Techie

It's really true: I got a new cellphone!

For those who have been ashamed to be around me with my borrowed Nokia 3310 in the last year, I'm sure you're all rejoicing right now. HaHa!

I now have a phone that has Bluetooth, camera, MP3 ringtones, and actually saves my outgoing messages. But who am I kidding? I'm just happy that it has a colored screen! HaHa!

I guess the family tree is now complete:

• Papa the Powerbook laptop
  
• Kulay the iPod Color MP3 player
  
• Silver the Casio Exilim Z55 digital camera
  
• MotoMina the Motorola L6 cellphone

(Yes, I'm such a geek for naming my technos3xual gadgets. And shame on me for being materialistic.)

Hataw Na

Well, I'm a complete woman...or at least my stay here in the Philippines is: I watched the GaryV@23 concert at Music Museum tonight. Awesome, awesome show. Gotta love live music!

Plus, Christian Bautista and Mark Bautista performed a couple of "snippets" with GaryV. Sweet! (And let me just mention that the two got more screams than Jerich0 R0sales who also was asked to go on stage and sing.)

As always, seeing someone dance on stage made me want to go back to dancing regardless of how much it would cost here in Manila. Why do you have to be so expensive PowerDance? Grr.

satisfACTION

Last night, a couple of my co-workers took me out for dinner and cake. My birthday. Their treat. Gotta love these kinds of people. HaHa!

Anyway, Ate Jen asked, "So, what's your birthday wish?" Other people have asked the same question, but I've never given them a straight answer.

These days, I don't believe in wishing for things anymore. It's all about doing. The biggest lesson I learned this past year is that if you want something, do it; work hard for it; make it happen. The status of our lives is truly up to us. Not happy about who you're with or what you have? Do something about it. Don't just wish for things to turn out well; make it turn out well.

And it's the same principle that I'm currently applying to my *cough lovelife. It's all about taking action. Don't just sit idle and wait for a guy to trip in front of you; actually trip the guy! Kidding! HaHa! In my case, it's more of "broadening the search" than "shortening the list." Regardless, both include taking action.

So this year, no birthday wishes, but birthday goals instead. And what are they?

The last year was more for establishing myself: getting a job, getting a roof over my head, getting a core group of friends. This year is more of experiencing what it's truly like living here in Manila day-to-day. I need to put back all these little things in my life to make it a well-rounded one. Mainly,

1. Volunteering
My last stint was back in January 2000; six whole years ago! Although my job now allows me to give back to the world, it's still different to give time to a worthy cause in my spare time. I just hope that I can manage getting around to where I need to be without my Baby (my car).

2. Improving my health
I don't think I'll go back to hiphop dancing while in this country (in the words of an Assumptionista, "It's so mahal e!"), but I'm going to try a new sport for exercise. I plan to do it every morning before I go to work. The problem? I love sleep more than exercise in the morning so I need some major peptalk before September rolls around. HeHe.

3. Traveling
I don't know why I want to see everything now. But I do know that while I'm here on this side of the world, I might as well take advantage of the close proximity to the major cities/countries that I want to see. The time is now. No kids to feed, no mortgages to pay. The time is really now.

So, there you have it. I know what you're thinking already. The birthday greetings via text and e-mail all had subtle hints regarding what everyone wishes for me this year and now it's not even one of my goals. Oh my. Let me explain briefly.

If he's truly the guy for me, I figured I'll meet him along the way. I'll meet him while I'm doing the goals that I have listed above. That's my mentality for the year. We'll try it out and see what I come up with. My heart is wiped clean and I'm smarter this year; I know what I want and I know how to trip. No worries; just happy thoughts for the coming year.

A Few Good Friends

I don't use the word friend lightly. You'll notice it when I accept/decline people in Friendster: I hesitate to click yes when they ask me if this certain person is truly my friend. Mabigat sa kalooban ko kapag I have to click yes when I see that person as more of an acquaintance.

What are my standards for friendship? First, one must be there through the good times and bad. Second, one must remember my birthday (basta mahalaga yun para sa akin). Third, one must tell me the truth when I demand the truth (which is always).

By the strong power of free food for all, este, by the strong power of friendship pala, I was able to get the most awesome people in the world together for dinner. And they proved to me that they were truly my friends: inokray ako for my birthday! They got me good, really, really good throughout the whole entire night.

Best hirit of the night:

Zara: Ang tagal naman magblow ng candle!
Tet: E kasi, iniisa-isa niya yung mga qualities nung guy na winiwish niya!

They know me too well. HaHa!

Seriously though, I was quite happy that I got these people together. Tet is always busy. Jimbo just finished the boards. Zara never leaves the comforts of San Mateo, Rizal. Belle has GRO commitments at night. And Jeffrey is the biggest flake I know. Kahit nung paalis na ako in January, people didn't show up so I had my doubts on who will show up last night. But weeks earlier, people did tell me that they were not going to allow me to be alone on my birthday and they kept their word. Mga tunay na kaibigan nga! Group hug, group huuuuug! HaHa!

Tet said to me before, "Sorry na kami ang naging friends mo. Wala kaming ma-ireto sa iyo." And earlier this year, Zara said to me, "Si Mayie na lang dapat ang palagi mong kasama; madaming kilala na pogi yun." No, no, no. I have never, ever, ever, ever said to God, "God, let me trade all my friends for one boyfriend, please." Never. Why? Because I'm happy that I have all of you (Yan ang "Sniff, Sniff!" Inside joke, sorry). And if this birthday was any indication, I'd rather have friends like all of you than forgetful suitors any day. Oo, promise, I mean that! (Pen and Lisa, wish you were here!)

Earlier in the day, I had lunch with Twin Mayie. For two years in a row, we've celebrated our birthday together. I am blessed. No doubt.

So, what's in store for me this year? This verse (O, di ba, I blog with Bible verses na!):

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13b-14

Tara Let's, Bagets

I haven't traveled in eight months! Imagine, last year, my schedule went something like this:

April - Belgium
May - Hong Kong; China
July - Philippines
October - Tacloban City
November - Bohol; Cebu

No wonder I'm itching to go somewhere! I finally got my I-Card last week from the Bureau of Immigration so I'm free to roam the world again. Wasting no time whatsoever, I will get on a plane tomorrow and jumpstart my WOW SE Asia agenda. It will be my first SE Asia to SE Asia flight and I'm excited! Whoo hoo! (Actually, I'm just excited to get some time off from work. HeHe.)