Identity Crisis

I think it was Luanne's bro who first said that I look like her. (Luanne since then found one of the biggest kicks she's ever had by calling me names like "viva hotdog" and taking stolen shots that are, errr, not for friendster.) I let them have their kicks and took it as that.
I got a bit curious when my officemates from convergys started saying the same thing. By the time I moved to another call center, the people there were telling me that too, that I look like her. Well, guess what? Here at my latest work, people keep on calling me "Ms. Andrea."

meg_upd: "Kamukha ko ba talaga siya?"
Chachie: "Oo. Hehe."
meg_upd: "Pareho lang naman kaming morena. Saka ng abs."
Chachie: "abs ka jan."
meg_upd: "ma google nga."
Chachie: "parang di mo siya kilala."
meg_upd: "pero tignan mo yung features niya, ibang iba"
Chachie: "kahawig mo nga. Di naman sinabing sakto eh."


So what the heck, you know, why don't you see for yourself and tell me if it's true





Haha, just for fun folks ;)

My Valentine Blog

Yes I didn’t have a date on Vday. I spent it with friends: lunch with Chachie, coffee in the evening with Ate Myla and Cha, and my Vday ended with fireworks, literally, at the UP fair. I went to the fair with my sis Jet, Row & hubby, and Joy & Robert. To see couples go lovey-dovey (I even saw a guy sweep a girl off her feet along the sidewalks of Makati Ave.), I will be lying if I say I was not affected with my status of errr, singleness. But I know I am learning vital things. Vital lessons of preparation, I would take it ;)
My Valentine devotions was about Ps. 139. And the Lord just validated my emotions…
We are created to be known
There is something in us that wants to be known, whether in a platonic way or even in a more intimate way than that. Sometimes we confide to our friends, spend time with one another, we write letters, or we blog.. we find a way or another for at least a piece of us to be known, as if there is a fear in us to die without any one ever really knowing who we were.

Take friendships for example. We invest in building relationships of confidence and find satisfaction when we and our best friends are able to finish each other’s sentences.

During a surge of hormones in our teenage years, when a sudden identity issue hits us and we find deep in us a fear of not knowing our own selves, we experience a great need for our parents to show us that they know us and understand us (unfortunately, we often end up accusing them with a scorching “you don’t understand me!”).

We need, and we want to be known. This explains the extra kilig when someone takes note of our favorite things and the tiny details about us. (And why I was euphoric when my crushie called me by my name ♥) This is why we can endure sleepless nights just to stay on the phone all night talking about anything and everything about us; why many find marathon chatting and texting worth the while.

This is why we yearn to be vulnerable, naked (not hiding anything), and intimate with one another: we want to be known.

In the Bible, the term “know” was used interchangeably with making love (And Adam Knew Eve and she conceived..).. Unfortunately, we sometimes peddle our hearts (thanks Chachie for that term) for cheap substitutes to fill this need to be known. What is more sad is that sometimes, the desire may be too painful that we try to pretend it's not there-- we build walls and we harden our hearts.

Ps 139 says:

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

We are created to yearn to be known because in reality, there IS One who knows us through and through. One who can not only finish our sentences, but knowa our thoughts even before we say anything. He knows us even more than we know ourselves, even.
And the best thing? He knows every single detail about us—our past, our present, and our future; the number of hair on our head; when we sit and when we rise; every thought in our head; every idiosyncrasy and peculiarity we have — He knows all this and yet he tells us that He loves everything about us.
And on this valentine’s day, what can be a better present for us than the very life of the Son of God, given willingly and lovingly to say, “Princess, I died, went to hell and back just to show you I love you.”

A belated Happy Valentines everyone!

Insights from Carriedo

To my great horror, my sister confirmed that I indeed need to go to Carriedo to pick up the NBI documents for my parents' immigration. Over tea and dumplings at North Park, my voice started to go high-pitched as it has the habit of doing when I panic.
What's the fuss, you say? #1. I have a terrible sense of direction, one for the records. My sister knows that so well that she really didn't think I was overreacting. #2 For my 9-year stay here in Metro Manila, I really only get around Quezon City, mostly in the very sheltered UP DIliman campus and areas around it. Makati has been very easy on me as well. I am not familiar AT ALL with Carriedo or Sta. Cruz Manila and #3, the horror of all horrors, my sis says you can't get a cab to Carriedo.

For the lazy and inadventerous, a taxi cab is the best solution. For a price, you can get to your destination without fussing with directions and sumo-wrestling in other forms of public transportation. Imagine my hysterics when I said, "Well if I can't find my way, I can always take a cab right?" She grinned sheepishly and said "Err there aren't a lot of cabs there really... but I remember seeing a Kalesa..."

In her most graphic attempt, my sis drew me a map complete with which direction the train should be going (because I once took a train going to the opposite direction). She also wrote a step-by-step how-to-get-there guide. Funny for you but it was a big giant for me. I had friends making sure I take care of my belongings, reminding me of all the "bad people" out there. One even quipped that maybe I should drop by Quiapo church to pray I don't get lost.

So there, with my heart beating so fast, I pulled up my hair, took-off unnecessary jewelry, packed my bag securely and got off work early. Clutching on my trusty map I ventured to my first ever LRT ride. My sister was checking on me through text every step of the way. Imagine my exhiliration when I got off at the (correct) station and saw the view of the busy streets of Sta Cruz from there. I realized it was really more than relief that I felt, victory perhaps, but also I felt alive. I felt like no matter how sheltered I felt I was, the Pinay in me would know how to find her way through the streets narrowed by sidewalk vendors and pedicabs; that she would know how to trust the good nature of her people to give her the right directions and even give her a good discount if she haggles for their goods (yes, I did get to buy a couple of stuff ;) ). For some reason, I felt at home.

To make the long story short, I was able to do what I needed to do, and I had a good time as well.

Reflecting on it, on my way home, I realized that my trip to Carriedo is much like our lives. We have dreams, visions and destinies to reach, but really, no one knows how to get there. Sadly some choose not to move forward because they are afraid of the unkown. Some try to take shortcuts or easy way outs as if we can take a taxi cab to our destiny.
But I am not of those who shrink back. I will trust the heart of my Father who surely wants me to get there and promised me prosperity and security. I will cling tightly to the Map he lovingly and laboriously prepared for me to get there. I will consult with God every step of the way. And I know, with the Spirit in me, I will find something inside of me that will recognize my destination; that deep inside I will know what I am created for, and in the end, my heart will recognize its home.

Have Yourself Some R&R this Valentine's Day

What is the R&R? Yes, it is in a sense Rest and Relaxation, especially that it will be held on a Friday night-- a perfect moment to reward yourself after a week-long's work. For DMI, R&R is the annual Romance and Rhythm dinner-dance-concert, well awaited for a errr number of reasons, but above all to celebrate Love. :)


What do you do at the R&R? It is all a post-valentine dinner concert is. Women in their prettiest, men suddenly all dashing. Candles and roses, a romantic dinner with live acoustic music in the background. What makes it different? Well, in between sets, you can expect an enlightening and insightful talk about love and relationships. You do not only go home with the fluttering butterflies in the stomach and giddy feelings but you can take with you something your mind and your spirit can chew on-- things that will matter in the end.

Who can go to the R&R? Absolutely everyone. Old and young. Married or single. May date or wala ;)

Happy heart's day everyone!

Pix I Picked out

Pix I picked out from Nesi's site...
Obviosuly because my face is here (and braso) hehe






These I took myself :)

Seeing Mommy Lina's single-toothed grin as she jumps up and down with glee, her fists thrown in the air because she got healed and set free is one picture during the Encounter that says it all for me. I'll do it all over again just to see that.


The gorgeous ates Myla and Mariz in a victory hug


my daughter worshipping the Lord


Paradise at the other side of the cross

kamay ng batang natutulog during service hehe

Bright and Shiny

Bright and Shiny. Meredith Grey used this phrase to refer to her almost-second life-- she almost drowned, she lived, she felt like she had a second shot to life ergo "bright and shiny." I think her bright and shiny self did not survive the succeeding episodes though.
Well I feel bright and shiny too. Not refurbished, not repaired. Brand New. Squeaky clean. Bright and Shiny. My old self tucked away, or should I say tacked away on the Cross. And this new one's not easily bullied by so-called reality. This IS reality.
What a new beginning 2008 truly is. ♥


Our group in last week's Women's Encounter-- indeed the best so far!