I still have few more years to sort what my next move would be. Moving out of the family home was the first step to establish my financial independence. After that would be a career review. Do I still see myself working hard in the same capacity and company? Or would I even consider making a 180-degree change – like embarking into an eat-pray-love kind of journey?

Never been this scared.

I’ve already got plans for the “new” life. One is to pursue another study on Digital Marketing by enrolling in an online university. This is something I already planned for last summer and I think I really should be able to book a slot this August, otherwise, I would have to wait for the next class which will be sometime in January next year. The course will run for 2-3 months, with once or twice a month meet-ups, and classes done through webinars on a weekly basis. Assignments will be submitted through email and I think, each one will be required to present a project at the end of the term. The cost of enrolling in an online university is almost similar with attending a regular college/university, but time and convenience are its major selling points which working people don’t much have.

I would have more time with my new home just 40 minutes travel from the office. I know it’s going to be tough, but it’s worth giving the new life a shot and see where this would lead me to.

I guess that’s how it has always been with house transfers. It’s like venturing into the unknown, leaving behind you the many things you’ve clung into for years – old familiar places, routine, friends you’ve made. It’s technically heart-breaking.

But looking at the bright side, there’s always a ray of hope that things are about to get better. Something good may eventually come out of it. We don’t know, but it has always been like that ever since. Life may be likened to the Forrest Gump chocolate, no one really knows what you’ll get unless you have consciously charted your way through it to minimize the risk of a fallout. It is like finding loose diamonds, takes years of study and knowing where to find them.

Precious isn’t it?

Change is what people do when they hit some sort of plateau that offers different directions to take. One of these days I might decide not to take the jeepney anymore, because a car might be better. I might even trade off my jeans for free-flowing dresses, grow my hair long, bleach myself, travel more, get rid of those dark circles by getting more sleep…Life is short. And that, my friend, is a reality.

This site has been running for almost three years. This has been my online laboratory where I learned gazillion of things about the web. It was a profitable experience (pun intended) so no way I’m closing this down. There will be some sort of “reprogramming” in the days to come.

I’m down to my last list of Christmas shopping. It wasn’t really a long list. I managed to cut it down to half since most of my inaanaks are far and away, and I couldn’t locate the others. My friends are not that difficult to please either. I bought myself a nice black blazer last week, a pair of Nike cross-trainers (so I can start running), a watercolor pad (because I plan to paint…again) and Max Lucado’s book called “Fearless” which is I can’t find locally (maybe I have better chances of finding it online and go through those Amazon books as well). I also received my Christmas gifts earlier: a laptop case and a bag. Sweet.

I’m scheduled to take a break from work on Dec. 23rd and will be back Jan. 4th. That’s a whole lot of time in my pocket. Can’t wait.

To show gratitude to the late president, post a copy of the yellow ribbon on your weblogs, Facebook, Multiply and Friendster accounts and websites. Like a free seo service, you too can simply download the Cory Ribbon for free.

Here are the schedules of Cory Aquino’s wake and burial from today until August 5th:

Daily Catholic masses daily at 12nn and 8 p.m. at La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) and Manila Cathedral.

There will be a “Dedication Garden for Tita Cory” at the Sacred Ground of EDSA Shrine.

Her remains will be transferred from LSGH to Manila Cathedral on August 3 at 11am.

Chronological service will be held at the Manila Cathedral on August 4.

Necrological and vigil service is on August 4 from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. at the Manila Cathedral.

On Wednesday, August 5th, President Cory will be buried at the Manila Memorial Park after a 9 a.m. mass at the cathedral. She will be buried beside her late husband, Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

People remember the former president Cory Aquino as an icon of the Philippine democracy and wife to the assasinated senator. But how many of us know Cory as an exceptional artist?

They say that after she stepped down from power and resumed her life as Citizen Cory, she devoted her time in studying the arts. As a result, she was able to come up with various oil paintings that either decorated her office walls or made the recipients of her artistic showcase, from drug rehab to cancer advocates, proud.

Cory definitely had the style. Her paintings clearly mirrored her positive outlook in life amid painful trials. Today, as she joins her Creator and her husband Ninoy, she leaves behind a legacy of hope every generation will remember.

I’d like to thank Wenna for mentioning this video this afternoon.

I’ve received a lot of e-mails where people mention that I do not think in the manner typical for most men. They comment that I’m sensitive to people’s feelings, observant, communicative, determined, caring, etc.

While it’s true I do believe I possess these qualities to some degree, what I find odd is that I find quite a number of women say that it’s rare. That I’m supposed to be some sort of oddball male, totally unlike the cads and jerks that they’ve been dating all their lives.

Thing is, I’m pretty sure I’m not rare at all. I just think that people have this tendency to look in the wrong places.

A group of women that I worked with at my old computer company were having lunch one day and I sat down with them, just in time to catch the middle of a tirade against my gender. My co-workers went on and on about how men just wanted “one thing,” never treated them right, and that there were no good husbands to be had anymore.

No one who would be faithful, loving and a good provider, basically, was what I caught from their conversation. Eventually, they naturally focused on me, the male at the table, and were waiting for my input so that they could refute it and continue moaning about the decline of eligible bachelors.

I finished my sandwich and then said, “No, there are plenty of good guys. Like Doug, for instance…” “Doug?” one woman questioned. “That quiet, bookish fellow in database? He’s so boring.” At this point, I interjected, “Yeah, he might be, I don’t know. But the thing is, you’re all wailing about finding good men and you’re looking for them in bars, parties, discos, wherever. Hasn’t it occurred to you that any of the guys you meet in these settings are probably not the marrying kind?”

The table was quiet so I continued, “You see, if you want the stable, faithful, consistent men, you have to look at the accountants, the bookkeepers, these men. I think it stands to reason that it’s the men who lead quiet, comfortable lives are the ones who would make the best partners. Since you’re looking for good conversation, I would think the guys who spend their time reading books instead of drinking beer and playing cards would be the better bet. Family values your thing? Then I suppose the guy who’s active in his parish would be the ticket for that.”

“But that’s kind of boring, I don’t want that,” another woman said. “Well, that is right,” I answered. “But there you go again. If you’re attracted to the power broker who drives a Porsche and picks up women every night, what makes you think that this man will be sensitive and caring to your needs? You like the guy who takes you to all the hot spots in town? Haven’t you thought that for him to know all the hot spots, he’s probably been going to all of them already with women other than yourselves?”

“See, the exciting guys, the ‘bad boys’?” I said. “Yeah, make no mistake, they are a hell of lot more fun than going out with the geeks. But you are running the high risk of falling for someone that’s not going to treat you as well as you’d like. So you go for the ‘bad boys’ and you keep this silly little notion in your head that they’re going to change because of you when really, they’re not going to. And when your relationship comes to its inevitable, bloody end, you call the guy was a jerk and a cheat but, if you think about it, he was already that when you met him. So what’s the big surprise then?”

The table was pretty silent after that. I guess they were expecting me to be easy pickings, or to simply concede to their girl power affirmation session. In the end, I think they did realize the truth in what I said.

Later, one would tell me that her past relationships were littered with musicians, artists, race car mechanics, etc, and not one “smart pick” in the bunch, was how she put it.

I suppose I’m just saying that if you keep to a lemon grove, you’re going to keep picking lemons. That if all the men in your circle are of a certain type (that you don’t like), then it’s time to expand your circles. Because I think you’ll see, there’s a lot out there once you make it out of your comfort zone and start looking at those you might never have looked at before.

Actor Sean Penn and the real Harvey Milk

The story of Harvey Milk was part of my must-see Oscar-winning movies. I chose to see it last weekend over Slumdog Millionaire. I thought with Oscar-winner Sean Penn there, the movie was all worth my limited free time.

Indeed it was. (Movie watching at home was great. The brothers have upgraded the sound system and bought a new tv mount.)

The movie “Milk” was set on the 70′s in some “freedom” San Francisco strip they call Castro. This was where Harvey Milk (Sean Penn), the first open gay official elected to public office, and his lover Scott (James Franco) sought refuge and started their new lives together after escaping sexual discrimination in the East Coast.

Harvey Milk had more to offer than just a 8 to 5 regular insurance guy living in a closet. He was a resourceful businessman, he knew how to talk to people and relate to them. The movement against discrimination of gays in California was born in his photo studio and home in Castro Street. Eventually, the cause spread all over America after his assassination in late 70′s.

The movie challenges the way straights and the most moral among us view gays. While the Bible has explicitly warned us about the dangers of homosexuality, God also spoke openly against pride, lust, greed, etc. But He has never closed His door towards those who seek change. Now, what difference does a homosexual, a cheater or even a bigot have? All of us need grace.