Happy Birthday to ME, Rockin' 23!

Two decades and three years living in this world, I learned a lot of things already and still willing to learn more fell down, stood up, fought and still fighting. It's a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

According to all the documents I have, it's my birthday today! And yes, indeed, it's my birthday today. A year older, a year wiser and a year of new things. I'm so excited to indulge. I don't usually get goose bumps or awesomazing excitement during my birthday, but when I do the feeling it won't leave me, and I do swear that my birthday today is really awesome. Though there are a lot of things that came up that made me think deeply and engaged into quick decisions (serious decision making, not the ones that I'm taking on to harder thinking while in the shower - 'cause I'm making life decisions inside the shower), I can say that it's still a lotta fun. Hands down, it's currently the title holder for "The Best Birthday Ever". Tomorrow, I’ll be out of the country…my dad’s birthday gift to me to celebrate summer fun with my family, since I passed my boards and my birthday is hitting on, but I’ll back in Manila after a week. I promise I’ll update about my trip when I get back. Vacation mode!! I’m soo excited!! :))

Nonetheless, I have come to realize that I'm not getting younger and moving to the next chapter is a must and the best way to do. I'm so blessed that there are people who, through these years, keep it all up and remain my good friends and showed and still showing their love and concern for me, and by that, I'm really thankful. I'm really really happy to celebrate my birthday with the presence of the fast internet connection, in front of my laptop writing this post, a bunch of good books, my dog and crazy, funny and adorable family and friends. I'm so blessed to have a not so perfect but awesome family, that every time I need them, even if I don't say anything, they're just there and willing to give all of them just to make me happy, just to make me feel comfortable and make me feel that I'm great. I'm so happy to have my wonderful grannies with me; they're just there willing to support me all throughout.

As I take on another year in my life, there are a lot of things that will change, but of course, all of those changes will be for the best. As the Lord give me another year to live, I will make everything worthwhile and let go all the grudges and restart everything so that it would be a prosperous year for me and for the people around me. I know I have made a lot of mistakes and that's how I learned everything. That I needed that to improve and be better. I'm taking the added year in my life in great manner and with full of conviction, this is me going to be matured about stuff in my life - in all aspects of it. This is me, concentrating on the present and what I have right now, getting ready for the future and letting go of the past but surely learning from it.

A big THANKS to everyone who has been a great part of my year and I will surely see you all around as I take on this life a year older. Same old-funny-shy Cai as always but definitely letting go of those nega-mean-girl-childish spree. We learn, we take on and move on…And yeah, this isn't just luck, this is God's will.

I'm sincerely touched with the greetings and messages I received the moment I woke up this morning. ♥ :) I also received greetings from people I didn't even imagine remembering my birthday...or probably Facebook had to remind them. Haha. Even the simplest of things make me happy. Even if your greeting was a "Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V" greeting, I couldn't care less. I'm still thankful since they took the time to greet me through wall posts. I got extremely ‘kilig’, thanks to my friends who called earlier just to greet me a happy birthday. I want to jump up and down and go inside the line to reach the other line just to hug, kiss and thank you guys! :* :) I still can't believe that you guys exerted sweet efforts to greet me; I do swear it really matters and well appreciated. And thank you also for all the cyber greetings, hugs and kisses on Facebook and Twitter. :) It is just so priceless that I couldn't grasp enough air to say thanks and I couldn't find the exact words to express and to extend my more than thankfulness aura to everyone who greeted me today. I must not shed a tear. T_T

Thank you to everyone who was became a part of my birthday. Thank you to those who were a part of my previous year. As I ended that 22th episode, I hope you're still gonna be a part of this fresh new chapter. I wish I could get the chance to hug all of you 'cause you made my day extra special.

And if anyone of you is celebrating his/her birthday too... Happy Birthday! :)

With that being said, I bid you adieu! Need to pack my things now because of my out of country trip tomorrow and see you after a week! :)

Happy weekend with Friends

“There is nothing quite like the value of friendship.”

I just got home a few hours ago. I slept over at my friend’s condo for overnight. At last this meet-up have been push through after of thousand and thousand of planning.

Let's rewind...

Me and my friend, Zackie had an early nurse on-call duty at Makati for the scheduled vaccination. So, of course we shouldn’t be late since we expect the patients to come around 8am. After of almost 10 hours duty we meet our friend, Paige in Greenbelt and go directly to the condo to take a bath and change our clothes. It’s a very tiring day but it's nice to have friends around; someone you can talk to who also enjoys eating the foods you crave. I had a night out with my college close friends. It was such a good feeling that after a stressful day, we can be with each other’s arms for one night. The night started with dinner and night swimming. It was a great night! it was night of good music, never ending stories and loud laughter. Bonding moments like these never grow old. So that night was chill but awesome. A few hours after hanging out for milk tea at Agantea we decided to go strolling around Greenbelt and find a place where we can go to. Since it was around midnight or so, every place was packed! So, we opted to go back to the condo and just buy two bottles of Margarita and soda for chaser and some corn and chips. We lost tracked of time and if it weren't for my cellphone alarm at 4am, we weren’t able to sleep and have stayed awake 'til morning. All you have to know is that we had a lot of fun and that we're doing this again if time would allow us to.

Nurses on-call

Night swimming

Chillin' + Milk tea @ Agantea

The next day we woke up at around 11am. We are so very hungry so we ate our lunch at Gerry’s Grill in Greenbelt 3. Since, it’s Sunday I asked them if they want to hear the mass with me and right after they said yes, we go for the 3pm mass at Greenbelt Park Chapel. So we heard the mass…And window shopping again after. And a cup of Tea from Chatime. A little chit chats then dinner and rest.

Lunch at Gerry's Grill

I had a great weekend because I had the chance to go out and spend some time to bond and chat with my college friends. It really feels great to unwind and have some bonding time together with your friends. This one night of bonding was kind of perfect. We all had fun sharing stories about our college memories, current tsismis, and some other stuff. Even though we didn't do crazy stuff, it was nice. We all went home around 8pm.

Girls night out is not complete without MIRROR SHOTS!! :)

Wooow. It's really a tiring weekend for me. Nonstop. Mind you…My dad's already mad at me for staying out most of the time…I guess it's already a part of me. I'm into adventures and I'm the one who can't stay at home for a very a long period of time especially when there a lot of invitations to attend to. :p We only live once, so grab all the opportunities!! Hehe

So that's it. Heaps of fun. That weekend made me too happy that I didn't want it to end. However, all good things must come to an end. Oh my. Looking forward now to my birthday for a break. Cheers!! :D I hope you had an awesome weekend too. Be awesome and spread happiness!!:))

I miss you

I hate missing people. Whether they’re dead or abroad or simply out of your life. Sometimes it’s just a simple case of them being busy at some stuff or work. It’s the paralysis in changing the situation that breeds that desperation accompanying that gnawing feeling. EVERYONE’S missed someone at one point or another.

I miss you. A phrase I've come across to so many times. I'm not only referring to the ones I've received but this also includes the ones I've read on the timeline of my social networking accounts. Well, I've been receiving a lot of these lately. They say they miss me but some just don't make an effort to make me feel it. It sounds so demanding, I know. But don't you think I have a point?

I miss my friends. I haven't gone out with them in a while and there have been several trips & dinners & movie days I've missed that I feel that “nagtatampo na sila.” Sure, you’ve been away from a certain person for a while, but you can’t exactly say that you miss them, yet they decide to tell you that they miss you. Once they tell you that they’ve been missing you, one feels a certain pressure to say the same thing, just like when someone compliments something that you’re wearing; you feel the pressure to compliment something about them. It can be pretty awkward to just stay there quietly, or to just smile. Oh! Or how about when someone decides to ask you if you’ve missed him or her? Would you lie? Some people would.

I miss you. It sounds soo easy to say, right? Of course, it is. However, sometimes it is not easy to believe. It's hard to prove that someone really misses you. Someone says, "I miss you", and then the receiver returns with the same phrase. It's so easy to say it. It takes a second to say it. However, how will you know if someone truly misses you? Maybe they just said that because it's expected to say it. Maybe they said it just to add a dash of "caring + loving + thought" to the message. Maybe they're just being nice. Maybe. Who knows?

To me, when you miss someone, you'll find a way to talk, see and hear them. You will find a way to communicate. May it be through text, wall post, tweet or simply meeting up. Even the small talks and short conversations count. Brief communication is better than no communication.

What is my point? Usually when you miss someone it shows in your actions, along with words. Don't tell you miss someone if you don't make the effort to NOT miss them! If you live nearby and have nothing to do, meet up! If you don't have time but you have time to use the internet or phone, send them a message. To put it simply, let them know they're on your mind. Simply saying "I miss you” doesn't prove it. Make them feel it. Phrases like these come in a package. It comes together with an action. Just like love. One does not simply say "I love you" or “I like you” If not, the phrase is filled with nothing but blank, empty words. Right?

Don't worry. I'm guilty of this heinous crime as well. I've said this phrase time and time again. Frankly, sometimes, I just say it just to be nice. It's a crazy world. I do make efforts too, you know! However, the sad part is...it isn't reciprocated. The simplest update on how things are going and whatnot are very much appreciated. It's a sad thing. However, you don't always get what you want.

Mini Reunion with my Avida Family

Last January 6, 2012 we had a “mini friend’s reunion” at Greenbelt and it was delightful! Finally, I could be with the friends I had missed so much. Reminiscing the moments, bonding and “kalokohans” we had for staying together for almost three months in a same condo, same building tower and two floors away but of course in different rooms. Hihihi :P 6O, 6S and 8F are numbers we’ll never forget. We are almost complete – Me, Bern, Sha, Gaena, Paige, Yo, Bobby and Josh are present. I’m kinda sad that Mommy Gina wasn’t able to attend and this calls for a round two. Communication was minimal, yet our hearts had remained close. Some friendships defy space and time.

This is one fun-filled day of laughter, togetherness, about hundreds of pictures, cam-whoring and photo shoot, dawdling and fooling around so it takes twice as long to get where we need to go, and did I mention laughter (coz’ there was a lot of it)! HAHA! :)) And by the way, it takes us almost an hour, deciding where to eat and choosing what resto to have our dinner. Finally, since it’s getting too late we eat dinner at Italliani’s. Pizza, Pastas, Chicken fingers, Mussels and smoothies. Sooo bloated!! Happy tummy!! Thanks to Joshie for the treat. :))

Dinner @ Italliani's

Seriously, when my friends and I get together we have the best time ever! Yeah! My friends are the greatest. I know that everyone had a great time and we're already planning subsequent mini reunions because we enjoyed each others' company so much.

But hey, let pictures speak for themselves.

Camwhoring at night! Girls and Boys!

Photoshoot on a sunny afternoon @ Greenbelt 3

 Fooling around on the camera and dinner @ Italliani's

Attendance!! Present!!

Girls wanna have fun!

Well, again I had a chance to go out again with my friends so this is always fun. Me and my friend Zackie meet first since we are the ones who came early. As usual, early birds! Hehe Since we're both hungry and haven't had dinner yet, we decided to go to Banchetto to eat. I missss it!!! Sooo many foods! Happy tummy again! :))

When our other friends came, we stroll in the tiangges located in Citywalk. I like so many things to buy however, "budget constraint". Need not to tempted. Then, have some picture picture with those human statues in Eastwood.

with Zackie, dinner @ Banchetto

with the Human statues @ Eastwood

Afterwards, we decide to have some drink at Graffiti. We order a tower of 'Sex on the Beach' with a mixed of vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice. Have a 'pulutan' of  nachos and cheese sticks. Little catching up and chikahans. 

@ Graffiti + Sex on the beach

Attendance!! Complete!! :) L-R: Me, Zackie, Ivern, Jen & Ate Aimee

This is how I spend my last friday of 2012. It's always a HAPPY HOUR with these people. Hanging out together with you guys is soo cool and fun! As I've said before, our gimmicks always keeps us young! Haha Does it mean I'm getting old?? Nah!! 

PASKUHAN 2012

If it's Christmas in UST, I guess we are pertaining to Paskuhan alone. The annual UST PASKUHAN happened last friday December 21, 2012. UST is filled with people from different universities and parts of Metro Manila. All gathered in one place to celebrate Christmas the Thomasian Way! Paskuhan is one of the best event UST has to offer. It is well-proven to be one of the most awaited events of the students. This is the most awaited time of the year for UST students or not. Everyone gets excited to see the extravagant Christmas lights in the campus. :))

Paskuhan is one of the best events in the whole University Belt. Thousands of students are swarming over the campus. There could be an average of 15,000 to 20,000 people every year celebrating with UST. Other students from other schools are going too. There are tons of popular bands, singers and artists invited there to perform and give testimonials. There are various booths around the campus too with lots of goodies there. The FIREWORKS display. It is more like minutes of non-stop action up in the air. You really see grand fireworks display courtesy of UST.

When we arrived at UST, I was like, WTF! The line's soo loong!!! But then we had no choice but to line up. Then, when we were close to the entrance, the guards separated the females from males. Again, I was like O.o because we have to line up again! This means we'll be at the end of the line again!! But I think luck's on my side. Hihihi So after 3 or 5 minutes, we were able to get inside UST. There were soooo maaaaany people. This was already expected!! It was hot, crowded, no signal, and again, too many people. I had pasta, pizza and chicken for dinner. Thanks to Shakey's, one good thing that happened that night. With a massive crowd like this in one location, we have come in terms with the fact that network signals are seriously jammed. It's so hard to send and receive SMS nor do or receive calls.

The second good thing was I spent it with my college barkada! And last good or I mean the best thing.....none other than the FIREWORKS!!! UST fireworks are surely zeee best!! Seriously, I was like aww-ing and wow-ing. The most awaited attraction here are the bands and fireworks wherein students joke around and say that "Hey! There goes my tuition." Haha

L-R: Me, Bern, Jen and Ivern

L-R: Michael, Gaena and Me

With Gaena and Ivern

With Michael and Bern

Can I just say that UST did a good job in pranking us all? Like, seriously. Great, job guys! If you're not there, what happened was they kind of let us count to 1 and then some crappy fireworks display happened. And there's no sound so whatever and everyone was like asking for the sound and stuff and it ended quickly. Well, it's actually not that crappy but it was far from the usual UST fireworks display. So whatever!

And then we kind of faced in the front again. And the hosts announced something like, "The real Fireworks display!" The fireworks were beautiful, eye catching and most of all its colorful. The night sky was filled by beautiful lights of the fireworks. It was long and that's why my back neck was aching but it's worth it. Although it's not the greatest fireworks that UST has but that thing surprises me and I said "WOW!" because the combination of lights brings happiness to its viewers. The fireworks display took more than 5 minutes and whew the back neck ache is worth it. :) and these pictures happened.

The FIREWORKS DISPLAY!! Grab pic from my friend.

Some attend Paskuhan for them to watch the hottest bands as well as the fireworks. But for me, it's really the bonding that what makes me want to attend these kinds of events in UST. It's because I have the AWESOMEST FRIENDS in the world! They're the craziest, supportive and loving friends I have! Even, if we have our own problems, once we get to bond with each other, all our apprehensions are gone! We never ran out of stories to talk about. That's what I love about them. We have our OWN WORLD! AND OUR OWN WORLD ROCKS!

With my girl friends. L-R: Bern, Me, Gaena, Sha, Ivern & Jen

Of course that is the time that all of my friends to do some picture picture. My friends loves to camwhore and while where at some kind of event like this, flashes of camera are turning on and off. Even though the others are doing something, they will run to where the designated spot where we will pose. You know it's like we were destined to be friends because we love to take pictures! Haha! Corny, I say. :p

Pose! Pose! with Sha and Bern :)

Cam-whoring with Jen, Michael and Ivern 

After celebrating the Paskuhan, me and my bestie Sha, stay at Starbucks near UST in P. Noval street to spend the entire night! It was a long walk because we are first timers there so we don't know the exact location. Thanks to the security guards and the people we asked around the place! Some of our friends go first they still have things to do. So two of us had our GIRLS NIGHT OUT! Hahaha Funny!! it's only at Starbucks just to wait for the simbang gabi at UST and wait for sunrise and go home. I settled for a toffee nut frappe, and sit on a cozy portion of the store. We had soo much fun. I got home around 8am, nooo sleep yet and I still have to go to my granny's burial at 11am that day. Phew! It was really exhausting but it was worth it.

Back to the event, UST Paskuhan was really fantastic! Not because it is a gathering of friends, you know, some kind of feeling that you don't explain and that feeling brings total happiness. That is wicked awesome!! It was really tiring but it was a blast! I miss them so much! I'm looking forward for another trip with you guys! For now, 'tis the season to be jolly!! Happy Holidays!! :D

So what do you say? I guarantee you will never ever regret attending such an event like this. Being a part of this event, I'll say its worth to come in this event. I really had fun! Until, the next Paskuhan 2013! :))

Nifty Shoebox of Photographs!

Hey, guys!! How are you?? Long time no post again. I'm sooo sorry for not updating my dear blog just kinda busy preparing for my boards but now it's all done!! Yeehaa!! :)) Anyway. Yeah, I know, I know. And I bet you already know the reasons why so I need not to elaborate much. :P And I have tons of delays too with regards to my blogger post. 

So allow me to bombard you again with OVERLOAD of PHOTOS and catch a glimpse of my-so-called-not-so-humdrum-life so far with the help of my Instagram account: caireyes. Do add me if you have one. :D

Waaaarrnnniiiinnnnggg!!!! Photos overload!!!

**TGIF at Music21 with my friends and thanks to Ate Aimee for the treat! :D

**Stickers! Stickers! Spending time at Starbucks @ Bonifacio Global City

**Late lunch @ Max's.

**Duchess. #friends

**Because when we're together we don't really give a crap about calories @ Shakey's. 

**Woop. Woop. Eat Halo-Halo @ Razon's! 12.12.12

**It's all about the LIPS!! Soooo vain with my friend Rai. :D

**REVIEW DAYS!! Final Coaching. :D Block 3 - December 2012

**Last day!! Had mass at San Sebastian Church. Fly balloons for passing the boards. 

HOOOOHA C'MON!! :))

**After the 7 church visits for Divine Intervention. Rest and drink chilled Taho @ Mamang Taho.

**Coz' were experts in fooling around. :P

**Going back to my dear Alma Mater. Visit our beautiful and loved sis. Ana & dear professors. :)

There you have it. I realized that I miss blogging sooo much. Oh well! will compensate should I have the time. Just wait...I have tons of thoughts in my mind!! Hehe :)) Have a great day everyone and I'm missing all of you!! ^^,

Kick-ass Thursday!!

I met up with a few friends last Thursday, with my beloved officemates from Citibank, where I previously work. The usual---chill, eat, drink, catch-up, blah, blah. We meet at Eastwood, Eat dinner at Bigoli and had a little drinking session at Graffiti. As we were talking, I found myself smiling stupidly and looking somewhere unseeable. As much as I wanted to listen to the ramblings of my friends about life, my mind just flew to unreachable heights and made me remember a few situations of my ever-so-happy (er--) social life. Anyway...

I had a great time that evening because I had the chance to go out and spend some time to bond and chat with my Citibankers friends. At last, it's been push through! It really feels great to unwind and have some bonding together with your friends as you share some laughter, experiences, advices and all the girl talk and other stuffs. Love it!! :) This evening was a reminder that as hard as we all work, we must make time for friends, for shared food and drink, for gatherings, conversation and laughter, because over all, the entire journey is just too short, so enjoy life!! :))

Clockwise: Cris, Ivern, Mark, Ate Vicky, Me, Dane and Paula

I'm not really one for labels. I loved and appreciate all my friends. They're kind of crazy as well. :) It's when friends, food and drinks come together equals to one helluva fun night! ;) Me, I am lucky enough to have met  these crazy, wild, happy-go-lucky-very supportive friends. We may not see each other often but deep in our hearts the friendship and love we have for each other will always be there. 

I really enjoyed bonding with you all!! See you again soooon!! :)) All in all, I can say that the time of my off days are well spent. Thanks guuuuyyyss!! :D It was sooo fun! We laughed a lot and misses you all!! :))