Live for Love: January 2012

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Remembering Lolo Gerry

LOLO and the little ME

At five years old my mornings were greeted with AM radio station and with the sound of you scrubbing the floor with your bunot (coconut husk used for polishing wooden floors). I have known you as the BOSS of your barbershop. Your senior citizen barkadas were starting to arrive by 8 am for your daily dose of men's chikahan. You were always wearing your white v-neck Crispa shirt and goes for a ride on your red vintage bike for your morning exercise. You dropped me and picked me up at school everyday. Asked me to take a nap at 1 pm after lunch. In the afternoon, you let me play in front of the shop with my playmates. At 6 in the evening we go home and have supper. We have two TV's one was colored and the other one was black and white. You loved watching PBA basketball but I used to cry because I wanted to watch my kiddie shows in the colored TV so you ended up watching at the old black and white TV. I believed that at five I was the boss being your first apo (grandchild). Every night I slept in the middle between you and Lola. My childhood was indeed PERFECT and it's because of you and Lola Ely.

My cousin Paolo with Lolo

Lolo, I miss you terribly! I miss your unending stories of Japanese era! I know that when I was 23, you asked me when I am getting married because you want to see your great grandchild from me and I could still remember what you said, "Siguro pagkatapos 'nun pagnakita ko na yung magiging anak mo pwede na akong mamatay." (I think when I get to see your baby I can go.) When I got married I was thinking of you because I was so sure that you're going to be the most excited one.

My cousin May with LOLO

My cousin Nadine with Lola Ely and Lolo Gerry

We have many reasons to miss you, your music, your sweetness and your love... You were a great man, a great father, a loving husband, and a sweet grandfather. But most of all, for each one of us you're an ANGEL who filled our lives with wonderful memories. WE LOVE YOU LOLO!

Lolo and Lola's priceless treasure...US!

From my father's blog about Lolo
http://superlolongpinoy.wordpress.com/?s=iskilar

Friday 27 January 2012

How to be HAPPY

This morning I had a lunch date with Diana, one of my few good friends here in Singapore. She treated me with a sumptuous meal that I never tasted before, a bowl of Fried wanton noodle! So good that I will definitely eat it again.

Changi City Point Mall, Singapore

Fried wonton noodles

Ice Lemon Tea

Then we shared a bunch of stories, she laughed so hard while I narrated my long funny love story with my husband. Honestly it sounds hilarious now but during that time I literally cried a bucket to fight for our relationship and sometimes we both still wonder how we managed to overcome everything! Praise God for blessing us a wonderful marriage!

We did a little shopping then we went home then I received a text message that gave me a moment to say, "awwww" and may I quote what Diana said, “I think you can write in your blog about you being a positive person and what comes to your mind because your energy is captivating and can help others to have a positive outlook in life."

And so here I am trying to share that energy though I’m not so sure how to put it in words. Well, let me start with, I LOVE MY LIFE! Every morning I wake up with a smile on my face for the very reason that I know I’m alive and I have another day to live. We know that not everyone is lucky to wake up in the morning. This may sound a simple reason but it gives me a great feeling! Another morning means I have another day, another chance with my husband, with my family and friends. I can do a lot of things and I can start it off with a cup of coffee!

THANK YOU LORD FOR THE BLESSINGS! After breakfast I stop for awhile right after I checked my twitter account, facebook, and instagram’s likes and messages. I allot a couple of minutes to think about what I have right now, like a wonderful husband who kisses me and greets me, "Good Morning Sweetheart!" And that is every single morning! Then I remember my mom’s last days she said knowing that it could be your last day makes you more appreciative of what is around you and I practice this every day. I look outside seeing not only a sky but a clear blue sky with a radiant shinning sun!

Parking Lot at Expo Singapore

I look at the flowers not just flowers but how colorful and how beautiful the flowers are! I breathe and I imagine every organ of my body is functioning well! Enough reasons to smile and look forward to what this day may bring. GOD is so wonderful for giving us an amazing world to live in.

Lastly, I SHARE LOVE by saying I LOVE YOU! I say it countless times to my husband and whenever I have a chance to talk to my Tatay (dad), my sisters, my grandma, everyone! I just want them to know how I feel. I remember my mom saying that when you know that you are dying you will do everything to make up for the lost times and regret the times you didn’t even utter the words “I Love You.” I am sure that I don’t want to regret it someday but nevertheless make every moment counts. Just like in my favorite movie, MY BESTFRIEND’s WEDDING, “If you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise the moment just passes you by.” Saying I love you isn’t hard to do let it out and you will feel every thing will turn positive.

Orchard Central, Singapore

Life isn’t perfect but it is in our hands to make things right for us. Let go of the NEGATIVE feelings by not pushing it away but by filling your heart with the POSITIVE ones like happiness and love through good memories. Don’t chase what you don’t have or can’t have it will just frustrates you rather cherish what’s infront of you. ASK GOD and CLAIM that in HIS own time if its really yours the answers will come, but if not something far better than you expect is going to happen in your life.

It is like a two-way street LEFT and RIGHT,

just like POSITIVE and NEGATIVE

now take your pick which way you want.

I am sharing this because I’ve been there…darkest, lowest, loneliest, moment of my life but God is real He never left me but I AM TELLING YOU, HE rearranged my life far better than what I have imagined my life to be. LIVE LIFE through your personal HAPPINESS, THANKSGIVING, and LOVE!

I took all the pictures this morning using my Iphone4S,
except our Prenup photo (by Eric Tan)

Location: Changi City Point Mall, and around Expo

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Missing my second home, PINOLE

The City of Pinole is a community of approximately 19,573 residents situated in Western Contra Costa County on the east side of San Francisco Bay, California. Pinole is approximately 30 miles northeast of San Francisco and 20 miles north of Oakland along Interstate Highway 80. In addition to the natural setting, Pinole is noted for its architectural heritage and historic past and for me its as simple as HOME...

Where you can Pinole

An old photo of Pinole taken approx 100 years ago

As a new immigrant in a foreign land I thought I was going to have a hard time adjusting to a new home, new environment and a new culture. But in a short period of time it surprised me that this small quiet city not only unfolded its natural beauty but introduced to me their people, naturally warm, cheerful, and friendly.

Welcome to Old Town Pinole

St. Joseph Church

Tennent Avenue, Pinole

Home sweet Home

The view from the veranda (left side)

Another view from the veranda (front side)

Our neighbor's healthy and well loved trees

I had a hard time leaving my life behind in the Philippines and it was bitter sweet that I felt when I left Pinole and moved here in Singapore to be with my husband. I guess I fell in love with my second home and I miss my friends who took us in as part of their families. Pinole, of course I will be home soon but for now let me cherish you through these photos I took the last time I was in your arms.

My Lola's (grandma) beautiful garden

Lunch at my uncle's house

And I miss this little Misty the cute spoiled naughty indoor cat.

What word did I miss?

Another Lunch time at my uncle's house I miss this terribly

Old house at Fernandez Park

Trail where we jog or do walking in the afternoon

The very old Railway maybe 100 years old

A very nice historical site, makes me wonder how the train before looks like

Made of huge hard wood sometimes I wonder how they assembled it

piece by piece

Cold water but this bird needs an afternoon bath

The creek that leads to the open bay

That white fence is the new railway and at the back of those trees is the bay

The sun is setting and the view becomes more inviting

Going back to the trail

One last look at the creek, calm and very relaxing to look at

This is at the back of St. Joseph Church

On our way home

I love this house looks cozy

Another trail on our way home but this one is shorter

Yes it is a big STOP

This is 9:00 in the evening during summertime

The pictures that reminds me of what HOME looks like. I miss all of you and I'll be seeing you soon!

To know more about Pinole, California visit
http://www.ci.pinole.ca.us/about/history_summary.html

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Photo Walk Day

I could say my husband and I love photographs, maybe a little more of ourselves sometimes. But not for today, we were photographers wannabes exploring some places here in Singapore where my husband was never been before even after staying here for 3 years. While I already brought several friends here and they simply love the places. We don't have those big expensive cameras, not in our budget right now but we brought our little iPhones and we were enjoying those on the spot editing applications! We were like in a contest thinking of a great shot and right angle. It was so fun and we're definitely going to do it again!