“To LOVE is a DECISION"

When we were teenagers, the question about love was the most exciting part to answer in slum books and it remains a topic that creates giggles and shrieks whenever friends talk about it?

But do we really know what love is? Can we clearly define it? Do we really understand its depths and everything thing that goes with it?

We often mistake it for a crush, an infatuation or sometimes, even joy and excitement that we felt in companionship. Sometimes, we think it's a feeling that we have when our heart continues to pound hard when we have a close encounter with that special person or when our knees start to tremble and begin to feel weak. To love is a decision. That's how i believe it.

At the initial stage of love, somehow it you may think that how can you tell that he or she won't feel the same way for the next person who comes along? Or how sure are you that he or she loves you on the same way? Also in this initial stage, you'll feel the sweetness, the care, the thoughfulness. There' s this feeling of happiness and those sweet nothings that you wish to be there forever. But there are harsh realities of love. After months..years had past, the intensity of sweeteness, the thoughfulness slowly fades away. And that is why Love is not just a feeling, it's also a decision. Feeling alone is something that floats in the air, something you cannot touch or sometimes hard to comprehend and it fades away. Love, when it's a decision makes it a commitment. You may think and feel that you could fall inlove over and over again but when you decide to fall inlove with that single person in your life, you decide to be with that person for the rest of you life no matter how many better persons comes along, regardless if that person has a annoying habit.

When you turn your back on that decision, it means you were not really in love in the first place. Love never fades, it stand still when all else had fall. It is something you stand up for and fight for -- no matter what, because its your decision.

Some said that saying "I love you" is easy but they never got to live in its true meaning. Saying I Love You means that there are many consequences after that. Are we ready to face that? Are we still willing to say I Love you after the tough time? After a harsh word? After our partner did something wrong? After we see all those annoying traits and habbits that are hidden before?

Saying "I love you" is a major decision in one's life. Those words should be sacred, should be kept in your heart until you are ready to commit, to fight for that feeling and to stand by those words. Yes, it is a decision to commit, it is a decision to love.

My Photo of the Day - Mt. Mayon

As promised, i'll be posting about Mt. Mayon. Our counterpart to Japan's Mt. Fuji. Here are the basic information about Mt. Mayon.

Mt Mayon is an active volcano located in the province of Albay in Bicol Region. The near perfectly cone shaped volcano is situated 15 kilometres northwest of Legazpi City. It is the most active volcano in the country since it errupted 47 times in 400 years.

Mayon Volcano is one of the candidates of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. It is renowned as the "Perfect Cone" volcano because of its almost perfectly conical shape.

My Photo of the Day - Mt. Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan which stands at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). It ranges from the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo. Mount Fuji's is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently showed in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers. It has a symmetrical cone which can be compared to our Mt. Mayon in Legaspi, Albay.

These photos were taken by my fiance, Jun when he went to Mt. Fuji. These photos are not edited. Next time, I'll be posting the photo of our very own, Mt. Mayon.

Pinoy Wedding Folklore & Superstitions

In this day and age, still many Filipinos cling to several Wedding Folklores and Superstitions. We adhere to those beliefs because of our “there’s-nothing-to lose-if-we-comply” attitude. Some chose to ignore because those beliefs sound ridiculous and have no scientific or logical basis. Some of those are mere excuse for the mishaps during the big day. Let me share with you some of those superstitions.

Before the Wedding

• Never clean the table while someone is still eating because that person will never be able to get married.
• Soon to weds are prone to accidents as their wedding day approaches. They must avoid travelling long distance before the wedding day.
• A bride should not try on her wedding dress before the big day or it will not push through.
• It is considered bad luck if siblings got married on the same year. It is locally known as “sukob” or sharing of luck.

During Wedding Ceremony

• The groom who sit down before the bride does will become “under –de-saya”(henpecked husband).
• If a brides monthly period falls on the wedding day, they will be blessed with many children.
• A spouse will be submissive to his or her partner if the wedding candle on his/her side is lit last.
• Throw rice confetti on the newlyweds o that they will prosper in all their lives.
• The more the food at the reception, the more bountiful blessings the marriage will receive.
• Dropping the wedding ring, veil or cord will cause unhappiness to the couple.
• The groom must arrive at the church before the bride to avoid bad luck.

Here are some contradictory beliefs and superstition.

• Couples must offer eggs to Sta. Clara in order to have a good weather during wedding day.
• A downpour during the wedding will bring prosperity and marital bliss. (So why offer eggs to Sta. Clara)
• A bride who wears pearl during their wedding day will be miserable since those gems are considered “tears” of the oyster.
• A bride who wears pearl on their wedding day will never become a miserable wife as the pearl s represent the tears she could potentially shed during the marriage. (Whew! I’m confused now on what to believe.

Till next time. Hope you learn something here. Its up to you guys if you'll follow it.

Live and let live….enjoy life to the fullest.

Pinoy Wedding Facts & Trivia

Two months had passed after my fiancé propose, we haven’t prepared anything yet for our wedding next year. We’ve attended a wedding congress last July 26, but after that, due to our busy work schedules, the preparation was put on hold. As I was browsing the handouts given, I came across with Pinoy Wedding Facts and Trivias. So for you guys who are planning to get married, try considering these.

• Wedding expenses are traditionally paid for by the groom’s family, unlike in some western cultures. It normally follows that who ever foots the bill higher will have the say on the size of the wedding. This day, more couples give their share of hard earned savings.
• It was a tradition that the bride to hold the heirloom rosary with the bridal bouquet during the nuptial mass. Some modern brides still do inorder to honor their Catholic Heritage and respect to solemn occasion.
• A Catholic wedding ceremony is held with a full mass that runs for about an hour.
• Aside from giving of rings, the giving of arrhae/arras (earnest money symbolized by 13 pieces of silver & gold coins) as part of Filipino wedding.
• Most Filipina brides prefer a custom made wedding gown than buying them ready-made or off-the-rack.
• The most popular month for church wedding in the Philippines is December and spills over the month of January.
• Traditionally, wedding invitations have an insert page that bears all the names and roles of the bridal party. Reception cards are not popular in the Philippines as wedding invites connotes an invitation to the banquet as well.
• Aside from bridesmaid and groomsmen, there are also three wedding attendant who assist in the wedding candle, veil and cord rituals held during the Nuptial Mass. The Candle Sponsors light the wedding candles placed on both sides of the altar. The flame of the candle symbolized God’s presence in the union. The Veil Sponsors drape and pin the veil (a long white tulle) on the groom’s shoulder and the brides head. This symbolizes the union of two people ‘clothe as one’. Lastly, the Cord Sponsor stand up with the cord (a silken rope, a string of flowers, or links of coins) in form of figure eight, placing each loop loosely around the neck/shoulder are of the couple symbolizing infinite bond of marriage.
• Soon to wed do not arrive at the ceremony venue at the same time. The groom is expected to arrive earlier the set time of wedding to receive guest. The bride on the other hand, usually stay in the bridal car and alights only the vehicle just in time for her biridal march.
• Newlyweds release a pair of white doves to signify peaceful and harmonious marital relationship.
  (credits: Weddings@Works)

So long. Next time I’ll be sharing Philippine Wedding Folklore and Superstition.

Live and let live...enjoy life to the fulest.

view from above

Nihongo Vocabulary & Greetings - I

I've been studying Elementary II Nihongo for more than a month. I could say that i learned a lot and i would be glad to share some words I learned.

The words for family members in Nihongo depends on the speaker. For example, if you’re talking about your own mother, you call her Haha, but if you talking about other person’s mother, you call her Okaasan.

Father

• Chichi (Your Own Father)
• Utousan (Other Persons Father)

Mother

• Haha (Your Own Mother)
• Okaasan (Other Persons Mother)

Elder Brother

• Ani (Your Own Elder Brother)
• Oniisan (Other Persons Elder Brother)

Elder Sister

• Ane (Your Own Elder Sister)
• Oneesan (Other Persons Elder Sister)

Younger Brother

• Otouto (Your Own Younger Brother)
• Otoutosan (Other Persons Younger Brother)

Younger Sister

• Imouto (Your Own Younger Sister)
• Imoutosan (Other Persons Younger Sister)
  

So much about family members. In Japan, conversation is usually to started by stating the weather condition. By the way, weather in Japanese is tenki. So if you want to start a conversation with a Japanese, its ok to say, II o-tenki desune. This means “Nice weather, isn’t it?”

After a long day out of home, we usually say Im home when we come back. Just to add a little variation in daily routine, we could say Tadaima instead. The proper response to this is Okaerinasai meaning Welcome Home.

Ittemairimasu. Arigatou Gozaimasu.

Live and let live, enjoy life to the fullest.