Survival

Everything has its way of surviving.

Whether in the wild on or in the urban jungle.

Humans, animals, plants, every single creation

Even gadgets are built for survival nowadays.

But, every single thing in this world has its limit.

Even the will to survive may come to an end.

edited with photocollage.com

feeling of haven at Miriam College

We all have that piece of haven where we feel at peace and safe, recently, for me, this haven is Miriam College. It didn't start as such though, but in the past few months, this has been my "comfort place"

For eight years, I studied in Miriam College (high school and college) and like any other student/teenager, I had my own share of drama. Despite the roller coaster of experiences while i was studying here, the high school chapel was always my sanctuary. Even after i graduated from college, i would sometimes take a day off from work just to visit the high school chapel, especially in moments of resignation and hopelessness.

I came back to my Alma mater after four years to work here as a technical assistant. Before I worked here, work-life seemed so tiring and I was always nervous about going to work because of the task I had to do. Add to that, the commute was a big hassle (Ortigas and Makati.) I was already tired by the time i arrive at my workplace. Salary wise, it felt like I was always waiting for the next paycheck. Now that I am working in Miriam College, work-life felt better. I feel more relaxed and at ease even if the work can be troublesome sometimes, at the end of the day, I am able to finish them. I don't worry about anything when I leave work as I know I can still do it the next day. I felt really at home since I started here. Of course the pay is lower than what I was receiving when I was in the corporate world, but I never felt that I was waiting for the next paycheck. Also, I already have savings, unlike when I was with the corporate world.

My God's Gift, Joy, once told me something about feeling at peace at their house (their room they are renting now) because of the altar and the prayers that seems to echo within their room. As I pondered on this, I realized, maybe, just maybe, the reason I felt at home here in Miriam College is because of the chapels (high school and college chapel), the environment (i am a nature/province girl) and the people (well educated, spiritual and very engaging conversation wise). I realized, not that I am here, I have longer prayer time and scripture reading. I am able to be more at keen to my spiritual side since I started work here. The core values being instilled in the students is the same, being an employee, maybe even stronger. I am not sure if it is just me, but being an alumnae, I feel more empowered knowing that I can also mold these students the way the school has molded and guided me with the core values.

I guess other than being a safe place, a haven can also be a place where we feel we have purpose and we know we can move and touch other lives. A haven need not simply be a place of sanctuary, but also a place of learning, growth and inspiration, not only to ones self but also to other people.

where or what is your haven my friend? :)

another super update

hi everyone! it's been really hard for me to update my blog recently due to work and limited internet access. there have been a lot that has been happening lately, and to tell you all the truth, i can't even remember some of them. i do have pictures so... i'll just tell you all about these pictures are. (^_^) we will start with the albums.

1st SFC Big West Conference

we are all proud to say that we are the pioneer members who attended the conference. (^_^) the venue as at my alma mater, Miriam College. There were 3 talks, praise fest, mass and dances. i also bought shirts, but no pictures yet of the shirts. you will all see them in my future pictures. (^_~)

next, the birthday celebration of Rex, our manager, and also the quarter celebration of our company since we reached our quota for this quarter. yosh! it was all a treat from our boss, James. thank you! (^_^) the pictures will tell it all.

next, pictures i have "edited"

there has been an on going campaign to lessen the garbage and plastic usage around the world. it's now advised to bring your own bag for groceries and stuff, or they use paper bags. one particular establishment took it a notch higher. the design of their paper bag is a copy of a painting by a filipino painter. really awesome! i couldn't throw the paper bag because it was eye-candy for me. i kept it for myself. (^_~)

second picture? it involves cold treats! korean ice cream, because my friend at office wanted to try it for the first time. the second treat? earl grey ice cream! no kidding (^_^) best only when served cold though. if it melts, it's not that enjoyable anymore. then again, that's just me. it was the first time a tested this flavor in an ice cream. i mean, i drink earl grey tea, but ice cream? i just had to try. (^_^)

you have all heard of the sandwich shop Subway right? well... i only at there recently and i realized ho much i as missing! hehehe! the sandwich as just great. i would definitely buy there at least once a week. (^_^) i am so behind with a lot of stuff so don't be surprised hen you see "first time" in my entries. (^_^)

rarely do i go to Starbucks because i have this notion that drinks and food are overpriced there. but i do admit that there is that rare moment that you think you just really deserve it after busy days and stressful tasks. (^_^) choco-glazed donut and strawberry and cream frappe. (^_^)

our team leader treated us to frozen margarita and snacks is celebration of those e have hired for the client company, kampai! (^_^) yes, another first time for me. (^_^)

and lastly, friday was a holiday here. but i went to work for half day. i jut had to take a picture of myself. i don't know why, i just had a feeling i had to. (^_~)

there are so many things i missed telling in this entry, but as i said earlier, i can't remember the other events anymore. please forgive me. m (_ _) m

chao~

elements

it's been very windy recently and i love it. (^_^)

when it comes to elements i thought i was a water or wind person because i love the feeling of the cool water and breeze.

as the years pass i realized that we have a piece of each of the four elements in each of us.

in my case, my personality is like the earth, stubborn and very physical in terms of relationships.

my emotions and movements in dancing are like water, formless and flowing. they constantly change and are easily influenced by what is forming them. add to that i love swimming. (^_^)

my passion for dancing is like fire. whatever the dance is, i will drive my self to learn it though it may take time, the passion does not easily die out.

and lastly, my compassion, my carefree and open-minded attitude is like the wind. i continue to accept and just go with whatever i feel i might be comfortable with. i expand what i think would make me feel better specially with experiences.

there are times wherein one is more influential than the other but at the end of it all, they have a certain balance within us which makes us more in tune with what is around us.

i hope that makes sense. (^_~)

ja~

morning sky

this was the sky that greeted me this morning. (^_^) ♥

life's simple joys,

i love it!

that you Lord (^_^)

dragonfly

i saw a dead dragonfly near a stairway in our school building.

at first, i thought it was still alive.

i then realized that it wasn't moving despite large crowd passing by the stairway.

sad.

yellow flower

just thought something this beautiful is worth the share. (~_~)

this was on top of our altar.

flowers are quite refreshing. (~_~)

agsao ti rabii: cold summer nights

date: april 19, 2011

it's very windy outside. i actually love it. (~_~) i'm currently sitting at our dining area. it's a good thing the dining area is outside. i get to enjoy the strong winds and the load rustling of the leaves/trees. if only i can sleep outside right now, i would definitely do it. the stars are clearly seen here in the province. the atmosphere here is really relaxing. i don't know if it's just me but whenever i go here for holy week, i get this odd feeling. like something magical is happening around me even if i'm not really seeing anything new. maybe it's just that elevated feeling when i get to experience something that is quite different from what i am used to. in my case, the "different from what i am used to" is the peaceful feeling.

i wish i could share to you all the feeling of the strong winds and the loud rustling of the leaves and trees but alas! i am not very good with words to be able to describe it.

crickets. i only here them here in the province. the same with the "tuko" (a lizard that makes a deep reverberating sound during night time) maybe these sounds would what others call "nature sounds" whatever they are called, it's very calming.

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COUNTDOWN: 4 DAYS!

abra trip - holy week

minna~

finally! here is the entry about our one week stay at our province, Abra.

during our stay in the province,

we didn't go out of our house much.

the space in our garden and the treehouse was enough for us to keep ourselves entertained.

add to that, even though we have known and have been living in a gallery,

me and my siblings always saw something interesting in our house/gallery.

(~_~)

add to that,

the mango trees in the garden was bearing fruit,

so we literally got our own food from around us. (~_~)

we went our for a walk around the small town on our first day,

just so we can say hi to those we know.

i'm not bragging or anything,

but our family is very known in our province.

despite that,

we try to be discreet and that is why people are amazed when we introduce ourselves.

anyways, during our short walk,

rei and i visited our church and the Holy Ghost School.

the Holy Ghost School was the first of the Holy Spirit Schools here in the Philippines.

rei and i studied in one of the Holy Spirit Schools here in manila.

moving on...

the other reasons for us to go out of our house was for a procession or when we needed to buy something.

holy tuesday,

we joined the Stations of the Cross procession our plaza.

maundy thursday,

we were already preparing the Santo Inchero (the dead Jesus Christ) for the friday evening procession.

on the evening of thursday,

we also joined a procession.

during such processions,

there is this structure they call "abong-abong" which we pass through along the way.

this structure is made of bamboo and coconut leaves.

it is decorated with fruits, cloth, paintings or other materials.

inside it is a tableau depicting scenes from the gospels,

specifically scenes during the last supper until the death of Jesus.

good friday,

everyone was busy preparing the Santo Inchero.

preparing the food to be served for the musikeros,

for those who will prayed,

for those who helped pull the Santo Inchero

and for those who visited the Santo Inchero at our house.

this day was also the Kissing of the Feet of Jesus.

it is during this time that it is said that Jesus has died.

after the Kissing of the Feet was the evening procession with the Santo Inchero.

for the whole evening,

there were prayers until dawn of black saturday.

black saturday,

we visited the grave of my grandmother in Villa Padua.

Villa Padua is a family property in the mountains of Abra.

this villa is dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua.

during our visit,

we went up the Stairway to Heaven in our villa.

there is supposed to be 100 steps to the top of the mountain.

this was conceptualize by my grandfather.

later that afternoon,

we went to a different part of our province for a cool swim at a natural spring.

it was a really cooling way to beat the heat.

easter sunday,

rei and i woke up early to watch the "sabet",

it is a reenactment of the meeting between mother and son,

Mother Mary and her risen son Jesus Christ.

after that was the easter mass.

we rushed for breakfast because we were scheduled to leave for manila after the mass.

the trip was very warm and windy,

tiring and exhausting,

but that itself is part of the whole trip.

i am very thankful for the one week we had in Abra,

and for the safety of our trip to and fro Abra.

(~_~)

pictures:

abra trip

holy week
----------@----------
during my stay in the province,

there were times wherein i had an experience that i thought i should have their separate entry.

the over-all title for these four entries is

"agsao ti rabii" (the evening speaks)

• cold summer nights
• the help
• faith
• Georgina

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COUNTDOWN: 4 DAYS!

sky (+2 hospital photos)

here are some pictures of the sky.

view, from the windows of the hospital (~_~)

sky and the city

sunset city

jetplane trail

jetplane trail over city

feathery clouds

here are additional photos.

we were actually trying the panorama setting of our camera.

here are the results.

corridor

rei with ice cream

enjoy. (~_~)
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COUNTDOWN: 22 DAYS!

ohayou~

a cold morning to everyone from me and mizuki! (~_~)

i would like to share the morning sky that greeted morning.

i was still lying on my bed when i took this picture.

the camera was an arm-length away from me when i grabbed it.

here is a picture of the window in the room where i sleep. (~_~)

later minna-san.
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COUNTDOWN: 22 DAYS!

silver leaves

one of our workers was spraying a car part they were fixing.

a few hours after the spraying,

i noticed these silver leaves.

i later realized that it was the same spot where our worker was when he was spraying a car part.

i was very much amused. (~_~)
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COUNTDOWN: 24 DAYS!

swimming fail -> walking success

rei and i were supposed to go for a swim today.

unfortunately, the sports complex we were supposed to go to was closed.

(T_T)

i was so heart-broken, well, rei was heart-broke too.

we just decided to go tomorrow.

since we were already out, we decided to just take our time and walk home.

the weather was VERY VERY WARM and the walk VERY VERY FAAAAAR!

it was approximately a 5 to 6 kilometer walk*.

anyways, rei and i had stopovers.

we could not really take the heat so we bought ice cream.

i had strawberry-vanilla flavor.

cool and oishii!

(~_^)

along the road, we saw these bougainvillea that were in full bloom!

here are the pictures.

bougainvillea

close up 1

close up 2

close up 3

close up 4

rei said it looked like sakura blossoms (~_^) <3

next that caught our attention were these purple-white flowers. (~_~)

purple-white bloom

purple-white buds

now that i think about it,

even if we were not able to swim and we were so tired when we got home,

i was happy to be able to enjoy simple joys today.

(~_~)
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*when i said 5 to 6 kilometers, i was merely referring to the walk home.

i would like to add that we also walked from my Miriam College (my former school and rei's present school) to the sports center,

that is another 3 to 4 kilometers.

so today, we walked approximately 8 to 9 kilometers.

(~_~)

i love it!