In the Belly of the Whale

This would have to be the loooooooooonggggggggest two months of my life! Para akong nasa tiyan ng balyena. Cf the story of Jonah, di sya pumunta sa Nineveh where God wanted him to go, he went somewhere else, so kinain sya ng balyena! Niluwa sya papunta dun sa Nineveh na mismo, when he realized what God wanted him to do and where He wanted him to go. This book, Everything Belongs, by Fr Richard Rohr says that these days we don't have to literally be in the belly of the whale but the times when we have to reflect, meditate, contemplate are like times spent in the belly of the whale. Haha, there's hope for me yet. I keep the faith!

Birthday!

Tomorrow, 22 Nov will be my 32nd birthday. I don't know how I'm going to celebrate that day, I am just looking forward to it! One year wiser, as they say...

Earlier today, I received advanced birthday wishes from Corrinne, one of our former alumnas who's now living it up in Tibet! It was very sweet of her to greet me in advance since she said she'll be on the road in the next few days and she didn't want to miss it! Enjoy Tibet and China as much as you can, girl!!!

The Dutch have a very interesting way to greet you on your birthday. 'Cause the wishes are not just for the celebrant (jarig/-e) but it extends to the family members as well. They say "Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!" (Congratulations on your birthday). I suddenly miss my very good Dutch friends. Hoe gaat het met jullie? Hehe..tot ziens! Soon it will be time for Sinterklaas, their version of Christmas. But they still do celebrate Christmas: in fact two days, on the 25th and the 26th of December. I miss the snow... :-)

Love...

Love is energy and is the greatest power, [the most powerful force] in the universe...

"When you love, do not say that 'God is in my heart' but rather 'I am in the heart of God'. And think not that you can direct the course of love; because love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course" --Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

Someone once sang "Somewhere Down the Road" and "You" to me...

But to someone, I'd sing "Only One"

And to the love of my life, I'd gladly sing to you, "Ikaw" and "Ngayon at Kailanman"

Q: Ano yung expat?
A: Expatriate.
Q: Ano yung expatriate?
A: Hmph! [ex-outside, patria-home country] so someone who is outside his home country!

"They say if you love someone, then set them free,
If they come back again, then in the end, it was meant to be"

Love will lead you back indeed!

Hobbies

I have this friend who likes photography and mountain climbing. Di ko yata masakyan! My other friend likes to run, on the other hand. He's gone to places just to run marathons. He also likes to go around w/ his motorbike. Once he had an accident w/ it, he broke some ribs, I think. The he sent me a Christmas greeting for 2005 featuring his motorbike by the roadside in winter. I think that was for the Sweden/Norway trip. Hahay, people and their hobbies! :-)

Once this friend in NUS was asked if he plays basketball. He said "I watch." Hahay, makabuang. Kalooy! I love guys who play basketball of course. I'm into sports: event watching, not necessarily playing those sports. Like basketball, tennis, badminton, billiards, you name it.

Accidents

I am quite accident-prone. Kadaghan na jud tawn ko naaksidente. Here in Cebu, nagisi ako kilay (right) on 4 Nov 2004 then in Sing, naigo pud ako left shin sa kanal didto sa Bedok on 9 Dec 05. When I was in elementary, kadaghan na pud ko naaksidente. Hahay, ingat lang jud!