from a year ago.

一年前の真夏

my favorite priest in the world, fr. stein, came for to japan for (i can only assume) work. it pained me that i kept missing his voicecalls, so i tried the direct approach. in utter shock and amazement, i was attended the mass fr. magadia and fr. huang officiated yesterday. i scanned the church in search of fr. stein because i felt strongly he'd be there with them but he was nowhere in sight. so after the mass and after waiting for both of them to finish lunch, i introduced myself and expressed my intentions of seeing fr. stein. in the end, i never got to see fr. stein, but just hearing his recorded voicecall was happiness enough for me. plus, i got to meet with fr. jojo and fr. huang. they're such holy and warm persons. *sighs*

fr. jojo's homily, left me speechless. i think everyone was too.
it reminded me why i love going to mass.

he asked himself, why st. peter and st. paul, two of the greatest saints are celebrated together on a single day? no two saints could be more different. fisherman - persecutor. probinsyano - city boy. but then:

Climb every mountain, ford every stream
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream

this is what they had in common. they held on to their dream, their singular love for Christ.

A dream that will need, all the love you can give
Everyday of your life, for as long as you live

and he ended it with a prayer through st. peter and st. paul, that we may find that dream that will need all the love we can give.

i do hope we all do. :)

oh, the 7th of July, the 7th month is the Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival). it's a festival based on a chinese folk story about two stars in love who were forced to be separated and could only meet once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th month. as part of tradition, people place all there wishes and dreams on a piece of paper and hang it on a bamboo tree in hopes that it would come true.

i wrote: 最高の愛。


今年の願い


i wrote: アカサコの名前が続けますように。

mY fUjIkYuU HiGhLaNd cLaSs TrIp (03.05.08)

since we're going to Tokyo Disneyland the day after tomorrow, i am posting our previous school trip's pictures from Fujikyuu Highland in Yamanashi Prefecture.

it was just roughly two months ago and there was still snow. we had a picture perfect view of mt. fuji everywhere. there were so many people there but it was a very beautiful day to be out with friends. ^-^

attraction count: 1 (T-T)?
the dodonpa is the second fastest rollercoaster in the world. it took 3 1/2 hours waiting time so we had to eat lunch standing up in line. it lasted roughly 55 seconds, at 4.2G acceleration we went from 0 to 172 kph in two seconds, dropped at a 90 degree angle from 52 meters above ground, and we had a fantastic view of mt. fuji while screaming our heads off from the excitement/tension/fear (i think i had the last one). one of the most fantastic minute of my life. ^-^

aftwerwards, i couldnt think straight for the next few minutes after the ride. seriously. i felt my heart got stuck somewhere in my throat as i stood from my seat.

check it out :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmUAR8ltpjY

visit when you can! ^-^


*btw...
go to a karaoke bar and sing - check!

mY cHeRrY bLoSsOmS / kAnKoU's BiRtHdAy (03.28.08)

we walk into a dream.

have you ever seen cherry blossoms? they make you believe in magic worlds and in the beauty of our own world. you see them so beautiful, and you think maybe there are fairies and dwarves and little elves taking a vacation at this time of year.

other major points:
1. we were three amongst thirty thousand people?! we just wanted to go to the zoo and happened by the park... T-T
2. my dreams came true: "Goldfish". ^-^
3. we did ride the swan boat, and had fun bumping our boat into dating people. *-* oooh, a duck bit my right hand. i was trying to feed it. poor duck.
4. bought the cake at 11.30am and we ate it 9 hours later. it was disfigured really badly. it somehow... fit. :)

till next year then. ^-^

*all goldfishes seen in plastic bags being carried around by a korean, a chinese and a filipina girl were all set free. no harm came upon on any other animal except the duck.

iF i WeRe a piLLow

「もし私は枕になったら」

もし私は枕だったら、世界のたぶん一番難しい仕事は私のです。
私は聞けますが、しゃべれません。
横になれますが、自分で立てません。
かんじられますが、なぐっても痛くない。
実は世界中の誰でもほごしてあげますが、大好きな人にあげたら、その方に私の命をあげます。

材料です。中は珍しいです。
もし私は絹で作られたら、かんじやすくて、私に気をつけなければなりません。
ポリエステルだったら、時々かゆくて、人は寝なくなります。
ほかには綿です。
柔らかいし、大人しいし、私をだっこしたかったら、ちょど良くて、ふつうな材料ですが、うれしいです。

使い方、やさしければやさしほどいいです。
まず、うれしいとき、私を覚えていなくても、いなくても、私をだっこしなくても、あなたがうれしかったら、もううれしいです。
さびしい時、私に頭をよりかけて、なみだをがまんします。
おこった時、ふんでもいいし、かんでもいいし、私で誰か打ってもいいです。
こわい時、安全をかんじられるように、私のうしろにかくれてください。
悲しい時、私をにぎって、あなたの心を聞きます。

しかし、お願いは一つしかありません。
ふんでもいいですが、ふまなければふまなうほど安心だと思います。

注意、水とふうけつな物の事です。
手で洗って下さい。
洗濯機を使うのはめまいがします。
汚されるのはいいですが、やぶれるのは悲しいです。

それで、枕の生活はふくざつなので、大事にしなければなりません。
でも、いいきかいなのは、まくらになったら、ずっと寝られるようになります。
動かないので、たいてい一つのこうかいは雪や日光をかんじらないですが、私はその事の夢を見て、いつも満足するのを信じています。

mY wHiTe MoRnInG

recently, i wake up between 10.30 and 11.15 am everyday (even weekends, mind you! :P).

today, i woke up from the cold. for the second time this year, my knees were hurting and my body was unconsciously staying away from the window side of my bed. unlike last time, it was 7.45 am.

it's snowing ^-^

as in right now.




*hey cc, i hope it's snowing there too! happy birthday dearie! :) :) :)

mY wInTeR vAcAtIoN, HoMe (12.23.07~01.10.08)

there were no announcements when i left. there weren't any either when i returned for break. im sorry if i wasnt able to talk to everyone, or meet up with everyone. but i was always thinking of you.

i honestly didn't know if i could get back. a part of me also didnt want to go back. but im really glad i did. :)

at the end of this trip, i have blisters on my right hand from all the driving i did. i also have a ton of memories and a very grateful heart.

i think, my best smile came when i finally got to my room.
the best driving experience was the one when i kidnapped marj and joanini.
the best food i ate, chicken balls. hands down.
my first hug home, papa.
the person who made me happiest, ryan.
the person i saw the most, marj. abibi's a very close second.
the person who touched me the most, evert.
the person i wish i could have spent more time with, kris.
the person i wish i could have spent time with, sherie.
my biggest accomplishment, i changed and accepted my future.
my biggest (and hopefully, only) regret, 24 hours a day isnt enough to spend with friends.


ill be seeing you in fifteen months :)

mY cHrIsTmAs PaRtY (12.21.07)

to prepare. we made flowers out of japanese paper. we drew pictures on the white board. i sooo kick ass in drawing snowmen. haha :P

the following day, the food arrived. and the party was set. :) there was a short program prepared for the afternoon. volunteers helped prepare and cook the chijimi and the yakisoba. 200 mini-cakes were delivered. i brought leche flan (which, i later learned was actually pudding). you can try your skill with the chinese paintbrush. and you can also wear a yukata. :)

everyone kept moving around. there were probably at least a hundred students there. some came in santa costumes with giant bags filled with sweets.props to the cute reindeer and snowman costumes. there were also guys who looked pretty good in a girl's kimono... *toink* and, hmmm..my gulay, i am so bad at bingo.

the best part of the day would be, the fact that after that day, it was winter vacation already. :)