Jensen

She is my youngest sister, I call her Shobe, and she’s exactly the person you’ll love to hate but still love her anyway.  I guess I am somewhat to blame too for her stubborness and being a spoiled brat but I hope I am doing a great job to be a great big sister to her and teach her about the realities in life.

I admire her creativity and her taste on fashion.  I like it when she’s O.C. about cleanliness and stuffs.  I love it when she tells me her daily adventures in school, with friends or while doing her OJT.  I am also fascinated when she shares her wild dreams (believe me you wish you’re a fairy to just give it to her so she could stop begging and asking for things).  She’s full of surprises indeed especially in introducing new words at home like “doi” don’t ask me what it means but she repeats it quite a number of times when she’s pissed. (^_^) But the greatest lesson I just recently learned from her is the firm belief that “GIVING UP” is not an option. I respect her so much that she inculcated in my mind that giving up now is almost inexistent.

Aya Saladino

If there is one person who made me realize about four significant things in my life, it will always be Ate Aya.  She's a Tagalog speaking neighbor, my family more frequently speak Ilocano and a bit of Chinese, who is very sweet, a big sister figure and talented too.

I was in elementary and she was in high school and the first thing I truly appreciate from her is her "FRIENDSHIP".  I look forward to weekends just to see her, talk to her, share stories and play a kid's play.  Her mom was actually the person who taught me how to ride a bike (and I was encouraged to open a bank account so I can save money there to buy a bike of my own – bike didn't realize because Mama didn't approve – but that's okay and it's another story).

Next to friendship is the conversation we have one time at our house.  She said "Sorren you can be whatever you wanted to be.  You can create stories and once you believe it, think about it and write it it will come true."  She taught me about the "POWER OF MIND" and to become a "WRITER".  Since then, I started my own stories until I reached high school.  A lot of my school mates back in high school enjoyed my stories, people lined up just to read my stories and it also paved way that my other classmates started to follow my lead.  It was awesome.

She might not know it but at an early age I learned to "BELIEVE ON MYSELF" with regards to my talents because of her encouragement.  She gave me compliments that I can draw so I pursued that hobby more and was excited to show it to her.  She can really draw so well, she can draw the inside of a house in one simple intermediate paper and it's really cute.

Today, I no longer have contact with her but I really hope I could thank her and re-establish the friendship because she changed my life.  I wouldn't be this passionate if it wasn't for her.

Horoscope

I love horoscope even if you call it crazy and sinful as others may comment, but I really believe with what the stars say sometimes.  Yes, it doesn't always come true but whenever I read something really nice, I believe it so much that it actually come true.  Works for me *wink*

Today, I've done some chores, saw my crush online, will do some office related work, read the book that I hope could help me change my outlook in life and actually change my life again on another notch of goodness, write more blogs and as the title of this blog post… I'm currently reading my horoscope.  My life is not really perfect but right at this moment, I just feel so great and relaxed with my sisters at home.

Judy Peñaflor

The first time I met this lady I do believe that she's quiet, reserve and kind.  I never knew there was something going on inside her mind and heart.  But lately she mentioned that her outlook in life was totally changed because of an eye-opening workshop.  I am very happy for her that she wakes up everyday with more purpose in life and a wider understanding for everything – keeping it cool and joyful.

Her optimism actually helped me to regain the child inside me - the happy me.  So everytime I will ever feel sad and down, I will think of Judy's optimism and I'll be back on track.  Life is beautiful, it's all in the attitude.

Jenny

My sisters and I love to eat… or all the Filipino-Chinese that I know love food.  Well, since we appreciate good food and we know the value of giving true compliments, my sister Jenny was really sweet today. 

Let me give you a background, one day she saw a cozy bakery and she tried their "mamon" or a soft bread I personally don't appreciate but my sisters love and as she described it, "it's one of the most delicious mamon one could ever purchase from a friendly bakery, it has crispy cheese out from the oven."  Last Wednesday, she was supposed to buy us "pasalubong" but the baker didn't make mamon at that time so she requested that she should bake a batch on Friday. 

Today is Friday and the baker was really excited waiting for my sister.  The baker was really happy to see her because the shop just won a loyal customer who is true to her word to come back.  On the other hand I am quite excited to see Jenny tonight too and taste that famous mamon (^_^).

Coffee

I slept at 11:59 I think last night and I was forced to get up at 6AM.  Well, I'm not grumpy at all but I guess I lil sleepy so I got a dose of coffee… you might be thinking I prepared a black coffee to boost my energy… that might help but it's not me so I got a coffee with three teaspoon of cream and another three teaspoon of sugar.  Life is sweet plus I ate a Cream-O cookie - that definitely completed my Tuesday morning and that might make me hyper the whole day (^_^) 

Mama

She’s very loving, cool, witty and energetic.  She told us that she really prayed for daughters and not son because ladies are well behave… well God does listen to prayers because she was given three daughters – I do hope she doesn’t regret it (^_^).  Now that she’s like single again, some people ask me what if she finds love again, will I be supportive?  I really can’t tell until it’s there but like a mother who wants the best for her daughter… my answer is whatever it is that will make her happy.

More importantly though, if I think of my mother there can only be one word to describe her in my heart “supportive”. She encourages my talent and supports me to succeed.  I will never forget when I was in high school, studying in the province, of course, there’s no reliable bookstore around town so one time when she go to Manila for a business trip I asked her to buy me a book and she came home with two books, it was the first time I got a hold of the twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield by Francine Pascal and another book I forgot the title but I truly love the story about a father and daughter story in relation to gymnastic (okay I lost the book, I lend it to somebody and it never came back to me and I totally forgot who was the last person who borrowed it).  It might have been a simple gesture but those books inspires me that I can write a good story.  I also remember one time I joined a scriptwriting contest – well I didn’t win but the memory wherein Mama accompanied me to mail my entry was something I can’t forget. 

My parents did asked my sister and I to take business degree instead of an art related course but I have no regrets, as they say, art is an intrinsic talent inside us, it’s always going to be easier to go back to school and master it, and now that I’m a lot more mature than before, I do agree, I love being in the business circle and yet my love for drawing and writing will be with me forever.

Papa

We called our father "Papa" because we have Chinese blood.  He's a very caring father to me and my siblings.  He's the one person who vocally told me and my sisters that "we are his inspiration".

I watched "In Good Company" last night and since I've always admired Dennis Quaid as a father figure in movies it made me missed Papa especially at the scene when Dennis gave his daughter a pepper spray when she have to study in NYU.  I didn't go to NYU but when my sister and I needed to go to the city and start studying for college, Papa gave us pepper spray and told us that it would be for our defense from untrusted people.  We never got to use the spray but the thought that Papa really loved us and wanted to protect us lives in my heart.

He was a very friendly man to everybody.  He's very good at making friends.  He was very intelligent and hardworking.  He never fails to listen about our heartaches.  Though I have to admit that reaching the time when I will settle down will never be the same again because I'll never have the father who will meet my future hubby or walk me in the altar… Well, we'll never have everything in life indeed but the most important part is I experienced to have a father while I was growing up and it was enough that he was there to teach me valuable lessons and poured me with love that would make me a whole person with good backbone.