My Treasure Basket

Pillow Fight

While I was searching some information in the web, I come across an interesting video of people, professionals fighting using pillows. Pillow fight is not just a simple game for little kids that usually happens during sleepovers but has now become a social phenomenon that is happening not only in New York City but in some other places as well such as Amsterdam, Budapest, and Cologne.

In my own idea, pillow fight is one way of releasing stress from work by getting that opportunity of becoming and acting like kids once more wherein everyone does not have to be ashamed of their behavior but that everyone is able to participate what they have enjoyed while they were kids and at the same time setting aside problems or worries at work.

Bleach

Bleach is a Japanese shonen manga series by Tite Kubo. It is a story about the life of Ichigo Kurosaki after he accidentally absorbed another soul repear’s power and took the responsibility of guarding human kind againsts evil spirits in the world and sending lost souls to afterlife in Soul Society.

Even if it is action-packed, it talks about caring for your family and friends and making them the source of strength. It is about protecting those we love and never giving up on them. It is about continuous learning of not only rules and best practices but about conquering fear (temptations) and overcoming the odds to change one’s self and improve for the better. It is about realizing that we are not alone and that we should share to the ones we love our burdens just as we do with sharing our achievements and happiness.

Pink Roses

When me and my husband were in college, he never bought me flowers. And even when we already have jobs and money to afford it, still I did not get any. Honestly, I always pray that he would but he didn’t. Although he never missed to greet me during our  ”month-saries” and anniversaries, he also never failed to break my heart everytime he visits me without the roses I so long for. I am not saying he was not romantic that time. I think may be he was just not used to doing it.

Now, I can see and feel that my husband has become sweeter each day. He has learned to make me more happy. I think may be because he has gone to the next level. When I say that, I meant, I think he has now understood that I am really a woman who needs to be loved and be sometimes flattered by small symbols of love. Today, I got flowers from him. Pink roses which for me signifies how soft and fragile a woman’s heart is.

Thank you Langga and Happy 8th Anniversary!

Ondoy hit Philippines

Ondoy just hit Philippines. The most affected area is Manila, the capital of Philippines. Houses and even hospitals were flooded. The water rose as high as a second-story house. People already went to the roofs of their houses to be rescued. Those who were unfortunate, I should say, were washed out by the heavy flood and some lost the members of their families while trying to struggle against the raging mud and water. It is a very sad story indeed that most of us were able to witness from news and video streams that were made available by those who were able to record the happening. A lot of families were left without clothes, without houses, rich and poor. I know for sure that there are many who have been looking up to now for their relatives and the time they spent looking for their families thinking of the possibility that some of them are dead is most unbearable.

Right now, everyone, the government, media, companies, are trying to help the victims. Our company had made its efforts of collecting clothes, things that can be used, and food. Employees of our company also pledged a certain amount to support those who were extending relief assistance. I have seen that no matter how different the views and opinions of the people are, at times like this you will really feel hope because everyone helps each other.

Aside from the small steps I made to help, I am also saying a prayer that those who lost their loved ones will be able to heal the pain in their hearts and that they still have hopes in their hearts to continue on living.

Happy “I Love You” Anniversary!

Today is a very important day! I accept it! I forgot about it. It was not really because I just forgot about it but because an amazing grace happened to me just this past few days and because of that overwhelming joy, I forgot about this very important date! I just remembered it when he blurted out “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!” just before I rode the taxicab going to work this early morning at 2:50AM. I was shocked! How could I not remember it! I greeted him back. I felt guilty! When I was at work my mind was full of things I want to do. Actually, I do not know what to do! May be because I was too late for it! (sigh…)

I still remember the first “I LOVE YOU.” He brought me to the THEOTOKOS SHRINE in Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. It is a Holy place specially constructed for the devotees of Mother Mary.  I cooked the food for both of us. We said our prayers there. We also prayed the Holy Rosary for the intercession of Mother Mary in our lives. That was where we said our first ” I Love You!” It was a formal declaration of  our love and commitment to each other.

Ever since, we always celebrate this day in many ways, grand or simple. And now! I just forgot about it! This is so hard… Whew!!! I was thinking I will just tell him “I am sorry…” But that is just too easy! I don’t know but I am sure I won’t be pleased and I know I won’t talk to him for a long time if it were him who forgot about it. But I have to face the consequences! I am waiting for him right now. I do not want to sleep. I want to wait for him till he gets home. I just hope it will just be fine… I do not have a gift for him. I feel so lazy to think of surprising ideas because I know it is no longer applicable. Can’t think of anything else… but a tender… loving KISS and a warm… tight HUG!

Good luck to me!!!

When you can’t get your woman to date you…

Previously on My Treasure Basket’s – My Husband’s First Gift, I actually talked about how to date a woman you can’t get to date with you.

First of all, let me clear things out for you.

1) A woman who does not go on a date with you might mean she does not like you in anyway. Therefore, it would be too hard for you if you push yourself to her unless there is something very special about you that you are confident you can use to get her attention.

2) The woman already has a boyfriend and does not have any thoughts of leaving him.

3) A woman who does not go on a date with you might be a little shy.

4) It might be her first time.

The last 2 reasons are easier to handle compared to the first 2. If you force it, you might end up getting yourself into hot water. So let us better find girls, ladies and women who are simply single – not in a relationship yet. And if you can’t get her to date with you then the following might apply:

a) Get to know her friends – the best source of reliable information are the friends around her. They know what she likes, what she wants and most of all what she hates about. So better get all these things and try to reflect if you can afford what she wants and whether you are not what she hates.

b) Once you have her friends attention, invite them along with her – of course, at this point you have done your part in making friends with her, introducing a little about yourself. When she shares back, you have a chance of getting into her heart. But if she just gives you 2-word answers, then change your style. Talk about what interests her more. So going back, once you have done your part of getting to know her, invite her friends including her, of course, to a party or a small gathering in your town. This way you will be able to interact with her which will actually help you make a connection.

c) Bring her to a place that she loves – my husband took me to their church which is actually the venue where we got married! I was able to share to him during our getting to know each other moments that I love visiting our church in the province and saying a little prayer everytime I visit. Wait! It does not have to be like this. I am just sharing my story just to give you an example. What I am trying to say is, you should have already figured out what she loves so that you will be able to use it to get her attention and make her interested about you.

d) Leave a mark – make sure that you give her a token after your date. Something that would make her remember you, something about you.

e) Make a follow up – call her if she got home safe. You really do not have to send her home but you can offer. She will be more pleased if you do. Make sure you keep in touch with her everyday.

I am sharing these dating tips based on my experience although I am not sure if this was how my husband planned our first informal date. We had other adventure that day. After dinner, he took me to a ride in a ferris wheel. I remembered I shared to him about my fear of heights however that I also dreamed of experiencing how it feels to ride a ferris wheel but that I was afraid because something might happen and I just couldn’t bear heights! It was one of the most exciting and at the same time scariest first times in my life. By the moment he took my hand and told me “Trust me, it will be fun!” I trusted him, I felt nervous but I was calm. I took his hand and there I was! I was shouting at the top of my lungs! I was really having fun that time!  It left me a remembrance I hold dear in my heart. I always will treasure that experience. My husband always challenges me and help me through my fears. Ever since that day, I started going on a date with him alone. That was how my husband got me to date with him!

Angels in disguise

We are angels in disguise. In our journey through life we meet people that in some way influenced our decisions in our lives. We also get acquainted with people whose lives we touch. Kim is one of the agents in our company who became my teammate after their team leader transferred to a different line of business. She originally came from a sales account in another call center company. She is one of those agents who have strong personality. She is upfront, keen to details because she is analytical and most of all a very honest person. She has the quality of a leader however when she started with us she didn’t have the experience. So she practiced and was able to attain and develop team leader competencies that she needed in order to move up in the industry.

Opportunity came that required very good sales capability and because she is more proficient in sales than in computer technical skill, she showed her intention to apply. She was able to pass all exams and interviews. She successfully made it!

Before she left us, she gave her friends token of appreciation. One of those people is me. She gave me this Blue Magic Key Holder Bear that is wearing a red dotted dress and candle placed in a transparent box with red ribbon. I was so happy when I got this present because I did not expect that she would give us something for us to remember her. What touched me the most is the message she wrote that she read to me when she gave it to me. The message:

This gift should remind you of two things:
you are the candle and I’m the cute bear in red dress!
The candle may be tiny but the light you bring to us guides us to the right path and its scent symbolizes your inspiration to those you continue to mold.
So whenever you look at the bear, she tells you one thing…
“I STAND TALL BECAUSE OF YOU!”
Thanks for everything, MY MENTOR!

I was in tears and I always feel happy and touched every time I read this message. All those time, I was thinking I was influencing her. However, after all it was really me who was touched by her trust, honesty and friendship. She is an angel in disguise who will always remind and inspire me to always help other people. She will always be one of those that I will place in my heart.

Buy me a rose…

“Buy me a rose” is a title of a song by Kenny Rogers. It talks about the life of a husband and a wife. It tells us about a typical husband trying to please his wife with what he thought she wants. It also narrates a story of a typical wife who does not say what she really needed in life with her husband and keeps it in her heart until it hurts. If you read the message and if you pay attention on the lyrics more than the music that accompanies it, you will really learn a lot from it. One of the most important thing that I learned from the song is that there should always be open and direct communication of feelings, emotions, desires, plans, needs of couples to each other. The following are the things that should be understood when I say open communication:

1) Open communication should never be mistaken as an argument – The one who wants to voice out something in a relationship should never be afraid to try and say his or her thoughts. Communication is a healthy thing. It is not a problem but is one of the ways of resolving hidden grudges or misinterpretations.

2) When one speaks out his or her mind it should be done in a proper way – When you want to tell your partner what you think is needed then approach in a nice way. I learned that shouting truly gets your partners attention however, it channels a different message. The partner will not understand why you have to shout or throw things.

3) The other should stop whatever he or she is doing and should give attention or should listen – Communication is a 2 way process. Therefore, 2 people should give each other undivided attention. Listen eagerly and sincerely. This means that one should talk and the other should listen at the same time.

4) The one sharing should also be open to the response of the other – Men should never agree to women just because they want women to stop talking. If they do not like the idea of the other, they should be “MAN” enough to explain their side. Most men walk out or sleep. Women, should also listen to explanations and must try not to act immaturely like cover their ears when the other is starting to make a point.

5) Meet halfway or totally agree with the idea of the other whichever should work – once a decision is made never betray it by doing the opposite.

This is my definition of what married couples’ communication means. These are my own learnings of my own married life experience.

So I would like to share to you this beautiful song “Buy me a Rose” by Kenny Rogers!

He works hard to give her all he thinks she wants
A three car garage, her own credit cards
He pulls in late to wake her up with a kiss good night
If he could only read her mind, shed say:

Buy me a rose, call me from work
Open a door for me, what would it hurt
Show me you love me by the look in your eyes
These are the little things I need the most in my life

Now the days have grown to years of feeling all alone
And she cant help but wonder what shes doing wrong
Cause lately shed try anything to turn his head
Would it make a difference if she said:

Buy me a rose, call me from work
Open a door for me, what would it hurt
Show me you love me by the look in your eyes
These are the little things I need the most in my life

And the more that he lives the less that he tries
To show her the love that he hold inside
And the more that she gives the more that he sees
This is a story of you and me

So I bought you a rose on the way home from work
Opened the door to a heart that I hurt
And I hope you notice this look in my eyes
Cause Im gonna make things right
Im gonna hold you tonight
Do all those little things
For the rest of your life.

A gift…

Everyone of us receives gifts every day. We sometimes do not know because we either did not expect it, we ignore it, we did not know that it is a gift, or we want something else. Truth is, we receive numerous gifts everyday. The air we breathe, the food we eat and the clothes we wear are some of the gifts that we receive everyday that we just sometimes ignore because we usually have it. However, there are more gifts that we receive that are really not obvious but have most of the times helped us through our life’s journey. One of these are the good decisions we make that help us avoid mistakes with a possible negative consequence in the future. We also receive gifts that we like and sometimes we don’t.

Today, I would like to share to you a gift that I not only like but treasure as long as I live. I would like to share to you a story about a gift from my brother…

Since our mother left to the US, we have to take care of ourselves. However, since I have my husband to watch over me, then that is not a problem. My sister has her own family now with a 3-month old baby to  look after. My brother although he is living with my sister has to take care of himself. He just graduated as a nursing student and is now taking review classes in preparation for the board exam. We seldom see each other because I already moved in with my husband to a different apartment. I never expected gifts from my brother , though I always know him as a thoughtful son and a loving brother. One of the most touching gifts that he has given me these past few months since I got married is his presence. Because I was so busy at work and most of the times went overtime and arrived home late, I could not drop by their apartment. On weekends, I would spend my time with my husband. However, it was my brother who took the step to come and visit me. Every time he does that, I am always surprise and I feel happy. The last time he visited me, he brought me a bracelet. There were 2 of them, one made of pearl and the other made from wood. He made me choose one and I selected the latter. He told me that he brought it from a place specifically in Carcar, Cebu when a priest who has healing powers visited there. It took time for me to realize that the bracelet is actually a short version of a rosary because it only has 10 beads for the 5 mysteries.

For me, aside from the visits I get from my brother, the bracelet is one of the most wonderful gifts I received because it gave me the need to go back and pray the rosary again. It has been a long time since I stopped praying the rosary. I could not even remember when I stopped. My brother has helped me realized that I need to begin and pray the rosary especially that I am starting a family of my own.

Camotes Flowers

I am not a professional photographer but I love taking pictures especially of flowers.  The following pictures are a few of those that I have taken during a trip to Camotes Island with my husband. The first picture was taken in Bukilat Cave. The second and the third were taken in the cottage we were staying.