Awesome Ems!

At the Camaya Coast property free tour!

Sometimes, things become best when they are free. Thanks to a friend for inviting me and 8 others to a free property tour in Mariveles, Bataan.

But it's not just the usual tripping to condominium and subdivisions being developed - because the huge property is in front of a beach. So, aside from the free transportation from Manila to Mariveles and back, we also get to have fun at the beach for free... Not to mention, free lunch and snacks. Free boat rides to the location, tour to a mini-waterfalls and free banana boat ride!

This happened 3 or four weeks ago and it started officially my one day summer escapes every weekend.

I heard some celebrities already bought condo-units there - the likes of Vic and Tito Sotto, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes and Pokwang! 

For a (professional) blogger and writer, I haven't really written any personal stuff for a while... the 'professional' took all that hobby away. But writing has always been my first and true love, and perhaps I could always express better when I write, even if I also have to talk a lot to make a living (the irony of a broadcaster). And beautiful lines from songs, poems and verses always catch my attention, hence the one liners from song lyrics usually are my Facebook status.

I recall those years, as chronicled in my abandoned blogs, when all I have written about was heartaches and sorrows, (so emo). But artists usually are at their best at their lowest or drunkest (see Edgar Allan Poe, Van Gogh, Nick Joaquin). Well, I'm not so much of an artist of that caliber. I'm probably a league of my own. 

Since I haven't written that much emo-stuff for a while, it's probably because I am having a great time. Not just probably - I am having a great time. It just doesn't show sometimes. And this is how I want to show how great it is.

And what a year it was! What a decade it was! 2000-2010 was really something to be cherished. It ushered a new life and a new beginning to me and my family and friends. I have always believed that I could not have been born on a perfect generation, the 80s. Because I have witnessed and I have experienced how the world has evolved before my very eyes and as we enter a new decade  - the 2010s, I am still young and enjoying every bit of change and upgrade and the split-seconds of something new.

But there were things that didn't have to change. Things that you want to remain constant if possible. Like the people you just can't let go no matter what happens. Like the shallowest of laughters. The music that catches and immortalizes your moments. The food that always taste good. Like the feeling of excitement for going to a new place. These simple things that make one happy.

Yet there are those not-so-simple things, in fact - great things that have become reality. Things I only imagined or didn't even have to imagine and just happened. Milestones and achievements. Things surpassing even expectations.

Still, there are so many things yet to be done and accomplished, to experience. Bigger, grander things that would soon flourish after planting the seeds from the years passed.

These are old and new dreams... this is the hope the keeps us alive... and the realities that make us look forward to another day. 

In the end, All I have is a thankful heart - to every one and everything. To all the persons that have come and gone, to all the persons that remain and to all the new ones that I would welcome and allow to get into my life. 

Can't wait what's in store for the new decade! I already know most of it, I just can't wait to actually be there when it happens! =)

Life, light, love, kindness, power, peace and harmony for everyone for the new year and the decades to come! 

Where do I start... Something quite irritating happened earlier before New Year's Eve.. . but those little bitter - spices of life would never replace the happiness and love i felt all throughout 2008... Many unexpected things happened... many great memories... many first times. March when my mom and I went to Baguio for the first time with the closest and funniest of my office mates... I was with my life-long best buddy that made the holy - week vacay all the more special... The food, the fun, the weather and the people... It was October when again, with my lifelong best bud and my boss and office mate went to Cebu. It was, admittedly my first flight - (naging tao rin ako hehe) making the entire experience all the more exciting and thrilling. We went to a very beautiful yet economical PortoFino Resort in Mactan and we had a road trip going here and there to the Queen City. I never thought that you could spend an entire weekend laughing and eating and laughing again. It was May when VOTY (Voice of the Youth Network) participated in a tree - planting / seed propagation activity over Angat Dam. That was indeed a cool summer activity... meeting new friends and bonding with them for a very worthwhile cause... Not to mention our magigiting na escorts from the military! This year was also the first time that i got to write/translate scripts for Hero Channel... And I could not ask for a first project more special than the Anime Bokura Gaita.. I love the series.. I love the characters and I really cried myself out for each cute and romantic episode...

But the writing projects didn't stop there.. Thanks to my very generous bro and mentor and bestfriend Choy... I also did Negima (Mahora Sensei Negima); My Brother's Wife (a Latino - Movie); and a lot more writing gigs I couldn't afford to refuse. There were hits and misses but I learned and earned a lot (hehe)...  And every first time in writing stuff is definitely worthwhile. Before 2008 ends I was also able to write 2 dramas for DZRH! Thank you direk for trusting me and appreciating my works! Here's to more original stories for 2009! It is also the first time for me to write scripts for a TV Show produced by SYVAP, Creativoices Prod. and VOTY.. It's VOTY TV! A dream come true for Choy and our organization. Thanks to Global Destiny Cable for Accomodating us! It was indeed a learning experience and another feather on VOTY's cap. Here's to a better season for 2009! Hopefully! hehe I also appreciate the friendship and the entire tireless efforts of another organization... The Society of Young Voice Artists of the Philippines - Byron and the gang... Without you guys, this wouldn't be possible! Early this year, I also joined a different kind of organization... KMCE and OHRGC. I learned a lot and somehow, I associate all the good things that happened to me this year because of my renewed faith in the universe and in myself. I am still learning and there's a lot to do.. to attain that inner peace all men aspire for. But I am sticking to it  and I am getting there. (picture taken at a resort in Laguna also this year) And then I thought the best thing already happened... i remember my new year post for 2007... Top 8 Things that Could Happen in 2008 that Could Change my life forever... For my number 7 I said.. 7. to do something on youtube so crazy that everyone would know me...  From being a random blogger to a being highly-paid internet celebrity earning thousands of dollars …(well, the thousands of dollars didn't happen yet) but thanks to Survivor Philippines... Ionman (my tol, bestfriend online and offline) and I became Internet Celebrities on our own rights after cooking up (or rather, cybersquatting?) www.survivorphilippines.com. WE MADE HISTORY! A fan blog that has become an actual community we now call Dotcomers... With thousands of followers in and out of the country.... Thousands of hits and even GMA 7, the Castaways and Paolo Bediones themselves recognize our efforts! We had our own Grand Eyeball Party.. We attended the official online fans party.. We had Videoke night with the castaways.. We attended the finale complete with banners and t-shirts... We had a Christmas Dinner with Nanay Zita and Cris and even had a Charity Participation! WOW! Thanks to Ionman and Dotcomers for making my 2008 all the more special -- despite the amazing things that already happened to me and my family all throughout the year -- this one truly is remarkable! I'm sure I left out many more wonderful things...the hours of sensible talks with different people over the radio every week... The hours upon hours of chatting between Ionman and I.. the countless dinners and events with Choy... the precious time I spend with Ton-ton... The celebrations with my wonderful Mom and with my sister, Cristine and her bestfriend Aiko... the dinner with Sherwin who has been a good friend for years... and to my other friends and relatives I still put dearly in my heart.

Truly overwhelming....