♪ Smile - Charlie Chaplin

charlie chaplin.... classic!

SMILE

Extended Eid Holiday

yes, we've had our fun at the beach.

but wait, there's more....

seems there was money left over from our department's budget for outing. we really didn't spend much at the beach. and since we were each allocated a certain amount for the outing, it was decided that we go for another outing two days after. so we went for a Desert Safari this time.

bitin nga lang ako. mas mahaba ang dune bashing na na-experience ko before with my bro and cousins. sobrang ang titinis ng boses namin kakasigaw noon. this time, nag-ga-gather pa lang ako ng energy para sumigaw, tapos na ang tripping. ngek, parang wala pa yatang 10 minutes iyong aming dune bash. hindi ganun ka-worth it and binayad naming 175 dirhams each.

here are my pics on the desert safari (selected na lang.. baka kasi ayaw ng mga kasama ko ma-post sila dito) :

and in the gathering twilight, feel na feel ko na ang lamig ng hangin. pumapasok na ang lamig galing europa at russia... mukhang kelangan ko nang paghandaan ang taga-lamig ko (tawag ng friend ko nung college sa allergy ko sa malamig na hangin). you got me scared there, Keys & Fingers. i really need to find out how to cure my allergy.

Building Character

When I was in my junior year in high school, I joined the CO training for officership during senior year. We called it TCOCCO then. Am not sure though if it's still around. Heard news before that the school admin and PTA had it banned for all the rigorously physical as well as psychological pressures students had to bear the whole year. Even alluded to some activities as a form of hazing. Well, I'm sure most in my generation (those who had citizen's army training in their high school's curriculum) can relate.

I enjoyed the training though. Not so much for the physical exertions but more because of the bonding that we developed with fellow aspirants. They were both happy years (fun, fun, fun) as well as sad (times when you get berated by officers). I have to say that a lot of character- molding happen during this period. And one of my favorite part was memorizing anthologies. I know, not many would agree. A lot of creativity go into the reporting period. Some poems we had to sing or rap or dance to. And it was fun! To this day, I still carry here in my heart countless lessons that I learned then.

Here's one anthology I hold dear:

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak,

and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid;

one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat,

and humble and gentle in victory...

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds;

A son who will know thee and understand

that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge...

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort,

but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenges.

Here let him learn to stand in the storm;

Here let him learn compassion for those who fail...

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high.

A son who will seek to master himself

before he seeks to master other men,

one who will march into the future, yet never forget the past...

And after all these things are his, add, I pray,

enough of a sense of humor

so that he may always be serious,

yet never take himself too seriously.

Give him humility, so that he may always remember

The simplicity of true greatness

The open mind of true wisdom,

and the meekness of true strength...

Then I, his Father, will dare to whisper:

“I have not lived in vain.”

~ Gen. Douglas MacArthur

QD Team Eid Outing

namamaga na naman ang mukha ko. it's been like this for days now, in fact almost a week already. season's changing. the air's gettin' cold. and that's where i have a problem. coz i've got an allergy to the cold winds. so here i am, with my face in blotches of mini-rashes.

i remember my birthday back in 2006 when i was in singapore with my mom, aunt and sis-in-law. my face went all puffed up. i really felt bad 'bout my look back then. now, i'm kinda getting used to it. i have not been feeling all that well though. so it kinda adds up. really feeling lousy.

but news, news, news. our outing finally happened. on the last day of the Eid Al Adha, celebrated wednesday here, my dept at work went to Fujeirah to have an outing. i really enjoyed being out of dubai for a day. though, i could not say the same for the driver. he must have been so tired. we left the airport at around 8am and got back around 10:30 in the evening.

guess i enjoyed just watching the view on the way while my colleagues were happily singing all the hindi songs that they love. i saw desert on the way and rock mountains. i was wondering really why it wasn't green from afar. when we got nearer, saw then that they were rocky.

we stopped by Friday market for tea, some shopping and of course, pics-taking.

the place we went to was an open beach. very public. i decided to not get into the water anyway. my colleagues enjoyed swimming and playing. but the water is quite salty. i sure miss our beaches back home.

Mom's Birthday

namaga na naman ang mukha ko. i remember yong bday ko nung 2007. we were in singapore when my whole face went puffy due to the cold air. but anyway, yesterday was my mom's 60th birthday. yes, it's official. my mom is already a senior citizen. hahahaha.... :-)

she had a wonderful celebration at work and at home. saw her looking so pretty, she looked younger than her age. (o, ayan bumawi ako mommy). be blessed with the Lord's bountiful grace. we love you, 'my! stay healthy.

Holiday

i was alone on the shift this morning. felt quite lonely just thinking of everyone else having a good time during the holidays. well, i can take leave some other days anyway. still, it's just not the same when everyone else will be at work by then.

sure am looking forward to getting my foot out of my lonesome state, this lonely emirate.

Birthdays

My mom and Kuya celebrate their birthday this month. And both have the traits of any true Scorpion. Parehong pareho and temperament. Feisty, headstrong and passionate.

Mommy will be 60 already. She mentioned when i was home that she wants to retire from work next year so she and dad can just concentrate on the farm. Kuya on the other hand, will be 39. tinutukso ko nga e. malapit na siyang mag-life begins at 40 (which means, ako din pala).

how time flies!

A very Happy Birthday to you both! We love you both so much!

Eid Al Adha

We have Eid! .. again...

It's the Eid Al Adha here now and all I see are Sale, Sale, Sale banners in the malls and stores. Everyone's celebrating. We got the memo in our office for the 3-day holiday, which officially starts on the 15th and end on 17th November. Looks like I've got additional comp off's to take. Hmmm, maybe next year or the new year, perhaps. Let's just wait and see. But i definitely have to confirm with my colleague if i can still take that one more off for the Ramadan Eid.

Walked down to my Suki shop and bought a new watch and bag. I'll have to postpone some more shopping for next month then.

Eid Mubarak everyone!

Sweet November

we're going to have an outing... hooray!

for a long while now, we've been taking picnics every 3 months or so. now, the bosses have finally decided to gather our dept's budget allocation for outing and take it this year. whew! we dont have to worry about food and transpo. we're just gonna go there to have fun. sa wakas makakarating na din ako sa ibang emirate. ",)

meantime, here are a few more pics from my last vacation... home sweet home!

Sept 30, Iligan- Ziplining at Ma. Cristina Falls & Nature Park Trip

my bros and mom kept insisting on our going for a ride in the white waters of cabula. so off we went for our family bonding time. the experience (nahulog si langga sa rapids), the fun (and fear), the memories... priceless!

Oct 2, CDO- Water Rafting at Cabula

mom related she wanted to visit a cousin in davao so i insisted to come along so i can meet them too. of course, didn't forget to take pics while we were road-trekking.

Oct 8, Bukidnon-Davao Road Trip - Davao City Tour

and of course, paying homage...