Once a Week, Write a Heartfelt Letter

I was reading one of my favorite book, "Don't sweat the small stuff" to Andrea last night. One of Dr. Richard Carlson's, the author, suggestion is to write a heartfelt letter to someone every week. Hmmmnn... Why don't I give it a try.  It is said that it will make you more peaceful and loving. Then I remember Bhelle's letter challenges.Who knows! This might change my life. ^_^

Here is the 30 day letter challenge, you are supposed to write a letter to several different people. [Maybe I'll write in random order!]
* 1 — Your Best Friend
* 2 — Your Crush
* 3 — Your parents
* 4 — Your sibling (or closest relative)
* 5 — Your dreams
* 6 — A stranger
* 7 — Your Ex-boyfriend/girlfriend/love/crush
* 8 — Your favorite internet friend
* 9 — Someone you wish you could meet
* 10 — Someone you don’t talk to as much as you’d like to
* 11 — A Deceased person you wish you could talk to
* 12 — The person you hate most/caused you a lot of pain
* 13 — Someone you wish could forgive you
* 14 — Someone you’ve drifted away from
* 15 — The person you miss the most
* 16 — Someone that’s not in your state/country
* 17 — Someone from your childhood
* 18 — The person that you wish you could be
* 19 — Someone that pesters your mind—good or bad
* 20 — The one that broke your heart the hardest
* 21 — Someone you judged by their first impression
* 22 — Someone you want to give a second chance to
* 23 — The last person you kissed
* 24 — The person that gave you your favorite memory
* 25 — The person you know that is going through the worst of times
* 26 — The last person you made a pinky promise to
* 27 — The friendliest person you knew for only one day
* 28 — Someone that changed your life
* 29 — The person that you want tell everything to, but too afraid to
* 30 — Your reflection in the mirror

So... Good luck to me! ^_^

Ms Perfect Venus Raj

Miss Philippines 2010 Venus Raj was the crowd favorite. But she was not able to win the crown because of the judge William Baldwin's question. 

"What is one big mistake that you have made in your life and what did you do to make it right?"

After she gave her "major major" answer, everyone says "uh oh!".

"Thank you so much sir for that wonderful question. Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Good evening Las Vegas! You know what sir in my 22 years of existence I can say there is nothing major major, I mean problem that I have done in my life because I am very confident with my family with the love that they are giving to me. So thank you so much that I am here"

She could have won the crown and gave our country much pride and redeemed us a little bit from the tragic hostage crisis. But the tough question goes to her. It's really hard to admit a past mistake especially on an international tv, without thinking what would be its implication after the event. O well, maybe she's really not meant to win because nobody's perfect. And every one could make a mistake. She just have to give one. ^_^

Nevertheless, she is still a winner. Being on the top 5 is something else. So, Congratulation to Ms Venus Raj. I'm "very very" proud of you! ^_^

Manila's bus siege

The hostage crisis was all over the news, radio and television, and on the internet. But I only learned about it on my way home. [Maybe I was too busy working on my project and other stuff.]  I still was able to catch up with the live actions on TV. It was telecast live! and the whole world was watching!

There are lots of speculations why the hostage ended up with 8 death. Things like, It was the former policeman Rolando Mendoza's brothers fault. There are no coordination among the policemen on the crime scene. The whole thing was aired live on TV and radio and the hostage taker was able to monitor every move outside the bus. The authority failed to give in to his request. Lack of equipment.

According to British Army and Scotland Yard, Charles Shoebridge, there are 10 areas where Manila police could have done better. (Resource)

1) Determination

2) Lack of equipment

3) Lost of opportunity to shoot the gunman

4) Lost of opportunity to disarm the gunman

5) Satisfying the gunman's demand

6) Televised proceedings

7) No element of surprise

8) Safeguarding the public

9) Using the gunman's brother to negotiate

10) Insufficient training

Now the acronym SWAT ( Special Weapon And Tactics ) have different meanings: (source)

Sorry We Aren't Trained

Sugod, Wait, Atras, Tago

Sana Wag Ako Tamaan

Sobrang Wala Akong Training

With regards to Philippine security and Hongkong national's violent reaction about what happen, It could happen anywhere and to anyone! I feel sorry for the families who have lost their love ones who just wanted to go for a tour in our country. But the gunman did not particularly targeted the Hongkong nationals. It just happen that they are on that bus. So it's not fair to be angry to all Filipino's. I feel sorry for the OFWs in HK who were discriminated and greatly affected by the hostage crisis.

Let's just pray for the 8 souls, so they will have a peaceful travel up there. May the Lord be with us all.

I want a divorce.

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. 

Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. 

She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? 

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her! 

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. 

She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now. 

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. 

When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again. 

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage. 

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. 

She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. 

I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. 

My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside 
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office. 

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her. 

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. 

On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. 

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. 

Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. 

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. 

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. 

I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore. 

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. 

Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. 

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. 

That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead. 
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband.... 

The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! 

If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you. 

If you do, you just might save a marriage. 
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. 

A CHRIST-CENTERED MARRIAGE IS A MARRIAGE THAT IS SURE TO LAST A LIFETIME. 

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. Matthew 19:6

21 Things To Remember

Reposting from Pravsworld

1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.

2. Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be.
3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.
4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.
5. Success stops when you do.

6. When your ship comes in…. make sure you are willing to unload it.
7. You will never have it all together.
8. Life is a journey…not a destination. Enjoy the trip!
9. The biggest lie on the planet When I get what I want I will be happy.
10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

11. I’ve learned that ultimately , ‘takers’ lose and ‘givers’ win.
12. Life’s precious moments don’t have value, unless they are shared.
13. If you don’t start, it’s certain you won’t arrive.
14. We often fear the thing we want the most.
15. He or she who laughs……lasts.

16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.
17. Look for opportunities…not guarantees.
18. Life is what’s coming….not what was.
19. Success is getting up one more time.
20. Now is the most interesting time of all.
21. When things go wrong…..don’t go with them.

MMDA 101

PRINT AND KEEP A COPY IN YOUR CAR: 

Number Coding Scheme: 

1. No window hours: Makati , Malabon and Las Pinas. Number Coding is in effect from 7am to 7pm!The usual window hours is 10 am to 3 pm.

2. No number coding: Taguig, Marikina and Paranaque . So, feel free to roam around these cities anytime.

3. Pasig City has window hours of 9am to 4pm (note the 1 hour additional to the normal 10-3pm window).

4. San Juan has window hours now according to MMDA website.

5. Pasay City is implementing Number Coding except on the following roads:Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Domestic Road , Portions of Airport Road ,Sales Road , Tramo.

6. EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue , Roxas Blvd ( Pasay ) have window hours regardless of the city (meaning one can drive via EDSA in Makati any day).

7. For the rest of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Muntinlupa,Navotas, parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, Taguig,and Valenzuela) number coding is in effect (window hours of 10am-3pm is also observed). 

If any of these abuses seem familiar to you, Mr. Antonio Pagulayan(Personnel Officer) has asked that you call either the MMDA hotline (136) or call the METRO BASE at 0920 9389861 or 0920 9389875 and ask for an Inspectorate. They will send inspectors to the place where these MMDA officers are extorting, even while you are arguing out of your apprehension. 

1.MMDA officers are not allowed to group together in order to apprehend.They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of 2 or more. The only time they are allowed to work together is for special operations (probably when they apprehend groups of buses for smoke belching) 

2. Swerving IS NOT a traffic violation. Moving one lane to the left or right is not swerving, no matter where on the road you do it. And it is even less of a violation when you do it with a signal.Swerving is defined as shifting 2 or more lanes very quickly. So you can argue your way out of this, and call the Metro Base for help. 

3. Sadly, using the yellow lane is a traffic violation and will get you a ticket.However, buses are really not allowed to go out of the yellow lane, so if you see selective apprehension of private cars only, you may complain. 

4. MMDA has confirmed that your license MAY NOT BE CONFISCATED at a traffic apprehension.The only time they can do so is if you are part of an accident, or it is your third violation and you have not settled your fines yet. They are only allowed to give you a ticket, which you can contest. He recommends actually receiving the ticket in some instances, so that you can report the officer who did it. 

5. Also, you are free to ask any of these officers for their "mission order", which is written by their supervisor.If they apprehend you for a violation that is not in their mission order for the day, you can report them and they will receive disciplinary action.

Fun Run

It was my first time to join a fun run. Me and my friends [Teetel & Raquel] joined Rexona Run along with thousand of participants. My goal is not to win but to walk finish the race and experience how it feels to be a runner.

It was a torture good experience! Although I had no preparations before the event. No jogging!? No hydrating!? Basta sugod lang! hihihi

The race was fun. It was so organized. There are lots of water and power drinks. Lots of marshalls too so you won't get lost. And the results are fast. [See Result] Kudos to the organizers.

My Experience.

I set my alarm to 3:00am for the run. But my friend Denver, who's running 21k, texted me as early as 2:45am to wake me up! So I took a shower. Wake up Raquel, who slept over our house. Then we have an egg sandwich and coffee for our breakfast. And at exactly 4:00am we're off the road! Woohoo!!!

Mannix drove us to Mall of Asia after picking up Teteel from her apartment. We have to be there before 5:00am because there will be some re-routing beyond 5am. After finding a parking slot, we had our DTag attached to our shoe lace and numbers to our singlet.  Then we headed to the assembly place.

Runners for 21k were set off first then the 10k then us, 5k and 3k after. Warm up exercises were lead by the trainers up the stage. And a gunshot marks the start.

On my first 100 meters I was running along with everyone else. After that, I am catching up my breathe already. No I can't force myself! I walked on my own pace and enjoyed the view! Some runners were taking picture and documenting every kilometers they've reached. Some run in groups. Some were by themselves and were listening to their ipods.

I also heard someone shouting "Walk in the park!!!" Hmmpf! "Etchos ka!" hahaha!

When I reached the 3k signage, I sighed "3k pa lang?!!! 2k pa?!!!". Hahaha! I was cheering up myself. "2k nalang! GO Chique! GO Chique GO!" ^_^

It takes a lot of motivation to get to the finish line! And I am having some hallucinations already! hahaha! Just kidding!

At last! Time to beat for the next run! [0:59:36] Wew!

The result. Healthy body. Sexy body. Body pain. Sore feet. Fun. Experience.