I tried to be philosophical and would have liked to post a blog about "34 Things I Learned When I Was 34." However, I realized I need time to make a list of all the things that helped me in the past year in terms of self-growth and improvement. Looking deep into yourself is always hard but at 35, I am secure and independent enough not to think of a man to complete me or be dampened by the proverbial heartaches and failures that characterize this wheel called life. I consider this a milestone because this wasn't always the case in my 20's. I was insecure, carefree and ... Continue Reading...

birthday Originally uploaded by annalyn. To all my dear friends, thanks a lot for your greetings. I officially turned 35 today.I look 27 (that's the spirit!)...and I feel 50.I no longer feel the need to hide my age (you know how women are!)I have been through a lot but it is precisely the extraordinary experiences I had to go through which now makes me feel proud to reach this stage in my life.At 35, I feel happy, secure and at peace with myself. Happy and secure because I have my loving friends, stable job and beautiful kids; at peace because deep in my heart, I ... Continue Reading...

I found refreshing this Editorial from Pasa'Yo, a newspaper which will be distributed for free in major commuter routes in Metro Manila starting this month. It is a private sector initiative to spread the good news about the country for a change. The proponents believe that we've had enough of the bad news and sensational stories; all that bitching, blaming and criticizing will only have the effect of further pulling ourselves down. Being a nationalistic chick, I believe that there's no better time in our history to be pro-Philippines and to hope that we can rise like ... Continue Reading...

Nini tagged me along last night to the wake of her former staffer, Jose Luis Villanueva, who was senselessly killed in a cellphone robbery incident on a travelling bus along EDSA Friday night. Jose was only 29 years old, a handsome young man who left a sheltered upbringing to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist. The eldest among nine children of multi-millionaire parents, he was educated in New York's Fordham U but chose to absorb himself in Manila's rough-and-tumble media world. He could have chosen to live on their mansion but as his friends would say, Jose ... Continue Reading...

This has been a terrible week. I feel that my body is frail and dying but I have to report for work and perform my motherly duties, every single day. It has not been easy fighting my demons but as always, I succeed in effecting a facade of invincibility.I realize now that I have such high tolerance for pain, physical and emotional. I am almost a masochist without meaning to be one. I am not a doormat but sometimes I ask if I am destined to be drawn to this person who hurts me by his sheer indifference or to circumstances which never fail to test my fortitude and my ... Continue Reading...