays, i plan not have any celebrations. i even volunteered my bday to be the day for tristan's bday celeb or the day we'll give his gift. as long as it's not about me.

2. i have lots of things in my mind right now and my bday is the least of it.

3. i'll again grow old but not grow up - when people ask me about my age, i easily answer it. i'm not shy about it. but as i think about it now, that i'll be 28 soon, it's like i'm embarrassed to say that i'm 28. it's not because i'm old. it's just that, it feels like i have not grown up. it's like i am more matured before. i am better before. it's like as i grown old, i grow down (okay, i don't know the opposite of growing up, hehe). i hope you get what i mean. it's like i have not matured. it's like i was better when i was in college than right now. hard to explain.

so there. and now it's already the last week of october. i can't believe it is november on saturday already. october just went as a blur.

Getting Big

a lot of people when they see me now tell me that i'm getting thinner or narrower or whatever. but honestly, it's the opposite. and it's not because i'm getting anorexic or what. promise, i'm really getting bigger. my pants are getting tight again. sad... hehe.

and what made me decide to lose weight again? i was supposed to wear this black dress in a party. but when i tried it on, it won't close!! ugh!!! that means i'm really bigger now. until now, i still can't accept that it doesn't fit me. the pic was taken three years ago. it's just three years, right?


i really need to lose weight. and i don't know how i'll do it especially if your friends influence you to pig-out (ate mei and jassy, hmph!). next month (sorry, i won't follow sam milby's movie to start right now), that would be what i'm doing. i'll exercise and have balanced diet.

but that means, i'm still big on birthday. waaah!

classic children's books

i found this in my list of draft posts. wrote it way back July 19, 2006. got nothing to post, so i decided to post this now. but still unfinished. hahaha.

my brother is in college now. and good thing my sister teaches english, so it's now from her that i get to read good books.

i love to read. i really do. i read anything and everything. books would be a good gift for me, coz i'll really appreciate it. right now, the books that i would to read are Little Prince (again.. i'm looking for our copy), and Catcher in the Rye. how about you? what would you like to read now?

and now for my unfinished blog...

finally! i've finished of mice and men. have started it when my brother got his schoolbooks for this schoolyear and i just finished it last night. really slow reading. hehehe. it's a nice book. i've cried in the ending.

another good thing about my brother's school is that every year they have a required reading. and the book is a classic one. because of this, i've got a chance to read these books.

examples are charlie and the chocolate factory (if not for my brother, won't be able to read this before there was a movie. hehe),charlie and the glass elevator, the twelfth angel (my favorite book. read it when i was still in highschool), the lost boys, the old man and the sea.

My Name Is...

was supposed to post this before, but instead posted Forgotten.

i have several names.. some call me tin-tin, kristine, rocha, pretty tin...

and i like it that way, because i know how i met them, thru the name they call me.

most of those who knew me as rocha would always be unsure on how to introduce me to other people, if they'll use rocha or tin-tin or kristine.

anyway, i am okay with having plenty of names, since i get to have an idea who is calling me.

if it's rocha, it would be from highschool or bld. that is why, i still am not used to bld people calling me tin.

kristine is for work. in my work now, only those from our office calls me tin. the consultants call me kristine.

tin-tin is for family, college and after college friends.

and pretty tin, mostly for econsoc. it started there, so i guess that's the reason why most of those who call me pretty tin are from econsoc.

well, you can call me however you like. as long as it's not bad words, okay? :)

Your Name Is...

i have a crush in church. i don't know him personally. we just see him in church. and since we do not know him, nor anything about him, we just guess.guessing his age, and now guessing his name. my sister's guess is james or jonathan. for my brother, it's chris.

someone suggested enrico or diego. but with how looks, my sister and i don't think it's either.

it got me thinking. does a name fit a face? or can certain names really describe/represent a face?

do i really look like a kristine?

Birthday Wish

to be honest, i told myself way back that i'll not post another bday wishlist. but i can't help myself. am posting one again. hehehe. before making your christmas list, consider my bday list first, okay? my bday comes before xmas anyway. hehehe.

1. an all expense paid out of the country trip
2. an all expense paid out of manila trip
3. free roundtrip out of the country airfare ticket
4. free roundtrip out of luzon airfare ticket
5. free businessclass roundtrip ticket
   
6. a free spa treatment
7. a free make-over (tristan!!!! happy birthday to you)
8. a boyfriend! hahaha

yes i know it's mostly about free travel. but what i really like is that my day would be special in a good way :)

Forgotten

sometimes i would go into hibernate mode from text messaging and the likes, i guess it's my time for myself or for other matters. but as a friend tells me, you should be careful when you go into a hibernate mode, because your friends or people might get used to of your absence.

i don't know why, but recently, this is what i am thinking. people would not really notice if i become gone. or become quiet, unless i do not send the morning prayers or the forwarded text messages. but my stories (as if i love telling stories) or other personal experiences, people would not miss.

i'm not afraid of death. honestly, i do not fear dying. what i fear is that i'll totally be forgotten.
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this is what not i was really supposed to blog about. i don't know i just want to write it. that's all. end of drama mode

Malaysia? Why Not?

before anything else, i would like to say thank you first to kyels for answering all our queries about malaysia. and apologies also. but kyels had been one of the nice malaysians that i've encountered. thanks kyels!

we only had a daytour of kuala lumpur. with our 12-hour stay in malaysia (we chose to cut the stay short), there had been only three highlights for me and my sister.


1. the ritz-carlton hotel experience. if ever i'll return to malaysia, i would really prefer to stay there. the staff especially the concierge were really friendly and helpful. and i like the amenities. life-saver. hehehe.

2. chinese temple (sorry forgot the name of the temple). i really wanted to go here to witness live what you see on tv. what makes it more wonderful for me is that we got to experience how they worship and did the fortune thing. what was my fortune? "you will tie the knot." i know this is about matrimony and not tying the knot of a gift wrap. hehehe


3. meeting this chinese guy who helped us in finding the pavilion. he doesn't really know the way but he still led us there and even called up his friend to ask for the directions.

wait! there could a fourth highlight. the immigration when we entered malaysia. the immigration guy was really friendly even if we did not have any embarkation pass. and he's the first friendly malaysian we've met, which had been a major relief especially since our bus driver was rude.

if you will notice, 3 out of the four highlights that we had has something to do with people helping us and being friendly. it's because our malaysia trip was really an adventure. and since it was just the two of us who have no idea of the place, these people had really been blessings for us. we really felt lost in malaysia. when we ask for directions from different people, we'll also receive three different directions. and even if the place we're asking is just on the next street, they do not know it. and we're talking about major places.

i'm sure our friends in singapore find us amusing when they asked us about our trip in malaysia. it's because when we answer it's like we're traumatized with our trip. hehehe. i don't think my sister and i would return there soon, or if at our own expense.

but if you're into designer stores, you'll love it there. coz you'll see designer stores almost everywhere. and we're talking about really high-end stores.

oh well.. at least i got to see the place. i just hope the next time i'll be able to visit it, i'll have a more pleasant stay.

Singapore, Again?

why would i return to singapore? several reasons:

1. i'd like to explore it more
2. experience luge
3. and night safari. the one thing i'd like to experience and yet never got a chance to
4. go back to sentosa when it's not raining
   
5. to have lunch/dinner with ann and julie
6. to see cesar and rey. wakeboarding? hahaha
7. buy ballpens so mark10 kids will lead the prayers again. hehe
8. to buy an umbrella! - this is our main purpose in going to singapore the last time, but i was not able to buy one. yup, the umbrella should be bought in singapore. hehe.

there are lots of other reasons, but for now this will be it.

*forgot to mention.. another reason.. so that bld people in singapore would have a reunion again. hehe ;p

Friends are Gifts from God

in every trip that i have, i always have a realization afterwards. and for the recently concluded singapore trip, it's realizing that i'm really blessed with the best friends God can bestow to someone.

i'm really thankful for my friends who are now based in singapore for having the time to see, accompany and help me and my sister when we were there. most of them really had to travel far (yes, i know it's just an mrt away..but still it's a 30-minute ride), the tiring walking around. and also spending lots of cellphone load to call and text us. hehe. and also for the treat.. food trip galore. hehe. because of this i slightly fell in love sa singapore.

for beng who offered their house to us. accompanied us even if it's raining (malay ba natin na uulan) and even if it means luluwas siya out of tampines. hehe
for tatee and mike who accompanied us to sentosa even if it's their nth time there. tatee, for watching song of the sea and touring us around town; and mike for the lovely photos
i'll back so that the bld people can have a reunion again, hopefully in less than a year's time. hehe

for ljieu and linc who accompanied us all throughout. foodtrip galore

for julie who went all the way just to get my gift for my inaanak. hehe.
for ann, the birthday girl, who would supposedly meet me on her special day. i'm really sorry ann.

i'm also thankful for the angels to whom (that are here) i have first announced where i'm going and when i asked them what they would like for me to bring home for them, they have the same reply : that i'll enjoy my vacation and that would be enough. i'm really touched with that. thank you. i did enjoy the vacation.
for kyels who helped with our malaysia questions.
for those who prayed that i'll have this vacation: kirby, wakieboardies, chian, jewel.. thank you.

and of course to my sister, who had been patient. hehehe.

yup, this is just a thank you post. coz that weekend just really showed me how much blessed i am with my friends. it truly is an incredible weekend and that is thanks to my friends

*bld pictures (first two) are from mike

Ramblings

1. i saw an avp this week made for my dad's highschool reunion. there were pictures of him (recent pictures) smiling. and i was like shocked. because his smiles were like my smiles when my pictures are taken. the missing eyes smile.

yihee! sweet! hahaha
wait! just look at the smiles and not our big bodies. hahaha

2. nowadays, i sleep late. it's because i'm getting addicted to a taiwanese series (pobs, this is all your fault. hehe) and korean movies (dyo, your fault. hehe). however late it is, i will watch one episode of the series or one movie. or if time permits, one each. hehehe. and because of this, my sister asked me the other day if i would like to go with them to south korea next year when they visit the place. hahaha

3. last week, i was looking for consultants and their capabilities. so how do i do it? via google. when i got a free time, i tried to google my name. nothing about me. hehehe. it's only when i searched for pretty tin that it's really related to me. but when you search for this certain store in google, there's a big probability that my blog would be the number one result

4. for the past three weeks, dad of a friend would die. every week. i know everyday someone is dying. but if it's every week and if it's a family member of someone you know, it's really saddening. again, my condolence and prayers to my friends and their families.

License to be Pretty

one day, Ate Toe and i were chatting and she told me that after five years she once again got her philippine driver's license. welcome back ate toe! i asked her how was her picture. she said that of course, no one is beautiful at their driver's license photo. i totally objected. i'm proud of my picture on my driver's license. hehehe. i remember when i got my license. i really smiled for the camera. and my sister was like saying that i was OA. but when we both got our license, she kept on asking why i looked good. hahahaha. even if it's not a picture for friendster, still i smile like it's going to be my primary pic in the internet. of course! coz i'm sure other people would still see it.

what i just do not like with my license is my signature. i really can't understand how my signature here is way different than my original signature. oh well...



so what can you say about the picture? i'm sure it's not also obvious that i haven't taken a bath yet when that was taken. hahahaha

20 Questions

Again, it's after 20 years before I discovered that I was tagged by Meyms. Meyms, not following directions ka kse. Sabi inform the person that he/she was tagged. You didn't inform me. hehehe. anyway, here are my answers

Here's the rule: Remove 1 question from the list below, and add your own personal question to make it a total of 20 questions. Tag 8 people, list them out at the end of this post. Notify them in their chat box that he/she has been tagged. Whoever does the tag will have blessings from all.

1. At what age do/did you wish to marry?
-28 or 29.. next year (2009) so i could still be 28 or already 29 by then

2. What color do you like most?
-pastel colors

3. If you can have a superpower, what would it be?
-The ability to read people’s mind. --> same. coz that's the kind of superpower i don't like to be used at me

4. If you can travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?
-cambodia, bora bora

5. Which part of you that you hate the most?
-tummy

6. When you get sad, what do you do?
-eat chocolate, pray

7. What are you afraid to lose the most?
-My family

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do with the money?
-Dollars? Buy a house and car. treat my whole family to an out of the country travel (most probably just in korea. hahahaha). all expense paid trip fo my friends to boracay. invest (could be stocks, real estate, or buy condo unit which i'll rent out). donate to kanlungan sa erma and other charities.

9. What do you love the most last year (2007)?
-personal travels almost every month

10. How did you get your name?
-Kristine Marie - from Christ and Mary; Rocha - my music teacher misread my surname;
prettytin - i don't know. econsoc just started calling me by that name

11. What is the moment you regret most?
-no regrets

12. What type of person do you hate the most?
-feelers

13. What is your greatest asset?
-physically?

14. If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
-peace on earth

15. How did you celebrate the New Year?
-syempre sa hotel. for four years already, we never celebrated it at home. my mom doesn't like to celebrate it at home. but i just slept

16. Name the one body part your hubby or boyfriend tells you he adores.
-wait! i have to know first the name of my boyfriend

17. It's 2008. What are you looking forward to this year?
-new career

18. Anything in your life that you wish weren't so awful?
-ummm... can't think of any at the moment

19. What's the shallowest thing you intend to do this year?
-have a vacation

20. Where will you be 10 years from now?
-i have to ask my hubby first

so, who will i tag? emcee, manilenya, ate ghee, lizeth, mel, wil, ate ann, richard

An Update on The New Tin-tin

so what is the update on my post The New Tin-tin? am i successful? have i achieved my goal? i still cannot see my collarbone. but when people see me they say that i'm really thinner. but when i weigh, our scale would show no change. i even gain weight. but my clothes are somehow more loose now. or maybe zasam is right. manang luz, our dear laundrywoman, is not good in washing my clothes anymore that's why they became loose. hehehe.

sorry i can't show any pictures. the latest picture that i have is last July 6. but 5 days after that (after not going home for three days), when my mom saw me she did not recognize me because according to her i look like an addict. weh!

i'd like to thank ate rezza who helped me achieve my goal. well, i still really have not reached my goal but it's okay coz at least from this point, i know that it is possible and i'm really headed towards there. thanks ate rez!

Jeepney Ride

one of the facts i mention when i get tagged is that i would rather walk than ride the jeepney. but i do ride the jeepney. when i ride the jeep before it was not a big deal, but now...

four hours of bus ride would give you and your companion a chance to talk anything and everything under the sun. that's what happened to jason and i when we went to Anawangin. we talked about everything, as in everything, even economics! so don't be surprised that we talked about riding the jeepney. i remember telling him that as much as possible i don't ride the jeep. that i just walk home from the office than ride a jeepney. and why is it?

(1) i really think that i smell more polluted when i ride the jeep
(2) i just don't like the feeling of having your skin touch your seatmate who is sweaty

i'm not being mean. i'm just being honest. and i'm not being maarte or judgmental. i still ride the jeepney. when i go the prayer meeting, i sometimes ride the jeep. so why am i writing this and sounds defensive? it's because of this picture...

it was taken inside a jeepney. that's me in green! and i did not just photoshop myself there. and to clear to Yen that i do ride the jeepney.

is my preference not to ride the jeep makes me maarte?

and if there's a jeep from west ave. to coron, i'll definitely ride that! it's an airconed jeep, right?

The New Tin-tin

when i saw my friends recently, i can only hear one comment.. "you're getting thin." but a former officemate who have seen me years ago and i have not seen for a while had a different remark: "tin, what happened? you're getting big." i can't blame her. coz i'm really bigger now. but compared with the past months or last year, i'm really getting smaller. yehey! and next week, i'll really try to slim down more. i have a goal now. and i think more than ever, it's only now that i'm really determined to slim down. when will i be satisfied? if i can see my collarbone. bwahaha. or just to be like in the picture again...

i can't find a better picture. sorry. hehehe. basta starting tomorrow, i'll be disciplined so i will lose weight. i still can't accept that i weigh more than eric. and to think that he's taller than me. and he's the one who's eating all the food in our house. waah!

oh well.. goodluck tin-tin. especially now that i don't have to walk far just to get a cab. i just hope i'll be successful. no, i'm not hoping that i'll be successful. i know that i'll be successful. hahaha

Another Survey

as my Multiply contacts are aware of, most of the time I would get to read about their post after 6(?) months. hehehe. and this is one of those I've just read recently which was posted by Ate Mei last January pa. hehe. sorry if my posts recently have been more of surveys.

1. Is it difficult for you to look into someone's eyes when you are telling them how you feel?
= kind of. i don't know. i have problem in concentrating to just look in one's eyes. i need to look at other things because i always need distractions. and that doesn't mean i'm not telling the truth ha

2. You are on a flight from Honolulu to Chicago non-stop. There is a fire in the back of the plane. You get enough time to make ONE phone call. Who would you call?
= either my mom or my sister

3. You are at the doctor's office and she has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. (A) Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? (B) What do you do with your remaining days? (C) Would you be afraid?

A = hmmm... this i don't know. i could possibly tell people so that they would become nice to me. hahaha. and sometimes when you announce it, it doesn't happen. so my life would be extended pa

B = i'll call everyone i know and invite them to one big farewell party. i would write a thank you and goodbye post. i would just like to see everyone who had been part of my life. and of course go to confession

C = no way. i guess i would even be excited to see God

4. You can have one of the following two things: trust/love.
= i think it's a package deal when you have love. because if you love, you truest.

5. You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late one more time you get
fired. What do you do?
= same with ate mei. i'll ask someone to help. the dog might bite me. hehe

6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
= london. i don't know, that's the first thing that came to my mind. but i'll be okay even if it's just amanpulo just as long as i'll be able to relax. hehehe

7. Think of the last person who you really knew that died. You have the chance to give them 1 hour of life back, but you have to give one year of your life. would you?
= i absolutely would.

8. Are you the kind of friend that you would want to have as a friend?
= i guess. coz i think i'll be lucky to have me as a friend.

9. Does love = sex?
= nope. two entirely different things

10. Your best friend dies, what would you do?
= cry malamang. iyakin na kse ako. help in preparing for the services. and same with ate mei, i'll slightly be envious coz nasa heaven na siya

11. When and how was the last time you told someone HONESTLY how you felt?
= honestly feel? ummm... am not really sure. maybe last week

12. What would be harder for you, to tell someone you love them or that you do not love them back?
= that i don't love them back

13. What do you think would be the hardest thing for you to give up?
= hmmm... i really can't think of anything

14. Excluding romantic love, when was the last time you told someone you loved them?
= recently. coz i always tell my friends that i love them especially if i really feel them to be a blessing

15. If you had to go back in time and change one thing, if you HAD to, even if you had "no regrets" what would it be?
= really big secret. but also could be school for college. i don't regret going to uplb, especially since i really enjoyed my college life and my friends from there are really the best things that happened to me. but sometimes i ask myself what if we have sticked to the original plan of me studying in manila. i'm sure my life now would entirely be different and that's what i'd like to know

16. Imagine. It is a dark night, you are alone, it is raining outside, you hear someone walking around outside your window. Who do you call?
= my mom. coz she's just beside me. yup, i now sleep beside my mom. hehe.

17. Would you give a homeless person CPR if they were dying?
= i don't know how to do a CPR

18. Are you old-fashioned?
= old-fashioned in what sense?

19. Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
='tis better to have loved and lost, than to not have loved at all - i just have to agree

20. Would you love someone who completes you or someone who loves you completely?
= someone who loves me completely... coz i think it would follow that i'll be more complete :)

Non-Negotiables

one of the main topics during our Mindoro trip was our Non-Negotiables when looking for a boyfriend/girlfriend. and this has been a constant topic recently with my friends. nd last friday, when i went out with the wakieboardies (i really missed you guys), this had been brought up again and again.

anyway, for me.. my non-negotiable is not to date an ex of a friend. maybe not really an ex but someone my friend got involved with in the past. that's why dino and tristan has no chance for me. sorry. hahaha.

how about you? what's your non-negotiables? for those who are already married, what were your non-negotiables before?

Ralph and Thinz, before you tell me that there are no non-negotiables and your requirements would be disregarded if you become inlove.. i'll agree to that.. but as much as possible, you try to stick to this non-negotiables.and i am sure, somehow we all have our own non-negotiables.

Friendship Never Ends (Thank You)

For my 27 years of existence in this world, it is only this year that I have experienced my lowest point. And I'm sure a lot of people would be surprised to hear this. 2008 had been a very different year for me. There had been memories for this year (Anawangin, Mindoro, dinner with friends), but there had been more of sad memories. Actually, it's just shallow but they affected me deeply. So how did I survive? How did I cope with my depression mode? It's thru my friends. There had been friends who I see once in a while that puts a smile on my face. But there are two groups in my friends list who had been there listening to my sad talks and made me laugh, comforts, understands and tried to be supportive. They are the Wakieboardies and the Angels.

They are special mentions because they are the ones I text or write when something is bothering me. They would just listen, sometimes has a comment but the important thing is they listen. That's why thank you my dear friends. You just don't know how much you've helped me to be sane.

Wakieboardies, I hope there'll be another out-of-town trip for us. Thank you for the pamorningan sessions. And for the spontaneous meet-ups. The emails, everything. I also hope people would not feel out of place when they're with us. Hahahaha. I just can't believe that one trip would make us bond like this.

Angels, I miss you girls. I don't know why I had been quiet. Even if I would really love to reply to your messages (text or ym), I really controlled myself not to. And I don't know why. Nagpapamiss. hahaha. Kay Papa Abet lang ako nagreply when he got back to Manila. Hehe. Hope to see you soon and I hope I can join again sa out of town trip nyo.

But to all my other friends who I have talked to this year, my new friends who I just met.. thank you. In your little ways, you've also helped me. Thank you!

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Jassy, I don't have kilig kwentos. But when I have, that would be my next post. Yup, contrary to popular belief, I don't have any kilig stories. Tin, okay na? Hehe.

Breakfast, Anyone?

when at home, i don't eat breakfast. for me, breakfast would just be drinking milk. but i would love to have breakfast with friends especially before reporting for work. it is okay with me to wake up extra early just to have breakfast with friends before going to work. it is my dream to do that. that is why i am thankful to dino coz he made that dream a reality when he suggested to have breakfast before when he had a thing in ortigas. and the reason why i was so envious when abet's angels has breakfast in makati.

lately, i've been having breakfasts with my college buddies. but it's not the usual breakfast where you wake up early. we had breakfasts because it's already 6am and we are still together. haay..

so why am i writing this? well, the sagada peeps had breakfast this morning. also, it's just that i am hoping to have breakfast with the angels one of these days. or with a friend before i start the day at work. i think it will be a great start of the day. unwinding before the stress kicks in. huh? what? hahaha. sorry for this nonsense post. i just have nothing to write.

hope everyone will have a great june :)

Pink Sisters

eversince, my favorite church is the Pink Sisters Church in New Manila. it's because the plce is really like holy. i love watching the pink nuns praying infront. yes, they're some kind of snobs because there are these rails that separate the nuns from the churchgoers. but still.. i love hearing mass there coz i really feel close to God. hehe.

edu would keep on telling us that praying in Pink Sisters and leaving your prayer petitions there, would really help you. it's effective to visit them and pray. and i believe him. coz after visiting them last holy week (in New Manila) and just recently (in Tagaytay), it's like my prayers were heard. and remember i mentioned before that i woke up one day feeling that there are people praying for me. i guess they are one of them.

anyway, what's my plan for the future? i have this certain plan that only the wakieboardies know about. but on the sunday the wakieboardies (minus tristan) went to to pink sisters, after the mass my family learned about that plan. was it after or during the mass? i am just amused with the reactions i got from my family when they learned about it. especially with my brother's suggestion so just that my plans would not push through. maybe in august, i'll make a suvey about that plan to see what your reactions will be. well, i got to ask some of the angels during one of the confi before. but i'm sure they think i am not serious. hehehe.

i'm sorry if my thoughts are scattered. it's been a while since i wrote in my blog. and i just can't believe that i've visited pink sisters thrice already this year. and two of those are in tagaytay. oh well... that's what you do when you need all the prayers...

Why I Should Buy a Camera Phone?

i am contented with my phone. especially since all i need in a phone is that i'll be able to send text messages and make a call. and i have a digicam, so why would i still buy a camera phone? then why is a camphone important?

well, it's important if you'll get hit by a truck. i would have taken a pciture of the spot where i got hit/fell. the driver's license of the truck driver especially if there's no photocopier around. picture of the truck and the driver. even the picture of the policeman. my picture right after i got hit.

or.. bring my digicam everywhere

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i would like to say thank you for my family and friends who became really concerned about me when they learned about what happened. touched ako! promise! i didn't realize you'd be that concerned. thanks everyone. love you!


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and i hope i'll not have bodyaches anymore so i can go to sagada. and start with poi

Different Topics in One Entry

i love my eyes. not only because when i smile it's really smiling, but also because after i cry (even after i cry really hard), after a few minutes there would be no signs that i cried.

i am a great friend. i am willing to sacrifice a lot of things for my friends. just this year, to be able to help my friends, there were some decisions made that is really life-changing for me (and my family).

i've realized why committing suicide is a sin. it's not only because you're killing (youself). but what makes it more sinful is because when you killed committed suicide, you've lost hope. you're losing hope in God and maybe faith in Him.

people really do come to your life for a reason. not everyone will stay. they are just really given to you during that time because God knows it's them that you needed during that specific time.

whenever i join raffle contests and pray that i win because i'm going to give the prize to somebody else, most of the time i win a major prize.

i have nothing to write these past few days, weeks and months. i am just updating my blog.

People and Places

it's not the plce nor the activity but the people you are with...

that is so true! and i got to prove that last weekend. the off-the-grillies went on an out of town trip. if before we always have activities.. surfing/harping, wakeboarding.. this time, it's really the art of doing nothing. as in they just slept in the afternoon. and yet, i still enjoyed the weekend. it had really been a relaxing weekend for me. something i wanted. and i don't think i'll enjoy the art of doing nothing if i was not with them.

another topic... i don't know if the world is small or the people i know are just everywhere. it's because whenver i go in an out of town trip, i would always see someone i know. i think it was only in batangas when we went wakeboarding that i did not see anyone i know. but what really amazed me (and even my friends) is seeing someone i know in baler! baler which is a very far place, a real adventure to go to. and yet, i would see a highschool classmate there?? amazing!

One Great Love

this is a report from my Multiply. and I was surprised coz Meyms texted me that when she searched for one great love in Google, my post was on second page. hehe. and i have nothing to post, so i'm just re-posting this.

because of Maalaala Mo Kaya (episode of Eddie Garcia and Gloria Romero), Meyms texted us who is our one great love. the replies ranged from serious answers to michael scofield.

Jassy asked something about having a feelings for someone but after awhile when you meet again, it'll be a different feeling altogether. i asked.. how would you define one great love? you can't say tit's the person you're inlove with from eversince to the present, coz if it is, it'll be unfair to your present partner. i opened the topic to my friends who were with me, they answered (especially emcee)...

according to Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, and Boston Legal, there are 2 great loves not one. first is the idealist and the second is the realist. idealist, your ideal one great love... and the realist, the one who would save you or catch you when you become broken hearted with the idealist.

i think that's right. with all the replies yesterday, they all had their one great love.. a part of their past.. but i think they would still meet another great love. this great love would be for forever, maybe that person would be the greatest love. hehe.

as for me, my friends said they know who my one great love is. and i think i know who they are saying. i don't know. as i said in my text reply.. "too early to tell." maybe they're right about my one great love. maybe siya yung idealist.. coz i know one day i would meet my realist :)

This is I

i got tagged by Ghee. and i am thankful for that so i'll have something to post. hehehe.

I AM kristine marie or tin-tin or more known as prettytin. hehe. (tacsiyapo girls, now you know why i used marie when i surprised you. hehe)
I WANT to have a spa weekend in another country (demanding. haha)
I HAVE good friends around me
I WISH i'm somewhere else
I HATE worrying too much
I FEAR cockroaches!
I SEARCH for pictures of my glossary. hehehe
I WONDER what my purpose is.. or what does God want for my life
I REGRET nothing? motto ko is no regrets
I LOVE God
I ALWAYS pray
I AM NOT secret..
I DANCE when I'm bored
I SING when I like to
I CRY when I'm really mad
I WRITE only in my blog
I WON in raffles
I AM CONFUSED with life
I NEED to use my passport
I SHOULD rest from Multiply first. hehe
THE LAST THOUGHT YOU GO TO SLEEP WITH IS Papa God, please be in-charge of my tomorrow...

Not a Princess Anymore

i'd always go the beach than in the mountains. i'd rather swim and go diving than go mountain climbing or trekking. and to think i don't know how to swim ha.

why? it's because i'm not fit for it. i remember when i was in college, our exams for PE1 was to go hiking/camping. and the first time i hiked (Peak 2), it literally took me four hours than the normal two to reach the place, and also twice the time in going down. as in i became popular in the group coz i was really the last and i was always falling (diba Dax?). thankfully there had been those kind enough to help me all throughout. yup, they were laughing at me from time to time but still they would help me. the next day, literally bodyaches and patay na kuko for me.

that is why i am so proud of myself last weekend when we went to to Anawangin Cove/Capones Island (and i'm really linking Ferdz and not Wikipedia. Ferdz, you should pay me). what we thought would just be a short and easy walk turned out to be a really tiring one. and not really easy. a rocky trail, and we're just wearing havs/flipflops.

but what amazed me was the fact that i was able to finish it. and i was not the last one.. especially, since there are times that those ahead of me are really ahead and i can't see them. then there are times i can't see those ahead and behind me. i was just alone and i would fall, with no one to see and help me. and yet i was able to stand again and finish it!!

it may sound shallow but if you'll ask my PE classmates, they would really be surprised. when i was on my own, i realized that i am such an adventurer now. not anymore a princess who would always need a knight in shining armor. just from time to time. hehe. and i am not that clumsy or unbalanced person anymore. promise! it was really an amazing achievement fo me.

and to the tacsiyapo girls/abet's angels, i'm really glad i followed. ang saya! :)

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another topic.. last week, i just woke up one day and felt that some people are praying for me. it was a nice feeling. thank you to all those who pray for me. thank you! thank you! thank you! you just don't know how much i appreciate that and how much it helps me. thanks :)

*picture c/o oros. (oros, kinuha ko na ha. khet di pa tyo friends. hehe)

Eric will be in College Already!

Eirc, my younger brother (as if I have other brothers), graudated from highschol last Sunday (March 16). it's a big deal for us coz eric's not a baby anymore. he had been our baby, 10 years younger than me and 7 years younger than my sister. so baby talaga. and now, he'll be in college! when my friends heard that he is graduating from highschool, they were also shocked. coz they always imagine eric as my baby brother. when i was in highschool, he was just four. and when i was in college, he's not yet even 10 years old. how time flies.

and as we were leaving lsgh last sunday, i realized it'll be my last time to step in that school well, maybe until i'll have a son of my own. hehe. i've somehow felt at home in that school. my brother studied there for 13 years and almost every year i'll be there for family day, recognition day, etc. yup,i would come with them on family days coz there'll be a lot of freebies. hahaha. and i had been my brother's chaperone when he enrolled in a basketball clinic there.

oh well.. time to grow. congratulations eric and to your classmates. tanda mo na! hehe

Casino

Have you ever been to Vegas? How about to a casino? Are you a casino fan? I am sure if you have been to one and go to another place, you can’t help but compare the casinos. Also, if you want to try out a casino, you would like to try the best place there is. And just like cameras or resorts, you would look for an online casino review. And if you’re lazy to leave or saving your gas, you would play in an online casino. I remember reading recently about a boss getting hooked in an online casino.

I have never tried going in a casino nor visiting an online casino. Could this be a good time now to try it out? I would like to try out an online slot machine. And I miss playing a roulette. I have a roulette toy when I was a kid (hehe), and maybe I should try playing it in real life now. I am of age and I am earning my own money, so I can spend it the way I like it. Also, I have to check if it really is addicting or can I discipline myself? I hope I can.

Just Answering Some Questions

i have read this in Rex's blog and super naaliw lang ako. so i'll answer it. and for the reason that i have nothing to post. hehe.

What is the meaning of life? Life is touch and go. it's sink or swim. corny! i really don't know what life is.

If a tree falls in a forest with no one to hear, does it make a sound? Yes, it still does. as rex said, it's the sound of silence. Hehe. and i think the ants heard it.

What is the fundamental flaw in human nature? Pride or greed? Pride. i think everyone is a proud in someways and this is where problems start

Would you kill one person to save a thousand? However, that one person is the most important human being in your life. Would you still do it? ummm... depends who that thousands are. i guess i would be selfish.. yikes! i'm bad

Are men naturally polygamous? when i was younger, i believe in this that all men are polygamous. but now, i don't. and i hope i'm right in changing my views.

Are women naturally competitive with other women? I think everyone is naturally competitive with everyone else. - i just have to agree with the answer

"If all the world's a stage and we are merely players..." what game are we playing? doom! is it not game over yet?

Have you been accused of being a genius? not genius. just smart, intelligent. hehe

In a society where everyone is "entitled to their opinion", what place is there for Right and Wrong? your opinion could still be right or wrong. it's the listeners opinion.. that you're right or wrong

If it was never illegal, would you have killed someone by now? yes. and you'd never guess who it is.

Does everything in the world have an opposite? If no, give an example. yes. things.. like camera, cans, plates...

How do you define personal honor? yup, it's integrity, dignity, infinity. hehe. but i think it's having a sense of achievement without losing your morality along the way.

How would you describe the color blue to a blind person? just imagine the sky. however you imagine the color of it would be, then that's blue.

How will you prove that genuine love exists? everybody cares for something or someone. and that my friend is genuine love.

What is the greatest unsolved mystery on earth? the stonehenge. that's my answer coz that's what we did for research when i was in highschool. and another thing.. why is God so good to me and He gave me all the pretty-ness in this world? hahahaha!

Given infinity, will all that is possible eventually happen? nope. infinity is just unending, but doesn't mean unlimited.

Is it better to be uncertain about something forever, or know the truth and be very hurt through all your life? isn't it when you're uncertain, you'll also be hurting?

If you saw a yellow ball but everyone told you it was purple, who would you believe? If no, what would you do to prove your side? can we use guitar as an example? coz that's what happens to me when zasam shows me guitars. i'll say a color and he'll be confused coz what i say is not the right color. i become color blind with guitars, right sam? so what do i do? i stick with my color. like my favorite guitar of his (favorite! haha), for me it's green. but he says it's gray. until now, i still say it's green.

Is education the filling of a pail, or the lighting of a fire? filling of a pail. coz purpose is the lighting of fire

Is a lie a lie, if everybody knows it is? if they know the truth and they say it's a lie, then it's a lie. unless they're telling a lie by saying it's a lie

Do you ever wonder if you're already dead and this is just your life flashing before your eyes? haven't wondered about that. but i wish that's what's happening nga

Should the conservative Christian husband of an atheist woman allow her to have an abortion if there's a chance the kid might grow up and turn into a gay Mormon? nope. well, if the kid would turn out to be a nice and good gay mormon, it would be better than the kid growing up to be a mean, bad boy

that's it. do you have any more questions for me?

Travel Rants

The other night, I went home late from work and I saw the TV show Trip na Trip. It’s a travel show that features places in the Philippines. It’s not the typical really serious documentary travel show but they’re really trying to make it funny and fun.

I was watching and then my mom would change the channel. I told her, “Don’t change the channel. I am not yet done torturing myself.” Yes, I really used the term torturing myself. Because honestly, while I was watching, I can’t help but get envious at them traveling and enjoying all over the country (it’s my ultimate goal to visit every place in the Philippines), and getting paid for it. Haayy….

Also, I realized that I should visit Batanes soon. I’ve always wanted to go to Batanes (way back college or highschool days), and it just sucks that I haven’t visited the place yet and almost everyone has it in their itinerary already. I don’t want to lose my interest in the place just because everyone is into it already. For those who had been reading my blog for the longest time, they know what I mean. I am selfish I know.

I am just ranting here because I have nothing to post, and I want to update my blog.

Dating a Vampire

i just finished reading a book. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. it's a story of a girl who fell inlove with a vampire. the vampires are described as really good-looking, close to perfection. i guess someone i'll have a crush on. hahaha. and Edward (the main character) is really sweet and has a way for you to get attracted to him. so i guess i'll really fall in love with him.

but after reading the book, i realized that i can't fall inlove with a vampire. why?

1. i'll grow old and he won't. unfair! hahaha
2. but i don't want to be a vampire. coz i don't want to be immortal. yup, not even if i'm with the love of my life
3. my honey (hahaha) would always have a hard time to avoid temptation or to stay out of his diet (of not drinking human blood). because i always get wounded. as in! i would just discover new wounds. i get paper cut easily. i scrape my knee easily. even just a small amount of blood would mean a lot of blood for him. activating his sense of smell (of blood). poor him!
   

okay, vampires are out. i guess i'll just wait for an angel