my life

Two years and two days

I’ve been told one too many times that marriage is not a bed of roses. Having been married for two years and two days, I know this to be true. But I also know that it is a wonderful journey worth taking with someone you love. And for me, I can’t see myself going through this path with anyone else except with the man I married. Sure we’ve stepped on some landmines along the way, hurt each other a few times with words we never really meant to say. But I still wouldn’t trade this for the world. Ok, maybe I can consider if it’s Aga Muhlach we are talking about…but, I kid, ofcourse.

I now know that it’s actually glitches like these that makes relationships much stronger. In two years, I’ve realized that marriage is not just about the L word (I meant Love, in case you were thinking of something else). I’ve learned that the success of the marriage hinges mostly on the couple’s ability to accept each other’s difference.

In the beginning, I must admit that I resented the fact that Joel was not like me. That he didn’t talk to me about things that were important to him. That he often kept to himself during social calls. That he wasn’t comfortable about sharing his feelings, thoughts and plans. I thought that making this marriage meant molding him into the person I wanted him to be. But after two years, I realized that it really is all about acceptance. That we have to revel in our differences. That our difference is what drives our growth as individuals and as a couple.

More importantly, I realized that marriage is about partnership. That it really is important to have someone whom you can count on, someone you can trust, from the littlest of things to the most important of tasks — like taking care of the little one.

Last night, while I was attending our team dinner, Joel took over the task of putting Anton to bed. It took him awhile but he did it. I was able to enjoy the night with my team because I knew he would take care of Anton. When I went arrived home a little before midnight, I saw them sleeping beside each other — father facing son and son facing father. Watching them peacefully sleep together, I knew I married the right man. Flaws and all.




Happy anniversary to us, Joel!

my own domain!!

Guess what Joel bought me for our 2nd wedding anniversary??

My own new domain: . Yahoo!

Yey, now I can blog and do whatever I want using my own name!! Yipee. I know its babaw but for me, it's actually quite cool to see my name with a .com at the end. I decided to use my maiden name because, well, most people still know me by that name and after all, longevity wise, I have been using it far longer than my married name.

So what to do with the website with my name on it? Blog, ofcourse!!!

Joel has also helped me move all of the contents of this site to the new page so all of you who are reading this can now access the same page here. Walang labis, walang kulang.

For those who have linked me up, can you please update the links in your site as well? Thanks mucho.

I will still try to keep this site a mirror site for the new page but no, promises, ok? To be safe (and updated), just go straight to my new domain.

Global Marketing Team Pic

Exceptional service. Insightful solutions. One Team.

Naks! =)

The Writing Desk

Everyone, meet our team's all-time favorite probie (Marc) and the newest probie, Abbey (who, by the way, was my classmate in Prep -- wudja believe!!).

Help couldn't have come at a better time, really. God knows that with all the work coming our team's way, we certainly are glad to have these two new probies on board.

Ah, I love this team. Love it so much that it's scary. Really.



Clockwise: Badj, Marc, Carrie, Abbey, moi and boss Rese.

And opcors golfcourse, here's another pic of me and my sparring partner at work: Carrie "the One" Onida!!!



Oh di ba? Posing as if this was our first picture together. Susme, ang dami na ata nameng picture ng babaeng ito! Daig pa ata ang wedding pics namen ni Joel hehehe. Love you, Cayi!

How much of the Philippines have you seen?

I took the Lakbayan survey just to see how I fared. Apparently, I am a B grade traveller -- meaning I have seen/been to quite a number of places in the country. Mind you, our country being an archipelago, this is no mean feat.

I guess I have my previous PR job to thank for this high grade. In my two-year stint with them, I have visited, among others:

1. Dos Palmas (twice)
2. Cebu (countless times)
3. Davao (thrice)
4. General Santos (once)
5. Bohol (once)
6. Bacolod (once)
7. Cagayan de Oro (once)

And the best part of all, these trips were free!! =)

My wanderlust has also taken me to places up north such as:

1. Baguio (several times -- most memorable of which was with my family before Kuya went to the US)
2. Puerto Galera (at least four times)
3. Boracay (once pa lang but I intend to change that soon)
4. Bicol (thanks to an OJT with the office of then Senator Webb)
5. La Union (one of my bestfriends, Raymond, took us there after graduation)

It is quite amusing to see how much I have seen of the Philippines if it is shown in a map like this:

My Lakbayan grade is B!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Happy birthday, Chie!

I've heard it said
that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them -- and we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you




Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good



So much of me is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend



Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

--excerpts from the song "For Good"




Sorry, Chie. Had to plunder some pics from your multiply site. Wasn't able to scan our pics in Singapore eh. Sowi. Then again, it's the thought that counts, right?

A happy, lovely, nothing-short-of-amazing birthday, to you -- my one-women-pep-squad-slash-bestest friend-slash-shrink-slash-sister whom destiny forgot to give me. Love you with all my heart.

Soccer baby

Move over David Beckham, our little boy is poised to take your place in the world of football.