Engaged : I Like It

My life was wonderfully transformed in the last 10 days or so. It's not because I did 10K again at Nike Run Manila 2011 after a long time of bumming around. Not because I had a dinner cruise or that I had my first ever body massage (at least the first one I ever paid for). I dare say it's not even because I turned 27 last 18^th and I had the Kare-Kare of a lifetime. It is for one reason and that is Tey is no longer my girlfriend --


-- Tey is now my fiancée!


After 6 years on the day, I finally popped the big question last October 16. It was a Sunday, like the first ever 10-16 of our relationship. I did it at church, amidst the cheers of family, relatives, and friends. It was indeed a day to remember - a day I will always look back to at night, some 30 years later.


To be honest, I knew she would say yes, but even so, at that moment, a couple of minutes before and after Tey's big YES, my heart still pounded like a headache. If you're a runner, you probably know about this heart-pounding you get just after you cross the finish line, after sprinting like a mad man on your last 200 meters or so. But this is something bigger than that. I like the proposer's high way way way better than the runner's high. :P


My life-changing decision started on October 4 when I finally went to Ongpin to buy a ring for Tey. It's a very lovely tale, that day. Maybe if I see you next time I can tell you all about it.


To my girlfriend of the past, fiancée of the present, and wife of the future --

I thank God for our 6 years and our engagement. It's been quite a run, so to speak. We've been through a lot already and there's a lot more road to cover. It's not a 100-meter dash, but a proverbial marathon, an ultra marathon even. We will be dead tired but at the end of our lives, we can look back and say, "We did it, my darling."

To my readers: Laugh now that I am so mushy and in-love. You just wait 'til you get engaged. :))

Or you can just look at these photos and partake in my excitement:

Superposition at Nike Run Manila 2011. This was the day before my proposal. My heart was bursting inside because I could not wait for October 16 - the big day. Tey had no idea that she was so-gonna-be proposed to.



Superposition with other girls -- It's like bachelor party already! :)



The classic "Will You Marry Me?". That's my sister Ritz holding the sign.



And of course the moment. Look at Tey's reaction and those of the people around. Classic. This is once in a lifetime, baby.







The big hug after Tey's epic "Syempre Naman" response.


I like it so I put a ring on it.

Come Together: Twelve Ways to Keep Smiling

September 30 - Earlier today while sitting in a bus on Friday night traffic, the Beatles hit Come Together played on the radio. But it has nothing to do with what I really want to tell you.

♪ Here come old flat top, he come grooving up slowly ♫

For some reason, due to being idle I guess, my mind started to drift towards unhappy thoughts but I decided against it and took out my planner to get myself thinking about something else. Inside the front sleeve of the notebook, I noticed the bookmark that had been given to us last Christmas by the Principal of the school I used to teach at.

♫...got to be a joker he just do what he please...♪

It's a simple cardboard bookmark actually with gold lace at the top. It wasn't the lace that caught my attention but the message on it entitled "Twelve Ways to Keep Smiling".

♪ I know you, you know me ♫

Let me share these with you (credited to Douglas Pagels).

1. Hold on to your dreams, and never let them go.
2. Show the world how wonderful you are!
3. Give circumstances a chance, and give others the benefit of the doubt.
4. Wish on a star that shines your sky.

♫♪ One thing I can tell you is you got to be free ♪

5. Take on your problems one by one and work things out.
6. Rely on all the strength you have inside.
7. Let loose of the sparkle and spirit that you sometimes try to hide.
8. Stay in touch with those who touch your life with love.
9. Look on the bright side and don't let adversity keep you from winning.
10. Be yourself, because you are filled with special qualities that have brought you this far, and that will always see you through.
11. Keep your spirits up.
12. Make your heart happy, and let it reflect in everything you do!

♫ One and one and one is three ♪♫ 

This is obviously not an exhaustive list but some words there are just what I needed that time. Simple bits of advice like looking at the bright side and taking on problems on one by one are stuff that I know already but tend to forget whenever things don't go the way I planned them.

♪ Come together, right now ♫

I guess there's always a reason to smile, like getting advice from a bookmark, or looking up from your notebook and seeing that traffic is better and realizing that you won't be late after all.

 ♫♪ ...over me. ♫♪

How about you? What keeps you smiling? :D