The Story of my Life

"If I could wish for my life to be perfect,
it would be tempting, but I would have to decline,
for life would no longer teach me anything..."

7:40 PM

it's a HAT friday!

Posted by Claire |


I turned 27...yeah shut up! hehehe...I turned 27 and celebrated it with my drinking buddies in Juliano's. It was a hat party...so everyone was required to come with their fabulous hats.



Early in the night, I thought only few people would come. Thank God, Guia, Joena and Ice entertained me (shouldn't it be the other way around?!). Guia was really funny, she kept wagging her fingers (imagine a fish flipping their fins) to match her Nemo hat, and her face?! Priceless! Sobrang funny...she would pass as an autistic hahahaha... Joena for her part played as the fortune-teller-slash-bading friend. Her every witty comments made all of us laugh. Si Ice? What did he do ba? Nothing really spectacular. Oh, I know, he was the willing victim of Guia and Joena. These two girls were flirting with Ice the whole night, trying to seduce him. Kidding! (Joena/Gs, don't kill me. hehe)

BigBarks were there too (Lou and Anasan came late...sabi ni Anasan, she was with her mom...but no they were already drunk when they arrived!)...My MBA friends were there too, Lucy (the britt girl) my vodka partner came with Jerome. The Gayap boys were there too. Surprisingly, Butch, who was celebrating his birthday that day (Sept 23), came all dressed up. hehehe...Galing daw ng kasal! Your wedding Butch?

This is us playing with the camera...Picture 1: Notice how Flow controls show off her serious look (Something wrong with your tummy Flow?); Picture 2: I'm trying so hard to be serious...pout your lips honey!!!; and finally, Picture 3: Give your best smile!

Anyway, Lou, as her usual self entertained everyone with her sculling (did I spell it right?) flair. Beat Lucy on the first round and Jay for the second round. She finished while Jay was half-way his glass. TRIVIA: Lou just came back from Cebu the nigh before. She was telling everyone that she's been sober for a month. Feeling daw nya, she lost it (drinking that is)...So this is what you call "I lost it." Hhhmmm....

Juliano's closes at 1:30am so when the waiters called for last order, everyone sighed in disbelief. They wanted more so we moved to Caltex (across the street)...drank a few more bottles. For some reason, while we were in Caltex I felt "Misery the Bitch" creeping into me. Despite all the fun and all the people surrounding me, I felt empty inside. I had to cry it out...its my birthday anyway. Kakahiya lang everyone who stayed behind saw it. I looked awful, my eyes were puffy and my nose was reddish. Eeeww! What a sight! But then again...Its my birthday and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to...sing with me! Yeah...

5:15 PM

Starless, starless nights

Posted by Claire |

This is a post from http://www.peyups.com written by Amie. I love this article, its as if Amie knew what was happening to me...So, Amie, wherever you are...thanks for writing this. Borrow ko lang ha.

I can sssoooo relate. Read on...

But the stars can't be around all the time. The past few days have been terribly rainy; clouds covered the sunshine during the day, and kept the stars hidden during the night. Where are the stars now that I need them? All I can feel is the rain, pouring like teardrops from heaven. I could hear the rhythm of raindrops, the burst of water falling from the sky. Like tears overflowing, it's like the angels above are feeling my pain.

The nights had been starless.

Everytme I need hope or encouragement, I would stand by the doorway, light a cigarette and look up at the stars. It somehow makes me feel that there is a wonderful world out there, that life is beautiful. Something about the way they flicker in the dark night has this weird way of comforting the aching soul.

I had seen it coming. I knew that once I fall, it would be a lot harder to get up. But I dared to dive. I had dared to venture into that deep forest where there might be no turning back once I get lost. And I am now lost. I'm going round in circles, trying to find my way out, only to realize that I've been going around the same places for so many times. It was my fault. I had ignored the signs. I ran towards the direction where my feet took me, where the wind blew. It was a move I had dared to take, and I can't blame anyone, not even myself for it.

The rain poured the whole day as if it never wanted to stop. That night I was with him and some friends, I looked up at the overcast sky, trying to find a star--just one star, one sign that could tell me that this will get to something. All I needed was one star, one last string of hope I can hold on to. But the heavens have failed me.

Last night, as I was standing in the middle of an empty parking lot, I finally found my star. Not just one, but two, then three, and before I knew it, hundreds of stars were all shining again for me. After those turbulent, stormy days, the stars were there again. The night wasn't perfectly starry, but at least they were there. And as I look out at the window overlooking the Makati skyline on a beautiful saturday morning like this, I know the rainy days are over, at least for today.

12:24 PM

NOW PLAYING: Wherever You Are

Posted by Claire |

I love to see the ocean's beauty
And the moon that shines above
Alone in the sand looking at the stars
Wishing someday I would find true love
Would it be nice to see the morning
With the one you love the most
Would it be nice to say goodnight
To the one you hold so close
To your heart
To your heart

The wind that blows the dove
Is the wind that blows my love
Hope it'll find its way to you
wherever you are

I love to sit in fields of green
Looking deeply through the sky
Watching birds as they fly by
Hoping someday fate will bring me true love
Would it be nice to hold someone
So dear, near your heart
Would it be nice to hear those words
I love you from the one that you love

I'd love to see myself one day
In the arms of someone
Who will share her life with me
selflessly...someoday...
You will find your way...to me...

Hope you find your way back...


7:47 AM

Currently Playing

Posted by Claire |

Another summer day
is come and gone away
in Paris and Rome
But I wana go home

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
"I'm fine baby, how are you?"
Well I would send them but I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky I know
But I wanna go home
Mmm...I've got to go home

Let me go home
I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you coud not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come
An gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I've had my run
Baby, I'm done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It'll all be all right
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

11:08 AM

forgiven though...

Posted by Claire |

...the pain lingers.

I took a brave move to forgive the person who has done me wrong. I wanna move on in peace. "I don't want to bring this grudge with me everyday", I said. I don't wanna wake up every morning with hatred in my heart.

"Holding anger is poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves."

Everybody deserves to be forgiven. I told myself I can never forgive him. I told myself I will never give you the peace you need to be happy. You cannot be happy as long as I'm hurting. But I guess, I'm not really cut out like that...everybody deserves to be forgiven. "Thank you," he said. Go get your peace and work on your happiness.

"Lost love is still love. It takes a different form. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. When those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it...you hold it...you dance with it."

6:47 AM

another moment in life

Posted by Claire |

CAUTION: If you're not into mushy struff, move one to the next page...there's nothing here for you.


Love has once again changed my life (yeah I know...I never really explicitly said I was in love. Guess I was still testing the waters). After what I've been through in the past, I've closed my mind and my heart to the possibility of falling in love the same way I've done before. I've been a cynic...a man-hater of some sort...questioned every man who walks into my life...turned down every chance to fall in love.

Then, unexpectedly, lightning struck. And all of a sudden, I found myself in love much more than I loved before...for someone like me, it was an overwhelming feeling. So I seized the day. I took the plunge despite knowing that I was in for a lot of trouble. You know what, it was just so ironic...that despite knowing I'd get hurt with this person, it just felt so good and so right loving him. I knew I was gonna get hurt because I know he's gonna leave me in a few months. But I seized the day even more...I wanted to enjoy it for as long as it lasts. Because afer a long time, I looked at love positively. Because after a long time, I felt I can entrust myself, my future...and my lifetime to this person. Because after hiding from my shell, I finally found the courage to step out of it and risk everything.

But as they say, even fairy tales have their endings, happy or otherwise. This one ended in quite an unexpected manner. Was I mad? Yes I was. Was I hurt? You can't imagine how hurt I was. Not the worst I guess, but it sure did leave a heavy mark.

I asked why...told myself I don't deserve this. Why did it happen to me again? Don't you guys ran out of things to hurt me? I am so fragile, didn't you even consider that? But now, I've stopped questioning. Because the answer is simple...I was at the right place but in the wrong time. Everything was just bad timing.

Oh well, that's life. I hurt less now. I can sleep well at night. But I haven't forgotten, nor have I forgiven. I know I will one day.

Love til hurts...if it hurts, love some more...if still hurts, love some more...love til it hurts no more.

"Sometimes when you sacrifice something serious, you're not losing it...you're just passing it on to someone else."

11:27 PM

seventy-seven times

Posted by Claire |

Was browsing through my phone and I read this message that was sent to me way-way back. Sharing it with everyone. Its good...makes a lot of sense...

"It has been said that when a person you love hurts you seven times, you have to forgive them seventy-seven times. It may sound exaggerated but that is the way love rili is. If we truly love a person, the gravity of his offense wouldn't matter because we still accept that person no matter how much pain his actions have brought us. You never lose hope that someday you could be together again...there's nothing wrong with that. Your love is just so encompassing that you are able to understand his wrong doings and accept his greatest frailties.

We know that you really love him but we have to realize that the love and dedication of just one person aren't enough to keep a relationship. Even if you love him, with all your heart, your relationship will not grow if he doesn't commit to you the same love and dedication that you have unfailingly given him.

Sometimes setting someone free is the only way to prove your love for that person. Only when your love is no longer bound by his commitment to you can you truly tell if he really loves you.

Sometimes you have to let him go and give yourself the chance to start over again. Let's always remember that there is nothing wrong in loving a person with all our heart. But when we allow ourselves to be stuck in that relationship because of someone who doesn't love us enough, then we are bound to miss the opportunity of finding another person who will love us the way we should be loved, and can truly make us happy."

10:05 PM

when this is all over...

Posted by Claire |

when this f**k*ng paper is over, I will...

1. Sleep the whole day.
2. Hangout with friends.
3. Go out of town.
4. Go back to the gym.
5. Have my hair rebonded.
6. Finish reading Angels and Demons (Gggrrr...its almost a year!).
7. Hangout in SBC to read 11 Minutes (not my StraMa book!).
8. Catch up on my DVDs.
9. Hear mass at Calaruega.
10. Spend QT with...
11. Visit uhum at Pque.
12. Clean my room.
13. Garage sale.
14. Party with my classmates.
15. Shop.
16. Play badminton with the Bigbarks.
17. Food trip at UP.
18. Have a massage.
19. Watch the latest movie.
20. Love.

7:31 PM

a few bits and pieces

Posted by Claire |

I'm now in my final year in grad school and this term is making me crazy. I am due to submit my final paper on Aug 17 and I still don't have all the materials I need to complete it. How can the company expect me to provide sound recommendations if they don't give me what I need? Hhhhmmm...I really want to give up but I promised my mom I'll finish this. So, You up there, if you're reading this...please, please, please squeeze out more creative ideas from my head and shower me with your grace...I need it badly!

...:::...

Have you seen "If Only"? If not, boy you're missing a lot. I haven't seen a movie that made me cry that hard. This is better than "the Notebook" I'm telling you. Effect? Makes you appreciate the people you love most. Here are my favorite lines from the movie:

Ian: How can you love someone so much and not know how to love them?
Taxi Driver: Appreciate her and what you have, just love her.

Sam: Death doesn't put an end to love.

Ian: I love you since I met you but I wouldn't allow myself to truly feel it until today. I was always thinking ahead, making decisions out of fear, but today, because of you, because of what I learned from you every choice I made was different and my life has completely changed. And I've learned that if you do that, you're living your life fully. It doesn't matter if you have 5 minutes or 50 years. If not for you, if not for today, I would never have learned love at all. So thank you for being the person who taught me to love, and be loved.

...:::...

My song now...

you caught me by surprise
I ask you to believe me
without a lie
we'll never have to say or feel we're sorry
dont say we're sorry
soon you'll see

I'm learning
I'm learning you now


Stars fading
free falling into you

this time I'm sure what I'm looking for
and that's what I want you to know
And I won't ever let you go

And I'm ready for you now
be ready for me now

Show me love

1:21 PM

Stay

Posted by Claire |

Currently playing...

I believe
we shouldn't let the moment pass us by
life's too short
we shouldn't wait for the water to run dry


Think about it
cause we only have one shot at destiny
all I'm asking
could it possibly be you and me?


So if you'd still go, I'll understand
would you give me something just to hold on to?
And if you'll stay, I'll hold your hand
cause I'm truly, madly, crazily in love with you


Time has come
for us to go our separate ways
God forbid
But my mind is going crazy today


I feel so cold
feel so numb
I'm having nightmares but I'm awake
Help me Lord
fight this loneliness
Take this pain away


So if you'd still go, I'll understand
would you give me something just to hold on to?
And if you'll stay, I'll hold your hand
Cause I'm truly, madly, crazily in love with you


Now that you're gone, I'm all alone
I'm still hoping that you would come back home
don't care how long, but I'm willing to wait
Cause I'm truly, madly, crazily in love with you.

4:23 PM

IF I COULD

Posted by Claire |

Tagged by Aileen (a.k.a. Meyj)

If I could be in one place right now...
i'd be in Boracay (yeah...even if its raining...I'd still want to be in Boracay!)

If I could give something to myself, to my friends
MYSELF: A brand new car...a Mazda 3 please!
MY FRIENDS: The deepest desires of their heart

If I could take some people somewhere
I'd bring them to paradise (can't think of any...hehehe)

If I could make one dream come true
I'd make all my loved ones happy

If I could do real magic
I'd relieve every frog of their spell in the hope of finding my prince. hehehe

I tag Ria and Maya...wala nang iba eh. hehehe

Invitation by Anna Cuvin
We had our send-off party for Flip last Saturday. I'm glad we pulled through despite not having enough food to offer our guests. hahaha It was an all-nighter party...I'm really glad all of his most treasured friends came to join us. All of Flip's friends in one party. Don't ask how I was because I was dead-drunk. hahaha...Haven't been that drunk for a long time. I was told I didn't do anything unc0mpromising so...okay na rin. hahaha...Wala na kong masabi. That would be it for now. =) Ciao!

1:39 PM

a FLIPpin' friend

Posted by Claire |

A good friend of mine is leaving for Thailand this June. I'm excited and happy for him because I know this is what he's been trying to achieve ever since I met him. Flip was always on the lookout for job opportunities here and abroad...hoping to finally land the job that will satisfy his intellectual and financial needs. His patience paid off really well.

Anyway, we prepared something for Flip and part of it was a message from each one of us. Mine turned out to be a letter...hehehe

Here goes...

Dearest Flip,

For the couple of years we've been friends, you've witnessed most of the major events in our life. And in all those occasions, I never felt you left me. Thank you for everything. I may not have expressed my gratitude in the best way I can but I truly appreciate having you as my friend. Thank you for being such an asswipe on our first lunchout (because of that I realized...mata mo nga lang talaga ang maliit sa`yo...)- ->Senseless to? Why did I write this?...Thank you for allowing me to mingle with your friends and for introducing Sidebar (ngayon, mas madalas na akong pumupunta dun kesa sa`yo). Thank you for accepting my katangahan pagdating sa pag-ibig...for letting me do my thing even if you know it will only hurt me in the end. Thank you for listening to all my stories even if it's about the same person (I know you got tired at some point...I can't blame you. Kahit ako minsan napapagod din.) Thank you for sharing with me my life's little victories. Thank you for putting up with my eccentricities and kasungitan. Thank you for being brutally honest when you see that I'm about to make another stupid decision. Thank you for all your opinions...kahit na alam natin pareho that's where we get into trouble at kahit alam natin na WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE AN OPINION. Thank you for trusting me with all your secrets, the same way that I trust you with mine...and most importantly, thank you for visitng me that fateful morning at UST. That made me realize our friendship goes beyond our gimmicks...That and all others make-up our friendship. I know this is nothing compared to what you've shared with your other friends, but that's irrelevant now. What's important for me is that, somehow, we shared a few memorable times together...

Even if you're just starting to reach the next milestone of your life, I want to congratulate you already. I've always believed in you (eventhough its not obvious...hehehe). Even in the midst of conflicts and near-quitting episodes (hehehehe), you always manage to stand out and put in excellent work. I hope you learn to let go of your emotions. Feel happy when you're happy. Tell the world that you're happy when you really are. There's no sense of containing your happiness...you're only depriving yourself of what was freely given to you by Jess. To let it out is to show Jess and the whole world that you appreciate His blessings for you...and contrary to your belief...failures, sufferings and disappointments are not payments in exchange for the happiness given to you. They are blessings in disguise...they make us stronger and wiser individuals. They brought us to where we are now.

Jess has given you so many blessings. All the things you've always wanted are given to you one by one. You have to nurture it, share it (pasalubong! sampaloc lang! hehehe) and be thankful for it. Not so many people are as blessed as you are. Love? hhhmmm...it will come, also when you least expect it. It will come when you're ready. It will come to each one of us, in His perfect time. Aren't you convinced yet? All that you prayed for were given to you...(UP Masters, Guam racket, and now Thailand)...we just have to wait for His perfect time? He's preparing the right person for you. Pinapapayat lang nya, sabi mo kasi ayaw mo ng mataba...(you're so mean!) Seriously, I know you'll find her soon. =)

Here's to the fulfillment of our dreams and the answers to our prayers!

12:37 PM

a trick of fate

Posted by Claire |

I'm in a daze...In October, I prayed deeply for something to come my way which will mark the start of a new chapter in my life. And in the most unexpected moment...I came face to face with the sign. Suddenly, I began questioning the validity of this sign....suddenly, questions started popping out. Is this real? How could you have known that was the one I needed? What brought you to me? Why now? Is this our fate?

Its just so strange that this has to happen at the time I was ready to give it a pass. Now, I couldn't let it go because He gave me a bunch of reason not to...So who am I not to reconsider? I asked for this and now that its here, won't you take it? My mind believes I should, but my heart tells me otherwise...

"You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.

Everyday, God gives us the sun - and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything that makes us unhappy. Everyday, we try to pretend that we haven't perceived that moment, that it doesn't exist - that today is the same as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. But if people really pay attention to their everyday lives, they will discover the magic moment. It may arrive in the instant when you are doing something mundane, like putting our front-door key in the lock; it may lie hidden in the quiet that follows the lunch hour or in the thousand and on things that ll seem the same to us. But that moment exist - a moment when all the power of the stars becomes a part of us and enables us to perform miracles.

Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest. Our magic moment helps us to change and sends us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments - but all of this is transitory; it leaves no permanent mark. And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken.

Pitiful is the person who is afraid of taking risks. Perhaps this person will never be disappointed or disillusioned; perhaps she will hear her heart saying "what have you done with the miracles that God planted in your days? What have you done with the talents God bestowed on you? You buried yourself ina cave because you were feaful of losing those talents. So this is your heritage: the certainty that you wasted your life.

Pitiful are the people who must realize this. Because when they are finally able to believe in miracles, their life's magic moments will have already passed them by." ---By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept (Paulo Coelho)

5:11 PM

Closing Cycles

Posted by Claire |

I learned about this poem from Aileen...Thanks Ai. For those who are trying to shut doors...

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end.
If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time,
we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages
we have to go through.

Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters...
whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past
the moments of life that have finished.

Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end?
Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad?
Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden?

You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened.
You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out
why certain things that were so important and so solid on your life
have turned into dust, just like that...

But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved:
your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister,
everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life,
and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time,
not evern when we try to understand the things that happened to us.
What has passed will not return: we cannot forever be children,
late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents,
lovers who day and night relieve an affair with someone who has gone away
and has not the least intention of coming back.

Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.
That is why it is so important to really go away.
That is why it is so important (however painful it maybe) to destroy souvenirs,
move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or doante books you have at home.
Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world,
of what is going on in our hearts and getting rid of certain memories also means
making some room for other memories to take their place.

Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.
Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win
and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return,
do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, you genius to be discovered,%0

2:04 PM

Learnings from Sex and the City

Posted by Claire |

I've finished watching the complete season of SATC and I must say...Kudos to the writer! Very witty and entertaining...

So while I'm high with an SATC fever, here are some learnings from the funny series I got from the mail:

1. If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn't, nothing can make him stay. (Face it sweety, he's just not into you!)
2. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.
3. If you have ANY doubt in your mind about a man's character, leave him alone.
4. Allow you intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.
5. Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be.
6. Don't force an attraction.
7. Slower is better.
8. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.
9. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't be friends! A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend.
10. Have faith in God regarding your relationship, but don't let faith make you stupid. God does things decent and in order.
11. Don't settle.
12. If you fel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.
13. If he keeps changing his mind about the relationship - - thake that as a BIG sign that he is unstable. Do you really want to be with a man like that?
14. Don't stay because you thing "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.
15. Honorable men take care of their business and aren't invovled in a whole lot of mess.
16. The only person you can control in a relationship is you.
17. There's only one 'reason' a man dumps you; he doesn't want you.
18. Avoid men who've got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would you he treat you any differently?
19. You really do have to kiss a few frogs before finding the prince.
20. Always put yourself and your happiness first.
21. Always have your own set of firneds separate rom his.
22. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up.
23. If he doesn't call, he just isn't that interested.
24. Be honest and upfront.
25. Know when to cut the cord, don't be strung along.
26. Don't fall for the "I'm confused role." Remove yourself from the situation to let him figure things out (but don't wait for him, move on).
27. If you want to have a clue as to how he will treat you, watch how he treats the WOMEN in his family (not just mom).
28. There's more than physical abuse, there's emotional and mental abuse. If he causes any of them...flee.
29. You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within.
30. Don't let him place rules on you that he is not willing to follow himself --double-standard.
31. Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are...even if he has more education or in a better job.
32. Don't make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.
33. Demand respect and if he can't give it, he can't have you.
34. Don't compete with other women, but be aware that men are attracted to what they see.
35. If you think he is cheating, he probably is. Confront him right away and if you fee he's lying, let him go.
36. Actions speak louder than words.
37. Never let a man define who you are.
38. Never rely on a man for compliments, look to yourself for that.
39. Never borrow someone else's man.
40. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you.
41. Just because he says he loves you, doesn't mean that he won't hurt you and it doesn't mean that you are meant to be with him.
42. To use painful hard-won wisdom -- 'get it right' the next time.
43. Know that you deserve to be the number one person in the life of the #1 person in your life.
44. Love is a verb...
45. Learn to give up your lifelong task of trying to make someone unavailable-available, someone ungving-giving, and someone unloving-loving....(They are what they are and it takes a hell of a lot to make them change.)
46. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.
47. All men are NOT dogs.
48. You should not be the one doing all the bending...compromise is a two way street.
49. If you don't love yourself...you can't love anyone else.
50. You cannot mend someone else's broken heart.
51. You need time to heal between relationships...there is nothing cute about baggage...deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship...(believe me...this means a lot!)
52. You should neverl look for someone to COMPLETE you...a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals...look for someone complementary...not supplementary.
53. Dating is fun...even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right. (Yez...dating is REALLY fun!)
54. Never give more in a relationship than you are getting out of it.
55. Never become your man's "therapist".
56. When actions and word confilct, believe the actions. Respond to the actions.
57. A real health relationship requires two people. One person can end it - but it takes two to make it work.
58. Don't fall for the "I'm not the loving type"...when a man loves you there is nothing in this world (within reason) that he wouldn't do for you. (You hit the bull's eye honey!)
59. Make him miss you sometimes...when a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him he takes it for granted.
60. Give him his space...let him go out with his boys, don't pressure him to spend time with you. You can't force a man to hang out with you.
61. If you wouldn't allow your daughter to be with him, you shouldn't.
62. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.
63. Never move into his mother's house.
64. Provide financially for yourself an don't depend on anyone.
65. Never co-sign for a man.
66. Never believe you have the perfect guy and he is so innocent. (...there are ogres lying underneath just waiting for the right time. hahaha)
67. Never spoil your man; let him spoil you.
68. Never let a man mess up your credit.
69. When it's time to let go; let go. (There yah go Flip!)
70. Goo men should be treate like good men.
71. Don't play games. (...you can't play.)
72. Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need.
73. Keep him in your radar but get to know others. (translation: Have a life!)
74. Compatibility in terms of educational attainment, values, belief, personal and career goals, and socioeconomic status, are important. (...but does not mean everything.)
75. Never date a guy who wears colored contacts. (He's gay! hehehehe)

1:00 PM

hitch

Posted by Claire |

I'm so glad the term is finally over. I get to do the things I love doing. Went back on track to working out. Started hanging out with my friends again...And starting to catch up with my DVDs.

Just last week, I watched Hitch, and lemme say...the movie was HILARIOUS! Was laughing the whole night. Will Smith rocks talaga! he never ceases to amuse me with his antics. He's a natural. Great at what he does. Have you seen Shark Tale? Funny...funny...funny...

Anyway, my friend recommended this movie. She said it was "our" movie. True enough, the movie is indeed for cynics like (us)me. Have I admitted that I'm a cynic? Actually, I'm still in the border line of being cynical. A part of me is screaming cynical. But deep inside...the person that I really am...tells me otherwise.

I've come to believe that men are incapable of long-lasting-deep relationships. They only love the excitement of the chase...cause when they're in it, they're completely different...The sweet, caring, thoughtful, and loving guy you knew has been swallowed alive by an ugly and stinking Ogre. Hahahaha...Poof! Vanished into thin air. Time to say goodbye to your fatasies sweety. Your prince charming has decided he wants to be a frog again. hahahaha

The other side of me believes there are some knight-in-shining-armor-wannabees out there. Wandering. Burned like me(hopefully not a cynic like me as well). Lucky you if you end up with someone like Alex Hitchens who believes that simply being fine isn't good enough. The person that I am tells me that I can fall in love with someone like Hitch...I can fall in love much more than I did the last time...The person that I am tells me I still wana leap and hope to God that I can fly.

So, am I a cynic or not?

My favorite lines from the movie:

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the number of moments that take your breath away."

~o0o~

Sarah: Let's just move on with our lives and we'll be fine.
Hitch: What if fine isn't good enough?

~o0o~

"Every guy has a legitimate chance of sweeping a woman off her feet, you just gotta find the right broom."

~o0o~

5:41 PM

Beach escapade (Round 2)

Posted by Claire |

Two weekends ago, I went to Galera with my brother and his friends. It was a relaxing trip. Not the usual all-night-partying beach trips I always have when I'm with my friends. This one was a "I came here to sleep" kind of trip. hahahaha

We got there around 7am. Had our henna, and then slept the entire afternoon...Went out for a few drinks after dinner then head home to sleep again after a glass of tequila sunrise. I must say I was, again, a party pooper. Oh btw, I brought my bestfriend with me and it was her first Galera visit. So you can just imagine how irritated she was with me that we didn't party like crazy considering it was her first visit. As much as I'd really want to party hard, I'm sorry but I really feel I'm getting old for that kinda stuff. hehehe...Naaahhh...I was just really tired. I'll make it up to you bestfriend.

Anyway, Galera is not the same Galera I used to go to. It was jam-packed! You can hardly find a nice spot to sun-bathe. At night, the bars are crowded. Boats were everywhere...how the hell can you swim when there are about a dozen of boats docked in the swimming area?! Eazy!

We went snorkling sunday morning. For the first time, I enjoyed it. Was able to overcome my fear of drowning. hehehe...There's not much good stuff to see in Galera, not as much as Bora...hope we go snorkling again when we go back to Bora.

My brother really proved he is my "BIG BROTHER". Took care of us the entire trip...even financially. Hehehe...sarap ng may kuya. Incidentally, this is the first time we went to the beach together. So, its also his first time to see me in my bathing suit. hehehe...Kuya, are you surprised at how big your sister has grown? =) And because my brother was always around, I had to sneak out just so I can smoke...man that was difficult! Some sacrifice huh...

So there goes the story of my 2nd beach escapade. In case u are wondering what my brother looks like, spot the biggest person in this picture and you'll see he really is a big brother...=)




Oh btw, before I forget...u saw my henna on the chest? Can I just say...my heart was pounding twice its normal speed when that was being done...Hehehehe...Awkward grabe!

Ciao!

5:45 PM

photos

Posted by Claire |

as promised, here are some of our photos from our latest beach escapade:

FIRST DAY: Travel Time
Departed Manila - approximately 2:oo pm
Arrived Kalibo - approximately 3:30 pm

Henna time and party til 4:00 am....



about to get off the plane...




first night on the beach...



dinner at Pier One

~o0o~

SECOND DAY: Beach Time
On to the Beach by 10:00 am
Lunch at Steak House
Volleyball game with locals...hahaha
Last night partying at Cocomangas


the Beachaholics


lou and me



ssshhh....espasol ako



right after that luscious meal at Steak House



on to volleyball...ang pumalag patay!



playing with the sunset...

~o0o~

and the ultimate beachaholic of all...the little mermaid!!!!



and this is one hell of a miracle...ang galing ng photographer! Thanks Shelley!




~o0o~

last night...ang mga ibang utaw...kumota! hahaha


9:35 PM

free lunch

Posted by Claire |

There is such a thing as free lunch.

My classmates and I had a boring class last saturday. We haven't had lunch together for 3 weeks so we all decided to treat ourselves to a nice meal at The Old Spaghetti House.

Chickahan and all...shared stories about our respective dates. And after exhausting all our kwentos, we were still bored and sleepy. So we decided it was time to wrap it up and just head home. We got the bill from the server and we were shocked after being told that.."Ma'am, okay na po ang bill nyo." Somebody paid for our bill!!!

And that did it...the boring lunch, turned out to be an exciting one. Sleepy? None of us were sleepy. Nobody wanted to go home. And because we didn't pay for anything, we decided to have coffee just so we could spend for something. hehehe

So, who is this mysterious guy trying to play tricks on me...As I was told, this guy paid for our bill because I looked familiar to him (yeah right!). Left ONLY his number....there yah go, some tricks men play. I assume he knew that picking up someone in a restaurant, in broad daylight, won't work. And what would be a good way? Pay for their lunch and just leave your number...of course, after a free lunch, it would be rude not to say thank you. So there, I texted him to say thank you...and gave away my number. Hahahaha...

Okay, so just so you know...This guy does not, in any way, look familiar to me.

Anyway, the style was really something...and what made it even more daring is this guy was with his girlfriend at that time! So, while his girlfriend was in the powder room trying to look good for him, this guy was giving instructions to the server and pointing at my direction (yeah, he was. I saw him from my peripheral.hehehe). Meeeennnn!!!!

I'm so amazed, not that I was kilig or anything, but because this is new to me. I've never given my number to a complete stranger. But this guy...left me with no choice. I had to give it to him. But it's all cool. Had a free lunch anyway. hehehe

He tried to call me. But I didn't take the call. I felt that, that would be way to far. I thanked him for the lunch and I think that would be enough. My friends told me I should text back and just play along. Get to know him or something...But I'm sorry....call me boring or whatever you want, but its just not my style. I won't go for it.

Makes me think again...how can some men be such a player? Aren't there decent men left? How do men manage to play around when they're committed....hhhmmm...

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