Getting A Year Older Is Awesome

 

 

The month of May is a magical month for me. My birthday month always makes me feel awesome, pretty, wealthy :-D, and perfect! It is certainly because of being around with the people who celebrate with me. This year, I turned 31! Oh my! ^_^v I still feel I am only 24!

12^th May

It was Thursday and my birthday planning kicks off when Khen emailed me and jokingly asked where we suppose celebrate it. I said I really have no plans, “hahaha, magpapaka buro sa bahay. :-))” I filed a birthday leave and I was actually preparing to sleep the whole day for being stressed out at work that week.  And if not she insisted I could have ended up a loser the next day! Hahaha! Then I realized how sad that would be. :-/

Khen: “Gusto mo po tom dinner? till 430 lang ako. Sabay na kayo ni Jd punta makati? Para kami ang ka date mo kaysa magkulong ka sa house. Hehe”

And the table turned around…

Before I went to the office that Thursday, I excitedly asked Jelly and Tatay to join me to jog around Island Cove the next morning after my work. Birthday ko kaya hindi sila nakatanggi Hahaha! :-D I asked jelly to wake me up kasi baka paghiga ko, tanghali na ako magising!

 

At the office, around 12 midnight, Jason handed me this plastic bag with present inside. I was on UK shift the day before my big day so my last working hour was already 13^th of May. Greetings from my colleagues alone made me feel happier! It’s indeed my special day!

And when I opened the gift, it was an organizer and made special because of the design – Kitty! Thanks Jason!

 

13^th May 

I arrived at home around 2AM. Time for me to catch some sleep because I was going to have a birthday jog with Tatay and Jelly! After 3 hours of sleep, I put my running gears on and drove 10 minutes to Island Cove.

 

 

It was summer so morning is up as early as 5:30AM.

 

It was fun and funny because Tatay was wearing maong pants :-D Unfortunately, we just had 2 laps around the resort’s running/biking area because the three of us were already hungry. Hahaha! Nagsama-sama ba naman kaming madadaling magutom!

 

After we rested at the Fishing Village for about 30 minutes (well, after hearing all of Tatay’s old stories about Bacoor) we headed straight to Sangley Point Restaurant for some breakfast. We feasted Filipino breakfast but I did not like the tapa because it was not tender enough. I love the hot chocolate though.

 

When I arrived home, a traditional birthday banner was posted on the wall courtesy of the kids! It says, “Happy Birthday, Tita Meeyeow”

 

At miryenda time, Ate Doll cooked my favorite arrozcaldo and tokwa!

Joseph picked me up at my house around 3PM heading to Makati and met Khen at Unilab office. It was Friday the 13^th and traffic did not discourage us for a dinner date at Korean Garden Restaurant along Jupiter St in Makati. Joy was supposed to join us but she got stuck at the office mayhem. The three of us feasted their specialty!!! Sobrang busog ako. And I really love their side dishes! And the rice! And the stew! Hahaha everything! By the way, it was a birthday treat for me from them. Aaaw sweet talaga nung dalawa…

Have you ever felt you really want to get drunk? Hahaha, I did! that night! Tamang tama, hindi ko dala si White, may maghahatid sa akin sa bahay. Hahaha ^_^v After the dinner, we went to KTV at the next resto – we had a blast! Blast kasi ang lakas ng tunong ng videoke! I belted my all time faves and both of them too! I ordered margarita (my first time by the way) and had 3 Tanduay Ice and a Vodka Cruzer. Toink! The rest is history.

Khen and Jo, thanks for the time!

 

14^th May

My birthday celebration did not stop right there. The next day, I asked the little kids (4 nieces) – Jelly, Jaimie, Nene and Bibi – to join me for a pajama party! Kids arrived with their PJ’s on. ^_^v and I did too. We grilled mashmallow, hotdogs, corns, and barbeques under the moonlight. It was fun, fun, fun! We had games and picture taking.

And I blew my birthday cake.

 

Putol celebrated with me! Aaaaww…

 

15^th May

The next day, perhaps the most memorable one, we went to Sta. Rosa, Laguna to celebrate Jaimie’s 9^th birthday and mine too! It was my first time to drive along SLEX! Masaya talaga! We got lost twice hahaha! But we made it to Paseo De Sta. Rosa just after lunch time.

 

Kanin Club was the place. I really wanted take them there since last year and this was the right time for us to appreciate this place. We really loved the meals we ordered. Everything had a twist!

 

Nuvali was our second stop and the most enjoyable of the day. We loved the boat ride very much that we paid two round trips :-)

 

Kois are amazing too! But do not visit around 3-4pm during summer time – kasi sobrang ineeeet!

 

Since my first time at SLEX, I failed to exit at Alabang to we turned around Paranaque instead. Whew, round trip talaga! Hahaha. We arrived Cavite at around 530PM so we had our dinner  stop at Balsahan.

 

19^th May

After a week, my colleague, Julius and I threw another double birthday party at the office with our Kforce family. ^_^v

 

As a said, getting older is awesome especially celebrating it with the people you LOVE. Thank you , Lord for another amazing yeeearrr!!!

 

 

 

 

Learn From the Scratch

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. Naaalalamo pa ba yung mga peklat mo bago ka pa natutong bike? Eh yung galos sa tuhod at sa siko mo dahil sa kaka-master ng agawang-bahay? Ako oo!

I learned how to ride a bike when I was in grade two, all by myself by the way – using Tatay’s bike under his nose. Hehehe. Mas patakas, mas masaya! The thrill of learning how to ride on a bike has never been easier. I was taking it to the basketball court and spend the whole afternoon watching myself falling and getting up again steering and balancing the two wheels.

Now that I have White, the experience is never different to completely learn the tricks of driving. I already made four scratches so far – both side mirrors (twice on the right) and one at the bumper. I think I wouldn’t be more careful now in taking my turns if not from those scratches.

And it is my turn to reward White. Those scratches are sooo much eyesores to me. For P700.00, everything disappeared like almost a brand new!

Foamy Sunday

Sunday is a perfect time for me to bring White to the car wash. This time, they’ve upgraded their foamy wash :-D dati parang malagnaw, pero this time, mas maganda yung machine na gumagawa ng foam :-D

Ligo time!!!

I'm more confident parking white now, Going back and forth to SM helped a lot. :-) Weeeee!

966 KM

It was time for White’s first 1000 kilometer preventive maintenance service schedule!  ^_^

 As early as last week, I already got my schedule in Honda Alabang through their customer service number (02)902-9439 and soon after I received a confirmation message sent to my mobile.  I was told that the service involved checking, cleaning or adjustments of fluids, brakes, hoses, connections, battery and joints (malay ko ba sa mga yon?).  Everything went OK and when I drive White again – perfect! Parang mas gumanda! LOL (psychological lang ata, pero in fairness, hindi na ako namatayan ng makina) Next schedule is on the 6th month.

Hitting two birds in one stone, Joy was able to test drive Civic – as she was planning to buy one. “Joy, great choice!” Ken, Jo and I had free-lunch at Pancake House in Filinvest courtesy of Joy!

On a side sad note, may bago na ulit galos si White :-(

“I’ll make up to you na lang…”

---

The other day, I went to SM for bills payment. :-D Given that I am a parking-engot, I decided to wake up early and have the whole parking lot empty for me Hahaha :-)) here’s a picture of my parking…

 

Toinks! 

 

Double Anniversaries

We celebrated my brothers’ and sisters’ back-to-back anniversary celebration last January 23 at Kartini Hotel. We were supposed to enjoy their dinner buffet but we arrived too early. I drove the whole family with my White for the first time. Pasado na daw ako hehehe ^_^v

 

doll+joel’s 14^th!

jhoy+piwi’s 7^th!

Kartinihotel.com

Located along Centennial Road in Gahac, Kawit, the place is very accessible. I used to pass by this hotel during my driving lessons in A1. ^_^ The food is good and ambiance is okay.  And I am still quite intrigued with the Casino at the 3^rd level  ;-D ang daming oldies na pumupunta.

And then I spent the rest of the evening playing God of War in PS2!

Greetings pala for my bayaw, Kuya Regie! Happy happy birthday!

 

A Busy New Year Starter

Jan 1. Let me rewind to you the first half of my January 2011 by starting off with our New Year celebration! It was a simple yet special January 1 for us at home because we are still happy and healthy together like we always pray for. Dith and Kuya had overseas calls earlier that day to avoid the phone line clogs by night. It was a shabu-shabu dinner for us, inspired by one of our dinners during our family reunion last year – yummy! The day before, that was the first time I drove White all the way to SM and parked! Hehehe.

Parking is … driving me crazy!!!

I also bought Tequilla, first time for our own consumption. I used to buy this spirit as gift! As expected, I only had 5 small shots; just an itsy bitsy tiny sip for Ate Doll and Ninang Nina and the rest went straight to Kuya Joel’s throat until the next day. Hahaha!

Jan 3. Until now, I am still excited about having my first car. Trust me it is way more than having a new laptop! On the first week, it was funny that I got obsessed with car-wash! Hahahaha. I got White washed twice in just a week!

Jan 4-7. I also got a one week of driving practice from home to work and from work to home, accompanied by Diko Ermie. It was fun. I got to learn a lot of stuffs. But I still suck in overtaking, hanging and parking! Grrrrr. I need more and more practice. That is why Tatay did not allow me to use the car alone this week going to Makati.

Jan 8. At the first weekend, we enrolled White at Big Bert’s Professional Detailers in Ortigas for their OptiGuard paint protective maintenance program for a year. Too bad Marc mistakenly caught of beating red lights just a block away from Home Depot! P200.00 straight to someone’s pocket! Then we went to Megamall after for a bunch of cleaning stuffs. We also got lost in C5 while almost running of gas and work waiting for me at home! Hahahaha.

Jan 13. I also got my non-pro driver’s license at last! … With the help of Kuya Peter and a lesson of Karma, big time! Hahhaha!

Jan 14. I did my very first hands on car wash for White – followed carefully the instructions from Big Bert’s! I had Ailyn as my assistant. Tire black na lang kulang sa cleaning stuffs collection ko. Had dinner with Marc at Sultan Mediterranean Cafe a.k.a Sinbad and caught the waitress puting extra amount on my bill! Duh!? Hindi mo kami maloloko. Prices are cheaper compare before, ranging from P160-P400. Food is less tastier than before.

Jan 15. After a week, we went to Honda again for the installation of the backing sensor. Sucked again in parking at Alabang, watched entertaining Tron, got lost again in Festival mall, got Cruzee car washed in the middle of the night, had a blast at Jo&Kristle’s place while videoking and then it rained! Wahahaha. Carwash goodbye. We were supposed to go to Buon Giorno but time did not permit.

Jan 17. I caught Putol peeing at White’s tire!!!!! Grrrrrrr. I had to seriously talked to him (i hope he understood!)

Jan 18.  I had hilarious chats with Ate Lanie, Ate Rina, Tinay and Sheh! I was really laughing my heart out! and later that day I had car care session with Warren.

Jan 19. I practiced parallel parking again at home. Bagsak daw sabi ng Tatay. I have been pigging out with food this week O_O. Worked to the extreme and planned crazy stuff like Skydiving in Clark, Pamapanga on December 2011.

These were my busy weeks! ^_^

 

A 2010 Year-Ender

In our company’s Newsletter last September 2010, I was asked to write something about what I really wanted to accomplish before the year 2010 ends. Here's my answer:

 

What do you want to complete in the last quarter of 2010?

 

“Upon reading the question, the first thing that popped in my mind was to challenge myself to be able to complete the last quarter of this year with no tardiness and unplanned leaves at work. But there is something more important that I want to achieve this year and that is to buy a car. I have been saving money for half a year now, enrolled in a driving class and got my driver's license, too! So these are the things tops my to-do list this year.”

 

… And just before the year ends, I got a hold on the things I have been asking for all these years, actually everything :-) I really DID it!

Here's white when I first saw him while we picked him up at Honda Alabang.
... then we went straight to Tagaytay! ^_^v

 

The lazy cat is greeting you a…

Happy new year everyone! ^_^v

Reciting Panatang Makabayan Again and More

 

 

Sure I still able to sing Lupang Hinirang at the cinema during last full shows and Pacquio's fights but reciting Panatang Makabayan combo… whoa!!! Never had done that again in years since high school!!! And the version has sooooo evolved! Hehehe. Shorter and ... hmmm... with lesser emotion. :-/ Wala na yung favorite lines ko na “... sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa.” Aaaahhh, and after that line, exercise time na!!! “♫ let’s get physical, physical ♫” Hahaha. I personally like the old version maybe because I am very familiar with it. My own Panatang Makabayan days were those when life for me is simpler and much easier. All I had to do is to pay attention on my studies and play, play, play. Haaay... I wish I could go back and doit again – except the exams and home works of course! :-D

 

I went to LTO Imus last Monday to get a student permit for my long overdue A1 driving lessons. I was already there as early as 7:30AM, just in time for the Monday flag ceremony of government employees at 7:50AM. Everyone was asked to participate. Soooo nostalgic! Kulang lang yung kumukumpas sa gitna at yung leader ng panata. Hehehe.  Medyo bitin nga kasi I already heard the intro of “Ako Ay Pilipino” by Kuh Ledesma kaya lang pinatay na ni Manong Guard yung DVD player. The whole cememony including the morning prayer lasted for 10 minutes.

 

After the flag ceremony, my application was tagged by the evaluator as student permit applicant #1. The first guy in front of me was just renewing his pro license pala which made the first to be served at Window 2. ^_^ I got a valuable lesson last week because I came so late at 2:30PM and I got cut off!!! This time, the whole process just took me 5 easy steps within less than an hour to get my student permit... fresh from the printer, mainit init pa!

 

Step 1. Forms and documents evaluation at Information Desk

Step 2. Forms submission and encoding at Window 2.

Step 3. Payment of P318.00 at Window 9.

Step 4. Picture taking at Window 5.

Step 5. Claiming at Window 7.

 

I got the list of requirements here (http://www.lto.gov.ph/requirements.html)

 

I was actually prepared to wait until 2:00PM like what I have read in most forums online but at 9:30AM, I was already home!!! Pag sinuswerti ka nga naman. Hehehe. The early bird did catch the student permit at the earliest time possible. Ako ang unang-unang umuwi nang nakangiti!!! :-D I hope this will also be the case when I get Non Pro License!

 

Earlier yesterday, with the student permit in hand, I attended my very first formal driving orientation. Although most topics are can be found from the book I bought from A1, there are still bits of information that the instructor had shared to me based from his experiences as driver. He even joked...  

 

“...learning how to drive at A1 is very safe, aside from the fact that all A1 vehicles have precautions on the body of the car... kapag nakita ng mga katabing sasakyan na nakikipag agawan ka ng manibela sa instructor mo, sila na ang kusang lalayo sa sasakyan nyo!”

 

 

Hahaha, trulalu! I really enjoyed the first day. When asked who were those excited to start driving, I was the only one who raised my hand!!! Bwahaha ^_^v And I think I was the most active student among my classmates. Hahaha! Kinareer ko talagaang recitation! And I got several very goods from Teacher Paul! Hahaha!!!

 

Classroom lessons 1 and 2 will be after my actual road driving lessons on Thursday (bukas na pala yon) and Next Tuesday! Four more sessions to go! Kailangan kong sulitin ang napakamahal na registration fee! Good luck to meeeee!

 

 

I Am Keeping My Fingers and Eyes Crossed

 

I am working on an earlier shift again so I have a lot of time to keep up with my diary this week. Very good! Writing here is one of the many things that keep me happier – stress reliever! My shift is going to end soon and oh my god! – I had to go to LTO pala!

 

 

This is it! I just concluded the envisioning stage of my plans by starting the next step in learning how to drive! I am already enrolled in A1 Driving School for 7 hours of classroom and field classes for P4,500.00. My student license is already expired since last year so I have to get a new one. A new one means undergoing long lines and boredom on waiting at LTO. I plan to get it in Imus. I’ll blog over my experience next time.

 

 

Three days since I started reading this book and I am learning a lot. I am just a bit scared about the REAL thing! Hahaha!

 

I hope everything will go smoothly all the way – am keeping my fingers and eyes crossed!