Pahiyas Festival 2013 (late post)

MAY 15, 2013 - Oh yes! For the very first time, I was able to witness one of the most famous fiestas in the Philippines. Sir Momon invited the whole Fauna and Flora International (FFI) staff to see the very known Pahiyas Festival at Lucban, Quezon.

I wasn't able to take my own photos because I didn't bring Parallax with me. I just grabbed these photos from our finance manager's Facebook account. I was actually the one who held and captured most of the photos using her camera anyway. :)

Aside from enjoying the colorful view and the food at Sir Momon's house, I was able to buy pasalubong for the family plus a beach hat for my Mom. I know she wanted to buy one in Baguio but just didn't because she thought of us more. :) We've also had a happy roadtrip along Laguna on our way back to our office at Tagaytay.

I reached home few minutes before12 midnight that day. It was tiring but indeed a memorable one. ;) The Pahiyas Festival is indeed one of the view things that we must be proud of as Filipinos. It just shows how creative and grateful the Filipinos are. :D

Staying Fit

I know I may not look as sporty 'cause I'm one skinny and petite lady but I know I'm stronger than how I actually look. :p I eat a LOT more than you can imagine and thank God it doesn't show. I can say that one possible reason, aside from my fast metabolism, is my love for movements. Whenever I have enough time, especially during weekends, I do dance routines after eating a slice of bread and that serve as my morning exercise before eating a heavy breakfast. I make sure that I produce sweat and then drink lots of water afterwards.

Yesterday, I've had the opportunity to jog with my sisters's friends. Maybe we've jogged (and walked of course haha) around 3 kms. ;) Nice preparation for the fun run that I'm going to join on Sunday! Anyway, they're also my friends but oh well because of generation gap (LOL) it's kind of awkward to really be "with their group". Though when I join them I know it doesn't really look that way. Mehe :D

L-R: my sister Celine, Gem & Ana Arais, my sister Colleen, Irell Anceno

Photos grabbed from Tito Neil Anceno's Facebook uploads

We are all children of Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) members. The kids stayed at home during the weekend and yeahh I joined them with their movie marathon. :)) Feeling bata LOL.

We played volleyball after and ate heavy breakfast at home before getting ready for church. ;)

There's really a refreshing feeling after exercising and loading energy through food and water. :D

By the way, I'm sorry if I wasn't able to make a post about my Baguio getaway last week. I'll try as soon as I can. ;)

Move On and Grow Up

I still can't find enough time to blog about my most recent summer getaway so pardon me for this lame update. :D I'll try if I can at least have a photo dump this weekend. I wanted to keep you posted but unfortunately I've been too tired with work. Now I've realized that it's really not a joke to make your own "diskarte" and that intelligence doesn't really determine success. You are not defined by what others tell about you and by how your detractors see you. You are not who they think you are - YOU ARE WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE.

By the way, the main purpose of this post is for me to share a song that says a certain story of what I somehow feel. The lyrics of these songs sum me up, and those who I've told about the story would understand why. Care to listen? ;)

Let 'em have their time

Sit back and let 'em shine

Let 'em rise and rise

Cause one day they're gonna fall

Let 'em soak in the sun

Sit back and let 'em have their fun

Let 'em spill their guts

Cause one day they're gonna slip on 'em

Well I could be angry

But you're not worth the fight

And besides I'm moving on

I've counted to ten

And I'm feeling alright

And besides I'm moving on

Let 'em play their songs

Let 'em say what's right and wrong

Let 'em do their thing

Cause they'll never be you and me

We got our own style

We got a way of livin' life

If they can't get down

Well we don't need them around

Well I could be angry

But you're not worth the fight

And besides I'm moving on

I've counted to ten

And I'm feeling alright

And besides I'm moving

Yes I'm moving on

Besides I'm moving on

I told 'em all where to stick it

I left town with a dime to my name

Said I'm done with all of my fake friends

Self-righteous pawns in a losing game

Got my band and a light that won't go out

Been burning since the day I was born

So I cry just little then I'll dry my eyes

'Cause I'm not a little girl, no more

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

Stood in line for so long, it's a picket

Something I will never understand

I'm too tired of always being mad at the world

Won't you just admit you don't care?

Lady I don't want your pity

So don't feel sad for me

I got a love I would die for and a song to sing

Maybe we're both just living out our dreams

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

We get along for the most part

Me and reality, the light and the dark

And we live alone

In two different worlds

Me and a fantasy,

And you and your memories

But we get along

We get along

For the most part

We get along

Yea, for the most part

We get along

For the most part

We get along

We get along

We get along

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind (leave you behind)

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

Some of us have to grow up sometimes

And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind

I've learned. I'm not the same kid from your memory.

I know this is kind of a nonsense post, but yeah, let's just move on and grow up together. ;)

All the Single Ladies

As of this very moment, we all are. Haha! :))

My sisters at heart, Lara, Gigi and Ehcel stayed at home over the weekend. Bonding overload indeed!

After dinner last Friday, we started dyeing our hairs.

Getting ready for our hair dyeing session!

I colored Gigi's hair hihi :D

While I was already rinsing my hair at around 12 midnight, it blacked out and since we couldn't continue our movie marathon that night, we've had our Tanduay Cocktail - Margarita in candle light. We exchanged stories to catch up and reminisced our high school days while having our shots. We even had red wine after actually. LOL.

The black out ended at around 3AM and we were so sleepy then so we dozed off. We were home alone that Saturday because my parents and siblings attended the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) - Imus Chpater's Be Honest Motorcade. I was supposed to join them but since our sleepover bonding was scheduled that day, I opted to stay with my F's. :)

All day, we watched movies, Wrong Turn marathon and Possession, and sang our hearts out on the videoke. Plus red wine galore. :)

At around 5:30PM, we already went to Paradisso Terrestre to meet another sister, Vernisse, and splash for our night swimming.

Red wine galore mehehe :D

Uupon arriving at Paradiso! :)

Meet my girls since junior high!

Vernisse (I call her Jarrah though), Gigi, Ehcel, Lara (though I call her Pinar, her surname mehe)

Cham wasn't with us though. Quite sad that we're not complete with out ultimate summer reunion. :( Hopefully next time. :)

BTW, these people are fond of calling me FAY or FAYlogna. If that's how you call me, it just means that we're good friends since high school. :)

Dad fetched us at around 10PM. He dropped Vernisse off at their house before going home. We played cards and still exchanged stories while having our cups of coffee before sleeping.

The four of us attended the mass with my family the next day. We didn't have our mass at Fernbrook Gardens like we usually do because it was already late. We went to the Orchard Golf and Country Club for the mass instead. My parents, especially my Dad, go there every Saturday for breakfast with other members of the BCBP. We also go there whenever there are BCBP family activities.

And since it's really undeniable that the view at The Orchard is picture-perfect, I brought Parallax (my SLR :p) with me for our mini-photoshoot. :)

My girlfriends are really the best! :D When I'm with them, there's no room for screening my secrets and pretensions. We all have that mutual trust that acceptance matters and friendship rules. These people really know when to talk and how to listen, say you're stupid when you really are, slap your face when you need to wake up, kick your butt when you're becoming a bad a** - they're just too honest and natural and one of a kind that my life would really be incomplete without them. :)

For the six years of friendship, I must say I could could compare our bond to the double rainbow I took a shot of yesterday afternoon: Colorful. Unique. Infinite.

We could hardly remember how our friendship started. All we know is that no matter what happens, it won't end. :)

#ClingyFriendsAreClingy

For Keeps

After fetching Dad at NAIA from his one-week seminar in Davao, we went to Relans to finally claim my graduation picture. :)

My college barkada! Chester, Jenny, Meriah, Vivian, Mikee (?)

Though Vergel should've been in Mikee's place. :( Yay.

After that, I went to PLM to get my copies of The Ledger 2013. Being the Editor-in-Chief of this year's issue is such an honor. I know that this issue isn't flawless, but I did my best. It feels so good when people congratulate you for a job well done. And I know it's something to really be proud of!

Supportive Mom is supportive! HAHA :) Aside from my complimentary copy, she bought 5 more mehehe. Feels good to make them proud!

I then proceeded to Robinson's Ermita, my high school after-Friday-class nook. I came to have a small reunion with my high school best buds. We're not complete though, 'cause Cham backed out the last minute for some confidential reasons and Arrah is busy with her summer class. We exchanged stories and did our usual bonding back when we were in high school: TIMEZONE (we used to be in G-box back then but we opted to go to Timezone yesterday) and PICTURE TAKING. Haha!

Meet my crazy lovely friends! Lara, Gigi, Ehcel :)

My best buds since third year! 6 years of tried and tested friendship.

I soooooo love this girls. :D

It was indeed a wonderful day to sum up. =) We're actually planning to have overnights here at my place from May 3 to 5! Bonding overload! Excited for that! :D

Back to work tomorrow. Yay! I'm gonna bond with vouchers again. Geez. Oh yes, I'm already an office girl. Haha!

Graduation Day

APRIL 12, 2013, FRIDAY; MANILA HOTEL - For Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila Batch 2013, this date and place marked one of the biggest days of their lives. And yes, I am one of them. After four years of hardship as I fought my way to becoming a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (Dalubhasa sa Agham ng Pagtutuos) degree holder, finally, I was be able to reap what I sow.

The College of Accountancy and Economics was scheduled to have the ceremony in the morning. The call time was 6AM so I had to wake up at 3AM to eat and get ready. Ate Shareen started doing my make-up at around quarter to four and finished at five. Dad drove us all the way to the venue and we were just in time to take pictures first before the assembly. :)

CPA by October 2013 ;)

With my epic and crazy college barkada! My friends through sweetness, bitterness, stories and foodtrips! Though we're all gonna be in the same review school, we decided to get separate rooms because it will surely be a riot if we don't! Haha I'm gonna miss these people!

Though we actually didn't practice, the ceremony went well but after one has already received his or her diploma, it's like I don't care what's happening hey there batchmate let's take pictures! LOL.

Good thing we were able to take pictures near the stage!

After the ceremony, we went to Mall of Asia to have our lunch at Cabalen. My younger sisters Colleen and Celine together with my Nang and Tang (mom's side) were already there waiting for us. :-)

Someday, I won't be just posing for a car like this. ;)

We went home afterwards and had a mini photo shoot hehe :D Talk about family vanity :)

DALUBHASA SA AGHAM NG PAGTUTUOS

(BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTANCY)

PANTAS. ISKOLAR. PROUD PLMAYER!

I'm really thankful of having to reach this point! Thank GOD for never leaving my side. And thanks to my family especially to my parents for their ceaseless love and support. The journey was never easy, but the end is so sweet. I know this ending is also the beginning of another chapter, and I'm ready to face new challenges.

I'll be a Certified Public Accountant by October 2013; I know I will because I BELIEVE. I believe in MYSELF and I believe in the power of PRAYERS. I won't back down. Never. I've been through a lot to just give up.

I'm now ready to take more risks and get out of my comfort zone. I'm now ready to face the real world - a world that is more than books and classrooms. I'm now ready to prove I'm gonna rock as I make my dreams come true. Failure will never be my option. :-)

By the way, here's a closer view of what I wore during our graduation. :)

Dress: Designed by my Mom, Executed by Rico Moda

6-inched heels: Jannylin

(Imagine how 'that' increased my height!)

Bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction

And heyyyy! Finally we (Jessie and Alexis) already got our pre-ordered copies of Paramore's 'Paramore'! It came with a baller and a pin! Jessie and I picked them up at SM Manila Astro yesterday after returning our academic gowns and togas. :) Who's not happy?! Haha! :D

I'm sure my friend Camille is so happy too because she also got her pre-ordered copy yesterday, on her birthday. ;)

You know what? I just feel so blessed. TO GOD BE THE GLORY! :)