Remembering my FEO

FAO stands for Foreign Expert Officer.  A person gets this job description if their school hiring foreign teachers.    They are the ones who does the endless needed paper works of the school regarding the hiring and getting permits.   Since I was their first foreign teacher, then it was like a trial and error for him.  Good thing, their city officers are always give time for the papers to be done, then there was not much problem.  Mr. Bin was one  of the FAO i worked with that I cannot forget because of his friendliness and kindness.  He is charming! A right word for him.  He is a friend to everyone and since he thinks am so far away from home, he is extra kind to me.  Always making me laugh.

This is Mr. Liu Bin and Helen in a Mongolian native costume.
They paid for this attire just for picture purposes.

Since today is Chinese new year, I remember my Chinese friends in a special way.  If I am there I can surely treat them for a free cigars – not just Mr. Bin but all all my guy friends who loves cigars.   Even though I don’t like them smoking in front of me but there are special occasions when I just tolerate them.

The Bi-ad Princesses

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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They are some of my friends from my very own hometown. Had I not enjoyed blogging then I would not meet these guys. So because of blogging, I met and knew Lai, Lovette, and Richard. They are just a few. More people will be shown later.

This photo was taken during the launching and induction of officers of the Iligan Bloggers Society. After the program, the core group stayed behind awhile for aftercare and also enjoyed posing for remembrance shots. This is one of the photos. I like to call them BIAD artists as they do good on that poise thing.

Nostalgia (my 26th)

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Jeorgene and Me on my 24th birthday

One of the photos of my 24th birthday. This was taken in July 24, 1996. Me and my ex-bf. Good guy and i know he loves me so much because he really took effort in trying to make this birthday memorable for me. This birthday became extra special because of his effort – when we were already separated. I guess people do realized how much they value a person when he or she is already gone. hehehehe

Anyway, this birthday was celebrated with one of our buddy friends, Bebbot & Ampoy. This was a double celebration – my birthday and ther wedding anniversary.

Bebbot and Ampee so sweet!

They should be! I was so civil towards JM that day. I was so overwhelmed of his effort. Maybe if we did not broke up, i will never experience this sweet birthday treat from him.

My 24th birthday was very memorable. I spent the weekend in Cebu at my relative’s place and my boyfriend (Ulee) celebrated the whole day Saturday with us. Sunday early morning, he sent me off to the bus station for my 8 hrs trip back to Bacolod City. I was carrying a big teddy as a gift from him. When i arrived in Bacolod City, this was the surprise for me. A Birthday celebration with my barkadas.

As am making this post, am wondering what if we can move back the time…i wonder if i would dwell there or i’d love my time now.

FAST FORWARD…2011

Me – with two kids. Married turned single. single parent.

Jeorgene – 4 kids. Married to a nurse

Bebbot & Ampee – separated. Divorced.  They have 2 kids. Ampee in Oman. Bebbot just in Bacolod. (oh i miss her)

Ulee – in Canada. Married. with 1 kid.

Quick visit to the hilltop

I was suppose to leave very early yesterday morning but instead of waking up at 3:30 i woke up at 5:15.  So i was sure that i can’t catch up the church service anymore.  I was just in there to some friends and of course to pick something from a friend.  I arrived on time when the speaker started and oh my he spoke for almost 2 hours that the 12:30 date with friends at the under the pines was doubtful.  So i went out to see Ate Sardale to inquire of the activity.

Some pics i took while traveling up to MVC on a motorbike.  :)

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Anyway, i went to see Paul at the under the pines at past 1 and we talk a bit.  There were also some friends there and before the rain started we decided to move to the Jubilee Park.  I was glad because in spite of the short time i will have the chance to take photos there.

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I think it was good to be at the Jubilee Park when it was not so crowded with visitors.  But one thing i observed, it’s not so Jubilee Park anymore as it was in my time or even before my time – i long for the great view of the plains beyond and the endless sky.  For now, that’s the case anymore.  It’s more like this:

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I left MVC with Ma’am Apple and company at a bit past 5 and was on my way to CDO at 6:00.  Before the clock strikes 12, i was already inside the office dorm.  I jump with glee because i can imagine i would turn into a zombie if ever the clock strikes 12 and i was still outside walking towards the dorm. lol!

Though the time was limited, i had a great time meeting for a short while some friends.  Hopefully in the soon future, i can go back there and have a weekend stay at Jabby’s room. :)

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Manila Trip Day 2 – Trip to Olongapo City

Our Weekend Memoirs

I woke up early but looking at the time i was already late for the agreed time of 6:30. Mel and company will pick me up at the Mc Donalds of SM North Edsa. I took the taxi camoran to north esda thinking am already very late. Good thing we arrived almost at the same time.

I was worried of the traffic but it was not so much. I took a shot of this just so i would be familiar of where I am passing. :)

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I thank the taxi driver for bringing me to the right spot since we already passed by mc donalds and i was expecting that mc donalds is inside the mall. i only told the driver am off to sm north, not mc donalds. when we arrived at the mall, he said, “oh saan ka na bababa dito?” i replied, “sa mc donalds po!” And he said, “lampas na tayo!” Oh my i was worried! I don’t like the idea of getting off and then walk back because I might get lost. :D   Good thing he brought me back.  He find ways to get me back to that corner.  :)   I paid him 120.00 and that comes with a receipt. Cool!

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That’s Trinoma Mall over there. And Mel told me pala to wait at the SM McDo across Trinoma.

When Mel and company arrived, i got in and after a few minutes of pleasantries i doze off.  I had a late night (1:30 am) and woke up 6:30 so for sure i was sleepy.  I love sleeping in a moving vehicle so the car really was a great place to sleep for me that time.  :)   I think i slept 80% part of the trip.  I started to get really awake when we are just a few kilometers off the Subic Free Port Zone.

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i wonder what’s this hill called

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yahoo we’re at our destination now!

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Below Mitches home is this plant with blooming chillies. :) Her daughter said she loves to eat that because she is a daughter of an Bombay (referring to her dad).

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Great thirst quencher.  :)

It was a humid day.

This is the day, too that i had this huge P I Z Z A with friends. :)

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My Manila trip was indeed a very memorable weekend.

I so love Postcrossing

I guess i failed to post here the 9 cards i received two weeks ago. I just thought about it because i got 2 cards today.

How i wish i can show you all these 11 cards now. I still I will try to find means to borrow a scanner and have these cards scanned.

The 9 cards that i got hold of at the same day are from the following countries:

Siberia (Altai Mountains)

Finland (Soft House Tales)

Netherlands (Holland Images – Tulips)

Germany (Westerwald) — a direct swap

China (Suspending Temple, Xanxi)

Russia (St. Petersburg)

Italy (Rome)

Norway (Sognefjorden – west norway)

Netherlands (Landgraaf)

The cards i received today:

USA (Garden Grove, Orange County, California)

Russia (national greeting card)

Note from Neitherlands

One of my postcards arrived in Netherlands after 17 days.  Mirjam sent me this note:

MirjamvanderBijl wrote you a message:

“Dear Arlene,
I love the Postcard you sent me! What a great festival!! I would love to see it sometime!
My sister in law comes also from the Philipines. She is now here for almost a year and she is married to my brother in law and she is so sweet. We have heard last week that she is going to have a baby, so that’s realy wonderfull!
I love the people from the Philippines, they’re very nice.
I wish you a nice day and a Happy Postcrossing.
God bless you!
Lots of greetings,
Mirjam van der Bijl”

I just love it when i receive heartfelt notes and responses from recipients of my postcards.

Check out www.postcrossing.com to check postcards from around the world.

OWM – Me & A Stolen Shot

Our Weekend Memoirs

though your heart is breaking!

Oh well, last weekend was one time so sad for me for being at a beach without a camera.    I don’t mean to sound like i’ve been carrying a camera when i was born, but having the feeling of emptiness after losing a very important part of you is really heartbreaking at times.  You spend sometime recollecting those moments when you lost that thing.

Friday morning at exactly 7:30, School administrators, teachers, and office staff left for Naawan Beach Resort for the activities of the day – Integration of Faith and Learning Lecture.  We started exactly 9 and ended at exactly 5 pm.   When one of my friends arrived whom i requested to carry a camera, i dashed right away to the beach.  Unfortunately, it acted bad that i failed to take  pictures of the sea and the sky.  Good thing, one of the teachers was carrying her camera and so we took some group and solo photos.

Here’s one she took of me:

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Then she asked me to take a photo of herself and Ate Joy!  I then had the chance to steal this  moment:

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The weekend was very refreshing.  The messages were so enlightening and inspiring.  Even though i lost my camera that week, I still had a great weekend!