Birthday Wishlist

Last Sunday, rousing myself from a horrible migraine attack, I read my sister Azalea's text: "Wat do u want 4 ur bday? Havs? A particular cd? A book? Or wat?"

Honestly, I had nothing in mind  so I texted back, "Ang hirap naman". "Ok", she said, "You still have time."

Really, when it's for myself, I find it difficult to think of a gift. Offhand, I could tell you - a watch for Alex, a cellphone for Cae, a new bath basin for Caehl, a new mop/butcher's knife/new chopping board for the kitchen. See what I mean?

But just to seal this oh-so-thoughtful gesture from my baby sister, I texted her last night to ask for a new pair of Havs High (Flowers or Sun). I already have Hale's Twilight CD and I don't read Harry Potter naman, so I might as well go for the gold . 

Just this afternoon, my kumare Joy asked me the same question. While acknowledging her generous offer,  I just told her that her gift of love and friendship will do.

Well, happy birthday to me! Many many thanks to my family, friends, relatives, officemates, and neighbors who are part of this wonderful celebration of life.

FLASH:  Kuya and Ba gave me a cafe Havs Summer and I got my preto High Sun from Tita from All Flip Flops finally. Papa and Mama treated us to lunch and dinner at Pancake House (magkaiba pang branch ha!). Piya and Meg gave me a dress-blouse. Ketlin gave me a cookies&cream chocolate bar (kahit gusto na nyang kainin). Alex made a refrigerator cake (nag-effort). From CVMD, personalized note pad. My neighbors gave me a fruit basket. And all of my friends texted me. Kumpleto na!

To My Teenage Drama Queen (Lessons from Mom)

Cae goes to Tagaytay this afternoon with her classmates for their annual retreat.

Same as last year, we were asked by the Campus Ministry to write a letter for the "retreater". I gladly obliged, along with Alex, Azalea and Meghann. It was supposed to be a secret but Cae already knows the content of the envelope addressed to her adviser.

Allow me to share my letter for her that is actually more of a “sermon on the mount”. The lessons I am imparting to her here are lessons I myself learned from my own mother. Kaya nga Good Girl ako eh.

____________________________________

 

Hi Cae!

 

Recollection mo na naman, ilang araw ka lang mabait tapos matigas na naman ulo mo and lagi kayong nag-aaway ni Dada. Basta, lagi mo lang tandaan ang mga sumusunod na LESSONS FROM MOMMY:

 

1. Mag-aral ng mabuti. Magfocus ka sa studies mo. Be serious at wag puro distraction. Seryosohin mo ang pag-aaral para naman may eagle ka. Pagbutihin mo until college.
2. Be a good daughter. Ikaw ang panganay kaya dapat magse-set ka ng good example. Wag mong isipin that just because we can’t give you what you want sometimes, eh deprived ka na. Always remember that parents know best and we always want the best for you. But it doesn’t follow that whatever you want will be given to you always. Hindi lahat ng gusto ay importante at kailangan. Sometimes also, you have to work hard for what you want, you have to earn or deserve it. I am not a perfect daughter myself and when I grew older, I realized that parents are always right. Wag kang mainis pag pinapagalitan or pinagsasabihan ka. Gusto ka lang i-correct at palakihing tama. And always remember also that hanggang kaya namin ng Dada mo, at makakabuti sa yo, wala namang problema yung mga hinihingi mo eh.
3. Be a good sister. Alalahanin mo, pag wala na kami ni Dada, ikaw ang bahala kay Caehl. Kaya magmahalan kayo mabuti, dadalawang piraso lang kayo.
4. Be polite to elders, be courteous and show that you are educated and that you are raised well by your parents. Pag may ipinakita kang hindi maganda, tatanungin ng mga tao kung paano ka ba pinalaki ng magulang mo. Hindi ka namin tinuturuan ng bad manners and ill conduct di ba?
5. Be a good friend, but choose your friends. Choose only those who are good and kind, those who can bring out the best in you, and those who will not lead you to bad ways.
6. Be punctual and respect other people’s time. Bilisan ang kilos, wag babagal-bagal. Time waits for no one and lost time can never be regained.
7. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Namana mo ang pagiging late-sleeper at late-riser ni Dada, daig nyo pa ang security guard na 24 hours gising at nagbabantay.
8. Close the doors silently. Wag ibabagsak ang pinto. Kumatok muna pag sarado.
9. Close what you opened, returned what you borrowed/got. Isara ung mga bukas na cabinet. Isoli yung kinuha kung saan kinuha.
10. Put your dirty clothes in the hamper. Wag sa kama or sa floor. Baka maglakad yan mag-isa. Kaya yata nawawala isa-isa ang mga medyas mo eh.
11. Keep your room clean. I never had my own bedroom, lagi kaming share ni Pia, hanggang college and even after college. Ikaw, 7 years old ka pa lang, may sarili ka nang room. So sana wag makalat.
12. Wag puro boys and crushes. Or kung di maiwasan, don’t make it your world. Ok lang naman magkacrush basta mag-aaral pa ding mabuti at huwag madistract.
13. Iwasan muna magboyfriend. Wag magmadali, your time will come. Dapat matured na muna ang pag-iisip. Hayaan mo lang silang manligaw. You’re not obliged to like them back or maging girlfriend ka nila. As mentioned above, piliin mo yung mga kaibigan mo, wag yung tuturuan ka ng masama. 
14. Take care of yourself. Marami ka nang nababasa sa internet about relationships, sex and romance. Stay pure and wait for the right time to handle these things. Para di ka magsisi sa huli.
15. Speaking of internet, be careful. Don’t post too many pictures or give away too much information.
16. Never hurt yourself physically. Your body is the temple of the Lord. Stay clean, healthy and take care of your body, dahil iisa lang yan. Wag abusuhin ang katawan, pag nagkasakit ka, mahal ang bayad sa ospital, sige ka. Maligo araw-araw J
17. Know the value of money. Wag mag-aaksaya ng pera, food, kuryente, tubig, etc etc. We work hard to earn money, kaya sana pag-ingatan ang gamit. Mahirap bumili uli kasi di naman tayo mayaman.
18. Make use of your God-given talents. Hanggang ngayon, di ko pa alam kung anong gusto mong maging or kung saan ka nag-e-excel. We’ve tried piano, badminton. I asked you if you want voice or dance lessons pero ayaw mo. Whatever it is, it is not too late to discover your talents and develop them. Ituloy mo lang ang pagsusulat mo, yung galing mo sa computer. Saka yung love for reading and music. Okay lang yan, sinusuportahan ka naman namin ni Dada di ba? “Like a shooting star, to where you are…’ “Trip mo, trip ko…"  Ako nga nun, sinasamahan ni Papa sa Rizal Memorial or ULTRA pag may laro sina Alvin Patrimonio and Barangay Ginebra. Hinanap pa nya ang bahay ni Francis Magalona para lang sa akin.
19. Use your mind, listen to your heart. In making decisions, gamitin mo ang utak mo. God gave us the facility to discern what is wrong and what is right. Listen to your heart pero wag puro emotions ang gagamitin. Kailangan balance lang – mind and heart. If all else fails…go to#20.
20. God is watching us. Pray everyday, ask for wisdom and always ask for His guidance. Always have faith in Him and as long as you have fear in God, you will not go wrong. Wag na wag kang mawawalan ng takot sa Diyos. Lagi kong nireremind si Dada that we only live once in this world. Let’s live it well – and right.

 

I hope you will live by these simple lessons in life. Take care, I love you and you will always be my naknik. 

Birthday ng Matibay

Start:

Sep 17, '07

It's my 36th birthday, yahoo!