I got a pleasant surprise when I checked my inbox a couple of days ago…

And here’s what’s inside..

Awoohoo! I’m so excited I’m sure I peed a little on my pants.

I liked 500 days of Summer.

Because I was never a Summer. Unlike her, I was never a picture of cool detachment. I’ve always been animated and emotional and passionate. That’s why I always end-up namamaga ang mata even after the pinakamababaw na movie or first to get excited and make palakpak over a lousy homemade firework display. I have always been envious of people who walk around in either a smug or deadpan manner showing an “I’m too cool to care, pare” image. Haaay, I’m so uncool tsk tsk tsk.

Because I was once a Summer to someone else. Telling a guy who’s always believed in soulmates or the one true love and all those stuff that Hallmark cards write about, of a line similar to: “You weren’t wrong Tom. You were just wrong about me”.Picture this scenario:

Joy to a 5y/o bright eyed and dreamy kid: “No honey, there’s no such thing as Santa. It was just an idea invented by giant greeting card companies to promote their sales on Christmas. Oh and Barney? not a real dinosaur, he’s just some fat guy wearing a purple costume.”

5 y/o once bright-eyed now horror-struck and teary-eyed kid: “Huwaaat? But why? Why would they do that? Whatever happened to humanity?”

Yup, very similar to that…

Because the story was very honest and straight-forward about the thing we call love. No it didn’t junk the notion but it also did not romanticize it. It objectively presented the harsh realities that come with it.

Because it’s about what bright-eyed freaks like me hope and believe in. It’s a story of moving on. It’s about believing that nothing in this world is coincidence and that every little earthly event has a cosmic significance. It gives us hope that we will all, eventually, find our “Autumn”.

Now here’s my favorite part – The Bench scene:

Summer: I woke up one morning and I just knew.

Tom: Knew what?

Summer: What I was never sure of with you.

after hearing Summer say this, Tom just looked away…

heartbreak… ugh …

Congratulations Pacman!!!

Thanks for lessening if not eliminating the crime rate in the Philippines during the hours of your momentous fight. Heard that there were only 2 reported deaths during those hours and both were due to heart attacks while watching your fight…. well who says we can have it all, right?

You da man Pacman! … just please don’t enter politics…

that's me surrounded by green people

and that's me surrounded by yellow people

or by "feeling ninja" people

by donut people...

by semi-drunk people

by crazy people!

Do you love your job?

….. I know I do!

Happy Birthday to my youngest brother… Sam, the cat with an attitude.

Please don’t grow up too fast Sammy, I still can’t imagine you leaving us for another feline. It’s like a straight shot to the heart. But if you should, just make sure she’s a really really hot one – yung parang pang Pussycat Doll level. Rarrrr!

Wayfarer?

Way coooooooler!

Please don’t mind my chickenscratch-like scribbles on the white board behind me. but since I pointed it out, I’m sure now that you will anyway (sometimes I think some birds, even considering those teeny-weenie brains, are smarter than i am!).

mother earth and father earth

We celebrated my mom’s birthday in Kabisera. The food was either great or we were really just very hungry… I say both. Obvious ba sa picture na I only remembered to take a photo when we were almost done eating?

Happy birthday motherdear! I want to age as gracefully as you, please, please, please share your secret with me. I promise not to sell it to any age-defying product company (at least not for the right price, mwahahaha).

I helped! And it feels damn goooood!

Knowing that a lot of people will benefit from what you’re doing just gives you a natural high. I’m telling yah, who needs drugs when you can just help. Gooooood feelin’

if george, a kid below 10 y/o is helping, there's no reason why a true blue, able-bodied Filipino can't

the essentials: water, bread, canned goods, rice, clothing

Mae - energetic even after coming from an 18-hr shift

busy packers

Be part of it. Come to White Space bldg. Pasong Tamo ext. Makati or to any relief center near you. If you’re overseas, you can always wire-transfer. oki oki? See ya’ll there!

Some photos from the web…

 

Let us help them rebuild their lives.

Whether it be through donating, packing or distributing relief goods or just a simple but heartfelt prayer. As long as it’s sincere and out of goodwill and charity, it matters.

Dear Joy,

Remember this day. When things get rough, if you’re feeling sad, when you’re in doubt, just remember this day.

There are bigger, even worse things happening in the world.

You’re very lucky.

I got stuck along the stretch of Makati ave for hours because of the flood. Couldn’t go further or go back as the water on both ends are either waist high or neck high. Begrudgingly spent money for a hotel room to stay for the night. Waking up after a nap in the hotel, I turned the TV on and saw the roof-high flood, people in their roof, people sleeping on LRT stations, people trying to salvage as much of their belongings as possible. I was very blessed. Thank you God. Please take care of all those damp and tired people.

Dear God,

Please continue on showering me with your blessings…..

…… samahan mo na rin po ng Royce Nama Chocolate, yung Au lait ha?!

Thank you po.

Love,

Joy

sinful, sinful, sinful