Friendship

I am blessed because I have many friends. However, a few times my Mom has warned me not to get too caught up in my friends' problems. I usually find myself along the sidelines or worse in the middle of things, aiding them and helping them out.

There was once when a friend was so broken because of her boyfriend (they are back together and doing great) just in case you're wondering. She was so devastated so I had to find time to travel to her home place, take her out, get her message across her boyfriend, get his message across to her, make a point to always talk to her... you name it! It wasn't the first time that this happened but it was this one that I was very involved. I kept telling other friends, when will I worry about my own love life? I have to stop worrying about other people's love lives.

A friend was abused by her live-in partner and I had to rescue her and her kids out of the guy's home. She is doing quiet well if you'd like to know. She has separated from that guy since however the kids are with the guy because she is working abroad. She can't trust her own family to take care of her kids. The guy's family was very willing to take them in anyways. I just hope that they are taking good care of them. She's in love with someone else however the guy is married although separated that is why she broke up with him when she finally realized that she's placing herself in a very very bad situation.

Another friend is undergoing major depression and is short of going crazy. Yes a guy is again involved, actually there's two of them: one who was an ex who committed suicide; and one who was a former suitor who had a change of heart. But that is not all, part of her depression is caused by not passing the bar exam twice. This one is a hard one. I actually don't know what to do but be there for her as much as I can.

I value friendship. 'Tis one of the important things in life. To all my friends, I love you guys. You mean a lot to me.

I Matter

You pass me by and you don't even care

You wouldn't even pick me up

You wouldn't stoop that low

People who'll see

Might think you're desperate

I do not matter

Now you're riding the jeepney

You open your purse

You should have picked me up
You have the driver a bill instead

I matter a little

You saw me again the next day

You still didn't pick me up

Someone slashed your bag

And stole your wallet and more

Will I matter?

But you found your purse

And count the clinking coins

You're one peso short

You gave out a greater sigh

Now, I matter

Lost

I just turned 29 recently and I had a blast in Palawan. I went there alone and I believe I'm going to do that again in the future. However, Dona was right, it can get lonely travelling alone. But you do accomplish much and I was not literally alone. I was with a vanful of tourmates. I got to meet a lot of people during my tours.

I am still single and the one that I love just told me yesterday that he is not going to leave his ex. He was planning to do so since August of 2009. He told me it just happened. He decided to stay last night. He's easily swayed and he's weak. I told him Princess is really his kryptonite but he corrected me and told me it's Mona, his bestfriend since college. He said that he loves her still. He has loved her for 11 years now. He never gave up until the 9th year. She's in Australia. He's in Singapore. I told him to go see her within the year perhaps. I told him to not come and see me anymore and save that up for his trip to Australia instead. Talking to him about his great love for Princess was devastating and to hear him talk about Mona was more devastating. How come I am unable to stir this kind of love on a man?

I let him go. I have stopped believing in Keech and I since yesterday. I know I was fooling myself all these years. What's the point right? He will never see things the way I do which is really sad for me at least. The future is bleak. I don't even know what tomorrow brings. It's not even gray. It's just pitch black and I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I typed in "What do I do now?" in Google. Several websites came up when I hit enter. I closed my eyes and highlighted one. Clicked that website and choose to close my eyes and pick three words an they were: a, weblog, updated; in that order. And so here I am updating my blog which I haven't done in a long while. I believe I will choose my path using this method for now. And let life take me where it takes me for I'm lost.

I Found Heaven in Bohol

I just arrived from my trip to Bohol. I had the greatest time. I think I'd be traveling more often since it was a great experience.Here I am with Amy (with shades) waiting for our flight in old Pasay NAIA Domestic Airport.

We boarded Zest Air flight Z2 981 on schedule.

My first airplane ride was with this plane! I rode a chopper once though. It's not categorized as a plane is it?

Yey! We arrived at Tagbilaran Airport.

We visited the Loboc Church which is the second oldest church in the Philippines next to the one in Intramuros. That's what Manong Ian, our guide, said. We visited the museum in the second floor and the church downstairs. It reminded me of San Agustin Church.

I had to have a photo-op with a tarsier. This is said to be the smallest monkey and is nocturnal. So please don't take their pictures with flashes on because they will go blind.

Here I am with Jacky (in stripes) and Amy (in pink) at the Loboc River for our buffet lunch and long river cruise.

Of course, everyone visits he famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol whenever tourists visit here. It was beautiful just like in the pictures but it's different when you get to see it for real so biyahe na! It's green because it's the rainy season but during summer it's brown that's why it's dubbed Chocolate Hills.

On our second day, we had to wake up early to go dolphin watching. It's so cool. It's hard to get a good shot though because they only come out for a few seconds or minute. But it would have been better to go there earlier so that there aren't too many boats which startle them. You have to be on the site at 6:00am so probably you leave at 5:30am.

Here is Tita on the boat with Balicasag Island in the background.

Snorkeling in Balicasag Bohol - Funny home videos are a click away

This is for me the most fun of all the activities I have done in Bohol. You should try it. Amy said that the snorkeling site here is better than in Bora. Too bad I didn't have an underwater camera. I should have shown you that we swam over a school of fish and saw hundreds of colorful fishes.

We also visited the Virgin Island. They told us that no one lives here because usually it is covered by water when the tide is high. We also met a couple of boatman who arranged a packed lunch here for P300 per person. They served mostly grilled food. It looked delicious. And we got rained over when we visited this island.

This is our last dinner in Bohol. They usually sell you fresh fish, veggies, meat, etc. and then cook it for you. A meal for every person ranges from P150-P200 per person per meal and it's already quite filling.

This is Alona Beach at night

Enjoying the rattan beach bed of Alona Tropical resort. I was so tired after a full meal and tons of exciting activities.

Here we are on our last leg of the trip. We went back to the Blood Compact monument.

Here I am with Jacky on the way back to Manila. I think I'd be traveling more often from this time forward. On both flights, I was seated on the window seat. It was swell!

Fuming Over Five Pesos

I hate it when I feel that someone has won. I hate letting someone get away with something I firmly believe is wrong. That's how I felt when I gave the additional five pesos the driver asked for my fare from Edsa to Maceda. Never thought that such a meager amount does have an effect on me. It's so true, it's not really the amount that matters but the fact that one has one up on you.

Chocolates makes me happy so I ate two to make me feel better and ate Laine's veggie tortilla. It alleviated some of the brooding ill feelings inside me. He he he he he... Grrr I still wish he doesn't get his "boundary" today. *laughs* I'm so mean.

photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/jiformales/430071244/

A Drastic Change

I don't go out as much right now like I used to. I'm still trying to get used with my illness that is recurring. Getting my much needed rest and sleep is my top priority and so my only recreation for now is watching movies online. I have a penchant for anime, manga, and chick flicks. I especially love two sites right now where I get my daily dose of these which are crunchyroll and mysoju. Of course, I have to watch them during free time and not during the days I have work or else I'll be dead meat! I miss shopping though. I miss going out. Hope, a good friend of mine, is studying for the bar right now so we can't go out as much. Kiko ain't no help either because he hates going out. I even have a complimentary movie ticket but I don't know when I could find the time to go out and watch a movie on the big screen. But not to fret, I'm the kind of person who isn't bored even if there's a downpour outside (btw, I love the rain, and that's a different story altogether) because I can find something to do even in the comforts of my own room. I love to chat, read, write and right now I'm watching countless of asian movies and dramas. I just finished watching Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend) which is about an robot built for love. How cheesy can I get?! Well I'm all for cheese. It's was based on an Japanese anime but the actors in this series are Korean. Will you love a robot like you would a real man?

I am stuck with the Korean version of Blondie's Maria. I can't stop the music in my head. It was from the OST of a Korean movie titled 200 Pounds Beauty which stars Kim Ah-Joong - a fat, ugly, ghost singer and sex phone operator who is in love with the producer for the singer she lends her voice to. The good thing about these asian movies and series are their ability to inject fun. The plot also unfolds well and sometimes very suprising. If it was a Filipino movie or telenovela, it's non-stop crying and shouting, all drama and they're too predictable.

I love the OST. Maria is addicting and I especially like how she pronounces "beautiful girl" in the other song from the movie with same title. If you want to watch them and listen to the songs just follow the youtube links below:

Beautiful Girl

Maria

To watch the video streaming of the movie just click on the link below: 200 Pounds Beauty

Thank you Joel for allowing me to post my revision of your poem in my blog.

By the way, Joel Josol is one of the members of pinoypoets yahoo group. He posted several revisions of his poem in the pinoypoets mailing list. It reminded me of "A Passionate Patience" which is a collection of essays where renowned poets discuss how they create their poems. I had fun going through his revisions.

Here's my own version of Echo...

Echo
as revised by Gisela, inspired by Joel Josol's Echo

I remain seated.
The echo of your footsteps
is behind me.

The evening wind whispers
and hums in my ear.
Sigh!

A bucket of water is poured
over the flame that is still there.
I am left with the crackle of embers.