10 Random Weird Facts About Me

My good friend, Thonnie tagged me with this one. So, here are 10 Weird/Odd facts about me:

1.) I get hiccups everytime I drink softdrinks. I don't know why! I'm not sure if there's any scientific explanation to that, that's why I don't drink softdrinks that much especially when I am in public places or when I'm in a meeting.

2.) I eat green mangoes with fish sauce (patis) + sugar + iodized salt. Take note, it has to be more of sugar and not too much fish sauce.

3.) I cannot sleep without a blanket! Even if it's the hottest part of the year, I have a hard time sleeping without a blanket. Not just that, I prefer a soft-textured blanket.

4.) I refuse to watch horror movies and I can't stand cold-blooded movies. Just like recently, we watched 300. PJ has been begging me to watch it with him, so I finally agreed! He watched and I snuggled the whole time in his chest just like a baby. I know, I am such a kill-joy!

5.) I hate milk, can't stand the smell of it, but I love halo-halo. I remember, my family had to drag me to finish a glass of Anmum when I was still pregnant. No to any dishes with milk - which only makes sense if I say I hate cheese.

6.) I don't eat caramel and nuts in chocolates.

7.) I love fresh strawberries but I don't eat strawberry jam and strawberry sundae.

8.) I prefer to eat the thigh part of the chicken. Gravy's purpose for me is not as a sauce but as a soup.

9.) Most of the times, I only wear my make-up when I am about to go home from work.

10.) I am supposed to be the key-keeper of our office, but I always tend to forget my keys.

Here are some of the things Kimmie added on my list - her unsolicited opinion.

11.) You think that Lemon Chicken is a weird dish! God knows why, though. It’s usually the come-on dish of today’s most popular restaurants (i.e., Super Bowl, Temple, etc.)!

12.) Every time a camera’s within your six-mile radius, you’re always ready with a smile and sexy pose. And, the cameras are not even always pointed directly at you. J

13.) You’re very girly-girly. But today’s the first time I’ve actually seen you wear a skirt to the office!

Hmmm...come to think of it, 50% of what I have come up with are all food related. Tsk..tsk..not a good sign! :)

Tagaytay trippings

Just recently, we had another one of those Tagaytay evening trips with old friends Liann and Cocoy. I remember the first time our group went there together, I was about 6 months pregnant, and we finished at about 1am! This time around, we went out with, now a toddler - CJ - so he can also spend time with his Ninang Liann and Tito Cocoy. As usual, we went to our fave dining place - Gourmet's Cafe! Aaahh...... Just the thought of the place makes me wanna come back and have another of their famous Caesar's Salad, fresh from their own garden! Oh, and I also love their version of Seafood Pasta!

After dinner, we stopped by Starbucks for dessert and coffee of course. We then left CJ with his lolo (my dad) who works and stays in Tagaytay. His lolo was more than happy to baby-sit, too happy that he's asking for a tip for his services! :))

I swear, 5 hours of non-stop talking with this couple is not enough! Whenever we get together, we just can't stop reminiscing on how each one got into each other's arms. PJ and I, btw, played cupids to these 2 lovers and they in turn became one of our closest friends! The four of us were officemates before, and I'm glad that after all these years we still manage to get together.

Goodbyes and Hellos

This is just a very quick post. This week and next week will be busy-moving-stuff weeks for me.

First move: Office
Our project will end in 2 months and here we are, busy with the relocation! Our timeline: 5 days! So far, we're moving things as planned following my detailed schedule of activities. I just have to worry about how we will manage to fit all items in our new office. I will surely miss my second home, the privacy, the balcony, the washroom, the views from the windows, the training and conference rooms, and most especially the elevator...

Goodbye Cacho! Hello Regina!

Next move: Home
Finally!!! Next week, we will be moving out of my parents' house! Well, well, well, it's about time, right? Now that we're perfectly adjusted as first-time parents to our CJ, we've decided that it's finally time to go out and explore independence! We found this two-storey house in Paranaque, about a 5-minute drive from my parents' place. It's nice and well-maintained and we knew that this was the house to get, the first time we saw it. Although it may not be the best one we've seen in terms of opulence and size, it's not the worst either. But location-wise and budget-wise, it's perfect! We're very excited to get the ball rolling for this new chapter in our lives, and we just can't wait to fill the house with our own furniture - one piece at a time...

Goodbye to extended family household! Hello independence!

Solo Flight, at last!!

Yesterday marked the very first time I drove alone for a considerable distance - from Makati to Sucat (our home)!!! Yooohoooo!! The past few weeks since I got my driver's license, PJ has been giving me the liberty to drive the car even without him. But on those occasions, I was always accompanied by someone else either my cuzin Cito or some friends who would always be willing to be of help by staying awake and look out for any trouble that may hit us. But yesterday was a different story. PJ decided to stay home so I drove to Makati for work with my cuz and dropped him off near my office leaving me enough time to park car before 7am (not that I'm an early bird for work, it's because we're color coded on Thursdays! haha!) I haven't had the chance to practice on my reverse parking before, so since it was still early, and there were only a few cars parked, I managed to park it after several trials. Hmmmm...it took me more or less 5 minutes before I was able to fit car inside the parking lane. Whew!

Anyway, cuz texted me late in the afternoon to confirm that he's already on his way home, and that my angels will be there to guide me on my way home. I certainly hoped he didn't mean heaven when he said home! LOL! Honestly, I really got nervous with a mixed feeling of excitement and nervousness because it was my first time to drive alone from Makati and at night time, and its still peak traffic hours! I left the parking lot after I said my prayers and off I headed to the first independent driving of my life. There! After about 45 minutes of intense driving, I got home complete, safe, sound and most of all, the car was intact, not a single scratch! Yipee!

Please allow me to thank my family and friends who prayed for me on that night; My best friend - my eyeglasses! Thanks to my angels and to my companion from above!

Can't wait for the next one! =)

What Every WOMAN Should...

This is actually an email from Mitch which later on Kim and I answered back - turned out as a good meme so I'm posting it here.. For the love of my life, I didn't include Kim's reply below. LOL! Sorry have to edit some of my original answers as I don't want people getting the wrong idea.. =p

**************************************************************************************************************

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....one old love .....
she can imagine going back to...
and one who reminds her of how far she has come.(C: Depends on what "come" means here! LOL! Oooookk, let's not elaborate further on this one.. =))

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
...enough money within her
control to move out and
rent a place of her own
even if she never wants to or needs to...(C: Just enough but with a little help from PJ - for CJ's luxuries =p )

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
... something perfect to wear if
the employer (C: Check!) or date of her dreams
wants to see her in an hour... (C: The date of my dreams (who else?!) prefers anything I wear! Haha!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
... a youth she's content to leave behind...(C: Youth can also come from within... I intend to feel the youthful energy within me till my gray days. Bow.)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....a past juicy enough that
she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.... (C: Hmmm....)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....a set of screwdrivers, (C: I'll probably just borrow...)
a cordless drill, (C:na-da...)
and a black lace bra... (C:minus the lace...)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
...one friend who always makes her laugh .... (C: Lots of 'em! I just have to hear Winky sing her "Be my guest"
and one who lets her cry... (C: cry out of what?)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....a good piece of furniture
not previously owned by anyone else in her family... (C: Check!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....eight matching plates, (C: I only have 4)
wine glasses with stems, (C: flowers lang, walang stem..)
and a recipe for a meal (C: Check!)
that will make her guests feel honored. (C: Just by being invited in my place is already an honor! haha!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
....a feeling of control over her destiny... (C: Hmmmm....)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
...how to fall in love without losing herself... (C: I believe you'll lose yourself one way or another - either you become better or worse)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
..how to quit a job, (C: Just look at my CV)
break up with a lover, (C: Check!)
and confront a friend without ruining the friendship... (C: depends...)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
...when to try harder ... (C: ahhh...I'm good at this one!)
and when to walk away... (C: always trying hard not to..)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
..that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips,
or the nature of her parents... (C: I am very much aware of all these..)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
....that her childhood may not have been perfect...
but its over... (C: Absolutely!)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.....
...what she would and wouldn't do for love or more... (C: Check!)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
...how to live alone...
even if she doesn't like it... (C: proved it already!)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
...who she can trust,
who she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally... (C: still on the learning stage..)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
...where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table...
or a charming inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing... (C: don't think she has a charming inn in the woods)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
... what she can and can't accomplish
in a day...a month...and a year... (C: pretty muck ok with this one)

"People say what we are all seeking is the meaning of
life...
I think what we're really seeking is the experience of
being alive..."
-Rudyard Kipling
(C: Cheers to that!)

A Well Spent Lent

Last year we went to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte to spend the Holy Week holidays, this time around we just stayed home and attend the masses at our parish (Miraculous Medal National Shrine). Although, we were not able to push through with our plans of spending the holidays in Tagaytay, it was also a good thing for at least the Holy Week for us has been more solemn and fruitful.

In addition to that, I was able to attend our scheduled service since CYC-Central Youth Choir, my second family, was assigned to sing on Good Friday. (I know it may sound absurd, since almost all of us are no longer youths. Well, we were, 12 years ago, when the group first started! :) ) Too bad, we're only 6 yesterday-Sty, Rubi, Conne, Duanne, Poch and Jeff, and of course our kikay organist La Belle Armi and Angelo on the guitars!

Anyway, it was indeed a long mass, almost 2 hours! We underestimated the number of people so some of the songs we sang were the what we call "the emergency songs." One of the songs I've always love to sing on Good Friday is the "Tao sa Krus" a very touching and moving song, sang right after the priest shows the Crucifix to the people.

Lyrics: Tao sa Krus
(Sorry have no idea who the composer is)

Tignan masdan, ang Tao sa Krus
Sya'y ating kaligtasan
Halina't sya'y sambahin...

Hanggat ang butil ay di mahulog at mamatay
Ito'y hindi lalago, 'di magbibigay buhay..

(Oh no! I can't remember the 2nd stanza)

Bridge:
Anong laking kahiwagaan, kababaang loob
Naging hamak na tao ang Diyos sa pagtubos
Dugo't tubig ang umagos sa pusong inulos
Huling patak, pag-ibig pa rin binuhos!

The next one is a new song (for us) written by Manoling Francisco, but definitely got my heart the first time I heard the song on one of the albums of Bukas Palad.

If I Could Touch You
by Bukas Palad
Written by: Manoling Francisco

If I could touch You, I'd heal Your broken palms
If I could hold You in my arms
I'd call the soft breeze to caress Your weary arms
I'd call the moonbeam to dispel this darkest night
If I could touch You, I would

If I could hear You, Your words of anguish
If You'd just whisper in my ear
The sadness weighing down Your heart that no man sees
If You'd just call me, I would sing of flaming hope
If I could hear You, I would

Long have I waited for you to hear My cry
Long have I waited for you to answer My plea
What you do to your brethren You do it for Me
I am in the brokenness and woundedness of man

COUNTERPOINT:
Yes, you can touch Me
I'm in the least of your brethren
I'm in the weak and small
I need your hands to bear My weary arms
I need your touch to heal My wounded palms.
Yes, you can touch Me
Yes, you can hear Me

Other songs we sang yesterday were: O, Hesus Hilumin Mo, Sugatan Mo Panginoon Ang Aking Puso, Hesus ng Aking Buhay, Halina Lumapit sa Akin, Pagkabighani and Anima Cristi.

My other sentiments this holy week:
I miss the old days when our group will go for Visita Iglesia after the Maundy Thursday mass. It would be a convoy of about 2-3 cars just to accommodate everyone including non-members who wished to join. After finishing 7 churches, we would go to a convenient store to have midnight snacks and coffee. Ahhhhh, those were the days..those were the younger days..This picture was taken after the New Year's Eve Mass 2007. Jackie and Atz were present - fresh from Singapore and Australia.