CHRISTMAS WISH LIST and 2007 PLANS

Things to do before the year ends:
       1. Get cornrows!-DONE! Although it only lasted for 5 days.
       2. Get back to running 5K comfortably under 40 minutes
       3. Visit a nice white-sand beach-Went to La Luz, Laiya

I guess that's all…I only got a month left…

A big holiday's coming soon so I have another excuse to splurge on stuff I've always wanted. Or if lucky, get them free from people with a really good hearts.
       1. Salsa Instructional DVD
       2. 2-man tent
       3. New trekking shoes (umm, the purple one from North Face)
       4. Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep A Secret?
       5. Huge poster map of the Philippines
       6. A cute fake bonsai
       7. Any Jennifer Weiner book except In Her Shoes
       8. Pirated DVDs of the ff: Dance with Me, Step Up, Hoodwinked, The Break up, Open Season, Cars, Cutting Edge 2
       9.  Colorful socks with toes
       10. CANON EOS 300D (I don't care if it's pre-owned as long as it's in perfect condition)
       11. Speakers for my laptop

2007 Activity Line-Up:
       1. Join a mountaineering club for real
       2. Learn to swim
       3. Run 10k on February (sub 50 minutes)
       4. Have my passport marked, either Macau or Singapore
       5. Camp out in Corregidor and hope to have some ghostly encounters
       6. Travel to Bicol through PNR
       7. Go white water rafting
       8. Learn to Surf
       9. Have my belly button pierced
       10. Earn my PADI License

The Quarter Life

November 8, 2006- Baby Ylian Jade's First Birthday, Jollibee, Rotonda

It's funny and amazing how time quickly flies. It seems just like a few months ago, we were hanging out by the rotten staircase in the far end of one of the old building in Pasig Catholic College, eating kwek-kwek, not caring much about the world outside the school walls.

Few months later, we were out of there, getting wild in college, wishing to fast track the remaining school years so we could all earn money and rule our own lives. The next thing we knew, we were stuck in our offices, working til past 9, missing each other, cramming our schedules, getting caught in heartbreaks…

I'm glad that one of us has finally given life to a cute little chinito boy. Though we missed the pre-natal months, we're just as happy to welcome a new barkada member. Who would be next? Definitely not me.

Soon, we would find ourselves busy with our own families. I wonder how that would feel like. Meeting together for a coffee with crying kids in stroller. Umm, can't imagine myself yet…

 Whew! We're in our mid-20s now!

Salsa Career…Heehee!

We got a last minute notice from Ares less than a week before the
performance. I said yes without even knowing what that was for.A formal
in Manila Hotel sounded fun and so we went for it without thinking
twice. It turned out to ba an annual Manila Doctor's Convention. Me and
Christian were late as usual, got there at 7:30. We were expecting to
perform at around 8, but apparently, we were the finale. Past 10 and
we're still waiting for the boring awarding to be done. Jenny left
before our performance, so one of the guys wasn't able to join the rueda.
Unfortunately, it was Christian (madaya!)

Grupo Salsa Filipino at Manila Hotel, November 22, 2006.
Luis and A, Me and Ares, Baledj and Eddie (Christian the photographer)

Plugging Grupo Filipino Salsa

To Bex and all interested in learning Latin Dances like Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, etc.:

We have classes every Saturday at Asian Social Institute 1518 Leon Guinto St., Malate, Manila from 5:30pm to as late as 10pm or  until we get tired dancing. =) …Or if you can join us in Cafe Havana, Greenbelt every Monday and Wednesday nights and in E-bar, Edsa Shang Hotel on Fridays.

It's generally a 4-month lesson (1 month Beginner, 2 months Intermediate, 1 month Advanced). You'll learn everything from Suelta to Rueda and Un Tarro.

By the way, we're having a Latino Festival on December 2, 7pm at ASI. So if you're interested, I think this is the best time to join and meet the rest of the salsa group.

You can contact Ares Andres:
523-8265 to 66
0906 458 5725
0920 310 6897
grupofilipinosalsa@yahoo.com

Hope to see you guys there!

The Life After

For two consecutive days, I've dreamt of my brother. The first one was
nothing extraordinary. Just me, Jermaine and him in our old van.
Jermaine was driving and Jayson was in the passenger seat as usual and
me at the back. I can't remember where we went but it looked something
like a school. While waiting for something, I asked him if he could
teach me how to drive since Jermaine already knew how. I was putting my
arms around him like a clingy girlfriend and he was reciprocating the
deed. I really miss him and the utter loneliness I'm going through
right now probably summoned him to my dreams.

For
the second time, I dreamt of him as I took a nap this noon before going
to work. Never had I a dream that was so clear and vivid… We were
outside my front door, squatting as I tried to figure out what to say.
He's got black-eye in both eyes but otherwise, his face looked ok.
No shadow was casted over his face and so I could see every feature of
him as if he were alive. I even joked about his black-eye and he
laughed. I reached out my hand and tried to touch his arm. It was
amazingly scary when I felt the stickiness of his skin from sweat. I
wouldn't be surprised if I would be able to smell him from my dreams.

I
asked him how he was and said he was ok. We stood up simultaneously and
I asked, "Can you take me with you?" He gently pushed me away but I was
already clinging on to him. The next thing I knew was, we were in a
park that seemed familiar but not exactly, walking side by side. I
could no longer see things as clearly as few moments ago but the
conversation went on. I said, "Have you seen Jesus, God and Mama Mary?"
I got no reply. "Or is it just like on earth where in we believe in
them although we can't really see them?" Still no reply. That's the
last thing I could remember.

I never had such a dream where I
could not see the other person's lips moving, but I could definitely
hear the voices. Where is he really right now? Could he still be
wandering about? He's with me.  I miss him and I feel so alone. I
lost two people in a span of 3 months. At least my brother is still
here trying to take care of me… And I'm just grateful. I wish I could
be with him soon…