Moved!

Hey guys! Just wanna say that this blog is officially closed and moved to www.catherinism.com . I hope you visit and leave comments there too like how you did here :) Send me a link to your blog when you visit so I could add it in my blogroll. Goodbye Cathara, hello Catherinism! :)

Moving!

My blog will be officially moving soon to www.catherinism.com so wait for updates! Thanks!

Music and Love

On the night of February 18^th, the 3^rd International Rondalla Festival which was celebrated for a week has finally come to an end. Each of the participants from the Philippines and other countries gave their best shot as if it was their last. All of them played their instruments like they rehearsed for years even if they had only been together for a few days.

Although it was sort of a sad moment, no one hesitated to share a smile to the cameras and no one seemed to be out of place. Everyone were nodding and smiling at each other. The moment put a sudden halt to the walls between the life status’ differences. It was like each and everyone who gathered inside the new city hall atrium lived in one city. Audiences, delegates, and all the people may have all been strangers to each other, but music did something extraordinary that tied them all up. Perhaps it was the soothing melody, or the peaceful beat, but one would agree that it was the love that brought people together.

This only show that the City of Tagum is capable of organizing an event that unites people; be it just with the locals or with the international communities. Cuerdas ng Pagkakaysa (Strings of Unity), the theme of the 3^rd Rondalla Festival, just fits perfectly in describing the Tagumeños.

While some of the people thought that it was the end of the music festival, they were surprised as it was in fact just the beginning of more music and endless fun. The Barangay Musikahan: Rural Category showcased their talents to win prizes that would benefit the barangay that they were representing. The participants came from the Barangays of Libuganon, Busaon, and San Isidro. Each of the barangays who participated proudly presented their song and dance numbers with their own compositions. Isn’t it amazing how these people could create such art? And like what Johann Paul Richter, a German Romantic writer said, “Music is the poetry of the air.” The heavens must have blown a fresh cold wind to the viewers of the said event but the story of love that each barangays portrayed gave much warmth to them.

The people of Libuganon presented their story with the love between a Christian and a Muslim. Their community is composed of Christians and Muslims and it is customary for Muslims to only marry their kind. But because of love, they fought for what they know is right even if it was against all odds. On the other hand, the people from Busaon showed their love for their land. Busao didn’t want other tribes to conquer and live in their properties. And because of this, the unruly chaos began to ruin their lives. But in the end, they were able to patch things up and live harmoniously. And lastly, the people from Barangay San Isidro demonstrated their love for their loved ones. NPA rebels used to recruit some people who lived there. But because of their citizens’ love for their families and neighbors, they asked help from the armies who were eventually able to drive the rebels away.  

These are real stories of their barangays that ended with no fairytales but only with true love. Barangay Busaon won the first prize, Libuganon got the second, and San Isidro got the third. The prizes certainly brought happiness to all of them and what they have won will definitely help them for their future projects.

And love must have been the most abused word in this article, but one thing is for sure, music can’t be music at all without love.

End of My 2010 Survey

What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?  Designed 3 tats for my loved ones, almost got one and apprenticeship but I’m not yet ready! New kind of job I love.  Went to Palawan. Met and worked for Pacman—the only person I asked autograph from haha! Had my hair rebonded. I always thought straight hair is boring, and I was right, ugh.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No, lol!

Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

Did anyone close to you die? Thank God none. 

What countries did you visit? None.

What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Travel around Asia. Drawing project and get paid (by Brandon) haha! Time with family and friends.

What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory and why? May 2010. Brandon finally met and told my family about our engagement. I made a family history and I was able to breathe at last haha! 6 day vacation in Coron, Palawan.

What was your biggest achievement of the year? I would consider making (almost) all right decisions for 2010 as my biggest achievement.

What was your biggest failure? Nothing, that’s my ego speaking ;)

Did you suffer illness or injury? Pigsa hahaha! 

What was the best thing you bought? My very big blower lol!

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? :)

Where did most of your money go? Bills. Bank.

What did you really, really, really get excited about? Seeing Brandon and family.

What song will always remind you of 2010? ”Fireworks by Katy Perry. I know, she was screaming the whole time but it’s the lyrics I love.

Compared to this time last year are you:
Happier? Yes.
Thinner? No.
Richer? Yes.

What do you wish you’d done more of? Read, write for my blog, draw.

What do you wish you’d done less of? Hate. Blame. Worry.

How did you spend Christmas? At home in Manila with EJ and my dog Babols.

How will you be spending new years? Spent it in the hospital here in Tagum, Davao with grandma and cousins.

Did you fall in love in 2010? Over and over.

How many one-night stands? None.

What was your favorite TV program? Not into TV.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I guess.

What was your biggest musical discovery? Nothing this year.

What did you want and you got? New laptop and ereader that are just about to get into my hands, lol!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old did you turn? Turned 26 and spent it with Brandon.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My grandpa. Wish he’s still alive so he'd see me grow more.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Classic.

What kept you sane? Prayer. People around me.

Which celebrity did you fancy the most? Not Edward, Jacob, or Bella.

What political issue stirred you the most? Philippine’s first automated election, The Reproductive Health Bill.

Who did you miss? My grandpa.

Who was the best new person you met? Everyone.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:  No one wins in blaming and hating. Don’t fully give your trust again to people who lied to you over and over. Get even by helping ‘them’ still.

Any resolutions? Nothing major. But will minimize using facebook. It's becoming my religion and I hate it.

Quote or Song Lyric that sums up your year: 

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten.

Crab Mentality

its just sad how many filipinos say awful things about co filipinos atm, its ourselves that were waging war against. thats more embarrassing! just because a single or a group of our countrymen did something stupid that doesnt give us all the right to blame. yeh yeh, were all entitled for our own opinion but sometimes, it pays to just shut up. im guilty,myself, but this is the last time that im gonna talk about it. i just really have to pour that last one out. ;) ugh, i digress, but lets not forget filipinos that were great in standing back up! :) peace be with you.

im talking about the hostage taking incident earlier. its really sad. i felt goosebumps while some tourists who were alive went out of the bus. 9 were confirmed dead. its another embarrassing moment for us filipinos, but its more embarrassing if we continue blaming everyone.

Engaged

My blog exists for 3 years now and I know Brandon for almost the same. This blog was started out of boredom, out of heartbreak, and out of feeling stagnant. But if those feelings weren’t felt, I would have not started this blog. And I would have not gone to that dating site where I met Brandon. We personally met after a month of talking and I would like to say that meeting him was one of my happiests.

This blog has witnessed how my relationship with him progressed from just a typical long distance bf/gf into a more serious and meaningful one. But this has also become my outlet throughout my love sickness, pains, and heartaches. I think what I love about writing in public about my feelings is I get to be more open and my openness is put into practice. It makes me feel better when readers or strangers allow me to vent out and when they share their opinions; without really hustling me to agree with them.

And now, as part of justifying the progress I was talking about, I am dot, dot, dot proudly engaged! Yes, I am engaged to the man who has been generally known subject of my writings! :D I am since last year, actually. But it took me time to talk openly about it because I had to consider a lot of things especially my family. And in view of the fact that Brandon already met and told my family about our plan, I am more than free now to scream that I’m going to share my life with someone.

It would probably be not a surprise to a lot of people as we all end up with one at any points of our lives. But it was to me. In my heart, I know that I’m not afraid to be alone. We all hear that two heads are better than one but I normally succeed doing things on my own. This self-centered attitude gave me a chance of freedom to work with myself and test its limit. Putting restrictions in my being was in fact my freedom. It was a law I allowed myself to go after, and that this self is my property.

Now don’t get me wrong, at the time I succeeded doing things alone, I was just really on my own.  

Nevertheless, I am very proud to say that Brandon has been a big influence to me when it comes to dropping my restrictions and pretensions. I think most of the time, when a certain person influences you, although how much you battle with your own demons, you accept them into your life. To me, Brandon is an impact who I tolerated to smash up my fragile self, haha! God, why am I around people who take advantage? :P

Kidding aside, it didn’t really take me a lot of time to accept him. The chemistry that I believe we have since we first met was enough proof for me that we are for each other. I don’t really want to talk about magic to place flowery words on this entry but I’m sure I have felt that since the beginning-- that of which compelled me to work for this relationship. We have gone through bad formulas that caused us to blow but I think the only secret is to try harder.

For the past 3 years, I always say that I’ve changed drastically. And I like to believe that this relationship is a big part of that change. I know that it’s been a long while waiting but I’m glad that we didn’t work against the clock because this allows us to grow individually. At one point or another, I have hurt him, I have failed, I have hated and vice versa. But it was a thing that made me think, that I wouldn’t be the right person for Brandon if I didn’t go through it all. I bent over backwards for this relationship to work and this happiness I’m feeling is just the fruit of my labor. :P

Well, I got to work now, I hope I can continue this at a later time.

I don’t want to leave any vows yet, I’m saving them for later. :P But I want the love of my life to know, I’m very hopeful that this is going to work for a long time. My love for you is  growing everyday and it’s just waiting for us to be together again. :)

And if my fiancé would read this and has any violent reactions because what I have written is more about me and my efforts (understand that this is an unfinished post), go make your own blog! :P

Kayangan Lake