TO SEE HIM SMILE AGAIN

Memories of Tita Arnie - her cremated ashes in an urn,
her beautiful picture,
and a framed copy of her favorite prayer.  

The past two months seemed like a hell on earth for my best guy buddy, Jeremy Laguda. His mom, 53 years old, succumbed to endometrial cancer. It was not easy for Jeremy since his mom died just five days after he happily celebrated his 21^st birthday with her.  

Since after the cremation of his mom, I have been monitoring my buddy. Dark clouds of despair and desperation enveloped his once very happy life.  He changed. I am now having a hard time making him smile. My jokes won’t cut the invisible threads that are somewhat being sewn on his lips, preventing him to smile again. My usual ways of cheering him up every time he is down is now a big failure. He seemed really affected of the loss of his beloved mom. For almost a month now, I have been thinking of ways on how to at least help him hurdle over this roadblock in his life – to help him accept the fact that death is constant in this world and all we have to do is to grieve over the loss, accept the things that we cannot change or bring back, and move on with life. I really want to see him smile again.

Photo Credit: www.byahilo.com

Surfing the internet about smiles, I have jumped into an article that featured Bacolod City, the city of smiles in the Philippines. Cultivating my curiosity, I dug deeper trying to research why it's called the city of smiles. And this is what I’ve read:

“The moniker reflects the general disposition of the locals. In the 1980s, a period of tragedy and economic dislocation enveloped the city with gloom. During this period, the prices of sugar in the world market were at an all-time low and the Bacolenos were in a crisis as the province only relied in the sugar industry then. The depression was further aggravated when a passenger vessel Don Juan sank on Aprill 22, where an estimated 700 Negrenses including prominent families perished.

In the midst of these tragic events, the city’s artists, local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, the MassKara Festival. They reasoned that a festival was also a good opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere. The initial festival was therefore, a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the times were, Bacolod City is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph.”

Source: http://www.themasskarafestival.com/about-masskara/why-masskara/

Jeremy and I during my college graduation.

BINGO! I told myself “This is the perfect place to bring my best buddy! And the MASSKARA festival is the perfect festival to help him forget the worries of life and just enjoy experiencing the festival.” I really want to make him smile again. I want to bring him with me to Bacolod City for an adventure of a lifetime.  To explore a city that would welcome us with sincere warmth and experience a festival that excites our senses. SEE the warm smiles of the locals of Bacolod City. HEAR the festive sounds of the rolling drums during the Masskara Festival. FEEL the non-stop energy of its dancers. TASTE delicious delicacies in a dazzling dining scene. And just BREATHE easy and smile and laugh all day.

Life is short. And I just don't want time to pass without me helping my best guy buddy get back to his old happy self and appreciate the beauty of life. I am now very excited to see him smile again at the MassKara Festival in Bacolod City this October. Thank you in advance, AirPhil Express! =)

Experience MassKara Festival, Hermosa Festival and Lanzones Festival this October. Airphil Express flies daily to BACOLOD, ZAMBOANGA and CAGAYAN DE ORO from Cebu and Manila. Visit www.airphilexpress.com to book!

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VJ Ruado wants to hear from you! If you want to suggest a topic, ask an advice, or just comment on my blog posts, just press the comment/s (PRESS HERE TO COMMENT) icon below. Please don't forget to include your name so I can address you properly in my next post's acknowledgment. Keep reading! Thank you very much.

ACCEPTING WHAT IS DONE IS DONE

I have learned so many lessons in life lately. I guess it's just part of growing up. I've experienced happiness, hurt, betrayal, paranoia - a salad of feelings.

I've been hurt... very hurt a lot of times this year. I cried a river. Nah, I think that's just understated. I cried an OCEAN. There were nights when I wasn't able to sleep. But at the end of those storms, I learned that people make mistakes. Sometimes, people just don't know what they are doing. This means that, if in the past people have behaved badly towards you, it wasn't necessarily because they meant to be horrid, but because they were as naive, as foolish, as human as the rest of us. They made mistakes in the way they brought you up or finished a relationship with you, or whatever, not because they wanted to do it that way, but because they didn't know any different. I make mistakes too. And I realize that I made one only after I have hurt someone. Realizing that we have made a mistake and feeling sorry for it make us a person, a real one. But I am not giving anyone license here to hurt anybody just because of the reason that we are all human.

What I want to point out is learning the lesson. You can let go of any feelings of resentment, of regret, of anger. You can accept that you are a fabulous human being because of all the bad things that have happened to you, NOT INSPITE OF THEM. What is done is done and you need to just get on with things. You could let all these things get you down, fizzle away internally like some emotional acid making you ill and resentful and stuck. But you should let them go, embrace them as character-forming and in general as positive rather than negative.

To end, let us learn to accept what is done is done... TO LET GO OF THE BAD MEMORIES AND TO RETAIN THE GOOD ONES... There is no going back, only forwards. So friends, KEEP MOVING FORWARDS!


P.S.

VJ Ruado wants to hear from you! If you want to suggest a topic, ask an advice, or just comment on my blog posts, just press the 0 comment/s icon below. If you are not a member of the Blogspot, you may choose the option OTHERS as your identity and please don't forget to put your name so I can include you in my next post's acknowledgment. Keep reading! Thank you.

THE 2008 ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES

2008 was a whirlwind of good and not-so-good memories for me. It was a salad of tests, trials, successes, failures, happiness, loneliness, smiles and tears. Come and join me as I take a look at my most memorable adventures and misadventures of the past year.

MISADVENTURE #1: DENGUE HEMORRAGHIC FEVER, MITRAL VALVE PROPublish PostLAPSE, MITRAL REGURGITATION (February and March)
Yes, the year started with me getting confined in the hospital, not just once but twice. If there's an ADVANTAGE or REWARD CARD for frequent admissions in a hospital, I am very sure I have earned a lot of reward points right now. Had six (6) bags of platelet concentrate transfused in my body, experienced a very low platelet count of 21, bleeding gums, a very dark skin complexion and a near-death experience. Experienced ECG and HOLTER MONITOR and discovered that I do have a not-so-normal heart.

I was this thin!

MISADVENTURE #2: A STOLEN PHONE

Yes, my phone was stolen. Nokia 1112. That's just after I went out of the hospital and was trying to live normally again. Yet BOOM, got Mr. Bad Luck always on my side.

ADVENTURE #1: THE COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION 3 (May)

At last, got my first memorable adventure last MAY 2008 when I passed the Comprehensive Examination 3. Well, I might be a pro in failing these Departmental Comprehensive Exams but yey, I passed this time...take one! Thirty-three (33) units of subjects, two (2) weeks of taking the examination, grueling study periods and praise God I passed! Yey!

ADVENTURE #2: THE FEASIBILITY STUDY DEFENSE (June)

After more than a year of doing the study, after series of cancelled defense attempts, I finally did it. With top caliber Graduate School panel (Dr. Merlyn Mendoza - College of Business Dean, Dr. Reuben Carpizo - Graduate School Professor, and Dr. Reuel Narbarte - University HR Director and Graduate School Professor, and it was his first time to sit as one of the panelists in the Undergraduate School), I did it. It was a brave move to face them and everything I did paid off. I am extremely happy to get an Excellent / A grade from them and I am so thankful to Dr. Marta Macalalad, my FS Adviser, for guiding and teaching me to face my fears.

MISADVENTURE #3: THE DEPRESSING FIRST PREBOARD EXAMINATION RESULT (July)

It was my birth month but it didn't bring me a good gift. Had a 62% grade in Auditing Problems and it was really bad. Really really bad. Expectators (my term for those people who always expects a lot from me, a combination of expectations and spectators) got disappointed and they got me disappointed also for expecting a lot from me.

ADVENTURE #3: A NEW NOKIA 5700 ExpressMusic PHONE (September)

Thanks to my family, they got me a new phone, mmm...edit...my dream phone! I didn't really expect to have it since I got a phobia anymore that it might get stolen again. The phone is really perfect for my lifestyle and I just feel so really blessed that I have it.

ADVENTURE #4: CE BICOL TOUR (September)

At last, I got myself to Bicol and it was with my close friends, with the Celestial Echoes! Sang Bukunat Woman again for the 5th straight year and I'm very happy I still get the audience's laughs for doing it. I was so happy to get reunited with my good friend and kuya...DOC URIEL and he toured me and our little brother Jeremy around his place. He also brought the CE to a Hot Spring which made us feel relaxed and break out of school activities for hours. Ahhh... I miss th0se moments so much.

The Overjoyed Celestial Echoes

Hotties in a Hot Spring!

The Suplado Brothers


CPA. NURSE. DENTIST.

ADVENTURE #5: REVENGE SERVED COLD (September)

I passed the Review School of Accountancy's Final Preboard Examination with flying colors. The First Preboard Exam result got me really hurt but I used that event to push myself more, to strive more, and with the help of our Almighty Father, VJ ranked 1st in AUP, 2nd in Region 4 and 11th in the review school. Praise God!

ADVENTURE #6: BIYAHE TAYO (October and November)


I had a three-week vacation in Davao, a three-day surprise holiday getaway in Boracay, a 12-hour historical tour in Cebu City and a one-week relaxation in my hometown, Iligan City. And I am hoping for more trips this year because I just discovered that I love travelling.

Beach Body...sige Buddy nalang. =)

Cebu Pacific!!!

MISADVENTURE #4: LOST MY WALLET (December)


Two (2) ATMs, P200.00, my best friend's picture, MAMC Clinic Visitation Cards and other loyalty cards were in my lost wallet. I didn't know how it got lost and I am not planning to exert an extra effort finding it out. I just really hope who ever has my wallet got really blessed. =)


MISADVENTURE #5: CANCELLED TRIPS (December)

I was planning to spend Christmas with a very good friend and the New Year with my family, had tickets already but the trips got cancelled for the reason I cannot disclose. Maybe it was just not the right time or God's time and I am trying myself to believe that there is always a next time.Cancelled.

What a year for me, right? But I am so grateful to the Lord for it...for all the blessings that have come my way in 2008 and the misadventures I have encountered during the past year too because it made me reflect and learn from them in the hopes of improving myself and my relationships with people and most of all, with God for the coming year. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of us!




PS:


ADVENTURE #7 AND MISADVENTURE #6: I GOT FAT!

Adventure because "YeY!" I got fat for the first time, but "Yayks!", I got a big big belly na! Laugh trip! =)

BIGGER! =)

To the readers: You may comment on this blog entry by pressing the 0 comment/s icon. If you are not a member of the Blogspot, you may choose the option Others as your Identity and please don't forget to put your name so I can include you in my next post's Acknowledgment. Thank you! =)

BREAKING THE RULES!!!

Warning: Please don't do this at home... or anywhere. :D

I have always been a law-abider since childhood. But two weeks ago, I tried to break free and break a rule. Just for the sake of temporary happiness and making a "slight, temporary, and I-will-try-not-to-do-this-again" difference in my very obedient life. Here's the BIG evidence:

What's your best law-breaking experience? Share it with me by leaving a comment on this post. I might share some of the best law-breaking experience of yours in my next post.

Defeat.

I am deeply saddened by my First Pre-board examination results. My grades in the four (4) subjects I took on the first day of the examination were awesome - all were in the line of 9. But the results of the other four (4) subjects I took on the second and last day of the exam were the opposite of the first four (4). They were in the lines of 6 and 7. After the checking of papers this morning, I got really really disappointed. It seems like my world is going to tear down into pieces again. Again! I am so extreme - basing on my results of a mixture of very high and very low ratings. What's wrong with me? What went wrong? That I don't know - the reason I still have to search. Analyze. Realize. And learn lessons from them. Argghhhh... I hate it. Really hate it. I think if I were to define the word depression, it would be VJ Ruado.

But, that's life I guess. I have to rise everytime I fall. Again. And again. Who can help me recover? I think I am the only person who can help myself rise. Recover. And try again. To be better than yesterday.

Defeat! I have to put my first pre-board defeat behind me and come back stronger than ever. That's what makes a TRUE CHAMPION, I guess, bouncing back from a painful defeat and proving that you have a heart for it.

BIRTHDAY THANK YOUs

I don't want to miss the chance to thank everyone who remembered me on my birthday. Uber thank you for the greetings mapa-personal, text message, call, friendster, or yahoo messenger man. You made me feel very special on that day.

My Kapamilya: Mama, Papa, Sis, Trisha, Ate Lindy;

Tito and Tita: Uncle Celso and Auntie Beth of Canada;

Cousins: Ate Janette Riano, Kuya Al Baluyot, Alberth Ruado, Ate Pidang Ali, Koyang Lex Baluyot, Ate Ding Refulgente, Ate Lik Lik Buot , Ate Shirlene Rosas, Ate Josie Ruado, Ate Sally and Kuya Joel Refulgente;

Nephews and Nieces: Kim and Bon-Bon Riano, Ate Linda of USA, Shine, Faith, Dawn and Pangga Ruado, Dennis and Ace Refulgente (Salamat sa T-shirt dude!);

MMA Highschool Classmates and Friends: Kirk Jajalla, Ruby Anne Tenchavez, Rarai Lim , Russell Vincent Yu, Leah "Pelay" Pelayo, Mariel "My Friend" Dinampo, Rochelyn Visaya, Ma'am Honor, Ate Jyn and Joy Colegado, Ivy Faminiano, Sam Sam Salarda, Kim Derek Talasan , Glendell Love, Sky Bayeta;

AUP Friends: Rhanie Quilao, Miss Guantero (Salamat sa pag-simba on that eve to pray for me), Jane Genebago, Shanon de Guzman, Pamz Pame, Datz Datu, Glenn Tan, Papitch Rojo, Dhen Migriño, Wenny, Kat, Jaciel, Roel Septimo, Melo Jean, Ate Che Cosejo, Kuya Epoy Teves;

LAA Friends (Kahit di ako dun nag-highschool pero salamat sa friendship): Krizzy Medina, my new friend Jazel Martinez, Tin-Tin Flores, Mheck Pasco, Ade Rodriguez, Genel;

MVC Friend: Pax;

Celestial Echoes Family: Best Prend Joggie (Nga-tigulang na!), Jeremy "Bunso" Laguda (Salamat sa pag-post ng Friendster Bulletin), Uriel Zarsaga, Gay Gay Pedreña, Kuya BJ Tan, Precious, Christie "Egyptian" Tandoy, Kuya Mike Valiao, Andy "Andong" Ayque, Bamba Paez, Kyla "The Fornicator" Micua, Kate Arguelles, Shanie Dieta, Dann "Direk" Bañas, Elise Bañas (narin), Dee Flores, Lovely Cosejo, Lorenze, Royce Tandoy, Erik Villamater, Dea Gabitoya, AteT in-Tin (Di ko na alam last name mo ate...), Ate Marz Amboya-LUALHATI (Kailangan lakihan), Christian "Long", Beloy "Short", Aziz Amoyen, King and Papa Rotti (Na mga nag-hirap to make my poster sa AUP attractive... Maraming Salamat sa paglagay ng poster kahit wala ako dun. Uber Thank you);

Batchmates: Buenas Ramos, Che "Miss Very Intelligent" Fabregas, Jolly Beltran, Arlene "The Singing Lola" (Salamat sa pag-luto), Ness Constante, Rushel Agagas (super salamat sa cake!), Don Entia (Okay lang ba ang Iced Te ni Arlene?), Cindy Fontecilla, and Jemai Albento - hope you liked our very simple lunch together;

AUP College of Business Family: Ma'am Bing, Sir Pido, Ma'am Mendoza, Sir Red;

Friendster friends: Qyuthqa, Cheil, Onhel (Although di ko kayo personally kilala pero super thanks sa greetings)

at sa mga lahat na nag-greet sa akin na hindi ko naisulat sa blog na ito due to my memory gap... sorry dahil hindi ko matandaan lahat and thank you sa pag-greet...

UBER SALAMAT MGA KAPAMILYA and FRIENDS!!!

My 21st year in life was full of surprises. What is waiting for me on my 22nd? I am very ready to welcome another year of surprises, excitement, fun, drama, lessons and LIFE!!! Thanks Lord!!!

Past. Present. Future.

Ano ang nangyari since my last post? Ano na ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon? Ano ang mangayayari sa buhay ni VJ Ruado? Ang mga sagot, heto na.

Past.

Successful Celestial Echoes Concerts. Super "THANK YOU LORD" talaga for the two successful CE Concerts - the 25th Anniversary Concert in Philamlife Auditorium and the 25th Anniversary Concert (The Repeat) in AUP Finster Chapel. Everybody thought it would be impossible to have these concerts but the group survived! Yey! Again, I did the solo parts of the immortal Bukunat and the Sumabit sa Christmas Tree novelty songs. I'm really happy I was still able to make the audience laugh kahit na alam ni Direk at alam ko na I'm too old for these songs at di ko ever maimagine na ako pala ang pinagtatawanan ng mga taong nanonood. :D

Dengue Hemorraghic Fever and Mitral Regurgitation. I got confined in the Manila Adventist Medical Center (MAMC) twice. The first confinement diagnoses were, according to my Medical Certificate, 1. Allergin Rhinitis With Post Nasal Drip (the term is eww); 2. Hyperreactive Airways (Asthma daw to); and 3.) Systemic Viral Infection. The second confinement diagnoses were 1. Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Stage 1; and 2. Mitral Regurgitation, Cardiac Arrythmia, Sinus Tachycardia (Nosebleed? Man, it's a heart problem).I have always suspected that I already had Dengue since the first confinement pero naagapan nga lang yun. The experience was... deadly. :D I got a personal record-breaking 21 platelets according to the count and had been transfused with six (6) bags of platelet concentrate. Whew. Many friends and relatives of mine attested that I had a blue-violet skin texture na. Well, let's charge it to experience nalang. Ang importante, "Lord Buhay Ako!"

AUP Accountancy's Suicidal Comprehensive 3 Examination. I passed, whoooo. Praise God again. I miraculously passed. Now I can say, "Hay... natapos na rin ako sa mga Compre na yan."

Feasibility Study Defense. Heto pa, at last I have defended my FS na. And miraculously ... again, I got an excellent grade of 96% Another deduction of pain in the _____...hmm... what are you thinking... let me say it... HEAD!!!

Present.

AUP Accountancy's 21-unit Refresher Course. I'm currently enrolled in AUP but our classrooms are now based in Manila, specifically in the Review School of Accountancy (ReSA). Enrolled in two schools in one sem, cool isn't it? May God bless us on our First Preboard Examination of the semester on the last weekend of July.

Future.

The 10th Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition (ICFC). Jolly, Che and I are currently reviewing for the said competition on September, 2009. It's very hard to synchronize it with our Board Exam Review but we're crossing our fingers and we will do our best to be one of the Top 20 schools in the National Level. Abangan. Please Pray for Us.

Bakasyon Engrande. At last, I'm going home na. Got a very cheap Cebu Pacific ticket for Davao on October 15. I'm so excited because the last time I went home in Mindanao was 2 years ago. Yey!

2nd Sem Review. I don't know if I'd still enroll myself in the review school or mag-self study na lang but one thing is for sure, MAG-REREVIEW ako for the 2009 CPA Board Exam. :D

MArch 2009 Graduation. Heto na. Heto na. Heto na. Gragraduate na ako. Yey.

May 2009 CPA Board Examination. This is the most awaited part, judgment time. Abangan ang results. Let's hope for the best. Sana...sana pumasa.

Acknowledgment

Uber THANK YOU to the people who have helped the AUP Celestial Echoes made the 25th Anniversary Concert possible - Ang Maykapal (salamat sa boses at sa lahat), Direk Pot , Te Da, at Kuya Dann (Salamat sa pag-lead ng grupo at sa tulong sa pagpaganda ng boses namin. Salamat sa oras. Salamat sa patience), the Group's sponsors (salamat sa pagiging gabay sa tuwing kami ay nadedepress... heheh at sa food, of course mawawala ba yun?), Sa mga taong nagbigay ng tulong pinansyal (Salamat at nakasurvive din kami financially sa tulong nyo. May God bless you po), sa mga taong tumulong sa pagorganize ng event (mga ushers naming mababait at mga tagaAUP printing press, Sir Rodriguez salamat sa murang posters - wait, kung may gusto kayo ipaprint... contact nyo si Sir Rodriguez ng AUP... hahah shameless plugging ito... JAM management sa murang buses, Roy, salamat sa pagtulong sa amin ni Shanie sa tickets), sa lahat na gumastos at nanood ng concerts para supportahan kami uber salamat mga friends, at sa lahat ng myembro ng CE na nagtulong tulong para maging possible tong concert na to... maraming salamat. Mabuhay ang AUP Celestial Echoes (Echo: Mabuhay...hay...hay) !!!


Super Salamat din sa mga tumulong, bumisita, at nagtext, tumawag, or nagpakita sa akin ng mga gestures na "they care" kahit sa anong paraan:

Ade and King - sa pag-alaga sa akin sa room niyo. Uber Salamat.

Jeremy - sa pagassure na mapapagaling mo ako with your nursing skills...na hindi naman nangyari...Dengue na eh. kailangan na ihospital. hahaha. Salamat sa pagpahiram ng digital thermometer kahit nagreklamong kang super gamit na gamit na cya. hahah

Utwe - you're the best watcher. maalaga. magaling sa lahat. Maraming salamat.

Ate Neng and Ate Ding - mga pinsans kong matuod. Salamat sa pagbantay.

Ate Jan, Ate Lily, Ate Sally at Kuya Melvin - sa paghanap ng platelets para maisalba ako. Salamat.

Ate Japeth - ang aking personal nurse. salamat sa pagasikaso.

Direk Pot, Bambi at Kuya Uriel - ang mga very willing platelet donors. uber salamat sa willingness ng pagtulong.

Sa mga magagaling na Nurses ng Med 2 - especially kay ate richelle at kay lovely

Doc Migz - whoow... standing ovation sa pinakamagaling na doctor sa mundo ni VJ. Salamat.

Sa mga medtech (Bhim, RC, Mr Galapon, and Mr. new friend) - salamat sa pagturok every after 6 hours.

Krizzy - my new friend and my favorite student nurse. Salamat.

Kuya Bong and Auntie Beth - for the financial help.

Ate Lindy - for the magical, enchanting, miraculous TAWA TAWA. hahah Amazing.

Ate Inday Dano, Ma'am Bing and Sir Roxie -sa paghatid sa akin sa mamc. super salamat.

MAMC Church Singing People (Jacob, bam, et al. ) - Salamat sa flowers (saan nyo kinuha yun, huh) at sa pagkanta. Very inspiring.

Mama, Papa, beloved Sistah - sa pagluwas mula Mindanao para makapiling ako and alagaan ako. Hay heto na. Nakakaiyak na to. Salamat. I love you more.

Mindanao Sanitarium & Hospital - for the financial aid. Hehehe

Shanie, Kyla, Ian, Kate, Bossing, Jane, Pamz, Ate Sandra, Ate Che, Yung friend nila Mama from marikina, Ate Carrie and Christian, kuya Lax, Kimberly, Kuya Joel at ang kanyang dalang pinagbabawal na chocolates pero kinain ko parin, Yung dalawang kasama ni ate sally, kuya jerry galapon and his Figaro cake, Ate Joyce, at sa lahat na bumisita sa akin na hindi ko nailista ang mga pangalan nila dito -SUPER UBER SALAMAT sa inyo.


A Million Thanks din to Ma'am Marta Macalalad, ang aking beloved FS Adviser, for seriously doing her job as my adviser. hay, how can I thank you madame? Ma'am Mendoza and Ma'am Bing, for the patience sa super tagal kong pagdefend ng FS ko, salamat. Sir Narbarte, Ma'am Mendoza again, and Sir Carpizo - sa pagtadtad at gisa nyo sa akin sa aking defense pero binigyan nyo parin ako ng uber taas unexpected na grades... hay....super duper salamat.


At sa lahat na nagbasa ng blog na to kahit matagal na ako di nakapost at sa mga nagrequest na magsulat ulit ako... kayo ang dahilan bakit nakapagsulat ulit ako sa blog ko. Keep on reading. Salamat.

PS : Regards sa pinaghalong ENGLISH at TAGALOG sa post nato. Kumusta naman yun?

Wanna Hear VJ Sing?

I only sing when I'm with the Celestial Echoes so better watch the 25th Anniversary concert of the group at the Philamlife Theater, United Nations Avenue, Manila, November 19, 2007 (that's a Monday), 7:00 pm. Ticket Prices: P250 and P500 but I can give you personal discount (para mapanood nyo lang kami...hehehe...). We have prepared a very nice repertoire for you to enjoy the night kaya SULIT NA SULIT!!!

For AUPians, you may reserve a bus seat now to me or any CE Member. AUP-Philamlife-AUP fare costs only P150 and you may pay the fare on November 19,2007 na basta nakapagpareserve na kayo.

So, see you there ha??? Maraming Salamat.

Choices.

True or False? Yes or No? A, B, or C? To do it or not? Right or left? – these are the common choices that we face each day. Life is never complete without choices. No matter how small that choice is, we should consider and choose the best one, what we think is the right one for us. Let’s all remember, our choices today shape our life tomorrow. What we are now is the result of what we have decided or chosen yesterday.

Sometimes we ask, “Can we be on neutral ground? Pwede bang maybe or half yes and half no?” IT’S NOT POSSIBLE MY FRIENDS. We only get to choose one side. But, sabi nga ni Peter Parker sa SPIDERMAN 3, “It’s the choices that makes us who we are... and WE CAN ALWAYS CHOOSE TO DO WHAT’S RIGHT.” If you can’t decide agad, look up and ask GOD for help. He has always been very willing to help us when we’re confused.

Is it a DEAL or NO DEAL?

Last summer, while on my way to work, I saw the comeback ad of Kapamilya Deal or No Deal on TV. On that ad were the instructions on how to join as a studio contestant. At first, I was hesitant to join because last year I tried but never received a message from them. But the thought of trying again bothered me… “Why not? P2.50 lang naman mawawala sa akin.” So I tried and before I sent my registration, I prayed, “Lord, sana kahit sa screening lang. Pa-experience naman dyan oh.”

A day after, I got a text message from 2331 that I have a chance daw to be a studio contestant and was invited for screening on May 22, 2007 at 10:00 am. Grabe, bigla akong kinabahan. God answered my prayer within 24 hours – ang bilis! Amazing!

So I went to ABS-CBN and tried. I learned from the ABS-CBN gate security guards that not all people who texted and tried to join receives an invitation for screening, meaning, receiving a text from the show was actually, their first screening. On the second screening, we were divided into three (3) batches because we were too many – about 700. I was in the second batch.

We waited for about an hour for the first batch to finish. When it was our turn, grabe I felt cold. There was a host-wannabe there na super funny and he’s entertaining the hopefuls. Pero strategy na pala nila yun para makita ang mga taong di nahihiya sa cam. He was throwing funny jokes sa amin, although some were a bit personal, and it made us feel relaxed. Then Dr. Randy Dellosa, PBB’s well-known resident psychiatrist, administered a psychological test. There were three parts and only answerable by OO, HINDI, MEDYO, MINSAN. So that means there’s no right or wrong answer, they’re just looking for unique personalities that would fit to be a studio contestant.

To make the long experience short, out of the 700 people, I was part of the TOP 20. I made it to the third screening. The last screening was like an artista search wherein you face the camera and sell yourself and your story and do what the other show staff wants you to do. I need not mention what they asked me to do kasi nakakahiya (pero I did it, huh?). Pero one thing in this experience that I won’t forget…Dr. Randy Dellosa commented, “VJ, you have a unique personality and pwede ka sa Big Brother House. Bakit di ka nagaudition dun?” Grabe, I was so elated. I was not part of the chosen three studio contestants pero I went homel happy because I realized that the chosen ones really deserved to be chosen…they need the money more than I do – one of the contestants was a breast cancer survivor, the other one was on a wheel chair, and the third ay nasunugan ng house sa Navotas. Okay na okay na ako na makapasok sa first and second screening and sa comment pa lang ni Dr. Dellosa, I already felt like a winner. I felt so blessed.

Lesson learned: There is really no harm in trying. Don’t afraid to plunge yourself in challenging activities, in the end whether you win or lose, you gain something – a lesson!

Amazing. Ang Galing!

I hosted again (2^nd straight year) the THANKSGIVING CEREMONY of the College of Business- Accountancy Department for the New CPA Board passers last June 13, 2007. As usual, I was approached at the last minute so after my Production and Operations Management class, I quickly dressed up and went to Finster Chapel. FYI: I told myself last March that after grumaduate ni Jog, I won’t host any event na pero I can’t resist eh, this was my only chance to interview Mr. Top 7 in the CPA Board Exam this year and ask some tips. Yes, you’ve read it right, AdventistUniversity of the Philippines has again produced a topnotcher (wala dawng ganitong word sa dictionary, pasensya na I’m using it) in the name of Sir/Kuya Geryson Magbojos. AUP’s passing rate? 75% and the school ranked 2^nd in the 10-25 examinees category. I’ve learned lots of lessons from the CPA Board passers…very inspiring and I’m more challenged to exert more effort to be the best be that I can be. I just hope that two years from now, I will not be the host of the Thanksgiving Ceremony anymore but the one being hosted and recognized, if God permits.

Correcti Bacillus (the scientific name for Correction)

From my last post....

Wrong: For those people who lives in Mars and have never heard of Prison Break...

Correct: For those people who live in Mars and have never heard of Prison Break...

To my editor-in-chief/Sister : Thank you for the corrections. I stand corrected. Salamat.

My Music Pick for the Week.

Haven’t seen the movie yet but I was bitten by this song’s last-song-syndrome bug. Heard it only a few times but it kept on playing on my mind and it always makes me sing sa bathroom even though I don’t memorize the lyrics. I sing like , “All I wanna do is find a way back into love…nanananananananananana.” So for the people who were also bitten by the same bug, the lyrics of this song is for us.

[Cora]
I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

[Alex]
I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need them again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Oh oh oh

[Cora]
I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's gotta be something for my soul somewhere

[Alex]
I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

[Cora]
There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

[Cora & Alex]
All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

FAVORITE TEXT MESSAGES I RECEIVED LATELY

“ If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.”

Ruby Anne, friend

“ I love you Vic Jun”

- Trisha, my little sister

VJ: (Wondering…) When did my little sister learn how to send a text message, hmmmm….. and talagang complete first name, huh? Pero I find it very sweet.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

Ate Jynny. What’s the web address of your online journal? I’m dying to read it. Thanks for dropping by.

Sir Jerry Galapon. Wow, thanks for the comments…very inspiring. Super honored ako makareceive ng comment sa naging right hand ni Ma’am OT (A prolific AUP English professor and the ex-adviser of the student publication)

Ate Gina Royo. Isa ka rin pala sa nagbabasa ng mga adventures at misadventures ko sa buhay? Thank you for always reading my posts. It inspires me to write more articles despite my busy sked.

MJ and Jen (THE ONE 2009 friends). Thank you for the very positive comments. Send my regards sa mga katropa natin way back in highschool.

Mommy Tayen, Tita Fridz, Kuya Ramil Ate Judy and Sir Nilo (My NPUM mentors and family). Thanks for the lessons you taught me…hindi lang tungkol sa Accounting ang mga natutunan ko kundi pati about life. I learned a lot from you po and maraming maraming salamat. Namiss ko kayo….sobra. Thanks for the MAX’s and KFC moments.

*To the readers: You can comment on this post by pressing the Ocomment/s icon. If you are not a member of the BLOGSPOT, you can choose the option Others as your Identity and please don't forget to put your name so i can include you in my next post's Acknowledgment. Thank You!

TAKING RISKS

Risks.

Are you afraid to take risks? If yes, appear (Give me five)! Being a perfectionist, I was afraid to take risks. I was the kind of person who’s scared to lose a game and fail. I preferred not to play the game if I know I’ll lose. I wanted everything to be sure-ball, a success. Take note, I used past tense verbs because those were before – the past. Because of life’s tests and trials that I’ve experienced, I’ve learned to take risks. I learned to always try again after falling down.

Friends, don’t be afraid to commit mistakes and fail. Because it is in those mistakes and failure that we learn the lesson, that we know how to make things right.

Prison Break.

I was browsing the net last week and saw that Prison Break is the number one (#1) topic being searched in Yahoo that day! Intrigued, I searched it in Wikepedia. The synopsis got me curious so when I went out of AUP last Friday after receiving my Comprehensive Exam 2 Result Letter, I bought a pirated DVD from my suki vendor (where else can I get cheaper and updated DVDs, diba?Aminin nyo na, bumibili din kayo ng Pirated DVDs. Defensive???). I started watching last Saturday night and finished the first season yesterday. So far, after watching the first season, I can confidently comment that the series is indeed very interesting. Every episode leaves you hanging…which makes you crave to watch the next episode. It keeps you glued to the tube.

For those people who lives in Mars and have never heard of Prison Break, the story revolves around a man who was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit and his brother's elaborate plan to help him escape his death sentence. That’s it, for if I’ll give more information about the series, it won’t be interesting for you to watch anymore.

Lesson learned: Indeed, blood is thicker than wine. Yun lang. Hehehe…

Dream. Believe. Survive.

I’m not talking about Starstruck here but DREAMGIRLS. At last, I’ve seen the movie na. I love it – the songs, the powerhouse cast and their powerful voices, and the story. I never knew Eddie Murphy and James Foxx can sing. Our African brothers and sisters are truly gifted. As of today, I haven’t seen/heard a Black person who cannot sing. Their golden voice is, I think, in-born.

If I’m asked who’s better between Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce, I’d say both are very good singers. I’d be unfair if I’ll say Jennifer Hudson. Yes, Jennifer Hudson indeed showed her singing prowess in the movie. She also acted very well. She gave justice to the Effie role. She really deserved the Oscar. Beyonce on the other hand was also good, but I think she was advised to act soft and sing like Tina Turner of The Supremes (because this musical is based on the story of The Supremes). So friends, the issue here are the roles. In reality, both of them are really good. But because of their roles, they should act, sing, and project like that of the character so it is really unfair to compare these singers. Nagkataon lang talaga na the role Jennifer Hudson, Effie, is really more domineering if you compare it with Beyonce’s role as Deena Jones.

Lesson learned: Never give up in reaching for your dreams. Believe in yourself. Survive the pool of tests and trials. Do what you really love to do.

My Music Pick for the Week.

From the movie DreamGirls, I’m introducing to you Beyonce’s “Listen”.

Listen,

To the song here in my heart

A melody I start But can't complete

Listen ...MMM.. to the sound from deep within

It's only beginning To find release

Oh, the time has come for my dreams to be heard

They will not be pushed aside and turned

Into your own all cause you won't Listen....

[Chorus]

Listen,I am alone at a crossroads

I'm not at home, in my own home

And I tried and tried To say what's on my mind

You should have known

Oh, Now I'm done believin' you

You don't know what I'm feelin'

I'm more than what, you made of me

I followed the voice you gave to me

But now I gotta find, my own..

You should have listened

There is someone here inside

Someone I'd thought had died so long ago

Ohh I'm free now and my dreams to be heard

They will not be pushed aside and turned

Into your own

All cause you won't Listen...

[Chorus]

I don't know where I belong

But i'll be movin' on

If you don't....If you won't....

LISTEN...

To the song here in my heart

A melody I start But I will complete

Oh, Now i'm done believin' you

You dont know what I'm feelin'

I'm more than what, you made of me

I followed the voice, you think you gave to me

But now I gotta find, my own...MY OWN...

Try this.

Pa-tweetums and pa-cute cute in pictures is not uso anymore…maybe in my case. I’ve tried a new pose/position…Jumping/Floating/Above-the-floor/kakaibang level! Whatever you call it, try it! Enjoy.

Vocabulary Dictionary.

Jombag (Jhom – bag) , verb. To punch, box, jab using a fist.

Use it in a sentence: “Tumigil ka nga dyan, jojombagin na kita!”

*Thanks to Ma’am Tere of RCBC for the word. Isn’t it obvious? That’s the word she used pag-naasar na sa akin.

Favorite Text Messages I Received Lately.

“ 2 things in life u have 2 take mental note of:

Don’t make any decisions when ur ANGRY…
and never make any promise when ur HAPPY! ”

- From Ma’am Marchie Mercader

VJ’s Comment: Agree!

“ The greatest mistakes we make are the risks we didn’t take…if you think something will make you happy, go for it so that you won’t live your life asking ‘wat if’ and telling yourself ‘if only’.”
- from a Concerned Citizen ( Actually, di ko kilala ang nagtext)

VJ’s Comment: Buti nalang I didn’t make a mistake in deciding to take again the Compre Exam 2 kung hindi nagsisi na ako ngayon. Whew! Salamat Lord.

Acknowledgment.

Kuya Eric Baroy Mahinay. Thanks for being an avid reader.

To that Anonymous Reader. Thank you for dropping by and for the appreciation. Keep reading po.

*To the readers: You can comment on this post by pressing the Ocomment/s icon. If you are not a member of the BLOGSPOT, you can choose the option Others as your Identity and please don't forget to put your name so i can include you in my next post's Acknowledgment. Thank You!