==> VAMOS RAFA !

While im not in the mood to write anything now, BUT, what can I do, a certain athlete from the island of Mallorca in Spain just made my day. Writing about him is the least that I can do after that amazing performance earlier today.

I had a feeling, when you won the French open this year that it was a major turning point in your career of choice. While it is true that i really really felt bad when you tasted that loss at the hands of Robin Soderling in 2009, now in hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise. Every great champion needs to taste defeat in order to take his game on a higher level. if you know how to win, you should also know how to pick yourself up and regroup after a defeat. That is the mark of a great champion. and it is no coincidence that in the turning point that i was referring to earlier, you defeated the same man that ended your reign in that same court only a year ago, Robin Soderling.

When you were sidelined for almost a whole year and couldnt even win minor tournaments, because of injury according to reports, I was worried. I had a strong feeling that the problem was more mental than physical. While it is true that tennis is a physically draining game, it is also first and foremost, a mental game. You lost your confidence and your focus when you were defeated in your favorite clay court and it took you awhile to get over that hump … boy am I glad that you finally did.
I would have wanted to see you and Fed in more Grand Slam finals, BUT, again, I have this feeling that as far as Fed is concerned, YOU are the biggest complex in his life now. its no wonder that several quarters noted that Fed lost to Djokovic because at that time he already knows that he will be facing YOU if he wins that match, they say, how do you explain that 5 set loss when he was leading 2 sets to 1 in a grand slam event? He is Roger Federer for chrissakes! well, some people can be sooo mean, he's only human, despite what you heard on the contrary. He was actually lucky that you were sidelined for about a year and he was able to bounce back after that back-to-back loss to you in 2008 in the French Open and in his favorite Wimbledon. With Novak Djokovic’s star on the rise, could Fed’s be on a free fall? *Fed fans, don’t bite my head off, just asking*

That was no mean feat you accomplished today, a Career Slam at 24, the youngest ever to achieve that honor. You and I really have to meet one day, I just have to see you in action one of these days. When is the question. In the meantime, congratulations are in order, Felicitaciones Rafa, bien hecho (^.^)

==> my "SUNDAY BATTLES"

The only task I gave myself in this 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 kitchen, 2storey house that i call my home which includes a basement, a gazebo and 2 other small building/structures, is to clean 1 room, all 200+ sq. ft. of it … at least once a week. That said room is MINE, and every week there is a battle between my “mature responsible self” and my “lazy slob self”. Last week, im ashamed to say that the former got a beating …booo, let me bury my head in the sand for a while… haay, I have no excuse, not even an imagined illness.

Early on, as in most things that bothers me about …ME, I try to psychoanalyze myself. In this case, to find the reason to my aversion to the entire concept of the word …CLEANING. I don’t know why but, we just never clicked, I was never attracted to it, not even one tinie winnie bit. So imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered that I am allergic to house dust and house dust mites(among other things). I would have bouts of sneezing, watery eyes, hay fever, skin rashes and clogged nose when im exposed to this allergens. Woot, woot, finally, an excuse not to hold that rag or feather duster or whatever it is that one uses for cleaning. I now have a clinical test that gave me the reason and the answer to my question. My conclusion, I don’t like cleaning because cleaning makes me physically and literally …sick! HAHAHA, what a great excuse! From then on, all the cleaning was done by everybody else, except me.

Fast forward by a few years, I got myself treated by an allergy doctor and went tru a treatment called “desensitization” to control my allergies, where they gave me a shot every 2 weeks(?) for, I forgot how many years. To this day, after all that money spent and 1 anaphylactic reaction that could have killed me, I still don’t know if I got better from those shots. Anyway, back to the original topic, ultimately, it was maturity, or at least some semblance of it that made me face the problem head-on. I berated and scolded myself, how can a supposedly well-bred lady sleep in such a messy room, I should be ashamed of myself. well… I am. why didn’t you ask one of your house help to do it, you may ask. that’s a bit of a problem, you see, I have developed a somekind of an OCness about strangers touching my personal effects, tidying my stuff and putting them in places where I couldn’t find them. So that just leaves, ME to do the deed. Besides, me cleaning my room is way overdue. *I think I heard a lot of YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!*

Now … Sundays are “Must Clean My Room” day, but I have to be honest, i STILL dread this day approaching because of this task. Every week, it is a struggle … a battle that I need to win to prove to myself that im a responsible adult. Every Sunday …this 200 sq. ft. of floor space that I call My Room is there challenging me … daring me to prove myself and show my worth. This week, im very pleased to say that my “mature responsible self” won versus this room, YAHOO !!! after that loss last week, I have to redeem myself and pick myself up if I don’t want to continue to slide into the world of the sloth …no,no,no,no,no.

Did I just hear somebody say, “ SO, why did you write about this again?” welllll … its some sorta theraphy for me, so indulge me, okie? ((*.~))

==> DEAR NINANG

Dear Ninang,

You would have been 88yrs old yesterday. Sorry this came a day late, but, I did greet you in Facebook yesterday and it is still September 8 in some parts of the world :) in the old days, by now there would have been tons of birthday gifts and greetings from friends and colleagues. You would have worn a new dress too, as you always did on your birthday.

let me tell you about OUR ninang. She is a vain fashionista, that’s a fact. I know your everyday routine of washing your face with CY Gabriel Wonder Soap(don’t forget the CY ‘coz without it, its fake!) and putting on Ponds Cream day and night. she will never be caught without powder, lipstick, perfume and stockings outside of our house. Have to call Ason or Fanny(both manicurists) to have your nails done every week and have to go to the salon in Pasay to have your hair trimmed every month. Of course, every so often, the 3 of us, you, mamay and I would make that trip to the fabric shops to get materials for your clothes. The lace and embroidered collars, the electric pleated skirts, the jusi dresses and gowns…oh and your favorite things in the world ... jewelry, perfume, wrist watches, shoes and bags. Haay, I miss our favorite haunt in those days, SM Makati ! you would have been so happy that there are now huge malls 15 mins away from Carmona. Its no secret that you and I have been going “malling” every week even before that word came to the consciousness of most pinoys. She loves to eat out in style. How could I forget one of your famous creed, “ no fastfood for me, I want to be served !” our Ninang who doesnt mind being called Ninang even by those who are really not her "inaanak", me included :)

Ahhh, those were such happy memories that I always enjoy repeating to those who never had the priviledge of meeting you. Some of them are surprised at how close you are to the entire family and even to our extended family and yet, we are not at all related by blood. BUT blood is just genetics right? The bond that ties us goes beyond that, it’s the meeting of souls tied by deeply rooted shared memories and experiences, TOGETHER.

I wish I had more time to write this for you. But the clock is ticking and there is no time to spare for editing, researching and reminiscing. While it is fun to look back at those days, remembering all that also brought tears to my eyes with the realization that your death stopped all that from happening again.

Happy Birthday Ninang, it has been nearly 16 years since you left us but the memories and your words of wisdom is still very much in this house and will remain here for as long as I breathe. You will always be in our prayers and in our hearts. watch over us as im sure you always do and remember us to our good Lord and to our dear Mama Mary in heaven. You were happy with us but I bet you are happiest with Them. I miss you Ninang :)