On my 34th year

Things I am thankful for:

· That I am still alive. Despite of my diabetes, I could still do things I would like to do

· My family – for always being there and for being my inspiration

· My true friends - I know they are few but I know I could count on them if I need help. With the friends like you guys, there’s no way I could go wrong.

· The people who pretended to be my friends – still I thank you. You made me appreciate my true friends better.

· A person who reminded me that I could still be capable of loving. Too bad it didn’t work, but I do learn a lot. Next time, I’ll be better.

· My promotion – though I am not comfortable with the new position, it challenge me to be a better leader and not to be the leader that I used to dislike.

· Dmitri (my third laptop) and GhildonX (my Xperia X10 phone)

Lessons I learned:

· Prioritize people who matters to you and treated you well because you matter to them. Don’t settle on being an option if there are people who could treat you well.

· Despite of your good motives and intentions, you will not please everybody. Make sure that you acknowledge those who appreciate things you do. Evaluate words from the critics and never mind the haters.

· Never forget to say thanks for every help that comes along the way whether big or small.

· Be careful and examine what people tell you. Not all those who said that they are your friends are friends. Always be careful of conflicting actions and acts. Learn to identify who are telling the truth and trust then. Stay away from those who are untrue.

· Good things come to those who wait. Patience is a virtue.

· Accept the things that you cannot change nor control.

· Be careful of people who will twist the truth or say a partial truth to make themselves look good by making you look bad.

A look back in 2010...

This is quite late... but here are the highlights:
- Kobe's Binyag
- Caliraya Trip
- Puerto Galera trip with Alfie, Jhunnie and Marvin
- My 33rd birthday
- Badminton
- My Medical City stay - got hospitalized to lower blood sugar
- Watched local version of Legally Blonde
- Lost weight
- Got promoted to manager
- Started going to gym
- Coron getaway
- Choi and Cherie's wedding
- Goodbye Dos...Hello Dmitri
- Singapore trip with Anthony, Mitch, Mama and Annabelle
- Let go Omnia, Welcome Xperia X10
- Danced during the Christmas party (DJ got Falling in love again)
- Got braces
- Started dating =)
- Celebrated Christmas and New Year with complete family (though Mama, Anthony, Mitch and Annabelle are with us via webcam)

What am I looking forward /wish for 2011?
- New project assignment.
- More travel
- My second niece Ela
- Maintain good health
- To go back to Sydney to meet Ela
- Choi and Cherie's first child
- More photogigs
- More cooking assignments
- To love and be loved

2010-12-26

“Don't rely on someone else for your happiness and self worth. Only you can be responsible for that. If you can't love and respect yourself - no one else will be able to make that happen. Accept who you are - completely; the good and the bad - and make changes as YOU see fit - not because you think someone else wants you to be different.”

2010-12-24

"The best feeling in the world is realizing you’re perfectly happy even without the person you thought you needed the most."

What are the things Ghildon missed?

Please see some changes:
What are the things Ghildon missed?

*10/8 updates on red

* 10/30 updates on green

• Blogging - translating thoughts into words done
• Cooking and baking - will cook for Cherie’s birthday this Saturday
• Sleeping in the couch at home in front of the TV watching reality show/series until wee hours in the morning. Cooking scrambled egg or preparing yakisoba to have something to eat while watching. – will do that on Saturday
• Commuting - Taking roundtrip in MRT, queuing for FX, stopping by Trinoma to grab something to eat - went Trinoma last Tuesday to pickup a book in Fully Booked.
• Reading - comic book, pocketbook, magazine, non-work literature, etc – done. Finished “Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. Now reading "A Day with Perfect Stranger"
• Having some light conversation and some laughs with some friends - a conversation about anything under the sun – had spent some time with a friend talking about anything
• Going out shopping with her sister -- had dinner and movie instead
• Going to Quiapo, Ongpin, Avenida and Divisoria. It's an exploration experience - the food trip, church trip, shops, cultural discoveries, etc. This is the local version of being lost in the streets of NYC. – done. Twice
• Watching movies - can't remember the last movie I saw - saw legend of the Guardian last Sunday
• Chatting and playing online domino with Chie
• Going to bookstores - browsing for books – went to Fully Booked last Tuesday
• Watching cartoons
• Going to the gym (I need to find time to do this) – went to the gym today
• Sleeping more than 6 hours - no matter what I do, I always woke up on the sixth hour... signs of aging? - in progress
• Friday night gimmick – went out last night
• some friends who are so patient and understanding to listen to me ranting about my woes
• Developer role.
• the simple life and being a kid =(

2010-10-14

Invincible

I don't have nerves of steel
I have a heart that feels
I may have cried a million
tears but I wont drown
I let myself unfold
Gave you my hand to hold
You took me beyond where
I could see
And then you let go of me. .

Chorus:
I was damaged by the fall
Got the wind knocked out of me
To be standing here at all
I must be invincible
I thought that I would break
But now I have come to see
Something strong and beautiful
Inside of me
I must be invincible

I dont have X-rays eyes
Don't have a heart so wise
How could I have known
you'd let me down

If I had known that then
my eyes were wide open
I still believe I would've risked it
There's no way i would've missed it

Chorus:
I was damaged by the fall
Got the wind knocked out of me
To be standing here at all
I must be invincible
I thought that I would break
But now I have come to see
Something strong and beautiful
Inside of me
I must be invincible

Hey yeah yeah. . . its a
blessing and a curse
Hey yeah yeah. . . But
you find out just
what you're worth.

I was damaged by the fall
Got the wind knocked out of me
To be standing here at all
I must be invincible

I thought that I would break
But now I have come to see
Something strong and beautiful
Inside of me

2010-10-13

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

2010-10-12

“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option”

2010-10-08

"I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. I'm free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. My faith demands -- this is not optional -- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference."

Update on what I missed doing

Please see some changes:
What are the things Ghildon missed?

• Blogging - translating thoughts into words done
• Cooking and baking - will cook for Cherie’s birthday this Saturday
• Sleeping in the couch at home in front of the TV watching reality show/series until wee hours in the morning. Cooking scrambled egg or preparing yakisoba to have something to eat while watching. – will do that on Saturday
• Commuting - Taking roundtrip in MRT, queuing for FX, stopping by Trinoma to grab something to eat - went Trinoma last Tuesday to pickup a book in Fully Booked.
• Reading - comic book, pocketbook, magazine, non-work literature, etc – done. Finished “Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. Now reading "A Day with Perfect Stranger"
• Having some light conversation and some laughs with some friends - a conversation about anything under the sun
• Going out shopping with her sister
• Going to Quiapo, Ongpin, Avenida and Divisoria. It's an exploration experience - the food trip, church trip, shops, cultural discoveries, etc. This is the local version of being lost in the streets of NYC.
• Watching movies - can't remember the last movie I saw - saw legend of the Guardian last Sunday
• Chatting and playing online domino with Chie
• Going to bookstores - browsing for books – went to Fully Booked last Tuesday
• Watching cartoons
• Going to the gym (I need to find time to do this) – went to the gym today
• Sleeping more than 6 hours - no matter what I do, I always woke up on the sixth hour... signs of aging? - in progress
• Friday night gimmick – this can be arranged
• some friends who are so patient and understanding to listen to me ranting about my woes
• Developer role.
• the simple life and being a kid =(

2010-10-06

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity."

Don't Want An Ending

I like the lyrics of this song.




Don't Want An Ending

I don't wanna fall out
But we're all out of time
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
In one day
No way you'll be mine
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)

Ooohhh...

My heart is running on empty
One more day and then we go
Yeah, the time goes on now
Don't ask me how
I don't know
We'll be home tomorrow
About a thousand miles too far away?
Say you won't forget and i'll be okay

At least tonight
It's just you and me and honestly
That's everything i need

I don't wanna fall out
But we're all out of time
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
In one day
No way you'll be mine
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)

Tonight's the countdown
'Till the day we're not around
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
And you're gone
And we're on with our lives
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
I don't want an ending

Don't want an ending...

The days turn to hours
And it’s just a moment before they go
I’m scared to say goodbye,
‘Cause what’s after that?
I don’t know.

As the years look past us
If we lose track,
Or lose the fight,

I will search forever
To find a way back..


To tonight
Where it's just you and me and honestly
That's everything I need

I don't wanna fall out
But we're all out of time
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
In one day
No way you'll be mine
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)

Tonight's the countdown
'Til the day we're not around
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
And you're gone
And we're on with our lives
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
I don't want an ending

We said "see ya later"
But I know there's no way we're
Around here again (yeah)
And every until next time
Feels like one bad punch line
And I don't want that again

I don't wanna fall out
But we're all out of time
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
In one day
No way you'll be mine
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)

I don't wanna fall out
But we're all out of time
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
In one day
No way you'll be mine
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)

Tonight's the countdown
'Til the day we're not around

(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
And you're gone
And we're on with our lives
(Is this over?)
(Don't want an ending)
(Noo) I
Don't want an ending
(All out of time)
Don't want an ending
Don't want an ending

2010-10-05

It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.

2010-10-04

"To avoid disappointment, never hold on to much on other people's words. "

Back to blogging

Yes.. after eons of inactivity in this blog, I am back. And there's no more appropriate topic to talk about than the things I missed doing.

What are the things Ghildon missed?

• Blogging - translating thoughts into words
• Cooking and baking
  
• Sleeping in the couch at home in front of the TV watching reality show/series until wee hours in the morning. Cooking scrambled egg or preparing yakisoba to have something to eat while watching.
  
• Commuting - Taking roundtrip in MRT, queuing for FX, stopping by Trinoma to grab something to eat
  
• Reading - comic book, pocketbook, magazine, non-work literature, etc
• Having some light conversation and some laughs with some friends - a conversation about anything under the sun
  
• Going out shopping with her sister
  
• Going to Quiapo, Ongpin, Avenida and Divisoria. It's an exploration experience - the food trip, church trip, shops, cultural discoveries, etc. This is the local version of being lost in the streets of NYC.
  
• Watching movies - can't remember the last movie I saw
  
• Chatting and playing online domino with Chie
  
• Going to bookstores - browsing for books
  
• Watching cartoons
• Going to the gym (I need to find time to do this)
  
• Sleeping more than 6 hours - no matter what I do, I always woke up on the sixth hour... signs of aging?
  
• Friday night gimmick
• some friends who are so patient and understanding to listen to me ranting about my woes
  
• Developer role.
  
• the simple life and being a kid =(

My 2009 Recap

My 2009 Recap

• I lost weight from 180 lbs to 126 lbs
• Welcomed Kobe Miguel
• Attended Cherie and Choy’s engagement lunch
• Finished culinary art school
• Visited Anthony, Mitch and Anabelle in Sydney
• Did cave exploration and hiking in Sagada
• Had vacation in Bohol
• Saw Wicked in Sydney
• Saw a Cory, the Musical, Spelling Bee and Spring Awakening in Manila
• Had conquered a wall and finished an obstacle course (which includes traversing a tight rope bridge) in Kampo Trexxo in Tagaytay
• Assigned in 3 teams this year – MVP, TSUP and Test team
• Started to learn a role of project manager

For next year, I am looking forward to
• Gain weight to reach 150 lbs
• See Kobe Miguel’s first birthday
• Used my culinary arts knowledge (in any ways possible)
• Attend photography school
• See Rent and other musicals in Manila
• Learn to be a good project manager

Thanks!

So far, this year’s birthday can be considered extra-ordinary:

- It started as early as March 8 and ended last Sunday (March 24)

- It has the most number of lunch and dinners:

o Dinner with teammates (Ruel, Cesar, Aleli and family, Bunso, JK and Ryan) at Picadilly

o Dinner with Jeng, Anai, Gen, Jen, Dru, Jon and Joy in Kokopelli

o Dinner with highschool classmates (Arnel, Than-than, Jheck and Biboy) at Crustacian in Trinoma

o Lunch with Miko , SC , Gem, Bibo and Erik in Sbarro

o Dinner cum seafood tripping with 77 GSI friends (Zeny, Roselle , Thea, Estie, Peter, Lucy, Dexter, Eileen and Mario) in Dampa Ortigas

o Lunch buffet with Jovic, Ally and Zai in Italianni’s

o Dinner with JP and Victor in a Mexican resto in Cybergate

o Dinner with family at home where I cooked carbonara

o College friends get-together with Richie, Jannette, Mike, Cesar and Rio in Greenbelt Parkplace.

o Dinner with Mama, Cherie, Bryan and Tina in a resto nearby PAL office

- It is the birthday where I got the most number of birthday cake – a strawberry cheese cake with fresh strawberry slices, 3 dulce de leche (2 big and a small one) and a rectangular chocolate cake. I think that offset all those years that I got no birthday cake

- For this year, I never expect for gifts. But I got a couple of surprises – a card signed by friends, a special gmail account and more. And I bought my self my own PSP.

For all those who find time to celebrate with me, super thank you!