For THE Michael Josh Villanueva

Last Friday night, as you tried to put a red wig on my head, I fought the urge to cry. 

I suddenly remembered that April morning, I was at work and someone from the desk section told me I got a phone call. Clueless, I took the phone and it was you on the other line. You knew I had a fight with my dad and you told me to go upstairs to your office and tell you what happened. 

I told you I still had scripts to write so you went down to the newsroom to see me. That time, I didn't need tissues, you being there for me, and letting me cry while hugging you was more than enough. 

I never got to tell you how much I appreciate what you did, and how thankful I am for everything you've done for me, so here I am, being a coward and writing it all down instead of talking to you personally. 

You may not be my boss but I want you to know that I really look up to you. 

I admire how you work, how you love the people around you, how you stay strong despite of all the dilemmas you have. I admire how you love Team Awesome like they're your own kids. You are the best boss I've known. 

I admire how you love your friends like family, how you'd come to the newsroom, see a friend then hug them right there and then. 

And I am thankful that even if you've only met me for a year, you've treated me like I'm your good, old friend. You've been like a brother to me. 

You are such a great person that's why I don't get it why some people treat you so badly. 

But I just want you to know that you don't have mind them anymore. They don't deserve any of your time or emotion. They're like dark clouds but you're like the sun, and you'll always shine no matter what happens.

For the next few days, it would really be hard not seeing you and hearing you talk or laugh but I'll just always smile at the thought that you finally got that fresh new start that you so deserve.

I'll always be here for you, Sir Josh, whenever and if ever you'll need me.

I am very grateful that I met you in this lifetime. I'm sure I'll never meet another you or even someone like you.

You're incomparable and irreplaceable.

Thank for everything and cheers for more moments together!

You truly deserve all the happiness and love in the world.


Love,
The ever innocent Apple

Steve Morgan

Saved up for him for 1 year and 7 months. 

And finally, I got him last October 25, 2011. 

Around 6 in the evening at Digital Hub, Vira Mall, Greenhills. 

Thank you sir Charlie and sir Josh for helping me get my baby. 

Now, I'd like you all to meet Steve Morgan. 

And we've been falling in love with each other everyday. 

P.S. Alex, you'll always be loved and remembered. 

He

He knows who I am. With just one look, he knows if I’m elated or sad. And when he looks deep within my eyes, he clearly sees right through me.

He’s aware as how simple life is for me. How a late night stroll around his school with him would make me happy and how losing my ID for even just a few hours could make me upset.

He loved me just as I am. Before all those makeup, parties, dresses and success, he was there with me.

He understands me more than I could ever understand myself.

He was always there through the best and worst times. No matter what happened, he was there for me, listening to me and caring for me.

He was always himself when he was with me. No pretensions or exaggerations, and I gladly fell for him for who he is, and will fall for him for whoever he will be.

He let me in his life. He trusted me with his heart and loved me when I almost though that he shut himself from love. He knew in his heart that I love him sincerely that’s why he let me love him just as I wanted and could.

For all these and for countless things I could never put into words, I love him.  

Working with Danger

At the strike of twelve or even earlier, our team leaves the newsroom everyday bringing our equipment, gadgets, and our fear and excitement for another episode waiting to unfold.

Yes, I'm one of the writers/producers sent out everyday for Jiggy Manicad's new program, GMA News TV Quick Response Team. We go out of our comfort zones everyday to help the best field reporter get the freshest and biggest news and serve it to our audience.

I admit working on remote isn't easy. My parents are a bit worried and my brother clearly disagrees with what I do.  I understand that he just really cares for me but I love what I'm doing.

I may have felt sick and tired, been squished or toasted alive but I'm happy. I'm grateful that I get to be with a team that is eager to learn and give our audience a great and exciting episode everyday. I'm grateful that I get to learn from them and from one of the best reporters in our country. And I'm very happy to be of service to people.

Yes I know, it's dangerous but I'm willing to take the risk because all the fear and excitement that I feel everyday feeds my hunger for adventure and fulfillment.

I'm ready to embrace this job and I hope God continues to give me the strength and will to survive everyday.

Aqua

Once, I had a dog named Aqua.

I never really knew his breed or why he was given to me at a very young age. Now that I try to recall, he looked like this, a corgi.

He was small and his fur was flesh. He was handed to me while I was seated at the front seat of our school service. He sat beside me and we both just stared out the window. That was the first time we met. 

When we brought him home, we let him stay in the living room. And I sat on the floor while watching him. I was playing with my brother when suddenly, I felt him on my back... he was humping me!  I patted him, hugged him while I was laughing so hard. What a crazy, crazy dog!

He was the smallest among our dogs, but he would always win during fights. I remember the days when he would come home all bloody and when we'd check up on him, he doesn't have any wound. Turns out our maid saw him fighting with bigger dogs earlier and he ended up triumphant. My parents said he was just like me, small but terrible. 

And I could never forget and understand the days that I would stay at our garage whenever I have a problem and he would just sit there staring at me looking all worried. And whenever I come home, he would come running to me like as if he'd been waiting for me all day to show up.

Through the years, we've been through so much. I was the only person he feared and he was the only dog I took care of.


But one day, our maid let go of Aqua and he never got back to us. I was so traumatized when I lost him. About two years after he got out, I saw him outside our gate again, staring at me. His other eye was a bit dislocated as if someone tried to kill him but I was sure it was him.


I let him in our house again, he stayed for two days then left.


That's why when I watched Hachiko, I couldn't help but cry because he reminded me so much of Aqua. They may not have the same story but they were both faithful dogs.

And up to now, I cannot forget him because I didn't just lose a dog, I lost a good, good friend.

And if one day I'd luckily get a dog again, I'd love him as much as I did love Aqua. 

Music for the One

After watching episodes of The Voice, I suddenly remembered one of the things that I think I should put in my bucket list.

You see, music has been a big, big part of my life. I've been singing since I was five years old. 

I sang for my dad while he was still working abroad, I sang in birthday, parties and programs. I sang with family and friends. I sang with someone I love.I sang  in a public place for my parents' 27th anniversary.  I always sing for God. 

But at this point in my life, I've been waiting for that moment to get on that one stage, and sing for the only man who would mean the whole world to me. 

I'd want to sing one song with my whole heart and sing it for him, as if telling him and all the people around that, look, there's the man that I love and I'm singing for him 'coz just like music, he's a huge part of my life. 

And that day I hope that man, whoever he is, would just smile with love and be proud and happy I had the confidence and courage to tell the whole world that he's the one for me.  

Full Circle

My life has been full of extreme ups and downs lately.

For weeks I've been to Batangas with work friends, Boracay with my best college friends, then a 5-day break with my family in Puerto Princesa. It was a ride of happiness, even if my body felt tired my soul was on a high! I was so inspired to work and to spread the love. I was so inspired to live.

Then in just one weekend, almost all of that goes down the drain. My eldest brother went back to his seminary in Baguio while my elder brother was rushed to the hospital for the first time because his lungs were infected. My parents are feeling down lately because of all this, too.

I didn't know what to do, who to talk to, where, how or from whom to get strength.

But tonight I went to church, I looked up and prayed to Him.

I thanked him for all the blessings and challenges he has bestowed on me, and I asked for strength for the coming days, weeks or years.

This life is full of uncertainties and surprises, but I know He is the only Truth in my life.