The Year That Was

2008 has been a very eventful year for me.


A lot has happened. A lot of decisions have been made. There's been quite a number of changes happening all at once.


Deciding to leave a very comfortable life back home and venture into the unknown has been the biggest risk I took in my life. But I had to do it. It's in one of my TO DO LIST before I turn 40. Oh well, it is a fact. Undeniably, I am not getting any younger. I had to do it now while I still can rather than wonder for the rest of my life about the what could have been's.


Along with the decision to leave my work and my country was the thought that I may not have the same kind of life that I have been used to back home. So I have to prepare myself for such eventuality. And I may not get the same kind of job, or the same pay. So many things are so uncertain, what with the global crisis and all. But just the same, I decided to take a chance. I thought: It's a good thing I have relatives whom I will be staying with. It'll at least make the transition a little bit easier. And they have indeed helped me out anyway they can - financially, emotionally, spiritually. They are there making me laugh, accompanying me on walks, in going to church, and just bringing me along for gala. And best of all, they lend me money when I'm short on cash (which happens pretty often these days, believe me).


It's so comforting to have people to run to. Beyond the physical hardship, emotional strain of separation and psychological worries of what tomorrow may bring, there's only so much that one can take. Sometimes, my body wants to give up because my heart just couldn't take things in anymore. That's why it is really so important that not only the body and mind be ready, the human spirit should also be prepared.


Every choice we make in life is coupled with consequences. I am learning to live with this lesson everyday. Sometimes, we make good choices with good consequences. At other times, we make bad choices wherefore we learn to deal with the consequences and do our very best to try to find ways to make them better.


Eversince I arrived here in DXB, I have been trying to adjust to a very different world. I have learned to condition myself to be more thrifty and more practical with the things that I buy or pay for. I have to constantly remind myself to exercise caution with my finances. For surely, times are hard. But by the grace of God and the help of family and friends, this journey hopefully will only serve to strengthen this human spirit.

Happy New Year!

just wanna greet everyone a very happy new year! God bless always!




Send this eCard !

Pasko Na Naman

it's Christmas!


Happy holidays to one and all!

Colorful Clock Tower

ang ganda panoorin ng clock tower sa gabi. pero sabi ng pinsan ko, mas maganda pa lalo pag dumating na ang DSF (Dubai Shopping Festival). sobrang gagandahan na daw nila ang paligid para ma-engganyo ang lahat na lumabas kahit gabi para maili nang mamili. well, sa ngayon manonood ako nang manonood ng mga tanawin- wala pa kasing pambili. hehe...

Rain, Rain Go Away

We've been having intermittent rains for three days now. Imagine, sinusundan talaga ako ng ulan. Sabi pa naman nila, pag tuloy-tuloy ang ulan ng kahit apat na oras lang, bumabaha na sa Dubai. Paano kasi, walang proper drainage dahil di naman kailangang pangambahan nila ito. Sinong mag-e-expect ng baha dito sa Middle East, aber?


Ang sarap mag-stay sa bahay tapos nasa bed lang buong maghapon (especially since Eid- three days na naman holiday after this weekend). Tapos nood ng TV o di kaya'y DVD. Miss ko ang mga DVD marathons ko nun sa Pinas pag long weekends o bakasyon. Paano ba naman e madami akong nahihiraman ng mga full season/ complete episodes ng mga favorite kong koreanovela.


Andiyan ang Winter Sonata, Only You, Jumong, Love Story in Harvard, Legend, Lovers in Paris, at Spring Waltz (gosh! kilig talaga ako kay Daniel Henney!). And let's not forget my own set of All About Eve and Jewel in the Palace (na nasa nanay ko na ngayon).


May napanood din pala akong Chinese TV series na nagustuhan ko. Iyong The Warriors na pamilya- forgot na apelyido nila. ",) Hanep 'no? Addictus nga talaga ako sa mga telenovela na 'yan. Although pili lang naman, pag medyo nasimulan ko at ok naman ang kwento. Madaming pinalabas na di ko masyado feel tulad ng Green (something), Princess Hours, My Sassy Girl, Full House, MG, etc. Di ko na-trip-an e. Sorry ha sa mga fans ng mga iyon. peace tayo!

What's In a Name?

haynaku, ang hirap talaga intindihin ng mga Arabo. parang kinakain nila ang kanilang salita, with emphasis on letters like 'h' and 'l', na para bang nabubuntotan ng letrang 'a'. at parang bisaya ang bigkas nila sa mga vowels. gaya na lang ng pangalan ko, halimbawa. may isa na ang tawag sa akin ay 'Ebigel'. iyong isa naman ay 'Ebijail'. heto pa isa: 'Abigola'.


anak ng.... tama na sana bigkas nung unang vowel, nagkabuntot naman ng 'a'. e minsan pa nga wika sa akin nung isang nag-interview sa akin dati, "Your name, very hard to speak." Lintsak!
e ang ganda kaya ng pangalan ko. hehe... walang halong yabang 'yon ha. ",)


sa totoo lang, proud naman talaga ako sa ibinigay sa aking pangalan ng mga magulang ko. Abigail means 'father's joy'. and i want to be just that, a person who will be the joy of not only my daddy but most especially our dear Father in heaven.


kayo ba alam niyo ang ibig sabihin ng pangalan niyo?

MP Update

sorry, but can't help myself. just needed to log here on MP's most recent feat- being SI's Sportsman of the Year.


napakabata nitong taong ito. ang layo na ng narating niya.


ako naman ay walang pangarap maging swimming champ. di naman ako ilusyonada. hehe... but like what i've recounted sometime before, sapat na sa akin ang matutong mag-float. hahaha...