Why, indeed?

Why is it hard to take the big leap?

Why does it seem impossible to escape?

Why walking away seems to be the hardest thing to do?

Why is it hard to slip away from a grip that isn't really there?

Why is it hard to move when you are not really stuck?

Why do we have second thoughts when we all know what we want to do?

Why do we have doubts when all we have to do is try?

Why do we doubt ourselves when it's the only person we know the most aside from our significant others?

Why do we underestimate our capabilities when deep inside we know we can do it?

Why are we scared to venture out there?

Why do we hesitate to turn the page?

What keeps us from moving on?

What keeps us from leaving?

What keeps us from exploring places outside our comfort zone?

Or do we still consider a place a comfort zone when it's one of the places we want to stay away from?

Is it still a comfort zone when we don't want to be in it anymore?

Is it still a comfort zone when we dread some of the things that we do in it?

Why can't we get away when nothing's holding us back?

Why are we scared of the consequences?
Why are we afraid to make mistakes?

Why?

Note To Self

Love what you do.

❤ "Do what you love." ❤

Buying A House Before Marriage

Buying a house or having a house built before marriage???

Some superstitious people say it's bad luck but I say, it is PRACTICALLY GOOD.

They say you and your partner might wake up one day and realize you're not meant for each other and decide to go on separate ways. What will happen to the house? Nothing. The house goes to the one who bought it. If both of you invested for it, then sell it. It's really up to you what to do with it. If you didn't give a dime to buy your dream house or a cent to have it built, then don't pine for it. Technically, it isn't yours.

But hello?! Why give in to superstitious beliefs when both of you know each other's worth? I mean, seriously?! You dreamed of having a nice cozy home together and when the house is finally finished you'll break up? Unless she's the bitchiest bitch of all bitches and he's the hardest person to deal with, lazy or a cheating bastard, then there's no need to stay in a hellish relationship.

If you know your differences and downsides but still manage to accept everything and deal with it like a pro, your relationship will definitely survive unless fate gets in the way. I'm not a superstitious person. It is fate that makes me wonder sometimes. Oh well, if he or she is not meant to be yours, then he or she won't be yours.

Which should come first: House or Marriage? Either??? Lol 😂😂😂

I know some people who got married first but still having difficulties looking for their own house or still living with their parents. Some of them already have babies. Although it won't be a problem for me if I got no choice but to live with my parents or my future in-laws, however, I don't want to be in that situation when C and I have options. I don't aim for a fancy house. I just want to have a place we can call our own. There are certain things between you and your partner that you won't want to share with your in-laws but it is unavoidable if you live under the same roof. The last thing you want is having your parents or in-laws get in the way.

Who gets there first.

If you are both consenting adults and you're absolutely sure that your partner is the one who will walk down the aisle to meet you at the altar someday or vice versa, then there's no problem with buying a house first. I mean, what's in a hurry? As far as I know, marriage IS NOT A RACE. Just because your childhood friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances have gotten married doesn't mean that you have to do the same thing right then and there.

What kind of question is that?

Sometimes I really get peeved when someone asks, 'When is your wedding?". I find the question quite intrusive but I try to hold the reigns instead of answering sarcarstically. I ponder for awhile why would this person ask this kind of frigging question and just politely state the reason why. Mentally, I want to claw my eyes out for having the need to explain why not now, not this year, not next year, not in the next decade or not in the next century. I'd been asked the same question by the same person for the nth time and I still give her the same reason. We'll have our house first. But I really wanna say, FFFffff!!! You'll know when if you receive an invitation, Okay???!!! Hahaha I really wonder why other people bother to ask when I certainly don't mind nor care other people's business and I don't make it my business to ask someone I know who has a boyfriend/girlfriend regarding their wedding date or if they are planning to get married at all. These days, it's one of the most insensitive, nonchalant and intrusive questions a random person dares to ask.

Why?

I don't like asking anyone that kind of question because I don't like putting that person in an awkward situation. What if they are not in that stage, yet?  What if you asked a person who is deeply in love with his/her partner but his/her partner has never talked about it with him/her? What if they are not planning on getting married after all? What if they have other plans before getting married? What if they haven't saved enough for the wedding, yet? And all the kinds of YETS??!! Even if C and I have talked about it a thousand times, it still irks me when someone asks questions like that. I don't know why.


There's nothing wrong about it but if the same person asks the same question again and again is just so irritating.  If a couple has already set the date, why would you care, anyway? Unless you're the make-up artist, florist, photographer or the organizer that the couple has hired, then you absolutely have the right to know about the wedding date. If you're none of those and if you're not even a close friend, don't bother asking that question at all. Lol! I always tell C whenever someone pop the question and he would often ask me about my answer. I feel guilty at times because whenever I get mad and irritated because of the blasted question, I sometimes throw it at him. But he would remind me again and again about our plan then I'd realize, Oo nga ano?! Bakit ba ako nagpapaapekto sa mga tanong ng ibang tao?

Why would you ask? If you were not there when they became boyfriend/girlfriend, if you didn't know the story of how they found each other, if you were not responsible nor the cupid who brought them together and if you're only asking just to feed your curiosity and have a topic to talk about with others, then bite your tongue and shut your mouth. It's none of your concern.

People astound me sometimes. I wonder if they are bored with their own lives that they would nose around. I wonder if they would give a free service if they know the wedding date. I wonder if they LOL inwardly if we couldn't give a specific date and assume that we haven't plan it yet. Maybe it makes them feel better to know someone isn't getting married yet. Maybe they secretly wish the couple would break up someday because they go by the meme, 'nothing is forever'?? LOL. Little digs! 😂😂😂

To anyone

If someone asked you and put you in an awkward situation, think of these: You don't really need to explain but if someone asks you the same question and you find it a bit intrusive, ask them the same question if the one asking is unmarried like you. You can state the reason why, tell them you don't have plans of getting married at all and that you're contented with what you have now or ask them if they are going to contribute something on your wedding that's why they are asking. 😂😂😂

Anyway, I tackled about it because people get affected by someone's query sometimes. There are other couples out there who planned of purchasing a house first before tying the knot. When people around you suddenly pop the question, you sometimes ask the question to yourself, "Kailan nga ba"? Then there's the thought, "Sometimes the best things in life are the unplanned." But it says "SOMETIMES not MOST OF THE TIME." It doesn't hurt to follow your plan. Then there's this superstition. I know it doesn't hurt to believe to any of these superstitious things either, but we are not just into it. I asked C about it but I guess he doesn't believe either.

Again, for us, it is practically good to have a house first. It is just more preferable going home to your own house after the wedding.

NBI Clearance Application and HIT

Ang aking lakbay sa pagkuha ng NBI.



I didn't bother setting an appointment days before the actual date because I was confident that I could just walk in anytime and fall in line, but I was wrong. As I checked the NBI Website, I was greeted by this message.

NO APPOINTMENT NO ENTRY POLICY

Below are some simple steps I have done online.

REGISTRATION: You need to register if you don't have an account yet.

After registering, you can now SET AN APPOINTMENT.

PURPOSE and PURPOSE Detail

By the time I checked the date, I was too late. I wanted to process my application at the satellite office in Robinsons Galleria as I've known that the processing is faster there. However, there were no more available slots for my desired date, 27th of January.

  😢😥😢

I checked the list of other satellite offices and found Robinsons Cainta still had slots so I set an appointment right away.

Just click AM/PM buttons. I chose PM.

CHOOSE PAYMENT OPTION

After choosing satellite office, purpose and purpose detail, it's time for you to choose payment option. I chose Bayad Center. You may choose whichever option is convenient to you.

REFERENCE NUMBER

Kopyahin ang Reference Number. If nabayaran mo na, the status would automatically change from Pending to PAID.

The next day, I paid for the said amount and headed to Cainta right away. I was not expecting to find a lot of applicants kasi I thought people would rather go to Rob Galleria because it's faster there. But lo! Pagdating ko, sobrang haba na ng pila. Take note, the mall opens at 10:30 and I got there at 10:45, but I was given number 418!!! 😂😂😂

NOTE: Pay the said amount first bago pumunta sa satellite office para pagdating doon  ay kukuha ka na lang ng number for picture-taking.

Again, I was confident that online applicants would be entertained first, but one of the personnel said that we were all online applicants! Hahaha! Ang last number is around 700! Sa sobrang dami ng taong kumuha ng araw na iyon, half past 3 na pero ang layo ko pa rin. I'm not exaggerating. Konti lang ang mga personnel na naroon kaya mas maigi kung sa Rob Galleria or sa main office na lang talaga kumuha para mas mabilis.

PICTURE-TAKING and FINGERPRINTING

Finally it was my turn and I tried hard to contain my excitement. I was anxious to be done with it and go home. Unfortunately, I was one of those unlucky applicants who got a HIT status. How come? I always thought that my name's unique. Charot! But really, I didn't have that status the first time I applied for a clearance back in 2009. I was so frustrated I wanted to cry. Biruin ba namang pumila ako ng pagkatagal-tagal mula 10:45 hanggang 3:48 ng hapon tapos hindi ko rin lang pala makukuha sa araw na iyon ang clearance? 😢😢😢 Haaaay...

Weeks before, C advised me to go to the main office in Manila instead para in case na magka-HIT man ako, autmatic na ang verification, but I didn't listen. I should have. Lesson learned, makinig sa nakatatanda! 😂😂 Kung wala kang ibang lakad, I suggest na pumunta nalang sa main office kung feeling mo may HIT ka. 😂😂😂

RELEASING of Clearance
 I waited for two weeks and the most awaited day finally came. This time I didn't have to fall in line.

 I finally got it! 😂😂😂

Korean Characters

Memorizing Korean Characters

Is it easy? Yes, a BIT. I mean, it is easier than memorizing Chinese and Japanese characters. If I exert effort, I'll surely learn like any other people who learned Chinese and Japanese by heart. But it's like flying to Antarctica the next day with only three pairs of winter clothes. In short, it's not a piece of cake. Can you imagine yourself memorizing all those prettily slanted strokes and complicated slash and dashes of Chinesesese and Japanesesese characters? Dashes??? What's that? But memorizing Korean characters compared to Chinese and Japanese characters? You'll get by. You only need to see the circles to recognize it's Korean.

Learning Chinese

When I was fresh out of college, I went to a bookstore and stumbled upon this English-Chinese dictionary(Traveller's Phrase Book) where you can learn not just Chinese words but some phrases and expressions as well. To make the story short. I bought it. And to make another story shorter, I only learned Ni hao ma and Wo ai ni from that dictionary.

Tattered heart...

That's because those were the common words that I used to hear from Meteor Garden's official sound tracks way, way back then. F4?! Taiwanese F4? Yes... I'll be honest. Part of the reason why I bought the dic was because I got inspired to learn Mandarin. I like watching Jackie Chan movies and Chinese Ghost Story movies, Yeah, the nine-tailed fox and all. Back then, I really wanted to learn how to speak Chinese. I thought it's easy but when I tried to concentrate and listen to a Chinese conversation, I could only fish out few phrases/sounds which I can't even distinguish.



To me it sounded like this, "Shushinshishi? Shinshi shushuh."

😂😂😂

Those are words that contain an "X" letter that we should pronounce as "sh". Words and phrases sound the same to me.
Clearly, there's something wrong with my sense of hearing. I am really amazed by other Pinoys' ability to read and speak the language. How can they distinguish a certain phrase from another when one is speaking too fast? Sad to say, I gave up. I put the dic in a box along with the other dics and whatnot that I bought. But one thing is for sure, if one speaks too fast and say Ni Hao Ma or Wo Ai Ni, I'll surely recognize it.

Do you know 'biang'?

Uh. Nevermind the characters.

The truth is, I lack determination.


Learning Japanese

The reason why I wanted to learn Japanese/Nihongo/Kanji/Katakana/Hiragana/Whatwhatwhat, is I fantasized myself working in Japan particularly in a farm. Forget about working as an ESL teacher because I never took up BSED and I'm getting tired of this already. I really feel that my passion for teaching is slowly slipping away. Halaaa! So far, I only learned Ohayou or Ohayou Gozaimasu (formal), Konnichiwa gozaimasu, Konbanwa gozaimasu and count from 1-100. Thanks Youtube. 

Nevermind the characters.

So much for a fruitful imagination.

Again, I lack determination.


Learning Korean

Is it easy? No, it is not. However, memorizing characters is kind of easy.

If you have been watching Korean drama on Youtube often with English subs, then you probably have recognized some Korean expressions and phrases already. I used to watch Korean dramas back in my hometown but it was always dubbed in Tagalog so I had no idea how they pronounce words or how the actors converse in their language but I got curious. When I got my first job as an EIA which I had no idea this kind of job exists, I got really excited. I was like, oho! I will be talking to Koreans? Like having a nonsensical convo with really cute kids with cute voices??? Oh my! I'm sure they have angelic faces! 👼👼👼

Forgive me for it was my first time to interact with Koreans and that was my first job. BUT that was seven fudging years ago. SEVEN. I'm glad to say, I got over the hype. I enjoyed three years of it. It was enjoyable because I only taught over the phone. Throughout the time, I wished I'd see any of my students' faces. Those cute little sweet voices that I hear over the phone made me long to see them face to face.  I loved and still love teaching over the phone. Years later...I get to converse with my students through video class. Wish granted. . . .

So how was it?

Meeh...You see, this is where the idiom, "Be careful what you wish for" applies. I realized that there's a variety of characters hidden underneath those angelic faces. I realized that I am now teaching a new generation of students.  So many things have changed. SEVEN years ago, it was unusual for a 10-year old kid to have a smartphone. SEVEN years ago or so, they only thought of being tired, hungry and sleepy. Years ago, those were the only things that could distract them. BUT now it's a different story. I'm not generalizing! Of course, there are still dedicated students who exert effort and really crave to learn the language.

Sa trabahong ito, we are not advised to learn Korean, of course. Pero may iba pa rin sa'min na gustong matuto out of different reasons. Some are inspired by KPOP (this was me 6 years and  10 months ago), some dreamed of having a chance to work in SK (me, when I get fed up with what I do) or some are just geared by simple interest (that's me, when I have nothing to do).

So back to memorizing characters. I gotta say it's not that easy but it's not that complicated either. If I'm not mistaken, there are only 40 characters to memorize. I will not pretend that I'm an expert 'coz I'm not. A character is equivalent to a letter or letters in the English alphabet. I hope I got the statement correctly.

Do you remember playing brick game or tetris? Remember those blocks?! Some of the characters look just like those. You don't have to worry about memorizing fancy strokes. In fact, memorizing some vowels is like playing tetris. Just rotate the " T " and "I".

Individually, it goes like this: ㅏ(a), ㅣ(i), ㅔ(e), ㅓ(eo), ㅗ(o), ㅜ(u), ㅐ(ae). These are few of the Korean vowels. They got aplenty.

However, if a word starts in a vowel you need to pair it with this "ㅇ". It's like, "you can never have a day without coffee" thingie.

ㅇ is unvoiced or silent in initial usage but it is pronounced as "ng" in words ending in "ㅇ" as in "싱-sing".

It should always be like this: (Vowels)
아 - a                       야- ya                     오- o                 요- yo                어- eo                  여- yeo              애- ae    

얘- yae                     에- e                      예-ye                 우- u                  유- yu                 이- i                   으- eu    


의- ui                     외-oe                      와-wa                  왜-wae              위- wi                 웨-we                 워-wo


They love circles. Heh!

Consonants:
ㄱ- k/g                    ㄴ-n                       ㄷ- d/t              ㄹ- r/l                  ㅁ-m                   ㅂ- p/b              ㅅ-s    

ㅇ- ng                     ㅈ- j                       ㅊ- ch               ㅋ-k                     ㅌ-T                    ㅍ- P                ㅎ-h    

ㅃ- pp                    ㅉ- jj                       ㄸ- tt                ㄲ- kk                  ㅆ-ss


Now, let's decode:
안녕하세요!
Annyeong Haseyo!


Can you decode the following?

The fist one is a name of a fast food restaurant. The second one is a country name. Third one is a kind of fruit.


1. 맥도날드.....

2. 필리핀.....



3. 바나나.....

Memorize all the characters and you will be able to read the words. If you invest more time, then I guess you will recognize and learn Korean vocabularies as well. To be honest, I don't know a lot. I didn't bother familiarizing Korean vocabularies. I can read but I have no idea what I am reading. Sure, I can understand some. Some Korean words sound like English words and some even have the same meaning just like the words above. When I learned how to read the words like a kindergarten, I stopped.  I stopped messing up with my already messed up brain.

Learning languages does not only require time. It also requires dedication, determination and effort. So far, I only have fruitful imagination. I'm actually imagining myself living in Japan, hopefully not in a matchbox apartment, having Korean breakfast while reading Chinese dictionary. LOL!  😂😂😂

Luneta National Park

I don't usually go out and see what's out there unless Cy drags me out figuratively, and takes me somewhere to unwind instead of spending the whole weekend at home. Yes, I'm probably the most boring person you'll ever meet. We don't usually go somewhere fancy. We just walk around the mall, eat when hungry or stroll at a park somewhere. We don't exercise so we'll consider that as our exercise.


So last year, when Cy was home for a vacation, we decided to go to the park just like every ordinary couple does. Luneta National Park or Rizal Park (Liwasang Rizal) is one of the accessible places to see in the capital. We've visited the place several times. The place is common to locals(of course) and a lot of people go there to do the usual things like strolling, relaxing, taking a nap (saw some doing so) or just spend time with family. Isa ito sa mga lugar na madalas pasyalan ng mga studyante. Ayeee... 😂😂😂 It is also one of the tourists spots in Manila.



We checked out the Chinese Garden and took some pictures.

Inside the Chinese Garden

We paid the entrance fee. P10 per head. 😂😂😂 

Mapuno naman sa loob at may iilang fish pond. I expected to see some Koi fish but sadly, masyadong malumot ang pond. Hehe One of the views I appreicate the most is a place full of trees. I know, ang iba sa inyo malamang iniisip kung bakit di na lang ako mamundok para makakita ng mga puno. Gusto ko naman kaso para sa'kin, kulang ang weekend para sa ganyang mga lakad.

Mura lang naman ang entrance fee kaso madalang lang ang mga tao na pumapasok.

I used filter to enhance the color.

And that's it.


We spent a couple of hours strolling. We stayed till dusk and waited for the dancing fountain.

The color ♥

Fascinating!

Us in B♥W

Happy Long Weekend!

This is it!

Bilang isang empleyado sa isang ESL online center ay madali na medyo mahirap. Magulo ba? Okay lang yan. 😂😂😂  Madali kasi magtuturo ka lang ng basic English sa mga beginners or have a free talking class sa mga intermediate and advanced students if their comprehension level is good enough to comprehend conversational and situational questions.

Medyo mahirap kasi 1.) Call center siya but since our clients are students, pahirapan sa pagkuha ng leave. Bihira ka lang makapagbakasyon kasama ang pamilya mo. Mahirap din kung may importante kang lalakarin na nataong kailangang lakarin on weekdays dahil hindi ka basta-basta makakakuha ng leave. NAKAKAHIYA naman po kasing magpa-sub ng mga klase mo sa ibang teachers lalong-lalo na kung marami rin silang klase. Lalong-lalo na kung ang mga ito ay hindi kumukuha ng leave tapos ikaw may ganang mag-leave at lalong-lalo na kung di mo ka-close. Ang ibig kong sabihin ay mas mabilis mong ma-distribute at ipa-sub ang mga klase mo kung marami kang ka-close or kachikkahan sa floor. Pero sa mga kagaya ko na tamad makipagchikkahan at tamad sumama sa mga galaan, ay, sorry ka na lang besh! Haha! Isa yan sa mga dahilan kung bakit di ko na lang ginagamit ang leave ko. Pero grabe talaga yung ibang teachers na may tatlong klase lang at ayaw pang tumanggap ni isang sub man lang. Kaya ang ginawa ko last year, hindi na ako nakiusap na magpa-sub. Ipinaubaya ko na lang sa TL namin ang mga klase ko at siya na ang nag-distribute.

2.) Nakaka-stress ang mga studyante minsan. Hindi na ako mag-i-elaborate ng sobrang haba so iiklian ko na lang. Ito yung mga studyanteng pinipilit ng mga nanay nila na mag-aral ng English. Parang Algebra lang yan. Madali para sa iba, mahirap para sa nakararami. Isipin niyo na lang at ipagpalagay natin na ayaw niyo ng ALGEBRA. Ano ang gagawin niyo kung pinipilit kayong mag-aral ng subject na ito? Iyong tipong wala ka na ngang pakealam kay X, pero heto at pinapahanap pa ng teacher mo. (Who-goat?Corny! Sorry...) Ganyan sa kanila ang ENGLISH.  Para sa kanila, isa ito sa mga nakakatamad na mga subject. English sa school, English sa academy, pagdating sa bahay aral pa rin ng English at may English online pa. Agahan, pananghalian, hapunan at panghimagas na English. Nakakasawa kaya. Kung sila sawang-sawa na, ako rin sawa na. Haha! Pero kailangan pa rin nilang mag-aral ng Ingles at kami naman dito sa Pinas ay kailangang kumayod.

Kaya pag ganitong Lunar New Year, ay, ang saya-saya! Minsan lang ang ganitong pagkakataon na medyo mahaba ang pahinga.

Sa mga taong mahilig magtravel, makipagbonding sa mga kaibigan, madalas umuwi sa probinsiya para makasama ang pamilya, malamang hindi ito ang trabahong para sa inyo. Madali lang siya talaga. Minsan pa-peteks peteks lang. Nakakahiya nga minsan sa ibang teachers na kuda ng kuda habang ikaw ay nakatitig sa screen ng bali dalawang oras. Hahaha! Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit ako nagtagal dito. Kung tutuosin papasa naman siguro ako sa ibang call center. Lol! Pero, pero, pero...Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit ako nagtagal dito sa industriyang ito kahit na unahan at pahirapan sa pagkuha ng leave ay ang aking schedule. I don't have to wake up early. I'm not a morning person jud. Atong naa pa ko sa probinsiya, kanunay ko pukawon sa akong mama ug sayo kaayo sa buntag para taas daw ug agi. Pero depende lang siguro sa tawo. Kung tapulan aw wa gyud oi agi. Sama nako. 😄 My shift has always been convenient pwera na lang sa pagpasok kasi palaging TRAFFIC. Anyways, kahit anong oras naman ang traffic. Ano pa bang bago dito? Pero keri lang. 😂😂😂

Sa mga online EIAs, happy long weekend sa atin!