love stories...

Every couple has their own love story to tell…
…others are breathtaking while others are bittersweet…
…some last forever while some are short lived…
…some are full of excitement while others are not…

Every love story has its own beginning...
…their first eye contact, first hello and first kiss…
…Other beginnings are magical…they call it love at first sight…
…while some started as friends…and become more than that…

Every love story has its own happiness and thrills…
…the exchange of sweet nothings, laughter and the hugs & kisses…
…the out of town adventures or the cuddling on the sofa on lazy afternoons …
…the star gazing moments and the times spent day dreaming of the future…

Every love story has its own twists and turns…
…the petty quarrels, big fights and the unfulfilled expectations…
…the misunderstandings, disappointments and frustrations…
…the heartaches, bitter tears and broken promises…

Every love story has its own endings…
…some are ended because it’s not really meant to be…
…some ends when couples breathe their last…
…while some were ended even before it started…

All love stories are appealing…
…it may be hurting and heart breaking…
…or it may be inspiring and pleasing…
…but it never fail to touch the heart

how i celebrated my birthday…

I turned 28 last may 19…it was the most unique birthday celebration I ever had…I spent it in Bacolod preparing for the 1st monthly draw of Extra Joss Energy Drink raffle promo…

I started my day by waking up at 3am to prepare for a long day ahead…eliel, my good friend and housemate, was the 1st person who greeted me that day…at 415am we were already in the office to pick up some stuffs that we need to bring along in our trip…5am we are already at the airport…my flight was at 9am that morning but we were early because eliel and michelle were chance passengers for the flight going to Naga…good thing they were accommodated!

My parents called me up at around 6am…and to quote my mother, this is what she said…”child, you’re now 28 (said in a worried tone)!”...

to expound…this is what she was trying to say…

hazel, you’re already 28…im worried you might end up a spinster…you see, you don’t have a boyfriend and you are not dating either…with no prospects in sight...and how can you get a date if you are too focused on your work…im worried because when I turned 28, your papa and I were already planning for our wedding…

I laughed and told her im not worried at all…I know the right man will come soon!...(please Lord…let him come soon!)

That morning my thumb was numb from texting and I already a sore throat from nonstop talking over the phone…with all the ‘thank you’ for all the greetings from loved ones and friends who remembered my day and because I was also busy coordinating with other parties the details of the raffle draw preparation….i only stop texting and talking over the phone when I boarded the plane…I was so tired that I didn’t even pay attention to the handsome guy beside me!...(damn…he could have been a good prospect!)

We spent the day preparing for the draw and doing some store checks…we had the draw in Saturday afternoon and experienced a bit of night life in the city after that. Sunday was spent for editing the footage of the draw for an airing material and some time in Mambukal Resort and enjoyed the gifts of nature…the hot spring and falls and the greenery…

The people are warm and very accommodating…they never failed to make me feel special that weekend…the food was great too…specially the grilled chicken and bangus, and the sizzling squid! Yumyum…

I may have spent my birthday and the entire weekend in Bacolod working…but I made sure that I had my share of fun to make my birthday a memorable one!...a blessing to be treasured forever!

our rendezvous with ilocos...

since i was envious when kusum talked about her Goa trip...i better post about our ilocos tour too...this is long overdue...i planned to post this weeks ago...and here it is...

day 1 -friday afternoon of Apr 28

happy faces boarded the bus...t'was a long drive...12 hours to be exact...but who cares about the long drive if we are having fun? the long drive was an opportunity to bond with officemates...we were restless and sleepless on the way...most of the time we were laughing over nothing...we simply had fun...

Day 2 - April 29

Our first stop was the patapat bridge...i forgot why we stopped there!...hehehe...i hardly heard the tour guide mumbling about the history of the bridge...i guess it has a significance in our history...

then we hit pagudpod...the famous boracay of the north... we played beach volleyball and simply enjoy the summer heat and white sand! Since i want to be different...i put on sun tan oil instead of sun block!...i want to have tan lines...my boss was wondering why because im already dark...i just told him i want to be darker! i want to get those tan lines to let people know that i went to the beach! hehehe...sensya na nagpapapansin ako!

in the afternoon we proceed to Fort ilocandia an hour drive from pagudpod. it is one if not the best hotel in ilocos region...again we enjoyed the pool and the beach...what the heck if it wasnt white sand...beach is beach! Fort ilocandia is a garden hotel...there are lots of flowers and grass...they have a mini zoo too! the food was sumptous enough to make me forget that im on a perpetual diet!... too bad we just stayed there for a night!

Day 3 - April 30

The breakfast was great!!!...not just because the food was delicious...but also because there were a lot of good looking males there...my stomach and eyes were full!

Then we toured the historical places and museums in ilocos prior going to the famous street in vigan (maybe its not at all famous because i forgot the name of the street!)...where the old houses are seen...though most of the houses were converted to stores selling vigan delicacies and antiques...

after the long day...we headed back to manila...another 8 hours drive...we drank tequilas and sang old songs on our way back to manila!!!

it was indeed tiring but fun!!!

working hard or workaholic?...

a former client who is also a friend told me to take things (stuffs related to work) easy... try to balanced work and play...and that i should learn how to delegate...i am disturb by his comment because my last project with him was last january and we havent seen each other since december...i wonder where that comment came from! I wonder if i have an "all work and no play" aura even in YM for him to say that...he knows that i am busy but he doesn't know the extent of it.

one of my colleagues told me that i am focusing on my work too much...giving in to clients' requests even if it would require me to wave my magic wand...she also told me that it seems like i havent grieve enough when my ex boyfriend and i broke up last year and i found comfort in working so darn hard...and got used to it!...and that now i'm having a hard time departing from it!...too bad, right?!

honestly, i enjoy my work so much...i'm in love with what i'm doing (but of course... if my knight appears i will love him more than my work!) and i feel that my working hours are my playtime...but i'm still trying to figure out if what they say are true...am i working hard or workaholic?...by the way, what's the difference?

long or short engagement?...

warning:...i DONT want my ex boyfriend back!

one of my friends announced that she is engaged and will get married late this year...they have been together for almost 2 years prior their engagement...they do look happy together... we (my ex and me) looked happy too before!...we talked about getting married year 2 of our relationship...we planned where to live...we discussed my relocation to his province after the marriage...we dreamed and draw our dream house...we had names for the babies including names for the twins in case we will have them(my father has a twin...that's explain the anticipation)...my parents and his parents already met (well, my parents visited his father in the hospital...its not something like we arrange a gathering for them to meet)...we've been together for more than 7 years (more than 5 years net minus the 2 break-ups of 6-8months each)...long enough to know and be comfortable with each other but still we broke up (i don't want to go to the details of it...its not worth the effort anyway...to sum it up...its his fault why!)

this leads me to ask which is better long or short engagement?

...my logical mind said ...long engagement is better because you get to know the person and his family better before deciding to tie the knot.

...my experience suggests...short engagement is better simply because i got burned by the long engagement!...and i think...the excitement of knowing him more is still there compared to the long engagement where almost everything is predictable.

but how long is long and how short is short?

...its obvious that one week is really short and 10 years is really long...but i don't have an idea what's the right time of the relationship to get engaged...i bet it depends on the age of the couple...(if they're in their 40's they're on the rush to get married...they will just have a divorce if it won't work!)...maturity level and stability both emotional and financial...(2 years might even be short if they are both immature and unstable)...

well...for singles (like me)...who are attractive but unattached, currently not dating but perceived to have someone special by almost everyone ...we really do not think of the short or long engagement...we are too busy enjoying life and trying to figure out where is our knight...he might have encountered an accident or detours along the way due to road construction that cause his delay! get help will you?!...im getting impatient for the long wait! :)

tag of four...

Here's my version of tag of four...

Four jobs I've had:
1. researcher
2. marketing officer
3. ad person
4. working housewife...i might be a teacher (that is if i will get married...hopefully!)

Four movies I can watch over and over:
1. A walk in the clouds
2. pearl harbor
3. i am sam
4. i still have to figure out the 4th one

Four places I've lived:
1. Bislig, Surigao Del Sur
2. Mabalacat, Pampanga
3. Baguio City
4. Manila
...hopefully the 5th one will be in...(sa mga nakakaalam ng crush ko...wag na lang magreact...quiet na lang ha!)

Four TV shows I watch:
1. Jewel in the Palace (im addicted to koreanovelas lately)
2. Commercials (mandando...show ba 'to?)
3. Discovery Channel's Crime Nights & modern detectives
4. Seconds from disaster

Four places I've vacationed:
1. corregidor
2. ilocos
3. davao
4. bohol

Four foods i love:
1. chocolates
2. kinilaw
3. fried/grilled chicken
4. potato chips

Four sites I visit daily:
1. blogs that i read
2. tickle.com (the tests are amazing and fun! try it!)
3. google (for research @#%$)
4. yahoo

Four places I'd rather be right now:
1. home... sleeping (i haven't gotten enough sleep lately)
2. pagudpud
3. france ...with him! :)
4. the place where my crush is... :)..can't put it here he might read this.

random items in my bag:
1. small notebook
2. pen
3. kikay kit
4. i-pod

Four things most people don't know about me:
1. i won 3rd place in a cooking contest when i was in High School
2. i'm a sentimental fool
3. i always have a song for every guy that im interested (hahaha!)
4. friends used to call me banana girl

four people i want to do this
1. beck
2. leah
3. leili
4. tats

hope mish and betz are into blogs too so they do this...

blogger's delight...

i started blogging because i want to keep a journal that i can access anywhere i am... and something that i can share with my friends even if we are far apart...writing about my experiences and feelings makes me keep in touch with my inner self...hence it helps me know myself better...

but one of the delights of blogging that i never expected is having to know and relate to other people's feelings...people that i do not know and might not even meet in person... first it's diamonds...check her site through the curtains...we were both heart broken when i stumble with her site and we somehow have that connection knowing that we are in the same boat together and believing that "this too shall pass"...i think we are now moving on and recovering from the heartaches...then there's Kusum...she commented to one of my post and when i check her site i was surprised to sense the similarities in our personalities by reading her posts...articulate...out-going...fun loving...passionate with our career...i bet single and unattached too!...check her site...something about everything...

im glad i started blogging...and i will keep on posting as long as i can...:)

Friday the 13th...

it not friday the 13th but it seems like it is for me...not just today but since tuesday...i experience all the mishaps i can think of in the office...my blood boils everyday...and no matter how i tried not to get angry...i always end up angry...hmp...well even if i tried to be rational about things it doesnt mean i don't have the right to be angry...my anxiety is building up again...i just have to learn to live and dance with it...afterall this is normal when you are in advertsing!

ideal man...

my previous post leads to think hard and assess what i look for in a partner...i come up with a list...

1. God-fearing.
we have to share the same Catholic faith...

2. romantic.
he exerts effort to make almost everyday an occassion & knows how to make me feel special.

3. Presentable
not necessarily as presentable and handsome as Tom Cruise...

4. Flexible
He can dress up for an elegant party but doesnt mind getting his hands dirty either.
He can gel with almost anyone.

5. Achiever
Someone that i would really admire. Brilliant but not arrogant.

6. Loving
Loves his family...a reflection of how he would love me and my family.

7. Mature
mature enough to make rational decisions.

8. Humorous
someone who can make me laugh and doesnt mind making fun of himself.

9. Positive
Have a positive outlook in life...someone who doesnt dwell on the life's setbacks.

10. Confident
self-assured and no insecurities.

there it goes...i do hope he exist...and can be my knight!

another set of blogthings...

blogthings do the trick in my busy days...i get to post something here and it somehow burst the stress bubble! You Are a Natural Flirt

Believe it or not, you're a really effective flirt.And you're so good, you hardly notice that you're flirting.Your attitude and confidence make you a natural flirt.And the fact that you don't know it is just that more attractive!

if this is true...then maybe...just maybe i have a good chance to get him to notice me!

You Don't Have a Boyfriend Because You are Too Busy

While a relationship sounds nice, you're strapped for timeWhether you're legitimately busy or just making excuses...... You don't give men enough of your time.As nice as "instant love" would be, there's just no such thing.

....oh my God!...this is quite true and my prospect is busier than me!

You'll Find a Boyfriend Within 3 Months

Maybe you need a bit more time to get over an exOr maybe you need a confidence boost to talk to new guysEither way, you'll find a boyfriend in time...As long as you keep getting out there and meeting new guys

hope this could be true!