The Ocean of My Being

Anj tagged me. Salamat, Anj! :) Simple Pleasures of Life Instructions: Name ten of life’s simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used. 1) curling up with a good book 2) feeling the drops of water from the shower as they touch my skin 3) discovering or learning about something new or something that i didn't know a single thing about 4) sitting alone just watching people and/or things around me 5) receiving a letter (snail mail) from friends and family 6) finding a book i've been looking for for the longest time at a book sale (especially if the book's in crisp condition) 7) playing with cats 8) exchanging stories with my sisters and my brothers 9) bonding with my mom and/or my dad 10) having an interesting conversation I tag: Not ten people, but anyone (especially from my Into Blogging section) who takes pleasure in the simple things.

After living in Metro Manila for almost five years, the time has come for me to bid the place goodbye. My stay in this big, busy metropolis has come to an end. I've always known it was just temporary, but I just can't help but feel a little sad. After all, this place has been home for the past four and a half years. I've always hated goodbyes and the fact that I'd be saying goodbye to this place is just around the corner doesn't make me too happy. Sure, I'm excited to go back home where I truly belong, but Metro Manila, after all these years, has slowly become a part of me, a part of who I am now, so that I feel like I'll be leaving a big part of me behind when I leave. I'm happy to finally be able to move on to another chapter in my life; part of me wants to just hold on and stay. Sure, I will still visit Manila and see my friends from time to time, but it just won't be the same. I'd be a visitor, an alien in the city. I won't be pa...

It feels like it's been years since I last blogged. Our internet connection here has been quite erratic these past days so I haven't been on-line as much as I used to. I've also been catching up with my reading and doing a lot of "thinking" lately that there's hardly any time for me to actually go on line. Also, I've been writing a lot in my "written" journal. That one's more personal (or should I say too personal compared to this one) than my blog. Writing in my journal serves as my refuge when I don't know what to do or when I don't understand things happening around me any longer and when I just need to let my feelings out. I've never been the type of person who would actually bare everything to another person, be s/he my closest friend or a member of my family. Having a journal really helps me a lot. There are times when there are a million and one ideas and thoughts in my mind that if I don't get down to write them,...

Last Monday was the 12th day of Rabi ul-Awal in the Hijri (Islamic) Calendar. It was my sister's Hijri birthday and, more especially and importantly, it was the 1480th anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) . This day is called Maulidan Nabi in Arabic. It is a very special day, but we do not really celebrate it. What we do is try to look within ourselves and see how much of a guide and model the Prophet is to all of us as we live our days. The day is spent, as much as possible, in remembrance of the Prophet. I would like to share my most favorite story about the Prophet. It is said that the Prophet respected life in all forms. He was the perfect personification of kindness and benevolence. One of the facts known about him was that he liked cats and he actually had a pet cat. There was this one time, it is said, that he was about to perform salat (prayer) and, as he was about to get his praying carpet, he saw that a cat was sleeping on the carpet. Of...

Silence Words. People said, " You have the gift of words! " That was long ago. Words. Give me them And I would give you poems, Stories and songs. Words. My good friends. With them I was at ease. That was long ago. Words. They fail me. As I sit watching you, All words are lost. Words. They, it seems, Are all you need right now. I find them not. Words. I beckon. In mid-air, they stay and I sit in silence.

Waaaah! I have been really busy, so I haven't had time to blog. There's been so many things that I had to do and accomplish the past days. And, yes, bloghopping was one of them! Hehehe:) I've been meaning to write about nasheeds (Islamic religious songs) ever since I got addicted to them in December of last year. I have been listening to almost nothing but nasheeds these past months. I really love them and I love the way the songs propagate the true meaning of Islam and what it really is like to be Muslim. There are many nasheeds that make me cry. There are nasheeds that make me feel guilty and/or scared of death. There are some that make me reflect about my life and about the world. There are some that make me ponder and wonder. There are some that make me feel so thankful and blessed. There are some that never fail to make me feel proud. There are some that make me smile. All in all, nasheeds warm my heart more than any other type of music or song I list...

I finally lost my APO virginity on the evening of March 11, 2006! It was such a great experience, definitely something I will never, ever forget! To see the APO Hiking Society perform in person was one of my greatest dreams and was in my list of 25 Things I Want To Do Before I Die . I finally got to see them and all I can say is that they are THE BEST and I love them more (I never thought I could love them more than I already did). I was just so happy that I cried. About a week and a half ago, I actually lost my wallet where I had my money, my ID, some cards, some pictures, and my APO Experience ticket. I was just so sad and frustrated. I never found or got my wallet back, but I was able to get a certification from Ticketworld so that I could still go and watch the concert. Happiness!!! "Kapanahunan na naman ng paglalambingan At kasama kitang mamasyal sa kung saan. Kabilugan ng buwan At ang hangin ay may kalamigan, Aakapin kita, mahal ko, sa buong magdamag!" ---- T...

I had coffee with Ala the evening before Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo issued Proclamation No. 1017 which declares the Philippines to be in a state of national emergency. And, no, I'm not going to talk about this proclamation in this blog because I will just end up feeling sad and upset. Hay, Pilipinas! Instead, I'd like to talk about one of the things that Ala and I talked about. We were actually talking about her plans when she gets to Australia and her plans for the future. She asked me what my plans were and my automatic response was " go back to Mindanao. " She asked what I planned to do when I finally get to go back. " Teach, " I replied. She expressed her want/hope to actually devote some time in her life to teaching. She thought it'd be nice. I told her that, right now, I actually cannot and do not see myself going into a career other than teaching. I know that teaching may not be the most well-paying job in the world, especially not in this...

It's been a while since I last took a personality quiz from the Internet. I found a few interesting ones and took them. Here are some of the results I got. :) ---- You Have Your PhD in Men You understand men almost better than anyone. You accept that guys are very different, and you read signals well. Work what you know about men, and your relationships will be blissful. How Well Do You Understand Men? -- i've always been one of the boys... :) ******** You Are A Woman! Congratulations, you've made it to adulthood. You're emotionally mature, responsible, and unlikely to act out. You accept that life is hard - and do your best to keep things upbeat. This makes you the perfect girlfriend... or even wife! Are You A Girl Or a Woman? -- i'm not a girl... i AM a woman! *to the tune of britney spears' song* ******** Not a Jealous Bone in Your Body You're secure, trusting, and giving with friends and lovers. And while you may have been hu...

First, it was the Wowowee Stampede at the Ultra . Hearing the news depressed and shocked me. I couldn't understand why or how it happened. A lot of people have shared their opinions and ideas about the tragedy. Here and there, accusing fingers were pointed to this and that person and/or company. Some say ABS-CBN was to blame, the Ultra management, the police or the people themselves. Some blamed poverty, some greed, and some the government and President Macapagal-Arroyo ! Some say it was lack of discipline. I know that someone or some people have to take responsibility for what happened. But, I believe that it is high time we, Filipinos, stop blaming one another and just try to help and do what we can for one another. Let's try to look at what happened and try to understand what it was telling us. While doing that, let's do away with barking at one another because that doesn't help at all. Two evenings after the very sad incident, my friends and I were wat...