Online Happiness

have you read Train Man? it's a book based on a japanese forum where a geek asked help from his online friends in dating a girl.

i know there had been a lot of news where people meet their online acquaintances and bad things happen. i'm really thankful that i am so blessed with the online friends i have met. yes, i've met some of them in real life. and most of them had been my close friends. they had been angels.

i have said a number of times that internet had been my outlet. i'm the kind of person who doesn't like to trouble others (especially friends) about myself. when papa was sick and later on hospitalized, i didn't tell my friends. but i was thankful to twitter coz that's where i had expressed my feelings (this was during the time only 10% of my followers really know me).

not only that twitter and tumblr had been my company when i had to stay awake at night in the hospital for papa.

so why am i writing this. i just want to thank my online friends for everything. :)

My Blog

i am sorry for not updating my blog and for posting nonsense stuff most of the time.
i always have an idea on what to write, but when i start writing, i can't think of words. i've always opened the New Post link of blogspot, but then it's just blank.

and then just now, i've realized my blog is already 6-years old. maybe that's the reason i can't leave this blog even if there are a lot of sites that i can transfer to (multiply, facebook, etc.). this blogspot site of mine has become my home here in the internet.

i am thankful for this blog. this had been my rant center for a time. this had been where i expressed my emotions, my angst, happiness, my all. it had been helpful to me emotionally. this blog has also made me earn some money which i spent for really crazy stuff that i should not be spending on. and there are my blogsy friends...

thank you for all those who continue to visit my blog. i came to know a lot of people thru this site. i've met a few, i'm still connected to some via other social networking sites. these blogsy friends who have encouraged me, put a smile on my face, for being a friend in the cyberspace. sorry if i have not visited your site for sometime. but you guys have a special place in my heart and that is no joke. honestly, i have learned a lot from you. thank you, really.

wow! six years! i never expected that my blog would last this long. and when i started it, i never thought that it would be a special site for me. i just thought it's just one of those sites that i would register in. but this site has been a meaningful site for me.

thank you everyone. and thank you blogspot :)

Thank You

dear blogsy friends,

how are you?

i would just like to thank you for reading my posts and visiting my blog all these years. thank you for the support and trying to understand my posts. i admit i am not good in writing. i cannot compose really well, i have a hard time expressing myself and sometimes i think my grammar is incorrect. and yet, you still continue to read my entries, visit my blog once in a while

i truly really appreciate it. thank you thank you thank you.

tin-tin

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! :)

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.

Friendship and Boston Legal

it all started with Meyms texting us everythings that is happening to her. from the big dramas and joys of her life to the food she's eating. i don't how it happened, but she influenced us eventually. we would text any major crisis to ur food cravings to being just bored. hehehe. and this made me feel good. how? as i said before.. my favorit movie line is from As Good As It Gets "Everybody has a story to tell." everybody does, including me but it's just that i don't like being vocal about it. i don't know.. i just can't really express myself as others do. even when something's bothering me, my friends would feel it but they won't know what.

that is why i am really thankful with what Meyms started and my Multiply friends are doing. because even if i share little stuff about me, even if i share nonsense stuff, i really helps me. cozs you know the feeling that you want to tell someone about something but you think they'll not be interested? that's what i usually feel. and with this text messaging, i can share even the most nonsense things, and even if they're not interested i won't know. but what i do know, even if it's something that doesn't interest them, they would still read it and i won't be judged. hehehe.

and with this, i would really like to thank Meyms and my Multiply friend for all the text messages and the reactions on my text messages. also, to my harpers/wakieboardies. thank you!

honestly, last week had been a really bad/sad/depressing week for me. and i don't want to eleborate on it anymore. friday is a national holiday so no work and i decided to just stay home. so what to do? since i've been on the saddest level, i don't want to watch sad movies or tv series first. good thing, Dino recommended to us last month the tv series Boston Legal, and Emcee lent me her dvd of the first season. so i watched it, and i got hooked. my family at first didn't want to watch it. but when i started watching it, they got hooked as well. i love watching courtroom dramas. but boston legal is not your ordinary courtroom drama. it's funny actually. and my vocabulary is being enriched. hahahaha. if you want to watch something different, try this series.

denny crane.

oh and allan shore is the example of why i don't want a lawyer for a husband. hehehe.

denny crane.

Blessed

the month of september had not been the greatest month for me. it's like i'm always down and worrying about a lot of things. i really made the wakeboarding plans pushed thru coz i needed it. i needed to relax. as i told my wakeboard buddies, i know that wakeboarding would really give me bodyaches and i needed that to drown all my spiritual, emotional and whatever pain i'm feeling. the week after the wakeboarding trip had really been painful. especiall with my bodyaches. every move i make is OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! and when my body is already healing, i got a spiritual/emotional blow. yup, even spiritual.. since i got really depressed, i was questioning God. and really felt that i'm a bad person and didn't deserve blessings.

funny coz a week before even if i'm feeling down the pits, i still felt blessed. even if there are problems, i know i am still blessed. then saturday came. and after the realizations, i really felt peace. promise! this week, whatever came my way, i felt calm. some people thought i was depressed coz of my text messages from the book of pareng Paulo but honestly, what the book said was what i was feeling last week (specifically friday). and i just wanted to share it even if it's delayed. hehehe.

and this week, i've realized that for a really proud person as i am, God is still blessing me. He is humbling me. yes, i am a very proud person. that is one of my favorite sin to commit.. pride. maybe because i love to eat pride chicken when i was a kid. yuck! corny! hehehe.

okay, back to my post. well, i'll just repeat and emphasize that i am a proud person. so when i have problems or i feel down or i need help, i don't try to show it. i always show that i'm strong. but God still gave me people who i don't know if they saw past my pride but they sure have been used by God to help me. but as i said before, God's message for me is to wait. i thought before that God sent me these people because He's granting me something already. but no! i think this is His way of giving me an opportunity to be patient. labo ba? honestly, malabo. hahaha. but i know that after these opportunities would be something far better for me. His perfect plan for me.

these are the people i want to thank. they have helped me in one aspect of my life. and i won't mention what. i'm proud, remember? hehehe.

Thanks to:
Jopay - for the instant text, ym and email messages. for always remembering me
Emcee - you're right. i am not asking anyone for help. and yet you still lent a helping hand. thanks for believing in me
Dino - i'm really glad we had that phone conversation when you asked that the out of town schedule be moved
Gani - namiss kita bigla ha. magsideline ka nga. kme clients mo.
Pie - kahit na tuliro utak mo that time, you still remembered me. and remembered to mention it to me.
Kate - this thank you should have been said a long time ago pa. hehehe
Maca - you always remember me
Son - thanks for always informing me and sending me emails
Ate Dada - i'm really thankful nakakasabay and nakakasalubong kita sa mrt. hehehehe
Tina Guzman - seeing you in the wedding shower slightly changed my life. naks! hahaha
Jay - actually, you're a blessing for other people, for my friends. but through me coz for my friends. but still even if it's for other people, not me.. you still are a blessing,
Mam Irene - the text message and phonecall that changed my life. with this list, most unexpected kayo. thank you so much for believing in me. though i left you and gay hanging before, you still had been nice to me. thank you!

i'm sure some of those in my list do not know what i'm thankful for. but for those who realize what it is for.. quiet na lang kayo. hehehe. thank you! :)

SGG

tin-tin, ghalya, zettes trina, marj, nice

the SGG! my first barkada in college. i'm sure people who have known me in my latter years in college do not know this. hehe. it's because, two of them have left the country by that time already and the other three... well, we just go out once in a while.

i miss these girls. they made my first years in college really fun. when other freshmen students were crying coz they feel homesick, we're out partying. even if there are exams, we would still go out at night. and we would still have good grades. except for ghalya and i and math17. hehe.

i haven't seen these girls for ages. except for zettes and marj, who are here in the philippines for some weeks. the other three are now in the US. i remember when trina just left the country, she would text me saying.. the SGG Cali Chapter had a party the night before.

we have different personalities (trust me on this), yet we still became friends, had fun and shared good memories with each other.

we don't see each other anymore.. but we are still friends. still communicating once in a while. sharing pictures, exchanging letters and text messages. the Cali girls even shared an apartment at one point or are neighbors. and i hope we'll have a grand reunion on december for marj's wedding.

our lives now may be entirely different from our freshmen days, with work, kids, and everything, but we still know how to have fun and how it is to party!


a little game... if you would be able to guess the meaning of SGG, you will have a prize :)

Girls that Rock Award

they are simple, humble and ordinary people. not famous (except in the blog world i think). they are not called your highness. they did not have any solo concerts yet that have been sold out. you cannot find any albums of them in your favorite record bars. their cribs have not been featured in mtv cribs. they do not have their own tv show. but these girls rock! they have their own fans. and i'm one of them. why? because they are astig!

from the kingdom of cambodia... a musician/lawyer/diplomat who is so good in the kitchen (i'm talking about eating not cooking), and now a certified blogger with a matching feature in manila bulletin... You Rock Ate Toe!
actually, this award is from her passed on to me. that is why it really is an honor. coz the award is like made for her, and yet she is generous to pass it to someone like me. i'm not worthy. i'm not worthy. (with matching bowing). hehe

from one musician to another. a really great singer (i bet most of you didn't know that). but now a good housewife to her hubby and a sweet mommy to Baby A. and if you think of Turkey only as a food every thanksgiving, then read her blog to know how it is to live there. the diva of turkey... You Rock Duke!

a businesswoman at heart. not only with her own business but also with blogging. she can advertise without you knowing it. memes are attracted to her. people would always tag her. and as a revenge, she made her own meme which can be read from many blogs already. from the city of smiles, bacolod city... You Rock Carey!

don't be fooled with her sweet face, coz she can really be sarcastic and ruthless if she wants to (hehehe). she can think of out-of-this world topics. and 13 is a meaningful number for her. she can think of 13 different things that are in the same category and i am sure you would not think of that. an architect who is also a dancer (during flower festivals. hahaha), and definitely a creative writer. from the summer capital of the philippines, baguio city... You Rock Alternati!

here's my list of the Girls that Rock and it's up to them if they want to pass their award to another person. hehehe.

here's the Diyosa ng Kagandahan (Goddess of Beauty) signing off....

Photography Still at Its Finest

due to public demand, i'm posting a part two of my favorite photographers. and this time, i did not ask permission from them anymore. sorry guys. i also hope i'm not forgetting anybody. and unlike also my first blog, i didn't take time to think of the blogs. i'm just posting whoever comes into mind..

Kuya Marvin - asvance happy birthday! this is my birthday gift to you. hehehe. kuya marvin's blog is mostly about his son, and the pictures are his son and of course ate jopay, his wife. but recently, he went to boracay for as outing of their office. and i really liked his pictures. that is why i'm including him here



Abaniko - some asked me why he was not included in my list before. dami mong fans pala! hehehe. he just started taking photography a little seriously last year. but it's not obvious that he's just starting.



Konrad - Sir KO is the only professional here, i think. he really knows how to take photos. and he's really generous in giving tips to improve your photography skills. just reading the comments in his site would teach you a lot of stuff. puro photographers kse nag-uusap. hehehe. and i love this photo coz when i saw this, i felt dizzy. hehehe



Enoc - he's amateur daw. but he's going good also. and his photoblog has a daily reflection that until now i'm still trying to know if it's connected with the picture or not.



Kyels - was supposed to be included in my first list. but was not there. sorry.. still a student. and i think would like to be a professional photographer in the future



Rey - an artistic architect cum comics artist and now turning photographer. multi-talented and really artistic. i think he's turning his blog into a photoblog now.



Perth - he's really into photography. he took a course and now he's applying what he learned especially with the magic of photshop. hehehe



Ralph - of course he's included! sayang ang sosyal na camera if he'll not be included. and syempre the picture should be our picture. hahaha

Photography at Its Finest

When I was still a kid, I've totally wanted to be a photographer. That's my ambition, doctor and photographer. A doctor photographer. hehe. I would rather be behind the lens, than have my photo taken. But i just don't know why I still have lots of pictures. Hahaha. Anyway, in my younger years when my uncle worked in Saudi, his gift to me is my very own camera! A Canon something-something. Hahaha. Sorry, I'm not into details. Since I wanted to be a photographer, I'm really envious with those who are good in taking photos. Coz of bloghopping, I discovered these great photographers, some are professionals and some just have it for their hobby. But i love these photographers coz they really know how to take pictures and they get to places. Ladies and gentlemen, may i present to you my favorite photographers:

Kuya Beautiful, but more known as Al. I didn't know he is a photographer until Multiply. I've never seen him around campus carrying a camera, pool stick pwede pa. Hehe. So I was surprised to know that he's a photographer now. And he is good. I love this photo, actually the album, it's a sweet album. But i love this photo the most because of the caption... Hold my hand, don't be afraid. Hopeless romantic! Haha.



Jake's blog is the first photoblog that I saw. I was really amazed. I believe I asked him agad if I can link him up coz I really love his photos. I easily became a fan of his. I'm totally envious of this guy. Why? Because he takes good pictures, has been to Batanes and a number of times to Amanpulo! Inggit mode! This photo is in Batanes. Since there is no electricity, he captured it through the stars.



Sidney is a foreigner. A Belgian, I think. But when you look at his site, you'll think he's a Filipino because he talks about the Philippines and capturing it in photos pa. Honestly, i think he has seen more of the Philippines than I have, like the fiestas in different places or other traditions. And I'm really learning a lot of Filipino traditions from him! Kahiya to admit, but true. He's more Filipino than most of us. Among the many Filipino festivals that he has posted, why did I choose this picture? Because I think it's the most "controversial." Hehehe. And i really had a hard time looking for this picture. Hinanap ko talaga siya.



Cruise is an engineer (tama diba?) who has the luxury of time. Well, I'm assuming he has coz he's always out somewhere, most of the time hiking the mountains all over the Philippines. This is a picture in Mt. Apo, nice sunrise noh?



Iskoo is my template repairman. yup, i'll always mention that. Hahaha. His blog is a photoblog. almost everyday or is it everyweek, he has a new photo to share. And what amazes me is that a lot comments. Maganda naman talaga. Pero ang dami lang talaga nagcocomment. I mean, how was he discovered? Sikat ka na ba nang hindi ko man lang nalalaman? Hehehe. But he's really good. And he takes a photo of anything and everything. As in everything. Even the sole of his shoes.



SC is Storm Crypt. First, it was in blogger describing the places he has travelled on. But now SC transferred to Flickr. If before he receives only a few comments though SC deserves a lot, now it's overflowing. Hehehe. I don't know if the bee was placed in the flower for the sake of photography or it was really there. Pati yun big deal saken, labo! Hehehe.



Sir Tony is someone I've known through Kuya Al. I'm not really sure if he's a teacher or what. But almost everyone calls him sir, so I call him Sir na rin. Gaya-gaya. Hahaha. But when he reply to comments or describe his albums, he makes it sound like he's still an amateur. Amateur or professional, I don't care. Coz he really makes good pictures. He can capture the moment. And he is kind also. I remember telling him once that I didn't like a picture, and he didn't get mad. I don't know how this photo is ranking in the digital photography contest but it deserves to win.



Ferdz is another travelling photographer. He also has been to Batanes and Cambodia! Inggit mode alert! He does not only describe the scenery but also makes you feel the travel itself coz he describes into details what he did like how long you have to trek (well, not that detailed).. basta! he'll somehow describe the process. And how good is he? He won a contest sponsored by National Geographic. I was supposed to include that picture but when I saw the pictures of his travel in Zambales, it amazed me more. I like the pictures coz it will make you think if the place is really in the Philippines.



So there you go. Aren't the pictures great? And those are not their best photos. Aplogies to Ralph coz I have not included him in the list though his camera is 10 megapixels. (Actually Ralph I just wanna mention your name. Coz you should always be mentioned, right Meyms? Hehe)