I’m No Angel

“I’m No Angel”

If you gave me just a coin for every time we say goodbye
Well I’d be rich beyond my dreams, I’m sorry for my weary life
I know I’m not perfect but I can smile
and I hope that you see this heart behind my tired eyes
If you tell me that I can’t, I will, I will, I’ll try all night
and if I say I’m coming home, I’ll probably be out all night
I know I can be afraid but I’m alive
and I hope that you can trust this heart behind my tired eyes

I’m no angel, but please don’t think that I won’t try and try
I’m no angel, but does that mean that I can’t live my life
I’m no angel, but please don’t think that I can’t cry
I’m no angel, but does that mean that I won’t fly

I know I’m not around each night
and I know I always think I’m right
I can believe that you might look around

I’m no angel, but please don’t think that I won’t try and try
I’m no angel, but does that mean that I can’t live my life
I’m no angel, but please don’t think that I can’t cry
I’m no angel, but does that mean that I won’t fly

My Goals

Want to document my plans and goals for this year here in my blog. Will look at this by the end of the year to see if I did accomplish everything – which I plan to.

1. Be healthy and go back to being slim. I’m looking for Yoga classes here in Iloilo and and then I’m going to enroll. Start exercising everyday. Be healthy. I am getting heavier and it’s quiet alarming. I now officially have an undeniably awful-looking paunch (which Tim points out to me everyday). I want to get rid of it as soon as possible because I can’t fit into my old clothes anymore (and which is a waste because I have so many old clothes!) I want to fit into my old clothes! And every time we have our photo ops I find it really hard to hide the paunch. LOL. So I have finally started dieting. No more chocolates, cakes, ice creams, curls  and junk food for me now. Well maybe just once a week. LOL. I am waiting for a milk product from Dianne which will help me in my diet,  so I will reach my goal.  If I remember it right I think the name of the milk product is HerbaLife or something and I heard that it works really good. I promise to follow the program religiously. I won’t binge anymore. I will only eat when I’m hungry. I will only eat “on time.” I don’t wanna be chubby anymore. Hehehe.

2. Learn to speak, read and write in Spanish. I’m learning how to write and speak in Spanish along with Tim. I am starting to get serious in this stuff. I’m trying to learn a phrase or two everyday. Tim’s bought a book. I’m studying online. We want to speak acceptable Spanish by the end of the year. We love and adore the Spanish language. Not only is it a romantic language, it’s also widely spoken around the world. And it’s a part of our heritage.  My goodness our family names are in fact Spanish if you’ve noticed. My Lola Mamang knows how to speak Spanish. I love listening to people speak that language. Me and Tim want to be linguists. It’s our dream. 

3. Enroll at CAP College. I am going back to school this year! Yes you read it right. My second ultimate dream, one of the things I want to achieve/fulfill before I die – will finally be put in motion this year. Hopefully there won’t be any hitches. I’m not listening to any discouragements from anyone. I plan to continue my studies while working at the same time. But wait, before anyone gets the wrong idea, just wanna clear up that I do love and enjoy my job! I mean who wouldn’t? Nothing beats working at home.   And honestly I earn more than you, if not you then the person next to you (this applies only to people living in the Philippines. LOL) And there are many out there who have degrees but still don’t have jobs, or if they do have jobs they’re not happy with it or usually it’s not related to the degree they’ve finished.  It’s just that I really want to finish college and get that hard-to-get diploma. It’s like an obsession to me. Just so everyone knows, I plan to enroll at CAP College the pioneer in Distance Education here in the Philippines. CAP College was patterned after the “open university” concept of education which is already well-established and widely accepted in more advanced countries of Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States and Asia. If anyone wants to learn more about CAP College just click here. Mamang suggested this college to me. And I know going to school at CAP College won’t interfere with my work. In fact it will actually help me with my work. I feel that it would be much much better for me if I enroll at CAP College instead of enrolling at the universities and colleges here in Iloilo. Aside from just learning my degree here at home and online, with a little person to person interaction which will only be during final examinations, I know that I will learn a lot more than those students who physically go to school and sit at classrooms and listen to other people talk.  I don’t have anything against teachers (my mother is a teacher) but for me I learn a lot better if I study by myself, not by listening to other people talk or by doing assignments and reports. I had more than one professor who just assigned reports to us for the whole semester and then just sat in the back of the classroom and listened to me and my classmates’ reports (so what happened was me and my classmates were teaching each other and all the professors did was just kinda supervise us giving a little input here and there). In fact, I think distance learning is a lot better. We get to really learn and study whether we like it or not — at our own pace. Then we will really deserve the grades we get, not because of some professor or teacher’s judgement or whim. This is MY opinion so if anyone disagrees – I don’t really care. In my point of view, everyone should earn their degrees through distance learning instead. Wanna know why I said that? Feel free to ask me. My reasons will be more understandable if you talk to me, not by just reading it here. 

4. Be an active member of the CFC Singles for Christ. Right now every Sunday you will find me not only with Tim but also together with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am building a blog for them now using WordPress too. I also want to help our less privileged brothers and sisters not only here in Iloilo but also in other places. I also want to help spread God’s words and God’s love not only to young people like me but also to everyone who will listen. Being with the SFC will help me fulfill my dream of helping others. See I’m not really a selfish person.

That being said, I have an awful lot of things to do this year. This stuffs will keep me very busy. But it’s better to be busy than not right? I have a life, unlike other people. LOL. I am currently researching more about the things I need to enroll at CAP College then I’m planning to accomplish and gather all the requirements needed so I could finally enroll and start studying. All these I will do while I’m also working. I will send myself to school. I will be paying for my tuition fee. So I better study well and hard. Then next year I will start fulfilling my dream of having my own virtual assistance company. Nothing is impossible right? I thank the Lord for all the blessings I have received. And for all the blessings to come. Hope He will help me in my journey of fulfilling my dreams.

The Art of Self-Promotion – 5 PR Tips

I am an oDesk member so I usually get newsletters in my email from them. I found this very useful article earlier so I decided to repost it here in my blog with the proper linkbacks of course. Hope nobody sues me for doing this. LOL

Public relations-that’s when giant corporations pay someone to explain away their massive oil spill, right? Or when movie stars hire a fancy agency to get them on magazine covers? Well, sure, but when you boil it down, PR is the art of getting your message-and yourself-favorable attention in pursuit of your goals. Your goal is to advance your career, and there are ways to promote yourself without using Angelina Jolie’s “people.” Here are five ways:

1. Maintain a professional blog and offer valuable content to your target clients.

Do some research and come up with unconventional conclusions. Check out free, easy-to-use blog platforms such as typepad.com and blogger.com. And we can’t emphasize this enough-spellcheck before you post, and post with some regularity! Need help setting up a professional-looking blog? Trade services with a talented friend-or use oDesk to hire a WordPress expert or graphic designer for a quick project.

2. Website. Website. Website!

It’s easy, inexpensive and pretty much the minimum of professionalism in most fields. Take advantage of the tons of free tools and tutorials to build and maintain a web presence. Link back to your oDesk profile using one of the customized links so people can easily review your profile and hire you (do the same on your blog!). Need help? Trade services with a friend who knows web design or is a skilled writer who can edit your resume and other copy. Failing that, find that help on oDesk.

3. Be social.

Promote your online presence through social media. Create a free Facebook page that’s suitable for professional consumption (add that oDesk referral link!). Let your network know that you’re available to do work. Use a free Twitter account to send good information to friends and colleagues, keeping yourself in their minds when they need to get the job done. Tweet about professional information, news and good resources-no irritating “Mmm … cheeseburger” clutter. Follow twitters of other professionals in your field to stay on top of trends and news and involved in the conversation.

4. Make yourself the expert.

Conduct research and write an article or presentation about something unique in your professional field. Put it on your blog and Facebook page and tweet about it. PowerPoint it for free posting on SlideShare.com. Link it all to your oDesk profile. Have your friends and professional network Digg it to drive traffic.

5. Leave a comment.

Wherever potential clients might be following the professional conversation, get your voice in there. Post your reaction, with a link back to your site or blog, on blog posts and news articles in your field. Do not just say “good article!” or “I agree!” Have something salient to add, showing that you’re a smart professional who follows developments and synthesizes new conclusions. And run that spellcheck before you start throwing around “salient” and “synthesize.”

You work hard, you polish your skills, you know your stuff-now make sure as many people as possible know it!

Yesterday was the best birthday ever!

I had the best birthday yesterday! Well I didn’t really have a big birthday party or something. Just a delicious lunch cooked by my parents and Toto, and Dianne  (Toto’s girl) brought me ice cream and Tim brought me a cake – a big chocolate cake. With candles and all. Hehe. Now why is everyone still  wondering why I’m getting chubbier?

Then later in the afternoon we went to our Singles for Christ meeting. I was ready for an afternoon of a simple meeting with my brothers and sisters in Christ but it wasn’t to be. They surprised me and my fellow February birthday celebrants with gifts, messages from our “loved ones” – mine are Sev (my brother, the one I call Toto) and my bebeh of course, and Toto sang my favorite song, Rick Price’s Heaven Knows and the Birthday Song! He reminded me afterwards that that was the reason why he asked me what my favorite song was days before. Which prompted me to post it here in my blog. I was really touched with my new brothers and sisters. They’re really very real. You’ll know that they’re not pretending. They really mean all the things they’re doing for everyone. With SFC, one won’t feel any awkwardness or be out of place. That’s why I’m going to try to make my friends join us. It’s great to live with Christ! It’s like having a purpose in life, a life with direction. Temptations are not so rampant anymore since I joined them because we – Tim and I – have a great community to be with every Sunday. So after the greetings we went on with the meeting. We made plans for the year, great plans. Tim and I actually volunteered to make a website/blog for the SFC Oton Chapter. I have a very loaded schedule but it’s okay, anything I can do for the community will be compensated anyway by the Lord. And besides it’s going to be a very useful way for all our brothers and sisters who are outside of the Philippines to connect with us. I’m going to do the blog after I finish this post.

Our SFC meeting ended at 6PM. Tim and I went home to eat again. Then he went back to his boarding house. It was raining hard last Sunday but I didn’t really care,  it’s my day and I really enjoyed it. Tito Manny, Tita Aileen, Wewel, Tita Cossette and Desiree went by the house after they attended the Mass here in our chapel. All in all I had the best birthday ever! Hope it’s going to be the same next year though. TTYL!

Here are the photos taken on my birthday, don’t mind the dates on them, Tim forgot to reset it. More photos on my Flickr account!

my cake..                                                                                 EJ blowing the candles for me..

Papang slicing the cake..                                                  bebeh and bebeh..

Tim playing with Rino John (langging)..                 Dianne (Toto’s gf), EJ, Langging and Mamang..

Singles for Christ                                                                  the February birthday celebrants..

Toto singing Heaven Knows..           with Wewel, Desiree, the parents and the Titas and Tito Manny..

the pink roses Sis Baby and Sis Nenen gave me..        the gifts from my SFC brothers and sisters..

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

Its 3 hours and 25 minutes before my birthday but many of my friends have sent me greetings already. They’ve sent me text messages, left comments/messages on my Friendster account and through my instant messaging accounts as well. Aaaawwwww…..I’m so touched guys (sob). It’s great to have so many friends. Now I know what Friendster is for. I just love the world wide web.

So..today is Valentine’s Day right? Tim and I really didn’t go on a date. Well we did go malling but we always do that and we don’t really consider it “dating.” Whatever. Hehe. Anyway, wanna know what my bebeh gave me? He’s not the traditional type. While other guys are busy being corny – buying teddy bears, stuffed toys, balloons, hearts, flowers, chocolates, all that stuff – my bebeh funded my facial treatment at Asian Derma Clinic which is located at Robinson’s Place. I tell you the people here are far more better at their job than the ones at Beauty Essentials. You can really see the difference in your face right after the treatment and  the result lasts longer too. Hehe. While I was having my face steamed, cleaned, exfoliated, massaged, pricked, medicated and lasered, my bebeh was patiently waiting for me outside. Now who can beat my man?

In keeping with Valentine’s Day, I would like to share with everyone my all-time favorite song. I remember mentioning it in one of my posts here. My favorite song is Heaven Knows by Rick Price. For me it’s the best love song in the whole wide universe and in the world wide web. I know I know I’m really exaggerating today but just leave me alone, this is my blog and I’m feeling happy happy! Yeyyyyyyyy!!! It’s cool to have Valentine’s Day and your birthday in two succeeding days. Anyway, back to Heaven Knows. I know it’s a sad love song. But I just don’t get tired of listening to it.

If anyone hasn’t heard of it yet, here it is. Listen to Rick Price and hear his heartbreaking voice. This is the official music video.

HEAVEN KNOWS

She’s always on my mind
From the time I wake up till
I close my eyes
She’s everywhere I go
She’s all I know

And though she’s far away
It just keeps getting stronger
everyday
And even now she’s gone
I’m still holding on
So tell me where do I start
Cause it’s breaking my heart
Don’t wanna let her go

Maybe my love will come back someday
Only heaven knows
And maybe our hearts will find a way
Only heaven knows
And all I can do is hope and pray
’cause heaven knows

My friends keep tellin’ me
That if you really love her
You’ve gotta set her free
And if she returns in time
I know she’s mine
So tell me where do I start
Cause it’s breaking my heart
Don’t wanna let her go

Maybe my love will come back someday
Only heaven knows
And maybe our hearts will find a way
Only heaven knows
And all I can do is hope and pray
’cause heaven knows

Why I live in despair
‘Cause wide awake or dreaming
I know she’s never there
And all this time I act so brave
I’m shaking inside
Why does it hurt me so

Maybe my love will come back someday
Only heaven knows
And maybe our hearts will find a way
Only heaven knows
And all I can do is hope and pray
’cause heaven knows

Maybe my love will come back someday
Only heaven knows
And maybe our hearts will find a way
Only heaven knows
And all I can do is hope and pray
’cause heaven knows
Heaven knows… [ x2 ]

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

Happy Valentine’s Day Nonoy Tim!

Tim and Jane

A quick hello.

A friendly chat.

A text.

And that was that.

They have been inseparable ever since.

Jane is mad about Tim.

Jane thinks Tim is the best thing that ever happened to her.

And Tim thinks she’s probably right.

Tim is kind, funny, serious, smart.

He is protective – but not possessive.

Friendly, but not patronizing.

Tim is cool, without trying.

In fact? Come to think of it, he’s almost too good to be true.

But he is true.

That’s why Jane loves him so much.

And she’s not letting go.

Even if Tim thinks otherwise.

Happy Valentine’s Day Beh..

i love you..