a Mother's Day letter to MOM

Dear MA,

I  called one-and-only brother a few hours ago to catch up on  the latest news on your side of the world.  I assumed he was busy after having noticed the ongoing sounds I heard from his end.  In a nutshell, he said that you and everyone else(?) were in his place.  

An advanced Mother's Day celebration was what I thought :) 

Remember this photo Ma?  I posted this in Facebook and shared a little bit of story in this blog.

My first un-planned encounter with the image of Virgin Mary found in Maryridge, Tagaytay end of March.  A spur of the moment suggestion which J. Bond and I happily said yes to.   My reason for being there was only to replenish my stocks of sugar free strawberry jam and lemongrass soaps.  Later on, I realized that there was a real purpose for being there. 

I was grieving the day before ..... affected by the resignation of my favorite yet most notorious, most brutally frank and most spoiled pharmacy staff.  She did cry during the talk.  I, on the other hand, controlled the emotions. It was only after our talk I allowed the tears to flow.  And for a moment, I too wanted to give up and resign as being the owner of Generika. 

It was this quick trip to Maryridge that made me later on realize that  I am meant to be exactly where I am.  You knew how long I prayed for a new life .... how scared I was to submit that one-pager intention ... and most especially face the possibility of being denied.  The only thing you said .... "If it's meant for you, it will be given to you."

We both know what happened next.  I was given a thumbs up.  A year and a half after, I am exactly where I dreamt of being for twelve long years. 

I know tears and frustrations will still happen.   The thought of giving up and resigning because of one mishap, on the other hand,  I admit was silly. 

You knew. This new life was meant for me ... and it came at the right time.

My 2nd un-planned encounter with the image of Virgin Mary at Dona Jovita Garden Resort on April 30, 2010. 

I do love the mountains like you. But a 5-minute trek under the scorching summer heat  (close to 12 noon) ain't the right thing to do.  Have you noticed in my photos posted in Facebook that I wore a hawaiian-inspired dress while J. Bond and B=RAVE dude friend were in their bare-skinned top and board shorts?  And by the way, we matched our outfits with flipflops.  A new cool way to go trekking.

For some reason, I did not notice the heat.  All I thought while going up and going down was the fall I recently got myself into.  J. Bond is fully healed.  While I, as you very well know, heal slow.  I'm getting there.  I know I will.  I no longer mind the marks, Ma.   I have finally accepted the fact that all the marks are part of the plan.  Each mark has its own story to tell.  The longest mark is all about beading.  The most recent is about marriage.  The rest are mostly a hodge podge of the past-- work, cooking, household chores and simply carelessness. 

Others have noticed and have given me unsolicited words.  I let them.  They don't know  the real story anyway.  So let it be .... and live what was planned with acceptance, grace and happiness.

My 3rd un-planned encounter with the image of Our Lady of Fatima in Marikina on May 2, 2010. 

I was in Marikina to help plan for an 18th birthday celebration.  We roamed around the place after the planning, closely observing life months after the wrath of Typhoon Ondoy.  Seems like life is back to normal.  No trace of last year's disaster.  One thing I noticed though,  Marikina is the cleanest city in Manila.  Not a single trash in their thoroughfares.

Bumped into Our Lady of Fatima while J. Bond and I visited a cousin's property.  I was in awe when the image made its presence felt.  I then wondered the reason  why these three images have crossed my path  in a span of one month.  Never did this happen.  I took this 3rd image as a sign to get going with my Mother's Day beaded necklace.

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was what I only brought home from my first trip to Quiapo January of this year.  I practically rummaged all stores along Villalobos Street.  Nothing interested me .... except for this.

I bought 2 packs, with 6 pieces per pack.  It was you in my mind, Ma.  I knew I had to make a beaded necklace that is all about you on Mother's Day ....

Treat this as my way of giving you my deepest gratitude.  Thank you Ma .... For the love, support and understanding ... For seeing, knowing and giving me the freedom to live my life and spread my wings.  On your day Ma, always remember that I (and the rest of the gang) are here for you.  My only wish for you is that you find peace and happiness soon ... Exactly the same way I see you in this  photo with Dad ....

I love you.  Happy Mother's Day!  ...........................   Love, TRIX

  

The BEST JOB in the World

Even one day getaways are difficult to shake off from the bloodstream. In other words, APRIL 30's fun escape still looms and beckons.  Why can't every day be a FUN-VACATION day???  More so be paid just for having fun.

Speaking of having fun, I ALMOST -- really! --  applied for THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD when National Geographic posted their announcement early 2009.  Unfortunately, I somehow misplaced my guts that time.  So the credit went to him ....

Photo courtesy of http://natgeotv.com/asia/the-best-job-in-the-world

COOL!!!  Hopefully I find my guts the next time around(?).  The show starts on May 18 over Nat Geo TV.  Click on this link to know more. 

Like what I said, my thoughts have been stuck in this place for 3 days now ....

Nothing else to do but push myself back to reality.  H-A-R-D!!!  I know ... not all days can be a vacation day. 

But thoughts can still wander, right???

store closed on APRIL 30

We all need a BREAK! 

Agree???

I was prepared the night before for an early start.  4am.

So that's what I did .....  and that's what WE all did.  Packed our day-trip bags and took a sanity break from the daily pharmacy grind.

Click on the photo to enlarge

The plan for this break began a month ago.  Swimming was all we had in mind given the scorching heat we have been going through for the past months.  So a few days before Easter arrived, J. Bond and I explored the stretch of National Highway, Calamba, Laguna for possible Hot Springs Resorts. We chose Dona Jovita Garden Resort. 

Reason for such choice addresses two requests:

First--the request of the team to go swimming.  Dona Jovita Garden Resort boasts of nine themed pools.
 

Second--my personal preference for mountains.  The resort is an hour drive away from Manila and is situated right at the serene foothills of MOUNT MAKILING.

With two check marks on my request list, I was sold on this resort.  This had to be the one that J. Bond must say yes to.

Breath-taking nature sights, lush gardens, and enjoyable amenities await those who visit Dona Jovita. But on top of these luring enticements, I pushed for this choice because of what I have actually read in their brochure ....

Scanning Dona Jovita's landscape brings one face to face with humongous clay jars.  One juts out of the poolside, one stands out as a landmark along the highway.  Some others pour directly into the occasional Jacuzzi.  Wherever they are, they are not just there for beauty ....

To resort owners, Ted and Rose Javier, the jars are a symbol of life. In the old days, jars were essential to daily living.  They were used to store food, water, wine and other such resources that human life depended on.  LIFE, closely intertwined with NATURE - that's what Ted and Rose wish for all their guests.

Well said.  I was captivated.

Everyone else ATE ......

..... SWAM, LAUGHED and PLAYED.

My Little Pony

I ceased my urge to hop on this sweet-smelling pony and gallop towards home.  I was faced with a problem-o ... Pony's Height!

Are you a he? Or a she?

The probability of reaching even a mile seemed impossible. Let's say that he stood as high as my leg, which  made me then presume the length of his four legs -- a short stretch from the sole to my knee??? Maybe shorter???

Unlike the horses I came across, this one is the BEST.  Sweet-smelling and friendly most especially with "uneasy-fidgety animal folks" like me. I think he adored the light pat I gave on his sun-bleached head.  There was no budge nor any slight movement.  He just stood still with eyes closed. 

Rare animal bonding moments like this must  be captured and documented.  Husband took three snaps of ME, MY BEADED CLOTH NECKLACE and  PONY ...

Close

Closer

Closest :)

See you again PONY on April 30 :)  Promise.

p.s. Did you notice?  Yes, there was an obnoxious-looking ostrich too. Click on the title (My Little Pony) to know where Me and my bead were.