Purpose

"Purpose, it's that little flame that lights a fire under your ass. Purpose, it keeps you going strong like a car with a full tank of gas. Everyone else has a purpose so what's mine? I don't know how I know but I'm gonna find my purpose. I don't know where I'm gonna look but I'm gonna find my purpose. What will it be? Where will it be? My purpose in life is a mystery. Gotta find my purpose Gotta find me" - Princeton, Avenue Q

these past weeks this is what i'm thinking. what is my purpose? what is my purpose in this life? seriously, i've been thinking about this.

how about you? do you know your purpose?

another topic.. i'm sorry if i don't post that much nor visit your blogs. am really busy these days.

Tacsiyapo!

the Ampalaya Club went to Clark yesterday for the Hot Air Balloon festival. we arrived at around 4 in the morning, and a lot of people have already set up their tripods. as in there were a lot of people with their bing lens and tripods, photoshoot talaga. sadly, coz of the winds, there were no hot air balloons. i know a lot of photographers were disappointed. i wanted to shout, "just take my picture so you'll not be disappointed." bwahahaha!

anyway, the other plan for the trip is to go to Tarlac for the Tacsiyapo. it's one of the activities in Isdaan, a restaurant with a lot of activities to do and great photo ops. hehe.


they have the Tacsiyapo wall where you can throw plates or mugs or even tv sets to release your anger and stress. i guess the bitterness of the Ampalaya plus the hotheadedness that they got from the (non) hot airballoons made the group really throw hard and reach for the wall when they thought they would not be able to reach it. hehe.

it was a nice way to release stress. when i shared the story to my mom and our maid, their reaction is "i'm mad & will still spend to throw something? no way!" but for me, even if you're going to pay to throw something, it can still help you. a lot cheaper than wakeboarding actually. hahaha.

change topic. the other day, i just thought.. wouldn't it be nice to hear a voicemail from your friends? just saying hello or even if it's nonsense. just to hear a voicemail. the effort that they're going to make and them spending just to leave a voicemail to your mobile. that would be sweet. wala lang. just a random thought.

*picture taken by joyce

February!

it's February 3 already?!?!?! honestly, i can't believe it. it's like the time really flies fast for 2008. it's just not the days that are passing by fast, but really the time, the minutes. i still can't believe it's February already. everyday, i'm surprised that it's 12noon already or 6pm already. if someone won't mention it, i would not notice. then now it's february already.

don't mind me. it's just i'm trying to catch the time. coz i really feel it passing me too quickly.

Atty. Pretty Tin

on my first week(?) in my new work, I was assigned in a training with the state prosecutors. i was in the room full of lawyers, and of course i had lunch with them. during one of the lunches, some participants joked that i should take up law already. i was like "umm... no way.." and when i was explaining to them my side, i realized, ang labo ko. hehe.

i love watching courtroom dramas. i like the movie A Few Good Men because of that (and besides the fact that Demi Moore & Tom Cruise starred in it. hehe), and you know i love the tv show Boston Legal. my dad is a liar este lawyer. so i you can say i have a little background. my third year highschool classmates thought i'll be one coz of the way i recite in our geometry class proving the theorems. when i was still in gradeschool my dad would ask for my help in typing affidavits.

but i never wanted to be lawyer. a doctor, yes. but never a lawyer. why? i don't know. i love studying the laws, could be passionate with it, but i still do not want to be a lawyer. why? i don't know. it's like since i was already typing affidavits in gradeschool & being a minor secretary to my dad i sensed it to be an easy job. so i guess i said to myself when i was still young, no to being a lawyer. now, i don't think being a lawyer is an easy job. for me it's an interesting job. but i still won't take up law. i still won't be a lawyer. the farthest thing that i dream of in connection with being a lawyer is my plans of taking the UP Law Aptitude Examination (UP LAE), just to see if i'll pass but still i won't pursue it. really just to see if i'll pass the entrance exam. hehe.

labo ko noh? i can't explain myself. maybe that's why i don't like to be a lawyer. because i know i can't express myself well. hehehe.

re the title.. i can't say Atty. Racho coz that's my dad. and i don't want to write Atty. (my full name), coz i feel awkward seeing my whole name in my blog. hahaha.

Leaving Something Behind

when i was still studying, i've always said that i would not work in a government agency. that is why it was really surprising that i've lasted for 3.5 years in a government agency. and honestly, i don't regret working there. even if the pay is low (trust me on that), it was still a blessing for me. i have learned to have self-confidence, i learned how to do multi-tasking and always in a rush, and most importantly got to know some nice and fun people.

i'm really thankful to God coz it had been a blessing for me. working for boss(es) who believes in you, tries to understand your having a loud voice, and entrusting you with responsibilities. honestly, these are the things i prayed for when i was asking God for a job before.

also, gaining friends. i came to know a lot of people. gaining travel buddies along the way. those you can call on when you want to go out, those who would lend you some money first if you want to have coffee (or chocolate for my case) yet you do not have money to spend.

another thing i asked for is the chance to travel. and it was granted. i was able to travel from luzon to mindanao. though the only new place that i have visited was bacolod, i still enjoyed my travels. taling to the field office people on the phone and visiting some of them in their offices is a great experience.

but for me to grow, i need to move on. i need to experience something different. and i believe God gave that to me again last year as His Christmas gift to me. many people were surprised at the last week of the year to learn that i resigned already. when i asked permission from my immediate supervisors to the SVP, i was really sad. as Boss Alex described our conversation, i was really emotional. i have learned to love the organization, the people and everything. but i need to move on. i hate to leave the company on the time it needed me, but i guess i was also selfish coz i did leave.

but as i embark on my new journey in life, i pray that i would still be able to see you guys, to hang-out with you once again, and most of all to help the company in ways i can.

thank you everyone for being understanding, nice, believing in me and most of all for loving me even if i'm really makulit, irritating, demanding, and everything. will see each other again, okay? thank you!

my department, the CRMD

tin-tin = yosi girl?

this photo shocked a lot of people. coz people know me as someone who doesn't smoke. so when i posted this as my profile pic in friendster, some reacted. it was fun. then Tim left a comment in my album in multiply, he said "what if a mark10 kid sees my picture." i just changed my profile pic recently. but i guess it was too late. coz when i attended mark10, Patrice remarked: "Ate Tin, I saw your friendster picture with a yosi (cigarette)." I was like.. Oh No! then it's not only patrice who has seen the photo. uh-oh! so i told them i don't smoke, and never even tried. nobody believed me. waaah!

to be totally honest, i don't smoke. not even a puff. nor tried one. i have not even touched a lit cigarette on my lips. i hate the smell of a lit cigarette. and after holding one, you hands would not smell good. yuck! and they say that it's addicting. i don't want to get addicted to smoking. coz it's bad for your health. and even if it's just a peso per stick, i could save the pesos and use it as an additional for my fare or food. in that way i'm also saving the environment.

and i may not be disciplined with diet and exercise. but this is one thing i'm really disciplined with.. it's not to smoke, not even to try it. it's a peer pressure that i can say no to. even if it's the coolest thing to do, i still won't do it.

so patrice and other mark10 kids, i really am sorry for that picture. and believe me, i don't smoke. the picture was just for fun. that's not my cigarette. and i held it just for the picture.

and remember... smoking is dangerous to your health.

Time to Make a Wish

i one again got tagged. but i haven't seen it til a few days ago. so this is kinda delayed. BW asked me to list my 5 Christmas wishes. the wishes below are really my wishes for Christmas . but i only got three.

1. new job in 2008. actually, it should be at the start of the year. as in first week of January. new year, new work. and i begged God.
   
2. all expense paid trip. no specific place. it could be in another country, or just laguna. as long as it's free. coz i didn't have one this year, not even a business trip. and i slightly got inspired by ate mei's story coz she got one after praying hard. but as i told her. i can't really concentrate in praying for this coz i'm still begging God about wish no. 1. so parinig lang ako kay God. hehehe.
3. Powerbooks journal. i love books and for each month there's a book recommendation. i guess that made me love their journal.

i know i didn't wish for world peace, good health or stuff like that. it's my everyday prayer, so these three are something different. just a season wish. hehe. for no. 1, i really asked God that i want that as for my Christmas gift from Him.

in the second season of Boston Legal, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was mentioned a couple of times. and it was also mentioned in House. when i heard about that foundation years ago, i really liked their concept. i said to myself, i want to be like this foundation. i want to grant someone's wish.

so now, i'll ask you. if ever you'll make a request from Make-A-Wish Foundation, what would you wish for 2008? just make sure that the Foundation could grant it.

and before i end this.. i would like to thank everyone for always passing by my blog, reading my entries even it's nonsense or what. thank you! thank you!

tag season

i've been tagged again and i'm only doing the tags now so i can move on. hehehe. so i apologize coz this is somewhat long.

since it's the end of the year already, i'll start with the tag of Lazarus. 10 things that i'm thankful for. i think i'll concentrate now on what i'm thankful for this year.

1. Multiply. as i've told my friends especially the BLD Youth, i am thankful for this coz if not for multiply i won't be updated with their lives. and what makes me really thank Multiply is thru that site i've gained new friends. the AmpClub and my textmates. when i was really down, texting them really helped me. and also they accept me flaws and all.

2. Racho Family. have seen them a number of times this year and i'm thankful for it.

3. The Harpers and Wakieboardies. i'm really happy for these econsoc coz when i thought i won't be able to travel anymore, they came into the picture. slightly my new travelling buddies.

4. My Officemates. fun memories, for believing in me and even for the challenges

5. BLD Mark10. my Saturday afternoons are for them. i learned how to be more patient and also i get to have free art lessons. i suck at arts. that is why Mark10 is a challenge for me. especially when i get to teach the crafts.

6. My Friends. for their concern. for accompanying me when i need some company. for being there. and for helping me even if i don't ask for their help. they are Papa God's angels

7. US TV Series. hate to admit but i thank piracy. because i get to watch a lot of tv series. also these tv series gives me something to do when i'm just at home. and another reason for me to stay at home. also, a good conversation topic with friends. and i always have realizations when i watch.

8. Water Sports. i'm just thankful for diving, surfing (yup, even surfing) and wakeboarding. these made my year more enjoyable. and these sports (yes, even surfing) relaxed me. diving had always been a dream for me and i'm sure glad i've done it already. i did wakeboarding during the time i needed it most.

9.Philippines. i am really thankful coz this year i got to travel in a lot places here in the Philippines. i got to visit new places from Luzon to Visayas. next year Mindanao. hehe

10. Blogsy Friends. of course you're included. thank you my dear blogsy friends for always having the patience to read my entries, interesting or not. and thank you for leaving witty comments. your comments really make my day. thank you.

i would not be tagging anyone but if you feel thankful, you can do this also.

the next tag is something i have done a number of times already. so forgive me if i'm going to repeat some answers.

Duke asked me to list 7 Silly Things About Me

1. i always believe that my talent is playing the piano. i do not have any talents (you can ask my dad about that). but when you place me infront of a piano and give me a color-coded notes/piece, i can play it. or if you teach me how to play it, i can learn it easily. (ate toe, when you return to the philippines, give me free lessons, okay? hehe)

2. when i receive flowers, i offer it to our altar.

3. when i was in college, i write what i wore that day so as not to repeat it the week after. as in i will really check my list if i've worn it the week before.

4. when i cook, i don't taste it first. i just serve it. goes the same when i write my blog entries. i just write then post it. i just read it after a month. hehehe. so i apologize for the wrong spellings and wrong grammar. but when it comes to cooking, it's always delicious though i don't taste it. wait! maybe cooking is my talent. ummm... for those who knew me in my early college years, fyi... i now know how to cook. hahaha

5. i love solving puzzles. jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, watching quiz shows, whatever. i just love to challenge my mind every now and then to see if i'm still intelligent. hehe.

6. my favorite part of the chicken is the neck. coz when i eat chicken, i also eat the bones. so neck would be the best part coz you can everything. i remember my ex cooked dinner one time only with chicken neck and unexpectedly we had a guest. i really enjoyed the meal. i just don't know with our guest. hehe.

7. when i travel, i don't like to check-in my baggage. that is why i don't buy those big luggages so i can handcarry my bag. and also i can pack 4 days of clothes in one small travelling backpack. that is why i love my new jansport coz it's bigger. yup, to the people i texted and did a survey, i bought the bag. hehehe.

i won't be tagging anyone for this meme.

and for you guys to get to know me more and also this would be good for those who only started reading my blog recently. coz this would mention my previous posts.

this time i was tagged by Lizeth. and i think i have to tag some people later. the directions are:

1. Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 keywords given below (family, friend, yourself, your love and anything you like).

2. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.

3. Don’t forget to read the archived post and leave comments.

family: back from the visayas region
friends: blogging (my blogsy friends), just a quick note (a summary of my group of friends), SGG
yourself: faces(s) of tin-tin (this is my favorite. conceited! hehe), taggish (coz i believe every tag i receive describes me more), friendster testimonials (how my friends see me), the helper (coz this really describes me)
your love(life?): fatal lovelife
anything: You said i'd never go alone, i fell inlove, photography still at its finest, photography at its finest

that's it. i think i've said a lot and i don't want you to tire yourself reading all my posts. hehe. and now the tagging begins.. i tag... Richard, Consuela, Tutubi, Emcee, Jewel

and before i end this post, i want to greet a belated happy anniversary to my blogsy friend mai and her hubby paul. i first read mai's blog telling about the excitement of being a newly wed and they're counting their first year anniversary. laging may gift sa inyo si God. sa 1st xmas nyo together, syempre to enjoy the company of one another. sa 2nd xmas, to feel the excitement of having a baby. and sa third, nanjan na si baby. hehe.

i would not greet ate jopay and kuya marvin, coz they still do not know my bday. they have to ask my mom pa. hmph!

and to everyone... Merry Christmas! let's not forget the real meaning of Christmas. it's to give me gifts. hehe. just kidding. but to give a gift to Baby Jesus.

Schadenfreude

German for "happiness at the misfortune of others!" - Avenue Q

actually, my post is all about what not to do in wakeboarding. you know how much i fell inlove with wakeboarding and since i'm always promoting the sport now, i want to share something with you. wakeboarding is water skiing it's not water flying, so just to help you, this short video shows you which not to do in wakeboarding.



disclaimer: the star in the video is not who you think he is. just looks exactly like him, and the video is similar to the video he shows from his cellphone. i can't mention the name coz i said i won't. hehe.

i just hope the star himself would allow us to send his video to Bitoy's Funniest so we'll win and have money for our next wakeboarding trip. hehehehe. i also hope he won't get mad coz i posted his video on my blog. hehe.

and what's with the title of my post? it's because we're going to watch Avenue Q on Sunday. hehehe. and i heard the song, Schadenfreude, from the one in the video. also, since we're his real friends when he was not able to fly anymore, we cheered for him for two seconds then you will see disappointmenton our faces . bwahahaha! :)

Christmas Money

It is the Christmas season once again, and because of that everybody needs money. Coz it is not only love that you give during Christmas but also gifts. So, you need money. And honestly, right now I am in little bit of crisis, that is why I really need extra cash for my gift-giving. In the blogging world, one opportunity is by advertising such as signing to bloggerwave. Yes, I signed in this website so I would earn extra cash. Told you, I really need extra cash. Hehehe. With this website you would be given opportunities, not only to make money while doing your favorite thing which is blogging but also you would enhance your writing skills (by practicing your writing) and learning new products.

Picks

In Boston Legal, Allan Shore usually makes bets with Brad Chase on about winning the cases. And I am sure, you have done some betting too, with sports or in just your ordinary routine or on nonsense things like colors that would be chosen. But most of the time, bets are done in the sporting arena, especially when your favorite team is involved or it is the championship game. I remember my colleagues always betting with each other during the NBA season. But for bigger money, there are sports contest picks, where you can bet for your favorite team. Joining sports contest picks is not only to gain money but also by gaining friends coz by joining it is also expanding your network. I remember watching in CSI how some people got to meet is thru these sports contest picks. And in this place, you would be sure that you have the same likes or it could make the picks more exciting for you.

So, what do you pick?

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.

Music

everybody loves music. i love music. i think every event of my life i have a theme song. and however i may feel, i would like to sing. when i am happy, i would sing, when i am sad, i would sing to ease the pain. in a movie, you would enjoy it more and you would feel the scene more because of the background music. everywhere there is music, from the singers, to the pianos, and to the birds and the horns of the car.

and companies know this, that is why they made the walkmans, cd players, ipods, and the mp3 player. ipods are the famous ones nowadays, but for a cheaper one just to fulfill your needs to listen to music, mp3 player would be fine. i remember, even in mark10, our grand prize for our Bible challenge to the kids was an mp3 player. and good thing about an mp3 player, there are lots of designs/styles to choose from. and prices are reasonable too.

Papa God

my econsoc friends now sees me as someone who always talk to Papa God. in everything i do, i talk to Him. even when i'm gambling. hahahaha. i know it's bad.. but i just can't control it. example, when i win.. "thank You Papa God" and when i lose, i'll curse then say.. "sorry Papa God." nonsense, right? hehehe.

it's just that it's true that i always talk to Him. whatever is happening to me and even if i have small requests. and Papa God really hears me. and just like the other day, as i texted the AmpClub, i felt that Papa God really loves me. i know this is something shallow, but i was just really thankful. this is what happened that day...

when i was still at home, it was raining really hard. and i hate going out when it's raining. i said "Papa God, please don't let it rain when i leave." then 15 mins before i'll leave, i said "Papa God, i'll be leaving soon. let the rain stop." and you know what? it stopped! as in! galing!

then i was having a hard time looking for a cab. so i said again "Papa God, i hope there'll be a taxi." less than a minute, a cab appeared. yippee!

actually, i was already running late.. so i again prayed.. "Papa God, please don't let me be late. please..." and you know what? i wasn't late. i even arrived 30mins ahead of my schedule. i was really amazed with that.

a friend asked if i talked to God in a silent way or in a loud voice. actually, it depends. when i'm alone, or i just feel like it.. i talk in a loud voice. but if i'm alone, i talk to Him in my heart.

i know what i prayed for are shallow stuffs, but for me it means a lot. coz for me it means i totally depend on Him not only when i am in a life and death situation.
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i would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to jay and dino (even if they don't read my blog. hehe) coz even if they did me a big favor, they still invited me for coffee their treat. hahahaha. but thank you guys talaga! :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

i love november because it's my birth month. but as november approaches, i'm always pressured and slightly on a depressive mode since i don't know what will happen on my bday. will it be special? i want my bday to be special always (even not on the day itself) coz as what one of the greeters told me, it's the first miracle that God performed for me. my birth. and with my case, it was really a miracle. hehe.

for this year, i just celebrated it as how i celebrated it last year. the only difference is dinner with family is just at home. but i love my bday this year. coz it was full of surprises.

first surprise.. the expected people did not greet me. especially this one person. kalimutan na! hahaha

2nd... unexpected people greeting me. fewer people greeted me this year, but there are a lot of those that i didn't expect. especially from bld. coz before my bld greeters are only maan, therine, johnd and the cosio siblings. and se34. that's why i was surprised when a lot of bld friends greeted me. then i discovered it was shown in multiply that i'm celebrating my bday. pasaway talaga multiply.

3rd... si Meyms pasaway din. she announced in the text world that it's my bday. hehehe. but it's okay coz i love the digiscrap that she made. and she posted it even if i was with her future bf. hehehe. thanks meyms! and thanks to my multiply friends.

yup, a picture with pareng jomar. hehe

4th... the gifts! dami. hehehe. aliw! i didn't think that people still give gifts even if there's no party. hehehe. when i got back to work the next day, i received a bouquet of flowers. and it was from my SE34 classmates: iris, mye, chel & tuz. super katouch! and when it was delivered to me, the teasing was "Tin, how much did you spend for the flowers?" hehehe. then a week after, i received a cake from iloilo friends. the cake was bought here in manila but the sender was from iloilo. saya! hehehe.

the bouquet from my SE34 classmates

5th... i got greetings from blogsy friends, like Richard. i was really surprised to receive a bday email from him. thanks for the virtual cake. and exactly a week after my bday, i received the package from Carey! i now have a Bacolod shirt! yippee!!! i love it! thanks carey!

shirt from carey. sorry for the picture.

6th... whenever i feel down, there's one question i always ask God. and on my birthday.. God surprised me with an assurance through a friend.

most of the gifts i received are food. and take note.. they are the kind of food that would really ruin your diet. and since, they are gifts, i have an excuse for not being a diet. hehehe.

for everyone who greeted me on my bday, thank you! for those who forgot.. hmph! i'll just wait for your gifts. hahaha. just kidding!

but to everyone, thank you so much for making my 26th year in this world fun and exciting. even if i have not met some of you personally, still I want to thank you. coz without you knowing it, you still made my life special. thanks :)

Casinos

i have never been to a casino. and honestly, i would like to visit one one of these days. and i remember when i was a kid, i had a toy. a roulette that is used in the casinos. but honestly, i never really learned how to play it and i do not know who gave that to me.

i think the closest one that i have been with casinos is a casino party held by my orgmates in their mansion.

i guess another place i can visit casinos are thru casino websites. eversince internet started, i think it was the online casinos that is the oldest game in the web. and to help you in choosing the casino sites, Top USA Online Casino was made. you can read the reviews to help you decide. not only are there different online casino sites but also poker rooms and other casino game sites.

oh well... all i want to experience is the slot machine. hehehe

Our Province

WARNING: really long again. and more pictures to be added hopefully next week...

last week my family went home to the province. and our province is Bohol. my dad is from bohol and it's the first province that i've known. and also Cebu. hehehe. that's why when my are planning to go to cebu or bohol, i would not join them. coz it's like my second home already. unlike in cebu, wherein i haven't visited the famous tourist spots, in bohol, i think i have visited 90% of the tourist spots. but for last week, we didn't go to where tourists usually go and as a matter of fact, me and my cousins are trying to think of places we can visit that we haven't been to. i'll just share the places we've been to last week and the typical places the Racho family visits when in Bohol.

since Bohol is our province, we usually stay at my grandfather's house in Tamblot or in my uncle's house in Dampas, both in Tagbilaran. but since the tamblot house is being rented out by another family and we do not want to be a hassle to my uncle's family who are also vacationing, we stayed in a pension house, the Le Pensione de San Jose in Tagbilaran also. it's okay for a place if you just want to rest your sleepy head. and there's a bar downstairs where you can have your own concert. hehehe.

of course i had my concert. hehehe.

when i hear Tamblot, it's not the hero that i think of but my grandfather's house. where me and my cousins would spend our summer and Christmas vacations. we really nagged our parents that we're going to visit the place. so, we went there and was surprised that somebody's living there. i didn't know. hahaha. the dining table where the whole family would eat is still there. and me and my cousins were shocked. coz it's like it's small. coz for all of us, we always imagined it to be really big. hello! 5 families fitting in one dining table.. wouldn't you think it to be big? and maybe with our children's eyes, we thought everything was big. hehehe.

this is the table where we ate our meals when we were younger

of course, my family especially my uncle who have not been to bohol for two years visited their farm in Balilihan. it's an inheritance from my grandparents to our parents but the ones to use it daw are us the grandchildren. but we haven't thought yet of what we're going to do with the place. and since nothing is to be seen there, we just had our pictures taken and scared ourselves with ghost stories. hehehe.

since the reason why we went home to bohol every Christmas and fiesta are my grandparents, it is just right that even when they left the earth, we would visit them. and also our aunt. so cemetery is always included in the itinerary.

our parents grew up in Loboc so when we were kids, we would always visit that place to visit their childhood friends and neighbors. and even before the Loboc River Rafting became a popular tourist attraction, we would ride that already. and when i tried out the popular tourist attraction two years ago with some officemates, i got disappointed. coz it was a short route and it's not as wonderful as when i was a kid. coz when i was still a kid, the river tour would start from the Hydroelectric Powerplant down to the falls. and i believe there are more than one waterfalls. small and big ones. we would eat on the raft and try fishing but i really don't catch anything. yes, Bohol has its own Hydroelectric Powerplant. and i don't know why it's not as popular as others. but it's the first hydroelectric plant that i've visited. and hopefully in the future i get to experience a field trip there. coz i wanna hear the experts and not only my dad or uncles explaining the place. and of course coz of conceitedness factor. hahaha

a picture in the hydroelectric plant taken years ago.

bohol is not only known for the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers, but also of the beaches specifically in Panglao. when i was a child, i would rather visit Panglao than Chocolate Hills, to be honest i don't appreciate the hills that much. and in the recent years, the resort we would always visit is the Panglao Island Nature Resort, but this year we didn't go there coz we wanted somewhere new. so we tried Amarela in Panglao. but didn't swim. we just ate there. takaw talaga! hahaha.


when we were still in resort and thinking of another place to go to coz we can't swim due to low tide, i suggested what i read from Ferdz's blog, Water Tubing! i really wanted to try it out. but i found out it's in Danao. and i saw the distance between Panglao and Danao. it's not advisable.

thinking of another place. it was decided on to go to Bohol Bee Farm. a resort that sells bee products. i guess this was decided upon since the elderlies need healthy food. wahehe. and that would be great for me coz i want to go there since some friends who have been there said it was a nice place to stay. so off we went thee and even saw some relatives. sosyal kme magreunion. hehe.

and as with every Filipino, wherever you go it's like a must to buy pasalubong. and if you're in tagbilaran, nice place to buy these is in the mall. Island City Mall for the peanut kisses and to buy some bread para baon mo. but as my cousin Joan said, better broas should be bought in Bohol Quality (BQ). personal advise, when you buy pasalubong from bohol, it's better to bring home broas than peanut kisses. that's my personal opinion. coz broas are more yummy than peanut kisses. hehehe. so of course we headed to the malls. and we're glad we went to ICM coz we saw the owner and got invited to his farm. saya!

when i was a kid and we go home to bohol, be assured that when i return to manila, i'm darker (coz of the beautiful beaches in bohol) and bigger (due to the many food served). and contrary to others who would think of eating seafood in bohol, i always associate bohol with lechon. i remember waking up to the cries of the pig as it is being killed to become lechon. that's why it's a big wonder why me and my cousins never became vegetarian after witnessing tragic killings of animals to be our food. yup, even goat, chicken, turkey. sorry... anyway, it's like it's in bohol where i learned about having two snacks, one on the morning and one in the afternoon. and in bohol, there would always be lechon and of course dinuguan (so the blood of the pig won't be a waste). for the foreigners, these are yummy food. trust me! hehehe. but the best part is the next day, when the lechon is cooked as paksiw! sarap!!!!

the lechon and other food

as a summary, what makes Bohol a majestic place is actually the Racho Family :)



*thanks to julie for the pictures...

vacation mode

just want to say enjoy your week.

i don't know. when i view my calendar, i see next week as a week that i'll be out of circuit and will just be back next thursday. it's like skipping nov. 3, 4, 5, etc... and just go straight to thursday. excited! hahahaha.

happy week everyone! for those residing in the philippines, enjoy your vacation :)

I'm It!

i've been tagged again. so, now i'm going to do it. but for those who tagged me with the desktop meme, i'm really sorry. i don't want to do it. hahaha.

for the first meme. i've been tagged by Lazarus

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? my sister. or maybe it's my mom coz we were talking about her. hehehe
2. What were you doing at 0800? sleeping
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? uploading mark10 pictures
4. What happened to you in 2006? I gained weight. --> that's my answer too! hahaha
5. What was the last thing you said out loud? actually, i sang. Sway by Michael Buble
6. How many beverages did you have today? just one. milk
7. What color is your hairbrush? Combs also. yellow and pink
8. What was the last thing you paid for? stuff i bought last night
9. Where were you last night? shopping for necessities. hehe
10. What color is your front door? brown?
11. Where do you keep your change? wallet, bag
12. What’s the weather like today? Cloudy?
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? rocky road ice cream
14. What excites you? Sports, travel
15. Do you want to cut your hair? next year.
16. Are you over the age of 25? turning 27 :)
17. Do you talk a lot? sometimes. hehehe. but most of the time i just listen. promise!
18. Do you watch the O.C.? before. now, when i just see ryan. hehe
19. Do you know anyone named Steven? also Mr. Spielberg. but i know a Steve
20. Do you make up your own words? refer to my Wordsy Words post
21. Are you a jealous person? i guess? hahaha
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Ace
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kate
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? kisses
25. What does the last text message you received say? a forwarded messagew about love
26. Do you chew on your straw? No
27. Do you have curly hair? just wavy
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? later church. tomorrow office. next week.. province!
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? my lips are sealed
30. What was the last thing you ate? milk. hehehe. my dinner last night
31. Will you get married in the future? YES! hahaha. all caps talaga
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? i don't know if the last movie i saw was in the past 2 weeks. it was Chuck and Larry with Cher and Joyce. so girls, was that in the last 2 weeks? but i like that movie. laugh trip
33. Is there anyone you like right now? i like everyone. plastic! hahaha
34. When was the last time you did the dishes? can't recall. hehehehe
35. Are you currently depressed? Nope
36. Did you cry today? Nope
37. Why did you answer and post this? coz i think i need to answer tags. hehe.
38. 5 people you tag next? those who love to answer surveys.. like thinz, maan a., kat r.

and now the second one. from Wil. this is due for the longest time already.
the rule is to use your middle name, and for each letter write a specific trait or characteristic that you have. and then to tag the same number of people as you have in your middle name.

i am going to use my last name. coz in the future it will be my middle name. bwahahaha!

Real. i think i'm real. no hypocrisy. slight lang. hahaha

Articulate. that was how boss poly would always describe me. first time he told me that was during my interview. and i was like.. what? me? articulate? are you sure? then later on he would again describe me as articulate.. maarteng makulet. weh!

Cynosure. meaning center of attraction. it's a spelling word in my gradeschool days. and i think that's the only spelling word i can remember, and i just want to include it in my list. hehe

Healthy. you'll say it's obvious with my body. hehehe. but seriously, i don't get sick that often. i think the last time i was absent from work because i was really sick was when francis gave me a kunchinta and i was in the cr for 24 hours. hmmm... that means, francis was mad at me already during that time pa. i wonder why he didn't include that in his email. hahaha

Older in ___ weeks. weeeh!!!! hahahaha :)


so now, i'm tagging some people... Jake, Ate Daisy, Roanne, Ate Ghee, and Tin you're it!

You Said I'd Never Go Alone

if you've noticed i don't post video clips on my blog, but this video really blessed me. when i saw this in zayin's page, i really cried. it really described how i'm feeling in cartoons. hehehe. and also the lyrics of the song. especially the part... "But You never said it would be easy. You only said I'd never go alone" coz when i feel down and i go to the Blessed Sacrament, i really feel God is there with me. that i am not alone. that He is just there beside Him, i just snob Him. then i'll just cry again. hahaha.

but as the song goes, whatever He wants i'll go through it coz i know it will bring me closer to Him and He has a great and wonderful plan for me. and as i said... He said that i would never go alone. and what i am experiencing is just small compared to what He went through just to show His love for me.

and now this song is a personal prayer of mine. again, big thanks to zayin. thanks zay! :)

now, there are two songs that makes me cry, this one and Arms of Love.
here's the video. a request, please watch it until the very end.

If You Want me To
Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason
why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I’m clinging to the promise
You’re not through with me yet
So if all these trials bring me closer to You
Then I will go through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a
world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So When the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering
Your love put You through
And I will go through the valley
If You want me to