Daily Happy Thoughts

Last Saturday, as I watched my brother Andrew go through the pre-departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3), I couldn’t help but feel a little a little heavy, especially since considering the present crossroads that I am in this point in my life. Although it was but a trip from Manila to Dumaguete, the meaning was not lost on me as I pondered on the career decision that is before me.

As he made his way inside, some part of me was hoping he’d throw a backward glance my way just to tell me, wordlessly, that everything would be okay. Then I remembered how Ray must have felt as he was leaving for Dubai. Then I felt my chest get even heavier.

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Just got back to Manila a few minutes ago aboard a Philippine Airlines flight. That was the first time I was able to travel on board one of their larger jets. By larger, I mean the fact that there was a center aisle that seats 4 people, while there were 2 seats on both the left and right sides. I guess those jets are used for international flights.

Anyway, after the brief trip to Davao and Kidapawan, I was able to bring with me a box of my now favorite Durian fruit, which Davao City is very well known for. It was a photo finish check in again at the airport for me (as usual) since the the trip from Kidapawan to Davao took longer than usual due to the traffic.

I was not able to meet up with my in-laws due to the very tight schedule. I do hope next time my schedule would be a lot flexible so that I can spend time with them also.

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My brother Andrew will be leaving for the US come March of next year, courtesy of a study and work program in the USA wherein local universities in the Philippines are partnering with Hotels and Restaurants in the USA to invite on-the-job trainees to come work for them on a limited engagement. In a way, this will be an opportunity for students to be exposed to a different culture oceans apart, as well as a glimpse into the real world out there.

Personally, I do hope my brother is equipped to hurdle life’s challenges on his own in the big world out there that is America. One thing I am sure of, he will be missing home cooking while he will be out there.

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For a long time already, Borski and I kept on convincing my brother Ray who is in Dubai to create a Facebook account. He told us that Facebook was restricted on his internet service provider. I don’t know about restrictions like that on the culture that they have out there, but just recently, I learned the real reason why Ray didn’t create a Facebook account was because he didn’t know the workings of Facebook.

Well, if you were someone more used to the simpler system of Friendster, then you would be intimidated at the seemingly endless applications of Facebook. Anyway, I am just glad that we have yet another avenue to get in touch with on the web.

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Ever since my brother had left for Dubai, he has been ringing up the numbers in his fonebook, usually during dawn. All our badminton buddies have been asking me last night if I knew the number that kept appearing in their missed calls list usually during dawn time. LoL.

Between the Philippines and Dubai, there is a 4-hour differential between the time zones, with the Philippines being ahead by 4 hours. His missed calls usually are at 2AM, and I am thinking that this is usually the time he gets home from work. Whenever I’d still be awake, I make sure to text his roaming Smart number. I guess it is his way of coping with loneliness out there in the desert. I hope he can get a laptop soon, so that we can talk more on Skype.

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Speaking of the economic crunch, I came across a badminton buddy of ours while I was travelling home to Dumaguete last Saturday and from him I learned that the economic crisis was very much being felt in Cebu with thousands of people losing their jobs and many companies closing shop.

I admit I was quite oblivious to the whole situation thinking that what I heard on the news was more of the goings on in the international market, and that it was not that felt here. Boy was I wrong. Thinking of this, it made me think and be thankful that I still have a job. Thank you Lord.

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Today marks the beginning of our second year of sharing with you our thoughts on just about anything and everything under the sun  (dance).

Persistence is the key!

I never thought dailyhappythoughts would survive in a year. More often than not, there were instances where the posts were hard to come by. ICU days (sigh).  Fortunately, as might be expected, new experiences and motivations from “my person” who always prods me to write at least one post in a day bring me back into blogging existence. That, coupled with the unconscious desire to have a medium to express one’s self, brought us to day 1 of 2009!

The official confirmation of our successful hosting renewal was received thru SMS at exactly 4 minutes past 2 o’clock in the afternoon of this day, the deadline. Indeed, ours was a photo finish renewal!  Something good came out of it because we transferred funds in excess of $10.78.  Sweet!   The extra would have to go to a simple get-together family dinner for DadMa, Kuya Ace and Lyn, Kuya Jun and Ate Tere; and CT’s french fries!

Ian and I would like to thank Kuya Jun for assisting us in renewing our hosting account. Thanks, Ya!

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In a few minutes, we will be saying goodbye to 2008 and welcoming in 2009.

Borski and I are in Davao for the New Year celebrations. The mood is pretty festive despite the fact that the usual fireworks/firecrackers are banned in this part of the country. The table is already set. I have just taken a bath…errrmm..my first one for the day..LoL..as we have been taking it pretty lax today and just taking time to enjoy our free time. Anyway, Borski and I will be greeting the new year smelling baby fresh!

A while back this afternoon, we had marathon movie sessions on Borski’s bro’s new entertainment showcase (read about it here). We even whipped out cups of Ube Supreme ice cream to go with it. So much for throwing my diet out the window..hehe..

Happy New Year to all of you guys! It’s 11:53 p.m. on my watch now..7 minutes short for 2009!

God bless you guys!

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A tribute to all the mothers:

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you’ve had a baby…somebody doesn’t know that once you’re a mother, “normal” is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct…somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring…somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver’s permit.

Somebody said if you’re a “good” mother, your child will “turn out good”…somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said “good” mothers never raise their voices…somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball (or any ball) through the neighbor’s kitchen window.

Somebody said you don’t need an education to be a mother…somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can’t love the second child as much as you love the first…somebody doesn’t have two children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books…somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose or in his ears.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labour and delivery…somebody never watched her “baby” get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten or on a plane headed for military “boot camp.”

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back…somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married…somebody doesn’t know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother’s heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother’s job is done when her last child leaves home…somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don’t need to tell her…somebody isn’t a mother.

Today, as I did, hug your mother, tell her “I love you” and “Thank you”. Treat her with a meal she likes or call her if you’re not anywhere near her geographically. Greet all the “mothers” in your life (whether you call her “Mommy”, “Mom”, “Eomeoni”, “Mama”, “Imma”, “Mamang”, “Inang”) and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn’t just about being a mother; it’s about appreciating the people in your life while you have them….no matter who that person is.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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