Bo's Coffee

I am from Cebu. Bo's Coffee started in Cebu and in some ways, it makes me proud that Bo's is finally in Manila. The coffee is at par with those of its more famous counterparts but the pastries are much better. The cake is creamy and chewy and I like how the taste leaves a little in your tongue even after you downed the entire thing.

The ambiance of the place is also very cozy and conducive to small talk.

Here are shots of their drinks and food.

And here I am ...

Tara Bai! Lami biya ani!

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jump shots

Isn't he adorable?

Love you B!

top sales ...

It was the first time I was invited to a townhall for sales at work. Apparently, though I do not take the sales part of our work seriously, I did well enough to land a spot in the Top Sales Performers. Yey me!

I thought it would be boring but boy, was I wrong. It was a night of fun and revelry. Best part? I got to sing, dance, party, and take home prizes. Wheee!

It was held at Centerstage and the food was yummy. I heart the shrimp thingie. I had an entire plate all to myself. Booze was also overflowing which made the night more fun. I drank 4 different kinds which gave me courage to sing and dance in front of everyone. 

And here I am, performing and receiving my award.

And of course ... my solo pic. I think I looked pretty okay. I think.

random musical moments

I was riding in my friends car earlier on the way home when some songs played on the radio. We were listening to 96.3 which is my favorite station and it was one mellow hit after another. I kept singing to the songs and giving anecdotes about how so and so songs happened on so and so event that I decided to just share some of those moments with you guys.

So, here goes a list of random songs and the moments attached to it. Enjoy and reminisce with me.


Random Song # 1: Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls 

Music man would always sing this song at the end of his gigs when I watch them. The thing is, they're all about Dave Matthews and never play mainstream songs like Iris. The crowd would know then that I was there watching when he plays this song because he would always introduce it this way: "To you, because you love this song and because if I was an angel, I'd give up my wings for you."

Eeeekkk. Hahahahaha.

Random Song # 2: I Will Be Here by Steve Chapman 

First BF was waiting for me to finish playing volleyball. Soon as I was done, he gets my bag and we head over to the bleachers. He takes out a song hits magazine (yes, they existed back in '95) and shows me this song. He tells me that every lyric, every word is meant for me. I, of course, get all giddy. He sings. Toink.

Random Song # 3: How Do I Live by Trisha Yearwood 

JS Prom and I was walking across the auditorium when someone speaks into the mic and says that the next song they will be playing is dedicated to me. They play How Do I Live. I froze, panicked, got upset, and never did find out who dedicated the song to me. He remains anonymous till now. Weird.

Random Song # 4: Right Here Waiting by Richard Marx 

School fair. I was being "married" to a senior and I was a freshman. Needless to say, I was not happy. Add to that my opinion that boys were trouble and you can imagine the frown on my face. Suddenly, I hear first boyfriends voice over the phone saying that no matter how many times I say no (we were not together at that time) he will be right there waiting.

I died. Hahahahaha.


Random Song # 5: Make You Feel my Love by Kris Allen

I was mad at someone who shall remain nameless. I thought he was playing me for a fool and we talked on the phone. He was explaining his side and couldn't do it properly. He then tells me, "all I want to say, is in this song." He plays this, I cried. I really cried.

I might have more of these in the upcoming days. For now, these are the ones I can remember. Maybe, they are the ones worth remembering.

munimuni # 69

Welcome back to my weekly munimuni about anything and everything under the sun. 

Last night, I wished for this and it was granted. I spent the night chatting with family, chatting with friends, and best of all, watching my TV series. I am so addicted to Gossip Girl, The Secret Circle, Revenge, Person of Interest, Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and GLEE. It's my weekly fix nowadays.

I like how my life has returned to normal. I spend time with family, a few friends, my son, and my fix. It could be singing, dancing, writing, reading, or scrapbooking.  I do things that I like with music beside me and myself as my only companion.

Well, sometimes I have my cats as well. LOL.

Happy Sunday everyone!

dinner at home ...

just sharing ....

yummy roast with B

B and I have not gone out in such a long time that I decided to take him with me to watch a play. Unfortunately, the play was a no show again and we ended up trying Yummy Roast.

Yummy  Chicken

Yummy Asado

Strawberry Yoghurt

We went around after eating and bought food for him to take to school. I missed hanging out with B. I'm glad we had time together today.

ouchie

Mother and son ... both clumsy ... both wounded.

Ouchie.

something borrowed ... something blue

borrowed time was what we had
no promises of a future ever made
only lies that you truly cared
only lies that were uttered and said.

I was a fool to believe your truths
I was a fool to believe your lies
It seems that I was nothing but a conquest
But, oh, what a conquest it truly was

I seek no malice, vengeance, or retribution
For in what we had you lost more than I ever will
For I can love exactly the same
but you will never be loved the same way again.

all these emotions
simply because of something borrowed
all these pain and memories
leave me with something blue.

my ideal mate

I read somewhere that if you want to make a wish with God, you  need to be really specific and desire it with all your heart. For the last 30 years of my life, I've been making wishes but was never really THAT specific. Latest events taught me that it is necessary.

You see, I used to wish that I would meet someone who was smarter than me ... someone I could talk to for hours ... laugh with, converse about anything and everything under the sun. I also said that I wanted him to have a car, financially stable, and taller than I am. I asked that he be a book lover and knows how to appreciate food, movies, music, and be opinionated. I wanted someone who would treat me like a queen and take care of me.

I met someone like that. It was perfect. Unfortunately, the circumstances he was in prevented anything from further developments. He was a forbidden.

I guess this was the part that I missed to tell God. So God, I'm revising my list and I am making it really specific now.

Dear God, 

I know that I have been so blessed in life. You have thrown storms, tsunamis, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, and landslides my way and yet, here I am, still standing strong and able to do the catwalk of life. I am deeply grateful. This is also why I have been giving back in anyway I could.

I may not be financially that stable but I am able to provide for my son's education and needs. When I am not, you send angels my way to help me.

You gave me smarts and I am in awe of that. However, it seems that you really didn't want anyone to be perfect so I also got unwanted flab and a pretty stupid heart.

So I pray to you for my ideal mate ... that he comes when I am healed and whole again. I pray for my ideal mate to be ...

someone who loves you, believes in you, lives with you in his heart and follows your teachings ... a man who is centered on you is more likely to be a great partner ... 

someone who will love me and cherish me ... respect my opinions, my beliefs, and ME .. 

someone legally single and is not in a complicated relationship with anyone ... someone who is truly free to be with me 

someone who will be proud to have me as his partner and not just use me as decor ... 

someone who wants me for me, flabs and all ... not someone who is just out to make another conquest 

someone who is family oriented and respects women ... so I know that I will not be battered again physically, emotionally, mentally, and psychologically 

someone who has infinite patience because I'm bipolar and I have mood swings at times 

someone who has a strong character who can handle me .. who can tame me but not break me ... someone who can accept me, my past, my mistakes, my flaws 

someone who can take care of me ... and my son ... he needs to accept that my son will be a part of our life ... a LARGE part 

someone who is LOYAL and FAITHFUL ... a one woman  man ... I know they are rare but I demand for someone like that ... 

someone understanding and not insanely jealous ... someone I can trust and who will trust me

someone who has courage and confidence in himself. 

someone who knows how to make money and how to keep it. 

someone whom I can talk to for hours and not be bored ... about life, love, lessons, music, movies, books, plays. 

someone who will laugh with me, not at me

someone who hugs a lot and is romantic and can surprise me from time to time with sweet nothings

Physically ... I want someone at least 5 years older than I am ... at least 5'9 in height, good strong built, pleasant looking and with no smells please. Dimples would be nice. No beer belly.

There God ... I think I've been specific enough ...

And if he doesn't exist, then PLEASE .... PLEASE ... PLEASE .... do not let me fall in love again. 

AMEN.

we could have had it all ...

"The scars of your love remind me of us as they keep me thinking, we could have had it all."

I was talking to a friend last night who picked me up and took me home because he knew I needed to talk ... just talk about what was on my mind and this was one of those things that I talked about. I have that habit you see. When I'm agitated and have too many things on my mind, I tend to rant and ramble and this is one of those things I rambled about.

These are some of the love stories that ended before it even started; the ones that are worth remembering anyway.

C ... he was the music man ... we dated for 2 months and on the day before he was leaving for the US, he told me he loved me. He said he was in love with me. Thing is, he was going to be in the US for 3 months and I just didn't believe  in long distance relationships. I told him that if  his feelings for me are real, then he would make a way to communicate with me while he was in the US. This was the time that the internet was just starting to take off. 2 months passed and I heard nothing. I started dating others and he came back. He said that he wasn't able to send me anything because of this and that.

He was someone I connected with musically. He was a tortured soul and I wanted to take care of him. Unfortunately, that story ended before it could really begin.

JN ... he's an actor now. I met him at a workshop and we hit it off. He said he had a crush on me on the first day of the workshop and when we were partnered for the Love Exercises (one had to pose as if they were lovers) he had butterflies in his stomach.

We hanged out the entire summer and I was unaware that he was falling for me. He was supposed to ask my Mom for permission to court me (I was 17, he was 20 something) but apparently, my Mom got to him first and told him that she trusts him because he is like an older brother to me.

And with that ... our story ended before it could even begin.

It both ended before it even began.

Monday Affirmations # 10

It has been quite a while since I made one of these and I'm very happy to finally have the chance to make another one. Last night, I was feeling a bit morose because I suddenly missed someone whom I know I shouldn't miss. I shouldn't miss this person because this person has chosen to stay out of my life and as one friend of mine said to me ...

Life is too short to stress yourself with people who doesn't even deserve to be an issue in your life.

I really liked this quote. It reminds me that I should focus on things and people who DO matter ... and not waste my time on those who couldn't be bothered.

And so today ...

And always remember that ...

Lastly, today I choose to let go of any hate that I am feeling nor any bitterness. I am still not open to falling in love or building the  bridges that have been burned but I am no longer hating.

munimuni # 68

It's been a crazy 3 weeks. The last time I had a post like this, it was almost a month ago and life as I knew it was slightly different from what I know of it now. Let's just say that in such a short time, a lot has happened.

I said on the last entry that I will go out less and spend more time at home. I said that I will choose who I go out with and it won't be with just anyone ... it will have to be with someone. I can say that I have stayed true to my word.

I have spent less time with other people and more time with my family and work friends. I have fewer posts about activities and more about moments and memories. I have less connections with others and more connections with me.

Save for a heartbreak that happened, I can say that I am indeed more at peace with myself. I may have lost another group that was dear to me and whom I have been with for over a year but I've come to realize that EVERYTHING happens for a reason.

This week's munimuni, I focus on the fact that I am more connected to my son and this is proven with my son telling me earlier today, "Mommy, I like it when you cook for me, read for me, bathe me, and watch DVD's with me."

And with that, I am all good. I may have had my heart broken but it will never fall apart.

book donation ...

Today,  I received good news. It seems I will be adopting a handful of books from someone in our book club. Yey!

proud to be a volunteer ...

It was meant to happen. Amidst the warnings of another typhoon hitting the city, I woke up to a slightly chilly but otherwise wonderful weather. There was not a single drop of rain and everthing seemed to be going according to plan.

Upon arrival at the office, one could feel the repressed excitement that people were feeling. There were smiles all over and people seemed more friendly and absolutely patient with one another. The buzz couldn't be contained and everyone was just petty stoked to be giving back.

Yes, today was all about giving back. Citibank has been so blessed that it is but natural that we give back in any way we can and this time around, we decided to give back by beautifying one of our country's historical places in the hopes of making it a tourist destination.

This year, we participated in the National Outreach Program and partnered with Gawad Kalinga to clean and paint a part of Intramuros. What made this all the more special is that it wasn't just us who helped out but a whole lot of other schools and corporations. It showed that Citibank is indeed a global company who does not just operate everywhere in the world but proves that we can work with others to achieve one goal.

There were 700 strong from Citiphone who joined in cleaning and painting the posts in the Del Pan area of Intramuros. It wasn't just employees but some family members too. It just goes to show that we go beyond the workplace in our endeavor to influence in social responsibility.

There were around 75 posts assigned to CBPS and we managed to clean every single one and paint the posts from the neglected state it was in to a sparkling and refreshing white. It took teamwork and cooperation which we had plenty of. It also took a lot of helping hand amongst the different groups because we needed to share information and resources to help each other out.

Truly, this day was all about community. It was not about you, it was not about me, it was not about us, nor them or we ... it was about us becoming one community to make everything work for OUR community.

Today and in the coming days, I am proud to be a Citi Volunteer.