Not Again

BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS.

A Quick Detour

I asked God to take away my pride.
God said, "NO.
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up."

...
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, "NO.
Patience is a by-product of tribulations, it isn't granted, it is earned."

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, "NO.
I give you blessings, Happiness is up to you."

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, "NO.
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, "NO.
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful."

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, "NO.
I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things."

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.
God said... "Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!"

an excerpt

Biggest No One

Honestly, I don't know how to put it...

I got to attend a Press Conference for the first time.

How was it? Overwhelming. Super.

I was small but now I am big. Still, i am nothing. Thank you Lord. Thank you very much!

Habidey!

As i walk the streets of Manila, I looked at the towering heights lining Adriatico Street.

For a moment, I thought I saw your face!

And that was what it took me to realize... your face brings me calm.

Now that's something i wanna see for the rest of my life.

Habidey baby damulag!

Wub joo!

It's Not Yet Sabado

It felt like it was only yesterday when I told you he's coming. But today...

Mark: i'm coming to the philippines!

...

Mark: february

OMGEE. Lagot na.

PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tournament Manila

Yesterday, I, with our magazine photographer, attended a Press Conference for the next leg of the 2008 Asia Pacific Poker Tournament (APPT) at the Hyatt Casino Hotel along Pedro Gil cor. M.H.Del Pilar in Malate, Manila. The event was supposed to start at 11:30am but the sickness we call Filipino Time took the better of the event and made it start at exactly 12:47 in the afternoon. The event organizers and public relations told the media people to eat lunch first while waiting for the panelists. Buffet lunch was served to my delight.

By the time the entire panel was completed, the conference soon began. The panel was composed of Lee Nelson (the current Poker final table & top player), Jeffrey Haas (APPT Pres.), Rafael Francisco (PAGCOR Pres.), and Alan Escaño (Filipino Poker Tour Executive Producer). Questions soon flew towards the panelists as they were introduced by the events organizer.

The entire tournament will start tomorrow, November 13, Thursday at 1PM and will be concluded on Sunday, November 16. Hyatt Casino & Hotel will play host to the tournament as well.

The tournament schedule is as follows:

November 13, 2008 - Thursday
12PM TV production begins, will be aired on TV this Sunday, I don't know w/c channel yet
12:15-4PM Main APPT Event Day 1
4-8PM No Limit Holdem
8PM Buffet Dinner

November 14, 2008 - Friday
*same time Main APPT Event Day 1B

November 15, 2008 - Saturday
*same time Main APPT Event Day 2

November 16, 2008 - Sunday
1-2PM Main APPT Event Day 3, this will be the Final Table Sir
2PM APPT Sydney Satellite

Before the conference ended, I was able to get close to two of the panelists, Lee Nelson and Alan Escaño. I even met Neil Arce, a 25-year old guy who is currently the top Filipino Poker player at the moment.

To date, there are 300 registered players here in Manila. That includes foreigners and a few Filipinos. The tournament has been organized by PokerStars.net, APPT, PAGCOR and the Filipino Poker Tour (FPT). Collaboration between these organizations aims to bring Poker into mainstream media in Asia.

I'll keep you posted on updates until the tournament ends on the 16th.

I love you Sabado! Pati na rin Linggo!

Naaalala niyo pa ba ang mga salitang yan mula sa patalastas ng Jollibee? Medyo matagal na rin yun. Hindi ko na maalala kung kelan pero oo, kanta yan sa patalastas ng Jollibee noong unang panahon.

Pero teka...

Isang tahimik na Linggo na naman. Naglalakad kami ng aking mahal na si James pauwi mula sa simbahan. Magkahawak kamay, nagpalitan kami ng mga kwento at kuro-kuro. Hindi ko na maalala kung anong pinag-uusapan namin nang mga oras na yun pero nabanggit ko bigla si Mark Dille.

"...bibisita daw siya dito sa Pinas..." ang sabi ko habang ako ay nakayuko. Pilit na itinatago ang gutom na nararamdaman. Hindi pa kami naghahapunan.

"...bakit daw? Para i-meet ka?" ang sagot naman ni James na may tono ng pagtataka at bahid ng selos. Medyo tumaas ata boses niya.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako saka pabulong na sumagot, "...mmm, medyo." Inantay ko ang isasagot niya.

Meron nang mga nauna kay James pero sa hindi inaasahang panahon at lugar, narinig ko ang mga salitang sa unang pagkakataon ko pa lang narinig. Para bang may nagbabadyang isang napakagandang kinabukasan para sa akin... Sa amin.

Nakita kong ngumiti si James at mahinahong sinabi, "Who knows, baka married na tayo by that time."

Blank For A Day

Stealing glances on a lunch table's queens of make-believe, I tried to shake off Sheryl's words as it reverbrated in my head, "hindi ko nararamdaman na belong ako...".

Then everything went blank. Maybe if i turn up my wma, the thoughts would all come back. Maybe if i ignore them gossiping about me, all my thoughts would come back.

I tried.

Nothing.

Girls in here are stressing me out. I can practically hear them gossiping about me even right after I turn my back at them. What's wrong with them? Or, maybe something's wrong with me. Maybe being too mum creates unecessary ideas in their heads.

I thought the sun in Adriatico would make me happy.

We'll just get back on Sheryl some other day.

Hiram

Tired after an afternoon tweaking games at tito Boy's, and a brief visit to the mall to run an errand, James and I went to a late Sunday mass. But even before the celebration ended, we eagerly went home.

Walking along Macaria Avenue, I held on more tightly at James' hand as a white fluffy thing appeared before us. The inadeqautely lit street couldn't clearly make out what it was.

For a moment, i thought it was a cat until it hopped.

Ooooh.... rabbit!

And so, we were proud parents to Macaria Avenue Gajunera. We adoringly called it Macky.

meet baby macky!

one big happy family

But... Tiger ate our baby yesterday.

*heartbroken*

Then it hit me, Macky was a tragic reminder. A tragic reminder that life, and whatever we have in our lives right now, are all just lent to us by Him.

I Told You

How do you do it? How do you lead people? How do you make them follow you? How do you make them believe that what you're doing is for their own good? Tell me.

A little less than three weeks old, I have been quietly writing in my little nook when a video conference prompted on my screen. It was my US-based boss. He wanted me to do something.

How do you evaluate people? How do you tell them to stop doing something that is bad for the company? How do you tell someone that he or she has created a mistake and that you must do something to stop it and eventually prevent it?

I had tried out my skills on leading people way back in college. But that was different. It felt like I was only telling little kids to do this and that. I guess this time it'll be different. My co-workers are no kids. Some are even way older than I am.

But how? They're not even talking to me! Oh no, I hope this ain't a case of co-workers breaking my heart into pieces again.