August 15 Women

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But for you non-Catholics out there, fret not, there's something else for you to celebrate.

On this day many moons ago, God showered this world with not one, not two, but three beautiful and intelligent women. Yes, all on the same day in the same year (I understand that there are three of us, thus making us triplets pero ayokong maihanay kela Manilyn, Tina, and Sheryl!). It's even a bigger miracle that I know them both and even went to school with one of them! Blessings indeed!

Happy birthday to my sisters from other mothers, Pen and Mayie!

Sariling Wika

Ako si Mina. Labing siyam na taon na ako dito sa Amerika. Salamat sa Diyos at marunong pa akong mag-Tagalog. Minsan baluktot pero ayos lang. Siya naman, labing isang taon ng naninirahan sa Pilipinas pero hindi pa rin marunong mag-Tagalog:



Love it! I'm now a fan. Kaya mo yan, Mark!

Flash Back Attack

I logged on to my AIM (that's AOL Instant Messenger, kids!) account today after four long years. It has been so long that I couldn't even remember my username!

A few minutes passed and both Alan and Jo Anne IMed me. Talk about blast from the past from two of my (old school) website visitors!

1. The last time I talked to Alan was when I was waiting at Robinson's Galleria for my *ahem first date with someone in 2005. Somehow, Alan still remembers this very fact up to now. I guess my "journey" to finding the love of my life is quite memorable for many. Kahiya! HaHa!

2. Jo Anne had e-mailed me a few times in 2005, praising me for going back to the Philippines despite the comfy life in the U.S. Fast forward to 2009, she's now the one in the Philippines working for a non-profit. Role model, yes I am! HaHa!

This is all so freaky because just last night, I was reading my old posts from 2005-2007 and was reminiscing like crazy. Chatting with Alan and Jo Anne today just made those memories more vivid.

Not sure what God is trying to tell me right about now, but I'll keep praying for some clear answers to what's the next best thing for me. :)

Paalam

I am inspired to live a life full of purpose for the better of many. Just need to find out what exactly that purpose is. Thank you, President Cory.

Gone Too Soon

Just like the countless of funerals I've attended in the past for my own family, my tears waited until the final day to all fall. My heart ached wishing that all these positive things were said when he was still alive; that his being a father was highlighted rather than overshadowed by all the negativity; that his achievements were always in the spotlight instead of forgotten by the media whenever he was the topic for the night.

The tears and grief will fade away soon enough, but I hope I continue to be inspired to "give all that I have been given" just like what MichaelJackson had done.

We Had Him
by Maya Angelou

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind.

Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon.

In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure.

Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone.

Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him.

He came to us from the creator, trailing creativity in abundance.

Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that.

He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes.

His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.

And we laughed and stomped our feet for him.

We were enchanted with his passion because he held nothing. He gave us all he had been given.

Today in Tokyo, beneath the Eiffel Tower, in Ghana's Black Star Square.

In Johannesburg and Pittsburgh, in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham, England

We are missing Michael.

But we do know we had him, and we are the world.