Is letting go ever possible?

Everyday, I still grapple with the reality of losing someone.  Life is indeed tricky, one time you feel like you are on top of the world; another time you feel lost and alone and you feel that everything you held on to and considered your reason to go on with life gets unfairly taken away from you…just like that.

Sigh.  I am being emotional again.  I miss lola.  It pains me to know that I will never see her again, and it scares me to think that as time passes, such emotions may in the end get dulled.  I never want to let go, although I know for some reason time will do what its supposed to do and everything will be but memories.

I’ll post a song by Mariah Carey which I feel  just says everything I myself cannot find words to express.

This is for my people who just lost somebody
Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady
Put your hand way up high
We will never say bye (no, no, no)

Mamas, daddies, sisters,
brothers, friends and cousins
This is for my peoples who lost their grandmothers
Lift your head to the sky ’cause
we will never say bye

As a child there were them times
I didn’t get it but you kept me in line
I didn’t know why I didn’t show up sometimes on Sunday mornings
and I missed you
But i’m glad we talked through

All them grown full things
Separation brings
You never let me know it
You never let it show because
You loved me and obviously
There’s so much more left to say
If you were with me today
face to face

[ Chorus ]
I never knew I could hurt like this
And everyday life goes on I
Wish I could talk to you for awhile
Miss you but I try not to cry
As..time..goes..by

And as soon as you’ve reached a better place
Still I’ll give the whole world to see your face
And I’m back here next to you
It feels like you gone too soon
Now the hardest thing to do is say bye bye

bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye

And you never got the chance to
see how good I’ve done
And you never got to see me back at number one
I wish that you were here to celebrate together
I wish that we could spend the holidays together

I remember when you used to tuck me in at night
With the Teddy Bear you gave
me that I held so tight
I thought you were so strong
You’d make it through whatever
It’s so hard to accept the fact you’re gone forever

[ Chorus ]
I never knew I could hurt like this
And everyday life goes on I
Wish I could talk to you for awhile
Miss you but I try not to cry
As.. time.. goes.. by

And as soon as you’ve reached a better place
Still I’ll give the world to see your face
And I’m back here next to you
It feels like you gone too soon
Now the hardest thing to do is say bye bye

bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye

This is for my peoples who just lost somebody
Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady
Put your hand way up high
We will never say bye (no, no, no)

Mamas, daddies, sisters,
brothers, friends and cousins
This is for my peoples who lost their grandmothers
Lift your head to the sky ’cause
we will never say bye …bye

[ Chorus ]
I never knew I could hurt like this
And everyday life goes on I
Wish I could talk to you for awhile
I wish I could find a way try not to cry
As.. time.. goes.. by

And as soon as you’ve reached a better place
Still I’ll give the whole world to see your face
Feels like I’m next to you
It feels like you gone too soon
Now the hardest thing to do is say bye bye

bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye, bye

bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye
bye bye, bye bye, bye bye, bye

Scottish-Malay Wedding…Kewl.

Last Sunday was very special for my friend and classmate Steven Brown, who married his girlfriend for 4 years, Hilwah Ibrahim.  Steve’s a Scot, while Hilwah is Malay.  It was an interesting wedding, and for me, it was also quite new to see two cultures merge together.  I was not able to attend the Malay ceremony, which my other friends Nozomi and Farruh were able to…They told me Steve had a Muslim name…How cool is that?  And most of all, it’s heartwarming to know what love can do.  I used to be a sucker for love, and somehow along the way I lost it…Seeing Steve and Hilwah so happy somehow ignited a spark in the…(ok, ok…so I am a hopeless romantic…so sue me…hahahaha).  The dinner was held at the Asian Civilization Museum, with the verandah overlooking Clark Quay…or was it Boat Quay?  Or whatever Quay?  Anyway, it made up for an otherwise super hectic and drab week, mostly characterized by rushing some school project on a one-stop shop for energy-saving devices…(Energy-saving what?)

Congratulations Steve (Shafiq) and Hilwah! Do visit the Philippines for your honeymoon…or for whatever, whenever…(Think the couple is going to Maldives next week).  Will try to post pictures here. Meanwhile, those of you who are my contacts in Facebook and Friendster…do check them out.

Happy Birthday Cebu!

Heard from my family and friends that today is a non-working holiday in Cebu…W.O.W. Hahahaha…Can feel their excitement, I swear…streets must still be busy at this time, with people going about, bar-hopping, going to the nearest tapsilogan…ahhhhhhh…I am as in touch with Cebu now more than ever…Probably it has something to do with being ‘far’…somehow there will always be that longing, knowing that that IS the place where I grew up and had my happy (and well ya, sad too) moments…

It’s the  434th Founding Anniversary of Cebu.  And while I take a break from updating the Green Earth Tours and Travel Website (Bohol Day Tour details now available—discounts for group bookings galore!), I am kept awake by the music from www.y101fm.com… (thank God for streaming!) and of course I am kept awake by the fact that my mind is exploding of things to write about!

To close this, lemme just detail what I miss most from home:
1. Daddy, mommy, Dex, Kyle (and yes, Paps!)
2. Maricris, Ivy
3. Petron gang! Wahooooo! Go Petron Fleet Card! (Hello, dear clients!)
4. Barbecue ni Gani…barbeque ni Junjun and Malou, barbecue ni Kaona…barbecuuuuuuuuuuuuuuue!
5. Puso
6. Cruizin…waaaaaaaaaaaaaah? Hahahaha…
7. Gentle Breeze in general
8. Isda, sapayan, nokos. Aaaaaaaaaaaaah…(while here I am boiling potatoes and eating leafy veggies ;( )
9. Good, Cebuano humor
10. Being close to Bohol (I miss lola ;( )

I could go on…but this would probably take me another day or two…Before I stray, let me just say it again: Happy 434th birthday dear Cebu!

Thank you, sponsors!

Funny how time flies…It’s been one year since I arrived Singapore for my MBA studies.  While munching on milk bread and thinking of whipping up a glass of cold sweet lassi, I suddenly find the compulsion to just list down the brands, entities and organizations that I encounter and interact with almost everyday.

SBS/SMRT Buses and Train
Makes me feel like I am one of the characters in SIMs 2! Hahaha…Having come from an anything-goes, cut corners, cut lanes, honk-all-you can culture, taking such efficient (to me at least, since I know some Singaporeans gripe about their transport system here) modes of transport is heaven. (Ok, ok, perhaps I’ve stretched it too far…)

Marigold Yoghurt
Ever since my friend Kasturi made me try lassi, I have been hooked and drinking almost everday. I guess home-made curd is always best for lassi but for my needs, yoghurt, plus water and some sugar are enough to make my day. Yummy!

Red Bull
Classic.  Whenever I need a boost, I can always count on Red Bull, though after a while it tends to make me feel blank…and blank and blank…My record so far is 4 cans in one afternoon.  Yikes!

Snacks of Taiwan
Haha..dunno why, but this small shop at Tanjong Pagar has been my source of daily grub for most of the 2 months that I worked in the area.  Charsiew rice is the best.

Han’s
What can I say? Definitely one of the best burgers in town.  The rest of their offerings are ok too, although I remember one time I had congee and there was actually a shard of glass in it. What the…!?  Had their food tasted so-so I would have sworn never ever to go back again.

Hmmmmm…now I feel sleepy…Red Bull effect wearing out.

*sign off*

Social Media

I am sure most of you have in one way or another been exposed to social media…some just may probably not know that it’s called such.  Does Facebook sound familiar?  How about Friendster, Multiply, MySpace and LinkedIn?  These are social networks, meeting points for people to gather and talk about things they like, don’t like, whatever!  (This blog is part of the social media phenomenon as well)…

Social Media has disrupted the traditional modes of advertising, and believe you me, companies are paying attention to these sites, trying to listen in on conversations about how people perceive their brands, etc. Politicians are in on the bandwagon as well, trying to gain as much exposure as they can.  It’s an exciting space.  Suddenly, marketing has gotten much more interesting.

Going somewhere? Tell us about it.

I love the tag line!  Came up with it for the recently launched Green Earth Tours & Travel.  Located at the heart of Cebu City, Philippines the agency specializes in group packages and educational tours.  It’s a one-stop shop for all your travel needs, be it be anything related to vacation, tickets, documentation…you name it!

The website is up and running, though some parts are still under construction.  Visit www.greenearth.com.ph and plan your next holiday with Green Earth Tours and Travel.  Their email address is info@greenearth.com.ph.

Currently, the following packages are available…

Philippine Vacation Packages: Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Palawan, Camiguin.  (Coming up: Davao, Negros Oriental, Puerto Galera, Siquijor)

International Packages: Singapore, Hong Kong, Phuket, Bangkok, Macau.  Cruises are also avaiable, the rates of which are given upon request.

Watch out for my posts regarding various exciting travel destinations!

Green Earth Tours and Travel
Cardoc Building (Across old Sacred Heart for Boys)
Cebu City, Philippines
www.greenearth.com.ph
info@greenearth.com.ph

Missing Lola

The past few weeks have been a blur, a lot has happened…the relief of having another semester over, the fun of going on vacation, the uncertainty of whether I get an internship or not…

All these fade in comparison however, to the sadness of losing someone I love.

My grandmother, my lola…Rosario P. Dejaresco–Charing, as we fondly call her–was called back home. After bravely fighting the complications that ravaged her weathered body, she gave up her spirit and left behind family and friends that will miss her badly.

My life for one, will not be the same without lola. Every morning, I wake up and I still vividly recall her, how she prays her novena prayers at dawn…how she lovingly asks me to be covered with my blanket when I just doze off at the foot of her bed…how she puts on the aircon for me, even if she feels cold…how happy she is when we enjoy the food she had prepared for us…Alas, things do come to an end.

Looking back, I am happy to have made a decision to stay with her three months before flying off to Singapore for my studies. It was one of the best times in my life. I know I made her happy, letting her know I am there for her and how much I love her. And the bonus of all bonuses, I know she loved me back. In fact she loves everyone, whether or not they reciprocate. Such a generous heart she had. During the tribute and honoring we gave her before we laid her to rest, it was evident that she has touched a lot of lives. I doubt if I will ever meet someone like my lola in my lifetime.

Lola, if there is a way that this would ever get to you, please do know that I miss you very much. I got some pictures of you and me from your album, as a remembrance of the happy times we had. You will always be in my heart lola, and my wish is that I could live a life like yours, to keep your memory alive and close. Lola, I know that you are in some place happy already. I will have to content myself with the thought of you looking down on us, encouraging us, as you always do. Thank you for everything, lola. I love you and I miss you.

Till we meet again, there will always be a void in my heart only you can fill.

Getting my feet wet—at last!

I have always wanted to write on just about anything…nowadays though, I find myself fascinated with things related to marketing and travel and tourism.  Time (or perhaps laziness) was always the culprit whenever I wanted to start a blog (it was a journal way back then) but then decide to postpone doing so on the next day, and the next…and the next…you know the drill.  So I consider it a great achievement to have started ’saksak-sinagol’…The blog will contain the most random of thoughts…but I will try to keep a focus on the things that interest me most. 

I guess I credit my interest in writing to my family and my cousins as well, who have long prodded me to start my own site.  The tipping point though would have to be my current internship, where I dabble on anything relating to social media.  What a new world it is–young and dynamic and holding so much potential! My current work has exposed me to the blogosphere, and having read one too many interesting posts, I wouldn’t want to be left behind the ‘phenomenon’.

So here goes…