Third Star: Chances - "No Regrets"

December 25, 2013. Christmas Day.

I still remember it vividly. A group activity in our Group Dynamics class in college. We were asked to share whatever regrets we had, and to tell how we're dealing with it.

When it was the turn of my old bud, Chad, to share his, he said, "I've got none. I have no regrets."

I was surprised by his answer. Everyone, at some point, must have taken a bad decision which made a critical impact to his/her life. Everyone makes mistakes. I thought, there's no way for this guy to not have any single memory of having f*cked up.

When asked why he thought he doesn't have one, he said these words: "I make most out of everything. I am not afraid to make mistakes, because it's all part of it. I am not afraid to try, because you'll never know unless you give it a chance. I don't want to think of the "what ifs"; I take decisions based on how I feel and what I think at that moment. What is done is done, and I'm here now because of everything that I went through." 

You see, this guy led a unique life. He had to transfer from one country to another due to the demands of his family's situation. As such, he had to constantly adapt to everything. There's no given certainty that he's going to stay at one place, so he did all his best to make most out of everything that he encountered.

Uncertainty can be a rather difficult thing to deal with for some people, me included.

Last year, I was told that there are stones in my gallbladder. It can be fatal if not treated, but I made the necessary procedures to at least lessen the chances of it killing me. Earlier this year, Dad lost his job, unfortunately on short notice. Once again, we were not prepared for it, given the fact that Dad is in incredibly good standing with the company. About two months ago, I've contracted Dengue, a rather dangerous disease that could have gotten me, if only I didn't notice the rashes in my skin. And finally, just a few days ago, I was told that my Mom developed mioma and that she would need surgery soon. 

Of course, I don't want to just ponder on the bad things. I recently got transferred to the job I really like to be in, and I've met a wonderful person in Kakat. I never expected all these things to happen; everything seemed to have no assurance.

But there's one thing I am sure of. I, too, don't want to have any regrets.

It's one of the reasons why I do all that I can to live my life to the fullest. It’s one of the reasons why I love with all my heart. We are not sure if we will be given another chance to show our loved ones how much we care for them. I don’t want to waste any time. I don’t want to have any regrets.

Everyday, we are given the chance to feel what we want to feel, to pursue what we want to pursue, and to be whoever we want to be. No one said it would be easy - there is a chance you'll make mistakes and there's a chance you'll get hurt. But these things should never stop us from continuing with our lives. If anything, they should serve as lessons to empower us and reminders of what it is that we truly value.

As for now, I'm taking all the chances I can have to make a special someone happy. I'm doing all I can to support my family. I'm dedicating a considerable amount of effort in my job, so I'll be successful one day. All these, for living a life with no regrets.

Quite a dramatic post, I should admit. But then again, it's good to keep things in check. Think about all that you've read for a minute. Perhaps you'll find a way to live your life too, without having to regret anything.

Stay classy, planet Earth!

- Billy

Second Star: Aspirations - "Good Things Happen To Those Who Wait"

December 25, 2013. Christmas Day.

After more than 400 days of patiently waiting, I’m finally in the Human Resources. Even though I was assigned at such a hectic period in the company’s timeline, I’m glad that I’m finally starting my dream career.

I really wanted to land a job in the Human Resources. No, not Human Resources outsourcing operation work...actual HR work. I want to experience recruiting and interviewing people, doing performance evaluations, managing 201 files, assessing compensation and benefits schemes, checking employment morale...everything! I wanted it so bad that I almost took an offer with a salary that's WAY lower than what I'm earning now. 

Different facets of HR. I'd like to specialize in organization development or performance management, personally.

I may have stayed at our company for, like one and a half years as a human resources interviewer, but the truth is, I've got an ulterior motive all along. I thought that if I wait too long, perhaps there would be an opportunity for me to get into the company's HR. Given the circumstances last year, my chances were fairly bleak - even the HR at that time admitted that there were times when they don't have much to do. I never lost hope though, and stayed with that in mind; the company's pay isn't that bad after all, and while waiting for that gem of a chance, I can just save up for cool stuff.

For some, one year is already a long time to wait for something uncertain. You see, my current job doesn't really contribute that much in terms of HR related experience (it does, but only to an extent). I could have just stayed for just six months and then leave for the real thing. But the thing is, almost everything about the company is good, from pay (which I already mentioned a lot of times), culture and atmosphere, benefits (Maxicare is a great help, especially for my parents) and, of course, the people. While I've never been to a lot of companies before (it's my first job after all), I've encountered some unreasonably toxic supervisors that'll sure to make your work life a living hell. Thankfully, such people don't exist in our company (or at least, I've never encountered one). Plus, I've already made some good friends within the organization. Kakat, in fact, is one of my coworkers there. These reasons were enough for me to be convinced that if ever I'll be an HR practitioner, this company is where I would like to work for.

Some gifts, however, come with challenges. The reason why the company opened an HR post was because they are in dire need of assistance for the upcoming mass hiring. The company's CEO revealed that we need to double the number of employees that we're going to have as we move to our McKinley location. Currently, we're around 300, so the goal is for us to reach 600. Recruiting that many people is already a challenge on its own, but in addition to that, we also have to deal with backfills (replacements for people who are going to resign soon). My career's current state is a big leap from what I used to have just a few months ago - from just reaching prod goals, I'm now directly assisting the company to address it's corporate needs for manpower. 

My operations work for that company was merely a stepping stone. Now that I'm transferred to the HR, I can now feel that I'm on my path to developing an actual career. It's too early for me to say that HR is my dream career (I'm still open for other options, such as Education and even business), but what's important for me right now is to get as much experience as I can, as early as I can. 

So yeah, you're probably thinking why I'm sharing boring work-related stuff in this blog, while I can just write something funny, sweet, or anything fun. What I wanted you to know, dear reader, is that aspirations is just as important as happy memories. Life won't revolve around love alone; one must also be mindful of the role he had to play for himself and for the world he lives in. At around age 26, I'd like to see myself in a senior role. Before I turn 30, I'm already eligible for a managerial position. My ability to be a good provider when that time comes rests largely upon my career. 

One important lesson that I learned for this experience is that good things happen for those who wait. Ok, lemme rephrase on that...good things happen to those who wait, while making the most out of the time. Being impulsive and being an opportunist are two different things; decisions in life are just a matter of right timing. For me though, I'm glad I've waited for this opportunity to come. All that wait was really worth it.

December has been a good month for me, but in terms of career and relationships. I'm thankful for all the awesome things that have happened this season. I'm ready to take on 2014. 

That's it for now.

Stay classy, planet Earth!

- Billy

First Star: Willpower - "Billy's Quezon City Adventure"

December 25, 2013.

An uncharted territory. An unpredictable destination. A time limit, set. A challenging adventure. As the dreamer sets his sights on a city in the north, what experiences await him? Will a given promise change his life forever?

Hell yeah.

Upon knowing that my dear blog partner (Hello, Kakat!) will be having her vacation for 3 weeks, I immediately had to think of ways to still spend time with her. Of course, I just couldn't say "Hey, let's hang out here, or there." every single day - she is, after all, having a break from all the hustle and bustle of the city streets and the sometimes-getting-a-little-tedious work that she had to do everyday. Good thing it's Christmas season, and there's bound to have a Simbang Gabi on a nearby chapel. That's the kind of date that we decided to have.

It was then that I realized that I signed up for just a series of evening masses. I get to leave the office at around 5pm, and you know what that means. Rush hour - people running about, getting buses, taxis and trains. Heavy traffic on the way. Mass starts at around 8pm, and I wondered if I'll ever make it.

The thing is, I get to experience every single mode of transportation to Quezon City. For the fun (or heck) of it, let me share my "notes" regarding these means to get to my partner's place on time and be able to make it to the Mass.

MRT. Stands for Man Rage Train.

Metro Rail Transit

Accessibility: ****

Comfort: **

Travel Speed: *****

Cost: *

This is no doubt the fastest and most convenient way to travel to the North. The only issues that one has to deal with are the long lines and the difficulty of getting into the train. At around 5pm, expect the train to be jam-packed with all the people rushing to get home. Good thing Kakat taught me the convenience of having a stored value ticket (saved me time to fall in line) and taking a south-bound train for a round trip.

Not for the faint of heart and legs.

City Buses (Malanday-bound)

Accessibility: ***

Comfort: *

Travel Speed: *

Cost: ***

I'm not even kidding about the ratings. Freakin traffic along EDSA (especially from Guadalupe to Ortigas and then at Cubao), plus, you get to stand the whole time. Securing a seat is entirely luck-based, but I guess that's the same in every mode of transportation bar taxis. Also, it stops all the time to get passengers, even though it's already full. Lastly, tickets here are more expensive than MRT's. Only take this when you've got plenty of time, you've got no other choice, or if, for some reason, you want to stand for a long time.

"Boss, kontrata. 300, Tandang Sora."

Taxi / Cab (whatever you want to call it)

Accessibility: *

Comfort: *****

Travel Speed: ****

Cost: *****
Sometimes, you gotta make your money work for you. There are times when going to the MRT station would be a hassle, and there's no way in hell you're gonna take the bus because of the heavy traffic. In these times, consider getting a cab. It's a little tricky though, since most cabs won't take you as a customer if your destination is as far as, say, Tandang Sora. A little negotiation would be needed. Plus, hunting available taxis is already a challenge on its own. This, however, can take you as far as your actual destination, unlike MRT or bus where you have to stop at Trinoma first.

Hari ng kalsada

Jeepney

Accessibility: *****

Comfort: ****

Travel Speed: ***

Cost: *

The jeepney ride wraps up the travel to home base. To need to ride one to get to my partner's village, either from Trinoma or from Tandang Sora market. Depending on what jeepney you rode with, you're either going for just one ride (directly from Trinoma to the market) or three rides (Trinoma to Visayas Ave, then Visayas to Tandang Sora Market, and lastly, from the market to the village). It's just a matter of preference on which jeepneys to choose, but you definitely don't want to ride the direct one if you're in a rush, since it has an uber long waiting line during rush hour.

And yeah, not only did I get to learn the most efficient ways to travel, I also get to master the routes. Of course, I won't tell you much about it - I don't want you guys going to Kakat's place uninvited. :D

A friend of mine asked me, "Why do you have to go through all the trouble for this?"

I've got plenty of reasons.

One, I want to spend time with Kakat in a way that she won't ever have to leave her village. I want her to feel that she does not have to go through all the trouble of commuting just for us to meet. I value the time she chose as her vacation, and I don't want her to get weary.

Two, The idea of a "church date" is something that has interested me. I knew it wouldn't be just a date - it would be a time for us to reflect, pray, and keep our faith in check. I want the two of us to be guided by God, and one of the better ways to ask for it is to attend a Mass. A date where we can be with God? Sign me up for that.

Three. It's likely that I'll be visiting her home whenever we would go out. I can't afford to lose my way every time, and that's why I took the opportunity to master my way around.

Four. I also want to meet her family. I'd like them to know that my intentions for their daughter is good, and that I'll be worthy enough for their trust. It's not something I could work out in just 9 days though, but I sure hope I had a good start.

Six. I wanted to put myself into a test. A test of willpower. For some, distance and time are obstacles - many guys would be put off with the idea of travelling several miles for two or more hours just to see someone for less than an hour (not counting the time it'll take to go home, which, in my case, is double the time I had to spend going from Makati to Quezon City). The test gave me the opportunity to be mindful of my surroundings, be strategic in choosing the means to get to where I want to go, and the patience to endure all the difficulties of travel. I can confidently say that I passed this test - I grew to be a more conscientious traveler with a heckload of forethought and patience.

Seven. Kakat, herself. I believe she's worth all the effort, and I want her to feel special in that regard. I'm willing to go through even the most challenging of labyrinths just for a chance to make her smile and brighten up her day.

After nine nights of doing this adventure, I can say that Cavite isn't that too far from Quezon City anymore. This adventure not only gave me the opportunity to experience traveling the busy North, it also allowed me to grow as a better person in terms of determination and will.

I already told Kakat that we're going to do this again next year. I don't mind taking on this adventure again. :)

I hope you learned something from this post. I'd like to know what you think. :)

Stay Classy, Planet Earth!

- Billy

The Nine Stars of Christmas - An Introduction

December 25, 2013. Christmas Day.

Here in the Philippines, we have a particular tradition every Christmas season called "Simbang Gabi." It's a series of nine masses (for nine night/early mornings) celebrated as part of the preparation for Jesus's birth. Legend has it that whoever completes these masses will have his/her wishes granted. For some, they were just a tradition, or a means for a certain prayer to be heard, but for me...

They were the most beautiful nine nights of my life.

This Christmas season, I’d like to dedicate my next nine posts to the nine important lessons that I learned – nine realizations that changed the way I see myself, the people that I love, and the world and reality we live in. Nine thoughts that have occupied these memorable nights that I shared with someone dear to me.

To get you hooked, let me give you some teasers...

An unchartered territory. An unpredictable destination. A time limit, set. A challenging adventure. As the dreamer sets his sights on a city in the north, what experiences await him? Will this promise change his life forever?

After more than 400 days of patiently waiting, I’m finally in the Human Resources. Even though I was assigned at such a hectic period in the company’s timeline, I’m glad that I’m finally starting my dream career.

It’s one of the reasons why I love with all my heart. We are not sure if we will be given another chance to show our loved ones how much we love them. I don’t want to waste any time. I don’t want to have any regrets.

Sacrifice is such a powerful deed. A person offers an important part of himself for the sake of someone. Unfortunately, not all people understand its true value. It’s often taken for granted.

What’s the best thing about birthdays? You get to have an extraordinary chance to make someone feel how special he/she is.

It’s an all-encompassing journey. We’re not just walking a single straight road. We’re walking in different directions, taking paths of all lengths and curves, discovering new avenues, traversing different worlds.

It’s not just a hobby. It’s a link to my childhood – a time when everything was carefree and simple. It’s my own respite, and once in a while, even for a short time, I’d like to feel like a kid again.

Looking back, I guess 2012 isn't a bad year after all.

I’m entrusting my wish to you.

Excited? Stay tuned for this season’s write-ups!

Stay Classy, Planet Earth!

- Billy

Strawberry on the Shortcake

Let me share you a little story.

"Where are those happy days...they seemed so hard to find..."

A man went to his favorite patisserie to buy a treat for himself. Let's call this man Ichigo. As he entered the busy pastry shop, he decided to buy his favorite treat - strawberry shortcake. It's a soft sponge cake, topped with whipped cream and slices of - surprise, surprise, strawberries.

Ichigo is a strawberry lover. He enjoys eating his strawberries with everything. For him, the ultimate treat is something that'll let him indulge with strawberry bliss, while giving his tummy a good fill. The strawberry shortcake meets both of those criteria.

As he was about to enjoy the shortcake that he ordered, an old man approached him. "Would you mind if I ask you a question?", the old man asked. Ichigo, surprised by the man's gesture, returned the query. "Certainly sir, but it had to be short. I'm hoping to enjoy this shortcake soon." The old man smiled, "I assure you, good sir." As he sat down across Ichigo, he grabbed a fork and took a piece of strawberry from the shortcake in front of them.

The spectacle brought a shock to Ichigo. Mixed feelings of surprise and annoyance rushed to his head and into his face. "Hey, that's my shortcake!" "I know that full well, good sir," the old man replied, grinning. Ichigo was about to demand an explanation, but the old man proceeded with a question. "Say, which part will you eat first?" Dumbfounded, Ichigo replied, "I'm sorry?" In a calm, slow voice, the old man rephrased the question. "Which part of your shortcake will you eat first? Will it be the cake, or the strawberries on top?

Cake only. It's gonna make you full, but you have to admit, it's kinda bland. It needs something else...

Juicy, sweet-tasting strawberries. You and I both know this is too good to let it pass.

Thinking if this is a trick question, a riddle to test his wit, he quickly gave the best "practical" answer he can come up with. "I'll slice the cake in such a way that I'll be able to eat both." The old man, amused by Ichigo's answer but was not convinced with the strawberry-lover's logic, proceeded to get another piece of strawberry from the shortcake. As Ichigo, upset over the old man's rudeness, was about to exclaim his displeasure, the old man leaned forward and said, "You can only choose one between the two. And I hope you give your answer quickly. You're about to run out of strawberries."

Ichigo, wanting to get to the bottom of things, decidedly threw a question. "Why would you ask such a strange question?" This time, he held the cake to his hands, so as to guard it from the old man. Not wanting to aggravate the young fruit-lover, the old man explained. "I know you love strawberries. It's your most favorite thing in the world. You're crazy about them, and you want to enjoy them as much as you can. Considering the shortcake you're about to indulge in, will it be the first thing you want to enjoy? Or will you save them for last?" The old man added, "take note, you don't have all the time in the world, and fate might not be on your side. Your strawberries might be taken away, before you even have the chance to enjoy them."

I'll stop the story-telling at this point. From here on, I'd like to put yourself in the shoes of Ichigo and decide on the story's ending. If you were him, in exactly the same situation, which part of the shortcake will you eat and finish first?

Our decisions often come down to choices similar to ones above.

In choosing to go with the strawberries right away, you choose to pursue and enjoy the things that you want right away. This means that you'll grab the first opportunity to get what you desire, keeping in mind that thought that there might not be a second chance. It's logical for some people to go with this choice - after all, if you really like it, why waste time before you enjoy it? In the end, though, you might be left with the things that you don't really enjoy (or you enjoy, but not as much as you enjoy the best things).

In choosing to save the strawberries for last, though, you are choosing the opposite side of the spectrum. For some people, saving the best for last is the most exciting decision to take. It makes the experience worth enjoying, because at the end, you'll know you're getting something wonderful. You'll savor every moment that leads to that all-so-sweet climax. However, in reality, things might not go as we dream it to be. These things that we desire, or even the very opportunity to pursue them, may be taken away from us.

If you've reached this part of the post (promise, I thought it's going to be short lol), I'd like you to take some time to think about these two very important choices. We all want to get the best out of life, but in order to do so, we have to be wise in all our decisions. Success and regret are all part of the whole deal - what matters is that we learn and live.

I hope you learned something from this short and sweet story. Let me know what you think. :)

Stay classy, planet Earth.

- Billy

The Seven Hayahay Laws: Pitong Utos para sa Ma-hayahay na Buhay!

Ika-dalawampu't isa ng Nobyembre, dos-mil trese.

Kakapost lang kagabi, post nanaman? Adik lang?

Pagpasensyahan nyo na. Medyo emo ung post kagabi, kaya kelangan ng bawi. Nangako pa naman ako na hindi na ko magpopost ng anupamang emoshit, pero mukhang ganun talaga eh.

Pero since bagong blog na ito, syempre kahit papano dapat try din tayo ng bago. Naisip ko namang i-try ngayong magsulat ng blog post in Tagalog. Pinoy-friendly. Maka-masa. Keri-boom-boom naman.

Isa pang nakakatuwang tribya mula sa inyong lingkod. Mahilig ako sa mga listahan. Mahilig akong makakita ng mga bagay na de-numero o kaya de-bullet. Bakit kamo? Hindi ko rin alam. Siguro dahil nakakatuwang makakita ng mga bagay na organized, kahit na hindi ganun ka-organize ang utak ko.

Ibang usapan na siyempre pag listahan ng utang. Hassle yan.

Sa unang yugto ng Lisondra's Lovable Lists to Live By, paguusapan natin ang pitong mga mahahalagang bagay na isinasabuhay ko ngayon. Kung nabasa nyo ang mejo-emo kong post kahapon, alam nyo na kung anong landas na tinatahak ko ngayon. Mas positibo na. Wala na gaanong emoshit. Tingin ko dapat lang, kasi may mas magandang gawin sa buhay kesa magpakalunod sa malulungkot na bagay.

Kung si Moises, may Ten Commandments, ako naman may Seven Hayahay Laws. Ang baduy no? Parang sa radyo lang. Pero alam naman natin (I mean, sana alam natin) ang ibig sabihin ng hayahay - kumportable, "refreshing", walang sakit sa ulo.

Sige simulan na natin.

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Hayahay Law Number 7: The Law of Freedom and Independence

"Ngayong big boy ka na, mas malaya ka na. Sa puntong to, may kalayaan ka nang gawin anuman ang gusto mo, pero dapat kang maging responsable."

Sobrang big deal sakin ng pagiging malaya. Palibhasa, nasanay ako na laging suportado ng magulang ko. Kaya nung grumaduate ako ng college, para akong pokemon na nakalaya sa pokeball. Nakakaalis na ako ng walang problema, at nagagawa ko na ang mga bagay na hindi ko nagagawa dati. Pero alam kong kaakibat ng kalayaang ito ang isang mahalagang responsibilidad sa sarili. Mahirap nang mapasok sa kung anumang "fix" na mahirap labasan (gaya nung nangyari sa college). Mas gusto kong ituon ang pansin ko ngayon sa kakayahang tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa, magkaron ng panindigan at pananagutan sa anumang desisyong gagawin. 

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Hayahay Law Number 6: The Law of Forgiveness

"Lahat tayo may nagawang shit sa buhay. May malaking shit, may nakakahiyang shit. Pero nakalipas nang shit yun. Matuto kang patawarin sarili mo."

Isipin mo nalang ganito itsura ng nakaraan mo. Mas madaling patawarin diba? Haha.

Iiwasan natin ang emoshit sa pagkakataong 'to. Hindi ko na to masyado pang palalawigin. Ang alam ko lang, dapat matuto tayong magpatawad, di lang ng mga taong nanakit satin kundi lalo na sarili natin. Tingin ko, sarili ang pinakamahirap kalabanin. Pano ka nga naman lalaban? Pointless diba? Dapat nating matutunang mahalin ang anumang pinagdaaanan natin dahil gaya nga ng sabi ng partner ko, "it made you who you are today." Isa pa, mahirap ang may baggage na dala-dala. Di masaya yung ganun. Hassle lang. 

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Hayahay Law Number 5: The Law of Open-Mindedness

"Minsan lang kakakot ang mga oportunided. Minsan ka lang magkakaroon ng pagkakataong masubukan ang ilang mga bagay. Bago manghusga o umiwas, tingnan muna ulet. Baka astig pala."

Oh panis oh! Literal na open mind! Morbid itey!

Sobrang close-minded ko nung kabataan ko (bata pa rin naman ako. haha). Hindi ko binigyan ang sarili ko nang pagkakataong magexplore ng maraming bagay. Masyado akong nahumaling sa comfort zone. Di ko narealize na ang magic pala, nasa labas lang ng comfort zone na yun. Maraming mga oportunidad ang masaya palang pasukin. Maraming mga bagay pala ang masarap gawin. Hangga't alam mong hindi mo naman ito ikakasama, bakit hindi? 

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Hayahay Law Number 4: The Law of Foresight

"Plano-plano rin pag may time! Bagama't ok pang mabuhay na parang bachelor/bachelorette ngayon, dapat kahit papano may idea ka na kung anong klaseng buhay ang gusto mo 5, 10 or 20 years from now."

Manalig ka lang kay Bamboo.

Isa pang tribya tungkol sakin - mahilig ako magplano. Fulfilling sakin kapag naghahanda ako para sa isang bagay lalo na pag alam kong may maidudulot na maganda yun. Syempre, doble saya pa kapag umayon sa plano ang mga bagay-bagay. Pero syempre, di maiiwasan ang konting aberya, pero chill lang din. Mahalaga sakin ang magkaron ng mindset o goal para makuha ang isang bagay. Minsan nga lang sasablay, pero part ng buhay yun. Ang mahalaga, matuto ka sa isang bagay na pinag-isipan mo mabuti.

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Hayahay Law Number 3: The Law of Pursuing Dreams

"Wag na wag mong kalilimutan ang mga pangarap mo. Ang buhay na walang pangarap ay isang buhay na walang kulay. Keri lang kung engrande, ok lang din pag simple, wag lang OA siyempre."

Wala akong mahanap na magandang pic para dito, kaya pinost ko nalang ang isa sa mga pangarap ko. Ilaw na color orange! :)

Isa lang akong taong may simpleng pangarap. Magkaron ng pamilya balang araw - isang mabait na asawa at siguro dalawang anak. Magkaron ng isang trabahong mamahalin ko - isang trabahong alam kong may matutulungan ako. Maglakbay sa mga lugar na gusto kong puntahan. Mangolekta ng plastic model kits. Tulad ng plano, wala ring kasiguraduhan na makukuha ko ang mga to. Pero inaayos ko ng mabuti ang sarili ko para kapag dumatign ang pagkakataong matupad ang mga yon, alam kong karapat-dapat ako. Sikap at tiyaga lang, at patuloy na mamuhay ng matuwid. Konting ipon kasi ang ganda ng nirerelease ng Bandai recently. (Talagang kelangan isingit? haha)

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Hayahay Law Number 2: The Law of Appreciation and Acceptance

"May mga taong magpapasaya, tatanggap, at magmamahal sa yo ng totoo. Pasalamatan mo sila. May mga taong maninira, mambuburaot, at magpapasira ng araw/gabi/linggo/buwan/taon mo. Pasalamatan mo rin sila."

Dami mong alam, doggie. Buti nalang cute ka. :D

Ah eto dito baka magtunog santo ako dito. Kahit ako di ko magagarantyang 100 porsyento ko tong masasabuhay. Pero ang kagandahan nito, kapag na-master mo to, tiyak na mas gaganda ang pagtingin mo sa buhay. Hindi lahat ng bagay sa mundo magugustuhan o aayun sa trip mo. Pero kung makikita mo ang kagandahan kahit sa mga pinaka-weirdong mga bagay, mafi-feel mo na ok na rin palang andyan sila sa paligid. Ok din palang may naiiba. Sige, pasok na rin natin ung mga buraot. Ung mga nagpalungkot sa yo dati. O kaya nagpainit ng ulo mo. Kung wala sila, siguro malilimutan mo kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng pagiging masaya, dahil lagi ka nalang masaya eh. 

Pero ang pinakadapat ipagpasalamat natin ay ung mga taong tumatanggap at nagmamahal satin. Yung mga taong naglalaan ng oras makasama lang tayo kahit saglit lang. Yung mga taong ngingiti sayo kahit sa mga pinakasimpleng kadahilanan. Ang kinaibahan nila sa mga "bagay" na nakakapagpasaya satin? Pinili ng mga taong ito na tanggapin tayo. Walang pilitan. Walang bayad-bayad. 

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Hayahay Law Number 1: The Law of Genuine Love

"You love because you want to make someone happy and be happy at the same time. You love because you want to be complete with someone. There is no perfect love story, only two people with the desire to keep and accept each other, in happiness, in defeat, in loneliness, in silence, and everything in between."

Lolo: Mahal kita, honey.
Lola: Eh sino ka nga ulet?

Ay English ulet? Haha. Mahirap siyang isulat sa tagalog (magtutunog makata na ako...wait, kanina pa ata? haha). 

Simple lang naman ang nais ihatid ng huli at pinakamahalagang Hayahay Law - ang mabuhay nang may pagmamahal sa sarili at pagnanais na mapasaya ang minamahal. Hindi pwedeng isa lang jan, dapat sabay. Kasi kung selfish ka at puro sarili lang iniisip, di ka tunay na nagmamahal. Kung puro ibang tao naman ang iisipin mo at di mo napapahahalagahan sarili mo (e.g. martir), di ka rin tunay na nagmamahal. 

Ang tunay na love story, di nagtatapos sa matamis na halik ng isang prinsipe sa isang prinsesa o di kaya sa pagliligtas ng isang kabalyero sa isang...damsel in distress (nauubusan na ako ng Tagalog). Dun palang nagsisimula lahat yun, sa desisyon ng dalawang taong yakapin ang isa't isa kasabay ng pagpapanitili ng kanilang pagmamahal para sa sarili. Wag nating kalimutan na kaya tayo nagmamahal ay dahil gusto nating maging masaya at maging mas malakas. Kung ganito siguro ang mindset ng lahat ng tao, eh di wala na sanang nagdurusa dahil sa pagibig. Masayang mundo siguro yun. :)

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So ayan, nakaabot ka na naman sa parteng to ng post kong lagi na lang mahaba (mahaba kasi may intro pa). Pero gaya ng dati, sana may natutunan ka mula rito. Parte ng gusto kong gawin sa paglalakbay na ito ang mai-share sa inyo ang anumang magagandang realizations na nakukuha ko sa pang-araw-araw kong buhay. Minsan malupet, minsan corny, pero ok lang yun, masaya akong nakakapagshare. Simpleng kaligayahan lang. :)

Everything will make sense, in time.

Sa uulitin. :)

Stay classy, planet Earth!

- Billy

Tabula Rasa

November 20, 2013.

I'll try as much as I can to make this post less...emo. It has been more or less three years since I last kept a blog, and I have to say that many things have already changed since then. For one, I'm no longer a college student who is dependent of my mom and dad for almost everything. I'm no longer a youngster who would just go to school, attend some classes, do homework and then have fun. The moment I graduated, I knew everything would change - my priorities, my environment, and even the roles that I have to play.

I was both excited and anxious when I got my first job. Excited, because I know I'll encounter new people, new experiences. Anxious, because I have to start over. Again. For some reason, it's difficult for me to start things. I'm not used to see myself as back to zero, or having nothing at all to start with. It stresses me out, and I feel I am at my weakest whenever I'm back at square one. 

To an extent, perhaps we all feel the same way. 

The thing is, I needed a more radical beginning at that time. I thought that since I am going to go through this inevitable chapter in my life, I might as well start from scratch. Not your usual scratch. Tabula-rasa-kind of scratch.

I used to think that there's nothing special about my past. Nothing worth mentioning. I spent the majority of my youth in front of either the TV or a computer screen, playing video games or watching anime. Aside from that, I'm living my life in order to please the people around me, without thinking much of the things that I really wanted to do. Heck, I even had a lot of regrets for not taking chances on a lot of opportunities. I really thought that I've lived a rather boring, colorless and restrained life. If you listen to the song "Who am I hates who I've been" by RelientK, you'll know exactly what I felt about my past. 

I almost came to a decision of just erasing this past from my very whole existence and just start anew. To turn my life into a blank slate, and begin from there.

Yeah, I know it's kinda sad and stupid at the same time. 

For one, it's impossible. Unless we're living in the world of Joel Barish (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) where memories can be erased, it's impossible. Actually, no, even though we have our memories erased, there will always be things that will connect us to where we have been. We can't just decide to forget everything.

I knew right then that it was pointless to think that way. I don't want to feel that I'm running away from something again. I don't want to feel that I had to fight against all the memories, good or bad, for the sake of the "present" and the "future." It's probably one of the most miserable feelings one can ever have.

It was then that I realized that there's more than one way to start things over, without having to carry the burden of regret and sadness. The tabula rasa way just won't cut it anymore. Rather than erasing my past, I've decided to just take a different perspective on how my life went through. Instead of thinking that I had a lame past that I had to hide, I started thinking that everything that I've been through were important lessons - lessons that shaped the way I see and do things. Thinking of my past that way made me see that what I've been through wasn't that bad at all - I mean, some people might have been through worse. I realized that taking this path would make beginnings less of a pain. 

And you know what's cool? With a stroke of luck, I even met a person who made me feel accepted, despite my past. Or at least, that's how I felt. Haha.

What's important to me now is that I know I'm on the right track. Everyday becomes a valuable memory worth keeping. Sure, there will always be inevitable instances where we'll feel lonely, sad, or angry, but that's part of life. I've turned my memories into lessons that I want to impart to the world - lessons that I hope would serve as an inspiration to live life to the fullest. 

I guess you could say that this is one of the reasons why I started this blog project with new-found partner. here. I found the inspiration to write again, but this time, I promised that I will only write about the most inspiring things. It's an even more exciting feeling that I'm sharing these wonderful experiences with an equally wonderful person. I sure hope she won't get tired of this journey we started. :)

Now for the out-of-the-box realization.

Supposing that your life is a painting, it's a given that you start with a blank slate - a tabula rasa. You already had something painted - experiences, sad and happy. Sure, it's not perfect, but instead of turning it into a blank slate again, why not "add a new blank slate" instead. That way, there'll be more spaces for you to paint more memories, therefore giving you more chances to create a grand masterpiece of your life's journey.

So there we go. Another ultra-long post. Whew, it has been a while, but I'm glad I'm finally able to do this again. I hope you learned something today after reading this. Nothing's more fulfilling for me than to know someone got something out of what I shared. :)

Till next time. Stay classy, planet earth. :)

- Billy

The Adventure Journal Entry #1: Surprises, Sweet and Cozy - The Tomas Morato Adventure

November 10, 2013.

A super typhoon passed by the country few days before the weekend. I was anxious that today's "adventure" would be called off. Luckily, Mr. Sun was proudly soaring the blue skies, almost unhindered by a considerably few amount of drifting clouds. The weather justified the phrase "clear sky." It was indeed clear.

It was the perfect day to have a brand new experience.

Me and Kakat were supposed to meet at around four in the afternoon. I promised that I would take her to an afternoon walk along the streets of Tomas Morato, a place she has never been to (surprisingly). Actually, it's going to be my first time too, so I went there ahead of schedule and tried to do a look-see of what's in store for us before the agreed meetup time.

I was imagining Tomas Morato to be like a walk-able street. I've been hearing a lot of stuff about the place, like it's one of the best places to visit if ever you hit Quezon City. I've heard that it's lined with restaurants, diners, bars, and entertainment shenanigans, so yeah, my expectation was that the area would be akin to a park.

I couldn't be so wrong.

Tomas Morato Avenue. Well yeah, it said "avenue", not "park."
(I don't own this photo. Credits to whoever who posted this on the web.)

While the place looks lively, it's not ideal for strolls. I certainly don't want my partner to get all dusty and weary from walking such a busy road (I used the word "road" instead of "street", because this is what it is). 4pm is also too early for dinner too, so I had to come up with something.

Aside from places where you can dine, Tomas Morato is also popular for their "gimikan" places. An example of which would be karaoke bars. I was supposed to check out Music 21, but I couldn't find it, even with the frigging Google Maps. So I had to hunt for an alternative. Here's what I came up with:

Strange. A "bank" with no ATMs. Good thing they have Kumyoung. Credits to OpenRice.com for the pic.

The place is quite neat, I should say. It's cozier than the ones me and my friends visit at Jupiter St., Makati. I wasn't able to scout the place before bringing her here, but thankfully, it was accommodating enough for us.

To note, this is also the first time I'm bringing someone to a karaoke place. I'm not a pro when it comes to stuff like this, so at first, I had to admit that I was nervous. Good thing Kakat's a good sport; she had her nice repertoire of songs, and even sang beautifully. I usually would take note of the songs one would sing, but I had to admit that I was absorbed in the moment whenever she would let out a voice that's very pleasing to the ears. What I do remember though is that she can sing songs of Evanescence quite well. Though she told me she was a "feelingera" of a singer, I'm damn too sure she wasn't. :)

Two hours of taking turns singing, and as we concluded with Eraserhead's Spoliarium, we decided it's high time for some nice dinner.

Really nice handwriting here. Kakat's a genius for making this on a tissue marked with the place's name, as I forgot to take a shot of the place's exterior.

I promised her that I would surprise her with the places we'll visit. Kimono Ken is the first part of that surprise. We ordered a pretty simple, but definitely nice selection of Japanese signature dishes. A good start for newbie adventurers like us. :)

Chicken Teriyaki Roll (Maki) and Gyoza selected by my dear partner. We forgot to take a pic of the Tonkatsu. :) Pictures taken by Billy using Kakat's phone. :)

I'm not good with gourmet commentaries, but I certainly enjoyed what we ordered. Especially the Chicken Teriyaki Roll, which at first I thought was just a clone of California Maki. The tonkatsu's meat is tender and the gyoza was rich in flavor too. :)

Since we started dinner early, we finished early too, like around 7 something in the evening. I knew by then that it's time to hit the finale of the evening - an experience that's both sweet and cozy.

Snagged again from someone's website. Credits to the owner of the pic.

Maybe it was luck, but this place was less crowded than Starbucks at that time. The place was popular for their nice selection of desserts and coffee products. They offer pastries, but what's special about their selection is their gelato.

Latte art photographs. I'd like to have some of these in my room - if I had one. :)

Shining shimmering splendid Gelato and Coffee beverages. 

Kakat chose Strawberry as her gelato flavor for the night. I ordered Stracciatella, which, according to my research, is supposed to be an egg-drop based cuisine. It certainly did not taste like egg to me. Along with these two gelato's were beverages to keep us cool and awake for the rest of the night.

We spent the remaining hours of our adventure sitting side-by-side, sharing some things about ourselves and about our past adventures. My partner's such a good company, as she listened to my stories (and occasional jokes) without being bored (I hope? haha). It'll take more pages of this blog post if I'll post everything we talked about, so I think we'll just keep it for ourselves in the meantime. :)

What mattered most to me at that time though, was that she liked this "adventure" that I set up. Nothing's more fulfilling than making a woman smile after all that I did. I'm certainly going to take her out to more places both of us can enjoy. I sure hope she won't turn me down. :)

So there you go. The first journal entry of our adventure. Quite lengthy right? (le pardonne, my style) but I sure hope you enjoyed reading this.

Stay classy, planet Earth!

-Billy

Onomatopoeia

"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"

Ring! Ring! The question kept ringing in my head ever since it greeted me one morning while doing my ever so usual browsing on Facebook. It's like having an extreme case of LSS after being locked up in a windowless room without anything other than a nonstop ringing vintage phone.

Beeeeeep... Everything in my life has been routinary for the longest time. I wake up super early to prep up for work, engage in my daily commute to the office, type endlessly until the clock strikes quarter before 3 in the afternoon, go home, rest. As I was trying to submerge the sound interfering in my head to focus and find an answer to the question above, the sound of the ringing phone finally vanished but was then replaced by the sound of a flatline - beeeeeep... Like I've been watching series of movies the whole day. All with a common plot of characters dying consecutively in a ward of a hospital.

Wee-woo! Wee-woo! I've been trying my best  to come up with an answer but the heat and smoke from the vicious  fire of my dreary lifestyle hindered me to do so. I was too close to getting a sixth degree burn when Wee-woo! Wee-woo! - the glorifying melody that dominated the sound of falling parts of a burning house.

I've been rescued!:)

So, when was the last time I did something for the first time? Yeah, I still have no clue.

Perhaps the answer was locked up in a windowless room...
Perhaps the answer died in the ward of an old hospital...
Perhaps the answer turned into ashes in a burning house...

But who cares? I've been rescued. Rescued and conditioned to make new memories and remember the new endless firsts.

So tell me, beautiful people... When was the last time you did something for the first time? 

~ Kakat :)

Welcome to Our Little Place in the Internet!

So yeah, after 3 centuries (ok, not really...3 years!) I decided to go blogging again. I've been wanting to start over ever since I decided to go non-emo - my previous blogs are seeping with all the drama that happened at that time, written in a weird mix of melancholy and...downright oddity. Yeah, upon seeing my old blog after all these years, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. 

I realized that there are better things to write about this time. There has been some big changes happening in my life recently. I decided to embark on an adventure, and I'd like to keep an account of these events in a place where it can be easily accessed. If you have been following my blog before (rather unlikely, unless you're a secret fan or you're an FBI agent doing some investigation on me), you'll realize that my posts this time will be of lighter, more down-to-earth tone. I mean, emoshit can and will get to your nerves at some point. 

Another major difference this time is that I'm not alone in this blog. I've got a special friend with me whom I'll be sharing this adventure with. A joint blog is something I haven't tried before, so this is an exciting experience for me, not to mention my partner is a really interesting lass to spend this fun activity with.

So yeah, so much wall of text for the welcome post. Expect some awesome fun stuff here - you're likely going to see a lot of food pics, or photographs of places we'll visit, and even occasional literature. Hope you enjoy your visit!

Stay classy, planet Earth.

-Billy

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So yeah, after 23 centuries (ok, not really... 23 years!) [LOL *mock mode*] I have been dragged to go blogging (but then again, not really... I was rather, inspired). I have stumbled upon some literary works of the talky guy above. I must say, he wasn't exaggerating when he said that his previous works were seeping with emo stuff! (I am bleeding, black is my color... yeah, things like that). But, hey! He's got some serious writing skills! - enough skills to have enticed me to participate in this blog (Okay, enough with the flattering shits :p).

But yeah, expect this blog to be different. 

We'll be painting..

We'll be hunting for..

 
 .. to ride on :)


 and we'll be playing with..

 
Anyways, much has already been said by my sweet partner up there. Witness our journey. We'll conquer the world! :)

Stay happy, beautiful people! ;)

~ Kakat