Chances Are...

Life is too short, so as the cliche goes. Too short to not take advantage of the opportunities that come our way, the chances that we stumble upon along our paths. So many opportunities in few moments of time. Opportunity to be appreciated, to give love & be loved, opportunity to enjoy life, to have a pet cat, opportunity to get a good job, to have a new house, opportunity to have friends. We can go on & on with a list of all the opportunities that have & may still come our way. But, the reality remains the same. Whatever changes we want to happen in our lives depend on the chances we take or we don't take. We may either be thankful later or cursing at the end. The important thing is that we learn to decide on our own and accept whatever consequences our decision leads us to. Hey, Life is full of surprises. We don't really know what's right beyond the bend. I guess it's better not knowing what's ahead of us, otherwise, there is no use of reading though a book if we already know its ending. No thrill, no excitement. So, if these chances come your way, think hard. Contemplate. Don't jump on too soon, nor too late. The next Chapter of your life & how it goes will depend on it.

Life is a journey. Enjoy every minute of it.

Just something to ponder on.

Gimikz...

For us working & living in a place where there are so many restrictions & rules that limits our capability to enjoy & unwind in ways we are used to, we still, somehow, find other means to take the heat off our heads. No cinemas, no bars, liquors are banned, can not easily go out w/ a mixture of friends and restaurants are closed at 12 noon. For the locals, this is an ideal world for them. For us, it's one hell of a world we have to get used to. And so far, we are doing good. With these restrictions, we have to find other ways to get out & release the stresses we bear inside. I have several friends here, and when I say "friends", I mean those who have gained my trust, and we usually go out and play basketball twice a week, in the evening, or go fishing and raid the beach every weekends or just simply go out for dinner. Pizza Hut, Applebees, Chili's, Pizza Company to name a few. Well, there are also McDo, KFC, Hardees, Herfy's and several others more. Whatever the place may be, the important thing is the feeling you get with every laugh & every smile shared with them. All the jokes and the teasing, as well as the rumors, incomparable. The laughter & smiles are real. Enough to forget the exhausting & tiring day we had earlier. In a society like this, you need all the things that you can have and do whatever you can just to "stay alive". For me, living miles away from my family, one of the important things I possess and helps me pull through, everyday, are my wacky but dependable friends. I don't think I have any other choice but to stick w/ them. Heheheh. With that, let me introduce..."The Dabarkadz"...wehhh...

Sa Jollibee...

Ever since I was a small child and have opened up my mind in welcoming new things in life, there are a lot of places that became part of me while growing up. Some of them have been forgotten but most remain. Especially those places where we used to go to before these Megamalls of SM & Enchanted Kingdom showed up. I can still remember how my eyes glowed whenever I heard my mom talked about going to C.O.D. or Fiesta Carnival in Cubao. Or going to Luneta Park & CCP along Roxas Boulevard, passing by Star City for an evening of fun & rides. But there is one place that has not been affected by the change of time, stood its tests and had brought smile to me, and is bringing that same smile to my kids, just by the mere mention of it. "...Sa Jollibee., sigurado kang sa Jollibee?!!.." A famous line from a famous commercial of this Fastfood Chain that has become part of our lives. Jollibee. "Sa'n nyo gustong kumain pagkatapos magsimba?", I asked my two daughters. "Gusto nyo sa Chowking?". "Ayoko ko po dun", answered tin, my sosyal-but-friendly eldest. "Sa Jollibee na lang po!" followed tel, my naughty-but-sweet daughter. So, we went immediately to the only branch we have in Gumaca & spent couple of hours sinking our teeth to the crunchy and juicy Chickenjoy and the sweet Jolly Spaghetti. Yum!. This is the Video I took from one of our visits to the ever infamous Jollibee. I am sure we all have our own stories how this Red-colored Filipino Fastfood Chain, having a red Bee as a mascot, has brought smiles to our children's faces and ours too. Who could forget Jollibee, Mr. Yum, Popo, Ms. Chickie, Hetty, Lady Moo and...care to add more? They have been and will always be part of our lives. A part of the little child in each of us..."I love you Sabado, kahit buong linggo!!!"

Hail to the Purple & Gold!!!

I woke up 3:30 early this morning. I reached for my touch phone & with one eye shut, I clicked on the Web option. I wanted to know the status of Game 5 of the NBA finals @ the Amway Arena in Orlando. As the webpage of Yahoo Sports slowly showed up on the screen, I had a feeling already that the Series will be over very soon. L.A. will take this one. So I clicked "Sports" and then "NBA". 6:48 remaining in the first quarter and the Magic was up 7 or 8 points, I could not clearly recall. I thought "nah, it's only the first period, a lot of things can still happen. The Lakers will thread the needle & end up victorious". So, with my eyes half open, I exited the page and went back to sleep. I again woke up around 6. This should be it. This is the right time to confirm my belief. I went on the Web again and alas!; The article read : "Lakers close out Magic for 15th Title".

The score was 99-86. The Lakers got their 15th NBA Title. Yahooooo!!!!!!!! Finally, it was over. Whew!!! No Game 6. Orlando is never going back to L.A. and try to tie the series. IT IS OVER. After a year of following their every game, checking the Sports page every morning on my desktop, after every YouTube video of the Lakers' games, it finally has been done. Mission Accomplished for the hardcourt soldiers of the purple & gold, led by the redeemed black mamba, the best closer in basketball, No. 24, Kobe Bryant. This is his 4th Title overall and the 1st one without Big Daddy Shaq. Everything finally paid off. At last, Kobe got out of the shadow of No. 34. This One is rightfully his. Now it is time for a celebration. Congratulations to all the Lakers fans! Kobe & the gang made sure that this one will not get away. It did not. This will be one for the record books, the cherry on top of the icing on the cake. The disappointment of last year's NBA Finals was put to rest. Redemption. Sweet. Kuddos!!!

The Beginning...

Everything starts from something. All things could not have begun from nothing. An explosion of biblical proportion gave birth to the universe, so as the great physicians before us concluded through time. Man came from dust, formed in His likeness and was given the breath of life. A flesh from his side was taken and from it was created a Woman. An individual who will be man's eternal partner and the recipient of his lasting affection.



The birth of a baby begins from a fertilized egg inside the womb of a mother, nurtured for nine months before coming into this world to bring joy and happiness to loving parents. A seed is planted and grows to become sequoias and redwoods. Pollens are carried and spread out by bees which starts the birth of a beautiful flower.



Who would think that an odd-looking, hairy, worm-like creature, contains itself in its own woven silk and emerge as a colorful butterfly after time. A simple feeling of wanting, caring and understanding eventually grows into a more complex affection. An intense feeling that can move mountains and part the seas. A feeling commonly known as...love.

And so it begins.....