Ellie

 November 2, 2009 - September 27, 2020

Its sad to let you go, but this was for the best.

I know you love me. And I loved you too.

My husband knows that too.

You were the reason I wake up early in the morning.

The reason I will have exercise twice a day.

The reason I go home as early as possible.

And the reason why I don’t travel for long.

I had been with you through 3 hospitalizations. We were heartbroken leaving you at the hospital because you were always teary-eyed, but we know you needed to be well. But out of all that hospitalizations, this was the worst one yet — its because we lost you.

You were the only dog who barks at the fireworks, thunder, lightning, birds, loud motorcycles, brooms and specially noisy slippers.

You don’t like things covering you that when you get so cold when we go up to Baguio, I worry how to give you heat. But you still managed to pull through.

You’re sensitive when you take a bath. I tried to memorize all the points that make you growl — maybe that’s why we were able to get through our weekly bathing routine.

When I needed to be away for a long time, I know you don’t eat much and wait for me by the door — I always think this was the sweetest and I always can’t wait to come home (with dog treats for you).

You don’t like to pee nor poop in the house and in wet roads. So I always worry when there’s long rainy days.

It came to a point when you can’t eat by yourself. 3-4 years ago, I started feeding you with my hand. You like your food aired. You don’t eat pellets when it was freshly prepared. You know when we’re eating and you let us know that by calling us.

You wake me up so you could pee and poop.

You can’t see clearly that’s why you call me to feed you and show you where your water is.

You follow me around and make sure that you’re always close to me.

I thank God that we had 24H bonding time since the lockdown.

And we got a lot more time being together.

You know where you stay when its work time and when it was sleeping time.

I will miss your wagging tail and jumps when we come home. I will miss you meeting us by the door with your happy face.

I will definitely miss your fluffiness and sweetness.

Even with your ka-sungitan with everyone else.

You had been through a lot. But I hope that my love was enough to forget all that.

We love you, our yeye-pot.

Till we meet again. ❤️

Defining: REINVENTION

28 years of straight hair is something people envy about me. Its not that my hair is THAT pretty or doesn't feel frizz everyday, but for my wavy-haired friends, my straight hair is the best it could get.

But little as some of my friends know, I've been dying to have pretty curls too. How _____ it is to say that straight-haired girls envy curls too.

Well, yesterday, I did one challenge before I go back to the Philippines. I spent money perming my hair.

I'm still getting used to not combing it, styling it, and maybe having it trimmed regularly.

For the coming years, I will try to reinvent myself one step at a time.

We are simply AWESOME

I don't know what is so good about the month of June that brides rush out to get wed on this rainy month.
For my family, it is not a month when my parents got married (they got married on the equally rainy month of July), but a month when we celebrate my mom and dad's birthdays.

My mom, born on June 16 found the love of her life to my dad, born June 30. It is also amazing to note that they were born the same year. 1957.

Papa Felino and Mama Luth

OK. So my parents don't do glamour shots. I still have lots to teach them about how to pose and smile for the camera.

Well, my mom and my dad were blessed with 3 awesome and amazing kids. Who, lack talent, most of the time shy, thin, let's say intelligent, wacky, and to top it all off, lazy?

When I said, awesome and amazing, I think I was not referring to me and my siblings right?

So why say amazing and awesome when, we don't have the character to meet the description?

Me

Let me tell you a story of a not too distant past.

Me and my sibling would OFTEN quarrel because of some silly 'who gets the most share', 'who gets to wash the dishes tonight', 'who cleans the windows, the toilet, and dust all the cabinets', and surely I could name a lot. In summary, we have sibling rivalry.

But for the most part of our childhood, got along. Except when we have those momentary (insert what I just said).


We would often spend our lazy weekend afternoons by pushing one sibling to cook pancit canton and would eat as though we have a pancit-canton-eating-contest.

my sister, Tin

As a family, we are not used to telling stories about ourselves.

We talk about other people. We were not raised to tell our deepest thoughts and feelings.

But when I think about it, I think we have this family telepathy thing going on that even though we don't say anything, we know.



We, my siblings and I moved far from home to fulfill our dreams of - working in Manila. What a dream you might say. And this is the part when we got AWESOME-ER.

Why?

Because, even though we don't talk everyday nor don't see each other often, we talk were we left off.

my brother, Christian

We go home to Baguio and try to squeeze ourselves in our parent's bed just so we could spend more time with them. Sleep in the living room with my cousin (who lives next door), plan trips, eat out, go to church.


The Lord had wonderfully planned how our family will turn out to be the best family that we will need and will glorify God.


We may not be the richest people in terms of money, but on how we stay, argue and love as a family, I know I could not ask for anything more.


I think my mom and my dad did the best they could to raise us up to what and who we are now. And I thank God for just how awesome He is.

and Away They Happened...

A few years ago I subscribed to a video production company called Wong Fu Productions just because I saw their video about the history of being a POSER and LOVED it.

And it started my addiction to watch anything they do. They are awesome (Ted, Wes and Phil) and so are the other people they make videos with.

Well, a few weeks ago, they started a collaboration project with At&T and created a web series called "Away We Happened".

I saw its trailer and it was it.. I JUST HAD TO WATCH THIS WEB SERIES!

It will run for six weeks, and each episode, just blows me away.

The story of Daniel and Jean makes my heart leap both for joy and excitement.

I rarely recommend anything, but this one tops my charts. Click here for the web series playlist... and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

...and simply, away they really happened.

With all my heart

My day started like any other. I had a long day planned ahead. Go around Osaka, watch Men in Black 3 and eat out.

Me and my friends went about our day. My day changed when we were about to enter Cinema 3.

A message popped from my messenger and said that my aunt passed away. I checked my other phone and to my shock, it only confirmed the news.

It was a little sudden. Not quite as expected. My aunt. Now gone.

She had kidney problems and was undergoing dialysis. She was one person I know who is afraid of anything. But she tries to be the strongest.

the one who always worries, always cares

Whenever we visit her, we all feel her excitement and love. She doesn't have kids and she treated me and my siblings as her own. All her nephews and nieces where loved. No one will feel alone.

I called my parents to somehow comfort them. Especially my dad. (My aunt was specially sweet to her big brother).

I don't really believe in folk beliefs but the next morning, I saw a big black butterfly flying around outside my room. I cried.

I know my aunt lived her life in Christ. I pray for God's comfort for my family. It may seem we lost her, but in the end we will see each other in paradise.

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 

- Psalm 119:50

Going Nerd

This past few weeks, I've been leaning over being addicted to this quiz game site.

Game of Nerds was introduced to me by a friend who thought I just could not pass the invitation - and yes, my friend was right.

My Game of Nerds homepage

The day my friend invited me was the day my brain started to think.. again.
I can't help but stress that MY BRAIN STARTED WORKING AGAIN!
All the information trapped in the innermost part of my brain was dug one by one just to answer that one question I had seen or heard somewhere, sometime. Most of the time, it was just a random letter pressed due to the stressful ticking of the game clock.

I am a little far down compared to my nerd friends but one day, with all my brain cells revived, coins paid for full perks and celebrity friends hired, I might have the chance of someday mocking them too.

The Mockery Method

The day I turned a year older

Every year, November 3 will just be one of those days that you may probably call ordinary.
But I believe it was not as ordinary as it seemed the day my mom and my dad got me from God.

mini Crisel

I often hear my parents saying I could cry, suck my pacifier then cry again.

This year, I turned 27.
My day started just like any other day - waking up to my alarm.

I was overwhelmed by the birthday greetings I received from Facebook, but what got me was how God planned my day for me.

First, I received text messages from my parents, my best friend, my cousin, Raisa and my godmother. I was so overwhelmed, I cried.

birthday card from Raisa

I also received the awesome-est messages from my brother and sister.

Joshin Birthday card, treats from Ms Yoshioka, chocolates from Mariko
and a letter from Yuu

Then Yuu-chan sent me a reply letter asking me when my birthday was. Her mom was surprised to how timely her daughter's question was when I answered - 'It's today!'

My boss gave me treats and another japanese friend gave me chocolates.

There were overflowing birthday greetings in my email and I couldn't thank them enough for remembering me.

Surprise coffee

My previous trainer also approached me and treated me for coffee.







And so did my previous manager.

Warm coffee

Though I worked overtime, and never did get anyone for a birthday party, I cooked pasta and chatted with my family.

This may seem I celebrated my birthday alone - but it was God's way of giving me time to celebrate my birthday with my family. I needed it and He just knows me too well.

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise;    you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down;    you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. 

                                                                                                                       Psalm 139:1-4