Mothers I adore

Lhai Recalde Taylan. I've always said that if I become half the mother and woman my mum is then I'd consider myself successful. But from where I stand now I realise that if I do just that, I'd end up disappointing her. I realised that a mother would always want her children to go way beyond her achievements and to dream bigger than her dreams. So Ma, I will follow your path, but I promise to go way beyond you've ever dreamed of. :) Thank you for being my inspiration. Thank you for being the strongest, smartest, funniest, coolest, most beautiful, most supportive and most understanding mother anyone could ever have. (Anyone who truly knows my mum will definitely agree with me.) I would like to believe I've inherited your one-of-a-kind strength and for that, thank you. :) I love you very much. ♥

Michelle Taylan Suarez. My Ate has always been a mother-figure even before she had Kylie. She stood as a second mother to me, Shobe and EJ in more ways than she could ever imagine. As a sister she's strict, protective, generous and caring. As a mother she's even better! :) Kylie is one lucky angel for having ate as her mother. Ate is luckier for being her mother. ;) I love you, Ate Mich! :D


Vanessa Abainza Arinsol. We were a few weeks away from graduating from college when my best friend learnt she was carrying Enzo, but unlike other girls our age, she didn't cower. She stood taller than ever as if saying, "bring it on!" Nhe is a fighter. She's independent and carefree and not sweet! :-P But I'm sure as hell she's the sweetest mother to Enzo! :) And I love her much!


Khristine Machuca Esguerra. My good friend from college, Chickie, is a girl blessed with the power of being motherly in nature. Even back in college, there's something in her that made me believe she'd make a good mother. I'm sure the cutie Bettina will agree with me! ;)


Denden Recalde Chua. My Tita Den is someone I really admire. She's superbly loving and caring to Ishee and Boyboy and despite some problems she's encountered, she remains strong for her children. She will do anything and everything for them. It takes a great deal of strength and love to keep a family together and my Tita Den is such a strong woman (I think it runs in our blood!) She's one ideal "Naynay" and she is one of my inspirations. :)


Connie Marie Arinque. Truth is, Connie isn't a mum yet but she belongs to the "Mothers I adore" list simply because she's got all the attributes that make a good mother. :) She's patient, supportive, caring, loving, selfless, thrifty and smart. Our teenage students love her, which one way or another, reflects how her future children will look up to her. ;) She claimed on her mother's-day-card for me that I actually stand as a mother to her. The thing is, she stands like a mother to me, too! She helps me go to places I haven't been to and teaches me things I've never heard of before. She inspires me to work harder because she is such a good teacher, I feel ashamed to be any less. I haven't told you Mads, but you've been nothing but a positive influence on me. And for that I am really grateful. :) I love you!

Other mothers I truly love and look up to:

Agnes Recalde Valmores & Kathryn Valmores Aguilar. Mama Ness and Ate Kath are mothers I adore because they are beautiful and strong (as I said, it runs in our blood! :P).

Katherine Bacosa. I know of many women who got pregnant at such an early age and right after giving birth, forgot about their kids. Kath is the exact opposite. She's living a beautiful life in a different country yet she's never forgotten about her son here in the Philippines. This made me respect and love her more. :)

Nina Recalde Garcia. Because I know she'll move heaven and hell for Dhona and Dhonell! :) I admire Tita Nina because she's strong, selfless and beautiful.

Baybee Recalde Collao. Because despite and in spite of, her love for life and her kids has remained as steadfast as ever. Some of life's beautiful and bitter lessons I've learned from my Tita Baybee.

So I was right!

I am a master of the specie that we call MALE! :P

The swimming/drinking didn't pursue. Well, it 'kind of' did. But not as planned. It's not in Laguna and it's not going to be overnight. It's just going to be in a condo somewhere in Makati. There'd be lots of drinking and "WoW-talking" and it's gonna be a sausage fest!

So why am I home? Pau didn't want to go if it's not going to be overnight. He doesn't want to drive after drinking. :) If he goes, he just won't have a good time. He knows he's going to stop drinking after two bottles of San Mig Light because he's gonna drive! He's just going to drool and envy our friends who can drink a whole case of beer without having to worry about driving! See, Pau's an educated driver. ;)

I am not gonna lie and say I was saddened by the fact that we didn't go to Pansol for an overnight swimming/drinking. I am actually relieved. I really had bad vibes about it.

I feel sorry for Pau though.

There's always next time! :)

xoxo

birthdays birthdays!

YESTERDAY:

Happy 25th Macix! (in this photo: Mac's girlfriend, Vea)


TODAY:

Happy 50th GILL! :P (in this photo: sillyyeng, Ivor & HV)

DISCLAIMER: I don't have solo photos of them.

---

I am very very lucky to have both Mac and Gill in my life.

Mac is someone I couldn't imagine to be with (again) but at the same time, couldn't imagine to live without. He's just always there. ALWAYS. Despite and in spite of. He's like my Pau sans the romance. And like he always say, our friendship is one of the few things we know would last forever. :)

Gill is my EXACT opposite yet I feel at ease with her. She tries and teach me how to be a MODEL employee, and I try and teach her how to break the rules. :P I win most of the time! Haha. Once I heard someone say "work mates aren't friends; they're just colleagues." Gill can put that person to shame. ;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS! *hugs*

xoxo

2 days late

Photos of our uber cozy workplace:

Before our move to hell, Gill and I have uber big work spaces! Like really. And now, we're very very close. I love Gill alright but we all know that relationships always need "space" hahaha.

---

Meet Mitzel. Well, call him Ivor 'cause he likes that nick better. :P He's our new Markets Officer. He can do Australian accent which never fails to make me laugh every time he uses it. Haha. That photo was taken 2 days ago when we're the only ones left in Markets! PARTY WOOHOO! ;)

---

Happy birthday Bong! :)

L-R: Aljo, Mike (yeah that's Starstruck's Mike Tan. he's actually really nice and plays too much WoW too :P), the invisible Yeng (the empty seat was mine), Pau, Mcnaire, Lyndon, Fonz, Bing, Oli, the birthday boy Bong, Iñaki (more like his hand, really), Chard (more like Chard's hair :P), Nikki, Vea, Mac, Markus and Martin

*Burgoo, Tomas Morato*

---

I skipped work today because I have enormous tummy ache since last night. NO I AM NOT PREGNANT GILL. :P It's called ulcer. Bleah.

Time to play WoW! YAY! Haha.

xoxo

weekends

Saturday was spent with my siblings in an anime convention. It felt like I was transported to another Universe - one where 'people' wear funny-looking clothes, sport striking coloured hair and carry funny accessories and 'weapons'. I jokingly announced, "wow I think I'm under dressed." And Pau was like, "Para tayong nasa mental hospital." Hahaha. His tongue is sharper than mine! :P

Shobe dressed as someone from Prince of Tennis

Someone dressed as... beats me!

I told you I was under dressed!

Go girlaloo! :P

Is Mask Rider Black actually anime? Hmm.

Saturday night was spent being honest.

Sunday was spent with Pau and Giann for foot spa + pedicure + manicure day! Giann decided to eat, tear all the magazines his maid amused him with. He also decided to “destroy” the fake plant display and put some of its leaves in his mouth. Then he screamed and whined gazillion times! He’s a brat in the making, I can tell! :P Despite that, I still think he’s a cutie. ;)

I slept around 8:00 PM Sunday night. Bad migraine.

Today was not so great either. I slept the whole ride to the office because of severe migraine. I almost missed the street where I get off. I look really lousy and I feel sick.

To top it all off, the heel of my left shoe decided to do a “Mentos” on me. Hahaha. I wanted to pull the other pair’s heel off too but I friggin couldn’t. It’s a mystery to me why the left heel was so disentangled while the right one was so screwed. I mean not like I’m hopping on my left foot from one place to the other! But anyways, thankyouveryVERYmuch Pol for offering to buy a mighty bond for my shoe. Hahaha. Jologs at its finest. :P But see, it is the Universe’s way of handing a sign. I am so buying the ZARA ballet flats I’ve been eyeing since last month. :)

Good night world.

P.S. Our boss (of all people) sent us an e-mail about the earthquake in China and it tore my heart apart. :(

xoxo

Super Ate Mich

Happy happy 26th birthday Ate! ♥

I love you.

---

Happy 24th Winnie! ;)

xoxo

last night's photos

Pol and Gill after taking a "bath" :P

He was trying to do the "Mr. Pogi" hand gesture

Hana and Joel all cozy on their side of the table (all 6 of us were seated in a 2-seater table!)

Binagoongan rice (Nikhil calls it "binagoong paste rice" haha)

The siomai was yummy! And I'm all wet from the uber heavy rain

Gill was trying her hardest to not drink beer! :P

Thanks Hana for introducing Som's to us! Let's hope it won't rain next time! :P

I WAS OUT FOR THE NIGHT!

Today's the first time I spent a night out with friends. Well, at least after the LONGEST time. So long I actually forgot when was the last time I went out for the night and went home around midnight! I'm proud of myself. :P And although it's a fact that I felt a bit guilty for not being the one to put Giann to sleep, I kind of believe I owe myself a break. Not really from motherhood but from work and insert-all-other-stressful-matters-here.

So tonight's a grand time! And it was also the first time in YEARS when I got to walk/run/scream in the rain! I should feel annoyed but nope, not really. ;)

Good conversation + good cheap food + good fun + good company = grand time.

Alrighty I'm retiring to bed.

xoxo

P.S. Hana, you know I need our "pair" photos tonight. I owe them to this blog! :P

my take

I'm actually relieved that Pol and Hana will just transfer departments and not leave The Firm for good. Of course, Markets won't be as fun without them but doesn't make that much difference if they're just a local away (even a few steps away if I'm not as lethargic! :P)

It would've been better if they'd just stay in Markets of course. But for everyone's sake and sanity, whatever and whenever they choose to be, I'd be happy for them, really. :) As long as we still eat lunch together! :P And probably go to Embassy together too! Haha.

Hana, Gill, Yeng and Pol doing his re-enactment of Cosmo's hunk thingy! :P

Inside the elevator that injured bazillions (Pol included)

CRL's angels! Hahaha. Yeah Hana? :P


WALKING AWAY IS THE BEST PART OF EACH AND EVERY DAY. Especially on a Friday!

conversations

I was in a cab on my way to Rockwell for a meeting when heavy rain poured. It was so heavy it's like they're screaming as they touch the windshield. I was irate. I never liked rains. They're too melancholic and they make me lethargic AND they soil my shoes. But this conversation transpired:

driver: ang lakas ng ulan ah...
me: oo nga eh.
*the driver then looked around and seemed like saw something that amazed him*
driver: tuwang-tuwa ang mga puno!

His comment made me look outside the window and observed the trees for good minutes. And for some reason, I agree with him. The trees really did look happy. And it made me smile.

The rain isn't so bad after all. :)

---

Tonight's the first time I'm going to miss a get together with my (boy) friends. I have 5 reasons:

1. Giann :)
2. I'm down with bad colds and sore throat.
3. It has been a really long week for me at work you'd think I'd be thrilled to celebrate the weekend but not really. Not that kind of celebration anyways.
4. I just don't feel like going out, watch them drink and hear all these WoW talks (until the wee hours) as if I haven't had enough of it.
5. I just want to stay at home, really.

Man I am so getting old! I'm starting to tone down. Not a bad thing, yeah? ;)

---

My friends when they learnt I'm heading home and not joining them for the night, whined.

Me: I have a baby to attend to! *points at Pau* He does not have one!

That made them laugh.

Reality's amusing, amazing and annoying all at the same time.

xoxo

true story

It was one of the nights when Mac stayed here to play WoW. I was trying to put Giann to sleep - rocking him while singing him a lullaby. And believe me, when I sing him a lullaby, I do it real passionately haha. As if it's the most beautiful love song in the world. ;) Always does the trick!

M: Hindi ko ma-imagine na ganyan si V.
P: *laughs* Bakit?
M: Yung ganyan, pakanta-kanta, sayaw-sayaw... Parang hindi bagay, nyay!
Me: Naku, e di wag ka muna mag anak noh! Mahirap yan!
P: Eh bakit ba si Yeng? Iisipin mo bang magiging ganyan yan dati, sa arte nyan!
M: *laughs* sabagay.
Me: ano yun???
M: wala... *laughsharder*

Yes Pau and Mac, I heard you very well!!!

All I can say: you love me nonetheless. *flipshair*

for yesterday

Happy happy 24th birthday Ingolok!!! :D

Love,
your fellow nguyamyams! :P

---

You're NOT a mother. (unfortunately for you)

You're not living MY life.

You will NEVER ever come close. 'Nuff said.

You have NO idea.

So SHUT THE FUCK UP.

thankyouverymuch. :)

Unless you're someone I love and care about, your thoughts don't count. So don't bother. Save yourself the stress. Nobody wants to hear idiot. :)

photos and stories

I went out yesterday with my one and only Ingolok. ;) We had a post-birthday celeb at Friday's. And yes my dear Baneneng, we missed you. :(

Anyway, I only have photos for you. No stories. :P

Mau and I being our normal, silly selves! :P

More photos here.

---

I am now Pau's official photographer! :P

We were at Tagaytay this afternoon, along with 3 of his classmates for a project. It is something only engineers and engineers-to-be understand so no, I cannot tell you what it is about. Anyway, it was a lot of fun! :D It's good to be somewhere other than the mall! Because malls are so overrated and can be bombed anytime! And Tagaytay, especially during this time of the year is just sooo freezing cold! Too bad we weren't able to visit Taal and the parks because it was friggin raining. Boo. But still, it was fun. I haven't been anywhere (besides the mall and St. Luke's) in a looong time. So yeah, I enjoyed it mucho mucho! Hehe. Plus I get to bond with Pau's classmates so it was good fun. ;) After touring Tagaytay's City Hall, Fire Station, Health Center, Post Office, and Police Station, and gazillion photos after, we had dinner at Dencio's, Tagaytay. :) It would've been a perfect day if not for the heavy rain.

Photos photos! (Yes, I am too lazy to write the full details. After all, pictures speak of a thousand words, don't they? :P)

1. Tagaytay City Hall; 2. Perci, Edz, Mark, and Pau in front of the Post Office; 3. Mark showing some manly love to Pau haha; 4. Perci, Pau and Mark; 5. Pau and I at Dencio's; 6.Group picture at Dencio's (too bad the waiter zoomed the camera in too much. boo.)

Later! :)

xoxo