of mnemonics and parameters

i have to admit...i am an awful friend 
i forgot to check on the calendar
i forgot to pickup my phone and dial your number

i could give you a long list of reasons WHY
i could give you alibis
but i won't - you don't deserve such excuses

the fact is i forgot
and i am sorry
truly am

you see, you are my friend
a cherished one
that wouldn't change

we have missed out a lot of things in our lives
we haven't seen each other for quite some time now
and we haven't connected that much (i sure do miss the daily quarrels)

so please forgive your forgetful friend
it is never too late
happy birth month

WILD

In this blog entry, I am listing down why I liked the movie WILD - a Reese Witherspoon movie, based from the book "Wild: Lost and Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" of Cheryl Strayed.

1. The movie started with weird groaning (I was having the wrong idea actually). Cheryl Strayed, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon was actually in pain - with her toe nail being removed. Yes, removed! Embrace the pain!


2. The relationship between ex-couple. Although there's a struggle somehow it seemed to work. 

Paul: "I'm sorry you have to walk 1,000 miles just to…" 

Cheryl Strayed: "Finish that sentence. Why do I have to walk 1,000 miles?"

Paul manages to send packages in every stop. Each package contains necessities for Cheryl's trek. It imposes that in our struggles and in our search of answers, we need help from other people - even at times it has to be from the least people we need and want. We need support. We have to realize that we are never alone.


3. The reality of being lost - of not fitting in or of how things in our life not make sense (most of the time).

Cheryl Strayed: "I'm lonelier in my real life than I am out here."

Admit it, there's a point in our lives where we feel lost. A point where we feel we exist somewhere else...there is no sense of belonging.

4. Remembering memories of Cheryl's mother. How her passing away has damaged her. And how she coped up on losing a loved one.

Bobbi Lambrecht: "There's nothing I don't get. Believe me. Then what? Cheryl, if there's one thing I can teach you, it's how to find your best self and when you do, hold on to it for dear life."

*** 

Cheryl Strayed: "I miss you, god, I miss you… My mother was the love of my life."

The deepest lessons in our lives often times come from our parents. We take roots on their words and memories. I come to remember my grandmother, whom showered me with so much love, whom protected/shielded me from pains, whom I lost at a young age and gave me scars that I will live with for the rest of my life - beautiful scars, whom taught me life lesson, and my own personal hero.


5. Moving forward from a dark phase in our lives.  

“It was a huge physical undertaking for me to hike the PCT for 94 days, but it was also very much a spiritual journey. I turned to the trail as many people turn to the wilderness — at a time when I felt lost and desperate, when I was in a place where I didn’t know how to move forward. In many ways the trail taught me to literally just put one foot in front of the other again.”

6. Forgiveness, Acceptance and Healing

Cheryl Strayed: "Here's some questions I've been asking myself. What if I forgive myself? What if I was sorry? What if I could go back in time? I wouldn't do a single thing differently. What if all those things I did were the things that got me here?"

7. Soundtrack

1. Simon & Garfunkel - El Condor Pasa (If I Could)
2. First Aid Kit – Walk Unafraid
3. Wings – Let 'Em In
4. The Shangri-Las – I Can Never Go Home Anymore
5. Leonard Cohen – Suzanne
6. Billy Swan – Don't Be Cruel
7. Free – Be My Friend (BBC Session/Take One)
8. Lucinda Williams – Something About What Happens When We Talk
9. Portishead – Glory Box
10. Bruce Springsteen – Tougher Than The Rest
11. Pat Metheny Group – Are You Going With Me?
12. The Hollies – The Air That I Breathe
13. Simon & Garfunkel – Homeward Bound
14. Dusted and Eric D. Johnson - Ripple
15. Evan O'Toole – Red River Valley

8. The ending where Cheryl reached the end of her journey. She was about to pass through a bridge named "Bridge of the Gods". It was so enlightening for me. 

“What if yes was the right answer instead of no? What if all those things I did were the things that got me here? What if I was never redeemed? What if I already was?”

9. Picturesque views of the Pacific Crest Trail

10. Reese Witherspoon herself (wink)

Movie Rating: 3/5 stars

It is important to look back, to see how far we've come. But it is more important to look beyond - to cherish today and welcome another tomorrow - to make a decision and acting on it. 
We all have shadows in the past that we need to outgrow. All of those shadows will always remain in the past. 
So let's choose what we carry in the present and in the future.

IRODORI Experience

Japanese food is one thing I keep on craving. With the fact that I've been inclining to a more healthy lifestyle now - the Japanese cuisine menu is perfect!

In Davao, D and I have been Japanese restaurant-hunting these past years. There are few restos that we keep on coming back. 

This week, we stumbled upon this authentic Japanese Restaurant in Lanang - IRODORI - located beside the JETTI gas station fronting SM Lanang Premier. With hungry tummies and work-stressed bodies, we decided to pamper ourselves with Japanese food.

Disclaimer: Below reviews are based on our own experiences.

LOCATION
The restaurant area is not that big but Japanese Restos are kinda like these.
It is not located on a very crowded area, which we like, so you can enjoy some privacy.

ATMOSPHERE
Clean

SERVICE
As we stepped in, we were politely greeted by the staff.
I am very fond with kids. So when the daughter of the restaurant owner personally greeted us and gave us the menu - hearts were drawn on my face. 
Food was served promptly.
When we made our exit, the kid asked some questions on how was the food, did we find it delicious and even asked us to come back. Oh boy - what a cute kid!

FOOD
You get 15% discount when you dine at 5PM onwards.
Unlimited tea.
We ordered UNAGI dish, SALMON sashimi of course which was excellent by the way, and Crispy MAKI.

COST
Reasonably priced.
You'll get your money's worth.

Oldies and Fifties

Which decade do you really belong in?

 Not a shocker - I am a fan of the 50's to the 70's decades.

I am an 80s kid that was exposed to the music and trend of the 50's to 70's.

experience #EARGASM with Dharma Lights

Beyond all the traffic in my head these past weeks - there's a part of me that wanted to be somewhere else. Of course it's not in the 1D concert!!! It just pisses me to not being able to watch the Dharma Lights - The Illumination of Up Dharma Down's Music.

If you know me personally or you've been following this blog - you'd know that I am a fan of UpDharmaDown (to bits and pieces!) All I could do is read articles and view photos from the concert - dead envious! 

Check out this blog post for more reason why i am sobbing over this - reverbmanila.

MusicBoxDiary: HALLELUJAH

Sharing one of my all time favorite worship songs.

***

HALLELUJAH

VERSE 1

They say Your love is stronger

You take away all the shame

The name above all other names

Is holy, You’re holy

VERSE 2

My soul finds rest in Your arms

You light the way to heaven

Even when my world fades away

I stand and sing “Hallelujah”

“Hallelujah”

CHORUS:

You are the Lord, let out heart sing praise

Ohh oh, let our heart sing praise to You

Halle, Hallelujah

Halle, Hallelujah

Repeat Verse 1 & 2

Chorus 2x

Bridge :

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelu---jah (2x)

Repeat Chorus 2x

Oh Monday can't you be any nicer?

Oh Monday can't you be any nicer?

First day of the week and I am still not feeling well.

Lack sleep + flu + headache

A long list of to-do's

Errands to complete

Upcoming events to plan and prepare for

Friends to catch up with

Okay, just remember to breath

Ciao! I'm going back to my to-do list

Panatang Maka-QA

by Kumareng AJ R-C



Iniibig ko ang Errors
Ito ang aking tungkulin araw-araw
Ito ang ginagawan ko ng Corrections
Ako’y kanilang pinagiisip at hinahamon
Upang maging dalubhasa, bihasa at kapaki-pakinabang

Bilang isang QA importante sakin ang TITLE at RESOURCE ID
Susundin ko ang listahan sa aking NOTEPAD
Tutuparin ko Testing at Retesting sa tamang oras

Paglilingkuran ko ang mga subscribers para wala silang reklamo
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Sa Testing, Prelive at LIVE.


-------------

Para sa QA ng Daily News - Laban!

When Inday found her forevermore

In finding our partner in life we don't get the luxury of having guides. There's no map to tell you the coordinates, there's no customized watch that would tell you the date and time, there's no compass or GPS - it's like walking blind in a battlefield - okay, battlefield is way exaggerated. 

Despite all these, there are those who still managed to find their other half. And there's no better way to validate such "blessing" than to seal it through the sacrament of marriage.

I have witnessed quite a few weddings myself and a dear friend's wedding is something I would not ditch. 

BUT... this friend is out of the ordinary I must say. She and her partner chose a venue that is approximately 4 hours away from the city - Davao to Bukidnon. And note that both of them are not from that place - they just agreed to have the wedding there for their personal reasons. So the catch here is only those who are willing to endure the long travel and spend time & money will be able to witness their union.

 

I was half-hearted in the beginning. But with a few more push from the rest of the gang we were able to pull out a grand plan - TO THE WEDDING WE SHALL GO!!!

 

It was a beautiful wedding! Not grand but nevertheless celebrated with the important people in the lives of the couple. The scenic venue is a plus as well. One thing to keep in mind is when the years pass, what you will remember is not the location or how grand is the wedding - but the people you shared it with, the laughs, the experience from the preparation to the big day, and the exchanged vows between the couple.

This is one for the books. It was indeed a fun and touching experience. Cheers to the first wedding in 2015 that I attended! Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. M!!!