Recap 2011-2013

It has been 2 years,  7 months,  30 days since my last blog post.
A lot has happened, which feels like a lifetime to tell, so i'd just share a few photos with a short description.


Anino Games Outing : June 16-18, 2011

photo from Ellie Licuanan

photo from Jay Gavarra

T'was my last outing with Anino Games Inc, the company where i worked for almost 4 years. Also my first regular job. I've had a lot of fun memories and made many friends with the company employees, survived its darkest times and was there during its rebirth. I even designed the new company logo. But circumstances forced me to think about my future and it had to be my turn to leave..I left for personal reasons, even though i really wanted to stay.

The Tien-o-Meter gives this a 6 out of 10

Boracay : October 29-November 2, 2011

Day 1: Arrival, Exploration
-We went to boracay  during the october to november seasonal break. Our plane ride was only til Kalibo, and we had to take a few hours' bus ride to the pier in Caticlan from which we'll be going on a boat ride to the Island. We arrived at La Carmela de Boracay resort in the afternoon, and got settled in, and went out for a bit of exploring. We had a few places and things we wanted to try there, delicacies, watersports, etc.

Day 2: ATV, Zorb

photo from Ida

Day 3: Bum day

Day 4: Island Hopping, Parasailing

photo from Ida

Day 5: Departure

The Tien-o-Meter gives this a 9 out of 10

Bangkok, Thailand : December 19-22,  2011

Day 1: City day tour

photo from Ida

Day 2: Ayutthaya tour

Day 3: Shopping

The Tien-o-Meter gives this an 8 out of 10

Traveling

In all the years i've been working, i've been travelling almost all of the tourist destinations in the Philippines. The last couple of years with her was the most travel-filled years of my life. Here are all of the places i and we have been to:

Finally Bought a brand new Folding bike: MIT CYCLE V8

I used to own a folding bike which we bought through an online seller selling his secondhand one. We travelled all the way to Bulacan just to check out other options in different areas, but all are the same model. After buying it, i used it to commute from home to office in Makati and vice versa.

My first Bike, a Chevrolet 16-inch steel folding bike. photo by Ida

After a while, my bike got stolen in an incident that involves my resignation from Anino. Looking at it as a blessing in disguise, i took it upon myself to save enough money to buy the cheaper alternative to one of the most compact folding bikes available in the market, the Brompton. The Brompton usually costs 50,000php up to 90,000php. This i simply can NOT afford, and i wouldn't be willing to unless i'm filthy rich. I chose to settle for the Taiwanese cheaper version, the Flamingo.

Now i saw a few sellers online selling the particlar model i wanted, but when i was able to save up enough money, the sellers ran out of stock and vanished. i waited patiently and after a few months, another seller popped up with a brand new version of the Flamingo bike model i wanted. Turns out, a company called MIT CYCLE bought the Flamingo bike company and rebranded their models.

I waited patiently until the time i was again able to save enough money(my saved money went off to travel expenses) to buy that new folding bike which costs 38,000php(same fold as the Brompton, but cheaper).
Finally, my patience paid off, i was able to earn enough, and the timing was right to buy the bike.

SWEET VICTORY.

Ever since i got it, i've been riding like a kid with a new toy on Christmas day, frequenting travels from home in Paranaque to home in Sta. Mesa and back.

The Tien-o-Meter gives this a 10 out of 10

Manila to Tagaytay Bike Ride: December 29, 2013

So one of the folding bike groups i joined held a long ride event from manila to tagaytay; total of 68km or so. I joined them along the way, so my route from my home is 58.2km total of 116.4km. It took us around 5 hours of biking, with a few pit stops. This was the first time i ever rode with a group, i've always been a solo rider, and first time to ride this far.

My bike experienced a problem with the rear plastic folding lock mechanism just before the long ride. Good thing the people i was to ride with all brought extra tools and were glad to help. Without their help, i never would have proceeded with the trip. They set it up so that my bike won't be able to fold, but will be stable all throughout the trip. I also had my Digital Camera to document my experience.

the more personal version can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9AYE9cRtqk

The Tien-o-Meter gives this a 10 out of 10

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And now we arrive at this moment; i'm to talk about what's been getting me down lately. Seems like a downer after all those happy posts above.

Long story short, she went to Singapore for work and a new life. I was unhappy about the idea but because i love her, wanted her to stay here with me but i couldn't do anything to stop her. We talked about me trying to get a job there so we can be together; at first i was hesitant, but eventually my feelings got the better of me and i did a lot of applying online. i sent a lot of email applications to around 40 different companies, and only a few replied only to tell me there were no vacancies.

This was around the time when Singapore was experiencing a manpower crisis, a large population of singaporeans are upset about the fact that foreigners are taking over their jobs and opportunities for employment in their own soil. This pushed the government to establish strict policies limiting the number of foreign workers. Because she detested the concept of a long-distance relationship, she eventually ended it with me.

We were fine after, we were still frequently chatting, sharing stories, etc. until around September-October, when i started hearing less from her. She'd been busy i assumed at first, but eventually she stopped talking to me altogether. November came and news of her resignation there reached me. She'd been having a lot of problems because of her boss there, caused her a lot of stress. She had no other option but to go back home here in the Philippines. I offered to fetch her, hoping we'd get back together and to help her with her many things. She tried to stop me, but i insisted and she gave way eventually.

I was able to get permission from my work so i could make arrangements to go to her in Singapore, spend time with her there and go back here together.

When i got there, things started turning sour.  A lot of things and little details i noticed that kept me wondering if i made a mistake in coming there. I thought things were gonna get better between us, but it only got worse. I know this is not the venue to elaborate on these very personal details so i'll stick to general terms.

I experienced a different kind of treatment from how we were before. I saw something i wasn't supposed to see. Felt one of the greatest pains i could ever feel. I felt like i traveled a thousand miles just to be cast aside.

That triggered extreme emotion in me, all the sacrifice i've had to endure so i can be with her again...all seems to be in vain. It led me to rant about it in a small social media account i have, with a few friends who saw it and commented on it. She saw that post and has been extremely furious with me ever since.

I know what i did was wrong. I shouldn't have exploded about it there. She wasn't talking to me there and is ignoring my every word, so at the time, i had no other outlet but there in that account. Though that account has a fairly small audience, i still opened a can of worms that i never should have opened. I wasn't able to control my emotions so i just exploded and ranted. I should have just talked to a few select friends i can confide with to sort this out.

I miss her. I miss our friendship. She brought joy to my life. Gave me happiness i never achieved before. She was my Best Friend, my Movie Buddy, my Travel Partner. I could see myself walking out of a church aisle with her. It was nice too, that she loved a specific church which happened to be my hangout place from childhood to my teens. We even talked about getting married there. Sadly that won't happen now.

This, This. This is a pain worse that our last conversation. This separation, this seclusion from each other. Not even being able to talk to her because she won't allow it. Seeing her posts about her life now, and that she seems happier; makes me wonder...

did she really ever truly love me? or was i just a mistake to her? a fleeting momentary romance? was all our experience together, happy and sad, was all that for nothing? was i nothing to her? all i sacrificed for her, all those times i was there for her,  was that all for nothing? 

you had me. you had me and you pushed me away..i'm here for you now, and you still cast me out...

I keep praying for a miracle. A miracle that someday, we can see each other and talk and be okay again. A miracle that there could be a chance we could be happy together again. I still hold on to that hope. She's one of a kind. I don't think i'd ever find anyone else who connects with me, who shares my hobbies, who connects with my soul as much as she did. I know i shouldn't say such things, but as of now, that's how i truly feel.