I'm 32

Today would have been another ordinary day for me, but there were a few people who made sure this would be anything but ordinary for me. Yes, I turned 32 years old today.

My tita, who's like my second mother as she's the biological mom of my soul siblings, treated us to a super yummy early dinner at Dessert Factory. It was only my second time to eat there. The first time was with the Bisdaks a long time ago. After dinner, tita gave me a super beautiful Red Ribbon birthday cake from my soul siblings. Those alone already made my birthday special.

When we got home, a big box was waiting for me. Mom said it was delivered by 2 guys riding a motorcycle, and they said they didn't know who sent the box. It was a custom made box with custom designs that included my picture as Jean Valjean, a picture of Victor Hugo, and a lot of quotes and lyrics. Inside were a lot of things: a coffee mug, a smiley stress ball, a diary, an inspirational booklet, a desk clock, a keychain, a pen, a red cloth, and a copy of 'Footprints in the Sand'.

I went to the office with a smile on my face, and a smile in my heart. I never expected people to really remember my birthday, much more exert effort to make it memorable. I feel loved today. So loved.

Happy birthday to me.

Thank you, Lord, for another year.

26. Talk about a moment where you were truly happy. What was happening? Who were you with?

The happiest moment in my life was seeing my daughter for the very first time. It was in ICU because there was a little emergency when her mom gave birth to her, but the moment I saw her, even with IV attached to her foot, and oxygen attached to her tiny nose, I just knew that she will be fine.

I've been hearing the same thing over and over from my friends that they're not ready to become parent/s. What they don't know is that no one is ever ready, and nothing can ever prepare you for that. But that moment when your child arrives in your life and you become a parent, you immediately become prepared for it. That's based on personal experience, an experience that was also the happiest moment of my life.

Image taken from http://www.graphicshunt.com/images/father-8889.htm

Old Meets New

An old photographer, still bringing his antique camera and his camera bag, using his new digital camera to take a picture of his customers on a lazy Sunday afternoon at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. It's such a joy to know and watch photographers of yesteryears embracing the technology of tomorrow.

Happiness

Happiness is not having what you want,

but wanting what you have.