ThE WiSdOm oF PaoLo CoeLhO

These quotes were lifted from the great works of Paulo Coelho, one of the most influential and inspirational writers of our time. I hope they inspire you as they have inspired me.

• “I learned the most important lesson of my life: that the extraordinary is not the birthright of a chosen and privileged few, but of all people, even the humblest. That is my one certainty: we are all the manifestation of the divinity of God.” - from Confessions of a Pilgrim
• “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” - from The Alchemist
• “A fall from the third floor hurts as much as a fall from the hundredth. If I have to fall, may it be from a high place.” - from By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
• "But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting."
• "We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."
• "Everyday, God gives us the sun - and also one moment in which we have the ability to change everything."
• "If you start by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work towards, getting it."
• "You can become blind by seeing each day as a similar one. Each day is a different one, each day brings a miracle of its own. It's just a matter of paying attention to this miracle."
• "Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own." - from The Alchemist
• "No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." - from The Alchemist
• "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." - from The Alchemist
• "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting." - from The Alchemist
• "Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense." - from The Alchemist
• "There is only one way to learn," the alchemist answered. "It's through action. Everything you need to know you have learned through your journey." - from The Alchemist
• "People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them." - from The Alchemist
• "A warrior accepts defeat. He does not treat it as a matter of indifference, nor does he attempt to transform it into a victory. The pain of defeat is bitter to him; he suffers at indifference and becomes desperate with loneliness. After all this has passed, he licks his wounds and begins everything anew. A warrior knows that war is made of many battles; he goes on. Tragedies do happen. We can discover the reason, blame others, imagine how different our lives would be had they not occurred. But none of that is important: they did occur, and so be it. From there onward we must put aside the fear that they awoke in us and begin to rebuild." - from The Fifth Mountain
• “We have to listen to the child we once were, the child who still exists inside us. That child understands magic moments. We can stifle its cries, but we cannot silence its voice. The child we once were is still there. Blessed are the children, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. If we are not reborn – if we cannot learn to look at life with the innocence and the enthusiasm of childhood – it makes no sense to go on living." - from By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept
• "We are all warriors of light fighting for our dreams."
• "To love is to be in communion with the other and to discover in that other the spark of God." - from By The River Piedra I Sat Down And Wept
• "Be like the fountain that overflows, not merely the cistern that contains..." - from Veronica Decides To Die
• "If everyone just lived their lives and let others do the same, God would be in every moment, in every grain of mustard, in the fragment of cloud that is there and then gone the following moment... God was there and yet people believed they still had to go on looking, because it seemed too simple to accept that life was an act of faith." - from Veronica Decides To Die

MaRtHa WaY VS. d rEaL WoMeN WaY

The Martha Way #1
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
The Real Women's Way
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for God's sake. You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it anyway.

The Martha Way #2
If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a potato slice.
The Real Women's Way
If you over-salt a dish while you are cooking, that's tough shit. Please recite with me the Real Women's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes."

The Martha Way #3
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
The Real Women's Way
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and drop it in 2 ounces of tequila. Drink the Tequila. You might still have the headache, but at least you will be too drunk to give a shit.

The Martha Way #4
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
The Real Women's Way
Go ask mister tight-ass, cute-legs, single neighbor to do it for you.

The Martha Way #5
Freeze leftover wine into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
The Real Women's Way
Leftover wine????? What leftover wine???????

FriGGiN' HaPPiNeSS FairY

TesTiMoNiaLs oN My FriEnDsTeR

"Cathy the best!!!! very loving and thoughtful friend... i'm very lucky to have her in my life... i hope she feels the same way too(he!he!he!)... i love u best... mwahmwahmwah." *iReNe

"Cathy is the sexiest and the prettiest among our group hehehe. Up to you to find out!!! She's intelligent, pero sa love my goodness isa pa sya sa lahi ni rizal na dapat barilin din sa luneta sa pag ka martir. Well ganyan yata kaming magbabarkada di namin makuha sa ganda ang matitinong fafa, ewan ko ba bakit napa kailap ng TUNAY NA PAG-IBIG sa amin. O cguro sila lang ang TANGA!!!! hehehe cathy just keep rockin'!!!!! i know soon you'll meet the right one, it may not be the one you expect but its the one you DESERVE.Pakabait ka lagi!" *JeN

"... A true blue UPian... UP is truly proud to have you!" *UP BaGuIo

"Cathy is one of the most patient and thoughtful people I have ever met. I don't know how she does it, but she is a friend till the very end. She really knows how to take care of people love them no matter who they are or what they are. You're the best Cathy!! Love you!! And I miss you too!" *JeSsY

"Cathy makes me laugh! and giggle! and chuckle! she's just the best!" *LaUrEn

"Cathy is the best singer in the world. Every day she serenades me- it brings me to tears. Watch out J-Lo!" *TiNk

"Isa sya sa mga ate ko nung high school. Kahit na ahead sila ng two years sa akin... willing parin silang makipagbarkada sa babaeng loka-lokang kagaya ko. Si Ate Cath ang adviser sa grupo... galing magbigay ng advice yan. I hope I can still count on you for advice, support and guidance. I wish you finally found the happiness ur seeking and also the right guy who will love you and care for you with all the depths of his soul. Alika sana magbayu ateng... and keep in touch!" *MC

"oK... aBouT ds GiRl... No QuesTiOnS AsK SHe's SmArT... SwEeT... Ma CooLit! Lol... But honestly she's one of my lil sis when i was in high school. She was a member of the choir would you believe? joke! I miss our academe class remember ? MaTH wizard ......journalist........whew! almost a beauty queen but was over qualified. Its been years that we haven't seen each toher but thanks god friendster is here so we can hear news from you once in a while. Always stay sweet and I'm just an email away from you....Hope to see u on your vacation this summer and u can place now ur pasalubong for me in your balikbayan box........heheheh." *CaLoY

"CATHY (ka-thee); mabait, malambing, walang kasing bait... Siya ang aming 2nd to the eldest sa lahat ng MAGIC JSJ. Lahat yata ng mga positive attitudes na sa kanya na. Ang pangit lang sa babaing ito kapag nagmahal siya GRABE at SOBRA! halos wala ng matira sa sarili.(sabagay, ganito kaming lahat!!!)... AT kung anong meron cya lahat ibibigay nya sa amin. pati ata ex bf / bf ipinamahagi na nya. Ganyan nya kami kamahal. Kung saan kami masaya susuportahan nya kami talaga HANGGANG SA DULO NG WALANG HANGGAN. Ganito sya katindi...Lav u sis!" *gLeNd

///KeEpRoCkIn\\\ RoSaRiAn PRIDE *RoSaRiAn

"Cathy? Hmm, she's everybody's friend. She is one of the most wonderful friends I ever have... Very smart and kindhearted. She is always there whenever someone needs comfort. One thing that really makes her truly one of a kind is her ability to treat each of her pals in the most special way, believe me I myself have experienced that especially back when we were in our high school days.. Very Sweet and loving. When she's inlove, everything gets out of control... hehehe joke po. Now, seriously, when she's inlove she gives her heart 110%... I'll be praying for your success in love and career... Miz you!!!" *NeL

"Cathy... is my classmate in highschool though we are not that close I know that she is a nice person cause she has a lot of friends in school, besides of being friendly she is also one of the top student in our school... kaya no doubt she will fullfill her dream to have a MD after her name..... " wish you all the best in your career, family and lovelife... stay happy" *MaiNe

"elo...cnsya nung ngeni d kp agawan testi... medyo busy... by the way... advance Happy Valentines!!! now lets begin... Ate Cathy... ang cousin ko, sabi nya, Favorite cousin daw nya ko... heheh totoo po un... all i can say is that she's really a great cousin... napaka bait talaga nyan... at love na love talaga nya kming lahat na magpipinsan... ano p ba.... ummmm... very supportive din sya, at di sya nagkukulang sa pagbigay sa amin ng mga payo at mga payo ulit... basta one thing is for sure.... siya'y isang tunay na kaibigan, basta ganto nlang gawa nlang kita uli next time ng testi... la na ko masabi... hehehehebasta d2 lang me lagi... okie... take gud care!!! miss you soo much. lab yah." *JhE

"Ate cathy is like an elder sister to me, kada kc cla ng sisteret ko, minsan dun cla tumatambay smin kasama other friends nila na parang sisters ko narin,, actually they call themselves d magic jsj (first letter ng names nila un;-p) si ate cathy idol ko yan, super talino mula yata nursery o nung toddler pa yata sya e me medal lagi, talino neto kaya kapag nging ganap na doctor kana, libre pagamot sau ha, ate cathy is such a caring and thoughtful person, kahit super layo na sya d parin sya nkkalimot (pasalubong hehe), Kayong magic kau ha mgasawa nakau, tumatanda nkyo! Heheh! te cath simulan mo na kc hehe. Ingatz lagi. see you soon, mmmwahhh." *TeTeN

"ello! muzta?... cno ka nna nga b kc?... DARNA!... ahh... yan c cathy! super lakas! super tibay! super ganda! super bait! super maalalahanin! super sweet! super saya kasama! super thoughtful! super talino! super na kaibigan! super na pinsan! super na pamangkin! super girlfrend! super tita! super lola! super kapitbahay! super katrabaho! super katext! super ka chat! super ka friendster! super classmate! pati nga kaaway super yan!... lahat na yata ng super nasa kanya na... pati super palengke gusto na rin nia makuha!grabeee1... oooovvveer!... as in todo nato!... pero lam nio ba kya cia ang DARNA sa min kc cia ang super sa lahat ng mga super!... cia ang suuuuppeeerrssstttttt 2 d 1billion power!!!... in short... lumulunok yan ng bato!... isang ka2ibang bato na cia lang ang meron... sent from heaven yon... a gift from God!... dhil cia ay totoong na tao... walang ere... d marunong lumimot sa mga taong nkasama nia... walang pinipili... sarap tularan!! salamat kaibigan! sana ok k lang jan!!" *FheL

"eo!! aTe catHy, hmmm???? ahhhh... kaw na ba yan?! wow what a big difference. aLala ko pa nung bata ka... anyway si ate cathy ang anghel ng aming buhay, siya rin ang anghang na nagpapapula sa aming puso, ang aking nag-iisang ka chat kahit once a year lang kung yun ay mangyari, kaw rin ang aking kanlungan sa twing sumasakit ang aking tyan, pero higit sa lahat ikaw ang panis na laway at matigas na muta na sumasalubong sa akin bawat araw.yuckk!!?AT mas higit sa lahat ng yan si insan cathy ay... C-corgeous?? A-adorabul T-Tsarming, H-hapines of all & Y-yes. o dba anong masasabi mo? corgeous ka raw. bali ol in ol almost perfect ka na. Yes!!! galing mo talaga insan. tnkful din ako kc anjan k lagi kya sna ayos k lng jan.!?" *ThAn

"ATe caThy... wow it's reallie nice to see u! it's been a long time... i've know ate cathy way back in highschool (hRA)... i can say that she's a great person inside and out... she was always there to keep me smilling she was even the one help go tru some of my problems... she's a family oriented... that's why i can't wait for her to find that right person for HER... she will be a great wife and a mom...=) ate cathy... thank you for being a good frend, for not leaving myside when it times of loneliness... i'm happy to see you and i pray that someday you will find the love of your life.. =) god bless and love you." *cHeRyLL

"i am busy... pero dahil malakas ka sa kin... i took the time out for your testi... i've known ate cathy (ate cathy because magalang po kami sa skul... HRA days... if you're a year older ate na tawag sa u d ba?)... cream of the crop yan ng HRA... intelligent mind and it seems that until now she is doing good. i hope all your wishes come true... success in career and love life. follow what your heart desires and you will be happy. but if in doubt always ask for guidance from God. pray and all will be well." *MiLeT

"Cathy, the best in HRA!...hehehe" *MeO

"Friends Forver. Thanks For being My Friend." *JaSoN

"back here in the philippines, we weren't even friends... only mere acquaintances. i think she's my cousin's classmate in high school.one place we both loved, and still love, brought us together... she was there, i was there... only, not at the same time... but we have the same sentiment... ate cath... i really wish to go back there... be it possible... i hope to see you there to join me... thanks for being like a big sis to me..." *JeNi

"Let her cry for she's a lady. Let her dream for she's a child. Let the rain fall down upon her. She's a free and gentle flower, growing wild..." *TeT

"Si ate Cathy... i met her nung wedding ng ate ko. she's easy to get along with. patawa yan. ang sakit nga ng panga ko sa kakatawa eh nung nagkwentuhan kami minsan. eventho i dont know her that well, i think she's a sweet, loving, and a nice person. tama ba yon ate Cathy? hehehe. hmmmmm... sinuhulan ako nyan eh para sabihin ko tong mga kasinungalingang eto. pero dahil hindi ako sinungaling kaya sinabi ko to kc totoo naman.ayan binawi ko rin ah.nway, hope we can see u again soon. k ingat... sila sayo. j/k" *RoSe

"Good Friends... are hard to find... are easy to love... are presents that last forever and that feel like gifts from above. Good Friends... are one in a million... are stories to share.... know the path to your happiness, and they walk with you all the way there. Good Friends... are lives overlapping... are laughter and tears... are emotions so deep that the trust just keeps growing over the years. Good Friends... are hard to find... are easy to adore. And you've been such a good friend to me... that I could ask for nothing more. Thanks for Being Such a Wonderful Friend!" *CaYe

"I have not met Ate Cathy yet but she is one special lady to me. She never fails to give me good advices about life and love! She may not know it but I always take what she tells me before I decide on something...well, expert ata ito! :) We were bound by a common celebrity interest but I appreciate her more for extending her friendship beyond that. Rest assured that I am and will do the same. I can't wait to see you when you get here Ate! Love you!" *Judith

"hi po...musta n dyan? wel i just wanna say 2 u n kw n yt ung pinkmbait n kada ng bg sis ko..n hoping n d k mgba2go sa mga kada mo d2 s Pinas....Godbless always..take care ok..bye 4 now..." *Michael

TeXt ThOuGhTs

• Words can't take the place of hugs... I wish I could be with you right now.
• The joy of life comes from the wisdom of counting your blessing and never your troubles. Focus on what you have and maintain a thankful heart.
• God has gifts for you --- a LIGHT for every shadow, a PLAN for every tomorrow, a KEY for every problem and JOY for every sorrow. Enjoy God's gifts well.
• Begin the day with a light heart. Let all your worries be set aside. Smile a moment and thank God for this new day. He cares for you, likewise I do.
• We will be friends till the stars no longer shine, the wind no longer blows, the rain no longer pours... pero pag $1 na per text, iisipin na lang kita ha?
• Happy memories make us smile! But me? They make me feel sad and later makes me cry! Maybe because I just miss those people who bring happiness to me... lalo ka na!
• No goodbyes. No farewells. Just a promise that whatever happens, wherever we may go, the friendship will always stay the same. Thanks for being a good friend.
• Today, be like a sponge and absorb only what is good and beautiful so that when you are squeezed, only what is pleasing to God will come out.
• When two people want to be together, it means they love each other, but when two people want to be "just friends," it's becasue they're too much inlove with each other that there's no need for a commitment to stay close.
• I may not be your most loving friend nor someone special to be proud of but just for keeping me as a friend is enough reason for me to say "thank you and I'm blessed for having you."
• Pag may problema ka dito lang ako. Pag may kaaway ka dito lang ako. Pag may sakit ka dito lang ako. Pag nag-iisa ka dito lang ako. Dito lang ako. Di ako makakapunta dyan kaya dito lang ako.
• If I were to take anything from you without getting noticed, I'd take all the loneliness in your heart 'cause I don't want a special person like you to be hurt when you truly deserve the best in life.
• Minsan sa buhay ng magkakaibigan di nawawala yung tampuhan, samaan ng loob, at misunderstanding. TRIALS yun to make the FRIENDSHIP stronger, kaya sana pag dumating tayo sa puntong yun... don't give up ha?

ThE bRiCk (an e-mail FWD)

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

iT's aLmOsT ChRiStMaS!!!

* The WoNdEr in a child's eyes *

* The LaUgHtEr of friends *

* LoVe for our families *

* The GeNeRoSiTy of strangers *

* The HoPe in our hearts *

* The pRoMiSe of the star so bright *

* The JoY of celebration *

* The PeAcE we seek *

MaY yOuR ChRiStMaS bE FiLLeD

WiTh aLL tHe tHiNgS ThAt GiVe YoUr HeArT JoY.

WhAt a WoNdErFuL WorLd

What A Wonderful World
(Louie Armstrong)

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom, for me and for you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, sayin' how do you do
They're really sayin' I love you.

I hear babies cry,
I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself what a wonderful world. (",)

DeAr LoRd...

"You Raise Me Up"

(Josh Groban)

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Lord, you know the things that will bring me security, happiness, peace, and warmth in my heart. You carry me when I am confused, lonely, exhausted, and defeated. And you rejoice with me when I am happy, accomplished, and at peace. There are no secrets I can hide from you. You are the only one who can fully understand me, even more than I can understand myself at times. I am grateful for everything. I ask for forgiveness for all the wrongs I've done. I am humbled by your grace and love, which I feel from the people you brought close to my heart. Show me my purpose, help me understand it, and guide me to fulfill it. Thy will be done. Amen.

MoRe LoVe LuCy

"With loving always comes the possibility of hurting. Just because someone truly loves you does not mean he/she will never hurt you. And why that has to happen perhaps we will never really understand. Maybe it has to do with the truth that the person you love the most is also the same one who can hurt you the deepest. Is it not strange how the love that hurt you can be the same one that can heal you? Not always, maybe, but often enough for it to hold true... 'If there is deep love involved, there is deep responsibility toward it.' I like the sound of that. Especially in a marriage, maybe love is not so much the absence of pain or conflict but the presence of an everyday commitment to make things work."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 02/13/05

"Sometimes you look for love in all the wrong places. You look for something you thought you did not have only to find out you've had it all along. You just did not realize or appreciate it because you got it in constant doses it became so ordinary. But it was never lost, it was just lost on you.... Sometimes you appreciate someone only when you almost lose him/her. Appreciate what you have while you still have it. And I say love deeply. I say love beyond the pain... love through the pain... in spite of... because of... love even when love bites... that is how great love stories are lived out. That is how great love happens. Despite all that has been said and (un)done for love and in the name of love, the fact remains: one of the most wonderful things is still having someone in this world that you love more than yourself."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 02/13/05

"I have always felt that perhaps there is no other human emotion that runs deeper than hope. Even the most pessimistic soul harbors feelings of hope deep within – whether or not he is aware of it, whether or not he acknowledges it. It is not even a choice; it is essentially a natural feeling just waiting to surface. It may be very faint at times but it is always there, ever present."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 06/05/05

"What I do know for sure is that everything is linked. Everything happens for a reason. For every difficult episode in your life I believe there is a secret, custom-made lesson that contributes to your growth as a person. Maybe if we could be more aware of the purpose of all these setbacks, no matter how painful, we can also pay more attention to what they are trying to teach us."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 07/10/05

LoVe LuCy

"The little things are what really count. In a world where technology rules and the hustle and bustle of daily living sometimes chews the better part of us, the compassionate gestures we receive (and give, I hasten to add) – a hug, a smile, a thoughtful word of affirmation or consolation – are the same ones that make an already lovely day even lovelier."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 11/21/04.

"The world is round, what goes around does come around and I have seen that happen enough times to appreciate it as a fact of life. Meanwhile, I anchor my strength, as always, on a God greater than even the nastiest rumor that could ever be said about me. There lies my peace of mind. And at the end of each day, I sleep well knowing that I have wronged no one, stepped on no one. I really hope you can say the same for yourself. Life may not be fair, but God is. "
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 01/30/05

"Too many questions, not enough answers. I guess that's where man ends and God begins. Let go and let God. May His grace sustain us. After all, His ways are not man's ways. In the end, I trust that all these will be for His greater glory. Believing in my heart of hearts that He sits in the eye of life's greatest storms is enough comfort. His presence in our lives cancels out the less in hope."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 01/09/05

"I've seen this kind of proposal countless times but I never get tired of seeing it. It's always wonderful to witness the magic of two people in love. It gives you that warm feeling deep inside that in a world where marriages are falling apart and break-ups are a reality, there are also people being constantly brought together. As a friend of mine who has been through enough heartbreaks to last her a lifetime succinctly puts it, no matter how much pain she has been through it will only take one couple that look genuinely happy together to make her believe that just as life is beautiful, so is love."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 01/23/03

"Come to think of it, we need not even impress Him with eloquence. And when at a loss for words, we need not struggle for even silence is a prayer. Staying still does not negate prayer, doing so simply means you are letting your heart do the talking knowing full well that He understands your needs long before you even realized they were necessary for your comfort."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 04/04/04

" I will continue to tell the story of everyday life as it is lived, of relationships as they are nurtured, of memories as they are made. It is true when they say that time passes so quickly when you enjoy what you do."
--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 07/28/04

"Here are five little things that you can do this coming week to put a positive note in your life. We do not exist in a perfect world nor do we live among perfect people, but through this flawed mist a silver lining can always break through. Everyday we are presented with countless opportunities to be kind to those we meet along life's way. Simple task? Not always. Throw in the pressures of everyday life and you will soon discover that what supposedly is natural (being nice) becomes everything but. What we need is grace and we all know it is not a pill we can just pop in our mouths to easily counter life's woes. Grace is a choice, but over and above that it is a gift. I always like to believe it isn't out there somewhere, but rather it is deep within us just waiting to exhale. Find it, grab it, and like a time-release capsule draw upon it to sustain you when the going gets tough or when the tough gets you going nuts.

1. Drop by the church at an odd hour and pray.
2. Be nice.
3. Smile.
4. Give until it hurts.
5. Have a happy thought.

All these are things we have learned in religion class in grade school. They are nothing new but from time to time, we will find that they are buried beneath the pages of accumulated hurts, everyday activities and pressures, a harried life. Make an effort to dust the pages and make your spirit sparkle again. "

--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 08/08/04

My "BIG DrEaM" HoUsE

--- House plan 36-41 from www.globalhouseplans.com ---

My DrEaM HoUsE

--- House Plan 25-800. from www.globalhouseplans.com ---

ThE eSsEnCe oF LoVe

"The reason why we refuse to let go of a person we love is because we are afraid to be alone. But if that person doesn’t love us, then being with him or her doesn’t make any difference. We would have someone beside us, but still be alone. The real essence of a relationship lies in the commitment of two people, and not just one. It lies in the basic foundation of love that is shared by two and not just felt by one. To put it bluntly, you simply cannot be happy with a man/woman who loves someone else. Do not allow yourself to be a prisoner of your own desires. Let us always remember that it is in giving and not in taking that we experience the real meaning of love. It is in loving and not in wanting to be loved in return that we find real happiness."

--- an excerpt from LoveNotes. Joe D'Mango. Sunday Inquirer. www.inq7.net. 10/15/05

A FriEnD (for mYiReNe)

I've still been searching and long have I waited
For someone to like me as me
To laugh with, to cry with, to be just beside with
A friend, that's who I need
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To fight with, make-up with, to know that you need them
Believing that they need you, too
To walk hand in hand with, to argue, to talk with
A friend, that's who I need
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
And even though I make mistakes
And never do anything right
A smile, a hug can change our acts
And everything will be alright
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Someone who shares all my dreams and ambitions
Someone who will love me as me
I need this person, someone to rely on...
A friend, that's who I need

NoThiNgS GoNNa ChAnGe My LoVe FoR YoU

if i had to live my life without you near me

the days would all be empty

the nights would seem so long

with you i see forever oh, so clearly

i might have been in love before

but it never felt this strong

our dreams are young and we both know

they'll take us where we want to go

hold me now, touch me now

i don't want to live without you

nothing's gonna change my love for you

you oughta know by now how much i love you

one thing you can be sure of

i'll never ask for more than your love

nothing's gonna change my love for you

you ought to know by now how much I love you

the world may change my whole life through
but nothing's gonna change my love for you

if the road ahead is not so easy

your love will lead the way for us like a guiding star

i'll be there for you if you should need me

you don't have to change a thing

i love you just the way you are

so come with me and share this view

i'll help you see forever too

hold me now, touch me now
I don’t want to live without you…

This is a classic! As far as I can remember it is an '80s song. What better way to express love than by a song such as this. I wish one day, I can put into words all the love I feel inside and be able to write my own love song. It's always a hope that I can fully express my love for the special people in my life. But I don't think my lifetime is enough to do that. I have been fortunate that I have family and friends who loves me inspite of. Whatever success I'll achieve professionally is just a BONUS.

LoVe, eTc.

"What the eyes cannot see, the heart can feel. And what the mind forgets, the heart will always remember. The ordinary things are the highlights of our life, they are the very things that nourish and sustain all the big blessings we already have and hold."

--- an excerpt from Love Lucy. Lucy Torres-Gomez. www.philstar.com. 09/11/2005

"A girl falls in love with a boy because he listens to her when she speaks, and remembers what she said a month ago. Love is sparked by the little things – the quiet word, the gesture of compassion, the look."

--- Father James B. Reuter, SJ

"It is not unusual to hear people say 'I love you because...' but this story has shown us that the deeper and greater love is having to say I LOVE YOU IN SPITE OF..."

--- an excerpt from LoveNotes. Joe D'Mango

"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life,

LOVE gives us a fairy tale."

--- Anonymous

aLL iS FaiR iN LoVe aNd WaR

This was a comment left on my friend's blog. It was written by a certain "May"... and I hope she won't mind me quoting her words on my blog. As I read what she wrote, I just knew that these were words I would want to remember forever... they were those of a very mature person who has probably been through so much heartache and yet kept a clear, sincere, and optimistic understanding of love. "Thank you for your words that have inspired me, May... again, I hope you don't mind me quoting you as I don't have a way of asking for your permission at this time."

"They say 'all is fair in love and war', but in reality nothing is fair in love. It makes you fall hard, and when you fall no one is there to catch you and you end up tending your own wounds. It teases your heart to come out and embrace love openly even if love does not want to settle in your arms. It gives you such wonderful, heavenly, pleasant feelings...but the next day it gives you excruciating pain. Love cannot be fair when it is indifferent to the longings of a lovesick heart. But though love is unfair, it can sometimes change the course of destiny to favor the desires of your heart. If you keep your heart open, and never lose hope, one day--at the time you least expect--love will find you and make you a bargain you just cannot refuse. It will give you a wonderful chance to love and although it may not be the love that you desire, it is a love that will capture your heart and promise you forever. A love that will stay when others have left...a love that will pick up the pieces of your broken heart and make you whole again...a love that will defy every obstacle just to be with you and make you happy. Therefore never lose hope on love. Believe in the power of love and on the miracles that it is capable of creating. I can say this because I, too, almost lost hope on love. I, too, almost gave up on love, almost resigned to my fate as someone who is always loving but never being loved in return. When you finally find the person that you are destined to spend the rest of your life with--you will cry one last time--and this time it will not be for the pain in your heart but for all the years wasted searching for each other's arms."

MaXiNe

ThiNgS ThAt MaKeS uS FeeL GoOd

If we only take some time out of our busy life and appreciate the simple things that make or made us feel good, we would be in a much better place right now...

• Falling in love.
• Laughing so hard your face hurts.
• A hot shower.
• Receiving a card, text message, or a phone call on your birthday.
• No lines at the supermarket.
• Seeing your loveones happy.
• Being in a garden surrounded by beautiful plants and flowers.
• Receiving a bouquet of flowers especially when you least expect it.
• A special glance.
• Getting mail.
• Seeing an old couple holding hands while walking.
• Sunday brunches at Lola's house.
• A marriage proposal you've been dying to hear.
• A big hug especially when you're feeling down.
• Taking a drive on a pretty road.
• Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
• Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
• Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
• Chocolate milkshake. (or vanilla or strawberry!)
• A bubble bath.
• Giggling.
• A good conversation.
• A walk at the beach.
• Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
• Laughing at yourself.
• Singing in the shower.
• Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
• Running through sprinklers.
• Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
• Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
• Laughing at an inside joke.
• Friends.
• Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
• Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
• Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
• Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
• Playing in the rain.
• Having someone play with your hair.
• Sweet dreams.
• Hot chocolate. (with marshmallows)
• Road trips with friends.
• Swinging on swings.
• Buying presents for the people you love.
• Eating good comfort food.
• Seeing the people you miss after years of being away from them.
• Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
• Making chocolate chip cookies.
• Eating freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.
• Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
• Holding hands with someone you care about.
• Running into an old friend and realizing that some things never change.
• Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
• Watching the sunrise and sunset alone or with the one you love.
• Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
• Knowing that somebody misses you.
• Knowing that somebody loves you.
• Someone telling you how much you mean to them.
• Children laughing.
• An answered prayer.
• Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
• Finding what you were looking for.
• Getting a passing grade, or better, an excellent mark, on a difficult class.
• Reading a blog that touches your heart.
• Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

HoW To LiVe a HaPpY aNd ReWaRdiNg LiFe

• Take time to smell the roses.
• Take a nap on sunday afternoon.
• Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
• Never deprive someone of hope. It might be all they have.
• Be thankful for every meal.
• Don't be afraid to say, "I'm sorry."
• Don't take health for granted.
• Don't interrupt. Don't tailgate.
• Improve your performance by improving your attitude.
• Wave at children on schoolbuses.
• Listen to your children.
• Leave everything a little better than you found it.
• Keep it simple. Keep good company. Keep your promise.
• Be kinder than necessary.
• Take good care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.
• Make it a habit to do nice things for people.
• Vote.
• Judge your success by how you are enjoying your peace, health, and love.
• Be a good winner. Be a good looser.
• Be romantic.
• Live, so when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.
• Never refuse homemade brownies.
• Remember other people's birthdays.
• Sing in the shower.
• Don't nag.
• Don't gossip.
• Don't expect money to bring you happiness.
• Be forgiving of yourself and others.
• Never give up on anyone. Miracles happen everyday.
• Say thank you a lot. Say please a lot.
• Take your dog to obedience school. You both will learn a lot.
• Don't rain on other people's parades.
• Don't pospone joy.
• Stop blaming others.
• Take responsibility for every area of your life.
• Count your blessings.
• Marry only for love. Marry the love of your life.
• Call your mother.
• Do more than what is expected.
• Be there when people need you. Be someone's hero.

--- from Life's Little Instruction Book

MoRe TxT FrOm FriEnDs

• I caught myself thinking of the moments spent with you. Maybe I'm a little lonely, but being far from you gives me a beautiful chance to realize how much you mean to me and how much I miss your company.
• Softly the leaves of memory fall. Slowly, I'd gather and pick them all. Coz today and tomorrow and till my life is thru, I'll always cherish knowing somebody like you.
• Para sa saya, sa problema, sa tamis at pait, sa sakit, sa kabiguan, sa lovelife, sa hirap at ginhawa... whatever happens... whappakk! Tropa tayo... itaas mo!!!
• Special friends see heart to heart even when they don't see eye to eye. You are indeed special to me because I always see you in my heart.
• There is NO SHOP in the world where we can BUY friends. That's why we TREASURE them, knowing that we can't find any REPLACEMENT over the counter. Glad to have you.

iT's NoT ThE cRiTiC tHaT CoUnTs

"It'S NoT tHe CriTic Who CoUnTs, NoT tHe MaN wHo PoiNts OuT HoW tHe StRoNg MaN sTuMbLeD, oR wHeN ThE DoEr oF DeEdS CouLd HaVe DoNe BeTTeR. ThE cReDiT BeLoNgS To ThE MaN wHo iS AcTuaLLy iN tHe ArEnA; wHosE FaCe iS MaRreD bY dUsT aNd SwEaT aNd bLooD; wHo StriVeS VaLiaNtLy; Who ErRs AnD CoMeS ShoRt AgAiN aNd AgAiN; wHo KnoWs ThE gReAt EnThUsiAsMs, tHe GrEaT dEvOtiOnS aNd SpeNdS HiMseLf iN a WoRtHy CaUsE; wHo aT tHe BeSt, KnoWs iN tHe eNd ThE tRiuMpH oF HiGh AcHieVeMeNt; aNd wHo aT tHe WoRsT iF hE fAiLs, At LeAsT FaiLs WhiLe DaRiNg GrEatLy, So tHaT hiS pLaCe ShaLL nEvEr Be WiTh tHoSe CoLd AnD TiMiD SouLs Who KnoW NeiThEr VicToRy oR DeFeaT."

- Theodore Roosevelt

I wAnT To Be wAnTeD (Olivia Newton-John)

Alone, so alone, that I could cry
I want to be wanted
Alone, watching lovers passing by
I want to be wanted

When I'm kissed, I want his lips to really kiss me
When we're apart, I want his heart to really miss me
I want to know he loves me so
His eyes are misty
That's the way I want to be loved

Alone, just my lonely heart knows how
I want to be wanted
Right now, not tomorrow, but right now
I want to be wanted

I want someone to share my laughter and my tears with
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me

I want to want someone to share

my laughter and my tears with
Someone I know I'd love to spend a million years with
Where is this someone somewhere meant for me
Oh, meant for me, ooh, meant for me

HoMe (by Michael Buble)

Everytime I hear this song, I long more and more to go back to the Philippines. It may sound a lil' crazy to others that I want to go back and live there... what with the unstable economy and the political crisis that has been looming in the country for quite a while now. Home is in the Philippines. That's where I've felt love, acceptance, and happiness... and those are the things I long to come back to. And I'm coming home soon... I'm counting the days.

Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Maybe surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

And I've been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
"I'm fine baby, how are you?"
Well I would send them but
I know that it's just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I'm lucky I know
But I wanna go home
I've got to go home
Let me go home
I'm just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I'm living someone else's life
It's like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me

Another winter day has come
And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home

And I'm surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let go home
Oh, I miss you, you know

Let me go home
I've had my run
Baby, I'm done
I gotta go home
Let me go home

It will all be alright
I'll be home tonight
I'm coming back home

ThE GrEaTeSt GiFtS

"May we break boundaries, tear down walls, and build on the foundation of goodness inside each of us. May we look past differences, gain understanding, and embrace acceptance. May we reach out to each other, rather than resist. May we be better stewards of the Earth, protecting, nurturing, and replenishing the beauties of nature. May we practice gratitude for all we have, rather than complain about our needs. May we seek cures for the sick, help for the hungry, and love for the lonely. May we share our talents, give our time, and teach our children. May we hold hope for the future very tenderly in our hearts and do all we can to build for bright tomorrows.

AND MAY WE LOVE WITH OUR WHOLE HEARTS,

FOR THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO LOVE."

--- Anonymous ---

'TiL KiNgDoM CoMe (by ColdPlay)

One... Two...
Steal my heart and hold my tongue
I feel my time, my time has come
Let me in, unlock the door
I never felt this way before

The wheels just keep on turning
The drummer begins to drum
I don’t know which way I’m going
I don’t know which way I’ve come

Hold my hand inside your hands
I need someone who understands
I need someone, someone who hears
For you i’ve waited all these years

For you i’d wait til kingdom come
Until my day, my day is done
And say you’ll come, and set me free
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me

In your tears and in your blood
In your fire and in your flood
I hear you laugh,
I heard you say,
"I wouldn’t change a single thing"

And the wheels just keep on turning
The drummers begin to drum
I don’t know which way I’m going
I don’t know what I’ve become

For you I’d wait 'til kingdom come
Until my days, my days are done
Say you’ll come and set me free
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me

Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me
Just say you’ll wait, you’ll wait for me

pOiNtS oF ViEw

Look, it's happened once again
It happens every now and then
Feeling the hurt and hating all the men
Ready to stop it all
That's when I need a friendly face
To see me through these lonely days
Just to put some sunshine in my place
Don't take too long
I need you

Here I am
I haven't gone that far away
And since I am
That kind of friend you know
Would stay with you through all the pain
Never to leave you in the rain
Ready to listen to what you've been through
Your woes and blues and share each other's

Points of view
We've been there once before
And kept our points of view
It doesn't really matter if they're never quite the same
We have our rules in different ways
We play the games of different folks with different strokes
And keep our points of view

See the world seems bright again
It only darkens now and then
Most of the time there's just no telling when
Look up and see you've got me

Here we are
We may have gone our different ways
But since we are
The kind of friends who'll always stay
No matter what the pain
Learning to love that cap o'rain
Ready to say we're here to stay in every way
Although we've got our different...

Points of view
We've been there once before
And kept our points of view
It doesn't really matter if they're never quite the same
We have our rules in different ways
We play the games of different folks with different strokes
And kept our points of view

I belong to a group consisting of 8 wonderful women, and we have shared almost 15 years of friendship (since we were in our freshman year in high school). And this is our song. We've gone through so much as a group. We have been together in our moments of laughters, tears, achievements, improvements, heartbreaks (a lot of them), kilig moments, loss of loveones, separations, and much more. We've all taken different paths to fulfill our dreams but we remain the high school girls we have been everytime we see each other. They are my core friends, my sisters, my confidants, my bestfriends. And no matter how far or where we end up going... I know that the love and friendship that kept us together through the years will only remain stronger and sturdier. I love you girls so much. Thank you for everything. Friends forever... MAGIC JSJ.

iNsPiRiNg TxTs FrOm FriEnDs

• GoD SpRinkLeS TiNy BuT WoNdErFuL SeeDs oF bLeSSiNgS oN EaRtH aNd i HaD CaUgHt oNe... sO NiCe aNd TrUe... iT's YoU!
• GoD aNsWeRs PRAYERS iN ThReE wAyS: HE sAyS YES aNd GiVeS u WhAt u WaNt. HE sAyS NO aNd GiVeS u SoMeThiNg BeTTeR. HE sAyS WAIT aNd GiVeS u ThE BeSt.
• SoMeTiMeS iN LiFe, wE aSk FoR sOmEoNe We cAn HaVe aNd KeeP BuT ThErE's NoThiN MuCh We CaN rEaLLy Do... BuT To WaiT FoR ThE pErSoN whOsE QuEsT iN LiFe iS nOtHiNg eLsE BuT To FiNd uS, Too.
• GiVe YoUrSeLf a PeRfEcT DaY. LooK uPoN wHaT GiVeS YoU JoY. SpEak To ThOsE wHo WaRm YoUr HeArT. EVeRyDaY iS a WoNdErFuL DaY!
• It'S rArE tO FiNd a PeRsOn wHo AcCePts yOu fOr wHaT YoU aRe aNd MaKeS YoU FeeL GooD aBoUt bEiNg YoUrSeLf. I wAnT To ThAnK YoU FoR HeLpiNg Me FiNd ThE BeSt PaRt oF wHo i aM AnD fOr LeTTiNg mE ShArE iT WiTh YoU.
• FriEnDs ArE AnGeLs WhO LiFt uS tO oUr FeeT WhEn oUr WiNgS FoRgEt HoW tO fLy aNd LiFt oUr HeArTs WhEn We FoRgEt To SmiLe.

a ReAsOn FoR LoVe

"It’s sad but true that love doesn’t always have a happy ending. There are times when we ask ourselves why we have to find love only to lose it. Sometimes, God’s reasons for taking someone away from us are difficult to understand, but we have to trust his wisdom in making things happen for a good reason. There is always a reason why people hurt us and make us cry. It is always part of a learning process that would make us a better person."

--- an excerpt from LoveNotes by Joe D'Mango. www.inq7.net. 10/02/05.