Birthday girl

It’s my birthday today. I’m 25. No, 23. Haha, who am I kidding? :(

My birthday wishes? Good Health. Prosperity. True Love. Peace of Mind. World Peace.

OK. Going to stop right there. Pretty obvious I got no good ideas in my head at the moment. Mmm. I think it’s the wine. (My colleagues at the embassy are so sweet. We had a small celebration over lunch, and a bottle of wine was opened in my honor.)

Hmm. I wonder what’s in store for me this year. I love my family, my friends are great, I'm happy with my love life which is pretty normal (meaning, with its fair share of ups and downs), work is fine -- things are looking pretty good, thank God. So I’m pretty excited about what else life has to offer. 24 was a crazy year. I think I’m ready to take on anything this year… La la la :)

…The best is yet to come… I think. I hope.

Check out dive

I am now officially certified as an open water diver! Who would have thought? Haha. Even Roby, my instructor, told me that after I went on an intro dive with him some time last year with 3 other friends, I struck him as the least inclined to pursue diving. Well guess what, I'm the only who did!

Although, I think Roby was right the first time. Truth is, I'm doing this primarily because of my boyfriend. That I actually enjoy it now that I've started is a great and welcome upshot. Still, I'm so proud of myself, haha.

I have to wait for Jay to send me some photos though. I don't think he was able to get good underwater pics this time. Certainly no good shots of me. It's not like any of all that dive gear flatters anyone. Eek. Haha.

We went on five dives all in all. But I got to enjoy only the last 2 dives, as the first three were pretty much still like classes. I was too busy concentrating on the instructor and my gear and what not to be able to enjoy whatever marine life there was to see.

Those nemo-like (because they're also striped but black and red instead of orange and white) fish are so funny. So territorial and brave -- foolishly so, but brave nonetheless. They come snapping at anything that comes their way, ready to take 'em on regardless the size differential. They're cute. But they bite!

I can't remember the names of the other things we saw. Jay saw a turtle on his night dive. We beginners were not so lucky. :( I hope I get to see more interesting creatures soon!

We might go to Bohol for our next dive. That should be fun. But even just in Anilao, there's so much to see. Oh I can't wait to dive again!

****

Elections are over. Needless to say, I didn't vote -- I was underwater while the good citizens of this country went to the polls to do their civic duty. My bad. But seriously, I wouldn't know who to vote for anyway. Such a circus, these elections.

No, I'm not gonna get started on politics. I'm just starting to wonder if I should have voted, haha. But you see, I voted three years ago for PGMA, and well, let's just say, I'm no longer a fan. The thing is, I don't think I would ever be able to bring myself to vote for FPJ. So there's my problem. I don't know. No good choice three years ago. I chose what I thought was the lesser evil. Sadly, the lesser evil is still evil. The options available these elections weren't any better. So maybe it wasn't so bad that I didn't vote. It sure was more fun to go diving! Haha.

Waiting

For someone who hates (hates hates hates!) waiting, I keep finding myself in situations where I have to wait for something or someone. To make it worse, more often than not, I put myself in those situations. Makes the waiting more damn irritating.

The funny thing is, I have mastered the art of waiting. That's not to say that I am able to keep feelings of irritation and frustration at bay. It only means I'm able to look calm and composed despite them.

It was my friend Andrea who first called me a "lady in waiting". An offhand observation, she didn't realize how much truth there was in what she said. She only said that because of the many instances she's seen me waiting for my sister and this one particular friend who's always late.

If only all the waiting we do were as simple as waiting for a friend, or the inevitably late plane (PAL or Cebu Pacific, they're just the same). Or maybe even waiting for morning to come on a really bad night. These we can easily deal with by ranting and raving, or passing time quietly with a good book, your choice. In time you learn to choose to wait patiently. Well, I have.

But what about waiting for your prayers to be answered? Waiting for the ONE? Waiting for that job offer from a most desired employer? Waiting for good news from the doctor about your brother's illness? Waiting for something wonderful to finally happen? How does one wait patiently?

Trust me on the sunscreen

Everyone's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
by Baz Luhrmann

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of '99.....
Wear Sunscreen

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience...

I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth;
Oh never mind;
you will not understand the power of beauty of your youth until they have faded.
But trust me, in 20 years you'll look back at the photos of yourself
and recall in a way you can't grasp now
how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked...

You're not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future;
or worry,
but know that worrying is as effective as

trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind;
the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts,
don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don't waste your time on jealousy;
sometimes you're ahead,
sometimes you're behind...
the race is long, and in the end,
it's only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive,
forget the insults;
if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters.
Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life...
the most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives,
some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium

Be kind to your knees,
you'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't,
maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't,
maybe you'll divorce at 40,
maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary...

Whatever you do,
don't congratulate yourself too much
or berate yourself either-
your choices are half chance, so are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can...
don't be afraid of it, or what other people think of it,
it's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance... even if you have nowhere to do it
but in your own living room.

Read the directions,
even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines,
they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents,
you never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings;
they are the best link to your past
and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,
but for the precious few you should hold on.

Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle
because the older you get,
the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once,
but leave before it makes you hard.

Live in Northern California once,
but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truths,
prices will rise, politicians will philander,
you too will get old,

and when you do
you'll fantasize that when you were young

prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you.

Maybe you have a trust fund,
maybe you have a wealthy spouse;
but you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair,
or by the time it's 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but,
be patient with those who supply it.
Advice is a form of nostalgia.
Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal,
wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen...

Fresh start

I started a blog several months back. And I never got around to adding to the first post. Better to start afresh I guess. And that's what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up.

Upon typing in "Fresh start", the thought of changing it to "New Beginnings" came into my head. It didn't make sense as there's really nothing happening in my life that would make me write about new beginnings. I now know that this phrase just comes from an old memory -- New Beginnings is a part of CRIBS, a house for abandoned kids and abused girls (this is the NB part) where I used to volunteer while at university. Although I actually spent more time with the babies. I wonder how they're doing now.

Joey. That was the name of the kid I loved the most. So cute! I wonder how he is. Hmm. Wherever he is now, I hope he is doing well and is getting all the love and care he deserves.

****

Oh I did start something new recently. I started diving lessons last week. And this weekend I'll be having my first checkout dive. I went on an intro dive last year, but I guess that doesn't count as a real dive. So I'm really looking forward to this weekend. I'm a bit scared, but still excited.

I'm also glad because I will finally be able to dive with my boyfriend. Boy, those hours of just sitting, reading or snorkelling by myself while waiting for the divers to come back were just too long. Also, after having seen his photos, I just want to be down there myself. There's so much to see and discover! I really can't wait! Anilao, here I come!

****

My sister gave birth last week. After a small scare over jaundice, the baby is now home with his proud, loving (and relieved) parents. He's so tiny, always hungry, and cries so loudly (mainly because he's hungry again). And he's so cute! And he smells so nice. The scent of newborn babies is simply one of the best in the world. Try smelling one, haha. Oh I just love babies.

I think I will be spending more time in Antipolo...

****

I'm turning 25 next week. Ugh, quarter of a century old! Talk about quarter life crisis! I still don't know where my life is going. Oh dear. New year. Fresh start, fresh start. Gotta work on those resolutions I came up with during the New Year. Wait, did I have any? Haha. I better make some now. Not getting any younger! I really should stop waiting for things to happen. I gotta make them happen!

But I think I shall remain forever 23. Not that that was an exceptionally good year for me -- I don't remember anything particularly interesting about it, but 23 just feels like a good number (Michael Jordan would agree). And it seems a good age to stay in forever. No, I'm not crazy. I just don't want to grow old. And people everywhere lie about their age anyway. Why should I be an exception? Hehe.

Oh well, 'til my next post.

In the meantime I will remain 23, continue to work hard at not going crazy, go to my final pool session with Roby the dive master, Doris my buddy, and Anna my other classmate, and try not to forget to pack sunscreen for the trip!