BASILICO BISTRO (Finest@33)

In my college years, one professor asked about rich people. I can’t remember the exact incident but one classmate said that I’m. The professor asked if it’s me or my father, they don’t know. But the answer isn’t me or my father, it’s my grandma.

After a decade of working here and abroad, can I now say I’m rich? No, not financially. But I’m very rich when it comes to lessons in life. Do the lessons of life make me rich? Now the answer is relative.

Today is my Manay Rose’s last day. Last year she and her daughter still celebrated the birthday with me. I never knew and who knew that it would be the last time I’m going to her again. But have I spent my life worth with such a very good friend and sister-like to me? My answer is still no.

I remember in my 3rd grade when they, with her mom and brother transferred to our house. I was asked until when they will stay with us I said they will be until we get old. She went to the same school where I go. She excelled in sports. I can’t remember any instance that we fought over anything. She’s always my spoiler. I had my tooth extracted then and I told her that I don’t want to say anything; she reads what I wanted to say to anyone. She listens to my stories; she knows my very first crush. She never questions; she never asks; she just follows as if it’s her role in life to just follow.

I left for abroad but I never knew what happened to her. I went home and she was no longer there. She may have done not so good things to my family and to my grandma, but my heart was so forgiving that she shouldn’t suffer and that we give all the understanding and forgiveness we can give her. She never came back for such a long time. I thought that was the best thing for all until I see her came back last year with her daughter and I never saw her again, never will in this lifetime. I miss my Manay Rose.

People come and go and I know I only have very few closest to my heart, she’s one of those that makes me cry when they go.

Maybe I’ll see her in her little daughter who will also be with me when I grew old. Maybe she will also read what I want to say if it’s already hard for me to speak. Maybe she will also be someone that I dreamt my Manay Rose would have been.

I thought of this article and this title many years ago. I want it to speak my idea about achieving goals. And what have I achieved so far….

Last time I wrote about losing gracefully but this time I passed but never felt so frustrated. Maybe God made me feel the loss then that I am a lot stronger when failure after success happens.

I celebrated my birthday days ago with a goal in mind that I will be finest this year. Days before I went home for my birthday, I signed my written warning for over-breaks.

But that didn’t stop me from having a happy birthday. I received so many birthday greetings days before and days after and weeks after. I am so thankful and grateful especially to the one who traveled across the globe and greeted me after. That’s sweet.

I did not receive any physical gifts. I had many virtual gifts. But as part of my goals, I gave as many gifts I can afford to those who make my life living with a purpose.

Those gifts I don’t expect anything in return.

There’s one gift though which I is strangest of them all. I didn’t wrap it. How could I wrap what I know? It never was my intention but the wish I’m granting is making my wish come true as well... That seals my birthday, my finest birthday so far.

We meet a lot. We let go some but some are things I don’t want to wait forever so tonight I’m taking my chances and will roll it with my choice.

I believe in the power of prayers. I know there’s something that can make things come true. It may take the alignment of planets and constellations. It’s when you want something then you pray for it. You can get it. It’s true.

Days ago, the amount left in my pocket would not suffice ‘til next payday. So I prayed, I heard a voice telling me to give all to church. But I did not do so because there’s no assurance that I can have something in place of it only to find that that night, I will be getting my refund.

But when you have nothing, you expect nothing.

Have you ever felt you’re not worth what you deserve?

No reservations.

You can’t regret what you didn’t work hard to achieve.

Some of my wishes are too easy to reach like my search for Som’s Noodle House but some of my wishes will be granted in another lifetime for some reason...
Now I only have one parameter, help me build my Basilico Bistro and I’m yours forever. That’s my idea of true love.

I will end this with what Bro said to Santino: Habang patuloy mong inaalala ang isang yumao, habang buhay sa puso mo ang pagmamahal sa kanya, hindi sya totoong namamatay dahil mananatili syang buhay sa iyong puso.

CANDID (When Honesty Becomes Brutally Frank)

What if you only have two months left to be with someone you love all your life? You have two options, one is to spend all the time together and make the most of it or leave like you never met.

As I believe in the saying, I won’t be a fool wondering what might have been. I’d be out, express all of my love because I may be losing someone but at least I have shown my love the best way I can. It’s hurtful this way but I’ll be prepared and I’ll be thinking forward.

They say that meeting someone is for you to learn something from that someone. True indeed, as I look back on the previous ideas I’ve written, there was this story about the reindeer potion in which I promised. That same person I meet again.

Two months is what I’m giving myself then let go. Two months then I’ll quit, I’ll stop waiting and move on.

My psychologist friend, Lij said that I’m hypochondriac when I said that I feel I’m wounded all over my body if I have one in my finger. I feel wrecked when I miss something.

I had this chat with a high school friend Kates who even requested permission if she can ask a very personal question. I was hesitant to let her but I said, shoot. Not that I’m afraid of some questions but I’m just uncomfortable because we hadn’t had a talk for quite a time now. It’s been about ten years since we send snail mails to each other. But her question was very simple, do I love myself?

I said no. She said that if I can honestly say yes, I’m on the go.

Have I not loved myself enough? I haven’t.

Kates, who is now happily married in Africa, shared a wonderful story about life. In her lowest time, all she can do is go out and appreciate the sky and the flowers. I ask why she said it means everything has a purpose and reason.

So it thought of my purpose. All I can remember is my mother telling me what it is that I do for our family. That sense of purpose I forget whenever I stay long enough away from them.

I also had a conversation with another friend Robi whom I met years back. He’s also living alone but was successful in putting up his own events business. He gave me an award for Top Quality on Entrepreneurship. Our conversation revolved around living alone, surviving alone and what matters most, family.

I remember watching Wowowee, a foreigner husband of a contestant said: Every day I wake up; you make me become a better person. He was differently-abled. To which the Filipina wife just replied: Ik hou van ghou. My heart cried because that was the same language of love for me years ago. I texted my very good friend, Marly about it. She replied that I should find someone to tell me love in another language. I said I want the same old feeling, she didn’t answer. One thing I know she wants me moving on.

I believe I need a new language of love because I had been reserving my love since the reindeer potion promise but I never felt the importance of that love anymore.

Maybe one day you woke up and realized that you’re out of love, maybe I was just too candid or maybe I was just not worth loving.

Robi was telling me his realizations in life as we talk. I ask why he shies away from commitment, had he not been in love before? He said he does but just come to a point when he was sick and there was no one to depend on except his self and his family. Robi though very outgoing never seems to fail his religious devotion. He prays for his success, he prays to be happy. He is now. And he thanks me for a heartfelt laugh about my stories every time we meet. I’m really a funny and clown person for true friends.

When I further ask on his short-lived commitment, he said he may have had someone for display but inside he isn’t happy that he’s slowly getting away from what he has been working hard for which is his career and his mother.

So it’s really a choice. Some may choose to leave someone to better themselves. But here I am who thinks otherwise.

I’m sick because I think I can’t be successful on something if I’m missing a part needed to be successful as if I still have a cut in my finger. Here I am who can give up things for someone I truly love but I’m living alone. After watching Hannah Montana 2, I found the reason why it’s a climb. A state of heart is a climb.

When can honesty become brutally frank, when it hurts the person listening to your candidness?

I know I missed my reindeer potion chance for one true love. So if true love comes only once in a lifetime, it will never come in this life. But as Kates said, I should love myself even more. Marly said love in another language. Lij said I can’t be sick. Robi said what matters most. And I say I can be whole.

As they say, learning to love your self is the greatest love of all. Now I know why I was asked to sing that song over and over when I was a kid…. See, even simple things happen for a reason.

Did you know?

Did you know?

♦It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach.

♦One human hair can support 3 kg (6.6 lb).

♦The average man's penis is three times the length of his thumb.

♦Human thighbones are stronger than concrete.

♦A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.

♦There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet.

♦Women blink twice as often as men.

♦The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain.

♦Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still.

♦If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it.

♦Women reading this will be finished now.

♦Men are still busy checking their thumbs.

INSTALLING A HUSBAND

INSTALLING A HUSBAND

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed a distinct slow down in overall system performance, particularly in the flower and jewelry applications, which operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0 .

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalled many other valuable programs, such as

* Romance 9..5 and
* Personal Attention 6.5,

and then installed undesirable programs , such as

* NBA 5.0,
* NFL 3.0 and
* MLB 4.1

Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and Housecleaning 2. 6 simply crashes the system.

* Please note that I have tried running Nagging 5.3 to fix these problems, but to no avail.

What can I do?

Signed,
Desperate.


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DEAR DESPERATE ,

First, keep in mind,


* Boyfriend 5.0 is an Entertainment Package, while
* Husband 1.0 is an operating system.

Please enter command: ithoughtyoulovedme. html and try to download Tears 6.2 and do not forget to install the Guilt 3.0update.
* If that application works as designed, Husband1..0 should then automatically run the applications Jewelry 2.0 and Flowers 3.5.

However, remember, overuse of the above application can causeHusband 1.0 to default to Grumpy Silence 2.5 , Happy Hour 7.0 orBeer 6.1 .
* Please note that Beer 6.1 is a very bad program that will download the Farting and Snoring Loudly Beta.

Whatever you do, D0 NOT under any circumstances install Mother-In-Law 1.0 (it runs a virus in the background that will eventually seize control of all your system resources.)

In addition, please do not attempt to re - install the Boyfriend 5.0program. These are unsupported applications and will crashHusband 1.0 .

In summary, Husband 1.0 is a great program, but it does have limited memory and cannot learn new applications quickly. You might consider buying additional software to improve memory and performance. We recommend
* Cooking 3.0 and
* Hot Lingerie 7.7.

Married Humour

Wife: "What are you doing?"

Husband: Nothing.

Wife: "Nothing...? You've been reading our marriage certificate for an hour."

Husband: "I was looking for the expiration date."

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Wife: "Do you want dinner?"

Husband: "Sure! What are my choices?"

Wife: "Yes and no."

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Wife: "You always carry my photo in your wallet. Why?"

Hubby: "When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and the problem disappears."

Wife: "You see how miraculous and powerful I am for you?"

Hubby: "Yes! I see your picture and ask myself what other problem can there be greater than this one?"

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Stress Reliever Girl: "When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten your burden."

Boy: "It's very kind of you, darling, but I don't have any worries or troubles."

Girl: "Well that's because we aren't married yet."

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Son: "Mom, when I was on the bus with Dad this morning, he told me to give up my seat to a lady."

Mom: "Well, you have done the right thing."

Son: "But mom, I was sitting on daddy's lap."

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A newly married man asked his wife,

"Would you have married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?"

"Honey," the woman replied sweetly, "I'd have married you, NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE!"

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Father to son after exam: "Let me see your report card."

Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his parents."

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Girl to her boyfriend: One kiss and I'll be yours forever.

The guy replies: "Thanks for the early warning."

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A wife asked her husband: "What do you like most in me, my pretty face or my sexy body?"

He looked at her from head to toe and replied: "I like your sense of humor"

--------------------

SERENITY

Just before the funeral services, the undertaker came up to the very elderly widow and asked, 'How old was your husband?'

'98,' she replied, 'Two years older than me'

'So you're 96,' the undertaker commented.

She responded , 'Hardly worth going home, is it?

*******

Reporter interviewing a 104-year-old woman: 'And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?' the reporter asked.

She simply replied, 'No peer pressure.'

*******

The nice thing about being senile is You can hide your own Easter eggs. I've sure gotten old!

I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, New knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes I'm half blind, Can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, Take 40 different medications that Make me dizzy, winded, and subject to blackouts.

Have bouts with dementia .... Have poor circulation; Hardly feel my hands and feet anymore.

Can't remember if I'm 89 or 98..

Have lost all my friends.

But, thank God, I still have my driver's license.

I feel like my body has gotten totally out of shape, So I got my doctor's permission to Join a fitness club and start exercising.

I decided to take an aerobics class for seniors. I bent, twisted, gyrated, jumped up and down, and perspired for an hour. But, By the time I got my leotards on, The class was over.

My memory's not as sharp as it used to be. Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

Know how to prevent sagging? Just eat till the wrinkles fill out.

It's scary when you start making the same noises As your coffee maker.

These days about half the stuff In my shopping cart says,' For fast relief.'

�THE SENILITY PRAYER :
Grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, The good fortune to run into the ones I do, and The eyesight to tell the difference.

This will give you the chills

This will give you the chills........ GOOD chills.

A young man had been to Wednesday Night Bible Study.

The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.

Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street , he again felt the urge, "Turn Down thatstreet."

This is crazy he thought, and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street

At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.

Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will."

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi- commercial area of town. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up,they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?"

Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?"

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.

Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen.. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.

I love this Doctor

I love this Doctor

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up! -- I really love this doctor!!!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape! Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'

AND.....For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wineand suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

MY IDEA ABOUT SAYING SORRY

“Sorry Tito, di ko na po uli gagawin.” (Sorry Uncle, I won’t do it again.) This is what my niece told me after I had my silent protest for what she did. She was crying when she said sorry, I hugged her and cried also. I told her that I want her to grow up as a good person with respect to anyone, whatever they are and whatever they may choose to be.

It all started with her repeating things that I say and do. She and her 5-year old brother never stopped ‘til I don’t respond anymore. I don’t know how to scold them. I’m not the type who will physically punish them or shout at them because I’m still used to treating them like small babies in my arms. I kept my silence and she noticed it. I just didn’t realize that they’re not that young anymore.

I am so proud of her sensibility that later that day when I saw on tv a girl being mocked for having no hands, I asked if she does the same thing to other pupils, she said no. She even explained that someone in their school is physically disabled but she never laughed at her.

She may not know what exactly she is sorry for but I’m just so happy that she knows how to say sorry.

I went back to Manila so full of enthusiasm that my family is my life and that I’m working for them. That family includes my niece and nephews, my siblings and my parents. I may be wherever I want to be but my family is one strong foundation I can always go back to.

I just learned that saying sorry may not just be saying sorry because it’s your fault. Saying sorry may also be saying sorry although you are right but caused inconvenience to other people. I hope other people will realize that too.

My Idea About Emotional Infidelity

It’s been a while since I express my idea through writing. I was so busy with Facebook, expressing my idea in the form of “status.” I was trying to consolidate my ideas but I always end up thinking other things which I can’t write about and I can’t say what it is about this time.

A friend invited me to his wedding. A few days after, I was luckily chosen for an invitational premiere night screening of Little Boy Big Boy. Thanks, Vegan Prince. Thanks also to a friend who lent me the barong. Thanks to another friend who went to the theatre a lot earlier and waited for me. I have so many friends to thank for.

August 30, I applied for vacation leave to attend the wedding and the premiere screening of the indie film. I was planning to attend just the wedding ceremony in church and proceed to the cinema where my other friend is waiting. But it’s hard to leave a celebration to watch a movie. And I truly apologize to Manager Mark for the inconvenience I caused him. He had to get out of the party so I can get my things in his car. I deeply apologize. I was in a formal attire running for a cab and had to change my clothes in a cab. It was worth the experience. I hope I did not cause much trouble for my different sets of friends.

I arrived at the cinema while the celebrities are still signing autographs, being interviewed and posing for pictures. And there was my friend who had been waiting for hours but I hope it will be worth her wait.

So we entered the cinema and seated near the stars. The movie wasn’t boring at all. I enjoyed the pure-hearted lines of Little Boy and clear message on the emotional infidelity of Big Boy. I was just hoping that Little Boy was a little littler and I was hoping too that Little Boy’s mom will never be left again by her boyfriend. True to what the caption is, there’s happiness in every boy within. Everyone as well deserves happiness.

Watching the movie made me realize that I was right even before watching the film. I may not be good in a relationship but I can say that I’m deeply rooted in what the truth is. It makes me feel that I’m not that bad after all.

Actually it’s difficult to discuss infidelity especially that I just attended a happy wedding ceremony. The priest was giving advice on what is a way to a woman’s heart is and what’s a way to a man’s heart. And if I may add, based on what I have recently learned, avoiding emotional infidelity paves the way to both hearts.

But my heart is jaded now. Heart said so.

I missed being in a relationship. I missed the feeling when someone cares.

On my way to home, I decided to drop by the restaurant where the owner of wallet which I found on my way to work few days ago. After my stomach was full of vegetable and bottomless iced tea, I looked for the man. He and his wife were so thankful that I returned the wallet. He said that he doesn’t even know that his wallet was lost until I texted him. He wants to give me something in return but I refused. I went out of the restaurant but he followed, he begs me to accept it and that he’ll be humiliated if I don’t accept it. So I did. On my way home, I received a text message from him then another text message from his wife. I told them that I found another friend in them.

I remember a friend who told me that I lost my jacket on my way to work because I don’t care about my jacket anymore. It may be true in a way because I was undecided if I’m going to pick it up on a highway street where it was dropped. Until I don’t see it anymore after few days.

We forget and lose any material things that we own because we don’t care for them anymore because if we do, it remains in heart and mind. And we never forget them even in a single moment of our lives.

Maybe then emotional infidelity is forgetting to care, forgetting to respect someone or anything for that matter because if you do, it slowly builds up a feeling that next thing to do is letting go. It is simply because at the back of your mind, you’re getting used to it and you’re emotionally prepared for whatever.

I went home too tired and alone again. I’m just fine for some good things and new lessons learned on that day but then again I should be glad.