Wild Wonders: Why do some people can?

I think I would like to start a portion on this blog called Wild Wonders. These are my wandering and wondering thought that's just too long for Twitter.

Today let me start with this:

Why do some people can? Because they do.

And why do they do? Because they can!

I always find myself going over this conversation with myself. Let me give you a few bunch of examples that makes me recall that self-talk:

A. When _______ was able to afford such luxuries (travel, hobbies, gadgets, etc) and owes someone/some people a huge amount of money. (And even posts it on social media for everybody to see)

B. When _______ was able to migrate hundreds of miles away, leaving a Senior parent behind, LITERALLY all by him/herself. (Note: Senior Citizens in the Philippines do not automatically have nursing homes for retirement)

C. When _______ was able to take such risks in career/lovelife after bouncing back from a rather traumatizing event, I really wonder.How they have such a flexible heart.

Really, I wonder. Sometimes I try to self-examine if I'm just green with envy of their guts to just do it, because I have been wondering for a while now.

Maybe I need to refill my guts. These are the times that I miss my  ruthless twenties, when I don't think and just go for it. Now it's just all about taking calculated risks in everything, and I mean anything.

What to do when an unknown landline number calls you?

This is old news, but the Internet, when used properly, provides such a huge amount of relief and convenience. I'm not just talking about places, reviews, etc.

Gone are the days when you see a missed call register on your phone and you try to figure out who might have called you and why it's from a landline? I got a call different times from landline numbers from Manila. Last April 27, 2015 I got a call from 02 798 8000. Today it's 02 944 3100. 

The first one was missed, the second one, I actually picked it up. It so happened that I am waiting for an important call and when I picked up, it hung up. Normally I would be really annoyed, but thanks to the internet, no need to be bothered whose call I might have missed. I simply type the number in the google search bar and look what I found:

I clicked on one of the links and got into a page:

I scrolled down some more and it came from a telemarketer.

Now having been part of the BPO industry, I understand how annoying it is to get these kinds of telemarketing calls, but these numbers just calls to hang up! That's a different story.

The next time you get a missed call from a landline, google it first. Anyway, if they really do mean business, they wouldn't just call to hang up.

The Intern Trailer

I saw this trailer today and I'm so excited to watch it!

[Project FeeTrail May 2015]: Contemplating at Chapel on the Hill

I'm testing out this procedure to stop the auto publishing of my blog to my Facebook account, so I'm publishing this post early. Usually I wait til near end of month to see if something new will come up, but I guess this is good to go.

In between taking photos of our first May 2015 bride, I sat outside the chapel on the hill. It was my first time in this chapel and quite a series of firsts once again:

1) First time I covered the entire wedding ceremony by myself,
2) First time to egress the illusion door, the ceremony decors, and all other set up, all by myself,
3) First time to be the only one, literally, left in the church, after all the guests and suppliers have gone.

It was a rainy sunday, the Philippine's Manny Pacquiao just lost to Floyd Mayweather on a boxing fight, it was cold and chilly, and I got left alone at the church. Never mind that it's raining really hard. Never mind that I do not have a jacket. I'm not even bothered one bit.

They say when you go to a new church, you have to prepare for three wishes. I've been doing mine since I don't know, and frankly, I forgot what I prayed for.

Lately, I'm just saying my thank you's. I say my thank yous even though there's really not much milestone to add up, but you know, just being able to do things I like.

I said in my last Feet Trail post that I'm not really here for the hits, so today I think I'm going to really gear towards this blog as a personal blog, what it was originally, and document my life lessons. I've been running this blog for 5 years already and honestly I do go back to some cringe worthy entries that I had, just so I have something to post, and leave with a little smile and relief that Thank goodness I'm not in that place anymore!

I miss writing when it was therapeutic for me. Maybe I guess I have to go back to it again and with me disconnecting the auto-publish feature, let's see how my statistics will go.

Who are you on social media?

"She posted a photo and captioned 'Went jogging this morning' and wore clogs with her yoga pants and sweater." A friend of mine said. "I don't know which is more ridiculous? Her fashion, or the fact that I was there when she posted the photo and the jogging thing didn't happen. I mean, seriously, who the fuck is she kidding?"

I remembered a conversation I had with friend who told me that people are into their online profiles because that's the place where they create their own realities. I know exactly what she meant and I didn't want to be one of those, but I have to admit I am different online VS in real life. So who am I really in real life?

• I think I am friendlier in virtual space. I always have my walls up when it comes to meeting new people or people that I don't really mesh with.
• The stuff that I write in my blog are the exact same stories you will hear from my mouth, only I am more animated and detailed when I'm sharing with friends.
• I am more comfortable writing in English because ideas are faster to translate and my British cousins read my blog. 
• I downplay things that I write here after discovering some people (acquaintance) reads my blog and quotes me in conversations...with me.
• Sometimes I miss blogging the way I did in my twenties, no holds barred, but maturity kicks in, and we have laws about the cyberspace now. Besides, I'd rather fight my inner monsters face-to-face than sulk in front of the computer and be a keyboard warrior (borrowed that term from my friend Martin).

Let me cut the enumeration thing before I become too narcissistic. I saw something the other day that reminded me of people in real life vs online persona. I ran into someone I know at a party and we got into talking. She has this obnoxious, know-it-all persona online (and earned her fair share of haters) and while we were talking, all this time, I was thinking she's not really that bad in person, but I too must admit that if I didn't know her, her posts on social media comes off as arrogant. And strangely, watching this phenomenon, I was amused.

Few weeks later, I saw her comment on one of the blogs that I happened to stumble upon. It was a blog that she frequents, apparently, and her posts and comments sounded nothing like her real self. Maybe she's trying to impress that blogger, by commenting how she too can relate, blah blah (here I go downplaying again). I'm getting too old for this kind of shit, but anyway, I think we all have people we are all trying to impress, like me, I try to impress and please my clients, both current and potential. Maybe in her case, it just so happen that despite her recent accomplishments both in her career and personal life, she still needs to earn some kind of validation from the "cool kids on the internet".

But at the end of the day...

[Project FeeTrail April 2015]: Regina Rica Rosarii

This month's Feet - trail goes to Regina Rica Rosarii. First five days of April was included in the holy week. So our family, together with our closest family friends, went to do station of the cross at the Regina Rica Rosarii in Tanay, Rizal, on a Maundy Thursday. It was such a beautiful, well-maintained place with a  huge Mama Mary statue situated on top of the hill.

Short story before climbing up the statue that the "cape"of mama mary symbolizes protecting her people and the child Jesus she was carrying had a sandal-snap accident because just like any kid, he once got scared of something and jumped to Mama Mary for protection.

Best tip I can share before going: Arrive Early. We arrived at 6am and went down at past 9:30 am, finding a lot of people lining up for the orientation. Yes, there is an orientation before you can explore the place.

I also noticed that the sunflowers lined, going up the Virgin Mary on top of the hill, all face the same way. I was told that they got their name because they "face the sun". I could have taken a lot of photos for blogging purposes during that trip, but it's lent and I assume that people probably don't want to go to some place sacred only to end up in someone's blog.

Anyway, I haven't been writing in this blog that much this month for I am busier with my life offline. I actually miss writing, it used to be therapeutic for me. I am actually thinking of disconnecting the auto publish function to my personal Facebook account, just because. I wasn't here for the hits anyway (but THANK YOU!)

I'm actually glad its going to be May tomorrow. I know internet meme's gonna be like:

I'm glad because when it's May, rain starts to drop by every now and then. Last year it rained heavily on my graduation day (April 26) but now, it's really hot. We need another term now for the dry season. I can't be writing every year how much I am hating not liking summer.

April was very busy for me. I asked something from the Universe at the start of the year and I am now receiving it, but more of that in the coming months.

How did your April go?

I laugh to be kind

I was 22 years old when I got a call from a publicist, asking me to write an article about being single in the city for an up and coming fashion magazine.

I was so giddy, feeling that in between coffee breaks and avail time in the BPO industry I might be plucked out of a building by the Universe and eventually become a writer. My article never made it. I got a feedback from the editor: " She's good... but she's young." I was like, What's my age got to do with it?! I really do not understand. And now, approximately nine years later, I know why. 

When I was in my twenties,  I love the Sex and the City HBO Series. I donned Carrie Bradshaw because she is a writer (my dream) and likes to analyze (like me). My best friend is like Samantha. I haven't watched the series in a long time, like, 5 years and because I missed talking to my best friend, I decided to watch a few episodes of it. And I tell you, now that I am in my thirties, watching them now is a whole lot different experience compared to when I watched it in my twenties.Because when I was in my twenties, all I was able to take was the outfits, the shoes, the boys, sex, discussion, ladies lunching and cosmopolitan. Now that I am in same age bracket as the characters are, I can genuinely relate beyond the facade.

I don't want to gab everything on this post, but there is one episode that caught my eye recently. If you live in the Philippines, it's like a cultural SOP that they ask you when are you getting married, if you have one kid, when are you going to follow it up. If you've got two they ask you if you plan to have more. If you're single, they ask you why? Then comes the unsolicited pairing up, which, honestly I feel very embarrassed about.

Some years ago, a mommy friend of mine asked me to come hang at her place because according to her (and assuming that just because I am single) my weekends are free. In fact her words were "Come hang in my house since you seem like you're doing nothing on weekends". I am understanding enough to know that she probably mean well.

There's this one episode where Miranda and Carrie found themselves in a group of engaged women and asked them if they are seeing someone. Miranda, took over and made fun of herself: 

Lady at the party: And what about you, Miranda? Seeing anyone special?  

Miranda: Actually no, but I am seeing a whole bunch of unspecial guys. That's one of the requirements to date me, Are you Special? Sorry, move along, But if you have unspecial friends, could you give them my number. I'm serious! Do any of you have a completely unremarkable friend or maybe a houseplant I can go to dinner with on Saturday night?" 

Lady at the party: She's hilarious! 

Carrie (to Miranda, next scene): Hey, What the hell was going on in there? Felt like your comedy routine should have a two-drink minimum.

Miranda: We were standing in a group of married or engaged women. Just trying to avoid the pity party.

Carrie: And I thought it was a cocktail party.

Miranda: We were the only single people in there.

Carrie: Miranda. We're the only single people anywhere.

Miranda: Are you telling me you didn't see all those "Don't worry, you'll find someone" looks? 

Carrie: Nope, didn't see 'em. 

Miranda: Hey. Society views single people our age as sad and pathetic. I don't need that judgement hanging over my head, so I go on the offensive and I make them laugh.

Carrie: Okay Shecky! You know what? Sometimes I think people and couples look at us and wish they had our lives.

Miranda: No, we make them uncomfortable and they don't know what to say.  

Carrie: And you're sure you're not overreacting?

Miranda: Yeah!

The next day, on Wall Street: (Miranda ran into a friend)

Miranda: Sheila! Hi! How are you?

Shiela: I'm fantastic! Oh gosh, Joe and l just got back from New Orleans. So how are you? Are you seeing anyone special? 

But Miranda wasn't feeling very Shecky.

Miranda: Actually No, I'm not.

Shiela: Well, look, He's out there for you. You just haven't met him yet. right?

Miranda: Maybe, maybe not. I don't know if I believe all that. Maybe there isn't someone for everyone.

There it was: the truth. No Hallmark hope, no two-drink minimum.

Miranda: How is Joe? You guys have been married for how many years now? 

Shiela: Five!

         Miranda: Wow!

Shiela: I bet you're thinking, "Where are the kids?" right? right? Well it's like I said to Joe, "We can have kids or gorgeous fabric without chocolate stains."  

Miranda realized it's not just about being single. Everyone has a sore spot that needs a comedy routine. 

And so Miranda laughed. Not because it was particularly funny, but because it was kind.

And you know what, recently I've been finding myself in certain "situations", seeing people's sore spots. Some disguise it and then show yours instead.  It is true that when people are uncomfortable, they do not know what to say. I will try not be one of those people who will point out the obvious sore spots. So despite the unsolicited advice, the uncalled for statements, the rude and insensitive comments, I made a conscious decision to try to laugh just because it is kind. 

"She's good, but she's young."

So every time I remember that I was asked to write about being single in the city, I still cringe at the memory of it. I was just in my adulthood formative years playground and there I was feeling cocky about becoming a Carrie Bradshaw. Mostly because I remember what I wrote, even the words that I used. The editor was right. I am young. And honestly, I know nothing about what it is like to be single. 

But I do now. :)  

My sister is thirty-rrific!

This month, my sister turned thirty-rrific! I don't think I handled my turning 30 very well, but she did Most people freak out when they turn over to that age milestone (e.g. premature midlife crisis), but she accomplished so much as a person and woman. Here's just a few things why my sister rocked her 20s before 30 better than I did, passion-wise:

1. She took a break from college to figure out what her heart wants.
2. She passed her Interior Design Licensure exam on her first try.
3. She broke out of her expected career and became a full time Industrial Designer.
4. Four years before she hit 30, she turned one of her passions into another adventure.
5. She was actually invited by college professors to speak about her passion and inspire college students.

And...she was able execute her vision of long-tables-sitting-on-grass-dinner party last saturday!

Read about her Summer Night Side-yard Soiree here.