When I See You Smile

This is an old song, but i only got to appreciate it when i heard it from Nina's new album: Nina Sings the Hits of Dianne Warren. Ganda ng lyrics! I told Raphael this is my song for him. It reflects how i feel about him, the words seemed coming from my heart. I asked him to listen to it while in the car, he liked it and asked me to play it again and again. So here goes my song for my Superboy...

Sometimes i wonder
If i'd ever make it through
Through this world
Without having you
I just wouldn't have a clue
Cause sometimes it seems
Like this world's closing in on me
And there's no way of breaking free
And then i see you reach for me

Sometimes i wanna give up
Wanna give in
I wanna quit the fight
And then i see you baby
And everything's alright
Everything's alright

When i see you smile
I can face the world
Oh you know i can do anything
When i see you smile
I see a ray of light
Oh i see it shining
Right through the rain
When i see you smile
Baby when i see you smile at me
Oh yeah

Baby there's nothing in this world that could ever do
What the touch of your hand can do
It's like nothing that i ever knew, hey
And when the rain is falling
I don't feel it
Cause you're here with me now
I wanna ask you baby
It's all i¹ll ever need
All i'll ever need

When i see you smile
I can face the world
Oh you know i can do anything
When i see you smile
I see a ray of light
Oh i see it shining
Right through the rain
When i see you smile baby
Baby when i see you smile at me

Sometimes i wanna give up
I wanna give in
I wanna quit the fight
Then one look at you baby
And everything's alright
Hey everything's alright
It's alright...
Baby when i see you smile
Smile at me

Q & A with Paige & Piper

The Questions were posed by Piper in her blog, and here are my pahabol answers. Sorry Piper for the delayed reaction. You know we’re alike in thinking that there should be 28 hours in a day…that’s how busy bees and moms we are!

QUESTION # 1: CAN LOVE REALLY EXIST BETWEEN TWO UNEQUALS?
Of course, if you won’t allow yourself to measure what the other person is lacking.

QUESTION # 2: WHEN YOU'RE TIRED, DO YOU JUST REST?
You rest…to regain the energy to face and resolve your relationship issues, but if it becomes a NEVER-ENDING cycle, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ll burn out.
In my case, FAITH is what keeps me going! Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

QUESTION # 3: IS THIS CONDITIONAL LOVE? Magpakatotoo tayo, mahirap ang UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. May ganun ba talaga?

With God there is!... And I must say that parental love is also unconditional!
In romantic relationships…I’d like to believe that it’s possible! But I also believe that love is WORK! You are not actually setting conditions, but the other person should also realize that when you’re in a relationship, MUCH MUCH is required.How can it be REAL LOVE if ONLY ONE PERSON does the DOING and the GIVING?… IN REALITY...there’s a lot of sacrifices involved, a lot of giving, and a lot of letting go. Kasama na diyan ang pag-le-let go sa kung ano lang ang convenient gawin! Ang pagle-let go sa mediocrity, at pagle-let go sa kung ano lang ang nakasanayan na abutin ng isip at pang-unawa!

QUESTION # 4: WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T EXERT EFFORT AND TELLS YOU "EH WALA AKONG MAGAWA"? Do you believe him?
I'm more inclined to belive that “kapag gusto, may paraan…kapag ayaw , may dahilan!”

QUESTION # 5: WHEN THAT SOMEONE TELLS YOU "intindihin mo naman ako" WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE DRAINED YOURSELF TO UNDERSTAND HIM, SHOULD YOU ANSWER HIM BACK AND SAY: "eh patayin mo na lang kaya ako!"
Heard the line? “LOVE me a little LESS, so you can UNDERSTAND me a little MORE!”
But there’s a thin line between understanding and tolerating!

QUESTION # 6: WHEN YOU SHARE A SUN LINE TO AVOID HEARING THE LINE "wala akong load eh" BUT YOU STILL HEAR THE LINE "eh walang signal eh", O ANO KA, ANO MASASABI MO DUN? HA? HA? HAHAHAHA! NATATAWA NA KO SA MGA ORAS NA TO.
Ano pa kaya susunod na maririnig mo? BRACE YOURSELF! On the other hand…e totoo namang minsan walang signal ang SUN! whoa! This is not me!
To make you feel better Piper, I have heard much worse! E yung… “Ay di ko napansin eh,” to think na apat ang telepono niya! At na-text at natawagan mo lahat yun ha… HAHAHA!

QUESTION # 7: WHEN YOU'RE UP THERE AND HE'S DOWN BELOW, GIVEN...TUTULUNGAN MO SIYA. ANG TANONG, HANGGANG SAN?

Ang tanong, willing pa ba siyang tulungan mo siya? Open ba siya sa maibibigay mo pa? Paano mo tutulungan ang taong ayaw tulungan ang sarili niya?

My other question is: why should there be someone UP THERE while the other is DOWN BELOW? You know what I’m saying? Someone has to bend while the other one should raise his head so you can meet at eye level!

QUESTION # 8: WHEN ALL HE SAYS IS HE MISSES YOU AND HE LOVES YOU FOREVER, DO YOU JUST HAVE FAITH IN HIM? YUN LANG HA. YUN LANG ANG PINANGHAHAWAKAN MO. HAHA. WALA NGANG EFFORT DIBA?
Once in my life, all I’ve wanted was to hear those words, to be reassured, to make me feel secure! But when it’s all you have, I’d rather that I feel those words through ACTIONS OF LOVE ! But it shouldn’t make the DOER feel he’s nag-EEFFORT kasi dapat AUTOMATIC na ginagawa, at automatic din ang reward kasi masaya ka sa ginagawa mo!
I’m reminded of something: the theory of 100 percent. I’m not so sure about this one…but Prue do you think that applies here?

QUESTION # 9: (eto medyo digging up the past ha, again, wala akong paki) WHEN HE THINKS THAT SAYING I LOVE YOU TO HIS EX GIRLFRIEND IS OKAY TAPOS ANG DAHILAN AY "friend ko sha eh" SHYET. MAY TATALO DUN? CGE NGA? YES, I TOO WAS STUPID TO GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE. HAHAHAHA

Stupid? NO! Crazy maybe? What could be crazier than love?

QUESTION # 10: AT ETO KA, ETO KA. WHEN FACED WITH TWO CHOICES...A CHOICE BETWEEN PLANNING YOUR FUTURE, REUNITING WITH YOUR HONEY AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH, SCOUTING FOR POSSIBILITIES, EXPLORING A NEW WORLD, SETTING UP GAMEPLANS FOR YOUR CAREER, WITH FUN TRIPS AND HAPPY SUNSHINY DAYS vs. A GIG AT ICM WHICH HE ALREADY SAID NO TO, KAYA LANG SAYANG DAW KASI FASHION SHOW NG MOSSIMO, DEADMA NA KUNG MASAYANG ANG PLANE TICKET NA AKO ANG NAGBAYAD AT NAKABOOK NA THREE WEEKS AGO ....AT ANO ANG PINILI? GO FIGURE. eto naman ang choice niyo: maniniwala ka bang mahal ka niya talaga at iintindihin mo? o sasalampak ka sa upuan mo, magsisindi ng yosi, titingin sa kawalan at tatanungin ang sarili, "san ko nga ulit nakilala ito?, may problema ba ko nung mga panahong yun?"

Hello? I mean haaaynaku naman!!! Ang masama don malamang naman hindi iyon ang gusto niyang desisyon…and what could be much worse than NOT having the power to assert yourself!

With all things said and done, my question now is…PIPER, Game Ka Pa Ba?

Those Were The Days...

Those were the days...

1. when 500 pesos-worth of diesel or gas can last you the whole week...NOW- 500 bucks is what you need to get your car moving for just a day.

2. when more than half of your monthly salary go straight to your savings account and leave it untouched for months...NOW- with a truckload of bills and monthly amortizations to pay, you barely have a decent amount left for savings.

3. when pigging out on your favorite food or sweets doesn't necessarily mean "bilbil" the following day...NOW- you have to be extra conscious because the reality is, your metabolism is getting slower, that to shed off the calories of a tall starbucks coffee latte and a caramel waffle would mean a half day of hard work in the gym

4. when friday or saturday nights are spent on some fun gimik time with college barkada...NOW- you barely have time to go out because you'd rather spend time at home to rest, that is if you have the luxury of time, or better just be with your family who often miss you even on weekends that you are at work.

5. when you can max out your credit card to spend on your indulges and not be guilty about it, you own your money anyway...NOW- you, or i for that matter, don't even keep a credit card anymore to limit myself on unnecessary expenditures and to simplify my life period.

6. when after work, instead of heading home, you still hang out and get your air polluted by your smoking friends, chika galore either with beer or starbucks coffee...NOW, life has definitely more meaning having found yourself always in a hurry to go home to be with your kiddo and hubby.

7. when friends can immediately drag you to anywhere, in other words "kaladkarin" ka pa no'n, catch the latest movie every week or play billiards until 5 am...NOW, going home at 5am usually meant you overworked or did "raket" for extra earnings.

8. when you hardly look at the price of your grocery items...NOW, i still don't compare prices, but i am starting to master the skill of pre-calculating my purchases so i won't go over the budget.

9. when you can go to your friends' house and sleep over...NOW, my little boy is the one asking me to bring him to his friend's house to play with them, and probably sleepovers aren't far behind.

10. when petty quarrels with your boyfriend make you already feel it's the end of the world...NOW, even when marital and parenting issues are becoming more and more complicated, still, it's business as usual! (which is a good thing huh!)you may argue or fight over something but at the end of the day, you two are still inseparable.

The list can actually go on and on! dami pa...next time ulit!
yeah...those were the days! gone where those days!
when life was way simpler...problems were less complicated...
BUT life for me is definitely happier NOW. more fulfilling. more meaningful. more reasons to say, I love my life! thank GOD!

My Favorite "Textmate"

Everyday, I would receive a text message from her- not the usual good am message or hi-hello but a prayer or inspirational message from the books of her favorites: Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, or Women of Faith.

I have been receiving daily devotional texts from Kris Aquino since December of last year. I remember the first time i got one, i texted her back and said thank you...she replied and said, "i have included you in my devotional group, after Cebu i realized that i've missed you!" She was referring to our taping of Deal or No Deal in Cebu. I wasn't really a part of the production team, I just covered for Ate Cecil, their headwriter, who couldn't make it. They also got me prior to that when Ate Cecil went to the US.

Eversince Edu Manzano took over Game KNB? last year, me and Kris had a separation of sorts, this after working with her on a daily show for 5 years, since 2002. Of course i missed her. And since we don't see each other regularly anymore, I'm glad that through text, we've remained connected. I also subscribed to her KText so that I stay updated about her. She's not just a textmate, she's my kumare (Raph's Ninang), and she's remained one of my favorite persons.

I've saved some of her messages that really struck me though some were erased when my cellfone crashed. Today our text exchange went on like this:

10:36am- Krisie: Joel Osteen- remember God's plans r for ur good. He has plans to prosper you & give you a future & a hope. He's a rewarder of those who seek after Him. As u open ur heart & allow Him to cover u w/ His righteousness, u will flourish and find success in every area of ur life. God bless u.

Me- God bless you too Krisie!

K: Waiting for my family to arrive for Sunday lunch. Happy Sunday Ruth!

Me: Wow that's nice! I'm sure nag-effort ka to prepare a really sumptuous feast. Enjoy!:0 M online, checking mails.

K: No ruth. Nagpa-cater. 2 wks ago na exhaust ako. Gastos na lang instead of doing cooking myself.

Me: Hehe :) Chef Bruce?

K: Chef Anton today. Thai chef.

Me: Aah! Enjoy your family day! Missed you!

I'm sure by this time, her family has arrived and went on with their lunch.

I'll end this with one of my fave messages I got from her:

09/01/08 KRISIE: Joyce Meyer-we should choose our thoughts carefully. We can think about what is wrong with our lives or about what is right with them. We can think about what is wrong with all the people we are in relationship with OR we can see the good and medidate on that. The Bible teaches us to always believe the best. When we do that it makes our own lives happier & more peaceful...God bless you!

don't you want to "DO right more than BE right, and GIVE LIFE more than GET EVEN?"

mga tanong na madaling sagutin

Do you hate it when people smoke around you?
* absolutely! can’t hate piper though when she does…hehe!

Who was the last girl you talked to?
* yaya ni raph

Who was the last guy you talked to?
* Ronald

Do you have any plans for tomorrow?
* yup! Di’s birthday (my niece)

Recently done anything you regret?
* no

How do you handle/let go of stress?
* hug & talk with raph, he’s a stress-buster!

Do you think best friends can be replaced?
* yeah, but you don’t replace them intentionally…

Is there anyone holding a grudge against you?
* maybe…ano’ng problema mo?

Who was the last person to call you?
* Ronald

Who will you be with Saturday night?
* my boys

How many speeding tickets do you have?
* none, I don’t overspeed, I just make wrong turns or beat the red light

Do you plan on moving this year?
* hoping to move soon to our own place, but not this year yet

Does the last person you held hands with mean anything to you?
* of course! (my hubby & raph)

What does the last message in your inbox say?
* my sister reminding me about tomorrow’s birthday celebration

Honestly, how many people have you completely fallen for?
* uhmmm... 3

Who have you texted in the last 24 hours?
* Ronald, my sis, friends decca, mara, lani, glenn…and more!

Have you ever had sex on a football field?
* nope! First of all, I haven’t been on a football field.

What’s the closest thing to you that’s liquid?
* none, I’m in bed right now

Something you want to know about your significant other?
*if he’s just as crazy about me as I am to him hahaha!

Something you're happy about?
* my son- just having him and being with him

Last movie you saw in theaters, with who?
*” journey to the center of the earth”- with Raphael
* Ay, mas recent pala "a very special love"- with decca

What are you doing right now?
* surfing the net while answering Raph’s questions, while the TV is on

Are you listening to music right now?
* No

Do you wish you were somewhere else right now?
* I’m glad enough that I’m home spending the weekend with my son

Last person to call you babe or baby?
* Ronald, who else

Where did you last sleep other than your house?
* in the car

Do you smoke weed regularly?
* never!

Have you kissed somebody in the last 48 hours? Who?
* yeah! Just before hubby left early this am for an out-of-town work

Who was the last person's house you went to besides your own?
* my sister’s house

Miss someone?
* yeah, my parents up there! 

Three words to explain why you last threw up?
* had too much vodka in a party, and was throwing up the morning after.

What's crazy to you?
* me... crazy in love hehe!

Who is probably talking a load of crap about you right now?
* I don’t care!

Who is your favorite person in the world?
* my superboy