DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?

Six years ago, today, only two months after we got married, I almost lost J to a freak accident.

The doctors gave me only three scenarios, based on the extent of his injuries:
1) He may go blind
2) He may turn into a vegetable
3) He may die

HOW DOES A NEWLYWED RECEIVE SUCH NEWS?



I remember turning numb.

My silent prayer, "If you're taking him, kunin mo na rin ako, please."

Memories of May 28, 2004 still make me cringe. I'm not sure if I can write about the details. So I won't.

Here's what I want to share instead...I praise God for His miracles! After the 10-hour operation, we didn't have to face any of the three worst-case scenarios laid out to me. Even the doctors were in awe! J was a miracle case!

J can see clearly, he has not lost any of his brain functions and motor skills, he's full of life. HE'S ALIVE!

The worst that happened: his scars from the ala-Face Off operation and his intensified migraines.

Six years ago, today, I cried my heart out. I experienced crying hanggang wala na akong luha. I'm crying again now. But this time they are tears of joy.

Thank you, J, for choosing to live. He was such a fighter all throughout the ordeal. Even under tremendous pain, he was one happy patient. He made me, all his nurses, doctors and visitors laugh. He was never demanding. All he asked from me were hugs. Ikaw talaga ang idol ko pag dating sa strength.

Thank you to our family and friends, even to strangers, who prayed for us, visited, wished us well. We wouldn't have made it through without your help.

Thank you to his brilliant doctors and caring nurses from St. Luke's. You're God's miracle workers.

Thank you, God, for your miracles! Thank you for reminding me that you won't give us a load we cannot carry. Thank you for loving us as much as you do. Kaya siguro mahal na mahal namin ang isa't-isa. Dahil mahal na mahal mo kami. Your love's overflowing. We'll gladly continue to spread that love.

I can choose to hate May 28 forever. But with the depth of experiences it has brought me, us, I'm celebrating it! We're celebrating it!

Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin.-- Grace Hansen

FISHBALL BREAK

One of our simple joys: afternoon fishball breaks. Thanks to Mang Orlan's fishball stand along Samar Avenue (right beside the Network Center).


Cheap Thrill.
A fishball costs around PHP 0.50 (or 1 US cent?) per piece.
Our favorite sauce: Sweet & Spicy (a combination of corn starch, banana ketchup, sugar and salt, vinegar, water, diced onions, garlic and chili pepper.)


Option: Squid Balls
PHP 2.50 per ball (or 5 US cents?)

I don't miss U.P.'s famous fishballs too much because the one near our office building is actually as good.

What's your favorite street food?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Q: Where Are You From, and What Do You Miss About It?

Hubby and I lived in Teacher's Village, Quezon City before moving into our own condo. I miss Trellis' sisig. (Wikipedia: Sisig - a Filipino dish made from parts of pig’s head and liver, usually seasoned with kalamansi and chili peppers.) We always request that ours be well-done. Trellis was just 2 blocks away from our apartment.

When I was single, I lived with my family in Antipolo City. What do I miss about it? My family! My parents and sis live abroad now. My brother and his family are still in Antipolo.

I spent a lot of summers in Baguio City. My Papa's from there. I miss Baguio's fresh, clean, pine-scented air. It's so different now.

I was born in Rizal, Nueva Ecija. I miss my Ima's (Grandmother) home. That's where I played bahay-bahayan, taguan, patintero, dolls with my cousins. I also miss the market's halo-halo (Wikipedia: Halo-halo from Tagalog word halò, "mix" is a popular Filipino dessert that is a mixture of shaved ice and milk to which are added various boiled sweet beans and fruits, and served cold in a tall glass or bowl). It tasted so...homey.

Now, Mandaluyong City is home...









The question reminds me of a popular Filipino saying, "Ang di lumingon sa pinanggalingan, di makararating sa paroroonan." So where are you from?

I love answering questions, quizzes from magazines. The question for this entry was lifted from the "We Asked Our Staffers" pages of Glamour magazine, Nov 2009.

CITY DELIVERY

Hubby loves Pepper Lunch. That's why I'm ecstatic they now deliver via City Delivery http://www.citydelivery.ph/browse/pepper-lunch



Last night, after our 15-hour shoot (under the 37C sun!), we came home dead tired. We had to have happy food. And so I went to City Delivery's website, gave them a call (87878), in 30 minutes, J's Double Chicken Pepper Rice and my Salmon Pepper Rice arrived hot and yummy!

The lady who took my call said to expect my order 45 minutes to an hour. I'm so happy the delivery came sooner. I was actually curious how the Pepper Lunch meals would be packed -- if they'd be weird minus the patented electromagnetic plates. They came cooked in paper bowls, with the garlic soy sauce and the honey brown sauce packed separately. They tasted as good as when you eat in the resto. Yey!

I know Pepper Lunch Shangrila is just right across our condo but when you're zombie-d from work or when Manila's heat is just way too much, deliveries are gold!

TEAM AIDAN or TEAM BIG?

The SATC 2 fever is on! And I'm *love* sick.

With the movie coming up, I can't help but realize I married my Mr. Big, my Aidan, my Petrovsky, my Berger. J and I have been laughing over this realization. Sorry, I'm not going into details. *wink*wink*

Although something in me always knew Carrie and Big belonged together, I've been secretly hoping Carrie would end up with Aidan.

An affair in an exotic land?


Happily married?


Can't wait for June 2! (Why isn't SATC2 showing May 27 in Manila?!!!)

**Photos: from SATC 2 Facebook page

WHAT WE LIKE...

In Arya...

Must-Have: Tomato, Onion, Garlic Sauce Dip
Eversince the Arya waiter prepared this for us, we do our own version in all the other Persian joints we visit.


Beef Shish (around PHP385)


Beef Koobideh (around PHP355)



In Abe...

My Must-Have: Hito with Buro
I can eat this every day!


J's Must-Have: Adobo
Currently numero uno on his list.
J to Me: "Sorry but talo nito ang adobo mo."



In Cibo...

Must-Have: Tegamino di Formaggio Fuso. Grilled Cheese. Thin Sardinian flatbread.
Best appetizer! The cheese melts in my mouth! (around PHP230)


Pork Chops with apple cider sauce (PHP320)



In Causeway...

Must-Have: Dimsum with Yang Chow fried rice
Spareribs in Tausi, Chicken Feet, Sharksfin Dumpling, Shrimp Siomai



In Via Mare...

Sun-dried Tapa (Php265)


Smoked Salmon Pasta (Php265)


Must-Have: Bibingka with salted duck egg (Php115)



In Pho Hoa...

Must Have: Freshly Squeezed Lemon juice


Grilled Pork & Spring Rolls


Chicken Lollipop

GOODBYE IS THE HARDEST WORD...

I've been here too many times. You'd think 28 years after the first, I'd get used to it. But no. Hell, no. For the nth heartbreaking time, I'm back to being the wailing 5 year old girl who just can't let go.

This morning, after we've dropped off my family at the NAI Airport...

Me: Why am I here again? Why do we have to go through this again? Why do we all have to live so far from each other? Bakit ba? Why? Why? Why... Should I stop asking why?

J: You can't go through life blindly. So no, you cannot stop asking why. You know what you need to do - start accepting your circumstances.


Big sigh.

If goodbye's the hardest word, then acceptance must be the most difficult first step.


**Photo: Dreamstime.Com

BREAK MUNA TAYO

Hubby and I were on a "break" for four days last week. Yes, we love being together 24/7 but yes, we can also survive being away from each other.

My parents, sister and I were in Palawan for a family vacation. Original plan was for me to fly abroad to visit them (me lang due to budget considerations). But my family decided to come home to Manila. So my supposed airfare budget went to the Palawan trip (Yey! Another item off my Bucket List: Treated my family to a vacation!). J wanted to join our Palawan trip but there's a major project he can't leave.

And so I was out on a date with the family...


It was more laid-back than my first two trips to Puerto Princesa because I had to consider my parents' age and health (hehe).


But it was super fun nevertheless!






Palawan, thank you for the memories!