Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Happy Birthday to Me

So far this is the first birthday that I skipped the candle blowing by mere coincidence. The store where we bought my favorite carrot cake didn’t have “23 candle.” I was actually looking forward to it, for nostalgic reasons. Ever since I was a kid “the candle blowing” on your birthday was something you’d look forward to. Everybody sings “the birthday song” aloud and stops as you innocently close your eyes make a wish and then you blowout the candle/s, officially making you a year older.

Despite the absence of the candle ritual I enjoyed my day. I opted for a simple celebration. We just had pancit malabon, carrot cake, chocolate carrot cake (as per request of my siblings), ice cream, grilled stuffed pusit (squid) chicken and liempo. I’m happy that my dad is here with us (especially on my birthday) and much happier of what I received for this special day. My dad gave my room a makeover! He bought me a new bed, replacing the not so old one with a sturdier Narra. Rather than repainting my room in white (again) I came up with the design which played with the different hues of green (my new favorite color). I was so pent up on painting my room with my dad. At first he let me dab a little but then he got too neurotic about the project and decided (without consulting me) to go solo. My dad is definitely your typical handyman; he’s like the energizer bunny. He keeps on going… and going… and going… he can’t stand to be stagnant. Never the less it turned out great. The makeover isn't nearly finished since I still have to get rid of my other closet and organize a couple of things. I want to add some more pizzas by getting a desk table, a nightlight which goes with the “green theme” of the room. I’d like to refresh my sewing skill and customize curtains and pillowcases. This sudden gush of ideas is a result of watching too much “lifestyle channel” and finally applying the stocked knowledge. Not useless after all…

Happy Birthday to me!

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t-na @ 10:15 PM| 2 comments

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Manny Pacquiao

Woke up early to day for the Pacquiao-Morales match. My parents, uncle and cousin on the other hand had tickets for the big screen uninterrupted version of the fight. If I’m not mistaken they paid 300 bucks per seat. I don’t mind commercials; I can spend the 300 on other important items. The program started with Jimrex Jacas’ winning TKO. It’s his international debut fight with Mexican Geronimo Hernandez, he’s a promising fighter. Pacquiao-Morales bout surpassed the crowds’ expectations, considering that they were both great fighters in their respective turfs. They exhibited great sportsmanship and just gave their very best. It was noticeable that Morales’ endurance was quickly fading round after round with Manny attacking his body. Never the less he still fought even after he dropped or rather lost his balance. Finally, under a minute remaining in the 10th round Pacquiao finally put away the valiant Morales when he dropped him with a left. Morales still stood up at the count of nine, but Pacquiao quickly punches and again plummeting Morales, prompting referee Kenny Bayless to stop the fight.

Here in the Philippines, the media can’t help but make a big circus out of this event. Good thing Manny won or else all of that hyped media would just be wasted.

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t-na @ 2:02 PM| 0 comments

Friday, January 20, 2006

I.Saw.The.Strange.Little.Girl

At last I've finally persuaded (I'd like to think that I did) my sister into joining the ever-growing blogging community. She came out with the concept or rather finally found her "muse" for her blog and I helped her from there. Lynna tends to be lazy at times... hence I lent a hand and offered my expertise (oh baH! I'd like to think that I am one, spare me this moment). I am very happy of how good it came out, I really love tinkering with other people business... Especially if it involves my siblings. I'm definitely looking forward to her entries, unsaid thoughts, ideas, her hopes and dreams... *smirks* As if we don't see each other, sleep in the same room, talk about sister stuff etc. I guess that's just not enough. Now the only thing thats left are her entries "be filled with entries" since she really tends to slack off.

Feel free to vist her blog:I Saw The Strange Little Girl

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t-na @ 11:07 AM| 0 comments

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

A Unexpected Visitor

Early this morning while most of the family members are still in deep slumber, Tita Mercy and I went about with some morning chores. She went out the front door to unlock the gates and I was preparing breakfast. “Come here, we have a visitor” she said as she entered the main hall. Wondering who it was, I went to the living room to greet the “visitor.” My aunt held her hand up and I saw a beautiful butterfly. I haven’t seen a butterfly for a very long time and I felt joy and excitement, as if I was a little girl, as I gazed upon such beauty. My aunt mentioned that “someone” came here to visit us. The “someone” she was referring to was probably a soul of relative who passed away. I immediately thought of my cousin who passed away of dengue last year. The butterfly didn’t even budge considering that I had to take my camera-phone closely when I took its photo. It only startled when Sophie wanted to take a closer look. The butterfly flew across the room and landed on the curtains. It stayed inside the house for a very long time until it just disappeared later this evening.


Could it be possible that a butterfly indeed symbolizes a visiting human soul, a loved one who passed on to another life? I searched the net about the butterflies and I’d like to share some of the myths I’ve found.

  • The Greeks believed that a new human soul was born each time an adult butterfly emerged from its cocoon.
  • Butterflies have been used by the Chinese and Japanese cultures for centuries as symbols of joy and the essence of happiness. Both cultures have added them to manuscripts, paintings and drawings for centuries.
  • Early Europeans believed that the human soul took the form of a butterfly so, they viewed the butterfly with great respect and often with fear.
  • Northern Europeans thought that dreams were the result of the soul-butterfly's wanderings through other worlds.
  • In southern Germany, some say the dead are reborn as children who fly about as butterflies, resulting in the belief that they bring children.
  • The Irish believe that butterflies are the souls of the dead waiting to pass through purgatory.
  • Native American Indian legends told that butterflies would carry the wishes to the Great Spirit in heaven to be granted.
  • Shoshone Indians believed that butterflies were originally pebbles, into which the Great Spirit blew the precious breath of life.
  • Native American Zuni tribes believed that butterflies could predict the weather. The Zuni also believed that the white butterfly predicts the beginning of summer.
  • The Blackfeet Indians believe that dreams are brought to us in sleep by a butterfly.
  • The butterfly is a symbol of the fertility of the earth among some tribes of Mexico.
  • Born out of the caterpillar in the chrysalis, butterflies were a symbol of rebirth, regeneration, happiness, and joy to Native Americans in Mexico.
  • The Maya looked upon butterflies also as the spirits of dead warriors in disguise descending to earth.
  • Among the Nagas of Assam the dead are believed to go through a series of transformations in the underworld and are finally reborn as butterflies. When the butterfly dies, that is the end of the soul forever.
  • The Aztecs believed that the happy dead in the form of beautiful butterflies would visit their relatives to assure them that all was well. These butterflies flew around the house and around bouquets of flowers which were carried by Aztec men of social rank.
  • Metamorphosis of butterflies and moths is one of the mysteries of Nature. The ability of these insects to change from the crawling caterpillar to the flying adult is almost magical.
  • Many people are so awe inspired by the metamorphosis that they believe that butterflies and moths could never have evolved over millions of years without a God behind it.
  • The night butterfly [the moth] attracted by the flame, like the soul attracted by heavenly truths, burns in the flame, reflection of the trials that must be endured to eliminate the fleshy sink-stones before knowing the joys of the beyond.

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t-na @ 9:42 PM| 0 comments

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Coming Home

My dad is coming home! The tempt schedule would be on Thursday, 5th of January. We are all getting ready since my dad is a “clean freak”. Long quite mornings, wherein you could still doze off even if the alarm has rang (…just five more minutes …), is a thing of the past. He wakes up really early (probably around 4 am) to jog and afterwards “the routine starts”. One will be waking up to the airy-buzzing sound of the vacuum cleaner. He’ll be going around the house, from the living room, the kitchen and through the hallways. The most annoying part of it is when he bursts into the rooms with his handy-dandy vacuum cleaner, whether you’re asleep or not and then he’ll ask you why you are still in bed… Sheesh! I in particular tend to be “bugnutin” or “quick- tempered” when I’m suddenly awakened in the wee hours of morning. He does this “vacuum habit” twice or even thrice a day, especially when we are expecting some guests.

My dad and I have a love and hate relationship. We argue a lot on almost every topic, since he is narrow minded, has a traditional point-of-view, and he imposes his beliefs on us. When I’m fed up, I respond with a silent treatment. I just simply ignore him for a couple of days… or even weeks and he really hates that. I remember the last time we had a long fight it lasted for several months, he used Barry as an excuse to access my room since he wanted to “take Barry for a walk or play” with him. I find it very amusing. I knew that he was just waiting for me to speak to him but I didn’t budge. Of course… despite all of the arguments, he’s still my dad and for that he has my respect and unconditional love… cheesy as it may seem.

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t-na @ 5:38 AM| 2 comments

Sunday, January 01, 2006

JTOL: 2006

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Happy New Year
2006 2006 2006
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
2006 2006 2006
Happy New Year
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t-na @ 12:05 PM| 0 comments