Love Story

What is a love story? And what is the love story? What is the difference?

Boy meets girl, girl likes boy, they fall in love, and live happily ever after. Of course, if it always turned out this way, then the world would be a much less complicated place. And then everything would be so predictable. And if you ask me, predictable is boring. Routine.

That vague equation leaves so much room for screw-ups in between. Starry visions gone wrong. What-if's. Maybe. Would-have-been's. Heartbreak. Regret. It's a wonder why anyone even tries. Statistically speaking, the chances are almost null.

Enter... Me. A pretty jaded yet still hopeless romantic. In love with the idea of love. With dampened spirits, yet still searching nonetheless. Afraid to settle, but wanting that someone special in life.

Who would have ever thought that I would have met him in a crowded room, senses tinged with alcohol, ready to pass up that chance encounter as another passerby? To think that this was the turning point of my life as I knew it, and I was hardly even aware. But of course, this is no ordinary story. Even a love story, at that. So of course, I discounted it. It was the only way to go.

And then we meet again. It was the conversations that got me, on a level that touched my deepest core. And from then, I knew that I could never settle for anything less than that explosion of when the minds meet, and the soul raptures.

It was the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginnings. That depends on which way you look at it. Either way, what matters is what happens from then on.

With him, I started to find myself. Through means that I would never have thought of before. Puzzle pieces started fitting. And from then on, I knew that I could start moving forward. I was becoming a better me. And it never had been clearer.

I'd see him. And by see him, I mean I'd understand him. I could see the core of his being. And it is with this, that I am in love. I did not fall in love. Spiral crazily upwards or downwards. I just simply am. As if there never was time that I was not.

The man of my dreams, and then some. You know it's true, when reality starts becoming better than your dreams.

There is a long road ahead of us. Both literally, and figuratively, because we will travel together and then grow together before that happily ever after. Is that the end? There is no end, just that journey together with the yang to my yin. The perfect partner, my twin.

Ananda. Bliss.  I’ve always known I’d name my little daughter that.

-Noelle, Manila

.those moments.

    I sat down one evening with my eighteen month old son, Cameron. We flipped through some of his favourite books and he starts pointing out all his recognisable objects and off he goes naming them all..... “ moom (moon), da (star), do(dog), bubba(baby), noh (cat).................”

....... off I slip into my collection of thoughts built up during the day. All the what’s, when’s where’s and how’s of my day and plans for the week began to take over. His recital of words were just echoes now in my busy, busy head. I then feel his tiny little hand on my face, he looks right at me and says “Mama??” Although that was all he said, it was if his eyes were begging me,  “None of those things matter at the moment, stop worrying. Please sit and just be with me.”

    Time moves too fast to neglect these moments. Our little ones grow too quickly and there is always another time to think about other things. This little moment made me smile and also made me realise that sometimes it’s just about the simple things that create happiness. Sometimes it’s just about moments that make you smile. Sometimes this simplicity is all you need.

--rae, Manila

Aural Crack

Music, to me, can be a very spiritual experience.

It's been awhile since I've listened to an album that made me wanna laugh, cry, groove and chill out-all at once.

I am currently listening to Erykah Badu's new album New Amerykah Part 2 (Return of the Ankh)

Oh My God. This is something else. I already know what I will be listening to over and over the next few days, weeks, possibly months, definitely years.

Instant Classic. Go grab it. Hope it makes you close your eyes, smile and remember life is good too :)

--Erica Paredes

My heart teaches my fingers to write

I love the way my mom gives me unconditional love. I feel the same way for her even if i can't show it everyday.

I love the way my uncles and aunts nag about how stubborn and irresponsible I am, after all it's guidance that they are giving.

I love how my cousins tease me about all the flaws that I have, in the end they never let me down.

I love the way my nieces/nephews cry when they see me, they're just too scared too see a cute guy like me. :)

I love the way my brothers/sisters (frat members) tend to make me forget that there is a real world that we have to face. They have always been the strength that i search for in times of sorrow, they have never failed to calm down the storm inside me. We might look irresponsible, still we we have our own dream that we know we will reach.

I love the way my friends and I share laughter and tears amidst every obstacle we encounter, amidst all the hatred we felt for each other, amidst all the cussing and the teasing. We all have the love for each other.

I love the way my ex-girlfriends made me smile, cry, wasted, angry and wild!!! I'm stronger than i was before.

I love the way people around me strive to be the best that they can, how they show off their positive side, how they overcome their fears and sorrows. How they have touched my heart is just amazing.

I love the way GOD puzzled up everything in my life, It's magical how he made simple things extraordinary. It's too plain to see how great the love he has given, too majestic to describe the touch of care and guidance for every tragic, devastating scenario that storms me. He simply does gives us a reason to live, smile and love. Positivity is what he teaches us, what he wants us to believe into..

I love the way YOU give me a reason to love you. Don't wanna lose you. NO EXPLANATIONS ON WHY YOU, 'CAUSE IT'S YOU. TOO MUCH REASONS AND MEANING ON THE WORDS I LOVE YOU.
(if ever you get across this article, you'll know its you.)

--Martin Targa, Manila