It was my first time dealing with an adult problem in life, where it involves money, hard work and my future. There was an issue with the house that Nayj and I bought at Bellefort Estates. There was a flaw with the cut of our lot area and we weren’t informed when we first reserved the unit. 

I received an email from ProFriends regarding their plan on our house two weeks ago. They were planning to cut off parts of the balcony, as our lot area was not the usual cut for their Charlotte model house. I don’t like what I saw, because it’s not what was originally planned. And since I am really really excited on this house that we purchased, seeing them doing something to my future home without my personal preference kind of made me furious. What I hate was, they want me to just sign-off through email, without checking the actual site nor talking to anyone in authority. 

I assumed that they thought their clients would just reply back with, “Yes, this is okay. Please proceed.” kind of replies. But I wouldn’t. Especially when this house is purchased from my hard-earned money that I worked for. I wanted to talk to someone, an architect, a developer, from ProFriends to assure that they will take care of my house the way I would. I won’t settle for: this is the only option. I should have other options because I own this and I have the right to state what I want. I keep on telling them that I wanted to meet with someone and discuss it personally and not just through an email or a phone call.

ProFriends has setup a meeting with us this week with their area developer. Little did I know that the person I was meeting with was someone with higher position in their company. I only knew when she was introduced and my agent told me who she was.

When we entered their conference room, I kind of felt like I was trying to defend my college thesis, or having a meeting with my boss at work. But there was no way that I’ll be nervous because I asked for this and I want to set my point across. Nayj was with me and I wanted him to speak on my behalf because I am emotional and I might burst with anger in an instant.

The first half of the meeting was full of tension, as there were a few misunderstandings. But we were able to air our side and we listened to theirs. The conclusion was, we are going to transfer to another block and lot. And luckily, there were other Charlotte models available. And the other good news was, it’s a lot cheaper from our previous purchase because the lot area is 10sqm smaller. It actually doesn’t matter because it’s the standard size.

As long as I can park my car properly, and the balcony and house looks the way it was in their pictures, I am okay with that. Nayj and I decided that we take the new block and lot rather than staying on the current one we purchased. We were presented with another computation for the downpayment, which they will send to me again in an email. 

The meeting went well. Everything was understood and we all came to one decision that we all agreed to. Sobrang laking tinik yung nawala sakin when it was over. It was my biggest worry and I am really proud that Nayj and I handled it well without the help of my parents. The original plan was to bring my parents with me so that we have someone older to defend us.

These grown-up stuffs is really overwhelming. But I’m starting to get a hang of it.

Some people will always say, “Bakit kayo bibili ng bahay, hindi pa naman kayo kasal?” Ang sagot ko lang, “Where would we go after the wedding then?” Renting is out of the equation because it will just put your money to waste. I know my parents would gladly accept us if we live under their roof but I personally think that we shouldn’t. I’d rather have my own home.

As for the other questions on the status of our relationship? We are getting there, but not yet. :)

Here’s a glimpse of what soon-to-be our new home.

Just imagine that a balcony will be added to the right side of it. I always feel giddy giddy when I see these pictures. It’s truly a blessing. 

I hope that in reality, Ctrl-Z really exists, especially during those “spur-of-the-moments”. There are things you don’t really mean to do but you cannot undo them as the harm was already done.

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I am often misunderstood by being suplada, masungit or iritable. Well, I guess I am on some situations. How I wish I could control my emotions everytime for everyone’s sake. If I could, I’d be the most mabait person you’ll ever meet. Hindi makabasag-pinggan.

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Those times when you really hate yourself for doing something that disappointed a certain person. But you can’t do anything about it because it already happened. You tried to explain yourself but no matter what, you were wrong in so many levels. And all you can say is “Okay”.

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Truth hurts. I guess sorry for being me?

I talked with my church friend, Anne Mugot, today. (Hi, Anne!) And I got the biggest compliment. She said she follows my blog and she said that I should do an outfit posts again. And then she said the biggest compliment I got when it come to blogging:

Para ka nang si Camille Co.

I can’t help but smile with that thought. I am waaaay far from being THE Camille Co as she achieved a lot way beyond her years. (Yes, nakuha ko yung phrase na yun from Idol. Haha.) But giving that compliment is such a blessing.

Camille is very dedicated to being a designer of her own brand, CoExist, and as a blogger, too. How I wish I could have that huge following that she has. But given at how much I update this blog with outfit posts, I would probably bore my readers to death. Haha.

See, with a day job like mine, you don’t really have time to do some outfit posts. Commuting to work, work from 7-4 with blocked social-networking sites, commute again. Going to the gym 2x a week, or sometimes work 12 hours, and even work on weekends. All I do is post about how my day or week went. I treat this blog as my personal diary, rather than a fashion blog of some sort. But I’m trying my very very best! :)

With 77 followers that I have now, sometimes I ask what is the reason why they follow me. But I’m afraid that as soon as I start asking, they would realize that I’m not worth following. Oh please don’t! I hope that I do inspire some of you with my everyday posts about life even a little.

See you on my next post!

The shopaholic in me will never go away. But I’m really surprised at how much I can withstand the resistance of buying things right now. As you all know on my previous blog, I bought a house. Yes, an investment! So I really control all my expenses right now. I still use my credit card, yes, but I make sure that I don’t overspend.

I still remember, maybe two years ago, when I used to just purchase whatever I want and use my credit card, and seeing my bill go up to five digits! I also cannot remember how I was able to pay all of that. Now I limit myself to just use my credit card once or twice. I mainly use it for gas or never at all. 

Isang investment lang pala ang makakapagbago ng spending habits ko. Now I can’t believe that I could pay a certain downpayment for a house every month, that I just used to pay for clothes and shoes. Sobrang hirap, if you ask me, because I also don’t limit myself when it comes to enjoying my own salary. Tapos magbabayad pa ng bahay. But when you think about the future, and anung mangyayari once na nakatayo na yung bahay, sobrang worth it. Ngayon pa nga lang na 5% palang ung construction, naeexcite na ako. Pano pa kaya pag nasa 80% na? :)

I hope everything will be okay, with the construction, with everything. Right now, medyo nagkakaron pa ng problem with the electric post within the subdivision, but I know it will all be settled soon. I’m praying for it every night.

I remember when Nayj said, “Tumatanda na talaga tayo.” Because this is what we think of na, hindi na yung petty things. Talagang grown up stuff na. At age 25, I’m proud of what I have achieved so far. And I am looking forward to what else is in store for me. I am truly truly blessed.

It’s been six months since our team from work moved from Ortigas to Makati. Araw-araw na lunch out sa iba’t ibang sulok ng Makati was fun. The form of transportation was good, easier but more type of transfers. Just when you’re starting to belong, we’re going to move again by July.

From Makati to Cybergate Tower in Mandaluyong. Change is good. It’s pretty cool too because even if I didn’t change companies, I get to go around the Metro and explore each city. Who would have thought that a simple Cavitena like me could be a street smart girl, who could also drive around independently? 

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I’m looking forward to a lot of things.

One of which is my Malaysia trip this June with Nayj. I am looking forward to a lot of shopping and that cool water park that my friend Joyce told me about. I can’t wait! Three more weeks! I really need to save so I could bring a lot of moolahs with me. 

July 2013, can you come sooner? It’s the supposedly turnover date of the house that Nayj and I purchased. Um yes, you heard it right, we bought a house. If you remember, I posted a picture of a house here in my blog a month ago with caption “2013. Soon.” We are finally planning for our future. Unti-unti, making our dreams come true. It’s supposed to be a secret but as time goes by, parang hindi na naman nagiging big deal. Will tell you more about it soon!

I am truly blessed with a lot of things. Thank you, Lord :)

Last Tuesday, it was my third day of going to the gym. The instructor made us do two-sets of all the exercises and now I’m suffering like crazy. Haha. 

My leg muscles are sore and I walked like a Disney witch all day. I looked really silly walking like that with all the people of Makati rushing because, duh, it’s rush hour. I was supposed to run last Wednesday but I wasn’t able to. I took a nap in the afternoon and I wake up everytime I change positions because my muscles hurt.

And I was also supposed to come back today. But still sore. My mom told me to drink Alaxan but we don’t have it here. Booo. I want to return tomorrow, maybe I should ask my instructor to take it easy on me and do ab exercises muna. 

Good luck to me for achieving a beach bod. 

Contrary to popular belief, I wasn’t a straight-A student when I was still studying. Well, I had my ups and downs when I was in school. Most of the ups were during my elementary and highschool years because I think I did great back then. I was in star sections all through out and was getting conduct and diligence awardee. I did made my parents proud.

And well, most of the downs happened in college. But not really because I still enjoyed every bit of my college experience even after failing two of my subjects. 

I studied in Mapua Institute of Technology-Makati for college. It was a last-minute change because I broke up with my highschool boyfriend back then. I wanted to switch schools so I won’t see him again. I originally was set to study at our local DLSU-Dasmarinas, where both of my brothers went and where my ex-boyfriend was studying. And going to Mapua was a very wise decision, something that I didn’t knew right then and there. But I did realize eventually. 

Mapua has four quarters. Meaning, you get four semesters per year and you don’t get two months of summer vacation. But you get to graduate early. Well, that is, if you don’t fail anything. 

A lot of people said that studying in Mapua is hard. I knew people who switched schools after a year or even less than that. But for me, it wasn’t that hard. You just have to work harder. You get challenged a lot with school work and professors who doesn’t give a damn. Also, there was a saying that, “Hindi ka Mapuan kung wala kang bagsak.” And yes, I did fail two subjects and I was two semesters delayed. Instead of graduating in 2007, I graduated in early 2008. But it was part of the process of growing up.

There’s also a saying that, “You’ll meet your soulmate in college.” And I do believe I did meet him. Haha, masingit lang. Plus, I met the greatest guy friends. It’s a guy-populated school, you know. And for the record, I enjoyed my college life more than my highschool life. It was really different.

I don’t regret every little bit of what happened to me in college. And whatever happened back then, shaped me for who I am. I don’t think I’ll ever get the confidence I have anywhere else. Studying in a fast-paced school will teach you how to multi-task, to be a fast-learner, a go-getter, and to have that confidence and diskarte to get what you want.

And they say that you will face the real world right after you graduate college. I do agree to that. I got my first job a month after graduating (YEY!) but got laid-off after three months (BOO!). Competition was tight. Again, it’s also a part of the process to make me realize what I really wanted to do, and what type of job I would fit into. So I don’t regret that at all. After that, everything was a whirlwind.

I’m not saying that I’m in that part of my career where I would say, “This is it. I made it.” I’m waaaaay far from that yet, not even close. Sobrang dami ko pang kailangang matutunan. But I’m going there and I always tell myself that I will be there someday. Because once you have confidence and you believe in yourself, everything you want may happen.

Don’t be afraid to get what you want. You may get rejection along the way, or things may not go as planned. But always remember that God has a BETTER plan. You just don’t realize it yet. And you will realize it once you battle on it, with Him, along the way. And then you’ll say this to yourself, “Now I know why that happened,” and smile.

Goodluck!

There was a time when I was fifteen when I thought I knew everything. At that age, I thought I was old enough to do anything I want which made me feel mad with my parents when they restrict me with things. 

I remember writing my mother a letter. I don’t know the exact reason why. Maybe she would remember it more than I do, but what I remember was I keep on saying that I’m already fifteen and that I’m old enough to do this and that. And that she should give me more freedom, etc. I gave her that letter before I went to school.

And all through out that day, I kept on thinking what would happen when she read it. When I get home, would I get scolded again? When I recall those days, I can’t help but laugh at myself. I wonder if I would encounter the same thing with my future daughter.

Me and my mother had a lot of ups and downs. I can’t really describe my relationship with her as super close, unlike some of my friends who does. I think Kuya Mako can express his feelings with her better than I do. But when I tell her things, she listens very well and gives great advices whether it’d be regarding career, love life or friends.

During my teenager phase, she’s more strict than my father. I find it odd that time because father’s tend to be too hard on their daughters, right? But in my case, it was different. I never understood why back then but knowing what I’ve become, I wouldn’t be like this if it weren’t for her. She guided me all through out my boyfriend phases. I did some mistakes but she was there all the way. 

Sometimes I get annoyed when she always asks me my regimen about my skin because I get pimples most of the time. Because no matter what I use, pimples just pop out of nowhere. Thankfully, I don’t get it often compared before. But recently, she gets too worried about the heels that I’ve been buying. She always asks me if I could still walk or if it’s comfortable. But I think that she’s only doing that because moms always want their daughters looking pretty. Right? Because I’m gonna do that when I get a daughter of my own someday.

I also remember when I was a kid and she was almost away all the time. I’m so used to her going out of the country that I don’t cry anymore when she leaves. But when she’s away, I ask my father every single day on when she’s coming back. When my father left with her when they both worked for Afghanistan, that’s the only time I cried. And I thought that maybe she had a feeling that we only cried because my father left but it wasn’t that way. Me and my brothers are going to live without our parents for the whole six months and it wouldn’t be the same without both of them. #firstworldproblem Those two years of independence, of being away with our parents, made us more closer with them when they got back here for good.

No one can argue with me when I say that she’s a great role model. From having an amazing career that took her to places, and that made her help her brothers and sisters to finishing college, and for raising me and my two brothers well. And of course, for being a great wife to my father.

Happy Mother’s Day, Ina. Thank you for raising us well. Thank you for providing us with everything and for being the best mother, of course. I hope you continue to be an inspiration to others. We love you so much!

2013.