Forever and a day

To my God who always fulfills the desires of my heart, who keeps my dreams alive, I can never thank you enough. To my husband who makes my life so colourful and complete, I promise to love you forever and a day.

Oh Happy Day!

My Drew proposed on Dec 24, 2007. Nobody saw it coming especially me. We 're very happy and Drew's not a big fan of change. So I thought our state of affairs will be permanent but little did I know that he was researching and looking for that perfect ring for 4 months. My Drew, my angel, perhaps sweating bullets when he decided to take that leap of faith.

I was so tired that night; well, grouchy too! But he was a little too energetic for me, like a boy who's about to open a present he has long expected. Upon the stroke of midnight, we exchanged gifts. I can't remember now what I gave him as everything turned hazy and fuzzy that night; like a lens out of focus. He gave me a big box and it was a jewelry box specifically designed for watches. I thought, great, he's telling me I own too many watches. There was a compartent for rings too which I decided not to open because 1. I am a realist and 2. it will just open a secret longing in my heart that we would get married one day. So I shut the box lid and smiled, kissed and thanked him. Now I'm ready for bed. But he was egging me to open it again and I was thinking if he wanted me to appreciate the craftmanship more, bewildered, I obeyed. "It's really nice, baby", looking at it again and then ...I clued in. I opened the ring box and lo and behold the most beautiful ring was nestling. When I turned to look at him, he was on his knees, asking me. The question I thought I'll never hear. And I said yes and started sobbing.

On Second Chances

I am Filipino - a Flip. For my caker friends, it means being bound by values, traditions, superstition and as if it wasn't enough, by opinions of people who will never step out of their boundaries because they do not know otherwise. And what it meant for me was a death sentence. It never made sense to me, how could I have been born to a race where for centuries, the descendants only followed? I rebelled but only became more of a prisoner of a society that is hell bent in detaining me. So after countless sleepless nights and thousands of thoughts captured in paper, I broke free. I left my old life, where I never felt I belonged. Turned my back on a culture that suppressed me, because it fascistly thinks it knows better. I'm still a Flip, I can't deny my color, my features but I'm no longer bound by its tradition or beliefs that a divorced woman is an outcast, simply because I said I'm done. So pardon me for not screaming at the top of my voice, crying out "Ako'y Pinoy".
Thank God for second chances.. and the assurance of His love. My family who stood by me, no matter what. And the love of a man who thought I saved him, little did he know, he saved me.

Paris, Once More with Feelings

Oui. Arc D' Triomphe.
Was Mary Magdalene here?
King Neptune is real???

My Prague

Prague. Ahh... almost costed me my eye. I whipped out my camera and took shots while in the car, driving on brick roads. Only because I couldn't wait 1 more minute to get out and take it all in. There was no corner where you would not want to take pictures. Talk about being in another world. Breathtaking, wonderous. Then St. Charles Bridge came into view, where notable statues proudly loom and the Prague castle in the background, my hand clasped in Drew's.. I muttered to myself..What a wonderful world.

Paris.. City of Lovers. Unfortunately, Paris wasn't a showstopper for Drew and I. Maybe it was Rome or Venice or Florence, (not even seeing Prague yet) that ruined it for us. Or maybe, Paris wasn't really what the movies cut it out to be. After 5 minutes of gazing at the Eiffel Tower, the novelty wore off. But since we are the ultimate tourists, we had to take a pic anyways. I lied, we took several pics until I grew tired of it. My mom would not believe it when I told her that Paris wasn't that great, not what Drew and I expected. She thought I was on crack. I was definitely not on crack, was never on any unnatural substance. So those who love Paris can kiss my sorry carcass. That's right, I said it. Bravery afterall is still the order of the day.