earn your stripes

  "There are no flukes.  There is no luck.  There’s just talent and hard work and the ability to bounce back when you’re knocked down.  No more, no less." 

–Nico Reilly, Lipstick Jungle

I just had an all-nighter watching the first seven episodes of my current addiction, Lipstick Jungle (the other one’s Gossip Girl).  It’s about three New York-based career-driven women who are breaking bones for success.  And I think everyone and anyone who wants to make it to the top should borrow a lesson or two from this series.

Successful people don’t become successful overnight.  Doctors study at least four years of pre-med and another gazillion years of med proper.  Same thing with lawyers–at least four years of pre-law and another four (or is it five?) years of law proper.  Plus reviews and the bar exam. (Calling Joei!  Calling Ces!)  And it’s the same for all the jungles we play in, whether it be in the corporate world, in TV, in publishing, or in the academe.  Success is EARNED.  If you want it, work for it.  Prove your worth.

I’m so tired of hearing people who whine about how fucked up their life is when they haven’t even lifted a finger to remedy it.  I mean, instead of wasting, what, two, three, four hours ranting to your friend about your neverending dilemma on finding the right track, why don’t you just move your butt and take the first step towards wherever it is you wanna go or whoever it is you wanna become?  It’s easier said than done but it beats the hell out waiting for grandeur to land on your lap.  Because, that’s not gonna happen.  Ano ka, si Juan Tamad?  Hinihintay na lang malaglag ‘yung bayabas galing sa puno?  (Or was it another fruit?) 

Same thing goes for pretty much everything else about life.  Whatever shit you’re in is a produce of your own actions.  Or lack of it.  So don’t put the blame on other people who refuse fix your problems for you. 

And enough with the emotional blackmails.  Your incapacity to move forward is you’re own burden to bear.  Your shit, your fault.  Deal with it.

And if you continue expecting your friend, your mentor, or whoever your shock-absorbers are to spoonfeed you answers to your oh-so-great dillemas, then honey, you’re in for a disappointment.  The only thing you’ll be fed is the resident psychiatrist’s number.

restlessness. second thoughts. fatigue.

Waaaaaaaaaaah!!! *pulls hair in all directions*

salamat, manang

Manang is in her mid 50’s.  But she looks a lot like someone in her 70’s.  Manang is from Tabacco City, Albay.  She used to sell native products for a living but when Typhoon Reming devastated the region, everything she worked for was flooded away.  She was left with nothing.  And as though adding salt to injury, her husband got sick.  He needed to undergo a CT-scan but they couldn’t afford it.  He downed painkillers instead.

A couple of months ago, she came to Manila to work for us.  She didn’t want to leave her husband behind but she needed the money.

She was very hardworking and the whole family got along with her.  We thought she’d be staying with us for quite a while.  But yesterday, around 4:30am, my mom went into her room and discovered she’s gone.  On her pillow was a neatly written note on a piece of notebook paper.  And here’s what she wrote:

Sa inyong lahat,

         Sorry kung hindi ako nakapagpaalam ng personal dahil baka hindi ninyo ako maintindihan.  Hirap na ako sa kirot na nararamdaman ko sa aking likod at tagiliran lalo na ‘pag may binubuhat.  Sa umaga paggising halos di ko naitikom ang mga daliri kong parang tinutusok ng karayom at sinisilihan.  Hirap ko ng pigaan ang mga damit lalo na kung nag-aarmirol ng mga "bed sheet."  Sa paghuhugas para ko nang mabibitawan ang mga plato ‘pag namamanhid na ang mga daliri ‘ko.  Kaysa naman umabot sa puntong puro kapalpakan na ang trabaho ko umalis na lang ako kahit gusto ko pang kumita ng pera.

         Diyos na ang bahalang gumanti sa mga kabutihan ninyo sa akin.

                                 Di ko kayo makakalimutan,

                                                                        Manang

Nalungkot ako, sobra.  It’s one of those moments when I wish I could do more.  Sabi ni Mommy, sana raw nagpaalam siya para natulungan man lang namin kahit papa’no.  And I find it ironic that we’re the ones more capable of helping her yet she’s given us something more than whatever financial assistance we can offer.

Sometimes we complain too much about our problems which are actually so trivial that we forget others like Manang who only has three pairs of clothing to her name.  We act like it’s the end of the world when THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE IT WORSE.  Much much worse. 

It’s not about feeling good at the expense of someone else’s misery.  It’s simply about counting your blessings.  May pamilya ka, may trabaho ka, may mga kaibigan, nakakakain ka araw-araw, magpasalamat ka. 

And I thank Him for everything that I have. 

At salamat, Manang.  Ikaw ang hinding-hindi ko malilimutan.

so how does the story end?

…

he’s a brat and we all know whom he got it from ;)

Four-year old Marsy and Ninang Ganda.  Taken during Danielle’s baptism last April 26, 2007.  (Photo by Dhes Handumon)

kelangan talaga mayaman ang mapangasawa ko :p

Isang aral para sa mga mahilig magpanggap.

Maganda at maaga ang gising ko kanina.  Kung kahapon naglinis ako ng kwarto, kanina, nag-ambisyon akong itodo ang pagiging domesticated ko.  SO.  Kinuha ko ang plantsa at ang isa sa mga paborito kong blouse.

Isinaksak ko ang plantsa at inilagay sa "minimum heat."  Sabi ko, bakit kaya hindi umiilaw yung plantsa?  Eh di nilagay ko sa "maximum heat."  Hmmm….bakit kaya hindi pa rin umiinit?  Subukan ko kaya?  Eh di ginawa ko, ipinatong ko sa damit ko para malaman kung mainit na ba o hindi…ENG!

B I G   M I S T A K E. 

Nang makita kong umuusok yung damit ko, hindi na ko nagdalawang-isip batukan ang sarili ko.  Koryn, may pagka-shunga ka talaga minsan ano?!

Dahan-dahan kong ipinaghiwalay ang tela ng damit ko at ang plantsang umuusok, takot sa kung anumang makikita ko.  At, gaya nga ng inaasahan, eto ang kinalabasan–

A closer look…

Peace, man…hehehe…

Ang ebidensya…

So pagkatapos kong mahimasmasan at mapagtawanan ni Ate Ains, napagtanto ko…DAPAT TALAGA MAYAMAN ANG MAPANGASAWA KO!  Dahil puñeta, hinding hindi na ‘ko magpapanggap at hahawak ng plantsa kahit kelan!  Hahahaha!

my babies

The Brat and The Princess. 

I just love them to death!

revisiting bacolod

March 17-19, 2008.
First leg of my Holy Week summer hurrah.
Koryn, Ami, Manang Jane, Derek, Marie (of the "Dela Torre clan" haha!)

Cruised down memory lane with Ami in a place that was once home to us…(MORE)

bora, babeh!

March 20-24, 2008.
Koryn, Ami, Clars, Vicky, Jayson, Cel, plus plus plus.

Second leg of my summer hurrah!

Sunset at Aria. Chori burger. Isaw. Four cheese pizza. "Fitness First." Happy hour at Two Seasons. Daquiries. Mojitos. Illusion shakers. Giant flip-flops. Sunbaking. Beach House ‘08. Guilly’s. Jonah’s. Cancer sticks. Hawaian Tropic. Reconnected with old friends and bonded with new ones. Waited for the sunset, got drunk ’til sunrise… (MORE)

HANGOVER

 It was all about waiting for the sunset

Revisited two of my favorites this year–Bacolod and Boracay.  And I still have a hangover.  Not from the alcohol but from the high of visiting the places that have been homes to me.

It was altogether fun, chillax, and rejuvinating.  Abstained from my cellphone and the internet.  So as much as I want to post photos right away, it’ll have to wait.  I’m still nursing a hangover

 Sunset in Bora.  Taken from the Two Seasons lounge area.