saying goodbye to 2011! AND WELCOMING 2012!..

this last day of 2011, I wanna reflect on things that made me stronger, happier and contented with my life...

January, nothing very significant that happened.

February, which is suppose to be the month of heart, made me very sad. This was the start of my disappointment on my recent past relationship. I am a person that values special occasions that are related to relationships; may it sound corny to others, but I always look forward to wonderful experiences; funny things, so when you are old, you have good memories to reminisce and laugh about.

March, My friend, Lily arrived in Canada. One of my friends in Taiwan that I promised help. That is one blessing that I want to thank the Lord of, another promise kept and made.

April, nothing much!

May, nothing much!

June, although I am happy with my sister helping me out to put my party together for my 41st birthday. I was never completely happy, because, the person that I am expecting to surprise me, never showed up and not even all or send a message. Baduy! or corny to others but that really made me terribly sad. And the worst part is, I cannot show it to my relatives who are present during the celebration because I have made a good story and impression of him. That is the greatest disappointment.

July, the approval of my US Visa! Thank you God! another answered prayer. 10 years multiple entry. What more can I ask for...

August, my first cross the US border experience. Walking across the Rainbow Bridge to Niagara Falls, NY. And my first 4 days in the US - The Up State NY, USA. This is also the time that I have been asking if where am I to spend Xmas and New Year after the failures to be with the person I want to be with in special occasions and never had a definite answer. I understand anyway. and This month also brought the end to my relationship.

September, the struggle continues, I know a lot of my blog friends would remember this. Because I used my blog to release all of  my frustrations, sorrow and tears.

October. especially the 29th made me whole again. Met and found a person who have made me feel that I am not a trash like I thought I am. He had made me believe in myself again. I am very thankful of that day. and I wanna thank you, JC and to tell you, that I love you so much!

November, my first visit to Tillsonburg. My meeting with JC's parents. a wonderful experience. Very warm and wonderful people. I can remember, 11-11-11, we woke up with snow. JC's mom, open the door to their backyard to show me, how beautiful it was with the thin layer of snow. I found my family away from home... And then, November 26, JC, drove with me all the way from Tillsonburg to Ajax, to meet my family. and he was, with open arms, welcomed to my family. That completed us.

December, finally, I have visited the Big Apple. JC and me went to NY upon the invitation of my cousin Albert and Friend, Ben Rojo. Watched my long time favorite, Manhattan Transfer at the Blue Note Jazz Bar. Seen the sights and sounds of New York. Then, Xmas with JC's family - the most wonderful Xmas I ever had away from home. Then, the Silver wedding anniversary of my cousin's, Regina and Roberto last thursday. Once again, JC was welcomed, now with my extended family all over Northern America. That wedding that had once again put me back to what I love doing. Hosting a party and dancing. It gave me the chance to show people here, after 6 years, that this is what I love. JC even joked saying that, I love the microphone, the spot light and the cameras. With no hesitation, I just answered "yes!"

and tonight, I am meeting JC again, we will have our new year together. Just the two of us...

Fellow bloggers and readers, I just wanna end this post by quoting the two things that was mentioned by Kuya Boy and Ate Reggie for their 25th wedding anniversary. One, it is not how many times they fall but it is how they get hold of each other and stand up again and go on with life. and secondly, that, it is the imperfection that is making their relationship wonderful. Imperfection, gives them the room to develop, strive to be better and and space to grow.

HAVE A BLESSED, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

I LOVE YOU ALL...

YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY PRAYERS!...

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Me and JC, in the traditional Filipino Attire

The Barong Tagalog 

 the Junio Family

Oliver (2nd), Jesu Mari (3rd), Regina and Robert, and Robert Jr.

December 29, 2011

At this time, JC and I are at Timothy's at Church Street and Alexander. He, having a coffee and I am having a tea! Yes! I am having a tea for a change. Anyways, I already had 4 glasses of white wine and a glass of red! Oh no! 2 glasses of red because JC just noticed I am already drinking his wine. Hahaha...

We have 3 hours of break from the first part of the anniversary celebration of my cousins, Reggie and Boy. They have given me three hours of my old life, being in front of a crowd with a microphone, flashes of cameras and applause... For three hours, I am home...

With good comments and Appreciation of my hosting. I guess I am back in business. Got people asking for my contact info and the guy who did the video and camera documentation, even gave me his calling card...

Anyways, just found out that three couples in my family are celebrating their anniversary today, including Ate reggie and kuya boy's sister, Ate Leah! And to realize, it is our second month today. Me and JC are celebrating our second monthsarry today... Hehehehe...

Okay! In 2 hours, we need to head on to the second part of the celebration. The close family party at their residence. And funny, my sister and my cousins, made me promise that JC will be there. It made me very happy. That assured me that he is officially accepted in my family. Yahoo! Loving it....

Hope you too my blog friends are having fun....

My Biggest Smile

this poem is dedicated to the Calcutt Family

whom I spent my Christmas 2011.

The last weekend
were the most fun
of my days
since I was away 
from my family.

I can truly say

that I have experienced

the most wonderful Christmas.

The hugs and kisses

The warmest welcome I ever had

and the gifts from Santa

made my smile

wider that I usually do.

Thank you...

My found treasure

My found bucket of happiness

My found pot of luck

and most of all

My family away from home.

posted for Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 96

courtesy of Tess Kincaid 

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i just got home an hour ago.

JC though how sad he is needs to drove me home.

i am now back to work.

but we were looking forward of

being together again on the 28th at 1pm.

we will be attending the 

25th Wedding Anniversary of my cousin 

Ate Reggie and Kuya Boy

in Scarborough.

I am excited to see JC 

in our traditional wear,

the Barong Tagalog [link]. 

I am hosting the event

and I am very happy that he said

"yes" for escorting me to the event

as he is excited to meet more of my relatives...

hope you had a wonderful Christmas too...

and the malls are crazy as we pass by

for the boxing day...

continue enjoying the holidays...

love you all!...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Afrikaans - "Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n Voorspoedige Nuwe Jaar."
Arabic - "I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida"
Argentine - "Felices Pasquas Y felices ano Nuevo"
Armenian - "Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand"
Basque - Eguberri on
Bohemian - "Vesele Vanoce"
Breton - "Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat"
Bulgarian - "Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo"
Chinese - [Mandarin] - "Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan"
Chinese - [Catonese] - "Saint Dan Fai Lok"
Cornish - "Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth"
Croatian - "Sretan Bozic i Nova Godina" (Merry Christmas & Happy New Year)
Czech - "Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok"
Danish - "Glædelig Jul"
Dutch - "Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"
Inupiaq Eskimo (Kotzebue area in NW Alaska)-
Quvianagli Anaiyyuniqpaliqsi suli Nakuuluni Ukiutqiutiqsi-
(Merry Christmas) (and) (Happy New Year)
English - "Merry Christmas"
Estonian - "Haid joule ja head uut aastat"
Farsi - "Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad"
Filipino-"Maligayang Pasko"
Finnish - "Hyvaa joulua"
French - "Joyeux Noël"
German - "Froehliche Weihnachten"
Greek - "Kala Christouyenna"
Hawaiian - "Mele Kalikimaka"
Hebrew - "Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova"
Hindi - "Shub Naya Baras"
Hungarian - "Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket"
Icelandic - "Gledileg Jol"
Indonesian - "Selamat Hari Natal"
Iraqi - "Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah"
Irish - "Nollaig Shona Dhuit"
Italian - "Buone Feste Natalizie"
Japanese -" Shinnen omedeto, kurisumasu omedeto.
The first part is translated "Happy New Year.
Kurisumasu omedeto means Merry Christmas.
Japanese people generally add the expression gozaimasu to indicate soemm humility.
Korean - "Sung Tan Chuk Ha"
Latvian - "Prieci'gus Ziemsve'tkus un Laimi'gu Jauno Gadu"
Lithuanian - "Linksmu Kaledu"
Navajo - "Merry Keshmish"
Norwegian - "God Jul"
Pennsylvania German - "En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei Yaahr"
Polish - "Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia"
Portuguese - "Feliz Natal" "Boas Festas"(Good Holidays.)
Rumanian - "Sarbatori Fericite"
Russian - "Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva s Novim Godom"
Serbian - "Hristos se rodi"
Slovakian - "Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce"
Samoan - "La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou"
Scots Gaelic - "Nollaig chridheil huibh"
Serb-Croatian - "Sretam Bozic. Vesela Nova Godina"
Slovak - "Vesele Vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok"
Slovene - "Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto"
Spanish - "Feliz Navidad"
Swedish - "God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt År"
Tahitian -Merry Chrismas :" Ia orana te Noera"
and Happy new year is "Ia orana i te mata iti api"
Thai - "Sawadee Pee Mai"
Turkish - "Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"
Ukrainian - "Z Rizdvom Khrystovym !" - "Merry Christmas"
" Z Novym Rokom !" - "Happy New Year"
"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym i Novym Rokom !" - both greetings together.
Vietnamese - "Chuc Mung Giang Sinh"
Welsh - "Nadolig Llawen"
Yugoslavian - "Cestitamo Bozic"

MERRY CHRISTMAS
my fellow bloggers
and especially my
BLOG FRIENDS!
love you all!!!

thanks to this website [link]

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just so happy that

JC and his family

invited me to celebrate

my Christmas week

with them.

so JC picked me up yesterday at 9am

from Burlington

and we went to pick up our

Barong Tagalog

for the wedding anniversary on the 29th

and off we went to Tillsonburg.

staying here until tuesday.

Merry Christmas

everyone!..

My Gift

picture taken by JC at NYC Subway...

spent two days

just to find a gift for you.

roaming around burlington 

to hiking the city of toronto.

i have moved from one mall to another

from one store to the other

yet i cannot find something

that is worth giving.

until with frustration

i found myself in front

of the coffee shop

where we first spent our time
during our first meeting

talking with my friends

hanzel and lily.

just as we did

i went in and ordered coffee

sat on the same table.

and after 30 minutes

of being there

i realized 

i can no longer find a better gift

because i already given you the best.

myself and my love.

a poem made for JC

Fun with the Sun

One day, as we are having fun

Right at the door 

     with the ray of  the sun

I snap a picture of you

With my shadow, 

     came out to be 

     a picture of two

Endless fun until 

     the day is done...

image: Lee Friedlander, 1966

Posted for Magpie Tales Photo Prompt 96

Picture courtesy of Tess Kincaid

Happy Holidays fellow bloggers!.. 

have a
Meaningful Christmas

and a 

Prosperous New Year

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My Other Blogs

Mis Canciones [link] White Christmas by Michael Buble

My Amateur Shots [link] Times Square, New York, USA

R A G

one morning they saw me
carefully folding a piece of cloth
with the pair of scissors
needle and threads...

and then they asked me
"what are you doing?'
i just simply replied
"i am making my rag beautiful!"

hmmm, for some
maybe you are just a rag
a piece of cloth
a cleaning material
but for me
you are my everyday bestfriend.


you are making my job
and work easy
giving me company of at least
8 hours a day
to at most 12 hours
or 'til they ask me to stop.

a witness to all my laughters,
crying time,
sad and happy times.
also falling in love
and heart breaks.


and for those hours
you never ever complained,
how many times
i wash and squeeze you
until we are both done
for our day of work.


if a writer have
a good typewriter or computer;
if a businessman have
an expensive pen to sign contracts and cheques
if a carpenter have
a good hammer and saw;
for me,
a beautiful rag is the best.


a thing that help me
put money in my pocket
food on the table
that at the end of the day
put a smile on my face.

this i promise you
that at the end of the day
i will keep you
washed and dry.
so a good rest for you at night
as i do to myself.
so we will be both
ready for the next day
of work and labor...

ps. this was inspired after my lady boss saw me
sitting on a couch near the Christmas tree
yesterday. She was smiling when she saw me
doing my rag from an old shirt that I cut and
use as a rag for cleaning...

My Other Blogs:

Mis Canciones [link] White Christmas by Michael Buble
My Amateur Shots [link] Times Square, New York, USA

Places To Visit & See and Places to Live...

Now that I have seen New York, maybe not all of it but most of it; I can definitely say that I will have NYC as one of those places that I will put on my - Places to see and visit list.

Even back home in the Philippines, not because of the negative thoughts about security, I really have considered some places part of my visit list. And even, when friends local (meaning Filipinos) and international (obviously the ones who are not from the country, including those with Filipino decent but not born or raised back home) to go to the provinces and not settle in the big cities, like that of Manila and it's surrounding; that way they have the feel of what the culture is all about. and the "homey" feel of the country.

If you really wanna feel how Filipinos live, how they can have fun despite hardships and trials, go to the areas like my province, Palawan [link]... just a sample of what you can see there... and recently our Underground River is voted one of the finalists for the new seven wonders of nature, hopefully, it will make it to the top 7. That will help boast our tourism industry for sure.

Just like when I arrived here in Canada, I have stayed in my sister's place in Ajax, and I love it. until the time that I am getting acquainted to the area and I feel like there are some things that is missing in the area. But that area could be a good place to reside tho.

Then, I have seen Mississauga, sorry, but I don't find myself living there.

And of course, Toronto. A place for me to come and meet friends and have fun. shopping not at all. I have seen the things that are being sold in downtown Toronto are also sold in other places in much much  cheaper price. and being in there, 2-3 days is just enough. and that is what I feel about being in NYC. I feel like there are so much things going on. It's like every part of the city is not connected with each other. Sorry, that's what I feel about it. Although, there is one thing, that I wanna comment on.

When friends learned that we will be staying one night in Harlem, even my cousin said "aw!" but you know what. It is on that part of the city that, we have experienced friendliness. A guy who lives in Harlem helped us out in the Subway. he approached us and showed us where to go and what train to take. And then, the lady even walked us to the street and show us where is the place we will stay. And the receptionist and the guard and the whole place, we stayed; I am impressed.

Then of course Tillsonburg, i just love the simplicity of the place. The two parts of it. and knowing that for a small place, it's a bit busy, meaning business if you are into what the place is offering. But, with the kind of plan that I have, it seems like I cannot make it there. But I love it. and I owe Tillsonburg a lot, i found my great buddy from there, JC.

Then, I have the luck to see, live and work here in burlington, and I love it. This is somewhat what I have in mind of a "place to live."

A place to live for me is somewhat like a country but you have a feeling that whatever you need downtown is just at most 30 minutes drive.

So, that's it...

Next places to visit... These are the places that I wanted to see in the US...
> Washington, DC
> Hawaii
> Las Vegas
> San Francisco
and of course
> Chicago... Sister Suz! up for coffee... LOL!

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Mis Canciones [link] It's beginning To Look Like Christmas
My Amateur Shots [link] Bryant Park, New York
>

Home Sweet Home In Burlington

After leaving for New York City last friday, December 9, 2011; I am finally home in Burlington.

We actually went home last Sunday, 11 dec 2011, but we went home to Tillsonburg. And I stayed there for a couple of days and JC drove me back home just an hour ago, it's 8:14pm now.

There are a lot of things to say but I still need to relax my mind and settle down. Great experience! Now I have to mark down New York City on my list of accomplishment. You know when you are from a country where applying for a US Visa is hard, getting it and being there is quite something. I just hope that I can also have my family experience things that I have experienced.

So back to work, back to regular blogging.

 taken on the bus, on the way to New York City

taken outside the 

Blue Note Jazz Bar

after the 

Manhattan Transfer Show

 at Bryant Park

 Times Square

 On the boat to Staten Island

 JC with my cousin Albert and wife Diana...

 On the way to the 86th Floor of

Empire State Building

Rockefeller Center

more pics will be posted on

My Amateur Shots [link]

H. E. L. P.

Help

So

Near

Yet

So

Far...

Posted for Magpie Tales

Photo Prompt #95

Phot courtesy of

Tess Kincaid

on the road

I'm doing this post while aboard the Megabus. On my side is my very good travel buddy, JC. While i am taking pictures using my iPad, he is bugging me. Especially when we pass that area that i once visited. As i have expected this is a wonderful trip having him with me.

We are now 15 miles away from Syracuse and the bus driver announced that we will have a 20 minutes break. My bum is killing me already. Duh! And i need to pee.....

But nevertheless, i am enjoying this because of him...

And my iPhone 4 weather forecast is right. No sun but no rain and snow too. So it's awesome!

New York and New Jersey, USA

oh finally!

at last!

LOL!

after so much things that had happened in the past, work and personal life related matters. I have it done. With the help of some people, their encouragement and push, I am now set to do my visit to New York City.

I am all excited after my cousin, Albert Balmonte in New York told me that he can join me for at least a day, saturday, as he is busy working and running a new family, with a new baby. and My old friend and former co-worker back home in the Philippines, Benjie Rojo told me, he have squeezed his already tight schedule to meet me on this visit; I am all set to my journey to New York! Benjie is now settled in New Jersey.

Albert even promised to meet me at the bus station and take us to their home, where we will be spending our first night. Yes, it is a WE. JC have it worked out. Albert and his equally accommodating wife, Diana were excited and happy to tell us, that she will be preparing for a welcome dinner at their place.

So after making the bookings... we are all set to leave Toronto on Friday at 8am and we will be arriving in New York at 6pm. btw, My lady boss even offered me a round trip airplane ticket, but aside from I don't wanna abuse their generosity, after paying my two root canals a month ago; i wanna see every city or town before NY. Anyways, with JC on that land trip will surely be exciting. Especially looking at the weather forecast, it seems promising. Hope my iPhone 4 weather forecast is good and at least 95% accurate.

So on our itinerary were the following:

1. The Statue of Liberty
2. Bryant Park
3. Times Square
4. The Empire State Building
5. The Wall Street
6. The Brooklyn Bridge
7. St. Patrick's Cathedral
8. and of course, The Chinatown...

any blogger, who wants to meet up for coffee? just message me... that would be exciting...

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ON MISCANCIONES [link] HOME

with youtube videos of

Asia's Songbird REGINE VELASQUEZ

and the first TV appearance

of WHITNEY HOUSTON

On MY AMATEUR SHOTS [link] On A Rainy Day

Crowded Isolation

Reposting an older post that I have last November 1, 2011, a picture taken by my friend Roland [link] during the Halloween Costume Street Party at Church Street, Toronto... seeing this new Photo Prompt from Magpie Tales, i thought that the idea is the same... 

Crowded Isolation

I can hear voices,
screaming, 
laughing 
and even crying.

I can hear footsteps
and sense movements.

Suffocated,
Crowded...



Yet I feel alone 
and see noone.

posted for Magpie Tales

photo courtesy of Tess Kincaid

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My Other Blogs

Mis Canciones [link] Let There Be Peace On Earth

My Amateur Shots [link] I Made It For Christmas

A day for Gabriel Roa Rodriguez Jr.

I am offering a day of prayer for my brother, whho we fondly call Gabriel or Jun. i still can remember that morning when my sister, Vicky called my brother, Father Val that morning to tell us what is happening back home.

He maybe the guy that everyone will call the prodigal son, a black sheep. But for us, he will always be the Manong Jun that at the break of morn will have his checks red as he got what our grandparent's spanish chinese skin - pinkish! And it will turn red as he starts to drink his favorite rhum, the Filipino local Tanduay, which we call "TUNDAY" because his only son, Gaver (Gabo) can't pronounced it perfectly.

And so i pray...

Lord

Grant my brother

Gabriel Junior

The peace that he never had

While he is still with us.

I know that

Just like most of us

He has battled a lot

And had been weak

For all the challenges

And struggles

That our family have been through.

Let him know

That we,

His mother,

His brothers and sisters,

Nephews and nieces

And especially

His son Gabo,

Loves him so much

And that we will never forget him

All our life.

And we know

That as much as he tries

Not to give us trouble

When he is still with us

He will be our angel Gabriel Jr

Helping out our another angel,

Gabriel Sr.

Guarding us...

Guiding us...

And loving us from heaven...

May they rest in peace

In your paradise

Amen.

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and this is my nephew

Gaver Rodriguez

now, 17 years old.

isn't he a handsome young man?

he got his father's looks.