Eleventh: Canvass

Whenever my mom is in town, it is without fail that we visit Sibonga, located in the southern part of the Cebu province. My mom, most especially, is a staunch supporter and believer of the miraculous deeds of our Virgin Mary of Simala. During most of our visits to the Lady, I am always the one driving. My FAVORITE part is looking at the heavens, struck with awe at the clouds' formation. If only I could stare at them for the rest of our trip. Mama would always reprimand me for staring too long as this could lead to an accident. Guilty as charged! Clouds, you always take my breath away! And, I mean always! :)

The Monastery of the Holy Eucharist, for all the Marian devotees.

No place is too far for a miracle and reaffirmation of one's faith.

                      

Below are some other shots of cloud formation that I've taken.

The color combination is amazing! This was taken around 5:30 PM.

His unobstructed view...

This does not really give justice to what I've seen...

It's like a canvass of different colors...

Tenth: A letter to my best friend

Midnight comes and I say a happy happy birthday to one of my best friends, Anne Grace.

I call her Labs, and that's what she'll always be. We go a long way and it wasn't always a smooth ride. But for most things, Anne is a great friend. Period. No gray areas. When we were in our freshman year, she would always call me to sit beside her. I hardly talked to anyone, seeing as I just transferred to a new section, but she made things a little comfortable for me. That's just ONE of the MANY things Anne has done for me.

Fast forward to our sophomore year, we were already starting to be comfortable with each other. We were seatmates for most of our classes. I remember her coming very early for our major class and she'd shout my name for coming a little later. We studied together and threw questions at each other. I cannot really remember how we became very close, but it was that fateful day when she cried and came to me for help and comfort. That was the start. It broke my heart that some people would actually want to hurt her. (Closed book)

From then and now, we were inseparable. We eyed for the same guy and started scribbling his name on a number of the blank pages in our notes. We used to eat together. If she decides to skip our fifteen-minute break, I'd do the same thing (vice versa). We also shared the same ideas on most issues. We text nonstop. We were giddy when we knew we're going to be dutymates. I could go on, but I'd stop here. 

We've also had our fair share of misunderstandings, as most friends do. Little did I know that the lack of time for each other and inconstancy would take a toll on our friendship. I've unintentionally and unknowingly hurt her several times with my actions. I make amends and try not to do the same things again. Whenever disagreement happens, I hold on to the faith in our friendship that it shall also pass. What we have and had and how we are and were can NEVER EVER be defined and equated with some mere tiffs. 

As she turns a year younger today, I would just like to tell her that I am very thankful to have her in my life. She is a lifesaver, a sunshine and a blessing. Let it be known that she is loved and liked by many-- her family, friends, and acquaintances among others. She deserves every good things that are coming her way. 

So bask under the sun, frolic in the sand, eat a hearty meal, laugh a good resounding laugh, belt a few tunes, and be merry for you RIGHTFULLY deserve all these! Happy happy birthday and I love you so much! <3

Fog + heavy rain

“Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there”

Anne was able to capture 'discreetly' a number of shots of cute men! Always a highlight! :)

Ninth: Spare time

My last post was a hurried one. I felt I had to share shots that boast the beauty of the clouds. That was five days ago. I've never really had the time to write because my schedule doesn't permit me to do so. I've been trying to sleep early in the hopes of not falling asleep in the middle of our long nursing-and-patient-related discussions.

Today, I have all the time to write, browse the web, send e-mails, and the like. This doesn't happen all the time, so I'm putting to good use my non-working days.

What has happened:

So, yes, it was the Heart's Day last Monday. Every couple I know were gushing and happily talking about their plans for the evening. Every people on the street were either hopping from one place to the other with huge bouquet (others had a single long-stemmed rose) in tow or bearing irritated faces because the traffic was heavy.

I always have dinner with my sisters and nephew during this time of the year. My sister's boyfriend, along with his friends, serenaded her with Bruno Mar's Just The Way You Are (if my memory serves me right). Our balcony was lit by a single fluorescent bulb so it was a very conducive place for a mushy surprise, with candles from the cake also doing the trick. I think it was a sweet gesture. I know one doesn't need a special occasion to do this but just this one time, let's not be cynical.

I also had my much-anticipated dinner with my college friends. We met right after work. I'm thankful most of the girls came in early. I was forced to still not call it a night by 9 PM. They had other plan and I was part of it. To cut the story short, I went home past midnight. It's late for someone who still has to wake up early for work the next day. I didn't regret any of it because we hardly see each other. :)

All other days this week and the last were all about going to the hospital early and then going home beyond the time we were supposed to. Yes, I complain and rant because it takes a great effort to drag myself out of the bed BUT I realized it's an even greater effort for the lecturers. All we did were sat and listened, while they did all the talking and standing. I take all my complaints back.

Seven: Without worry.

Days like this, I roll over my bed after a two-hour-or-so afternoon sleep and think how blessed I am for such rare occurrences. Since Monday this week, I've never had the chance to sleep, play with my nephew, watch DVD series, browse the web, and laze around as often and as much as I'd like to. Yesterday and today are exceptions for reasons I do not wish to know. One of the premier hospitals in the region (and nation, if I may rightfully conclude) just hired me as its staff nurse. Of course, responsibilities come with the title. It also means less time for stuff I used to do without worry of time restriction.

I try to comfort myself that everything will work out just fine, for as long as I hold onto the passion that will keep me moving forward. Being a nurse is not the most amusing job, but it comes so close to the line of SELF-FULFILLMENT. It takes a lot of patience, dedication, and strong-will. You have to be firm enough to not cave in into the pressure of settling for complacency and worse, quitting. I tend to be complacent to the things I do especially when laziness gets the better off me. That's something I'm not proud of but I always fight the urge to be one. It may take time but I will get there and it's sure as hell not going to cost me my job. 

In line with my job, I also don't get why a number of people could be so apathetic or indifferent towards the plight of others. They, if not all, are usually the ones who deal with lives or people. How could a fellow nurse just stand there pretending deaf to the calls of woe of a patient? How could a doctor not lower his fees a notch for a patient who has basically nothing? How could a non-organization worker pocket the money reserved for marginal recipients? All these things and a whole lot others seriously bother me. I am not saying I am not guilty of this CRIME (Yes, it's a crime. How else do you classify this?!). Yet I'd like to thing I was rather than I am. With every single minute that passes by, I fight the urge to be one. I am so much blessed with more and too hoard it all to myself is pure selfishness and disgust.         

To make things light, I look forward to a lot of things, especially this weekend. And even if hospital orientation takes the biggest bulk of my time, that's something I'm grateful for. So hello to dinner with great college friends. :)

Eight: Cotton

I love taking pictures of the clouds wherever I may be. Below are shots I took from my room and just outside the balcony. God is the greatest artist!! :)

Look what we've got here!

I bet my life heaven is as lovely as this.

Such a pretty pretty sight!!! :">

Sweep. Swoon. Serene.

Dusk.

Six: Kung Hei Fat Choi, indeed.

Today has been very wonderful. A lot of beautiful things happened. 

First, a good news has arrived! I'm officially off the unemployment bandwagon. 

Second, my parents are coming for a visit over the weekend. Telephone calls won't suffice.

Third (and as always), my adorable and funny nephew tells me I'm his favorite tita. He says this in between favors of making him an apple shake and giving him his daily fix of chewy gummy bears. Ah, this is life! <3

Fourth, my best friend, Kimy, and our good friend Lap, will soon be employed as well. Wow! But wait, there's more.

Fifth, my Mama and I talked for two hours straight (of course, with TP). I wished it could have been longer. I find it refreshing and fun when I talk with my mom. She's my staunch supporter and friend. I tell her just about anything without fear of retribution or embarrassment.

Did the Chinese feng shui experts just tell me that my birth sign, the Rabbit, is unlucky? I can always turn my luck. And all these prove them otherwise.

Thank you Lord! I can always count on you. :)

Five: Just because he's adorable.

I love it when he makes this face! :"> 

Why hello there!

Oh, he's adorable, without even tying! :-D

With his tita Aina, who deliberately bribes him with gooey gummy bears to win his affection. She's good, hah! :p