On my end

I am now trying to pick up pieces of me though I’m not exactly sure I still want some parts back.
So much for ever and after, that sucks!

The best real thing; I have learned that I am worth loving even with my ugliest side shining.
I may not move mountains but I never hold back, that’s the only way I know. And I did that unceasingly.
Faith is a verb, and so is love. We should not delay these action words.

Excerpts from Traveling in Cyberspace

Guys, ever stumbled on this? Read it from Paulo Coelho's blog (which he found on the net as well) and kept it in my phone ever since. They are really worth reproducing.

I have learned

(author unknown, a comment said it's the Romanian writer, Octavian Paler)

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them;

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back;

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts;

I've learned that you can get by on charm, for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something;

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person that I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for all we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that no matter how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take it's place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're downhill are the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel (Sorry for being rude at times).

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love (Need I say more? I love you guys!).

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean that they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity had more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated (I remember when Rhen gave me a birthday card and she wrote "Nic, you don't have to grow old, you just have to grow up." While growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional and there are times when I choose not to).

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that (Haha! Ayan, nag-sorry na'ko kanina).

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will get hurt in the process.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care about the most in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned that a good book and/or my writing can always save me from despair but only a great friend can keep me sane.

I've learned that there are still a lot of things I must learn, with or without my consent, whether I like it or not.

The world in a village
(This statistic, which buzzes around the Internet, has been published in numerous places across the world)

If it were possible to reduce the population of the entire world to 100 inhabitants, maintaining the proportions of people which currently exist in the world, it would be made up as follows:
57 Asians

21 Europeans

14 Americans (North, Central and South)

8 Africans

52 would be women

48 men

70 non-white

30 white

89 would be heterosexual

11 homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the world's wealth

80 would dwell in inhabitable housing

50 would suffer from malnutrition

1 would have a computer

1 (yes, just one) would have a university degree

And consider this: if you are more healthy than sick, you are luckier than a million people who will not see next week. If you never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of prison, the agony of torture, the pain of hunger, you are luckier than 500 million of the world's inhabitants. If you have food in the fridge, clothes in your closet, a roof over your head, a place to sleep, then consider yourself richer than 75% of the world's inhabitants. If you have money in the bank, a wallet or some loose change lying around somewhere, consider yourself among those with the best quality of life in the world.

I have learned too, that no matter how much suffering I am going through right now, I really have nothing to complain.

Indeed, we are truly blessed.

-Nico

Credits: Warrior of the Light, a www.paulocoelho.com.br publication

http://www.warriorofthelight.com/

Dearest Nik,
Thanks for everything.. :-)

may message to!baasahin nyo!

musta?galing noh?cno mkkbasa nito may libre sa akin!may libreng ride all you can sa lahat ng esclator at elevator sa any mall in manila of your choice!hahahaha!!!!ingats tyong lahat!isipin ntin tanga p nmn tyo para dobleng ingat!hehehe

hello

wala lang nakakamiss kayong lahat ...andami ko nang mga namiss na events ha...pasensya na po...nawala po cp ko...bawi nalang ako....

When will I ever learn?

I’m ok now. Not hurt and still in one piece. A few hours ago I’m in the middle of nowhere. Motorists pass, will look at the car then back at me with a pitiful smile. I must admit, I may be stupid but I’m not pathetic. What do you know? I’ve been through this a couple of times already and this is not even the worst. Chad called up, he panicked and I think he could’ve strangled me that instant and put me to leash. He would if he could, but he just sobbed. I’m sorry, I should’ve known better. No, I’m not driving fast (yes I am, coding kaya, baka abutan ako ng 3PM). No, I don’t have a spare and even if I have one I don’t even know how to replace it (with the sweetest voice I could possibly sound). Right, I will buy brand new back tires tomorrow (Yes! Tee-boy matutupad na yung promise ko s’yo! Kailan naman?)
Ayan ang araw ko. Wala lang para malibang naman kayo, alam ko na po ok. I’ve had a handful of sermons already. Got to go now (magsisimba lang)!

(Paki-check na lang email nyo, nagsend ako nang How to Post instructions. You're always welcome Mhai!)

Nico

SMS (2) from Nheil

Sent: 9/19/08 - 4:07AM
Grabe! My first day of classes! Kaiba talaga sila. Hmm...so far kaya naman...dapat kayanin. Hehe! Dumudugo na din ilong at tenga ko kakabonglis, 7:50AM-2:40PM ang klase, 20 min lunch, 40 min plnnintym (Nheil, 'sensya na, ano 'to? Guys, hehe!'d ko maintindihan, planning time 'ata)

(Sent to and forwarded by Nico)

SMS from Nheil

Sent: 9/17/08 - 5:57 PM

Yup. Receive ko. Dito na kami Gadsden, Florida. Dumating kami kagabi around 9PM. It's 5:50AM now, dya'n gabi. Sobrang haba ng byahe. Manila to Nagoya, Japan to Detroit, Michigan to Atlanta, Georgia to Tallahassee, Florida. Then 30-min drive to Gadsden. Pasensya na hindi me mkakatext palagi. P20/text. Don't have enough money and load. Twelve midnight na kami natulog. Nag-unpack pa nang gamit. We have to meet today the school official.

(Sent to and forwarded by Nico)

Right on!

Guys, from now on this is going to be our new “tambayan”. I can’t find a better and easier access for all of us. We might not be together every so often to feel each other’s absence but we’ve come a long way already. Nine years passed with people walking in and out of our lives (I almost did) and yet we’re still here. I know we are dealing with our personal, day to day issues and I understand we can’t answer text/instant messages, e-mails, or even return phone calls as much as we would like to (as for me, I can’t spend thousands for my phone bill every month and yes, even our trunk line gets busy and “connecting to all departments” can be so annoying at times – don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. Haha!). That’s why I thought of a new way (Why “Hearts Avenue”? Just think about my stupidity and by now we’re laughing). It might sound and look mushy but I guess for one thing we would agree - it’ll all benefit us. Probably not today, not right now while reading this but somehow, someday soon when we feel like we need someone to talk to, speak our heart out and be insane with or to simply cheer us up. Just a line or two would make someone’s day (especially mine) better. Knowing we’re just here for each other would make a big difference.
Yhok and Nheil headed off. I am a restless wanderer. Soon, each will be coming and going. I don’t know how long it’ll take for the nine of us to meet again but through here we can always hang out. Remember how we used to run along Taft, from Masagana to U.N. without a care in the world? Panting while laughing at our own madness.

Life continuously pushes us to our own field; we each have different tracks now but in our hearts still stand our exclusive pit stop, nonetheless. Let’s all race around our new avenue and meet at the same post – together.
Much love,
Nico