ARTVENTURE in 2 DAYS

Seven months have passed. Yes! Seven! Capital S-E-V-E-N! That's how long this post has been sleeping in my phone, and finally, I get to post it here!

Ever since I got back to Cebu after the pandemic, I promised myself to travel at least once a year! It doesn't have to be grand. It doesn't have to be abroad. It just has to be somewhere I have never been. In September, I found out that VAN GOGH ALIVE would open at BGC Art Center until December 2023. That pushed me to book a plane ticket, even if it meant just spending an overnight stay in Manila.

VAN GOGH ALIVE was the only plan, but as soon as I booked the ticket, I decided I might as well make the most of that weekend and turn it into an ARTventure—a time where my itinerary would include anything that involves ART. :)

November 18 came, and boy, that was indeed an awesome weekend ARTventure.

The Seven Deadly Sins Tag

Last Friday, Lola of Hit or Miss Books tagged me into this tag. I've been intending to publish my post during the weekend, unfortunately, my offline work demanded too much time. Anyways, here I am and I'll answer all these seven deadly questions.

Game On!

Greed:

1. What is your most unexpensive book?

That would be John Green's Looking for Alaska. I got this book as a prize of the 2013 July Challenge from Read Philippines. (Waves to Laila who sponsored the Challenge)

Mitch Albom Booksigning at Philippines

Best-selling author of Tuesdays with Morrie visited Philippines for his book signing tour last Feb. 22 and 23 at Glorietta Manila and Ayala Cebu and I was really happy to be able to attend that awesome event and have a chance to have my book signed by himself.

Photo from www.marcellapurnama.com

Mitch Albom wrote inspiring books namely Tuesdays with Morrie, For One More Day, The Five People you meet in Heaven, Have a Little Faith, The Time Keeper and the newest released "The First Phone Call From Heaven".

Vee Philosophy: Opportunities, Doors and Windows

It’s actually crazy how a silent night can make you think of silly things that actually make sense. Like just last night, after doing my laundry while watching the latest episodes of The Walking Dead and Once Upon a Time (totally great shows), I had this realizations about opportunities.

I remember this saying that says, “When a door closes, a window opens.” Sounds familiar, right? Yeah, I also heard it from the movies. And of course, we get that this generally means that when you missed an opportunity then there’ll be another one but not that bigger than the one you missed.

I just thought, why should you choose window as a metaphor for this? Because if we think about it, this saying would actually mean that if we cannot enter the door, then we should break in through an open window. And that is not right because it would be trespassing already.

 

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Maybe when an opportunity passed, it just simply means that it wasn’t for you and you just have to work hard until another one opens and not hold on to any little part of that opportunity that has passed like clinging to an open window. We just have to move on. After all, I have proved to myself that there is a perfect time for everything. If that door opens again and it lets you in, then it’s good but if not? You don’t have to roam around the house in search for an open window to enter. A window is not a door. Besides, there are lots of doors in the neighborhood you can knock.

I think that saying should be changed. It’s just literally wrong no matter how meaningful it may seem. Maybe the right saying should be…

“When a door closes, it’s either you knock again or move to the next door"

Tatlong Araw Kasama si Rizal

Photo Credits

Abot-tanaw ko na ang Polauan Port ng Dapitan. Sa wakas ay mararating ko na rin ang bayan na tanging sa aklat na Sibika at Kultura ko lamang naririnig. Siyempre, bilang isang AB History na estudyante, interesado rin ako sa maikling panahong ginugol ng paborito kong bayani na si Jose Rizal sa bayan na ito. Kinailangan ko pang pilitin ang pinsan ko na si Leah na samahan ako sa paglalakbay ko upang payagan ako nang aking ama na makapunta sa Dapitan. Nakapagdesisyon na rin kasi ako na gagawan ko nang Thesis ang naging buhay ni Jose Rizal sa loob nang apat na taon niyang pamamalagi sa bayan nang Dapitan.

Ayy… ako nga pala si Josephine Valdez at nasasabik na ako sa kung ano man ang matutuklasan ko sa Dapitan.

#SittieCatesBookContest: Why I Love to Read Books?

Books? They’re my first love. I remember how I would work hard just to be part of the honor’s list in school so my father would reward me with a new book at the end of the school year. At first, it was a box filled with fairy tales, and then a book about the autobiographies of the presidents of the Philippines when I was in 2^nd grade. The next books I collected were about histories, trivias and other children stories.

I remember how I would stay at the library and scan the encyclopedia (Yes! I was a trying hard genius before). Usually, I read about animals, flowers, novel authors and scientist. I used to have a notebook filled with interesting trivias about them. I really can’t explain the feeling whenever I have a book on my hand but I just love it. It’s like whenever I get to open a new book, I’m about to take a flight to a new world and I so love the feeling.

The BOOKaholic side of me...:)

Finally, My Very First Tagalog Novel

It's been a month since I last posted. Urrggg... I've been very busy settling my documents at school so I can finally be free from MSU-IIT. I just got my Cum Laude certification and transcript yesterday and this monday, they'll be releasing my diploma. I've also attended my cousin's wedding and right now is spending quality time with my room mates that I'm about to leave behind in my very beloved dormitory in Iligan.

Anyway, I'm not going to be dramatic over my departure from Iligan. I am about to share to you my beloved readers my very first published Tagalog Romance Novel. (Drum roll please...) 

Bookware's My Special Valentine published The Hired Wife just last May 23, 2012 and I've only known about it just last week which made me realize how "not cool" not being online especially when there are important news like this. 

So this story is about Pam(short for Phoemela) who lost her job and was forced to go home and substitute her mother as a secretary in farm where she's going to meet Kaira, the stunning grandson of the owner of the Hacienda and the next thing she knows, she became Kaira's hired wife.

I won't talk much about it since I haven't read the final published book yet and I really want you to read for yourself and I hope you'll enjoy reading the story and feel free to post your comments or reactions here in Blah Blah Notebook.

You can check out  Bookware for more information about the book.

Actually, I've written and submitted this story late 2010 and finally it's published. It was actually my 2nd manuscript. My first manuscript got rejected. I can't explain how hesitant I was when I clicked the send button of my email when I sent my manuscript and how excited and afraid I was when I opened my inbox and saw the publishers' email. To be honest, I covered my mouth when I read their message telling my that my manuscript was accepted because I really hate screaming. LOL. Para akong kinikilig sa sobrang tuwa no'n. Hahaha.

My advice to other aspiring writers, don't get easily discouraged. Just write and see it turn into something you can hold. Just trust God because He will never fail you. 

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday Nuffnang!!!!

I really can't remember how long I have been in Nuffnang but all I know is that, it's really fun with Nuffnang. To be honest, I'm not earning much with it and this is actually my first post about Nuffnang. They've been giving a lot of opportunities to bloggers and silly me, I haven't joined anything yet aside from this one.

Everytime I see Nuffnang ads on my blog, I can't help but smile because I know that it's a good sign. Gosh! I think my traffic is increasing! 

Anyways, I'm not posting to talk about random blah blah blah's about my blog. I just want to greet the Asia-Pacific's First Blog Advertising Community. Happy 5th Birthday Nuffnang!!! Wow! 5 years, that's actually a great achievement.

Happy 5th Birthday Nuffnang!!

You have certainly entertained a lot of readers and helped a lot of bloggers and advertisers. May you inspire and encourage more bloggers for the many years to come.

  

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Nuffnang!

SPONSORS:

  

Heart's Day, Sketches and other Trips

Happy Heart's Day dear readers!!!

It's Valentine's day and yet, it wasn't that fun here. Well, maybe because their are still aftershocks of the Typhoon Washi(Sendong). Not to mention that it's been raining for how many days and the soil is in their colloidal suspension (mud). It's frustrating how I try hard jumping from one dry land or rock to another just to keep my shoes clean only to find out when I get to the jeepney, I wasn't that really careful at all.... Grrrrrr....

Anyway, enough about all the negative things I encountered last morning. After all, there were still happy moments. My dorm mate and my sister in CYA gave me a Valentine present... It was really cute...... and.... pink...

  

Patay na Pangarap (Dead Dreams)

It's kind of strange that I accidentally found ANOTHER piece that I wrote when I was still in high school. LIFE IS LIKE A ROSE was written when I was in my sophomore years. Two years later, I was 15 and in my senior year and was part of our school paper organization "The Pioneer", I was one of the news contributors and the feature writer who wrote Filipino feature articles.  This piece just actually came out of nowhere after hearing news on TV. The moment the news ended, I was already writing as if words just kept on popping out of my head. Anyways, hope my Filipino readers appreciate this piece written by the 15 year old me.

 

Photo from Citizenship 

This post is in Filipino so I would like to extend my apology for some of my readers who can't understand it. Feel free to use Google for translation... :D You can also read it in Definitely Filipino. It's my very first post there.

Punit-punit na Pangarap

Napakaingay ng mainit na lansangan...abala ang lahat  sa kanya-kanyang pagpapatakbo ng buhay...negosyo. May ngumingiti, tumatawa, umiiyak na mga bata, may mga tulala at mga paslit na naglalaro lang at walang kamuwang-muwang habang ang mga matatandang ale at mama na nasa malapit lang ay panay ang sigawan at murahan na para bang wala nang bukas.

 
Ilang segundo lang....     BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM..............................
 

The Notebook Finally Got Its Own Domain

No... no... no... I'm not talking about Nicholas Spark's novel, The Notebook. I'm talking about this very own blog, no other than, The Blah Blah Notebook. I finally got my own domain just last Saturday. Now that I remember, It's my blog's anniversary this month. I honestly forgot about it. I would've never remember it if i haven't seen my archives. Woooahh... The Blah Blah Notebook is finally one year old... 

Though my page rank went down from PR1 to PR0 now, well at least it'll soon work out fine specially now that I already have my own domain purchased from Go Daddy.

Hopefully, I'd get to  buy domain for my two other blogs which are, as for the moment are not yet updated.

COLLEGE DlLEMMA

As part two of my Nothing Beats College poem, I'm sharing this poem entitled "College Dilemma". I wrote Nothing Beats College when I was in my first year in college. Crazy how I kept it for myself for about three years before posting it here in my blog. Anyway, this is my final year in college( I hope so) so I'm writing a part two.
 

Why do colleges are so complicated?

Why does it make simple things overrated?

Why prove simple values

When the answer is very obvious?

Forcing our brains to drain

‘til blood in our noses rain.

What you get is not what you always see

Because even if your professor smiles

They can still give you INC

And when you think that you got the finals nailed,

Don’t relax and sit back,

For you can still have a failing grade.

 Photo from Google

And crazy how statistics be so ridiculous

Stating conditions and never-ending rules

And I never thought that freedom can be measured, “son of a gun!”

Then came a statement stating the degree of freedom.

And how come integration and differentiation are very significant?

When after all, it’s only plus and minus that you’ll encounter in your future working barracks.

Why do efforts seem to be very unimportant?

When you have done your very best for your thesis to be excellent.

And when you thought you have sniffed every chemicals, hydrochloric acid and all,

Your chemical research still fails that you feel like overdosing with pills you bought from a drugstore.

Seems to be impossible but yes, it’s true

College is not as simple as a-e-i-o-u

It is a never ending drama

of college dilemma.

Break Time: The Four Honest People

I have decided that from now on, I'm going to post a Taglish post ( I mean Tagalog-English) every after three posts in this blog. Why? It's simply because I just miss writing Filipino words in my blog like my first posts. One even is making it on top of my popular posts and it's consistent on the list of popular posts. I don't know but maybe Kuya Kim Atienza is really a popular searched topic on the web especially for Pinoys.

I'm going to call all Taglish posts Break Time and that means I'm having a break from all the English talks here. I get tired sometimes and my brain just go blank sometimes. :) So for my first topic for breaktime, I'm going to talk about The Four Honest People.

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A Come Back Contest: Joining an Online Contest

I've always been interested with online contests and freebies  giveaways but I have never tried joining one until yesterday when I was online doing online gigs and blog hopping. I stumbled upon this blog which is hosting a contest. I thought, how about I try joining it . After all, it's one way of making friends with other bloggers as well. It's going to be exciting. Beyond Crypticness is hosting a contest for every blogger who is interested. It's exciting since it's my first time to join. Beyond Crypticness is giving away Php500.00 to the lucky winner and all Pinoy bloggers are invited. So, if anyone of you wants to join the contest. Just CLICK HERE and you're on... Good luck!!!

My Brother's Pants

My brother was on a hurry. He had to attend to our older brother's wedding. So after arriving from China, he left all his baggage in his boarding house and went shopping for new pants and shirt for the wedding. He hated bringing too much baggage so he took his flight with nothing but the Polo Shirt and the pants he bought and a bag of chocolates for our nephews and niece.

Three months later, he came home for christmas vacation. When he was about to leave, he got lazy about his baggage that he left some of his clothes including his three months old pants. I didn't really know what was running in his head that he threw his pants on the bed and said, "It's yours." I didn't know if I would say yes or no. I just didn't answered.

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When he was finally finalizing his baggage contents, his pants was still "pending for approval" [LOL] in his bag. I didn't know what went into my mind that I said. [Maybe that makes us really siblings, things just pop up into or heads] "Fine, that's mine already."

So he left and his pants hung in the closet.

Four months later...

Just last week, I had to go to the city to open a bank account. So after taking a bath, I went looking for something to wear only to discover that I already run out of pants. They're all in the laundry. So I rubbled the closet in search for something to wear. I found two skirts, those I used to wear for high school events, skirts that I never wear for already four years and I have no plan of wearing them again unless I'm left with no choice. Finally I found a black freego pants. I grabbed it out and realized it was my brothers pants.

Having no choice, I wore it. After all, it's mine already. Good thing I have a belt to make it fit in my waist. It's quite bigger. It's waistline is bigger than mine and my brother's waist. [My brother waist is something ladylike...LOL... about 27-29?]

I wore it and paired it with my plain gray Lisa Gildan t-shirt. I faced the mirror to check what I looked like and it made sense. I think I know what my brother thought when he gave me his pants. :( 

HOME AT LAST

Believing the Best of People

This link is the first part and this post is the continuation of Edgardo’s story.

After being away for several months, Edgardo Aradillos was finally home just last Sunday, April 10, 2011 in Argao, a few-hour trip away from Cebu, a place somewhere in Visayas. 

Two months ago, my father brought a skinny man who was about in his mid 40’s age. He was a picture of man who haven’t eaten and slept well for how many days. We only have three bedrooms in our house and only one is vacant but he never accepted the offer of allowing him to occupy in the vacant room. Instead, he just stayed in the small area that used to be our storage area for corn. He said that he was from Argao so my father planned of bringing him with him when he sets to go to Cebu for his checkup and visit to my brothers.

He was hard-working during his stay. He would wake up early in the morning and shepherd our cows and do things even if he wasn’t asked to do so. There were times that when my father lacked workers for their building project, Edgardo would go with him and he got paid as well. On regular days, he stayed in our backyard the whole day cutting woods for sell and for our woodstove use. My mother would pay for the woods so he got to save money for himself. He fed the dogs, chickens, the goats and the pigs in the backyard.  My father also gave him one pig for himself. He planted gabi and ginger at the fences of our backyard. My mother would carry milk and bread, sometimes oatmeal or coffee during snack time like 10am and 3pm and he slept when he wanted to rest. We were happy about him because he really was a great help in our house especially with cutting woods because it was really one of problems at home. Besides, he has really proving that my father wasn’t wrong about taking him home.  He was also a good cook, it was only with him that we saw a different way of cooking Ginataang Langka. We felt great having him around but it was just not right. He seemed to be over workaholic. Sometimes, I would hate going to the kitchen because he would insist of washing the dishes.

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When the small barn was finished, he built a small loft and made it his sleeping area. The barn was neat and kinda like Clark Kent’s fortress of solitude in the loft of his barn…LOL…  All the activities everyday was his routine and every day, he seemed to be growing and his face circling. He’s gaining some fats already.

Just the other week, he went to one of my father’s building project. He worked like superman. So workaholic. He worked and got soaked in the rain. The next day, he got sick and of course, we gave him home medications and even thought of admitting him to the hospital because he had fever for how many days but he refused. He would feel sick and then he would feel better and every time he did feel better, he would go walking around and doing chores. He couldn’t stay resting. It was then my brother called pressuring my father to go to Cebu already because he was asking my father’s help in the house he was building and my other brother also wanted him to go there for his checkup. My father thought it was the time that he planned of bringing Edgardo but how would he bring him if he’s sick. To encourage him to rest and feel better, he asked him if he wanted to go with him and he said yes. It was the only thing that made him rest…J to have a better trip.

Last Saturday, they took a trip via ship to Cebu. After my brother took the baggages and other pasalubongs, my father and Edgardo took a trip via bus to Argao where his sisters lived [he wasn’t married anyway]. It was a reunion that looked like a scene in a TV show. Edgardo’s sister cried while hugging Edgardo. She thanked my father for his kindness to him and later that day, my father left and took a trip back to Cebu. Upon his arrival in my brother’s house in Bonbon, he called and shared his experience.

I wonder how he felt about the experience. I know it is heartwarming.

Song Remix

I got bored last night while watching Mara Clara and just like any other day, boredom leads me to crazy thoughts. I don't know if what I did was really crazy bt what happened next was there I was, in my room writing in my Blah blah Notebook Book 3 writing a song. Hahaha... Not an original song really but a composition made from mixing lines and lyrics of different songs. So let me share the crazy composition I wrote. There were three of them actually.

I need another story

That doesn't always makes you want to cry

Because I think I'm sick of all

And I don't want to fall in pieces

I just wanna be a supermodel

I wanted everything.

If you just realize

You're just like a pieces

Coz I'm addict, addicted to you.

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Remember those walls I built, baby they're tumbling down

So I throw all your stuff away and then I clear you up in my head

I clear you out of my heart and ignore all your messages.

But i never wanna say I'm sorry for breaking us apart

I never wanna call you back 'coz I know that I was wrong.

So what? I'm still a rockstar, I got my rock moves and I don't need yo

I'm alright, I'm okay, I'm so much better without you

more than you, more than you know

I don't love you like I did yesterday...

You're so yesterday, yesterday

I'm just a bird who already flew away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm only up when you're not down

don't wanna fly if your still on the ground

it's like no matter what I do

We're so inlove that I acted insane

and that's the way I loved you

Maybe it's true that I can't leave without you

I don't want to work this out if I got to do it solo

I can't believe that it's true, I've run a thousand miles to get you.

Your voice is lilke soundtrack of my summer

It's like unlike any other, always be my thunder

You're all I want, you're all I need, you're everything, everything

When I'm with you, I'll make every second count

'Coz I'll miss whenever your not around..

You must have been heaven, hearing you call me and

You're all that his not, you got it all

You have stolen my heart

And tonight will be the night that I will fall for you over again

And we belong together now yeah!!

You got a piece of me and honestly!

My Life Would Suck Without You!!!



Haha.... Did you figure out the song titles?