Just when I thought I will only be reading the book, I was proven wrong as I was given a rare opportunity to meet an author that I really admire.

Now I know that last year, I decided to perform one of those little things--fulfilling my solemn duty as a registered voter--not at 18 but at 24 (I went to register five months before my 25th birthday). I remember that a year ago, while I was working as a teacher the school academic manager asked me this:

"Teacher, sa tingin mo ba, may pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas?"

I remember answering him "yes it is possible but maybe we have to return to the era of Magsaysay or better yet, if we can possibly produce a different breed of Filipinos." As of this writing, I am recalling those words focusing on the last thought. For the longest time, despite knowing that suffrage is a right that's free of charge, I was not exercising it--out of choice. For the reason that honestly I have lost my confidence over the kind of government that we have.

When I learned that Atty. Lacson was eying and running for the senatorial race, it dawned on me that probably, my decision to register to vote has found its reason and purpose that this man could be the new breed [of Filipino] that I once said . The same way that I have came to a decision that I will really vote for this man. Reading his book should have been enough to convince me that probably, this person is what the country really needs. That he can bring change especially to those who are starting to lose hope for the country and self-esteem about being Pinoy. Listening to him answer the questions of people made me realize that he is the kind of candidate who is worthy of my vote. What was more surprising was when I heard him respond that unlike Atty. Sigfrid Fortun, he will decline to hold the controversial case of Andal Ampatuan Jr.

At the back of my head I was stunned but what else can I say but "now, this man's really different." Unlike those politicians who tend to consume much of a person's TV habit pronouncing his future platform of government. And they're doing it earlier than what COMELEC had designated.

Personally meeting him was also like a challenge for me. I was among those attendees who were able to ask my own question which was one straightforward query on what sets him apart from other senatoriables. I was actually hesitant at first to ask but then, being a first time voter, I need to know if that candidate deserves my vote (and others too). There was actually no pretensions (not a hint whatsoever) in his answer. And at the end of the day, this man, Atty. Alex Lacson is an epitome of a person who practices what he preaches (and writes) in his powerful orange book.

I know this man is worth my vote. And for answering my straightforward question, I will give my honest, straightforward response:

I am voting for this man. Count me in.

Get to know more about Atty. ALex Lacson by visiting http://alexlacson.net

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Blogger faces libel charge filed by NBI.

This was the article that caught my interest in today's Metro page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Apparently, the National Bureau of Investigation is now on a hunt to bring forth to justice a certain John Doe blogger for the malicious entry the person wrote regarding the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the website Blog ni Ella.

As I write down this post, I also tried to check out that blog as well as Google regarding that controversial entry that still actually exists in the search engine.

Cyberspace has become a sort of freedom wall for a lot of people. As I see it, individuals nowadays think that the internet is comparable to a huge blank concrete where one's graffiti thoughts could be written--regardless of how destructive or derogatory it could be. Now, I'm not saying that I am not among them. I have been a blogger for five years. My Friendster account and personal blog is still existing though sadly I don't get to update that regularly because aside from other things, I have three other blogs where I write. And in a way I am at times guilty as charged of writing my angst against circumstances and even with people.

Going back to the article, I was given the chance to write a feature on blogs in one of the issues of Highlights last year. I raised there a point, it's not just about tinkering and posting an entry pronto. Being a blogger also entails responsibility and guts--a personality that's strong enough should one decide to tackle a very sensitive issue or a personal matter. It's just like being a Big Brother housemate as it has consequences and it includes being stripped of your own privacy; because once it circulates in the Web, people follow even if they don't personally know the writer.

I can't say that I have such enough amount of guts. In my five years of blogging, I have tackled some of my personal issues which I was supposed to keep to myself. I have been confronted by a person over it, had my relationship suffer due to it and was even advised by my mom over the whole thing. Sure do, I cry about the issue at times but then, I guess the thing also is that before I typed and published them, I have pondered about the whole subject, with full and concrete decision over what I will write and was ready to explain and defend if needed once people start to ask. In a way I also tried to play safe and refrain from getting into trouble because to simply put it, a libel case is no joke.

Besides, a blog that's full of angst and rage is not one idea of a good read. It would be stupid, pathetic even to visit a website that says it's a zone for those seeking solitude only to get an experience of the underworld because of the mad, revengeful posts. If that would be the case, then readers should just navigate to another page or better yet, I should change my blog title and the tag line.

I know I once questioned, if it's wrong to be cautious. But realized a few of those "cautious" measure won't hurt anyway.



photo courtesy of Photos.com

"For those born in the Year of the Rat, year 2010 promises to be an average year for you, while you may suffer from melancholy from time to time, the positioning of the planets in 2010 will benefit the rats and they will most definitely be more self-confident, and be more innovative than before. Excellent news for the lonely rats, year 2010 promises a great love life for you. You will definitely find a lover within the year, and for the ones that are blissfully married, the year will be filled with romantic joy. Time to rejoice in the warmth of love, rats!"


And I am grinning at the thought of experiencing that warmth of love this year. Hee...heee :-p



photo courtesy of HubPages.com

I never thought I'll be crossing paths with a thing that I have buried and completely forgotten for a couple of years.

What should one really do when a past makes a comeback?

This morning I woke up to two new text messages on my phone. I was all okay for the first one knowing it was just from a friend; if not only for the second one--a job interview from a company where I once applied for--two years back.

Seeing the text message and email left me dumbfounded and kinda disorganized. I know I am still enjoying the job of writing for MMLDC and for Highlights, the other day, my managing editor and I were discussing about a new opportunity in the marketing communications aspect that I might handle.

On the other hand, I have been wanting something feasible too. At 25, it scares the hell out of me when I think of having a career, knowing that in the place like ours, getting a career in your mid-20's is an indefinite (if not hard) thing. Like what I often say, I'm really wanting something that's full-time; with regular benefits and the stuff that I need. It's not a joke to grow by age year by year, just paying taxes; with a social security number that does not have anything at all. As I write these down, in a way these two things dawned on me...

-that there was a reason why despite of years of keeping the whole stuff, I still cannot trash that old, dusty envelope containing my documents--including the application for an Australian visa;

-that more than just wanting to go to Disneyland by the end of the year, there was a reason why I seem to badly want to possess a Philippine passport.

A lot of things had gotten over me in the first attempt on this prospect;and all those were telling me the time isn't right--yet. I was then going through a trial separation with a then boyfriend (now a long-forgotten Ex), I was performing two jobs at the same time and juggling my time over the job, the requirements to avail of the supposed training having to finish the process just before the Australian Embassy closes for the Yuletide holidays; and being a neophyte, I had a lot of unsettled doubts over the whole thing.

At one point right now, I am also thinking that this could be a heaven-sent opportunity. After all, like actor Harrison Ford puts it, "We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance." Probably, this is the second chance that I am being given to change my life.

I am going to discern about the whole thing further and hopefully, this time, I can make a better, clearer and wiser decision; and probably this time, I'll seriously consider going to the Land Down Under if ever they'll offer.

Today, just two days after we welcomed the New Year, my family is also celebrating another occasion. This day, my parents are celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary.


The night before, I remember telling Mama not to leave and instead postpone her plan of visiting my other relatives in Manila for the sake of this event. I found it both surprising and disappointing to see her decline and hear her say, "kapag ganon na katagal, sa puso na lang inaalala yon."

Don't get me wrong. I'm not planning to be mushy. But the thing is, I know regardless of how long two people had been together in marriage, it's worth celebrating. After all, with the things and factors surrounding people that influence their relationships with their respective partners, to be married and stay happily hitched in these trying times is already a milestone.

And Mama and Papa are among those few lucky couples who are still strongly bonded by the Sacrament of Matrimony--despite the time and tide of the modern times that tend to easily destroy relationships. So having reached that long is already a huge blessing.

I know I have been lucky to be born to Mama and Papa. Nine years ago, as a college paper editor, I remember my then editor-in-chief tell me out of the blue that I have an ideal family. In some ways, he was right. I'd say in some ways because there's no such thing as a perfect family. In a little way or two, my family has its dysfunctional (READ: WEAK) side too.

Yet, I know I am lucky to have parents who at 26 years are still at the pink of their health enjoying such a long year of marital bliss. In the recent family reunion that we had, while I was at the verge of those jokes on my present civil status knowing that I am now the only single lady in the family, I just tend to shrug the whole thing and smile--though I can't help but murmur at the back of my head that the family has indeed grown, my cousins now have families complete with kids, my brother has a new girlfriend and, as sad, scary and silly as it could be quarter life crisis had started taking a toil on me.

It's not that I don't want to get married. Yes, I'd admit that at one point, I used to have fears about getting married--and the thing about being a once burned twice shy person, it isn't that easy for me to take the plunge ASAP. I've became more cautious about dating and being in another relationship. Yet as time passed, I got to see things in a different perspective. Of course, like anyone else, I also do want and hope for marriage to happen. It's just that I am taking things one at a time. Because like Mama and Papa, I would DEFINITELY want to experience a lasting relationship within the sanctity of the Sacrament of Matrimony just like theirs.

Days before Christmas, I got this present for myself:


Bone-white colored shoes from Le Donne. It took me a snap to get this one. Days before the purchase, I was eyeing for a black pair of mules from Chelsea at SM Taytay (which is nearest mall to my location) unfortunately and unluckily for me, they don't have the size that would fit. So after a week, off I went to Sta. Lucia and got these instead.

At first I felt kind hesitant, but aside from the color, what made me luv this is the heels. Kinda girly actually--which I think is about time that I should be.

Yesterday, as I went off to SM Taytay, this one made it to my girly arsenal:


While I really didn't surrender my hopes on that Chelsea shoe that I really wanted badly, I found these on their shelves yesterday. Actually I have eyed on this a week before while I was window shopping and having a bonding moment with one of my nieces and thought, I'll return to get these cute pair. I did and I should say I love eeetttt!

Despite that I was having some cloudy thoughts over mom protesting that I'll be wearing heels, I also knew, I wanted to have this and that I want to look much ladylike now--something that hit me out of the blue when someone addressed me with a "Miss" in my surname last year--but that's another story for my other blog. Being 25 had taken me to some light--which, to the surprise of my family drives them to ask, what has gotten into me.

And it includes this.