And Because I Think This Would All Do You Good Too

My reply to one of my friends's blog entry:

"I hope you're all right. I know I have never been in a relationship for almost a year now, but being single for quite a long time made me realize a lot of things. My Theology professor always told us that love is a self-enlarging experience. It should bring out the best in both of you, not the other way around. Don't rely on feelings, because love is never a feeling. If it is, then we could never love for too long--our feelings sway from one to another; humans tend to become fickle. Love, then, is a CHOICE, an effort to build and make the relationship work. Sabi nga sa isang libro na nabasa ko, "Love is a marathon of the heart". In short, kailangan paghirapan, pagtrabahuan. Hindi madali magmahal, kaya it requires that the person who gets into it is WHOLE, may deep love for self. When you love someone, it couldn't be helped that you sacrifice a lot for that person. But if you already have a strong sense of self in you, kahit ilang sakripisyo pa ang gawin mo, para sa'yo walang nababawas sa sarili mo kasi beforehand, BUO ka na. People who sacrifice for the other just so they could get back at them someday are not "sacrificing". They are "self-sacrificing"

... Make it work, with yourself, and with him. Don't just be overwhelmed by the feelings. Constantly symbolize the love that is already there. And as much as chemistry is important to initiate a connection between two people, also keep in mind that fundamental similarities in both your personality or values ensure you a stronger and better relationship. ;)"

I wish I could've told this to myself before.

Zambales Getaway

Tito Mangks was our designated driver for the trip. He has never been a fan of long hour driving. But this one he had to make an exemption for.

Everyone was all excited to go. Especially Tita Ni, and her daughter, Katha.


For lunch, we ate in Jollibee, because with us was the writer of its ads. (Tito John--dad of Katha)


Photography is my hobby, which was inspired by her.


Finally, we're at Zambales. I bet you know it is popular for its mangoes. (Rajah--brother of Katha)


Since it was Holy Week, we had to visit the church.


And wait for the procession, which was really dragging.



But the night wasn't gloomy at all.


I found it even serene.


What we were really looking forward to was the beach.



I was all giddy, even though I couldn't swim that day (it's a girl thing). So I just took pictures of myself.


But I tell you. Vanity is hereditary.


Yet nothing still could match to this.


We indeed had fun.


If everyday is always like this, then I will always be assured of a good night sleep.
For more photos, visit here

Define Holy

Last Maundy Thursday, my family and I weren't able to do our usual Visita Iglesia because we still had to prepare our stuff for our trip to Zambales the next day. We just went to the Marcelo church at night to do the way of the cross. Having realized that we never ate any meat during the day, we decided to treat ourselves to any open coffee shop nearby. But then my mom has never been really a fan of Starbucks or the like because she finds the coffee prices there absurd. So at 9pm, we headed to Brooklyn Pizza in BF Homes instead, and at around P500, we already had one humungous pizza in front of us! Their White Pizza is the best, I swear. We did our best trying to avoid meat for the first 21 hours, but it did not surprise us that we still had to resort eating a packload of wheat with bacon, pepperoni, and grease on top of it to end the day.



Cooking gives me the high, and I am glad summer months give me the chance to be all squiffy at it. That's spaghetti with tuna, which my siblings did not know of until their plates are all empty.

I will post about our Zambales trip in awhile when Tita Ni sends me the pictures. :)

Rest Stop

My mom reiterates to me the importance of being able to stop the vicious cycle of work. How? Leave the cycle behind, then come back, and you gain your momentum. Puerto Galera is definitely a great breather from all the stress the recent school year has brought me. This is a good start for a less stressful yet fulfilling summer ahead. More pics here.

Note to Self

I used to define myself with the relationships I am in--whether it may be a relationship with my family, my boyfriend, or my friends. I used to love doing things so my parents will approve of me, or so my special someone will still continue to love me, or so that my friends would admire me. My worth was measured on how I measure up to other people's expectations. I used to wake up everyday not knowing what my standards are. I had never really grasped the meaning of enough, for I keep on persisting on what other people want from me. I can only stop only when my limits crash, for there is nothing anymore to hold and protect me.

I have lost love, for myself, to the child lingering within, and to the woman I have become. I have lost love to the fact that I love the day sky than the night, that I love my rice fried, that I never really love fish but vegetables are never a problem, that I love having profound conversations, but I also love to laugh over the most mundane, that I love to read and I love to write, whether my punctuations and grammar are in place or not, that I love dancing alone in my room, that I love exploring new places, that I love my man to be prudent and smart, and that I love dreaming big.

I posted this in a future date with the hopes that I reach this day with a regained love of self, that even if other people's opinions are important, what I would really deem important are the values which my heart clings to. I would live to remind myself that to efficiently deal with others, I have to master dealing with myself first.