"Signs" - A Short but Aww Love Story

"It's a sign!", Meg Ryan or some other character would always say in my favorite movie, "Sleepless in Seattle".

Recently, a friend of mine (Bjorn) posted a beautiful video entitled "Signs". I wish I could post it here but I have yet to figure it out. The lead characters are Jason (Nick Russell) and Stacey (Kestie Morsaai). In the entire 12-minute short film, they spoke not a word.

Jason is your typical "probinsiyano", shy, somewhat nerdy guy - a social outcast. He just didn't know how to relate. He was bored with his job, bored with his life.

Until one day, as he glanced out of his window, he saw her. This beautiful woman drinking bottled water and typing on her laptop. She saw him looking. He pretended to look the other way. Her boss arrived to talk to her. He took the opportunity to look again. She caught him looking at her. So she wrote a sign, "Take a Photo". He didn't get the joke so she wrote, "I'm kidding".

They exchanged names and "nice to meet u's". That was the beginning of the exchange of signs between two people who worked in buildings across each other. They had so much fun! And Jason posted all those signs on his refrigerator.

One day, Stacey was looking at Jason in a strange way. She wrote, "I have a secret...I was looking at u first." That gave Jason the courage to write "Do you want to meet?" But before he could show the sign, Stacey was called by her boss.

So, Jason practiced on how to show the sign. He couldn't wait for the following day.

The following day came. He showed the sign. But to his great dismay, there was a new guy who took Stacey's place!

Jason became dejected and very sad.

Then, suddenly, someone was shining a light on his face using a mirror. Turns out that Stacey was trying to get his attention from an upper floor.

She showed a sign "I got promoted". Jason wrote "We should celebrate". Stacey wrote back "Absolutely!". Finally, Jason showed the sign "Do you want to meet?". Stacey's answer "Thought you'd never ask."

Jason rushed down his office. Waited for the traffic light. The two walked towards each other. As Jason was starting to say Hi, Stacey said "Shh" and held up a sign that said "Hi" with a heart.
THE END.

Aww, wasn't that cute and romantic? I wish you could see it. Go to my site in Facebook, it's there.

Here I go again. Vicarious love. So what? I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

In life, God gives us signs of His love. Everywhere. All He is asking is for us to say, "I love You, Lord". And He would have said, "Thought you'd never say that".

Bored and Beautiful

As a freelancer, there are days when I have no projects to do. And so I am left to seek my own entertainment.

Yesterday, I was feeling kinda bored. So what did I do?

...I spent quality time with my son by playing Scrabble with him (and he won)

...I entertained my friend Noemi who came to visit - I let her take a bath, fed her lunch and the gelatin I made, and taught her some Powerpoint

... I surfed the Net like crazy (going from one topic to another)

...I ate delicious Chinese food that my mom brought home

...I reviewed the booklet that I wrote in obedience to my psychiatrist about my bi-polar mood disorder

...I watched and rewatched a romantic video entitled, "Signs" that my friend Bjorn placed in my Facebook

...I visited different sites participating in the OWOH blog event and kept commenting so that I could get a chance to win the beautiful pieces

...I watched the Oprah Winfrey show

Oh well, that's how the day of a bored (and beautiful) freelancer goes. Envy me?

Two Videos

Recently, I came across two videos.

One was fun to watch. It's called "Dancing Matt" wherein this guy named Matt Harding danced literally all over the world. It's amazing! Watch this and enjoy! Every time I watch it I feel like dancing (too bad I still have a painful back).


Recently, a friend of mine emailed another video entitled "Are You Going to Finish Strong?". It's about Nick Vujicic, the man with no arms and legs. Here is the video. Each time I watch it, I am moved to tears.

Two videos. Both amazing. But totally different effects.

I thank God for people like Matt who is able to bring joy all over the world with his dancing and his ability to come up with projects that unite people from different countries.

But I would say I admire Nick more because he has no limbs yet is able to inspire so many people all over the world. Visit his site at www.lifewithoutlimbs.org.

I don't know how much influence I can have but all I know is this: as long as there are Matts and Nicks in this world, I will always strive to make a difference in my own way (big or small) because I don't believe in reincarnation and I shall only live once.

Happy Mistake!

When I graduated from college in 1982 (wow, that was ages ago), I applied in more than 30 companies! Manufacturing companies mostly, a few banks and financial institutions, and what-have-you.

In the course of my search for a job, I came across a teeny-tiny ad for a marketing research agency. Turns out to be a one-room office in a dingy building in Quezon City.

Another company where I applied is a popular chain of gift stores selling really cute stuff!

On the same day, both firms accepted my application. Guess which company I joined?
Believe it or not, I joined the marketing research agency which was in operations for weeks only. I chose that over the giant of a company. You know why? Because my boss-to-be was soooh good-looking!

Major boo-boo! My designation was Marketing Assistant. I was supposed to market the "services" of a company with no previous experience, where my boss had little experience, and where the owners of the company knew nothing about marketing research. Talk about baptism by fire!

Even if that boss eventually became one of my boyfriends, working for that company was torture for me! One sniff test on air-fresheners. One short survey among dentists (the results of which were used in an ad for a toothbrush brand). That is all I recall in the ten months that I was there.

Then, my own boss-boyfriend told me that there was an opening in the largest Filipino-owned marketing research agencies at that time.

I applied. Got accepted. Finally learned the ropes of marketing research.

I just love marketing research! Because I enjoy math, writing and dealing with people. So it fits me to a T.

Today, many years after, I am a freelance marketing research consultant. If I had not made the mistake of joining a new, never-heard marketing research firm, if I had joined that huge chain of gift shops, I would have gone the path of Marketing and I would have been miserable.

Happy mistake! Life has a funny way of turning our worst boo-boos into our best decisions.

Dreams are Made of These

I have four recurrent dreams:

1) My father very much alive
2) Our home in Matulungin Street, Quezon City where we lived for the longest time
3) My son when he was still little
4) A man holding my hands

When I asked my psychiatrist the meaning of dreams, he said there are two kinds of dreams:
1) What is happening to your life right now
2) What you long for or want to happen

How true! Often enough, I dream of what is going on in my life right now. Like when I have a project to finish, I dream of that project. When I was teaching, I dream of my class and lessons I'm supposed to teach.

But too many of my dreams are of the second type.

...I dream of my father because I miss him after all these years. He passed away in October 31, 2001 but in my dreams, he is very much alive. My former psychiatrist told me once that I did not grieve properly for my father's death. Now, I may be overdoing it. Oh Daddy, I cannot wait till I see you again in heaven.

...That large home in Matulungin Street. So many happy memories! So many cherished moments shared with loved ones! The fun-filled parties. The smiles, the laughter, and the tears. To this day, I pass by that house and look longingly. If I win in the lotto, I shall buy back that house. (Problem is, I don't buy lotto tickets.)

...My son is now 20 years old and graduating from college. But when he was little, he was so cute and we were really close. Now, he has his many friends, school, church...other interests. I still get to see him of course but I miss the closeness. What is it with children that they grow up too fast?

...Recently, I went out with a friend and he held my hand. He kept feeling and touching it. He said I have such soft hands. I would have been thrilled because he is real cute...except that he's "estranged" from his wife but they still see each other. Besides, he's about 10 years younger. Ha ha. No way! Here I go again...seeking for that special someone who will hold my hand.

In a recent episode of Preacher in Blue Jeans [January 23, 2009], Bo Sanchez talked about the power of words. We can prophesy our future by the use of words, not just words per se but written words.

So here are my prophesies:

1) Someday, I will meet my father again in heaven!
2) Someday, I will buy back that house in Matulungin OR build one just like it.
3) Someday, I will be close with my son again.
4) Someday, a special man will come into my life and I will grow old with him and...of course, he will constantly hold my hands.

There, sweet dreams are made of these. But reality is so much sweeter.

A Super Time with Super Friends

Yesterday was a fun day...because I spent it with old friends. "Old" in more ways than one. We go back 1997 when all of us attended a scriptwriting workshop under Mr. Nestor Torre.

We first went to Shangrila Restaurant in Times Street corner West Avenue. The whole thing was the treat of "NL" who got guilty for not showing up in many of our get-togethers. (Thank God for guilty friends). He ordered a set meal for 10 people but there were only 5 of us so I ended up bringing home food to my mom and my other friend, "KN" gave the rest to streetchildren.

Speaking of food, here's the list (I'm not sure how they're called but this is how I would name them): corn and crab soup, yang chow rice, squid with beans, lumpiang shanghai, sweet & sour meat balls, breaded fried chicken, wet noodles, buchi and Coke Zero. Delicious!

Later, KN treated us to a coffee shop so she can get the free notebook on promo.

So, the food and coffee was great, but the company was even better. Let me see...

"KN" - is an experienced scriptwriter for television and the movies. She is also active in serving at the Correctional Institute for Women. KN is spearheading the gift-giving activity to be held at the CIW this January 30. (Donations, anyone?) That's KN for you - big talent, big heart. And by the way, she's going to introduce me to speed-dating at Facebook (Exciting!)

"RC" - is a private person. She is the _________ of ________, an award-winning _________, an accomplished _________, and a teacher of _________. She was the one who encouraged me to blog, and to translate all my Tagalog words into English for the benefit of English-speaking readers. So, without RC, you wouldn't be reading this blog. RC also encourages me to join the Palanca awards with the screenplay I am working on as entry. There you have it - RC, the tip-giver and encourager.

"RN" - is a writer-editor who also sings so well, he sings at weddings. He's very kind and nice - in other words, kinda nice. He was the culprit who brought red wine recently (see previous post entitled "Guilty of Alcoholo Abuse"). Even if RN lives a good distance away, he finds time to join our get-togethers. RN - maaasahan kahit saan (reliable anywhere).

And last but certainly not the least, "NL" - he is the only non-writer in the group. But he is accomplished in his own right (and left). He is the HR manager of a very large company yet is very humble. He has a great sense of humor. And as mentioned, when guilty, he can be very galante (generous). He's cute in his own right and opinion (he-he). The others kept teasing us to each other so I rode along and told NL - "I'm giving you only two years to court me. Otherwise, times up!" Why two years? Because by then, I will be 50 and he'll be 42! Ha ha, cradle snatcher!

Oh well, times like these should be treasured. There will be many more get-togethers but I doubt very much if NL will be willing to pay for a set meal for 10 persons again.

Blogging is for _______ People!

"Blogging is for dead people!", said Mario (Not his real name). When I asked why, he said, "Because you guys don't have a life! You've got nothing to do but blog."

On behalf of all the bloggers in the world, I say, "I beg to disagree!"

Of course, we have a life. Otherwise, what would we put in our blog?

There are different kinds of bloggers. There are those who talk about events in their life - past, present and even their dreams for the future. These are the "journal-ists". A good number of my former students in UP belong to this type. Ah! To be young and be full of passion and angst and goals and frustrations...an interesting read. Of course, those who are much older have much to share, too, about their life.

There are bloggers who use their blog to display their creative talent like most of those joining the OWOH (One World One Heart) blog event. You should visit their sites! Beautiful works of art indeed!

And then there are the special interest bloggers like the travel bloggers, the food bloggers, etc. You see a lot of pictures in their posts.

There are bloggers who specialize on humor, those who specialize on inspiration, or both just like (ehem) yours truly.

And of course, there are the professional bloggers who make oodles and oodles of money from their blog. These are usually the experts in their field who get thousands of visitors on a daily basis.

Being a new blogger myself, I like visiting other blogsites and reading other people's blogs. I am having so much fun, it is my new hobby! And I am gaining new friends all over the world, too.

Hopefully, when I have enough readers (in other words, "fans"), I will come up with other products like an e-zine, or e-book, or a book, or...The possibilities are endless!

So, blogging for dead people? Not on your life!