The best feeling in the world

I felt the urge to share a text message forwarded by my friend. She said that I'll feel the kilig upon reading. See if you'll feel the same.

What's the best feeling in the world?

It's when you're both sleeping in a cold night...

You turn around, seeing him in his most innocent state,

You kiss him gently, making sure you won't wake him up,

You turn your back and a smile lights up your face,

Suddenly you feel an arm hug your waist, a warm breath on the back of your neck,

Then you hear him say...

"I love you."


So for all the hopeless romantics and everyone with a special someone out there, this is for you.

And I guess more so for those people who have found The One, for I know the little thought above affects you most. It may sound cheesy, but of course, you know how being loved feels like.

'Cause I do...

Finally we're in Multiply!

For sometime I was looking for sites where I can store pictures and share them online. However, I was experiencing difficulties in uploading and many of these sites were offering limited features. My friend Eben recommended that I try Multiply but I was hesitant since Multiply, like Friendster, is restricted only during lunchtime and after office hours.

So last Sunday, I saw the Photostory software on my laptop and I thought of trying of making a slideshow of our wedding pictures, which didn’t work out quite well when I used Windows Movie Maker. I discovered that Photostory is so easy to use and doesn’t occupy much capacity. So with the lesser MB it has, I tried uploading it to my long pending Multiply account and viola, it uploaded successfully.

That was when I started migrating the pictures from Flicker and then uploading some more. Uploading pictures is faster and more convenient by sending it through the Multiply email. It will be directly sent to your own Multiply site.

That’s the time I appreciated Multiply so much. It has more flexibilities and features that other sites don’t offer. I uploaded pictures of our wedding so some of our friends and relatives will finally (!) be able to see our photographer’s shots. I also put in there the Photostory videos of our wedding ceremony and reception. I will still be blogging here at Blogger though but my blog is cross-posted to Multiply so you will be able to view it there also.

That’s why during lunchtime I’m beginning to be busy updating my Multiply.

Visit our Multiply site at http://mikewendy.multiply.com/.

Remembering Jane

While I was rummaging through my office stuff as preparation for our transfer to a lower floor, I saw an old photo. It was a picture of me, Marie, Cita and Jane taken on the eve of Jane’s brain surgery in 2003. It brought back sad memories of a dear friend who had already departed.

A note made by Jane at the back of the photo said:
“Nyt before d operation (14 May 2003) w/ my officem8ts…and
“Kirk”...my favorite stuff toy…”

In the photo: Marie, Jane, me, Cita

Jane was diagnosed of brain tumor in April 2003, though the doctors determined it was benign. I could still remember Jane being so brave about it all. I was telling her of my own experience when I was myself operated back in 2000 for meningioma. I kept telling her to be strong and everything’s gonna be alright the next day, as it was for me.

Her operation was successful. However, as consequence of the tumor that beleaguered her brain, she would have to learn to live a life with severe headaches and seizures. Jane had to regularly take medications to prevent her from having seizures. Just missing one piece of that medicine would mean definite seizure for her. Our common friends have seen her bouts of seizures and they would cry over her during those moments. I haven’t seen her on any of her seizures, but I guess I would have panicked as well.

Last year, Jane’s brother died due to a kidney failure. Jane called me the night her brother died and she was crying. All I could do was utter words of comfort but I know I couldn’t take away the pain she and her family are experiencing. Her brother’s death made Jane realize even more how vulnerable she is herself of her own illness. She was afraid to know the truth that’s why she refused to have her regular checkups with the doctor.

By the time she had to see the doctor because of unbearable headaches, it was when she knew the tumor grew back. I think it grew double than it was the first time. She felt so sad about it. She didn’t even want to tell her parents about it. But her parents noticed her failing health and her frequent headaches.

One day she told me that she had to take an MRI for a further check but she had no budget for it. I told her that as a regular employee of her company, she can’t admit herself in the hospital so that her company’s health insurance will cover her MRI exam. After that I haven’t heard of her. It turned out that she went home in Bataan and eventually she had herself confined to the hospital when one time she refused to wake up. Her mom recounted to me that she was trying to wake Jane up but she wouldn’t. Her tumor had affected her brain to the point that it was already swollen, resulting in her comatose-like condition.

We visited Jane in hospital sometime early this year. It was one of her countless admission to the hospital. She was in the ICU of a Bataan hospital. I could not recognize Jane as her face and body were swollen from the medications administered to her. She also had a lot of rashes as a result also of her medicines. It was an entirely different Jane. We had to take turns to try to talk to her. When one of our friends was whispering to her ear and told her that we were all there to see her, her tears were falling even if her eyes were closed. She was in such in a desolate state.

The first of May I received a phone call from Jane’s mom. I was nervous as I thought I knew what it was about. She was sobbing while telling me the news: Jane has died. It was really heartbreaking.

I could not imagine that she’s really gone. I have lost a dear friend. We had shared so many ups and downs in our lives. I think there was no day I haven’t thought of her since she died. Everytime I pass by Max Brenner in Greenbelt, I would remember the dinners we’ve shared over happy and sad stories. Just even seeing the Greenbelt façade brings back memories of our short but meaningful friendship. It feels like she’s still alive, only we’re not seeing each other.

But at least, she’s no longer suffering.

I'm a Charlotte!

My friend Eben forwarded me a link of a quiz that will determine which Sex and the City character I relate most to. Well, I've always thought I'm a Carrie (I think every girl does!) with her personality and everything that's happened to her. But I guess deep down I'm a Charlotte indeed. Or maybe a combination of Carrie and Charlotte. I guess I'd always have a Carrie in me somehow.

And perhaps the most significant thing that made me a Charlotte? It's still believing in love, after all.

You Are Most Like Charlotte!

You are the ultimate romantic idealist You've been hurt before, but that hasn't caused you to give up on love. If anything, your resolve to fall in love is stronger than ever. And it's this feminine optimism that men find most appealing about you. Romantic prediction: That guy you are seeing (or crushing on)? Could be very serious - if you play your cards right!

Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You?

The French Connection

Last Saturday was Ludo and Ana's wedding. It was a busy week and day for all of us. For me, one of my concerns was my role as a host for the reception program. Reason why I really had to catch Angie and Ogie for their precious skills as makeover queens hehehe! Ogie made me an upswept hairdo and Angie gave me the smoky look. I requested Angie for the smoky eyes and pale lips as I haven't tried it before and I would only trust her to make it on me. I super love Angie and Ogie!!!

I got my makeup done already late. We left Ana's hotel room at the Grand Boulevard at around 2pm, which gives us an hour to get back home, dress up then proceed to the Kingdom Hall. It was such a tight time. Both Mike and I are so stressed with the short schedule. We came in late for the ceremony and it was the first time we were late for a wedding. We didn't like the idea, but the day was so full of hitches and glitches.

Anyway, thankfully the rains stopped that day. It was raining for the past week and it was fortunate enough that the 2 weddings I attended last week (last Tuesday was Franz's wedding), which were both garden weddings, the weather gave way for a dry one.

Ludo and Ana's wedding was nice and fun with the Filipiniana theme and setting. One that I particularly liked was the folk dance performed by the kids of Greenview. Well, I particularly liked Yumi's dancing hehehe! She dances so gracefully, mana sa ina! :)

And as requested by Ana, I was her french-speaking host. I had a difficult time preparing as I was busy with work. I only finished the script that Saturday morning! We had to at least give consideration to the French wedding guests as they understand only a little English. So I had to translate some important portion of the program so they would understand what's going on. Kawawa naman sila if they do not understand a thing diba!

The first lines I spoke in French, the French people applauded for me. I was surprised, I didn't expect that they would appreciate the effort. Perhaps they didn't expect that the program will be partly French, at least it made their lives much easier. They applauded for me twice, first was when I welcomed everybody, the second when I wished them "Bon appetit!" Europeans, I notice, in general, appreciate these little things more that we do.

I actually honestly enjoyed being the host, and practicing my French there as well. It made me realize that I should be continuously sharpening up my French. Sayang din kasi eh. The time I spent in UP majoring in French then not using it as a career. I originally wanted to be a Bethelite in New York or France and work as a translator, but oh well, some plans change. But I'd still want to hone my language skills and be able to help other people by communicating and connecting with them.

Now that I have new French friends, maybe this will be the time I will use my French more. Thus the French Connection!

Here are some of our pictures below:

with my favorite HMUAs in the world, Ogie Rayel and Angie Cruz

mon amour

pose muna for pictures

french-speaking host kunwari

having fun with the bubbles