Better late than never (A Father's Day Post)

Fathers are expected to earn for the family and to discipline the kids when they do seriously bad stuff (when it's worse than what mothers could handle). But, to us, you are more than that. You and Mama are our teachers. You teach us the lessons that we will never learn in school. Because of you, we are now ready to face life. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all the things you've taught us.

1. The importance of education. You never missed an opportunity to tell us how important studying hard is. Thank you for pushing us further and for supporting us whenever we wanted to take up something -- whether it's just a simple crash course or a graduate degree. Your line, "Ang mapapamana lang namin ng Mama niyo sa inyo na hinding-hindi makukuha ng ibang tao sa inyo ay ang pag-aaral." will forever be in my heart.

2. Laughter is the best medicine. All the people who know you would agree that you're a very funny person. You could make everyone in any occasion laugh heartily with your jokes. I know that even when things aren't going well, you always try to show us that you're okay. Thank you for being the strongest person I know.

3. The importance of rewards. Since we were kids, you always know how to boost our confidence and help us to do our best through your rewards. Regardless how big or small our achievement was, you never fail to acknowledge it. When I was diagnosed with ulcer in Grade 2, you made this chart which will track who ate their baon and not, and give rewards to those who do. I know you did this to push me to always eat mine (I must say, it was really effective). However, I don't remember getting any reward for this, well except, of course, my condition getting better.

4. Simple living. You taught us the difference between needs and wants, and how it is important that we should spend most of our money only on our needs. You remained simple despite the achievements you have done. You taught us that regardless how much we're earning, we should not waste it on temporary highs. I also remember how, whenever we ask you to buy something, we had to prove that it is a need and not just one of our silly wants. This is a lesson I will forever carry in me. Thank you because now, whenever I buy something, I always do a mental list of all the reasons why I need to buy it.

5. The importance of working hard. You have sacrificed a lot since you were a child. I remember your story on how you had to sell different stuff - from newspapers to ice drops, just to help your family and to sustain your schooling. Thank you for all those sacrifices you made. I know how blessed we are for not experiencing what you did. But, most of all, we are truly blessed to have you as a father.

Kuya, Ate, Papa and me :)

And, the list goes on. A lot of people contributed to who we are today. But, the biggest contribution will always come from you and mama. Thank you and happy father's day! We love you! :)

Happy mother's day!

More than the default thank you's, I would also like to thank you for being more than just a mother to us. You're also:

1. A great shopping buddy -- no one knows our size more than you do (even us!).
2. An effective spokesperson -- whenever we want to ask Papa to buy us something.
3. A frightening alarm clock -- your reverse psychology line, "Sige matulog ka nalang, wag ka na pumasok!" always wakes me up and makes me take a bath immediately.
4. A patient teacher -- for doing our assignments and projects when we were too sleepy to finish them.
5. A fun kwentuhan buddy -- though sometimes, when you're really sleepy, you can't help but fall asleep even when I'm still talking. Hahaha.

Hope you enjoyed our celebration today! I'm sure you like my gift because you chose that. :)

Rays of light.

Have you ever wanted something so much, but, the more you try to get it, the more it seems to elude you? It's frustrating, yet really humbling. At the end of the day, you'll just realize that maybe it really isn't meant for you. Maybe you're up for something better or greater. Yes, in a way, that sounded like I'm just comforting myself for the things that I can't get. But, that is my point. We can't always get what we want, or maybe we can't just get it on the exact time that we want it. 

I often use the Facebook application, God wants you to know. Sometimes, it's a good source of a cliche yet timely, inspiring and wise advice. Recently, what I got there said, "Chasing the things you want can make them move further away from you. Relax, and let events unfold in their own time instead." And, that's it. I realized that, for now, I should slow down, be less aggressive. Then, I felt happier and lighter. 

Now, let me take this opportunity to thank the people who had been with me during the times when I was so down because of the things that I should not even be worrying about:

1. Thank you for the videoke night out. It was great to let everything out through a song. Hahaha.
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2. Thank you and you for being my shopping buddies. I just discovered that this is actually an effective (though really costly) de-stresser.
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3. Thank you for sparing a few hours from your really busy schedule to have dinner with me and to just talk the night away. Wednesday night was real fun! Yes, including our encounter with "kuya" when we were desperately finding that spot where we could make a U-turn.
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4. Thank you for Skype-ing with me and just let me rant about what's happening here, even when you're busy in the lab. It was just like our old laboratory moments when I would just watch and talk while you're going about your experiments. Oh, how I miss that. Even if you didn't realize that I was ranting, I still thank you because you have no idea how much weight was gone from me when I got all that out.
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5. Thank you for being so patient whenever I call you for no reason, and you're still asleep. But, hey, who would know that you're still sleeping by 10am? Hahaha, just kidding. But, thank you, really, for taking the time to answer and listen even if you're just half-awake.
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6. Thank you for randomly asking how I am. I was surprised because you rarely do that, and I'm so touched. Thank you, too, for letting me tell you everything despite you being at work. I know reading my messages while talking with your students was a challenge. Lastly, thank you for randomly inviting me for lunch. I really appreciated that.
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7. Thank you for the fun catch-up and merienda. Also, I'm sorry for asking you to help me carry the drawers and coat hanger I purchased. I hope your arms did not ache as much as mine did.
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8. Thank you for agreeing to meet up with me. As always, I enjoyed your company and our risk-taking search for great food. Besides eating and chatting, it was also really fun to shop for your "paraphernalia". Hahaha. Have a great TBA!

A really big thank you! It is wonderful to know that there are people who will always be there for you especially when the going gets tough. People who will make time when you need them. People who will not wait for you to tell them what's happening, but rather ask you as soon as they notice that something's wrong. Yes, life can be a real bitch at times. But having these people makes everything seem bearable.

A Candle in the Dark

Thank you for being my source of light when everything else is dark and blurry. Thank you for lighting my way when I don't know where to go. Thank you for giving me courage when I'm so scared of what I couldn't see. Thank you for being there when no one else is. And, after all you've given me, I'm really sorry for being so selfish.

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As a side note, I took this photo last night when the electricity was cut due to the typhoon. I was so bored that I took my camera and started taking pictures in the dark. I didn't use the camera flash because I was scared that I may photograph something scary. Haha.

Birthday schmirthday

Thanks to all who greeted! <3

And, thank You for another year! :)