Celebrating Life

Last Friday, I flew back to Singapore just in time for my husband's birthday. I stayed in Manila for a month and being away from Juriz even for a short time filled my tummy with butterflies as soon as the plane touched down. Yes I was so excited to see him parang PBB teens lang hahaha! I even retouched my makeup before I headed to the immigration.

Yummy cake for the birthday celebrant

Birthday Boy, so excited to blow his candles

Well I guess the feeling was mutual upon seeing his post on FB, honestly let me say nakakakilig pa rin, even if we were married for more than 2 years and known each other for 19 years, hahaha puppy love or young love sweet love days. I love the look in his eyes as he saw me walking out the airport door and of course kissed me and hugged me tightly not minding the bunch of people around. After all these years he remained sweet and that made me fall in love with him over and over again...

Well please excuse me for being so cheesy. I just feel very blessed by God to have this man as my husband and best friend for life.

I got this Blue Mountain card from a small bookstore at Rob place in Manila. I want to share what the card says because those were the exact words that I wanted to tell him.

My Husband, You Are My Forever Love written by Linda Sackett-Morrison

Your friendship and love, and all of the wonderful things that they bring to my life, are like nothing else I’ve ever known. My heart is complete with the love we share, and our love grows more beautiful each day... As long as I have you, my husband, I have everything I need. Moments of success may come and go, and material things bring us momentary joy. But you are with me always... in a smile, a touch, a feeling, or a moment we share.

Friends enter our lives, sometimes only for a short time, but the friendship we share is deep and secure. Even if everyone else suddenly left me, I know that I’d still have you as my best friend.

We pass through different phases of life with all their changes and challenges, and one day turns into another. But through it all, our love is constant. You lend me strength when I need it most, and give me a precious gift each day by loving me just the way I am.

I don’t know how you do it, but in your own special way, you fill my life and heart with a wondrous joy that will always be present. You make my life complete, and I love you.

Of course with the cook, the happy wifey!

Sweetheart, thank you so much for the life, friendship, and marriage that we share. Looking at you in the morning and feeling all the love that you have for me makes me feel how God loves me for the gift of Life and Love.

With all his gifts

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I love you so much! God bless you always!

Sunday Mass

St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore

Inside the church, I looked on both sides slowly moved my eyes trying not to be noticed. I glanced at the back where I often see him standing...

Every Sunday for the past nine years of my life, I often catch myself glancing, trying to have a glimpse of his presence. He was a complete stranger then but I couldn't explained what pushed me to take a glimpse, a simple look on a person I barely knew.

My heart started to beat faster as I saw him from a far. His slim physique, dark brown eyes, and cheerful smile were enough reasons to complete my weekend.

As years went on, I had a chance to know him. He was really a nice person and as he became a special part of me I began to long for the weekend, a special time when I can be with him, have a chance to smile at him and even to talk to him.

During the mass, I asked God to bless him and to take care of him. I closed my eyes, smiled a bit and whispered, "God please make him notice me."

Another Sunday has come, familiar faces everywhere. I took a sign of the cross, bowed down, and whispered a short prayer.

I looked on both sides slowly moved my eyes trying not to be noticed. I glanced at the back where I often see him standing... The mass has ended, tears flowed out from my eyes because I knew right then I'll never see him again.

I wrote this in Feb 10, 2002 it was a Sunday. I made this for my husband who was still my boyfriend then. When you read the story I was like I'll never see him again. I just remembered he was just transferring to a new house in a different village. Young love, filled with fun romantic memories!

Love Notes

“Thank God it’s Friday.”

Then suddenly I remembered how my Fridays used to be during my college days. My day wouldn’t be complete without hearing his voice on the radio. Who? Well, it was the legendary love doctor, Joe D’ Mango of Love Notes which aired twice a day one in the morning at 10 and at the evening at 7 at Magic 89.9.

I guess part of my lovelife was his letters being read on air. I contributed tears and emotions while listening to him at my parents bedroom with the lights turned off to add more sentimental moments. Embarrassing maybe but I guess it was part of my teanage romance and drama. Yes, I picked up lines from his letters and wrote it to my ex-boyfriend who’s now my husband hoping through his famous lines our relationship could surpassed our young love trials.

Missing Joe D’ Mango’s voice over the radio, I searched through the web and let me share with all of you what I found in You Tube. Reminisce with me, the pain of letting go, moving on, endless search for Mr. Right and the stories that spell out L-O-V-E.

Fun Run

Juriz woke me up at 5 in the morning. I was so lazy to get up saying, “Sweetheart pwede bang 10 minutes pa?” But then I remembered why he was waking me up. “This is it!” I said to myself. We were joining a 10km run and this will be my FIRST! So I excitedly got off from the bed and  made 2 cups of coffee for me and Juriz, which by the way, serves as my fuel or my so-called energy drink to wake me up. Then he said, “Sweetheart, kumain tayo ng saging hati tayo to give us potassium.” I wasn’t sure kung para saan ang potassium to give me more energy or to wake me up even more. Hahaha!

So we were all set after 10 minutes, we got a cab and minutes later we were at the meeting place we waited for like 15 minutes but everyone seemed late so we decided to walk towards the race village where all the 12,000 runners were set to assemble. It was very overwhelming.  There were really thousands who are like us woke up so early to join this run. I suddenly remembered my camera inside my bag to capture this event but unfortunately after switching it on it says on the screen, “The memory card is write protected”. Oh please not now! I asked Juriz to try fixing it but he couldn’t he said don’t worry I have my Iphone but when he was about to take some pictures it was on like 20% batt remaining. Hahahaa. Lucky!

Anyway, we got couple of pictures from his phone then we were asked to proceed to the starting line. Honestly while walking I was excited but I have no idea how far is 10km. A week ago while Juriz and I were talking in a bus I asked him how far is 10km he said 25 times of circling around the oval. I tried absorbing what he said for a couple of minutes because hey I can only make 2 rounds in our oval where I jog in the evening so how can I possibly push myself to make 25 rounds???

We met with some friends and one was like me, Sabrina, who was also a first timer to join a 10k run. We were really excited she and her boyfriend, Charles arrived all set in uniform with of course CAMERA! Which eventually where I got the pictures that I posted here. 

Siren sounded as we started, thousands of runners in orange shirts started running which for me where like red ants lining up for food. Of course we ran but later in 2k we were exhausted! My coffee seemed to fail me as well as the potassium from the banana. Though the good thing was we were able to pose for photo. 

Then, by the time we reached Suntec mall we went inside to pee. Yes, we went out of the race and pee, funny because by the time we went out, we were literally the last runners in the race. We tried running of course then suddenly we saw a line in a portalet it gave us some hope that none of us will be placing 12,000^th place. Hahaha!

We reached 5km, halfway of the race with a smile after an hour of running and walking. Still excited to finish the race but totally in the verge of exhaustion. Under the heat of the sun, we reached 9k mark, then 750 meters, 250 meters, and finally we could see the arch which says FINISH and the clock says 2 hrs and 16 minutes. Yes, we finished the race after 2 hours that was way too long if the world record was just 30 minutes. Nevertheless, I felt great finishing the race. By the end of the race all I could think of was I want to go to McDonalds and eat a BIG MAC which I seldom eat because of calories but I was tired and hungry so I think I can devour it this time. But at the gate we were given bottled water and energy drink and in a table I saw a pile of bananas for the end time I was still curious why. Basta and alam ko sa gutom ko hindi ako mabubusog sa saging lang! After finishing the banana, only then, my husband told me that it’s a good source of potassium that helps in preventing you to get muscle cramps especially after a long and rigorous run.

Since my husband works for Nike I was given a VIP tag that entitled me for a free catered breakfast at a lounge with some of the bosses. 

I got really tired for running 10km and got ugly tan lines but hey I got all the luck that day, food was great, fun times with friends, felt like lost 5 lbs, and a priceless moment running with my husband which by the way, there were times we were running holding hands! Sweeeeet! :) 

How to make a Marriage work for Newlyweds

Some of my friends were asking me about how I am adjusting to my new role, being a wife? Well, honestly I am very thankful to God that I am not having a hard time with this new ME. I wake up every morning having a positive outlook in life and in my marriage. I know I am married for just over a year to my long-time boyfriend but I guess the things that I’ve seen in my parent’s marriage how they dealt with problems and have really good times even after years of togetherness seem to be working in my marriage. Here I am to share simple tips for newlyweds!

PRAY TOGETHER

I have always seen my parents praying and going to church together and I am very positive that prayer really can work wonders in marriage. Prayer opens up the windows of the soul as it gives calmness and opens up your mind and heart to your partner.

Whenever me and my husband have an argument, we let each other first to calm down and then we pray together. I will ask him to pray for me and I will do the same. Prayer always gives us peace and makes us ready to compromise. Most of the times we don’t even have to talk about the problem again rather we always find the answers and settles it even without discussing it again.

Let me share my secret, when I want my husband to understand my point without nagging him to listen I lay my hands on his forehead while he is asleep and pray that in his sleep may God opens his mind and try to understand my side that with the power of God we will be able to solve our differences. Miracle it may seem but it works!

ITS ALL ABOUT LOVE

Everyday is a great chance to show our husbands how much we love them. Don’t waste any time. Simple ways melt their hearts believe me. Cook their favorite food, find time to surprise him with a simple note telling him how happy you are being his wife, a walk in the park, or whatever you think will remind him of your first months together as a couple.

For Juriz and I, we say “I LOVE YOU” all the time, when we wake up in the morning, before we sleep, and in times we feel like saying it. Hearing these words makes us feel more in love. Say it all the time to your husband don’t save it for special occasions. In marriage, there should not be anymore reservations its giving everything to your partner. Enjoy it and love…love…more love everyday!

FUN TIMES

In marriage, you cannot set aside having fun times with your partner. Moments like these help in keeping the fire burning. It makes marriages more interesting. Juriz and I, loves to do a lot of things together I guess that’s the very reason why we enjoy being with each other. We watch movies once or twice a month, travel once every quarter, and dine out once a week. We even play card games, pick-up sticks, or just tickles each other before we sleep. No matter how busy we are, we try to enjoy and laugh our heart out almost every single day. I have seen this in my own parents and fun times together made them young at heart and kept their marriage far from being boring.

RESPECT and TRUST

Two things husbands need in their own marriages. Respect your husband’s individually as a person and their role being the head of your family. Sometimes it is just simple as, you want to gain respect, give respect. Next is trust him! It is the basic and the most important foundation in marriage. Trusting our husband’s word should be the wife’s main priority. Anyway, we gain everything - their love, their respect, and their trust when they know that we trust them.

Tell him, "I trust you or else you know what will happen" hahaha

Marriage is not a bed of roses all the time but it is in our hands to make it better everyday, to make it work every year, and to make it last a lifetime. 

(Photos by Loren Susvilla)

10 Things I did for L-O-V-E

1. Wished in every falling star I have seen since my highschool days, "Sana mahalin n'ya ako katulad ng pagmamahal ko sa kanya para hindi na ako masaktan."

2. Prayed at adoration chapel everyday for 2 months when I was in my senior year in highschool , "Lord, kung s'ya po talaga ang para sa akin sana maging kami na pero kung di talaga ilayo n'yo na lang."

3. Religiously went to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of the impossible, every Thursday to hear mass and light a pink candle symbolizing love praying, "Lord, sana makilala ko na ang Mr. Right ko."

4. Went to different churches even visited as far as Batangas and Davao even one in Lake Tahoe, California because someone told me on your first visit to a church you can make a wish, "Lord, sana makilala ko na ang ipinadala mo sa akin na Mr. Right."

5. Visited Quiapo church and bought a pair of candle molded into a girl and a boy they said light it up make a wish and bind it together so you and loved one will stay together, "Lord, sana kami na habambuhay." 

6. Kept his picture under my pillow because they said that he will think of you the whole night, I say this before I sleep, "Sana hindi ka makatulog at maisip mo ako."

7. Completed 9 days of Dawn Masses (Simbang Gabi) because they said that if you completed it you are entitled to a gift, God will answer your prayer, "Lord, sana sya na."

8. Completed a novena for special prayers, as far as I remember this is how it works, for 9 days pray a special prayer inside a church and leave 9 copies of the novena every day and they say your wish will be granted, "Lord, please give me a sign kung talagang s'ya."

9. Offered 3 days of fasting and prayers to let God answer my questions, "Lord, will I still hang on to this relationship or let it go."

10. Offered 100 days of prayers for the Poor Souls in Purgatory it is believed that souls in purgatory who are under going cleansing of their souls are closer to God so ask them to pray for you and God will hear it first hand through them, "For the souls in purgatory please help me pray for my relationship with my boyfriend may we surpass this trial I promise to pray 50 more days for your souls."

In my long journey of finding Mr. Right, I prayed hard and hold on to my faith in God believing there is really someone meant for me. I never gave up and 12 years after, I found my Mr. Right who I am going to spend the rest of my life with. Worth the wait!