A Prelude to Christmas: Love, Forgiveness, Time

I heard my first Christmas song yesterday, just in time for the start of the ber months. But the weather didn't coincide with the festive feel of the song. Yesterday was very humid and Mr. Sun I guess, was on steroids. Even then, everytime the ber months officially start, I get excited for the upcoming holiday season. It gives us all a reason to celebrate. We all have more reasons to see our friends, family and relatives, to take a halt from dieting and to burn those credit/debit cards. As for me, I can only relate to the first one I mentioned. Haha. Christmas' meaning for me is Celebration. They are partners. They go well together just like Kare Kare and Bagoong. Champorado and Tuyo. Heee.

What I hate about the ber months are the traffic jams it creates in the streets and the sea of people everywhere. Come October, people start panic buying. I don't have anything against it because I, for one is guilty. It's just that I feel that most of us are always rushing. Most of us get blinded by the material things that we forget the real reason why we are on a festive mood. 

CHRISTmas is a time for giving. Growing up, this has been instilled to us. From our parents to our teachers to the priests doing homily during simbang gabi. For me, CHRISTmas is a time for giving LOVE. What's good about love is that it's priceless. We don't have to spend anything.  I don't have anything against spending because I love buying things I want. What I'm trying to say is that we should look beyond the material things. Yes, we can show our love by the gifts we give but at the end of the day, it's the immaterial love that matters. We just have to make people close to our hearts, feel it. After all, a dose of hug won't burn holes in our wallets. 

We can also show our love by forgiving and asking for forgiveness. CHRISTmas is a time FOR GIVING, right? It's high time to say goodbye to all the resentments in our hearts. Let's not wait for that moment we would utter the word 'sayang'. It's easier said than done, I know because I'm a person who rarely say sorry when it comes to personal matters. That I would have to change. It's the pride that I would have to let go. 

CHRISTmas is for giving TIME. The holidays should not be the sole reason for seeing our friends and family. Days wherein I spend time together with them, eating and catching up with everyone's life is precious to me. It makes me teary-eyed when I see my family and friends complete in one table. I understand that it's hard nowadays to do that. Like for me, my mom is not here with us because she's working abroad. I got used to it already but we're very luck because she can go home every year or even anytime she wants. But when she's here, we make sure we make up for lost time. Giving time for someone or something is for me, giving importance. When someone or something is important to you, you make an effort to give time. It's just that most of us are busy with our own lives that we tend to forget. Let's not wait again for the moment we would utter the word, 'sayang'.

I always tell God that despite everything, I am always blessed by Him because I have my family whom I know, will always be there no matter what, friends whom I don't see much often but makes an effort to make you feel, 'hey, I'm always here for you' and Jap who sees me beyond my shortcomings. They are the reason why I'm writing this. I am blessed beyond words and material things. Christmas is a celebration of love and everything that follows from it.

I hope everyone of us would find the real meaning of CHRISTmas. I know you know it. Just open your eyes and heart and I'm sure you will. :)

2 YEARS

Jap and I were officemates. That's how we met. Two months after graduation, I landed the job I wanted. I felt very blessed and I was determined to work hard and take care of it. Getting in a relationship was far behind my mind when I started working. I actually told myself that I will never enter a relationship anytime soon if ever someone would show intentions. I was scared that things might not work out again and I might end up experiencing the things I experienced before. For the mean time, I didn't want any emotional baggage. I got tired so I thought it would be best to rest my heart for a while. Aside from that, I didn't want any office romance especially because I'm in HR. I thought that was unethical. Funny how things turned out. So much for words because I fell in love with my officemate.

When he started courting me, I learned that he was also undergoing a big career move. I was surprised when he called me after the panel interview he underwent. Seconds after, he called me again and told me that HR called him. He got the job. I was so happy for him. It seems that things are going well for us. I was starting with my job and loving it at the same time and his career was off to a new start. His new job also meant we would not be at the same office again. Jap in Mandaluyong. Bea in Makati. I thought that would work well for us. At least, we would not be together in the same office. More space for our own lives. But more than a year later, we were transferred to the same office where Jap currently works. Funny how things really turn out. 

The first few months of our relationship was a breeze. Like any other couples, we went through the 'courting stage'. We often go out for dates. The usual things dating couples do. You know the giddy kilig feeling every time you reminisce the first time he said I love you. Hee. But when work suddenly became stressful especially for him, arguments suddenly became a staple in our relationship. Jap would always tell me that he hates arguments and as much as possible, we try not to resort to arguing because it worsens the situation. 

Honestly, we never had a major fight. Major in the sense that the things we argue about are petty things (e.g. late sms replies, planned dates not pushing through). Things that can be solved in seconds or things that we really should not be arguing about. One thing I lacked when I entered our relationship was the sense of maturity. I had to learn it.. from Jap himself. He would patiently listen to my rants and read them as well through text. I didn't choose my words.  I was very insensitive. If I didn't get what I want, I would throw a tantrum session. In short, Jap's patience was always tested. I would always tell him that I am very blessed to have him and he's not because I'm always a pain in the neck. Literally. Jap already learned how to deal with my attitude while I try my best to change it. He would call me bratty Bea and we would laugh about it. But of course, I didn't want to forever stay as the bratty girlfriend. I want to be mature. I want our relationship to grow, stay stronger and last forever. I'm just really thankful this guy came into my life. When I get hit by problems, I would just think that I'm still blessed because of Jap. 

Fast track to today, we recently celebrated our 2nd anniversary last September 5. Yay!! Two years have already passed since that giddy kilig scene when he whispered to my ears those three words a girl longs to hear from the guy he sees her future with. Until now, I still get that giddy klig feeling. Hee. We both knew we would make it this far and we won't let any problem (petty/big/small/major/minor) get in the way of our relationship. Bring it on! Haha. Oops, I take that back. I don't want our relationship to be filled with problems of course. But just in case, we know we can handle them. I just know.

Here's to more years of love and new experiences together!!! <3

Because we love to EAT! And we love each other :)

Food is our common ground, a universal experience.

Jap and I love to eat. and eat. and eat. We may have different tastes in food but eating is one of the numerous things we agree on. So one day, we talked about making a food blog and here it is! This blog is dedicated to our EATscapades- discovering the undiscovered places to eat and rediscovering our old favorites and everything and anything in between.  Here's to more eatscapades with my love/food buddy! :)