Sharon

I've loved and cherished a lot of Sharon in my life. They differ from each other in so many ways except their names. I've met them in different places and situations that made each of them more unique and special in my heart. Let me start from my earliest memories...

Sharon Concepcion - She's my cousin. I call her "Ka Talon" since we were kids. "Ka" is a term of endearment in our hometown. It's short for "kaka" that has the same meaning as "ate" or "kuya". Siniloan public market was our playground back then. Our parents were also weekend buddies until such time when they no longer share the same hobby. And we also drifted apart when I transferred to a private school in elementary.

Sharon Cuneta - Of course I loved her! She was my childhood idol. And until now I love listening to her music and enjoy singing her songs in karaoke. I also enjoy watching her movies in cable.

Sharon Feliza Ann Macagba - I used to call her "Shawie" way back in highschool. She was my bestfriend in LSPC. We clicked because we were both sensitive and emotional back then. High school days... we shared the same crush... we wrote anonymous love letter to our crushes... we wrote each other letters at night, on weekends, and even during class... we never failed to write "I love you" in our letters... we joined both the JR. JACCMERES and the Merry LiBieRaThel Pepv RiShaLeen groups in our section(HAHAHA! Two-faced bitches! No, just kidding. Both groups get along with each other very well). Thinking back, I realized that highschool days are the best! =D

In college, Shawie and I shared the same alma mater still. But our courses and classes made seeing each other quite complicated. I lived in a dorm while she in her aunt's house in the campus. She visited me from time to time, leaving a note at the dorm's counter if I'm out. I've also been in her place and we both shared our dreams and feelings with what little time we had with each other. In college, she changed her nickname to "Ligay", "Ligs", and "Xiaui". I still call her "Shawie" but spell it "Xiaui" in writing. She also influenced me in eating Bodhi and other healthy vegetarian dishes. Until now, we still keep in touch with each other.

Sharon Pagaling - She was my first roommate at Room 217 in Kalayaan Residence Hall. I called her "Yayo". She's bubbly, friendly, kind, and sweet. She's very easy to get along with. She's a rich kid but very down to earth. She loves shoes! (who doesn't!?!) We shared secrets too like sisters and best friends do. We nicknamed our crushes so only the two of us will understand who we talked about. She celebrated her debut with her Kalayaan friends at Max's in QC Circle. We had the same favorite songs back then and she even asked me to give her a copy of the song lyrics that we love. She often hugged me, wether we're happy or sad. Gosh! I miss her! Remembering her, I can still clearly see her across my bed in Kalayaan, the way she laughs, her position while studying, her sleepy eyes in the morning, her balbon arms and long legs, her walk. I can still clearly hear her sweet accent when she speaks, and her laugh. She's a best friend that I only had for a few months because she had to transfer to their new house outside campus. The sad part, our paths haven't crossed again after that. I lost my address book where she wrote her contact information. I researched for her in friendster and google but to no avail. Recently, I saw a "Pagaling, Sharon P." in the news. I saw it in the list of the new lawyers of 2005. I'm not sure if it's her. If anyone who knows her, happens to read this, please e-mail me her contact number or e-mail address because i really miss her.

Sharon Labro - She lived just a door across my room in Kalayaan. She's a landscape artist. I used to sit on her bed and watch her do her plates. Her room was where I heard the Dos Boys (and one of them is Hoseal) shouted "Sharon monster!" because her room was perpendicular to one of the Dos Boys room. Of course, she's not the "monster" the boys were thinking about. They had an exchange of unpleasantries (very high school! my gulay! what do you expect, we were only freshmen). And I found out that the "monster" the boys meant live just above Sharon's room.

Sharon Sto. Domingo - She's the one who lived above Sharon Labro's room. She's no monster at all. I think, the boys were just afraid of her. She's thoughtful and fun to be with. She's very active in extra-curricular activities so I always see her even when we transferred to Molave Residence Hall. She's like, everybody's friend. After sometime, she became Hoseal's friend also and the "monster thing" was buried
in the past.

Sharon Quinsaat - She's my housemate since after college. She's also one of my best or closest friends. I call her "Sha". We met because my boyfriend and her boyfriend, errr ex-boyfriend (now) were brods. She looks like Camille Pratts. =D She's a very mature person but her heart always remain young so there's no boring time with her. She's a bit of an intellectual but she knows I don't dig intellectual conversations so she stoop down to my level and we get along so very fine. Hehehe! I've learned a lot of practical stuff from her. She's been to places but she remains humble and understanding. We shared a lot of secrets too. And not just ordinary secrets, mind you. (Hahaha! Activities and secrets varies with age!) She's the type of person that you could talk to about almost anything! Even stuff that I hated most like politics. I've known her as a very strong woman until just recently when her Andrew flew back to the United States. She almost cried her heart out. But after that, she's back a bit stronger than before.

Well, that list comprises of the Sharons that snatched a place in my heart. There are still others but i can only remember their faces and nothing more.

Computer in Spanish

A Spanish teacher was explaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated as either masculine or feminine.

"House,'' for instance, is feminine: ''la casa.''

''Pencil,'' however, is masculine: "el lapiz.''


A student asked, ''What gender is 'computer'?''

Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether 'computer'' should be a masculine or a feminine noun.


Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.


The men's group decided that ''computer'' should definitely be of the feminine gender (''la computadora'') because:

1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic;

2. The native language they use to communicate with other computers is incomprehensible to everyone else;

3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and

4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.


(THIS GETS BETTER!)


The women's group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine
(''el computador'') because:

1 In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on;

2. They have a lot of data but still can't think for themselves;

3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and

4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have got a better model.


The women won.

wishlist update

last december 2004 i created a holiday wishlist just like what Ala Paredes did. She encouraged her friends/readers to do the same and I find it cute so, i did the same. Here's my 2004 holiday wishlist and its update:

:: a new personal computer - got one last January 2005

:: a digital camera - got one last 2004 holiday

:: personally-made holiday greeting cards from my friends - sad to say but i received texts, emails, and ecards only.

:: a phone call from a close friend abroad - got one from laszi but not during the holidays. it feels so good to hear from a friend that you haven't seen for quite a very long time.

:: a walk in the park with someone close talking about our dreams and our lives - with my hoseal =)

:: a set of oil paints - from DTI HRD training! thank you so much!

:: my sister be off-duty on Christmas and the New Year's Eve - she was but only on Christmas. Thanks still! =)

:: a trip to Enchanted Kingdom - WooHoo! not once but twice! first with family and relatives, second with hoseal and our friends!

:: a simple get-together/Christmas party with my elementary & high school friends - get together but only a few of us. but still, it's wonderful!

:: a quiet and peaceful day alone - impossible! =(

there! i have made one last december 2005. sayang!

new year...new resolutions

i do not make new year's resolutions. because i know that i do not have the determination to follow it. the last time i made a list was when my fourth year high school teacher required our class to make individual new year's resolution.

but this year i have set some new goals to follow. i thought that goals are important in pursuing my dream/s. without goals, i'd be lost just like last 2005.

so here is the list of my goals this year:

1. save at least Php2,000 per month. i have been working for more than 3 years already but i haven't saved a single cent eversince. i thought that it's about time for me to prepare for my future. (Almighty One, help me!)

2. Exercise/ stretch & jog every other day. I am determined to do this because summertime is just a few months away and i still have a lot of extra baggages in my body to lose.

3. apply for a passport. applying for migration or a job abroad would be easier if i have one.

4. paint at least once a week. don't wanna waste it. have to develop what i have.

5. visit a new place at least once a month. cultural immersion and new learnings to make me smart.

6. read at least one book per month.

7. remember birthdays and anniversaries. i am too stupid when it comes to remembering dates. i believe that friends and loved ones would feel their importance in my life if i would be able to (at least) greet them on their special day.

such a short list but i hope i can follow all of it. =)

faith

i love dogs! our neighbor's pet "Digger" is the one that made me appreciate their existence. but, when i was little, i was afraid of dogs. i found them unruly (instead of playful), dirty (instead of cuddly), and frightening (instead of lovable). because of that, my grandmother taught me a prayer to San Roque, the patron saint of dogs. It was more like an incantation which i have to repeatedly recite outloud or in my mind everytime i come face to face with dogs. here's what it is...

"San Roque, na matagal na naming pintakasi,
and alaga nyo pong aso ay inyo pong bantayan
sapagkat dadaan po ako."

And believe it or not, everytime i chant that litany, dogs act as if they do not see me at all. so it stuck to me as a habit.

then last night as i passed by two pitbulls, who love to bully my lovable Digger, i once again prayed the above litany. then i thought, "Heck! why the hell am i reciting this where in fact i don't believe in saints!"

and i realized that it wasn't the "faith" in San Roque that keep dogs from attacking and biting me. it wasn't his name either. otherwise, every Roque guy in town would be adored by dogs.

i believe that somehow, the litany gives me a sense of peace within me instead of fear and panic. and normal dogs don't just attack you when they don't sense fear and hostility from you.

=)

taken

words failed to describe your radiance
illuminated by the glorious sun
you walked towards me with a becoming charm

completely unprepared for what was to come
i stood still and let the wind blew by
electrifying everything your gaze fell upon

how have i missed this kind of power
the one that sparks life in every atom
of desire, of hope, of love

was i ready to succumb to your immeasurable force,
abandoning everything that i was
just to be swayed by your magnificence?

no, perhaps in a different lifetime
when we were both guiltless and unattached
then, and only then, can we freely fool around.

fear

"i must not fear. fear is the mind killer. fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. i will face my fear. i will permit it to pass over me and through me. and when it has gone passed, i will turn the inner eye to see its path. where the fear has gone, there will be nothing. only I will remain."

- Bene Gesserit Proverb
Dune by Frank Herbert

romeo, romeo

where art thou, my romeo?

am i to grieve for the silence that envelopes you?

or rejoice for it bears the seal of thy love for me?

my heart bleeds to see you...

brooding

feeling down and betrayed for no reason at all. haven't felt this lonely for months. and i wonder why feel this way now? not PMS 'coz it's been two weeks already after my period. sinister thoughts that have been haunting me all along...oh please stop! i can't go on like this. this is not helping me and my kool. pressure on kool has to stop. kool needs a break. gotta do something out of my routine...

am i just getting bored? of what? maybe i need a new job. and a new environment. new boyfriend? nahh! forget it. a fling? pwede... NO! i can't. i live by the golden rule. and i'd die if kool cheated on me!

ugh! i hate this moment! makes me want to reach my phone and call my unsespecting baby. gotta make this stop!