For You

I dreamt about you the other night.

You were just right there infront of me. You were looking sad and defeated. You were like a fragile child. And your eyes… your eyes… it seemed that you were about to cry. I wanted to go near you, to hold you, to embrace you tight…

But then suddenly I woke up.

I wondered how you’re doing.

So forbidden it may be, I tried contacting you.

***************

I know that you’re just around, but I'm aware of the real situation between us as well. We already talked about it before, so I didn’t bother anymore. You have your own life. I have mine. Everything’s in the past, and we both cannot dwell on the past. You made a decision, and I had no choice but to accept it.

So close, yet far.

***************

I wish you well. It's sad that there's no time for us to meet up before you leave. As you go back, may you find your true happiness and peace of mind. I don’t want you to be feeling sad & defeated, like that in my dream. Do you still remember what I told you before?

You deserve to be happy because you’re a good person.

***************

I’m also praying for your healing. I know about your condition. You’re not alone. God will take care of you. He will never leave your side, as He has never left mine.

He will heal you, as He has healed me.

Testimonies & Baptism

If you've been following this blog for some time now, you probably read about my recent baptism. Yup, I already made that decision to follow God's call and become a Christian. (It's the best decision I've made, I tell you.)

Watch me sharing NERVOUSLY my testimony (I'm not really much of a public speaker.) and getting baptized at the pool terrace of YMCA Singapore. I think I saw myself at least 3x in this video. LOL!

***************

Did you know that I'm giving away a 1TB Western Digital Portable Hard Drive for my 4th Blogversary? Interested? Kindly refer to previous post, or just CLICK HERE for more details.

The Gasoline Dude’s Blogversary Writing Contest

I mentioned in my previous post that I will be coming up with a contest which will start on the last day of this month, but due to insistent demand, I will announce it earlier than planned, which is TODAY!

It’s The Gasoline Dude’s 4th Blogversary! Would you like to win a 1TB Portable Hard Drive?

Yup! Since I will be celebrating my anniversary as a blogger in a few weeks, I have something in store for all the followers & readers of this blog!

If you are also a blogger who:

• Is a Filipino, whichever part of Earth you are;
• Has been blogging for a minimum of three (3) months;
• With at least ten (10) posts in your blog as of 31st of October 2011;

Then you are qualified to join!

MECHANICS:

This is a writing contest, so...

• Write a blog post relevant to the theme. Various ways of expressions are allowed. It may be a short story, poem, song lyrics, essay, letter, testimony, commentary, etc. It’s up to you;
• The theme is: “gasoline”. Again, it’s up to you whether you want to use it literally or figuratively;
• You may use either English or Tagalog;
• The word “gasoline” (or its Tagalog translation) must be mentioned in the post at least once;
• Photos, music, or both may be added in the blog post;
• A link to this particular post must be contained in the blog entry. (e.g. “This is my entry to The Gasoline Dude’s Blogversary Writing Contest. I want to win the 1TB Portable Hard Drive!")
• For easier reference & tracking, make a comment under this post with the following information: Your name/alias, email address, blog URL, blog entry title, & URL link to your blog entry.

DEADLINE:

Deadline of the submission of entries is on the 31st of December.

JUDGES:

I have invited a few blogger friends to be part of the judging panel. They are the following:

(From the top, L-R:)

Traveliztera,

Greenpinoy,

Lethalverses,

Myself, &

Chroneicon.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING:

Creativity 30%

Relevance to Theme 30%

Originality 20%

Overall Impact 20%

PRIZES:

1st Prize:

One (1) Western Digital 1TB Portable Hard Drive + One (1) Singapore Shirt

2nd Prize:

One (1) 16GB USB Flash Memory Drive + One (1) Singapore Shirt

3rd Prize:

One (1) 8GB USB Flash Memory Drive + One (1) Singapore Shirt

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS:

Winners will be announced on January 2012. The names will be posted in this blog, and will be notified thru email.

If you have queries, just comment below, or send me an email at alex@gasolinedude.com.

See You

I am never good at goodbyes. It's the last day of my colleague today at work, and quite sudden at that (though expected). She's become a good friend of mine so it was difficult seeing her pack her things, knowing that we won't be seeing her as often as before.

I hugged her tight before she left the office. I dunno what got into me, but I was actually sobbing like a baby. (Geez! What's wrong with me?! LOL!)

See you soon, Mum! Thanks for the great times. It will never be the same here in the office. :(

Blog Contest Teaser

November is the anniversary month of this blog. Would you like to win a 1TB Portable Hard Drive?

More details on the 31st of October. :)

HAIKU

People come and go.

BUILDING friendships. INSPIRED lives.

CHERISHING moments.

Broken Chains

Motivation at work is down.

Everyone’s leaving. Editor-in-Chief has already left. Editorial Manager just tendered her resignation. Fashion Editor & Art Director seems to be not renewing their contracts anymore. Finance Manager, our second mummy who always calls me ‘Barney’, has also expressed her plans of abandoning us.

What will happen to the magazine now?!

About these and all other stuff which involves money, sales targets, and ‘things of the past’, I know I should NOT be worrying. BUT IT'S HARD! Most of the time I can’t help it, especially when it has already become part of my system. To worry that is.

Lord God, grant me more strength and peace of mind.

Abot Kamay

Hindi mo kailangang mag-isa sa iyong paglalakbay

Halika, iabot mo ang iyong kamay...

***************

Bilang suporta sa patimpalak ng aking kapwa-OFW sa Singapore at kaibigang si Bulakbolero, inaanyayahan ko kayong sumali dito. CLICK HERE para sa ibang mga detalye.

P.S. Kasama ang inyong lingkod sa mga hurado.

DISCLAIMER:

Hindi ako kasali sa patimpalak! Umepal lang. Kung hindi ako judge, siguro ang litrato na nasa taas ang naging entry ko. :)

40 Days

I started fasting last Saturday, so I’m already on my Day 6 as of this writing. Sinabi ko ito sa ilang mga kaibigan at kakilala ko, at karamihan sa mga reaksiyon nila ay “BAKIT?!” Naisip siguro nila na ‘fasting’ is just an alternative term for dieting.

I can’t blame them if ever. Kahit nga ako mismo ay hindi makapaniwala sa mga pinaggagagawa ko nitong mga nakaraang buwan. Hindi naman ako ganito dati.

But I’m happy. I’m responding to God’s call. I know I’m on the right path.

Isang beses na lang ako kumain sa isang araw. I can take liquids anytime (except milk), but no snacking whatsoever is allowed. Medyo naging struggle siya kasi matakaw talaga ako. Sanay akong kumain ng madami, at hindi nawawala ang rice sa meal ko. Mahilig din ako sa junk foods kaya ang hirap kasi ngayon tuwing lunch na lang ako kumakain. Bawal na ang merienda, bawal pa ang midnight snacks.

Nagkaroon kami ng bonding night kasama ang ilang mga kaibigan nung isang gabi. Nagluto sila ng pasta tapos nag-order pa ng pizza. Meron din silang nilutong Pinoy dish (hindi ko matandaan kung afritada o mechado) plus kanin. Guess what?! Hindi ako kumain! Kahit tikim hindi ko ginawa! Uminom lang ako ng iced tea tapos lumayo na sa hapag-kainan habang tumutulo ang mga luha, pasinghot-singhot pa.

Gagawin ko ito sa loob ng 40 araw.

Sabi ng barkada ko, "Baka lumabas ang abs mo Pards after 40 days..."

Sana nga. Mas masaya 'yun 'pag nagkataon.

Anong Bago?

Change is inevitable.

Change is the only permanent thing in this world. Not only does it promote flexibility, it also brings more opportunities.

Dahil diyan, napansin mo ba ang mga naging pagbabago sa blog na ito? :)

***************

Welcome to gasolinedude.com. (Whew! Sa wakas!) I’ve been blogging since 2007, at dahil malapit na ang ika-apat na anibersayo ng blog ko, naisip ko na panahon na din para gawin itong datkom.

Hindi ko inakalang tatagal ako ng apat na taon sa pagba-blog. It all started when I was still with the gasoline kingdom that is ******, and from then on, samu’t saring adventures at misadventures sa buhay ang aking nasaksihan at naranasan. Mula sa Pilipinas hanggang sa Singapore ay nadala ko ang blogging, at marami din akong naging mga kaibigan dahil dito.

Hindi pa talaga tapos ang ‘revamping’ ng blog na ito (kaya nga’t sinara ko ito pansamantala). Marami pang dapat abangan.

Tulad ng isang pa-contest…

:)

***************

Hihingi sana ako sa inyo ng suporta. Nominado ang inyong lingkod sa Pinoy Expats/OFW Blog Awards (PEBA) sa taong ito. Narito ang aking entry: CLICK HERE! Kung nagustuhan niyo ang aking lathain, maari kayong mag-comment at bumoto. Paano? CLICK HERE!

Maraming salamat! :)