Our Engagement Anniversary

Few people did know that today October 31st was our Engagement anniversary. Yes, its been 3 years but it feels like it was yesterday. How did we met? It was actually one of those yahoo chatrooms. UIC, the school I used to work before were one of the many few who had connected to the internet. Some of my officemates and I would surf the internet after lunch. One time, I got curious with this "interesting yahoo chatroom ID" and that webcamera icon beside the name. I had no idea that it is possible for me to see someone else from anywhere around the world using webcam. So we chatted and without so many questions, he invited me to see him thru the webcam. In return, I sent him one of my scanned photos so he can at least have an idea how I looked like. After that, we exchanged few e-mails and chat. I misinterpreted one of his e-mails that lead me to stopped talking to him and ignored his e-mails. That was December of 2001.

Months had passed. I had no boyfriend and I was loosing the passion to work. No inspiration at all! Everything was so dull and gloomy. Early March 2003, I logged on to yahoo messenger. He saw me online and so we started talking again. I guess the relationships that we were both trying to work didn't work and before I realized, I was already talking serious with him. We started chatting and e-mailing regularly. Added to that was long distance phone calls and text messages. In August, he told me about his plans of visiting Philippines around October to see me in person. I was happy, and excited at the same time afraid about meeting a foreigner. I have a lot of what If's in my mind. Months passed so quick.

The second week of October JJ and his friend Doug arrived in the Philippines and in Davao.

They stayed at Royal Mandaya Hotel.

I also had classmate/friend back in college who I was trying to match with Doug. I remember our first meeting was unexplainable. A lot of mixed emotions. I boarded a taxi just by myself because my friend was going to be late. We were supposed to meet at the Lobby.

Royal Mandaya Lobby:

Indeed when I get off from the taxi and entered the lobby, JJ and Doug were there waiting for me. I was about to back out. Not because I was scared but because I was too nervous and I was so shy about people who would looked on us. Also, I don't know what to do once we were face to face. Will he kiss me or embrase me? He did the last one. After we embrased he introduced me to Doug. Then we went to Pasag Grill at the third floor.

The Pasag Grill close to the Swimming Pool:

We ate and talked while waiting for my friend. The first few conversations was kinda off. I don't know but there were several moments of silence, uneasiness. My friend came finally. They showed us their rooms and gave us their pasalubong. That also gave us a chance to talk privately. The uneasiness were gone and everything went just fine. That night I went home and respectively slept with a smile on our faces. The next morning, I showed up to their room to take them for breakfast and a tour around the city. Among the places we went and showed them for several days were:

The GAP farm:



The Shrine Hills:

...and The Jack's Ridge.

Then we went to the famous Pearl Farm Beach Resort and spent their for about 2 days. We all fall inloved with the place.

We also toured them to the Malagos Resort and the Eden Nature Park.

Some days were spent going to the province to meet the family and folks. We also spent nights watching a movie at the Gaisano Mall and window shopping at SM Davao. Eating out here and there.

October 31st, we went back to the Pearl Farm Resort. I was a little bit sad because they had to go back the following day to Manila for their flight the following morning back to the US of A. After a dip at the pool that afternoon, my friend and I lie down in one of the Nipa huts. He excused himself and without my knowing he went to one of the gift shops. According to him he went there after he had decided the right answer to the queries on his head - to pop the big Q or not! We went inside the room to dry ourselves. I don't remember anymore how he started it. But he was already on his knees asking me to marry him. Mixed emotions we both were, I said yes. Why not? Over a week being with him, I felt that everything we said online were not just a fantasy. I could see his sincerity, caring and they way he treat me. He showed me so much respect of which I am so proud of him. We slept together for two nights and spents many hours in his room at Royal Mandaya and all he did was kiss and hug/embrace me. With these, he gained my trust that he is a good man and I felt so secure with him. The thought about him going back to the States makes me sad. But seeing that ring on my finger gives me hope that he will be back and we will be together, forever for the rest of our lives.

Some Pearl Farm Photos:

Mandaya 16! Will u marry mE?

The Lovely Pearl Farm:

Arrival Area:

The Swimming Pool:

We Have Been Phantomed

About 9:30 tonight, I was busy browsing the internet for a nurses watch that I could possibly send to my nephew for christmas when suddenly, somebody rang the doorbell.

JJ was like, who the hell will be knocking the door past 9PM? I said I don't know. We did not hear any vehicle pulling in the driveway. Scared I was, I went to the next room and peeped at the window overlooking the driveway. If the person leaves, then I could see him/her walking out the driveway. On the second thought, I was a bit worried for my car that I just left outside the garage (of which I seldom do). I did not see anybody so I thought it might be one of those solicitors who just left right away when nobody opened the door.

Without my knowing, JJ went down and checked the door. He came back and was reading something. I did not understand because I hardly hear him. I hurriedly came out of the room and saw him holding 2 pages of paper. We both read it:

GOOD EVENING...

THE PHANTOM HAUNTS YOU HAPPILY FROM NOW THROUGH HALLOWEEN, AND WAS DELIVERED BY A FRIEND WHO (HOPEFULLY) WAS NOT SEEN.

THE SPIRIT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS COME TO WISH YOU WELL, SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, SELECTED YOU TO RECEIVE THIS HAPPY SPELL.

YOU MUST DISPLAY THE PHANTOM ON YOUR DOOR SO ALL CAN SPY THAT YOU'RE ALREADY HAUNTED BY THIS HAPPY LITTLE GUY.

THEN FIX 3 SACKS WITH GOODIES LIKE THE ONE GIVEN TO YOU. RING SOMEONE'S BELL AND LEAVE THE TREATS AND MAKE THEM HAPPY, TOO!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

TIS BETTER GIVING THAN RECEIVING
WE ALL KNOW THAT'S TRUE
SO SHOW YOUR LOVE TO ALL THE WORLD AND REMEMBER...
NOW THE PHANTOM IS YOU!!!

PUT THE PHANTOM AND THE POEM IN THE GOODY BAG, RING SOMEONE'S DOORBELL AND RUN!

We were both laughing! Running down the stairs checking out the goody bag.

Yes, we were Phantomed!

Phantoming is a Halloween chain-letter of sorts that the whole family can get involved in.

You need three things:
*the phantom letter and picture
*two-three goody bags
*two-three families tp phantom

Deliver them to two-three neighbors under the cover of darkness. In our case, the kids did a very good job because we never caught them!

Have only one day to do the same to two-three other people or a goofy curse will happen.

I just learned that you have to do this a least one week before the halloween because the chain letter expand exponentially.

1x2x2x2x2x2x2x2= 128

Gee! Can't believed we were become a victim of this pyramid scheme tonight! It was fun though. It made our nights!

See? Not only the kids loves a treat...the old one's too! Meanwhile, I have to go and brush my teeth! :-) I just emptied the goody bag! Hihihi!

Celtic Tiger

OMG! JJ just bought us 2 tickets for Michael Flatley's Celtic Tiger. It's going to be on Nov. 12, 8PM at Nationwide Arena. Ohlala! I am so excited to see him. JJ first introduced me to him by showing me his laser disc collection of Lord of the Dance and Riverdance. I love it! He is a killer dancer! After I've seen it, I fall inlove with Irish Dances. That kept me from asking JJ to take me to the Dublin Irish Festival. Its awesome especially the tap dances. I've read from other forums that this show is going to be different. There is no other lead dancers other than Michael Flatley himself. SWEET! Our tickets were FULL Price that means we get to see him up close. Makabuslot bulsa pero OK lang, JJ paid naman eh heheh! Hopefully, camera's were allowed so I can take pictures. 30 days to go and counting! :-)

Spider Web Invasion

JJ just left the house one morning when he called me in our home phone. I figured he forgot something. "Go get the camera, and look for the spider web in one of our trees close to the road" it was pretty cool, you might find it interesting" I was like...OK! I didn't know how big it is!

Man, I have never seen such big spider web! It looks pretty perfect! That morning was wet and sloppy. I was having a hard time looking for the spider! Drivers passing our house got curious what I was doing. It was obvious I got a camera with me while the spider web was very obvious too. They would just slow down, looking at it amazingly. Finally, I found this huge creature wanting to invade us. He is freaking so big and fat! Take a look!

Here's the big Spider:

Watching Cincinnati Bengals

WHO DEY? Who dey? Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals? This was what the crowd are cheering while the Cincinnati Bengals are battling the game versus Houston Texas over a week ago.

I felt the enthusiasm and the excitement of everyone to watch the game. The stadium was almost full...over 65,000 attendance! Outside the stadium I saw the people having a tailgate party, enjoying and cheering up with friends and families before the game. Everyone is having fun, eating and drinking. Everyone is showing their support by wearing Bengals apparrel and accessories. Some even painted their face and colored their hairs. Some accessories their vehicles.

JJ was cheering at the top of his lungs while I was busy taking pictures and fanning myself. It was humid. Until now I am still a little bit confused with the game, but I am getting it.

Dad also came with us and Jeff who invited us to watch this game. This was my second time after the first few months I got here in 2003. Jeff invited us except last year. He had this Season Pass tickets that would enable him to watch every game.

Lucky enough Bengals won over the Texans. Everyone was happy! Who dey?

Here are some of the photos I captured from OSU band performances, cheerleaders, bengals and texans play and some high rise buildings around Cincinnati.